Movies In Theaters October 3, 2008
September 25, 2008
An American Carol
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Movie Website: americancarol.com
Actors/Actresses: Kelsey Grammer, Kevin Farley, Trace Adkins, Jon Voight, Leslie Nielsen, Dennis Hopper
Synopsis: An American Carol is a comedy film for the conservatives that spoofs contemporary culture, particularly Hollywood. The film uses the framework of A Christmas Carol but moves the setting of the story from Christmas to Independence Day.
Left-wing activist and filmmaker Michael Malone (a parody of Michael Moore) is campaigning to end the celebration of the Fourth of July. Malone truculently argues to the American people that America’s past and present are offensive, and therefore should not be celebrated. Malone is then visited by three ghosts, George Washington, George S. Patton, and John F. Kennedy, who try to make him rethink his view of America.
The character Michael Malone is a parody of the American filmmaker, author, and political commentator Michael Moore. On September 5, 2008 Moore was a guest on Larry King Live and was shown a clip from the film where Malone (while lying down on his bed, drinking a Big Gulp and watching archival footage of JFK’s inaugural address) is startled by JFK, who materializes out of Malone’s television screen, and confronts him on his misguided views of American History. Moore said that he was vaguely familiar with the film, and then jokingly said he thought it was Viggo Mortensen that would be portraying him. When King asked him his opinion, Moore shrugged his shoulders and said “I hope it’s funny.”
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG
Movie Website: Disney.com/Chihuahua
Actors/Actresses: Piper Perabo, Manolo Cardona, Jamie Lee Curtis, Eugenio Derbez, Andy Garcia, Placido Domingo, George Lopez, Edward James Olmos, Paul Rodriguez, Cheech Marin, Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo, Luis Guzman, Drew Barrymore
Synopsis: A pampered Beverly Hills Chihuahua named Chloe finds herself accidentally lost in the mean streets of Mexico without a day spa or Rodeo Drive boutique anywhere in sight. Now alone for the first time in her spoiled life, she must rely on some unexpected new friends — including a street-hardened German Shepherd named Delgado and an amorous pup named Papi — to lend her a paw and help her to find her inner strength on their incredible journey back home.
Blindness
Genre: Psychological Thriller
MPAA Rating: R
Movie Website: Blindness-themovie.com
Actors/Actresses: Mark Ruffalo, Julianne Moore, Gael Garcia Bernal, Sandra Oh, Danny Glover
Synopsis: When a sudden plague of blindness devastates a city, a small group of the afflicted band together to triumphantly overcome the horrific conditions of their imposed quarantine. “Blindness,” starring Academy Award®-nominee Julianne Moore, Gael García Bernal, Mark Ruffalo, Sandra Oh and Danny Glover, is a psychological thriller about the fragility of mankind. Adapted from Nobel Laureate José Saramago’s masterwork, the film is directed by Academy Award®-nominee Fernando Meirelles (“City of God”) from a screenplay by Tony Award-winner Don McKellar (“The Drowsy Chaperone”).
Flash of Genius
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Movie Website: FlashofGenius.net
Actors/Actresses: Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham, Dermot Mulroney, Alan Alda, Bill Smitrovich, Tim Kelleher, Jake Abel
Synopsis: Based on the true story of college professor and part-time inventor Robert Kearns’ long battle with the U.S. automobile industry, a tale of one man whose fight to receive recognition for his ingenuity would come at a heavy price. But this determined engineer refused to be silenced, and he took on the corporate titans in a battle that nobody thought he could win. The Kearns were a typical 1960s Detroit family, trying to live their version of the American Dream. Local university professor Bob married teacher Phyllis and, by their mid-thirties, had six kids who brought them a hectic but satisfying Midwestern existence. When Bob invents a device that would eventually be used by every car in the world, the Kearns think they have struck gold. But their aspirations are dashed after the auto giants who embraced Bob’s creation unceremoniously shunned the man who invented it. Ignored, threatened and then buried in years of litigation, Bob is haunted by what was done to his family and their future. He becomes a man obsessed with justice and the conviction that his life’s work — or for that matter, anyone’s work — be acknowledged by those who stood to benefit. And while paying the toll for refusing to compromise his dignity, this everyday David will try the unthinkable: to bring Goliath to his knees.
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People
Genre: Art/Foreign, Comedy, Drama and Adaptation
MPAA Rating: R
Movie Website: how2losefriends.com
Actors/Actresses: Kirsten Dunst, Simon Pegg, Jeff Bridges, Danny Huston, Gillian Anderson
Synopsis: Sidney Young, a smalltime, bumbling, British celebrity journalist, is hired by an upscale magazine in New York City. In spectacular fashion Sidney enters high society and burns bridges with bosses, peers and superstars. After disrupting one black-tie event by allowing a wild pig to run rampant, Sidney catches the attention of Clayton Harding, editor of Sharp, and accepts a job with the magazine in New York City. Clayton warns Sidney that he’d better impress and charm everyone he can, if he wants to succeed. Instead, Sidney instantly insults and annoys fellow writer Alison Olsen. He dares to target the star clients of power publicist Eleanor Johnson. He upsets his direct boss Lawrence Maddox and tries to make amends by hiring a stripper to dance for Lawrence during a staff meeting. Sidney, of course, doesn’t stop there, finding creative ways to annoy nearly everyone. His saving graces: a rising, sexy starlet develops an odd affection for him, and in time, Alison whose friendship with him might be the only thing saving Sidney from torpedoing his career.
Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Musical/Performing Arts, Romance, Adaptation and Teen
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Movie Website: sonypictures.com/movies/nickandnorah
Actors/Actresses: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Ari Graynor, Rafi Gavron, Alexis Dziena
Synopsis: “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” is a comedy about two people thrust together for one hilarious, sleepless night of adventure in a world of mix tapes, late-night living, and, live, loud music. Nick (Michael Cera) frequents New York’s indie rock scene nursing a broken heart and a vague ability to play the bass. Norah (Kat Dennings) is questioning pretty much all of her assumptions about the world. Though they have nothing in common except for their taste in music, their chance encounter leads to an all-night quest to find a legendary band’s secret show and ends up becoming the first date in a romance that could change both their lives.
Rachel Getting Married (Limited Release)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
MPAA Rating: R
Movie Website: RachelGettingMarriedmovie.com
Actors/Actresses: Anne Hathaway, Debra Winger, Bill Irwin, Tunde Adebimpe, Anna Deavere Smith
Synopsis: “Rachel Getting Married” is a contemporary drama with an aggressive sense of humor about the return of an estranged daughter to the family home for her sister’s wedding.
Kym’s (Hathaway) reemergence throws a wrench into the family dynamics, forcing long-simmering tensions to surface in ways both hilarious and heartbreaking.
“Rachel Getting Married” paints a colorful, nuanced family portrait and is filled with the rich characters that have always been a hallmark of Jonathan Demme’s films.
Religulous (Limited Release)
Genre: Documentary, Politics/Religion
MPAA Rating: R
Movie Website: Lionsgate.com/Religulous
Actors/Actresses: Bill Maher, Tal Bachman, Larry Charles
Synopsis: The documentary “Religulous” follows political humorist and author Bill Maher (“Real Time With Bill Maher,” “Politically Incorrect”) as he travels around the globe interviewing people about God and religion. Known for his astute analytical skills, irreverent wit and commitment to never pulling a punch, Maher brings his characteristic honesty to an unusual spiritual journey. Directed by Larry Charles (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), “Religulous” will mark Charles’ first feature project since the critically acclaimed, wildly successful “Borat.”
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