celluloidnotes

Here is last weeks top ten films at the box office, followed by the top ten on the year.

1. Obsession ($28.6 M)
2. 17 Again ($11.5 M)
3. Fighting ($11 M)
4. The Soloist ($9.72 M)
5. Earth ($8.83 M)
6. Monsters vs. Aliens ($8.52 M)
7. State of Play ($6.85 M)
8. Hannah Montana: The Movie ($6.44 M)
9. Fast & Furious ($6.02 M)
10. Crank: High Voltage ($2.62 M)

Top Ten of 2009:
1. Monsters vs. Aliens ($174.8 M)
2. Fast & Furious ($145.4 M)
3. Paul Blart: Mall Cop ($145.1 M)
4. Taken ($142.6 M)
5. Watchmen ($107 M)
6. He’s Just Not That Into You ($93.6 M)
7. Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail ($90.5 M)
8. Knowing ($76.7 M)
9. Coraline ($74.9 M)
10. Hotel For Dogs ($72.6 M)

FILM OF THE WEEK:
The Limits of Control
dir. Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Isaach De Bankolé

All that really needs to be said is new Jim Jarmusch. But since that would be the short way out I’ll continue with that Jarmusch never misses. This film looks mysterious and fantastic - the buzz is positive. I see no way this can go too wrong.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine
dir. Gavin Hood
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds

Despite the early leak of a rough cut of this film there has continued to be a lot of positive buzz about the fourth live action X-Men film. The other three were essentially about Wolverine, but this Wolverine focused film comes on the heels of Wolverine month at Marvel (how coincidental) and appears to be a success. This film will definitely be at the top of box office charts to be sure.

Battle for Terra
dir. Aristomenis Tsirbas
Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Luke Wilson, Justin Long

Despite the absurd looks of this debut animation endeavor from Snoot Entertainment there has been nothing but positive buzz about this film. IMDB is predicting a big success here, I wouldn’t be surprised. Kid’s movies have done very well at the box office so far this year, and we’re waiting for something to displace the mediocre Monsters vs. Aliens as this year’s reigning kid’s champion.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
dir. Mark Waters
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Emma Stone

Dear lord, make it end. It’s sure to be a disaster.

NEW YORK, NY:
04.25 - A Discussion with So-Yong Kim & Bradley Rust Grey // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 4pm
04.25 - Er Dong (Yang Jin) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 1:30pm
04.25 - Ma Wu Jia (Zhao Ye) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 4:30pm
04.25 - Little Moth (Peng Tao) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 6:45pm
04.25 - A Discussion with Ti West // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 6:30pm
04.25 - SAGIndie presents: What’s Next - Indie Film Today [forum] // IFC: 1pm
04.26 - Good Cats (Ying Liang) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 6:20pm
04.26 - Iri (Zhang Lu) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 6:45pm
04.26 - A Discussion with Conor McPherson // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 5pm
04.26 - The Adventures of Goopy & Bagha (Satyajit Ray) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 1:30pm
04.26 - Days & Nights in the Forest (Satyajit Ray) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 4pm
04.27 - Nashville (Robert Altman) [FREE] // (Le) Poisson Rouge: 8:30pm
04.27 - Days & Nights in the Forest (Satyajit Ray) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 6:30pm
04.27 - A Discussion with Gabriel Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna and Carlos Cuaron // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Festival: 5pm
04.27 - A Discussion with Gabriel Noble // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 6:30pm
04.27 - A Discussion with Atom Egoyan // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 8pm
04.28 - Treeless Mountain (So-Yong Kim - Director Present) // Film Forum
04.28 - Adoration (Atom Egoyan) [preview screening] // IFC Center
04.28 - A Discussion with Eric Bana // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 6:30pm
04.28 - Youth Knows No Pain (Mitch McCabe) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 6:30pm
04.28 - The Way We Get By (Leo Hurwitz & Paul Strand) // Stranger Than Fiction Series: IFC: 8pm
04.29 - Class: Gorilla Filmmaking on a Mac // Apple Store SOHO: 5pm
04.29-05.06 - Scene Brooklyn Film Festival
04.30 - A Discussion with Kirby Dick // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 5pm
05.01 - A Discussion with Nia Vardalos & Donald Petrie // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 7pm
05.02 - Student Film Panel // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 5pm
06.24 - Visionfest Film Festival
07.28-08.02 - New York International Latino Film Fest (presented by HBO) (10th Annual)

MINNEAPOLIS, MN
04.25 - Hunger (Steve McQueen) // Walker Art Center
04.26 - Hunger (Steve McQueen) // Walker Art Center
04.27 - Rope (Alfred Hitchcock) // Riverview Theater
05.04 - Strangers on a Train (Alfred Hitchcock) // Riverview Theater
05.07 - Annie Get Your Gun (George Sidney) // Heights Theater
05.11 - To Catch a Thief (Alfred Hitchcock) // Riverview Theater
05.18 - Vertigo (Alfred Hitchcock) // Riverview Theater
05.21 - Leave Her to Heaven (John M Stahl) // Heights Theater: 7:30pm

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
04.30 - The Great Gatsby (Jack Clayton) // Cinema Paradiso (FREE)
05.05 - Solo Con Tu Pareja (Alfonso Cuaron) // Cinema Paradiso

KANSAS CITY, MO
04.22-26 - Kansas City Film Festival

BOSTON, MA
04.22-26 - Independent Film Festival Boston

MEMPHIS, NA
04.23-26 - On Location: Memphis

LOS ANGELES, CA
04.30-05.07 - Los Angeles United Film Festival
05.03-08 - British Film Festival Los Angeles
06.05-11 - Dances with Films Film Festival

TAMPA BAY, FL
05.01-02 - Motion Film Festival

INTERLOCHEN, MI
05.01-03 Future of Cinema International Film Festival

HOLLYWOOD, CA
05.01-08 - First Glance Hollywood Film Festival
08.06-09 - Hollyshorts Film Festival (5th Annual)
08.25-09.01 - Action/Cut - Short Film Competition
10.21-26 - Hollywood Film Fest (13th Annual)

WASHINGTON D.C.
05.07-09 - Politics on Film Film Festival
09.10-17 - DC Shorts Film Festival (6th Annual)

TURKU, FINLAND
05.21-25 - Polar Film Festival

TORONTO, ON
05.27 - Student Film Showcase ‘09 // AMC (Yonge): 7pm

BIRMINGHAM, AL
05.29-30 - Birmingham Shout! Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (4th Annual)

NEWPORT, RI
06.03-07 - Newport International Film Festival

LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ
06.04-07 - Lighthouse International Film Festival

CULVER CITY, CA
06.05-07 - Producers Challenge!

SAVANNAH, GA
06.10-14 - Blue Ocean Film Festival

NANTUCKET, MA
06.19-21 - Nantucket Film Festival and Screenplay Competition (14th Annual)

PALM SPRINGS, CA
06.23-29 - Palm Springs International Shortfest

PHILADELPHIA, PA
06.25-28 - Philadelphia Independent Film Festival (2nd Annual)
10.15-18 - Firstglance Film Fest (12th annual)

DEAL PARK, NJ
07.08-18 - Jersey Shore Film Festival (4th Annual)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA
07.24-26 - SSG Summer Shorts Fest

SACRAMENTO, CA
07.24-08.02 - Sacramento Film and Music Fest (10th Annual)

WOODS HOLE, MA
07.25-08.01 - Woods Hole Film Fest (18th Annual)

STRASBOURG, ALSACE (FRANCE)
08.28-09.06 - Strasbourg International Film Festival

SUN VALLEY, ID
09.18-20 - Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival (5th Annual)

KANSAS CITY, KA
09.18-24 - Kansas International Film Festival (9th Annual)

PORT TOWNSEND, WA
09.24-27 - Port Townsend Film Festival (10th Annual)

HONOLULU, HI
10.15-25 - Honolulu International Film Festival (29th Annual)

CHICAGO, IL
10.22-11.01 - Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (26th Annual)

BIRMINGHAM, AL
10.25-27 - Sidewalk Moving Picture Fest

TV:
04.25 - The Glass Shield (Charles Burnett) // IFC: 9:45pm
04.26 - The Fish Fall in Love (Ali Raffi) [Global Film Initiative 2008] // Link TV
04.27 - Renaissance (Christian Volkman) // IFC: 8pm
04.29 - The Fish Fall in Love (Ali Raffi) [Global Film Initiative 2008] // Link TV
05.01 - Palookaville (Alan Taylor) // IFC: 9:55pm
05.02 - Bunny Chow (John Barber) [Global Film Initiative] // Link TV
05.02 - Mother Night (Keith Gordon) // IFC: 11:30pm
05.05 - Bunny Chow (John Barber) [Global Film Initiative] // Link TV
05.06 - A Fistful of Dynamite (Sergio Leone) // IFC: 8pm
05.06 - Bunny Chow (John Barber) [Global Film Initiative] // Link TV
05.07 - Wide Sargasso Sea (John Duigan) // IFC: 10pm
05.08 - Kilometre Zero (Hiner Saleem) [Global Film Initiative] // Link TV
05.09 - Kilometre Zero (Hiner Saleem) [Global Film Initiative] // Link TV
05.15 - Nada+ (Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti) [Global Film Initiative] // Link TV
05.16 - Nada+ (Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti) [Global Film Initiative] // Link TV

DVD Releases
05.05 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (David Fincher) [CRITERION]
05.12 - Wise Blood (John Huston) [CRITERION]
05.12 - Eclipse Series 16: Alexander Korda’s Private Lives [CRITERION]
05.19 - Pigs, Pimps, and Prostitutes: 3 films by Shohei Imamura [CRITERION]
05.19 - The Friends of Eddie Coyle (Peter Yates) [CRITERION]

THEATRICAL RELEASES
05.01 - X-Men: Wolverine - Origins (Gavin Hood)
05.01 - The Limits of Control (Jim Jarmusch) [limited]
05.08 - Star Trek (J.J. Abrams)
05.21 - Terminator: Salvation (McG)
05.22 - The Girlfriend Experience (Steven Soderberg) [limited]
05.29 - Departures (Yojiro Takita) [Limited]

TV times are EST. Times subject to change. Screenings with no time listed have multiple screenings throughout the day. Bolded screenings are recommended picks.

To find out more about these screenings visit the venue websites:
Film Forum (NYC)
(Le) Poisson Rouge (NYC)
IFC (NYC)
Bryant Lake Bowl (Minneapolis)
Heights Theater (Minneapolis)
Film Society of Lincoln Center (NYC)
Museum of the Moving Image (NYC)
Stranger Than Fiction Series (NYC)
Cinema Revolution (Minneapolis)
Walker Art Center (Minneapolis)
Cinema Paradiso (Fort Lauderdale)
Apple Store SoHo - Tribeca Film Fest (NYC)
The Criterion Collection

As always, if you’d like to see your venue’s screenings, your film’s or your film society’s upcoming screenings listed here send an e-mail to us at celluloidnotes [at] gmail [dot] com. We’d love to hear from you.

Here is last week’s top ten films at the box office. We’re also starting something new here - we’re going to include the top ten films of the year to date following last week’s top ten.
Please leave some comments about the state of decay.

Last Week:
1. 17 Again ($24.1 M // $24.1 M)
2. State of Play ($14.1 M // $14.1 M)
3. Monsters vs. Aliens ($12.9 M // $163 M)
4. Hannah Montana: The Movie ($12.7 M // $56.1 M)
5. Fast & Furious ($12.3 M // $137 M)
6. Crank: High Voltage ($5.61 M // $5.61 M)
7. Observe & Report ($4.05 M // $18.7 M)
8. Knowing ($3.48 M // $73.7 M)
9. I Love You, Man ($3.37 M // $64.7 M)
10. The Haunting in Connecticut ($3.15 M // $51.9 M)

Year to Date:
1. Monsters vs. Aliens ($162.7 M)
2. Paul Blart: Mall Cop ($143.95 M)
3. Taken ($142.1 M)
4. Fast & Furious ($136.7 M)
5. Watchmen ($106.65 M)
6. He’s Just Not That Into You ($93.2 M)
7. Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail ($90.5 M)
8. Coraline ($74.8 M)
9. Knowing ($73.9)
10. Hotel for Dogs ($72.3)

All totals are taken from Box Office Mojo.

NEW YORK, NY:
04.18 - Pather Panchali (Satyajit Ray) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 1:45pm
04.18 - Aparajito (Satyajit Ray) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 4:10pm
04.18 - The World of Apu (Satyajit Ray) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 6:30pm
04.21 - Native Land (Paul Strand & Leo Hurwitz) // IFC Center
04.22-05.03 - Tribeca International Film Festival
04.22 - A Discussion with Spike Lee // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 7pm
04.23 - An Evening with Jim Jarmusch // Museum of the Moving Image: 8pm
04.24 - Chongqing (Zhang Lu) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 6:45pm
04.24 - The Other Half (Ying Liang) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 9pm
04.24 - A Discussion with Natalie Portman // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 3:30pm
04.24 - A Discussion with Dan Fogler // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 6pm
04.24 - A Discussion with Lee Daniels // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 7:30pm
04.25 - A Discussion with So-Yong Kim & Bradley Rust Grey // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 4pm
04.25 - Er Dong (Yang Jin) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 1:30pm
04.25 - Ma Wu Jia (Zhao Ye) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 4:30pm
04.25 - Little Moth (Peng Tao) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 6:45pm
04.25 - A Discussion with Ti West // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 6:30pm
04.26 - Good Cats (Ying Liang) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 6:20pm
04.26 - Iri (Zhang Lu) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 6:45pm
04.26 - A Discussion with Conor McPherson // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 5pm
04.27 - A Discussion with Gabriel Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna and Carlos Cuaron // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Festival: 5pm
04.27 - A Discussion with Gabriel Noble // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 6:30pm
04.27 - A Discussion with Atom Egoyan // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 8pm
04.28 - Treeless Mountain (So-Yong Kim - Director Present) // Film Forum
04.28 - Adoration (Atom Egoyan) [preview screening] // IFC Center
04.28 - A Discussion with Eric Bana // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 6:30pm
04.28 - Youth Knows No Pain (Mitch McCabe) // Film Society of Lincoln Center: 6:30pm
04.29 - Class: Gorilla Filmmaking on a Mac // Apple Store SOHO: 5pm
04.30 - A Discussion with Kirby Dick // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 5pm
05.01 - A Discussion with Nia Vardalos & Donald Petrie // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 7pm
05.02 - Student Film Panel // Apple Store SOHO ~ Tribeca Film Fest: 5pm
06.24 - Visionfest Film Festival
07.28-08.02 - New York International Latino Film Fest (presented by HBO) (10th Annual)

MINNEAPOLIS, MN
04.18 - Hunger (Steve McQueen) // Walker Art Center
04.20 - Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock) // Riverview Theater
04.23 - Fados (Carlos Saura) // Walker Art Center: 7:30pm [FREE]
04.25 - Hunger (Steve McQueen) // Walker Art Center
04.26 - Hunger (Steve McQueen) // Walker Art Center
04.27 - Rope (Alfred Hitchcock) // Riverview Theater
05.04 - Strangers on a Train (Alfred Hitchcock) // Riverview Theater
05.07 - Annie Get Your Gun (George Sidney) // Heights Theater
05.11 - To Catch a Thief (Alfred Hitchcock) // Riverview Theater
05.18 - Vertigo (Alfred Hitchcock) // Riverview Theater

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
04.21 - The Night of the Hunter (Charles Laughton) // Cinema Paradiso
04.30 - The Great Gatsby (Jack Clayton) // Cinema Paradiso (FREE)
05.05 - Solo Con Tu Pareja (Alfonso Cuaron) // Cinema Paradiso

TORONTO, ON
04.18-24 - Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children

TAMPA BAY, FL
05.01-02 - Motion Film Festival

INTERLOCHEN, MI
05.01-03 Future of Cinema International Film Festival

WASHINGTON D.C.
05.07-09 - Politics on Film Film Festival
09.10-17 - DC Shorts Film Festival (6th Annual)

TURKU, FINLAND
05.21-25 - Polar Film Festival

TORONTO, ON
05.27 - Student Film Showcase ‘09 // AMC (Yonge): 7pm

BIRMINGHAM, AL
05.29-30 - Birmingham Shout! Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (4th Annual)

NEWPORT, RI
06.03-07 - Newport International Film Festival

LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ
06.04-07 - Lighthouse International Film Festival

LOS ANGELES, CA
06.05-11 - Dances with Films Film Festival

SAVANNAH, GA
06.10-14 - Blue Ocean Film Festival

NANTUCKET, MA
06.19-21 - Nantucket Film Festival and Screenplay Competition (14th Annual)

PALM SPRINGS, CA
06.23-29 - Palm Springs International Shortfest

PHILADELPHIA, PA
06.25-28 - Philadelphia Independent Film Festival (2nd Annual)
10.15-18 - Firstglance Film Fest (12th annual)

DEAL PARK, NJ
07.08-18 - Jersey Shore Film Festival (4th Annual)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA
07.24-26 - SSG Summer Shorts Fest

SACRAMENTO, CA
07.24-08.02 - Sacramento Film and Music Fest (10th Annual)

WOODS HOLE, MA
07.25-08.01 - Woods Hole Film Fest (18th Annual)

HOLLYWOOD, CA
08.06-09 - Hollyshorts Film Festival (5th Annual)
08.25-09.01 - Action/Cut - Short Film Competition
10.21-26 - Hollywood Film Fest (13th Annual)

STRASBOURG, ALSACE (FRANCE)
08.28-09.06 - Strasbourg International Film Festival

SUN VALLEY, ID
09.18-20 - Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival (5th Annual)

KANSAS CITY, KA
09.18-24 - Kansas International Film Festival (9th Annual)

PORT TOWNSEND, WA
09.24-27 - Port Townsend Film Festival (10th Annual)

HONOLULU, HI
10.15-25 - Honolulu International Film Festival (29th Annual)

CHICAGO, IL
10.22-11.01 - Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (26th Annual)

TV:
04.18 - Flying By (Jim Amatolli) [world premiere] // Lifetime Movie Network
04.20 - The Controller (Frank Michels) [world premiere] // STARZ: 3:50pm
04.24 - Paranoia 1.0 // IFC: 9:45pm
04.25 - The Glass Shield (Charles Burnett) // IFC: 9:45pm
04.27 - Renaissance (Christian Volkman) // IFC: 8pm
05.01 - Palookaville (Alan Taylor) // IFC: 9:55pm
05.02 - Mother Night (Keith Gordon) // IFC: 11:30pm
05.06 - A Fistful of Dynamite (Sergio Leone) // IFC: 8pm
05.07 - Wide Sargasso Sea (John Duigan) // IFC: 10pm

DVD Releases
05.05 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (David Fincher) [CRITERION]
05.12 - Wise Blood (John Huston) [CRITERION]
05.12 - Eclipse Series 16: Alexander Korda’s Private Lives [CRITERION]
05.19 - Pigs, Pimps, and Prostitutes: 3 films by Shohei Imamura [CRITERION]
05.19 - The Friends of Eddie Loyle (Peter Yates) [CRITERION]

TV times are EST. Times subject to change. Screenings with no time listed have multiple screenings throughout the day. Bolded screenings are recommended picks.

To find out more about these screenings visit the venue websites:
Film Forum (NYC)
(Le) Poisson Rouge (NYC)
IFC (NYC)
Bryant Lake Bowl (Minneapolis)
Heights Theater (Minneapolis)
Film Society of Lincoln Center (NYC)
Museum of the Moving Image (NYC)
Stranger Than Fiction Series (NYC)
Cinema Revolution (Minneapolis)
Walker Art Center (Minneapolis)
Cinema Paradiso (Fort Lauderdale)
Apple Store SoHo - Tribeca Film Fest (NYC)
The Criterion Collection

As always, if you’d like to see your venue’s screenings, your film’s upcoming screenings, or your film society’s upcoming screenings listed here send an e-mail to us at celluloidnotes [at] gmail [dot] com. We’d love to hear from you.

As is often the case around this time of year, the trailers are appearing everywhere you look. And, as is also typical this time of year, I want to see everything that looks even remotely interesting because I’ve got the thirst to see new films and know by the time these come out I’ll take any excuse to get out the heat. So, hear are some new trailers that are just hitting the InterWebs:

Trailer for Valhalla:

Edgar Wright gives the first glimpses of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (which The Playlist is following better than anyone else):

Blog One - Introduction - Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World from Scott Pilgrim The Movie on Vimeo.

A new trailer for Rian Johnson’s The Brothers Bloom:

The trailer for Moon, a new Sci-Fi film starring Sam Rockwell and directed by Duncan Jones (he’s David Bowie’s son):

Also there is a trailer for the sequel to Descent here (obviously called Descent 2).

PICK OF THE WEEK:
State of Play
dir. Kevin Macdonald
Starring: Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren

Only positive things seem to be coming about this political thriller. Macdonald is a rising director, and has been given a great cast for this film. Let’s hope it lives up to expectations.

Crank: High Voltage
dir. Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Starring: Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Clifton Collins Jr.

This sequel seems ill advised from the get-go. I seem to be one of the few who thought the first Crank was an abysmal train-wreck. The commentary to that film only confirm the notion that this debut directorial team phoned this one in. At the end of the first film Chev Chelios (Statham) seems to be dead - as you might have guessed he is not. Now instead of adrenaline to keep himself alive he needs regular shocks of electricity to his heart to seek his revenge. The directorial team definitely has a stylized visual palate, but we hope that the script has a little more style than their last one.

17 Again
dir. Burr Steers
Starring: Zac Efron, Matthew Perry, Leslie Mann

Hillary Duff isn’t the only child star that is struggling to be taken seriously by adults…Only this probably isn’t the film that’s going to do it for Efron

Every Little Step [limited]
dir. Adam Del Deo, James D. Stern

This documentary follows a series of actress auditioning to be in the latest Broadway revival of Chorus Line. Looks interesting despite the less than interesting subject matter.

Is Anybody There? [limited]
dir. John Crowley
Stars: Michael Caine, Bill Milner

this drama focuses on a ten-year-old boy (Milner) who is growing up in a retirement home that his family owns and his relationship with a retired magician (Caine). Looks quirky, funny, sad, about everything you’re looking for if you aren’t excited about the oncoming Blockbuster season.

Last Week’s Top Ten
1. Hannah Montana: The Movie
2. Fast & Furious
3. Monsters vs. Aliens
4. Observe and Report
5. Knowing
6. I Love You, Man
7. The Haunting in Connecticut
8. Dragonball: Evolution
9. Adventureland
10. Duplicity

Missed you last week. We had to go on a short hiatus there while some other things got lined up. But, back to our regular programming. What to see this weekend:

PICK OF THE WEEK:
Adventureland
dir. Greg Mottola
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds

Another creation from the (more-or-less) Apatow factory. This time Mottola (Superbad) is opting for some huge stars with the great Jesse Eisenberg in the lead. We’ll see if it lives up to the recent spat of solid Factory films, but it looks fairly promising.

Fast & Furious
dir. Justin Lin
Stars: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez

The series is back with Paul Walker and Vin Diesel in the lead. Which leads us to believe that people are still paying to see these films for some reason.

Sugar
dir. Anna Boden Ryan Fleck
Stars: Algenis Perez Soto

HBO films biopic of Miguel Santos journey from The Domincan Republic to the US to play minors baseball looks interesting. But will the biopic really stray from the well worn path of most boring biopics that are flooding the cinema?

Gigantic [limited]
dir. Matt Aselton
Stars: Paul Dano, Zooey Deschanel, John Goodman

Gigantic looks like a really great film, with a pretty amazing cast. Dano has been in some fantastic films since his great performance in There Will Be Blood, and this doesn’t look like it’ll stray too far from the mark.

Paris 36
dir. Christophe Barratier
Stars: Gérard Jugnot, Clovis Cornillac, Kad Merad

Paris 36 is the story of the residence of a poor northern Paris neighborhood who decide to put on a musical. Those crazy Parisians. Meh.

Alien Trespass [limited]
dir. R.W. Goodwin
Stars: Eric McCormack, Jenni Baird, Robert Patrick

A mock B-movie (clearly) that looks kind of funny, but you never can tell with a film that is intentionally flaunting itself as a B film.

LAST WEEK’s TOP TEN:
1. Monsters vs. Aliens
2. The Haunting in Connecticut
3. Knowing
4. I Love You Man
5. Duplicity
6. Race To Witch Mountain
7. 12 Rounds
8. Watchmen
9. Taken
10. The Last House on the Left

Actor Ron Silver has passed away. Silver was famous for many reasons including his TONY winning role in David Mamet’s “Speed-the-Plow,” his famed role in “The West Wing,” and his impressive resume of horror films including Timecop, Shadow Zone: The Undead Express, The Wisher, and The Arrival.

Silver was also an activist for many liberal causes that benefitted greatly from his contributions. After 09/11 he stood with Bush, and even spoke at the Republican National Convention. This act found him somewhat ostracized from Hollywood. He later revoked his support of the war in Iraq, but in a decidedly left leaning industry Silver found work thinning towards the end of his life, in part due to his strong support of ex-President Bush.

Talking on the sad news Robin Bronk, executive director of the Creative Coalition, which Silver founded years ago, said, “Ron Silver died peacefully in his sleep with his family around him early Sunday morning. He had been fighting esophageal cancer for two years.”

PICK OF THE WEEK:
Duplicity
dir. Tony Gilroy
Starring: Julia Roberts, Clive Owen

Going a little mainstream on the pick of the week, and putting some blind faith in tony Gilroy’s ability to deliver in his second directorial adventure. It’s another spy thriller, which is hopefully as surprising as his great Michael Clayton. Like every other spy thriller this year it stars Clive Owen. Meh, I’m going with it.

Knowing
dir. Alex Proyas
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Chandler Canterbury, Rose Byrne

Remember when Nicolas Cage used to do films that were at least mildly interesting, I don’t anymore. This film is about Cage’s family and their son who discovers an artifact that predicts natural disasters. Sounds like a snooze-fest that you surely be on next week’s top ten list.

Sin Nombre [limited]
dir. Cary Fukunaga
Stars: Paulina Gaitan

Sin Nombre was second in the running for this weeks PICK OF THE WEEK. It’s a story of two teenagers from Honduras who hop aboard a freight train bound for America. Both are running from their past. The trailer is very enticing.

I Love You, Man
dir. John Hamburg
Stars: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones

Next up from the Apatow factory: I Love You, Man. All of the promo has given very little away about this film, or there is really no plot. Expect a funny first act, a mildly funny second act - with lots of zaniness, and a third act where morality surfaces and everyone learns a little something about themselves.

Lesbian Vampire Killers
dir. Phil Claydon
Starring: James Corden, MyAnna Buring

I don’t know what to say. Only AWESOME comes to mind. (Kind of looks like an Edgar Wright film, no?)

The Great Buck Howard
dir. Sean McGinly
Starring: John Malkovich, Colin Hanks

This honestly looks like it could be a great film, or another semi-boring idea that got watered down by focus groups. Great guest stars (Conan O’Brian, Martha Stewart, Tom Hanks), and Malkovich is always great (we think).

Super Capers
dir. Ray Griggs
Stars: Justin Whalin, Ray Griggs, Danielle Harris

Not sure about this. It almost sounds like it should be thrown in with the Scary Movie lot, but who knows. I’ve got no faith in this and the early signs seem to say I’m right.

Last Week’s Top Ten:
1. Race to Witch Mountain
2. Watchmen
3. Last House on the Left
4. Taken
5. Madea Goes to Jail
6. Slumdog Millionaire
7. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
8. He’s Just Not That Into You
9. Coraline
10. Miss March