FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2006

SHUT UP AND SING: Expands to open in Grand Rapids and Lansing: “SHUT UP AND SING” travels with the Dixie Chicks, from the peak of their popularity as the national-anthem-singing darlings of country music and top-selling female recording artists of all time, through the now infamous anti-Bush comment made by the group’s lead singer Natalie Maines in 2003. The film follows the lives and careers of the Dixie Chicks over a period of three years during which they were under political attack and received death threats, while continuing to live their lives, have children, and of course make music. At a time when the United States is fighting for democracy and freedom in another country, it raises questions abut our own right to freedom of speech and the negative consequences it sometimes has. (Weinstein Release) This film is rated R. Opening in Lansing and Grand Rapids

TURISTAS: After a terrifying bus accident maroons a diverse group of young adventure travelers in a remote Brazilian beach town, they slowly discover that the white sand beaches and lush jungles are concealing a darker, unsettling secret. Turistas stars Josh Duhamel (NBC’s “Las Vegas”) and Melissa George (The Amityville Horror) and is directed by John Stockwell (Blue Crush). (FOX ATOMIC). This film is rated R.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2006

APOCALYTO: Set in the Mayan civilization, when a man's idyllic presence is brutally disrupted by a violent invading force, he is taken on a perilous journey to a world ruled by fear and oppression where a harrowing end awaits him. Through a twist of fate and spurred by the power of his love for his woman and his family he will make a desperate break to return home and to ultimately save his way of life. Starring Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Dalia Hernadndez, Mayra Serbulo, Rudy Youngblood and Gerardo Taracena. Written and directed by Mel Gibson. (TOUCHSTONE PICTURES) This film is R.

THE HOLIDAY: Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz), the owner of a prospering advertising firm that creates movie trailers, lives in Southern California. Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) writes the popular wedding column for London’s Daily Telegraph and resides in a charming cottage in the English countryside. Though Iris and Amanda live 6,000 miles apart, they are in exactly the same place: Just before Christmas, Iris and Amanda decide to take a needed break from the men in their lives (played by Edward Burns and Rufus Sewell) — and neither is much in the mood for a nostalgic chorus of “Auld Lang Syne.” Amanda, wanting to get out of town for the holidays, stumbles onto an internet site that specializes in home exchanges, and finds Iris’ English cottage to be the perfect antidote to her troubles. On impulse, Amanda and Iris agree to crisscross continents and move into each other’s homes for two weeks. Iris lands in Los Angeles on a spectacularly clear day warmed by the gusts of the seasonal Santa Ana winds. Not long after she arrives at Amanda’s Brentwood home, she is befriended by Arthur (Eli Wallach), a noted screenwriter from Hollywood’s Golden Era, and Miles (Jack Black), a film composer who works with Amanda’s ex-boyfriend. In England, where it is anything but balmy, Amanda is just settling into the cozy solitude of the snow-covered Rose Hill Cottage, when Iris’ handsome brother Graham (Jude Law) comes knocking at the cottage door.In an unexpected turn of events, both women discover that the best trips are the ones where you leave your baggage behind. (COLUMBIA PICTURES) Rated PG-13

FAMILY LAW: this Argentinian film centers around a father and his son, both whom are lawyers. The son can’t find his own identity because he works with his father, who is a well known lawyer. Having such high expectations hinders the son from discovering his identity, and growing up. Only when the father dies unexpectedly can the son finally begin the journey of finding himself. (IFC FILMS) This film is not yet rated.

OFF THE BLACK: A coming-of-age story of teenager Dave Tibbel who copes with his own distant father by forming an unlikely friendship with a disheveled, high school umpire, Ray Cooke (Timothy Hutton). As they grow more dependent on each other, Ray asks Dave to go to his 40th high school reunion and pretend to be his son, a benevolent act of deception that winds up opening unexpected dimensions in the two men. Written and directed by first timer Jamie Ponsoldt. Shown at Sundance Film Festival. (THINK FILM) This film is rated R.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2006

ERAGON: Based on the best-selling novel, this epic fantasy-adventure centers on a young man named Eragon whose destiny is revealed with the help of a dragon. Eragon, now a Dragon Rider, is swept into a world of magic and power, discovering that he alone has the power to save – or destroy – an Empire. Starring Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Guillory, Robert Carlyle, Djimon Hounsou, Garrett Hedlund, and John Malkovich, directed by Stefen Fangmeier. (TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX) This film is rated PG.

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS: In the moving drama “The Pursuit of Happyness,” Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is a marginally employed salesman and a single father, struggling with the mother (Thandie Newton) of his five-year-old son (Jaden Smith). When they are evicted from their apartment, Gardner finds himself alone with his son in San Francisco and no place to go. Even when Gardner lands an intern position at a prestigious stock brokerage film, it pays no money. Forced to live in shelters, enduring many hardships as he goes through their program, Chris refuses to let this dampen his spirits as he pursues his dream of security for himself and his son. This film is directed by Gabriele Muccino and written by Steve Conrad. (COLUMBIA PICTURES) This film is rated PG-13.

CHARLOTTE’S WEB: In “Charlotte’s Web,” someone very small finds that the most powerful force in the world is the bond of friendship. Wilbur, a pig and the runt of the litter, has a gentle manner that makes him seem naïve to the other animals in his new barn, but to Charlotte – the spider who lives in the rafters – he is a welcome friend. Their connection is shown to be a lasting one when the other animals reveal that the pig’s days are numbered. It seems that only a miracle will save Wilbur’s life, but a determined Charlotte – who sees miracles in the ordinary – spins words into her web in an effort to convince the farmer that Wilbur is “some pig” and worth saving. E.B. White’s magical, beloved story of loyalty and sacrifice comes to life in this live-action adaptation. The cast includes Dakota Fanning and the voices of Julia Roberts, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Oprah Winfrey, Cedric the Entertainer, André Benjamin, Thomas Haden Church, Robert Redford, Reba McEntire, Kathy Bates. Note: Charlotte’s Web, written by E. B. White with illustrations by Garth Williams, is the best-selling children’s paperback of all time. (PARAMOUNT PICTURES) This film is rated G.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2006

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM is an action-adventure-comedy that comes to life by night. Good-hearted dreamer Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), despite being perpetually down on his luck, thinks he’s destined for something big. But even he could never have imagined how “big,” when he accepts what appears to be a menial job as a graveyard-shift security guard at a museum of natural history. During Larry’s watch, extraordinary things begin to occur: Mayans, Roman Gladiators, and cowboys emerge from their diorama to wage epic battles; in his quest for fire, a Neanderthal burns down his own display; Attila the Hun pillages his neighboring exhibits, and a T-Rex reminds everyone why he’s history’s fiercest predator. Amidst the chaos, the only person Larry can turn to for advice is a wax figure of President Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), who helps our hero harness the bedlam, stop a nefarious plot, and save the museum. Also starring Carla Gugino, Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs, Ricky Gervais, and Kim Raver and directed by Sean Levey. (TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX) This film is rated PG.

VOLVER: Exclusively at the Main Art: In writer/director Pedro Almodóvar's (Bad Education) new comedy, three generations of women survive wind, fire and even death, thanks to goodness, audacity and a limitless vitality. Abuela (Carmen Maura) may have died in a house fire, but that doesn't stop her from returning home to fix the problems she couldn't resolve while she was alive. When the initial shock has worn off, her ghost becomes a comfort to her daughters Raimunda (Penélope Cruz) and Sole (Lola Dueñas), as well as her grandchild Paula (Yohana Cobo). The living and the dead coexist with little discord, causing situations that are both hilarious and filled with deep, genuine emotion. (Fully subtitled). (Sony Pictures Classics) This film is rated R.

THE HISTORY BOYS: Exclusively at Landmark Main Art “THE HISTORY BOYS” tells the story of an unruly class of bright, funny history students in pursuit of an undergraduate place at Oxford or Cambridge. Bounce between their maverick English master (Richard Griffiths), a young and shrewd teacher hired to up their test scores (Stephen Campbell Moore), a grossly out –numbered history teacher (France de la Tour), and a headmaster obsessed with results (Clive Merrison), the boys attempt to sift through it all to passs the daunting university admissions process. Their journey becomes as much about how education works, as it is about where education leads. Nicholas hytner, who won a 2006 Tony Award for directing the play on Broadway, also directs the film. (FOX SEARCHLIGHT) This film is film is rated R.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD: Matt Damon plays Edward Wilson -- an eager, optimistic student at Yale, who is recruited to join the secret society Skull and Bones, a brotherhood for future world leaders. Wilson's spotless reputation and sincere belief in American values render him a prime candidate for a career in intelligence, and he is soon recruited to work for the OSS (the precursor to the CIA) during WWII. As his methods are adopted as standard operating procedure, Wilson develops into one of the Agency's veteran operatives, all the while combating his KGB counterpart. However, his steely dedication to his country comes at an ever-increasing price. Not even his wife can divert Wilson from a path that will force him to sacrifice everything in pursuit of this job. Robert De Niro will costar as the general who recruits Wilson, and Angelina Jolie will play Wilson's wife. De Niro directs. Also starring Joe Pesce, Alec Baldwin, John Turturro and Patrick Wilson. The screenplay for The Good Shepherd is written by Eric Roth. (UNIVERSAL PICTURES) This film is not yet rated.

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER: Set in China's Tang Dynasty, follows an imperial bodyguard named Phoenix and Prince Ping as pair of star-crossed lovers who fall in love within the borders of a kingdom. Numerous forces, including Ping's stepmother, who is also in love with him, try to keep the lovers apart. It leads them on a dangerous journey where secrets of the royal family are uncovered. Staring talent from Chow Yun-Fat, Gong Li, Liu Ye, Chen Jin and Jay Chou. Written and directed by Yimou Zhang. (SONY PICTURES CLASSICS) This film is not yet rated.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2006

BLACK CHRISTMAS: A killer terrorizes a sorority house during Christmas break in this remake of 1974's "Black Christmas." The film is directed by Glen Morgan and stars Michelle Trachtenberg, Oliver Hudson, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Katie Cassidy and Lacey Chabert, written and directed by Glen Morgan. (DIMENSION) This film is not yet rated.

DREAMGIRLS: Twenty-five years after first bringing Broadway audiences to their feet, the Tony Award-winning musical sensation “Dreamgirls” comes to the big screen starring Academy Award® winner Jamie Foxx (“Ray”), Beyoncé Knowles (“Austin Powers in Goldmember”), Danny Glover (the “Lethal Weapon” franchise), newcomer Jennifer Hudson, Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose (Broadway’s “Caroline or Change”) and Eddie Murphy (“The Nutty Professor,” “Dr. Dolittle”). Set in the turbulent early 1960s to mid-70s, “Dreamgirls” follows the rise of a trio of women—Effie (Jennifer Hudson), Deena (Beyoncé Knowles) and Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose)—who have formed a promising girl group called The Dreamettes. At a talent competition, they are discovered by an ambitious manager named Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Jamie Foxx), who offers them the opportunity of a lifetime: to become the back-up singers for headliner James “Thunder” Early (Eddie Murphy). Curtis gradually takes control of the girls’ look and sound, eventually giving them their own shot in the spotlight as The Dreams. That spotlight, however, begins to narrow in on Deena, finally pushing the less attractive Effie out altogether. Though the Dreams become a crossover phenomenon, they soon realize that the cost of fame and fortune may be higher than they ever imagined. Rounding out the main cast are Keith Robinson (“Fat Albert”), Sharon Leal (TV’s “Boston Public”), and three-time Tony Award winner Hinton Battle (“Miss Saigon,” “The Tap Dance Kid,” “The Wiz”). “Dreamgirls” is being directed by Bill Condon from a screenplay he adapted from the stage musical’s original book by Tom Eyen. An Academy Award® winner for his screenplay for “Gods and Monsters,” which he also directed, Condon received another Oscar® nomination for his screenplay adaptation of “Chicago.” He more recently wrote and directed “Kinsey.” Academy Award®-nominated producer Laurence Mark (“Jerry Maguire,” “As Good As It Gets,” “I, Robot”) is producing “Dreamgirls,” with Patricia Whitcher (“Memoirs of a Geisha,” “The Terminal”) executive producing. The lyrics are by Tom Eyen, with music by Henry Krieger. (PARAMOUNT PICTURES) This film is rated PG-13.

FRIDAY , DECEMBER 29, 2006

THE PAINTED VEIL: Exclusively at Landmark Maple Art:A love story set in the 1920’s about a young English couple a conservative doctor and a restless society girl who marry hastily and then relocate to Hong Kong. There they bet ray each other easily, and find an unexpected chance at redemption and happiness while on a deadly journey into the heart of ancient China. Edward Norton and Naomi Watts star. Directed by John Curran. Based on the novel by Somerset Maugham, which was made into a film in 1934, and again in 1957. (WARNER INDEPENDENT PICTURES) This film is rated PG-13.