LIFE AS WE KNOW IT
Starring:
Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Josh Lucas, Christina Hendricks & Jean Smart
Directed by Greg
Berlanti for distribution by Warner Brothers
The Plot: After a
terrible first date, a caterer (Heigl) and a network sports director (Duhamel)
find themselves thrust back into each other lives, when their best friends are
killed in a car accident and leave the pair their infant daughter to raise.
The Final Word: At first glance this seems like
just another romantic comedy (albeit a dramatic one to start), but actually
Warner Brothers has inadvertently set the stage for two of Hollywood’s “it”
performers to prove themselves in the face of mounting criticism. Heigl, still
smarting from the backlash surrounding her departure from “Grey’s Anatomy” has
yet to prove she can consistently carry a movie by herself and Duhamel has yet
to live up the movie star hype that once ran rampant in studio boardrooms. Both could really use a big hit to boost
their credibility and with TV producer Greg Berlanti (“Everwood,” “Brothers and
Sisters”) stepping into the director’s chair, they have reason to be
optimistic.
SECRETARIAT
Starring: Diane
Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh, Dylan Baker & James Cromwell
Directed by
Randall Wallace for distribution by Walt Disney Pictures
The Plot: The true
story of a how a woman (Lane) successfully took on a the male-dominated world
of horse racing and ended up championing a Triple-Crown winning legend.
The Final Word: Disney has always been known for
two things; animation and inspiring sports stories. “Secretariat” boasts an all-star cast and a
amazing story that seems to be gunning for the same success Universal had in
2003 with “Seabiscuit”
BURIED
Starring: Ryan Reynolds,
Jose Maria Yazpik, Samantha Mathis & Stephen Tobolowsky.
Directed by
Rodrigo Cortes for distribution by Lionsgate
The Plot: A man
(Reynolds) wakes up buried alive six feet underground with no memory of how he
came into the situation. Left with just a cell phone, a lighter and a fleeting
amount of oxygen, he has just 90 minutes to find a way to survive.
The Final Word: The thought of being buried alive has long
frightened the viewing public and this movie is going to take it to a whole new
level. Ryan Reynolds in this, his last
film before his turn as “Green Lantern,” is quickly becoming a very bankable
star and should only continue to see his stock rise especially among critics.
Lionsgate has put together what looks like a very creepy yet intriguing
thriller that should play well in limited release before expanding nationally
in October.
STONE
Starring: Robert
DeNiro, Edward Norton, Milla Jovovich & Francis Conroy
Directed by John
Curran for distribution by Overture Films
The Plot: A retiring parole
officer (DeNiro) enters into a dangerous cat and mouse game with a convicted
murderer (Norton) eligible for probation.
The Final Word: The last time DeNiro and Norton
teamed up was 2001’s “The Score” and while it did okay at the box office,
nobody was overly raving about it. Now the pair (who do have great on-screen
chemistry) reteam in a psychological thriller that could equal the buzz of “The
Score,” but hopefully have a better result.
MY SOUL TO TAKE
Starring: Max
Thieriot, Emily Meade, Frank Grillo & Denzel Whitaker
Directed by Wes
Craven for distribution by Rogue
The Plot: A serial
killer returns to his hometown to seek vengeance by murdering seven children
who all were born on the day he was supposed killed.
The Final Word: When horror legend Wes Craven is directing
a 3D horror film in October, you don’t necessarily need a high profile cast, although
in this case it would probably help, considering the crowded release date it
was given.
Previewed next week: Conviction, Jackass 3-D, Red
Previewed next week: Conviction, Jackass 3-D, Red
