New In Theaters - September 2nd, 2011

THE DEBT

Starring: Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain, 
Jesper Christensen, Marton Csokas, Ciaran Hinds & Tom Wilkinson

Directed by John Madden for distribution by Focus Features

The Plot: The past lives of three Mossad agents come back to haunt them when they begin to question if a mission they thought they carried out was actually a success.

The Final Word: Remember “Shakespeare In Love?” That was the last time director John Madden has had a successful hit at the box office. Now after originally being conceived under the Miramax umbrella for a 2010 release, “The Debt” has been picked up by Focus Features and may finally see the light of day.

(8/31)

APOLLO 18

Directed by Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego for distribution by Weinstein Company

The Plot: Newly found footage spotlights the real reason why America has yet to return to the moon.

The Final Word: “Found” footage movies were a major sell to studios after “The Blair Witch Project” broke records in 1999, now in 2011, the Weinstein’s are trying to jumpstart the craze. The viral campaign for this movie started earlier in this year with a slick website and interesting premise, but it may have possibly been off the grid for too long as the movie was originally slated to open in April before being bounced to September. While the delay was rumored to be because of high advance buzz, some aren’t entirely sold that’s still the case.

SHARK NIGHT 3D

Starring: Sara Paxton, Dustin Milligan, Katharine McPhee, Chris Carmack,

Alyssa Diaz, Joel David Moore, Donal Logue, Sinqua Walls & Chris Zylka

Directed by David R. Ellis for distribution by Relativity Media

The Plot: A weekend lakeside retreat for a group of friends takes a deadly turn when a series of shark attacks turn their vacation into a nightmare.

The Final Word: The movie’s called “Shark Night 3D,” so I doubt anybody going to see this for the acting. With “Piranha 3D” crashing and burning earlier in the year, the bar can’t be set to high for the movie and I’m betting Relativity knows that given its end of summer release date. Granted audiences looking for one last summer blast at the Cineplex could still make this a surprise sleeper during the Labor Day weekend.

Previewed next week: Contagion, Warrior, Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star