The Barbarian Invasions
In this long-distance follow-up to his acclaimed Decline of the American Empire, Canadian director Denys Arcand (Jesus of Montreal) looks at what happens when the same group of friends gathers once more — this time around a deathbed. Described as a ‘provocative comedy”. Opens September 10.
The Boys from County Clare
Two rivalrous Irish brothers (Colm Meany and Bernard Hill) each run a traditional Celtic-music band — and now they are competing against each other for a big prize. As they prepare for battle, various complications (including romantic ones) ensue. Sure to be a hit with those who loved The Commitments and Brassed Off. Opens September 3.
Breakin’ All the Rules
Jamie Foxx stars in this comedy about a man who, after being unceremoniously dumped by his fiancée, writes a ‘how-to” book on breaking up — which then becomes a massive bestseller and changes his life. Bet she’s sorry now! Opens September 10.
Camp
After a series of flops, songwriter Bert Hanley (Don Dixon) goes to work at a musical camp for young performers. Inspired by the kids, he finds an opportunity to achieve success once more. A new version of Fame, anyone? Opens September 17.
A Cinderella Story
Teen flick about dorky Sam Martin (Hilary Duff), who lives with her wicked stepmother and her ugly stepsisters, à la the fairy tale. But then Sam’s missing cellphone is found by mysterious (and doubtless hunky) guy, and Sam’s life begins to change. Opens September 23 (Thursday).
Dogville
The ever-controversial director Lars von Trier (Dancer in the Dark) tells the story of a woman (Nicole Kidman) on the run from the police who fetches up in a small Colorado town, causing all sorts of ructions. Shot on a bare stage, this movie has been declared brilliant by some, while others found it deeply frustrating. Either way, it will give your imagination a workout. Opens September 24 at Cinema Nouveau screened by Nedbank.
Taunting the bully
Ella Enchanted
Another update of the Cinderella story, this deals with young Ella (Anne Hathaway), who goes in search of her fairy godmother to save her from the ‘curse” of obedience. Looks delightful. Opens September 10.
Garfield
The comic strip about the lazy, spoilt cat has been reworked for a younger audience. Garfield himself is computer-animated and voiced by Bill Murray. Garfield gets resentful when his owner, Jon, gets a new dog, Odie. Garfield at once starts making plans to get rid of the dog. But when Odie does disappear, Garfield feels bad and sets out to find him. Opens September 24.
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
From the director of Dude, Where’s My Car?, this is the comic tale of two stoners, one Korean and the other of Indian extraction, who go on an epic quest for White Castle hamburgers. Opens September 24.
I’m Not Scared
This Italian movie takes a child’s-eye view of the ‘badlands” of the Italian South during the crime-ridden 1970s. One day, while playing in an abandoned house, 10-year-old Michele (Giuseppe Cristiano) discovers a boy chained up in an underground cavern. He is shocked and concerned, but is ordered by his parents to tell no one. Acclaimed director Gabriele Salvatores (famous for 1991’s Mediterraneo) is said to have something in common with Steven Spielberg in his treatment of children, except his view of life is much harsher and in the end more rewarding. Opens September 3 at Cinema Nouveau screened by Nedbank.
I, Robot
Isaac Asimov’s 1950 collection of stories of the same name set the tone (and the ‘laws”) for most future considerations of what happens when humanity creates automatons to do its dirty work. This high-class action flick borrows the basic idea, but little else. In the year 2035, a Chicago cop (Will Smith) is investigating the murder of the head of a robotics institute. Could a robot be guilty? Opens September 17.
King Arthur
The legend of the king of Camelot and his knights of the Round Table is reinvented, going back to the more historically plausible idea that he was in the service of the Romans at the time they withdrew from Britain in the fifth century. Clive Owen is King Arthur, and Keira Knightley is Guinevere — one of the native Britons resisting oppression as well as the invading Saxon hordes. Expect lots of stirring action — this is produced by the ‘king of explosions”, Jerry Bruckheimer. Opens September 17.
The man who would be king
First knight
Man on Fire
Having done sentimental and uplifting in Antwone Fisher, Denzel Washington now does brutal and amoral. He’s a burned-out ex-CIA agent on the trail of a bunch of Mexican kidnappers, and he blasts and burns his way through their ranks in a violent action picture that should have the ghost of Charles Death Wish Bronson grinning. Directed by Tony Scott. Opens September 3.
Blockbuster barbarism
New York Minute
Sisters Jane and Roxy (played by twins Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen) are usually at loggerheads. Then, one day, while Jane tries out for an overseas college programme and Roxy (Mary-Kate Olsen) schemes to meet her favourite punk band, a series of mishaps forces them to cooperate. Eugene Levy of American Pie fame has a small role, and he’s said to be the best thing in this comedy aimed at the teen-girl market. Opens September 3.
The Punisher
Tom Jane, who played South African gangster Stander in the movie of the same name, here takes an action role based on a comic-book hero. The plot is familiar from a dozen spaghetti westerns: after his wife and family are killed, Frank Castle (Jane) takes it upon himself to rid the United States of crime by acting as judge, jury and executioner. Opens September 24.
The Terminal
Steven Speilberg takes the true story of a refugee who got stuck in the transit lounge of an airport, and, being unable to go home or enter another country, stayed there for years. Yet Spielberg softens the storyline and casts Tom Hanks as the refugee in question. The movie has received very mixed reviews, ranging from ‘a sweet and delicate comedy” to ‘the worst-direct
ed film [Spielberg] has ever made”. Also starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Stanley Tucci. Opens September 10.
Thunderbirds
Live-action version of the old science-fiction TV series (which some may recall from decades ago on SABC) in which a bunch of heroic puppets piloted some magnificent flying machines. Most critics say they preferred the puppet version. Opens September 17.
Two Brothers
Two tiger cubs are captured and separated. Years later they are forced to fight each other. Guy Pearce (Memento) stars. Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, who made The Bear (all from the bear’s perspective), this is likely to be well-made and heart-warming. Opens September 24.
Release dates correct at time of going to press. Check the weekly listings in the Mail & Guardian’s Friday section for updates.