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Cadillac Records
This star-studded film tracks the rise and fall of the legendary Chess Records, home to Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Etta James (Beyoncé Knowles) and Chuck Berry (Mos Def), and run by the flamboyant Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody). Starting after World War II, the film follows Chess as he travels the country in search of talented African- American artists and brings them to Chicago, where they contend with Big City temptations like drugs and alcohol, as well as Johnny Law. By the ’60s, Chess helps pave the way for a new genre of music—rock and roll. Featuring: Beyoncé Knowles, Jeffrey Wright, Adrien Brody, Mos Def. A Sony Entertainment release. May contain material unsuitable for children.
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Changeling
Angelina Jolie plays Christine Collins, a young mother whose son is kidnapped, setting off a manhunt across 1920s Los Angeles. When a 9-year-old boy claiming to be her son appears months later, Christine warily takes him in. Case closed, say the cops. But when she realizes the boy isn’t her son and presses the police to continue investigating, they stonewall her. Nightmarishly, her family shushes her, the authorities ignore her. Only with the help of a local activist, the righteous Reverend Brieglieb (John Malkovich), can Christine start to track down her missing child. Based on actual events culled from court documents. Featuring: Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Gattlin Griffith. A Universal Pictures release. May contain material unsuitable for children.
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City of Ember
For more than 200 years, the underground city of Ember has flourished, thanks to a vast stock-pile of food and a giant generator. But now, the lights are flickering, the food is running out, and the citizens believe the only thing beyond their city is darkness. Two teenagers, Lina and Doon, stumble upon clues left by the builders: There is an exit strategy that was long ago forgotten. Can Lina and Doon piece together the crumbling instructions? Featuring: Saoirse Ronan, Bill Murray. A 20th Century Fox release.
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Day the Earth Stood Still
At the start of this glossy remake of the 1951 classic, the iconic alien, Klaatu, (Keanu Reeves) brings earth a robot that is capable of total planetary destruction. The government captures Klaatu, but he escapes and reaches out to scientist Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly). He tells Helen that the planet can be spared. While government agencies hunt Klaatu and defeat the robot, Benson tries to decipher Klaatu’s real message and save the planet. Nothing is as it seems in this extraterrestrial thriller, which, originally written in the context of the Cold War, has gone nuclear. Featuring: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, John Cleese. A 20th Century Fox release.
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Doubt
Sister Aloysius Beauvier, played by Meryl Streep, runs her Catholic school with an iron ruler until Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) takes charge of the Bronx parish. Idealistic young Sister James (Amy Adams) tells Sister Aloysius that Father Flynn has been paying a lot of attention to one boy, which sets the older nun on a crusade to reveal him as a pedophile. This 1960s-set film is well ahead of its time though, and Beauvier faces opposition on all sides—from the boy’s mother, who is happy to have someone take an interest in her son, and from the church hierarchy. Featuring: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams. A Miramax Films release. May contain material unsuitable for children.
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Express
This feel-good bio-pic tells the story of Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, as he overcomes poverty and discrimination. Born in destitute Pennsylvania coal country, Davis, played by Rob Brown, rose from the coal ash to become running back for Syracuse University. Coach Ben Schwartzwelder (Dennis Quaid) has oldschool ideas about how the game should be played—ideas that didn’t necessarily mesh with the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement. Their shared vision of winning a championship eventually brings them together, and Ben coaches Ernie into one of the best college running backs ever. Featuring: Dennis Quaid, Rob Brown. A Universal Pictures release.
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The Family That Preys
Charlotte Cartwright, an affluent socialite, and Alice Pratt, a working class woman, have remained dear friends for many years, despite their apparent differences. But they are both ashamed of their children’s scandalous behavior. Alice’s daughter, Andrea, is cheating on her trusting husband with her boss, who happens to be Charlotte’s married son, William. Meanwhile, William tries to take over his mother’s company. Can the two matriarchs straighten out their children? Featuring: Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard. A Lions Gate release.
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Flash of Genius
College professor Dr. Robert Kearns has a good life with his loving wife, Phyllis, and their six children. Kearns, who teaches engineering, considers himself an inventor, and he is most proud of Kearns’ Blinking Eye, the first patented intermittent windshield wiper. After sharing his plans with Ford, the company backs out of a deal with him, and then produces its own wipers. Kearns spends his life fighting for his rightful credit in inventing the wipers. Featuring: Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham. A Universal Pictures release.
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Forever Strong
Rick Penning is a rebel rugby player, whose ample on-field chops aren’t enough to keep him out of trouble. He ends up in prison, where a warden offers him an alternative sentence: play for his hometown rivals. In order to get back in the game and out of prison, Rick reluctantly accepts the challenge. Complications mount as he tries to mesh with his bitter enemies and the new coach’s unconventional views. Can he turn his life around? When his team makes it to the national championship, he’ll find out. Featuring: Penn Badgley, Gary Cole, Sean Faris. A Lightning Entertainment release.
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Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
This long-awaited animated sequel follows the lovable cast, Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe, Gloria the hippo, King Julien and Maurice, as they leave Madagascar to return to New York. They end up in Africa and, while exploring the continent, meet relatives, find romance and run into members of their own species for the first time. They also face malevolent hunters and a worsening drought. Ultimately, they long for Central Park. Voices Include: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen. A Paramount Pictures release.
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Nights in Rodanthe
Adrienne Willis agrees to tend to her friend’s inn on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a weekend. Right before she leaves for the inn, Adrienne’s unfaithful husband suddenly expresses a desire to reconcile. Unsure how to feel about this, she heads to the shore, where a storm is brewing. The sole inn guest, Dr. Paul Flanner, has his own conflicts. As the storm rolls in, Adrienne and Paul bond over their crises of conscience and start the romance of a lifetime. Featuring: Richard Gere, Diane Lane. A Warner Bros. release.
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Quantum of Solace
The newest 007 picks up where the last one left off. James Bond (Daniel Craig) is working on a very personal case investigating the organization that blackmailed his Casino Royale love, Vesper, and which ultimately led to her death. The evil network extends deep into Latin America and throughout Europe, leading Bond on a chase around the globe. Naturally, he links up with a smoldering new lady who has her own devious agenda. The story has all the twists and turns of a good Bond— corruption, overseas traitors and ruthless villains—and just the right amount of Dame Judi Dench as M. Featuring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench. A Sony Entertainment release.
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The Secret Life of Bees
Fourteen-year-old Lily Owens is a South Carolina girl growing up in 1964. Lily battles haunting memories of her mother’s tragic death. Her only companions are her abusive father and their housekeeper, Rosaleen. In despair, Lily and Rosaleen flee to a town that Lily believes holds a secret to her mother’s past. There, the pair is taken in by the Boatwright sisters. Through trials and triumphs, and the art of beekeeping, the girls learn the true meaning of family. Featuring: Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah. A 20th Century Fox release.
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Sixty Six
Bernie Reubens has been dreaming of his Bar Mitzvah as an elaborate affair. Now that the day is finally approaching, the fates seem to be conspiring against him. His parents, Manny and Esther, have scheduled the party on the same day as the 1966 World Cup Final. And the English soccer team actually has a chance of making it this year. Meanwhile, Manny’s grocery store is struggling financially, and Bernie’s older brother is hogging their parents’ attention. Featuring: Gregg Sulkin, Helena Bonham Carter. A First Independent Pictures release.
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Slumdog Millionaire
When a young man from the Mumbai slums stands to win 20 million rupees in a popular game show, a nation’s eyebrows are raised. Suspicions of cheating urge the police to investigate. During the long interrogation, Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) talks about his life of adventures in the vast country. As he tells his story, each chapter gives the answer to one of the show’s questions. It becomes clear that his motivation for winning is to gain the love of a former sweetheart, Latika. The film raises the question of how much of his television success is luck or skill and how much is destiny? Featuring: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto. A Fox Searchlight release.
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Twilight
Based on the best-selling book phenomenon, this is a love story between a misfit teenage girl and a vampire. Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) doesn’t care if she’s popular, so she isn’t expecting to make friends when she moves to a new town. But then she meets gorgeous and brilliant Edward Cullen (Robert Pattison). Luckily, he’s been waiting 90 years to meet her (the only catch? He’s a vampire). As Edward falls for Bella, he finds it harder and harder to resist his primal urge to suck her blood. When a new clan of vampires comes to town, the complications pile on. Featuring: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart. A Summit Entertainment release.
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