"A young woman, Marnie Watson, is granted early release from her prison sentence for manslaughter (killing her husband - a violent NYC cop - in self defense) on condition she wear an electronic ankle bracelet and remain within her home, effectively under house arrest, for the remainder of her sentence. ..."
Narrated by James Earl Jones, this documentary from Disneynature follows the path of the sun as it explores our world. Incredible photography allows EARTH to focus on a trio of animal mothers and their children: polar bears, elephants, and humpback whales. EARTH will be released on Earth Day 2009. Beloved actor Michael Keaton makes his directorial debut with this layered, genre-bending film. Kate Frazier (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN's Kelly MacDonald) is desperate to start fresh in Chicago after she escapes a crumbling marriage. Enter Frank Logan (Keaton), an older man who is similarly troubled by his past, and the pair seem to make a good couple. But in THE MERRY GENTLEMAN--which blends the thriller, romance, and comedy genres--the result isn't as simple as one found in a typical romantic comedy, and Kate and Frank struggle to come to terms with both their pasts and their new relationship. This thriller from director Kathryn Bigelow (POINT BREAK) travels to Baghdad with a U.S. military bomb detonating unit. THE HURT LOCKER stars Jeremy Renner, Guy Pearce, and Ralph Fiennes. Narrated by James Earl Jones, this documentary from Disneynature follows the path of the sun as it explores our world. Incredible photography allows EARTH to focus on a trio of animal mothers and their children: polar bears, elephants, and humpback whales. EARTH will be released on Earth Day 2009. French director Olivier Assayas (BOARDING GATE, IRMA VEP) subverts expectations with this empathetic drama about the fading relevance of objects as generations pass from one to the next. Helene (Edith Scob) has just turned 75 and is increasingly concerned about the particulars of leaving her estate behind when she dies. Unfortunately, the time comes when Adrienne (Juliette Binoche), Jeremie (Jeremie Renier), and Frederic (Charles Berling) must decide what to do with Helene's house and the artwork left behind by her famous uncle. Adrienne, who is living in New York City, and Jeremie, who is working in Asia, both understand that their future no longer resides in France, leaving the burden to Frederic. However, even when the siblings are at odds, they don't succumb to fighting. They seem to understand and accept that this is an unfortunate, muddled situation, and as much as they'd love to hold on to the house, it appears that their current situations carry more of an influence than the lives of their nostalgic past.lt;brgt;lt;brgt;With SUMMER HOURS, Assayas has delivered an understated motion picture about the importance of objects as historical artifacts and family heirlooms, and how time renders these objects obsolete. Contrary to the dysfunctional family dramas of fellow countryman Arnaud Desplechin (A CHRISTMAS TALE, KINGS AND QUEEN), Assayas keeps his characters calm and stable throughout. He isn't condemning these individuals for turning their backs on the past, and he certainly isn't out to belittle the importance of these objects' places in history. Shot by the acclaimed Eric Gautier and flawlessly acted by its principal cast, SUMMER HOURS is a touching, thoughtful drama.
Rob Zombie returns to the world of HALLOWEEN with this sequel to his film. THE WIRE's Idris Elba stars in this thriller as a man who seems to have a perfect life. He is married to Sharon (Beyoncé Knowles), and he has just earned a promotion at work. But destruction looms when a pretty temp (HEROES' Ali Larter) grows a little too fond of him. Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life. Adam is a handsome but intriguing young man who has all his life led a sheltered existence -- until he meets his new neighbor, Beth, a beautiful, cosmopolitan young woman who pulls him into the outside world, with funny, touching and entirely unexpected results. Their implausible and enigmatic relationship reveals just how far two people from different realities can stretch in search of an extraordinary connection. Disney's amazing history would sound a little less sweet without the beloved songs "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," "It's a Small World (After All)," and "I Wanna Be Like You," all classics that were written by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman. This documentary charts the lives of the hit-making brothers, beginning with their early years and revealing the personal struggles that were hidden by their gleeful sounding creations. Directed by the sons of the Sherman Brothers, this film features interviews with Julie Andrews, John Lasseter, Alan Menken, Hayley Mills, Randy Newman, Dick Van Dyke, John Williams, and Ben Stiller, who also serves as an executive producer.
