The Latest in Theaters: Truth and Deception

This week's new releases include a sci-fi sequel, a classy remake and a pair of critically acclaimed documentaries. Oh yeah, and Will Ferrell too.

• The X-Files: I Want to Believe: David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are back as Mulder and Scully in this big screen spook show that not only promises some old school scares (reminiscent of the cult classic TV show), but a little romance between the two as well.
• Brideshead Revisited: Emma Thompson leads a cast of rising talent (Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw and Hayley Atwell) in this feature adaptation of the Evelyn Waugh literary classic, which was also the basis for a revered television mini-series in 1981. Reportedly, the gay angle hinted at in the novel and mini is amped up this go round.
• American Teen: High school life in the real world (in this case, Warsaw, Indiana) is explored in this fest fave doc.
• Man on Wire: A look back at "the artistic crime of the century", when a death-defying tight rope walker took his act to the Twin Towers circa 1974.
• Boy A: A BAFTA Award winning drama about a juvie trying to reform on the outside.
• Baghead and No Regret: Read Chris Carpenter's reviews right here at Movie Dearest to find out about these two widely different films, opening in limited release this weekend; the first is a horror comedy, the second a gay romance.
• And finally: Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly team up once more as child men (big surprise) forced to grow up when they become Step Brothers.

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The Latest in Theaters: Batman Besides

Although The Dark Knight is shaping up to be the movie event of the summer (if not the year), there are a lot of other movies opening this weekend as well. Such as:

• Mamma Mia! Can you ask for anything better then Meryl Streep and an all-star cast (including the absolutely dreamy Dominic Cooper) in a sun-kissed movie musical complete with ABBA's biggest hits? I think not.
• Chad Allen returns as gay detective Donald Strachey for another mystery in On the Other Hand, Death. Co-starring, as a lesbian high school guidance counselor no less, is Margot Kidder.
• Andy Samberg, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Daniels, Kristin Chenoweth, Jane Lynch and Stanley Tucci are among the voices in the new animated comedy adventure Space Chimps, about ... well, chimps in space.
• In Transsiberian, Ben Kingsley, Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer are wrapped up in a mystery aboard the titular train ride from Russia to China.
• Writer/director Jacques Nolot stars as an aging gay gigolo faced with his own mortality when his wealthy benefactor dies in in the French import Before I Forget (watch the trailer here).
• And finally: if you find yourself in New York and looking for a good time this weekend, then how about the Sing Along Xanadu?

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The Latest in Theaters: Hell and High Adventure

A big red demon, rampaging dinosaurs and Eddie Murphy in Eddie Murphy (ew) ... this week's newest releases, at a theater near you:

• Sneaking in a week before a certain other comic book hero is Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Guillermo del Toro's sequel to his super sleeper hit from four years ago. This creature feature stars Ron Perlman as the cigar-chomping big guy of the title (who also likes kitties), along with Selma Blair as his fiery femme fatale.
• Brendan Fraser takes a Journey to the Center of the Earth, a 3-D remake of the Jules Verne sci-fi classic. Bridge to Terabithia's Josh Hutcherson co-stars in this special effects laden adventure flick.
• Eddie Murphy is the miniature extra-terrestrial captain of a human-sized spaceship that looks like ... Eddie Murphy in Meet Dave, otherwise known as the movie you'll be skipping this weekend.
• Guy Pearce is legendary magician Harry Houdini and Catherine Zeta-Jones is the psychic enchantress out to con him in Gillian Armstrong's Death Defying Acts.
• In The Stone Angel, a feisty Ellen Burstyn is on the run from being put in a nursing home; Ellen Page and Transamerican cutie Kevin Zegers play young lovers.
• And finally: Spencer Breslin is Harold, a prematurely balding high school student just trying to fit in; Nikki Blonsky (in her first feature since Hairspray) is his best pal. This comedy, co-starring Ally Sheedy and an afro-ed Cuba Gooding Jr., looks like fun.

UPDATE: And now you'll really be skipping Meet Dave this weekend: AfterElton.com reports on its questionable gay content.

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The Latest in Theaters: Four for the Fourth

It's the Fourth of July weekend, so time to go see the latest Will Smith movie, right? Wrong. According to GLAAD, Smith's titular superhero Hancock utters some nasty homophobic slurs in this latest Hollywood blockbuster.

So, instead of supporting such a movie, how about you turn this Independence Day weekend into a true "Independents" day, with four films opening in limited release around the country:

• The Wackness: Ben Kingsley blazing up a doobie? Mary-Kate Olsen in another pot-themed story so soon after Weeds? Dude ... sweet. Also stars Josh Peck, Famke Janssen and Olivia Thirlby, Juno's other "it girl".
• Kabluey: Scott Prendergast wrote, directed and stars as a blue guy with a big head in this festival fave; Lisa Kudrow, Christine Taylor, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Conchata Ferrell and Teri Garr (welcome back!) co-star in the comedy.
• Diminished Capacity: Matthew Broderick, seen just last week tracking down his prostitute niece in Finding Amanda, is now hooking up with his Alzheimer's-impaired uncle Alan Alda. Virginia Madsen and Bobby Cannavale also star.
• Holding Trevor: Brent Gorski wrote and stars in this gay romantic drama, co-starring Shortbus' Jay Brannan. Click here to read Chris' review of the film, opening in Los Angeles and New York.

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The Latest in Theaters: Most Wanted

In this corner, gun-toting killers, alcoholics, whores and Communists. And in the other: a cute robot. Attention studios: unlike last week's offerings, this is how you counter-program.

• Wanted: A sexy Angelina Jolie recruits a nerdy James McAvoy to be an elite assassin for a super-secret organization led by Morgan Freeman in this actioner from Russian director Timur Bekmambetov.
• WALL·E: Early reviews (including our own Chris Carpenter's) are raving about this latest Disney/Pixar crowd-pleaser about a lonely robot who finds love and adventure in outer space.
• Finding Amanda: Matthew Broderick's alcoholic TV producer must track down and help his prostitute niece (Brittany Snow, a long way from Hairspray) in Las Vegas.
• Trumbo: An all-star cast reads the words of Oscar-winning screenwriter Dalton Trumbo (Roman Holiday, Spartacus) in this documentary about his glory days in Hollywood and the dark days of McCarthyism.

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The Latest in Theaters: Viva Viva!

A last minute addition to this week's Latest in Theaters is Viva, the queer camp delight opening today in Los Angeles (see the film's MySpace page for more information and future engagements).

I couldn't describe it any better then the press release: "She was a housewife seeking kicks in a world of sex, sin, and swingers … Viva, a candy-colored tribute to classic sexploitation films of the 60's and 70's is Anna Biller’s take on the sexual revolution, a lurid, retro romp set in the 1970's, featuring amazing period sets, costumes and musical numbers that will delight vintage vixens and time-traveling tramps alike.

Barbi (Biller) is living the perfect suburban life as a pampered housewife, when she finds herself abandoned by her perfect Ken-doll husband Rick (Chad England). Soon, Barbi and her girlfriend Sheila (Bridget Brno), a buxom blonde with a taste for adventure, decide to get out there and see what they’re missing, and find themselves drawn into the baroque fantasyland that was the sexual revolution, including nudist camps, the hippie scene, wild orgies, bisexuality, sadism, drugs and bohemia.

Shot in 35mm and saturated to the hilt with vibrant color, and exquisitely detailed in its depiction of the period, Viva looks like a lost film from the late 60's, right down to the campy and self-assured performances, the big lighting, the plethora of négligées, and the delirious assortment of Salvation Army ashtrays, lamps, fabrics, and bric-a-brac. Whether you're looking for nude dancing, alcoholic swingers, stylish sex scenes, a sea of polyester, Hammond organ jams, glitzy show numbers, white horses, blondes in the bathtub, gay hairdressers or psychedelic animation, Viva has it all!"

It sure seems so ... check out the groovy trailer (could be NSFW).

The Latest in Theaters: Love and Let Spy

Two high profile comedies are facing off this weekend in theaters, pitting two cinematic spies -- the new Maxwell Smart and the former Austin Powers -- against each other for box office supremacy:

- Steve Carell dons the shoe phone of the late Don Adams for another big screen take (remember The Nude Bomb?) of the 60's TV comedy classic Get Smart. Anne Hathaway, Alan Arkin and Dwayne Johnson join him in the fight against KAOS, led by Terence Stamp.
- After a long absence onscreen, Mike Myers trots out a new character with The Love Guru. Jessica Alba, Verne Troyer and a Speedo-ed Justin Timberlake also star in what is already being "hailed" as the worst movie of the year.
- And hoping to catch some of the family audience between Kung Fu Panda and next week's WALL-E is Kit Kittredge: An American Girl. Little Abigail Breslin stars as the title moppet, based on the popular line of dolls; Julia Ormond and Chris O'Donnell play her parents, and the cast (under the direction of Patricia Rozema) also includes Jane Krakowski, Joan Cusack and Stanley Tucci.

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The Latest in Theaters: Green Screens

Two potential blockbusters face off this weekend, with The Incredible Hulk versus Marky Mark in the M. Night Shyamalan thriller The Happening (did you hear it's R-rated?). We'll have reviews of both next week.

Also new this week (in limited release): Chris & Don: A Love Story, the documentary about longtime companions Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy that our Chris Carpenter had high praise for; read his Reverend Review here.

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The Latest in Theaters: Panda-monium

Summer is in full swing now, and this week we have three broad comedies up against two stark dramas:

• Kung Fu Panda: Really, it's all there in the title. Add an over hyped celebrity voice cast (Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman), and you've got a typical DreamWorks Animation production.
• You Don't Mess with the Zohan: Adam Sandler as an Israeli anti-terrorist agent-turned-New York City hairdresser. Nope, no potential for offensiveness there ...
• The Promotion: John C. Reilly and Seann William Scott are two grocery store assistant managers competing for the same job in this festival favorite.
• When Did You Last See Your Father?: Jim Broadbent and Colin Firth play father and son coming to term with their relationship as one faces a fatal illness. Based on the autobiographical book by Blake Morrison.
• Mongol: This year's Foreign Language nominee from Kazakhstan takes a controversial look at Genghis Khan.

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The Latest in Theaters: The Joy of Sex

Indiana who? In case you didn't know, the Fabulous Four of Sex and the City are back and on the big screen this weekend. Also joining them in theaters starting tomorrow:

• Savage Grace: Director Tom Kalin's first feature since Swoon stars Julianne Moore as Barbara Daly, famed socialite, incestuous mother and infamous murder victim ... at the hands of her gay son, Antony Baekeland.
• The Strangers: Sexy Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler are a couple on vacation ... a vacation of terror (there seems to be a lot of that going around lately).
• The Foot Fist Way: Comedy about a loser Tae Kwan Do instructor who makes a pilgrimage to see his martial arts star inspiration (not Chuck Norris, go figure) at a kung fu convention.
• Bigger, Stronger, Faster*: Documentary filmmaker Chris Bell shines a light on the use of steroids in American sports. Check out the provocative trailer at the movie's official website.

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The Latest in Theaters: Not Just Indy

We'll have plenty of coverage of that certain movie with the excessively long title later this weekend, so in the meantime, here are a few other films in theaters this week that are also worth your attention:

• A Jihad for Love: This acclaimed documentary from producer Sandi Simcha DuBowski (Trembling Before G-d) and writer/director Parvez Sharma tells the stories of lesbian and gay Muslims from around the world. Now playing in New York, visit the film's official website for future screenings and more information.
• The Edge of Heaven: A lesbian couple is at the core of this Babel-like, international-set drama (which won the screenplay prize at last year's Cannes) from award-winning German director Fatih Akin.
• The Children of Huang Shi: Jonathan Rhys Meyers stars as a reporter who leads a group of orphans on a thousand-mile journey through war torn China in this fact-based drama, co-starring Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh.

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The Latest in Theaters: Someday Your Prince Will Come

Hoping to pick up the family film slack left in the wake of last week's non-starter Speed Racer, Disney's The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian strides into theaters tomorrow with next to no competition.

Does the dreamy Ben Barnes make a return trip to Narnia worthwhile? Our own Chris Carpenter has already seen it, and he'll chime in tomorrow with his own Reverend's Review of the fantasy sequel.

Also coming tomorrow: Neil Cohen's exclusive Reel Thoughts interview with Steven Bauer, star of How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer. Elizabeth Peña and America Ferrera also star in this acclaimed Sundance fave, which opens in limited release this weekend.

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The Latest in Theaters: Feel the Need

... the need for speed, as in Speed Racer, of course.

Also opening wide this weekend: the romantic comedy What Happens in Vegas ..., starring Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz as two wacky straight people who get hitched in Sin City and then regret it. Must be nice.

On the other hand, a homoerotic take on Edgar Allen Poe's House of Usher, from director David DeCoteau, opens in Los Angeles. See the film's official website for more information.

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The Latest in Theaters: I Spy

Iron Man isn't the only movie opening this weekend:

• Kiss Me Deadly: A Jacob Keane Assignment: Robert Gant stars as super-spy Jacob Keane, described as a "gay James Bond". Shannen Doherty, John Rhys-Davies and Ian Roberts co-star in the first of a hoped-for series. (In limited release, visit the movie's official website for a schedule of cities and upcoming dates.)
• Made of Honor: Hard not to state the obvious on this one: Patrick Dempsey as Julia Roberts in My Best Friend's Wedding.
• Son of Rambow: Garth Jennings’ semi-autobiographical look back at his childhood obsession with Sylvester Stallone’s First Blood.
• As for ol' metal head, tune in next week for what our own "Men on Film" thought about the first of this summer's would-be blockbusters.

UPDATE: Out in Hollywood's Greg Hernandez interviews Robert Gant about playing a gay spy and acting opposite Shannen Doherty; plus: the film's trailer.

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The Latest in Theaters: Flying High

Spring is just about sprung, so before the summer movie season begins with Iron (Man) force next week, here are this week's latest releases:

• Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay: John Cho and Kal Penn's lovable stoners are back for more high times, along with an image-skewering Neil Patrick Harris.
• Baby Mama: Tina Fey wants a baby but can't; enter Amy Poehler as a crass surrogate. Greg Kinnear, Maura Tierney and Sigourney Weaver co-star in this new laffer.
• Deception: Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor and Michelle Williams star in this racy thriller about sex, lies and murder.
• Then She Found Me: If you've been wondering what Helen Hunt has been up to lately (and really, who hasn't), well, this is it: she not only stars in but also directs this dramedy. Bette Midler, Colin Firth and Matthew Broderick co-star.
• And finally -- Rogue: Because the world needs more movies about giant man-eating crocodiles. Especially if the man being eaten is Michael Vartan.

Also opening this week in limited release: Four Minutes and A Plumm Summer. Click on the links to read what our own Chris Carpenter had to say about them in his latest Reverend's Reviews.

UPDATE: Despite the presence of NPH, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay is this year's Wild Hogs, per AfterElton.com.

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The Latest in Theaters: Jason and His Argo-nuts

Let's start off the coverage of this week's new movies with what you all come on the internet for anyway: gratuitous male nudity!:

• Forgetting Sarah Marshall: You may have heard already about Jason Segel's extended full frontal scene in this latest Apatow-ian romantic comedy, but what you may not know is that, according to my sources who have already seen the movie, Segel (who also wrote the script) has plenty to be proud of ... in more ways then one. Joining him in the cast are such other hot properties as Kristen Bell, Jonah Hill and Paul Rudd.
• 88 Minutes: Al Pacino has the titular time frame left to live in this real-time thriller. Alicia Witt, Amy Brenneman and Benjamin McKenzie co-star.
• Four Minutes: No, it's not a short subject nor the Reader's Digest condensed version of the previous movie; this German drama is set in a woman's prison, and you know what happens in those ...
• The Forbidden Kingdom: Jackie Chan and Jet Li team-up for the latest martial arts-a-rama (what did you expect, needlepoint?).
• Pathology: Charmed girl Alyssa Milano and Heroes hottie Milo Ventimiglia star in this horror offering about med students competing to commit the perfect murder (cue maniacal villain laughter).
• Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?: Super Size Morgan Spurlock sets out to find that elusive little bugger.
• Kiss the Bride: Tori Spelling is the bride, but the groom (James O'Shea) may be eyeing the best man (Philipp Karner) in this gay romantic comedy from Latter Days director C. Jay Cox. Filled with a host of faves, including Joanna Cassidy, Tess Harper, Robert Foxworth, Amber Benson, Steve Sandvoss and Charlie David.
• And finally: With a title like Zombie Strippers and a cast headlined by porn starlet Jenna Jameson and horror icon Robert Englund, what else would you expect but this?

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The Latest in Theaters: Get Smart

"Paging Dr. Carrie Bradshaw, paging Dr. Carrie Bradshaw ..."

This week in theaters:

• Smart People: More like smart casting: Sarah Jessica Parker, Dennis Quaid, Thomas Haden Church and Ellen Page star in this romantic comedy Sundance fave.
• Street Kings: Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans and some rappers star in this Serpico-esque cop drama.
• Chaos Theory: The strictly scheduled life of uptight author Ryan Reynolds is upset by wife Emily Mortimer and ten little extra minutes.
• Young@Heart: Doc on a choir of oldsters who get down with their bad selves to sing rock and pop songs, including (seriously) "Stayin' Alive".
• Persepolis: The Oscar nominated animated film returns, sans subtitles, with an all-star voice cast, including Sean Penn, Gena Rowlands and ... Iggy Pop?
• And finally: Uh do we really need a remake of Prom Night?

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