Passion, fantasy, lust, love, art, style, delusions, dreams. Life has always been a circus for world-famous 1960s movie director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis)... only now he can't escape as the filmmaker begins work on his project. Renowned for his brilliant moviemaking and desired by many, Guido is about to kick off production on his highly anticipated ninth picture, "Italia," when, suddenly, the bottom drops out of both his ample creative powers and his fervid love life, as they simultaneously unravel out of control. Surrounded by a panorama of astonishing women -- his tempting mistress Carla (Penelope Cruz), his devoted wife Luisa (Marion Cotillard), his muse Claudia (Nicole Kidman), his costume designer and confidante Lilli (Judi Dench), a flirty journalist from Vogue (Kate Hudson), an instructive prostitute from his childhood (Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson) and his beloved Mamma (Sophia Loren) -- Guido searches for inspiration and possible salvation amid the free fall. As he does, the historic Stage 5 at Cinecitta Studios in Rome is lit up by Guido's most evocative desires, memories and dreams -- which transform into dynamic, expansive musical fantasies -- as the production draws ever closer to the moment when Guido must overcome his demons and call "Action!" The innovative, award-winning Broadway musical sensation inspired by Fellini's "8 1/2" comes full circle back to the screen, stirringly re-invented as the richly cinematic story of an artist's epic mid-life crisis by director Rob Marshall, who brought "Chicago" so dazzlingly to life. Based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "Nine," with book by Arthur L. Kopit, music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and adaptation from the Italian by Mario Fratti, the film is written by Michael Tolkin and Anthony Minghella.
Vitals: Director: Rob Marshall. Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson, Fergie.
2009, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 119 min., Musical, Box office gross: $19.664 million, Sony.
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Leap Year
When Anna’s (Amy Adams) four-year anniversary to her boyfriend passes without an engagement ring, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Inspired by an Irish tradition that allows women to propose to men on Leap Day, Anna follows Jeremy (Adam Scott) to Dublin to propose to him. But after landing on the wrong side of Ireland, she must enlist the help of the handsome and carefree local Declan (Matthew Goode) to get her across the country. Along the way, they discover that the road to love can take one to very unexpected places.
Vitals: Director: Anand Tucker. Stars: Amy Adams, Matthew Goode, Adam Scott, Bill Nighy, Kaitlin Olson, John Lithgow.
2009, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 101 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $24.734 million, Universal.
May 11
Daybreakers
The year is 2019. A mysterious plague has swept over the earth, transforming the majority of the world's population into vampires. Humans are now an endangered, second-class species -- forced into hiding as they are hunted and farmed for vampire consumption to the brink of extinction. It's all up to Edward Dalton, a vampire researcher who refuses to feed on human blood, to perfect a blood substitute that might sustain vampires and spare the few remaining humans. But time and hope are running out -- until Ed meets Audrey, a human survivor who leads him to a startling medical breakthrough. Armed with knowledge that both humans and vampires will kill for, Ed must battle his own kind in a deadly struggle that will decide the fate of the human race.
Vitals: Director: Peter Spierig, Michael Spierig. Stars: Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Claudia Karvan, Michael Dorman, Sam Neill, Vince Colosimo, Isabel Lucas.
2010, CC, MPAA rating: R, 98 min., Horror, Box office gross: $29.423 million, Lionsgate.
May 18
Messenger, The
Ben Foster stars as Will Montgomery, a U.S. Army officer who has just returned home from a tour in Iraq and is assigned to the Army's Casualty Notification service. Partnered with fellow officer Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson) to bear the bad news to the loved ones of fallen soldiers, Will faces the challenge of completing his mission while seeking to find comfort and healing back on the home front. When he finds himself drawn to Olivia (Samantha Morton), to whom he has just delivered the news of her husband's death, Will's emotional detachment begins to dissolve and the film reveals itself as a surprising, humorous, moving and very human portrait of grief, friendship and survival.
Vitals: Director: Oren Moverman. Stars: Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton, Jena Malone, Eamonn Walker.
2009, CC, MPAA rating: R, 105 min., Drama, Box office gross: $1.006 million, Oscilloscope Pictures.
Spy Next Door, The
Jackie Chan stars as Bob Ho, an undercover CIA superspy who decides to give up his career in espionage to settle down with his next-door neighbor and girlfriend, Gillian (Amber Valletta). But Bob has one more mission to complete before Gillian agrees to marry him: winning over her three opinionated kids. When Gillian suddenly has to leave town, Bob volunteers to babysit the children so he can earn their approval. But when one of the kids mistakenly downloads a top-secret formula from his computer, Bob's arch-enemy, a Russian terrorist, moves in for the attack, forcing Bob to juggle the roles of spy and prospective stepfather in the most challenging mission of his career.
Vitals: Director: Brian Levant. Stars: Jackie Chan, Madeline Carroll, Alina Foley, George Lopez, Billy Ray Cyrus, Amber Valletta, Katherine Boecher.
2010, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 94 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $21.539 million, Lionsgate.
May 25
All DVDs are screened on a reference system consisting of a
Rotel RDV-1060 DVD Audio/Video Player, a
Rotel RSX-972 Surround Sound Receiver, and Phase Technology 1.1 (front), 33.1 (center),
and 50 (rear) speakers and Power 10 subwoofer.
