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Director: Eric Darnell Tom McGrath
Stars: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer (Full Cast)
Studio: DreamWorks Distribution

The Plot: In the sequel to Madagascar, Alex the lion (voiced by Stiller) and his friends board an NYC-bound plane (that's been "repaired" by their penguin pals), only to find themselves touching down in the African plains. It's an opportunity for the animals to encounter their own kind for the very first time, and to discover, while various plots play out, what "home" truly means to each of them.

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THE BUZZ: Say what you will about the original's primitive animation and whatnot, but it tallied up over $400 million in worldwide receipts, so this crack-a-lackin' sequel comes as no surprise -- but did it really require three years to come together? Maybe those psychotic penguins held out for more money. Maybe this time around the creative talent behind the camera will have more going on in the wild (something sorely missing from the first movie). And while we expect a big return here, we're more primed for Kung Fu Panda and Dreamworks' 2009 offerings such as Monster vs. Aliens.

Message Boards: Five bucks says they'll have a memory credit for Bernie Mac | I don't get the title, they are already in Africa arn't they?

Role Models

Director: David Wain
Stars: Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Elizabeth Banks (Full Cast)
Studio: Universal Pictures

The Plot: Unsavory behavior forces a pair of energy-drink reps (Rudd and Scott) to enroll in a Big Brother program, where the duo learn, however reluctantly, to bond with their assigned kids.

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THE BUZZ: David Wain (The Ten) isn't nearly as famous as Judd Apatow, but he got his career started the same way (both guys turned oddball comedy shows into cult hits in the early/mid-90s) before taking tentative steps toward the big screen. And from the sound of this movie's premise, it appears that Wain is learning the lesson Apatow aced a few years ago: Get less cerebral with your comedy, rotate key players through your projects, and gun for the hard-R rating. I'm curious as to why these Models earned a winter release when they are clearly a summer-movie confection, though it is a savvy and rather funny counter-programming effort by Universal ...

Message Boards: PAUL RUDD FOR GHOSTBUSTERS 3! PICTURES INSIDE... | Box Office!!!!!!!

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas [limited]

Director: Mark Herman
Stars: Asa Butterfield, David Thewlis, Rupert Friend (Full Cast)
Studio: Miramax Films

The Plot: A WWII-set story as seen through the eyes of Bruno (Butterfield), whose Nazi-Officer father (Thewlis) has just been made the commandant of a concentration camp outside Berlin. Bruno's eventual friendship with Shmuel, a boy his age who is detained at the camp, will usher in a troublesome reality for Bruno, and lead to a fateful attempt to alter Shmuel's situation.

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THE BUZZ: Typically cheery British director Mark Herman (Little Voice) looks back to the dark days of WWII in his adaptation of John Boyne's acclaimed, super-depressing novel. Prepare to be horrified by David Thewlis and Rupert Friend in what could be the saddest film released this year. Awards bait? Certainly. What are its chances? We'll have to see what sort of push Miramax gives it -- they've also got Mike Leigh's buzzing Happy-Go-Lucky on their plate this season ...

Message Boards: The ending SPOILERS | Missed Opportunity ?

Quantum of Solace

Director: Marc Forster
Stars: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric (Full Cast)
Studio: Columbia Pictures

The Plot: Picking up where Casino Royale left off, James Bond (Craig) sets his sights on the organization behind Vesper Lynd's betrayal. The mission puts him on a collision course with Dominic Greene (Amalric), a ruthless businessman who, Bond soon learns, is brokering a deal to take total control of one of the world's most precious resources. Relying on allies new and old -- including Camille (Kurylenko), a beautiful woman with her own agenda -- Agent 007 looks to bring down Greene and his conspirators.

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THE BUZZ: Is Bond losing his edge? With the Jason Bourne's and Jason Statham's of the world busting the roof off of Hollywood's typical car-chasing action genre, 007 can't really rest on his martini-sipping laurels anymore. Don't think we didn't notice you pulling up in a Honda rental car in Royale, Bond. The parkour stunts and blood stains on your tux were a nice touch, though. Keep it up. You know, we'll keep coming back for more. For the latest goods on Quantum, park your Aston Martin here. Update: First Showing has the teaser trailer online.

Message Boards: They´re making a fool of James Bond! | what type of gun is Craig holding

Assassination of a High School President [limited]

Director: Brett Simon
Stars: Reece Thompson, Mischa Barton, Bruce Willis (Full Cast)
Studio: Yari Film Group Releasing

The Plot: When a bunch of SAT tests go missing at St. Donovan's private school, the hottest girl on campus (Barton) uses her charm to convince student/newspaper reporter Bobby Funke (Thompson) to investigate the disappearance.

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THE BUZZ: Brett Simon's feature-film debut has received straight As from the festival circuit, where nearly every review compares it to Brick for its sharp-tongued dialogue and its film noir structure and styling. You might remember star Reece Thompson from last year's Rocket Science, which didn't fare so well with festival or general audiences, but Assassination might launch the 19-year-old Canadian into the indie spotlight, and it should do wonders for Mischa Barton's barely there film career. (Who knew Summer would end up with more movie offers than Marissa?) Exactly who is responsible for the film's success? Indicators point to screenwriters Tim Calpin and Kevin Jakubowski, two "South Park" alumni who should land a few deals after Assassination tears up the back-to-school season.

Message Boards: and on the acting of mischa barton | Just Saw A Screening in NJ (a few spoilers)

Soul Men

Director: Malcolm D. Lee
Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Bernie Mac (Full Cast)
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

The Plot: Though it's been some twenty years since they have spoken with one another, two estranged soul-singing legends (Jackson and Mac) agree to participate in a reunion performance at the Apollo Theater to honor their recently deceased band leader.

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THE BUZZ: Oh, man, how to market a movie about a deceased singer right after the passings of co-star Bernie Mac and supporting player Isaac Hayes? The pressure here is on distributor Dimension Films, good-natured director Malcolm Lee (Roll Bounce, Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins), and co-star Sharon Leal, the Dreamgirls scene stealer who here plays Samuel L. Jackson's daughter and the new singer of the soul group.

Message Boards: Crazy how both of them are in the same picture and then die... | Trailer is Online

Slumdog Millionaire [11/12 -- limited]

Director: Danny Boyle Loveleen Tandan
Stars: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto (Full Cast)
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

The Plot: The story of how impoverished Indian teen Jamal Malik (Patel) became a contestant on the Hindi version of "Who Wants to be A Millionaire?" -- an endeavor made without prize money in mind, rather, an effort to prove his love for his friend Latika (Pinto), who is an ardent fan of the show.

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THE BUZZ: Danny Boyle's latest has had quite the ride on the way its awards-friendly berth; originally purchased by Warner Independent Pictures, the film's future was in limbo when WIP closed its doors given the gloomy climate for indie/art-house films. For a minute there, Slumdog almost went direct to DVD (which may not come as a surprise to those who saw Sunshine). "Dickensian" and "Capraesque" are two descriptors being used by those who saw it at the Telluride Film Festival, though to me it sounds like Boyle is giving a nod to his contemporary, Michael Winterbottom, who often (successfully) mines for gold outside of his native UK.

Message Boards: WHAT!!!!???? Dev Patel, gimme a break!!! | Come on! release a trailer!

Bolt

Director: Byron Howard Chris Williams
Stars: John Travolta, Susie Essman, Mark Walton (Full Cast)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The Plot: Bolt (voice of Travolta) is a celebrity dog and the star of a hit TV show where his amazing feats and powers draw big ratings. But when a mail-room mix-up finds him roaming free on the streets of New York City, the wonder dog will have to learn to rely on his actual strengths -- as well as his new friends, an abandoned housecat and a starry-eyed hamster -- in order to find his way back home.

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THE BUZZ: Disney's latest morality tale sort of sounds like their other upcoming movie, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, with touches of Cars here and there. Travolta was creepy to look at in Wild Hogs and Hairspray, so it's a good thing Bolt looks nothing like his master. Meanwhile, listen close while "Curb Your Enthusiasm" standout Sussie Essman steals as many scenes as she's in -- though she'll have to keep her language family friendly here.

Message Boards: Did Pixar ditch Disney already? | HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I'll get my ball

Twilight

Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke (Full Cast)
Studio: Summit Entertainment

The Plot: In her new town of Forks, Washington, misfit teenager Bella Swan (Stewart) falls for her alluring and mysterious classmate, Edward Cullen (Pattinson). As it turns out, Edward belongs to a lineage of vampires, although he doesn't fit the typical vampire mold. As their passion reaches dizzying heights, can Edward resist his natural urges, and will he be able to defend Bella from his family members who have come for her?

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THE BUZZ: In terms of movies, 2008 will be remembered as the year superheroes went truly mainstream and, separately, the industry realized that female and gay male audiences are a neglected demographic. But what about the younger generation -- more specifically, teenage girls? Has any studio been able to figure out what they want, aside from Hannah Montana? Enter Catherine Hardwicke's adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's first novel, a project that first captured our interest very early this year when Kristen Stewart (Bella), Robert Pattinson (Edward), and a handful of their castmates took over our STARmeter chart, well in advance of any available footage from the production. The hype reached its first apex at Comic-Con, when the movie's panel earned Beatlemania comparisons from aging journalists who covered their ears as the teen girls and their "Twilight Moms" made the event more of a freak-out and less of a presentation. It's always tricky to predict if Internet buzz will turn into box-office gold (or, in this case, crimson) but I will say this: If the mother-daughter duos turn out for opening weekend (which was pushed up from mid-December to pre-Thanksgiving once Harry Potter decided to hide until 2009), Twilight could trump some higher-profile holiday movies, powered by repeat audiences, and send competing studios rushing off to optioned like-minded novels. Stephenie Meyer is keeping a blog on the movie's progress, so you might want to bookmark it as your destination for all things vamp as the release date draws near.

Message Boards: **New Chapter Posted for Jacob + Nessie FanFic** | ID LIKE TO INTODUCE MYSELF FOR REAL

The Soloist

Director: Joe Wright
Stars: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener (Full Cast)
Studio: DreamWorks SKG

The Plot: In Los Angeles, reporter Steve Lopez (Downey Jr.) befriends Nathaniel Ayers (Foxx), a brilliant but troubled musician and one-time Julliard student who currently lives on Skid Row. In a series of revealing articles, Lopez draws attention to Ayers's remarkable story, while Ayers still dreams of a grand performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

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THE BUZZ: Director Joe Wright deftly moved between time periods in Atonement, and he'll undoubtedly employ some of this skill to tell Ayers's remarkable story (get some background here). Bank on top-notch performances from Foxx, Downey Jr., and Keener (who plays Steve Lopez's wife), as well as a layered screenplay from Susannah Grant (Erin Brokovich). One of two fates await this one: multiple-Oscar glory or brilliantly miscalculated melodrama. We're hoping for the former. Here's the trailer.

Message Boards: Oscar for Joe Wright! | Music at the last of the trailer?!!!

The Road [11/26]

Director: John Hillcoat
Stars: Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Kodi Smit-McPhee (Full Cast)
Studio: Dimension Films

The Plot: A father (Mortensen) and son (Smit-McPhee) walk for months across a ravaged, post-apocalyptic landscape in search of civilization.

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THE BUZZ: Can you mine another Cormac McCarthy novel for Oscar gold? We have to imagine that's the plan here for McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning, Oprah-endorsed tale of an unexplained cataclysm decimating life as we know it in the U.S. John Hillcoat (The Proposition) is a stellar pick to frame the father and son's gritty survival instincts, and we can already see Viggo being positioned for a Best Actor nomination, but if this is intended to be an Oscar hopeful, we feel as though some of the novel's most ghastly images -- cannibalism is just the beginning, dear ones -- will be sanitized. (or maybe not, according to this report, though Charlize Theron's character was given more of a backstory, as readers would image). Personally, we're primed for Guy Pearce's role ...

Message Boards: How are they going to pull off the night scenes? (tiny spoiler) | the boy..

Transporter 3 [11/26]

Director: Olivier Megaton
Stars: Jason Statham, Robert Knepper, Katia Tchenko (Full Cast)
Studio: Lionsgate

The Plot: Plot unknown. This is the third chapter of the action trilogy centered on Frank Martin (Statham), the former mercenary who reinvented himself as a specialist in moving goods of all kinds.

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THE BUZZ: Looks like a much leaner (as in: 0% body fat) Jason Statham has punched in for a third-and-final? installment of the franchise that helped him break big in America. But do me a favor: Watch the teaser trailer and let me know if you think it's kind of embarrassing that the production -- which is still being steered by writer/producer Luc Besson, but is in the hands of graffiti-artist-turned-director Olivier Megaton -- lifted a story convention from Statham's Crank 2: High Voltage? In C2, Statham has a rejiggered heart that needs electrical jolts to keep ticking, here in T3, he's been outfitted with a silver bangle that will detonate if removed. Is this a metaphor for what might happen to Statham if he ever decides to transition out of action-anti-hero mode and into, say, a romantic leading man?

Message Boards: REALLY REALLY wished | High Quality Transporter 3 Trailer

Australia [11/26]

Director: Baz Luhrmann
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman (Full Cast)
Studio: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

The Plot: Set in northern Australia before World War II, an English aristocrat (Kidman) who inherits a sprawling ranch reluctantly pacts with a stock-man (Jackman) in order to protect her new property from a takeover plot. As the pair drive 2,000 head of cattle over unforgiving landscape, they experience the bombing of Darwin, Australia, by Japanese forces firsthand.

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THE BUZZ: Originally Russell Crowe was set to star opposite Kidman in this paean to the antipodean outback, but everyone's favorite bad boy balked at the salary, stating, "I don't do charity work for major studios." Charming or surly? In stepped Wolverine to help Mrs. Keith Urban herd cattle, and while we couldn't be happier that Jackman and Kidman will play dueling cheekbones, the combination of dust, sweat, and livestock seems a far cry from Luhrmann's usually spangled-and-sumptuous milieu. This better deliver more than cattle or you're looking at the Australian Atonement come Oscar time. Apple has the trailer premiere.

Message Boards: Question for Australians... | i am an australian and i am boycotting this movie

Milk [11/26 -- limited]

Director: Gus Van Sant
Stars: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch (Full Cast)
Studio: Focus Features

The Plot: A chronicle of Harvey Milk's (Penn) ascent to become San Francisco's first openly gay city supervisor in 1977, and the political fallout that led to his assassination, as well as Mayor George Moscone's, the following year.

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THE BUZZ: While Oliver Stone skewers the current president, Gus van Sant turns the clock back 30 years to a golden moment in San Francisco that soon turned to rust. I am fortunate enough to live in said city, and it was striking to see what the Milk crew did with their big budget (well, big for a GVS production) in order to return the Castro to its 70s-era splendor; Milk's camera store was recreated, the Castro Theater got a hot makeover, classic cars jammed the streets, there were parades, and Sean Penn could be seen traipsing around the Haight in a kimono. (At least I think that was him.) While the film received its fair share of attention toward the end of the summer -- James Franco, who plays Milk's lover, seemed to enjoy throwing a kink in Pineapple Express press junkets by describing what it was like to kiss Sean Penn -- we already know that distributor Focus Features (still smarting from Brokeback?) has an Oscar campaign waiting in the wings. Will Josh Brolin, who here plays city-supervisor-turned-assassin Dan White, receive a nomination for this role, or for W., or both?

Message Boards: Smells like another Oscar... | THE CASTRO THEATRE S.F. CA 10-28-2008 $250.00 per Ticket

Four Christmases [11/26]

Director: Seth Gordon
Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Mary Steenburgen (Full Cast)
Studio: New Line Cinema

The Plot: A comedy about a married couple (Witherspoon and Vaughn) from two divorced families who are tasked with attending four Christmas Day celebrations.

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THE BUZZ: Sounds more like Christmas with the Kranks to us, given the reports that Reese and Vince didn't exactly get along during filming. That's going to make promoting the movie interesting; picture them on daytime TV together: him rumpled and probably hungover, her glowering and taking questions about her other upcoming projects. Maybe this one should end with the main characters going about their separate ways. That sure seemed to work for The Break Up ...

Message Boards: Jon Favreau lost weight!!! | From the director of 'The King of Kong'...

Fanboys [11/26 -- limited]

Director: Kyle Newman
Stars: Dan Fogler, Jay Baruchel, Kristen Bell (Full Cast)
Studio: Weinstein Company, The

The Plot: Four guys and their galpal plan a cross-country trip in order to steal a print of Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace from Skywalker Ranch so their dying friend can see it before its world premiere.

Photos (see all 4 | slideshow)

THE BUZZ: Director Kyle Newman's comedy, which traveled a bumpy road to its theatrical release, restores a sense of nostalgia -- we just wish it traveled all the way back to those halcyon days before the Star Wars episodes were renumbered and Jar Jar Binks was under wraps at Skywalker Ranch. Still, you have to hand it to the real-world fanboys and girls who lobbied Harvey Weinstein until the big softie agreed to release Newman's cut of the film. If I were being called "Darth Weinstein" for stripping a film of its context, I'd probably cave after a few rounds with the Faithful, too ...

Message Boards: OriginalStory line ( Possible spoilers) | WHEN IS THIS COMING OUT! GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER!

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