This week there are six new movies opening. There are three opening everywhere and three in limited release.
Opening Nationwide on Friday, February 29th:
Movie: The Other Boleyn Girl (PG-13)
Starring: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson & Eric Bana
Genre: Drama
Synopsis: An ambitious father pushes his two daughters along with their uncle to enlarge the family’s power and status by seeking the affections of the king of England. They leave their simple life behind and end up in the dangerous, but thrilling, world of court life. At first they are just attempting to court the king, but end up in a battle between the two for the love of the king. Mary wins at first and bears the king to illegitimate kids. But, Anne pushes both her sisters and the king’s wife aside in pursuit of becoming queen. England is torn apart as the two sisters battle it out.
First Thoughts: May be the greatest movie ever, but this fictional story holds no interest to me what so ever.
Movie: Penelope (PG)
Starring: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O’Hara, Peter Dinklage & Richard E. Grant
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Synopsis: A young girl that was born with a nose shaped like a pig’s snout has spent most of her life as virtual prisoner by staying at home. It is believed that to break the curse she is under that she must marry one of her own kind. She starts meeting many a suitor, but all of them reject her. Two men that have a grudge against the family hire a man to pretend to be interested in her, but things don’t work out well for them when he actually starts to fall for her and this could lead to her freedom.
First Thoughts: James McAvoy seems to be everywhere right now. Will definitely go see him later this year in Wanted, but not so sure about another sub 90-minute movie this week.
Movie: Semi-Pro (R) (Read Review)
Starring: Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, André Benjamin, Will Arnett & Rob Corddry
Genre: Comedy
Synopsis: It is 1976 and singer Jackie Moon as turned his one and only hit song into fulfilling his lifetime dream of owning a basketball franchise. The Flint Michigan Tropics is that team, but they are the worst the ABA has to offer. He finds out that the ABA and NBA are about to merge and tries to implement a plan to make sure his team is one of the teams that gets absorbed by the other league.
First Thoughts: Sounds like the 1970s version of Mark Cuban, but hopefully at least semi-funny. Yet, the 90-minute runtime worries me again. What is the deal with all the short movies hitting the big screen in the last few weeks? Maybe I should go see The Other Boleyn Girl, at least it runs for almost two hours.
Movies in Limited Release:
- Bonneville – Road dramedy starring Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Joan Allen and Christine Baranski about three women on a road trip from Idaho to California to take the ashes of one-of-them’s husband to her step-daughter for burial, but she has promised him that she would scatter.
- Chicago 10 – Footage of the clash between the police and demonstrators at the 1968 Democratic convention are interweaved with some 3-D animated sequences that reenact the trial that followed.
- City of Men – Coming of age drama where to life long friends end up on opposite sides of a gang war.
For New Movie Friday there are four new movies to choose from this week. They are City of Men, The Other Boleyn Girl, Penelope and Semi-Pro. What new movie will you be heading out to see this week?