“Battleship” (PG-13) “Battleship — Hasbro’s venerable game of naval strategy in which players use a combination of guesswork and logic to deduce the location of their opponents’ ships — isn’t exactly known for its thrill-a-minute narrative complexity. So it’s understandable if some moviegoers might approach the new action-adventure film inspired by it with the same trepidation they would feel about “Yahtzee: The Movie.” Fear not. ‘Battleship’ is an invigorating blast of cinematic adrenaline.” — Michael O’Sullivan

“What to Expect When You’re Expecting” (PG-13) “Is director Kirk Jones’s film a farce, populated by crazy caricatures? Or is it a crash course in every potential prenatal complication? How about a dramatic account of failed pregnancy attempts and first bonds? The movie turns out to be a little of everything yet succeeds only occasionally at anything.” — Stephanie Merry

“This Is Not a Film” (Unrated) “‘This Is Not a Film,’ which [Jafar] Panahi made with fellow director Mojtaba Mirtahmasb, is indeed not a film — it’s a cry from the heart of an artist compelled to create, tell stories and respond to hostile, confounding realities.” — Ann Hornaday

“The Dictator” (R) “Even amid the hit-and-miss broadsides and laugh-free longueurs that comprise most of ‘The Dictator,’ Cohen’s acute
hypocrisy-detector keeps on ticking, if barely.” — Ann Hornaday

“Bernie” (PG-13) “Based on the real-life story of Carthage, Tex., funeral director Bernie Tiede, and his co-dependent friendship with a wealthy widow named Marjorie Nugent, ‘Bernie’ unfolds into many equally rich narrative strands: love story, southern Gothic slice-of-life and, finally tragedy and legal thriller, when Mrs. Nugent’s body turns up one day in her own chest-style freezer.” — Ann Hornaday

“Crooked Arrows” (PG-13) “The high-school sports drama ‘Crooked Arrows’ has two — but only two — original selling points: Its protagonists are Native Americans and the sport in question is lacrosse. That’s something you don’t see every day. Other than that, however, the film’s moves are taken straight out of ‘The Bad News Bears’ playbook.”

— Michael O’Sullivan

“Where Do We Go Now?” (PG-13) “‘Lysistrata’ goes to Lebanon in ‘Where Do We Go Now?’ — a satire in which pathos competes with light comedy and neither quite flourishes.” — John DeFore

Article source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/going-out-gurus/post/battleship-and-more-new-movies/2012/05/17/gIQAnawqWU_blog.html

Having exhausted his Borat shtick, Sacha Baron Cohen gives scripted comedy a try by playing a Middle East dictator forced to take a penniless exile in the United States after surviving a coup attempt. Anna Faris and Ben Kingsley co-star.

BATTLESHIP


Having failed to achieve success kicking alien butt on Mars in “John Carter,” Taylor Kitsch tries his hand at it back on Earth, where he and Liam Neeson battle inhuman invaders in yet another (gasp) film based on a children’s toy.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING


Indulging her entrepreneurial skills, Elizabeth Banks produces – and stars in – this light, ensemble comedy about the trials and tribulations of several expectant couples. It’s based on the best-selling self-help guide. Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez and Dennis Quaid co-star.

GOD BLESS AMERICA


Writer-director Bobcat Goldthwait (“World’s Greatest Dad”) is at it again, brutally satirizing the decline of American morals and culture with this dark, hilarious comedy about a dying, disenfranchised man (“Mad Men’s” Joel Murray, brother of Bill) going on a killing spree in which he and his teenage accomplice (Tara Lynne Barr) take out political pundits and reality TV celebrities they deem “too mean.”

DARLING COMPANION


Filmmaker Lawrence Kasdan (“The Big Chill”) strives – and reportedly fails – to regain relevance with this shaggy-dog drama about a woman (Diane Keaton) who goes off the deep end when her beloved mutt runs away. Kevin Kline co-stars.

THE HUNTER


Willem Dafoe plays a ruthless mercenary hired by a mysterious band of scientists to hunt supposedly extinct tigers in Tasmania. But in the process, he predictably discovers he has a heart. Sam Neill and Frances O’Connor co-star.

SURVIVING PROGRESS


Mathieu Roy and Harold Crooks direct a documentary based on Ronald Wright’s book “A Short History of Progress,” about the positive – and negative – influences technology and economics have had on our rapidly decaying society.

BERNIE


Jack Black and director Richard Linklater, the team that brought you the hit “School of Rock,” rejoin forces for this fact-based comedy about an assistant undertaker (Black) who enters into a macabre relationship with a much older woman.

Article source: http://www.enterprisenews.com/lifestyle/x2047358110/New-movies-The-Dictator-Battleship

_ Christy Lemire, AP Movie Critic

___

“Hysteria” – Like the inventors of the vibrator it depicts, this 19th-century romp really aims to please. And like an inattentive lover displaced by the sexual aid, the film never quite satisfies. True to the title, there are a few hysterically funny moments as a couple of Victorian-era British doctors and an amateur inventor stumble into the creation of a mechanical device to pleasure women. Yet despite the novel premise, the movie feels as though it’s going through the motions as director Tanya Wexler strains to deliver one of those blithe little costume charmers that can rouse art-house audiences to ecstasy. The fictionalized story built around Dr. Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy), who patented an electric massager around 1880, is choked with cliches playing the era’s prim and proper morality against progressive, freethinking ideals that would take hold in the coming decades. A modern man of science, Granville takes a job as an assistant to a doctor (Jonathan Pryce) specializing in manipulating uteruses to produce “paroxysms” as treatment for various nervous symptoms in women. Aided by a gadget-minded pal (Rupert Everett), Granville mechanizes the process, and the hilarious test runs they conduct are almost worth the price of a ticket by themselves. But the amusing story line is weighed down by predictable relations between Granville and his boss’ daughters, one demure and prudish (Felicity Jones), the other (Maggie Gyllenhaal) a progressive social crusader. R for sexual content. 95 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

_ David Germain, AP Movie Writer

___

“Polisse” – This feels like the two-hour pilot for the kind of meaty cop drama that could only exist on cable television, one you’d want to program into your DVR to watch all season long. The subject matter is inherently repulsive – crimes against children – yet the film itself is irresistibly watchable, full of complicated characters on both sides of these investigations. Director and co-writer Maiwenn finds the humanity within some abhorrent figures, as well as some much-needed comic relief and absurdity within some repulsive situations. She also inserts herself in the action as part of the ensemble cast – in self-glorifying fashion, to be honest – as the photographer assigned to follow police officers of Paris’ Child Protection Unit and our guide through this dark and sometimes darkly humorous world. In real life, Maiwenn also embedded herself with these kinds of detectives and (with co-writer Emmanuelle Bercot) crafted several interwoven tales based on actual cases she saw. What’s impressive is not only her ability to juggle a large group of talented actors and give everyone a chance to shine but also her restraint. She judges no one, neither the suspects nor the people investigating them. Everyone makes mistakes – everyone is believably flawed. And because “Polisse” also follows the officers after hours, it’s easy to see why so many of them are so screwed up: Psychologically, they take their work home with them, and their work is depressingly frustrating. There are some shocking moments, to be sure, and plenty of stress-fueled blowups but also scenes of heartbreaking tenderness. Maiwenn’s naturalistic style serves to amplify all these emotions. With Karin Viard, Marina Fois and French rapper JoeyStarr. Not rated but contains language, violence, smoking, graphic dialogue and disturbing situations involving children. In French with English subtitles. 127 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.

_ Christy Lemire, AP Movie Critic

___

“What to Expect When You’re Expecting” – If only the entire movie had focused on the dad’s group and didn’t just drop in on them a handful of times, we might have been onto something here. Chris Rock, Thomas Lennon and Rob Huebel are among the dudes who meet regularly to push their kids in tricked-out strollers, tote them in high-end carriers and talk guy stuff in a confidential setting away from the wives. Their no-nonsense banter, and their unabashed worship of the buff, shirtless jogger who frequents their neighborhood park, livens up what is a rather predictable and cliched depiction of pregnancy. A likable, good-looking cast of popular actors can only do so much with material that’s superficial and sitcommy. This is “inspired by” the advice book of the same name, one that every single pregnant woman on the planet surely has read since its initial publication in 1985. But similar to 2009′s “He’s Just Not That Into You,” director Kirk Jones’ film merely uses the title of a familiar non-fiction book as a leaping-off point to explore various relationships, ostensibly for hilarious comic effect. There are some laughs here and there and a few recognizable moments of honesty. More often, we get the kind of contrived, unbelievable wackiness that breaks out when all the pregnant women whose stories we’ve been following just happen to give birth at the same hospital on the same night. Being crowd-pleasing was obviously more important than being truthful. Starring Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks and Anna Kendrick. PG-13 for crude and sexual content, thematic elements and language. 110 minutes. Two stars out of four.

_ Christy Lemire, AP Movie Critic

Article source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20120516/us-film-capsules/

In a news release, Cinemark said it has reached an agreement with Rouse Properties, owner of Lakeland Square, to construct the theater. Rouse Properties is launching “a massive re-modeling initiative” for the mall, the news release said.

A spokeswoman for Rouse could not be reached Wednesday to offer further details on those plans.

Lakeland Deputy City Manager Tony Delgado said city officials have had “very preliminary” discussions with representatives from Rouse Properties about renovations to Lakeland Square.

North Lakeland has been without an indoor movie theater since Lakeland Square Cinema 10 closed nearly two years ago.

Cinemark said the theater will feature its Next Gen design concept, which includes a self-serve concession stand, stadium-seat auditoriums, wall-to-wall screens and high-quality sound and visual equipment.

The theater will offer the first Cinemark XD Extreme Digital Cinema auditorium in Central Florida, Cinemark said. The main auditorium will show the newest movies every week, Cinemark said, including both 2D and Real D-3D pictures.

Cinemark Holdings has 459 theaters and 5,181 screens in the United States and Latin America, according to its website. It ranks as the third-largest theater chain in the country, according to figures from Entertainment Scene.

Lakeland Square, which opened in 1988 and expanded in 1994, has more than 120 stores and more than 900,000 square feet of retail space, according to a description on Rouse Properties’ website.

The closing of Lakeland Square Cinema 10 left Lakeland with only one multiplex indoor theater showing first-run pictures. AMC Merchants Walk 10 theater closed in 2007, about a year and a half after Cobb Theatres opened an 18-screen complex at Lakeside Village.

[ Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. ]

Article source: http://www.theledger.com/article/20120516/ENT/120519522/1134?Title=New-Movie-Theater-Opening-at-Lakeland-Square-Next-Year

This is some of the best casting I’ve ever heard. The movie is an indepedent production from Jody Slavin and Randall Miller, telling the story of the rise of CBGBs and the groups it spawned from the Ramones to Patti Smith to the Talking Heads. Hilly died in 2006 and his estate immediately became a war zone. His daughter Lisa fought her own mother, Hilly’s ex wife, and her brother, in court and won. She’s producing the movie and someone will play her in the film. There will be no mention of Karen Kristal, her mother, who helped Hilly establish CBGBs.

But the movie will concentrate on those halcyon days. A lot of the rockers are going to be played by young actors, which should be fun. If the music and the look are right, it should be a good film.

And Alan Rickman? He just finished a much praised run on Broadway in the play, “Seminar.”

Article source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerfriedman/2012/05/14/alan-rickman-from-snape-to-cbgb-owner-in-new-movie/

Funding for screen-to-stage projects is getting a lift from a newly announced fund called Broadway Vine. The fund is designed to help with the optioning of movie titles for adaptation as musicals, commissioning creative teams for script development and staging the first readings and presentations.

Broadway Vine has the backing of Jed Bernstein, the former president of the League of American Theatres and Producers. He is also an experienced producer whose credits include the recent Broadway revivals of “Driving Miss Daisy” and “Oleanna.” The fund also includes the backing of Rich Battista, the former News Corp. executive, and movie producer Bob Israel.

As the fund’s first initiative, the partners have announced “The Flamingo Kid,” a stage adaptation of the 1984 movie starring Matt Dillon. They said that about 75% of the funding has already been raised.

The new fund will behave in the manner of a mutual fund, with investors putting in money that will be applied to a few projects, thus spreading out each individual’s risk. The backers said that additional fundraising will be undertaken for projects deemed worthy of development beyond the initial stages.

Musicals based on movie properties have a mixed track record on Broadway. Notable box-office hits include”The Lion King,”"Legally Blonde” and “Billy Elliot.” Recent flops include “Leap of Faith” and “9 to 5.”

“Once,” a new Broadway musical based on the 2006 movie, received 11 Tony nominations this month, the most of any current Broadway production.

RELATED:

Broadway musical ‘Leap of Faith’ to close on Sunday

Theater Review: ‘Billy Elliot the Musical’ at the Pantages Theatre

‘The Lion King’ surpasses ‘Phantom of the Opera’ as box-office champ

Article source: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-flamingo-kid-20120514,0,2323645.story

The Dictator

The gist: A satirical profile of an African dictator who tries as hard as he can to not be changed by his experiences in America. If you haven’t seen Sacha Baron Cohen promoting this movie, you likely don’t own a television. R

The cast: Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, Megan Fox, Jason Mantzoukas and John C. Reilly.

The buzz: Not many reviews on this one, either because Cohen has been working so hard to maintain secrecy about his latest project, or because it’s so bad no one wants to admit it.

Dark Shadows

The gist: Johnny Depp plays Barnabas Collins in a self-conscious semi-parody of the classic horror soap from the late ’60s. Why Tim Burton made this movie is anyone’s guess, but we’re thinking he and Depp have a bet to see how many movies they can make together. For more, turn to Page 46. PG-13

The cast: Depp, Eva Green, Helena Bonham Carter, Bella Heathcote, Chloe Moretz and Gulliver McGrath.

The buzz: Reviews sound as uneven as the movie. “Dark Shadows sinks its teeth half-way into its potentially meaty material but hesitates to go all the way,” the Hollywood Reporter says.

The Cup

The gist: A jockey tries to win the Melbourne Cup after his brother is killed in a riding accident. It’s a true story, so you can feel better a person died and not a horse. PG

The cast: Brendan Gleeson, Stephen Curry, Daniel MacPherson, Jodi Gordon, Bobby Fox and Martin Sacks.

The buzz: People aren’t liking this one, Stateside or Down Under. All the reviews are from Australia, so go hunt down one of those negative takes online if you like.

— Joshua Gillin jgillin@tampabay.com

Article source: http://www.tampabay.com/features/movies/new-movies-for-may-11/1229486

While the New York Yankees come to mind when most baseball fans think of New York baseball in movies – with classic flicks like Damn Yankees and Pride of the Yankees leading the way – the Mets have been featured in their fair share of notable roles.

When Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones found out the observatory towers in Queens’ Flushing Meadows Corona Park are actually spaceships that brought extraterrestrials to Earth in the 1997 flick, Men In Black, Mets outfielder Bernard Gilkey makes a cameo as spaceships fly over Shea Stadium.

The fun doesn’t end there, as another 1990s classic featured the Mets in a big spot. In Rookie of the Year, 12-year-old pitching phenom Henry Rowengartner has his confidence shattered when Mets slugger Alejandro “Butch” Heddo crushes a deep homer on the first pitch he sees from the rookie.

While Heddo was a fictional character who never actually played for the Mets, he consistently ranks as one of the most famous “bad guys” to ever appear in a baseball flick.

One year later, the Mets were featured in the science-fiction flick, Frequency, which used the Mets’ 1969 World Series victory as a key focal point in the plot.

According to a latimes.com report, Frequency stars Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel as a father and son who magically reconnect through the time-space continuum by talking on a ham radio that somehow bridges 30 years.

“Along the way, they change the course of their family history and prevent a series of murders, thanks in no small part to their mutual love of the 1969 Mets. Key plays from the ’69 World Series–including the famous “shoe polish incident”–are pivotal plot links in the film,” the report says.

Even when the Mets themselves didn’t make it into films, some of their apparel did. In the 1991 movie City Slickers starring Billy Crystal, Crystal’s character is seen wearing a Mets hat.

Additionally, Robin Williams and John Travolta joined the Shea Faithful at Shea Stadium in Flushing, NY, to film part of their 2009 Disney movie, Old Dogs. Former New York Mets outfielder Shawn Green made a cameo during the filming.

What other New York Mets have appeared in movies? Let me know in the comments.

Eric Holden is a lifelong New York Mets fan. Follow him on Twitter @ericholden.

Article source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/top-york-mets-movie-moments-fans-view-005200967--mlb.html