افلام

Hancock Hancock [7/1] Director: Peter Berg Stars: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman (Full Cast) Studio: Columbia Pictures The Plot: An apathetic, hard-living superhero (Smith) who has fallen out of favor with the public is approached by a public relations professional (Bateman) who has ideas as to how he can repair his client's image. THE BUZZ: What we keep thinking about here is the fact that Peter Berg, despite being one of the most versatile people working in Hollywood, has never directed a blockbuster. Until now, right? Right, but only because this is a Will Smith starrer; the man who hasn't had a flop since the year 2000 is one of only a few actors who could have greenlighted this project. (With most any other actor, Hancock would be a January release and, at best, a dicey superhero prospect.) But the question remains: Will Hancock hit the heights of Tony Stark and, to a slightly lesser extent, Bruce Banner? With Smith in anti-hero mode, a hard-fought PG-13 rating, and a definite lack of buzz, we're wondering if this might underwhelm. Maybe that why Sony has all but suppressed the relationship between Will and Charlize's characters here.

Finding Amanda rnrnFinding Amanda rnrnDirector: Peter TolanrnStars: Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Maura Tierney (Full Cast)rnStudio: HDNet FilmsrnrnThe Plot: A television producer (Broderick) with a penchant for drinking and gambling is sent to Las Vegas to convince his troubled niece (Snow) to enter rehab.rnrnTHE BUZZ: I'd swear this movie was from the mid-90s if Matthew Broderick didn't look so ... puffy. And while I don't mean to sound harsh, from the looks of the trailer, Ferris B. seems to be phoning this role in. Brittany Snow, on the other hand, takes a departure from becoming just another a horror-remake queen with what could be an engaging performance (in that her role seems to require a dynamic range from comedy to drama and back again). Magnolia Pictures has made the movie available on DISH On-Demand already, an unsurprising move from the studio that brings you, among other things, Steve Soderbergh's indie digressions.

Gunnin' for That #1 Spot Gunnin' for That #1 Spot [limited] Director: Adam Yauch Stars: Jarryd Bayless, Michael Beasley, Tyreke Evans (Full Cast) Studio: Oscilloscope Pictures The Plot: A documentary that follows eight of the top high school basketball players as they compete in the first "Elite 24" tournament at Rucker Park in New York City. THE BUZZ: Beastie Boy Adam Yauch brings us the first project from his newly launched movie company, Oscilloscope Pictures (look for their second project, FLOW, later this year). NYC summers are so in right now, what with SATC ruling the world-wide box office and The Wackness gearing up for its July release, but the season hasn't been favorable for documentaries. However, Yauch is playing it cool with Gunnin' by releasing the doc in 7 hoops-friendly cities as the 2008 NBA Draft kicks into gear -- perhaps the major studios could learn a thing or two from such a strategy. And how boss does the revitalized Public Enemy sound in the trailer?

Wanted Wanted Director: Timur Bekmambetov Stars: Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman (Full Cast) Studio: Universal Pictures The Plot: When Wesley Gibson (McAvoy) discovers his recently murdered father was an elite assassin, the young man is recruited into his father's old organization and trained by a man named Sloan (Freeman) to follow in his dad's footsteps. THE BUZZ: Timur Bekmambetov's English-language debut is similar in theme to his criminally mismarketed Night Watch, except Wanted is spun off from a pottymouthed comic serial darker in nature than V for Vendetta and Sin City combined.

WALL·E WALL·E Director: Andrew Stanton Stars: Ben Burtt, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard (Full Cast) Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures The Plot: A trash-compacting robot sets off on an adventure to discover the meaning of life. THE BUZZ: Number Five is alive and animated. According to legend, this film is the last of the leftover projects the Incredibles crew chewed over during an infamous lunch date back in 1994 that spawned several Oscars for Pixar and Disney. Now the 'toon twosome are poised for another box office return that's out of this world (and hopefully still doing lunch together).

Brick Lane Brick Lane [limited] Director: Sarah Gavron Stars: Tannishtha Chatterjee, Satish Kaushik, Christopher Simpson (Full Cast) Studio: Sony Pictures Classics The Plot: 18-year-old Nazneen (Chatterjee) is brought from Bangladesh to London for an arranged marriage with the middle-aged Chanu (Kaushik). As the years press on, Nazneen finds herself a mother of two installed in a loveless relationship, though the arrival of a Muslim radical (Simpson) might be just the circumstance to help her find the strength to live life on her own terms. THE BUZZ: Back in 2003, Monica Ali's wildly successful debut novel was shortlisted for the prestigious Man Booker Prize, the same award for which the novel versions of Notes on a Scandal and Atonement both competed. Both something happened in the translation from page to screen, since the hotly anticipated immigrant drama has failed to generate much heat from the festival circuit (an essential ingredient in getting U.S. art-house types to pay attention). Read a couple reviews from both sides of the pond.

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl Kit Kittredge: An American Girl [limited] Director: Patricia Rozema Stars: Abigail Breslin, Stanley Tucci, Joan Cusack (Full Cast) Studio: New Line Cinema The Plot: Young Kit Kittredge (Breslin) looks to weigh in on the Great Depression by having the story she's written about the era published in Cincinnati's major newspaper. THE BUZZ: Ugh, a drama based on a popular line of dolls, set in the Great Depression?! Grapes of Bratz?

The Love Guru The Love Guru Director: Marco Schnabel Stars: Mike Myers, Jessica Alba, Romany Malco (Full Cast) Studio: Paramount Pictures The Plot: Pitka (Meyers) an American raised outside of his country by gurus, returns to the States in order to break into the self-help business. His first challenge: To settle the romantic troubles and subsequent professional skid of a star hockey player (Malco) whose wife left him for a rival lover (Timberlake) before the NHL Stanley Cup. THE BUZZ: This level of character-based humor might expose Meyers as a player whose time has come and gone. And don't get us started on Guru's convoluted premise and the fact that the trailer doesn't take the time to let you know how Jessica Alba fits into the story. The only things that excite us here: (1) The presence of Weeds standout Romany Malco (even if he's styled like a Delirious-era Eddie Murphy) and (2) Justin Timberlake looking ready to steal scenes.

Get Smart Get Smart Director: Peter Segal Stars: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Alan Arkin (Full Cast) Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures The Plot: Maxwell Smart (Carrell), Agent 86 for CONTROL, battles the forces of KAOS with the more-competent Agent 99 (Hathaway) at his side. THE BUZZ: Hmmm... Mel Brooks and Buck Henry as reinterpreted by the guys who wrote Failure to Launch.... Where's KAOS when you really need them? Still, we give courageous snaps to the nice casting, but weren't Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 supposed to be romantic foils? Carell, handsome as he is, seems more suited to playing Hathaway's father than her boyfriend. We'll be watching Office reruns and the Devil Wears Prada DVD instead, thanks.

Quid Pro Quo Quid Pro Quo [limited] Director: Carlos Brooks Stars: Nick Stahl, Vera Farmiga (Full Cast) Studio: Magnolia Pictures The Plot: A semi-paralyzed reporter (Sthal) is sent out to investigate a story that first leads him into an odd subculture, and then lured on a journey of disturbing self-realization by a beautiful, mysterious woman (Farmiga). THE BUZZ: Cronenberg fans, pay attention: Carlos Brooks's directorial debut generated hotel-lobby buzz at Sundance this year for its provocative weirdness that sends Nick Stahl on a body-altering journey. And who could blame him, since we'd follow Vera Farmiga just about anywhere -- even to the point of paralysis. "What?" I heard you say. Watch the trailer, read a thumbs-up review, and hope this one plays near you.