June 6: At the Movies
An unsettling documentary (“Bigger, Stronger, Faster”), a computer-animated picture (“Kung Fu Panda”), a horror import (“Mother of Tears”), a stylish drama (“Reprise”), a suspense thriller (“Stuck”) and a far-out comedy (“You Don’t Mess with the Zohan”) are among the titles arriving on this first weekend of June. For complete descriptions, critical evaluations of previewed films and explanations of the Motion Picture Association of America ratings in terms of violence, language and sexual content, please refer to the Movie Capsules.
The films (with all dates subject to change) opening at a theater near you include:
“Bigger, Stronger, Faster,” with Chris Bell, who has written TV segments for World Wrestling Entertainment, making his directing debut with a PG-13 documentary on how performance-enhancing drugs have become part of America’s win-at-all-costs culture. Bell looks at his older brother, Mike, and his younger brother, Mark, who used anabolic steroids in their quest to be the best athletes possible.
“Kung Fu Panda,” with the voices of Jack Black (“Be Kind Rewind”), Angelina Jolie (“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”) and Dustin Hoffman (“Meet the Fockers”) in a computer-animated tale, rated PG, about a lazy panda who reluctantly agrees to develop hand-to-hand combat skills to protect his village.
“Meet Bill,” with Aaron Eckhart (“Thank You For Smoking”), Jessica Alba (“Sin City”), Elizabeth Banks (“Fred Claus”) and Kristen Wiig (TV’s “Saturday Night Live”) in an R-rated comedy about a guy who has always tried to follow the rules. He takes a rebellious turn after discovering his wife is being unfaithful and considers radical ways of energizing his life.
“Mother of Tears,” with Asia Argento (“Land of the Dead”) in an Italian import, directed by her famed filmmaker father, visual stylist Dario Argento. The unrated title, which follows the rage of a witch after she’s accidentally released from an ancient urn found in a cemetery outside of Rome, is the final part of Argento’s “Three Mothers” trilogy, which also includes “Suspiria” and “Inferno.”
“Reprise,” with Anders Danielsen Lie and Espen Klouman-Hoiner in an R-rated Norwegian drama about two writers whose friendship is tested after they enjoy critical acclaim for their early work and then face challenges with future works. Joachim Trier made his directing debut with the import, which is presented with subtitles.
“Stuck,” with Mena Suvari (“American Beauty”) and Stephen Rea (“The Crying Game”) in a suspense thriller about a woman who hits a homeless man with her car and decides to park the vehicle with the victim through the windshield in her garage and wait for him to die. Cult favorite Stuart Gordon (“Re-Animator”) directed the R-rated picture, which is loosely based on a true 2002 hit-and-run incident in Texas.
“You Don’t Mess with the Zohan,” with Adam Sandler starring in a crude PG-13 comedy about a Mossad agent who fakes his own death so that he can re-emerge and pursue his dream job of being a New York hair stylist. The supporting players include Rob Schneider (“Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo”), Henry Winkler (TV’s “Happy Days”) and singer-turned-actress Mariah Carey (“Glitter”). Sandler co-wrote the script with hot filmmaker Judd Apatow (“Knocked Up”). Dennis Dugan (“I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry”) directed.
At the Buck$ Office
“Sex” was hot at the box office last weekend.
“Sex and the City: The Movie,” based on the popular HBO series starring Sarah Jessica Parker, opened with a blistering gross of more than $55 million. It knocked “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” from the top spot.
“Sex and the City,” released under Warner Bros.’ New Line Cinema banner, had the best debut ever for an R-rated comedy, topping the $45.1 million opening of “American Pie 2” (2001), the Associated Press reported.
Studio executives expected “Sex and the City: The Movie” to open with $30 million, but it almost doubled that estimate thanks to women viewers who strongly supported the audience-pleasing picture.
According to AP, the top-10 films last weekend were:
1. “Sex and the City: The Movie” ($55.7 million)
2. “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” ($46 million)
3. “The Strangers” ($20.7 million)
4. “Iron Man” ($14 million)
5. “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” ($13 million)
6. “What Happens in Vegas” ($6.9 million)
7. “Baby Mama” ($2.2 million)
8. “Speed Racer” ($2.1 million)
9. “Made of Honor” ($2 million)
10. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” ($1 million)