Suspense classic, thriller and romantic comedy hit silver screen
A suspense classic (“Army of Shadows”), a broad comedy (“Little Man”), an unnerving thriller (“A Scanner Darkly”) and a romantic comedy (“You, Me and Dupree”) are the top titles arriving in theaters on this third weekend of July. The new films (with all dates subject to change) opening at a theater near you include:
– “Army of Shadows,” with Jean-Pierre Cassel and Simone Signoret in the acclaimed and atmospheric import (1969) about the French Resistance during World War II. Jean-Pierre Melville (“Le Samurai”) directed the drama, which is making its debut in the United States. The unrated film will be shown in French with English subtitles.
– “Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man,” with U2, Nick Cave, Rufus Wainwright and other performers in a PG-13 celebration of the life and career of the 70-year-old songwriter/poet. Australian director Lian Lunson, who co-produced the project with Mel Gibson, combined concert footage and documentary material.
– “Little Man,” with brothers Shawn and Marlon Wayans (“White Chicks”) co-starring in a PG-13 comedy about a man who mistakes a little-person criminal for his adopted son. Their older sibling, Keenen Ivory Wayans (“Scary Movie”), directed.
– “Peaceful Warrior,” with Nick Nolte (“Affliction”) and Amy Smart (“Varsity Blues”) in a sports fable about a gifted college gymnast who loses his way due to partying and carousing and returns to the right path thanks to a philosophical senior citizen. The PG-13 picture is based on the autobiographical novel “Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives,” by Dan Millman.
– “A Scanner Darkly,” with Keanu Reeves (“The Matrix”), Robert Downey Jr. (“Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang”), Winona Ryder (“Bram Stoker’s Dracula”) and Woody Harrelson (“Prairie Home Companion”) in an R-rated fantasy based on Philip K. Dick’s novel of paranoia that unfolds in a world where drugs have become rampant and friends agree to spy on each other. Director Richard Linklater (“The School of Rock”) employs the interpolated rotoscoping (drawing over live-action figures) technique that he previously used in “Waking Life” (2001).
– “You, Me and Dupree,” with Owen Wilson (“Wedding Crashers”), Kate Hudson (“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”), Matt Dillon (“Crash”) and Michael Douglas (“The Sentinel”) in a PG-13 comedy about a self-absorbed swinging bachelor who moves in with a newlywed couple. The slacker likes the living situation so much that he then refuses to leave. Filmmaking siblings Anthony and Joe Russo (“Welcome to Collinwood”) co-directed.
At the buck$ office
The “Dead Man’s Chest” was filled with gold at the box office last weekend.
The highly anticipated sequel “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” set a record by grossing $132 million in its first three days of release.
According to the Associated Press, the previous record holder was “Spider-Man” (2002), which opened with $114.8 million in its first weekend.
The second “Pirates” installment also set a single-day record by grossing $55.5 million on July 7. The previous single-day record holder was “Star Wars: Episode III -Revenge of the Sith,” with $50 million.
The Man of Steel was cut down to size by “Pirates.”
“Superman Returns” grossed $21.85 million last weekend, which represented a 58 percent drop from its opening weekend.
According to AP, the top-10 movies last weekend were:
1. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” ($132 million)
2. “Superman Returns” ($21.85 million)
3. “The Devil Wears Prada” ($15.6 million)
4. “Click” ($12 million)
5. “Cars” ($10.3 million)
6. “Nacho Libre” ($3.3 million)
7. “The Lake House” ($2.8 million)
8. “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” ($2.5 million)
9. “Waist Deep” ($1.9 million)
10. “The Break-Up” ($1.6 million)
Coming soon!
The major titles scheduled to open July 21 include: “Lady in the Water” (with Paul Giamatti in a fantasy directed by M. Night Shyamalan), “Monster House” (with the voices of Steve Buscemi and Maggie Gyllenhaal in a computer-animated tale) and “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” (with Uma Thurman and Luke Wilson in a romantic comedy).