Hitting the theaters
Playing Sept. 19 – Sept. 25
Bangkok Dangerous – Joe (Nicolas Cage) is a hitman who has several jobs to carry off in Thailand, but his plans are interrupted when he falls for a Thai woman and bonds with an errand boy. The movie, directed by Danny Pang and Oxide Pang Chun, is based on a 1999 Hong Kong film, where the men got their start in the industry. Action, R.
Burn After Reading – The latest film from bothers Ethan and Joel Coen promises to be as much of a screwball as all their other movies. A CIA agent loses a disk with his memoirs, and it ends up in the hands of two gym employees who plan to sell it. The film stars Coen regulars George Clooney and Frances McDormand, as well as Brad Pitt, John Malkovich and Tilda Swinton. Comedy, R.
House Bunny – Shelly (Anna Faris) is a past her prime Playboy bunny who has just been kicked out of the mansion. She takes on employment as a house mom for a group of misfit sorority girls instead of finding a real job and place to live. Soon she finds she has more to offer the girls than she thought, and they have more to offer her. Also starring Colin Hanks, Emma Stone, Kat Dennings and Julia Lea Wolov. Comedy, PG-13.
Igor – Igor is a hunchbacked assistant to an evil scientist, but what he really wants is to be a scientist himself. Do that, he will have to overcome all the other evil scientists in the community. Characters voiced by John Cusack, John Cleese, Steve Buscemi and Sean Hayes. Animated, PG.
Lakeview Terrace – In this drama, a Los Angeles Police Department officer (Samuel L. Jackson) tries to force an interracial couple who just moved in to leave the neighborhood. Instead of taking the harrassment from the self-appointed neighborhood watchman, they fight back. Also starring Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington. Thriller, PG-13.
The Longshots – Who says girls can’t play football? Jasmine Plummer (Keke Palmer) became the first girl to play in a Pop Warner Super Bowl when she and her uncle Curtis Plummer (Ice Cube) challenged the norm. Comedy, PG.
Mongol – Genghis Khan started life as a slave before his rise to power when he conquered half the world in the 1200s. Filmmakers based their story on scholarly accounts of the warrior. Drama, R.
My Best Friend’s Girl – Dustin (Jason Biggs) thinks he’s found the perfect girl in Alexis (Kate Hudson) but she dumps him before their relationship really starts. Dustin hires his best friend Tank (Dane Cook) who has a knack for treating girls badly to drive them back into the arms of ex-boyfriends. But Tank starts to fall for Alexis before too long and struggles to stay away from his best friend’s girl. Comedy, R.
Righteous Kill – Years ago two detectives (Al Pacino and Robert De Niro) put a man behind bars for murder. Now they have a new murder to solve that bears some similarities to the long solved case. They must discover if they have a serial killer on their hands and if they put the wrong man behind bars all those years ago. Crime drama, R.
Tropic Thunder – Ben Stiller directed and wrote this film, with Justin Theroux, about a group of actors who head into the jungle to get into character for a movie. When they are captured by rebels, they don’t realize it’s not just a movie anymore. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, and Steve Coogan and Stiller. Comedy, R.
Tyler Perry’s Family That Preys – Though Alice Pratt (Alfre Woodard) works for socialite Charlotte Cartwright (Kathy Bates) the two have always been friends. That is until their adult children draw them into scandal that will test their friendship and family ties. Also starring Sanaa Lathan, Cole Hauser and Kadee Strickland. Comedy, PG-13.
The Women – Based on a 1939 film by George Cukor, this updated version has a wealthy New York woman leaving her cheating husband to bond with other society women. The film stars Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Debra Messing, Bette Midler and plenty of other well-known females. Comedy, PG-13.
Hitting the couch
Movies out on DVD and Blu-Ray Sept. 23
Sex and the City: the movie – Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her pals, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Samantha (Kim Cattrall), are back together. Things have changed since the series, with Carrie and Mr. Big (Chris Noth) ready to take the leap into marriage, but things are never as easy as they should be for the duo. This chick flick is more about the friendship than the men in their lives, and though it ends with a cliche, it has plenty of laughs. On DVD and Blu-ray
L.A. Confidential – This 1997 film noir has been re-released for high definition play. In it three cops investigate murder using different methods. Actors include Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce, as well as James Cromwell and Kim Basinger. On Blu-ray
Leatherheads – The owner of a professional football team in the 1920s hires a college phenom to his team, but soon finds trouble off the field as his fiancee starts to fall for the new player. Starring George Clooney, Renee Zellweger and John Krasinski. On DVD and Blu-ray.
Run, Fatboy, Run – After Dennis, a clueless and slightly chubby guy, leaves his pregnant fiancee he spends five years trying to win her back. When she finally meets someone new, he decides to prove to her he can finish something by competing in a Nike River run in London. Starring Simon Peff, Thandie Newton and Hank Azaria. On DVD
Deception – An accountant is introduced to a mysterious sex club by a friend. But he soon becomes the prime suspect in a woman’s disappearance and million-dollar heist. Starring Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Michelle Williams and Maggie Q. On DVD and Blu-ray
Television series on DVD Sept. 23
Brothers and Sisters season two – A drama series that follows the lives of adult siblings.
Boston Leagal season four – A comedy about civil lawyers.
