Grendelscott's Movie Corner: 02/28/06

[grendelscott]

The Top Ten For The Weekend Ending 2/26/06
Earnings are in Millions

1. Madea's Family Reunion $30.0
2. Eight Below $15.9
3. The Pink Panther $11.1
4. Date Movie $9.1
5. Curious George $7.2
6. Firewall $6.7
7. Final Destination 3 $5.5
8. Doogal $3.6
9. Running Scared $3.4
10. Freedomland $2.9

Due Out This Week

16 BLOCKS

(Trailer) (Official Site)

Source: Movie Web

All he wanted to do was go home and get a drink.

But at 8:02 a.m., hungover NYPD detective Jack Mosley (BRUCE WILLIS) is assigned a seemingly simple task. Petty criminal Eddie Bunker (MOS DEF) is set to testify before a grand jury at 10:00 a.m. and needs to be taken from lock-up to the courthouse, 16 blocks away. It should take Jack 15 minutes to drop him off at the courthouse and get home.

Broken down, out of shape, with a bad leg and a serious drinking problem, Jack’s role on the force is simple -- clock in, clock out and stay out of trouble in between. He’s in no mood to deal with a punk who’s been in and out of jail for more than half his life. But beneath the punk in Eddie lies a man committed to turning his life around and constantly searching for “signs” that will lead him to a brighter future. Jack knows better, though -- people don’t change. In Eddie he sees only a pathetic rat who was offered a sweet deal... a rat he will be rid of soon enough.

When Jack shoves Eddie into the back of his car and pulls out into the morning New York city rush hour, he doesn’t notice the van looming behind them. His head throbbing, and Eddie’s flair for conversation only making it worse, Jack stops off at the local liquor store to pick up some breakfast. As Eddie waits inside the locked car, fuming at getting stuck with Jack as his escort, he’s suddenly faced with a much bigger problem -- a loaded gun pointed at his head. Jack emerges just in time to prevent Eddie’s execution, killing one assassin and narrowly escaping a second.

When Jack calls for backup, homicide detective Frank Nugent (DAVID MORSE) and his team are first to arrive at the scene. Eddie suddenly goes pale -- one of the detectives on Nugent’s team is the man he is supposed to testify against. In an instant, Jack’s quickie trip downtown turns into the nightmare of a lifetime: the criminals that want Eddie dead are actually cops.

There’s a history between Jack and Nugent -- a dark history that Jack has been desperately trying to forget. And as Nugent is quick to point out to his old friend, Eddie’s testimony threatens to bring them all down. Nugent offers to stage a mock hostage situation in which Eddie is killed and Jack does what he does best -- walk away.

But this time, Jack has been pushed too far and seizes his last opportunity to do the right thing. A split second before Nugent’s team can execute Eddie, Jack sets in motion a chain of events that will irrevocably impact all of their lives.

Battling against time and the corrupt cops gaining on their every move, Jack and Eddie fight their way to the courthouse block by gut-wrenching block. These are Jack’s streets, too -- and he won’t go quietly. In Eddie, he finds purpose, hope and the strength to do something he should have done six years ago. And Eddie begins to see that all of the “signs” he’s been following were meant to lead him to Jack.

It’s the story of how two men change -- and change each other -- during a tense 16 block struggle between life and death.

AQUAMARINE

(Trailer) (Official Site)

Source: Movie Web

AQUAMARINE is the story of Claire (EMMA ROBERTS) and Hailey (JOANNA “JOJO” LEVESQUE), two 13-year-old best friends who embark on the adventure of their lives when they discover a mermaid (SARA PAXTON) named Aquamarine in a swimming pool. Aquamarine had washed ashore after a big storm battered the small town Florida beach club where Claire lives with her grandparents. Claire and Hailey are trying to come to terms with Hailey’s impending departure: She’s moving to Australia with her marine biologist mother after this last weekend of the summer.

The beautiful, blue-haired, 18-year-old mermaid swam away from home just before her arranged marriage, in search of real love. If she can prove to her father that love is not a myth, he’ll let her out of the underwater wedding, but he’s only giving her three days. Aqua enlists the help of Claire and Hailey, who are self-styled relationship experts -- educated from the pages of magazines that they read and quote daily.

Aqua sets her sights on the Capri Club’s lifeguard, Raymond Calder (JAKE McDORMAN). And when Aqua promises to grant Claire and Hailey the wish of their choice if they help her reel in Ray, the girls jump at the opportunity -- because unless something magical happens, Hailey will be moving.

Prepping Aquamarine on the finer points of attracting a man is easier said than done. And with mere days until the Capri Club’s Last Splash end-of-summer celebration, at which Raymond must profess his love for Aquamarine or no one will get their wish, the girls pool their knowledge and give Aquamarine a crash course in terrestrial romance. This includes such surefire techniques as “The Laugh and Pass,” and “The Fluff and Retreat.” Then there’s a hair makeover and a new wardrobe for Aqua -- and dealing with the machinations of Cecilia, Aqua’s chief competition for Raymond.

The girls hope that as long as Aquamarine can keep her land legs and avoid sprouting her massive, mythological tail, everyone will see their wishes come true. More importantly, they learn some important lessons about the power of friendship, the true magic of love -- and the importance of standing on your own two feet.

DAVE CHAPPELLE'S BLOCK PARTY

(Trailer) (Official Site)

Source: Movie Web

A genuine crowd-pleaser, "Dave Chappelle's Block Party" spotlights comedy superstar Dave Chappelle as he presents a Brooklyn neighborhood with its very own once-in-a-lifetime free block party. The unprecedented combination of comedy and music was shot on location. In addition to Mr. Chappelle performing all-new material, the stellar roster of artists includes Kanye West, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common, Dead Prez, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, the Roots, Cody ChesnuTT, Big Daddy Kane, and – reunited for their first performance in over seven years – the Fugees.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michel Gondry and his "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" cinematographer Ellen Kuras capture all of the exclusive performances and crowd excitement on an unforgettable Saturday afternoon and night, as well as (earlier in the week) private rehearsals footage and Mr. Chappelle in the small Ohio town he calls home.

In Ohio, Mr. Chappelle wandered through town handing out golden tickets to invite several dozen citizens to join the party, providing transportation and lodging for their first-time-ever visit to Brooklyn. Ohio's Central State University marching band made the trip and helped kick off the festivities at the intersection of Quincy and Downing Streets. As a diverse crowd comes together, Mr. Chappelle's freestyle wit guides them (and us) through a day-long, life-affirming celebration of music and comedy, history and community.

The lineup of performers is distinguished not only by the caliber of their music but also by the strength and power that their art draws from keeping their creativity pure. Offering moviegoers front-row seats at a unique entertainment and communal experience, "Dave Chappelle's Block Party" showcases how vital and vibrant music and humor can unite us and help transcend our turbulent times.

ULTRAVIOLET

(Trailer) (Official Site)

Source: Movie Web

Set in the late 21st century, a subculture of humans has emerged with a genetic mutation causing enhanced speed, incredible stamina and acute intelligence.

As more people are infected and the government becomes increasingly terrified of their growing power, those with the mutation are treated as outcasts, subjected to terrifying tests and put into quarantine. The government sets out to destroy them, but one woman is determined that that doesn’t happen: ultra-beautiful, ultra-lethal Violet (MILLA JOVOVICH). With eyepopping martial arts skills and chameleon-like abilities, Violet becomes a rogue warrior bent on protecting her new race -- and seeking revenge on those who created it.

See you next week...