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Movie Minutiae - Focus Features/Rogue Pictures Preview - Fall/Winter 2006

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Below is a list of upcoming releases through December for Focus Features and Rogue Pictures. The synopses come straight from the studio - you know I'd never use such flowery language to describe these films. My expectations and insights are included. Release dates are subject to change. My opinions are subject to be highly accurate.

JET LI’S FEARLESS - September 22 (Rogue Pictures)

Fearless Synopsis: Already a boxoffice hit in Asia, JET LI’S FEARLESS, directed by Ronny Yu, is Jet Li’s final martial arts masterpiece, capping a tremendous body of work in that genre. Li portrays real-life martial arts legend Huo Yuanjia, who became the most famous fighter in all of China at the turn of the 20th Century. Huo faced incredible personal tragedy but ultimately fought his way out of darkness and into history, forever defining the true spirit of martial arts. His self-discovery, and the choices he made, inspired his nation.

"I believe JET LI’S FEARLESS is my most personal and important martial arts movie. This film captures the martial arts beliefs and philosophies I have learned and experienced over the past 30 years." - Jet Li

Johnny's Take: I removed two really long paragraphs from the official synopsis because they basically made it the longest plot summary of all time. Seriously, after reading the other two paragraphs I almost felt like there was no need to watch the movie.

The synopsis seems to have a bit of an ego problem, prematurely labeling the film a "masterpiece," but I watched the trailer and have to admit that the movie looks pretty decent. If you like martial arts movies of this nature, that is.

fearlessthemovie.com

CATCH A FIRE - October 27 (Focus Features)

Synopsis: Powerfully telling the story of a South African hero’s journey to freedom, this political thriller takes place during the country’s turbulent and divided times in the early 1980s, and in the new South Africa of today. Derek Luke portrays real-life hero Patrick Chamusso.

Patrick is a charming and loving husband to his wife Precious (Bonnie Henna), and a caring father to his two young daughters. He works as a foreman at the centrally located Secunda oil refinery, which is a symbol of South Africa’s self-sufficiency at a time when the world was protesting the country’s oppressive apartheid system. In his spare time, Patrick coaches a local boys’ soccer team. Carefully toeing the hard line imposed on blacks by apartheid, Patrick is completely apolitical.

Tim Robbins plays Nic Vos, a Colonel in the country’s Police Security Branch. The shrewd and charismatic Vos strives to maintain order in volatile situations, which have become more and more frequent as the outlawed activist organization African National Congress (ANC) rallies blacks against apartheid. Vos is also concerned for the safety of his wife and two daughters. He and his family live a world away from the Chamusso family - until the innocent Patrick comes under suspicion and is arrested (in June 1980) for sabotage of the Secunda oil refinery. His alibi is compromised, and Patrick is desperate to shield Precious from a past indiscretion and keep his job. But he is ill-prepared to withstand brutal interrogations by Vos’ men. As Vos further insinuates himself into the lives of the Chamussos, to Patrick’s shock and shame, Precious herself is jailed and tortured. Although he and Precious are soon released from custody, Patrick is stunned into action and completely reorients his sense of self and purpose. He leaves his family to join up with the ANC. Becoming a rebel fighter and political operative, Patrick is radicalized on behalf of his people and his country. He ultimately envisions a formidable and dangerous follow-up strike against the Secunda refinery, risking his own life and future. Change must and will come, for Patrick and his family, and for South Africa itself.

Johnny's Take: I fell asleep three times while trying to make my way through that synopsis. I had to resort to skimming. The trailer isn't much better.

Add to that the fact that I loathe Tim Robbins, and it's safe to say that my life will roll along just fine if I happen to never see this one.

catchafiremovie.com

THE RETURN - November 10

The Return Synopsis: A new supernatural thriller starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as Joanna Mills, a tough young Midwesterner determined to learn the truth behind the increasingly terrifying supernatural visions that have been haunting her. Joanna has made a successful career for herself, as sales representative for a trucking company. But her private life has been difficult; estranged from her father (Sam Shepard), stalked by an obsessed ex-boyfriend (Adam Scott), and with few friends, Joanna fears that she is losing control. She sees and feels the brutal murder of a young woman she’s never met, at the hands of a heartless killer - a man who appears to be making Joanna his next target. Determined to fight back, Joanna is guided by her nightmares to the murdered woman’s hometown. Once there, she will discover that some secrets can’t be buried; some spirits never die; and that the murder she is trying to solve may be her own.

Johnny's Take: Wait, this isn't the sequel to The Grudge? That's coming out this year as well, you know. Prepare for loads of The Grudge 2: The Return jokes in the coming months.

Gellar's looking good with the dark hair, and I'm starting to get antsy for another horror movie, so I'll let hope spring eternal a bit.

I'm shocked this isn't a remake of an Asian film.

thereturnmovie.net
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4. The House Bunny($8,300,000)

5. Traitor($7,800,000)
 
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