This week's premieres
Derailed (Vykoľajení) - Drama by Mikael Hafstrom. When Charles (Clive Owen) is blackmailed over his affair with Lucinda (Jennifer Aniston), he calls on his friend Winston (RZA) to help him take matters into his own hands.
Hostel - Horror by Eli Roth. Extremely graphic and disturbing gore fest about American college buddies backpacking through Europe who are lured to a mysterious Slovak hostel that's actually a torture dungeon (see more page 12).
photo: Tatrafilm
Jarhead (Mariňák) - Drama by Sam Mendes. Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard play young US Marine snipers who head off to Iraq for the 1991 Gulf War, only to find themselves with almost nothing to do in the vast, blazing desert. This film, which is based on the memoir of Gulf War veteran Anthony "Swoff" Swofford (played by Gyllenhaal), may not add anything particularly original to the war genre, but it does feature some striking imagery, smart humour, and memorable performances (especially by Sarsgaard).
 
The Assassination of Richard Nixon (Zabijem Nixona) - Drama by Niels Muller. Sean Penn stars in this true story about a man who attempted and failed to assassinate US President Richard Nixon. Don Cheadle and Naomi Watts also star.
Other movies playing
Land of the Dead(Krajina mŕtvych) - Horror by George Romero. For the fun fourth movie in his legendary Dead series (which began with 1968's Night of the Living Dead), Romero gives the zombies the ability to think - bad news for the remaining humans who have locked themselves in heavily guarded communities. Dennis Hopper, John Leguizamo, Asia Argento, and Simon Baker star in this enjoyable, but flawed installment.
Rumor Has It(Hovorí sa) - Comedy by Rob Reiner. Jennifer Aniston plays Sarah, a woman who returns home for her sister's wedding shortly after her own engagement to her boyfriend Jeff (Mark Ruffalo). Doubting her impending marriage, Sarah seeks the counsel of her grandmother (Shirley MacLaine), who tells her a secret that involves family friend Beau (Kevin Costner). As Sarah learns that Beau may have bedded both her mother and grandmother, she develops her own attraction to him.
Munich (Mníchov) - Drama by Steven Spielberg. A bit more emotionally restrained than much of his work, Spielberg's latest is all the better for it. He uses the assassination of Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Munich Olympics to poignantly explore issues of violence, patriotism, and the current culture of Islamic fundamentalism, terrorism, and fear.
Casanova - Comedy by Lasse Holstrom. Heath Ledger stars as the famous playboy, who narrowly escapes the wrath of the church when he agrees to mend his promiscuous ways by taking a wife. He eventually sets his sites on Francesca (Sienna Miller), a beautiful and talented writer who shows no interest in him.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang- Comedy by Shane Black. While fleeing police, actor-turned-criminal Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey, Jr) unexpectedly comes upon an audition for a movie about a private detective. After landing the part, Harry shadows real-life detective Gay Perry (Val Kilmer), who becomes his crime-fighting mentor and partner after the movie falls through. While adjusting to his new job, Harry comes across Harmony (Michelle Monaghan), a woman he loved many years ago.
Author: Prepared by Jonathan Knapp
