Francis McGuire: The American dream seems to be alive and well in 2008

The Dark Knight

Released 18-Jul-08. Runs 150 min.

With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as the Joker, who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces the Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante.

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace

The Duchess

Released 19-Sep-08. Runs 105 min.

"The Duchess" is the story of an extraordinary woman who rose to fame by staying true to her passions in a world of protocol, gossip and social rules--and paid the price. Long before the concept existed, the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Spencer, was the original "It Girl." Like her direct descendent Princess Diana, she was ravishing, glamorous and adored by an entire country. Determined to be a player in the wider affairs of the world, she proved that she could out-gamble, out-drink and outwit most of the aristocratic men who surrounded her. She helped usher in sweeping changes to England as a leader of the forward-thinking Whig Party. But even as her power and popularity grew, she was haunted by the fact that the only man in England she seemingly could not seduce was her very own husband, the Duke. And, when she tried to find her own way to be true to her heart and loyal to her duty, the resulting controversies and convoluted liaisons would leave all of London talking.

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, brief nudity and thematic material

The Express

Released 4-Oct-08. Runs 129 min.

Based on a true story, "The Express" follows the extraordinary life of college football hero Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. His fight for equality and respect forever changed the face of American sports, and his story continues to inspire new generations. Raised in poverty in Pennsylvania coal-mining country, Davis hurdled social and economic obstacles to become one of the greatest running backs in college football history. Under the guidance of legendary Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder, he became a hero who superseded Jim Brown's achievements and set records that stand to this day. Decorated veteran Schwartzwalder was a Southerner with a single vision of a national championship and hardened ideas about how the world worked. But, though he and Davis clashed mightily, he taught the player everything he knew about football, just as Davis helped him learn the true meaning of victory. As the growing civil rights movement divided the country in the '60s, Davis became a symbol for achievement that transcended race. Refusing to flinch from others' prejudices, he achieved all his goals--until he faced a challenge that would make most men crumble. He joined the ranks of black pioneers by teaching a generation tolerance, inspiring a movement that smashed barriers on and off the field.

Rated PG for thematic content, violence and language involving racism, and for brief sensuality

The Metropolitan Opera: Salome

Released 11-Oct-08. Runs 97 min.

Fathom presents the excitement of The Met: Live in HD on the Big Screen! The LIVE transmission of Strauss'"Salome" will be shown for one day only on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT in select theatres nationwide. Karita Mattila caused a sensation when she sang "Salome" at the Met for the first time in 2004. She reprises her stunning interpretation of the part, including her unforgettable "Dance of the Seven Veils"; Mikko Franck conducts.

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The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Released 25-Sep-75. Runs 100 min.

A loving couple, a few lost monsters and a sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania sing and dance through a campy, sloppy salute to horror movies and sexual liberation. Bring your sense of humor. And some toast.

Rated R

An American Carol

Released 3-Oct-08. Runs 83 min.

The American spirit is celebrated in this outrageous and totally irreverent comedy.

Rated PG-13 for rude and irreverent content, and for language and brief drug material

Appaloosa

Released 19-Sep-08. Runs 108 min.

When two gunmen, Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch, arrive in Appaloosa they find a small, dusty and lawless town suffering at the hands of renegade rancher Randall Bragg. Bragg has not only taken supplies, horses and women for his own, but also has left the city marshal and a deputy for dead. In Bragg they find an unusually wily adversary who raises the stakes by playing with emotions. It is now up to Cole and Hithch to stand against the actions of the renegade rancher, which have already taken their toll on the town.

Rated R for some violence and language

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Released 3-Oct-08. Runs 85 min.

Chloe, a diamond-clad, bootie wearing Beverly Hills Chihuahua enjoys her luxurious lifestyle so much, she hardly notices Papi, a hilarious Chihuahua who happens to be crazy for Chloe. But when the most pampered pooch gets lost in Mexico with only a street-wise German Shepherd to help her find her way home, Papi heads south of the border--joining forces with a motley crew: three dogs, two humans, a sly rat and a nervous iguana--to rescue his true love.

Rated PG for some mild thematic elements

Billy: The Early Years

Released 10-Oct-08. Runs 85 min.

Most of us know Billy Graham as the self-assured and charismatic preacher who became one of the most important figures of 20th Century Christianity. Now, with the release of Billy: The Early Years, we meet Billy as the earnest and promising young man at the crossroads of faith and doubt, ultimately facing the moment of decision that launched one of history's most powerful evangelistic careers. Most compellingly, "Billy: The Early Years" paints its portrait of Graham against the backdrop of his relationship with Charles Templeton, another gifted young preacher who's faith could not withstand the onslaught of scientific skepticism. He and Graham parted ways and in the film, Templeton comes to personify the rising tide of disbelief into which Graham launched his crusades.

Rated PG for thematic material including some disturbing images, brief language and smoking

Blindness

Released 3-Oct-08. Runs 118 min.

When one man is struck blind while driving home from work, his whole world is turned to an eerie, milky haze. One by one, each person he encounters suffers the same unsettling fate. As the contagion spreads, and paranoia sets in, the newly blind victims of the "White Sickness" are quarantined within an abandoned mental asylum. But, inside the quarantined hospital, there is one woman who has only pretended she is blind in order to stay beside her husband. She will lead a makeshift family of seven people on a journey to break out of the hospital and into the devastated city where they may be the only hope left.

Rated R for violence including sexual assaults, language and sexuality/nudity

Body of Lies

Released 10-Oct-08. Runs 128 min.

"Body of Lies" is based on "Washington Post" columnist David Ignatius' 2007 novel about a CIA operative, Roger Ferris, who uncovers a lead on a major terrorist leader suspected to be operating out of Jordan. When Ferris devises a plan to infiltrate his network, he must first win the backing of cunning CIA veteran Ed Hoffman and the collegial, but perhaps suspect, head of Jordanian intelligence. Although ostensibly his allies, Ferris questions how far he can really trust these men without putting his entire operation--and his life--on the line.

Rated R for strong violence including some torture, and for language throughout

Burn After Reading

Released 12-Sep-08. Runs 97 min.

At the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency in Arlington, Va., analyst Osborne Cox arrives for a top-secret meeting. Unfortunately for Cox, the secret is soon out: he is being ousted. Cox does not take the news particularly well and returns to his Georgetown home to work on his memoirs and his drinking, not necessarily in that order. His wife Katie is dismayed, though not particularly surprised; she is already well into an illicit affair with Harry Pfarrer, a married federal marshal, and sets about making plans to leave Cox for Harry. Elsewhere in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, and seemingly worlds apart, Hardbodies Fitness Centers employee Linda Litzke can barely concentrate on her work. She is consumed with her life plan for extensive cosmetic surgery, and confides her mission to can-do colleague Chad Feldheimer. Linda is all but oblivious to the fact that the gym's manager Ted Treffon pines for her even as she arranges dates via the Internet with other men. When a computer disc containing material for the CIA analyst's memoirs accidentally falls into the hands of Linda and Chad, the duo are intent on exploiting their find. As Ted frets, "No good can come of this," events spiral out of everyone's and anyone's control, in a cascading series of darkly hilarious encounters.

Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence

City of Ember

Released 10-Oct-08. Runs 95 min.

For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights. But Ember's once powerful generator is failing... and the great lamps that illuminate the city are starting to flicker. Now, two teenagers in a race against time, must search Ember for clues that will unlock the ancient mystery of the city's existence, and help the citizens escape before the lights go out forever.

Rated PG for mild peril and some thematic elements

Death Note II: The Last Name

Released 15-Oct-08. Runs 170 min.

By popular demand, NCM Fathom and Viz Pictures bring Live Action "Death Note II: The Last Name" to select movie theatres nationwide for two nights only--Wednesday, Oct. 15 and Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. (local)! "Death Note II: The Last Name" is the sequel to, and an immediate continuation of, "Death Note," brought to U.S. movie theatres earlier this year by VIZ Pictures and Fathom. This exclusive event will feature an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the creation of "Death Note II: The Last Name"and a unique look at the talent behind the characters. Written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, "Death Note II: The Last Name" begins as Light Yagami joins the investigation team in pursuit of the serial killer known as "Kira." While L still strongly suspects that Light is "Kira," Light Yagami continues to seek out the real name of L so he can kill him with his Death Note. Making things even more unpredictable are the "Eyes of Death," given to the second Kira, enabling the owner to know the true identity and lifespan of any person. Adding further confusion for the authorities, a new rash of murders attributed to the Death Note occurs all over the world and is attributed to "the Second Kira." Light Yagami learns the identity of the other Kira and wants to join forces to get rid of L. Will L be able to catch "Kira" before he gets killed? Who will be the last name written in the Death Note book? Please note: This event is not officially rated but should be treated as equivalent to an "R" rating. Don't miss your chance to see "Death Note II: The Last Name" larger-than-life on the big screen!

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Eagle Eye

Released 26-Sep-08. Runs 118 min.

Jerry Shaw and Rachel Holloman are two strangers thrown together by a mysterious phone call from a woman they have never met. Threatening their lives and family, she pushes Jerry and Rachel into a series of increasingly dangerous situations--using the technology of everyday life to track and control their every move. As the situation escalates, these two ordinary people become the country's most wanted fugitives, who must work together to discover what is really happening--and more importantly, why.

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and for language

Fireproof

Released 26-Sep-08. Runs 122 min.

At work, inside burning buildings, Capt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter's adage: Never leave your partner behind. At home, in the cooling embers of his marriage, he lives by his own rules. Growing up, Catherine Holt always dreamed of marrying a loving, brave firefighter...just like her daddy. Now, after seven years of marriage, Catherine wonders when she stopped being "good enough" for her husband. Regular arguments over jobs, finances, housework, and outside interests have readied them both to move on to something with more sparks. As the couple prepares to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb's father challenges his son to commit to a 40-day experiment: "The Love Dare." Wondering if it's even worth the effort, Caleb agrees-for his father's sake more than for his marriage. When Caleb discovers the books daily challenges are tied into his parents' newfound faith, his already limited interest is further dampened. While trying to stay true to his promise, Caleb becomes frustrated time and again. He finally asks his father, "How am I supposed to show love to somebody who constantly rejects me?" When his father explains that this is the love Christ shows to us, Caleb makes a life-changing commitment to love God. And, "with God's help" he begins to understand what it means to truly love his wife. But is it too late to fireproof his marriage? His job is to rescue others. Now, Caleb Holt is ready to face his toughest job ever ... rescuing his wife's heart.

Rated PG for thematic material and some peril

Flash of Genius

Released 3-Oct-08. Runs 119 min.

The Kearns were a typical 1960s Detroit family, trying to live their version of the American Dream. Local university professor Bob married teacher Phyllis and, by their mid-30s, had six kids who brought them a hectic but satisfying Midwestern existence. When Bob invents a device that would eventually be used by every car in the world, the Kearns think they have struck gold. But their aspirations are dashed after the auto giants who embraced Bob's creation unceremoniously shunned the man who invented it. Ignored, threatened and then buried in years of litigation, Bob is haunted by what was done to his family and their future. He becomes a man obsessed with justice and the conviction that his life's work--or for that matter, anyone's work--be acknowledged by those who stood to benefit. And while paying the toll for refusing to compromise his dignity, this everyday David will try the unthinkable: to bring Goliath to his knees.

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language

Fly Me to The Moon 3-D

Released 15-Aug-08. Runs 90 min.

The year is 1969 and like everyone else in the world, Nat and his pals IQ and Scooter are abuzz over the upcoming launch of the first manned mission to the moon. Inspired by his Grandpa's oft-told tale of hiding aboard Amelia Earhart's plane during her famed solo cross-Atlantic flight, Nat hatches a secret plan for the three young flies to stow away on the Apollo 11 rocket. The hard part is keeping the plan secret from his mom, Mrs. McFly! When a N.A.S.A. Ground Control official catches sight of the three winged stowaways, he instructs the astronauts to store them in a test tube for later study. But after an electrical short causes the ship's engine to malfunction, the three intrepid insects manage to escape from their glass mini-brig just in time to discover the wiring problem and fix it. After a difficult lunar landing, Nat tags along with Neil Armstrong on his legendary moon walk. Although the flies face a few more close calls, the mission appears to be a success. At least until Grandpa's old flame Nadia arrives from Russia to warn him that her government, angry over losing the space race, has dispatched fly-spy Yegor to Cape Canaveral to sabotage the computer flight plans. With the Apollo hurtling toward Earth, it falls to Nat's family to save the mission--and the trio of brave flies--from disaster.

Rated G

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People

Released 3-Oct-08. Runs 110 min.

This fish-out-of-water tale tracks the escapades of Sidney Young, a smalltime, bumbling, British celebrity journalist. After disrupting one black-tie event by allowing a wild pig to run rampant, Sidney catches the attention of Clayton Harding, editor of Sharp, and accepts a job with the magazine in New York City. Clayton warns Sidney that he'd better impress and charm everyone he can, if he wants to succeed. Instead, Sidney instantly insults and annoys fellow writer Alison Olsen. He dares to target the star clients of power publicist Eleanor Johnson. He upsets his direct boss Lawrence Maddox and tries to make amends by hiring a stripper to dance for Lawrence during a staff meeting. Sidney, of course, doesn't stop there, finding creative ways to annoy nearly everyone.

Rated R for language, some graphic nudity and brief drug material

Lakeview Terrace

Released 19-Sep-08. Runs 110 min.

In "Lakeview Terrace," a young couple has just moved into their California dream home when they become the target of their next-door neighbor, who disapproves of their interracial relationship. A stern, single father, this tightly wound LAPD officer has appointed himself the watchdog of the neighborhood. His nightly foot patrols and overly watchful eyes bring comfort to some, but he becomes increasingly harassing to the newlyweds. These persistent intrusions into their lives ultimately turn tragic when the couple decides to fight back.

Rated PG-13 for intense thematic material, violence, sexuality, language and some drug references

Mamma Mia!

Released 18-Jul-08. Runs 108 min.

An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna is about to let go of Sophie, the spirited daughter she's raised alone. For Sophie's wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends--practical and no-nonsense Rosie and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya--from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But, Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own.

Rated PG-13 for some sex-related comments

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

Released 3-Oct-08. Runs 90 min.

"Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist" is a comedy about two people thrust together for one hilarious, sleepless night of adventure in a world of mix tapes, late-night living, and, live, loud music. Nick frequents New York's indie rock scene nursing a broken heart and a vague ability to play the bass. Norah is questioning pretty much all of her assumptions about the world. Although they have nothing in common except for their taste in music, their chance encounter leads to an all-night quest to find a legendary band's secret show and ends up becoming the first date in a romance that could change both their lives.

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material including teen drinking, sexuality, language and crude behavior

Nights in Rodanthe

Released 26-Sep-08. Runs 97 min.

Adrienne Willis, a woman with her life in chaos, retreats to the tiny coastal town of Rodanthe, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, to tend to a friend's inn for the weekend. Here she hopes to find the tranquility she so desperately needs to rethink the conflicts surrounding her--a wayward husband who has asked to come home and a teenaged daughter who resents her every decision. Almost as soon as Adrienne gets to Rodanthe, a major storm is forecast and Dr. Paul Flanner arrives. The only guest at the inn, Flanner is not on a weekend escape but rather is there to face his own crisis of conscience. Now, with the storm closing in, the two turn to each other for comfort and, in one magical weekend, set in motion a life-changing romance that will resonate throughout the rest of their lives.

Rated PG-13 for some sensuality

Pineapple Express

Released 6-Aug-08. Runs 105 min.

Lazy stoner Dale Denton has only one reason to visit his equally lazy dealer Saul Silver: to purchase weed, specifically, a rare new strain called Pineapple Express. But when Dale becomes the only witness to a murder by a crooked cop and the city's most dangerous drug lord, he panics and dumps his roach of Pineapple Express at the scene. Dale now has another reason to visit Saul: to find out if the weed is so rare that it can be traced back to him. And it is. As Dale and Saul run for their lives, they quickly discover that they're not suffering from weed-fueled paranoia; incredibly, the bad guys really are hot on their trail and trying to figure out the fastest way to kill them both. All aboard the Pineapple Express.

Rated R for pervasive language, drug use, sexual references and violence

Quarantine

Released 10-Oct-08. Runs 89 min.

Television reporter Angela Vidal and her cameraman are assigned to spend the night shift with a Los Angeles Fire Station. After a routine 911 call takes them to a small apartment building, they find police officers already on the scene in response to blood curdling screams coming from one of the apartment units. They soon learn that a woman living in the building has been infected by something unknown. After a few of the residents are viciously attacked, they try to escape with the news crew in tow, only to find that the CDC has quarantined the building. Phones, internet, televisions and cell phone access have been cut-off, and officials are not relaying information to those locked inside. When the quarantine is finally lifted, the only evidence of what took place is the news crew's videotape.

Rated R for bloody violence and disturbing content, terror and language

Spookley The Square Pumpkin

Released 1-Jan-04. Runs 45 min.

Rated G

Tropic Thunder

Released 13-Aug-08. Runs 107 min.

A group of self-absorbed actors sets out to make the most expensive war film. After ballooning costs force the studio to cancel the movie, the frustrated director refuses to stop shooting, leading his cast into the jungles of Southeast Asia, where they encounter real bad guys.

Rated R for pervasive language including sexual references, violent content and drug material