Scheduled to Open Friday
HOSTAGE (R) -- A cop (Bruce Willis) finds his negotiation skills put to the test when he has to juggle freeing both a kidnapped mafia figure and his own family in this action thriller directed by Florent Emilio Siri (making his American debut) and co-starring Kevin Pollack.
MILLIONS (PG) -- Two young brothers discover a huge bag of stolen money and decide to spend it for the betterment of others -- until the crooks come looking for payback -- in this film directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later) and co-starring James Nesbitt (Bloody Sunday).
ROBOTS (PG) -- Ice Age director Chris Wedge returns with this CGI tale about a young 'bot (voice of Ewan McGregor) whose idea of creating fellow robots who serve only a higher purpose is thwarted by a corporate type (Mel Brooks). Co-stars the voices of Halle Berry, Robin Williams, D.L. Hughley, Paul Giamatti, Jim Broadbent, Drew Carrey, Amanda Bynes, Dan Hedaya, Jennifer Coolidge, Dianne Wiest and Stanley Tucci.
Now Showing
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER'S THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (PG-13) -- C+ Too bad director Joel Schumacher's version of the Phantom phenomenon is just a ghost of its stage self, but Gerard Butler is an amazing Phantom, arguably the best we have seen to date; Emmy Rossum shines as Christine. (Carlson) Causeway 4
ARE WE THERE YET? (PG) -- Ice Cube attempts to woo Nia Long by driving her kids to Vancouver, but Philip Daniel Bolden and Aleisha Allen believe that no one is good enough for their mom and plot to make the trip a nightmare in this family comedy. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, North Shore Square
THE AVIATOR (R) -- A Martin Scorsese's biography of Howard Hughes offers an Oscar-nominated lead performance by Leonardo DiCaprio in a tale perhaps less interested in factual accuracy than in seeing Hughes as an emblem of American individualism. Winner of five Academy Awards. (Barton) AMC Palace 20, Causeway 4
BE COOL (PG-13) -- The adventures of Elmore Leonard's smooth-talking loan shark Chili Palmer (John Travolta) pick up where they left off in Get Shorty, with Chili switching from the film industry to the music industry to promote a promising young singer (Christina Milian) wanted by the Russian mob. Cast includes Travolta's Pulp Fiction co-star Uma Thurman and Get Shorty co-star Danny DeVito, as well as Cedric the Entertainer, Vince Vaughn, OutKast's Andre Benjamin, Harvey Keitel, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, and The Rock. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, North Shore Square
BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE (PG) -- Wayne Wang (Maid in Manhattan) directed this adaptation of Kate DiCamillo's popular children's novel about how a stray dog helps a young girl (AnnaSophia Robb) and her preacher father (Jeff Daniels) get over the death of her mother. Co-stars Eva-Marie Saint, Cicely Tyson and Dave Matthews, and shot in south Louisiana. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9
BEYOND THE SEA (PG-13) -- C- This muddled, choppy, limp, cliche-riddled biopic of charismatic singer Bobby Darin would be graded even lower if it hadn't actually featured Darin's songs. Writer, director and star Kevin Spacey, whose odyssey to get this story to the big screen has been well chronicled, fails on almost every level except (maybe) his earnest attempts at singing Darin's classics ('Mac the Knife,' 'Beyond the Sea,' 'Dream Lover,' 'Splish Splash'). And even then, you can hear the off-key notes, the lack of a clear vibrato. A supporting cast of Kate Bosworth (as young wife Sandra Dee), John Goodman and Bob Hoskins has very little to do. In a year of biopics, this must be the worst. (Simmons) North Shore Square
BOOGEYMAN (PG-13) -- An emotionally fragile young man (Barry Watson) tries to confront the childhood trauma that occurred in his bedroom, where his fears return once again in this thriller directed by Stephen Kay (Get Carter) and co-starring Lucy Lawless and Emily Deschanel. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, Grand, Movies 8
BRIDE & PREJUDICE (PG-13) -- Bollywood goes all Jane Austen in this musical retelling of Pride and Prejudice directed by Gurinder Chadha about an iron-willed young Indian woman (Aishwarya Rai) and her encounters with an equally tenacious American (Martin Henderson). Canal Place, Hollywood Cinemas 9
CONSTANTINE (PG-13) -- C- Francis Lawrence's adaptation of the comic book Hellblazer stars Keanu Reeves as a superhero who identifies demi-demons and dispatches them back to Hades. A convoluted plot involving a twin (Rachel Weisz) trying to solve the mysterious death of her sister is close to incoherent. The film's occasional theological contemplations threaten to get interesting, but in the end, they are as screwed up as everything else here. (Barton) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
CURSED (PG-13) -- Horror master filmmaker Wes Craven and Scream collaborator Kevin Williamson reunite for this thriller about two siblings (Christina Ricci, Jesse Eisenberg) who recently lost their parents and must join forces to fend off a werewolf attack in Los Angeles. Co-stars Portia de Rossi (TV's Arrested Development), Ileana Douglas, Shannon Elizabeth, Omar Epps, Joshua Jackson and James Brolin, with cameos by Craven, Sheila E. and Freddie Prinze Jr. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN (PG-13) -- New Orleans native Tyler Perry brings his stage play to the big screen, with Darren Grant directing and Perry playing several roles in the story of woman (Kimberly Elise) who tries to recover from a devastating divorce. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
END OF THE CENTURY: THE STORY OF THE RAMONES (R) -- A- Michael Gramaglia and Jim Fields co-directed this fascinating look at the seminal punk band the Ramones, placing its influence in its proper historical perspective while providing a vivid portrait of each individual member. The disappointment of the Ramones' inability to crack the pop-music mainstream gives way to the greater tragedy: the deaths, before and after the making of this film, of its three key members. Encore screening presented by the New Orleans Film Festival. (Simmons) 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Prytania
FINDING NEVERLAND (PG) -- A- Marc Foster directs Oscar nominee Johnny Depp as author and playwright J.M. Barrie in this lovely little movie which documents the origins of the Scotsman's most enduring work, Peter Pan. A bighearted, imaginative film from Foster, Neverland is sure to be a classic, especially among those who never want to grow up. (Carlson) Causeway 4
FORCES OF NATURE (NR) -- George Casey's documentary about the study of such natural phenomena as earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes. Directed by Kevin Bacon. Kenner MegaDome
HIDE AND SEEK (R) -- C+ Director John Polson (Swimfan) and first-time screenwriter Ari Schlossberg mostly miss the mark in this Sixth Sense knock-off. Psychologist David Callaway (a too-hammy Robert De Niro) and daughter Emily (an amazing Dakota Fanning) move to an old house in upstate New York to forget about a family tragedy. This fellow named Charlie, however, has other ideas. (Carlson) Grand
HITCH (PG-13) -- A matchmaker (Will Smith) believes he knows exactly what it takes for a man to woo a woman until he meets a journalist (Eva Mendes) who not only questions his validity but also challenges his normally suave demeanor. Directed by Andy Tennant and co-starring Kevin James and Michael Rappaport. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, North Shore Square
HOTEL RWANDA (PG-13) -- A- Don Cheadle delivers a well-deserved Academy Award-nominated performance in one of the year's best films, a fact-based story about how a Hutu hotel manager (Cheadle) helped save 1,200 lives during the Hutus' genocidal massacre of 700,000 Tutsis and their Hutu sympathizers in a short period of time in 1994. Director Terry George conveys the violence and horror with deceptively subtle camera work; Cheadle's face does much of the heavy lifting. Co-stars Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo. (Simmons) AMC Palace 20, Causeway 4, Movies 8
INTO THE DEEP (NR) -- IMAX cameras take a journey through the undersea world. Entergy IMAX
THE JACKET (R) -- C- Adrien Brody's daring choices in film roles stumbles a bit with this one, as he plays a Gulf War veteran whose memory loss is just the beginning of his troubles. Director John Maybury does a decent enough job creating the claustrophobia of a life gone horribly wrong, but ultimately we're left wondering what this story is all about, and not even Brody can save the material. (Carlson) (Reviewed in this issue.) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Grand
A LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG (R) -- B- Adapted from Ronald Everett Capps' novel Off Magazine Street, Shainee Gabel's story of two New Orleans drunks (John Travolta, Gabriel Macht) and the young woman (Scarlett Johansson) who offers them a chance for redemption is thin and overlong. The three lead performances make the film worth seeing, however. Johansson's landed her a well-deserved Golden Globe nomination. (Barton) (Reviewed in this issue.) Chalmette 9
MAN OF THE HOUSE (PG-13) -- Tommy Lee Jones plays a Texas Ranger assigned to guard a bunch of University of Texas cheerleaders who are witnesses. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
MEET THE FOCKERS (PG-13) -- Jack (Robert De Niro) and Dina Byrnes (Blythe Danner) meet the parents (Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand) of Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) after Greg marries their daughter (Teri Polo) in this sequel to the hit 2000 comedy, Meet the Parents. Jay Roach returns to direct. Holiday 12
MILLION DOLLAR BABY (PG-13) -- A Clint Eastwood's Oscar-nominated film about the relationship between an aging fight trainer and a female boxer is hampered by a script that lacks subtlety and occasionally strains credulity. The film overcomes these obstacles, however, with the majesty of its performances by Eastwood and Oscar winners Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman. Winner of four Academy Awards including Best Picture. (Barton) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Canal Place, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12
NEW ORLEANS INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL -- Second annual presentation of films examining the exploitation of human rights around the world, presented at multiple venues: Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center, Iron Rail Bookstore, UNO Liberal Arts Building, room 140; Neighborhood Gallery, Chez Vodun, Chalmette 9, Prytania and Loyola's Miller Hall, room 114. Visit www.nolahumanrights.org for more information. Featured screenings this week include Velcrow Ripper's Scared Sacred, 7 p.m. Friday-Sunday at Zeitgeist. Through March 20
OCEAN WONDERLAND 3D (NR) -- The Great Barrier Reef and the Bahamas are explored, with a focus on the diversity of marine and coral life, in this film using new HD digital 3D 1570 cameras. Entergy IMAX
THE PACIFIER (PG) -- Now that Gov. Schwarzenegger is a little long in the tooth for this kind of thing, Vin Diesel draws the short straw in portraying a Navy SEAL who takes on his toughest assignment: baby-sitting! (Amen, brother.) Directed by Adam Shankman and co-starring Lauren Graham (TV's Gilmore Girls), Faith Ford, Brad Garrett, Tate Donovan and Carol Kane. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
POOH'S HEFFALUMP MOVIE (G) -- Winnie the Pooh and his Hundred Acre Wood buddies Tigger and Piglet stalk the elusive Heffalump monster in this animated film featuring the characters of A.A. Milne and directed by Frank Nissen. Stars the voices of John Fiedler, Jim Cummings and Brenda Blethyn. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, North Shore Square
SHARKS 3D (NR) -- Jean-Michel Cousteau presents this underwater, 3D look at such famous sharks as the Great White and the Hammerhead. Entergy IMAX
SIDEWAYS (R) -- B+ Sideways, like Alexander Payne's earlier works Election and About Schmidt, is a witty and delightful comedy with more than its share of drama. The loserly Miles (Paul Giamatti) and his aging TV star friend Jack (Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee Thomas Haden Church) take a bachelor-party tour through wine country, in which the fruit of the grape serves as a not-always-subtle metaphor for life. Co-stars Oscar nominee Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh. Payne's and Jim Taylor's script won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. (Simmons) AMC Palace 20, Canal Place, Causeway 4
SIGN OF THE CROSS (NR) -- Henri Schindler's Classic Film Series of pre-Hayes Code Hollywood films continues with this 1932 Cecil B. DeMille epic, with Charles Laughton as Nero, Claudette Colbert and a whole mess of Art Deco. 6:30 p.m. Thursday at NOMA's Stern Auditorium
SON OF THE MASK (PG) -- Sort-of sequel to the popular 1994 film based on the comic strip that starred Jim Carrey, this time around featuring Jamie Kennedy as a cartoonist who learns the baby he's taking care of has found the power of the Mask of Loki. Directed by Larry Guterman (Cats & Dogs) and co-starring Traylor Howard, Bob Hoskins and Alan Cumming. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
VOLCANOES OF THE DEEP SEA -- Actor Ed Harris narrates this look at life 12,000 feet below sea level, including the strange creatures that thrive near underwater volcanoes. Entergy IMAX
THE WEDDING DATE (PG-13) -- In order to avoid embarrassment at her sister's wedding, a thirtysomething woman (Debra Messing) hires a male escort (Dermot Mulroney) as her date. This romantic comedy is directed by Clare Kilner and co-stars Amy Adams, Holland Taylor and Jack Davenport. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 20, Holiday 12
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (R) -- Jeremy Irons and Al Pacino co-star in Michael Radford's reinterpretation of Shakespeare's classic tale about the merchant (Irons) and the Jewish loan shark Shylock (Pacino) with whom he does business to help a friend (Joseph Fiennes). Canal Place
