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Movie Preview Thursday...on Friday: Evan Almighty, You Kill Me + More
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Get this, there's another sequel coming out today. You're surprised, I know, I was too. Alas, in a summer of recycled story lines, the comedy genre takes center stage today with "Evan Almighty. With "The Office" on hiatus, I'm itching for some Steve Carell. He arrives, riding an ark, in time for your weekend.
Evan Almighty - It's the most expensive comedy ever (there are reports that Universal has been recruiting churches to try and boost their opening box office numbers to recoup some of the cost) and it all revolves around a spin-off character from the original "Bruce Almighty" with Jim Carey. I LOVE Steve Carell, "The Office" is one of the funniest shows on TV and his scene stealing in "Anchorman" is the stuff of legend, but I can't help but think this is just a payday for him. Regardless, Carell's character, Evan, is recruited by God (Morgan Freeman) to build an ark (just like Noah). Apparently, the beard and petting zoo come as part of the package. I hope this is good, really I do, but I can see it going horribly wrong. Normally, at least one mega-sequel crashes and burns each summer, and we haven't really had one yet. Could "Evan Almighty" be the one?
1408 - He's come a long way from "Say Anything" and now John Cusack is trying his hand at a Steven King adaptation. Cusack plays a reporter investigating a mysterious room which hotel manager Samuel L. Jackson (He's a bad mother...I'm just talkin' about Sam) claims is haunted and dangerous. Of course, Cusack spends the night anyway, enraging whatever demon/ghost/evil thing lives there. I don't know much more about this and I like it that way. Its been a while since I've had a good scare and I'm looking for "1408" to come through for me.
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More of today's movies after the jump...
A Mighty Heart - True story of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl's kidnapping and murder in Pakistan, told from the point of view of his wife (played by Angelina Jolie). I don't want to use the term "too soon" because I'm sure this is a well intentioned film, but the man was killed just five years ago. Maybe they should have given it a little more time.
Black Sheep - Genetically engineered sheep go feral and start destroying a small Scottish town along with all its inhabitants. Sounds like it's going to be along the lines of some of Peter Jackson's early stuff like "Bad Taste" and "Braindead" (yes, he directed films before LOTR). Hmm, a movie about killer zombie sheep...How can you afford not to see this one?
Broken English - Normally I would disregard a "woman in her 30's is reinvigorated by a love affair with a Frenchman" plot as terrible right off the bat, but "Broken English" stars Parker Posey, who any self-respecting indie lover is more than a little in love with. Could be interesting.
September Dawn - Fictional star-crossed-lovers story set against the very real tale of the Mountain Meadow's Massacre in which a group of Mormons slaughtered a wagon train of more than 120 men, women and children on September 11th, 1857. The love story follows a girl from the wagon train falling in love with one of the local Mormons. The film is taking the controversial stance that Brigham Young (yes, THAT Young, the one the college is named after) personally greenlit the killings. John Voight and Terrence Stamp star.
You Kill Me - Ben Kingsley channels Jean Reno (circa "The Professional", goatee, cap and all) to play a hitman. Hitch is, he's a recovering alcoholic drying out on the west coast. A crisis with the family business (assassination) back in NYC forces him to return home with help from an unlikely assistant (Téa Leoni).
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