Moviecrazed

KEVIN BACON

FROST/NIXON Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Sam Rockwell, Kevin Bacon, Matthew Macfadyen, Oliver Platt, Patty McCormack, Toby Jones, Jenn Gotzon, Rebecca Hall (Directed by Ron Howard; Written by Peter Morgan; Universal)

Richard Nixon may be the second worst president the American public ever had to endure. In 1977--three years after bidding a mortifying adieu to the White House, thereby avoiding impeachment because of the Watergate scandal--he agreed to appear in a series of televised conversations with British media giant David Frost. Nixon learned too late that he should have played harder to get; as it turned out, Frost stripped him bare, exposing his soul for anyone who owned a television set to see. Fortunately, Peter Morgan, author of the screenplay for “The Queen,” decided to explore the confrontation between these two strong-willed men in dramatic terms. The resulting play was a triumph in London and on Broadway. Best of all, director Ron Howard had the smarts to nail Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, the duo who brought Nixon and Frost to riveting life on stage (Langella won a Best Actor Tony for his take on Tricky Dicky). An unexpected bonus: Patty McCormack, the kid who received an Oscar nomination for her playing of the title role in the 1956 flick "The Bad Seed," plays the long-suffering Pat Nixon this time out. To read about other new movies based on plays, click here. Now Playing

CHRISTIAN BALE

PUBLIC ENEMIES Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Channing Tatum, Billy Crudup, Marion Cotillard, Leelee Sobieski, Stephen Dorff, Lili Taylor, Emilie de Ravin, Giovanni Ribisi, Rory Cochran, Shawn Hatosy, Stephen Lang, Stephen Graham, Matt Craven (Directed by Michael Mann; Written by Ronan Bennett, Ann Biderman and Michael Mann; Universal)

John Dillinger was not as scary as Sweeney Todd, but don't be surprised if Johnny Depp makes the gun-toting terror of thirties Chicago almost as chilling as he made the demon barber of Fleet Street in Tim Burton's maniacal musical. “Public Enemies” is based on the book by Bryan Burrough about FBI biggie J. Edgar Hoover's crusade to bring Dillinger and other dirty rotten scoundrels, such as Pretty Boy Floyd, to justice. You might think that pretty boy Billy Crudup would be the ideal choice to play gangster Floyd, but no, that role has been undertaken by up-and-coming Tatum Channing. So who does Crudup play? The emphatically un-pretty J. Edgar Hoover! Giving his Batman drag a rest, Christian Bale becomes Melvin Purvis, the agent Hoover puts in charge of the Dillinger manhunt. Marion Cotillard and Leelee Sobieski play a couple of dollies with whom Dillinger dallies. Now Playing

ERIC BANA

THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRLNatalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Rue McClanahan (Directed by Justin Chadwick; Written by Peter Morgan; Sony)

Quick! Who was Mary Boleyn? You know, of course. She was the younger sister of Anne Boleyn, the regal mate of England’s King Henry VIII who literally lost her head in 1536 as a result of trumped-up charges that she was guilty of adultery, incest and witchcraft. Mary, who was married to William Carey at the ripe old age of 12, was by no means a stranger to the lascivious king herself, having served as his infamous mistress--and possibly the mother of his son--before Anne popped onto the scene. Why should you care about all this ancient history? Because Anne and Mary are being played by Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson, respectively, in this adaptation of Phillipa Gregory’s fact-based novel. Eric Bana will undoubtedly have a romp as horny Henry. Now Playing

ANTONIO BANDERAS

STOMPANATO Antonio Banderas, Sharon Stone (Directed by Francois Girard; Written by David Webb Peoples and Janet Peoples; Stonelock Pictures)

Lana Turner and Johnny Stompanato were sweethearts--until the day in 1958 when the screen queen's daughter, Cheryl Crane, stabbed the hot-tempered gangland figure before he could make an exit from her mom's Beverly Hills bedroom. (For those with short memories, the verdict was justifiable homicide). Stone seems a smart choice for Turner, but Bandera had better get to work on his American accent--starting yesterday. No word yet on who will tackle the challenging role of 14-year-old Cheryl, but if Dakota Fanning is on the list, let us hope she is toward the bottom. Opening date to be announced

JAVIER BARDEM

EAT, PRAY, LOVE: Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem, Dan Jenkins (Written and directed by Ryan Murphy; Paramount) Depressed, nearly suicidal, Elizabeth Gilbert (author of the memoir upon which this film is based) decides to take a year off from her successful literary career in an attempt to get over her divorce from a seemingly ideal husband and her stressful love affair with a man who was definitely not ideal. Her plan is to flee Manhattan and spend one third of the year seeking pleasure in Italy, another third searching for spiritual serenity in India, and the final third striking a balance between the two extremes in Indonesia. And, yes, Elizabeth, portrayed by Julia Roberts, will not say no if a suitable bachelor pops up somewhere along the way and pops the right question. Two of the presumably available gents encountered by the adventurous Elizabeth are a somewhat elderly mystic played by Richard Jenkins, who was Oscar-nominated last year for his performance in "The Visitor," and a red-hot man of mystery played by the ever-romantic Javier Bardem. Opening date to be announced

DREW BARRYMORE

GREY GARDENS Drew Barrymore, Jessica Lange (Directed by Michael Sucsy; Written by Patricia Rozema and Michael Sucsy; HBO Films)

Little Edith Bouvier Beale was Jacqueline Kennedy's cousin, and her mother, Big Edith Bouvier Beale, was the First Lady’s aunt. At one time, the two Edies lived sumptuously on Manhattan’s Park Avenue, but they ended up in a squalid, raccoon-infested estate on Long Island. Thanks to the intervention of Jackie, the East Hampton health department did not carry through with its plan to raid the dump. But that didn’t keep the messy eccentrics out of the headlines, and eventually they became the subjects of “Grey Gardens,” a memorable 1976 documentary made by David and Albert Maysles. Now an expanded version of their story that includes material on the young Jackie Bouvier (portrayed by 8-year-old Olivia Waldriff) and covers Little Edie’s late-blooming career as a nightclub chanteuse is headed your way. Let us hope that Jessica Lange has more luck playing Drew Barrymore’s mom than she did playing Christina Ricci’s in the wretched “Prozac Nation.” Opened 4/18/09 on HBO and is now available on HBO on Demand

EVERYBODY’S FINE Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell (Written and directed by Kirk Jones; Miramax)

A lonely, no-longer-young widower just doesn’t know what to do with himself. Then, one day, it strikes him that what he really needs to make his life meaningful is to hook up with each of his geographically scattered kids again. He could be dead wrong about that. De Niro is the wandering dad in this remake of "Stanno Tuti Bene," Giuseppe Tornatore’s 1990 Italian comedy-tearjerker starring Marcello Mastroianni. Barrymore, Beckinsale and Rockwell play his grown-up brats. Click here for Vincent Canby's 1991 review of the original "Everybody's Fine" in The New York Times; to read Guy Flatley's 1973 New York Times interview with Robert De Niro, click here. Opening date to be announced

KATE BECKINSALE

WHITEOUT Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Columbus Short, Tom Skerritt, Alex O’Loughlin, Shawn Doyle, Patrick Sabongui, Nicolas Wright, Paula Jean Hixson, Nick Villarin (Directed by Dominic Sena; Written by Erich and Jon Hoeber; Warner Bros. )

Even though she is a bona fide U.S. Marshal in this adaptation of Greg Rucka’s graphic novels, Beckinsale is not what you would call a happy trooper. She’s had her share of sad times, so now she’s chosen to live a life of emotional isolation in Antarctica. But what’s this? A serial killer (a distinct novelty on this continent) is on the loose--and Kate must pull herself together and capture the rascal before the sun goes down (and stays down) for six months! Perhaps Antarctica was not the perfect choice for a drowsy getaway after all. Click here to read about more murderpix. Opens 9/11/09

EVERYBODY’S FINE Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell (Written and directed by Kirk Jones; Miramax)

ANNETTE BENING

A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCEAnnette Bening, Sienna Miller, Sean Bean (Directed by Janusz Kaminski; Written by Howard Himelstein; Myriad Pictures)

Suppose you were a proper young lady who had the misfortune of being seduced and abandoned by a wealthy, unscrupulous gentleman. What would you do if, years later, your grown-up son proudly introduced you to his powerful new mentor, a man who--unbeknownst to the poor bastard--is his own father, the very same creep who decided to cut and run decades ago? That’s the question Oscar Wilde wanted Victorian theater-goers to ponder when he turned out “A Woman of No Importance” in 1893, and that’s the question screenwriter Howard Himelstein hopes we’ll struggle with in his update of the play. The question I’m truly struggling with is, do I really want to sit through a revamping of Wilde by the man who gave us “A Good Woman,” the terminally tame version of the witty playwright’s “Lady Windermere’s Fan”? Quick, somebody stop this man before he goes completely Wilde! Opening date to be announced

GAEL GARCIA BERNAL

THE PAST (EL PASADO): Gael Garcia Bernal, Analia Couceyro, Moro Anghileri, Ana Celentano, Betty Farias (Directed by Hector Babenco; Written by Alan Pauls)

Hector Babenco, who directed William Hurt in his Oscar-winning performance in 1985’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” is now guiding Gael Garcia Bernal through some tricky paces. Based on screenwriter Alan Pauls’ acclaimed novel, "The Past" depicts the emotional and physical torment experienced by a young man who decides to end a lengthy, complicated relationship. He’s ready to plunge into the intoxicating world of multi-partnered mating, but, as it turns out, his ex has different plans for his future. And she knows precisely how to make life hell for him--and for any woman who succumbs to his charm. Opening date to be announced

HALLE BERRY

THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIREHalle Berry, Benicio Del Toro, David Duchovny, Alexis Llewellyn, Alison Lohman (Directed by Susanne Bier; Written by Allan Loeb; Paramount)

Halle Berry won an Oscar for “Monster’s Ball,” in which she played a widow who has a hot affair with a prison guard (Billy Bob Thornton) who, unbeknownst to her, had executed her husband (Sean Combs). In “Things We Lost in the Fire,” she again plays a beautiful young widow who is perhaps a bit on the clueless side about the troubled man (Benicio Del Toro) she takes into her home after the untimely death of her husband (David Duchovny). The guy didn’t kill her hubby, but he certainly knew him. It doesn’t really matter, so long as Halle ends up with another Oscar for her efforts. Now Playing

PAUL BETTANY

BROKEN LINES Paul Bettany, Olivia Williams, Rita Tushingham, Dan Fredenburgh, (Axiom Films) Handsome Paul Bettany and beautiful Olivia Williams do not meet cute in this British indie. They meet tragic, each still reeling from traumatic events. Whatever trouble he finds himself in, we hope that Bettany, one of the most magnetic young actors around, is better behaved here than he was in “Firewall” and “The Da Vinci Code.” Opening date to be announced

FOR GUY FLATLEY'S 2002 INTERVIEW WITH PAUL BETTANY, click here.

JACK BLACK

TROPIC THUNDER Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Nick Nolte, Brandon Jackson, Steve Coogan, Justin Theroux, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Tom Cruise, Tobey Maguire, Mickey Rooney, Jay Baruchel, Matt Levin, Andrea De Oliveira (Directed by Ben Stiller; Written by Justin Theroux and Etan Cohen; DreamWorks)

What would you do if you were lucky enough to be cast in a gritty war movie, went on the shoot, and then got shot at because a real-life (and death) war was taking root? Director/star Ben Stiller and his zany crew will help you ponder this question. Let's hope their slapstick war doesn't turn out to be a big bomb. Now Playing

FOR GUY FLATLEY'S 2002 INTERVIEW WITH JACK BLACK, click here.

CATE BLANCHETT

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Elle Fanning, Elias Koteas, Jason Flemyng, Julia Ormond (Directed by David Fincher; Written by Eric Roth; Paramount/Warner Bros.)

Brad Pitt will soon turn 50. But don’t feel depressed; just a bit later, the golden boy will be 49, and on the next birthday, he’ll be 48. You get the idea: in the Eric Roth screenplay, based on a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the hero ages backward, and when he arrives at the ripe young age of 30, he meets the love of his life, a pip played by Cate Blanchett, who last played opposite Pitt in “Babel.” David Fincher, who had Brad zooming on all cylinders in “Fight Club,” will be at the helm. Now Playing

ADRIEN BRODY

MANOLETE Adrien Brody, Penelope Cruz (Written and directed by Menno Meyjes; Lolafilms)
Adrien Brody, faced with monstrous competition for the attention of Naomi Watts in “King Kong,” will presumably have an easier time of it when he woos Penelope Cruz in this true-life romance. Brody plays magnetic bullfighter Manuel Rodriguez Sanchez, better known as Manolete, and Cruz takes on the role of sultry actress Lupe Sino. Opening date to be announced

JOSH BROLIN

MILK Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco, Diego Luna, Alison Pill, Lucas Grabeel, Howard Rosenman, Stephen Spinella, Victor Garber (Directed by Gus Van Sant; Written by Dustin Lance Black; Focus Features)

On November 27, 1978, Harvey Milk, a militant gay activist and enormously charismatic San Francisco supervisor, was shot dead, along with his boss, Mayor George Moscone, by Dan White, a vengeful ex-supervisor. The light sentence given to the assassin led to San Francisco’s historic White Night Riots. Under the masterful direction of openly gay Gus Van Sant, Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk and Josh Brolin is Dan White. Now Playing

SANDRA BULLOCK

GRACE Sandra Bullock Patrick Jordan, David Morse, Joanna Lowe, Ben Blazer, Marty Giles (Directed by Andrew Paul; Written by Naomi Foner, Alie Kolb, Mathew Kopel and Ben Penhan; Fortis Films)

For some people, it was a shocking peep into the living rooms and, especially, the bedrooms of small-town fifties America; for others, it was plain old trash. Whatever it was or was not, “Peyton Place” was certainly the vehicle that propelled previously unsung novelist Grace Metalious to international notoriety. It also led to the break-up of her marriage and, eventually, to her death by suicide. Although screenwriter Naomi Foner is the mother of Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, she neglected to write roles for her talented kids on this occasion. Opening date to be announced

ELLEN BURSTYN

W. Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Ioan Gruffudd, Thandie Newton, Richard Dreyfuss, Scott Glenn, Jeffrey Wright, Ellen Burstyn, James Cromwell, Rob Corddry, Toby Jones, Michael Gaston (Directed by Oliver Stone; Written by Stanley Weiser; Lionsgate)

In case you’re having trouble sorting through the merits and flaws of the Junior Bush administration, Oliver Stone will lend you a hand with “W.,” which is scheduled to open just before the 2008 presidential election. This inevitably absurdist extravaganza stars Josh Brolin, shown above, as George II--from hell-raising, booze-guzzling rogue to chatting-with-Jesus commander in chief. Richard Dreyfuss plays gun-toting, bunker-hugging VP Dick Cheney and Thandie Newton has been cast as the scholarly, vigorously inattentive Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Scott Glenn is the you-fight-with-the-army-you’ve-got Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld; Elizabeth Banks is stand-by-your-cowboy Laura; and the senior Bushes are played by James Cromwell and Ellen Burstyn. Since Stone is the rascal who zeroed in on “JFK”and “Nixon,” we can probably count on him to capture these history-making characters, warts and all. Now Playing

FOR A COMPLETE ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF STAR TURNS, CLICK HERE.