By David Weiner
9:17 AM PDT, August 19, 2011
From Anne Hathaway's new love story to Spy Kids, vampires and a killer Conan, here's a breakdown to help you figure out what to watch this weekend.
1 / 7
'The Last Circus' (limited)
Magnet Releasing
Who's in it: Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre, Carolina Bang
Director: Alex de la Iglesia (The Day of the Beast)
The Plot: Two circus clowns clash over a twisted, lusty love triangle which erupts into a ferocious battle in this over-the-top Spanish import.
Reason to see it: Incredible visuals and pull-no-punches storytelling. Happy Clown asks Sad Clown, "Why are you a clown?" Sad Clown responds, "What about you?" Happy Clown declares, "Because if I weren't a clown, I'd be a murderer." 'Nuff said.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer
Director: Alex de la Iglesia (The Day of the Beast)
The Plot: Two circus clowns clash over a twisted, lusty love triangle which erupts into a ferocious battle in this over-the-top Spanish import.
Reason to see it: Incredible visuals and pull-no-punches storytelling. Happy Clown asks Sad Clown, "Why are you a clown?" Sad Clown responds, "What about you?" Happy Clown declares, "Because if I weren't a clown, I'd be a murderer." 'Nuff said.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer
'Griff the Invisible' (limited)
Who's in it: Ryan Kwanten, Maeve Dermody
Director: Leon Ford
The Plot: A shy, awkward office worker pulls double duty as a crimefighting superhero. When he finds love, will he snap back into reality?
Reason to see it: An indie take on the wannabe superhero in all of us.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer
Director: Leon Ford
The Plot: A shy, awkward office worker pulls double duty as a crimefighting superhero. When he finds love, will he snap back into reality?
Reason to see it: An indie take on the wannabe superhero in all of us.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer
'Flypaper' (limited)
IFC Films
Who's in it: Patrick Dempsey, Ashley Judd, Tim Blake Nelson, Mekhi Phifer, Octavia Spencer
Director: Rob Minkoff (The Haunted Mansion, Stuart Little).
The Plot: A man walks into a bank and finds himself in a hostage situation when two gangs try to rob it at the same time.
Reason to see it: Dempsey gets to chew on a left-of-center character within this Pulp Fiction-inspired thriller. "[I play] a darker character," the Grey's Anatomy doc tells ET. "At the start of the movie he discovers that he's out of his medication, so he spirals out of control from there to the end. It's something different to play, and that's what I was looking for."
To help you decide: Watch the trailer
Director: Rob Minkoff (The Haunted Mansion, Stuart Little).
The Plot: A man walks into a bank and finds himself in a hostage situation when two gangs try to rob it at the same time.
Reason to see it: Dempsey gets to chew on a left-of-center character within this Pulp Fiction-inspired thriller. "[I play] a darker character," the Grey's Anatomy doc tells ET. "At the start of the movie he discovers that he's out of his medication, so he spirals out of control from there to the end. It's something different to play, and that's what I was looking for."
To help you decide: Watch the trailer
'Conan the Barbarian' (nationwide)
Lionsgate
Who's in it: Jason Momoa, Ron Perlman, Rose McGowan, Stephen Lang
Director: Marcus Nispel (Friday the 13th, Pathfinder)
The Plot: Robert E. Howard's savage Cimmerian warrior seeks to avenge the murder of his father and the slaughter of his village while saving Hyboria from a reign of supernatural evil.
Reason to see it: Can Game of Thrones star Momoa step out of Schwarzenegger's shadow and make the role his own? There are plenty of bloody battle scenes to make a compelling argument.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Marcus Nispel (Friday the 13th, Pathfinder)
The Plot: Robert E. Howard's savage Cimmerian warrior seeks to avenge the murder of his father and the slaughter of his village while saving Hyboria from a reign of supernatural evil.
Reason to see it: Can Game of Thrones star Momoa step out of Schwarzenegger's shadow and make the role his own? There are plenty of bloody battle scenes to make a compelling argument.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.
'Fright Night' (nationwide)
Touchstone Pictures
Who's in it: Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin, David Tennant, Toni Collette, Chistopher Mintz-Plasse, Imogen Poots
Director: Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl)
The Plot: In this remake of the 1985 horror hit, a teen learns that his new next door neighbor is a vampire. In order to protect his girlfriend and single mom, he seeks out help from an eccentric Las Vegas illusionist.
Reason to see it: As remakes go, this one throws enough curves to make it interesting and fun as both Farrell and Tennant chew up the scenery with their entertaining roles.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer
Director: Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl)
The Plot: In this remake of the 1985 horror hit, a teen learns that his new next door neighbor is a vampire. In order to protect his girlfriend and single mom, he seeks out help from an eccentric Las Vegas illusionist.
Reason to see it: As remakes go, this one throws enough curves to make it interesting and fun as both Farrell and Tennant chew up the scenery with their entertaining roles.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer
'Spy Kids: All the Time in the World' (nationwide)
Dimension Films
Who's in it: Jessica Alba, Jeremy Piven, Antonio Banderas, Joel McHale, Daryl Sabara, Alexa Vega, the voice of Ricky Gervais
Director: Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Machete, Spy Kids series)
The Plot: A retired secret agent raising a new baby and struggling to win over her twin step kids is called back into action when a maniacal villain threatens to stop time and take over the world.
Reason to see it: In addition to seeing Jessica Alba in a skin-tight catsuit, this 3D Spy Kids sequel introduces a tried-and-true interactive "4D"movie gimmick: Aroma-Scope. As you watch the action, scratch and sniff everything from sweet-smelling food to stinky baby diapers. It's your choice.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer
Director: Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Machete, Spy Kids series)
The Plot: A retired secret agent raising a new baby and struggling to win over her twin step kids is called back into action when a maniacal villain threatens to stop time and take over the world.
Reason to see it: In addition to seeing Jessica Alba in a skin-tight catsuit, this 3D Spy Kids sequel introduces a tried-and-true interactive "4D"movie gimmick: Aroma-Scope. As you watch the action, scratch and sniff everything from sweet-smelling food to stinky baby diapers. It's your choice.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer
'One Day' (nationwide)
Focus Features
Who's in it: Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess, Patricia Clarkson
Director: Lone Scherfig (An Education)
The Plot: Based on David Nicholls' bestselling novel, two college friends -- one a working class girl of principle and optimistic ambition, one a wealthy charmer who dreams the world will be his playground -- are revisited every July 15 for two decades.
Reason to see it: Hathaway and Sturgess sparkle with chemistry in this epic, romantic drama from the talented director of An Education. But will they truly end up together?
To help you decide: Watch the trailer
Director: Lone Scherfig (An Education)
The Plot: Based on David Nicholls' bestselling novel, two college friends -- one a working class girl of principle and optimistic ambition, one a wealthy charmer who dreams the world will be his playground -- are revisited every July 15 for two decades.
Reason to see it: Hathaway and Sturgess sparkle with chemistry in this epic, romantic drama from the talented director of An Education. But will they truly end up together?
To help you decide: Watch the trailer