By David Weiner
10:00 AM PDT, August 26, 2011
Summer's last-gasp weekend is upon us. See what's new before autumn is officially upon us...
1 / 7
'Swinging with the Finkels' (limited release)
Freestyle Releasing
Who's in it: Mandy Moore, Martin Freeman, Melissa George, Jonathan Silverman, Jerry Stiller
Director: Jonathan Newman (Teeth)
The Plot: An American-born woman and her Brit husband Alvin have lost the spark in their London love life. What to do? Swing, of course! The couple embarks on finding the ideal partners to spice things up, but can they do it with a straight face?
Reason to see it: Mandy Moore taps into her raunchy side with a more mature role in a relationship comedy that all married couples can likely identify with.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Jonathan Newman (Teeth)
The Plot: An American-born woman and her Brit husband Alvin have lost the spark in their London love life. What to do? Swing, of course! The couple embarks on finding the ideal partners to spice things up, but can they do it with a straight face?
Reason to see it: Mandy Moore taps into her raunchy side with a more mature role in a relationship comedy that all married couples can likely identify with.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.
'Love Crime' (limited release)
IFC Films
Who's in it: Ludivigne Sagnier, Kristin Scott Thomas, Patrick Mille
Director: Alain Corneau (Fear and Trembling)
The Plot: A powerful executive toys with her naive young assistant, only to underestimate the young woman's ambition and cunning -- leading them to clash in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Reason to see it: Another prime opportunity to watch Kristin Scott Thomas' mastery of acting in the French language in this gripping study of ruthless people and office politics.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Alain Corneau (Fear and Trembling)
The Plot: A powerful executive toys with her naive young assistant, only to underestimate the young woman's ambition and cunning -- leading them to clash in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Reason to see it: Another prime opportunity to watch Kristin Scott Thomas' mastery of acting in the French language in this gripping study of ruthless people and office politics.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.
'Higher Ground' (limited release)
Sony Pictures Classics
Who's in it: Vera Farmiga, Joshua Leonard, John Hawkes, Dagmara Dominczyk, Norbert Leo Butz, Donna Murphy
Director: Vera Farmiga
The Plot: Set against the backdrop of the '60s feminism movement, a woman's faith is put to the test as she struggles with the primary love relationships in her life.
Reason to see it: Farmiga's directorial debut is getting raves for her nuanced, even-handed handling of religious material.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Vera Farmiga
The Plot: Set against the backdrop of the '60s feminism movement, a woman's faith is put to the test as she struggles with the primary love relationships in her life.
Reason to see it: Farmiga's directorial debut is getting raves for her nuanced, even-handed handling of religious material.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.
'Chasing Madoff' (limited release)
Who's in it: Harry Markopolos, Bernie Madoff, Frank Casey, Neil Chelo, Gaytri Kachroo, Michael Ocrant
Director: Jeff Prosserman
The Plot: The incredible story of Boston securities analyst Harry Markopolos and his ten-year struggle to expose the harrowing truth behind the infamous Madoff Ponzi scheme scandal.
Reason to see it: You know how the story ended. See how it all began, with a whistleblower that everyone thought was "crying wolf." Compelling stuff.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Jeff Prosserman
The Plot: The incredible story of Boston securities analyst Harry Markopolos and his ten-year struggle to expose the harrowing truth behind the infamous Madoff Ponzi scheme scandal.
Reason to see it: You know how the story ended. See how it all began, with a whistleblower that everyone thought was "crying wolf." Compelling stuff.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.
'Our Idiot Brother' (nationwide)
The Weinstein Company
Who's in it: Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Emily Mortimer, Zooey Deschanel, Rashida Jones, Steve Coogan
Director: Jesse Peretz (The Ex)
The Plot: A free-spirited guy arrives on the doorstep of his sisters after his girlfriend kicks him out. Taking turns housing him, the sisters' lives are turned upside-down by his laissez-faire approach to life, but come to realize they can learn a thing or two from him.
Reason to see it: Rudd's magnetic personality continues to charm in this gem from the producers of Little Miss Sunshine that sees him reunite with his I Love You Man co-star Jones and The 40 Year Old Virgin co-star Banks.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Jesse Peretz (The Ex)
The Plot: A free-spirited guy arrives on the doorstep of his sisters after his girlfriend kicks him out. Taking turns housing him, the sisters' lives are turned upside-down by his laissez-faire approach to life, but come to realize they can learn a thing or two from him.
Reason to see it: Rudd's magnetic personality continues to charm in this gem from the producers of Little Miss Sunshine that sees him reunite with his I Love You Man co-star Jones and The 40 Year Old Virgin co-star Banks.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.
'Colombiana' (nationwide)
TriStar Pictures
Who's in it: Zoe Saldana, Michael Vartan, Callum Blue
Director: Olivier Megaton (Transporter 3)
The Plot: After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents in Colombia, a young girl grows up to become a stone-cold assassin and exact revenge.
Reason to see it: Avatar and Star Trek star Saldana finally gets to carry an action extravaganza from Luc Besson and the writer of Taken.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Olivier Megaton (Transporter 3)
The Plot: After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents in Colombia, a young girl grows up to become a stone-cold assassin and exact revenge.
Reason to see it: Avatar and Star Trek star Saldana finally gets to carry an action extravaganza from Luc Besson and the writer of Taken.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.
'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' (nationwide)
Miramax
Who's in it: Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, Bailee Madison
Director: Troy Nixey
The Plot: A young girl moves into a sprawling, creepy estate with her father and his girlfriend and unwittingly unlocks a gateway for a race of ancient monsters.
Reason to see it: Co-writer and co-producer Guillermo del Toro's masterful hands are all over this remake of a 1973 made-for-TV movie, delivering plenty of thrills, chills and scares to spare.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Troy Nixey
The Plot: A young girl moves into a sprawling, creepy estate with her father and his girlfriend and unwittingly unlocks a gateway for a race of ancient monsters.
Reason to see it: Co-writer and co-producer Guillermo del Toro's masterful hands are all over this remake of a 1973 made-for-TV movie, delivering plenty of thrills, chills and scares to spare.
To help you decide: Watch the trailer.