By David Weiner
8:42 AM PDT, October 14, 2011
Feeling an '80s flashback coming on? Footloose and The Thing are new and arguably improved; Owen Wilson, Steve Martin and Jack Black chase birds; and Ryan Reynolds gets serious with Julia Roberts in this week's new releases.
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'Texas Killing Fields' (Limited)
Anchor Bay
Who's in It: Sam Worthington, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jessica Chastain, Chloe Grace Moretz
Director: Ami Canaan Mann (Friday Night Lights)
The Plot: Starting in 1971, over 60 bodies have been found in the bayous outside a small Texas town, dubbed the Killing Fields; a local homicide detective (Worthington) and New York City cop (Morgan) team up to investigate the crimes…
Reason to See It: Inspired by a true story, this haunting thriller boasts a top-notch cast in a very creepy locale.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Ami Canaan Mann (Friday Night Lights)
The Plot: Starting in 1971, over 60 bodies have been found in the bayous outside a small Texas town, dubbed the Killing Fields; a local homicide detective (Worthington) and New York City cop (Morgan) team up to investigate the crimes…
Reason to See It: Inspired by a true story, this haunting thriller boasts a top-notch cast in a very creepy locale.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
'Father of Invention' (Limited)
Anchor Bay
Who's in It: Kevin Spacey, Heather Graham, Camilla Belle, Virginia Madsen, Johnny Knoxville, Craig Robinson, John Stamos
Director: Trent Cooper (Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector)
The Plot: Spacey plays Robert Axle, an inventor/infomercial king who struggles to connect with his estranged family and catch up with technology after he emerges from an decade stint in prison.
Reason to See It: Spacey in comedy pitch-man mode is always a treat, and this time he's a fish out of water with a colorful supporting cast.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Trent Cooper (Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector)
The Plot: Spacey plays Robert Axle, an inventor/infomercial king who struggles to connect with his estranged family and catch up with technology after he emerges from an decade stint in prison.
Reason to See It: Spacey in comedy pitch-man mode is always a treat, and this time he's a fish out of water with a colorful supporting cast.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
'Trespass' (Limited)
Millennium Entertainment
Who's in It: Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman, Cam Gigandet, Liana Liberato, Ben Mendelsohn
Director: Joel Schumacher (8mm, Batman Forever)
The Plot: A wealthy family renovating their home are subject to a brutal home invasion and must rely on their wits to survive.
Reason to See It: Nic Cage and Nicole Kidman keep you on the edge of your seat in this twisty thriller.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Joel Schumacher (8mm, Batman Forever)
The Plot: A wealthy family renovating their home are subject to a brutal home invasion and must rely on their wits to survive.
Reason to See It: Nic Cage and Nicole Kidman keep you on the edge of your seat in this twisty thriller.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
'Fireflies in the Garden' (Limited)
Who's in It: Ryan Reynolds, Julia Roberts, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Carrie-Anne Moss, Ioan Gruffudd, Hayden Panettiere
Director: Dennis Lee (Jesus Henry Christ)
The Plot: Reynold plays a romance novelist who returns to his Midwest home for his mother's college graduation, many years after she left her education behind to raise her kids. But when tragedy strikes, he must face his biggest obstacle -- his father.
Reason to See It: Think you've got daddy issues? Ryan Reynolds gets serious as a writer with a tormented past and Willem Dafoe turns up the creep in this star-studded drama.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Dennis Lee (Jesus Henry Christ)
The Plot: Reynold plays a romance novelist who returns to his Midwest home for his mother's college graduation, many years after she left her education behind to raise her kids. But when tragedy strikes, he must face his biggest obstacle -- his father.
Reason to See It: Think you've got daddy issues? Ryan Reynolds gets serious as a writer with a tormented past and Willem Dafoe turns up the creep in this star-studded drama.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
'The Big Year' (Nationwide)
20th Century Fox
Who's in It: Owen Wilson, Steve Martin, Jack Black, Jim Parsons, Joel McHale, Rashida Jones, Anjelica Huston, Dianne Wiest, Brian Dennehy, JoBeth Williams, Kevin Pollak
Director: David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me)
The Plot: Three friendly rivals -- and avid birdwatchers -- at various crossroads in their lives decide to ditch their responsibilities and dedicate a year to following their dreams on a cross-country adventure.
Reason to See It: Wilson, Martin and Black are a dream comedy team, watching the birdies while pursuing their own bucket list.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me)
The Plot: Three friendly rivals -- and avid birdwatchers -- at various crossroads in their lives decide to ditch their responsibilities and dedicate a year to following their dreams on a cross-country adventure.
Reason to See It: Wilson, Martin and Black are a dream comedy team, watching the birdies while pursuing their own bucket list.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
'The Thing' (Nationwide)
Universal Pictures
Who's in It: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Eric Christian Olsen
Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
The Plot: A paleontologist is flown to a remote station in Antarctica to help investigate a downed alien spacecraft -- and finds herself fighting for her life against its deadly, shape-shifting occupant.
Reason to See It: The new version, a prequel, remains faithful to John Carpenter's 1982 vision, with plenty of scares and incredible effects to spare.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
The Plot: A paleontologist is flown to a remote station in Antarctica to help investigate a downed alien spacecraft -- and finds herself fighting for her life against its deadly, shape-shifting occupant.
Reason to See It: The new version, a prequel, remains faithful to John Carpenter's 1982 vision, with plenty of scares and incredible effects to spare.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
'Footloose' (Nationwide)
Paramount Pictures
Who's in It: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell, Kim Dickens
Director: Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow)
The Plot: City boy Ren MacCormack moves to small-town America, where dancing and loud music has been banned following a teen tragedy. He falls for a reverend's daughter and attempts to bring life back to the repressed community.
Reason to See It: Ready to cut loose? A faithful update of the classic '80s flick, with lively dance numbers and likeable performances.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow)
The Plot: City boy Ren MacCormack moves to small-town America, where dancing and loud music has been banned following a teen tragedy. He falls for a reverend's daughter and attempts to bring life back to the repressed community.
Reason to See It: Ready to cut loose? A faithful update of the classic '80s flick, with lively dance numbers and likeable performances.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.