By David Weiner
9:30 AM PDT, October 21, 2011
Paranormal Activity 3is back to scare audiences silly;The Three Musketeersswashbuckle in 3D; meet the man behind Elmo and more in this week's new releases.
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'Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey' (Limited Release)
Who's in It: Kevin Clash, Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O'Donnell, Frank Oz
Director: Constance Marks (Green Chimneys), Philip Shane (Picasso by Proxy)
The Plot: Meet the unlikely man behind one of the most beloved children's characters, from his modest Baltimore beginnings to his international success.
Reason to See It: Meet the man - and hand - behind Sesame Street's Elmo, and be surprised.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Constance Marks (Green Chimneys), Philip Shane (Picasso by Proxy)
The Plot: Meet the unlikely man behind one of the most beloved children's characters, from his modest Baltimore beginnings to his international success.
Reason to See It: Meet the man - and hand - behind Sesame Street's Elmo, and be surprised.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
'The Mighty Macs' (Limited Release)
Who's in It: Carla Gugino, David Boreanaz, Ellen Burstyn, Marley Shelton
Director: Tim Chambers
The Plot: Set in the early '70s, the Immaculata College women's basketball team defies the odds with the help of a female coach that was ahead of her time.
Reason to See It: Based on an incredible, true Cinderella story, this uplifting family film offers perhaps the perfect counter-programming to Paranormal Activity 3.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Tim Chambers
The Plot: Set in the early '70s, the Immaculata College women's basketball team defies the odds with the help of a female coach that was ahead of her time.
Reason to See It: Based on an incredible, true Cinderella story, this uplifting family film offers perhaps the perfect counter-programming to Paranormal Activity 3.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
'Martha Marcy May Marlene' (Limited Release)
20th Century Fox
Who's in It: Elizabeth Olsen, Hugh Dancy, John Hawkes, Brady Corbet, Sarah Paulson
Director: Sean Durkin (Mary Last Seen)
The Plot: A young woman attempts to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult, but paranoia soon begins to eat away at her grip on reality.
Reason to See It: Elizabeth Olsen, younger sister of the Olsen Twins, steps out of her sisters' fashion empire shadow with a much-talked about breakout performance.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Sean Durkin (Mary Last Seen)
The Plot: A young woman attempts to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult, but paranoia soon begins to eat away at her grip on reality.
Reason to See It: Elizabeth Olsen, younger sister of the Olsen Twins, steps out of her sisters' fashion empire shadow with a much-talked about breakout performance.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
'Margin Call' (Limited Release)
Roadside Attractions
Who's in It: Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, Simon Baker, Paul Bettany
Director: J.C. Chandor (Despacito)
The Plot: The key players at an investment firm grapple with the moral and financial consequences of a revelation that could torpedo the company.
Reason to See It: Set in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis, the chemistry of the ensemble cast crackles in this smart, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: J.C. Chandor (Despacito)
The Plot: The key players at an investment firm grapple with the moral and financial consequences of a revelation that could torpedo the company.
Reason to See It: Set in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis, the chemistry of the ensemble cast crackles in this smart, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
'Johnny English Reborn' (Nationwide)
Universal Pictures
Who's in It: Rowan Atkinson, Rosamund Pike, Dominic West, Gillian Anderson
Director: Oliver Parker (An Ideal Husband)
The Plot: The bumbling British spy returns to unravel a web of conspiracy that runs throughout the KGB, CIA and even MI-7 and prevent an attempt against the Chinese premier's life.
Reason to See It: The rubber-faced Atkinson returns for more of his unique brand of physical comedy in this globetrotting family adventure.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Oliver Parker (An Ideal Husband)
The Plot: The bumbling British spy returns to unravel a web of conspiracy that runs throughout the KGB, CIA and even MI-7 and prevent an attempt against the Chinese premier's life.
Reason to See It: The rubber-faced Atkinson returns for more of his unique brand of physical comedy in this globetrotting family adventure.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
'The Three Musketeers 3D' (Nationwide)
Summit Entertainment
Who's in It: Orlando Bloom, Milla Jovovich, Logan Lerman, Christoph Waltz, Matthew MacFadyen, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson (Alien vs. Predator, Death Race)
The Plot: Based on the classic Alexandre Dumas novel, young D'Artagnan teams up with wily musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis to prevent the villainous Cardinal Richelieu from engulfing Europe in war.
Reason to See It: With plenty of swashbuckling to spare in 3D, this new Musketeers outing does not take itself too seriously and takes entertaining liberties with the weapons and technology of the time.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson (Alien vs. Predator, Death Race)
The Plot: Based on the classic Alexandre Dumas novel, young D'Artagnan teams up with wily musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis to prevent the villainous Cardinal Richelieu from engulfing Europe in war.
Reason to See It: With plenty of swashbuckling to spare in 3D, this new Musketeers outing does not take itself too seriously and takes entertaining liberties with the weapons and technology of the time.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
'Paranormal Activity 3' (Nationwide)
Paramount Pictures
Who's in It: Katie Featherstone, Sprague Grayden, Lauren Bittner, Chloe Csengery, Jessica Tyler Brown, Christopher Nicholas Smith
Director: Henry Joost, Ariel Schuman (Catfish)
The Plot: Set in 1988, two sisters befriend an invisible entity in their home, with frightening consequences.
Reason to See It: Discover how the activity began with the perfect fright just in time for Halloween. The third outing in the hugely popular franchise was directed by the unpredictable masterminds behind Catfish.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.
Director: Henry Joost, Ariel Schuman (Catfish)
The Plot: Set in 1988, two sisters befriend an invisible entity in their home, with frightening consequences.
Reason to See It: Discover how the activity began with the perfect fright just in time for Halloween. The third outing in the hugely popular franchise was directed by the unpredictable masterminds behind Catfish.
To Help You Decide: Watch the trailer.