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NEW MOVIES!  NOVEMBER 3 - NOVEMBER 9, 2009

ALIENS IN THE ATTIC (dir: John Schultz, PG) - Some crafty kids fight off pesky aliens that are keen on invading Earth. Along for a paycheck are Kevin Nealon, Tim Meadows and Andy Richter.

THE ANSWER MAN (dir: John Hindman, R) - Jeff Daniels plays a crotchety writer who is so crotchety nobody could possibly soften him up, not even the effervescent chiropractor played by Lauren Graham.

THE ART STAR AND THE SUDANESE TWINS (dir: Pietra Brettkelly, Not Rated) - Artist Vanessa Beecroft becomes obsessed with a pair of babies during a photo shoot and becomes determined to adopt them no matter the cost to her marriage or career in this documentary that explores why affluent western women completely lose their marbles when it comes to African babies.
*BEFORE THE FALL (dir: F. Javier Gutierrez, Not Rated) - The denizens of a small Spanish town spend the last 72 hours on Earth before a cataclysmic meteorite strike in a variety of ways, none of them productive.

BLACK BELT (dir: Shunichi Nagasaki, Not Rated) - In 1932 Japan, three young martial artists bicker about different fighting styles and whether they should ever fight at all.

CASI DIVAS (dir: Issa Lopez, PG-13) - Four wildly different Mexican women get caught up in a nationwide talent search in this musical comedy from our neighbors to the south.
CHOPS (dir: Bruce Broder, Not Rated) - In this terrific documentary, a bunch of talented high school jazz bands compete in New York City to be named America's best. It's inspiring without being patronizing or manipulative, which is rare. And it's also a lot of fun.

EDDIE IZZARD: LIVE FROM WEMBLEY (dir: Sarah Townsend, Not Rated) - While he could use a few tips on female grooming, Eddie Izzard is a smart and funny dude. His return to live performance is captured in front of 44,000 fans over 4 nights at Wembley Arena in London.

FADOS (dir: Carlos Saura, Not Rated) - Learn all about the musical culture of Portugal in this beautifully filmed drama from TANGO director Carlos Saura.
FOOD, INC. (dir: Robert Kenner, PG) - Some of the things I learned from this documentary are that Americans eat too much food and that multi-national corporations have unsavory business practices.

G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA (dir: Stephen Sommers, PG-13) - If you were curious about TRANSFORMERS 2 but worried that it might be too arty, this should be about your speed.

HARDWIRED (dir: Ernie Barbarash, R) - Val Kilmer and Cuba Gooding Jr. together. I can't believe this hasn't happened by now.
I LOVE YOU, BETH COOPER (dir: Chris Columbus, PG-13) - In this SAY ANYTHING/CAN'T HARDLY WAIT wannabe, some nerdy kid confesses his love for the popular girl during his valedictorian speech which leads to a night neither one of them will ever forget. But you will.

^LEMON TREE (dir: Eran Riklis, Not Rated) - A Palestinean widow must defend her precious citrus grove from her new neighbor who wants to tear it down, and who also happens to be the Israeli Defense Minister. Is that the hottest set-up for a romantic comedy ever or what?

THE NARROWS (dir: Francois Velle, R) - A Brooklyn kid gets into fancy pants NYU and is torn between his old neighborhood and the alluring world of downtown.
NOT FORGOTTEN (dir: Dror Soref, R) - Simon Baker and Paz Vega play parents determined to find their kidnapped daughter in this thriller set in a Tex-Mex border town.

PAGEANT (dir: Ron Davis / Stewart Halpern-Fingerhut, Not Rated) - Who doesn't love a good documentary about drag queens? You know you're curious about all the backstage drama at the Miss Gay America contest.

PARAISO TRAVEL (dir: Simon Brand, R) - Two young lovers from Colombia journey to New York where things turn out shockingly bad for them in this gritty drama with a special appearance by John Leguizamo.
THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 (dir: Tony Scott, R) - Hollywood serves up another completely unnecessary remake. Go for the grimy 70s original with Robert Shaw and Walter Matthau instead.

WILL FERRELL: YOU'RE WELCOME AMERICA (dir: Marty Callner, Not Rated) - Will Ferrell gets in a few parting shots at our previous president in this mostly amusing Broadway performance.

* = GREG's pick of the week!         ^ = Bart's pick of the week!

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