LAKE MUNGO (2008)

 

Written & Directed By: Joel Anderson  Cinematography: John Brawley Editor: Bill Murphy 

Cast: Rosie Traynor, David Pledger, Martin Sharpe, Talia Zucker, Tania Lentini, Cameron Strachan, Judith Roberts, Robin Cuming

Strange things start happening after a girl is found drowned in a lake.

ASSASSINATION OF A HIGH SCHOOL PRESIDENT (2008)

 

Directed by: Brett Simon  Written By: Kevin Jakubowski & Tim Calpin  Cinematography: M. David Mullen  Editor: William Anderson & Thomas J. Nordberg

Cast: Mischa Barton, Reece Daniel Thompson, Bruce Willis, Michael Rapaport, Kathryn Morris, Melonie Diaz, Zoe Kravitz, Josh Pais, Luke Grimes, Joe Perrino, Aaron Himelstein, John Magaro, Robin Lord Taylor, Vincent Piazza, Adam Pally, Emily Meade, Quinn Shephard

At a Catholic high school, a sophomore newspaper reporter investigates a case of stolen SAT exams. He thinks he's nailed the suspect and managed to get the popular girl when he realizes a larger conspiracy is afoot.

CHOCOLATE (2008)

Directed By: Prachya Pinkaew 
Written By: Napalee & Chookiat Sakveerakul 
Cinematography: Decha Srimantra 
Editor: Rashane Limtrakul & Pop Surasakuwa 


Cast: Jeeja Yanin, Hiroshi Abe, Ammara Siriphong 


When Zin, former girlfriend of a Thai mob boss, falls for Masashi, a Japanese gangster in Thailand, the boss banishes them: Masashi to Japan, and Zin, with her small daughter Zen, to live next to a martial arts school. Zen is autistic, with uncanny swift reflexes. She watches the students next door and Muay Thai movies, absorbing every technique. She's now a teen, and her mother needs chemotherapy. Zin has taken in a chubby kid, Moom, who watches over Zen. Moom finds a ledger listing business men who owe Zin money; he goes to them one at a time to collect in order to pay for Zin's treatment. Zen, with her martial skills, becomes his enforcer. A showdown with the boss is inevitable.

JEFF OF THE CINEFILES & UNFINISHED BUSINESS: HALL OF FAME: FILE #0055: THE BROTHERS BLOOM (2008)

Written & Directed By: Rian Johnson 
Cinematography By: Steve Yedlin 
Editor: Gabriel Wrye 
Music By: Nathan Johnson 


Cast: Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz, Rinko Kikuchi, Maximilian Schell, Robbie Coltrane, Noah Segan, Nora Zehtner, Max Records
The Brothers Bloom are the best con men in the world, swindling millionaires with complex scenarios of lust and intrigue. Now they've decided to take on one last job - showing a beautiful and eccentric heiress the time of her life with a romantic adventure that takes them around the world.

THE WRECKING CREW (2008)

Directed By: Danny Tedesco 

Featuring: Danny Tedesco, Brian Wilson, Cher, Dick Clark, Glenn Campbell, Nancy Sinatra, Micky Dolenz 


A celebration of the musical work of a group of session musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew", a band that provided back-up instrumentals to such legendary recording artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and Bing Crosby.

STEP-UP 2: THE STREETS (2008)

Directed By: John M. Chu 
Written By: Toni Ann Johnson & Karen Barna 
Based On Characters Created By: Duane Adler 
Cinematography By: Max Malkin 
Editor: Nicholas Erasmus & Andrew Marcus 


Cast: Briana Evigan, Cassie Ventura, Robert Hoffman, Adam G. Sevani, Danielle Polanco, Harry Shum Jr., Christopher Scott, Will Kemp, Channing Tatum, Sonja Sohn 


When her guardian threatens to send her to live in Texas, dancer Andie enrolls in the Maryland School of the Arts. There she attempts to learn the traditional technique of dance while encouraging the school misfits to embrace their own unusual dance skills and styles. This film makes sense only in it's own world. Where the dangerous gang is more a group of dancers who follow no rules. Rather than doing any actual serious crimes.

STRANGE WILDERNESS (2008)

Directed By: Fred Wolf 
Written By: Fred Wolf & Peter Gaulke 
Cinematography By: David Hennings 
Editor: Tom Costain 


Cast: Steve Zahn, Allen Covert, Jonah Hill, Justin Long, Peter Dante, Harry Hamlin, Kevin Heffernan, Robert Patrick, Ashley Scott, Ernest Borgnine, Blake Clark, Joe Don Baker, Jeff Garlin, Oliver Hudson, Jake Abel 


When his father dies, Peter Gaulke inherits "Strange Wilderness," dad's TV show about animals. After ratings plummet and the show is canceled, we watch a long flashback to see its demise. The studio head gives the show two more weeks. An old friend brings a story about Bigfoot in Ecuador, so a long road trip ensues with stops along the way and enough problems, misjudgments, and deaths to sink a less intrepid band. Peter's team faces competition from a better-funded and more practiced set of rivals. Who will find Bigfoot first, and will they get it on tape and save the show? Can Peter make dad proud?

LAKEVIEW TERRACE (2008)

Directed By: Neil LaBute 
Written By: David Loughery & Howard Korder 
Story By: David Loughery 
Cinematography By: Rogier Stoffers 
Editor: Joel Plotch 


Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington, Patrick Wilson, Ron Glass, Justin Chambers, Jay Hernandez, Regine Nehy 


In California, the Caucasian Chris Mattson and his African-American wife Lisa Mattson move to a house in a gated community. The racist and dysfunctional next-door neighbor is the abusive LAPD Officer Abel Turner who feels uncomfortable with the relationship of the newcomers and transforms their lives into Hell on Earth.

SEVEN POUNDS (2008)

Directed By: Gabriele Muccino 
Written By: Grant Nieporte 
Cinematography By: Philippe Le Sourd 
Editor: Hughes Winborne 

Cast: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy, Barry Pepper, Robinne Lee, Bill Smitrovich, Andy Milder, Octavia Spencer, Madison Pettis 


Haunted by a secret, Ben Thomas looks for redemption by radically transforming the lives of seven people he doesn't know. Once his plan is set, nothing will be able to stop him. At least that's what he thinks. But Ben hadn't planned on falling in love with one of these people and she's the one who will end up transforming him.

LYMELIFE (2008)

Directed By: Derick Martini 
Written By: Derick Martini & Steve Martini 
Cinematography By: Frank Godwin 
Editor: Mark Yoshikawa, Derick Martini & Steve Martini 


Cast: Kieran Culkin, Rory Culkin, Emma Roberts, Timothy Hutton, Cynthia Nixon, Alec Baldwin, Jill Hennessy, Logan Huffman 


Set in the late 70's, seen through the innocent eyes of a fifteen year old boy, SCOTT, "Lymelife" is a unique take on the dangers of the American Dream. This funny, sad, violent and sometimes tragic look at first love, family dynamics and divorce weaves an intricate tapestry of American life during a time of drastic economic and emotional change.

ADULTHOOD (2008)

Written & Directed By: Noel Clarke 
Cinematography By: Brian Tufano 
Editor: Tom Hemmings 


Cast: Noel Clarke, Adam Deacon, Scarlett Alice Johnson, Jacob Anderson, Ben Drew, Shanika Warren-Markland, Cornell John, Red Madrell, Arnold Oceng, Danny Dyer 


Not Straight Outta Compton, but straight out of jail and back on the mean streets of London. A story of retribution that has Sam Peel fighting for more than just his freedom. After a six and a half year stretch for murder, his troubles are just about to begin. This has his past conflicts catching-up with his plans to stay alive for the future.

DONKEY PUNCH (2008)

Director: Oliver Blackburn 
Written By: Oliver Blackburn & David Bloom 
Cinematography By: Nanu Segal 
Editor: Kate Evans 


Cast: Sian Breckin,Nichola Burley, Tom Burke, Jamie Winstone, Julian Morris

HALLOWEEN 2 (2008)

Written & Directed By: Rob Zombie 
Cinematography By: Brandon Trost 
Editor: Glen Garland & Joel Pashby 
Music by: Tyler Bates 


Cast: Scout Taylor-Compton, Tyler Mane, Sherri Moon Zombie, Danielle Harris, Malcolm McDowell, Brad Dourif, Caroline Williams, Octavia Spencer, Margot Kidder, Richard Riehle, Sean Whalen, Brea Grant, Mary Birdsong, Angela Trimbur, Howard Hesseman, Duane Whitaker, Mark Boone Junior, Daniel Roebuck, Chris Hardwick, Weird Al Yankovich

AMUSEMENT (2008)

Directed By: John Simpson 
Written By: Jake Wade Wall 
Cinematography By: Mark Garrett 
Editor: David Handman & Chris Wilingham 


Cast: Katheryn Winnick, Laura Breckinridge, Kier O’Donnell, Tad Hilgenbrink, Jessica Lucas, Rena Owen, Kevin Gage

THE LUCKY ONES (2008)

Directed By: Neil Burger 
Written By: Neil Burger & Dirk Wittenborn 
Cinematography By: Declan Quinn 
Editor: Naomi Gerghty 


Cast: Rachel McAdams, Michael Pena, Tim Robbins, Molly Hagan, Arden Myrin, John Heard, John Diehl, Katherine LaNasa

DETROIT METAL CITY (2008)

Directed By: Toshio Lee 
Written By: Kiminori Wakasugi 
Based on the Manga By: Mika Ohmori 
Cinematography By: Koichi Nakayama 
Editor: Takuya Taguchi 


Cast: Ken’Ichi Matsuyama, Yoshihiko Hosoda, Ryuji Akiyama, Rosa Kato, Yasuko Matsuyuki, Adeyto, Gene Simmons

THE EXPRESS (2008)

Directed By: Gary Fleder 
Written By: Charles Leavitt 
Based on the book "Ernie Davis: The Elmira Express" By: Robert Gallagher 
Cinematography By: Kramer Morgenthau 
Editor: Padraic McKinley & William Steinkamp 

Cast: Rob Thomas, Dennis Quaid, Aujanue Ellis, Clancy Brown, Omar Benson Miller, Charles S. Dutton, Nelson Ellis, Nicole Beharie, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Saul Rubinek, Chadwick Boseman

THE LONGSHOTS (2008)

Directed By: Fred Durst 
Written By: Nick Santora 
Cinematography By: Conrad W. Hall 
Editor: Jeffrey Wolf 

Cast: Ice Cube, KeKe Palmer, Dash Mihok, Tasha Smith, Jill Marie Jones, Matt Craven, Glenn Plummer, Garrett Morris, Earthquake, Caleb Landry Jones, Vincent LaResca

JEFF OF THE CINEFILES & UNFINISHED BUSINESS: HALL OF FAME: FILE #0037: TWO LOVERS (2008)

Directed By: James Gray 
Written By: James Gray & Ric Minello 
Cinematography: Joaquin Baca-Asay 
Editor: John Axelrad 


Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Patrow, Vinessa Shaw, Isabella Rosselini, Elias Koates

QUARANTINE (2008)

Directed By: John Erick Dowdle 
Written By: John Erick Dowdle & Drew Dowdle 
Based On REC The original Screenplay By: Jaume Belaguero & Luiso Berdejo & Paco Plaza Cinematography By: Ken Seng 
Editor: Elliot Greenberg 


Cast: Jennifer Carpenter, Steve Harris, Marin Hinkle, Jay Rodriguez, Columbus Short, Dania Ramirez, Rade Serbedija, Jonathan Schaech, Greg Germann