2006 Release Radar

Taking the lead from Scott the Reader, I've decided to post the 2006 releases that are on my list to see, thus far. Of course, we still have a few festivals to get through, but overall it looks like there are quite a few offerings that will keep my cinematic hunger sated.

A few more family movies/animated features on this list... Remember, I am the mother of three (hence all the family movies that are included!).

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ALICIA'S 2006 RELEASE RADAR
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16 BLOCKS. Action-crime movie with Bruce Willis as a cop and Mos Def as a fast-talking witness. Complications ensue when a routine trip to the courthouse gets sidetracked. Also features David Morse, an actor with whom I have always been impressed. Bruce Willis, Mos Def, David Morse, Alfre Woodard. Release Date: March.

39 POUNDS OF LOVE. Man with Spinal Muscular Atrophy outlives doctors' predicted life expectancy. Release Date: January. Link to 39 Pounds of Love Trailer.

A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS. Sting and Trudie Styler co-produce this Sundance Selection about a boy who recalls his youth spent in 1980s Astoria, NY and the "saints" he left behind. Robert Downey, Jr., Rosario Dawson, Chazz Palminteri, Dianne Wiest. Release Date: TBA.

AKEELAH AND THE BEE. Another Bee Season? Perhaps. Great cast. Angela Bassett, Keke Palmer, Laurence Fishburne. Release Date: May. Link to Akeelah and the Bee Trailer.

ALL THE KING'S MEN. A remake with a stellar cast. Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Patricia Clarkson, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Hopkins Release Date: March. Link to All The King's Men Website.

AMERICAN DREAMZ. American Idol satire? You bet! Hugh Grant spoofing Simon Cowell is perfect! Dennis Quaid, Hugh Grant, Mandy Moore. Release Date: April. Link to American Dreamz Website.

BARNYARD. Animated movie where cows strike back, with Kevin James leading the pack. The trailer looks cute - love the "boy tipping!" Kevin James, Courtney Cox, Danny Glover. Release Date: October. Link to Barnyard Website.

BOBBY. Emilio Estevez writes, directs and stars in this film about Bobby Kennedy's assassination and the guests that were staying at the Ambassador Hotel at the time. Phenomenal cast joins Estevez: Anthony Hopkins, Lindsay Lohan, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Elijah Wood. Release Date: August.

BREAKING AND ENTERING. Minghella and Binoche reunite. About an architect and his relationship with a young thief. Directed by Anthony Minghella. Juliette Binoche, Jude Law, Robin Wright Penn. Release Date: August.

BUG. Based on a play by Tracy Letts about a war vet who sees bugs cooped up in a motel with Ashley Judd. I liked Harry Connick in Copycat - he does psycho well. Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd. Release Date: October

THE BLACK DAHLIA. The story's been told before (as recently as 2005). But not by Brian DePalma and the strong cast that's assembled. Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Hilary Swank. Release Date: TBA

CARS. Same reason as Scott - because it's Pixar. Release Date: June. Link to Cars Website.

CHARLOTTE'S WEB. Live action/CGI version of the classic. Everyone and their brother is in it. Dakota Fanning, Steve Buscemi, Julia Roberts. Release Date: December. Link to Charlotte's Web Website.

CLICK. Adam Sandler seems to be doing all right with the dramedy genre and it has a great supporting cast. Adam Sandler, Kate Beckinsdale, Christopher Walken. Release Date: June. Link to Click Website.

CURIOUS GEORGE. Will probably see it because it's Will Ferrell, a classic story and one of my daughters proclaimed, "I love George!" Release Date: February. Link to Curious George Trailer.

THE DA VINCI CODE. I haven't read the book. But my husband has. I've always loved Ron Howard, too. Tom Hanks, Audrey Tatou, Ian McKellan. Release Date: May. Link to The Da Vinci Code Website.

DELIRIOUS. Offbeat dramedy about a photographer, a homeless person and a pop star. Steve Buscemi, Elvis Costello, Minnie Driver. Release Date: TBA.

THE DEPARTED. Martin Scorcese directs remake of a Hong Kong film. Boston State Police vs. Irish mafia. Leo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson. Oh yeah, and Martin Scorcese directed it. Release Date: August.

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA. Based on the novel, Andrea chronicles life working for a demanding NYC magazine editor. Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep. Release Date: June

DREAMGIRLS. Based on the Broadway musical about a 60s musical trio, we'll get to see more of Jamie Foxx's musical talent. Beyonce Knowles, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson (American Idol contestant). Release Date: December. Link to Dreamgirls Website.

FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS. Newest Clint Eastwood and Paul Haggis project about the six men that raised the flag at Iwo Jima. Ryan Phillippe, Joseph Cross, Barry Pepper. Release Date: TBA.

FLICKA. Based on My Friend Flicka, family movie about a girl and a wild horse. Tim McGraw plays father to a young girl who yearns to someday take over the family ranch. Allison Loman, Maria Bello, Tim McGraw. Release Date: July.

FLIGHT 93. A real time account of the events on United Flight 93. One of three 9/11 films so far (see WORLD TRADE CENTER, WTC VIEW) Release Date: April. Link to Flight 93 Website.

FLUSHED AWAY. The story of an uptown rat that gets flushed down the toilet from his penthouse apartment, ending in the sewers of London, where he has to learn a whole new and different way of life. Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman, Iam McKellan, Andy Serkis, Bill Nighy. Release Date: November.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. Christopher Guest ensemble satire about actors' reactions when their film starts getting awards buzz. Christopher Guest, Fred Willard, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, Jennifer Coolidge, Clair Forlani. Release Date: September.

FREEDOMLAND. A woman is carjacked and he son is in the back seat. Crime-thriller with racially charged subplot. Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Moore, Edie Falco, Ron Eldard, William Forsythe. Release Date: February. Link to Freedomland Website.

FUR. A chronicle of the life of Diane Arbus, 1960s photgrapher who, following her suicide in 1971, was American photographer to be exhibited at the Venice Biennale. Nicole Kidman, Robert Downey, Jr.. Release Date: October.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD. One man's tale of early life in the CIA. Matt Damon, Robert DeNiro, Angelina Jolie, Joe Pesci. Release Date: December.

HAPPY FEET. Animated tap dancing penguins! Release Date: November. Link to Happy Feet Website.

HARD CANDY. A 32-year-old man meets a 14-year-old on the Internet. The trailer is chilling. Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page, Sandra Oh. Release Date: TBA. Link to Hard Candy Website.

IN THE LAND OF WOMEN. Lawrence Kasdan's son, Jonathan, writes and directs a movie about caring for his ailing grandmother and forming life-changing friendships with the family across the street. Adam Brody, Olympia Dukakis, Meg Ryan. Release Date: May.

JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE NIGHT. A father and son try to escape the hold of the Brazilian sex industry. Brendan Fraser, Mos Def, Scott Glenn. Release Date: April.

LADY IN THE WATER. I'm always willing to give M. Night Shamalayan another chance because I loved Sixth Sense. Paul Giamatti, Bryce Howard Release Date: July. Link to Lady In The Water Website.

LENINGRAD. Journalists fall in love during WWII battle. Gabriel Byrne, Mira Sorvino, Armin Mueller-Stahl. Release Date: November.

LITTLE FISH. A recovering addict gets embroiled in a drug deal. Cate Blanchett, Sam Neill. Release Date: TBA. Link to Little Fish Website.

LONELY HEARTS. Crime drama based on the true story of "Lonely Hearts Killers" who enticed their victims through the personal adds. John Travolta, James Gandolfini, Salma Hayek, Jared Leto, Laura Dern. Release Date: March.

MARGARET. A young woman witnesses a bus accident and its aftermath. Anna Paquin, Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo and Matthew Broderick. Release Date: TBA.

MARIE ANTOINETTE. Sofia Coppola biopic about the woman who said "let them eat cake" and then lost her head. Love the trailer set to New Order. Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Rip Torn. Release Date: October. Link to Marie Antoinette Website.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE III. Because it's Mission Impossible and its Memorial Day blockbuster time. Even if Cruise is a fruitcake. Tom Cruise, Keri Russell, Philip Seymour Hoffman. Release Date: May. Link to Mission Impossible Website.

MONSTER HOUSE. Animated feature about "the scary house" in town that comes to life. Release Date: July. Link to Monster House Website.

NANNY McPHEE. A warted nanny whips a bunch ne'er do wells into shape. Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Imelda Staunton, Angela Lansbury. Release Date: January. Link to Nanny McPhee Website.

OPEN SEASON. A pet bear journeys into the wild with his deer friend during hunting season. Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Debra Messing, Gary Sinise. Release Date: September. Link to Open Season Website.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN - DEAD MAN'S CHEST. Because the first one was awesome and the originals are back. Johnny Depp, Orland Bloom, Keira Knightly, Bill Nighy, Geoffrey Rush. Release Date: July. Link to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Website.

PUNCHCARD PLAYER. A 20-something guy deals with post-graduate debt and adulthood. We've all been there. Brian Napolitan. Release Date: TBA. Link to Punchcard Player Website.

PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS. Will Smith does a dramatic turn as a salesman who gets custody of his son. Will Smith, Thandie Newton. Release Date: December.

R.V. Dysfunctional family road trip. Robin Williams, Jeff Daniels. Release Date: April.
Link to RV Trailer.

RESCUE DAWN. Vietnam War flich about fighter pilots. Christian Bale, Steve Zahn. Release Date: March. Link to Rescue Dawn Trailer.

RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR. This Sundance selection about bombings in LA is generating some good buzz. Release Date: TBA.

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS. Based on the bestselling novel, an adult man looks back on his childhood with his bipolar and self-centered mother. Another all star cast, led by Annette Bening and Joseph Cross. Release Date: September. Link to Running With Scissors Website.

THE SENSATION OF SIGHT. A middle-aged English teacher sells encyclopedias door-to-door. David Straithairn, Ian Somerhalder. Release Date: October.

STAY. I'm intrigued by Bob(cat) Goldthwait as director/writer in this Sundance-selected RomCom. Release Date: TBA.

STEPHANIE DALEY. A pregnant psychologist is hired by the prosecution in a case against a girl who has killed her baby. Another Sundance selection. Tilda Swinton, Amber Tamblyn, Timothy Hutton. Release Date: TBA.

STRANGER THAN FICTION. IRS auditor is subject of a narration that only he hears. Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah, Emma Thompson, Kristen Chenoweth. Release Date: November.

SUPERMAN RETURNS. Yes - I will probably be there, too. Brandon Routh looked great at the Golden Globes when he sported the Clark Kent glasses. Release Date: June. Link to Superman Returns Website.

TAKE THE LEAD. Remember Music of the Heart? Same idea - ballroom dancing instead of violins. Antonio Banderas instead of Meryl Streep. Antonio Banderas, Alfre Woodard, Rob Brown, Dante Basco. Release Date: April. Link to Take The Leade Website.

THANK YOU FOR SMOKING. Upon Scott the Reader's suggestion, I've added it to my list. Looks good if you appreciate dark humor. Release Date: March. Link to Thank You for Smoking Trailer.

THE HILLS HAVE EYES. Remake of Wes Craven movie. Trailer is creepy. Kathleen Quinlan, Ted Levin, Emilie de Ravin (Lost). Release Date: March. Link to The Hills Have Eyes Trailer.

THE LAKE HOUSE. Reminds me of Somewhere In Time. Reaves and Bullock team up again in a RomCom about pen pals separated in time by two years. Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock. Release Date: June.

WINTER PASSING. Went a looked at the trailer after reading Scott the Readers list. Totally up my alley! Robert Duvall, Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel. Release Date: February. Link to Winter Passing Website.

WORLD TRADE CENTER. Oliver Stone's 9/11 film about the last two survivors pulled from the rubble at Ground Zero. Nicolas Cage, Michael Pena, Maria Bello, Maggie Gyllenhaal. Release Date: August.

WTC VIEW. A SoHo resident places a classified ad on September 10, 2001. While he searches for a new roommate, he struggles to hold it together in the aftermath of 9/11. Release Date: TBA.

ZODIAC. Remeber seeing a casting notice for this and thinking it sounded interesting. I like true-crime thrillers. Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards. Release Date: Fall.

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And there you have it... Alicia's 2006 Movie Preview. I'll probably link this on my sidebar and keep it updated. Once I've seen them, perhaps I'll add a review section, too!