AFM: Five titles likely to generate strong buzz
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From Time to Time
 From Time to Time |
When 13-year-old Tolly Oldknow is sent to spend Christmas with his grandmother (Maggie Smith) in 1944, he discovers he has the power to travel through time. In the old house, he becomes a witness to events during the Napoleonic wars and finds himself slowly drawn into participating in the drama. Invisible to most people in the past, yet able to move among them, he begins to unravel the mystery which has bewildered his family for two centuries. Written and directed by Oscar winner Julian Fellowes ("Gosford Park").
International sales: Ealing Studios International
Stay Cool
Indie stalwarts Mark and Michael Polish (2006's "The Astronaut Farmer") return with a typically quirky look at how high school never truly ends. When a successful author Henry McCarthy (played by director Michael Polish) returns to his home town after 20 years to give a commencement speech, he finds himself torn by his only to his old crush Scarlet Smith (Winona Ryder) and sexy high school senior Shasta O'Neil (Hilary Duff). Thankfully, he can count on some hilarious relationship counseling from Principal Marshall (Chevy Chase).
International sales: American Cinema International
The Next Three Days
The latest from Oscar-winning writer-director Paul Haggis ("Crash") features Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks in a thriller based on the 2008 French release "Pour Elle." Crowe stars as John Brennan, an ordinary man whose perfect family is torn apart when his wife is imprisoned for murder. After years of appeals fail to secure her release, John devises a dangerous plan to free her. Over a three-day span he'll find out just how far he's willing to go.
International sales: Mandate International
The American
Anton Corbijn follows up his debut feature "Control" with this adaptation of Martin Booth's novel "A Very Private Gentleman." George Clooney stars as Jack, a world weary assassin whose final assignment takes him to a picturesque small town in the Italian hills. Charmed by this mysterious new place, Jack lets his guard down, with potentially devastating consequences. International sales: Focus Features
Little Murder
 Little Murder |
When an alcoholic police detective, traumatized by his accidental killing of an innocent boy, is given one last assignment -- the stakeout of a very unlikely suspect in an old abandoned house -- he discovers the house is haunted by the ghost of a beautiful and fragile young woman. Although he is unsure whether she is a figment of his imagination or real (even if only to him), they fall madly in love, and he becomes obsessed with finding her killer. Josh Lucas and Terrence Howard star.
International sales: Parlay Films
