THE LUCKY ONES, the new film by Neil Burger, tells of three injured soldiers on leave and brought together due to cancelled flights.  TK (Michael Cena), injured at his tool is given leave to visit his fiancée.  Cheever’s (Tim Robbins) bad back allows him a return home while slightly crippled Colee (Rachel McAdams) wishes to return a guitar to her deceased lover’s family.  How coincidental?

The second collaboration between teen actor Shia LaBeouf and director J.J. Caruso after the successful DISTURBIA proves to be another variation of the Hitchcock formula.  Like REAR WINDOW is to DISTURBIA, THE 39 STEPS forms the bases for EAGLE EYE, though updated for current events.

TELL NO ONE is a mystery in the tradition of Hitchcock and Chabrol.  There is a disappearance and appearance (8 years later) of a femme fatale (Hitchcock’s VERTIGO) followed by events that are gripping and exciting.  A traditional chase (similar to Grant’s in Hitchcock’s NORTH BY NORTHWEST) is present with the protagonist, Alex on the run. 

CHOKE, advertised as a satirical raunchy sex comedy and lauded as the second novel from FIGHT CLUB’s Chuck Palahniuk, will undoubtedly be seen by many wanting something wicked and different.

The documentary PATTI SMITH begins with a full fledged account of the rock singer’s life till the present.  Using old film and video footage, director/writer Steven Sebring summarizes Smith’s life from her birth, youth to her marriage, her family’s, the formation of her band, a brief account of the band members before settling to images of Patti Smith in person.