Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pearce Director: Kathryn Bigelow Story: Set during the Iraq War, Renner stars as the leader of an EOD (explosive ordinance disposal) team, who, along with his men (Mackie, Geraghty) must try to figure out where the next bomb will appear and how to disarm it, all while dealing with the psychological and emotional strains of the job. Hollywood Elsewhere’s Jeffrey Wells wrote that the film “is thought in some quarters to be a little schmaltzy.” Watching Jamie Foxx’s performance in the trailer, it’s a bit hard not to think about Downey’s comical “Tropic Thunder” speech about the dangers of going “full retard.” Web site: Release date: April 24 Times writer Patrick Goldstein thought it might be more about the Paramount’s own lack of funds to market the film. Times that the economy “might have made November an awkward time to release a movie about homelessness.” Does the film’s release mean the economy is all better now? L. Originally, this film was scheduled to come out during Oscar season, but was pushed to April. Their friendship transforms both of their lives. “The Soloist” Starring: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander, Lisa Gay Hamilton Director: Joe Wright Story: Los Angeles Times reporter Steve Lopez (Downey) meets Nathaniel Ayers (Foxx) in the Skid Row section of downtown Los Angeles and discovers that he’s a musical prodigy who’s also a schizophrenic.
