Opening This Week: For Movies Opening March 9

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Friends with Kids (R for profanity and sexuality) No strings comedy about best friends (Adam Scott and Jennifer Westfeldt) who decide to have a child together while maintaining a Platonic relationship and dating others. Ensemble cast includes Kristen Wiig, Megan Fox, Edward Burns, Maya Rudolph and Jon Hamm. 

John Carter (PG-13 for violence and intense action sequences, pictured at left) Screen adaptation of "A Princess of Mars," Edgar Rice Burroughs' sci-fi novel about a Civil War Confederate veteran (Taylor Kitsch) who is magically transported to Mars where he rescues a desperate damsel in distress (Lynn Collins) while on the run from a horde of 12-foot tall green creatures. With Samantha Morton, Willem Dafoe, Thomas Haden Church and Ciaran Hinds.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (PG-13 for violence, sexuality and brief profanity) Lasse Hallstrom directed this unlikely-buddies comedy about a British scientist (Ewan McGregor) summoned to Yemen by a filthy rich oil sheik (A Waked) determined to turn his dream of fly-fishing in the desert into reality. Cast includes Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas and Tom Mison.

Silent House (R for disturbing violence) Claustrophobic remake of the 2010 Uruguayan horror flick about a young woman (Elizabeth Olsen) terrorized by supernatural forces while trapped inside of her parent's secluded summer home. With Adam Trese, Eric Sheffer Stevens, Haley Murphy and Julia Taylor Ross. 

A Thousand Words (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality and drug-related humor) Revenge comedy about a lying literary agent (Eddie Murphy) forced to stop talking when a New Age guru (Cliff Curtis) puts a curse on him. Featuring Kerry Washington, John Witherspoon and Allison Janney.   

 

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Apart (R for violence, profanity and bloody images) Romance thriller about a couple of star-crossed lovers (Olesya Rulin and Josh Danziger) who share a psychological disorder which proves fatal for their friends the deeper they fall in love. With Bruce McGill, Joey Lauren Adams and Michael Bowen.

Attenberg (Unrated) Bittersweet Greek drama about an inexperienced, 23 year-old (Ariane Labed) who belatedly begins to explore her sexuality with the help of a girlfriend (Evangelia Randou) while caring for her terminally-ill father (Vangelis Mourikis). (In Greek with subtitles)

The Decoy Bride (Unrated) Unintended consequences comedy, set on a remote Scottish island, about a British bloke (David Tennant) who develops feelings for the look-a-like (Katie Macdonald) he hires to impersonate his famous, Hollywood actress fiancée (Alice Eve) so they can tie the knot in peace without being hounded by the paparazzi. With Dylan Moran, Michael Urie and Sally Phillips. (In English and Gaelic with subtitles)

Footnote (PG for mature themes, smoking, mild epithets and brief nudity) Israeli drama about a father (Shlomo Bar-Aba) and son (Lior Ashkenazi), both Talmudic scholars at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, whose healthy rivalry turns ugly when the elder wins the nation's highest prize for scholarship. With Yuval Scharf, Aliza Rosen and Alma Zack. (In Hebrew with subtitles)

Good for Nothing (R for violence and sexual references) Erectile dysfunction Western about a wanted man (Cohen Holloway) who kidnaps a beautiful British woman (Inge Rademeyer) only to go limp when he tries to have his way with her. Support cast includes Jon Pheloung, Richard Thompson and Allen Hemberger.  

Jiro Dreams of Sushi (PG for mature themes and brief smoking) Gourmet biopic about 85 year-old Jiro Ono, the legendary chef and owner of Tokyo's Sukiyabashi Jiro, considered by many to be the best sushi restaurant in the world. (In Japanese with subtitles)

Playback (R for graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and teen partying) High attrition-rate horror flick about an evil spirit that's suddenly unleashed when a group of high school students decide to explore a dark rumor about their hometown's past. Starring Christian Slater, Johnny Pacar and Ambyr Childers.  

Shakespeare High (Unrated) Theater appreciation documentary chronicling promising high school students performing at the 90th Annual Shakespeare Festival staged in L.A. by the Drama Teachers Association of Southern California. 

Sound of Noise (R for profanity and brief nudity, pictured above) Swedish crime comedy about a tone deaf cop's (Bengt Nilsson) attempt to track down the gang of musical anarchists which has been terrorizing Malmo by staging impromptu percussion concerts all over the city. With Sanna Persson, Magnus Borjeson and Marcus Boij. (In Swedish with subtitles)