HBO Asia Synopses - Month of May 2009
PAYBACK
They took his money. They took his wife. And they tried to take his life. Now it’s time for payback as one man starts his own personal war against the syndicate in this hard-edged thriller based on the novel The Hunter by Richard Stark.
Starring: Mel Gibson, Lucy Liu
PHILADELPHIA
Andrew Beckett is an up-and-coming young gay attorney, who has been unjustly fired from the most prestigious law firm in Philadelphia. He fights for justice, for his reputation, and for the right to live his private life with dignity. At a time when the AIDS virus instantly branded its sufferer as an outcast from society, only one man, Joe, a brilliant but homophobic lawyer, is willing to help Beckett in his fight for justice.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, Roberta Maxwell
PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE
Visionary director Paul T. Anderson, graces us with this romantic comedy about oddball characters faced with even tougher odds. Barry Egan is a shy-on-the-outside, repressed-on-the-inside dude in need of love. And he does find love with the mysterious Lena. But before you can cue the violins, try clashing cymbals instead. Because Barry soon falls in with bad company, when Dean Trumbell starts blackmailing Barry after he makes the mistake of calling a phone sex line.
Starring: Adam Sandler, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Emily Watson
RAILS & TIES
Life takes a new track for a railroad engineer and his wife after a dreadful wreck in this drama. California train driver Tom Stark loves the locomotive industry — even enough to leave his sick wife to travel for work. But the breaks are temporarily put on Tom’s career when a controversial decision collides his engine with a vehicle on the tracks…leaving a boy who survived to seek out Tom for resolution.
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden
RED PLANET
The earth is dying, and in order to sustain human life, humanity has to look at other planets in order to colonize. Commander Kate Bowman leads a crew of six including Robby Gallagher and Lt. Ted Santen to Mars to oxygenate the planet. However, things go awry and they have to crash-land on its surface. Soon the team is struggling to find the space station that contains the life support systems. But the worst is yet to come – when they realize that they are not alone on the Red Planet.
Starring: Val Kilmer, Benjamin Bratt, Carrie-Anne Moss
REIGN OVER ME
This is a heart-rending story about Charlie Fineman, who has slipped away from reality after the sudden loss of his wife and children. But Charlie’s life takes a turn for the better when he runs into his old college roommate, Alan Johnson, whose life is torn between the demands of career and family. This renewed friendship rekindles their long-forgotten bond, and both men emerge enriched and enlightened.
Starring: Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Liv Tyler
ROCK MONSTER
A college boy becomes a hero when he pulls a sword from a stone, and the stone turns into a monster that he must defeat.
Starring: Chad Collins, Natalie Denise Sperl
SHE’S OUT OF CONTROL
Doug Simpson (Danza) is an average father who has to deal with his teenage daughter’s transformation into womanhood. And as every teenage boy around her answers the call of nature - in this case, their over-active glands - Doug has to wage a one-man war to protect his daughter from them! His efforts send him on night -spying missions, to an explosive drag race, and eventually, to jail as he learns what every dad with a daughter learns - sometimes you have to let go, to keep the ones you love.
Starring: Tony Danza, Ami Dolenz, Catherine Hicks
SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL
Sensitive artist-wannabe and social misfit Keith goes all out to win the heart of the school’s most popular girl Amanda, though his chances do not look bright. He enlists the help of his best pal, tomboy and fellow misfit Watts, who hides her true feelings for him to help him win Amanda’s heart. When he finally succeeds, he realizes that the person he truly loves is someone much closer to him.
Starring: Mary Stuart Masterson, Eric Stoltz
SPIDER-MAN 3
Peter Parker has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to Mary Jane and his duties as a superhero. But when his suit turns jet-black and enhances his powers, it transforms Peter as well, bringing out a dark, vengeful side of his personality that he struggles to control. Forced to choose between the seductive power of the new suit and the compassionate hero he used to be, Peter must overcome his personal demons as two of the most-feared villains yet, Sandman and Venom, gather unparalleled power and a thirst for retribution to threaten Peter and everyone he loves.
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Tobey Maguire, James Franco
STIR CRAZY
Skip and Harry have been fired from their jobs. So, it’s off in their van to California to seek fame and fortune. But their van breaks down, and to raise money they land a job as singing and dancing birds to promote a bank opening. Unfortunately in the middle of their performance, two bank robbers steal their costumes and stick up the bank. Before they know it, they are carted off to prison for 125 years. A totally hilarious comedy set deep in the dungeons of a prison cell.
Starring: Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor, Georg Stanford Brown
SUSPECT
Cited as “a thinking man’s mystery” by the “Hollywood Reporter,” this suspenseful courtroom thriller stars Cher as a dedicated Washington lawyer. When a judge stymies public defender Kathleen Riley’s efforts to gather evidence that could prove her client, Carl, a deaf-mute man, innocent of murder, a juror, Eddie Sanger, comes to her aid with some detective work of his own. In doing so, he puts both their lives in danger, as they soon uncover a deadly web of corruption.
Starring: Cher, Dennis Quaid, Liam Neeson
THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD
This is the story of how Robert Ford, a 19-year old man who idolizes Jesse James, meets the man, joins him with his brother, plans and robs a bank with him until the final day when he finally faces down the label “coward” and shoots Jesse James.
Starring: Brad Pitt, Zooey Deschanel, Casey Affleck
THE BACHELOR
When he least expected it, Jimmie Shannon falls in love with Anne. After a three-year relationship, Jimmie reluctantly proposes to Anne, but sensing his uncertainty, Anne rejects him. Then Jimmie’s grandfather dies and leaves him $100 million – on the condition Jimmie marries before he turns 30. The problem is that his 30th birthday is just 24 hours away, and he must find a bride or lose the fortune.
Starring: Chris O’Donnell, Renee Zellweger, James Cromwell
THE BEST MAN (1999)
From producer Spike Lee comes the intimate tale of a group of college friends reunited for a wedding. Chaos erupts when it is discovered that one of the friends has penned a novel which dramatizes many of the private events in their lives. A heartwarming film that explores the ups and downs of friendship.
Starring: Taye Diggs, Nia Long
THE BIG LEBOWSKI
Populated by unforgettable characters and scenes, The oft-quoted Big Lebowski is considered by many to be a cult classic. “Dude” Lebowski is mistaken for a man with the same name and is pulled - along with his bowling buddies - into a web of crime and mystery. It’s near impossible to describe what follows, except that this Coen Brothers film is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before
Starring: Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges, John Goodman
THE CHAMBER
A young lawyer battles to win clemency for his grandfather, a Klansman on death row for a hate crime.
Starring: Chris O’Donnell, Faye Dunaway, Gene Hackman
THE GOLDEN COMPASS
In a parallel universe, where some things are forbidden and secrets abound, Lyra Belacqua’s life in Jordan College changes when her uncle, Lord Asriel, mysteriously disappears during an expedition in the far North, and her friend Roger is kidnapped by the evil Gobblers. She befriends Mrs. Coulter, an influential socialite to go on a journey north, only to realize that Mrs. Coulter is not who she seems to be. Lyra has to now use the power of her golden compass to save not just her uncle and her friend, but the world at large.
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig
THE INVASION
An insidious behavior-altering epidemic is decimating the human race. When a Washington D.C.-based psychiatrist discovers that the epidemic’s origins are extraterrestrial, she must fight to protect her son, who may hold the key to stopping the escalating invasion.
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig
THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB
When a woman, Sylvia, gets dumped by her husband, her two friends, Bernadette and Jocelyn organize a book club to keep her distracted. They engage Sylvia’s daughter Allegra, Prudie, a young teacher, and Grigg, a sci-fi fanatic to participate in the club. The objective is to read a Jane Austen novel a month, only to realize that life imitates art in many universally dramatic ways.
Starring: Kathy Baker, Maria Bello, Emily Blunt
THE KINGDOM
A FBI Special Agent has just received the assignment of his career: assemble an elite team to hunt down and capture the terrorist mastermind responsible for a deadly attack on Americans working in Saudi Arabia.
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper
THE LADIES MAN
Directed by Reginald Hudlin, the comedy tells of how fouled mouthed DJ, Leon Phelps (who still believes that he’s living in the 70s) gets fired from his radio show because of his crude dialogue on air. While trying to find another job, he receives a letter from an old girlfriend, who wants to get back up with him and take him around the world. Tempted by the offer, he begins a search to find his mystery woman among the hundreds of ladies that he’s shagged over the years - much to the chagrin of their angry boyfriends and husbands.
Starring: Will Ferrell, Eugene Levy, John Witherspoon
THE NEXT KARATE KID
Mr. Miyagi has a new student – a teenage girl. Sullen and rebellious, Julie is unable to get over her parents, who died in an accident. Her attitude has made her the target of high school bullies. Her worried grandmother then asks Mr. Miyagi to take the girl under his wing… but is Julie too great a challenge, even for him?
Starring: Hilary Swank, Pat Morita, Michael Ironside
THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL
Centered on the claustrophobic intrigue that was the court of Henry VIII, this historical drama presents a calculating Anne, who usurps her older sister Mary as the king’s mistress and ultimately desires to be his new queen. A sophisticated and complex study of ambition and deception, The Other Boleyn Girl is a compelling and well-acted film made all the more powerful when one remembers the brutal fate of most of Henry’s wives.
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Natalie Portman
THE PERFECT STORM
Based on Sebastian Junger’s best-selling book, The Perfect Storm is an action adventure set on the tumultuous seas. Days after returning from a disappointing fishing trip, Captain Billy Tyne decides to take his boat out one last time before the season ends, much to the chagrin of his crew member Bobby Shatford. But they haven’t anticipated a terrifying storm that will rock the North Atlantic. Will they be able to weather the perfect storm and return home?
Starring: George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane
THE REAPING
Katherine Winter lost her faith in God after her family was tragically killed, and has since devoted her life to debunking religious phenomena. But when she’s called in to investigate a small Louisiana town suffering what appears to be Biblical plagues, she’s confronted with a terrifying reality that her science cannot explain. Now, she must find the part of her soul she has buried deep inside herself if she is to combat the demonic forces threatening the community.
Starring: Hilary Swank, David Morrissey
THE SOPRANOS 66: MEMBERS ONLY
Eugene Pontecorvo inherits two million dollars from his aunt and sees this as a way out. He goes to Tony with the request but gives his wife Deanne the go-ahead to bid for their Florida dream house. Meanwhile, Hesh and his son-in-law Eli are jumped. They escape but Eli is hit badly by a cab. Hesh gets Tony to straighten things out, and in the process, Tony gets a break when Ray Curto, a Fed informant dies.
THE SOPRANOS 67: JOIN THE CLUB
In the wake of being shot by Junior, Tony lies perilously close to death and endures a delusional west-coast business trip in which he loses his wallet… and his identity. Carmela is joined at the hospital by family and friends. Meanwhile, Silvio briefs the crew on how he will handle things in Tony’s absence; and Vito stirs things up by asking for some of the late Eugene’s business.
THE SOPRANOS 68: MAYHAM
As Tony continues to fight for his life in the hospital, Chris and Bobby confront AJ about buying a gun. Meanwhile, in his parallel dream in Costa Mesa, Tony goes to a monastery and questions his identity as Kevin Finnerty. He admits he’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Silvio finally confides to his wife, only to see his asthma kick up over stress and gets sent to the hospital. Things start to escalate when Tony’s blood pressure drops and he goes into cardiac arrest.
THE SOPRANOS 69: THE FLESHY PART OF THE THIGH
As Tony prepares himself for his final surgery, he meets religious evangelicals Aaron and Bob and prays. After Jason Barone’s father dies, Jason meets Paulie and sees Tony thinking of selling Barone Sanitation to Chucky. He gets a different opinion from Tony. Paulie, however, finds out that Aunt Dottie, a nun, is his real mother. When Tony meets with Phil outside the hospital, he sets things straight about the way Johnny Sack is doing things.
THE SOPRANOS 70: MR. & MRS. JOHN SACRIMONI REQUEST
Johnny Sack is granted six hours from custody to attend his daughter Allegra’s wedding. Tony, now out of hospital, goes through a period of weakness as he proudly compares scars with Christopher, while lawyers continue to argue over Junior’s mental health.
THE SOPRANOS 71: LIVE FREE OR DIE
News about Vito’s secret life breaks as an acquaintance from Yonkers tells Christopher about Vito’s visit to a gay bar. Vito then runs for his life, putting up in a New Hampshire inn while being tracked down by Benny and Terry. Tony vents his frustrations about Vito to Dr. Melfi but realizes after speaking with her that Vito deserves a second chance.
THE SPECIALIST
An explosives expert, Ray Quick, helps seductive beauty May Munro to avenge the murder of her parents. Her target: a powerful Cuban-American crime boss and his arrogant son. The assignment seems simple enough, except that Ray soon discovers he also has to contend with ex-partner-turned-killer-for-hire Ned Trent, who has a bone to pick with him. Set in the sultry tropical heat of Miami, expect a lot of hot and explosive action.
Starring: James Woods, Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone
THE TUDORS EP. 09
As a religious revolt threatens the Catholic Church, the ecclesiastical court hearing King Henry’s case for a divorce continues to meet despite Queen Katherine’s absence. Privately pressed by Wolsey to surrender to her husband’s will, Katherine accuses the cardinal, whose influence is waning, of instigating the divorce in a quest for power and fortune. When Katherine continues to insist that she was a virgin when she married, a dispirited Anne decides to give up and go home. But Henry’s love for Anne is as strong as ever, and he insists that she return and asks her father to intervene.
THE TUDORS EP. 10
Following Cardinal Wolsey’s exile, King Henry looks to consolidate his power. Yet, even as his new chancellor, Sir Thomas More, is cracking down on religious extremists, Henry is persuaded by Anne to consider the merits of Martin Luther’s writings. Meanwhile, Wolsey has not given up in his bid for power. After Boleyn returns from Italy with more bad news about the king’s prospects of obtaining a divorce, word of a conspiracy involving Wolsey, Katherine, Charles V and the Pope finally forces Henry’s hand.
TOOTSIE
Michael Dorsey has a problem – he is an actor but no producer in New York will hire him. In desperation, he dresses up as a woman, Dorothy Michaels, and lands a part in a soap series. All goes well until he falls in love with his lovely co-star, Julie. While Michael plans to reveal his secret to Julie, her father has secretly fallen for “Dorothy.” Watch the hugely talented Dustin Hoffman extract himself from this hilarious situation in this award-winning movie by the late Sydney Pollack.
Starring: Jessica Lange, Dustin Hoffman, Teri Garr
TRUE CRIME
Steve Everett is an investigative reporter with a drinking problem. When a colleague is killed in a car accident, Everett is asked to cover his story about the impending execution of a convicted murderer. However, as Everett gets more involved in the case, his instincts tell him that this man has been wrongly accused. He wages a campaign to stay the execution while he gathers evidence that will prove the man’s innocence. However, the odds are against Everett – no one will trust him or believe him because of his reputation, and the clock is ticking relentlessly against him.
Starring: Clint Eastwood, James Woods
VANTAGE POINT
Eight strangers with eight different points of view try to unlock the truth behind an assassination attempt on the president of the United States. Thomas Barnes and Kent Taylor are two agents assigned to protect President Ashton at a landmark summit. When the President is shot, chaos ensues. Howard Lewis, an American tourist, thinks he’s captured the shooter on his camcorder. Also there is news producer Rex Brooks. As they and others reveal their stories, the pieces of the puzzle fall into place – and it becomes apparent that shocking motivations lurk beneath the surface.
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Dennis Quaid, Sigourney Weaver
VARSITY BLUES
Bud Kilmer is a coach obsessed with winning. 35 years as head coach and 22 division titles under his belt, he plans to make his 23rd division title. His perfect plans for gold are marred by the season-ending injury of his star quarterback. Filling those big shoes is Jonathan Moxon who ends up being a thorn at the side of the coach and leads a rebellion against him.
Starring: Paul Walker, Jon Voight, James Van Der Beek
VICTORY
Pele, Bobby Moore, Osvaldo Ardilles and other soccer greats of the 80s, star with Stallone and Caine in this action-packed soccer movie about Allied prisoners-of-war who take on the German national team. But the stakes are higher than just national pride as the soccer event may also be their opportunity to escape from prison.
Starring: Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone, Max Van Sydow
WE ARE MARSHALL
When the entire football team and coaches of Marshall University died in a plane crash in 1970, the team’s new coach, Jake Lengyel, rallies the surviving team together to keep the football program alive.
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, Anthony Mackie
WHATEVER IT TAKES
Love is blind, and no one knows that better than Ryan. He’s in love with Ashley Grant, the hottest blonde in school. But true love is staring him right in the nose, in the form of his best buddy and neighbor, Maggie. Then a cool football stud, Chris, offers to engineer Ryan’s union with Ashley, so that he can have the beautiful Maggie all for himself.
Starring: James Franco, Shane West, Marla Sokoloff
WILD WILD WEST
Special Agent Jim West must save the world from an enormous steam-powered tarantula created by the evil Dr. Loveless in this fun-filled action packed movie.
Starring: Salma Hayek, Will Smith, Kevin Kline
WITH HONORS
Four Ivy Leaguers get an education from an unexpected source in this moving drama. Brendan Fraser plays a Harvard senior who loses his thesis to a homeless man who agrees to return it to him a page at a time, in return for a series of favors, including a place to stay. Fraser’s house mates are at first outraged then charmed, as the homeless man reveals the humanity behind his homelessness.
Starring: Joe Pesci, Brendan Fraser, Moira Kelly
ZEUS AND ROXANNE
A friendship no-one ever thought possible leads to an adventure no-one will ever forget. The touching, heart-warming, yet rousing story of the unlikely relationship between two diverse creatures makes sure of that. Zeus is a rather mangy mutt, a domestic pet who forms an inexplicable bond of friendship with Roxanne – a dolphin used for research. They also manage to communicate well. In the process, their owners get close as well. But others are attempting to stop the growing relationship between the dog and the dolphin. Now, the two adults must risk their lives to keep them together.
Starring: Kathleen Quinlan, Arnold Vosloo, Steve Guttenberg
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