Synopsis: A group of British retirees decide to "outsource" their retirement to less expensive and seemingly exotic India. Enticed by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel, they arrive to find the palace a shell of its former self.

Cast: Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Maggie Smith

Director: John Madden

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Release Date: May 4, 2012 (U.S.)

Opening in U.S. theaters on April 6th is the Australian action/drama The Hunter, which was helmed by first-time feature film director Daniel Nettheim and based on the novel by Julia Leigh. The film features an Oscar-worthy performance by iconic American actor Willem Dafoe (Platoon, Spider-Man), as well as an excellent cast that also includes Sam Neil (Jurassic Park), and Frances O'Connor (A.I. Artificial Intelligence). 

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with director Daniel Nettheim to discuss his work on The Hunter. Netheim talked about the new film; it's influences, tone, adapting the novel, music, Dafoe's isolated character; working with the two-time Academy Award-nominated actor, and the beauty of the Tasmanian Tiger. 

Synopsis: “You saw me before I was born.” Psalm 139:16 (NLT)... As the curtain rises, Hannah hesitantly steps onto the stage for her theatrical debut in college. Yet before she can utter her first lines, Hannah—unscripted—collapses in front of the stunned audience. After countless medical tests, all signs point to one underlying factor: Hannah’s difficult birth. This revelation is nothing compared to what she then learns from her parents: she was actually adopted . . . after a failed abortion attempt. Bewildered, angered, and confused, Hannah turns for support to Jason, her oldest friend. Encouraged by his adventurous spirit, Hannah joins his group of friends on a Spring Break road trip, embarking on a journey to discover her hidden past . . . and find hope for her unknown future. In the midst of her incredible journey, Hannah finds that life can be so much more than what you have planned.

Cast: Rachel Hendrix, Jason Burkey, John Schneider, Jasmine Guy, Shari Rigby, Jennifer Price, Chris Sligh

Directors: Andrew and Jon Erwin

Genre: Drama, Christian

Release Date: March 23rd, 2012

Opening in theaters on March 23rd is a new British drama from director Terence Davies (The House of Mirth) called The Deep Blue Sea. The film stars Academy Award-winner Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardner), Tom Hiddleston (Thor), and Simon Russell Beale (Hamlet). 

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently sat down with director Terence Davies to discuss his work on The Deep Blue Sea. The director talked about the new movie, adapting the play into a screenplay, the period, the lighting and look of the film, cinematical influences, casting Weisz and Hiddleston, the relationship between their two characters, finding important moments in the rehearsal process, and the film's implied hope.

Opening in American theaters on March 16th is the new film from acclaimed French directors Luc Dardenne and Jean-Pierre Dardenne (Le fils) called The Kid with a Bike, which won the Grand Prix at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. The film's talented cast includes Cecile de France (Hereafter), Jeremie Renier (In Bruges), Oliver Gourmet (Black Venus), and introducing Thomas Doret in the title role. 

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick had an opportunity last fall to sit down with French directors Luc Dardenne and Jean-Pierre Dardenne to discuss The Kid with a Bike. The two brothers talked about the new film, its themes of abandonment, the importance of casting Thomas Doret, their shooting style, how they collaborate together on the set, rehearsing camera movements, and what the bicycle represents. 

Opening in theaters on March 9th is a new British romantic comedy/drama from celebrated director Lasse Hallstrom (The Cider House Rules) called Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. The screenplay was written by Academy Award-winner Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire), and based on the popular book of the same name by author Paul Torday. The film stars a terrific cast of international actors including Ewan McGregor (Beginners), Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada), Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient), and Egyptian actor Amr Waked (Contagion). 

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with actors Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt to discuss their work on Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. The actors talked about the new film, their characters, working with director Lasse Hallstrom, what they look for when they are choosing projects, and of course ... fishing.

Opening in theaters on March 2nd is the new film from director Paul Weitz (American Pie, About a Boy, Little Fockers) called Being Flynn, which is based on the popular book "Another Bullshit Night in Suck City" by author Nick Flynn. The film stars two-time Oscar winner and living legend Robert De Niro (Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino) as Jonathan, a homeless man who re-connects with his estranged son after becoming a resident at the shelter where he now works. In addition to De Niro, the excellent cast includes four-time Oscar nominee Julianne Moore (Boogie Nights, The Big Lebowski, The Kids Are All Right), Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine, There Will Be Blood, Cowboys & Aliens), Olivia Thirlby (Juno, Solitary Man, No Strings Attached), and Lili Taylor (Short Cuts, I Shot Andy Warhol, Public Enemies). 

IAR's very own Dana Feldman recently had a chance to sit down and speak with the film's director Paul Weitz, as well as actors Paul Dano, and Olivia Thirlby about their work on Being Flynn. The director and his actors discussed the new film, Weitz's seven-year process to bring Flynn's popular memoir to the big screen, Dano's extensive research for his role, Thirlby's own volunteer work; her character's arc, and what it was like for all of them to work with the iconic Robert De Niro. 

Typically, an apocalyptic movie involves undead hordes, huge visual effects, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria.  The first trailer for this summer's comedy-drama Seeking a Friend at the End of the World goes an entirely different way, though.  The movie suggests that the end times will, in fact, be pretty funny, as humanity attempts to deal with its impending extinction by way of a giant asteroid.

Steve Carell brings the deadpan as the central character, a withdrawn type who takes the news of Earth's destruction in three weeks with the same sort of resignation he's lived his entire life.  He strikes up a friendship with a neighbor played by Keira Knightley and the two navigate a world filled with absurd reactions to doom.

Opening in theaters on January 27th is a touching new drama from French filmmakers Valerie Donzelli and Jeremie Elkaim called Declaration of War. The movie was written by Donzelli and Elkaim, directed by Donzelli, and the duo also star in the film along with Cesar Desseix, Gabriel Elkaim, Brigitte Sy, Elina  Lowensohn, and Michele Moretti. 

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to speak with filmmakers Valerie Donzelli and Jeremie Elkaim about their new film Declaration of War. Donzelli and Elkaim discussed the movie, the real-life experience that inspired the project, injecting fun and color into the serious subject matter, casting the child actors, and why the film is a celebration of life rather than a expose about death. 

Synopsis: Wanting to leave Iran with her husband Nader and daughter Termeh, Simin makes all the necessary arrangements. However, her husband Nader refuses to leave behind his father who suffers from Alzheimers. Determined to leave, Simin sues for divorce, and when her request is rejected, she moves in with her parents. Her daughter Termeh chooses to stay with her father with the hope that one day her mother will change her mind.