OPENING IN HOLLYWOOD

Saturday, January 03, 2009 7:08 AM

FRIDAY

The Black Balloon

When Thomas (Rhys Wakefield) and his family move to a new home and he has to start at a new school, all he wants is to fit in. When his pregnant mother (Toni Collette) has to take things easy, his father Simon (Erik Thomson) puts him in charge of his autistic older brother Charlie (Luke Ford). Thomas, with the help of his new girlfriend Jackie (Gemma Ward), faces his biggest challenge yet.

Cadillac Records

A chronicle of the rise of Chess Records in 1950s Chicago and its recording legends, including Muddy Waters, Little Walter and Etta James. With Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Mos Def, Columbus Short and Beyonce Knowles. Written and directed by Darnell Martin.

Frost/Nixon

Frank Langella and Michael Sheen reprise their theater roles in playwright Peter Morgan's dramatization of the events surrounding the historic interview between disgraced U.S. President Richard Nixon and British TV personality David Frost. With Rebecca Hall, Toby Jones, Matthew Macfadyen, Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt and Sam Rockwell. Directed by Ron Howard.

Gardens of the Night

Two teenagers, abducted together as children, live as street kids and struggle to cope with the past. With John Malkovich, Gillian Jacobs, Evan Ross, Tom Arnold, Kevin Zegers and Ryan Simpkins. Written and directed by Damian Harris.

A Good Day to Be Black and Sexy

- Comprised of several chapters of deftly arranged vignettes on black love, sex and reciprocity, the interconnected stories unfold over a single day in Los Angeles.

Nobel Son

A struggling Ph.D. candidate is kidnapped on the eve of his father receiving the Nobel Prize and the father refuses to pay the $2 million in prize-money ransom. Starring Bryan Greenberg, Alan Rickman, Mary Steenburgen, Bill Pullman, Danny DeVito, Ted Danson, Shawn Hatosy, Eliza Dushku and Ernie Hudson. Directed by Randall Miller.

One Day You'll Understand

A man endeavors to collect memories of his grandparents who died in a concentration camp during the Holocaust. With Jeanne Moreau and Hippolyte Girardot. Directed by Amos Gitai.

The Punisher: War Zone

Ray Stevenson takes over the title role as vigilante Frank Castle squares off against a vengeful mob boss he disfigured. With Dominic West and Julie Benz. Written by Nick Santora, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway. Directed by Lexi Alexander.

Tennessee

Brothers Carter and Ellis set out on a road trip to their childhood home in a desperate search for their estranged father, who may hold the key to their future. Along the way, they are joined by Krystal, who is trying to escape a difficult life. With Adam Rothenberg, Eahan Peck and Mariah Carey. Written by Russell Schaumburg. Directed by Aaron Woodley.

ALSO IN THEATERS

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

The misadventures of a Beverly Hills pooch inadvertently left on her own in Mexico. With Piper Perabo, Manolo Cardona and Jamie Lee Curtis and the voices of Drew Barrymore, Andy Garcia, Placido Domingo, George Lopez, Salma Hayek, Edward James Olmos, Paul Rodriguez, Cheech Marin and Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo. Screenplay by Analisa LaBianco and Jeff Bushell. Story by Bushell. Directed by Raja Gosnell.

Bolt

A canine TV superhero doesn't realize his powers aren't real when he embarks on a cross-country trek accompanied by a jaded house cat and a hamster. With the voices of John Travolta and Susie Essman. Directed by Chris Williams and Byron Howard.

"Changeling" -- In 1928 Los Angeles, a woman's son disappears for months, but when he is returned by the police something isn't quite right. With Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Amy Ryan and Michael Kelly. Written by J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by Clint Eastwood.

Eagle Eye

Two Americans are unwittingly involved in an assassination plot by a mysterious woman. With Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan and Billy Bob Thornton. Directed by D.J. Caruso. Screenplay by John Glenn and Travis Adam Wright, Hillary Seitz and Dan McDermott. Story by McDermott. Also opening in IMAX.

Fireproof

On the verge of a divorce, a firefighter and his wife are challenged by his father to try a 40-day experiment called "The Love Dare." With Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea. Written by Alex and Stephen Kendrick. Directed by Alex Kendrick.

Four Christmases

Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon star as a couple endeavoring to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas Day. Directed by Seth Gordon.

The Haunting of Molly Hartley

On the eve of her 18th birthday, a girl discovers the evil lurking beneath the lush surfaces of her private girls school. With Chace Crawford, Haley Bennett, Shannon Marie Woodward, Shanna Collins and AnnaLynne McCord. Written by John Travis and Rebecca Sonnenshine. Directed by Mickey Liddell.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

America's favorite high school students hit their senior year with a basketball championship, prom and a big spring musical. With Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel and Corbin Bleu. Written by Peter Barsocchini. Directed by Kenny Ortega.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith reprise their voice roles as Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo attempt to get off the island and wind up on the inhospitable plains of continental Africa. With Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter. Screenplay and direction by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath. Also in Imax.

Milk

Sean Penn stars as the gay rights activist and San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk. With Emile Hirsch and James Franco. Written by Dustin Lance Black. Directed by Gus Van Sant.

Quantum of Solace

Daniel Craig dons the 007 tux for a second time. Written by Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. Directed by Marc Forster.

Rachel Getting Married

A recovering drug addict returns home from rehab in time for her sister's wedding. With Anne Hathaway, Bill Irwin, Rosemarie DeWitt, Debra Winger and Anna Deavere Smith. Written by Jenny Lumet. Directed by Jonathan Demme.

Role Models

Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott star as salesmen who trash a company truck and are ordered to spend 150 service hours with a Big Brothers-type mentorship program. With Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jane Lynch, Bobb'e J. Thompson and Elizabeth Banks. Screenplay by Paul Rudd & David Wain & Ken Marino. Story by Timothy Dowling and William Blake Herron. Directed by Wain.

The Secret Life of Bees

Haunted by the memory of her late mother, a teen flees her lonely life and finds solace in the mesmerizing world of beekeeping. With Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo and Paul Bettany. Written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.

Saw V

The Halloween torture perennial makes a fifth appearance. With Tobin Bell, Scott Patterson and Costas Mandylor. Written by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan. Directed by David Hackl.

Soul Men

Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac star as former backup singers reunited by the funeral of their famous former bandleader after not speaking to each other for 20 years. Written by Robert Ramsey and Matthew Stone. Directed by Malcolm Lee.

Transporter 3

Jason Statham returns as Frank Martin, the ex-Special Forces operative who specializes in high risk deliveries. With Natalya Rudakova, Francois Berleand and Robert Knepper. Directed by Olivier Megaton.

Twilight

A teenage girl risks everything when she falls in love with a vampire. Featuring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Nikki Reed and Peter Facinelli. Screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg, based on the novel by Stephanie Meyer. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Deep in debt, lifelong friends enlist the help of other friends to make a porno movie for some quick cash. With Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Justin Long and Traci Lords. Written and directed by Kevin Smith.