The Latest in Theaters: Controversy Sells

As summer drags to an end and the fall Oscar bait season looms on the horizon, all of the sudden we have a batch of new releases ripe with controversies of varying degrees:

• Tropic Thunder: Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. star as a bunch of stars starring in a Platoon-like war movie that turns real. Surprisingly, the fact that Downey plays an actor who dyes his skin to play an African American character isn't what's causing all the ruckus.
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Woody Allen's latest muse, Scarlett Johansson, is an American abroad in Spain who gets involved with the sexy Javier Bardem ... and his unstable ex-wife, Penélope Cruz. Steamy scenes include a rumored ménage a trois and a little lip lock for the leading ladies.
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars: A.k.a., the Star Wars movie nobody cares about; on top of all that disinterest, there is that stereotypical gay villain that we reported on two days ago.
• Mirrors: Remember that scene in Poltergeist where the guy tears his face off? Well, this one looks like the full-length version. Kiefer Sutherland stars in this familiar spookfest that does have a pretty gnarly red band trailer going for it (NSFW).
• A Girl Cut in Two: After that, don't worry about this one; the title is metaphorical ... I think. Claude Chabrol's latest thriller is about a woman torn between two lovers, one of whom is insane. (Watch the trailer here.)
• Henry Poole Is Here: Luke Wilson is the title underdog, seeking redemption when his last days alive are miraculously extended in this schmaltzy dramedy.
• Fly Me to the Moon: A trio of flies hitch a ride on Apollo 11 in this latest animated offering, which bills itself as the first made especially for 3-D. Whatever; it does boast a celeb-filled cast (surprise), including Tim Curry, Kelly Ripa, Nicollette Sheridan and Buzz Aldrin as "himself".
• And finally: Read all about the horror comedy Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer (which looks like a worthy follow up in cult circles to Shaun of the Dead) in Chris' recent review.

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