6/3 – 6/5 Hollywood takes a second shot at dethroning Star Wars this week, with a depression-era Oscar contender that seems better suited to fall releasing. Universal doesn’t seem to realize that this isn’t some geek friendly summer movie. In fact, they’re even having midnight showings. Midnight showings? For a Ron Howard boxing movie? Will people attend shirtless, wearing only boxer trunks and gloves? Or perhaps will a few confused Star Wars fans wander in carrying lightsabers. Cinderella Man is the big release this weekend, but it’s pretty odd timing. Still, the buzz is so strong and the week’s other releases so weak that there’s a good chance the film could actually top Star Wars in its third week of release.

Here’s my look at what’s opening this Friday:

Misc. Limited Releases
(Opening in fewer than 500 theaters)
When Jack Black and Richard Linklater made their fictional film about a wild-man rock guitarist turning teacher, I doubt they anticipated it being fodder for a documentary. But that’s exactly the premise of Rock School, a film about a real life Mr. Schneebly. It opens in 50 theaters this weekend, and while it may not feature Black’s Sasquatch comedic stylings, the idea is pretty appealing. Also in limited release is Deep Blue, another underwater documentary. Personally, I had my fill of those with James Cameron’s Titanic exploration Ghosts of the Abyss, and this one isn’t even in 3-D. If you like fish for something besides eating, finding one of the two theaters Deep Blue is showing in around the country may be your thing.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
(Opened Wednesday in 2529 theaters.)
It’s the story of magical pants worn by underage girls, and when you describe the film that way it seems a little creepy. It doesn’t if you’re in the movie’s target audience, teenage girls out of school for the summer and looking for something to do now that they’ve put away their Ashton Kutcher covered Trapper Keepers. I’m assuming here that kids still use Trapper Keepers. Maybe there’s a Trapper Keeper brand PDA. If there isn’t, I think there should be. Does Swatch make an MP3 player? Let’s get on that. The movie may not be targeted at you or me, but it looks innocently sweet. Bonus points to Sisterhood for not starring either Lindsay Lohan or Hillary Duff. The closest you’ll probably get to it is dropping your daughter off at the mall, but it’s good to know there’s a movie like this out there that hasn’t been stuffed full of google-eyed Duff. Oh, and in case you were wondering what makes the jeans magic, the pants have the power to fit fat girls. Who needs aerobics?

Lords of Dogtown
(Opens in 1865 theaters.)
I suppose one of the first signs of aging is hatred of those punk kids on skateboards, but I’ve been hating them since I was twelve. I’ve always been very mature for my age. In Lords of Dogtown Heath Ledger and Emile Hirsch star as two of the Z Boys, a bunch of loser surfers who revolutionized skateboarding by doing wild things like handstands. If Rock School is a documentary inspired by a movie, then Lord of Dogtown is a movie inspired by a documentary. The story has been done before, and probably better in a factual film on the same subject. Still, after the ignored greatness of The Girl Next Door I’d like to support Emile Hirsch, and Heath Ledger is supposed to be doing some sort of fantastic Val Kilmer impression in this movie. That’s something I can get behind.

Cinderella Man
(Opens in 2812 theaters.)
Summer is a weird time to release a depression-era Oscar contender, but here comes Cinderella Man. This is the movie we all thought Million Dollar Baby was going to be, before the film was revealed as a study on cripple smothering. Russell Crowe is always a sure bet, despite his personal life tendency towards assholery. He stars as Jim Braddock, a real life boxer who captured the public eye and brought hope to millions in his Cinderella-like fight to boxing fame. Kind of like Seabiscuit, only without someone sitting on his back. This is a movie not to be missed. Make your way out to see the latest Howard/Crowe success, spend your weekend at the theater with Cinderella Man.