As the summer draws to an end, we take a step back and gasp at how awesome this summer was. Despite a few disappointments (ahem, Star Wars), for the most part, the summer was one to remember. Box office records were broken, movies made us sing, as well as laugh and cry (for various reasons). Here's a look at what's coming up in the next months over the fall and winter seasons, along with my usual quips about them. Take it all in.
Sept. 5thA Secret - A French film about a young boy that discovers a shocking family secret. (Opens in limited release on this date in the U.S.) If you're into foreign films, check this one out. It looks to be pretty good.
Bangkok Dangerous- Nicolas Cage heads back into action, sporting the same hairstyle he wore in Next. This time, Cage plays a hitman, in the title city to do a few jobs. In the meantime, he falls for a local and bonds with his errand boy. All the while, the guy he's supposed to kill decides to take him out instead. This is a remake of the 1999 Thailand film of the same name. Cage has been kind of hit and miss with action films, but this one looks to be fairly entertaining. Let's hope I'm right.
Ping-Pong Playa - Comedy with Jimmy Tsai (who also co-wrote) as a kid who dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. He wants to get away from his dead end job. While teaching his Mom's ping-pong classes, he tries to lead a group of youngsters to table tennis glory. I never heard of this one until about a week or so ago. Hopefully, it'll generate more laughs than last year's ping-pong comedy, Balls of Fury.
Sept. 12thBurn After Reading - The Coen Brothers go back to their natural territory, dark comedy, after taking hom Oscar gold with No Country For Old Men. This one should please fans of the Coen comedy genre. This story is about tw dim-witted gym employees (Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand) who attempt to extort a CIA agent (John Malkovich) after they find a CD-ROM containing what might be classified information. Also starring is Tilda Swinton as Malkovich's wife and George Clooney as her scheming lover. Judging by the trailer, this one looks to be one of the Coen Bros. finest comedies.
Righteous Kill - Robert De Niro and Al Pacino star with each other for the first time since 1995's Heat. This time, they play two NYPD cops fighting through the political red tape to capture a serial killer. Both De Niro and Pacino have been dealt some shitty roles in the past, but this one looks to bring them both out of the muck. Let's hope, for their sake (and ours), that it delivers.
Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys - Tyler Perry, who seems to want to take all of his stage work and put it on screen, plops out another one, about two families of opposite sides that learn to work together. In my book, Perry is 0-4 with his movies, but he's bound to come out of the hole sometime...right?
The Women - Ah, yes. Another remake. Actually, this is the first American remake of the season. This is a a do-over of George Cukor's 1939 film about a New Yorker who leaves her cheating husband and bonds with other women at a resort. This one boasts an all-star cast including Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Bette Midler, Candice Bergan, Carrie Fisher, Cloris Leachman, and Debi Mazar. This sounds like it could be a cross between The First Wives Club and Sex and the City. Definitely what the guys would call "a chick flick."
Sept. 17thAppaloosa - Ed Harris directs (the first time since 2000's Pollack), co-writes, and stars in this Western about a lawman (Harris) in the 1880s who sets out to clean up the title town. Viggo Mortenson (who last co-starred with Harris in David Cronenberg's 2005 thriller A History of Violence) plays his sidekick. The film also stars Renee Zellweger and Jeremy Irons. This is based off the 2005 Western novel of the same name, written by crime writer Robert B. Paker. I'm a fan of Westerns and this one, judging by the cast and the source material, seems to be a good one. Westerns haven't really been box office material over the past few years, but hopefully we'll be surprised. Plus, we get to see Zellweger in YET ANOTHER period piece film. She must love wearing those old time clothes. (This film opens in limited release on this date. Wide release is set for October 3rd.)
Sept. 19thBattle in Seattle - Stuart Townsend writes and directs this drama about activists who arrive in Seattle to protest a meeting of the World Trade Organization, which eventually starts riots. This film stars Woody Harrelson and Charlize Theron. (This film opens in limited release on this date.) Should be an interesting film. Having Harrelson and Theron (who also worked together in 2005's North Country) on board should make it even more so.
The Duchess - No, this isn't a film based off of Fergie's album, but rather a true story, 18th-century melodrama starring Keira Knightley (another actress with a penchant for dressing in old fashioned garments) as Georgina, the Duchess of Devonshire, a headstrong heroine who, despite becoming a celebrity, must endure her villainous husband (Ralph Fiennes) who rapes her and forces her to give up another man's child. Should be entertaining enough, as most period pieces have been in the past. Oscar noms could also be in the future for Knightley and Fiennes for this film. (This film opens in limited release in the U.S., on this date.)
Ghost Town - Comedy about a scroogish dentist (Ricky Gervais) who, during a colonoscopy, dies for about ten minutes (or less). When he awakens, he discovers that he can see ghosts. These ghosts want his help, but one in particular, played by Greg Kinnear, wants him to woo his widow (Lea Teoni) so she doesn't marry a scumbag (Billy Campbell). With someone as funny as Gervais in the lead, you can't miss. Add Kinnear and ghosts in the plot line and I'm hooked.
Hounddog - Drama with Dakota Fanning as a young girl in the American South who finds comfort in Elvis Presley's songs. This is the controversial film that made buzz some months back in which Fanning's character gets brutally raped...on screen. Hopefully this drama will be decent and not a dud, like it was in 2007 when it was publicly and critically panned at Sundance. (This film opens in limited release on this date.)
Igor - An animated tale featuring the voice of John Cusack as the title character, one of many Igor's that serve their masters. This particular Igo would rather invent, though. Looks to be a charming animated comedy. Other cast voices include John Cleese, Steve Buscemi, Jennifer Coolidge, Arsenio Hall, Sean Hayes, and Eddie Izzard.
Lakeview Terrace - Samuel L. Jackson stars in this thriller as a neighbor who will stop at nothing to get rid of the interracial couple that's moved in next door. Oh, yeah. Jackson's a cop, too. Hopefully, this will turn out to be a pretty decent thriller and not be another waste of Sam's time.
My Best Friend's Girl - Another insipid comedy featuring Dane Cook. This one has Cook being hired by his friend (Jason Biggs) to take out his ex-girlfriend (Kate Hudson) and make a complete ass of himself, so she can realize what a great guy he was. Judging alone by the lead cast's track record, I'm putting my money on this one crashing and burning. Cook last starred in Good Luck Chuck (we all know how that turned out); Biggs' last film, Wedding Daze, went straight to video (and sucked); and Hudson's last film was the big flop, Fool's Gold. Let's hope they can salvage their careers from this one, otherwise it could be back to the fryers for them.
Sept. 26thBlindness - Thriller with Julianne Moore as the wife of a doctor who, for some reason, is the only person who can see, after an epidemic leaves the citizens of a city blind. Not sure what to make of this one, except that it seems they really seem to be getting desperate for storylines. A blind epidemic? Mark Ruffalo and Danny Glover co-star, so hopefully this will be a decent film.
Choke - Sam Rockwell stars in this comedy-drama about a con man who pays for his mother's hospital bill by preying on those who rescue him from "choking." Rockwell has always had good comedic timing. Let's hope his timing isn't off. Angelica Huston and Kelly MacDonald co-star.
Eagle Eye - Shia LeBeouf and Michelle Monaghan star in this thriller about two people who are brought together in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, orchestrated by a mysterious caller who seems to know their every move. Billy Bob Thornton plays the FBI agent hot on their trail. This was conceived and executive produced by Steven Spielberg. It does seem like they watched The Matrix, then came up with the idea after watching the scene where Morpheus helps Neo avoid the agents via cell phone. This looks to be a decent thriller. This film holds more sentimental value for a friend of mine, who was a stand-in for Monaghan.
Forever Strong - Ah, it's fall, which must mean a sport movie will be coming out. What's this? A movie about rugby? That hasn't been done before! Unfortunately, the story has. It's a tale of a talented, but troubled player (Sean Faris) who must play against the team his father (Neal McDonough) coaches. I'm sure cliches will abound in this flick. Before you know it, there will be an inspirational sports story on curling.
The Lucky Ones - A comedy-drama about three soldiers, played by Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins, and Michael Pena, who return home from the Iraq War, injured. They discover that life has moved on without them, so they decide to take a road trip together, with each one having a personal reason for the trip. If this is as dull as Home of the Brave (another story of soldiers returning from Iraq), then movie-goers themselves would be the lucky ones to stay away from this. Considering the cast, though, it might not be bad.
Miracle at St. Anna - Spike Lee directs this true-story account of the U.S. Army's 92nd Infantry Division, which was a segregated unit that fought the Germans in Italy during World War II. Four of the soldiers (Laz Alonso (Stomp the Yard), Derek Luke (Antwone Fisher), Omar Benson Miller (Get Rich or Die Tryin'), and Michael Ealy (Barbershop) become seperated from their unit during a battle at the Serchio River and end up in a village behind enemy lines. Spike Lee hasn't let us down and he may even earn a couple Oscar nods for this biopic.
Nights in Rodanthe - Richard Gere and Diane Lane reunite (they last starred in 2002's Unfaithful) in this romantic drama. Gere plays a doctor who travels to North Carolina to find his estranged son and sparks a romance with an uhappily married woman (Lane). Scott Glenna and James Franco (as Gere's son) also star.
Oct. 3rdAn American Carol - A Christmas Carol gets the Zucker treatment as David (Zucker) co-writes and directs this spoof of the beloved Charlese Dickens classic. The story is about an anti-American filmmaker (Kevin Farley, brother of the late Chris), that bears a striking resemblance to documentarian Michael Moore (down to the name) who is out to abolish Independence Day, and is visited by three ghosts who set out to show him the true meaning of America. Zucker was last seen behind the helm at Scary Movie 4, which wasn't all that funny. Hopefully, this will put David, who's previously done Airplane! and The Naked Gun, back in the ring as one of the funniest filmmakers of all time.
Beverly Hill Chihuahua - I can see it now. Paris Hilton praising this film, saying "It's, like, the best film ever made!" Hopefully, it has nothing to do with being a dog version of Beverly Hills Cop. Actually, it's a Disney film about a ritzy Beverly Hills chihuahua (voice of Drew Barrymore) who gets lost in Mexico while vacationing with her sitter, and needs assistance to get back home. Other voice cast members include Salma Hayek, George Lopez, Andy Garcia, Cheech Marin, and Paul Rodriguez. Those acting among the human world include Piper Perabo as the sitter and Jamie Lee Curtis as the owner of the aforementioned lost dog. In my opinion, this looks to be more of an eye-roller than a film pleaser.
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People - Based off of Toby Young's memoir of the same name, this comedy is about a British writer (Simon Pegg) who has trouble fitting in at a high profile New York magazine. Forgetting Run, Fatboy, Run, Pegg has a great track record, and hopefully he keeps it up. Gillian Anderson, Jeff Bridges, Kirsten Dunst, and Megan Fox (Transformers) also star.
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - Teen comedy about two high school seniors, played by Michael Cera (Superbad, Juno) and Kat Dennings (The 40-Year-Old Virgin), who fall in love with each other over the course of one night as they head all over Manhattan in search of a secret late-night concert put on by their favorite indie-rock band. Despite its two stars being from Judd Apatow films, this is not an Apatow production. Cera has played the charming, meek kid in his last two films, while this appears to be Dennings first starring vehicle (she played Catherine Keener's daughter in Virgin). Let's hope that this comedy delivers.
Rachel Getting Married - Indie drama, directed by Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs), about a recovering drug addict (Anne Hathaway) who's temporarily released from rehab, in order to attend her sister's wedding. Forget the super-sexy spy she played in Get Smart or the heroine in The Princess Diaries movies, this is a totally different Hathaway. She's got an enormous talent and I think she'll really nail this role home.
Religulous - Comedic documentary starring Bill Maher, who takes on the current state of world religion. Knowing Maher's comedy, this one should be biting and an entertaining doc.
What Just Happened - Robert De Niro stars in this comedy-drama satire, directed by Barry Levinson (who also directed another Hollywood-based satire with De Niro, 1997's Wag the Dog), as a struggling Hollywood producer who's having trouble getting his new project off the ground. I've always been a fan of movies involving Hollywood and/or other movies being made, and this one should be fun to watch. Stanley Tucci, John Turturro, Kristin Stewart (Zathura), and Bruce Willis (who plays himself) also star.
Oct. 8thRocknRolla - Director Guy Ritchie's lastest crime film consists of a London real-estate scam that puts millions of pounds up for the taking. Naturally, this attracts some of the toughest guys, as well as the more established underground players, all who want to get rich quick. This consists of a cast of basically unknowns, but Gerard Butler, Ludacris, and Tom Wilkinson do star in it. I hope that this will be better than Ritchie's last film, Revolver, and as good as either Snatch or Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.
Oct. 10thAshes of Time Redux - A Hong Kong action movie about a hitman who goes to the desert and finds skilled swordsman to carry out his contracts. Should be plenty of high-flying action.
Body of Lies - Ridley Scott's latest reunites him with Russell Crowe for the fourth time in this action-thriller, based off the David Ignatius novel. Leonardo DiCaprio also stars in this story about a former journalist who was injured in the Iraq War, and is hired by the CIA to track down an Al Queda leader. With powerhouse performances to lead and an equally powerful director behind the lens, this film should not disappoint.
City of Ember - Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, and Martin Landau star in this fantasy film about a special, brightly lit city (built to last 200 years) that has a dying generator. Two teenagers must find clues hidden within in the city before the lights go out. Should be an entertaining film.
The Express - Another fact-based sports story. This one is about Ernie Davis, running back for the Syracuse Orangemen, who became the first African-American player to win the Heisman. Dennis Quaid stars as the tough-as-nails coach. Although a typical true sports story, this one should hold up its own and turn out pretty good. Look for a friend of mine, Naomi Heilmann, who plays the Majorette. You can also more than likely spot her in various parts of the movie, amongst the crowds, as she was an extra as well.
Quarantine - Horror film about a TV reporter and her cameraman who are assigned to cover a night in the life of a Los Angeles fire department station. After the station responds to a call, they discover that a woman living in the building has been infected with something. They try to escape, but discover that the CDC has quarantined the building. Horror films have been rather dull lately, but this one looks like it could stand out from the rest (there's at least one every year). Hopefully, it won't disappoint the audience.
Sex Drive - Teenage comedy about a high school senior who travels cross-country with his friends to meet a girl he met online. No doubt there will be a barrage of juvenile humor in what sounds like a thin story. As a matter of fact, this sounds exactly like Eurotrip, only instead of acros the world, it's across the country. Lame.
Oct. 17thFilth and Wisdom - British comedy about three flat mates living desperate lives. British comedies rarely disappoint, so let's hope this one doesn't.
Flash of Genius - Inspiring true-story drama about Bob Kearns, who invented the intermittent windshield wiper, only to have his design stolen. Set out to prove it, he fights a long battle with the U.S. automobile industry. Greg Kinnear stars as Kearns and Lauren Graham as his wife. Dermot Mulroney and Alan Alda also star. Kinnear is never a disappointment, and this film should be really good.
Max Payne - Another video-game adaptation hits the big screen. So far, they have yet to make a good movie based off a video game. Hopefully, this one ends that streak. Mark Wahlberg stars as the title character, a DEA agent out to kill those that murdered his family. Ignore the cliched story. This one will be all about the action.
The Secret Life of Bees - Dramatic tale based off Sue Monk Kidd's 2002 best-seller, set in 1964 South Carolina, where a young girl (Dakota Fanning) flees from her abusive father (Paul Bettany). In tow is her nanny (Jennifer Hudson), on the run herself for offending local officers while trying to vote. They find solace at a bee farm, owned by three sisters (Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo). This should be a charming tale. Fans of the book will certainly swarm to this one (pardon the pun).
W. - Director Oliver Stone's latest, a semi-biographical account (or is it?) about the life and times of our current President, George W. Bush. This is the third time Stone will be directing a movie about a President and the first movie ever to be based off a President that's still in office. Many have been wondering whether Stone will be accurate on his account of the "Dubya's" life or if it will become more of a satirical joke. Josh Brolin stars as our esteemed head of state. Also starring are Elizabeth Banks as First Lady Laura, Thandie Newton as Condoleeza, Richard Dreyfuss as V.P. Dick Cheney, Ioan Gruffudd as Tony Blair, Scott Glenn as Donald Rumsfeld, and James Cromwell as Bush, Sr. I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to checking this one out.
Oct. 24thChangeling - Clint Eastwood directs and Angelina Jolie stars in this gripping drama/thriller about a California telephone-company employee in the 1920s, whose son mysteriously disappears. John Malkovich co-stars as a local pastor. This film made a huge critical buzz at Cannes this year and should do so again when it hits theaters and around Oscar time. Noms could be in the future for this film.
High School Musical 3: Senior Year - Now here's a film that, even if it fails, could still be remembered in Hollywood history. Most films start out in theaters, then their subsequent sequels (if the film isn't successful) arrive straight to video or on TV. This one is vice versa. The first two movies both aired on the Disney Channel. They were both such huge hits that the third one was decided to be released in theaters. Whoopee. It's senior year for the kids at East High and that's plenty reason to sing a bevy of songs about romance, books, people, the floor, and God knows what else. Given a bigger budget, this film should have better camera shots and a wider array of setting...at least one would hope. It's a no-brainer that this film will strike big in the box office, but will critics (and fans alike) like it?
Passengers - Dramatic thriller starring Anne Hathaway as a grief counselor, counseling survivors of a plane crash. Things get weirder when they start going missing. Hathaway's a strong asset and this film should be interesting...at least the story makes it sound interesting. We have been deceived before.
Pride and Glory - Edward Norton and Colin Farrell star in this crime drama that centers on a multi-generational family of New York City police officers. Moral codes are tested when one of the officer's (Norton) investigates a police corruption scandal, one that his brother-in-law (Farrell) might be behind and could disrupt the entire family's legacy. Jon Voight co-stars. Considering the powerhouse cast, this should be a great film.
Saw V - Oh, shit. Halloween is around the corner. That could only mean...time for another useless entry in the Saw series. Even though Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) and his apprentice, Amanda (Shawnee Smith), are long dead (they died in Saw III), they keep finding more ridiculous (albeit unique) ways to torture people. They story revolves around forensics exper Hoffman (Costas Mandylor), who goes on the hunt in order to cover up that he's the new Jigsaw. Lame. Moving on.
Synedoche, New York - Comedy-drama starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as a struggling theater director who attempts to build a life-size replica of New York City in a warehouse, for his latest play. An all-star female cast includes Samantha Morton, Catherine Keener, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, Hope Davis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Michelle Williams. Could be an entertaining movie, especially movie, especially judging by the plot, which was written by acclaimed writer Charlie Kaufman (who also directs).
Oct. 31stThe Haunting of Molly Hartley - Can't pick a more perfect date than this. A ghost story opening on Halloween. This is about a young girl who's just moved to a new town after her Mom's psychotic breakdown. Suddenly, she begins seeing images and hearing things that suggest a dark secret to her past. Sounds typical, like we've seen it before. If it's anything like the ghost stories over the past few years, it's gonna suck.
Zack and Miri Make a Porno - It's nothing like the title makes it out to be. Okay. I lied . It's everything the title makes it out to be. Kevin Smith directs this comedy starring Seth Rogan and Elizabeth Banks about two platonic friends who need to scrounge up some money, so they decide to make an adult film together. Sounds like a decent idea. Raunchiness is sure to be at the hilt with this film in this film, along with the nudity and sexuality. Justin Long co-stars, along with Jason Mewes and Jeff Anderson, who we'll finally get to see outside of their prospective Clerks roles.
Nov. 7thMadagascar: Escape 2 Africa - Sequel to the hugely popular 2005 animated Dreamworks film reunites the original the original voice cast as they attempt to fly back to New York (they rebuilt that old plane from the first), then crash land in Africa. There, Alex (voice of Ben Stiller) discovers his family. I didn't really care for the first one, and for this one, I'm going to watch it for the penguins. The late Bernie Mac provides the voice of Alex's father.
Repo! The Genetic Opera - Despite the dark and somewhat humorous plot, this looks to be nothing more than a standard slasher flick. The story is about a worldwide epidemic that has reached alarming rates. This encourages a biotech company to launch an organ-financing program, much like what you would do to get a loan for a car. The repossession clause, though, is the real catch.
Role Models - Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott star in this comedy about two energy drink reps that are forced to enroll in a Big Brother program, due to their wild behavior. Sounds like a good romp, but be on guard.
Nov. 14thQuantum of Solace - One of the most highly anticipated films of the year (certainly one of mine) finally hits the big screen. The 22nd Bond film, a sequel to 2006's Casino Royale, takes place not long after the ending in Casino. Daniel Craig returnas 007, who's seeking revenge on whoever was behind the death of Vesper Lynd. This leads him to stopping an environmentalist from taking control of the world's water supply. Dame Judi Dench and Jeffrey Wright return as "M" and Felix Leither, respectively. Olga Kurylenko, Jesper Christiensen, and Mathieu Almraic also star. So dust off your black dinner jacket, make sure your martini is properly shaken, and strap yourself in for what could be one of the most exciting films of the year.
Lake City - Southern drama with Sissy Spacek about a mother and son who reunite under despeate circumstances, years after a family tragedy drove them apart. Troy Garity, Rebecca Romijn, and Dave Matthews also star. The cast looks good, so let's hope that this film delivers.
Nobel Son - Comedy-drama starring Alan Rickman as a professor that receives the Nobel Prize on the same night his teenage son is kidnapped and held for ransom. Sounds like a dark comedy, which has been hit and miss over the years. Judging by the trailer, it looks to be pretty good, though.
Nothing Like the Holidays - Christmas movies begin to flood out, starting with this comedy-drama about a Puerto Rican family, living in West Chicago, who may be spending their last Christmas together. Debra Messing, John Leguizamo, Freddy Rodriguez, Luis Guzman, and Alfred Molina star.
The Road - Post-apocalyptic drama about a father and son (Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee), who struggle to survive as they make their way across a torched America, to the coast. Based off the 2006 Cormac McCarthy novel and directed by John Hillcoat, who also directed 2005's The Proposition, a gritty Australian Western (which was influenced by another McCarthy novel). Should be an interesting film, as most stories involving a post-apocalypse are.
Soul Men - Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac star as two estranged soul-singing legends that agree to reunite in a performance at the Apollo Theater, to honor the death of their band leader. Final film roles for both Mac and Issac hayes (who appears as himself) should provide some impact for this film. It sounds like a pretty solid comedy.
Nov. 21stThe Soloist - Jamie Foxx stars in this true-story drama about a musical prodigy who's become a schizophrenic, homeless man in L.A. Along the way, he befriends a soul-scarred jounalist (Robert Downey, Jr.). Foxx has never let us down and with the hits Downey, Jr. has had recently, this should be a very compelling drama.
Bolt - Disney's latest CG animated film features the voice of John Travolta as the title character, a small German Shepherd who's the star of an action TV show (think Lassie mixed with James Bond) and has never left the set. Being cooped up like that, Bolt thinks everything done in the show is real, so when he leaves the studio lot, he thinks his human co-star, Penny (voice of Miley Cyrus), has really been kidnapped by the dastardly villain of the show. The trailer has some laughs, and this charming comedy should appeal to both children and adults.
Australia - Baz Luhrmann directs and Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman (who also starred in Luhrmann's 2001 project, Moulin Rouge!) star in this war drama set in the title continent just before World War II. The story is about an English aristocrat who inherits a sprawling ranch and reluctantly pairs with a stock-man in order to protect her new property from a takeover. As the two of them herd over 2,000 cattle across the Australian landscape, they experience, first-hand, the Japanese bombing of Darwin. This film has been pushed back further each time. Let's hope it was worth the wait.
Nov. 26thFour Christmases - Comedy with Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn as a couple who struggle to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas Day. Vince Vaughn hasn't done that well in the Christmas comedy dept. (Fred Claus was just okay), so let's hope this one is better. Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, Mary Steenburgen, Kristin Chenoweth, Sissy Spacek, and Dwight Yoakam co-star.
Milk - True-story drama about Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), the first openly gay man elected to a major political office - before he was assassinated in 1978 by former San Francisco city supervisor Dan White (Josh Brolin). James Franco and Emile Hirsch co-star. If the on-screen make-out scene with Penn and Franco won't turn you towards this film, then the controversial buzz that will generate around this film might, considering this is the first gay-themed film since 2005's Brokeback Mountain.
Transporter 3 - Jason Statham returns to ass-kicking status, playing Frank Martin, the professional transporter, for a third go-around. This time, Frank is in Paris, driving his souped-up Audi, delivering packages, no matter what they are or how high the risk. Luc Besson co-wrote the screenplay. As exciting as the first two were, hopefully this one won't disappoint as we're sure to see plenty of martial art action courtesy of Statham himself.
Dec. 5thFrost/Nixon - Another story of Nixon gets the Hollywood treatment. This one is directed by Ron Howard and is a dramatic recreation of the post-Watergate TV interviews between British talk-show host David Frost (Michael Sheen) and former President Richard M. Nixon (Frank Langella). Sam Rockwell, Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt, and Toby Jones co-star. It seems the late Nixon was always entertaining, giving this is about the fourth time our infamous former head of state will be featured in a film. We hope this movie will be entertaining as well.
Punisher: War Zone - Sequel to the 2004 Marvel action film has Ray Stevenson taking over for Thomas Jane (who pulled out because of creative differences) as Frank Castle, aka The Punisher. This time Frank sets his sights on mob boss Billy Russoti, who becomes Jigsaw after Frank leaves him horribly scarred. Now, Frank must stand up against the army that Jigsaw has built in order to destroy him. Should be a decent action flick from Marvel. Not sure how good it will be compared to the first one (which I really enjoyed), but it may crave the hunger for those that want a lot of action.
Dec. 12thThe Day the Earth Stood Still - Why, oh why, do they need to remake such a sci-fi classic? Because it happened with War of the Worlds? Well, this one (I pray) is at least decent compared to the 1951 version. This one stars Keanu Reeves as Klaatu, who comes to Earth with a giant robot companion to warn them. Instead of the Cold War setting we received in the original, this one will point more towards environmental destruction and Klaatu's warning on what will happen if we don't clean up. Jennifer Connolly, Kathy Bates, and John Cleese also star in this drama.
Defiance - Daniel Craig slips out of his black tux and into something a little grubbier, in this true-story drama about three Jewish brothers (Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell) who escape from Nazi-occupied Poland into the Belarussian forest, where they join Russian resistance fighters. True stories have, for the most part, been big hits. This one, considering the size of the cast, and the fact that its something a little bit different than the war movies we're used to seeing, should be an enjoyable story.
Doubt - John Patrick Shanley directs his first film since 1990's Joe Versus the Volcano, and also wrote this drama, set in 1964. The film centers on a nun who confronts a priest who has been accused of abusing a black student. The priest, of course, denies the allegations. Meryl Streep stars as the nun, Philip Seymour Hoffman as the priest, and Amy Adams as another nun. this film could become controversial, considering the touchy storyline, but may be compelling as well.
Seven Pounds - Will Smith stars in this drama about an IRS agent who is depressed and guilt-ridden over the mistakes he made in the past. Along the way, he changes the lives of seven people, including Emily (Rosario Dawson) and a blind pianist (Woody Harrelson). Barry Pepper also stars.
Twilight - Stephanie Meyer's popular teen novel gets the Hollywood treatment, which should send fans roaring to the theaters. Kristen Stewart stars as Bella Swan, who decides to live with her father in a small town in Washington. She falls for a young man named Edward, who, unbeknownst to her, is a vampire. He runs faster than a cheetah, can stop cars with his bare hands, and hasn't aged since 1918. (Hmmm....kinda sounds like Hancock's story.) The story is of forbidden love, as Edward must resist the primal pull of her scent (although he has no fangs and is what they'd call a vampire "vegetarian"). This looks to be a pretty decent story. A different take on the vampire genre. Let's hope it is.
Dec. 19thThe Brothers Bloom - Caper comedy with Mark Ruffalo as a career con man who enlists the help of his retired con man brother (Adrien Brody) to pull off one last heist. He has to show an eccentric millionaire (Rachel Weisz) the time of her life. Caper comedies have rarely misfired and this one should be pretty good. (The film is in limited release on this date. Wide release is set for January 13th, 2009.)
The Tale of Desperaux - An A-list cast highlights this animated tale based off the Kate DiCamillo children's novel, about three unlikely heroes: a mouse that would rather read books, an unhappy rat who schemes to escape the darkness of the dungeon, and a bumbling servant girl with cauliflower ears. These lives intertwine as they attempt to make their way to the castle above. The voice cast includes Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Sigourney Weaver, Emma Watson, Christopher Lloyd, Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid in the Harry Potter films), William H. Macy, Kevin Kline, Stanley Tucci, and Tracey Ullman. This should be an entertaining animated tale, given the right material and the right cast (which is already evident).
Yes Man - Jim Carrey returns to comic form in this film (based off the Danny Wallace memoir) about a man who says "no" to everything, then one day, decides to challenge himself to say "yes" to everything. The trailer provides some solid laughs and Carrey has rarely let us down in this department, so this could be another big hit for the "man with the rubber face." Zooey Deschanel, Danny Masterson (from TV's That 70s Show), Bradley Cooper, and Terence Stamp also star.
Dec. 25thBedtime Stories - Ahhh. Christmas is finally here. Lights shine brightly in and outside of the house, as well as on the tree. Presents fill up every inch of space, bursting underneath the smell of pine (or plastic, whichever you decide to get). Then there's Adam Sandler with Disney....wait. What? We didn't see this one coming. Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions team up with Walt Disney Pictures in this family comedy/fantasy about a hotel handyman (Sandler) who tells his niece and nephew bedtime stories, only to discover they come true. Hopefully, considering it's with Disney, this Sandler comedy won't fall flat like his last couple (Zohan was okay, but disappointing, and Chuck & Larry was horrid). Keri Russell, Guy Pearce, and Courtney Cox co-star.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - David Fincher directs this story, written by Eric Roth, about the title character (Brad Pitt), who ages backwards...starting out as an old man and ending up as a baby. An original storyline is just what we need in this day and age, and this looks like it could be the ticket. Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett, Elle Fanning, and Elias Koteas also star.
Hurricane Season - What would the holiday season be without the inspirational sports story? This one takes place in post-Katrina New Orleans, where a high school basketball coach (Forest Whitaker) assembles a team of players from five different schools, and leads them to the state championship. Sounds like the same material we've seen over and over again. Hopefully, given it's primary setting, it will attract an audience. Tim Story directs, so let's hope he does a better job with sports dramas than he does with superhero movies...namely The Fantastic Four.
Marley & Me - Owen Wilson (in his first film since his personal fall-out) and Jennifer Aniston star in this comedy about a couple who learns important life lessons from their adorable, but neurotic dog. Based on the memoir by John Grogan, this should make an ample comedy for the holiday season. Both the leads are making an attempt to bounch back: Wilson from Drillbit Taylor and Aniston from The Break-Up.
The Spirit - Frank Miller adapts another one of his graphic novels, this one about a rookie cop (Gabriel Macht) who is murdered, then returns as The Spirit, who makes it his mission to fight the crime in Central City. Sounds like your basic superhero film, just with the added dash of it looking like Sin City (another Miller concoction). This one has been getting quite a bit of hype so it should do well. Will we like it, though? That's the question. Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Mendes, Jaime King (who was in Sin City), Eric Balfour, and Paz Vega also star.
Dec. 26thRevolutionary Road - This film will most likely be heralded as the film that reunited Titanic's Jack and Rose. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet star in this adaptation of the novel by Richard Yates, about a couple living in 1950s Connecticut as they struggle with their personal problems while trying to raise two children. Hopefully, this one will have a happier ending than Titanic. Should make for a decent post-Christmas drama.
Waltz With Bashir - An R-rated documentary/drama with animated elements, about director Ari Folman who tracks down old friends and comrades about a certain point in his life that he can't remember while in the Lebanon War. As he digs deeper and deeper into this mystery, his memory unfolds in surreal images. Interesting, to say the least. This one may be worth a look.
Dec. 2008Gran Torino - No official release date has been set yet for this action-drama, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. For months, there were rumors that this was another Dirty Harry film, but that's been proven false. The story is actually about a disgruntled Korean War vet (Eastwood) who sets out to reform his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager, who attempted to steal his most prized possession: a 1972 Gran Torino. Eastwood is coming off hot with his thriller
Changeling, so that should provide some added fuel for this film, which looks to make a good time at the movies.
That wraps up my preview for the fall and winter season. Although there's only a few certain blockbusters, there seem to be a lot of memoirs, movies based off books, and the reuniting of cast members and/or filmmakers. This season also comes with a lot of hope for films. A LOT. Until next time, I'll be seeing you at the movies.
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