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Home > Blogs > Sir Critic on Cinema > Archives > 2007 > August > 27 > Entry
Fall Movie Preview: Bring on the brains! (maybe)
Now that I’m back from vacation, I must mark the change of the seasons (turn, turn, turn).
The thermometer and the calendar may not say so, but for all intents and purposes, summer’s over. Time to put away the eye candy and break out the brain food - for the most part. Here come the Oscar bait movies!
As I did with my summer movie preview, I shall offer a forecast of one month’s worth of movies per day: September today, October on Tuesday, November on Wednesday and December on Thursday.
And as before, I will grade each movie based on how anxious I am to see them. To wit:
A: Why can’t this be out already?
B: I’d like to see it, but I have patience.
C: I am unmoved either way.
D: Only if I don’t have to rake leaves.
F: I would rather rake leaves.
Here’s what’s coming up next month. Hyperlinks go to Comingsoon.net preview pages. As always, release dates are subject to change
SEPTEMBER 7
The Bothers Solomon: Will Arnett and Will Forte try to land the perfect women so they can sire a grandchild. Sounds like Knocked Up without the heart - or the brains - and probably without the laughs. From the director of Let’s Go to Prison. Woo. Hoo. Outlook: F
Hatchet: The haunted swamp of New Orleans, starring Kane Hodder, AKA Jason. Apparently this has some cache among the horror crowd, but they can have it. Outlook: F
Shoot Em Up: Clive Owen stars in a movie that, so I understand, quite lives up to its title, even to the point of having a gunfight in midair. I’m curious. Outlook: B
3:10 to Yuma: The director of Walk the Line, James Mangold, casts Russell Crowe and Christian Bale in a remake of a Western starring Glenn Ford and Van Heflin. Now that’s a pedigree. Outlook: A
SEPTEMBER 14
The Brave One: Jodie Foster stars in a revenge drama in which her character becomes a vigilante after she’s attacked and her fiance dies. Co-stars Terrence Howard as the cop who tries to dissuade her. Directed by Neil Jordan (The Crying Game). Such stories can be pretty shallow, but with this cast and director, I strongly doubt that’s the case here. Outlook: A
Dragon Wars: Two dragon-led armies bring their war to the city of Los Angelezzzzzzzzzz … Outlook: D
Mr. Woodcock: Billy Bob Thornton plays a teacher who terrorized a student who now wants revenge as an adult. A very similar premise wasn’t that funny a year ago when it was made into School for Scoundrels. We might as well call this one Billy Bob Cashes Another Check. Outlook: D
SEPTEMBER 21
Across the Universe: The idea of a modern-day musical using Beatles songs may sound chintzy on paper (or in a trailer), and it had a troubled production, with the director and the studio chief wrestling for final cut. Nevertheless, I refuse to discount it with Julie Taymor behind the camera. I’ve greatly admired her previous films, Titus and Frida. At the worst, this will be an interesting failure. And a screenplay by the writers of The Commitments sweetens the prospects. Outlook: B
Eastern Promises: David Cronenberg directs Naomi Watts and Viggo Mortensen as she plays a midwife and he plays a crime boss that leads her into the underworld. Sounds very similar to the territory Cronenberg mined in A History of Violence, which was one of the best movies of its year, so the bar is high for this one. Outlook: A
Good Luck Chuck: Dane Cook and Jessica Alba … ah, forget it. Outlook: F
Into the Wild: Emile Hirsch leaves everyday life behind for a journey to the Alaskan wilderness. Sean Penn directs this adaptation of the true story bestseller. He’s yet to hit the jackpot as a director, but this one’s a bold project. We’ll see. Outlook: B
Resident Evil: Extinction: You know, I actually kinda liked the first movie, but enough’s enough. Outlook: C
Sydney White: Just as Amanda Bynes turned Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night into She’s The Man, so Snow White becomes Sydney white in this college comedy with seven outcasts. One can only hope this is the good leading vehicle the gifted Bynes deserves. Outlook: B
SEPTEMBER 28
Feast of Love: Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell and others go through romantic trials directed by Robert Benton, who has been hit (Nobody’s Fool) or miss (Twilight). Still, this collection of talent could put it across. Outlook: B
The Game Plan: The Rock discovers he has a 7-year-old daughter who mixes with big football bruisers. Mmff. I like The Rock, but this sounds a little too close to The Pacifier for comfort. Outlook: D
In the Valley of Elah: Paul Haggis (Crash) returns to the director’s chair with this drama about a father (Tommy Lee Jones) trying to find his son who has disappeared from his tour of duty in Iraq. Charlize Theron plays a police detective and Susan Sarandon plays the mother. Opinion is sharply divided on Haggis and Crash in particular, but early buzz on this project makes it sound like he’s delivered the goods. Outlook: A
The Kingdom: More topical drama, this time from director Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) who leads Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner and Chris Cooper through an investigation of the bombing of an American embassy in the Middle East. Berg has consistently proven his mettle behind the camera, and I have a strong feeling this project could propel him to the front ranks of directors. Outlook: A
Coming tomorrow: Previews of an Elizabeth sequel, Ben Affleck’s directorial debut, and films starring Ben Stiller and George Clooney. In the meantime, tell me what you are/aren’t looking forward to so far.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Coming Attractions
Comments
By D. Greene
August 28, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this
I agree with you, The Brave One, Eastern Promises and The Kingdom all look great - Viggo Mortensen looks wicked as a Russian mobster. Also, I agree with all of your low grade’s except The Brothers Solomon - Will Arnett is an exceptional talent and I am stubbornly holding out hope that this one will be good. Plus a friend of mine works for Odenkirk’s production company and thinks it will be pretty good. As for Good Luck Chuck - ugh, Dane Cook is so played out, and I am still waiting to see a movie starring Jessica Alba that features her acting abilities rather than her other “assets.” D. Greene, audendi.comBy Jcason
August 28, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this
“Feast of Love” sound like a Silence of the Lambs Valentine special to anyone else?By Sir Critic
August 27, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this
The Kingdom was originally due out in April, but Universal pushed it back. The film tested so well, Universal moved it to September, where they thought it would play better - and be better positioned for award consideration.By Allie D.
August 27, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this
I am most excited about 3:10 to Yuma. Gee, I wonder why. ;) Also, is it just me, or does The Kingdom seem like it’s taken forever to come out?? The visuals alone in Across the Universe are driving me to see it. And I’m very excited about Eastern Promises and Shoot ‘em Up.By Rob
August 27, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
Whuh? The Rock’s “tough football player finds out he has a daughter and cuteness ensues” movie doesn’t come out till next month? I could have sworn this movie came out and bombed 6 months ago.