021412sectionalgbb
Special kids get chance to play
Benefit held for crash victim
Home > Blogs > Sir Critic on Cinema > Archives > 2008 > January > 02 > Entry
The 2008 movie forecast: Hopefully sunny
Last year was such a banner year for movies that at this point, I’m thinking 2008 can only pale in comparison. Still, looking across the calendar I found 15 films that will hopefully live up to their promise. They better. If the writers strike goes on much longer, this may be the last full schedule we’ll see for awhile.
Please note that, especially this early in the game, release dates are subject to change. In addition, my predictions are allowed to be fuzzy. After all, at this time last year, a lot of us movie types were looking forward to Francis Ford Coppola’s first film in 10 years, Youth Without Youth. Given its, um … less than enthusiastic reception, I’d say most people won’t want to look back it it.
So those caveats established, onward we roll. Title links go to IMDB.
Jan. 4
Atonement: I’ve seen it and will review it Friday. Let’s just say the Screen Actors Guild made a horrific mistake by not nominating it for anything.
Jan. 18
Cloverfield: This disaster flick has tantalizing trailers and tremendous Internet buzz. Then again, so did Snakes on a Plane.
There Will Be Blood: One of our most intense actors, Daniel Day-Lewis, teams up with one of our boldest, most fascinating directors, Paul Thomas Anderson. D-rool,
March 8
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day: I bet this comedy about a governess working for a flighty American actress. isn’t on anyone else’s radar, but Amy Adams is in it, so it’s on mine. And besides, she gets to act opposite Frances McDormand.
May 2
Iron Man: He was never quite at the top tieir of Marvel Comics characters, but the trailer makes this movie look like a blast. Jon Favreau (Elf, the underrated Zathura) has had a good run as a director; this should continue the streak.
May 9
Speed Racer: I was never into the cartoon, but the trailer, with its exploded lava lamp color scheme, looks intriguing. This will be either great fun or a car wreck. Is this the Wachowskis of the original Matrix or Matrix Revolutions?
May 22
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: I felt iffy about this project at first, but the more tidbits leak out, the more excited I get. Maybe it’s nostalgia more than anything else. Let’s hope the movie lives up to that.
June 27
WALL-E: Pixar does robots, in a movie done, so I’ve heard, with very little dialog. The film I am most looking forward to this year. Check out the very smart trailers, which have eked out only a little more information at a time. Very E.T.
July 18
The Dark Knight: Heath Ledger looks to be playing the joker as someone who could win a street fight and be diabolically clever. I’m stoked.
Aug. 8
Blindness: Fernando Meirelles, the director of City of God and The Constant Gardener, helms this tale about a doctor (Julianne Moore) becoming the only woman who can see after everyone in town is mysteriously stricken blind.
Sept. 5
Australia: Baz Luhrmann’s first film since Moulin Rouge once again stars Nicole Kidman in a World War II drama.
Nov. 7
Bond 22: Very little is known about this latest adventure, but all I know is I can’t wait to see Daniel Craig in the role again, after his smashing debut in Casino Royale.
Nov. 21
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince: I wasn’t quite so enthralled by the Order of the Phoenix as I was by the most recent Potter films, and the same director, David Yates, returns. However, this was a better book, and Jim Broadbent looks to be aces casting as the requisite new teacher, Professor Slughorn.
Nov. 26:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: David Fincher directs a fantasy film starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. Who cares what it’s about? I’m sold.
Dec. 19
Revolutionary Road: Titanic stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Kathy Bates reunite for a film by Sam Mendes, the director of American Beauty. I’m sold again.
Dec. 25
Star Trek: So, since JJ Abrams’ reinvention of the franchise is the 11th Trek film, does the odd-bad/even-good rule hoid, meaning the film will disappoint? Maybe not, since 10 (AKA Nemesis) did.
Coming tomorrow: The films of 2008 I’m dreading - and/or avoiding like the plague. Uwe Boll, I’m looking at you - but not at your movie.
For now, however, what movies are you most wanting to see this year?
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: Coming Attractions
Comments
By Jonathan
January 3, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
MISS PETTRIGREW looks like so much fun, and ATONEMENT is indeed fantastic (the score, the cinematography, the screenplay, the costumes…….). THERE WILL BE BLOOD has critics everywhere raving, and I’m quite interested in seeing STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING. And though I was initially against it, I must agree with nyc’s comment…can’t wait for SEX AND THE CITY (the teaser at www.sexandthecitymovie.com did just that - it’s a great tease).By nyc
January 3, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
hello??? The Sex in the City movie comes out May 30, 2008!By Allie D.
January 2, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
I’m right up there with Wall E. and The Dark Knight, but you have brought my attention to some other ones as well. Cloverfield looks like fun. Oh and I am hopelessly in love with Daniel Craig, so November can’t get here soon enough. ;)By SRCputt
January 2, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
Always put the Pixar film at the top of the want-to-see list.