I’ve been perusing my copy of Entertainment Weekly’s “Fall Movie Preview,” and there are some really interesting flicks coming our way in the next few months. Here are some of the films I’m looking forward to:
Burn After Reading — It’s the next Coen Brothers movie, and it stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, and John Malkovich. It looks like the Coens are in goofy comedy mode with this one, which suits me just fine.
Appaloosa — Its a cowboy movie with Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris. Don’t know too much about this one, but I’m interested.
Body of Lies — Director Ridley Scott is responsible for some of my favorite movies ever (Alien, Blade Runner…I’m even an enormous fan of the longer director’s cut of Kingdom of Heaven), so he always has my ticket. This one has to do with CIA operatives, and its headlined by Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist — After Arrested Development, Superbad, and Juno, I think I’ll watch Michael Cera (who plays Nick) in pretty much anything. Nora is played by Kat Dennings, who was very funny as Catherine Keener’s daughter in The 40 Year Old Virgin. This could wind up being a generic two-teens-looking-for-love chick flick, but the cast (and the sort-of bizarre title) has me interested.
Changeling — Babylon 5 mastermind J. Michael Straczynski wrote the script, and I’m eager to see how his distinct writing translates to the big screen. It has nothing to do with sci-fi, but I’m still curious. Its directed by Clint Eastwood, which helps.
Zack and Miri Make a Porno — I love Kevin Smith, and this one features Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks, both of whom are funny in pretty much everything.
RocknRolla — I’m still waiting for Guy Ritchie to make a movie half as good as Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. Maybe it’ll be this one?
Synecdoche, New York — Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) wrote and directed this film that, according to EW, “follows a frustrated theatre director who sets out to create a masterpiece to impress his estranged wife. His project? A life-size recreation of New York City, with thousands of actors all contained inside an improbably large warehouse.” Um…okay.
What Just Happened? — The book of the same name that this movie is based on is sitting in my to-read pile, and I’m eager to get to it. Its a Hollywood satire, and the film stars Bruce Willis, Robert DeNiro, and Sean Penn.
Religulous — Bill Maher and Larry Charles take on religion. I’ve mentioned this movie before on this site, and if I’m not mistaken it looks like its getting released in October.
The Road — Viggo Mortensen stars in this adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s postapocalyptic novel.
Frost/Nixon — Adapted from a play of the same name, this film deals with the 1977 TV interviews between David Frost (Michael Sheen) and Richard Nixon (the great Frank Langella). Even better, the movie also stars one of my favorite actors, Sam Rockwell (Galaxy Quest, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind).
The Spirit — Frank Miller (the comics superstar who wrote and illustrated Sin City, 300, The Dark Knight Returns, and many many other towering works) directs this film version of Frank Eisner’s crime-fighter from the 40’s and 50’s. The first trailer was less than stellar, but I am most intrigued to see what Frank has cooked up. The great cast (Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes, Jaime King) is also encouraging.
Quantum of Solace — The new James Bond movie. There’s never really been a Bond movie that was a direct follow-up to the one that came before it, so this should be interesting. (Diamonds are Forever SHOULD have picked up the story-threads from the dramatic cliff-hanger ending to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, but sadly that film is one of the great missed opportunities of the Bond franchise.)
Whew! That’s probably WAY more movies than I’ll ever get to see this fall, but they all sound good. Can’t wait!
