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October preview: Where the wild movies are
My fall movie preview contunues to descend with a look at the offerings of October. Here are September’s movies.
OCTOBER 2
Well, this WAS going to be the weekend Scorsese’s Shutter Island was going to come out, but since that got kicked to next February (mumble, grumble) here’s what else is coming out.
The pitch: Michael Moore takes on the current financial boondoggle in his imitable fashion.
The buzz: : Should Moore’s films be taken as the gospel truth? No. Do I find them very entertaining audio-visual op-ed pieces? Yes.
The prospect: A
The pitch: In a world where no one ever lies, Ricky Gervais breaks the mold for personal gain.
The buzz: Gervais can be an acquired taste, but when he’s on, as in the underrated Ghost Town, he’s very funny.
The prospect: B
Toy Story/Toy Story 2
The pitch: You’ve got a friend in me …
The buzz: Pixar’s classics get the 3D treatment in a double feature. That’s the best deal of the fall.
The prospect: A
The pitch: Ellen Page and Drew Barrymore compete in a roller derby.
The buzz: I can’t stand in skates without ending up on my derriere, but I am very interested in this film for one reason in particular: Drew Barrymore directs.
The prospect: B
The pitch: Zombies in an amusement park.
The buzz: Zombies in an amusement park? I’m in, especially with a strong cast that includes Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson and Abigail Breslin. The trailer is a hoot!
The prospect: A
OCTOBER 9
The pitch: Four couples head to a retreat, with some not knowing it’s really a required form of therapy.
The buzz: I’m starting to get a little bored with raunchy comedies, but I like the cast: Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau (who co-wrote), Kristin Davis and Kristen Bell. The director is Peter Billingsley, best known as Ralphie from A Christmas Story. No word if anyone shoots their eye out in this movie.
The prospect: B
OCTOBER 16
The pitch: Gerard Butler exacts revenge against the killer of his wife and daughter, with Jamie Foxx as the prosecutor who works against him.
The buzz: The plot runs backwards chronologically, which, of course, has been done in Memento, but I trust director F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job) to put a fresh spin on it.
The prospect: B
The pitch: New stepfather goes murderously bazooey.
The buzz: Unnecessary horror remake #3,491.
The prospect: D
The pitch: Maurice Sendak’s beloved book gets pictures that move.
The buzz: Will it be as good as the book? ‘Course not. Is it likely to be a very unique experience, with director Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) at the helm? ‘Course.
The prospect: A
OCTOBER 23
The pitch: The biopic of famed aviator Amelia Earhart.
The buzz: Director Mira Nair tends to leave me somewhat cold sometimes, but the movie does have a great subject and a talented lead in Hilary Swank.
The prospect: B
The pitch: The popular Japanese character gets his CGI movie.
The buzz: I don’t know enough about this to make a sound call, but I will say that if it’s CGI, and it’s not distributed by a major studio, it tends to be negligible.
The prospect: C
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant
The pitch:A freak show’s most mysterious attraction recruits a teenager who becomes embroiled in a battle between vampires and their deadlier counterparts.
The buzz: Salma Hayek as a bearded lady? That alone has got to be worth a look. Only concern: This was once slated to come out in the graveyard known as January. Paul Weitz (About a Boy) directs.
The prospect: B
The pitch: No! Let me go! AIEEEEE!
The buzz: Snore.
The prospect: F
OCTOBER 30
The pitch: A concert movie culled from Michael Jackson’s final rehearsals.
The buzz: I’m torn. On the one hand, I’m curious to see what these shows would have been like; on the other hand, I find the whole enterprise a ghoulish cash-in.
The prospect: C
The pitch: Michael Cera concocts multiple schemes to lose his virginity.
The buzz: I like Cera, but how long can he go on playing the awkward, lovable youth? Director Miguel Arteta does have some good indie cred, including one of Jennifer Aniston’s best movies, The Good Girl.
The prospect: B
What do you like/dislike here?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Coming Attractions
Comments
By JT
September 3, 2009 2:18 PM | Link to this
It’s too bad Amy Adams doesn’t play Amelia in ‘Amelia’. She made Night at the Museum 2 although Hilary Swank is no slouch either, but Amy (sigh)By SRCputt
September 1, 2009 6:52 PM | Link to this
I have been excited to see Where The Wild Things Are since it was announced. That was a favorite book as a youth, and I can’t wait to see what Spike Jonez has done with it.