Haywire (Jan. 20)

Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Written by Lem Dobbs
Starring: Gina Carano, Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas

Summary: Covert operative Mallory Kane is hired for government dirty work, but when she’s double-crossed, she must escape an international hunt for her head, return to the U.S. and exact her revenge.

The Word: Rarely does a name like Soderbergh come up in January, but you can bet many have their eyes on this star-studded cast in addition to a natural curiosity as to whether former MMA fighter Gina Carano can be the next big female action star (or the first, depending on who you ask).

My Thoughts: Revenge films have become a motif for the winter months, and with so much talent behind it, one has to think if any film has a chance of being a rare January gem, it’s “Haywire.” Originality might be lacking, but the delivery could well be pristine. The breadth of talent compares equally to the depth with proven vets such as Douglas and Banderas to rising stars such as Fassbender and Tatum.

—

 

Red Tails (Jan. 20)

Directed by Anthony Hemingway
Written by John Ridley and Aaron McGruder
Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, David Oyelowo, Bryan Cranston

Summary: Based on the true story of the Tuskegee Airmen, a team of U.S. Air Force fighter pilots kept grounded due to segregation and prejudice, who rise to the challenge when given the chance to escort bombers to and back from targets.

The Word: George Lucas produces this action-oriented take on this Civil Rights story, which features an all-star black cast. Longtime TV director Hemingway (“C.S.I – NY”) and writers Ridley (“Three Kings”) and McGruder (“The Boondocks” TV series) worked on bringing this story of heroism to the big screen.

My Thoughts: Based on the marketing, Lucasfilm and Fox want this historical action epic to appeal to a younger audience who might be less inclined to see a film about Civil Rights and more inclined to watch visually stunning aerial dogfights. With Industrial Light & Magic behind the VFX, expect that part to at least be worth the admission. The originality of the storytelling, however, might be another story.

—

 

Underworld: Awakening (Jan. 20)

Directed by Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein
Written by Len Wiseman, John Hlavin
Starring Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy, India Eisley, Theo James

Summary: Vampire Death Dealer Selene (Beckinsale) awakens in the future to find humans have discovered the existence of vampires and lycans. She leads the battle against the human race, which seeks to eradicate both species.

The Word: Beckinsale returns to the franchise that helped make her a cult star after stepping out for the prequel “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.” Her husband Len Wiseman continues as a producer for this fourth go but keeps distance from the director’s chair, giving the Swedish duo of Mårlind and Stein (“Shelter” starring Julianne Moore) a shot. Beckinsale remains the franchise’s biggest as Scott Speedman, Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy have all come and gone.

My Thoughts: I lost interest in the franchise after the first sequel, “Underworld: Evolution.” At first we weren’t being inundated with vampire and werewolf films — obviously things have changed. Glossy action, 3D and Beckinsale in skin-tight clothing might be enough to entertain the series’ devoted fans (see the “Resident Evil” franchise), but it will be hard to claim new ones, especially in a weekend full of action releases.

—

 

Safe House (Feb. 10)

Directed by Daniel Espinosa
Written by David Guggenheim
Starring: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson

Summary: At a CIA safe house in Cape Town, aspiring CIA field agent Matt Weston (Reynolds) is charged with looking after Tobin Frost (Washington), a former operative that went violently rogue. But when the safe house is compromised, Weston finds himself in the mix of a possible mole situation.

The Word: The talents behind the camera might be amateur, but Washington is far from it. He does evil as good as anyone and he does ambiguous intentions better than everyone. With Reynolds as another recognizable draw, this one should have no problem at the box office compared to its competition.

My Thoughts: Are you sure Tony Scott isn’t directing this film? I guess if he were, Washington would be playing the good guy. Regardless, the trailer paints this one as reliable action/thriller material with a surefire twist, the kind of stuff that moviegoers crave in these less-than-dependable winter months.

—

 

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D (Feb. 10)

Written and Directed by George Lucas
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Jake Lloyd, Natalie Portman

Summary: In the first of “Star Wars” prequel trilogy, we meet Anakin Skywalker — the future Darth Vader — as a young boy. Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn (Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (McGregor) discover him and try to convince Yoda and the Jedi Council that he is the “one who will bring balance to the force” as political unrest builds in the Galactic Republic.

The Word: ”The Phantom Menace” spawned the love-hate relationship between George Lucas and his fans, but it also introduced a younger generation to the “Star Wars” universe. The original trilogy was re-released in the late ’90s right before “Menace” in 1999 and now more than 10 years later, the prequels will get their own theatrical re-releases in 3D provided “Menace” makes a penny.

My Thoughts: As someone who fell in love with “Star Wars” as a kid thanks to the first wave of re-releases, I can’t condemn the notion here, even if the prequels are inferior and the 3D likely to do nothing to enhance the film. Lucas can do whatever he wants to tamper with these films; you won’t see me on the front lines of the verbal hatred or in line period to see this in theaters again.

—

 

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (Feb. 17)

Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor
Written by Scott M. Gimple and Seth Hoffman, David S. Goyer
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Idris Elba, Violante Placido, Ciarán Hinds

Summary: Johnny Blaze a.k.a “The Ghost Rider” (Cage) has a chance to rid himself of his curse by saving a young boy being targeted for the Devil’s (Hinds) new physical form

The Word: ”Ghost Rider” made a killing (for February) when it opened in 2007, but it wasn’t nearly popular enough with audiences and ultimately didn’t justify the $110-million budget Sony gave it. Now the studio has called upon “Crank” directors Neveldine and Taylor to inject their signature adrenaline into the franchise and with a much more reasonable $75-million budget.

My Thoughts: Having purged the original from my system (despised it), I feel better about the direction of this franchise. Neveldine and Taylor might not elevate this franchise to the level of work that Marvel Studios is doing with its “Avengers” superheroes, but they should deliver an action-packed good time and possibly a successful apology for the 2007 original.

Joyful Noise (Jan. 13)

Written and Directed by Todd Graff
Starring: Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Keke Palmer, Jeremy Jordan

Summary: After inheriting a struggling church choir, Vi Rose Hill (Latifah) must play nice with the boisterous G.G. Sparrow (Parton). Meanwhile, Sparrow’s grandson (Jordan) shakes things up in the choir including getting the attention of Vi Rose’s daughter (Palmer)

The Word: Seems like everyone’s finding their voice these days. How are we ever going to live in a censored dystopian society? Anyway, you can thank “Glee” for Hollywood’s perceived increase in demand for music-filled movies such as “Joyful Noise.” That’s perfectly okay by writer/director Todd Graff, whose passion has always been making music films. He previously directed Vanessa Hudgens in “Bandslam” as well as the aptly titled ”Camp,” a 2003 film with a big gay and lesbian following.

My Thoughts: Expect at least a decent soundtrack from this movie, but it will take a lot more than Parton’s self-deprecating plastic surgery humor for this small-town comedy/drama to connect with an urban audience.

—

 

One for the Money (Jan. 27)

Directed by Julie Anne Robinson
Written by Stacy Sherman and Karen Ray, Liz Brixius, Janet Evanovich (novel)
Starring: Katherine Heigl, Jason O’Mara, Debbie Reynolds, Sherri Sheppard

Summary: When lingerie saleswoman Stephanie Plum (Heigl) finds herself without a job, she turns to her cousin, a bail-bondsperson, who gives her a job as a bounty hunter, essentially. Turns out her first assignment involves bringing in a former lover who dumped her some time ago.

The Word: Heigl gives the rom-com another whirl, this time with the help of Janet Evanovich’s best-selling book series (despite some obvious similarities to 2010′s Jennifer Aniston film “The Bounty Hunter.” Frequent TV director Julie Anne Robinson, whose last film was “The Last Song” with Miley Cyrus, lead the all-female directing/writing crew. Liz Brixius, creator of Showtime’s ”Nurse Jackie,” did work on the script.

My Thoughts: Why Heigl won’t try her hand at something better blows my mind. She obviously doesn’t know a good script, or maybe just doesn’t read them. Perhaps “Knocked Up” was really an anomaly and not indicative of her potential as an actress. She did decently last time she opened a film in January (2008′s “27 Dresses”), but this one is more similar in premise to “Killers,” her biggest dud. Success would like be thanks to the books’ following.

—

 

The Vow (Feb. 10)

Directed by Michael Sucsy
Written by Jason Katims, Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein, Michael Sucsy
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum, Jessica Lange, Scott Speedman

Summary: A married couple is forced to start all over when a car accident causes the wife (McAdams) to lose all memory of her husband (Tatum).

The Word: This year’s big date movie is “The Vow,” which puts together an all-star rom-com tandem in McAdams (“The Notebook”) and Tatum (“Dear John”). Although both of those films were adaptations of Nicholas Sparks novels, that’s not the case here, but creating that uncertainty seems to be the goal. Director Michael Sucsy won a Golden Globe for his fictional remake of the documentary “Grey Gardens,” while co-writer Katims won an Emmy for “Friday Night Lights” and co-writers Kohn and Silverstein helped pen “Valentine’s Day” and “He’s Just Not That Into You.”

My Thoughts: I love McAdams, and I don’t think Tatum gets enough credit, but here’s a story that looks a bit too cookie-cutter to be taken seriously as a romance. Those talents will do their best to move the audience to tears and I suspect they’ll succeed, but let’s not confuse emotion for quality.

—

 

Perfect Sense (Feb. 10 – limited)

Directed by David Mackenzie
Written by Kim Fupz Aakeson
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Eva Green

Summary: A chef and a scientist fall in love and start a relationship just as an epidemic starts to slowly deprive people of their senses, one at a time.

The Word: Apocalyptic science fiction meets romance in this British film that premiered at last year’s Sundance and will finally hit theaters this Valentine’s Day. Hard to blame IFC for waiting until then for this little film which has gotten some kind reviews in the last year during its many festival stops. McGregor and Green are terrific veterans for a story such as this.

My Thoughts: I love any kind of sci-fi hybrid, so it’s hard to pretend I’m not interested in this unique romance. The world epidemic motif has been done and done again, but one that effects your senses play so perfectly into challenging our definition of love, among other basic pleasures in life.

—

 

This Means War (Feb. 17)

Directed by McG
Written by Timothy Dowling, Simon Kinberg, Marcus Gautesen
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, Chelsea Handler

Summary: Two CIA operatives find out they are dating the same woman (Witherspoon). Rather than dump her, they decide to let wait it out and see who she picks, which leads them to use all kinds of spy tactics against each other.

The Word: Director/producer McG steps behind the camera for the first time since “Terminator Salvation” and into a genre he knows well: action comedy. The “Charlie’s Angels” director gets two of the hottest rising stars in Hardy and Pine along with veteran Witherspoon to further draw in the ladies. Dowling wrote “Role Models” while Kinberg is one of 20th Century Fox’s go-to writers. Unsurprisingly he wrote “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”

My Thoughts: It would seem that “This Means War” has the right talents in place to make something as entertaining as “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” albeit probably nowhere near successful. Hardy and Pine are still just faces to this point and Witherspoon, who used to command one of the highest salaries in Hollywood, has lost a little of her mojo with “Water for Elephants” being a moderate success and “How Do You Know?” a total bomb. Still, “War” could end up one of the most successful and popular films of early 2012.

—

 

Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds (Feb. 24)

Written and Directed by Tyler Perry
Starring: Tyler Perry, Gabrielle Union, Thandie Newton, Phylicia Rashad

Summary: A wealthy businessman (Perry) lives a good albeit predictable existence, but his encounter with a struggling single mother (Newton) leads him to question what he wants out of life.

The Word: Perry continues to be a powerhouse at writing, directing and producing his own films. He takes center stage in “Good Deeds” without the fat suit in his first offering of 2012. Newton adds another recognizable element that might help the filmmaker appeal to a wider audience.

My Thoughts: Perry’s films offer few surprises. Somehow he manages to tell the same family driven story with the same core values a hundred different ways, some humorous and some more dramatic. Although “Good Deeds” might draw interest from outside of the Black community, at the same time it might be less appealing to the fan base that loves the “Madea” films and Perry’s sitcoms.

—

 

Wanderlust (Feb. 24)

Directed by David Wain
Written by David Wain, Ken Marino
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Malin Ackerman, Ray Liotta

Summary: A married couple is forced to leave New York after the husband (Rudd) loses his job. After an unbearable stop with family in Georgia, they head to a bed and breakfast that happens to be a hippie commune.

The Word: It’s been quite some time since “The Object of My Affection” —  am I right Rudd and Aniston fans? “Wanderlust” was pushed back from last October, but “Role Models” and “Wet Hot American Summer” director David Wain should be enough to make this comedy worth a look as the winter’s only “traditional” modern comedy. Wain teamed up with his “Party Down” and “Children’s Hospital” star Ken Marino to work on the script as well.

My Thoughts: I love Rudd as I recently proclaimed in my “Our Idiot Brother” review, and he should counterbalance Aniston, who despite a great turn in “Horrible Bosses” seems to be back to the usual material. Other than recycled hallucinogenic drug sequence, the film shows promise, plus I have to give Wain the benefit of the doubt here. Marino is also an under-appreciated comedian.

Beauty & The Beast 3D (Jan. 13)

Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise
Written by Linda Woolverton and 11 others
Starring: (voices) Paige O’Hara, Robbie Benson, Richard White, Jerry Orbach

Summary: Small-town beauty Belle wants to get swept off her feet, but gets more than she bargained for when a mishap with her father leads her to the castle of a prince cursed by an old witch to look like a beast.

The Word: The 3D re-release of “The Lion King” earned Disney an extra $90-plus million. Needless to say that opened up the rest of the Disney Classics catalog for a “limited engagement” 3D re-release. I don’t use the quotation marks lightly, as “Lion King” opened in mid September and is still playing right now (albeit in fewer than 10 theaters). Considering “Beauty” was the first animated film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, it was a logical next step.

My Thoughts: Nothing screams cash grab like this 3D re-release campaign, but that’s because as someone who grew up with these films there’s no need to spend money on inflated ticket prices. It’s great for young parents though, as they can ensure their kids won’t be seeing something crappy.

—

 

Big Miracle (Feb. 3)

Directed by Ken Kwapis
Written by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler, Thomas Rose (book “Freeing the Whales”)
Starring: Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Kristen Bell

Summary: A news reporter in Alaska convinces and his ex-girlfriend, a Greenpeace volunteer, try to save a family of whales who are trapped in rapidly forming ice in arctic. Together they rally for government support to help carve a path through the ice to the ocean.

The Word: ”Big Miracle” looks to be the latest in a line of successful inspirational movies involving animals and based on a true story, the latest being the fall hit “Dolphin Tale.” With a few more marketable stars and a time of year devoid of family offerings, this “save the whales” film could do quite well. Ken Kwapis, frequent “The Office” director and the helmer of “He’s Just Not That Into You” directs.

My Thoughts: I don’t doubt that this movie will be good. I also don’t doubt that this movie won’t be just like every movie you’ve ever seen involving overcoming the odds. The trailer also seems to give away just about every major turning point, but hey, it’s not like you wouldn’t have seen them coming anyway.

—

 

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (Feb. 10)

Directed by Brad Peyton
Written by Brian Gunn and Mark Gunn, Richard Outten, Jules Verne (novel)
Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Dwayne Johnson, Vanessa Hudgens, Michael Caine

Summary: A young man (Hutcherson) convinces his mother’s boyfriend (Johnson) to take him in search of a mythical island that his grandfather always talked about.

The Word: Hutcherson is the only returning piece from “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” but I wouldn’t be surprised if you had no idea this film was sequel to that 2008 summer blockbuster that was one of the first 3D offerings since the extra dimension rose back from the dead. Dwayne Johnson replaces Brendan Fraser, which is a fitting replacement when you consider Johnson’s strangely abundant family film credits. Unsurprisingly, the director is Brad Peyton of “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore.”

My Thoughts: The original “Journey” somehow scrounged up $100 million domestically, but this is February and Jules Verne is very distantly connected to this one. The tiny elephants and giant bees will probably scare kids more than excite them, yet with a PG rating that’s exactly who Warner Bros. is going for. The lack of kid adventures in the winter gives this film its best chance to make money, but I wouldn’t expect any quality.

—

 

The Secret World of Arrietty (Feb. 17)

Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Gary Rydstrom (English)
Written by Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa, Karey Kirkpatrick (English), Marty Norton (book “The Borrowers”)
Starring: (voices) Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Carol Burnett

Summary: Arrietty Clock lives secretly in a house with the other members of her family … who are also 4 in. tall. They borrow only what they need to survive, but soon a young (normal-sized) boy discovers Arrietty.

The Word: Disney has slowly worked to get the brilliant anime films of Hayao Miyazaki to American audiences. “Ponyo,” a variation on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” got a wide release in August 2009 but wasn’t representative of the full extent of the auteur’s imagination, playing more directly to children than his other work. Disney has equipped a strong American voice cast to help give Mary Norton’s classic story greater appeal. Considering it will be the first animated film to come out in over a month, “Arrietty” will be the first real test for anime in the U.S.

My Thoughts: I definitely think “Arrietty” represents Studio Ghibli’s best chance at making a splash in the West. “The Borrowers” is a beloved story and the time of year couldn’t be better. I really want to believe that parents won’t be less inclined to take their kids to a film just because it’s not done in CGI. The receipts will never be as high as for a Pixar or DreamWorks offering, but provided the marketing is effective (and the trailer is a good start), it should be the biggest success the Japanese studio has had in the States.

The Devil Inside (Jan. 6)

Directed by William Brent Bell
Written by William Brent Bell, Matthew Peterman
Starring: Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman, Suzan Crowley

Summary: A young woman travels to a hospital in Italy to find her mother, who was taken there years ago after killing three people performing an exorcism on her. In order to cure her, she’ll have to learn more about exorcism and experience the rite firsthand.

The Word: Another exorcism film and another documentary-style horror film — what’s one more? “The Last Exorcism” performed well in August 2010 and the “Paranormal Activity ” franchise is doing better than ever. This one goes much the route of the former with a no-name cast and a relatively inexperienced director in William Brent Bell, who made the video game slasher film “Stay Alive” back in 2006. There’s been a dearth of horror films lately, and they tend to perform decently in the winter months.

My Thoughts: My two cents don’t mean much having never seen a single exorcism film outside of “The Exorcist,” but this does look rather freaky. It should appeal more to the “Paranormal Activity” folks, though I doubt it will even make much more than a quarter of what those films do.

—

 

Contraband (Jan. 13)

Directed by Baltasar Kormákur
Written by Aaron Guzikowski, Arnaldur Indriðason and Óskar Jónasson (film “Rekjavik-Rotterdam”)
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster

Summary: A former drug smuggler agrees to one last job against his will in order to help his brother-in-law: smuggling counterfeit bills from Panama. But the job puts his wife and kid in harm’s way

The Word: This drug-running revenge thriller is based on an Icelandic film that director Baltasar Kormákur co-produced, starred in and loved so much that he helped remake it for English-speaking audiences. A cast of famous faces familiar to the genre, predominantly Mark Wahlberg, were obviously drawn to this classic “one last job gone wrong” story, so that helps its cause for sure.

My Thoughts: Marky Mark makes for a great protagonist, so despite being a story we’ve seen hundreds of times, the talent suggests something that could pass for entertaining. Each of these stars has made a bad film, so they’re not expert script scouts, but it’s January and the bar is low.

—

 

Coriolanus (Jan. 20 – Limited)

Directed by Ralph Fiennes
Written by John Logan, Shakespeare (play)
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Jessica Chastain, Vanessa Redgrave

Summary: A modernized rehashing of Shakespeare’s play, Coriolanus (Fiennes) is a hero of Rome who doesn’t believe in the political system and it leads to bloody riots. He’s exiled and makes plans with his sworn enemy Aufidius (Butler) to conquer Rome and destroy it.

The Word: Fiennes made his directorial debut with this project, which despite great reviews was held from the masses until January. It seems the only likely nomination for the film will belong to Vanessa Redgrave in a supporting role as Coriolanus’ mother, Volumnia. Regardless, critics have had excellent things to say and the cast is certainly indicative.

My Thoughts: You know the story is solid; this is Shakespeare after all. Respect is the first adjective that comes to mind when looking at the talent from this project top down from Fiennes and Logan behind the camera to Fiennes, Butler, Chastain, Redgrave and Bryan Cox in front of it. The modern take also helps with the appeal.

—

 

The Grey (Jan. 27)

Directed by Joe Carnahan
Written by Joe Carnahan, Ian Mackenzie Jeffers (screenplay and short story)
Starring: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, Frank Grillo, James Badge Dale

Summary: A plane full of oil drillers crash lands in the Alaskan wilderness. Under the leadership of a trained wilderness bodyguard, they must struggle to survive against the elements — and a pack of angry wolves.

The Word: Carnahan and Neeson team up again after a successfully entertaining effort in 2010′s “The A-Team.” This seems like a whole other animal, as it has a darker and grittier bend, especially when compared with “A-Team” and Carnahan’s previous effort, “Smokin’ Aces.” At the same time, it looks as much like an escape from rabid creatures flick as anything. Interestingly, with some of the 2011 screenings, it was one time thought that Neeson would get an Oscar push for his performance.

My Thoughts: Neeson makes anything better. He’s like the extra butter in every baking recipe. He’ll be hard at work in “The Grey,” trying to turn a story of survival into something exciting and original. The early buzz for Neeson suggests this could be an ironic warm spot on the winter calendar.

—

 

Man on a Ledge (Jan. 27)

Directed by Asger Leth
Written by Pablo F. Fenjves
Starring: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Ed Harris

Summary: An escaped convict (Worthington) accused of stealing a diamond sets out to prove his innocence by climbing out onto the ledge of a Manhattan hotel. While a cop (Banks) tries to talk him down, his brother (Bell) is busy trying to get revenge on the man (Harris) who he says framed him.

The Word: You’ve never heard of the writer or director, but the faces are easy to recognize. Considering Summit had no additional writers work on Fenjves script, they must feel really good about what they read. After a slow 2011, Worthington will look to boost his box-office appeal. The appearance of an Ed Harris and Kyra Sedgwick seems strange, but it only helps this thriller that’s sure to have some crazy twist.

My Thoughts: Never mind the literal title, the marketing is in full force and looks to have people’s attention like a … man on a ledge … actually would. The star power is there unlike many January thrillers, and I can’t emphasize enough how only having one writer on a film like this says a lot about the strength of the script. Let’s hope it’s not just about the marketability of the script, but also its quality.

—

 

Chronicle (Feb. 3)

Directed by Josh Trank
Written by Max Landis and Josh Trank
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly, Alex Russell

Summary: After a startling discovery, three teenagers develop telekinetic powers. They use them for harmless pranks at first, but as their ability grows stronger, one of them begins to lose self-control and things get out of hand.

The Word: The found footage phenomenon has finally made its way to the superhero genre in this low-budget story of what your average teenagers would do if they came across extraordinary power. “Chronicle” obviously refers to the fact that this plays like a video diary, but it’s uncertain whether it will take place in chronological order. It’s the first major film for the creators, one of which is Max Landis, son of legendary director John Landis.

My Thoughts: I have to say that I really admire the concept, as this is probably the most lifelike look we’ve had at teenagers coming across superpowers (no offense, Stan Lee). I’m not sure I’m sold on the found footage element, but it allows for that fun low-budget “this might actually be what would happen in real life” feel that made “Cloverfield” an excellent winter season flick (and one of the very best box office-wise, in fact). Lets hope the execution of it and the reveals are original, and by that I mean let’s hope it’s not aliens.

—

 

The Woman in Black (Feb. 3)

Directed by James Watkins
Written by Jane Goldman, Susan Hill (novel)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer, Ciarán Hinds

Summary: A young lawyer visits a remote country town in England where he’s tasked with selling an old house. Turns out it was once home to a woman whose ghost currently terrorizes the locals.

The Word: The title was shortened from “Harry Potter and the Woman in Black” in order to … okay, but all kidding aside this trailer does open with Daniel Radcliffe on a steam engine going through the country. I mean, come on. I think the actor is capable of moving on from his Hogwarts days, and a fantastical horror film seems like a good segue. A script from Jane Goldman is a great start, as her credits have all been good if not great: “X-Men: First Class,” “The Debt,” “Kick-Ass” and “Stardust.” Director James Watkins directed British horror film “Eden Lake,” which starred Michael Fassbender.

My Thoughts: Radcliffe’s big star appeal (he made Broadway’s revival of “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” a smash) might give this little horror film a jolt. I like the writer and I like the cast, so perhaps we’re looking at one of the better horror offerings of 2012. Rarely does the genre ever boast any level of talent, and when it does you either get films like last year’s flop “Dream House” or the acclaimed “Insidious.”

—

 

Act of Valor (Feb. 24)

Directed by Mike McCoy, Scott Waugh
Written by Kurt Johnstad
Starring: Several active duty U.S. Navy SEALs.

Summary: A film based closely on the dangerous real-life missions of Navy SEALs as portrayed by actual Navy SEALs. They must recover a captured CIA agent.

The Word: A film like this is unprecedented. We’ve seen military-inspired films and propaganda, but this sounds like a bunch of Navy SEALs simply thought that their lives were pretty badass and what they do in real life would make a great movie. The directors have mostly documentary experience, which seems fitting in this case, but Kurt Johnstad (“300″) is pure Hollywood.

My Thoughts: I would have to imagine a film like this is going to be all or nothing. Either this will be the most realistic and fascinating film ever, or there will be too much of an attempt to apply a Hollywood sheen to real-life events that it will end up making a mockery of the SEALs. Or it could just be boring. The trailer certainly hold little back, so you have to wonder if that was all the exciting moments. Either way I’ll be curious to see what is said about this one.

—

 

Gone (Feb. 24)

Directed by Heitor Dhalia
Written by Allison Burnett
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Carpenter, Daniel Sunjata, Wes Bentley

Summary: When a young woman’s (Seyfried) sister goes missing, she believes it’s the same man who kidnapped her along with many others (who ended up dead), only the police never found a shred of proof. She then goes armed vigilante to find her sister whether the police will help her or not.

The Word: Seyfried could use some help. We know she has talent, but her films have flopped lately and gotten mediocre to bad reviews from “Chloe” to “In Time” to “Red Riding Hood.” This film has a lot of thriller conventions, especially the “is she telling the truth or is she crazy?” motif.

My Thoughts: It’s hard to imagine “Gone” standing out based on what we see in this trailer. Seyfried also doesn’t look like a convincing desperate angry chick. I’m glad she’s moved on from romance films for the most part, but she can’t seem to find her place as a leading lady. Anyway, I’m also glad to see “Dexter” star Jennifer Carpenter getting some big-screen action.

My Week with Marilyn (Now Playing)

Directed by Simon Curtis
Written by Adrian Hodges, Colin Clark (books)
Starring: Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench

Summary: Based on the autobiographical tale of Colin Clark (Redmayne), a young assistant to Sir Laurence Olivier (Branagh) who had a brief affair with the ephemeral starlet Marilyn Monroe (Williams) when the two made a film together in 1957.

The Word: We’d previously yet to see any biopics on the enigmatic beauty that was Marilyn Monroe, but Oscar nominee Williams appears to have captured some of that essence. This film in particular comes from British pedigree as the team of Curtis and Hodges has been mostly known across the pond, as well as emerging star Eddie Redmayne.

My Thoughts: Williams’ performance looks like a thing of beauty in more ways than one. She’s a consistently overlooked talent in the eyes of the public, but playing an icon (and as well as she appears to have done it) should keep her in the spotlight. The story takes a unique approach, as I tend to find biopics most fascinating when they don’t cover an entire life/career span and instead focus on a unique and revealing moment in the subject’s life.

—

A Dangerous Method (Now Playing)

Directed by David Cronenberg
Written by Christopher Hampton (play, screenplay), John Kerr (book),
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Vincent Cassell

Summary: Psychologist Carl Jung (Fassbender) manages to successfully treat a hysterical patient (Knightley) using Sigmund Freud’s new theory of psychoanalysis (where she reveals her sexual desire for him). He travels with her to Vienna where a rift forms between Jung and Freud’s differing theories and feelings about the woman.

The Word: Cronenberg has a reputation as somewhat edgy and macabre director, so expect something strange in this one, but otherwise it looks like a perfectly normal piece of historical fiction. No one’s career has fast-tracked in 2011 like Michael Fassbender so he’s a perfect actor to have leading a film. Knightley and Mortensen are also proven talents, and psychoanalysis provides an intriguing subject matter.

My Thoughts: Early word suggests we have a pretender more than a contender, but that doesn’t mean the film won’t provide an entertaining battle of philosophies. You simply might not want to rush out to see this one thinking you have to cross all the potential nominees off your list. More than a nomination or two in a smaller category seems doubtful, though much good has been said about Mortensen’s Freud impression.

—

Shame (Dec. 2 – Limited)

Directed by Steve McQueen
Written by Abi Morgan, Steve McQueen
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale

Summary: A man in New York City battles with a serious and powerful sex addiction that dominates his private life. When his sister comes to stay with him indefinitely, this has perilous effects on his condition.

The Word: When was the last time you saw a film rated NC-17? Not on the big screen, that’s for sure. Michael Fassbender (again!) takes the lead, though it should come as no surprise as he starred in McQueen’s first film, “Hunger” (nope, not the old action star Steve McQueen). The film has gotten a huge publicity push of late in hopes of awards attention and if the editing of the trailers is any indication, this could be a great little challenging film. McQueen appears to have held nothing back in capturing a man with and disturbing serious addiction.

My Thoughts: It’s hard not to be intrigued by a film with some of the best entering-their-prime actors and written and directed by a promising talent. Add to that a movie about sex addiction (one that’s serious, this isn’t “Choke”) and you have to be at least curious. I know I am, but I’m also a bit nervous about it to be truthful. If it turns out that enough people recommend it despite the taboo subject matter, it might be worth seeing in the months leading up to the Academy Awards.

—

We Need to Talk About Kevin (Dec. 9 – Limited)

Directed by Lynn Ramsay
Written by Lynn Ramsay, Rory Kinnear, Lionel Shriver (novel)
Starring: Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller

Summary: A mother whose teenage son commits a school shooting before killing himself must deal with both grief and parental accountability while reflecting on the events leading up to the massacre.

The Word: Gus Van Sant’s 2003 film “Elephant” was the last film to tackle this difficult subject matter, but the difference in this film seems to be the emphasis on the parents rather than the psychology of the killer. “Kevin” won Best Film at the London Film Festival and was nominated for the Palm d’Or at Cannes. It has recently been nominated for six British Independent Film Awards.

My Thoughts: I am particularly intrigued by this story, or at least this perspective. Swinton has a lot of awards buzz for her performance and I am a big fan of Reilly’s work in independent films (“Cedar Rapids,” “Cyrus”), albeit they have mostly been comedies. It might not garner more than a couple nominations, but “Kevin” might be one of the more interesting films of Awards Season. A January wide release will keep most in the dark about it for at least a month or so.

—

Carnage (Dec. 16 – Limited)

Directed by Roman Polanski
Written by Yasmina Reza, Roman Polanski
Starring: Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, John C. Reilly, Christoph Waltz

Summary: Two couples sit down to have a civil conversation about a fight that happened between their children, but things start to get chaotic and downright juvenile.

The Word: Reza co-adapts her original French play, which had a Tony-winning run on Broadway in 2009 under the title “God of Carnage.” All four stars received Tony nominations and one of them won, so despite relatively subdued buzz, there’s the possibility for Academy attention. Polanski remains a revered filmmaker despite the controversy in his personal life and the four actors here comprise quite the interesting ensemble.

My Thoughts: Every year it seems we have a film usually based on some highly praised source material, specifically a play. Last year we had “Rabbit Hole,” a film that got attention for actress Nicole Kidman and a bit for Aaron Eckhart, but otherwise was not a big contender. “Carnage” could be that film this year as far as the awards part goes, but with more comedic undertones, it should be more accessible to the general viewer.

—

War Horse (Dec. 25)

Directed by Steven Spielberg
Written by Lee Hall and Richard Curtis, Michael Morpurgo (novel)
Starring: Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, Tom Hiddleston, David Thewlis

Summary: A young man’s close companion in the form of a horse named Joey is sold to the British cavalry in World War I to “serve” in the trenches. Devastated and fearing the worst, he journeys to save him.

The Word: In terms of Academy attention “War Horse” might be the more potent of Spielberg’s one-two punch this year (“Tintin” being the other). The film, based on the same source material as this year’s Tony Award-winning play, has gotten excellent reviews. So despite being more than two hours long and having no big names, it should still do well with that revered name on the poster.

My Thoughts: It’s nice to have ’90s Spielberg back, the man who brought us “Schindler’s List” and “Saving Private Ryan.” Nothing he’s done in the past 10 years has quite the same vibe, and while I love his sci-fi and adventure catalog, the through-line has always been the heart and that’s what this one looks to be serving up.

—

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (Dec. 25 – Limited)

Directed by Stephen Daldry
Written by Eric Roth, Jonathan Safran Foer (novel)
Starring: Thomas Horn, Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks, Max von Sydow

Summary: A single father decides he and his kids need a change, so they move away and end up buying a home with a zoo attached to it, but the zoo needs upkeep or they risk losing the animals.

The Word: Sandra Bullock stars in her first role since winning the Oscar for “The Blind Side” along with Tom Hanks and boy-genius Jeopardy winner Thomas Horn. If you think that screams Oscar bait, then you should either be assured (or repulsed by this information): Oscar-winning writer Eric Roth adapted the story and Stephen Daldry, whose three feature films have landed him three Best Director nominations (“Billy Elliot,” “The Hours,” “The Reader”), directs.

My Thoughts: Very few award contenders can actually afford to not circulate through the festivals or gain any good reviews prior to wide release, but this is one of them. It’s tough to ignore that combination of talent behind a best-selling and emotional novel, so expect to have some tears jerked this Christmas.

—

The Iron Lady (Dec. 30 – Limited)

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd
Written by Abi Morgan
Starring: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Richard E. Grant

Summary: A biopic about former British Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher, who had to contend with issues related to being a female prime minister as well as make some divisive decisions that marred her reputation.

The Word: Meryl Streep. One gets the sense that her place in this film has given it this big of a spotlight. The Academy and most people in general love immersive impersonations, not to mention Streep in general, so there’s long been talk of whether this would-be 17th Oscar nomination could earn her her first win since “Sophie’s Choice.” She’ll have to do it with the help of her “Mamma Mia!” director Lloyd. Screenwriter Morgan also co-wrote this season’s “Shame.”

My Thoughts: No question that Streep is the alpha and omega when it comes to this film. With that being the case,  you have to hope it isn’t one of those “Streep stands out amongst a (negative word) script” like recent disappointment “J. Edgar.” As weird as this sounds, British films tend not to have those kinds of issues, so I would feel somewhat confident that there might be a little more worth seeing here than just Streep.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Dec. 16)

Directed by Guy Ritchie
Written by Michele and Kieran Mulroney, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (characters)
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris

Summary: Holmes is steeped in his most complex case yet, which will have him tracking down his notorious arch nemesis, Professor Moriarty.

The Word: It wasn’t your grandfather’s “Sherlock Holmes,” but the pleasant Christmas 2009 caper certainly earned its sequel, which in turn allowed Warner Bros. to give Ritchie a whole lot more money and it shows in the slow-motion explosions featured in the trailer. The plot remains mysterious, but expect some more quirkiness from Downey Jr. and some homo-erotic undertones between him and Watson. Swedish “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” star Noomi Rapace joins the cast in her first major Hollywood role.

My Thoughts: The original was an entertaining diversion for sure, and while nothing about it screamed a sequel, it seems by virtue of a bigger budget that this one could out-entertain its predecessor. The introduction of a more formidable villain (who likely relies less on the supernatural) in Moriarty could also help to make this surprisingly better, provided the “mysterious” story is equally improved.

—

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

(IMAX – Dec. 16, Wide – Dec. 21)

Directed by Brad Bird
Written by Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec, Bruce Geller (TV series)
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg

Summary: The IMF is shut down after it’s implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin and Ethan Hunt and his team must essentially go rogue in order to prove their innocence.

The Word: When the ball on this fourth installment got rolling, word was that Cruise had lost it and Renner would essentially take his place in the franchise. Either way, “The Incredibles” director Brad Bird, making his live-action debut, appears to have upped the stakes and the intensity with “Ghost Protocol,” enough so that he has convinced Paramount to premiere the film in IMAX theaters five days ahead of its official release. Parts of the film (like “The Dark Knight”) were filmed with IMAX cameras. It’s safe to say “M:I – GP” is the biggest action film of the season.

My Thoughts: As much as the “M:I” films have never titillated me, they’ve all been quite enjoyable movies. With Bird at the helm, some fresh talent and a measure of studio trust, I see no reason why not to be excited about this fourth Ethan Hunt adventure. Some of the negative press about Cruise’s bankability certainly hurt the buzz, but after seeing trailers, you have to ignore it.

—

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Dec. 21)

Directed by David Fincher
Written by Steve Zaillian, Stieg Larsson (novel)
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgård, Christopher Plummer

Summary: Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomqvist gets recruited by a wealthy Swedish businessman who wants him to investigate the 40-year-old mystery of his niece’s disappearance. He teams up with expert hacker Lisbeth Salander to solve the case.

The Word: Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium Trilogy” has captivated readers all over the world and already spawned three well-regarded Swedish films. But Hollywood can’t let the Swedes have all the fun, so Sony decided to give it ago, handing the keys to none other than the revered David Fincher, who missed out on an Oscar many thought he deserved with last year’s “The Social Network.” Fincher is somewhat of an expert on serial killer movies. He directed one of the genre’s best in “Se7en” as well as the underrated period thriller “Zodiac.”

My Thoughts: Honestly, the cold case story of what happened to Harriet Vanger could not be in better hands than with Fincher. With a best-selling story at his disposal, it makes “Dragon Tattoo” a must-see this season provided you can stomach it. After all, it is being touted as “the feel bad movie of the holiday season.”

—

The Darkest Hour (Dec. 25)

Directed by Chris Gorak
Written by Jon Spaihts, Leslie Bohem, M.T. Ahern
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Rachael Taylor, Max Minghella

Summary: A group of young Americans on a trip to Russia find themselves fighting off an alien invasion where the invaders are invisible and seek to absorb Earth’s energy and destroy its population. Electricity is the only thing that gives them away.

The Word: ”Wanted” producer Timur Bekmambetov presents this sci-fi thriller, an unusual offering for Christmas Day. Still, Hirsch, Thirlby and Minghella are among some of the brightest young talents working today and a good alien invasion movie tends to be a real crowd-pleaser. The problem is there hasn’t been a good one since “District 9.”

My Thoughts: It will have to fend off a lot of competition to make sparks fly at the box office, and while movie usually don’t just get “dumped” on Christmas Day, it seems that’s exactly what Fox has done, considering the studio has “The Sitter, “We Bought A Zoo” and the latest “Alvin and the Chipmunks” all coming out earlier in the month.

 

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (Nov. 18)

Directed by Bill Condon
Written by Melissa Rosenberg, Stephenie Meyer (novel)
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner

Summary: Edward and Bella have committed to each other and tie the knot, but when Bella gets pregnant on their honeymoon, her unborn child causes a stir in the werewolf and vampire worlds.

The Word: As the “Twilight” series taks its bizarre and dramatic final turn, it gets Bill Condon, “Dreamgirls” director and easily the most respected of the previous three directors to take on this franchise. Movie theaters have already sold out certain screenings, so regardless of quality, the saga will make another tremendous dent in movie history.

My Thoughts: Just one more year and we’ll be done with it. I don’t hate the “Twilight” franchise, it’s not the worst I’ve ever seen, but based on the first two movies, which I did sit through, this story has no business being the phenomenon it has become. The fact that there will be five times in my lifetime when the movie world stopped for “Twilight” is sad enough. All that can be done is hope Condon managed to make something good out of this finale so that we won’t be talking about the most lucrative yet critically panned franchise of all time.

—

The Descendants (Nov. 18 – Limited)

Directed by Alexander Payne
Written by Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, Kaui Hart Hemmings (novel)
Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller

Summary: After his wife ends up in the hospital on life support, Hawaiian land baron Matt King must take care of his two daughters, but when he learns that his wife had been cheating on him before the accident, he takes the girls on a trip to confront the man she had an affair with.

The Word: Alexander Payne has been absent from the movie world since “Sideways” about seven years ago. Although he’s been busy producing (HBO’s “Hung” for example), the director that turned heads with “Election” continues to explore uncomfortable relationship dynamics with this film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to strong reviews. With a mostly unknown cast, the film’s future depends largely on the star power of George Clooney, which in theory should be enough to make its presence known until Oscar Season.

My Thoughts: I strongly liked “Sideways” and “Election” (haven’t seen “About Schmidt”), but it’s hard to get pumped up about this one. I know it will be an enjoyable if not great film, but with an awkward blend of drama and comedy it doesn’t scream a must-see at the moment. If award buzz continues to build for the film, however, which we’ll get a better grasp on shortly, you won’t have to convince me to get out and see this one ASAP.

—

The Artist (Nov. 23 – Limited)

Written and Directed by Michel Hazanavicius
Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Beho, John Goodman, James Cromwell

Summary: In 1927 Hollywood, silent film star George Valentin confronts the realization that talking pictures might put an end to his career, just as he hits it off with an emerging young dancer named Peppy Miller.

The Word: A silent film (that’s right, no dialogue in this one) in black and white will be a hard sell to audiences, especially without big-name star, but Hazanavicius’ film has won over audiences during its festival circuit and been nominated for the top prize in a couple instances, including the Palme d’Or at Cannes. Dujardin won for Best Actor at Cannes, so as silent as the film might be, its awards run might not. Expect a big fat push from The Weinstein Company as per usual.

My Thoughts: I have little doubt this is a joy of a film. Silent films have an eternal place in cinema and there’s no reason someone couldn’t revisit the genre and make it a hit with modern audiences. At the very least, without any dialogue you’d expect the score to be simply outstanding. Anyway, if the recognition continues to grow this will become more of a must-see, but it still has to escape the art house shadow first, and that’s not small task.

—

New Year’s Eve (Dec. 9)

Directed by Garry Marshall
Written by Katherine Fugate
Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel,  Ashton Kutcher, Robert De Niro, Everyone Else

Summary: The lives of several people in New York City intertwine on New Year’s Eve.

The Word: Garry Marshall follows up “Valentine’s Day” with another giant ensemble multi-subplot romantic comedy about the second most hopelessly romantic holiday, New Year’s Eve. Some of the notable additions to this absurdly large ensemble cast other than your usual Jessica Biel, Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl are “Glee” star Lea Michele, Zac Efron, Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vergara and even Robert De Niro.

My Thoughts: I left out a lot of stars, but I think you get the point. “Valentine’s Day” opened with $56 million and made over $200 million worldwide, enough to pay off the billions of people starring in it, all because we get all giddy when we see that many recognizable actors in one movie and half to fork out our money to see it. With the holidays bringing out the gooey side of people and “New Year’s Eve” being the first post-Thanksgiving offering, I suspect another runaway hit.

—

The Sitter (Dec. 9)

Directed by David Gordon Green
Written by Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka
Starring: Jonah Hill, Ari Graynor, Max Records, Landry Bender

Summary: A college graduate unable to find work resorts to babysitting to make cash, but when the girl he’s “seeing” promises him some action he throws the three kids in the minivan and embarks on a night adventure that gets way out of hand.

The Word: David Gordon Green was a respected indie director until 2007 when he decided to forever dedicate himself to raunchy comedy. “Pineapple Express” won a lot of fans a stoner action comedy and TV show “Eastbound & Down” has a huge following, but “Your Highness” disappointed. Now he teams up with Jonah Hill (still fat) in this “Adventures in Babysitting” meets “Superbad” comedy.

My Thoughts: It’s a bit odd that we will have had two R-rated comedies this year focusing on people who work with kids (“Bad Teacher” being the other) yet they are not for kids. “The Sitter” looks to walk the fine line between something we’ve seen a lot of before and a raunchy spin on the babysitting comedy. I suspected something along the lines of “Bad Teacher” in this one where it’s kind of absurd yet admittedly funny.

—

Young Adult (Dec. 16)

Directed by Jason Reitman
Written by Diablo Cody
Starring: Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, Patton Oswalt

Summary: A writer of young adult fiction novels gets divorced and her life begins to spin out of control. She decides to return to her small-town Minnesota home and tries to steal her ex-boyfriend from high school away from his wife and kids.

The Word: Reitman and Cody, the director/writer combo behind the runaway hit “Juno”  join forces again with a much more adult film than that Oscar-nominated film and Oscar-winning script. Reitman has been on a tear lately as his last film “Up in the Air” made serious Oscar noise, but Cody could use a rebound after “Jennifer’s Body” and “United States of Tara” underwhelming. Theron hasn’t been in a major role in awhile but Wilson and Oswalt have been on the rise.

My Thoughts: We have no reason to believe Jason Reitman can do any wrong and Theron looks like a real winner as this willfully ignorant former prom queen, so I’m particularly excited for this film. It’s been relatively quiet on the festival circuit, but with a wide release planned that should mean that the goal is to be commercially viable and not necessarily Oscar viable. Either way you have to expect quality from this one.

—

We Bought A Zoo (Dec. 23)

Directed by Cameron Crowe
Written by Aline Brosh McKenna and Cameron Crowe, Benjamin Mee (book)
Starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Elle Fanning, Thomas Haden Church

Summary: A single father decides he and his kids need a change, so they move away and end up buying a home with a zoo attached to it, but the zoo needs upkeep or they risk losing the animals.

The Word: Not unlike Alexander Payne, Cameron Crowe returns to directing after six years off after “Elizabethtown” failed to impress anyone. With a career including “Jerry Maguire” and “Almost Famous,” the man hasn’t messed up very much, so perhaps he gets back on track with this story of a broken family despite a likely predictable outcome of the zoo bringing them closer. Writer Aline Brosh McKenna could also use a boost from something more dramatic as her string of rom-coms have continually fizzled since she became a commodity with “The Devil Wears Prada.”

My Thoughts: This first trailer for “Zoo” doesn’t have that “it” factor that an uplifting drama needs to make it stand amongst the pack of Oscar contenders. Without a festival circuit to boost any awards buzz, this could be one of those pretenders simply looking to make it on Holiday spirit alone. Crowe and Damon are two names not to take lightly, but until we see something somewhat unpredictable or mysterious in this one it could be just your run-of-the-mill feel-good Holiday movie.

Happy Feet Two (Nov. 18)

Directed by George Miller
Written by George Miller, Warren Coleman, Gary Eck, Paul Livingston
Starring: (voices) Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Pink, Ava Acres

Summary: Mumble the penguin returns with a son of his own named Erik, who also struggles to fit in with this webbed-toe-tapping musical penguin world and runs away where he discovers the Mighty Sven, a flying penguin. But greater problems for these emperor penguins arise when walls of ice trap them together in one spot.

The Word: Five years ago, “Mad Max” and “Babe: Pig in the City” director George Miller helped Warner Bros. bring to life the studio’s first CGI animated film and it went on to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar while wooing audiences worldwide with cute singing and dancing penguins. The only surprise about this sequel is it comes five years later, but penguins seem to be the most timeless of CGI creatures. The voice cast for this one has also expanded drastically including Pink, Sofia Vergara, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt.

My Thoughts: The first film delivered a rollicking good time despite a generic plot and strangely political themes/messages relating to the way humans treat the environment. I suppose the same thing should be expected here with Miller directing again and most of the voice cast reprised, especially Robin Williams, who easily sits among the greatest voice actors of all time. With Pitt and Damon voicing a pair of krills among other amusing choices, there’s definitely promise for a solid sequel.

 —

The Muppets (Nov. 23)

Directed by James Bobin
Written by Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller, Jim Henson (characters)
Starring: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, etc.

Summary: When an oil tycoon makes plans to drill under their old theater, the Muppets and two human fans named Gary and Mary (Segel and Adams) must reunited the Muppets after years of being apart in order to save it.

The Word: We haven’t seen the Muppets on the big screen since 1999′s “Muppets from Space.” The beloved trademark and brand of The Jim Henson Company looked to be endangered (or doomed to a life of television specials) until Disney bought the rights in 2004. Lifetime Muppet-lover Jason Segel (as evidenced by his all-puppet Dracula musical in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”) pitched his new take to Disney and wrote the film with “Marshall” director Nicholas Stoller. Full of cameos only befitting a “Muppets” movie and armed with a modern sense of humor, this eponymous reboot received a half-year marketing blitz and aims to keep these beloved characters relevant for a long time to come.

My Thoughts: I can’t think of a better way to bring the “Muppets” to a new generation of kids who deserve them. Henson’s creations shouldn’t feel like relics to today’s Disney channel generation; there’s a reason these characters have been around more than 30 years. With fresh blood repurposing these characters for the modern world and modern humor (after all, “The Muppet Show” was geared toward adults as well back in the day) and perfect cast members in Segel and Adams, this could be huge for Disney and the Muppets.

—

Hugo (Nov. 23)

Directed by Martin Scorsese
Written by John Logan, Brian Selznick (book)
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baren Cohen

Summary: A 12-year-old orphan in 1930s Paris has lost his brother and his uncle’s gone missing, so he comes to live in a train station where he becomes preoccupied with finding the parts to make his father’s invention, a robot of sorts, work again. He eventually meets a girl his age who has the key to making it work.

The Word: No matter how many times you try and get used to the idea of Scorsese directing a 3D family film, it still doesn’t make more sense. The revered director has never confined himself to any particular genre, but this would be the greatest departure to date. We do know he can work with young people (see “Taxi Driver”) and Butterfield and Moretz are two of the finest young talents. The question is what did he see with in Selznick’s novel “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” to convince him to make a 3D family film?

My Thoughts: I don’t doubt that Scorsese will make fabulous use of 3D (he’s had good things to say about the medium since wrapping this one) and a visually arresting film, but I’m not so sure about his skills in terms of making a feel-good family adventure (that includes humor). You definitely have to put a certain measure of trust in him for this one.

—

Arthur Christmas (Nov. 23)

Directed by Sarah Smith
Written by Peter Baynham, Sarah Smith
Starring: (voices) James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Laurie, Bill  Nighy

Summary: Ever wonder how Santa Claus gets all those presents out in one night? He uses a giant space ship and highly skilled elf operatives, of course. Arthur is the runt of the Santa family, so when he learns of a child who did not get her present, he sees an opportunity to prove himself, but he’ll have to use his grandfather’s “old school” methods to do it.

The Word: Aardman Animations (of Wallace and Gromit fame) and Sony Pictures Animation team-up for this Christmas film with an especially modern twist. Although director and co-writer Sarah Smith is new to this game, Peter Baynham, who helped write “Borat,” “Bruno” and coincidentally the remake of “Arthur” assists her on this one.

My Thoughts: I like Aardman and I think “Arthur Christmas” looks clever and funny despite its overuse of conventions. Although average American parents and kids won’t be too impressed by the voice cast, I most certainly am. “Arthur Christmas” might not win a battle against “The Muppets,” “Hugo” and the second weekend of “Happy Feet Two,” but it nevertheless appears to be a jolly good time.

—

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (Dec. 16)

Directed by Mike Mitchell
Written by Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger
Starring: Jason Lee, (voices) Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate

Summary: Dave and his chipmunk children and their lady counterparts, the Chipettes, go on a cruise vacation, but they accidentally abandon ship and find themselves trying to survive (while singing and dancing).

The Word: After the live-action/CGI reboot of the series exploded globally in 2007, the sequel was inevitable, and in 2009 when said “Squeakquel” made another $100-million or so than the first … well, here are are. “Chipwrecked” retains the writers of the second film but gets its third new director in “Shrek Forever After” helmer Mike Mitchell, not that you could fault anyone for not wanting to make more than one “Chipmunk” movie.

My Thoughts: I guess I must finally admit that despite consistently negative reviews, this series flourishes thanks to cute little fuzzy creatures wailing in high-pitched voices and singing and dancing to Top 40 hits. There’s a definitive appeal in that, especially for little kids. Nevertheless, I wish this franchise would just jump off a boat in the figurative sense of the phrase. When you put the Chipmunks in the company of this season’s other films such as “The Muppets,” “Tintin” and even “Happy Feet Two,” it makes you really wonder how these kinds of films still get made. But with “The Smurfs” also making bank this year, expect another big rake-in for Fox.

 —

The Adventures of Tintin (Dec. 21)

Directed by Steven Spielberg
Written by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish, Hergé (comics)
Starring: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost

Summary: Investigative reporter Tintin (Bell) buys a little model of the ship The Unicorn, and soon finds that the sinister Ivanovich Sakharine (Craig) is strangely willing to do just about anything including kidnap Tintin in order to have it himself. To get answers, Tintin and his faithful pup, Snowy, embark on a journey aboard a cargo ship that entangles them with the drunken Captain Haddock, whose family history sheds some light on the secret of The Unicorn.

The Word: American aren’t privy to everything, and Hergé’s globally adored “Tintin” comics fall into that category. The comic series has been given new life by none other than Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson through use of motion-capture technology; the entire film was shot this way.  Esteemed British TV writer Steven Moffat along with “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz” writer Edgar Wright and his buddy Joe Cornish (“Attack the Block”) adapted the story from various ”Tintin” stories. “Tintin” already received a U.K. release back in late October and is doing well in global markets. Although its success won’t be dictated by American box-office receipts, it should have some appeal here and without any animated films slated to come after it for quite some time, it could do well in January too.

My Thoughts: ”Tintin” strikes me as being a terrific adventure with incredible visuals. All the right hands had a role in making this happen and it could be akin to “Avatar” in terms of leaving a blueprint for the success of motion-capture, though this one being entirely motion capture of course. With most animated films sticking with animal characters, motion capture ‘s success in this instance could be used to help bring other human-based drawn properties to life in the future.

Restless (Limited, Sep. 16)

Directed by Gus Van Sant
Written by Jason Lew
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper, Ryo Kase

Summary: A young man who attends strangers’ funerals in his free time and talks with an imaginary Kamikazee pilot named Hiroshi befriends a terminally ill girl.

The Word: Van Sant’s follow-up to “Milk” goes in a distinctly more indie direction in this cinematic dissertation on life and death. Wasikowska continues to choose intriguing mature roles and Hopper looks to make a splash in his second ever film, and the first since he was six. “Restless” was supposed to come out very early this year but opted to debut at Cannes.

My Thoughts: Buzz from Cannes and Toronto has been wishy-washy, so nothing to suggest a must-see in theaters this month. Still, there are definitely some talents that will keep “Restless” on many people’s radars, including my own.

 

Moneyball (Sep. 23)

Directed by Bennett Miller
Written by Steve Zaillan, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin, Michael Lewis (book)
Starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Robin Wright, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Summary: Based on the true story of Oakland A’s manager Billy Beane who in the early 2000s co-pioneered a sabermetric approach to team managing that defied the norm and nearly turned baseball upside-down.

The Word: When Steven Soderbergh left the project, “Moneyball” still kept its all-star talent. In addition to Pitt, Miller directs his second film after the acclaimed “Capote” and “The Social Network” writer and Oscar winner Aaron Sorkin co-wrote with Oscar winner Steve Zaillan, who had been on a bit of a hiatus since churning out “American Gangster” in 2007. Only Jonah Hill appears to be out of place here.

My Thoughts: The film premiered at Toronto (TIFF) this past weekend and early response has been good. It’s drawn its only negative response so far from the sports community, who’s a bit more in touch with what Beane actually did. Provided you don’t know a ton about the Moneyball concept already, you should enjoy this one.

 

Margaret (Limited, Sep. 30)

Written and Directed by Kenneth Lonergan
Starring: Anna Paquin, Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo

Summary: A high school student unintentionally plays a role in an accident that results in a bus running over a woman. When she blames herself and hides the truth, it starts to take a toll on all those involved.

The Word: It took 11 years, but Lonergan returns with his sophomore directorial effort. And it looks like few forgot the quality of 2000′s “You Can Count on Me,” because he managed to get Paquin and Damon on board as well as some of the stars from that film (Matthew Broderick, Mark Ruffalo) to join him for “Margaret.” Lonergan’s other writing credits include “Analyze This” and “Gangs of New York.”

My Thoughts: I’m a bit hung up on the fact that Paquin is still playing high school students more than 10 years after she played one in “X-Men,” but otherwise this looks to be an intriguing piece of drama. Strangely, this is not a film riding the festival circuit, so time will tell if it should make any waves amidst so many similar films this season.

 

 

Take Shelter (Limited, Sep. 30)

Written and Directed by Jeff Nichols
Starring: Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain, Katy Mixon, Shea Wigham

Summary: A construction worker and family man starts to receive prophetic visions of a massive storm and decides to invest in a shelter, but his family and friends try to convince him he’s delusional.

The Word: Michael Shannon and writer/director Jeff Nichols re-team with a bit more buzz behind their second film after a premiere at Sundance and a showing at Cannes. Chastain stars in yet another film this year, continuing to push her to stardom. We could well see much more of her and Shannon down the road if the buzz holds.

My Thoughts: I confess that I love this story and am convinced that it will be a suspenseful small-time story where you just don’t know what to believe until it finally comes to an end. Whether it has enough weight to break through to the general public, however, I’m a bit skeptical. If the reviews keep coming in strong, however, who knows.

 

 

The Ides of March (Oct. 7)

Directed by George Clooney
Written by George Clooney, Grant Haslov, Beau Willimon (also play, “Farragut North”)
Starring: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood

Summary: A talented staffer on a political campaign for a popular candidate learns a few dirty secrets about the process and must make a moral decision regarding where his allegiances lie.

The Word: This rather popular play has become the latest fodder for George Clooney’s directorial chops, which could use some adjusting after the disappointment that was “Leatherheads.” Gosling continues to ride the hot had to fame surrounded by a knockout ensemble including Clooney himself, Giamatti, Wood, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright (“Source Code”) and Max Minghella (“The Social Network”).

My Thoughts: This was one of the fall’s most anticipated until its premiere at Venice cooled it off fast with all the mixed/underwhelming reviews. Nevertheless, Clooney’s directing record is strong otherwise and the cast is terrific. With the 2012 campaign heating up, this should draw a lot of interest from the public — it certainly has mine.

 

 

Footloose (Oct. 14)

Directed by Craig Brewer
Written by Dean Pitchford and Craig Brewer
Starring: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell

Summary: A city boy moves to a small Texas town where he finds dancing has been banned thanks to an accident that the local pastor and the rest of the town’s citizens can’t get over. His arrival shakes things up.

The Word: This remake of the ’80s classic starring Kevin Bacon has and will draw its fair share of ire from the original’s fans, but in the world of “Step-Up” and the like, this should come as no surprise. The film’s creator, Dean Pitchford, also had a hand in the new screenplay. Most interesting, however, Craig Brewer (“Hustle & Flow,” “Black Snake Moan”) would not be a traditional choice for a studio-driven remake.

My Thoughts: It’s easy to be agitated by the idea of this film, but I’m willing to see what reviews say Brewer has done with it given his track record. I’m very familiar with the 2000s musical version, but I’ve never seen the film, so I’ve no close ties to the original. Who knows if that’s a good or bad thing.

 

The Skin I Live In (Ltd, Oct. 14)

Directed by Pedro Almodóvar
Written by Pedro Almodóvar, Thierry Jonquet(novel)
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Jan Cornet

Summary: A brilliant plastic surgeon is haunted by the fact that his wife burned to death in a car accident, so he creates a synthetic skin that can withstand any damage. He runs his trials on a mysterious woman with whom there is a romantic connection.

The Word: Almodóvar has a reputation for the obscure, uncomfortable and fetishistic, but he’s also quite brilliant. The trailer for “The Skin I Live In” feels like an obsessive thriller of sorts, but my guess is no matter what it will be incredibly dark. The film debuted at Cannes to decent reviews and has picked up steam on the festival circuit with Banderas getting a lot of attention for returning to a more sophisticated role (than say Puss in Boots).

My Thoughts: I’m big fan of “Talk to Her” and enjoyed “Volver,” so I’m open to this film given the buzz. However, it takes a certain mindset to watch an Almodóvar film, so a DVD viewing when I’m ready seems the most likely option. I would say the same for others, especially if you’ve never seen his films before.

 

Martha Marcy May Marlene

(Ltd, Oct. 21)

Written and Directed by Sean Durkin
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes, Sarah Paulson, Hugh Dancy

Summary: A young woman fights paranoia and painful memories as she tries to live a normal life with her family after fleeing an abusive brainwashing cult.

The Word: ”MMMM” was one of the more buzzed about entries at Sundance back in January which got it picked up by Fox Searchlight. Durkin won the Best Director prize for this completely mysterious film that looks like the less you know about it, the better off you’ll be, at least if the trailer’s any indication. Elizabeth Olsen (yes, she’s the younger sister of the Olsen twins) looks to break into the spotlight with her titular role.

My Thoughts: I’ve had my eye on this one as one of the two films that every year manage to make it from Sundance all the way to the Oscars. We saw something similar in a young woman-led drama co-starring John Hawkes last year with “Winter’s Bone,” so why not this film? It definitely looks different.

 

Anonymous (Oct. 28)

Directed by Rolland Emmerich
Written by John Orloff
Starring: Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave, David Thewlis, Rafe Spall

Summary: This dramatic thriller takes up the theory that Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, was in fact the man who penned the works for William Shakespeare.

The Word: Rolland Emmerich has taken a break from blowing up the world (“2012,” “The Day After Tomorrow,” “Independence Day”) to give us a passion project of his, one of the more prominent theories as to the truth of Shakespeare’s work. The trailer oozes with a style that says “Zack Snyder directed this movie.” Definitely not the expected take for this story. Writer John Orloff also penned “A Mighty Heart.”

My Thoughts: I think just about everyone will have trouble going into this film and taking it seriously given Emmerich’s track record, but as a fan of Shakespeare I can’t say his picked a bad subject matter. Ifans is also a versatile actor on the rise, so it will be interesting to see what kind of performance he gives here as he’s rather quiet in the trailer.

 

 

Like Crazy (Limited, Oct. 28)

Directed by Drake Doremus
Written by Drake Doremus and Ben York Jones
Starring: Felicity Jones, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlie Bewley

Summary: A British college student in America and a local student fall in love only to be pulled apart when she’s sent back to the U.K. after being caught with an expired visa.

The Word: By far the most popular film to come out of Sundance, “Like Crazy” tells a long-distance relationship story, which might seem straightforward, but it obviously pulls the right strings. Doremus has developed a name as an indie director and his film won for Best Dramatic entry. Felicity Jones won for Best Actress.

My Thoughts: Love stories — pure romances — are a tough task. Undoubtedly Doremus has done something right, but will it find its way into the mainstream? I think it would have a better chance if it weren’t being released amidst all the hardcore dramatic Oscar contenders, but who knows, maybe this is one of them in a few categories.

 

 

My Week with Marilyn (Ltd, Nov. 4)

Directed by Simon Curtis
Starring: Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne, Julia Ormond

Summary: An assistant to the great Sir Laurence Olivier documents the actor’s tense relationship with American star Marilyn Monroe during their week of filming “The Prince and the Showgirl” in the summer of 1956.

The Word: Michelle Williams wouldn’t seem the obvious choice for the part, but man she looks like she pulled it off. Without a trailer yet it’s hard to gauge the film, but we’ll find out just how serious of an awards contender it is when it premieres at the New York Film Festival in early October.

My Thoughts: Normally this material would be more likely to arrive in the form of a TV mini-series, but apparently there’s just the right amount of material for it to be a single film. I do like the the more concise moment-in-time biopics rather than entire life-spanning ones, at least in the sense that they’re less predictable. From what I’ve read about all that happened during the filming of this movie, there will be plenty of drama packed in.

J. Edgar (Nov. 11)

Directed by Clint Eastwood
Written by Dustin Lance Black
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, Armie Hammer, Josh Lucas

Summary: The story of longtime FBI chief and compelling figure J. Edgar Hoover, the face of crime-fighting in America, whose personal life contained some secrets that threatened to destroy his reputation.

The Word: Hard not to see the word “Oscar” written all over Eastwood’s latest project and Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black’s second ever script, another from-scratch biopic after gaining notoriety for “Milk.” Then again, we all said that about his last film, “Invictus,” which was a good film but not on par with the best of 2009. DiCaprio also gets to work with another renowned director. His time will come.

My Thoughts: Here’s a rare contender confident enough in its drawing power to avoid a premier up until a week before its release, so we won’t know until November’s AFI Film Festival what kind of an Eastwood film we have. Either way, his films always manage to get a couple nods, so expect this one to be worth a watch. Hopefully the trailer will arrive soon.

 

Melancholia (Ltd, Nov. 11)

Written and Directed by Lars von Trier
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling

Summary: A woman’s wedding reignites tension between her and her sister as well as her family, but it’s all rudely interrupted by a planet that threatens to collide into Earth.

The Word: The end of the world is a popular subject these days, even for auteurs such as Lars von Trier, who has made a huge name for himself dwelling in controversial territory and fetishism. Many of you may recall his insensitive mildly pro-Nazi remarks at Cannes when this film premiered, which seemed to drown out the high level of praise it received. Dunst won Best Actress at Cannes, so perhaps behind her, LVT’s work will gain some recognition from American audiences.

My Thoughts: I’ve yet to daringly step up and watch a von Trier film. I first heard of him when reading about his 2010 film “Antichrist,” which was labeled a horrifying and sadistic among other adjectives. The “Dancer in the Dark” and “Dogville” filmmaker has generally received great acclaim, so at some point I will have to take the plunge.

The Lion King in 3D (Sep. 16)

Directed by Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Written by 29 people
Starring: (voices) Matthew Broderick, Moira Kelly, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane

Summary: If you don’t know the plot of “The Lion King,” you’re not old enough to been capable of reading this blog post.

The Word: Back in Fall 2009, Disney took advantage of 3D by simultaneously re-releasing the first two “Toy Story” films in the extra dimension. The move earned Disney $30 million in North America over the course of a month, so why not earn some extra cash for little-to-no effort? “The Lion King” is the highest-grossing 2-D hand-drawn animated film of all time, so it seems like the best option. Disney plans on just a two-week engagement, but one would imagine they’ll expand it if they like the response.

My Thoughts: There’s a big market for nostalgia, and with a lot of the first “Lion King” fans being old enough to purchase their own tickets, I don’t think this one is just for the kiddies. Parents will likely feel inclined to take advantage of this rare opportunity to take their kids to see one of animation’s very best films on the big screen.

 

Dolphin Tale (Sep. 23)

Directed by Charles Martin Smith
Written by Karen Janzsen, Noam Dromi
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Harry Connick Jr.

Summary: The inspirational story of a dolphin who lost its tale and with the help of a young boy and some marine biologists, found a way to live in spite of it.

The Word: Nothing like suckering people with a good “against all odds” movie that’s based on a true story, especially when it involves an adorable animal … and it’s in 3D. One might best compare this to April’s “Soul Surfer” about a girl who surfs after a shark chomps her arm — i imagine AnaSophia Robb’s character and Winter the dolphin would have been friends. Maybe the real characters they’re based on could hang out in real life.

My Thoughts: Warner Bros. is going for the gut here and hoping that it has something akin to “The Blind Side” based on the way they’re marketing “Dolphin Tale.” Considering I’m without children, all these “do the impossible” tropes have worn thin. I know that if I try really hard I can overcome any obstacle in my path, I don’t need Morgan Freeman to narrate that to me any longer, even as tempting as his voice might be.

 

 

Courageous (Sep. 30)

Directed by Alex Kendrick
Written by Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick
Starring: Alex Kendrick, Ken Bevel, Ben Davies, Kevin Downes

Summary: A story of four police officers who in addition to their tough jobs are fathers. When tragedy strikes their homes, they must make tough decisions.

The Word: Alex Kendrick and Sherwood Pictures bring present their fourth drama steeped in faith-based American-Christian values. “Fireproof” in 2008 dealt with a firefighter thinking of divorcing his wife who takes a friend’s dare to delay the process for 40 days to see if they can’t rekindle the flame; “Facing the Giants” in 2006 was an overcoming-the-odds football story and their first film, “Flywheel” was about a dishonest car salesman who become a born-again Christian.

My Thoughts: It blows my mind that a value-espousing film can get a wide release, but here we are. “Courageous” will look to blend drama and (appropriate) humor into a meaningful family experience that inspires faith and courage. I would venture most common moviegoers will have to be quite courageous to go see this one.

 

 

The Mighty Macs (Oct. 21)

Directed by Tim Chambers
Written by Tim Chambers, Anthony Gargano
Starring: Carla Gugino, David Boreanaz, Ellen Burstyn

Summary: In the ’70s, Cathy Rush becomes the basketball coach at an all-girls Catholic college. They have no gym and no uniforms, but she hopes to coach them to a championship.

The Word: Here’s your latest coach-something-out-of-nothing sports story, although the backdrop is Immaculata College, a Catholic school,  in the ’70s. The key to any great sports story is that overcoming the odds can’t just be about the level of competition the underdog is up against, but the social naysayers. “The Mighty Macs” will score points for ’70s feminism as well. The film is the debut of Tim Chambers and marks the first prominent role for “The League” star David Boreanaz.

My Thoughts: Since when did fall become uplifting story time? “The Mighty Macs” faces more competition than it otherwise might in any other season. But with no other “family” options in October, could this film do better than expected? Maybe by a smidgeon, but not a ton.

 

 

Puss in Boots (Nov. 4)

Directed by Chris Miller
Written by Brian Lynch, David H. Steinberg, Tom Wheeler, Jon Zack
Starring: (voices) Antonio Banderas, Selma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis

Summary: The origin of the legendary Puss in Boots, who must team up with Kitty Softpaws and Humpty Dumpty to save a village from villainous outlaws who’ve discovered an ancient power that could destroy the world.

The Word: Thought you saw the last of the “Shrek” movies, did you? It might be devoid of those central characters, but “Puss in Boots” looks to borrow en masse from that universe. It’s an origin story for Puss, but it’s decked out in Mother Goose characters such as Humpty Dumpty (a creepy looking egg voiced by Galifianakis) as well as Jack and Jill. See if you can find the beanstalk in the trailer too.

My Thoughts: Here’s DreamWorks Animation mooching off its own franchise for a quick buck. It should be a quick millions of bucks too, as no animated offering will hit the market between “The Lion King” in 3D and this film. When that happens, we’ve seen surprisingly high grosses and DreamWorks has also done well for itself in that first November weekend spot for several years, a date that’s usually owned by animation. As for the quality, maybe some good laughs, but I don’t see it as being any better than the last couple “Shrek” films. Did you read that plot summary? This is not following the Pixar golden standard of “story first,” to say the least.

Warrior (Sep. 9)

Directed by Gavin O’Connor
Written by Gavin O’Connor, Anthony Tambakis, Cliff Dorfman
Starring: Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison

Summary: The son of a former boxer trains for a mixed martial arts tournament that would put him in direct competition with his older brother.

The Word: MMA finally gets its own mainstream film, but you could probably lump it in the same corner as boxing as far as the typical movie tropes. Hardy’s rising profile gets a big boost and “Warrior” should also continue to elevate the prominence of Edgerton as well. O’Connor directed “Miracle,” probably the most recent great sports movie and all the early screenings suggest he might have done it again.

My Thoughts: It’s all or nothing in a sports drama. Yes, I recognize this isn’t action, but there are too many dramas this fall so I tossed it here. Anyway, you either get a terribly cliched sports drama or a powerful and uplifting one. Many review seems to suggest the latter, which is great; we haven’t had a good film in this genre in too long.

 

Drive (Sep. 16)

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn
Written by Hossein Amini, James Sallis (book)
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks

Summary: A Hollywood stunt driver moonlights as a getaway man, but things take a sharp turn when he finds a hit has been put on him after a heist goes wrong.

The Word: Word on fall films is always prevalent because they’re screened so early. “Drive” has some of the best early buzz. Gosling has taken his career to the next level of late and Refn will soon be one of the more sought-after directors now that he’s bridged the gap to Hollywood from his British filmmaking days with “Pusher,” “Bronson” and “Valhalla Rising.” This film should be a car-chase film with a bit of an indie edge. Screenwriter Amini was also hired recently to make changes to “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

My Thoughts: I have yet to see one of Refn’s films so I’ve got big expectations for this one. Gosling might be one of the most versatile actors in his age group and Mulligan and Cranston among others are all “it” names in Hollywood right now. What I like most about “Drive” is that the story opens up and dives into the over-looked “getaway” aspect of crime capers and related films, an aspect often wrought with cliche.

 

Abduction (Sep. 23)

Directed by John Singleton
Written by Shawn Christensen
Starring: Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins, Alfred Molina

Summary: A teenager and his friend find his picture on a missing persons website which launches him into a conspiracy about his real parents and puts him on the run from those looking to obtain him as he’s some kind of Bourne-type asset.

The Word: The big story with “Abduction” is that it’s Taylor Lautner’s first big starring role that will test whether or not audiences are drawn to him as a leading man and action star or anything for that matter outside of the “Twilight” series. To play it safe, he’s some younger Jason Bourne figure and we don’t know why everyone’s after him. Singleton’s obviously most known for “Boyz in the Hood,” but he’s proven capable as an action director.

My Thoughts: I’m of the slightly smaller camp who thinks Lautner has a shot at being magnetic enough to be an action star. I don’t give him much of a chance to blow our minds as an actor, but I think he can be a watchable (and maybe even bankable) leading man in the future. As for “Abduction,” I think it will have trouble outrunning the “Bourne” and “Eagle Eye” tropes.

 

Killer Elite (Sep. 23)

Directed by Gary McKendry
Written by Gary McKendry and Matt Sherring, Ranulph Fiennes (Novel “The Feather Men”)
Starring: Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro

Summary: An ex-special ops agent finds himself in a game of cat and mouse with the leader of a secret military society after he threatens to kill his mentor.

The Word: Statham and Owen are two powerful personalities in roles best suited to their strengths. De Niro has had a rough string lately and these two look to lift him up. The film is based on a true story, but I’m sure quite loosely. McKendry directs his first feature-length film, so he must’ve been rather persuasive with his script in order to get the job.

My Thoughts: I love seeing Statham kick Owen’s ass while tied to a chair in the trailer, but I’m worried that might be the coolest part of this movie. It’s not a major studio film and frankly, De Niro involving himself in a film of this genre worries me more than excites me these days. However, Statham tends to make enjoyable action flicks with some consistency, so here’s to hoping he and Owen can do just that.

 

 

Machine Gun Preacher (Limited, Sep. 30)

Directed by Marc Forster
Written by Jason Keller
Starring: Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Shannon

Summary: Sam Childers is a former drug-dealing gang biker who finds God and goes on a mission trip to Sudan where he fights to put an end to child soldiers. When he discovers how bad it is, the fight becomes quite literal.

The Word: Based on a true story, this film looks to blend drama and action as seamlessly as Edward Zwick has so often done with films such as “Blood Diamond” and “Defiance.” Marc Forster has made a great number of excellent films from “Kite Runner” to “Finding Neverland,” but he does have to right the ship as an action director as “Quantum of Solace” didn’t go over as well as hoped.

My Thoughts: Butler’s a great fit for the role and despite the problems with “Solace,” Forster has shown he can handle action. It’s also a promising sign that the script comes from a new writer in Jason Keller; that means it’s probably good. Hopefully the right balance of genres will make this one maybe not a heralded fall film, but a solid one.

 

 

Real Steel (Oct. 7)

Directed by Shawn Levy
Written by John Gatins, Dan Gilroy, Jeremy Leven
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Dakota Goyo, Anthony Mackie

Summary: In a future when boxers have been replaced by robots, a down-on-his-luck promoter finds a scrapped robot and trains it in hopes of revitalizing his career and connecting with his 11-year-old son.

The Word: Director Shawn Levy spent most of his career helming Nickelodeon shows and movies until “A Night at the Museum” elevated his profile. Still, the director of that film as well as “Cheaper by the Dozen” and “Date Night” wouldn’t seem like the right choice for a sci-fi action movie. Nevertheless, this “Rockem’ Sockem’ Robots: The Movie” looks to have a wide appeal with a blend of science fiction and sports drama.

My Thoughts: ”Real Steel” could do well for itself if it appeals to boys as well as grown men. The challenge will be — as mentioned before — avoiding the sports cliches, which this trailer doesn’t do all too good of a job with.

The Three Musketeers (Oct. 21)

Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson
Written by Alex Litvak and Andrew Davies, Alexandre Dumas (novel)
Starring: Logan Lerman, Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans

Summary: Based on classic story. The aspiring musketeer D’Artagnan teams up with the fable three to foil a plot by the villainous Cardinal Richelieu, Duke of Buckingham and the assassin M’lady De Winter to unleash war across Europe.

The Word: Anderson takes his distinct “Resident Evil” sensibilities and applies them to this classic tale, pumping up the explosions, CGI and most of all: 3D. To his credit, he acquired a loaded cast that in addition to the musketeers and his wifey, Milla Jovovich, contains Orlando Bloom, Christoph Waltz, Mads Mikkelsen, Juno Temple and Til Schweiger.

My Thoughts: Dumas must be rolling over in his grave. M’lady De Winter sliding “Matrix” style under exploding spiked cannonballs? Flying zeppelin pirate ship war machines? If it works, all the credit in the world to Summit Entertainment for finding a winning formula in giving a classic story steroids.

 

In Time (Oct. 28)

Written and Directed by Andrew Niccol
Starring: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Alex Pettyfer

Summary: In the future, time (left to live) replaces money as the main form of currency because we’ve eliminated the aging gene. After 25, the aging process stops and those with the more influence and wealth living the longest. When poor blue-collar worker Will Salas acquires an absurd amount of time from a man with a death wish, he becomes the system’s biggest threat — and target.

The Word: Niccol is one of the more revered sci-fi writers out there having penned “The Truman Show” and “Gattaca,” the former of which won him an Oscar. “In Time” is his first truly high-concept film in awhile, but the plot appears more like a cat-and-mouse thriller in a sci-fi context. The film will also test the leading man mettle of Justin Timberlake, who’s clearly the focal point of the entire film. If “In Time” does well, he’ll get the majority of the credit and perhaps land some huge projects.

My Thoughts: I’m betting on the side of Niccol for this one. I think Timberlake has chops, but for me this is about the science-fiction concept and “In Time” has one that excites me. I’m a huge fan of much of Niccol’s previous work, so fingers are crossed that the reason he hasn’t churned anything out in six years is because he’s put a lot of effort into this baby and it’s going to be worth it.

 

Immortals (Nov. 11)

Directed by Tarsem Singh
Written by Charley and Vlas Parlapanides
Starring: Henry Cavill, Freida Pinto, Mickey Rourke, John Hurt

Summary: When a king steals a mythical bow and is hell-bent on unleashing the angry titans that the gods narrowly defeated ages ago and ruling the world, Zeus chooses the heroic demi-god Theseus to lead the fight against him.

The Word: The more examples of sword-and-sandals action epics we get, the more “300″ appears to be the exception rather than the rule, but the producers of said film have given Tarsem Singh the chance to change all that. The director of “The Fall” and “The Cell” as well as next spring’s untitled “Snow White” film has been praised as a visual mastermind. Star Henry Cavill also has a chance to improve public opinion with regard to his upcoming turn as the new Clark Kent/Superman.

My Thoughts: ”Immortals” easily looks like the best thing from a visual/cinematography standpoint since “300″ and the cast of Cavill, Rourke, Freida Pinto, John Hurt, Stephen Dorff and others will certainly help bolster things. In fact, Singh’s film looks like the Thanksgiving dinner of visual feasts (fitting for the time of year). The least fantasy fans can hope for is to be riveted beyond compare.

 

Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star

(Sep. 9)

Directed by Tom Brady
Written by Adam Sandler, Allen Covert and Nick Swardson
Starring: Nick Swardson, Christina Ricci, Don Johnson, Stephen Dorff

Summary: Bucky Larson heads from the Midwest to Los Angeles to embrace his destiny when he learns that he’s the son of two renowned porn stars. Despite his “small stature,” Bucky manages to find some success.

The Word: No, Tom Brady of the New England Patriots did not use his lock-out time to direct this film for Happy Madison. “The Hot Chick” director tries to get Sandler protege Swardson on the map as a leading man in the latest R-rated comedy featuring a made-up character name and colon to hit the market.

My Thoughts: This strikes me as one of the more pathetic Happy Madison offerings, somewhere along the lines of “Grandma’s Boy,” which despite being poorly received and making little money, went on to have a bit of a following on DVD. “Bucky” could be in for the same fate.

 

 

I Don’t Know How She Does It

(Sep. 16)

Directed by Douglas McGrath
Written by Aline Brosh McKenna, Allison Pearson (novel)
Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, Kelsey Grammer, Greg Kinnear

Summary: A working mother with two kids juggles her job and home life, a balancing act that goes into overdrive when a big opportunity comes up at work.

The Word: Sarah Jessica Parker goes back to doing what she does best: playing the self-empowered working woman who also serves as a narrator. Despite the obvious tropes, the script does come from Aline Brosh McKenna, the most popular feminist rom-com screenwriter in Hollywood after she delivered “The Devil Wears Prada.” Although recent efforts “27 Dresses” and “Morning Glory” received mixed responses, many female viewers have soft spots for them. That’s presumably the hope here.

My Thoughts: The Weinstein Company definitely put all the right pieces together to get this movie some good business even in September. Parker and Brosnan? Talk about putting a crosshairs right on the 35-and-up female demographic. Still, I can’t help but be bothered by the fact that this appears to be a movie about a working woman being an all-star mom/wife. Where’s the story? If working moms want a pat on the back or some token of appreciation, they can wait for Mother’s Day. I don’t think that’s being unfair.

 

 

50/50 (Sep. 30)

Directed by Jonathan Levine
Written by Will Reiser
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard

Summary: A 27-year-old man is diagnosed with cancer and a 50 percent chance of surviving. He and his best friend as well as his family all try and cope.

The Word: Formerly titled “I’m With Cancer” and “Live With It,” this comedy/drama has settled on the ambiguous “50/50,” but by the looks of it and the early buzz, the odds are much better than a coin flip that you’ll enjoy the latest film from director Jonathan Levine, whose film “The Wackness” is a must-see for the 18-30 demographic. The film looks to take a reasonably humorous approach to one of Hollywood’s least favorite topics.

My Thoughts: ”50/50″ has made quite an impression in the early going, with some critics considering it a serious Oscar contender if it didn’t have Rogen and his R-rated comments tossed in. I have to say it’s one of my most anticipated of the fall as a result. If it’s anything like the last film JGL did that had a “5″ and two “0′s in it, then we’re in really good shape.

 

 

What’s Your Number? (Sep. 30)

Directed by Mark Mylod
Written by Gabrielle Allan and Jennifer Crittenden, Karyn Bosnak (novel “20 Times a Lady”)
Starring: Anna Faris, Chris Evans, Chis Pratt

Summary: A single woman looking for the one strikes a deal with her neighbor to help her track down her past boyfriends in hopes that one of them will have evolved into “the one.”

The Word: Who could have enough Anna Faris? With Chris Evans hot off “Captain America,” this you-can-see-how-it-ends rom-com might make some real numbers at the box office. Well, at least for the younger female demographic and their “Captain America”-enjoying boyfriends. The writing and directing backgrounds hail from television with Mylod having directing several “Entourage” episodes, Allan having been a writer/producer on “Scrubs” and Crittenden having been a writer/producer on “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The New Adventures of Old Christine.”

My Thoughts: In my opinion, Farris can carry almost any material. Well, except “Yogi Bear.” I actually found myself laughing at this trailer, which doesn’t mean I’ll have anything to do with it, but should at least be a good sign that it won’t be torture for a date movie.

 

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

(Limited, Sep. 30)

Directed by Eli Craig
Written by Morgan Jergenson and Eli Craig
Starring: Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, Katrina Bowden

Summary: Tucker and Dale are vacationing up in the woods when a group of teenagers suspect them of being redneck killers after they rescue their friend and take her to their cabin

The Word: ”Tucker & Dale” appears to spoof the horror genre in a way “Scary Movie” couldn’t even touch. The events are downright farcical as the events continue to make the kids think they’re killers while Tucker and Dale believe they’ve come across some kind of suicide cult. Undoubtedly you’ll have to love campy horror films with gratuitous gore to be open to this one. “Tucker & Dale” has been making the rounds for a year now but will finally get a limited theatrical release.

My Thoughts: If not something to see in theaters, “Tucker & Dale” looks like a can’t-miss DVD or on-demand prospect at the very least. Tudyk is a terrific character actor whereas Labine has been all over doing bit parts on TV and film for 15 years. Horror comedies have been treated as bargain-bin trash for more than a decade; here’s to this film changing all that.

 

Wanderlust (Oct. 7)

Directed by David Wain
Written by David Wain and Ken Marino
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux, Malin Ackerman

Summary: A New York couple buy a new place when the husband loses his job. On their way out to stay with family in Georgia, they stay at a bed and breakfast that happens to be a hippie commune.

The Word: It’s been quite some time since “The Object of My Affection,” am I right Rudd and Aniston fans? Although no trailer has arrived with almost a month before release, “Role Models” and “Wet Hot American Summer” director David Wain should be enough to make this comedy worth a look in a month devoid of mainstream laughs. Wain teamed up with his “Party Down” and “Children’s Hospital” star Ken Marino to work on the script as well.

My Thoughts: Universal probably knows it can get away with promoting this one late in the game, but it’s discouraging that we’ve seen nothing from this film. I’ll give anything Wain directs the benefit of the doubt, however, and without any hesitation. Hopefully Aniston can continue her good tear after flexing some comic chops in “Horrible Bosses.”

 

 

The Big Year (Oct. 14)

Directed by David Frankel
Written by Howard Franklin, Mark Obmascik (book)
Starring: Owen Wilson, Jack Black, Steve Martin, Rashida Jones

Summary: A trio of birdwatchers compete to spot the rarest North American birds at an annual event.

The Word: In continuing with October’s tradition of mystery comedies, we have little to go off of for “The Big Year,” though Wilson, Martin and Black are an intriguing group capable of winning over younger and older audiences. It’s also David Frankel’s follow-up to “Marley & Me” and “The Devil Wears Prada,” so there’s more reason to trust the absence of marketing considering those were also book adaptations.

My Thoughts: I’m curious as to whether this is more of a drama/comedy akin to “Marley” or just an adult-geared comedy a la “Prada.” Birdwatching is at least different and the cast holds promise. Not much else that can be said at this point.

 

Johnny English Reborn (Oct. 21)

Directed by Oliver Parker
Written by William Davies and Hamish McColl, Robert Wade and Neal Purvis (characters)
Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Rosamund Pike, Dominic West

Summary: After training with monks, Johnny English is ready to be a spy again, this time to help stop assassins trying to kill the Chinese premier

The Word: Well, someone must’ve clamored for more Johnny English because eight years later, Atkinson has returned to the role. Wondering who? They weren’t American. The first film made about $28 million in the U.S., but somehow found another $132 million overseas. “Reborn” is not meant for American audiences, but if producers can squeeze another $20-30 million from us, they’ll do so happily. Oliver Parker made the U.K. hit “St. Trinian’s,” so bet on some good buzz coming from the Queen’s country.

My Thoughts: I was one of the few to indulge the original film, though I can’t be certain why. It was your typical ball of corn with Atkinson doing what he does best. If reviews happen to indicate an improvement, it might be worth a DVD or on-demand rental.

 

The Rum Diary (Oct. 21)

Directed by Bruce Robinson
Written by Bruce Robinson, Hunter S. Thompson (novel)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, Aaron Eckhart, Richard Jenkins

Summary: Journalist Paul Kemp travels to Puerto Rico and gets a job working for a local paper. Lots of rum and drugs later and Paul finds himself on some crazy adventures and having an affair with the fiancee of the man he aims to expose.

The Word: It took ages to get Johnny Depp back in the lead of another Hunter S. Thompson adventure after Terry Gilliam’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” but Bruce Robinson finally delivered. Depp had been attached to the film for at least five years. Time will tell if Depp’s elevated profile can attract some box-office business to this project.

My Thoughts: I didn’t love “Fear and Loathing,” but this film sure looks interesting. You won’t find a more abstract and bizarre offering of the comic variety like this maybe all year; it’s certainly worth keeping an eye on.

 

Tower Heist (Nov. 4)

Directed by Brett Ratner
Written by Ted Griffin, Jeff Nathanson, Adam Cooper, Bill Collage
Starring: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck, Alan Alda

Summary: The employees of a luxury apartment building find themselves robbed of their savings when the building’s richest resident is arrested for running a Ponzi scheme. Looking for revenge, they plan to rob him of his multi-million-dollar safety net, but it will mean taking the high-security tower he’s locked in.

The Word: Fans of “Rush Hour” and subsequently Brett Ratner (who has few fans after “X-Men: The Last Stand”) will find this in their comfort zone. Stiller and Murphy provide a reliable if not washed-up duo and the supporting cast has exceptional range from Matthew Broderick to Casey Affleck to “Precious” star Gabourey Sidibe. The plot expertly mixes “Rush Hour” with “Ocean’s Eleven” with (in my opinion) “Dodgeball” (a coincidence a “Dodgeball” writer helped pen this script? Probably not).

My Thoughts: I found myself laughing at the small-time characters in this trailer, but I can’t help but imagine the ways in which Ratner will spoil this movie. It will have to be a rather inventive send-up of the heist genre if it’s going to work effectively as the story just reeks of formula.

 

 

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (Nov. 4)

Directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson
Written by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg
Starring: John Cho, Kal Penn, Neil Patrick Harris

Summary: Harold and Kumar accidentally burn down Harold’s father-in-law’s prized Christmas tree and set out on another adventure.

The Word: Although the second wasn’t as good as the original, the stoner duo probably has something left in the tank, and what better way to please your legion of stoner fans than with some tawdry 3D. The other interesting note is that co-star Neil Patrick Harris has become considerably more famous than he was when he first cameoed, which could draw a few more viewers than ever anticipated.

My Thoughts: When it comes down to it, it would take me a lot to be sold on a 3-D film of this kind. I’ve rented the first two “Harold & Kumar” films, so why go to the theater and pay the 3-D premium for cheesy effects? But that might be exactly why to see this film in the first place. Hopefully the humor is on par.

 

 

Jack and Jill (Nov. 11)

Directed by Dennis Dugan
Written by Steve Koren, Robert Smigel, Ben Zook
Starring: Adam Sandler, Katie Holmes, Al Pacino

Summary: Jack is a wealthy family man in Los Angeles whose twin sister comes in from the Bronx for Thanksgiving — and just won’t leave.

The Word: Sandler plays both Jack and Jill in this one, which continues his recent trend of family-based comedy. The comedian would probably like to reverse the trend of horrid critical reception with his last two, “Just Go with It” and “Grown Ups.” He’s never been known for making praised films, just lucrative ones, however, so it hardly matters.

My Thoughts: I consider myself a Sandler fan as I’m more prone than most to like his films having grown up with “Billy Madison” and “Big Daddy,” but lately he’s either gotten lazy or unoriginal and probably some combination of the two. That appears to be the case with “Jack and Jill,” perhaps the least-anticipated film (on my end) he’s ever made. Also, Al Pacino? Really?

The Debt (Aug. 31)

Directed by John Madden
Written by Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman and Peter Straughan, Assaf Bernstein and Ido Rosenblum (Israeli film)
Starring: Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Jessica Chastain, Sam Worthington

Summary: Three Israeli Mossad secret agents went on a perilous mission to hunt down a Nazi criminal in East Berlin in 1966. More than 30 years later, some new revelations arise about one of the three agents that sheds new light on their old mission.

The Word: ”The Debt” went through considerable delays before finding a home with Focus Features, but the talent behind and in front of the camera has to be noted. Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman (the duo behind “Kick-Ass” and “X-Men: First Class”) wrote the script with help from Peter Straughan (“The Men Who Stare at Goats”) and John Madden directed “Shakespeare in Love.” The film stars venerated talents Mirren and Wilkinson and blossoming stars Worthington and Chastain.

My Thoughts: The talent here is impossible to ignore, but the peculiar middle-of-the-week Labor Day weekend release raises some questions that otherwise might not be there. One also has to wonder why this 2010 film kicked around for so long. Nevertheless, it’s an intriguing option.

 

Contagion (Sep. 9)

Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Written by Scott Z. Burns
Starring: Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Jude Law

Summary: A disease that transmits through skin-to-skin contact causes a global pandemic that a team of international doctors must quickly plan to stop.

The Word: Soderbergh returns to mainstream film with “The Informant!” writer Scott Z. Burns and they’ve roped in a cast that cannot be described with words, just a list: Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne, John Hawkes and more. The film appears to put the fad of global outbreak science-fiction films into as real of terms as possible.

My Thoughts: Everyone who sees this film will probably comes away with OCD, but it’s certainly fascinating in premise and in star power. I’m worried about it juggling too many story lines in trying to show how government is handling the outbreak as well as how it’s impacting people on an individual level, but Soderbergh has shown he can direct large ensembles successfully and handle multiple stories (“Traffic”).

 

Straw Dogs (Sep. 16)

Directed by Rod Lurie
Written by Rod Lurie, David Zelag Goodman and Sam Peckinpah (1971 film), Gordon Williams (novel)
Starring: James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgård

Summary: A couple relocates from Los Angeles to the Deep South where they become wrapped up in a nasty local conflict that pushes them to the brink.

The Word: This film is a remake of the Dustin Hoffman film directed by Sam Peckinpah that’s 40 years its senior. The setting goes from rural England to Redneck Country, USA, but the plot remains the same. Rod Lurie (“Nothing But the Truth” and “Resurrecting the Champ”) directs his adaptation of the original screenplay.

My Thoughts: When it comes to remakes, I generally say leave the films that were good alone and remake the promising ones that turned out decent/okay. Honestly, I knew nothing about the original film but I’m now much more intrigued to see it than I am to see the remake, that’s for sure.

 

Texas Killing Fields (Limited, Oct. 7)

Directed by Ami Canaan Mann
Written by Don Ferrarone
Starring: Sam Worthington, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jessica Chastain, Chloe Moretz

Summary: A pair of detectives start to investigate the Texas bayous the locals call “the killing fields” where a serial killer has been dumping the mutilated bodies of his victims. As they go beyond their jurisdiction to track down the killer, the killer goes after them.

The Word: This classic serial killer thriller comes from Ami Mann, daughter of Michael Mann (“Heat”). The actors here all have rising profiles and the plot hits all the proper notes of a murder mystery. The script comes from first-time writer Don Ferrarone, who previously did crew work for a couple Tony Scott action thrillers including “Man on Fire.” Amusingly, this is the second film in this list of five fall thrillers that pairs Worthington and Chastain.

My Thoughts: Everything looks pretty standard order in this film as far as thrillers about serial killers go. The talent behind the camera definitely could use a few more seasons behind its belt, but the talent definitely helps elevate the film’s profile

 

Margin Call (Limited, Oct. 21)

Written and Directed by J.C. Chandor
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Zachary Quinto, Jeremy Irons, Paul Bettany

Summary: In 2008, several key members of an investment bank come across information suggesting the major economic downturn and must make some important decisions on what to do about it.

The Word: If you’re J.C. Chandor, scoring this loaded ensemble cast for your first feature-length film has to feel good. There’s Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, Stanely Tucci, Paul Bettany, Simon Baker, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore and “Star Trek” star Zachary Quinto, whose career should have skyrocketed by now after his turn as Spock. The film premiered at Sundance and while it didn’t make the most waves, still has positive early reviews.

My Thoughts: A good corporate thriller has few equals, especially a timely one. Many average joes who know little about how money works (myself) will likely find this a fascinating bit of cinema. It’s also hard to ignore this cast too: vets such as Spacey, Irons and Tucci along with Moore, who rarely makes an appearance these days.

Apollo 18 (Sep. 2)

Directed by Gonzalo López-Gallego
Written by Brian Miller, Cory Goodman

Summary: The story behind the “actual” last NASA mission to the moon and why we were never told of its existence … until now.

The Word: A found-footage type of horror film that takes place in space when NASA astronauts are attacked by some kind of presence. The Weinstein’s moved this film from April to January of next year to the last weekend of summer to the first weekend of fall. Not sure what that says about the quality, but you can expect a very “‘Paranormal Activity’” in space” result from the end product.

My Thoughts: I like the film premise-wise, but that hardly makes it original in the face of aforementioned films (“Paranormal Activity”). At least it doesn’t take place in a creepy house or involve creepy children. The moving around of the release dates is discouraging, especially with another campier horror offering available the same weekend in the next film on this list.

—

Shark Night 3D (Sep. 2)

Directed by David R. Ellis
Written by Will Hayes and Jesse Studenberg
Starring: Sara Paxton, Dustin Milligan, Joel Moore, Katharine McPhee

Summary: A group of friends vacationing at a lake in the Louisiana Gulf find themselves being attacked by freshwater sharks.

The Word: In the vein of “Piranha 3D,” which did reasonably well last summer for a film about killer fish and naked women, comes “Shark Night 3D” a “Jaws” meets “Deliverance” film about killer sharks and naked women. For fans of this “genre,” Ellis is a good choice. The longtime stunt coordinator turned director knows a thing or two about campy horror having directed “Final Destination 2,” “The Final Destination” and none other than “Snakes on a Plane.”

My Thoughts: It’s a bit curious that Relativity couldn’t sneak this one into the summer while kids such as the ones vacationing in this film are no yet in school, but it hardly matters. If there’s anything we learned from “Snakes on a Plane,” it’s that no amount of hype can possibly make a campy horror film successful at the box office.

—

Dream House (Sep. 30)

Directed by Jim Sheridan
Written by David Loucka
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts

Summary: A husband and wife and their two daughters move into a new home and learn of the brutal murders that happened there, but the husband soon makes various discoveries that he might have been the murderer and his family could be all ghosts.

The Word: The trailer might appear to give away the whole film (I’m sure there’s a twist), but Craig and Weisz in a horror thriller has to generate some interest in this long-delayed project. Another point of interest would be director Jim Sheridan, the acclaimed Irish director of films such as “In America,” and “My Left Foot,” who will dabble in horror for the first time. Not so much a point of interest would be David Loucka, whose last memorable screenplay was for Whoopi Goldberg vehicle “Eddie.”

My Thoughts: The script has to be good if this film attracted Sheridan, Craig, Weisz and Naomi Watts, right? Craig and Weisz eventually were married resulting from this partnership … but this typical haunted house thriller seems just that, typical, so I have my doubts. Hopefully the aforementioned talents can give it a boost.

—

The Thing (Oct. 14)

Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Written by Eric Heisserer, John W. Campbell Jr. (short story)
Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Eric Christian Olsen, Adewala Akinnuoye-Agbaje

Summary: A team of researchers/scientists discover a frozen alien specimen in Antarctica. When they unearth it, they realize it not only wants to kill them, but it also assumes the form of its victims.

The Word: ”The Thing” gravitates between a prequel and a remake, because it supposedly takes place before the events of the 1982 classic based on the 1951 classic “The Thing from Another World” but the events are basically the same. Heijningen Jr. makes his feature-film debut with a script from horror scribe (“A Nightmare on Elm Street,” 2010, “Final Destination 5″ Eric Heisserer. Up-and-comers Winstead and Edgerton highlight the cast.

My Thoughts: Part of John Carpenter’s genius in the ’80s was the animatronic alien, so could a rehash likely including a lot of CGI possibly carry the same weight? I’m a big fan of that film, so my expectations might be unreasonably high, but certainly no October horror option looks better in my opinion.

—

Paranormal Activity 3 (Oct. 21)

Directed by Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
Written by Michael R. Perry, Oren Peli (characters)
Starring:

Summary: Before they were each attacked by demonic spirits as adults, Katie and Kristi were normal sisters growing up in the ’80s — who were plagued by demonic spirits.

The Word: Now that we’ve seen the last “Saw” (for now), the “Paranormal Activity” franchise has taken over as the perennial horror franchise of the Halloween weeks. After the sequel opened with $40 million and grossed $170 million or so worldwide on a $3 million budget, it’s not going away anytime soon. Strapped for story lines, “PA 2″ writer Michael R. Perry has gone the prequel route it seems, and as we know nothing scares audiences like children.

My Thoughts: I saw the first one (hard not to with all the hype) and the second film naturally got a more mixed reception. I liked the original, but I’m also a fan of letting good horror films fly solo. There was nothing redeeming enough about the characters to continue their story and this third installment — in premise alone — must continue to think otherwise.

—

Red State (Oct. 19, limited)

Written and Directed by Kevin Smith
Starring: Michael Angarano, Melissa Leo, John Goodman

Summary: A group of high school kids receive an online invitation for sex, but their teenage curiosity goes horribly wrong when they discover a group of fundamentalists churchgoers.

The Word: Kevin Smith most famously won his own bidding war over this film at Sundance, electing to take it across the country himself. The “Clerks” and “Dogma” filmmaker has gone on quite the different creative stretch lately, opting to direct last year’s “Cop Out” among other things. “Red State” has naturally be controversial but fans have enjoyed it in its screenings thus far.

My Thoughts: Many people simply can’t look past the fact that this is a Kevin Smith film; I can. As much as I enjoyed his earlier work, I don’t feel the need to concern myself with every project he does. With mixed reviews overall, I feel no inclination to make it a point to check out “Red State.” In fact, Melissa Leo co-starring has me the most interesting of any one element.

—

Everything Must Go (Now Playing)

Directed by Dan Rush
Written by Dan Rush, Raymond Carver (short story)
Starring: Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall, Christopher Jordan Wallace

Summary: A relapsed alcoholic loses his job and then his wife, who throws all his belongs out onto the front lawn. Out of both laziness and wanting to purge himself of his former life, he holds a yard sale and a young neighborhood kid helps turn him around.

The Word: The most common thing said about Will Ferrell is “I don’t like him and I haven’t like him in anything … except “Stranger than Fiction”…” Well, Ferrell looks to go more in that direction with “Everything Must Go,” a role that seems like a snug fit. A healthy 77% on Rotten Tomatoes helps.

My Thoughts: I’m expecting Ferrell in top form after reading the positive buzz, which means this is worth catching on DVD at the least.

Everything Must Go Trailer

—

Hesher (Now Playing)

Directed by Spencer Susser
Written by Spencer Susser, David Michôd, Brian Charles Frank (story)
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Natalie Portman, Devon Brochu, Rainn Wilson

Summary: Hesher (Gordon-Levitt) is a greasy-haired loner/slacker whose life seems to have no direction. Things change when he develops a friendship with a young boy (Brochu) whose being bullied at school that lives with his father (Wilson) in his grandmother’s house after his mother died.

The Word: Spencer Susser’s first full-length feature might have taken awhile to get to theaters, but it packs a heck of a cast for a debut. There seems to be a great deal of formula at play in the unlikely friendship dynamic between the son and Hesher both helping the other fix something in their respective lives, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Rotten Tomatoes has this film at a mixed 53%.

My Thoughts: To see someone like Joseph Gordon-Levitt play against type (and star alongside Natalie Portman) has me intrigued enough to follow this carefully, even if it’s just catching it on DVD or Netflix streaming in the future.

Hesher Trailer

—

The Beaver (Expands May 20)

Directed by Jodie Foster
Written by Kyle Killen
Starring: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence

Summary: A deeply depressed father, husband and business exec (Gibson) gets kicked out of his house and finds a beaver puppet in a dumpster to be his only means of communicating and rebuilding his life.

The Word: Hard to believe that Jodi Foster’s first directorial effort in 16 years is being overshadowed by anything, but that’s what happens when you cast Hollywood’s most contentious figure not named Charlie Sheen in the lead role. Balancing an odd mix of comedy and drama, “The Beaver” will have to fight Gibson’s reputation to earn anything despite terrific young leads in Yelchin and Lawrence and of course Foster’s involvement herself.

My Thoughts: Gibson aside (I personally can’t feel motivated to pay to see a film of his in the theater), “The Beaver” looks a bit all over the place. I’m sure once you get used to his Aussie-voiced puppet it’s not so bad and could create a terrific character portrait, perhaps evidenced in its current 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, but that doesn’t make it a must-see.

The Beaver Trailer

—

The Tree of Life (May 27)

Written and Directed by Terrence Malick
Starring: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain

Summary: A father-son tale that focuses on a son’s relationship with his father (Pitt) in the ’50s and then his life when he’s older (Penn).

The Word: Rarely has buzz for a film mounted like this. “The Tree of Life” was intended for last year but pushed back a whole year, which made everyone eyeing poetic filmmaker Terrence Malick’s next hype it up even more to the point where everyone wanted to know what this film was about, especially with Pitt and Penn in the leads. It finally premiered at Cannes this weekend the reviews are decidedly mixed, which has always seemingly been the case with his films. They’re always beautiful, but not always coherent and entertaining. Some Cannes reviews labeled it “pretentious.”

My Thoughts: It shocks me that so many people were thinking this was summer Oscar bait given Malick’s made two films in the last 13 years. His last film was the underwhelming “The New World” (2005) and he’s done nothing since 1998′s “The Thin Red Line,” which was his one universally lauded film. I’m thinking again that there will be beauty to “Tree” but ultimately nothing that jumps out as Oscar-worthy.

The Tree of Life Trailer

—

The Trip (June 10)

Directed by Michael Winterbottom
Starring: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon

Summary: Steve Coogan, playing himself, is asked by The Observer to tour some of England’s finest restaurants, but when his girlfriend can’t come, he asks his nutty friend Rob Brydon to accompany him.

The Word: This one’s a little off the beaten path for you, but Winterbottom (“Tristam Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story,” “A Mighty Heart” and “The Killer Inside Me”) has a strong track record and Coogan’s still a below-radar comic actor. Filmed in the third-party observer way of many current TV shows, expect just goofy character dynamics and apparently several celebrity impressions.

My Thoughts: I don’t know if I’d pursue it in theaters, but the early festival reviews have been very strong and the film seems funny and different as it’s about a relationship, not so much with a serious plot or conflict.

The Trip Trailer

—

The Art of Getting By (June 17)

Written and Directed by Gavin Wiesen
Starring: Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano

Summary: George (Highmore) is a major slacker who never does his homework but could become something of an artist if he can find something he’s passionate about. That begins to change when he meets Sally and the two cut class together every so often.

The Word: Buzz out of Sundance this year for Gavin Wiesen’s debut feature “Homework” (since retitled) was mostly positive and as such, Fox Searchlight picked it up. We haven’t seen Highmore, now 18, since his child-actor days as Charlie in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and in “Finding Neverland,” but Roberts has become a familiar “rebellious indie chick” in the last year so she’s right at home.

My Thoughts: Not so sure an 18 and a 19-year-old can hold up an indie film without any reputable older actors as co-stars, but all the pieces for a strong indie coming-of-ager are here.

The Art of Getting By Trailer

—

The Help (Aug. 12)

Directed by Tate Taylor
Written by Tate Taylor, Kathryn Stockett (novel)
Starring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard

Summary: A college graduate in segregation-era Mississippi (Stone) comes home and starts life as a journalist. When one of the town wives (Howard) begins to motion for a requirement that Southern homes have a separate bathroom for “the help” (black nannies/housekeepers), she decides to write a story from their perspective and ends up with a book of material.

The Word: “The Help” is based on a best-selling novel featured in a number of book clubs. As the summer’s only uplifting drama option and a young starlet (Stone) paired up with a venerable actress (Davis), this could be one of those films that doesn’t make a splash but hangs around while to make a good amount of money.

My Thoughts: Terrific casting here could help elevate a traditional Civil Rights tale into something with a substantial amount of heart and character. There also appears to be a nice balance of humor to slice down some of the racial tension. Here’s truly a dramedy that should appeal to black and white audiences whereas action films and sports dramas have been the only genres to do that so far.

The Help Trailer