The Top Five Most Anticipated Movies of Fall/Winter 2009
The summer movie season is officially behind us. Michael Bay blew stuff up. G.I. Joe was actually worse than anyone could have even imagined. And, a Pixar cartoon about an old balloon salesman proved to be the most engaging thing I saw in a cushy theater seat throughout the coveted May-August stretch. Well, as the weather changes, so does the course of the cinema. The excitement of big-budget blockbusters waning, Hollywood turns its attention to smaller, arty pictures filled with serious actors playing the mentally handicapped and hot actresses dressing up like ugly people. In other words, this be Oscar season. Here it is folks: the definitive list of movies to anticipate for the rest of 2009. Because, as I told my last girlfriend, my opinion is the only one that counts…
The Road
Nothing says “goodbye summer” more than a cold and dark post-apocalyptic wasteland. Enter from stage right The Road—John Hilcoat’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s 2006 book about a nameless father and sun struggling to survive in a world turned to ruin. Think I Am Legend, but take out the vampires and replace the dog with a boy and…on second thought…it’s nothing like I Am Legend.
McCarthy’s book—both sparse and incredibly atmospheric—is something that should lend itself well to the big screen. Plus, Hilcoat’s last notable film, The Proposition, was a gritty and barren Australian western that almost seems like a practice run for this little number. It doesn’t hurt either that the last McCarthy film adaptation, No Country for Old Men, won best picture. Throw in Viggo “you’ve seen my Penis” Mortensen as the father and it seems like we’ve got a solid, albeit depressing examination of humanity in a cold and foreboding future—much like the feeling I get when I go to the Olive Garden. Eat your breadsticks cretins!
A Serious Man
Speaking of No Country for Old Men, it seems that the Coen Brothers are back in “serious movie” mode with their newest film, A Serious Man. Opening in limited release on October 2nd with a cast void of any big name stars, the movie centers around a college professor in 1967 who slowly watches as his life begins to unravel around him.The plot may seem banal, but the theatrical trailer is anything but. I hate to delve into to hyperbole, but quite frankly, the trailer is the tits. Hypnotic, haunting, and funny, it uses a rhythmic staccato of repetitious sound effects to both entrance and amaze. If the movie is only half as good as the trailer, we’re in for a real treat—a Coen Brothers film that is more Barton Fink than The Ladykillers (that’s good thing, folks).
Up in the Air
Director Jason Reitman is someone I’m quickly becoming a huge fan of (and I’m not just saying that because he has an awesome first name). His directorial debut, Thank You For Smoking, is one of the rare occasions where the movie was actually better than the book (eat it, reading snobs) and although Juno has been unfortunately characterized as indie, hipster gobbly-gook, at its heart it’s a well-written and well-directed film. With Up in the Air, Reitman ditches Diablo Cody’s writing talents, instead directing from a script he adapted from the Walter Kirn novel of the same name. The story centers on a business traveler (played by George Clooney) who is on a quest to reach 10 million frequent flyer miles—which when you think about it—makes sense because George Clooney has already joined 10 million mile high clubs. *cue rimshot*
Up in the Air looks smart and funny—sweet but not saccharine. Clooney appears to be perfectly cast as the isolated business traveler, and Vera Farmiga fits in nicely as the travel-loving female he falls for. Not to mention, it’s nice to see her in a movie where she’s not losing her kid for once. It hits theaters December 4th. Book me a seat in coach—the one next to the guy with bad breath and in front of the screaming kid who smells like poop. God I love flying…
Where the Wild Things Are
If you’re a white person in his/her 20s, this is already your favorite movie ever (sorry, Garden State. There’s a new sheriff in town.) You’ve gushed about the trailer on facebook. You’ve tweeted it to all your co-workers. You’ve already downloaded the Arcade Fire song from the soundtrack. You’re so excited that you’re practically bursting out of your vintage skinny jeans.
But, the question is, can Spike Jonze’s much anticipated adaptation of the infinitely popular classic children’s book actually deliver? Joking aside, I honestly hope so. Keep in mind, folks…the original book was 12 pages long…most of which was pictures. So, it’s not like there is a lot of “story” to draw from. I guess we will just have to wait and see… *Rides to local coffee house on his fixed speed bike and prays*
Avatar
Yeah, we’ve seen the trailer. We’ve heard the hype (best visual effects ever!) We’ve heard the backlash (Ferngully? In 3-D? F-you Cameron!) Now, it’s time to see if Mr. James “King of the World” Cameron can deliver big…and, I do mean BIG. At this point, it’s hard not to feel the pressure. A lot is riding on this thing. It’s been 11 years since Titanic and movie goers are waiting with baited breath to either trash it to threads or declare it the second coming. A project of this scale has no middle ground–it’s a hyperbole saturated epic…with dragons.
Regardless of what camp you fall into to, at the end of the day, I know where you’ll be December 18th—the theater. I’ll see you there. Dim the lights and start the show, Mr. Cameron. Because now, it really is judgment day.
Honorable nods go out to Sherlock Holmes, The Invention of Lying, Youth in Revolt, The Box, Gentlemen Broncos, An Education, and of course, your Mom.
