The Big Screen Bulletin 10.19.09: The Final Stretch

Posted by Chad Webb on 10.19.2009

In the last regular issue of the Big Screen Bulletin you will get the latest box office results, updates on Terrence Malick's "Tree of Life", soundtrack award honors, awards from China and Montreal, news about John Stamos, new DVD releases, new quickees, new trailer ratings, and much more!

This week's issue will be noticeably shorter. That is because it is my 199th news report. I have been working on a special to cap off my time doing the Big Screen Bulletin. With that said, next week I will present "THE WORST MOVIES OF THE ALPHABET". Apparently it is so cool it needed to be typed in all capital letters. This will be the last regular article with news bits, new releases, critic's quickee, and trailer ratings. Enjoy!

The News Bulletin

Watcha Gonna Do When the Wild Things Run Wild On You!
BOX OFFICE TOP TEN
1. Where The Wild Things Are - $32.4 million ($32.4 million)
2. Law Abiding Citizen - $21.2 million ($21.2 million)
3. Paranormal Activity - $20.1 million ($33.7 million)
4. Couples Retreat - $17.9 million ($63.3 million)
5. The Stepfather - $12.3 million ($12.3 million)
6. Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs - $8.1 million ($108.2 million)
7. Zombieland - $7.8 million ($60.8 million)
8. Toy Story / Toy Story 2 (3D) - $3 million ($28.5 million)
9. Surrogates - $1.922 million ($36.3 million)
10. The Invention of Lying - $1.905 million (15.4 million)

The way I predict the box office releases has changed since we started guessing our top 5's on the podcasts. I used to guess what #1 would be, and that would be that, but now I am so used to picking the entire top 5 and guessing how much the #1 slot will make. So based on that, I got the #1 right, but the rest of my top 5 was shaky. The shocker for me is Law Abiding Citizen, which looked weak, but the star power helped it. I like to think it was F. Gary Gray and the legions of A Man Apart fans coming to support him. Paranormal Activity rises to #3, and could still jump a slot next week depending on buzz and word of mouth. Cloudy and Zombieland, the heavy veterans, have dropped off the top 5, but are still doing well as Toy Story 1 & 2 prepares to say goodbye. Next week has Saw VI and Astro Boy entering the fray. I do not think either will make #1. Look for Where the Wild Things Are to stay on top.






A Full House Birdie
Oh, the joys of live theater. The final preview performance of the Broadway revival of Bye Bye Birdie was halted for about 20 minutes Wednesday night when the electronically controlled set failed to clear during a scene change. The curtain fell on the big-budget musical, which is slated to open Thursday night, and star John Stamos appeared in front of a lights-up auditorium to stall for time as technicians worked backstage. Stamos called out to fellow celebs in the audience, including comedian Don Rickles, who shouted out from his seat to rib the former Full House star to get a haircut. "Are they gonna fix it or is this going to be a weekend?" Mr. Warmth added.

Then Stamos cajoled his Full House costar, Bob Saget, who was seated in the row behind Rickles, to come on stage and help him fill the time. Saget cracked a few jokes, speaking through the mic rigged to Stamos' forehead. "I'm really glad your crotch is not miked." Stamos' Bye Bye Birdie costar Gina Gershon also came out, asking the duo to keep vamping (at one point, she reappeared with an old poster of Stamos from his teen idol days). "I saw Full House for the first time a few weeks ago at the dentist's," Gershon said. "What was that about?" Saget replied: "Oh, it's basically just like Brokeback Mountain — but as a sitcom." Saget also asked Gershon: "Gina, do something from Showgirls." (The actress obliged with a quick feathering of her hands in front of her face.) The rubber-bodied comic actor Bill Irwin, who plays the uptight father in Birdie, also emerged to perform a little clowning with the dropped curtain. After a roughly 20-minute delay, the show resumed — appropriately enough, to the production number "Put on a Happy Face" — and ran through to the curtain call without further incident.

"Accidents happen," Saget told EW after the show. "He's my brother," the comic said of Stamos. "I'd do anything for him. And he's certainly always been there for me." And noting that he had to clamber rather awkwardly onto the stage, Saget quipped, "I think I threw my knee out."
-From Entertainment Weekly.com

I'm not sure which entices me more. Saget and Stamos cracking jokes in the middle of Bye Bye Birdie, or Gina Gershon feathering her hands from Showgirls. Apparently this is when people should be going to Broadway shows. The preview performances commonly have stars in attendance (from what I've heard), and that is when all sorts of odd things could go down. It is nice to see that Saget was such a good sport about the situation. Speaking of Danny Tanner, Saget should be on a show that accentuates his brand of humor, not a sitcom like Surviving Suburbia. He's been there and done that, plus people know what he's really like now more than ever. Perhaps this little incident will persuade more people to see Bye Bye Birdie with Stamos. The fiancee and I are thinking about it. Seeing him on Broadway has to be interesting.






Malick's "Tree of Life" Delayed
Writer-director Terrence Malick's long-awaited 50s period family grieving drama "The Tree of Life" will not be released by year's end according to Thompson on Hollywood. Sean Penn and Brad Pitt star in the tale of a Midwestern boy's journey from the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as a "lost soul in the modern world", and into his quest to regain meaning in life. Apparition had tentatively scheduled a December 25th release but distribution head Bob Berney says a year-end opening was "wishful. It's definitely not going to come out this year". The reason? "it won't be finished in time". The film is now looking likely to make its debut at Cannes in May.
-From Dark Horizons

What a fall season this is turning out to be huh? No Scorsese. No Greengrass with The Green Zone. And now no Malick. What do we have to look forward to? At least we have Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones on the way. I will say one thing for Malick. His last feature was in 2005, and his next will arrive in 2010. That is only a 5 year gap between pics, which means he is getting faster with age, and that makes no sense. This is a project Malick has been building for years, and like Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds, no one was sure it would ever be made. I can't wait to see it, but if it is screened at Cannes in May, it might come out during the summer, which is a bad idea. The way it looks now, we might not see until this time next year. And if anyone can track down a copy of Malick's 1969 short film, Lanton Mills, we can be best friends. Word is he donated a copy to AFI, but under the condition that only they can watch it.






Awards in China and Montreal
Feng Xiaogang's war film "Assembly" was the big winner at China's Golden Rooster Awards, clinching best film, best director, best cinematography and best music. In the every-two-year awards announced late Saturday in Nanchang, the capital of southeastern Jiangxi province, Feng's story about the heroics of a People's Liberation Army unit during the Chinese civil war in the 1940s shared the top prize with Chen Kaige's profile of late Peking Opera star Mei Lanfang, "Forever Enthralled." Helene Cattet and Bruno Forzani¹s horror homage "Amer," a Belgium-France film that depicts three parts in a woman's life, took home the top audience award at the Festival du Nouveau Cinema. Best actor went to Wu Gang, who played a legendary oil worker in "Iron Man."

The Louve d'Or, the top prize at the Montreal Festival du Nouveau Cinema, went to the Greek pic "Dogtooth" from writer-helmer Yorgos Lanthimos. The pic, which also won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard sidebar at the Cannes Film Festival, is a disturbing portrait of a family living on the outskirts of a Greek City. The father keeps his three kids in total isolation from the rest of the world. The L'Ouve d'Or is for the best first, second or third feature in the International Section at the festival, the event's highest-profile section, and prize comes with cheque for C$15,000 ($14,500). The jury was headed by Toronto Intl. Film Festival co-director Cameron Bailey.
-From Yahoo and Variety

Some updates on festivals and award shows from around the world never hurt anyone. Feng Xiaogang's only previous film you may remember is The Legend of the Black Scorpion, recently released by Dragon Dynasty starring Ziyi Zhang. I have yet to see it, but want to soon. Assembly is available via region free Blu-Ray on Amazon, but has no theatrical or DVD release date in the US yet. Damn. They need to get on the ball or I will have to buy the Blu-Ray for a price excessively high. As for Lanthimos, Dogtooth is his third film. His first name is Giorgos on IMDB, but Yorgos in this article. Look for these films if they come into your area. No word yet on whether or not they were submitted as their country's respective Oscar selections for Best Foreign Film this year.






World Soundtrack Academy Honors
The World Soundtrack Academy announced tonight the winners of the World Soundtrack Awards 2009, the closing event of the 36th Ghent International Film Festival. The 9th edition of the World Soundtrack Awards was once again a highlight for film music professionals and fans. Two time Oscar nominee, Alexandre Desplat, was chosen as Film Composer of the Year 2009 and also took home the award for Best Original Film Score of the Year (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). Double Oscar winner, A.R. Rahman, won Best Original Song Written for Film for Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire). Nico Muhly was the World Soundtrack Academy's new discovery of the year with the score for The Reader and three time Oscar winner Marvin Hamlisch was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
-From World Soundtrack Academy.com

Alexander Desplay has been composing for films, etc. since the mid 1980's. He is a gifted composer, but the films he supplies his talents for are often less than stellar, or just plain mediocre. For every Syriana, The Queen, or The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, you have Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, and Hostage. Still his talents are evident, and he has some great projects on the horizon such as Malick's Tree of Life oddly enough and maybe Polanski's The Ghost, but God only knows what will happen there. It is worth mentioning that Ghent is in Belgium, and that festival fans there voted Carter Burwell's score for Twilight as the best. Just…wow. A.R. Rahman is still getting awards for Slumdog. Man, some one inform the world that the score of that film was not that great! And Marvin Hamlisch gets a lifetime achievement award, which is nice. The man has been nominated for 7 Oscars, and won 3. Not too shabby. I posted this news bit because we should all pay more attention to the music that guides these films. They are important.

The 20 Second Sermon

Early estimates peg James Cameron's sci-fi epic Avatar scoring an opening weekend above $75 million. Despite how you feel about the first trailer, I don't think there is any doubt that the film will be making tons of money. It's a little early for estimates, but that figure seems like a good guess. I might say higher. Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have been flapping their gums a lot this week, about the Transformers 2 fallout and the script for Star Trek 2. It's a little late to defend the Transformers 2 abomination, and it's too early for me to care about the Star Trek sequel. 8 actors have joined M. Night Shyamalan's Devil, about a group trapped in an elevator where one is the titular fallen angel. This sounds interesting, but with Shyamalan, you never know. Jon Favreau says he is not directing The Avengers. Good, the dude should take a breather from comic heroes. And in case anyone wanted to know, Vin Diesel is still very much attached to XXX: The Return of Xander Cage despite rumors to the contrary. Whew, now we can all sleep better at night.

The DVD Release Rundown for September 15th

DVD Headline of the Week



Monsoon Wedding – Criterion Collection - Mira Nair's magnificent Indian film from 2001 weaves comedy and drama beautifully as a middle class family tries to pull off a wedding without too much trouble. The direction is adept, the performances are earnest, and it manages to be both funny, moving, and informative for this culture. Buyable

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - This sequel feels incredibly long, and even tiring at times. Most of the movie is pure comedy, and it is rarely funny. The battles between the robots are passable, but the action involving humans is terrible. The bad certainly outweighed the good here. In fact, they overwhelm the good. Forgettable

Cheri - The new film from Stephen Frears, starring everyone's favorite star of Grease 2 and What Lies Beneath, Michelle Pfeiffer. I need to brush up on my Frears, but look for Erik Luers to review this soon!

Blood: The Last Vampire - This is a remake of the anime film of the same name. If I watch one, it would be the anime version. If I'm feeling really brave, I might then try to watch the new live-action rendition that has gotten abysmal reviews.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (Those Aren't Pillows Edition) - Did everyone read that title right? Yes, that is the title of the new edition, which gives you 3 mini-featurettes and one deleted scene as extras. This is one of my favorite films of all-time, but that title is an atrocity, and had it been different, it would have been the headline instead. Good grief. Still, I have to recommend it for those who don't own it. Buyable

Black Adder Remastered: The Ultimate Edition - This show, and Fawlty Towers have new editions being released. I already own Fawlty Towers because it was more modestly priced before. Black Adder was not, so this will be going on my Christmas list. The new price seems better. Buyable

The Tournament - Another film about killers getting together and trying to off each other due to a TV show where everyone watches and takes bets. This exciting thriller stars Ving Rhames, Kelly Hu, and Robert Carlyle. Count me out.

WWE: Batista: I Walk Alone - Personally, the more popular Batista got, and the more injuries he sustained, the worse his matches were. I was never really a huge fan of his, though I do appreciate how younger kids love him. This is one box set I'll be passing on. Borrow

The William Castle Collection - This Halloween, you could celebrate with Mr. Castle, and 8 of his films featuring the original 13 Ghosts and The Tingler (one of my favs) to name a few. However, this carries a steep price tag of $60, and asking that for a bunch of B-movies is a bit much.

Sherlock Holmes: The Archive Film Collection - A set with 360 minutes worth of Holmes stories from the 30's – 50's featuring various actors as Holmes and even including Boris Karloff in one film/episode. Look for more Holmes re-releases as the blockbuster movie gets closer.

Capturing Reality: The Art of the Documentary - This is directed by Pepita Ferrari, and features 38 renowned documentarians discussing their approaches and thoughts on the documentary process. This has interviews with Albert Maysles, Errol Morris, and Werner Herzog among others.

The Critic's Quickee

Paranormal Activity - So we have this decade's Blair Witch Project. This film will certainly give you a fair share of jolts, but that is not enough for me to declare a film "brilliant." The film is shot in a way that wants the viewer to think the couple is real and what is happening is real. I have heard people say that hearing noises at night has happened to all of us, and that the movie is capitalizing on this fear. Fine, I agree, but if a mainstream movie had done this, we would be bashing it. Remember An American Haunting? Don't get me wrong, for a low budget picture, this is well made, but it relies on cheap scares to thrill the audience, and after you've seen it once, chances are you won't return to revisit it repeatedly because that surprise factor is gone. I mean, look how much money Blair Witch made, and no one really talks about how great it is today. It's influence is still valid, but that's it. These types of films are more experiences than they are solid flicks if you ask me. You could almost separate the ratings. The final scene was spooky, and the psychic not giving them help was cool too. I do have one question though. If this had been happening since she was little, and followed her everywhere, why wait until now? Well, because that's when the movie is being made. And you gotta love the cleavage from Katie Featherston. Don't think that was an accident. I'm glad I saw this movie, and I thought it was competently directed by Oren Peli, but the hype overwhelms the quality in this case. Final Rating = 6.5/10.0

Whip It! - Drew Barrymore's directorial debut will not land her any gold statues, but it is enjoyable in many ways. Richard Roeper compared it to Footloose, which is true. I would call it The Bad News Bears and Footloose for girls. The problem is, Barrymore's film has the same clichés and mistakes as those movies. This plot involves roller derby instead of baseball or dancing, which makes the competitive sequences more entertaining and inventive, but the storyline is familiar and hackneyed. The substance is augmented due to the acting abilities of the cast. Ellen Page is wonderful, as is Marcia Gay Harden as her mother, and Daniel Stern as her father. Kristen Wiig, Drew Barrymore, and Juliette Lewis all have fun as members of the derby teams. Many of the scenes are a bit too lame for my tastes though, especially an underwater underwear hookup between Page and some weird looking dude in a band she likes. The main reason to see this: Alia Shawkat. Maeby from Arrested Development has grown up, and is pretty damn sexy. Final Rating = 6.5/10.0

What Have I Done?

Instead of a day by day rundown of what I did, I thought an overall summary would work better because I have done a lot of movie watching lately. It takes up a good portion of my time, especially with the alphabet special approaching. That being said, I mix it up between good and bad films. I have watched Andrei Tarkosvky's 1972 sci-fi epic Solaris for the first time, and loved it, although it is not for everyone. If you are not patient, do not take a chance on it. I've also seen a bunch of anthology films such as Tales from the Darkside: The Movie and Twilight Zone: The Movie, both of which were fun and worth watching.







I am constantly listening to new music, and I have caught up finally as I had a number of new rock albums that needed listening to. Megadeth's new album Endgame is average, similar to most of their recent work, but it has a few stand out tracks ("The Right to Go Insane"). Alice in Chains released Black Gives Way to Blue, and even though Layne Staley has passed, the band has proven they have what it takes to pump out outstanding material. It is one of my favorite rock CD's of the year. KISS released Sonic Boom, exclusively to Wal-Mart, and like most albums with half the original line-up, this set has only 1 or 2 quality songs ("Stand" and "Say Yeah"). Generally, this is not the band at their most passionate. A bit older is the Phish album Joy, which was also quite satisfying. Almost every track on it is terrific.







Other than that, the wedding planning is increasing in terms of the amount of time it takes in my schedule. I've also been watching a lot of wrestling lately, though it is random matches on "The Rise and Fall of WCW" and "The Essential Starrcade" sets. I'm thinking about getting the "Bragging Rights" PPV. Orton and Cena might be lame, but I love Iron Man matches because it usually brings out the best in the performers, and I like the storytelling aspects of it. Plus, the Iron Man encounter is only reserved for top stars, so it could be decent. I also read most of the passages from the book Scorsese on Scorsese by David Thompson and Ian Christie, and really learned a lot about the filmmaker and his interests. I highly recommend it.

And because I know you will want to know, here are the remaining Chuck Norris lines from my calendar. For November: "Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water and make him drink." Lame. For December: "Chuck Norris sleeps with a pillow under his gun." Better.

Based on the Trailer…

Newest Trailers

The Tooth Fairy - The Rock stars in this new comedy that looks dumb, but will make loads of money, and will be praised by parents because it entertained their kids for 90 minutes. Billy Crystal is in this, so I might buy a ticket just to see him unload a few one-liners. Trailer Rating = 5.5/10.0

Takers - Take every pretty boy actor/celebrity and put them in a heist movie, and you have Takers. T.I. is in this, and his acting is laughable even by the trailer. And what the hell is Matt Dillon thinking? Armored, now Takers? He needs a new agent. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10

Shutter Island (2) - This second trailer doesn't have me any less amped for Scorsese's new film. It gives a bit more plot info away, but I am still hoping this delivers the goods for February. DiCaprio certainly wanted this to be an Oscar caliber performance. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10

The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2) - This new trailer includes quotes from critics, which is smart since the targeted audience is still a bit fuzzy. Nevertheless, I think could be a fun time, and since the look is different, I am excited to see it. The voice acting is still unclear. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10

Mary and Max - This new stop-motion animated film about an unusual friendship from Oscar winner Adam Elliot looks very heartwarming, funny, and original. The voice cast is also fun. I'll be seeing it. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10

Toy Story 3 (2) - This looks brilliant, and the sooner it arrives, the better. Pixar is unstoppable. Trailer Rating = 10/10

October Releases

Cirque de Freak: A Vampire's Assistant - I suppose a quirky horror comedy like this looks hilarious and fascinating to some, but it looks incredibly lame and dull to me. Aside from the effects, I have little interest in this, and John C. Reilly can do better. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0

Astro Boy - A lot of bright colors, fancy CGI, an all-star cast, and not much else. I realize fans of the many TV series' will be excited, but this character just translates as ordinary to the big screen. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0

Motherhood - Uma Thurman stars in a movie about parenting and multi-tasking in a big city. It looks like it could deliver a nice performance from her, but the rest looks formulaic and potentially schmaltzy. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

Youth in Revolt - Michael Cera needs a hit after Year One, and I'm not sure if this will be that hit. It could be very funny or very dumb, but the likely verdict is somewhere in between. Still, it looks worth seeing. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

The Box - Ok, my feelings on Richard Kelly and Donnie Darko are well known now, but tell me with a straight face this trailer does not make you laugh a little. They actually use the line "Is someone pushing you buttons?" in reference to the box. This does seem somewhat intriguing, but I would put money on it being horrendous. Trailer Rating = 5.5/10.0

Gentlemen Broncos - I've never been a fan of Jared Hess' work, and this does not look like new territory for him. The jokes were not very funny, and the story is weak. Trailer Rating = 5.5/10.0

St. Trinian's - A crazy comedy about a school for girls. This features Rupert Everett in multiple roles, Colin Firth, Russell Brand, and many others. This could be fun, but it could also be way too silly. I'm on the fence at this point. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

Antichrist Lars Von Trier, the director of Dogville and Manderlay, is behind this new psychological thriller/horror effort. It just might be decent, but with Willem Dafoe, one never can tell. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

Antichrist (2) - My tickets are pre-ordered for an early screening. This trailer has me more pumped for the film, and with Jars Von Trier, you never know what to expect. The quotes from the critics heighten the disturbing factors. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Amelia - I am anxious to see this since I've researched the history a little bit. The cast looks tremendous, so it should be terrific. The various words at the end of the trailer were lame, but otherwise this has me excited. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

The Road - This is based on a Cormac McCarthy novel, the same person who wrote the book to No Country for Old Me. I had no idea this was about the end of civilization. I am disappointed somewhat, but it could be good since Viggo and Charlize are the leads. These types of storylines always have the potential to be terrible though. The release date for this has already been pushed a number of times. I hope the final cut is better than this trailer. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

Saw VI - The poster ad was very cool, but this teaser is not. Actually, it is very disappointing and uncreative unlike the rest of the marketing campaign. I am still of fan of the series, so I hope this sequel delivers. Trailer Rating = 5.5/10.0

November Releases

Precious - This is about how life can be very hard sometimes. The cast includes Mariah Carey and Mo'Nique, both of whom look to be outstanding, and I can't believe I just wrote that, but it's true. See for yourself. This looks to be a winner. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

The Fantastic Mr. Fox - This film looks like a blast, and the animation looks outstanding. Wes Anderson uses many of his regulars here, which is fine, but George Clooney does not have a good voice for animation. Everytime I hear him I picture his face. Oh well, I'll definitely see this. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

The Boat that Rocked - I love music, so this is right up my alley. It's about a radio station on a boat, one that helped give rock music to the world. It stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Nick Frost. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Ninja Assassin - This looks certifiably awesome. The kid at the beginning of this trailer should beat up the kid from The Last Airbender. I am for action films, but when you include throwing stars and chains, I am amped. I can't wait to see this. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Planet 51 - This could be a fairly amusing CGI film. The animation looks nice, but this has few voices, and no real clue as to how funny it will be. I am still unsure, but it might be good, and it might not. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

The Men Who Stare at Goats - This looks hilarious, and with this cast, and the comedic tone, it reminds me of a Coens picture. Plus, any trailer that uses Boston's "More Than a Feeling" is instantly awesome. I can't wait for this. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0

Up in the Air - The new film from Director Jason Reitman has a very memorable trailer with George Clooney speaking over highlights of the film. The cast looks terrific, and the storyline is still just mysterious enough. Reitman's previous 2 efforts were in my top 10's for their years, so I'm looking forward to this. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

Old Dogs - John Travolta and Robin Williams lead an all-star cast in a comedy from the director of Wild Hogs. This will make a lot of money. I think it looks dumb and over the top, but it might be worth a laugh or two. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0

FUEL - It looks like The Cove has competition for this year's documentary Oscar. This does look good, and with luck, it will make a difference. I think the title will give you an idea of the topic. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Me and Orson Welles - Roger Ebert has a notable quote in this teaser, but the trailer still leaves much of the premise a mystery, and with Efron as the lead, that can be a problem. The story concerns theater. Still, Richard Linklater is directing, and I love Claire Danes, so I am intrigued enough to see this. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

The Fourth Kind - Now, this is a creepy trailer, especially for those who remember that alien abduction segment from Unsolved Mysteries. This is similar, and the mixing of archive footage and fiction is genius. I will be watching this one for sure. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

The Twilight Saga: New Moon - Boy does this look retarded. The sequels will no doubt increase the hatred for this series. The were-wolf morphing is truly retarded. I say pass. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0

2012 - This teaser has been circulating for awhile, but I felt the need to rate it anyway. Roland Emmerich tackles another disaster epic, this one showcasing a flood. Gee, we have never seen any movies about cataclysmic floods before. I suddenly long to watch Knowing again for originality. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

The Blind Side - This trailer tugs at your heart strings, and Bullock looks to be trying in her performance for once. This could be a surprise hit, although Bullock's accent might get old. The trailer gives a bit too much away though. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

2012 (2) - This looks insane, but right up Roland Emmerich's alley. The special effects look incredible, but plot seems to be an exact replica of the last 20 disaster epics. Still, the powerful images will probably be enough to drag me to the theater. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

Broken Embraces - The new drama from Pedro Almodovar. It looks appropriately strange, but that's not unusually for him. Penelope Cruz looks good as always, but I am not as fond of Pedro as others. Still, I'm sure I'll see this. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans - Nicolas Cage, Val Kilmer, and Werner Herzog. Hell yes! This could be bad or good, but I have faith in Herzog to elicit the best from this quirky cast. This story looks bizarre, but with Herzog, a trailer is never as good as the full feature. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Nine - The new musical from Rob Marshall (Chicago) looks to be infused with Fellini-esque qualities, which is a good thing. The cast certainly qualifies for the all-star label, and story looks entertaining, so I'm there. This should be fantastic. I mean come on, Dame Judi Dench and Daniel Day-Lewis are just the tip of the iceberg. This is one of my most anticipated for 2009. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

The Boondock Saints II: All Saint's Day - At long last it is finally here. Troy Duffy returns with his sophomore effort as a filmmaker. This looks bad a$$, and I can't wait. I hope it delivers the goods. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

December Releases

Everybody's Fine - Robert De Niro stars as a father trying to re-connect with his children. This strikes me as a little dull, but since it has an all-star cast, I am sure it will do good business. I'm not that impressed. De Niro needs a better project. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

Brothers - From Jim Sheridan, the man who gave us In America and Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Gyllenhaal rocks a beard, Natalie Portman has long hair again, and Tobey Maguire plays an insane soldier. I cannot wait to see this, though I do need to see the original. One of the best trailers I've seen this year. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

It's Complicated - This is one of Meryl Streep's paycheck roles, kind of like Prime. This looks like it could be humorous, but it will probably be tailored for older folks. Steve Martin seems to have landed a nice role. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

The Lovely Bones - This is my most anticipated film of the year, and it looks great, although the trailer does have some melodramatic acting, but still, the cast is terrific, and the special effects look magnificent. I really hope this turns out well. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

Sherlock Holmes - Guy Ritchie is sending mixed signals with this one. I am anxious to see it, but this trailer shows an action film, and call me old fashioned, but I kind of prefer the mystery to outweigh the action. However, Rachel McAdams looks damn sexy and Kurrgan is involved, so those are both positive points. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

The Princess and the Frog - It's about time Disney returned to hand drawn animation. This looks to be a lot of fun, and very much in the spirit of the classic tales they used to adapt when Walt was around…maybe he still is. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

Avatar - Well, I wasn't knocked off my seat or anything, but the film certainly looks entertaining, the effects look great, and the story is intriguing. The only thing that threw me was the appearance of the aliens, which looks weird, but otherwise I'm still excited for this. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Did You Hear About the Morgans? - Romcoms like this make me want to vomit. Hugh Grant is fine, but he is barely trying here, and you can tell. Sarah Jessica Parker can't do anything but this type of trash. I have no desire to see a story about an annoying couple in witness protection. Trailer Rating = 3.0/10.0


January, TBD, and Beyond Releases

Tron: Legacy - Gimme a hell yeah! I can't wait for this. I loved the original, and after seeing Jeff Bridges act like a bad a$$, I am so there. I hope the CGI is as outstanding as it looks. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

Alice in Wonderland - This trailer pushes Depp as the star, but his character is not in the story for very long. Oh well, it looks pretty good, but Burton needs to lay off the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory bright colors. Still, I love the Disney film, and if this is weirder, I'm game. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

The White Ribbon - This is one of my most anticipated fall releases. Haneke's films are all memorable film experiences, and this should continue that trend. It is also in black & white, which I dig. I have tickets for this already as well. It should be terrific. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

The Young Victoria - This year's headlining British period piece has Oscar written all over it. What I did not realize at first was that it is directed by Jean-Marc Vallee, the director of the brilliant C.R.A.Z.Y.. This stars Emily Blunt, and I'm looking forward to it. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

My Son My Son, What Have Ye Done - David Lynch presents a Werner Herzog film. The two of them together is a film biffs fantasy for sure. And the cast includes Michael Shannon and Willem Dafoe. Dafoe has a big fall season. The plot looks average by the trailer, but because of who is directing, I will definitely be seeing it. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

The Book of Eli - An action flick starring Denzel Washington with a machete and Gary Oldman as the villain (I assume). Who says good ideas are dead? This is from the Hughes Brothers, a very underrated directing team. This movie looks very tubular. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Dorian Gray - Excuse me while I laugh at the ridiculousness of this trailer. You have a British costume drama laced, complete with pretentious acting, laced with horror? They even have a line that says "If I tell you, I'd have to kill you." Pass. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0

Hot Tub Time Machine - I have to admit, this looks as hysterical as it does stupid. This is the red band trailer, which makes it look ten times better than any lame regular one. John Cusack should do more comedies like this. I'm game. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

Ong Bak 2 - This trailer begins with the "Magnet" logo, letting all viewers recall that it is the same company who messed up the Let the Right One In subtitles. Anyway, Tony Jaa stars in this prequel, but I need to see the first one yet, so until I do, I'll tell you my interest for this is about average. I hated Jaa's The Protector. Looks like this involves elephants too. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

The Wolfman - It reminds me of the Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mary Shelly's Frankenstein remakes, which is fine I guess. Benicio should be awesome, Hopkins is Hopkins, and the rest is average to me. It could go either way, but I'll see it for sure. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

Sorority Row - Wow, this looks like putrid trash. It even copies the bulk of its story from I Know What You Did Last Summer, which is not a good thing, and then you have Carrie Fisher for no reason. Pass. Trailer Rating = 2.5/10.0

Legion - It is hard to take this concept seriously when an old lady goes demon berserk in the first clip. The premise of angels attacking is thought provoking, but the execution seems unfocused and interested in CGI mostly. Paul Bettany is an underrated talent, but this looks mediocre at best. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0

When in Rome - Mark Steven Johnson gives us a romcom that looks terrible by this trailer. Kristin Bell and Josh Duhamel star in this sappy looking film with a bad story twist. Will Arnett and some of the supporting characters look humorous, but that's about it. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0

Rampage - This is a Uwe Boll film, and I don't think it's based on a game. Here's the wild twist: It doesn't look half bad. It actually could be ok. Did I really just write that? The story follows a guy who goes crazy on society. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

Giallo - An intriguing horror mystery from Dario Argento, which looks to be solid by the looks of it. Adrien Brody seems odd in the role from these clips, but I'd certainly see this just because Argento is at the helm. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

The Vintner's Luck - A love story about wine, involving angels? This looks so bizarre, but Vera Farmiga is in it, and Keisha Castle-Hughes, so it could be a surprise. I'm still undecided. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

Inception - Christopher Nolan's upcoming sci-fi mind trip film looks outstanding, and the cast is as good as it gets. A lot is still a mystery, but I'm psyched! Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

The Descent Part 2 - I love the first film, but this looks like more of the same, only with less competent direction, and more emphasis on the creatures. I hope this doesn't get much attention. I would hate to see the legacy of the first ruined by what looks like a sub-par sequel. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0

South of the Border - Oliver Stone's new documentary on 5 Presidents from South American countries, and how they are viewed in the US media. This looks interesting, but I just hope it is not in the vein of Michael Moore. Still, I do want to see it. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

Veronika Decides to Die - This looks somewhat dull, but could result in a decent Sarah Michelle Gellar performance. That, and it has David Thewlis, who is a wonderful actor. The title explains the plot. I'm still undecided, but I may see this. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

It's Alive - This is a remake of the 1974 film, and boy does it look stupid. I guess I need to see the original at some point, but this does not have me excited to do so. Plus, the tagline is so dumb. Trailer Rating = 3.0/10.0

Valentine's Day - It might be easier to list who isn't in this film. This is the latest hyperlink movie, a romcom, that will the equivalent of He's Just Not That Into You. Some of the cast looks good, and others are irritating. I'm sure I'll end up seeing it though. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0

Daybreakers - A world where almost everyone is a vampire. This story actually seems intelligent, whereas most vampire plots these days are crap. Ethan Hawke seems to be channeling his Gattaca roots here. The song from Placebo is very effective in the trailer also. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Toy Story 3 - This is an early teaser, but it still gets me excited. I can't wait for this, and I've heard it if fantastic from footage screened early. It has a tough act to follow, but I have faith. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

I Love You Philip Morris - Well, this looks interesting. I still haven't figured out if it is more of a comedy or a drama, despite the fact that the trailer says comedy. Still, the premise is odd enough, and the fact that Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor are the stars has me intrigued. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

Cemetery Junction - The first feature film from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, with Ralph Fiennes. I can't wait. This is Gervais' year to become a bigger star than he already is. Even though this had no clips from the films, it still makes me want to see it. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

Shutter Island - Martin Scorsese's new film looks outstanding, and yes, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio, but who cares? They do great things together. The cast looks terrific, and the plot seems intriguing. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0

The Last Airbender - From Director M. Night Shyamalan comes this live-action film based on anime. This looks interesting, and maybe a bit epic, but it could go either way. You never know with Shyamalan. Too early to tell here. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief - I know now that this is based on a series of books. This looks intriguing and fun, much better than many fantasy films these days, but the title certainly throws unsuspecting viewers for a loop. Still, I'll be seeing it. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Despicable Me - Universal releases a very bizarre looking animated film about stealing priceless landmarks. The voice cast looks great, but I'm not sure how I feel about this yet. It didn't make me laugh so much as it made me tilt my head and say "WTF?" Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

Other Stuff to Read

The Best Movies of the Alphabet
The Best and Worst Bond Films.
411 September Roundtable - This month Owain J. Brimfield continues as roundtable host and compiles the thoughts of the movie zone staff on the releases for September! The MeeThinks Friday FreeThinks - Thanks again to John Meehan for providing my banner here, and for the Alphabet feature.

Also, keep an eye out for more comic book character timelines in the future. Here are the first two:

The Ultimate Batman Timeline
The Ultimate Daredevil Timeline



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