Now that summer is over, it’s time to get serious and start generating some Oscar buzz. Get the lowdown from Hollywood.com’s movie critics on what movies to watch out for this fall.
BRIAN’S PICKS
[IMG:L]Eastern Promises
Who: Naomi Watts, Viggo Mortensen, Vincent Cassel; directed by David Cronenberg
What: Stone-cold Russian mobster Nikolai (Mortensen) and midwife Anna (Watts) cross paths at a London hospital, and when a patient dies while giving birth, the mystery and investigation that ensue threaten to ignite a murderous domino effect.
Why: Cronenberg and Mortensen saying yes to a movie might just be the sincerest form of cinematic flattery. These two, previous collaborators on 2005’s powerful A History of Violence, choose projects carefully and sporadically, so any material that piques their collective interest must be something special—and heavy. With seasoned pros Watts and Cassel (Derailed) also in the mix, the pieces are in place for a well-acted, deep, potentially disturbing thriller, Cronenberg-style. And if some rumored highly graphic scenes aren’t too much for Academy members to stomach, don’t be surprised to hear the Oscar talk starting very early this fall.
When: Sept. 14
[IMG:R]Into the Wild
Who: Emile Hirsch, Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn, William Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden; directed by Sean Penn
What: Based on a true story (and its best-selling book), Into the Wild centers on 22-year-old Christopher McCandless (Hirsch), a recent college grad who had what most modern people would call “everything”—which he promptly gave up to live out his days in the Alaskan wilderness.
Why: Grizzly man Werner Herzog (Rescue Dawn) might have been the safe choice to direct this nature-set movie, but it’ll be much more interesting and unpredictable to see where Penn takes it. Armed with an incredibly deep cast led by Hirsch (Alpha Dog)—who gets lost in each character he plays much the same way his director does—and a majestic setting that’s as much a character as anyone in the film, Wild is likely to be one of the more intriguing offerings this fall. Plus, in a season already overflowing with Iraq War-themed movies, this story is unique and refreshing, even if ultimately harrowing.
When: Sept. 21
[IMG:L]The Darjeeling Limited
Who: Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody; directed by Wes Anderson
What: Following the death of their father, three brothers (Schwartzman, Wilson and Brody) attempt to rekindle their love and unbreakable bond—by trekking through India via train.
Why: Even after the flop that was 2004’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Wes Anderson’s releases are cause for great excitement. The indie god is truly one of a kind in his sensibilities, and there’s every reason to think that his latest, co-written by costars Schwartzman and Roman Coppola (Francis Ford Coppola‘s nephew and son, respectively), is a successful return to his more offbeat, familial tastes. Taking place on a train and throughout India, Darjeeling also seems the perfect setting for Anderson’s trademark quirkiness and attention to detail, both verbally and visually, to thrive like never before. Oscar winner Brody’s admission to the Anderson troupe doesn’t exactly hurt either.
When: Sept. 21
[IMG:R]American Gangster
Who: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor; directed by Ridley Scott
What: Another in the long line of “true story” movies this fall, Gangster is based on the life of Harlem drug kingpin Frank Lucas (Washington), who smuggled heroin from Vietnam into the country via U.S. soldiers’ caskets, and the cop (Crowe) itching to take him down.
Why: The proper reunion between Gladiator’s star and director—last year’s disastrous A Good Year shouldn’t even count—is all well and good, but it’s not every day that you get two of the very best actors in the same movie (as adversaries, no less). That’s the main draw here. And what might be this year’s The Departed in terms of grittiness and F-bombs, Gangster could also rack up several Oscar nominations (especially with Brian Grazer producing), among them Best Actor—thus begging the question: Which of the two leads (and former Best Actor winners) would get the Best Actor nod in such a scenario? Both? Good luck with that one, Academy!
When: Nov. 2
[IMG:L]Fred Claus
Who: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Kevin Spacey, Rachel Weisz; directed by David Dobkin
What: Following a fight with his girlfriend (Weisz), Fred Claus (Vaughn) leaves Chicago to move back home—which happens to be the North Pole. There he interrupts the steady workflow of the elves and gets on the nerves of his brother, Santa (Giamatti).
Why: Christmas movies come earlier and further from Christmas each year, so what better way to commence the “season” than with this Wedding Crashers reunion between Vaughn and director Dobkin. Granted, it is the polar—pun intended—opposite of that extremely R-rated comedy, but it’s easy to see notorious ranters Vaughn and Giamatti putting a (much-needed) refreshing spin on the X-mas-themed fam-com. Speaking of Giamatti, could there be a better physical match to play Kris Kringle? Not exactly a compliment, but still.
When: Nov. 9
HONORABLE MENTIONS
[IMG:R]3:10 to Yuma (Sept. 7)
This remake of the 1957 film finds director James Mangold (Walk the Line) trying to save the dying Western but not without formidable star power: Christian Bale and Russell Crowe play a law-abider and an outlaw, respectively, with the former trying to bring the latter to justice by way of the title train ride. If Mangold waters down the Old West like he did Johnny Cash’s life story it could be the nail in the genre’s coffin, but the two picky lead actors’ mere involvement is a very positive sign. Either way, watching Bale and Crowe square off against each other is well worth the price of admission—and maybe even some popcorn.
[IMG:L]In the Valley of Elah (Sept. 14)
The first of several Iraq War-connected movies this fall, Paul Haggis’ Elah is about the disappearance of a recently returned soldier and the subsequent search by his father (Tommy Lee Jones) and a detective (Charlize Theron). Just as Haggis’ (surprise) 2004 Oscar winner Crash wasn’t only about race, you can be sure his latest isn’t only an antiwar movie. Enjoy the movie or not, you’ll likely find yourself discussing it with someone—and that is probably the prolific writer/director’s biggest contribution to contemporary film.
[IMG:R]Rendition (Oct. 19)
While Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal’s rumored off-screen collabo has recently grabbed the headlines, it could be their onscreen work that sparks chatter—the good kind—come this fall. Headlining a cast that includes Meryl Streep, Peter Sarsgaard and Alan Arkin, Witherspoon stars in this Syriana-like drama as a woman whose Egyptian husband (Omar Metwally) is being held in secret by our government; Gyllenhaal’s CIA agent investigates the abduction. It’s Rendition’s least-recognizable name, however, that lends the most credibility to its global/political scope: director Gavin Hood, whose Tsotsi won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar two years ago. Here’s hoping it at least outdoes the pace of Syriana.
[IMG:L]Things We Lost in the Fire (Oct. 26)
In a premise that may seem superficially similar to that of 21 Grams, Things We Lost is about a man (Benicio Del Toro) who moves in with a widow (Halle Berry) following the death of her husband (David Duchovny), and they try to help each other recover from their respective ills. But although Del Toro stars in both movies as damaged men, one character is a heroin addict (Things We Lost) and the other a bible-quoting God fearer (21 Grams)—which is apples and oranges in the world of tragic roles. It’s nonetheless gloomy stuff and for adults only, but (a) the criminally underappreciated Del Toro doesn’t grace us with his presence very often and (b) it marks the possible return of Berry to—drum roll, please—a good role, something she’s been allergic to since winning an Oscar six years ago.
[IMG:R]Margot at the Wedding (Nov. 16)
The ingredients are in place for a slump by Noah Baumbach, namely the huge stars—i.e. Nicole Kidman as the disapproving soon-to-be sister-in-law (Margot) of Jack Black, who is set to marry Jennifer Jason Leigh (Baumbach‘s real-life wife)—that have aligned for his small movie, but if The Squid and the Whale was any indication, his intellect won’t allow it. The Wes Anderson understudy and onetime co-writer touches on the simple/complex dynamic of the human condition and has a wit matched only by Anderson himself. Count Kidman among his many die-hard fans, and potentially count her among the early crop of Best Actress candidates, thanks to her best role since snagging an Oscar five years ago (see also: Halle Berry, above).
Click here for Kit’s Picks
[PAGEBREAK]KIT’S PICKS
[IMG:L]The Kingdom
Who: Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Chris Cooper; directed by Peter Berg
What: When a terrorist bomb is detonated inside a Western housing compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, an international incident is ignited. While diplomats slowly debate equations of territorialism, FBI Special Agent Ronald Fleury (Foxx) quickly assembles an elite team and negotiates a secret five-day trip into Saudi Arabia to locate the madman behind the bombing. In other words, they’ll kick ass now and ask questions later.
Why: Actor/director Berg (Friday Night Lights) is an edgy, frenetic filmmaker who likes to temper his action with some humor. So tackling a terrorist actioner, with wiseacres Foxx and Bateman onboard, seems right up the director’s alley. But what was fun at first proved more difficult as time went on. The Kingdom shoot was plagued with numerous problems, including serious bouts of heat exhaustion and injuries–and even a few fatalities, including prop master Nick Papac, who was killed in an on-set vehicle collision. “It galvanized all of us to honor Nick with every creative fiber in our bodies,” Berg told Entertainment Weekly. Let’s see if all the hard work–and heartache—pays off.
When: Sept. 28
[IMG:R]The Heartbreak Kid
Who: Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan, Malin Akerman, Rob Corddry; directed by Bobby and Peter Farrelly
What: In this remake of the 1972 Charles Grodin comedy, Stiller plays Eddie, an eternal bachelor who has never been able to commit. After being teased by his friends over and over, Eddie hastily weds a woman (Akerman) he thinks is perfect–until he realizes during their honeymoon that she isn’t perfect at all. Instead of making it work, he falls in love with another woman (Monaghan), who is definitely the real deal.
Why: We almost forgot what how much fun a Stiller/Farrelly brothers’ R-rated comedy is, it’s been so long since the boys turned one in. Yes, they are messing with an established comedy classic, but we’re just so darn glad to have the There’s Something About Mary, seminalfluid-lovin’ gang together again!
When: Oct. 5
[IMG:L]Michael Clayton
Who: George Clooney, Sydney Pollack, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson; directed by Tony Gilroy
What: Michael Clayton (Clooney) is an in-house PR guy, or “fixer,” at one of the largest corporate law firms in New York, cleaning up the firm’s dirtiest messes. But when the firm’s top litigator, the brilliant Arthur Edens (Wilkinson), has an apparent breakdown and tries to sabotage a case with an agrochemical company, Clayton is sent in to tackle the unprecedented disaster and, in so doing, comes face to face with the reality of who he has become.
Why: The cast alone sells it. Writer and first-time director Gilroy (who wrote the screenplays for all three Bourne movies) must be pinching himself with his luck. Plus, there hasn’t been a good conspiracy-filled legal drama in a while, especially one in which the main character wrestles with his soul and the need for redemption. And if that character’s Clooney, well, forget about it. Hearts will wrench.
When: Oct. 5
[IMG:R]Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Who: Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush, Abbie Cornish, Samantha Morton; directed by Shekhar Kapur
What: Reprising her Oscar-nominated role as Queen Elizabeth I, Blanchett plays the Virgin Queen heading into middle age. Of course, she still faces war, bloodlust for her throne and familial betrayal more than ever before. But as Elizabeth struggles to balance ancient royal duties, she also deals with an unexpected vulnerability in her love for Sir Walter Raleigh (Owen), even if he remains forbidden for a queen who has sworn body and soul to her country. Meanwhile, Elizabeth’s trusted advisor Sir Francis Walshingham (Rush) continues to help maintain her campaign to solidify absolute power.
Why: If it worked the first time, why not get the crew who gave us the Oscar-nominated Elizabeth together again and continue the saga. And so what if there’s been a glut of Queen Elizabeth (I and II) movies starring Helen Mirren; the Virgin Queen is one of history’s most fascinating monarchs, and to see the brilliant Blanchett tackle the role should be worth its weight in what could be more Oscar gold.
When: Oct.12
[IMG:L]No Country for Old Men
Who: Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Woody Harrelson, Kelly MacDonald; directed by Ethan and Joel Coen
What: Based on the book by Cormac McCarthy, the thriller begins when Llewelyn Moss (Brolin) finds a pickup truck surrounded by dead bodies and loaded with heroin and $2 million in cash. When Moss takes the money, he sets off a chain reaction of catastrophic violence that not even the law–namely aging, disillusioned Sheriff Bell (Jones)–can contain. Moss tries to evade his pursuers, in particular a mysterious mastermind (Bardem) who flips coins for human lives.
Why: This year’s fall slate could be characterized as the rise of the director. We’ve got efforts from David Cronenberg, Wes Anderson, the Farrelly bros and Ridley Scott. And now, the always compelling Coen brothers, who definitely seem like they are in a Fargo frame of mind: the intense violence, the criminally insane and most assuredly some dark humor thrown in for good measure. Plus, from the preview, Bardem looks like he could top this year’s most terrifying villains list. Definitely a must-see.
When: Nov. 21
HONORABLE MENTIONS
[IMG:R]Shoot ‘Em Up (Sept. 7)
From the title, are we to assume there will be a plethora of guns and gunfire? Oh, hell yeah! Clive Owen stars in this action-packed thriller as Mr. Smith, a mysterious loner who inadvertantly finds himself in a mess of trouble with a very determined criminal, played by a deliciously over-the-top Paul Giamatti. Mr. Smith teams up with an unlikely ally (Monica Bellucci) to protect a newborn baby from said bad guy, who hunts them throughout the bowels of the city. Who says action flicks are only for the summer?
[IMG:L]The Brave One (Sept. 14)
This movie has a few things going for it. First, Jodie Foster’s back to doing what she does so very well–playing a woman driven to extremes. She stars as a New York radio host whose perfect life is shattered when a brutal attack leaves her badly wounded and her fiancé dead. Unable to move past the tragedy, Erica begins a dark pursuit of justice, prowling the city streets at night to track down the men she holds responsible, with a dogged police detective (Terrence Howard) hot on her trail. The second thing? Director Neil Jordan (The Crying Game) is at the helm–and we know he’s good at this kind of movie.
[IMG:R]Bee Movie (Nov. 2)
When Jerry Seinfeld decides to come out of semi-retirement, what does he do? An animated movie about bees. Hmmm. But costar Chris Rock isn’t surprised. ”Some of his best bits were just about being a kid. So I knew he would knock animation out of the park,” the comedian told Entertainment Weekly. Seinfeld brings to life one Barry B. Benson, a graduate bee fresh out of college who is disillusioned with his lone career choice of making honey–until, that is, he discovers humans are mass consumers of honey and decides to sue the human race for stealing bees’ honey. OK, that sounds more like the Seinfeld we know and love.
[IMG:L]Lions for Lambs (Nov. 9)
As a serious socio-political drama from the liberal mind of director Robert Redford (who also stars), this film has grand potential to get people talking and inevitably reap those golden statuettes come February. Lions for Lambs ricochets between three separate plotlines: Redford plays a professor whose ex-pupils (Derek Luke and Michael Pena) ignore his advice and embark on their first tour of duty in Afghanistan; the professor then mentors a disaffected student (newcomer Andrew Garfield); and a Republican senator (Tom Cruise) summons a journalist (Meryl Streep) to his Capitol Hill office for an in-depth conversation about the war. This is no Bee Movie, that’s for darn sure.
[IMG:R]Beowulf (Nov. 16)
Based on the Old English legend, the film revolves around the Scandinavian warrior Beowulf (Ray Winstone), who must fight and defeat the monster Grendel (Crispin Glover) from terrorizing towns, and later, Grendel’s mother (Angelina Jolie), who begins killing out of revenge. A tale this old should be updated and in the hands of motion-capture-technology innovator Robert Zemeckis (The Polar Express). And it should be–at the very least–spectacular to look at.
[IMG:L]Enchanted (Nov. 21)
Ah, and one for the kiddies. This tale follows the beautiful–and animated–princess Giselle (Amy Adams) as she is banished by an evil queen from her magical, musical land–and finds herself in the gritty reality of the streets of modern-day Manhattan. Shocked by this strange new environment, Giselle is now adrift in a chaotic world badly in need of enchantment. But when Giselle begins to fall in love with a charmingly flawed divorce lawyer (Patrick Dempsey) who has come to her aid–even though she is already promised to a perfect fairy-tale prince back home–she has to wonder: Can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world? The beautiful animated princess in me thinks so.
