Fall Movie Preiview

Here are the ten films I’m most looking forward to this fall (in release date order). 

DON JON [Sept. 27]
GENRE: Romantic Comedy
STARRING: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson
DIRECTOR: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (new)
WRITER: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (new)
PLOT: The film deals with false fantasies of romantic comedies, pornography and media culture.
WHY I’M EXCITED: Should be interesting.

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET [Nov. 15]
GENRE: Biography Drama
STARRING: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill
DIRECTOR: Martin Scorsese (The Departed)
WRITER: Terence Winter (Boardwalk Empire)
PLOT: The films follows hard-partying Jordan Belfort and his dramatic rise and fall on Wall Street.
WHY I’M EXCITED: Scorsese & DiCaprio rock

HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE [Nov. 22]
GENRE: Action Drama
STARRING: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson
DIRECTOR: Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend)
WRITERS: Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) and others
PLOT: Katniss & Peeta are on the Victor’s Tour and stirring up rebellion
WHY I’M EXCITED: I liked the first film.

AMERICAN HUSTLE [Dec.13 limited, Dec. 25 wide]
GENRE: Drama
STARRING: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper
DIRECTOR: David O Russell (Silver Linings Playbook)
WRITERS: Eric Warren Singer (The International) & Russell
PLOT: Seventies con men are forced to work with the feds to take down the mafia in New Jersey.
WHY I’M EXCITED: Russell’s all-star team and their hair

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG [Dec. 13]
GENRE: Adventure Fantasy
STARRING: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen
DIRECTOR: Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings)
WRITERS: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Jackson (LOTR)
PLOT: The continuing story of Bilbo helping the dwarves reclaim their kingdom
WHY I’M EXCITED: Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug

SAVING MR. BANKS [Dec. 13 limited, Dec. 20 wide]
GENRE: Biography, Comedy, Drama
STARRING: Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson
DIRECTOR: John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side)
WRITER: Kelly Marcel (Terra Nova)
PLOT: Walt Disney tries to persuade the writer of Mary Poppins to let him adapt her novel for the screen.
WHY I’M EXCITED: Trailer makes it look like a lot fun.

THE MONUMENTS MEN [Dec. 18]
GENRE: Action, Thriller
STARRING: George Clooney, Matt Damon
DIRECTOR: George Clooney(Ides of March)
WRITERS: Grant Heslov & Clooney (Good Night & Good Luck)
PLOT: Based on true story of a group soldiers trying to preserve precious works of art during WWII.
WHY I’M EXCITED: Clooney directs Bill Murray.

ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES [Dec. 20]
GENRE: Comedy
STARRING: Will Ferrell, Steve Carell
DIRECTOR: Adam McKay (Anchorman)
WRITERS: Will Ferrell & McKay (Talladega Nights)
PLOT: The San Diego news team led by Ron Burgundy embark on the first 24 hour news channel
WHY I’M EXCITED: Loved the first one. Ferrell-tastic.

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY [Dec. 25]
GENRE: Comedy Drama
STARRING: Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep
DIRECTOR: John Wells (ER)
WRITER: Tracy Letts (plays)
PLOT: Based on the award winning play about the strong-willed women of a Midwestern family.
WHY I’M EXCITED: Check out the amazing full cast.

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY [Sept. 27]
GENRE: Adventure Comedy
STARRING: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig
DIRECTOR: Ben Stiller (Zoolander)
WRITER: Steve Conrad (The Pursuit of Happyness)
PLOT: A dreamer lives in a fantasy world of romance and action. But then has to do so in the real life
WHY I’M EXCITED: It looks very quirky and fun.

Here are some other ones that I am curious about:
Sept 20: Parkland (JFK Assassination story);  Oct 4: Gravity (Alfonso Cuaron directs Sandra Bullock); Oct 4: Runner Runner (Ben Affleck & Justin Timberlake gamble); Oct 11: Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks saves his ship); Oct 18: Escape Plan (Stallone & Schwarzenegger prison break); Oct 18: The Fifth Estate (Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange); Oct 18: Romeo & Juliet (Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) does the bard); Nov 1: Ender’s Game (Harrison Ford); Nov 8: Thor: The Dark World (the  sequel); Nov 20: Her (Spike Jonze story about a man and his computer); Nov 22: Nebraska (Alexander Payne black and white film); Nov 27: Oldboy (A Spike Lee joint); Dec 25: Jack Ryan (Kenneth Branaugh directs Chris Pine as the new Jack); Dec 25: Labor Day (new Jason Reitman film but only in limited release so I probably have to wait until January).  

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Breaking Bad farewell; Don Jon 

Film: Monsters University

GENRE: Animated Comedy
RATING: G for minor scariness
RUNTIME: 1 hours and 44minutes
STARRING: Billy Crystal (When Harry Met Sally, Monsters Inc.)
John Goodman (Roseanne, Argo); Helen Mirren (The Queen, RED)
DIRECTOR: Dan Scanlon (newcomer)
WRITERS: Dan Scanlon (shorts) & Daniel Gerson (Monsters Inc)
PLOT: A prequel where we get to experience when Mike and Sully first met each other on the campus of Monsters University.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 I was never the biggest fan on Monsters Inc, I loved Boo and all but I found that I didn’t care too much about the monsters. For this film, I got see a whole bunch of fun characters (minus Boo of course) and found myself way more invested. This film is sheer fun.
2 I enjoyed many of the new characters but the one I love the most was furry Art voiced by Charlie Day (Horrible Bosses). He had the funniest lines and I loved the way he moved. Very creative stuff.
3 Mirren’s Dean Hardscrabble’s was perfectly drawn.
4 I understand that this Mike Wazowski was younger but I felt the retainer seemed more high school than university.
5 Mike as disco-ball gag wasn’t in the film. Too bad.

RECOMMENDATION: Can wait for DVD but fun in theatres
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Despicable Me 2; Lone Ranger

Film: This is The End

GENRE: Comedy / Action
RATING: 18A for crude sexual content, drug use, violence
RUNTIME: 1 hours and 47minutes
STARRING: Seth Rogen (Knocked Up, Superbad, 50/50)
Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up); James Franco (Spiderman, 127 Hours)
Jonah Hill (Moneyball, Superbad); Craig Robinson (The Office)
DIRECTORS: Evan Goldberg & Seth Rogen (newcomers)
WRITERS: Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg (Pineapple Express)
PLOT: Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel attend a party at James Franco’s house when the apocalypse happens.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 A pretty genius concept. This film is twenty times funnier because the actors are playing exaggerated versions of themselves. Some great self-depreciating humour throughout. Unfortunately it gets a little too crude at times.
2 Some great cameos at the party. I bet there was a long list of comedians and young actors who wanted to appear at this rager. They all get some fun lines and moments no matter how limited.
3 Michael Cera steals the show at the party. Wow!
4 Loved the exorcism of Jonah Hill.
5 The directors had some very fun music choices, especially the closing number.  

RECOMMENDATION: Theatres – people will be talking about it
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Much Ado About Nothing

Film: Star Trek Into Darkness

GENRE: Action / Sci-Fi
RATING: PG for intense sequences of action & violence
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 12 minutes
STARRING: Chris Pine (Unstoppable, This Means War)
Zachary Quinto (Heroes); Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock)
DIRECTOR: JJ Abrams (Super 8, MI:III, Alias, Lost)
WRITERS: Robert Orci & Alex Kurtzman (Transformers, MI:III)
Damon Lindelof (Lost, Prometheus, World War Z)
PLOT: Captain Kirk leads a manhunt for a terrorist and may inadvertently start a catastrophic war.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 What a fantastic ride! The expectations were high and they were met quite masterfully. Abrams and the writers do a perfect blend of action and character development. I felt fully immersed in the story. Kudos!
2 While I am now able to see films in 3D, I’m still not sold on the extra dimension. I wish I saw Avatar and Life of Pi in 3D to compare. 
3 This new franchise is brilliant in its casting. Cumberbatch rocked the villain role, as if there was any doubt. And the Enterprise crew is always top-notch but this film’s all-stars are Quinto as the surprising agile Spock and the hilarious Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead) as Scotty.
4 I love how respectful JJ Abrams is to the franchise and at the same time, is not afraid to make a twist or two.
5 For all the observations stated above, I have full confidence in JJ Abrams helming the next Star Wars film. I already have goosebumps.  

RECOMMENDATION: See it in theatres now!
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Hangover Part III