The final stage of the film season is upon us. I'm bit late coming out with this list, but it still holds 99% of what I was going to have on it. I will say that I'm still extremely saddened by Paramount Pictures decision to push back Martin Scorsese's thriller "Shutter Island" to February as that would've actually topped by list, but still there are some pictures that have got me very excited coming along. I attempted to keep it fairly diverse and one thing I always hate is seeing the late festival entries become big winners and then fighting to see them around this time of year. So far very few are posed to do that, although I know of one and I'm highly debating seeing it, it's simply a verses match between it's award wins and it's awful trailer. But good word of mouth usually wins over shitty marketing with me. So let's DO IT!20. "Armored"
Why? Anyone who has seen the trailer would definitely ask this question. It feels like they spell out the whole movie in the two and half minute trailer, plus the new version is almost identical but with T.I. ending which blends as well as oil and water. However being the avid AICN reader I am, since June I've been hearing the striking rumblings from everyone that it's actually really good. Now judging from it's cast it ought to be. Matt Dillion, Jean Reno, Columbus Short (which Screen Gems and Sony are trying hard to make into a star), Laurence Fishburne, Fred fuckin' Ward and Skeet Ulrich... that's a nice diverse group. Add to that director Nimrod Antal director of the awesome 'Kontroll' and the flawed, but entertaining 'Vacancy'. However the example that shines brightest is acclaimed director Robert Rodriguez's seal of approval. Rodriguez is producing FOX's "Predators" a reboot of the original and tons of B-list directors wanted in, but Antal was picked over all (which did include some higher than B-list names) and Rodriguez named "Armored" being a very good reason why.
19. "Zombieland"
Why? Let's face it anyone who loved horror and horror comedy is going to see this movie. I will admit that even with great word of mouth, I'm still skeptical as to how much I'll enjoy it considering the almost overbearing amount of zombie pictures (especially zombie comedies or zom-coms) that are being released. Nevertheless I love the cast and the trailers do make me laugh so I can't gripe too much. Plus it's actually in the horror genre and being released in October the same month as "Saw"-- I mean Halloween. Silly me I got confused as to which was a holiday again.
18. "Law Abiding Citizen"
Why? Originally "The Green Mile" and "The Mist" director Frank Darabont (who needs to make more films) was set to direct this, but left after creative differences. However they replaced him with F.Gary Gray the director of "The Italian Job", "The Negotiator" (a highly underrated 90's thriller) and "Friday". I like 90% of his work and the part I don't like even he openly speaks out against. The vigilante story working backwards is how it's looking with Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx facing off (a sweet match up I think) and some great set pieces makes this look like a winner. Plus test screenings have been going very well. This could be one of those fun fall thrillers that come every once in a while.
17. "Ong Bak 2"
Why? There's really no over use of Tony Jaa and I love that. If you missed the original "Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior" then rush out and rent it, it's one of the best modern martial arts films around. This time Jaa directs in a story that's actually a prequel about his ancestor (which is still played by Jaa, but with dreadlocks) and his fight against evil or what have you. Okay the story isn't important in these films, but what he does it. Jaa is a modern master of his trade and even the trailer exposes how great he is at it. And if you see said trailer (and you should) the elephant scene is NOT CGI.
16. "Ninja Assassin"
Why? Director James McTeigue's directorial follow up to "V for Vendetta" looks to be a gigantic kung-fu stunt show and that's absolutely fine with me. Rain who stared in the Wachowski brothers' "Speed Racer" plays the lead character Raizo who is fighting back against his former assassin brethren. While I noticed a great deal of CGI, it still looks extremely cool and has every option of becoming a franchise. Oh and a screenplay from J. Michael Straczynski creator of "Babylon 5" and writer of Clint Eastwood's "Changeling" and the Wachowski brothers producing helps too.
15. "2012"
Why? Simply put Roland Emmerich can destroy the world wonderfully. Putting aside the historical turd "10,000 BC" I still hold a candle to his attention of effects superiority in "The Day After Tomorrow", "Independence Day" and in ways "The Patriot". I love the trailers for this because it's looks so God awfully epic and over the top which understandably will turn some people off, but the man knows his stuff and knows what he's popular for. He really is the Irwin Allen of his time and that's no easy title to achieve. Hopefully this can be his "Towering Inferno".
14. "Invictus"
Why? I learned a while back to give any and all Eastwood directed films a try. Truthfully the man is fantastic. Even his bad films still hold a level of creativity and intrigue. "Invictus" is his Nelson Mandela bio-pic with Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Eastwood loves to hold off on trailers till the very last minute (as he did with both his films last year), so I'm eagerly awaiting the first real look at the film.
13. "The Men Who Stare At Goats"
Why? George Clooney is so in his stride right now that it's not funny. He can do no wrong and damn does this look and sound like another great character role for him. In fact the whole film sounds great. It revolves around Clooney and Ewan McGregor's reporter character exploring the secret government world that attempts to develop psychic soldiers. Add to that Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges in what look like hilarious supporting roles and Oscar nominated writer, producer, actor Grant Heslov making his directorial debut and you've got a film with a lot of potential both financially and critically.
12. "The Fourth Kind"
Why? Despite some more than questionable role choices by Milla Jovovich, this one seems like it could work for her and be a shining example of her diversity (which she does have). This hindering on the idea that the film works of course, but either way I love this idea and this trailer to death. It claims to be taken from actual case files of a shrink in Alaska during some murders and patients explaining bizarre things about strange owls and people coming into their homes, which leads to the idea of alien abduction. This is a tight rope the film must walk on and stray from the cheesy to get it to work well and I hope it does. It's been a very long time since an honest to good science fiction horror or thriller really hit us.
11. "Up in the Air"
Why? George Clooney's other picture of the fall, but this time with "Juno" and "Thank You for Smoking" director Jason Reitman. This did great at the Toronto Film Festival and makes me ever more looking forward to it. Reitman has a great strength for delivering great emotion and great laughs with his work which is a very difficult thing to do. As it stands currently I could see him becoming a major film making force in the future. "Up in the Air" is about a frequent flyer who's job is to fire people for companies and considering the current economic climate, he's doing great business. But with that he is truly and utterly alone in the world until he strikes a ken-ship with another flyer played by Vera Faminga ('The Departed'). Ordinary sounding as it is, I know there's always something more to pictures like this.
10. "Avatar"
Why? One of the few 3D movies I've ever really wanted to see. Now let's talk about that trailer. It was... underwhelming at first I admit. Jokes were made, people complained and so on... however I submit to you a few things. Exhibit A: "Aliens". To a high extent this story was kept quiet and the first photos shown were of military pieces that made us think of the badass-ness of James Cameron's classic "Aliens". But I want you to think about it, why would he want to re-name and re-make that same movie? What would be the point? If he's tired of living off "Titanic" and "Terminator", then he's definitely looking for something more with alien films. Exhibit B: James Cameron's "The Abyss", a seldom talked about science fiction film of his after "Aliens" that gave off a very bizarre vibe and was a very unconventional alien picture more in tune with "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" then "Aliens". And it was a great picture we just didn't know it right away. So I continue to believe that this is just one of those films that we may never see great ads for necessarily, but that could easily be original and great if we pull our heads out of our nostalgia loving asses for a second.
09. "Whip It"
Why? I like Ellen Page a lot, but I fucking hated "Smart People". It was a logical next step following "Juno", but it was boring, pretentious and long winded. So let's forget about that and realize that for the first time in... possibly forever Drew Barrymore is making her directorial debut as well as starring in a film that actually looks extremely good and it's a sports movie. I seriously have not seen a roller derby match since I was like 8-years old and TNN still existed, but I loved the hell out of it. There's an ensemble cast for the team including Zoe Bell ('Death Proof'), rapper Eve, 'SNL' star Kristin Wiig and Barrymore herself. This also did very well at the T.F.F. earlier this month.
08. "The Road"
Why? I've been awaiting the release of this since last fall when it due to come out and the Weinstein Company halted it. The trailer left much to be desired however I'm told do not judge the film upon it what so ever. John Hillcoat, director of one of my favorite films "The Proposition" brings his eye for grit, intensity and emotion to an apocalypse story of a father and son trying to survive. The cast is also something to be amazed by with Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Robert DuVall and Guy Pearce. And if you've yet to read the book, you must do it forthwith.
07. "The Invention of Lying"
Why? Ricky Gervias is probably my favorite comedian currently. I love "The Office", I love "Extras", I loved "Ghost Town" and I'm loving everything I'm seeing and earing about "The Invention of Lying". It looks like one of the most creative comedy ideas in a long time and Gervias severing as co-writer and co-director means that this will definitely be in that vein and right up my alley.
06. "A Serious Man"
Why? Joel and Ethan Coen are on a role. After winning Oscars for "No Country for Old Men", then taking a straight left turn in the bizarre comedy "Burn After Reading", they take aim at an early 60's, jewish culture comedy with virtually no big name stars attached. Does that matter? Hell no! These men have proved that its not always the funniest actors you need for good comedy, just the right ones. And as always I can't wait to see what they've created in their dynamic imaginations.
05. "Fantastic Mr. Fox"
Why? This Wes Anderson's long awaited stop motion animated film based on Ronald Dahl's famous children's book. Anderson has been meticulously working on this film with Noah Baumbach for years and finally we're seeing the amazing looking that's been done. I've been dying to see this for so many reasons, the most being that I want to see another side of Anderson. While I like and even love some of his works, I admit they do feel very similar and not just in visuals but in characters. I think his visual palette and shooting style is great for a kids film and I think this could really deliver the animated film of the year that is needed. Oh and did I mention the ridiculously great cast of George Clooney (for the THIRD time!), Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Angelica Huston, Brian Cox, Michael Gambon, Roman Coppola, Wallace Wolodarsky, Anderson himself and Garth Jennings, director of "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" and "Son of Rambow". Yeah... I'm pumped.
04. "The Imaginarum of of Doctor Parnassus"
Why? This is technically Heath Ledger's final performance which in itself is a damn good reason to see it. But not only that, this is said by Gilliam himself to be one of his best films he's directed in years and it does look like a true blue Terry Gilliam picture. This is a film maker who I rank above the beloved by the emo and goth kids Tim Burton, as a true master of the imagination. That said he has made some terrible films as well (see his last one 'Tideland' as a prime example), but after Heath's death Gilliam went back, reworked the script and created a wonderful concept that uses Heath and splits his personality so that multiple actors can play the Tony character. And thus fellow actors and personal friends of Heath, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law came aboard the already brilliant cast. The world looks magnificent and it's wide release date cannot get here soon enough. So I advise everyone to watch the trailer on youtube, then if you've never seen a Gilliam film, head to blockbuster or Netflix and start renting because you're missing out on one America's best and most creative artists.
03. "Sherlock Holmes"
Why? Guy Ritchie has finally hit the mainstream and in a big way. This movie has winner written all over it and with a holiday release date, it's invincible. After "RockNRolla" brought him back he's on the complete up swing with Robert Downey Jr.. This is a complete re-imagining of what we're used to with Holmes, however it will still focus heavily on the written word as well as utilizing a lot of Holmes history. Mark Strong of "RockNRolla" and "Body of Lies" plays the villian and Rachel McAdams who can do no wrong in my eyes...ever... plays one of the women in Holmes' life... which could be bad for him. And speaking Jude Law, say hello to Mr. Watson. Seriously there's too many fucking awesome ensembles in films this fall. Plus we might be a taste of a character who'll be in the sequel, care of a big named "Snatch" alumni.
02. "The Lovely Bones"
Why? This is Oscar winner Peter Jackson's first drama since "Heavenly Creatures", long before the days of "The Lord of the Rings" and "King Kong". Based on the highly praised novel, it's about a teenage girl who is murdered and watches the ripple effect on her family from the afterlife. If you ever saw "Heavenly Creatures" then you'll know that Jackson can more than adequately handle this type of subject matter. There's a great behind the scenes video online for it as well that I suggest you take a look at, showcasing the once again impressive cast and discussing the themes within the story including crime, the supernatural, drama and some dark humor.
01. "Where the Wild Things Are"
Why? Spike Jonze has been pretty much working on this since his last film in 2002, "Adaptation". Studio fights over content, test screenings, budget and so on over the years made this film seem like an impossibility, but here we are and it looks astounding. Jonze co-wrote the screenplay with writer Dave Eggers ('Away We Go') and utilizes a lot of the CGI technology we saw in friend David Fincher's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". Also with that is a deal of puppetry and some great looking set pieces. For many this is a heavy contender for award season and rightfully so. Everything about this film strikes me as having the absolute possibility of becoming a children's film classic.
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