Fall Film Preview 2009...

I like movies. I can blog on the internet for free. I think that's enough credentials for me to blog you a preview of movies that I think are important and that everyone should see this fall! (Also, I'll be sure to review these after I see them)

And go!...


Where the Wild Things Are - Oct 16
Writer: Spike Jonze & Dave Eggers, based on book by: Maurice Sendak
Director: Spike Jonze
Dir. of Photography: Lance Acord
Starring: Max Records, Voices by: James Gandolphini, Paul Dano, Catherine O’Hara, Forest Whitaker, Chris Cooper

Why I’m excited: There’s some giant fluffy animals running through the woods, what’s not to like? Also, it was a great book, and a favorite for a lot of people my age. Spike has an interesting directing-style. It will be interesting to see how they stretch the book into a 90 min. movie also.


Ameila - Oct 23
Writer: Ronald Bass & Anna H. Phelan, based on “East to the Dawn” by Susan Butler and “The Sound of Wings” by Mary Lovell
Director: Mira Nair
Dir. of Photography: Stuart Dryburgh
Starring: Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston

Why I’m excited: I think Amelia Earhart is one of the most fascinating figures of the 20th Century, and one of my famous-people-I-would-invite-to-dinner. Hilary bears a slight resemblance to Amelia, which is important in a Bio-pic. I also think there is a ton to learn from the real Amelia, more so than many people who have been immortalized in bio-pics in the past. I’m excited to see a bit of aviation history brought to life for the mass audience, and I’m curious how they will treat the very well-known ending.


Fantastic Mr. Fox - Nov 13
Writer: Wes Anderson & Noah Baumbach, based on novel by Roald Dahl
Director: Wes Anderson
Dir. of Photography: Tristan Oliver
Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, William Dafoe, Bill Murray, and many more...

Why I’m excited: STOP-MOTION! Go here and watch the featurette to see some of what the process of making this film was, it’s pretty incredible. Hopefully the attention to detail and organic-ness of the film comes across in the final project. Oh, and another reason why I think Wes is the coolest director: he had his actors read their lines and recorded them live and on location.


Up in the Air - Dec 4
Writer: Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner, based on novel by Walter Kirn
Director: Jason Reitman
Dir. of Photography: Eric Steelberg
Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman

Why I’m excited: Vera has proven to be a great dramatic actress in movies like “Nothing by the Truth” and “The Departed,” but I’m excited to see her in a more light-hearted role. And I’ve loved pretty much everything George has been done in the last 5 years, acting-wise.



The Lovely Bones - Dec 11
Writer: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, & Peter Jackson, based on novel by Alice Sebold
Director: Peter Jackson (yes the hobbit-like director of LotR...)
Dir. of Photography: Andrew Lesnie
Starring: Saorise Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci

Why I’m excited: Though I thought a lot of the ending of the book was flawed, it was a very touching and emotional read. Rumor is that they left out the very scene I disapprove of most from the book, so it has a lot of potential for me. I’m sure some people will hate that things are left out from the book though. Also, Saorise is going places...seriously...look out for her from now on in the Oscar pool.


The Princess and the Frog - Dec 11
Writer: Ron Clements, Rob Edwards, Greg Erb, Don Hall, John Musker, Jason Oremland
Director: Ron Clements & John Musker
Starring: Voices by: Anika Noni Rose, John Goodman, Terrence Howard, Oprah Winfrey, Bruno Campos

Why I’m excited: I’ve been waiting for this since my very first linguistics class junior year. There’s a ton of interesting ways of thinking about the cultural implications this film has, one obvious one being that this is the first Black-Princess character in Disney history. If you want to know more about the history of Disney film, linguistic-profiling, race, and family issues, let me know and I’ll elaborate for you.


Invictus - Dec 11
Writer: Anthony Peckham, based on book “Playing the Enemy” by John Carlin
Director: Clint Eastwood
Dir. of Photography: Tom Stern
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon

Why I’m excited: I keep thinking that one of these days, the next “film by Clint Eastwood” is going to be his last (the guy’s 79...will he ever retire?!?), but he keeps trucking on and making movies. So it’s kind of a guarantee that I’ll see each. This film sparks a question: Should the academy have waited and granted Morgan Freeman his first Oscar for this role? Cause he’ll probably win....Nelson Mandela? Hello - it’s like Gandhi all over again, there’s gonna be an oscar for Freeman, just whether it’s Supporting or Best, we shall see.