The Fall movie season is so stuffed WWTW had to scramble for a fourth chapter in my preview series.
Not that I’m complaining, mind you.
So don’t forget about these upcoming movies, a diverse group that should help heal the wounds left behind by a lousy summer movie season.
- “Jackass 3D” (Oct. 15) The film sure to kill the fledgling “bromance” genre – and more than a few brain cells. No real preview necessary here. It’s either on your “must see” or “avoid at all cost” list.
- “Waiting for ‘Superman’” (Sept. 24) The third of this year’s documentaries skewering the public school system. This one will have the most impact because of the man behind the camera – Mr. “Inconvenient Truth” himself, Davis Guggenheim (and if that isn’t the coolest name ever …). It’s the rare documentary which could bring conservative pundits into the fold.
- “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” (Sept. 24) Director Oliver Stone brings back Gordon “Greed is Good” Gekko to comment on the current financial malaise. Shia LaBeouf plays the hot shot financial guru caught between ambition and Gekko’s comely daughter, played by It Girl Carey Mulligan. Stone hasn’t made a good movie in ages, but this one plays to his diminishing strengths -rabble rousing polemics and powder keg dramatics.
- “Buried” (Sept. 24) What gal wouldn’t want to spend 90 odd minutes alone with Ryan Reynolds? But in “Buried,” the charming actor plays a man trapped in a coffin with only a cell phone for company. Should be a nice test for Reynolds’ acting career. It’s not every thespian who can command the screen more or less by himself – see Tom Hanks (“Cast Away”) for an example of an actor up to the challenge. And no, Wilson doesn’t count as a co-star.
- “MegaMind” (Nov. 5) Seems like animated films are having more fun with supervillains these days. Hot on the heels of “Despicable Me,” “MasterMind” focuses on a supervillain (voiced by Will Ferrell) who vanquishes his arch enemy (voiced by Brad Pitt) and finds himself with too much time on his hands.
- “127 Hours” (Nov. 5) Director Danny Boyle whips up this fact-based story of a hiker (James Franco) who gets pinned beneath a boulder and can’t summon anyone to help him out.
- “Nowhere Boy” (Oct.
John Lennon, the early years. “Kick-Ass” star Aaron Johnson plays the wise Beatle to be in this coming of age story. - “Stone” (Oct. Edward Norton re-teams with “The Score” co-star Robert De Niro for this thriller about a cop, an arsonist and a woman (Milla Jovovich) who can ignite flames all by herself. The stakes are high for Jovovich, who really needs a legit role for her to break free from her self-made genre trap.
- “Blue Valentine” (Dec. 31) Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling play a couple falling in – and out of love. Sounds simple, but the Sundance buzz was deafening and the two actors are both on the cusp of stardom. This could nudge them into the A-list.
(Photo: Johnny Knoxville gets the gang back together for more violent pranks in “Jackass 3D.” Paramount Pictures)
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
John Lennon and “wise” in the same sentence. Great (un?)intentional comedy, CT!
“You’re telling us that ["Catcher in the Rye"] is filthy, inappropriate, and made a guy shoot [Lennon,] the king of hippies? Can we please read it now!” ERIC CARTMAN
I have to admit, I used to be a Jackass naysayer and refused to watch the movies or the show. My girlfriend made me watch the first one and I have to admit, I laughed a lot and hard. Yes, parts are downright gross, but some of it is hilarious.
Shane, I’m not a big fan of the Jackass franchise, but any woman who can get you hooked on something like that is a keeper in my book.
It’ll be interesting to see how people react to Wall Street 2. Here’s a movie screaming about how awful capitalism is, just when we are seeing how well the alternative (Obamanomics) is working out for us.
JimmyC, is that what the second Wall Street is about? Damn. I was hoping it would be more like one of my favs “Boiler Room”. I certainly don’t want to waste my money at the theater to support ANYTHING openly socialist.
Mike, I don’t know if it’s explicitly socialist, but based on what I’ve seen in the trailer (and in the original film), it’s obviously an attack on capitalism and how it “enables greed” and allows the rich to exploit the poor, etc.
And if the film is against capitalism, then it must be in favor of the alternative.
Agreed. I will save my “Birthday” money on something more worthy. Thanks for the reality check!
Mulligan is attractive with hair. Otherwise, I can’t tell her or Shia apart.