'Twilight', 'Body of Lies' highlight fall film season
Fall generally means one thing to Hollywood studios: time to bring out the heavy dramatic firepower for the battery of year-end movie awards.
This autumn, we'll feel the impact of big-caliber films such as Alan Ball's blanching feature directorial debut "Towelhead," Oliver Stone's presidential biopic "W.," Neil LaBute's scary take on racism "Lakeview Terrace," Clint Eastwood's fact-based kidnapping tale "Changeling," the Coen brothers' less-than-serious thriller "Burn After Reading," Ridley Scott's Iraq war-themed "Body of Lies" and Marc Forster's anticipated return of Daniel Craig's brooding James Bond in "Quantum of Solace."
The dramas - 24 at last count - easily outgun every other film genre through Nov. 21. Action thrillers clock in with eight. We have 14 comedies coming up. Four romances. Three documentaries and a meager five science-fiction/horror entries. Only three sequels are loaded into the schedule, which means that Hollywood has backed off on a creatively misfiring practice, designed to give it a perceived commercial safety net.
Yet, the big guns on the schedule don't necessarily equate into blockbuster hold-ups. In fact, the fall season unloaded its biggest potential box-office bull's-eye when "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" veered away from its Nov. 21 release and hit July 17 on next summer's calendar.
That triggered three movies to quickly barrel into Harry's plum spot: Summit Entertainment's would-be vampire franchise "Twilight," Walt Disney's animated feature "Bolt," and Overture Film's "Nothing Like the Holidays." Meanwhile, Columbia Pictures shot "Quantum of Solace" (originally a Nov. 7 release) over to Nov. 14 where it would be a week closer to the coveted Thanksgiving market.
So, even if fall 2008 doesn't have its usual arsenal of tentpole hits, at least it packs a magnum force of variety. Here are all the movies scheduled to open between now and Nov. 21.
Just remember this about movie release dates: Sometimes when you think you have a shot at seeing something good, you come up blank.
Sept. 12
"Burn After Reading" - The Oscar-winning Coen brothers return with an unpredictable tale of two gym employees who try to sell a CIA agent's memoirs. Brad Pitt and George Clooney lead an all-star cast.
"A Girl Cut in Two" - France's Hitchcock, Claude Chabrol, directs a suspense yarn about a TV weather girl (Ludivine Sagnier of "Swimming Pool") torn between a settled older man and an unstable young one. Inspired by the murder of Madison Square Garden architect Stanford White.
"Righteous Kill" - Cops Robert De Niro and Al Pacino (last together in "Heat") chase a serial killer who could be a vigilant cop! With Brian Dennehy and Carla Gugino. Overture Films doesn't have much confidence in this drama. It has scheduled a press screening after regular local press deadlines.
"Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys" - Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard play matriarchs of two families being torn apart by their adult children's extramarital affairs, unethical business practices and a dark paternity secret. So, the moms take a cross-country trip to sort it out.
"The Women" - TV writer Diane English makes her directorial debut with this remake of George Cukor's 1939 movie about a New Yorker who dumps her cheating spouse and hooks up with her high-society buddies at a major resort. There, social disaster looms. With Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Debra Messing, Eva Mendes, Jada Pinkett Smith, Bette Midler, Carrie Fisher, Lynn Whitfield and Candice Bergen.
Sept. 19
"Fanboys" - In 1999, hard-core "Star Wars" fans (are there any other kind?) plot to steal a copy of "The Phantom Menace" before it opens to the public. Carrie Fisher appears as a doctor.
"Ghost Town" - A ghost (Greg Kinnear) convinces an obnoxious living person (Ricky Gervais) to break up the impending marriage of his widow (Tea Leoni). High jinks ensue.
"Hounddog" - Finally, the controversial 2007 film containing the infamous "Dakota Fanning rape scene" makes it to a Chicagoland release date. Young Lewellen (Fanning) lives in the deep South during the 1950s when Elvis Presley's music hits. The sexual assault reportedly is highly implied, but Fanning fans were inflamed. Co-starring David Morse as "Daddy," Piper Laurie as "Grammie," Robin Wright Penn as "Stranger Lady" and Ryan Pelton as Elvis.
"Igor" - A humpback lab assistant dreams of becoming a mad scientist and winning the Evil Science Fair. An animated comedy with voices by John Cusack, John Cleese, Steve Buscemi, Jennifer Coolidge and Sean Hayes.
"Lakeview Terrace" - Neil LaBute directs a searing drama about a mixed-race couple (Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington) quietly menaced by their racist neighbor (Samuel L. Jackson), a prominent member of the LAPD.
"My Best Friend's Girl" - The return of John Hughes' protégé, Howard "Pretty in Pink" and "Some Kind of Wonderful" Deutch. He directs a romantic comedy about Tank (Dane Cook), who takes women on dates so bad, the women run right back to men they just dumped. The men pay Tank to do this. Then Tank meets his match in tough Alexis (Kate Hudson). Jason Biggs and Alec Baldwin co-star.
"Towelhead" - Oscar-winning screenwriter Alan "American Beauty" Ball directs an Oscar-quality examination of a half-Labanese girl (an entrancing Summer Bishil) trying to find identity and acceptance at the same time she wrestles with emerging sexuality. Excellent performances by Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, Maria Bello and especially Peter Macdissi in a breakout role as a materialistic, racist dad.
Sept. 22
"The Met: Live in HD" - Soprano Renee Fleming is the star of this live, high-definition broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera's Opening Night Gala, beamed into 440 theaters around the nation.
Sept. 26
"Battle in Seattle" - Woody Harrelson, Ray Liotta and Charlize Theron head up an impressive cast in this fact-based drama, reminiscent of "Medium Cool." In 1999, thousands of protesters converged on Seattle to stop a meeting of the World Trade Organization. National Guardsmen show up. Bashing and shouting and running ensue. Directed by actor and first-time director Stuart Townsend.
"Choke" - A sex-addicted con man (Sam Rockwell) makes extra cash by pretending to choke while eating at high-end restaurants, then bilking the people who "save" him out of their cash. Anjelica Huston plays his mommy.
"The Duchess" - Keira Knightley plays the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Spencer, who could outdrink, out-gamble and outwit any man during the time of the French Revolution. Now, if only she could win the attention of her own husband (Ralph Fiennes).
"Eagle Eye" - Framed as terrorists, two strangers (Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan) are forced to be a part of a political assassination. Sounds like "Nick of Time" with a boy-girl dynamic.
"The Lucky Ones" - Three American soldiers (Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins and Michael Peña) try to make sense of their lives during a road trip across the U.S. and confront old relationships, broken hopes and a country divided over war.
"Miracle at St. Anna" - Four American soldiers, members of the all-black 92nd Buffalo Soldier division, become trapped after trying to save a boy in Italy during World War II. Spike Lee directs from James McBride's novel. Derek Luke and John Turturro star.
"Nights in Rodanthe" - Diane Lane and Richard Gere re-team from "Unfaithful" in this romance between a traveling doctor and the unhappily married woman who runs a North Carolina bed-and-breakfast.
Late September
"Crossing Over" - Writer/director Wayne Kramer takes a multilayered look at the immigration business in Los Angeles. Harrison Ford, Sean Penn, Ray Liotta and Ashley Judd star.
Oct. 3
"Appaloosa" - In the Wild West territory of New Mexico, two hired guns (Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris) have no problem facing down a ruthless rancher (Jeremy Irons) and his nasty outlaws. But let Renee Zellweger cross their paths and they just might turn on each other.
"Beverly Hills Chihuahua" - Let's hope the movie isn't as insipid as the trailers make it look. An upper-class pooch gets lost and must rely on the kindness of strange canines to get home. Voices by Drew Barrymore, Salma Hayek, George Lopez, Andy Garcia and Piper Perabo.
"Blindness" - A man suffers an instant case of blindness, which mysteriously begins to spread to every person in the city. A drama starring Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Danny Glover and Gael Garcia Bernal.
"Flash of Genius" - As if the car industry needs another reason to be disliked, here comes the fact-based story of a college professor who goes up against auto giants Ford and Chrysler when they steal his invention, intermittent windshield wipers. Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham, Alan Alda and Dermot Mulroney star.
"How to Lose Friends & Alienate People" - Simon Pegg stars as a noxious dipweed Brit who tries to maneuver through the seven levels of a New York City magazine company. Based on the true story of writer Tobey Young, who was reportedly banned from the set for trying to direct the movie. With Jeff Bridges and Kirsten Dunst.
"Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist" - Could be a romantic comedy charmer. To escape a sticky social situation, hottie Norah (Kat Dennings) asks a nerdy band member (Michael Cera) to pretend to be her boyfriend for the evening. Then it's "After Hours." The soundtrack album hits the streets Sept. 23.
"Religulous" - Political humorist Bill Maher interviews people about God and religion. Directed by Larry Charles of "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."
"What Just Happened?" - The madness, treachery, deceit, runaway egos, rampant commercialism, personal politics and atrocious behavior of Hollywood all star in this comedy by Barry Levinson. Robert De Niro plays the alter ego of producer Art Linson, who wrote this screenplay based on his best-selling memoir of working in America's Dream Factory. Sean Penn, Catherine Keener, Robin Wright Penn, Bruce Willis, John Turturro and Kristen Stewart star.
Oct. 10
"Body of Lies" - Ridley "Blackhawk Down" Scott directs a thriller about a former Iraq war journalist hired by the CIA to track down an al-Qaida leader in Jordan. Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe star.
"City of Ember" - Citizens in the futuristic underground city of Ember race the clock to solve an energy problem: the massive generator that powers their lights and machines is failing. Their president should have had a renewable resources plan in place, don't you think? Bill Murray, Tim Robbins and Martin Landau star.
"The Express" - A bio-drama based on the true story of college football hero Ernie Davis (Rob Brown), the first black player to win the Heisman Trophy. Dennis Quaid plays Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder.
"Quarantine" - In a fine tradition of rabies horror movies that include "I Drink Your Blood" (1970), "Rabid" (1977) and "Rabid Grannies" (1988), this tale looks at what happens when an entire apartment building gets infected by a killer disease, and only a TV crew's video tape contains the truth about what really happened. Jermaine Jackson plays "Nadif."
"Rachel Getting Married" - Jonathan Demme's comic drama stars Anne Hathaway as a rehabbing woman who drops in to attend her sister's wedding, propelling the family unit into a tailspin. Debra Winger and Bill Irwin co-star.
Oct. 15 and 16
"Death Note II: The Last Name" - Sequel to the live-action mystery film based on a popular Japanese manga. Light, an honors student, bumps off criminals by entering their names in the magic book he finds. A detective named "L" tries to catch him. In this sequel, Light joins the task force looking for the unknown killer, Kira, to avert suspicion from himself. Special shows only at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 17
"Max Payne" - Great. Another motion picture based on a video game. Bad-butt cop Max (Mark Wahlberg) obsesseses over the death of his family while an assassin (Mila Kunis) sets out to even a score. Could they be looking for the same people? With Beau Bridges and Ludacris.
"Morning Light" - A documentary showing how 15 people bonded while learning to become sailors on the Morning Light, a boat entered in the TRANSPAC, the most respected of open-ocean sailing competitions.
"The Secret Life of Bees" - Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah and Chicago's own Jennifer Hudson star in a 1964-based story of a young girl who runs away from home and winds up in a South Carolina town where she falls under the magic of the beekeeping Boatwright sisters.
"Sex Drive" - A virgin teen named Ian brings his friends along on a trip from Chicago to Knoxville to meet a girl who promised him online: "If you drive all the way for me, I'll go all the way for you." What is this, a remake of "The Sure Thing"? With James Marsden and Seth Green.
"W." - Oliver Stone directs the biographical drama of the 43rd U.S. president, George Bush, to the silver screen. Whatever else it might be, it can't be boring. Josh Brolin stars as W. Elizabeth Banks is Mrs. W. Thandie Newton is Condoleezza Rice, Richard Dreyfuss is Dick Cheney. James Cromwell and Ellen Burstyn play W.'s parents. Toby Jones plays Karl Rove. You gotta see this movie just for the cast!
Oct. 24
"The Brothers Bloom" - Two con men brothers (Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo) decide to pull off one last job. They'll take an eccentric heiress (Rachel Weisz) - is there any other kind? - around the world on a romantic adventure. With Maximilian Schell as "Diamond Dog."
"Changeling" - When a kidnapped son gets returned to his mother (Angelina Jolie) after several months, she begins to suspect the kid really isn't hers. But the cops are so anxious to close the case, they insist she accept the child as her own. Based on a true 1928 case in California. Chicago's own John Malkovich plays the activist minister who rallies to the mother's side. Directed by Clint Eastwood.
"Happy Go Lucky" - British filmmaker Mike Leigh directs a slices-of-life story about Poppy (Sally Hawkins), a 30-year-old London teacher who weathers the rough storms of life with a constant positive attitude.
"High School Musical 3: Senior Year" - The senior Wildcats stage a spring musical (hence the catchy movie title) to address their hopes and fears about the future, and maybe their ability to break into the housing market. Zac Efron and Vanessa Anne Hudgens star as Troy and Gabriella. Directed, again, by Kenny Ortega.
"Pride and Glory" - A New York investigator (Edward Norton) stumbles upon a police scandal that directly involves his brother-in-law (Colin Farrell) and many prominent members of the NYPD. With Jon Voight, who probably plays another baddie.
"Saw V" - If you saw I through IV, you saw V.
Oct. 31
"Ashes of Time Redux" - "My Blueberry Nights" director Wong Kar Wai tries to shake up the martial-arts genre with a story using two characters (the Lord of the East and the Lord of the West) from Louis Cha's novel "The Eagle-Shooting Heroes." It looks cinematically gorgeous from the promo materials.
"I've Loved You So Long" - A woman (Kristin Scott Thomas) tries to put her life together after being paroled from prison for the murder of her 6-year-old son 15 years earlier. Directed by Phillipe Claudel.
"RocknRolla" - When a Russian con man cooks up a crooked land deal, every greedy lowlife in London jumps at the chance to get a piece of the action. Directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Gerard Butler, Jeremy Piven, Thandie Newton and Tom Wilkinson.
"Zack and Miri Make a Porno" - The titular characters (Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks) are just good friends, but when they decide to make some fast cash by doing the nasty for the cameras, they discover there might be some sparks they didn't notice before. Written and directed by Kevin Smith, who seems to have been inspired by the porn segment from "Love Actually."
Nov. 7
"Boy in the Striped Pajamas" - An 8-year-old son of a commandant at a Nazi concentration camp falls into a forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the barbed wire fence. Starring Vera Farmiga and David Thewlis.
"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" - Chicago's own late Bernie Mac supplies the voice to Zuba in this sequel to the animated comedy about escaped zoo animals attempting to move to the motherland. Voices by David Schwimmer, Ben Stiller, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jada Pinkett Smith and Chris Rock.
"Repo! The Genetic Opera" - This horror/musical, set in 2056, revolves around a biotech company that sells organ transplants on time. If someone misses a payment, it's repossession time! Alexa Vega, Sarah Brightman, Paris Hilton and Barrington's own Bill Moseley star!
"Role Models" - The theatrical trailers look really funny. Two whacked-out energy drink reps (Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott) wind up afoul of the law and get sentenced to serve as Big Brothers to unruly kids. With the comically gifted Jane Lynch.
"Synecdoche, New York" - The quirky Charlie Kaufman directs his own comic screenplay about a mentally and physically deteriorating play director (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who uses his MacArthur grant to reconstruct New York City inside a Manhattan warehouse. There, different narrative structures and points of view collide with Samantha Morton, Catherine Keener, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Hope Davis in the line of fire.
Nov. 14
"Quantum of Solace " - I wish hard-core 007 fans would stop obsessing over the enigmatic meaning of the title. Like "The Living Daylights" had some deep meaning? Daniel Craig, the greatest James Bond since Sean Connery, returns as an angry agent tracking down the villains responsible for the death of his lover, Vesper. Along the way, he picks up on a plot of a Quantum corporation executive to control all of South America's water supply.
"Soul Men" - Chicago's own late Bernie Mac plays one of two estranged soul singer stars (Samuel L. Jackson is the other one) who agree to reunite for a show at the Apollo Theater to honor their deceased band leader. The late Isaac Hayes stars along with another Chicagoan, Sean Hayes, and Jennifer Coolidge.
Nov. 21
"Bolt" - This animated comedy concerns a pampered Hollywood canine star (voiced by John Travolta) who comes in for a shock when he attempts to be a hero in the real world. Other voices by Miley Cyrus, Diedrich Bader, Malcolm McDowell and James Lipton. James Lipton?
"Nothing Like the Holidays" - When the matriarch of the Rodriguez family in Chicago announces her impending divorce, the shock waves affect everyone at the family's Christmas gathering. Debra Messing, Alfred Molina, John Leguizamo and Freddy Rodriguez co-star.
"The Road" - A peek into bleak, post-apocalyptic future where a father (Viggo Mortensen) walks across a blackened America with his boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee), encountering militants and bands of cannibals. From a Cormac McCarthy novel, so you know a fake Hollywood happy ending probably isn't in the cards. Co-starring Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall and Guy Pearce.
"The Soloist" - Robert Downey Jr. stars as a schizophrenic musician who dreams of playing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Starring the omnipresent Catherine Keener and Jamie Foxx. "Twilight" - The film that sucked up the spot vacated by Harry Potter! A teenager (Kristen Stewart) moves into a small town where we might suspect she'll die of boredom. Nope. Not when she starts dating a vampire. Based on the very popular books by Stephenie Meyer. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, who gave us the marvelous teen drama "Thirteen."