Mon, Jul 06, 2009
 Kirsten Dunst dons the crown of the French queen in "Marie Antoinette," scheduled for release on Oct. 20
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Everready Glass Sales Reps Administrative & Professional Tucson Urban League CEO/President Trades/Construction RANCHO RESORT MAINTANANCE POSITION Mechanical Komatsu Equipment Co Resident Field Mechanic Finance and Accounting Charles E. Gillman Company Accounting Specialist Administrative & Professional Jorgensen Brooks Group Counselor AccentMarie Antoinette, Rocky and Bond will fill big screenArizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.27.2006
It's shaping up to be a good movie year. If not in quality, then at least in titles.
Three Oscar contenders feature the word "good" in the title. "A Good Year" (Nov. 10) features Russell Crowe in a love story set in the British wine industry. "The Good German" (Dec. 25), with George Clooney, is a drama set just after World War II, and "The Good Shepherd" (Dec. 22) stars Matt Damon as a conflicted CIA operative.
The fall and holiday seasons offer up the usual mix of awards contenders, counter-programming family entertainment and, for the third straight year, an entry in the upstart "Saw" franchise.
Peek into our preview to get a read on what's in store. A Tony-winning play is coming to the big screen ("The History Boys," Nov. 24), Kirsten Dunst dons the crown of "Marie Antoinette" (Oct. 20), and Sylvester Stallone goes one more round in "Rocky Balboa" (Dec. 22).
The sixth "Rocky" flick and "Saw III" are far from the only sequels. James Bond, "Jackass," "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," "The Grudge," "The Santa Clause" and "Van Wilder" also get updates.
Despite all the retreads, there's still innovative thought on the horizon. Acclaimed directors Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Darren Arnofsky, Bill Condon and Alejandro González Iñárritu all have new projects coming our way.
That's a good thing.
Here's a look at what's coming our way in theaters the rest of the year. Release dates are subject to change.
Friday
s The Illusionist — In 20th-century Vienna, a magician (Edward Norton) tries to win his love back from a cruel monarch. That's one trick David Blaine has yet to try.
Trust the Man — A revelation from this romantic comedy — relationships aren't perfect! Julianne Moore, David Duchovny, Billy Crudup and Maggie Gyllenhaal learn the hard way.
The Wicker Man — You know what this week is missing? A remake of a creepy 1973 British horror flick about an island inhabited by a new-age cult. Ah, here we go! Nicolas Cage provides.
Sept. 8
Hollywoodland — Ben Affleck is back, playing old-time Superman actor George Reeves in a murder mystery. Maybe the truth is that Superman's secret identity is Daredevil.
Sept. 15
The Black Dahlia — A hardboiled 1940s detective murder mystery from director Brian DePalma, with a cast as loaded as a gun: Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Hilary Swank.
Everyone's Hero — A boy journeys 1,000 miles to see Babe Ruth play in the World Series. Brian Dennehy takes a swing at the Babe's voice in this animated adventure.
Gridiron Gang — The Rock takes on a horde of teen convicts and teaches them to play football. The only question is whether he punishes players by making them run laps or suffer piledrivers.
The Last Kiss — Zach Braff sets out to prove he's no scrub by taking to the silver screen in this drama about suspended adolescence.
Sept. 22
s All the King's Men — Sean Penn plays a corrupt politician. Huh — since when does Penn care about politics? Jude Law and Kate Winslet are also along for the ride in this remake of the 1949 classic.
Jackass: Number Two — Expect this insane stunt comedy to be every bit as classy as its title. Johnny Knoxville suffers for your enjoyment.
Jet Li's Fearless — Jet Li claims this will be his last martial arts film. Right, and Reese Witherspoon is through with romantic comedy.
Sept. 29
Flyboys — Remember the Fly Girls, who shook their groove thangs during the breaks on "In Living Color"? They've got nothing to do with this World War I film with Jean Reno.
The Guardian — Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher play Coast Guardsmen in this "Top Gun" with boats.
Haven — Businessmen (Bill Paxton, Orlando Bloom) flee to the Caymans to hide from prosecution for a crime. Betcha things don't go as planned.
s Open Season — If animals could talk, hunters probably wouldn't kill them as often. That is, unless they're voiced by the irritating Billy Connolly, as is the case here.
School for Scoundrels — Jon Heder, Napoleon Dynamite himself, plays a student who takes a confidence-building class and develops a rivalry with the teacher (Billy Bob Thornton). Gosh!
This Film Is Not Yet Rated —Documentarian Kirby Dick, the pride of Palo Verde High School, takes a swat at the Motion Picture Association of America's ratings system.
Oct. 4
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning — This is a sequel. No, a prequel to a remake. Or something. Whatever. Texas cannibals kill and nubile actors run screaming.
Oct. 6
The Departed — In a remake of the Hong Kong drama "Infernal Affairs," the Boston mob and police squads infiltrate each other with double agents. Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg and Martin Sheen do their thing under the guidance of director Martin Scorsese.
Employee of the Month — Minimum-wage slaves at a Costco-like emporium slug it out to earn a frivolous honor bestowed by managers. Jessica Simpson and Dane Cook punch their time cards.
49 Up — Director Michael Apted continues his documentary series looking in on British subjects every seven years since age 7, now at age 49.
Little Children — Todd Field directs Kate Winslet in a drama about the intersecting lives of young married couples.
Seven Day Itch — The Farrelly brothers direct a romantic comedy about a newlywed who falls in love with someone else on his honeymoon. Ben Stiller does the scratching.
Oct. 11
Running With Scissors — A young man (Joseph Cross) bounces through an uncomfortable life with dysfunctional mentors in this dramedy. Annette Bening, Gwyneth Paltrow and Brian Cox fill out the cast.
Oct. 13
s Man of the Year — A late-night political talk show host (Robin Williams) decides to run for president. Attention Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.
Oct. 20
Flags of Our Fathers — Clint Eastwood directs a World War II drama detailing the battle of Iwo Jima. Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford and Adam Beach star.
Flicka — The only bond that's tighter between a girl and her horse is that between a movie studio and its money. Alison Lohman rides high in this "Black Beauty" wannabe.
s The Grudge 2 — Amber Tamblyn steps in to battle demons spawned from a Tokyo curse. Fans will hold it against her if she can't live up to Sarah Michelle Gellar standards.
Marie Antoinette — Kirsten Dunst plays the ill-fated and decadent Queen of France. Cake not included.
The Prestige — Rival stage musicians attempt to outsmart and subvert each other. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale compare wands.
Oct. 27
Saw III — I'm guessing there will be some dismemberment and a whole lot of blood. Either that or an animated musical.
Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny — Jack Black shows off his rockin' stylings in this comedy as he tries to make his band the greatest on the planet.
Nov. 3
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan — Sacha Baron Cohen stars in a comedy adaptation of his "Da Ali G Show" schtick, featuring a Kazakhstani journalist who visits the United States.
The Flock — An officer (Richard Gere) hunts down a girl with a connection to a sex offender as he trains his replacement (Claire Danes).
Flushed Away — Set beneath London, rats fall in love in a mismatched romance in this computer-animated comedy. Maybe they'll honeymoon in a septic tank.
s The Hoax — A man (Richard Gere) sells a bogus Howard Hughes biography in the 1970s.
The Santa Clause 3 — Santa Claus (Tim Allen) tries to keep Jack Frost from ruining Christmas. If Allen really didn't want to ruin Christmas, he'd stop making these movies.
Nov. 10
Babel — Starring Brad Pitt, this crime story unfolds in five different languages, as strangers become entangled over a stolen firearm. Alejandro González Iñárritu ("Amores Perros") directs.
A Good Year — An Englishman (Russell Crowe) inherits a vineyard, then is confronted by a woman who claims it's hers. Who hasn't been there?
Stranger Than Fiction — An IRS auditor (Will Ferrell) interacts with a narrator who knows everything about his life, including when and how he will die.
Nov. 17
s Casino Royale — Daniel Craig tries on his James Bond pants as Agent 007.
Happy Feet — Singing emperor penguins perk up this animated comedy. The feet may be happy, but they're also cold.
The Return — A tough Midwestern woman (Sarah Michelle Gellar) has nightmares that could solve a murder mystery.
Nov. 22
Deck the Halls — Neighbors engage in a holiday lighting competition in this comedy. When the star is Matthew Broderick, it's usually not a thinking person's movie.
Deja Vu — An FBI agent goes back in time to stop a murder. He should bring a sports almanac while he's at it. Denzel Washington is set to cause double takes here.
s Fast Food Nation — Based on the Eric Schlosser book, which puts the junk food industry through the meat grinder. Greg Kinnear takes a bite.
The Fountain — To save the woman he loves, a man travels through time in search of the Tree of Life. Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz get it on.
Nov. 23
Bobby — A fictionalized account of the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, told from various perspectives. Anthony Hopkins stars.
Nov. 24
s The History Boys — A "Dead Poets Society" for the 21st century, with unruly kids and comings of age, adapted from the Tony-winning play.
Dec. 1
The Nativity Story — When a film does as well as "The Passion of The Christ" did, it merits prequel treatment. This is the Biblical story of Mary, Joseph and the birth of Christ.
Van Wilder 2: Rise of the Taj — How do they make a sequel to Van Wilder without Van Wilder (Ryan Reynolds) in the cast? Kal Penn shows us the way.
Dec. 8
Apocalypto — Mel Gibson's next trick, other than convincing people he's not an anti-Semite, is to stage a drama in the Mayan language.
The Holiday — Women (Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet) switch places and fall in love in their new lives.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer — In 18th-century France, a smell-obsessed perfume maker murders innocents in order to find the perfect scent. Dustin Hoffman noses in.
Dec. 15
Eragon — A farm boy defends his kingdom after he discovers a dragon's egg. John Malkovich takes flight.
The Pursuit of Happyness — A struggling salesman father (Will Smith) becomes a stockbroker in this inspirational drama. If Smith can actually pretend to be poor, that's a sign of great acting.
Dec. 20
Charlotte's Web — An animated adaptation of the classic children's novel, about the barnyard relationship between a spider and a pig. Dakota Fanning tries to make you cry.
Dec. 21
Dreamgirls — A trio of soul singers rises to fame in this possible Oscar contender, featuring Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx and Beyoncé Knowles.
Dec. 22
Night at the Museum — A bumbling museum worker unleashes an ancient curse. Robin Williams and Owen Wilson roll up for this one.
s The Good Shepherd — A CIA operative (Matt Damon) compromises his morals during the Cold War. Robert De Niro co-stars and directs.
s Rocky Balboa — Sylvester Stallone writes, directs and stars in the sixth entry of his "Rocky" series. The boxer, now well into middle age, attempts one last comeback. Maybe in "Rocky 7" Rocky will finally do the inevitable and fight a robot.
We Are Marshall — After a college football team is decimated in a plane crash, people at the college pull together. Based on a true story. Matthew McConaughey stars.
Dec. 25
Black Christmas — A killer rampages through a sorority house during holiday break.
Children of Men — Mankind faces extinction when an infertility defect spreads through the population. Hate when that happens. So must stars Clive Owen and Julianne Moore.
The Good German — In post- World War II Berlin, a woman is desperate to escape her past. Starring George Clooney, Cate Blanchett and Tobey Maguire.
Dec. 29
Miss Potter — Renée Zellweger plays a Victorian-era children's book author who struggles with love and celebrity.
Fall movie preview
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