Fall Preview: Looking Forward With Eager Eyes

I’ll skip the diatribe about how the year in movies has been so far. it sucks. Let’s look forward.

The second half of the year brings everything fromfilm-festival favorites and art-house Oscar bait to documentaries andbig-budget blockbusters.

Perhaps what’s most intriguing about the fall is thelineup of directors. A quick scan through the slate reveals names likeClint Eastwood, Oliver Stone, Sofia Coppola, Woody Allen, DavidFincher, the Coen brothers and Danny Boyle. and that’s just a taste.

The films listed here are also just a sampling of what’sto come. But there’s enough here to start getting excited. (Releasedates are subject to change.)

September

I'M STILL HERESynopsis: Casey Affleck’s documentary on JoaquinPhoenix’s fall from A-list movie stardom (and clean-shaved looks) tothe worst rapper that never was.My 2 Cents: is the fall of Phoenix one of the most epicmovie-star declines ever, or one of the biggest hoaxes in pop-culturehistory? We probably won't get the answer with this doc. Still, itshould be entertaining as hell.

THE TOWNSynopsis: Ben Affleck’s second directorial effort centersaround a pair of bank robbers, Doug (Affleck) and Jem (The HurtLocker’s Jeremy Renner) whose livelihood is constantly threatened by afederal agent (Jon Hamm) and Doug’s love interest (Rebecca Hall), whomight be able to sell them out.My 2 Cents: Shot with same gritty realism as his first film, gone Baby gone, the Town, along with a few inspired performances from Affleck and Renner, could be a sleeper hit.

YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGERSynopsis: Woody Allen is back with a London-basedmelodrama that circles around the lives of several angst-riddenromantics (including Josh Brolin and Naomi Watts) who wish to tradetheir tired relationships for someone new.My 2 Cents: Allen hasn’t fared well with melodrama inrecent years. and I'm still not over Whatever Works. If nothing else,Stranger should be better than that. right?

WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPSSynopsis: Oliver Stone’s sequel to his 1987 manifesto oncorporate greed finds Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) fresh out of jailand back in business. He’s promoting his book, reconnecting with hisdaughter (Carey Mulligan) and mentoring/using her Wall Street traderboyfriend (Shia LaBeouf) for his own gains.My 2 Cents: Wall Street could bring together two things Inever thought I would see again: a good Oliver Stone movie and a greatMichael Douglas performance.

October

THE SOCIAL NETWORKSynopsis: Based on the book the Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich, the Social Networktells the story of Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg’s (Jesse Eisenberg)fight to keep both the legal rights to his online community site andreal-life friendships intact.My 2 Cents: David Fincher (Fight Club, the Curious Caseof Benjamin Button) directing is all the reason I need to hit the"like" button on this movie.

HEREAFTERSynopsis: Clint Eastwood directs Bryce Dallas Howard, newmuse Matt Damon and others in this drama about several couples andtheir struggles with mortality.My 2 Cents: more often than not, Eastwood’s proclivitytowards heavy-handedness weighs his films down. But Damon, who broughta lot of energy to Invictus, might be able breath some life in to Hereafter.

November

127 HOURSSynopsis: Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle jumps fromthe streets of India in Slumdog Millionaire to the cliff faces of theUtah mountains to tell the true story of Aron Ralston (James Franco), athrill seeker who had to amputate his arm to free himself from aboulder that nearly pinned him to his grave.My 2 Cents: Boyle always brings a wild new vision to thetable. But can Franco rise above his mixed track record (for every Milkthere's a Spider-Man 3) and support the Oscar-winning director? Iremain skeptical.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1Synopsis: the end is near for the boy wizard and hisschoolmates. Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) gears up for his climacticshowdown with Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).My 2 Cents: With the series finally hitting the rightlevel of darkness and Fiennes actually being in it (Half Blood Princewas lacking without him), Hallows might be the first Potter film to hit all the right notes.

December

BLACK SWANSynopsis: A psychological thriller from Darren Aronofskyabout an ambitious ballet dancer and her competitive relationship witha newcomer who both seek the lead in a production of Swan Lake.My 2 Cents: Dropping the convoluted ridiculousness of the Fountain for reality-based successes like the Wrestler, Aronosfky is becoming quite the Hollywood/art house hybrid. Black Swan could solidify him in that role.

THE FIGHTERSynopsis: Mark Wahlberg stars as real-life 1980s boxer"Irish" Mickey Ward, who came out of retirement for a comeback in the’90s.My 2 Cents: the Fighter has been Wahlberg’s passionproject for years. it had been on the ropes due to the trouble castingWard’s brother and trainer. Finally, Christian Bale signed on. with thecrafty David O. Russell directing, the wait will most likely have beenworth it.

TRON: LEGACYSynopsis: The follow-up to the 1982 cult classic findsJeff Bridges reprising his role as Kevin Flynn. Flynn, stuck in theTron server for 20 years, plans an escape when his estranged son comesto the rescue.My 2 Cents: 1980s nostalgia never gets old, but Tron’sspecial effects have. Thankfully, a flashy, hyper-active trailer showsoff the technological updates given to the long-awaited sequel. Throwin 3-D, and Tron has the potential to be one of the most entertainingmoviegoing experiences of the year.

BIUTIFULSynopsis: Alejandro González Iñárritu uses his favoredspider-web structure to tell this existential tale about Uxbal (JavierBardem), a man who feels death creeping up behind him and seeksredemption and clarity before it’s too late.My 2 Cents: an Inarritu film is always a breath of freshair. But I’m more excited to see Bardem. His performance has alreadyearned a best actor award at Cannes and early Oscar buzz.

SOMEWHERESynopsis: Queen of melancholy Sofia Coppola delivers her first directorial effort in four years. Somewhereconcerns a freewheeling A-list actor (Stephen Dorff, ironically) whoselife is turned upside-down when his estranged daughter (Elle Fanning)shows up at his doorstep.My 2 Cents: Resembling something closer to Coppola’s Lost in Translation than the disappointing Marie Antoinette, Somewhere could be one of the year's biggest surprises.

TRUE GRITSynopsis: A Coen brothers remake of the classic JohnWayne western about a young girl who hires a group of roughneckcowboys, led by Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges, pictured above with Hailee Steinfeld), to find her father’smurderer.My 2 Cents: as unholy as it is to remake a Wayne western,the Coens are bringing a near-extinct genre back to multiplexes. Andthey're re-teaming with "the Dude." all is forgiven.

BLUE VALENTINESynopsis: Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams star in thisdrama about a couple’s six-year relationship that’s full of ups anddowns.My 2 Cents: A Sundance darling in January, Blue Valentinehas not only garnered early Oscar buzz but it also bolsters two of thebest young actors working today. This is one the must-sees of the year.

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Tags: Ben Affleck, danny boyle, documentaries, documentary, sampling, slate

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