Mark Vader Posted August 31, 2006 Posted August 31, 2006 With the passing of yet another summer season at the box office, we now turn to the months of fall, or as some distributors refer to as, "The Adult Season". With children and teenagers going back to school, the tentpole, big budget films are placed on hold until November & December. Now is the time for more serious fare and some possible Oscar films and performances. Still there will be enough in the next 2 months to satisfy every age group. The most intriguing part of this month comes from 2 movies, Focus Features' "Hollywoodland", & Universal's "The Black Dahlia". Both movies with similar plots, strong casts, and open only a week apart from each other. "Hollywoodland" features Adrian Brody playing a detective investigating the murder of George Reeves, played by Ben Affleck. Diane Lane & Bob Hoskins co-star. "The Black Dahlia" stars Josh Hartnett & Aaron Eckhart playing 2 cops in 1940's Los Angeles, investigating the grisly murder of a young beautiful actress named Elizabeth Short(Mia Kirshner). Scarlett Johansson & Hilary Swank co-star. Both films are set in Hollywood, have a film noir feel to them, and have early positive buzz. Now can these 2 films draw enough hype to get audiences to see both of them, when they open so close to each other? After spending nearly an entire year on the shelf, Columbia Pictures finally releases it's political drama, "All the King's Men". Loosely based on Louisiana Governor Huey Long, the movie shows the life of souther political populist Willie Stark, played by Sean Penn. The strong ensemble cast includes: Anthny Hopkins, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, & Patricia Clarkson. James Franco & Jean Reno star in "Flyboys". This movie follows the story of the Lafayette Escadrille, a group of American fighter pilots who volunteered for French military before the U.S. entered WWI. If kids did not get enough of CGI animated animal movies this year, fear not, there's "Open Season". This story follows Boog a 900 lb. domesticated grizzly bear who ends up stranded in the woods. He then teams up with Elliot a mule deer, and both try to survive together with hunting season only 3 days away. Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, & Debra Messing lend their voice talents. Horror will be out this month: "The Wicker Man" stars Nicolas Cageas as a sheriff patroling a nearby island, who gets caught in a tragic accident involving a mother and her young daughter. Ellen Burstyn & Leelee Sobieski co-star. "The Covenant" is a story about four powerful young men who belong to a supernatural legacy, and find their centuries-old code of silence threatened after one of their peers turns up dead. For those who crave action: "Crank" stars Jason Statham who goes on a rampage after he has discovered he has been poisoned and has only 24 hours to cure himself. "Gridiron Gang" stars The Rock as a counselor at Camp Kilpatrick, a juvenile detention center in LA, who then launches a football program to help rehabilitate a group of young inmates. "Fearless" stars Jet Li as Huo Yuanjia, who overcomes personal and physical setbacks to become the most famous Chinese fighter at the turn of the 20th century. Also: Zach Braff stars in "The Last Kiss" as Michael, who after living together for three years begins to wonder if his relationship with his pregnant girlfriend, Jenna (Jacinda Barrett), is meant to be. In "School for Scoundrels" Jon Heder plays an unlucky meter reader who enrolls in confidence-building class with his sights set on winning over the girl of his dreams. It's a dream that becomes complicated when his instructor, Billy Bob Thornton gets the same idea. "The Guardian" features Kevin Costner who plays a teacher in rescue swimming, and then mentors a young up-and-comer played by Ashton Kutcher. "Crossover" is set in the world of street basketball. "Everyone's Hero" is a CGI animated tale about a boy who travels across the country on a mission to return Babe Ruth's bat before the deciding game of the 1932 World Series. And stupid people continue to do stupid things in "Jackass: Number Two". Calendar with dates & trailers: 9/1 Crank: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808725259/trailer The Wicker Man: http://thewickermanmovie.warnerbros.com/wickerman.html Crossover: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809273732/trailer 9/8 The Covenant: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809264289/trailer Hollywoodland: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808471710/trailer 9/15 Gridiron Gang: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808723345/trailer The Last Kiss: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808744359/trailer The Black Dahlia: http://www.theblackdahliamovie.net/ Everyone's Hero: http://www.everyoneshero.com/flash/index.html 9/22 Jackass: Number Two: http://www.jackassmovie.com/ Fearless: http://www.fearlessthemovie.com/ All The King's Men: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/allthekingsmen/index.html Flyboys: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808746759/trailer 9/29 Open Season: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808757097/trailer School for Scoundrels: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808718742/trailer The Guardian: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809264831/trailer Independant movie watch. Documentaries look strong as do other smaller films this month. In "This Film is not yet Rated" director Kirby Dick, investigates the MPAA and tries to learn their methods into how they base their judgements on rating a film. Interviewees include, Kevin Smith, Darren Aranofsky, Maria Bello, & Atom Egoyan. "Sherrybaby" stars Maggie Gyllenhall as Sherry Swanson, a woman just released from prison, trying to put her life back together. "Confetti" Involves three couples who battle it out to win the honor of having the "Most Original Wedding of the Year." "The U.S. Vs. John Lennon", A documentary on the life of John Lennon, with a focus on the time in his life when he transformed from a musician into an antiwar activist. Somehow I think I should have placed this on the PP&P board. "Haven", Acting on a tip, a shady businessman (Bill Paxton) grabs his daughter (Agnes Bruckner) and flees to the Cayman Islands to avoid the feds. Their fate is tied to that of a local guy (Orlando Bloom) who is destined to commit a crime that will rock the nation. In "The Science of Sleep", An insecure young man (Gael GarciaBernal) who lives in his dreams as much as in his real life attempts to establish a connection with his new neighbor. And in "The Last King of Scotland", a Scottish doctor (James McAvoy) becomes the personal physician of Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker), the new president of Uganda. Gillian Anderson co-stars. Dates(limited release) & Trailers 9/1 This Film is Not Yet Rated: http://www3.ifctv.com/thisfilm/about.php 9/8 Sherrybaby: http://www.sherrybaby-film.com/ 9/15 Confetti: http://www2.foxsearchlight.com/confetti/ The U.S. Vs. John Lennon: http://www.theusversusjohnlennon.com/site/ Haven: http://www.havenmovie.com/ 9/22 The Science of Sleep: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809257703/trailer 9/27 The Last King of Scotland: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thelastkingofscotland/ That's all for now. See you next month.
stuckincincy Posted August 31, 2006 Posted August 31, 2006 Thanks, Mark. Hard to think they could add much to the original b&w "All The King's Men". Wonder what the reviewers will think...
Mark Vader Posted September 4, 2006 Author Posted September 4, 2006 Cool, thanks Mark! 757222[/snapback] You're welcome. Right now The Black Dahlia looks the most ineresting to me.
The Poojer Posted September 4, 2006 Posted September 4, 2006 how about the new one with matt damon, jack nicholson, marky mark and leo di, that one looks very interesting, the name escapes me though
ajzepp Posted September 4, 2006 Posted September 4, 2006 how about the new one with matt damon, jack nicholson, marky mark and leo di, that one looks very interesting, the name escapes me though 760997[/snapback] Yep, I saw a preview for that one today, but I can't recall the title either....it looked pretty damn intense! And thanks, Mark! I always love reading your previews!
Mile High Posted September 4, 2006 Posted September 4, 2006 Yep, I saw a preview for that one today, but I can't recall the title either....it looked pretty damn intense! And thanks, Mark! I always love reading your previews! 761016[/snapback] The departed Trailer
Mark Vader Posted September 4, 2006 Author Posted September 4, 2006 The departed Trailer 761076[/snapback] The Departed is set for October. Which is looking more and more like the most impressive month for movies this year. "The Prestige", "Marie Antoinette", & "Flags of our Fathers" are also due that month. The upcoming holiday season looks a bit underwhelming. The big budget pics are very few, unlike last year with Harry Potter, Narnia, & King Kong. "Eragon" being the big holiday fantasy this year, and "Flushed Away" & "Happy Feet" being two animated movies. It looks mostly like drama and Oscar fare is going to be the draw with movies like, "Deja Vu", "The Children of Men", "The Holiday", "Dreamgirls", & "The Fountain" all coming out at those times. We'll see.
sweetbaboo Posted September 4, 2006 Posted September 4, 2006 how about the new one with matt damon, jack nicholson, marky mark and leo di, that one looks very interesting, the name escapes me though 760997[/snapback] The Departed is a direct copy of the Hong Kong film "Infernal Affairs". The original is a masterpiece by itself. What's weird is, there's Oscar buzz for Scorcese over this film and all he's doing is copying someone else's work. Hollywood really is out of ideas.
The Poojer Posted September 4, 2006 Posted September 4, 2006 thats pretty funny, i have never heard of internal affairs, is it on dvd? The Departed is a direct copy of the Hong Kong film "Infernal Affairs". The original is a masterpiece by itself. What's weird is, there's Oscar buzz for Scorcese over this film and all he's doing is copying someone else's work. Hollywood really is out of ideas. 761518[/snapback]
sweetbaboo Posted September 4, 2006 Posted September 4, 2006 Infernal Affairs 8.0/10 - 8,200 votes it is out on dvd available in region 1...i have a copy of it i think you can get it from netflix also
KD in CA Posted September 5, 2006 Posted September 5, 2006 And in "The Last King of Scotland", a Scottish doctor (James McAvoy) becomes the personal physician of Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker), the new president of Uganda. Gillian Anderson co-stars. Previews can be decieving of course, but this one looked pretty good. Forest Whitaker is going to be great in this movie....can't wait to see it.
Mark Vader Posted September 6, 2006 Author Posted September 6, 2006 KD in CT Posted Yesterday, 01:33 PM QUOTE(MarkVaderr50 @ Aug 31 2006, 01:40 AM) And in "The Last King of Scotland", a Scottish doctor (James McAvoy) becomes the personal physician of Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker), the new president of Uganda. Gillian Anderson co-stars. Previews can be decieving of course, but this one looked pretty good. Forest Whitaker is going to be great in this movie....can't wait to see it. This movie does look good. Forest Whitaker looks very frightening in this film.
RuntheDamnBall Posted September 6, 2006 Posted September 6, 2006 Not sure what the fall release date is on it, but Babel, directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (21 Grams, Amores Perros) looks really good.
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