Jump to content

October Movies: The Prestige, Flags of our Fathers


Mark Vader

Recommended Posts

After an abysmal month of September, the box office hopes to get back on track with the month of October. The Adult Season got off to a horrible start as people said no to "Hollywoodland", "The Black Dahlia", & "All the King's Men", but said yes to "Jackass 2", "The Guardian", & "Open Season".

The month of October is loaded with bigger stars, directors, interesting premises and still has enough room for some cheap thrills for the Halloween crowd, and some moments for families as well.

 

Wolverine and Batman square off in "The Prestige." Hugh Jackman & Christian Bale play rival magicians, whose quest for searching for new magical tricks leads to dire consequences. Word of mouth has been spreading as of late and their is strong buzz for this movie, with it's intriguing premise. Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan opted for a lower profile movie before continuing the Batman franchise and the result looks promising. Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Andy Serkis, & David Bowie co-star.

 

Clint Eastwood is back in the director's chair again, this time helming the World War II film "Flags of our Fathers." The movie centers on the lives of the six men who raised the american flag at Iwo Jima. Barry Pepper, Ryan Phillipe, Robert Patrick, Paul Walker, & Ken Watanabe round out the cast. Could Eastwood be earning Oscar #3?

 

Martin Scorcese aims for Oscar once again with his latest work, "The Departed." He also brings with him some acting firepower as well in the forms of Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, & Mark Wahlberg. The story involves two men undercover for the Boston Police dept. & the Irish Mafia. Audiences usually flock to Scorcese's films, and having Nicholson's presence will help too, since his last film was 3 years ago. Martin Sheen co-stars.

 

It's also been 3 years since Sofia Coppola was in the director's chair. She now follows up Lost in Translation with "Marie Antoinette." This period piece follows the life of the famous French Queen. Period pieces have difficulty at the box office, and the trailers of this film with rock music in the background have seemed odd. Add in the fact that Kirsten Dunst is being asked to headline this movie on her own, and this film will face quite a challenge. Jason Schwartzman, Rip Torn, & Rose Byrne co-star.

 

Of course the month of October would not be complete without horror movies for those who have the Halloween spirit. This year there are 3, but is that too many? Especially since all of these films are a part of current franchise's.

 

First there is the prequel "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning", as we see where Leatherface came from.

 

Then Amber Tamblyn travels to Tokyo to find out what happened to her sister in "The Grudge 2."

 

Finally, the jigsaw killer is back in "Saw III."

 

There will be laughs this month too, or will there?

 

Dane Cook & Dax Shepard vie for the attention of Jessica Simpson in "Employee of the Month."

 

While Robin Williams plays a radio talk show host who runs for the presidency.....and wins, in "Man of the Year."

 

Families will be treated to the re-release of the popular stop motion animated film "The Nightmare Before Christmas" in 3-D.

 

Also Alison Lohman, Tim McGraw & Maria Bello star in the horse story "Flicka."

 

Finally the WWE insists that there are not enough action movies with wrestlers in them. Thus we are treated too "The Marine", starring John Cena.

 

Dates & Trailers

 

10/6

TCM: The Beginning: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808718777/trailer

 

Employee of the Month: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809427442/trailer

 

The Departed: http://thedeparted.warnerbros.com/

 

10/13

The Grudge 2: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thegrudge2/index.html

 

Man of the Year: http://www.manoftheyearmovie.net/

 

The Marine: http://themarinemovie.com/flash.html

 

10/20

Flags of our Fathers: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809233012/trailer

 

The Prestige: http://theprestige.movies.go.com/

 

Marie Antoinette: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/mariean...ette/index.html

 

Flicka: http://www.flickamovie.com/

 

The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1800182038/trailer

 

10/27

Saw III: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809278202/trailer

 

Independant Movie Watch:

Oscar season is getting into full gear this month.

"Babel" involves three stories set in Morocco, Tunisia, Mexico and Japan. The story begins with a tragedy striking a married couple on vacation. Cate Blanchett & Brad Pitt star.

 

Helen Mirren is Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen." The story follows the queens life after the death of Princess Diana. James Cromwell co-stars.

 

Director Todd Field, who gave us "In the Bedroom", now brings us "Little Children."

A story which centers on a group of young marrieds, whose lives intersect on the playgrounds, town pools and streets of their small community in surprising and potentially dangerous ways. Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, and Patrick Wilson star.

 

And in "Running with Scissors", Young Augusten Burroughs absorbs experiences that could make for a shocking memoir: the son of an alcoholic father and an unstable mother, he's handed off to his mother's therapist, Dr. Finch, and spends his adolescent years as a member of Finch's bizarre extended family.

The ensemble cast includes, Joseph Cross, Brian Cox, Alec Baldwin, Annette Bening, Evan Rachel Wood, Joseph Fiennes, Jill Clayburgh & Gwyneth Paltrow.

 

Dates & Trailers for limited release:

 

10/6

The Queen: http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/thequeen/

 

10/13

Little Children: http://www.littlechildrenmovie.com/

 

10/20

Running with Scissors: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/running...sors/index.html

 

10/27

Babel: http://www.paramountvantage.com/babel/

 

Thats all for now. See you next month.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Vader time!!

 

A few months ago you included the film "Once in a Lifetime: The Story of the NY Cosmos" in your preview. I wouldn't have heard of it if not for that, so thanks! I saw it the other night and really enjoyed it. The person who ran the very first soccer camp I went to as a kid was run by one of the members of the Cosmos, and I have memories of that league before it folded. This was a really well done documentary, and I highly recommend it for anyone who is a fan of soccer.

 

Thanks for this months preview!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two movies for me this month:  Saw III & Man of the Year

797071[/snapback]

 

I usually hate slasher films, but yeah, Saw's been a particularly devious series. Imagine having to remove a friend's eyeball for his own good. :devil:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Martin Scorcese aims for Oscar once again with his latest work, "The Departed." He also brings with him some acting firepower as well in the forms of Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, & Mark Wahlberg. The story involves two men undercover for the Boston Police dept. & the Irish Mafia. Audiences usually flock to Scorcese's films, and having Nicholson's presence will help too, since his last film was 3 years ago. Martin Sheen co-stars.

796871[/snapback]

 

This looks like it might have potential :devil:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I usually hate slasher films, but yeah, Saw's been a particularly devious series.    Imagine having to remove a friend's eyeball for his own good.  :devil:

797171[/snapback]

 

I know. I usually don't as well, but Saw is just awesome if you can put yourself in their shoes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know.  I usually don't as well, but Saw is just awesome if you can put yourself in their shoes.

797186[/snapback]

 

I loved the first one, liked the second one well enough to keep my interest going for the third. I honestly didn't think the first one would be as good as it was. I was pleasantly surprised by it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Clint Eastwood is back in the director's chair again, this time helming the World War II film "Flags of our Fathers." The movie centers on the lives of the six men who raised the american flag at Iwo Jima. Barry Pepper, Ryan Phillipe, Robert Patrick, Paul Walker, & Ken Watanabe round out the cast. Could Eastwood be earning Oscar #3?

 

796871[/snapback]

The book was outstanding...if Eastwood, and Spielberg producing, do what they normally do, the movie should be just as good. Looking forward to the premier in two weeks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The book was outstanding...if Eastwood, and Spielberg producing, do what they normally do, the movie should be just as good.  Looking forward to the premier in two weeks.

797239[/snapback]

 

People should also read James Bradley's "Flyboys," about the Navy and Marine pilots who were captured and slaughtered by the Japanese on Chichi Jima (which was a key hub for Japan's radio transmissions to its fleet). This was the place where George H.W. Bush came within minutes of being captured as a POW -- and therefore a dead man.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am looking forward to the Eastwood film. My family and I took a DC vacation this summer, and the kids were very impressed with the History of our great Nation. Iwo Jima has always been a favorite of mine, and I think Eastwood and Spielberg will do it justice.

 

Just to think that the Bloodiness of this battle is the reason (or one of) we decided to drop the A-bomb.... still gives me chills....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Prestige will own. It's basically made by the entire team behind Batman Begins.

 

Man of the Year looks like the worst movie ever made and will continue Robin Williams' DiMaggio-like streak of making complete crap every time he tries to be funny. The trailer alone had like 10 groan-inducing moments. Robin Williams gets elected, in part, because he breaks the rules during the Presidential debate by yelling lame gay marriage jokes over the moderator. ("Same sex marraige? Everyone who's ever been married knows it's always the same sex!" Nyuck nyuck nyuck!) Plus you see Laura Linney crying at some point while watching RW on TV which means we're guaranteed a completely ridiculous "touching" ending, most likely with a really blatant MESSAGE scene. Oh, and another supposedly funny part is where he jokes about making Bruce Springsteen Secretary of State. That's......funny...... :devil:

 

To be fair, Man of the Year looks about as unfunny as Employee of the Month but I'm pretty sure EOTM won't try to bludgeon us with a message of some sort or try to be touching.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Prestige will own.  It's basically made by the entire team behind Batman Begins.

 

Man of the Year looks like the worst movie ever made and will continue Robin Williams' DiMaggio-like streak of making complete crap every time he tries to be funny.  The trailer alone had like 10 groan-inducing moments.  Robin Williams gets elected, in part, because he breaks the rules during the Presidential debate by yelling lame gay marriage jokes over the moderator.  ("Same sex marraige? Everyone who's ever been married knows it's always the same sex!"  Nyuck nyuck nyuck!)  Plus you see Laura Linney crying at some point while watching RW on TV which means we're guaranteed a completely ridiculous "touching" ending, most likely with a really blatant MESSAGE scene.  Oh, and another supposedly funny part is where he jokes about making Bruce Springsteen Secretary of State.  That's......funny...... :devil:

 

To be fair, Man of the Year looks about as unfunny as Employee of the Month but I'm pretty sure EOTM won't try to bludgeon us with a message of some sort or try to be touching.

797425[/snapback]

 

Robin Williams was never funny IMO. He is like an attention starved, add 12 year old. Bill Hicks and Mitch Hepberg- thats comedy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just saw The Departed, thought it was great. Very much a Scorsese like-film, although not as blood soaked as say GoodFellas or Casino. Overall I thought very good film, great acting of course, Damon and DiCaprio are actually convincing as tough, mean guys. And Alec Baldwin provides great comic relief, believe it or not. Highly recommend the film. The theatre was nearly full, too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Prestige will own.  It's basically made by the entire team behind Batman Begins.

 

Man of the Year looks like the worst movie ever made and will continue Robin Williams' DiMaggio-like streak of making complete crap every time he tries to be funny.  The trailer alone had like 10 groan-inducing moments.  Robin Williams gets elected, in part, because he breaks the rules during the Presidential debate by yelling lame gay marriage jokes over the moderator.  ("Same sex marraige? Everyone who's ever been married knows it's always the same sex!"  Nyuck nyuck nyuck!)  Plus you see Laura Linney crying at some point while watching RW on TV which means we're guaranteed a completely ridiculous "touching" ending, most likely with a really blatant MESSAGE scene.  Oh, and another supposedly funny part is where he jokes about making Bruce Springsteen Secretary of State.  That's......funny...... :lol:

 

To be fair, Man of the Year looks about as unfunny as Employee of the Month but I'm pretty sure EOTM won't try to bludgeon us with a message of some sort or try to be touching.

797425[/snapback]

 

I hope it does, part of the reason why I'll be seeing it is for one of the clsases I'm taking on the media and hollywood.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Prestige will own.  It's basically made by the entire team behind Batman Begins.

 

797425[/snapback]

 

I happen to know Christopher Priest, the author of the novel The Prestige on which the movie is based. He's pretty excited about the film and the first class production it received.

 

I ran into Priest at a conference in Spain last summer. Here's a photo of the two of us (fifth photo down on the page). We were pretty drunk at the time on the amazing hard cider they make in northern Spain.

 

 

http://www4.ncsu.edu/~tenshi/semananegraphotos.htm

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...