 "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone deliver an action film cast entirely with marionettes titled "Team America: World Police." (Globe Photo) |
"Anatomy of Hell"
The first of Catherine Breillat's two movies opening this fall is her latest dispatch from the frontline of the gender wars. This one is about a gay man (Rocco Siffredi) forced to watch a straight woman (Amira Casar) be naked for four straight days.
"Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry"
Just in time to arm-wrestle those swift-boat doubters comes George Butler's documentary portrait of the presidential candidate as a young Naval cadet in Vietnam.
"Ladder 49"
Surprising that Hollywood hasn't turned out more movies about heroic firemen since 9/11? Actually, it's strange that this is the first pure firefighting movie since 1991's "Backdraft." Joaquin Phoenix, who's, er, hot off "The Village," relives his life while waiting for his buddies, led by John Travolta, to rescue him from a burning building.
"The Motorcycle Diaries"
Also known as "Young Che Guevara," this movie about the future rebel leader's travels around 1950s South America played at Sundance like "Road Trip" with brains and spirit. Mexican sigh guy Gael Garcia Bernal ("Y Tu Mama Tambien") stars, Walter Salles ("Central Station") directs.
"Shark Tale"
If DreamWorks has a habit of going up against the Pixar/Disney combine with remarkably similar projects -- "Antz" and "A Bug's Life"? "Shrek" and "Monsters Inc."? -- the studio's newest digital animation only sounds similar to "Finding Nemo" in theory. For one thing, it's a mob comedy: Will Smith voices the role of Oscar, a fish in hot water with a school of shark Mafiosi led by Don Lino (Robert De Niro). Renee Zellweger, Jack Black, and Angelina Jolie contribute their vocal cords, but the one we want to hear is the pufferfish voiced by Martin Scorsese.
"The Yes Men"
It's Michael Moore meets "Punk'd" -- a collaborative comedy-documentary about two amiable young antiglobalization activists who travel from convention to convention posing as WTO executives, demonstrating preposterous inventions, and meeting with straight-faced approval.
"Zelary"
This year's foreign film Oscar nominee from Czechoslovakia is the story of a resistance-movement nurse separated from her husband during the 1940s and sheltered in a remote village by a former patient who hides her as his wife.
Also opening: "Tying the Knot"
OCTOBER 8
"I [Heart] Huckabees"
Jason Schwartzman ("Rushmore") plays a young tree-hugger who turns to a pair of existential detectives (Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin) to help him find the meaning in a series of coincidences. Sounds simple, but he's buddied up with a cosmically distraught firefighter (Mark Wahlberg), betrayed by a pretty CEO (Jude Law), and stalked by a competing detective (Isabelle Huppert). A complicated new comedy from David O. Russell ("Three Kings"). Will the audiences show up?
"Incident at Loch Ness"
Ah, a simple documentary about the myth of the Loch Ness monster! Wait -- it's about the making and unmaking of the film the cruel, unusual, and legendary Werner Herzog tried to make of Nessie? OK, so it's not that straightforward, and it's likely to be quite frightening.
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 Hilary Duff (Globe Photo) |
Hilary Duff stars (in a role originally intended for Evan Rachel Wood of "Thirteen") as a small-town girl who learns life lessons while attending an LA performing-arts summer school. Since the story was originated by the head of New Line Cinema's soundtrack department, expect plot to take a back seat to the tie-in CD. John Corbett, Rita Wilson, and Rebecca DeMornay costar as old people, a.k.a. grown-ups.
"Rick"
Editor Curtiss Clayton ("To Die For," "My Own Private Idaho," "Buffalo 66") makes his directorial debut with this dark-comedy take on "Rigoletto," adapted by Daniel Handler (a.k.a. "Lemony Snicket"). Pullman reportedly does nasty nicely as a New York businessman looking to kill his boss, but will the rest of this film have audiences whistling "Send in the Clowns"?
"Taxi"
Queen Latifah is the fastest cabbie in New York. Jimmy Fallon is a greenhorn cop hoping to catch a group of models-turned-bank robbers led by Gisele Bundchen. Fallon and Latifah team up for high-speed comic mayhem and quite possibly the latest example of a "Saturday Night Live" star diving out of the show and into an empty pool. A remake of a 1998 French film, if that matters, and Ann-Margret plays Fallon's mom.
OCTOBER 15
"Around the Bend"
Life, death, and familial estrangement among several generations of supposedly regular guys. With Josh Lucas, Christopher Walken, and Michael Caine. Naturally.
"Friday Night Lights"
Not your average football movie. Based on H.G. Bissinger's acclaimed nonfiction account of a Texas high school team's 1988 season, the film, directed by actor Peter Berg, delves into class and race issues and examines how sports mania can both divide and unite a small town. Billy Bob Thorton plays the coach; Derek Luke ("Antwone Fisher") costars.
"Primer"
Shane Carruth's much-raved-about egghead thriller -- made for the price of a used car -- won the dramatic jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival. A group of young business partners set out to make a sort of time machine. But, oh, if only it were that simple!
"Shall We Dance?"
Remember that charming 1996 Japanese movie about an uptight businessman who unbends when he takes ballroom dancing lessons? Miramax wants you to forget it. The remake stars Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez (the latter as Gere's dance teacher), with Peter Chelsom ("Serendipity") directing. "Chicago" proved people will pay to see Gere dance, but after "Gigli" and "Jersey Girl," will anyone want to see J-Lo act?
"Tarnation"
If you're going to spend your childhood shuttling through the child welfare system and dealing with your mom's schizophrenia, you may as well get it on film. Jonathan Caouette's sprawling, angst-filed home-movie/documentary gained fame on the festival circuit this year as The Movie Made For $218.32 (the cost of videotapes; so was the iMac he edited it on free?). Gus Van Sant and John Cameron Mitchell ("Hedwig and the Angry Inch") liked it so much they're bringing it to all of art-house America.
"Team America: World Police"
"South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker believe the world is ready for a Jerry Bruckheimer-style action movie cast entirely with marionettes. Maybe yes, maybe no, but the trailers are hilarious. Stone and Parker originally wanted to film an all-puppet version of the script for "The Day After Tomorrow" and release it the same day as the official version. Cooler heads and lawyers prevailed.
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 Michael Caine and Nicolas Cage (Globe Photo) |
Director Gore Verbinski is out to prove he can handle less frivolous matters than "Pirates of the Caribbean": His latest is a thoughtful middle-age blues about a divorced Chicago weatherman (Nicolas Cage) who hopes to make peace with his ex-wife (Hope Davis) and kids before relocating to Manhattan. Michael Caine plays Cage's pop, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer.
Also opening: "Schulze Gets the Blues," "Virgin"
OCTOBER 20
"Sideways"
Two old friends, a depressed writer (Paul Giamatti) and a has-been actor (Thomas Haden Church), drive to California's wide country before one of them gets married. There, they meet two women (Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh) who make them question their life choices. It comes courtesy of Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, the men behind "Election" and "About Schmidt," so a lot of excitement is in order.
OCTOBER 22
"Alfie"
What's it all about, Jude? A remake of the swinging-London classic that made a star of Michael Caine back in 1967 may not be necessary, but if it has the original's insouciant bite, who cares? Jude Law stars as the title cad, an irresistible womanizer facing serious life choices. Costarring Marisa Tomei, Susan Sarandon, Sienna Miller, and, in the role originally played by London, New York City.
"Being Julia"
Annette Bening is clearly gunning for an Oscar nomination as a great London actress of a certain age enmeshed in a farcical 1930s roundelay of love and revenge. Think "All About Eve" by way of Somerset Maugham, whose short story "Theatre" served as the basis for the script. Istvan Szabo ("Mephisto") directs; Jeremy Irons and Juliet Stevenson costar.
"DIG!"
Ondi Timoner made this documentary and festival crowd-pleaser about the rivalry between the frontmen of two American rock bands: the Brian Jonestown Massacre and the Dandy Warhols.
"The Grudge"
In this horror film, a curse causes people to die of a rage that's passed from one victim to the next. A remake of the inscrutable but scary Japanese smash, "Ju-on," which opened Friday. This American version is a Sarah Michelle Gellar vehicle.
"The Machinist"
Christian Bale, at his gauntest, plays an insomniac metalworker who stumbles onto a series of clues about what's wrong with him. Seems pretty obvious: no square meals. Directed by Brad Anderson ("Session 9").
"Stage Beauty"
Billy Crudup plays 17th-century England's most popular leading lady, who's actually Edward "Ned" Kynaston, a very cute, very talented dude. When Charles II tires of men playing women, actresses are allowed to act, and Kynaston's career and self-worth take a plunge. Thank goodness, Maria (Claire Danes), the dresser-turned-thespian, is there to make him feel good again.
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 James Gandolfini and Ben Affleck (Globe Photo) |
A comedy in which Ben Affleck stars as a rich jerk (yes, again) who revisits his childhood home on the advice of a therapist. Finding another family living there, he hires them to help him work through his holiday and familial issues. James Gandolfini is the dad, Christina Applegate the fetching daughter.
"Vera Drake"
The title character is a kindly English abortionist (Imelda Staunton) in the 1950s whose furtive practice jeopardizes her life and her family. A drama by Mike Leigh ("Topsy-Turvy") with a potentially star-making performance from Staunton.
OCTOBER 29
"Enduring Love"
A increasingly mad scientist (Daniel Craig, "Sylvia") is haunted by a hot-air balloon accident and stalked by a man (Rhys Ifans) who was present that day and swears the two share an unbreakable connection. With Samantha Morton as Craig's girlfriend. Directed by Roger Michell and based on the Ian McEwan novel.
"Eulogy"
Just in time for the holidays: a family to make yours look normal. Zooey Deschanel ("Elf") goes home for the funeral of her grandpa (Rip Torn) and to reunite with her dysfunctional clan: porn actor dad (Hank Azaria), black sheep uncle (Ray Romano), lesbian aunt (Kelly Preston), conservative aunt (Debra Winger), and so on. Mixed reviews at Sundance, but a Winger appearance is so rare these days, we'll be there.
"Goodbye Dragon Inn"
Part ghost story, part elegy for a dying movie palace, all Taiwanese master director Tsai Ming-liang ("Rebels of the Neon God") . Languid living proof that auteurist cinema lives and breathes, especially in Asia.
"I Am David"
Following its appearance at the Boston Film Festival (among others) comes the theatrical release of this adaptation of the Anne Holm novel about a 12-year-old boy (Ben Tibber) crossing Europe after his escape from a Communist labor camp. Jim Caviezel ("The Passion of the Christ") and Joan Plowright costar in the humanist fable.
"Ray"
A much-anticipated biopic about the late Ray Charles, with Jamie Foxx in the title role. The movie promises the sex and drugs that went with Charles's music, but can Foxx transcend mere impersonation and unveil the soul of the genius? With Kerry Washington and Regina King. Directed by Taylor Hackford ("Proof of Life").
Also opening: "The Green Butchers," "The Manson Family," "Saw"
