I looked a little closer at my Fall Movie Preview issue of Entertainment Weekly and discovered that “Machete” isn’t the only movie coming out. Here are nine others that might be worth a look:
“Easy A” (Sept. 17) — I’ve been a fan of the scene-stealing Emma Stone since the short-lived TV series “Drive” in the summer of 2007, and now she finally gets a leading role. Let’s hope the movie grows a bit beyond its much-hyped premise about a girl who fakes being “experienced” in order to become popular.
“Devil” (Sept. 17) — It used to be that I could just write: “The new M. Night Shyamalan movie, enough said.” Not anymore (I personally don’t understand the hatred of “The Happening,” although obviously “Lady in the Water” was a boring misfire; “The Last Airbender” doesn’t really count, because he was adapting someone else’s story). But the claustrophobic elevator-set preview for “Devil” does look rather scary. And Shyamalan remains the one director who is allowed to not give away the whole story in the preview, so there’s an air of mystery, too.
“Let Me In” (Oct. 1) — My friend Seth ranked “Let the Right One In” as one of his top 19 films of the Aughts, so although I should really track down that 2008 Swedish horror film on DVD, I’m a lazy American, so I’ll probably just see this English-language remake. Certainly, you can’t complain too much about rising star Chloe Grace Moretz from “(500) Days of Summer” and “Kick-Ass” playing the mysterious girl.
“The Social Network” (Oct. 1) — Director David Fincher doesn’t do too bad when chronicling history; see “Zodiac.” This drama, about the kid who founds Facebook (played by Jesse Eisenberg), is a bit more contemporary and less primal, but I’m betting Fincher will still make it suspenseful.
“Nowhere Boy” (Oct. 8) — It’s the story of a young man growing up in the 1950s by the name of … John Lennon. You can’t argue with the source material, at least.
“Paranormal Activity 2” (Oct. 22) — I didn’t love every minute of the first movie, but overall it was a pretty good time at the movies that fostered good comment-thread discussion. I expect the sequel will be much better than the original, and less embraced by horror-film geeks.
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1” (Nov. 19) — It seems like just yesterday that I was reading the last book, and now it’s almost here as a movie. Although I thought the book was weak, and the film looks overblown (two parts, and in 3D), you know I’ll still be checking it out. Maybe I’ll wait a few days after it opens, though.
“Love and Other Drugs” (Nov. 24) — Weirdly, although I absolutely adore all of the Ed Zwick/Marshall Herskovitz TV shows (yes, even “quarterlife”), I find that their movies generally fall flat. I’m not positive that this one will be an exception, but it’s off to a good start with the casting of Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway.
“Somewhere” (Dec. 22) — This is Sophia Coppola’s first contemporary-set film since “Lost in Translation” (she followed that with the historical piece “Marie Antoinette,” which I haven’t seen). It’s about the reunion of a father (Stephen Dorff) and his 11-year-old daughter (Elle Fanning), but like “Lost in Translation,” I expect that it’s the mood and small emotional moments, more so than the plot, that will make it great.
What movies are you looking forward to this fall?
Comments
I loved The Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation so I really want to see Somewhere. The trailer is excellent. Dorff is an odd choice, though. Not usually a big fan of his. I really didnt like Marie Antoinette at all. I’m excited to see Nowhere Boy as well. Social Network could be good. The others I’m not too interested in. Have you seen the trailer for Due Date? That looks hilarious. I think It’s Kind Of a Funny Story looks like it could be a good one too# Posted By Matt | 8/19/10 6:49 PM
Matt–
You’re right, “It’s Kind of Funny Story” does indeed look like it has potential. I will be interested to see what the young depressed guy learns from the old depressed guys. I don’t understand why Lauren Graham is barely in the preview, though. If it’s that small of a role, why would she bother taking it? Anyway, Zach Galifanakis is always good, and it has a great premise, so it’s worth a look.
Now, as for “Due Date,” I did see the preview and it didn’t look that funny to me. Some have said it looks like the next “Hangover,” but I thought “The Hangover” was only about half of a good movie, so I’m not crazy about the comparison. Galifanakis will make it better than it should be, but still.# Posted By John Hansen | 8/19/10 11:32 PM