School is starting again, which means the summer movie season has come to a close and we begin to get some more serious fare at the box office. Throughout this week, I'll preview the 20 films I'm most interested in for the next few months and the ones you should keep your eyes on as well.
20.The Fighter (Dec. 10)
Plot: "The Fighter" is a drama about boxer Irish Mickey Ward (Wahlberg) and his unlikely path to become world lightweight champion. Bale plays Dicky Eklund, Mickey's half-brother and a talented fighter who once went the distance with Sugar Ray Leonard in a title fight but then turned to crime and landed in prison. Then he turned his life around and helped his underperforming brother find the spark for a remarkable run that led to the world title.
Quick thoughts: David O. Russell has been now to be very divisive both with actors and with viewers when it comes to his films. This one just makes my list thanks to the impressive cast. I'm anxious to see how Bale rebounds after disappointments with Terminator: Salvation and Public Enemies last year. Boxing films usually tend to be pretty good too and offer emotional stories. If successful, this could see success at next year's Oscars.
19.127 Hours (Nov. 5) - Trailer
Plot: "127 Hours" is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's (James Franco) remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he is finally rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers (Clemence Poesy), family, and the two hikers (Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara) he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet? A visceral, thrilling story that will take an audience on a never before experienced journey and prove what we can do when we choose life.
Quick thoughts: I think director Danny Boyle has a real winner on his hands for his follow-up to Slumdog Millionaire. Franco has proven he can pull off drama just as well as comedy in recent years. The little I know about this story is unbelievable and I think it will translate well on the big screen. If people can tolerate a story that is basically a one-man show, then I think they'll be in for a treat.
18.Fair Game (Nov. 5) -- Trailer
Plot: As a covert officer in the CIA's Counter-Proliferation Division, Valerie (Naomi Watts) leads an investigation into the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Valerie's husband, diplomat Joe Wilson (Sean Penn), is drawn into the investigation to substantiate an alleged sale of enriched uranium from Niger. But when the administration ignores his findings and uses the issue to support the call to war, Joe writes a New York Times editorial outlining his conclusions and igniting a firestorm of controversy.Soon after, Valerie's covert status is reported by a high-profile Washington journalist. With her cover blown and her overseas contacts placed in mortal danger, Valerie is pushed to the breaking point as her career and private life collapse. After years serving the government, Valerie--a mother, a wife and a field officer with an impeccable record--now struggles to save her reputation, her career and her family.
Quick thoughts: Most are probably familiar with the name Valerie Plame, but may not know all the details behind her story of being outed as a spy by in 2003. Even I only knew the basic details. Now that I've read a little bit more about her and her family, I'm very interested to see how it is portrayed in this film. I'm not crazy about Sean Penn, but both he and Naomi Watts seem to be perfectly cast in this film based on how their real life counterparts look. This is a fascinating story, but if it gets too bogged down in political preachiness, it may be a turn off to many viewers.
17.The Tourist (Dec. 10)
Plot: "The Tourist" revolves around Frank (Depp), an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise (Jolie) is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Venice, Frank pursues a potential romance but soon finds himself the pursued as he and Elise are caught in a whirlwind of intrigue and danger.
Quick thoughts: Usually when films get pushed back it's a sign that a movie studio has lost faith in the film. In this case, the film has been pushed up, which I'm hoping is a good sign. Obviously it looks like a winner based solely on the two megastars as the leads. I'm also intrigued by the thriller aspect of the film. With this, The Fighter, and the third Narnia film all opening on the same date, it appears there will be a big time box office battle come early December.
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