The doldrums of the late summer/early fall movie season are finally ending. As the sky begins to get grayer and the lightness fades out of the day earlier, people will finally be able to find consolation once again in a movie theater, for the awkward phase between the advent of huge summer blockbusters and the ushering in of fall's small, prestigious films comes to a close. Not even I, a huge fan of the movie-going experience, have been to a theatre since Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona in August, and this lapse speaks to the deplorable state of the recent cinematic offerings made by Hollywood. As a celebration of the return of noteworthy movies, I have put together a highly arbitrary and biased list of films to look forward to in the near future.
Quantum of Solace: The follow-up to 2006's Casino Royale is undoubtedly one of the most hotly anticipated films of the year. Pundits and fans alike are reeling with questions about whether this newest Daniel-Craig-as-James-Bond movie can repeat the altogether awesomeness of Royale. Directed by Marc Forster, Solace picks up directly after the end of the last film, with Bond still dealing with the death of Vesper Lynd and acting erratically because of his grief. Check it out November 14.
Twilight: While anyone who has read my column before knows that I am slightly obsessed with all Stephenie Meyer related literature, I promise to not have included the upcoming release of the film adaptation solely for my own personal whims. The Twilight phenomenon is at this point undeniable, and the loyalty of the tween book fanatics will unquestionably spill over to the movie version. While it is not likely to achieve the scope of the Harry Potter franchise, the question remains whether or not this movie can earn enough money to warrant the continuation of the adaptations of the series. If you care at all about witnessing more Edward and Bella on the big screen, go see Twilight, starting November 21.
Australia: This romantic epic stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, and is directed by Baz Luhrmann, who has not released a movie since Best Picture Oscar nominee Moulin Rouge in 2001. Set in the landscape of Australia right before World War II, the trailer promises a movie filled with reliable Luhrmann characteristics such as larger-than-life love stories and quirky visuals. For fans of Moulin Rouge or Romeo and Juliet, this is a must-see on November 28.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: This Brad Pitt vehicle, based off of the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is about the life of a man who ages backwards. The special effects and make-up look to be impressive, as the trailer alone presents Pitt aging (backwards, of course) from the ages of 80 to a young man. As Pitt seems to be most known these days for being one half of Brangelina and a father of a ubiquitous international brood, it will be a relief to see him up on the big screen again in the profession that got him famous in the first place. Directed by David Fincher, Button also stars Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton and opens December 25.
These are just a handful of the movies coming up that promise to offer the cinematic quality that has been so lacking recently in movies such as Zack and Miri Make a Porno and Saw V. If none of the above appeals to you, check out sites like IMDB.com and ComingSoon.net to find other great films that will be released in the near future. And, if for nothing else, at least The Crusader community now knows where I will be in the next few weeks.
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