Change Reel Now
Ah... cheap beer and blogging. What else is there to do at 2 in the morning?
Well, OK... lots I suppose... but not for a nerd with very little social life and no job.
I sat down tonight, intending to make my first really real post about the best films I'd seen this year. As it stands, however, I have only seen 19 films released in the Ought Six... and of those, I'd only call a small handful terrific (Brick, Why We Fight, A Scanner Darkly, maybe Slither, V for Vendetta, and Clerks 2 for the low expectation/high payoff category). A few of the summer flicks were decent, namely Superman Returns and... well... uh... sure there was another one in there somewhere.
Anyway, my pitiful attempt at list making got me thinking... namely about the best prospects out there for the rest of the year. Here's what I came up with, complete with previews when I could find one...
I've seen 19... so here are 19 more.
1. The Fountain- dir. Darren Aronfonsy
Easily the most anticipated film for me this year. It's been, what... almost 7 years since Darren Aronfonsky released Requiem for a Dream. I'm a sucker for an epic sci-fi film, and this one spans over a thousand years. Throw in some solid actors in Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz and you have an easy pick.
Preview
2. Marie Antoinette- dir. Sofia Coppola
The reviews from Cannes were pretty awful at times, but they're a finicky bunch and, well, French. Sofia Coppola hasn't really missed the mark yet and seeing her play with a $50 million budget sounds fun. If it's a disaster, at least it should be an entertaining one featuring a naked Kirsten Dunst.
Anachronistic
3. The Prestige- dir. Christopher Nolan
So far, nothing too surprising. Most of these are surely on everyone's list. Christopher Nolan is another director who simply always seems to hit the mark. This time, he has Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman (again) as feuding magicians. Throw in Scarlett Johannsen, David Bowie, Michael Caine and a brilliant trailer for good measure. Hope David Fincher isn't too angry that Nolan stole his career.
Hizaa!
4. Pan's Labyrinth- dir. Guillermo del Toro
Yeah, so I choose my movies by director. This one is Guillermo del Toro doing what he does best... namely making twisted spanish language horror films with amazing visuals. If the story delivers on this one (and all early word is that it does), then it could be his best film yet. Happy to see he's continuing to play outside of Hollywood on occassion.
Traducir
5. Idiocracy- dir. Mike Judge
Been a Mike Judge fan since Office Space. In this one, Luke Wilson wakes up a thousand years in the future to an America overrun with Taco Bells and idiots, discovering he is now the smartest person alive. Still listed as a September release, but seeing as how a trailer is still not available, I expect this to get bumped to the holidays or early next year.
6. The Good German- dir. Steven Soderbergh
George Clooney drama/thriller set in post-war Berlin. A director who isn't afraid to play with the medium in his prime. Black and white. No preview, very little info. Just enough to make me list it.
7. Babel- dir. Alejandro Gaonzalez Inarritu
World hopping drama that won a number of awards at Cannes. Advance word is it's likely the best film from this year's award hopefuls. Just watch the preview.
Jaberwocky
8. Children of Men- dir. Alfonso Cuaron
Set 20 years in the future, mankind can no longer procreate. Some chick becomes mysteriously pregnant. I'm sure the religious allegories and social commentary run rampant. I was slightly more interested in this before the weakish trailer hit but, again, advance buzz is pretty strong... and that cast with that director... well....
Do It!
9. This Film is Not Yet Rated- dir. Kirby Dick
The age of the high profile documentary continues... this one about the MPAA. Predictably, the scathing look at the ratings board earned the film an NC-17, so expect only a brief theatrical run and an Oscar.
Censored for your good
10. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan- dir. Larry Charles
Sasha Baron Cohen's cult is still relatively small in the U.S., but with the well planned exposure in Talladega Nights, expect that cult to be much bigger by the time this one comes out. Popular character from Ali G comes to America report on "the greatest country in the world", where he falls in love with Pamela Anderson. This simply can't suck.
In Russia, Trailer Watches You
11. The Woods- dir. Lucky McGee
This one depresses me. A lot.
See, I've been waiting for this puppy to come out for three years. McGee became a god to me after "May". As the months past, and this puppy gathered dust on the shelf, good will about the film contiuned to circulate among horror aficionados.
Now, I find out UA is simply going to dump it direct to DVD.
Suspiria anyone?
12. Stranger Than Fiction- dir. Marc Forster
I have no reason to expect this to be great. But the preview is just pretty damn strong and Will Ferrell appears to have finally found the right tone for the next phase in his career.
The quick of it: an author's protagonist just happens to also be real, and he begins going crazy as he suddenly hears the novelist's narrator in his head as he goes about his daily routine. Looks like a less quirky but enjoyable spin on Adaptation.
Novel
13. Fast Food Nation- dir. Richard Linklater
Another of my favorite directors (I enjoyed A Scanner Darkley more than I should have), Linklater here adapts the massive nonfiction bestseller about the fast food industry into a layered narrative.
Early word: toothless but well made and well intentioned.
Super Size Me
14. Southland Tales- dir. Richard Kelley
Already massively controversial after the ruckus caused at Cannes. Many critics called it a colossal failure. But, the same thing happened with Donnie Darko, and that seemed to turn out ok.
This one is set 2 years in the future and chock full of every idea Kelley could imagine (which may account for its near 3 hour original cut). This one may not come out this year... it just got a studio deal after the drubbing, and Kelley is busy recutting it.
Can't wait.
(No trailer... just a funny clip)
15. For Your Consideration- dir. Cristopher Guest
This comedy is all meta... a mockumentary about a small film that suddenly becomes a dark horse for the Oscars. Guest again pulling the same great schtick he's perfected in "Best in Show", "A Mighty Wind" and "Spinal Tap".
No preview as yet.
16. The Science of Sleep- dir. Michel Gondry
Again, I was more psyched for this one pre-trailer. Gondry just robs a bit too much from his music videos, it appears. But I loved "Eternal Sunshine..." and Gael Garcia Bernal is one of the best actors working. Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Never mind... I'm excited again.
Deadweight
17. Apocalypto- dir. Mel Gibson
If it bombs, we can just blame it on the jews.
Sieg Heil
18. Sunshine- dir. Danny Boyle
Another movie with a release date in flux. Was to come out in October, now it may be pushed back to the start of next year. Danny Boyle continues to show he can direct any genre he damn well wants to. This one, another brainy sci-fi film about scientists trying to prevent the sudden death of the sun.
Heliostatic equilibrium
19. Casino Royale- dir. Martin Campbell
Just stuck this one in here, because apparently I'm still a sucker who believes Flemings estate can produce the Bond film we all deserve. Trailer looks impressive, in a Batman Begins/Bourne Identity type of way. And I like the choice of Daniel Craig as Bond.
Let's watch me be disappointed yet again.
Bourne Again
Well, OK... lots I suppose... but not for a nerd with very little social life and no job.
I sat down tonight, intending to make my first really real post about the best films I'd seen this year. As it stands, however, I have only seen 19 films released in the Ought Six... and of those, I'd only call a small handful terrific (Brick, Why We Fight, A Scanner Darkly, maybe Slither, V for Vendetta, and Clerks 2 for the low expectation/high payoff category). A few of the summer flicks were decent, namely Superman Returns and... well... uh... sure there was another one in there somewhere.
Anyway, my pitiful attempt at list making got me thinking... namely about the best prospects out there for the rest of the year. Here's what I came up with, complete with previews when I could find one...
I've seen 19... so here are 19 more.
1. The Fountain- dir. Darren Aronfonsy
Easily the most anticipated film for me this year. It's been, what... almost 7 years since Darren Aronfonsky released Requiem for a Dream. I'm a sucker for an epic sci-fi film, and this one spans over a thousand years. Throw in some solid actors in Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz and you have an easy pick.
Preview
2. Marie Antoinette- dir. Sofia Coppola
The reviews from Cannes were pretty awful at times, but they're a finicky bunch and, well, French. Sofia Coppola hasn't really missed the mark yet and seeing her play with a $50 million budget sounds fun. If it's a disaster, at least it should be an entertaining one featuring a naked Kirsten Dunst.
Anachronistic
3. The Prestige- dir. Christopher Nolan
So far, nothing too surprising. Most of these are surely on everyone's list. Christopher Nolan is another director who simply always seems to hit the mark. This time, he has Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman (again) as feuding magicians. Throw in Scarlett Johannsen, David Bowie, Michael Caine and a brilliant trailer for good measure. Hope David Fincher isn't too angry that Nolan stole his career.
Hizaa!
4. Pan's Labyrinth- dir. Guillermo del Toro
Yeah, so I choose my movies by director. This one is Guillermo del Toro doing what he does best... namely making twisted spanish language horror films with amazing visuals. If the story delivers on this one (and all early word is that it does), then it could be his best film yet. Happy to see he's continuing to play outside of Hollywood on occassion.
Traducir
5. Idiocracy- dir. Mike Judge
Been a Mike Judge fan since Office Space. In this one, Luke Wilson wakes up a thousand years in the future to an America overrun with Taco Bells and idiots, discovering he is now the smartest person alive. Still listed as a September release, but seeing as how a trailer is still not available, I expect this to get bumped to the holidays or early next year.
6. The Good German- dir. Steven Soderbergh
George Clooney drama/thriller set in post-war Berlin. A director who isn't afraid to play with the medium in his prime. Black and white. No preview, very little info. Just enough to make me list it.
7. Babel- dir. Alejandro Gaonzalez Inarritu
World hopping drama that won a number of awards at Cannes. Advance word is it's likely the best film from this year's award hopefuls. Just watch the preview.
Jaberwocky
8. Children of Men- dir. Alfonso Cuaron
Set 20 years in the future, mankind can no longer procreate. Some chick becomes mysteriously pregnant. I'm sure the religious allegories and social commentary run rampant. I was slightly more interested in this before the weakish trailer hit but, again, advance buzz is pretty strong... and that cast with that director... well....
Do It!
9. This Film is Not Yet Rated- dir. Kirby Dick
The age of the high profile documentary continues... this one about the MPAA. Predictably, the scathing look at the ratings board earned the film an NC-17, so expect only a brief theatrical run and an Oscar.
Censored for your good
10. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan- dir. Larry Charles
Sasha Baron Cohen's cult is still relatively small in the U.S., but with the well planned exposure in Talladega Nights, expect that cult to be much bigger by the time this one comes out. Popular character from Ali G comes to America report on "the greatest country in the world", where he falls in love with Pamela Anderson. This simply can't suck.
In Russia, Trailer Watches You
11. The Woods- dir. Lucky McGee
This one depresses me. A lot.
See, I've been waiting for this puppy to come out for three years. McGee became a god to me after "May". As the months past, and this puppy gathered dust on the shelf, good will about the film contiuned to circulate among horror aficionados.
Now, I find out UA is simply going to dump it direct to DVD.
Suspiria anyone?
12. Stranger Than Fiction- dir. Marc Forster
I have no reason to expect this to be great. But the preview is just pretty damn strong and Will Ferrell appears to have finally found the right tone for the next phase in his career.
The quick of it: an author's protagonist just happens to also be real, and he begins going crazy as he suddenly hears the novelist's narrator in his head as he goes about his daily routine. Looks like a less quirky but enjoyable spin on Adaptation.
Novel
13. Fast Food Nation- dir. Richard Linklater
Another of my favorite directors (I enjoyed A Scanner Darkley more than I should have), Linklater here adapts the massive nonfiction bestseller about the fast food industry into a layered narrative.
Early word: toothless but well made and well intentioned.
Super Size Me
14. Southland Tales- dir. Richard Kelley
Already massively controversial after the ruckus caused at Cannes. Many critics called it a colossal failure. But, the same thing happened with Donnie Darko, and that seemed to turn out ok.
This one is set 2 years in the future and chock full of every idea Kelley could imagine (which may account for its near 3 hour original cut). This one may not come out this year... it just got a studio deal after the drubbing, and Kelley is busy recutting it.
Can't wait.
(No trailer... just a funny clip)
15. For Your Consideration- dir. Cristopher Guest
This comedy is all meta... a mockumentary about a small film that suddenly becomes a dark horse for the Oscars. Guest again pulling the same great schtick he's perfected in "Best in Show", "A Mighty Wind" and "Spinal Tap".
No preview as yet.
16. The Science of Sleep- dir. Michel Gondry
Again, I was more psyched for this one pre-trailer. Gondry just robs a bit too much from his music videos, it appears. But I loved "Eternal Sunshine..." and Gael Garcia Bernal is one of the best actors working. Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Never mind... I'm excited again.
Deadweight
17. Apocalypto- dir. Mel Gibson
If it bombs, we can just blame it on the jews.
Sieg Heil
18. Sunshine- dir. Danny Boyle
Another movie with a release date in flux. Was to come out in October, now it may be pushed back to the start of next year. Danny Boyle continues to show he can direct any genre he damn well wants to. This one, another brainy sci-fi film about scientists trying to prevent the sudden death of the sun.
Heliostatic equilibrium
19. Casino Royale- dir. Martin Campbell
Just stuck this one in here, because apparently I'm still a sucker who believes Flemings estate can produce the Bond film we all deserve. Trailer looks impressive, in a Batman Begins/Bourne Identity type of way. And I like the choice of Daniel Craig as Bond.
Let's watch me be disappointed yet again.
Bourne Again
posted by Scott at
10:22 PM
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