Most Anticipated 2009

A surprisingly promising year ahead.  And it’s a Top 26 27 28 for no reason whatsoever!

28.
The Host 2 (twice?)
What is it? There are apparently two follow-ups to The Host coming at us in 2009: one a Chinese-produced sequel, the other are Korean prequel (not to mention the recently fast-tracked Gore Verbinski-produced remake, which will hit theaters in 2010).  Ning Hao (Crazy Stone) will write/direct the Chinese version, which may focus on the creature attacking a resort community.
Potential fly in the ointment? Sequel.  New writers/directors.  The word “prequel” scares me.  The good news is that Joon-Ho Bong will be involved from a producing standpoint.
(US Distributor/Release Date TBD)

27.
District B13 2 (Trailer)
What is it? Sequel to 2004’s highly-influential French action pic, District B13.  No idea what this one is about, but I’m guessing there will be some wicked Parkour and obnoxiously loud French hip hop involved.
Potential fly in the ointment? New writer, new director and almost entirely new cast.  Not sure if it’s good or bad news that producer Luc Besson seems more hands-on with this installment, including writing the screenplay.  Hoping they can capture the sense of trashy fun that made the original memorable.
(US Distributor/Release Date TBD)

26.
Game
What is it?  Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Crank) return with their sophomore effort: a sci-fi flick action picture starring Gerard Butler.  Given the highly inventive nature of the duo’s first film, I’m excited to see what they can do with a larger budget.
Potential fly in the ointment? Game was completed before, yet will be released after the director’s sequel to Crank.  Not necessarily a positive sign.  Mixed word out of test screenings and a first weekend of September release date doesn’t help matters.
(Lionsgate, 9/4)

25.
Kick Ass
What is it?  Matthew Vaughn’s (Stardust, Layer Cake) 70 million dollar indie superhero movie.  An adaptation of Mark Millar’s (Wanted, The Ultimates) comic series of the same name.  Nicholas Cage and Christopher Charles Mintz-Plasse star.
Potential fly in the ointment? Cage.  No US distributor bit on the project.  Vaughn’s first two projects were solid, but not necessarily things that made a lasting impression.
(US Distributor/Release Date TBD)

24.
Drag Me to Hell
What is it?  Sam Raimi’s (Evil Dead, Spider-Man) long-awaited return to the horror genre.  Film focuses on a young woman (Alison Lohman) whose life is torn asunder by an ancient curse.
Potential fly in the ointment? Some bad early buzz.  Raimi, despite his success, has never exactly been consistent.  Lohman is a last minute replacement for Ellen Page, who left due to (cough cough) “scheduling conflicts”.
(Universal, 5/29)

23.
Tokyo! (Trailer)
What is it? A three part anthology picture directed by Michael Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), Joon-Ho Bong (The Host, Memories of Murder) and Leos Carax (The Lovers on the Bridge, Pola X).  Won the Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes 2008.
Potential fly in the ointment? Anthology pics are almost always a mixed bag, but I’ve got to imagine at least one of the efforts should be worthwhile given the talent involvement.  Even Four Rooms had The Misbehaviors.
(Liberation Entertainment, TBD)

22.
Trick ‘R Treat (Trailer)
What is it?  A 2007 horror film directed by Michael Dougherty and produced by Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, X-Men). Excellent buzz.  Excellent trailer.
Potential fly in the ointment? First time director.  Any film that’s been sitting on the shelf for two years MUST be solid!
(Warner Brothers, Never)

21.
Where the Wild Things Are (Test Footage)
What is it? Spike Jonze’s (Adaptation, Being John Malkovich) long-delayed, heavily re-shot adaptation of the classic children’s book.  Studio apparently hates and considered permanently shelving the film.  The creatures terrified children in test screenings.
Potential fly in the ointment? Could be genius.  Could be a complete disaster.  Sure to be a fascinating watch either way.
(Warner Brothers, 10/16)

TOP TWENTY AFTER THE JUMP

20.
Watchmen (Trailer)
What is it?  Zack Snyder’s (300, Dawn of the Dead) adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ ground-breaking limited series about a group of retired superheroes.
Potential fly in the ointment? Second trailer/Comicon footage were spirit-crushing for me. Overly-stylized.  Ridiculous amounts of slo-mo.  Acting/delivery appears to be questionable (particularly Malin Ackerman’s work).  This should be in the top five, but I’m just not feeling it at the moment.  Still, I hope to be eating my words come March.
(Warner Brothers/FOX/Paramount, 3/6)

19.
A Serious Man
What is it?  Coen Brothers comedy about a physics professor (Michael Stuhlberg) who must deal with a cheating spouse, a student’s blackmail attempt, and a ne’er-do-well brother (Richard Kind) who won’t leave his house.
‘Potential fly in the ointment? None I can think of.
(Focus Features, Release Date TBD)

18.
Duplicity (Trailer)
What is it? Romantically involved Secret Agents turned corporate spies (Julia Roberts, Clive Owen) conspire to con their clients out of a fortune.  Written and Directed by Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton).
Potential fly in the ointment? Based on the trailer and Gilroy’s resume, none.  Clive Owen is usually the guy producers call when the cast of Ocean’s Eleven, Will Smith and Leonardo DiCaprio turn them down, but that’s not always an indication of quality (see: Children of Men).
(Universal, 3/20)

17.
Crank 2: High Voltage (Trailer)
What is it? Live action cartoon character Chev Chelious (Jason Statham) returns to bounce around the streets of Los Angeles like a pinball.  I can not wait to return to the insane world Neveldine and Taylor have created.
Potential fly in the ointment? I expect many and will eagerly devour them all the same.
(Lionsgate, 4/17)

16.
The Green Zone
What is it?  A CIA Agent (Matt Damon) searches for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.  Adaptation of Rajiv Chandrasekaran’s “Imperial Life in the Emerald City”. Screenplay by Brian Helgeland and Directed by Paul Greengrass (United 93).  Should be lay-up given the talent involved.
Potential fly in the ointment? I’m the only person on Earth who never warmed up to The Bourne Supremacy.
(Universal, TBD 2009)

15.
Sherlock Holmes
What is it? A hard-drinking, street-fighting, social-anxiety-disorder-suffering Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and Dr. Watson (Jude Law) must stop the plans of a demon-worshiping blue blood with the help of Holmes’ former flame (Rachel McAdams).  Directed by Guy Ritchie (Revolver, Swept Away).  Despite low expectations, the script is surprisingly good.  It’s not Sherlock Holmes, but it’s damned successful as popcorn entertainment.
Potential fly in the ointment? Ritchie.  A boatload of on-set problems.  Backlash from Holmes purists.
(Warner Brothers, 11/20)

14.
Whatever Works
What is it? Woody Allen’s (Manhattan, Hannah and her Sisters) return to New York-based comedy starring Larry David (Curb your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld) as a man involved in a May/December romance with a young woman (Evan Rachel Wood).   Probably the most natural match of talent in recent memory.
Potential fly in the ointment? Allen, even at his prime, was far from consistent.  Title reminds me of Allen’s regrettable Jason Biggs picture from earlier in the decade (Anything Else).  Lack of a US Distributor even though production wrapped some time ago.
(US Distributor/Release Date TBD)

13.
The Hurt Locker
What is it? An Army bomb squad deals with an unpredictable new Sergeant while under fire in Iraq.  Directed by Katherine Bigelow.  Advanced word is almost uniformly stellar.
Potential fly in the ointment? K19: The Widowmaker, Point Break, Mission Zero, The Weight of Water, Blue Steel.
(Summit Entertainment, TBD)

12.
Thirst
What is it? Park Chan-Wook (Oldboy) takes on religion with this story of a Priest who embarks on a torrid love affair with the wife of his best friend…after, uh, being turned into a vampire.  Domestic rights have been purchased by Universal, who will release it theatrically.
Potential fly in the ointment? Could not be more tired of bloodsuckers.  Park’s tendency to get a little visually overly-stylized at times.  His last feature, I’m a Cyborg but that’s OK, was fucking awful.
(Universal/Focus Features, TBD 2009)

11.
Terminator Salvation (Trailer)
What is it and why is it here?  Third sequel to James Cameron’s Terminator, Directed by McG (Charlie’s Angels).  Trailers have showcased the film’s impressive scope.  Jonathan Nolan (Memento,The Dark Knight) was on-set contributing re-writes. WB is reportedly very happy with the film and has already signed the team for another installment.
Potential fly in the ointment? More of the same from Christian Bale.  McG.  What was the last solid fourth film in a franchise?
(Warner Brothers, 5/22)

10.
I Love You Phillip Morris (Early Promotional Clip)
What is it?  Family man police officer Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) gets into a severe car accident, has an epiphany that he’s gay, and then turns to a life of crime to support his lavish new lifestyle.  He winds up in prison, where he falls in love with a fellow inmate (Ewan McGregor) who is released shortly thereafter.  Obsessed and undeterred, he escapes four times to be with him.  Based on a true story.  Script is aces.
Potential fly in the ointment? First time directors in Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (Bad Santa).
(US Distributor/Release Date TBD)

9.
Mother
What is it?  A woman seeks prove the innocence of her mentally challenged son after he’s coerced into confessing to a brutal murder. Directed by Joon-Ho Bong (The Host) whose last foray into the crime/police procedural genre, Memories of Murder, is one of the best of the decade.
Potential fly in the ointment? None at the moment.
(US Distributor/Release Date TBD)

8.
Ashecliffe (aka Shutter Island)
What is it? A federal marshall (Leonardo DiCaprio) searches for an escaped mental patient (Emily Mortimer) on an island off the coast of Massachusetts.  Directed by Martin Scorsese (After Hours, Goodfellas).  Source novel is apparently excellent.  The always terrific Mortimer should be an A-lister by now.
Potential fly in the ointment? As much as I enjoyed The Departed, there’s no denying that Scorsese is far from the top of his game. New title sucks.
(Paramount, 10/2)

7.
Love Exposure (Trailer)
What is it?  Sion Sono’s (Strange Circus, Noriko’s Dinner Table) insane four-hour drama about an expert upskirt photographer (!) who attempts to rescue and deprogram a girl involved in a religious cult. Includes a liberal amount of violence, explosions, kidnapping and lesbianism. Early reviewers are tossing around words like “masterpiece”. As tailor made for me as any film in 2009.
Potential fly in the ointment? Tone will be uneven, but that’s a Sono trademark.  The director’s failure to rein in his actors at times is a bigger concern.
(US Distributor/Release Date TBD.  Opens in Japan on 1/31)

6.
Public Enemies
What is it? Federal Agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) tries to take down John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) in 1930’s Chicago.  Directed by Michael Mann (The Insider, Heat).  Sold.
Potential fly in the ointment? Christian Bale as Christian Bale.
(Universal, 7/1)

5.
Tokyo Sonata (Trailer)
What is it?  A father’s lay off sparks the disintegration of a family unit.  A much-needed retreat from genre films by director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Pulse, Cure).  Outstanding early reviews and a Cannes Jury Award are helping Kurosawa to gain his first US theatrical release since 2005. The trailer alone is better than some films I watched in 2008.
Potential fly in the ointment? The director’s career-spanning inconsistency.
(Regent, March 13th)

4.
Star Trek (Trailer)
What is it? JJ Abrams’ (Lost, Mission Impossible 3) 150 million dollar reboot of Paramount’s Star Trek franchise. A must-see just for the fact that it’s one of the riskiest films of the decade.  If it works: Paramount’s billion dollar franchise is reborn.  If it doesn’t: the Enterprise is in dry dock for a good, long while.
Potential fly in the ointment? Abrams is still proving himself as a theatrical helmer. Screenwriters.  Cast is comprised of unknowns, television actors and the virtually charisma-free Eric Bana.
(Paramount, 5/8)

3.
Bruno
What is it?  Sacha Baron Cohen’s follow-up to 2006’s Borat.  This time focusing on his Austrian fashionista character, Bruno, as he rampages across America.
Potential fly in the ointment? Other than the potential of Cohen backlash and a first time director: no concerns on this end.
(Universal, 5/15)

2.
Inglorious Bastards
What is it?  Quentin Tarantino’s (Pulp Fiction) long awaited feature about a band of Nazi-hunting allied soldiers.  Based on the script and the director’s track record, it’s as close to a “sure thing” I can imagine.
Potential fly in the ointment? Some potentially dodgy casting decisions.  That’s about it.
(Weinstein Co., 8/21)

1.
Avatar
What is it? A paraplegic war vet becomes entangled in attempts to settle an exotic world in the far reaches of the galaxy.  Picture marks James Cameron’s (Titanic, Aliens) return to mega-budget filmmaking after a twelve year hiatus.  Will allegedly reshape the world of cinema from a technological standpoint.  Whether that’s hyperbole remains to be seen, but the anticipation of the unknown is why this is at the top.
Potential fly in the ointment? I’m prepared for Cameron’s typical weaknesses (dialogue, bloat) but the bigger concern is that he’s spent the last decade directing forgettable ocean documentaries and an episode of Dark fucking Angel.  While it’s highly unlikely he’s lost his touch, you never know.  The fact that the planet is called “Pandora” shows he certainly hasn’t lost his subtlety as a screenwriter.
(Fox, 12/18)

Too many unknowns and/or warning signs to make the list, but will probably see:

Adventureland: Greg Mottola’s (Superbad, The Daytrippers) semi-autobiographical amusement park comedy.  Really enjoyed the director’s previous efforts, but this looks ho-hum.
The Box: Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko) directs Cameron Diaz and James Franco James Marsden in an adaptation of Richard Matheson’s short story. Screenplay is apparently solid, but a 1+ year delay in release is a big concern.  Could be Kelly’s last shot for a while if it tanks.
The Brothers Bloom: Rian Johnson comedy about a pair of con artist brothers (Adrian Brody, Mark Ruffalo) who target an heiress (Rachel Weisz). Seems to have all the ingredients of a classic sophomore slump.
Coraline: Henry Sellick’s (The Nightmare Before Christmas) return to stop-motion animation.  After Monkeybone, I’m not sure what to think about Sellick…but hoping for the best.
Edge of Darkness: A disgraced anti-semite (Mel Gibson) attempts to resurrect his career with a ho-hum sounding police procedural.  Co-star Robert DeNiro lasted less than one week on the production.  Helmed by a guy who can only direct James Bond movies.
Final Destination 4: Trash, but the return of Director David Ellis (Final Destination 2, Snakes on a Plane) means there will be some fun to be had.  His freeway pile-up sequence in the second film is still one of the most exhilarating sequences of the decade.
Goemon: Silly looking Ninja movie from the director of the terrible (but gorgeous) Casshern.  Will be released stateside by Warner Brothers, where the director has a deal for his first American picture.
Go Go Tales: Abel Ferrera’s (King of New York, Ms. 45) strip club comedy starring Willem Dafoe and Bob Hoskins.  Film seems like it was announced, shot and completed in 1995.  I’ll keep including it until it finally appears.
Harry Potter and the Whatever it’s Called Can’t Be Bothered to Look: Harry and Pals must convince a number of highly-regarded British character actors that the evil lord Voldormoot has indeed returned for the 32,003th time.  There will be lots of special effects and it will run at least 20 minutes too long.  I will be unable to differentiate between it and the last five films hours later.
The Informant: Steven Soderbergh drama about a high level whistleblower (Matt Damon) who attempts to exposure price fixing in the agricultural industry. Based on a true story.
The Informers: Brett Easton Ellis co-scripted this adaptation of his lousy 1994 novel.  Mickey Rourke, Billy Bob Thornton and Kim Bassinger star.  Bad sign: Winona Ryder. Worse sign: Zombie Brad Renfro.
The International: Despite the cast (Clive Owen, Naomi Watts) and director (Tom Twyker) something seems off.  Watts is rarely a good sign.
Jennifer’s Body: Diablo Cody’s vampire flick starring a skinny dipping Megan Fox.  Likely painful, but visually rewarding.
Knowing/Bad Lieutenant 2009: Two interesting projects from directors I admire (Alex Proyas, Werner Herzog) but each includes a giant flashing asterisk in the form of Nicholas Cage.  Not sure if either  guy is capable of pulling the actor out of his rut.
The Lovely Bones: Peter Jackson + Mark Wahlberg in the lead.  Anticipating it the way I would a root canal.
Ninja Assassin: The Wachowski Brothers/Joel Silver-produced ninja picture.  Stars Rain (I’m a Cyborg, but that’s OK, Speed Racer) and directed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta). 
Observe and Report: Seth Rogen finally changes it up by playing an unlikable, racist mall security guard on the trailer of a flasher. The terrific Anna Farris co-stars.
Outlander: Long-delayed Jesus vs. Vikings vs. Dragons flick that the Weinstein Co. promises to release theatrically in 2009.  Do not suggest holding your breath waiting for that to happen.
Rob Zombie’s Halloween 2 (H2): On the plus side: I can’t imagine how it could it be any worse.
The Stepfather: Drama about a man (Dylan Walsh) who continually marries into fatherless families in pursuit of the American dream.  When it doesn’t work out, he gets stabby.  The 1987 original (featuring an exceptional performance from a pre-Lost Terry O’Quinn) is a guilty pleasure so I’ll probably check it out.  Bad sign: was not able to get more than 1/3 through the shooting script.
Sunshine Cleaning: Down-on-their-luck sisters (Amy Adams, Emily Blunt) run a crime scene cleaning business. Solid advanced word.
The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3: Denzel Washington and John Travolta star in Tony Scott’s remake of the 1974 classic.
This Side of Truth: Decent script, but a little Ricky Gervais goes a long fucking way.
The Uninvited:  Remake of an excellent Korean film called A Tale of Two Sisters.  Wrapped a long, long time ago.
Up: I’ve cooled on Pixar, but this is supposed to be something special.
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen:  I won’t like it, but it’s inevitable that I’ll somehow be dragged into seeing this.
Whiteout: Interesting-sounding Dominic Sena picture about a federal agent (Kate Beckinsale) trying to nab a killer in Antarctica before the sun sets for six months.  Have a good feeling about this one...
Wolfman: Once highly promising Mark Romanek picture now helmed by one of the most vanilla big-budget filmmakers alive.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine: Third sequel in the popular X-Men franchise.  Director was fired multiple times throughout shooting.  Terrible trailer.  It’s from FOX.