The Debt (8/31)
Who's in it: Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Ciaran Hinds, Sam Worthington; Directed by John Madden (Shakespeare in Love, Proof).
What's the gist: An espionage thriller that builds across two different time periods. In 1997, retired Mossad secret agents Rachel and Stefan receive disturbing news about their former colleague David. In 1966 the trio undertook a dangerous mission when they entered East Berlin and tracked down a Nazi war criminal, Vogel (a character loosely based on Mengele). They have been revered by their country for decades for their accomplishments on this mission - but was their work really finished?
Why I'd see it: Did you see that list of talent? All that tied up in a Holocaust espionage thriller? Fuck yeah I wan to see it.
Apollo 18 (9/2)
Who's in it: I dunno, they weren't listed on IMDb. Directed by Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego.
What's the gist: Decades-old footage from NASA's rumored Apollo 18 mission, where two American astronauts were sent on a secret expedition, is found. The footage reveals the reason (aliens?) the U.S. has never returned to the moon.
Why I'd see it: This is a "maybe" on my list. I do like the idea of revisionist history which this clearly is. Also, while watching the trailer I found myself remembering the movie Moon with Sam Rockwell (great flick), which drew me into it a bit more. My disinclination comes in that the trailer also makes it look as though this could be just some horror flick, but possibly a decent one.
Contagion (9/9)
Who's in it: Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Matt Damon, Gwenyth Paltrow, Laurence Fishburne, Jennifer Ehle, Dmetri Martin, Jude Law; Directed by Steven Soderbergh.
What's the gist: This drama follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus. As the epidemic grows, we see the global medical community race to find a cure and control the panic that is spreading faster than the virus itself. We also see ordinary people struggle to survive a society slipping into chaos.
Why I'd see it: Not gonna lie, finding out Demitiri Martin plays a doctor in this increased my interest in seeing it a significant amount in comparison to my previous level of interest in seeing it. Otherwise it just seems like a modern reboot of 1995's Outbreak. The Dmitri Martin factor moves this one to the high end of the "maybe" list.
50/50 (9/30)
Who's in it: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Angelica Huston; Directed by Jonathan Levine
What's the gist: A comedic account of a 27-year-old man's cancer diagnosis and the subsequent life changes it causes as he goes about fighting it.
Why I'd see it: This flick is #1 on my list this month. The plot and trailer look HI.LAR.IOUS. I also love Joseph Gordon-Levitt. That man's talent could make an 5 minute artistic short of dropping a deuce in a paper sack appealing.
Dream House (9/30)
Who's in it: Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts; directed by Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, The Boxer).
What's the gist: A man and his family relocate to a quaint New England town. They soon learn that a mother and her two daughters were murdered in the residence they've moved into. The man works with a local woman to piece together the disturbing puzzle.
Why I'd see it: The premise hints a bit at Amityville Horror, but the trailer hints that this is a darker, more supernatural plot and possibly a higher caliber of horror.
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (9/30)
Who's in it: Alan Tudyk, Tyler Labine; Directed by Eli Craig.
What's the gist: In the mountains of West Virginia, hillbilly pals Tucker and Dale just want to drink, fish, and relax at their cabin retreat, but their encounter with a group of college kids turns into a bloody, deadly (and funny) misunderstanding.
Why I'd see it: A spoofish play on all those horrible horror flicks involving stupid college/high school kids? Sure. Alan Tudyk is in it? Hell yes!
What's Your Number (9/30)
Who's in it: Anna Farris, Chris Evans, Martin Freeman, Aziz Ansari, Joel McHale, Zachary Quinto, Thams Lennon; Directed by Mark Mylod.
What's the gist: A woman looks back at the past twenty men she's had relationships with in her life and wonders if one of them might be her one true love
Why I'd see it: Yeah, it's clear where this romantic comedy is going, given that it was created by two female sitcom writers. Appealing to me is Chris Evans and the slew of comedic men that play Anna Farris's exes.
Other Bits
- There's a quirky relationship flick with limited [LA/NYC] release titled Restless that looks to have some precious potential. Directed by Gus Van Sant, it stars Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland)as a terminally ill girl who falls for a boy, played by Henry Hopper (son of Dennis), who likes to attend funerals. Throw in their interactions with the ghost of a WWII Japanese kamikaze pilot (played by Ryo Kase) and this flick smacks of something I want to see. Hope it hits our neck of the woods soon.
- Machine Gun Preacher - The title + Gerard Butler's involvement totally makes it sound like something I'd see! The trailer makes it clear that this flick is way to inspirational/touching for my current mood. This will be a Netflixer for sure.
- Disney re-releases The Lion King into theaters, now in 3D. Way to beat a dead zebra Disney. How about coming out with something equally good, original and not PIXAR animated?
- Moneyball - I don't care enough about the talent involved or baseball to see this flick that's already getting Oscar gossip.
