3rd Quarter Preview: July, August, September

By tonight, I'll be out of the country for roughly 12 days, meaning that July will be well underway by the time I get back. And seeing as there are several high profile releases that will arrive while I'm gone or shortly after I return, I thought it might be best to put out the list of the...

14 Films to Watch out For: July-September

But first, I need to make amends from my previous installment, where I left off one of my most anticipated films of the last quarter (though it won't reach most cities until July...):

- Moon: A return to less action driven, more character centered sci-fi tales like "2001", "Moon" opens in the future circa 2030.

Astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is part of the Hydrogen mining plant on the Moon, which sends individual astronauts in 3-year long shifts. With only two weeks left in his contract, Sam suddenly finds a body...but why does it look so much like him? Early reviews have been nothing short of stellar, with positive notice going to Rockwell's one-man show, along with Clint Mansell's haunting score. This is one trip to the Moon you won't want to miss.

Anticipation Level: 10/10

And now back to the main list:

14. The Invention of Lying (September 25th, Wide): Outside of the Apatow brotherhood, comedy has been struggling recently ("Year One", anybody?). So, who else to save the day, but some of the best comedic talent in Hollywood, along with *gasp* a unique concept. Set in a parallel future where no one has ever lied, one man (Ricky Gervais) "invents" it, and begins using it for his own personal gain. Rounding out the cast are Tina Fey, Jason Bateman, Christopher Guest, Jennifer Garner, Jeffrey Tambor, and Patrick Stewart as the narrator. With Gervais directing and co-writing, this could be the surprise comedy of the fall. The only thing missing? A trailer...

Anticipation: 6/10

13. Julie and Julia (August 7th, Wide): What happens when you combine two real life stories, a rising, twice Oscar-nominated mega star, and a two time Oscar winner enjoying newfound box office appeal? Hopefully comedy magic.

Based on two stories separated by decades, the films cuts between Julia Child's rise to fame in France and modern day writer Julie Powell, who decides to try and complete every recipe in "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" over the course of a year. It will be interesting to see Amy Adams and Meryl Streep sharing the screen (sort of) again in a totally different movie, following the dark drama "Doubt". Will it earn Ms. Streep another Oscar nomination? Hard to say, but the film does look like fun.

Anticipation: 6/10

12. The Boat that Rocked (August 28th, Limited): Another real life story, this one from "Love Actually" director Richard Curtis. It's the 1960's, and British radio stations only allow two hours of rock n'roll on the airwaves per day. What to do?

The answer: set up a radio station on a ship in the North Sea and play rock music 24/7, going against any and all British radio regulations. Featuring a stellar British cast (plus Phillip Seymour Hoffman) led by Bill Nighy, this one has potential to be one of the year's indie surprises.

Anticipation: 6.5/10

11. Taking Woodstock(August 14th, Limited): Ang Lee directing a comedy? There have been stranger ideas. Here, Mr. Lee sets out to tell the mostly true story of how a young man (Demetri Martin) managed to turn his backyard into a generation defining concert. Featuring Emile Hirsch, Imelda Staunton as Martin's hilariously tough mother, and Liev Schreiber as a drag queen (the mere sight of him in the trailer is hilarious in its own right).

Despite a good trailer, reviews from Cannes were mixed. However, Cannes is notoriously famous for its extra snarky critics (even "No Country for Old Men" got lukewarm reviews there), so there's a solid chance that "Taking Woodstock" is quite good, even though it might not be great.

Anticipation: 6.5/10

10. Ponyo (August 14th, Limited): Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki returns with his first feature since "Howl's Moving Castle" (2005). It's said to be a loose adaptation of The Little Mermaid: a small sea creature is sent to somehow save an increasingly out of balance world. In the process, the creature befriends a human boy.

The animation in the trailer is gorgeous, and the American voice cast is filled with brilliance (Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Liam Neeson, Betty White, Lilly Tomlin). The only thing that worries me is that Miyazaki's films sometimes become a bit cold, rendering them easier to admire, but difficult to enjoy. Regardless, this and "9" are the only real threats to Pixar winning another animated film Oscar.

Anticipation: 7/10

9. Adam (July 29th, Limited): Fox Searchlight has been on something of a winning streak, both critically and comercially. It started in 2006 with "Little Miss Sunshine", continued in 2007 with "Juno" and "Sunshine" (which was good, but which no one saw), and hit its peak in 2008 when "Slumdog Millionaire" captured audiences and critics alike, racking up tons of awards, including 8 Oscars this past February.

So what's their latest release that could prove to be gold? That would be Max Mayer's "Adam", a charming story about a man with Asperger's syndrome (Hugh Dancy) who falls in love for the first time with his new neighbor Beth (lovely Rose Byrne). Early reviews have been good, and the trailer promises a movie that is both funny and touching.

Anticipation: 7/10

8. 9 (September 9th, Wide): An animated film not made by Pixar, Dreamworks, or the Japanese that actually looks...good? That would seem to be the case with "9", produced by Tim Burton and directed by proclaimed visionary Shane Acker.

Set in the future, mankind has been overrun by its own machines, and it's up to 9 little rag-doll type creatures to save us. The animation is great, the voice cast stellar, and the tone suitable dark (though will it be too dark for the younger set?). With fascinating and creepy robot adversaries, and combat that isn't scared of become truly violent, "9" looks like "The Nightmare Before Christmas" meets "Alien". And that's a good thing...right?

Anticipation: 7.5/10

7. Bruno (July 10th, Wide): Not satisfied with the amount of outrageousness in recent comedies? Then "Bruno" is here to help. The follow-up to the 2006 smash "Borat", "Bruno" follows another one of Sacha Baron Cohen's twisted, socially inept creations. This time it's a gay Austrian fashionista, who is trying to take his show to America.

No one stays in character better than Baron Cohen, which is remarkable considering the situations he gets himself into: crashing Milan fashion week, pretending to have an adopted African baby, trying to seduce Ron Paul, etc... Rumors have it that "Bruno" may actually top "Borat" in insanity, resultingin what could be the funniest (yet also most disturbing) movie of the year.

Ancitipation: 7.5/10

6. The Hurt Locker (sometime in July...): If the past two years have shown us anything, it's that audiences aren't flocking to movies about the war in Iraq. So what makes Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" worth looking at?

Well, nail-biting trailer aside, there's the considerable buzz. Early reviews have thrown heaps of praise, claiming that it's the best film that Bigelow has ever made. The film apparently tries to focus its story more on soldiers in Iraq (specifically, bomb defusers) instead of setting up situations by which a character can spout pro/anti war propaganda. By keeping the story grounded in the troops themselves, Bigelow may have given us the first truly great movie about the Iraq war.

Anticipation: 8/10

5. District 9 (August 14th, Wide): Originality. We don't see it much in Hollywood these days. And this is why Neil Blonkamp's "District 9" is such an eye-catcher. Instead of telling a story about aliens and humans fighting, "District 9" does something truly marvelous: the aliens accidentally landed on earth, have been cornered by human forces, and are now forced to live in massive slums as refugees and mankind tries to figure out how their technology and weapons work.

Meanwhile, humans talk about the refugees in terms that are eerily close to racial statements:"they don't belong here", "there's been more violence since they got here", "the government is wasting so much money protecting them", etc... Though it is possible that there could be some big explosions later in the story, it's nice to see a sci-fi movie that appears to really focus on story, and exploring issues, albeit in a fanciful setup.

Anticipation: 8.5/10

4. Inglourious Basterds (August 21st, Wide): Quentin Tarantino and World War II aren't two things that go hand in hand. And that's all the more reason to see "Inglourious Basterds", Tarantino's 100% fiction tale about a group of Jewish American soldiers (led by Brad Pitt's Lt. Aldo Rain) who go behind enemy lines to terrorize Nazi forces and ultimately kill the Fuhrer.

Helping them is a double agent (Diane Kruger) and helping them indirectly is Melanie Laurent's character, a Jewish theater owner hosting a premiere for the Furhrer, where she plans to kill him. The trailer promises total insanity, mixing violence with Tarantino's superb dialogue and off-the-wall characters. And who doesn't want to surrender to a little insanity now and then. And then there's Christopher Waltz as the villain, the self proclaimed "Jew Hunter". Waltz won the best actor prize at Cannes, and could be a breakout star when the film opens.

Anticipation: 8.5/10

3. 500 Days of Summer (July 17th, Limited): Another promising entry from Fox Searchlight, this one focusing on an even more unconventional love story. In fact, it's barely a love story at all. Opening with a breakup between Tom (Joseph Gordon Levitt) and Summer (Zooey Deschanel), the film then retraces their 500 day relationship.

The trailer provided plenty of laughs and charm, and Deschanel and Levitt appear to have great chemistry together. But don't be fooled. As the trailer informs us: "You should be warned, this is not a love story".

Anticipation: 9/10

2. Public Enemies (July 1st, Wide): Michael Mann has been in a bit of a slump. His past two features (Collateral and Miami Vice) were "okay" and "appalling" respectively. Gone was the director who gave us great films like "Last of the Mohicans", "Heat", and "The Insider". Hopefully this will be Mann's return to form.

The (mostly) true story of John Dillenger, features Johnny Depp as Dillenger, Christian Bale and Det. Purvis, and Marion Cotillard as Dillenger's squeeze, Billie Frenchette. The interesting camera work (it was shot in HD digital video, before being remastered as film...or something like that) and lighting, something that hasn't been done much before, is certainly an aspect to watch out for. It will also be interesting to see Depp in a role that doesn't require any over-the-top traits, unlike other recent work (Sweeney Todd, Pirates of the Caribbean), as well as seeing him interact with his two talented co-stars.

Anticipation: 9.5/10

1. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (July 15th, Wide): After that infuriating delay last fall, the sixth installment of the mega franchise is finally upon us, and it looks pretty damn marvelous. Though the film is rated PG and reportedly will include a lot of "lighter" moments, there's only so much that can be put in the Half Blood Prince, considering that it has one of THE darkest and most heartbreaking moments in the entire series.

The visuals in the trailer certainly promise plenty of darkness (could this be the first Potter film to garner a cinematography nod?),, and with David Yates back at the helm (who made, in my opinion, the best Potter film with the underappreciated "Order of the Phoenix"), there's plenty of potential. Half Blood Prince was always my least favorite book in the series, so here's hoping that Yates and crew work their magic and bring out the best parts of the story.

Anticipation: 10/10

Well that's all for now. 14 (technically 15) excuses to go to the movies this summer.

2nd Quarter Preview: April, May June

With the first fourth of the year already behind us, we're finally starting to move away from start-of-the-new-year schlock, and into late spring/early summer, which means one thing: big budget action flicks. However, while the likes of "Star Trek" and "Wolverine" are just about certain to storm the box office, this list isn't populated entirely by typical big budget summer fare, and the number one choice is going to surprise most people, because I've only posted one or two things about my #1 most anticipated film of early summer. Without further adieu, the 12 to keep an eye over the course of April, May, and June....

12. Cheri (June 26th - Limited) - Think that summer movies are filled with too many explosions and not enough witty banter and pretty dresses? Then "Cheri", starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kathy Bates, might just be your cup of (very sophisticated) tea. Set in 1920s Paris, the plot centers on Cheri (Rupert Friend...that's right..."Cheri" is a man), the son of a courtesan, must deal with the end of his relationship with an older woman (Pfeiffer) who educated him in the ways of love. Even if the movie sucks, it will still be worth a look for those of us who can't fathom how Michelle Pfeiffer still looks sexier than most "hot" 20 year old starlets (I'll take Madame Pfeiffer over that Lady Gaga wench any day, thank you very much).

Anticipation Meter: 6/10

11. The Brothers Bloom (May 15th/29th?? - Limited) - The twice delayed "Brothers Bloom" has finally secured a solid release date...so the marketing says. Let's hope that's a good thing, because I've been curious to see Rian Johnston's crime/spy/thriller/comedy for a while now. Adrian Brody and Mark Ruffallo play the titular brothers, who team up with their explosives expert (Rinko Kikuchi from "Babel") and a New Jersey heiress (Rachel Weisz) for one last con. Plot details have been (thankfully) kept relatively under wraps, despite the repeated delays, which is good, because "Bloom"'s plot seems like the sort of well-executed spy-farce packed with plot twists and double crosses (just like the delightful "Duplicity"). It will also be interesting to see Weisz, Brody, and especially Kikuchi (who irritated me to no end in "Babel") try their hands at comedy. Hopefully the casting risk pays off...

Anticipation Meter: 6.5/10

10. Angels and Demons (May 15th - Nationwide) - After the debacle that was "The Da Vinci Code", this prequel-turned-sequel has to be a step up...right? With Tom Hanks' hair looking considerably less awful (it's still an eye sore, however) and a plot more suited for a summer blockbuster (running around! assassins! car chases! explosions!), "Angels and Demons" has the potentially to transfer to the big screen much more smoothly than its predecessor, because it doesn't rely on a bunch of (mostly fake) facts to create the suspense/plot twists. Oh, and a quick message to the Vatican from one Catholic to another: regardless of whether you boycott this movie, people (yes, Catholics too...and probably lots of them) will still see this movie, so stop bitching about it, and go back to preaching the gospel and helping people. Also, will someone in the Vatican (anyone will do...most of you guys in there are superbly educated) please get the pope up to speed on condoms? Thanks.

Anticipation Meter: 6.5/10

09. Up (May 29th - Nationwide) - Perhaps the marketing team for "Up!" should be fired. With all the fantastic reports from test screenings, it seems odd that the trailers feel so...limp. The humor doesn't stick, and animation aside, it looks like a giant step below "Ratatouille" and "WALL-E" in terms of sophistication. Even the one or two clips released online aren't terribly impressive (one is downright "blah"). Is it just a case of bad trailers and seeing clips out of context, or does Pixar have another "Cars" on their hands?

Anticipation Meter: 6.5/10

08. The Soloist (April 24th - Nationwide) - Another delayed project from 08, this one is particularly note worthy for being a former Oscar hopeful. Directed by "Atonement"'s Joe Wright, "The Soloist" tells the true story of LA reporter Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) who stumbles upon a blind cello prodigy (Jamie Foxx). Lopez decides to write a story about the prodigy, and tries to help him achieve his dream of playing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Thrown into the mix is Catherine Keener, playing yet another semi-likeable bitch (you're awesome Ms. Keener, but it's getting old), this time in the form of Lopez's co-worker. The trailer screams "schmaltz", so here's hoping that someone as skilled as Wright can make the story moving, without resorting to shameless heartstring-tugging. It should also be interesting to hear Wright collaborator Dario Marianelli's score; music for modern day stories isn't exactly his forte, so I'm interested to hear what he comes up with.

Anticipation Meter: 6.5/10

07. Terminator: Salvation (May 21st - Nationwide) - It's awkward to admit, but I've never seen any of the Terminator movies completely, though I do know a solid amount about the plot details. However, judging by the trailer, "Terminator: Salvation" has plenty of unresolved plot threads from the Terminator saga that will engage series fans, while also offering a basic overarching plot to draw in neophytes (humans vs. robots, apocalyptic setting, fate of mankind at stake, etc...). While the cast boasts Christian Bale as John Connor, the person I'm most interested to see is the as-yet-unrevealed Serena, apparently something of a villain, played by the always delightful Helena Bonham Carter.

Anticipation Meter: 7/10


06. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (June 29th - Nationwide) - Just like with "Angels and Demons", I wasn't terribly fond of the predecessor to "Revenge of the Fallen". The first Transformers movie felt largely inert, with annoying attempts at comedy, and a surprisingly sluggish, action-free set up (though the big finale, ridiculous though it may be, was pretty spectacular). Hopefully, with all of Michael Bay's "characters" (I use that term very, very lightly) set up, he get stop trying to be a serious filmmaker and get right to the good stuff: big-ass robots beating the hell out of each other. With the addition of a slew of new Transfomers (both good and bad) ranging from a speedy tiger-like contraption, to a stadium-sized one who makes all others look like flies, "Transformers 2" has all the potential to be the biggest, loudest, dumbest, and certainly most explosion-filled sequel of the year. If done right, it will be the perfect summer action flick: a fun and exciting spectacle that allows you to check your brain at the door and enjoy the ride.

Anticipation Meter: 7/10


05. Star Trek (May 8th - Nationwide) - I've never been much of a "Star Trek" follower either, and for the longest time I didn't give a damn about JJ Abrams' reboot of the classic sci-fi show. And then that 2nd trailer came out. I've been excited ever since. With special effects slick enough to give "Transformers 2" a run for its money, and stunning worlds and action sequences, "Star Trek" seems to have done the impossible: updated a campy TV classic into a modern, relevant sci-fi epic.

Anticipation Meter: 7.5/10


04. State of Play (April 17th - Nationwide) - It's no easy task having to condense a complicated TV miniseries into a 2 hour movie, but judging from the trailers, director Kevin Macdonald and crew may have done just that. When a young Washington DC clerk/assistant is shot in a dark alley, it sets off an investigation not only from the police, but by a very determined reporter as well (Russell Crowe). Turns out, the young woman was having an affair with Crowe's former friend, a current senator (Ben Affleck) who's been investigating a suspicious company. As the case is dragged on further, Crowe and his fellow reporter (Rachel McAdams) start to hunt for the truth, even when the police, and their own boss (Helen Mirren) tell them that they should keep their noses out. All of it leads to "something" that's infinitely more complex and connected than anyone ever suspected. Hollywood has been in short supply of political thrillers that manage to be intense without relying on a car chase every five minutes, and "State of Play" might just be the movie to fill that void. With its stellar cast and gripping source material, it could be a nice late-spring surprise (the fact that it's being released around the same time as 2005's well-executed "The Interpreter" seems like a good sign as well).

Anticipation Meter: 8/10



.03 Wolverine (May 1st - Nationwide) - The comic book movie has enjoyed something of a renaissance this decade. First it was the success of the Spiderman franchise, and then Christopher Nolan's brilliant, brooding reinvention of Batman. On the flip side, there were the X-Men movies, which, while successful, never really got to the same level as the previous two series. The first two were incredibly fun, yes, but at times too cheeky, and overstuffed with characters, many of whom were teenage brats. By the time Brett Ratner's "X-Men 3" rolled out in 2006, the franchise seemed a bit stale. In a surprisingly smart move, 20th Century Fox decided to drop the cast of regulars (save for Hugh Jackman of course) to focus on the origin story of the quintessential X-men mutant: Wolverine. Jackman, though about a foot too tall, is still the perfect fit for Wolverine, and with a movie entirely dedicated to his character's story, he should have more room to shine. The reports that Jackman and director Gavin Hood wanted to make the film more dark and less family friendly are also encouraging, just as long as Hood and crew don't completely leave out the sense of fun (judging by some of Liev Schreiber's one liners, it would seem that the humor is intact). But if you're afraid of suffering from seeing too much Wolverine, there will be plenty of other fun characters to make things go "boom". There's Schreiber's Sabretooth, who becomes Wolverine's arch nemesis, John Wraith (Wil. i. am) who can become invisible, Emma Frost (Tahya Tozzi) who has control over ice, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), who's something of a gravity defying, twin blade whirling ninja, and Gambit (Taylor Kitsch), who has the power to charge inanimate objects with energy, which can turn even playing cards into deadly weapons. So while this may be Wolverine's story, don't expect Jackman to hog the screen the whole time; he'll have plenty of on-screen company to keep things interesting.

Anticipation Meter: 8/10



02. Away We Go (May 29th - Limited) - The cheap, "Juno"-riffic poster aside, Sam Mendes' immediate follow-up to the so-so "Revolutionary Road" is a dark drama/comedy for adults, that, even if it's only half as good as its trailer, will still be a winner. Burt (John Krasinski) and Verona (Maya Rudolph) are going nowhere in their lives until Verona suddenly becomes pregnant. Seeing no point in sticking around their dilapidated house, the couple sets out across America to try and find a suitable place to start their family, while encountering family members and friends along the way. The cast alone is enough of a reason to see it (Krasinski, Rudolph, Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and queen-of-the-scene-stealers Allison Janney), but the fact that it's written by Dave Eggers (who wrote the tragic, yet sometimes painfully funny A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius) and his wife is an added plus. The man has a way with dialogue, and with Mendes behind the camera, we could have something really special on our hands.

Anticipation Meter: 9/10



01. The Limits of Control (May 1st - Limited) - "Away We Go" may have the funniest trailer of the year so far, but nothing comes close to matching "The Limits of Control"'s trailer in terms of sheer intrigue. Part independent drama, part bizarre espionage tale, it's hard to elaborate on the plot, because the trailer gives so little away, all while making you think, "I HAVE to see this movie!!" Though Isaach De Bankole, as the guitar playing main character, may not be a household name even among art-house theater goers, there's plenty of other big names to round out the ensemble: Bill Murray, John Hurt, Gael Garcia Bernal, "The Visitor"'s overlooked Hiam Abbass, and Tilda Swinton, sporting some costumes 10 times more bizarre than anything she's ever worn on the red carpet. Perhaps what makes the film so intriguing, stellar cast aside, is that it is a small film that still looks very polished, but without looking like it has compromised any of its individuality. And these days, that's hard to come by, which is why even seeing the trailer for films like "The Limits of Control" is enough to make you realize that, yes, there is still room in Hollywood for creativity to grow freely.

Anticipation: 9/10

9 to watch: 2009 First Quarter (Winter)

Well, it's a new year (which I'm guessing you've figured out by now...) and that means it's time for those dreary first few months that are usually nothing short of a cinematic cesspool. Last year started on a great note with February's "In Bruges" (the first movie I saw of 2008, and it's still near the top of my favorites from last year), but it also brought us "10,000 BC", along with other reasons to avoid the theater, unless you were just catching up on all of the end-of-the-year-Oscar-hopefuls. Will 2009 be any different? Well, here's hoping that these 10 movies coming out between January and March say, "YES".

9. Adventure Land (March 27th): From the director of "Superbad" (2007) comes the story of a recent college grad (Jesse Eisenberg) who doesn't have any clue what to do with his life. He eventually settles on a 3rd rate amusement park run by a quirky couple (SNL cast members Bill Hader and Kristin Wiig), and befriends the local freaks and geeks who work there, including the resident hot girl (Kristen Stewart). The trailer promised a handful of good laughs, but it's hard to say if it will be a true gut-buster like "Superbad" was (although on the plus side, the gross-out humor quotient seems to have dropped significantly).Jesse: So, I hear you like vampires and smoking pot on a stoop...
Kristen: So, I hear you have no prospects in life...
Jesse:....touche

Trailer

Anticipation Meter: 5/10

8. Duplicity (March 20th): "Michael Clayton" writer/director Tony Gilroy turns to more lighthearted antics in his first film since his 2007 Best Picture nominee. This is sooooo much more fun than "Closer"

The story centers on two ex-agents (Clive Owen and Julia Roberts) who decide to team up and use their knowledge of the CIA/MI6's inner workings to grab a hefty sum of money from two rival corporations and their overly competitive CEO's (Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti). "Duplicity" seems to promise the same level of plot complexity as "Michael Clayton", only with a bit more fun going this time around.

Trailer

Anticipation Meter: 6/10

7. Push (February 6th): What do you get when you combine telekinesis, crazy gun fights, a bunch of really good looking people, and REALLY BRIGHT COLORS? That would be "Push", one of the year's earliest wannabe action blockbusters. Psycho Asians: They'll f**k you up...

Story focuses on a group of telekinetic people (namely Dakota Fanning, Chris Evans, and Camilla Belle), who are hunted down, for some shadowy reason, by a government agency headed by CRAZY DJIMON HONSOU and his plans to...harness their powers or something like that. I'm Dakota Fanning. Who the f**k are you?

What the story might lack in originality, it makes up for in ideas. Most of these pseudo-superhero movies involve attempts to cram about 50 different superpowers on screen, whereas "Push" focuses on clever variations of telekinesis (one can levitate small weapons with his mind, another can scream loud enough to shatter even the thickest glass, etc...). A blind date with CRAZY DJIMON HONSOU can't be that bad...right?

Who knows, if it's got the right combinations of fun characters and badass action scenes, it could be the year's first action blockbuster...Trailer

Anticipation Meter: 6/10



6. Two Lovers (February 13th): Joaquin Phoenix reunites with his "We Own the Night" director James Gray for a much different story. Phoenix plays a shy young man struggling to get by in New York, who finds himself entagled with, you guessed it, two lovers (and one of them's played by Gwyneth Paltrow, so it can't be all bad...). Of course, romantic complications ensues as Phoenix must choose between the quieter lover and Paltrow's fast-living party girl. I must admit, however, that I wouldn't be nearly as excited for this had the trailer not been so beautifully put together (whatever that opera song was in the second half is gorgeous).Trailer

Anticipation Meter: 7/10


5. The International (February 13th): Though the cast and crew didn't realize it, there's something oddly coincidental about a movie being released in the aftermath of an economic downturn that features a globe-spanning bank as its central villain. Clive Owen stars as...some sort of agent/rebel who teams up with Naomi Watts (no idea what her character's job is) to try and take down the murderous and dictator-funding bank. The trailer indicates that there will be a fair share of globe trotting (Turkey, Africa, among others) and interesting action scenes (one of which is staged in the rotunda of the Guggenheim Museum). Besides, in this current economy, who doesn't want to see Clive Owen and Naomi Watts take down a bank and look smokin' hot while doing it?

Trailer

Anticipation Meter: 7.5/10


4. Taken (January 30th): We've finally come to the first movie on this list that has actually been screened for critics. So far, the reaction has split critics down the middle, but considering that it's produced by Luc Besson, who gave us the fantastic "Leon: The Professional", it can't be all bad. Liam Neeson stars as a former spy whose daughter is kidnapped and held for ransom. Because he's not willing to let that stand, and because he's Liam f-ing Neeson, he uses his old spy skills to lay a brutal smackdown on the bad guys, which includes tying them down to chairs and smashing their legs until they talk. If it weren't for Besson and Neeson's involvement, I would have zero interest in this, so kudos to them for ramping up my interest.Trailer

Anticipation Meter: 7.5/10


3. Coraline (February 6th): In his first feature in years, "Nightmare Before Christmas" director Henry Selick returns to stop-motion animation, with a shot of 3-D gimmickry. Coraline (voiced by Dakota Fanning) is a young girl who has moved into an isolated house with her nice-but-boring parents. One night she accidentally discovers a portal in the third floor that leads her to a parallel universe populated by her "other mother" and "other father" among other curious and otherworldly inhabitants. Everything seems wonderful, but soon signs begin to surface that the alternate world may not be so great. And of course there's one final icky question: why are other's eyesockets filled not by eyes, but by buttons?Trailer

Anticipation Meter: 8/10

2. Sunshine Cleaning (March 13th - Limited): When in need of offbeat, original stories, one can always turn to indepdent cinema. Emily Blunt frowns upon your shenanigans.

One of the few notable indie releases of the first quarter, "Sunshine Cleaning" stars Emily Blunt and Amy Adams as sisters in dire need of money, who decide to start a business that cleans up after deaths or accidents. Judging by the second trailer, there might actually be something worth watching here, instead of just another by-the-numbers-quirk fest, with a good combination of relationship drama and goofy comedy. OH MY GOD! There's fruit punch EVERYWHERE...

The fact that it's headlined by three reliable actors (Blunt, Adams, and Alan Arkin) is another huge plus.A dead body? HA-HA-HA! That's marvelous!

Trailer

Anticipation Meter: 8.5/10

1. Watchmen (March 6th): It wasn't hard to determine where to place this graphic novel adaptation on the list. Given the director's knack for beautiful visuals, the stellar cast, and of course the fantastic source material, this has the potential to be the next "The Dark Knight", in terms of storytelling and character depth. For the last time, I am NOT Robert Downey Jr.

Though it's easy to dismiss as "just another comic book movie", anyone who's read the graphic novel can tell you that "Watchmen" is something else entirely. Filled with complicated semi-heroes, interesting twists on historical events, and a labyrinthine mystery that unfolds after a simple murder, "Watchmen" is the movie to beat. In fact, if it turns out to be any good, this early spring release could end up topping some of the big summer blockbusters in terms of box office intake. Who watches the Watchmen? Hopefully more than just rabid fans....and how could you not be intriguied by a movie whose trailer juxtaposes music by Philip Glass and Muse?Trailer

Anticipation Meter: 10/10