Green Zone (2010) – Review

Green Zone is a mix between a great thriller and interesting, if not heavy-handed at times, political review of the early days of the Iraq war. The film works best as a thriller set against the backdrop of the war. Director Paul Greengrass, known for his overly documentary style, is able to engage the audience as they follow the exploits of Matt Damon – he tries to uncover the mystery behind why he cannot find any WMDs at the sites that are supposed to have them, while navigating the obstacles he faces. Greengrass’ style puts the audience in the same shoes as the characters. It is chaotic, blurry and yet effective in many ways. While not everyone likes his style (his use of almost entirely handheld camerawork), those willing to accept it will be submersed in the business of the scenes – which is just what a great thriller does. However, this is not just a thriller, it is also blatantly a political statement about the current war in Iraq – in that its villain is almost a completely unveiled summation of those in the Bush Administration that put forth evidence (now generally accepted as bad, unverified and false) that lead to us going into Iraq – aka the WMDs that they supposedly had. The villain is completely plausible if the movie took place in another context, in terms of what generally makes up movie villains, yet here it is somewhat hard to believe that this villain could do all that he did alone. Though, returning to the reality of what actually did happen, it did not take many to convince the masses and congress and the senate to go to war either. But more to the point of the movie, Greengrass wanted to tell a story that was simple and easy to understand and he did just that, the one villain makes the most sense in a simple film structure. The villain also works in the context of Greengrass’ apparent political views on the war (again as a summation of those in the Bush Administration) is his complete confidence in the fact that he truly believes that he is doing what is best and right, that the end justifies the means, and that no one else, minus a few characters in the CIA (which again harkens back to real life), seems to really care, rather they are content to go to war without fully breaking down the data and checking it in detail. Greengrass does look at other aspects of the early days of the war that are not as commonly known as well. The film suggests that instead of bringing outsiders in and disbanding the current ruling party and military, the US should have worked with members of the ruling party and military to stabilize and police the country. Of course, today, there is no telling what would have happen had that occurred, but it is somewhat obvious that the plan taken has been an utter failure. Another aspect of the film that works quite well and separates it from the other Damon Greengrass collaborations (the Bourne films) is that Damon’s character is not a superman action hero. He is just a regular soldier, not even a high ranking one. He is good at his job, but there is a scene in which he is effectively taken down in a fight, showing that there is nothing special about him. The thing that is different, though, is that he is not completely willing to just follow and take orders – he questions why his intel is bad and when he does not get adequate answers, he digs deeper. While many of the characters are just content to follow, it is Damon’s story as he wants to uncover the truth. Greengrass does get a little preachy at times through in his political views – best seen in the final shot of the film, Damon’s unit off on another mission driving past a huge oil refinery suggesting that the real reason for the US being there is oil. One of the best parts of Greengrass and screenwriter Brian Helgeland’s narrative is the perspective of Iraq characters and how they interact and impact the story. Their perspectives give insight into the situation (at least that of the film) for the viewers to have more of a holistic understanding and perspective. And while some of the political elements of the film will rub some viewers the wrong way, as they are forced upon the story, the narrative structure of the film is strong and captivating, mixing action, mystery, suspense, and drama well. On the technical side, Damon’s performance is very good in the film. As sort of the everyman (to some extent), he is able to guide the viewer through the story as it unfolds. Amy Ryan, Brendan Gleeson and Jason Issacs (as usual) give good supporting performances. Greg Kinnear is adept at delivering a pompous ego and morally driven villain (moral being that which he believes to be right, even if it means doing things generally considered wrong). Two standouts are Yigal Naor and Khalid Abdalla. Their performances are key to rooting the film in reality and giving more perspective to the overall narrative. Like The Hurt Locker, Barry Ackroyd provides gritty docu-style cinematography that compliments Greengrass and the subject matter. Editor Christopher Rouse also does standout work cutting the film. Dominic Watkins’ production design is also great, especially in the ‘Green Zone’ scenes, which is somewhat new territory design wise for Iraq war films. All in all, Generation Kill is still the best of the Iraq war films, miniseries and/or TV series, but Green Zone, while completely fictional, plays both as an excellent thriller (though alienating for some due to its director’s visual style) and an intriguing look at the politics (though seemingly slanted) behind the motives for why the US went into Iraq, and to a lesser extent how the people there, both Iraqi and military/government/CIA, initially felt about it. 8/10

Matt Damon – Movies Spotlight – March 2010

Matt Damon has become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood over the past two decades. He is in this month’s action thriller Green Zone, marking his third collaboration with director Paul Greengrass. Damon has been able to grow his career balancing dramatic, action and fun roles in both independent and Hollywood movies, which has now firmly established him as an “A List” actor – and a great one at that.

Early Career:

In 1988 Damon got his first film role in Mystic Pizza (which was Julia Roberts breakout film), though he only had one line. From there, he continued to take small roles in the television movie Rising Son and School Ties (which also features Ben Affleck). In 1993 he finally got a decent sized role in Geronimo: An American Legend, however he would continue to toil away in small roles in Glory Daze (a college-comedy which stars young Affleck, Sam Rockwell and French Stewart) and Courage Under Fire until his breakthrough finally came in 1997.

Breakthrough:

1996 was a good year for Damon. He began work on Francis Ford Coppola’s The Rainmaker and his breakout film Good Will Hunting. Damon and best friend Affleck wrote the screenplay for Good Will Hunting and pitched it around Hollywood. They even wanted another of their friends, Kevin Smith, to make the film, as he broke into the industry as a director on the success of his film Clerks. But Smith thought they should get someone who could do justice to their film. It turned out to be good advice as they were able to attach Gus Van Sant to the film. In 1997, Good Will Hunting was met with critical and commercial success garnering Damon and Affleck each an Oscar for best original screenplay and bolstering both of their acting careers tremendously. The film was also nominated for best picture and won Robin Williams a supporting actor Oscar as well. On the set of Good Will Hunting, Damon met Steven Spielberg who then cast him in Saving Private Ryan. There is a rumor that famed screenwriter William Goldman did extensive rewrites on the script, but they have been disavowed by all parties. Goldman did however offer notes on how to make the film more marketable to Hollywood, as did Rob Reiner. With the success of the film, Damon took roles in Rounders, Smith’s Dogma and The Talented Mr. Ripley. In The Talented Mr. Ripley, Damon solidified himself as not only a fine actor but a bankable and marketable rising star. The film proved to Hollywood that his success in Good Will Hunting was not a fluke.

The Hollywood Game:

Now having established himself in the film industry, Damon began receiving many offers and many roles. Thus, the Hollywood Game had begun. Picking the right projects to build a career is delicate with some luck sprinkled in. Coming off The Talented Mr. Ripley, Damon took a voice-acting role in Titan A.E., co-stared with Will Smith in The Legend of Bagger Vance (which is a little underrated) and the lead in All the Pretty Horses. All three were considered failures. But, as luck would have it, Damon had a role in the first of two franchises that would propel him to the top: Ocean’s Eleven. It is in Ocean’s Eleven that he would meet, now good friends, George Clooney and Brad Pitt, who would also get Damon involved in charitable work, which he is a strong proprietor of at present. It is also in this film were Damon would establish a long working relationship with Steven Soderbergh. In 2001, Damon would also start the first of three Project Greenlights with Ben Affleck, giving new filmmakers a chance to break into the industry, and he took another voice role in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron as well as appearing in Van Sant’s indie Gerry, which he co-wrote. Then came his next big franchise and hit: The Bourne Identity. Again, maybe some luck, or just good foresight by director Doug Liman as Damon did not fit what people typically thought of as an action star. But Damon was and is fantastic in the role. From there Damon took roles in Stuck On You and The Brothers Grimm (a frenetically strange film, which also stars Heath Ledger and Lena Headey), working with The Farrelly Brothers and Terry Gilliam, respectively. He also made Ocean’s Twelve and his first with Paul Greengrass The Bourne Supremacy, which took the series to a new high critically.

Elite Actor:

Starting in 2005, Damon started to take on more serious dramatic roles. Elevated by the success of the Bourne films, he was able to have more control over his career and who he would work with. He first took a role in the Clooney Soderbergh produced political thriller Syriana, then Martin Scorsese’s Academy Award winning The Departed and Robert De Niro’s underrated The Good Shepherd. Those three films, staring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Angelina Jolie in the later two, cemented Damon into the Hollywood elite as not only an actor capable of receiving acclaim for his performances but also an actor to bring audiences to the cinema. Now fully established, Damon capped off his two series with Ocean’s Thirteen and The Bourne Ultimatum. Damon then took some time off, only doing a few cameos and a voice role for the English dubbing of Ponyo. He was back in 2009 with two award nominated performances a golden globe nod for Soderbergh’s The Informant! and his second acting Oscar nod for Invictus (the first acting Oscar nod was for leading actor in Good Will Hunting).

Cameos:

Damon has made a number of memorable cameo appearances throughout his career. For director Kevin Smith, Damon appears as an executive in Chasing Amy and later mimics the role in Jersey Girl. He also pokes fun of Good Will Hunting in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Gus Van Sant’s Finding Forester harkens back to Good Will Hunting in its story nature, and Damon has a timely cameo near the end. Damon does a small voice role in The Majestic, plays one of the bachelors on the game show in George Clooney’s Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and has a humorous role in Euro Trip. More recently, he has short appearances in Coppola’s Youth Without Youth and Soderbergh’s Che: Part Two.

Future and Upcoming Films:

Along with Green Zone, coming this month, Damon also has a small role in Margaret, The Adjustment Bureau, Hereafter, and likely True Grit coming this year. Margaret is a drama staring Anna Paquin about a girl who witnesses an accident and gets wrapped up in the aftermath. The Adjustment Bureau is a sci-fi romance co-staring Emily Blunt about a couple that is affected by mysterious forces keeping them apart. It is from the screenwriter of The Bourne Ultimatum and Ocean’s Twelve, George Nolfi, and is based on a Philip K. Dick short-story. Next is Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter; written by Peter Morgan, it is a supernatural thriller centered on three people who are touched by death in different ways. True Grit from the Coen Brothers is a western based on the Charles Portis novel about a tough U.S. Marshall who helps a young women track down her mother’s murderer. It also stars Jeff Bridges and Josh Brolin. John Wayne also stared in an adaptation of the same novel in 1969 also called True Grit, but the Coen Brothers have not based their script on the film, rather on the novel. Farther in the future, Damon has been linked to two Soderbergh projects: Liberace and the ensemble piece Contagion. Damon is also attached to play Robert Kennedy in Gary Ross’s film. And finally, Damon wants to work with Affleck on a film about members on the Yankees in the 70s who wife swapped. Damon also wants to start directing his own films.

Matt Damon Box Set (Selected Filmography/Career Highlights):

1.)          Good Will Hunting (1997) – leading actor, writer [Blu-ray/DVD]

2.)          Saving Private Ryan (1998) – supporting actor* [Blu-ray/DVD]

3.)          Rounders (1999) – leading actor* [Blu-ray/DVD]

4.)          The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) – leading actor [DVD]

5.)          Dogma (1999) – supporting actor* [Blu-ray/DVD]

6.)          Ocean’s Eleven (2001) – supporting actor [Blu-ray/DVD]

7.)          The Bourne Identity (2002) – leading actor [Blu-ray/DVD Combo]

8.)          The Bourne Supremacy (2004) – leading actor* [Blu-ray/DVD Combo]

9.)          The Departed (2006) – leading actor* [Blu-ray/DVD]

10.)      The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) – leading actor [Blu-ray/DVD Combo]

11.)      Invictus (2009) – supporting actor [not yet released]

* Editor’s picks

At the Movies – March 2010

Must See in Theatres:

Green Zone (Paul Greengrass) – Thriller – Mar 12

A war thriller about a US Army officer who discovers that military intelligence given to him in his mission to locate WMDs is fabricated. He then goes rogue to uncover the conspiracy. The film is the third collaboration between director Greengrass and star Matt Damon. And like the two Bourne films they did together, this looks to be realistic and gritty. The film also boasts a supreme supporting cast including Jason Isaacs, Brendan Gleeson, Amy Ryan, and Greg Kinnear. Greengrass has also employed The Hurt Locker’s Barry Ackroyd to shoot the film (which is awesome) along with other frequent collaborators composer John Powell and production designer Dominic Watkins. The script is by action/thriller writer Brian Helgeland (who is having a busy year with Robin Hood and Salt coming in the summer). All in all, the film looks to be a solid action based war thriller with strong performances and a great director and team behind the camera. Check out the trailer.

Worth Checking Out (if not in theatres then at home):

Alice in Wonderland (Tim Burton) – Adventure – Mar 5

An adventure fantasy film about Alice, now 19, she returns to the magical world of her childhood, where she learns of her destiny to defeat the Red Queen. In typical style, Burton has fashion the world of Alice to look and feel like much of his other films. To do this, he has enlisted many of his customary collaborators, like composer Danny Elfman and actors Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Cater. However, Burton has also added some new people to his team including Avatar production designer Robert Stromberg (probably since this will be in 3-D too) and Pirates of the Caribbean cinematographer Dariusz Wolski to add to the epic sense of the journey that Alice must now embark on. Along with Depp and Carter, Burton cast a lot of good performers including: Anne Hathaway, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, and Alan Rickman (among others); but it is his casting of relative newcomer Mia Wasikowska (who is quite good in Defiance) as Alice that could elevate this over his last few pictures. This new Alice in Wonderland looks to be bigger and darker than the 1951 Disney animated feature, and hopefully it will be just as good. Check out the trailer.

Brooklyn’s Finest (Antoine Fuqua) – Crime – Mar 5

A crime drama about three unconnected cops in Brooklyn with differing careers whose paths begin to intertwine with deadly ramifications, the film is directed by Fuqua who is best known for his work on Training Day. The film looks like it is a return to the genre in which he succeeded in, following a number of less successful critical outings. In terms of cast, Ethan Hawke is back (though this is not a sequel), Don Cheadle and Wesley Snipes star, as well as Richard Gere (which should be interesting as his appearance seems out of place). Vincent D’Onofrio, Ellen Barkin and Michael K. Williams (yep, Omar from The Wire) also have supporting roles. Overall, it is a good cast. It will be interesting to see if Fuqua can bring back the same flair for the material, capturing good performances and entertaining the audience with his very capably shot action sequences. Check out the trailer.

Good for Dates:

Remember Me (Allen Coulter) – Romance – Mar 12

A romance about two lovers whose relationship is in peril as they deal with their respective family tragedies, the film is by TV-director Coulter, who has done fine work on many HBO shows but his last venture into features was (the less than good) Hollywoodland. The film stars Lost’s Emilie de Ravin and Robert Pattinson, and represents Summit Entertainment’s experiment – postulating that it is Pattinson and not Edward Cullen who is the box office draw (we shall see). Pierce Brosnan and Chris Cooper play supporting roles and add some experience to the cast. Jonathan Freeman is shooting the film – his lighting was the best part of Hollywoodland and he did great work on Rome. The film looks to present its young actors with some good dramatic work and this time hopefully Coulter can translate his fine work on the small screen to the silver screen. Check out the trailer.

She’s Out of My League (Jim Field Smith) – Romance/Comedy – Mar 12

A comedy about a nerdy guy that get a chance with a girl, thought to be so attractive that he really has no business being with her, the film is the first feature by Jim Field Smith. The film stars Alice Eve and Jay Baruchel and the hot girl and the dweeb. The premise of the film does not really endear it as something that could be called a must see, but surprisingly it looks funny in its advertisements. And, Baruchel is both a very funny and talented actor (see his work in Real Time, Just Buried and I’m Reed Fish for reference) and should make the story play better due to his involvement. The film at best will probably be a lighthearted good time at the cinema. Check out the trailer.

Fun Movies:

The Bounty Hunter (Andy Tennant) – Comedy – Mar 19

A comedy about a bounty hunter who learns that his next assignment is his ex-wife, a reporter digging into a murder cover-up, he thinks it will be an easy target until he realizes that she is in serious danger. The film stars Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston as the dysfunctional couple. Director Tennant has made a number of fun rom-coms in the past (most notably Hitch), and in Fool’s Gold (while not the best film) he blends action and adventure well into the rom-com formula, which should translate fittingly in this film too. While the movie will likely not be what one might call good cinema, it has the potential to be a fun mindless escape (and those are good too from time to time). Check out the trailer.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Thor Freudenthal) – Comedy – Mar 19

Based on the novel by Jeff Kinney about a wise-cracking middle school student, the film is by kids-movie director Freudenthal. The film stars relative newcomer Zachary Gordon and features supporting performances from Chloe Moretz (who is looking to have a breakout year with next month’s Kick-Ass and the remake of Let the Right One In in the fall), Rachel Harris and Steve Zahn. Despite the fact that the film is clearly made for kids, based on the trailer, it looks to have a broader appeal. Check out the trailer.

How to Train Your Dragon (Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders) – Animation – Mar 26

An adventure film about a young Viking who does not quite fit in, he aspires to hunt dragons like the warriors of his tribe, but upon discovering a dragon, he befriends it and learns that there is more to the creatures than anyone ever thought. The film is directed by the team of DeBlois and Sanders, who did Lilo & Stitch for Disney (and I assume that DreamWorks Animation stole them away for this). The film has a great voice cast, staring Jay Baruchel and also featuring Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Kristin Wiig. The film is yet another 3-D experience, as is everything it seems, whether it should be or not. This is again a children’s film that looks to have a broader appeal, and Baruchel should bring a lot of humor to the lead. Check out the trailer.

Hot Tub Time Machine (Steve Pink) – Comedy – Mar 26

A comedy about four friends that get into a hot tub in 2010 and when they get out they come to realize that they have returned to the 80s. The film is by the team of John Cusack, producing and acting, and Steve Pink, directing, who also worked together on Grosse Pointe Blank and High Fidelity, though Pink did not direct either of those, his only other helming job being Accepted. Along with Cusack, the film also stars Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson and Clark Duke. The plot of the film is something that has been done many times and ways before, this time round Chevy Chase plays the mastermind behind the time-traveling. But it feels like the plot is not really the point, rather the film uses it as a mechanism to allow the filmmakers to compose jokes with 80s nostalgia while being self-referential. Check out the trailer.

Art-House Watch:

The Secret of Kells (Tomm Moore & Nora Twomey) – Animation – Mar 5 (NYC)

An adventure film about Ireland’s Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript, and the young boy that journey to protect it and save his people from invading barbarians. The film comes from Ireland’s film community and was a surprise nominee for this year’s best animated film Oscar – a surprise, not because of quality, rather because most Americans have never heard of it. The film features an unknown (at least for Americans) voice-cast, save Brendan Gleeson, and a very interesting and artist animation style. Check out the trailer.

The Runaways (Floria Sigismondi) – Biography/Music – Mar 19 (LA/NYC)

A biopic about the 70s teenage band The Runaways, the film is writer/director Floria Sigismondi’s feature debut. The project, however, seems like the right fit for her, as she has directed music videos for David Bowie, plus Joan Jett is on board with executive producer. Sigismondi also has talented people working with her in front of and behind the camera. Eugenio Caballero is the production designer on the film (worked The Limits of Control and Pan’s Labyrinth). A good young cast stars featuring Kristin Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Scout Taylor-Compton, and Arrested Development’s Alia Shawkat. Michael Shannon (who was amazing in Revolutionary Road) co-stars. The film looks to be artistic, based on the directors previous work, and should feature good performances and a good soundtrack. Check out the trailer.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Niels Arden Oplev) – Thriller – Mar 19 (Limited)

A Swedish thriller based on Stieg Larsson’s novel about the unlikely team of a disgraced financial writer and tattooed ruthless computer hacker who investigate the disappearance of a woman, who vanished forty years ago, the film is slated as the breakout film for director Niels Arden Opley. The film won best picture at the Swedish Oscars. Check out the trailer.

Greenberg (Noah Baumbach) – Drama – Mar 26 (Limited)

A drama about a New Yorker who moves to LA to housesit for his brother, an excuse for him to sit around and try to figure out his life; however his self-imposed apathy is confronted when he begins to fall for his brother’s assistant.  After the success of The Squid and the Whale followed by the disappointment of Margot at the Wedding, the film is Noah Baumbach’s third and was co-written with wife Jennifer Jason Leigh, who also has a role in the film. Behind the camera, Baumbach has Scott Rudin producing (who has produced Wes Anderson’s films, a friend/collaborator of Baumbach’s), Harris Savides shooting the movie and features music by LCD Sound System’s James Murphy. The film stars Ben Stiller in a funny yet more dramatic role; while in addition to Leigh, Greta Gerwig and Rhys Ifans co-star. The film should be along the same lines thematically as Baumbach’s earlier work, but hopefully will incorporate more of the character and humor of The Squid and the Whale (and less of the not goodness of Margot at the Wedding). Check out the trailer.

Anticipated Movies of 2010

30.) The Social Network

Director: David Fincher

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, Rashida Jones, Brenda Song, Rooney Mara, Joseph Mazzello, and Andrew Garfield

Release: August, fall 2010

Plot: A story about the founders of Facebook.

Buzz: A movie about Facebook is just what we need…Yeah, it really does not sound too terribly interesting to me either, but hey it is directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin so it has to be good right. Maybe? If not for Fincher and Sorkin this certainly would not make the list. Though on the other hand, who does not want to see a gripping drama about kids at Harvard creating a website, there is no way this is not going to be thrilling, think of all the coding and other cool stuff computer science majors do. But again…David Fincher, director of Seven, Fight Club, The Game, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button…It will probably turn out to be good, maybe.

29.) Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Director: Mike Newell

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, and Alfred Molina

Release: May 28

Plot: An adventurous prince who teams up with a rival princess to stop an evil ruler from creating a sandstorm that could destroy the world as they know it.

Buzz: The film is based on the popular series of video games (never a good sign, given past video game to movie releases). Newell did well with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, so this should be in his wheelhouse to put out a fun and entertaining film, but do not expect much more than summer-style fun (i.e., real quality, think Transformers not The Dark Knight). The cast is good here (well, minus Jake Gyllenhaal), as Molina has been quite good in recent projects (like An Education) and it is the second major role for Arterton (the first being in Quantum of Solace). All in all, this should be a fun but it is doubtful that Disney will have another franchise like Pirates of the Caribbean with Prince of Persia.

28.) The Tree of Life

Director: Terrence Malick

Starring: Brad Pitt and Sean Penn

Release: Fall 2010

Plot: A 1950s period piece, a tale of a Midwestern boy’s transformation from innocence as a boy to disillusionment as an adult and his quest to redeem himself by attaining again the meaning of life.

Buzz: Malick is a very visceral director, exploring emotion through the juxtaposition of images, so who better to be the D.P. than Emmanuel Lubezki (who worked with Malick on The New World). Alexandre Desplat is doing the score as well. And, with Penn and Pitt coming off of an Oscar win and nomination, respectively, on paper, this should be a best picture contender. For fans of what could be called serious thematic cinema, the name Terrence Malick incites excitement. Look for this in a limited release that could be expanded in 2011 if it should be nominated for best picture.

27.) Black Swan

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Starring: Natalie Portman, Winona Ryder, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, and Barbara Hershey

Release: Fall 2010

Plot: A thriller about two rival ballet dancers.

Buzz: Black Swan is another film with a super exciting (can you read the sarcasm?) sounding logline that makes the list due to the film’s director. No doubt, the film will be gritty and complex in its character study of the ballet dancers, and it does not hurt that Aronofsky cast Portman and Kunis (though, not really sure why Ryder is in this). Like many to follow, it is the potential for this film to be great. Locking down a place on the list (however, more interested to see his RoboCop than this).

26.) My Fair Lady

Director: John Madden

Starring: Keira Knightley

Release: Winter 2010 (could get pushed to summer or winter 2011)

Plot: A musical about snobby professor, Henry Higgins, taking a bet that he can turn a street urchin into a lady of society, but he gets a little more than he bargained for in the process.

Buzz: The 1964 film with Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn is wonderful, so why even remake it? Well, if the remake involves Keira Knightley (beating out Scarlet Johansson and Anne Hathaway) and either of rumored actors Daniel Craig or Daniel Day Lewis, remake or update (as Columbia Pictures calls it), this is going to be good. Not to mention that the script is being written by Emma Thompson! On the downside though, John Madden is set to direct. While many like Shakespeare in Love, Madden has not done good work since then, and that was 12 years ago. It is too bad that Danny Boyle and Joe Wright passed on this. (Also, the last Audrey Hepburn movie remake was The Truth About Charlie, which was fairly terrible.)

25.) Robin Hood

Director: Ridley Scott

Starring: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Kevin Durand, Matthew Macfadyen, Mark Strong, Danny Huston, William Hurt, Max von Sydow, and Scott Grimes

Release: May 14

Plot: Robin Hood, is there much more to write than that?

Buzz: Ridley Scott/Russell Crowe collaborations have been mostly good, though there was a bad patch in there. The good news about Robin Hood is Crowe is no longer playing both Robin and the Sheriff. The film boasts a pretty solid cast (anything is usually better with Mark Strong and Danny Huston). There is a rumor though that Robin may not be the hero of this story, but wait for the trailer to fully hedge your bets. The issue though is do we really need another Robin Hood story, especially with the very good BBC series?

24.) Get Him to the Greek

Director: Nicholas Stroller

Starring: Russell Brand, Jonah Hill, Kali Hawk, Elisabeth Moss, Rose Byrne, Aziz Ansari, and Colm Meaney (plus a bunch of musician cameos)

Release: June 11

Plot: A comedy about a record company intern that must do whatever it takes to get a down and out rock star to his comeback tour’s first gig at the LA Greek Theater

Buzz: Stroller and Jason Segel produced the best comedy of 2008 in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, so it only makes sense that Stroller would return to the material, but this time Aldous Snow (Brand) is the focus. The film is produced by Judd Apatow (surprise) and thus should feature his brand of adult comedy with a heart. Hopefully, the loss of screenwriter/star Segel will not leave this spin-off tired and washed-up. The June release implies that Universal has high hopes.

23.) A Couple of Dicks

Director: Kevin Smith

Starring: Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, Michelle Trachtenberg, Sean William Scott, Jason Lee, and Adam Brody

Release: February 26

Plot: A comedy about two cops as they protect and serve: solving the case of the missing baseball card, rescuing a woman and thwarting gangsters.

Buzz: Kevin Smith makes his feature directorial debut (having directed the pilot of Reaper) on material not written by him (though it is likely he tinkered with the script upon signing on). With Zack and Miri Make a Porno not living up to his expectations, Smith decided it was time to move on as a filmmaker and try working on something not penned by him, the result…(we shall see). Needless to say, fans of Smith will likely see anything he makes and thus,  this has a built-in box office, but will it finally be his first breakout hit since Clerks – can Bruce Willis push him over the top, can Smith’s famously strict style with actors clash with Willis’ star power (inquiring minds want to know)? By the way, who isn’t excited to see Jason Lee in this? On the studio front, there is a rumor that Warner Bros. does not like the title.

 22.) Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Director: Edgar Wright

Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Brandon Routh, Alison Pill, and Jason Schwartzman

Release: Summer 2010

Plot: An action adventure fantasy comedy about Scott Pilgrim, who must defeat his new girlfriend’s villainous ex-boyfriends to win her heart.

Buzz: Based on the graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley, this is Edgar Wright’s first feature away from Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (side note: if you like them, check out Spaced). If anything, this film is going to have good looking action, as Wright has hired Bill Pope (Matrix and Spider-Man movies, 2&3) to shoot the film. The premise (having not read the comics myself) sounds like it will produce an entertaining story, which in Wright’s hands (he did Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) will more than likely turn out to be a fun film. The cast is also packed with young talent (though, who else is a little sick of Michael Cera and his one note comedy), which also includes Mark Webber and up-and-coming Aubrey Plaza.

21.) The Expendables

Director: Sylvester Stallone

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny Trejo, Brittany Murphy, and Charisma Carpenter

Release: August 20

Plot: An action film about a group of mercenaries that head to South America to deal with a dictator.

Buzz: First off, YES!!! Second, who else wishes Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal were in this too, oh and of course Kurt Russell (who was asked by Stallone, but Kurt Russell does not star in movies unless Kurt Russell is the star). This is the movie that every 80s/90s action movie fan has been waiting for! On a side note, Terry Crews needs to continue to sing/lip-sync to cheesy songs, it is genius. Will any women actually see this? If there ever were a MANFLICK, this is it.

20.) Alice in Wonderland

Director: Tim Burton

Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Michael Sheen, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Crispin Glover, Christopher Lee, Stephen Fry, and Timothy Spall

Release: March 5

Plot: A fantasy film in which, a now 19-year-old, Alice returns to the magical world of her childhood adventure.

Buzz: The cast is pretty awesome. The production design is pretty strange. But, it is Tim Burton after all. What seems like a big enough film to be in the summer is slated for March, which is odd, does Disney know something we do not, or do they not want to crowd their flagship release Toy Story 3? Burton (often vastly overrated) seemingly continues to produce audience alienating fare. Hopefully for him, and us, Alice in Wonderland will be his return to form.

19.) Iron Man 2

Director: Jon Favreau

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Jon Favreau, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Leslie Bibb, Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany (voice), Kate Mara, and Don Cheadle

Release: May 7

Plot: Iron Man returns to do Iron Manny things.

Buzz: Most are thinking right now, “Iron Man 2, only 19th, it should be way higher,” maybe, but there is a sneaking suspicion that the overall goodness of Iron Man (1) was a fluke: the film had an awful third act, why in the world is Jon Favreau directing these and Robert Downey Jr. is probably the real only reason it is good (well and the cool special effects). And, Mickey Rourke as the villain is a little suspect, did anyone see him in Double Team, yeah, do not need that again. However, the additions of Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell are great, and Don Cheadle filling in for Terrence Howard is about a wash. Will the film all come together for another hit (box office is pretty much a sure thing, but critically, and something that holds up well to the three kings of comic book movies, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and Spider-Man 2, is less than assured).

18.) Hereafter

Director: Clint Eastwood

Starring: Matt Damon, Cecile De France, Mylene Jampanoi, Marthe Keller, and Thierry Neuvic

Release: December 2010

Plot: Supernatural thriller about three people that survive near-death experiences.

Buzz: Not too much detail is out there about this film yet, but it is suppose to be like The Sixth Sense. Given Eastwoods streak of good films and the release date of this, it is likely yet other Oscar type film, though typically Oscar films are not supernatural thrillers. Eastwood must have liked working with Damon on Invictus as he returns. It is also nice to see De France get another role in an American film after her first was in the not so great Around the World in 80 Days, because she is quite good in a number of French films. The film is being produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, who produced The Sixth Sense as well (so maybe they have moved on from M. Night and hired an actual quality director to make a supernatural thriller). The script was written by Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon, The Damned United). It will be interesting to see how he handled a fictional story.

17.) Looper

Director: Rian Johnson

Starring: No one cast yet

Release: Fall/winter 2010 or maybe 2011

Plot: A sci-fi film set in present day dealing with hitmen that travel back in time to assassinate their intended victims.

Buzz: While the plot is still mostly unknown, the logline not telling the full story, and no cast, Looper is high on the list for two reasons, A) what is known is awesome (and sounds a bit like Terminator) and intriguing, and B) Johnson’s ability to combine genres makes him one of the most exciting directors working today.

16.) Somewhere

Director: Sophia Coppola

Starring: Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning, Michelle Monaghan, Benicio Del Toro, and Laura Ramsey

Release: Spring or fall 2010

Plot: A drama about a Hollywood bad-boy, on the decline, who takes a second look at his life when his 11-year-old daughter comes back into his life.

Buzz: “Stephen Dorff stars” is not usually the backbone of a hit, let alone a possibly good movie, and yet there is enough to like here, even despite the overused story of redemption at the discovery of a child. Why? First, the pattern of Sophia Coppola’s career, The Virgin Suicides (not that great), Lost in Translation (top 25 of the decade, film of the year, 2003), Marie Antoinette (again not that great), based on the pattern, this is going to be good (plus, it does not star Kristen Dunst). Second, Michelle Monaghan makes her return to acting after having a baby, one of the most promising talents (go see Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and she was great in Mission: Impossible III, Gone Baby Gone and Trucker). Third, the film is shot by Harris Savides, who did great work on Milk. And fourth, doesn’t Stephen Dorff as a hard-living washed-up Hollywood “star” hit the same tone as Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler?

15.) The Green Hornet

Director: Michel Gondry

Starring: Seth Rogen, Cameron Diaz, Christoph Waltz, Edward James Olmos, Edward Furlong, Tom Wilkinson, and Jay Chou

Release: December 22

Plot: Britt Reid, newspaper publisher by day, crime-fighter by night.

Buzz: What was once not even a consideration for this list, last summer, the film has now jumped to the 15th spot. How? Nicholas Cage is out as the villain and the superbly awesome Christoph Waltz is in. Plus, the randomly kind of cool casting of the Edwards, and Tom Wilkinson is always good. Now if only Cameron Diaz was recast…(oh well, not likely). The script is by Rogen and writing partner Evan Goldberg, a team that can do no wrong, or so it seems. And best yet, who on earth ever thought of Seth Rogen – action hero? Or even, Michel Gondry – action director? But one thing is for sure, whether it works or not, it sure should be an interesting experiment (on a side note, who else is glad Kevin Smith ended up not making this?).

14.) How Do You Know?

Director: James L. Brooks

Starring: Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, Jack Nicholson, and Owen Wilson

Release: December 17

Plot: A comedic drama about an executive and baseball player chasing the same girl.

Buzz: This is the sixth film directed by Brooks, of the five previous, three were nominated for best picture (Terms of Endearment winning), and two are not good at all. On which side of the line will this be? Well, the film not being ready for the 2009 Oscar Season, Columbia could have dumped it in January-April, but they delayed it all the way until next year’s Oscar Season, a good sign that it will be good, and with the cast it has, pencil it in for a best picture nod in February 2011 (questioning the Oscar potential of something with Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson? See Rudd in Role Models and Wilson in The Darjeeling Limited. Still not convinced, well this does have Reese Witherspoon and umm Jack Nicholson, so…).

13.) Your Highness

Director: David Gordon Green

Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Natalie Portman, James Franco, Danny McBride, Damian Lewis, Justin Theroux, Charles Dance, and Toby Jones

Release: October 1

Plot: A fantasy movie about a heroic strapping young price that must rescue his fair maiden and his father’s kingdom from the evil forces that would destroy it and her, only his loser brother has to come along too.

Buzz: Cast + director + logline = sold. The film is written by Danny McBride and his friend Ben Best, for those that like Eastbound & Down this is something to be excited about. The comedy gold months are usually March/April, August and October, so this seems to have a winning formula.

12.) The A-Team

Director: Joe Carnahan

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Liam Neeson, Sharlto Copley, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Patrick Wilson and Jessica Biel

Release: June 11

Plot: An action film about four Iraqi-conflict vets try to clear their name after being framed for a crime.

Buzz: This is another one that was on the “not anticipated” list for 2010 when it was first announced. Since then, a potentially cool director (at the very least he can make a good movie, see Narc, and yes there is also Smokin’ Aces which is not so good, but focus on the positive here) and a pretty awesome cast has been added (probably the best thing about the cast is the addition of Sharlto Copley). Missing from the details is who plays the villain. The film is currently shooting, so likely the villain has been cast, Jessica Biel (probably playing a love interest or something) and Patrick Wilson are the only other name actors, so it is probably one of them, sort of hope it is Biel just for the change of pace.

11.) Kick-Ass

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Starring: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Mark Strong, Chole Moretz, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse

Release: April 16

Plot: An action comedy/drama about an unnoticed high school comic book fan that decides that he will become a super-hero, despite not having any powers or training.

Buzz: Based on the comic book series by Mark Miller, Kick-Ass looks to be a lot of fun. Matthew Vaughn’s last film (Stardust) was a great blend of action comedy drama and fantasy making him a perfect choice to handle the material. He also brings his D.P. Ben Davis with him and Stardust co-writer Jane Goldman (which is a good thing). Two potential bad points in the film’s credits are Nicholas Cage and composer Marius De Vries. Normally (with a few exceptions like Adaptation.), if you see the name Nick Cage, you know it is not going to be good, or it will be less good, or you can expect a strange and imprudent performance, but hopefully his antics and overall exaggeration will be beneficial to this (I really hope so, but I am not holding my breath). De Vries, on the other hand, is mostly a songwriter/producer who has worked with Baz Luhrmann (which can be taken either way, depending on whether you like Romeo+Juliet and Moulin Rouge!) and has done limited work scoring films (I was not too big a fan of his Easy Virtue score). Overall though, especially having seen the trailer, this looks to be pretty kick ass (oh come on, you knew that was coming).

10.) The Book of Eli

Director: The Hughes Bros.

Starring: Denzel Washington, Mila Kunis, Gary Oldman, Michael Gambon, Malcolm McDowell, Jennifer Beals, Ray Stevenson, and Tom Waits

Release: January 15

Plot: An action film set in post-apocalyptic America, one man must fight to protect a sacred book that could save mankind.

Buzz: The logline, alone, is pretty tired sounding, but just look at the cast again, or think about how well the Hughes Bros. use their camera and have a flair for cool dark images. Plainly put, if there is only one reason to see this, it is Gary Oldman playing a villain (but really, anything with Oldman, Washington, Gambon, McDowell, and Rome’s Ray Stevenson is very likely to be awesome, or at the very least entertaining).

9.) Toy Story 3

Director: Lee Unkrich

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Michael Keaton, Joan Cusack, John Ratzenberger, R. Lee Ermey, Bonnie Hunt, Whoopi Goldberg, Wallace Shawn, Laurie Metcalf, Timothy Dalton, Jeff Garlin, Kristin Schaal, Don Rickles, and Ned Beatty

Release: June 18         

Plot: Andy has grown up and is off to college, what is to be with all his toys? Day-care!

Buzz: The good news here is Lee Unkrich is returning, having directed Toy Story 2, and with a screenplay by Little Miss Sunshine scribe, Michael Arndt, Toy Story 3 has a better than good chance of being able to live up to its predecessors. And, the whole cast, practically, is back as well. Lastly, it is Pixar, who, in the last two years, has put out Up and WALL-E, nothing but blue skies.

8.) The Adventurer’s Handbook

Director: Akiva Schaffer

Starring: Jason Segel, Jason Schwartzman and Jonah Hill

Release: Fall/Winter 2010 (could get pushed back to early 2011)

Plot: A comedy about four friends who decide to ditch their mundane lives for global adventure!

Buzz: This film is either going to be really funny or be like Land of the Lost (Will Ferrell version). Watching Segel, Schwartzman and Hill survive the wilds like Man vs. Wild, adding in SNL and Hot Rod’s Akiva Schaffer to direct, just seems like so much awesome comic potential. Details are still short on this, the full cast is unknown and it has not even started filming, but Jason Segel is just so on his game right now that even with little info, excitement is in the air.

7.) Green Zone

Director: Paul Greengrass

Starring: Matt Damon, Jason Isaacs, Greg Kinnear, Brendan Gleeson, and Amy Ryan

Release: March 12

Plot: A thriller about a committed military officer that aids the CIA in search for WMDs in Iraq, pre-Iraqi War, and instead starts to unravel a conspiracy.

Buzz: Greengrass and Damon’s third collaboration (the first two were quite good, stands to reason that this should be no different, on the other hand…). Why do people cast Greg Kinnear? Aside from Kinnear, the rest of the cast is brilliant. This might be the next good Iraq War film after 2009’s The Hurt Locker. This was lower on the list before the trailer arrived, check it out.

6.) The Town

Director: Ben Affleck

Starring: Ben Affleck, Blake Lively, Chris Cooper, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, and Rebecca Hall

Release: September 10

Plot: A crime drama about a thief planning his next job, trying to both balance his feelings for a bank manager connected to a previous score and also deal with a FBI agent out to bring him and his crew down.

Buzz: Reasons to both see a Ben Affleck movie and also to why a Ben Affleck movie is this high on the list: A) Gone Baby Gone, Affleck can direct a solid film, B) the cast is great, C) cinematography by Oscar winner Robert Elswit, D) Affleck is due to star in a good movie after a decade of mediocrity to just plain bad. This has potential to be an Oscars sleeper.

5.) London Boulevard

Director: William Monahan

Starring: Keira Knightley, Colin Farrell, Anna Friel, Ray Winston, Jamie Campbell Bower, David Thewlis, Stephen Graham, Ben Chaplin, and Eddie Marsan

Release: Spring/Fall 2010

Plot: A crime romance drama about an ex-con who is befriended by a movie star, hiding from the world in a Holland Park mansion.

Buzz: William Monahan steps out for his directorial debut; he is also co-writing. Wondering why the name sounds familiar or why this is high on the list, Oscar winner Monahan is the writer behind Kingdom of Heaven (watch director’s cut), The Departed and Body of Lies (all good) and has another script to film coming out in January, Edge of Darkness (narrowly missing this list, Martin Campbell returns to direct Mel Gibson once again seeking revenge). The cast in the film also sparks interest, Keira Knightley is usually good, Colin Farrell has his moments of brilliance, Anna Friel (just watch Pushing Daisies), Ray Winston, David Thewlis and Eddie Marsan are always great, Stephen Graham coming off a fine performance in Public Enemies, and Jamie Campbell Bower (fairly unknown) was a bright spot in the otherwise not so great RocknRolla (he can also be seen in the Harry Potter finales). And for the icing on the cake, Chris Menges is shooting it.

4.) Shutter Island

Director: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, Michelle Williams, Max von Sydow, Jackie Earle Haley, Elias Koteas, Patricia Clarkson, Ted Levine, and John Carroll Lynch

Release: February 19

Plot: A mystery thriller about a cop that goes to investigate a breakout/disappearance of an inmate at Shutter Island’s prison for the criminally insane.

Buzz: Red flag alert! Why on earth did this get pushed from Oscar season 2009 to the box office and Oscar graveyard of February, especially when it is testing so well? Paramount claims that they do not have the money to push the film for awards; maybe they feel The Lovely Bones and Up in the Air have better chances. Either way, and regardless of the reasons, Shutter Island looks like a fantastic psychological thriller; it is Martin Scorsese teaming up with DiCaprio again, strong track record there (Gangs of New York aside).

3.) Cemetery Junction

Director: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Emily Watson, Matthew Goode, Ricky Gervais, and Stephen Merchant

Release: Fall 2010

Plot: A comedy set in the 70s about professionals working at an insurance company.

Buzz: Writer/directors of The Office and Extras return with their first feature film together (Gervais co-directing The Invention of Lying with Matthew Robinson). For fans of Gervais and Merchant, just the mere mention of their names is enough to make this a highly anticipated project. Throw in talent like Ralph Fiennes and Emily Watson and just start to wonder, “how great is this going to be!” Gervais has stated that he wants to do more drama, which can be seen in The Invention of Lying. Will Cemetery Junction cross into mostly drama with some comedy thrown in territory? Whatever form the film takes, just looking at who is involved is enough to have high expectations (teaser trailer!).

2.) Inception

Director: Christopher Nolan

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Michael Caine, and Lukas Haas

Release: July 16

Plot: A sci-fi film about a CEO who is blackmailed set within the architecture of the mind.

Buzz: A toss up between this and Death Hallows for the top spot, just consider them both number ones, if that helps. Is there a better working director today than Christopher Nolan? Since 2005 he has made Batman Begins, The Prestige and The Dark Knight. Can you name any director (maybe Clint Eastwood) that has made three movies released since 2005 with the same overall quality as those three (all of which were my film of the year in their respective years). It really does not even matter who is in this film, behind the camera is Nolan and Wally Pfister with music by Hans Zimmer, it could be stick figures and still be in the top 10 films of the year, so add the remarkable cast to the equation and you have a strong contender for another film of the year.

1.) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Director: David Yates

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright, Tom Felton, Evanna Lynch, Clemence Poesy, Stanislav Ianevski, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Matthew Lewis, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Jamie Campbell Bower, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Rhys Ifans, Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith, Miranda Richardson, David Thewlis, Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters, Warwick Davis, Ciaran Hinds, Helen McCrory, Timothy Spall, Rade Serbedzija, Imelda Staunton, David O’Hara, Natalia Tena, Richard Griffiths, Toby Jones (voice), Dave Legeno, Simon McBurney (voice), and Mark Williams

Release: November 19

Plot: Harry and company fight to stop Voldemort once and for good, the thrilling conclusion (part 1).

Buzz: For all that saw Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince, David Yates can make one heck of a good Potter film, and he says the audience has not seen anything yet! Just about everyone behind the camera is back, Yates, editor Mark Day, production designer Stuart Craig, and screenwriter Steven Kloves, new to the team is cinematographer Eduardo Serra (picking up from the absolute master job done on the last two by Slawomir Idziak and, especially, Bruno Delbonnel, respectively). His work is also very good (see Girl with a Pearl Earring for reference). The Potter films have also featured maybe the greatest cast of British actors ever assembled, and now the stupendous Bill Nighy joins the cast along with the also very good Ciaran Hinds (if only they could squeeze Peter O’Toole in there somehow). If there is only money and time enough for one movie to see this coming year (sneak into, and make time for, Inception too), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is it. For those who wonder, part 2 is scheduled for July 15, 2011.