Put that sunscreen away, summer is officially over. While one of the most successful film seasons in recent years may now be only a semi-distant memory, the fall film lineup doesn’t look too shabby either. Here are my top five reasons to get excited for the movies once again, because hey, it beats looking forward to midterms.
1. It has the most off-the-wall projects: Earning great buzz earlier this year at Sundance, “Grace is Gone,” is an unlikely turn for veteran actor John Cusack. After years of drifting aimlessly between bad comedies (“Must Love Dogs”) and cheap thrillers (“1408″), the actor finds himself as a father struggling to tell his children their mother has died in the Iraq War. Word has it Cusack is amazing in the role and that a first Oscar nomination is not too far behind.
Even stranger than Cusack’s dramatic turn is the Bob Dylan biopic “I’m Not There,” which has been kept under a cloud of secrecy for months. And while it makes sense to make a film exposing the mostly hidden life of one of the world’s most famous musicians, it is not so common to see six different actors playing the same lead. Not only will it be interesting to see both Richard Gere and Cate Blanchett tackle the role, but then again anything featuring Christian Bale gets my heart pumping straightaway.
2) It’s all about the Andersons: No I’m not talking about the failed UPN sitcom or that silver-haired fox on CNN. This season, not one but two acclaimed directors with that same name finally return to the big screen. First off, after the tepid reception his last flick, “The Life Aquatic,” received, Wes Anderson is back. “The Darjeeling Limited,” which puts Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman as three brothers traveling through India after their father passes away, is the film that Anderson’s cult following hopes will bring the quirky director back to the mainstream.
However, fans of that other Anderson ““ you know, the visionary helmer of ensemble dramas such as “Boogie Nights and “Magnolia” ““ have been waiting four whole years since 2002’s “Punch Drunk Love.” Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest, “There Will Be Blood,” is also on the top of my must-see list because of the unusual story line. The film is his first adaptation, partly based on Upton Sinclair’s 1927 novel Oil! and also leaves behind many of the director’s favorite actors (like Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, and Julianne Moore) in favor of mostly unknowns, with the exception of acting legend Daniel Day-Lewis.
3. “And the nominees are …”: It’s never too early for Oscar predictions. Two films hoping to take the awards season by storm are also two films with the most coveted casts.
“Reservation Road” features past winners Joaquin Phoenix and Jennifer Connolly as parents who must deal with the sudden loss of their son after he is accidentally run over by previous nominee Mark Ruffalo. The trailer is gripping and seems a strong stepping stone for the talented but usually overlooked Ruffalo.
Phoenix shows up in another highly touted October release, “We Own the Night,” which got Hollywood buzzing after a great Cannes showing. Not only does the film feature Phoenix and recent supporting actor nominee Mark Wahlberg as brothers on opposite sides of the law but past winner Robert Duvall plays their father. This may not garner the same Oscar attention as “Road” but the trailer promises an interesting balance of physical and emotional turmoil
4. It takes two: Some things just work best in pairs, like coffee and cream, apple pie and ice cream, and Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. After 17 years and five films together, the dark actor-director team of Depp and Burton (“Edward Scissorhands,” “Sleepy Hollow”) truly belong up there with the best pairings of all time. Together, the two have transformed hit Broadway musical “Sweeney Todd” from a hard sell to one of the most buzzed about films coming out this Christmas. Whether it will actually find a strong audience is hard to say, but hopefully it will be at least be another successful chapter in the duo’s strong resume.
But If you can’t wait until December 25, Christmas comes early this year in the way of the long gestating action-drama “American Gangster.” Anticipated by many for its one-two acting punch of Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington, the film also radiates potential greatness thanks to the reteaming of Crowe and Ridley Scott, the combination behind crowd-pleaser “Gladiator.” Maybe we should bust out the Champagne and caviar, or maybe just pizza and beer in celebration of these great collaborations.
5) “Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam …”: While Steve Carell and John Krasinski will always be Michael Scott and Jim Halpert to me, these two stars’ (of the hit show “The Office”) high profile upcoming releases are already marked on my calendar.
Carell further explores the softer side the world got a glimpse of in “Little Miss Sunshine.” He plays opposite the gifted Juliette Binoche in October’s “Dan in Real Life,” which will hopefully strike “Evan Almighty” permanently from the record.
And while most female “Office” fans hardly need a big sell to watch the lovable Krasinski on the big screen, “Leatherheads” actually sounds like a legitimate project to take the actor to the next level. With George Clooney both on screen and behind the camera and Renee Zellweger returning to the limelight to serve as the girl caught in the middle, it seems Scranton, Pa., is just the beginning.
Stanhope is the 2007-2008 Film&TV editor. E-mail her at kstanhope@media.ucla.edu.