As a general rule, the first three months of the year are generally the dog days of film. Instead of blockbusters and wonderfully crafted pieces of art, we're stuck with the "Paul Blarts" and "Pink Panthers" of the industry.
I am writing this week to assure you that there is a light peeking out of the end of the tunnel of garbage we've been muddling through. So before you waste your weekly allotted entertainment budget on "Fired Up!," take a peek at what's around the corner.
Here are the 15 movies you should be salivating over in 2009:
I am writing this week to assure you that there is a light peeking out of the end of the tunnel of garbage we've been muddling through. So before you waste your weekly allotted entertainment budget on "Fired Up!," take a peek at what's around the corner.
Here are the 15 movies you should be salivating over in 2009:
"Adventureland," April 3: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Bill Hader.
Fresh off the comedy smash "Superbad," director Greg Mottola is taking
the teen comedy concept to the theme park. The story revolved around a
college grad who is forced to work at a local amusement park over the
summer. Not a bad a tradeoff for finding love with "Twilight" star
Stewart.
"The Soloist," April 24: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr. Is there a hotter actor on the market right now than Downey Jr.? (I mean that career-wise. Not looks-wise. Not that there's anything wrong with that.) This film about a journalist who finds a former musical prodigy on the streets is already generating some Oscar buzz.
"X-Men Origins: Wolverine," May 1: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber. After destroying the X-Men franchise with the third film, Fox has begun the journey to make it up to us. "Wolverine," takes us down memory lane as we follow the transformation of regular dude Logan to the new and improved Weapon X.
"Star Trek," May 8: Karl Urban, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg. I admit I've never really been a fan of "Star Trek." I've seen one or two episodes of the original series and haven't even seen a minute of the films. But you give me J.J. Abrams as a director and "Lost" scribes Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman and I'm in.
"Terminator: Salvation," May 21: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington. C'mon people, it's "The Terminator." And Ahhnold will be in it. As long as director McG doesn't go all "Charlie's Angels" on it, this should be pretty spectacular.
"Up," May 29: Voices of Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer. You just can't mess with Disney-Pixar. They don't put out bad films, so you can be sure that when this animated adventure of a 78-year-old balloon salesman who flies away in his house hits screens, it will be a hit.
"Year One," June 19: Jack Black, Michael Cera. All that needs to be said about this movie is this: produced by Judd Apatow, directed by Harold Ramis. Add in the fact that it was written by the guys who bring you "The Office," and you'll understand that this is Fanboy's No. 1 film to watch for in '09.
"Public Enemies," July 1: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale. This one could be the year's biggest blockbuster as a monster cast directed by Michael Mann takes on the story of outlaw John Dillinger and friends.
"Funny People," July 31: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen. Welcome back to the list, Judd Apatow. Oh, and I see you've brought along Rogen, Leslie Mann, Jonah Hill and the rest of the clan. Oh, and kudos for bringing Eric Bana along, after referencing him in "Knocked Up."
"Inglourious Basterds," Aug. 21: Brad Pitt, Eli Roth. Quentin Tarantino doesn't do a ton of filmmaking, but when he does, it will make this list. Pitt plays Lt. Aldo Raine, a Jewish soldier who organizes a group of other Jewish soldiers to take out the Nazis. (Or as Pitt refers to them in the film's trailer, Nat-zees.)
"The Boat That Rocked," Aug. 28: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy. Inspired by the British radio revolution of the 1960s, this film follows a band of rogue rock deejays who called a rusty fishing boat home.
"The Wolf Man," Nov. 6: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins. While I hate 99 percent of all remakes ever done, if early visual evidence is to be believed, this film should find itself in that elusive 1 percent.
"Fantastic Mr. Fox," Nov. 6: George Clooney, Bill Murray. Director Wes Anderson makes his first foray into animation with this adaptation of the classic Roald Dahl children's story.
"Nine," Nov. 25: Daniel Day-Lewis. Hugh Jackman was dead on at the Oscars when he said that the musical was back. Rob Marshall, the guy who brought you "Chicago," is back as well. While the story about a famous film director could be wonderful, it's the cast that makes the eyes go big. The film also stars Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, Judi Dench and Fergie.
"Sherlock Holmes," Dec. 25: Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law. Now that Guy Ritchie is the ex-Mr. Madonna, his films have gotten significantly better. We'll see if that continues with this new portrayal of the famous detective and his partner Watson.
"The Soloist," April 24: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr. Is there a hotter actor on the market right now than Downey Jr.? (I mean that career-wise. Not looks-wise. Not that there's anything wrong with that.) This film about a journalist who finds a former musical prodigy on the streets is already generating some Oscar buzz.
"X-Men Origins: Wolverine," May 1: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber. After destroying the X-Men franchise with the third film, Fox has begun the journey to make it up to us. "Wolverine," takes us down memory lane as we follow the transformation of regular dude Logan to the new and improved Weapon X.
"Star Trek," May 8: Karl Urban, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg. I admit I've never really been a fan of "Star Trek." I've seen one or two episodes of the original series and haven't even seen a minute of the films. But you give me J.J. Abrams as a director and "Lost" scribes Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman and I'm in.
"Terminator: Salvation," May 21: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington. C'mon people, it's "The Terminator." And Ahhnold will be in it. As long as director McG doesn't go all "Charlie's Angels" on it, this should be pretty spectacular.
"Up," May 29: Voices of Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer. You just can't mess with Disney-Pixar. They don't put out bad films, so you can be sure that when this animated adventure of a 78-year-old balloon salesman who flies away in his house hits screens, it will be a hit.
"Year One," June 19: Jack Black, Michael Cera. All that needs to be said about this movie is this: produced by Judd Apatow, directed by Harold Ramis. Add in the fact that it was written by the guys who bring you "The Office," and you'll understand that this is Fanboy's No. 1 film to watch for in '09.
"Public Enemies," July 1: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale. This one could be the year's biggest blockbuster as a monster cast directed by Michael Mann takes on the story of outlaw John Dillinger and friends.
"Funny People," July 31: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen. Welcome back to the list, Judd Apatow. Oh, and I see you've brought along Rogen, Leslie Mann, Jonah Hill and the rest of the clan. Oh, and kudos for bringing Eric Bana along, after referencing him in "Knocked Up."
"Inglourious Basterds," Aug. 21: Brad Pitt, Eli Roth. Quentin Tarantino doesn't do a ton of filmmaking, but when he does, it will make this list. Pitt plays Lt. Aldo Raine, a Jewish soldier who organizes a group of other Jewish soldiers to take out the Nazis. (Or as Pitt refers to them in the film's trailer, Nat-zees.)
"The Boat That Rocked," Aug. 28: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy. Inspired by the British radio revolution of the 1960s, this film follows a band of rogue rock deejays who called a rusty fishing boat home.
"The Wolf Man," Nov. 6: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins. While I hate 99 percent of all remakes ever done, if early visual evidence is to be believed, this film should find itself in that elusive 1 percent.
"Fantastic Mr. Fox," Nov. 6: George Clooney, Bill Murray. Director Wes Anderson makes his first foray into animation with this adaptation of the classic Roald Dahl children's story.
"Nine," Nov. 25: Daniel Day-Lewis. Hugh Jackman was dead on at the Oscars when he said that the musical was back. Rob Marshall, the guy who brought you "Chicago," is back as well. While the story about a famous film director could be wonderful, it's the cast that makes the eyes go big. The film also stars Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, Judi Dench and Fergie.
"Sherlock Holmes," Dec. 25: Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law. Now that Guy Ritchie is the ex-Mr. Madonna, his films have gotten significantly better. We'll see if that continues with this new portrayal of the famous detective and his partner Watson.
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