Movies to Watch for This Fall

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

A baker's dozen flicks that look promising for Fall 2010

By Lori Hoffman

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Sep. 8, 2010

No matter how much film critics bitch and moan about the state of the movies — and we’ve been doing a lot of bitching and moaning this past summer — we always remain hopeful that the next great movie is right around the corner. With that philosophy in mind, here are a baker’s dozen flicks that I’m looking forward to seeing soon.

As you read this I’m in Toronto covering the 35th Toronto International Film Festival; check back here at acweekly.com for my reports from the festival.

The Social Network — David Fincher’s drama about Mark Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg, who invented Facebook in his dorm room at Harvard and became a billionaire. With Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake. Oct. 1

Secretariat — This drama is about the last horse to win the Triple Crown (in 1973), and the housewife (Diane Lane) who oversaw his training in a sport dominated by men. With John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh; directed by Randall Wallace. Oct. 8

Nowhere Boy — Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass) stars as the teenage John Lennon in this drama about the mother (Anne-Marie Duff) who abandoned him and the aunt (Kristin Scott Thomas) who raised him. Oct. 8

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest — In the final film in the globally popular and bestselling Millennium trilogy novels by the late Swedish author Stieg Larsson, our hacker/heroine Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) is on trial for murder. Actress Rooney Mara will play Lisbeth in David Fincher’s American remake. Oct. 15

Red — Helen Mirren as a pistol packin’ mama? Sign me up. Mirren stars with Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis and John Malkovich in this adaptation of the 2003 Warren Ellis graphic novel about former CIA spooks who are now RED (Retired and Extremely Dangerous). Oct. 15

The Company Men — TV writer, director and executive producer John Wells (E.R., West Wing) directs this drama about corporate downsizing in human terms. Ben Affleck stars as a family man who gets laid off. With Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper. Oct. 22

Morning Glory — Rachel McAdams joins forces with Hollywood icons Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton in this comedy about a former prestigious news anchor who agrees to star in a lightweight morning news magazine opposite Keaton’s fluff-loving co-host. Directed by Brit Roger Michell (Notting Hill). Nov. 12

Unstoppable — Tony Scott directs his favorite leading man Denzel Washington (they have made five films together). A runaway train carrying toxic chemicals is headed for a town and Washington’s character must try to stop it, joined by his new-school colleague played by Chris Pine (Star Trek). Nov. 12

Burlesque — Cher returns to the big screen (her first film since 2003) in this classic backstage story. She plays the owner of a strip joint who is dealing with a bitchy leading lady (Kristen Bell), while developing a new singer/dancer (played by Christina Aguilera in her film debut). With Stanley Tucci and Alan Cumming. Nov. 24

The Fighter — Mark Wahlberg, who stars, has been trying to make this film about his pal welterweight “Irish” Mickey Ward for a long time. He snagged David O. Russell (Three Kings) to direct this drama about Ward’s early years with his brother/trainer (Christian Bale). With Amy Adams, Melissa Leo. Dec. 10

Tron: Legacy — The original Tron wasn’t a big hit in 1982, but it has developed major cult status since then. Jeff Bridges, who starred in the original as computer programmer Kevin Flynn, who gets lost in cyberspace, is back. In the new story, he and his son are zapped back into cyberspace — this time with much better technology to create the computer world. Dec. 17

Country Strong — Gwyneth Paltrow stars as a country singer just out of rehab who is looking to make it as a country crooner. Tim McGraw co-stars but doesn’t sing. With Garrett Hedlund, Leighton Meester. Dec. 22

True Grit — The Coen brothers are remaking the classic western that earned John Wayne his only Oscar. Taking over as Marshall Reuben “Rooster” Cogburn is the current reigning best actor Oscar winner Jeff Bridges. Matt Damon (a major upgrade from the original’s Glen Campbell) co-stars. Dec. 25

To read more about movies and other topics covered by movie critic Lori Hoffman visit the ‘Atlantic City Central’ blog at http://blog.acweekly.com/