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The new year is upon us and moviegoers are finally getting around to seeing some of 2008's big-name films (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Revolutionary Road, Gran Torino, Defiance, The Wrestler). But what about the rest of the year? Austin listed his five to watch a while back, but I will see his five and raise him 24. Here are the 29 movies due in 2009 that have caught my eye. What's missing? Let me know in the comments section.
29. Away We Go
Directed by: Sam Mendes
Starring: John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Maggie Gyllenhaal
The Office's John Krasinski and SNL's Maya Rudolph play a married couple expecting their first child who traverse the country trying to find the perfect place to live. The premise may not sound all that interesting, but the fact author Dave Eggers co-wrote the script and Oscar-winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty) is behind the camera make it one to watch.
28. Whatever Works
Directed by: Woody Allen
Starring: Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson
Whatever Works is blessed with what may be the most brilliant casting of the year: Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm creator Larry David starring in a Woody Allen comedy. Could there possibly be a better fit between a director and star? It's a dream-team collaboration for fans of neurotic humor everywhere.
27. The Informant
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Matt Damon, Patton Oswalt, Tony Hale
Steven Soderbergh hasn't really had a hit with both critics and audiences since 2000's Traffic (the Ocean's series is fun but hard to take seriously). He seems poised for a return-to-form, and this story of Mark Whitacre—the whistleblower who exposed the Fortune 500 company ADM of price fixing in the 90's—might be the film to do it.
26. Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea
Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
Featuring the voices of: Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Tina Fey
Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away was a one-of-a-kind masterpiece and has an Oscar to prove it. No one makes films, animated or otherwise, as imaginative and dream-like as Miyazaki, so any time he makes a movie it demands attention. The fact he's accumulated a star-studded voice cast is a testament to his talent.
25. Jennifer's Body
Directed by: Karyn Kusama
Starring: Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Adam Brody
Diablo Cody follows-up Juno with a horror comedy about a possessed cheerleader (Megan Fox) who kills off her male classmates one-by-one. Mixing horror and comedy is always a slippery slope, but if anyone could pull it off it'd be Cody. But, let's be serious: Megan Fox is playing a killer cheerleader! That's all you need to know.
24. Coraline
Directed by: Henry Selick
Featuring the voices of: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher
Henry Selick, director of the perennial classic The Nightmare Before Christmas, returns to stop-motion animation for this adaptation of Neil Gaiman's gothic fairy tale, Coraline. Early trailers have been both beautiful and breathtaking, making the film a standout in what should be a banner year for animation.
23. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Directed by: Gavin Hood
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston
Hugh Jackman's Wolverine was easily one of the best parts of the X-Men trilogy, so a solo film focusing on his backstory makes sense. Recruiting Gavin Hood (director of the Oscar-winning South African film Tsotsi) was a nice touch, and the early trailer looks promising. Plus, Gambit finally makes an appearance in an X-Men film. Gambit!
22. A Serious Man
Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen
Starring: Richard Kind, Adam Arkin, Michael Stuhlbarg
The Coen Brothers return to black comedy after the love-it-or-hate it Burn After Reading. Instead of A-listers like Pitt, Clooney and McDormand, A Serious Man has Richard Kind and Michael Stuhlbarg. Still, while dramas may have brought the Coens all of their Oscar glory, (black) comedy is what they do best. This should be wickedly funny.
21. Terminator: Salvation
Directed by: McG
Starring: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Helena Bonham Carter
The director of Charlie's Angels, McG, might not inspire much confidence, but Terminator: Salvation is the first of a planned trilogy that places Christian Bale in the John Connor role battling against Skynet in post-apocalyptic 2018. Bale's involvement alone is enough to pique interest, and again, an early trailer that's heavy on special effects, explosions and Bale's throaty Batman voice looks sweet.
Top 10 Best Debut Novels of the…
The 10 Best Video Game Characters of…
The 50 Best Movies of the Decade…
Catching Up With... Sam Rockwell
Josh Ritter - 11/5/07 - Western Realms
Blind Pilot - The Story I Heard
B.O.B. - Put Me On
Punch Brothers - Punch Brothers at CMJ
Anya Marina - Whatever You Like
Headlights - Secrets
Some of those look very cool ...
Um, and what about The Limits of Control, dir. by Jim Jarmusch, starring BILL MURRAY, Gael Garcia Bernal,John Hurt, Tilda Swinton, and the ever so versatile and evocative lead actor, Isacc De Bankole,along with many others in this suspense thriller set in Spain, also written by the ingenious Mr. Jarmusch. sure to be a gem
The people that made this list clearly forgot about Transformers 2.
No love for Transformers 2??
some of these really look great, and thanks liz for the heads up on limits of control. but the movie i am most looking forward to is ninja assassin, the new wachowski flick. features korean pop star rain, and if his dancing is any indication, it will be an awesome movie.
What about The Time Travellers Wife? And looking forward to Sunshine Cleaning too.
I was looking forward to The Time Traveler's Wife (the book is certainly terrific), but between the odd casting and rumors of it tanking in previews, I'm not sure it's going anywhere.
I'm mostly looking forward to The Road, The Lovely Bones, and The Tempest (with Helen Mirren as Prospera!).
Christian Bale does the throaty Batman voice in Terminator? PASS!
Way to not know what you are talking about. Joe Johnston replaced Mark Romanek on Wolfman AFTER Del Toro was cast.
I demand you take away those kudos immediately.
Good list. Glad Watchmen made top 5. But arn't you forgetting a little remake of horror gem Friday the 13th? Coming out Friday the 13th?? Bound to be epic.
Borat was one of the funniest movies of the decade? I guess it is if you live your life with a railroad spike shoved deep into your brain.
Nice list, but you should have Sunshine Cleaning, Los Abrazos Rotos, and New York I Love You on there, as well.
For everyone wondering about Transformers 2, what is wrong with you people? Did you watch the first Transformers? What was it that you liked? Was it the Chevy car commercials as they shot every vehicle from the cross emblem up (they might as well have had Shia say "Chevy an American Revolution") Was it the acting or the dialog (Megan Fox in her serious tone "No matter what happens, I'm really glad I got in that car with you")
I can't say enough about one of the worst movies I have ever seen
Kudos though to the way Michael Bay depicted transformer battles. All the shiny CGI metal flying through the air really caught my attention.
As for this post I'm looking forward to a lot of these, especially The Watchmen and The Road (both great novels) although I haven't seen a release date yet for The Road.
Julie and Julia looks good
wow the second top anticipated film list of 2009 to either forget or just ignore transformers 2. the LA Times list did the same thing last week. this cant be just an oversight but a ass kick to Bay
What about "The Brothers Bloom", Rian Johnson's follow-up to "Brick", with Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz and Mark Ruffalo?
Click here to read my 35 most anticipated films of 2009 (second entry)
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=3752440&blogID=442267518
No G.I. Joe?
Granted, it's a popcorn flick, but it's going to be big none-the-less.
Where are the smaller films? All of these are the blockbusters. Personally, im looking foward to seeing "The River Why". Great Cast, Great Story, nuff said!
Dustin, Stop hating on Transformers. You're just mad because you thought the film was about Transvestites. But don't worry, you can still enjoy the film with your dad and cut a hole in the bottom of his popcorn so you can butter it from him. While you are at it, why don't you have a Payday bar? You sound like someone who likes to have a lot nuts in his mouth.
For those wondering about Transformers 2, please read Paste's review of Transformers (blatant plug, I know, but still).
General comment: Jeremy, you're missing out on foreign films and documentaries entirely! I'm tempted to write up my own list of 10 of each to anticipate for 2009. Especially since, imo, 2008 was a much better year for those categories than for American features, it's definitely something worth thinking about.
are we forgetting "angles and demons"?
c'mon plp!!!!
You guys put Avatar where nothing else has been told about this movie where as you took out tranformers 2 and dragonball. Transformers 1 was a major success and the hype towards number 2 is greater. Dragonball had the most viewed trailer when it was released. So clearly these two movies are worthy to be hyped about. Not only that but transformers 2 had a teaser in between the super bowl that shows how hyped this movie is gonig to be
Watch this upcoming film, if you want your mind blown:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcl-uofCzRc
OFFICIAL SELECTION: London Independent & St. Louis International Film Festivals
QUOTES:
• “Shocking, compelling… intense...”
Thom Hartmann, Air America Radio
• “My best character since ‘Uhura’”
Nichelle Nichols
• "I got sucked right in... from beginning to end. It's like a Stephen King/John Grisham short story. SCARY!!! I'm a little spooked now..."
Christina Park, WNYW/ Fox 5, New York, CNN
• “Amazing…. It’s the perfect festival film”
Chad Coles, Asst. Producer, “SAW” 1,2,3,4&5
• “A riveting film… great performances...”
James Seale – Director, “Throttle” and “Juncture”
• “The flick is killer!! To the Nth degree! You and anybody else can kiss my @ss if you, they... whoever thinks different!!”
Mark Alston, Producer “Music is My Life, Politics my Mistress”
• “An excellent job conveying the horrors of torture and the impossible plight of the prisoners.”
Laurie Walters, Ironweed Films
• “I can't get it out of my mind. It really stays with you. It was incredible. By far the best film (at the AFM 2008).”
Charlie Fagin – American Film Market, Projectionist
• “Extremely Powerful”
Ban Bessie, Producer “Executive Action” (Burt Lancaster, Will Geer)
• “Extremely powerful and would be nominated for a Political Film Society award if available for a week at a commercial cinema in LA”
Michael Haas, CEO, Political Film Society, Stanley Awards
• “An important film and one that deserves wide distribution”
Linda Zises, WBAI, New York
• “I wish you the best of luck and say that I appreciate what you are doing”
Anthony Lagouranis, author of the biography “Fear Up Harsh: An Army Interrogator's Dark Journey Through Iraq”
• “About time.”
An Army Wife
new moon should be on the list!!!!
Ah!!! at last I found what I was looking for. Somtimes it takes so much effort to find even tiny useful piece of information.
Nice post. Thanks