32 Movies I'll Probably See in 2006
Turns out it might be a good year for movies in 2006, though I guess time will tell.
Here, however, are movies that are already on my radar (in alphabetical order):
ALL THE KING'S MEN. A remake, but it is written and directed by Steve Zaillian, and stars Sean Penn, Kate Winslet and Anthony Hopkins (release date to be announced)
AMERICAN DREAMZ. Satire of U.S. culture and politics, written and directed by Paul Weisz. (April)
ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL. "Ghost World" comic book artist Daniel Clowes and director Terry Zwigoff reteam. (April)
THE BLACK DAHLIA. Here's hoping that Brian DePalma has another great movie in him.
CARS. Because it's Pixar. (June)
CASINO ROYALE. James Bond gets another facelift. (November).
CLICK. Adam Sandler has had his best success with good scripts, and this one, about a remote control that can control your life, sold for a lot of money. (June)
THE DA VINCI CODE. Because Tom Hanks is in it, and apparently a few people read the book. (May)
THE DEPARTED. Remake of a Hong Kong film, starring Leo DiCaprio and Matt Damon. Oh yeah, and Martin Scorcese directed it. (To be announced)
FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS. Iwo Jima, directed by Clint Eastwood. (Fall)
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. Another Christopher Guest ensemble satire. (September)
THE FOUNTAIN. Time travel movie directed by Darren Aronofsky, so it could be interesting. Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. (To be announced)
THE GOOD GERMAN. Written by Paul Attanasio, directed by Stephen Soderbergh, starring George Clooney. Do you really need to know what it's about? (To be announced)
GRINDHOUSE. Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's homage to the exploitation film. (September)
LADY IN THE WATER. Because M. Night Shyamalan movies are interesting even when they don't work, and this one stars Paul Giamatti (July)
LUCKY YOU. Poker tale directed by Curtis Hanson. Drew Barrymore is in there somewhere. (To be announced)
MARGARET. Director Kennth Lonergan's new movie, starring Anna Paquin, Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo and Matthew Broderick. (To be announced)
MARIE ANTONETTE. Sofia Coppola directs Kirsten Dunst; Jason Schwartzman plays King Henry XVI. (October)
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE III. Because the trailer makes it look like director J.J. Abrams is having fun with it, and Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the bad guy. (May)
MY SUPER EX-GIRLFRIEND. Luke Wilson dumps Uma Thurman, who turns out to have super powers and is really pissed at him. I read the script, and it was funny. (July)
PASSION OF THE CLERKS. Yeah, a sequel to Clerks. Because it'll probably be funny, and if not at least we can rip on Kevin Smith. (August)
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN - DEAD MAN'S CHEST. Definite fun. (July)
THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE. Only because Wolfgang Peterson is directing it. (May)
A SCANNER DARKLY. Animated version of the Philip. K. Dick novel, directed by Richard Linklater and starring Winona Ryder. Because wow. (March)
SCARY MOVIE 4. Because there's plenty to make fun of out there. (April)
SNAKES ON A PLANE. Best. Title. Ever. (August)
SUPERMAN RETURNS. You know you'll be there too. (June)
TENACIOUS D IN 'THE PICK OF DESTINY". Because how could it not be funny? (September)
THANK YOU FOR SMOKING. A dark comedy about the tobacco industry starring Aaron Eckhart, which already has good buzz. (March)
V FOR VENDETTA. Natalie Portman with a really short haircut. (March)
WINTER PASSING. Only because I just saw the trailer, and the sight of Will Ferrell in an eccentric-dramatic supporting role looks interesting. Robert Duvall and Zooey Deschanel star. (February)
ZODIAC. David Fincher directs this tale of four lawmen pursuing a serial killer. Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards. (Fall)
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Weird. Though I titled this column before I started going through the movies, it came out to exactly 32 without any editing or pre-counting.
I'm sure I missed some good movies. But for the record, I don't have any faith in MIAMI VICE. Or Oliver Stone directing Nic Cage in WORLD TRADE CENTER Or in Brett Ratner directing X-MEN 3.
Or in Spike Lee directing anything, even if THE INSIDE MAN does star Denzel Washington, Clive Owen and Jodie Foster.
posted by Scott the Reader @ 11:28 PM
11 Comments:
You know what? I've got Superman blinders on. There are a bunch of movies I think look good on your list, but there is only one movie coming out this year. Superman Returns. And after I saw that masterful teaser trailer, I'm, for lack of a better word, stoked.
I don't care if it is the fanboy in me coming out. The teaser tells me Brian Singer "Gets it."
My expectations are high enough that I'll probably be disappointed in the final product. But if by some miracle I'm not, I'm counting it a great movie year.
What have you got against Spike Lee?
Great list, Scott, sans Scary Movie 4. They need to stop.
Maura, I think you meant 25th Hour...
Saw New World a few weeks ago; it's dull except for Kilcher's performance. And that's coming from someone who loved The Thin Red Line.
I'm definitely eager to see The Departed; Infernal Affairs was such a damned good movie. I think Scorsese will do a good job.
Scott, darlin', one minor correction. That would be Jason Swartzman playing Louis XVI, not Henry. Yeah, I'm gonna see it.
I had a run-in with Spike Lee once when I was a theater manager, hosting the premiere of Jungle Fever, and he was a complete jerk.
But besides that, the guy is very uneven as a director; I think there are always too many "hey look, I'm directing" moments in his films, and though I like The 25th Hour, that looooooong scene in front of the window overlooking Ground Zero makes me leap for the fast-forward button.
He also has that weird fetish for shots of people moving through crowds with their heads at the same level.
So some of it is personal, and some of it is based on the fact that his best movies now seem to come when he is directing someone else's script.
So maybe The Inside Man will be good, but give me Scary Movie 4 (which was co-written by Craig over at The Artful Writer, which is good enough for me).
Southland Tales would be on my list, though I didn't see it on the list I was working from. New World is a 2005 movie over here.
I saw the play "Margaret" when Mr. Sexy, I mean, Ruffalo, produced it in Hollywood. Not sure how it'll work as a film. But I'm there for anything starring Mr. Sexy, I mean, Ruffalo.
I'm also psyched for "Black Dahlia".
Very solid list, Scott.
I'm definitely going to give Inside Man a look. I don't mind Spike showing off a bit. My favorite directors all seem to do that once in a blue, and I'd take that over the Kevin Smith style any time. But I digress.
Spike's biggest issue to me is he tries to fit too many themes into his stories and that KILLS the third act. See Bamboozled for prime example.
I can't comment on current Spike, but I like the old Spike.
Mo' Better Blues hits me in just the right spot. That movie and Glory put Denzel on the map for me.
Scott I do think he calls too much attention to himself. For awhile there he always had that one scene where the characters are "walking" and talking, only they are kind of like gliding.
I will put Oliver Stone into the same catagory as you seem to put Spike. He has gotten away from his previous genious.
25th Hour blew me away. And I actually LOVED that scene (long shot) in front of the window overlooking WTC. I'm intrigued by Inside Man, the trailer showed a lot going on but didn't really give much away.
Do the Right Thing has moments, but the end pisses me off. I liked Jungle Fever (breakout Sam Jackson role). Really enjoyed Clockers.
Yeah, I'll see Supes, I'm sure it will be good. Not sure if it'll be GREAT.
All the King's Men will be good.
Apparently Brick is coming out in the spring. It is directed by Rian Johnson, and was at Sundance last year.
You know you spend too much time in the scribosphere when you read the line:
"SNAKES ON A PLANE. Best. Title. Ever. (August)"
...and immediately think, "That should say (Friedman), not (August)."
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