Fall 2005 Movie Preview

Hollywood Tries to Break Out of a Slump with More of the Same

By Sara Michelle Fetters

>>Continued from page 1.

OCTOBER 14 (wide)

“Elizabethtown” (starring Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst, Susan Sarandon, Judy Grier, Bruce McGill and Alec Baldwin, written and directed by Cameron Crowe)

The rumblings out of the Venice Film Festival weren’t positive, but any time writer-director Crowe takes the stage I can’t help but get excited. Okay, so this does look like an extended “Garden State” wannabe head trip, and Dunst is looking far too perky in the trailers for my tastes, but the man behind “Say Anything” and “Almost Famous” deserves my attention, and even if this proves to be a fiasco it’s sure to be an interesting and one-of-a-kind one.

OCTOBER 14 (limited)

“Good Night, and Good Luck” (starring David Strathairn, George Clooney, Patricia Clarkson and Robert Downey, Jr., written by Clooney and Grant Heslov, directed by Clooney)

Considering the current state of affairs in this country; politically, journalistically, socially; this just might be the must-see event picture of the Fall. A recounting of broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow’s on-air takedown of Senator Joseph McCarthy, this is one of those can’t-miss history lessons with remarkable relevance to where we are today. The fact that it is supposedly brilliant helps, too.

OCTOBER 28 (wide)

“The Legend of Zorro” (starring Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Giovanna Zacarías and Rufus Sewell, screenplay by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, directed by Martin Campbell)

The only sequel I’m even remotely interested this Fall, the only question I have for this is why the heck did it take it so long to get it made in the first place? Okay, so the addition of a little kid is kind of a groaner, and of course losing Anthony Hopkins is going to hurt, but the first film was just so energetically enthralling it’s almost impossible to not get excited about the potential of this. Besides, it’s Zorro. How can you not love Zorro?

Domino - Photo © Copyright New Line Cinema

Other October Curiosities

“In Her Shoes” (Oct. 7), “Domino,” “The Fog” and “Where the Truth Lies” (Oct. 14), “Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story,” “North Country,” “Shopgirl” and “Stay” (Oct. 21), “Prime,” “Saw II” and “The Weather Man” (Oct. 28)

NOVEMBER 4 (wide)

“Jarhead” (starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard and Chris Cooper, written by William Broyles, Jr. and based on the book by Anthony Swofford, directed by Sam Mendes)

A movie about the first Gulf War probably couldn’t be better timed, although I’m curious how audiences are going to react to a hard-hitting dramatic satire about soldiers in war right at this moment. But then, Robert Altman’s masterpiece “M*A*S*H” come out during the height of the Vietnam War, hungry moviegoers making that one of 1972’s biggest hits. Can lightning strike the same way for Mendes as it did for Altman?

NOVEMBER 23 (wide)

“The Ice Harvest” (starring John Cusack, Billy bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen, Randy Quaid and Oliver Platt, written by Richard Russo and Robert Benton, based on the novel by Scott Phillips, directed by Harold Ramis)

Now this is the John Cusack I can’t wait to see, forget about all that “Must Love Dogs” and “Serendipity” fluffy stuff. From all appearances, this looks like a return to the gritty get under your skin-type rolls of “The Grifters” and “Grosse Point Blank,” and with Thornton, Quaid and Platt all looking like they’re providing excellent backup this has wonderful written all over it. Add in a screenplay by Benton and Russo (“Nobody’s Fool”) and steely acerbically satirical direction from Ramis (“Groundhog Day”) I can’t wait to be first in line.

Other November Curiosities

“Chicken Little,” “The Family Stone,” “The Matador” and “Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story” (Nov. 4), “Derailed,” “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and “Zathura” (Nov. 11), “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” “Pride & Prejudice” and “Walk the Line” (Nov. 18), “Rent” (Nov. 23), “Syrania” (Nov. 25)

The Chronicles of Narnia - Photo © Copyright Walt Disney Pictures

DECEMBER 9 (wide)

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (starring Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Skandar Keynes, Anna Popplewell, Rupert Everett and Liam Neeson, written by Ann Peacock, Andrew Adamson, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, based on the novel by C.S. Lewis, directed by Andrew Adamson)

Can’t say “Shrek” co-director Adamson thought small for his first live action motion picture, that’s for sure. I’m not as worked up about this as I’d normally be, although Swinton taking on the character of the evil White Witch does give me Goosebumps, but as a fan of most of Lewis’ Narnia tales this is still one I just have to see. Still, it looks more “Star Wars” prequel than “Lord of the Rings” sequel, and that has me definitely more than a bit on edge.

DECEMBER 23 (wide)

“Mrs. Henderson Presents” (starring Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins, Chistopher Guest and Will Young, written by Martin Sherman, directed by Stephen Frears)

With so much of note coming out in December, why is it this sweet and simple sounding comedy gets me more excited than just about anything else? I’m not too sure, but just the fact Dench, Hoskins and Guest are all in a movie together directed by the always interesting Frears just makes me smile. I don’t know too much about it, something about Dame Judy buying a London theater and with the help of Hoskins the duo put on risqué shows which bring both money and controversy, I just know I’d be first in line if I had to pay to see it.

Other December Curiosities

“Aeon Flux” and “Transamerica” (Dec. 2), “Brokeback Mountain” and “Memoirs of a Geisha” (Dec. 9), “All the King’s Men,” “King Kong,” “The Promise” and “The White Countess” (Dec. 16), “Cassanova,” “Hoodwinked,” “Match Point,” “Munich,” “The New World,” “The Producers: The Movie Musical” and “Rumor Has It” (Dec. 23)

Article Posted: September 13, 2005

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