Coming Soon

11.29.04 - December 2004

It is the holiday season once again. The time when Hollywood pulls out all the stops and releases the most anticipated films of the year. Here is what I am looking forward to this season.

A Very Long Engagement - November 26, 2004 (limited release)

Directed by the master Jean-Pierre Jeunet of Amelie fame, and reuniting with the star of that film, Audrey Tautou, A Very Long Engagement is the love story of two youths amidst the cold climate of World War One. This presents it self to be a magical heartfelt tale, and could be the best foreign film of the season. It will be subtitled, but if you prepare yourself by watching Amelie...you'll find you cannot stay away from this one. Very highly anticipated.

Ocean's Twelve - December 10th, 2004

Twelve is the new eleven...Ocean's Eleven that is. This is the Steven Soderbergh follow up to the 2001 one hit, Ocean's Eleven. Starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and Matt Damon, just to name a few, Twelve is promising to deliver the same dosage of witty humor, wonderfully developed characters, and star studded power the remake heist flick captured three years ago. I am drooling with uber anticipation over this one.

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou - December 10th, 2004

The most bizarre film on the list hast to be Bill Murray's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Murray portrays Zissou, a nut-job, yet genius, oceanographer out to hunt down the shark that killed his friend. This loony, yet intriguing flick also stars the likes of William Dafoe and Owen Wilson. Surely zany adventure will ensue, but after Mr. Murray's successful career...I'll watch anything of his once. Look for this with fleeting anticipation, but listen for the hub-bub.

Beyond the Sea - December 10th, 2004 (NY and LA)

This fresh new biopic stars Kevin Spacey (of L.A. Confidential and American Beauty fame) as the late, great Bobby Darin, Mr. Mac Tonight himself. Beyond the Sea can be considered the Spacey song and dance routine. Not only does the flick feature Spacey actually singing Darin's tunes, but dancing as well. Behind the screen, Spacey assumes the director's chair for the second time in his career. Beyond the Sea deserves mild anticipation.

The Aviator - December 17th, 2004

Following the trend of biopics this season is The Aviator, Leonardo DiCaprio's new flick about the reclusive money bags aviation pioneer, Howard Hughes. Martin Scorsese directs, and this movie looks good. Oscar whisperings are running wild about Leo's portrayal of Hughes, especially as he begins to lose his mind. The performance should be incredible, but don't forget this film also stars Cate Blanchett and Kate Beckinsale. One more uberly anticipated movie.

Lemony Snicket's: A Series of Unfortunate Events - December 17th, 2004

Lemony Whaty-whats?? Jim Carrey...need I say more? Based on the best selling series of children's books (ala Harry Potter-esque fantasy), this twistedly funny tale revolves around three children whose wealthy parent's have died in an accident. The children are sent to live with a distant relative who is secretly plotting to kill them and assume their inheritance. Carrey stars as the creepy relative, and several other characters. I love the man and have since his stint on In Living Color in the early 1990's. Uber anticipation doesn't even come close to describing this one.

Spanglish - December 17th, 2004

Adam Sandler is back...yet this is not a typical Sandler movie. Spanglish is a glimpse inside the life of a distressed married couple (Sandler and Tea Leoni), who are under the pressures of life and raising their daughter until their new Mexican housekeeper help pull their lives back together. You wouldn't expect me to mention Oscar about a film staring Sandler, and we may have to wait and see...but this is from director Terry Brooks of As Good as it Gets, Terms of Endearment, and Broadcast News. Yet another uberly anticipated movie this season.

The Sea Inside - December 17th, 2004

This French film tells the story of a paralyzed man that finds freedom in his mind. I love independent and foreign films and I'm expecting to rate this up with Amelie. If you don't have experience with foreign and subtitled films, here is a great chance. Director Alejandro Amenabar directed Open Your Eyes, the film Cameron Crowe's Vanilla Sky was based on...so this should be a good picture. Moderate anticipation accompanies this film.

Meet the Fockers - December 22th, 2004

After the surprise Ben Stiller hit, Meet the Parents, four years ago, fans everywhere have waited for him to team up with Robert De Niro again for the sequel. Meet the Fockers brings Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman into the family as Ma and Pa Focker. Antics are sure to ensue, and it should be focking hilarious. A highly anticipated picture.

In Good Company - December 29th, 2004

Dennis Quaid stars as a middle age executive who suddenly finds himself working for a young man half his age. His new boss, Topher Grace (ala That 70's Show) finds himself learning about life from Quaid and ultimately falling in love with his daughter (Scarlett Johansson). Directed by Paul Weitz (About a Boy), this is the film I am most looking forward to this season...a good heart-throbbing, meaning of life, love story. Uberly anticipated...again.