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It’s fall — time to break out the Oscar bait
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“Infamous”
Starring: Toby Jones, Sandra Bullock, Daniel Craig, Peter Bogdonovich, Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, Gwyneth Paltrow, Isabella Rossellini, Juliet Stevenson, Sigourney Weaver, Lee Pace
Director: Douglas McGrath
Story: The story of Truman Capote (Jones) writing his classic book, “In Cold Blood” about killers Perry Smith (Craig) and Dick Hickock (Pace). Bullock plays Capote confidant Harper Lee; while Weaver and Stevenson play society divas Babe Paley and Diana Vreeland. Paltrow gets to do a bit of singing in her role as Kitty Dean.
Buzz: The big question: How is this film different from last year’s “Capote”? The film delves into Capote’s life in Manhattan more deeply and the tone of the film feels slightly less weighty than “Capote” did. Still, you may have a sense of déjà vu when you see the film. But it will be interesting — considering “Capote’s” Oscar nods and Philip Seymour Hoffman’s win — to see if this film also strikes a chord with Oscar.
Web site: http://wip.warnerbros.com
“Man of the Year”
Starring: Robin Williams, Christopher Walken, Laura Linney, Jeff Goldblum, Lewis Black
Director: Barry Levinson
Story: Williams stars as the host of a “Daily Show”-type satirical news program who decides to run for president. He shocks everyone with his plain speech and constant jokes and ends up winning. But what will a comedian do in the nation’s top office? And can it be that much worse than those who have come before him? Linney co-stars as Williams’ wife and reluctant First Lady.
Buzz: For anyone who’s ever wondered why Jon Stewart doesn’t run for president, this is a fun premise for a movie. Levinson also wrote the screenplay for this film; when he directs his own screenplays (“Diner,” “Avalon”) the movies feel much more personal than when he directs other people’s scripts (“Rain Man,” “Wag the Dog”). He’s definitely had some big misses in his career (“Sphere,” “Envy”), let’s hope this isn’t one of them. Levinson directed Williams in one of his best roles (“Good Morning Vietnam”), which means he knows how to reign him in.
Web site: http://www.manoftheyearmovie.net
“The Grudge 2”
Starring: Amber Tamblyn, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Arielle Kebbel, Jennifer Beals, Teresa Palmer, Takako Fuji
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Story: When she learns that her sister (Gellar) is in a Tokyo hospital, Aubrey (Tamblyn) heads to Japan to find out just what happened and quickly gets infected by the same curse that attacked her sister. Only this time, it’s not just contained to the house; it spreads to anyone who crosses its path.
Buzz: Shimizu told Sci Fi Wire, “There's a secret about Kayako's childhood life so that's part of the big mystery. And the other mystery is: this grudge will never stop, and it's going to ... spread. And how is it going to get spread? That's another mystery.” Shimizu directed both the Japanese and American version of the film and is actually hard at work on the Japanese “Grudge 3.”
Web site: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thegrudge2/
“The Marine”
Starring: John Cena, Kelly Carlson, Jeff Chase, Jon Bennett, Abigail Bianca, Ashley Lyons, Anthony Ray Parker, Robert Patrick
Director: John Bonito
Story: Wrestler-turned-actor Cena stars as John Triton, a Marine just back from the Iraq war who has the misfortune of running into a murdering gang of thieves led by Rome (Patrick). Rome quickly grabs up Triton’s wife (Carlson) as a hostage, and it’s up to Triton to get her back.
Buzz: Wrestlers-turned-actors are even more annoying that rappers-turned-actors. Expect a lot of explosions, some pithy catch phrases and for the good guy to win. Carlson is best known for her provocative role as Kimber on “Nip/Tuck.” This is Bonito’s feature-film debut.
Web site: http://www.themarinemovie.com
“Driving Lessons”
Starring: Rupert Grint, Laura Linney, Julie Walters, Nicholas Farrell, Oliver Milburn, Michelle Duncan, Tamsin Eggerton
Director: Jeremy Brock
Story: “Harry Potter” sidekick Grint branches out, starring as a 17-year-old son of religious parents (Linney, Farrell) who learns about women, driving and life from an aging actress (Walters).
Buzz: Variety’s Peter Schrieb wrote “The forceful [performances] of the two main divas manage to more or less blast away the moral bulwarks of this otherwise conventional coming-of-age story.” This could be one of those sweet little British imports (“Full Monty,” “Calender Girls”) that strikes a chord with audiences.
Web site: NA
“Tideland”
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Jodelle Ferland, Brendan Fletcher, Jennifer Tilly, Janet McTeer
Director: Terry Gilliam
Story: After her mother dies of a heroin overdose, Jeliza-Rose (Ferland) and her rock ’n’ roll musician father (Bridges) go to live in a remote house in the country. There she passes the time by talking with her four disembodied Barbie doll heads — Mystique, Baby Blonde, Glitter Gal and Sateen Lips — and a strange neighborhood woman (McTeer) who is blind in one eye from a bee sting.
Buzz: Gilliam (“12 Monkeys,” “The Fisher King”) is at his best when he takes a surreal look at the real world. He seems to get off track when he actually tries to invent a world of his own (“Brothers Grimm”). That said, Variety’s Leslie Felperin wrote that the film is “way too disturbing for kids and too weird for most grown-ups.”
Web site: http://www.tidelandthemovie.com/
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