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Fall Film Triumphs
Amid economic woes independent film comes through
Penelope Cruz teams up again with Spanish auteur Pedro Almodóvar in Broken Embraces
With independent film houses suffering from the economic crisis, including this year’s closing of New Line Cinemas, the upcoming fall film line-up should look grim. Last fall, the box office selections were slim, with the promising films like The Road getting pushed back and then pushed back some more. But, as evidenced below, it’s looking like a moment for great movies. If these indie offerings manage to keep their scheduled debut dates, it’s going to be a great season for moviegoers.
August 21: Inglourious Basterds. Directed by Quentin Tarantino. Attempting to create the masterpiece of his career, Tarantino has worked on this film for over ten years. Starring Brad Pitt, the World War II adventure/spaghetti western flick received mixed reviews at Cannes. But a Tarantino film will never bore.
September 4: Shanghai. Directed by Hossein Amini. Another World War II era film, this spy thriller and romance starring John Cusack has been pushed back for over a year due to the Chinese government blocking filming at the last minute. Now shot in Thailand and London, the cinematography looks beautiful.
September 25: Coco Before Chanel. Directed by Anne Fontaine. With the lovely Audrey Tautou (Amélie)playing this film matches the beauty of Chanel’s legendary and innovative designs. The before explores her time in an orphanage and as a courtesan.
October 2: Whip It! Directed by Drew Barrymore. A Texas teen (Ellen Page) finds reprieve from her oppressive hometown in an Austin Roller Derby League. Bound to be a bash.
October 9: An Education. Directed by Lone Scherfig. Winner of the Audience Choice Award at Sundance, this British coming of age tale about an innocent schoolgirl and an older man has great potential. Penned by the excellent Nick Hornby (About a Boy) and starring Peter Sarsgaard.
October 16: The Road. Directed by John Hillcoat. Based on the iconic apocalyptic novel by Cormac McCarthy, the release date of this movie has been pushed back for over a year. Rumors attribute the hesitation to either a desire to achieve a statue for Viggo Mortensen’s Oscar-worthy performance or distrust that movie goers will show enthusiasm for such dark material.
October 16: Where the Wild Things Are. Directed by Spike Jonze. This is another film that has been in production for years. After the Jonze produced The Fall, there is no doubt of the filmmaker’s ability to capture the magic of a child’s imagination. Even the trailer is touching, and this feel-good story based on a beloved children’s book will inspire with its story and dazzle with its visuals.
October 23: Amelia. Directed by Mira Nair. Hillary Swank portrays the famous airwoman who disappeared in 1937 over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to traverse the globe.
November 6: Precious. Directed by Lee Daniels. Based on the novel Push by Sapphire, this year’s big festival hit concerns an impoverished, obese teenage girl trying to find love in an abusive world. Pregnant with her second child, Precious enrolls in an alternative high school where her teacher rallies behind her. The story brings to light lives without much representation.
November 20: Broken Embraces.
Directed by Pedro Almodóvar.
The latest from the Spanish auteur concerns the art of filmmaking, a love triangle and coming to terms with the past. Rumored to be his darkest film yet, Almodóvar’s black comedy always thrills. Starring Penelope Cruz.
Also lookout for these fall blockbusters: The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Astro Boy, The Informant (with Matt Damon), The Wolf Man (with Benicio Del Toro), and Sherlock Holmes (with Robert Downey Jr.).