October Movie Preview

Taken 2

Release Date: October 5^th

Rottentomatoes.com Prediction: 11%

Four years ago Taken was released, and became a huge commercial success that developed a small cult fan base, as much as could be expected for an action film. It set up Liam Neeson as a true American action hero, a fate bestowed to few foreign actors. He’s starred in classics like Schindler’s List, but is most remembered for his action roles, such as in 2005’s Batman Begins as Raz al Gul and in Star Wars as Qui-Gon Jinn. The transition for foreign actors have been hard on many, and that’s not for lack of trying. It seems that all foreign actors post-Oscar nomination are villain roles (see Javier Barden in No Country for Old Men in this year’s James Bond movie). Anyway, this doesn’t seem problematic for Neeson. His recent attempts at starring roles in action movies have been less than successful, however, 2010’s Unknown relatively unremembered.  Taken 2 seems like the obvious choice, and fans are pretty excited.

But perhaps it will mostly work as an argument for why fans shouldn’t get sequels to everything they ask for (see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull).  The trailer made it clear that Taken 2 is pretty much just a rehash of Taken- his daughter is kidnapped, again, and this time, so is his wife. Because that raises the stakes by so much. Taken 2 could’ve worked, if they decided to center it around the company trying to hunt down Neeson. But critics detest the film’s reuse of the formula so far. Perhaps Javier Bardem can make some room for Neeson in the next James Bond movie.

Frankenweenie

Release Date: October 5^th

Rottentomatoes.com Prediction: 82%

Tim Burton’s 3D reinvention of Alice in Wonderland was a smash hit, and this year’s follow up, Dark Shadows – yeah, not so much. Frankenweenie is his first foray into animation since production on The Nightmare Before Christmas in 1993, and it’s based on a short film he did in 1984. Frankenweenie isn’t exactly the most marketable film- in fact, in the wrong hands it could be the stuff of disaster. But if anyone’s up to it, it’s Disney, a.k.a the studio The-Studio-That-Got-You-to-Pay-1.5-Billion-Dollars-for-The Avengers. They did lose $200 million over John Carter, but that guy’s long been fired (Disney is like the mob. “Lose us money and we’ll fire you”).

Putting aside the general population (which, sadly, we have to do increasingly often), Frankenweenie is the stuff any lover of Edward Scissorhands can appreciate.

Butter

Release Date: October 5^th

Rottentomatoes.com Prediction: 50%

Not exactly much to report on this one. Hugh Jackman (X-Men) and Olivia Wilde (Tron; Legacy) are the biggest names attached to this project, but Jennifer Garner has had a pretty spotty box-office history in the last couple of years, the only recent bright spot being Juno. It’s got that type of “small town with secrets” kind of vibe, and it might work as a dark comedy. But if that’s what you’re looking for, see below for The Paperboy.

The Paperboy

Release Date: October 5^th

Rottentomatoes.com Prediction: 60%

A.K.A. “The movie where Nicole Kidman pees on Zac Efron,” after its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. This is the first project Oscar- nominated director Lee Daniels has since 2009’s Precious, and despite its all-star cast of Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole), Matthew McConaughey (Magic Mike), John Cusack (2012) and Zac Efron (The Lucky One), it received less than positive acclaim. It’s the type of campy 60’s drama with the type of controversy that fans line right up for.

Argo

Release Date: October 12^th

Rottentomatoes.com Prediction: 88%

As Fall progresses, so does the quality of films released. Ben Affleck brings the kind of power as an actor-turned-director that Clint Eastwood did, improving upon his abilities behind the camera. With Gone Baby Gone and The Town under his belt Argo is hotly anticipated, achieving high critical acclaim after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last month. It received some bad buzz because Canadian audiences felt that their government didn’t receive enough credit in their assistance in saving the Tehran hostages. In front of the camera, Affleck’s lined up a potent cast comprised of Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine), John Goodman (The Artist), Kyle Chandler (Super 8), and Victor Garber (Alias) as well as himself.

Here Comes the Boom

Release Date: October 12^th

Rottentomatoes.com Prediction: 30%

Kevin James’ career is starting to closely resemble Adam Sandler’s, his latest fare Zookeeper making $80 million at the domestic box-office but bombing with critics. The trailer for Zookeeper seems devoid of the juvenile jokes of his last few movies and it seems to follow a more generic family-friendly route. It’s really just a watered down version of School of Rock. The cast doesn’t boast any notable actors like Grown Ups or Zookeeper did, but it perhaps it’ll benefit from lack of competition in a particularly drama- heavy October.

Seven Psychopaths

Release Date: October 12^th

Rottentomatoes.com Prediction: 76%’

The type of black comedy that promises to be another indie hit, Oldboy director Martin McDonagh puts together a cast of Colin Farrell (Total Recall), Christopher Walken (Catch Me if You Can), Sam Rockwell (Iron Man 2) and Woody Harrelson (The Hunger Games). It’s a combination that seems pretty strange on paper, but the cast has a great chemistry, judging by the trailer, and it should work as the perfect antidote to the type of safe summer rom-coms we’ve been treated to lately. It even one the coveted People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival this year, a good indicator of critical success. Is the mainstream ready for this level of wit? Let’s see.

Paranormal Activity 4

Release Date: October 19^th

Rottentomatoes.com Prediction: 58%

Paranormal Activity and its two sequels have been so successful because it’s the type of rare horror movie that is genuinely scary. It doesn’t resort to gore or blood or torture-porn to make an impression and the formula has worked thus far- the question is, can it work a fourth time?

Alex Cross

Release Date: October 19^th

Rottentomatoes.com Prediction: 21%

James Patterson and I have a shaky relationship. It annoys me when someone gets popular for doing nothing, and Patterson makes millions of dollars for showing the bare minimum level of creativity required for a thriller-writer. Of course, he’s the bestselling author in America and I’m an amateur literary critic. So while me and Stephen King brood over the fact that he cranks out five novels a year that sell for $30 apiece but belong a dime-store rack, Hollywood is once again trying to bank of his fame.  Along Came a Spider, based off Patterson’s bestselling Alex Cross series, made $74 million dollars at the domestic box-office and led by Morgan Freeman in that and its sequel, Kiss the Girls. The 2012 reinvention downscales from Freeman to Tyler Perry (foregoing the drag this time) and co-stars Matthew Fox (Lost) in the stereotypical psychopathic villain role. Will you be seeing it?

Cloud Atlas

Release Date: October 26^th

Rottentomatoes.com Prediction: 72%

I knew absolutely nothing about this movie leading up to its trailer release two months ago, but it became the type of movie that gains audience interest immediately.  It received mixed reviews after its premiere at the Toronto Festival,  but it looks like it’s about to make Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life look like, well, Frankenweenie. It’s based on the best-selling book and is directed by the Wachowski brothers (The Matrix), as well as Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run). It’s made of the type of existentialism that may be construed by pretentious by some. Audiences who become emotionally invested in films may be turned off by messages they don’t like, an issue for some critics. Either way, it’s sure to be one of the most talked about movies of the fall.

The Sessions

Release Date: October 26^th

Rottentomatoes.com Prediction: 77%

John Hawkes quietly slid his hand on the Oscars in 2011 with a nomination for his supporting role in Winter’s Bone, and further affirmed himself last year in Martha Marcy May Marlene. He didn’t receive a nomination for that one, but in Hollywood, a snub can be almost as powerful as the actual nomination or win, if to work as attributing insurance for future plugs. That may be the case in this year’s The Sessions, a movie as Oscar-baiting as they come. John Hawkes plays a man with an iron lung who seeks out a priest (William H. Macy) and expresses his desire to be with a woman intimately. The priest grants pardon on him and so he seeks out professional a professional sex-surrogate (Helen Hunt). The trailer makes light of material that could easily be uncomfortable, so the early release isn’t necessarily a taboo on its Oscar chances. The film won the Special Jury Prize for Ensemble Acting at the Sundance Film Festival- if it manages to pull the SAG’s ensemble award (the equivalent to Best Picture) it could stand a fighting chance for the top Oscar come February.

Do any of these movies look interesting to you? Which will you be seeing?