7-List: Movies for the fall semester
By Marcus Whalbring
Entertainment Editor
Midterms are coming up already, and that means it’s only a matter of time before the cold November and December months arrive. As the temperature drops, going to the movies is a pastime that can keep one distracted from the cold chills. So what else is there to look forward to this year? There’s no problem for those who would rather sit at home and rent movies, but what about all the people who like to drive to the theaters to catch the new releases? This 7-List is a preview of the lineup that will be on the big screen between now and late December.
7. “We Own the Night,” Oct. 12. Joaquin Phoenix (“Walk the Line”) and Mark Wahlberg (“The Departed”) play two brothers in this “cops and robbers” flick. Phoenix is a dirty nightclub manager who gets caught and arrested by his brother, played by Wahlberg. Robert Duvall plays their father. The plot seems to center around Phoenix, who manages to mix himself up with the Russian Mafia and in the end, has to choose between his family and himself.
6. “Lars and the Real Girl,” Oct. 12. Ryan Gosling (“Half Nelson”) plays Lars, an average guy who lives next door to his brother and sister-in-law’s house. Lars has a hard time meeting the right girl, but he finally meets her through the Internet. However, there’s a problem with Lars’ new leading lady—she’s a doll. Though it’s a strange plot, this film will likely present a story that is both funny and awkward. Nevertheless, the support of Lars’ family should add a heart-warming element.
5. “Beowulf,” Nov. 16. Though there already have been several television and movie theater adaptations of the epic poem, this animated feature will hopefully top the rest. By the look of the previews, the film will not only be a grand version of the story, it also will be a visual success. The animation looks better than “The Polar Express,” and the cast includes a long list of familiar names. Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Crispin Glover (“Back the Future”) and Ray Winstone (“The Departed”) as Beowulf are just a few of the stars in this classic tale.
4. “I’m Not There,” Nov. 21. The only thing better than a movie about Bob Dylan is a movie featuring six different actors sharing the role. The film tells a series of stories about the legendary singer through six phases of his life. The actors playing Dylan are Ben Wishaw (“Perfume: The Story of a Murderer”), Christian Bale (“Batman Begins”), Heath Ledger (“Brokeback Mountain”), Richard Gere (“The Hoax”), Cate Blanchett (“The Lord of the Rings Trilogy”) and Marcus Carl Franklin in his movie debut.
3. “Grace Is Gone,” Dec. 7. John Cusack (“Runaway Jury”) plays Stanley Phillips, a father of two daughters, who finds out that his wife, a soldier in Iraq, has been killed in action. To cope with the grieving process, Phillips takes his daughters out of school and on the road. James C. Strouse’s directorial debut has already received a few awards at the Sundance Film Festival, and it is likely that this moving picture will yield more award-winning buzz in the future.
2. “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” Dec. 21. Director Jake Kaskan (“The TV Set”) teamed up with writer Judd Apatow (“Anchorman,” “Talladega Nights”) to come up with a new character who will have viewers spouting off one-liners. Only this time, Will Ferrell has not taken the lead role. The 1950s, Johnny Cash-type singer Dewey Cox will be played by John C. Reilley (“Talladega Nights”). This “Walk The Line” parody should give audience members a reason to cry with laughter.
1. “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” Dec. 21. Johnny Depp (“Pirates of the Caribbean”) has taken part in another Tim Burton project. Burton, who is famous for films such as “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Beetle Juice,” is directing the adaptation of the popular Broadway musical about a barber who is also a serial killer. Johnny Depp plays Benjamin Barker, also known as Sweeney Todd, who opens a barbershop above Mrs. Lovett’s (Helena Bonham Carter of “Corpse Bride” and “Big Fish”) meat pie shop to rid the world of his enemies. Anticipation among fans has been heating up for Burton’s newest venture, and it should leave them with a feeling of satisfaction.
