Fall movie season, much like summer movie season, is a misnomer. Burn After Reading, the Coen brothers’ follow up to their much lauded No Country for Old Men, kicked off the season this year on September 12th, a full ten days before the first day of fall. Fall movie season usually lasts from early September and drags on well into winter, ending around Christmas. With half the season behind you, you’ve probably made a few missteps at the box office. Maybe you made the mistake of seeing Blindness when you should have headed over to Flash of Genius. Not to worry. Your next eight Fridays are fully mapped below into three helpful categories: See (in the theatre), Save (for DVD), and Skip (entirely). See you at the multiplex!
November 7
See: Role Models
Normally the recommendation would go to Killshot, stating the Joseph Gordon Levitt rule, but its scuttled post-production issues have cast a shadow across its opening. The Soul Men trailer reveals a lot of cheap gags, so only Bernie Mac/Isaac Hayes nostalgia should pull you in that direction. Role Models probably won’t win any awards, but it’s got director David Wain co-writing with co-star Paul Rudd. They also made Wet Hot American Summer. Given that they are both latter day comic geniuses, it’s worth checking out.
Save: Killshot
How does the Joseph Gordon Levitt rule work? Like the Stanton-Walsh rule, nothing with JGL can be altogether bad. Whatever the behind the scenes troubles might be, it’s still got him and Mickey Rourke, who is enjoying yet another late career comeback. Maybe this one will last.
Skip: Madagascar 2: Escape from Africa
Talking animals, still stuck in Africa. Rent the original if you are that desperate. If you have kids, though, keep them away from Repo! The Genetic Opera. The children should always been shielded from exposure to Paris Hilton.
November 14
See: Quantum of Solace
Stupid name and Paul Haggis involvement aside, so long as Daniel Craig is Bond, it’s even money that the 007 franchise will be worth the price of admission. Rad French actor Mathieu Amalric is along for the ride as the resident accented badass (replacing Mads Mikkelsen’s Le Chiffre), and it sounds like the old Bond theme has been revived. Let’s hope Bond finds time in his quest for revenge for a swim.
Save: Slumdog Millionaire
Though Danny Boyle’s films are hit or miss, early critical buzz for this one has it firmly in the hit category. The plot description sounds a little like Mon Meilleur Ami played backwards, but trust Boyle and screenwriter Simon Beaufoy (The Full Monty) to inject it with enough heart and pathos to make it worthwhile.
Skip: Nothing
Actually, all four major releases planned for this weekend look pretty good, so sneaking in an extra screening or cheap Tuesday viewing won’t be held against you.
November 21
See: Twilight
The rightful “see” for this week has been moved to next March, so this week’s left wide open. Since no one should be encouraged to go see Twilight unless s/he is having some sort of OME! moment, feel free to pick up Slumdog Millionaire, Assassination of a High School President, or Christmas Tale should any of their limited releases have hit your area.
Save: Bolt
Again, normally encouragement and the latest John Travolta release aren’t ideas that go hand in hand, but that hamster is hilarious in the trailer.
Skip: ?
Nothing else is scheduled for release this weekend, which leaves plenty of time for you to catch up on all the great stuff you’ve already missed.
November 28
See: Milk
This one was a tough call since it’s nice to see director Baz Luhrmann on the big screen again after his red curtain trilogy drew to a close seven years ago, but it looks like director Gus Van Sant has returned to accessible filmmaking with the true story of San Francisco’s first openly gay city supervisor and gay activist, Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Looks like he managed to reel in Penn’s actorly tics and impressive cachet of Zeitgeist worthy actors as well.
Save: Australia
As for the former, he’s still Baz Luhrmann, even if the trailer reveals that any attempts to make Hugh Jackman seem straight have backfired spectacularly.
Skip: Transporter 3 and Four Christmases
Jason Stratham will move something from A to B. Reese Witherspoon will wonder why she’s appearing in a Vince Vaughn vehicle. So will us all.
Stay tuned next month to see for December's guide!
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