Of the 209 films released from May through August this year, I caught nine of them, roughly two a month. Of the nine, I enjoyed five: The Avengers, Bernie, The Dark Knight Rises, Moonrise Kingdom and Robot & Frank.
Was it the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado that draped a dark shroud over the season and kept people at home? Perhaps (I can tell you I sure felt uncomfortable going to movies and writing about them after that). Perhaps it was just the rising costs of seeing a crappy, uninspiring film in the company of a bunch of inconsiderate, text-happy patrons; especially when you can wait 90 days and see it in the comfort of your own home for virtually the same price, if not cheaper.
Whatever the reasons, the studios have four months to get moviegoers back in theaters and help their bottom lines. The good news is they've got some worthwhile offerings this fall that just might bring the masses back. Below are five I'm putting my money on (in order of release).
The Master: Paul Thomas Anderson, the acclaimed auteur of Boogie Nights, Magnolia and There Will Be Blood, returns with his first original feature in five years. This one takes place in the '50s and centers around a volatile WWII veteran (Joaquin Phoenix) and his relationship with a magnetic author and spiritual guru (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Hoffman denies the reports that the film is inspired by L. Ron Hubbard and the early days of Scientology. Whoever or whatever the muse, anything Anderson does is worth seeing in a theater opening weekend. As an added bonus, select locations will screen 70mm prints. (Sept. 14)
Flight: Robert Zemeckis returns with his first traditional live-action film since 2000's Cast Away. This one features Denzel Washington as a airline pilot who miraculously saves a plane-load of passengers from certain doom only to have his alcoholism placed on trial. Sounds a little depressing, I know, but Zemeckis is a true craftsman who knows how to make tough subjects entertaining as well as thought-provoking. And Washington is....well, he's Denzel. (Nov. 2)
Lincoln: Sure it's directed by one S. Spielberg, sports a script by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner and features a cast that includes David Stathairn, John Hawkes and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. But all you really need to know is how utterly amazing Daniel Day-Lewis looks as our 16th president (take a gander at the poster above for proof). As far as the story, I don't care if Honest Abe is hunting vampires, selling vacuums or teaching yoga, I'm there opening week, as you should be. (Nov. 9)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Peter Jackson returns to Tolkien's Middle Earth for this Lord of the Rings prequel, this time telling the story of hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he accompanies a group of dwarves on a perilous journey to reclaim a dragon-guarded treasure. Guillermo del Toro was initially attached to direct but bowed out due to scheduling conflicts. While I'm a fan of del Toro's work, this was always Jackson's story to tell. If there's one film the rest of the year that will bring people back to theaters, this is it. ( Dec. 14 )
Django Unchained: It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since video store clerk Quentin Tarantino exploded on the scene with Reservoir Dogs. Seven films and an Oscar later, he's still one of the most wildly entertaining and original filmmakers working today. His new one's a spaghetti-infused Western and features Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds) as a bounty hunter who enlists the help of a slave called Django (Jamie Foxx) to help track down his quarry, the same men as it turns out who abducted Django's wife. Throw in that great Tarantino dialog and Leonardo DiCaprio as a nefarious plantation owner and we've got a Christmas present that won't require a gift receipt. ( Dec. 25 )
Five more that look intriguing: Trouble With the Curve (Sept. 21), Looper (Sept. 28), Argo (Oct. 12), Killing Them Softly (Oct. 19) and Hyde Park on Hudson ( Dec. 7)
