I personally cannot wait for Mendes’ next film but admit, I have an itch for Valkyrie. I love history, love WW2, and completely dig Cruise.
I am not familiar with the pub for about half of these, but I am very much looking forward to “The Wrestler.” Valkyrie and Frost/Nixon look like they could be pretty terrible.
IMDb says The Wrestler’s getting a limited release on Dec. 31 (and wide on Jan. 16), just in time to squeeze in for the Oscar race.
When I first heard the idea for Gran Torino/about Clint Eastwood’s involvement, I thought it would be good. Then I saw the trailer, and found it to be pretty laughable. Does anyone else agree? I mean, I’ll probably still see it, but the trailer isn’t giving me much hope for it.
I think the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still will be disappointing, especially to people who have seen the original.
I’m most looking forward to Revolutionary Road and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The combination of Kate Winslet, Sam Mendes (he should be added to the list of auteurs) and Leonardo DiCaprio is the major selling point for me on Revolutionary Road. With Benjamin Button, it’s a combination of the story in general and the people involved (Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, David Fincher). I think that Brad Pitt is becoming a better actor with every performance.
Stupid double post.
I want to make sure Sam Mendes doesn’t butcher Revolutionary Road. I can’t say I’ve really liked anything he’s done so far, and I’m afraid that book might be a bit out of his league for adaptation. At least Leonardo DiCaprio is involved with it, though. That gives me some hope.
Frost/Nixon may or may not be good. I’ll wait to see what everyone else thinks.
Wendy and Lucy has a small chance of being worth seeing.
A friend invited me to see Benjamin Button with her. I don’t especially like Fincher, but at least, like with Revolutionary Road, the actors are up to snuff. I’m actually faintly optimistic about this one. Fincher may finally prove to me he’s a director worth caring about if he produces a good movie. My expectations aren’t too high, though.
People keep saying The Wrestler is good, but people have been singing his praises preemptively ever since Pi and it’s never followed through. I’ll try to keep an open mind, but his weak filmography is definitely working against him here. I’ll at least say that The Wrestler seems to be a change of pace for him, which may turn out well in the end.
The only movie I genuinely am interested in is Gran Torino. I rather like Clint Eastwood, and even though Changeling was underwhelming, he’s had a good enough body of work that I’m willing to remain optimistic. The trailer kind of worries me, but I’m holding out hope nonetheless.
Also, Milk. It’s not on this list, but if it were, I would say I’m looking forward to it.
What a lousy year for film. Has anything great came out this year at all so far? WALL-E was something close to excellent, in my opinion, but aside from that, this year has been shockingly forgettable. I think Burn After Reading was the only film I actually made a point of seeing in theaters besides WALL-E. I’m guessing the problem is that most of the directors worth keeping an eye on made a film in 2007, and a good deal of them are working on films that will be ready for a 2009 release. 2008 is just the in between period, stuffed with entertaining films like Quantum of Solace, Tropic Thunder, and Burn After Reading that fill in the enormous empty space between the two years. Next year looks awesome: we’re getting new films from Wong, Malick, Anderson, Scorsese, the Coens, Coppola, Allen, and Spielberg, just to name a few. I can’t wait for this year to be over.
The Wrestler, by far. A gritty, Oscar-bait film about the hard knock lifestyle of pro wrestlers has been on my wish list since I was eleven years old.
Wendy and Lucy hands down. I love Old Joy.
After that a bunch of the other movies interest me more (The Wrestler, Frost/Nixon, Spirit, Brothers Bloom) but I have to admit that I most want to see Leo and Kate together again (dreamy!) even though I don’t trust Sam Mendes. Button I feel fairly certain will be bad. When does Defiance come out (people were shocked by a blond James Bond, now we’re told he’s a Jewish guerilla warrior, Edward Zwick takes me to places I’ve never been before).
Catherine, oh ok, I wasn’t paying attention to the limited release. I’ve already seen the movie and it’s pretty good.
The trailer for Gran Turino, yes, I was laughing so hard. It may be good/cool, but it didn’t look like it was going to be brilliant.
Catherine, oh ok, I wasn’t paying attention to the limited release. I’ve already seen the movie and it’s pretty good.
The trailer for Gran Turino, yes, I was laughing so hard. It may be good/cool, but it didn’t look like it was going to be brilliant.
Defiance, like The Wrestler, is going to be in limited release on Dec. 31 and wide on Jan. 16.
The Wrestler (counting it just because technically it’s within this year :) )
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Those two films by far for me.
Gran Torino!
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Hunger
Revolutionary Road
Doubt
Wendy And Lucy
The Reader
Gomorrah
What Doesn’t Kill You
Already seen The Wrestler otherwise it would be right at the top.
Already seen The Wrestler too. I guess I voted for Revolutionary Road, but I am not that excited to see it.
Very excited for (though not necessarily that optimistic about) Benjamin Button.
I couldn’t care less about Doubt or Gran Torino (except some level of morbid fascination with the latter).
Saw the preview for Wendy and Lucy starring Michelle Williams. It looked ridiculously bad like they were going for a Sherrybaby-like movie.
Oh forgot about The Class. Definite must see.
I’ve been following wrestling for 20 years so I’m really interested to see The Wrestler. It sounds like the kind of movie Mickey Rourke could kill in. I’ve also heard encouraging things about Frost/Nixon, especially Frank Langella’s performance. I saw the trailer for Doubt and I’m sorry but that looks like one I can safely pass on. All it seemed to be was Philip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep loudly Acting (with a capital “A”) at each other.
From the trailers, The Brothers Bloom is looking to be pretty lame, but I’m looking forward to it anyways because I enjoyed Brick so much.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Wrestler
Wendy & Lucy ( Allison, its a Kelly Riechert movie, so it probably won’t be anything like Sherrybaby, you can’t judge an art movie by its trailer, ever)
I’m also looking forward to the re-release of Truffaut’s “The Wild Child”
I saw Wendy and Lucy last month. It was a very simple, touching movie. Michelle Williams is perfect in it.
Right now I’m still waiting on Synecdoche, New York for release, but other than that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button looks like something special.
Ally the Manic Listmaker
On the front page it lists most looked forward to films in December, but it doesn’t even list Doubt!! Plus The Wrestler has been pushed back: 16 January 2009 (USA).
Which American film released this December are you most looking forward to?
Frost/Nixon (Dir. Ron Howard)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (Dir. Scott Derrickson)
Gran Torino (Dir. Clint Eastwood)
Wendy and Lucy (Dir. Kelly Reichardt)
The Wrestler (Dir. Darren Aronofsky)
The Brothers Bloom (Dir. Rian Johnson)
The Spirit (Dir. Frank Miller)
Revolutionary Road (Dir. Sam Mendes)
Valkyrie (Dir. Bryan Singer)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Dir. David Fincher)