The summer movie season has come to an end. The superheroes of the silver screen won’t be seen again until next year. As the leaves change, the air becomes crisp, movie studios will be releasing Oscar hopefuls onto the silver screen. Last fall saw the likes of “No Country For Old Men,” “3:10 to Yuma,” “There Will Be Blood,” “Juno,” and “Atonement.”
This fall will see Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet reunite for the first time since “Titantic,” Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks joining forces to “make a porno” with Kevin Smith, a “Miracle at St. Anna,” the Infinite Playlist of Nick & Norah, Brad Pitt becoming Benjamin Button, and the story of how George W. Bush got into the White House.
September finds Samuel L. Jackson as an obnoxious neighbor who makes his new neighbor’s lives a nightmare in “Lakeview Terrace.” The new neighbors, played by Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington, can’t do anything about their situation because their new neighbor happens to be a cop. The movie is released Sept. 19, 2008.
“Igor,” is an animated movie about a mad scientist’s hunchbacked lab assistant who has big dreams of becoming a scientist and winning the top prize at the annual Evil Science Fair.
It features the voices of Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Jennifer Coolidge, and John Cusack as the titular Igor.
The movie is a spin on the classic monster genre and should be a delight for kids and adults. “Igor” opens on September 19, 2008.
The latest Spike Lee “joint,” entitled “Miracle at St. Anna” opens on September 26, 2008 and is the story of four African-American soldiers who are members of the US Army as part of the all-black 92nd “Buffalo Soldier” division stationed in Tuscany, Italy during World War II.
The unit is separated after one of them risks his life to save an Italian boy.
Also in September, we’ll see Shia LaBeouf in DJ Caruso’s “Eagle Eye” and Jason Biggs comes out of nowhere to star in “My Best Friend’s Girl” alongside Kate Hudson and Dane Cook.
The fall movie season picks up steam in October with the releases of “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” “Body of Lies,” “W.,” “Zach and Miri Make a Porno,” and “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.”
“Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” starring Michael Cera of “Superbad” and Kat Dennings from “The 40 Year Old Virgin,” is a movie about two people who meet and begin an all-night search for a band’s secret show.
Early reviews have compared the movie to Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunrise”/ “Before Sunset” movies in which two people meet, share a connection, and take advantage of that instant connection.
“Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” movie opens Oct 3, 2008.
“Body of Lies” is the first of two Leonardo DiCaprio movies in the Fall.
It also stars Russell Crowe and is directed by Ridley Scott. The movie is based on Washington Post’s David Ignatious’ 2007 novel about a CIA operative, Roger Ferris (Dicaprio) who uncovers a lead on a major terrorist leader suspected to be operating out of Jordan. However, Ferris cannot put his plan to infiltrate into action without the backing of CIA Veteran Ed Hoffman (Crowe) and the head of Jordanian intelligence but who is also a suspect. Ferris wonders the extent with which he can trust his colleagues. The movie opens October 10, 2008.
“W.,” helmed by Oliver Stone, brings the life of the President to the big screen and takes viewers through the triumphs and struggles and the critical days leading to Bush’s decision to invade Iraq.
Josh Brolin stars as George W. Bush and Elizabeth Banks stars as Laura Bush. The movie opens in limited release on Oct. 17, 2008.
The much anticipated “Zach and Miri Make a Porno” opens October 31, 2008. The Kevin Smith film focuses on two lifelong friends who decide to make an adult film together because of money problems. However, the friends begin to sense that they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought. It opens on Halloween.
Also due out in October are “Max Payne” (10/17) and “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” High School Musical 3 finds Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) facing the prospect of separation as they head off to different colleges HSM3 will be released on Oct. 24.
November features the return of James Bond to the big screen in the “Quantum of Solace.” Daniel Craig reprises his role as James Bond in the movie.
Refusing to allow the betrayal of Vesper, the woman he loved, to influence his agenda for his latest mission, he determines to uncover the truth. After an interrogation with Mr. White, it is revealed that the organization which blackmailed Vesper is much more complex and dangerous than anyone had imagined. It opens Nov. 14, 2008.
Also coming out in November is “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” on the seventh and Oscar hopeful “Australia” hits the big screen as well.
December wraps up the fall movie season with Brad Pitt becoming Benjamin Button and the big screen reunion between Leonardio Dicaprio and Kate Winslet.
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” starring Brad Pitt, is an adaptation of the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald in which a man is born in his eighties and ages backwards.
The story follows Benjamin Button from the World War in 1918 to the 21st century. It was directed by David Fincher. The movie opens on December 19, 2008.
“Revolutionary Road” is the movie which reunites Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. The story, based on the novel by Richard Yates, focuses on a young couple (DiCaprio and Winslet) trying to find fulfillment in an age of conformity. They dream without faith, as lies and deceptions build to explosive consequences.
Sam Mendes (“American Beauty”) is the director. The movie will be released on December 26, 2008.
Also in December: “Twilight” on the 12th, “The Punisher: War Zone”, on the 5th, and “Yes Man” on the 19th.
The summer movie season was a tremendous success with gems such as “The Dark Knight,” “Wall-E,” “Iron Man,” “Hancock,” “Indiana Jones,” and “Tropic Thunder.”
The fall movie season could certainly surpass the fun that was summer 2008.
So, grab a few of your friends and check out some of the fine films Hollywood has to offer as the seasons change.
Chris Monigle is a fourth-year student majoring in Literature. He can be reached at CM660983@wcupa.edu.