Monday, December 1, 2008

LOOKING AT 2009

There's still one month left in 2008 and plenty of movies to check out. Oscar-madness is right around the corner and all of the critics groups will be dishing out their awards in the very near future. But it's not too early to look at the top films that are on deck for 2009. Here's a list of some of my most eagerly anticipated films for next year:

1. Martin Scorsese's SHUTTER ISLAND
2. Michael Mann's PUBLIC ENEMIES
3. Michael Bay's TRANSFORMERS 2
4. Werner Herzog's BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF NEW ORLEANS
5. John Hillcoat's THE ROAD
6. Tony Scott's THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123
7. Terrence Malick's TREE OF LIFE
8. The Coen Brothers' A SERIOUS MAN
9. Spike Jonze's WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
10. Zack Snyder's WATCHMEN

11. Terry Gilliam's THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS
12. Quentin Tarantino's INGLORIOUS BASTERDS
13. McG's TERMINATOR: SALVATION
14. Joe Johnston's THE WOLF MAN
15. Paul Greengrass's THE GREEN ZONE
16. J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK
17. Steven Soderbergh's THE INFORMANT
18. Jonathan Mostow's THE SURROGATES
19. Gavin Hood's X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE
20. Guy Ritchie's SHERLOCK HOLMES

21. Kathryn Bigelow's THE HURT LOCKER
22. Rob Marshall's NINE
23. Tom Twyker's THE INTERNATIONAL
24. Tony Gilroy's DUPLICITY
25. Joe Wright's THE SOLOIST
26. Dan Mazer's BRUNO
27. Brad Silberling's LAND OF THE LOST
28. Roland Emmerich's 2012
29. Peter Jackson's THE LOVELY BONES
30. James Cameron's AVATAR

31. Jim Sheridan's BROTHERS
32. Sam Raimi's DRAG ME TO HELL
33. Alex Proyas' KNOWING
34. Stephen Sommer's G.I. JOE
35. Neveldine/Taylor's CRANK 2
36. Judd Apatow's FUNNY PEOPLE
37. Wayne Kramer's CROSSING OVER
38. Kevin McDonald's STATE OF PLAY
39. Karen Kursyama's JENNIFER'S BODY
40. Jody Hill's OBSERVE & REPORT

I am sure there are others that I'm missing but these are the 40 films that immediately come to mind. The first ten are the ones I am most interested in.

5 comments:

Breedlove said...

Nice list. Next year looks incredible. And top-heavy. My top three are 'Avatar' #1 by far, and then 'Tree of Life' and 'Public Enemies' are essentially a tie, and that is a mind-blowing top three. I can't remember another year with three movies I was so excited for. Next I would slot in the Coens, Scorcese, and 'Duplicity.' I read 'Shutter Island' and I'm looking forward to Marty doing a spooky thriller like 'Cape Fear.' Mann has nailed the modern-day urban actioner, perfected it, and I've been dying to see him do something period again. A 30s gangster movie is obviously beyond perfect.

But 'Avatar' is probably the most excited I've been for a movie since I was in college and the new Star Wars came out.

Breedlove said...

For someone who raves about 'Transformers,' man...that had sick special effects, but I'm telling you, 'Avatar' will make it look like 'A Trip To The Moon' from 1902.

Actionman said...

I find myself not all that excited for Avatar for whatever reason. Maybe it's my lack of interest in mo-cap shit. I am sure it'll be cool but I need to see a trailer before I get super excited. Also, aside from Polar Express, I have been let-down by 3-D...we'll see what Cameron has up his sleeve...

Transformers 2 on the IMAX screen drops the weekend I get married...how cool is that?!

I can only imagine how cool Public Enemies will be. Same with Shutter Island.

Joel said...

Gotta agree with Breedlove there. Everything I hear about concerning "Avatar" makes me excited even more.

Definitely looking forward to Mann's film, as well as Hillcoat's, Scorsese's, the Coens', Scott's, Gilliam's, Tarantino's, Ritchie's, Proyas'...

And you know my thoughts about Snyder's.

I hope that Bay makes "Transformers 2" his "Spider-Man 2," meaning that he improves on an already good movie. Because let's face it: "Spider-Man" was really good, but the second brought the house down. Hopefully "Transformers 2" will do that.

I'll probably post something similar at the end of this year, or early next year. Dunno yet.

Actionman said...

Yes, I am hoping that Transformers 2 is Bay's Spiderman 2.

I would love nothing more than to be blown away by Avatar...there's just a lot of others out there that I am more excited for. But I will obviously be checking it out. Want to see a trailer...