Fall Movie Preview Spectacular! Part 2

Argo

Release Date: October 12^th

Directed by Ben Affleck; Starring Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, Kyle Chandler and John Goodman

Ben Affleck has proven to be an extremely talented director over these last few years, to the point where his name on a film automatically makes me excited. He’s also evolved into an extremely adept actor, and with Argo, has surrounded himself with a vast, tremendous ensemble (I’ve only written out about a quarter of the entire main cast list above).

The story here is an incredible one: In 1979, the United States and Canadian intelligence forces team up to save six US foreign service agents who evaded capture in an Iranian hostage crisis. To do this, they convince the Iranian government these men are actually part of a film crew, scouting locations for a fake movie called ‘Argo.’ How’s that for a ‘stranger-than-fiction’ true story? I cannot wait for this one and I have a feeling it’s going to be one of the best films of 2012.

Seven Psychopaths

Release Date: October 12^th

Directed by Martin McDonagh; Starring Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Abbie Cornish, Olga Kurylenko, Gabourey Sibide, Tom Waits, and Christopher Walken

Writer/Director Martin McDonagh’s last film, In Bruges, was one of my very favorite films of the 2000s, a wickedly funny and deeply poignant comedy/drama that is simply unlike anything else I have ever seen. So to say I am eager to see what Seven Psychopaths has in store would be an understatement, especially when everything I’ve heard so far sounds so insanely compelling.

The story is all over the map, involving a struggling screenwriter (Farrell), his gangster friends (Rockwell and Walken), a stolen shih tzu, the shih tzu’s violent, crazed owner (Harrelson), and other factors I don’t have any sort of grasp on yet. Throw in one of the most impressive casts of the year, and I have no reservations saying this is one of the most anticipated films of the year.

Here Comes the Boom

Release Date: October 12^th

Directed by Frank Coraci; Starring Kevin James, Henry Winkler, and Salma Hayek

Is it possible to like an actor and hate virtually everything he’s ever been associated with? That’s more or less my opinion of Kevin James, a performer I find perfectly amiable but whose films are, with the possible exception of Hitch, steaming piles of you-know-what. I have no idea if Here Comes the Boom will turn out well. If I am offered a press screening, I will check it out and give it a fair chance. But with Zookeeper director Frank Coraci at the helm, and a seemingly asinine story about James’ character becoming an MMA fighter to raise money for his struggling school, I don’t see how this will be any different than James’ other recent comedies. Perhaps there shall be fewer fat jokes, given James’ impressive weight loss? Only time will tell.

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obloodyhell

What made Taken so good was really pretty simple: Luc Besson wrote it and produced it. I’ve yet to see anything with Besson in two “construction” roles (writer, director, producer) that wasn’t at least good, often very good, sometimes excellent…. even the stuff he has only a single role in the creation of, often do well enough. Liam Neeson’s talented acting was just icing on that cake. So I expect Taken2 to be decent at worst.

Pitch Perfect looked remarkably lame on concept, but… from the trailer it looks like it has just enough irreverence and snark to pull off not being some dumbass Glee ripoff.

Butter sculpting…? Looks just weird enough to work.

The only concern with Argo is that George Clooney produced it. That suggests it’s going to reflect enough of his ultraliberal viewpoint that it will successfully turn off audiences. There’s a reason certain movies and TV series over the last 10-odd years have generally fallen flat on their faces — they reflect a view of America that isn’t in keeping with that of the American people, but instead reflects the attitude of the Hollywood Elites. Clooney is one of those. If he chose to produce it, it’s because he liked something he saw…. and that bodes ill for this movie’s primary message.

Alex Cross looks decidedly uncerebral.