Part III Fall Movie Preview - November

Here is part three of the fall preview. These are the movies that are coming out in November. By now we are in the heart of Oscar worthy film time. Many of the films that are coming out are being heavily promoted for specific actors or specific awards and some films that will only be out in limited release. Of course there is some lighter family fare in there for the holidays but most of it doesn’t look that promising. If it was it would have come out either for Christmas, or during the summer. The exception to this is Harry Potter which should live up to the high quality that the franchise has provided thus far.

November 4th
Chicken Little -Walt Disney Pictures
The verdict is still out on this one. As the first non-Pixar animated film from Disney the stakes are very high for this one but the premise leaves me cold. Chicken Little warns of an alien invasion but he seems to be having more problems with his father than with the aliens. If this has good sidekicks and the Disney machine cross markets this like they always do, it should at least be pervasive and make a lot of money.
The Family Stone - 20th Century Fox
This is a family film about a group of people getting together over the holidays and how they behave to an outsider brought into their midst. In this case a new girlfriend and her sister. Headed by a powerful cast including Diane Keaton, Claire Danes, Sarah Jessica Parker, Craig T. Nelson, and current It Girl Rachel McAdams this film should do well if it is well written and avoids the overly familiar treacle of family comedy/dramas.
Jarhead -Universal Studios
Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Foxx star in this film based a Marine’s best-selling book about his experiences in the Middle East leading up to the first Iraqi war. This film has been very heavily promoted in television advertisements so expect a big opening weekend. The question is whether, with troops still committed to the region, it is too soon for a hard look at what soldiers have to go through for their country. At least this isn’t an election year piece.

November 9th
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ -Paramount Pictures
The preview for this makes it look surprisingly good. The film looks like a more serious 8 Mile but it stars the untested 50 Cent in an autobiographical film about his rise to fame after being a drug dealer. Maybe this film will be on my second tier of things to see. There will probably be a bump to this film because of controversy over the advertising campaign and concerns that it glorifies violence. Because we all know that Hollywood never does that.

November 11th
Zathura -Sony Pictures
Otherwise known as Jumanji in Space. Or, a special effects filled story with kids, but without Robin Williams who smartly declined this time, that will probably be a major disappointment.

November 18th
Walk the Line -20th Century Fox
A film getting an early heavy buzz it stars Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon as his love interest and eventually his wife June. I am looking forward to this film, buzz or no, because the man in black did lead an interesting life and battled a lot of his personal demons in a rather public spotlight.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire -Warner Brothers
I am looking forward to seeing how they made this enormous and rich book into a single feature length film. I have a feeling that though the film will be good it will send people back to their books to fill in the missing pieces.
Pride & Prejudice (limited) -focus Features
I love the story of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, but I can’t see how this film will top the BBC miniseries.

November 23rd
The Matador Miramax Films
A dark comedy that see Pierce Brosnan playing against Bond type as a lonely aging hitman who befriends a businessman that he meets in a bar. It seems a bit Whole Nine Yards but a bit less goofy. Which is ok, Whole Nine Yards was a good film and this could be a good one too.
Rent -Sony Pictures
While Rent was a great play that dealt with issues of HIV in the mid 90s it feels a bit dated today. Most of the original cast is back for this film based on the Tony Award winning play.
The Ice Harvest -Focus Features
I’m really looking forward to this more because of the history of the pieces that make it up than from anything in particular about the film. Harold Ramis directs this film about bumbling thieves trying to bilk a mobster out of some money and skip town only to be confounded by the weather. John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton who worked so well together in Pushing Tin are reunited for this interesting caper.
Yours, Mine, and Ours -Paramount Pictures
Maybe it will be better than cheaper By the Dozen 2. But then again is that saying much? The story of a military man with a bunch of well disciplined kids who marries a free spirited woman with a bunch of not so disciplined kids. The kids try to split them up. It is kind of like the parent trap times 10. I wonder who wins? No wait, I don’t care.

Related posts:

1. Part IV Fall Movie Preview - December
2. Part II Fall Movie Preview - October
3. Part I Fall Movie Preview - September