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Title:
Avatar
Stars:
Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez
Studio:
Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Plot:
A paraplegic former marine (Worthington) accepts a unique mission that sends him to the planet Pandora, where, through a connection to a remotely controlled biological body, he learns the way of the indigenous Na'vi people. His link to this world puts him in direct opposition with his orders to infiltrate the Na'vi and remove the barrier between them and the precious ore desired by military and corporate interests.
Buzz:
James Cameron's response to upping the world of visual effects? He takes a new approach to 3D -- all the way down to creating his own cameras -- and augments the natural world by introducing new plant life and creatures to the aforementioned band of humans. It's the kind of anticipation that even makes President Roslin swoon. Meanwhile, Sam Worthington quietly has become new face of sci-fi. That makes us swoon.
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Title:
The Princess and the Frog
Stars:
Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Oprah Winfrey
Studio:
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Plot:
A fairy tale set in Jazz Age-era New Orleans and centered on a young girl named Princess Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) and her fateful kiss with a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again.
Buzz:
Here, Disney reunites Aladdin creators Ron Clements and John Musker, rekindles their love for hand drawn animation, endures a storm of controversy regarding the initial name given to their first African-American princess ("Maddy" which was changed to "Tiana"), then adjusts their title a bit as to not insult the French (original title: The Frog Princess). Pixar is never this controversial.
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Title:
The Blind Side
Stars:
Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw
Studio:
Warner Bros. Pictures
Plot:
A disadvantaged teenager is taken in by a conservative family who see tremendous promise in the young man. Despite certain obstacles, the attention and inspiration he receives helps him mature into an athletically and academically successful NFL prospect.
Buzz:
This is the true story of Michael Oher, whose first season in the NFL will be underway by the time Sandra Bullock blitzes (?) the big screen with her third movie of the year. If Oher and the Baltimore Ravens, who selected the young man in the first round of this year's draft, are both performing well, some sort of uncharted cultural zeitgeist could occur at the box office. This is also great counterprogramming for all the non-Twilight moms out there.
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Title:
Did You Hear About the Morgans?
Stars:
Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sam Elliott
Studio:
Columbia Pictures
Plot:
In New York City, an estranged couple (Grant and Parker) who witness a murder are relocated to small-town Wyoming as part of a witness-protection program.
Buzz:
I once had the misfortune of going on a very bad date to see Extreme Measures, a medical thriller in which an at-his-height Grant was paired with a pre-Sex and the City Parker; their chemistry was nil, but then again they were dodging needles and who knows what else. (Side note: the script was by Michael Clayton's Tony Gilroy!) Not sure if they'll be doing any better here. Despite the potential mismatch, the warning bell is writer-director Marc Lawrence, the man behind such Sandra Bullock vehicles as Miss Congeniality and Two Weeks Notice (in which Grant co-starred), so you can expect broad regional humor, occasional funny bits, supporting caricature roles, tinkly music near the end, and lots of wacky slapstick.
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Title:
New Moon
Stars:
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Studio:
Summit Entertainment
Plot:
When Bella's blood is shed at her birthday celebration, Edward's intense reaction to the event causes his parents to pull up stakes andleave Forks, Washington for the sake of the young lovers. Heartbroken, Bella finds a form of comfort in reckless living, as well as an even-closer friendship with Jacob Black (Lautner). Danger in different forms awaits.
Buzz:
There's nobody hotter on IMDb -- or anywhere in general pop culture? -- than Edward and Bella. Even their real-life counterparts, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, are making indie-cool choices which make them appealing to those of us who might not be the biggest fans of Stephenie Meyer's novels, or their adaptations. Boosting the appeal of Twilight is the studio behind the franchise, Summit Entertainment, who listens to their fan base (We heart Jacob Lautner!) and is pulling a Disney move by investing in their stars (Kristen Stewart will co-star in the biography of seminal 1970s all-female rock band The Runways, while Robert Pattinson is shooting Remember Me) after New Moon wraps). We're interested to see how underdog director Chris Weitz meshes with this material, and, whether or not this second installment will boost its appeal to non-U.S. audiences.
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Title:
Invictus
Stars:
Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon
Studio:
Warner Bros. Pictures
Plot:
A look at life of Nelson Mandela (Freeman) after the fall of apartheid in South Africa during his first term as president when campaigned to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup event as an opportunity to unite his countrymen.
Buzz:
Morgan Freeman has had this project in development for several years, and he sought out a reunion with Clint Eastwood for what has to be the biggest challenge of his acting career to date. The media already seems to be rewarding his efforts, with little to go on but the considerable source material and a mere glimpse of the man in uniform. It's hard to bet against this combination of human interest and Hollywood talent, as Eastwood turns in his 5th film in as many years -- making directors such as Cameron and Fincher seem like slowpokes. Can Matt Damon make like Hilary Swank here?
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Title:
A Christmas Carol
Stars:
Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth
Studio:
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Plot:
An animated retelling of the Charles Dickens novel about Ebenezer Scrooge (Carrey), a Victorian-era miser who is taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions.
Buzz:
Could it be that Robert Zemeckis has finally found source material that perfectly suits his creepy mo-cap fantasies? Initially we were unsure, but ever since Comic-Con we've been behind this movie way more so than our affection for Monster House and Beowulf combined. However, this does not mean we're behind Who Framed Roger Rabbit 2 ...
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Title:
Up in the Air
Stars:
George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick
Studio:
Paramount Pictures
Plot:
Ryan Bingham (Clooney) is a corporate-downsizing expert whose cherished life on the road is threatened just as he is on the cusp of reaching ten million frequent flyer miles and just after he's met the frequent-traveler woman of his dreams.
Buzz:
Critics, award-givers, and everyday people like you and I all seem to put Jason Reitman on the pedestal which Sam Mendes still occupies (and on which Alexander Payne stood for a while). Is this the next Best Picture Oscar winner?
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Title:
Brothers
Stars:
Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire
Studio:
Lionsgate
Plot:
Sam Cahill (Maguire) returns from being held as a prisoner-of-war in Afghanistan to find that his ex-con brother (Gyllenhaal) has become the man, of sorts, of the household where Sam's wife, Grace (Portman) had been living under the assumption that she was a widow.
Buzz:
Hollywood types love Danish director Susanne Bier; the industry has tried to remake a couple of her films, mostly noticeably is/was Zach Braff's on-again/off-again attempt to craft a version of Bier's Open Hearts into his second film as a director. (Remember when Z.B. was a promising filmmaker?) Anyway, it's not hard to imagine that Lionsgate is measuring their Oscar chances with this film, with Jim Sheridan calling the shots, Kite Runner screenwriter David Benioff handling the adaptation, and two of the best American actors under thirty in starring roles. Plus, Tobey Maguire! (He's 34 and, yes, awesome.) Just no "I can't quit you" jokes here, okay? And Natalie Portman knows how to iron?! We don't believe it.
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Title:
Old Dogs
Stars:
Robin Williams, John Travolta, Seth Green
Studio:
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Plot:
Ben (Williams) is a successful businessman whose professional and personal life is altered when an old flame re-enteres his life -- with her two children (twins!) in tow. Finding himself temporarily in charge of their welfare, he enlists his best friend and colleague (Travolta) to co-parent.
Buzz:
I love it when weirdos like Seth Green are cast in family movies. And he seems to steal scenes in the way-too-revealing trailer. Looks like another win for suddenly mainstream director Walter Becker (Wild Hogs), and continued momentum for Travolta, who received great reviews for the underperforming Pelham 1 2 3 and will next be seen inPierre Morel's Taken follow-up, From Paris with Love.Update: If you're unaware of the current climate at Disney, it's refreshing to read words from a movie executive who thinks a movie such as this one missed out on the idea of appealing to women's tastes and likes.
