By Dorri Olds
Little Fockers
Comedy starring Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Barbra Streisand (No Dustin Hoffman this time) (December 5) This is a sequel to 2000’s Meet the Parents and its sequel Meet the Fockers in 2004. After marrying Pam, Gaylord “Greg” Focker now has five-year old twins. The film will revolve around the couple trying to cope with raising their children. Greg begins to go through a mid-life crisis as he ponders the rest of his life, he also begins to worry about being a good father and obtaining a stable job earning enough money for his family. This leads Jack to become highly suspicious once again about what is going on with Greg. Cast also includes Harvey Keitel, Owen Wilson, Laura Dern and Jessica Alba
The American
Suspense Thriller starring George Clooney (September 1)
As an assassin, Jack (Clooney) never stands still and he’s always alone. A job in Sweden goes badly. Shaken, he retreats to Italy. He winds up in a small town and takes on an assignment to build a weapon for a mysterious client (Reuten). Along the way he befriends an old priest and falls into a hot, steamy romance. Expect excitement as George Clooney’s charisma jumps off the screen. Cast also includes Violante Placido, Thekla Reuten and Paolo Bonacelli.
The Adjustment Bureau
Romantic Sci-Fi Thriller starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt (September 17)
David Norris (Damon), a former Fordham University basketball player and smooth talking U.S. Congressman on the rise, glimpses his future and realizes he wants something else. To get it, he must pursue the object of his desire, a beautiful ballerina (Blunt), through the streets of modern-day New York. The closer the two lovers get, the harder shadowy forces work to keep them apart through tricks of manipulated time and space. Cast also includes Anthony Mackie, John Slattery, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Michael Kelly and John Slattery.
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
British-Spanish-American Comedy Drama written and directed by Woody Allen starring Anthony Hopkins, Josh Brolin, Naomi Watts, Freida Pinto and Antonio Banderas (September 22)
The film follows a pair of married couples, Alfie and Helena, and their daughter Sally and husband Roy, as their passions, ambitions, and anxieties lead them into trouble and out of their minds. After Alfie leaves Helena to pursue his lost youth—and a free-spirited call girl named Charmaine—Helena abandons rationality and surrenders her life to the advice of a charlatan fortuneteller, forming a liaison with recent widower. Despite these characters’ attempts to dodge their problems with pipe dreams and meshuggeneh plans, their efforts lead only to heartache, irrationality, and hazardous hot water. Cast also includes Ewan Bremner, Lucy Punch, Gemma Jones and Anna Friel.
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Drama starring Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, Susan Sarandon and Frank Langella (September 24)
Oliver Stone directs this sequel to the 1987 Academy Award winning film, Wall Street. The corruption plot is ripped from financial crisis headlines. Set in 2008, Gordon Gekko (Douglas) has just been released from prison. He tries to warn the financial world about the impending crisis but he’s ignored due to his conviction for financial crimes. Set in New York City, side plots include Gekko trying to win back his daughter Winnie’s (Mulligan) love, and a suspected murder of Winnie’s fiancé’s (Moore) mentor. The director, cast, and timeliness of the story make it a must see. Cast also includes Josh Brolin, Eli Wallach, Carrie Mulligan, Jacob Moore, and a cameo by Charlie Sheen reprising his role as Bud Fox.
Conviction
Docudrama starring Sam Rockwell and Hilary Swank (October 15)
The true story of Betty Anne Waters (Swank), a high school dropout, who spent nearly two decades working as a single mother while putting herself through law school, tirelessly trying to beat the system and overturn her brother Kenneth Water’s (Rockwell) 1983 murder and robbery conviction. Convinced he was innocent, she spent the next 12 years taking steps to earn a law degree. Cast also includes Minnie Driver, Loren Dean, Melissa Leo.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest
Mystery/Drama starring Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist (October 15)
This is the final installment of the “Millenium trilogy” based on the three best-selling books by the late Stieg Larsson. In this sequel, computer genius Lisbeth Salander is fighting for her life. In intensive care—after being shot in her brain, hip and shoulder—and charged with three murders, she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and recriminate corrupt government institutions that nearly succeeded at destroying her life. If this is anything like the previous two, you’re in for a well-written wild ride. Filmed in Swedish with English subtitles. Cast also includes Lena Endre and Annika Hallin.
Red
Action Comedy film based on a comic book series starring Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich (October 15)
Frank Moses (Willis) is a former black-ops CIA agent whose life is in danger. His identity has been compromised and the woman he loves is in danger. He puts together his old team of now-old CIA killers (Freeman, Malkovich, and Mirren) to save the day. This movie is nothing like the dark depressing comic book it’s based on but maybe that’s a good thing. Expect Hollywooded-up treatment. Cast also includes Ernest Borgnine, Richard Dreyfuss and Brian Cox.
Morning Glory
Comedy starring Harrison Ford, Rachel McAdams, and Diane Keaton (November 12)
When TV producer Becky Fuller (McAdams) is fired from a local news program, her career begins to look as bleak as her love life. She ends up at a job at a last-place national morning news show and decides to revitalize it by bringing on legendary TV anchor Mike Pomeroy (Ford). Problems arise when Pomeroy refuses to cover morning show features and will not work with his new co-host, Colleen Peck (Keaton), a former beauty queen and longtime morning show personality. As Mike and Colleen butt heads, Becky’s ill-fated blossoming love affair with a fellow producer begins to unravel. Soon Becky is struggling to save her relationship, her reputation, and her job. Cast also includes Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Wilson, and 50 Cent.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1
Fantasy Adventure starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Ruper Grint (November 19)
This is the first of a two-part film that will be the seventh in the Harry Potter film series. It’s the first that will be converted entirely to 3D and released in IMAX 3D. This Part 1 begins with Harry and his two friends Ronald Weasley (Grint) and Hermoine Granger (Watson), as they set out on a perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort’s immortality and destruction—Horcruxes. Cast also includes Jason Isaacs.
Dorri Olds (DorriOlds.com) is a web designer, social media consultant and member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.
