David's Most Anticipated Films of 2008

11 through 20 (in no particular order) : Doubt, Revolutionary Road, Changeling, The Road, The Happening (I'm a Shymalan fan), Get Smart, Pineapple Express, Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince, Frost/Nixon, Synecdoche, New York

10. Milk

Sean Penn and Josh Brolin should make for a great duo, in Gus Van Sant's new project.

9. The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Brad Pitt + Cate Blanchett + David Fincher = An instant winner! Backed by a script by Eric Roth, this should be an interesting experience.

8. Burn After Reading

After the Oscar win, I'm looking forward to seeing the Coens' new project, and with a stellar cast, this won't be one to miss.

7. The Incredible Hulk

This should be one of the best action films of the year, and with Edward Norton, I'd expect nothing less than a great performance as Dr. Banner.

6. Body Of Lies

Leonardo has 3 movies lined up this movie (Revolutionary Road, back with Kate Winslet directed by her hubby Sam Mendes and Freedom With The Heart), this should be the most intriguing, teaming with popular duo Russell Crowe - Ridley Scott, so I'll be looking for this one to do very well, especially with William Monahan (The Departed) penning this script.

5. Quantum Of Solace

James Bond is back, and this should be a blast. With Marc Forster, one of Hollywood's best directors, behind the camera, and Paul Haggis bringing his expertise yet again, this promises as one of the best Bonds yet, with Daniel Craig looking for Mathieu Amalric, off a great year with The Diving Bell & The Butterfly.

4. WALL-E

Pixar has never disappointed so far, and with Andrew Stanton directing (Finding Nemo), this should be the family film of the summer (although I'm also looking forward to Kung Fu Panda)

3. Righteous Kill

Pacino + De Niro = Need I say more?!?!?!?

2. Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull

The man with the whip is back, and looking at a very-well timed May release, this may well be the box-office king of the year. Gotta love Spielberg!

1. The Dark Knight

Since it was announced we'd see the Joker in this second installement of the rebirth of Batman, I've been anxiously waiting to go see this movie (too bad it's in July, still far away). Christopher Nolan is one of the hottest directors of the 21st century, Christian Bale is definetely the right Bruce Wayne, and with a great cast behind him, the only thing unfortunate here is Heath Ledger's passing because I believe he will give a terrifying performance in this film and he would've been back for the third film. I simply hope the film pays homage to him in the right way, and people will remember him as a great actor who left us too soon.

My Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2008

Now that the 2007 season is done with, it's time to shift our attention to next year. 2008 is looking to be a good but not great year for movies, heavy on adaptations and dramas and light on sequels (thank you!!!). It's not looking like a great year for comedies, and there aren't many action movies in release, but the ones that are are looking pretty good. Let's begin...

10. Mamma Mia!
I'm not a fan of this show, but the trailer looked like super-gay, super-flashy fun. And the idea of hearing Streep's voice is enough to get me excited.

Award Potential: Not a whole lot, besides maybe an Original Song nod (if there is one) and possibly some tech awards like Art Direction. However, if it gets good enough reviews, it shouldn't have any trouble sneaking in Best Actress and Best Picture at the Globes. It looks like this is the only musical this year, and we know they love that.

9. Burn After Reading
The odds of the Coens striking gold twice in a row is a bit hard to see, but they *are* the Coens. And any movie that employs George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton and Frances McDormand can only be so bad.

Award Potential: After Sunday, it has an extremely slim chance at WINNING Best Picture, and it's virtually impossible for it to garner Best Director (Original Screenplay is unlikely, but eh). It will need excellent reviews.
8. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
This will probably be the strangest movie this year, but it also appears to be one of the best. It's looking like a good year for Brad Pitt...

Award Potential: Probably too weird for the Academy, so if it's a success, they'll probably just go for Adapted Screenplay and maybe an acting nod somewhere. It could do quite well at the Globes, though.

7. Milk
Perhaps the baitiest film of the year. Telling the inspiring, tragic story of the assassination of the openly gay congressman Harvey Milk, the film is at once well cast, and a great project for Gus van Sant.

Awards Potential: The Academy may view this as an opportunity to prove they're not homophobic after all (they're not) and shower this with awards, especially for Josh Brolin. But it will have to be extraordinary.

6. Sex and the City: The Movie
In case putting Mamma Mia! and Milk on this list wasn't gay enough for you, here you are. I really do enjoy this show, and the thought of seeing the four girls complain about orgasms on the big screen makes me smile. Normally I would be apprehensive about a TV-to-film adaptation, but The Simpsons Movie kind of broke the curse. Not to say that that means this will be great, but it's possible.

Awards Potential: Perhaps a GG nod for Sarah Jessica, but beyond that, probably nothing.
5. Doubt
A very baity, well-written play that could easily translate well on film. And the casting of Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman makes me excited.

Awards Potential: If it gets the reviews it should be able to get, Streep has a great chance at becoming a three-time Academy Award winner. A nomination for Hoffman isn't out of the question, either.

4. Stop Loss
This film will probably be a total flop, seeing as how it's coming out in late March, but for some reason, I thought the trailer looked outstanding. More than likely, this will be the film I love and everyone else hates.

Awards Potential: None, really, unless the reviews are AMAZING (they won't be).

3. Synecdoche, New York
Early script reviews have been love-it-or-hate-it, but I am soo in love with Charlie Kauffman. Anything he touches makes me melt with anticipation, and the fact that he's behind the camera makes it all the more interesting. Plus, the amazing cast can't hurt (god...great casts this year. Hopefully that means quality; not stuff like Evening).

Awards Potential: Sounds like the screenwriter branch's wet dream, but it will have to be a major success first.

2. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
I, for one, thought the trailer looked absolutely exhilarating. Seeing Indy on the big screen is a very exciting thought for me, and the fact that Cate Blanchett and Shia LaBeouf are involved as well definitely don't hurt.

Awards Potential: Beyond some possible tech nods, I'm about 99% sure it's not getting anything except box office numbers.1. The Road
Based on Cormac McCarthy's bleak but amazing novel, The Road is probably my most anticipated 2008 release; especially now that we know that the impeccable Viggo Mortensen will be playing the unnamed lead. This is an unbelievably challenging book to adapt, but I remain hopeful. I cannot wait!!

Awards Potential: If the world were perfect, we would have two consecutive years where a McCarthy novel won Best Picture. I'm saying that it'll be a success, but it could really go either way.


Well, there we have it. I'll start my first batch predix soon.

Definitely, Maybe: Next Great Romantic Comedy?

I wanted to keep this feeling bottled up because I was too embarassed to admit it, but...am I the only one that thinks "Definitely, Maybe" looks like the definitive chick flick of the 2000's? So far it has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes which, even though there are only five reviews, is a lot better than people were expecting. And I just love that trailer.


Obviously, since it's a mid-February chance, it has a 0% shot at award attention, but do you guys think that it could get some really positive reviews and box office numbers? I'm going to go out on a limb and say yes.