The Most Anticipated Movies for the Remainder of 2010 - Part II

And now for the conclusion of the list. If you have not read this first part, please do so here: http://www.examiner.com/indie-movie-in-new-orleans/the-most-anticipated-movies-for-the-remainder-of-2010-part-i

#9 – Never Let Me Go (September 15)
Take an acclaimed, award-winning novel by British author Kazuo Ishiguro and add an acclaimed, award-winning British cast (Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Charlotte Rampling, Sally Hawkins) and you have got certified Oscar-bait. The only uncertainty with this film is director Mark Romanek, primarily known for music videos, commercials, and an underwhelming debut feature (One Hour Photo). But the film looks beautiful and the cast is full of young talent. Check out the trailer here.

#8 – Let Me In (October 1)
For the most part, I am completely against Hollywood remakes, particularly of foreign horror films, especially if the original only just came out a few years ago. So I was greatly annoyed when I first heard about the American remake of the terrific Swedish vampire film, Let the Right One In. The original was beautifully understated and subtle, while at the same time, equally terrifying and poignant. But the casting and preliminary footage changed my opinion completely. The lead actors, Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road) and Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass) are promising young talents, and supporting actors Richard Jenkins and Elias Koteas are always solid. Now I don’t know if this movie will be as great as the original (I am skeptical), but I do think it will be good and it’s certainly got me curious. Watch the trailer here.

#7 – Somewhere (December 22)
With a true Hollywood legend as a father (Francis Ford Coppola), writer-director Sofia Coppola could have been overshadowed or collapsed under the expectations. She did neither. Instead, with three terrific films already under her belt (Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette), Sofia created her own unique, deeply personal voice. Her new film about a hard-living Hollywood actor (Stephen Dorff, in a role destined to reignite a comeback) who re-examines his life after his 11-year-old daughter (Elle Fanning) surprises him with a visit during his extended stay at Hollywood's historic Chateau Marmont Hotel. The film just took home the top prize (the Golden Lion) at the Venice Film Festival. Watch the trailer here.

#6 – The Social Network (October 1st)
My first reaction when I heard a movie was being made about the founding of Facebook was “why?” But when David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club) signed on to direct Aaron Sorkin’s script, I became intrigued. The promising young cast – Jesse Eisneberg (Zombieland, The Squid and the Whale), Andrew Garfield (the above mentioned Never Let Me Go and the Spiderman redo), Rashida Jones (TV’s The Office), and Justin Timberlake – intrigued me even further. But when I finally saw the trailer, I was overwhelmed with anticipation. Watch it here.

#5 – Buried (October 8)
In this Sundance hit, Ryan Reynolds (Van Wilder, The Proposal, and the upcoming Green Lantern) stars as a U.S. contractor working in Iraq who is kidnapped and buried alive in a coffin with only a lighter and dying cell phone. With the vast majority of the film taking place within the cramped coffin, this film promises to be a unique, intensely claustrophobic thriller the likes of which have never been seen before and far better than Collin Farrell’s “trapped-in-a-phone booth” movie from a few years ago. Watch the unique teaser trailers here and here, plus the more traditional preview here.

#4 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I (November 19)
Since this is the seventh film in the series, and unless you have been living under a rock for the past decade, I should not have to describe Harry Potter too much. Basically, it’s the beginning of the end – Harry vs. Voldemort. Get excited! While I will defend to the death that the third film, Prisoner of Azkaban (directed by Alfonso Cuarón), is by far the best in the series, director David Yates continued the magic with the 5th, 6th, and now 7th films. Watch the trailer here.

#3 – 127 Hours (November 5)
Fresh off multiple Oscar wins for Slumdog Millionaire, director Danny Boyle’s new film is the true-life survival tale of mountain climber Aron Ralston. Like Buried, 127 Hours is pretty much a one-man show. Star James Franco anchors the movie that promises breathtaking visuals and unique storytelling. Boyle is an amazing and diverse filmmaker (28 Days Later, Trainspotting, Sunshine) whose films have a wonderfully contagious energy and this movie will be just as exciting. Watch the trailer here.

#2 – True Grit (December 25)
The Coen Brothers (No Country for Old Men, Fargo) direct this remake of the John Wayne classic. Starring Matt Damon and Josh Brolin, with Jeff Bridges stepping into Wayne’s Rooster Cogburn role. I greatly anticipate anything the Coen Brothers do, especially crime and western-influenced films. The writer/director duo has a near perfect track record. Not much is known yet about the film, but expect it to be truly great. No preview is available yet.

#1 – Black Swan (December 1)
Director Darren Aronofsky is one of my favorite directors, and like the Coens, I look forward to anything he does. Requiem for a Dream and The Wrestler are two of my favorite films from their respective years, and Black Swan has the potential to be just as great. This psychological thriller/horror film stars Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis as dueling ballet dancers. Already receiving glowing reviews, this film is a must-see. Read my preview article of the film here and watch the trailer here.

These are my MOST anticipated films for the Fall/Winter, but that does not mean I am not interested in seeing several other upcoming films.

For list of other fall/winter films that look good, follow this link to Part III: http://www.examiner.com/indie-movie-in-new-orleans/the-most-anticipated-movies-for-the-remainder-of-2010-part-iii