By David Gordon
It’s September again. You know what that means-all the good movies don’t come out until December. Okay, that’s only half true. There are plenty of watchable movies coming out in the next few months. Here’s a selected rundown of what you’ll be paying $10 for.
George Clooney reunites with The Coen brothers in “Burn After Reading,” out on Sept. 12. The film, which also features Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand, is a return to comedy for the Coens, following their Oscar winning “No Country for Old Men.” The plot revolves around a CIA agent whose memoirs go missing and fall into the wrong hands of two inept gym workers.
On the same day “The Women” debuts, Diane English’s modern adaptation of Claire Booth Luce’s play from the 1930s about a group of society women who deal with divorce, infidelity and raising children in New York City. This widely advertised adaptation stars Meg Ryan, Annette Benning and Debra Messing.
“Lakeview Terrace,” comes out on Sept. 19 which, from the trailers, looks like it takes a few cues from “Crash,” directed by Neil LaBute (“In the Company of Men,” “The Wicker Man”). Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington play a couple in an interracial relationship; Samuel L. Jackson plays the neighbor who will stop at nothing to force them out.
Also notable in September are “Ghost Town,” with Ricky Gervais as a dentist who can see dead people, Spike Lee’s war picture “Miracle at St. Anna,” and the film adaptation of Chuck Palahnuik’s cult favorite “Choke.”
“Beverly Hills Chihuahua” makes his debut on Oct. 3, along with the highly advertised “How to Lose Friends and Alienate People,” which looks pretty entertaining. Bill Maher has another political pic – “Religulous” out the same day. Anne Hathaway’s getting Oscar buzz for “Rachel’s Getting Married,” playing a druggie who finishes rehab before her sister’s wedding.
Later in the month comes “W.,” Oliver Stone’s biopic about the life of George W. Bush, with Josh Brolin in the title role. Make of that as you will. On Oct. 24, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” arrives, and will surely make Disney even more money. That’s up against “Saw V.” I thought they were all dead. Guess I missed a movie.
“Madagascar: Escape to Africa” flies in Nov. 7, the newest James Bond, “Quantum of Solace,” the week after. Samuel L. Jackson stars along side late greats Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac in “Soul Men,” also out Nov. 14. Thanksgiving weekend brings around Disney’s dog picture “Bolt,” and the film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight.”
Ron Howard’s film adaptation of the play “Frost/Nixon,” starts on Dec. 5, starring original stage cast members Frank Langella, as Richard Nixon, and Michael Sheen as TV reporter David Frost. Keannu Reeves stars in a remake of “The Day the Earth Stood Still” on Dec. 12. On the same day comes a more appealing movie, the film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winning play “Doubt,” about a Mother Superior played by Meryl Streep who suspects a Priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of wrongdoings with a child.
At the end of the month comes the screen adaptation of “Marley and Me,” featuring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. Tom Cruise’s movie, “Valkyrie” also comes out the same day.
It’s a big new season for Broadway, which began all the way back in July when the first show, “[title of show],” opened to rave reviews. “[title]” centers around two guys writing a musical for the New York Musical Theater Festival. The self-referential comedy features a plethora of musical theater jokes and references, but the buzz is that anyone can enjoy this piece about dreams coming true.
Hofstra drama department alum James Barbour plays Sydney Carlton in a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities,” which had a recent well-received tryout run in Florida.
The three London transfers this fall are the shows with the most anticipation, “Equus,” “Billy Elliot: the Musical,” and “The Seagull.” “Equus” stars Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, his on-screen uncle, Richard Griffiths, and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” star Kate Mulgrew. “Equus” is not a show for the youngsters, no matter how much they love the Harry Potter movies. The plot centers around a mentally disturbed stable boy who blinds horses with a giant ice pick, and the doctor who tries to go into his psyche. The play also has a highly publicized full frontal nude scene for Radcliffe.
“Billy Elliot: the Musical,” is based on the hit film of the same name, about young Billy who takes up dance lessons in Margaret Thatcher-era England. The musical features a score by Elton John and Lee Hall and is directed by Stephen Daldry.
Ibsen’s classic “The Seagull,” about a conniving actress and her playwright lover, comes to New York after a much lauded London staging. Kristin Scott Thomas reprises her Olivier Award winning role as Madame Arkadina, opposite Peter Sarsgaard and the British “Office” star Mackenzie Crook.
Star power doesn’t end with Radcliffe, Thomas and Sarsgaard. Katie Holmes makes her Broadway debut in the star-studded production of Arthur Miller’s 1947 drama “All My Sons,” alongside John Lithgow, Dianne Weist and Patrick Wilson. The remarkably timely play was inspired by the true story of a businessman (Lithgow) who knowingly sold the US government defective airplane parts during World War II – and the lifelong consequences that stemmed from it.
Two David Mamet plays have been given starry casts. “American Buffalo,” about three crooks who try to live the American dream – by stealing a buffalo head nickel – stars John Leguizamo, Cedric the Entertainer and Haley Joel Osment. “Speed the Plow,” which had its famous Broadway premiere featuring Madonna – now features Entourage star Jeremy Piven, Mad Men’s Elizabeth Moss and Broadway favorite Raul Esparza. “Plow” is about a pair of dueling, unscrupulous movie producers on a journey through Hollywood.
Shrek makes his Broadway debut in November, starring Broadway favorites Brian d’Arcy James, Sutton Foster, and Christopher Sieber singing a score of Jeanine Tesori and Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay Abaire. The production takes inspiration from both the hit first movie and William Steig’s original book.
Other shows to look out for are “13,” a musical starring teenagers written by Jason Robert Brown (“The Last 5 Years”), “Dividing the Estate,” an off-Broadway transfer of a 19-year-old Horton Foote play which made its New York debut last year, Frank Langella in “A Man for All Seasons,” and a stage adaptation of the classic holiday film “White Christmas.”
If you don’t have homework to do during the week, perhaps you’ll want to watch television. Here’s a brief rundown of the new and returning shows you may catch a moment of as you’re switching to that rerun of “Family Guy.”
Monday’s bring around another edition of “Dancing with the Stars,” this year featuring Lance Bass, Ted McGinley, 82-year-old Cloris Leachman and Kim Kardashian, among others. That’s up against returning favorites “The Big Bang Theory” (about the geeks who live across the hall from a hot blonde) and “How I Met Your Mother.” “Gossip Girl” and “One Tree Hill” return on the CW; “Sarah Connor Chronicles” and “Prison Break” complete the night on FOX.
CW’s new edition of “90210” starts off Tuesday nights, opposite “House” and “NCIS.” FOX introduces “Fringe,” a new drama by JJ Abrams, at 9 p.m., opposite “Priviliged” on the CW, a comedy about smart, quirky, beautiful people.
My favorite shows are on Wednesdays. ABC brings back “Pushing Daisies” and “Dirty Sexy Money,” which both had abbreviated first seasons due to the Writer’s Strike. They’re up against “Bones” and NBC’s remake of “Knight Rider,” featuring Val Kilmer as the voice of KITT, the vehicle. “‘Til Death” returns on FOX for some reason, followed by a comedy called “Do Not Disturb,” about the workers at a swanky New York hotel.
A Thursday night edition of “Saturday Night Live” is a highlight of that night, which follows “The Office,” “My Name is Earl,” and a new comedy called “Kath & Kim,” featuring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair, based on a hit Australian sitcom. “30 Rock” returns at the end of October. “Ugly Betty” is followed by “Gray’s Anatomy” on ABC, opposite “Survivor” and “CSI” on CBS.
Reality shows are featured on Friday’s, with the returns of “Wife Swap,” “Supernanny,” “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?” and a new show called “America’s Toughest Jobs.” CBS has real programming, with “Ghost Whisperer” and “Numbers.” “America’s Next Top Model” is on at 9 p.m. on the CW, following “Everybody Hates Chris” and new program “The Game.”
Sunday nights are virtually unchanged. All your favorite Sunday programs – “The Simpsons,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Entourage,” “Family Guy,” etc., are back in their same timeslots.
For more info, check out http://futoncritic.com/guide.aspx.