My 12 Most Anticipated Films of 2009
23. December 2008

I don’t know how I will make it a whole year with out a Charlie Kaufman or Michel Gondry film, but I’m sure these 12 films will help. Not all of them I except to be amazing, they are just the ones I am most curious about.

12. Jennifer’s Body
I actually think this movie might be terrible. As you can see they completely copied Ture Blood’s poster. It has a lame cast with Megan Fox and Adam Brody. The only reason I am interested in this is because Diablo Cody wrote it, and I want to see how she follows up Juno. Besides a teenage zombie dark comedy sounds like something she could do very well.

11. New York, I Love You
New York, I Love you is doing what Paris, Je T’aime did to Paris. A beautiful love story to a city told through 12 five minute shorts filmed by 12 different directors. Natalie Portman and Scarlet Johansson both contribute films along with a whole bunch of foreign directors I don’t recognize.

10. The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Why am I excited for a stop animation kids film based off of Roald Dahl’s book of the same name? Because it’s directed by Wes Anderson (Rushmore), written by Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach (Squid and the Whale), and animation done by Henry Selick (Nightmare Before Christmas). This would be number one if it weren’t based off of a book I care less about. I am very curious how Anderson and Baumbach’s quirky writing will transfer into a children’s film. Voices include: George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman.

9. The Limits of Control
I don’t know much about this film besides it’s directed by Jim Jarmusch, who caught my attention after his great film Broken Flowers. He also did the Cigarettes and Coffee shorts, but I haven’t seen those yet. He teams up again with Bill Murray (who’s film choices have been very creditable this last decade) in another road film about a mysterious loner trying to pull off a crime. It also stars Gael García Bernal (The Science of Sleep) and Tilda Swinton (Burn After Reading).

8. Whatever Works
I am a huge Woody Allen fan. I love everything he has made, aside from his early comedies, his 90s comedies, and Scoop. I am also very much in love with his newer direction in films like Cassandra’s Dream and
Vicky Cristina Barcelona. After traveling around through London and Barcelona we are brought back to New York in his new comedy. Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm) fills the neurotic New Yorker role that Woody would normally play. The only reason this isn’t higher on my list is because his comedies are very hit or miss.

7. The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
Director Terry Gilliam (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) makes a curious film about an 1,000 year old Doctor and his traveling theater who put on a show that let’s the audience choose between a light and joyful show, or a dark and gloom show. Unfortunately during production the film’s star, Heath Ledger, died. Instead of reshooting the film they decided to alter the script around it. They made the Doctor change multiple times through the film similar to the Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There (which also starred Heath Ledger). To fill in the gaps came Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Ferrell. I am VERY curious to see this on.

6. Metropia
Between my love for Ingmar Bergman (The Seventh Seal) and the recent Let The Right One In, swedish films have really impressed me. Here is an under the radar unique sci-fi animation film that I’m sure will get more recognition closer to release. I love this sickly realistic animation style. Vincent Gallo and Juliette Lewis are leading the American version’s voice cast. I see awards already for this film. More Metropia pictures.

5. Where the Wild Things Are
My favorite children’s book and director Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich). What a great combination. The screen captures I have seen show a beautiful palette of sunset lit forests. Unfortunately the testing screening deemed it too dark for a children’s movie so they had to reshoot a lot of scenes delaying the film into 2009. Oh well, I hope they can comprise and still keep it quite dark, that is what appealed to me the most about the film in the first place. Haven’t they learned anything from Batman?

4. Watchmen
I’m not really that big of a superhero movie’s fan, but this one looks like the superhero film. I think this is an obvious choice. It will be amazing.

3. Scott Pilgram vs. The World
I hope this film brings light onto the growing graphic novel market. But I’m very afraid, I can see this being done terribly. I am reassured by the cast, Michael Cera and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and the fitting director, Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz).

2. Funny People
The third “real” Judd Apatow film (his priors being Knocked Up and The 40 Year Old Virgin). The cast is amazing. Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, and Jason Schwartzman to name a few. Adam Sandlar is not my favorite, but I’m sure he can shine under Apatow’s writing and directing. I really love a good comedy and I know this will be one. On a side note: I am so mad at this film and Smart People, they have completely cheapened my current screenplay’s name, Lonely People.

1. Paper Heart
This Sundance hopeful is a half documentary, half scripted, film about the real relationship between Michael Cera and Charlyne Yi (Knocked Up). That’s really all I really know, and boy has it sparked my curiosity. Does Michael Cera act in real life like he does in movies? Will this have an amazing soundtrack?

Honorable Mentions:
The Unborn
Inglourious Basterds
The Road
2012