Fall Movies: September

(Check my previous post for the full setup, but green light means I want to see, yellow light means I'm not sure, red light means no way, Jose)

September 7: 3:10 to Yuma (GREEN)

This is a remake of a fine western, but while the Glenn Ford-Van Heflin original holds up well with its slow-building tension, its ending was weak, and it's not untouchable. In other words, let's not bitch about Hollywood being out of ideas, etc. It is out of ideas, but let's not bitch about it. Instead, be thankful someone decided it was OK to make aWestern. I plan to support the concept, and hopefully Russell Crowe and Christian Bale reward my effort.

7: The Brothers Solomon (RED)

We all loved Will Arnett on Arrested Development, but not enough to pay just to see him in a film. And Will Forte doesn't pry those greenbacks from me, either.

7: Hatchet (RED)

Uh, no.

7: Shoot 'Em Up: (YELLOW)

Action comedy about Clive Owen guarding a baby from Paul Giamatti's bad-ass criminal. WHA? Is this a wacky romp or a real action movie? Or both? Call ME wacky, but I'm intrigued.

14: In the Valley of Elah (YELLOW)

Paul Haggis is back, and he sounds preachy again. I'll wait for the reviews.

14: Eastern Promises (YELLOW)

Cronenberg and Viggo reunite for another crime-filled funfest. I'm leaning green on this one.

14: The Brave One (YELLOW)

Speaking of talented veteran filmmakers, here's the latest Neil Jordan movie. Jodie Foster is playing another Strong Woman, but this time she's got a gun, and she's out for revenge. OK, that happened in a few other of her recent movies, but this time I think she's going all vigilante. That sounds kind of cool.

14: Across the Universe (GREEN)

I live, I breathe; therefore I love the Beatles. But this musical project, notwithstanding director Julie Taymor's proven talent, has mess written all over it. The cast is singing the songs, too, not the lads themselves, and this movie has an air of trouble. I don't think I can resist, though, and it's not because I think I saw Salma Hayek dancing in a nurse costume in the trailer.

21: Resident Evil: Extinction (RED)

Uh, no.

21: The Jane Austen Book Club (RED)

Uh, no.

21: Into the Wild: (YELLOW)

With Sean Penn directing this adaptation of Jon Krakauer's 1996 bestseller, we know we're in for a real laugh riot. Like many Americans, I bought that book. Like I don't know how many Americans, I never got around to reading it.

21: Untitled Jesse James Project: (YELLOW)

Actually, this does have a title, but it's too long and typing it annoys me. Hey, it's another Western, though! This Brad Pitt starrer looks at the man that shot Jesse James. Could be worth a look.

28: The Game Plan (RED)

I loved the Rock in the WWE. Too bad he keeps making crap movies instead of the breakout blockbuster everyone thought was in him. Watch this one--where he plays a pro footballer who discovers he has a 7-year-old daughter--be a smash.

28: The Kingdom (YELLOW)

I keep seeing this described as "CSI: Saudi Arabia," like that's supposed to excite me. I just can't get into this one. Check out this bolded quote in Entertainment Weekly from director Peter Berg about his movie's politics: It's kind of like tricking a kid to do his homework. You've got to make it fun." Way to sell the movie, dude. If Jamie Foxx is the "fun" part, there had better be some damn enlightening stuff in the homework part.