Big Picture Big Sound

I don't know about you but I, for one, am happy to be out of the doldrums of 2009's early months. With the exception of a few sturdy thrillers ("The International", "State of Play"), a couple comedies ("I Love You, Man", "Sunshine Cleaning") and a sleeper biopic ("Notorious"), the first quarter of this year in movies has been lackluster.

But now that the weather is (finally, almost) turning, we can focus our attention on the summer months and the ensuing crop of bombastic popcorn movies. At first glance, it's looking like a weak harvest. In order to create a Top Ten list of anticipated movies, I usually have to trim a few; this time around, I needed to pad it out (bonus points if you can guess which ones are filler).

Oh well. Each year brings its selection of surprises (maybe "G.I. Joe" will be great!). We'll just need to hope for the best this time around. In the meantime, here's my list along with predictions of how they'll fare...

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine"
What popcorn-movie fan worth his salt (get it?) isn't looking forward to seeing Hugh Jackman back behind the adamantium claws and mutton chops? But despite bad Workprint buzz, it's the trailer that leaves me cold on this one. Looks like there's going to be little originality and less story in this "origin story".
Prediction:
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458525/
Trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/wolverine/
Release Date: 5/1

"Star Trek"
I've seen every minute of every "Star Trek" film and TV series, so I won't insult us both by trying to play down my enthusiam for this one. With the always-reliable ('Fringe" excepted) J.J. Abrams at the helm (and regardless of the generic casting), this could be the fresh-blood reboot this franchise so desperately needs.
Prediction:
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796366/
Trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/startrek/
Release Date: 5/8

"Terminator Salvation"
It's a shame the "Terminator" franchise has played so fast-and-loose with its own mythology ("Terminator 3", "The Sarah Connor Chronicles"?) because James Cameron's killer robots series clearly has legs (perhaps they're made of a memetic polyalloy). Christian Bale in the role of species-savior John Connor is a casting coup. Let's just hope director McG doesn't let the inspiration end there.
Prediction:
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438488/
Trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/terminatorsalvation/
Release Date: 5/21


"The Hangover"
Not that I identify with the wasted anti-heroes of this low-brow, Vegas-set, bachelor-party-gone-wrong comedy, but I'm hoping for the type of old fashioned guy's comedy that's been all but forgotten in this post-Apatow world. With Todd "Old School" Phillips behind the wheel, I may get my wish.
Prediction:
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1119646/
Trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/thehangover/
Release Date: 6/5

"The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3"
No one asked for a remake of the gritty 1974 Walter Matthau cops-and-robbers time capsule, but if there needed to be one, Tony Scott's the man to direct it. Still, I'm not convinced about the whole "there needed to be one" thing.
Prediction:
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1111422/
Trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/thetakingofpelham123/
Release Date: 6/12


"Whatever Works"
Larry David and Woody Allen seem like the well-duh pairing we've all been waiting for. But will Woody's return to American shores also be a return to form? Let's hope so.
Prediction:
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1178663/
Release Date: 6/19

"Moon"
This brain-trip starring Sam Rockwell as a man coming unraveled while in isolation on our titular satellite could be an indie sleeper. Plus: Sam Rockwell!
Prediction:
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/
Release Date: 6/12

"Public Enemies"
Yes, the man behind "Thief" and "Heat" is a natural fit to tell the story of America's most wanted bank robber. And what better time to tell it than when America's banks are on the most wanted list? Still, Michael Mann has never met a story he couldn't over-blow. I don't see this one being any different.
Prediction:
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1152836/
Trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/publicenemies/
Release Date: 7/1

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
After taking the series for a welcomed dark turn in HPs 4 and 5, "Prince" promises to go for a lighter tone. As long as it's not as light as HPs 1 and 2, we should be okay.
Prediction:
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417741/
Trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/harrypotterandthehalfbloodprince/
Release Date: 7/15

"Inglourious Basterds"
I'm as skeptical as the next guy about Quentin Tarantino's unnecessary remake of 1978's little-seen war'sploitation flick. It's sure to be too long by half and too self-congratulatory by even more. Still, that trailer's a corker. So just maybe...
Prediction:
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361748/
Trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/weinstein/inglouriousbasterds/
Release Date: 8/21