Fall is the most dynamic season of the entertainment calendar,
with studios attempting to wring every last drop out of the box
office while actively politicking for awards nominations.
Fall is the most dynamic season of the entertainment calendar, with studios attempting to wring every last drop out of the box office while actively politicking for awards nominations. Luckily, not every film is a gut-wrenching drama, and the next three months also feature a sprinkling of comedy to get you through the rainy days. Here are 25 films to be aware of as the leaves change color, broken out by potential box office hits, welcome comic relief, the dreaded “potential disaster” and, finally, Academy Award contenders.
Coming in October
Projected Box Office hit
– “Paranormal Activity 2” (Oct. 22): The last one cleared nearly $200 million on a pauper’s budget. Even half that take will work for Paramount Pictures this time around.
Comic Relief
– “Red” (Oct. 15): Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren star as former C.I.A. agents on the run. Did we mention Mirren fires a machine gun?
Potential Disaster
-“Saw 3D” (Oct. 29): It’s a race to see which phenomenon audiences are more tired of: The “Saw” franchise or overpriced 3-D movies.
Academy Award Contenders
– “The Social Network” (Oct. 1): Skeptics initially thought “a drama about the creation of Facebook?” And then the trailer was released. Now everyone wants to “like” it.
– “Nowhere Boy” (Oct. 8): If you’re looking for dramatic fodder, you could do far worse than the life and times of John Lennon.
– “Secretariat” (Oct. 8): If there’s one thing The Academy loves, it is tales of inspiring animals. Look for this to capture a few of the Oscars that eluded “Seabiscuit.”
Coming in November
Projected Box Office hit
– “Unstoppable” (Nov. 12): Denzel Washington and Chris Pine star in a film by Tony Scott (“Man on Fire”) about an unstoppable train. That reads like a recipe for box office success!
– “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One” (Nov. 19): The “Potter” franchise is getting darker as it nears the finish line, but audiences of all ages should make this the most successful film of the year.
Comic Relief
– “Due Date” (Nov. 5): If trailers count for anything, then we’re in for a treat when Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis team up for a new spin on the classic road trip movie.
Potential Disaster
– “Burlesque” (Nov. 24): Speaking of trailers, this might be the worst effort released this year. The old adage is “If they couldn’t find any decent footage to show in the trailer, how do you think the movie will turn out?”
Academy Award Contenders
– “127 Hours” (Nov. 5): Danny Boyle, only one year removed from his Best Director run, returns with this “based on real events” tale of a trapped hiker. Reviews out of the festival circuit have been largely positive.
– “Love and Other Drugs” (Nov. 24): Anne Hathaway is looking for her second nomination for this Edward Zwick (“Blood Diamond”) dramedy that also stars Jake Gyllenhaal.
Coming in December
Projected Box Office hit
– “Tron: Legacy” (Dec. 17): The momentum for the “Tron” sequel has been building for three years. Look for audiences to flock to the original CGI concept.
Comic Relief
– “How Do You Know” (Dec. 17): Comedy all-stars Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon and Owen Wilson team up for this December laugher. The bonus? Jack Nicholson!
Potential Disaster
– “Little Fockers” (Dec. 22): The “Fockers” franchise enters its “Three Men and a Little Lady” phase.
Academy Award Contenders
– “Black Swan” (Dec. 1): Darren Aronofsky (“The Wrestler”) brings Natalie Portman to the big screen in a reimagining of “Swan Lake.” Or perhaps the film is the story of the musical “Swan Lake” as Portman plays a ballerina. Whatever the case, you can expect plenty of hardware to head this direction come late February.
– “The Fighter” (Dec. 10): David O. Russell (“Three Kings”) directs Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg in a boxing movie. Given the release date, it’s “Raging Bull” all over again. Early buzz has Bale as a frontrunner in the supporting actor category.
– “True Grit” (Dec. 22): This is a remake of the 1969 classic that starred John Wayne. The Coen Brothers are directing, and Jeff Bridges is attempting to fill John Wayne’s shoes. It doesn’t get more Academy than that.
Breakout stars
-James Franco: He has a harrowing tale of survival (“127 Hours”) and a harrowing tale of beating censorship (“Howl”). This is the season where people realize Franco isn’t just a comic actor, though his time on “Freaks and Geeks” and guest appearances on “30 Rock” show he’s also gifted in that department.
-Robert Duvall: We’re cheating slightly here because “Get Low” received a limited release in the summer, but Duvall’s seventh Academy Award nomination (and second win) is too juicy a story to pass up. Look for Duvall to give a lovely acceptance speech at the tender age of 80. And if you haven’t seen “Get Low” it may be time to put that on the calendar.
-Anne Hathaway: She’s paid her dues in comedy (“Get Smart”) while still taking on challenging roles (“Brokeback Mountain”). She’s also already received a nomination for “Rachel Getting Married,” so Academy voters will be familiar with her work.
-Natalie Portman: “The Professional,” “Heat” and “Beautiful Girls” cemented Portman’s place in our pop culture consciousness when she was just a teenager. She picked up an Academy Award nomination for “Closer” and pulled at our heartstrings with “Garden State.” She’s taken on her share of both edgy (“V for Vendetta”) and commercial (“Star Wars: Episodes 1, 2 and 3”) work. This fall she’s found the perfect director for critical accolades: Darren Aronofsky. His last film, “The Wrestler,” gained nominations for Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei. The major difference this year? Portman will win it.
