2009 preview

2009 is about to begin so it’s time to see what’s in store. The year starts heavy with Oscar-bating product before moving into the box office heavy hitters as the year winds on. May, in particular, is the month of the geek: Wolverine, Star Trek, Coraline and Drag Me To Hell!

Che Part One 1 January
Benicio del Toro is successful revolutionary Che…

The Reader 2 January
Already nominated for a fistful of Globes, this concerns a young man who falls a woman who works in a Nazi prison camp. That woman is current Oscar fave Kate Winslet. Stephen Daldry directs.

The Spirit 2 January
Frank Miller’s adaptation of Will Eisner’s comic strip hero in the 300/Sin City-style. Expect no lightness of touch… Already flopped in America.

Defiance 9 January
With a cast including Daniel Craig and Liev Schrieber, and with Ed Zwick at the helm this WWII film carries WEIGHT. Early reviews have not been kind.

Frost/Nixon 9 January
A must-see!

Slumdog Millionaire 9 January
Danny Boyle’s Indian Who Wants To Be A Millionaire crowd pleaser.

Seven Pounds 16 January
The new Will Smith is mentioned here simply because somes critics have praised the originality of the script – and the twist that can’t be mentioned.

The Wrestler 16 January
The Darren Aronofsky/Mickey Rourke comeback special.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 23 January
David Fincher delivers an Oscar-friendly picture about the man who ages backwards. Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett star.

Milk 23 January
Sean Penn goes for Oscar number two in Gus Van Sant’s biopic of San Fran’s first openly gay elected official.

Franklyn 30 January
British sci-fi/fantasy ensemble piece. The visuals alone make this a must-see.

Revolutionary Road 30 January
Sam Mendes directs Leo and Kate. More Oscars?

Valkyrie 30 January
Bryan Singer directs the plot to kill Hitler, led by Tom Cruise.

Doubt 6 February
Oscar-bating performances from Philip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep in the adaptation of the stageplay in which a vicar is accused of abusing a child.

Push 6 February
Another post-Heroes, this-isn’t-a-super-hero-movie-it’s-a-movie-about-people-with-special-powers film.

Che Part Two 20 February
Benicio del Toro is the not-so successful revolutionary Che…

Gran Torino 20 February
Clint’s final performance in front of the camera may be his greatest – and Oscar may reward him for it.

Outlander 20 February
Vikings v aliens: what’s not to like?

Watchmen 6 March
Fox have won the court case against Warners, so this might yet be delayed. Can this get anywhere close to the source graphic novel?

State of Play 17 April
Kevin ‘Last King of Scotland’ Macdonald directs the adaptation of the hit BBC series. Casting is off the charts: Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Russell Crowe, Jason Bateman, and Helen Mirren to name a few.

Wolverine 1 May
Hugh Jackman brings us the origin of Logan. Snikt!

Star Trek 8 May
JJ Abrams brings us the origin of Trek.

Coraline 15 May
Henry Selick brings his stop-motion magic to Neil Gaiman’s story.

Drag Me To Hell 29 May
Sam Raimi returns to horror.


Terminator Salvation 5 June
Not content with saving Gotham, Christian Bale also wants to fight for our future against the machines as John Connor.

Public Enemies 3 July
Michael Mann directs the Dilinger movie. Johnny Depp is the gangster, while Christian Bale (does the man ever stop?) is the cop trying to capture him.

2012 10 July
Roland ‘Independence Day’ Emmerich does another planet in peril flick.

Harry Potter 17 July
Pretty much does what it says on the tin.

The Wolf Man 6 November
Che, sorry Benicio del Toro is the wolf man. Directed by Joe Johnston.

Avatar 18 December
James Cameron does sci-fi. Could be monumental or an utter flop…

Also without dates allocated yet:
Kick-Ass
Matthew ‘Layer Cake/Stardust’ Vaughan directs the adaptation of Mark ‘Wanted’ Millar’s violent comic about a kid who decides to police the streets as a costumed hero.

The Soloist
Joe ‘Atonement’ Wright directs Robert Downey Jnr as the journalist trying to help mad but musical genius Jamie Foxx get back on his feet.

Dorian Gray
Oliver Parker directs a rather classy British cast in this remake.