FAIR GAME
Starring: Naomi
Watts, Sean Penn, Noah Emmerich,
Liraz Charchi
& Nicholas Sadler
Directed by Doug
Liman for distribution by Summit Entertainment
The Plot: The true story behind how CIA agent Valerie
Plame (Watts) was exposed to the public as pay back for a controversial opinion
piece written by her husband (Penn).
The Final Word: When Plame’s cover was blown it ignited
a political firestorm among reporters that still is being talked about. While
the full story may never be told, the movie should cover all of the key points
that many believe to be the truth. Although despite a strong pedigree, both in
front and behind the camera, the early buzz is the movie could be left out in
the cold come the Oscar season.
MORNING GLORY
Starring: Rachael
McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton,
Patrick Wilson
& Jeff Goldblum
Directed by Roger
Michell for distribution by Paramount Pictures
The Plot: A hotshot
producer (McAdams) is recruited to re-invent a struggling television morning
show.
The Final Word: McAdams is another actress who has
seemingly gone off the grid since she burst onto the scene in 2004. After making a splash in five high-profile films over a two-year period, she has seriously reduced her workload in recent years. Here she teams with Harrison
Ford and Diane Keaton, two actors also looking for their first successful film in a
very long time.
SKYLINE
Starring: Eric
Balfour, Donald Faison, Scottie Thompson & Brittany Daniel
Directed by Greg Strause
and Colin Strause for distribution by Universal
The Plot: A group of
people team up to combat a series of mysterious lights in the night sky, that
causes people to vanish in mid-air.
The Final Word: Universal is banking on this
disaster/alien invasion film to boost the year end profits for the studio and possibly morph into a new franchise. Without a major A-list actor and amid a
crowded box office, I’m not optimistic for its chances.
UNSTOPPABLE
Starring: Denzel
Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson & Kevin Chapman
Directed by Tony
Scott for distribution by 20th Century Fox
The Plot: An engineer
and his conductor must derail an unmanned runaway rail car headed right for the
center of busy city.
The Final Word: It seems like every November;
Denzel Washington has a new entry to the holiday box office. Sometimes they
succeed, sometimes they don’t. I’m honestly still on the fence with this
one. In its favor is action maven Tony
Scott at the helm and Chris Pine’s co-starring in his first high profile film since “Star Trek.”
On second thought, that could be enough.
Previewed next week: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and The Next Three Days
Previewed next week: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and The Next Three Days
