Boycotting a blockbuster to unnerve the nags who tell me I’m less of a person because I haven’t seen it is my specialty.
But for those of you who boycotted “The Dark Knight” and now regret it, sneak off to a theater Jan. 23, when the movie that’s grossed more than $1 billion worldwide returns for a second run.
If you begrudge the “The Dark Knight” for its record-breaking successes or just want to see something gleaming new, it looks as though you have about 20 good movies coming out of the 100 or so hitting theaters in early 2009.
My picks below will hopefully get you through this recession’s coldest months before May brings Hollywood’s hot super-prequels and sequels such as “X-Men’s Origins: Wolverine,” “Night at the Museum 2,” “Star Trek XI” and “Angels & Demons” from the brains behind “The DaVinci Code.”
Gran Torino Release date: Friday
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang and Ahney Her
Story: Eastwood as a bigoted Korean war vet and retired auto worker wants nothing to do with the Hmong immigrants who have replaced friends in his now multi-ethnic hood. Reluctantly, he allows Thao, a would-be gang-banger to work for him in order to make amends for trying to jack his ’72 Gran Torino. An unlikely friendship forms and Eastwood’s character realizes admirable truths about Thao and other Hmong refugees while protecting them from thugs.
The buzz: Eastwood playing Eastwood directed by Eastwood is what you get in this sure to be an Oscar contender with a twist ending.
Rated: R for language throughout and some violence.
Revolutionary Road Release date: Friday
Stars: Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio
Story: Their marriage implodes when Frank and April Wheeler realize they’re just like everyone else in 1950s suburbia. Despite believing they’re superior, Frank becomes an average worker with a meaningless job and April a homemaker longing for something extraordinary. April’s solution — leaving Connecticut for Paris, pushes them to the extremes.
The buzz: Winslet is credited with lining up screenwriter Justin Haythe, DiCaprio and her husband, Sam Mendes (the Oscar-winning Director of “American Beauty”) to depict Richard Yates’ acclaimed novel.
Rated: Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity.
Last Chance Harvey Release date: Jan. 16
Stars: Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson
Story: In London, late middle-aged love grows between strangers — a Brit named Kate smothered by her mother’s phone calls and New Yorker Harvey, a failed jazz musician, who on his daughter’s wedding day, watches her choose her step-father over him for fatherly duties.
The buzz: “If Last Change Harvey” fails it’s not for a lack of talent. Oscar winners Thompson and Hoffman are more than capable of depicting the sentimental principle ‘It’s never too late’ without making us puke or nod off.
Rated: PG-13 for brief strong language.
He’s Just Not That Into You Release date: Feb. 6
Stars: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly,
Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson, Kris Kristofferson and the Mac guy Justin Long.
Story: Baltimore women who hope they’re the exceptions to the rules — He won’t call, he’s not going to marry you and he’s not going to sleep with you, navigate interconnecting relationships in this romantic comedy based on the best-selling book from comedian Greg Behrendt and “Sex and the City” writer Liz Tuccillo.
The buzz: Sex-pot Scarlett Johansson and the brainy beauty Jennifer Connelly filmed scenes in and around Mt. Vernon for a few days back in Nov. 2007. If you listen, you can already hear gaggles of single ladies across the country planning their Valentine’s Day, girls-only movie date – followed by a serious session of over-analyzing their relationships of course.
Rated: PG-13 for sexual content and brief strong language.
Coraline Release date: Feb. 6
Voiced by: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher and Ian McShane
The story: A young girl walks through a secret door in her new home to discover an alternate version of her life, where everything seems much better than reality until her Other Parents try to keep her forever.
The buzz: “Coraline” is the first high-definition, stop-motion animated feature to be originally filmed in 3D. Expect Henry Selick, who directed “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” to rework his magic, creating a freaky, creepy yet fun world for us.
Rated: PG for thematic elements, scary images, some language and suggestive humor.
Adventureland Release date: March 27
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Ryan Reynolds, Kristen Stewart, Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader
The story: In the summer of ’87, a slightly dweeby recent college grad — think Evan from “Superbad,” takes a lowly job at a local amusement park after his parents break the news they can’t pay for his dream trip to Europe.
The buzz: Bill Hader and his on-screen kooky wife Kristen Wiig will steal scenes in the teen comedy that’s based on Director Greg Mottola’s real-life experiences.
Rated: R for language, drug use and sexual references.
Monsters vs. Aliens 3D Release date: March 27
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogan, Hugh Laurie, Paul Rudd, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Will Arnett and Stephen Colbert
The story: The U.S. turns to their arsenal of kidnapped monsters to battle aliens. The Earth’s future belongs in the hands of a nearly 50-foot tall woman, an insect-headed mad scientist, a fish-man, an indestructible gelatinous mass and a fuzzy, 350-foot bug.
The buzz: DreamWorks Animation moved up the release of this irreverent take on the classic ’50s monster movie so that the flick didn’t have to go head-to-head at the box office with James Cameron’s “Avatar,” a CGI/live-action hybrid initially scheduled to be released in May, but now coming out in Dec. 2009.
Rated: Pending
The Soloist Release date: April 24
Starring: Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx
The story: Based on a true story, Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez finds a friend and story to write when he discovers Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless man playing the violin. Ayers, a former classical music prodigy, developed schizophrenia while studying at Juilliard. Lopez tries to change his life.
The buzz: The drama should give the Academy plenty of material to consider.
Rated: Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some drug use and language.
