Top Anticipated Films of the Fall and Summer Face-Off

Six interesting trailers hit the Net this week, which make up this week’s RFP buzz. The fall season is winding down and heating up at the same time. Most of the big Oscar buzz films have yet to hit screens. December looks packed. A movie fans’ dream. Getting Buzzed this week has our first peeks at films just around the corner and some highly anticipated films of 2009.

Getting Buzzed
6) Good (Dec. 31)
There is a great deal of WWII-themed films coming out this fall and here is another that is sneaking out before the eight flips to a nine. Starring Viggo Mortensen and Jason Isaacs, the film follows a professor who underestimates the threat of the Nazis and must finally choose between a Jewish friend and the party he has inadvertently become a part of. The reliable Mortensen has me interested. Check out the trailer and tell me what you think.

5) A Christmas Tale (In Theaters)
This French import opens this weekend and tells the tale of a dysfunctional family getting together for the holidays. These kind of films are a dime a dozen, but few star Catherine Deneuve and Mathieu Amalric. It’s in limited release and the reviews have been solid, so check out the trailer and see what you think. Anything has to be better than FOUR CHRISTMASES, right?

4) Coraline (Feb. 6, 2009)
Based on a Neil Gaiman book and directed by Henry Selick (THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS), this stop-motion animated feature is one of the great curiosities of the winter/spring season. Check out the wonderful eye candy in the new teaser trailer.

3) Nothing But the Truth (Dec. 19 - limited; Jan. 9 - wide)
I have a feeling this interesting drama will get overshadowed by more star-powered dramas. Directed by Rod Lurie and starring Kate Beckinsale and Vera Farmiga, the film is inspired by the Valerie Plame CIA outing scandal. Beckinsale plays a reporter that goes to jail to protect her source. If it’s half as smart as Lurie’s political drama THE CONTENDER then this could be a standout. Check out the new trailer.

4) Adoration (May 8, 2009)
Atom Egoyan, director of one of the best films of the 90s — THE SWEET HEREAFTER, has an award-winning new film tackling the issue of terrorism. From the trailer, one gets the impression that motivations and simple labels are debated. Fascinating trailer has piqued my interest.

2) Star Trek (May 8, 2009)
J.J. Abrams is taking on the difficult task of rebooting STAR TREK. The new action-filled trailer sure makes the most expensive entry in the film series seem exciting. Can these young actors handle the iconic characters? Will this alienate Trekkies? Can it make TREK cool to those that view it as nerds-only material? Rumors about the script have said it has a solid foundation. Hopefully, the producer of LOST can deliver. It’s easily one of the most anticipated films of the summer season.

1) The Wrestler (Dec. 17)
Because STAR TREK is nearly half a year away, the top buzzed about film this week is THE WRESTLER. Word out of Toronto about Mickey Rourke’s Oscar-worthy performance set this one on fire. Considered by many as a critical step forward for director Darren Aronofsky after the disappointment of THE FOUNTAIN. Now we have a trailer cut perfectly to Bruce Springsteen. This feels just right, a ROCKY BALBOA-like story set in the world of C-league wrestling. I really hope this can stand up to the hype.