Forthcoming: Five Fall Movies We're Excited About

The Darjeeling Limited
(IMDB page)
This film opens in New York City on September 28, and makes its way to other cities beginning on October 5. It’s scheduled to arrive in Albany on October 19.

Why we’re excited: It’s a Wes Anderson movie. Say what you will about his other movies (“Bottle Rocket,” “Rushmore,” “The Royal Tenenbaums,” and “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou”) but, more than any other directors, Anderson’s established a definitive style with both visual imagery and his use of music. This film promises to be more of the same. If you’ve liked the other films (and I’m admittedly in that category), this looks promising.

Why we’re hesitant: Anderson’s films have been increasingly whimsical; “The Life Aquatic” enough so that his style came perilously close to torpedoing the movie as a whole. Hopefully, he’ll pull himself back from this fantastical precipice. We’re optimistic.

Dan In Real Life
(IMDB page)
This film opens nation-wide on October 26.

Why we’re excited: Steve Carell. If the advertisements are any indication, this film is a romantic comedy; after broadly comic turns in “The 40 Year Old Virgin” and “Anchorman,” and a foray into dramatic comedy in his supporting role in last year’s surprise Oscar contender “Little Miss Sunshine,” this seems to present Carell with his first opportunity to headline a mainstream romantic comedy. It could catapult him to mainstream A-list stardom. The trailer for the film hints at a warmth that I haven’t seen in a romantic comedy since “Love Actually” – this is a very good sign.

Why we’re hesitant: Dane Cook. The sometimes/rarely-funny hyperactive standup apparently plays a supporting part. He’s appealing to some folks; however, not so much for me. We’ll probably see it anyhow.


No Country For Old Men
(IMDB page)
This film opens November 9 in limited release

Why we’re excited: The Coen Brothers are directing this; it’s going to be interesting to see what they’ll do with Cormac McCarthy’s really bleak subject material. Oscar buzz abounds for the Coens and star Javier Bardem.

Why we’re hesitant: Bleak movies, while often interesting from the perspective of actors, designers, and directors, aren’t really appealing to a lot of people, myself included. If I wanted to walk out of a darkened room after two hours in a bummer of a mood, I’d hang a picture of an ex-girlfriend over my bed and nap more often.

Southland Tales
(IMDB page)
Opens November 9 (we think)

Why we’re excited: Richard Kelly’s followup to the darkly brilliant “Donnie Darko” has been in the works for quite some time. It filmed in 2005, and was originally due in 2006. “Southland Tales” has an eclectic cast – the film features Dwayne (“The Rock”) Johnson, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Seann William Scott (as twins!), Justin Timberlake, Wallace Shawn, and Kevin Smith.

Why we’re hesitant: Premise overload. A postapocalyptic near-future? Tons of quirky, specific characters? Musical numbers? It could be way too many things crammed into one 137-minute flick. Also, the least time we were waiting for a followup film like this, it was Mike Judge’s followup to “Office Space,” which wound up being the overloaded, relatively unfunny “Idiocracy.”


Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium
(IMDB page)
Opens November 16 nationwide.

Why we’re excited: Dustin Hoffman’s been making some interesting acting choices lately, with quirky, distinctive parts in films like “I Heart Huckabees” and “Stranger Than Fiction.” This is another quirky part, where Hoffman plays a fantastical, 216-year-old toymaker. Natalie Portman also stars, which is a good thing.

Why we’re hesitant: It sounds awfully derivative of “Willie Wonka,” to be honest. Other than that, we’ve got nothing.