Trailer Hitch
By Eric Hughes
November 19, 2008
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Cadillac Records – Opens December 5th
With Mamma Mia! and more recently High School Musical 3 lighting up movie theaters nationwide, it's about time we come across a drama film that can still hit the high notes. It's Cadillac Records, an R-rated musical based around the early days of Chicago-based record company Chess Records, headed by Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody), and the business' clientele, including Willie Dixon (Cedric the Entertainer), Chuck Berry (Mos Def), Little Walter (Columbus Short), Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright) and Etta James (Beyoncé Knowles).
I don't typically like anything Brody stars in, but Cadillac Records may finally be the exception. And of course, the filmmakers make good use of Beyoncé's fantastic pipes.
Grade: B
Also expected to be released on this date: The Punisher: War Zone, Extreme Movie, Nobel Son, Timecrimes, Frost/Nixon, Ciao, Local Color
The Tale of Despereaux – Opens December 19th
If Pixar's Ratatouille taught us anything, it's that rats can perform some pretty fantastic things in the kitchen, no? Then it's a bit ironic that one year later the trailer to a new Universal animated feature opens with a pesky rodent infestation in France's royal kitchen. And one unfortunate rat ends up in the soup of the Queen, who spots the dirty pest with agony and dies of an apparent heart attack. Touché, Universal, touché.
But comparisons between the two pretty much end there, as the hero in this journey, the titular Despereaux (Matthew Broderick), falls in love with a human princess (Emma Watson) at a time when all rats (though Despereaux is a mouse) have evacuated the city due to the kitchen/Queen fiasco. And after the princess is taken hostage by the same bevy of rats that were ousted in the first place, it's up to Despereaux to come in and save the day.
Based on the 2004 Newbery Award-winning book by Kate DiCamillo, this picture is definitely one for the kids to enjoy. Other voices in the cast include Dustin Hoffman, Tracey Ullman, Sigourney Weaver, Kevin Kline and Stanley Tucci.
Grade: B-
Also expected to be released on this date: Seven Pounds, Yes Man, Nothing But the Truth, The Wrestler, The Brothers Bloom
Dance Flick – Opens February 6, 2009
From the Wayans brothers comes Dance Flick, a parody film that targets - what else? - recent dance movies (think You Got Served, Step Up, even Save the Last Dance). If you like these guys' recent work - the earlier Scary Movies, White Chicks - then this "comedy" film is right up your alley. But if you've got at least half a functioning brain and prefer a more sophisticated film diet, be prepared to skip this one at all costs.
Why? Well, let's see here. For starters, we've got a pregnant woman break dancing (for whatever reason) who then poops her own baby out on the same dance floor. Then a dancer who tragically kills her mother while performing a kick routine. I will award points, however, for an Amy Sedaris cameo, though I do need to ask: what the hell is she doing in this movie? I'm also a bit confused as to the timing of its release, given that its main source of movie material came out 5+ years ago. (Then again, I probably shouldn't waste too much thinking power on this one).
Grade: D
Also expected to be released on this date: He's Just Not That Into You, The Pink Panther 2, Push
Star Trek – Opens May 8, 2009
Franchise rebooting seems to be all the rage in Hollywood: Batman in 2005, James Bond in 2006, Halloween in 2007 and The Hulk this summer, just to name a few. Joining the growing list is a spankin' new Star Trek franchise, which will attempt to erase the bad memories of 2002's Star Trek: Nemesis with a new director (Lost/Cloverfield wonder boy J.J. Abrams) and fresh faces (Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Simon Pegg among them).
And at the onset of the extended teaser, released last weekend in front of Quantum of Solace, you get the feeling that they made a lot of the appropriate decisions (love that line from a surprise pint-sized version of James T. Kirk!) Not that the sneak peek is mindblowingly great - heck, all you mostly get is big time destruction in lieu of actual story - but at the same time it's for the most part understood that people will be talking about this one once May 2009 finally rears its head.
Grade: B
Also expected to be released on this date: My Life in Ruins
Crossing Over – Opens TBA 2009
Crossing Over, starring Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta, is based around the powerful stories of individuals - across all national, racial and religious lines - who struggle to attain legal status in the United States (and more specifically, Los Angeles). It's all here: border control, document fraud, asylum, naturalization, counter terrorism issues and culture clashes. There's even a little scandal, too, as Liotta's character attempts to get a young girl her green card in exchange for sex.
And the trailer does a good job of squeezing in as many of these stories as it possibly can in the time allotted, complete with an engaging soundtrack that mixes well with the dialogue and imagery. Other members of the cast include Sean Penn, Summer Bishil, Jim Sturgess and Alice Eva.
Grade: A