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Inception

Christopher Nolan. Oh, sorry, Christopher Nolan writing and directing a new movie. That's enough, right? OK, for those of you who don't know who Christopher Nolan is (and among the people reading this Web site, that number must be low), I'm talking about the director of, among other films, "Memento", "Insomnia," "The Prestige", "Batman Begins", and, of course, "The Dark Knight". So, that guy writing and directing a new movie. Are you with me now? Like the first three films on that list, "Inception", which opens on July 16, is not a Batman movie. Also, technically, it's Nolan's first completely original film, as those former three films are all based on previous works. The plot of "Inception" is being closely guarded, but from the two teaser trailers, this much is apparent: this is a sci-fi movie with lots of action that's easy to compare to "The Matrix", what with two guys fighting each other in a rapidly rotating hallway, a creepy top, and a tilting glass of water.

Whatever the plot is, if Nolan's name doesn't get you excited, the film's cast is, as with the director's previous films, impressive. The lead is Leonardo DiCaprio, and is flanked by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, Tom Berenger, Michael Caine, and Cillian Murphy, among others. Though "Inception" doesn't have the advantage of being a sequel of a well-known franchise, these actors, plus Nolan's involvement, plus the film being released in IMAX theaters, should lead to a hefty box-office take. Of course, after "The Dark Knight" made over $500 million in North America, Christopher Nolan would probably have been able to make a movie of himself reading the phone book, and Warner Bros. Pictures would have green-lit the project. However, the footage and buzz of "Inception" has only gotten more and more exciting. Why can't it be July yet?

The Social Network

As with Christopher Nolan or Paul Greengrass, when a guy like David Fincher directs a movie, a lot of people pay attention. When David Fincher directs a movie written by Aaron Sorkin, people pay attention, but maybe with quizzical looks on their faces. When that movie is about the creation of...Facebook, those same people probably just throw up their hands in confusion. David Fincher. Aaron Sorkin. Facebook? What? Confusing or baffling as it is, "The Social Network" is happening, and it's happening soon.

This real-life drama, scheduled to open on October 15, is also adapted from Ben Mezrich's recent book "The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal". Yes, that the book's title was changed is shocking, but let's all calm down. Unlike Fincher's previous films, such as "Zodiac", "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", or "Fight Club", there aren't a lot of familiar faces here, with one notable exception. The cast includes Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Joseph Mazzello, and Justin Timberlake. Like I said, one notable exception.

Still, this cast isn't exactly box office gold (unless the value of gold is equal to what "The Love Guru" made). What will likely sell the film isn't even having Fincher or Sorkin involved. As you have probably guessed, all it will take is one word: Facebook. This social networking service has become insanely, ridiculously popular since it hit the mainstream in 2004. Millions upon millions may use it, but will those people pay to see a movie about its creation? Is Facebook that interesting? Can Fincher and Sorkin make Facebook that interesting? Will anyone care? Unlike the other films on this list, there are a lot more questions here that may sink the film (and there's also no trailer yet, so it's all just guessing), but having read the book, and knowing how talented David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin are, I'm willing to have a little faith in "The Social Network".

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