Andrea: Early fall already looks like it’s going to be a good film season for Married to the Movies. Here are a few stand out films we’re looking forward to:
Hollywoodland (Sept. 8)
Steve:
Andrea: Reeves of course played Superman on television before the age of any believable special effects.
Steve: This has been in production for years, it’s been delayed for several reasons. But there is some good buzz for this movie.
Andrea: It sure has a lot of star power — Ben Affleck as Reeves, Robin Tunney as Reeves’ fiancee, and Adrien Brody as the private investigator. Another big plus for Hollywoodland is its director, Allen Coulter. He did some brilliant work on “Sex and the City” and “The Sopranos.”
The Black Dahlia (Sept. 15)
Steve: Holy moly, another piece of modern film noir in one month. It looks like it’s going to be a pretty serious September. Fans of L.A. Confidential and its writer James Ellroy must be chomping at the bit for The Black Dahlia — I know we are.
Andrea:It’s another hardboiled mystery set in 1940s Los Angeles. Ellroy’s book was fiction, based in part on the true story of the grisly, still-unsolved murder of a young Hollywood starlet.
Steve: The challenge with this film is to adapt a very complex Ellroy page-turner for the big screen.
Andrea: L.A. Confidential did a fantastic job of translating the book into a visual medium. With a great cast and Brian De Palma directing, this looks to be another instant classic.
Steve: I can’t wait to see this one — it has Oscar contender written all over it … I also hope you’ll permit me to ogle two of my favorite actresses, Scarlett Johansson and Hilary Swank.
Andrea: Sure, if you don’t mind me “ogling” Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart. You’re not the only film noir fan under our roof; this might turn out to be my favorite movie of the season. And, as Johansson has had some lukewarm roles lately, The Black Dahlia could give her career a boost.
The Guardian (Sept. 29)
Andrea:
Steve: I agree. The Guardian is about Coast Guard rescue swimmers, some of the bravest men in the country. We didn’t see enough of them in The Perfect Storm. This one looks like it might have a prime element of the Robert DeNiro – Cuba Gooding, Jr., movie, Men of Honor: crusty instructor with career and personal issues who has to deal with a headstrong recruit. Kevin Costner plays the Coast Guard veteran, Ashton Kutcher tries out for the team.
Andrea: Ashton Kutcher? I can’t picture him as a military man. But the trailers for The Guardian are pretty intense, with some great action and special effects.
Steve: The pretty boy will be the big question for this movie, as Costner has the quiet, serious tough-guy bit down pat by now.
The Departed (Oct. 6)
Steve:
Andrea:Wow, with that kind of firepower, how can you go wrong?
Steve: This movie is an adaptation of a famous Hong Kong film, Infernal Affairs. It’s about a member of the Irish mob infiltrating the Boston Police Department, and an undercover Boston cop infiltrating the Irish mob. A pretty intriguing premise, I think. It will also be interesting to see my favorite actor, Jack Nicholson, in the same movie with upstarts Leonardo and Matt.
Andrea: Audiences will be really mixed, won’t they? Older folks sitting next to those who buy tickets to see DiCaprio in any movie. A great story, a great cast, a great director — Scorsese might have the formula for the Oscar win he’s deserved for so long.
Enterprise features editor Andrea Miller is joined by her husband and fellow movie writer and music journalist Steve Stav for this new “he said/she said” column, “Married to the Movies.” Watch this space for upcoming conversations.
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