Longest blog post evar? Mmm hmm. So here is my big Fall Preview for your perusing enjoyment. I tried to cover everything that I expect to be of interest for both general movie going and potential Oscar glory – however I imagine I have missed a few. The flicks are in very general order of release (by month) but these things do tend to change from time to time. Most of this here is just my analysis based on the trailers (titles link to trailers) and general buzz. There is only one film on this list I have seen – but many I am looking forward to. Enjoy and please leave your comments at the end!

SEPTEMBER

APPALOOSA
I do like me a good western and the reviews for this (released last Weds 9/17 to a decent $17k per screen on 14) have been pretty positive. Ed Harris is pretty untested as a director (I didn’t see his first film, 2000’s Pollock), but he certainly has help from a great cast which includes Viggo Mortensen and Jeremy Irons. I expect this flick to attract a certain amount of genre attention, but come up a bit short at Oscar time (see last year’s 3:10 to Yuma).

THE DUCHESS
Seems like we were watching trailers for this film a whole year ago. Well it finally came out last week ($27k/scr on 7) and the reviews are heavily mixed. I’m a huge fan of this period and Keira does it well, but I’m in no real hurry to catch this one. I’ll see it eventually and reserve my judgment until then.

BLINDNESS
Fernando Mereilles’ (City of God) long awaited follow up to The Constant Gardner has an incredible cast that includes Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Danny Glover, and Gael. But that cast hasn’t helped the dreary reviews so far. His stuff is always pretty stylized so I imagine I won’t have too bad of a time sitting through the dystopic tale. With actors that good, Miramax is bound to mount some kind of Oscar campaign regardless of how well the film fares.

TOWELHEAD
Alan Ball was certainly hoping to win another Oscar (he wrote American Beauty) with his feature directorial debut – but if the reviews are any indication it is a real long shot.

THE LUCKY ONES
What happens when you put outspoken liberal activist Tim Robbins in a movie about Iraq vets? Hmmm… I’m guessing this one bombs. The gratuitous use of Sarah McLaughlin and a bad cgi twister in the trailer don’t help anything at all. I’d consider enlisting to miss this one.

MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA
Spike Lee’s WWII epic looks pretty thrilling from the trailer, but early reports put it squarely in “meh” column. Too bad – that one had a lot of potential.

OCTOBER

ROCKNROLLA
Guy Ritchie directing Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton, Tom Wilkinson, Jeremy Pivens, and Ludacris. Dear lord, for Guy Ritchie’s sake, please let this be as good as it potentially could be.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED
We are talking ensemble mania here in this Hollywood insider comedy by Barry Levinson – DeNiro, Willis, Tucci, Turturro, Penn, Keener and more. I’ve heard mixed things from those who saw it at Sundance. I won’t be too surprised if this one disappears into the cacophony that is the crowded season – but I’m betting this is a fun ride for those who catch it.

RELIGULOUS
I have high hopes for this Larry Charles directed (Borat) Bill Maher expose on the world of organized religion. Early reports are that it’s a keeper.

NICK AND NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST
Can someone other than Fox Searchlight have a breakout fall comedy hit? Having Michael Cera on board certainly doesn’t hurt. And we all know how great Kat Dennings was in Charlie Bartlett, right, right? I’m looking forward to this… but I’m definitely not recommending it until I see it.

RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
Intense character piece featuring a slew of strong female actors and directed by Jonathan Demme (Philadelphia, Silence of the Lambs). Could be a pretty damn good – which reports out of Toronto seem to confirm. Also could be a break out role for Anne Hathaway – and if so could equal an Oscar nom.

BODY OF LIES
Ridley Scott is no stranger to Oscar noms (Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, Thelma & Louise, and last year’s American Gangster) though he has never scored the best director statue. Considering this flick was written by the Oscar winning writer of The Departed, William Monahan, I’d say he has an early look at a nom at least. DiCaprio and Crowe should be kept in mind as well. Will this be this year’s The Departed or this year’s Valley of Elah?

MAX PAYNE
Video game adaptations are always great, right? And with a prestige director like John Moore (Behind Enemy Lines, Flight of the Phoenix), even Marky Mark and the lovely Mila Kunis may not be able to save this one. It must have been a really crowded summer for this film to come out in October.

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES
With a pretty incredible cast of Queen Latifa, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, and Sophie Okonedo and the Oscar machine of Fox Searchlight – this has got to be an early fave for at least a slew of acting awards.

W.
No one knows what to expect from Oliver Stone’s Bush biopic – but anticipation is certainly high, and it has all the Oscar potential in the world.

CITY OF EMBER
Bill Murray gets his steam punk on. Written by long time Tim Burton collaborator Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride) and directed by promising youngster Gil Keenan (Monster House), I have high hopes for this PG underground adventure.

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
Mike Leigh is undoubtedly a good director, but it is a long shot that this very British femme romantic comedy will make much of a splash on our shores, even if it has been a bit of a festival darling this summer.

PRIDE & GLORY
Another cop movie, another fantastic cast (Norton, Farrell, Voight). I didn’t see anything in the trailer or writer/director Gavin O’Connor’s credits that make me too excited – but hey, it could surprise.

CHANGELING
I don’t know a whole lot about this new film from Clint Eastwood set in 1920s L.A. – but the trailer looks pretty damned intense. Given it is Eastwood working with Angelina Jolie and John Malkovitch, I imagine the Universal Oscar machine is gonna be pushing this one full speed ahead.

ASHES OF TIME REDUX
I doubt anyone is too surprised to learn that I am pretty damned excited about Wong Kar Wai’s re-release of his 1994 costume actioner (his only Kung Fu film). With an incredible cast featuring both Tony Leungs and Maggie Cheung and classic Chris Doyle cinematography, any chance to see a film like this in the theater is a treat. Read more at twitch

FLASH OF GENIUS
Long time producer Marc Abraham makes his directorial debut with this potentially touching story of a man (Greg Kinnear) against the system. If it is good, it could be a contender. If it is mediocre, it could get lost in the onslaught of prestige pics. My guess is for the latter.

MORNING LIGHT
While it is certainly a family friendly Disney film – this “true life” documentary (read:reality movie) about a group of kids who race a sailboat to Hawaii does look to have some pretty impressive photography and could be a good ride.

THE BROTHERS BLOOM
I have had incredibly high hopes for this con-action-comedy from young hotshot writer/director Rian Johnson (Brick) for quite sometime. The cast is great and the trailer looks pretty awesome – I mean, they blow up the cathedral tower in Prague! This one is at the top of my list.

GRAN TORINO
I know even less about Clint Eastwood’s second directed film of the season – although I can tell you he is starring in it, unlike what seems to be the higher profile Changeling.

SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK
You gotta think that with all the amazing performances in this challenging but potentially rewarding film, some acting noms are bound to fall around a few necks. My guess would be a supporting nom for Michelle Williams. It’s a total long shot but how about a supporting nom for Tom Noonan, huh?

ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO
Bring on the era of non-ViewAskewniverse Kevin Smith films (Jersey Girl doesn’t count). Something tells me this one ain’t gonna grab any Oscar noms – but I am looking forward to it nonetheless.

NOVEMBER

QUANTUM OF SOLACE
Hooo boy I am excited for this follow up to Casino Royale! And new bond girl Olga Kurylenko is crazy smokin hot.

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Danny Boyle’s (Trainspotting, Sunshine) film about an Indian kid who strikes it rich on a game show looks to have a ton of promise if the reviews out of Toronto are any indication (currently 100% on RT)

AUSTRALIA
You gotta think that Baz Luhrmann’s (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge) epic starring Kidman and Jackman has a shot at some awards. I can promise it will at least be stylish.

THE ROAD
No trailer yet for John Hillcoat’s (The Proposition) adaptation of a Cormac McCarthy novel but the release date and cast of Viggo Mortensen, Robert Duvall, Charlize Theron, and Guy Pearce means this one is aiming at Oscar gold for sure.

THE SOLOIST
Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement) is back already with this heartfelt tale that stars Jamie Foxx and my pick for actor of the year, Robert Downey Jr. Could this Oscar vet deliver a statue for Downey, who has yet to pick one up (he was nom’d for Chaplin)?

FOUR CHRISTMASES
I’m only putting this holiday romcom starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn on the list because is it directed by Seth Gordon – the director of last years fantastic documentary The King of Kong. Is Gordon just taking a paycheck – or can he add a little story telling gold to this well trodden genre?

MILK
I’ve read this script directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Sean Penn and there is some potential here – but can such a gay themed film break out? Regardless, it is certainly Oscar bait.

DECEMBER

FROST/NIXON
Ron Howard is looking for more Oscar glory with this historical drama that shows a lot of promise.

SEVEN POUNDS
No trailer yet, but a December Will Smith release always spells Oscar push. Directed by Gabriele Muccino who directed Smith in The Pursuit of Happiness.

TWILIGHT
There is already a bit of buzz around for this Kristen Stewart starring teen vampire flick that looks pretty harmless from the trailer. With HBO’s True Blood and this film, the vampire resurgence seems to be on. Anyone looking for a really great film should track down Let The Right One In.

YES MAN
Jim Carrey returns to what he does best (screwball comedy) and it looks pretty hilarious. Having co-stars like Zooey Deschanel and Rhys Darby (Murray from FotC) doesn’t hurt either.

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL
Winter blockbusters seem to be all the rage this year. This one stars Keanu and Jennifer Connelly and looks pretty damn mediocre. But we all know Keanu shines in roles where he plays a creature with no emotions.

DEFIANCE
Ed Zwick’s (Blood Diamond, Last Samurai) rather cold looking WWII film starring Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber with funny accents. Looks pretty meh to me – but then I am not a huge Zwick fan.

DOUBT
Whoa – Oscar alert! Meryl Streep. Phil Hoffman, and Amy Adams in an adaptation of a John Patrick Shanley Pulitzer Prize winning play about a hot button topic (religious scandal). Better put this one on the scoreboard right now.

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX
Hold on – an animated film about a rodent and a chef in France? Well it is certainly bound to be a box office hit.

NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH
Not much out there yet on this take of the Valerie Plame scandal starring Kate Beckinsale and Matt Dillon – but it looks like Yari is gonna try to get it out in time to qualify for the Oscars, so it should at least be on the radar.

THE SPIRIT
Frank Miller (300, Sin City) returns with another ridiculously FX heavy stylized flick with too many starlets to count. I just hope a plot emerges to compliment all the pretty faces.

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
No trailer yet – but people have been talking about this Sam Mendes (American Beauty) directed re-pairing of DiCaprio and Winslett for years now – out in time for Oscar noms for sure.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Saving the best for last? Maybe… I pretty much love everything Fincher does (Seven, Fight Club, Zodiac) and this F. Scott Fitzgerald adaptation starring Brad Pitt aging backwards has gotten some pretty stellar early reports. w00t!