Upcoming movies, Summer 2009 ...

[ColbertWatcher]

I picked a few from the complete list published by the LA Times. They're mostly documentaries, but there are a few fictional movies thrown in as well. Check out the full list at the link below.

Our City Dreams

Filmed over the course of two years, this documentary captures the struggles and successes of five female artists. Directed by Chiara Clemente. Di San Luca Films

Outrage

A revealing look at the hidden lives of some of our nation's most powerful policymakers who actively campaign against the gay community that they may covertly belong to. Directed by Kirby Dick. Magnolia Pictures

Brothers at War

By embedding with four combat units, filmmaker Jake Rademacher sets out to understand the experience, sacrifice and motivation of his two brothers serving in Iraq. Samuel Goldwyn Films

Kassim the Dream

A documentary about champion boxer Kassim "The Dream" Ouma, who was kidnapped by the rebel army in his native Uganda and trained to be a soldier at the age of 6. After 12 years with the army, he discovered boxing and defected to the U.S., where he is now a junior middleweight champion. But his desire to see his family again is full of political pitfalls. Directed by Kief Davidson. IFC Films

The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story

A documentary on Academy Award-winning brothers Richard and Robert Sherman, who defined family musical entertainment with such songs as "Chim Chim Cher-ee" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from "Mary Poppins" and "It's a Small World (After All)" from the popular Disneyland attraction, examines their less than harmonious personal relationship. Directed by Jeffrey C. Sherman & Gregory V. Sherman. Walt Disney Pictures

Burma VJ

An inside look at the 2007 uprising in Myanmar through the cameras of the independent journalist group Democratic Voice of Burma. Directed by Anders Ostergaard. Oscilloscope Laboratories

Throw Down Your Heart

Documentary follows American musician Béla Fleck on his journey to Africa to explore the little-known African roots of the banjo and record an album. Directed by Sascha Paladino. The Old School and Argot Pictures

The Stoning of Soraya M

A journalist uncovers the story of a young Iranian woman who was stoned to death when wrongly accused of adultery. With Shohreh Aghdashloo, Jim Caviezel, Mozhan Marnò, Navid Negahban and Ali Pourtash. Directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh. Screenplay by Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh and Cyrus Nowrasteh. In Farsi and English. Roadside Attractions and MPower Pictures

Under Our Skin

An investigative look at the science and politics of Lyme disease and the personal stories of those whose lives have been affected. Directed by Andy Abrahams Wilson. Shadow Distribution

Public Enemies

The story of legendary Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger, who became the No. 1 target of J. Edgar Hoover's fledgling FBI and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public. With Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Giovanni Ribisi, Billy Crudup. Directed by Michael Mann. Screenplay by Ronan Bennett and Michael Mann & Ann Biderman. Universal

Brüno

Sacha Baron Cohen as flamboyant Austrian fashionista Brüno. Directed by Larry Charles. Screenplay by Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Mazer & Jeff Schaffer. Story by Baron Cohen & Peter Baynham & Hines & Mazer. Universal Pictures

Soul Power

A look at a three-night music festival featuring celebrated American R&B artists held in Kinshasa, Zaire, in 1974 during "The Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Directed by Jeffrey Levy-Hinte. Sony Pictures Classics

In the Loop

A political farce about U.K./U.S. involvement in a possible war. With Tom Hollander, James Gandolfini and Steve Coogan. Directed by Armando Iannuci. Written by Iannuci, Jesse Armstrong, and Simon Blackwell & Tony Roche. IFC Films

Shake Hands With the Devil

The story of Canadian commander Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire's personal journey through the 1994 Rwandan genocides. Directed by Roger Spottiswoode. Written by Michael Donovan. Regent Releasing

Julie & Julia

A government secretary cooks all 524 recipes from Julia Child's bible of French cuisine in just 365 days. With Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina and Linda Emond. Directed by Nora Ephron; screenplay by Ephron. Columbia Pictures

It Might Get Loud

The personal stories of three generations of electric guitar virtuosos: U2's the Edge, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and the White Stripes' Jack White. Directed by Davis Guggenheim. Sony Pictures Classics

Taking Woodstock

A true story about a Greenwich Village interior designer who inadvertently played a pivotal role in making the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival into a history-making event. With Demetri Martin, Imelda Staunton, Emile Hirsch and Eugene Levy. Directed by Ang Lee. Screenplay by James Schamus. Focus Features

~~Los Angeles Times

[dysfunctional press]

1. i almost never go to documentaries in the theatre...

i prefer to watch them at home on dvd, so that i have the ability to go back at times.

btw- what link are you referring to?

[ColbertWatcher]

6. I messed up the coding for the link, but it's fixed now. n/t

[Sal Minella]

2. Please add link?

[ColbertWatcher]

3. Sorry about that. I messed up the code. It's fixed now! n/t

[Sal Minella]

15. Thanks for posting this! What a treat for an old film geekazoid like me.

[ColbertWatcher]

18. You're welcome. It's one of the best things about the LA Times.

They have a section of the paper called the Calendar section, and three times a year they do this "movie sneaks" thing (Spring, Summer and Fall--I think).

If you're a fan of movies, it's a great thing indeed.

[citizen snips]

4. I want to see the Inglorious Bastards

The new Tararntino movie sounds great

[ColbertWatcher]

5. I can't wait to see "Bruno" and "Burma VJ". n/t

[citizen snips]

8. I would like to see an eye opening documentary

but they usually don't have independent films like that in my area.

[ColbertWatcher]

10. Ugh, sorry. Do you have any digital screens where you live? n/t

[citizen snips]

11. everything is in black and white

[dysfunctional press]

7. star. trek.

have people started lining up yet? or did the intertubes mostly do away with that kind of geek-fest?
i'm definitely going for the imax version.

[citizen snips]

9. don't really care about star trek

not my generation.

[dysfunctional press]

14. i know what you mean...

that whole 'transformers' franchise(the sequel is one of the big summer films) is lost on me.

[ColbertWatcher]

12. With Roddenberry gone, it's hard to know who's behind the prequel coming out. n/t

[dysfunctional press]

13. it doesn't matter much to me...

as long as it's an entertaining film(and by all accounts i've heard- it is), i wouldn't cars if rupertn murdoch was the producer.

[ColbertWatcher]

17. For me it matters because if it's some bastard company behind it, I wait ...

... until it goes to network before I even watch it.

I wouldn't give Murdoch a dime.

[dysfunctional press]

20. since murdoch owns a chunk of directv, i give him money every month.

but then, i don't let the politics of the performers affect my entertainment decisions, either.

[ColbertWatcher]

22. A person's "politics" doesn't necessarily determine ...

... my enjoyment of the piece, performance, etc.

It will determine whether I will give them my money.

Kurt Russell is as backward as Charlatan Heston, but he was amazing in "Miracle".

Too bad that movie got none of my money ... at least not directly.

[dysfunctional press]

28. that's your prerogative...

i prefer not to let politics interfere with my entertainment choices.

[ColbertWatcher]

29. Thank you! n/t

[tkmorris]

16. I REALLY want to see Throw Down Your Heart

And of course it isn't getting within 1000 miles of here. South Florida can be a real shithole when it comes to the arts.

[Echo In Light]

19. It Might Get Loud might be lame if they didn't focus on artists more deserving than those listed

I mean, sure, Jimmy Page...but he's already been covered a gazillion times ... and those other two aren't exactly guitarists extraordinaire by any stretch of the imagination.

It's a pet peeve of mine when music docs so blatantly overlook the scores of underground and lesser known artists who, simply because they don't write top 40 music for idiots, aren't recognized for their talents and contributions.

[ColbertWatcher]

24. I think the reason music docs include certain musicians ...

... is due more in part to whose agent, management, etc. has the cash and power to give their little pet more attention, and not because the musician sold some records.

Those types of documentaries are just another form of advertising.

[-..__...]

21. May they burn in hell for all eternity...

The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story

A documentary on Academy Award-winning brothers Richard and Robert Sherman, who defined family musical entertainment with such songs as "Chim Chim Cher-ee" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from "Mary Poppins" and

For composing this excruciating little gem...

"It's a Small World (After All)"

.

Ahhhhh... make it stop :banghead: :banghead: ... make it stop! :banghead: :banghead:

[ColbertWatcher]

23. LOL! n/t

[Ignis]

25. I'm excited about _ Throw Down Your Heart_.

I'm an old Bela Fleck fan, and I've been following his more recent attempts to track the history of the banjo.

I inherited my great-grandfather's banjo a few years and tried to have it repaired/restored, but the music shop made a mess of it. :(

[cascadiance]

26. A few more to add....

I'll probably wind up going to see Star Trek and Terminator shows as well, but...

Food, Inc.

Director Robert Kenner and authors Eric Schlosser and Michael Pollan investigate the mechanisms behind the U.S. food industry. Magnolia Pictures

Afghan Star

Filmmaker Havana Marking follows the stories of four finalists in an "American Idol"-style series in a country with 30 years of war and Taliban rule. Zeitgeist Films


The Little Traitor

In Palestine in 1947, a few months before Israel becomes a state, an 11-year-old boy befriends an officer of the British occupying force and is sent to trial for being a traitor. With Ido Port, Alfred Molina, Jake Barker and Theodore Bikel. Written and directed by Lynn Roth. Regent Releasing

One not in this list that may be later in 2009...

American Casino

Synopsis: “I don’t think most people really understood that they were in a casino” says award-winning financial reporter Mark Pittman. “When you’re in the Street’s casino, you’ve got to play by their... “I don’t think most people really understood that they were in a casino” says award-winning financial reporter Mark Pittman. “When you’re in the Street’s casino, you’ve got to play by their rules.” This film finally explains how and why over $8 trillion of our money vanished into the American Casino.

For chips, the casino used real people, like the ones we meet in Baltimore. These are not the heedless spendthrifts of Wall Street legend, but a high school teacher, a therapist, a minister of the church. They were sold on the American Dream as a safe investment. Too late, they discovered the truth. Cruelly, as African–Americans, they and other minorities were the prime targets for the subprime loans that powered the casino. According to the Federal Reserve, African-Americans were four times more likely than whites to be sold subprime loans.

We meet the players. A banker explains that the complex securities he designed were “fourth dimensional” and sold to “idiots.” A senior Wall Street ratings agency executive describes being ordered to “guess” the worth of billion dollar securities. A mortgage loan salesman explains how borrowers’ incomes were inflated to justify a loan. A billionaire describes how he made a massive bet that people would lose their homes and has won $500 million, so far.

Finally, as the global financial system crumbles and outraged but impotent lawmakers fume at Wall Street titans, we see the casino’s endgame: Riverside, California a foreclosure wasteland given over to colonies of rats and methamphetamine labs, where disease-bearing mosquitoes breed in their millions on the stagnant swimming pools of yesterday’s dreams.

[H2O Man]

27. Kassim Ouma

was a very talented fighter. Though he never actually won a real boxing title, he did fight for one. He found the nightlife to be more fun than training, however, and his career went down the drain. He was defeated in April on the John Duddy card in NYC, by a guy who was supposed to be an easy tune-up.

"The Fighter" may be out before 2010. Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale are going to star in it. Those who watched HBO's series "24/7" leading up to the Pacquiao v Hatton match might have noticed Wahlberg in Pacquiao's training camp. I was on the phone earlier today with the former boxer who is the "main character." He said they had been filming earlier today. There is an effort to get the film completed as soon as possible.