August 2009 Movie Release Schedule

“Cold Souls” – Paul Giamatti plays himself, a tormented actor who seeks relief through “soul extraction.” Opens in limited release on August 7, 2009

“G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra” – Dennis Quaid and Chris Eccleston face-off in this big-budget action movie based on the 80’s cartoon series. Watch for Sienna Miller as ‘Baroness’ and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as ‘Cobra Commander’. No word on whether Serpentor will be around. Yo Joe! Opens August 7, 2009

“Julie and Julia” – Meryl Streep and Amy Adams in a movie based on the book about a woman who cooks her way through Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” in a year. Opens August 7, 2009

“Paper Heart” – A girl decides to make a documentary about the one subject she doesn’t understand: love. Stars Michael Cera. Opens August 7, 2009

“A Perfect Getaway” – Milla Jovavich and Steve Zahn are on a honeymoon in Hawaii when they discover they’re being stalked by a pair of killers. Opens August 14, 2009

“Bandslam” – Disney movie about high school misfits finding out it’s a long way to the top if they wanna make a rock ‘n roll band. Stars Vanessa Hudgens and Lisa Kudrow. Opens August 14, 2009

“District 9” – Peter Jackson produced movie about an alien race forced to live in slum-like conditions. Opens August 14, 2009

“The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard” – Jeremy Piven plays Don Ready, an off-the-cuff super-salesman hired to help an ailing car lot move their stock. With the help of his ragtag crew they sell, drink, sell, go to strip clubs, drink, and sell some more… Opens August 14, 2009

“Spread” – Guy (Ashton Kutcher) who sleeps around in a life of privilege meets girl (Margarita Levieva) who does the same. Sorta reminds me of Audrey Tautou’s “Priceless.” Opens August 14, 2009

“The Time Traveler’s Wife” – Based on the novel about a man (Eric Bana) who has a genetic disorder that causes him to time-travel when he’s under duress. He tries to have a relationship with a young heiress (Rache1 McAdams). Go back (and forward) in time on August 14, 2009

“Inglourious Basterds” – A woman who flees after watching her family murdered in German occupied France and a group of Jewish men targeting Nazis in acts of retribution converge in this upcoming Quentin Tarantino movie. Opens August 21, 2009

“Post Grad” – Ryden Lamby (Alexis Bledel) graduates from college, moves back home, gets a job, finds a boyfriend, and has to figure out what to do with her life. Yawn. Also stars Michael Keaton. Opens August 21, 2009

“Shorts” – Robert Rodriguez movie about a small suburban community centered around the Black Box company, which is a be-all end-all do-everything gadget. A mysterious rainbow-colored falls from the sky and has the ability to grant anyone’s wish. Opens August 21, 2009

“The World’s Greatest Dad” – Robin Williams is a recently divorced poetry teacher who dreams of being a novelist. And then a whole bunch of bad stuff happens. Opens August 21, 2009

“Oceans” – Disney documentary on the oceans of the world. There’s a bit of controversy in that while it may not be “Shark Week,” it comes close for its ‘G’ rating. Opens August 22, 2010

“Final Destination 4” – A guy named Nick O’Bannon goes to the racetrack with his family and friends and receives a premonition about an accident. He saves them and cheats Death, which isn’t the kind of thing Death takes kindly too. The 4th installment of the series opens August 28, 2009

“Halloween 2” – Picking up where the first leaves off, we get to follow another Myers murderfest. Opens August 28, 2009

“Taking Woodstock” – Ang Lee directed true story of Elliot Tiber, a man who was pivotal in making the 1969 Woodstock Festival happen. Also stars Emile Hirsch and Liev Schreiber. Opens August 28, 2009

Movie News and Views Dec. 22, 2008 Poster Edition

–         Hollywood has found writer Hossein Amini to write a new Jack Ryan movie. Jack Ryan is a character created by Tom Clancy who has been in such movies as “Sum of All Fears,” “Patriot Games,” and “The Hunt for Red October.”

–         Graphic novel artist-come-film director Frank Miller has set his sights on doing a Buck Rogers movie.

–         The directors for “Halloween 2” bolted, and now Rob Zombie has been hired to sequel his remake.

–         “Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen” hasn’t even finished filming before another sequel has been greenlit.

–         Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn will be in a new movie called, “Couples Retreat,” scripted by Favreau and directed by Peter Billingsley (Ralphie from “A Christmas Story”)

–         Actor Anthony Mackie is set to play Jesse Owens in a biopic.

–         Keanu Reeves is interested in doing a live-action “Cowboy Bebop” movie.

–         Carla Gugino plays a porn star named Elektra Luxx in a movie called “Women in Trouble.” She has also signed on for the sequel, “Electra Luxx.”

–         November 29, 2009 is the set release date for “New Moon,” the sequel to “Twilight.” Note: this has no current script or director.

–         J. Lo will be in a new movie called “Plan B,” where she plays a single woman who turns to artificial insemination only to fall in love with the man of her dreams during her pregnancy. There ya go.

–         Tim Robbins is set to play Tony Stark’s father in “Iron Man 2.”

–         A “Judge Dredd” remake is in the works.

–         The latest Internet rumor was that Eddie Murphy was in talks to play “The Riddler” in the next “Batman” movie. Ha ha ha. Yeah, right…

–         James Cameron is attached to a “Forbidden Planet” remake.

–         Bazz Luhrmann, director of “Australia,” is helmed to direct “The Great Gatsby.”

–         49 songs are in competition for the Oscar.

–         “The Phantom” will get a re-boot.

–         Watch for a sequel to “The Queen.”

–         Hugh Jackman will host the Academy Awards.

–         Dreamworks announces a 3^rd “Madagascar” movie.

–         Twentieth Century Fox beamed “The Day the Earth Stood Still” into outer space. Depending on how well that went is how long before we get visited and slapped around for it…

–         “Alvin and the Chipmunks 2” is looking for a director.

–         Fox has also acquired the rights to “How to Talk to Girls,” a series of books written by a 9-year-old boy.

–         “The Dark Knight” has the highest DVD/Blu-ray sales for the year.

–         Will Smith confirms an “I Am Legend” prequel. Maybe “Eventually, I’ll Become Legend?”

–         And he also confirms a “Hancock” sequel.

–         Darren Aronofsky is planning on using un-used footage from “The Fountain” to make a movie for its fans. There ya go.

–         More remakes: “Arthur,” “They Live,” “Romancing the Stone,” and “Soylent Green.”

–         George Miller (“Mad Max,” “Happy Feet”) is no longer working on the Justice League movie.

–         The new “Planet of the Apes” remake will be called “Caesar,” after the “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.”