40 Most Anticipated Films of 2009 - Part II

Here's part 2 of the series, that goes into movies 30-21. Tomorrow, 20-11.


30. Tetro (Francis Ford Coppola)
Starring: Vincent Gallo, Maribel Verdu, Carmen Maura, Klaus Maria Brandeaur.
Why? I still have faith that Francis Ford Coppola will make a great movie again one day. But since he hasn’t done so in a while, he’s this far down the list. Plus, with Coppola, who knows if he’ll actually get it done in time. Love to see Vincent Gallo working again though!

29. Whatever Works (Woody Allen)
Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Larry David, Patricia Clarkson.
Why? Woody returns to New York after a creative renaissance last year with Cassandra’s Dream and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Those stills of Evan Rachel Wood and Larry David were a little creepy, but I still trust Woody.

28. Away We Go (Sam Mendes)
Starring: John Krasinki, Maya Rudolph, Jeff Daniels, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Allison Janney, Melanie Lynsky.
Why? Mendes hasn’t let me down yet, so despite this somewhat weird cast, and a strange storyline, I’m going to look forward to seeing this one. I find it odd that a man who has made two films about failing marriages, a dark family crime saga and a dark war movie is making a straight ahead comedy, but I still want to see it.

27. Bright Star (Jane Campion)
Starring: Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw, Thomas Sangster, Paul Schneider, Samuel Barnett, Kerry Fox.
Why? A biopic about a doomed love affair between John Keats and his muse Fannie Brawne usually wouldn’t make my list, but I cannot help to think that this may actually be Campion’s comeback vehicle. Since her brilliant 1993 The Piano, she has floundered with some less than stellar work, but she always makes interesting films, so I hope this is another one.

26. Broken Embraces (Pedro Almodovar)
Starring: Penelope Cruz, Lola Duenos, Ruben Ochandiano.
Why? If it’s by Almodovar, I’m there no matter what it’s about, which is good, since I haven’t a clue what this is about.

25. The Human Factor (Clint Eastwood)
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon.
Why? Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela had to happen sooner or later, and Eastwood is one of the best directors out there right now. I’d say this is your Oscar frontrunner this year.

24. Funny People (Judd Apatow)
Starring: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartz,an.
Why? Apatow’s movie are always funnier when he writes and directs – not just produces – and Sandler has proven he can be good given the right material. The rest of the cast is also wonderful.

23. The Fantastic Mr. Fox (Wes Anderson)
Starring: George Clooney, Cate Blanchatt, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman.
Why? I still love Wes Anderson, and doing an animated version of the Rolad Dahl classic children’s novel with his amazing cast seems like just the type of thing he needs to shake things up.

22. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (David Yates)
Starring: Daniel Radclifffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint.
Why? The sixth was my favorite of the Harry Potter novels – by far – and could make a great movie. I worry about the director, and what they’ll have to cut out to make it into a feature film.

21. Where the Wild Things Are (Spike Jonze)
Starring: Paul Dano, Catherine Keener, James Gondolfini, Forest Whitaker, Catherine O’Hara.
Why? I’m not sure why Spike Jonze decided to do a live action version of the classic children’s book, I just know that Jonze is one of the most original directors working today, and it’s been far too long since he made a movie, so I can’t wait for this one.