Fall Movie Preview

We have all been reminded over and over again about the amazing summer the film industry had. But considering that we are halfway through the month of September, The Scene has decided to leave these landmark summer months behind us and look forward to the fall. So forget about Robert Downey, Jr.'s race-bending performance in Tropic Thunder. Ask yourself, "Batman who?" And when you decide you can't forget about those amazing performances, resolve yourself to look forward to the fun that's to come.

October

Wildcard: Body of Lies

It's been a lucky 13 years for both Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe since they last worked together in 1995's The Quick and the Dead. DiCaprio scored the gig of a lifetime with Titanic, and a few Oscar nominations in the years that followed. Crowe showed off his brute strength as an actor and a fighter in Gladiator, actually nabbing the coveted statue. Teaming up the two Method actors with Gladiator director Ridley Scott should be a no-brainer come awards season, but a confusing trailer leaves something to be desired. Still, DiCaprio has proven himself to be Hollywood's steadiest leading man, making Lies a fall must-see. Opening 10/10

Box office draw: High School Musical 3

As college students, should we really care about the theatrical release of the third installment of Disney's High School Musical franchise? The simple answer is: absolutely. We can pretend the cheesy plotlines and bubblegum pop songs are for the tween demographic, but once you witness the adorable puppy love storyline of Troy and Gabriella, it's impossible not to get sucked in. HSM3 marks the first time the pop culture phenomenon goes big screen, which means everything is going to be bolder and bigger for the Wildcats' senior year. Opening 10/24

Oscar Contender: Changeling

The last time Clint Eastwood sat in the director's chair was for the Academy Award best picture nominee Letters from Iwo Jima. The last time that Angelina Jolie played a character other than a gun-toting femme fatale was in A Mighty Heart, for which many believe she was robbed of an Oscar nod. Put these two seasoned veterans together, and you're bound to have magic in the form of Changeling. The story follows a working mother dealing with the grief of the disappearance of her young son. If Eastwood's minimalist style led Hilary Swank to Oscar gold a few years back, what could stop the superior talents of Jolie from making the same journey? Opening 10/24

November

Box office draw: Quantum of Solace

If there's one movie left this year that has enough hype to near the success of summer's The Dark Knight, it's Quantum of Solace, the follow-up to 2006's wildly popular James Bond reboot, Casino Royale. The mysterious title hails from an obscure short story from Bond's original creator, author Ian Fleming, and refers to a secret organization that Bond must take down to save the world … again. A common fanboy debate is the ever popular question of "Who's been the best Bond?" When pictures of Daniel Craig first surfaced, no one thought he would ever come close to Sean Connery or Roger Moore. And now? Many believe he may just overtake them both.

Opening 11/14

Wildcard: Twilight

Sure, Breaking Dawn, the final chapter of Stephenie Meyers' Twilight saga may have been bashed by the critics. But the reviews do not change the fact that it moved millions of copies in just one weekend of release. The last time a book blew up like that, there was a boy wizard that took his Nimbus 2000 and flew it from the pages of the Harry Potter books to the big screen; so it was a logical step to make the first book of the Twilight saga into a film as well. It has all the makings of a box office winner: forbidden love, science fiction, vampires, and a young, built-in fan base. Opening 11/21

Oscar Contender: Australia

When reminiscing about the last 10 years in the entertainment industry, what film has been more evocative of old-time Hollywood - or more spectacular - than Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! It's been seven years since Luhrmann won over legions of fans with the musical. Thankfully, Luhrmann is back to try to win more fans over with an epic story set in the Land Down Under, aptly named Australia. The director reconnects with his favorite muse, Nicole Kidman, as well as the rugged Hugh Jackman. The casting choices seem obvious, but the wildcard factor of this movie is Kidman's questionable box office draw. Opening 11/26

December

Box office draw: The Day the Earth Stood Still

December belongs to the Comic-Con attendee, with movies like Twilight and an update of 1951's The Day the Earth Stood Still. The original is revered in most circles as a sci-fi masterpiece. That would be an insurmountable problem if it were not for the superb casting choice of Keanu Reeves as Klaatu, an alien sent to Earth to warn humankind of impending environmental doom. Reeves has an obviously strong background in science fiction with The Matrix trilogy, and an ideal cast mate in Jennifer Connelly, but will it be enough to overcome the recent dismissal by American audiences of films that deal with political issues like the environment or war? Opening 12/12

Wild Card: Seven Pounds

To call a Will Smith movie a "wild card" would normally be a bold statement. Smith is the most bankable star in Hollywood today, even when his movies are completely unworthy of buzz (I'm looking at you, Hancock). July is usually his moment to shine, but last year he made waves in December as well with an above-average update of the sci-fi classic I Am Legend. This December, he's trying to find more success with Pursuit of Happyness director Gabriele Muccino, playing a man who co-opts his brother's identity for a chance to start over. The trailer gives nothing away, but Smith has an uncanny ability to make us care about any character he plays. Opening 12/12