Animated Fall

Whether it’s anime or animation, low-brow comedy or gut-wrenching drama, you’re sure to find several worthwhile movies to watch this fall. The fall movie season is no longer the dumping ground for weepy, dramatic Oscar contenders. Action pics will always fare better in summertime, dramas will always find holiday audiences feeling warm and fuzzy, but a better mix of pics is now available throughout the year. Check out these films set for release between now and New Year’s Eve.

OCTOBER

I Heart Huckabees
Two existential detectives help Albert (Jason Schwartzman) examine his problematic life. Existential comedy is a rare treat. If you disagree, at least see this film for its eclectic cast (Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin, Jude Law, Mark Wahlberg, Isabelle Huppert, Naomi Watts, Tippi Hedren and Shania Twain).

Shark Tale
Will Smith gets fishy-withit as he voices a fast-talking little fish named Oscar. This Dream Works tale also features the voices of Angelina Jolie, Rene Zellweger, Robert DeNiro and Jack Black as a sensitive, vegetarian shark. The soundtrack features Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliot performing their take on the disco classic, “Car Wash.” Don’t look for Ariel here!

Ray
Just watch the trailer and you can easily picture Jamie Foxx standing at the podium accepting his Oscar. His portrayal of legendary musician Ray Charles has Hollywood and the world abuzz with praise. Bio-pics are usually cable TV fare. Charles lived large. Only the big screen can capture and reflect his epic career and storied life.

NOVEMBER

Alexander
Set in a pre-Christian era, an unrecognizable Colin Farrell portrays one of history’s most influential and admired military leaders. The film takes a bold, honest look at Alexander’s life and complex relationships. It’s been almost a decade since director Oliver Stone has seen box office success. Hit or miss, where else can you see Farrell in a skirt?

Birth
At its core, this is the story of a widow (Nicole Kidman) who meets her reincarnated husband. The fact that her reincarnated husband is currently a ten-year-old boy (Cameron Bright) might lead you astray if you allow it. Throw in a rumored bathtub scene involving these two and your social mores might just come unglued. It’s just a movie! And when is the last time you got to see a paranormal love story?

The Polar Express
Chris Van Allsburg’s popular children’s book meets “performance capture” technology in a film that once again pairs Tom Hanks with director Bob Zemeckis. Live action performances drive the emotions and actions of digital characters in a process delivered by Special FX guru Ken Ralston, a five-time Oscar winner. Incidentally, the story is about a kid who visits the North Pole.

DECEMBER

Ocean’s Twelve
Danny Ocean (George Clooney) was told by casino owner Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) to “run and hide” after stealing $163 million from him in Ocean’s 11. It is no surprise that Ocean and crew are still in the game, this time hitting a series of European casinos. Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Bernie Mack, Casey Affleck and all the usual suspects appear.

The Aviator
This Howard Hughes bio-pic stars Leonardo DiCaprio in a depiction of Hughes’ early career, before he went cuckoo. The son of a Texas inventor, Hughes built great wealth. It should be interesting to see young DiCaprio portray this powerful, quirky man. This film was rushed into production to head-off a competing project involving director Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge).

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Director Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson met at UT Austin and are still hanging out. Dallas native and St. Mark’s dropout, Owen Wilson, plays Ned Plympton, the estranged son of a famous French oceanographer named Steve Zissou (Bill Murray). If you liked The Royal Tenenbaums, open your Christmas presents and get to the theater early.

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (Sept. 17)
After nine years of anticipation, anime fans can finally catch the follow-up to Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost in the Shell, one of the most successful anime films of all time. Ghost in the Shell 2:Innocence depicts a world where the line between humans and machines has dramatically blurred. Written and directed by Oshii and based on an original story by Shirow Masamune, the film is in limited release at The Angelika Film Center (Plano) or The Inwood Theatre.