Holiday movie preview

We're past the seventh-inning stretch in the cinematic season, and now is the time of year when films bear down, get serious, and swing for the fences.

The arrival of the penultimate "Harry Potter" film this week more or less marks the beginning of the awards season. Not that there aren't a few just-for-fun flicks -- Jack Black's humorous reboot of "Gulliver's Travels" comes to mind -- but for the most part the mood is a more somber this time of year.

Here's a look at what to expect in the coming weeks as we build toward the Academy Awards and those other, lesser prizes.

Please note, release dates are subject to change.

Today

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I -- Harry, Hermione and Ron have dropped out of Hogwarts and declared all-out war on evil Lord Voldemort, so expect some serious magical arse-kicking. Plans to present this film in 3D were shelved, though expect Part II next summer to include it.

The Next Three Days -- This prison break movie stars Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks and Liam Neeson, and is directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis -- and yet the buzz on it is practically non-existent. Never a good sign.

Nov. 24

Love and Other Drugs -- Set in the 1990s, this romantic drama stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a gigolo pharmaceutical salesman hocking the hot new drug, Viagra. Anne Hathaway is his equal in one-night stands, but then things get serious.

Burlesque -- "Chicago" was supposed to bring the musical genre back, but the record's been spotty since then. This little number stars Cher and Christina Aguilera in the classic (i.e., stale) tale of a small-town girl who gets her big break.

Faster -- Dwayne Johnson lays off the kiddie-friendly Disney fare and gets back to his butt-kicking roots in this R-rated revenge action/drama.

The King's Speech -- A whole lot of Oscar buzz is building for this drama starring Colin Firth as King George VI, who led England through WWII despite a severe speech impediment.

Tangled -- The new Disney animation flick is a new, boisterous take on the Rapunzel fairy tale. Substitute slo-mo martial arts action for protestations of undying love.

Dec. 3

Black Swan -- This ambitious drama from director Darren Aronofsky ("The Wrestler") stars Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis as ballerinas battling for the spotlight. Early reviews are enthusiastic.

I Love You Phillip Morris -- Has nothing to do with the tobacco company. Instead, this is Jim Carrey in his daring "Man on the Moon" mode. He plays a homosexual con man who finds the love of his life in prison, played by Ewan McGregor. Could be subversively sublime, or could be a disaster.

The Warrior's Way -- Kate Bosworth, a former It Girl who sorta disappeared for awhile, makes an unlikely comeback in a chop-socky Western that pits ninjas against gunslingers. With Danny Huston as the bad guy, because Danny Huston is always the bad guy.

All Good Things -- Of actors under the age of 40, I can't think of one more talented than Ryan Gosling, who stars in this mystery-drama based on a true story about a wealthy scion who weds working-class girl Kirsten Dunst, to the consternation of daddy (Frank Langella).

Night Catches Us -- A gritty drama set amid the Black Panther movement and inner-city crime world of 1970s Philadelphia. Starring Anthony Mackie and Kerry Washington.

Dec. 10

The Fighter -- I'm dubbing this the "The" week: Every movie's title begins with "the." This one stars Mark Wahlberg in a biopic about a boxer who made his name by never going down. Christian Bale plays his brother and trainer.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader -- The third movie based on the book series by author C.S. Lewis faces an upward climb. After the second film tanked, a new studio bought up the rights and brought in a new director and creative team.

The Tempest -- This ambitious, effects-laden take on Shakespeare's play shakes things up by casting Helen Mirren in the traditionally male role of Prospero. With Russell Brand, Djimon Hounsou, Chris Cooper and Alfred Molina.

The Company Men -- This drama's release date was pushed back from earlier this fall, which bodes ill. Ben Affleck, riding high again after the critical and box office success of "The Town," plays an upwardly mobile executive who gets laid off and must rediscover himself.

The Tourist -- Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie star in this thriller about an American in Venice who gets mistaken for an international killer. From the director of Oscar winner "The Lives of Others."

Dec. 17

Yogi Bear -- In the "Garfield" mode of CGI critters paired with regular humans, the cartoon about a talking bear with an addiction for picnic baskets gets a big-screen treatment. With the voices of Dan Aykroyd as Yogi and Justin Timberlake as Boo-Boo.

How Do You Know -- James L. Brooks only directs a movie about once a decade, but it's usually a good one. This comedy/drama stars Reese Witherspoon and Paul Rudd as a couple who meet on the worst day of their lives: She breaks up with her dim-bulb baseball player boyfriend (Owen Wilson), while he's being investigated by the government. With Jack Nicholson.

TRON: Legacy -- Geeks are practically vibrating in anticipation for this sequel to the 1982 box office flop that became a cult classic. Jeff Bridges reprises his role as a video game designer who gets sucked into the computer matrix, and son (Garrett Hedlund) follows him into adventure.

Dec. 22

Country Strong -- Some say last year's "Crazy Heart" was just a remake of "Tender Mercies," so this drama about a washed-up country singer making her way back could feel like a retread. But the country music biz seems to be genuinely embracing star Gwyneth Paltrow.

Little Fockers -- It's the sequel to the sequel to "Meet the Parents," a one-joke movie that somehow spawned a franchise. Now Ben Stiller has kids, but father-in-law Robert De Niro is still on his case.

Gulliver's Travels -- Jonathan Swift meets Jack Black in this special effects showcase about a wannabe travel writer who goes from nobody to the next big thing.

Somewhere -- Writer/director Sofia Coppola looks to have recaptured the sad grace of "Lost in Translation" with her character study about a party-boy movie star (Stephen Dorff) getting his act together with the help of his daughter (Elle Fanning).

True Grit -- I'm starting to warm to the idea of this remake of the John Wayne classic from the Coen brothers ("No Country for Old Men"). Jeff Bridges takes on the role of Rooster Cogburn, a one-eyed U.S. Marshall who shoots first and asks questions whenever he damn well feels like it. Co-starring Matt Damon and Josh Brolin.

Dec. 29

The Debt -- Three young Israeli agents pursue a Dr. Mengele-type Nazi, but their successful mission haunts them 30 years later. Starring Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson and Sam Worthington.

January and beyond -- Expect these films to get minimal theatrical runs in New York and Los Angeles to qualify for the Oscars, and arrive in local theaters in early 2011.

Blue Valentine -- A Sundance favorite, this romantic drama stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams as a couple who struggle to stay together through the years.

Frankie and Alice -- Halle Berry plays a stripper with multiple personalities -- the kicker being that one of them is a racist.

Rabbit Hole -- Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart play parents dealing with the death of their child. Directed by the guy who made "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" (!).

Casino Jack -- Kevin Spacey stars as lobbyist/conman Jack Abramoff.

Another Year -- English auteur Mike Leigh's latest is about a collection of unhappy older couples. With Jim Broadbent.

Biutiful -- A reportedly strong performance by Javier Bardem anchors this wide-ranging drama with an international perspective.

The Way Back -- Excellent Aussie director Peter Weir ("Witness") made this drama about soldiers who escaped from a Siberian gulag during WWII. With Colin Farrell, Ed Harris and Saoirse Ronan.

Fall/winter film preview

September and October used to be the dregs for movies, but 2010 actually offers a strong lineup for the early fall season, including "The Social Network" and Oliver Stone's "Wall Street" sequel.

November and December are shaping up nicely, too, with the usual spate of serious-minded Oscar hopefuls, not to mention the beginning of the end for "Harry Potter."

Here's a rundown of autumn's film offerings, with my highly subjective take on the buzz surrounding each movie: Tops, Taps or Tipping either way.

Release dates are subject to change.

The Town (Sept. 17) -- Ben Affleck's back in a big way in this gritty drama about a close-knit family of Boston bank robbers. Affleck also directed and co-wrote. Tops

Easy A (Sept. 17) -- Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlett Letter" gets an edgy update in this comedy starring Emma Stone as a high-school loser who becomes notorious when she pretends to be a promiscuous harlot. Tipping

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (Sept. 24) -- Everything's cyclical, especially movies and financial markets. Michael Douglas reprises his Oscar-winning role as shark Gordon Gekko, with Shia LaBeouf as his eager new wingman. Tipping

You Again (Sept. 24) -- Kristen Bell plays a beautiful swan forced to revisit her ugly duckling days when confronted with her high school tormenter marrying her brother. Jamie Lee Curtis, as her mother, replicates the conflict with old foe Sigourney Weaver. Tipping

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (Sept. 24) -- After three ultra-violent flicks, director Zack Snyder ("Watchmen," "300") tackles a PG-rated animated adventure about owls. We'll see if audiences give a hoot. Taps

The Social Network (Oct. 1) -- There's tremendous hype surrounding this cinematic account of the birth of Facebook. Indie star Jesse Eisenberg goes mainstream playing CEO Mark Zuckerberg, depicted as back-stabbing schemer. Directed by David Fincher from a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin. Tops

Stone (Oct. 1) -- Here's a creepy love triangle: Robert De Niro plays a parole officer facing retirement, Edward Norton is the skeevy convict who is his last case, and Milla Jovovich plays the criminal's wife who acts as temptress. Tipping

Let Me In (Oct. 1) -- Between "Let the Right One In" and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," the Swedes are providing a lot of fodder lately for Hollywood remakes. I'm dubious, but the casting of Chloe Moretz from "Kick-Ass" as a girl vampire lends hope. Tipping

Secretariat (Oct. 8) -- Diane Lane plays Penny Chenery, the dilettante housewife who owned the Triple Crown-winning Secretariat, in a drama more about the woman than the horse. Tipping

Nowhere Boy (Oct. 8) -- Another "Kick-Ass" star, Aaron Johnson, stars in this biopic of a young John Lennon before The Beatles made it big. Tipping

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Oct. 15) -- After the lackluster second installment in the Swedish trilogy about disturbed computer genius Lisbeth Salander, I'm inching toward the delete key. Taps

Red (Oct. 15) -- Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich play retired CIA agents on the run in this spy comedy. The preview with Mirren firing a massive machine gun is strangely compelling. Tipping

Conviction (Oct. 15) -- Another Oscar nomination for Hilary Swank? It's shaping up that way in this true-life story of a high-school dropout who became a lawyer to get her brother's murder conviction overturned. With Sam Rockwell. Tops

The Company Men (Oct. 22) -- Picking up the thematic threads of "Up in the Air," Ben Affleck stars as a hotshot executive who gets laid off, and struggles to pick up the pieces. With Tommy Lee Jones and Kevin Costner. Tops

Hereafter (Oct. 22) -- There's been almost a total information blackout about Clint Eastwood's new movie, other than it stars Matt Damon and has something to do with the afterlife. Let's hope he doesn't go all M. Night Shymalan on us. Taps.

Monsters (Oct. 29) -- This could be the next low-budget sci-fi/thriller to break out, a la "District 9." It's about -- you guessed it -- critters from another planet. Taps

127 Hours (Nov. 5) -- James Franco plays Aron Ralston, a real-life mountain climber who amputated his own arm after being trapped. From "Slumdog Millionaire" writer/director Danny Boyle, so it's got a great pedigree, but the trailer deceptively avoids what the movie is actually about. Tipping

Megamind (Nov. 5) -- Is it me, or does this DreamWorks animated flick seem suspiciously similar to "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog"? (Google it.) The evil scientist is the protagonist, and his Superman-ish nemesis plays the heavy. Tipping

Due Date (Nov. 5) -- "The Hangover" director Todd Phillips re-teams with star Zach Galifianakis for another raunchy road trip comedy, this time with Robert Downey Jr. as an expectant father. Tipping

Fair Game (Nov. 5) -- Seven year later, will people remember the Valerie Plame scandal, let alone want to buy a ticket to see a one-sided dramatization starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts? Taps

Morning Glory (Nov. 12) -- Harrison Ford trades in his bullwhip for a news anchor pompadour in this dramedy about an ambitious TV producer who hires a crotchety journalist to co-host a lightweight morning show. With Diane Keaton and Rachel McAdams. Tops

Unstoppable (Nov. 12) -- Denzel Washington must really like trains, and director Tony Scott. After "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3," he stars (with Chris Pine) in this thriller about a runaway train. Tipping

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part I (Nov. 19) -- And people thought "The Lord of the Rings" milked its finale. The final chapter of the epic journey of a boy wizard, in which Harry goes wand-to-wand with Voldemort, is being split in two. You'll have to wait until July 15 for the real end. Tipping

The Next Three Days (Nov. 19) -- Russell Crowe plays a regular schmo determined to break his wife (Elizabeth Banks) out of prison after she's falsely convicted of murder. With Liam Neeson. Tipping

Love and Other Drugs (Nov. 24) -- Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal are bed-hopping types who hook up, but then he wants to Get Serious in this romantic comedy/drama. Tipping

Burlesque (Nov. 24) -- Based on the preview, this musical starring Cher trips over every cliché of the small-town-girl-goes-to-the-big-city shtick. Taps

Tangled (Nov. 24) -- The Rapunzel fairy tale gets a modern updating in this Disney animation movie that emphasizes action/adventure over princesses. Tipping

Black Swan (Dec. 1) -- Director Darren Aronofsky channels Ingmar Bergman's "Persona" in this stylized drama about rival ballet stars. Starring Natalie Portman. Tipping

The Fighter (Dec. 10) -- Mark Wahlberg stars in this biopic about boxer Micky Ward, a never-say-quit type coached by his reformed brother (Christian Bale). Tipping

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Dec. 10) -- After the second film based on the C.S. Lewis fantasy books disappointed, the franchise switched studios and directors -- never a good omen. Taps

How Do You Know (Dec. 17) -- Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson play a romantic triangle in what would appear to be another dopey romantic comedy. Except for two things: Writer/director James L. Brooks ("As Good As It Gets") and co-star Jack Nicholson. Tops

TRON: Legacy (Dec. 17) -- A box office flop that became a Gen-X cultural touchstone, the CGI-pioneering film gets a sequel nearly 30 years later. Jeff Bridges reprises his role as a video game designer, inside which his son is trapped. Will anyone born after 1990 care? Tipping

Yogi Bear (Dec. 17) -- Here's a TV retread for those put off by the snooty intellectualism of "Alvin and the Chipmunks." Taps

Country Strong (Dec. 22) -- Hollywood loves movies about down-and-out country singers making a comeback. Gwyneth Paltrow stars, and sings, apparently pretty well. Tipping

Little Fockers (Dec. 22) -- Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro team up a third time as a father and son-in-law odd couple. Sounds naughty, looks crappy. Taps

Gulliver's Travels (Dec. 22) -- A super-sized Jack Black stars in a very divergent adaptation of Jonathan Swift. Taps

Somewhere (Dec. 22) -- After the stylized stumble of "Marie Antoinette," writer/director Sofia Coppola appears to be back in understated "Lost in Translation" mode with this drama about a movie star (Stephen Dorff) downshifting from the high life. The film took top prize at the Vince film festival. Tipping

True Grit (Dec. 25) -- John Wayne's signature role gets remade by the Coen brothers ("No Country for Old Men"). With Jeff Bridges taking over the eye patch of marshal/hired gun Rooster Cogburn. Revisionist Western? Smile when you say that, pilgrim-O. Tipping

The Debt (Dec. 29) -- Helen Mirren and Sam Worthington star in this drama about Israeli agents sent to hunt down a notorious Nazi, only to face recriminations 30 years later. Tops

Blue Valentine (Dec. 31) -- Not too much is known about this romantic drama, other than it stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, it jumps around in time, and it was a Sundance favorite. Tops

Bonus video review: "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"

The Harry Potter saga is wrapping up, so one should think the next-to-last film would feel like it's building toward something monumental. (Well, next-to-next-to-last. They're splitting up the seventh and final book into two movies.)

Instead, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is disjointed and rambling. It finally gathers itself up for a powerful and tragic final act. But it dawdles excruciatingly along the way.

Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and the gang seem to be a in a good place as their sixth year at Hogwarts begins. They fought off a usurpation of Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic that Voldemort was secretly behind. Harry's relationship with headmaster Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) is stronger than ever, and the elder wizard enlists Harry's aid in dealing with Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), the newest Hogwarts professor.

It seems the doddering Slughorn has an important memory regarding Voldemort, who used to be a student of his, but refuses to share it. Harry's assignment is to get him to spill the beans -- or, in this case, the misty magic memories they can pull out of their heads.

Meanwhile, romance blooms unhindered among the student body. I won't belabor all the details -- mostly because I can't grasp them all myself. Suffice to say that Hermione (Emma Watson) loves Ron (Rupert Grint), who's too busy dealing with an overly aggressive admirer to notice. Harry in turn fancies Ron's sister Ginny (Bonnie Wright), but doesn't want to rock the boat with his best friend.

The villainous work is left to Professor Severus Snape (Alan Rickman), who seems more foul-tempered than ever around Harry, and Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), Harry's schoolyard nemesis since the day he arrived at Hogwarts. For the first time, Felton is given more to do than sneer and bully, and reveals Draco as a more layered character than we've seen before. It's clear that he's doing Voldemort's bidding, and keeps tinkering with a magical contraption in the Hogwarts attic, but his true motives are unclear.

There's a considerable amount of DVD extras, although much of it has the tang of hype rather than enticing fans with behind-the-scenes insights.

I'm thinking mostly of the sneak peek at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a new theme park being built at Universal Orlando. It's basically 11 minutes of sales pitch. Same goes for a sneak preview of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the culmination of the film series.

There are about six minutes worth of deleted scenes, although nothing terribly compelling. And there are some quick-hit features where the actors are asked to describe their characters in a minute or less, or answer some asinine questions posed by cast member Tom Felton.

More substantive is a 28-minute making-of documentary. And there's a 50-minute feature called "J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life" that looks at the author over the period while she was writing "Deathly Hallows."

The two-disc DVD package also comes with a digital copy of the film.

In addition to all these materials, the Blu-ray version comes with a 98-minute "Movie Mode" with commentary by directory David Yates, the producers and all the principal cast members. Now that's a pretty special conjuration.

Movie: 2.5 stars
Extras: 3 stars

New podcast now up at The Film Yap

This week's podcast is about the state of the Harry Potter saga. How does "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" fit into the grand scheme? Is it wizardly or Muggle-born?

Listen to it here, or subscribe on iTunes by searching for "thefilmyap."

Review: "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"

The Harry Potter saga is wrapping up, so one should think the next-to-last film would feel like it's building toward something monumental. (Well, next-to-next-to-last. They're splitting up the seventh and final book into two movies.)

Instead, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is disjointed and rambling. It finally gathers itself up for a powerful and tragic final act. But it dawdles excruciatingly along the way.

For a story in which this universe's version of the dark lord, Voldemort, is closing his black fist around the magical world, "Prince" seems awfully concerned with kissy-face. I realize Harry, Hermione and Ron are nearly grown now, and the various romantic entanglements hold a great deal of charm for the legions of fans. Still, it's hard to build a forbidding mood with so much snogging going on.

Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and the gang seem to be a in a good place as their sixth year at Hogwarts begins. They fought off a usurpation of Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic that Voldemort was secretly behind. Harry's relationship with headmaster Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) is stronger than ever, and the elder wizard enlists Harry's aid in dealing with Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), the newest Hogwarts professor.

It seems the doddering Slughorn has an important memory regarding Voldemort, who used to be a student of his, but refuses to share it. Harry's assignment is to get him to spill the beans -- or, in this case, the misty magic memories they can pull out of their heads.

Meanwhile, romance blooms unhindered among the student body. I won't belabor all the details -- mostly because I can't grasp them all myself. Suffice to say that Hermione (Emma Watson) loves Ron (Rupert Grint), who's too busy dealing with an overly aggressive admirer to notice. Harry in turn fancies Ron's sister Ginny (Bonnie Wright), but doesn't want to rock the boat with his best friend.

The villainous work is left to Professor Severus Snape (Alan Rickman), who seems more foul-tempered around Harry than ever, and Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), Harry's schoolyard nemesis since the day he arrived at Hogwarts. For the first time, Felton is given more to do than sneer and bully, and reveals Draco as a more layered character than we've seen before. It's clear that he's doing Voldemort's bidding, and keeps tinkering with a magical contraption in the Hogwarts attic, but his true motives are unclear.

The film's title comes from a mysterious potions textbook Harry acquires early in the school year. Its former owner, who calls himself the half-blood prince, has scribbled all sorts of helpful notes in the book that allow Harry to excel at brewing magic, thereby impressing Slughorn.
Director David Yates and screenwriter Steve Kloves, both Potter veterans, work their magic as best they can, but this chapter of the saga written by J.K. Rowling simply lacks cohesion. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is the spell that fizzled.

2.5 stars