JANUARY

Youth in Revolt

My wife and I are suckers for former Arrested Development cast members– give us a Jason Bateman, David Cross, Will Arnett or Michael Cera movie and we can’t resist. This one is directed by Miguel Arteta, who gave us one of only two great Jennifer Aniston performances in The Good Girl (the other being Friends with Money). Arteta also directed The Office Diwali episode. I’m also hearing good things about newcomer Portia Doubleday in this one, so here’s one we will be watching in a month of Oscar leftovers.

FEBRUARY

My Name is Khan

This is the only Karan Johar movie I’ve ever looked forward to. I think he’s a hack, rode on the success of the Yash Raj formula. He built a name through friends in high places. He has directed only 3 movies in his career, but if you read the trades you’d think he was Spielberg. But that is how Bollywood works.

Of course, now he has made My Name is Khan and I’ve been hearing all the right things. And it has Shah Rukh Khan.

Shutter Island

Scorsese. DiCaprio. What more can I say?

MARCH

Green Zone

Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon reunite after the Bourne films, and the trailers have been playing up that connection. It’s set in Iraq. And when has Paul Greengrass made a bad movie– Bourne, United 93, Sunday Bloody Sunday— so why should he start now?

I Love You Philip Morris

Jim Carrey falls in love with Ewan McGregor while in jail. This won the Camera D’Or at Cannes, and despite its superstar, it’s been having trouble finding a studio to stand behind it.

APRIL

Date Night

Tina Fey and Steve Carrel. It may be horrible, but as someone who has had every (in season) Thursday for 4 years ruled by one or both of these, I have to watch.

Kick-Ass

This one was under my radar until the BNAT buzz. Some day I’ll make it to Austin for Harry Knowles’ big birthday bash (or for SXSW). But the buzz from that showing is pretty impressive for this story of the superpowerless super hero.

MAY

Iron Man 2 & Robin Hood

I’m kind of ambivalent for both of these, but I like Robert Downey Jr., I usually like Ridley Scott and I thought the first Iron Man was above average. So there’s hope.

Toy Story 3

Pixar should just keep my credit card number and send me a ticket every time they make a movie.

That’s all for now. Maybe I’ll do another one in a few months for the rest of the year. But this is as far as I can see at the moment. Obviously there will be movies straight out of left field, and other ones that will have their schedules moved around.