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The Anticipator: November 2009

By Joe Lavers ⋅ November 2, 2009 ⋅

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The latest incarnation of Richard Matheson’s short story “Button, Button,” handcrafted by “Donnie Darko’s” and “Southland Tales’” writer-director, Richard Kelly, debuts this weekend alongside less questionable fare such as “The Men Who Stare at Goats” and “Precious.” Next week comes “2012,” which will be a magnificent special effects spectacle based off what I saw at this year’s Comic-Con, and the early rumblings of a slow roll-out of Wes Anderson’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” But what most interests me is “The Messenger,” which stars Ben Foster as a soldier who does his job well informing the loved ones of fallen comrades, until he meets a widow played by Samantha Morton.

The following week is a doozy. The “Twilight” sequel, “New Moon,” arrives on the 20th. Say what you will about the first installment (if you even bothered seeing it), but much like M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Happening” of the same year, I found “Twilight” to be a brilliant (though unintended) comedy. Go in expecting to laugh hysterically and you’ll have a wonderful time. I’d love to see John Woo’s return to China, “Red Cliff,” a war epic set during the Han dynasty that has been called the most expensive Asian film to date. But what I am anticipating the most this month is the great director Werner Herzog’s remake of “Bad Lieutenant,” starring Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes. The film looks like a drug-fueled acting wonderland.

The adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s latest novel, “The Road,” has received some rather tepid reviews, while “Ninja Assassin’s” computer-animated blood and lack of ninjas has flat-out bored many a critic. In New York City and Los Angeles, Zac Efron will strut his stuff in “Me and Orson Welles.” There are also plenty of wonderful films being screened in revival houses this month, so keep an eye on your local cinema. Here’s what’s coming for the month of November.