Fandango's Most Anticipated Blockbusters of 2009 List

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As 2008 starts to come to a close, it's time to look ahead at 2009. Fandango recently published its annual Hot List, which includes its results for the Most Anticipated Blockbusters of 2009. Similar to the MovieTickets.com list, this features a bunch of odd choices, based on a poll of 2000 visitors. But we can't forget that this list was affected heavily by current news, for example, all the news about New Moon and Catherine Hardwicke being replaced made that a popular choice. Additionally, Fandango has divided the list up via women and men, which gives us a better look at what might be the biggest movies of 2009.

Most Anticipated Blockbusters of 2009 - According to Women:
1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
2. New Moon
3. Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen
4. Angels & Demons
5. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
6. Star Trek
7. Public Enemies
8. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
9. The Lovely Bones
10. Where the Wild Things Are

Most Anticipated Blockbusters of 2009 - According to Men:
1. Star Trek
2. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
4. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
5. Terminator Salvation
6. Watchmen
7. Angels & Demons
8. Public Enemies
9. G.I. Joe
10. New Moon

Finally, some vindication in opposition to the claim that Star Trek is going to bomb! Although I know that this is only representative of a handful of moviegoers, I think both of these lists do present a very accurate representation of the most highly anticipated films for next year. I'm also very surprised to see both The Lovely Bones and Where the Wilds Things Are on this list, considering there are hardly any details for either of them out yet. Buzz usually skyrockets when we see a trailer or poster, and those two have neither yet. Either way, I can't wait to kick off 2009, because there definitely are some great movies coming up!

Source : www.firstshowing.net

Kenneth Branagh Finally Talks About Directing Marvel's Thor

December 13, 2008
Source: MTV
by Alex Billington

I'm going to make a confession. Back when the news first hit that Kenneth Branagh was going to direct Marvel's Thor, I pessimistically wrote that "Branagh seems like the worst choice to direct a comic book movie since Joel Schumacher." Now that I've seen Valkyrie, however, my opinion has changed. Watching Branagh act in that film has made me change my opinion about him. Maybe it was just the lingering sour taste of Sleuth that made me so opposed to Branagh, but for whatever reason, watching him in Valkyrie made me slightly more confident. Since the news first broke in September, Branagh has been keeping quiet about the project, but MTV finally got him to break down and talk about directing "The Mighty Thor."

No, the title hasn't changed, as Branagh clarifies, "I think it will be Thor." So why did he want to direct a high profile comic book movie? "To work on a story about one of the immortals, Gods, extraordinary beings, inter-dimensional creatures," he told MTV. "There's science fiction and science fact and fantasy all woven into one. It's based on Norse legends which Marvel sort of raided in a brilliant way." And for those, like me, who are skeptical about the scale of the project and Branagh being able to handle it, he emphasizes that, "it's a chance to tell a big story on a big scale. It's a human story right in the center of a big epic scenario." Sounds like he at least understands the monumental task that he is taking on.

As for who will play Norse God of Thunder, aka Thor, Branagh wouldn't even hint as to who it might be, but he did give us this tease: "There's been lots of talk [about casting]… but we are too early at this stage. We're getting the story and the visual effects together and all of that is very exciting. Someone sensational is going to play the part but it is early days." Either he's really good at keeping things under wraps or they really haven't chosen anyone yet. Considering Marvel has Thor set to hit theaters on July 16th, 2010, Branagh better get to work quickly on finalizing these sort of details, as they're probably planning to shoot early next year. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants to see another great Marvel movie!

Source : www.firstshowing.net

2009 Independent Spirit Awards Nominees Announced

The Independent Spirit Awards are an annual award given in the name of independent film, featuring those little indies which deserve the honor and recognition that they won't necessarily be receiving at the Oscars. The nominees for the 2009 awards have been announced today. The three films with the most nominations include Ballast, Frozen River, and Rachel Getting Married. Also rounding out the list of films nominated for Best Features are The Wrestler and Wendy and Lucy. A very interesting selection and not at all what I was expecting, but nevertheless a great selection of the finest in independent film. Read on!

You'll notice an [IMDb] link next to each one. This is so you can explore and discover great new films, because there is guaranteed to be an indie movie you've never heard of on this list.

BEST FEATURE

Ballast [IMDb]

Frozen River [IMDb]

Rachel Getting Married [IMDb]

Wendy and Lucy [IMDb]

The Wrestler [IMDb]

BEST FIRST FEATURE

Afterschool [IMDb]

Medicine for Melancholy [IMDb]

Sangre De Mi Sangre [IMDb]Sleep Dealer [IMDb]

Synecdoche, New York [IMDb]

BEST DIRECTOR

Ramin Bahrani - Chop Shop [IMDb]

Jonathan Demme - Rachel Getting Married [IMDb]

Lance Hammer - Ballast [IMDb]

Courtney Hunt - Frozen River [IMDb]

Tom McCarthy - The Visitor [IMDb]

BEST MALE LEAD

Javier Bardem - Vicky Cristina Barcelona [IMDb]

Richard Jenkins - The Visitor [IMDb]

Sean Penn - Milk [IMDb]

Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker [IMDb]

Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler [IMDb]

BEST FEMALE LEAD

Summer Bishil - Towelhead [IMDb]

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married [IMDb]

Melissa Leo - Frozen River [IMDb]

Tarra Riggs - Ballast [IMDb]

Michelle Williams - Wendy and Lucy [IMDb]

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

James Franco - Milk [IMDb]

Anthony Mackie - The Hurt Locker [IMDb]

Charlie McDermott - Frozen River [IMDb]

JimMyron Ross - Ballast [IMDb]

Haaz Sleiman - The Visitor [IMDb]

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona [IMDb]

Rosemarie DeWitt - Rachel Getting Married [IMDb]

Rosie Perez - The Take [IMDb]

Misty Upham - Frozen River [IMDb]

Debra Winger - Rachel Getting Married [IMDb]

BEST SCREENPLAY

Woody Allen - Vicky Cristina Barcelona [IMDb]

Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck - Sugar [IMDb]

Charlie Kaufman - Synecdoche, New York [IMDb]

Howard A. Rodman - Savage Grace [IMDb]

Christopher Zalla - Sangre De Mi Sangre [IMDb]

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Maryse Alberti - The Wrestler [IMDb]

Lol Crawley - Ballast [IMDb]

James Laxton - Medicine for Melancholy [IMDb]

Harris Savides - Milk [IMDb]

Michael Simmonds - Chop Shop [IMDb]

BEST DOCUMENTARY

The Betrayal [IMDb]

Encounters at the End of the World [IMDb]

Man on Wire [IMDb]

The Order of Myths [IMDb]

Up the Yangtze [IMDb]

BEST FOREIGN FILM

The Class (France) [IMDb]

Gomorra (Italy) [IMDb]

Hunger (U.K./Ireland) [IMDb]

Secret of the Grain (France) [IMDb]

Silent Light (Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany) [IMDb]

source : www.firstshowing.net