HomeMoviesElementary, My Dear Bodkin: Bill's Top 10 Fall Films

Elementary, My Dear Bodkin: Bill’s Top 10 Fall Films

Like any self-respecting/self-deprecating entertainment site, we’re all about lists … in this one, bill bodkin looks at his most-anticipated fall films …

1. Sherlock Holmessherlock-holmes-posters
Release Date: Dec. 25
Director: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong
Bill Says: I’ve been a Guy Ritchie fan from the first time I saw the opening credits of Snatch. He’s had some missteps — Swept Away, Revolver, both terrible. But after the mild success of the super-fun-yet-flawed RocknRolla, I feel Sherlock will be Ritchie’s masterpiece — a brilliant story with a brilliant cast and Ritchie’s trademark intriguing camera work. I feel Russell Crowe would’ve been better than Law as Dr. Watson, but the trailers have won me over. A must-see, in my opinion.

2. The Men Who Stare At Goats
Release Date: Nov. 6
Director: Grant Heslov
Starring: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey
Bill Says: This looks absolutely brilliant … and based on a true story? To me, Clooney is at his best in quirky Coen Brothers films (O, Brother Where Art Thou or Burn After Reading), and here as a “Jedi warrior,” he looks in top form. The ridiculously madcap plot really intrigues me and Jeff Bridges playing a “Dude”-like character is like a warm cinematic blanket.

3. The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Release Date: Nov. 25
Director: Wes Anderson
Voices of: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Williem Dafoe, Anjelica Huston, Brian Cox, Michael Gambon
Bill Says: If you know me, you know I am a Wes Anderson super-fan. I’ve seen all his films and The Royal Tennenbaums ranks amongst my favorites of all time. This movie’s stop-motion animation, whimsical tone and a vocal cast of some of the best actors ever to be in his films, I believe will make for a classic film that both children and adults will love.

4. Where The Wild Things Are

Release Date: Dec. 25
Director: Spike Jonze
Starring: Max Records, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, Forrest Whitaker, Chris Cooper
Bill Says: This movie has a lot going for it. A beautifully illustrated and written children’s book as a starting point, a script co-written by a brilliant writer (Dave Eggers), a tremendously talented director (Spike Jonze) seemingly throwing his entire being into the film and puppets done by the Henson company. I think this movie will be tremendous and touching.

5. Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day
Release Date: Oct. 30
Director: Troy Duffy
Starring: Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connolly, Clifton Collins, Peter Fonda
Bill Says: I am a bit cautious about being excited for this film, as it has been rumored to be released since 2005 — legal issues held the film up. With that said, the sequel is going to be awesome. If you’ve never seen the bloody cult hit Boondock Saints, see it ASAP. It’s a classic action film, and if you love all things Irish (like I do), you’ll love the original. The sequel should be bloody fun.

6. Up In The Air
Release Date: Dec. 25
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Jason Bateman, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Zach Galifianakis, Danny McBride
Bill Says: ‘Tis the season of Clooney. I think this could nab him the Oscar, although the presence of Daniel Day-Lewis has robbed him before. I think this will be genuinely funny and genuinely sad. The cast is great, and seeing Clooney interact with Zach Galifianakis will be a kick for me.

7. Ninja Assassin
Release Date: Nov. 25
Director: James McTiegue
Starring: Rain, Naomie Harris
Bill Says: Check out the trailer for this movie — it’s unreal. Normally, this would be a “get it on Netflix” movie, but with James McTiegue, the director of V For Vendetta, at the helm, it makes me really interested.

8. Pirate Radio
Release Date: Nov. 13
Director: Richard Curtis
Starring: Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh
Bill Says: Formerly known as The Boat That Rocked, this movie should be a lot of wanky British fun. Directed by the guy who made Love Actually and starring two of my favorite Brits — Frost and Nighy — this is one you shouldn’t let go under the radar.

9. Law Abiding Citizen

Release Date: Oct. 16
Director: F. Gary Gray
Starring: Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx, Colm Meaney, Bruce McGill
Bill Says: The appeal for this movie is solely based on Gerard Butler’s Hannibal Lecter-style character. I think it’ll be his best performance to date. And any movie with Colm Meany and Bruce McGill in it has got to be enjoyable.

10. Black Dynamite
Release Date: Oct. 16
Director: Scott Sanders
Starring: Michael Jai White, Tommy Davidson, Arsenio Hall, Brian McKnight, Mykelti Williamson, Bookeem Woodbine
Bill Says: I saw the trailer earlier in the year, and it looks pretty good. This is a dead-serious spoof of the classic blaxploitation flick — definitely worth a view.

(Note: Due to the tardy nature of this post, I will be eliminating two of my top picks: The Invention Of Lying and Zombieland. They’ve been out two weeks, so I while they are high on my list, I can’t put them in a “preview post.”)

Bill Bodkin
Bill Bodkinhttps://thepopbreak.com
Bill Bodkin is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Pop Break, and most importantly a husband, and father. Ol' Graybeard writes way too much about wrestling, jam bands, Asbury Park music, HBO shows, and can often be seen under his season DJ alias, DJ Father Christmas. He is the co-host of the Socially Distanced Podcast (w/Al Mannarino) which drops weekly on Apple, Google, Anchor & Spotify. He is the co-host of the monthly podcasts -- Anchored in Asbury, TV Break and Bill vs. The MCU.
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