2010 Movie Preview: Part One – From 'The Adjustment Bureau' to 'Iron Man 2'

QUICK THOUGHTS: George Nolfi co-wrote The Bourne Ultimatum and this will serve as his directorial debut. That fact along with Matt Damon and Emily Blunt as his headliners is more than enough to get me excited for this film. I just wonder what the "strange circumstances" in the plotline are, but considering it's an adaptation of a Philip K. Dick story I doubt my simple brain can guesstimate at what's going on.

SYNOPSIS: A contemporary love story with sci-fi overtones. Damon will play a charismatic congressman who seems destined for national political stardom. He meets a beautiful ballet dancer (Blunt), only to find strange circumstances keeping their sparks from catching fire.

QUICK THOUGHTS: My anticipation for this one has lessened slightly due to muted buzz out of film festivals last year, but I still can't help but be excited for a new film from Alejandro Amenbar (The Others and The Sea Inside).

SYNOPSIS: Set in Roman Egypt in the fourth century, Agora tells the story of the legendary astronomer Hypatia (Weisz), trapped in the legendary Library of Alexandria, and her fight to save the old world's wisdom from the religious riots sweeping the streets of Alexandria. Her slave Davus (Minghella) wrestles with his yearning for freedom and his professed love for his mistress.

QUICK THOUGHTS: I am simply hoping this will not end up like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was all Burton and very little else. I enjoy Tim Burton's visual style, but sometimes he lets it takeover the story. I hope that doesn't happen here.

SYNOPSIS: From Walt Disney Pictures and visionary director Tim Burton comes an epic 3D fantasy adventure Alice in Wonderland, a magical and imaginative twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time. Johnny Depp stars as the Mad Hatter and Mia Wasikowska as 19-year-old Alice, who returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks on a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen's reign of terror. The all-star cast also includes Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter and Crispin Glover.

QUICK THOUGHTS: Back in June of 2009 I saw Anton Corbijn's Control for the first time, which prompted me to write this editorial. I hope this movie moves me just as much. The story seems extremely intimate and intense and I can't wait to see how it turns out. The film is an adaptation of a Martin Booth novel written by Rowan Joffe who co-wrote 28 Weeks Later.

SYNOPSIS: Alone among assassins, Jack (Clooney) is a master craftsman. When a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, he vows to his contact Larry (Bruce Altman) that his next assignment will be his last. Jack reports to the Italian countryside, where he holes up in a small town and relishes being away from death for a spell. The assignment, as specified by a Belgian woman, Mathilde (Thekla Reuten), is in the offing as a weapon is constructed. Surprising himself, Jack seeks out the friendship of local priest Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli) and pursues romance with local woman Clara (Violante Placido). But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be tempting fate.

QUICK THOUGHTS: As any regular reader knows I loved Paranormal Activity so my anticipation of this one is simply based on that fact as I am curious to see of Oren Peli can do it again. Admittedly I get a bit worried he will do it again, but it will be done exactly the same way and loose any sense of originality.

SYNOPSIS: Area 51, like director Oren Peli's Paranormal Activity, will take advantage of the "found footage" narrative strategy centering around three teenagers whose curiosity leads them to the legendary and mysterious Area 51 Air Force base deep in the Nevada desert.

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