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Coming Soon… in 2008
It's going to be another big, BIG year for movies, and box office wise, they won't come much bigger than Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, set for release 22 May. With new installments from Harry Potter (November), Narnia (May), Batman (July) and James Bond (November), the industry is confident of record-breaking returns. Scanning that list, it looks to be a remarkable year for British filmmakers, actors and technicians too. In fact, with the exception of Indy (which does feature Ray Winstone, Jim Broadbent and John Hurt in supporting roles), all of these blockbusters have British leading men. There are several potential new franchises coming out this year too. Iron Man, with Robert Downey Jr as the Marvel hero (May); The Spiderwick Chronicles (March); the Wachowski Brothers' Speed Racer (May); and the latest from Pixar: WALL-E (July). Meanwhile Edward Norton tries to succeed where Eric Bana failed, reactivating the role of Bruce Banner, aka The Incredible Hulk (June). 
Of the stuff we've seen coming out in the first few months of the new year, we're wowed by Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood (a potential Best Actor Academy Award for Daniel Day Lewis?); No Country for Old Men (probably the favourite for Best Picture); and the French-Iranian animated feature, Persepolis. Looking further ahead - and consulting that crystal skull we keep in the back of the office for these occasions - we're most excited to see The Pineapple Express - a stoner cop buddy movie with Seth Rogen and James Franco, directed by David Gordon Green of all people; David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (with Brad Pitt as a man born into old age who gets physically younger as the years go by); and Spike Jonze's Where The Wild Things Are, which comes with a screenplay by novelist Dave Eggers. And like everyone else, we're dying to see if Cloverfield can possibly live up to its genius marketing. On the downside, if the writers' strike goes on much longer it could have a real impact on the movies scheduled for the end of 08. Already we're in a position where writer-director JJ Abrams is shooting his own screenplay for Star Trek X, but can't rewrite a word of dialogue on set. Mind you, if the strike stops producers and stars doctoring screenplays to death, it might even have a positive effect... Tom Charity
LOVEFiLM Calendar 2008JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH | APRIL | MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER | Undated... JANUARY11th 
4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 DaysThe Palme d'Or winner is an intense, suspenseful but full-on drama about friendship, exploitation, and unspeakable truths. Essential viewing - if you can take it. 
Before the Devil Knows You're DeadPhilip Seymour Hoffman is in commanding form in this crime thriller from veteran director Sidney Lumet. Albert Finney, Ethan Hawke and Marisa Tomei are caught up in a web of intrigue with desperate consequences for each of them. 17-27th Sundance Film Festival 
18th 
No Country For Old MenThe Coen brothers best film since Fargo is an inspired adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel. Josh Brolin stumbles on the proceeds of a drug deal gone sour but soon has Javier Bardem's fearsome assassin on his tail. 25th 
In The Valley Of ElahTommy Lee Jones is tremendous as a father looking into the disappearance of his son from a US military base just days after his return from Iraq. A flawed but powerful drama from Paul Haggis (Crash). 
Sweeney ToddThe demon barber of Fleet Street returns to the old smoke to avenge himself on the wicked judge who stole his beloved. Johnny Depp carries a tune in Tim Burton's blood-spattered take on Stephen Sondheim's musical. 
The SavagesIn his third great performance of the month, Philip Seymour Hoffman has to cope with his dying dad (Philip Borsos) and his equally unhappy sister (Laura Linney). January DVD releases: Sicko; I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry; Death Sentence; Eagle Vs Shark; Superbad; The Brave One; 3.10 to Yuma; Mr Woodcock; Tales for Earthsea; The Kingdom FEBRUARY1st 
CloverfieldThe teaser trailer immediately grabbed everyone's attention, even if it had no names attached. Something is attacking New York, that much we know. It looks like War of the Worlds filmed Blair Witch style. 
Still LifeAnother great film from Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke, this time set around the flooded ghost towns bordering the Three Gorges dam. Golden Lion winner at the Venice Film Festival, 2006. 8th 
There Will Be BloodA masterpiece from Paul Thomas Anderson. Daniel Day Lewis is extraordinary as the oilman locked in a mortal feud with a two-bit southern California evangelist (Paul Dano) in this enthralling historical epic. 
JunoScintillating comedy about a pregnant teen (Ellen Page) who decides to put her baby up for adoption, then buddies up with the father to be (Jason Bateman). Jason Reitman directs from a witty and nuanced script by Diablo Cody. 
The Diving Bell and the ButterflyArtist-turned-filmmaker Julian Schnabel came away with a Best Director prize at Cannes for his imaginative take on the story of paralyzed Elle editor Jean Dominique Bauby (Mathieu Amalric). 10th The BAFTAS 
22nd 
RamboWell, he got away with Rocky 6 last year, can Sly pull off Rambo 4? It seems unlikely but you never know. We discover our hero going zen in Thailand, but he's drawn into fighting the good fight for Christian aid workers against the Burmese military dictatorship. 
My Blueberry NightsJude Law, Tim Roth, Rachel Weisz and Natalie Portman costar in Wong Kar-Wai's first English-language movie - but all eyes will be on Norah Jones, making her screen debut as the object of Law's affections. 24th The Oscars 
29th 
Margot at the WeddingNicole Kidman is the toxic sister who returns to see her younger sister (Jennifer Jason Leigh) safely wed in this acidic dysfunctional family comedy from Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale). 
The Boss of It AllThe latest experiment from the incorrigible Lars von Trier, a corporate comedy filmed by remote control, or what he calls "Automavision". 
Funny GamesReportedly a shot for shot remake of Michael Haneke's breakthrough anti-thriller, this time in English with Tim Roth and Naomi Watts. February DVD releases: MARCH7th 
The Other Boleyn GirlAdmittedly the trailer makes this look terribly trashy, but that might be a good thing when you have Scarlett Johansson's Mary Boleyn vying with Natalie Portman for the affections of King Henry VIII (lucky old Eric Bana). 
Diary of the DeadGeorge Romero returns to the zombie beat, though this is not part of the Day Of The Dead series. Like Cloverfield, this goes the video diary route, with a bunch of film students reporting for the benefit of anyone who might be left to watch. 14th 
Pride and GloryIrish-American cops always make for good drama, and there is a promising robustness about a cast that includes Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Noah Emmerich and Jon Voight. Gavin J O'Connor (Tumbleweeds) directs and cowrote with Joe Carnahan. 21st 
RedactedBrian de Palma's most controversial film in years is an inglorious expose of US troops engaged in rape and murder in Iraq, filmed in a variety of styles, but predominantly a video diary. 
The Spiderwick ChroniclesThe ubiquitous Freddie Highmore plays twins Simon and Jared in the latest family fantasy adaptation. Seth Rogen lends his vocal chords to Hogsqueal, while Nick Nolte voices Mulgrath and Martin Short is Thimbletrack. 28th 
Son of RambowIt's been a long wait for this delightful children's film from Garth Jennings, one half of Hammer & Tongs (it premiered at Sundance last January). A couple of ten-year-olds set about making their own action movie inspired by Stallone's original antics. March DVD releases: Mr Brooks; Primeval APRIL4th 
LeatherheadsGeorge Clooney has been talking about this romantic comedy set against the world of American football in the 1920s for a decade. He's finally directed it himself - and the combination of Clooney and Renee Zellweger feels very right to us. 11th 
City of MenA follow up of sorts to City Of God (it actually grew out of a TV series inspired by the movie), this is another look at life for young men growing up in Rio's drug-ridden favelas, though apparently this time the mood is quite different. 
PersepolisAn autobiographical animated film by Marjane Satrapi, an Iranian who grew up in a liberal anti-monarchy Tehrani household in the 1970s, then came of age under the Ayatollahs, and completed her education in Europe. This poignant, very funny memoir puts a personal face on the world's most pressing culture clash. 18th 
Happy-Go-LuckyDetails are scant about Mike Leigh's latest, but it's a contemporary London comedy and it stars Sally Hawkins, fast becoming a Leigh regular after All or Nothing and Vera Drake. 
Stop LossWhatever you make of Redacted and In the Valley of Elah, it must be admitted no one has really hit Iraq on the head yet, cinematically speaking. This may be the one: the long-awaited second film from talented Kimberley Peirce (Boys Don't Cry). Ryan Phillippe, Joseph Gordon Levitt and Channing Tatum costar. MAY2nd 
Iron ManThe latest Stan Lee character to hit the movie screen is Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, aka Robert Downey Jr. A more improbable superhero we can't imagine, but with Jon (Elf) Favreau directing and Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Samuel L Jackson and Gwyneth Paltrow in the cast, we're definitely willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. 15-26th The Cannes Film Festival 
16th 
Speed RacerTrue, the Wachowski boys (if they are both boys still) have blotted their copybook since the first Matrix movie. And it's not easy to see how the cult 1960s Japanese anime series lends itself to a live action feature... until you catch the trailer, which suggests this might actually be a lot of fun. Emile Hirsch, from Into The Wild, stars. 22nd 
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal SkullYou may have heard of this one. Spielberg. Lucas. Harrison Ford reunited with Karen Allen. Cate Blanchett and Shia LaBoeuf. Frankly we'd see it just for Karen Allen... JUNE13th 
The Incredible HulkEdward Norton scripted as well as starred at this second attempt to fire up the big sulk. Liv Tyler takes over the girlfriend role previously taken by Jennifer Connelly; Tim Roth and William Hurt are along for the ride. 27th 
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince CaspianNewcomer Ben Barnes plays Caspian as the Pevensie kids return to Narnia to find many, many years have passed inside the wardrobe, and all is not right with the world. Still waiting on word for who plays our favourite character, Reepicheep the mouse. JULY11th 
Mamma Mia!Gotta love that exclamation mark! An ABBA scored musical comedy with Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and Julie Walters! From acclaimed opera director Phyllida Lloyd! It can't miss! 
ValkyrieTom Cruise plots Hitler's downfall with the help of Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Izzard and Stephen Fry. We know how this comes out, but still, Tom in an eye-patch and Nazi uniform makes it a must-see. And camp qualities aside, it does come from the writer-director team behind The Usual Suspects. 18th 
WALL-EThe latest from Pixar, which is recommendation enough, surely? Andrew Stanton wrote and directed this tale of a robot who finally discovers some meaning in the universe. 25th 
The Dark KnightOf all the myriad comic book adaptations, this is the one we're really confident about. Batman Begins was great, and Christopher Nolan has reassembled most of the original cast (trading Maggie Gyllenhaal in for Katie Holmes seems like a good swap). Heath Ledger promises a radically different take on the Joker. AUGUST1st 
Tropic ThunderBen Stiller has another shot at directing and the premise is a good one: a group of actors shooting a big budget war movie are forced to play soldiers for real. Stiller also stars with Robert Downey Jr, Jack Black, Steve Coogan, Bill Hader and a platoon of cameo stars including Tom and Katie. 8th 
The Mummy: Tomb of the DragonIt's true we need another Mummy movie as badly as Rachel Weisz (who declined to reprise her role) but director Rob Cohen has persuaded Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh to participate, so there should be some exciting chop socky action at any rate. 18-29th The Edinburgh Film Festival 
22nd 
Hellboy II: The Golden ArmyIn which Hellboy saves the world! Guillermo del Toro returns to the Mike Mignola comic book after his triumph with Pan's Labyrinth. SEPTEMBER4-13th The Toronto Film Festival 
5th 
Pineapple ExpressFrom the writers of Superbad (Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg) and producer Judd Apatow, a pot-comedy come buddy caper starring Rogen and his old Freaks And Geeks mate James Franco. The buzz is already strong for this one, even if it's not the kind of film you would normally associate with director David Gordon Green (George Washington). 12th 
The InternationalWith no Jason Bourne antics on the horizon, this might have to do: Clive Owen is an Interpol agent who tries to expose an international arms dealing ring. Naomi Watts costars and Tom Tykwer directs. OCTOBER17-29th October The Venice Film Festival24th 
Where the Wild Things AreThe classic Maurice Sendak children's bedtime story has been adapted by Dave "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" Eggars, with Spike 'Adaptation' Jonze at the helm. Forest Whitaker voices a wild thing, which is pretty inspired right there. NOVEMBERDates tbc (Normally end of October beginning of Novemeber) The London Film Festival7th 
Bond 22Daniel Craig is back in beefcake mode, but the details of the latest 007 adventure are shrouded in secrecy. We do know that Marc Forster (The Kite Runner) is directing, and the screenplay is again by the Robert Wade, Neal Purvis plus Paul Haggis triumvirate. 21st 
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceI think it's safe to say by this stage we're hooked. David Yates directs HP's sixth. The only real question is whether Michael Gambon affects a limp wrist for Dumbledore. DECEMBER26th 
Star TrekNow known simply as "Star Trek", but formerly "The Menagerie", this prequel is the brainchild of JJ 'Lost' Abrams. A wildly eclectic cast includes Simon Pegg as Scotty, Karl Urban as Bones, Winona Ryder as Amanda Grayson, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, and one Leonard Nimoy as Spock. Make of that what you will. Undated...Films to look out for in the coming year... 
Frost/NixonMichael Sheen is the doughty British TV personality, and Frank Langella is Tricky Dick. Ron Howard directs from Peter Morgan's play. 
The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonDavid Fincher's lastest is an ambitious attempt to film F Scott Fitzgerald's short story about a man who ages backwards (Brad Pitt gets the CGI makeover). Eric Roth wrote the screenplay and Cate Blanchett costars. 
The Restraint of BeastsRhys Ifhans, Ben Whishaw and Warren Clarke costar in this eagerly awaited film from Pawel Pawelikowski (My Summer Of Love), written by Graham 'Father Ted' Linehan. 
Burn After ReadingThis should be the second Coen brothers movie of the year, with a topical plot about secret government files ending up in the wrong hands. George Clooney and Brad Pitt star with John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton and Frances McDormand. 
Guerilla/The ArgentineTwo for the price of one from the tireless Steven Soderbergh. Benicio Del Toro plays Ernesto Che Guevara. Presumably these films take us on from The Motorcycle Diaries to Che's death. 
Synecdoche, New YorkAce screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich; Adaptation; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Heart) turns director and has assembled the best female case of the year: Michelle Williams, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Samantha Morton, Catherine Keener, Emily Watson, Diane Wiest, Hope Davis... plus Philip Seymour Hoffman. 
Sex and the City: The MovieHard to say if this can possibly work, but even if it doesn't it should be worth a giggle. Academy award winner Jennifer Hudson joins the city girls. Director Michael Patrick King is a veteran of 16 episodes of the show. 
BlindnessJulianne Moore is the only one who can see when everyone in a small town is struck blind. City of God director Fernando Meirelles directs Don McKellar's adaptation of Nobel prize-winnner Jose Saramanga's novel. Mark Ruffalo, Gael Garcia Bernal and Sandra Oh costar. Titles related to this articleRelated/similar articles
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