HispanicBusiness

Sort of serious

-- "Trouble With the Curve": Clint Eastwood, in his first starring role since 2008's "Gran Torino," plays a veteran Atlanta Braves baseball scout whose eyes are going. I have not seen this film but have some predictions. Amy Adams, as Eastwood's estranged daughter, will be adorable. Justin Timberlake will be handsome but non-threatening as a rival scout. Eastwood's old-school character will tell those computer-using "Moneyball" modern baseball scouts where they can shove it. There will be a scene that starts in a dark stadium. As the stadium lights click on, one bank at a time, Eastwood's character, standing on the pitcher's mound, will survey the stadium, and by extension, his life. (Sept. 21)

-- "Killing Them Softly" Brad Pitt, in leather-jacketed dirtbag mode, plays a professional enforcer charged with taking out a pair of loose-lipped criminals. The premise sounds tired, especially when considering James Gandolfini plays another enforcer. But there is great hope here: The movie was directed by Andrew Dominik, who made the excellent "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," also with Pitt. (Oct. 19)

-- "The Man With the Iron Fists": This kung fu movie set in 19th century China was directed by and stars rapper RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan. It was written by RZA and torture-horror maven Eli Roth. Quentin Tarantino "presents" this film. RZA plays a blacksmith forced to defend his village. Russell Crowe plays a mercenary and Lucy Liu plays a madam. The soundtrack is by RZA, Black Eyed Peas and other acts not closely associated with feudal China. (Nov. 2)

-- "Skyfall": Daniel Craig's James Bond is believed dead but emerges to help M (Judi Dench) when she gets in trouble. This 23rd James Bond has a higher pedigree than most, with Sam Mendes ("American Beauty") directing and Oscar winner Javier Bardem as a baddie. It also marks a new standard in the continuing campaign to de-handsome Bardem. His blond hairdo here looks worse than his Buster Brown 'do in "No Country for Old Men." (Nov. 9)

-- "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 2": Gotta hand it to Kristen Stewart. Her offscreen shenanigans make her seem far more complex than she ever did in the 65 previous "Twilight" films. As we watch this final movie in the series, shot before the scandal, we can look for signs things already might have been amiss. Signs like pale skin, yellow eyes and a desire to give one's progeny the unfortunate handle of Renesmee. (Nov. 16)

You're joking

-- "For a Good Time, Call": Ari Graynor and Lauren Miller play roommates who bond the way so many roommates do: by collaborating on a phone-sex business. This film and the similarly raunchy "Bachelorette" premiered at January's Sundance Film Festival and were lauded as fine examples of post-"Bridesmaids" female-centric movies. "Good Time" finally gives Graynor, not yet 30 but already a veteran comic supporting actress, a starring role. Miller wrote the script. In real life, she is married to Seth Rogen. (Sept. 14)

-- "This Is 40": Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd reprise their roles as Katherine Heigl's likable and real sister and brother-in-law from 2007's "Knocked Up." The always funny Mann is director Judd Apatow's wife, and their kids play the couple's kids, just like they did in "Knocked Up." Am sensing a hint of autobiography here. (Dec. 21)

Kids stuff

-- "Frankenweenie": This is a tale of a boy named Victor and his dead dog, Sparky. Victor reanimates Sparky, Frankenstein style. Tim Burton has remade a 1984 short he created as a junior animator at Disney. The new, full-length version is in black and white and 3-D. The voice cast includes Burton veterans Catherine O'Hara, Winona Ryder and Martin Landau. (Oct. 5)

-- "Wreck It Ralph": In this Disney animated film, John C. Reilly voices a muscle-bound character from a Super Mario Bros.-style 1980s video game. Tired of doing the same thing for three decades, Ralph escapes to other games. The always winsome Sarah Silverman voices the role of a child whose constant questions irritate Ralph. (Nov. 2)

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