2010 movies you will want to see

As 2009 is ending it's time to look forward to what movies will be coming in 2010. Like in many years recently past there will be a decent number of remakes and revisioned films, several conversion films, and more than a few major movies that have huge anticipation.

Instead of trying to list every film that will be in theaters in 2010 I will instead hit on some of the best, and worst, ideas that Hollywood has to offer us. I'm sure that I will be as right and wrong on these films as most movie reviewers always are.

The films you might want to see include:

Legion - Though it is a January film - normally an indication of a horrible film - this looks like it has potential. I think this might be a film that will appeal to those who enjoyed the original The Prophesy movie.

The Book of Eli - Denzel Washington is known for his ability to act and to pick quality films to appear in. Which surprises me as this film is slated (last I noticed) for the graveyard of January. I have high expectations for this film, I hope to not be disappointed.

The Wolfman - Benicio Del Toro is a great actor and should be perfect in this remake. The addition of Sir Anthony Hopkins adds to the potential of this being a quality film. The moderating thing is that the film is a remake, which in Hollywood these days is a 70/30 proposition against a quality film. But so far the movie trailers say it will beat the odds.

Death at a Funeral - A remake of a British film of the same name, subject and likely everything else except the color of the cast. That's a good thing as Hollywood writers seem to be the laziest and least creative in the movie making world these days. From the movie trailers I've seen this should be a hit for Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence. Thank you England.

Iron Man 2 - War Machine. That says it all.

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time - A risky bet, but the effects look great. If the Hollywood writers kept the storyline from the video game intact this should be a great video game to movie conversion. If not, which is likely, this will be a revisionist waste of time to capitalize on fans pocket money. But it should be worth finding out in theaters.

The Expendables - There is no lack of hype for this film filled with former 80's (action) stars. Sylvester Stallone, Mickey Rourke, and Dolph Lundgren get to flex their old muscles against relatively younger jet Li and Jason Statham. For action movie junkies this is a must see.

MegaMind - Yes this is an animated film. Yes it's meant for kids. Even so I think this will be The Incredibles of 2010. The concept seems great even though it will feature Will Ferrell and was created by Ben Stiller. If nothing else it will rake in cash.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 - It's a Harry Potter movie, how can you not see it. Honestly, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson have really grown into solid actors and this should be very entertaining. Hype aside, this should be the big hit (box office) of the year.

And that's the list of the good. Now comes the bad.

Movie Preview: The Wolfman

It seems that the remake season will be starting early in 2010. In this case though we might see a change from the normal massacre that ‘revisioned’ Hollywood films tend to provide these days. Or so the trailer for The Wolfman wants us to believe.



I really would like for this film to be good. For several reasons.

First, I think Benicio Del Toro is a great actor. He doesn’t get as much acclaim as he should, nor as many leading roles. Comparing him to most of the leading men in Hollywood these days, he stands far affront of the crowd. Unless you think that GI Joe was an Oscar winning film.

Another reason I’d like to see this film do well is that this remake looks like the classic version done by Lon Chaney Jr. No he isn’t related to the former VP. I’m talking about the son of the actor with 1000 faces, and you just have to see his role in Of Mice And Men.

The original film wasn’t about the intense special effects that seems to fill every movie these days. It wasn’t done with CGI or complex make-up. It was just acting, and it holds up over the decades.

This version looks to try to capture some of that filmmaking style. Yes there is a lot of make-up. And it couldn’t be made these days without CGI (which seems to be as important as lighting in current films). But considering how absolutely ridiculous the effects could have been (ie Transformers), this is comparatively barebones. Which means the acting has to be spot on or it won’t work.

Add to the above the fact that Hugo Weaving and Sir Anthony Hopkins are in the film and you have a cast that can be right on the money.

The potential problems with the film?

It’s a period piece, which usually doesn’t sell well with the modern youthful movie-goer.

There are no vampires in the film. How dare they.

You have to wonder if the above the line cost went to the actor’s pay or the script.

It’s being released in February and not October or March. Not a great sign, but usually means a weaker film.

It’s unlikely anyone but the actors know who Lon Chaney Jr is.

Some people will hear the accents and think it’s a foreign film. Which means it’s like garlic to a vampire.

So will the film work? We don’t have too long to find out. But my money is on Benicio Del Toro.

Who will replace Sean Penn as Larry in Three Stooges movie

Well there are a few changes that are coming up in several movies being planned for 2010 or so. Several high profile movie stars have been added or left planned movies. How this might affect these films is anyone’s guess. But at least you are forewarned.

The potentially big news is that Sean Penn has pulled out of the star studded Three Stooges movie, in addition to the film Cartel. The 3 Stooges movie includes Jim Carrey and Benicio Del Toro. So even without Penn this is a huge powerhouse to this film. The real question is who might be the actor to replace Penn as Larry.

So far, some of the rumors – or hopes – I have heard of include the following names: Johnny Depp, Ben Stiller, Jack Nicholson, Chris Tucker, and Ludivine Sagnier. Talk about a huge range of styles and skill. Each changes the dynamics completely.

In my opinion, Ben Stiller would be a horrible choice. I can imagine Stiller turning the film into Starsky & Hutch –esque style of bad acting. While his latest films have been good (Night at the Museum), his history of playing the same character, and badly, in each film would inevitably harm the quality of the film and drive potential viewers away. Plus he is no where near the abilities of Carrey or Del Torro.

Jack Nicholson is a stellar actor. I have no doubt that he could pull off the role. But he is older. Too much so to have a smooth mix with the very energetic Del Toro and Carrey. Plus I just can’t see him getting slapped around. That image just throws me off.

Johnny Depp seems like a great choice. He has the ability, range, and youth. He will drive in fans of all ages and backgrounds. He is a powerhouse on his own. And he has done comedic roles well. The only negative is that he might be too good looking. But makeup can fix that.

Going into the realm of something completely different, Chris Tucker would fit the bill. A Black Larry would really shake up the film. It puts a spin on the movie that I honestly can’t imagine right now. But to say that this would be a good thing is a statement I can’t make for sure. The best role I have seen Tucker in is arguably his support in Fifth Element, or perhaps the first Rush Hour film. Can his eunic like voice and race add to a film with far better actors and intense physical comedy?

Lastly there is Ludivine Sagnier. This choice has to be simply because the actress likes to be topless, and has had most of her film roles done in the nude. That is not to say that a woman could not be Larry. Just that I cannot imagine this woman in that role. Maybe Geena Davis, but not Sagnier.

Actually, now that I think about it more, I don’t see a woman in the role. Being slapped and hit, by men, with the intent of cruelty and punishment – it just doesn’t work with a woman. It crosses a boundary. It can too easily be taken the wrong way.

So of the above choices, minus Sagnier, who would I pick? Depp. He has the ability to match up with Del Toro and Carrey. He is the right age. He can easily capture the tone and essence of the character. And he can deliver.



With Penn gone, Depp is the perfect replacement. In fact, it can be easily argued that Penn should never have been in the film to start with. At least with Del Toro and Carrey in the mix.

But as a wildcard I will throw in one other name. Robert Downey Jr. While he is a bit too world-weary in his looks, there is no question of his ability or range. He might be a bit older, but not too much so. He is a powerhouse actor, and can commit to the film with as much dedication as Depp.

But who do you want as Larry in this Three Stooges remake?

The 3 Stooges live again

Are you a fan of the 3 Stooges? One of the most well-remembered comedic teams in history, they are still seen in film and shorts in over 30 nations across the world. And if the Farrelly brothers have their way they will be on the big screen once again.

Originally the 3 Stooges started off as a 4 man vaudeville act. That was back in 1923. And even in that early stage they were about slapstick. But it wasn’t until 1934 that the name Three Stooges came into existence, and was the start of 283 short films over 23 years.

One thing that many may not realize about the 3 Stooges (2 Howard brothers and friend Larry Fine through the various incarnations of the group) is the fact that they produced the first anti-Nazi, Hitler parody in 1940. This predated the famous Charlie Chaplin film The Great Dictator by 9 months. It also reportedly led to their being put on a death list by the Nazi’s.

As another bit of trivia, the only film to have all 3 Howard brothers (Moe, Shemp, and Curly) and Larry is Hold That Lion!

In all, the 3 Stooges had a career that lasted through 49 years, and several “third stooges”. They captured the short film, feature film, television and live act markets. And they inspired comedians for decades after they stopped working.

So in a feature film, with such a rich history behind them, who in these modern days has the ability to play the 3 Stooges? Who could make a homage film without destroying the admiration fans of all ages have?



Well of course Jim Carrey. It seems fitting that he play Curly. And I truly can’t imagine anyone else in the role. But that leaves us with 2 other critical roles. You won’t believe who is expected to fill them.

Benicio Del Toro is expected to play Moe. I can see this a bit. He has just about the right look. Plus he has dark hair, and a bit of humor and slapstick in virtually every role he has been in. Just watch Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and you can see how he can fit the role of Moe (though without the near psychotic nature).

But I can’t see Larry. Not as super liberal and ultra-serious Sean Penn. Perhaps he can do comedy, I can’t recall him doing so in the past (after Fast Times at Ridgemont High). Maybe he can match the look. But it’s his demeanor, and dare I say it his public persona that just keeps me from thinking of him as funny in a comedic manner (though some of his political philosophies really do make me laugh out loud).

So there you have it. The history and the future. In 2010 they are expected to collide. I don’t envy these actors. Every aspect of their portrayals will be scrutinized and compared to the originals. They will be critiqued in the most harsh of manners. As will the Farrelly brothers.

Can the people responsible for the films Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin, Osmosis Jones and Fever Pitch get the Stooges right? Can a modern day version of their classic slapstick be written and performed with respect and justice to the memories we all have?

I’m not sure. This isn’t quite a remake of their old material. It’s not quite a revisioning. Nor is it pure homage. But whatever it turns out to be, it will grab the attention and raise debate.