One of the greatest times of the year for top notch movies is the summer! Movie execs even change the dates their movies debut in order to take part in this sweltering time of year. Here are six films we can’t wait to see during the Summer 2009 movie season…
June
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – Summer is an infamous time of year for sequels and 2009 is no exception. The trailer alone for “Transformers 2” promises amazing action, explosive destruction, CG-palooza and there’s even a plot thrown in there too. Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) discovers the back story of the giant robots that are causing demolition worldwide – Egypt, Paris and the US. The cherry on this sundae – IMAX footage, which is sure to enhance the already exciting special effects. June 24th.
Away We Go – “Go’s” trailer caught my eye when I saw “Adventureland.” The odd couple of John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph (two hugely funny actors not frequently seen on the large screen) had me scribbling down the release date in the dark theater so I wouldn’t forget. “Go” is a “road trip” film for adults as Krasinski and Rudolph travel to see family and friends to find a place that feels like home before they become parents for the first time. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Allison Janney, Jeff Daniels, and Catherine O’Hara are just a couple of the odd ball friends and family members visited by the pregnant couple. June 5th.
July
Public Enemies – Johnny Depp and Christian Bale – that’s all you need to be sold on this summer semi bio-pic. Directed by the successful Michael Mann (“Collateral,” “Ali,” “The Insider,” “Heat,” and “The Last of the Mohicans”) this film is already being talked about as the only summer film that will be remembered at Oscar time. “Enemies” is a depression era crime drama about infamous bank robber John Dillinger (Depp) and the clean cut FBI agent determined to bring him in, Melvin Purvis (Bale). Two stories from behind the scenes recount that Bale was in character 24/7 and that Depp was actually giddy at the opportunity to handle Dillinger’s actual brief case. This is going to be a real box office melter. July 1st.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – “Prince” should have been on the Fall ’08 list, but the higher ups who made the movie moved it to summer ’09 for financial reasons. The 2nd to last book in the JK Rowling series has a darker story that revolves around the origins of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Through multiple memory type flashback sequences the audience and Harry will learn a lot more about Voldemort’s history. There’s also the prospect of love for some of our favorite Hogwarts’ students (but I won’t tell you who in case you haven’t read the book). July 15th.
August
The Boat That Rocked – Haven’t heard of this movie yet? That’s ok – you’ll be dying to see it because of the cast alone: Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Doubt”), Emma Thompson (“Stranger Than Fiction’), Gemma Arterton (“Quantum of Solace”), Bill Nighy (“Love Actually”), Kenneth Branagh (“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”), January Jones (“Mad Men”), Rhys Darby (“Yes Man”), Jack Davenport (the “Pirates” movies), Nick Frost (“Hot Fuzz”), Rhys Ifans (“Elizabeth: The Golden Age”), Kirsty Mather (“Mamma Mia”), and Tom Wisdom (“300”). What a line up! And it’s directed by Richard Curtis who did “Love Actually.” August 28th.
Inglourious Basterds – Yes, the movie title is spelled correctly. Leave it director Quentin Tarantino to find the craziest spelling for his latest film starring Brad Pitt, Mike Myers, B.J. Novak, Samuel L. Jackson and Cloris Leachman. “Inglourious” is two stories in one – the first is about a Jewish girl whose family is killed by Nazis, she leaves and ends up working at a movie theatre, and infatuated with a German war hero and plotting revenge for her family’s deaths. The second story – a group of Jewish-American soldiers who are working behind enemy lines plot their own scheme against the Nazis. How do the two stories relate? The movie theater is the key (how ironic). August 21st.
It’s now officially 2009, and you know what that means: New Year’s resolutions. But, we aren’t the only ones who make resolutions – celebrities do too. Most probably want to lose weight or quit smoking like most people do; but, here’s Positively Celebrity’s ideas for how celebrities can improve their lives and careers in 2009.
Expectant moms like Jennifer Garner and “Grey’s Anatomy’s” Chyler Leigh:
Name babies normal names instead of the crazy baby names of 2008 like Ashlee Simpson’s son, Bronx Mowgli, and Gwen Stefani’s son, Zuma Nesta Rock.
Screen Actors Guild members and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers:
Come to a resolution regarding DVD residuals and online video so there will not be another strike like the 100-day writer’s strike in late 2007 and early 2008 that halted production of scripted shows and brought an onslaught of tacky reality shows.
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan:
Follow Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s lead in “Revolutionary Road” by reuniting one of America’s favorite on-screen couples.
Robert Pattinson and Zac Efron:
Take advantage of your fortunate successes of starring in 2008’s “Twilight” and “High School Musical 3” by not screwing up like many other young newly minted movie stars. Ahem Shia LaBeouf and Lindsay Lohan.
The “Friends” cast:
Reunite for a successful big-screen adaptation of their show like the women of “Sex and the City” did in 2008.
Shows like “Heroes” and “Grey’s Anatomy”:
Cut the convoluted and crazy storylines and remind us why we initially loved them.
Mike Myers, Al Pacino, Meg Ryan, Amy Winehouse, and Janet Jackson:
Plan a comeback for 2009. The kind of comebacks that Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Tom Cruise, and Britney Spears all enjoyed in 2008.
Long time couples like Fergie and Josh Duhamel, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard, Amy Adams and Darren Legallo, and Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ross McCall:
Get married in 2009 and upstage the 2008 nuptials of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, and Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds.
At long last it’s the holiday season. The turkeys are about to go in the oven, the tree’s are about to get lit up, and the Christmas tunes are going to start up any minute now. But don’t forget about holiday TV. Gather with your family to watch classic holiday fare like “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and stick around for Hallmark’s new movies to give you some holiday cheer.
Tuesday, Nov. 25: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (ABC, 8/7 c) It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without Snoopy and the Peanuts gang kicking off the holiday season with their annual cartoon. It also makes us thankful we’re not eating Charlie Brown’s serving of toast, pretzels, popcorn and jelly beans for our dinner.
Thursday, Nov. 27: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC, 9 am/8 c) Wake up Thanksgiving Day to the Today show crew presenting giant balloons, floats, bands, and celebrities including David Archuleta, Kristen Chenoweth and Miley Cyrus.
Thursday, Nov. 27: CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute (CNN, 9/8 c) Anderson Cooper’s second annual tribute to America’s best Samaritans makes us thankful for their good deeds and to know there’s good people out there.
Saturday, Nov. 29: Moonlight & Mistletoe (Hallmark Channel, 9/8 c) Typical story of a girl searching for her lost Christmas spirit, but it’s a treat to see “Full House’s” very own D.J., Candace Cameron Bure.
Monday, Dec. 1: Shrek the Halls (ABC, 8/7 c) Move over, Grinch. You’re not the only green creature with your own Christmas special. Mike Myers’ Shrek celebrates Christmas as only an ogre can.
Tuesday, Dec. 2: Santa Claus is Coming to Town (ABC, 8/7c) If classic Holiday fare is more of a treat to you, then don’t miss this traditional show with old time Hollywood actors Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney voicing.
Wednesday, Dec. 3: Christmas in Rockefeller Center (NBC, 8/7c) Get ready for 30 Rock’s giant Christmas tree to light up while Beyoncé, Tony Bennett, David Cook, Harry Connick Jr., Faith Hill, the Jonas Brothers and the Rascal Flatts sing.
Wednesday, Dec. 3: A Christmas Story (TNT, 8/7 c) The holiday season consists of family, yummy meals, stockings, and Ralphie, the leg lamp and the red rider BB gun of course!
Saturday, Dec. 6: The Christmas Choir (Hallmark Channel, 9/8 c) Hallmark not only has the edge on Christmas cards, it’s also the go-to-place for original holiday movies. This one stars Jason Gedrick who – you guessed it – discovers the real meaning of life.
Wednesday, Dec. 10: Paula’s Home Cooking (Food Network, 5:30/4:30 c) Join Paula Deen to learn how to make holiday fare like sugar and nut glazed brie.
“Dream big,” Ellen Page’s “Juno” character tells her step mom. Indeed, the film’s director and stars did.
Not only was “Juno” nominated for four Oscar nominations, its stars and director won awards, or as they are called “Beavers” at their native Canada’s ninth annual Canadian Comedy Awards Friday night in Saskatchewan.
Montreal-born Jason Reitman won Pretty Funny Film Directing, Halifax-born Ellen Page won Pretty Funny Female Actress of the Year, and Ontario-born Michael Cera won Pretty Funny Male Actor of the Year for “Superbad” (even though he also was in “Juno”).
Cera’s “Superbad” costar, Vancouver-born Seth Rogen, won a Beaver for writing the raunchy but funny teen comedy. He also won Pretty Funny Comic Person of the Year for his recent performances in “Knocked Up” and “Pineapple Express.”
You can see the show and the rest of the winners when it airs next March on Canada’s The Comedy Network.
In the meantime, read on to see what other celebrities hail from the land up north.
Eric McCormack – Toronto, Ontario
Jim Carrey – Newmarket, Ontario
John Candy – Toronto, Ontario
Lorne Michaels – Toronto, Ontario
Avril Lavigne – Belleville, Ontario
Shania Twain – Windsor, Ontario
Mike Myers – Scarborough, Ontario
Pamela Anderson – Ladysmith, British Columbia
William Shatner – Montreal, Quebec
Paul Shaffer – Thunder Bay, Ontario
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