2006 Fall Preview: 20 – 11

Every season we folks here at ioncinema.com like to extract 20 options for your viewing pleasure from the thick list of weekly offerings. The season we had several of our regular contributors involved with a 2 tier voting process giving us 20 films worth you spending your hard earned cash on. Films such as Casino Royale or A Good Year didn’t make the cut and choices like Shortbus and The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes just barely weere on the cusp of being included in our top 20. So today we present picks 20 thru 11 and be sure to come back tomorrow as we count down our top 10 positions.

Release date: Sept.22 Limited Release
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
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The Gist: This remake combines a solid cast and a message that is just has pertinent today.

Fact: Film was pushed back a full year.

See It: Steven Zaillian’s long awaited film will most likely be the ensemble cast film of the year headed by a Sean Penn in mint condition.

Release date: Oct.13 Limited Release
Distributor: TH!NKFilm
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The Gist: Mixing a child’s imagination with pure fantasy this is an adaptation of Mitch Cullin‘s cult classic novel.

Fact: It took a long while before a U.S distributor picked up the film for release.

See It: If you enjoyed the book or adore Terry Gilliam – then this is a no-brainer pick.

Release date: Sept.1 Limited Release
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
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The Gist: Set during the 1920s China, the film depicts the experiences of a father (Ken Takakura) and his ailing son (Kiichi Nakai), who travel to the Yunnan Province so the son can study opera.

Fact: Remember when both Hero and House of Flying Daggers got released back to back within 4 months? Sony Pictures Classics will attempt the same releasing this feature following it by a holiday release of Curse of the Golden Flower.

See It: Zhang Yimou comes full circle abandoning CGI and martial arts for a grassroots feature – those who like the slower-paced stuff will enjoy this double-dipping in 06’.

Release date: Oct.20 Wide Release
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
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The Gist: Based on an adaptation of the novel by Christopher Priest, this is the story that formed the basis for Memento. Think Houdini versus Cooperfield.

Fact: This may be Christopher Nolan best film since Memento.

See It: Bale and Jackman should provide for an interesting on screen rivalry.

Release date: Oct.20 Wide Release
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
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The Gist: Kirsten Dunst, portrays the young Austrian princess, who, as a teenager, becomes Queen of France.

Fact: It was jeered at this year’s Cannes.

See It: A fusion of period pieces mixed with edgy soundtrack should be interesting experiment.

Release date: Nov.10 Limited Release
Distributor: Picturehouse Films
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The Gist: Based on Patricia Bosworth’s book “Diane Arbus: A Biography” and on Erin Cressida Wilson’s screenplay, this is about the life of photographer Diane Arbus. Things get quite hairy.

Fact: After Secretary director Steven Shainberg finds another perfect fit for the art-house crowds.

See It: Should get one nom for Best Acting – question is: Kidman or Downey Jr.?

Release date: Oct.20 Wide Release
Distributor: DreamWorks Pictures
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The Gist: Based on the novel that James Bradley wrote which was published in 2000, with Ron Powers, this sees the battle, which took place in winter 1945.

Fact: This is part of a two-part combo with Red Sun, Black Sand out in theatres in 07’.

See It: Can Clint Eastwood go 3 for 3?

Release date: Sept.1 Limited Release
Distributor: IFC Films
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The Gist: This is a breakthrough investigation into Hollywood’s best-kept secret: the MPAA film ratings system and its profound impact on American culture.

Fact: The MPAA suck.

See It: Filmmakers beware: Kirby Dick provides necessary viewing material before you start filming your first feature.

Release date: Nov.17 Limited Release
Distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures
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The Gist: Based on material from the incendiary novel of the same name written by Eric Schlosser and adapted for the screen by Schlosser and Richard Linklater, this looks at the industry.

Fact: After Supersize Me, you can bet a happy meal that lawyers from fast food joints will be ready for damage control.

See It: After a healthy introspective look into Gen-X, this might be Linklater’s most political movie to date.

Release date: Nov.3 Limited Release
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
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The Gist: The backdrop is Madrid and its lively working-class neighborhoods, where the immigrants from the various Spanish provinces share dreams, lives and fortune with a multitude of ethnic groups, and other races. At the heart of this social framework, three generations of women who survive wind, fire and even death, thanks to audacity, goodness and a limitless vitality.

Fact: This picked up the best actress award at Cannes. The award was handed to the entire cast.

See It: Sony Pictures Classics will release plenty of Pedro films prior to the release – try counting the number of films you might dislike from the bunch. My count is zero.