2007 Fall Preview Top 20 picks: 8-5

In today's foursome, we have the first of Weinstein co.'s singer-related music biographies and we've placed two highly anticipated Paramount Vantage in the mix. Curiously all four films are book novel to film adaptations.

8. Into the Wild
Release date: September 21^st Limited Release

Screenwriters: Based on Krakauer novel, the screenplay is written by Penn.
Director: Sean Penn
Distributor: Paramount Vantage 
Fests: A preem at the Toronto Film Festival.
Producers: Art Linson (Fight Club), William Pohlad (Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus), Sean Penn (The Pledge)

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The Gist: Based on a true story and the bestselling book by Jon Krakauer. After graduating from Emory University in 1992, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless (Hirsch) abandons his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.

Fact: The rumor is that the run time goes past the 2 hour and 1/2 mark, yet doesn't “feel long”.

Odds against or odds in favor?: I the past, Penn has had some difficulty when behind the camera. Commercially prospects might be low, and the traffic during release date presents many obstacles.

See It: The rumor is that the run time goes past the 2 hour mark without giving reasons for viewers to check out their watches. Mystery behind true story definitely intriguing.

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7. Silk
Release date: September 14th Limited Release

Screenwriters: Based on the novel by Alessandro Baricco, this is co-scripted by Girard and Michael Golding
Director: François Girard  
Distributor:  Picturehouse Films
Fests: Toronto and the logical Tokyo Int. Film Fest
Producers: Niv Fichman (The Saddest Music in the World), Nadine Luque, Domenico Procacci (Alexandra's Project) and Sonoko Sakai (Blindness).

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The Gist: Based on the Alessandro Baricco's novel, this is the story of a married silkworm smuggler, Herve Joncour, in 19th Century France who travels to Japan to collect his clandestine cargo. While there he spots a beautiful European woman, the concubine of a local baron, with whom he becomes obsessed. Without speaking the same language, they communicate through letters until war intervenes. Their unrequited love persists however, and Herve's wife Helene begins to suspect.

Fact: Canadian filmmaker takes time to choose his projects.

Odds against or odds in favor?: Keira Knightley and romance will help the marketing – but it will make more box office overseas than U.S domestic.

See It: Multiple locations. Fine international cast.

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6. The Kite Runner
Release date: November 2nd

Screenwriters: Based on the novel by Khaled Hosseini and scripted by David Benioff.
Director: Marc Forster  
Distributor: Paramount Vantage
Fests: None to report so far.
Producers: Pippa Harris (Starter for 10), William Horberg (Cold Mountain), E. Bennett Walsh (Disturbia), Rebecca Yeldham (On the Road)

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The Gist: The story is about the bond that develops in Afghanistan between a privileged youth and the son of his father's servant, around a love of kite flying. The relationship fractures when one boy is set upon by toughs during a kite-flying tournament and the other boy does nothing to help him. Years later, a reunion amidst the wreckage of the Taliban regime reconnects the youths.

Fact:  The kites used in the Kabul sequences were hand-made in the cramped living room of a kite maker in Kabul, Afghanistan. He has been making and flying kites for over 45 years.

Odds against or odds in favor?: Depsite the lack of recognizable faces, the book spent months on the NYTimes best seller list and features kids, reunion and kites.

See It: Forster – don't always like him, but he is a director not afraid of trying new projects on for size.

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5. Control
Release date: Sep 26, 2007 – Limited Release

Screenwriters: Based on the novel by Deborah Curtis and written by
Matt Greenhalgh.
Director: Anton Corbijn
Distributor: The Weinstein Company
Fests: Cannes, Toronto,
Producers: Corbijn, Todd Eckert and Orian Williams (Tennis, Anyone…?)

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The Gist: Filmed in black and white, this is based on (the widow of Ian Curtis) Deborah Curtis' Touching From a Distance, this is a biopic of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis. Matt Greenhalgh adapted the screenplay, which covers the last years in Curtis' life, leading up to his suicide on the eve of what was to have been Joy Division’s first US tour in 1980. Plot centers on Curtis' struggle between feeling enduring love for his wife and child and his beginning a burgeoning relationship with another woman a rock journalist , as well as his bouts with epilepsy and all-consuming performances with his band.

Fact:  The film marks Anton Corbijn’s debut as a film director. The photographer had a long working relationship with the band, photographing their first ever press shots and also directing the video for their track ‘Atmosphere’.

Odds against or odds in favor?: There will be a core set of people wanting to see the film – but critical praise will help it gain a prolonged theatrical life.

See It: Black and white film hasn't looked this good in a long time. Energy is contagious.