As Inception warped our minds and showed us a new generation of sci-fi, Christopher Nolan has admitted to “plundering cinematic history” and using many references while creating his latest film. The films on list below are not only heavily referenced in Inception, but our favorite cerebral sci-fi films. 

15. Akira (1988) (dir. Katsuhiro Ôtomo)

Akira is a hard pill to swallow. You may not take it all in at the first stab, but once you let your mind go and get fully involved, it’s a wonderful experience. Watching the anime makes you feel as if you are transported inside of Manga comic book. It’s a gorgeous world filled with cerebral ideas. While it is a bit of a mess, it’s a great mess. You can enjoy it as simply an action movie or, the preferable, as a cerebral experience. – Jack G.

14. Stalker (1979) (dir. Andrei Tarkovsky)

Andrei Tarkovsky’s brilliant sci-fi mind-bender is a film definitely worth seeking out and one that lends itself to an Inception-esque mind journey. The plot centers on an enigmatic ‘Stalker’ who brings two clients to a mysterious site known as ‘The Zone’ which purportedly allows its visitors a physical experience of their innermost thoughts and desires. While the intentional ambiguity to the nature of zone is meant to challenge the viewer, Tarkovsky’s hypnotic style is in full force wrapping your mind in a dream of a film. – Raffi A.

13. Brazil (1985) (dir. Terry Gilliam)

The focus of Terry Gilliam’s cult masterpiece is protagonist Sam Lowry contrasting daydreams to the dreary reality of his mundane life. After meeting the maiden he rescues in his dreams in real life, Sam is determined to learn what he can about this woman. But Sam’s journey into her life leads him into a cerebral vortex of a chinese finger trap, ultimately finding himself strapped to a chair for observation. Just like Inception’s dreamlike world seems to mirror a distorted reality of life, Brazil mirrors its own dysfunctional dystopia to the idyllic haven of dreams. – Raffi A.

12. Gattaca (1997) (dir. Andrew Niccol)

One of the most overlooked films of recent memory, this modern sci-fi classes brings us into the debatable world of genetics. The cerebral sci-fi adventure feels prophetic as it implants just as many ideas as Inception. - Jordan R.

11. Dark City (1998) (dir. Alex Proyas)

This 1998 cinematic gem seems to have been a source of inspiration behind many of Inception’s transforming building sequences. Better known in the world of Dark City as tuning, Alex Proyas stylish sci-fi film noir is a mystery wrapped in a mind twist centering on an amnesiac who has awoken in a city without a sun. What follows is a rabbit hole mystery of Strangers from outer space implanting artificial memories into the citizens of what may or may not be an actual city. – Raffi A.

10. eXistenZ (1999) (dir. Cronenberg)

The varying levels of reality within eXistenZ means it contains more layers than a Russian Doll factory, as virtual reality game designer Allegra (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and marketing trainee Ted (Jude Law) go on the run from anti-VR activists and rival manufacturers, experiencing double and triple crosses without having a clue what is reality and what is not. Amidst a smattering of Cronenberg body horror-trappings (check out the organic gun) there is a broad swipe at the potential abandonment of reality in favour of “unnatural” alternatives. As we, eleven years on, spend more and more of our time immersed online, it could yet prove prophetic. - Paul C.

9. Minority Report (2002) (dir. Steven Spielberg)

The term sci-fi and “overlooked” seem to go well together and Spielberg’s modern masterpiece is no exception. Full of ideas that seem to be (or already are) coming true, Spielberg mixes high-octane thrills as well as cerebral contemplations. Sound familiar? – Jordan R.

8. THX1138 (1971) (dir. George Lucas)

Mention of a dystopian future society in the discussion of Cerebral Science Fiction films is a given no matter what your preferences are. Although, being a foundation block of the genre makes for some serious competition among its peers. George Lucas’s low-budget vision of the future in THX 1138 has sustained its viability in the genre and remains a classic. THX 1138 is a rather sharp style contrast compared to Lucas’ later, post Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, filmmaking debacles. THX 1138 is better compared to some of Kubrick’s films. The filmmaking techniques used in the film, in addition to the bleak storyline, remind us the direction Lucas could have gone with his career and why we once loved him — if not to only re-enforce how much we don’t love him now. While the story at times seems oddly paced and hard to clearly follow, it has great performances to engage the viewer and bring humanity to the screen — including Robert Duvall who would have his break-out performance in The Godfather the following year. Visually stunning technique and moving performances bring texture to this Orwellian future where love and sex are outlawed and assures us that even in future totalitarian societies monitored and controlled 24/7 by “big brother,” the emotional bonds that make us human will never change or be snuffed out. – Addam H.

7. La Jetee (1962) (dir. Chris Marker)

More effective then Terry Gilliam’s remake 12 Monkeys, the original by Chris Marker is full of astonishing imagery of a post-apocalyptic world. This time travel story is told entirely in photographs and influenced almost all cerebral sci-fi films to follow. As we question time and space, La Jetee gives us a look at how memories form and shape us. – Jordan R.

6. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) (dir. Michel Gondry)

There are few screenwriters out there that can make a solid and enjoyable film as psychologically intricate and flat-out mind melting as Charlie Kaufman. Take Kaufman’s incredibly unique story-telling and apply Michel Gondry’s unique visual style and you have the dream-like world of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The outlandish and unbelievable nature of the story and its mechanics on a surface level alone elicits occasional laughter and awe in disbelief for the audience just as often as it serves as a perfect medium to bring the audience to odd and poignant places where we can examine the raw nature of heartbreak and passion. Demanding multiple views and possibly encouraging the use of mind altering drugs to make sense of it all, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind is a must-see for the modern cerebral science fiction genre. – Addam H.

5. Solaris (1972) (dir. Andrei Tarkovsky)

We’re not talking about the shoddy 2002 Sodebergh remake but rather the 1972 Russian sci-fi classic from auteur Tarkovsky both of which are based on the 1961 Polish novel by Stanislaw Lem. This meditative psychodrama centers on Kris Kelvin, who travels to the Solaris space station where its inhabitants have been overcome by hallucinations. The themes Tarkovsky explores are psychologically complex and were further examined and developed in Stalker. The existential conflict for Kelvin was only the starting pointing for Tarkovksy studying the inner lives of the characters much like Nolan exploring the psychological elements of his characters. – Raffi A.

4. The Fountain (2006) (dir. Darren Aronosfky)

Darren Aronofsky’s ethereal modern masterpiece has not been incepted into the public conscious just yet, but like the other classics on our list, it will in time. Much like Inception, the auteur’s sci-fi trip is strongly founded on an emotional backbone. It also delivers the imagery, ideas and pure ecstasy that cement it as one of the best cerebral sci-fi films there are. – Jordan R.

3. Blade Runner (1982) (dir. Ridley Scott)

Blade Runner is quite possibly the most misunderstood film of its time. The original cut may not have been the best version, it isn’t, but it was still an impressive and unique piece of sci-fi filmmaking none-the-less. Ridley Scott poses the question on all of our minds, “What makes us human?” A lot of Scott’s films deal with human nature, but Blade Runner is the one that truly gets into the psyche of human behavior. The Director’s Cut represents these questions the best with subtlety. It’s the pinnacle representation of sci-fi. – Jack G.

2. The Matrix (1999) (dir. The Wachowskis)

It’s amazing to think that this, the daddy of false reality themes, so oft-referenced and woven into our consciousness, arrived over a decade ago, and arrived as almost a sleeper hit, with teasers containing “What is The Matrix” largely the only marketing. Mostly, it’s remembered for ‘bullet-time’ and sunglasses, which is ridiculous because The Matrix contains one of the biggest existential rug-pulls in cinematic history. We’ve all pondered our own realities at some point and The Wachowskis took this idea and combined it with the age-old ‘man vs machines’ scenario to create the best sci-fi of recent times. A lot (and I mean A LOT) has been written on the film’s spiritualistic leanings, but really it’s a look into the character of man, and how he struggles to do the right thing. ‘Choice’ is the one key theme. – Paul C.

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) (dir. Stanley Kubrick)

This is it, the ultimate mind trip and the definitive cinematic experience about the voyage of human life and our unforeseen journey into the cosmos. Unrivaled by any other sci-film, Kubrick’s 2001 is more than a mere movie, it’s a life changing event. It’s a visual spectacle like nothing you’ve ever seen. No other film in the history of cinema seems to have had such a profound effect on the human condition while touching on a variety of universal themes ranging from human evolution, technology, AI, extraterrestrial life and the mystery beyond the infinite. And while 2001 is considered by many to hold the throne as the ultimate cerebral film experience, Inception is poised to at the very least rival it as a cinematic adventure of the ages . – Raffi A.

What are your favorite cerebral sci-fi films? Does Inception stand among them?

E-mail Jordan Raup here. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TFS updates!

The latest sci-fi flick by director Alex Proyas is an impressive and surprisingly ambitious film. Proyas is the genius behind Dark City and The Crow, and yes he also did I, Robot,but it is easy to give him a pass for that mindless action spectacle since he didn’t have creative control. Where does Knowing stand compared to those movies?  Its by no means on level of with Dark City and The Crow, but it does manage to excel beyond I, Robot.

Knowing seemed to have a good story on paper, and then the ads arose, stinking of mediocrity. Fortunately the commercials proved to be wrong. The film, while not perfect, is an actual smart entertaining film. It has a pretty interesting set up, numbers that predict disasters. Thankfully, Knowing doesn’t pull a Number 23, which relied heavily on the theme of numbers to get to the next plot point. There are some gaps of logic in the story and it does come off as messy at times. Sometimes the story is introducing too many elements, for example a needless sub-plot that deals with rocks. The film elevates beyond its concept and does bring more to the table then you would think.

Proyas also brings the visual intensity needed for a high-caliber sci-fi flick. At times it reminded me of Dark City because of Proyas’s camera movements and many of the colorful framed shots. While some of the CGI was weak, the disaster scenes were hauntingly visceral and beautifully shot. The tracking shot during the plane sequence is a standout, that scene is so splendidly shot with realism that it makes one forgive the weak CGI. Proyas’s use of the HD red camera brings a surreal and beautiful look to the film. Some shots are so well composed that its as if your looking at a painting, most notably the opening shot. 

The big question on most people minds is the obvious one, how was Nicolas Cage? Is it Wicker Man bad? Or Adaptation great? I can’t say Cage is bad, because he mildly gets the job done here. He’s passable, not especially good, but not bad. He gets by mostly contributed to the fact that his character has a compelling enough arc. The only scenes that bothersome were the ones where he is yelling or has a blank look on his face, which doesn’t occur thankfully too often. Rose Byrne, who is fantastic in Sunshine and Damages, is wasted here. She’s not terrible by any means, she’s fine, but she’s constrained by the script which doesn’t give her much to work with. Problems with their performances mostly arise in the more dramatic scenes. There is a scene where Cage and Byrne are having a yelling match on the phone. It becomes quite laughable. All around the acting is decent despite some laughable scenes.

Another problem with the film is the CGI. As the film goes on it becomes weaker and more noticeable. It didn’t bother me during the disaster scenes because they were so well shot, but it stands out in the small scenes. Again, it doesn’t come across bothersome during the disaster scenes, but its blatantly noticeable during the smaller scenes. All the scenes shot using green screens are strikingly distracting, especially when we see Cage driving in his car and in a particular scene with Cage standing in front of his house talking on phone. 

The end of the film will likely divide audiences. Some may feel cheated, while others will be in awe at times, I was the latter. One may be confused at the ending, but it is worth checking out even for debate. I don’t know what most people will think of this, some will probably will make fun of it and pass it off as silly. Knowing is undoubtedly a tad messy, overacted at times, and contains rather weak CGI, but in the end it’s too hard of not to admire the film’s ambitiousness. Its beautifully shot, contains broad ideas, and is entertainingly surreal at times. 

8 out of 10

What did you think of Knowing?

Not sure what is coming out this month? Here is a run-down of my eleven most anticipated films:

11. The Great Buck Howard (March 20th) (limited)

Plot: A law school dropout (Colin Hanks), much to the chagrin of his father (Tom Hanks), becomes the new assistant to an illusionist in decline (Malkovich). Can the fledgling partnership lead to the comeback of a lifetime?

Trailer

Why You Should See It: Pretty impressive cast and a somewhat interesting premise, this is should be a decent indie comedy/drama.

10. Miss March (March 13th)

Plot: Waking up from a four-year coma, Eugene (Cregger) takes a cross-country trip with his sex-crazed best friend (Moore) in order to crash a party at a famous men’s magazine’s legendary headquarters so he can win back his former sweetheart — who is one of the mag’s hottest new pin-ups.

Trailer

Why You Should See It: It’s directed by, written by, and starring the guys behind the hilarious sketch comedy show The Whitest Kids U Know. That should be reason enough.

9. Knowing (March 20th)

Plot: When Ted Myles (Cage) begins to suspect that his son has discovered an artifact that accurately predicts natural disasters and other catastrophes, he goes on to believe his family plays a role in the events that are about to unfold.

Trailer

Why You Should See It: Alex Proyas (I, Robot, Dark City) directing Nicholas Cage. Proyas has proved he can make a good film, but Cage has had a string of awful films. I’m hoping this turns it around. If nothing else this will be a decent blockbuster.

8. Sunshine Cleaning (March 13th) (limited)

Plot: Industrious single mother Rose Lorkowski (Adams) starts an unusual business in order to send her son to a private school; alongside her unreliable sister (Blunt), the two women enter the world of biohazard removal and crime scene clean-ups.

Trailer

Why You Should See It: If Amy Adams can channel her performance from Junebug I’m here. It got mixed reviews at Sundance but with Adams, Emily Blunt and Alan Arkin I’m hoping for something special.

7. Monsters vs. Aliens (March 27th)

Plot: After being hit by a meteorite on her wedding day, Susan Murphy (Witherspoon) is transformed into a monster named Ginormica and subsequently whisked away to a secret government compound where others like her have been rounded up over the years. When the Earth comes under attack by aliens, however, Ginormica and her new allies are set free to save the planet.

Trailer

Why You Should See It: Another DreamWorks Animation and test of 3-D technology. Voice acting by Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Will Arnet, and Stephen Colbert should make this a pretty fun time.

6. Tokyo! (March 6th) (limited)

Plot: Directors Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, and Joon-ho Bong offer their respective tributes to the Japanese capital city.

Trailer

Why You Should See It: Michel Gondry.

5. Duplicity (March 20th)

Plot: A pair of corporate spies (Owen and Roberts) who share a steamy past hook up to pull off the ultimate con job on their respective bosses — but can they learn to truly love and trust one another?

Trailer

Why You Should See It: Tony Gilroy, writer and director of the spectacular Michael Clayton, helms what looks to be an entertaining thriller. Add in Clive Owen, Julia Roberts, Paul Giamatti, and Tom Wilkinson you have some real star power.

4. Sin Nombre (March 20th) (limited)

Plot: Sayra (Gaitan), a Honduran teenager, and Willy (Flores), a recent recruit in the Mara Salvatrucha gang, both dream of better lives for themselves, and a fateful event will find the two strangers united on a freight train bound for the U.S., where the hope for new lives await.

Trailer

Why You Should See It: The trailer was well done and the film reminds me a bit of Slumdog Millionaire.  If it’s anywhere near as good as that, I’ll be happy. It was well received at Sundance as well, can’t wait to check it out.

3. Adventureland (March 27th)

Plot: During the summer of 1987, recent college grad James Brennan (Eisenberg) takes what he thinks is a going-nowhere job at his local amusement park, only to discover it’s a perfect opportunity to prepare himself for the real world.

Trailer

Why You Should See It: Greg Mottola, director of Superbad, is behind the camera and pen for this comedy. Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Bill Hader, and Ryan Reynolds star in what looks like to be one of the funniest films of the year.

2. I Love You, Man (March 20th)

Plot: Friendless Peter Klaven (Rudd) goes on a series of man-dates to find a Best Man for his wedding. But when his insta-bond his new B.F.F.(Segel) puts a strain on his relationship with his fiancée (Jones) can the trio learn to live happily ever after?

Trailer

Why You Should See It: Paul Rudd + Jason Segel. Early screening impressions have been very positive. Expect to laugh, a lot.

1. Watchmen (March 6th)

Plot: Set in an alternate vision of the year 1985, the murder of an ex-superhero causes a vigilante named Rorshachto look into the matter, an investigation that reunites him with his surviving old colleagues — all of them former superheroes themselves — and gradually unveils a conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future.

Trailer

Why You Should See It: Based on the epic graphic novel, this is the year’s first blockbuster and you don’t want to miss it.

Bottom 3 (movies one should avoid at all cost):

12 Rounds (March 27th)

Plot: Detective Danny Baxter (Cena) discovers his girlfriend (Scott) has been kidnapped by a ex-con tied to Baxter’s past, and he’ll have to successfully complete 12 challenges in order to secure her safe release.

Trailer

Why You Should Stay Far Away: My friends and I played a drinking game with the last John Cena film, The Marine. Every time we laughed at what was supposed to be a serious part, we drank. We were drunk before (what was supposed to be) the 1st act ended. Take that as good or bad, but if I were you I wouldn’t get near this movie.

The Haunting in Connecticut (March 27th)

Plot: A family who relocates to Northern Connecticut for their son’s health begins to experience supernatural behavior in their new home.

Trailer

Why You Should Stay Far Away: Watch the trailer above and you should get a good idea why.

Race to Witch Mountain (March 13th)

Plot: When a cab driver (Johnson) picks up an unusual fare — a brother and sister duo with paranormal powers, who are being pursued by a nefarious organization — he teams up with a discredited astrophysicist (Gugino) to protect the kids and, ultimately, the rest of humankind.

Trailer

Why You Should Stay Far Away: The Rock really needs to stick to adult movies (The Rundown and Southland Tales) instead of continually making these mediocre family films. This remake is directed by the same guy that did The Game Plan so don’t expect much.

What do you think about these choices? Would you add any?

- Jordan Raup

UPDATE: The list below was written in January of 2009. I suggest checking out our new list, 65 Must See Movies of 2010. Click the image below to see:

So 2008 is over, come on, it’s time to move on. Here are 50 great reasons to go to the theater this year:

January

My Bloody Valentine 3-D (Jan 16^th)

Synopsis: After surviving a fatal accident that claimed the lives of five of men in a mine shaft, Harry Warden performed a horrific killing spree on Valentines night in the town of Harmony, killing 22 people before he was shot to death.

Why You Should See It: Early screening reports have said there is more sex, limbs, and buckets of blood than one can handle. The 3-D gimmick is the only reason this is on my list. If implemented right it should be a great time at the movies.

February

Fanboys (Feb 6^th)

Synopsis: Star Wars fans travel to Skywalker Ranch to steal an early copy of Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

Why You Should See It: After all the chaos that surrounded this movie with constant delays and plot changes it’s finally coming out (I hope). Early screenings have been mostly positive. With all the cameos and inside jokes it is looking to be one of the funnier films of the year.

Coraline (Feb 16^th)

Synopsis: A young girl walks through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life.

Why You Should See It: Directed by Henry Selick (James and The Giant Peach, The Nightmare Before Christmas) this looks like a magical story and utterly creepy. With voice acting from Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher I hope this is Selick’s chance to shine.

The International (Feb 16^th)

Synopsis: An Interpol agent attempts to expose a high-profile financial institution’s role in an international arms dealing ring.

Why You Should See It: Clive Owen: the smoothest motherfucker on the planet. Add in Naomi Watts and this looks like a good thriller. I’m hoping director Tom Tyker, who proved he has it in Perfume: The Story of a Murderer and Run Lola Run, can hit it big with his first American high-budget film.

Youth in Revolt (Feb 20^th)

Synopsis: While his trailer trash parents teeter on the edge of divorce, 14-year-old Nick sets his sights on dream girl Sheeni Saunders, hoping that she’ll be the one to take away his virginity.

Why You Should See It: Starring Michael Cera, Justin Long, Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta, and Zach Galifianakis this comedy looks pretty generic but I’m banking the stars will elevate it to the next level.

March

Watchmen (March 6^th)

Synopsis: When an ex-superhero is murdered, a vigilante named Rorshach begins an investigation into the murder, which begins to lead to a much more terrifying conclusion.

Why You Should See It: The first blockbuster of the year. Let’s just hope the Fox/Warner Bros rights issue gets resolved and we can enjoy it theaters on March 6^th.

Sunshine Cleaning (March 13^th)

Synopsis: In order to raise the tuition to send her young son to private school, a mom starts an unusual business — a biohazard removal/crime scene clean-up service — with her unreliable sister.

Why You Should See It: If Amy Adams can channel her performance from Junebug I’m here. It got mixed reviews at Sundance but with Adams, Emily Blunt and Alan Arkin I’m hoping for something special.

A Perfect Getaway (March 13^th)

Synopsis: A Hawaiian honeymoon turns dangerous for two lovers (Zahn and Jovovich) when they discover they are being stalked by a pair of killers (Olyphant and Sanchez).

Why You Should See It: Written and directed by David Twohy (The Chronicles of Riddick) this looks like a fun getaway. Steve Zahn, Milla Jovovich, and Timothy Olyphant should help us have a good time.

Duplicity (March 20^th)

Synopsis: A pair of corporate spies who share a steamy past hook up to pull off the ultimate con job on their respective bosses.

Why You Should See It: Tony Gilroy, writer and director of the spectacular Michael Clayton, helms what looks to be an entertaining thriller. Add in Clive Owen, Julia Roberts, Paul Giamatti, and Tom Wilkinson you have some real star power.

I Love You, Man (March 20^th)

Synopsis: Friendless Peter Klaven (Rudd) goes on a series of man-dates to find a Best Man for his wedding. But when his insta-bond his new B.F.F.(Segel) puts a strain on his relationship with his fiancée (Jones) can the trio learn to live happily ever after?

Why You Should See It: Paul Rudd + Jason Segel. Early screening impressions have been very positive. Expect to laugh, a lot.

Knowing (March 20^th)

Synopsis: A teacher (Cage) opens a time capsule that has been dug up at his son’s elementary school; in it are some chilling predictions — some that have already occurred and others that are about to — that lead him to believe his family plays a role in the events that are about to unfold.

Why You Should See It: Alex Proyas (I, Robot, Dark City) directing Nicholas Cage. Proyas has proved he can make a good film, but Cage has had a string of awful films. I’m hoping this turns it around. If nothing else this will be a decent blockbuster.

Monsters Vs. Aliens (March 27^th)

Synopsis: When a meteorite from outer space hits a young girl and turns her into a giant monster, she is taken to a secret government compound where she meets a ragtag group of monsters also rounded up over the years.

Why You Should See It: Another DreamWorks Animation and test of 3-D technology. Voice acting by Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Will Arnet, and Stephen Colbert should make this a pretty fun time.

Adventureland (March 27^th)

Synopsis: A comedy set in the summer of 1987 and centered around a recent college grad (Eisenberg) who takes a nowhere job at his local amusement park, only to find it’s the perfect course to get him prepared for the real world.

Why You Should See It: Greg Mottola, director of Superbad, is behind the camera and pen for this comedy. Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Bill Hader, and Ryan Reynolds star in what looks like to be one of the funniest films of the year.

April

Observe and Report (April 10^th)

Synopsis: Bi-polar mall security guard Ronnie Barnhardt is called into action to stop a flasher from turning shopper’s paradise into his personal peep show. But when Barnhardt can’t bring the culprit to justice, a surly police detective, is recruited to close the case.

Why You Should See It: Jody Hill: writer, director, producer of last year’s Foot Fist Way and this year’s HBO series East Bound and Down, is the brains behind this comedy starring Seth Rogen, Anna Faris, and Ray Liotta. I love his style of comedy so I can’t wait for this film.

Crank 2: High Voltage (April 17^th)

Synopsis: Chelios faces a Chinese mobster who has stolen his nearly indestructible heart and replaced it with a battery-powered ticker that requires regular jolts of electricity to keep working.

Why You Should See It: It’s Crank. 2. High Voltage.

State Of Play (April 17^th)

Synopsis: Based on the BBC mini-series of the same title, a team of investigative reporters work alongside a police detective to try to solve the murder of a congressman’s mistress.

Why You Should See It: Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland) directs Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Russell Crowe, Jason Bateman, Helen Mirren, Viola Davis, and Jeff Daniels in what looks to be a solid political thriller. I thought the direction in The Last King of Scotlan was superb, so I’m looking forward to this.

The Soloist (April 24^th)

Synopsis: A Los Angeles Journalist befriends a homeless Julliard trained musician, while looking for a new article for the paper.

Why You Should See It: After getting pushed back from the ’08 Oscar season, this drama starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx looks like it still has some promise. Joe Wright (Atonement) is an astonishing director so I have a lot of faith.

Fighting (April 24^th)

Synopsis: A young ticket scalper is introduced to the world of underground street fighting.

Why You Should See It: Dito Montiel. He directed one of my favorite films in 2006, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. He got a good performance out of Channing Tatum then, and I hope he does the same with this film. Adding Terrence Howard to the mix should make a good time.

May

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1^st)

Synopsis: Wolverine lives a mutant life, seeks revenge against Victor Creed (who will later become Sabertooth) for the death of his girlfriend, and ultimately ends up going through the mutant Weapon X program.

Why You Should See It: Another part of the summer blockbuster line-up. Hugh Jackman should be entertaining as always. Ryan Reynolds, Liev Schreiber, and Dominic Monaghan should all prove to be worthy adversaries.

Star Trek (May 8^th)

Synopsis: A chronicle of the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members.

Why You Should See It: Hell Yes. I’m no Star Trek fan by any means but after Cloverfield, Lost, and Mission Impossible 3 I have 100 percent faith in J.J. Abrams. The film is supposedly going to set Star Trek in a plausible futuristic world so I can’t wait.

Bruno (May 15^th)

Synopsis: Flamboyant Austrian fashionista Brüno takes his show to America.

Why You Should See It: Sacha Baron Cohen returns after the massively successful and hilarious Borat. How can you not be excited?

The Brothers Bloom (May 15^th)

Synopsis: The Brothers Bloom are the best con men in the world, swindling millionaires with complex scenarios of lust and intrigue. Now they’ve decided to take on one last job – showing a beautiful and eccentric heiress the time of her life with a romantic adventure that takes them around the world.

Why You Should See It: After getting pushed back from this Oscar season Rian Johnson’s (Brick) indie comedy-drama featuring Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo is finally arriving. I loved Brick so I can’t wait to see this.

Terminator Salvation (May 22^nd)

Synopsis: After Skynet has destroyed much of humanity in a nuclear holocaust, a group of survivors led by John Connor (Bale) struggles to keep the machines from finishing the job.

Why You Should See It: I hope McG (We Are Marshall, Charlie’s Angels) gets it right with this new addition to the Terminator franchise. Christian Bale should be more than enough reason to see the movie.

Night at the Museum 2 (May 22^nd)

Synopsis: Security guard Larry Daley (Stiller) infiltrates the Smithsonian Institute in order to rescue Jedediah (Wilson) and Octavius (Coogan), who have been shipped to the museum by mistake.

Why You Should See It: Two weeks ago this wouldn’t have been on my list, but after the surprisingly hilarious trailer I look forward to the film. Amy Adams, Steve Coogan, Bill Hader, and Christopher Guest join Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Robin Williams, and Ricky Gervais for this ‘Night’.

Up (May 29^th)

Synopsis: By tying thousands of balloon to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn’t alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip.

Why You Should See It: It’s Pixar. Let’s see if they have another classic after Wall-E. All signs point to yes.

June

Land of the Lost (June 5^th)

Synopsis: Three adults inadvertently stumble into a mysterious land populated by dinosaurs and other creatures, including the mysterious and dangerous race of Sleestak.

Why You Should See It: Will Ferrell and Danny McBride. Brad Silberling also proved he can direct a comedy-adventure with Lemony Snicket. I’m glad Will Ferrell has stopped making the same movie and is venturing into slightly different territory.

The Hangover (June 12^th)

Synopsis: A Las Vegas-set comedy centered around three groomsmen who lose their about-to-be-wed buddy during their drunken misadventures, then must retrace their steps in order to find him.

Why You Should See It: Todd Phillips (Old School) directs Bradley Cooper, Heather Graham, Jeffrey Tambor and Zach Galifianakis in what should be a decent comedy.

The Year One (June 19^th)

Synopsis: When a couple of lazy hunter-gatherers (Black and Cera) are banished from their primitive village, they set off on an epic journey through the ancient world.

Why You Should See It: Harold Ramis (Caddyshack, Groundhog Day, Vacation) is back with Michael Cera, Jack Black, and David Cross. This is looking to be one of the funniest movies of the year, I can’t wait.

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen (June 26^th)

Synopsis: Decepticon forces return to Earth on a mission to take Sam Witwicky prisoner, after the young hero learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers. Joining the mission to protect humankind is Optimus Prime, who forms an alliance with international armies for a second epic battle.

Why You Should See It: Michael Bay returns and I’m guessing there will be bigger explosions, additional transformers, and more army helicopters.

July

Public Enemies (July 1^st)

Synopsis: The Feds try to take down notorious American gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd during a booming crime wave in the 1930s.

Why You Should See It: Michael Mann (Heat, Collateral) + Johnny Depp + Christian Bale pretty much guarantee a spectacular movie.

Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince (July 17^th)

Synopsis: As Harry Potter begins his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he discovers an old book marked mysteriously “This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince” and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort’s dark past.

Why You Should See It: I didn’t like David Yate’s last HP film (Order of the Phoenix) but since everyone else is going to be talking about this movie you might want to see it.

The Taking of Pelham 123 (July 24^th)

Synopsis: Armed men hijack a New York subway train in demand of a hefty ransom. As the authorities try to negotiate with the hostage takers they wonder how the hijackers plan to get away.

Why You Should See It: Tony Scott (Déjà Vu, Man on Fire) usually delivers a solid action thriller. Denzel Washington always banks and John Travolta should be a decent addition to the film

Funny People (July 31^st)

Synopsis: When seasoned comedian George Simmons learns of his terminal, inoperable health condition, his desire to form a genuine friendship cause him to take a relatively green performer under his wing as his opening act.

Why You Should See It: It’s the new Judd Apatow movie. Knocked Up and 40-Year-Old Virgin are comedy classics. Even though the last Adam Sandler movies have been dud’s, with Apatow behind the camera I have no worries. Seth Rogen, Eric Bana and Leslie Mann also star.

August

Final Destination 4: Death Trip 3-D (Aug 21^st)

Synopsis: After a teen’s premonition of a deadly race-car crash helps saves the lives of his peers, Death sets out to collect those who evaded their end.

Why You Should See It: Like this year’s My Bloody Valentine 3-D this is bound to be fun. Director David R. Ellis proves he knows what audiences want with Snakes on a Plane.

Inglorious Basterds (Aug 28^th)

Synopsis: In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “The Basterds” are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds soon cross paths with a French-Jewish teenage girl who runs a movie theater in Paris which is targeted by the soldiers.

Why You Should See It: Quentin Tarantino is back after the disappointing Death Proof . This WWII film stars Brad Pitt and is looking to be one of the better films this year.

September

Game (Sept 4^th)

Synopsis: Set in a future-world where humans can control other humans in mass-scale, multi-player online gaming environments

Why You Should See It: From the guys that brought you Crank and Crank 2: High Voltage comes a futuristic thriller starring Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Gerard Butler, and John Leguizamo.

Daybreakers (Sept 11^th

Synopsis: In the year 2017, a plague has transformed most every human into vampires. Faced with a dwindling blood supply, the fractured dominant race plots their survival; meanwhile, a researcher works with a covert band of vamps on a way to save humankind.

Why You Should See It: Ethan Hawke and William Dafoe in a vampire flick? I’m not expecting Let The Right One, but this is bound to be better than the follow-up to Twilight; New Moon.

The Informant (Sept 18^th)

Synopsis: The U.S. government decides to go after an agri-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president turned informant Mark Whitacre.

Why You Should See It: Matt Damon stars in a Steven Soderbergh (Che, Ocean’s Thirteen) political drama. The combo sounds like a good match, can’t wait to see it.

Surrogates (Sept 25^th)

Synopsis: Set in a futuristic world where humans live in isolation and interact through surrogate robots, a cop (Willis) is forced to leave his home for the first time in years in order to investigate the murders of others’ surrogates.

Why You Should See It: Director Jonathan Mostow (U-571, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines) directs Bruce Willis in this futuristic thriller that looks pretty fun.

October

Toy Story 3-D (Oct 2^nd)

Synopsis: Let’s hope you know already.

Why You Should See It: The Pixar classic is now in 3-D. Toy Story 2 3-D comes next year, leading up to Toy Story 3 3-D in 2010. I’m excited to relive my favorite childhood film in 3-D. What else is there to say?

Shutter Island (Oct 2^nd)

Synopsis: Drama is set in 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island.

Why You Should See It: Martin Scorsese (The Departed, Goodfellas) directing Leonardo Dicaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, and Michelle Williams adapted from a Dennis Lehane (Gone Baby Gone, Mystic River) novel. This is Best Picture quality material.

Where The Wild Things Are (Oct 16^th)

Synopsis: An adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s story, where Max, a disobedient little boy sent to bed without his supper, creates his own world–a forest inhabited by ferocious wild creatures that crown Max as their ruler.

Why You Should See It: After some delays Spike Jonze’s adaptation of the classic story is finally coming. It is supposed to deal with the strange time when one realizes they are leaving childhood and becoming an adult. I can’t wait.

November

The Wolf Man (Nov 6^th)

Synopsis: Upon his return to his ancestral homeland, an American man (Del Toro) is bitten, and subsequently cursed by, a werewolf.

Why You Should See It: In what might be the most perfect casting of the year, Benecio Del Toro plays a hairy creature. Let the fun ensue.

The Box (Nov 6^th)

Synopsis: A small wooden box arrives on the doorstep of a married couple, who open it and become instantly wealthy. Little do they realize that opening the box also kills someone they do not know.

Why You Should See It: It’s Richard Kelley (Donnie Darko, Southland Tales) and the premise sounds very intriguing. One of my favorite bands, Arcade Fire, is doing the whole score as well.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (Nov 6^th)

Synopsis: Angry farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with a sly fox, look to get rid of their opponent and his family.

Why You Should See It: I’d like to see Wes Anderson’s take on animation, especially of a Roald Dahl novel. Cate Blanchett, George Clooney, Bill Murray, Anjelica Houston, and Jason Schwartzman provide the voices.

A Christmas Carol (Nov 6^th)

Synopsis: An animated retelling of Charles Dickens classic novel about a Victorian-era miser taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions.

Why You Should See It: In Robert Zemeckis next CGI fest Jim Carrey is the star. The recently leaked photo of him looks surprisingly good. With Gary Oldman and Colin Firth this should be a good Christmas movie.

Sherlock Holmes (Nov 20^th)

Synopsis: Detective Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.) and his stalwart partner Watson (Law) engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.

Why You Should See It: Snatch is one of my all-time favs and RocknRolla was a good return to form. Its looking like Guy Ritchie will continue his success directing Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes. Rachel McAdams and Jude Law co-star.

December

The Lovely Bones (Dec 11^th)

Synopsis: Centers on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family – and her killer – from heaven. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal.

Why You Should See It: Peter Jackson is doing something different, a drama/horror/thriller. I’m confident Mark Wahlberg will do a good job after his previous four horrendous films. Rachel Weisz, Stanley Tucci, and Susan Sarandon co-star.

Nine (Dec 11^th)

Synopsis: Famous film director Guido Contini struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother.

Why You Should See It: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Judi Dench in a film directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago). I can almost smell the Oscars now.

Avatar (Dec 18^th)

Synopsis: A band of humans are pitted in a battle against a distant planet’s indigenous population.

Why You Should See It: James Cameron’s epic immersive 3-D sci-fi experience. This is looking to be the perfect end to a hopefully great year of movies.

Whew. Looks like 2009 will be great. Are you looking forward to these films or any others?