We look ahead at the key cinematic treats that lie in store for 2009:
The Wrestler (January)
DShas had the pleasure of seeing Darren Aronofsky's bleak tale of awashed up wrestler and can tell you that it's pure brilliance. MickeyRourke turns in a remarkable performance of fractured masculinitythat's up there with Marlon Brando's performance in
On The Waterfront.
Slumdog Millionaire (January)
The Oscar buzz is certainly deserved by Danny Boyle's brilliantly structured story of a young Indian man who goes on
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire to reach the woman he loves. It really is a thrilling emotional rollercoaster that leaves you feeling exhilarated.
Frost/Nixon (January)Outstandingperformances by Martin Sheen and Frank Langella turn David Frost'slegendary interview of disgraced President Richard Nixon into somethingakin to a verbal boxing match. Ron Howard's fim expertly builds thetension and you'll be gripped throughout.
The Reader (January)
Bernard Schlink's remarkable novel of second generation Holocaust guilt has been transformed into a movie by
Billy Elliotdirector Stephen Daldry - and is winning rave reviews Stateside.Featuring star performances from Ralph
Fiennes and Kate Winslet, thisflick is sure to shock with its stunning late twist.
Revolutionary Road (January)LeonardoDicaprio and Kate Winslet reunite as a couple in the 1950s strugglingunder the weight of their tattered dreams. The last time the pairsizzled on screen was in
Titanic - and that didn't fare too badly with cinemagoers or Oscar voters.
Valkyrie (January)
Tom Cruise as a Nazi trying to kill Adolf Hitler? After his legendary turn as a hip-hop loving, bald movie mogul in
Tropic Thunder, we're willing to buy anything he does.
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (February)BradPitt, under heavy makeup, stars as a man who ages backwards and fallsin love with a 30-year-old lass played by Cate Blanchett. DirectorDavid Fincher's movie, based on a story by F Scott Fitzgerald, has justopened to rave reviews and large takings Stateside.
Watchmen (March)
Thetrailers for this adaptation of DC Comics' graphic novel have sparked atremendous amount of interest in the story of a group of fugitivesuperheroes trying to uncover a sinister plot. Let's hope all the legalproblems don't hinder this film's release.
Monsters vs Aliens (March)Could this be the year's animation blockbuster like
WALL-Ewas in 2008? The movie does what it says on the tin, featuring somefriendly monsters defending the planet from an alien invasion, andincludes the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Kiefer Sutherlandand Dwight Schrute himself - Rainn Wilson.
State Of Play (April)
Basedon the BBC's brilliant 2003 drama series that starred John Simm andDavid Morrissey, this big screen version stars Russell Crowe and BenAffleck as the men embroiled in dark political intrigue. Those who feara glossy Americanisation of the premise should note that the directoris Kevin Macdonald, who called the shots on the impressively gritty
Last King Of Scotland.
Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past (May)MatthewMcConaughey stars in this Scrooge-style romantic comedy about ahedonistic bachelor visited by the ghosts of his spurned conquests.Jennifer Garner and Michael Douglas round off the impressive cast inthe latest venture from
Mean Girls helmer Mark Waters.
Bruno (May)
Outrageouslycamp fashion reporter Bruno was never as funny as Ali G or Borat, butSacha Baron Cohen is a comedy genius and hopes are high for thismockumentary. It should be riotous fun if eye witness reports from thefilming are anything to go by, including Bruno gatecrashing a Milanfashion show and the set of psychic drama
Medium.
Star Trek (May)Can
Lostcreator JJ Abrams beam the ailing franchise into a new era? The storyexplores the early years of the crew of the USS Enterprise and featuresChris Pine as James Tiberius Kirk and
Heroes villain ZacharyQuinto as Spock. Prepare for a nice cameo by Leonard Nimoy as the olderversion of the Vulcan to tie events in with the earlier adventures inthe final frontier.
Terminator Salvation (June)
ChristianBale tackles the role of resistance fighter John Connor in this bleakman versus machine battle set in a ravaged world in 2018. Fingers arecrossed for an Arnie cameo, but at least movie legend Michael Ironsideis guaranteed to show up.
Inglourious Basterds (June)Yes,that is the correct spelling of Quentin Tarantino's Second World Waraction drama featuring a group of Jewish-American soldiers called 'TheBasterds' going on a Nazi hunt through German-occupied France. Animpressive cast includes Brad Pitt, Mike Myers,
Hunger's Michael Fassbender and BJ Novak - best known as The Temp from the American version of
The Office.
G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra (August)
Seeking to be this year's
Transformers,this escapist action flick will feature an abundance of explosions,stunts and hot totty in the shape of Sienna Miller and Rachel Nicholsfrom
Alias.
Doctor Who fans can also discover what Christopher Eccleston has been up to in recent times, as he takes on the role of baddie Destro.
Zombieland (October)
Horrorand comedy aren't an easy blend of genres, but the omens sound good forthis tale of a pair of survivors in a zombie-plagued world. WoodyHarrelson stars as a fighter of the undead called Albuquerque.
Avatar (December)
JamesCameron is intent on regaining his King of the World crown with thishi-tech futuristic adventure of a group of humans tackling a race ofaliens on a distant planet. Sigourney Weaver hooks up with Cameron overtwo decades after their successful collaboration on
Aliens.
