PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF
Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson, Alexandra Daddario, Sean Bean, Pierce Brosnan, Steve Coogan, Rosario Dawson
dir. Chris Columbus
Get ready for some hot topless Percy action! At least, that's what's promised by the gratuitous opening shots of the latest teaser for Chris Columbus's next tweenage fantasy adventure franchise...Having said that, the entire tone of this trailer is altogether more grown-up than before, emphasising the darker, more intense elements of the story (MONSTERS! BROSNAN!) presumably in a concerted effort to entice the Twilight generation back into theatres. And although we're not entirely convinced it has the fanbase to pull off Harry Potter numbers, its broad appeal and inclusive story should guarantee it avoids a Cirque De Freak-style obliteration at the box office. Quality-wise, if it ends up in the region of The Spiderwick Chronicles then that's just dandy by us.
GREENBERG
Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Rhys Ifans, Jennifer Jason Leigh
dir. Noah Baumbach
Latest slice of indie whimsy from Wes Anderson co-hort Baumbauch, here going it alone in the follow-up to 2007's under-performing Margot At The Wedding. It's been quite a year for Baumbach following the commercial success and critical glowers for his script work on Anderson's Fantastic Mr Fox, and Greenberg looks set to continue that run. Ben Stiller returns to his lo-fi roots as a New Yorker who moves to Los Angeles to house-sit for his brother and generally sort out his sorry, directionless life. The premise is pure Sundance-bait, but don't let that put you off - this looks like it's got bags of heart, something Baumbach's film are often accused of lacking. Even the presence of Rhys Ifans isn't that scary - this is a pretty straight role for the tabloids' favourite bad-boy.
CRAZY HEART
Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall
dir. Scott Cooper
Trust Jeff Bridges to pull it out of the bag... Following low-key turns in a couple of dodgy comedies (How To Lose Friends & Alienate People, The Men Who Stare At Goats - both based on Brit journo classics & both adapted by Peter Straughan, weirdly) the man who IS The Dude finally gets his teeth into something altogether more meaty...more Oscar-worthy, if you will, in Scott Cooper's low-key drama about a country singer coming to the end of his career. This looks like a complete and utter showboater from Bridges and the Academy Award nomination is pretty much guaranteed. Throw in some strong support from Maggie Gyllenhaal (who is never bad) and word-of-mouth to die for and this is shaping up to be that rarest of things - a serious, entertaining drama for grown-ups. Frankly, we're amazed Clint Eastwood didn't direct it. With this and the forthcoming 3D extravaganza Tron: Legacy in the offing, 2010 could be Bridges's year.
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