Fall is the season for these buzz movies, so keep an eye peeled at your local cineplex, as these pics open limited and continue to roll out to more and more theaters as word of mouth builds.
The Assassination of Jesse James - 09/21 - Play Trailer
Brad Pitt won Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival, and the critics have been warming up to this meditative western. The decent grosses for another cowboy actioner, 3:10 to Yuma, are also a good sign for this movie from Austrailian filmmaker Andrew Dominik (Chopper).
Eastern Promises - Now Playing Limited; Expands 09/21 - Play Trailer and Clips
The Best Picture winner at Toronto was directed by one of the country's premier talents, David Cronenberg. Reteamed with A History of Violence star Viggo Mortensen, the filmmaker has produced another critic favortie that should see large audiences based on the positive word of mouth, and a much-talked about action scene.
Across the Universe - Now Playing Limited; Expands 09/21 - Play Trailer
The Toronto crowd, and reviewers, have been divided on this smorgasboard combination of Vietnam era love story, colorful fantasy, and the Beatles' greatest hits...but that should play in this pic's favor. Audiences turned out in big numbers for its limited opening last weekend, and should continue to make it a hit.
Lust, Caution - 09/28 - Play Trailer
Never underestimate director Ang Lee. This epic political thriller, set in World War II-era China, may not be anyone's first guess for mainstream box office bucks, but it could be just right for arthouse crowds and those who favored The Last Emperor, and it did just win top honors in Venice.
Juno - 12/14
Thank You for Smoking director Jason Reitman and Superbad star Michael Cera are both on a roll. This smart and funny teen-pregnancy comedy was the audience award runner-up at Toronto, and by its December release, it could be this year's Little Miss Sunshine.
Other positive buzz films from Toronto/Venice, coming out soon...Sean Penn's fact-based adventure drama Into the Wild (09/21), the Keira Knightley period piece Atonement (12/07), Brian DePalma's anti-war Redacted (12/14), the Bob Dylan inspired I'm Not There (11/21) and Ryan Gosling in Lars and the Real Girl (10/12).
