The Men Who Stare At Goats Are Coming To The Movies

The Oscar season begins in earnest, but will the moviegoers bite?

THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS
Australian Release Date: 26 December 2009
The Story: George Clooney and Jeff Bridges star. Based on the true story of a US Army psychic ops unit.
The Pitch: Dr. Strangelove meets Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Who It’s For: Comedy with a social message type people.
Cause for Hope: Clooney and Bridges are seldom un-fun to watch. Interesting, obscure story.
Cause for Concern: Comedy looks very heavy on the broad and zany.
Defamer Enthusio-Meter: 6

PRECIOUS
Australian Release Date: February 2010
The Story: An abused, overweight illiterate Harlem teen dreams of stardom.
The Pitch: The colour Purple meets Welcome to the Dollhours
Who It’s For: Anyone who wants their head bashed in by unrelenting horrifying tales of impoverished desperation.
Cause for Hope: Early Oscar front-runner drew ecstatic raves on the festival trail.
Cause for Concern: Endorsement of Executive Producer Oprah does not bode well for any hopes of subtlety.
Defamer Enthusio-Meter:8

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Australian Release Date:5 November 2009
The Story: Jim Carrey is Ebenezer Scrooge in the animated 3D retelling of the Dickens classic.
The Pitch: Shrek meets Pride and Prejudice
Who It’s For: Families, or those families who can afford to take the whole family out and pay the premium 3D ticket prices.
Cause for Hope: Computer animation looks undeniably cool.
Cause for Concern: These CGI-fests have a habit of celebrating the technology over the story that grows very old 40 minutes in.
Defamer Enthusio-Meter: 5

THE BOX
Australian Release Date: 29 October 2009
The Story: A couple finds themselves with an ethical dilemma when a box arrives telling them if they push its button, they will get $1 million dollars, but a stranger will die.
The Pitch: Momento meets 88 Minutes
Who It’s For: Edgy people.
Cause for Hope: The director of Donnie Darko still has a tiny bit left in his much diminished good will fund.
Cause for Concern: Looks very very much. As in taking itself much too seriously.
Defamer Enthusio-Meter: 5