As the sun sets on 2008 and a great year in cinema comes to a close, we're now looking forward to the coming 12 months' celluloid treats. As Gok Wan might say, the last year was right on trend for film fans’ love of superheroes, Judd Apatow comedies and Will Smith blockbusters but what can they expect in 2009?
Well, there is certainly some residual influence with the likes of X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Watchmen, Funny People and Seven Pounds filling the superhero/Apatow/Smith quota but in amongst all the big-budget sequels, critically-acclaimed independents and animated features, the real watchwords of 2009 will be biopics, literary adaptations and prequels.
Why in only in the first few months of the new year we’ve got the likes of Che Parts One and Two, Anvil: The Story Of Anvil, Bronson and Tyson bringing the true-life tales in either dramatic or documentary form; The Lovely Bones, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button and Revolutionary Road will be cribbing from their original source material; and Angels And Demons, Star Trek and Friday The 13th will be delving into untapped franchise chapters in the hope of a big box office payout.
Judging by movie fans’ peccadillos over the years, I’d say this is a safe bet and if anywhere knows what people want it’s Hollywood - but have I got it wrong? Is Tinsletown really as predictable as I think it is? Will it pull the old switcheroo and give us a year of unexpected treats or do the same old thing and focus group all of the originality out of our entertainment? Hell, I don’t know but I’m gonna have fun finding out…
What do you think will be the big theme of 2009? Leave your comments below…
Glen Ferris
