What could be some of the best upcoming fall movies of 2010 are actually based on true stories. So from a stuttering king to a terrifying tale of survival to a look at the early life of John Lennon, the upcoming fall movies of 2010 based on true events here might just end up being some of the best movies you watch this year:
Howl – September 24, 2010 – James Franco seems to be looking for Oscar gold with two movies based on true stories hitting theaters this fall. This one is about the life of writer Allen Ginsberg and the 1957 obscenity trial surrounding his epic poetic masterpiece ‘Howl’. It could be one of the most fascinating fall movies based on true events here, or it could suffer the same way many biopics do by becoming a bit boring with a pace that’s too slow. However, I am excited to see the animation that attempts to capture the spirit of his nonconformist, counterculture-creating masterpiece, something I’m sure will make it worth giving a chance.
The Social Network – October 1, 2010 – Will audiences flock to see a film about the creation of Facebook the same way they have flocked to the social network? I’m betting this will be one of the most-watched of the fall movies based on true stories here, since Facebook has become such a big part of our culture (I wonder what Allen Ginsberg would have thought of it?). However, I’m also kind of hoping it will make everyone feel just a little bit duped for lining the pockets of Facebook’s not-so-likeable creators and handing over so much personal information to them (if the movie does stick to true events, it should do a good job of that).
Secretariat – October 8, 2010 – Horse racing isn’t exactly one of the most popular sports in America these days (despite the fact that it is interactive; potentially lucrative; and instantly gratifying), so I’m betting that this is one of the fall movies based on true stories here that under-performs at the box office this year. Still, it looks like the true events featured here won’t be focused so much on the talented horse, but his owner, Penny Chenery. And since his owner is being played by Diane Lane, it could create a little bit of Oscar buzz (now if only it could help make horse racing America’s sport again…).
Nowhere Boy – October 8, 2010 – Will this film focusing on John Lennon’s life before the Beatles go nowhere? Or will ‘Kick-Ass’ star Aaron Johnson prove he’s got another dimension to show us as a much-too-pretty version of the big dreamer? It’s not looking all that promising, but it will be interesting to see how Aaron Johnson and his baby momma/director did working together (maybe they didn’t create a masterpiece, but it looks like they did get some form of creating done; the true events surrounding the making of this movie might be more intriguing than the film itself).
Conviction – October 15, 2010 – I kind of wish Hillary Swank wouldn’t be quite so obvious with her attempt at winning another Oscar. This is another of the fall movies based on true stories here that’s all about one central character (and, thus, one star’s shot at wowing the Academy). Here Hillary Swank will be playing a single mom that spends years putting herself through law school in an attempt to overturn her brother’s unjust murder conviction. The true events based on the life of Betty Ann Waters definitely make for a good story, but I’m not sure how they will translate onto the silver screen (sorry, Lifetime; you missed your chance with this one!). However, determined, underdog characters (and movies based on true stories) are old hat for Hillary, so I’m sure the movie will be worth watching for her moving performance.
127 Hours – November 5, 2010 – Out of James Franco’s two movies based on true stories, this one is definitely getting the most buzz. It’s based on the unforgettable tale of terror told by mountain climber Aron Ralston, who had to amputate his own arm after it became trapped underneath a huge boulder. It’s hard to imagine how the true events here were turned into a full-length film, but, as harrowing as this one sounds, it looks like one of the must-see fall movies here garnering Oscar buzz (oh yeah, it’s also directed by the guy who gave us ‘Slumdog Millionaire’).
Fair Game – November 5, 2010 – And here’s another of the fall movies here based on more recent true events that captivated us. This one focuses on the fascinating story of Valerie Plume, a CIA operative who discovers that her identity was allegedly leaked by the government as payback for her husband penning an article criticizing the Bush administration. This real-life spy tale of back-stabbing and betrayal might not be as exciting as ‘Salt’, but I think it will be intriguing to see one of the few true stories we know about high-up government agents told on the silver screen. Add a cast that includes Naomi Watts as Plume and Sean Penn as her husband, and this is one of the fall movies here that just can’t fall flat, right?
Unstoppable – November 12, 2010 – This is one of the upcoming fall movies based on true stories here that I have a feeling won’t be getting any Oscar buzz. This one sounds a bit like ‘Speed’ set on train tracks, as a rail company tries to stop an unmanned freight train carrying dangerous combustible liquids and poisonous gas from crashing in a city and killing residents there. I can’t find the true events this one is based on, but I have a feeling it’s just loosely based on one of the many true stories about trains containing dangerous chemicals that have crashed and killed floating around on the web. I’m not sure if it’s one of the movies here that will be successful, but a cast composed of Rosario Dawson, Denzel Washington, and Chris Pine might be a draw.
The King’s Speech – November 26, 2010 – This is one of the fall movies based on true stories here that is getting loads of Oscar buzz, and Colin Firth might finally win a little gold guy for playing a stuttering royal. So will Britain’s best looking man wow in this look at the life of King George VI? I can’t help but love a period piece, and it looks like a cast also composed of Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter might help this one get some Best Picture love, as well.
So if you think truth trumps fiction when it comes to entertainment, don’t miss the slew of movies hitting theaters based on true events this fall. (Just keep in mind that these movies based on true stories only have to live up to Hollywood’s standards of nonfiction.)
