Drama Movies 2009 List

With Michael Stuhlbarg • Richard Kind • Joel Coen • Ethan Coen • Tim Bevan • Eric Fellner • Peter Breitmayer • Fred Melamed • Andrew Lentz • Aaron Wolff • Sari Lennick • Jessica McManus • Brent Braunschweig • David Kang • Benji Portnoe • Jack Swiler • Ari Hoptman • Robert Graf

The new film from Academy Award-winning writer/directors Joel and Ethan Coen. The film is the story of an ordinary man’s search for clarity in a universe where Jefferson Airplane is on the radio and “F-Troop” is on TV. It is 1967, and Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg), a physics professor at a quiet Midwestern university, has just been informed by his wife Judith (Sari Lennick) that she is leaving him. She has fallen in love with one of his more pompous colleagues, Sy Ableman (Fred Melamed), who seems to her a more substantial person than the feckless Larry. Larry’s unemployable brother Arthur (Richard Kind) is sleeping on the couch, his son Danny (Aaron Wolf) is a discipline problem and a shirker at Hebrew school, and his daughter Sarah (Jessica McManus) is filching money from his wallet in order to save up for a nose job. While his wife and Sy Ableman blithely make new domestic arrangements, and his brother becomes more and more of a burden, an anonymous hostile letter-writer is trying to sabotage Larry’s chances for tenure at the university. Also, a graduate student seems to be trying to bribe him for a passing grade while at the same time threatening to sue him for defamation. Plus, the beautiful woman next door torments him by sunbathing nude. Struggling for equilibrium, Larry seeks advice from three different rabbis. Can anyone help him cope with his afflictions and become a righteous person – a mensch – a serious man?

With Michael Sheen • Timothy Spall • Peter Morgan • Tom Hooper

Set in 1960's and 1970's England, "The Damned United" tells the confrontational and darkly humorous story of Brian Clough's doomed 44 day tenure as manager of the reigning champions of English football Leeds United. Previously managed by his bitter rival Don Revie, and on the back of their most successful period ever as a football club, Leeds was perceived by many to represent a new aggressive and cynical style of football - an anathema to the principled yet flamboyant Brian Clough, who had achieved astonishing success as manager of Hartlepool and Derby County building teams in his own vision with trusty lieutenant Peter Taylor. Taking the Leeds job without Taylor by his side, with a changing room full of what in his mind were still Don's boys, would lead to an unheralded examination of Clough's belligerence and brilliance over 44 days. This is that story. The story of "The Damned United".

With Emma Thompson • Carey Mulligan • Rosamund Pike • Peter Sarsgaard • Olivia Williams • Sally Hawkins • Amanda Posey • Matthew Beard • Lone Scherfig • Finola Dwyer • Nick Hornby

"An Education" is the story of a teenage girl's coming-of-age set in 1961 London, a city caught between the drab, post-war 1950s and the glamorous, more liberated decade to come. Jenny (Carey Mulligan) stands on the brink of becoming a woman: a brilliantly witty and attractive 16-year-old whose suburban life is about to be blown apart by the utterly unsuitable 30-something David (Peter Sarsgaard). Urbane and witty, David manages to charm her conservative parents Jack (Alfred Molina) and Marjorie (Cara Seymour). David introduces Jenny to a glittering new world of classical concerts and late-night suppers with his attractive friend and business partner, Danny (Dominic Cooper) and Danny's girlfriend, the beautiful but vacuous Helen (Rosamund Pike). Just as Jenny's family's long-held dream of getting their brilliant daughter into Oxford seems within reach, Jenny is tempted by another kind of life.

With Steven Bauer • Kuno Becker • Jimmy Nickerson

Hector Villa, a ranked fighter, flees Mexico with his friend and mentor, Billy, after being told he must throw a fight. He and Billy seek sanctuary as farm laborers on a ranch, where Hector is eventually recognized and forced to fight the owner's evil son.

With Tom Hardy • Nicolas Winding Refn

A young man who was sentenced to 7 years on prison for robbing a post office ends up spending 30 years in solitary confinement. During this time, his own personality is supplanted by his alter ego, Charles Bronson.

With Jason Ritter • Jess Weixler • Jesse L. Martin • Tracie Thoms • Jay DiPietro • Noah Bean

"Peter and Vandy" is a love story told out of order. Set in Manhattan, the story shifts back and forth in time, juxtaposing Peter and Vandy's romantic beginnings with the twisted, manipulative, regular couple they become. The film explores the question most couples ask themselves... 'How the hell did we get here?' The answer is found in the little moments. Peter and Vandy communicate through truthful, every day dialogue. They begin with the hope of new love on the horizon, adoring the little quirks about each other. As they continue, the way they bicker while trying to order takeout and begin to criticize the smallest of gestures reveals more about them than "couples therapy" ever could. Through these iconic moments, we see just who they are... and it's familiar. By going back and forth in time, we are able to pinpoint the subtle causes that lead to the larger effects within their relationship.

With Michelle Monaghan • Nathan Fillion • Benjamin Bratt • Jimmy Bennett • James Mottern

Michelle Monaghan plays a female truck driver who lives a careless life with no responsibility until she has to take in her estranged 11-year-old son after his father (Benjamin Bratt) is hospitalized.

With Keanu Reeves • Julianne Moore • Robin Wright • Rebecca Miller • Maggie Gyllenhaal • Monica Bellucci • Alan Arkin • Wynona Ryder

An adventurous trip through Pippa Lee's past and present, as a methamphetamine-addicted mother whose husband leaves her for a younger woman. Pippa indulges in an array of erotic adventures while heading toward a quiet nervous breakdown.

With Tom Hanks • Benicio Del Toro • Forest Whitaker • Paul Dano • Bruce Berman • Catherine Keener • Spike Jonze • Catherine O'Hara • Jon Jashni • Lauren Ambrose • Lynn Harris • Michael Berry • Tom Noonan • Gary Goetzman • John Carls • Maurice Sendak • Dave Eggers

Innovative director Spike Jonze collaborates with celebrated author Maurice Sendak to bring one of the most beloved books of all time to the big screen in "Where the Wild Things Are," a classic story about childhood and the places we go to figure out the world we live in. The film tells the story of Max, a rambunctious and sensitive boy who feels misunderstood at home and escapes to where the Wild Things are. Max lands on an island where he meets mysterious and strange creatures whose emotions are as wild and unpredictable as their actions. The Wild Things desperately long for a leader to guide them, just as Max longs for a kingdom to rule. When Max is crowned king, he promises to create a place where everyone will be happy. Max soon finds, though, that ruling his kingdom is not so easy and his relationships there prove to be more complicated than he originally thought.

With John Leguizamo • Harvey Keitel • Diane Venora • Franc Reyes

A NYPD detective attempts to avenge the death of her father, but unwittingly becomes involved with one of his killers.

With Hayden Christensen • Bradley Cooper • Blake Lively • Shia LaBeouf • Natalie Portman • Kevin Bacon • Ethan Hawke • Carla Gugino • Christina Ricci • James Caan • Justin Bartha • Olivia Thirlby • Drea de Matteo • Chris Cooper • Marianne Maddalena • Marina Grasic • Anton Yelchin • Cloris Leachman • Emmanuel Benbihy

12 separate segments will comprise this new feature film, which is being produced by Emmanuel Benbihy ("Paris, je t'aime") and Marina Grasic ("Crash," "Smart People") with the cooperation of Marianne Maddalena ("Scream," "Red Eye"). In "New York, I Love You," the 12 segments will be connected together via transitional linking sequences. New York City is the main unifying character and the Film will show the city as a living, breathing and loving whole. In the end, the audience will not only understand each individual story, but they will also see the integrated whole of chance encounters through these unique transitions.

With Alfred Molina • Ido Port • Lynn Roth • Eitan Evan

The film revolves around a British sargeant stationed in Palestine after World War II and his relationship with an 11-year-old, who wants the British to leave his land.

With Sebastián Silva • Pedro Peirano

A maid tries to hold on to her position after having served a family for 23 years.

With Richard Gere • Mia Wasikowska • Ewan McGregor • Don Carmody • Hilary Swank • Virginia Madsen • Cherry Jones • Mira Nair • Aaron Abrams • Joe Anderson • Christopher Eccleston • Ted Waitt • Lydia Dean Pilcher • Kevin Hyman • Ron Bass

The story centers on pilot Amelia Earhart in the early stages of her career and how she is chosen to be the first female pilot to attempt the daring nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

With Josh Hutcherson • Willem Dafoe • Salma Hayek • Jane Krakowski • John C. Reilly • Ray Stevenson • Lauren Shuler Donner • Orlando Jones • Ken Watanabe • Ewan Leslie • Chris Massoglia • Kristen Schaal • Brian Helgeland • Patrick Fugit • Michael Cerveris • Paul Weitz • Kerry Kohansky • Andrew Miano • Courtney Pledger • Dan Kolsrud • Rodney Liber • J. Michael Muro

"Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant", based on the popular series of books by Darren Shan, is a fantasy-adventure about a teenager who unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood sideshow freaks and grotesque creatures of the night, one teen will vanish from the safety of a boring existence and fulfill his destiny in a place drawn from nightmares.

16-year-old Darren (Chris Massoglia) was like most kids in his suburban neighborhood. He hung out with his best friend Steve (Josh Hutcherson), got decent grades and usually stayed out of trouble. But when he and his buddy stumble upon a traveling freak show, things begin to change inside Darren. That’s the exact moment when a vampire named Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly) turns him into something, well, bloodthirsty.

Newly undead, he joins the Cirque Du Freak, a touring sideshow filled with monstrous creatures from a snakeboy and a wolfman to a bearded lady (Salma Hayek) and a gigantic barker (Ken Watanabe). As Darren flexes his newfound powers in this dark world, he becomes a treasured pawn between the vampires and their deadlier counterparts. And while trying to survive, one boy will struggle to keep their brewing war from devouring what’s left of his humanity.

With Willem Dafoe • Lars Von Trier • Charlotte Gainsbourg • Peter Aalbaek Jensen • Meta Foldager

A couple mourning the loss of their child retreat to a cabin in the woods, where they soon encounter strange, terrifying occurrences.

With Vinnie Jones • Adam Goldberg • Eion Bailey • Marley Shelton • Jonathan Parker • Catherine di Napoli

Set in the artsy Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, "Untitled" tells the story of Adrian Jacobs (Goldberg), a difficult composer of equally difficult music whose sparsely attended performances involve musicians breaking glass and kicking metal buckets. In contrast, Adam’s brother, Josh (Bailey), is a commercially successful painter of vapid canvasses that corporate clients snap up by the dozen. But, Adrian’s luck appears set to change when Josh brings the stunning Madeleine (Shelton) to one of his concerts. Not only does she embrace his work and ask him to perform at her gallery, she invites him into her bed. As the two embark on a fiery affair, Adrian is introduced to a world of pretentious art collectors, dueling gallerists and eccentric artists, including Ray Barko (Jones), whose bizarre creations include chandeliers of stuffed animals and dead cows draped with jewelry. When Josh discovers Adrian and Madeleine’s relationship and Madeleine refuses to exhibit Josh’s paintings—even though the money they bring in is what keeps the gallery afloat—the stage is set for a showdown as comedic and discordant as Adrian’s music.

With Troy Duffy • Billy Connolly • Brian Mahoney • Clifton Collins • David Della Rocco • JoJo Rhama • Miroslaw Baszak

The film is the continuation of writer/director Troy Duffy's tough, stylized cutting edge saga of the MacManus brothers (Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flanery). The two have been in deep hiding with their father, Il Duce (Billy Connolly), in the quiet valleys of Ireland, far removed from their former vigilante lives. When word comes that a beloved priest has been killed by sinister forces from deep within the mob, the brothers return to Boston to mount a violent and bloody crusade to bring justice to those responsible. With a new partner in crime (Clifton Collins Jr., Star Trek) and a sexy FBI operative (Julie Benz) hot on their trail...the Saints are back!

With Sam Neill • Sophie Okonedo • Alice Krige • Anthony Fabian • Helen Crawley

Sandra Laing is a black child born in the 1950s to white Afrikaners, unaware of their black ancestry. Her parents are rural shopkeepers serving the local black community, who lovingly bring her up as their ‘white’ little girl. But at the age of ten, Sandra is driven out of white society. The film follows Sandra’s thirty-year journey from rejection to acceptance, betrayal to reconciliation, as she struggles to define her place in a changing world - and triumphs against all odds.