September is here and more new releases are on their way to grab our attention. First up but not in any particular order of release is the suspenseful “Unstoppable.” Denzel Washington and Star Trek’s latest Captain Kirk (and what a wonderful Kirk he made), Chris Pine star in a story about a runaway freight train transporting deadly chemicals. It’s a race against time, as it always is, to try to stop the train before it derails and, well, you get the picture. It is slated to hit theaters on November 12, 2010. So far no mention of any 3-D which seems to be unstoppable in it’s own way.

Next up and opening Friday September 3, 2010 is Drew Barrymore in “Going The Distance.” Right now it doesn’t appear she will have much resistance in Going The Distance as there isn’t much else going on that first week of September. Let Drew be in the Spotlight at least for one week as this film looks promising for her and it is something I can relate to personally. But not now. This isn’t about me, it’s about Hollywood. Cher will come to us with style in “Burlesque.” This sort of reminds me of several years back when it was Elizabeth Berkley in “Showgirls.” Remember her in “Saved By The Bell?”

Scheduled to open in theaters in December, 2010 is Natalie Portman and Winona Ryder in the R rated “Black Swan.” The story is centered on a ballerina dancer consumed with her talent. As she prepares to open a new season, she is suddenly replaced. This turns the an evil competition into the battle of the dancers-or as I would like to call it…CHICK FIGHT!!!” Where will Jerry Springer be? I won’t judge it until I see it though so sorry ladies. Now again these are not in chronological order so I am fast forwarding and backing it up just to get you a glimpse of what’s in the Spotlight in your upcoming future-movie wise. You can rest easy we will be fed a steady diet of 3-D winners and losers mixed in with these upcoming releases including “Resident Evil: Afterlife 3-D” which opens September 10, 2010 in theaters nation wide. I mean to tell you there are hundreds of movies out there waiting to have their turn on the big screen. Some are postponed and some make it out right away. Some are used as fillers but we will actually never know for sure which ones for real or, if I may since it’s my article, reel.

One trailer that stands out that will open the same week as “Unstoppable” is the sci-fi horror “Skyline” about a group of L.A. high-risers braving off an attack of an unknown force. Maybe it could be divorce attorneys. We’ll have to wait and see. My money’s on Denzel for that week’s spotlight. Here again, the month of November is a sweeps month. All the good stuff normally comes out then and again in the spring. The three reasons are: More viewers which equals more ratings which equals more money for Hollywood and their Spotlighted posse. A movie is cheaper than a concert anyway. So is the food. “Skyline” stars Eric Balfour and Donald Faison and will open among strong competition on November 12, 2010.

Here is another 3-D horror flick that comes to us from Hell in 2011 that is another remake (1987) because that’s what Hustlin’ Hollywood does best: “The Gate”. A couple of boys discover a strange rock in their backyard. Guess what happens next. They start unearthing the backyard to hunt for more only to wish they didn’t. No, there are no buried doggie boners to find. Instead they unleash Hell’s “Gate” in 3-D. There goes the neighborhood. Maybe they can bury the hatchet. Nope. I think they just might need it.

From the director of “300″ (Zack Snyder) comes “Sucker Punch” that is set to open March 25, 2011. Again, a ratings month for Hollywood. This one is in regards to a girl (Emily Browning) confined to a coo-coo’s nest and about to be lobotomized in a matter of days. While she is there, she plans her escape but needs a few items to make her exit go more smoothly. This reminds me of “Shutter Island.” or “One Flew Over The Coo-coos Nest” with Jack Nickleson .

Well a few more to close out this session of The Spotlight but I will come back weekly to keep all you Hustler’s updated. First off is “Machete” coming your way before you know it. It’s another Robert Rodirquez film hot on the heels of his 2007 “Grindhouse” series. As I recall it didn’t rack up any special love at the box office. Maybe his follow up staring Steven Segal, Jessica Alba (the sexy Dark Angel), Robert De Niro and the always sober (cough cough) Lindsay Lohan will. This film was obviously shot before the “Freaky Friday” chic was facing a judge for her bad vices-again.

One that I like the looks of is Ben Afflect’s “The Town” opening September 17, 2010. A bunch of bank robbers wanting to get it done and get out take a hostage during one of their heists. The female bank hostage lets her guard down as she has goo-goo eyes for one of the robbers. They soon discover there’s more interesting facts about “The Town.”

To close this session out, guess what the studios have come up with? That’s right; another remake. This is a 1972 remake of the movie, “The Mechanic” made famous by Charles Bronson. After that arrives at the popcorn stands on January 28, 2010, “The Green Hornet” will buzz into our faces in 3-D on January 14, 2011. A junk month. Anybody have any Hornet spray? This one will be quite annoying. Hollywood seems bored if all they have is remakes after remakes and can’t come up with any originals. And enough with all the 3-D effort already. I only have two eyes. Third eye blind.

by Hustlin’ Bob Higgins