Cinematic leftovers — Early 2008 movie releases offer tasty morsels among less-desirable fare

The difference between Christmas dinner leftovers and yearly cinematic leftovers is that the food has either been eaten or thrown out by now.

If it's January, you just know movie studios are serving up their less-desirable "leftovers" from the previous year.

The first few months of the new year, however, also include a few awards-worthy selections. Those films open in New York and Los Angeles around Christmas to qualify for Academy Award consideration. They then trickle out to other cities in the months that follow.

Among the 2008 award hopefuls are the buddy comedy-drama "The Bucket List," the Iraq War drama "Grace Is Gone," the drama "There Will Be Blood" and the animated feature "Persepolis," which are coming to Utah ... eventually.

This month marks the reappearance of local filmmaker Richard Dutcher, who is releasing his already-controversial, faith-discussing "Falling,"

Early 2008 also offers:

• ACTION/ADVENTURE — In addition to "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale" and "Jumper," Sylvester Stallone reprises his role as "Rambo."

• COMEDIES — For guys there's "Be Kind Rewind," "Drillbit Taylor," "First Sunday" and "Strange Wilderness." For ladies, there's the romance "27 Dresses" and "Mad Money."

• HORROR AND SCIENCE FICTION — "Cloverfield" sees a monster destroying New York City and there are remakes of the Asian hits "The Eye" and "One Missed Call," which opens today.

• KIDS AND FAMILY FILMS — Jim Carrey and Steve Carell voice characters in the animated Dr. Seuss feature "Horton Hears a Who!" which is joined by "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie" and "The Spiderwick Chronicles."

More than 60 movies are scheduled to open over the next three months. See Page W6 for a list of films and tentative release dates.

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com