Summer, Part 2: 10 Big Flicks Still to Come

Seems like summer's over, right? With Transformers tearing it up after Spidey 3, Shrek 3, Pirates 3, Ocean's Thirteen, Ratatouille, Knocked Up, Sicko, Surf's Up and the latest Fantastic Four flick already made some serious money at the box office, can you believe that there are still 10 huge, huge movies ready to drop? Here they are.

10. Interview
This American interpretation of a Theo van Gogh project stars Steve Buscemi and Sienna Miller, and they are the only two actors in the film. Taking place in a NYC apartment, this premiered and sold at Sundance and continues to showcase Sienna's rising talents.

9. Talk to Me
Don Cheadle stars in the true story of ex-con Petey Green, who rose to become the voice of Washington, D.C., radio in the '60s and '70s. Alongside Martin Sheen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cedric the Entertainer and the lovely Taraji P. Henson, Cheadle delivers a masterful performance, perhaps worthy of an Oscar nomination. One of my favorite films of 2007.

8. Hot Rod
SNL star Andy Samberg plays Rod, a guy who does awesome stunts. Well, they actually aren't awesome, but he thinks they're awesome and so does Isla Fisher. A goofball comedy in the vein of Napoleon Dynamite, Samberg's flick is clearly hoping to propel phrases like "Hey, I'm Rod, and I like to party," and "Wwwwwwwhat? Wwwwwwwwwhy?" into the lexicon and into your IM away messages.

7. No Reservations
Traditional romantic comedies have, well, bombed lately, while films like Knocked Up and even 300 have turned into "date" movies. Perhaps the recent national boom in food enthusiasm (think Top Chef, Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay), will get people excited about a cookie-cutter chick flick like this one, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart as two love-struck chefs in a crowded kitchen.

6. Stardust
Another Sienna Miller movie, and this time she's in an ensemble that includes Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes and newcomer Charlie Cox. I think Cox will become a big star in the years to come, and he does a good job as the lead in this sort of  "21st century Princess Bride," written by Neil Gaiman. A fantasy film for all ages, it also features some great scenes with British comedian and The Office creator Ricky Gervais.

5. Rush Hour 3
It's been nine years since the original made Chris Tucker an international star and Jackie Chan a hero in the states. It's rare that a trilogy is directed by the same guy, but Brett Ratner is back again, with much of this one shot in Paris at iconic locations such as the Eiffel Tower. (True story: The lights on the tower went out ,and Ratner needed them on for a shot, so city officials were called in and power was restored.) The only interior scenes shot overseas feature Roman Polanski.

4. Hairspray
First it was a movie from the great John Waters. Then it was a Tony-winning Broadway musical. Now, the story of Tracy Turnblad in Baltimore is back with an all-star cast featuring Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, and John Travolta. Shout outs as well to the loyal Lyons Den fan Nikki Blonsky, who makes her big-screen debut as the lead, and Amanda Bynes, who keeps getting hotter and hotter. You heard it here first: Nikki gets nominated for a Golden Globe. She's this year's Jennifer Hudson, or better. Do your thing, girl!

3. Superbad
First, I thought Knocked Up was the comedy of the summer. Then I saw Hot Rod, which is pretty funny. Well, now comes a comedy that is an instant cult classic. No matter what Jonah Hill and Michael Cera do for the rest of their careers—and trust me, they will have long careers—these guys will always be known for Superbad. It's the raunchiest sex comedy of all time, making Porky's 1 & 2, and all the American Pie films look like Disney flicks. Also, there's a special surprise.

2. The Bourne Ultimatum
I'm a huge fan of this franchise and the books the films are based on. Both Doug Liman (the first one) and Paul Greengrass (the second two) were great choices to direct these, and I couldn't be more psyched for the third. The Bourne films are the perfect action-adventure series; they're not so fantastical that they lose their believability, yet they continue to raise the bar for high-concept action sequences. Look for Julia Stiles' character to have an expanded role in this installment, as she's attempting to leave the CIA—no easy task. Matt Damon does his thing in these films, and now that he's moved the action from exotic European locals to my backyard, New York City, I couldn't be more excited for anything left this summer.

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry and the Hogwarts homies are back for the fifth of seven Potter flicks, this time showing just how much they've grown up. Director David Yates apparently did such a good job here that he's only the second director to be asked to return, officially signing on for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Not only have the lead kids come into their own, both as actors and young adults, but the franchise as a whole is now fully stocked with a staff of screen veterans: Alan Rickman (best Die Hard villain ever), Gary Oldman, Ralph Fiennes, George Harris, Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, Jason Isaacs, Maggie Smith—the list goes on. I have to say that the more coverage I do on Potter, the more I understand the appeal, and the more I've become a Harry enthusiast. Production on the next film starts in September.