Let's Get... Political! Upcoming Political & Historical Films

Out of all the political and historical set films that are coming up I'm most interested in In the Loop, hitting screens on July 24, 2009. I first heard about it when it popped up on the UK Box Office Charts, and then had a fantastic review on the Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo's Film Review podcast. Finally the trailer was released and it had me laughing the entire way through. It's a political satire revolving around UK/USA relations. Now when I think I never want to see comedy, I can say that isn't true - I certainly want to be, In the Loop. Directed by Armando Iannucci and starring Tom Hollander, Peter Capaldi, Gina McKee and James Gandolfini.

Time to rock the boat this summer with The Boat the Rocked that follows Rogue DJs who run an illegal radio station in the 1960s from a boat in the North Sea. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Nick Frost, Rhys Darby, Kenneth Branagh and Bill Nighy. Written and directed by Richard Curtis (Love Actually). The trailer has a nice retro vibe to it, hoping to hear more about it soon as the specifice release date is still to be deteremined.

Going from historically set to actual history, on August 7, 2009 we have the release of Flame & Citron / Flammen & Citronen set in WWII and based on true events. The film follows two underground resistance fighters. Starring Thure Lindhardt, Mads Mikkelsen (After the Wedding / Efter brylluppet) and Stine Stengade. Directed by Ole Christian Madsen (Prague / Prag). Pretty harst stuff from the looks of the trailer, but it did pretty well on the festival circuit and the acting certainly looks amazing.

From director Oliver Hirschbiegel (Das Experiment, Downfall, The Invasion) we will be seeing a new release on August 21, 2009 called Five Minutes in Heaven starring Liam Neeson, James Nesbitt and Anamaria Marinca in a crime drama that questions what would you do if you faced the man you killed your little brothers 25 years after the fact. Might be a little to harsh for me but the story is compelling. Sounds interesting? Check out the trailer to see how you feel about.

A breath of fresh air comes from Steven Soderbergh (Oceans 11 (2001), Solaris) with The Informant!, a crime comedy of a whistle blower played by Matt Damon. This one is actually based on a true story and it's a comedy. Nothing is more funny than inept & earnest. Additional casting includes Scott Bakula, Frank Welker and Melanie Lynskey. Based on the book by Kurt Eichenwald. If you need a giggle, treat yourself to the trailer. Released date is September 18, 2009.

Last up in this set is war drama Brothers directed by Jim Sheridan (In America) and stars Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire. The film is based on the Danish film Brødre directed by Susanne Beir (After the Wedding / Efter brylluppet) and starring Connie Nielsen, Ulrich Thomsen and Nikolaj Lie Kass which I'm hoping to see first. I don't usually do trailer warnings anymore but this trailer shows way too much - I recommend only watching the first 1/4. But watch the first 1/4 because it looks really good. Opens December 4, 2009.

Check out the lists of 2009 and 2010 to see more upcoming releases.