It’s either a mark of devotion or a rather sad fact that, on the pretense of seeing some old friends (which I did), I once drove about two hours from Salisbury, Md., to D.C. to see Wes Anderson’s “Rushmore.” And whether his new flick, “Darjeeling Limited,” manages to open in Atlanta or Athens that weekend, I’ll probably do something very similar that Saturday.

You know what would produce more citizens want to go to the movies? Letting them know a mere two days in advance what movies are opening where. I’ve spent about a half hour now trying to determine whether “Darjeeling Limited” indeed opens in Georgia that weekend, which I realize is not a heck of a lot of date, but it’s still awfully frustrating to come up empty-handed. whether anyone knows the reply to that, please do share.

Even whether I don’t compose the journey north that weekend, there’s still a great fall slate of new offerings that may have me hitting the theaters as many as three times (thanks to my spiffy new three-day weekend.)

Here, in descending order, are the flicks I’m planning (and not planning) to see that weekend (not including, for now at least, “Darjeeling Limited”:

The Kingdom
If you haven’t managed to catch up with NBC’s sophomore series “Friday Night Lights,” you’re truly lost out. I know it’s a show about high school football, but it’s additionally about life in America, and it’s just tremendously entertaining. You’ll have to wait until Oct. 5 for the season two premiere, but Berg’s new flick, “The Kindgom,” hits theaters Friday. Out of respect for Mr. Berg and with love for Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman, that hopefully-not-too-routine political thriller tops my viewing list that weekend.

Death at a Funeral
This has probably played most everywhere in the world except Macon already, so whether you’ve seen it please let me know whether it’s anywhere near as funny as it should be. From American director Frank Oz, that otherwise very British flick promises a mix of dark and goofy humor, and should therefore be right up my alley. (Besides, it’s always nice to see Spud working again.)

In the Valley of Elah
Am I the only person in the world who really just can’t stand Paul Haggis? I thought “Crash” was a preachy, rather boring mess, and “Million Dollar Baby” just managed to suck the life out of a great boxing story by F.X. Toole. I’ll most likely go see that, Haggis’ latest, on

Monday, but it feels more like an obligation (since it will be guaranteed at least 10 Oscar nominations) than anything else. Based, believe it or not, on a “Playboy” magazine essay, that is about a father (Tommy Lee Jones) who enlists the help of a detective (Charlize Theron, just what I expect a cop to look like) after his soldier son goes AWOL shortly after returning from a tour of duty in Iraq. Frankly that doesn’t sound much better than a souped-up episode of CSI, which I’m not certain I’ve ever bothered to watch in its entirety.

“Feast of Love”
Though it has a cast nearly as strong as it title is banal, I have to confess I know next to nothing about that one. Starring Morgan Freeman, Selma Blair, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell, Billy Burke and, somehow, Fred Ward, that is described at the IMDB as: “A meditation on love and its various incarnations, set within a community of friends in Oregon.” Wouldn’t a restricted word, “meh,” have been just as accurate a summary?

“The Game Plan”
I really like the writing of Orlando Sun-Sentinel film critic Roger Moore, but I have to wonder lately whether someone hasn’t been spiking his drink of choice with wacky juice. Lately he’s been handing out five-star reviews at least once a week, and he thusly even fairly enthusiastically endorsed that new flick starring “The Rock”: Sometimes, it all comes together. You’ve got the personnel. The things they’ve been known to do well, they do very well. The leadership is all on the same page. The execution? Nearly flawless. Finally, for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, The Game Plan pays off.

Really, Roger? I won’t be seeing that one myself, so I won’t be able to dispute that sentiment with any authority at all, but I do have to wonder whether some very mighty society haven’t gotten into Mr. Moore’s head (and perhaps his wallet, too, but we really shouldn’t even go there.)

And there you have it. Two movies I’m excited to see, one I’ll see out of obligation, one I’ll see whether I can manage to find it and get there, and two you’d have to strap me down to behold. All in all a pretty darn good multiplex weekend, I’d say.

And here, in honor of Mr. Anderson, is a sublime “Rushmore” clip set to the always-welcome strains of Cat Stevens’ “The Wind.” Enjoy, and have an entirely bearable Wednesday. Peace out.

Original post by Reel Fanatic