5.
Frozen (November 29) Disney’s
take on The Snow Queen by Hans
Christian Anderson is either going to be great or terrible, there’s really no
room for middle ground here. Jennifer Lee, the co-writer of Wreck-It Ralph, co-directs this film
with Chris Buck (Surf’s Up) and if
the trailer is any indication Frozen will
play more like a Dreamworks film then a Disney classic. A film that is looking
like it’s tossed the timeless nature of Disney animated films by the wayside, Frozen is off to a rough start. I’m a
perennial fan of Disney animated films so I’ll be giving this one a shot and
hoping beyond all hope that Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Idina Menzel, Jonathan
Groff and Alan Tudyk can push this film
that looks to be an animated fairy tale love triangle over the top and into greatness.
(Jeff’s Note: I loved Surf’s Up, and
I have every hope that this will follow more in the steps of Tangled than burning
any bridges. Even if it’s not “in the mold” maybe it will break new ground and
give us more Disney to love.)
4.
About Time (November 1) A film
that is sure to be overshadowed due to its release date, the same day as Ender’s Game and Free Birds (the next Dreamworks Animation film), About Time is almost guaranteed to make
this guy shed a few tears. Richard Curtis of Love Actually, Pirate Radio, and Notting Hill fame will try to recreate his romantic comedy magic,
this time with Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy and Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
& 2) along for the ride. About
Time focuses on a family in which the men have the ability to time travel. Strange
premise? Yes, but it looks like a GREAT one. This film looks to be a story of
love and loss, of fathers and sons, of life, and the choices we make - all
wrapped up in the question of what could happen if you could change every major
choice of your life. Curtis has grown on me as a director as his career has
progressed. I’m hoping that all I can say after seeing this film is, about
time. (Jeff’s Note: Richard Curtis
Rocks! Even back in his TV days, Blackadder
forever!!!!)
3.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
(November 22) Catching Fire is easily
my favorite and the best of The Hunger
Games books. I’m hoping the film can do the same. A change in director from
Gary Ross to Francis Lawrence (I am
Legend, Constantine) could actually do this film some good. Although Ross
is a good director, he wasn’t the best with the action sequences in the first Hunger Games film, but I have faith that
Lawrence will deal with these unique characters and interesting landscape in an
intriguing new way. Joining Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth,
Woody Harrleson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, and Donald Sutherland are
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jena Malone, and Sam Clafin of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Snow White and the Huntsmen fame—yikes. It’s
not good that he’s playing Finnick Odair, the biggest and most important new
character of the series) to tell the second installment of this series and the
events that surround the quarter quell. If Catching
Fire is any sort of good it has a chance to be one of the biggest
blockbusters of all time and quite frankly I’m super psyched to see where this
series goes. (Jeff’s Note: I haven’t
seen The Hunger Games.)
2.
Saving Mr. Banks (December 20) A
film that should warm your soul. It’s the story of how Walt Disney brought what
many consider to be his masterpiece, Marry
Poppins, to the big screen and his tumultuous relationship with author P.L.
Travers. The only person alive today who could play Walt with the reverence and
respect he needs is Tom Hanks, and luckily that’s exactly who is in the role.
Hanks is a giant star and charming enough pull off the role, plus some. The
other half of this pair is the ever amazing Emma Thompson who plays the
hardened, yet honest and touching Travers. Paul Giamatti, Colin Farrell, Ruth
Wilson, Bradley Whitford, Rachel Griffiths, Jason Schwartzman, and B.J. Novak round
out the cast of this sure-to-be box office success. I’m hoping it umbrella
floats its way into my heart for years to come and serves as a great companion
to one of my favorite films of all time, Marry
Poppins. (Jeff’s Note: Emma
Thompson is my dream girl. I don’t care that she’s playing old ladies now…. Dibs.)
1.
Thor: The Dark World (November 8) Alan
Taylor, who directed several episodes of Game
of Thrones, Mad Men, and The Sopranos,
helms the next installment in the Marvel cinematic universe. Phase 2 continues
as Thor (Chris Hemsworth) faces an enemy that forces him on his most personal
journey yet and reunites him with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and his brother
Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Original cast members Anthony Hopkins, Idris Elba and
Kat Dennings are joined by Chris O’Dowd, Zachary Levi, and Christopher
Eccleston in this sequel. I have high hopes of it becoming the first GOOD
Marvel sequel (I’m looking at you Iron
Man 2). Thor: The Dark World looks
to be doing what a good sequel should: further its characters, deepen it’s
world, and raise the stakes. I’m hopeful this is the rare strong second, and
above all that the Marvel trend of good films continues. (Jeff’s Note: The God of Thunder fights Dr. Who!!! I’m in.)
Oscar
Contenders
5.
Gravity (October 4) A film that
could have ended up being Sandra Bullock’s Castaway,
and but instead is an elegant and moving tribute to the possibilities of
cinema. We saw this on opening day, and Oh man, it’s a good one. Bullock, who’s
an extremely lovable movie star but perhaps not always the best actress, pulls
it out in this film and gives the star performance that will land her a second Academy
Award nomination and possible win. In space with her is George Clooney and the
voice of Ed Harris in supporting roles, which only makes this film better. Gravity is directed by Alfonso Cuaron,
and frankly that’s all I need. Cuaron, who hasn’t directed a film since 2006’s
great work, Children of Men, is a
director who always gives us visually stunning films and uses the medium in a
way that is truly unique. Cuaron came to the forefront with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban though
earlier than that he had made a name for himself with Y Tu Mama Tambien and the children’s film you either love or hate, The Little Princess. Gravity is certainly worth talking
about, as well as lining up to see again. (Jeff’s
Note: Actresses wait lifetimes for a role like this. Sandra has been around
the block a couple of times and knows not to let this moment of opportunity go to waste. She “leaves it all on the field” and I have no doubt
that she called on every ounce of her veteran screen talent to knock this one
out of the park. This could be a second wind for her, and all I can say is that
it’s well earned and well deserved.)
4.
12 Years a Slave (October 18)
Steve McQueen (director of Shame, not
the awesome actor in The Great Escape)
brings the story of Solomon Northup to the screen. Northup is a free African
American man living in the New York prior to the civil war. Chiwetel Ejiofor (Serenity, Children of Men, American
Gangster) finally gets the chance to carry a major film and if the past
holds true, we are going to get a great performance. Along with Michael
Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Sarah Paulson, and last
year’s 9-year-old Academy Award nominee Quvenzhane Wallis, McQueen look to
deliver a unique point of view on the well-tread subject. If he can pull it off,
this film screams Best Picture. Only time will tell what is in store for 12 Years a Slave. (Jeff’s
Note: All reputable sources say that this is a brilliant script, full of subtlety
and courage in the face of very difficult subject matter. All from the writer
of Undercover Brother, Red Tails, and
The Wanda Sykes Show.)
3.
The Wolf of Wall Street (November 15) based on the real-life story of
stockbroker Jordan Belfort, The Wolf of
Wall Street is the third consecutive film where we’ll see Leonardo DiCaprio
playing a wealthy man of power dealing with his personal/personnel issues.
Martin Scorsese his taking his unique cinematic eye and shinning it on the Wall
Street boom of the 90s, I’m excited to see what his examination of the decade
of decadence says about the current state of American life. The Wolf of Wall Street has the best
trailer I’ve seen all year (so far) and it looks like Scorsese and DiCaprio are
determined to win Leo his coveted (and long overdue) Best Actor Academy Award.
I’d be shocked if this film didn’t have Oscar gold poured all over it. A great
supporting cast, including Johan Hill, Kyle Chandler, Jon Favreau, Cristin
Milioti, Margot Robbie, Ethan Supplee, Jean Dujardin (Best actor winner for The Artist) and the revived Matthew
McConaughey (who if he’s half as good as he is the trailer scenes will have Best
Supporting Actor in the bag) points to The
Wolf of Wall Street not missing the mark. (Jeff’s Note: Yes! Second coolest trailer. It’s Scorsese, so the
soundtrack will rock, the visuals will be stunning, and the movie will be funny
and horrifying in equal measure. Also funny and horrifying, Leo’s face if he
gets passed over again.)
2.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (December
27) In the running for best trailer of the year, Walter Mitty looks to be something straight out of left field. Ben
Stiller is back with a vengeance and looking to prove that he is more than just
that dude from the “Focker” and Night at the Museum films. Based on short story
by James Thurber, The Secret Life of
Walter Mitty explores the life of an office worker who lives inside his
daydreams full of action, adventure, and romance that eventually starts to affect
his performance at work. The pacing, visuals and performances of this film look
breathtaking (based on the trailer) and it’s really nice to Stiller show off
the fact that he can make a really good film (his other good work includes Reality Bites, Tropic Thunder, and Zoolander). Mitty gives great parts to Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott (yes! About
time!), Patton Oswalt, Kathryn Hahn, Shirley MacLaine, and Sean Penn. I’m
hoping that the amazing trailer attached to this film hasn’t suckered me in. (Jeff’s Note: I’ll say best trailer of
the year, that is the original trailer, featuring the amazing song “Dirty Paws”
by Of Monsters and Men. Without any words, this trailer was told me everything
it needed to in order to completely sell me on this film. Stiller directs and
writes this film, the rights to which have been connected to almost every
prominent director at SOME point over the last 30 years, and it looks like he’s
attacking it with a soul that sometimes goes missing in his comedies. Stiller
is an artist and I know that come winter he’ll be recognized as one by everyone
who might usually write him off. Plus: that shot of Stiller shoving Adam Scott
through a wall and free-falling into the street? Wow.)
1.
Inside Llewyn Davis (December 6) The
next film from The Coen Brothers. Need I say more? Every Coen Brother’s film is
an event, considering that almost all of their 16 films are unique and great in
their own right. The trailer is absolutely engrossing and you already feel the
cold nature of the environment, and the angst and pain felt by the lead
character Llewyn Davis. Set in 1961 in Greenwich Village Inside Llewyn Davis follows this folk singer through a week of his
possibly tragic, yet quirky life. Working with the Coen Brothers this time
through are Oscar Isaac, Cary Mulligan, Justin Timeberlake, Garrett Hedlund and
John Goodman. To me this will be the little film that can - take the world by
storm. (Jeff’s Note: What he said.)
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