-During Oscar season it is easy to lose sight of what has happened in the world of film since December 31st. Since it is already mid February, and the fact that I saw two very good movies this past week that are 2012 entries, it got me thinking about what movies there are to look forward to in the coming year. So after doing a little research, I wanted to share some upcoming releases for 2012 that I am excited about along with my expected Top 10. It is entirely possible or even probably that some of these movies won't even make it into theaters this year, and it is a guaranteed certainty that some of them will just be bad movies. There will also be great films that will emerge that aren't on the radar right now, but it is always fun to look ahead and see what the coming year has to offer.
Must See Movies of 2012:
January:
Haywire- (Dir- Steven Soderberg: Starring- Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas, Channing Tatum, Bill Paxton and Michael Douglas) Looks a lot like the female version of the Bourne series. A female government agent is set up and betrayed, and then goes on a revenge spree to find answers. Typically movies like this that are released in January are very formulaic and cliched, but I have heard a lot of good things about this one. It also doesn't hurt that there are so many talented people involved. Trailer
Red Tails- (Dir- Anthony Hemingway: Starring- Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrance Howard and Bryan Cranston) Documents some of the history and missions of the Tuskegee airmen during WWII. A group of African American fighter pilots try to gain respect as they bravely fought for their country in a military that didn't view them as equals. The rumor is that the dogfight scenes are visually stunning, but the movie falls flat with a weak plot and plodding dialogue when the movie is on the ground. Trailer
The Grey (Already Saw)- (Dir-Joe Carnahan: Starring- Liam Neeson, Frank Grillo and Dermot Mulroney) One of the best survival movies I have ever seen. This movie is so much more than the action adventure movie the previews make it out to be. The psychology of the human will to live and the dynamic between a group of men struggling for survival is as interesting as the stark contrast between the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness and the deadly reality it presents. Neeson's performance pulls it from a good movie to a great one, and I would not be surprised if this movie sticks in my top 10 for the entirety of the year. Trailer
Other January Releases of Note- Contraband, Man on a Ledge, Underworld: Awakenings, One for the Money
February:
Safe House- (Dir-Daniel Espinosa: Starring- Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Sam Shepard, Brendon Gleeson and Vera Farmiga) After the integrity of a government safehouse is compromised the agent on duty must take the high profile detainee on a wild ride to escape the people that want them dead. I have to admit that I would see just about anything with Denzel Washington in it, but this movie does look like it could be pretty formulaic. Trailer
The Vow (Already Saw)- (Dir-Michael Sucsy: Starring- Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum, Sam Neill and Jessica Lange) Following a tragic accident that leaves Paige with brain trauma and loss of memory, her husband attempts to reconnect with her and make her fall back in love with him even though she has no memory of their life together. Based on a real life couple it was somewhat encouraging to see a chick-flick based on real love and committment as opposed to lust and emotions. A perfect date night movie that feels original and touching instead of corny and cookie-cutter. Trailer
Act of Valor- (Dir- Mouse McCoy and Scott Waugh: Starring- Active Duty Navy SEALs, Roselyn Sanchez and Alex Veadov) I am really excited to take in this movie that uses real life active duty Navy SEALs to play their parts in a Hollywood story based on real world SEAL missions. Trailer
Other February Releases of Note- Big Miracle, Chronicle, The Woman in Black, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, The Secret World of Arrietty, This Means War, Gone, Wanderlust, Good Deeds
March:
Being Flynn- (Dir- Paul Weitz: Starring- Robert DeNiro, Paul Dano, Olivia Thrilby and Julianne Moore) A struggling young writer comes face to face with his con man father who also fancies himself a writer. As they struggle to reconnect they learn a lot about each other and themselves. Trailer
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen- (Dir- Lasse Hallstrom: Starring- Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor and Kristin Scott Thomas) In order to fulfill his dream, a wealthy shiek enlist the help of his representative and a fisheries expert to create a salmon fishing farm in the middle of the Yemenese desert. Trailer
The Hunger Games (Top 10)- (Dir- Gary Ross: Starring- Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Toby Jones and Donald Sutherland) It is always a risky proposition to bring a beloved book series to the movie screen, but if there was ever a novel tailor made for film treatment it is The Hunger Games. Set in a dystopian future where a majority of population works to provide for The Capital, a young girl unwittingly starts a revolution based on her defiance in the gladiatorial Hunger Games. Trailer
Other March Releases of Note- Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, John Carter, Jeff Who Lives at Home, Casa de mi Padre, Mirror Mirror, Wrath of the Titans, The Deep Blue Sea.
April:
Lock Out- (Dir- James Mather and Stephen St. Leger: Starring- Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace) A government agent is tasked with rescuing the President's daughter from a space station prison that has been taken over by the convicts. This basically seems like a futuristic remake of Escape from New York. Trailer
The Five Year Engagement- (Dir- Nicholas Stoller: Starring- Jason Segel and Emily Blunt) A romantic comedy that has the potential to exceed the expectations of the genre. An engaged couple experience the ups and downs of relationships as they continually postpone their engagement so the bride to be can focus on her career. Trailer
The Raven- (James McTeigue: Starring- John Cusack and Brendan Gleeson) A thriller based on the life of Edgar Allen Poe, and who better to cast as Poe than John Cusack? Trailer
Other April Releases of Note- The Lucky Ones, American Reunion, The Cold Light of Day, The Three Stooges, Cabin in the Woods.
May:
The Avengers- (Dir- Josh Whedon: Starring- Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremey Renner, Mark Ruffalo and Tom Hiddleston). This summer the gang is all together. Paramount has spent the last 5 years giving us solo movies to introduce these characters and now they will all have to vie for screen time. Hopefully the movie is as good as the sum of its parts and doesn't get lost in trying to be too much. Trailer
Dark Shadows- (Dir- Tim Burton: Starring- Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jackie Earle Haley, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green and Chloe Grace Moretz). I'll always give a Burton/Depp collaboration a chance because occasionally they find gold. This one is a horror/adventure as a vampire played by Depp encounters monsters and other supernatural beings.
Battleship- (Dir- Peter Berg: Starring- Alexander Skarsgard, Brooklyn Decker, Rihanna and Liam Neeson). Loosely based on the popular board game. A naval armada is unwittingly drawn into a deadly game against an alien enemy on the high seas. Trailer
Moonrise Kingdom- (Dir-Wes Anderson: Starring- Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton and Harvey Keitel). A quick look at Wes Anderson's filmography leaves little doubt at his affinity for quirky, eccentric storylines, and this film appears no different. At its core it is a story about boy and girl who run away together while the inept adults search for them. Trailer
Other May Releases of Note- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Dictator, What to Expect When You are Expecting, Men in Black 3.
June:
Snow White and the Huntsman- (Dir- Rupert Sanders: Starring- Kirsten Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth and Toby Jones). Snow White is getting the movie treatment twice this year, and this one looks to be the far superior take. An epic version of the classic fairy tale that portrays Snow White as a warrior princess attempting to vanquish the evil witch. Trailer
Prometheus (Top 10)- (Dir- Ridley Scott: Starring- Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce and and Charlize Theron). Ridley Scott returns to his sci-fi roots to bring what many people are describing as the prequel to his masterpiece Alien. A group of space explorers set out to find the origins of life only to discover something far more sinister. The visuals alone in the film should be worth the price of admission. Trailer
Rock of Ages (Top 10)- (Dir- Adam Shankman: Starring- Tom Cruise, Mary J. Blige, Julianne Hough, Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, Russell Brand, Malin Akerman and Catherine Zeta Jones). I have to admit that I am beyond excited for this fun loving musical. Set in LA during the heyday of rocknroll as it explores the cultural and social implications of rocknroll from a variety of angles. Trailer
Brave- (Dir- Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman). 2011 was the first year in almost a decade that didn't have a critically acclaimed animated movie from the geniuses at Pixar. They are looking to get back on track in 2012 with this animated adventure which will introduce the studios first heroine. Trailer
GI Joe Retaliation- (Dir- John Chu: Starring- Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis). Despite the fact that the first GI Joe movie was largely hated by critics, I will always have a soft spot for these characters that I grew up with. Here's hoping that the second installment provides a little more depth to go along with fun. Trailer
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World- (Dir- Lorene Scarfaria: Starring- Steve Carrell, Keira Knightley and Adam Brody). As an asteroid hurtles toward Earth and mankind comes to grasp with its impending demise, a man and his neighbor set out on a road trip to connect with lost loves. Trailer
Other June Releases of Note- That's My Boy, Abraham Lincoln Vampire Slayer, Magic Mike.
July:
The Amazing Spider Man- (Dir- Marc Webb: Starring- Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifan, Martin Sheen, Denis Leary and Sally Field). Some will argue that it is way to soon for a reboot of this franchise given that Tobey Maguire portrayed Spidey just a few years ago. However, based on the talent level involved here and the promise for a darker take on the tale (Similar to Nolan's take on Batman), I for one can't wait to give it a chance. Trailer
Savages- (Dir- Oliver Stone: Starring- Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Salma Hayek, Benicio Del Torre, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Emile Hirsch and Demian Bichir). Despite the fact that Oliver Stone is a controversial figure and has a hard time keeping his politics out of his movies, occasionally he makes a great movie. This film will deal with a pair of "entrepreneur" pot growers who go to war with the Mexican drug cartels after their girlfriend is kidnapped.
The Dark Knight Rises (Top 10)- (Dir-Christopher Nolan: Starring- Christian Bale, Michale Caine, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman and Marion Cotillard). Easily the movie I am looking forward to the most this year. Nolan completely changed the way action movies are made and thought about critically. If the trailer has anything to say it appears this installment will have a lot of political undertones given the current state of the country and upcoming election. It will be hard to match the success of his first two takes on the Caped Crusader, but considering he has already said this will be his last Batman, I am guessing it will go out with a huge bang. Trailer
Other July Releases of Note- Ted, Ice Age Continental Drift, The Marriage Counselor.
August:
The Bourne Legacy- (Dir- Tony Gilroy: Starring- Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton and Joan Allen). Tony Gilroy will attempt to continue the successful action series without Matt Damon as the story shifts to a different agent played by rising superstar Jeremy Renner. Trailer
Great Hope Springs- (Dir- David Frankel: Starring- Meryl Streep, Steve Carell and Tommy Lee Jones). A married couple of 30 years decides to undergo intense marriage counseling to save their relationship.
Premium Rush- (Dir- David Koepp: Starring- Joseph Gordon Levitt and Michael Shannon). I feel like Joseph Gordon Levitt is in about a dozen movies this year. This one involves him as a bike messenger being chased by a dirty cop trying to retrieve one of his packages. Trailer
The Wettest County- (Dir- John Hillcoat: Starring- Shia LeBeouf, Tom Hardy, Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman, Mia Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain). Set in Depression era Virginia, a bootlegging gang battles the local authorities.
Other August Releases of Note- Total Recall, Dog Fight, The Odd Life of Timothy Green.
September:
Argo (Top 10)- (Dir- Ben Affleck: Starring- Ben Affleck, Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman and Taylor Schilling). Ben Affleck is back for his third directing project, and considering the success of the first two I can't wait. A look at the CIA exfiltration mission to rescue American citizens from Iran during the revolution that was disguised as a Hollywood film project.
Cogan's Trade- (Dir- Andrew Dominik: Starring- Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, Sam Rockwell, Richard Jenkins and Sam Shepard). A mob enforcer is tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding a heist of a family protected poker game.
Looper- (Dir- Rian Johnson: Starring- Joseph Gordon Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt and Paul Dano). A futuristic sci-fi movie where a mob assassin travels back in time to dispatch his targets.
Trouble with the Curve- (Dir- Robert Lorenz: Starring- Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake and John Goodman). An aging baseball scout attempts to reconnect with his daughter on one last recruiting road trip.
Other September Releases of Note- Resident Evil Retribution, Dredd, Won't Back Down.
October:
Gangster Squad (Top 10)- (Dir- Ruben Fleischer: Starring- Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Michael Pena, Giovanni Ribisi, Nick Nolte and Anthony Mackie). It doesn't get more exciting than this. Set in LA during the 1940s, the LAPD goes to war with the east coast gangster families to keep them out of the City of Angels.
Of Men and Mavericks- (Dir- Curtis Hansen: Starring- Gerard Butler). A surfer sets out to find the huge waves of Northern California known as mavericks.
Atlast Shrugged Pt 2- (Dir-Unknown: Starring- Unknown). This is the second part of three of the popular Ayn Rand novel. The first part was a little seen film from last year that I really enjoyed especially with how small a budget it had given it didn't have a studio backing it. The grass roots popularity of the first one led to the interest of some studios and reports are the next two will have much larger budgets and marketing campaigns.
Other October Releases of Note- Butter, The Big Wedding, Alex Cross, Cloud Atlas
November:
Red Dawn- (Dir- Dan Bradley: Starring- Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Josh Hutcherson and Jeffrey Dean Morgan). A remake of the 1980s classic about a group of young friends who band together to fight off the North Koreans (Not the Russians this time around) who have invaded the USA.
Skyfall- (Dir- Sam Mendes: Starring- Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Javier Bardem and Albert Finney). Bond, James Bond is back.
Gravity- (Dir- Alfonso Cuaron: Starring- Sandra Bullock and George Clooney). Cuaron is known for his artistic mastery of cinematography and set design and this movie looks like it could be a great canvas for him to play on. A space mission to repair the Hubble telescope goes wrong and the lone survivor attempts to make it back home.
The Silver Linings Playbook- (Dir- David O. Russell: Starring- Bradley Cooper, Julia Stiles and Robert DeNiro). Upon his recent release from a mental institution, an ex-teacher attempts to reconnect with his past.
Other November Releases of Note- Three Mississippi, My Mother's Curse, The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Pt. 2, Rise of the Guardians, Ronin 47, Parental Guidance.
December:
Lincoln (Top 10)- (Dir- Steven Spielberg: Starring- Daniel Day Lewis, Sally Field, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Jackie Earl Haley and John Hawkes) The greatest American President is brought to life by the greatest American film director. This movie is easily the frontrunner for Best Picture of 2012 on paper, hopefully it lives up to the potential
Les Miserables- (Dir- Tom Hooper: Starring- Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter) Fresh off his Best Director for A King's Speech, Hopper will next try to bring the classic stage play to the big screen. Given the who's who list of actors this could be a major player come awards time.
The Hobbit an Unexpected Journey (Top 10)- (Dir- Peter Jackson: Starring- Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Cate Blanchett and Andy Serkis) 9 years after the release of Lord of the Rings, the much anticipated return of Peter Jackson to middle earth is here. Split into two movies, the first half of The Hobbit will reunite Jackson with some of his former cast to bring the prequel of The Lord of the Rings to the big screen. Trailer
Killing Osama Bin Laden- (Dir- Kathryn Bigelow: Starring- Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgarton, Christ Pratt and Mark Strong). Kathryn Bigelow jumps back into the War on Terror after she struck gold with The Hurt Locker. This time she is examining the hunt for Bin Laden and the mission that led to his death.
This is Forty- (Dir- Judd Apatow: Starring- Leslie Mann, Paul Rudd, Albert Brooks, Jason Segel, Megan Fox and Melissa McCarthy). A spin off of his best film (In my opinion) Knocked Up, Apatow returns to the lives of Pete and Debbie a few years after the events of the last movie as they try to raise a family and cope with getting older.
World War Z- (Dir- Marc Forster: Starring- Brad Pitt, David Morse and Matthew Fox). Based on the best selling novel, a UN representative travels the globe trying to stop a zombie pandemic.
Django Unchained (Top 10)- (Dir- Quentin Tarantino: Starring- Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Samuel L. Jackson, Sacha Baron Cohen, Christopher Waltz, Kurt Russell, Jamie Foxx and Kerry Washington). After diving into a Jewish group of soldiers fighting Nazi's in WWII, Tarantino will next take on the topic of slavery in the deep south. A slave turned bounty hunter attempts to rescue his wife from a Mississippi plantation owner. Its a Tarantino movie so expect graphic violence and political incorrectness... Can't wait.
The Great Gatsby (Top 10)- (Dir- Baz Luhrmann: Starring- Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgarton, Isla Fisher and Tobey Maguire). The F. Scott Fitzgerald classic about the aristocratic lifestyle of New York wealthy during the roaring 20's. Look for this one to cash in on the Oscar nominations next year.
Other December Releases of Note- Hunter Killer, Life of Pi, Playing the Field
Enjoy your year at the movies!
