My approach to these movie previews seems to change about every season along with my anticipation for certain Oscar bait and my ultimate exhaustion with the summer. But I did manage to scrape together another 43 movies that are likely worth my time and yours, that is until I actually see them and change my mind.
Top 10 Movies I’m Excited For
The Master – September 14
“The Master” seems to carry a greater level of mystique than any movie slated to arrive this fall. Paul Thomas Anderson’s follow-up to “There Will Be Blood” has already covertly premiered around the country in 70mm (a format I’ll sadly probably never see it in), and although it’s clear the movie is about a PTSD Navy soldier meeting and inspiring an L. Ron Hubbard type, does anyone really know what it’s about or how it feels yet? The movie looks damned gorgeous, Joaquin Phoenix looks brilliant, and as perfect as “TWBB” is, PTA needed Phillip Seymour Hoffman back in his life.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower – September 21
The Millennial Generation needs a great teen movie that can be on par with something like “The Breakfast Club.” What better than the cult-teen novel “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” actually written and directed by the author himself? Emma Watson’s British and my age, but I don’t see any reason why I wouldn’t adore her as a 16-year-old American. And it’ll be interesting to see “We Need to Talk About Kevin’s” Ezra Miller tackle a role that isn’t so… twisted, for lack of a better word.
Argo – October 12
Ben Affleck is quickly turning into a significant American director with how much award pedigree he’s earned with just two films. “Argo” could be his best yet. First reports from Telluride said that Affleck’s real life spy thriller about movie making is terrifically rousing and has big appeal.
Skyfall – November 9
Sometimes a Bond movie is only as good as its villain, and “Skyfall” has two great ones in Ralph Fiennes and Javier Bardem. Sam Mendes directing always sounded like something of a stretch to me, and the writer, John Logan (“Hugo,” Rango,” “Sweeney Todd,” “The Aviator,” “Gladiator”), is too. But hopefully it can’t be more forgettable than “Quantum of Solace.”
Lincoln – November 9
Oh, you really think other movies will win Oscars this year? That’s cute. “Lincoln” has a grand total of two screenshots made public so far, and Daniel Day-Lewis’s chances couldn’t go up if he dropped dead tomorrow. The remainder of Steven Spielberg’s cast to be outshined by Day-Lewis includes fellow hyphenated actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Jackie Earle Haley, James Spader, David Strathairn, Sally Field, John Hawks, Michael Stuhlbarg… the list goes on and on. He’s casting the entire friggin’ Civil War here.
Rust & Bone – November 16
Marion Cotillard could be sexy and beautiful even if she was a paraplegic killer whale trainer, which she is in “Rust & Bone.” This movie by Jacques Audiard (“A Prophet”) was the runner up at this year’s Cannes, and although it’s a French art film, it should have big, romantic, steamy appeal for wide audiences.
Les Miserables – December 14
“Les Miserables” remains the best musical I’ve seen onstage, and it’s a shame there really hasn’t been a properly decent adaptation of it. Tom Hooper’s (“The King’s Speech”) sweeping vista cinematography and intricate set dressing should fit the theatrical bill perfectly. And I’m aware that Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe can all sing, but I’d love to finally see them do it.
Zero Dark Thirty – December 19
“The Hurt Locker” team couldn’t have picked a better subject to serve as a follow-up than the hunt for Osama Bin Laden. There’s some appropriate mystery surrounding this film as well, but the film is supposed to be fairly non-partisan. “Zero Dark Thirty” was made for only $30 million, so it could be yet another stirringly made war indie worthy of an Oscar.
Amour – December 21
Michael Haneke is currently at the top of his game. “Amour” won this year’s Palme D’Or, as did his previous film “The White Ribbon,” so this film is hotly anticipated for the art house crowd. It’s the story of two elderly music teachers, one of whom suffers a stroke and struggles to recognize her partner. Its two stars, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva, have long histories in the French New Wave.
Django Unchained – December 25
The D is silent. It’s about damned time Quentin Tarantino made a Western. He’s been making movies that felt like them for so long, and now he’s made a movie that’s appropriately revenge-bent and seemingly awesome. Leonardo DiCaprio should work with just about every great director living today, but I’m glad he took time out of his work with Marty to play a racist Southern plantation owner. And God knows Christoph Waltz has been one of my favorite newcomers since “Inglorious Basterds.” This’ll make my Christmas Day.
Could be really great
Trouble with the Curve – September 28
Not only is “Trouble with the Curve” the anti “Moneyball,” its also a Clint Eastwood movie in everything but name. Director Robert Lorenz has been assistant directing and producing nearly all of Eastwood’s films for years, so it should have a lot of the maudlin, Clint charm.
The Paperboy – October 5
Lee Daniels’s follow-up to “Precious” is a thriller about a journalist investigating a man on death row. It’s also yet another art film on the resume of a Matthew McConaughey returning to form and Zac Efron making a mark as a serious actor.
Seven Psychopaths – October 12
Martin McDonagh’s “In Bruges” was such a fun, sleeper hit, and his latest film looks just as ridiculous even if it isn’t as Irish or doesn’t have a difficult to pronounce title. It’s about a team of conmen who kidnap dogs and then return them for the reward money. So, good stuff.
Killing Them Softly – October 19
For as much as I love Brad Pitt’s recent choices as an actor, it’ll be good to see him in a badass, gangster/thug genre role, reteaming with his “The Assassination of Jesse James” director Andrew Dominik. The film also stars James Gandolfini, Richard Jenkins and Ray Liotta.
Cloud Atlas – October 26
“Cloud Atlas” is the latest entry in the category of “unfilmable novel” adaptations. Tom Tykwer and the Wachowski brothers are teaming up to tackle this sprawling story that is part 19th Century adventure and part futuristic sci-fi. The film is nearly three hours long (even the trailer couldn’t be cut down to shorter than five minutes) and has an enormous cast including Tom Hanks and Halle Berry, to name a few. Truth be told, the Wachowskis haven’t done anything good since the original “Matrix,” and Tykwer hasn’t either since “Run Lola Run,” so we’ll see.
The Sessions – October 26
The story of “The Sessions” has icky disaster written all over it. John Hawkes plays a paralyzed man from the neck down who hires a sex therapist played by Helen Hunt. The trailers make it look sweeter and quirkier than it likely is, and this movie is all about the performances anyway.
Wreck-It Ralph – November 2
I’m really intrigued by the concept of “Wreck-It Ralph.” Part “Toy Story,” “Tron,” “Monsters Inc.” and something that’s killing me that I can’t remember, it’s the story of a Donkey Kong-esque video game villain who grows tired of playing the same old role. Hollywood needs a movie that really has a good understanding of what a video game actually looks and feels like, and this may just be the one.
Flight – November 2
What? Robert Zemeckis is directing actual people again? “Flight” tells how a pilot played by Denzel Washington safely crash landed a plane and became an American hero overnight. The Oscar potential may not be there, but it looks like a stirring thriller and character drama.
This Must Be the Place – November 2
Someone please pat the makeup person on the back who transformed Sean Penn into this Robert Smith lookalike. “This Must Be the Place,” named for a Talking Heads song and featuring a soundtrack full of other David Byrne songs, is the comedic story of how this aging rock star hunts down a Nazi criminal who tortured his father in a concentration camp.
Anna Karenina – November 16
Known for his sprawling women’s costume dramas based on classic novels, “Pride and Prejudice” and “Atonement,” Joe Wright is now tackling yet another sprawling costume drama based on a classic novel, “Anna Karenina,” again starring Keira Knightley.
Life of Pi – November 23
Ang Lee spent months perfecting the special effects in “Life of Pi,” and boy if that tiger doesn’t look terrific. “Life of Pi” is also based on a beloved novel and tells the story of an Indian boy who is stranded on the Pacific after a shipwreck. This could be a big blockbuster hit and big Oscar bait in the technical department.
Silver Linings Playbook – November 23
David O. Russell’s latest dramedy is about two people (Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence) who connect after each suffering nervous breakdowns. This should be a good actors’ movie, because Bradley Cooper needs more serious roles if he wants to prove he’s a movie star, Jennifer Lawrence needs more comedic roles if she wants to prove she’s a bankable movie star, and Robert De Niro needs more good roles if he wants to prove he should still be a movie star.
Hyde Park on Hudson – December 7
Bill Murray as FDR? Sounds great. Why isn’t he getting the Oscar buzz Daniel Day-Lewis is getting? Roger Michell (“Morning Glory,” “Notting Hill”) isn’t my favorite director, but this looks sweet.
This is 40 – December 21
It’s about time Judd Apatow stopped being a producer and started being a director again. “The 40 Year Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up” showed such promise, so I’m admittedly excited that “This is 40” is somewhat of a “Knocked Up” spin-off. Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann should make an interesting screen couple too.
The Impossible – December 21
From the Spanish director of “The Orphanage” comes this disaster movie about a tsunami in Southeast Asia in 2004. It stars Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts as a married couple separated by the flooding, and thanks to an acoustic version of U2’s “One” in the trailer, it looks mighty powerful.
Could surprise
The Words – September 7
Inspired by the story of Ernest Hemingway’s lost manuscripts, “The Words” is the first big drama gunning for an Oscar that won’t get any.
Looper – September 28
In “Looper,” mob targets are sent back in time to be killed and disposed of. Don’t ask me why that makes sense or how that’s cost effective. It’s got Joseph Gordon-Levitt teaming up with one of his early directors, Rian Johnson, when they first worked together on “Brick,” a film I don’t much care for.
Won’t Back Down – September 28
“Won’t Back Down” may find a big audience given that education in America is yet another important topic of this election and that Viola Davis is also becoming a star.
Taken 2 – October 5
If there were any Liam Neeson movie to be built into a nonsense franchise, I’m glad its this, a movie whose title dialogue has so wonderfully entered the popular culture that movie critic punch lines just write themselves.
Frankenweenie – October 5
Who says Tim Burton can’t come up with an original story anymore? See, “Frankenweenie” is this cute story about a boy who revives his dog and… wait, it’s a remake of his own amateur short film? It is pretty ambitious to have an animated film for kids in black and white, and the Claymation looks wonderfully schlocky.
Pitch Perfect – October 5
It’s “Glee,” but with attitude! What’s not to love? Obviously a lot, except Anna Kendrick of course. She’s adorable.
The Oranges – October 5
The producer of HBO shows “Entourage” and “How to Make it In America” takes his stab at feature films with this comedy about two families fighting over an affair with one family’s estranged daughter. It stars indie comedy royalty Catherine Keener, Oliver Platt, Allison Janney and Alia Shawkat along with Leighton Meester and Hugh Laurie.
Butter – October 5
“Butter!” Midwestern WASPs make enormous sculptures out of butter and take things way too seriously. I’m not sure what else I can add to that.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – December 14
I should be more excited for this movie than I am, but pick your reason for why I’m most ambivalent. The 48 fps kerfuffle, the fact that this movie lost the arguably more worthy director of Guillermo Del Toro, that “The Hobbit” is now so blindly faithful to the novel that it is in three movies, that “The Lovely Bones” was such a dreck-filled nightmare that I’m not at all anticipating what Peter Jackson does next, or that this movie looks so much like a retread of the original “Lord of the Rings” trilogy that I don’t know why I don’t just watch those instead?
Not Yet at a Theater Near You
These are movies that either do not yet have an American distributor, or in the case of the last four films, have just recently been released at the end of the summer, but will likely be months before they get a wider release.
To the Wonder
This is Terrence Malick’s new film, so it most certainly would be one of my most anticipated movies of the year. Because it came out in such quick succession in terms of Malick’s previous work, it’s a companion piece to “The Tree of Life” and even uses some footage that was shot for it, but it’s set in modern day and is a simple romantic drama about a man (Ben Affleck) who brings a woman he met in Paris (Olga Kurylenko) to live in Oklahoma. An early review from Venice describes it as a poetic film about time, but one that feels like waters Malick has treaded in before.
A Place Beyond the Pines
“A Place Beyond the Pines” is “Blue Valentine” meets “Drive,” because it pairs Ryan Gosling with Derek Cianfrance yet again but also casts him as a motorcycle stunt driver in a crime thriller.
Thanks for Sharing
Stuart Blumberg, half of the writing team behind “The Kids Are All Right” (also behind “The Girl Next Door,” but never mind), is now directing his first feature in a comedy about people working to overcome sex addiction. The film stars Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim Robbins, two of whom are beautiful people who should have no trouble with sex addiction, but never mind again.
Byzantium
Neil Jordan’s latest finds him dipping his toes in Gothic horror. “Byzantium” is a story about two 200-year-old vampire sisters spending time in a deserted guesthouse.
Imogene
Kristen Wiig has stepped back from the “Bridesmaids” limelight with this indie comedy about a woman who tries to fake her death to win back her ex-boyfriend.
Side by Side
If there was a movie for movie buffs coming out this year, it would be this one. “Side by Side” is a documentary about the war between film and digital cinematography, as argued by some of the most important directors working in each medium today.
Sleepwalk with Me
“Sleepwalk with Me” was a “sleeper” hit at Sundance this year, and it’s the first film by a favorite comedian of mine, Mike Birbiglia. It’s his personal story about struggling as a comic with a bad case of sleepwalking, a comedy that concerns dreams and success and could be the start of a long career for Birbibliography.
Oslo, August 31
This Norwegian art film about a drug addict trying to return to society has earned some absolutely rave reviews. It’s slow and steady but a film of deep understanding. Apparently, Netflix will have it on DVD September 18.
The Imposter
This sounds like an absolutely bananas documentary. It tells how a young Frenchman fooled a Texas family into believing he was their son who had gone missing years earlier.
I think some vampire movie is also coming out eventually too. I’ve heard it’s kind of popular, but I’m not really up on what the kids are into.