Romance and Rom-Coms:
Plot
Summary: Melanie Stryder is one of the last remaining humans after
parasitic aliens have taken command of the Earth. She meets Jared Howe (another
human) and they form an intense romantic bond. However, Melanie is captured by
the aliens (sacrificing herself to save Jared). But, unlike other human hosts,
she forms a bond with the parasite and rebels against the aliens to help the
humans (as her love for Jared is too strong). Filmmakers:
Writer-director Andrew Niccol has a strong background in sci-fi, having
made the 1990s genre classic Gattaca.
However, his last film (also within the sci-fi genre) was the very
disappointing In Time. He is
working with composer Antonio
Pinto (who also scored Lord
of War for Niccol), cinematographer Roberto Schaefer (who mostly
works with Marc
Forster), and production designer Andy Nicholson (this is his
first film as production designer, but he has a strong background in art design
– and is doing the production designer for this year’s Gravity). Cast: Saoirse
Ronan stars, with Diane
Kruger, Max Irons, Jake Abel, William Hurt, Bokeem Woodbine, Boyd Holbrook, and Frances Fisher in support. Expectations: The Host is yet other potential
franchise starter targeted at young women to replace Twilight – and this one also
happens to be based on a new novel series by Stephenie Meyers. Based on what
I have seen, it looks much better than Twilight and Saoirse Ronan is a
fantastic young actress (see: Atonement
or Hanna).
Plus, Diane Kruger should make for a good villain. While I will probably not
see this in theatres, I do look forward to renting it. The romance aspects will
likely be overly dramatic (as that is the trend for things aimed at young
women), but Niccol will hopefully bring the right mix of action and sci-fi
tonal elements to the project as well. Trailer:
Here.
Serious Films:
Plot
Summary: Beatrice is assaulted in her home by a local New York City
crime boss. She blackmails Victor, a contract killer, to find and kill the man
who assaulted her, so that she can have her revenge. The twist is, Victor works
for the man he is hired to kill. Filmmakers:
Swedish director Niels Arden Oplev makes his Hollywood debut with this film
after the breakout success of The
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. He is working again with composer Jacob Groth and production
designer Niels Sejer. New to
the team is cinematographer Paul
Cameron (Total
Recall). Cast: Also reuniting with Oplev
is star Noomi Rapace. Colin Farrell also stars, while Terrence Howard, Dominic Cooper, Isabelle Huppert, and F. Murray Abraham (who is making
a comeback with this, Homeland,
Inside Llewyn Davis, and The Grand Budapest Hotel)
feature in support. Expectations: Dead Man
Down looks like a very entertaining crime thriller, which great action beats.
Many filmgoers prefer Oplev’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to David
Fincher’s American remake
(though, I am not one of them), and thus this should give many fans their first
taste of Oplev’s talent with a bigger budget. Many filmmakers do not make the
transition to Hollywood very well putting out disappoint work, but this does
look potentially quite good. Trailer: Here.
Plot
Summary: Four college girls want to have a great Spring Break, but they
have no money. They decide to rob a restaurant, and are subsequently caught. A
local drug dealer, arms dealer, and aspiring rapper Alien bails them out with
big plans for them. Filmmakers:
Writer-director Harmony Korine has made a few indie films (probably best known
among them is Gummo), but
this is his first film to see a wide theatrical release. He is working with
maverick producer Megan Ellison
(who funded many of the best films of 2012), composers Cliff Martinez (Drive)
and Skrillex, cinematographer
Benoit Debie (The Runaways), and production
designer Elliot Hostetter (A Glimpse Inside the Mind of
Charles Swan III). Cast: The film stars James
Franco, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, Vansessa Hudgens, and Rachel Korine. Heather Morris and Gucci Mane feature in support. Expectations: Spring Breakers has played to mostly
positive reviews and buzz during its 2012 festival tour. Personally I am of two
minds about it. On one hand, it looks like an entertaining look at the dark
side of back-alley contemporary culture, and I appreciate directors that have a
unique style. But, on the other hand, it also looks like nothing more than an
exercise in depravity, fueled by sort of a stereotyped idea of what
contemporary party culture is and how young people tend to be drawn to it. It
also looks highly stylized (in a music video-like way), which can often be to a
film’s grave disadvantage in the hands of lesser filmmakers. I have a feeling
that young people (which are probably its targeted audience) will generally
like the film, while older filmgoers will not be as enthralled by the style and
plot. Trailer: Here.
Action/Adventure:
Plot
Summary: The live-action telling of the classic tale with a twist – a
young farmhand named Jack with magic beans discovers a kingdom in the clouds
inhabited by giants. Only, this version is juiced up with big action set pieces.
Filmmakers: This is director Bryan Singer’s
first film since his disappointing Superman Returns and Valkyrie (and honestly, I think
his best films X2 and The Usual Suspects are both
vastly overrated). He is working with his frequent collaborators writer Christopher McQuarrie,
composer John Ottman, and
cinematographer Newton Thomas
Sigel. New to the team is production designer Gavin Bocquet (Stardust). Cast: The cast is fairly impressive with star Nicholas Hoult and a supporting
group featuring Eleanor Tomlinson,
Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Eddie Marsan, Ewen Bremner, Ian McShane, Warwick Davis, and Bill Nighy. Expectations: Jack the Giant Slayer does look like
an entertaining adventure fantasy film, but really it is hard to get my
anticipation up too much because I do not fully trust Bryan Singer. For me, he
has never made a great film. I do like the cast a lot though (Hoult from Skins,
McShane from Deadwood
and Kings,
Nighy from Dead
Man’s Chest , Davis from Life’s Too Short and Deathly
Hallows Part 2, and McGregor and Bremner from Trainspotting).
That said, I will probably still see this in theatres, because big movies
should be seen on big screens. Trailer: Here. Review: Here.
Plot
Summary: A carnival magician named Oz sets off for an adventure that
takes an unexpected turn when he is transported by a tornado to a fantasy land
where he is thought to be the inhabitants’ savior from an evil witch. He must
use his wits and skills as a magician to stay alive. Filmmakers:
Director Sam Raimi has a mixed bag of a career to date. Spider-Man
2 is an incredibly well made masterpiece (and in my opinion the best comic
book film still). The Evil Dead
Trilogy is a cult classic (and a lot of fun). A Simple Plan is an overlooked
gem. But, he also has his fair share of forgettable films. With Oz the Great
and Powerful, he is making his first film truly aimed at a young audience (or
at least that is the impression I get from the trailer). He is working with
frequent collaborators composer Danny
Elfman and cinematographer Peter
Deming. Production designer Robert
Stromberg joins the team via Disney to give it that Alice in Wonderland look (which
is unfortunate). Cast: Raimi is also
reteaming with his Spider-Man
star (well Harry Osborn star) James
Franco, who is in the lead. The supporting cast features Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Abigail Spencer, Michelle Williams, and Zach Braff. Bruce Campbell probably shows up
for a cameo too (along with the 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 and Three Stooges
references). Expectations: I love Raimi’s
best work. He has such a unique style and great understanding of storytelling –
he just sometimes lets his pension for silliness to get out of hand. Oz the
Great and Powerful both looks good and terrible to me. The Tim Burton Alice in
Wonderland was awful, and a perfect example of visuals and style over substance
to a reckless degree. Oz the Great and Powerful’s trailer looks and feels just
like Alice in Wonderland, as if Disney wanted to just do the same thing again
for a new 3D release – and that worries me. But, the character interactions are
decent in the trailer, and Raimi has enough goodwill built up to get the
benefit of the doubt. Trailer: Here.
Plot
Summary: Mike Banning was one of the best secret service agents
protecting the President, but after a tragic accident he has since been
disgraced. However, on one fateful day, he might be the President’s only hope
after terrorists attack the White House. Trapped inside, Banning uses his
skills and knowledge to try and save the President. Filmmakers:
It has been awhile since director Antoine Fuqua made a name for himself with Training Day, as he has since
had a disappointing series of films (though, most are entertaining, just not at
the same level – though, I did enjoy King Arthur). Olympus Has
Fallen does not really look like a step in the right direction, as much as
merely more of the same from Fuqua. He is working with composer Trevor Morris (The
Tudors), cinematographer Conrad
W. Hall (Panic Room),
and production designer Derek
Hill (Hatfields & McCoys).
Cast: The film stars Gerard Butler (who is also
producing), and features Aaron
Eckhart, Dylan McDermott,
Rick Yune, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Melissa Leo, Radha Mitchell, Robert Forster, and Ashley Judd in support. Expectations: Well, at least Olympus Has Fallen
(also known as Die Hard
in the White House) has Gerard Butler in action hero mode and not romantic
comedy mode – though, at this stage, is Gerard Butler in any mode a good thing?
300 might be the last thing
anyone actually liked him in and that was 2006 (he was decent in Coriolanus
too). The supporting cast is a mixed bag as well. Basically, if you like Die
Hard-esque movies then this is probably worth checking out, if not then it
probably safe to assume this is just another throwaway action film
(entertaining, sure, but nothing special). Also, as everything in Hollywood
comes in twos, you can see White
House Down in June too and compare. Trailer:
Here.
Summary:
Cobra gets the drop on the Joes right off the bat, infiltrating the highest
levels of government and declaring the Joes enemies of the State. Most are
killed in the initial attack, leaving a few to band together and fight back. Filmmakers: Director Jon Chu does not initially seem
like a great fit for the action franchise with a filmography that reads Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3D and Justin Bieber: Never Say Never,
but then remember that G.I. Joe:
The Rise of Cobra was terrible, so what does it matter? Chu is not going to
make it worse. He is working with a good action oriented group with composer Henry Jackman (X-Men:
First Class), cinematographer Stephen
Windon (Fast
Five), and production designer Andrew
Menzies (Knight and Day).
Cast: The film features Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis, Adrianne Palicki, Dwayne Johnson, Ray Stevenson, Ray Park, Walton Goggins, Joseph Mazzello, Byung-hun Lee, Arnold Vosloo, Jonathan Pryce, and RZA – among others. Expectations: I was a huge G.I. Joe fan as a kid.
I loved the TV series,
the movie, and the 3 and ¾
inch action figures. Thus, when The Rise of Cobra came out in 2009, I had
somewhat of a nostalgic anticipation. That film was bad. Now I know better
(well I did then too, but I still rented it). Retaliation looks like a big fun
dumb action movie. It was delayed from last June to March reportedly to add 3D,
but there have also been rumors that with Channing Tatum’s apparent rise in
popularity Paramount wanted more of Tatum in the film and thus reshot some of
the scenes (though this has been denied by Chu). In any case, if you want
something mindless and superficial, but with stuff that blows up, then this is
for you. The rest of us will just rent it (or at least think about renting it).
Trailer: Here.
Comedy:
Plot
Summary: The night before his important medical school exam and the next
step to his bright future, a promising student is taken on a rambunctious night
by his two best friends to celebrate his 21st birthday. Filmmakers: The writers of The Hangover series, Jon Lucas
and Scott Moore, make their directorial debut with this film. They are working
with composer Lyle Workman (Get
Him to the Greek), cinematographer Terry Stacey (50/50),
and production designer Jerry
Fleming (Crank). Cast: The film features mostly unknown (or lesser
known) actors – like Miles Teller,
Skylar Astin, Justin Chon, and Sarah Wright. Expectations: 21 and Over looks like a cross
between The Hangover and Project
X – which is not a bad thing as both those films are very funny. However,
it also walks the fine line between exaggerated fun for comedic effect that
works and mindless stupidity that makes the viewer feel like they wasted their
time. The odd are not on its side. That said, for fans of crazy party comedies,
this is probably worth renting and maybe seeing in theatres. Trailer: Here.
Plot
Summary: Magician Burt Wonderstone is having a hard time. He needs to
remember what made him love magic as a child. He splits with his longtime
partner Anton Marvelton and begins spending time with his boyhood idol Rance
Holloway in hopes of recapturing his magic. Also, he must figure out how to one
up his rival, a guerrilla street magician named Steve Gray. Filmmakers: Director Don Scardino has spent a lot
of time directing episodes of television. His most recent notable work has been
on 30 Rock, where he
directed about one fourth of the series. He is working with composer Lyle Workman (Win Win), cinematographer Matthew Clark (worked on 30 Rock
as well), and production designer Keith
Cunningham (The First Time).
Cast: The film stars Steve Carell and co-stars Steve Buscemi and Jim Carrey. Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin, Gillian Jacobs, James Gandolfini, Brad Garrett, and Jay Mohr feature in support. Expectations: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone does
have a great comedic cast with Carell, Buscemi, Carrey, and Arkin (and Jacobs
is fantastic on Community),
and it is the second script from the writing team of Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley who wrote Horrible
Bosses which was funny. But, it looks like a typical ‘safe’ Hollywood
comedy, full of watered-down recycled jokes and cheap laughs. Maybe I am wrong,
but I think this is a rental at best. Trailer:
Here.
Plot
Summary: Portia Nathan is a Princeton admissions officer. She likes her
job and is good at it, but something is missing in her life. However,
everything changes when she is introduced to an aspiring Princeton student who
might also be her son (who she gave up for adoption as a young mother). Filmmakers: Director Paul Weitz made some good
films with his brother Chris early in his
career – particularly About a
Boy – but has since made a string of disappointing movies on his own (and
Chris has not done any better). Maybe this is the film in which he turns things
around? He is working with composer Stephen Trask (who Weitz worked
with on In Good Company),
cinematographer Declan Quinn
(who Weitz worked with on Being
Flynn), and production designer Sarah Knowles (also worked on
Being Flynn). Cast: It stars Tina Fey and co-stars Paul
Rudd. Michael Sheen, Wallace Shawn, Lily Tomlin, and Gloria Reuben feature in
support. Expectations: I like Tina Fey and
Paul Rudd a lot, but Admission does not look all that funny or good. However,
it was picked up by Focus Features, which does have a decent track record on
average (more so in drama – but still). I hope the trailer is just weak and the
film is both better and funnier than it is made out to be, otherwise this will
just be other in the line of forgettable films from Weitz. I think it is safe
to call this a rental. Trailer: Here.
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