Prestige Films:
Release: October 3
Genre: Drama/Mystery/Thriller
Plot:
Amy Dunne mysteriously disappears on her wedding anniversary. Her
husband Nick desperately looks for her, but many suspect that he may have
killed her and disposed of the body, as their marriage had noticeably
disintegrated in recent months leading up to Amy’s disappearance.
Editor’s
Thoughts: Who is not eagerly anticipating a new mystery-thriller from
David Fincher, one of America’s great current auteurs. His past
mystery-thrillers include Se7en, The Game, Fight Club
(I suppose that counts, right), Zodiac, and
his most recent film The
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Gone Girl very well could end up being one of
the ten best films of 2014. Plus, it will be nice to see Rosamund Pike finally
in a great Hollywood part.
Trailer: Here (if
available)
Release: Fall/Winter
Genre: Drama
Plot:
Mark Schultz and his brother Dave are both phenomenal wrestlers: Mark
competing in the Olympics and Dave a former Olympic Champion. But, this is the
story of how paranoid schizophrenic John DuPont completely destroys their lives
by killing Dave.
Editor’s
Thoughts: Foxcatcher seems like it should be a fantastic
character-driven drama, built on strong leading performances. And, Bennett
Miller is among Hollywood greatest new talents. This is his third feature,
following up Capote
and Moneyball.
The question is, however, why was this film delayed from its original 2013
release? Sony Pictures stated that the delay is to give Miller more time to
finish the film, but some wonder if it is just not up to the high standards of
the top films of 2013 (a reason many former ‘awards’ films were pushed to
2014). I think that in all likeliness this will be a brilliant drama and was
not pushed for quality reasons (after all, it did make this list).
Trailer: Here (if
available)
Release: Fall/Winter
Genre: Drama
Plot:
1970s Los Angeles, Larry “Doc” Sportello, a drug-dependent detective,
investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend.
Main Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Reese Witherspoon,
Jena Malone, Benicio Del Toro,
and Owen Wilson
Editor’s
Thoughts: Paul Thomas Anderson has been on a role lately – his last two
films being There
Will Be Blood and The
Master, both multiple Oscar nominees and among the ten best films in their
respective years (and really, he has only made good films so far). Inherent
Vice sees Anderson reteaming with Joaquin Phoenix (who has also been among
Hollywood’s best leading men lately performance wise), leaving me excited to
see another wonderful collaboration between the two artistes. Another great collaboration on the film sees Jonny Greenwood
again returning to provide the score. His work on There Will Be Blood and The
Master is utterly dynamic; thusly, I am very interested to see what he does
with this noirish narrative.
Trailer: Here (if
available)
Release: Fall/Winter
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Plot:
Set in an unnamed Central/South American Third World country, three kids
make a shocking discovery in a garbage dump. Finding something they should not
have, they soon find themselves on the run from the cops and corrupt
authorities.
Editor’s
Thoughts: Trash sounds a little like Slumdog Millionaire
– at least the parts involving the young kids running around the streets trying
to survive in a world gone mad. Stephen Daldry is a very good director (three
of his four films have been nominated for Best Picture, and three of the four
are quite good – Extremely Loud
& Incredibly Close was nominated for Best Picture but is not very good
– my favorite of Daldry’s work is The Hours)
and he is working with great screenwriter Richard Curtis. I
also think the cast in support of the three young unknown actors playing the
boys is excellent (Rooney Mara has really established herself as one of the
very best young actresses and some will know Brazilian actor Wagner Moura from Elite Squad).
This is probably under the radar on most ‘anticipated films’ lists for 2014,
but I think it has a lot of potential to be in the mix for Best Picture.
Trailer: Here (if
available)
Title: One of Terrence
Malick’s Many in production films
Release: Unknown
Genre: Drama
Plot:
Terrence Malick has three films that could potentially see release in
2014. The first is Knight of Cups.
It is about a man dealing being a celebrity, the temptations and excesses. The
second is Untitled
and is about two love triangles that intersect against the backdrop of Austin’s
music scene. Last is Voyage of Time.
It is an examination of the birth and death of the known universe (picking up
where The
Tree of Life left off?).
Main Cast: Christian
Bale, Natalie
Portman, Cate
Blanchett, Rooney
Mara, Brad
Pitt, and Ryan
Gosling
Editor’s
Thoughts: Anytime we are treated to a new Terrence Malick film it is a
great day for cinema. In 2013, Malick released To the Wonder,
what is probably his weakest film, but that said it still plays as an
aesthetically beautiful piece that deeply ponders love. I do not know for sure
that any of these three films will get released in 2014, but I really hope one
does. The sheer star power and acting talent involved is staggering. Plus, I
really like Malick’s approach to filmmaking, as his films play much more like
visual poems than cookie-cutter narratives (that have been done to death even
when appearing new).
Trailer: Here (if
available)
Fun Films:
Release: March 7
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Plot:
Told through a series of flashbacks, the film is about the adventures of
Gustave H, the legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the world
wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.
Main Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Saoirse Ronan, and
Bill
Murray (among many others)
Editor’s
Thoughts: The Great Budapest Hotel looks like Wes Anderson’s most
aesthetically magnificent film yet. It is no secret for those who read this blog
a lot that Anderson is among my favorite filmmakers, and thus this is maybe the
film I am most looking forward to in 2014 (well this and Interstellar).
While Anderson’s fans know that his films have always been fantastic, the
general public seemed to forget, only catching back on with Moonrise
Kingdom (his most successful film to date at the box office). That said,
however, The Grand Budapest Hotel looks very steeped in the traditions of film
history and very much influenced by the films of the 1930s (European filmmakers
like Ernst Lubitsch)
with each time period being reflected by its appropriate aspect ratio (with
some scenes shot in 1.37:1 which looks very odd now to modern filmgoers who are
accustomed to widescreen), as well as the writing of Stefan Zweig. It is a film
that will likely not play as well or go over the heads of many not well-versed
in film history (especially in film’s golden era). I, myself, cannot wait to
see it. It looks completely brilliant, and what a great cast. The film just
debuted at the Berlin International Film Festival to very positive critical
reviews – many calling it the first Oscar contender of the year.
Release: April 18
Genre: Sci-Fit/Thriller
Plot:
Will is a brilliant scientist poised to change the world with his
breakthroughs in technology. There is only one problem. He is terminally ill.
In an attempt to save his consciousness, his mind is downloaded into a
computer. Now, with unimaginable power, Will begins to change, embracing the
power becoming unstoppable as he dictates his will upon the world.
Editor’s
Thoughts: Transcendence is Wally Pfister’s directorial debut. He is best
known for his brilliant work as Christopher
Nolan’s cinematographer (shooting all but one of his films – his first
called Following).
This film looks like it takes a bit of its grand style from Nolan, who also
serves as a producer on the film, but hopefully Pfister will showcase his
talent and his own voice as well. I think it looks like a great thriller and it
is one of the films I am most looking forward to this year. I also like the
fact that it is an original story. Plus, it has a pretty great cast. Johnny
Depp looks like he may have finally taken on a challenging character (instead
of just coasting on the typical strange personas he has been relegated to
lately).
Release: October 10
Genre: Comedy
Plot:
TV talk show host Dave Skylark and his producer Aaron Rapoport get an
exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime interview with North Korean dictator Kim Jon-Un.
As they prep for the interview, they are approached by the CIA and asked to
assassinate Kim.
Editor’s
Thoughts: Writer-directors Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogan delivered a very
funny action-horror-comedy last year with This
Is the End (probably 2013’s best comedy). Thus, The Interview certainly has
the potential to be hilarious as well. Plus, the premise is just insane enough
to really create lots of opportunities for fantastic comedy. Seth Rogan and
James Franco also make a great comedy team. I cannot think of a comedy I am
looking forward to more than this in 2014.
Trailer: Here (if
available)
Release: December 12
Genre: Drama/Epic
Plot:
The story of Moses leading the Israelite slaves out of Egypt.
Editor’s
Thoughts: Exodus looks like it is going to be a grand epic from Ridley
Scott, a director known for his brilliant visual style – and he is working with
a script by Steven
Zaillian. I also cannot think of a better actor to portray Moses than
Christian Bale (who is the most talented leading man of his generation). It
will be interesting to see how Scott approaches this Biblical figure – whether it
is played realistically or tending more towards the mystical.
Trailer: Here (if
available)
Release: Fall
Genre: Thriller
Plot:
The Enigma code was used by the Nazi’s to transmit secret messages
throughout WWII. English mathematician and logician, Alan Turing, made it is
goal to crack to the code and help the allies win the war.
Editor’s
Thoughts: The Imitation Game is another film that is mostly under the
radar, but it certainly has the potential to be one of 2014’s best thrillers.
The cast is fantastic – who does not want to see Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan
Turing? And, Morten Tydum is a really great choice as director. His
breakthrough film, the crime-thriller Headhunters, is
wonderful and very much worth checking out. I also love WWII era narratives.
Trailer: Here (if
available)
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