Movies Spotlight – Upcoming 2015 Films (Fall & Winter) – July 2015

Now that summer is winding down, let’s look at all the great films scheduled to be released this fall and winter – and there are a lot. I think 2015 will be remembered for its prestige films, looking back, even though, so far, it has been a year of blockbusters like Avengers: Age of Ultron, Jurassic World and Inside Out.

September

Starting with September, Gavin O’Connor’s new western is finally coming to theaters (after a very troubled production, including losing directors and multiple actors). The film stars Natalie Portman and Ewan McGregor and is about a woman who asks her ex-lover to help her save her outlaw husband from a lethal gang out to kill him. I’m looking forward to the film for a few reasons: I love westerns, it will be nice to see Portman is films again, and O’Connor’s last film was the excellent sports-drama Warrior.

Director Scott Cooper is known for his character driven dramas (Crazy Heart and Out of the Furnace). His new film, Black Mass, takes on the notorious South Boston criminal Whitey Bulger (an infamously violent man who became an FBI informant to stop the mob from infiltrating his territory). Cooper has assembled a fantastic cast, including: Johnny Depp (as Whitey Bulger), Dakota Johnson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Joel Edgerton, and Corey Stoll. Here is the trailer.

The film I’m most looking forward to in September is Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario, a mystery crime-drama starring Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin. It debuted at Cannes to critical acclaim and lots of positive buzz. Sicario looks like a brilliant, exciting and raw thriller. Here is the trailer.

A potentially fun comedy in September is Nancy Meyers’s The Intern. It is about a 70-year-old widower who is bored in retirement and looks to get back to work, joining an online fashion site as an intern. The film stars Robert De Niro as the Intern and Anne Hathaway as his boss (and founder of the company). Here is the trailer.

Closing out the month is Baltasar Kormakur’s action thriller Everest. The film looks intense and Kormakur has put together a strong cast, including: Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, KeiraKnightley, Robin Wright, and John Hawkes. While Kormakur is known for making action films (like Contraband and 2 Guns), the great cast should bring a dramatic, character-driven dynamic to this thriller. Here is the trailer.

October

September features some potentially very good films, October has even better films, starting with Ridley Scott’s The Martian. Scott excels at creating epic and visually astounding space-set narratives and sci-fi imagery. The Martian tells the story of astronaut Mark Watney, who is abandoned on Mars after his crew believes him killed in a massive storm that pushed them off the planet. Now, Mark has to use his intellect and practical know-how to survive, while his crew races back to save him. The film sounds a little like Interstellar, and Matt Damon again plays the man left for dead alone on an alien planet, but thematically the films are completely different. In addition to Damon, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jeff Daniels, and Kate Mara also star. It’s among the five films I’m most looking forward to seeing. Here is the trailer.

Another film I cannot wait to see is Justin Kurzel’s William Shakespeare adaptation Macbeth, especially after playing well at Cannes. Kurzel’s film looks aesthetically phenomenal and boasts a super cast, including: Michael Fassbender (as Macbeth), Marion Cotilard (as Lady Macbeth), David Thewlis, Elizabeth Debicki, and Sean Harris. The play (and film) are about Macbeth, a duke of Scotland, who receives a prophecy that he will one day be King. Consumed by this ambition, he murders the King and takes the throne for himself. Here is the trailer.

I really like the work of British director Joe Wright. He helms a new version of the Peter Pan story, a prequel of sorts called Pan. On one hand, it looks great with astounding aesthetics and a strong cast, but on the other hand I'm a little worried that it might be too much of a kid's movie (something that has plagued many past Peter Pan films). I'm willing to give it a chance. Here is the trailer.

A film that I cannot quite pin down is Robert Zemeckis’s The Walk, which tells the story of Philippe Petit’s high-wire walk from the roof of one World Trade Center Twin Tower to the other. It is an incredible story, but it is already told wonderfully in James Marsh’s documentary Man on Wire. Zemeckis is a great filmmaker (Back to the Future, Cast Away, and recently Flight), but his film does not feel right thematically and how can he top Man on Wire? His film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Kingsley, and Charlotte Le Bon. Here is the trailer.

Yet another highly anticipated film to be released in October is Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs. The film went through directors and lead actors on the road to settling on Boyle and Michael Fassbender (although, I still would have liked to have seen the DavidFincher-Christian Bale iteration). The film is written by Aaron Sorkin and also stars Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, and Katherine Waterston. It looks like an interesting biopic of one of the great innovators of our time. Here is the trailer.

Netflix made a play to get into the filmmaking business when it acquired the rights to Beasts of No Nation, which it will debut October 16^th. The film is written and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (who also directed the first season of True Detective) and stars Idris Elba. It’s about child soldiers fighting in an unnamed African nation’s civil war. As a big fan of Fukunaga’s work and Elba, I’m very much looking forward to this. Could Nexflix get an Oscar nomination?

Horror has always been a passion of writer-director Guillermo del Toro. His new film, Crimson Peak, looks like his version of the classic haunted house horror narrative. Aesthetically, it looks wonderfully gothic. It also features a top cast, including: Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, and Charlie Hunnam. Here is the trailer.

Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks have had one of the most fruitful partnerships in Hollywood, from films to producing excellent television (I’m specifically thinking of Band of Brothers). Their latest endeavor with Spielberg behind the camera and Hanks starring is the cold-war thriller Bridge of Spies. It’s about the man who negotiated an exchange of prisoners under extreme political pressures (with all-out nuclear war always looming). Here is the trailer.

November

Daniel Craig has enjoined his time as James Bond, starring in some of the best films of the series. Returning once again, along with director Sam Mendes, Craig next 007 adventure is called Spectre, where he will seek out the criminal organization behind the events that Bond faced in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Most of Skyfall’s cast is returning (M, Q and Moneypenny) and joining the cast are Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Monica Bellucci, and Andrew Scott. It looks like another great Bond film. Here is the trailer.

Brooklyn was one of the Sundance Film Festival’s most buzzed about films, coming out of the festival as a potential Oscar favorite. The film is directed by John Crowley, written by Nick Hornby, and stars Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen and Domhnall Gleeson. It’s about a young Irish woman who leaves Ireland in the 1950s to come to New York, but she finds herself torn between the two places and two men, the man she has fallen for in Brooklyn and the man she loves when she returns to Ireland. Here is the trailer.

For many, November’s most anticipated film is The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, the closing chapter of the saga. I’m particularly looking forward to the film because it will be interesting to finally see Katniss make tough decisions (presumably) and actually be involved in the action, as District 13 engages in all-out revolution against the Capital. Jennifer Lawrence is excellent as Katniss; Francis Lawrence returns behind the camera. Here is the trailer.

I really liked the Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Jonathan Levine collaboration 50/50. There are back with a new film called X-Mas. It’s about three friends who annually travel to New York City on Christmas Eve to get drunk and otherwise have fun. This year their tradition might be coming to an end, so they embark on a mission to find the biggest and best party. Joining Gordon-Levitt and Rogen in the cast are Lizzy Caplan and Anthony Mackie.

Pixar and Disney released one of their better recent films this summer with Inside Out. They have another film coming in November called The Good Dinosaur that sounds just as good. The logline of the film asks: What if the meteor that killed-off the Dinosaurs never hit the Earth, leading to a world in which humans and dinosaurs co-exist? Peter Sohn is heading up the creative team (directing his first feature, though he did make the great short Partly Cloudy which played in front of Up). Here is the trailer.

A film that sounds awesome but has so far flown under the radar is the new sci-fi drama from writer-director Jeff Nicholas called Midnight Special. It’s about a father and son who go on the run after the dad learns that his son has developed special powers. It stars Michael Shannon, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, Joel Edgerton, and Sam Shepard. Nicholas also made the very good dramas Take Shelter and Mud.

Eddie Redmayne, who won the 2015 Best Actor Oscar for The Theory of Everything, is back again with what sounds like another Oscar-worthy performance. This time in Tom Hooper’s new film The Danish Girl, where he plays Einar Wegener, the husband of famous Danish artist Gerda Wegener who painted him as a woman. As the painting gained popularity, Einar began to change his appearance, dressing and associating more as a lady, which he named Lili Elbe. With the support of his wife, he attempted the first ever male to female sex reassignment surgery. The film also stars Alicia Vikander (who’s blowing up this year) and Matthias Schoenaerts. The film is likely an Oscar favorite.

December

And finally we get to December. To kick us off, here’s In the Heart of the Sea, a film scheduled to be released in the Spring but scored such outstanding reviews in its test screenings that Warner Bros. pushed it all the back to awards season to compete for Oscars. It’s directed by Ron Howard and stars Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Benjamin Walker, and (your new Spider-Man) Tom Holland. The film’s about Thomas Nickerson, the ship captain that encountered the famous white whale Moby Dick, inspiring Herman Melville’s novel. Here is the trailer.

One of the best reviewed films at this year’s Cannes Film Festival was Carol, a romantic drama set during the 1950s in America. It’s about two women who fall in love and dream of a different world in which they could be together. It’s directed by dramatic filmmaking master Todd Haynes and stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara (who won Best Actress at Cannes).

The biggest and hopefully greatest blockbuster of the winter season is Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. I cannot wait to see it. J.J. Abrams seems like a god choice to take over the creative reigns for the franchise. The film will mix characters we know (Luke, Leia, and Han Solo) with new characters, continuing the saga. The cast sees many of the original actors returning (Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford) and a mix of great new actors, including: Oscar Issac, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, and Gwendoline Christie. Here is the trailer.

It sure seems like Olive Stone’s best films are behind him. That said, he is back with a new politically charged biopic Snowden. It’s about Edward Snowden, the man who basically destroyed his own life to inform the American people what the government was doing (i.e. spying on them). The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Zachary Quinto, Melissa Leo, and Tom Wilkinson. Let’s hope Stone finds his form again, as this is an important story that people need to hear/see. Here is the trailer.

Another very fruitful partnership between director and actor has been between David O. Russell and Jennifer Lawrence (and Bradley Cooper), they have made Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle together. Their new film is Joy. It’s about inventor and entrepreneur Joy Mangano, creator of the Miracle Mop and many other products.  The film seems like an Oscar favorite, with a great cast (in addition to Lawrence), including: Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro.

The film that I predicted would be the 2016 Academy Awards frontrunner for Best Picture is The Revenant. It’s the new adventure/western/drama from Alejandro G. Inarritu (who directed Birdman, last year’s winner). It stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, and Will Poulter. It’s about Hugh Glass, a frontiersman who is left for dead after he is severely injured in the wilderness by compatriot John Fitzgerald. Somehow he survives, regaining his strength, and sets out on a mission of vengeance against Fitzgerald.

2015 might be the year we finally see the resurgence of the western (with Slow West, Jane Got a Gun, and The Revenant); its most high profile entry is Quentin Tarantino’s new film The Hateful Eight, a post-Civil War narrative that sees a group of bounty hunters who find shelter from a blizzard only to get pulled into a plot of betrayal and deception. Tarantino has a great mix of actors with Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Walton Goggins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Bruce Dern (among others).

Other Potential Releases

These two films don’t have firm release dates yet, but could very likely come out in 2015 and compete for awards. First is Derek Cianfrance’s new drama The Light Between Oceans, which stars Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Rachel Weisz. It’s about husband and wife lighthouse keepers who find a baby the washes ashore in Western Australia. The second is Lenny Abrahamson’s new drama Room about a boy who is raised exclusively with the small confines of a small shed. It stars Brie Larson, William H. Macy and Joan Allen.

Most Anticipated Films of 2015 – Part 1: Blockbusters

Blockbuster movie making has become the business of sequels, which on one hand is a little sad (because where is all the great original stuff we use to have?) but on the other hand we still get awesome stuff we all cannot wait to see – like a new Avengers film, a new James Bond adventure and a new Star Wars outing. These are the big films to see in 2015:

Blockbusters:

Title: Avengers: Age of Ultron

Release: May 1st

Genre: Action/Adventure

Plot: In the wake of the events of Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Tony Stark tries to restart a dormant peacekeeping program, using his AI technology. He creates Ultron, a highly intelligent robotic defender whose purpose is to hopefully replace the Avengers and protect the Earth from future alien attack or whatever threat the Earth may face next; however, Stark’s ego blinds him from the fact that he has given Ultron too much control and intelligence. Ultron, like many other AI systems in past films, realizes that mankind’s primary threat is from themselves; and thus, it devises a grand and terrible plan to destroy humanity. It is up to the Avengers to stop it.

Director: Joss Whedon

Main Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, James Spader, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olson, and Samuel L. Jackson

Editor’s Thoughts: Joss Whedon did a fantastic job with The Avengers, creating one of the most fun and best superhero films to date. Avengers: Age of Ultron is probably 2015’s most anticipated film and likely to be the year’s Box Office champion. It will be interesting to see how Whedon gives all the characters their moments while introducing new characters (as it stands right now, there are fourteen returning MCU characters and six new ones – this film is jam packed). The trailer certainly sets a darker tone. So far, Phase II has kept things relatively light, much like Phase I, never going too dark, preferring humor and fun action. Could Age of Ultron usher in a much darker Phase III?

Trailer: Here

Title: Tomorrowland

Release: May 22nd

Genre: Action/Adventure Sci-Fi

Plot: Casey Newton and former boy-genius inventor Frank Walker find themselves transported to Tomorrowland, a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their shared memory. Casey’s scientific curiosity leads her on a mission to find the secrets behind Tomorrowland, dragging Frank with her. He has been disillusioned by life, but seeing this wondrous place might reignite the spark within him.

Director: Brad Bird

Main Cast: Britt Robertson, George Clooney, Judy Greer, and Hugh Laurie

Editor’s Thoughts: Tomorrowland is Disney’s latest endeavor to take something from their theme parks and turn it into a film franchise (it worked with Pirates of the Caribbean, but not so much with The Haunted Mansion). The creative team behind the film is very well suited. Brad Bird is producing, directing and co-writing. He has a very strong background in animation (highlighted by The Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ratatouille) as well as action films (his first live-action feature was Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, which was quite entertaining; this is his second). Damon Lindelof is producing and co-writing as well. He is one of the more prolific sci-fi writers working right now in film and television (he is best known for his work on Lost, Prometheus, Star Trek Into Darkness, World War Z, and the new brilliant HBO drama The Leftovers). The film looks to be a very fun and entertaining sci-fi adventure.

Trailer: Here

Title: Jurassic World

Release: June 12th

Genre: Action/Adventure

Plot: Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, a new functioning theme park is thriving on the Island of Isla Nublar. It is known as Jurassic World. But with attendance dwindling, the owners of the park want bigger and badder attractions, turning to genetic engineering to create new, scarier dinosaurs – which of course backfires, leading to dinosaurs once again rampaging across the island putting human lives in danger.

Director: Colin Trevorrow

Main Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jake Johnson, Judy Greer, Katie McGrath, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Omar Sy

Editor’s Thoughts: Writer-director Colin Trevorrow made a great small indie film with Safety Not Guaranteed. Now, we will see if he can make Hollywood blockbusters too. Jurassic World looks and feels a lot like the original Jurassic Park, seemingly relying a lot on nostalgia for that film. Hopefully, however, the film will try to be its own thing too and not just a complete rehash. The cast is great and the teaser promises grand action and visual moments.

Trailer: Here

Title: Inside Out

Release: June 19th

Genre: Family Comedy Animation

Plot: Riley is a young girl who has recently been uprooted from her Midwestern life, as her father has taken a new job in San Francisco. But, this is a story about Riley’s emotions (Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness). They live in Headquarters, the control center within Riley’s mind. They guide Riley through her daily life. The move to San Francisco has sent Headquarters into a state of turmoil. Joy tries to maintain control, as Riley’s most important emotion, keeping things positive, but forces try to work against her.

Director: Pete Docter

Main Cast: Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Bill Hader, Phyllis Smith, and Lewis Black

Editor’s Thoughts: Inside Out is a new original idea from Pixar, which is really good to see as the studio has started to produce an alarming amount of sequels recently (three of their last four films have been sequels – additionally, two of their next four are also sequels) when they have been known for their wonderful original films. Inside Out has a great creative team with director Pete Docter and writer Michael Arndt (Docter also directed Monsters, Inc. and Up, while Arndt wrote Toy Story 3), leading me to believe that Inside Out should see Pixar return to it standard of high quality films.

Trailer: Here

Title: Terminator: Genisys

Release: July 1st

Genre: Action/Adventure Sci-Fi

Plot: In the year 2029, John Connor is engaged in the seemingly never-ending war against the machines; however, the humans might have the advantage. This leads SkyNet to try a new plan to kill Connor in the past, once again targeting his mother Sarah. Connor sends his friend (and father) Kyle Reese back in time to help protect his mother.

Director: Alan Taylor

Main Cast: Emilia Clarke, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jai Courtney, Matt Smith, and Jason Clarke

Editor’s Thoughts: It does feel unnecessary for there to be yet another Terminator film (coming on the heels of two less than stellar outings); but, Terminator: Genesys does boast a great cast and a new approach to the material. Director Alan Taylor is also a strong choice, as he brings a fantastic grasp of epic visuals (see his work on Game of Thrones or Thor: The Dark World) and a gritty realism, both of which should benefit the series. The film seems to be some sort of sequel/reboot, as it does tell a similar story to the first Terminator, but in a new way. Hopefully, Taylor and his fine new cast will return the series to its better days (those under director James Cameron) with a film that features great action, characters and sci-fi themes.

Trailer: Here

Title: Ant-Man

Release: July 17th

Genre: Action/Adventure

Plot: Scott Lang is a con-man who is taken under the wing of scientist Dr. Hank Pym. Lang is asked to become a hero when he and Pym must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world. Pym gives Lang a super-suit that gives him the ability to shrink and increase in strength.

Director: Peyton Reed

Main Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, and Corey Stoll

Editor’s Thoughts: Ant-Man is the final film in Marvel’s MCU Phase II. Initially, writer-director Edgar Wright was in place to make the film, but he fell out with Marvel over the creative direction of the film, leading Marvel to pursue other options, including hiring Peyton Reed to direct and Adam McKay to work on the screenplay. It is a shame because Wright makes great films (while Reed makes mediocre films, generally). That said, Marvel has a history of creative differences with their directors (Alan Taylor, director of Thor: The Dark World, for one), because they have a very clear idea of what they want and where they are going with their films. What has made Phase II so great, though, is that Marvel brought in fantastic people to helm their films (Joss Whedon, Shane Black, the Russo Brothers, and James Gunn to name a few). It would be sad to see Marvel go backwards creatively (as Phase II has been so much better than Phase I). Ant-Man, however, still has a great cast, led by Paul Rudd, and looks really fun.

Trailer: Here

Title: Spectre

Release: November 6th

Genre: Action Spy Mystery/Thriller

Plot: A mysterious message from James Bond’s past sends him back on the trail of the organization he uncovered in Quantum of Solace. Meanwhile, M battles in the political arena to keep MI6 alive after their recent security breaches. As Bond digs deeper into the organization (known as Spectre), he uncovers a terrible truth.

Director: Sam Mendes

Main Cast: Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Monica Bellucci, Lea Leydoux, David Bautista, Andrew Scott, and Christoph Waltz

Editor’s Thoughts: Sam Mendes has many of his Skyfall filmmaking collaborators as well as the main cast returning for Spectre; plus, the new additions are all fantastic (I am particularly excited about Christoph Waltz being the main villain, the addition of Andrew Scott, who is just wonderfully villainous in Sherlock, and cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema – though he is replacing the equally brilliant Roger Deakins). There is speculation that Waltz is playing Ernst Blofeld despite being credited with the character name Oberhauser (we shall see). The James Bond films have been very good since Daniel Craig took over (even Quantum of Solace works well when taken as part two of Casino Royale). Spectre certainly has all the piece to continue that trend.

Trailer: Here (if available)

Title: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2

Release: November 20th

Genre: Action/Adventure Sci-Fi

Plot: Following the events of Mockingjay – Part 1, Katniss Everdeen and District 13 rebel in full against the Capitol.

Director: Francis Lawrence

Main Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Donald Sutherland

Editor’s Thoughts: Splitting The Hunger Games: Mockingjay into two films makes financial sense for Lionsgate (especially after the Box Office success of similarly splitting Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Twilight: Breaking Dawn into two films), but as a consequence Part 1 has little bite. Part 2 looks to be a much more entertaining and satisfying film (at least from an action standpoint) as it is the culmination of the series and the character journeys. It is also likely to be the second biggest moneymaker of the year behind Avengers: Age of Ultron. The Hunger Games made Jennifer Lawrence a star, but I bet she is probably ready to move on to other things (more David O. Russell films?). Mockingjay – Part 2 is all set to be the best film in the series and the most impactful, finally giving Katniss something of real substance to do (not letting her off the hook emotionally, dramatically and narratively like the other films do), or at least we can hope so.

Trailer: Here (if available)

Title: Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens

Release: December 18th

Genre: Action/Adventure Sci-Fi

Plot: The continuation of the Star Wars saga, following the events of The Return of the Jedi (presumably taking place quite a few years later).

Director: J.J. Abrams

Main Cast: Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Lupita Nyong’o, Max von Sydow, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and many of the series’ original stars

Editor’s Thoughts: Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens is yet another hugely anticipated franchise film. Expectations are also very high, especially after the very lackluster prequel trilogy (which is practically unwatchable). George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney a few years ago. Disney has put together a great creative team for the new Star Wars trilogy, including writer-director-producer J.J. Abrams (he is only directing the first film, but producing the whole trilogy), writer Lawrence Kasdan (who was a big part of the original trilogy) and writer-director Rian Johnson (who is directing Episodes VIII and IX). John Williams is also returning to score the films (which is awesome). Disney is hoping Abrams can reinvigorate Star Wars the same way he revitalized Star Trek with his reboot. So far, Abrams has put together a phenomenal cast of new actors joining many of the returning stars of the original trilogy (like Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher among others). Story details are being kept under wraps, but everything seems to be moving in the right direction.

Trailer: Here

Title: Mission: Impossible 5

Release: December 25th - Now July 31

Genre: Action Thriller

Plot: The plot is unknown at present, but it probably involves action, grand stunts and face changing.

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Main Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Alec Baldwin, Sean Harris, and Ving Rhames

Editor’s Thoughts: I am a huge fan of J.J. Abrams’s Mission: Impossible III. It is one of the best action films of the last decade (and it completely made up for the utter disaster that is Mission: Impossible II – a truly awful film). Brad Bird, making his live-action directorial debut, did a good job with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol as well (even if the villain was pretty weak from a character perspective). The Mission: Impossible films are fun, action-packed and feature brilliant stunts. Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise collaborated earlier on Jack Reacher, which is an underrated action film. This will most likely be a fun and very entertaining blockbuster.

Trailer: Here (if available)