Movies Spotlight – December 2014 – Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott is a British film director and producer who has made many of our most iconic films since his breakthrough with 1979’s Alien. He is known for his stunning visuals and often his grand scale and scope.

This month he has a new epic – Exodus: Gods and Kings – telling the tale of Moses and Rhamses. They grew up as brothers (Moses, an adopted brother), but as they became men their paths deviated. Moses saw the tyranny by which Rhamses ruled and the cruelty he showed his slaves, many of which shared the same background as Moses. They were just less fortunate. Seeing only injustice, Moses decides to lead a slave rebellion against Rhamses with the endgame of finding the slaves a new home as freed men. Here is the trailer.

Early Career:

Scott attended the Royal College of Art, helping to establish its film department. He started making short films and working as a production designer during the early 1960s. He also began directing episodes of British television. In 1968, Scott and his brother Tony founded Ridley Scott Associates, a film and commercial production company. Scott directed numerous commercials during the 1970s.

In 1977 with The Duellists, Scott made his feature film directing debut. The film won Best First Film at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival. The film is about two officers, D’Hubert and Feraud, who have a life-long grudge with one and other, engaging in multiple duels seeking justice for their perceived grievances.

Science Fiction:

The Duelists made Scott a star director overnight, allowing him to pursue projects in Hollywood. His initial plan was to next adapt Tristan and Iseult, but then he saw Star Wars. This changed everything. He became enthralled by large scale, effects-driven films and science fiction. Scott accepted the job to direct Alien. The film was a smash hit critically and commercially, as Scott expertly created a cinematic experience that is both a terrifying horror movie and a cool and visually impressive sci-fi adventure featuring a strong female lead (Ripley played by Sigourney Weaver). Directors are still trying to replicate it to this day (including Scott himself).

Next, Scott made what is probably an even better sci-fi film with 1982’s Blade Runner. Here, Scott works with Star Wars’ star Harrison Ford, in a film that blends sci-fi elements with a hard-boiled detective narrative. It is a masterpiece of design, style and directing. And, like Alien, Blade Runner again redefined the sci-fi genre.

From there, Scott made the adventure fantasy Legend, starring Tom Cruise, the poorly received crime drama Someone to Watch Over Me, and the action thriller Black Rain with Michael Douglas.

Scott once again found his touch with 1991’s Thelma & Louise, telling the tale of two women who murder a rapist and then go on the run. Again, Scott made a film that is iconic to this day (especially the film’s ending) – also, look out for a young Brad Pitt. Scott earned his first Best Director Oscar nomination for his work on the film.

Scott finished off the 1990s with three less than stellar outings. First, the Christopher Columbus biopic 1942: Conquest of Paradise (a film that paints Columbus as more of a villain, contrary to the popular view at the time), then the doomed sailing adventure drama White Squall, and finally G.I. Jane, an action drama starring Demi Moore about a woman who is offered the chance to be the first female trainee in the U.S. Navy’s elite SEAL/C.R.T. selection program (it is probably Scott’s worst film to date).

Award-Winning:

In 2000, Scott directed his greatest critical triumph, Gladiator. The film also marks the director’s first collaboration with Russell Crowe, whom he has worked with four more times since. The film about a Roman general who is betrayed and sold into slavery only to return to Rome years later to seek revenge as a gladiator won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor (for Crowe). Scott received his second Best Director nomination.

Scott next made the forgettable The Silence of the Lambs sequel Hannibal (side note, watch Bryan Fuller’s TV series Hannibal; it is brilliant); however, he followed it up with his best film of the decade: Black Hawk Down. This war drama recounting the true events of a failed mission by U.S. armed forces in Somalia garnered Scott his third Best Director nomination. It is gripping and one of the best war films ever made.

Scott then directed the fun crime drama Matchstick Men about a phobic con artist and his protégé who are about to make a big score when his teenage daughter suddenly crashes the party. It features a great performance from Sam Rockwell.

Scott next returned to epic historical dramas with Kingdom of Heaven. The film has a massive scope and scale as well as a wonderful cast. Scott’s director’s cut of the film was deemed too long to be released in theaters by Twentieth Century Fox. Thus, they release a shorter, lesser cut. The film played to mild reviews and box office. Thankfully, Scott’s cut was eventually released. It is well worth seeking out.

Scott then set up three films with Russell Crowe to close out the decade. The first is the mediocre romance drama A Good Year about a career obsessed man who has a life revelation while in Provence. Next, the very good biographical gangster film American Gangster about Frank Lucas and the cop who took him down (Denzel Washington is quite good as Lucas). And lastly, the action thriller Body of Lies, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio. What makes the film unique and interesting (in addition to it being a strong thriller) is that it takes the position that maybe U.S. intelligence tactics are flawed.

Trying Something New & Revisiting the Past:

Okay, Scott made one more film with Russell Crowe, throwing his hat into the Robin Hood adaptation bin. The film finds Robin in the thirteenth century as a man who conspires to combat local corruption in his village – an uprising that leads to a power struggle with the crown itself. It was not well-received, but personally I think it is a decent enough action adventure drama.

Scott then decided to return to his past, making a prequel to maybe his most famous film, Alien, in the form of Prometheus. It is a highly flawed film, as the story and character motivations are pretty well ridiculous; but visually, it is marvelous. Scott again does make something that is stylistically impressive and fairly scary and thrilling as well. It is just too bad that the film makes almost no sense.

Author Cormac McCarthy writes very dense novels. The most popular adaptation of one of his works his the Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men. McCarthy met with Scott, however, to try something different, making his first foray into screenwriting. Their collaboration gave birth to The Counselor, probably 2013’s most misunderstood film. It is brilliant, as it tackles the nature of good and evil within man, playing out mostly through a series of conversations. Critics and viewers expected something different, something more action-packed. It is a gem that will eventually find its audience.

Upcoming Projects:

Scott has a number of science fiction projects upcoming. The first, due in 2015, is The Martian. It is about an astronaut who is stranded on Mars, struggling to survive until help can reach him (or her). Scott has assembled quite a cast with Jessica Chastain, Matt Damon, Jeff Daniels, Kate Mara, Kristen Wiig, Sean Bean, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

In 2016 and beyond, Scott has a sequel to Prometheus, a sequel to Blade Runner and a sci-fi thriller series set up at Fox called The Hot Zone.

Scott Free, Producing Films and TV:

Through his production company Scott Free Productions, Scott has also produced a number of highly successful films and television programs. Here are the highlights: In Her Shoes, Tristan + Isolde, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Cracks, The A-Team, The Grey, Stoker, Out of the Furnace, The Gathering Storm, The Company, The Good Wife, and The Pillars of the Earth.

Upcoming, Scott is producing the eagerly anticipated NFL Concussion drama (currently untitled) from Peter Landesman, starring Will Smith.

Career Highlights:

1)      The Duellists (1977) – director (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

2)      Alien (1979)* – director (Blu-ray, VideoOn-Demand, Trailer)

3)      Blade Runner (1982)* – director (Blu-ray, VideoOn-Demand, Trailer)

4)      Thelma & Louise (1991) – director, producer (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

5)      Gladiator (2000) – director, producer (Blu-ray, VideoOn-Demand, Trailer)

6)      Black Hawk Down (2001)* – director, producer (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

7)      Matchstick Men (2003) – director, producer (DVD, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

8)      Kingdom of Heaven (2005)* – director, producer (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

9)      American Gangster (2007) – director, producer (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

10)   Body of Lies (2008) – director, producer (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

11)   Prometheus (2012) – director, producer (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

12)   The Counselor (2013)* – director, producer (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

*Editor’s picks

The Counselor (2013) – Review

Review: The Counselor is a crime drama that explores the good and evil (mostly evil) of man. The film is about a successful Texas lawyer who is enchanted by greed and wants more. To get it, he commits to a deal with a South American drug cartel. When their drug shipment is hijacked, the cartel blames the lawyer and his associates (a club-owner named Reiner and a go-between Westray). Now, the lawyer finds his whole world collapsing, making him realize what is really important to him – his lovely fiancée Laura, not the money and power he was initially allured by.

Let me just start out by saying: no, The Counselor is not a crime thriller filled with suspenseful action sequences (which is what most going in seem to believe it is) – and it was never meant to be. Rather, it is a set of conversations (much like Richard Linkerlaker’s Before Sunrise series about the nature of relationships and love) between a variety of characters (primarily centered around the Texas lawyer, only referred to as Counselor) about good and evil, ranging from greed, sex, money to love, acceptance, and life’s meaning. Many of the conversations (which all contain weighty and well-written dialog from Cormac McCarthy) seem to take on a philosophical feel, as many double as lessons about life.  It is these conversations and wonderful performances from the cast that make the film something special.

Those expecting (and only wanting) action and thrilling suspense will likely be disappointed and find the film slow and probably convoluted – unwilling to settle in, pay attention, and absorb all that the film offers.

Director Ridley Scott, working with McCarthy, gives the film a beautiful aesthetic look and the gloss of high production quality. The world in which these devious characters inhabit has a sheen to it, which nicely juxtaposes to the grimy underworld in which they deal. El Paso is seemingly a perfect setting, as just across the border is Juarez one of Mexico’s most crime-ridden cities, plunged into poverty and despair by the cartel’s control and constant violence. El Paso must seem like a shining beacon by comparison. In this setting, the audience is treated to a parable of sorts.

In many ways, Ridley Scott has made what narratively feels like an independent drama with the budget, look, and style of a bigger Hollywood film. While Hollywood films have become driven by action set pieces, simple narratives, and happy endings, The Counselor offers none of these. The film is not void of action, as there are a few very violent moments, but they are not there to provide the audience with exciting moments, and none of them involve the film’s lead character (who the audience has an investment in). The violent moments serve the role of showcasing just how brutal this world of crime really is, as well as forwarding the plot. These are hard, morally neutral men who do horrid things in the name of money and power. Scott does not try to glamourize the violence at all. If anything, the brutality in the film is jarring, not celebrated (like many Hollywood films).

Scott and McCarthy do not give in to the idea of a simple narrative either. The audience is expected to pay attention here and work a few things out for themselves. The overarching themes and ripe, layered dialog set the mood and provide the audience with everything they need to understand what is happening. It is refreshing to watch a Hollywood film that does not placate its narrative. This could have easily just become yet another average-man action film. The lawyer’s world is dissolving around him. The cartel even goes as far as to start murdering his friends and associates and kidnaping his fiancée. He tries to dig himself out of the hole he is in, but there is nothing he can do. He can only accept his fate. If this were a typical Hollywood film, he would have somehow found a way to fight back against the cartel, rescuing his fiancée, and there would have been big action scenes filled with suspense. Again, this was never that film.

The Counselor plays a bit like a parable with the message warning about the trappings of green and instead to take stock of what is truly important in your life (love). The lawyer has a great life and a beautiful woman who loves him and who he loves, what else could he want? But there is always more. He is surrounded by men that have seemingly more, like his friend Reiner who lives in an exotic house, drives luxury sports cars, and dates glamorous women. Reiner seemingly has everything, and yet he spends most of his time with the lawyer talking about relationships and wanting love. Or Westray, the lawyer’s go-between with the cartel, when things go bad he can only say that he knew this day would come and that he should have left the game sooner but he stayed on too long anyway. The lawyer starts out in the luxury of a privileged life in El Paso (and seemingly jet setting across Europe) only to end up alone with nothing in a rundown dirty motel in Juarez. This is what greed does. It corrupts. The lawyer wants into this life, and yet those he engages to help him get a foothold seem to just want a simpler life but are stuck. They cannot stop. The lawyer learns this lesson through pain and loss.

The character of Malkina, Reiner’s girlfriend, seems like the epitome of evil. She has completely accepted who she is and what she wants (which is everything) never looking back. Unlike the lawyer, Reiner, and Westray who all have a foot in both worlds (so to speak) wanting the money and power but also wanting to maintain some sense of their own soul, Malkina has no soul, which gives her a edge in an ugly world. To her, nothing has meaning or worth except money and power, and thus she is willing to do anything to acquire them.

The lawyer’s fiancée Laura seems like the opposite. She genuinely seems good, but she too is corrupted by what money and power can give her. The opening scene of the film features just the lawyer and Laura in bed. They clearly love each other and are encased in light (in the form of well-lit white sheets). Even here, however, the lawyer is already starting to corrupt her. Then later, he pulls her in further with an extravagant diamond engagement ring (following a brilliant scene between the lawyer and the diamond’s seller).

Each of the principal characters showcases a different level of greed’s corruption. Scott and McCarthy have created a drama that ruminates on the ugly side of humanity, an evil that is within all of us (we only need give in). While flashy aesthetically, The Counselor is a film built on portentous conversations between well-drawn and played characters in an effort to get at the heart of evil in man (and the way back). Again, while flashy from a production standpoint, the film is not an action thriller taking place in the world of drug cartels. It is much more momentous and refreshing, and honestly demands multiple viewings to appreciate its high ambitions.

Technical, aesthetic & acting achievements: Ridley Scott has always been a master of visual filmmaking. And again with The Counselor he has delivered a film that is aesthetically very impressive. Working with a great script from Cormac McCarthy, he has made a film that feels like a narrative made in the same spirit as Before Sunrise and Pulp Fiction (though much darker) in that it is made up of a series of conversations that seem to take on a life of their own. One could even maybe call it a cross between these two films. Another comparison can be made by calling it a Hollywood version of No Country for Old Men, as it is in many ways very similar in style (which is no surprise as McCarthy wrote the novel for which the film is based). I think this is a brilliant film that has been greatly misunderstood by most people and hopefully will find its audience in the coming years.

Daniel Pemberton’s score plays an important role in The Counselor. Scott’s pacing is rather slow, as he gives the performances priority. Thus, Pemberton’s music takes on the role of supplying a sense of dread and dramatic tension to the film, accompanying the performances and tone, something it does well. Dariusz Wolski’s cinematography is top notch. The film is beautiful, even though it is partially set in very dirty and gritty places. The camera is smooth and mannered throughout, not a victim to the wave of hand-held work that has overrun all films trying to create a more realistic sense to their world and action. Wolski’s photography, and really the film as a whole, has a much more classic look and feel, prizing ambiance over stark realism. Arthur Max’s production design might even be better than Wolski’s work (which is saying a lot). His sets tell the audience who these characters are while also being incredibly aesthetically engaging. Max creates a world that is both fantastical and alluring while also ugly, dirty, and soulless.

If nothing else, The Counselor is filled with wonderful performances from both bit players and its leads. Goran Visnjic, Natalie Dormer, Ruben Blades (who is particularly good), Toby Kebbell, and Edgar Ramirez are each very good in very small roles. Rosie Perez and Bruno Ganz bring a lot to their small supporting roles, creating fantastic scenes. Brad Pitt is great as Westray, a man who is totally cool and confident (maybe even overly so). He presents himself as a sage, and yet seems to not listen to or take his own advice and falls victim to all the same vices he points out in others (though one could say: thus is human). Javier Bardem is electric as Reiner. He seems almost overwhelmed by the lifestyle he has acquired for himself, but by the same token cannot give it up. Of all the characters, there is a real honesty and frankness to him (even if it only an illusion). There is a sense, like with Westray, that he knows the music has stopped but he is still running around in circles just waiting to be expelled from the game. Cameron Diaz is good in the film as well. Malkina is the kind of character she does well with (similar to the high powered Christina Pagniacci in Any Given Sunday). Penelope Cruz does a good job playing off both the lawyer and Malkina, serving as a much more innocent character new to this life as Laura. Michael Fassbender is brilliant as the lawyer. He undergoes such a transformation from confident hot shot to a man completely broken and desperate as everything crumbles around him. What Fassbender does so well is translate each phase of the process dramatically and emotionally to the audience, each dire moment. The audience keeps hoping that maybe he will find a way to resolve everything, but it is already too late before the film even begins.

Summary & score: The Counselor is the rare Hollywood film that actually engages with its audience on a higher level, revealing truths about humanity, our world, and good & evil. It is ambitious, absorbing, grim, and (sadly) largely misunderstood. 8/10

At the Movies – October 2013 – Part 3: Most Anticipated Films

Must-See of the Month:

12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen) – Drama – Oct 18

Plot Summary: Solomon Northup, a talented pre-Civil War musician and free black man living in the North, is tricked and abducted. Sold into slavery in the South, Solomon must survive if only for the hope of being free again and returning to his family. Filmmakers: This is auteur Steve McQueen’s third feature film, following the brilliant films Hunger and Shame – each dramatically heavy and expertly directed. McQueen is working with a wonderful group, including: frequent collaborator cinematographer Sean Bobbitt (who shot both of McQueen’s other films), composer Hans Zimmer (The Dark Knight Rises), and production designer Adam Stockhausen (Moonrise Kingdom). Cast: This has 2013’s best cast. It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and co-stars Michael Fassbender (who has appeared in all of McQueen’s films), Sarah Paulson, and Lupita Nyong’o. The supporting cast features Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt (who is also producing), Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Michael K. Williams, Garret Dillahunt, Scoot McNairy, Alfre Woodard, Dwight Henry, and Quvenzhane Wallis (Henry and Wallis had their breakthrough in last year’s Beasts of the Southern Wild). Expectations: 12 Years a Slave, after premiering at the Telluride Film Festival and winning the Audience Award at the Toronto Film Festival, is the favorite to with this year’s Best Picture Oscar. It is very much in the mix for other awards as well, including: Best Director, Writing, and Acting (Chiwetel Ejiofor, who has long been brilliant and is finally getting some more mainstream recognition, Michael Fassbender, and Lupita Nyong’o). If for no other reason, this is probably a must-see just for the cast alone – and really the same can be said for Steve McQueen’s skill behind the camera and with actors. This looks like an amazing drama that is not so much about the abhorrence of slavery, but more the perseverance of the human spirit, against all odds. Picking a Must-See for October was difficult, as the month holds what will very likely be 2013’s best two films with this and Gravity, but 12 Years a Slave just feels like something substantial and important, a generational cinematic moment (or maybe, I am overselling it). Trailer: Here. Review: Here.

Worth Checking Out:

Gravity (Alfonso Cuaron) – Sci-Fi Drama/Thriller – Oct 4

Plot Summary: After an accident leaves astronauts Dr. Ryan Stone and Matt Kowalsky adrift in space, the two must do everything in their power to stay calm and survive until help can reach them. Filmmakers: Finally, auteur Alfonso Cuaron has a new film, after a seven year wait. Just to recap his brilliance, he made the wonderful films Love in the Time of Hysteria, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Children of Men. He is working again with genius cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki (who shot Children of Men for Cuaron). New to the team are composer Steven Price (The World’s End) and production designer Andy Nicholson (The Host). Cast: Sandra Bullock stars, with support from George Clooney and Ed Harris (who features in a voice-role). Expectations: Gravity has already played to grand praise coming from its festival screenings. Of the almost two hundred films screened at this year’s Toronto Film Festival, four where separated out of the mix for particular accolades: Rush, Prisoners, 12 Years a Slave, and Gravity (the final two noted as the standout films of the festival). It is also getting awards season buzz for Best Picture, Director, Actress, and other technical categories. The film had a long production schedule, particularly in post-production as it was made to be seen in 3D. Cuaron wants the experience to be thrilling, as if the audience is truly abandoned in space, using many very long-take shots. I cannot wait to see the film. It looks breathtaking. Trailer: Here. Review: Here.

Captain Phillips (Paul Greengrass) – Thriller – Oct 11

Plot Summary: Based on the true story of Captain Richard Phillips, the captain of the first American-flagged cargo ship to be hijacked in over two hundred years. Filmmakers: Director Paul Greengrass is probably a perfect fit for this type of film. His style matches the material wonderfully, as he is an expert at creating a gritty and realistic experience for the audience (though some complain about his hand-held camera work) – see Bloody Sunday and United 93 as good comparisons. He also made the strong action thrillers The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Green Zone (which is underrated). He is working with composer Henry Jackman (This Is the End), cinematographer Barry Ackroyd (who shot United 93 and Green Zone for Greengrass), and production designer Paul Kirby (The Devil’s Double). Cast: The film stars Tom Hanks, and features Catherine Keener, Max Martini, and Barkhad Abdi in support. Expectations: Captain Phillips looks like a very good thriller, though it will be interesting to see how well Paul Greengrass can manage the tension given that the audience already knows how it ends going in. The film has potential to be in the awards season conversation, but it is probably on the outside looking in right now. Tom Hanks very well could factor in as well (though, this also depends on his showing in Saving Mr. Banks, and how that film turns out). This is definitely worth seeing for fans of good thrillers. Trailer: Here. Review: Here.

The Counselor (Ridley Scott) – Crime Drama – Oct 25

Plot Summary: A lawyer looking to make a couple extra bucks tries his hand at drug trafficking. However, he soon finds that he is in way over his head. Filmmakers: Director Ridley Scott is at his best when he is working with great source material, as he is a wonderful visual director: Alien, Blade Runner, Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven (the director’s cut, of course), and Body of Lies (to name my favorite of his films). On the Counselor, he should have fantastic source material, as it is scripted by author Cormac McCarthy (who wrote the novels No Country for Old Men and The Road). Scott is also working with composer Daniel Pemberton (The Awakening), cinematographer Dariusz Wolski, and production designer Arthur Max (who designed Prometheus for Scott, and Wolski shot it – while the story was a bit all over the place, visually the film was quite brilliant). Cast: Michael Fassbender stars, with Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz, and Javier Bardem co-starring. Natalie Dormer, Dean Norris, Goran Visniic, John Leguizamo, Rosie Perez, and Bruno Ganz feature in supporting roles. Expectations: The first thing that stands out about The Counselor on paper is just how fantastic its cast is – really a film by Ridley Scott and Cormac McCarthy with these actors is a good enough reason to see it, knowing nothing else and having not seen a single frame. However, we do know more and have seen more. It looks awesome. This is a must-see for fans of great actors and wonderful crime dramas. Trailer: Here. Review: Here.

Most Anticipated Films of 2013 – Part 2: Prestige and Fun Films

Prestige Films:

Title: The Counselor

Release: November 15

Genre: Crime Drama

Plot: When a lawyer gets himself involved in drug trafficking, he finds that he is in way over his head.

Director: Ridley Scott

Main Cast: Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Michael Fassbender, Cameron Diaz, and Penelope Cruz

Why It’s Anticipated: Simple. The Counselor features a great director in Ridley Scott who has made good thrillers with Body of Lies and Black Hawk Down recently. And, it has an even better cast with Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Michael Fassbender, and Penelope Cruz. Plus, it is written by Cormac McCarthy, the author responsible for No Country for Old Men and The Road (this is his first feature screenplay). This has definite potential to be a critical and commercial hit.

Editor’s Thoughts: The only blemish on this film is that it also stars Cameron Diaz in addition to the wonderful principal group. She is fine, but cannot play dramatically intense scenes and is noticeably suspect when acting against talented people (see Gangs of New York). Ridley Scott is also a little hit or miss with his films, but this seems to be right in his wheel-house and should have a good script (which is important for the quality of his work). I think it is very likely that it turns out to be among the best films of the year.

Trailer (if available): Here

Title: Trance

Release: Fall

Genre: Crime Drama, Thriller

Plot: Simon, an art auctioneer, helps a group of criminals steal a painting, but is hit on the head during the heist and cannot remember where he stashed it. The criminals bring in a hypnotherapist to find the memory.

Director: Danny Boyle

Main Cast: James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson, and Vincent Cassel

Why It’s Anticipated: Danny Boyle has been making awards friendly films lately with 127 Hours and Slum Dog Millionaire, but his fans know him better for his great and gritty thrillers (28 Days Later… and Shallow Grave) and of course his breakthrough hit Trainspotting (dealing with heroin addicts in Edinburgh). I also really like his sci-fi film Sunshine (mixing a thriller with sort of a classic style cerebral sci-fi film). Trance feels much more like the old Danny Boyle style films – which is great.

Editor’s Thoughts: Trance looks like a manic crime thriller, that also feels like a much more raw version of Inception (Anthony Dod Mantle’s digital photography being partially the reason). Boyle is also working again with one of his great early collaborators: writer John Hodge (who wrote Boyle’s first four films), which is why it probably feels so much more like his early work (based on the trailer). We should all be excited for Boyle’s return to the crime thriller.

Trailer (if available): Here

Title: 12 Years a Slave

Release: Fall

Genre: Drama

Plot: Solomon Northup lives in New York in the mid-1800s. And then, one day he is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Deep South.

Director: Steve McQueen

Main Cast: Brad Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Quvenzhane Wallis

Why It’s Anticipated: Writer-director Steve McQueen has only made two films (Hunger and Shame) but he can already be called an auteur. He is one of the great new talents in independent cinema. He alone is a good reason to be very excited for this film, but he has also put together a phenomenal cast. It includes Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender (this is his third collaboration with McQueen), Chiwetel Ejiofor (who stars as Solomon; he is one of the most underrated actors right now), Benedict Cumberbatch (who is about to have a massive 2013), Sarah Paulson, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Michael K. Williams (from Broadwalk Empire and The Wire), Garret Dillahunt (a fantastic character actor), Scoot McNairy (one of the great breakthrough actors of 2012 with Argo and Killing Them Softly), and Dwight Henry and Quvenzhane Wallis (who both starred in Beasts of the Southern Wild). I am not sure that there is a better cast in 2013 (well, unless Terrence Malick’s two upcoming films not named To the Wonder do come out, then they are also in the conversation for best cast).

Editor’s Thoughts: While Django Unchained offered a potentially exaggerated view of slavery in the Deep South to make a point, McQueen will likely create a very realistic portrayal of life, which will probably be more intense and affecting than the theatrics of Quentin Tarantino’s film. McQueen has yet to have a crossover film into the mainstream. No one saw Hunger or knew about it when it came out. Its merit eventually brought viewers to it (and the Criterion Collection released a wonderful Blu-ray version of the film as well). Shame had a lot of Oscar potential for both the film and especially stars Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, but its focus (being sex addiction) was too graphic, dark or intense for mainstream audiences. Twelve Years a Slave could be his first big hit with larger audiences due to its name stars, and the subject material seemingly would appeal more to Oscar voters. I think it has a lot of potential to be the best film of 2013.

Trailer (if available): Here

Title: The Wolf of Wall Street

Release: Fall

Genre: Crime Drama

Plot: Jordan Belfort is a successful stockbroker on Wall Street. However, things become difficult for him when he is asked to cooperate on a large case involving securities fraud and mob infiltration in the corporate banking world.

Director: Martin Scorsese

Main Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Kyle Chandler, and Jean Dujardin

Why It’s Anticipated: Martin Scorsese is working again with two of his best recent collaborators: writer Terence Winter and star Leonardo DiCaprio. Winter and Scorsese worked together on the pilot episode of Boardwalk Empire (which Winter created/wrote and Scorsese directed and executively produced). DiCaprio and Scorsese have worked together four times prior to this film, garnering Scorsese his only Oscar (for The Departed). The supporting cast is also very good. Matthew McConaughey is continuing his resurgence after a strong 2012, and this is Jean Dujardin’s first big project since The Artist made him a star in America.

Editor’s Thoughts: While Hugo was okay, I am happy to see Scorsese return to serious drama. This project seems like a great fit for him, and it will be interesting if he can make the first great feature film involving the ‘villainy’ of Wall Street in the wake of the financial crisis. So far, there have been a few good movies (Too Big to Fail, Arbitrage, and Margin Call have their moments), but nothing great (the best piece on the subject is the documentary Inside Job).

Trailer (if available): Here

Title: Terrence Malick’s 2013 projects: Knight of Cups and a film still untitled

Release: Fall or 2014 (or beyond?)

Genre: Drama, Romance, Music

Plot: Knight of Cups is about a man, temptations, celebrity, and excess, while the untitled film is about two intersecting love triangles involving obsession and betrayal set against the music scene of Austin, Texas.

Director: Terrence Malick

Main Cast: Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, and Cate Blanchett

Why It’s Anticipated: Terrence Malick is one of the great American auteurs. Typically, it is years between films, and yet he might have three films coming out in 2013 (following The Tree of Life which came out in 2011). Malick is again working with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki and production designer Jack Fisk. Their collaboration has yielded some of the most beautiful photography in recent memory (The New World and The Tree of Life are both visually tremendous). The cast across both films is brilliant as well, filled with wonderful actors: Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Teresa Palmer, Cate Blanchett, Antonio Banderas, Wes Bentley, Joel Kinnaman, Imogen Poots, Holly Hunter, Isabel Lucas, Shea Whigham, Thomas Lennon, Ryan O’Neal, Freida Pinto, Jamie Harris, Ryan Gosling, Michael Fassbender, Val Kilmer, Berenice Marlohe, Boyd Holbrook, Haley Bennett, and Florence Welch (now, the question is who will actually make it into the final cut of the films – Malick is known for shooting way more material than he needs, for example the first cut of The Thin Red Line was five hours).

Editor’s Thoughts: I have a theory that Knight of Cups and the as of now untitled film are really companion pieces. No one else is saying this, so this is pure speculation, but it just strikes me as curious that these two films were essentially shot at the same time and both star Bale, Portman, and Blanchett. I love all of Malick’s work, so these films are among the things I am most excited to see. And yes, even though it got a mixed response last year during its festival screenings, I do want to see To the Wonder too (his third film scheduled for 2013 – and the only one that is for sure actually coming out this year).

Trailer (if available): Here

Fun Films:

Title: The Bling Ring

Release: Summer

Genre: Crime Drama

Plot: Based on actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers led by Nicki decides to rob celebrities’ homes.

Director: Sofia Coppola

Main Cast: Emma Watson, Leslie Mann, and Taissa Farmiga

Why It’s Anticipated: Sofia Coppola is still considered one of the great indie filmmakers right now because of Lost in Translation (her masterpiece), but her other films also have a fantastic style and aesthetic to them (I do like Marie Antoinette and Somewhere). However, the bigger draw might be star Emma Watson taking on her first leading role since Harry Potter. She is currently atop her age group with Jennifer Lawrence, Kristen Stewart, and Emma Stone, but the behavior of moviegoers seems to be changing. Before, star power would bring in viewers (and this is still true to some degree), but today it is the genre, story, and marketing that seem to really drive ticket sales. Thus, small films like this that star emerging talents who are already big stars due to their work in huge franchises, like Watson, give an indication if star power really does play as big a role as it once did.

Editor’s Thoughts: The Bling Ring is the last film Harris Savides shot before his untimely death last October. He worked with Coppola previously on Somewhere. He was one of the true talents in indie cinema and will be very much missed. Watson has done a very good job in picking projects since finishing Harry Potter. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a wonderful teen drama (and it is too bad that not more people saw it in theatres), and her upcoming projects all sound good, including This Is the End and a supporting role in Darren Aronofsky’s Noah (which will be one of the big films of 2014). Nicki in The Bling Ring is a character unlike any she has played before, so it will be interesting to see if she can transform herself to fit the character. If the film is a critical success with Watson showing performance range, it will set her up to be among Hollywood’s most sought-after young actresses (even more so than she already is). And, Coppola has collaborated very well with young actresses in the past: Kirsten Dunst, Scarlett Johannson, and Elle Fanning.

Trailer (if available): Here

Title: Can a Song Save Your Life?

Release: Summer or Fall

Genre: Dramedy, Music

Plot: A music business executive who is fed up and disheartened with the business, finds new life after forming a bond with a young struggling singer-songwriter new to Manhattan.

Director: John Carney

Main Cast: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfeld, and Catherine Keener

Why It’s Anticipated: While Once was little seen during its theatrical run, it has gained a bigger following on DVD since. It is maybe the best musical of the last decade and a beautiful love story. Therefore, its director John Carney doing another music-centric drama should make a lot of Once’s fans very excited. However, this time Carney is working with bigger name actors like Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley who star, as well as executive producer Judd Apatow (who seems like an odd collaborator at first, but his work does feature well-done characters and heart much like Carney’s own). This film will being Carney’s genius to a much larger audience (I just hope he can capture the same magic as Once).

Editor’s Thoughts: In addition to the strong group of actors starring in the film, it also features Adam Levine (of Maroon 5), CeeLo Green, and Yasiin Bey (formally known as Mos Def) as well, all of which bring great musical talent to the film (and Bey is a good actor too). I am also quite looking forward to seeing Hailee Steinfeld’s performance. She was brilliant in The Coen Brothers’ True Grit, but I have not seen her in anything since. 2013 will likely be a huge breakthrough year for her, as she also stars in Romeo and Juliet, Three Days to Kill, and Ender’s Game (which, while not making my most anticipated list, is on many people’s 2013 lists).

Trailer (if available): Here

Title: Her

Release: Summer or Fall

Genre: Comedy

Plot: Theodore is a lonely writer who develops a strange relationship with a newly-purchased operating system that is designed to fulfill his every need.

Director: Spike Jonze

Main Cast: Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix, and Samantha Morton

Why It’s Anticipated: Spike Jonze is a wonderfully imaginative and unique directing talent. And, he is working with a fabulous group of actors. Her (which is the working title and could be changed) sounds like another weird concept, much like Jonze’s brilliant collaborations with Charlie Kaufman: Being John Malkovich and Adaptation., though Jonze wrote this film (as he did his last film Where the Wild Things Are) and is not working with Kaufman.

Editor’s Thoughts: I am most interested in seeing Jonze’s work with Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, and Rooney Mara as he seems to bring out amazing performances from his actors, like: Nicholas Cage and Chris Cooper in Adaptation. while John Malkovich is hysterical in Being John Malkovich and John Cusack gives maybe the best performance of his career in the film. Additionally, I am excited to see the collaboration between cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema (one of the best working right now, having shot The Fighter, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and Let the Right One In) and Jonze.

Trailer (if available): Here

Title: Inside Llewyn Davis

Release: Fall

Genre: Drama, Music

Plot: Llewyn Davis is a folk singer-songwriter trying to make it in the 1960s’ New York Greenwich Village scene.

Director: Ethan and Joel Coen

Main Cast: Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, Garrett Hedlund, John Goodman, and Oscar Isaac

Why It’s Anticipated: Every new Coen Brothers film is a big deal for cinema fans, as they are among America’s great auteurs. Plus, they have been on a streak of great films since No Country for Old Men. The cast featuring Justin Timberlake, Garrett Hedlund (who was the best part of Country Strong), and newcomer (and likely future star) Oscar Isaac also seem to be a great fit for the music scenes – and the last time the Coens did a music centric film we were treated to O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Editor’s Thoughts: I am interested to see how the collaboration between French cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel and the Coen Brothers works out. They have worked with Roger Deakins on eleven of their last twelve films since Barton Fink (Emmanuel Lubezki shot Burn After Reading for them). Delbonnel is one of the finest D.P.s working right now (and one of my favorite). He is known for his stylized color palettes and well-defined grain structure of his film stock. Often, he saturates his primary colors with desaturated muted secondary colors. This look is definitely apparent in the trailer, giving the film sort of a somber feel. The film should play as a love letter to the folk music scene of 1960s Greenwich Village (which birthed Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Mimi and Richard Farina – plus, this is loosely based off Dave Van Ronk’s memoir The Mayor of MacDougal Street). I just wonder how much Delbonnel’s distinctive visual style will affect the Coens’ own style.

Trailer (if available): Here

Title: Mood Indigo

Release: Fall

Genre: Romance, Fantasy

Plot: Colin meets Chloe; they fall in love and get married. But, on their honeymoon Chloe falls ill with an unusual illness caused by a flower growing in her lungs.

Director: Michel Gondry

Main Cast: Audrey Tautou, Romain Duris, Omar Sy, and Gad Elmaleh

Why It’s Anticipated: Michel Gondry is one of the most inventive visual directors working in cinema right now. Films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep exhibit a unique, children’s fantasy quality to them, but still have strong narratives and wonderfully full characters. Mood Indigo very much looks like The Science of Sleep, stylistically (which is great).

Editor’s Thoughts: As a fan of Gondry’s work, I am looking forward to this, as he has a very distinctive feel and look to his work (usually – though his Hollywood film The Green Hornet was visually fairly generic). However, I may be even more enthusiastic for this film’s cast (or at least their coupling with Gondry). Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh (who is hilarious in Priceless and The Valet, and has a funny cameo in Midnight in Paris), and Omar Sy are among France’s great talents. Plus, Duris and Tautou have great chemistry from their work with Cedric Klapisch (and his trilogy beginning with L’Auberge Espagnole). All four actors feel like perfect choices to work with Gondry (I cannot wait to see this).

Trailer (if available): Here