Most Anticipated Films of 2014 – Part 2: Prestige and Fun Films

Prestige Films:

Title: Gone Girl

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.

Director: David Fincher

Main Cast: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, and Scoot McNairy

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)

Title: Foxcatcher

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.

Director: Bennett Miller

Main Cast: Channing Tatum, Steve Carell, Sienna Miller, and Mark Ruffalo

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)

Title: Inherent Vice

Release: Fall/Winter

Genre: Drama

Plot: 1970s Los Angeles, Larry “Doc” Sportello, a drug-dependent detective, investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend.

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

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)

Title: Trash

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.

Director: Stephen Daldry

Main Cast: Rooney Mara, Martin Sheen, and Wagner Moura

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?).

Director: Terrence Malick

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:

Title: The Grand Budapest Hotel

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.

Director: Wes Anderson

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.

Trailer: Here

Title: Transcendence

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.

Director: Wally Pfister

Main Cast: Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Kate Mara, Morgan Freeman, and Paul Bettany

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).

Trailer: Here

Title: The Interview

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.

Director: Evan Goldberg & Seth Rogan

Main Cast: Seth Rogan, James Franco, and Lizzy Caplan

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)

Title: Exodus

Release: December 12

Genre: Drama/Epic

Plot: The story of Moses leading the Israelite slaves out of Egypt.

Director: Ridley Scott

Main Cast: Christian Bale, Aaron Paul, Joel Edgerton, Sigourney Weaver, and Ben Kingsley

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)

Title: The Imitation Game

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.

Director: Morten Tydum

Main Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Mark Strong, and Charles Dance

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)

Most Anticipated Films of 2014 – Part 1: Blockbusters

Title: Noah

Release: March 28

Genre: Action/Adventure Epic

Plot: Noah is inundated with apocalyptic visions of the world ending – a sign from God that a massive flood is coming to cleanse the Earth. It is up to him to take measures to protect his family (and the many species of animals).

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Main Cast: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, Emma Watson, and Ray Winstone

Editor’s Thoughts: I have a feeling that Noah is going to be a somewhat polarizing film, because it comes loaded with religious implications/expectations. Will the film live up to what Christians believe it should be? Personally, however, I am more interested to see what Darren Aronofsky does with his first Hollywood big budget, special effects-driven film. He is a very talented writer-director, who has made a career making films that feature wonderful performances and have a great edgy tone (I particularly liked Black Swan). Aronofsky has a very good cast (including the reuniting of A Beautiful Mind’s Crowe and Connelly) and crew; thus aesthetically and performance wise, the film should be very good, which leaves only Aronofsky’s interpretation of the Biblical story in question. I think it is going to be a fantastically visual and visceral event film (that is likely to anger some in the religious community).

Trailer: Here

Title: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Release: April 4

Genre: Action/Adventure

Plot: Following the events of The Avengers, Steve Rogers struggles to assume his leadership role within S.H.I.E.L.D. He still finds his place in the modern world difficult. But when S.H.I.E.L.D. faces a major new threat from the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier, Rogers must fully embrace his role, as well as face past demons.

Director: Anthony Russo & Joe Russo

Main Cast: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, and Robert Redford

Editor’s Thoughts: Marvel’s phase II films have been very good so far, both Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World are better than any of the phase I individual superhero films. Marvel’s cinematic universe has a great combination of action, adventure, comedy, and drama. Yet each film feels like its own thing too. The Winter Soldier looks like it going to be a great spy thriller style action film. The only question that I have regarding the film is the choice of directors, being that the Russo Brothers are primarily known for their work directing TV comedies (like Community and Happy Endings) and this is much different project. Marvel, however, is very pleased with their work and has already hired them to direct Captain America 3. Based on what I have seen, this looks like it very well could be 2014’s best superhero film.

Trailer: Here

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Release: May 2

Genre: Action/Adventure

Plot: Peter Parker continues to live it up as Spider-Man, enjoy his relationship with Gwen Stacy, and digging deeper into the mystery involved in the disappearance of his parents with everything pointing at Oscorp. His life is thrown into turmoil, however, when suddenly faced with multiple supervillains, including Electro and The Rhino.

Director: Marc Webb

Main Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, and Paul Giamatti

Editor’s Thoughts: While The Amazing Spider-Man served as a decent introduction to the rebooted world of Spider-Man, it was not a great overall film (especially when compared to Sam Raimi’s first two Spider-Man films). That said, I do really like Garfield as Parker and Stone as Stacy. They are a great place to build from. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 looks like it potentially will be really good and entertaining. There has been a lot of complaining that it is overstuffed with villains (something many see as the downfall of Spider-Man 3), but the plan is for the series to stretch four films. Thus, if the character development is done right, it could be very satisfying to see Spider-Man exist in a bigger world, rather than just the typical new big bad of each film (which makes them all rather generic structurally). I am very excited to see if this lives up to its potential, as I am ready to enjoy good Spider-Man films again.

Trailer: Here

Title: Godzilla

Release: May 16

Genre: Adventure/Sci-Fi

Plot: Civilization trembles as a giant radioactive monster called Godzilla wreaks havoc and destruction upon mankind.

Director: Gareth Edwards

Main Cast: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, and Ken Watanabe

Editor’s Thoughts: For those who have seen Monsters, there is a particular excitement for Gareth Edwards directing of this new Godzilla film – one of gleeful anticipation, as Monsters is a great Godzilla-like thriller. Edwards also has a fantastic cast as well (including The Avengers: Age of Ultron’s Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch). A new Godzilla is not really a film that we really thought we needed, especially in the wake of the character’s terrible last iteration, but this film looks like it is going to be awfully good.

Trailer: Here

Title: X-Men: Days of Future Past

Release: May 23

Genre: Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi

Plot: The future is doomed. Both humans and mutants find themselves dwindling in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. In an effort to change the future, the remaining X-Men send Wolverine back to the past to find the younger versions of Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr and avert the events that lead to this nightmarish future.

Director: Bryan Singer

Main Cast: Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, and Patrick Stewart

Editor’s Thoughts: The X-Men franchise is all a bit of a mess. X-Men: First Class (easily my favorite of the series) probably should have just existed as a reboot instead of part of the same continuing series (a series in which the timeline makes no sense). But this is not the case. It is also too bad that Matthew Vaughn did not return, as he did a great job with First Class. Instead, Bryan Singer assumes the role as director again (having directed the first two films in the series – both very overrated). It is also too bad that Fox and Singer have decided to once again make this a Wolverine-centric film (when in the comics it is Kitty Pryde that goes back in time, a character I and many really like, and would have been a nice change, plus they have Ellen Page playing her). I am sick of Wolverine and Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of him (even though I did enjoy The Wolverine) in this series. But, all that said, there are some cool things about this too. The First Class cast is fantastic and mostly all returning, plus it will be brilliant to see the interaction between the old and new versions of the X-Men (if there are any). Also, Peter Dinklage as Boliver Trask will likely be wonderfully fun. The film features a ton of characters, but Singer has done a decent job in the past with large ensembles; so I am not as worried about that as I am about him as the director in general (being that he has never made a truly good film – The Usual Suspects does not hold up upon multiple viewings and is maybe the most overrated film of all time). Yes, there is a lot of potential for this to be fantastic and I hope it is; but like the X-Men franchise itself, there is just as much potential for it to be a big disappointing mess.

Trailer: Here

Title: Jupiter Ascending

Release: July 18

Genre: Action/Sci-Fi

Plot: Jupiter Jones is just an average human woman (a janitor in fact), or so she thinks. Then one day she is targeted for assassination by the Queen of the Universe. Jones is rescued by an alien man named Caine who helps her begin her destiny to end the Queen’s reign.

Director: The Wachowskis

Main Cast: Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, Sean Bean, Douglas Booth, and Eddie Redmayne

Editor’s Thoughts: Jupiter Ascending is the first chapter of The Wachowskis’ new Star Wars-like trilogy. It looks potentially really cool and ambitious. We have not had a good sci-fi series in cinemas for a while and it is a void that this can hopefully fill in a satisfying way. I really liked Cloud Atlas, a crazily ambitious film, and thus I have high expectations for this new project from the Wachowskis.

Trailer: Here

Title: Guardians of the Galaxy

Release: August 1

Genre: Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi

Plot: American pilot Peter Quill finds himself lost in the far reaches of Space. And even worst, he is the object of a galactic manhunt after he steals an orb greatly coveted by Ronan the Accuser. But Quill soon finds the aid of a group of warriors, who band together in an effort to stop Ronan from recapturing the orb.

Director: James Gunn

Main Cast: Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, John C. Reilly, and Benicio Del Toro

Editor’s Thoughts: Guardians of the Galaxy is a big move for Marvel’s cinematic universe. Firstly, it expands it greatly by introducing many new characters and worlds. Secondly, it tests the box office waters for non-Avengers’ movies. And lastly, it introduces an element of weird into the universe – something that could be fantastic if done right. James Gunn (the director of things like Slither and Super) seems like a great fit to bring a bit of weird to Marvel’s films. And, he has a really great cast with him. I am unfamiliar with the comics; but based on what I have read and seen, Guardians of the Galaxy has a lot of potentially to be something wonderfully entertaining and different – something very much needed in Summer blockbusters.

Trailer: Here 

Title: Interstellar

Release: November 7

Genre: Action/Drama/Sci-Fi

Plot: A recently discovered wormhole allows a group of explorers to surpass the limitations of what is available to humans in their knowledge of the universe and travel vast distances through Space and discover new worlds.

Director: Christopher Nolan

Main Cast: Mathew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, and Casey Affleck

Editor’s Thoughts: There is not a lot known about Interstellar at the moment, and the teaser trailer is vague on the plot as well. What we do know is that it is a new film by Christopher Nolan, and really that is enough. For me, this is probably the film I am most looking forward to in 2014 (although, The Grand Budapest Hotel is right there too). Nolan’s last original film was Inception, a theist-thriller that succeeded on every level of grand filmmaking. The expectations for Interstellar are thusly the same.

Trailer: Here

Title: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1

Release: November 21

Genre: Adventure/Sci-Fi

Plot: Though reluctant, Katniss Everdeen becomes the symbol of rebellion against the Capitol (building on the events of the first two films).

Director: Francis Lawrence

Main Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Woody Harrelson, and Julianne Moore

Editor’s Thoughts: Let me first start by saying how sad I am at the passing of Philip Seymour Hoffman, a wonderfully talented actor whose work I really enjoyed. He will be missed. I am excited to finally see a Hunger Games movie in which something interesting happens (or presumably happens, I have not read the books). In The Hunger Games, Katniss is let off the hook on having to make any truly difficult choices; and in Catching Fire, Katniss is left out of the loop (and so too are the audience by narrative design) and thus sidelined from the more interesting narrative going on behind the scenes, while we are left to watch what is basically the same movie as the first again. It feels like the audience, through Katniss, is finally being allowed to really get at the meat of the story – one that feels fitting in today’s times of social rife and staggering wealth inequality in large portions of the world. It will be interesting to see (at least for me) if Katniss actually becomes the real protagonist of her story for once and takes charge.

Trailer: Here (if available)

Title: The Hobbit: There and Back Again

Release: December 17

Genre: Action/Adventure/Epic

Plot: Though Thorin and his company of dwarves have reached Smaug’s lair, can they defeat the dragon and reclaim their home? Will Bilbo, Gandalf, and the elves, men, and dwarves thwart the armies of orcs that come to face them in battle?

Director: Peter Jackson

Main Cast: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, and Benedict Cumberbatch

Editor’s Thoughts: I enjoyed both An Unexpected Journey and The Desolation of Smaug, but it feels like There and Back Again will probably be the most satisfying of the three films (as it will provide closure, when the other two end just as things pick up). With only seventy pages left in The Hobbit, it will be interesting to see how Peter Jackson fills what is likely another long film, and how he connects it further with The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Plus, the big battles that take place in this should be great.

Trailer: Here (if available)

Movie of the Week – Seven Samurai

This week’s movie: Seven Samurai (1954).

A poor village in rural Japan is being ransacked by bandits. The elders decide to hire seven unemployed samurai to help defend the people and the livelihood of the village.

Japanese writer-director Akira Kurosawa is considered as one of the greatest filmmakers of all-time (his prime taking place during the 1950s/60s). Seven Samurai is his masterpiece, but he also directed many other fantastic films including: Rashomon, Ikiru, Throne of Blood, Yojimbo (my personal second favorite of his films), High and Low, Red Beard, and Ran. He worked with his frequent collaborators composer Fumio Hayasaka, cinematographer Asakazu Nakai, and production designer Takashi Matsuyama on the film.

The film also stars two frequent collaborators of Kurosawa: Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura.

Seven Samurai is near the top of almost every critical list noting the top 25 films of all-time. It is the classic epitome of the samurai film, and is an absolute must-see of genre fans. The film is also a must-see for those looking to have a strong working knowledge of the greatest films in cinema’s history. Like many Kurosawa films, it was remade (reimagined) as the western The Magnificent Seven (which is nowhere near as good). Seven Samurai is an epic and somewhat difficult to get into initially for those unfamiliar with older films, but it is well worth the time and effort, as once the story gets going it is a very rewarding experience.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Video On-Demand

At the Movies – February 2014 – Part 3: Most Anticipated Films

Must-See of the Month:

The Monuments Men (George Clooney) – War Drama – Feb 7

Plot Summary: As WWII was coming to a close in Europe, the Nazi army retreating on all fronts, a team of specialists is assembled to try and save the art masterpieces that the Nazis had stolen during the war with the plans of destroying them. It will be a difficult mission, as these men are not really soldiers, but to find the art they will need to go right up to the front. Filmmakers: This is writer-director George Clooney’s fifth feature film, coming off his best to date The Ides of March (some like Good Night, and Good Luck. too but I think it is very overrated, and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind has its moments, while Leatherheads is just plain bad). He is working again with writing partner Grant Heslov, composer Alexandre Desplat, cinematographer Phedon Papamichael, and production designer James Bissell. Cast: Clooney also stars in the film with a great ensemble supporting him: Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Hugh Bonneville, and Bob Balaban. Expectations: Originally, The Monuments Men was slated as a strong competitor in the race for Best Picture, but 2013 proved to be too strong a year and thus Columbia Pictures pushed it to 2014. I also have the sneaking suspicion that it is also not the amazing film that the cast, crew, and expectation might dictate it be. February is a very weak month for movies (just ahead of January – unless you consider carryover expansion-releases from December, then it is weaker than January), and thus what would probably not be a must-see in any other month ends up being the film with the most potential. It is not necessarily a must for theater-viewing, but I think it is a strong candidate for rental. The cast alone makes it worth a look. Trailer: Here.

At the Movies – February 2014 – Part 2: Hollywood Films

Romance and Rom-Coms:

About Last Night (Steve Pink) – Romantic Comedy – Feb 14

Plot Summary: A man and woman meet in a bar, which then becomes sex, which then becomes a relationship. Can this romantic affair stand the test of the real world and the interference of their friends? Filmmakers: Director Steve Pink is probably better known as a writer – co-writing the John Cusack classics Grosse Pointe Blank and High Fidelity. But, he has had some success as a comedy director too with the films Accepted and Hot Tub Time Machine (both of which I found funny). He is working with composer Marcus Miller (Good Hair), cinematographer Michael Barrett (Ted), and production designer Jon Gary Steele (Footloose, the remake). Cast: The film stars Kevin Hart (who is in everything this winter), Michael Ealy, Regina Hall, and Joy Bryant. Christopher McDonald, Joe Lo Truglio, and Paula Patton feature in support. Expectations: How desperate is Hollywood for ideas that remaking a very mediocre 1980s Brat Pack romantic drama (About Last Night…, which is based on a David Mamet play) as a comedy sounded like a good idea? Pretty desperate. But at the same time, this was never going to be a ‘good’ movie anyway. The best we can hope for is something entertaining and hopefully funny. Kevin Hart, regardless of terrible reviews, has been on a role at the box office. Can he keep it going to become 2014’s comedian of the year (he also has Think Like a Man Too and Dance School scheduled for release? Trailer: Here.

Winter’s Tale (Akiva Goldsman) – Romance Fantasy – Feb 14

Plot Summary: Career burglar Peter Lake decides that his next score will be the very lavish Penn estate; however, mid robbery, he runs into Beverly Penn, the heiress of the estate, and surprisingly they hit it off, falling for each other. The problem is that Beverly is sick and soon dies in Peter’s arms. Magically though, Peter has the ability to be reincarnated, finding himself in modern day New York many decades after his death. As he comes to terms with his gift, he makes it his mission to somehow save the woman he loves (does that mean he time travels too?). Filmmakers: Writer-director Akivia Goldsman makes his feature debut with the film as a director – although, he has written many features (winning an Oscar for A Beautiful Mind) and has directed episodes of the TV series Kings and Fringe. He is working with composers Rupert Gregson-Williams (Veep) and Hans Zimmer (12 Years a Slave), cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (Jack Reacher), and production designer Naomi Shohan (The Lovely Bones). Cast: The film stars Colin Farrell and co-stars Jessica Brown Findlay, Jennifer Connelly, and Russell Crowe (reuniting the stars of A Beautiful Mind, though I do not think they share any scenes). Will Smith, Matt Bomer, Kevin Durand, William Hurt, Lucy Griffiths, Kevin Corrigan, Eva Marie Saint, and Graham Greene feature in support. Expectations: I like the work Akivia Goldsman did on Kings and Fringe (for the most part), and a few of the films he wrote are good (and a few are terrible, but that is not necessarily his fault). That said, Winter’s Tale just looks incredibly cheesy, hokey, sappy, and downright schmaltzy – sickeningly so. It just oozes with vapid Hollywood mawkishness. But maybe I am wrong and it will be an enjoyable romantic fantasy drama… not likely. Trailer: Here.

Action/Adventure:

RoboCop (Jose Padilha) – Sci-Fi Action – Feb 14

Plot Summary: Detroit 2028, OmniCorp has created a robotic force to patrol the world, well except in their home base of America. OmniCorp is desperate to bring their robot guardians to the States, but they need a more human segue to bridge the gap. They get their man in Alex Murphy, a police officer who is critically wounded in the line of duty. To save him, they create a part-man, part-robot police officer. Alex was a good, caring husband and father, but OmniCorp has much more nefarious plans for him. What they did not anticipate however was Alex fighting back against his programming. Filmmakers: Brazilian director Jose Padilha is potentially a fantastic fit for this remake. His Elite Squad films are very good action thrillers. He is working with composer Pedro Bromfman, cinematographer Lula Carvalho (both of whom worked with Padilha on the two Elite Squad films), and great production designer Martin Whist (Cabin in the Woods). Cast: Joel Kinnaman stars with a great supporting group, including: Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Abbie Cornish, Jackie Earle Haley, Michael K. Williams, Jennifer Ehle, Jay Baruchel, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Samuel L. Jackson, and Aimee Garcia. Expectations: While fans of the cult classic RoboCop will probably be annoyed that it is being remade, let us be honest with ourselves there is only upside to this remake. If it is great then fans should be pleased (as really the original series is not that good, even RoboCop is a little shaky), and if it is bad then the cult fans still have their original and the rest of us will just move on with our lives. I cannot really tell if the remake is going to be good. The cast and crew give me optimism, but the trailer feels a little generic and boring – probably because I have seen RoboCop many times. In any case, it will probably be somewhat entertaining and a worthwhile rental for genre fans. Trailer: Here.

Pompeii (Paul W.S. Anderson) – Disaster Action – Feb 21

Plot Summary: Milo is a slave turned gladiator who is in love with Cassia, a young woman who is betrothed to a corrupt Senator. Milo is already facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles to be with the one he loves, and then Mount Vesuvius erupts. Milo must now fight to save Cassia as the city of Pompeii falls into ruin around him. Filmmakers: Paul W.S. Anderson makes action films that are just mindless with over-the-top visuals, but they are also usually entertaining. Easy to watch spectacle driven films (things like Mortal Kombat, the Resident Evil series, and The Three Musketeers – that while not great, I did find very entertaining). He is working with composer Clinton Shorter (2 Guns), cinematographer Glen MacPherson (a frequent collaborator), and production designer Paul D. Austerberry (also a frequent collaborator). Randomly, screenwriter Julian Fellowes is one of the credited writers on the film, presumably when it was a much different movie than it is now. Cast: Kit Harington stars and Emily Browning co-stars, while Carrie-Anne Moss, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jessica Lucas, Jared Harris, and Kiefer Sutherland feature in support. Expectations: Fun fact, this is technically a foreign film, as it is a Constantin Film Produktion production – a German production house that Paul W.S. Anderson frequently works with. Anyway, Pompeii is going to be a big fun mess, as Anderson combines the disaster epic with the period epic to make a massive action thriller epic. Is it going to be good? Critically, I think the answer is no, but it will probably be very entertaining as a piece of escapist spectacle. Trailer: Here.

3 Days to Kill (McG) – Action Thriller – Feb 21

Plot Summary: Ethan Runner is a dying spy looking to reassess his priorities, having pushed his family away to keep them safe. He wants to reconnect with his estranged daughter before it is too late; however, when he is offered an experimental drug that could save his life in exchange for doing one more job, Ethan must figure out how to both make time for his daughter and accomplish his mission. Filmmakers: Director McG is a filmmaker who has cultivated a style that comprises over-stylized action sequences with a light, fun tone with films like Charlie’s Angels and This Means War (both fairly terrible movies). He also directed the very disappointing Terminator Salvation. In many ways, McG is the embodiment of the hack Hollywood director who makes soulless films aimed at appealing to the masses, void of any real artistic expression of merit (okay, maybe that is a bit harsh, but still his films are never good). He is working with composer Guillaume Roussel, cinematographer Thierry Arbogast (who shot Luc Besson’s great 1990s films), and production designers Jeremy Cassells (House M.D.) and Sebastien Inizan (Taken 2). Cast: Kevin Costner stars with support from Amber Heard, Hailee Steinfeld, and Connie Nielsen. Expectations: 3 Days to Kill feels like a loose attempt to create a new Taken-like film, but with McG behind the camera the best anyone can hope for is a vaguely entertaining action thriller that succeeds thanks to its cast. It will probably be a lesser, lighter version of a ‘Taken’ movie. Kevin Costner seems to be really looking to reemerge as an A-list star (recapturing his status – he was a good leading man in the 1980s/1990s with many great films). He was good in Man of Steel last summer, and in 2014 he has Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (which was generic but enjoyable), this film, Draft Day (which looks like a good sports drama, something he excels at), McFarland, and Black and White – very busy (I wonder if it will pay-off). Trailer: Here.

Non-Stop (Jaume Collet-Serra) – Mystery Action Thriller – Feb 28

Plot Summary: Bill Marks is an air marshal aboard a transatlantic flight. Everything seems calm and normal until he receives a mysterious text claiming that a passenger will be killed every few minutes until the airline transfers $150 million into an off-shore account. Marks begins to investigate, only to find that he is being set up and the account is in his name. Now, he must find the killer among a plane full of ordinary-looking passengers and crew, while those around him begin to question whether he might be the killer himself. Filmmakers: Director Jaume Collet-Serra reunites with star Liam Neeson for another mystery action thriller, following up Unknown, which was decently enjoyable. Collet-Serra is also working with composer John Ottman and cinematographer Flavio Martinez Labiano again, while production designer Alec Hammond (Sleepy Hollow) is new to the team. Cast: Liam Neeson stars with a surprisingly great supporting cast featuring Lupita Nyong’o, Julianne Moore, Michelle Dockery, Anson Mount, Corey Stoll, Bar Paly, and Scoot McNairy. Expectations: Speaking of Taken (see above, 3 Days to Kill), it is hard to separate Liam Neeson from that franchise. When I see the trailer for Non-Stop all I can think is Taken on a plane, even though narratively that does not seem the case at all. Instead, this looks to be a twist driven action thriller with all the characters trapped in a small space. Yes, this has been done many times, but of all the action movies in February this looks the most promising. I may even see it in theaters. Trailer: Here.

Comedy:

The Lego Movie (Phil Lord & Christopher Miller) – Animated Action Comedy – Feb 7

Plot Summary: Emmet Brickowoski is just an ordinary Lego man, nothing extraordinary about him at all. His whole life suddenly changes when he is mistaken as the MasterBuilder – the only one who can stop Lord Business from destroying the Lego world by gluing it together. To do this, Emmet must rediscover the power of imagination, with the help of a few friends. Filmmakers: The directing team of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller has proved themselves to be good comedy filmmakers. Both Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and 21 Jump Street are very funny. They are a perfect fit for The Lego Movie. They are working with again with composer Mark Mothersbaugh and cinematographer Barry Peterson, while animation/vfx experts cinematographer Pablo Paisted and production designer Grant Freckelton join the team to help with the stop-motion aspect of the film. Cast: The voice cast is pretty great. Chris Pratt voices Emmet, while Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, Alison Brie, Anthony Daniels, Charlie Day, Will Ferrell, Will Forte, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman, Jonah Hill, Jake Johnson, Liam Neeson, Shaquille O’Neal, Nick Offerman, Cobie Smulders, Jorma Taccone, Channing Tatum, and Billy Dee Williams lend their voices as well in support. Expectations: The Lego Movie looks really funny, and fantastically imaginative with a bunch of recognizable characters showing up (like Batman!). This very well could be the best movie of the month and a kids’ movie that will probably be a blast for the parents too. It also has a fun lead in song: Everything is Awesome by Lonely Island and Tegan and Sara. I think this is definitely a worthwhile rental for comedy fans. Trailer: Here.

At the Movies – February 2014 – Part 1: Independent Films

Art-House Dramas:

The Wind Rises (Hayao Miyazaki) – Animation Drama – Feb 21

Plot Summary: The film looks into the life of Jiro Horikoshi, a man who designed Japanese fighter planes (like the Mitsubishi A6M Zero) during WWII. Filmmakers: The Wind Rises is apparently legendary Japanese animator and storyteller Hayao Miyaki’s last film (unless he decides to come back and make another film, of course). He is known for such brilliant works as My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle. Miyaki is again working with frequent collaborator composer Joe Hisaishi. Cast: The English version voice cast includes: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Mae Whitman, Jennifer Grey, Stanley Tucci, Elijah Wood, John Krasinski, William H. Macy, Mandy Patinkin, Darren Criss, Werner Herzog, and Martin Short. Expectations:  The Wind Rises is nominated for Best Animated Feature at this year’s Academy Awards. It was the favorite among critics in 2013, but it faces stiff competition for the Oscar from Frozen (which I loved). This is of course a must-see for fans of wonderful animated features as Miyaki is a master. This film is a bit different, however, as it is not a fantasy (like his past work) but rather a biography drama of a real person in Japanese history. Trailer: Here.

Welcome to Yesterday (Dean Israelite) – Sci-Fi Thriller – Feb 28

Plot Summary: Things start to get out of control for a group of teenage friends when they discover the plans to a time machine, construct it, and use it to alter their lives. Filmmakers: This marks the feature debut of director Dean Israelite. He is working with cinematographer Matthew J. Lloyd (Robot & Frank). Cast: The ensemble features fresh faces including: Sofa Black-D’Elia, Jonny Weston, Ginny Gardner, Katie Garfield, Sam Lerner, Allen Evangelista, Michelle DeFraites, and Patrick Johnson. Expectations: Welcome to Yesterday is yet another cheaply made found-footage style narrative. Most of these films are terrible and not worth your time; however, there have also been a few good ones as well: Chronicle and Project X come to mind. Welcome to Yesterday looks interesting. It very well might be a decent thriller. It is probably worth checking out via Netflix (assuming it does turn out to be good). Trailer: Here.

Art-House Comedies:

Vampire Academy (Mark Waters) – Horror Comedy – Feb 7

Plot Summary: There is feud stretching back multiple generations between the Moroi (peaceful, mortal vampires) and the Strigoi (bloodthirsty, immortal vampires). Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir (half human/vampire), a guardian of the Moroi. She is tasked with protecting the Moroi Princess Vasilia Dragomir as they attend St. Vladimir’s Academy (a high school) from Strigoi attack. Filmmakers: Director Mark Waters seems like a good fit for this, as he has a good background in teen comedies, such as: Freaky Friday and Mean Girls. He is working with composer Rolfe Kent (who also scored Mean Girls for Waters), cinematographer Tony Pierce-Roberts (Underworld), and production designer Frank Walsh (who is also working as the art director on 2014’s Maleficent). Cast: Zoey Deutch and Lucy Fry star, with Danila Kozlovsky, Gabriel Byrne, Dominic Sherwood, Olga Kurylenko, Sarah Hyland, Cameron Monaghan, Claire Foy, and Joely Richardson in support. Expectations: Vampire Academy is clearly yet another attempt to capitalize on the potential of the young adult market (specifically the Twilight fan base) with a teen fantasy comedy/drama/romance series based on a popular series of books (not surprisingly, a series I have never heard of, but that was true of Twilight, The Hunger Games, and pretty much every other YA book series too). There seems to be a lot of excitement and anticipation for this film on a few movie blogs, but I have not seen much mainstream marketing. I have a feeling this might just exist as a cult film with limited mainstream crossover potential. Instead of going big budget right off the bat with an unproven franchise, the producers have opted to test the market with a relatively inexpensive film. Not a bad idea. This does not look like a film that should interest me (and I am kind of sick of weird vampire stories), but at the same time it looks kind of fun too and it is nice to see that this is more on the comedy side than yet another overly melodramatic fantasy drama. Trailer: Here.

Lust for Love (Anton King) – Romantic Comedy – Feb 7

Plot Summary: Astor has always had a crush on Mila. Finally he gets a chance to woo her, but his inexperience with women gets in the way. Distraught, he seeks help from Cali (Mila’s former best friend) to teach him how to properly court women with the aim of winning Mila back (but, this being a rom-com, Cali and Astor will likely develop feelings too making things complicated). Filmmakers: This marks the feature debut of writer-director Anton King. He is working with composer Darren Morze, cinematographer Adam Bricker, and production designer Rachel Payne. Cast: The film is a Dollhouse reunion of sorts. It stars Fran Kranz and Dichen Lachman (who is also a producer on the film), while featuring Beau Garrett, Caitlin Stasey, Enver Gjokaj, Miracle Laurie, Felicia Day, and Maurissa Tancharoen in support. Kranz, Lachman, Gjokaj, Laurie, and Day were all on Dollhouse together, and Tancharoen co-wrote a number of episodes. Expectations: Lust for Love will be available On-Demand February 7^th, which is how many indie films are being distributed these days – straight to the internet. It looks like a great little romantic comedy, a genre I have always loved despite its awful mishandling for the most part over the last couple decades. As one of the few fans of Dollhouse, I am excited to see these actors all work together again, as they did have great chemistry on the show. I think this is definitely one to check out On-Demand or on Netflix for fans of the genre. Trailer: Here.

Movie of the Week – The Red Shoes

This week’s movie: The Red Shoes (1948).

A young ballerina Victoria Page is torn between the man she loves, rising star composer Julian Craster, and a career in Boris Lermontov’s ballet as prima ballerina, dancing The Red Shoes (based on Hans Christian Andersen’s story).

The Red Shoes is maybe the crowning achievement of the Archers (Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger), the filmmaking team responsible for many of cinema’s greatest works. As usual, the Archers work with their frequent collaborators on the film, including: composer Brian Easdale (whose brilliant score won an Oscar), cinematographer Jack Cardiff (whose work is monumentally beautiful), and production designer Hein Heckroth (who usually worked with the Archers as an art director and costume designer, but for The Red Shoes he stepped up to produce un-matched work in 1940s cinema, and he won an Oscar for it; he would go on to have a strong career as a production designer, but The Red Shoes was his first). The film is probably the Archers’ high profile as it was nominated for Best Picture (but lost to Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet, which also very good but not quite on the same level), their only nomination in the category.

The film stars Moira Shearer (a real life ballerina), Anton Walbrook (who is phenomenal in the role of Lermontov – just mesmerizing, and one of my all-time favorite performances), and Marius Goring. Featuring in support are Robert Helpmann, Leonide Massine, Albert Basserman, Ludmilla Tcherina, Esmond Knight, Austin Trevor, Eric Berry, and Irene Brown, a combination of strong character actors and world famous ballet dancers. Many of the actors frequently worked with the Archers as well.

The Red Shoes is a masterpiece, showcasing the true brilliance of the Technicolor look. It is a film that fully embraces itself as a piece of art, while also completely engaging the viewer emotionally. It is possibly the best film ever made (something I would argue strongly, as it is among my absolute favorites). The Archers are often forgotten when people talk about the greatest filmmakers in cinema’s history, and yet they made a series of masterpieces and good films during the 1940s unmatched by any other filmmaker during the decade. Their Technicolor trilogy (The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, Black Narcissus, and  The Red Shoes – although, you could add A Matter of Life and Death in there too as it is partially in Technicolor and partially in black & white) is their finest achievement. Those unfamiliar with the Archers’ work will find themselves completely changed by their striking and compelling films. I wish I could go back and watch these films again for the first time. Plus, the Criterion Blu-ray releases of a few of their films are just beautiful – with special thanks to Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Video On-Demand