The coming year features some (what will hopefully be) great titles, and until disappointment has time to set in, this 2012 Movie Preview should give you some indication as to what to keep an eye out for. As for me, I have a select few that I'm most anticipating: Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained; David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis: Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises; Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey; Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom; and Ridley Scott’s Prometheus. If these films live up to their vast potential, 2012 will be a great year for film indeed.
For a complete list of upcoming releases and their respective movie trailers, visit the Calendar.
Haywire
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: January 20
Steven Soderbergh has announced that he’ll soon be retiring from the director’s chair to pursue other artistic interests. If that’s more than just rumor, then before he leaves the field he’s departing with a bang and debuting three new projects in 2012. The first is Haywire, an action pic starring MMA fighter (and former American Gladiator) Gina Carano. Reteaming with screenwriter Lem Dobbs, the scribe behind The Limey, Soderbergh’s film follows super-spy Carano who is double-crossed by her agency. When she turns on the organization that betrayed her, she faces supporting castmembers Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, and Channing Tatum. With Dobbs’ weighty writing style, a slew of interesting performances, and an actress whose natural toughness will bring a sense of veracity to the whole, this film should a worthy follow-up to Soderbergh’s hit from 2011, Contagion.
The Secret World of Arrietty
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: February 17
The future of Japan’s premier animation house, Studio Ghibli, is uncertain. Their last two releases, Hayao Miyazaki’s charmer Ponyo and his son Goro’s underwhelming Tales from Earthsea, failed to perform in U.S. markets like the elder director’s Spirited Away did in 2001. Whether or not Ghibli’s release of Hiromasa Yonebayashi’s The Secret World of Arrietty will make up for that depends on the distributors at Disney. Ponyo was released in only a few hundred theaters, whereas Tales from Earthsea barely made a handful. If Ghibli wants their new film to perform, Disney will have to increase the marketing and distribution spread and create awareness of the project early on. The story, based on the novel by Mary Norton, follows the Clock family, a group of 4-inch-tall people who survive by borrowing supplies from big people. Ever lose a button? Chances are people like the Clocks took it. Their secret world is exposed, however, when the daughter Arrietty lets herself be known to some big people. This basic setup has vast potential to draw and delight families, assuming they’re aware of the film’s existence.
This Means War
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: February 17
On paper, This Means War sounds like an instant hit with a wide demographic. Chris Pine (Star Trek) and Tom Hardy (Inception) play CIA secret agents who, as it turns out, are both dating the same woman (Reese Witherspoon). Once they become aware of this, they agree to let her make up her mind about which one she prefers, but at the same time they use their arsenal of spy gadgetry to thwart the other’s chances. Sounds fun, right? There’s romance for the ladies, action for the guys—you can just see the dollar signs flashing in a Hollywood exec’s eyes. Despite the presence of Charlie’s Angels and Terminator: Salvation helmer McG, as he is known, behind the camera, this release still looks like a blast. Even more so because the cast appears to be having fun with their roles. If it’s one thing I never though I’d see, it’s Tom Hardy, intense star of Bronson and Warrior, in a rom-com actioner. You’re next, Christian Bale.
John Carter
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: March 9
Having changed the more grandiose title of author Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novel A Princess of Mars to John Carter of Mars, and then trimmed it down to just John Carter, it’s unclear what Pixar is going for. Simplicity, I suppose. But there’s little about Burroughs’ novel that’s simple. The tale follows the titular Civil War veteran as he’s mysteriously transported to Mars, a place inhabited by scaly, barbarian-like creatures and a princess who needs rescuing. As the first live-action film by Pixar, the film boasts some very special FX, but the choice of Taylor Kitsch as Carter raises an eyebrow. The supporting cast is far more impressive, however, including Willem Dafoe, Mark Strong, Ciarán Hinds, Samantha Morton, and Thomas Haden Church. Best of all, WALL·E helmer Andrew Stanton follows Brad Bird’s recent cue and makes the transition from animation to live action with a production (hopefully) worthy of his talent. Overall, this rather serious PG-13 rated adventure is a risky venture for Pixar, who will no doubt make up for their losses with this year’s big animated feature, Brave.
The Hunger Games
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: March 23
Director Gary Ross of Pleasantville and Seabiscuit fame seems an unlikely choice to helm what will undoubtedly become Lionsgate’s equivalent to the Twilight franchise (if it succeeds). Along with Suzanne Collins, author of the teen novels on which The Hunger Games is based, Ross developed the screen story. Although like everyone else I’ll race to read the first book before the release date, I’ve already heard the first book ends like a typical Hollywood franchise opener—with lead-in service for the second book. While that’s fine when all it takes is a library run to read the sequel, movies that have tried this approach have failed, leaving us to wonder what happens after The Golden Compass, Eragon, and The Last Airbender. Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) stars as Katniss Everdeen, a teen who volunteers to take her younger sister’s place in a televised fight to the death. Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, and Lenny Kravitz also star. Early trailers look promising; but let’s hope there’s more cinematic merit here than the last Stephanie Meyer’s adaptation.
The Cabin in the Woods
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: April 13
One of the films finally hitting theaters after MGM finalized arrangements with Lionsgate, The Cabin in the Woods features a screenplay by Joss Whedon and his Buffy the Vampire scribe Drew Goddard, who makes his directing debut. The story reportedly starts like a typical horror movie, with a group of friends at a woodland cabin meeting their demise one-by-one, but shifts into something more mysterious as the plot unfolds. Did you expect Whedon to play to conventions? Along with the talent involved (Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Chris Hemsworth, and Jodelle Ferland star), this tightly kept secret, jealously reserved by those in-the-know, has created a lot of buzz. And after waiting for upwards of two years to discover what the big secret is, finally finding out will be a relief. Also, isn’t it odd that Whedon had worked with Thor himself (Hemsworth) long before the actor became the God of Thunder, and now Whedon’s directing him in The Avengers?
Wettest County
Release Date: April 20
With McG’s could-be-fun actioner This Means War hitting theaters in March 2012, and The Dark Knight Rises coming in July, 2012 is bound to be actor Tom Hardy’s breakout year. In this decidedly less mainstream release, Wettest County, director John Hillcoat (The Road) takes us back to Depression-era Virginia, where a bootlegging gang goes to war with authorities. It’s a true story about Franklin County’s Bondurants brothers, a trio of wannabe gangsters who transform their moonshine business into an organized crime syndicate for the bumpkins. Think The Untouchables meets Winter’s Bone. Hillcoat reteams with collaborator Guy Pearce, as well as Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain, Gary Oldman, and Mia Wasikowska. Based on historical novel by Matt Bondurant, descendant of the actual Bondurants, the film was adapted by musician Nick Cave, who also wrote Hillcoat’s brilliant Aussie Western The Proposition.
The Five-Year Engagement
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: April 25
Riding his success with The Muppets, Jason Segel reteams with Nicholas Stoller, director of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, for another hard-R romantic comedy. Written by Segel and Stoller, The Five-Year Engagement charts the relationship of Segel and his fiancée Emily Blunt, who become engaged, except that they keep putting off an actual wedding and begin questioning if they’ll ever be married. Will there be puppets involved? Will Segel bare all again? Will Russell Brand and Jonah Hill make appearances? Could it ever top the bittersweetness of Forgetting Sarah Marshall? This Apatow-produced comedy looks like a gender-friendly version of Bridesmaids, offering both male and female perspectives on impending nuptials. And given the talent involved on and off-screen, it’s hard to imagine this being anything less than a hit.
The Avengers
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: May 4
Prior to Marvel’s ho-hum efforts on Captain America: The First Avenger, the prospect of The Avengers, a massive superhero movie crossover event, had limitless possibilities. And those possibilities are still pretty darn huge, but my expectations have been curbed. 2011’s superhero movies were good, not great, proving Marvel’s independently produced films are fully capable of underwhelming audiences. Doesn’t it seem likely that putting all of their eggs in one basket—Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Chris Evans’ Captain America, Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury, Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk (sadly, no Edward Norton)—will inevitably disappoint? Moreover, assigned writer-director Joss Whedon has yet to prove himself as a filmmaker. His Firefly feature Serenity was, again, good not great. And without a firm grasp of what Whedon has planned in terms of plot, it’s hard to be truly giddy about a project that should be great, but might end up just being good.
Dark Shadows
Release Date: May 11
In the last decade, Tim Burton has done more Alice in Wonderland-esque garbage than quality films like Big Fish or Sweeny Todd. Adapting the cult TV series Dark Shadows requires not a commercial sensibility—this shouldn’t be The Addams Family or Burton’s take on Willy Wonka. It should be a gloomy, R-rated venture to satisfy the cult following and differentiate itself from Twilight. Of course, this is a pipe dream, as inevitably Burton’s commercial instincts will take over and overload the production with “fun”. Ish. Here, Burton reteams with Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Helena Bonham Carter for a colorful take on the show, and if early online photos are any indication, Depp will be playing a vamp version of Michael Jackson instead of vampire Barnabas Collins. Here’s hoping I’m completely wrong and Burton delivers a Gothic-horror tale to rival his own Sleepy Hollow.
The Dictator
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: May 11
Sacha Baron Cohen adopts another stereotype-based character in his latest team-up with Borat and Brüno director Larry Charles. In The Dictator, Cohen plays a Saddam Huessein-esque character as ruler of a fictional Middle East country known as The Republic of Wadiya. This represents his first project not based on a character created on Da Ali G. Show, which forces one to speculate if it will have the same format—combining a fictional narrative with candid camera-type antics. Based on the trailer, what we’re seeing is pure fiction with few (if any) real-life setups, which were, arguably, the best part of Cohen and Charles’ previous comedies. The cast also includes Anna Faris, John C. Reilly, and Ben Kingsley. If that last one surprises you, might I remind you Kingsley appeared in The Love Guru.
Men in Black III
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: May 25
If ever there was an unnecessary sequel, it would be this. Men In Black III seems just as too-little-too-late as Men in Black II, which came five long years after the original. But there’s no stopping Will Smith when he wants something, and he wanted this second follow-up to 1997’s first one. You just know this is Smith’s baby too, because the writer, Michael Soccio, has The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on his credits. Old pals, perhaps? After long negotiations with reluctant co-star Tommy Lee Jones, production commenced under series director Barry Sonnenfeld. Josh Brolin joins the cast, playing a younger version of Jones’ Agent K, discovered when Smith’s Agent J travels back in time. Prediction: The story finds young Agent K returning to the present, allowing Brolin to take over the franchise’s reins from Jones, who is clearly as over this franchise as I am... At least Lara Flynn Boyle and Johnny Knoxville won’t be appearing.
Moonrise Kingdom
Release Date: May 25
Wes Anderson’s first film since 2009’s stop-motion masterpiece Fantastic Mr. Fox is Moonrise Kingdom, which he co-wrote with his collaborator Roman Coppola (The Darjeeling Limited). This romantic comedy takes place on a New England island during the 1960s, when two youngsters in love (Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward) run off together. A search party led by the sleepy town’s eccentric characters, including the local Sheriff (Bruce Willis), camp leaders (Ed Norton and Harvey Keitel), and the girl's parents (Bill Murray and Frances McDormand), set out to find them. Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton, and Bob Balaban also star. Anderson’s films are always colorful and emotionally significant, and this one sounds like it aligns nicely with the writer-director’s oeuvre. As he’s one of modern cinema’s true greats, this stands out as one of 2012’s most anticipated releases.
Rock of Ages
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: June 2
In the realm of Mamma Mia!, the jukebox musical Rock of Ages uses hit songs from the glam metal days of the 1980s to formulate a narrative about the dynamic of its era’s music. On one side, there’s the sex-drugs-rock-n-roll lifestyle propelled by rock club owner Alec Baldwin and his assistant Russell Brand. Behind him are a gaggle of groupies fawning over superstar hair band rocker Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise). On the other side is a clan of religious fanatics, led by Mayor Bryan Cranston and his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, who hope to clean up the neighborhood. Paul Giamatti, Malin Ackerman, Will Forte, and no end of ‘80s rocker cameos also star. Hairspray director Adam Shankman returns to a familiar story for what looks like another fun-loving musical, but this one has an edge that may give it a boost at the box-office and draw more than your usual musical crowds.
Prometheus
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: June 8
Much has been kept secret about Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, whose connections to Fox’s Alien franchise remain elusive. Scott and co-writer Damon Lindelof have been nothing short of cryptic when talking about the production, although there does seem to be an organic connection between the films, which justify calling this one a prequel to Scott’s original Alien. This will be Scott’s first return to science-fiction since Blade Runner, and given that the director’s two-for-two record has generated nothing but classics of the genre, it’s safe to say this is a monumental release. Scott has assembled a downright awesome cast (Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, Idris Elba, and Guy Pearce) for an epic-looking space adventure into the origins of humankind. With any luck, Scott will return cinematic merit to a franchise that gave up its integrity when it started playing monster mash with the hunters from Predator.
Brave
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: June 22
Pixar’s second release of 2012, and certainly the more commercial of the two, Brave is a risky venture for the animation studio nevertheless, if only because it sounds like How to Train Your Dragon, but without dragons. The tale follows a Scottish princess Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) as she defies her kingdom’s rules and attempts to establish herself as an unlikely warrior. Plenty of Scotsmen and Brits lend their voice talents (Billy Connolly, Kevin McKidd, Robbie Coltrane, Craig Ferguson, and Emma Thompson) for this gorgeous-looking adventure—the way Merida’s fiery red hair shines in the trailer is just brilliant. It should be noted that this is Pixar’s first female protagonist, which is surprising given their history of diverse narratives. Better late than never, though. Question is, will Pixar’s dramatic tale find an audience in a summer otherwise dominated by dim-witted Madagascarand Ice Age sequels?
The Amazing Spider-Man
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: July 3
Sony and (500) Days of Summer director Marc Webb’s wholly unnecessary rehash of the Spider-Man franchise looks like they’re taking a hint from Christopher Nolan and shamelessly amplifying the story’s dramatic elements. Even the reboot’s poster looks reminiscent of The Dark Knight’s initial teaser poster. Okay, so Sam Raimi’s slight misstep on Spider-Man 3 resulted in an underwhelming movie, but Raimi’s trilogy captured the spirit of Spider-Man with perfect pitch. To simply start over after such a successful run seems hasty and, frankly, foolish. But I’ve already covered this topic in more detail (here), and so I’m left to wonder: Will a darker, more brooding Spider-Man capture the kiddies in the same humorous, comic-booky way that Raimi’s original did? Andrew Garfield is a good choice to reinvent Peter Parker. And we’re finally going to see The Lizard on the big screen courtesy of Rhys Ifans. As far as the larger conspiracy touches as hinted in the trailer, who knows what the appropriately-named Webb has in store.
The Dark Knight Rises
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: July 20
Easily among my very most anticipated films of 2012, Christopher Nolan’s final chapter in his “Gotham Trilogy”, as it’s now being called, is shrouded by the filmmaker’s usual insistence on secrecy. What we do know: The basic plot begins eight years after The Dark Knight and finds Gotham City plagued by terrorist leader Bane (Tom Hardy). But as rumors have suggested, Bane somehow connects to Batman Begins villain Ra’s Al Ghul. And Cillian Murphy has been awfully nervous when asked if he’s appearing as Scarecrow for a third time. Moreover, how does Marion Cotillard fit in? Talia Al Ghul perhaps? Oh, and let’s not forget about Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman. What part will she play in the bigger story? And you can’t tell me that Joseph Gordon-Levitt is just playing a cop, is he? Certainly there’s more to it than that. If there’s anyone who can juggle all these elements, it’s Nolan. Alas, there’s so much to consider here, but no doubt, thanks to Nolan’s tight-lipped production, we’ll be asking ourselves these questions until July 20th, when the film opens.
The Bourne Legacy
Release Date: August 3
The point of this movie is to keep the Bourne franchise in the moviegoer consciousness until Matt Damon’s schedule calms and he’s willing to commit to another sequel. The Bourne Legacy takes place in the universe created by Robert Ludlum’s spy novels, but doesn’t directly involve Jason Bourne. It’s a sequel of sorts, but with all-new characters that somehow connect to our favorites in the original trilogy. So what is it about? Nobody much knows. Jeremy Renner again takes someone else’s seconds (as implied in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol) and stars as this film’s lead. Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton also star. The best news, however, is that writer director Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton and Duplicity) is behind this pic, which means we can expect lots of twisting plot elements to fuel this spy yarn. Is there any other way to do it?
Total Recall
Release Date: August 3
After assembling a career-redefining list of independent, largely arthouse titles over the last several years (Cassandra’s Dream, In Bruges, Ondine, etc.), Colin Farrell has successfully subdued his early-2000s bad boy reputation, and even lampooned his former Self in the remake of Fright Night. Now newly refurbished, it will be interesting to see if Farrell can tackle another commercial project with Live Free and Die Hard director Len Wiseman’s remake of Paul Verhoeven’s cult actioner Total Recall. Bryan Cranston, Kate Beckinsale, Bokeen Woodbine, Bill Nighy, Ethan Hawke, and Jessica Biel also star. Reportedly more attuned to Philip K. Dick’s original short story than Verhoeven’s film, this is still a very unnecessary remake, as the original holds up quite well today, and Dick’s story was far too brief for his fans to expect a truly faithful adaptation. But it could be interesting, given’s Farrell’s presence, and new based-on-Dick films are always welcome.
ParaNorman
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: August 17
Sam Fell, director of the charming Flushed Away and unfortunate The Tale of Despereaux, co-helms the dark children’s movie ParaNorman, a story about a young boy who speaks to ghosts, witches, and all things associated with death. When his small town is threatened by a horde of zombies, this outcast must use his abilities to save everyone from a zombie curse. As the first (almost) solo project by co-director and writer Chris Butler, a storyboard supervisor on The Corpse Bride and Coraline, the results look promising. The filmmakers use stop-motion animation and characters appear highly stylized with grim angles and features, and yet there are plenty of bright colors to prevent youngsters from becoming too scared. Moreover, stop-motion animation is also the best kind of film to view with the 3D format, as it brings added depth to everything onscreen. But what sold me was the trailer: Images from the film play against Donovan’s moody psychedelic hit “Season of the Witch”. Any film marketed toward children that uses Donovan on the soundtrack must be seen.
Premium Rush
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: August 24
Although he wrote the screenplays for Jurassic Park and Spider-Man, David Koepp’s directorial work has been far less exciting—see Ghost Town or Secret Window. Koepp has stepped behind the camera once again for Premium Rush, an action film originally set for Fall 2011 but pushed back to Summer 2012 because, and this is a guess on my part, it’s so damn exciting. Don’t believe me? Watch the trailer. The film features two of today’s best actors going head-to-head in an innovative take on a familiar story. Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as a bike messenger who picks up an envelope for delivery containing information that may implicate a dirty cop, Michael Shannon (Take Shelter), in a crime. Close-quarter pursuits on crammed city streets ensue as as a menacing Shannon goes after Levitt’s bike-bound hero. Looks nothing short of thrilling.
Argo
Release Date: September 14
Ben Affleck’s growing credibility these days can be attributed to his emergence as a skilled director of solid efforts like Gone Baby Gone and The Town. Next comes Argo, a kidnapping comedy based on the 2007 Wired article “How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran” by Joshuah Bearman. The article’s title should give you some idea of what the story involves: This true story follows a CIA “exfiltration” expert in 1979 who attempts to convince Iranian kidnappers that their hostages are actually not important U.S. diplomats, but sci-fi filmmakers scouting locations for their latest film. You can’t make this stuff up. Well, I suppose you can, but it’s more interesting if you don’t. Affleck stars alongside Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Alan Arkin, and Kyle Chandler. The setting is relevant, the subject matter sounds ripe with suspense and humor, and with any luck this will be another notch of integrity in Affleck’s belt.
Savages
Release Date: September 28
Based on Don Winslow's best-selling crime novel and adapted by Oliver Stone and Winslow himself, Savages follows two potheads (Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch) whose business selling premium homegrown marijuana in Southern California comes under attack by the Mexican Baja Cartel. When their girlfriend (Blake Lively) is kidnapped by Cartel head (Salma Hayek) and her enforcer (Benicio Del Toro), the stoners wage a war against the cartel and their corrupt DEA associate (John Travolta). Stone returns to potent, violent filmmaking for the first time since U-Turn, as Winslow’s story follows a series of increasingly insane maneuvers by both parties. With any luck, this will be the return to risqué filmmaking for Stone, whose old age seems to have calmed the cynicism that fuelled his best films from the 1980s and 1990s.
Frankenweenie
Release Date: October 5
Back in 1984, before Beetlejuice or even Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Tim Burton made the short film Frankenweenie, a spoof on Frankenstein where a young boy brings his dog back from the dead. Now, because he’s become creatively stagnant, he’s returning to his short film to broaden it into a full-length feature using stop-motion animation. Not only will this be Burton’s first film not starring Johnny Depp since 2003’s underrated Big Fish, but it will place several “classic Burton” actors back under his direction: Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, and Martin Landau offer their voice talents for the film, which, admittedly, looks promising in its stylized animation and black-and-white presentation. But as much as I want this film to be good, Burton seems incapable of making good films within purely commercial restrictions anymore (he’s best when working with an R-rating: see Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, or Sweeny Todd). Which morbid, stop-motion animated children’s film will do best, Frankenweenie or ParaNorman? Only time will tell. Burton’s name-brand certainly gives this one the advantage.
The Gangster Squad
Release Date: October 19
Director Ruben Fleischer has some serious making-up to do after releasing 30 Minutes or Less as his follow-up to Zombieland. Perhaps The Gangster Squad will be the project that rekindles his potential. Here, Sean Penn plays gangster Mickey Cohen, whose East Coast Mafia plans a move into Los Angeles. On the LAPD’s side are Josh Brolin and Ryan Gosling, who lead a small crew whose sole purpose is to take down Cohen’s gang. Nick Nolte, Robert Patrick, Michael Peña, Giovanni Ribisi, Anthony Mackie, and Emma Stone also appear. This based-on-a-true-story yarn feels like a combination of L.A. Confidential and The Untouchables, and with any luck Fleischer will imbue the same kind of visual stylization that made Zombieland so unique, and resist the modern visual take that made Michael Mann’s similarly-themed, digitally-shot Public Enemies such a disappointment.
Skyfall
Release Date: November 9
Normally known for his straight dramatic efforts such as American Beauty and Revolutionary Road, director Sam Mendes seems an odd choice to helm the twenty-third James Bond adventure, underwhelmingly named Skyfall. Reports from the stars suggest this one follows a Goldfinger vibe, although isn’t that falling into the same old 007 trap? Wasn’t Casino Royale great specifically because it didn’t reduce the story to the blueprints of the Sean Connery/Roger Moore era of Bond filmmaking? Questionable plotting aside, Mendes’ cast proves nothing short of intriguing: Daniel Craig returns as Bond; Judi Dench returns as M; Javier Bardem plays the villain; Naomie Harris (28 Days Later) plays the resident “Bond girl”; Ralph Fiennes will appear in a top-secret role. The plot follows Bond as his trust in M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. As long as the action scenes aren’t shaky-cam nonsense like they were in Quantum of Solace, this casual Bond fan will be pleased.
Gravity
Release Date: November 21
Gravity is director Alfonso Cuarón’s first film since his hugely underseen triumph Children of Men, and it was written with his son as a showcase for 3D. Normally that last part would put me off, but given Cuarón’s usual virtuoso approach, the results could be stimulating. The story follows two astronauts, played by Oscar-winners George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, stranded on a space station and eventually left to float through space. Reports from the effects house completing Cuarón’s elaborately designed tracking shots—the film supposedly opens with an extended sequence that takes the audience on a tour from space into the station—are that this will be unlike anything audiences have seen before. But then, we’ve seen plenty of CGI-rendered shots, haven’t we? As for 3D, how will the device pick up the blackness of space? Probably not very well, but chances are this title will appear in the more immersive IMAX as well. Reservations aside, I have faith in Cuarón.
The Silver Linings Playbook
Release Date: November 21
David O. Russell returns to pure comedy after The Fighter for an adaptation of the same-name novel by Matthew Quick, The Silver Linings Playbook. Russell adapted the story about a former history teacher who is released into his mother’s custody after a four-year stint in a mental institution, and then tries to reconnect with his wife. Unfortunately, he believes he’s only been gone for a few months. Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Chris Tucker, and Julia Stiles star. What’s exciting about this comedy is how much it sounds like Flirting with Disaster territory. If you haven’t seen Russell’s second film, the first “neurotic guy” escalation comedy starring Ben Stiller, you must—it’s one of Stiller’s best. After a number of stalled and fallen-through projects, it’s nice to see Russell working in this genre again (although another “existential comedy” like I Heart Huckabees would be welcome too).
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date: December 14
It’s been a long road waiting for The Hobbit to finally reach the big screen, hasn’t it? After several delays due to financing troubles and the last-minute departure of director Guillermo Del Toro (after years of pre-production work), Peter Jackson’s J. R. R. Tolkien legacy will finally be complete—which is to say, in 2013 (the first part of this two-part epic, entitled An Unexpected Journey, will be followed by There and Back Again the subsequent year). Although Del Toro fans will always wonder what his version of The Hobbit would have been like, having Jackson back at the helm of the series that made him a household name is reassuring. Here’s hoping Jackson embraces the lighter tone of Tolkien’s book, as there’s more of a storybook spirit to The Hobbit, whereas Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy feels graver. Martin Freeman will play a younger Bilbo Baggins; he’s joined by familiar faces: Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving, and Ian Holm. With any luck, returning to these characters under Jackson’s helm will feel like returning home.
This is 40
Release Date: December 21
Judd Apatow’s first directorial project since his 2009 effort Funny People, This is 40 is also Apatow’s first sequel of sorts. The story follows Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann’s characters from Knocked Up as their marriage runs into some trouble when the couple reaches their forties. As always, an interesting supporting cast will make up the comedic slack: Albert Brooks, John Lithgow, Jason Segel, and Bridesmaids co-star Melissa McCarthy also star. Notice I didn’t mention Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl? They’re not on the official cast list. Whether or not they’re making cameos remains to be seen, but chances are since Heigl bashed Knocked Up shortly after its release, Apatow probably wrote her character into a car accident or fatal makeup mishap. Regardless, Rudd and Mann both have enough charm and serio-comedic chops to pull this off without help from Rogen and Heigl.
World War Z
Release Date: December 21
While the majority of zombie movies go direct-to-video these days, the dramatic relevance of and critical acclaim behind AMC’s The Walking Dead no doubt fuelled this big-screen adaptation of Max Brooks’ sweeping zombie tale, World War Z. Both the show and Brooks’ otherwise unrelated book share a sense of gravity that will appeal to the show’s millions of viewers, making the movie an almost surefire hit. Star and co-producer Brad Pitt headlines this massive horror story under director Marc Forster (The Kite Runner), who has hopefully learned his lesson from Quantum of Solace that shaky-cam does NOT equate to good action (cinematographer Robert Richardson should help with that). For the uninitiated, Pitt will play an interviewer who sets out to record accounts from survivors of the now-over zombie apocalypse. What I want to know: How will writers J. Michael Straczynski and Matthew Michael Carnahan adapt Brooks’ episodic novel and make it feel like the stories are more than just brief accounts from interviewees?
Django Unchained
Release Date: December 25
Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained has been called “a Southern”, being a Western-type story set in the Deep South. Tarantino has said he wants to “deal with America's horrible past with slavery… With everything that America has never dealt with because it’s ashamed of it, and other countries don’t really deal with because they don’t feel they have the right to” and yet all within the pulpiness of the Spaghetti Western genre. It sounds like one of Tarantino’s dream projects, such as Inglourious Basterds, realized in the way only he can—long stretches of clever dialogue breached by sudden eruptions of violence. The story follows an escaped slave, Django (Jamie Foxx), as he receives training from a bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz), to exact revenge on his former owner, ruthless plantation proprietor Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). If Foxx, Waltz, and DiCaprio weren’t enough, Tarantino has also cast Kurt Russell, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington, and Sacha Baron Cohen among others. Could this cast be any better? Though the script is readily available online if you know where to look, I’d rather not spoil it for myself. Although, waiting until the 2012 holiday season will be a test, especially if the world shows any signs of ending as the Mayans predicted.
The Great Gatsby
Release Date: December 25
Will Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby feature musical numbers, out-of-period flourishes, and an overall post-modern approach, as is usually the case with the Moulin Rouge director? Or will Luhrmann calm down for a moment to deliver a much-needed modern classical take? I suspect the former, but I’d prefer the latter. Lurhmann’s incessant style places hip touches where none are needed (see Australia), and here’s the perfect example: Warner Bros. has confirmed Luhrmann’s film will boast a 3D presentation. F. Scott Fitzgerald will be spinning in his grave, but chances are mainstream viewers will eat this stuff up. Leonardo DiCaprio, who will be dominating holiday moviegoing in 2012 along with Django Unchained, stars as the eponymous Gatsby. DiCaprio is joined by Cary Mulligan, Daisy Buchanan, and Tobey Maguire
Release Dates "to-be-announced"
Cogan's Trade
Andrew Dominik’s follow-up to The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford sounds decidedly more mainstream than his last film, and yet it’s bound to be another artistically credible release from The Weinstein Company. Dominik adapts George V. Higgins’ 1974 novel Cogan’s Trade as a vehicle for Brad Pitt to showcase his considerable talent. Pitt stars as a “professional enforcer” who investigates the heist of a high-stakes mob poker game. James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Sam Shepard, Richard Jenkins, and Scoot McNairy (Monsters) also star. Although scheduled for an early release in 2012, no official date has been set at this time. Dominik’s reportedly painstaking approach to directing has a talent for getting great performances out of his leading men (Casey Affleck was brilliant as Robert Ford; Eric Bana became a star based on his breakout performance in Dominik’s debut Chopper), so expect greatness from Pitt here.
Cosmopolis
Having just released 2011’s A Dangerous Method, David Cronenberg (The Fly) leaps into another project, an adaption of Don DeLillo’s novel Cosmopolis. Cronenberg returns with his usual crew: cinematographer Peter Suschitzky; composer Howard Shore; although, Cronenberg’s usual production designer Carol Spier was unavailable due to conflicts with Guillermo Del Toro’s Pacific Rim, and she was replaced by Cronenberg’s sometime collaborator Arvinder Grewal. This modernist fable follows a millionaire, played by Robert Pattinson (proving his integrity away from the Twilight series), who travels across Manhattan in his limousine for a haircut. Throughout the course of his trip, he loses his fortune. Paul Giamatti, Juliette Binoche, Samantha Morton, Jay Baruchel, and Mathieu Amalric also star. Cronenberg adapted the script himself, his first writing credit since 1999’s eXistenZ, and his film is described as largely self-contained within the limo. No doubt Cronenberg will make it compelling nonetheless. And after this, what’s next for our favorite Canadian director? Possibly a sequel to Eastern Promises.
Seven Psychopaths
Playwright Martin McDonagh’s follow-up to his wowing debut In Bruges once again stars Colin Farrell in a darkly comic, Tarantino-esque plot. Farrell plays a struggling screenwriter whose best friend (Sam Rockwell) and his associate (Christopher Walken) steal a dog for ransom. The dog’s owner (Woody Harrelson) turns out to be a dangerous gangster willing to kill to get back his dog. Tom Waits (!) and Olga Kurylenko round out the cast, in what will no doubt be a sleeper hit just like McDonagh’s last. Harrelson replaced the originally cast Mickey Rourke, who left the project because he felt McDonagh was a “jerkoff”. But then, Rourke’s too-cool-for-school act has worn thin in his post-The Wrestler career. If he keeps turning down material like this for junk like Passion Play and The Expendables, he may find that audiences are no longer charmed by his act but annoyed by his openness about taking roles for a paycheck. With McDonagh, at least we know his one-for-one track record is short but promising.