The first month of the year is behind us and only a couple of movies (“Haywire” and “The Grey”) have stood out, which is actually a surprise. But, it’s time to take a look at what else is coming out this year, specifically the ones I’m looking forward to the most. Since there are so many movies that come out each year, I decided to choose 12 – because, well, it’s 2012.
These may be movies I know very little about, but for some reason – either the cast, the director, or the subject matter – struck my curiosity enough to earn my interest. The movies that were excluded from this list are the most of the sequels (“The Dark Knight Rises”) and reboots (“The Amazing Spider-Man”), I know for sure that I’ll be seeing, as well as the remakes (“Red Dawn” and “Total Recall”) I’m on the fence about. The other movies obviously on my radar would be “The Hobbit” and “Skyfall” the latest James Bond installment. And yes, I’m looking forward to “The Expendables 2” (despite Chuck Norris) and “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” (despite no Gordon-Levitt with a mechanical face-hugger mask).
All of those are movies I have a built-in anticipation for, making something about the movies in the list below (ordered alphabetically) somewhat unique or different, offering attractive aspects that rise above everything else. Some images and trailers are listed below with release dates (some dates may change, while others are TBD: to be determined).
For all I know, some of these could wind up to be duds, but as of right now – I’m interested….
THE AVENGERS
starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlet Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Stellan Skarsgard & Tom Hiddleston
director(s): Joss Whedon
U.S. release date: 05-05-12
Why is this movie here and not the other superhero flicks coming out this year? Because for the first time ever, a major blockbuster release is assembling a team of established superheroes (no origins!)- and that’s a big deal. Let’s hope Whedon (“Serenity”) was been given freedom to do whatever he wanted to do with this Marvel Comics team.
BRAVE
Starring: Kelly MacDonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Julie Walters & Kevin McKidd
director(s): Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
U.S. release date: 06-22-12
Sure, it may resemble “How to Train Your Dragon” but this is the first Pixar movie with a female protagonist. With Kelly MacDonald and Billy Connolly involved, with one of the creators of “The Prince of Egypt”, “The Lion King” & “Beauty and the Beast”- count me in!
DJANGO UNCHAINED
starring: Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Christophe Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Samuel L. Jackson, Sacha Baron Cohen, Don Johnson, Kurt Russell
director(s): Quentin Tarantino
U.S. release date: 12-25-12
A freed slave (Foxx) is on a mission to rescue his wife (Washington) with help from a German bounty hunter (Waltz) from a plantation owner (DiCaprio). An assassin/slave/revenge flick by Tarantino. Need I say more?
DOG FIGHT
starring: Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis
director (s): Jay Roach
U. S. release date: 08-10-12
With the 2012 political campaign already hitting us upside the head, what we need is a comedy where two aspiring congressman (Ferrell and Galifianakis) run against each other. Roach could use a hit after “Dinner for Schmucks” and teaming with the writers of “Eastbound and Down” is a good move. The movie has a great supporting cast too: Dan Aykroyd, John Lithgow, and Jason Sudekis.
GRAVITY
starring: George Clooney and Sandra Bullock
director(s): Alfonso Cuarón
U. S. release date: 11-21-12
Robert Downey Jr. backed out due to scheduling conflicts. Both Natlaie Portman and Angelina Jolie refused the same role (Portman twice) and several top-notch actresses (Marion Cotillard, Carey Mulligan, Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts, Rebecca Hall, and Scarlet Johansson) were tested. Director Alfonso Cuarón (“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” and “Children of Men”) went with George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, who play two astronauts who find themselves stranded on a space station after a disastrous accident wipes out the crew and most of the structure. Alfonso co-wrote the script with his son Jonas Cuarón.
LIFE OF PI
starring: Tobey Maguire, Gerard Depardieu, Irfan Khan & Tabu
director (s): Ang Lee
U.S. release date: 12-21-12
Directors M.Night Shayamalan and Alfonso Cuarón were at one time attached to the adaptation of this popular fantasy book by Yann Martel. There was talk of it going animated, but this story about a young boy surviving the sinking of a freighter by sharing a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. Lee is working from a script by David Magee (“Finding Neverland”) and will be releasing it in IMAX 3D.
Director Rian Johnson with his “Looper” time machine.
LOOPER
starring: Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Jeff Daniels, Piper Perabo & Paul Dano
direcor(s): Rian Johnson
U.S. release date: 09-28-12
One of the many sci-fi films to come out this year, “Looper” could be the film that will provide more exposure for writer/director Rian Johnson (“Brick” and “The Brothers Bloom”). This looks to be a provocative time-travel tale, which finds a present-day hitman (Gordon-Levitt) who kills people who come back in time, but when one of his targets turns out to be his older self (WIllis), he hesitates. Surrounded by an interesting cast and with Shane Caruth (“Pirimer”) as a visual design consultant, this looks to be a fascinatingly trippy movie.
MOONRISE KINGDOM
starring: Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray
director(s): Wes Anderson
U.S. release date: 05-25-12
I could tell you this takes place in the 60s new Englund, featuring two newcomers as young runaways, but it doesn’t matter – it’s a new film by Wes Anderson! As an Anderson apologist, I’m immediately on board. Besides Anderson alums Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray, it’s exciting to see some faces as well: Tilda Swinton, Harvey Keitel, Frances McDormand, Norton & Willis.
PROMETHEUS
starring: Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce & Patrick Wilson
director(s): Ridley Scott
U.S. release date: 06-08-12
Is it or is it not an “Alien” prequel or spinoff? Who cares? It has probably the coolest teaser released in recent years. Co-written by Lost scribe, Damon Lindelof, the story sounds kind of familiar: a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. And then there’s a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race. It’s Scott returning to an outer space where no one can hear you scream!
THIS IS FORTY
starring: Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann
director(s): Judd Apatow
U.S. release date: 12-21-12
The long-awaited sequel to “Knocked Up” is finally here – well, sort of. This time, the focus is on the characters played by Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann and their two kids (played by Mann and Apatow’s real-life kids) and clearly the film’s title plays a role. Charlyne Yi and Jason Segel reprise their roles and they’re supported by the likes of: Albert Brooks, John Lithgow, Megan Fox, Melissa McCarthy and Chris O’ Dowd. Considering I turn 40 this year, I feel obligated.
THE WETTEST COUNTY
starring: Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain, Gary Oldman, Shia LeBeouf, Guy Pearce, and Mia Wasikowka
director(s): John Hillcoat
U.S. release date: 08-31-12
Based on the novel The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant, the story about Depression-era bootlegging brothers in Virginia is directed by the man who brought us “The Proposition” and “The Road” along with musician-turned-screenwriter Nick Cave. Hillcoat’s previous films have an undeniably immersive visual quality to them, so I hope for no less here. And look at that cast!
WORLD WAR Z
starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale,
director(s): Marc Forster
U.S. release date: 12-21-12
Since it reads like a historical account, adapting Max Brooks’ (son of Mel) excellent zombie apocalypse novel seems like quite an endeavor. But leave it to comic book writer and Bablyn 5 creator, Michael Straczynski to take on such a task. Forster (“Quantum of Solace” and “The Kite Runner”) directs Pitt along with some solid AMC series talent in Enos and Badge. It could be the first epic zombie film. For those sick of zombies, you got your “Breaking Dawn Part 2” as well this year.
And here are 4 films that could come out in 2012 or 2013:
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
starring: Oscar Isaacs, John Goodman, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake & Garrett Hedlund
director (s): Joel and Ethan Coen
U.S. release date: TBD
Not much is known about the latest Coen brothers movie, except that it takes place im 1960s Greenwhich Village, based on folk musician Dave van Ronk, from his memoir The Mayor of MacDougal Street. Since I enjoy the Cones work and have an affinity of that music scene, so this is a no-brainer.
THE MASTER
starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Laura Dern, Amy Adams
director(s): Paul Thomas Anderson
U.S. release date: TBD (fall)
It’s been 5 years since the last PTA masterpiece, “There Will Be Blood” and he returns with a film that is bound to stir up some controversy. The film is supposedly a dramatization of the life of L. Ron Hubbard (neither Tom Cruise or John Travolta are in it!) and stars Hoffman as a WWII vet returning home, who sets out to create a religion with his friend. Johnny Greenwood returns to supply his atmospheric music. I have a feeling though that we won’t see this one till January, but one can hope.
ONLY GOD FORGIVES
starring: Ryan Gosling
director(s): Nicolas Winding Refn
U.S. release date: TBD
Refn and Gosling (“Drive”) reunite – who cares what it’s about? Refn writes and directs this revenge flick that takes place in Bangkok, involving drug smuggling and Muy Thai boxing. I’ll take it. IMDb has a one sentence description: A Bangkok police lieutenant and a gangster settle their differences in a Thai-boxing match. It also stars: Kristen Scott Thomas, pop singer-turned-actress, Yayaying, and Vithaya Pansringarm. The only concern is that it’s currently filming, so here’s hoping that it will still get released this year.
TAKE THIS WALTZ
starring: Seth Rogen, Michelle Williams, Luke Kirby & Sarah Silverman
director(s): Sarah Polley
U. S. release date: TBD
It’s described as: a funny, bittersweet, and heart-wrenching love story about a woman struggling to decide between two different kinds of love. Whatever it turns out to be, it has Williams in it and after “Away From Her” , I’m interested in any new movie by Polley.
What about you?
What movies are you looking forward to in 2012?
What movies did I erroneously exclude?
Shoot! This year is Lookin’ Good!
Dwayne Johnson will be boosting “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” with the same sweaty intensity that he brought to the “Fast Five” franchise.