Now that 2011 has come
to a close, here's a little peek at a handful of movies to get excited about in
2012. Looks like a great year for film! Enjoy!
“THE CABIN IN THE WOODS”
(April 13)
This thriller — about a
group of friends who retreat to (you guessed it) a cabin in the woods – has been
done for a couple of years but, for whatever reason, it has remained
unreleased. Word has it no one could figure out how to properly market the
picture. But following a handful of screenings last year, massive buzz began
building and several respectable film enthusiasts are heralding “The Cabin in
the Woods” “a reinvention of the genre.” On April 13, the wait is over.
Consider me intrigued.
“THE AVENGERS” (May 4)
Marvel showcases several
of its biggest superheroes (i.e., Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and Hulk) in
one massive movie, courtesy of writer/director Joss Whedon (“Buffy the Vampire
Slayer,” “Firefly”). Thor's Loki (Tom Hiddleston) serves as the villain.
“PROMETHEUS” (June 8)
Ridley Scott (“Blade
Runner”) returns to the sci-fi game with “Prometheus” — a sci-fi epic about a
team of explorers who discover a clue that might just lead them to the origins
of mankind. Scott has been rather cryptic with specific details on the plot,
but he does promise a tie-in of sorts to his own masterwork “Alien.” Can't
wait!
“BRAVE” (June 22)
Pixar returns with
“Brave,” a fantasy/adventure about a Scottish princess whose fierce,
independent ways bring chaos to her kingdom. Gorgeous animation, terrific vocal
work (including Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson) and stellar
storytelling should help erase the memory of a rather disappointing “Cars 2.”
“THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN”
(July 3)
Director Marc Webb
(“(500) Days of Summer”) reboots the “Spider-Man” franchise with this high
school-set origin story of Peter Parker and his super alter ego Spider-Man.
Andrew Garfield (“The Social Network”) steps into Parker's shoes while the
lovely Emma Stone plays love interest Gwen Stacy.
“THE DARK KNIGHT RISES”
(July 20)
Years after the Joker
plunges a city into complete and utter chaos, a seemingly peaceful Gotham is
rocked by the villainous Bane (Tom Hardy). This forces Batman out of retirement
as Christopher Nolan's epic “Dark Knight” trilogy comes to a close. This bad
boy will be released in Imax!
“LOOPER” (Sept. 28)
Rian Johnson (the auteur
behind the high school noir thriller “Brick”) returns with “Looper,” a
sci-fi/drama about a mobster (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) working for the future who
has a run-in with an older version of himself (played by Bruce Willis). Sounds
extremely creative.
“SKYFALL” (Nov. 9)
James Bond (Daniel
Craig) returns after a rather long hiatus, and this time Sam Mendes (“American
Beauty,” “Road to Perdition”) is at the helm. Javier Bardem appears as the
villain, while the likes of Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Maggie Smith, Albert
Finney and Judi Dench round out an impressive roster of supporting players.
“GRAVITY” (Nov. 21)
Director Alfonso Cuaron (the
man behind “Children of Men” and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” — arguably
the best of the Potter franchise) tells a sci-fi tale of the lone survivor of a
space mission who desperately tries to make it back to Earth to be reunited
with her daughter. "Gravity" stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.
“THE HOBBIT” (Dec. 14)
After several false
starts, Peter Jackson finally returns to Middle Earth with “The Hobbit.” This
adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved book follows Bilbo Baggins on an
adventure that ultimately sets up the “Lord of the Rings.” “The Hobbit” will be
split into two fantastical adventures (the first opens this December with the
second chapter set for release one year later).
“DJANGO UNCHAINED” (Dec.
25)
The forever colorful
Quentin Tarantino returns with this story of a slave-turned-bounty-hunter who
sets out to save his wife from an evil plantation owner. This film is sure to
have terrific writing, and Tarantino has managed to assemble a truly impressive
cast (Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Samuel L. Jackson,
Sacha Baron Cohen, Kerry Washington, Christoph Waltz and Kurt Russell, just to
name a few). I can't think of a better Christmas present then a new Tarantino
movie!
“LINCOLN” (December – TBA)
Steven Spielberg's long-in-development
homage to Abraham Lincoln finally makes it to the big screen. Featuring Daniel
Day Lewis in the title role, this story of our 16th President promises to
be epic in every sense of the word. Spielberg has fashioned the second most
impressive cast of the holiday season (Lewis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jarred
Harris, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, James Spader, John Hawkes, David
Strathairn, Tim Blake Nelson and Hal Holbrook).
OTHER FILMS TO GET EXCITED ABOUT IN 2012:
“The Master,” directed
by Paul Thomas Anderson; "Argo," directed by Ben Affleck;
"Wettest Country," directed by John Hillcoat; “Cogan's Trade,”
directed by Andrew Dominik; “The Gangster Squad,” directed by Ruben Fleischer;
“Inside Llewyn Davis,” directed by The Coen Brothers; “This Is 40,” directed by
Judd Apatow; “Nero Fiddled,” directed by Woody Allen; “Moonrise Kingdom,”
directed by Wes Anderson; “The Hunger Games,” directed by Gary Ross; “The
Pirates! Band of Misfits,” directed by Peter Lord and Jeff Newitt; “Dark
Shadows,” directed by Tim Burton; "Total Recall," directed by Len
Wiseman; "Judge Dredd," directed by Pete Travis; “Rock of
Ages,” directed by Adam Shankman; "Red Hook Summer," directed by
Spike Lee; “Jack the Giant Killer,” directed by Bryan Singer; “Abraham
Lincoln: Vampire Killer,” directed by Timur Bekmambetov; “The Bourne Legacy,”
directed by Tony Gilroy; “The Expendables 2,” directed by Simon West;
“G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” directed by Jon M. Chu; “Frankenweenie,” directed by
Tim Burton; “World War Z,” directed by Marc Forster; and “Untitled Terrence
Malick Project.”
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