2011 films just for fun part 4

The Just For Fun picks - my top 15 movies that should be a good time at the cinema this year. Be from edge-of-your-seat suspense or stomach grabbing laughter.

1. 30 Minutes or Less
Who: Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride, Nick Swardson, Michael Peña and Fred Ward; directed by Ruben Fleischer
What: Two fledgling criminals kidnap a pizza delivery driver and force him to rob a bank within 30 minutes, or the homemade bomb strapped to his chest goes off.
Why: Directed by the guy behind the breakout hit Zombieland and a Black List script by Michael Diliberti and Matthew Sullivan. The screenplay is a sharp and very hilarious read, if all goes well this could be one of the major breakout hits of the summer.
When: August 12

2. The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
Who: Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Toby Jones and Cary Elwes; directed by Steven Spieldberg
What: Ace boy reporter Tintin (Bell) and his friends discover directions to a sunken ship commanded by Catain Haddock (Serkis) and go off on an adventure involving pirates, treasure and Haddock’s ancestry.
Why: Based on the Hergé comic books and with Steven Spielberg directing, Peter Jackson producing and a script from a team of promising writers inducing Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) there are a lot of excited fans excited and waiting for this one.
When: December 23

3. Bridesmaids
Who: Kristen Wigg, Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, John Hamm, Diane Wiest, Michael Hitchcock, Matthew Lucas, Chris O’Dowd, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy and Wendy McLendon-Covery; directed by Paul Feig
What: A lonely, unlucky-in-love thirty-something (Wiig) has to do battle with the bridesmaid from hell (Byrne) to gain control of her best friend’s wedding (Rudolph).
Why: A stellar supporting cast, Judd Apatow producing, Kristen Wigg on the writing team and comparison to Knocked Up - this should be a fun spring comedy.
When: May 15


4. Crazy Stupid Love
Who: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei and Kevin Bacon; directed by Glen Ficarra & John Requa
What: When a middle-aged married man’s (Carell) wife leaves him for another man, he teams up with a younger playboy type (Gosling), who teaches him how to re-enter the dating scene.
Why: This script garnered a huge spec sale and looks to have the potential to be a sleeper hit. Recent test screenings went so well that Warner Bros. moved if from an April date to the heart of summer.
When: July 29

5. The Hangover Part II
Who: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Liam Neeson, Mike Tyson and Bill Clinton; directed by Todd Phillips
What: The gang travels to Bangkok for Stu’s wedding.
Why: All eyes are going to be on Phillips come opening weekend to see if he can pull off another gargantuan hit. It’s going to be hard to top the original and after the disappointing Due Date this past summer, the pressure is higher than ever. The original cast is back together and if anyone can pull off another $400 million dollars on an R-rated comedy it would be them.
When: May 26

6. Hanna
Who: Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana, Olivia Williams and Tom Hollander; directed by Joe Wright
What: A 14-year-girl (Ronan) who was raised by her father to be a cold-hearted killing machine in a CIA prison camp must fight her way to a free life.
Why: Touted as a mix between La Femme Nikita and The Bourne Identity, only with a teenage girl, there is a lot of interest in this project.
When: April 8


7. Haywire
Who: Gina Carano, Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton, Mathieu Kassovitz; directed by Steven Soderbergh
What: A black ops super soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed and set up during a mission.
Why: A good spy revenge thriller to kick off the big-budget movie season plus real-life mixed martial arts champion (and first-time actress) Fina Carano stars, so at least the stunts should look good.
When: April 22

8. Horrible Bosses
Who: Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Julie Bowen, and P.J. Byrne; directed by Seth Gordon
What: Three friends conspire to murder their awful bosses when they realize they are standing in the way of their happiness.
Why: It’s got a solid cast for a comedy smartly following The Hangover’s model for success – three-well liked comic actors in a leading role (Batemna, Day, Sudeikis) and then giving them big names to play off of (Spacey, Aniston, Farrell). Plus a script, co-written by Freaks and Geeks lead John Francis Daley that has great buzz.
When: TBA (Summer 2011)

9. Larry Crowne
Who: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Bryan Cranston, Nia Vardalos, Rita Wilson, Taraji P. Henson, George Takei, Peter Scolari, Wilmer Valderrama and Pam Grier; directed by Tom Hanks
What: After losing his job, a middle-aged man reinvents himself by going back to college.
Why: Hanks co-wrote Larry Crowne with Nia Vardalos, plus he's directing and starring as the title character. With the combined star power of Hanks & Roberts it could be a blockbuster comedy this summer.
When: July 1

10. Paul
Who: Seth Rogan, Jane Lynch, Kristin Wiig, Simon Pegg, Jason Bateman, Sigourney Weaver, Bill Hader, Blythe Danner and Nick Frost; directed by Greg Mattola
What: Two British comic-book geeks (Pegg & Frost) traveling across the U.S. encounter an alien outside Area 51.
Why: Greg Mattola is back in the directors chair with a sci-fi comedy with what some are calling traces of E.T. and Back to the Future (!!!).
When: March 18


11. Source Code
Who: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga and Jeffrey Wright; directed by Duncan Jones
What: A soldier (Gyllenhaal) wakes up in the body of an unknown man to discover that he is part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train.
Why: With a great script that reads somewhat like a mash-up of The Matrix, The Bourne films and Groundhog Day, a great cast and a director who proved his mettle with 2009s Moon, this has all the parts needed to be a hit.
When: April 1 (Opening the 2011 SXSW Film Festival March 11)


12. Super 8
Who: Elle Fanning, Noah Emmerich, Amanda Michalka, Kyle Chandler, Ron Eldard and Zach Mills; directed by J.J. Abrams
What: A sci-fi tale rumored to follow three siblings who catch a glimpse of a creature in some film footage.
Why: Not much is known exactly about this movie, which is part of what makes it so intriguing. But it’s J.J. Abrams, I will pretty much follow him anywhere. Last May the buzz began with a mysterious teaser trailer which features some sort of creature breaking out from the wreck of a train crash. With Steven Spielberg as producer in collaboration with Bad Robot Productions and Paramount this movie is going to be huge this summer.
When: June 10


13. The Sitter
Who: Jonah Hill, Sam Rockwell, Max Records, Ari Graynor, Miriam McDonald, Erin Daniels and Method Man; directed by David Gordon Green
What: A college student (Hill) on suspension is coaxed into babysitting the kids next door, though he is fully unprepared for the wild night ahead of him.
Why: The Sitter promises to be a filthy, entertaining and rather hilarious R-rated comedy based on the 2009 Black List script. From the director behind the hilarious Pineapple Express and Eastbound & Down, if executed well, it could be the breakout comedy of the summer.
When: August 5

14. Tower Heist
Who: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, Judd Hirsch, Tèa Leoni, Gabourey Sidibe, Alan Alda and Michael Peña; directed by Bretty Ratner
What: When a group of hard working guys find out they've fallen victim to a wealthy business man's Ponzi scheme, they conspire to rob his high-rise residence.
Why: If everyone in the cast brings their A-game this should be a nice fall comedy hit. It has all the makings of a new heist classic.
When: November 4

15. Your Highness
Who: Natalie Portman, James Franco, Danny McBride, Zooey Deschanel and Justin Theoroux; directed by David Gordon Green
What: A slovenly knight (McBride) must try to save his father’s kingdom and his princess bride (Deschanel) while also kicking a pot smoking habit. Luckily he has a brother (Franco) and a warrior princess (Portman) to help him in his quest.
Why: The trailer looks awesomely funny. If the extremely talented cast can stretch that into a 1.5 hour long comedy they will have a massive hit on their hands.
When: April 8
the hilarious red band trailer - NSFW

work friendly trailer

interlude

Allow me a quick moment of celebration before moving onto the rest of the films in my 2011 list:

The buzz coming out of Sundance this year is overwhelmingly positive, with many critics and festival goers swooning over a good number of films and buyers opening up their wallets. In the mist of all that praise there seems to be one film that stands out so far: Like Crazy - which I had listed on the Honorable Mentions list only because it didn’t have a distributor at the time. Well, that is no longer an issue; in the early hours of Sunday morning came news that Like Crazy had been purchased by Paramount Pictures for a reported $4 million. Paramount Pictures is a huge company and typically doesn’t show up for acquisitions at Sundance. (The last time they did it was for Hustle and Flow in 2005.) So, while finding out Paramount is going to be the distributor is certainly surprising, its is excellent news for the film as it is sure to get a nice prints and advertising (P&A) budget making for a good release.

The reviews out this past weekend are extraordinary. I was excited to see the film before, now I can’t wait. Here are just a few:
Gegory Ellwood @ Hitfix
Anthony Breznican @ EW
Sharon Waxman @ The Wrap
Laremy Legel @ Film.com

axis of awesome - 4 four chord song

2011 films honorable mention / time frame issuespart 3

So, I lied. There is going to be 5 parts. I would be remiss if I left the next couple of movie off the list.

I have 2 honorable mentions: one of which would have absolutely been at the top of the prestige list if it didn't star Mel Gibson, but since it does, it is a huge risk, even with the fantastic buzz surrounding the script; and the other one is a tiny little indie that currently has no distributor, however it is screening at Sundance, so that could change.

Then, there are the time frame issues; 5 films that are sure to be great, but more than likely won't be ready for a 2011 opening. They are are either currently shooting or will be in the next few weeks, so it is not impossible that post will be finished in time for a release this year.

Honorable Mention

1. The Beaver
Who: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Jennifer Lawrence and Anton Yelchin; directed by Jodie Foster
What: A depressed family man find solace in wearing a beaver hand-puppet which he uses as his sole means of communicating.
Why: Before Mel Gibson’s racist-anti-Semitic-batshit-crazy breakdown, this film was one of the hottest scripts in Hollywood (top of the Black List in 2008) and a rumored Oscar contender.
When: April 8 (Instead of shelving the film for a bit until Gibson’s antics aren’t so fresh in the minds of the public, Summit Entertainment has decided to world premiere The Beaver at SXSW (on March 16) and let the film speak for itself, and hope that those who see the film send good buzz into the blogosphere.)


2. Like Crazy
Who: Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlie Bewley and Alex Kingston; directed by Drake Doremus
What: An American boy and a British girl fall in love in college, but are forced into a long distance relationship when she overstays her visa.
Why: It’s a bit of an unknown until it makes it debut appearance this weekend at Sundance, but with that cast it is absolutely the one I am most interested in and am expecting for it to sell for a nice chunk of change after its screening.
When: TBA (We should know more after this weekend.)


Time Frame Issues

1. Albert Nobbs
Who: Glenn Close, Aaron Johnson, Mia Wasikowska, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Michael Gambon, and Janet McTeer; directed by Rodrigo Garcia
What: A woman in 19th Century Ireland disguises herself as a man in order to survive.
Why: With the directed-producer of the HBO tv series In Treatment behind this film and such a great cast this project definitely has the ingredients of something notable. Add to that a script co-written by Close and Man Booker-prize winning author John Manville based on the short story by Irish author George Moore, which was also turned into a play that won Close critical acclaim during its off-Broadway run.
When: TBA (shooting starts this spring)


2. J Edgar
Who: Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Josh Lucas, Judi Dench and Ed Westwick; directed by Clint Eastwood
What: Biopic on FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, focusing on his scandalous career and controversial private life as a homosexual and rumored cross dresser.
Why: Clint Eastwood. Dustin Lance Black (the guy behind the genius screenplay for Milk). Leonardo DiCaprio. That’s three easy reasons why right there.
When: TBA (shooting starts February 5th)

3. Love
Who: Isabelle Huppert, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva; directed by Michael Haneke
What: A married couple deals with the fallout after the wife suffers from a debilitating stroke.
Why: The script is rumored to be great and Haneke as a filmmaker is in a class of his own. It sounds like a difficult watch, but one that will be, hopefully, quite rewarding.
When: TBA (The film is scheduled to start a 40-day shoot in February, which could possibly mean a fall premiere at Venice or TIFF, or it may not be ready until 2012.)

4. Triple Frontier
Who: Tom Hanks is the only one signed on as of now and Johnny Deep is in talks; directed by Kathryn Bigelow
What: A political action thriller set in the border zone between Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil.
Why: It’s Kathryn Bigelow’s return to the big screen after her Oscar sweep and she is once again teeming with The Hurt Locker screenwriter Mark Boal.
When: TBA (Shooting mid-March/April. Probably not enough time to make it through post and be ready to screen late 2011, a release in 2012 is more likely.)

5. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Who: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, John Goodman and Thomas Horn; directed by Stephen Daldry
What: Oskar (Horn), a nine-year-old amateur inventor, jewelry designer, astrophysicist, tambourine player and pacifist, searches New York for the lock that matches a mysterious key left by his father when he was killed in the September 11 attacks.
Why: This is as Oscar baity as they get: an adaptation by an A-list screenwriter (in this case, Forrest Gump writer Eric Roth), of a literary bestseller - the sophomore novel from Everything Is Illuminated writer Jonathan Safran Foer - plus it's got that cast. Extremely Loud is one of my all-time favorite books, so I can't wait to see this adaptation.
When: TBA (shooting just started, could very well be ready for a release this year, production still has a 2012 release date though.)

2011 films prestige part 2

Part two of the likely award contenders. Tomorrow it's on to the lighter stuff.

16. On The Road
Who: Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams, Steve Buscemi, Kirsten Dunst, Viggo Mortensen, Terrence Howard, Tom Sturridge and Alice Bragga; directed by Walter Salles
What: An adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s iconic Beat Generation novel which chronicles Sal Paradise – Kerouac’s alter ego (Riley) and Dean Moriarty – Neal Cassady’s alter ego (Hedlund) as they roam the country in a quest for self-knowledge and experience.
Why: This project has spent years in production hell. The movie rights have been bouncing around Hollywood since the 1960s. Gus van Sant owned the right for many years and in 1980 Francis Ford Coppola bought them. In 2010 Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries) finally lensed the project. (Coppola and van Sant are producing.) With an all-star team and cast plus many, many years of anticipation On the Road will be much buzzed about this year.
When: TBA (Some critics/bloggers have proposed a Cannes debut, but just last week Salles gave an interview to a Brazilian newspaper whereupon being asked if he knew when the film would be released he responded “no, because we have only now begun to edit the film….I imagine it will be ready by year’s end or early 2012.” I can’t imagine the film doesn’t reach audiences in some fashion this year in time to qualify for awards season. Is a Toronto premier too much to ask for?)

17. One Day
Who: Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturges, Patricia Clarkson, Jodie Whittaker and Georgia King; directed by Lone Scherfig
What: The story of Dex and Em who first meet graduation night from university in 1988 and proceed to reunite one day each year for the next 20 years.
Why: Adapted from the David Nicholls novel and directed by Lone Scherfig (who directed one of my ’09 favorites An Education), the film was originally intended for a spring release before Focus Features moved it back which may suggest they are feeling the awards buzz the film is getting. (By-the-by I can’t say I’m too excited about this one. The amount of loathing resentment I had for this book is unparalleled. At one point I literally threw it across the room.)
When: July 8

18. Restless
Who: Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper, Jane Adams, Schuyler Fisk and Chin Han; directed by Gus van Sant
What: The story of a terminally ill 16-year-old girl (Wasikowska) who falls in love with an off-beat boy (Hopper) who likes to attend funerals as a way to cope with the death of his family; and their encounters with the ghost of a Japanese Kamikaze pilot (Han) from WWII.
Why: I’ve read the script on this one and I really loved it – funny and sad and almost kind of all over the place. Gus van Sant is the perfect director to bring it to the big screen. I’m also excited to see the late, great Dennis Hooper’s son, Henry, in his first lead role.
When: TBA (Originally slatted to open at the end of January, Sony has since moved the date which may suggest that test audiences were reacting positively.)


19. Shame
Who: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan and James Badge Dale; directed by Steve McQueen
What: Brandon (Fassbender) is a thirty-something sex addict living in New York who falls in love with his co-worker. After his wayward sister (Mulligan) moves into this apartment Brandon’s world spirals out of control.
Why: The film hasn’t even started shooting yet (the start date is later this month in New York) but there is so much buzz around this script, and in conjunction with the cast, it really has Oscar pundits excited. Expect to see a debut at Venice and/or Toronto film festival.
When: TBA (fall 2011)

20. The Skin I Inhabit
Who: Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Marisa Paredes, Eduard Fernàndez, Jan Cornet and Josè Luis Gòmez; directed by Pedro Almadòvar
What: A plastic surgeon (Banderas) seeks revenge on the men who raped his daughter.
Why: Based on Thierry Jonquet’s crime novel Tarantula, this film reunites Almadòvar and Banderas 20 years after their first film together (Time Me Up! Time Me Down!). Almadòvar describes it as a horror film, and everything released about the project seems to suggest some very dark material. Pretty much a sure bet for a Cannes debut this spring.
When: November 18 (limited)

21. Take This Waltz
Who: Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Sarah Silverman, Aaron Abrams and Luke Kirby; directed by Sarah Polley
What: A funny, bittersweet and heart-wrenching story about a woman (Williams) who tries to decide between her happy marriage and her flirtations with a man she just met.
Why: A 2009 black list script plus Williams and Rogen (in a decidedly dramatic lead role for a change) playing a married couple? Sign me up. A killer soundtrack is also promised.
When: TBA

22. This Must Be the Place
Who: Sean Penn, Frances McDormand, Harry Dean Stanton, Shea Whigham, Judd Hirsch and Kerry Condon; directed by Paolo Sorrentino
What: Cheyenne (Penn), a wealthy former rock star now bored and jaded in his retirement embarks on a quest to find the Nazi war-criminal who ordered his father’s execution in a concentration camp.
Why: Sean Penn has enough clout to get any project he wants greenlit and we know that when he does pick, it’s a good one.
When: TBA

23. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Who: Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Stephen Graham, Benedict Cumbercatch, Ciaran Hinds and Christian McKay; directed by Thomas Alfredson
What: Set in the aftermath of the Cold War, this thriller is the story of a spy hunt within the highest ranks of the British Secret Intelligence Service.
Why: Adapted from John Le Carre’s bestseller and from the acclaimed Let the Right One In director, this should be a great, intricate espionage thriller.
When: TBA (fall 2011)

24. Tree of Life
Who: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain, Joanna Going and Fiona Shaw; directed by Terrence Malick
What: The story of a Midwestern family in the 1950s. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack (played as an adult by Penn) through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father (Pitt).
Why: I'm not sure what else I can say about this film that I haven't already. I've been singing it's praises on this blog for months now. It is by far the most anticipated film for many this year.
When: May 27 (This date pretty much guarantees a debut at Cannes)


25. War Horse
Who: Jeremy Irvine, Tom Hiddleston, David Thewlis, Emily Watson, Peter Mullan, Benedict Cumberbatch and Toby Kebbel; directed by Steven Spielberg
What: The story a young man named Albert (Irvine) and his horse, Joey, and how their bond is broken when Joey is sold to the cavalry and sent to the trenches of World War I. Despite being too young to enlist, Albert heads to France to save his friend.
Why: Some are saying that this is the Oscar picture to beat in 2011. Steven Spielberg + War + a boy and his horse = a sure fire hit guaranteed to woo audiences and critics alike.
When: December 28

26. Water for Elephants
Who: Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz and Hal Holbrook; directed by Francis Lawrence
What: A veterinary student (Pattinson) abandons his studies after his parents are killed and joins a traveling circus as their vet.
Why: Adapted from Sara Gruen’s bestseller and with an all-star director/cast/team (between those three groups there are 15 Oscar nominations & 2 wins) I am beyond excited for this one.
When: April 22 (This date isn’t exactly promising of awards season, even though everything Fox has released would lead you to believe that is exactly what they are pushing for. Hopefully this isn’t a sign that it sucks.)
(new international trailer)


27. We Bought a Zoo
Who: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Elle Fanning, Patrick Fugit, Thomas Haden Church, Angus Macfadyen and Colin Ford; directed by Cameron Crowe
What: Based on the memoir by Benjamin Mee, We Bought a Zoo is the true account of how Mee used his life savings to buy a dilapidated zoo (to fulfill his wife’s wishes), including 200 exotic animals facing destruction, in the English countryside. Mee, along with his children, had to balance caring for his wife, who was dying of brain cancer while dealing with escaped tiger, raising endangered animals, working with an eclectic skeleton crew and readying the zoo for a reopening.
Why: Director Cameron Crown is back for the first time since 2005 with an all-star cast that is sure to bring in the big bucks with that holiday friendly release date.
When: December 23

28. We Need to Talk About Kevin
Who: Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller and Siobhan Fallon; directed by Lynne Ramsay
What: Two days before Kevin’s (Miller) sixteen birthday he goes on a horrific high-school killing spree. In the wake of his actions, his mother (Swinton) tries to deals with her grief – and feelings of responsibility for her child’s actions – by writing to her estranged husband (Reilly).
Why: Based on Lionel Shriver’s novel this film has been quite a labor of love for the director as it has taken years for her to get it up and running. The film finally went before cameras last year and is expected to be one of the stand-out indies of 2011.
When: TBA (US) / September 2 (UK) (This seemed like a surefire bet to appear at Sundance, but that announcement never came. Maybe Cannes?)

29. Wuthering Heights
Who: James Howson, Kaya Scodelario, Nichola Burley, Oliver Milburn, Steve Evets and Amy Wren; directed by Andrea Arnold
What: The classic tortured love story between Cathy and Heathcliff
Why: Andrea Arnold’s 2009 Fish Tank won her much critical praise; but not much commercial success. She’s back with an Emily Brontë adaptation (that just so happens to be my first-favorite book) hoping to bring in the masses. (Interesting side note: In an effort to stay true to the book, Arnold cast newcomer James Howson as the first non-white Heathcliff.)
When: TBA (US) / September 30 (UK)

30. Young Adult
Who: Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser, Collette Wolfe and Patton Oswalt; directed by Jason Reitman
What: A dramedy that tells the story of a divorced writer (Theron) from the Midwest who returns to her hometown to reconnect with an old flame, who's now married with a family.
Why: Hoping to strike gold again, Jason Reitman is once again teeming up with screen writer Diablo Cody. (Their last project together was the Oscar winning Juno.) This is by far Reitman’s most mature work to date and it should garner major awards attention for Theron.
When: TBA

2011 films prestige part 1

January and February are notoriously know as “the dumping ground” in the movie business; where studios throw their cast-offs until the “real” movie season is underway. So, while we wait for something worthwhile to grace the big screen I will be doing a four-part “films to look forward to in 2011.” (Catchy title huh?) I have broken the films into three different categories: Prestige (these are the films to keep an eye on for 2012 awards season), Just For Fun (This is where you will find the smart comedies and action flicks of the year; although they likely won’t win an Oscar, a Golden Globe isn’t out of the picture), and finally Popcorn (this is for all the big-budgeted Superhero/Blow-Stuff-Up/Franchise movies).

Disclaimer: It's inevitable - films will get left off of my list. Good films too. And that's not even including the films that are set to premier at Sundance in a few days looking for a buyer. (That's where The Kids Are All Right, Winter's Bone and Blue Valentine first got notice and were quickly snapped up by a distributor/studio for release.) This is simply just a list of the movies that caught my eye; or have good buzz going for the script/cast/director; or simply ones I am most looking forward to seeing.

First up is part one of the prestige films. As with all of the forthcoming lists the films are arranged in alphabetical order. (This particular category has been split into because of the large number of films. Part two will post tomorrow.)


1. A Dangerous Method
Who: Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fastbender, Keira Knightley, and Vincent Cassel; directed by David Cronenberg
What: Sigmund Freud (Mortensen) vs. Carl Jung (Fassbender): the conflict between teacher (Freud) and his student (Jung) over a disturbed young woman (Knightley) brought in for treatment by her father.
Why: Based on the play by Christopher Hampton, The Talking Cure, which is an impassioned look at the birth of psychoanalysis. This seems to be a great mixture of the perfect director with the perfect cast to tell the story.
When: To Be Announced (TBA)

2. Contagion
Who: Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Bryan Cranston, John Hawkes and Laurence Fishburne; directed by Steven Soderbergh
What: An action-thriller that follows a worst case scenario when a deadly virus spreads to four continents; and the international team of doctors who try to stop it.
Why: This will be Soderbergh’s most high-profile picture since Oceans’s Thirteen, and he couldn’t have picked a better project to come out swinging with. With a terrific script by Scott Z. Burns (The Informant, The Bourne Ultimatum) and an all-star cast I don’t see how this one won’t turn out to be a hit.
When: October 21

3. The Descendants
Who: George Clooney, Judy Greet, Beau Bridges, Matthew Lillard, Robert Forster, Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller; directed by Alexander Payne
What: The story of an attorney (Clooney) who re-evaluates his life after his wife’s boating accident. He and his two daughters (Woodley and Miller) decide to take a trip to find the man she was having an affair with. According to Payne, “it’s more or less a story about fatherhood.”
Why: Based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings and adapted by Faxon & Jim Rash (from tv show Community); the script has been widely praised.
When: TBA (I get a very Up in the Air feeling to this one, meaning an Oscar-bat picture; most likely a late 2011 limited release before going wide in January)

4. Drive
Who: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks and Christina Hendricks; directed by Nicholas Winding Refn
What: A Hollywood stunt driver (Gosling) who moonlights as a getaway driver for thieves ends up on the run after a bank heist goes wrong.
Why: Um, it’s Gosling and Mulligan! Still need more? Based on the James Sallis novel Gosling says “it’s a cross between Blue Velvet and Purple Rain. It’s like a dream version of an action movie. It’s absolutely unique.”
When: September 16

5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Who: Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgard and Robin Wright; directed by David Fincher
What: A journalist (Craig) is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing – or dead – for forty years by a young female hacker (Mara).
Why: Based on one of the most popular books of this past decade by Stieg Larsson and going up against the Swedish film not more than two years after its release, I’m excited to see if David Fincher’s version lives up to the hype.
When: December 21

6. The Help
Who: Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sissy Spackey and Viola Davis; directed by Tate Taylor
What: A 1960s period drama set in Mississippi. When a southern society girl (Stone) returns from college determined to become a writer she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives as “the help”. Along the way, unlikely friendships are forged as everyone in town becomes caught up in the changing times.
Why: Based on the New York Times bestseller; if done right The Help will be a strong, worthwhile drama.
When: August 12

7. Hugo Cabret
Who: Jude Law, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Chloe Moretz and Asa Butterfield; directed by Martin Scorsese
What: Set in 1930s Paris, an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.
Why: Considering his last movie was horror flick Shutter Island Scorsese is making a decidedly big change with this big-budgeted 3D family friendly film based on Brian Selznick’s best selling novel. Details of the film are being held close to the chest, so I don’t think we’ll really know much about the project until later in the year, but it’s Scorsese with a December release date………
When: December 9

8. The Ides of March
Who: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Paul Giamatti and Philip Seymour Hoffman; directed by George Clooney
What: The young, idealistic communications director (Gosling) for a new presidential candidate (Clooney) gets a crash course on dirty politics when he becomes embroiled in a battle of dirty tricks with a rival during his stint on the primaries campaign trail.
Why: Based on Beau Willimon’s play Faragut North (wish they would have kept the title for the film, although I guess non-Washingtonians might not understand the meaning) which in turn is based loosely on the 2004 Howard Dean campaign.
When: A limited December release to qualify for Oscars before going wide in January ‘12

9. Immortals
Who: Henry Cavill, Freida Pinto, Mickey Rourke, Stephen Dorff, Isabel Lucas and Luke Evans; directed by Tarsem Singh
What: A mythological tale set in war-torn ancient Greece where the young warrior prince Theseus leads his men in a battle against evil that will see the Gods and Men fighting against the Titans and Barbarians.
Why: Tarsem says of his film, “It’s turning into, basically Carvaggio [the Italian 16th century artist] meets Fight Club, it’s a really hardcore action film done in Renaissance painting style.” If nothing else at least it sounds like it will look good.
When: November 11

10. Jane Eyre
Who: Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell, Judi Dench and Sally Hawkins; directed by Cary Fukenaga
What: An adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel.
Why: There have been numerous interpretations of Jane Eyre over the years, this time however we are promised a focus on the Gothic elements of the story. The cast is pretty great as well, so that will definitely help.
When: March 11 (This date is somewhat of a surprise. Hopefully it isn’t an indication of Focus Features dumping it. Still, 9 months is a long time to stay relevant.)


11. Live With It
Who: Joseph Gorden-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Angelica Huston; directed by Jonathan Levine
What: The story of Adam (Gorden-Levitt), a 25-year-old who learns he has cancer and the young psychologist (Kendrick) assigned to handle his case despite her lack of real life experience.
Why: The formally titled I’m With Cancer (wish they would have kept that) is from an autobiographical script by cancer survivor Will Reiser. Seth Rogen got wind of the script and along with co-staring in the film as Adam’s best friend he is also acting as producer. Rogen’s proved he has good taste when it comes to scripts; I hope this one is no exception.
When: September 23

12. Melancholia
Who: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Alexander Skarsgard, Stellan Skarsgard and John Hurt; directed by Lars von Trier
What: A psychological disaster film in which two sisters, one of whom is about to be married, cope in different ways as a large planet looms threateningly close to Earth signifying the imminent end of the world.
Why: As Lars von Trier has shown with his past films, he is not afraid to think outside the box and this new project should be no exception. With a nice mix of indie darlings and Hollywood stars plus murmurings of a Cannes debut, this is one to keep an eye on.
When: TBA (US) / July 1 (UK)

13. Midnight in Paris
Who: Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, Marion Cotillard, Owen Wilson, Alison Pill, Adrian Brody and Kathy Bates; directed by Woody Allen
What: A romantic comedy that follows a family traveling to Paris in the 1920s for business. The party includes a young engaged couple who have their lives transformed when they explore the illusion that people that have a different life from their own are better.
Why: It’s time for a Woody Allen comeback (his last few films have been met with less than positive praise) and this is the perfect cast to do it.
When: TBA (This one seems all-to-perfectly suited for a Cannes premiere. If the film is finished in time I won’t be surprised to see Sony Pictures Classic debut it there.)

14. Moneyball
Who: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Robin Wright, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Chris Pratt and Tammy Blanchard; directed by Bennett Miller
What: The story of Oakland A’s general manager, Billy Beane’s successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget, by employing computer generated analysis to draft his players.
Why: Based on Michael Lewis’ (The Blind Side) nonfiction bestseller Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. This film was initially set to go before cameras a year earlier and under Steven Soderbergh’s direction, but after his last-minute rewrite caused panic Sony pulled the plug. Months later Aaron Sorkin came on to rewrite and Capote director Bennett Miller took over the reigns. The Sorkin script is supposed to be strong (did you expect anything less?) and the cast is aces. This is one that we’ll be debating it’s Oscar value for months to come, well ahead of its fall release.
When: September 23

15. My Week with Marilyn
Who: Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmaybe, Kenneth Branagh, Emma Watson, Judi Dench, Dominic Cooper, Julia Ormond and Dougray Scott; directed by Simon Curtis
What: The story of the friendship between film assistant Colin Clark (Redmayne), and Monroe (Williams) and her tempestuous relationship with co-star Sir Laurence Olivier (Branagh) set against the backdrop of the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl.
Why: Adapted from Colin Clark’s diary that was published 40 years after it was written, but with one week missing, which was then published some years later as My Week with Marilyn. Michelle Williams and Eddie Redmayne together is enough for me not to mention Williams’ performance has sparked insider rumors placing her as the early front-runner for the Oscar.
When: TBA

mia michaels...

nuff said.

golden picks....

obviously i should never put money on the globes... wtf... maybe i should fly someone to vegas.

golden globes 2011 b's picks

The second biggest awards show is this Sunday. In preparation j & I have picked our winners. Here are mine. J's are below. (There's a joke in there somewhere.)

Movie Awards

BEST DRAMA
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The King’s Speech
The Social Network
(Note – I’m not sure the HFPA is as gung-ho about The Social Network as the academy members seem to be, so I think The King’s Speech takes this one)

BEST COMEDY/MUSICAL PICTURE
Alice in Wonderland
Burlesque
The Kids Are All Right
Red
The Tourist
(Note – If any other movie but Kids wins I will throw things at my TV. How did some of these even get nominations? The Tourist? Really? Dear HFPA, you are ridiculous. Hope you enjoyed that trip to Vegas that the producers of Burlesque sent you on. No Love, Me)

BEST DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
David Fincher, Social Network
Tom Hooper, The King's Speech
Christopher Nolan, Inception
David O. Russell, The Fighter
(Note – It’s possible that Hooper walks away the winner, but I think it goes to Fincher all the way)

BEST DRAMA ACTOR
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
Colin Firth, The King's Speech
James Franco, 127 Hours
Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine
Mark Wahlberg, The Fighter
(Note - As much as I would LOVE a win for Eisenberg or even Gosling, I think this one is as close to a lock as it gets. It’s Firth’s to lose.)

BEST DRAMA ACTRESS
Halle Berry, Frankie and Alice
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine
(Note – I will be shocked if anyone other than Natalie wins. Not to say that I don’t think the others nominated aren’t worthy – they are, very much so. Natalie’s had this locked for months now though. It will be a huge upset if she loses.)

BEST COMEDY/MUSICAL ACTOR
Johnny Depp, Alice in Wonderland
Johnny Depp, The Tourist
Paul Giamatti, Barney's Version
Jake Gyllenhaal, Love and Other Drugs
Kevin Spacey, Casino Jack
(Note – I won’t be surprised if Johnny wins for Alice; however, I just couldn’t bring myself to pick him as the winner)

BEST COMEDY/MUSICAL ACTRESS
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Anne Hathaway, Love and Other Drugs
Angelina Jolie, The Tourist
Julianne Moore, The Kids Are All Right
Emma Stone, Easy A
(Note – I will be shocked if anyone other than Annette wins)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale, The Fighter
Michael Douglas, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Andrew Garfield, The Social Network
Jeremy Renner, The Town
Geoffrey Rush, The King's Speech
(Note – I would love for Andrew to win this one - I just think he was fantastic in TSN - but it is Bale’s to lose. I mean have you seen what he did to his body for this role? That’s dedication. And a little bit of craziness.)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter, The King's Speech
Mila Kunis, Black Swan
Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom
(Note: This one really could go any way. I can see any one of the nominees walking away the winner (save, maybe, Mila). Melissa gets my vote though simply because I love her and think she’s fantastic in pretty much everything she does.)

BEST SCREENPLAY
Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy, 127 Hours
Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg, The Kids Are All Right
Christopher Nolan, Inception
David Seidler, The King's Speech
Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network
(Note – I will be shocked and amazed if TSN doesn’t win)

BEST SCORE
Alexandre Desplat, The King's Speech
Danny Elfman, Alice in Wonderland
A.R. Rahman, 127 Hours
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Social Network
Hans Zimmer, Inception
(Note – While I love TSN’s score, and anything Desplat does is gold I think this is the category that goes to Inception.)

BEST SONG
"Bound to You", Burlesque
"Coming Home", Country Strong
"I See the Light", Tangled
"There's a Place for Us", The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
"You Haven't Seen the Last of Me", Burlesque
(Note – That trip to Vegas has got to pay off somehow…..)

BEST ANIMATED PICTURE
Despicable Me
How to Train Your Dragon
Illusionist
Tangled
Toy Story 3
(Note – I almost went for Tangled on this one. The HFPA seems to have a soft spot for Disney, and they like to go against the grain in at least one category. I could see this one being the being the one they use as an “upset”.)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE PICTURE
Biutiful, Mexico/Spain
The Concert, France
The Edge, Russia
I Am Love, Italy
In a Better World, Denmark
(Note – I almost picked I Am Love for the win, but in the end went with Biutiful solely because of Javier Bardem’s performance.)


TV Awards

BEST TV DRAMA
Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
The Good Wife
Mad Men
The Walking Dead
(Note – It’s the “new thing”)

BEST TV COMEDY/MUSICAL SERIES
30 Rock
Big Bang Theory
Bic C
Glee
Modern Family
Nurse Jackie
(Note – I’ll be fine with a win for anything in this category as long as it doesn’t go to Glee. I will revolt if Glee wins. What a difference a year makes.)

BEST TV DRAMA ACTOR
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
(Note – I picked Jon Hamm simply because he has had such a great year; can easily see it going to Steve Buscemi though.)

BEST TV DRAMA ACTRESS
Julianna Marguiles, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Piper Perabo, Covert Affairs
Katy Sagal, Sons of Anarchy
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
(Note – I’ll be pretty shocked it Julianna doesn’t win this one again)

BEST TV COMEDY/MUSICAL ACTOR
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Thomas Jayne, Hung
Matthew Morrison, Glee
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
(Note – Um, where’s Danny McBride for Eastbound & Down? Baldwin & Carell are great, admittedly, but they haven’t done anything new with their characters for a long time now. Hung sucks. Like unwatchable sucks. Matthew Morrison is a big part of why I hate Glee so much now. Considering this is the list I have to work with I’ll take Parsons for the win.)

BEST TV COMEDY/MUSICAL ACTRESS
Toni Collette, The United States of Tara
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Laura Linney, The Big C
Lea Michele, Glee
(Note – As long as it’s anyone other than Lea Michele. No, really. The amount of disdain I have for that girl is ridiculous.)

BEST TV MOVIE/MINISERIES
Carlos
The Pacific
Pillars of the Earth
Temple Grandin
You Don't Know Jack
(Note – I could see this one possibly going to Temple Grandin, but I have to say I will honestly be shocked if The Pacific loses.)

BEST TV MOVIE/MINISERIES ACTOR
Idris Elba, Luther
Ian McShane, Pillars of the Earth
Al Pacino, You Don't Know Jack
Dennis Quaid, The Special Relationship
Edgar Ramirez, Carlos
(Note – It’s Al Pacino. You can’t not pick him. Although I have to say that I am really sad that Eddie Redmayne didn’t get a nomination for his work in Pillars of the Earth. Major oversight on the HFPA’s part. Although, I guess I shouldn’t really be that surprised. After all they are the ones who nominated Jennifer Love Hewitt in a Lifetime: Movie of the Week role.)

BEST TV MOVIE/MINISERIES ACTRESS
Hayley Atwell, Pillars of the Earth
Claire Danes, Temple Grandin
Judi Dench, Return to Cranford
Romola Garai, Emma
Jennifer Love Hewitt, The Client List
(Note – I don’t see anyone other than the former Angela Chase walking away with this win. Also, I propose the HFPA enact a new rule: no Lifetime: Movie of the Week shall be eligible. Ever. The fact that JLH is nominated is just simply laughable. No, really, I laughed for about 10 minutes straight the morning the nominations were made and her name was announced.)

BEST TV SUPPORTING ACTOR
Scott Caan, Hawaii Five-O
Chris Colfer, Glee
Chris Noth, The Good Wife
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
David Strathairn, Temple Grandin
(Note – For as much as I now dislike Glee and absolutely loathe that one bitch, I still love Kurt. And Chris Colfer is just so adorable and earnest. I want him to win just so I can watch his acceptance speech. I could also see a David Strathairn win though.)

BEST TV SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Hope Davis, The Special Relationship
Jane Lynch, Glee
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Julia Stiles, Dexter
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
(Note – I originally had Jane Lynch here, but I don’t know that the HFPA goes back-to-back Glee for supporting.)

golden globes 2011 j's picks

Movie Awards

BEST DRAMA
The Social Network

BEST COMEDY/MUSICAL PICTURE
The Kids Are All Right

BEST DIRECTOR
Christopher Nolan, Inception

BEST DRAMA ACTOR
Colin Firth, The King's Speech

BEST DRAMA ACTRESS
Natalie Portman, Black Swan

BEST COMEDY/MUSICAL ACTOR
Jake Gyllenhaal, Love and Other Drugs

BEST COMEDY/MUSICAL ACTRESS
Julianne Moore, The Kids Are All Right

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale, The Fighter

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, The Fighter

BEST SCREENPLAY
Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

BEST SCORE
Hans Zimmer, Inception

BEST SONG
"Coming Home", Country Strong

BEST ANIMATED PICTURE
Tangled

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE PICTURE
The Concert, France


TV Awards

BEST TV DRAMA
Dexter

BEST TV COMEDY/MUSICAL SERIES
Modern Family

BEST TV DRAMA ACTOR
Michael C. Hall, Dexter

BEST TV DRAMA ACTRESS
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

BEST TV COMEDY/MUSICAL ACTOR
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

BEST TV COMEDY/MUSICAL ACTRESS
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie

BEST TV MOVE/MINISERIES
The Pacific

BEST TV MOVIE/MINISERIES ACTOR
Al Pacino, You Don't Know Jack

BEST TV MOVIE/MINISERIES ACTRESS
Claire Danes, Temple Grandin

TV SUPPORTING ACTOR
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

TV SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jane Lynch, Glee

travis barker - carry it ft. rza, raekwon, tom morello