The BAFTA nominations for this year were announced on Wednesday. They weren't high on surprise, but there was enough dotted about to raise an eyebrow or two. This post is the nominations in full, with my thoughts and predictions in each category. Would love to hear all your own thoughts and predictions so please do get in touch. The BAFTA ceremony itself will take place on Sunday 16th February in a typically glitzy ceremony at the historic Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
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BEST FILM
12 Years A Slave
American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Gravity
Philomena
I can see the Best Film award going to Steve McQueen's slave drama '12 Years A Slave', which I should be seeing next week. 'Gravity' may have weighed in with the most nominations but I would still be surprised to see it walk away with this over the more awards-friendly, hard-hitting '12 Years'. 'American Hustle' has emerged as a surprise favourite for the Best Picture Oscar (though I still think it will go to '12 Years'), but I can't see it winning here.
'Captain Phillips' has a bronze medal feel about it both here and across the pond - it's certainly a terrific film but exists just below the frontrunner level of 'Gravity' and '12 Years'. 'Philomena', meanwhile, will have proved extremely popular amongst BAFTA voters with its British director/cast as well as its emotionally involving story and warm, very British humour.
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OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
Gravity
Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom
Philomena
Rush
Saving Mr. Banks
The Selfish Giant
Sometimes the terms and conditions of this award baffle me slightly, with some films not exactly what I would describe as a British film, but hey ho. This is a very difficult one to call because it may be dependent on where the 'Best Film' votes go. If 'Gravity' wins that particular award then it may pave the way for Outstanding British Film to be awarded somewhere different, at which point I could see 'Philomena' triumphing. It's terrific, I should mention, to see Clio Barnard's devastating 'The Selfish Giant' pick up a nomination.
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OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
Colin Carberry (Writer), Glenn Patterson (Writer) Good Vibrations
Kelly Marcel (Writer) Saving Mr. Banks
Kieran Evans (Director/Writer) Kelly + Victor
Paul Wright (Director/Writer), Polly Stokes (Producer) For Those in Peril
Scott Graham (Director/Writer) Shell
I'd like to see Kelly Marcel win for her beautiful 'Saving Mr. Banks' screenplay.
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DIRECTOR
Steve McQueen - 12 Years A Slave
David O. Russell - American Hustle
Paul Greengrass - Captain Phillips
Alfonso Cuarón - Gravity
Martin Scorsese - The Wolf Of Wall Street
The directorial flourishes displayed in all five of these films are of the highest level, but I think this will come down to the very same fight that will constitute much of Bafta 2014 awards night, that of '12 Years' versus 'Gravity'. Here I can see Steve McQueen winning and it would be fully deserved for a director that has fasttracked his way to the top level of dramatic filmmakers after the similarly brilliant 'Hunger' and 'Shame'.
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ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Eric Warren Singer, David O. Russell - American Hustle
Woody Allen - Blue Jasmine
Alfonso Cuarón, Jonás Cuarón - Gravity
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen - Inside Llewyn Davis
Bob Nelson - Nebraska
Although 'Gravity' is very strong technically I would argue that its screenplay is perhaps its worst element, with some of the dialogue clunky (indeed some internet critics have responded to this nomination with 'Gravity had a screenplay?!'), so it would be nice to see one of the others reign victorious here. My vote is going to go to Woody Allen for 'Blue Jasmine', though the screenplays for 'American Hustle', 'Inside Llewyn Davis' and 'Nebraska' are all very strong so this really could go any which way.
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ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
John Ridley - 12 Years A Slave
Richard LaGravenese - Behind The Candelabra
Billy Ray - Captain Phillips
Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope - Philomena
Terence Winter - The Wolf Of Wall Street
The frontrunner for this will be John Ridley for '12 Years a Slave', but I certainly wouldn't bank against Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope triumphing with the Bafta voters for their wonderfully warm yet never oversentimental adaptation of Martin Sixsmith's investigative 2009 book.
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LEADING ACTOR
Bruce Dern - Nebraska
Chiwetel Ejiofor - 12 Years a Slave
Christian Bale - American Hustle
Leonardo DiCaprio - The Wolf of Wall Street
Tom Hanks - Captain Phillips
Chiwetel Ejiofor has been universally praised for his performance as Solomon Northup in '12 Years a Slave', and the momentum seems to be with him to win the Bafta here. Christian Bale is a slightly surprising nomination for his part in 'American Hustle' and it will be interesting to see now if an Oscar nomination follows, though he would have to be considered a major outsider to win on either side of the pond. On the basis of trailers and reviews I think I'm going to be pretty blown away by Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort in 'The Wolf of Wall Street' but the reported extent of the sex, drugs and rock'n'roll of the film may not work in his favour when considered by the older voters. Bruce Dern is absolutely wonderful in 'Nebraska' and can't be completely discounted from the running in either the Baftas or Oscars, but I really do think that this is Ejiofor's to lose.
It's truly been an extraordinary year for lead acting performances. To put this in perspective, there is no nomination for Michael Douglas as Liberace in 'Behind The Candelabra' (though it's great to see that film recognised in other categories, especially considering it will be ineligible for any US film awards) or Idris Elba as the titular president in 'Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom'. It's also surprising, given that 'Dallas Buyers Club' was eligible for the Baftas, to see no nomination for Matthew McConaughey's staggering performance as AIDS victim Ron (also surprising to see no Supporting nom for Jared Leto's extraordinary transformation into transgender Rayon in the same film). The nominations also exclude Joaquin Phoenix for 'Her' and James McAvoy for 'Filth', amongst many, many more astounding performances in the past year.
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LEADING ACTRESS
Amy Adams - American Hustle
Cate Blanchett - Blue Jasmine
Emma Thompson - Saving Mr. Banks
Judi Dench - Philomena
Sandra Bullock - Gravity
This is a strong field, and it will be interesting to see the voters end up going with this category. I would say the Oscars are likely to be a two-horse race between Cate Blanchett and Sandra Bullock, but it's made more interesting this side of the pond with Emma Thompson and Judi Dench so beloved in these parts. Dench has clocked up a record 15th Bafta nomination and really shouldn't be ruled out of the running here - Bafta voters absolutely love her. I still see this award going the way of Cate Blanchett, though, and it would be fully deserved as she turned in the performance of her career as troubled socialite Jasmine in Woody Allen's latest.
As unlikely as it was always going to be, it's still disappointing to see no nomination for Adele Exarchopoulos ('Blue Is The Warmest Colour'). This likely means that she will miss out at the Oscars as well which is a shame as I found hers to be the finest female performance of the year. After Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuele Riva's recognition at the 2012-13 awards season I'd hoped we would start to see more stars of foreign language films receive acting nominations - here's to next year!
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SUPPORTING ACTOR
Barkhad Abdi - Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper - American Hustle
Daniel Bruhl - Rush
Matt Damon - Behind the Candelabra
Michael Fassbender - 12 Years a Slave
It's fantastic to see newcomer Barkhad Abdi nominated for his chilling performance as Somali pirate Muse. It's also not unthinkable now to see Abdi go on and win this; certainly I would place him above Cooper, Bruhl and Damon in the race. Whether he can offer real competition to Michael Fassbender's terrifying turn in '12 Years a Slave' remains to be seen, though. I'll plump for Fassbender for this one, though Abdi winning would be a pleasant surprise.
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SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Lawrence - American Hustle
Julia Roberts - August: Osage County
Lupita Nyong'o - 12 Years a Slave
Oprah Winfrey - The Butler
Sally Hawkins - Blue Jasmine
Should be between Jennifer Lawrence and Lupita Nyong'o, as I would imagine the Oscars also will be. Lawrence is fast becoming one of the Academy darlings after a nomination for Winter's Bone in 2011 and a win for Silver Linings Playbook in 2013, and could this year become one of the only people to ever win back-to-back acting Oscars. For the Baftas, I'm going to predict a win for Nyong'o for her much praised turn as slave Patsey in '12 Years a Slave'.
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FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
The Act Of Killing
Blue Is The Warmest Colour
The Great Beauty
Metro Manila
Wadjda
I've yet to see 'The Act Of Killing' (for shame, I know) and know very little about 'Metro Manila' and 'Wadjda'. 'The Act Of Killing' has received overwhelmingly positive reviews and will certainly be a contender for this, though it may be more likely to be recognised in the Documentary category. Palme d'Or winner Blue Is The Warmest Colour is probably the favourite and my choice, though it will be interesting to see if its explicit sex scenes with more conservative Bafta voters. 'The Great Beauty' is a wonderful piece of work and certainly has a chance of winning here.
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DOCUMENTARY
The Act Of Killing
The Armstrong Lie
Blackfish
Tim's Vermeer
We Steal Secrets: The Story Of Wikileaks
I'm expecting a win here for 'The Act Of Killing', Joshua Oppenheimer's bizarre documentary about former Indonesian death squad leaders. 'Blackfish', about the sometimes devastating effects of keeping killer whales in captivity, has been very well received and shouldn't be discounted. I'm surprised not to see Sarah Polley's fantastic 'Stories We Tell' pick up a nomination.
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ANIMATED FILM
Despicable Me 2
Frozen
Monsters University
I'd be very surprised if Disney's 'Frozen' doesn't triumph here.
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ORIGINAL MUSIC
12 Years A Slave - Hans Zimmer
The Book Thief - John Williams
Captain Phillips - Henry Jackman
Gravity - Steven Price
Saving Mr. Banks - Thomas Newman
My money's on Hans Zimmer for '12 Years a Slave'. I love Zimmer's music and his score for '12 Years' has received nothing but universal praise.
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CINEMATOGRAPHY
12 Years A Slave - Sean Bobbitt
Captain Phillips - Barry Ackroyd
Gravity - Emmanuel Lubezki
Inside Llewyn Davis - Bruno Delbonnel
Nebraska - Phedon Papamichael
Barry Ackroyd's work is always incredibly solid, with 'Captain Phillips' no exception, and 'Nebraska' is brought to life by Phedon Papamichael's beautiful black-and-white photography. The likely winner, though, is Emmanuel Lubezki for 'Gravity', his work playing a huge part in how successfully the film manages to bring space to life.
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EDITING
12 Years A Slave - Joe Walker
Captain Phillips - Christopher Rouse
Gravity - Alfonso Cuarón, Mark Sanger
Rush - Dan Hanley, Mike Hill
The Wolf Of Wall Street - Thelma Schoonmaker
I've no doubt that the work of regular Scorsese collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker on 'The Wolf of Wall Street' will be nothing short of exceptional, but on the basis of having actually seen it, I'll go for 'Captain Phillips'. Christopher Rouse is Paul Greengrass' regular collaborator, so it is no surprise to see this film share the same frenetic, tension-building editing style as the Bourne films and 'United 93'. It's probably wishful thinking on my part to not see 'Gravity' completely sweep the technical categories, but 'Captain Phillips' certainly has a good chance here.
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PRODUCTION DESIGN
12 Years A Slave - Adam Stockhausen, Alice Baker
American Hustle - Judy Becker, Heather Loeffler
Behind The Candelabra - Howard Cummings
Gravity - Andy Nicholson, Rosie Goodwin, Joanne Woodlard
The Great Gatsby - Catherine Martin, Beverley Dunn
It's pleasing to see 'The Great Gatsby' pick up some much-deserved nominations in the technical categories and it would be my pick out of these five for the greater production design. Baz Lurhmann's film perfectly captures the Jazz Age decadence perfectly, as Lurhmann's wife Catherine Martin creates another world of lavish, vibrant sets - in her hands 1920's New York City breathes on screen, more than simply a background to the classic love story of Daisy and Gatsby. The party scenes at Gatsby's mansion are particularly impressive.
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COSTUME DESIGN
American Hustle - Michael Wilkinson
Behind The Candelabra - Ellen Mirojnick
The Great Gatsby - Catherine Martin
The Invisible Woman - Michael O’Connor
Saving Mr. Banks - Daniel Orlandi
Catherine Martin was also responsible for the costumes in 'The Great Gatsby', and she worked with Prada to create over 40 looks for the film, each inspired by styles from the Prada and Miu Miu archive. The costumes during the party scenes are wonderful, displaying all the wealth and glamour of 1920's Long Islanders, and Carey Mulligan looks radiant in the outfits created for her character Daisy. I wouldn't be surprised, though, to see 'Behind The Candelabra win this for the incredible outfits worn by Michael Douglas in his portrayal of Liberace. We'll see come February 16th.
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MAKE UP & HAIR
American Hustle - Evelyne Noraz, Lori McCoy-Bell
Behind The Candelabra - Kate Biscoe, Marie Larkin
The Butler - Debra Denson, Beverly Jo Pryor, Candace Neal
The Great Gatsby - Maurizio Silvi, Kerry Warn
The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug - Peter Swords King, Richard Taylor, Rick Findlater
'American Hustle' certainly has the greater awards traction of any of these films so may well find itself the victor in this category, but the finest hair & make-up for me exists within 'The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug', so here's hoping that the Bafta voters share my opinion.
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SOUND
All Is Lost - Richard Hymns, Steve Boeddeker, Brandon Proctor, Micah Bloomberg, Gillian Arthur
Captain Phillips - Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith, Chris Munro, Oliver Tarney
Gravity - Glenn Freemantle, Skip Lievsay, Christopher Benstead, Niv Adiri, Chris Munro
Inside Llewyn Davis - Peter F. Kurland, Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff
Rush - Danny Hambrook, Martin Steyer, Stefan Korte, Markus Stemler, Frank Kruse
Has to go to 'Gravity' for me. As I wrote in my 'Review of the Movie Year 2013' blog post, 'the sound design is nothing short of incredible, nailing the difficult task of creating realistic noise in a vacuum and cleverly incorporating Sandra Bullock's breaths and heartbeat as true thematic elements'.
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SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
Gravity - Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, David Shirk, Neil Corbould, Nikki Penny
The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug - Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, Eric Reynolds
Iron Man 3 - Bryan Grill, Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Dan Sudick
Pacific Rim - Hal Hickel, John Knoll, Lindy De Quattro, Nigel Sumner
Star Trek Into Darkness - Ben Grossmann, Burt Dalton, Patrick Tubach, Roger Guyett
The visual effects in all five of these films are fantastic, really top level stuff, but I would be very surprised if this award didn't go to 'Gravity'.
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BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION
Everything I Can See From Here
I Am Tom Moody
Sleeping With The Fishes
I'm yet to see any of these short animations and know very little about them so am ill placed to voice an opinion about a potential winner.
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BRITISH SHORT FILM
Island Queen
Keeping Up With The Joneses
Orbit
Ever After
Room 8
Sea View
Again, I haven't seen any of these yet so cannot really comment.
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THE EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)
Dane DeHaan
George MacKay
Lupita Nyong'o
Will Poulter
Lea Seydoux
I've already placed my vote for Dane DeHaan for his scintillating performances in 'The Place Beyond The Pines' and 'Kill Your Darlings'. This category is probably even more unpredictable than the others where voted for by the public, and this year is particularly difficult to select an obvious winner. I can maybe see this going to Brit George MacKay though after strong work in 2013 in 'How I Live Now', 'For Those In Peril' and 'Sunshine on Leith'. Of all the nominees is it is Poulter who has starred in probably the more mainstream film recently, summer comedy 'We're The Millers'.
Lupita Nyong'o has received rave reviews for her performance in '12 Years a Slave' and may well end up winning Best Supporting Actress at both the BAFTAs and the Oscars, but her lack of recognisability may count against her in this public-voted category. Lea Seydoux put in a beautiful performance in 'Blue Is The Warmest Colour' but had already been established, particularly in France, for a couple of years before and her inclusion instead of 'Blue' co-star Adele Exarchopoulos is perhaps a surprise. You can place your own vote at the following link - https://explore.ee.co.uk/bafta
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Tuesday, January 07, 2014
14 Most Anticipated Films of 2014
Below are my 14 most anticipated films to be released in the UK in 2014. For this list I decided not to include films that I am likely to see in the next couple of weeks, as much as I am looking forward to seeing them, so this means no place for '12 Years A Slave', 'American Hustle', 'Inside Llewyn Davis' and 'The Wolf of Wall Street'. I took a punt on some of these choices as there are a few that haven't a confirmed release date and so may well end up drifting into an early 2015 UK release. Would love to hear whether you agree with the films in this list and if there are any others that you are particularly looking forward to this year.
FRANK
'A comedy about a young wannabe musician, Jon (Domhnall Gleeson), who discovers he's bitten off more than he can chew when he joins an eccentric pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank (Michael Fassbender)' (IMDb). Lenny Abrahamson's last film as director, 'What Richard Did', was one of 2013's best and yet most little-seen. I'm really looking forward to 'Frank', in which the on-form Fassbender will spend the majority of his screen time with a huge fake head as cult character Frank Sidebottom. Looks quirky and a lot of fun. May 2nd.
NYMPHOMANIAC
'A self-diagnosed nymphomaniac recounts her erotic experiences to the man who saved her after a beating' (IMDb). Lars von Trier's four hour, two part account of a woman's sex life has been garnering impressive reviews, with many critics surprised by the depth of the storytelling in a film some had dismissed as a showcase of von Trier's depravity gone too far. Stellan Skarsgard, Shia LaBoeuf, Christian Slater, Jamie Bell, Uma Thurman and Willem Dafoe lend support to Stacy Martin and Charlotte Gainsbourg, who play the younger and older Joe respectively. February 21st.
HER
'A lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system that's designed to meet his every need' (IMDb). I've always been a big fan of Spike Jonze's films, and 'Her' looks like it may even be his best, a tender love story with a unique, futuristic twist. Joaquin Phoenix is arguably in the form of his career after a blistering turn in Paul Thomas Anderson's 'The Master' and looks set to continue that here as loner Theodore. Scarlett Johansson provides the voice of operating system Samantha, and there is support from Amy Adams and Rooney Mara. February 14th.
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
'The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend' (IMDb). Wes Anderson's next film after 2012's magical 'Moonrise Kingdom' is this adventure caper set in Eastern Europe and showcasing a truly exceptional cast led by Ralph Fiennes and supported by... Saoirse Ronan, Jude Law, Léa Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Tom Wilkinson and Harvey Keitel. Looks like it will have all the quirk and humour and stylish shots we've come to expect of a Wes Anderson picture. March 7th.
SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR
'The town's most hard-boiled citizens cross paths with some of its more reviled inhabitants' (IMDb). Retaining Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Bruce Willis and Rosario Dawson from the first film and adding in Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Josh Brolin, Eva Green, Juno Temple and Ray Liotta amongst others (including Lady Gaga?), Rodriguez's next Sin City film will hope to build upon the stylish noir universe he so successfully adapted from Frank Miller's graphic novels. Again split into three separate stories, expect the second film to match its predecessor in OTT sex and violence, and visceral thrills. August 29th.
INTERSTELLAR
'A group of explorers make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage' (IMDb). Christopher Nolan's new film comes as shrouded in secrecy as ever, but I couldn't be more excited to see what he's come up with. A sci-fi concept and script from his brother Jonathan, Interstellar's November release (much like Cuaron's 'Gravity') suggests that Paramount are looking for not only big box office results but also perhaps success in the 2013/14 awards season. Stars Matthew McConaghey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Wes Bentley, Michael Caine and Casey Affleck. November 7th.
HOW TO CATCH A MONSTER
'A single mother is swept into a dark underworld, while her teenage son discovers a road that leads him to a secret underwater town' (IMDb). A directorial debut from actor-of-the-moment Ryan Gosling is enough to appeal to me, but in addition the story sounds genuinely intriguing (written by Gosling himself) and he has managed to get together a strong cast in Saoirse Ronan, Matt Smith, Christina Hendricks, plus his 'Place Beyond The Pines' co-stars Eva Mendes and Ben Mendelsohn. TBA
GONE GIRL
'A woman mysteriously disappears on the day of her wedding anniversary. Based on the novel, "Gone Girl."' (IMDb) Gillian Flynn's page-turning bestseller is a perfect fit for cinema and perhaps a perfect fit for director David Fincher. Fincher is working from a screenplay by Flynn herself and has amassed an intriguingly odd cast in Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Missi Pyle and Tyler Perry. TBA (3rd October USA)
NOAH
'The Biblical Noah suffers visions of an apocalyptic deluge and takes measures to protect his family from the coming flood' (IMDb). Director Darren Aronofsky is given his biggest budget yet to take on the huge story of Noah and his Ark. The film has reportedly run into trouble, with religious focus groups upset with the film's deviations from the original Biblical story, and studio Paramount have been rumoured to have ordered cuts which Aronofsky has refused. I'm hopeful that we will get to see the cut of the film that Aronofsky wants us to see, or the closest we can get to it. My mind isn't quite made up after watching the trailer, but I have been a great fan of Aronofsky since the beginning and am keeping the faith. The film stars Russell Crowe in the title role, with support from Emma Watson, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, Logan Lerman and Ray Winstone. March 28th.
INHERENT VICE
'In Los Angeles in 1970, drug-fueled detective Larry "Doc" Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend' (IMDb). New Paul Thomas Anderson means an immediate addition to this list, regardless of anything else. Joaquin Phoenix (in his 2nd appearance on this list) stars, and Jena Malone, Reese Witherspoon, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Maya Rudolph and Benicio Del Toro provide the support in this adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's crime novel. TBA
BIRDMAN
'A washed-up actor who once played an iconic superhero must overcome his ego and family trouble as he mounts a Broadway play in a bid to reclaim his past glory' (IMDb). Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, director of films such as Babel and Amores Perros, surprises with his next choice 'Birdman', which on the face of it looks like a bizarre dark comedy of sorts. An inspired casting choice sees former Batman Michael Keaton take the lead role, and the support includes Emma Stone, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, Zach Galifianakis and Amy Ryan. I'm really intrigued about this one. TBA
KNIGHT OF CUPS
'A man, temptations, celebrity, and excess' (IMDb). I was a big fan of Terrence Malick's 'Tree of Life' but found 'To The Wonder' slightly disappointing. It should prove interesting to watch Malick weave his usual grandiose themes into a story about the notion of celebrity. The excellent cast includes Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Teresa Palmer, Cate Blanchett, Wes Bentley, Freida Pinto and Antonio Banderas, though with Malick's notoriously tight editing process who knows how many of those will make it into the finished product. TBA
THE HOBBIT: THERE AND BACK AGAIN
'The Company of Thorin has reached Smaug's lair; but, can Bilbo and the Dwarves reclaim Erebor and the treasure? And, if so, can they hold on to it?' (IMDb). The Hobbit films have failed to live up to the stunning Lord of the Rings trilogy, but The Desolation of Smaug, as much as it differed from its source material, was a very enjoyable romp with plenty of terrific set pieces. I can't wait to see how Peter Jackson and his cast and crew bring everything together. December 19th.
MAPS TO THE STARS
'Complex look at Hollywood and what it reveals about Western culture' (IMDb). David Cronenberg's latest boats a stellar cast in Julianne Moore, Robert Pattinson, Carrie Fisher, Mia Wasikowska, John Cusack and Olivia Williams. Hopefully it will represent a return to form for Cronenberg after the slightly underwhelming 'Cosmopolis' and 'A Dangerous Method'. TBA
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Honourable mentions should go to... 'Only Lovers Left Alive', 'Under The Skin', 'Muppets Most Wanted', 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2', 'X-Men: Days of Future Past', '22 Jump Street', 'The Fault In Our Stars', 'The Inbetweeners Movie 2', 'Godzilla', 'Macbeth'
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FRANK
'A comedy about a young wannabe musician, Jon (Domhnall Gleeson), who discovers he's bitten off more than he can chew when he joins an eccentric pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank (Michael Fassbender)' (IMDb). Lenny Abrahamson's last film as director, 'What Richard Did', was one of 2013's best and yet most little-seen. I'm really looking forward to 'Frank', in which the on-form Fassbender will spend the majority of his screen time with a huge fake head as cult character Frank Sidebottom. Looks quirky and a lot of fun. May 2nd.
NYMPHOMANIAC
'A self-diagnosed nymphomaniac recounts her erotic experiences to the man who saved her after a beating' (IMDb). Lars von Trier's four hour, two part account of a woman's sex life has been garnering impressive reviews, with many critics surprised by the depth of the storytelling in a film some had dismissed as a showcase of von Trier's depravity gone too far. Stellan Skarsgard, Shia LaBoeuf, Christian Slater, Jamie Bell, Uma Thurman and Willem Dafoe lend support to Stacy Martin and Charlotte Gainsbourg, who play the younger and older Joe respectively. February 21st.
HER
'A lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system that's designed to meet his every need' (IMDb). I've always been a big fan of Spike Jonze's films, and 'Her' looks like it may even be his best, a tender love story with a unique, futuristic twist. Joaquin Phoenix is arguably in the form of his career after a blistering turn in Paul Thomas Anderson's 'The Master' and looks set to continue that here as loner Theodore. Scarlett Johansson provides the voice of operating system Samantha, and there is support from Amy Adams and Rooney Mara. February 14th.
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
'The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend' (IMDb). Wes Anderson's next film after 2012's magical 'Moonrise Kingdom' is this adventure caper set in Eastern Europe and showcasing a truly exceptional cast led by Ralph Fiennes and supported by... Saoirse Ronan, Jude Law, Léa Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Tom Wilkinson and Harvey Keitel. Looks like it will have all the quirk and humour and stylish shots we've come to expect of a Wes Anderson picture. March 7th.
SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR
'The town's most hard-boiled citizens cross paths with some of its more reviled inhabitants' (IMDb). Retaining Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Bruce Willis and Rosario Dawson from the first film and adding in Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Josh Brolin, Eva Green, Juno Temple and Ray Liotta amongst others (including Lady Gaga?), Rodriguez's next Sin City film will hope to build upon the stylish noir universe he so successfully adapted from Frank Miller's graphic novels. Again split into three separate stories, expect the second film to match its predecessor in OTT sex and violence, and visceral thrills. August 29th.
INTERSTELLAR
'A group of explorers make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage' (IMDb). Christopher Nolan's new film comes as shrouded in secrecy as ever, but I couldn't be more excited to see what he's come up with. A sci-fi concept and script from his brother Jonathan, Interstellar's November release (much like Cuaron's 'Gravity') suggests that Paramount are looking for not only big box office results but also perhaps success in the 2013/14 awards season. Stars Matthew McConaghey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Wes Bentley, Michael Caine and Casey Affleck. November 7th.
HOW TO CATCH A MONSTER
'A single mother is swept into a dark underworld, while her teenage son discovers a road that leads him to a secret underwater town' (IMDb). A directorial debut from actor-of-the-moment Ryan Gosling is enough to appeal to me, but in addition the story sounds genuinely intriguing (written by Gosling himself) and he has managed to get together a strong cast in Saoirse Ronan, Matt Smith, Christina Hendricks, plus his 'Place Beyond The Pines' co-stars Eva Mendes and Ben Mendelsohn. TBA
GONE GIRL
'A woman mysteriously disappears on the day of her wedding anniversary. Based on the novel, "Gone Girl."' (IMDb) Gillian Flynn's page-turning bestseller is a perfect fit for cinema and perhaps a perfect fit for director David Fincher. Fincher is working from a screenplay by Flynn herself and has amassed an intriguingly odd cast in Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Missi Pyle and Tyler Perry. TBA (3rd October USA)
NOAH
'The Biblical Noah suffers visions of an apocalyptic deluge and takes measures to protect his family from the coming flood' (IMDb). Director Darren Aronofsky is given his biggest budget yet to take on the huge story of Noah and his Ark. The film has reportedly run into trouble, with religious focus groups upset with the film's deviations from the original Biblical story, and studio Paramount have been rumoured to have ordered cuts which Aronofsky has refused. I'm hopeful that we will get to see the cut of the film that Aronofsky wants us to see, or the closest we can get to it. My mind isn't quite made up after watching the trailer, but I have been a great fan of Aronofsky since the beginning and am keeping the faith. The film stars Russell Crowe in the title role, with support from Emma Watson, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, Logan Lerman and Ray Winstone. March 28th.
INHERENT VICE
'In Los Angeles in 1970, drug-fueled detective Larry "Doc" Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend' (IMDb). New Paul Thomas Anderson means an immediate addition to this list, regardless of anything else. Joaquin Phoenix (in his 2nd appearance on this list) stars, and Jena Malone, Reese Witherspoon, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Maya Rudolph and Benicio Del Toro provide the support in this adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's crime novel. TBA
BIRDMAN
'A washed-up actor who once played an iconic superhero must overcome his ego and family trouble as he mounts a Broadway play in a bid to reclaim his past glory' (IMDb). Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, director of films such as Babel and Amores Perros, surprises with his next choice 'Birdman', which on the face of it looks like a bizarre dark comedy of sorts. An inspired casting choice sees former Batman Michael Keaton take the lead role, and the support includes Emma Stone, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, Zach Galifianakis and Amy Ryan. I'm really intrigued about this one. TBA
KNIGHT OF CUPS
'A man, temptations, celebrity, and excess' (IMDb). I was a big fan of Terrence Malick's 'Tree of Life' but found 'To The Wonder' slightly disappointing. It should prove interesting to watch Malick weave his usual grandiose themes into a story about the notion of celebrity. The excellent cast includes Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Teresa Palmer, Cate Blanchett, Wes Bentley, Freida Pinto and Antonio Banderas, though with Malick's notoriously tight editing process who knows how many of those will make it into the finished product. TBA
THE HOBBIT: THERE AND BACK AGAIN
'The Company of Thorin has reached Smaug's lair; but, can Bilbo and the Dwarves reclaim Erebor and the treasure? And, if so, can they hold on to it?' (IMDb). The Hobbit films have failed to live up to the stunning Lord of the Rings trilogy, but The Desolation of Smaug, as much as it differed from its source material, was a very enjoyable romp with plenty of terrific set pieces. I can't wait to see how Peter Jackson and his cast and crew bring everything together. December 19th.
MAPS TO THE STARS
'Complex look at Hollywood and what it reveals about Western culture' (IMDb). David Cronenberg's latest boats a stellar cast in Julianne Moore, Robert Pattinson, Carrie Fisher, Mia Wasikowska, John Cusack and Olivia Williams. Hopefully it will represent a return to form for Cronenberg after the slightly underwhelming 'Cosmopolis' and 'A Dangerous Method'. TBA
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Honourable mentions should go to... 'Only Lovers Left Alive', 'Under The Skin', 'Muppets Most Wanted', 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2', 'X-Men: Days of Future Past', '22 Jump Street', 'The Fault In Our Stars', 'The Inbetweeners Movie 2', 'Godzilla', 'Macbeth'
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