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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