Life of Pi (November)
Directed by: Ang Lee
Stars: Suraj Sharma, Gerard Depardieu, Tobey Maguire (as Yann Martel???)
Why: I haven't seen an Ang Lee movie in a long while. And it's a bit exciting to know that Ang Lee is directing one of my favorite books. I am also curious as to how Ang Lee is going to approach this book as the book tells Pi's (the main character's) story in two versions. With Ang Lee's track record of making good films, I think this film is in good hands. Just wondering: why the curious casting of Maguire as Yann Martel, the author?
The Great Gatsby (December)
Directed by: Baz Luhrman
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carrie Mulligan
Why: The earlier adaptation of this film was kind of a bust, amid the good material. Now here comes Luhrman trying his hands on an adaptation. He may not be as prolific as his contemporaries, but when he does make a film, it explodes with color and imagery--something he is known for and something that the material may need--being essentially a period piece. Mulligan and DiCaprio are well-regarded actors who are meticulous with the projects they pick. Seems like a winning combination to me.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (September)
Directed by: Stephen Chbosky (The very guy who wrote the novel this was adapted from)
Stars: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson
Why: Mmmmmm, looks like a teen movie to me, but wait! The producers of this movie is the same people that brought Juno to life. So this might be good. Plus, Emma Watson. It's her first major effort outside the Harry Potter franchise, so it's interesting to see how this one works for her. Just curious how the director would work this out as this is his directorial debut, and his previous effort, the screenplay to Rent, didn't really work well for the critics
Taken 2 (October)
Directed by: Olivier Megaton
Stars: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen
Why: It's a sequel to Taken, that's why. As much of a popcorn movie the first one was, it was a popcorn movie that worked. Heck, I'd take it any day over Ghost Protocol. The original TAKEN film has suspense, action, and thrills that hopefully is also present in this movie. Liam Neeson sure was kickass the first time around, and I know how cheesy those lines sound in real life, and how improbable those stunts are, but heck, it was entertaining. And hopefully, Megaton does well. His track record is a bit iffy. Remember the flop Hitman and the critic-displeasing Transporter 3? Those are among his directorial credits.
Gangster Squad (September)
Directed by: Ruben Fleischer
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emma Stone
Why: Zombieland director returns for gangster film. Warner Bros. went gung-ho on this film only to have it delayed due to cut and reshoot a pivotal scene that's reminiscent of the Colorado shooting. Having Emma Stone and Gosling involved in this project and pairing them up for a second time (first time was the Carell-starrer Crazy Stupid Love) seems a bad idea to me, but can't complain since that's Emma Stone and Gosling. Sean Penn and Josh Brolin further cements the cast into a big movie status, so with all those investments, this movie should be great. Brolin and Gosling have good track record in choosing roles (except perhaps for Brolin's Jonah Hex, blech), so this is possibly a good film. Also, a gangster pic directed by someone who made a comedy of a zombie apocalypse film? Yes, please.
Update: Release date has been moved to January 2013 to reshoot the said scene.
Trouble with the Curve (October)
Directed by: Robert Lorenz
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams
Why: Last year, Brad Pitt surprised baseball and non-baseball fans with Moneyball, a sports movie that worked even for the most non-sports person you can ever know (i.e., me). And with the omission of Timberlake whose acting creds are, well, developing, I think this father-and-daughter movie about scouting talents for sports will be another Million Dollar Baby for Eastwood (though I hope it would have a less tragic ending). Robert Lorenz who has worked as a producer with Eastwood on some of his most critically acclaimed films, and has had a hand on being an assistant director, finally takes the seat from Eastwood and takes the directing matters to his own hands. It's interesting to see how this movie shapes up.
Wreck-it Ralph (November)
Directed by: Richard Moore
Animation
Why: Watch the trailer
Cloud Atlas (December)
Directed by: Lana Wachowski (debut) and Tom Twyker (Run Lola Run)
Stars: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving
Why: Its source material is one of the greatest books ever written and a half of the Wachowskis adapted it. Directors include Lana Wachowski and Run Lola Run director Tom Twyker--and while both are quite new to the directorial scene (in terms of international films for Twyker), it's interesting to see how the book translates to film and how 5 storylines are condensed into a 2 hour and something film. Twyker's adventurous Run Lola Run maybe an indication of how great this movie is going to be. And if the trailer is to be believed (mind you, it got me in tears), then this perhaps maybe one of the greatest movies made in this decade.
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