Most Anticipated-the 2018 Edition
This year, as I composed my annual list of films I'm most excited for, I decided to do something a bit different from what I've done in previous versions of this list in the past. In addition to my personal selection of movies that made the cut, I will also include FIVE miniseries/TV series that I am looking forward to as well. My reason for doing this: I realized there's been a lot of fantastic work in the last few years to come through television, and from writers and directors whom I admire and follow no less. So many of these stories have worked cinematically just as much as any film on the big screen. It made me recognize that if my understanding and appreciation of the art (as well as this list) were ever to grow, then so did my tastes and my openness to all the work being released. So this list begins with my top five most anticipated miniseries and television series of 2018.
Five Most Anticipated Miniseries and/or Television Series of 2018
1. Maniac
Director: Cary Fukanaga (Beasts of No Nation, True Detective) Cast: Jonah Hill, Emma Stone, Sonoya Mizuno, Justin Theroux, Julia Garner, Jemima Kirke, and Sally Field.
- When talking about the work of writer/director Cary Fukanaga, I sorta feel like I was gypped in 2017. Everyone who knows me is no stranger to the fact that I was severely disappointed that Fukanaga didn't get the gig of adapting Stephen King's IT to the big screen. Not to say that I was disappointed with the final product, because I admittedly enjoyed it quite a bit, and I'm glad that they kept some of Fukanaga's original script in the version they made. But I can only imagine just how much more cerebral and darkly satisfying his vision might have been, and his work is something I so highly look forward to that any missed opportunity feels like a letdown. That's all in the past now, and although he won't be delivering a new film this year, at least I have this miniseries he's doing for Netflix to look forward to instead. Labeled as a dark comedy, the series is set within a mental institution and revolves around the fantasy worlds that two of the patients (played by Jonah Hill and Emma Stone) dream up. The concept alone sounds wonderfully strange and off-the-wall entertaining, and Fukanaga is such a visionary behind the camera that I'm sure he'll inject so much life and creativity into the story's execution.
Release: The production wrapped filming sometime in November, so depending on how long post takes, it could be any time this year. Netflix has experienced a lot of success releasing their series over the summer, so that's definitely a good bet.
Last year, my list of "most anticipated films" included 100 titles. To watch 100 films in one year is undeniably an ambitious undertaking, but every one of those titles was one that I am was very excited to see, and I was prepared to visit a theater to watch each and every one of them. It's now January, and I haven't finished my goal quite yet (I am very close though), however, that isn't because I didn't have time to see 100 films. I expected I'd still be seeing a small handful in January, since December usually brings a large wave of new releases as we enter awards season, and some of those films don't even expand nationwide until January. But there were also about 20 films on that list that were pushed to 2018 altogether- some of them don't even have release dates yet- so I couldn't have seen the 100 that I chose last year, even if I had done everything right. This year, my plan was to only include 50 films on the list- not because 100 was too much, but there just aren't as many movies coming out in 2018 that I'm excited for as in the year before. But I decided that if I was going to write a list of 50 movies I want to see in 2018, then my hope would be that by the end of 2018 I'll have watched 50 films I wanted to see. This created a bit of a problem, since it was highly possible that a number of titles could get pushed to next year just like they did before. So I figured that since last year about 20% of my picks were pushed, perhaps this year I should ADD about 20% more picks; in this case, if the same thing were to happen again, at least I'll have fulfilled my original goal of seeing 50. Based on this logic, I decided to include 60 movies for this year's edition- so if 60 seems like an odd choice, at least now you know the reasoning behind it.
2. Castle Rock
Creators: Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomason (Manhattan) Cast: Melanie Lynskey, Andre Holland, Jane Levy, Sissy Spacek, Bill Skarsgard, Scott Glen, and Terry O' Quinn.
- While I haven't seen creators Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomason's hit television series Manhattan (I have heard good things though), it isn't their involvement in this upcoming Hulu series that has me drawn to this exciting project. Produced by J.J. Abrams, the story takes place in the fictional town of Castle Rock which, if you're familiar with the works of a certain icon in sci-fi/horror literature or some of the most popular films in the 80s, should ring a bell. The town of Castle Rock has made several appearances, and been referenced quite a few times, in some of the most notable works of author Stephen King. The upcoming series will draw from not one, but multiple story threads and themes found in King's books, as various characters find their lives mingle and intertwine through a series of strange, paranormal events. King's writing has for years had a strong impact on popular culture and successful authors who are inspired by his work, but I don't think I've ever seen it handled in the way this series is attempting to do. Many people may cite the popular, Netflix-branded Stranger Things as a worthy comparison, but in my view that's more of an homage to the things we love about King, while this show is an actual adaptation of his material (however much they tweak it in the end.) The cast is certainly solid, and under the production of Abrams, who's a veteran behind some of the most popular entertainment to ever hit television, this should be a huge home run for King and all that are on board. Regardless of any speculation you may have, this at least deserves to be anticipated for its sheer audaciousness alone.
3. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men, True Grit) Cast: Tim Blake Nelson, Stephen Root, James Franco, Zoe Kazan, Tyne Daly, Ralph Ineson, and Willie Watson.
- The Coen Bros are certainly no strangers to the western genre; some of their most brilliant work has come from their undertaking of the brand to breathe new life back into it. This year, the duo will be taking that one step further with a western anthology series they're creating for Netflix. Given that it's an anthology, it's difficult to say what exactly the tales will be about, but what we do know is the series will span six episodes- each focusing on its own different story thread. We also know that the miniseries will be scored by composer Carter Burwell, whose most recognized for his fantastic work in Todd Haynes' Carol, and has regularly collaborated with the Coens in almost all their films. Anything from the Coen Bros is worthy of being put on our radar, but (personally) I'm especially excited for this project, as I feel their work shines most when they're operating within the western genre. If the directors are able to reproduce any of the verve and craft they've exhibited in films like No Country for Old Men or True Grit, then this is going to be one of the best hits on television this year.
4. Sharp Objects
Director: Jean-Marc Vallee (Big Little Lies, Dallas Buyers Club) Cast: Amy Adams, Chris Messina, Matt Craven, Elizabeth Perkins, and Patricia Clarkson.
- In the past several years, one of the most exciting things to watch in the landscape of film and television has been the rise of female talent behind the camera. Last year alone, we saw director Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman) bring a female-lead superhero movie to blockbuster glory and helped turn it into one of the year's highest grossing films, and first-time director Greta Gerwig has been experiencing no shortage of praise and accolades for her critical darling Lady Bird- a female-centered coming of age story which the director also wrote entirely herself. The film is a strong awards contender for this year's Oscars, and its already made over three times its budget at the box office. But one name I'm sure we're going to be hearing a lot more of in the future belongs to screenwriter Gillian Flynn. A former journalist, Flynn has also written three novels and one short story. Her third novel, Gone Girl, was a major best-seller (with two million copies sold its first year) and hailed as the biggest literary phenomenon of 2012 by culture writer David Itzkoff. Flynn would go on to write the script for the feature film adaptation, which she sold to 20th Century Fox for $1.5 million before it was directed to the screen by David Fincher. Sharp Objects, which is Flynn's first novel, has been adapted by HBO for an eight-episode miniseries, and is set to hit television this summer- with Jean-Marc Vallee directing and five-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams in the lead role. The story follows a crime reporter named Camille, who must confront personal demons from her past when she returns to her hometown of Wind Gap to cover the violent murders of two young girls. As was the case with Gone Girl, Flynn (whose credited as an executive producer) has been close to the project since day one, and has collaborated quite extensively with all involved- especially with the series' creator Marti Noxon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), who promises that fans of Flynn's work will not be disappointed. Vallee has proven to be exceptionally adept at directing strong entertainment for television, still basking in the success he's been receiving for Big Little Lies, and Adams is an actress that never ceases to amaze us with what she's capable of, so I think its fair to say this is a television event that has more than just a few great things going for it.
5. The Assassination of Gianni Versace
Creator: Ryan Murphy (Feud, American Crime Story, American Horror Story) Cast: Edgar Ramirez, Penelope Cruz, Darren Criss, and Ricky Martin.
- FX creator Ryan Murphy has tapped into a fun, divertingly entertaining area of television with hit shows like Glee and American Horror Story, but his involvement in last year's Feud: Bette and Joan and the first season of American Crime Story (The People vs. O.J. Simpson) has seen the producer rise to a level of more sophisticated, thought-provoking storytelling. It's mainly for this reason that the sophomore season of American Crime Story, which will explore one of the most shocking and befuddling crimes in US history, has piqued a level of interest so high on my radar. Based on Maureen Orth's book, Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History, the season's nine episodes will cover the murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace at the hands of serial killer Andrew Cunanan, and the days leading up to the horrific event. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Murphy explained the focus of this year's season and how it contrasts to the first season's cover of the O.J. Simpson case, saying that where season one explored how race and sexism affected the investigation process, this story examines how the homophobia at the time had an impact on the manhunt for Cunanan, which ultimately proved to be consequential for his victims. At a time when homophobia is still an issue- although not as prevalent as it has been in the past- it's encouraging to see such hotly debated social issues dissected in a way that elucidates how they shape our society, government, and entire way of thinking, and because of how Murphy has already used the platform of Feud and American Crime Story to tackle similar issues in such a way, it will be extremely fascinating to see if [and how] this new season will be able add anything of value to the conversation regarding this particular area.
Last year, my list of "most anticipated films" included 100 titles. To watch 100 films in one year is undeniably an ambitious undertaking, but every one of those titles was one that I am was very excited to see, and I was prepared to visit a theater to watch each and every one of them. It's now January, and I haven't finished my goal quite yet (I am very close though), however, that isn't because I didn't have time to see 100 films. I expected I'd still be seeing a small handful in January, since December usually brings a large wave of new releases as we enter awards season, and some of those films don't even expand nationwide until January. But there were also about 20 films on that list that were pushed to 2018 altogether- some of them don't even have release dates yet- so I couldn't have seen the 100 that I chose last year, even if I had done everything right. This year, my plan was to only include 50 films on the list- not because 100 was too much, but there just aren't as many movies coming out in 2018 that I'm excited for as in the year before. But I decided that if I was going to write a list of 50 movies I want to see in 2018, then my hope would be that by the end of 2018 I'll have watched 50 films I wanted to see. This created a bit of a problem, since it was highly possible that a number of titles could get pushed to next year just like they did before. So I figured that since last year about 20% of my picks were pushed, perhaps this year I should ADD about 20% more picks; in this case, if the same thing were to happen again, at least I'll have fulfilled my original goal of seeing 50. Based on this logic, I decided to include 60 movies for this year's edition- so if 60 seems like an odd choice, at least now you know the reasoning behind it.
60 Most Anticipated Movies of 2018
60. Untitled Deadpool Sequel
Director: David Leitch (Atomic Blonde, John Wick) Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Leslie Uggams, Briana Hildebrand, Stefan Kapicic (voice), Josh Brolin, Zazie Beetz, Jack Kesy, Karan Soni, Shioli Kutsuna, Julian Dennison, and Eddie Marsan.
- Hate me all you want, but my hopes weren't especially high for the first Deadpool prior to its release. All that I got from the trailers was that [director] Tim Miller and [producer] Ryan Reynolds had put together a trashy, juvenile man-boy's superhero wet dream. Unsurprisingly, that's exactly what the movie turned out to be, but what was surprising (for me at least) was ultimately how entertained I was by it all- that despite being what it was, it did it well and worked on those levels more than I thought possible. Reynolds and Miller clearly have a strong fanboy love for the material, and it transcends the movie's pulp quality- elevating it to something a bit more. The result is something that plays out like an extended, live-action episode of your favorite cartoon on adult swim (e.g. Archer) and believe me, that's a compliment. The movie isn't perfect by no means, but it's witty, funny, and boasts a never-better performance from Ryan Reynolds, and I enjoyed it enough to be interested in where they would take the sequel next. That sequel hits theaters this summer, and while it doesn't have an official title going for it just yet, it does have a few other things that are definitely worth getting excited about. First off, there's director David Leitch, who's reputation for hardcore, stylized action has more than aptly preceded him in films such as John Wick and Atomic Blonde. Upping the creative quality of action could definitely give this sequel an added dimension, which it will need if it's going to stand apart from the first film. And finally, fans have been chomping at the bit to see popular characters Cable and Domino make their long-awaited debut on screen, with the first images of Josh Brolin and Zazie Beetz as their respected mercenaries drawing a wide range of reactions on the internet. One thing is for sure though: if the talents of two of Marvel's deadliest assassins are involved in the upcoming feature, I think we can say that Deadpool's life is about to get a helluva lot more complicated.
59. Damsel
Directors: David and Nathan Zellner (Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter) Cast: Robert Pattinson, Mia Wasikowska, Robert Forster, David Zellner, Nathan Zellner, Joseph Billingiere.
- Two names that have been steadily rising in the art film world are those of David and Nathan Zellner. With a list of credits that mostly includes short films and a couple full-length features (David has also done some acting in minor roles for independent films), the duo carved out a respectful place for themselves on the indie map with their 2014 film, Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter. Strange and melancholy, yet ultimately life-affirming, the movie confirmed their talents behind the screen and proved they were a pair of filmmakers worth watching for. Damsel will be the first feature the two brothers have directed together (Nathan has only been credited as a writer/producer in their previous works), and follows Robert Pattinson as a wealthy and influential pioneer as he makes his way across the American frontier to marry the love of his life, Penelope (played Wasikowska.) Pattinson has described the film as a "kind of slapstick comedy" western, and also confirmed that he will contribute to the film's music as well, which is being scored by indie electronic band The Octopus Project. All these aspects should pair nicely with the directors' oddball style and intriguing visual eye, giving it (what I hope will be) the kind of modern folktale quality we've come to expect from directors like David Lowery- which is definitely a promising notion, indeed.
58. Apostle
Director: Gareth Evans (The Raid: Redemption, The Raid 2) Cast: Dan Stevens, Michael Sheen, Lucy Boynton, Marc Lewis Jones, Bill Milner, Annes Elwy, Elen Rhys, Richard Elfyn, and Kristine Froseth.
- For those that like their action movies raw and unrelentingly violent, director Gareth Evans dished up a brutal and furious fever dream of stylish and kinetic violence with his Raid films. The first entry is considered a modern classic of action filmmaking, with even its sequel regarded as a noble follow-up. We've been curious for a while now to see what Evans would go on to do next in the wake of his martial arts epics, and all it took was four years for us to finally be given that answer. Produced by Netflix and labeled as a period thriller, Apostle stars Dan Stevens as a mysterious man who travels to a remote island in an attempt to rescue his sister from a religious cult, who is holding her in exchange for a ransom. I'm totally sold. Stevens delivered a wickedly brilliant lead turn in Adam Wingard's thriller The Guest, so I'm very excited to see him return to this territory, especially with Evans behind the camera. Riding in on a ridiculously awesome concept is never a bad place to start, but with this much director and star power on screen, Netflix may be gearing up for another strong hit on their hands.
Untitled A24 Horror Movies
Directors: Unknown Casts: Unknown
- I suppose I'm cheating a little sharing one slot with two films, but at this point it's difficult to say if these untitled projects from A24 are an absolute guarantee for a 2018 release, and even more difficult to say whether both films are worth getting buzzed about, since the directors and casts still remain a mystery as well. However, there is definitely lots of potential here. Indie film studio A24 have had a huge hand in helping revitalize the horror genre- with dark folk tales like The Witch and haunting character studies such as It Comes At Night- so the fact that both mystery projects have been classified as horror certainly carries promise. Despite everything else about the two films being completely unknown, it should be noted that there have been plenty of films from great directors that were shot in secret and remained as such until just a few weeks before their release- just last year, David Lowery's fantastic A Ghost Story was such a case, revealed less than a month before its Sundance premiere. Whether or not these mystery films will follow the same suit remains to be seen, but it's no secret that A24 have showcased the work of some of today's most promising auteurs and storytellers, and I think it's safe to say that any one of those talented filmmakers could be involved (to some degree or another.) Or it could just be a brand new voice altogether, in which case it will still be deserving of attention, since the studio has clearly demonstrated a solid knack for singling out worthy projects and greenlighting them. Either way, I definitely hope these wildcards are unveiled to the public soon.
56. The Nightingale
Director: Jennifer Kent (The Babadook) Cast: Aisling Franciosi, Baykali Ganambarr, Sam Claflin, Damon Herriman, Ewen Leslie, Harry Greenwood, Michael Sheasby, Luke Carroll, and Charlie Shotwell.
- As I said in the last entry, the horror genre has experienced something of a revival in the last five to ten years. One film that helped pump blood back into its recently lifeless veins was Jennifer Kent's, The Babadook. Operating on both a highly emotional and psychological level, Kent's nightmarish picture is just as focused on its themes of grief and coping as it is with building dread and tension. Her feature film debut was such a terrifying success, we've been waiting to see how she would follow it up ever since. While her new film doesn't seem to be another straight-up horror like The Babadook, it does look like she'll be ratcheting up the tension once again in this revenge thriller set in 1825 Tasmania, where a young convict sets out into the dangerous wilderness with the help of an aboriginal outcast to track down the man who murdered her family. Kent's gifts with tone and atmosphere should be utilized brilliantly here, and the story's exotic Tasmanian setting should add an extra layer of texture to help make the film a standout experience despite its familiar revenge movie trappings.
55. Boy Erased
Director: Joel Edgerton (The Gift) Cast: Lucas Hedges, Joel Edgerton, Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, Cherry Jones, Joe Alwyn, Xavier Dolan, and Flea.
- There's at least one actor every year that decides to try their hand at directing, and the results can range from overwrought vanity project to stroke of pure brilliance. Joel Edgerton's thriller, The Gift, definitely leans more towards the latter, letting the actor not only showcase some clever writing and solid directing chops, but also a mesmerizing performance that drives his compelling and effective script. It looks like the actor/director has raised the bar for himself with his upcoming sophomore feature, graduating from genre piece to compelling, real-life drama as he tackles Garrard Conley's heartbreaking memoir. A landmark exposé of social tragedy and dysfunction, the book tells the author's gripping first-hand account of being subjected to gay conversion therapy as a teenager- after being outed to his mother and Baptist-minister father. It's the type of page-to-screen adaptation that basically comes with an awards season tracker attached to itself and the studio that owns it. Needless to say, there was a massive bidding war over distribution rights between the industry's most prodigious independent film studios following the project's announcement. After the dust settled, it was Focus Features that walked away with the prize, cementing an early fall release to help capitalize on the film's encouraging awards prospects. Those awards prospects are certainly boosted by the film's stellar cast, with Manchester by the Sea breakout Lucas Hedges filling the lead role of Gerrard, Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman as the boy's conservative parents, and Joel Edgerton (once again starring in his own film) as Garrard's head therapist who he continually clashes with. A sophomore feature with this much greatness riding on it has got to be no easy cross to bear, but I trust in Edgerton's creative instincts. The actor's career behind the camera has been slowly rising for quite some time- just last year he helped produce Trey Edward Shults' psychological horror, It Comes At Night (which he also starred in)- and it's a role that's beginning to suite him just as well as his fantastic acting capabilities.
Release: September 28th.
54. The Wild Pear Tree
Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Winter Sleep) Cast: Hazar Ergüçlü, Murat Cemcir, and Ercüment Balakoglu.
- I first became acquainted with director Nuri Bilge Ceylan in 2014 with his Palme d'Or-winning Winter Sleep. Although I still haven't found an opportunity to further explore more of his films, I can attest on the basis of Winter Sleep that he is one of the wisest and most philosophical storytellers working today. A native of Turkey, where all of his stories take place, Ceylan shoots the films he makes with a majestic visual eye, using the stark, beautiful landscapes of his locations to accentuate his trademark themes of existentialism and the monotony of human lives. His focus never strays from the estrangement of his characters, who are typically experiencing some kind of mid-life crisis or other, and he explores their struggles, fears, and personal pain in a way that is honest and palpably real. The Wild Pear Tree will mark the director's eighth feature, and judging by the plot, will continue to build on those themes and stylistic tendencies that have helped define him as a powerful and distinctive voice. The story will focus on an aspiring writer who returns to her native village in rural Turkey, where she becomes caught up in a dilemma involving her father's debts. Hopefully, I'll have brushed up on more of Ceylan's films before I finally see this!
53. Untitled Cloverfield Movie aka God Particle
Director: Julius Onah Cast: Elizabeth Debicki, Daniel Brühl, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Chris O' Dowd, Ziyi Zhang, David Oyelowo, John Ortiz, Aksel Hennie, and Roger Davies.
- At this point, I'm not even 100% sure I should still be excited for the next installment in J.J. Abrams' "Cloverfield universe." The movie has now shifted its release three times now, and more often than not that's never a good sign. However, with that being said, Abrams' Bad Robot studio has made a recurring theme of keeping these movies under the tightest veil of secrecy they can until a mere matter of weeks before the film's release. It makes sense, given that these days the element of true surprise is a rare quality to find in movies, so much is spoiled through trailers or social media, and these movies are definitely more exciting the less you know about them. So ultimately, what it all came down to is that I'm just too curious to not be interested in whatever they're cooking up next in this franchise. Especially given the movie's concept- which takes place aboard a space station where an experiment involving a particle accelerator has disastrous results for the crew on board- I want so badly to believe that this will be the kind of sci-fi treat I live to see on a big screen. The fact that director Julius Onah is pretty much a complete unknown has zero affect on my outlook of the film's potential. After all, Matt Reeves and Dan Trachtenberg were also unknown to the public when their respected Cloverfield movies were first released, and although Trachtenberg has yet to deliver a new film, Reeves is becoming one of the hottest names in Hollywood (his most recent movie was War for the Planet of the Apes, and he's been signed by Warner Bros to direct their next Batman film as well.) As if the film's Alien-esque concept wasn't enough, there's the strong cast of players on board too, which includes a host of names that are recognized more for their strong work in quality indie films and modest theater productions than anything else. It is important to bear in mind though that last year's Life also had a lot of the same things going for it as this does here, and that was one of the biggest disappointments [for me] to come out in 2017. But it could be that because films like Life underwhelmed last year, the studio didn't want their film to get lost in the shuffle and succumb to the same fate- hence all the shifting release dates- and the fact that they've moved it right before the start of the summer movie season is definitely a bold move. This would also give the movie an opportunity to make a premature splash at the SXSW Film Festival, where films of this kind are usually met with love while building some strong buzz, and if that's where this ends up going then it will be worth the wait!
52. The Field Guide to Evil
Directors: Can Evrenol (Baskin), Severin Fiala & Veronika Franz (Goodnight Mommy), Calvin Reeder (The Rambler), Katrin Gebbe (Nothing Bad Can Happen), Yannis Veslemes (Norway), Ashim Ahluwalia (Miss Lovely), Agnieszka Smoczynska (The Lure), and Peter Strickland (Berberian Sound Studio, The Duke of Burgundy) Cast: Birgit Minichmayr, Sarah Navratil, Claude Duhamel, Thomas Schubert, Lili Epply, Fatma Mohamed, Andrzej Konopka, Paul Ford, Naz Sayiner, Marlene Hauser, Sureyya Kucuk, and Luzia Oppermann.
- The list of great horror anthology movies is not a very long one- in fact, the only movie that immediately comes to mind is Creepshow, and that's still only a solid feature and not an absolutely great one. But there's a first for everything, and 2018 could be the year we finally see the genre make a departure from the messy, disjointed trappings it so often falls into. For starters, the movie enlists the talents of some of Europe's most acclaimed auteurs in the genre, as well as some other international names. Each one of these distinctive filmmakers has brought their own signature stamp to this territory, and I'm beyond interested to the see the results of their combined efforts in- what I hope will be- a cohesive vision with unique individual parts. The stories will reportedly delve into mythical lore and folktales, exploring mankind's darkest fears that have laid the foundation to some of today's most popular horror movies. It sounds like Tale of Tales, but with a doubled down emphasis on the terror and gothic-horror sensibilities that made it feel so rich and fresh. I adored Tale of Tales, and hopefully I'll enjoy this even more!
51. In Fabric
Director: Peter Strickland (Berberian Sound Studio, The Duke of Burgundy) Cast: Gwendoline Christie, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Haley Squires, Leo Bill, Steve Oram, Susanna Cappellaro, Caroline Catz, Sara Dee, and Julian Barratt.
- One of the names I mentioned in the previous post was that of director Peter Strickland, and it turns out that The Field Guide to Evil isn't the only foray into horror he'll be delivering this year. Set against the backdrop of a busy winter sales period in a department store, In Fabric is a haunting ghost story that follows the life of a cursed dress as it passes from person to person, inflicting each owner with devastating consequences. Strickland is one intoxicating filmmaker, with visions as beautifully sumptuous as they are chillingly unnerving. In Fabric sounds like it's tailor made for a filmmaker of his voice and style, and I'm very excited to see more of its star Gwendoline Christie, whose work in Game of Thrones has been a standout since her first appearance. Also, when was the last time we saw a horror movie about a haunted dress! It may sound corny to a few, but it's a concept that (to me) feels brilliant, original, and full of promise, especially even more so because of who it's coming from. Perhaps, between this and The Field Guide to Evil, Strickland's name will become only more familiar with audiences by the end of 2018. We can only hope.
50. Alita: Battle Angel
Director: Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) Cast: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Mahershala Ali, Keean Johnson, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Skrein, Michelle Rodriguez, Eiza González, Casper Van Dien, Idara Victor, Lana Condor, Leonard Wu, Elle LaMont, Marko Zaror, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Jeff Fahey, and Jackie Earle Haley.
- A cyberpunk science-fiction film based on a popular Japanese manga seems totally left field for director Robert Rodriguez, who's best known for pulp fiction classics like Sin City and From Dusk Till Dawn. But perhaps it makes a little more sense coming from the film's writer/producer James Cameron...well, at least the sci-fi aspect does anyways. Throughout his entire career, James Cameron has pushed the boundaries of special effects and what they can achieve through his films- whether its liquid metal robots in Terminator, recreating the sinking of a legendary ship in Titanic, or transporting his audience to the exotic landscapes of Pandora in Avatar. While Cameron isn't the director in Alita, it's clear he's been creatively involved in the production on a very high level, having it been a passion project of his for years, and the film's eye-popping special effects- which were displayed to glorious effect in a recently debuted teaser trailer- are a clear reflection of that. The script, which was written by Cameron and then edited and condensed by Rodriguez and and writer/producer Laeta Kalogridis (Shutter Island), is mainly based on the first four books in Yukito Kishiro's manga series, and follows a cyborg on her quest to discover the truth behind her identity and purpose. Judging by the first footage, it looks like a cross between Ghost in the Shell and Star Wars- and just as exciting and visionary as those films too. Hopefully, it's just as groundbreaking as well.
49. Ready Player One
Director: Steven Spielberg (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, A.I. Artificial Intelligence) Cast: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, T.J. Miller, Simon Pegg, Mark Rylance, Lena Waithe, Hannah John-Kamen, Ralph Ineson, Letitia Wright, and Mckenna Grace.
- The road of Ernest Cline's bestselling sci-fi novel to the big screen began before the book even hit the shelves. Set in the year 2044 in the midst of a massive energy crisis, the story follows the adventure of protagonist Wade Watts inside a virtual society called the OASIS- a place where most of civilization has "escaped" to distract themselves from the social problems and economic stagnation of the real word. A love letter to almost everything associated with geek culture- from popular video games to iconic movies- as well as a smartly conceived social commentary about society's dependence on technology, a film adaption wasn't so much a surprise as it was inevitable. Those rights were sold to Warner Bros in June 2010, on the same day publishing rights were sold to Random House after a massive bidding war no less, one year prior to the novel's release. Following the deal, many of today's biggest directors circled the project with eager eyes, but it was Steven Spielberg who finally landed the gig in 2015. The director is currently coming off very strong right now, with his hit film The Post scoring big at the box office and up for a plethora of major awards, so hopefully his next film won't be a disappointment that upsets his encouraging start to the year. Early footage of the picture certainly looks dazzling, and it's well-rounded cast is a promising factor as well, but it's going to have to stay true to the spirit and heart of Cline's novel and deliver an experience that was just as fun as reading it if it's going to be just as much of a game changer. Luckily, Spielberg has a gift for tapping into a sense of wonder and connecting it to his audience on both a visual and emotional level, so if he can imbue that in the film's execution of the material, there is hope.
48. Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far On Foot
Director: Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk) Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara, Jack Black, Mark Webber, Udo Kier, Carrie Brownstein, Heather Matarazzo, and Rebecca Rittenhouse.
- A passion project of director Gus Van Sant's for years, Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far On Foot tells the story of renowned cartoonist John Callahan, and is based on his personal memoir. Callahan became a quadriplegic at the age of 21, after an automobile accident connected with alcohol. In the wake of his tragedy, Callahan took up work as a cartoonist- only able to maneuver a pencil with the use of both hands- and became a figure of controversy because of the black humor he exhibited in his work, which dealt with sensitive subjects in a way that was considered taboo and politically incorrect. Gus Van Sant has been drawn to this story since the 1990s, at one point even considering the late Robin Williams for the lead role- which I'm sure would've been a home run for both the director and star had it come to fruition at that time. But it wasn't until Amazon Studios gave the director the budget and greenlit the project that the ball finally got rolling, eventually casting Phoenix in the lead role. Phoenix, who is one of the most extraordinary and sensitive actors working today, should do marvelously in the role, and if there was anyone else that I could see perfectly suited for the material other than Williams, he would be it! At this point, however, what I'm more concerned about is director Gus Van Sant. For the better portion of his career, Van Sant has shown a lot of grace and intelligence when dealing with powerful subjects, imbuing dramas like Good Will Hunting and Milk with heartfelt realism and raw honesty. Lately though, his work has fallen to the more belabored and uncomfortably sappy side, with his most recent Sea of Trees hitting an all time low. The film is so bad, I was actually prepared to have given up on Van Sant altogether. However, given that the director has been very passionate about the material for years, and since he's put together an exceptional cast led by Phoenix, this may very well be a return to form for him. With a Sundance premiere on the horizon, we'll know soon enough.
47) Rio
Director: Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, A Bigger Splash) Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Michelle Williams.
- Luca Guadagnino is quickly becoming one of today's most incredible directors. His fantastic work is brought to life by flesh and blood characters and a style that's both as sensual and beautifully captured as its narrative is intimate and wisely told. The director will be shifting gears quite a bit though in his next two films this year, departing from the romantic-tinged dramas he's built his reputation on. One of those films is the upcoming crime-mystery, Rio, which seems to be going for a modern noir feel with a potboiler tone akin to A Bigger Splash, in the story of a financial reporter who gets sucked into a plot to fake his wealthy friend's death. I'm very intrigued by the project's potential, and between the film's three star players- who [on their own] are more than enough foundation for any exceptional cast- and the film's gorgeous and exotic setting of Rio de Janeiro, which I'm positive Guadagnino will sumptuously capture in all its lush detail, this is sure to be another hit added to the director's already impressive and growing resume. On top of all that, the script is penned by Eastern Promises scribe Steven Knight, who will no doubt incorporate plenty of sharp dialogue and a fair share of twists and turns that are necessary for movies of this type to tick. Guadagnino's most recent feature, Call Me By Your Name, has been keeping the director quite busy this awards season, but he may want to start preparing himself for another stacked schedule if this movie turns out to be as great as it sounds.
46) Black Klansman
Director: Spike Lee (Inside Man, Malcolm X) Cast: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, Topher Grace, Corey Hawkins, Paul Walter Hauser, Jasper Pääkkönen, Ryan Eggold, Ashlie Atkinson, Robert John Burke, and Michael J. Burg.
- If there's one discussion that's been a growing topic in the landscape of film and television (in fact, I'd say it's been a growing topic within any sociopolitical frame or conversation) it's how issues of race are viewed and impact society. And if there's one movie last year that explored those issues in a clever, thrilling, and unique way, it was Jordan Peele's semi-satirical horror film, Get Out. This year, Peele and Blumhouse are at it again, returning to the familiar territory that encapsulated their box office and critically-praised hit, only this time with a non-fictional story based in America's dark history, and with director Spike Lee at the helm. Following the gripping account of detective Ron Stallworth, on whose book the film is based, Black Klansman tells the story of how Stallworth went from being a detective in Colorado Springs to infiltrating the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan- eventually becoming the head of the chapter. It's a story that sounds extremely fascinating, and one that I'm sure will ignite countless discussions in the wake of its release. So far, the only wildcard I can see in all this is director Spike Lee. It's been almost twelve years since Lee released Inside Man to widespread acclaim, and in that time his work has run into a slog of mostly lackluster and uneven features. However, this looks like his most ambitious film in quite some time, and with Peele producing, I really hope he is able to knock this one out of the park and make a return to form that's as welcomed as it is deserved.
45) Sunset
Director: László Nemes (Son of Saul) Cast: Juli Jakab, Vlad Ivanov, Evelin Dobos, Marcin Czarnik, Levente Molnár, Julia Jakubowska, Christian Harting, Mihály Kormos, Sándor Zsótér, Dorottya Moldován, Judit Bárdos, Susanne Wuest, Tom Pilath, Enrique Keil, Balázs Czukor, Zsolt Nagy, Péter Fancsikai, Áron Öze, Uwe Lauer, Urs Rechn, István Pion, and Björn Freiberg.
- Son of Saul, the debut feature of Hungarian director and screenwriter László Nemes, was the type of extraordinary, jaw-dropping breakout film that most director's dream of making. Probably the most haunting and visceral look into a Holocaust internment camp ever committed to a 35 mm camera, Nemes keeps his lens focused on central character Saul Ausländer, (literally) following this broken man as he navigates the horrors and atrocities of his prison, burning the bodies of his own people and desperately trying to find a proper burial for the body he believes is his son's. The film is not for the faint of heart, and if you think you've seen the Holocaust in other previous films, I can promise you, you've NEVER seen it like this. Almost three years have gone by since Son of Saul made its debut at Cannes, and it looks as thought Nemes' sophomore feature will be making a bow at the same festival again this year. Not much is known about the film, except that it's a coming-of-age story about a young woman growing up in Budapest in the years leading up to the first World War, and that Nemes will once again be employing the use of a 35 mm camera to capture the story. I have nothing but much admiration for what Nemes accomplished in his debut, and I'm really looking forward to seeing his next film and how he continues to develop as one of today's most exciting up-and-coming filmmakers.
44) Transit
Director: Christian Petzold (Phoenix) Cast: Franz Rogowski, Paula Beer, Godehard Giese, Maryam Zaree, Barbara Auer, Matthias Brandt, Sebastian Hülk, Emilie de Preissac, Antoine Oppenheim, Louison Tresallet, and Lilien Batman.
- One of my absolute favorite films from 2015, and one that continues to haunt me and blow me away with its subtle majesty, is Christian Petzold's, Phoenix. It's the story of a woman who escapes a Nazi concentration camp, but whose face gets fatally damaged in the process. With the help of an expert plastic surgeon, she receives help early enough to prevent any permanent damage, but at the expense of becoming almost unrecognizable. Against the better judgment of her sister, who rescued her after she escaped, she seeks out her husband, hoping to find out the truth if he was the one who betrayed her to the Nazis. Since its release, the movie has become one of the select titles to be added to the Criterion Collection- an American home video distribution company that only focuses on licensing "important classic and contemporary films," and which is followed [almost] religiously by die-hard film aficionados like myself. It's an honor that's deservedly fitting of such an extraordinary film, and only further validates Pezold's power as a storyteller. In his next film, the director looks to be building upon similar themes in his last film- mistaken identity, coping with life in a post-Holocaust world- as the story follows a young man fleeing Nazi-occupied France, assuming the identity of a dead author whose papers he possesses. His situation becomes precariously difficult, however, when a young woman begins seeking her lost husband- who happens to be the very man he's impersonating. It sounds fantastic, but can Petzold hit another masterful stride in somewhat of the same territory as his last film? Personally, I have absolutely no doubt in his abilities behind the camera, and I love Phoenix so much, I have to believe he's capable of transforming the material in a way that sets it apart while still striking all the right notes that made that film such a masterpiece.
43) Cold War
Director: Pawel Pawlikowski (Ida) Cast: Joanna Kulig, Tomasz Kot, Agata Kulesza, Borys Szyc, Adam Woronowicz, Adam Ferency, Martin Budny, and Adam Szyszkowski.
- I just realized that the last couple entries on my list have unintentionally taken on a bit of a trend: each relating (to one varying degree or another) to the Holocaust. The director of my next film is no different in this respect. His beautifully poignant Ida was about a young novitiate in 1960s Poland who discovers she's a Jew whose parents died at the hands of Nazis, and it's also another one of the better foreign language films I've had the pleasure of seeing in the last few years, deservedly winning the Oscar for this category in 2015. His next film spans several years and countries affected by the Cold War (hence the self-referential title) as it follows the romance of two young lovers, whose lives are affected in different ways by the cultural clash of communism and democracy in the 1950s. Not much else is known about the film, except that Lukasz Zal has returned to deliver more of the breathtaking black and white cinematography that made Ida such a beauty to behold. I love a good romance, especially when they're classically done and set against the backdrop of some profound moment or event in world history, and Cold War looks as though it may very well deliver in that regard. Amazon Studios have picked up the feature, which is also encouraging since their reputation for distributing quality films is starting to become just as reliable as A24's.
42) Blessed Virgin
Director: Paul Verhoven (Elle, Black Book) Cast: Virginie Efira
- Director Paul Verhoven is not one to shy away from provoking his audience as he dapples in controversial and uncomfortable subject matter, so don't expect his next film to be any different. Based on the non-fiction biography, Immodest Acts by historian Judith C. Brown, Blessed Virgin focuses on a nun living in 17th century Italy whose disturbing religious and erotic visions coincide with her forbidden sexual affair with another woman. It sounds a lot like the very recent Thelma, a supernatural thriller that saw the psychological effects of repressed sexuality in an overtly religious environment manifest in ways both shocking and terrifying, and if Verhoven's next feature is anything as good as that movie, then this is definitely one to look out for. While filming hasn't gone underway yet, Verhoven has reunited with his Black Book screenwriter Gerard Soeteman to pen the script, and cast former Elle star Virginie Efira in the lead role. I don't know much about Efira- her role in Elle was somewhat overshadowed by Isabelle Huppert's mesmerizing lead turn (duh, it's Huppert) and I haven't seen her César-nominated performance for Victoria- but Soeteman is a remarkable writer, and Verhoven's work has always shined best (in my opinion) when he's directing his material. But aside from all that, this mostly sounds great because it's right up the director's ally, blending themes of sexuality and religion with controversy, and if the rest of the cast is rounded out and production begins soon, then this easily deserves to be one of the most hotly anticipated dramas this year.
41) The Widow
Director: Neil Jordan (The Crying Game, Byzantium) Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Maika Monroe, Isabelle Huppert, Zawe Ashton, Colm Feore, and Stephen Rea.
- The wait that I experience for a new Neil Jordan film seems to always feels interminably long. With a career that's spanned 36 years and only 17 films, most of them pretty few and far between and scarcely ever garnering much notice from the public, you would hardly believe Jordan was the director behind a small classic like Interview With the Vampire. His talent for crafting dark, sexualized dramas- occasionally blending them with elements of gothic-horror and folklore- has made me a huge fan of his work for years, and I consider him as one of my favorite directors. The films he makes are never perfect- they can drag in parts and occasionally succumb to the pitfalls of corniness or melodrama- but they're also never boring and are highlighted by moments of profound greatness, and I believe that's part of what makes him such an interesting filmmaker. The plot of his next film is shrouded in mystery, with not much known except that it concerns a young woman's relationship with a lonely and reclusive widow that turns sinister. It's not much to go on, and yet it's just enough for me, because I know with Jordan it's always so much more. Furthermore, there's the solid cast with Isabelle Huppert as the film's titular menace, which is equally exciting since Huppert- who is ceaselessly magnetic in everything she does- is extremely particular about the projects she chooses, usually going for roles that are as fascinating as they are richly complex. This would definitely make sense, since Jordan has a reputation for putting the spotlight on strong and compelling female characters, and if Huppert is involved I think it's safe to assume this will be no different.
40) The Kid Who Would Be King
Director: Joe Cornish (Attack the Block) Cast: Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Tom Taylor, Dean Chaumoo, Rhianna Dorris, Angus Imrie, Rebecca Ferguson, and Patrick Stewart.
- The year has barely begun, and already 2018 has probably gypped me out of a film that I was looking forward to seeing. Originally slated for a September release, the sophomore feature of writer/director Joe Cornish was recently moved to February of next year following Disney's acquisition of Fox. Truthfully, that technically disqualifies it from being on this list, but I'm not ready to give in just yet. First of all, the film is almost through shooting and I'm sure it will be finished in post long before next February, so the question of whether or not it will be ready in time is certainly not an issue. Secondly, there's a couple of releases slated for December that I honestly don't believe will be finished in time- Fox's Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, has halted production after firing director Bryan Singer for his increased absence on set and a history of sexual abuse that is finally being taken seriously in a post-Weinstein world- which would leave plenty of opportunity for other films to move in. Furthermore, shifting release dates are not that uncommon in this business, even if they're jumping back and forth. Last year, Baby Driver was initially intended for a March release, before it was pushed back to August and then finally pushed forward to June after experiencing a successful debut at SXSW, so we've come to learn that anything can happen. With that said, I'm not ready to believe this release is set in stone just yet, and quite frankly, no one else would want to either if Joe Cornish was directing was a fantasy adventure about a group of kids who discover Excalibur and embark on a quest to thwart a medieval menace. While most people know Cornish for writing the Ant-Man script with director Edgar Wright, he proved he was also a brilliant director with his sci-fi action-comedy, Attack the Block. As funny and sharp as it is wildly entertaining, it was as good a debut that any self-respecting filmmaker could ask for, and it also proved the director had a remarkable talent for working with younger actors that would make even Spielberg proud. Fans of films like The Goonies and E.T. will no doubt flock to this movie, and hopefully Fox will will maneuver their schedule so they can see it this year rather than next.
39) The Irishman
Director: Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas, Mean Streets) Cast: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Anna Paquin, Bobby Cannavale, Ray Romano, Harvey Keitel, Stephen Graham, Domenick Lombardozzi, Jeremy Luke, Joseph Russo, Gary Basaraba, and Jesse Plemons.
- At first, I had my reservations about The Irishman, an upcoming crime drama that sees Martin Scorsese going back to his "mob film" roots to tell the story of Frank Sheeran and his presumed involvement in the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. After all, it's not like this territory is especially new for the director; the mob and gangster film has become the solid foundation of almost his entire filmmaking career. That being said though, the story of Frank Sheeran and Jimmy Hoffa in an incredibly fascinating chapter of American history, and one that's definitely worthy of a big-screen treatment. An American labor union leader, who served as President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) between 1958 and 1971, Hoffa was involved in organized crime for most of his career, with a history of convictions that included jury tampering, attempted bribery, and fraud. Sheeran, on the other hand, was a high-ranking official at IBT who had ties to the Mafia as a hitman. On his deathbed, Sheeran confessed to Charles Brandt (a renowned prosecutor) criminal dealings and murders he'd committed that had since been unknown to the public (including Hoffa's), which became the cornerstone of Brandt's biography, I Heard You Paint Houses. Needless to say, it's Brandt's book that has now become the cornerstone of Scorsese's new film, which the director has been passionately developing since as early as 2010. The amount of dedication Scorsese has put into getting this film made is a huge reason I've decided to put my doubts aside, because I would really like to see the director bring something that feels different and fresh from how he's approached this genre in the past. In more recent interviews, Scorsese has addressed concerns about whether the movie might be too familiar to his earlier work, promising something much more thematically profound and retrospective. Netflix certainly seems to have a lot of faith in the project, backing the film's budget of $125 million AFTER they bought the rights from Paramount (who dropped out) for $105 million! Naturally, it goes without saying that there is a lot riding on this picture, so hopefully Scorsese and everyone else on board is ready to be bring their full A-game. After watching Scorsese's last picture, the masterful and challenging Silence, I definitely have renewed faith in the director's ability to push himself further as a filmmaker and storyteller.
38) Peterloo
Director: Mike Leigh (Mr. Turner, Vera Drake) Cast: Rory Kinnear, Maxine Peake, Philip Jackson, John-Paul Hurley, David Bamber, Leo Bill, Nico Mirallegro, Alastair Mackenzie, Michael Culkin, Patrick Kennedy, Marion Bailey, Eileen Davies, Pearce Quigley, and Kieran O'Brien.
- It is always vital and constructive (especially in today's political culture) to be knowledgeable of history so we can cultivate the wisdom and awareness its teachings bring. The event that takes center stage in Mike Leigh's upcoming Peterloo is a chapter of history that has a certain timeliness that is difficult to ignore. Set in 1819, the film recounts the story behind the notorious Manchester Massacre, where about 60,000 citizens peacefully rallied to demand Parliamentary reform and extension of voting rights, only to be attacked by British militia. At a time when a person's right to peacefully protest is often mocked and scorned- sometimes even endangered by those whose duty it is to "serve and protect" them- it's stories like these that are just as enlightening as they are necessary. Director Mike Leigh has often explored moments in history that reverberate with the issues and topics of today's world, and he consistently approaches them with intelligence and humanity. I enjoy Leigh's films, and I seem to appreciate them more with repeated viewings, but I'm especially excited for his next movie, which looks like it will be his most ambitious work to date. Audiences who have become more politically involved and outspoken in the last few years will no doubt be able to connect with this profoundly tragic and pivotal episode in world history, and I'm sure Leigh will reward their attention with a film that's as rousing as it is powerful.
37) Wolfwalkers
Release: Tomm Moore (Song of the Sea, The Secret of Kells) Cast: TBA
- There are few animated storytellers today that make films as beautiful, magical, and soulful as Tomm Moore. With only two feature films under his belt, the Irish filmmaker has already made a significant name for himself, earning the love and respect of critics and audiences all over the world, as well as garnering two Oscar nominations for both his movies. His films, which take place in his native homeland of Ireland and are steeped in the myths and folklore of the land, are gorgeous works of art to behold. Using a blend of hand-drawn animation and eye-poppingly lush watercolors, the characters and worlds he creates burst from the screen, encompassing the audience in all the surrealism and wonder of a waking dream. He's the closest thing to an Irish Miyazaki that we're ever going to get, and his work deserves all the attention that comes with such a comparison, which is why I am extremely excited for his next feature, Wolfwalkers. Like his previous films before, Wolfwalkers is also deeply rooted in Irish mythology, and tells the story of Robyn, who comes to Ireland with her hardened and superstitious father as an apprentice to help wipe out the last of the wolf packs. After saving the life of a native girl named, Mebh, Robyn is lead to a magical discovery of the Wolfwalkers, which could change her into very thing she's been tasked to destroy. Poetic symbolism is a huge part of the stories that Moore tells, so I'm sure the film will be much more deep and complex in it's entirety than how it initially sounds.
36) Untitled Laika Project
Director: Unknown Cast: Unknown
- "Plot kept under wraps." Those are the words that show up when you visit the IMDb page for Laika's upcoming mystery project. The site also says the film is in pre-production, but that could easily be a misleading bit of information on Laika's part so they maintain the element of surprise. Most people may find it difficult to be excited about a family-friendly animated film with no indication as to what the plot will be, but those people are also probably not familiar with the extraordinary work that has come out of Laika. The studio delivered a masterpiece in animated storytelling with their first studio feature, Coraline, and since then they've been knocking out gorgeously rendered works of art that evoke all the wonder, imagination, and darkness of a Grimm fairy tale. Based out of Portland, the studio has become the leading voice in resurrecting the lost art of stop-motion animation, and each film they make is an exquisite showcase of craft and beauty that is unlike anything seen on a big screen today. Each of their four films have deservedly landed an Oscar for Best Animated Film- their last film, the dazzling Kubo and the Two Strings, was also nominated for Best Visual Effects- and their reputation as an animation studio to be reckoned with has even made the likes of Pixar wince. Because so little is known about their secretive upcoming project, it's impossible to know if its slated release is set in stone. However, it sure does give the rest us something very exciting to look forward to, and we know that whatever it is they have in store will be well worth the wait. It's also known that the studio had been weighing between Colin Meloy's Wildwood and Philip Reeve's Goblins to adapt as their next feature, and that's also promising. Both are children's fantasy novels that have been met with good reviews (especially Wildwood, which is a New York Times bestseller) and would fit perfectly within Laika's wheelhouse, who has been using that particular genre and style as the backbone for all their films so far.
35) The Little Stranger
Director: Lenny Abrahamson (Room, Frank) Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Ruth Wilson, Charlotte Rampling, Will Poulter, Oliver Zetterström, and Alison Pargeter.
- Irish director Lenny Abrahamson has become quite the chameleon behind the camera, going from directing the oddball comedy and Sundance hit Frank to adapting Emma Donoghue's unfilmable and life-affirming novel Room to Oscar glory. A lot of the praise for Room is owed to the film's lead stars Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay, whose incredible performances are the emotional center of the film and help raise it to its profound heights, but Lenny Abramson also performs a remarkable high-wire act in balancing the thematically and tonally complex story from Donoghue's novel. His skillful handling of the material, which earned him an Oscar nom for Best Director, showed us all that he was an incredible talent to watch for in the future. Getting an Oscar nomination for Best Director on your fifth solo feature can open up all kinds of doors for you, and Abrahamson has definitely been pitched more than a few great projects with considerable potential since then, but he ultimately decided to follow up his Oscar-winning movie with an adaptation of Sarah Waters' chilling and terrifying novel. The third novel of the acclaimed author, The Little Stranger is a gothic ghost story that evokes classic works such as The Turn of the Screw, and tells the tale of a respectable country doctor who is called upon by a family that his mother once worked for. Naturally, his arrival spurs a chain of events beset with "close encounters" and dark secrets unveiled. Waters is a brilliant and respected writer- her second novel, Fingersmith, was recently adapted in Chan-Wook Park's The Handmaiden- and it will be very exciting to see Abrahamson tackle supernatural horror for the first time. After the escape scene in Room, I know he's capable of keeping his audience on the edge of their seat.
34) Outlaw King
Director: David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water, Starred Up) Cast: Chris Pine, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, Billy Howle, Stephen Dillane, Tony Curran, Alastair Mackenzie, James Cosmo, Callan Mulvey, Steven Cree, Duncan Lacroix, Sam Spruell, Matt Stokoe, Lorne MacFadyen, Robin Laing, Jack Greenlees, and Jamie Sives.
- When asked what your favorite films of 2016 were, most people are likely to include David Mackenzie's scorchingly excellent Hell or High Water on their list. In fact, most people probably hadn't even heard of Mackenzie prior to his breakout film, but the director has actually been a considerable up-and-coming talent for quite some time. His next feature sees the Scotland native exploring a subject that's close to his home, as he recounts the true "David and Goliath story" of how Robert the Bruce bravely lead Scottish troops against England's larger, better-equipped army in their pursuit of national independence. It's a rousing and blistering story that, in Mackenzie's hands, should prove to be a gritty and character-driven war epic. The director has reunited with his Hell or High Water star Chris Pine to headline the strong cast, which also includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Lady Macbeth breakout, Florence Pugh. Netflix is in charge of distribution, which makes this yet another film on the studio's already impressive slate for this year.
33) Black Panther
Director: Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station) Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis.
- Ryan Coogler has quickly become one of today's most exciting and audacious filmmakers- from first landing on radars at Sundance with the powerful Fruitvale Station to delivering a rousing and heart-stopping boxing epic with the Rocky sequel, Creed- it's no surprise the director was given the honor of bringing the first superhero of African descent to the big screen in his very own film. With days still to go before the movie hits theaters, Coogler's film is already being praised for its cast of almost entirely black actors (a rarity in blockbuster filmmaking of this scale and budget), which includes some of the biggest and most exceptionally talented names in Hollywood today, and the studio has also been commended immensely for appropriately hiring a black director to see the job through. It's appropriate just as much as it is important when making a film of this kind. The Black Panther first hit comic book shelves back in 1966, a bold and revolutionary move on Marvel's part for that time, which up until that point had been catering to a market where white, male superheros were the first and only norm. For many years (going as far back as the 90s) there have been attempts to see the iconic character get his own film- the most notable was a passion-project from Wesley Snipes that he hoped to write and star in- but unfortunately, each project fell through for one reason or another. You could definitely say that the journey has been a long one, but then again, most great things culminate from such, and it's incredibly exciting to see the project finally come to fruition with such an incredible cast and crew behind it. The story takes place in the character's home of Wakanda- a fictional province in Africa with a rich economy and culture- and pick's up right after Captain America: Civil War (where the character first made his debut), as T'Challa (Black Panther) mourns the passing of his father while attempting to take his rightful place as king. Coogler has said the film will focus heavily on themes of responsibility and identity, and that the vision behind the movie has a wide variety of influences that include the likes of James Bond, Game of Thrones, and even Star Wars. These are indeed bold words, but if anyone can live up to them, it's Coogler.
32) How to Talk to Girls At Parties
Director: John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) Cast: Elle Fanning, Alex Sharp, Nicole Kidman, Ruth Wilson, Matt Lucas, Alice Sanders, Abraham Lewis, Joanna Scanlan, Elarica Gallacher, Jessica Plummer, Natalie Lauren, and Travis Simpkins.
- A new film from John Cameron Mitchell should definitely be called a blue moon event; the director behind Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Shortbus probably makes a new film once every ten years. But the fact that his newest film is a return to the glam-rock musical, his first since Hedwig, only encapsulates that sensation even more. Based on a short story by Neil Gaiman that's (literally) out of this world, the story follows a young alien girl who visits Earth after secretly breaking away from the rest of her group while touring the galaxy. She arrives in the London suburb of Croydon, right in the heat of the groovy 70s, where she's introduced to romance, drugs, and that thing that casts a spell on us all- rock'n'roll. While a story about an alien from outer space [naturally] has science-fiction ties, those aspects are reportedly more undertones in the film, where music, comedy, and budding romance take center stage. These elements are second nature to Mitchell, especially the musical, which he tackles with sheer inventiveness and rhapsodic delight- as demonstrated in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. And just as he did with Hedwig and the Angry Inch, his new film also features original music, this time from Xiu Xiu frontman Jamie Stewart and composer Nico Muhly. Aside from the exciting new music to look forward to, there's the movie itself, which has been described as "Romeo and Juliet with punks and aliens." Shakespeare's timeless tale has become the inspiration for countless films throughout the years, but I'm more than down when it's retold in ways as bold and as unconventional as this (just look at Baz Luhrmann's version from 1996 starring DiCaprio and Claire Danes.)
31) Captive State
Director: Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) Cast: John Goodman, Vera Farmiga, Ashton Sanders, Jonathan Majors, Alan Ruck, Kevin Dunn, Machine Gun Kelly, Madeline Brewer, D.B. Sweeney, Kevin J. O'Connor, James Ransone, KiKi Layne, Marc Grapey, and Alex Henderson.
- One film that none of us expected would be even half as good as what it turned out to be was 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The trailers looked bad, director Wyatt was pretty much an unknown, and let's be honest, after Tim Burton's disaster of a film, we weren't exactly crying out for another Planet of the Apes movie. But Wyatt defied those preconceived notions with a sci-fi film that was intelligent and character-driven, featured startling visual effects, and boasted a career-defining performance from Andy Serkis via motion capture technology. The new Planet of the Apes trilogy is already considered one of the best movie trilogies of all time, and Wyatt will forever be known as the director who got the ball rolling. It's been almost seven years since that movie, and in that time the only film we've gotten from Wyatt was the so-so crime thriller, The Gambler, but this year the director is back in full sci-fi mode. Set in Chicago a decade after an extraterrestrial takeover, the movie will explore the aftermath and both sides of the conflict- the collaborators and the dissidents. It's an intriguing concept, and one that I'm sure will see the director touch on themes he explored in his last sci-fi feature, such as adapting to environment, oppression, control, and revolution. Focus Features is distributing, which is also promising, since they're a studio that focuses more on quality work that fares well with critics and audiences.
30) Lean on Pete
Director: Andrew Haigh (45 Years, Weekend) Cast: Charlie Plummer, Travis Fimmel, Chloë Sevigny, Steve Buscemi, Steve Zahn, Thomas Mann, Amy Seimetz, Justin Rain, Lewis Pullman, and Frank Gallegos.
- "How do I try and make a moment feel genuinely truthful?" It's a question that writer/director Andrew Haigh consistently asks himself when making a new film, and it's his acute attention to so many details- whether they involve his characters or the way he translates their stories- that shows how fiercely committed he is to acknowledging and respecting that question. Haigh has said that he thinks acting is the most important aspect when telling a compelling story, that that feeling of "genuine truthfulness" hinges largely on the authenticity of the performance. Performances are a major part of Haigh's films, which are always a perfect marriage of both poignant acting and the director's beautiful and complex material, resulting in an experience that's at once intimate and startlingly empathetic. It's the main reason I get so excited for anything new from the director, and it's why I was so bummed when Lean on Pete was pushed to this year following its Venice Film Fest debut. Based on the novel by Willy Vlautin, the movie follows a young boy who sets out on a journey in search of a long-lost aunt, accompanied by a stolen racehorse named, Lean on Pete. The story bears the trademarks of an American road movie, but I'm sure the film will be just as focused on the dynamics of relationships- especially between man and beast- which Haigh has continually handled with deftness and feeling. Both of the director's last films have made it to Criterion, so it will be very interesting to see if his next movie continues his roll and joins those ranks.
29) Under the Silver Lake
Director: David Robert Mitchell (It Follows) Cast: Andrew Garfield, Riley Keough, Topher Grace, Zosia Mamet, Jimmi Simpson, Patrick Fischler, Callie Hernandez, Riki Lindhome, Don McManus, Summer Bishil, Jeremy Bobb, and Grace Van Patten.
- There aren't a lot of directors working today that have such a deft and singular use of tone and atmosphere like David Robert Mitchell, and the fact that the superb It Follows was only his second feature is a testament to his skill behind the camera. One of the most brilliant and effective horror films to come out in the last decade, It Follows solidified Mitchell's place as one of today's strongest up-and-coming talents. His next film is a bit of a departure from the horror genre- although still within a territory that should cleverly utilize his most distinguishable traits- which is a modern noir crime-thriller set in Los Angeles. Details concerning the plot are scarce, but a genre piece from Mitchell is definitely something to be excited about. On top of that, the director has reteamed with Disasterpeace to score the film, whose eerie and electrifying work on It Follows was one of the movie's main highlights. It wasn't that long ago that director Dan Gilroy and Jake Gyllenhaal delivered a home-run with their LA neo-noir Nightcrawler, and hopefully Mitchell and Andrew Garfield are able to hit a similar high with their outing in the City of Angels.
28) Hold the Dark
Director: Jeremy Saulnier (Green Room, Blue Ruin) Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Riley Keough, James Badge Dale, Jeffrey Wright, Jonathan Whitesell, James Bloor, and Macon Blair.
- Ratcheting up palpable tension with gritty thrills is second nature to Jeremy Saulnier. His unique aesthetic in the thriller genre is what made his last two films, Green Room and Blue Ruin, such standout features, cementing his status as one of toady's most exciting cinematic voices. Netflix is obviously aware of the director's promising talent, which is why they scooped up the rights to his next film- a thriller that's based on a novel by William Giraldi, and (literally) armed with a sharp set of teeth. Set in the Alaskan wilderness, the story follows two parents who enlist the help of a wildlife naturalist to find their missing son, whose disappearance coincides with the deaths of three children that may have been killed by wolves. It sounds like the director's take on The Grey, and that can only be a good thing, since Saulnier is a much better director than Joe Carnahan and will more than likely deliver something twice as ambitious. Saulnier is also set to helm the new season of True Detective, and while that probably won't come to fruition for about another year, at least we have Hold the Dark to tide us over in the meantime.
27) You Were Never Really Here
23) The House That Jack Built
Director: Lynne Ramsay (We Need to Talk About Kevin) Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov, Alex Manette, John Doman, and Judith Roberts.
- There's no question that Joaquin Phoenix is one of today's most extraordinary actors (he may even be the best), so when it was announced he would headline the cast of Lynne Ramsay's fourth feature, we were all very excited. Besides being an incredible director, Ramsay in known for getting top-notch work from her cast- We Need to Talk About Kevin was an excellent showcase for one of Tilda Swinton's most riveting performances, as well as a star-making turn for Ezra Miller- so when Phoenix won the award for Best Actor at Cannes last year, most of us weren't really surprised. What was surprising was that Amazon didn't release the film sooner so Phoenix could qualify for a Best Actor run at this year's Oscars. Then again, the actor has also made it abundantly clear that he has no care for awards prospects, especially at the Oscars. As for the performance itself, it's considered by many [who have seen it] to be a major highlight in the actor's career, and Ramsay's film- which also picked up the award for Best Screenplay at Cannes- has been hailed a bolder, more sophisticated version of Taken. Based on a novel by Jonathan Ames, Phoenix plays a traumatized war veteran who tracks down missing children for a living, biting off more than he can probably chew when he rescues a young girl from a child sex trafficking ring. A director that understand the power of cinema, Ramsay is regarded as one one of today's most audacious and visionary filmmakers, but sadly there's a lot who still don't know it. But perhaps after seeing her latest film, they will.
Release: April 6th.
26) Mute
Director: Duncan Jones (Moon, Source Code) Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Paul Rudd, Justin Theroux, Seyneb Saleh, Nikki Lamborn, Ulf Hermann, Florence Kasumba, Gilbert Owuor, Daniel Fathers, Noel Clarke, Robert Sheehan, Sam Rockwell, and Anja Karmanski.
- I think we can all agree that Duncan Jones' last film Warcraft was a colossal misfire, though a misfire that rests more on the shoulders of the studio than the director. In fact, some people have said that the movie is barely tolerable thanks to Jones, which is saying something since it could've easily been one of the greatest train wrecks ever made, had it been done in other hands. But it's important to remember that this is the same director that had one of the greatest debuts in the last decade with Moon, and made a solid follow-up with the smart and exhilarating Source Code. However, you don't have to be a fan of the director's work to be excited for his next feature- a tech-noir that takes place in the same futuristic world as Moon- which is sure to attract lovers of sci-fi films and just about anyone who thinks Blade Runner is a stone-cold masterpiece. Jones has said that his film is heavily inspired by Ridley Scott's sci-fi classic, which stars Alexander Skarsgård as a mute bartender that goes searching for his missing girlfriend through Berlin's dark underbelly, his only real clue being two mysterious surgeons. It was presumed that the movie would come out last year, but Netflix have been holding on to it while carefully guarding its secrets, up until most recently when they unveiled a trailer and poster. Perhaps it makes sense though that the movie was pushed to this year- after all, if the movie does have parallel comparisons to Blade Runner, it probably wouldn't have been wise to release it around the same time as Denis Villeneuve's critically praised sequel. Personally, I'm just excited to finally see the damn thing, since anything sci-fi from Duncan Jones deserves nothing but the fullest attention.
Release: February 23rd.
25) Mary Poppins Returns
Director: Rob Marshall (Chicago, Into the Woods) Cast: Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson, Nathanael Saleh, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, David Warner, and Dick Van Dyke.
- It's never a simple task to make a sequel to a beloved classic, especially when that beloved classic is one that has enchanted generations of families like Walt Disney's, Mary Poppins. Lauded as a masterpiece, as well as earning a tremendous box office, a whopping 13 Academy Awards (including Best Picture), and a spot in the National Film Registry, it's no wonder the film is considered the "crowning achievement" of Disney's career. With the amount of acclaim and adoration the movie has received since its release, it seems like downright folly to ever follow it up with a sequel, as any attempt would surely be overshadowed in comparison to the original. But if Mary Poppins Returns is even half as good as Walt Disney's picture, than it will be worth the price of admission. When it comes to directing big-screen musicals, there are very few filmmakers today that can hold a candle to Rob Marshall, and while most people were split on Into the Woods, I personally loved it. Joining Marshall are a few of his Into the Woods stars, with Meryl Streep in the role of a brand new character and Emily Blunt as our favorite umbrella-wielding nanny, Mary Poppins. Blunt has some enormous shoes to fill as she takes on one of the best and most iconic roles of Julie Andrews' career, but she's also a magnificently underrated actress with so much range and charm, and her lovely voice work in Marshall's last musical proved she can carry a tune, so I really can't think of anyone else who is more qualified for the job. Speaking of tunes, the film also boasts some tremendous musical talent behind the screen that includes Tony award-winners Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, and Hamilton creator and star, Lin-Manuel Miranda (who also has a major role in the film.) One top of all that, the film is written by Oscar-nominated screenwriter David Magee, who's most recognized for his work in Finding Neverland and Life of Pi. Naturally, there's a lot of talent riding on this picture, but when you've got as much to live up to as this sequel does, it's nothing short of reassuring.
Release: December 25th.
24) If Beale Street Could Talk
Director: Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) Cast: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Teyonah Parris, Colman Domingo, Brian Tyree Henry, Dave Franco, Ed Skrein, Michael Beach, Finn Wittrock, Regina King, Diego Luna, Pedro Pascal, Aunjanue Ellis, Ebony Obsidian, and Emily Rios.
- La La Land is an incredible picture, but I think most of us were surprised to see the Academy go for something outside their typical wheelhouse when they awarded the smaller, indie-lit Moonlight Best Picture over the bigger, flashier cinema love song that was La La Land. Trust me though, I'm not complaining. Jenkins' name had almost been forgotten since his last film, 2008's Medicine for Melancholy, until he jumped back on the scene in 2016 with his beautiful and intimate masterpiece about the significance of identity (both cultural and sexual), and the director is clearly showing no signs of taking another long break. With barely a year gone by since Moonlight picked up the Oscar for Best Picture, Jenkins is already in post-production for his next feature, which is based on James Baldwin's acclaimed novel, If Beale Street Could Talk. Baldwin's book is a painful story about a young, black couple in Harlem whose lives are torn apart when the soon-to-be husband, Fonny, is falsely accused of rape by a racist police officer. While carrying their child, his fiancé Tish desperately struggles to support herself while trying to prove Fonny's innocence. A renowned American novelist, social critic and political activist, Baldwin's name and legacy are known to many- perhaps more so after the recent documentary, the masterful and essential I Am Not Your Negro, which is based on Baldwin's writings- so it's beyond exciting that Jenkins has chosen to adapt one of his books for his follow-up feature.
Release: A festival premiere is an absolute guarantee, but the question is: which one? Moonlight was universally loved and praised, so any of the three biggest fests (Cannes, Venice, Toronto) could pick it up. If the movie's as good as last film, then a fall release should follow.
23) The House That Jack Built
Director: Lars von Trier (Antichrist, Nymphomaniac) Cast: Matt Dillon, Uma Thurman, Riley Keough, Ed Speleers, Bruno Ganz, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Osy Ikhile. Sofie Gråbøl, David Bailie, Ji-tae Yu, Marijana Jankovic, Christian Arnold, and Robert G. Slade.
- In a turn of events that no one could've foreseen, director Lars von Trier decided to make a surprise return from retirement, after saying that Nymphomaniac would be his last film in 2014. As an auteur that is known for being very divisive- both in his films and personal life- there will no doubt be divisiveness about his inclusion on this list. The director has certainly said and done things I strongly object to, but as far as his work is concerned, I suppose "divisive" would also be an appropriate word to describe how I feel about the movies he makes; I don't hate his films, but neither do I adoringly love them. However, he is an incredibly brilliant filmmaker, as well as a fascinating one at that, and I've found that I admire his work more with contemplation and repeated viewings. His next film looks like the darkest thing he's done since Antichrist- which is saying something since almost everything he does is (to one degree or another) very dark- and follows a serial killer named Jack over a twelve-year span, exploring the murders and events that truly develop him as a serial killer. It sounds like it could follow the same narrative style of Nymphomaniac, which was told from the perspective of its main character as she recounted her life story, and Trier's singular and provocative aesthetic should make this an unforgettable experience. But I'm mostly intrigued to see how and where this film will stand in the director's career: will this give us an idea of what to expect from any possible future projects, or will this [actually] be his final film, and if so, how great of an exit will it be? Last year, Steven Soderbergh made a return to the screen after a four-year hiatus, and now it seems as though he's back to making movies again, so we've learned anything can happen.
Release: After controversial statements before the press release of Melancholia, the director was banned from Cannes for supposedly one year. Nobody really knows for sure how permanent the ban is, so it's difficult to say if he would be welcomed back at the festival. But if not Cannes, then there's always Venice or Toronto. After that, we'll just have to see.
22) Unsane
Director: Steven Soderbergh (Side Effects, Traffic) Cast: Claire Foy, Joshua Leonard, Jay Pharoah, Juno Temple, Aimee Mullins, and Amy Irving.
- It seems it's official: Steven Soderbergh is back. After going into retirement in 2014, the director made a return to the screen last year with the wonderful Logan Lucky, and a month before the film hit theaters, it was announced he had shot a secret film with The Crown breakout, Claire Foy. On top of that, it's a psychological horror film- the director's first ever- about a woman who is involuntarily committed to a mental institution, so I'm all the more excited. It's always fascinating to see filmmakers utilize different forms of innovative technology as they pursue their projects, and Soderbergh took a leaf out of Sean Baker's book a la Tangerine and shot his new film on an iPhone in 4K. No doubt, this will be very encouraging for aspiring filmmakers the world over, who will be amazed that such a mainstream production was brought to life with tools that are so easily accessible. Aside from these details, not much else is known, but I'm sure this will be the kind of clever and thrilling genre piece that appeals to diehard cinema buffs, and with the outstanding Claire Foy in the lead role, the project is only all the more promising. The film was recently selected as part of the lineup in the Berlin Film Festival, so that's encouraging as well.
21) Wendy
Director: Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild) Cast: Tommie Lynn Milazzo and Shay Walker.
- I can't believe it's taken this long to see a new film from Benh Zeitlin. The director made an enormous splash at Sundance in 2012 with his fantastic and lyrical debut, Beasts of the Southern Wild, which went on to earn 4 Oscar nominations (including Best Picture) and made breakout star Quvenzhané Wallis the youngest recipient to score a nomination for Best Actress. Most directors in Zeitlin's shoes would've been lured by some big, flashy studio project in the wake of their budding success, but he's been patient and kept his distance while carefully planning his next project. That project is probably the biggest enigma on this list, which centers on a young girl who is taken to a destructive ecosystem and discovers a mystical pollen that breaks the relationship between aging and time. It sounds like Peter Pan with a Southern Wild twist, imbuing the elements of poetic lyricism, ecological symbolism, and childlike perspective that made his last film such a masterpiece, and I couldn't be more excited about it! But what really makes this project so mysterious is just how secretive the production status is. Last year, IMDb said the film was in pre-production, and now the site says it's in development and hasn't even started. However, other sources confirm the project began filming last spring, and that it should be finally ready for audiences this year, so I'm going out on a limb here and adding it to the list. Perhaps it's not so surprising though that the project has been kept under such tight wraps. The story definitely has echos of Peter Pan, and it's no secret that Disney is getting ready to start production of their own live-action version with David Lowery, so it could be that Zeitlin is trying to avoid drawing too much attention to his film. Whatever happens, I hope we're all able to see it soon!
20) The Predator
Director: Shane Black (The Nice Guys, Iron Man 3) Cast: Boyd Holbrook, Olivia Munn, Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key, Sterling K. Brown, Jacob Tremblay, Yvonne Strahovski, Alfie Allen, and Thomas Jane.
- I mentioned a few entries back about how taboo it can be to make a sequel to a renowned classic, and there's more than a few of them coming out this year. But probably the most promising of the bunch is Shane Black's spin on the Predator. A sequel to the 1987 sci-fi action-horror film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the new movie trades the jungle environment of the first film for a suburbia setting, but Shane Black promises that his movie will still retain the "intimate scale" of the original, as well as a fresh sense of wonderment akin to Close Encounters of the Third Kind. 20th Century Fox has been backing the director all the way and seems to have a huge amount of faith in the project, as they've been keeping the details as scarce as they can, while also assuring fans that Black's Predator is "utterly fresh and unexpected" and reimagines the franchise in ways that are "different and interesting." I'm not surprised at all. The director's Iron Man 3 was a breath of fresh air compared to most Marvel entries, and 2016's The Nice Guys was one of the hippest and most entertaining action-comedies we've had in years. But Black is no stranger to the Predator franchise- in fact, you could say it's something very close to the director's heart and career- as the filmmaker and actor also starred in the original film as supporting character, Rick Hawkins; so if there's anyone more passionate about getting this movie right, it's this guy.
19) A Wrinkle in Time
Director: Ava DuVernay (Selma, 13th) Cast: Storm Reid, Levi Miller, Deric McCabe, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Peña, Zach Galifianakis, Chris Pine, and André Holland.
- The Best Director snub for Ava DuVernay's keen and and vital work in Selma still stings to this day, but that hasn't stopped her from staying busy and telling more profound stories- such as the remarkable Queen Sugar and the tour-de-force 13th (which was nominated for Best Documentary at the Oscars.) Her talents haven't gone unnoticed by everyone though, and Disney was quick to snatch her up so she could direct at least one of the high-profile projects the studio has had brewing. When negotiations to helm the upcoming Black Panther fell through over creative differences, DuVernay chose the adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's timeless children's novel to be her next film instead, saying that she was drawn to the story not just because of it's fantastical elements and richly imaginative concepts, but because it was all of these things in a story that was primarily focused on female characters. Adapted for the screen by Frozen scribe Jennifer Lee, L'Engle's book has become an essential classic in children's literature, which is about a young girl who travels to extraordinary dimensions and planets in search of her lost father, guided by three celestial beings that aid her on her quest. It's the type of sci-fi epic you might expect from Spielberg or J.J. Abrams, which is a major reason why DuVernay's involvement in the project is so exciting. As the first woman of color to ever receive a studio budget of $100 million, it's clear the director and everyone on board realize what a groundbreaking step this is in the future of filmmaking and representation, and the journey itself has been incredibly surreal for all. The amount of words it would take to fully express the profundity of that journey would be lost on one mere paragraph, but Time magazine's article, Why A Wrinkle in Time Will Change Hollywood, does an impeccable job of translating the enormous weight behind DuVernay's ambitious project, and I think it's a must-read before seeing the film in theaters.
18) Bird Box
Director: Susanne Bier (The Night Manager, In a Better World) Cast: Sandra Bullock, Sarah Paulson, Rosa Salazar, Danielle Macdonald, John Malkovich, Trevante Rhodes, Jacki Weaver, Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Rel Howery, David Dastmalchian, and Amy Gumenick.
- Before enjoying the massive success that was met with her acclaimed television series, The Night Manager, Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier was mostly known for impressive human dramas like After the Wedding and In a Better World (which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2011.) A director who's more focused on the emotional and psychological undercurrents of her stories, Bier believes it's the interactions and connections between the characters that drive the story and make it interesting, noting that she's fiercely committed to not making "a boring film." It's why her next project is so cut out for her, which is based on Josh Malerman's acclaimed novel of the same name. Set in both the prelude and aftermath of an apocalyptic event, the story follows a woman and pair of children who are blindfolded and then make their way along a river as they set out on a mysterious journey. Malerman's thrilling novel has been compared to the work of Stephen King and Jonathan Carroll, and with Arrival screenwriter Eric Heisserer adapting, this is sure to be one of the most exciting page-to-screen productions coming out this year. The film's exceptional cast is another good reason to keep this on your radar, as well as the awards-friendly release date- which clearly shows that Netflix (who's distributing) is very confident in the project's potential. Also, the last time Sandra Bullock headlined a sci-fi drama like this, it was Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity, so that's pretty promising too.
17) Old Man and the Gun
Director: David Lowery (A Ghost Story, Ain't Them Bodies Saints) Cast: Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek, Elisabeth Moss, Danny Glover, Keith Carradine, Tika Sumpter, John David Washington, Tom Waits, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and Gene Jones.
- David Lowery is one of a small handful of directors that deserves to be regarded as one of the most promising new auteurs to emerge in the last decade. With a cinematic voice that's as poetically lyrical and it is truly singular, his films cast an extraordinary and hypnotic spell that has all the magic and enchantment of a folk tale or song. A favorite name at Sundance, Lowery is best known in the indie film community for the quietly beautiful Ain't Them Bodies Saints and his genre-defying A Ghost Story (which was one of my absolute favorite films to come out last year), but he recently became a household name for his lovely work in Disney's remake of Pete's Dragon. He'll be reteaming with Disney for their upcoming live-action take on Peter Pan, but before that comes, he has another indie gem in store for us this year. Based on the real-life figure of Robert Tucker, Redford (in one of his last onscreen roles before he retires) stars as an elderly bank robber who has managed to escape prison over a dozen times before settling down in a retirement community. With the boredom from daily routine beginning to wear on him, he decides to spice up his life with one last heist. Lowery has described the film as a comedy and experimental in the same way his last film (A Ghost Story) was, but I'm sure his magical lyricism will also be wonderfully alive in the ways Redford's character reconnects with his own youthful spirit.
16) Radegund
Director: Terrence Malick ( The Thin Red Line , Days of Heaven ) Cast: August Diehl, Valerie Pachner, Michael Nyqvist, Jurgen Prochnow, Matthias Schoenaerts, Bruno Ganz, Martin Wuttke, Alexander Fehling, Maria Simon, Franz Rogowski, Tobias Moretti, Ulrich Matthes, Max Mauff, Johan Leysen, Sophie Rois, Karl Markovics, Alexander Radszun, Joel Basman, Nicholas Reinke, and Karin Neuhäuser.
- Ever since Malick's philosophical and time-spanning epic The Tree of Life, his career has hit a downward slog that has had me losing faith with each new film he delivers. The renowned filmmaker's exploration of spirituality, existentialism, and the fabric of life that ties people together was fascinating- even extraordinary- in his Palm d'Or-winning film, but has grown to be overindulgent and repetitive without breaking any new ground- hitting an all-time low with last year's Song to Song. Thankfully, his next film looks like the closest thing to his original (better) work that I've seen in a long time, and Radegund may very well be a major return to form for the director. In fact, Malick has promised that Radegund will indeed be a return to more structured storytelling- my biggest issue with his recent films- and that he'll be "backing away from that style" that dominated his post-Tree of Life work. A drama, as well as a war film, Radegund is based on the true story of Austrian farmer, Franz Jägerstätter, who became a conscientious objector when he refused to fight for the Nazis during World War II. It's the first movie since The Thin Red Line to see Malick return to the subject of World War II, let alone war in general, this time exploring a different side of the war. For those unfamiliar with the term, a conscientious objector was someone who refused to perform military services on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion. As freedom and authoritarianism continue to be growing concerns in today's world, Malick is sure to present a timely and thought-provoking moral question that should linger with audiences long after the theater darkens.
15) Everybody Knows
Director: Asghar Farhadi ( A Separation , The Salesman ) Cast: Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Ricardo Darín, Bárbara Lennie, Jaime Lorente, Inma Cuesta, Sergio Castellanos, Eduard Fernández, Elvira Mínguez, Roger Casamajor, Ramón Barea, and Carla Campra.
- There really isn't another filmmaker working today like Iranian director, Asghar Farhadi. Before anyone had seen his triumphant and universal masterwork, A Separation, no one had ever seen such a humanistic, honest, and compelling portrait of Iranian society. His film, which went on to win Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars (the first of two that he's won) and is considered by many to be one of the most powerful and essential films of the 21st century, was a huge part of why he was listed as one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People. His films, which have mostly taken place in his native home of Iran, examine the social and class structures of society and the ways in which they conflict with each other, as well as penetrate and explore the deeply complex moral questions that people are faced with in times of great difficulty and uncertainty. His next film boasts his starriest cast yet, which stars Penélope Cruz in the lead role and Javier Bardem as another major player. Cruz will play a Spanish woman living in Buenos Aires with her Argentinian husband and children, who returns to her hometown outside Madrid with her family, only to have the trip upset by a series of unexpected events that bring old secrets out into open. The film has been confirmed as a psychological thriller of sorts, and knowing Farhadi, I'm sure that his trademark themes of morality and complex relationships will be a fundamental part of the story.
14) The Favourite
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos (The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Lobster) Cast: Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Olivia Colman, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn, Mark Gatiss, and Carolyn Saint-Pé.
- Yorgos Lanthimos has quickly become one of my favorite directors working today. Between him and Denis Villenueve, they're about the closest thing this generation will ever see to a new Kubrick. Lanthimos made big waves several years back with his brilliantly deranged social satire and black comedy, The Lobster. And his follow-up feature, last year's The Killing of a Sacred Deer, was a genius and allegorical work of art that took psychological horror to dark depths of human depravity. Both films went down as one of my favorites for their respected years, and both films follow the director's formula for loosely adapting and modernizing the works of famous Greek playwrights (most specifically, Euripides) and giving them his own unique and singular twist. The director uses these plays to present strong, thought-provoking morals questions, examining them in ways that are poetic, challenging, and fascinating. The extremes to which he take his themes can sometimes be too difficult and unpleasantly provocative for audiences to enjoy. But it's important to know that Lanthimos is trying to get a strong reaction from his viewer- he wants his films to stay with you- and rest assured, he knows how to get it. The director's upcoming project looks quite different from his last two films, which is set in 18th century England during the court of Queen Anne, and has been described as a "bawdy, acerbic tale of royal intrigue, passion, envy and betrayal." Besides being a period piece, the script is also penned by Deborah Davis, making the film a departure from the previous writing collaborations of Lanthimos and co-writer Efthymis Filippou. And although it's somewhat discouraging that Greek mythology isn't the driving inspiration behind his latest film, I wouldn't be fooled by the corsets and historical intrigue to just write this off as your typical costume drama yet. Rachel Weisz- who stars in the film as Sarah Churchill- has compared the director's new feature to All About Eve in terms of its relationship dynamics, and assures that the movie's themes, style, and tone are still 100% Lanthimos. Consider me 100% in!
13) Parasite
Director: Joon-ho Bong (Okja, The Host) Cast: Kang-ho Song
- If there's one project that I hope makes it to this year's lineup up films, it's Joon-ho Bong's upcoming, Parasite. A few months prior to Okja's Cannes premiere, Bong announced he was in the early stages of a new project that would reunite him with The Host star, Kang-ho Song, and that he should have it ready sometime in 2018. Getting a new film from the director so soon seemed almost too good to be true, but now that his word is out there, my hopes are just too high to put it to rest. The status of the project is still [allegedly] in pre-production, but that could easily be misleading, and even if it's not, I've learned anything can happen during the span of a year. After all, Spielberg didn't confirm The Post as his next feature until early spring last year, and he still had it ready in time for awards consideration. It's difficult to say at this point whether Bong can pull off the same feat, but like all his films, his upcoming project is certainly worth getting excited about. A combination of drama and sci-fi, the story centers on a man who gets infected with a parasite that changes his paradigm in unforeseen ways. It sounds right within the director's wheelhouse, and I'm definitely getting the impression the film will possess some of the sharp undercurrents of horror that have punctuated his best work. Hopefully, the director is able to make good on his statement from last year and get this production rolling soon!
12) Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox, Grand Budapest Hotel) Cast: Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton, Liev Schreiber, Bill Murray, Bob Balaban, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson, Kunichi Nomura, Tilda Swinton, Ken Watanabe, Akira Ito, Greta Gerwig, Akira Takayama, Frances McDormand, F. Murray Abraham, Courtney B. Vance, Yojiro Noda, Fisher Stevens, Mari Natsuki, Nijiro Murakami, Yoko Ono, Harvey Keitel, and Frank Wood
- Few filmmakers today are as beloved as the enchanting and incomparable, Wes Anderson. A true auteur and visionary if ever there was one, anybody who's seen at least one of his movies can easily tell when they're watching another one- so distinct is his style. Coming off the greatest film of his career so far with Grand Budapest Hotel, Isle of Dogs marks the director's first return to animation since the wonderful Fantastic Mr. Fox. Ever since the director's adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic children's book first hit the screen, we realized that the director had actually been making animated films all along- only with live-action characters and settings- and we instantly began hoping that the film would not be his last and only foray in the genre. Almost a decade later and armed with a stellar voice cast, he's made that return, re-embracing the glorious stop-motion technology that he utilized so brilliantly in his first animated hit. This time, his script is based on a new and original story that he wrote with Roman Coppola, Kunichi Nomura, and Jason Schwartzman, which is set in a dystopian future Japan where dogs are quarantined on a remote island due to a "canine flu," and follows five mutts who aid a young boy in his search to find his lost pup. Expect the whimsical and delightful storytelling that permeates all of Anderson's best films, as well as the luscious trademark visuals that give them such vibrancy. I think it's safe to say that our front-runner for Best Animated Film in 2018 belongs right here.
Release: The film opens the Berlin Film Festival before hitting theaters on March 23rd.
11) High Life
Director: Claire Denis (Beau Travail, The Intruder) Cast: Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth, Juliette Binoche, André Benjamin, Lars Eidinger, Agata Buzek, Claire Tran, Ewan Mitchell, and Gloria Obianyo.
- With the discussion of female representation in film an ever present subject in today's media and culture, it's directors like Claire Denis that have become a huge source of inspiration in leading the charge to help balance the scale in a male-dominated industry. Denis, who deserves to be called something of a revolutionary, made her first feature film in 1988 at a time when female directors were something close to unheard of. Her debut made waves at Cannes (where it premiered) and since then, she has made twelve feature-length films, with her modern masterpiece, Beau Travail, considered as one of the greatest female-directed films in cinematic history. Born in Paris and raised in colonial French Africa, her work often reflects the political and socioeconomic influences of her upbringing- making it somewhat autobiographical- and her use of impressive long takes and meditative editing gives her films a richly textured quality. High Life, which is the director's first foray in the sci-fi genre, has been a passion project of her's for years. and focuses on a crew of criminals- given a chance at some kind of redemption- who are sent into deep space as "guinea pigs" to search out new energy sources. "They accept [the mission] because they think it's better than dying in jail, [but] realize [it's just] another kind of jail- a new kind of solitude." It sounds incredibly fascinating, and it's clear the director has been approaching the project with serious thought and contemplation, employing French physicist and black hole expert, Aurélien Barrau, as a consultant and scientific expert on the film. No doubt, this is the most ambitious undertaking of Denis' career, and hopefully the film's ardent journey to the screen will be worth the long wait.
Release: Denis is a favorite at Cannes, so many people are betting the film will get its long-awaited debut there. Venice is definitely a option too. Hopefully, the movie is able to find American distribution at either that gets it into theaters as soon as fall.
10) Where'd You Go, Bernadette
Director: Richard Linklater (The Before Trilogy, Boyhood) Cast: Cate Blanchett, Troain Bellisario, Kristen Wiig, Billy Crudup, Judy Greer, Laurence Fishburne, James Urbaniak, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, and Zoe Chao.
- I haven't yet read Maria Semple's acclaimed comedy novel- about a 15-year old girl who tracks down her mother after she disappears, discovering her troubled past along the way- but I have read the glowing reviews its received, and I know it was up for all kinds of prizes when it first hit shelves in 2012. And while that aspect does intrigue me (I don't doubt for a second how great the book is), it has nothing to do with the main reasons I'm excited for this film, which concerns only two people: Cate Blanchett and Richard Linklater. There isn't a whole lot that Cate can't do, and everything she does do is fantastic. Her flawless work continues to surprise and amaze me, with each new performance something new and exciting, and if I haven't made it clear already, she's probably my favorite actress working today. With Blanchett playing the titular character of Bernadette, I'm naturally going to assume that her role is huge, and that [more than likely] this will be her show- giving me all the more reason to see it. And then of course there's Richard Linklater. One of the most recognizable names in cinema, Linkerlater is known for classic films like Dazed and Confused and his beloved Before Trilogy, as well as passionate, labor-of-love art pieces like Boyhood. Everything he directs is alive with feeling and intricately in touch with the wonder that comes with first experience, whether it's falling in love or coming of age. While most of the praise [I've read] for Semple's novel has been attributed with the writer's clever and hilarious use of satire, it's the compelling and transformative relationship between a mother and daughter that's the emotional core of the story. And it's both of these elements (the satire and emotional resonance) together that are so tailor-made for a director like Linklater.
Release: May 11th.
9) First Man
Director: Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Whiplash) Cast: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Corey Stoll, Kyle Chandler, Jason Clarke, Shea Whigham, Jon Bernthal, Brian d'Arcy James, Pablo Schreiber, Patrick Fugit, Cory Michael Smith, Skyler Bible, Lukas Haas, J.D. Evermore, John David Wahlen, and Ben Owen.
- The films of Damien Chazelle engage the viewer in the kind of cinematic high that is a rare and beautiful thing to experience in big-screen movie-making. At 33 years old, with only three full-length features under his belt and one Oscar (not to mention an additional two other nominations), it is clear that Chazelle understands filmmaking and is deeply in touch with the magic and power it can have over an audience. With our pulses high and gazes transfixed, he took us through the dizzying whirlwind of an aspiring musician's fevered and detrimental struggle to become one of the "greatest" in Whiplash, and his universally adored La La Land is a gorgeous and melodic love song to classic musicals, show business, and the pure art of filmmaking. The director will enter new territory as he tackles space and Neil Armstrong in his upcoming biopic, First Man, which will account the famed astronaut's legendary and groundbreaking first steps on the moon. It will be fascinating to see Chazelle tell such a monumental chapter of American history, but I'm most excited to see the director's handling of the scenes in outer space, which are sure to be dazzling after watching the breathtaking observatory sequence in La La Land. The movie is based on the biographical book of the same name by James R. Hansen, and is adapted for the screen by Nicole Perlman and The West Wing and Spotlight screenwriter, Josh Singer. Ryan Gosling (reuninting with Chazelle for the second time) is joined by a stacked cast, and will star in the titular role of Armstrong. Clearly, this is already gearing up to be one of the strongest players in next year's awards season, and with its awards-friendly release in October, I'm hoping this will be a worthy extension of Chazelle's impressive and growing résumé, as well as a career-defining achievement for all on board.
8) The Death and Life of John F. Donovan
Director: Xavier Dolan (Laurence Anyways, Mommy) Cast: Kit Harington, Ben Schnetzer, Jacob Tremblay, Jessica Chastain, Natalie Portman, Bella Thorne, Susan Sarandon, Jared Keeso, Kathy Bates, Thandie Newton, Chris Zylka, Dakota Taylor, Emily Hampshire, Michael Gambon, Sarah Gadon, Ari Millen, Leni Parker, Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse, and Amara Karan.
- Damien Chazelle isn't the only director with an impressive résumé at such a young age. French Canandian auteur Xavier Dolan is only 28 years old, and has the kind of accolades that filmmakers twice his senior would kill for. His films are wildly alive to the point that they're almost living, breathing organic things. and he's able to throw his audience into a hurricane of raw and complex emotions that can leave you somewhat dazed and elegiac all at once. At the mere age of 25, he won the Cannes Grand Jury Prize for his sensational fifth feature, Mommy, and he's quickly risen as one of the most prominent and highly regarded names at the festival. As you might've already been able to guess, I'm a huge fan of his work, and despite the fact that his last feature, It's Only the End of the World, was a letdown from his previous films, it wasn't distasteful enough to severely taint my perspective of him. That's why I'm so incredibly excited for his next movie, which not only marks the director's English-language debut, but also boasts the largest and starriest cast he's had yet- in fact, it's one of the best ensembles in any film this year. The film follows the life of an American Hollywood actor- both before and a decade after his death- whose life and career is destroyed when his written correspondence with an 11-year old fan is exposed and exploited by a gossip columnist. The story is told from the perspective of the 11-year old boy when he's an adult, as he reminisces on the events that took place and how those letters affected both of their lives. Dolan is the type of filmmaker that can transform melodrama into high art, and this already sounds like it will go down as one of the most ambitious films in the director's career. The film was originally geared for a 2017 release- where it also ranked in the top 10 on this list last year- but then was pushed (to my dismay) to 2018 instead. However, there's no reason why it shouldn't come out this year, and I imagine it will only be a short matter of time before we find out which prestigious festival it will be debuting at.
7) Suspiria
Director: Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, A Bigger Splash) Cast: Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, Chloë Grace Moretz, Angela Winkler, Sylvie Testud, Ingrid Caven, Małgosia Bela, Renée Soutendijk, Lutz Ebersdorf, and Jessica Harper.
- There aren't many times when a director has more than one film on this list, but Luca Guadagnino is no ordinary director. Before he gets filming started on Rio- which will hopefully be ready for audiences before the end of this year- we'll get his ambitious remake of Dario Argento's horror masterpiece, Suspiria. Argento's film is a gorgeous and terrifying fever dream of pure cinema, and anyone who is personally acquainted with me is fully aware of my vocal love and admiration for the movie- which I would rank as one of my all-time favorites. It follows an American ballet student who enrolls in a prestigious academy in Germany, only to discover that the school is a platform for a coven of bloodthirsty witches. The remake has been gestating in studio development for years, and for most of that time, it wasn't exactly a project that I was following with interest and excitement. To be frank, I couldn't even imagine anyone ever remaking the film, and I certainly didn't want to, because Argento's work has had such a profound impact on me and my love of movies. Nevertheless, the project eventually landed in the lap of Pineapple Express director, David Gordon Green, which really only made me resent the idea of a remake even more, and I was beginning to consider the whole affair a lost cause. That is, up until about two years ago. That was when Green's proposed vision of the film fell through, with Luca Guadagnino stepping in shortly after to take the reins. As I've already mentioned beforehand with Rio, Luca Guadagnino is a phenomenal director, however, it's the reasons WHY he's phenomenal director that make him so qualified for this project- despite the fact that he's never made a horror film. His films aren't something you so much as watch, but something you truly feel and experience, and the hypnotic spell he casts on his audience makes you almost want to stay trapped in the movies he makes. It's for these reasons that I feel his approach to the material will be something entirely fresh and unexpected. Furthermore, the director has even stated in interviews that the word "remake" doesn't really do justice to the film he's made, saying that his vision is more of a reimagining of the story that explores themes and directions that weren't present in the original- which is also very encouraging, as it is exciting. When it all came down to it though, the fact that Guadagnino was able to to change my tune- when I had thought it to be impossible- made me realize what a big deal this movie could be; I had found myself getting excited about it, which in itself, became even more exciting.
6) Annihilation
Director: Alex Garland (Ex Machina) Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez, Oscar Isaac, Benedict Wong, Tuva Novotny, David Gyasi, and Sonoya Mizuno.
- One of the most assured and sophisticated debuts to emerge in the last decade is Alex Garland's smart sci-fi brainer, Ex Machina. A screenwriter mostly known for his acclaimed work with big-shot directors like Danny Boyle and Mark Romanek, Garland instantly became a director to watch for himself when his indie first-feature garnered phenomenal reviews, made over double its budget at the box office, and scored two Oscar nominations (one of which, it walked away with.) It's a tough act to follow, but the director may very well be up to the challenge with his ambitious next film. Based on an award-winning sci-fi novel by Jeff VanderMeer, the story follows a group of women who embark on a dangerous scientific expedition, where the laws of nature don't apply. The exceptional cast is led by Natalie Portman- who can be downright brilliant when she's in edgier fare like this- playing the role of a biologist who volunteers for the mission in an effort to save her husband. Of all the releases that were originally scheduled for last year and then pushed back to this one, Annihilation was by far the one I had wanted to see the most. Due to creative differences between the director and studios, the film was stuck in post-production limbo when David Ellison (of Skydance Media) expressed concerns that the movie may be "too intellectual" for mainstream audiences, requesting that certain parts of the film be edited and reshot (it's important to remember though that this is the same producer behind dumb-minded fodder like Baywatch and Geostorm, so I'm wondering what exactly he would define as "too intellectual.") Luckily, Oscar-winning producer Scott Rudin backed the film and Garland's vision 100%, and the film suffered no cut, so perhaps the wait may very well be worth it. The book's author (VanderMeer) certainly seems to think it will, who vocally expressed his full support after seeing an early cut of the film, going as far as to compare Garland's movie with 2001: A Space Odyssey! Bold words indeed, and if the film can live up to even half of that statement, we may be looking at one of the best sci-fi movies of the decade- perhaps even all time.
5) Widows
Director: Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave, Hunger) Cast: Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Rodriguez, Cynthia Erivo, Colin Farrell, André Holland, Daniel Kaluuya, Liam Neeson, Robert Duvall, Carrie Coon, Garret Dillahunt, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Jacki Weaver, Brian Tyree Henry, Lukas Haas, Michael Harney, and Jon Bernthal.
- Gillian Flynn is going to have quite a year in 2018. Aside from the hotly anticipated Sharp Objects (also on this list) that HBO is airing this summer, the award-winning screenwriter has something special in store for awards season as well. That would be Widows, a new crime thriller from Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen that's based on a British primetime series from the early 80s. It's about four women living in Chicago who are left with an enormous debt from their dead husbands' criminal activities. Faced with no other option, the women conspire to finish the heist their husbands started and forge a new future on their own terms. Flynn, who worked on the script with McQueen, has a sharp pen when it comes to writing complex and fascinating female characters- not to mention a few clever and unexpected twists- and McQueen is a phenomenal director whose films are known for the raw and compelling way they handle characters in difficult, sometimes unimaginable circumstances. Together, the two should be a creative match made in heaven, and I can't wait to see what they've put together for the screen. But even more so, I'm ecstatic that such a prestigious looking picture came from the collaboration of such a diverse and talented group of people. McQueen is the first black filmmaker to win an Oscar for Best Picture, while Flynn is one of the most notable and acclaimed writers working in Hollywood today. And Viola Davis, who leads the fantastic, female-centered cast, is the only black actor to ever achieve the Triple Crown of Acting- an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony. In an industry with still plenty to go in terms of progress and representation, it's movies like Widows that are going to thrust Hollywood into a beautiful and exciting new age.
4) The Sisters Brothers
Director: Jacques Audiard (A Prophet, Rust and Bone) Cast: John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, Jake Gyllenhaal, Riz Ahmed, Carol Kane, Rebecca Root, Ian Reddington, and Niels Arestrup.
- Jacques Audiard has been making films since the 1970s, but in the last decade he's become not only of the best directors working today, but one of the best directors of all time. In the last 15 years, the French filmmaker has won two César Awards, two BAFTAs, and picked up the Grand Prix and Palm d'Or prizes at Cannes. It's clear the director is working in the peak of his career, which has seem him craft some of the most searingly powerful dramas of the 21st century, but his next film is unlike anything he's done yet, taking almost a complete 180 turn from the heavy, gritty dramas he's been building his name on. Making his English-language debut, The Sisters Brothers is a dark-comedy western that's based on the multi-award winning novel by Patrick deWitt. Set in 1850s Oregon, the story follows a pair of brothers who work as professional assassins, as they set out after a prospector who has stolen from their boss. Reilly and Phoenix star as the film's two brothers, Eli and Charlie, with Gyllenhaal as the man who becomes their next target. While I haven't read the book, I imagine that the story's "western" element could be a potentially brilliant platform for some of Audiard's most revered and recognizable trademarks. It will be most interesting though to see how the director handles the pitch-black comedy of the novel, which can often be very tricky to tonally navigate when you're making a film. However, one of the most interesting things about Audiard's recent stream of work is how he's transformed as a filmmaker with each new movie. The characters in each of his films are all facing challenges and struggles that share a common sense of humanity and urgency, yet the characters themselves and their settings are vastly different, and the director approaches each scenario in a way that is brimming with style, grace, and distinctly unique beats. This is why I have complete faith in how the director will handle the genre and material, which could easily become one of best and freshest takes we've had on the western in ages. Furthermore, ANY film that boasts the combined talents of both Phoenix and Gyllenhaal can guarantee there will be a ticket with my name on it.
3) Ad Astra
Director: James Gray (The Lost City of Z, The Immigrant) Cast: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Donald Sutherland, Jamie Kennedy, John Finn, Kimberly Elise, Bobby Nish, LisaGay Hamilton, and John Ortiz.
- Ever since The Immigrant, I've been keeping a very close eye on director James Gray and his future projects. When he had almost wrapped filming on The Lost City of Z and announced that his next project would be an intimate sci-fi space odyssey, I knew in my gut right away that it would be something special. But it wasn't until I saw The Lost City of Z last year that I truly realized just how epic his next film might turn out to be. The director's Amazonian peregrination, which hearkens back to classic Werner Herzog films, is the epitome of what an adventure epic should be- challenging, cosmic, mysterious, and emotionally profound. In a science-fiction film, where the ideas and possibilities can be infinitely vast, these are exactly the kind of qualities that can make a movie of this type soar. The story, which Gray has compared to Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, follows an Army Corps engineer (played by Pitt) who embarks on a mission into deep space to find his lost father, who disappeared 20 years prior while searching for extraterrestrial life. Everything Gray makes is also jaw-droppingly gorgeous to look at, with lush, unfiltered visuals that imbue the feel of the movie with raw authenticity, and it looks as though Ad Astra will be no exception. The director has promised that his next film will be "the most realistic depiction of space travel that's been put in a movie," and that the environment's beauty is captured just as strongly as its unforgiving hostility. His cast is remarkably strong as well, and while I know there are some who are not fully on board with Pitt's acting, they can definitely put their doubts and skepticism to rest. Gray is notorious for getting strong work from his actors, even managing to wring a noteworthy performance from Charlie Hunnam, and we all know that Pitt can be quite great when he's paired with the right director. But even if we can't agree on the actor's performances, we can at least mutually attest that 2018 is shaping up to be quite a year for sci-fi.
2) Roma
Director: Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity, Children of Men, Y Tu Mamá También) Cast: Marina de Tavira, Marco Graf, Yalitza Aparicio, Daniela Demesa, Enoc Leaño, and Daniel Valtierra.
- There aren't enough words to encapsulate the sheer magnificence of director Alfonso Cuarón. A filmmaker that continues to test the limits of innovation and narrative structure, Cuarón breathes passion and life into everything he puts on the screen. "Passion" and "life" are two words that could definitely be used to describe his next film, Roma, which marks the director's eighth film, as well as his first Spanish-language feature since Y Tu Mamá También. The details are relatively scarce, and the director wants to keep it that way, but what we do know so far is that it's a drama that focuses on a family living in Mexico City during the 1970s, with themes as universal as they are transcendent. It's also a very personal project that's close to the director's heart, something he's "always dreamed of" making, and it draws from experiences in his life and upbringing that have had a lasting resonance in his memory and soul. It sounds like another bona fide classic from Cuarón, but I honestly can't say I'm surprised. After winning the Oscar for Best Director with Gravity- which was not only a huge financial success, but also won seven of its ten Oscar nominations- Cuarón could've gone on to do anything he wanted, whether it was a high-profile blockbuster or an indie style film with a dream budget. But the director has never made movies just because he can, he simply makes movies because he wants to make them, and it's a huge part of why his films are so special in the first place. Another part of what makes his work so special is time. During the post-production phase for Gravity, Cuarón spent weeks and weeks investing into every detail of the film he made- which is why the movie looks, sounds, and feels so spectacular- and his next film is allegedly no different. The director recently teased how long the "post phase" was taking, a process that has been arduous because of dynamics linked with "ambition and finance," which he says have to with "windows of opportunity." It's all very vague and mysterious, but it's clear that Cuarón is putting together another labor of love that will no doubt score big with everyone who sees it.
1) The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
Director: Terry Gilliam (Brazil, Time Bandits, Twelve Monkeys) Cast: Adam Driver, Olga Kurylenko, Stellan Skarsgård, Jonathan Pryce, Óscar Jaenada, Rossy de Palma, and Jason Watkins.
- Speaking of "labors of love," if there's one film on this list that lives up to that phrase more than anything else, it's Terry Gilliam's long, LONG gestating passion project: The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. A movie that's had so many production woes and catastrophes that they made a documentary about it, it was honestly beginning to look like Gilliam's poor film would never see the light of day. Indeed, the director has said several times he would die before he gave up trying to make the movie, and at 77-years old you can tell he's stayed true to his word. The film is inspired by the two-volume novel by Miguel de Cervantes, which is considered the most influential work of literature from the Spanish Golden Age, as well as the entire Spanish literary canon. It follows the mishaps and adventures of a self-anointed knight, who gets lost in his own romanticized delusions when he embarks on a self-proclaimed mission to restore chivalry and right all the wrongs in the world. An escapist fantasy, but also a biting satire about nihilism and the outcomes of denying reality in favor of illusion, it's the type of story that Gilliam was born to make. Last June, after 17 years of repeated attempts to get the film made, Gilliam finally wrapped filming on his dream project. In November, he announced the film was nearly through the editing process, and he recently held a private screening of a rough cut with friends and family, which was met with love and unadulterated praise. It's so surreal that the film is almost at a point where it will be shared with the rest of the world. Even as I type the words for this entry, I realize this film is going to be one of those "blue moon" events that's been talked about forever, but is finally happening- like James Cameron's Avatar or Coppola's Apocalypse Now. Movies like this don't come around very often, and when they do, they should be celebrated as the impassioned works of art that they are. Seventeen years is awfully long time to stay committed to the same project, and I sincerely hope that Gilliam's patience and perseverance results in nothing short of the masterpiece he deserves.
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