13 Movies To Get Excited For in 2013
All summer you sat through tweets and posts and stories about sequels and superheros. And next summer you’ll do it again. 2013 will bring more Iron Man, Die Hard, Superman, Wolverine, GI Joe, The Hunger Games, Thor, Fast and the Furious, Despicable Me, Monsters Inc, Star Trek, Hangovers, Anchormen and Birdemic. But now is the time of year for the rest of us. Our chance to hear about the “other” movies. Here are 13 movies that might be flying under the radar you will want to keep an eye on.
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The Wolf of Wall Street
About: A stockbroker is willing to serve a prison sentence rather than participate in stock market corruption.
Who: Marin Scorsese, Leonardo Di Caprio, Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill
Why: What Martin Scorsese movies aren’t highly anticipated? For the past few months, pictures have been snapped of Scorsese with his stars Leonardo DiCaprio (in his 5th collaboration with Scorsese) and a very thin Matthew McConaughey, who is undergoing a resurgence of respectability as an actor. The movie not only is timely, as it focuses on widespread corruption in Wall Street, but also brings Scorsese back to the drama of the mob. Jonah Hill also returns to a dramatic supporting role, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Moneyball two years ago.
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Foxcatcher
About: The true story of the murder of wrestler David Schultz committed by a paranoid schizophrenic
Who: Bennett Miller, Dan Futterman, Steve Carrell, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Anthony Michael Hall, Mark Ruffalo
Why: Hill’s Moneyball director Bennett Miller (Capote, Moneyball) makes his third film, and reunites with his Capote screenwriter Dan Futterman. With the potential to make three consecutive films which are both enthralling and all were based on true stories makes it something to look forward to. Also exciting is the chance to see Steve Carrell as a paranoid schizophrenic murderer; costarring Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Anthony Michael Hall and the Hulk himself Mark Ruffalo.
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The Way, Way Back
About: A vacationing teenager befriends a water park manager but clashes with his mother’s new boyfriend.
Who: Steve Carrell, Toni Collette, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Rob Corddry
Why: Another Steve Carrell vehicle, this one a coming of age comedy costarring Toni Collette and Sam Rockwell, as the previously mentioned water park manager. Five years in the making, this is the script which got comics Jim Rash and Nat Faxon the job (and subsequent Oscars) as screenwriters of The Descendents. Their success with that film, and Oscar win, gave them the opportunity to write and direct this summer comedy which costars Maya Rudolph and Rob Corddry.
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Nebraska
About: An alcoholic father with alzheimer and his adult son go to his childhood home to collect a million dollar sweepstakes.
Who: Alexander Payne, Bruce Dern, Will Forte, Stacey Keach, Bob Odenkirk
Why: The man Faxon and Rausch’s shared their Oscar with, director Alexander Payne, decided not to take another 8 year break from directing and is directing the first film he didn’t cowrite, from a script he has been planning to make for 10 years. He’s adding a visual flourish by filming in black and white film and returning to his home state of Nebraska (where he filmed Election and About Schmidt). He also took some risks with casting, casting go to villian Bruce Dern and SNL’s Will Forte in the leading roles, and Stacey Keach and Mr. Show’s Bob Odenkirk in supporting roles.
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The Great Gatsby
About: A 3D visual extravaganza of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s American classic.
Who: Baz Lurhman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan
Why: After the abismal 70s version (costarring Bruce Dern) any remake of the 20 set satire is an interesting project. Despite some negative reactions to the trailer with modern music and MTV editing, the movie is top of the must see list. The roaring 20s is a perfect setting for Baz Luhrman to play with his love of choreography, colors, and music, and he has a strong cast lead by Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan.
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Gangster Squad
About: The LAPD goes to war against the mafia in a stylized homage to gangster films
Who: Ruben Fleischer, Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin
Why: After Zombieland, Ruben Fleischer pays another homage to genre films, this time the classic gangster-crime noir films of the 40s. The movie was supposed to come out in 2012 but because of a scene reminiscent to the Dark Knight shootings which appeared in the trailer, they held and re-edited the movie. The movie looks like a colorful Sin City, with hip style and all-star cast. Not only are Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling the leads, but Sean Penn and Josh Brolin seem to be going broad in their performances.
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The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
About: A remake of the classic comedy about a daydreamer who lives at home with his mother
Who: Sean Penn, Benn Stiller, Shirley MacLaine, Kristin Wiig
Why: After all these years, Sean Penn is finally returning to comedies. Stiller has said for years he wanted to remake this movie and play the Danny Kaye role. It took considerable time to get it made, but he’s producing and starring in the film. The movie looks like a broad comedy in the style of classic Hollywood and costars Shirley McLaine and Kristin Wiig.
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Her
About: A man has a relationship with an operating system created to meet his every want and desire
Who: Spike Jonze, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Olivia Wilde, Rooney Mara, Samantha Morton
Why: After the slow, dramatic performance of Joaquin Phoenix this year in The Master, it will be nice to see him play in a comedy, especially one directed by Spike Jonze. Phoenix’s costar in The Master, Amy Adams, also stars in this comedy about male fantasies, along with Olivia Wilde, Rooney Mara, and Samantha Morton. Almost nothing is known about the film, but Jonze is known for making inventive films, so he’s earned our trust.
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The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Hers (and His)
About: A New York couple’s relationship, told by the wife and husband’s point of view
Who: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Viola Davis, William Hurt, Ciaran Hinds, Bill Hader
Why: Its actually two movies, each told from different perspectives. Its interesting to think that a studio would even make two different feature films about such a mondane subject. And the logistics of the release are complicated (release both at once or hold one for a later release). It-girl Jessica Chastain stars as the wife Eleanor Rigby (song connection unknown), with James McAvoy as her husband and featuring Viola Davis, William Hurt, Ciaran Hinds, and Bill Hader.
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Squirrel to the Nuts
About: A married director stars a relationship with a prostitute who wants to be an actress
Who: Peter Bogdonavich, Noah Baumbach, Wes Anderson, Owen Wilson, Olivia Wilde
Why: Its about time Peter Bogdonavich got a chance to make another movie. Being produced by Noah Baumbach and Wes Anderson, the movie should be right up Bogdonavich’s alley; a movie about the showbiz industry and romantic affairs (Anderson’s first producer was Bogdonavich’s ex-wife, the late Polly Platt). Anderson’s former cowriter and frequent star Owen Wilson stars as the director who falls in love with Olivia Wilde’s prostitute.
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The Butler
About: A from the bottom up biopic about The White House Butler who served for three decades.
Who: Lee Daniels, John Cusack, Richard Nixon, Robin Williams, Alan Rickman, James Marsden, Liev Schreiber, Terrence Howard, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, Oprah Winfrey, Forrest Whitaker
Why: It could be just another historical biopic about the Butler who served in the White House. But its being directed by Lee Daniels, the director who made Precious and the controversial movie from this year, The Paper Boy. One of the stars of The Paper Boy, John Cusack costars in the movie as Richard Nixon, along with Robin Williams as Eisenhower, Alan Rickman as Reagan, James Marsden as Kennedy, Liev Schreiber as Johnson along with Terrence Howard, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey and Oprah Winfrey. In the title character of The Butler, Cecil, is the always good Forrest Whitaker.
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Gravity
About: Astronauts are hit by debris and have to find a way to return to earth.
Who: Alfonso Cuaron, Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
Why: Children of Men director Alfonso Cuarón is finally returning to science-fiction (after a brief period with Harry Potter. Stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney are apparently performing in what is essentially a two person drama (similar to Sam Rockwell’s one man show in Moon) which could lead to some interesting performances. This is also one of the Imax 3D movies to be excited about, considering the opportunities a space drama has for inspired visuals.
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The Devil’s Knot
About: The dramatization of The West Memphis Three
Who: Peter Jackson, Reese Witherspoon, Amy Ryan, Bruce Greenwood, Colin Firth, Atom Egoyan
Why: This is literally the fifth film about the infamous murder of children in Tennessee and the three teenage who spent 20 years in prison. It was brought to the public with the Paradise Lost films and a 2012 documentary West of Memphis was produced by supporter Peter Jackson. But this if the first dramatization of the story and this film focuses not on the crimes but the trail which convicted the teenagers and the private investigation which led to their eventual release. Reese Witherspoon, Amy Ryan, Bruce Greenwood, and Colin Firth star in the film being direct by Canadian-Egyptian director Atom Egoyan, who has already made compelling films about investigations and cover-ups with Where the Truth Lies and The Sweet Hereafter.
