In this second volume I look at films that include the story of a ship captain held hostage by Somali pirates, a remake of Stephen King's first classic; adaptations of works by Jack Kerouac, Stanislaw Lem, Cormac McCarthy and Juan José Plans; biopics of a Mexican civil-rights activist and a long-term White House staffer; and tales of mother/daughter vampires and married demonologists.
There's also Randall Miller's drama about a famed Manhattan music spot; Sofia Coppola's spin on celebrity-obsessed youth culture; an old school Sylvester Stallone buddy action comedy; a Robert Redford paranoia thriller; Guillaume Canet's remake of a French film he starred in; and much anticipated new works by John Carney, Drake Doremus, John Crowley and Kat Coiro.
Beyond The Hills
Opens: 2013
Cast: Cosmina Stratan, Cristina Flutur, Valeriu Andriuta, Dana Tapalaga, Catalina Harabagiu
Director: Cristian Mungiu
Analysis: The story of a lesbian love affair between a German barmaid and a Moldavian nun is surprisingly not Vivid Video's latest fetish title. Rather, it's the return of Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu - the man behind the highly acclaimed and confronting 2007 abortion drama "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days."
This carefully-paced drama follows two orphan girls in love, a romance torn apart when one skips off to Germany to become a waitress. Unable to take the estrangement from her lover any longer, she heads back to the eastern Romanian province where she finds said girlfriend has become a nun and refuses to leave the monastery. The now ex-waitress decides to stick it out with her, an environment where tragedy is bound to happen.
Having played the film festival circuit throughout much of 2012, 'Hills' scored a Palme d'Or nomination and won both actress and screenplay honors at Cannes. Reviews are strong, but far from unanimous, with practically all of them pointing out that this is simply not on the same level as '4 Months'. With a 2.5 hour runtime and some ponderous long takes, it's also something of a tough slog. Nevertheless the screenplay is said to be smart and considered, the direction well-staged and the performances of a strong caliber. Expected a limited theatrical run in the early half of the year.
Big Sur
Opens: 2013
Cast: Jean-Marc Barr, Josh Lucas, Kate Bosworth, Stana Katic, Radha Mitchell
Director: Michael Polish
Analysis: Reviews have proven mixed for the Walter Salles-directed recent film adaptation of Beat Generation poet and author Jack Kerouac's most famous work "On The Road". That hasn't stopped filmmakers from falling in love with the author's works though, including indie director Michael Polish ("The Astronaut Farmer," "Twin Falls Idaho"). Polish shot this film in early-mid 2011 and has been knocking it into shape ahead of a premiere at Sundance next month.
Unable to cope with a suddenly demanding public and battling advanced alcoholism, Kerouac sought respite via three brief sojourns to a cabin in Big Sur, trips that reveal the extent of his mental and physical deterioration. While much of his often autobiographical work stuck with his younger bohemian days, this 1962 novel is a decidedly darker affair based on Kerouac's desire to escape fame following the success of "On the Road".
It's essentially about one man's path to a nervous breakdown, helped along by substance abuse and self-doubt. Though he lived on and published at least two further works before his death in 1969, "Big Sur" is often seen as the last of his truly great works. Will the film live up to the legacy? We'll find out in a few weeks when the reviews come in.
The Big Wedding
Opens: April 26th 2013
Cast: Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried, Robin Williams, Katherine Heigl
Director: Justin Zackham
Analysis: "The Bucket List" scribe and "Lights Out" show runner Justin Zackham pens and directs this comedy about a long-divorced couple (Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton) who fake still being married when their family unites for the wedding of their adopted son (the criminally handsome Ben Barnes). It seems the son's fiancé has invited the young man's ultra-religious birth mother along, a woman vehemently opposed to the idea of divorce.
Zackham's assembled an excellent cast including Amanda Seyfried as the fiancé, Robin Williams as a priest, Katherine Heigl, Topher Grace, Christine Ebersole and many more as various relations at the wedding. Susan Sarandon in particular gets the most fun role as De Niro's current girlfriend, a woman not very happy about him pretending to be back with his old flame.
It's a safe formula movie obviously, a loose remake of the 2006 Swiss comedy "Mon frère se marie" which itself seems like a spin on the classic "La Cage Aux Folles" formula albeit entirely heterosexual in nature. So, a lot will depend on Zackham's script and if it has enough fresh material to generate laughs. The film's delay a good six months from last Fall to a late April 'death slot' doesn't scream much confidence though.
Black Dog, Red Dog
Opens: 2013
Cast: Olivia Wilde, James Franco, Whoopi Goldberg, Chloë Sevigny, Tim Blake Nelson
Director: Too Many To Name
Analysis: Following on from "Howl" and "The Broken Tower," James Franco continues his cinematic attempts at conveying his love of poetry by shepherding this second of two anthology features involving NYU graduate students. The various students had to win a competition for the opportunity to direct short films based on individual poems from Stephen Dobyns' award-winning book "Black Dog, Red Dog." Their entries are being combined into this feature-length effort.
Franco did a similar thing with C.K. Williams' poetry book "Tar," the resulting film of which premiered in competition at the Rome Film Festival the other month to very mediocre reviews. That film was further along though than this project, which is expected to be even less cohesive. Despite an impressive cast being involved, this seems to be one of those films that will likely get an obligatory festival screening and then disappear into the video-on-demand ether. Nevertheless, expect one or two of these budding young filmmakers to be able to spin this off into a potentially interesting career.
The Bling Ring
Opens: 2013
Cast: Emma Watson, Leslie Mann, Taissa Farmiga, Halston Sage
Director: Sofia Coppola
Analysis: For her fifth feature, Sofia Coppola ("Lost in Translation," "Marie Antoinette") tackles the true crime drama genre with this contemporary Hollywood tale about five Internet-savvy fame-obsessed teenagers who tracked the whereabouts of celebrities in order to rob their homes. The likes of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Audrina Patridge, Rachel Bilson and Orlando Bloom all saw valuable items of theirs stolen with the thefts said to be totalling close to $3 million.
Showcasing how great she can be outside the "Harry Potter" franchise with 2012's much acclaimed "Perks of Being a Wallflower," British actress Emma Watson leads a group of newcomers in this $20 million project which was shot in Los Angeles and Las Vegas in March. Based on the Vanity Fair article "The Suspects Wore Louboutins," Coppola adapted the script with the aim of exploring youthful mistakes in an age of celebrity and luxury brand obsession. Hell, the first line of the movie is a quote from Nicole Richie's Twitter account.
A few key cameos are set to take place including Kirsten Dunst, musician Gavin Rossdale and Paris Hilton. The film also marks the final project of "Zodiac," "The Game" and "American Gangster" cinematographer Harris Savides so it should look great. The question is if this second L.A.-based tale of Coppola's will be more akin to her better first three films. "Somewhere" was good, but something of a lower key and less interesting film from her - hopefully this will offer more.
Broken City
Opens: January 18th 2013
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jeffrey Wright, Kyle Chandler
Director: Allen Hughes
Analysis: Having directed "From Hell" and "The Book of Eli" with his brother, Allen Hughes is breaking out on his own with this big city corruption drama. Wahlberg plays a New York cop hired by the mayor (Russell Crowe) to find out who has been sleeping with the mayor's wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Things get a lot more complicated when the cop is double-crossed and then framed by the mayor for an execution style killing carried out to hide the mayor's dirty secrets. Naturally, some ass-kicking revenge is on the cards.
Crowe and Wahlberg have starred in both good and bad films dealing with similar subject matter before, so a lot depends upon the quality of the writing and direction. Even though this is scribe Brian Tucker's first film, he has become something of a rising commodity in the script development world. Budgeted at an economical $35 million and shot on a fairly smooth schedule, the elements seem to be all in place.
Hughes claims that he's toned down any of his usual overly showy directorial flourishes for this film. He's also indicated that his aim is to let a good story stand on its own terms, and let the actors really sell their parts. 'City' is set to hit screens in the mid-late January slot, a good time for mid-range performers such as 'Eli' which made $157 million worldwide.
Bullet to the Head
Opens: February 1st 2013
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Sung Kang, Jason Momoa, Christian Slater, Sarah Shahi
Director: Walter Hill
Analysis: An adaptation of Alexis Nolent's French graphic novel "Du Plomb Dans La Tete," Stallone plays an ageing old school hitman who teams with an idealistic young Korean NYPD detective (Kang) to seek revenge on various New Orleans powerbrokers responsible for the two vicious murders that connect them.
The $55 million project marks the return to the genre of Walter Hill, a seminal director of action films like "48 Hrs," "The Warriors," "Red Heat," "Streets of Fire," "Last Man Standing" and his last film as director - 2002's "Undisputed." Teaming with someone like Stallone is a good fit for both parties, especially when the tone is said to be throwback to those 1980s blockbusters which both built their names on.
'Bullet' saw two notable departures before filming began. "Running Scared" director Wayne Kramer was attached at one point, but ultimately left as his vision for the film was said to be too dark. Later, Thomas Jane had to drop out of the detective role due to producer Joel Silver's insistence of casting a "more 'ethnic' actor" to reach a wider audience.
Originally slated for April 2012, the project got pushed back almost a year and it's unclear as to why. Premiering in Rome last month, one reviewer called it a "hard-hitting exercise in beefy, brainless fun." There's certainly a consensus that it delivers a ton of kinetic fight scenes, bromantic overly macho one-liners, and not much else. Think "The Expendables" with a lean and more efficient feel to it, though don't expect much in the way of story or depth.
The Butler
Opens: 2013
Cast: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Terrence Howard, Alan Rickman, John Cusack
Director: Lee Daniels
Analysis: The most obvious of 2013's awards-bait films, "The Butler" tells the admittedly fascinating story of African-American butler Eugene Allen (played by Forest Whitaker) who worked at the White House over three decades (1952-1986). In the process, Allen ended up serving under eight American Presidents. This tightly-budgeted $17 million project is also "Precious" director Lee Daniels' first film since his campy southern Gothic tale "The Paperboy" opened to some rather savage reviews.
'Butler' boasts an incredible cast including Oprah Winfrey as the title character's wife Gloria Gaines, her first on-screen film role since "Beloved." Talent playing former U.S. Presidents include Robin Williams as Dwight D. Eisenhower, James Marsden as John F. Kennedy, Liev Schreiber as Lyndon B. Johnson, John Cusack as Richard Nixon, and Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan. Throw in supporting roles played by Jane Fonda, Vanessa Redgrave, Alex Pettyfer, Melissa Leo, Lenny Kravitz, Cuba Gooding Jr., Mariah Carey, Terrence Howard, and David Oyelowo, and you have the biggest ensemble of the year.
Daniels says his story is about a quiet man situated as something of a fly on the wall in one of the most powerful and critical places in the country during a time of massive civil rights advances and social changes. Acclaimed "Game Change" scribe Danny Strong penned the script, just another stellar choice that makes this one of The Weinstein Company's big award contenders next year unless something goes awry. Shot in New Orleans a few months ago, the story also includes a big emotional hook - Allen’s wife died the day before Obama was elected in 2008. Allen himself passed away in 2010.
Byzantium
Opens: 2013
Cast: Gemma Arterton, Saoirse Ronan, Jonny Lee Miller, Sam Riley, Caleb Landry Jones
Director: Neil Jordan
Analysis: This Irish-British fantasy thriller, starring Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan as a mother and daughter vampire duo, should have been a home run. There's "Interview with a Vampire" director Neil Jordan returning to the world of the undead with his trademark striking compositions. Added to that are Jonny Lee Miller and Sam Riley in supporting roles, and a shake-up of vampire mythology such as the women having no fangs and no problems with sunlight.
Screening at the Toronto Film Festival a few months ago, early reviews proved a bit disheartening. Horror critics weren't gushing, but they generally quite liked the film and praised both the visuals and the way it reinvents vampire lore. Most had some caveats, especially regarding some of the repetitive and needlessly clumsy character moments.
Regular critics weren't as generous, a few leaning towards calling it an occasionally interesting mess. IFC had no problem with it though, acquiring the film with word that they plan to release it sometime in the second-quarter of the year. How big they intend to go theatrically, and whether a simultaneous video on-demand release of the film will take place, is uncertain at this point.
Calvary
Opens: 2013
Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Kelly Reilly, Chris O'Dowd, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson
Director: John Michael McDonagh
Analysis: Two of the best comedies of recent years have come from a pair of Irish brothers - the McDonaghs. It began with playwright turned filmmaker Martin McDonagh's endlessly quotable and brilliantly performed hitman dark comedy "In Bruges" in 2008. A few years later his brother delivered the low-key, but just as whip-smart and even darker "The Guard".
Both films ended up in my top five films for their respective years, and I have been keenly awaiting the next efforts from both ever since. Unfortunately that second effort from Martin was this year's Hollywood screenwriter meta-comedy "Seven Psychopaths," a film that boasted the occasional moment of inspired genius in an otherwise greatly disappointing story that thought it was far smarter and funnier than it actually was.
There was the distinct feeling Martin was out of his element, a problem the other McDonagh seems to be cleverly avoiding with this darkly comic tale which sees Brendan Gleeson playing a very different character to The Guard's Sgt. Gerry Boyle. In this, he's a good-natured priest trying to make the world, or at least his small country town, a better place. Unfortunately the town itself is filled with spiteful and confrontational inhabitants, one of which threatens him during confession.
Numerous darkly comic situations ensue with Gleeson playing the straight man to a supporting cast of delightfully wicked characters played by some of the best talent in Ireland and the UK at the moment. Amongst them there's Kelly Reilly ("Flight"), Chris O'Dowd ("Bridesmaids"), Aidan Gillen ("Game of Thrones"), Isaach De Bankoléwere ("The Limits of Control"), Dylan Moran ("Shaun of the Dead") and Domhnall Gleeson ("Anna Karenina"). Definitely one of my most personally anticipated films of next year.
Captain Phillips
Opens: October 11th 2013
Cast: Tom Hanks, Catherine Keener, Max Martini, Yul Vazquez, Chris Mulkey
Director: Paul Greengrass
Analysis: One of the highest profile contemporary dramas of next year, "Bourne" film series director Paul Greengrass brings his signature shaky-cam style to this true story tale which actually would suit the technique quite well. That story? The hijacking of the cargo ship MV Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates in 2009. This could well be a serious awards contender next year considering it has Scott Rudin, Michael DeLuca and Kevin Spacey as producers; a script by "Shattered Glass" and "Breach" scribe Billy Ray; and Tom Hanks in the title role.
While it was the sixth vessel in a week to be attacked by the Somali pirates that roam the Gulf of Aden, the takeover of the Maersk Alabama was the first successful pirate seizure of a ship registered under the American flag since the early 19th century. Using Captain Richard Phillips’ memoir "A Captain’s Duty" as the basis for the script, the film deals with the tense five-day stand-off between the four armed invaders and the crew, a stand-off that saw Phillips offer himself as hostage in exchange for the safety of his crew. Ultimately a daring high-seas rescue saw U.S. Navy SEALs take down three of the captors.
Sony Pictures picked up the film rights to the incident literally a month after it happened so a movie was inevitable. Unlike say this year's "Zero Dark Thirty," the subject matter has nothing really to do with politics and so avoids some of the thorny issues and partisanship that comes with portraying contemporary U.S. military operations. Greengrass' work on "United 93" showcased how good he can be with tense real life incidents like this. Shot in Morocco, Malta and Massachusettes, the film is scheduled for an international release in October.
Carrie
Opens: March 15th 2013
Cast: Chloe Moretz, Julianne Moore, Judy Greer, Portia Doubleday, Alex Russell
Director: Kimberly Peirce
Analysis: Most film adaptations of Stephen King's novels rarely work. Only a few seemed to click, and those have been the more drama-oriented stories rather than the outright horror tales on which the author built his name. One of the exceptions though is Brian De Palma's generally well regarded 1976 take on King's first novel "Carrie," the story of a sheltered high school girl with an abusive fundamentalist mother. With recently developed telekinetic powers and years of pent-up anger, she is pushed too far by a humiliating prank played on her by her bullying peers - and the results are horrifying.
With King's work suddenly in vogue again, acclaimed "Boys Don't Cry" and "Stop-Loss" director Kimberly Peirce helms this contemporary update of the story which casts "Kick-Ass" and "Hugo" actress Chloë Grace Moretz in the title role and Julianne Moore as the mother. Aiding them are solid supporting talent including the always great Judy Greer, rising actresses like Portia Doubleday and Gabriella Wilde, and one of my favorite young actors at the moment Alex Russell ("Chronicle," "Wasted on the Young") in the role that John Travolta played in the 1976 film.
While there's nothing about the story that really demands a new version, the tale is universal and adaptable enough that it could certainly work in this day and age. What Peirce could bring to the table is something De Palma's version lacked - a more grounded female perspective. De Palma's film isn't Kubrick's unassailable "The Shining," the performances and bravura direction are still great, but his take on the story remains a bit overwrought. If Peirce opts for a more realistic tone and feel, it could work quite well. The moody and atmospheric teaser trailer for this version released the other month certainly showed far more potential than either the awful "The Rage" sequel from 1999 or the low-budget 2002 telemovie remake.
CBGB
Opens: 2013
Cast: Alan Rickman, Ashley Greene, Malin Åkerman, Justin Bartha, Bradley Whitford
Director: Randall Miller
Analysis: It wasn't much to look at from the outside, but throughout the 1970s and 1980s a little club in Manhattan's the Bowery became famous in its own right. The disco palace of Studio 54 was known around world, but CBGB built its own reputation as a smaller, darker and more gritty counter-culture counterpart for bands that couldn't get gigs anywhere else.
Now, "Bottle Shock" and "Nobel Son" writer/director Randall Miller is re-teaming with Alan Rickman for this feature exploring how Hilly Kristal's New York club underwent a transformation from a country and blues club, to the birthplace of underground rock 'n roll and punk. Kristal had difficulty booking country bands, so he opened his doors to other kinds of rock music with one caveat - bands had to play primarily original music, no covers were allowed even though one or two usually did slip through.
As a result Kristal essentially helped discover such famed music acts as The Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Beastie Boys and The Police. This allows for Miller's film to include a bunch of colorful cameos including Malin Åkerman as Debbie Harry, Rupert Grint as Cheetah Chrome, Stana Katic as Genya Ravan, Kyle Gallner as Lou Reed, Joel David Moore as Joey Ramone, Taylor Hawkins as Iggy Pop and many more.
Though some filming took place in Manhattan, much of this indie drama was shot in Savannah, Georgia including redressed buildings to resemble the club exterior (the original CBGB building is now a John Varvatos fashion store). Funded completely independently by financier and distributor Unclaimed Freight, Miller and his wife and co-scribe Jody Savin have full control to make the film they want. Here's hoping we don't have another letdown like "54".
Chavez
Opens: 2013
Cast: Michael Pena, Rosario Dawson, Gabriel Mann, America Ferrera, Kevin Dunn
Director: Diego Luna
Analysis: After a well-regarded first directorial feature with "Abel," Mexican actor Diego Luna ("Y Tu Mama Tambien") has opted for a $10 million biopic of civil-rights activist and labor organizer Cesar Chavez as his sophomore effort. "Hotel Rwanda" scribe Keir Pearson has penned this story of Chavez's life which stars Michael Pena in the role. While he's been a supporting player, and even co-lead in films such as "End of Watch," "Chavez" marks Pena's first true leading man role.
Chavez worked as a community organizer through the 1950s up until his death in 1993 and fought for improved working conditions for over 50,000 farm workers in California, eventually co-founding what would become the United Farm Workers Association. He organised the largest nonviolent protest in U.S. history to obtain basic human rights for latinos and other minorities who contributed to the farm labor movement in the 1960s and 1970s.
Despite his heroics, Chavez wasn't a saint and the filmmakers say they are not going to delve deeply into the man's darker side such as his authoritarian tendencies, aggressive (but non-violent) tactics and some questionable decisions such as his endorsement of Ferdinand Marcos' regime. Part of the film, however, will deal with Chavez' working relationship with Filipino-American labor leader Larry Itliong. Though partly in Spanish, this is a primarily English-language film which was shot this past Summer in Sonora, Mexico. Pena is supported by a pretty great cast and it should make for an intriguing work.
Child of God
Opens: April 5th 2013
Cast: James Franco, Tim Blake Nelson, Jim Parrack, Fallon Goodson, Elena McGhee
Director: James Franco
Analysis: For some time now actor turned filmmaker James Franco has been pursuing an adaptation of "No Country for Old Men" and "The Road" author Cormac McCarthy's fifth novel, the acclaimed western "Blood Meridian." He even went so far as to shoot test footage for the project in late 2010 featuring actors like Scott Glenn, Luke Perry and Mark Pellegrino. That attempted adaptation has been put on hold due to what sounds like a fallout with producer Scott Rudin.
Rather than waiting, Franco instead has turned his attention to a different title from McCarthy's bibliography - his third book "Child of God." A dark tale, even by McCarthy's standards, the story follows former family man Lester Ballard (played by Scott Haze) who now lives in underground caves in Tennessee trying to exist outside society. He soon descends into increasingly darker behaviour with a big focus on necrophilia and pedophilia. Though the novel received critical praise, it was not a financial success.
Like its predecessor, "Outer Dark," 'God' established McCarthy's interest in using extreme isolation, perversity, and violence to represent normal human experience. It's a difficult work to adapt as McCarthy ignores literary conventions — for example, he does not use quotation marks — and chops and changes among several styles of writing such as matter-of-fact descriptions, almost poetic prose, and colloquial first-person narration (with the speaker remaining unidentified).
Shot in West Virginia almost a year ago now, the plan was to screen the project at festivals this year ahead of a 2013 release - but said screenings never happened. At last report the film is still being put together in post-production, Franco himself has been busy with all sorts of other projects, but the likeliest reason for the delay is simply that the subject matter makes it an extremely difficult film to sell.
Closer to the Moon
Opens: 2013
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Mark Strong, Harry Lloyd. Christian McKay, Anton Lesser
Director: Nae Caranfil
Analysis: This period drama sounds like a Cold War-era take on "Argo" had that operation gone wrong. Romanian filmmaker Nae Caranfil ("The Rest is Silence," "Philanthropy") directs a cast, led by Vera Farmiga and Mark Strong, in a story set in 1959 Communist Bucharest. Shot in late 2011, I'd expect a festival premiere sometime mid-year.
The story follows a group of Jewish anti-Nazi revolutionaries turned anti-Communists who have been sentenced to die after they were captured the year before. The group was robbing a bank under the guise of staging a film shoot. Before their execution however, they are forced into re-enacting the caper for a Communist propaganda film.
Adding drama to the mix is a love triangle between one of the men (Strong), the Russian student (Farmiga) he had a child with, and the cameraman ("Game of Thrones" star Harry Lloyd) for this propaganda piece who falls for the woman. Caranfil is mostly known for dark comedies, a talent that could come in handy for this fairly heavy sounding dramatic piece.
Footage from the set has showcased Farmiga sporting some striking looks including a glammed up society lady in a red wig, and later dressed in prison garb with her hair hacked down to Anne Hathaway in "Les Mis" levels. It's the kind of project that has a whole lot of potential should it come together right.
C.O.G.
Opens: 2013
Cast: Jonathan Groff, Casey Wilson, Denis O'Hare, Corey Stoll, Dean Stockwell
Director: Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Analysis: One of the highlights of the films in competition at this year's Sundance is the latest project from "Easier with Practice" writer/director Kyle Patrick Alvarez. Working with a short story by celebrated humorist and "Me Talk Pretty One Day" author David Sedaris, this indie comedy follows a cocky young man who goes to work on an Oregon apple farm. There he finds his life being dissected by the various colourful locals who obviously don't share his point of view.
Based on Sedaris' own experiences, the author has always refused in the past to allow his work to be adapted. He's made an exception with Alvarez, and the filmmaker has assembled the project at a breakneck pace with a solid cast of talent including Jonathan Groff and Denis O’Hare. There's a lot of pressure on Alvarez to get this right, but if it does work it could be a real breakout critical and even commercial hit.
The Colony
Opens: 2013
Cast: Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Zegers, Bill Paxton, Charlotte Sullivan
Director: Jeff Renfroe
Analysis: Jeff Renfroe has scored a pretty solid cast for this $17 million Canadian sci-fi thriller set on an Earth in the grips of the next Ice Age. The remnants of humanity have been forced underground and the action is set in Colony Seven, which is struggling with dwindling supplies, illness and internal strife. When contact is lost with neighbouring Colony Five, an expedition heads out to learn what happened. They discover a savage threat far worse than imagined.
The project is the first feature to be shot at Canada’s legendary decommissioned NORAD bunker, aka. "The Hole". Much of the production took place 68 storeys below ground level in this unusual military complex which was built to withstand a four-megaton nuclear blast. Those involved say the aim wasn't to make another "day after" style film, instead it's much more a "Lord of the Flies" scenario showcasing how this underground society disintegrates into primitive tribalism and violence. It's currently targeting a late 2013 release, likely a Toronto Film Festival premiere.
The Conjuring
Opens: July 19th 2013
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor, Mackenzie Foy
Director: James Wan
Analysis: Australian director James Wan has two of the most profitable and acclaimed horror films of the past decade on his resume - "Saw" and "Insidious". Many wonder if he will add a third with this supposed true story tale of a married couple who are both demonologists. The pair are called upon to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their secluded farmhouse. The case becomes the most terrifying of their lives as they confront a powerful and evil entity.
Wan has re-assembled much of the crew behind "Insidious" for this spooky tale with the fact that it's also something of a biopic adding a bit of weight to all the supernatural shenanigans that take place. The casting is superb, the combining of Farmiga and Wilson a stroke of genius, while the various smaller roles are filled out with solid supporting talent.
An apparent test screening a few months ago scored good notices for its atmosphere and stronger than anticipated story, though the ending reportedly had one or two issues. The same thing happened with "Insidious" however and that turned out just fine. New Line certainly has faith in it with a release set for one of the highest profile non-holiday weekends of the Summer.
The Company You Keep
Opens: April 5th 2013
Cast: Robert Redford, Shia LaBeouf, Anna Kendrick, Richard Jenkins, Susan Sarandon
Director: Robert Redford
Analysis: Redford both stars in and directs this political thriller adaptation of Neil Gordon's 2003 novel. Redford plays a former Weather Underground militant, who is now living as an attorney, that has been wanted by the FBI for over three decades. When his identity is inadvertently exposed, he must flee and abandon his young daughter.
Thrown into the mix is numerous other subplots including an ambitious newspaper reporter (LaBeouf) and his FBI agent ex-girlfriend (Kendrick), a profiling college professor (Jenkins), an old flame who can help clear his name (Julie Christie) and the now grown up lovechild of that affair (Brit Marling). There's also big supporting turns from Terrence Howard, Susan Sarandon, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Elliott, Nick Nolte and Stanley Tucci amongst others which make it seem almost overstuffed.
It has been a while since Redford has done a good thriller, a genre that has seen him deliver some of his best acting work in the likes "3 Days of the Condor," "All the President's Men" and "Sneakers". He's got a great team behind and in front of the camera which makes this one of those films that could straddle the line between healthy box-office returns and critical appeal.
Screening at both the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals this past Fall, reviews were good with several calling it a robust and a smart thriller that avoids the overly preachy tone of Redford's more recent films in favor of a solid narrative. More than few cite it as his best directing endeavor in many years, but not in the same league as his early 1990s efforts like "A River Runs Through It" and "Quiz Show." Performances across the board were praised, as was Adriano Goldman's cinematography and "Drive" composer Cliff Martinez's score. If there is a common criticism, it's that it is too restrained at times.
The Congress
Opens: 2013
Cast: Robin Wright, Kodi-Smit McPhee, Harvey Keitel, Danny Houston, Paul Giamatti
Director: Ari Folman
Analysis: Alongside the likes of Arthur C. Clarke, Philip K. Dick and Ray Bradbury sits another great visionary sci-fi author - Stanislaw Lem. The Polish writer was responsible for such works as "His Master's Voice," "The Cyberiad," and of course "Solaris" which became the basis for Andrei Tarkovsky's famed 1972 feature.
One of his greatest mindfucks though was "The Futurological Congress," a story about a society brainwashed by hallucinogenic drugs to such a degree that it's impossible for the protagonist (or even the reader) to truly determine what is reality. "Waltz with Bashir" director Ari Folman has loosely adapted the story for this French-German independent co-production which combines live-action and animated elements.
According to an official synopsis, it follows an aging actress with a disabled child who agrees to a large payment to undergo a full body imaging scan that will be digitized and used to create a digital actress. As part of the agreement, she can not act ever again, and will no longer control her likeness. Also, the studio can use the new virtual thespian in any manner they see fit.
That storyline sounds far more like Andrew Niccol's high-concept flop "Simone" than Lem's trippy "The Matrix" meets Hunter S. Thompson tale. Folman's been working on this for a few years now, shooting the live-action elements as far back as 2010. A year ago, Folman said the film consists of 70 minutes of live-action and 50 minutes of animation with the live action part already locked.
It took another year, and animators from five different countries, to finish the animation that is being used for the future-set scenes. Some snippets of early footage leaked a few months ago and the reaction across the board was raves. Many are expecting this to be on the same quality level as 'Bashir'. The picture should finally be complete right about now, so expect a festival debut in mid-2013.
ALSO OPENING:
Better Living Through Chemistry
Another high profile entry from Sundance, Sam Rockwell stars as a small-town pharmacist stuck in a loveless marriage who rediscovers himself through both prescription drugs, and an affair with a trophy wife (Olivia Wilde). The pair soon plot to kill her husband (Ray Liotta). Jane Fonda and Michelle Monaghan also star in this film, which David Posamentier and Geoff Moore will make their directorial debut on using their own Blacklist screenplay. Right now it's a wait-and-see as to how the reviews from Park City go.
The Black Marks
Dimension Films is handling this Canadian heist comedy which has the amusing casting of Kurt Russell as a "third rate motorcycle daredevil and semi-reformed art thief." He is lured back into a life of crime by his untrustworthy brother (Matt Dillon) to pull off one last job - to steal a priceless historical book. Of course, things go awry as hidden agendas are revealed and unexpected obstacles crop up. The project is the second feature from "A Beginner’s Guide to Endings" helmer Jonathan Sobol, and co-stars Jay Baruchel, Terence Stamp, Jason Jones, Katheryn Winnick and Chris Diamantopoulos.
Blood Ties
French heartthrob turned filmmaker Guillaume Canet ("Tell No One," "Little White Lies") has teamed with Hollywood director James Gray ("Two Lovers," "We Own the Night") on this English-language remake of Jacques Maillot's 2008 French film "Rivals" (aka. "Les liens du sang") which Canet himself starred in. Canet and Gray's script goes back to the French novel by Bruno and Michel Papet for this incarnation, which is set in New York in 1974. The story follows a younger brother (Billy Crudup) who has to ask his convict older brother (Clive Owen) to go back into the underworld to help out their family. Marion Cotillard, Mila Kunis, Zoe Saldana, James Caan, Noah Emmerich, Matthias Schoenaerts and Lili Taylor also star.
The Brass Teapot
Short filmmaker Ramaa Mosley's first foray into features has already proven a winner for her, with two directing award nominations at the Toronto Film Festival this past Fall for this high-concept and quirky dark comedy. The story has a financially struggling married couple (Juno Temple, Michael Angarano) who discover a brass teapot which makes them money whenever they hurt themselves. The pair must come to terms with how far they are willing to go for the cast. Scoring decent notices at the fest, Magnolia Pictures has picked up the film for a limited release.
Breathe In
Even though it won Best Picture honors at Sundance in 2011, Drake Doremus' indie romance drama "Like Crazy" didn't crossover in the way that 2012 winner "Beasts of the Southern Wild" has. With a far more mixed critical reception in general release, and only so-so box-office, the low-budget indie nevertheless heralded Doremus and its star Felicity Jones as hot talents to watch. They are both back for this Sundance entry that was shot back in August 2011 and follows the impact of a recently arrived foreign exchange student (Jones) on both a small upstate New York town, and her host family’s relationship dynamics. Guy Pearce, Kyle MacLachlan and Amy Ryan co-star.
Can a Song Save Your Life?
While Warners and Clint Eastwood struggle to develop the umpteenth remake of "A Star is Born," filmmaker John Carney has gone ahead and done it with this story of a budding musician (Keira Knightley) who moves to New York and is subsequently dumped by her boyfriend (Adam Levine). A down-on-his-luck record producer (Mark Ruffalo) finds her singing in a local bar and is immediately captivated by her raw talent. Carney had great success with 2006's musically minded romance tale "Once," and here he's assembled an impressive cast of indie actors and musicians. His post-"Once" efforts have not been up to the same standards, and the charming surprise factor is now gone. Can lightning strike twice?
The Canyons
A crowd-sourced, ultra low-budget, grindhouse-style noir from "American Psycho" author Bret Easton Ellis and "American Gigolo" director Paul Schrader. The story follows a group of young people in their twenties and "how one chance meeting connected to the past unravels all of their lives, resulting in deceit, paranoia, cruel mind games and ultimately violence." That's the pitch, but the real selling point here is that it stars troubled actress Lindsay Lohan and porn star James Deen in a retro, grainy, erotic black-and-white thriller in which she goes fully nude. Trailers for the film look incredibly bad, but on such a small budget there's no way this won't be both profitable and a frequently talked about piece of trash. Hopefully it'll have camp value.
Carol
One of two works on the way from "Boy A" and "Is Anybody There" filmmaker John Crowley, "Carol" is currently in pre-production with the aim to begin shooting in February. Mia Wasikowska and Cate Blanchett star in this story of two women from different backgrounds who strike up a romantic relationship in 1950s New York. The story is an adaptation of "The Price of Salt," the 1952 novel by "Strangers on a Train" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley" author Patricia Highsmith. At the time the work was controversial, not just for its shattering of lesbian stereotypes, but the way it gave the lovers a happy ending - something unprecedented at that time in fiction. Slated for release next year, I get the feeling this will be pushed to 2014.
A Case of You
Actress-turned filmmaker Kat Coiro's third film after "Life Happens" and "While We Were Here," this indie rom-com follows a young writer (Justin Long) trying to impress a girl (Evan Rachel Wood) he meets online with an embellished profile. Things become complicated when she falls for him, and he has to keep up the act. It all sounds frighteningly trite, but it's the pedigree on offer here that makes it more interesting than its concept. Boasting a script by Long and Aussie actor Keir O'Donnell, there's a good cast attached in roles of various sizes including Brendan Fraser, Vince Vaughn, Sam Rockwell, Sienna Miller, Peter Dinklage and Busy Philipps.
Chinese Zodiac
Better known as "CZ12" or "Armor of God III: Chinese Zodiac," this $49 million project has Jackie Chan reprising his role of the Indiana Jones-esque treasure hunter Jackie Condor (aka. Asian Hawk) which he last played in 1991's "Armor of God II: Operation Condor." It is also, according to the 58-year-old Chan, his final large scale action feature before retiring. In this outing he's in search of a half-dozen bronze animal heads that were looted from Beijing's Old Summer Palace during the Second Opium War. Cue plenty of martial arts, parkour and other death-defying physical stunts including a highly dangerous body blading sequence along mountain roads, and some skydiving over a volcano. Shot in France, China, Latvia, Taiwan and Vanuatu, the film hits Chinese cinemas today.
Closed Circuit
"Boy A" director John Crowley and "Eastern Promises" scribe Steven Knight team for this suspense thriller meets courtroom drama that was shot in the UK back in April and has recently been doing some additional filming around London over the past few weeks. Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall play ex-lovers who find their loyalties tested and their lives at risk when they work together on the defense team in a terrorism trial. Ciarán Hinds, Jim Broadbent, Julia Stiles and Riz Ahmed also star in the film, which is currently slated it for a late August release.
Cloudy 2: Revenge of the Leftovers
A follow-up to Sony Animation's well-received 2009 effort "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," this 3D sequel deals with Flint Lockwood and Sam Sparks returning to Swallow Falls to clean up the mess made by Flint's machine, only to find that it is producing mutant food animal creatures including a talking strawberry and a massive bacon & cheese spider. Casting changes include Kristen Schaal joining the fun as an orangutan with a human brain, Terry Crews replacing Mr. T as Earl, and Will Forte's Joe Towne role getting expanded. Story artists Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn take over directing duties on this film which boasts a script from John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein ("Horrible Bosses").
Come Out and Play
Before Stephen King's "Children of the Corn" there was Juan José Plans' "Who Can Kill A Child?," the story of an English professor and his pregnant wife who visit a seemingly deserted Spanish island. They soon discover the kids on the island are homicidal little pricks who will kill any adult they come upon. Now, the elusive and masked director Makinov helms this English-language remake which shifts the action to Mexico, but otherwise plays out like a shot-for-shot remake of Narciso Ibañez Serrador's acclaimed 1976 film adaptation. Vinessa Shaw and Ebon Moss-Bachrach star as the couple in the film, a project that garnered disappointing reviews at the Toronto Film Festival in the Fall.
Concussion
One of the few film entries in competition at Sundance this year that boasts no big name stars, filmmaker Stacie Passon makes her feature debut on this story about a wealthy, but disengaged suburban lesbian housewife. After hurting her head in an accident, she visits sex workers in order to find the intimacy that her divorce attorney partner Kate won't give her. If it works right, this could be a smart, mature and insightful piece exploring issues of female sexuality, fulfilment and desire - something far too many find oddly threatening.
The Complete Notable Films of 2013 Guide
Volume One: 2 Guns, 21 and Over, 33 dias, 42, 47 Ronin, 300: Rise of An Empire, 7500, The ABC's of Death, About Last Night, About Time, Admission, A.C.O.D., Adult World, After Earth, Afternoon Delight, Aftershock, Ain't Them Bodies Saints, All Is Lost, Anchorman: The Legend Continues, The Angriest Man In Brooklyn, Angry Little God, Are We Officially Dating?, As I Lay Dying, Ass Backwards, At Any Price, August: Osage County, Austenland, Backmask, Baggage Claim, Bailout: The Age of Greed, Battle of the Year, Beautiful Creatures, Before Midnight, Belle, The Best Offer
Volume Two: Better Living Through Chemistry, Beyond The Hills, Big Sur, The Big Wedding, Black Dog Red Dog, The Black Marks, Bling Ring, Blood Ties, The Brass Teapot, Breathe In, Broken City, Bullet to the Head, The Butler, Byzantium, Can a Song Save Your Life?, The Canyons, Captain Phillips, Carol, Carrie, A Case of You, Cavalry, CBGB, Chavez, Child of God, Chinese Zodiac, Closed Circuit, Closer to the Moon, Cloudy 2: Revenge of the Leftovers, C.O.G. , The Colony, Come Out and Play, The Company You Keep