In this volume I look at the final comic misadventures of the Wolf Pack, a steampunk revisionist take on a classic Grimm fable, an unusual female buddy cop pairing, an R-rated stop-motion animated comedy from the creators of "Robot Chicken," two Jason Statham movies with quite different pedigrees, a non-"Twilight" Stephenie Meyer adaptation, and sequels to both a cult Korean film and two of 2012's biggest hits.
The Hangover Part III
Opens: May 24th 2013
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong
Director: Todd Phillips
Analysis: Coming out of nowhere, 2009's "The Hangover" proved an R-rated comedy smash hit that grossed nearly half a billion dollars worldwide. This is especially rare for an American comedy, a genre that often has great difficulties in international markets. A Thailand-set sequel was quickly cobbled together and hit cinemas in May 2011 with a wet thud. Though it earned slightly more than its predecessor, both critical reviews and audience polls showed widespread disappointment with a film that essentially played like a poor man's clone of the first one - albeit in a different setting.
Talk about a third film began just before the second opened, and director Todd Phillips said that the film wouldn't be another sequel so much as a wrapping up of a trilogy. He also seemed very aware of the key complaint with the second one and its copying of the first film's template - "The third would be very much a finale and an ending … it is not following that [the first film's] template, but is very much a new idea." While the second film took a while to get into production due to drawn out negotiations, this third one came together super quick.
The cast returns to Las Vegas for much of the film, with shooting also taking place in Los Angeles and Arizona (which is doubling for Tijuana). Several of the smaller side characters from the first film are also back including Heather Graham's Jade and Mike Epps' Black Doug. John Goodman and Melissa McCarthy also pop up in small roles.
Not much is known about the story, aside from there being no wedding element this time around - rather it is more of a road trip. One subplot involves breaking out Zach Galifianakis' Alan from a psychiatric ward, the character having gone through a crisis after a death. Also, something from the first movie comes back to haunt them - which probably explains the return to Vegas. We should know more shortly.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
Opens: January 25th 2013
Cast: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen, Peter Stormare, Derek Mears
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Analysis: After cult success with 2009's Nazi zombie horror comedy "Dead Snow," Norwegian filmmaker Wirkola was hired for this $60 million pseudo-sequel to the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Here, the siblings are now grown adults who've become expert witch-killing bounty hunters. The pair are hired to rid a small town of an evil sorceress, one who plans to sacrifice the local children. At the same time they have to deal with a brutal sheriff.
The second fairytale action epic originally slated for 2012 and delayed nine months (the other being "Jack the Giant Slayer"), this one's ambitions and expectations aren't as high - something which actually works in its favor. In fact, this is one case where the delay is not only justified but has proven quite beneficial.
For starters it hits in January, a month that has proven surprisingly profitable for mid-range genre films such as "The Book of Eli" and "Cloverfield." It's two stars - Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton - have seen their profiles go up, especially Renner who is coming off a strong year with three successful tentpoles under his belt. While it is dark, there's much more a vibe of fun and 'f**k it' attitude on display here than other fairytale adaptations of late.
The first trailer was a misfire, all the focus on swirling leather trench coats, steampunk firearms, and witches that looked like 250-year-old Marilyn Manson impersonators. As a result we really didn't get a good glimpse of what to expect, rather the film seemed like a Canadian "Van Helsing" spin-off - perfect for teenage boys but not really anything on offer for the rest of us.
In late Summer though the buzz shifted for the better after word leaked out that two versions of the film were tested. One a PG-13 teen friendly movie, the other an explicitly humored and far superior R-rated cut. Wirkola previously said in interviews during production that it's definitely an R-rated film due to the blood and gore, and now it looks like that's the version we'll get to see as the studio has opted to stick with it.
Her
Opens: 2013
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams Olivia Wilde, Rooney Mara, Samantha Morton
Director: Spike Jonze
Analysis: Spike Jonze's first narrative feature since 2009's "Where the Wild Things Are," Jonze both penned and directs this comedy that is set in the near future. Megan Ellison is producing the film which re-teams "The Masters" co-stars Amy Adams and Joaquin Phoenix and throws in Olivia Wilde, Rooney Mara and Samantha Morton. As it is Jonze, I'd expect plenty of fantasy elements and complicated plot strands.
The story follows a lonely writer who develops an unlikely romantic relationship with his newly-purchased Siri-esque operating system that's designed to meet his every need. The story reportedly blends science fiction and romance in "a sweet tale that explores the nature of love and the ways that technology isolates and connects us all." Despite the obvious irreverence, sadly Charlie Kaufman isn't involved in the project.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Opens: December 13th 2013
Cast: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Benedict Cumberbatch, Luke Evans
Director: Peter Jackson
Analysis: While Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy was met with universal acclaim, the first of his three "The Hobbit" films hasn't been so widely well-regarded … at least by critics. From the near three-hour runtime, to the divisive reaction to the high frame-rate technology, reviews were mixed for this first of three return trips to Middle Earth. Yet, the public obviously doesn't mind and has been far less harsh in its judgement. In just over two weeks, the film has already raked in around two-thirds of a billion dollars at the global box-office.
The final product ended up being closer in tone to the 'Rings' films than quite a few expected. Also the additional material from the LOTR appendices proved better than some of the directly adapted chapters of the book. Still, even amongst the strongest reviews, the single most common criticism was over indulgence regarding the runtime - a complaint levelled at Jackson before, especially with the "King Kong" remake. The two 'Rings' sequels were longer than the first film, will the same thing happen with "The Hobbit"?
With the first film covering events from the Shire through to the other side of the Misty Mountains, the second film is expected to deal with a lot of what remains in the book - the Mirkwood spiders, the Wood-elves dungeon, the barrel sequence, Laketown, Bilbo entering Smaug's lair, and pretty much everything to do with the dragon itself. It's not until the third entry, with the Battle of the Five Armies, that Jackson really starts stretching outside the boundaries of the original Tolkien story.
Luke Evans' Bard the Bowman, Stephen Fry's Master of Laketown, Evangeline Lilly's elf Tauriel, and Billy Connolly's Dain Ironfoot are all expected to show up in this second entry. "Sherlock" star and "Star Trek Into Darkness" villain Benedict Cumberbatch also joins the cast as both the voice of Smaug and the Necromancer within Dol Guldur that Gandalf will confront. Most of the actual shooting on this second film of the trilogy is done, the additional photography in early-mid 2013 will almost entirely revolve around the third film.
With the story known, the tone of this new trilogy set, and the production quality expected to be maintained - most of the lingering questions are logistical. How many screens will employ HFR for the second film? Will Jackson get feedback from audiences regarding its use on the first film and adjust some of the camera shots and/or technology accordingly? What will the runtime be?
Homefront
Opens: 2013
Cast: Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder, Kate Bosworth, Frank Grillo
Director: Gary Fleder
Analysis: Jason Statham had four action films in 2011 including "The Mechanic," "Blitz" and "The Killer Elite". It was, however, the least assuming one that proved the best - "Safe". In 2013 he has three films - the fairly unknown property "Hummingbird," and two potential franchise launchers. The first is "Parker," based on the novels by Donald E. Westlake with Statham playing the ruthless career criminal and anti-hero.
The other is this dramatic action thriller which boasts a big-time cast and some major talent behind the scenes. Like "Parker," this is based on a series of novels about one character - in this case an ex-Minnesota police officer named Phil Broker. Chuck Logan has penned five books featuring the character with this being the fourth. In an unexpected move, Statham's "The Expendables" co-star Sylvester Stallone adapted the script while Gary Fleder ("Kiss the Girls," "Runaway Jury") directs.
Shot in Louisiana this past Fall, Statham plays a DEA Agent who retires to a seemingly quiet place with an underbelly of drugs and violence. When his family is threatened by a villainous meth kingpin named Gator (James Franco) he is forced back into action to save his loved ones and the town. Added to the mix are Winona Ryder as Gator's biker girlfriend, Kate Bosworth as his meth-addicted sister, the always awesome Frank Grillo, and Rachel Lefevre as a school psychologist. This could either be a camp classic, or a legitimate solid thriller because right now, it is hard to see which way it will go.
Horns
Opens: 2013
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Max Minghella, Juno Temple, Joe Anderson, James Remar
Director: Alexandre Aja
Analysis: Alexandre Aja's adaptation of Joe Hill's darkly comic supernatural thriller novel stars Daniel Radcliffe as Ignatius Perrish. Perrish was the lead suspect in the violent rape and killing of his girlfriend, even though he was innocent. Hung over from a night of hard drinking, Ig awakens to find horns have started to grow from his head.
Their power drives people to confess their sins, their darkest desires and to give in to selfish impulses - becoming an effective tool in his quest to discover the circumstances of his girlfriend's death. The horns also have the power to cause people to forget the conversation they just had with Ig, an effective way to deal with the credibility problem of a guy wandering around with horns sticking out of his skull.
It's a potentially effective concept, mixing the darkly humorous with the just plain dark - not a surprise considering author Hill is the son of Stephen King. Radcliffe was a fan of the book and says the script makes some changes, but the final result is like "nothing that has been done before." He also describes the film's tone as being akin to himself - "funny, awkward and weird."
The Host
Opens: March 29th 2013
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Jake Abel, Max Irons, Chandler Canterbury, Frances Fisher
Director: Andrew Niccol
Analysis: While the "Twilight" books were a cultural phenomenon, even its devoted fan base had a decidedly lukewarm reaction to author Stephenie Meyer's first post-Bella Swan work "The Host." A young adult romantic riff on the old "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" premise, the story has parasitic aliens called "Souls" possessing the minds of humans and taking control of the planet.
One young woman named Melanie Stryder (Saoirse Ronan) has been inhabited by a Soul called 'Wanderer,' but she refuses to fade away. Wanderer soon starts to see Melanie's memories and eventually finds a connection with her. The pair decide to set off together and find Melanie's loved ones. Throw in two young hunks (Jake Abel, Max Irons) competing for her affections and you've got a formula that feels familiar.
Shot in Louisiana and New Mexico early in 2012, "Gattaca" and "In Time" director Andrew Niccol helms the film which no one expects to do "Twilight" or "The Hunger Games"-level grosses. Still, if the cost-effective $44 million project gets even a fraction of the business, it'll still be a highly profitable venture for Open Road Films.
Meyer herself stumbled in the promotion of the movie, using the "Breaking Dawn Part II" Comic Con panel to release a five-minute reel of out-of-context scenes from the film. The clip made little to no sense and was met with confusion from the audience, and derision in subsequent blog and social media postings. The film's trailers have scored a better reaction, but still seem to be struggling to convey the film's premise.
The Host 2
Opens: 2013
Cast: Unknown
Director: Park Myeong-Chan
Analysis: No, not a sequel to the Andrew Niccol film above. Rather, this is a follow-up to South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho's 2006 monster film which became a surprise worldwide cult hit. With box-office of $90 million from an $11 million budget, it is the highest-grossing Korean film of all time. It also became one of the most critically acclaimed movies of 2007 during its international rollout.
Part political satire, creature feature, and special effects thrill ride, the story followed a family trying to rescue their daughter from a strange amphibious monster that snatched her. Now, boasting a very similar $12 million budget, the sequel's producers have opted not to use New Zealand’s Weta Digital for the effects this time around. Instead, Korean-based FX house Macrograph is doing the work.
Park Myeong-Chan is serving as director on the project, but beyond it being in 3D there is very little known about the currently in post-production film. A month ago a VFX featurette leaked online showcasing a dramatic scene where the creature attacks a caravan with a family in it. It's a great sequence, but still gives no hints to either a storyline or when we will get to see it. Judging by that featurette though, it'll likely be later this year.
How I Live Now
Opens: 2013
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, George MacKay, Tom Holland, Harley Bird, Natasha Jonas
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Analysis: Acclaimed Scottish helmer Kevin Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland," "State of Play") directs this adaptation of British author Meg Rosoff's award-winning 2004 young-adult novel. Shot this past Summer in the UK, "Atonement" and "Lovely Bones" actress Saoirse Ronan takes on the role of the 15-year-old lead protagonist (Ronan was 18 at the time of filming). The story itself sounds almost like a classic British period war drama, but with a modern teenage twist.
Our heroine is a young New York-born woman named Daisy who is sent to stay with cousins on a remote farm in the English countryside during the outbreak of a fictional third world war (the enemy is unidentified). She soon begins to embrace her new home and starts a romantic relationship with her cousin Edmond.
As England is occupied and resources grow short, the family's lives become increasingly difficult. One day, the farm is taken over by soldiers who send the boys and girls to live in separate homes. After the war ends, she must put her life back together and reunite with a physically and emotionally scarred Edmond.
The project is the first film that Macdonald has shot all digitally, it was done because Macdonald wanted to capture "a certain spontaneity and capturing a sense of life as it happens". This was very much the case in the many scenes involving children and animals together. The book itself has been embraced by a large section of fandom, one that has been vocal about the casting choices and the way the film's script is quite different from the book.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Opens: November 22nd 2013
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Sam Claflin
Director: Francis Lawrence
Analysis: It was a $78 million gamble for Lionsgate, but it paid off in spades. This year's film adaptation of the first of author Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" trilogy pulled in $686 million worldwide. It was one of the year's best performers, and a gross on par with the second, third and fourth "Twilight" films. While "Twilight" struggled with critics though, 'Hunger' got good reviews from all corners with Jennifer Lawrence's work in particular frequently praised.
No surprise then that Lionsgate rushed forward with a sequel that has been shooting over the past couple of months, with filming wrapping just before Christmas. Some scheduling issues briefly arose regarding Jennifer Lawrence, while Francis Lawrence ("I Am Legend," "Constantine") takes over the director's chair for this outing. Ultimately though, everything came together pretty smoothly. Some fans still have issues with certain casting choices, namely British hunk Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair, but otherwise the sentiment for the project seems to be fairly positive.
In this film, Katniss and Peeta embark on the Victors Tour of the districts as they try to forget their time in the arena. With rebellion simmering, and talk that some people in the annihilated District 13 have survived, President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games - aka. The Quarter Quell. 24 victors of the games from the past quarter-century are forced to compete again.
While heading back into the arena sounds like a retread of material covered in the first story, 'Fire' adds some more intriguing elements this time out to shake up the premise and shift the direction of the series more toward the insurrection war story it becomes in the third book. The arena scenes here, shot in Hawaii and set in a jungle by a salt water lake, are all being shot natively with IMAX cameras - just like the most recent "Mission: Impossible."
The Hunt
Opens: 2013
Cast: Mads Mikkelson, Thomas Bo Larsen, Annika Wedderkopp, Lasse Fogelstrøm, Susse Wold
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Analysis: Thomas Vinterberg ("The Celebration," "Submarino") helms this Danish drama which has scored multiple awards and widespread acclaim on the film festival circuit throughout the year. More recently it opened in various European countries where the reaction has been just as, if not more impressive. The film took three awards in Cannes, including Best Actor, and also won a British Independent Film Award along with a European Film Award for the script.
Mads Mikkelson ("Casino Royale," "Valhalla Rising") plays Lucas, a kind, gentle kindergarten teacher and loner in a small Danish town. He finds new love and his life is getting better when an innocent little lie brutally shatters it. Wrongly accused of sexual abuse by a child, he is ostracised by the community as a result. Eventually acquitted by the courts and largely forgiven - the sentiment is not shared by all.
While child sexual abuse is a delicate subject that has been explored on screen before, the mass fear and hysteria that surrounds it hasn't. Acclaim has come for the way the film handles the topic believably, never letting the adult reactions become implausible. In fact, the way the claim comes about is executed with both intelligence and tragic irony. Unsentimental and boasting stellar acting turns, it's an emotional cautionary tale that sounds compelling.
ALSO OPENING:
The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia
Described as a "sister film" to 2009's "The Haunting in Connecticut," this $9 million feature is also based on an episode of Discovery Channel’s "A Haunting" series. The story follows a young family that moves into an historic home in Georgia in 1988. They soon learn they are not the house's only inhabitants - a supernatural presence is rising from underground and threatening their lives. Chad Michael Murray, Katee Sackhoff, Abigail Spencer and Cicely Tyson star in the film which, unlike the first, is only getting a limited theatrical and simultaneous VOD launch on February 1st.
The Heat
"Bridesmaids" director Paul Feig has recruited his scene stealer Melissa McCarthy to team with Sandra Bullock on this female buddy cop comedy which will either sink or swim depending upon the pair's chemistry. Bullock plays an uptight FBI special agent who is paired with testy and gruff Boston cop (McCarthy) in order to take down a ruthless drug lord. It should be a solid hit, but a recent trailer was very low on the laughs despite the actresses trying their best. Hopefully there's some decent material in the final product to support them.
Hell and Back
"Robot Chicken" production company ShadowMachine are behind this feature, which is being described as an "agressive R-rated stop-motion animated comedy." The story follows two best friends who must rescue their friend when he is accidentally dragged to hell. Ross Shuman and Tenacious D's Tommy Gianas are directing the film which boasts a cool cast including "Breaking Bad" scene stealer Bob Odenkirk as The Devil, Danny McBride as Orpheus, Susan Sarandon as an Angel, and the likes of Mila Kunis, Jennifer Coolidge, Michael Pena, T.J. Miller, Rob Riggle, David Koechner, Nick Swardson and J.B. Smoove. If it lives up to the promise, this should be a blast.
Hell Baby
"Reno 911" comic geniuses turned frequent film scribes Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon get back in the director's chair for this comedy with a supernatural twist. The story follows an expectant couple who moves into the most haunted fixer-upper in New Orleans – a house with a demonic curse. Things spiral out of control and soon only the Vatican's elite exorcism team can save the pair. An excellent line-up of comedy stars including Rob Corddry, Leslie Bibb, Paul Scheer, Michael Ian Black, and both Lennon and Garant themselves star in the film which premieres in the Sundance Midnight line-up in a few weeks. Should it go over well there, expect it to go theatrical quickly.
Hidden
Alexander Skarsgård and Andrea Riseborough star in this horror thriller in which a family takes refuge in a fallout shelter to avoid a dangerous outbreak. Short film directors Matt & Ross Duffer ("Vessel," "Eater," "We All Fall Down") helm this low-budget effort that was setup at Warners, thus guaranteeing a release. Shot in Vancouver, early script reviews indicate Shyamalan-esque twists and unusual pacing. The two key actors are great choices, but the material itself just sounds uninteresting.
The Hive
The latest thriller from "The Machinist" and "Transsiberian" director Brad Anderson thankfully sounds considerably better than his 2010 quasi-religious end of world drama "Vanishing on 7th Street". Abigail Breslin plays a young girl who is abducted from a shopping mall. Thrown into a trunk, she calls 9-1-1 and is connected to an emergency operator (Halle Berry). From there it becomes a real time chase to find this girl before she's taken back to the kidnappers lair and killed. The story sounds fairly formulaic, but scribe Richard D'Ovidio says "the way Brad shot it and the eye that he has and the stuff that he’s done, it just took it right outside the box."
Hummingbird
The least known of the three Jason Statham-led projects in 2013, this one entirely centers on the Brit and features a cast that most will not have heard of, aside from maybe Benedict Wong. What's most exciting is that acclaimed scribe Steven Knight ("Eastern Promises," "Dirty Pretty Things") makes his directorial debut on the film, which follows an ex-special services soldier turned upper class criminal who hunts down the men who killed his girlfriend. Shot in and around London, Statham was seen filming some intense fights in the streets of Soho. Could this stripped down revenge flick end up being the best of the three Statham films?
The Complete Notable Films of 2013 Guide
Volume 0-9: 2 Guns, 21 and Over, 33 dias, 42, 47 Ronin, 300: Rise of An Empire, 7500
Volume A: 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
Volume B: Backmask, Baggage Claim, Bailout: The Age of Greed, Battle of the Year, Beautiful Creatures, Before Midnight, Belle, The Best Offer, 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
Volume C: 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, The Congress, Concussion, The Counselor, The Coup, The Croods, Crystal Fairy
Volume D: Dallas Buyers Club, Dark Blood, Dark Skies, Dead Man Down, Decoding Annie Parker, The Deep, Delivery Man, Despicable Me 2, Devil’s Knot, The Devil's Rapture, Diana, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: His & Hers, Disconnect, Dom Hemingway, Don Jon's Addiction, Dorothy of Oz, The Double, Drift, Drinking Buddies, Driven
Volume E: The East, Eden, Elsa and Fred, Elysium, Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes, Emperor, Empire State, Empires of the Deep, Ender's Game, The English Teacher, Epic, Errors of the Human Body, Escape From Planet Earth, The Europa Report, Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo, Everything Will Be Fine, Evil Dead
Volume F: Fading Gigolo, Fast Six, Fellini Black and White, Felony, A Field in England, Fill the Void, Filth, Foxcatcher, Foxfire, From Up On Poppy Hill, Frozen, Fruitvale, The Frozen Ground
Volume G: Part 1: Gambit, Gangster Squad, The Gatekeepers, Get a Job, Getaway, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Ginger and Rosa, Girls Against Boys, Girl Most Likely, A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III, Gods Behaving Badly, A Good Day to Die Hard
Volume G: Part 2: Graceland, The Grand Masters, Grand Piano, The Grand Seduction, Grave of the Fireflies, Gravity, The Great Gatsby, Great Expectations, The Green Blade Rises, A Green Story, Greetings from Tim Buckley, Growing Up (and Other Lies), Grown Ups 2
Volume H: The Hangover Part III
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia, The Heat, Hell and Back, Hell Baby, Her, Hidden, The Hive, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Homefront, Horns, The Host, The Host 2, How I Live Now, Hummingbird, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunt