- The casting of the guys in this. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are going to the knock this out of the park and we all know it. Even if the screenplay is weak and all else fails, I could watch those two as X and Magneto all day. Of course I do remember saying something similar about Hugh Jackman and we all know how Wolverine turned out. So… I hope I’m not being too optimistic, but their scenes together do look rather awesome already, don’t they?
- The glimpses of Nicholas Hoult, who I’m just really excited to see getting some work. (For those of you who didn’t obsess over the real UK Skins, he acted the fuck outta that show in the first two series.)
- The awesome horn-rimmed glasses on Nicholas Hoult.
- Matthew Vaughn. I’m a fan. I rather enjoyed Kick-Ass and felt he made a lot of good choices. This bodes well for this movie. I’m pleased this is his follow-up.
Mixed Feelings On:
- A Bryan Singer and Josh Schwartzscreenplay. I’m trying to remember that Singer did do the first two X-Men films which I really, really enjoyed. I’m trying to forget that Superman disaster that earned him a trip to the corner (I send people to the corner… as in “BRYAN SINGER… you go sit in the corner and think about what you’ve done”.) For that matter, his abandoning of the third X-Men movie in order to make the Superman disaster… we can indirectly thank him for that too. (In the corner! Next to M. Night, who LIVES in the corner.) And Josh Schwartz, I love for two reasons: 1. He’s from Rhode Island. 2. He gave the world Seth Cohen, one of the best soap opera teen drama characters in the history of the world. Neither of these things necessarily qualify him to write an X-Men movie. I am reserving judgment until I see the movie.
- The release date. Last year we had the “SUMMER MOVIE SEASON” that never came. It was like a year without christmas. It was so sad. Even though the Thor release is supposed to signal the beginning of the season (May 6th), I personally don’t count anything before Memorial Day. So if this rocks, it kick it off right and restore my hope. If it doesn’t, and the next “big summer movie” is the July release of another fucking Michael Bay francheese flick, I’m going to cry.
- The female casting + potential lack of characterization.. I know that this is really a movie about Professor X and Magneto and everyone else is really a secondary character. However, I don’t really know how I feel about January Jones as Emma Frost. On the surface this seems like a good idea, but I guess it depends how deep they go with the role and how she’s able to carry it. I’ve been told that Jennifer Lawrence is outstanding in Winter’s Bone (I have yet to see it), so I have no problem with her being cast as Mystique. We’ve already seen a lot of Mystique tricks in the other X-Men films though, so are they going to do anything new or interesting with her? Again, not judging, just concerned.
That’s about all I got for this little trailer. Leave your thoughts in the comments!
This is a public service announcement for everyone who would be as excited as I would about this news, if there was even a remote chance it was for real.
Rumors are spreading that Quentin Tarantino announced via “his” twitter account that Kill Bill 3 is written and on it’s way to released in 2013. It’s not. Or even if it was, we certainly haven’t heard anything about it yet. Accounts go on to note how this twitter linked to a teaser pdf of the screenplay (posted on mediafire) and implied that Chloe Moretz had already signed to play Beatrix Kiddo’s daughter.
I am genuinely a little bit sad people are even getting excited about all this.
1. No one could convince me he wouldn’t have a verified twitter account and that this is how he would choose to announce this.
2. Is anyone bothering to read back in the posts on this account? OBVIOUSLY a fake. I don’t know how anyone is retweeting this or posting it up on tumblr as anything serious, but please stop.
I almost got really excited for a minute and I was very, very disappointed to see how clearly full of shit this was.
Even after the trainwreck that was the last Spiderman movie, I thought a reboot was a silly idea. Then I heard Andrew Garfield was attached to the reboot and it started to seem less silly. Now with this picture, the idea is swinging around towards potentially great.
For this to be the first promotional still that Columbia is releasing, says something about a darker, more serious tone for this movie. I am hoping they are maybe going to do for Spiderman what Nolan did for Batman.
I also just love Andrew Garfield and think he will do an excellent job with the more complicated emotional parts of this role.
There are a lot of great filmmakers working on some very exciting projects right now. Lucky for us, some of those are finished or in post-production and set to be released in 2011.
Here’s a list of the ones I know about so far that I am excited to see. I’m sure there will be some indie and foreign releases that I haven’t heard about yet (or unfortunately do not yet have exposure enough to reach a theater near me). So I am banking on some surprises as well.
Somewhere directed and written by Sophia Coppola
release date: already released in major cities. no wide release specified.
I really loved The Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation. I even really enjoyed Marie Antoinette which arguably was not as great a film as the other two, but I found it completely delicious to watch. The trailer for this is simply lovely. Being attached to the 90′s as I am, I’m really pleased to see Stephen Dorff back and apparently, in good form. Elle Fanning looks promisingly less annoying than her sister.
Red State directed and written by Kevin Smith
release date: TBD. it premieres at Sundance January 23rd.
Having heard about this film from his podcast, shortly after he finished writing it, I had been worried that it would never get made. I also wasn’t sure what to expect seeing that it’s a complete departure from his usually style and fare. I’m relieved on both counts. The official teaser is out and it looks fucking riveting and terrifying. A horror movie about religious extremism called “Red State” is a really, really ballsy endeavor in the age of the Tea Party and no end in site to an American culture saturated in Christianity. Excellent timing for this.
I am not familiar with the gentleman playing the preacher, Michael Parks. The supporting cast includes Melissa Leo and John Goodman who seem to always be safe bets for a good performance. I also noticed in the trailer that Kyle Gallner is in it. I have no idea how big his role is, but I’m pleased just the same. I’ve had my eye on him since season two of Veronica Mars, when he blew my fucking mind with his performance. Anyone who’s watched it knows what I’m talking about. I’m hoping to see him get more work.
Restless directed by Gus Van Sant, written by Jason Lew release date: January 28
Gus Van Sant is really hit or miss for me. No doubt he’s a fine, very skilled director, but I don’t always love his vision or his choices. I absolutely loved Good Will Hunting and Milk. I absolutely loathed Elephant and didn’t even try to watch Gerry. So I guess I would say that I’m cautiously optimistic with this one. From the trailer, it looks simple and beautiful, with themes about isolation and connection that I am always drawn to.
Hanna directed by Joe Wright, written by David Farr, Seth Lochhead, Joe Penhall and Joe Wright release date: April 8th
It was in Joe Wright’s pitch-perfect film adaptation of Atonement that Saoirse Ronan became a girl to watch out for. I had no interest in seeing last year’s The Lovely Bones even though I’m sure her performance was probably one of the highlights. So I am pleased to see her featured in something that I very much do want to see, even more so that it’s another Wright film. With the way he handled something fairly dry like Atonement and build palpable emotional tension, I am very much looking forward to seeing what he does with an action film. Alongside Ronan is Cate Blanchette, always excellent and Eric Bana (also a favorite person to watch even though his performances are largely inconsistent from film to film). Olivia Williams (Rushmore, Dollhouse) is also on the roster, although I have no idea how big her role is.
Rabbit Hole directed by John Cameron Mitchell, written + adapted from the play by David Lindsay-Abaire release date: already open in major cities, wide release not specified.
At some point I had vowed never to see another film with Nicole Kidman in it, seeing that she seemed to have lost nerve function in her face and I grew tired of her wooden performances. She appears to have gotten it back, so I will risk it in order to see this. I have long been waiting to see John Cameron Mitchell direct something that wasn’t his own creation entirely. As a play I think Hedwig is a fucking masterpiece, but I was underwhelmed by the movie, even though it’s lots of fun and I’m glad they made it. I was then the only person on earth that thought was Shortbus was very fun visually, but just ok narratively. Didn’t blow my mind. So I am amped to see him take that kind of vision and adapt a play. I think this could be brilliant. I’m also pleased to see Aaron Eckhart in another serious dramatic role. I think he does delicate emotional issues very, very well. Enough even, perhaps, to make up for Nicole Kidman’s face.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 directed by David Yates, written by Steve Kloves
release date: not soon enough July 15th
I don’t really have anything to say about this. We saw only hints of the action in the combined teaser, so I look forward to seeing a full Part 2 trailer. I’m guessing that will come out around the same time as the dvd for Part 1, which is rumored to be happening March 15th. I wonder if my Part 1 high will hold out that long or if I will be having withdrawal as soon as it leaves the theaters for good?
And some films that I can’t wait to see trailers for or hear more about:
Bernie directed by Richard Linklater
release date: unknown
I really love Linklater. He’s had some great films and some random commercial joints that I wasn’t so into. I’m not sure yet which this will be. I look forward to finding out. I am already looking forward to seeing the end to his decade-long project Boyhood, but that won’t be released until next year (at least). /film has some more info on Bernie here.
Mildred Pierce directed by Todd Haynes
run date: beginning in April, HBO
This is actually a mini-series, but after seeing Mike Nichols take on Angels in America for HBO, I think we all can agree a mini-series can count as film. As for this? It had me at Todd Haynes. No really, that’s all I need. But even if it wasn’t, here’s another one: Kate Winslet. Done and done.
The Skin I Live In written and directed by Pedro Almodovar release date: September
I see everything he does, but this one also marks the first time Antonio Banderas has worked with him in over 20 years. I love the early films with him, so this should be good. I’m slightly sad that Penelope Cruz is not a part of this film, but only because I’m in love with her and want to see her as much as possible in movies that are actually good.
I am usually not on the American remake boat, but I wasn’t actually thrilled with the Swedish film. I adored Noomi Rapace in the title role, she absolutely rocked it with everything in her and she carried the whole thing. I enjoyed it, but really wasn’t impressed with the direction of the adaptation or the pacing. I thought they made weird choices. And I really didn’t understand the casting swedish actor who played Blomqvist, at all. So I am excited to see Fincher take a shot. I’m delighted with most of the casting, especially Daniel Craig, but the jury’s totally out on Rooney Mara for me. In her brief role in The Social Network, I didn’t find anything remotely compelling about her. I know it’s unfair to judge from a brief role that was perfectly fine within the context of that film. But I don’t find her at all attractive. And so far in pictures and interviews… I’m just not getting a read on her at all that’s interesting in any way. Maybe it’s because I loved Noomi Rapace from moment ONE in a trailer. I don’t know. I’m hoping there is some kind of deep inner spark she releases for this role or else it’s going to be a really disappointing trilogy that had a lot of potential to be great. At least we know the music will be epic. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross once again team up for the score. After what they did for The Social Network, I would pay to get in for that alone.
*Note on the images: All posters shown are the official studio versions released for promotion of the films.
