15. The Raid 2: Berandal
Release Date: March 2014
Director: Gareth Evans
Writers: Gareth Evans
Starring: Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian, Donny Alamsyah
Synopsis: The plot is unknown, however, the story begins two hours after the first movie ends.
The Positive: In 2012 I named The Raid as the best action movie of the year. Many complained about the lack of plot, which was a just complaint. Personally the barrage of clever action and high energy made the lack of complex plotting an easy issue to overcome. If they keep up that style in the sequel we will have another action classic on our hands.
The Negative: When you have a movie like The Raid that comes out of nowhere it has the benefit of zero expectations. A sequel on the other hand has a lot to live up to. Sometimes that can lead a director to go too big and lose control. I wonder if it is possible to top what they accomplished with the first movie. Will it just be more of the same?
14. Fury
Release Date: November 14, 2014
Director: David Ayer
Writers: David Ayer
Starring: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman
Synopsis: April, 1945. A battle-hardened army sergeant named Wardaddy commands a Sherman tank and her five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Wardaddy and his men face odds in their attempts to strike at Nazi Germany.
The Positive: What really interests me about Fury is the idea of doing a war film centered a tank operating team. There have been tons and tons of movies based on WWII, but not many that have attempted a similar concept. Director David Ayer’s End of Watch was also an underrated gem so I have been curious to see what else he has in store.
The Negative: David Ayer also has Sabotage coming out this year, which I am not very excited about. Not to mention his work on Street Kings a movie I try to forget. So the question is which is the real David Ayer? Also at this point most of his work has been dedicated to cop dramas. Hopefully he can handle the drastic transition to a period piece war movie.
13. Noah
Release Date: March 8, 2014
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Writers: Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel
Starring: Russell Crowe Emma Watson, Jennifer Connelly
Synopsis: The Biblical Noah suffers visions of an apocalyptic deluge and takes measures to protect his family from the coming flood.
The Positive: When you watch a movie made by Daren Aronfsky you know you will see nothing else like it that year. He has an elite visual mind capable of crafting images that are forever etched in your memory banks. I can not help but wonder what he has in store for this biblical epic.
The Negative: The trailer has me worried for a few reasons. For one it looks rather cheap. Is this story too big for any budget? I also got a very big The Fountain vibe, which is not a movie I was very fond . Russell Crowe has not been Russell Crowe in the last few years. Will the real Crowe stand up for Noah?
12. Animal Rescue
Release Date: TBD
Director: Michaël R. Roskam
Writers: Dennis Lehane
Starring: Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini
Synopsis: A crime-drama centered around a lost pit bull, a wannabe scam artist, and a killing.
The Positive: Tom Hardy in a movie where he rescues a puppy? How has the internet not broken after hearing this news. I can imagine the Bane memes as we speak. Dennis Lehane has quite a track record. His novels include Shutter Island, Gone Baby Gone, and Mystic River. All three were made into movies I greatly respect.
The Negative: Michaël R. Roskam is still an unproven director as this is only his second feature film. Currently he does not have the same name recognition as the directors of Shutter Island, Gone Baby Gone, and Mystic River. Animal Rescue also does not sound like a very gritty crime drama. Will it just be a gimmick that grows tired quickly?
11. The Grand Budapest Hotel
Release Date: March 7, 2014
Director: Wes Anderson
Writers: Wes Anderson, Hugo Guinness,
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Jude Law, Ralph Fiennes
Synopsis: The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.
The Positive: Twenty seconds into the trailer for The Grand Budapest Hotel and it was obvious it was a Wes Anderson movie. His playroom like aesthetic is second to none. Anderson was on a bit of a slump, but after Fantastic Mr. Fox and Moonrise Kingdom he career appears revitalized. Saoirse Ronan has impressed me greatly in Atonement and Hanna, and I feel she is on the verge of becoming a huge star.
The Negative: As I mentioned Anderson’s style is engrained all over The Grand Budapest Hotel right from the start. Will it be just more of what we have come to expect, or will Anderson branch out to new ideas? Hopefully he can find a middle ground and not become complacent.
10. The Boxtrolls
Release Date: September 26, 2014
Director: Graham Annable, Anthony Stacchi
Writers: Irena Brignull, Adam Pava, Alan Snow (novel)
Starring: lle Fanning, Simon Pegg, Toni Collette
Synopsis: A young orphaned boy raised by underground cave-dwelling trash collectors tries to save his friends from an evil exterminator. Based on the children’s novel ‘Here Be Monsters’ by Alan Snow.
The Positive: I am a rather large fan of stop-motion animated. Something about the look just appeals to me. No one is hotter right now in the stop-motion world than Laika studios, who have given us Coraline and the criminally underrated Paranorman. Many have called them the next Pixar, and if The Boxtrolls is just as good as their first two features that may in fact be true.
The Negative: There have been a number of animation studios that have started off hot, but quickly cooled. Sometimes when you buy into your own hype your product can diminish. At this point there is no evidence that indicates to that being an issue with Laika, but the pessimistic and cynical side of me still tends to worry.
9. Gone Girl
Release Date: October 3, 2014
Director: David Fincher
Writers: Gillian Flynn
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Ben Affleck, Missi Pyle
Synopsis: A woman mysteriously disappears on the day of her wedding anniversary. Based on the novel, “Gone Girl.”
The Positive: Apparently I do not read nearly enough because every movie based on a book comes from a novel I have not read. I have heard amazing things about Gone Girl so apparently Fincher is working with great source material again, and anytime Fincher has a film coming out I will be there.
The Negative: Girl with a Dragon Tattoo was somewhat of a disappointment, and based on the premise of Gone Girl it feels like he is traveling on familiar ground. I greatly respect Ben Affleck as a director, but his acting leaves a lot to be desired. With any luck Fincher will be able to get a great performance out of him.
8. Boyhood
Release Date: TBD
Director: Richard Linklater
Writers: Richard Linklater
Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke
Synopsis: The film tells a story of a divorced couple (Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette) trying to raise their young son (Ellar Salmon). The story follows the boy for twelve years, from first grade at age 6 through 12th grade at age 17-18, and examines his relationship with his parents as he grows.
The Positive: This film is literally twelve years in the making. Linklater filmed bit by bit over a twelve-year span and is finally releasing it this year. There have been similar projects like the Up documentary series, and even Linklater’s own Before series. Similarities aside in the history of cinema there is nothing quite like this.
The Negative: Passion projects tend to go two ways. Either they are tremendous success stories on the power of passion, or massive disasters that implode due to their colossal construction. Boyhood could be looked at an ambitious project from a director trying to push the boundaries of cinema, or an elaborate gimmick and not much else. With Linklater my money is on the former.
7. How To Train Your Dragon 2
Release Date: June 13, 2014
Director: Dean DeBlois
Writers: Cressida Cowell (novel), Dean DeBlois
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Kristen Wiig, America Ferrera
Synopsis: It has been five years since Hiccup and Toothless successfully united dragons and Vikings on the island of Berk. While Astrid, Snotlout and the rest of the gang are challenging each other to dragon races (the island’s new favorite contact sport), the now inseparable pair journey through the skies, charting unmapped territories and exploring new worlds. At the beginning, Hiccup is pressured by Stoick to start a family and become chief, but Hiccup rebels by flying away from Berk and exploring new lands. When one of their adventures leads to the discovery of a secret ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace. Now, Hiccup and Toothless must unite to stand up for what they believe while recognizing that only together do they have the power to change the future of both men and dragons.
The Positive: How To Train Your Dragon was a huge surprise for me. I written Dreamworks off long ago so I ignorantly ignored it until I randomly caught it at a drive-in. Quickly my opinion of the film changed as I became immersed in the world it created. The teaser trailer they released last year was one of my favorite animated movies of the year. The flying mechanics are just memorizing to watch, and I can only imagine they have gotten even better.
The Negative: There is always a danger with sequels when it comes to animated movies. In many occasions they have been so bad or gone on for so long the opinions of the original have suffered. At this point there is already a How To Train Your Dragon television series so is the sequel just another excuse to cash in? Possibly.
6. Godzilla
Release Date: May 16th, 2014
Director: Gareth Edwards
Writers: Max Borenstein (screenplay), Dave Callaham(story)
Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston
Synopsis: A giant radioactive monster called Godzilla appears to wreak destruction on mankind.
The Positive: The trailer for Godzilla was one of the best of last year. It announced itself to the world as a force to be reckoned with. The scale of destruction is like something we have never seen. The cast is packed with legitimate talent. This is only Gareth Edwards’s second feature film, but with his first film Monsters he showed a skill in world building and creature design. That talent will surely come in handy.
The Negative: Gareth Edwards is going from indie darling to big budget filmmaker. That transition has worked in the past, however it has also led to disaster—and not the good type of disaster we are hoping for in Godzilla. Low level directors tend to have no power and are easily controlled by the studio. Was this his vision or the vision he was told to give?
5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Release Date: April 4, 2014
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Writers: Christopher Markus , Stephen McFeely
Starring: Chris Evans, Frank Grillo, Sebastian Stan
Synopsis: Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and battles a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.
The Positive: The Winter Solider arc is in the Holy Grail of comic book stories for me. In many ways it is what got me back into comics. Once the title was announced I was psyched for the possibilities, and when the trailer came out it only increased. They seem to have an understanding of the internal conflict Captain America goes through when his past ideals are placed against today’s sensibilities.
The Negative: The one item that worries me about Captain America: The Winter Soldier is Winter Solder. His costume design makes him look like a rejected Mortal Kombat character. Similar to Godzilla, directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo are coming in with little experience. They are coming from the land of television to high budget blockbuster. That is one large leap to make. I’m sure Marvel studios provided plenty of assistance to ease the journey.
4. Foxcatcher
Release Date: TBD
Director: Bennett Miller
Writers: E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman
Starring: Channing Tatum, Steve Carell, Sienna Miller
Synopsis: The story of Olympic Wrestling Champion Mark Schultz and how paranoid schizophrenic John duPont killed his brother, Olympic Champion Dave Schultz.
The Positive: Bennett Miller directed one of the best sports movies in the last twenty year with Moneyball, and also directed Phillip Seymour Hoffman to an Oscar with Capote. Channing Tatum has made a turn from a one-note teen model to a legit star with movies like 21 Jump Street and Magic Mike. This could possibly do for his career what Dallas Buyers Club did for Matthew McConaughey.
The Negative: Tatum has certainty improved; he just has not sold me yet as a complete dramatic actor. Even in Magic Mike he felt stilted at times. This is another film that was original set for release in 2013 but was pushed again. Anytime that happens there is a little apprehension.
3. Inherent Vice
Release Date: TBD
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Writers: Paul Thomas Anderson (screenplay), Thomas Pynchon (novel)
Starring: Jena Malone, Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon
Synopsis: In Los Angeles in 1970, drug-fueled detective Larry “Doc” Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend.
The Positive: Paul Thomas Anderson is one of today’s best directors. There is no doubt about that. Anytime he is coming out with a film excitement will ensue for cinephiles everywhere. He is a director that is always trying to push himself to new levels. I wait with steep anticipation as we wait to see what he will attempt to wow us with next.
The Negative: Sometimes you can be a victim of your own greatness. Expectations are so high and simply meeting them is not enough for most people. With Paul Thomas Anderson good is not good enough.
2. Interstellar
Release Date: November 7th, 2014
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain
Synopsis: A group of explorers make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.
The Positive: Christopher Nolan is this generations Steven Spielberg. He is one of the few directors who is critically adored and loved by general audiences as well. Now he is stepping away from the cape and cowl to take on the world of Science Fiction. Nolan has not done us wrong yet (haters on Dark Knight Rises aside), and with McConaughey, Hathaway, and Chastain behind him that trend is likely to keep.
The Negative: Many have criticized the teaser trailer as nothing more than an ad for NASA, and not something that gets them excited for a movie. Gravity also redefined what you can do with a movie set in space. Did it steal some of Interstellar’s thunder? I am sure Nolan has some tricks up his sleeve that will surprise us all.
1. X-Men: Days of Future Past
Release Date: May 23, 2014
Director: Bryan Singer
Writers: Simon Kinberg (screenplay), Matthew Vaughn(story)
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, Patrick Stewart
Synopsis: The X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.
The Positive: So who could beat the power of Christopher Nolan and Paul Thomas Anderson? Well Wolverine, Magneto, Professor Xavier, and the rest of both X-Men teams. I am a lover of the X-Men franchise. X2 and X-Men: First Class rank has some of my all-time favorite comic book movies. The acting talent involved with it reads like an Oscar contender. Brian Singer coming back to the franchise he helped launch also bodes well. If anyone can do justice to the Days of Future Past storyline it is him and this team.
The Negative: This is a massive undertaking. It is like trying to do two Avengers movies as the same time while also throwing in a time travel story. This could be a story that is just too big for the big screen. The news of characters already being cut has caused some to worry that Singer bite off more than he could chew. Will he return the franchise to its former greantess or will it fall flatter than Wolverine: X-Men Origins. Please dear God, let that not be the case.
interesting choices… two I know I will not be seeing in theaters are the Leg-Ho movie and boxtrolls. hell I might not see Boxtrolls at all…. just doesn’t seem like something I’d enjoy.
Wow. I haven’t heard about a lot of these movies. Very cool article.