We have suddenly found ourselves in the year 2011, only around a century on from the very first feature length films. So, compared to other popular art forms such as literature and theatre that have been ageing gracefully like a refined wine for longer than we can comprehend, the film industry should be barely reaching its teething stage.
Instead, reams and reams of texts already depict and document a vast and colourful history of film, and already we have seen movements and trends. Racing through the silent era to the talkies, the Golden Age to the New Wave, and New Hollywood cinema (or the Post-Classical era) and sequels, and catapulting headfirst into the digital age before you can say "The latest Chaplin flick was simply splendid, eh old chap?"
Film noir, the teen movie, the slasher, the romcom, the blockbuster...these are not trends that have outlived multiple generations. Where eras in art consist of a century's worth of humdrum life, the film industry steamrolls its way through the modern age, reinventing itself every decade or two.
We are only a century on from the very first film stars, when production companies started to form, and cash in on the new entertainment in town, when a film as long as 90 minutes was the new invention, the first cartoons were on the cards, lighting was just starting to be used for effect, and when commonplace camera techniques such as the point-of-view shot (when you see a character looking at something and the camera cuts to show you what they're looking at) and the reverse-angle shot (when the camera very simply cuts between one person and another when they're talking) were created. It's unbelievable how far we've come.
Director: Tom Hooper [The Damned United]
Plot: Period drama about future King George VI attempting to overcome his speech impediment in the face of the pressures of inheriting the throne.
Hot Stuff? We all know about Queen Elizabeth II, our own monarch, and we all know about Queen Victoria, but so little we know about the the monarchy in between, during those crucial years at war. This film offers a homely insight into the personal lives of royalty, with a dash of classic British humour and lashings of on-screen chemistry and authenticity you can watch over and over again. Beautifully directed, artistic and lavish cinematography, and acting to knock your socks off. A very well deserved 5 star rating across the board, and I'll eat my hat if it doesn't mean Firth's first Oscar.
127 Hours
Black Swan
Tangled
Hereafter
True Grit
The Fighter
Rango
The Lincoln Lawyer
Sucker Punch
Red Riding Hood
Scream 4
Water For Elephants
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Starring: (As if you didn't know already...) Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Penelope Cruz
Director: Rob Marshall [Nine, Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago]
The Hangover: Part II
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha (a.k.a the original crew)
Tree of Life
Starring: Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Sean Penn
X-Men: First Class
Instead, reams and reams of texts already depict and document a vast and colourful history of film, and already we have seen movements and trends. Racing through the silent era to the talkies, the Golden Age to the New Wave, and New Hollywood cinema (or the Post-Classical era) and sequels, and catapulting headfirst into the digital age before you can say "The latest Chaplin flick was simply splendid, eh old chap?"
Film noir, the teen movie, the slasher, the romcom, the blockbuster...these are not trends that have outlived multiple generations. Where eras in art consist of a century's worth of humdrum life, the film industry steamrolls its way through the modern age, reinventing itself every decade or two.
We are only a century on from the very first film stars, when production companies started to form, and cash in on the new entertainment in town, when a film as long as 90 minutes was the new invention, the first cartoons were on the cards, lighting was just starting to be used for effect, and when commonplace camera techniques such as the point-of-view shot (when you see a character looking at something and the camera cuts to show you what they're looking at) and the reverse-angle shot (when the camera very simply cuts between one person and another when they're talking) were created. It's unbelievable how far we've come.
My forthcoming faves for 2011 at the movies
January
It's awards season, so this month has an annual guarantee of a surge in decent filmmaking
The King's Speech
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Gambon, Guy PearceDirector: Tom Hooper [The Damned United]
Plot: Period drama about future King George VI attempting to overcome his speech impediment in the face of the pressures of inheriting the throne.
Hot Stuff? We all know about Queen Elizabeth II, our own monarch, and we all know about Queen Victoria, but so little we know about the the monarchy in between, during those crucial years at war. This film offers a homely insight into the personal lives of royalty, with a dash of classic British humour and lashings of on-screen chemistry and authenticity you can watch over and over again. Beautifully directed, artistic and lavish cinematography, and acting to knock your socks off. A very well deserved 5 star rating across the board, and I'll eat my hat if it doesn't mean Firth's first Oscar.
Starring: James Franco (and that's pretty much it)
Director: Our very own Danny Boyle [Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionaire]
Plot: True story about a mountain climber who gets trapped by a boulder in the lonely canyons of Utah, and has to resort to desperate measures to stay alive.
Hot Stuff? You've heard about this movie, I know you have. If you haven't, where have you been? James Franco takes on the role of his life to depict the event of Aron Ralston's life. It's a masterpiece of gripping filmmaking and a truly impressive performance with just one man, his boulder, and his mind to play with. Don't be put off by 'that-horrible-moment-when-I've-heard-people-have-fainted-in-cinemas' - just close your eyes for the gross bit and you'll only miss 2 minutes of an unmissable film.
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel
Director: Darren Aronofsky [The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream]
Plot: Dark psychological suspense-thriller about a ballerina forced to delve into her dark side in order to deliver the perfect performance as the title role in Swan Lake, with dramatic consequences.
Hot Stuff: At the very top of my list to see next this month, with Portman's performance being the tattle on the tip of everyone's tongue and a Golden Globe already to show for it - with word of a Bafta and Oscar to follow. The trailer both terrifies and allures. It looks beautiful and dangerous - I'm seriously looking forward to seeing this.
Starring: (Voices) Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi
Plot: The latest Disney flick based on the story of Rapunzel this time - a princess locked high in a tower who grows very long hair.
Hot Stuff? Yet another Disney princess romantic comedy from the sickeningly wonderful genius' that are the Walt Disney peeps, and as a devout fan this had to be on my must-see list. Fingers-crossed it can live up to the (personally unexpected) brilliance of The Princess and the Frog - promising reviews so far.
HereafterStarring: Matt Damon, Cecile De France
Director: Clint Eastwood [Invictus, Changeling, Gran Torino]
Plot: A supernatural thriller about people who are touched by death in different ways, and are connected by a man who can communicate with the dead.
Hot Stuff? Every time I've seen this trailer (on the big screen) it has taken my breath away. It looks epic. Mixing great actors with real-life traumas is generally a win-win combo, and from the looks of things the film is going to connect to a great deal of viewers. A guaranteed heart-wrencher with the masculinity of Damon to pull it even, and Eastwood is bound to lull us into a deep ponder on life.
[Extras: The Dilemma, The Mechanic]
February
True GritStarring: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Hailee Steinfeld
Director: Joel and Ethan Coen [Burn After Reading, No Country For Old Men, The Big Lebowski]
Plot: A tough U.S. Marshal helps a stubborn young woman track down her father's murderer.
Hot Stuff? Having seen the incredibly long trailer you do feel like you've already seen the entire movie, but with leading men to boast about and another Coen Bros Southern-state epic, you're pretty much guaranteed a whirlwind of weirdness with a generous smashing of intrigue and action.
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams
Plot: A look at the early years of boxer Micky Ward and his brother, who helped train him before going pro in the mid '80s.
Hot Stuff? The reviews haven't exactly been solid, with complaints such as disconnected scenes, characters we don't invest in, coming just a little short of being fantastic. But there's almost a unanimous agreement in the trio of solid performances with rings of Oscar-bells in the air.
[Extras: Never Let Me Go, Rabbit Hole, The Beaver, Gnomeo and Juliet, I am Number Four, Paul, Unknown, No String's Attached]
March
Starring: (Voices) Johnny Depp, Abigail Breslin
Director: Gore Verbinski [Pirates of the Caribbean 1,2+3, Mousehunt]
Plot:A chameleon goes on a journey of self-discovery. Supposedly based on gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, Depp steps into the animated shoes of the crazy writer for a second time, after playing him in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Hot Stuff? My gut instinct says this film will be a flop, but 1. that's only because I'm losing faith in Mr Depp's ability to pick a good flick, 2. I haven't seen a trailer yet, 3. Verbinski did a good job of the first POTC, and 4. I spent 9 months of my final year of uni writing a 10,000-word dissertation on Mr Depp and am therefore invested in his film antics for the rest of my life.
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe
Director:
Plot: An L.A. criminal defence lawyer lands the case of his career defending a Beverly Hills playboy accused of rape and murder. The case of law becomes a game of survival as the lawyer gets wrapped up in the wrong business.
Hot Stuff? 'Based on a novel by...' always signals two things to me: the story and characters will be great, the adaptation may not be. It's definitely an either-way case. What I am most interested in is seeing McConaughey return to his star role as a lawyer since he made a name for himself in A Time To Kill, which remains the best role I've ever seen him in.
[Extras: The Adjustment Bureau]
April
Starring: Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Jena Malone
Director: Zack Snyder [Watchmen, 300, Dawn of the Dead]
Plot: A young girl is institutionalized by her wicked stepfather. This epic action fantasy takes us into the vivid imagination of her dream world that provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality
Hot Stuff? This is not a comic book adpatation - but comic book fans rejoice, for this film reeks of nods and references. Girls in skimpy PVC outfits? - 'nuff said. If Snyder can deliver as he has done before then we're onto a winner.
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Shiloh Fernandez, Julie Christie, Gary Oldman, Lukas Haas
Director: Catherine Hardwicke [Twilight, Thirteen]
Plot: A dark and twisty re-imagining of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale, where a beautiful young woman lives in a village terrorised by a werewolf who could be any one of them when the moon is full.
Hot Stuff? A horror-twist to a happily-ever-after tale, and a trailer of intrigue - this film looks stylishly scary. Hardwicke showed with Thirteen that she's a master of powerful drama, and with Twilight she showed she could 'do' the young romance thing - with this film dabbling into a bit of both, hopefully Hardwicke's been playing to her strengths.
Scream 4Starring: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere
Director: Wes Craven [The Last House on the Left, Nightmare on Elm St, The Hills Have Eyes, the Scream movies,]
Plot: A decade after the Ghost Face killer ran amok in Woodsboro, he pays a visit to Sidney Prescott for another round of thrills and chills.
Hot Stuff? The rules have changed, and I can't wait to see the old cast in the mix with some fresh faces to figure out how. Cashing in on the borderline hilarity of the predictability of slasher movies, the original Scream was one of the first of its kind, and although the franchise escalated into ridiculousness throughout the nineties, Master Director of Horror, Wes Craven, won't do a botch job this time round.
Water For Elephants
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz
Director: Francis Lawrence [I Am Legend]
Plot: A veterinary student joins a traveling circus as their animal vet after both of his parents are killed.
Hot Stuff? The trailer entices you in to the world back when animal cruelty and health and safety inspectors didn't feature in the lives of circus folk. Acrobatic elephants and glitzy stunts seem to provide the backdrop for what looks like a promising performance from Pattinson, who has already proven his talents beyond the Twilight saga and shows no intention of stopping there. Apparently there's already Oscar whispers, but I'm not so sure of this rumour since I can barely find anything out about this movie! Trailer alone intrigues!
[Extras: Hop, Arthur, Rio, The Roommate, Fast Five, Thor]
May
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Starring: (As if you didn't know already...) Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Penelope Cruz
Director: Rob Marshall [Nine, Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago]Plot: After Captain Jack Sparrow meets Barbossa in the newly found New Orleans, they sail to find the fountain of youth together only to find that Blackbeard is after it too.
Hot Stuff? POTC director Gore Verbinski hasn't returned to the chair this time, and Rob Marshall, director of musicals and beautiful women, has taken the reigns - On Stranger Tides indeed. The loss of Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley may free up some of the saga's baggage so far - a pirate must travel light to keep room for his treasure. Whether this means that Depp will fall short of sidekicks to bounce off or whether he'll really come into his own and lead the movie to success, I don't think anyone could possibly predict. What I do know for certain, however, is that Penelope Cruz looks damn good in a pirate outfit. Well played.
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha (a.k.a the original crew)
Director: Todd Phillips [The Hangover, Due Date, Old School, Starsky and Hutch, Road Trip]
Plot: Phil, Stu, Alan and Doug travel to Thailand for Stu's wedding. What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in Bangkok can't even be imagined.
Hot Stuff? Following 'the most successful R-rated comedy since Beverly Hills Cop', The Hangover: Part II is on my list not because I think it's going to be great, as comedy sequels go it could possibly be awful, but because I really enjoyed the first one. Not on first viewing, but by my third viewing I was recognising the comic genius behind the movie. Please please please don't mess up the sequel!
Starring: Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Sean Penn
Director: Terrence Malick [The New World, The Thin Red Line]
Plot: The story centres around a family in the 1950s, revolving around the emotional and psychological effects of conflicting parental roles in a young boy's life.
Hot Stuff? The cast excites me, the plot looks deep and intriguing, the film looks beautiful, and I get the feeling its going to have affecting bare-faced emotions. Also, the poster is super adorable.
[Extras: Your Highness]
June
X-Men: First ClassStarring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Caleb Landry Jones, January Jones, Jennifer Lawrence
Director: Matthew Vaughn [Kick Ass, Stardust, Layer Cake]
Plot: Another X-Men Origin movie, this time depicting the young Magneto and Professor X at the very root of their rift.
Hot Stuff? Riding on the success of the X-Men trilogy and the first origin movie, Wolverine (which, yes, wasn't so successful), this film already has a guaranteed number of bums on seats. What will draw more to the big screen, though, could be director Matthew Vaughn who turned more than a lot of heads with his feisty comic-book comedy brilliance, Kick Ass. If he can bring the same zest to the screen as he did last summer, he's looking at another huge hit that will undoubtedly bring in new fans.
[Extras: The Green Lantern, Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom, Bad Teacher, Bridesmaid, Rise of the Apes]
Some Thoughts on Key (or not so key) Players
- Justin Timberlake is in 3 films this year! Nicely done off the back of The Social Network
- Angelina Jolie won't be pouting all over our screens this year, her only 2011 gig is voicing Tigress in Kung Fu Panda 2...
- ...whereas hubby Brad was only in one film last year (voicing Metro man in Megamind), and has 3 coming up this time round. Taking it in turns to look after the kids?
- Did anyone see the 3 films Orlando Bloom was in last year? And will anyone be seeing the 2 he's in this year? Oh dear...
- Matt Damon is steaming ahead this year, with 7 films coming out! I'm dizzy at the mere thought of his pay package for 2011!
That's all folks (for now)
Tune in soon for Forthcoming Faves: 2011 at the Movies: The Sequel
i WILL be seeing the Three Musketeers...! And yes it seems every other film I read about has Matt Damon in a starring role. He's quietly taking over Hollywood....
ReplyDeleteReally looking forward to seeing Black Swan. I'm also looking forward to the final Harry Potter film - there, I said it, I'm a fan and can't hide it!
ReplyDeleteBecause I know you'll want my opinion on these matters ;)...
ReplyDeleteJan
The King's Speech: Enjoyable, but extremely over-hyped, over-praised and over-awarded.
127 Hours: (Missed by mistake!).
Black Swan: Loved the viewing experience (especially in the art centre cinema - lots of gasps and screams!). But it hasn't stayed with me as I thought it might, and overall The Wrestler had a stronger impact on me.
Tangled: I saw it on my birthday at the Imax - enough said! (okay, not quite enough, I loved it so so much!).
Hereafter: (didn't even see this one come out!).
Feb
True Grit: As straight a Coen brothers movie as I've ever seen but (and I'll whisper this bit) the one I've enjoyed the most. The use of the natural environment was stunning.
The Fighter: Really gripping and surprisingly humorous modern day Rocky, but the academy got the awards mixed up; Mark Wahlberg and Amy Adams kept the narrative grounded against the more histrionic performances, and deserved higher recognition for this.
March
Rango: My favourite film of the year so far! Unafraid to have really really ugly character designs (check out the guy with the arrow in his head for no reason!)and possessing a bizarrely warped sense of humour, this animated western deals with pressing political concerns (water shortages)personal identity crisises and a giant snake voice by Bill Nighy and a weird slug voiced by Ray Winstone. Amazing!