In my book, 2011 has been a great year for movies. Good stuff has abounded throughout this particular revolution of the planet, both on the side of light lifting– Limitless, Paul, Cedar Rapids, Captain America— and in the realms of more substantial material, such as Drive, Weekend, The Tree of Life, and Win Win. Even the films either artistically unsuccessful or thoroughly excruciating which punctuate 2011 have been interesting or worth discussing in one way or another; Super, for example, and even ACVF’s least favorite 2011 release, Red State. It’s a pretty good year when even the worst films invoke more than just outright revulsion.
But it’s time to say goodbye to 2011 and look ahead to 2012– and so far, 2012 stands to trump 2011 in sheer excellence. While the year looks well-defined by an avalanche of comic book films– The Dark Knight Rises, The Avengers, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, The Amazing Spider-Man, Dredd— as well as a number of other genre franchise films and tent-pole studio pictures– Skyfall, Twilight: Shhh, It’s Almost Over, pt. 2, Taken 2, Wrath of the Titans, The Expendables 2, G.I. Joe: Retaliation— there’s plenty of quality to look forward to in 2012. And of course that’s not to say I’m not looking forward to any of the aforementioned films– I am, some of them anyhow, but not as much as I’m looking forward to each of the below films. 1) Prometheus: Maybe you could file this under “genre franchise film”, but Prometheus has enormous promise. We all know at this point that it’s some manner of Alien prequel; how explicitly the two films connect remains to be seen, of course, and the severity of their intertwining could either make Prometheus into something really special or a painfully by-the-numbers over-explanation of the mythology behind the iconic xenomorph of Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror masterwork. Taking into consideration the film’s pedigree– not only Scott but writer Damon Lindelof, a plus or a minus depending on who you talk to, as well as Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, and Guy Pearce– there’s no reason not to be enthused over Prometheus outside of fan caution.
2) The Master: Full disclosure– all I need to know to guarantee I see this in a theater is that it’s Paul Thomas Anderson’s first film in five years. Admittedly, it doesn’t hurt that Philip Seymour Hoffman stars with Joaquin Phoenix in a story about fundamental religious fervor, and while I know little else about The Master, what I do know is enough to establish this as a necessary watch in 2012.
3) Django Unchained: Hey, I’m actually looking forward to a Quentin Tarantino film. Imagine that. 2009’s Inglourious Basterds blew me away, clearly marking QT’s best, most personal work to date, and so it’s with little trepidation that I anticipate Django‘s release. The cast is terrific– notably Leonardo DiCaprio as the villain, which tickles me, and most of all Jamie Foxx, who hasn’t really done anything great since 2007’s The Kingdom— and the film reads like an opportunity for Tarantino to let his inspirations inform his own personal vision, instead of allowing them to run rampant. (Plus? Poster of the year, hands down.)
4) Brave: At this point I’ve written about Brave enough that my excitement for it need not be conveyed further. Put simply, it’s a wonderful to see Pixar turn out an original film after two sequels in a row, and to see them tackle a specific narrative convention by putting their own twist on the princess story.
5) Argo: I’m a big fan of Ben Affleck behind the camera; I think he’s got a sure hand for storytelling and a lot of confidence considering he’s only got two directorial credits to his name. I’m also fond of the “movie within a movie” conceit. And I also like real-life stories that sound so oddball that learning of their veracity causes me to double-take. So Argo, which is based on actual events, is kind of right up my alley.
6) The Great Gatsby: In terms of capturing a certain visual sensibility, The Great Gatsby looks like a potential knock-out. It’s inhabited by young actors and actresses who look like they could have walked right off the pages of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s beloved novel by virtue of the appearances they were graced with on birth, and the sets and costumes loudly call back to the period the book is based in. The only wild card on this project? Baz Luhrmann. He tried, and half succeeded, in striking a specific tone and time in 2008’s Australia, so the question of which Luhrmann shows up for Gatsby is relevant. If he’s on his game, he could turn out a really vital and dazzling film.
7) Gravity: If it’s right to be excited for Paul Thomas Anderson’s first film in five years, then it’s also correct to be equally thrilled at Alfonso Cuarón’s return to directing films after sitting in the producer’s chair for six years. He’s also coming back to do a science fiction film, and given that his last attempt in the category was Children of Men, well, I don’t think there’s any reason not to nail this down as a major release in 2012. Gravity‘s a disaster film, in which George Clooney and Sandra Bullock find themselves stranded on a space station with only each other to rely on; though on a smaller scale than Children of Men, there’s plenty of opportunity for Cuarón to capture the same ache and hurt and wonder and hope of his masterpiece.
8) Cabin in the Woods: This played at the annual Butt-Numb-A-Thon hosted by Ain’t It Cool News to great praise, evaporating any concerns I had about the film’s relevance. Cabin in the Woods has been on the shelves for more than two years; as a meta-referential horror film, the passage of time could be most unkind. In the case of Cabin, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Between baby face masks, bird-electrocuting laser grids, the promise of monsters, genre examinations, and of course the hugely positive BNAT response, Cabin sounds like a must-see horror flick.
9) Looper: Rian Johnson is 1.5 for 2 with me– I loved Brick but wound up being in the middle on The Brothers Bloom— so I’m eagerly awaiting Looper as the film that potentially puts him completely back on track
10) Only God Forgives: The re-teaming of Ryan Gosling and Nicolas Winding Refn after this year’s Drive (ranked number one on my top 15 of 2011). Frankly, I wasn’t sure about placing this here– I’m not 100% sure if it’s going to make it in time for 2012 consideration– but if this sees a 2012 run, I’ll be sure to catch a screening at the first opportunity. Refn gets better and better with each movie he makes and Gosling seems to be experiencing a turning point in his career as an actor where he actually seems to be acting.
11) The Hunger Games: I don’t think I’ve made it a secret that I like Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games— maybe not so much for the book itself, though it is engrossing in its fashion, but for the fact that it’s teen lit that amounts to more than just hormonal pandering. The Internet-housed criticism against it– that it’s just a Battle Royale rip-off– makes me root for its success on the big-screen all the more. I don’t know that Lionsgate is marketing it correctly, still (though the puzzle piece hunt was intriguing enough), but buzz from the readership and from media outlets could be enough to get people into theaters just to see what everyone’s talking about. If nothing else I know that I’ll be there to check it out.
12) Cogan’s Trade: In 2007, Brad Pitt and Andrew Dominik collaborated with one another and the result was The Assassination of Jesse James. Enough said.
13) Moonrise Kingdom: I admit that I’m a little disappointed to see Wes Anderson return to live-action film after The Fantastic Mr. Fox proved to serve his cinematic proclivities well. But Wes Anderson is Wes Anderson, and typically worth watching– and maybe Fox will prove to be the break from working with real actors that Anderson needed to recover from the underwhelming The Darjeeling Limited. Besides, with the cast that he’s assembled to his cause (Willis, Goodman, McDormand, Norton, Murray, Swinton, Keitel, Schwartzman), it’s unlikely that Moonrise Kingdom will be without its merits.
14) Casa de mi Padre: There is no reason this film should not turn out to be absolutely one hundred percent hilarious. If this turns out to be a failure, I think I’ll be devastated.
15) The Hobbit: Easily the film I’m most excited about in 2012, if the image kicking this post off is any indication. I’m a Tolkien buff, being an avid reader of Middle Earth mythology, and a huge admirer of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films, which rank among the very best pictures released in their decade. More than anything, though, I love The Hobbit. It’s one of my favorite books, even more than the Rings novels, so to see it receive the same cinematic treatment naturally lifts me up more than a bit. Familiar faces– Jackson and the WETA gang, Andy Serkis, and Ian McKellen, to name a few– as well as new ones– Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Graham McTavish, and others– coupled with the aesthetic continuity shown in Jackson’s production diaries and the recently unveiled trailer make me feel like I’m returning to a world I’ve longed to revisit for years. I, for one, cannot wait.
192 thoughts on “15 Films ACVF Is Excited About In 2012”
Cogan’s Trade has completely slipped my mind when talking about 2012 movies so far. Which is quite surprising considering how much I LOVED Jesse James.
Great list, obviously The Hobbit has to take the top spot.
Oh, of course. The day the Hobbit trailer came out felt like Christmas had come early. It really upped my faith in the project with GDT swapping out for Jackson and all.
I almost didn’t put Cogan’s Trade on here, mostly because it didn’t immediately click for me that Pitt + Dominik is a good thing. I’m getting a bit burnt out on Pitt. But seeing the two of them team up again? Yeah, can’t say no to that.
The preview images of Gatsby look like they’ve captured the tone– and the cast really looks like they belong in the era. Its success will definitely be determined by which Luhrmann shows up for production.
Thanks for stopping by– and I agree, this should be a great year for movies!
I am ABSOLUTLY NOT going to miss the hunger games!!!! But I think you forgot one movie…. Fallen!!! I cant wait to see it!! Though I have this horrible feeling Disney is gonna ruin the whole plot and make Daniel just tooo perfect :/
You missed The Dark Knight (the third installment) AND The Avengers. I’m just as much a lover of artistic films (and I want to see The Great Gatsby) but I cannot wait for both films even though all we get is good testosterone beating up bad testosterone.
I’m actually not looking as forward to The Dark Knight Rises as everyone else– not that I don’t want to see it, there are just other movies that I want to see more, and the trailer is the only thing that’s gotten me even a little excited for it. I may be more looking forward to The Avengers, but I think in the case of both it’s out of obligation since I’ve invested so much time in both series.
I agree with much of this list, but partly because the people I admire tend not to make crap.
Right after LOTR, I’m sure Peter Jackson was hounded with people wanting to make The Hobbit, mostly because he was the best person, proving himself at how astounding he made LOTR.
I’m also excited that Rian Johnson is bringing us another film. I might be biased; meeting him was one of the defining moments in my film career. Brothers Bloom is quirky and still holds a special place.
After Basterds, it’s hard for me to not be excited about Tarantino again. I’m not a huge fan of most of what he’s done in the last decade– though I love the guy nonetheless– but I think Django Unchained sounds fantastic, and I think Basterds really showed a side of him we haven’t fully seen before.
I think Jackson really needs The Hobbit. You’re probably right– everyone wanted him to make it after LotR was out in theaters and the saga was “done”– but he needs a hit. Very little he’s done since then has really been any good for him commercially or critically.
I admit to being concerned about him hopping aboard in the wake of GDT’s departure, but I think the trailer– and the production diaries– show him running at 100% and then some. So I’m excited.
Can’t wait for more Rian Johnson, either! He’s definitely one of the more exciting young filmmakers out there.
I was HUGELY disappointed with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but I think there is too much scrutiny from the fans for him to screw this one up… I hope.
Really? Weekend, War Horse, Tintin, Hugo, Drive, Limitless, Meek’s Cutoff, Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop, Trollhunter, I Saw the Devil, Certified Copy, 13 Assassins, Attack the Block, X-Men: First Class, Page One, The Muppets, The Descendants, Source Code, Win Win…I feel like there’s a lot of amazing stuff in 2011, and that’s only scratching the surface!
Good call on making the tentpoles more of an aside note to really call attention to some hot anticipated films. I’m very eager to see Django Unchained…I just wish Kevin Costener was still in it:(
But I’m right there with you on awaiting Looper and Cabin in the Woods!! Funny what you wrote about Bloom. I liked it a lot at first but found on second pass it didn’t hold up very well.
Thanks Marc– yeah, I really wanted to talk about what’s got me anxious for the cinematic year to start, and not just the given “stuff I’m going to see because it’s a big studio franchise picture” entries.
As far as Django goes, Costner’s departure is a loss, for sure, but Kurt Russell! QT got a career-high performance out of him in Death Proof (the first half at least). I’m looking forward to seeing him here.
I don’t totally dislike Bloom; it’s just a very weak follow-up to Brick and doesn’t do Johnson’s skill as a filmmaker justice. Interesting that it didn’t hold up on the second viewing– I wonder if I’d experience the reverse effect?
I hope so, for your sake…get you closer to a 2/2 for Johnson. Story gets a bit thin but I still get a kick out of the characters, esp Bang Bang:)
Fingers crossed for Russell and I second your enthusiasm but I wonder if QT can pull something equally devilish out of him again. Guess we’ll see right? Trailer! Trailer! Trailer!
Django maybe Tarantino’s redemption for use of “nigger” in his early work…or it mat destroy him. Either way I think Bastereds was his best film ever. I’m not expecting this new feature to top it but it will be another genre bending exploration.
I don’t normally do movies but I am excited about at least four, maybe even more after reading your list, films this year. I plan to see, in theaters (which is rare), “The Hobbit,” “Hunger Games,” “Atlas Shrugged 2” (Okay, I’m a huge Atlas Shrug fan and I’m really excited about the second one coming out.) and finally, “Star Trek.” After reading your list, I think that the non-sequel pixar movie might be really cool too. (Maybe that’s because Tangled is one of my top 25 favorite movies.) Obviously, different than yours, but that’s my take on the movies.
So excited for all of these! Not going to lie, Jack the Giant Killer looks a bit promising too. Although Bryan Singer did direct Superman Returns so, it’s either a hit or a miss with this one, but I’m hopeful.
I haven’t been to a theater since this summer. I really didn’t see much in the fall and Christmas movies that I was interested in, but you’ve labeled some of the movies that I definitely want to see this year (“The Hobbit”, “The Hunger Games”, and “Brave), as well as giving me some new ones to watch out for (“Prometheus”, “Moonrise Kingdom”, and “Only God Forgives”). Thanks!
Love the list. I’m not a huge Tarantino fan, but I’m curious about Django. I also think Being Flynn (with Robert De Niro and Paul Dano) might have some great acting, though it’s not getting as much buzz as some of the other movies next year. .
I like Tarantino as a filmmaker even if I don’t fall head over heels for everything he does. I wrote a whole article on my relationship to him and his body of work; I like him, but I don’t always like his movies. That said, Basterds I feel is something of a turning point for him and by extension I’m VERY interested in Django. We’ll see how that goes.
Being Flynn is on my radar, and I actually thought about putting it here. It more or less came down to a coin flip. I do want to see Paul Dano act alongside De Niro– strange but solid combination.
I don’t know that Halo will be coming out anytime soon– it got canned in 2007 and the last word on it is that it’ll get made “at some point”. But I can only be excited for The Hobbit.
Awesome list! Some of these are new to me, some aren’t, but you’ve done them all justice.
Personally, I can’t wait for The Hobbit. I just hope it lives up the high bar set by the LOTR series. Otherwise, 3 hours of boredom will kill me!
I think The Hobbit should stand up to LoTR. I’m curious to see how they handle splitting it into two films, and I want to see where they place the break between the two pictures.
I’m looking forward to it, but largely because I’ve put so much time into the Marvel films that I more or less have to. I like Whedon, but he’s hit or miss for me, and some of the dialogue from the trailer really put me off for being so painfully Whedon-ish. I’m interested in seeing what he does with the property, though.
I can’t believe we have to wait a YEAR for the Hobbit! Why can’t it be sooner?! And I saw the trailer for The Hunger Games, and had to read the books. They’re great, and I can’t wait for the movie!
I quite like the first Hunger Games novel– I haven’t read the rest, as they’re very back ordered at my library– and I like the film’s cast. I’ll be there for sure, I’d just like to see the movie marketed better and more aggressively.
As for The Hobbit, I love Tolkien’s work and I love how Jackson brought the Rings novels to life, so I’m already in the theater waiting for the show to start, if you get my drift.
I don’t usually go to movies in theatres (due to distance and expense) but that Great Gatsby has me tempted to break my resolve. I can imagine there’s a big debate on whether or not it should be remade, considering the original was so close to the book. Personally, I’d love to see it remade, not because I didn’t like the original, but because subject matter like Gatsby should be made fresh and youthful for each new generation. Otherwise, it would lose its original vitiality and that sense of urgency and change it was meant to have.
Funny! I also thought of the Hunger Games as a ripoff of Battle Royale because I love the book and saw the movie. I’m not really a movie person but I am looking forward to The Avengers movie which is not on your list. I always loved the comic 🙂
Burn on me. I made the edit, thanks for being vigilant!
Re: Basterds. Me too. It felt very like a Tarantino film in spirit while feeling like something completely new from him. It honestly made me rethink my whole relationship to his work.
great list. Some of the films I have yet to hear of but has now got me excited 🙂 I’ll be watching out for your reviews this year for sure! Congrats on freshly pressed, btw
I had no idea The Great Gatsby was coming out in 2012, but I will probably watch it. It is one of my favorite books that I was required to read for school.
But most of my excitement is for Brave. I will never underestimate Pixar.
The trailer alone for The Hobbit gave me chills, I can’t wait! Django has gotten so much hype in movie circles already, with such an amazing cast I’m keeping fingers/toes/eyes crossed that it doesn’t disappoint.
I had the same reaction to The Hobbit‘s trailer– really took me back to Middle Earth and made me feel like I was coming home, in effect. As for Django, yeah, it’s getting a ton of praise just at the script level, so we’ll see what QT makes of it when the film is in the can.
good list but im not very excited for hunger games. my number one has to be dark knight rises. i was completely unaware of the great gatsby. im gonna keep an eye out for it cause i love the book.
The Great Gatsby! I am just waiting for the day of the premiere to get my first watch to it 😀 Leonardo Dicaprio’s performance (I’m sure) will be breath taking as usual 🙂
Great list! We’re pretty excited about Cabin In The Woods…but then we’re also big Whedon fans in general! Our top three from your list here would go a little something like this:
1. Cabin In The Woods
2. Prometheus
3. The Hobbit
Thanks for sharing! We’re looking forward to the movies of 2012 as well!
Nice! Thanks for reminding me of some of the other great films I’m excited about! I’ve been too hyped up on The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises that I forgot about other gems like Prometheus, Django Unchained, and Looper! I just started reading The Hunger Games and I am absolutely stoked for the film now. Also definitely looking forward to The Great Gatsby even though I’m not a fan of it being in 3D – hopefully in that case, theaters will offer the 2D alternative. Awesome blog, BTW. 🙂
Great list Andrew! I know we shouldn’t get our hopes up too much but it looks pretty likely that Terrence Malick next movie (a.k.a. “The Tree of Life on steroids”) will come out this year. I’m surprised that it has made no list so far.
The only reason it didn’t make this list is because there’s no guarantee it’ll be out in 2012. Likely, maybe, but I didn’t think it was a sure thing. Regardless I’ll be there whenever it does enjoy its release.
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1) Prometheus: Maybe you could file this under “genre franchise film”, but Prometheus has enormous promise. We all know at this point that it’s some manner of Alien prequel; how explicitly the two films connect remains to be seen, of course, and the severity of their intertwining could either make Prometheus into something really special or a painfully by-the-numbers over-explanation of the mythology behind the iconic xenomorph of Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror masterwork. Taking into consideration the film’s pedigree– not only Scott but writer Damon Lindelof, a plus or a minus depending on who you talk to, as well as Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, and Guy Pearce– there’s no reason not to be enthused over Prometheus outside of fan caution.
3) Django Unchained: Hey, I’m actually looking forward to a Quentin Tarantino film. Imagine that. 2009’s Inglourious Basterds blew me away, clearly marking QT’s best, most personal work to date, and so it’s with little trepidation that I anticipate Django‘s release. The cast is terrific– notably Leonardo DiCaprio as the villain, which tickles me, and most of all Jamie Foxx, who hasn’t really done anything great since 2007’s The Kingdom— and the film reads like an opportunity for Tarantino to let his inspirations inform his own personal vision, instead of allowing them to run rampant. (Plus? Poster of the year, hands down.)
4) Brave: At this point I’ve written about Brave enough that my excitement for it need not be conveyed further. Put simply, it’s a wonderful to see Pixar turn out an original film after two sequels in a row, and to see them tackle a specific narrative convention by putting their own twist on the princess story.
8) Cabin in the Woods: This played at the annual Butt-Numb-A-Thon hosted by Ain’t It Cool News to great praise, evaporating any concerns I had about the film’s relevance. Cabin in the Woods has been on the shelves for more than two years; as a meta-referential horror film, the passage of time could be most unkind. In the case of Cabin, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Between baby face masks, bird-electrocuting laser grids, the promise of monsters, genre examinations, and of course the hugely positive BNAT response, Cabin sounds like a must-see horror flick.
11) The Hunger Games: I don’t think I’ve made it a secret that I like Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games— maybe not so much for the book itself, though it is engrossing in its fashion, but for the fact that it’s teen lit that amounts to more than just hormonal pandering. The Internet-housed criticism against it– that it’s just a Battle Royale rip-off– makes me root for its success on the big-screen all the more. I don’t know that Lionsgate is marketing it correctly, still (though the puzzle piece hunt was intriguing enough), but buzz from the readership and from media outlets could be enough to get people into theaters just to see what everyone’s talking about. If nothing else I know that I’ll be there to check it out.
14) Casa de mi Padre: There is no reason this film should not turn out to be absolutely one hundred percent hilarious. If this turns out to be a failure, I think I’ll be devastated.
Cogan’s Trade has completely slipped my mind when talking about 2012 movies so far. Which is quite surprising considering how much I LOVED Jesse James.
Great list, obviously The Hobbit has to take the top spot.
Oh, of course. The day the Hobbit trailer came out felt like Christmas had come early. It really upped my faith in the project with GDT swapping out for Jackson and all.
I almost didn’t put Cogan’s Trade on here, mostly because it didn’t immediately click for me that Pitt + Dominik is a good thing. I’m getting a bit burnt out on Pitt. But seeing the two of them team up again? Yeah, can’t say no to that.
OOOH! The Great Gatsby?!?! One of my favorite Fitzgerald works, and I can only imagine how visually stunning it will be was Baz at the helm.
Great list — I’m excited for the year in films!
🙂
The preview images of Gatsby look like they’ve captured the tone– and the cast really looks like they belong in the era. Its success will definitely be determined by which Luhrmann shows up for production.
Thanks for stopping by– and I agree, this should be a great year for movies!
great list! cannot wait to see a few of these…
I very much agree.
I am ABSOLUTLY NOT going to miss the hunger games!!!! But I think you forgot one movie…. Fallen!!! I cant wait to see it!! Though I have this horrible feeling Disney is gonna ruin the whole plot and make Daniel just tooo perfect :/
I don’t know anything about Fallen, but if it gets well-received I’m sure I’ll check it out!
You missed The Dark Knight (the third installment) AND The Avengers. I’m just as much a lover of artistic films (and I want to see The Great Gatsby) but I cannot wait for both films even though all we get is good testosterone beating up bad testosterone.
I’m actually not looking as forward to The Dark Knight Rises as everyone else– not that I don’t want to see it, there are just other movies that I want to see more, and the trailer is the only thing that’s gotten me even a little excited for it. I may be more looking forward to The Avengers, but I think in the case of both it’s out of obligation since I’ve invested so much time in both series.
I agree with much of this list, but partly because the people I admire tend not to make crap.
Right after LOTR, I’m sure Peter Jackson was hounded with people wanting to make The Hobbit, mostly because he was the best person, proving himself at how astounding he made LOTR.
I’m also excited that Rian Johnson is bringing us another film. I might be biased; meeting him was one of the defining moments in my film career. Brothers Bloom is quirky and still holds a special place.
And Tarantino! Nuff said.
After Basterds, it’s hard for me to not be excited about Tarantino again. I’m not a huge fan of most of what he’s done in the last decade– though I love the guy nonetheless– but I think Django Unchained sounds fantastic, and I think Basterds really showed a side of him we haven’t fully seen before.
I think Jackson really needs The Hobbit. You’re probably right– everyone wanted him to make it after LotR was out in theaters and the saga was “done”– but he needs a hit. Very little he’s done since then has really been any good for him commercially or critically.
I admit to being concerned about him hopping aboard in the wake of GDT’s departure, but I think the trailer– and the production diaries– show him running at 100% and then some. So I’m excited.
Can’t wait for more Rian Johnson, either! He’s definitely one of the more exciting young filmmakers out there.
I really spect watch every movie at cinema this year!! Will be awesome 2012 for movies, I hope so!! 🙂
That’s a great list but after The Hobbit I am most excited about Dark Shadows.
I would love to see Burton make a really great movie after a string of misses– so I’m cautious but hopeful.
I was HUGELY disappointed with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but I think there is too much scrutiny from the fans for him to screw this one up… I hope.
Isn’t the dark knight and the avengers also coming out in 2012? those are the movies I am looking forward to.
They’re certainly coming out, but they’re not as high up there for me as other movies.
thanks for this well designed list!
I am not so appreciative of 2011 though as far as cinema is concerned. I feel it was an average year!
Hope 2012 is much better!
Really? Weekend, War Horse, Tintin, Hugo, Drive, Limitless, Meek’s Cutoff, Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop, Trollhunter, I Saw the Devil, Certified Copy, 13 Assassins, Attack the Block, X-Men: First Class, Page One, The Muppets, The Descendants, Source Code, Win Win…I feel like there’s a lot of amazing stuff in 2011, and that’s only scratching the surface!
Good call on making the tentpoles more of an aside note to really call attention to some hot anticipated films. I’m very eager to see Django Unchained…I just wish Kevin Costener was still in it:(
But I’m right there with you on awaiting Looper and Cabin in the Woods!! Funny what you wrote about Bloom. I liked it a lot at first but found on second pass it didn’t hold up very well.
Thanks Marc– yeah, I really wanted to talk about what’s got me anxious for the cinematic year to start, and not just the given “stuff I’m going to see because it’s a big studio franchise picture” entries.
As far as Django goes, Costner’s departure is a loss, for sure, but Kurt Russell! QT got a career-high performance out of him in Death Proof (the first half at least). I’m looking forward to seeing him here.
I don’t totally dislike Bloom; it’s just a very weak follow-up to Brick and doesn’t do Johnson’s skill as a filmmaker justice. Interesting that it didn’t hold up on the second viewing– I wonder if I’d experience the reverse effect?
I hope so, for your sake…get you closer to a 2/2 for Johnson. Story gets a bit thin but I still get a kick out of the characters, esp Bang Bang:)
Fingers crossed for Russell and I second your enthusiasm but I wonder if QT can pull something equally devilish out of him again. Guess we’ll see right? Trailer! Trailer! Trailer!
Oh, Bloom‘s characters are great– it’s just thin on drama for me.
Agreed on Django. Gimme that promo material! Though I’d settle for a kosher copy of the script, which apparently is phenomenal.
Django maybe Tarantino’s redemption for use of “nigger” in his early work…or it mat destroy him. Either way I think Bastereds was his best film ever. I’m not expecting this new feature to top it but it will be another genre bending exploration.
I don’t normally do movies but I am excited about at least four, maybe even more after reading your list, films this year. I plan to see, in theaters (which is rare), “The Hobbit,” “Hunger Games,” “Atlas Shrugged 2” (Okay, I’m a huge Atlas Shrug fan and I’m really excited about the second one coming out.) and finally, “Star Trek.” After reading your list, I think that the non-sequel pixar movie might be really cool too. (Maybe that’s because Tangled is one of my top 25 favorite movies.) Obviously, different than yours, but that’s my take on the movies.
So excited for all of these! Not going to lie, Jack the Giant Killer looks a bit promising too. Although Bryan Singer did direct Superman Returns so, it’s either a hit or a miss with this one, but I’m hopeful.
I haven’t been to a theater since this summer. I really didn’t see much in the fall and Christmas movies that I was interested in, but you’ve labeled some of the movies that I definitely want to see this year (“The Hobbit”, “The Hunger Games”, and “Brave), as well as giving me some new ones to watch out for (“Prometheus”, “Moonrise Kingdom”, and “Only God Forgives”). Thanks!
No problem! If I can bring a few movies to your attention and get you a bit excited for the new cinematic year, then I’ve done my job!
Love the list. I’m not a huge Tarantino fan, but I’m curious about Django. I also think Being Flynn (with Robert De Niro and Paul Dano) might have some great acting, though it’s not getting as much buzz as some of the other movies next year. .
I like Tarantino as a filmmaker even if I don’t fall head over heels for everything he does. I wrote a whole article on my relationship to him and his body of work; I like him, but I don’t always like his movies. That said, Basterds I feel is something of a turning point for him and by extension I’m VERY interested in Django. We’ll see how that goes.
Being Flynn is on my radar, and I actually thought about putting it here. It more or less came down to a coin flip. I do want to see Paul Dano act alongside De Niro– strange but solid combination.
Came to assure that The Master and Gravity were on your list…left satisfied.
Happy to see I didn’t disappoint, Monty!
Good stuff. Personally I am looking forward to The Hobbit and Halo. I hope they don’t disappoint. Great reviews.
http://mittenmouthmusic.wordpress.com
I don’t know that Halo will be coming out anytime soon– it got canned in 2007 and the last word on it is that it’ll get made “at some point”. But I can only be excited for The Hobbit.
Awesome list! Some of these are new to me, some aren’t, but you’ve done them all justice.
Personally, I can’t wait for The Hobbit. I just hope it lives up the high bar set by the LOTR series. Otherwise, 3 hours of boredom will kill me!
I think The Hobbit should stand up to LoTR. I’m curious to see how they handle splitting it into two films, and I want to see where they place the break between the two pictures.
Happy to have turned you on to a few new films!
I’m so glad I saw this post – ‘The Great Gatsby’ is one of my favourite books so I’m equally excited for the movie (I didn’t even know!) 🙂 Happy 2012!
I’m going to go back and re-read it in anticipation for the movie– it’s been a long time! Happy 2012 to you too!
Hunger Games looks great! This is an awesome site :o)
I can’t believe The Avengers didn’t make the list. It’s being directed by John Whedon. We can only expect greatness from it.
I’m looking forward to it, but largely because I’ve put so much time into the Marvel films that I more or less have to. I like Whedon, but he’s hit or miss for me, and some of the dialogue from the trailer really put me off for being so painfully Whedon-ish. I’m interested in seeing what he does with the property, though.
I can’t believe we have to wait a YEAR for the Hobbit! Why can’t it be sooner?! And I saw the trailer for The Hunger Games, and had to read the books. They’re great, and I can’t wait for the movie!
I quite like the first Hunger Games novel– I haven’t read the rest, as they’re very back ordered at my library– and I like the film’s cast. I’ll be there for sure, I’d just like to see the movie marketed better and more aggressively.
As for The Hobbit, I love Tolkien’s work and I love how Jackson brought the Rings novels to life, so I’m already in the theater waiting for the show to start, if you get my drift.
I really have to get out more. I like the movies but I just never go. Your list has given me something to think about. TY.
Val
http://valentinedefrancis.wordpress.com
Hey Val, glad I could give you something to mull over!
The Hobbit, The Great Gatsby and Brave top’s my list. As a comic book fan, I’m also excited about The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises.
I don’t usually go to movies in theatres (due to distance and expense) but that Great Gatsby has me tempted to break my resolve. I can imagine there’s a big debate on whether or not it should be remade, considering the original was so close to the book. Personally, I’d love to see it remade, not because I didn’t like the original, but because subject matter like Gatsby should be made fresh and youthful for each new generation. Otherwise, it would lose its original vitiality and that sense of urgency and change it was meant to have.
Waiting for the Hobbit and the artistic expressions of Middle Earth…
Funny! I also thought of the Hunger Games as a ripoff of Battle Royale because I love the book and saw the movie. I’m not really a movie person but I am looking forward to The Avengers movie which is not on your list. I always loved the comic 🙂
Awesome list. And I think it’s Suzanne Collins, not Susan 🙂
I’ll be watching out for Django as I was a fan of Basterds 🙂
Burn on me. I made the edit, thanks for being vigilant!
Re: Basterds. Me too. It felt very like a Tarantino film in spirit while feeling like something completely new from him. It honestly made me rethink my whole relationship to his work.
great list. Some of the films I have yet to hear of but has now got me excited 🙂 I’ll be watching out for your reviews this year for sure! Congrats on freshly pressed, btw
I had no idea The Great Gatsby was coming out in 2012, but I will probably watch it. It is one of my favorite books that I was required to read for school.
But most of my excitement is for Brave. I will never underestimate Pixar.
I’m definitely looking forward to Brave, The Hobbit, and Hunger Games! I don’t think I knew about The Great Gatsby being made into a movie, though.
Interesting list. I’m looking at Brave right now. Normally, I like Pixar’s films, but Cars 2 didn’t interest me enough to spend my time on it.
I just expect more from Pixar than Cars films, really. But everyone strikes out sometimes.
Brave is something I’ve wanted to see since ’09, so I don’t think my anticipation level could be higher.
The trailer alone for The Hobbit gave me chills, I can’t wait! Django has gotten so much hype in movie circles already, with such an amazing cast I’m keeping fingers/toes/eyes crossed that it doesn’t disappoint.
I had the same reaction to The Hobbit‘s trailer– really took me back to Middle Earth and made me feel like I was coming home, in effect. As for Django, yeah, it’s getting a ton of praise just at the script level, so we’ll see what QT makes of it when the film is in the can.
Recently saw We Bought a Zoo – recommend – great movie!
whaaa titanic’s not on the list 🙁
but looking forward to Great Gatsby movie since reading it in high school
Wow. I just posted The Hobbit and Brave as movies I want to see. I’m going back to add a link to your post. “See you at the movies.”
Thanks a lot, Ty! Looks like we’ve got pretty similar tastes!
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Nothing really gets me excited as I look at the movies coming in 2012. Congrats on getting pressed!
Really? There’s a ton of talent releasing new stuff in the coming year– if anything people should find the return of Cuaron to be exciting.
Great Job I cant wait for The Hunger Games and The Hobbit.
Congrats on fp.
P.S. I love your theme.
Thanks Fox!
I’m not a movie buff, but this helps me keep an eye out for what’s watchable
Happy to be of service!
good list but im not very excited for hunger games. my number one has to be dark knight rises. i was completely unaware of the great gatsby. im gonna keep an eye out for it cause i love the book.
The Great Gatsby! I am just waiting for the day of the premiere to get my first watch to it 😀 Leonardo Dicaprio’s performance (I’m sure) will be breath taking as usual 🙂
Great list! We’re pretty excited about Cabin In The Woods…but then we’re also big Whedon fans in general! Our top three from your list here would go a little something like this:
1. Cabin In The Woods
2. Prometheus
3. The Hobbit
Thanks for sharing! We’re looking forward to the movies of 2012 as well!
So cool! I’m excited mostly about Brave and The Hobbit. I didn’t even know the Great Gatsby was being made – that’s awesome.
Nice! Thanks for reminding me of some of the other great films I’m excited about! I’ve been too hyped up on The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises that I forgot about other gems like Prometheus, Django Unchained, and Looper! I just started reading The Hunger Games and I am absolutely stoked for the film now. Also definitely looking forward to The Great Gatsby even though I’m not a fan of it being in 3D – hopefully in that case, theaters will offer the 2D alternative. Awesome blog, BTW. 🙂
Great list Andrew! I know we shouldn’t get our hopes up too much but it looks pretty likely that Terrence Malick next movie (a.k.a. “The Tree of Life on steroids”) will come out this year. I’m surprised that it has made no list so far.
The only reason it didn’t make this list is because there’s no guarantee it’ll be out in 2012. Likely, maybe, but I didn’t think it was a sure thing. Regardless I’ll be there whenever it does enjoy its release.
2012 is going to be a phenomenal year in film.
I go to the movies far less than I used to. Great list but I think I might wait for them to come to downloads.