We're deep into it now as we venture into my Top 20 Most Anticiapted Movies of 2013 with numbers 11-20. If you haven't checked out Parts One, Two or Three just yet, don't worry, every installment is linked on Page Three of this post as well as directly below, so check these out and then go check out any you may have missed.
Most Anticipated 2013 Navigation
As for today's ten we have a 1920s magician, a new le Carré thriller, a scary Kidman, prescription drugs, the capper to the "Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy", 1970s organized crime in Brooklyn, art thieves, the mountains of North Carolina, a priest and a New York fashionista coupled with a neurotic. Maybe some of those hints tip you off as to what's in store over the next couple of pages, but hopefully I can offer a few surprises. Either way, I think we're really treading deep into the good stuff, let's have a look...
#20
A Most Wanted Man
TBA
Based on the novel by John le Carré and directed by Anton Corbijn (Control, The American), A Most Wanted Man is a thriller starring Willem Dafoe, Rachel McAdams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright and Daniel Brühl.
The story kicks off when a half-Chechen, half-Russian immigrant is tortured half-to-death and turns up in Hamburg's Islamic community, laying claim to his father's ill gotten fortune. Both German and US security agencies take a close interest and attempt to establish the man's true identity and determine whether he's an oppressed victim or destruction-bent extremist.
Many will probably remember Corbijn's The American starring George Clooney and the con-job that was done through the film's marketing that made it look like another Bourne feature. Personally I liked that film, but can understand the frustration with being sold one thing and getting quite another when you head to the theater. My guess is the same mistake won't be made this time.
Focus was looking to distribute the film at one point, but that deal has yet to close. Now expectation is that it will head to the film market in Berlin and Cannes, which means we're likely looking at a late year release and a possible Venice or Toronto Film Festival premiere.
#19
Nightingale
(aka Lowlife)
TBA
Photo: The Weinstein Co.
Nightingale (aka Lowlife) is the latest film from James Gray (Two Lovers, We Own the Night) and it's sporting a cast that includes Jeremy Renner, Marion Cotillard and Joaquin Phoenix.
The story is set in the 1920s and centers on Ewa Cybulski (Cotillard) as she and her sister sail to New York from their native Poland. Ewa eventually finds herself along, on the streets of Manhattan and falls prey to Bruno (Phoenix), a charming but wicked man who takes her in and forces her into prostitution. Bruno's cousin, Orlando (Renner), a magician, sweeps her off her feet and becomes her only chance to escape the nightmare in which she finds herself.
A sneak peek at the film played at the Telluride Film Festival last year where The Playlist said the five minute snippet "featured the incredible textured and shadow-heavy work of DP Darius Khondji. Showing off a sequence in a church in New York's Lower East Side, Nightingale is Gray's most overt period-piece, but looks as moody, atmospheric and somber as his previous pictures, this time strengthened by some incredible art direction and, at least in this scene, the solemn religious iconography."
Expectation is the film will likely show up in Cannes where Harvey Weinstein will hope to begin its Oscar run.
#18
Stoker
March 1
Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Stoker was among my most anticipated films of 2012. It received its MPAA rating last April and I expected it to show up at Cannes... then Toronto. No to both.
Well, Chan-wook Park's (Oldboy) English language debut will finally arrive in March and I can't wait.
The story finds Matthew Goode playing Uncle Charlie to Mia Wasikowska's India, a girl whose father recently passed away in a car accident leaving her alone with her emotionally unstable mother (Nicole Kidman), which is when Charlie comes into the picture. I've only seen glimpses of the trailer, but if you need more of the story than that, give it a look and let me know what you think.
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Side Effects & Blue Jasmine for me. Side Effects looks similar to Contagion (which made my top 5 of 2011 and is my second favorite Soderbergh film) and the only question with Woody Allen is will it be good or great. I'm fine with Allen just making a 3/5 movie, so he never really disappoints me.
I remain interested but skeptical about Nightingale, Trance and Blood Ties.
Of today's list I'm interested in Nightingale, Stoker, The Worlds End, Blood Ties (maybe, as American Gangster was a dud and the synopsis vaguely recalls it) and Serena. I was interested in Side Effects but then for me Magic Mike and Haywire were both utter duds so at the moment I'm shifting it to rental until nearer the time. The one plus is I did like Contagion a lot, which Side Effects shares a writer with. So that may edge it back in at some point.
I don't like Danny Boyle.
Nightingale looks interesting to me, and if I get a chance I'd like to see Lawrence and Cooper together again in Serena. If Side Effects is anything like Contagion then sign me up.
That's not how he gets the head injury at all in the screenplay I read for Trance. Was there a newer draft they used?
I didn't read the screenplay, just relayed the synopsis.
Really looking forward to Side Affects, as I love Soderbergh (I did not like Magic Mike, however). Nightingale looks interesting as does Trance, and Serana. And i loved Hot Fuzz, so i'll be look ing forward to The World's End too
Side Effects, The World's End, and Trance are the highlight of this list for me.
Side Effects (Soderbergh), Serena (Jennifer Lawrence) and Blue Jasmine (Woody Allen) are the ones I'm looking forward too!
serena, trance, blue jasmine, side effects, blood ties all sound good. nightingale sounds amazing and is easily one of my most anticipated movies of the year
a most wanted man and calvary also sound great, i loved both the american and the guard
Any thoughts on "The Two Faces of January"?
So happy to see The World's End on here! I think Edgar Wright is fantastic, and both Shaun and Fuzz are two of my favourite movies. Very high hopes for this one :).
How can you not love a moniker like "The Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy"? Trance looks interesting too. J Law is on a magnificent roll with Winter's Bone, The Hunger Games/X-Men franchises, SLP, and now Serena.
"Serena" interests me most among this group. How refreshing to see a young (22) actress like Jennifer Lawrence being cast in roles with real substance. "Trance" also looks interesting, and I'd watch Brendan Gleeson in anything - the man is a real force of nature who's overdue for some awards attention.
He got nominated for his third globe just last year, but yea if your hoping for the oscars then hopefully sometime soon.
Nightingale and World's End are pretty much at the top of my list for 2013.
Lowlife & Blood ties are very high on my list so I'm very happy that you put them on your list. Great list overall.