Upcoming movies: A missing wife, a crazy reporter and… a birdman?

As the summer slowly but surely gives way to autumn (ok, maybe not so much here in Malta), it's time to leave the beach for the movie theaters. Here are a couple of movies to look forward to in the coming months, with a very short reason why I'm looking forward to them and trailers.

Nightcrawler

Obviously having lost his iPhone, Jake has to use a flashlight in 'Nightcrawler'.

"A young man stumbles upon the underground world of L.A. freelance crime journalism." That's the plot summarization on imdb.com. It doesn't say much, and for once the trailer doesn't give too much away either. Jake Gyllenhaal looks brilliantly crazy, the editing in the trailer looks promising and L.A. looks dangerously seducing. Bill Paxton and Rene Russo also star in this movie, but this definitely looks like a Jake Gyllenhaal movie. Could this be the 'Drive' of 2014? Check out the trailer and tell me you are not looking forward to this one. US release date is October 17th. 

The Drop

James Gandolfini and Tom Hardy in 'The Drop'

James Gandolfini's last movie looks like a good one! Director Michäel R. Roskam from Belgium has brought Matthias Schoenaerts with him, an actor who also collaborated with the director in the critically acclaimed movie 'Bullhead'. Schoenaerts did a brilliant job together with Marion Cotillard in the French movie 'Rust and Bone', a movie which despite all odds managed to use a Katy Perry song in a dramatic scene successfully. But back to 'The Drop'… James Gandolfini is joined by Tom Hardy, an actor who seems to get better and better for each movie he makes, and Swedish actress Noomi Rapace, famous for her character Lisbeth Salander in the Millennium trilogy. Also, the film is based on a novel by Dennis Lehane, and the author also wrote the script for the movie. Dennis Lehane wrote 'Mystic River' and 'Gone Baby Gone', two other novels that were adapted into two very fine movies, so expectations are high. He also wrote a couple of episodes of 'The Wire', arguably one of the best TV dramas to hit the screen. US release date is September 12th.

Trailer: 

The Equalizer

This movie has Denzel Washington kicking some serious ass. I doubt further reasons to watch the movie are necessary, however I'd like to point out the fact that this movie reunited Denzel with the director of 'Training Day', Antoine Fuqua (yeah, that's his last name). The movie is a new version of the TV-series from the 80s, and a sequel seems to be planned already… Chloë Grace Moretz (Kick Ass, Hugo, Let Me In) and Melissa Leo (The Fighter, Prisoners, Treme) are also on the cast list. US release date is September 26th. 

Trailer: 

Gone Girl

Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) during a press conference in 'Gone Girl'.

Gillian Flynn's novel 'Gone Girl' was a huge hit when it was released, and it didn't take long before a film deal was in order. The book was brilliant, and with David Fincher as director (Se7en, Fight Club, The Social Network) the script for it, also written by Flynn, couldn't have been in better hands. Ben Affleck takes on the lead role as Nick Dunne, whose wife (played by Rosamund Pike) goes missing. Nick is the lead suspect, and as we go back and forth in time, the couple's story is told in fractions never giving away too much, and always keeping us guessing… well, in the book anyway, and as author Flynn is responsible for the script, I highly doubt we can expect anything less from the movie. Could be one of the highlights of the year. US release date is October 3rd.

Trailer: 

Birdman

Alejandro González Inárritu has directed some wonderful movies before, such as 'Amores Perros' and '21 Grams', and this time he's back with a movie about a washed-up actor passed his prime. Michael Keaton plays the lead role, as the actor trying to cope with his former career as he tries to relaunch himself in a new Broadway play. From the looks of it, the movie is quite a spectacular piece of work, and I won't be surprised if this movie also gives Keaton an Oscar nomination. It certainly looks like a typical candidate. The movie boasts a stellar cast, with Emma Stone, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Amy Ryan and Zach Galifianakis. I'm crossing my fingers that it won't be too out there, but the trailer looks promising. US release date is October 17th.

Interstellar

Probably one of, if not THE, most anticipated movies in a while, Christopher Nolan is back in the director chair with a movie he wrote himself, 'Interstellar'. His resume alone is reason enough to watch the movie. His directorial CV includes 'Memento', 'The Prestige', 'Inception' and the Dark Knight Batman trilogy. Michael Caine is back working with Nolan again, while Matthew McConaughey has the lead role. The recent Oscar winner can do no wrong these days, and after the success of 'True Detective' and his award winning performance in 'Dallas Buyers Club', he's set for another big movie.
Anna Hathaway, Casey Affleck and Jessica Chastain also play their part in the movie set for US release on November the 7th.

Trailer: 

The Imitation Game

Directed by Norwegian Morten Tyldrum, this movie tells the story of mathematician Alan Turing, who helped the allies trying to crack the Enigma code during WWII, as the code breakers fought in a race against time against the Germans. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Alan Turing, with Mark Strong, Matthew Goode and Keira Knightley in supporting roles. Looks like a very good drama. The movie is set for US release November 21st. 

Trailer: 

Based on the book by...

It might be true; in most cases the books are better than the movies or TV-shows that follow them, but in many cases that does not necessarily mean that the movies/TV-shows are bad. On the contrary, so many great movies out there are based on books and novels, and here are a couple of my favorites:

Gone Baby Gone

One of my favorite movies, Ben Affleck surprised quite a few with his directorial debut for a feature film. This crime drama centers around two young detectives, Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro, who are hired to investigate the disappearance of a young girl from a tough Boston neighborhood. Definitely not a feel good film, it does raise some interesting questions on morale, and the story is portioned out at a perfect pace. Casey Affleck does a very fine job portraying Patrick Kenzie, though Michelle Monaghan is maybe even more impressive as his somewhat quiet partner Angie. The movie is also starring Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, my personal favorite Titus Welliver, sporting a rather ludicrous mustache and Amy Ryan, who is absolutely brilliant in her portrayal of the little girl's mother. 

The opening montage is wonderful. Accompanied by the monologue spoken by Casey Affleck, it sets the tone for a wonderful movie based on the book by Dennis Lehane: 

Sleepers

Another personal favorite of mine, this movie is based on the novel by Lorenzo Carcaterra. It depicts the story of four childhood friends in Hells Kitchen, New York, who ends up at a home for boys for 6-18 months after a prank on a hot dog vendor ends up killing a person. Unlucky. Both for the innocent victim of their prank and for themselves… At the home for boys they are systematically brutalized and abused, ultimately changing them and their friendship forever. The movie tells us both the story of the young boys as well as the story of their need for revenge and redemption as they get older.

Eldard, Crudup, Pitt, Patric and Driver in 'Sleepers'. 

The cast is perfect. Brad Pitt, Jason Patric, Ron Eldard and Billy Crudup plays the "old" version of the boys, and the film also have Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Minnie Driver and Kevin Bacon in important roles. Warning: You might end up hating Kevin Bacon after watching this movie. I did for years after watching it for the first time. 

Trailer: 

Band of Brothers

I'm not a huge fan of war movies. Just never really liked them much. There are exceptions of course, and this miniseries is one of them. There is obviously a lot of violence in it, but the beauty of the series is  the characters, the brotherhood, the amazing performances, the stories told and… well, the job Spielberg and Tom Hanks did. Because, have no doubt about it; the series looks amazing on screen. 

The series is based on the Stephen Ambrose book of the same titles. The cast includes actors such as Damian Lewis (Homeland), Scott Grimes, Donnie Wahlberg, Michael Cudlitz, Dexter Fletcher, Ross McCall, Michael Fassbender, David Schwimmer (!), Tom Hardy (!!!) and Neal McDonough. 

Tom Hardy before he hit the big time

Funfact: The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon has one scene in one of the episodes. 

Also, the show has one of the best intros ever. The score alone is enough to give you goosebumps. 

No Country for Old Men

The Coen Brothers have made a lot of brilliant movies, and this 2007 movie is definitely one of them. Based on a novel by the same name by Cormac McCarthy, the story revolves around a hunter who stumbles upon 2 million dollars in what looks like a drug deal gone bad. Naturally, when 2 million dollars are gone, there will be people looking for it. 

Javier Bardem laughs at his own haircut

Josh Brolin is stellar in his lead role as Llewelyn Moss, as is Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh, a class A psychopath with a class Z haircut. Tommy Lee Jones plays Ed Tom Bell, an old cop not used to the violence following in the path of Moss and Chigurh. The actor with the stone face is as laconic as ever, a perfect fit for the part. Woody Harrelson also plays a part in this brilliant adaptation of what I can only imagine must be a very good read. 

Trailer:

Mystic River

Another movie adapted from a Dennis Lehane novel, and again, as with 'Gone Baby Gone', the story takes place in Boston. Clint Eastwood directs the movie, Brian Helgeland adapted the novel into a script, and Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins, Laurence Fishbourne and the wonderful Marcia Gay Harden brings the story to life on the big screen. Sean Penn plays an ex-con, Jimmy, whose daughter, Katie, is killed, and he launches his own investigation using his contacts in the streets. Again, as with 'Gone Baby Gone', we're not in for a feel good movie, but a good one? Oh, definitely! Sean Penn and Tim Robbins are amazing, and Clint Eastwood is a wonderful director. Looking forward to reading the book as well. 

Trailer: 

Jackie Brown

Tarantino's first adaption after having written all his earlier films, Jackie Brown is based on the novel Rum Punch by Elmore Leonard. Pam Grier is brilliant, and both Robert Forster and Michael Keaton did some of their best work in a long time. As with most of Tarantino's work, the dialogue is highly entertaining, and the violence both expected and sudden. Robert De Niro does one of his best supporting roles of the 90s, and Samuel L. Jackson is, as usual, a bad ass mutha… 

Odell: Is she dead? Louis Gara: Pretty much...

Justified

In 2001, Elmore Lenoard wrote a short novel, 'Fire in the Hole', about U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens and his pursuit of Boyd Crowder. About 9 years later, the novel became the basis for a wonderful TV show called 'Justified'. In 2015, the show will end after 6 seasons. Read more about it in this old post. 

Looking for Alabama

In 1993, Patricia Arquette portrayed Alabama Whitman in the movie 'True Romance', directed by Tony Scott. The script had been written by Quentin Tarantino, and although changes were made, the movie still has Tarantinto written all over it. In 'True Romance', Arquette - who last was seen in a reoccurring role in season 4 of 'Boardwalk Empire' - played a hooker who gets mixed up romantically with Clarance, one of her customers. Together they steal her pimp's cocaine and takes off. One of the most memorable scenes in the movie is when she gets confronted with the character of Virgil, wonderfully portrayed by the late James Gandolfini. She gets beaten half to death, but... her spirit is never broken, and she never shows any weakness.

Patricia Arquette delivers one of her strongest performances

Quentin Tarantino of course, has a history of writing female characters with an above average tendency to feel the need to kick some ass, 'Kill Bill Vol.1' and 'Kill Bill Vol. 2' obviously being the best examples. Let's not forget Uma Thurman's character in 'Pulp Fiction', and Pam Grier's character in 'Jackie Brown'. Although not kicking ass as literally as the members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad of the Kill Bill flicks, they were still characters who didn't take shit from anyone. And more importantly, they never showed any weakness towards their surrounding friends/enemies.


My question is this; where is the Alabama of 2013? Kerri Washington's character of Olivia Pope on the show 'Scandal' is supposed to be one of those strong female characters, but to me she is quite the opposite. Obviously one cannot expect a character going through the tests of life never showing any weaknesses, but Pope seems to be constantly at war with her emotions. And her emotions wins about 80% of the time. Tatiana Maslany's character of Sarah Manning in the highly entertaining 'Orphan Black' could be considered a 'Modern day Alabama', and definitely more so than Kerri Washington's Pope. So far, though, I am still waiting for another Alabama…

Could Tatiany Maslany prove to be another "Alabama"?