Movies: What to look forward to

As this summer's box office is dominated by sequels (Red, Grown-ups, Despicable Me), spin-off movies (Wolverine) and questionable comedies (again, Growns Ups 2, R.I.P.D. and The Heat), I look to the next six months of new releases. And there seems to be quite a lot to look forward to in the next few months. Here's a a rundown of what I am looking forward to, for various reasons:

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Although it isn't released until early January, there is already lots of buzz about this movie. Unfortunately, some of the buzz has come from the news on Mandela's illness, but there seems to be a lot of reasons to look forward to the movie either way. Idris Elba has quickly become a very popular man in Hollywood. The British actor rose to fame during his time on 'The Wire', where he portrayed the business-style gangster Stringer Bell. With an accent that even had Americans fooled, he was one of the best characters on the show, and this summer he is one of the stars of the blockbuster-movie Pacific Rim. During his three seasons as the lead in the brilliant BBC-show 'Luther', he has proven himself to be one to watch. In the trailer for the Mandela-movie, he seems to be able to also pull of a perfect South-African accent, which is impressive enough. The movie looks at Mandela's life all the way from his youth until his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa. Will this movie give Idris Elba his first Oscar-nomination (and possibly award)? Naomie Harris plays Winnie Mandela. 

Release date: Varies from country to country, but December/January seems to be it. 

Trailer: 

The Counselor

Ridley Scott is the director, and the cast looks really interesting. Although not much is revealed in the trailer (and that is a good thing), it definitely pokes my interest. The movie is based on an original screenplay by Cormac McCarthy (who wrote the novel 'No Country for Old Men'), and the cast includes Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Natalie Dormer, Bruno Ganz, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz. Also Dean Norris ('Breaking Bad') is in the cast, interestingly enough again connected to a project in El Paso (see trailer). "A lawyer finds himself in over his head when he gets involved in drug trafficking", says the plot. Not very original maybe, but this still looks like one to look forward to.

Release date: October 25th

Trailer: 

12 Years a Slave

Director Steve McQueen ('Shame') returns with a movie about a free black man who is abducted and sold as a slave. I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess he was held as a slave for 12 years. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays the lead character, Solomon Northup, in what is a rare lead role for the British actor. I am looking forward to seeing him in a bigger role then he is usually given, though. The cast is impressive, with Brad Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano, Michael K. Williams, Michael Fassbender, Chris Chalk, Alfre Woodard and Sarah Paulson. Also the movie features Quvenzhané Wallis in her second feature film, the first being the lead role in 'Beasts of the Southern Wild'. Based on a true story, the film is based on the memoirs of Solomon Northup released as a book in the 1850s. 

Release date: Early January most places

Trailer: 

The Monuments Men

Bill Murray making the cast laugh. Of course.

George Clooney returns as a director in this movie based on the story of an Allied group during the last year of World War II. Their mission was to save pieces of art and important cultural items before Hitler was able to destroy them. Although a trailer has not been released yet, this movie has the cast working for it. In addition to buddies George Clooney and Matt Damon (who replaced Daniel Craig), it also stars Cate Blanchett and Jean Dujardin ('The Artist'). Add to this two of my favorites all-time, Bill Murray and John Goodman, and you've got yourself a movie that definitely finds its way to the "must-see"-list. Bill Murray. And John Goodman. In the same movie.

Release date: Early January most places

Trailer: 

Out of the Furnace

Maybe on of the movies I'm most looking forward to lately. Christian Bale is the lead role, and the trailer depicts a movie that somewhat resembles 'Winter's Bone', in that it centers around someone looking for a family-member up in "the hills". When Rodney Baze Jr. (Casey Affleck) goes missing, his older brother Russell (Bale) takes matters into his own hands looking for him, as the authorities seems to be out of their depth. Forest Whitaker, Woody Harrelson, William Defoe, Zoe Saldana and Sam Shepard also stars in this movie, which definitely seems to be a dark horse for a few Oscar-nominations come March. 

Release date: Late 2013/Early 2014. 

Trailer: 

Prince Avalanche

Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch teams up in this movie which looks strangely funny by the looks of the trailer. Basically, the plot is this: Two highway road-workers spend a summer together doing... highway road-work. In the middle of nowhere. (So maybe not highway road-work, but just road-work). Emile Hirsch has done this before ('Into the Wild'), and the chemistry between him and Paul Rudd seems to be reason enough to watch this. Especially if you appreciate the quirky humor of Paul Rudd (as I do), and the occasional "let's not set every movie to a big city"-film (as I do). 

Release date: August 9th (US), September/October (Europe)

Trailer: 

Wolf of Wall Street

Probably one of the coolest trailers in a long time, this movie is likely one of the most anticipated movies for the coming months. Martin Scorsese teams up with Leonardo DiCaprio yet again, and the screenplay is written by Terence Winter ('The Sopranos', 'Boardwalk Empire'). The movie is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, a wealthy stockbroker, and his rather crazy life. The cast includes Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Jean Dujardin, Shea Whigham and Cristin Milioti. This is the fifth collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio, and to be honost, I don't mind.

PS: Nice touch with on the song in the trailer (Kanye West - Black Skinhead)

Release date: November 15th (US), December (most European countries)

Trailer: 

The Butler

Director Lee Daniels ('Precious') directs this movie about a Cecil Gaines, a butler working at the White House. It is based on the real-life account of Eugene Allen, who was a butler at the White House through eight American presidencies (1952-1986). The movie looks into the social situation during the time of his tenure at the White House, and with Forest Whitaker at his best, this could be another Oscar in the making for the accomplished actor. The cast also includes Robin Williams (Dwight Eisenhower), James Marsden (John F. Kennedy), John Cusack (Richard Nixon), Alan Rickman (Ronald Reagan), Terrence Howard, Jane Fonda,  Vanessa Redgrave, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Oprah Winfrey. Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz are also in the cast, as they were in Lee Daniels' Oscar-nominated movie 'Precious'. 

Release date: August 16th (US), September (Europe)

Trailer: 

American Hustle

Director David O. Russell had huge success with his latest film 'Silver Linings Playbook', and he probably hopes that teaming up Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper again will prove a winning formula. Add Christian Bale, Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams to the mix, and I'm guessing he's onto something. Con artists, FBI agents, mobsters and politicians are key words in this movie, and as the trailer depicts, so is heartbreak, drama, money and... beards. Together with the trailer to 'Wolf on Wall Street', probably the most promising trailer I've seen in quite a while. Christian Bale might be finished playing Batman, but he is definitely not finished kicking ass on the screen.

Release date: December 25th (US), Late December/Early 2014 (Europe)

Trailer: 

Movies to look forward to in 2013

Last Sunday the Academy Awards saluted the movies and performances which has graced the screens in 2012 (and early 2013). After Daniel Day-Lewis picked up his third Oscar for Best Actor in a Lead Role, he announced he would take a break from the movies. Jennifer Lawrence also announced plans to relax for a little bit after a hectic period. While the former said he thought it difficult to jump into another character after playing the legendary Lincoln, the latter said she imagined herself in the couch with wine in the time to come. Deservedly so. 

Jennifer Lawrence at the Oscars

Still, there should be plenty to look forward to in the year to come. Here´s a look at some of the movies I am looking forward to in 2013: 

The Place Beyond the Pines

Release: April 5th (US)

Director Derek Cianfrance reunites with Ryan Gosling in this drama about a motorcycle stunt rider turned bank-robber in order to provide for his newborn child and former girlfriend. Throw in a drama involving a rookie-cop in the local department (played by Bradley Cooper), and you have the general gist of the storyline. However, the storyline is not the reason I have been looking forward to this one for a while. Derek Cianfrance´s movie "Blue Valentine" is still one of my fave movies in the last couple of years, and him reuniting with Ryan Gosling just seems right. Cianfrance´s directing of the amazing actor was brilliant in "Blue Valentine", and hopefully The Place Beyond the Pines will be another great flick from the young director. Rose Byrne proved in the TV-series "Damages" she can do drama, and Eva Mendes is cast as Gosling´s lover. Bradley Cooper was deservedly nominated for an Oscar for his brilliant performance in "Silver Linings Playbook", and I´m hoping for more roles of that type from the former "Alias"-actor. Also starring Ray Liotta (Goodfellas, Narc, Cop Land) and Mahershala Ali (House of Cards, The 4400, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). 

Trailer: 

The Great Gatsby

Release: May 10th (US)

The book "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald is still considered one of the great American novels. I have not read the book myself, but have obviously heard of the story. It has been adapted for the screen several times, but this year it is no one other then Baz Luhrmann who is in the director´s chair. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Jay Gatsby, which is basically reason enough to watch the movie. Will this be a movie that can land him a long-awaited Oscar? The wonderful Carey Mulligan stars as Daisy Buchanan, and Nick Carraway is played by Tobey Maguire. Also starring Isla Fisher. Trusting Leonardo DiCaprio to make a great performance as what seems to be a most intriguing character, and one typical of his amazing talent. 

Trailer: 

World War Z

Release: June 21st (US)

Although not a huge fan of the zombie-genre, ("Zombieland" being the exception to the rule), I am looking forward to this one. The director of "Kite Runner", Marc Forster, gives us a story based on a novel by Max Brooks. Brad Pitt is the big name of the movie, playing the main character Gerry Lane. His job is to - you guessed it - save the world from zombies. What intrigued me about the movie is that it doesn´t seem like your typical zombie-movie. The zombies seems to be toned down, that is to say, they are placed in the background, and not emphasized by close-ups and overly exaggerated costumes and make-up. Some of the shots in the trailer seems very promising, and I´m hoping for a good end-of-the-world blockbuster. 

Trailer: 

Stoker

Release: March 1st (US)

Chan-wook Park is making his first English-speaking movie, and the expectations are high. "Oldboy" is one of my all-time favorites, and his revenge-trilogy (also including "Lady Vengeance" and "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance") are great movies. Stoker is about a young girl (played by Mia Wasikowska) whose father dies. After the death of her father, an uncle comes to live with herself and her mother. She suspects something is a bit off, but is still intrigued by her uncle. Nicole Kidman stars as her unstable mother, and Matthew Goode (Watchmen, A Single Man) plays Uncle Charlie. Also starring the brilliant Jacki Weaver. 

Trailer: 

Now You See Me

Release: June 7th (US)

The FBI are going after a group of illusionists who are pulling off bank-heists. Oh, and they are doing it while they are doing their performances, and giving the money they steal to their audience. The casting is what makes me look forward to this movie more then anything, and it is quite a bunch of actors/actresses attached to the movie: Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson and Mélanie Laurent. Also starring personal favorites Elias Kostas (Shutter Island) and Michael Kelly (Person of Interest, House of Cards) and rapper Common. 

Trailer: 

Other movies I am looking forward to, and the why´s: 

Man of Steel - Why: Diane Lane, Amy Adams, Michael Kelly, Richard Schiff and Christopher Nolan (co-writer). 

Lone Ranger - Why: Johnny Depp, Barry Pepper, Gore Verbinski. Also, rangers are cool. 

Malavita - Why: Robert De Niro in a mafia-flick again. Also starring Dominic Chianese and Tommy Lee Jones. Directed by Luc Besson. 

The Monuments Men - Why: George Clooney is the director, and the casting includes himself, John Goodmann, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett and Matt Damon. 

Serena - Why: Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper reunites as a couple on the screen. Susanne Bier from Denmark is the director, and has got Kim Bodnia in her cast as well. 

Twelve Years a Slave - Why: Steve McQueen has got quite a cast for this movie. Brad Pitt, Michael K. Williams, Paul Dano, Michael Fassbender, Paul Giamatti and this years Oscar-nominee, 9 year-old Quvenzhané Wallis. 

Only God Forgives - Why: Director Nicolas Winding Refn reunited with Ryan Gosling. Drive was awesome. Nuff said. 

Anchorman: The Legend Continues - Why: Because of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. 

The Hunger Games: Cathcing Fire - Why: The first one was good entertainment. And then there´s Jennifer Lawrence... 

Oz the Great and Powerful - Why: James Franco is a cool dude, and Michelle Williams is a favorite. Still pissed off that she didn´t win the Oscar for Blue Valentine. Also starring personal favorite Abigal Spencer, as well as Mila Kunis and Rachel Weisz. 

The Oscars 2013: Actors and Actresses

Tonight the winners of the 85th Annual Academy Awards will be announced. Having previously written about my guesses (and hopes) for the Screenplay and Director-awards, I will now focus on 4 of the other big ones. Namely the awards for best male and female lead actor/actress, and the ones for the best supporting roles.

Best Actor

Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln

Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook

Hugh Jackman - Les Miserables

Joaquin Phoenix - The Master

Denzel Washington - Flight

All five performances nominated were top-class, although Daniel Day-Lewis is considered the big favorite, with Joaquin Phoenix maybe the most likely candidate if the 2-time winner (My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood) is snubbed. Daniel Day-Lewis´ performance in Lincoln is basically perfect. As a member of the audience you almost find it hard to believe that Day-Lewis has never met the real Lincoln for research. His mannerism, speech and voice is supposedly spot on, a fact that doesn´t surprise anyone who´s followed the career of the 55 year-old actor. 

Joaquin Phoenix delivers a masterful performance in The Master, well helped by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Their scenes together are truly wonderful, especially their first scene together doing a "session" in the boat. Phoenix has had a short break from acting, but the 3-time Academy Awards-nominee really delivers in his "comeback". His posture, his attitude, his craziness... all very disturbing, yet intriguing. I consider Joaquin the most likely contender to Day-Lewis for the award.

Hugh Jackman is nominated for his portrayal of Jean Valjean in the classic story by Victor Hugo, Les Misérables. Tom Hooper directed the 2012-version of the story, and Jackman is impressive as the troubled man struggling to keep himself and his "daughter" safe from his past. His singing might not be good enough for a top-class stage-version of the story, but he does a very good job at it nevertheless. And his acting is top notch, although I do struggle to see how he can be considered above the previously mentioned nominees. Either way, it is a well deserved nomination for the Australian. 

Bradley Cooper is another first time nominee, for his portrayal of Pat in Silver Linings Playbook. Arguably his best performance so far in his career, Bradley delivers a great deal of humor and hurt to his character. His character struggles with a bi-polar disorder, and after a stint at a mental institution he is brought home to his parents by his mother. Determined to get well and win back his ex-wife, he challenges himself in many areas, but is continuously challenged by his illness. Great job by "the guy from Hangover", and hopefully we´ll see more of this Bradley Cooper in the years to come. His co-stars (Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver) are also wonderful, and the chemistry between them are pretty much perfect.

Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook

Denzel Washington has won 2 Academy Awards (Training Day, Glory) and is nominated for the 6th time this year. In Flight he plays an airline pilot who masterfully lands a flight destined for a crash-landing, saving many lives. However, he is still put under investigation due to the fact that there are rumours of him having been under the influence while doing so. Denzel Washington is no stranger to dramatic roles, and he is very believable (though not as likable as he usually is) in his role. His scenes with John Goodman are good comic relief, and his Kelly Reilly are both sad, tragic and at times tough to watch. I personally think he was better in Training Day (for which he won), and I do think the competition this year is a little too good for him to win it this year.

Best Actress

Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty

Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook

Emmanuelle Riva - Amour

Quvenzhane Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild

Naomi Watts - The Impossible

Jessica Chastain is very good in Zero Dark Thirty, but is very good enough? I doubt it. Jessica Chastain is a great actress, but I do feel she has to be considered an outsider this year. I have a feeling we´ll see her again amongst the nominees in years to come, however. Chastain reminds me of Cate Blanchett, and that is a compliment. This is her second nomination, as she was also nominated last year for her supporting role in The Help. 

Naomi Watts is also nominated for the second time, having previously been nominated for her leading role in 21 Grams. This year, she plays Maria, the wife and mother of three, in The Impossible. Definitely a great contender for the award, her performance is a powerful one. As the desperate mother looking for her two kids and husband after the tsunami strikes Thailand, she is solid from start to finish. As the tsunami strikes, she is pretty banged up, but her perseverance is second to none. To me, Watts delivers one of her best performances to date, which is saying a lot. 

Jennifer Lawrence has had a couple of great years, and is nominated for the second time in three years. Only 22 years old, Jennifer is definitely one of the brightest stars in her generation, and she is rightfully nominated for her job in Silver Linings Playbook. Her character, Tiffany, is struggling after her husbands death, with mischievous and erratic behaviour. Jennifer is both great at comedic timing, and very believable in her dramatic parts of the movie. You definitely feel for the girl, despite (or maybe because) of her craziness. A definite outsider to the award, having already won numerous awards her part in the movie (Golden Globe included). 

Quvenzhané Wallis is the youngest person ever nominated for a best actress Academy Award, and is also the first nominee ever born in the 21st century. I did love her performance in Beast of the Southern Wild. It´s a very honest portrayal of a young girl facing her fears. She plays with a certain grit about her, and is definitely one to watch in the coming years. I wouldn´t be surprised if she wins tonight, though I do think she has to be considered an outsider, as I believe the biggest favorite is...

Quvanzhané Wallis in Beasts of the Southern Wild

Emmanuelle Riva. Wow. Riva was born in 1927, two years prior to the first annual Academy Awards, and her performance in Amour is simply breathtaking. Anne and her husband live together, but after she suffers a stroke, she is left partly paralyzed and stuck in a wheel-chair. Riva is amazing, and it´s almost hard to believe that she is just acting. I wasn´t completely sold on the movie as a whole, but I do consider Riva the favorite for the award for best leading role. It would no doubt be a fully deserved gesture for the woman who actually turn 86 years today. Would be one helluva Birthday....

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Alan Arkin - Argo

Robert De Niro - Silver Linings Playbook

Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Master

Tommy Lee Jones - Lincoln

Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained

A very open category, with strong contenders all around. Christoph Waltz is thriving under Quentin Tarantino, and his Dr. King Schulz in Django Unchained is a brilliant character. One does however see a lot of Hans Landa (Inglorious Basterds) in the role, much due to his dialogue. Nonetheless, Waltz is once again marvelous, and could just as well land his second Oscar tonight.

Robert De Niro is back! In Silver Linings Playbook we can see the De Niro we have missed for the last decade. Although his part has a lot of comedy to it, it´s in the dramatic parts of the movie De Niro really shines. The fight in the attic and his talk with Pat (Bradley Cooper) on the side of his bed is very touching and heartbreaking. More of this again, please.

Robert De Niro in Silver Linings Playbook

Philip Seymour Hoffman is brilliant in The Master. He has a certain aura, Seymour Hoffman, and it really shines through in this movie. His scenes with Phoenix is, as previously stated, pure class. As the charismatic leader of "The Cause", Philip Seymour Hoffman is probably, together with Waltz, the candidates with the most screen-time out of the nominees. And I consider him one of the big favorites, and a win would definitely not be undeserved for the 4 times nominated actor (1 win: Capote).

Alan Arkin is an amazing actor, and in Argo he is pure class as Lester Siegel. His scenes with John Goodman are at times hilarious, and you can´t help but love Arkin´s character in the movie. I do however think that his chances are a bit slim due to his screen time. Arkin has four nominations to his name, and his only win so far was in 2007 for Little Miss Sunshine.

Tommy Lee Jones is a one-time winner and four-time nominee at the Academy Awards. In Lincoln he plays Thaddeus Stevens, and he does a great job playing the politician hoping to better the slaves of the African-Americans. His scenes at the hearings are some of the highlights of the movies. 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams - The Master

Sally Field - Lincoln

Anne Hathaway - Les Miserablés

Helen Hunt - The Sessions

Jacki Weaver - Silver Linings Playbook

Helen Hunt strikes me as the odd one out in this category. She was good, no doubt, but was she really that good? The Sessions was a good movie, with a stellar perfomance by John Hawkes, but I do think Helen Hunt will have to be content with being amongst the nominees tonight. 

Amy Adams, however, strikes me as one of the big favorites in this category. She is scary in The Master, as the wife of Philip Seymour Hoffman´s character. Her character seems to be in total control of her husband, as shown in a quite disturbing scene with him in the toilet. Amy Adams is a wonderful actress, and maybe four times is lucky for her? She has previously been nominated for her supporting roles in The Fighter, Doubt (also co-starring Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Junebug. 

Sally Field was determined to land the role in Lincoln as Abraham Lincoln´s wife, Mary Todd. She got it, and with her track-record at the Oscars, she is setup for a win. She has won both of the times she has previously been nominated. However, I wasn´t completely convinced by her portrayal, though I won´t argue a nomination can´t be defended. 

Jacki Weaver was amazing in Silver Linings Playbook. I really loved her part, and her facial expressions speaks volumes in a couple of the scenes. Especially in the dance-sequence, she really gives a lot to the scene only by her quirky smile. She also shows off her comic talent in a few of the scenes, especially when talking to Robert De Niro and Jennifer Lawrence. I´d love to see her win it, although I do think she might have to be content with the nomination. 

Anne Hathaway is nominated for the second time, this time for her portrayal of Fantine in Les Miserablés. Critics say that she is overacting, but I think she does a great job, and that her acting is spot on for the character she is playing. Her song-talent has been showed off at the Oscars before (while Hugh Jackman was hosting), and she really holds her own in the movie. She didn´t have too much screen time, but no doubt she won the nomination for the scene where she performs "I Dreamed a Dream".

I consider Amy Adams and Anne Hathaway as the favorites, with Jacki Weaver an outsider. 

Only hours to go now. Enjoy the Oscars, and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.