Killing Them Softly (released 11 October 2012)
I do enjoy a good gritty crime drama, and this one looks awesome. Directed by Andrew Dominik, the guy that brought us Aussie cult film ‘Chopper” and “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” this film has all the potential to be more than just your run-of-the-mill crime film. Adapted from a novel called “Cogan’s Trade”, the film sees Brad Pitt as a professional enforcer who is tasked with investigating and dealing with a couple of hopeless low-level crooks who had thoughtlessly robbed a high-stakes poker game involving the local mob. A great cast that, besides Pitt, includes Ray Liotta, James Gandolfini, Richard Jenkins, Sam Shepard and awesome Aussie actor Ben Mendelsohn this one is sure to be a memorable and though-provoking crime film.
Dredd (released 25 October 2012)
Based on a comic book by 2000AD, this is not the watered-down comic version that Sly Stallone disappointingly gave audiences way back in 1995. This version is said to be grittier, edgier and more akin to the source material. With a screenplay by Alex Garland, who is known for "The Beach", "Sunshine" and zombie movie "28 Days Later", this film has been getting great reviews at overseas film festivals already!
Argo (released 25 October 2012)
Ben Affleck has been making a name for himself recently as one of the hot young directors to watch in Hollywood. In this film he not only directs but also stars and I have no problem with that – it was a winning combination in his last film “The Town”, so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it I say! The film is based on a true story about six Americans holed up in the home of the Canadian ambassador during the Iranian revolution in 1979 and the CIA ‘exfiltration’ specialist who concocts a risky plan to save them. What’s the plan? – to pose as Hollywood producers of a fictional feature film, convince the Iranians they’re scouting locations for the film whilst having the Americans assume roles of the film’s crew before flying out of the country to freedom. Political drama, espionage and suspense combined with the cutthroat world of the Hollywood film business – sounds good to me!
Les Miserables (released 26 December 2012)
This film looks epic! The story is epic, the songs (yes, if
you don’t already know this is a musical) sound epic, the cast is epic – this will
definitely be one of the movie events of the year. Adapted from the classic
novel and musical stage play of the same name, and boasting an all-star cast
that includes Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried,
Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen, Les Miserables is sure to do big
business at the box office. Also, directed by Tom Hooper who won the best Oscar
in directing for “The King’s Speech”, expect to see this one on the nominees
list at the next Academy Awards.
The Hobbit
(released 26 December 2012)
Talking about epic blockbusters, “The Hobbit” is right up
there! Before “Lord of the Rings” there was “The Hobbit” and now we get to see
Peter Jackson return to Middle Earth as he brings us his feature film
adaptation. Just as much as I want to see this one on the big screen, I’m
interested to see how this will compare to the other films set in the world
that author J.R.R. Tolkien created. Will it equal the success and grandeur of
the LOTR films? What will it be like in 3D?
- and if this is the first in a planned trilogy of “Hobbit” films
(Jackson has announced that the singular novel will be split into 3 films and
released as a trilogy as opposed to the LOTR films which comprised 3 books in
total), what will that be like? Will it be slow and drawn out or is there
enough action there to sustain 3 feature films? Jackson has chosen to shoot the
film/s at a frame rate of 48 frames per second as opposed to the regular 24 frames
per second and footage recently screened at San Diego Comic Con drew some
rather negative criticism regarding the ‘look’ of the film. What will the
finished product actually look like and will I like it? So many questions…