10. ‘Spectre’
When I was drafting the original version of this list, Spectre (then Bond 24) didn’t make the cut.
Given how great Skyfall was I was probably wrong to not include it, especially because any Sam Mendes movie deserves a spot on a most anticipated list. However, as more news about Spectre comes out the film just keeps sounding more and more awesome. The addition of Christoph Waltz is to me the most exciting, and it’ll be interesting to see if to see if he turns out to be Ernst Stavro Blofeld or if that role goes to new cast member Andrew Scott. They’ll be joined in the film by new cast members Lea Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Monica Bellucci, and returning cast Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, and Ben Whishaw.
SPECTRE has been a common foe for Bond, and the ties back to past films while introducing those characters to a new audience will be one element making this a very exciting film. Also worth noting is that the film will feature cinematography by Hoyte Van Hoytema, perhaps best known for shooting Her and Interstellar. Mendes’ usual contributor Thomas Newman will score Spectre.
Will Bond take down ‘Spectre’ on November 6?
9. ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’
Matthew Vaughn is an immensely talented director, and it will be very interesting to see what he does with Kingsman: The Secret Service.
Of all the X-Men films, X-Men: First Class is by far my favorite. For film reasons (as opposed to devotion to the franchise reasons), I think it’s most expertly crafted of the films in the series. It’s small yet big, visually gripping, and always exciting. Essentially, it’s everything Kingsman: The Secret Service should be. X-Men: First Class was Matthew Vaughn’s most recent film, and considering his previous films Kick-Ass, Stardust, and Layer Cake, Vaughn has strong track record that points to this being pretty great. A cast that includes Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine, Mark Strong, and Jack Davenport looks promising.
Kingsman: The Secret Service was originally supposed to bow in October, but it got bumped up to February. I’m assuming that was a move that was made so Fox would have more time to market the film. Word of mouth that has come out of the few screenings so far has been incredibly strong, so I’m very hopeful.
Join the ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’ on February 13
8. ‘The Hateful Eight’
The Hateful Eight is this high up on the list solely based on Quentin Tarantino’s name.
If I knew anything about what the movie really was, it might be even higher. When Tarantino revealed The Hateful Eight as his next project, it was very exciting news. Then the script was leaked and Tarantino said he wasn’t going to make the film. Later Tarantino cooled off and continued to work on the script, staged a live read of a draft, and continued to refine the script. Eventually he confirmed that it would be his next film. It’s still not clear exactly what the movie will be. It will be set “six or eight or twelve years after the Civil War,” and be another Western, a setting that worked will for Tarantino in Django Unchained.
The Hateful Eight cast officially includes Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Samuel L. Jackson, Walton Goggins, Tim Roth, Bruce Dern, Michael Madsen, Demian Bichir, and Channing Tatum in a small but pivotal role. The plot is said to force them all into one location while a snowstorm passes which sounds a lot like a play. Why then is Tarantino making this the biggest 70mm film release in years? There’s likely a reason that’s currently unknown, and that reason probably will support this being a huge spectacle event film. It doesn’t yet have an exact release date, but it’s expected to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. With no footage from the film available, I’ve elected to feature this classic scene from Pulp Fiction because Samuel L. Jackson’s The Hateful Eight role is said to be just as meaty.
Take a ride with ‘The Hateful Eight’ this fall
7. Untitled Christmas Eve movie
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, and their 50/50 director Jonathan Levine are reteaming for a movie set on Christmas Eve.
Of the movies released in the last few years, there are very few that have I’ve loved as much as 50/50. Will the trio of Gordon-Levitt, Rogen, and Levine be able to recapture some of that same magic? This movie leaves the serious subject of cancer behind and instead tackles the idea of three friends, the other played by the hilarious Lizzy Caplan, reuniting in New York City for what might be the last time, seeking the “Holy Grail of Christmas parties.” Unfortunately 50/50 screenwriter Will Reiser didn’t make the return journey, but the screenplay was written by Ariel Shaffir, Kyle Hunter, Levine, and Rogen’s producing partner Evan Goldberg.
It’s been a while since a really great Christmas movie was released, and it’s possible this movie could be the one. Leaving aside his first movie All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, Levine hasn’t made a bad movie yet. Hopefully that streak should continue with this film, and with a cast that includes Gordon-Levitt, Rogen, Caplan, Anthony Mackie, and Gillian Bell, this should be a great movie.
Prepare for ‘Christmas Eve’ on November 25
6. Steven Spielberg’s untitled Cold War spy thriller
Steven Spielberg is the most financially and critically successful filmmaker of all time, and his new film sounds pretty good.
Spielberg has utilized Tom Hanks’ acting skills to great effect in three movies: Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, and The Terminal. That list will another film in 2015 with the film with this film, the story of the famed 1960 U-2 Incident where lawyer James Donovan (Hanks) is forced to become a player in the Cold War when he is given a mission to negotiate the release of Francis Gary Powers after Powers’ plane is shot down in the Soviet Union. The script was originally written by Matt Charman, but Joel and Ethan Coen have since come in to rewrite it. A Steven Spielberg/Coen brothers/Tom Hanks trio sounds very promising.
No trailer is available yet from the film with the working title St. James Place, but the above video is unofficial footage from the set that should give you a set of what the look and feel of the film will be like. The film will presumably feature the first of two scores from John Williams in 2015. Williams hasn’t been confirmed as composer yet, but there hasn’t been a Spielberg film without a Williams score since 1985’s The Color Purple.
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