The 11 Most Anticipated Movies and TV Shows for 2011 -- Brian's Picks

As of this moment, almost every pick on my list of anticipated 2011 film and television projects is perfect. Every selection, in my mind, is exactly what I want it to be. Inevitably, some will disappoint (and some may not even come out this year), but that's the beauty of anticipation; there's no evidence against my unadulterated optimism! Yet. So as we finish counting up the disappointments and pleasant surprises of 2010, let's savor this moment; nobody can prove us wrong if we want to believe that 2011 will be the most knockout year of all-time.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Ever since The Iron Giant, I've sworn I'd see everything that Brad Bird directs. So far, he has not let me down. With that in mind, the latest Mission Impossible will be my essential blockbuster this year. This hilarious set photo doesn't hurt either.

Melancholia

Similarly, I've also sworn to see everything that Lars von Trier directs. He sometimes lets me down, but it's always in a crashing, raging and spectacular fashion, which is really all that I demand from anyone's failures. This new film is set in the future. Shoot the moon, Lars!

More Nick Cave Videos Directed by John Hillcoat

Someone should put all of the collaborations between Cave and The Road director on a DVD, because almost every one demonstrates a surprising, unique marriage between music and image. This year's mildly NSFW video for the Grinderman single "Heathen Child" took the "surprising" component to a new level. Please make more!

The Master and Margarita

The descriptions and imagery in Mikhail Bulgakov's classic Russian novel about Satan's visit to Moscow are so evocative and cinematic, that it's almost impossible to read it without imagining it a film version. The first half alone contains naked, flying witches, an elegant ball hosted by the devil and a huge talking black cat who loves brandy. Then another part of your brain starts to process the time-jumping, fractured narrative and sheer scope of the thing, and screams, "Hey idiot, this is unfilmable!" So yes, animation seems like as good of a route as any to take for an adaptation. And the fun trailer for this upcoming feature looks like it gets the tone of the novel right. Bring this to the states!

Pages: 1 2