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!
The Adventures of James Franco
Keep 'em coming, buddy. Keep 'em coming.
A Horrible Way to Die
Take one part Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, add a title so cool it sounds ripped right from the 70s and then a performance by the very talented indie actress Amy Seimetz, and you've got my interest. Then, with the trailer and the acclaim this film won at Fantastic Fest and Toronto, I'm sold.
The Innkeepers
More indie horror, this time from Ti West, who has already become something of a household name with genre fans thanks to his taut, tightly-directed chiller House of the Devil. Word out of a SXSW panel is that this new ghost story is totally insane.
The DVD Release of Treme
Every few weeks or so, I still feel a little sad that I have not gotten to watch David Simon's surely amazing New Orleans saga yet. The DVD release of the first season in March will correct this, and then I can start looking forward to the second season.
Drive
After Nicolas Winding Refn's violent, divisive and totally amazing existential Viking film Valhalla Rising, I was pretty much on board for whatever he felt like sending our way. Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan apparently agree, since they are the leads in his first attempt at a more mainstream thriller, which concerns a stuntman with a price on his head. Sure there's always that fear that he'll go the way of John Woo and others before him, but based on the ferocious filmmaking in his previous work, I'm betting against it. I wish the title weren't so boring though.
Genre Surprises
Almost every year I stumble into one or two horror movies or lowbrow comedies with very little buzz from critics or even fanboys and find myself totally floored. Sometimes they're more subversive and inspired than most realize and sometimes they're so bad they are amazing - either way works for me. This year, pickings were a bit slim, though I had no idea when I sat down to watch Hot Tub Time Machine that I'd end up considering it maybe the funniest movie of the year. Previous honors have gone to the diabolical and very well-acted Orphan and the totally insane Running Scared.
Tree of Life
We've spent two or more years talking about wanting to see the long-delayed Terrence Malick film, so let's just keep our fingers crossed that it actually comes out when it's supposed to in May.