Movies I want to watch

At the beginning of fall, I found this article on DailyBeast.com. It lists all must see movies of the coming season. It made me realize that the next few months plenty of cool movies are being released. Want to know which movies I’m looking forward to seeing most? Then keep on reading.

The Master

Character study, based in large part on the life of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, shouldn’t disappoint. Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) is a mentally disturbed WWII veteran prone to fits of rage. He’s taken under the wing of Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a charismatic cult leader who preaches The Cause. […] As The Cause starts to gain momentum, Quell begins to repel his mentor and his bizarre belief system. Boasting Amy Adams as Dodd’s doting wife, and a score by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, The Master should prove a disturbing companion piece to Anderson’s last (brilliant) film, There Will Be Blood.

I like character studies. In book form, in movie form. And this movie just sounds very promising. According to IMDB, this movie won’t be released until January 2013 though (in the Netherlands).

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a poignant Bildungsroman that centers on Charlie (Logan Lerman), an introverted high school freshman who is struggling to come to terms with a dark secret. He’s constantly bullied and has no friends, until one day when he’s taken under the wing of Patrick (Ezra Miller), a gay high school senior, and his best pal–stepsister Sam (Emma Watson).

When I was on vacation in The States last summer, this trailer played before every movie I saw. It made me curious and it also makes me want to read the book. Because even though this is a story about highschool, it is definitely not one written for teenagers. Plus it will be good to see Emma Watson in a role other than Hermione Granger. Out in Dutch cinemas on October 25th.

Argo

Based on a true story, the movie tells the tale of Tony Mendez (Affleck), who is tasked with hatching a scheme to rescue six American foreign-service members who escaped from the U.S. embassy in Iran during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, and who are holed up in the Canadian Embassy. Out of options, Mendez enlists the aid of Hollywood—makeup expert John Chambers (John Goodman) and executive Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin)—to convince Iranian officials that the six officials are members of a film crew scouting locations for a cheesy sci-fi flick, Argo, in order to get them out of the country.

The description on DailyBeast made me want to see this. A true story (sort of), heavily infused with American history, the CIA and some irony against Hollywood? Plus it has Ben Affleck, John Goodman and a host of other great actors. What’s not to like? This movie will be released on November 8th.

Cloud Atlas

The time-traveling film tells how our actions impact the past, present, and future, and include an 1849 diary of an ocean voyage across the Pacific, a murder at a nuclear power plant, a rebel army in futuristic Korea, an ancient forest tribe in post-apocalyptic Hawaii, and more. The cast, playing multiple roles, includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving, and Susan Sarandon.

Based on the book of the same name by David Mitchell this had me intrigued. I’m not one for time-traveling or Sci-Fi, but the idea of how everything is connected is an interesting one. I’d first have to read the book though. Out on November 29th.

Skyfall

James Bond (Daniel Craig) is presumed dead after a disastrous operation, and the identities of all the undercover MI6 agents are leaked. Bond is forced to come out of hiding to track down the notorious Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem), who is connected to both him and his boss/mentor, M (Judi Dench).

I think I have seen every single James Bond movie ever made. From Dr. No, which was made 50 years ago, to Goldfinger, Moonraker, Golden Eye and Quantum of Solace. Daniel Craig makes a great Bond and I know I’ll just love this one. To be released on October 31st.

Lincoln

Have you seen the creepily accurate poster of Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln? This Oscar-bait biographical drama, directed by Steven Spielberg, will reportedly focus on Lincoln’s road to abolishing slavery and ending the Civil War. Pulitzer-winning playwright-cum-screenwriter Tony Kushner worked on the script for six years, based on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s tome Team of Rivals. The film also stars Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as their son, Tommy Lee Jones as radical Republican Congressional Leader Thaddeus Stevens, and many more.

Epic historical movie? Check. Not necessarily my cup of tea, but if this is well done (which it seems to be) then I might thoroughly enjoy this tale of American history. Unfortunately again, this movie won’t be out until January 2013 where I live.

Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2

While the first film in the two-part finale, directed by Bill Condon, was utterly ridiculous, hopefully the final chapter is more in the vein of the surprisingly enjoyable third installment, Eclipse. In the film, Bella Swan’s (Stewart) unfortunately named vampire baby (Renesmee) with her vamp love, Edward Cullen (Pattinson), is targeted by the vampire council, the Volturi.

The last installment! I’m excited to see what they did with it. The fact that there’s an actual battle seems promising and the second part of the book (which this movie is based on) was a million times better than the first half. To be released on November 14th.

Anna Karenina

Adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel, filmmaker Joe Wright has decided to reteam with frequent collaborator, actress Keira Knightley (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement), on Anna Karenina. Set in late-19th-century Russian high-society, aristocrat Anna Karenina (Knightley), who is stuck in a loveless marriage with the powerful Alexei Karenin (Jude Law), engages in a complicated affair with the affluent Count Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson).

Noone does period drama better than Keira Knightley. Add in a bit of Jude Law, the director of Pride & Prejudice and I think I might like this. Sometimes all you need is to watch people in hideously complicated dresses who speak in impeccable British accents. Out December 6th.

What movies are you looking forward to?

(All excerpts on the movies taken from The Daily Beast.)