by Ran
The Magnificent Seven
Release Date: September 23, 2016
While it's true that westerns aren't as popular as they once were, The Magnificent Seven has a lot going for it: star Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua make an excellent team (Training Day and The Equalizer); and Western remakes have a damned good track record. Both 2011's True Grit and 2007's 3:10 to Yuma are superior to their respective classic predecessors.
The Birth of a Nation
Release Date: October 7, 2016
The subversively titled The Birth of a Nation is the directorial debut of star Nate Parker and is already critically-acclaimed with over a month to go before its official theatrical release. It's also the front-runner for next year's Oscar race -- already. The original, racist Birth of a Nation hit movie houses 101 years ago.
This century's Birth of a Nation tells the true-life story of Nat Turner, a slave who led a bloody rebellion in 1831 Virginia before being captured and executed.
Doctor Strange
Release Date: November 4, 2016
The Sorcerer Supreme's first non-ridiculous (hopefully) live-action movie is also the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first foray into earthly mysticism (of which the Marvel Comic Universe has plenty). I have to admit, I've never really been partial to wizardry, but I'll take Stephen Strange over Harry Potter any day. Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock Holmes and Smaug) heads a strong cast and director Scott Derrickson's resume is nearly exclusively limited to horror. So, we'll see.
Bad Santa 2
Release Date: November 23, 2016
Marcus and Willie are back together after 13 long years. Marcus presumably spent all of that time in the bing. And you can bet Willie didn't spend that time bettering himself. The original Bad Santa is spit-out-your-beer funny and an undeniable holiday classic. But then again, the late, great Bernie Mac was a key cast member. Were they able to recapture the magic? Thurman and Opal are back too, so we'll just have to wait and see.
Rogue One
Release Date: December 16, 2016
I don't know much about Rogue One, nor do I want to -- not until I actually watch it. The two trailers I've seen are phenomenal. The movie seems sincere, majestic and sufficiently action-packed. I don't have very many doubts about this one at all. But I do have a question: "Is there any particular reason that the stars of the last two Star Wars movies are white chicks with British accents? Is this gonna be the trend from now on?" Just wondering.
Fences
Release Date: Christmas Day
Denzel Washington and Viola Davis reprise their starring roles in August Wilson's play, which originally debuted in 1983, of the same name. Fences won the Tony for Best Play in 1987. With that type of pedigree it's no wonder the studio is releasing the film adaptation during the peak of Oscar-bait season.
Live by Night
Release Date: Christmas Day (Limited); January 13 (Wide)
Live By Night makes star Ben Affleck's second adaptation of a Dennis Lehane novel -- the first was 2007's Gone Baby Gone. The Oscar-winning writer and director also called the shots behind the camera this time around. Like most of Lehane's stories, this too is set in Boston -- but Prohibition-era Boston this time.
The novel is about Boston bootleggger Joe Coughlin, a police captain's son, who takes his business south to Florida. There's no reason for this not to be a great film.
Sleepless
Release Date: January13
It's been 10 years since Jamie Foxx starred in a cop movie but the last one, Miami Vice, was pretty good. If this one even approaches the quality of Vice, it could be something special.
Kong: Skull Island
Release Date: March 10
Why another King Kong movie so soon after Peter Jackson's 2005 film? Skull Island is the product of Legendary Pictures' decision to pit monsters against each other. Eventually, the 80,000-pound gorilla will face Gojira in a city-shattering smackdown. But first, the ginormous silverback gets his own reintroduction.
Old Man Logan
The actual title is simply, Logan. But the movie's partly based on the 2008 - 2009 Old Man Logan comics storyline, which sounds a hell of a lot better and also happens to be more accurate -- especially considering Hugh Jackman's look in the trailer.
According to the rumor mill, Marvel is seriously considering giving the people behind the upcoming Wolverine movie (Hugh Jackman's last) the freedom to justify an R-rating. Deadpool's position as the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time certainly gives them something to think about. Its $782 million is considerably more than the $414 million 2013's The Wolverine took home. Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds was also in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine ($373 million). He wised up. Hopefully, Jackman has too.
The Fate of the Furious
Release Date: April 14
This won't actually be the first Fast and Furious movie without Paul Walker, but it's still a little hard to accept. Director F. Gary Gray, who helmed last year's Straight Outta Compton, replaced Justin Lin, who moved on to shoot Star Trek Beyond. Furious 7 made over $1 billion at the box office, so it'll be interesting to see how the filmmakers approached the follow-up: Going even bigger in order to capitalize on the momentum or scaling back so as not to over-reach in an attempt to fill shoes that they have no hope of wearing.
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2
Release Date: May 5
To be real, I didn't like the first movie. But since it made so much moolah, it's a good bet that this one got a bigger budget, which might mean better visuals. If that's the case AND the raccoon gets the most screen-time then just maybe the second time'll be the charm.
The Mummy
Release Date: June 9
This has NOTHING to do with those movies starring Brendan Fraser and The Rock. I repeat: NOTHING.
The Mummy marks Tom Cruise's return to supernatural cinema. If it's anything like his first monster movie, Interview with the Vampire, I think we may have a winner. But there is a red flag: The Mummy is the follow-up to Dracula Untold in Universal Pictures' attempt to create a cinematic universe -- the monster version of the Avengers movies. On the plus side, both Cruise and co-star Russell Crowe tend to be pretty discerning when choosing film projects (Most of the time, anyway. I haven't forgotten M:I-2).
All Eyez On Me
This could go either way. There's a ton of pressure for the filmmakers to get this right and a hundred ways that it could go wrong. Tupac's first biopic is gonna be under way more scrutiny than 2015's Straight Outta Compton. But releasing the movie on Pac's birthday is a great idea.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Release Date: July 7
So, Spider-Man is getting his 2nd reboot in four years. That's not a very good average but Web-Head may be in good hands this time around. Hopefully, Marvel will give him the Avengers/Winter Soldier treatment instead of giving us Peter Parker's version of Thor: The Dark World.
War of the Planet of the Apes
Release Date: July 14
We already know where this story goes, the question, as in the first two installments, is: How does it get there? I can't wait to find out.
Dunkirk
Release Date: July 21
Dunkirk marks Christopher Nolan's return to the director's chair and his first swing at the war genre. The Dark Knight Returns and Interstellar prove that The Dark Knight was no fluke. Classic comic book films: Check. Great space movie: Check. Incredible war movie: Could be.
Detroit
Release Date: August 4
Detroit captures the riots that took place throughout the city over the course of five days in 1967. It's a largely forgotten story that more people need to know about.
The Dark Tower
Release Date: August 4
This could potentially turn out to be the best movie adaptation of a Stephen King book in a very long line of adaptations.
It
Release Date: September 8
The two-and-a-half minute trailer alone looks 100 times better than the 1990 tv movie. This could potentially turn out to be the 2nd best movie adaptation of a Stephen King book and the creepiest clown movie in history.
American Made
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| DEA informant Barry Seal |
Release Date: September 29
American Made is the story of airline pilot-turned drug smuggler-turned informant, Barry Seal. Seal worked with the Medellin drug cartel in the 1980s before becoming a federal informant and ultimately walking away from the witness protection program.
As I mentioned earlier, Tom Cruise is generally pretty particular when choosing film roles, and director Doug Liman oversaw Edge of Tomorrow, so the odds of American Made (formerly titled Mena) ending up on the right side of the Cruise catalog are fairly decent. On the other hand, Liman also directed Jumper. So we'll see.
Marshall
Release Date: October 13
Justice League
Release Date: November 17
If they're smart, DC and Warner Bros. will hone their movie-making formula and not throw the proverbial baby out with the bathtub. Green Lantern was unwatchable; the Dark Knight trilogy was art; BvS was great; Man of Steel had the potential for greatness (it certainly made up for Superman Returns); and Suicide Squad was on the right track -- though who knows what we were cheated out of by those reshoots? That's not a bad trajectory. The missteps are acceptable growing pains. As long as director Zack Snyder and screenwriter Chris Terrio continue to grow in the right direction (toward The Dark Knight Rises, for example), we could all be in for some real awe-inspiring cinema by the time Darkseid makes his entrance.
The Last Jedi
Release Date: December 15
Hopefully, the folks at Lucasfilm have exorcised their campy streaks and are ready to get down to serious business. If the Force is with us, the second installment of this trilogy will be closer to The Empire Strikes Back than Attack of the Clones -- a lot closer.
Updated 1/28/17
and 3/31/17
and 4/15/17
and 3/31/17
and 4/15/17
Also Check Out:
"King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" Could've Been Badass
John's Early Review of "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword"
The Best Films of 2016
The Greatest Space Film
Man, oh, man...ok, let me get this out there - enough already with Spiderman remakes, The Mummy, Wolverine (do we really care enough about this comic book character?), Star Wars (because I am sorry, the last one did not live up to be the hype it was), and especially Fast & Furious - geez, what the hell? How many 'fast car' movies can be made to keep your interest? The Equalizer 2? Really?
ReplyDeleteAs far as the upcoming films that I look most forward to: I agree with Dunkirk - looks like it will be a great film; Hacksaw Ridge - I was hesitant when I saw the preview the first time because I am not a big fan of Andrew Garfield, but now hearing all the talk and raves about what a great film it is I have to go see it; Manchester by the Sea is on my to-watch list; World War Z II, because the first one was fantastic! Finally, Alien:Covenant, but only because I hope that it overshadows and redeems the disappointing Promethius, one of the biggest let downs ever after such a great preview.
I agree 100% with your Prometheus assessment. Ridley Scott should be embarrassed for denigrating Alien with such a horrendous sequel. Smh
DeleteI also am looking forward to 'The Birth of a Nation' and I do hope that critics and movie fans alike will judge the film based on the quality of the film alone...after all, we are watching the film, not the personal life of the director. If he truly did something awful then he has to deal with that in his personal life but not as a director of this film.
ReplyDeleteAnother film I am looking forward to seeing is 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.' One, because the books were fantastic reads and two, because even though I am not the biggest Tim Burton fan (although 'Frankenweenie' was awesome!, if anyone can bring the 'weirdness' of the books to the screen it is him.
Star Wars Rogue One is a hit! This is a much better Stars Wars film than last years Force Awakens. The character development was such that you really got into the characters - I am still amazed at one in particular and how they did it but will not say anything else so as to give anything away - and cared for them all. Most impressive was the story line and how it all tied into previous ones. I really thought this was going to be a true 'stand alone' Star Wars film based on what I had read but must have misunderstood. But that is ok as it did not deter my appreciation from the film at all. Of course it also goes without saying that the special effects and scenes were right in target and very impressive. This film has brought life back into the series and leaves you wanting more!
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I went into the movie "A Dog's Purpose" without expecting much because I am not a big fan of animal movies per se but it was a free screening so I figured why not. I have had animals and do love them but I am not one to go crazy over them. Plus, most films that have animals as the central characters just always seem corny or lacking in depth. Well, I left the theater feeling overjoyed with this film. Is it the best movie I have ever seen or is it Oscar material? No...however, the way the film was made in terms of the plot, the use of the animals (and especially the main dog, Bailey) and the acting by those in the film was wonderful. It just made you feel good about life, about the ups and downs we experience but most importantly about the relationship that people have with their pets and each other. I know the phrase 'life affirming' tends to be a cliche but in this case it definitely applies. I love the director Lasse Hallstrom and with this film I was not disappointed.
ReplyDeleteM. Night Shyamalan is back! Of course, I actually thought he was back with 'Devil' but apparently most of the critics and movie going public did not think so since it did not do as well as expected. Well, he definitely has a hit with 'Split' and has left the audiences, if not loving, at least talking about the 2 twists at the end of the film. It is creepy, well done and has some definite Hitchcock references in it. I have read that many people have reported the portrayal of the main character with a mental illness unrealistic and offensive but I do not see it. First, and foremost, it is a movie for gosh's sakes so of course things can be exaggerated. Second, the ending actually speaks to the fact that people who have been harmed (physically and/or mentally) and have developed a mental illness as a result of those negative experiences are stronger than what people give them credit for. The performances are very well done, especially by those of James McAvoy and Ana Taylor-Joy. What I really like about the film is the creepiness and not gross horror that is displayed in the film. The ending though - that is the kicker! I could not believe what was revealed and expect that if the future film(s) M. Night plans as a result of the twist at the end of this one will have him back in good graces with Hollywood and the public as a master director and storyteller. Well done!
ReplyDeleteOk, well I have seen what has to be the most costly and yet dumbest - that might be harsh but not by much - movie of 2017 (so far as we are still early in the year) and that is 'The Great Wall.' They say most movie stars have to have at least one major bomb in their career and this one is it for Matt Damon. I do not know how much was spent on this film but the scenes of the armies and their uninforms and formations are magnificent! The special effectd not so much I am disappointed to say. But the major downfall is the storyline and the acting. Matt Damon's character is so unbelievable and you never know from one scene to the next how he is going to sound as far as his dialect. His counterpart in the film is ok but somewhat annoying and Willem Dafoe, what a waste of a good actor and his talent. While the concept of this film was a good one, the execution was horrible. Do not waste your money on this film. It feels like a throwback to the 'B' rated movies you would see at the drive-in..
ReplyDeleteTonight I had the opportunity to see a film based on a book I read called 'The Shack.' I loved the book, one that is supposedly a true story about a man encountering (as in actually seeing and talking to) God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit one weekend when he returns to a 'shack' where his young daughter was killed after being kidnapped. The reason I connected to the book was that it spoke to me as a religious person but I could also see it touching someone who might be struggling with or questioning spirituality and one of the hardest 'challenges' of being a Christian, which is learning to forgive others for the wrongs they have done against us or those we love. Going into the movie I was hoping that everything that was appealing about the book would translate onto the screen and I am very happy to say that it did. I know many people might think, 'Oh no, one of those awfully made or sappy religious or Christian movies' but this one is very well made and acted. Sam Worthington plays the lead character in the film and he does a great job of portraying an angry father, one who is unwilling to forgive himself for not paying closer attention to his daughter. He is also mad at God for allowing such a tragedy to happen and we watch as he struggles with his anger and frustration. Tim McGraw is also in the film for a little bit and does a good job of portraying the next door neighbor who tries to console 'Mack', Sam Worthington's character. The other major role in the film is that of 'Papa', a nickname for God by one of the characters in the film. 'Papa' is portrayed by the always wonderful and excellent Octavia Spencer. I have to say, having read the book and knowing that God comes to 'Mack' in the image of a black woman, that she was made for this role! Octavia Spencer is definitely one of my favorite actors in movies today and she does not disappoint in this one. Her mannerisms, dialect and everything about her makes you feel that she is truly a loving parent to all. While it is a tough film to watch because of the content, it carries a wonderful and positive message that we (as in everyone) need to hear today. I would be very surprised if anyone watches this film and is not touched even in a very minute way. Awesome movie...
ReplyDeleteWhat a heck of a ride in the film, 'Get Out.' This is a movie that not only has comedy, suspense, and horror but also social satire, at a time when the political and social climate is ever changing and full of debate. Jordan Peele did an excellent job of casting this film as everyone does a great job in their respective roles. Especially creepy are the guests that arrive at the girlfriend's house in the film. Jordan Peele also does an excellent job of creating the tension that builds throughout the movie as it is nerve wracking and there are definitely plenty of scares, including 'jump in your seat' moments. It is definitely a great horror film on those merits alone. But most important about this film are the subtle comments and commentary about society and racism and racial profiling. From the parents in the film who 'speak the language' to the use of African Americans as the 'hired hand' and 'maid' of the estate to the very subtle use of cotton in a key moment of the film, this is a very smart and well made film that everyone should pay attention to and learn from.
ReplyDelete