A golden year for the silver screen?
EVERY New Year we’re promised this one will be something ‘special’ at the cinemas, where our minds will be blown and hearts broken by non-stop action and ten-hankie love stories. 2013 is no different, with Hollywood once again heralding a stellar year. For once, though, there might be some truth in the claim, as 2013 is shaping up to offer a rich assortment of drama, romance and epic adventure. For what it’s worth, here is my ‘don’t miss dozen’ over the next 12 months.
LINCOLN
Even the austere profile of Daniel Day Lewis on the advertising posters as America’s most famous president grabs the attention, and sets up the Wicklow-based actor for another possible Oscar. Director Steven Spielberg brings one of his most cherished projects to the screen in a drama that focuses on the 16th president’s tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by conflict, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. Brimming with the moral courage and fierce determination, the reedy-voiced Lincoln set the gold standard for political leadership. (Jan 25)
GANGSTER SQUAD
Think of the great LA Confidential and The Untouchables as inspiration for this stellar gangster outing set in Los Angeles, 1949, where ruthless mob boss Mickey Cohen runs the city’s drugs, robbery and prostitutes rackets. It helps that he also has every cop and politician in his pocket. That is, until a small crew of law enforcers start to turn the tables. Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling and Josh Brolin star in a film that‘s got adult entertainment written all over it. (Jan 11)
ZERO DARK THIRTY
Expect a slew of films around the killing of Osama Bin Laden to crowd cinemas this year, led by this best effort. Directed by Katheryn Bigelow, who did such a good job with The Hurt Locker, it stars Joel Egerton, Mark Strong and Jessica Chastain in the manhunt for the world’s most dangerous man. For a decade, an elite team of intelligence and military operatives, working in secret across the globe, devoted themselves to a single goal: to find and eliminate the man responsible for 9/11. (Jan 25)
A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD
Irish director John Moore takes the reins of one of the most successful film franchises of all time. World-weary New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) finds himself in Moscow trying to help his wayward son. Typically, Bruce gets into all sorts of trouble — especially when he learns his son is really a CIA operative out to stop a nuclear weapons heist. Cue Russian underworld, car chases, multiple explosions and battling a countdown to war. What’s not to like, guys? (Feb 15)
MAN OF STEEL
Though it will forever be associated with Christopher Reeve, it really is time for a new Superman. Henry Cavill takes the lead here, supported by Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as his parents and Amy Adams as Lois Lane. A child sent to Earth from a dying planet is adopted by a couple in rural Kansas. Posing as a journalist, he uses his extraordinary powers to protect the his new home from all evil. But he’s still got time to fall in love with Lois .... (Jun 14)
THE GREAT GATSBY
Director Baz Luhrmann adapts the famous F Scott Fitzgerald book, with Leo Di Caprio in the lead, backed by Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan. Set in and around New York in 1922, an era of loose morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings, the mysterious Gatsby makes the world of the super-rich his own, all the while pursuing Daisy, a woman with complications. It remains to be seen how Luhrmann tackles this all American success story. (May 17)
WORLD WAR Z
Brad Pitt, Matthew Broderick and Bryan Cranston star in this sci-fi story based on the novel by Max Brooks. A researcher for the UN Postwar Commission interviews survivors of the flesh-eating zombie attack from all over the world in order to put together a post-mortem on a war that destroyed every country around the globe. An unusual vehicle for Pitt to take on, it looks like being this year’s Contagion. (Jun 21)
MONSTERS UNIVERSITY
John Goodman and Billy Crystal co-star in this Disney prequel to the hugely successful Monsters a few years back. Mike Wazowski and James P Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always the case. The tale unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends. Opening in June — just in time for the kids’ holidays. (Jul 12)
THE LONE RANGER
Disney again, but this time taking on the legend of the Old West’s first serious lawman. Native American spirit warrior Tonto, played by Johnny Depp, recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid, played by Armie Hammer, into a legend of justice. (Aug 9)
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
Huge is the only word for the box office prospects of this second part of the famous trilogy. The story follows Katniss Everdeen who has returned home after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Embarking on a ‘Victor’s Tour’ of the districts, Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capital is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are again paired up, with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Woody Harrelson as the senior talent. It will pack cinemas. (Nov 22)
JACK RYAN
Chris Pine takes the title role with Keira Knightley as his missus in another adaptation of the Tom Clancy books. Ryan, an ex-Marine turned financial analyst living in Moscow, uncovers a plot by the Russian government to devalue the US dollar American currency and thus destroy the American economy. Interestingly, the film is directed by Kenneth Branagh, who is a long way from Shakespeare with this one. (Dec 25)
THE WORLD’S END
This quirky comedy starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Martin Freeman follows the success of 2004’s Shaun of the Dead and 2007’s Hot Fuzz.
Twenty years after attempting an epic pub crawl, five childhood friends reunite to stage an encore and once again attempt to reach the fabled pub — The World’s End. The pub crawl quickly becomes a fight to save humanity as the lads get sucked into a much bigger problem.
Weird British humour by the bucketful. (Oct 25)
