5.
Anna Karenina
November 9
We are knee-deep in the cream of the crop and the ordering no longer really matters. To say I’m anticipating most of these top six or seven films more than another is a matter of degrees as I expect any of them could be my #1 film of 2012 come the end of the year. With Anna Karenina the appeal is largely similar to that of Skyfall, just in terms of a period drama compared to an action piece.
Here we have Joe Wright once again directing Keira Knightley in a period piece and he has with him Dario Marinelli on the score and Seamus McGarvey behind the camera. It’s a recipe for success.
4.
The Dark Knight Rises
July 20
An absolute no-brainer and I just recently got my screening invite, which will take place on one of Seattle’s massive true IMAX screens. I absolutely cannot wait to see what kind of non-3-D spectacle Christopher Nolan has in store for me. Does more need to be said?
Here’s that MTV Movie Awards footage reel, which is now back online.
3.
Cloud Atlas
October 26
My excitement for this one has obviously increased massively after we’ve heard much more about it over the course of the last few months, after the successful screening in Cannes and the release date confirmation. Could the Wachowskis be bringing us another film to change the cinematic landscape once again?
2.
Seven Psychopaths
November 2
I’m praying Martin McDonagh‘s Seven Psychopaths plays Toronto because the sooner the better as far as I’m concerned.
McDonagh brought us In Bruges and now he delivers what is described as “a star-studded, blood-drenched, black comedy” centered on Marty (Colin Farrell), a struggling writer who dreams of finishing his screenplay “Seven Psychopaths” but is having a hard time finding focus and inspiration. That all changes when his best friend (Sam Rockwell) and his friend’s partner (Christopher Walken) collaborate to steal a psychopathic gangster’s (Woody Harrelson) dog. The inspiration is found, but will Marty live to tell the tale?
1.
Django Unchained
December 25
It was my #1 most anticipated film at the beginning of the year and it still is. I have a weak spot for Quentin Tarantino and with this one he is hitting it hard. Tarantino’s ability to take old school genres, pay them some respect and add a modern twist to it all is not only appealing in his features, but brings to light the films that inspired him of which I otherwise may have never seen.
With Django Unchained we find Jamie Foxx as the lead character, a freed slave who teams with a bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) to catch a trio of criminals, but his end goal is finding and rescuing Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), the wife he lost to the slave trade long ago.
The film hits on Christmas Day and is sure to be not only one of the most anticipated films by many, but perhaps one of the most controversial. I can’t wait.
And that does it for me. You can see the films I consider to be the best and the worst of the year so far right here and be sure to include your most anticipated films in the comments below.
