50. Chicken with Plums (Vincent Paronnaud, Marjane Satrapi; TBA)
Synopsis: Nasser-Ali, a talented musician, loses the will to live after his wife breaks his beloved violin during an argument. He searches for a replacement, and finding none that sounds quite the same, he vows to die. Eight days later, he does. This is the story of his last week of life, where we see flashbacks and flash forwards of his previous life and his children's futures. We also see appearances of a nude Sophia Loren as well as the angel of death, Azarel. As we see his life, we realize exactly why he chose to end it and the profundity of this choice.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Coming off their black & white 2D animation Persepolis, I was enchanted by Chicken with Plums at Toronto last year. It is somewhat scattered and a few scenes fall flat, but what is great here astounds, including a mix of the skill this duo showed off in their last films. It is a rare kind of magic realism that is sadly missing in cinemas these days. - Jordan R.
49. He Loves Me (Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris; TBA)
Synopsis: A young novelist struggling with writer's block finds a love interest in a most unusual way.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: It’s been six years since Little Miss Sunshine took home two Oscars and charmed the hearts of millions. Comedy duo Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris are back with He Loves Me, with first-time writer Zoe Kazan scribing what is expected to be a delightfully witty love story starring Paul Dano, Annette Bening, Alia Shawkat and Antonio Banderas. - Megan E.
48. Snowtown (Justin Kurzel; Feb. 29th)
Synopsis: Based on true events, 16 year-old Jamie falls in with his mother's new boyfriend and his crowd of self-appointed neighborhood watchmen, a relationship that leads to a spree of torture and murder.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Hitting the festival circuit last year, Kurzel’s directorial debut is a deeply disturbing look at a real-life murder spree. Animal Kingdom comparisons will be tossed around, but this is a more accomplished look at lost innocence. - Jordan R.
47. The East (Zal Batmanglij; TBA)
Synopsis: A story centered on contract worker who is tasked with infiltrating an anarchist group, only to find herself falling for its leader.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: The same year their reportedly haunting Sound of My Voice is bound to leave some sort of impression on cinemagoers, Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling are doing the cult thing again with their bigger budget, bigger star follow-up. Positive word on their previous work is already great encouragement, but the mysterious, ever-so-creepy plot details and killer lineup allow this to stand on its own. – Nick N.
46. Les Miserables (Tom Hooper; December 7th)
Synopsis: An adaptation of the successful stage musical based on Victor Hugo's classic novel set in 19th-century France, in which a paroled prisoner named Jean Valjean seeks redemption.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: The hit musical based on Victor Hugo’s celebrated novel provides everything you could want from a story. There is romance, action, redemption, and a struggle between good and evil on personal and societal levels. Add in some of the most sweeping and powerful songs in recent musical theater and you’ve got one hell of a show. Now, translated to the screen and starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe, the stage is set for this film to reach the same heights as the wildly popular musical. Bringing the musical tale of Jean Valjean’s redemption and the social upheaval that is engulfing France at the time will be no easy task - and cinematic musicals have a tendency to fall flat as of late - but between Jackman’s easy showmanship and director Tom Hooper’s handle on period drama, this should be a winner. - Brian R.
45. Magic Mike (Steven Soderbergh; June 29th)
Synopsis: An upstart male stripper is taken under the wing of a more experienced colleagues.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: The first reaction to the announcement Steven Soderbergh was tackling this project before his consistently delayed retirement was one of consternation. However, since it is a comedy, thus meaning it won’t attempt to be a heartfelt and sentimental tale, my anticipation for this one is rather high. Based on the true exploits of star Channing Tatum, it features a variety of talented actors from Alex Pettyfer to Matthew McConaughey. It might serve as a reminder that Soderbergh leaving the film industry will be a very sad thing, or it might be a total flop. Here’s to hoping for the former. - Jack C.
44. The Paperboy (Lee Daniels; TBA)
Synopsis: A reporter returns to his Florida hometown to investigate a case involving a death row inmate.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: While I wasn't impressed at the gratuitous, manipulative nature of Precious, director Lee Daniels seems to be handling smaller issues at hand with his adaptation of The Paperboy. Zac Efron is taking another promising step to shed his pretty boy image, as he joins Nicole Kidman and Matthew McConaughey in this southern drama. And John Cusack as a grimy villain? Day one. - Jordan R.
43. Life of Pi (Ang Lee; December 21st)
Synopsis: Based on the best-selling novel by Yann Martel, is a magical adventure story centering on Pi Patel, the precocious son of a zookeeper. Dwellers in Pondicherry, India, the family decides to move to Canada, hitching a ride on a huge freighter. After a shipwreck, Pi is found adrift in the Pacific Ocean on a 26-foot lifeboat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, all fighting for survival.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: A 3D tentpole from Ang Li could yield many interesting results in and of itself, though, true to his roots, he’s still taking unusual source material and putting a mostly unknown cast into the middle of it all – discounting Tobey Maguire, of course. Some footage of the actual thing is needed to get a grip on what we can fully expect – given its unusual, possibly claustrophobic concept – so I’ll hold back on getting too excited in the meantime. But, no matter what, it’s bound to stand out in 2012’s crowded December. – Nick N.
42. Sightseers (Ben Wheatley; TBA)
Synopsis: Two crazy people go on vacation together.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: With his nightmare-inducing Kill List already on VOD, Wheatley is already set to release his follow-up this year. The synopsis hints at a film with just as many surprises so with much of my anticipation lies in knowing as little as possible, I’ll stop here. - Jordan R.
41. 7 días en La Habana (Laurent Cantet. Julio Medem, Benicio Del Toro, Gaspar Noé, Elia Suleiman, Juan Carlos Tabío, Pablo Trapero; TBA)
Synopsis: A young American boy is trying to break into the acting business, and goes to Cuba during a film festival.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: We aren’t getting a feature film from Gaspar Noé this year, so this short film anthology should hold us over. Also notably featuring a short from The Class director Laurent Cantent and Benecio del Toro, this could be one to watch out for, as Josh Hutcherson and Daniel Brühl make up part of the ensemble. - Jordan R.
40. Oslo, August 31st (Joachim Trier; TBA)
Synopsis: One day in the life of Anders, a young recovering drug addict, who takes a brief leave from his treatment center to interview for a job and catch up with old friends in Oslo.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Memory and nostalgia—these are the things Joachim Trier sought when creating his dark, hopeful and depressing love letter to his hometown. Rather than use that word, however, he made a point in his Q&A at the Toronto International Film Festival to call it the place he was born. Every city in the world is remembered by its citizens and ex-pats. They reminiscence about good times, how they felt, or how they miss it. The opening to Oslo, August 31st is a collection of these tales—memories and recollections associated when hearing the city’s name. A montage of home videos and footage from some of Trier’s favorite Norwegian films set to the words of interviewees fondly looking back, we become set at ease awaiting a sweet story to unfold. But Trier and Eskil Vogt’s script, based on the novel Le feu follet by Pierre Drieu La Rochelle, has a different idea as a parallel path towards melancholy unfolds. – Jared M.
39. The Grandmasters (Wong Kar-wai)
Synopsis: The story of martial-arts master Ip Man, the man who trained Bruce Lee.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: After his failed US debut My Blueberry Nights, legendary foreign filmmaker Wong Kar-wai returns to his roots with this martial arts Ip Man biopic. With a likely Cannes premiere, The Weinstein Co., Fox Searchlight and Sony Pictures Classics are all reportedly vying for domestic distribution rights. – Jordan R.
38. Untitled Jim Jarmusch Project (Jim Jarmusch, TBA)
Synopsis: Details are scarce on this vampire movie.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: We haven't heard much about Jarmusch's next film, but hopefully he gets the ball rolling on his "crypto-vampire love story" with Tilda Swinton, Michael Fassbender, Mia Wasikowska and John Hurt. Sounds like a perfect group of vampires to me. - Jordan R.
37. Savages (Oliver Stone; September 28th)
Synopsis: Pot growers Ben and Chon face off against the Mexican drug cartel who kidnapped their shared girlfriend.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Once the genius behind such masterpieces as Platoon and Wall Street, Oliver Stone has not been treated kindly in the (still young) 21st Century. His dream project Alexander flopped in a catastrophic manner, and it’s been downhill since, with his last film being a belated sequel to the stockbroking classic. That said, Savages features a very talented ensemble cast, including Benicio Del Toro, Emile Hirsch and Uma Thurman. Combine that with a very intriguing synopsis, and it leads me to believe that this could just possibly be a return to form for Stone. We’ll have to wait and see. - Jack C.
36. Untitled Bin Laden Project (Kathryn Bigelow; December 19th)
Synopsis: An account on the hunt for Osama bin Laden and the battled on his compound that resulted in his death.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: After winning the Best Picture Oscar in 2009 -- not to mention beating her ex-husband James Cameron for the award -- we saw Kathryn Bigelow depict one of the most thrilling, real and gritty depictions of an Army bomb squad in The Hurt Locker. Bigelow is returning to familiar ground with her latest latest project as she explores one of the most explosive stories of 2011: the death of Osama bin Laden. Bigelow is also bringing back Hurt Locker writer Mark Boal for a film that is sure to deliver a dramatic storyline, jam packed with effortless action sequences. - Megan E.
35. Wuthering Heights (Andrea Arnold; TBA)
Synopsis: A poor boy of unknown origins is rescued from poverty and taken in by the Earnshaw family where he develops an intense relationship with his young foster sister, Cathy. Based on the classic novel by Emily Bronte.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Coming off her praised coming-of-age story Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold travels back a few hundred years to re-tell a beloved classic. With barely any dialogue, the stark, but luscious cinematography overwhelms in this tough adaptation. - Jordan R.
34. Nero Fiddled (Woody Allen; Summer TBA)
Synopsis: Consists of four vignettes, in one of which a husband and his wife travel to Rome and meet the family of the Italian man their daughter is going to marry. Another of the vignettes will feature Roberto Benigni as a man named Leopoldo who gets mistaken for a movie star. A third segment will feature Alec Baldwin as an architect from California visiting Rome with his friends. In a fourth segment two newlyweds go to Rome in order to visit some relatives but instead get lost in the city.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: With Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen proved that he has most definitely still got it. Continuing his European odyssey, his next feature will be set in Rome, and is host to a stellar cast including Allen debutees Alec Baldwin, Ellen Page and Jesse Eisenberg in addition to the returning Penelope Cruz and Allen himself. Hopefully, this will be as engaging, charming and witty as some of the auteur’s most accomplished work. - Jack C.
33. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Peter Jackson; December 14th)
Synopsis: Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, journeys to the Lonely Mountain accompanied by a group of dwarves to reclaim a treasure taken from them by the dragon Smaug.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Many, including yours truly, thought that a return to Middle Earth was wholly unnecessary. Then the video blogs, production stills, and trailer showed up, and any concerns seemed moot. Going on a fun adventure with Bilbo, Gandalf, and a few dwarves is bound to provide a great time, but seeing Jackson back in home territory could also bring some life back into him. New technology – something this franchise has helped introduce, pioneer, and dominate – such as 48FPS cameras are a big point of curiosity, too. - Nick N.
32. While We’re Young (Noah Baumbach; TBA)
Synopsis: An uptight documentary filmmaker and his wife find their lives loosened up a bit after befriending a free-spirited younger couple.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Noah Baumbach is probably going to make another film that won’t reach a mass audience here. However, it should be filled with his trademark quirkiness, a quality for which he is only rivalled by Wes Anderson (fitting, since Baumbach has written some of Anderson’s films). He is also re-teaming with Greenberg star Ben Stiller, a combination that worked perfectly in that film and will hopefully work well here too. The project has a lot of potential, and although it won’t blow anyone away, it may quietly make a strong impression on you. - Jack C.
31. The Silver Linings Playbook (David O. Russell; November 21st)
Synopsis: After spending four years in a mental institution, a former teacher moves back in with his mother and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: David O. Russell is one of the best directors working today. Russell came back big with The Fighter, a film which once again proved he’s capable of standing out while also being very commercial. After a few projects not coming together post-The Fighter, he ended up with The Silver Linings Playbook, which features a more than impressive cast. If anyone could get a great performance out of the 21st Century Robert De Niro, it’s Russell. - Jack G.
30. The Great Gatsby (Baz Luhrmann; December 25th)
Synopsis: An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Long Island-set novel, where Midwesterner Nick Carraway is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby's nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: When you read The Great Gatsby, you don’t quite imagine the story as what visionary Baz Luhrmann would probably do with the material. Really, who expects Gatsby to breakout and start jamming to Smells Like Teen Spirit? Not me. But it’s doubtful Luhrmann is going to adapt the classic novel into a high-energy and over-the-top fest, considering the somber subject matter doesn’t quite lend itself to that approach. Or maybe I’m wrong, and Luhrmann is creating something in the vein of his previous films. If that’s the case, I’ll still be the first in line, since a Baz Luhrmann film is still a Baz Luhrmann film. - Jack G.
29. This is Forty (Judd Apatow; December 21st)
Synopsis: A look at the lives of Pete and Debbie a few years after the events of Knocked Up.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Judd Apatow redefined the comedy genre with 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, not forgetting the numerous other films that he produced. This is the first sequel/spinoff he has been attached to, but it couldn’t be a spinoff of a better film. Featuring the returns of some characters from Knocked Up, in addition to new arrivals in the forms of major comedy stars, this has the potential to be another hilarious and heartwarming film from Apatow, should it be treated with the respect it deserves. - Jack C.
28. Untitled Ramin Bahrani Film (Ramin Bahrani; TBA)
Synopsis: A drama centered on an enterprising farmer whose plans cause problems within his family.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Having perfected the neorealist approach in films like Man Push Cart and Chop Shop, auteur Ramin Bahrani has directed his biggest film yet with his next drama. Previously titled Heartland, Zac Efron stars with Dennis Quaid and Heather Graham in this story of farming, a subject only like Bahrani could make riveting. - Jordan R.
27. Mud (Jeff Nichols; TBA)
Synopsis: A drama centered on two teenage boys who encounter a fugitive and pact to help him escape from an island in the Mississippi.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Even in it’s first moments, Jeff Nichols’ previous directorial effort, Take Shelter, was a lock for my top ten list of 2011. Given that picture’s assured and honest direction and writing, there’s every reason to think that this film could reach the same rarefied heights. The story sounds equally dark and cerebral, and Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon some fresh dramatic material to sink their teeth into. Not to mention it’s always good to see Sam Shepard on the screen. - Brian R.
26. Wettest County (John Hillcoat; August 31st)
Synopsis: Set in the Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a bootlegging gang is threatened by authorities who want a cut of their profits.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: John Hillcoat has established his credentials as a director who utilizes harsh surroundings with his settings, from the wild west to a post apocalyptic future. For his next feature, he wants to take on the sketchy times of bootlegging and the criminals connected with it. He’s assembled a multi-talented ensemble cast, including Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Jessica Chastain, Guy Pearce, Shia LaBeouf and Mia Wasikowska. This rich crime drama should hopefully take on the hard times with the gritty realistic approach that Hillcoat is best at. - Jack C.
25. Gangster Squad (Ruben Fleischer; October 19th)
Synopsis: A chronicle of the LAPD's fight to keep East Coast Mafia types out of Los Angeles in the 1940s and 50s.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: The number of quality gangster films is unfortunately declining nowadays, but Ruben Fleischer’s upcoming crime epic is looking to mark a change in that trend. Featuring the likes of Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn & Josh Brolin, this detective thriller is Fleischer’s first feature that is an out and out drama, which leaves question marks in the eyes of some. However, he showed a keen eye for action with his uniquely entertaining Zombieland, and Gangster Squad will no doubt be phenomenally acted, if nothing else. - Jack C.
24. Simon Killer (Antonio Campos; TBA)
Synopsis: A recent college graduate goes to Paris after breaking up with his girlfriend of five years. His life should be open-ended and full of promise, but he can’t shake his feelings of loss. Being a stranger in a strange land only aggravates his situation. When he falls in love with a young mysterious prostitute, a fateful journey begins, though we soon learn that Simon is the one with deeper secrets.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Campos’ debut, Afterschool, is one of the best-kept secrets among cinephiles to emerge in the past ten years. The amount of control and skill exuded in that feature was enough to grant the guy some attention, and the synopsis for his next only makes things a little more interesting. No matter what the thematic and narrative content delivers, I’m expecting nothing less than exemplary technical craft. - Nick N.
23. Stoker (Chan-wook Park, TBA)
Synopsis: A teenage girl mourning the death of her father deals with an uncle who mysteriously shows up to meet the family.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: One of a handful South Korean filmmakers making their English-language debut, Chan-wook Park has rounded up quite a cast for Stoker, including Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode, Dermot Mulroney, Jacki Weaver and Lucas Till. Is there a creepy turn to the seemingly standard logline? We’ll have to wait and see, but coming from this director I’m sure a mountain of surprises are in store. - Jordan R.
22. Argo (Ben Affleck; September 14th)
Synopsis: As the Iranian revolution reaches a boiling point, a CIA 'exfiltration' specialist concocts a risky plan to free six Americans who have found shelter at the home of the Canadian ambassador.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: For a while there it looked like the world had burned out on Ben Affleck. His cache as an actor had fallen and his personal life became a punchline. Then, out of nowhere, Affleck surged back onto the scene as a highly acclaimed director. Between Gone Baby Gone and The Town, Affleck has ably proven himself a talent worth watching. Of course the fact that this movie is based on one a stranger-than-fiction true story involving espionage and subterfuge doesn’t hurt either. - Brian R.
21. Skyfall (Sam Mendes; November 9th)
Synopsis: Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: I’m one of the few who liked Quantum of Solace, but even a viewer such as myself is looking for meatier content from this franchise. Mendes looks to be on track with that, and that’s only partially taking into account the casting of Javier Bardem as the antagonist. Really, it’s the more dramatic approach – which these movies can sometimes lose sight of – that has me pining to learn Skyfall’s secrets this fall. Daniel Craig kicking people’s ass once more is an attraction, too. - Nick N.
20. Cosmopolis (David Cronenberg; TBA)
Synopsis: Follows a multimillionaire on a 24-hour odyssey across Manhattan.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Although the films he has made in the 21st Century are not quite as wildly eccentric as his earlier ones were, David Cronenberg still inserts a sense that nothing is at it seems and brings the twists and turns along the way that make his work so intense and intriguing. With Cosmopolis, the opportunity for paranoia is too good to pass up. His decision to make Robert Pattinson the star bewildered some, but I have faith in his decisions. Expect the unexpected. - Jack C.
19. The Place Beyond the Pines (Derek Cianfrance; TBA)
Synopsis: A motorcycle stunt rider considers committing a crime in order to provide for his wife and child, an act that puts him on a collision course with a cop-turned-politician.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Coming off his intimate drama Blue Valentine, Cianfrance is re-teaming with Ryan Gosling and bringing along Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Rose Byrne, Ray Liotta and Animal Kingdom’s Ben Mendelsohn. If his knack for capturing fully fleshed out characters transfers over to this more marketable crime drama, then we are in for a winner. - Jordan R.
18. Cloud Atlas (Tom Tykwer, Andy and Lana Wachowski; October TBA)
Synopsis: Six stories set in a different time and place become intricately related to each other.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Six vaguely connected stories reaching across time and the earth is enough – changing your actors’ characters, genders, and race is flat-out insane. A new work from the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer is good enough; it’s that kind of towering ambition which makes Cloud Atlas an item of intense curiosity. - Nick N.
17. The End (Abbas Kiarostami; TBA)
Synopsis: The unusual relationship between a student, who works as prostitute on the side to pay for her studies, and a brilliant, elderly academic who is one her clients.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Kiarostami may be one of our greatest living filmmakers, and he upheld this image just last year with the carefully measured, masterful Certified Copy. His next feature is a Japan-set “continuation” of that film, though it’s still not entirely clear how he’s going back to old territory. But do you really want to know? I just can’t wait to experience another long car drive and philosophical discussion – all of which is perfectly captured, of course. - Nick N.
16. Seven Psychopaths (Martin McDonagh; TBA)
Synopsis: A screenwriter gets caught up in his pal's dog-kidnapping plot.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Best-known for such horrific yet hilarious plays as the child murder-centered comedy The Pillowman, Martin McDonagh made the leap to film in 2004, writing and directing the devilishly delightful Oscar-winning short Six Shooter. Next, he stepped up to features with the wickedly funny, Oscar-nominated hitman comedy In Bruges, which co-starred Irish bad boy Colin Farrell as a moody newbie killer and Six Shooter star Brendan Gleeson as his reluctant mentor. Like his stage plays, In Bruges displayed McDonagh's deftly realized black humor, which is as dark and daring as it is demented and delightful. So his next effort, which pairs Farrell with Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell, who both co-starred in McDonagh's last Broadway effort The Behanding in Spokane, seems guaranteed to tickle our funny bone's with an edgy and macabre sense of humor. – Kristy P.
15. The Dark Knight Rises (Christopher Nolan; July 20th)
Synopsis: Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, the terrorist leader Bane arrives in Gotham City, pushing it and its police force to their limits, forcing its former hero Batman to resurface after taking the fall for Harvey Dent's crimes.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Wait, you need us to tell you? Really? Well... it’s Christopher Nolan ending his (up to this time) outstanding trilogy on his own terms. The scale and scope looks nigh intimidating. Tom Hardy is ready to destroy Gotham as Bane, even if we won’t understand anything he’s saying. The IMAX footage is incredible. It’s a comic book movie that probably won’t feature tie-ins to other franchises. Nolan might stick this landing. If you’re not excited yet, I can’t see anything changing that. - Nick N.
14. Rust and Bone (Jacques Audiard; TBA)
Synopsis: And adaptation of Craig Davidson's short story, which conjures a savage world populated by fighting dogs, prizefighters, sex addicts, and gamblers. The twenty-seven bones of the title story are the bones in a boxer's hands; once broken, they never heal properly, and the fighter's career descends to bouts that have less to do with sport than with survival: no referee, no rules, not even gloves.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Jacques Audiard gave us one of the better French exports from the past ten years with A Prophet, and he’s coming back with a series of tales described as a “mix of suspense and love.” Marion Cotillard is leading what, based on the source material, may or may not be an ensemble piece/anthology picture, but let’s not fret over that right now; just take this as one of 2012’s most promising efforts. – Nick N.
13. Lincoln (Steven Spielberg; December TBA)
Synopsis: The sixteenth President of the United States guides the North to victory during the Civil War.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Steven Spielberg has always been known for his grand visions and epic scales when it comes to filmmaking. His decision to make a biopic of Abraham Lincoln, focusing on his pivotal role during the Civil War, accentuates his desire to tackle complex subjects head on whilst providing thought provoking ideas. The film features an astonishingly good cast, with Daniel Day-Lewis as the titular president being supported by such talented stars as Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones and David Straitharn, who don’t even begin to touch on how many recognizable faces will be appearing in this production. Suffice to say, this will be a major awards contender. - Jack C.
12. Amour (Michael Haneke; TBA)
Synopsis: A retired couple deals with aftermath of the wife suffering from a debilitating stroke.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: If you like a movie to stick with you after just one viewing -- a Michael Haneke film is for you. Through his dense subject matter and restricted visual style, he has the ability to emotionally and physically control his audiences. Coming off his Palme D’or win for The White Ribbon in 2009, Amour has some big shoes to fill but shouldn’t disappoint on any dramatic level. - Megan E.
11. Prometheus (Ridley Scott; June 8th)
Synopsis: A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: With Alien and Blade Runner, Ridley Scott redefined sci-fi movies forever. It has now been 30 years since the latter and the director is finally returning to his roots with Prometheus, a film that was once set to be a prequel to Alien, but is still heavily inspired. Whatever the case, it should be a highly entertaining and intriguing thriller, and with no returning characters from the franchise, it means that pretty much anything goes, cranking up the suspense. Whether Scott can conjure up the magic of his first two forays into science fiction remains to be seen. However, there should be little doubt about his credibility and the ensemble cast features some terrific stars. This has the potential to be one of the very best films of 2012. - Jack C.
10. Something in the Air (Olivier Assayas; TBA)
Synopsis: An 18-year-old man reacts to the social changes of late 1960's Europe.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Assayas showed a deft hand at tackling period settings with 2010’s incredible, sweeping Carlos. Here, he’s sticking to one time and one place, and is doing so with a more personal story; seeing him return to the scale of something along the lines of Summer Hours bodes well for cinephiles across the world. Even if there’s none of Édgar Ramírez’s penis. – Nick N.
9. Moonrise Kingdom (Wes Anderson; May 25th)
Synopsis: A pair of lovers flee their New England town, which causes a local search party to fan out and find them.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Writer-director Wes Anderson and his wry recurring player Bill Murray re-team for the former's long-awaited follow-up to 2009’s Fantastic Mr. Fox. If that's not enough to entice you, maybe the addition of Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, and Frances McDormand to Anderson's quirky and warm hued world will. - Kristy P.
8. Looper (Rian Johnson; September 28th)
Synopsis: A killer who works for the mob of the future recognizes one of his targets as his future self.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Writer-director Rian Johnson has brought a curious and captivating spin to the crime genre with his past efforts, the high school-set neo-noir Brick and the daffy heist rom-com The Brothers Bloom. So his latest venture—which pairs Brick star Joseph Gordon-Levitt with action hero extraordinaire Bruce Willis—seems sure to dazzle as it injects elements of science-fiction into a hitman-centered scenario. – Kristy P.
7. Only God Forgives (Nicolas Winding Refn, TBA)
Synopsis: A Bangkok police lieutenant and a gangster settle their differences in a Thai-boxing match.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: What could be better than a reunion of Ryan Gosling and Nicolas Winding Refn? We saw their beautiful union in 2011’s Drive and their latest project will provide us with another crime drama that could subtlety blow the minds of everyone watching. Change Drive’s gritty Los Angeles scenery to Bangkok, add a little Thai-boxing, some gangsters and you’ve got Only God Forgives. - Megan E.
6. Cogan’s Trade (Andrew Dominik; TBA)
Synopsis: Jackie Cogan is a professional enforcer who investigates a heist that went down during a mob-protected poker game.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Andrew Dominik’s previous film, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, was a cold yet elegiac masterpiece and arguably the best western since Unforgiven. Consequently, the 5-year gap between that and his followup has been a painful. But this year we’ll finally see his 3rd feature hit theaters. That film is Cogan’s Trade, a crime drama with the potential to be something really special considering the subject matter and the stellar cast which includes Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, Richard Jenkins and Ray Liotta. Marketing has been quiet so far but this promises to be a riveting and exciting thriller. - Jack C.
5. Inside Llewyn Davis (Joel and Ethan Coen; TBA)
Synopsis: A singer-songwriter navigates New York's folk music scene during the 1960s.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Joel and Ethan Coen have delivered four consecutive hits, two of which were among the best of their respective decade, and their brief sabbatical is wrapping up. Some of their main players (Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman) are people we expect high quality from, but it’s the people behind the camera who are generating heat. Look, a new feature from these two is going to make us excited; the siblings doing a film based around ‘60s folk music is a mixture that feels tailor made for anyone with a modicum of taste. - Nick N.
4. The Burial aka Untitled Terrence Malick Film (Terrence Malick; TBA)
Synopsis: A romantic drama centered on a man who reconnects with a woman from his hometown after his marriage to a European woman falls apart.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Even if you’re not a fan of him, Terrence Malick makes films that are guaranteed to get the film community talking. Anyone who can create that much of a stir just from the mere presence of his work is worth waiting for. However, as this film marks and unprecedented break in form for the reclusive director, coming just one year after his last film, The Tree of Life. What isn’t a break in form, though, is the amount of talent involved in the film - Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Jessica Chastain, Olga Kurylenko, Amanda Peet, and Barry Pepper are just a few of the names attached to this project, which aside from a one-line synopsis remains as enigmatic as most of Malick’s work. - Brian R.
3. Django Unchained (Quentin Tarantino; December 25th)
Synopsis: With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Tarantino is finally tackling a genre he’s flirted with for the past several years – most strongly in his last film, which just happened to be a masterpiece – and he’s bringing along a stellar cast (Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt) with him. That’s a recipe for a great time at the movies, but he’s also going back to a controversial topic with biting dialogue, virtuoso filmmaking and a sense of cool that many imitate and none match. - Nick N.
2. The Master (Paul Thomas Anderson; TBA)
Synopsis: A 1950s-set drama centered on the relationship between a charismatic intellectual known as "the Master" whose faith-based organization begins to catch on in America, and a young drifter who becomes his right-hand man.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: By the time this movie’s released, we will have waited 5 very long, very painful years to see anything from Paul Thomas Anderson, which ultimately makes The Master one of our highest anticipated films of 2012. 2007’s There Will Be Blood gave us a broader sense of Anderson’s tortured side both in his writing and directing styles, with the faith-based drama The Master following right in its (long-awaited) wake. - Megan E.
1. Gravity (Alfonso Cuaron; November 21st)
Synopsis: The lone survivor of a space mission to repair the Hubble telescope desperately tries to return to Earth and reunite with her daughter.
Why You Should Look Forward To It: Alfonso Cuaron’s last film was the technologically impressive and emotionally resonant Children of Men, and the six-year gap between that film and Gravity’s release has been seemingly interminable. With Cuaron’s technical mettle being almost peerless among big-budget directors and the potential for this heartfelt, character-grounded science fiction tale being almost limitless, there’s no reason that this film shouldn’t top every one’s list of must-watch fare for 2012. - Brian R.
OMFg!!!! 
