Monday, January 5, 2015

The most anticipated movies of 2015

2015 is in full swing! I'm cuddled up, ignoring the snow and watching movies. I just ran across a movie that I wasn't that fond of (I'd really like my 90 minutes back) so I thought that I'd look up the most anticipated movies of 2015 so we have something to look forward to.


40 Most Anticipated Movies of 2015


  • <p><strong>Release date:</strong> August 14<br><strong>Cause for excitement:</strong> Hollywood's been trying to crack a new 'Man From U.N.C.L.E' for at least 15 years now, and it looks like Guy Ritchie finally figured it out. Or at least, we hope he did, because both Armie Hammer and Henry Cavill seem ready to show off what they can do. If they've got chemistry, it could be a huge franchise for Ritchie and Warner Bros, and a genuine counter-point to the spy games of 'Bourne' and 'Bond' alike.<br><strong>Possible warning signs:</strong> Hammer hasn't really had his moment yet, and while we feel like he tried hard to make 'The Lone Ranger' work, he really didn't work in the role. He and Cavill are obviously beefcake, but we're hoping they've also got the chops to make us interested in these characters from a barely-remembered-by-the-mainstream TV show.<br>- Drew McWeeny</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong> April 17<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>Based on the gripping Stalin-era Soviet thriller by Tom Rob Smith, the tale of the still under-utilized era of fear features a top drawer cast including Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace and Gary Oldman<br><strong>Possible warning signs: </strong>These twist-laden spy novels have proven deceptively difficult to adapt as 3/4 of the plot has to be abandoned for the film version, often losing the heart of the piece in the process.<br>- Richard Rushfield</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date:</strong> Nov. 25<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>Any fan of Jeff Nichols' work ("Shotgun Stories," "Take Shelter," "Mud") should be doing cartwheels. Here he's wading out into sci-fi with the story of a father and son on the run after the dad learns that his child possesses special powers.<br><strong>Possible warning signs: </strong>Nichols has thrived in the small pond. This is a major studio release in the thick of Oscar season, though. Is he ready for prime time? (Note: As far as I'm concerned, that's a rhetorical question.)<br>- Kristopher Tapley</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong>May 29<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>After a commercial success with the forgettable "We Bought a Zoo," Crowe returns with a love triangle featuring Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone and Rachel McAdams.<br><strong>Possible warnings signs: </strong>Probably just the fact that in leaked E-mails Sony Pictures chairman Amy Pascal ripped it as being "ridiculous" and that numerous story elements "make no sense." Honestly, we're stunned they haven't moved it to August yet.<br>- Gregory Ellwood<br> </p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong> Sept 25<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>M. Knight Shyamalan returns to his supernatural home turf with the story of two children who discover something eerie on their grandparents’ farm.<br><strong>Possible warning signs: </strong>It’s a M. Knight Shyamalan movie! What could go wrong?!<br>- Richard Rushfield</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong>October 9<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>Jon Favreau's live-action film using CG animals performed by big giant movie stars is also using the Sherman Brothers songs from the classic '60s Disney version. That means Bill Murray, who is playing Baloo The Bear, will be singing "Bare Necessities." That means I will be seeing this film 500 times. At least.<br><strong>Possible warning signs: </strong>I'm sorry, what part of "Bill Murray is performing 'Bare Necessities' in the movie" did you not understand?<br>- Drew McWeeny</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong> December 18<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>Not much is known about the film but the prospect of a big screen rendition of the Amy and Tina show, guided by “Pitch Perfect” director Jason Moore, is a veritable dream team comedy from the get-go.<br><strong>Possible warning signs: </strong>Title change from equally generic “The Nest” sends off alerts of formulaic comedy from months away.<br>- Richard Rushfield</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong>April 10<br><strong>Cause for excitement:</strong> A new film from writer/director/former novelist Alex Garland is always of interest, and at his point we could watch Oscar Isaac read the phone book, even without some crazy futuristic hair cut.<br><strong>Possible warning signs: </strong>The film looks to be from the more cerebral, meditative side of Garland’s palate, and without frequent collaborator Danny Boyle to keep things relentlessly cinematic, the premise could drift into a stifling, serious,talky version of “Her”.<br>- Richard Rushfield</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong>Oct. 21<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>It's the second Pixar film in one year following a year of no Pixar films. That has to count for something. Moreover, the concept of dinosaurs having never been extinct seems like something ripe to mine in a family friendly flick<br><strong>Possible warnings signs: </strong>The reason it's probably so anticipated. Original co-director Bob Peterson, who helmed the Oscar-winning "Up," was "removed" as director earlier this year. Even for a group creative collective such as Pixar, that was eyebrow-raising.<br>- Gregory Ellwood</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong>December 25<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>Christopher McQuarrie has been one of Tom Cruise's favorite collaborators for the last decade or so, and they're following up the best of the "Mission: Impossible" movies so far with the same team (Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner, and Simon Pegg) returning intact for the first time in the entire series, with Ving Rhames joining in as well. And is Alec Baldwin the bad guy? Are we really that lucky next Christmas?<br><strong>Possible warning signs: </strong>It's part five of a very uneven franchise. If it's anything but a traincrash, it'll be a miracle.<br>- Drew McWeeny</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong>Nov. 20<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>The "Hunger Games" saga finally comes to an end that, if faithful to the book, may not be what many non-fans are expecting. <br><strong>Possible warnings signs:</strong> Jennifer Lawrence was not at her acting best in "Part 1." Since both parts were shot simultaneously that has us somewhat concerned.<br>- Gregory Ellwood</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong>TBD<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>One of America's greatest filmmakers, Todd Haynes, returns to the big screen in another period piece based on Patricia Highsmith's acclaimed novel. "Carol" centers on an unexpected romance between a department store clerk (Rooney Mara) and a married woman (Cate Blanchett). Oh, and it's probably going to be at Cannes, which means Blanchett could get her first acting Palme.<br><strong>Possible warnings signs:</strong> The Weinstein Company didn't rush to release it at the end of the year even though it's likely "done." Will Harvey get behind it?<br>- Gregory Ellwood</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong> Feb 13<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>Just in time for Valentines Day! It’s your favorite fan fiction S&M novel that swallowed the world. But if nothing else, 50 Shades marks the big screen leading lady debut of Dakota Johnson, who was an absolute breakthrough delight in the late Fox sitcom “Ben and Kate.”<br><strong>Possible warning signs: </strong>The title, the book, the characters, the dialogue, the premise...<br>- Richard Rushfield</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong>Sept. 18<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>An incredible cast including Jake Gyllenhaal, Keira Knightley, Robin Wright, Josh Brolin, Sam Worthington, Jason Clarke, John Hawkes and Emily Watson has been assembled for this "inspired by" thriller centered on a hiking expedition on the world's highest mountain that gets trapped in a massive snowstorm.<br><strong>Possible warnings signs: </strong>Five "credited" screenwriters and the fact director Baltasar Kormákur's English-language films have been utterly forgettable.<br>- Gregory Ellwood</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong>April 3<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>The "Fast" franchise has been on a roll ever since Justin Lin took the helm with 2009's "Fast and Furious." This time around James Wan ("Insidious," "The Conjuring") takes the wheel and Jason Statham hops in as the villain.<br><strong>Possible warnings signs: </strong>Perhaps it's more of a legitimate concern with this one than a warning sign. Can the film ever live up to fan's expectations on how the departure of Paul Walker's character is handled? Moreover, does the re-working of the script following his untimely death actually work?<br>- Gregory Ellwood</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong>Nov. 25<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt reunite with underrated director Jonathan Levine after the successful dramedy "50/50." Oh, and Lizzy Caplan, Anthony Mackie and, no joke, Kanye West are on board too.<br><strong>Possible warnings signs:</strong> That it's coming out at Thanksgiving instead of right before Christmas? That Rogen might need to take at least a year off after the national news drama around "The Interview"?<br>- Gregory Ellwood</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong>May 22<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>Melissa McCarthy reunites with writer/director Paul Feig for the third time after their previous successes "Bridesmaids" and "The Heat."<br><strong>Possible warnings signs:</strong> It's a minor one, but is McCarthy's shtick getting old? She should have been able to make "Tammy" inherently funnier on her own and couldn't. Ponder.<br>- Gregory Ellwood</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong>July 24<br><strong>Cause for excitement:</strong> Pac-Man versus the military is one of those things that it would take a truly diabolical lack of talent to screw up. When aliens use the familiar forms of some of the most iconic '80s video game characters to try to invade the Earth, it's up to the guys who were the best arcade jockeys to lead the planet's defense. With Peter Dinklage as Billy Mitchell from "The King Of Kong," so you know it's going to be great.<br><strong>Possible warning signs: </strong>Adam Sandler. I'm sorry, but it's true.<br>- Drew McWeeny</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong>Oct. 2<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>Robert Zemeckis directs Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a narrative version of the true story depicted in the Oscar-winning documentary "Man on Wire." That's a lot of heft.<br><strong>Possible warning signs: </strong>The trailer seemed to be leaning a bit on the inherent spectacle. That could be fine, but hopefully not at the risk of rich drama.<br>- Kristopher Tapley</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong>Feb 13<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong>The Harry Potter meets James Bond concept looks like more than the usual teenbait fun thanks to the work of Matthew Vaughn, a director who has barely had a misstep in five at bats. Extra gravitas points from Colin Firth and Michael Caine.<br><strong>Possible warning signs: </strong>Possible warning signs: Polish and sheen can only sustain a very high concept comic book premise so far before it enters into very familiar spy versus spy territory.<br>- Richard Rushfield</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date:</strong> May 15<br><strong>Cause for excitement: </strong> The original rags-to-riches a capella story was so bristling with comedy, it left us wanting more.<br><strong>Possible warning signs:</strong> Much of the original’s charm came from the under-the-radar shaggy dog thrill of a little comedy sneaking up on you. But when little comedies become Comedy Franchises, the danger of beating those funny notes to death is aca-huge.<br>- Richard Rushfield</p>
  • <p><strong>Release date: </strong>July 17<br><strong>Cause for excitement:</strong> In some ways, this could be one of the most important puzzle pieces in the overall Marvel movie universe, telling a story of one of the secret chapters of the Marvel history while introducing one of the more visually insane and ambitious characters they've attempted so far.<br><strong>Possible warning signs: </strong>The ants are characters. With personalities. Then again, the talking raccoon was best friends with a tree, so anything's possible.<br>- Drew McWeeny</p>

40. "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."

Release date: August 14
Cause for excitement: Hollywood's been trying to crack a new 'Man From U.N.C.L.E' for at least 15 years now, and it looks like Guy Ritchie finally figured it out. Or at least, we hope he did, because both Armie Hammer and Henry Cavill seem ready to show off what they can do. If they've got chemistry, it could be a huge franchise for Ritchie and Warner Bros, and a genuine counter-point to the spy games of 'Bourne' and 'Bond' alike.
Possible warning signs: Hammer hasn't really had his moment yet, and while we feel like he tried hard to make 'The Lone Ranger' work, he really didn't work in the role. He and Cavill are obviously beefcake, but we're hoping they've also got the chops to make us interested in these characters from a barely-remembered-by-the-mainstream TV show.
- Drew McWeeny




2 of 40 © Lionsgate

39. "Child 44"


Release date: April 17
Cause for excitement: Based on the gripping Stalin-era Soviet thriller by Tom Rob Smith, the tale of the still under-utilized era of fear features a top drawer cast including Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace and Gary Oldman
Possible warning signs: These twist-laden spy novels have proven deceptively difficult to adapt as 3/4 of the plot has to be abandoned for the film version, often losing the heart of the piece in the process.
- Richard Rushfield



3 of 40 © AP Photo

38. "Midnight Special"


Release date: Nov. 25
Cause for excitement: Any fan of Jeff Nichols' work ("Shotgun Stories," "Take Shelter," "Mud") should be doing cartwheels. Here he's wading out into sci-fi with the story of a father and son on the run after the dad learns that his child possesses special powers.
Possible warning signs: Nichols has thrived in the small pond. This is a major studio release in the thick of Oscar season, though. Is he ready for prime time? (Note: As far as I'm concerned, that's a rhetorical question.)
- Kristopher Tapley



4 of 40 © AP Photo

37. "Untitled Cameron Crowe"

Release date: May 29
Cause for excitement: After a commercial success with the forgettable "We Bought a Zoo," Crowe returns with a love triangle featuring Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone and Rachel McAdams.
Possible warnings signs: Probably just the fact that in leaked E-mails Sony Pictures chairman Amy Pascal ripped it as being "ridiculous" and that numerous story elements "make no sense." Honestly, we're stunned they haven't moved it to August yet.
- Gregory Ellwood 


5 of 40 © AP Photo

36. "The Visit"


Release date: Sept 25
Cause for excitement: M. Knight Shyamalan returns to his supernatural home turf with the story of two children who discover something eerie on their grandparents’ farm.
Possible warning signs: It’s a M. Knight Shyamalan movie! What could go wrong?!
- Richard Rushfield
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