Ten Most Anticipated Movies of 2013

2013 has a lot of promising movies that could be great or could be complete flops.  Last year I initially wanted to make most anticipated lists for each third, but that flopped as most of the movies I were looking forward to in the first third were rather awful from John Carter to Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.  That being said, this list is for the entire year, but there are plenty late year releases for 2013 that we don't know about yet that will either screen at festivals such as Cannes and Venice or just be plopped into the schedule by a studio wishing to capitalize on the Oscars (a la Hitchock or Promised Land).

My list is filled with movies from the directors I love.  Many of them have new movies this year, and there is reason to be anticipated for them.  There might be a few surprises on this list and others not so much. 

Honorable Mentions: The Coen Brothers' Inside Llewyeln Davis, Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Noah Baumbach's Frances Ha, Derek Cianfrance's The Place Beyond the Pines, Jeff Nichols' Mud, and the Weinstein distributed Kon-Tiki

#10 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Yes, I did.  I have put The Hobbit #2 on my list of the most anticipated.  I'm not ashamed, the first Hobbit film, which is in theaters now, was a great ride.  Peter Jackson's choice to use 48 frames was a great one and I was fully immersed in the movie.  When the movie ended I wanted it to continue, to see the completing of the story.  It didn't lag and was a joy to watch.  If the second film is better than the first, which it should be because of less exposition, we will have a real treat of big budget film making.      

  

#9 Side Effects

To be frank, I am not really anticipating Side Effects because it is supposed to be director Steven Soderbergh's last theatrical film, but for the quality of the film itself, I am really looking forward to it.  Soderbergh, most known for his films Sex, Lies, and Videotapes, Erin Brokovich, and Traffic, is one of America's most important filmmakers and was one of the most important members of the late 80s early 90s American independent film movement.  He plans to retire after Side Effects, and his HBO television movie Behind the Candelabra.  Over the last few years he has made solid, if not great movies, in Haywire, Contagion, and Magic Mike.  Side Effects appears to be another gripping thriller, with two up and coming actors, Channing Tatum and Rooney Mara (whom both incidentally could have their first and last names switched and we'd know no difference).  Jude Law and Catherine Zeta also star in this early year release.   

#8 Labor Day

I haven't been the biggest fan in the past when it comes to director Jason Reitman.  I wasn't a huge supporter of Juno, but it has some admirable qualities.  I openly hated Reitman's next film, Up in the Air and I didn't think I'd ever admire Reitman's works. With Young Adult, however, he changed things as he brought maturity and a much more even handed approach to the movie.  If Reitman continues on his recent upswing, I couldn't be any more excited for his newest film, Labor Day, which stars Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin.  With the loss of Steven Soderbergh, Reitman could help fill the void of great American directors. 

#7 The Wolf of Wall Street

There is no way to have a top ten list without the inclusion of the upcoming work of Martin Scorsese.  Again, joining Scorsese in The Wold of Wall Stree, is Leonardo DiCaprio, who plays a stockbroker who refuses cooperate with a high securities fraud case.  Also starring in the film are Kyle Chandler, Matthew McCounaughey, the charming Jean Dujardin, and the ever elusive chameleon of a director Rob Reiner.  The movie will be released later in the year and more details will become available months from now. 

#6 Star Trek into Darkness

Yes, Stark Trek is back, and I'm ever more excited for it.  The first reboot of the Star Trek series was a great surprise and one of the best action/sci-fi films I've seen in years and director J.J. Abrams' other recent action film, Super 8, was also very satisfying.  This is my only real anticipated "popcorn" movie for this upcoming year (since I loath most of the comic book movies that come).  Importantly, this has a cast that I highly appreciate, including Chris Pine, Anton Yelchin, and Zachary Quinto.   

#5 The Grandmasters

I am not sure what to expect from Wong Kar-Wai's newest film, The Grandmasters.  Most of Wong's previous movies have been more intimate relationship dramas, but The Grandmasters appears to have a much larger budget and to be a more action based film as it is a biopic about the life of a former martial artist grandmaster.  Wong has a nearly impeccable track record and the film stars Tony Leung, Chen Chang, and Ziyi Zhang.

#4 The Wind is Rising (Kaze Tachinu)

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Hayao Miyazaki's last directorial effort came in 2008 with the beautiful Ponyo and he has written a few movies since then.  With Kaze Tachinu/ The Wind is Rising, Miyazaki is back in the game and the movie will no doubt be another virtual masterpiece in his filmography.  The story of Kaze Tachinu is based around a tuberculosis patient, but not much else is known, unless one has read the book of the same name that the movie is based on.  Miyazaki is known to adapt from sources rather freely, so reading the book probably won't help much.  Kaze Tachinu will be released in the summer in Japan, so there is no telling when the movie will be released in the United States.  GKids is the new distributor for Studio Ghibli in the United States, so there is a possibility that the movie will be released late this year in the US.  The same cannot probably be said for Miyazaki's long time partner Isao Takahata and his new film (The Tale of Princess Kaguya) as GKids probably won't be able to handle two releases in the same few months.

#3 I'm So Excited (Los Amantes Pasajeros)

I'm So Excited appears to be a return to the earlier sensibilities of Pedro Almodovar. Many of his earlier films included the flamboyant comedic style that had become secondary in his more recent dramatic films. From the trailer, I'm So Excited looks to have much flamboyancy and camp and will likely be a delight for all of Almodovar's fans wanting something more similar to What Have I Done to Deserve This? than Broken Embraces.  Sony Pictures Classics is likely to release I'm So Excited in the United States and the movie will likely premier before Cannes, so its likely we will see it sooner rather than later. 

#2 In the House

If there is any director similar to Pedro Almodovar it is French auteur, Francois Ozon.  Like Almodovar, Ozon's films range from campy to deadly serious.  In the House appears to be a mix of both, the best of both worlds of Ozon.  While his most recent films have all been somewhat underwhelming (from Ricky to Potiche), In the House has been getting the director some of the best reviews of his career after it premiered in Toronto and won the top prize at San Sebastian. Some critics even believe it is a career high point for the Ozon. The movie will likely be released in the second quarter of 2013 by the Cohen Media Group.

#1 To the Wonder

I am somewhat surprised to see Terrence Malick's critically savaged To the Wonder topping my list of most anticipated movies for 2013. Malick is one of my favorite filmmakers and it really shouldn't be a surprise, even though To the Wonder premiered in Venice to mixed reactions and negative responses.  It should be noted the movie has its fans and I eagerly hope to be one of them.  The recently released French trailer shows the movie to be another beautiful and emotionally filling experience from one of the greatest auteurs of our time.