(The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey)
Only three new films will be released in the cinema this week. Could it be the crisis? No, it is the quiet before the storm. It promises to be an amazing autumn for film buffs. Here are ten films to look out for.
The Bourne Legacy
Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass declined to collaborate on the fourth film about the hounded secret agent with amnesia. But that need not necessarily be the deathblow of the series. The torch has been handed on to Tony Gilroy, the screenwriter of the Bourne films that Michael Clayton directed. And if anybody can make us forget Matt Damon, it is certainly the burlier and no less overacting Jeremy Renner of The Hurt Locker and The Town.
RELEASE 12/9 ¦ By Tony Gilroy, with Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton
Looking ahead: an amazing autumn for film buffs
Lawless
This American crime film by the Australian duo John Hillcoat (director) and Nick Cave (scriptwriter) is heavy stuff. During Prohibition, the macho Bondurant brothers flatly ignore the law and assiduously continue to brew and trade alcohol. While their colleagues recoil from shady underworld characters and corrupt law enforcers, the proud Bondurants stick to their guns. As a result, the alcohol – not to mention the blood – flows copiously.
RELEASE 19/9 ¦ By John Hillcoat, with Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain
Skyfall
On 5 October 1962, London hosted the world première of Dr No, the first film about the British master spy James Bond. The public fell in love with his style, gadgets, jokes, and valour. An icon was born. Half a century later, the public still loves Bond. The question of who will be allowed to play the seventh 007 is not yet an issue. For now, number 6, Daniel Craig, is the best Bond since Sean Connery. In the 23rd instalment, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested.
RELEASE 26/10 ¦ By Sam Mendes, with Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem
Amour
Nobody has ever matched Michael Haneke: winning the Golden Palm with two consecutive films. In Amour, he shows us the bitter end of a couple of retired, Parisian music lovers. After a stroke, things go from bad to worse for Anne. Her husband Georges promises to spare her from the hospital or a retirement home and takes care of her admirably at home. But her decline is cruel. Just like the film, the performances of veteran actors Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Louis Trintignant are brimming with pathos, making the film doubly moving.
RELEASE 24/10 ¦ By Michael Haneke, with Emmanuelle Riva, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Isabelle Hupert
The Broken Circle Breakdown
If you see one Flemish film this year, let it be this one. Felix Van Groeningen has followed up his international hit The Misfortunates with a gripping musical melodrama. The great love between tattoo artist Elise and Flemish cowboy Didier comes under extreme pressure following their totally different responses to an unbearably difficult twist of fate. Didier loses himself to his rage, while Elise seeks comfort. Their bluegrass music is heartrending.
RELEASE 10/10 ¦ By Felix Van Groeningen, with Veerle Baetens, Johan Heldenbergh
Killing Them Softly
You can say what you like about Brad Pitt, but just like George Clooney, he invests his status and money in films and directors who are really worth the trouble. Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford) is one of them. Like an onslaught, he shows us how the underworld also has to suffer the consequences of the financial crisis, and comes to the bleak conclusion that America is no longer a country, but a business. Pitt plays an utterly professional hit man who sets things to rights after a dirty surprise attack at a mob poker game.
RELEASE 5/12 ¦ By Andrew Dominik, with Brad Pitt, Scoot McNairy, James Gandolfini
Silver Linings Playbook
The fact that Christian Bale won the Oscar for best supporting actor and Melissa Leo won the Oscar for best supporting actress two years ago was not only good news for them personally. Their triumph was shared by their wilful director, David O. Russell. He has followed up the boxing drama The Fighter with a film adaptation of a bestseller by Matthew Quick. After a long stay in the hospital, optimist Pat will do anything to become the man his former wife wanted him to be, but he runs into Tiffany, a nutcase who has also had an eventful life.
RELEASE 21/11 ¦ By David O. Russell, with Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro
The fact that Christian Bale won the Oscar for best supporting actor and Melissa Leo won the Oscar for best supporting actress two years ago was not only good news for them personally. Their triumph was shared by their wilful director, David O. Russell. He has followed up the boxing drama The Fighter with a film adaptation of a bestseller by Matthew Quick. After a long stay in the hospital, optimist Pat will do anything to become the man his former wife wanted him to be, but he runs into Tiffany, a nutcase who has also had an eventful life.
RELEASE 21/11 ¦ By David O. Russell, with Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro
Beyond the Hills
Five years after he won the Golden Palm with the abortion drama Four Months, Three Weeks and Two Days, the Romanian Cristian Mungiu is back on the foreground. Beyond the Hills is an intense, solid study of the profound friendship between two young women who grew up together in an orphanage. Voichita found her place as a nun in a strict convent in a poor area. Alina returns from Germany to convince her that they should share their lives again. A giant of a film.
RELEASE 21/11 ¦ By Cristian Mungiu, with Cosmina Stratan, Cristina Flutur
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
This film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s book was preceded by a ridiculous number of arguments, conflicts, legal battles, and government negotiations. Hopefully, the result will be so astounding that nobody will remember any of that. The Hobbit is Tolkien’s prequel to his world-famous The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Peter Jackson experimented with the latest filming techniques to meet the enormous expectations. Part two will be released in 2013, part three in 2014. We can’t wait.
RELEASE 12/12 ¦ By Peter Jackson, with Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen
Life of Pi
Life of Pi by Canadian author Yann Martel was a global bestseller ten years ago. It didn’t take long before plans were hatched to make a film adaptation of the spiritual tale about an Indian boy who is forced to survive on a life boat for 277 days, accompanied by a Bengal tiger. But one project after another simply sank. The list of directors who tried and failed to make Pi includes big names like Jean-Pierre Jeunet and M. Night Shyamalan. Brokeback Mountain director Ang Lee, however, guided the film safely to completion. And he even managed it in 3D.
RELEASE 19/12 ¦ By Ang Lee, with Suraj Sharma
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