Our Top Story Tonight: A "Veronica Mars" Movie is Funded, Changing the Film Industry Forever

To those that have not watched "Veronica Mars" may I ask: What are you waiting for? Ask any "marshmallow" and they'll agree: "Veronica Mars" is one ofthe smartest, wittiest and most flat out entertaining series of the past decade. It surpasses the typical "teen drama" format, blending comedy, romance and mystery into the mix. For three seasons, fans tuned in religiously to watch junior PI Veronica Mars, the once popular daughter of a disgraced sheriff, solve crimes in her corrupt town of Neptune and it's high school. One week could find her investigating a rigged school election, and the next could find her trying to figure out who murdered her best friend. But, every week, fans could expect to be throughly entertained. That is until the show was moved from the UPN to the CW, where network executives pressured creator Rob Thomas to change the format, only to eventually cancel the series, leaving almost every plot-line unresolved. I used to be hesitant about recommending "Veronica Mars" to others as, while I truly loved the series, I was afraid that those I got to watch it would be angered by the cliffhanger. But now I don't have to. 

This morning Rob Thomas & Kristen Bell set up a Kickstarter account announcing that if fans could contribute $2 million by April 12 then Warner Bros. would produce a film version of "Veronica Mars." They even posted a hilarious video to persuade fans to support the project, featuring Enrico Colantoni (who played her father, Private Investigator Keith Mars), Jason Dohring (who played her enemy turned boyfriend, Logan Echolls) and Ryan Hansen (who played dumb rich kid, Dick Casablancas). And fans weren't just getting a movie with their contribution- prizes including everything from a t-shirt to a walk on role in the film were handed out, and will continue to be handed out, to those that donate. But it turns out they didn't need 30 days to secure the funds- they needed about 10 hours. Yes, "Veronica Mars" fans a movie will finally happen, with filming set to begin this summer and a release date likely in early 2014. I couldn't be happier. But I'm also thrilled at what this means for the film industry. 

Obviously it's too early to really see what ramifications of financing this movie would mean for the film industry, but it's ripe with possibilities. Granted, "Veronica Mars" wasn't exactly the most successful TV series, but it amassed a pretty rabid fan base over the course of it's three year run. A movie was rumored almost immediately following the cancellation of the series. But Kristen Bell, along with many other former cast members, made it clear to fans that a feature film was highly unlikely. Yet, here we are. If you had gotten a hold of me early this morning, before I checked my Twitter account, and told me that there was going to be a "Veronica Mars" movie I wouldn't have believed you. I still can't believe it. But it's really going to happen. And that got me thinking, how many other great properties are there that could gain funding now, via Kickstarter? There are plenty of beloved cult TV series- "Freaks & Geeks", "Party Down" and "Terriers" are the first to come to mind- that I'm sure could be funded by fans if given the option. What about series like "24" or "Entourage", where the possibility of a film adaptation has been discussed for a while but never actually confirmed? I've even heard rumors of setting up an account for a sequel to "Serenity." Is this the future of indie filmmaking? If so, I couldn't be more excited.

Our Top Story Tonight: "The Great Gatsby" Set to Open the 66th Cannes Film Festival!

**NOTE: "Our Top Story Tonight" is a new daily segment in which I'll post commentary on what I believe to be the biggest movie news item of the day, as well as a few quick notes on other announcements made throughout the day.**

It was announced today that Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby will be the opening film for the Cannes Film Festival, which will run from May 15th to the 26th. This is an odd move for Gatsby as the film is set to open in the US (along with Taiwan and India) on May 10, meaning that the film will be widely seen prior to it's prestigious screening at the festival. It will also be the second film to open the festival in 3D, the first being Up in 2009. The Cannes Film Festival is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious of the festival, and, sometimes, a very early indicator of potential Oscar favorites. This year's Jury President will be none other than Steven Spielberg. The lineup of films will be announced in April.

Personally, I find the fact that Gatsby will be opening the fest after it's American release date to be a huge vote of confidence regarding the quality of the film. With many rumors of a troubled production, it doesn't seem too outlandish to me to expect that the film is much more than the disaster that some are anticipating. Personally, I can't wait to check the film out, but I'm also a huge Luhrmann fan so I may be a bit biased. I won't be able to attend Cannes, but I'm eagerly anticipating the coverage of the festival from other movie websites, and I hope to see The Great Gatsby prior to it's Cannes premiere.

After the jump, check out other big stories from the day including news regarding the latest X-Men film and David O. Russell's Abscam project.

My 25 Most Anticipated Films of 2013 Part 3: #5-1

It's all been leading up to this. I'd do anything to see these five films right now. For some I'll only have to wait a few more months, for others I'll have to wait till the very end of the year, and one has not had it's release date set. I sincerely hope they all live up to my sky-high expectations.

But before we get started, I want to just address some that didn't make the cut. If I could be sure that David O. Russell's Abscam project was coming out this year, it would make my Top 5, but with the film just starting filming in the spring and no release date set I just don't think we'll see it until 2014. Meanwhile I'm really excited for The Spectacular Now, Fruitvale, August: Osage County and Inside Llweyn Davis, and they just barely missed the list. There are also a few films that I'm looking forward to, but am not expecting much more than mindless entertainment. They include Iron Man 3, Pacific Rim, Oblivion and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Horror flicks Evil Dead and The Conjuring look terrific, but the state of the horror genre these days makes it difficult to really get excited for one these days. I'm hoping Paul Feig can deliver a solid comedy this summer with The Heat and that Disney churns out another terrific animated film with Frozen this winter.

Well, I think that just about covers it. Time to unveil the five films I'm anticipating the most:

5.) Trance (dir. Danny Boyle)

Danny Boyle is an exceptionally talented and incredibly diverse filmmaker. I have an unabashed love for Slumdog Millionare, a deep appreciation for 127 Hours, consider Trainspotting to be one of the best films about drug addiction ever made and find 28 Days Later... to be one of the best horror films of the past ten years. I'd be excited for just about anything he's a part of. But after making some (terrific) Oscar films, it's enticing to Boyle return to his edgy, hardcore genre picture roots. Trance looks like a mind-bender of a thriller with a considerable amount of edge to it. The trailer promises grisly (but visually stunning) violence, and a healthy dose or eroticism, which have both been missing from Boyle's last few films. But, his his always glorious cinematography will certainly be present, and the casting for the film is phenomenal. James McAvoy has proven to be one of the most reliable actors when it comes to picking interesting and diverse films, and Vincent Cassel is a joy to watch on camera. But who I'm really interested in seeing is Rosario Dawson, an actress who I've loved for quite some time who hasn't had decent material to work with since Sin City back in 2005. Hopefully this will giver her a career boost and showcase her considerable acting talent. I only have to wait a few more weeks before checking this film out, and I can't wait.
RELEASE DATE: April 5

4.) The Wolf of Wall Street (dir. Martin Scorsese)

Getting excited for a Scorsese film isn't an option for a film nerd- it's a requirement. The man is a living legend of cinema who's lesser films are more enjoyable than the greatest films of other directors. For the past decade, Scorsese has been working almost exclusively with Leonardo DiCaprio and while their partnership should have gone stale by now, it hasn't. The two have churned out one good film after another, including a Best Picture winner. After taking a brief break from his usual films (and Leo), Martin Scorsese is back with The Wolf of Wall Street, which doubles as the most interesting project the director has taken on in ages and the latest stop on the "Give Leo an Oscar" train. The corruption of Wall Street circa 1980 is a captivating hook for a story, and Scorsese has (as always) summoned an all star cast. Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill, Kyle Chandler, Jean Dujardin and (of course) Leo better prepare themselves for a hectic winter, as this will be a major player throughout Oscar season. And with a supposedly edgy script and much buzzed about lead performance, I'm sure we will be in for a treat when this hits theaters in November. It's my most anticipated "Oscar" movie for next year.
RELEASE DATE: November 15

3.) Star Trek Into Darkness (dir. J.J Abrams)

If The Wolf of Wall Street is the Oscar movie I'm anticipating the most, then Star Trek Into Darkness is the action film that I'm most interested in seeing. 2009's Star Trek was the best, most satisfying action film of the past decade for me and I've been on the edge of my seat waiting for the sequel ever since the credits started to roll the first time I saw it. Everything about the reboot, from the excellent cast to the terrific way Abrams blended genuine thrills with heart and humor, worked for me, and I only hope the new one can provide more of the same. With a darker tone promised in the trailer, along with some jaw-droppingly good special effects and exciting looking set pieces, I can't help but count the days until I can check this one out in IMAX.
RELEASE DATE: May 17

2.) The Bling Ring (dir. Sofia Coppola)

If you ask me, Sofia Coppola has a bad rep in Hollywood that she definitely does not deserve. While I wouldn't call her a "master of cinema" or anything like that, I will argue that Lost in Translation is one of the best films of the 2000s. I will also argue that The Virgin Suicides is a damned good movie, and that Marie Antoinette was misunderstood by critics and is much better than most reviews say. I'm hoping that the public opinion will revert back to the very positive Translation era with her next film, The Bling Ring, which sounds absolutely fantastic. This true story, which was practically made for the big screen, follows a group of bored, rich teens who decide to start stealing from the celebrities that live in their area, many of whom will be playing themselves. Emma Watson, who seems to have the best post-Potter career out of any of her former co-stars, will play the ringleader of the group, a role that will certainly garner much attention for the young starlet. Reading about her research for the role, which consisted of watching long hours of reality television to get in character, only furthers my interest. Coppola is a talented, meditative director that can say a lot without ever hitting the audience over the head. Her subtlety, matched with this true-crime story, will hopefully make for one hell of a movie watching experience.
RELEASE DATE: June 14

And finally...

1.) Her (dir. Spike Jonze)

It's been almost four years since we've seen a feature film from Spike Jonze and, in my opinion, that's too long an absence from his wonderfully strange mind. Being John Malkovich is one of my all time favorite films, and both Adaptation. and Where the Wild Things Are impressed me with their stunning visuals and intelligent screenplays. Her, which follows a man who falls in love with the voice featured on his computer, sounds just as weird and quirky as the director's other works and will, hopefully, be as great. As if Jonze's talent didn't already suggest it, the cast leads me to expect greatness. As I mentioned before, Joaquin Phoenix is one of the very best actors working today. Same goes for Amy Adams, who is also one of the most diverse ladies working in the industry, while Rooney Mara has shown to have talent far beyond her years. I'm also looking forward to seeing Olivia Wilde, a charismatic and lovable actress, work with material that will (hopefully) allow her to be more than just the "hot girlfriend" she's been for the past few years. But, mostly, I like the movie I'm anticipating the most to be one that I can see being my very favorite film of the year. And Her is just that.
RELEASE DATE: TBD

Well, there you have it. Twenty five films I can't wait to check out. In case you missed it, check out Part 1 for #25-16 and Part 2 for #15-6. Thanks for reading!

My 25 Most Anticipated Films of 2013 Part 2: #15-6

Welcome back! Yesterday I posted the first ten of twenty five films I'm anticipating for the next year and, now, here are the next ten! We're stepping up into the big leagues in terms of potential Oscar contenders and films I'm dying to check out, so take note. And come back tomorrow for Part 3, with my Top 5!

15.) Nebraska (dir. Alexander Payne)

When it comes to making thoughtful dramas that are also well written, edgy and mature, Alexander Payne has proven to be one of the best directors working today. Each of his films deal with subject matter that tend to be found in heavier dramas, yet he inserts a bit of dark humor into the mix to keep things interesting, while not forgetting to establish an emotional connection with the audience. His next film, which is essentially a road trip dramadey between a father and son, sounds like the sort of film I'd dread seeing (The Guilt Trip anyone?) but knowing Payne, the film will be a much smarter, more intelligent film than we expect. The Descendants, his last film, dealt with similarly clichéd subject matter and proved to be one of the best films of 2011, while both Sideways and Election were great as well. Nebraska will, hopefully, continue his winning streak.
RELEASE DATE: TBD

14.) Lowlife (dir. James Gray)

Say what you will about the Weinsteins, but these Oscar-whoring mega producers always manage to build an incredible lineup of films for awards season. And one that has particularly caught my eye is James Gray's long awaited Lowlife, a film that features two of the best actors working today- Joaquin Phoenix and Marion Cotillard- and one of Hollywood's rising talents, Jeremy Renner. The story of an immigrant woman (Cotillard) being forced into a life of prostitution only to find possible redemption in a magician (Renner) sounds interesting enough, but throw in Joaquin Phoenix as the villain and you've got me interested. In my opinion, Phoenix is an actor who's so incredibly talented that I'll look past his unbearable personality and will check out just about anything he's in. Positive word of mouth after some footage was shown at the Telluride Film Festival only supports my belief that this could be one of the year's best. I am a bit worried that the Weinstein's just set four films for release during the prime months of Oscar season and Lowlife was not among them, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed we'll finally get to see it this year.
RELEASE DATE: TBD

13.) Foxcatcher (dir. Bennet Miller)

Foxcatcher first appeared on my radar after I read the synopsis a sometime last year when it began production. Maybe it's because I never heard the story of John du Pont, a man who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and killed Olympic wrestler David Schultz, but the moment I heard about this film I was curious to check it out and learn more about this story. Then Steve Carrell was cast as du Pont and it suddenly became one of my most anticipated films of the year. Not because I'm a huge Carrell fan (I mean, he's fine I guess...) but because casting an actor known almost entirely for comedies in something so outright dramatic means that director Bennet Miller must have a lot of confidence in Carrell's ability to play against type. It's one of my most anticiapted performances of the year,  and considering Miller's ability to get Philip Seymour Hoffman and Oscar (for Capote) and Brad Pitt a nomination (for Moneyball) I can't imagine him not being successful.
RELEASE DATE: TBD

12.) Dallas Buyers Club (dir. Jean-Marc Vallée)

2012 was a great year to be Matthew McConaughey. I can't remember the last time an actor did such a complete 360 in terms of reputation not only in Hollywood, but with film critics and even the most pretentious of film nerds. He has morphed from the leading man in annoying romantic comedies into an immensely talented director who stole scenes in his three films released last year: Magic Mike, Killer Joe and Bernie. His performance in Dallas Buyers Club, a true story of a homophobic man in the 1980s who contracted AIDS and began smuggling medications from around the world into the US, could be the best of his career. For one thing, his physical transformation (pictured above) is quite remarkable. But he will also be sharing the screen with Jared Leto, who should definitely stick to acting,  and the highly underrated Jennifer Garner. McConaughey's path towards complete career comeback could really take off in this film, and it sounds like his role will be prime Oscar bait this season. I can't wait.
RELEASE DATE: TBD

11.) Untitled Diablo Cody Film (dir. Diablo Cody)

If there is one writer in Hollywood that has an undeserved bad reputation, it's Diablo Cody. Cody, to me, is a truly one of a kind writer who always has something interesting to bring to the table, even if it's not entirely successful. Young Adult was my favorite film of 2011, Juno was great and, hell, I even sort of enjoyed Jennifer's Body. With her next film, which I thought was titled Lamb of God but is listed as Paradise on IMDb, Cody will be tackling the idea of religion in a film centered on a conservative Christian young woman who's faith is shaken after an accident and decides to live the life of a sinner in Vegas. Films centered on religion have always fascinated me, and to see someone as talented as Cody take on the theme is quite exciting and filled with potential. It also doesn't hurt that Holly Hunter, one of my favorite actresses, will be playing the main character's religious mother. Yet another film that is yet to have a release date, we've already got an MPAA rating for this one and I'm hoping to see it on the schedule for an upcoming film festival because I'm dying to check it out.
RELEASE DATE: TBD

10.) Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (dir. Robert Rodriguez & Frank Miller)

Many of the recent "cult favorites" to attract passionate fan bases have left me cold. For example, I fail to see what makes V for Vendetta so special, and Donnie Darko, while interesting, just comes off as pretentious to me. Yet, watching Sin City completely lived up the hype. Robert Rodriguez has a clear passion for making films, and has many terrific action films to his name. But Sin City may be his masterpiece- a visually stunning, ultra-violent, too-cool-for-school thrill ride filled to the brim with talented actors, quotable dialogue and memorable moments. But as the years went by, I almost stopped believing that we'd ever get the long awaited return to Basin City. And, now, it's finally coming. With most of the cast returning, actors like Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Josh Brolin joining up for the ride, and the fact that the "Dame to Kill For" storyline is considered one of the series' strongest, how could I not be excited? It pains me to know that Michael Clarke Duncan and Brittany Murphy won't be returning, but I'm sure this film will do their legacies justice and will, hopefully, live up the high expectations of fans who've been waiting for almost eight years for this movie.
RELEASE DATE: October 4

9.) Serena (dir. Susanne Bier)

Jennifer Lawrence gave my favorite Lead Actress performance last year, so I'd be excited to see her in just about anything she was set to appear in following Silver Linings Playbook. But there are other factors that make Serena a must see for me. For one thing, this film reunites her with her Playbook costar, Bradley Cooper. Cooper really surprised me with his terrific performance in that film, and he and Lawrence played off each other nicely. But, this film has had my interest for quite some time. In fact, ever since it was originally developed as a project for Darren Aronofsky. While I'm upset that we couldn't see those two collaborate in what sounds like a very intense film, I think seeing Lawrence take on such a dark part will not only be beneficial for her career but will show audiences just how talented she really is.
RELEASE DATE: TBD

8.) Only God Forgives (dir. Nicolas Winding Refn)

While I wasn't bowled over by Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive like so many others in the film geek community, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and it made my Top 10 list for 2011. It was an extremely stylish mashup of art house and action with a soundtrack I'm still listening to. I expect his next collaboration with Ryan Gosling to be equally violent and just as good, if not better. The thirty second preview available online looks stunning, and the set photos (shown above) make the film look just as intense and brutal as Drive. I may not be anticipating to love Only God Forgives but it's a film I'm extremely interested in checking out, if only for the beautiful cinematography and intense fight scenes.
RELEASE DATES: May 23

7.) Elysium (dir. Neil Blomkamp)

Having attended San Diego Comic Con in July, I was able to see exclusive footage from Elysium and can ensure fans of Blomkamp's District 9 that his long awaited second film will, most likely, be worth the wait. The footage was incredible, taking the same gritty realism and political metaphors depicted in District 9 and giving it a much broader scope. Elysium looks extremely exciting but also intelligent and bound to cause discussion, which is the same thing that earned District 9 a slot on my Top 10 list of 2009. Throw in Matt Damon, Jodie Foster and Sharlto Copley- who, in this film, plays the exact opposite of his character in District 9- and you've got yourself a potential sci-fi classic.
RELEASE DATE: August 9

6.) Labor Day (dir. Jason Reitman)

Having directed my favorite film of 2011, I'd be excited for almost anything Jason Reitman had to offer. But, as a director, Reitman has delivered one terrific film after another so my expectations are sky high for his latest, Labor Day. I love coming of age stories, and this one- which finds a young boy and his depressed single mom taking in a criminal on the run- sounds particularly interesting. Reitman also has a habit of getting terrific performances out of all the actors in his films, and with a cast that includes Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin I see no reason to doubt that this film will live up to the standards set by Reitman's latest, as well as Up in the Air and Juno.
RELEASE DATE: TBD

This has been Part 2 of My 25 Most Anticipated Films of 2013. Check back tomorrow afternoon for Part 3, which will include My Top 5 for next year. And, if you haven't already, check out Part 1! Thanks for reading!

My 25 Most Anticipated Films of 2013 Part 1: #25-16

To me, it always felt strange that most film critics choose January as the month to release their Top 10 lists for the previous year and their Most Anticipated Film lists for the current year. To me, the cinematic calendar of a year ends on Oscar night after the Best Picture of the Year is announced and it starts anew the following morning. After all, it's not like there are many great films being released in January, February or even March (I've heard Side Effects was solid but unfortunately missed my chance to see it in theaters.) So, with Oscar Season 2012 coming to a close, it's time to start looking forward to the next batch of films we'll be loving, hating, debating about and predicting for awards season glory. Granted, many of these films won't be released until late in the year, and some definitely won't be taking home awards later in the year. But, who cares? Here are the first ten (of 25) films coming out later this year that I can't wait to check out.

25.) The Monuments Men (dir. George Clooney)

The Monuments Men is Oscar bait, plain and simple. Hell, it even sounds a lot like Argo but with paintings instead of people, and Nazis instead of Iranian revolutionaries. Films that seem to be begging for notice from the Academy tend to rub me the wrong way (one of the many reasons I found Argo to be vastly overrated) but I've been surprised by films that seem tailor made for award season before (The Help, for example). But the film has a terrific cast- Daniel Craig, Matt Damon, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett and Clooney himself, who has also proven to be a solid director. I'm holding out hope that the film proves to be more than just an "Oscar movie" and will turn out a truly great film.
RELEASE DATE: December 18

24.) Oldboy (dir. Spike Lee)

Spike Lee is a wildly inconsistent director so getting excited about a film of his is a hard thing for me. And, I can't lie, when I first heard that he was going to be directing a remake to one of the greatest foreign films I've ever seen, the terrific South Korean thriller Oldboy, I was hit with disappointment. It's not entirely Lee's fault- I'd be worried about the film falling into virtually any director's hands- but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Lee could actually bring something interesting to the film. Lee has a very unique and interesting visual style and his better films feel wild, unpredictable, and incredibly unique- the exact thing an Oldboy remake would need. And when Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley and Samuel L. Jackson joined the cast, I started to become cautiously optimistic. This could be a very interesting interpretation of a great film. Now, let's just pray they don't change the ending- it's one of the most surprising twist endings I've ever seen and I highly doubt any American screenwriter can top it, even if they try.
RELEASE DATE: October 11

23.) Blue Jasmine (dir. Woody Allen)

At the rate Woody Allen churns out films, his terrible films are hardly worth getting too upset about. At 77, the fact that Allen is still hard at work writing and directing films- and the fact that some of his recent output ranks about his very best of all time- means he's allowed to mess up every once in a while. As is the same with most of Woody Allen's films, we don't know much about the plot but we have the cast and it's, as always, stacked with A-list talent. Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, and Michael Stuhlbarg will surely be wonderful, but I'm most excited about seeing Louis C.K. (one of the most talented men in the entertainment industry at the moment) in the film. Good or bad, Blue Jasmine is definitely worth checking out.
RELEASE DATE: July 26

22.) Saving Mr. Banks (dir. John Lee Hancock)

I hated The Blind Side. I can't believe it actually won an Oscar of any kind, let alone that it was nominated for Best Picture and grossed as much as it did. Due to that, I really didn't want to get excited for anything director John Lee Hancock churned out. But I did. Saving Mr. Banks just sounds so interesting that I can't help but want to see it. The story of Walt Disney trying to convince author P.L. Travers to allow him to adapt Mary Poppins is a captivating idea, and one I can't wait to see acted out on screen. Of course, it also helps that the film stars Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson in roles that will surely be courting attention from the Academy, and that they are surrounded by actors like Collin Farrell, Paul Giammati and Jason Schwartzman. Who knows, maybe this will be so good that I'll forgive Hancock for directing The Blind Side. Maybe. But it'll have to be really great for that to happen.
RELEASE DATE: December 20

21.) The Counselor (dir. Ridley Scott)

Had Ridley Scott's recent directorial outings not disappointed me so much, this film would most definitely be higher on the list. But, as it stands, Scott is still one of the greatest directors of all time, and The Counselor sounds like one hell of a great crime drama. With Cormac McCarthy writing the script, and Michael Fassbender leading a cast of A-listers, how can any legitimate movie nerd not get excited to see it? One thing I'm really looking forward to is Cameron Diaz's performance. From what I've heard, Diaz will be playing a sexed up woman involved in the drug industry, a part that is bound to have a handful of showy scenes. I've always thought that Diaz was an under appreciated actress who with a few solid performances early in her career. Here's hoping that she makes a comeback of sorts with  The Counselor.
RELEASE DATE: November 15

20.) Gravity (dir. Alfonso Caurón)

At this point, I feel like we've been waiting for so long to see this film that I'm obligated as a film blogger to include this on my list. Gravity will certainly be one of the most talked about films of the year, regardless of quality, and expectations are sky high for Alfonso Caurón. With the promise of many long shots and incredible cinematography (in 3D!), the film has the potential to be the most technically impressive film of 2013. But what I'm excited for is the fact that the film will be, for the most part, a one woman show. I don't think Sandra Bullock deserved her Oscar for The Blind Side, but I do think she's incredibly charismatic, likable, and talented. If any actress could carry an entire film, it's her. Maybe this time she'll receive an Oscar she actually deserves.
RELEASE DATE: October 4

19.) Anchorman: The Legend Continues (dir. Adam McKay)

The toughest genre for me to enjoy is, without a doubt, comedy. Most years, I only have one comedy I truly enjoy. And, even with comedies I like, I find very little reason to re-watch them. But, there is something about Will Ferrell films that I just love. With few exceptions, I find them funny from beginning to end. They have been some of the most quotable movies of the past decade, and have become almost pop culture events as opposed to films. Anyway, Anchorman: The Legend Continues has the potential to be a comedy epic, and it's assembling one the finest casts a comedy has had in recent memory. I haven't been this excited for a comedy in years.
RELEASE DATE: December 20

18.) The Great Gatsby (dir. Baz Luhrmann)

Most people hate Baz Luhrmann. I think he's sort of a genius. Nobody makes movies that look, sound, or feel like his. His films are like the result of an action blockbuster crashing into a stuffy costume drama, with the cast of Cirque de Solei and a killer soundtrack thrown in for good measure. Moulin Rouge! and Romeo + Juliet are such unique films, and if there was one word to describe the trailers for Luhrmann's adaptation of the greatest novel of all time, it would be just that: unique. For better or worse, Luhrmann has infused his exhilaratingly strange visual style with the thoughtful prose of Fitzgerald, and I can't wait to check it out. As far as I'm concerned: 1) Leonardo DiCaprio was born to play Gatsby. 2) When a soundtrack includes original music from Prince and Lady GaGa, you go see that movie. And, 3) Good or bad, Luhrmann's films are always an interesting experience.
RELEASE DATE: May 10

17.) Twelve Years a Slave (dir. Steve McQueen)

Despite being hailed as one of the best directors to burst onto the scene in recent memory, I have yet to see a Steve McQueen film. But, I plan to seek his work out prior to seeing Twelve Years a Slave, a film that has caught my eye. It has a fantastic cast, and a story that sounds terrific, but what really fascinates me is that McQueen is known for being a brutal, uncompromising filmmaker and I think that's what we need when it comes to telling a story about slavery. Not one that sugar coats over the serious issues in order to score more points with Oscar voters. 

RELEASE DATE: TBD

16.) Man of Steel (dir. Zack Snyder)

The trailer for Man of Steel really blew me away. With all this talk about a Justice League film being in the works, I was worried that DC would simply try to copy Marvel but I'm pleased to see their films striking a very different tone (not to suggest I want a Justice League movie, but if there will be one at least it'll be different from The Avengers.) Even more impressive, I think, is the way that Snyder is striking a tone that feels very similar to what Nolan did with Batman- dark, serious and realistic- but still manages to put in otherworldly elements without seeming ridiculous. Obviously, I'm judging it entirely off the trailer. But, Man of Steel is one of the two summer blockbusters that I can't wait to check out this year, and I'm holding out hope that it lives up to my expectations.

RELEASE DATE: June 14

That's it for Part 1! Check out Part 2 tomorrow, and Part 3 on Sunday!