2015 looks like it is going to be chock full of great movies. It promises to be a combination of highly anticipated, big-budget sequels and also some interesting smaller, more thought-provoking fare. Here is a list of the movies that Matt and I are most excited about. They are in alphabetical order:
Aloha
Directed by Cameron Crowe
Starring Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, John Krasinski, Bill Murray, Jay Baruchel, and Danny McBride
Matt: Once called Deep Tiki, the currently-titled film, Aloha, from writer-director Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Say Anything, We Bought a Zoo) is a dramedy (comedy/drama) about a disgraced 30-something U.S. weapons consultant, Brian Gilcrest (Cooper), who is deployed to a dormant military base in Hawaii to launch a spy satellite in response to aggression from China. While in Hawaii, with his U.S. Air Force assistant, Major Lisa Ng (Stone), Brian must get approval from the native Hawaiian council before the launch, all the while reconnecting with the love of his life, Tracy (McAdams) ... and her husband (John Krasinski) and kids. While the story sounds a bit simplistic -- and far-fetched -- leave it to Crowe to take such a concept and put his own special, particular spin on it to make one hell of a delightful movie. With an amazing comedic cast (especially the wonderful Cooper!) and the backdrop of Hawaii, there's much to anticipate with this film.
Jay: I really hope Crowe's new film is good. In my opinion he has made three brilliant films that has maintained his credit among fans like myself (Say Anything, Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous). But Vanilla Sky, Elizabethtown and We Bought a Zoo, while not bad movies by any stretch, did nothing for me in the end. There was a time I thought Cameron Crowe was one of Hollywood's biggest talents. Now I just want him to recapture some of the magic he did with his earlier movies. One thing is for sure, though, the soundtrack will be awesome. Crowe always picks the perfect music for his pictures. But I need more than that to think he's as good as he used to be. To be released: May 29, 2015.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Directed by Joss Whedon
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Idris Elba, Andy Serkis, Paul Bettany, and James Spader
Matt: Marvel consistently is upping its game, taking over not only the big screen but also the small screen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter), but it is its massive Avengers initiative (bringing together A-list actors to portray the legendary Marvel heroes) which wins most fans' attention. So, since the first installment, what have our heroes been up to? Captain America (Evans) and Black Widow (Johansson) have been on missions together and seen the end of S.H.I.E.L.D., which was infiltrated and corrupted by its enemy HYDRA; Bruce Banner/Hulk (Ruffalo) went off to work at Stark Industries, alongside Tony Stark (Downey Jr.); after a major battle with Aldrich Killian, who tried to further weaponize the "Extremis" technology, Stark seemingly gives up his Iron Man persona to be with an ailing Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow); Hawkeye (Renner) has been laying low; Thor (Hemsworth) saved his world, Asgard, and Earth from the evil Malekith, with his brother Loki (Hiddleston) posing as their father, Odin, and two Asgardians deliver an Infinity Stone (featured in Guardians of the Galaxy) to the Collector (Benecio del Toro), which, thanks to the Guardians, is currently in the custody of the NOVA Corps. In this sequel, the team come together once again to defeat the robotic threat that is Ultron (Spader), which -- in this film -- is created by Stark (in the comics, his creator is Hank Pym, who will be portrayed by Michael Douglas in the Ant-Man movie due out this year). There is no doubt this will mark the beginning of the "Civil War" storyline featured in the comics, which will lead into the next Captain America movie, to be released in 2016.
Jay: This is the Avengers movie Joss Whedon has been waiting to make. He's been pretty vocal about his love for the villainous character of Ultron (portrayed by James Spader). It will be interesting to see if Whedon can maintain his ability to juggle so many characters and give them the little moments that add to their characters, like he did in the first one. This one promises to be a darker entry into the Marvel filmography (it seems like every franchise feels the need to copy The Empire Strikes Back format, with the second entry being the darker one), as our heroes seem to turn on each other. Like Matt said above, this is all building to the "Civil War" story arc, which is gonna be a lot of fun. Yet, I can't help but wonder how they are going to pull it all off without Spider-Man involved, who was a main character in that particular plot-line. There have been rumors that Sony might be willing to loan the web-head to Disney for a movie. Fingers crossed! Until then . . . . Avengers Assemble! To be released: May 1, 2015.
Ant-Man
Directed by Peyton Reed
Starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll, Michael Pena, Judy Greer, Hayley Atwell, and John Slattery
Matt: First, many cinephiles were overjoyed at the announcement of cult director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) taking on Marvel's miniature might man. But it was short-lived as Wright soon dropped out and was replaced by director Peyton Reed (Yes Man, Bring it On, The Break-Up), known mostly for comedies. Although Reed doesn't have any action movies under his belt, it is still Marvel and I'm trusting they wouldn't hire someone who wasn't up for the challenge. The choice of having Paul Rudd (a comedic "everyman") portray protagonist Scott Lang is a bold choice -- and some say too risky -- but Rudd has proven he can do drama just as well as comedy. Plus, with the addition of Atwell as Agent Peggy Carter and Slattery as the older Howard Stark (Tony Stark's dad), there promises to be more flashback information to tie together Marvel's expanding cinematic universe. Although the film will not closely follow the Ant-Man comics, it still promises to be one of the top hits of the summer.
Jay: Yes, I was one of the cinephiles that was heartbroken when Edgar Wright dropped out of directing Ant-Man, and no amount of assurances can convince me that Peyton Reed's version is going to be as awesome as the director of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World's End and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. I just have to be honest and say Bring It On isn't on my movie shelf while most of Wright's movies are. Again, I really want it to be good. I like the casting and I think there is so much cool stuff you can do with miniaturization effects. I am (very) cautiously optimistic. To be released: July 17, 2015.
Beasts of No Nation
Directed by Cary Fukunaga
Starring Idris Elba, Abraham Attach, and Richard Pepple
Jay: Cary Fukunaga may not be a name that rings many bells, but if you watched and are a fan of HBO's hit crime series, True Detective, than you are familiar with his work. He directed every episode of that show (something unheard of for an entire season of a TV show), and I believe he was the primary creative force behind its success. He's also mad two very good films in 2009's Sin Nombre and 2011's Jane Eyre. Now, with the capital he's earned from the critical dynamo that was True Detective, he turns his attention to this adaptation of Uzodinma Iweala's acclaimed novel about a child soldier, Agu (Abraham Attah), recruited to fight in the civil war of an unnamed African country. Be prepared for a moving portrayal of innocence lost in the violence of war. To be released: TBD 2015.
Best of Enemies
Directed by Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville
Matt: With the previous release of The United States of Amnesia (a documentary about Gore Vidal) making my top movies of 2014, I'm very excited to see this documentary, focusing on the lifelong feud between Vidal and William F. Buckley Jr. The two got into some of the best, most sharp-tongued and sharp-witted debates ever! And -- it might be argued -- their debates were a precursor to the current less-civilized shouting matches between cable news talking heads. This film focuses on the 1968 debates between Vidal and Buckley, as well as a glimpse into their backgrounds and why they argued for -- and against -- what they did. To be released: January 23, 2015.
Black Mass
Directed by Scott Cooper
Starring Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Sienna Miller, Dakota Johnson, Juno Temple, Peter Sarsgaard, Kevin Bacon, Corey Stoll, Adam Scott, and Benedict Cumberbatch
Matt: Based on the true story of how the FBI exploited a childhood friendship in order to take down Boston's Italian Mafia, Black Mass -- based on the non-fiction novel of the same name -- explores the friendship of childhood friends John Connolly (Edgerton) and James "Whitey" Bulger (Depp). In the late 1970s, Connolly grew up to be a major figure in the FBI's Boston office, and Bulger grew up to be godfather of the Irish Mob. The film examines how, through the two's friendship, the FBI used Bulger and his mob to take down the Italian Mafia, leading to the FBI's involvement in murders, drug dealing, racketeering indictments, and Bulger making the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted List. With an all-star cast, and director Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Out of the Furnace), the film promises to make a mark this year, as well as maybe garner some Oscar nominations.
Jay: I'm pretty excited about this one having been fascinated with the story of Whitey Bulger for sometime. His rise to power as chieftain of the Irish Mob in South Boston is infamous in the annals of crime. Also, his ties to the FBI make this story that much more fascinating. I really like the choice of Scott Cooper to helm this one. Out of the Furnace was an under appreciated film that I really liked a lot. My only worry is that the casting of Depp as Bulger could backfire. I feel like Depp shines when he plays over-the-top caricatures that allow him to take things to an absurd level. The last thing this film needs is a distracting performance by Depp trying to hard to ham it up in some way. This performance needs to be both subdued and menacing. To be released: September 18, 2015.
Bone Tomahawk
Directed by S. Craig Zahler
Starring Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Richard Jenkins, Matthew Fox, and Sean Young
Jay: Hey, it's Kurt Russell versus cannibals in the Old West. When can I pre-purchase my tickets? To be released: TBD 2015.
Bridge of Spies
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Starring Tom Hanks, Austin Stowell, Amy Ryan, Alan Alda, Sebastian Koch, and Eve Hewson
Matt: Steven Spielberg's newest film is the true-life event of James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks), a Brooklyn lawyer and U.S. Navy Reserve commander, who negotiates the release of U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowall) after he is shot down in the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. This is Spielberg doing what he does best, along with partner-in-crime Hanks, so I have big expectations with this one.
Jay: Hopefully, this will be a return to the version of Spielberg that made Munich, one of my favorites of his later films. Whenever he and Hanks get together to make a movie it usually doesn't disappoint. A good, old-fashioned Cold War drama would seem to be something Spielberg could pull off in his sleep. To be released: October 16, 2015.
Cinderella
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
Starring Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter, Hayley Atwell, Ben Chaplin, and Derek Jacobi
Matt: With the release -- and success -- of Disney's live-action Maleficent, the House of Mouse has been looking to transition other famous princesses into the live world. The next step, for release this year, is Cinderella (and Beauty and the Beast has already been given the green light with Emma Watson to star as Belle). With director Kenneth Branagh (Thor, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit), the film promises to fit the style Disney likes to achieve. What's mostly a stand-out on this film, though, is the cast: Lily James (Downton Abbey) as Cinderella and Cate Blanchett as her evil stepmother, Lady Tremaine (a perfect casting as far as I'm concerned). Hopefully, Disney can deliver on a script as good as Maleficent, with its ability to take a somewhat simplistic story and giving it multiple layers. To be released: March 13, 2015.
Crimson Peak
Directed by Guillermo Del Toro
Starring Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam, and Burn Gorman
Matt: I'm not as big a fan of del Toro as most other movie geeks. But I do have to say I'm very intrigued by his latest film, Crimson Peak. In what looks like a classic Gothic horror film (think Mary Shelley-meets-Charlotte Bronte), the film is about a writer (Mia Wasikowska) torn between love of her childhood friend (Charlie Hunnam) and the temptation of a mysterious outsider (Tom Hiddleston). Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds and remembers. The film looks very creepy and sure to entice any moviegoer with its prestigious cast and amazing production design. Plus, the fact that del Toro is writer and director doesn't hurt. Although, let's hope he can make a much-needed amends after the dreadful Pacific Rim!
Jay: Guillermo Del Toro took a big misstep when he abandoned The Hobbit to make Pacific Rim. I know, I know, it was a HUGE success in Asia which means a sequel is inevitable. I've been waiting for him to return to direct something smaller and scary. My favorite Del Toro movies are always his more intimate horror ones. Think Cronos, The Devil's Backbone and, of course, Pan's Labyrinth. This one looks to be the Mexican filmmaker's take on the old fashioned, Gothic, haunted house movie. Looking at the plot, which involves a young American writer who marries a handsome English aristocrat, moves into his family home and discovers many secrets buried within, one can't help but compare it Hitchcock's Rebecca or a ghostly version of Bronte's Jane Eyre. To be released: October 16, 2015.
Jay: Guillermo Del Toro took a big misstep when he abandoned The Hobbit to make Pacific Rim. I know, I know, it was a HUGE success in Asia which means a sequel is inevitable. I've been waiting for him to return to direct something smaller and scary. My favorite Del Toro movies are always his more intimate horror ones. Think Cronos, The Devil's Backbone and, of course, Pan's Labyrinth. This one looks to be the Mexican filmmaker's take on the old fashioned, Gothic, haunted house movie. Looking at the plot, which involves a young American writer who marries a handsome English aristocrat, moves into his family home and discovers many secrets buried within, one can't help but compare it Hitchcock's Rebecca or a ghostly version of Bronte's Jane Eyre. To be released: October 16, 2015.
The End of the Tour
Directed by James Ponsoldt
Starring Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg, Anna Chlumsky, Mamie Gummer, Joan Cusack, and Ron Livingston
Matt: This is a biographical film (biopic) of writer David Foster Wallace, who committed suicide on September 12, 2008, at the age of 46, based on the 2010 non-fiction David Lipsky book, Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip with David Foster Wallace. The film follows Lipsky (Eisenberg), who accompanies Wallace (Segel) on his book tour to promote his novel, Infinite Jest. To be released: July 31, 2015.
Entourage
Directed by Doug Ellin
Starring Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Jeremy Piven, Jerry Ferrara, Kevin Dillon, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Billy Bob Thornton, Haley Joel Osment, Rex Lee, and Perrey Reeves
Matt: For fans of the hit HBO series, this is long overdue! Especially since there were some unanswered questions left by the series finale. To see the cast again reminds me of what made the series so fun and so entertaining. Let's hope Doug Ellin can keep that same magic going with a full-feature film. For those who don't know, Entourage is loosely based on actor Mark Wahlberg's life as he hails from Boston (in the series/movie, the character Vince Chase hails from Queens, New York) and has his entourage made up of childhood friends. In the series, Chase (Adrian Grenier) is a successful actor who is managed by best friend Eric (or "E") (Kevin Connolly), and accompanied by his D-list actor brother, Drama (Kevin Dillon) and his driver, Turtle (Jerry Ferrara). The show follows them as they are "fish-out-of-water" trying to navigate the roads of Hollywood, lead by Chase's lovable-jerk-of-an-agent Ari (Jeremy Piven). The film promises to be an end-all to the story and I'm looking forward to seeing each of the characters (hopefully) succeed. To be released: June 5, 2015.
Everly
Directed by Joe Lynch
Starring Salma Hayek, Jennifer Blanc, and Hiroyuki Watanabe
Matt: Salma Hayek is stirring up some action in her latest film, about a single mother who finds herself in an apartment where multiple assassins are sent to kill her. In order to save her mother and daughter, she must fight her way through the melee of dangerous killers and find a way out of the building ... and her situation. This isn't the first time Hayek has played action (the most notable being Once Upon a Time in Mexico), but this is the first time she has taken the lead. And I can't wait to see how she does it. In a film reminiscent of Smokin' Aces and Shoot 'Em Up, there promises to be lots of action and lots of funny sight gags and cheesy one-liners. To be released: February 27, 2015.
The Fantastic Four
Directed by Josh Trank
Starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Toby Kebbell, Tim Blake Nelson, and Reg E. Cathey
Matt: Marvel's Fantastic Four is one of those franchises (along with Marvel's "The Punisher") which -- for some reason or another -- is so difficult to adapt into a decent film. The original (starring Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, and Ioan Gruffold) was a major stinker, but if anyone can revitalize the franchise, it's director Josh Trank -- the awesome director behind the sleeper hit Chronicle (a found-footage film showing the birth of a supervillain, in a real-world setting). Plus, with Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan leading the film, there is a lot of acting strength here. Let's just hope the screenwriters get this right!
Jay: Uggghhh. This one really scares me. Why can't anyone get the Fantastic Four right? It isn't hard to figure out. The major theme is: family. Simple. This is comics "First Family". Much of what made them identifiable was how like a real family they were. Well, like Matt says above, the original movie was awful, and the sequel even worse (Galactus as a cloud? Really??). I'd like this reboot to be successful, but after hearing the changes from the origin story, etc., I smell doom all over this thing (no pun intended). I've become a big Miles Teller fan, though, and Michael B. Jordan was great in Fruitvale Station. The actors mean nothing, though, without a strong script, and this film will need one to overcome the stigma of the previous movies. To be released: August 7, 2015.
Goosebumps
Directed by Rob Letterman
Starring Odeya Rush, Jack Black, Amy Ryan, Ken Marino, Dylan Minnette, Ryan Lee, and Halston Sage
Matt: I have to admit that I'm more excited to see this with my daughters more than anything else. They're big fans of the series and we're looking forward to going and see this together. Based on R.L. Stine's series of young adult/tween horror books and the 1995 TV anthology series, Goosebumps promises to have plenty of thrills as a kid must team up with Stine's niece (Odeya Rush) after Stine's (Jack Black) imaginary demons are set loose on the town of Greendale, Maryland. To be released: August 7, 2015.
The Hateful Eight
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Kurt Russell, Walton Goggins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bruce Dern, Damien Bichir and Channing Tatum
Matt: The on-again, off-again production of director Quentin Tarantino's latest film has finally culminated in what fans and cinephiles everywhere were hoping for: the release of Tarantino's western, The Hateful Eight. In the film, in post-Civil War Wyoming, bounty hunters try to find shelter during a blizzard, but quickly get involved with a group of strangers, and leaving the hunters wrapped up in a mystery of betrayal and deception. The plot sounds vague, but it's Tarantino, so the story will be anything but conventional. The cast is so stellar and there is no doubt Tarantino will chalk up another cinematic masterpiece -- as he's become fully accustomed to.
Jay: Tarantino continues to be one of our most inventive and unique filmmakers. With each film he combines an appreciation of the grittier history of cinema with his own dynamic style. We almost didn't get to see this one when the script leaked over a year ago and Tarantino declared in frustration that he was abandoning the project all together. Then he changed his stance and went into production anyway. I'm certainly glad he did, because the release of one of his films is always an event. This one is another western with a kick-ass cast of many Tarantino regulars. I have no doubt that it will be awesome. To be released: November 13, 2015.
High-Rise
Directed by Ben Wheatley
Starring Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans, Elisabeth Moss, James Purefoy, and Sienna Guillory
Matt: I was quite excited when I read this film -- based on the 1975 novel by J.G. Ballard -- was going to be released. The story is about a class war which erupts within a luxurious apartment building, transforming the building into a battleground between economic classes. Lead character Dr. Robert Laing will be played by Tom Hiddleston, and the story will stick to its metaphor of the building representing wealth class politics in America. Really can't wait to see this one! To be released: TBD 2015.
In the Heart of the Sea
Directed by Ron Howard
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy, Tom Holland, Ben Whishaw, and Brendan Gleeson
Matt: Based on the true life 1820 event which inspired Herman Melville to write the classic novel Moby Dick, and based on Nathaniel Philbrick's non-fiction novel In the Heart of the Sea, this film looks like it could be a cross between The Perfect Storm and Jaws. The story follows a whaling ship crew, lead by its Captain George Pollard Jr. (Benjamin Walker) and First Mate Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth), who are stalked and hunted by a large sperm whale, which strands the crew at sea for 90 days, thousands of miles from home. Director Ron Howard hasn't had any major solid hits lately -- his last film being 2013's Rush, with Hemsworth -- but this looks to put him back on the map. Plus, there's always an intriguing story when it comes to man vs. nature. It makes for great drama! To be released: December 11, 2015.
Inside Out
Directed by Pete Docter & Ronaldo Del Carmen
Starring Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, and Kaitlyn Dias
Matt: Pixar promises to strike cinematic gold again with its latest release: Inside Out. This time, the master animators are bringing audiences into our brains to see the inner workings of Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). They all reside in each of us, but this particular set of emotions reside within "tween" girl Riley (Kaitlyn Dias). They help guide her through the difficult process of her life being suddenly uprooted and having to move to San Francisco, where she has no friends and has to navigate the new city, school and home with many conflicting emotions in the "headquarters of her mind." I'm excited to take my girls to see this and, as for why it may be good, it's Pixar! There doesn't need to be any other reason.
Jay: Pete Doctor was responsible for two of Pixar's most beloved films, Monsters Inc. and Up. The later movie was one of the studios best, and that's saying a lot, as Pixar remains the most prestigious and critically successful creators of computer animation. Things have changed a little bit, though, since Disney bought Pixar a few years back. Now we are besieged by straight-to-video sequels to Cars and it's spin-off, Planes. It makes one wonder what kind of influence the mega-studio will have over the creative independence that usually involved in bringing a movie like Inside Out to the screen. We'll jut have to wait and see. It looks like its going to be pretty good, though. To be released: June 19, 2015.
Joy
Directed by David O. Russell
Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Edgar Ramirez, Bradley Cooper, and Robert DeNiro
Jay: David O. Russell has been on a great run the last few years. With the trifecta of The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, Russell has established himself as one of the most popular filmmakers around. It wasn't always so. After the success of 1999's Three Kings (a seriously underappreciated, brilliant film) Russell decided to make I Heart Huckabees, a overly-hyped flop that nearly sank its director. This new movie finds Russell reuniting once again with Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro to tell the story of Joy Mangano, a struggling single mom who would go on to invent several of the most well-known household products used today. I know, sounds like an odd choice for this director, but hey, I'll trust he knows what he's doing. To be released: December 25, 2015.
Jupiter Ascending
Directed by The Wachowskis
Starring Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, Eddie Redmayne, Sean Bean, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Douglas Booth
Matt: Originally set for release last year, the film got pushed back to its new release date to contend with lesser blockbuster films and gain some more audiences. Fortunately, it comes to most movie-goers in February -- a time when there aren't many major film releases -- and is a film with more originality than 99% of main studio releases nowadays. In the film, a caretaker, Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis), is surprisingly targeted by a ruthless son (Eddie Redmayne) of a powerful family that live on a planet in need of a new heir. Jones travels with a genetically-engineered warrior (Channing Tatum) -- sworn to protect her -- to the planet in order to stop the son's tyrannical reign. The Wachowskis (The Matrix, Cloud Atlas) are very visual and action-oriented directors but, no matter what they do, their methods effectively work ... and work well. I don't let the visual effects sway me into wanting to see this film, but am ultimately excited to see where the story goes ... even if it may somewhat be predictable. To be released: February 6, 2015.
Jurassic World
Directed by Colin Trevorrow
Starring Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jake Johnson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Ty Simpkins, BD Wong, Judy Greer, and Katie McGrath
Matt: Fourteen years after the last Jurassic Park film (Jurassic Park 3), the franchise has been brought back to life by director Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed), with the story taking place 22 years after the events of the original Jurassic Park. In the film, the island of Isla Nubar now features a fully-functioning Jurassic World theme park (like the one conceived of in the original 1993 film), but, after 10 years of low ticket sales and attendance, the owners concoct a scheme to draw more crowds to the park and up their revenue in the process. Unfortunately, the new "scheme" is a new genetically-modified hybrid dinosaur called the Indominus Rex, and it breaks loose on the island, wreaking havoc and killing patrons. It's up to the park's staff, lead by Velociraptor behavioral researcher Owen (Chris Pratt). Sure, the premise sounds like some B-movie you may watch on the SyFy channel, but with the cast and involvement of Trevorrow, my interest is certainly piqued to visit the park once again. Plus, I love the premise of the film(s) as it shows how humans' involvement with wildlife as entertainment is just another form of a reality-show mentality (notice in the trailer the audience cheering when an aquatic dinosaur feeds on a great white shark); in a way it's perverse and this film's story reminds us of that. Unlike the reality shows we see on TV, these "participants" did not volunteer for their "work" and, most times, are not happy with their environment (I'm looking at you, SeaWorld!).
Jay: I don't know . . . do we need another Jurassic Park movie? Well, we're going to get one. I can't say I'm overly excited to see this one. For me, the original blockbuster, released in 1993, is the only movie in this series worth mentioning. But, I did like Safety Not Guaranteed a lot and with Guardians of the Galaxy's Chris Pratt, he has already proven he is an engaging and entertaining leading man. I'll be seeing it, for sure. I just hope it doesn't suck like that silly third movie. To be released: June 12, 2015.
Jay: I don't know . . . do we need another Jurassic Park movie? Well, we're going to get one. I can't say I'm overly excited to see this one. For me, the original blockbuster, released in 1993, is the only movie in this series worth mentioning. But, I did like Safety Not Guaranteed a lot and with Guardians of the Galaxy's Chris Pratt, he has already proven he is an engaging and entertaining leading man. I'll be seeing it, for sure. I just hope it doesn't suck like that silly third movie. To be released: June 12, 2015.
Knight of Cups
Directed by Terrence Malick
Starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Brian Dennehy, Antonio Banderas, Frieda Pinto, Wes Bentley, Jason Clarke, and Imogen Poots
Jay: Son of a bitch, this movie looks like its going to be good! Obviously, Terrence Malick is an acquired taste. Those not looking for an experience more akin to witnessing a visual poem should look elsewhere. Details, as usual, are sketchy but this seems to be a departure for Malick as his latest film tells the story of an Hollywood screenwriter (Christian Bale), who is both in love with the excesses of the celebrity lifestyle and also yearns for a simpler life with real love. The trailer almost looks like a Bret Easton Ellis novel come to life. Hedonism mixed with despair. Malick is once again joined by cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki, who is sure to assault our senses with some of the most striking images you'll see all year. Watching a Malick film is like looking at a painting, you only get out of it what you put in. And the answers to what everything means can only be found inside yourself. To be released: December 11, 2015.
The Light Between Oceans
Directed by Derek Cianfrance
Starring Michael Fassbender, Rachel Weisz, and Alicia Vikander
Jay: Derek Cianfrance is quietly becoming one of the most successful independent filmmakers out there. Blue Valentine was a heart-wrenching depiction of the end of one particular love story, and The Place Beyond the Pines was a sort of epic drama of two intertwined families. The were both brilliant films that announced Cianfrance's talent to the world. Based on the novel by M.L. Stedman, The Light Between Oceans tells the story of an Australian lighthouse keeper (Fassbender) who, along with his wife, rescue an infant from a shipwreck and raise it as their own. Cianfrance's films are filled with emotion and realistic characters dealing with sometimes extraordinary situations. I hope this one is as good as his previous two movies. To be released: TBD 2015.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Directed by George Miller
Starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Zoe Kravitz, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Matt: I have to admit that I never was that crazy about the Mad Max series of films, but this one looks way too cool to pass up seeing in the theater! The casting of Tom Hardy as Max (the original role being portrayed by Mel Gibson) is nothing short of brilliant and the film looks like one ride through literal hell! In an apocalyptic future set in a dust-bowl desert, Max comes across Furiosa (Charlize Theron), a mysterious woman on a mission to cross the desert, back to her childhood homeland. Along the way, they meet several degenerate pirates, who hunt for blood and nothing more. Like I said, Mad Max has not been my favorite -- although I have wonderful memories of going to see Beyond Thunderdome in the theater when it was released in 1985! But this trailer makes this film seem like one of the craziest films to be released in the past 10 years or so (although Verdi's "Requiem" only makes me think of the beginning of Battle Royale)! So I'm onboard! Start your engines!
Jay: Unlike Matt, I grew up in the 80's loving the Mad Max movies. Well, the first two anyway. I think The Road Warrior is one the greatest action movies ever made, with stunts and car chase/crash sequences that have been unequaled since. It resides on that short list of rare sequels that surpassed the original. George Miller defined the post-apocalyptic landscape for so many to come after him and, for me, there was no one else to trust to make a new entry into Max's story. Tom Hardy replaces Mel Gibson and his casting was the first smart choice Miller made. The second was to stay true to his original sensibilities and make Fury Road with minimal CGI effects. Most of every action set piece is created with practical effects and good old-fashioned stunt drivers. Seeing the trailer for the first time a few months back, I thought my brain was going to explode. It's the best trailer of 2015 so far and left me with little doubt that this is going to be the badass movie of the summer. It's one of the movies I'm looking forward to seeing the most, even more than Star Wars or The Avengers 2. Cannot wait!!! To be released: May 15, 2015.
Masterminds
Directed by Jared Hess
Starring Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, Kristen Wiig, Devin Ratray, Jason Sudeikis, Ken Marino, and Kate McKinnon
Matt: Based on the 1997 Loomis Fargo robbery in North Carolina, this film follows armored car driver and vault supervisor David Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis), who, along with many accomplices, steals $17.3 million in cash. Because of the comedic actors picked for the film, I think it's not a stretch to say this film will be more comedic in tone, but at least it's not at the expense at someone's life (a major problem when Michael Bay's Pain & Gain -- a film that made comedic situations over someone's murder -- was released). I'm intrigued to see what director Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) will do with this. To be released: August 14, 2015.
Midnight Special
Directed by Jeff Nichols
Starring Michael Shannon, Kirstin Dunst, Joel Edgerton, Adam Driver, and Sam Shepard
Jay: Another rising indie director that I like a lot, Jeff Nichols' previous two films, Take Shelter and Mud, were fresh and fantastic. This latest offering from Nichols concerns a father (Michael Shannon) who goes on the run with his son when he discovers his boy has special powers. That's about all I know. Shannon, though, is a very talented actor, especially in Take Shelter, and with the rest of the cast being just as strong and Nichols knack for delivering films that feels like a breath of fresh air, I'm sure it will be great. To be released: November 25, 2015.
Minions
Directed by Kyle Balda & Pierre Coffin
Starring Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, Steve Coogan, and Jennifer Saunders
Matt: Set in 1968, 42 years before their adventures with Gru from Despicable Me, the Minions -- led by Stuart, Kevin and Bob -- are looking for a new evil master to serve when they come across superstar villain, Scarlett Overkill (Sandra Bullock), in Orlando, Florida, at Villain-Con. Not much else is known about the plot other than that, but with the same team from Despicable Me leading this film, there promises to be plenty of laughs. Another one I'm looking forward to seeing with my kids! To be released: July 10, 2015.
Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie
Starring Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Simon McBurney, and Alec Baldwin
Matt: After Brad Bird did such an amazing job with its predecessor, I'm looking forward to seeing what Christopher McQuarrie (Jack Reacher, The Way of the Gun) does with the franchise! The Mission: Impossible series has come a long way since its dismal first and second films. The only thing known about the plot is the IMF team (Cruise, Pegg, Rhames, and Renner) take on eradicating The Syndicate -- an international rogue organization committed to destroying the IMF. To be released: July 31, 2015.
Pan
Directed by Joe Wright
Starring Hugh Jackman, Levi Miller, Rooney Mara, Amanda Seyfried, and Garrett Hedlund
Matt: Director Joe Wright (Atonement) is taking the legend of J.M. Barrie's literary immortal "boy-who-never-wants-to-grow-up" and turning it into somewhat of an origin story. In the film, Peter (Levi Miller) is spirited away to a magical land where he comes to know fun and danger while meeting the pirates Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman), Hook (Garrett Hedlund), and Princess Tiger Lily (Rooney Mara). I've always been a fan of Barrie's immortal classic and look forward to seeing this particular spin on the myth! To be released: July 17, 2015.
The Peanuts Movie
Directed by Steve Martino
Starring Noah Schnapp, Venus Schultheis, Mariel Sheets, Hadley Belle Miller, Noah Johnston, Rebecca Bloom, and Alexander Garfin
Matt: It's been a while since the Peanuts gang have seen the screen, and while this release makes me a little wary, I have to say, I'm very excited about this film! I've been a Charlie Brown/Snoopy fan since I was a kid and I gratuitously watch the Peanuts specials on TV every year. I have to admit I find a spiritual comradeship with Charlie Brown ("I got a rock."). And now, with having kids, I look forward to taking them to see this movie -- even if it's more for me than for them! To be released: November 6, 2015.
Pixels
Directed by Chris Columbus
Starring Michelle Monaghan, Adam Sandler, Josh Gad, Peter Dinklage, Sean Bean, Ashley Benson, Jane Krakowski, and Kevin James
Matt: Gamers of all generations! Take note! There is a new movie coming out this year about 1980s video games characters attacking New York! And even though Adam Sandler is involved, Pixels looks to be as every bit of awesome as it sounds. In the film, video game experts -- lead by Sam Brenner (Sandler) -- are called on by his childhood friend-now-President Will Cooper (Kevin James) to help save the U.S. (and the world) from aliens that misinterpret video feeds from classic 1980s video games as a declaration of war against them, thus using the games as models from their various assaults. For anyone who grew up playing Atari 2600 (i.e., Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, Centipede, etc.), this film will be a must-see. And I know that's what the production companies are banking on, but they sure got my money! To be released: July 24, 2015.
Queen of the Desert
Directed by Werner Herzog
Starring Nicole Kidman, James Franco, Robert Pattinson, and Damien Lewis
Jay: Fact: Werner Herzog is a cinema legend who has given us some of the most acclaimed films and documentaries of the last 40 years. With this, his latest film, he tackles the biopic of one of the most influential women of the 20th century, Gertrude Bell (Nicole Kidman). Bell was a British political officer, archaeologist and spy who was influential in the exploration and mapping of what we now know as the modern-day Middle East. Along with T.E. Lawrence (Robert Pattinson) she was arguably one of the most important figures of what was called the Arab Campaign during World War I. She basically created the country of Iraq and Jordan as we know it today. I'm sure Herzog will give us something grand and intimate at the same time. We'll see if he can deliver something epic on the scale of Lawrence of Arabia. To be released: TBD 2015.
Regression
Directed by Alejandro Amenabar
Starring Emma Watson, Ethan Hawke, David Thewlis, Devon Bostick, Dale Dickey, and Aaron Ashmore
Matt: All that is known about this film is a father is accused of sexually abusing his daughter (Emma Watson) -- a crime of which he has no memory of committing -- and the case is investigated by a detective (Ethan Hawke). This film is the disturbing tale of a father and daughter torn apart, thrown into the center of a conspiracy that shocks the nation. While that is not much to go on -- and sexual abuse films are not my "cup of tea" -- I still am looking forward to seeing this film solely based on its leadership under excellent filmmaker Alejandro Amenabar (Open Your Eyes, The Others, The Sea Inside). Amenabar knows drama and how to expertly weave an intriguing tale so this will be one I won't miss. To be released: August 28, 2015.
The Revenant
Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Starring Tom Hardy, Leonardo DiCaprio, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter, and Lukas Haas
Matt: Based on the novel by Michael Punke, The Revenant is about frontiersman Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), who, in the 1823, sets out on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling. Not only is the film directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu -- fresh off his impressive, Oscar-nominated Birdman -- but it's a revenge pic with DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. 'Nuff said.
Jay: Inarritu redefined himself as a filmmaker with last year's Birdman. Now he turns his attention to the historical revenge pic with The Revenant. DiCaprio continues to carefully choose his projects and this looks to be an inspired pairing of director and leading man. Of course he's bring bringing cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki along, who I wrote about earlier in conjunction with the new Terrence Malick film. He is the best cameraman in the business and I'm sure his images of the 19th century wilderness will be gorgeous. To be released: December 25, 2015.
Silence
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Starring Liam Neeson, Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, and Tadanobu Asano
Jay: Martin Scorsese's latest picture is being compared to some of more subdued and religious ones like The Last Temptation of Christ or Kundun. So, for those of you looking for something on the level of The Wolf of Wall Street, you may want to pause. The movie tells the story of two Jesuit priests in the 17th century who travel to Japan looking for their mentor and to spread Christianity. Unfortunately, the ruler of Japan has forbidden all Western influence and Catholicism itself. Scorsese has always been interested in religion and faith as a theme in his films (he once confessed that if he had not made it as a filmmaker he would have become a priest). For me, it's Scorsese. He is one of the most important filmmakers of the last half century. Why wouldn't I go see it? To be released: TBD 2015.
Directed by Oliver Stone
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Timothy Olyphant, Tom Wilkinson, Rhys Ifans, Joely Richardson, Nicolas Cage, and Scott Eastwood
Matt: With the Edward Snowden documentary Citizenfour garnering a much-deserved Oscar/Academy Award win, it was only a matter of time before a biopic was made. But no one expected it to be made so soon! From the same filmmaker who brought us Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, JFK, Nixon, World Trade Center, and W., Oliver Stone, comes the adaptation of Snowden's (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) career -- first, as a Special Forces candidate with the U.S. Army, to his status as wanted whistleblower. The cast certainly is diverse but this is what Stone is known for and what he excels at. Plus, it's about time there was a more easily-accessible film -- since most moviegoing audiences either aren't interested in or are able to see documentaries -- made notsomuch about Snowden but about what he did and why he did it. Hopefully, Hollywood doesn't fictionalize the film too much. Either way, I'm excited to see this film. Now, if we could only get a biopic on Daniel Ellsberg, that would be wonderful! (NOTE: There is a documentary already out on Ellsberg -- and I consider it essential viewing -- called The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers.) To be released: December 25, 2015.
Spectre
Directed by Sam Mendes
Starring Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Monica Bellucci, Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Dave Bautista, and Andrew Scott
Matt: It's James Bond. There is no further explanation needed.
Jay: Sam Mendes is back to direct the next installment in the revitalized James Bond franchise. After he successfully steered 2012's Skyfall to becoming the most successful Bond film at the box office of all time, he has been brought back to finally introduce us to the most notorious organization that the infamous spy ever fought . . . . S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Every fan of the series had to stop their head from exploding at this exciting news. But, it makes total sense, with the way the Daniel Craig reboot experiment has been going you would expect them to go down this road at some point. With Christoph Waltz possibly playing the main bad guy, what more could you ask for? Can't wait! To be released: November 6, 2015.
Jay: Sam Mendes is back to direct the next installment in the revitalized James Bond franchise. After he successfully steered 2012's Skyfall to becoming the most successful Bond film at the box office of all time, he has been brought back to finally introduce us to the most notorious organization that the infamous spy ever fought . . . . S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Every fan of the series had to stop their head from exploding at this exciting news. But, it makes total sense, with the way the Daniel Craig reboot experiment has been going you would expect them to go down this road at some point. With Christoph Waltz possibly playing the main bad guy, what more could you ask for? Can't wait! To be released: November 6, 2015.
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Directed by J.J. Abrams
Starring Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Domhnall Gleeson, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Gwendoline Christie, Lupita Nyong'o, Max von Sydow, Andy Serkis, Peter Mayhew, Warwick Davis, Anthony Daniels, and Kenny Baker
Matt: I've heard one potential storyline for this sequel to 1983's Return of the Jedi, and all I will say is that if what I read is going to be the film, I will be disappointed. However, I'll still give it a try. I'm looking forward to the return of original trilogy characters Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), and Han Solo (Harrison Ford), but also very curious how the new characters will figure well into such a huge saga. I was hoping director Brad Bird would take up the task on this film, but I got my very-close-second J.J. Abrams so I'm very happy. Either way, it's the Wars, so I'll be first in line come opening day!
Jay: OK, it's Star Wars, and as an unapologetic geek by law, I am required to be excited about this. The trailer made me feel pretty good about the direction J.J. Abrams is headed in. Unlike Matt, I am trying to not to read anything about this movie as not to have it spoiled, so his cryptic statement above scares the shit out of me. I also think that Abrams is a bit overrated as a director, having yet to make anything that one could call amazing. But, hey, I'm really pulling for him here. The idea of a new Star Wars that mixes new, younger characters with the familiar faces of the original trilogy makes me very happy. Don't fuck it up, J.J.! To be released: December 18, 2015.
Straight Outta Compton
Directed by F. Gary Gray
Starring Corey Hawkins, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Jason Mitchell, Aldis Hodge, Paul Giamatti, Keith Stanfield, and Neil Brown Jr.
Matt: The biopic of gangsta rap group N.W.A. may not be for everyone, but I can't wait to see the early lives of some of rap's most influential pioneers (Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Eazy-E) brought to the screen. Plus, I think F. Gary Gray is a great filmmaker. While not a huge rap fan, even I have to say this film is long overdue. To be released: August 14, 2015. (WARNING: The trailer below is a red-band trailer and has expletive language and brief nudity.)
That's What I'm Talking About
Directed by Richard Linklater
Starring Tyler Hoechlin, Wyatt Russell, Ryan Guzman, Zoey Deutch, Will Brittain, and Glen Powell
Jay: There's not a whole lot known about this upcoming movie from the soon-to-be Oscar-winning director of Boyhood. It is said to be more akin to the ensemble comedy Dazed and Confused (the title is an actual line of dialogue from that 1993 film). Richard Linklater has said that it is in some ways a sequel to that earlier picture and Boyhood as in it picks up with a young man arriving at college and meeting his roommates and a girl. If it even comes close to being as good as either of those movies then it certainly deserves to be on this list. To be released: TBD 2015.
Tomorrowland
Directed by Brad Bird
Starring George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Kathryn Hahn, Hugh Laurie, Pierce Gagnon, Judy Greer, and Tim McGraw
Matt: Rather than take on the newest Star Wars, director Brad Bird decided to stay loyal to his commitment to Disney to make the long-awaited Tomorrowland -- based on the theme park at Disney World. In the film, a teenager (Britt Robertson), who loves science, teams up with a former boy-genius inventor (George Clooney) to embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory. Disney is keeping the story very hush-hush, but with a screenplay by Bird and Lost alum Damon Lindelof, there is great promise here, in which I'm sure will be a story for all ages.
Jay: Disney tries again to use one of their theme park properties to base an adventure movie on. They hit the jackpot when they released Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, and if there's anything Disney has been proven to do it is repeat a concept over and over, hammering it into our heads, hoping it will work again. If Tomorrowland were directed by almost anyone else but Brad Bird than I wouldn't be interested. But, it is directed by Brad Bird (The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, Ratatouille), who makes it worth taking a chance on anything. To be released: May 22, 2015.
Jay: Disney tries again to use one of their theme park properties to base an adventure movie on. They hit the jackpot when they released Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, and if there's anything Disney has been proven to do it is repeat a concept over and over, hammering it into our heads, hoping it will work again. If Tomorrowland were directed by almost anyone else but Brad Bird than I wouldn't be interested. But, it is directed by Brad Bird (The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, Ratatouille), who makes it worth taking a chance on anything. To be released: May 22, 2015.
Trainwreck
Directed by Judd Apatow
Starring Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson, Tilda Swinton, LeBron James, and John Cena
Jay: Amy Schumer is one of the funniest stand-up comedians working today. If you haven't caught her TV show, Inside Amy Schumer, you are really missing out. She'll star in her first feature film this summer in Judd Apatow's, Trainwreck. The movie is about a young career woman, raised to believe that monogamy is not possible who meets a nice guy in Aaron (Bill Hader) and will have to face her fear of commitment. This a genius pairing of filmmaker and comedian. Apatow always delivers smart, hysterical comedies (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, This Is 40) and I'm hoping this is one of the funniest movies of 2015. To be released: July 17, 2015.
Triple Nine
Directed by John Hillcoat
Starring Aaron Paul, Norman Reedus, Kate Winslet, Gal Gadot, Teresa Palmer, Woody Harrelson, Casey Affleck, Anthony Mackie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Clifton Collins Jr.
Matt: In this all-star cast movie, a group of corrupt cops are blackmailed into pulling off a seemingly impossible heist, which includes the murder of a rookie police officer -- a code "999" -- in order to distract the other cops while they pull the heist. The cast is what makes me most excited for this film, along with direction by John Hillcoat (The Road, Lawless). To be released: September 11, 2015.
True Story
Directed by Rupert Goold
Starring Jonah Hill, James Franco, Felicity Jones, Ethan Suplee, Gretchen Mol, Genevieve Angelson, and Robert John Burke
Matt: Based on the true story of journalist Michael Finkel (Jonah Hill), who finds out his identity had been stolen by murdering fugitive Christian Longo after Longo murdered his own wife and children in December 2001. The film deals with Finkel's interviewing of Longo and getting to know him -- giving the film tones of Infamous. To be released: April 10, 2015.
Truth
Directed by James Vanderbilt
Starring Robert Redford, Cate Blanchett, Topher Grace, Elizabeth Moss, Dennis Quaid, and Bruce Greenwood
Matt: This film is based on the true story (as detailed in Mary Mapes' book) of Dan Rather during his final days with CBS News when he broadcast a damaging report of how George W. Bush relied on privilege and family connections to avoid fighting in the Vietnam War. Now, before the Bush lovers instantly bash this film in their mind, remember how this story played out: the producer of the story, Mary Mapes, was fired and her accusations about Bush were never fully investigated or authenticated. This film is filled with facts. Now, I don't know if the facts are a true definition of "facts," or the Bush administration's definition of "facts" (i.e., like the ones presented by Secretary of State Colin Powell in February 2003 before the United Nations Security Council regarding Iraq's "WMDs"). Either way, the film follows Mapes' investigation into the allegations as well as the condemnation of her for reporting such a story. While this story is not as factual or as fully damning to the government as Kill the Messenger -- due to Maples' uninvestigated facts -- Truth is still a huge testament to the true limitations forced on the press -- as well as the quick blacklisting and ruination of anyone who practices honest dissent when it comes to politics. This will be an interesting movie to be released right before an election year -- especially when Bush's brother, Jeb, will most likely be running for president.
Jay: Akin to Michael Mann's brilliant 1999 film, The Insider, this is a movie about death of mainstream journalism because of corporate control over of the news. Mary Mapes' story about George W. Bush's military service during the Vietnam War got her fired and ruined the legendary career of longtime CBS anchor, Dan Rather. I'm super excited and interested to see this story on film. I am sure it will illustrate fully how when the news we get is controlled by corporations who are more interested in their bottom-line than in telling us the truth, then we lose something that used to make this country great. This sounds like an important film that everyone should see. To be released: TBD 2015.
Vacation
Directed by John Francis Daley & Jonathan M. Goldstein
Starring Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Leslie Mann, Chris Hemsworth, Michael Pena, Elizabeth Gillies, Charlie Day, Chevy Chase, and Beverly D'Angelo
Matt: This reboot/sequel of the classic National Lampoon's Vacation series is either going to be really funny or really lame. In the film, Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) is finally grown up and -- inspired by his father Clark (Chevy Chase) -- taking his wife (Christina Applegate) and two sons on a trip to Wally World before it closes down permanently. Although Wally World's security guard (the late, great John Candy) and Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) will be sorely missed, I still think this film has great potential. Let's just hope Lindsay Buckingham's "Holiday Road" makes an appearance! To be released: October 9, 2015.
The Walk
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Kingsley, Charlotte Le Bon, James Badge Dale, Ben Schwartz, and Steve Valentine
Matt: After the documentary Man on Wire, great interest was sparked about Philippe Petit, the French man who walked between the two Twin Towers (of the World Trade Center) in Manhattan in 1974 -- one year after the finish of its construction. This film directed by Robert Zemeckis, follows Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and his team as they get ready for the legendary feat. NOTE: If you're afraid of heights, this may not be the movie for you to see -- as evidenced in the trailer alone! To be released: October 2, 2015.
The Witch
Directed by Robert Eggers
Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, and Kate Dickie
Jay: I always love a good horror film, and this one received rave reviews at this year's Sundance Film Festival. This one is a period piece taking place in 1630 in New England where a family has to deal with the disappearance of their newborn son and the failure of their crops. One by one, the family begins to turn on each other as an insidious evil descends upon them. Sounds like this one should be good and frightening. To be released: TBD 2015.
