50 Most Anticipated Films of 2015:

My New Exhaustive List of My 50 Most Anticipated Films of 2015, with my reason why, and trailer for the films mentioned with trailers. As the Oscars on Feb 22 approach, the 2014 movie year is dying down. All in all 2014 wasn’t a great year for film, with only a handful of 10/10 films. 2015 however on paper looks like a Bummper year for film!! (Ps. I am predicting now that Michael Fassbender will receive an Oscar nom for something, he has 4 films on my top 50 list this year!)

1.‘Knight Of Cups’

Director: Terrence Malick

Why: The director of what I consider to be the best film of this decade: Tree of Life, is back with a film about Hollywood excess and a search for a meaningful life. Starring: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman. The trailer for this film must been seen, its sublime! Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI2j1FHCjtM

2. ‘Silence’

Director: Martin Scorsese

Why: The legendary Scorsese is directing his passion project about Jesuit priests in 17^th Century Japan. Starring Liam Neeson. I envisage ‘The Mission’ type haunting beauty.

3. ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’

Director: JJ Abrams

Why: Because it’s the new Star Wars with JJ Abrams, that’s why.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOVFvcNfvE

4. ‘Hateful Eight’

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Why: Tarantino + Western + revenge movie + Samuel Jackson, please let it be better than Django Unchained!

5. ‘Carol’

Director: Todd Haynes

Why: The masterful director of Far From Heaven, directs Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in a 1950’s lesbian drama adaptation of Patrica Highsmith’s novel “Price of Salt”.

6. ‘Reverant’

Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Why: Hot off the success of Birdman, Inarritu brings Leonardo Di Caprio and Tom Hardy together in an epic western. Perhaps Leo will finally win his elusive Oscar.

7. ‘St. James Place’

Director: Steven Spielberg

Why: Cold War spy drama reunites Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.

8. ‘The See Of Trees’

Director: Gus Van Sant

Why: Matthew McConaughey and Ken Watanabe meet in ‘suicide forrest’ at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan. A wonderful premise for a Gus Van Sant meditation.

9. ‘Macbeth’

Director: Justin kurzel

Why: Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender, remake my favourite Shakespearean tragedy, I hear Oscar calling.

10. ‘Beasts Of No Nation’

Director: Cary Kukunaga

Why: Based on the lauded novel, the story follows the journey of a West African boy forcefully inducted into a mercenary faction.

11. ‘That’s What I’m Talking About’

Director: Richard Linklater

Why: Hot off his Boyhood glory Linklater has made a film about young college life. Expect beauty.

12. ‘Queen Of The Desert’

Director: Werner Herzog

Why: Master director Herzog directs: A biopic of Gertrude Bell, a British explorer, archaeologist, writer, political attaché and general adventuress who played a major role in establishing the modern state of Iraq.

13. ‘Crimson Peak’

Director: Guillermo Del Toro

Why: Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleson directed by the visionary behind ‘Pan’s Laybrinth’ in a gothic horror.

14. ‘Last Days In The Desert’

Director: Rodrigo Garcia

Why: Stars Ewan McGregor as Jesus Christ, with Emmanuel Lubezki the cinematographer of ‘Gravity’ and ‘Bridman’, should be the gorgeous intelligent Biblical epic we have been waiting for.

15. ‘Black Mass’

Director: Scott Cooper

Why: A stellar cast: Johnny Depp, Bennedict Cumberbatch, Sienna Miller in a big gangster drama.

16. ‘The Martian’

Director: Ridley Scott

Why: Ridley Scott needs a good film after a slew of bad films, most recently Exdous. Matt Damon, an astronaut stranded on Mars could be the Ridley Scott sci fi drama to restore his reputation.

17. ‘Ricki and the Flash’

Director: Jonathan Demme

Why: Juno writer Diablo Cody teams up with Meryl Streep in a film about a mother who leaves her family to become a rock star.

18. ‘Mr Holmes’

Director: Bill Condon

Why: The director of ‘Chicago’ casts Ian McKellen as a 93 year old Sherlock Holmes.

19. ‘The Light Between Oceans’

Director: Derek Cianfrance

Why: The director behind the wonderful Blue Valentine returns with a WW1 drama set in Australia, with a couple adopting a child, the couple being Michael Fassbender and Rachel Weisz.

20. ‘High Rise’

Director: Ben Wheatley

Why: The cast: Jeremy Irons, Tom Hiddleston, Sienna Miller star in a film about Life in a high-tech ultra modern tower block descends into carnage as the inhabitant shut themselves off from the world.

21. ‘Joy’

Director: David O. Russell

Why: ast: Jennifer Lawrence, Edgar Ramirez, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro
Synopsis: A biopic about Joy Mangano, a single mother coming to fame and wealth by inventing over a hundred products, including Shopping Network favorites like the Miracle Mop and the Huggable Hangers.

22. ‘A Bigger Splash’

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Why: Director of one of my favourite films: I Am Love. Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Dakota Johnson
Synopsis: Paul and Marianne are an American couple vacationing in Italy. When Marianne invites former lover Harry and his daughter Penelope over for dinner, sexual tensions mount and the consequences are dire for all involved.

23. ‘Life’

Director: Anton Corbijin

Why: Robert Patterson, Daniel DeHann, Joel Edgerton star. Photographer Dennis Stock accepts a new assignment for Life Magazine to take pictures of rising star James Dean. The two became close friends as a result.

24. ‘Inside and Out’

Director: Pete Docter

Why: The great Pixar studio, in decline of late, may be able to redeem itself with this gorgeously looking film about emotions. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MC3XuMvsDI

25. ‘The Lobster’

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Why: The plot: In a dystopian near-future, lonely people are obliged to find a matching mate within a 45-day period in a hotel. If they fail, they are transformed into animals and sent off into the woods, but one man escapes and finds love.

26. ‘Spectre’

Director: Sam Mendes

Why: After arguably the best Bond ever ‘Skyfall’ Daniel Craig is back with Sam Mendes for the 24^th Bond film.

27. ‘Jobs’

Director: Danny Boyle

Why: Michael Fassbender stars as the creator of Apple Steve Jobs, with the director of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ to direct.

28. ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay –Part 2

Director: Francis Lawrence

Why: Finally the final installment of the Hunger Games franchise. After having to sit through the boring and painful Mockingjay Part 1, Part 2 better be great.

29. ‘Untitled Cameron Crowe Project’

Director: Cameron Crowe

Why: Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Bill Murray: A celebrated military contractor returns to Hawaii —the site of his greatest career triumphs— and re-connects with a long-lost love while unexpectedly falling for the hard-charging Air Force watchdog assigned to him.

30. ‘Untitled Woody Allen Project’

Director: Woody Allen

Why: Joaquin Pheonix, Emma Stone: A philosophy professor is going through an existential crisis. Once he starts dating one of his students, however, his life begins to get new meaning.

31. ‘Midnight Special’

Director: Jeff Nichols

Why: Director of ‘Take Shelter’ and ‘Mud’ directs Micheal Shannon and Kirsten Dunst in a film about A father and son attempt to evade government officials when they learn the boy has supernatural powers.

32. ‘Jurassic World’

Director: Colin Trevorrow

Why: The remake of Jurassic Park we have been waiting for, one in which the park actually works! At least for a while…Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFinNxS5KN4

33. ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’

Director: George Miller

Why: The trailer was sensational, a return to the road warrior style with Tom Hardy and Charilze Theron. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWNWi-ZWL3c

34. ‘Early Years’

Director: Paolo Sorrentino

Why: Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz, Jane Fonda, Paul Dano
. Synopsis: A famous conductor and a film director holiday in the Alps together. The director of ‘The Great Beauty’.

35. ‘Good Dinosaur’

Director: Peter Sohn

Why: Another original non-sequel pixar movie.

36. ‘Triple Nine’

Director: John Hillcoat

Why: Period heist drama with Kate Winslet, Woody Harrelson, Chiwetel Ejifor. I’m sold.

37. ‘In The Heart Of The Sea’

Director: Ron Howard

Why: A Ron Howard epic remake of the classic novel ‘Moby Dick’ starring Chis Hemsworth. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs-JfPjgiA4

38. ‘Trainwreck’

Director: Judd Apatow

Why: One of my favourite comedians Amy Schumer, makes her first screen appearance in this rom-com. Should be hilarious.

39. ‘Money Monster’

Director: Jodie Foster

Why: George Clooney, Julia Roberts in a hostage situation critique on the financial markets with Jodie Foster directing.

40. ‘Chappie’

Director: Neil Blomkamp

Why: Sigourney Waever, Hugh Jackman, Dev Patel join with Sci Fi director Blomkamp to make a film about a child-like robot called Chappie. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyy7y0QOK-0

41. ‘Z For Zachariah’

Director: Craig Zobel

Why: Director of the indie hit ‘Compliance’ makes his debut in Sci Fi with Chris Pine and Chiwetel Ejifor.

42. ‘Sicarrio’

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Why: Cast: Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro. Synopsis: A female cop and two male Delta Force rangers cross from Tucson to Mexico to catch a drug lord —but once they cross the border, it’s a more dangerous and depraved world than they were expecting.

43. ‘Demolition’

Director: Jean-Marc Vallee

Why: A character drama with Jake Gyllenhaal who has been on fire lately.

44. ‘Equals’

Director: Drake Doremus

Cast: Kristen Stewart, Nicholas Hoult, Guy Pearce, Jacki Weaver, Kate Lyn Sheil
. Synopsis: A love story set in a dystopian future where emotions have been eradicated, but begin to return when a disease spreads.

45. ‘Slow West’

Director: John Maclean

Why: Another Michael Fassbender film with Aussie Kodi Smit-McPhee, a ‘mysterious stranger’ Western in which Fassbender takes McPhee across the wilderness to find his love.

 

46. ‘Truth’

Director: James Vanderbilt

Why: Cast: Robert Redford, Cate Blanchett, Elisabeth Moss, Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid, Bruce Greenwood
Synopsis: The true story of Dan Rather’s “60 Minutes” report on George W. Bush’s lack of service in the Vietnam War, and the resulting political, professional and personal fallout.

47. ‘Green Room’

Director: Jeremy Saulnier

Why: Cast: Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Patrick Stewart, Alia Shawkat, Mark Webber
Synopsis: After playing a gig and witnessing a horrific act of violence, a punk band are targeted by a gang of neo-Nazis.

48. ‘Far From The Maddening Crowds’

Director: Thomas Vinterberg

Why: The Director of “Festen,” and “The Hunt”, with Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen, Tom Sturridge. 
Synopsis: A willful, flirtatious young woman unexpectedly inherits a large farm and becomes romantically involved with three widely divergent men.

49. ‘Freeheld’

Director: Peter Sollett

Why: Cast: Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Steve Carell, Michael Shannon. Synopsis: A New Jersey police detective and her car mechanic girlfriend struggle to secure the officer’s earned pension benefits after she is diagnosed with cancer.

50. ‘The Last Face’

Director: Sean Penn

Why: 
Cast: Javier Bardem, Charlize Theron. Synopsis: A doctor and the director of an aid agency in war-torn Liberia fall in love but passionately disagree with each others’ approach to the life-threatening issues that surround them.

Honorable Mentions:

 

51. ‘A Hologram For The King’
52. ‘Stanford Prison Experiment’
53. ‘Sisters’ Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4ooDwh9gFA
54. ‘Ex Machina’ Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoQuVnKhxaM
55. ‘Tomorrowland’ Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k59gXTWf-A
56. ‘Cinderella’ Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20DF6U1HcGQ
57. ‘White God’ Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIGz2kyo26U
58. ‘Pan’ Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjW1mKwNUSo
59. ‘Mississippi Grind’
60. ‘Everest’
61. ‘While We’re Young’ Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRUcm9Qw9io
62. ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’ Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfZWFDs0LxA
63. ‘Jupiter Ascending’ Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4ZzMkDLjWI
64. ‘Son Of A Gun’
65. ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZoO8QVMxkk
66. ‘Terminator: Genisys’ Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62E4FJTwSuc
67. ‘The Walk’ Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBicCZG4vg0
68. ‘Pixels’
69. ‘Child 44’
70. ‘Southpaw’
71. ‘Suffragette’
72. ‘By The Sea’
73. ‘The Little Prince’
74. ‘American Ultra’
75. ‘Jane Got A Gun’
76. ‘Dark Places’