Top Ten Most Anticipated Films of 2010
The title is self-explanatory.
10. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
2005′s “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” was one of that year’s most dazzling productions, with a truly epic feel. 2008′s “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” was solid but somewhat stiff and very much a lesser film. Nevertheless, I’m a fan of the novels, and both previous films proved that the films can dazzle, if nothing else. This one has a new director in indie-minded Michael Apted, replacing “Shrek” alum Andrew Adamson. Count me in for this one, as it could be a late-in-the-year knockout. (December 10)
9. Toy Story 3
How can this not be on the list? 1995′s “Toy Story” and 1999′s “Toy Story 2″ are both Pixar masterworks and both are in my personal top five of the company’s output. The fact of the matter is, you simply can’t do anything but look forward to Pixar films these days, unless your name is Armond White. This picks up as owner Andy is headed off to college, and Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the gang are sent to a child’s daycare center. Let’s face it: this was coming. The premise sounds as alternately hilarious and poignant as it hopefully will turn out to be. (June 18)
8. The Wolfman
Joe Johnston made a name for himself with 2001′s marvelous “Jurassic Park III,” which was a rare threequel that left its immediate predecessor (1997′s craptastic “The Lost World: Jurassic Park”) in the dust and nearly equaled Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece of an original in tone and certainly in scope. After that he only made the minor “Hidalgo,” but “The Wolfman” might bring him back to the forefront of those glory days with “Jurassic Park III.” The R-rating (for “bloody violence and gore”) is a high-point as well. (February 12)
7. Salt
Philip Noyce is a respected director that I’m sadly unfamiliar with and his choice to direct this gender-opposite “Bourne” type actioner starring Angelina Jolie is up there with the very recent directing choice of Sam Mendes for the 23rd James Bond film: curious, indeed. Nevertheless, the trailer is an absolute joy, and Jolie seems to be channeling a more heroic version of her character in 2008′s electric actioner “Wanted.” I want to see it already! (July 23)
6. Shutter Island
Martin Scorsese is probably the most noteworthy director in American history, but I’m slowly getting to know why. I still have yet to see all of his movies, but I have seen a couple of key films of his (“GoodFellas” and “Raging Bull”). He’s going more into the horror/psychological mode with “Shutter Island,” an adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s novel that was curiously moved from Oscar friendly October 2009, to dumpfest era February of this year. Nevertheless, it’s Scorsese, which I gotta see. (February 19)
5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
And the end begins. I’m a huge fan of the “Harry Potter” series of books, and the films they made are all excellent thus far. With David Yates hitting it out of the park with 2007′s “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and last July’s “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (the best of the films), and I can’t freakin’ wait to see how the first part of the finale turns out. Nuff said. (November 19)
4. The American
Getting into more Oscar-y type of stuff, this film, directed by rising talent Anton Corbijn of 2007′s indie hit “Control” (which I sadly never saw) regards an assassin played by George Clooney who’s trying to get away from his job but gets sucked back in Jack Bauer-style after befriending an Italian priest. That’s all I know about this picture, other than that I’m dying to see it right this instant. (September 1)
3. Green Zone
Paul Greengrass is an amazing director, much like “The Bourne Supremacy,” “The Bourne Ultimatum,” and “United 93″ proved, and his latest, an espionage film set in the midst of the Iraq war and starring Matt Damon, Amy Ryan and Brendan Gleeson, “Green Zone” appeals to the lover of visceral thriller cinema that Greengrass pretty much fully owns. At least, Christopher Nolan and he are tied for that label. (March 12)
2. Iron Man 2
2008′s “Iron Man” was a fantastic piece of superhero cinema, though not quite the best from that year (Do you have to ask what was? I think not.), and Jon Favreau’s follow-up will hopefully be the series’ bread-and-butter. With a potentially iconic villain in Mickey Rourke’s Whiplash, “Iron Man 2″ is hopefully destined to be a confirmation of Robert Downey Jr.’s talents as an acting maniac; he pours his heart and soul into the character of Tony Stark, making him a complete original, both acidically sarcastic a la Dr. Gregory House and a vulnerable man shaken by a need for justice and peace in the world a la Bruce Wayne. Should be a killer entertainment, and with the cast it has–other than Downey Jr. and Rourke, you got Sam Rockwell, Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Scarlett Johannsen–it should be one of the year’s most memorable ensemble pieces. (May 7)
1. Inception
No film has me as intrigued or as enthusiastic as Christopher Nolan’s latest bit of head-trip entertainment. Absolutely nothing is known about the plot other than the fact that it’s a crime drama that takes place completely within the mind. For Nolan, it’s a comeback to the type of film he made with “Memento” and “The Prestige,” though I suspect it uses more visual effects than those films and seems more artsy than the likes of his Batman films. I’m hotly anticipating this like no other film this year, and even as appetizing as “Iron Man 2″ and “Green Zone” are, my anticipation for “Inception” eats my anticipation for the others pretty much for breakfast. I will be there opening day. (July 16)
