Coming Soon: Fall and Winter of 2013 – Part III

Coming Soon: Fall and Winter of 2013- Part III

Here’s the final installation of my series on the movies headed your way soon. The first and second posts covered ten exciting new films. This time I’ll wrap it up with five more movies that I think will meet or even exceed our expectations. As with the other films, I’ve listed these in the order they’re expected to be in wide release. In addition to a bit of information, don’t forget to check out the linked trailers.

Saving Mr. Banks

Directed by John Lee Hancock

Starring: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell, Paul Giamatti

When you run out of original ideas, make a movie about an original idea. Director John Lee Miller (The Blind Side) brought this one to life with a script written by Terra Nova writer Kelly Marcel and veteran television writer Sue Smith. The cast includes a huge list of stars. Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump), Emma Thompson (Brave), Colin Farrell (The New World), and Paul Giamatti (The Ides of March) are just a few of the big names.

The story focuses on the efforts made by Walt Disney (Hanks) to get the movie rights to Mary Poppins from author P.L. Travers (Thompson). 

With films like this you’re treading on sacred ground. Disney fans are only going to give so much liberty to a story about Mr. Disney and one of the classic Disney films. I expect this to be a good movie, with box office success thanks to the millions of Disney fans out there. Here’s the trailer.

My Prediction: 3.6 out of 5 Stars

The Monuments Men

Directed by George Clooney

Starring: George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, John Goodman, Bill Murray, Jean Dujardin

In addition to directing this movie, George Clooney (The Descendants) is one of the stars of this highly anticipated film. The story comes from a novel written by Bret Witter and Robert Edsel titled The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History. Clooney and Grant Heslov (The Ides of March) got together to adapt the story and bring it to life. The cast includes Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth), Matt Damon (Contagion), John Goodman (Argo), Bill Murray (Ghostbusters), and Jean Dujardin (The Artist).

The film is the story of a group of soldiers tasked with rescuing stolen art from the Nazis and returning it to the rightful owners.

Somehow I think this will be far more interesting than my brief description makes it sound. I think it’s likely to be a major contender in the box office and the award circuit. Here’s a trailer.

My Prediction: 5 out of 5 Stars

47 Ronin

Directed by Carl Rinsch

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rinko Kikuchi

This is one of the wild cards I found when I went looking into the future of movie releases. A big film starring Keanu Reeves hasn’t come around in a while. This one is directed by Carl Rinsch, a name I’ve never heard before. Fortunately, he’s got a cast with some good names in it to make his motion picture debut. In addition to Reeves (The Matrix), the film also stars Hiroyuki Sanada (The Last Samurai) and Rinko Kikuchi (Babel).

This film is based on the exciting story of a group of samurai on the road to revenge. After the death and dishonor of their master, these samurai are after the Shogun behind the deed.

I’m really excited for this one, but this is a wild card for a reason. I would expect this to come out of the gates pretty fast due to the popularity of action films. I wouldn’t even venture a guess on how it will be received though. Here’s the trailer.

My Prediction: I have no idea.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Directed by Ben Stiller

Starring: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Sean Penn

Ben Stiller is back, this time as the star and director of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. The story comes from the short story by James Thurber which was originally adapted for the 1947 film starring Danny Kaye. This time Stiller (Zoolander) takes the lead, and he’s joined by Kristen Wiig (How to Train Your Dragon), Adam Scott (The Aviator), and Sean Penn (21 Grams). The cast also includes some other recognizable faces like Patton Oswalt (Young Adult) and Shirley MacLaine (The Apartment).

The story is the journey of Walter Mitty (Stiller), a man who’s lived in a fantasy world filled with adventure and romance. Unfortunately he’s created complications for himself and his co-workers and he’s determined to fix things.

I’m really excited for this one. It’s the only film on my list this season that can be called a comedy, yet I’m expecting a film that’s anything but light. I would anticipate something along the lines of Stranger Than Fiction. Early reviews seem to be high on this one, and I’m going with them. I expect this to be a critical success that will see commercial success if it’s marketed well.

My Prediction: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

August: Osage County

Directed by John Wells

Starring: Meryl Streep, Dermot Mulroney, Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis, Ewan McGregor, Abigail Breslin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sam Shepard, Chris Cooper

John Wells must feel a bit of pressure as the release of this film approaches. The director of The Company Men is behind one of the bigger films of 2013. He’s got a great story written by Tracy Letts (Killer Joe), and a huge cast of talented and seasoned actors. The cast includes some talented women including Meryl Streep (Out of Africa), Julia Roberts (Valentine’s Day), Juliette Lewis (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape), and Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine). The men in this film are equally impressive. They include Dermot Mulroney (J. Edgar), Ewan McGregor (The Impossible), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey), Sam Shepard (Days of Heaven), and Chris Cooper (The Town).

This movies focuses on the women of the Westin family who are brought together when their father takes his own life. After so much time apart, the women and their families have much to discover about one another. Now the women must reconcile their own failures, and the failures of their parents in their childhood home.

It’s almost fitting that I finish with one of the award season favorites. This film has all the elements that should make it both commercially and critically successful. Meryl Streep tends to make wise choices in the films she chooses, and I think this will be another example of that. I also expect the rest of the cast to rise to the occasion in this dramatic movie. Here’s a trailer.

My Prediction: 5 out of 5 Stars

So, you’ve seen what I’m excited about. What did I miss? Where did I go wrong? Maybe you even agree with me. Feel free to share your suggestions, opinions, shock, dismay, and elation. I hope all of my readers get a chance to see some of these films this fall and winter.