Upcoming Top Ten 2006

[Trifid]

It would be interesting to see what films we're all looking forward to in the coming days and months. More over which one's we have marked on our calenders. So I thought it'd be fun to read what's on everyone's wish list.

To add a little more breathing room to the top ten list, if you'd like you're free to add more films as honorable mentions. Also, it would be nice to hear why you're looking forward to the films in your list. Okay enough with rules, let's have some fun.


1. The Da Vinci Code: When I came upon The Da Vinci Code I found the novel to be very engaging. The Da Vinci Code is about the age old debate between science and religion. Along with all the fiction the book it is sprinkled with a few facts, but how true some of these facts are is another debate.

The film includes luminaries such as Tom Hanks, Ian McKellen, Jene Reno and is directed by Ron Howard. Something monumentally horrible would have to happen to throw talent like this off it's game.

Trailer
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/da_vinci_code/hd/

2. Superman Returns: I love superman, I loved the comics, the cartoons and the original films. On a side note, the first superman movie was released the year I was born. So I kinda think me and superman have this connection...hehe. The inevitable superhuman gay jokes aside. As great a mark Christopher Reeve made with his portrayal of superman, I believe Superman Returns is in safe hands. Bryan Singer should bring the same care and enthusiasm to this project as he did with the X-Men.

Trailer
http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/supermanreturns/hd/

3. Tsotsi: Released in 2005 but arriving on North American shores february 24th 2006. The winner of several film festivals and not mention the oscar nomination, this film has accomplished a great deal already. Mirimax studios might have another gem on their hands, just as they did in Cry The Beloved Country.

Trailer
http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/tsotsi/

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest: Johny Depp. That's what pops into my head when I think Pirates of the Caribbean, and somehow I don't think anyone feels otherwise. The man's ability to bring about subtle nuances and very unique traits to his characters is reaching mythic proportions. On that alone my curiosity is peaked when any Depp film is announced. The first Pirates was a great ride...one of few Jerry Bruckheimer productions I found to be enjoyable. I hope they can get past the sequel jinx and give us another fun ride.

Trailer
http://www.apple.com/trailers/disney/piratesofcaribbean2/

5. Apocalypto: Say what you want about Mel Gibson but one thing is for certain, the man loves films. Apcalypto is set in the 16th-century and is about the Spanish conquest of Mexico and Central America.

If films such as Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ are anything to go by Apocalypto could be worth the wait.

Trailer
http://www.apple.com/trailers/touchstone/apocalypto/hd/

6. V for Vendetta: I affectionately refer to this film as The Matrix Connection. With the talented Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman as the leads, a script from the Wachowski brothers and James McTeigue directing...all signs point to a bulls eye.

Trailer
http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/v_for_vendetta/hd/

7. Lady in the Water: With the exception of The Village, I've enjoyed all M. Night Shyamalan films. As there is little known about the film, for obvious reasons, we can't be sure what the film is about. If the trailer is any indication Lady in the Water could turn out to be another feather in Shyamalans cap.

After watching the teaser trailer, I can't help but think the story might be Hunchback of Notre dame-ish. That's another fun bit about these kinds of movies you're kept guessing, at least the good ones manage to do that.

Trailer
http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/ladyinthewater/

8. Frank Miller's 300: Set in 480 BC and based on The Battle of Thermopylae. Starring Gerard Butler and being helmed by Dawn of the Dead director Zack Snyder, 300 should be in good hands. Although, after Sin City expectations will be high for anything Frank Miller, let's hope we are not disappointed.

Trailer
None released. Other relevent links
http://300themovie.warnerbros.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae

9. Cars: Pixar, Pixar, Pixar. That's the magic spell every animated film wants to chant. With a resume including Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc, Finding Nemo and The Incredibles, there is little doubt weather this film will deliver.

Trailer
http://www.apple.com/trailers/disney/cars/

10. A Scanner Darkly: Warning!! Big brother is watching you. There is style written all over this film. Based on Philip K. Dick's writing, A Scanner Darkly already has a good start. The film includes Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr, Woody Harrelson, Wynona Ryder and is directed by Before Sunset director Richard Linklater.

Trailer
http://www.apple.com/trailers/warner_independent_pictures/a_scanner_darkly.html

Honorable mentions: X-Men: The Last Stand, World Trade Center, Unknown White Male, Miami Vice, Inside Man, Cache.

[Sigur509]

Tons of films I can't wait to see, but I think Inland Empire takes the cake.

[GoldenGhost]

Originally posted by Sigur509
Tons of films I can't wait to see, but I think Inland Empire takes the cake.

My brother from another mother.

[TylerDurden182]

There are a shit load of awesome movies coming out this year,

Top 5

1. The Fountain
2. Zodiac
3. Inland Empire
4. Grindhouse
5. Brick

[Cronos]

Grindhouse
The Fountain
Zodiac
Apocalypto
V For Vendetta
Da Vinci Code
Clerks 2
Pirates Of The Caribbean 2
The Science of Sleep

[Trifid]

C'mon folks, you can do better than that...I know you can. Simply list the 10 movies you're looking forward to and why, that's it. :)


P.S. I hadn't heard of Inland Empire until you mentioned it Sigur509. Must say, it's got an impressive cast and anything David Lynch is usually amazing.

[Sigur509]

K,

Inland Empire
Grindhouse
Clerks 2
The Science of Sleep
Where the Wild Things are(I'm still hoping this comes out this year)
The Fantastic Mr Fox
Marie-Antoinette
The Da Vinci Code
A Scanner Darkly


To name a few.

[Trifid]

Hmmm...now I might have to rethink my list. Damn you Sigur! By the way, nice selection, you've got some promising films on that list of yours.

[cerealkiller182]

DaVinci Code
Superman Returns
V for Vendetta
Southland Tales
POTC 2
Lady in the Water
The Fountain
Brick
Thank You For Smoking
Grindhouse

[Sh8dy Milkman]

Grindhouse
V for Vendetta
Sin City 2
Southland Tales
Brick
Zodiac
Clerks 2
Lucky Number Slevin
POTC 2
Superman Returns

[Hannibal21]

INLAND EMPIRE

The rest:
The Black Dahlia
Brick
The Departed
Don't Come Knocking
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Good Shepherd
L'Enfant
Manderlay
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days

[ilovemovies]

Top 25:

25. The Black Dahlia
24. Basic Instinct 2
23. Snakes on a Plane
22. Miami Vice
21. The Da Vinci Code
20. Inside Man

19. Stranger Than Fiction
18. Casino Royale
17. The Good Shepherd
16. Click
15. The Sentinel
14. The Prestige
13. Mission: Impossible 3
12. Lucky Number Slevin
11. American Dreamz

10. World Trade Center/Flight 93
09. A Scanner Darkly
08. The Fountain
07. Hannibal: Behind the Mask
06. All the King's Men
05. V for Vandetta
04. X-Men: The Last Stand
03. The Departed
02. Superman Returns
01. 24: The movie

Also greatly anticipating:

Apocalypto
Lady in the Water (despite the atrocious teaser)
Pulse
Poseidon
Over the Hedge
The Break Up
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Silent Hill
Just My Luck
Down in the Valley
Hard Candy
Find Me Guilty
Thank You for Smoking
16 Blocks

[HedwigX]

MY TOP 10 MUST-SEES FOR THIS YEAR

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest- Captain Jack is back! I love the first movie and absolutely cannot wait for this one.

2. The Da Vinci Code- Absolutely love the book. Tom Hanks is perfect as Langdon although I can't help but think Christopher Eccleston would have been better for Silas...

3. Superman Returns- *hums theme* I'm almost glad Singer turned down X-Men 3 because it was for this instead.

4. V for Vendetta- Movie that looks cool-as-hell from the makers of the Matrix? Oh yeah, I'm there.

5. Flushed Away- Aardman = British Pixar. Read comment for "Cars" :p

6. Cars- Pixar can do no wrong. Accept it.

7. My Super Ex-Girlfriend- Has potential, and it's from the guy who directed Ghostbusters.

8. X-Men 3- Will either be very good or very bad. The trailer suggests the former, so fingers crossed...

9. Mission: Impossible 3- Wasn't too bothered until that awesome trailer came out. Now? Bring it on...

10. Sin City 2- The first one rocks, and unfortunately I'll probably only get to see the second on DVD...

HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Casino Royale
Happy Feet
Alien Autopsy
Snakes on a Plane
Eragon
Stranger then Fiction
Click
Talladega Nights- The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
The Prestige
The Fantastic Mr. Fox

[Trifid]

Nice...now we're warming up. I agree with you HedwigX on Christopher Eccleston being better suited for the part, and I was hesitant upon hearing Paul Bettany as Silas. After looking at the rushes though, I thought he fit the part on most fronts. The bleach white skin, the pumped up look and the cold demeanor is Silas, and the rushes seem to have those in Paul Bettany's portrayal. As far as acting abilities both Paul Bettany and Christopher Eccleston are accomplished thespians.

But all this is just speculation, any movie can be made to look good in trailers. We'll see how it turns out.

P.S. Hehe...I didn't know they were coming out with a movie based on the Alien Autopsy, does is it have a comedic take on it or a dramatic one. Also, thanks for pointing out Flushed Away, I'll check it out.

Nice job everyone...Keep'em Coming!! :)

[Trifid]

My apologies for double posting but I had to post this. Everytime I see the trailer for Cars I crack up. Especially when the the old volkswagen is shown staring at a street light and in the heavy seemingly drug induced drawl he says, "I'm telling you man, every third blink is slower." Upon which the car next to him replies, "The sixties weren't good to you, were they."

[JCPhoenix]

See my post further down for my updated list...

[sharkstank]

jc phoenix i thoroughly enjoyed that preview. thanks for the great read.
and now im even more pumped for 06 film (im not including january and february..all ive seen is hostel and im gonna see night watch)
in march im gonna be in the theatre every week

WWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOO

[dannywalker17]

1. The Fountain
Synopsis: Spanning over one thousand years, and three parallel stories, The Fountain is a story of love, death, spirituality, and the fragility of our existence in this world.
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Starring Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, Ellen Burstyn

2. The Da Vinci Code
Synopsis: A murder in the Louvre and clues in Da Vinci paintings lead to the discovery of a religious mystery protected by a secret society for two thousand years -- which could shake the foundations of Christianity.
Directed by Ron Howard
Starring Tom Hanks, Ian McKellen, Audrey Tautou, Alfred Molina, Paul Bettany, Jean Reno

3. Babel
Synopsis: Armed with a Winchester rifle, two Morrocan boys set out to look after their family’s herd of goats. In the silent echoes of the desert, they decide to test the rifle… but the bullet goes farther than they thought it would. In an instant, the lives of four separate groups of strangers on three different continents collide.
Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael Garcia Bernal

4. The Prestige
Synopsis: Based on Christopher Priest's 1996 novel, Bale and Jackman play rival magicians in turn-of-the-century London who battle each other for trade secrets. The rivalry is so intense that it turns them into murderers.
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Starring Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, David Bowie, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine, Piper Perabo

5. Superman Returns
Synopsis: Superman returns to Earth after having been missing for six long years. What he finds astounds him - the world he knew has changed for the worse. In his absence, the forces of evil have regrouped like never before. Even Lex Luthor, once an outcast, has risen to the heights of power in Metropolis. And when an old enemy from Krypton reappears, Superman must fight his neverending battle like never before, amidst a world that has forgotten what it's like to have a hero.
Directed by Bryan Singer
Starring Brandon Routh, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden, Hugh Laurie, Eva Marie Saint

6. Brick
Synopsis: Brendan Fry is a loner at his high school, someone who knows all the angles but has chosen to stay on the outside. When the girl he loves turns up dead, he plunges into the school's social strata like a fist through a honeycomb to find the "who" and "why," with the same single-minded devotion to his self-appointed task as the hard-boiled heroes of old.
Directed by Rian Johnson
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lukas Haas, Nora Zehetner, Noah Fleiss, Emilie de Ravin

7. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Synopsis: Jack owes an unpaid debt to Davy Jones and his army of sea-phantoms...his soul. Now, he must find a way to save himself from becoming one of them, and suffering forever.
Directed by Gore Verbinski
Starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Stellan Skarsgård, Bill Nighy

8. Children of Men
Synopsis: In 2027, in a chaotic world in which man can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of mankind.
Directed by Alfonso Cuaron
Starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Charlie Hunnam, Michael Caine

9. The Departed
Synopsis: Two men from opposite sides of the law are undercover within the Boston State Police department and the Irish mafia, but violence and bloodshed boil when discoveries are made, and the moles are dispatched to find out their enemy's identities.
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson, Alec Baldwin

10. Inland Empire
Synopsis: A mystery about a woman in trouble set in the inland valley outside of Los Angeles.
Directed by David Lynch
Starring Laura Dern, Jeremy Irons, Justin Theroux

11. Silence
Synopsis: A widower returns to his hometown to search for answers to his wife's murder.
Directed by James Wan
Starring Donnie Wahlberg, Amber Valletta, Ryan Kwanten, Michael Fairman, Steven Taylor

12. X-Men: The Last Stand
Synopsis: The X-Men have to contend with evolution itself in the form of their resurrected ex-teammate. Reborn as the Dark Phoenix, Jean Grey is not only a danger to herself, she's a threat to her mutant comrades and the human race. And when a potential cure is discovered--one that could stop genetic mutations--the lines for a conclusive battle are drawn between the X-Men, Magneto's Brotherhood, and humankind.
Directed by Brett Ratner
Starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Shawn Ashmore, Ben Foster, Daniel Cudmore, Alan Cumming, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos

13. Lady in the Water
Synopsis: Apartment building superintendent Cleveland Heep rescues what he thinks is a young woman from the pool he maintains. When he discovers that she is actually a character from a bedtime story who is trying to make the journey back to her home, he works with his tenants to protect his new friend from the creatures that are determined to keep her in our world.
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Paul Giamatti

14. Stranger Than Fiction
Synopsis: An IRS auditor suddenly finds himself the subject of narration only he can hear: narration that begins to affect his entire life, from his work, to his love-interest, to his death.
Directed by Marc Forster
Starring Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah, Emma Thompson

15. Inside Man
Synopsis: A cop has to talk down a bank robber after the criminal's perfect heist spirals into a hostage situation.
Directed by Spike Lee
Starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Christopher Plummer

16. Alpha Dog
Synopsis: Emile Hirsch stars as teenage suburban drug dealer Johnny Truelove, an ambitious young man whose lifestyle is a mecca for guns, sex and drugs. When a “client” cheats Johnny and a deal goes bad, he devises a plan to get his money back by kidnapping the client’s younger brother. But things take an unexpected twist as Johnny and his crew get caught up in the dangerous and violent world they once idealized.
Directed by Nick Cassavetes
Starring Emile Hirsch, Justin Timberlake, Shawn Hatosy, Ben Foster, Sharon Stone, Dominique Swain, Lukas Haas, Bruce Willis

17. Idiocracy
Synopsis: Private Joe Bowers, the definition of "average American", is selected by the Pentagon to be the guinea pig for a top-secret hibernation program, set 1,000 years in the future. He discovers a society so incredibly dumbed-down that he's easily the most intelligent person alive.
Directed by Mike Judge
Starring Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Dax Shepard

18. Apocalypto
Synopsis: When his idyllic existence is brutally disrupted by a violent invading force, a man is taken on a perilous journey to a world ruled by fear and oppression where a harrowing end awaits him. Through a twist of fate and spurred by the power of his love for his woman and his family he will make a desperate break to return home and to ultimately save his way of life.
Directed by Mel Gibson

19. The Science of Sleep
Synopsis: A man held captive by the people in his dreams tries to wake himself up and take control of his own imaginings.
Directed by Michel Gondry
Starring Gael Garcia Bernal

20. The Visiting
Synopsis: As a Washington psychiatrist unearths the origin of an alien epidemic, she also discovers her son might be the only way it can be stopped.
Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel
Starring Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam

[Trifid]

Wonderful list JCPhoenix...certainly made me aware of a lot of great movies I might've missed.

[cocksmokinclerk]

no particular order:

clerks 2
x3
zodiac
harry potter and the order of the phoenix (maybe)
pirates of the caribbean: dead mans chest
superman returns
spider-man 3
hellboy 2 (maybe)
grindhouse
v for vendetta
southland tales
sin city 2

i want to say theres more but i can't think right now

[AngelDust06]

1. The Good Shepard
2. The DaVinci Code
3. Zodiac
4. The Fountain
5. Apacolypto
6. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest
7. Clerks 2: The Passion of the Clerks
8. Flags of our Fathers
9. V for Vendetta
10.The Departed

[Strider]

Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2006:

01. The Fountain & Zodiac (TIE)
02. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
03. Apocalypto
04. The Science of Sleep
05. Marie Antoinette
06. Southland Tales
07. Grind House
08. Lady in the Water
09. V for Vendetta
10. Miami Vice

Strider

[HedwigX]

Originally posted by Trifid
Hehe...I didn't know they were coming out with a movie based on the Alien Autopsy, does is it have a comedic take on it or a dramatic one.

IMDb page (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0466664/) Official Site (with trailer) (http://www.alien-autopsy.com)

It's a comedic take on the story with two British men (played by Ant and Dec) being the ones who fake the alien autopsy. Trailer can be found on the website above, enjoy. :D

[JCPhoenix]

Well, I figured out the one movie I was missing (PERFUME) and I also recalled another two (SHOOT 'EM UP, I'M NOT THERE) I can't believe I forgot about. Also changed my list to a top 40 so here's my tweaked list. Oh and sharkstank and Trifid - glad you enjoyed the read :)

Oh and two movies that would be on my list as well are THE VISITING and INSIDE MAN (both of which I spotted on dannywalker's list) - the only reason The Visiting is not on the list is that I'm getting quite cautious now with all of the mother/child "suspense or sci-fi?" genre movies...like The Forgotten, Flightplan, Freedomland, and let's not forget the father/child horrortrash, Godsend. They all had one thing in common - they all looked promising before they came out and turned into utter garbage. Hopefully Kidman's won't be the same way.

Inside Man would be on my runners-up list but since it's the only other movie I can think of that I'm really looking forward to, I've just left it off.

And just to reiterate from the first post I made - BENJAMIN BUTTON, THERE WILL BE BLOOD, and GONE BABY GONE would all be on here and quite high up (Gone Baby Gone being one of my favorite books, Benjamin Button being an interesting sounding concept, and There Will Be Blood because it's Anderson), but I think these three will probably end up coming out in 2007 so...

Again the story outlines are courtesy of the IMDb:

And this is the first time I've had a post so long I have to post it in two parts since it passes the maximum character length of a post :p

40. ALL THE KING'S MEN/Steven Zaillian
Sean Penn/Jude Law/Kate Winslet/Patricia Clarkson/James Gandolfini/Mark Ruffalo/Anthony Hopkins/Kathy Baker
Story Outline: Based on the Robert Penn Warren novel. The life of populist Southerner Willie Stark, a political creature loosely based on Governor Huey Long of Louisiana.
Thoughts: This cast is stellar and alone would push this high up my list. Unfortunately though, the subject matter sounds a little dry for my tastes and the release date delays have led to my anticipation for this film dropping. Still, this is a film I will be making plans to see in 2006.

39. BLACK SNAKE MOAN/Craig Brewer
Samuel L. Jackson/Christina Ricci/Justin Timberlake
Story Outline: The plot involves a white nymphomaniac who must be "cured" of her disorder by an older black blues man.
Thoughts: Brewer's fresh off the hit Hustle & Flow and Jackson is the man. Ricci always picks fairly quirky projects and I'm interested to see if Timberlake can pull this off.

38. THE DA VINCI CODE/Ron Howard
Tom Hanks/Audrey Tautou/Paul Bettany/Jean Reno/Ian McKellan/Alfred Molina
Story Outline: A murder in the Louvre and clues in Da Vinci paintings lead to the discovery of a religious mystery protected by a secret society for two thousand years -- which could shake the foundations of Christianity.
Thoughts: While I found the book disappointing, the cast and director together make this a must-see movie for me. Besides which, I loved the first half of the novel (very atmospheric and cinematic) at least and my major problem is just that the second half is really predictable. Still, since I know the story anyway, that won't be an obstacle to my enjoying the film.

37. THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX/Wes Anderson
Cast Unknown
Story Outline: Angry farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with a sly fox, look to get rid of their opponent and his family.
Thoughts: Love Roald Dahl - I think I've read every book he's written including his two autobiographies. Anderson's last movie didn't impress me but Rushmore and Royal Tenenbaums did. And this sounds like the perfect match for Anderson's quirky sensibilities.

36. PIRATE OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST/Gore Verbinski
Johnny Depp/Orlando Bloom/Keira Knightley/Geoffrey Rush/Naomie Harris/Bill Nighy/Stellen Skarsgaard/Jack Davenport
Story Outline: Jack owes an unpaid debt to Davy Jones and his army of sea-phantoms...his soul. Now, he must find a way to save himself from becoming one of them, and suffering forever.
Thoughts: A chance to see Depp in the sequel to my favorite film of 2003, I'm there. Though I'm a little cautious about a sequel to the original - I'm hoping it'll be able to live up to the first one. Still, the one I'm really looking forward to is #3 of this trilogy since Chow Yun Fat is playing an Oriental pirate.

35. INLAND EMPIRE/David Lynch
Laura Dern/Julia Ormond/Jeremy Irons/Harry Dean Stanton/Justin Theroux/Michael Pare
Story Outline: Set in the inland valley outside of Los Angeles, David Lynch's new film is a mystery about a woman in trouble.
Thoughts: It's Lynch. It's got an interesting cast. And it sounds Mulholland Drive-ish which is exciting. But at the end of the day, it's really just cause it's a Lynch film that I'm looking forward to it.

34. AWAKE/Joby Harold
Hayden Christensen/Lena Olin/Jessica Alba/Terrence Howard/Sam Robards
Story Outline: While undergoing open heart surgery, a man's failed anesthetic leaves him completely alert, but paralyzed and unable to tell his doctors.
Thoughts: The story sounds unique and I don't think it's been done before. It'll be interesting to see what they do with the concept. Howard's a breakout star this year and Lena Olin in this piques my curiosity.

33. FRACTURE/Gregory Hoblit
Ryan Gosling/Anthony Hopkins/Rosamund Pike
Story Outline: An assistant DA (Gosling) is caught up in a game of cat-and-mouse with a man (Hopkins) who tried to murder his wife and is set free on a series of technicalities.
Thoughts: I like thrillers and Gosling is another upcoming actor I've been keeping an eye on. + Hoblit has a fairly good track record (Frequency, Fallen, Primal Fear, Hart's War)

32. ALPHA DOG/Nick Cassavetes
Emile Hirsch/Justin Timberlake/Anton Yelchin/Shawn Hatosy/Sharon Stone/Dominique Swain/Ben Foster/Lukas Haas/Amanda Seyfried/Bruce Willis
Story Outline: A drama based on the life of Jesse James Hollywood, a drug dealer who became one of the youngest men ever to be on the FBI's most wanted list.
Thoughts: As much as it pains me to admit it, Timberlake looks like he might be a potentially good singer turned actor. The trailer was promising and this cast is filled with a whole bunch of promising upcoming actors.

31. SHOOT 'EM UP/Michael Davis
Clive Owen/Monica Bellucci/Paul Giamatti
Story Outline: A man named Mr. Smith (Owen) delivers a woman's baby during a shootout, and is then called upon to protect the newborn from the army of gunmen.
Thoughts: This film is the culmination of one of those neat little success stories and I'm very interested to see how Davis's action flick turns out. The animated sequence of storyboards was interesting though I didn't watch much of it, but it's the talent that's got me truly wanting to see this. Bellucci needs a good English movie - she's had some bad luck of late with four bad to so-so films by three good directors (Wachowski Bros, Gilliam, Fuqua) and then missing out on the one actual good film (Lord of War/Niccol) because she was pregnant. This looks like a potentially promising project.

30. LITTLE CHILDREN/Todd Field
Kate Winslet/Patrick Wilson/Jennifer Connelly
Story Outline: Little Children centers on a group of young marrieds, whose lives intersect on the playgrounds, town pools and streets of their small community in surprising and potentially dangerous ways.
Thoughts: Winslet and Connelly in a film together? Count me in. And while I never saw In the Bedroom, Field did do an ep of Carnivale, one of my favorite shows.

29. THE GOOD SHEPHERD/Robert De Niro
Matt Damon/Robert De Niro/Angelina Jolie/Joe Pesci/Alec Baldwin
Story Outline: The tumultuous early history of the Central Intelligence Agency is viewed through the prism of one man's life.
Thoughts: Great cast and interesting sounding story but the main factor is De Niro was able to get Pesci out of retirement.

28. SUPERMAN RETURNS/Bryan Singer
Brandon Routh/Kate Bosworth/James Marsden/Kevin Spacey/Frank Langella/Sam Hungtington/Eva Marie Saint/Kal Penn
Story Outline: After a long visit to the planet Krypton, the Man Of Steel returns to earth to become the peoples savior once again and reclaim the love of Lois Lane.
Thoughts: Never been the biggest fan of Superman movies but this is the reteaming of Singer with Spacey for christssake. And seeing as Usual Suspects is my favorite movie ever...

27. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III/JJ Abrams
Tom Cruise/Ving Rhames/Keri Russell/Philip Seymour Hoffman/Laurence Fishburne/Billy Crudup/Simon Pegg/Michelle Monaghan/Jonathan Rhys-Meyers
Story Outline: Unknown
Thoughts: Abrams created two of my favorite shows (Alias/Lost) and has assembled one incredible cast. The Mission: Impossible movies are at the top of the heap as entertaining popcorn fodder and this one looks to be better than ever. AND Greg Grunberg looks to have a small role in this, maintaining the Abrams/Grunberg relationship.

26. GUERRILLA/Steven Soderbergh
Benicio del Toro/Javier Bardem/Benjamin Bratt/Ryan Gosling/Franka Potente
Story Outline: An epic about Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara, who fought for the people.
Thoughts: Che's story is very interesting and del Toro playing Che is genius. And the cast is nothing to sneeze at either. It's nice to see Potente continually getting work in English films.

25. I'M NOT THERE/Todd Haynes
Christian Bale/Cate Blanchett/Colin Farrell/Richard Gere/Charlotte Gainsbourg/Julianne Moore
Story Outline: Ruminations on the life of Bob Dylan, where seven characters embody a different aspect of the musician's life and work.
Thoughts: This project sounds insane and potentially disastrous but it's in the hands of a competent director with a great cast...and besides, I love films that take a chance and do something different.

24. A SCANNER DARKLY/Richard Linklater
Keanu Reeves/Robert Downey Jr/Woody Harrelson/Winona Ryder
Story Outline: A Scanner Darkly is set in suburban Orange County, California in the future. It imagines a paranoid world in which it seems two of every 10 Americans has been hired by the government to spy on the other 8 -- in the name of national security and drug enforcement.
Thoughts: The look of the film is intriguing and Philip K. Dick stories have always made interesting films. Bonus: You don't actually have to see the real Keanu Reeves attempt to act in the film.

23. LUCKY YOU/Curtis Hanson
Eric Bana/Drew Barrymore/Robert Duvall/Debra Messing/Robert Downey Jr
Story Outline: Set among the poker tables of Las Vegas, Huck Cheever (Bana), tries to beat the odds and his own demons in order to win a world championship.
Thoughts: I love poker. Therefore, I'm looking forward to this movie. And Hanson's L.A. Confidential and Wonder Boys are two of my favorite films.

22. IDIOCRACY/Mike Judge
Luke Wilson/Maya Rudolph/Dax Shepard
Story Outline: Private Joe Bowers, the definition of "average American", is selected by the Pentagon to be the guinea pig for a top-secret hibernation program, set 1,000 years in the future. He discovers a society so incredibly dumbed-down that he's easily the most intelligent person alive.
Thoughts: C'mon. Look at the story outline and tell me if that doesn't already make you smile. Oh and Office Space kicked some major ass.

21. PERFUME/Tom Tykwer
Ben Whishaw/Dustin Hoffman/Rachel Hurd-Wood/Alan Rickman
Story Outline: Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born with no smell, develops a superior olfactory sense, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. His work, however, takes a dark turn as he searches for the ultimate scent.
Thoughts: Sounds creepy and intriguing. I really enjoyed Run Lola Run (7/10) but The Princess and the Warrior (10/10) is one of my favorite films ever.

[JCPhoenix]

20. ZODIAC/David Fincher
Jake Gyllenhaal/Robert Downey Jr/Mark Ruffalo/Gary Oldman/
Story Outline: Based on the Robert Graysmith books about the real life notorious Zodiac, a serial killer who terrorized San Francisco with a string of seemingly random murders during the 1960's and 1970's.
Thoughts: It's Fincher. With Oldman. That's all I really need to know. Though for me, this project is a little outshadowed by Benjamin Button which I am dying to see get done. Oh and Ione Skye (Say Anything) getting some work again is a nice bonus.

19. THE CHILDREN OF MEN/Alfonso Cuaron
Clive Owen/Julianne Moore/Michael Caine/Chiwetel Ejiofor/Danny Huston
Story Outline: In 2027, in a chaotic world in which man can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of mankind.
Thoughts: Storyline sounds very intriguing, it's got a solid director on board with a great cast, especially Chiwetel Ejiofor. I'm in.

18. CLICK/Frank Coraci
Adam Sandler/Kate Beckinsale/Christopher Walken/Sean Astin/Jennifer Coolidge
Story Outline: Click focuses on a workaholic architect who finds a universal remote that allows him to fast-forward and rewind to different parts of his life. Complications arise when the remote starts to overrule his choices.
Thoughts: David Hasselhoff's in it. Who can resist? Seriously though, I loved the high-concept idea and the trailer was quite funny. It looks like they've thought of as many creative ways to maximize the concept as possible. And while Coraci's Around the World in 80 Days and Waterboy were only alright, The Wedding Singer was an excellent comedy.

17. WRISTCUTTERS/Goran Dukic
Patrick Fugit/Shannyn Sossamon/Tom Waits/Will Arnett
Story Outline: A film set in a strange afterlife way station that has been reserved for people who have committed suicide.
Thoughts: This sounds great in that Donnie Darko/Brick/weird out-there type of film. It's gotten great buzz and the concept again opens up a world of possibilities. And nice to see Arrested Development actors get work.

16. SILENT HILL/Christophe Gans
Radha Mitchell/Laurie Holden/Sean Bean
Story Outline: A mother searches for her sick daughter in the haunted, deserted town of Silent Hill.
Thoughts: A better than normal cast for a videogame adaptation. The teaser trailer was very atmospheric. Besides, there has to be a great videogame adaptation sooner or later...right?

15. AMERICAN DREAMZ/Paul Weitz
Hugh Grant/Dennis Quaid/Mandy Moore/Marcia Gay Harden/Willem Dafoe/Chris Klein/Judy Greer/Shoreh AghdashlooJohn Cho/Jennifer Coolidge
Story Outline: A satire of American identity, based around the wildly popular television singing contest called "American Dreamz."
Thoughts: The buzz is good. The cast is great. Anything that makes fun of Bush sounds promising to me.

14. BRICK/Rian Johnson
Joseph Gordon-Levitt/Lukas Haas/Nora Zehetner/Noah Segan/Noah Fleiss/Emilie de Ravin/Meagan Good
Story Outline: A teenage loner pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.
Thoughts: The trailer singlehandedly hooked me. FOCUS is releasing it (and they have an excellent track record, for me at least). And after seeing Mysterious Skin, Gordon-Levitt is for sure one to watch.

13. MIAMI VICE/Michael Mann
Colin Farrell/Jamie Foxx/Gong Li
Story Outline: Vice detectives James Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs take on the Florida drug world.
Thoughts: The teaser was stylish and reminded me of Collateral. Gong Li's in it. That's all I need to know.

12. V FOR VENDETTA/James McTeigue
Natalie Portman/Hugo Weaving/Stephen Rea/John Hurt/Stephen Fry/Rupert Graves
Story Outline: A shadowy freedom fighter known only as "V" uses terrorist tactics to fight against his totalitarian society. Upon rescuing a girl from the secret police, he also finds his best chance at having an ally.
Thoughts: It sounded pretty good and the trailer was great but the buzz on this thing is really what's pushing it up so far on my list. I'm curious to see if it lives up to its rep.

11. LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN/Paul McGuigan
Josh Hartnett/Morgan Freeman/Ben Kingsley/Lucy Liu/Bruce Willis/Stanley Tucci
Story Outline: A case of mistaken identity lands a man (Hartnett) in the middle of a murder being plotted by one of New York City's biggest crime bosses (Kingsley).
Thoughts: Love gangster flicks and I'm curious to see if Hartnett has what it takes to do a role like this. The buzz has been decidedly mixed but it still looks promising enough, to me at least. And I was intrigued by McGuigan's Wicker Park - not a great film but I thought it was well-directed.

10. STRANGER THAN FICTION/Marc Forster
Will Ferrell/Maggie Gyllenhaal/Dustin Hoffman/Queen Latifah/Emma Thompson
Story Outline: An IRS auditor suddenly finds himself the subject of narration only he can hear: narration that begins to affect his entire life, from his work, to his love-interest, to his death.
Thoughts: Another high-concept flick. Again, sounds like a fun film with a surprisingly top-notch cast. And Forster's done some excellent stuff in the past.

09. MARIE-ANTOINETTE/Sofia Coppola
Kirsten Dunst/Jason Schwartzman/Rip Torn/Judy Davis/Asia Argento/Molly Shannon/Steve Coogan/Jamie Dornan
Story Outline: A stylized account of a naive Viennese girl who, in 1774, became the queen of France at age 19.
Thoughts: LOVE Virgin Suicides. Thought Lost in Translation was decent. But the teaser trailer for this kicked my ass. People either loved it or hated and I was one of the former.

08. THE DEPARTED/Martin Scorsese
Leonardo DiCaprio/Matt Damon/Jack Nicholson/Martin Sheen/Vera Farmiga/Mark Wahlberg/Anthony Anderson/Ray Winstone/Alec Baldwin
Story Outline: Two men from opposite sides of the law are undercover within the Boston State Police department and the Irish mafia, but violence and bloodshed boil when discoveries are made, and the moles are dispatched to find out their enemy's identities. (inspired by Infernal Affairs I & II)
Thoughts: Really liked the first two Infernal Affairs as a whole but I think they could've been pushed even further. And Scorsese's the one to do it if anyone. The cast is fantastic, the inspiration for the film is solid, and the fact that he's remaking the first two Infernal Affairs as one movie is even better as that will turn this movie into a more epic-scale mob film. Random note: Glancing through the rest of the cast, I saw James Badge Dale (Chase from 24) in the film.

07. THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI/Wong Kar Wai
Nicole Kidman
Story Outline: Set in the 1930's, a mysterious woman who claims that she came from Shanghai has a dangerous affair with a spy.
Thoughts: Knowing Wong Kar Wai, this probably won't be out this year (but I'm sneaking it into the list anyway) and it probably will end up being a totally different movie than this story outline but whatever the cacse, Kidman with Wong and a movie set in the 1930s sounds fucking great.

06. BABEL/Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Cate Blanchett/Brad Pitt/Gael Garcia Bernal/Koji Yakusho/Elle Fanning
Story Outline: Three stories set in Morocco, Tunisia, Mexico and Japan. The story begins with a tragedy striking a married couple on vacation.
Thoughts: Amores Perros (10/10) was stunning and 21 Grams (8/10) was an excellent follow-up. Since Amores Perros, Bernal has turned into one of the most promising new actors. Blanchett excites me now ever since her turn in Aviator. And Brad Pitt testing out his acting chops in a serious drama like this will be interesting.

05. SOUTHLAND TALES/Richard Kelly
The Rock/Seann William Scott/Sarah Michelle Gellar/Miranda Richardson/Kevin Smith/Bai Ling/Janeane Garofalo/Christopher Lambert/Jon Lovitz/Mandy Moore/Holmes Osborne/Cheri Oteri/Amy Poehler/Lou Taylor Pucci/Will Sasso/Justin Timberlake
Story Outline: Set in 2008 where a three-day heatwave in Los Angeles culminates in a huge Fourth of July party.
Thoughts: Is this not the weirdest cast in the history of film or what. We got a former wrestler, Buffy herself, several comedians including a surprising influx of SNL cast and Kevin Smith. We got Miss slutty Bai Ling, Mr. Lambert (formerly known as Lord Rayden), an up and coming actor (Lou Taylor Pucci), two singers (Timberlake and Moore) and a classy veteran actress (Miranda Richardson). It doesn't get more fucked up than this. Oh wait. I forgot, the film's genre is a "drama/comedy/sci-fi/thriller".

04. THE FOUNTAIN/Darren Aronofsky
Hugh Jackman/Rachel Weisz/Ellen Burstyn/Ethan Suplee/Sean Patrick Thomas
Story Outline: : Spanning over one thousand years, and three parallel stories, The Fountain is a story of love, death, spirituality, and the fragility of our existence in this world.
Thoughts: It looks like a psychedelic film and the teaser trailer was gloriously fucked up. Aronofsky's spoken of how excited he is about the film and its trippy qualities. Requiem for a Dream is one of my favorite films ever. And Weisz is a new favorite actress after Constant Gardener. This better come soon.

03. THE PRESTIGE/Christopher Nolan
Christian Bale/David Bowie/Michael Caine/Hugh Jackman/Scarlett Johansson/Andy Serkis
Story Outline: Based on Christopher Priest's 1996 novel, Bale and Jackman play rival magicians in turn-of-the-century London who battle each other for trade secrets. The rivalry is so intense that it turns them into murderers.
Thoughts: Nolan's Memento and Batman Begins were incredible. Insomnia was very good. And this cast rocks my socks. Johansson is my favorite current actress. And the story is right up my alley.

02. THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP/Michel Gondry
Gael Garcia Bernal/Alain Chabat/Charlotte Gainsbourg
Story Outline: A man held captive by the people in his dreams tries to wake himself up and take control of his own imaginings.
Thoughts: It sounds similar to Eternal Sunshine which is awesome and worrisome. But judging from reviews, it differentiates itself well enough from that film and stands on its own. The buzz on this thing is skyrocketing. Bernal is easily the new actor to watch out for. And the concept is suitably fucked up. Gondry's work on Eternal Sunshine though means that I'll see all the films he ever makes in hope that he can hit another one out of the ballpark as well as he did that.

01. THE BLACK DAHLIA/Brian De Palma
Josh Hartnett/Scarlett Johansson/Hilary Swank/Aaron Eckhart/Mia Kirshner
Story Outline: An adaptation of James Ellroy's 1940s-set novel about two L.A. cops who head up the hunt for the killer of fledgling actress Elizabeth Short.
Thoughts: Johansson is more than enough by herself to get me interested in this. Hartnett looks promising but he better not screw this role up. It's an extraordinarily complex role which worries me. Naked Mandy (from 24) playing the Black Dahlia herself is a bonus. De Palma can do great work at times and I'm hoping this is one of them. Any L.A. Confidential-style film would look promising to me (this is the first in a quartet of books that include L.A. Confidential and they share some interconnected characters). But the main reason this is #1 on my list is quite simply put, this is my favorite book. And I'm hoping they turn it into one of my favorite films.