Jeff’s Top Ten: Most Anticipated Movies of 2012

Jeff Lawton  //  February 20, 2012

10.  The Gangster Squad (October 19)

I often get excited for a film based on casting alone. The Gangster Squad contains some goodies: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte, Anthony Mackie, and Emma Stone are all very watchable. But the biggest draw is Ryan Gosling, a man who’s quickly becoming one of the best actors of our generation (based on incredible performances in Drive, Blue Valentine, Lars and the Real Girl and Half Nelson, among others). The story, however, could go either way. As you can probably tell from the title, The Gangster Squad is a gangster movie, which is a genre that can be badass just as often as it can be cliché.

09. Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie (March 12)

Anyone who’s familiar with the comedy of Tim Heidecker and Eric Warheim will either be salivating for or totally avoiding Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie. For the uninitiated: Tim and Eric specialized in extremely absurdist, gross-out humor, as evident in past shows such as Tom Goes to the Mayor and Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! If grotesque make-up, silly faces, annoying sounds, and uncomfortable interactions aren’t your cup of tea, I suggest skipping this one. But, if you’re interested in a surreal, giddy experience that challenges the notion of what comedy is, check this out.

08. Take This Waltz (September 11)

From Canadian actor/director Sarah Polley, Take This Waltz has all the makings of a kinda funny, kinda sad, and mostly truthful romance story. Michelle Williams is one of the best actors around, and Seth Rogan is endlessly likeable. As long as the film doesn’t fall into mindless mumblecore dreck (Away We Go, anyone?), Take This Waltz could be a lovely date flick.

07. Dog Fight (August 10)

Good comedy films are diamonds in the rough. More often than not, the scripts are half-assed and the talent is wasted. I can only hope that Dog Fight, an upcoming flick starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis, avoids the normal pitfalls. The premise seems promising: two goofball politicians running against each other for a congress seat. That kind of antagonism is prime comedic fodder. While Ferrell is capable of hitting home-runs (Anchorman and Step Brothers), the sublime Galifianakis has yet to reach his full potential in films (yes, I’m including the overrated The Hangover). Let’s hope the stars align.

06. Django Unchained (December 25)

Back when Quentin Tarantino released Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, he seemed untouchable. Since then his films, while still very good, ultimately seem lesser. That said, it’s difficult to not be excited for Django Unchained, Tarantino’s take on the spaghetti western. He’s got big-name actors, including Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, and Joseph Gordon Levitt, among others. And like his last film, the Nazi-demolishing Inglourious Basterds, he’s dealing with touchy subject matter (slavery). If Tarantino keeps it tasteful (which he doesn’t always), Django Unchained could be one of the year’s best.

05. World War Z (December 21)

I’ve not read (or even heard about really) the book World War Z. So, I don’t know too much about the movie. What I do know is that it’s set in a post-apocalyptic zombie world, that it borrows from thriller flicks such as the Bourne series, and that it stars Brad Pitt. So to sum up: apocalyptic thriller, badass title, zombies, and Brad Pitt. C’MON!

04. Lincoln (late 2012)

Steven Spielberg may be beloved, but not by me. I’ve got some affection for E.T. and Jaws, and some admiration for the man’s abilities, but that’s about it. Still… Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln? It’s too much! Day-Lewis is up there with Brando, De Niro and Streep as one of the all-time greatest film actors; so I can’t see his portrayal of the assassinated American president being anything other than mesmerizing.

03. Moonrise Kingdom (May 25)

From his early films (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore) right up to 2009’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, director Wes Anderson has been a divisive figure in cinema. Either you crave his sharp wit and subtle sadness, or you think his work is shallow and irritatingly whimsical. I am in the former group. Moonrise Kingdom contains some Anderson regulars such as Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman, but it also has some welcomed newbies such as Tilda Swinton and Ed Norton. I’m expecting a very funny and moving flick with a badass soundtrack.

02. The Dark Knight Rises (July 20)

People knew that director Christopher Nolan was great, but I don’t think anyone could’ve predicted The Dark Knight to be as awesome as it was. That movie’s success has produced an immense amount of anticipation for this year’s The Dark Knight Rises, and I don’t expect Nolan to falter. Yes, we might have lost Heath Ledger and his superb portrayal of the Joker, but Tom Hardy ain’t no slouch either and his Bane character looks positively frightening.

01. The Master (late 2012)

You know it’s going to be a good year for movies when Paul Thomas Anderson is releasing one. This guy is clearly the best filmmaker of our generation (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch Drunk Love, and There Will Be Blood), and he’s teaming up with one of the best actors around: Philip Seymour Hoffman. On top of this, the story of The Master looks super-interesting; it’s loosely based on the birth and rise of Scientology (mind you, it’s not actually called Scientology in the film). How could a movie directed by the best filmmaker of today, starring the best actor, and featuring such controversial content, not be the most anticipated movie of the year?