Here
are a few of the films I’m planning to catch in 2014…
Carol
A film co-starring two of my favourite
current actresses Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchet, this adaptation of Patricia
Highmsith’s novel is about a young department store assistant who falls in love
with an older women. Directed by Todd Haynes who has previously demonstrated a
nack for parred back but stylistically unique film making with Dylan anti-biopic
I’m Not There. The acting should be good, the plot’s intriguing and the
Only Lovers Left Alive
I love Jim Jarmusch, his scuzzy urban
depictions starring awkward angular characters and with bluesy soundtracks totally
float my boat. I also love vampires and Tilda Swinton so I am going to be
practically (note: practically) wetting myself when going to see this.
Nymphomaniac
Of come on! We’re all curious about
Trier’s latest sex fest right?
While We’re Young
Baumbach’s Frances Ha put a smile on my
face so this director’s third collaboration with Greta
Gerwig and second with Ben Stiller has me rubbing my hands together. Greenberg
was underrated and, in my opinion, one of Stiller’s better films (along with
Reality Bites and The Royal Tenenbaums). It also stars Adam Driver and Amanda Siegfried and looks set to be one of
2014’s more interesting comedy offerings.
Winter Sleep
Once Upon a
Time in Anatolia may have Distant but Turkish auteur Nuri
Bilge Ceylan had us already taking notice with earlier films Clouds of May. Set amongst the spectacular scenery of
Cappadocia, if his earlier films are anything to go by the this films
should be visually stunning.
A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence
Swedish
director Roy Andersson's
latest film has
a hefty title.
20,000 Days on Earth
Nick Cave marks his 20,000th day on the planet
Earth in this documentary which has been nominated for Sundance. Directed by Iain
Forsyth & Jane Pollard, who met at Goldsmiths, nad have collaborated
as visual artist for years they have been working with Cave for years on
multiple projects. This is the latest instalment.
Nuna (A Boys Sister)
I’m quite partial to a bit of Korean cinema and
this one’s a typically oddball tale about a woman who can’t go out because she’s
scared of rain as her brother died on a rainy day who forms a bond with a young
boy who threatens her with a knofe when they first meet. Yup.
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wes Anderson films are and I’m not using that
word sarcastically, I mean they’re nice in the same as angel delight and
spooning, in the comforting sense. Moonrise Kingdom didn’t really get my heart
all of a flutter, despite the presence of Bill Murray, but the trailers for his
latest are looking like this could be the pile of fun we’ve been yearning for
from this kook of a director.
Her
Spike Jonze's latest has an interesting
plotline. Divorce falls in love with a computer operating system and even though the
concepts quirky and potentially socially poignant it’s going to take a really
good director to stop this being slow. Jonze’s good right?
La Sapienza
French director Eugène Green’s new film
got its name from one of Borromini’s most extraordinary projects:
the Sant’Ivo church at La Sapienza in Rome and is a love story between an
architect, expression and inspiration. Should be intereting.
The Lobster
A film set in a dystopian future where finding a
partner is a matter of life and death is an intriguing but potentially
depressing plot. The film is directed by Giorgos Lanthimos (Dogtooth) so this should be a
very unsettling watch starring a strong cast Lea Seydoux, Jason Clarke, Ben
Whishaw and Olivia Colman.
The
Cut
It stars Tahar Rahim…. Oh, and it’s directed about Head-On's Fatih Akin
and about evil…
Sundance Festival picks...
Alive Inside
Michael Rossato-Bennett's documentary follows social worker Dan Cohen over three years as he tries to prove his theory,that music can unlock memories. It's fascinating and pretty moving.
Marilyn Myller
East London animator Mikey Pleese has already won and a Bafta for his short The Eagleman Stag and this looks set to be equally as impessive. On top of his game this hap.
Life Itself
Now sure how I forgot this crowd funded film about film critic Roger Ebert on my first round up.
Frank
Eagerly watching friend's bands appear on fellow Cheshire entertainer Chris Sievey's Frank Sidebottom's Proper Telly Show on the Manchester station Channel M is one of my pretty prominent memories of being a student in Manchester.The fact that Fassbender plays the big headed character quadrupled my excitement over this film even if you can't see his face.
The Skeleton Twins
This appeals for two reasons; 1. Kristen Wiig is proving to be a pretty good actor. 2. The plot in which two estranged twins cheat death on the same day and start to build bridges could be interesting if it doesn't get overly sentimental.
03/02/14 - Update
Here are some more...
Yves Saint Laurent
This biopic from Jailil Lespert about one of the most important figures in Paris has the approoval of Laurent's partner Pierre Berge. It's going to be worth a watch for the incredible clothing alone.
52 Tuesdays
Aussie director Sophie Hide has a distinctive documentary style and her latest film about a teen whose parent is undergoing gender reassignment is an interesting exploration of how we understand identity.
Free Range
I really like Estonian director Veiko Õunpuu's style. His visuals are bold and his tone dark and cynical This film about a guy who gets sacked for (rightly) slagging off The Tree of Life then finds out his girlfriend's pregnant is a winner.
Beauty and the Beast
The fact that I'll watch anything starring Vincent Cassel and once endured Le Apartment as proof of this aside, a remake of this old classics always going to be intriguing. I previously mused over this tale and the various film versions.
