17 Films to Look Forward to in 2012

 THE WOMAN IN BLACK


February 3
Directed by James Watkins

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer, and Ciarán Hinds

What it is: Based on Susan Hill’s 1983 novel of the same name, which was also adapted into a long-running stage play, The Woman in Black is about a young lawyer who encounters a malevolent ghost in a small British town.

Why you should care: Recent years have seen the horror genre overtaken by flash-in-the-pan trends, from Saw’s “torture” porn” to the found-footage aesthetic of films like Paranormal Activity. By contrast, The Woman in Black promises to be a refreshingly, defiantly old-fashioned ghost story, with a trailer that oozes eerie potential. Daniel Radcliffe, leading a cast of first-rate British actors in his first post-Potter film role, is another point in The Woman in Black’s favor.

 THE HUNGER GAMES

 March 23

 Directed by Gary Ross
 Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth

What it is:  In a dystopian near-future, resourceful teenager Katniss Everdeen is forced to compete with 23 other youths in the “hunger games,” a televised fight to the death.

Why you should care:  The Harry Potter franchise ended earlier this year, and there’s only one Twilight movie left to be released; as Hollywood frantically hunts for the next sure-thing franchise, Susan Collins’ Hunger Games series is far and away the best bet. The Lord of the Flies-esque premise has a certain dark appeal. And it helps that star Jennifer Lawrence, nominated for an Oscar last year for her stellar work in Winter’s Bone, was the best thing about virtually every movie she appeared in during 2011, too.
 THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT

 April 27
 Directed by Nicholas Stoller

 Starring Emily Blunt and Jason Segel

What it is:  When life circumstances forces a long-engaged couple to continually delay their wedding date, they begin to wonder whether or not they should get married at all.

Why you should care:  An early frontrunner for the Bridesmaids of 2012, The Five-Year Engagement reunites Gulliver’s Travels costars Emily Blunt and Jason Segel for a movie that will probably be a lot better than their 2010 flop. Jason Segel has consistently proven his big-screen likability in movies like I Love You, Man and this year’s terrific The Muppets, and Emily Blunt is long overdue for another comedic role after her breakthrough as Meryl Streep’s likably icy assistant in The Devil Wears Prada. The supporting cast of top-notch comic actors, which includes Chris Pratt, Allison Brie, Mindy Kaling, and Brian Posehn, should provide plenty of laughs even if the main storyline falls flat.

 THE AVENGERS


 May 4

 Directed by Joss Whedon

 Starring Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, and Scarlett Johannsson

What it is:  When supervillain Loki reemerges with a plan that threatens the fate of the Earth, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury assembles a team of the world’s most powerful heroes to fight back.

Why you should care: Iron Man , The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America… it’s all been leading to this. Marvel has spent the past few years individually building up each of its franchises for this superhero smorgasbord, and based on the film’s impressive trailer – which showcases great-looking action and convincing chemistry between the many leads – the effort was worth it. Some Marvel films (Iron Man) have been better than others (Iron Man 2), but it’s hard to imagine how director Joss Whedon could drop the ball this close to the end zone.
 PROMETHEUS


 June 8

 Directed by Ridley Scott

 Starring Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, and Patrick Wilson

What it is:  A team of explorers fights a battle at the edge of the universe in order to save the human race.

Why you should care:  With both Alien and Blade Runner under his belt, Ridley Scott is one of the undisputed kings of Hollywood sci-fi, and lingering rumors that Prometheus will somehow cross paths with the Alien franchise have fans champing at the bit. The screenwriting presence of Damon Lindelof—one of the minds behind TV’s Lost—doesn’t hurt either.
 BRAVE


June 22

 Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman

 Starring Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connelly, and Emma Thompson

What it is:  Scottish princess Merida defies the customs of her tribe, unleashing an ancient curse that requires her to venture off with her bow and arrow to set things right.

Why you should care:  Pixar had a rare critical miss with Cars 2 earlier this year, but the venerable studio is still the most reliable maker of great films in Hollywood—animated or otherwise. With any luck, Brave will be a return to form. The film’s trailer showcases typically-stunning animation, and the idea of Pixar’s first female protagonist—voiced by the Scottish Kelly Macdonald—is something worth getting excited about.

 TED


 July 13

 Directed by Seth MacFarlane

 Starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, and Seth MacFarlane

What it is:  A grown man is surprised to find that his teddy bear has come to life after a long-dormant boyhood wish comes true.

Why you should care:  Seth MacFarlane’s reference-laden style of comedy has as many fans as it has detractors, but Ted—his first feature-length film—looks like a more interesting use of his talents than another spinoff of Family Guy would be. And though his chiseled looks have led him to starring roles in action dreck like Shooter and Max Payne, Mark Wahlberg is actually an underrated comedic performer—just look at Boogie Nights or I Heart Huckabees—and Ted’s goofy premise should play to Wahlberg’s put-upon, exasperated shtick.
 THE DARK KNIGHT RISES


 July 20

 Directed by Christopher Nolan

 Starring Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, and Gary Oldman

What it is: Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, Gotham City is threatened by the menacing terrorist Bane, forcing Bruce Wayne to put on the cape and cowl once again.

Why you should care:  Christopher Nolan’s third and final entry in the Batman franchise, which started with Batman Begins and set the gold standard for superhero films with The Dark Knight, has already amassed a deafening level of hype, and rightly so. Though The Dark Knight’s terrifyingly amoral Joker will be impossible to replace, The Dark Knight Rises comes loaded with potential, including villain Bane (Tom Hardy) and antihero Catwoman (Anne Hathaway). Though much of its storyline remains shrouded in mystery, the film’s “prologue,” which is currently airing before select IMAX screenings of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, features a tense, gripping airplane stunt that’s as thrilling as anything we’ve seen in the series. Trust Nolan to bring his franchise to the definitive ending it so richly deserves.
  LOOPER


September 28

 Directed by Rian Johnson

 Starring Joseph-Gordon Levitt, Bruce Willis, and Emily Blunt

What it is:  A hitman who works for a time-traveling mob recognizes one of his targets as an older version of himself.

Why you should care:  The always-welcome Joseph Gordon-Levitt reunites with director Rian Johnson, who wrote and directed Gordon-Levitt in the stylish indie noir thriller Brick. Looper’s clever, twisty premise evokes movies like Terry Gilliam’s Twelve Monkeys, which also starred Bruce Willis. Done poorly, this could turn out to be another Paycheck, but if Looper can find a smart, unique spin on the material, it could be the best contemporary sci-fi thriller this side of Inception.
 GANGSTER SQUAD


October 19


 Directed by Ruben Fleischer

 Starring Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone

What it is:  This period piece sees the LAPD fights to keep the East Coast mafia out of the West Coast in 1940s Los Angeles.

Why you should care:  The true-life story is fascinating in its own right, but the ridiculously stacked cast—which includes Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte, and Giovanni Ribisi—is more than enough reason for Gangster Squad to earn a place on this list. If Gangster Squad can avoid the dragginess that plagued Michael Mann’s similarly-pitched Public Enemies, it could easily be one of the year’s best films.

 CLOUD ATLAS


 October, TBA

 Directed by Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski, and Lana Wachowski

 Starring Tom Hanks, Jim Sturgess, and Hugo Weaving

What it is:  Six interlocking narratives, spanning both continents and generations, show the profound influence that human lives can have upon one another.

Why you should care:  If there’s anyone who can help find the right take on David Mitchell’s complex, award-winning novel, it’s the Wachowskis, who turned Philosophy 101 into blockbuster entertainment with The Matrix (we’ll forgive the two Matrix sequels). This is fascinating, challenging source material, but with its all-star cast in place, Cloud Atlas could turn out to be a mainstream-accessible variation on the themes of this year’s The Tree of Life.
 SKYFALL


 November 9

 Directed by Sam Mendes

 Starring Daniel Craig, Helen McCrory, and Javier Bardem

What it is:  When MI6 comes under attack, James Bond vows to protect M and hunt down the threat at its source.

Why you should care:  Previous film Quantum of Solace was a step in the wrong direction for Daniel Craig’s James Bond, but director Sam Mendes seems amply prepared to get the franchise back on track with reports of the return of 007 staples like “Q,” and a cast that includes Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes. And Skyfall’s supposed plotline, which sees 007 defending Judy Dench’s mother-figure M, is a smart way to increase the character’s stakes to the level of his love for Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale.
 LES MISERABLES


 December 7

 Directed by Tom Hooper

 Starring Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, and Helena Bonham-Carter

What it is: An adaptation of the long-running stage musical based on Victor Hugo’s novel, which centers on a man seeking redemption against the backdrop of the French revolution.

Why you should care: It’s been a few years since a big-budget musical has been a mainstream hit—see Nine and Burlesque for two recent, awful attempts—but Les Miserables has the right pedigree, cast, and director (Tom Hooper, who won Best Director for last year’s The King’s Speech) to pull it off. The film reunites Jackman and Hathaway, who memorably charmed with a song and dance number at the 2009 Academy Awards, and given the popularity of the source material, Les Miserables could find the same success that greeted Best Picture winner Chicago.
 THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY


 December 14

 Directed by Peter Jackson

 Starring Luke Evans, Elijah Wood, and Cate Blanchett

 What it is:

 Hobbit Bilbo Baggins joins a group of dwarves to reclaim treasure stolen by a fearsome dragon.

 Why you should care:

 Peter Jackson set the template for the modern blockbuster franchise, pleasing Lord of the Rings virgins and superfans alike with his stunningly well-realized adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved trilogy. Though The Hobbit is a lesser book than any of the Lord of the Rings novels, it’s hard to resist another invitation to Middle-Earth. And with Jackson at the helm once again, and the promise of returning cast members like Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis, and Sir Ian McKellan, this adaptation (and its sequel, coming next year) should flow perfectly into the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
  THE GREAT GATSBY


 December 25

 Directed by Baz Luhrman

 Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan

What it is: The latest film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Great American Novel tells the story of the wealthy, mysterious Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy during the jazz age.

Why you should care:  Though The Great Gatsby has been adapted for film several times, none of the versions have come close to capturing the deftness and economy of Fitzgerald’s original text. But Baz Luhrman’s beguilingly ambitious attempt—which will hit theaters in 3D, for some reason—is too intriguing a prospect to ignore. It’s hard to imagine the bombastic Luhrman of Moulin Rouge! Director adapting Fitzgerald’s subtle, delicate prose, but he certainly got the cast right. Even if The Great Gatsby turns out to be a disappointment, it will undoubtedly be a beautiful one.
 DJANGO UNCHAINED



 December 25

 Directed by Quentin Tarantino

 Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Sacha Baron Cohen

What it is:  A former slave attempts to rescue his wife from a Mississippi plantation.

Why you should care:  Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-nominated Inglorius Basterds was a thrilling, audacious revenge flick cleverly disguised as a World War II film. Django Unchained applies the same methodology to the Civil War era, with Leonardo DiCaprio playing against type as a barbaric villain. Like most of Tarantino’s films, many of Django Unchained’s details are still being kept quiet, but we can expect the usual: great acting, sharp dialogue, and a killer soundtrack.

LINCOLN


 December, TBA

 Directed by Steven Spielberg

 Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Tommy Lee Jones

What it is: The story of President Abraham Lincoln as he leads the North during the Civil War.

Why you should care:  It’s the other, presumably more realistic Civil War movie coming out in December. It’s hard to believe that it took until 2012 for Hollywood to make a big-budget Abraham Lincoln film, but if any filmmaker is up to the task, it’s Steven Spielberg, whose historical dramas ( Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan) are his most acclaimed films. And star Daniel Day-Lewis, a notorious method actor, has reportedly been deeply immersed in the character of Abraham Lincoln for months. The Academy might as well go ahead and engrave his name on next year’s Best Actor Oscar now.