Movie Preview 2015
A large percentage of our happiness comes from the eager anticipation of something we’re looking forward to, and while personal life events and real-world people don’t always stick to a strict schedule, we can at least trust that the pop culture world will have some stuff for us. Here’s a look at what movies are in store for us in 2015.
While We’re Young (March 27)
Director Noah Baumbach has crafted some great indie dramas, usually about youngish people aimlessly fumbling through life. His latest has been called his best and most accessible by the critics that saw it in film festivals last year. This one follows the friendship between two couples, one older (Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts) and one younger (Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried).
The Avengers: Age of Ultron (May 1)
Promising tons of superheroes, an evil robot played by James Spader, an enormous budget and the guiding hand of the brilliant Joss Whedon, Age of Ultron could quite well be the best Marvel film ever.
The Hateful Eight (Nov. 13)
After its script leaked last year, director Quentin Tarantino vowed he wouldn’t make this film. Thankfully, he decided otherwise. Continuing his Western trend that began with 2012’s Django Unchained, expect another fantastic example of rapid-fire witty dialogue, intense violence and all-around genius filmmaking.
Midnight Special (Nov. 25)
Director Jeff Nichols made two of the best films in recent memory, 2011’s Take Shelter and 2012’s Mud. That alone makes his new project interesting, but couple it with a vague sci-fi premise of a father and son on the run and a secretive marketing campaign and I’m hooked.
St. James Place (Oct. 16)
Combine the legendary directing skills of Stephen Spielberg, the acting of Tom Hanks, the script of the incredible Coen Brothers and a plot about the Cold War, and you have a film with enormous potential. It hasn’t got a title yet, but all these credits alone make it nearly a surefire bet for an Oscar nod at least. Personally, I’m really excited to see two (well, really three) directing giants combine their powers.
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (Dec. 18)
Star Wars is back for the first film of a long future of franchising. Can the series redeem itself from the lackluster prequel trilogy? With new director J.J. Abrams (of the Star Trek reboots) and a surprisingly fantastic cast including most of the original trilogy’s characters as well as John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Dohmnall Gleeson, Andy Serkis, Gwendoline Christie, Lupita Nyong’o and newcomer Daisy Ridley, I’m cautiously optimistic.
In the Heart of the Sea (Dec. 11)
In 1820, a whaling ship is left stranded in the ocean for 90 days after an attack by a sperm whale. Directed by Ron Howard and starring the likes of Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy and Ben Whishaw, this looks like an epic film that might be able to straddle the line between audience popularity and critical acclaim.
