The Hateful Eight
Synopsis
In post-Civil War Wyoming, bounty hunters try to find shelter during a blizzard but get involved in a plot of betrayal and deception. Will they survive?
Why you should look forward to this film
It’s a Quentin Tarantino film, he has never made a bad film and I doubt he is going to start now.
Bleed for This
Synopsis
The inspirational story of World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza, who after a near fatal car crash, which left him not knowing if he’d ever walk again, made one of sports most incredible comebacks.
Why you should look forward to this film
Miles Teller is coming off the back of his great performance in ‘Whiplash’ and the story seems very interesting.
The Revenant
Synopsis
The frontiersman, Hugh Glass, who in the 1820s set out on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling.
Why you should look forward to this film
Tom Hardy, Leonardo DiCaprio and Domhnall Gleeson being directed by Alejandro Inarritu who also directed ‘Birdman’.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Synopsis
It’s fucking Star Wars.
Why you should look forward to this film
It’s fucking Star Wars.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Synopsis
When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and it is up to the Avengers to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans.
Why you should look forward to this film
Marvel Studios had a fantastic 2014 with ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. This shows that their quality is not only remaining consistent but is also building, plus it’s The Avengers.
Ant-Man
Synopsis
Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
Why you should look forward to this film
Don’t let the name fool you, this was Edgar Wright’s brainchild up until he parted ways with Marvel at the start of filming so although a different director is at the helm, there should still be enough of Edgar Wright’s mind juice sprayed throughout the film to make it one of the more fun films of the year.
The Sea of Trees
Synopsis
A suicidal American befriends a Japanese man lost in a forest near Mt. Fuji and the two search for a way out.
Why you should look forward to this film
If the synopsis doesn’t satiate you enough then how about the fact that it’s Gus Van Sant directing Matthew McConaughey.
Crimson Peak
Synopsis
In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds…and remembers.
Why you should look forward to this film
Guillermo Del Toro is back doing horror and he is joined by Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain and Del Toro regulars Charlie Hunnam and Doug Jones. No word on Ron Perlman yet, so I’m guessing he has got a great cameo.
Jurassic World
Synopsis
Twenty-two years after the events of the original ‘Jurassic Park’, Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. After 10 years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark visitor’s interest, which backfires horribly.
Why you should look forward to this film
Honestly, I’m not sure if it’s going to be good or not, I just can’t wait to get back into that world with those dinosaurs.
Southpaw
Synopsis
A boxer fights his way to the top, only to find his life falling apart around him.
Why you should look forward to this film
The director, Antoine Fuqua previously directed ‘Training Day’ and the screenplay is written by Kurt Sutter, fresh off ‘Sons of Anarchy’, combine that with the amount of talent Jake Gyllenhaal is showing off these days and it will be damn hard for it to suck.
In the Heart of the Sea
Synopsis
Based on the 1820 event, a whaling ship is preyed upon by a sperm whale, stranding its crew at sea for 90 days, thousands of miles from home.
Why you should look forward to this film
Ron Howard is coming off the fantastic ‘Rush’ and he is being joined by Chris Hemsworth who also worked on ‘Rush’ so this film is like ‘Rush 2: Boat Race’
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Synopsis
In the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons.
Why you should look forward to this film
Guy Ritchie is a fantastic director for his particular style and this film is right up his alley. Combine that with the fantastic duo of Armie Hammer and Henry Cavill and ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ is, for my money, poised to be the British spy film of the year. Bond, who?
Midnight Special
Synopsis
A father and son go on the run after the dad learns his child possesses special powers.
Why you should look forward to this film
The director, Jeff Nichols, previously directed ‘Mud’ and ‘Take Shelter’ two fantastic films and this film sounds like ‘Mud’ meets science fiction and the fact that Michael Shannon is back as more than a cameo excites me even more.
The Martian
Synopsis
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.
Why you should look forward to this film
It’s directed by Ridley Scott who, unfortunately nowadays has a shoddy track record at best, however, I still attest that if Scott is given a good enough script that he can make a great film again. It just so happens that this films screenplay is written by Drew Goddard who wrote ‘The Cabin in the Woods’, ‘World War Z’ and ‘Cloverfield’ as well as various episodes of ‘Alias’, ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’, etc. This gives me hope that ‘The Martian’ will signal the beginning of Scott making great films again.
The Neon Demon
Synopsis
An aspiring model finds herself in a terrifying predicament with her survival hanging in the balance.
Why you should look forward to this film
Keanu Reeves is coming off of ‘John Wick’ which was very neo-noir in its style, which he suited greatly. Now combine that with director Nicholas Winding Refn’s artistic style and throw in the gorgeous and underrated Christina Hendricks and you have a film that could become Refn’s best film ever.
Beasts of No Nation
Synopsis
A drama based on the experiences of Agu, a child soldier fighting in the civil war of an unnamed African country.
Why you should look forward to this film
Cary Fukunaga is coming off the fantastic ‘True Detective’ where every shot was gorgeous, if nothing else this film will be beautiful.
Chappie
Synopsis
In the near future, crime is patrolled by an oppressive mechanized police force. When one police droid, Chappie, is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself.
Why you should look forward to this film
This seems to be closer to ‘District 9’ than ‘Elysium’ so if it’s anywhere near as good as the former then we are in for a great time. You should go and listen to Die Antwoord in the meantime.
Dark Places
Synopsis
A woman who survived the brutal killing of her family as a child is forced to confront the events of that day by a secret society obsessed with solving notorious crimes.
Why you should look forward to this film
This is another Gillian Flynn novel, Flynn has had another novel of hers adapted last year, ‘Gone Girl’. If this film is half as much of a mind fuck as ‘Gone Girl’ was then I will love it.
Black Mass
Synopsis
The true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf
Why you should look forward to this film
The story if nothing else seems very interesting and it is in the hands of a very competent director, the biggest worry about this film is that it has Johnny Depp in it. I cannot remember the last great Johnny Depp film.
Straight Outta Compton
Synopsis
The group NWA emerges from the streets of Compton, California in the mid-1980s and revolutionizes pop culture with their music and tales about life in the hood.
Why you should look forward to this film
Director F. Gary Gray’s previous film was ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ which I thought was brilliant, add that to the fact that it’s a film about one of Hip Hops most prevalent groups, if nothing else it will be a fun ride.