CAST
AL PACINO, CHRISTOPHER WALKEN, ALAN ARKIN, JULIANNA MARGULIES, MARK MARGOLIS

DIRECTED BY
FISHER STEVENS

In no way is a masterpiece expected from this Fisher Stevens directed crime comedy, yet the pairing of Al Pacino and Christopher Walken as aging crims brings with it many giddy possibilities. Throw in the always solid Alan Arkin and a fun time is sure to be had.

CAST
MARION COTILLARD, JOAQUIN PHOENIX, JEREMY RENNER, DAGMARA DOMINCZYK, ANGELA SARAFYAN

DIRECTED BY
JAMES GRAY

It’s been 5 years since writer/director James Gray’s last film Two Lovers, and like all good things Gray has taken his time in assembling a fine cast to star in the period drama Lowlife in which a naïve Russian migrant (Marion Cotillard) is taken in by a pimp (Joaquin Phoenix), only to fall in love with a magician (Jeremy Renner) who vows to save her from a life of prostitution. Lowlife will mark Gray’s fifth film in almost 20 years, and while his productivity is sparse his movies are always top class.

CAST
RYAN GOSLING, BRADLEY COPPER, ROSE BYRNE, EVA MENDES, RAY LIOTTA

DIRECTED BY
DEREK CIANFRANCE

Director Derek Cianfrance’s follow up to his breakthrough Blue Valentine wowed audiences at Sundance, with some even praising A Place Beyond the Pines as a crime epic in league with The Godfather. Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper square off as crime and cop (respectively) who over a 15 year time period survive their respective sides of the law while embarking on a collision course with one another. Rose Byrne, Eva Mendes and Ray Liotta co-star in what is sure to be an epic crime story.   

CAST
BRENDAN GLEESON, KELLY REILLY, CHIS O’DOWD, AIDAN GILLEN, DYLAN MORAN

DIRECTED BY
JOHN MICHAEL McDONAGH

The Guard was a funny and intelligent black comedy which placed writer/director John Michael McDonagh on the map, and his follow up Calvary is sure to deliver more pitch black laughs. The always solid Brendan Gleeson stars as a good natured priest who must deal with dark forces after he is threatened during confessional. Look for Calvary to solidify McDonagh’s reputation as a filmmaker to always anticipate.

CAST
RYAN GOSLING, KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS, TIM BURKE, YAYAYING, VITHAYA PANSRINGARM

DIRECTED BY
NICOLAS WINDING REFN

The reunion of Drive duo Ryan Gosling and director Nicolas Winding Refn brings with it a highly intriguing premise in Only God Forgives. Set in Thailand, Gosling stars as the owner of a kickboxing gym who swears revenge on those who killed his brother…by issuing out a kickboxing challenge! Although it sounds like something of an art house version of the Van Damme classic Kickboxer, this is sure to be an ultraviolent action thriller (and can a Winding Refn film be anything but?) that promises to be the “cool” film of 2013. Look for kickboxing gym memberships to sky-rocket.

CAST
JESSICA ALBA, JOSH BROLIN, ROSARIO DAWSON, JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT, MICKEY ROURKE

DIRECTED BY
ROBERT RODRIGUEZ, FRANK MILLER

The violent neon-noir that was Sin City bowled over critics and audiences over with its visually arresting imagery and hard boiled characters, plucked from the pages of Frank Miller’s graphic novel and into the ever capable hands of director Robert Rodriguez.

It’s upcoming sequel …A Dame to Kill For promises more of the same, with extra star wattage added to its original group of star players (Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson) in the additions of Josh Brolin and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. A highly anticipated sequel (released 8 years after the ground-breaking sequal), Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is sure to reach its lofty expectations.

CAST
DANIEL BRUHL, CHRIS HEMSWORTH, OLIVIA WILDE, NATALIE DORMER, RUSSELL CROWE

DIRECTED BY
RUSSELL CROWE

Director Ron Howard has a knack for creating compelling biopics (Apollo 13, Cinderella Man) so the idea of Howard delving into the life of Formula 1 legend Niki Lauda is one that brings with it something rare: a compelling dramatic look into a sport which has gotten little love in the moves.

Daniel Bruhl plays Lauda, who after a near fatal crash returns to the top of sport. Chris Hemsworth co-stars as his rival James Hunt, and Russell Crowe is rumoured to make a cameo as none other than Richard Burton! That in itself will be worth the price of admission.

CAST
HENRY CAVILL, AMY ADAMS, KEVIN COSTNER, DIANE LANE, RUSSELL CROWE

DIRECTED BY
ZACK SNYDER

With The Dark Knight trilogy wrapped up, DC Comics & Warner Bros. Pictures are set to look to the sky for their next superhero titan to take on the mighty Marvel Studios, and it doesn’t get any bigger than Superman.

While Superman Returns played slave to the Richard Donner classic Superman: The Movie (which still stands toe-to-toe with today’s comic book movie heavyweights), The Man of Steel promises to be a breath of fresh air that is both epic in scope and intimate in character.

Directed by Zack Snyder (Watchmen), produced by Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight) and starring a whiz-bang cast in Henry Cavill as Supes, Amy Adams as Louis Lane, Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as Ma & Pa Kent, Michael Shannon as the baddie and Russell Crowe as Jor-El (Superman’s dad for those not in the know), The Man of Steel is the type of blockbuster spectacular worthy of baited breath.

CAST
WILL FERRELL, CHRISTINA APPLEGATE, STEVE CARRELL, PAUL RUDD, KRISTEN WIIG

DIRECTED BY
ADAM McCAY

Has it really been 9 years since Ron Burgandy and his beloved Channel 9 news team last graced the silver screen? Anchorman has since become a quotable comedy classic that has amassed a legion of fans, and now their cries for a sequel has been heard with Anchorman: The Legend Continues soon upon us.

This time joining the likes of Will Ferrell, Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd and Christina Applegate is Bridesmaids star Kristen Wiig who is sure to enhance the funny with her particular brand of awkward skit. Indeed, the idea of Ferrell, Wigg and Carell riffing off each other is one to look forward to, especially with Anchorman director (and frequent Ferrell collaborator) Adam McKay calling the shots on this crazy comedy troupe.

CAST (TO THE WONDER)
BEN AFFLECK, RACHEL McADAMS, JAVIER BARDEM, OLGA KURYLENKO, CHARLES BAKER

CAST (KNIGHT OF CUPS)
CHRISTIAN BALE, NATALIE PORTMAN, CATE BLANCHETT, TERESA PALMER, ANTONIO BANDERAS

CAST (UNTITLED)
RYAN GOSLING, CHRISTIAN BALE, MICHAEL FASSBENDER, NATALIE PORTMAN, ROONEY MARA   

With each movie, enigmatic filmmaker extraordinaire Terrence Malick shortens the gap between releases. The Tree of Life – that beautifully crafted exploration of faith, nature and family – seemed to have opened the floodgates with Malick set to release three (!) movies in 2013.

To the Wonder polarised critics during its showing at the Venice and Toronto film festivals, with Malicks emotive style still too much for some. The film stars Ben Affleck as a recently divorced man who reconnects with a childhood friend played by Rachel McAdams. Javier Bardem also stars as priest struggling with his vocation. True to Malick’s form scenes featuring Jessica Chastain, Rachel Weisz and Michael Sheen were cut.

Malick’s next two films Knight of Cups and as yet untitled drama (previously called Lawless) were shot back to back and are in post-production. While plotlines are sketchy, the pair of movies features such big names as Christian Bale, Natalie Portman and Ryan Gosling (among many others).

That Malick has become much more prolific over the years is something to rejoice. Rare is the filmmaker who can evoke the emotions that Malick does in his movies, and rare is the film that taps into the theological and philosophical side of humanity and its place in the universe, especially in a movie industry that encourages its filmmakers to be influenced more by commerce and focus only on secular ideals.

Three Malick releases in the one year is a gift to be treasured, especially considering the actors involved. While 2012 was the year of the blockbuster, 2013 is sure to be the year of Malick. Embrace it.