Winter 2018’s Most Exciting Films
I’ve revealed my most anticipated TV of the rest of 2018, but what of the big screen? There’s a remarkable variety of films both big and small hitting during the Autumn and Winter months. Some of the world’s greatest directors are making comebacks, while one of the greatest films ever gets a long-awaited sequel. Read on to find out what I’m most excited to see between now and Oscar season…
1. MARY POPPINS RETURNS
In 2018, Disney are releasing sequels to TWO of my ten favourite films. Incredibles 2 was superbly satisfying. Will this 50-years-in-the-making reimagining of Poppins be a shadow of Robert Stevenson’s original classic? Director Rob Marshall is a worrying element, but the cast list is astounding: Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Angela Lansbury and DICK VAN DYKE!
ETA Dec 21
2. FIRST MAN
Damien Chazelle’s previous two films are some of the most revered of the decade. He reteams with his La La Land star Ryan Gosling for a tense space race thriller that’s tonally pitched more Dunkirk than Hidden Figures. Claire Foy, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll and Patrick Fugit co-star. Justin Hurwitz provides the presumably outstanding score.
ETA Oct 12
3. BACKSEAT
We’re still waiting on a trailer/poster/official stills/anything official at all for Adam McKay’s Big Short follow-up Dick Cheney movie, but the cast alone is worth the hype: Christian Bale as Cheney and Sam Rockwell as Bush, plus Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Tyler Perry, Bill Camp, Bill Pullman, Alison Pill, Shea Whigham and Eddie Marsan.
ETA Dec 21
4. THE OLD MAN & THE GUN
Robert Redford gives his retiring performance in an extremely 70s-influenced David Lowery joint as inspired by Hemingway as Butch Cassidy. Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek, Tom Waits and Danny Glover co-star.
ETA Dec 7
5. SUSPIRIA
After the quiet sensuality of Call Me By Your Name, Luca Guadagnino dives into bombastic and bloody scenery with his Argento remake. Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth and Chloe Grace Moretz are the leading ladies.
ETA Nov 16
6. IF BEALE ST. COULD TALK
Barry Jenkins, one of the most effective cinematic communicators of distinctly black stories, returns after his Moonlight Best Picture win with this sombre James Baldwin adaptation.
ETA Jan 18
7. ROMA
Like Beale St., it’s difficult to generate excitement for Roma beyond stating it is directed by Alfonso Cuaron, displaying a still and suggesting that we all watch it once it’s released.
ETA Netflix TBC
8. HOLMES & WATSON
Though Step Brothers director Adam McKay is too busy Backseating to directly oversee this reunion of that film’s two leads, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, it’s hopeful this Conan Doyle comedy will be of similar calibre. Ralph Fiennes and Hugh Laurie co-star.
ETA Dec 26
9. BEAUTIFUL BOY
A24 are positioning this as The Film That Will Get Timothée Chalamet An Apologetic Oscar After Losing To Gary Oldman, which maybe isn’t the most positive narrative to bear, but Timmy + Steve Carell is nonetheless a tantalising dramatic prospect.
ETA Jan 18
10. FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD
No matter how much J.K. Rowling and Johnny Depp may disappoint/infuriate us, we’ll always come back to Hogwarts. David Yates’ Beasts sequel should be able to top its predecessor easily enough, if only with Jude Law’s arrival as a young, gay Albus Dumbledore. Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller and Katherine Waterston all return.
ETA Nov 16
HON. MENTIONS
The Little Stranger Gothic mystery from Lenny Abrahamson.
Widows Steve McQueen’s female-led heist, starring Viola Davis, Liam Neeson and Carrie Coon.
The Front Runner Jason Reitman/Hugh Jackman political drama.
The Sisters Brothers John C. Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix in a Jacques Audiard western.
Welcome to Marwen Robert Zemeckis experiments with CGI again; Steve Carell suffers the consequences.
Green Book Bizarre-looking Viggo Mortensen/Mahershala Ali anti-racism road trip.
Creed 2 Michael B. Jordan steps back in the ring.
A Star is Born Bradley Cooper directs himself and Lady Gaga.
Fahrenheit 11/9 The movie Michael Moore thinks will take down Trump. Good luck with that Mike.
Boy Erased Lucas Hedges/Nicole Kidman gay conversion drama.
