[tps_title]Allyson Johnson’s Most Anticipated of 2014 [/tps_title]
1. Guardians of the Galaxy
Do I really need to explain why? Marvel, Chris Pratt, a gun-toting, foul mouthed raccoon voiced by Bradley Cooper, villains played by Karen Gillan and Lee Pace? Count me in NOW. Also this is (aside from the most recent Thor) the first time we’re really seeing the Marvel universe expand with a bunch of less than heroic heroes as our front-runners. The cast is an embarrassment of riches and the storyline promises to be nothing short of crazy excitement. Slated for August 2014, it’s the film I’m waiting on the edge of my seat for.
2. Hannibal
Season one of Bryan Fuller’s (Pushing Daises) Hannibal, the story of the relationship between renowned psychiatrist and the FBI criminal profiler not only had me covering my eyes and leaving all of my lights on at night, it also landed on my top five television shows of the year. Mads Mikkelsen is all coiled superiority and secrecy as Hannibal Lecter and Hugh Dancy shows the deconstruction of a man’s psyche in a truly unsettling manner. I’ve never been so horrified and so intrigued all at once.
3. How to Train Your Dragon 2
Did you see the first and how much unadulterated fun it was? Did you see how a supposed “children’s movie” managed to interject adult themes without bashing you over the head with them? Did you watch the last ten minutes where battle reaps real consequences and our two characters come full circle? Did you listen to John Powell’s score for the first? Well if you haven’t, do just that, and then come back and understand why its sequel would be so high on my most-anticipated list.
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4. Sherlock
I didn’t realize I was excited about season three until about now but the fact of the matter is, I am. I may think that all involved are idiots in their personal lives and I may think that co-creator Steven Moffat has a egregious ego that he doesn’t even remotely deserve, yet the last episode, no, the last 15 minutes of the last episode of season two left me with a want for more that two years wasn’t able to erase. Damn them-but you can’t deny the quality they deliver when they deliver the goods successfully.
5. Only Lovers Left Alive
Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston playing century old vampires in love, directed by Jim Jarmush. That’s it.
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6. Snowpiercer
If Harvey Scissorhands ever actually lets us see it that is…The fact is that the trailer for this film was simply put: cool. It was unlike many of the trailers coming out around the same time, had an interesting, diverse cast with an original storyline and from the few people have seen it, it seems that it lives up to the hype. Whenever Weinstein is done hacking away at it, I’m sure it will be a lovely, violent and dour film to experience.
7. The Grand Budapest Hotel
I can’t even really tell you what exactly this is about but I know that it has: Saoirse Ronan, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, MORE Tilda Swinton and about 100 more incredible cast members. Andersons shtick is all about taking actors and putting them in character actors roles-it’s a very specific way of filmmaking and on top of that there’s his usual fanfare with broken up, didactic dialogue, colorful set pieces and a bit of magical realism too. His films are always joyous experiences and this should be no different.
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8. Foxcatcher
Foxcatcher tells the story of Olympic Wrestling Champion Mark Schultz and how the paranoid schizophrenic John dePont killed his brother-the killer? Is played by nice guy Steve Carell in a suitably darker turn from him. Movies such as The Way, Way Back and Little Miss Sunshine have hinted at the subtleties his possess and with director Bennett Miller taking the lead this should be an exciting film for Carell.
9. The Boxtrolls
Laika studios has been on a roll with progressive and beautifully animated films such as Coraline and ParaNorman so another one coming out is all the more exciting. With a trailer that was all inclusive, and with their history of jaw dropping stop-motion animation, it promises to be one of the most charmingly unique films of the year.
10. How to Catch a Monster
Ryan Gosling is directing a movie that sounds like a distorted version of Pans Labyrinth with a bunch of wonderful people including Doctor Who’s Matt Smith in a sinister, villainous role. Sounds like fun. More than anything I’m curious to see if everyone’s favorite crush has any talent behind the lens.
SPECIAL MENTION TO: Shameless Season 4, Interstellar, Godzilla, X-MEN: Days of Future Past, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Monuments Men, Captain America: Winter Soldier
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