Five of the most anticipated and intriguing films of 2014 set to make an appearance on the big screen
Making a selection of films is always arbitrary, and perhaps never more so than when we think about the number of films produced across the globe that are not widely distributed. The summer of sport is almost over and the second semester of the year is nearly upon us. So in keeping with the festivals that took place this year, and the release dates, here is a timely preview of some of the most anticipated films of 2014. (There is a prevalence here of English-language films, as these are five you might find in your local cinemas.)
Along with the five listed below, it’s also worth mentioning Goodbye to Language (Adieu au Langage) in 3D, the 117th film by Jean-Luc Godard and winner of the Prix du Jury (Jury Prize) at Cannes Film Festival. Despite being widely reviewed in the UK, the release date of Goodbye to Language remains unknown.
Another one to look out for is Clouds of Sils Maria, a Swiss-German-French international co-production directed by Olivier Assayas, featuring Juliette Binoche as the protagonist and American actresses, Kristin Stewart and Chloë Grace Moretz. Clouds of Sils Maria has been screened at a number of important festivals and selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Also look out for Mike Leigh’s Mr Turner which portrays the life of the British painter JMW Turner, played by Timothy Spall.
1. Boyhood
Richard Linklater, USA
Starring Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater, Ethan Hawke and Marco Perella, Boyhood is the result of an experimental project by the American director, Richard Linklater, who is known for films such as Fast Food Nation, Before Sunset and Waking Life. Since 2002, Linklater has filmed leading actor, Ellar Coltrane, to narrate the growth process of Manson Jr from childhood through to college. The film has received enormous attention from film magazines and cinephiles, and thus heads the top of my selection of most anticipated films of 2014.
2. Interstellar
Christopher Nolan, USA and UK
This sci-fi epic by British director Christopher Nolan, who also directed critically acclaimed Memento, as well as blockbusters such as Inception and The Dark Knight trilogy, centres on a team of space travellers’ interstellar voyage to explore a newly discovered wormhole. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn and Michael Caine, Nolan’s Interstellar has already generated a lot of Oscar-buzz, making this intergalactic travel a key film of 2014.
3. A Most Wanted Man
Anton Corbijn, UK, USA and Germany
Known as Philip Seymour Hoffman’s final film role (although his final big screen appearance will be in the forthcoming Hunger Games sequel), A Most Wanted Man is based on the novel of the same name by British writer John le Carré (who also authored the gripping spy novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy). Along with the late Oscar winner, this espionage-thriller features an impressive cast which includes Rachel McAdams, Willem Dafoe, Robin Wright, Daniel Brühl and Nina Hoss. Set in Hamburg, Germany, A Most Wanted Man is about a German counter-terrorist, played by the late star, who is trying to capture a half-Chechen half-Russian immigrant. The reception of A Most Wanted Man at the Sundance Film Festival and its frequent association with Seymour’s legacy are indicative of its potential success.
4. Two Days, One Night (Deux Jours, une nuit)
Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne Belgium, Italy and France
The Belgian Dardenne brothers directed this festival favourite starring Marion Cotillard and Fabrizio Rongione. Cotillard plays Sandra, a mother of two who, after a period away from her work at a solar-panel company, tries to return to her job. As an attempt to downsize the work force, the company lets Sandra’s co-workers choose between a 1000 euro annual bonus and Sandra’s permanence at work. The plot allows an exploration of issues pertaining to the Belgium workplace as Sandra begs each co-worker to renounce their bonus to save her job. This decisive situation poses ethical questions while leaving space for identification with different perspectives than that of the protagonist. The impressive critical reception of this film was a decisive element for its feature in this list.
5. The Imitation Game
Morten Tyldum UK, USA
The Imitation Game is the English-language debut film by Norwegian film director, Morten Tyldum. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode, this historical drama is about the British pioneering computer scientist and World War II code-breaker, Alan Turing. Although the film has not been released and little has been written in terms of criticism, the film trailer and actors’ interviews, combined with the fact that it is a biopic of a fascinating figure of the 20th century, The Imitation Game is bound to be an imminent success.
Image from: http://geektyrant.com/news/trailer-for-christopher-nolans-interstellar-is-coming-december