Behind the Candelabra
'Side Effects' may have technically been Steven Soderbergh's last theatrical feature, but this movie, which he made for U.S cable network H.B.O, is receiving a cinema release in Europe. After a career which covered such heady themes as drug trafficking, disease, and the pharmaceutical industry, it seems the director is going out on a lighter note with this biopic of the outlandish musician.
Man of Steel
With Zack Snyder at the helm, it's been hard to get excited for this new incarnation of America's favorite superhero. If it's the Snyder of 'Dawn of the Dead' we could be in for a treat. If, however, it's the Snyder of '300' and 'Sucker Punch', we'll be sticking with our Christopher Reeve classics, thank you very much.
Before Midnight
It's hard to believe it's been 18 years since Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy's first encounter in 'Before Sunrise'. In this second follow-up, they're now married with kids and, worryingly, there's a 'This is 40' vibe off the trailer. We fear Linklater's series may have jumped the shark.
World War Z
Having made one of the worst blockbusters of the modern era with 'The Quantum of Solace', it's baffling why Marc Forster was chosen to direct such a large-scale project as this adaptation of Max Brooks' popular novel. Frankly, if I never see another zombie movie it'll be too soon but Brad Pitt has a good recent track record. The fact that the film's release was pushed back by major re-shoots doesn't bode well though.
The Bling Ring
It's almost a tradition now for former female child stars to choose a bad girl role in an attempt to shake off the baggage of their past career. Here, Emma Watson casts aside Hermione to play a real-life valley girl who, as part of the title group, raided the homes of L.A celebs. Think 'Spring Breakers' with mini-skirts rather than bikinis.
A Field in England
The English civil war gets the horror treatment in Ben Wheatley's homage to the period horrors of seventies British genre cinema. If he can recreate the mood of 'Kill List', while adding the substance his previous work lacked, Wheatley could be onto a winner.
Breathe In
Watching Drake Doremus' unintentionally hilarious 'Like Crazy' was one of the most entertaining experiences I had in a cinema last year. He's quickly assembled his next film, re-teaming with the delightful Felicity Jones, an actress who really should be doing better for herself. Has Doremus learnt anything about script-writing in the past year or will he continue his role of the Ed Wood of mumblecore?
Frances Ha
Blue Jasmine
Pacific Rim
Only God Forgives
Pain & Gain
Elysium
Noah Baumbach is responsible for some quality films ('The Squid & The Whale', 'Margot at the Wedding') but can straddle a line of quirk which he's at times crossed disastrously at times ('Greenberg'). 'Frances Ha', starring the mumblecore high priestess, Greta Gerwig, seems to once again tread this perilous line. Frances could be a lovable character or she could be the type of irritating twenty-something New Yorker she played in last year's 'Lola Versus'.
The great thing about a poor Woody Allen movie ('Whatever Works', 'To Rome With Love') is the comforting thought that his next one is less than a year away. The plot remains a secret but I think it's fair to say Louis CK will be playing the Allen surrogate.
Giant robots fight giant monsters in Guillermo Del Toro's biggest ever project. While the concept appeals to the ten-year-old in all of us, the footage released thus far reminds us a bit too much of 'Transformers' with its cartoonish tone.
The most anticipated premiere at this year's Cannes Film Festival sees acclaimed Danish director Nicholas Winding Refn re-team with his 'Drive' star Ryan Gosling. Not too much has been made public, plot-wise, but, visually, this looks incredible.
Pain & Gain
Michael Bay's first straight drama, though with so many close-ups of male biceps, we're not sure just how "straight" this is. Released Stateside a few weeks back, its gotten a lot of bad press, as you'd expect for a Bay production, but it looks so bonkers our curiosity is getting the better of us.
The director of the over-rated 'District 9', Neill Blomkamp, returns with more sci-fi fare. Having previously tackled apartheid through the medium of genre cinema, he now takes on the class system with a tale of a future where the wealthy now live on a space station, leaving the working classes to reside on a ravaged Earth.
*Based on U.K release dates.