James Absolon explains how this Pope-themed film, despite its risky premise, works
Alex Pollard reviews Hollywood's biopic of the controversial Margaret Thatcher
In 2011 3D will tighten its grip on cinema. Even everyone’s favourite boy wizard will get the 3D treatment for his last outing, in a move which will not only jeopardise my Harry Potter costume (3D glasses completely ruin the look) but also all but guarantee that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (July 15th) will be sitting pretty at the top of the year’s highest grossing films come Christmas 2011. That’s not to say, however, that there aren’t a whole host of films to be enjoyed before then:
They may not be B-Movies, but there sure is a lot of buzz around them. January brings us Colin Firth’s latest stab at the Best Actor Oscar in the critically adored The King’s Speech. Similarly, Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours (January), has garnered a lot of critical attention, if not quite on the scale of Slumdog Millionaire. Whilst the hype around Russell Crowe’s The Next Three Days (January) may have subsided somewhat, fellow Oscar-botherers the Coen Brothers and their True Grit (January) remake seem to have exceeded expectations. Further competition comes, from Aronofsky’s Black Swan (January) and The Fighter (February) starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale.
This year green is the new black, as aliens are back in vogue. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost will reunite for a road trip with deadbeat alien Paul (February). No such luck for Aaron Eckhart, who finds our space neighbours to be decidedly more hostile in Battle: Los Angeles (March). The divisive Michael Bay returns with Transformers: Dark of the Moon (June), before J.J Abrams’ latest project, the elusive Super 8 (August), is released - said to channel ‘70s/’80s sci-fi Spielberg. Most intriguing, however, is Cowboys & Aliens (August) which, despite its odd name, stars Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig and has a good trailer.
The year of the hero begins with alternative hero caper Green Hornet (January 14th) starring a slimmed down Seth Rogen as the main man, followed by Zack Snyder’s female antiheroes in the visually explosive Sucker Punch (March). Avenging duo Thor (late April) and Captain America: The First Avenger (July) will give Marvel worldwide Box Office domination - with the assistance of Matthew Vaughn and his ensemble cast’s X-Men reboot, X-Men: First Class (June). DC will strike back though with Ryan Reynolds as the Green Lantern (June) - although the first trailer isn’t entirely convincing.
Animated exotic animals Rango (March), a kind-hearted cowboy chameleon, and Rio (April), a hapless rare blue macaw who can’t fly, are set to vie for kiddies’ affections this Spring. Everyone’s favourite non-sneezing panda, Po, is back for further misadventures in Kung Fu Panda 2 (May), as is Shrek’s Puss in Boots (November), whilst Yogi Bear (February) makes his big screen debut. Less child-friendly animal adventures are to be had in new Planet of the Apes film Rise of the Apes (June), with star-on-the-rise James Franco.
Not all of 2011’s big films are out in summer. Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg have assembled an all-star cast for their motion-capture Tintin film Secret of the Unicorn (October). Affable fellow Robert Downey Jr. will dust off his pipe for Sherlock Holmes 2, whilst Tom Cruise will dust off his shades for Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol (both December). Martin Scorsese will release his first attempt at 3D with the magical Hugo Cabret (December). Also there’s Twilight: Breaking Dawn (November), whatever that is.
One of the biggest films not yet mentioned is Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (May) - given the reboot treatment after the critical backlash that the third film received. The Hangover: Part II (May) is another film not yet mentioned. After the surprise (and huge) success of the original, a sequel was inevitable. An alternative is Your Highness (May) - a medieval comedy with an impressive cast (including the ubiquitous James Franco and Natalie Portman) and a chucklesome trailer.
- Honourable Mentions: Smurfs 3D (August), Cars 2 (July), War Horse (September).
You must log in to submit a comment.
