Summer 2012 was a disappointment for the most part, but things have picked up in September, and there's almost too much good stuff in the final quarter of the year.  There are new films from Tarantino, Affleck, McDonagh, the Wachowskis, Russell, and more.  There are also some great-looking sequels and blockbusters that will be fun for the whole family.So hit the jump to check out what Matt, Adam, Brendan, and Dave are looking forward to for the rest of the year as part of our Most Anticipated series.

Matt's Picks

[Note: My list will probably be different because I saw some of the final quarter's films at TIFF 2012.  Also, my list is in order of release date, not anticipation-level.]

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WRECK-IT-RALPH

Directors: Rich Moore

Voice Cast: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, and Jane Lynch

Release Date: November 2

Why I’m Excited: This film almost overdue.  Video games, especially classic video games, have become so prevalent in pop culture that it would seem like studios would be tripping over themselves to capitalize on the old stuff.  What makes Wreck-It-Ralph come off as so cool is that it's not a straight adaptation, but rather it's trying to get a gaming vibe and almost serve as a love-letter to gamers.  It looks like gamers are going to get a great big hug with this movie.

 

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SKYFALL

Directors: Sam Mendes

Cast: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Bérénice Marlohe, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Helen McCrory, and Javier Bardem

Release Date: November 9

Why I’m Excited:Quantum of Solace felt like a rushed product, and filming in the middle of the writer's strike didn't help matters.  Now we've had a four-year wait due to MGM's financial meltdown, but in that time it looks like Bond is coming back and done right.  This looks like it will be the true follow-up to Casino Royale, but balancing the new, grittier Bond with some classic elements.  Mendes is a master of genre, and if there's a good script, then Skyfall could be a great addition to the Bond franchise.

 

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ZERO DARK THIRTY

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt, Harold Perrineau, Mark Strong, Scott Adkins, Jason Clarke, and Mark Strong

Release Date: December 21

Why I’m Excited: It's the new film from Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal with an amazing cast, and that should be enough on its own.  But the film covers one of the most important events of the 21st century, and it originally wasn't meant to.  The movie was supposed to be about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, but then we killed him and the film had to shift around that new information.  I'm fascinated to see how Bigelow plans to take on this major event, especially when she didn't know that it would affect the film she was working on.

 

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DJANGO UNCHAINED

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, M.C. Gainey, Walton Goggins, Garrett Dillahunt, Don Johnson, and Leonardo DiCaprio

Release Date: December 25

Why I’m Excited: I haven't seen a single bad thing from this movie, but then again, I've never seen a bad Quentin Tarantino movie.  The film is likely to be controversial and keep people talking, but it also looks like loads of fun.  I'm also a huge fan of the spaghetti western genre, and I cant' wait to see how Tarantino has blended it with the Old South.  I've also been quoting lines from the trailer ever since I saw it, and I can't wait to see what other memorable dialogue Tarantino has in store.  Finally, it looks like Leonardo DiCaprio is having fun, which is a nice change of pace.

 

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LES MISERABLES

Director: Tom Hooper

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Helena Bonham Carter

Release Date: December 25

Why I’m Excited: I almost can't believe this movie is happening.  My expectations for it are almost unfair, but then I see a behind-the-scenes video where the actors explain the value of singing live on set, and I become even more excited for this flick.  The musical is incredible, and I don't know how Tom Hooper plans to translate it, but the potential is there, especially with this superb cast on board.  If this movies clicks together, it could easily be a giant of the movie musical genre.

 

Adam's Picks 

[Note: I included Killing Them Softly on last quarter’s list, but the film’s release date has since been shifted to October.  It goes without saying that the film remains one of my most anticipated of the year.]

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ARGO

Director: Ben Affleck

Cast: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Kyle Chandler, Kerry Bishe, Tate Donovan, Chris Messina, Titus Welliver, Taylor Schilling, and Alan Arkin

Release Date: October 12

Why I’m Excited: The fourth quarter of 2012 is an embarrassment of riches, so it was incredibly difficult to pick just five films.  But alas, here goes it.  I was a big fan of Ben Affleck’s Gone Baby Gone and The Town, and his real-life hostage drama Argo looks like it could be his best film yet.  He’s assembled an absolutely fantastic cast, and in addition to what appear to be some genuinely tense action sequences, some swell comedy is sprinkled throughout the film as well.  Here’s hoping Affleck has crafted a thrilling, relevant, and wholly entertaining pic.

 

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THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

Director: Peter Jackson

Cast: Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Hugo Weaving, Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, and Andy Serkis

Release Date: December 14

Why I'm Excited: Yes, Peter Jackson’s pushing it a bit by stretching a 300-page book into a trilogy, but I’m so excited by the prospect of returning to Middle Earth that I find it hard to care.  Martin Freeman is a perfect Bilbo, the lighter tone in relation to The Lord of the Rings films is spot on, and the visuals are unsurprisingly spectacular.  I can’t wait to be enveloped by Jackson’s meticulously crafted world once again.

 

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ZERO DARK THIRTY

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt, Harold Perrineau, Mark Strong, Scott Adkins, Jason Clarke, and Mark Strong

Release Date: December 21

Why I’m Excited: Kathryn Bigelow’s follow-up to her Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker has been a long time coming, but Zero Dark Thirty looks to be a doozy.  Screenwriter Mark Boal conducted extensive research into the decade-long hunt and eventual assassination of Osama Bin Laden, resulting in a production that was shrouded in secrecy from the word “go.”  Bigelow assembled a top-notch cast to cover the manhunt from all angles, and I’m really interested to see the story behind one of the most important events in recent history told by this talented filmmaking team.

 

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LES MISERABLES

Director: Tom Hooper

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Helena Bonham Carter

Release Date: December 25

Why I’m Excited: It’s impossible for me to not get chills every time I see the trailer for Tom Hooper’s large-scale musical adaptation, and this film just might top my most anticipated list this quarter if I ranked the entries.  I wasn’t the biggest fan of Hooper’s The King’s Speech, but his intimate and character centric take on the classic Les Miserables story has me hooked.  The multi-talented ensemble cast sang the songs live on set bringing a raw quality to the music of the film, and the production design is stunning.  I have a feeling this is gonna be one hell of a moviegoing experience.

 

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DJANGO UNCHAINED

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, M.C. Gainey, Walton Goggins, Garrett Dillahunt, Don Johnson, and Leonardo DiCaprio

Release Date: December 25

Why I’m Excited: Do I really need to say more than "it's the new Quentin Tarantino film?"  I saw a 9-minute sizzle reel from the pic at Comic-Con that was flat-out fantastic, and that was only footage from the first half of the movie.  Though there are elements of the Western genre in many of his previous films, Django Unchained is Tarantino grabbing the genre with both hands and running with it.  The dialogue, the visuals, Leonardo DiCaprio as a plantation owner—everything looks positively great.

 

Brendan's Picks

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CLOUD ATLAS

Directors: Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski 

Cast: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon, Jim Sturgess, James D'Arcy

Release Date: October 26th

Why I'm Excited: I read the 7000-word New Yorker profile and still have no idea what Cloud Atlas is about.  That’s fine.  I am a Speed Racer apologist, so I’ll follow the Wachowskis just about anywhere.  I am thrilled that they still have the power and drive to make something this ambitious.  All the better that Tom Tykwer---a like-minded innovative director---is in tow.

 

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FLIGHT

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Cast: Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Don Cheadle, Melissa Leo

Release Date: November 2

Why I'm Excited: I basically flipped a coin to choose between Flight and Argo for “Adult Crowd Pleaser” slot.  Flight has the edge due to the added excitement surrounding  Robert Zemeckis’ return to live-action.  The slick trailer sold me with what looks to be a great character for Denzel Washington to sink his teeth into.

 

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WRECK-IT RALPH

Director: Rich Moore

Voice Cast: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch

Release Date: November 2

Why I'm Excited: Wreck-It Ralph looks like a very clever animated movie that I could take my nonexistent kids to.  The marketplace can never have too many of those.  And John C. Reilly lending his soulful voice to a video game baddie who longs to be good?  *Stamps ‘Most Anticipated’ on computer screen.*

 

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LIFE OF PI

Director: Ang Lee

Cast: Suraj Sharma, Gerard Depardieu, Irrfan Khan, Tabu

Release Date: November 21

Why I'm Excited: Any time I read the book in preparation for the movie adaptation, the movie qualifies for my most anticipated list.  Combine a fascinating premise---a spiritually-minded boy survives 227 days stranded at sea with a tiger--- and the beautiful visuals glimpsed in the trailer, and I’m in.

 

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DJANGO UNCHAINED

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, M.C. Gainey, Walton Goggins, Garrett Dillahunt, Don Johnson, and Leonardo DiCaprio

Release Date: December 25

Why I'm Excited: Seven films in, and Quentin Tarantino has astoundingly yet to make a bad movie.  There is a relatively good chance that Django Unchained will be terrible.  This is Tarantino’s first film without editor Sally Menke after her unfortunate passing in 2010.  If there is any director who depends on a close collaborator who can rein in his wild idiosyncrasies into a coherent work, it is Tarantino.  On the other hand, the more likely possibility is another great entry in the Tarantino filmography.  And even if it is a failure, Django Unchained will be a very entertaining failure.

 

Dave's Picks

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CLOUD ATLAS

Directors: Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski 

Cast: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon, Jim Sturgess, James D'Arcy

Release Date: October 26th

Why I’m Excited: I'm fascinated by the idea of the interconnectedness of souls across time.  I'm even more interested in how the Wachowski siblings are going to handle that theme when adapting the David Mitchell book.  Also, the chameleon act of this stellar cast as they shift into different characters across time is something I'm very anxious to see. (Since this quarter is particularly fully-loaded with anticipated films, I'm also going to cheat and add an honorable mention for each film.  My first is the meta movie-within-a-movie, Argo.)

 

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THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS

Director: RZA

Cast: RZA, Russell Crowe, Lucy Liu, Jamie Chung, Dave Bautista, Cung Le, Pam Grier, Zhu Zhu

Release Date: November 2

Why I’m Excited: This movie looks completely insane.  Our first introduction to the film was an image of star RZA punching out a man's eyeball! I love me some kung fu and I'm digging the Quentin Tarantino-produced aesthetic. Crowe also looks delightfully unhinged as the mad gunman, Jackknife, just one of what should prove to be a memorable cast of characters. Co-writer Eli Roth called it "a hip-hop, kung fu Avengers." What more can you ask for? (Honorable action mention: Skyfall. Confession: Not a big enough Bond fan for Skyfall to make the real list.)

 

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WRECK-IT RALPH

Director: Rich Moore

Voice Cast: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch

Release Date: November 2

Why I’m Excited: For my November 2nd double feature, I'll happily go see the family-friendly animated film that takes a nostalgic look at some old-school video games.  This movie is worth a watch if only for the plethora of Easter eggs peppered throughout.  At its heart is a story about finding yourself and being true, but told in such a way that blends the fun of playing modern video games with the memory of favorites from your childhood.  Plus, I really just like saying "I'm gonna wreck it!" (Honorable mention for animated features: Rise of the Guardians.)

 

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THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

Director: Peter Jackson

Cast: Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Hugo Weaving, Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis

Release Date: December 14

Why I’m Excited: I wasn't blown away by the first trailer and the news of The Hobbit being turned into a trilogy didn't do much to assuage my fears brought on by the 48fps frame rate.  Then the recent trailer came out; I don't think I've watched a trailer so many times since the original Lord of the Rings films debuted.  I'm happy to spend three more films back in this world and I'm anxious to see Freeman as a younger Bilbo and join him on his adventures.  Also hoping that this first film leads to an eventual Oscar nod for the overdue Serkis. (Honorable mention for book adaptations: Jack Reacher.)

 

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DJANGO UNCHAINED

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, M.C. Gainey, Walton Goggins, Garrett Dillahunt, Don Johnson and Leonardo DiCaprio

Release Date: December 25

Why I'm Excited: All I want for Christmas is a Tarantino film and it looks like Santa will deliver.  Tarantino simply does not make a bad film and Django Unchained looks to continue that tradition. Foxx looks convincingly out for vengeance, Waltz appears ready to turn in another great character performance and DiCaprio looks positively rambunctious.  And while it's an incredibly minor scene in the scope of the whole film, the blood spray on the cotton plant might be my favorite Tarantino shot of all time.  (Honorable holiday mention: Les Miserables.)