Welcome to the New Year! 2014 kicks off with a menagerie more Oscar hopefuls and contenders along with a few sure flops, the kid movie and the annual Mark E Mark, er Wahlberg movie we all know we are gonna watch. Here are our January 2014 previews!:
January 10 – August: Osage County
Starring: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Benedict Cumberbatch
August: Osage County is based on the Tony Award winning play of the same name by Tracy Letts. Now a film adaptation and sure to be a strong contender for several acting categories, the story follows the Weston family after the suicide of their father. Filled with all sorts of sins including but not limited to, drug use, incest, infidelity and molestation August may be a tough watch, especially since it is touted as a dark comedy. It is hard to believe that the combination of those things can be funny. It does have a stellar cast, and I for one am excited to see Julia Roberts back in the type of role that suits her best. -A
January 10 – Her
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, Rooney Mara, and Olivia Wilde
Written by Spike Jonze, Her follows Theodore, played by Joaquin Phoenix, a man in the midst of divorce and falling in love with an operating system named Samantha. A seemingly odd plot, Her will more than likely be a little eye-opening about how we all feel about love. Joaquin Phoenix is said to give a sensational performance and the film as a whole has already received numerous accolades. I expect this is a film that will define my generations take on love. -A
January 10 – Lone Survivor
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch, Taylor Kitsch, Eric Bana
Lone Survivor is a film about four Navy SEALs sent on a mission to take out a Taliban leader in Afghanistan. When the mission becomes compromised, the four SEALs mission becomes one of survival as they try to escape across the hills of Afghanistan. The most compelling reason to see this film is that the story is based on true events. The story was originally told via book authored by Marcus Luttrell – the actual “Lone Survivor” of the SEAL team sent to Afghanistan. Luttrell was also very involved in the filming process to ensure event accuracy and keep film makers focused the important details. This film stars Mark Wahlberg as Luttrell and is directed by Peter Berg (Hancock, Battleship). Wahlberg plays the military role so well (can I get a hey-hey for Shooter?!) and it’ll be good to see him playing the role of true American hero. Expect this film to be action packed, suspenseful and heart wrenching, but also well worth the trip to the theater. – T
January 17 – Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
Starring: Chris Pine, Keira Knightley, Peter Andersson, Kevin Costner
Chris Pine as Jack Ryan? Why not!? He is the most popular current action-hero. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit continues the Jack Ryan film series and is based off the character created by late author Tom Clancy. Shadow Recruit is a little different than the other movies because it is an original screenplay rather than based off a book by Clancy. Jack Ryan finds clues that a terrorist attack is going to happen and he must stop it. Meanwhile, his lover finds out his true identity as a CIA junior analyst. It’s pretty cut and dry, but who doesn’t love an action-thriller? I’m looking forward to the newest installment in the series. -A
January 17 – The Nut Job
Starring: Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Gabriel Iglesias, Liam Neeson, and Katherine Heigl
This month’s kid flick The Nut Job seems to be aimed toward older kids and adults alike. Aside from the obvious sexual jokes that can be made out of the title alone, the story is about squirrel named Surly who decides to pull off a heist on a nut store after being forced out of the park and into the city. The previews look pretty funny and the animation will be a draw for younger kids. And for the fans out there, lets hope that Will Arnett will show us all a little Gob from Arrested Development in this grand heist. -A
January 17 – Ride Along
Starring: Kevin Hart, Ice Cube, Tika Sumpter
If you haven’t been wedged in a box screaming, “my stomach in my ass,” then you don’t know love. Tim Story, who has directed other films such as the Fantastic 4 films, Think Like a Man, and Barbershop, is out to make sure your stomach is in your ass by the end of this movie. Ben (Kevin Hart) is out to prove to James (Ice Cube), a no-nonsense cop, that he is the right man to marry James’ sister. He does this by agreeing to go on a ride along in the mean streets of Los Angeles. Needless to say, things may or may not get a little out of hands…okay, they definitely will get out of hands; bullets will fly, explosions will erupt and I plan on laughing the whole time. In recent years, Kevin Hart has been everywhere in world of comedy, which should balance well against Ice Cube’s seriousness. So if you want to see Kevin Hart argue and fight with kids and see Ice Cube smash people’s faces in, then this is one you will definitely want to check out in the new year. – E
January 17 – Reasonable Doubt
Starring: Samuel L Jackson, Dominic Cooper
I know you all are just like me – ever since Snakes on a Plane, you haven’t been able to get enough Samuel L. Jackson in your life. Worry not, faithful fans, Jackson returns in the new year alongside Dominic Cooper (Howard Stark from Captain America) in Reasonable Doubt. Mitch Brockden (Cooper), District Attorney, finds himself between a rock and a hard place when he runs over a man taking a late night city stroll, killing him. Mitch flees the scene of the crime, seemingly with no witnesses. The plot thickens when Mitch becomes the assigned DA for Clinton Davis (Jackson), the man accused (wrongly so, but only know by Mitch) of committing the fatal hit-and-run. Dun-dun-dunnnn!! Previews indicate that the story may be even more twisted as Davis begins to reveal he may know more about Cooper and the man he ran over than an innocent man should. The film is directed by newbie shot-caller Peter P. Croudins. It’ll be interesting to see if Croudins can carry a complex plot on his first go-around. With Sam-Jack and Cooper in the spotlight, this one should be entertaining at the least. – T
January 21 – Knights of Badassdom
Starring: Peter Dinklage, Summer Glau, Daniel Pudi, Steve Zahn
Can we just take a moment and applaud whoever had enough clout to cast all of these BAMFs in one movie? Tyrion Lannister (Game of Thrones), River Tam (Firefly) and Abed (Community) are going to be sharing the screen in just a few weeks. This movie hasn’t been heavily promoted – nor should it be. In what has become the niche genre of Horror-Comedy, with movies like Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil and This is the End, Knights of Badassdom looks to be by fanboys for fanboys (and fangirls!). Don’t believe me? Check out director Joe Lynch’s short film inspired by Eddie Brock (Venom) called “Life in Journalism.” Badassdom centers around a group of LARP-ers (Live Action Role-Play) friends who accidentally summon a succubus (female sex demon). If I haven’t sold you yet, I probably am not going to at all. Seeing Daniel Pudi on the big screen is exciting to me, and this will be a must-watch for any self-proclaimed geek. – S
January 24 – I, Frankenstein
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy
Set in present day, Adam Frankenstein (Aaron Eckhart), still sees himself as the monster that was created 200 years ago, but in fact he may be the key to ending a war between two eternal clans within an ancient city. The movie is based on the graphic novel, with the hopes to be an action packed, dark tale of good versus evil, as well as redemption. However I am skeptical of it all. Yes, there are indeed some things about this movie that could be really cool; gargoyle transformations, weapons and fighting, fire and explosions, but I’m not so sure that stuff alone can carry the story Stuart Beattie is trying to convey to the audience. I do have faith because Beattie has brought this world the Pirates of the Caribbean films as well as G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Either way, the legend lives, and his name is Adam. Personally I just think it’s weird that this monster of a man that people fear is named Adam. He ought to just stick with Frankenstein – E
January 24 – Gimme Shelter
Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Rosario Dawson, Brendan Fraser, James Earl Jones
Another January movie with great acting, Gimme Shelter (not like the song by the Rolling Stones) is about a young girl named Apple (Vanessa Hudgens) who is sick of the street life her junkie mother has provided her. She leaves to find her father, who quickly kicks her out due to her pregnancy. She then is taken into a shelter for expectant teen mothers. Hudgens is definitely shedding her Disney image in this independent film. But really, she is the only selling point for me other than the Lana del Rey music in the ad. It seems like a more privileged Precious and in an era still recovering from 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom, it may be refreshing to see teen girls be normal again. -A
January 31 – That Awkward Moment
Starring: Zac Efron, Michael B Jordan, Miles Teller
What do you call a chick-flick made for men? A manly-chick-flick? Maybe a chickman-flick?… Well whatever you call it, That Awkward Moment is sure to exemplify it. Total mega-hotties Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan and Mile Teller play three best friends in the prime of their sexy-young adult lives. Each of them will explore love and relationships in their own way all the while adapting to the ever changing dynamics of their own friendships. The lovely female roles are played by Imogen Poots, Addison Timlin and a lot of other hot Hollywood ladies – check the IMDB list and proceed to drool, gentlemen. That Awkward Moment looks like it’ll be a lot of fun to watch. I certainly appreciate these types of films where romance and love are put in a more relatable context. Something that you can watch and think, “I know what that’s like!” or, “that’s definitely happened to me.” None of that Notebook nonsense. Now if only I could figure out how Zac Efron got his hair to do that… – T
Written by Adrian Puryear, Taylor Lowe, Evan Lowe and Sherif Elkhatib
Hush Comics 