Films I Want to See in (the Rest of) 2011

Right, so I take back my previous bemoaning of zero quality movies coming out this year. Goodness gracious, am I stupid. It's probably the second or third year that I've complained that there aren't any exciting or stellar movies coming out, and now my list is swollen with unexpected releases and I'm back to complaining that they'll probably release all of the good movies in a five-week period.

Anyhoo my list, with its main selling points beneath each title:

Martha Marcy May Marlene (Oct 7)

- Fine, I want to see what all the fuss about Elizabeth Olsen is, ok? Also the movie is supposed to be an excellent mind-fucker.

The Skin I Live In (Oct 14)

- Almodovar duhhhh

The Rum Diary (Oct 28)

- was not enthusiastic about this at all, but the trailer kind of won me over.

Like Crazy (Oct 28)

- See rhapsodizing in prior blog posts. Get ready to fall in love.

Melancholia (Nov 11)

- Kirsten Dunst's possibly Oscar-worthy role

- Lars Von Trier being anti Terrence Malick.

A Dangerous Method (Nov 23)

- Everything about it. Hell, I'm even incredibly fond of Keira Knightley for being in this movie, and the last time I liked her was in 2003.

Coriolanus (Dec 2)

- Ralph Fiennes is acting and directing. There's also Jessica Chastain and Vanessa Redgrave. I'm dying to see it just so I can know if Ralph Fiennes can finally get another Oscar nod after 15 friggin' years, and totally cheated out of two for The Constant Gardener and The Duchess.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Dec 25)

- Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara

- David Fincher <3

- Have you SEEN the trailer?

War Horse (Dec 28)

- Spielberg being sentimental. C'mon, you know you want to.

Drive (?)

- Ryan Gosling, continuing his "suave, awesome" phase, which we must hasten to catch before he gets moody again.

- Heard that the movie is freaking awesome.

Almost Sold On:

The Ides of March (Oct 7)

My Week With Marilyn (Nov 4)

W.E. (Dec 9)

The Iron Lady (Dec 16)

Of course, that's 11 movies that I "must" see, 15 overall, and the reality is that I'll probably catch less than half of these movies. Reviews can make or break my enthusiasm. But for once, my movie "to-see" calendar is spread EXCELLENTLY throughout the calendar, unlike last year. Maybe the movie biz learned something from Oscar Season 10-11, where about half of the Best Picture contenders were summer/early fall releases. If people really like a movie, they won't forget about it. Ok, they'll nominate you more if you release during awards season and their enthusiasm is shiny and new (True Grit) but they still have two months to realize that they don't like it THAT much (True Grit).