100 Films to Look Forward to in 2013 – Part 1

As we continue to put 2012 in the rear-view, we take a look ahead to 2013 and what to expect from the world of film. 2013 will be another huge stepping stone for superhero movies, which will be quite apparent by the number of films from that genre that managed to make it into my top 25. We also have a number of well respected auteurs that will be releasing films this year as well, with names such as von Trier, Lee, and Scorsese leading the way.

Below will be a list of 100 films – broken up in four equal parts –  that I personally am looking forward to in 2013. I tried to include as many of the big name titles as possible, but there are a few that didn’t quite make it. The same goes for the placement of films in the ranking. As much as I enjoy Scorsese and Luhrmann, their films will have a lower ranking than you probably anticipate. A number of factors work into this, such as a director’s recent work, their previous work with the cast or writers, or how the different actors will mesh together. I did my best to remain open-minded about most films, mainly because that’s how I approach new films anyway, but at the end of the day, this is still my personal top 100. And hopefully that will help create discussion, as I look forward to seeing what films you are anticipating as well. But first, I’ll offer up a small list of movies that I felt could have been included had I kept the general public more in mind, but ultimately didn’t make it in.

Popular Movies That Didn’t Make The Cut

Epic, Spring Breakers, Grown Ups 2, The Hangover Part 3, Jack the Giant Slayer, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, Machete Kills, Jobs, The Conjuring, Safe Haven

100. The Lone Ranger, dir. Gore Verbinski

Starring: Johnny Deep, Armie Hammer, Helena Bonham Carter, William Fichtner, Tom Wilkinson, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale

Release: July 3

By any kind of measure, this movie should be higher on the list. You have an excellent cast assembled, headlined by Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer. You have Gore Verbinski, mostly known for his work on Pirates of the Caribbean and Rango, as well as two of his scribes for the Pirates movies. Add in Justin Haythe who wrote the screenplay for Revolutionary Road, and you have an intriguing mix of cast and crew. So why is this so low? This movie has gone through pre-production hell, with the project being dumped at one point because of a budget that was estimated to go over $250 million. Several re-writes later, and the movie is finally ready for release. I want this to be good, but I can’t ignore the issues that the movie has faced. Here’s the trailer.

99. Gangster Squad , dir. Ruben Fleischer

Starring: Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte, Anthony Mackie, Michael Pena

Release: January 11

By every right, I should have already watched this. Fun director, fun cast, fun and entertaining story. I was pretty excited about this movie once upon time. And then the Colorado shooting happened, which led to a reshoot that removed a pivotal scene in this movie that once saw the bad guys shoot a group of people by walking through a theater screen. Going back and taking something out of your movie because of something that happened in real life all but ruins any artistic integrity in my eyes, even if it is just supposed to be popcorn fluff. The cast all but guarantees that I’ll see this on DVD sometime this year, but this should’ve been something I went to on opening weekend.

98. White House Down, dir. Roland Emmerich

Starring: Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke, James Woods, Richard Jenkins

Release: June 28

The first of two movies on this movie about the White House being attacked, this one is being helmed by Roland Emmerich, whose tendency to make things go boom is second only to Michael Bay. Writer James Vanderbilt has movies like The Rundown and The Losers to his credit, so he knows how to make a fun movie. Channing Tatum had his profile skyrocket this previous year, and has four movies on this list as well. Also of note: Jamie Foxx will be playing President.

97. The Drummer , dir. Randall Miller

Starring: Chloe Grace Moretz, Rupert Grint, Vera Farmiga, Aaron Eckhart

Release: TBD

Aaron Eckhart is featured here as the founding member and drummer of the Beach Boys, and follows the last six years of the musician’s life. This is a movie that could end up being a direct-to-DVD film, but a biopic about a Rock & Roll legend that includes the likes of Moretz, Grint, and Farmiga is always going to catch my eye.

96. Kane & Lynch, dir. F. Gary Gray

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Bruce Willis, Jon Lovitz

Release: TBD

I’m a bigger fan of Gray than most, with movies like Law Abiding Citizen, Friday, The Italian Job, and A Man Apart as his previous films. This time, he has Bruce Willis and Jamie Foxx working with him on the film adaptation of the famous video game. The plot follows a pair of death row inmates who escape prison and then go after a fortune. Gray already has experience with the filming of a jailbreak with Law Abiding Citizen, which also starred Jamie Foxx, and should match up with Bruce Willis quite well.

95. Runner, Runner, dir. Brad Furman

Starring: Ben Affleck, Gemma Arterton, Justin Timberlake, Anthony Mackie, David Costabile, Diana Laura

Starring:September 27

Ben Affleck is back in front of the camera with a film that he’s not directing himself, starring as a businessman/gambler whose relationship with the protégé has hit a rough patch. Justin Timberlake continues to improve as an actor, and will hopefully be able to shine as Affleck’s right hand man.

94. Only Lovers Left Alive, dir. Jim Jarmusch

Starring: Tom Hiddelston, Tilda Swinton, Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt, Anton Yelchin

Release: TBD

There isn’t much information about this one out there, except for that is a tale of two campires who have been in love for centuries. What excites me about this movie is the cast that they have assembled. Not only are they big names, but each person’s acting style should be more than compatible with the next, and I can’t wait to see the chemistry that will be on display. Plus, Hiddleston and Swinton as vampires? Yes, please.

93. 2 Guns, dir. Baltasar Kormakur

Starring: Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Paula Patton, James Marsden, Bill Paxton, Edward James Olmos, Robert John Burkre

Release: August 16

Contraband director Kormakur teams up with Mark Wahlberg once more, and yet again are tackling a movie centered around drug money. Instead of playing a guy trying to avoid the DEA, this time Marky Mark will be playing a DEA agent himself, with Denzel playing an undercover Naval Officer who team up to steal money from the mob, unaware of the other’s true identity. David O. Russell was attatched to this project at one point, so one would think that screenplay is at least respectable.

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