50. “The Glass Castle”
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton (“Short Term 12”)
Cast: Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, Naomi Watts, Max Greenfield, Sarah Snook
Synopsis: The true story of Jeanette Walls and her poverty-stricken, nomadic upbringing with her alcoholic, mentally troubled parents.
What You Need To Know: Though she was already well on the way, Brie Larson’s path to her current Oscar-winning, superheroic status owes a major debt to her extraordinary performance in 2013’s “Short Term 12.” So that she’s reuniting with the director of that film, Destin Daniel Cretton, can only be good news. It’s an adaptation of Jeannette Walls’ best-selling memoir, with Woody Harrelson and Naomi Watts taking the sure-to-be-baity roles of her parents, so a return to awards season for Larson might well be in the cards. And while the source material sounds like it could be misery-memoir-y, but we trust Cretton to find the texture and humor amongst it, given his impressive debut.
Release Date: Nothing firm yet, but look for it in awards season, most likely.
49. “John Wick: Chapter Two”
Director: Chad Stahelski (“John Wick”)
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Common, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Ruby Rose
Synopsis: Now he’s firmly out of retirement, legendary hitman John Wick travels to Rome to help an old colleague take over an international assassin’s guild.
What You Need To Know: Few movies in recent memory were as pleasantly surprising as John Wick, a stylish, beautiful, utterly kick-ass action movie that was the best role that Keanu Reeves has had in years. Sequels tend to have diminishing returns, especially those that come after a surprise sleeper action hit starring an actor on a bit of a downward slide (think of the Liam Neeson/”Taken” model), but we have faith that ex-stunt director Chad Stahelski can bring the goods again, especially with an impressive trailer having already debuted. If nothing else, expect a lot of people in suits to get shot through the brain.
Release Date: February 10th
48. “Good Time”
Director: Joshua & Ben Safdie (“Heaven Knows What”)
Cast: Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Buddy Durress
Synopsis: A bank robber tries to avoid the law closing in on him.
What You Need To Know: Say what you like about Robert Pattinson, but he’s made a really impressive effort to find smart, auteur filmmakers to work with in a way that few actors of his generation have, from David Cronenberg to, coming up, Olivier Assayas. This year, his major project looks to be with The Safdie Brothers, who made a stunning breakthrough a couple of years back with the gritty magic of addiction drama “Heaven Knows What.” This film, described as ‘neo-grindhouse,’ looks to put them into more genre-flecked territory, and we’re excited to see how that works out.
Release Date: Shot last January, so Sundance seems the most likely. A24 have the rights, so look for it not long after.
47. “Beat-Up Little Seagull”
Director: Andrew Dosunmu (“Restless City”)
Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Kiefer Sutherland, Babs Olusanmokun
Synopsis: A fragile woman must find a foothold in life after her mother dies, as she tries to hide her grief from her new lover.
What You Need To Know: While other black filmmakers who emerged at the same time, like Ava DuVernay, Ryan Coogler and Dee Rees, have found wider audiences and leapt up to bigger fare, Nigerian-born, American-based filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu has mostly remained on the fringes, despite some gorgeous work with “Restless City” and “Mother Of George.” But expect that to change with his latest, “Beat-Up Little Seagull” (which may or may not be called “Where Is Kyra?” instead), which sees him work with big-name cast members for the first time. Michelle Pfeiffer, who has the lead role, is due for a big comeback year between this and Darren Aronofsky’s “Mother,” so expect a lot of attention for this, and it’ll be beautiful too, as the great Bradford Young is shooting it.
Release Date: Expect it at Sundance
46. “The Death Of Stalin”
Director: Armando Iannucci (“In The Loop”)
Cast: Jeffrey Tambor, Steve Buscemi, Andrea Riseborough, Olga Kurylenko, Michael Palin
Synopsis: After the death of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in 1953, his underlings jockey for power and deal with the fallout.
What You Need To Know: Correlation is not causation, but we’re just saying that in the year where Armando Iannucci left “Veep” and wasn’t doing “The Thick Of It,” the world’s politics went completely batshit crazy. So the news he’s back, with his first big-screen movie in eight years, is great, particularly given that it’s about the timely subject of despotism and repressive regimes. Based on a biography of Stalin, but given the dark comedy that is his trademark, it’s also seen Iannucci assemble an absolutely killer ensemble: aside from the names above (Buscemi as Khruschev!), we also get Timothy Dalton, Toby Kebbell, Simon Russell Beale, Paddy Considine, Rupert Friend and Jason Isaacs, among others. We can’t really see how this isn’t great.
Release Date: Shot early in the summer, so could be an outside bet for Cannes, but TIFF is more likely.
45. “Three Billboards Outside Of Ebbing, Missouri”
Director: Martin McDonagh (“In Bruges”)
Cast: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Abbie Cornish, Peter DInklage
Synopsis: When her daughter is murdered and the local cops seem to cover up the death, a Missouri woman goes to war against the authorities.
What You Need To Know: After winning an Oscar for his short “Six-Shooter,” and making a killer feature debut with “In Bruges,” playwright Martin McDonagh had something of a misstep with his next film, the somewhat misunderstood, but nevertheless flawed “Seven Psychopaths.” But the hit play “Hangmen” looks to have put him back on track, and there’s every reason to believe that his third film, another pitch-black comedy-drama, will put him back on track. A few McDonagh regulars — Rockwell and Harrelson, namely — return, but Frances McDormand has the lead role, and it’s a while since we’ve seen the “Fargo” Oscar-winner with something that promises to be as meaty as this.
Release Date: Shot in May, so could be ready as soon as Sundance or Berlin, though later in the year is more likely. Fox Searchlight will release it.
44. “War Machine”
Director: David Miçhod (“Animal Kingdom”)
Cast: Brad Pitt, Topher Grace, Meg Tilly, Scoot McNairy, Will Poulter
Synopsis: A veiled biopic of Stanley McChrystal, the so-called Runaway General who was put in charge of the war in Afghanistan by President Obama but who quickly alienated his allies and bosses.
What You Need To Know: Netflix’s dips into producing movies have so far mostly consisted of comedies with Adam Sandler or Kevin James, “Beasts Of No Nation” aside, but 2017 sees them really enter the market in a big way, with Will Smith vehicle “Bright,” Bong Joon-Ho’s latest (see below) and this, a $60 million budgeted movie starring one of the biggest stars on the planet, Brad Pitt. It teams the star with Australian director David Miçhod, a major talent thanks to “Animal Kingdom” and “The Rover,” and the cast’s great — Emory Cohen, Lakeith Stanfield and John Magaro are also involved. We were expecting this last year, and we’ve heard some slightly troubling buzz about the film, which is why it’s dropped down the list, but we still trust that Miçhod can pull something great together.
Release Date: We imagine Netflix will want a big festival bow for the film, likely Berlin or Cannes.
43. “Ismael’s Ghosts”
Director: Arnaud Desplechin (“A Christmas Tale”)
Cast: Mathieu Amalric, Marion Cotillard, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Louis Garrel, Alba Rohrwacher
Synopsis: A film director about to make a new movie who still mourns the death of his lover 20 years ago is stunned when she returns from the dead.
What You Need To Know: Arnaud Desplechin is one of our favorite working filmmakers, and if we were concerned he’d gone off the boil with his misguided English-language debut “Jimmy P,” he came roaring back to form with the sublime “My Golden Days,” and we’re hopeful that his run will continue with his latest. Centering on a filmmaker (played by Desplechin’s usual surrogate Mathieu Amalric) with seemingly some supernatural/magic realist elements, it also has maybe Desplechin’s starriest-ever cast, with a number of big-name French stars including Marion Cotillard. Maybe this’ll be the crossover hit he’s long deserved?
Release Date: Cannes shockingly and senselessly rejected “My Golden Days” (the film premiered at the Directors’ Fortnight sidebar instead), but unless Desplechin bears a grudge, we imagine this will bow on the Croisette anyway.
42. “The LEGO Batman Movie”
Director: Chris McKay (“Robot Chicken”)
Cast: Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Ralph Fiennes, Zach Galafianakis, Rosario Dawson
Synopsis: He’s the toast of Gotham, but Batman remains deeply lonely inside, until he adopts a young boy who’ll become his sidekick.
What You Need To Know: We feel that even if “Batman V. Superman” and “Suicide Squad” hadn’t stunk worse than a fish head behind a radiator, a certain amount of Bat-fatigue might be starting to set in, so the idea that we’re getting a third Bat-movie in eleven months is sort of a horrifying one at first. Until you realize that it’s an animated spin-off of “The Lego Movie,” focused on the Caped Crusader character voiced by Will Arnett who was the stand-out character in Lord & Miller’s 2014 surprise gem. They’re not directing here, but this still looks like a potential delight, with trailers that had more gags than most full comedies in the last year, and while the risk of putting the spotlight on a breakout character (see the “Pirates” sequels, for instance) can lead to problems, this looks to be both a loving tribute and a deserved jab at the Bat-franchise. Your move, Affleck.
Release Date: February 10th
41. “Molly’s Game”
Director: Aaron Sorkin
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Michael Cera, Kevin Costner, Chris O’Dowd
Synopsis: A former Olympic hopeful skier establishes a high-stakes international poker game that brings her to the attention of the FBI.
What You Need To Know: After an Oscar and a whole bunch of Emmys, Aaron Sorkin has been talking about making his directorial debut for a while — he wanted to do it with “The Social Network” initially, and was developing a John Edwards biopic for a while too. But it’s finally happening with “Molly’s Game,” an adaptation of a best-selling memoir by Molly Bloom, who became a mover and shaker on the underground poker scene before coming a cropper with the law. Unsurprisingly, given Sorkin’s reputation, actors are lining up to work with him, and he’s gathered a doozy of a cast together. Not every actor can make Sorkin-ese sing, as “The Newsroom” proved, but this bunch should be more than up to the task.
Release Date: STX snapped up the rights – expect an awards season bow of some kind.
PTA’s TWBB was not set in the Depression-era, it was early the early 20th century, starting even before, in 1898, and ending before the Great Depression, in 1927. Any cinefile would know (though maybe not the specifics), and any idiot knows TGD was in the late 1920s through the 30s.
It may not qualify for this film list, but it’s also worth remembering that Twin Peaks makes its return next year as well (and, if rumors are true, may see some form of theatrical release for selected episodes).
Very much doubt the PTA film will be ready by 2017
“Lady Bird” is NOT Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut. She previously directed “Nights and Weekends”, which is one of the greatest movies of the last decade (at least according to me).
It’s her singular directorial debut though since Nights and Weekends was made with Joe Swanberg, and she’s even talked about it in an interview about how it was a new experience for her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRtveFQxJC0
You overlooked “The Salesman” by Asghar Farhadi, one of the greatest directors working today.
I would guess that they covered it in their list for 2016. A lot of international films that are likely to get US release dates next year were probably covered there.
OK, the omission of Alfonso Cuaron’s next film is a HUGE mistake in so many ways. 1) It represents a hasty job of making this list 2) You guys had him at #12 in your 100 Best Director list, and said about his next film “going back to Mexico to shoot a smaller-scale Spanish-language drama, only makes us love him more”. ?????? 3) It’s freaking Alfonso Cuaron, and he’s making a Mexican-language film. How do you make a mistake like that?
Definitely an oversight.
Easy, by him pulling a totally moronic move like making a mexican movie in mexican language. if you want a movie watched, if you want to share some message with your film, it needs to be in ENGLISH, period. It is the de facto standard international language. . It gains the director nothing because it paints him as some douche bag trying to get labled as artistic and brilliant when in reality it just makes you an ignorant ass who doesnt care about his potential viewing audience. The film loses because no one is going to watch it except for hipster douchebags and mexicans who are just going to pirate it because they cant afford a burrito, let alone going to a movie. Us potential viewers lose big time because we miss out on something that might of been a great flick by a talented directed who fkced the pouch by putting it out in mexicali. Its one thing if your uneducated and dont speak english to make a foreign him. But if you not only know english, you have demonstrated you can make a phenomenal english language film,.your just being a moron at best to make a film in anything but english and at worse an arrogant asshat Who thinks making a film in such a way that he guarentees it wont bewatched by almost anyone is some sort of artistic statement instead of being a fool
yep
The PTA movie is set in London not in New York.
‘Woody Allen (“Scoop”)’
wat
You need an editor. For starters, where is The Lost City of Z? You’re not eager to see it next year? It was one of the best reviewed films at the NYFF just a few weeks ago (at 87% on RT right now), ten years in the making, and directed by James Gray. How do you explain an oversight like that? Especially when this list has some real junk. And in what universe is Olivier Assayas considered a “smart young filmmaker”? Bad editing. Pattinson is working with lots of smart, young filmmakers, and I’m far more excited about seeing Damsel, from the Zellner brothers than anything that Assayas might put out. Idol’s Eye is still a pipe dream, Assayas doesn’t know if he can even get it together (according to his latest interview out of a film festival in Argentina). I’d even rather see Harmony Korine’s The Trap than Idol’s Eye.
Seeing as Olivier Assayas is a month away from turning 62, I would wholeheartedly agree he is not young! But the majority of his films have received acclaim (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/olivier_assayas/). He’s obviously nothing to sneeze at. On a different note, agreed that Lost City of Z and Damsel (and also Alfonso Cuaron’s currently-in-production drama set in Mexico City) were unduly snubbed.
Lost City of Z we’ve already seen and reviewed so that goes on another list which you’ll see soon.. Harmony Korine’s The Trap is currently on hold, fyi and he may not even make it- certainly not in 2017. So it’s actually the trap that’s a pipe dream whereas Idol’s Eye is actually going forward and has money and backers, etc.. The Cuaron was an omission that we rectified.
The Sicario sequel, Soldado, is actually filming right now and is expected in 2017.
So right about a Phoenix film always feeling like an event 🙂 The films don’t always come through for me, but he does. My favorite film of late is The Immigrant. His performance shook me to tears
Phoenix is on the roll this decade – The Master, Her, The Immigrant, Inherent Vice. Even when the final result is a little bit underwhelming (Irrational Man) he makes the movie interesting. And I agree about ‘The Immigrant’, excellent film and very underrated. Can’t wait for ‘Mary Magdalene’.
I could not get on board with The Lobster. I guess it’s just the whole genre. I didn’t find it funny. But your right Farrell was great. He’s just gotten better and better these days. Raffey Cassidy is so adorable, little nervous about seeing her in a Yorgos film
I loved the hotel section of The Lobster. I thought it got way less interesting once he escaped.
So appropriate to have a PTA/DDL reunion at #1. There Will Be Blood was brilliant and Day Lewis created one of the greatest characters ever, endlessly quotable. You look like a fffffool, dont you Tilford?
I agree I can’t wait I just don’t see how it will be coming out in 2017. My prediction is that it hits Cannes 2018.
“I AM THE THIRD REVELATION !!!” lol
hahaha yes
This is always one of my favorite features of the year, I refer to it often. Thanks, ya’ll.
Thanks guys, great list. Ignore the morons.
Your opinions are insufferable. It seems like you hate pretty much everything, except the usual stuff internet geeks love (PTA etc.). You put Alien Covenant, the new Polanski and the new Allen movies on the list, but rip their recent work apart in the text. Makes no sense.
Recent Ridley Scott isn’t that great. Hoping this is better.
Rooney Mara certainly knows how to choose interesting projects. Her only mistake this decade was ‘Pan’.
She seems to have access to anything she wants
WEIGHTLESS should be in the Top 20 at least. I completely understand why people aren’t enthusiastic about this project anymore but it deserves much more for that glorious cast alone. Best ensemble of the decade ? I think so !
We don’t know how many of them will even make the cut though and how many scenes they’ll get. Knight of Cups had a great cast too but some actors were basically a glorified cameo if you could even identify them to begin with.
Really want a trailer already though.
I hope that at least main six (Gosling, Mara, Fassbender, Portman, Bale, Blanchett) are in the final cut and with as much screen time as possible. If Weightless premieres in Berlin (and it’s likely) then we can expect trailer this month (that was the case with Knight of Cups). Seriously, I’m tired of waiting for this movie.
I hope The Beguiled delivers, and make Elle Fanning earn her first Oscar nomination.
Wait, why was “Loving Vincent” not mentioned? There’s no chance that film is going to be anything other than a mindblowing spectacle of animation. Is it still that relatively unknown?
Are you serious with that Polanski write up? Why are you joking about him sexually assaulting a minor? Is that really not that big a deal to you, do you think it shouldn’t cloud peoples views of his films??
Uh… what?
I got the complete opposite reaction to that. It’s a joke, sure, but a very serious one. What possible reason would they have to mention it so many times if they felt it wasn’t a big deal or shouldn’t cloud peoples views of his films? I mean, I honestly can’t understand how you can have gotten that impression.
I’m a fairly loud feminist and even I found it kind of needless. The only person who deserves to hate him is his victim and she has forgiven him and wants to move on with her life. You can see something close to a filmed apology with the way Polanski handles TESS and DEATH AND THE MAIDEN.
I think an apology would have a greater impact if it wasn’t “assumed” but actually spoken.
he should be in jail
I would put The Glass Castle higher. Short Term 12 was tremendous, should have been the film Larson won for.
1. Episode 8
2. Justice League
3. Dunkirk
4. PTA Fashion Drama
5. Free Fire
Nolan was nominated for an Oscar twice
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind is easily Clooney’s best directorial effort, what are you guy’s talking about?
I’m actually really excited for Power Rangers!
{though the themes of racism and police brutality will undoubtedly make it feel just as of-the-moment}……
Oliver Dear: You neglected to add In Obama’s America to the bracketed statement.
Alien Covenant at 91 is madness, for one I will never understand the Prometheus hate, that was an excellent movie and worthy prequel, the abortion scene is one of the best body horror scenes of all time, for another to get Scott back with the Xenomorphs is just about the most hype thing to happen in cinema for a while.
it sucked
looking forward for the movie “Berlin Syndrome”
I’m a little bummed. Nothing from Leonardo Dicaprio this year??? No!! Would make an interesting awards season with Day/Dicaprio/Phoenix/Oldman…….
I thought Prometheus was great. Don’t write like your opinion is fact.
Seriously. Didn’t even make it through this.
you are wrong and it’s a fact
So you just put Polanski’s next movie on here to remind people 38 times that he’s a convicted sex offender, right?
rightfully so
Woof that Godard biopic sounds fuckin dreadful.
Also, “Venus in Furs” was not “pretty awful.”
Oy.
Well gee, could you at least leave out the innuendo about Polanski? And you said the film stars his “partner”. Your journalistic skills are indeed lacking if you can’t IMDB him and find out Emmanuelle Seigner is not his partner, but his WIFE of 28 years. So please, next time do your actual research and find out that said “13 year-old” has been staunchly on his side for the past almost four decades. So again, you do yourself a great disservice when you don’t get the facts straight.
stop defending a rapist
I don’t know, Kingsman: The Golden Circle seems much more exciting than the rest of these movies (at least to me), but I forgot that it’s a shitty racist, sexist, and homophobic movie that nobody should like.
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind is good!