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It's difficult to believe 2013 has already kicked off and while the cinematic outlook in this cold winter month may be bleak, there's always a few pleasant surprises. We already ran down the best of 2012 and one can check out our most-anticipated titles of 2013 in the coming weeks, after we get through the first few rough weeks of the new year, but for now we've selected ten titles to look forward to. As a reminder, one should also be on the look out for recommended films like Amour, Zero Dark Thirty and Promised Land getting expansions, but check out ten new releases below.
Matinees: Quartet (1/11), I Am Not a Hipster (1/11), Hors Satan (1/18), LUV (1/18)
10. Mama (Andres Muschietti; Jan. 18th)
Synopsis: Annabel and Lucas are faced with the challenge of raising his young nieces that were left alone in the forest for 5 years.... but how alone were they?
Trailer
Why You Should See It: While Guillermo del Toro-produced horror projects have a varied quality, from the stellar The Orphanage to the oddity Splice to the not-so-great Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, hopefully Mama falls on the worthwhile side. Most likely worth seeing for the ultra-talented Jessica Chastain alone, the trailers have displayed some genuinely terrifying imagery and response out of last month's BNAT was strong.
9. John Dies at the End (Don Coscarelli; Jan. 25th)
Synopsis: A new street drug that sends its users across time and dimensions has one drawback: some people return as no longer human. Can two college dropouts save humankind from this silent, otherworldly invasion?
Trailer
Why You Should See It: If you've seen a film from Bubba Ho-Tep director Don Coscarelli, then you know the mindtrip that will unfold in front of your eyes. Certainly not for everyone, John Dies at the End is a mixed bag of wild special effects, deranged ideas and much more and with the film already available on VOD, there's little chance you'll see another movie like this one during the next 12 months.
8. Broken City (Allen Hughes; Jan. 18th)
Synopsis: An ex-cop trailing the wife of New York City's mayor finds himself immersed in a larger scandal.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: It wouldn't be January without a generic-looking Mark Wahlberg-led crime drama. Considering last year surprised us with the decent Contraband, hopefully the same is in store Broken City. Marking the first time Allen Hughes has helmed a film without his brother by his side, this drama sees Wahlberg and Russell Crowe go head-to-head in a power struggle amidst government corruption, something that should be just entertaining enough.
7. Supporting Characters (Daniel Schechter; Jan. 25th)
Synopsis: Two New York film editors balance their personal relationships while reworking a movie in crisis.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: As we said in our Tribeca review, "as films about film go, Daniel Schechters Supporting Characters is relatively low-fi stuff," but despite the no-frills approach, the emerging filmmaker has crafted a relatable, personal story of friendship. Starring Girls actor Alex Karpovsky (and even including a brief appearance by Lena Dunham), this small drama is a reminder of how low-budget films can succeed with the right chemistry.
6. Gangster Squad (Ruben Fleischer; Jan. 11th)
Synopsis: A chronicle of the LAPD's fight to keep East Coast Mafia types out of Los Angeles in the 1940s and 50s.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Delayed from last fall, Ruben Fleischer's first drama, after the comedies Zombieland and 30 Minutes or Less, is finally landing in theaters. Although it features an early pick for one of the best ensembles of the year with Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Anthony Mackie, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte, Emma Stone and more, my hope is it provides a bit more substance than what the glossy trailers have been selling.
5. High Tech, Low Life (Stephen T. Maing; Jan. 9th)
Synopsis: Follows the journey of two of Chinas first citizen reporters as they travel the country chronicling underreported news and social issues stories.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: After touring the world on a festival run last year, Stephen T. Maing's documentary High Tech, Low Life will finally begin a small theatrical roll-out this month. A relevant look into the world of social media in a country that harnesses such technology, this marks one of the first much-watch documentaries of 2013.
4. The Last Stand (Kim Ji-woon; Jan. 18th)
Synopsis: The leader of a drug cartel busts out of a courthouse and speeds to the Mexican border, where the only thing in his path is a sheriff and his inexperienced staff.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: There is one reason alone this particular actioner is high up on the list and it's got nothing to do with Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Last Stand marks the Hollywood debut of South Korean talent Kim Ji-woon, a director who showed an unbridled eye for the genre in The Good, The Bad, The Weird and has delivered some of the finest foreign exports with other films such as I Saw the Devil, A Bittersweet Life and more. His English-language debut seems like a run-of-the-mill effort, but hopefully his kinetic style transfers successfully to the standard material.
3. In Another Country (Sang-soo Hong; Jan. 11th)
Synopsis: A three-tiered story centered on a trio of French tourists visiting the same seaside resort.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: If there was any doubt, Isabelle Huppert is headed for a promising 2013. With a supporting role in the expanding Amour, the actress will also be seen in two major projects, Dead Man Down and The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: His and Hers, but before that, one of her smaller dramas will make its way into theaters. From the talented Sang-soo Hong, the drama In Another Country seemed to be overshadowed by other titles during the Cannes Film Festival last May, but now will get its due this month will a limited release.
2. As Luck Would Have It (Alex de la Iglesia; Jan. 30th)
Synopsis: An out-of-work publicist who suffers an accident looks to sell the exclusive interview rights to the highest bidder in an attempt to provide for his family.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: The latest film from The Last Circus director Alex de la Iglesia hit Spanish theaters earlier this year and, after a festival run, will finally see a US bow. As Luck Would Have It follows a man who gets into an unfortunate situation not far removed from Kirk Douglas in Billy Wilders 1951 classic Ace in the Hole, getting trapped due to an unforeseen accident. It's a highly entertaining drama with a comedic kick that is at least worth a VOD rental when it arrives later this month.
1. 56 Up (Michael Apted; Jan. 4th)
Synopsis: Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Few cinematic projects are as expansive and ambitious as Michael Apted and Paul Almond's Up series. Kicking off in 1964, the project has followed fourteen British males from seven to present-day, with the latest iteration revisiting them at age 56. While I don't recommend jumping into the series with this film, it's well worth the time to catch up and then seek the latest out during its limited theatrical US release this month.
All releases:
What are you watching this month?
