2012 Movie Preview (#12 - 7)

12. The Dictator (May 11th)

Plot: The film tells the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed. It is inspired by the best selling novel "Zabibah and The King" by Saddam Hussein.

Personal opinion: So which Sasha Baron Cohen will we get here? The one who became a cultural phenomenom with Borat or the one who turned off audiences by crossing the line from funny to offensive with Bruno? Based on the trailer I posted here recently, it seems like his latest film has a mixture of both in it. However, the final scene involving him running in a race had me in stiches and gave me the confidence that this one can be a real winner.


11. The Bourne Legacy (August 3rd)

Plot: The Universal release has taken the title from the Eric Van Lustbader book based on the series created by Robert Ludlum, but they will not be using the story. "This is not a reboot or a recast or a prequel. No one's replacing Matt Damon. There will be a whole new hero, a whole new chapter...this is a stand-alone project," said Gilroy. "The easiest way to think of it is an expansion or a reveal," Gilroy added. "Jason Bourne will not be in this film, but he's very much alive. What happened in the first three films is the trigger for what happens. I'm building a legend and an environment and a wider conspiracy... the world we're making enhances and advances and invites Jason Bourne's return [down the road]."

Personal opinion: The Bourne franchise has been one of my favorite of the past ten years, so I'm somewhat conflicted over this latest entry. It's a shame they felt like they needed to continue it despite neither Matt Damon nor director Paul Greengrass returning for this one. Their absence will no doubt be huge. Having said that, there are several of the supporting actors who are returning to help maintain continuity. As for the replacements, Jeremy Renner is quickly establishing himself as a mainstream action star and Tony Gilroy, who will direct this one, was a writer on the previous Bourne films and has also directed Michael Clayton proving that he has the directing chops and familiarity with the material needed to fill Greengrass' shoes. This will be no easy feat, but if they can pull it off, it'll be one of the most pleasant surprises of 2012.


10. This is Forty (Decemeber 21st)

Plot: The film will feature an original story with characters created by Rudd and Mann in "Knocked Up."

Personal opinion: Here's another possible case of redemption. After disappointing virtually everybody with the unfunny Funny People, Judd Apatow is finally getting back behind the camera with this sequel/spin-off of Knocked Up focusing specifically on Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann's married couple. Apatow struck gold when exploring the life of a 40-year old before, so I look forward to seeing what he can come up with this time. Hopefully by returning to some familiar territory with some friendly faces he'll get the comedic juices flowing again.


9. Django Unchained (December 25th)

Plot: In Quentin Tarantino's new spaghetti Western, the title character Django is a freed slave, who under the tutelage of a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) becomes a badass bounty hunter himself. After assisting Waltz on taking down some bad guys for profit, he is in turn assisted by Waltz in tracking down his slave wife and liberating her from an evil plantation owner. The film deals with racism, while it's 100 percent pure popcorn and revenge flick, it takes on the evil slave owning south.

Personal opinion: I'll admit I took awhile to get on the Quentin Tarantino bandwagon. However, after seeing Inglorious Basterds I became a convert. By the looks of the cast he's rounded up for this film, it seems many other people are believers as well. You have guys like Leonardo Dicaprio and Jaime Foxx working on this film along with Tarantino alums like Samuel L. Jackson and Christophe Waltz. With Basterds Tarantino conquered the war film, so now I'm really curious to see what he has up his sleeve for the spaghetti western genre. This could be another major player come awards season.


8. American Reunion (April 6th)

Plot:In the comedy "American Reunion," all the "American Pie" characters we met a little more than a decade ago are returning to East Great Falls for their high-school reunion. In one long-overdue weekend, they will discover what has changed, who hasn't and that time and distance can't break the bonds of friendship.

Personal opinion: So may look at this and feel that this franchise has worn out its welcome, especially with the addition of those pitiful direct-to-DVD, quasi-sequels, but I've always had an affinity for these films. I guess because the characters' timeline closely mirrors my own I see these films as a time capsule of my own experiences. The fact that they were able to get everyone from the original cast back for this one is exciting and the trailer released earlier this year has me believing that this slice of pie has not become completely stale yet.


7. Looper (September 28th)

Plot: Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a contract killer who works for the mob of the future, and who kills victims that are then sent back in time 30 years so there's no trace of the crime, but one day, he recognizes one of his targets (Bruce Willis) as a future version of himself.

Personal opinion: I always appreciate when a sci-fi film can develop an idea that's unique and creative and on paper this one sounds like it will fit the bill. This one is being directed Rian Johnson, who impressed a lot of people with his first two films, Brick and The Brothers Bloom. I like both Gordon-Levitt and Willis, so it should be fun to see them share the screen in this one. The only concern I have is the release date. There have often been a lot of promising sci-fi films released in the fall that have turned out to be duds. Based on some early buzz I've heard about this one though, it sounds like it should be able to avoid that problem.