2019 proved to be an extraordinary year for film — one of the best in a while — so how does 2020 look to be shaping up?
The Oscars are political, no doubt. Independent productions and smaller artistic films are usually left out of the ceremony, despite their emerging popularity and critical acclaim. Thus, there were a few films this year that deserved to be a part of the major award categories, but were completely snubbed. In saying this, however, the Oscars also got a lot right this year with a deep Best Picture selection — creating more unpredictability in many categories besides acting.
Hopefully, the 2021 Oscars will build on “Parasite’s” massive night by including and letting the very best movies win — despite who produced and made them.
Now, it’s time to forecast the movies with the highest potential this coming year, regardless of whether or not they will be a part of the Oscars in 2021.
Here are my most anticipated movies coming out this year.
“Dune” might be the consensus’ most anticipated movie of the year. With a Dec. 18 release date set, the movie is placed both in the thick of awards season and winter blockbuster season. The movie looks to satisfy both markets.
Denis Villeneuve continues to pump out movie gems, and with his last two films being “Arrival” and “Blade Runner 2049,” he has proven he can handle the science fiction genre with grace and ambitious, immersive vision — and it’s about time he earns an award for Best Director.
“Dune” gains a lot of its buzz as an adaptation to the highly successful Frank Herbert novel. With a couple of adaptations mostly failing, this will likely be the beloved story’s final chance at a major production. Thankfully, the buzz is well-warranted with Villeneuve helming the project.
The film gains wide appeal with the casting of young heartthrob prodigies, Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, in the leading roles. They are supported by Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, Charlotte Rampling, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Oscar Isaac, Stellan Skarsgård and Javier Bardem.
With a star-studded, deep cast and Villeneuve’s direction, the movie seems to be in wonderful storytelling hands. As for the technical aspects, the crew includes a lot of Villeneuve usuals who have been nominated for multiple Oscars. New to the crew is Oscar-nominated Director of Photography Greig Fraser and the holy Hans Zimmer composing the score. Yes, we wish Roger Deakins was re-teaming with Villeneuve to combine groundbreaking visuals with Zimmer’s score, but nonetheless, we have all the confidence in Fraser to get the job done.
For those who have not read “Dune,” and do not know anything about it, here is the brief plot synopsis from IMDb.
‘The Vice of Hope’ boasts artistic production, depicts harsh realities
“The French Dispatch” has already begun making waves with the release of its first official trailer on Feb. 12.
Any time Wes Anderson makes a movie, his fans expect it to be great and people expect it to play a key role in awards season.
Anderson is a true auteur with characteristics unlike any other filmmaker, and that’s why people love him.
“The French Dispatch” has garnered well-earned hype considering it will be Anderson’s first live-action film since his masterpiece “The Grand Budapest Hotel” in 2014.
From the trailer, the new film seems to share a similar vibe. The same awkward humor, unbelievably symmetry in every shot and a deep, talented cast with a group of actors who always appear in his movies.
The movie takes place in a fictional 20th century French city, bringing to life multiple stories and characters. So, the movie will be a collection of shorter movies in a way.
Headlining the cast are Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet (again), Elizabeth Moss, Frances McDormand, Jeffrey Wright, Benicio Del Toro and so, so many more recognized stars. I could go on and on just listing stars in this movie.
Chalamet continues to catch the eye of the industry’s best directors. As a young actor who continues to cover a wide range of roles, his commitment to his craft makes him a strong candidate to lead any movie.
Wes Anderson is not for everyone — he is an acquired, mature taste — but everyone should understand that this movie will likely follow suit in being an objectively good film.
“The French Dispatch” comes out July 24, which is a real treat considering Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” comes out the very same month.
My last pick for my most anticipated movies this coming year is David Lowery’s “The Green Knight.” This is another movie that just came out with its first trailer, and it looks mighty ambitious and artistic in its re-telling of the medieval story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
David Lowery is an underrated director. Critics have loved his work, but many people have shied away from his unconventional style.
Lowery’s deeply sad and emotional “A Ghost Story” is my personal favorite film of all time, so I cannot wait to see what he does here.
The trailer is quite eerie and the mood of the film seems dark and tense. Its fantasy elements look to play out in thrilling, creepy fashion. The trailer lacks story content and dialogue, and is instead filled with a series of gorgeous visuals.
The movie is anchored by a strong cast consisting of Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sean Harris and Barry Keoghan. Patel will play the protagonist, Sir Gawain.
Lowery will look to dazzle wide audiences with a unique execution of fantasy. While the film shows a lot of promise, its May 29 release and A24 label may limit its possibility for major awards. The Oscars have been known to snub many great films that have come from A24.
We can’t wait for the weather to get a little warmer because it means these three movies are closer to coming out. There are so many promising projects set to come out in 2020, so stay tuned for Matt Fraga’s picks for more movies to watch for, next week.
