The 49 Films That Will Define 2010
Next year's high hopes, big hits and hype magnets
BY Nov 30th 2009 11:11AMFILED UNDER: Features
User Comments (14)
2010 is just around the corner, and though there aren't many big name franchises returning next summer, fear not, there is still plenty to keep your local cinema busy.
With that in mind, we take a look at the biggest and best that 2010 has to offer...
Daybreakers (8 January)
The Talent: The Aussie Spierig brothers direct Willem Defoe, Ethan Hawke and Sam Neill.
The Pitch: In 2019 a virus has transformed nearly everyone into vampires. The vamps strategise to save themselves from starvation, while the dwindling humans plot salvation.
The Hook: The Spierigs gave us the rough but still ace zombie flick Undead – now they have a cast, a bigger budget, and Weta doing the effects. Our calculations point to awesome.
Official site here.
The Book Of Eli (15 January)
The Talent: Directed by the Hughes brothers, starring Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman.
The Pitch: A post-apocalyptic Western, with Washington’s dangerous loner guarding the secret hope of mankind through a radiation-ravaged afterworld.
The Hook: The trailer is all dusty cyberpunk bandits and sudden, lethal action. Set to be an ass-kicker with a desolate atmospheric hook.
Official site here.
Edge Of Darkness (29 January)
The Talent: Bond specialist Martin Campell directs a returning Mel Gibson.
The Pitch: Based on the bleak but brilliant BBC drama from 1985, it features a cop who gets tangled up in radical politics and political conspiracy following the death of his daughter.
The Hook: It looks a disaster – the original was awash with austere, Cold War-era dejection – but not only has Campbell directed the two best Bonds of the last 20 years, he was also behind the TV camera for the '80s version. Might just work - if he can keep Gibson's ego in check.
Official site here.
The Wolfman (12 February)
The Talent: Starring Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins, special effects by Rick Baker.
The Pitch: Del Toro is Victorian gentleman Lawrence Talbot, reunited with his estranged father following the disappearance of his brother. But there’s something unnatural and dangerous about his bro's vanishing...
The Hook: The film’s release has been shunted backwards for over a year already, but if Baker’s effects are half as effective as his work in An American Werewolf In London, they’ll make up the shortfall on shabby plotting or studio editing.
Official site here.
Shutter Island (19 February)
The Talent: Directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Michelle Williams.
The Pitch: DiCaprio's Federal agent investigates the disappearance of a woman at a creepy island asylum and begins to doubt both the authorities and his own sanity.
The Hook: This is Scorsese and DiCaprio's fourth film together, and looks like it has the kind of tight dramatic plotting that could finally see their partnership ignite and win over the DiCaprio doubters.
Next: Black Death, A Couple of Dicks
Print Comments (14)
1: Blyman says
Awesome feature, 2010 is looking hella good, loving the retro 80s vein with the A-Team, Expendables and Predators. BUT where's Green Zone????? It's my most anticipated film followed by Inception and Robin Hood.
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 // 2:01PMAlert a moderator
2: somewhatfrail says
As if my list of films to see/buy wasn't big enough already. :D
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 // 6:26PMAlert a moderator
3: chaneladele says
Should've made it 50 and put The Lovely bones in there
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 // 6:31PMAlert a moderator
4: Ali1748 says
I am excited for
The Wolfman
Clash Of The Titans
Iron Man II
Robin Hood
Prince Of Persia
Jonah Hex
Inception
Toy Story 3
The Lovely Bones
the Deathly Hallows I.
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 // 7:56PMAlert a moderator
5: Agent69 says
The Danish Girl
Rabbit Hole
Greenberg
The Fighter
Legion (looks dumb but fun)
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 // 8:45PMAlert a moderator
6: dthardcore says
I'm looking forward to "The Last Airbender" should have been titled "Avatar" but Cameron named his movie that...
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 // 11:45PMAlert a moderator
7: gtbernstein says
I'm disappointed LEGION wasn't on the list. I think this may be a bigger movie than many realize. It will definitely start the year off with a bang.
Posted: Dec 1st 2009 // 12:46AMAlert a moderator
8: simevidas says
You guys totally forgot The last airbender :)
It will most likely be in the top 10 of 2010 by total gross.
Posted: Dec 1st 2009 // 1:56AMAlert a moderator
9: darjeelingmike says
Seems typical that ALL the films I want to see don't yet have release dates:
Love And Other Drugs
Mute
Never Let Me Go
Paul
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World
Somewhere
Having said that though:
Shutter Island
I Love You Phillip Morris
Kick a*s
Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps
Iron Man 2
Predators
Inception
Toy Story 3
The Expendables
The Town
The Ward
Hereafter
Should all be awesome :D
And Prince Of Persia, Jonah Hex, The A-Team and Salt should be good fun!
Posted: Dec 3rd 2009 // 6:53PMAlert a moderator
10: sanddancer says
I love Paul Rudd so I am looking forward to "How Do You Know" with Reese Witherspoon & Owen Wilson.
Posted: Dec 4th 2009 // 8:39PMAlert a moderator
11: joeymac says
Excited for films? Excited "FOR" films? Not "ABOUT" films? Let's get our prepositions sorted out.
Posted: Dec 5th 2009 // 11:42PMAlert a moderator
12: hughjass1970 says
Still no sign of a UK release for Fanboys then...
Posted: Dec 8th 2009 // 10:12PMAlert a moderator
13: DQ17E says
If by "define" you mean will get a two week release and most people will not remember then I can say that, yes the following will "define" 2010; Daybreakers, The Book of Eli, The Wolfman, Black Death, Alice in Wonderland, Clash of the Titans, Cemetary Junction, Wall Street 2, Last Night, Robin Hood, Prince of Persia, The Eagle of the Nines, Jonah Hex, Eclipse, Cats & Dogs 2, Priest, Harry Potter 7.1, Life and Death of Charlie St Cloud, Love and Other Things, Columbus Circle and Oobermind. Come this time next year none of the above will be remembered (apart from the two franchise films). Remember Dragonball this year? No, you didn't because it sank like a stone, like most of the films released in a year. At most you can have six films "define" a year, you get a (1) comic book film (Iron Man 2), you get (2) the Oscar winner (released in December in the US, January or even February here), you get (3) Harry Potter, you get the (4) Pixar film (Toy Story 3), you get the (5) "surprise" comedy hit (this year was The Hangover, and Year One and Land of the Lost flopped because $150m don't do well) and you get (6) the chick flick (which is Sex and the City 2). In conclusion the top ten films in a year's time will include 1. Harry Potter, 2. Eclipse, 3. Toy Story 3, 4. Iron Man 2 and 5. surprise comedy break out hit which makes $200m and beats a blockbuster that should have done well (I will pick Prince of Persia to flop against it). And Harry Potter 7.2 will be in 3D.
Posted: Dec 14th 2009 // 12:01AMAlert a moderator
14: littlebocuk says
- The Wolfman
- Shutter Island
- I Love You Philip Morris
- Alice in Wonderland
- Clash of the Titans
- Iron Man II
- Robin Hood
- Prince of Persia
- Inception
- Toy Story 3
Wow, it's going to be a great year for me!!
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