"We Can't Wait" Pt 2: Most Anticipated of 2017
Monday, January 23, 2017 at 9:11AM Before the Oscar nominations tomorrow help put on a cap on 2016, we here at Team Experience are looking to the year ahead. We took a vote on our 17 most breathlessly anticipated movies of 2017 and here are the results. Part one, posted yesterday, included Beauty and the Beast, Coco, and How to Talk to Girls at Parties among others.
Part two after the jump. Our nine most anticipated films of the year...
9. Mary Magdalene (dir. Garth Davis)
I'm a sucker for a Biblical epic and anything involving Rooney Mara. If the film mostly consisted of scenes of her out of character smoking and looking blase while the other actors follow the screenplay, I'd be a happy man. - Jose
8. Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson Fashion Film (dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)
The auteur reteaming with Daniel Day-Lewis, the world's greatest living actor (not up for debate) would be reason enough. But a '50s London-set fashion film just sounds swoon-worthy indeed. - Abstew
7. Annihilation (dir. Alex Garland)
Jeff VanderMeer's book is strange and wondrous, but I absolutely cannot conceive of it working on film given how cerebral it is. If anyone can pull it off though, it's Ex Machina director Alex Garland. With an all-amazing cast of women (Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Jason Leigh) plus the internet's boyfriend (Oscar Isaac), it can't fail to be a surefire win in the most peculiar fashion they can manage. - David
6. Mother (dir. Darren Aronofsky)
The last time Darren Aronofsky was in the director's chair he came up with the interesting misfire Noah. But the time before that, he pushed Natalie Portman to new heights (and an Oscar) while resurrecting the careers of Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder. Now he's working with Jennifer Lawrence and Michelle Pfeiffer. Sounds like a match made in heaven to me. - Denny
5. The Beguiled (dir. Sofia Coppola)
Don Siegel's 1971 southern gothic classic is a camp treasure, with its oversexed cast in a creepy antebellum boarding school. The only thing that could improve upon the original? The intervention of some self-aware feminist politics, sure to be in healthy supply from director Sofia Coppola. If she can meld the seduction of the original with her trademark intelligence, we could have something very special on our hands. Having Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell in the cast doesn't hurt. - Sean
4. Widows (dir. Steve McQueen)
Sometimes I feel like I am just twiddling my thumbs in the time between Steven McQueen releases. He is a master filmmaker, who is either at the top of his game or hasn't even gotten there yet. I've so enjoyed watching his historic rise and love that he continues to tackle weird, sensitive, and taboo subjects in his work. The premise of Widows is so off-kilter I can't wait to see what he does with it and with the amazing team he assembled, Gillian Flynn, Andre Holland, Cynthia Erivo, and of course, Viola Davis. And funnily, I'm almost as excited just to see the first trailer, which you know will spotlight "Academy Award Winner Viola Davis." - Steven
3. Call Me By Your Name (dir. Luca Guadagnino)
For those who have read the book (and really, you should do yourselves a favor and get on that stat), I should merely need to add a peach emoji and we'd call it a day. But if I must: Guadagnino + Hammer is all that I need to be excited about this sensual gay coming of age tale. - Manuel
2. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (dir. Yorgos Lanthimos)
Last year's The Lobster and Oscar-nominated Dogtooth prove that Greek writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos is one of the most original filmmakers out there. And I do mean "out there". Reunited with Colin Farrell and costarring TFE favorite and certified screen goddess Nicole Kidman, an actress known for committing to a singular director's vision, only allow your imagination to run wild! - Abstew
1. Wonderstruck (dir. Todd Haynes)
If it was just announced as Todd Haynes next film it would be enough reason for all the excitement in the world. But he’s reteaming once again with Julianne Moore. And after the drop down gorgeousness of Velvet Goldmine and Carol, with Sandy Powell. And did you know that half of it will be a silent film in black and white? Wonderstruck is based on the book by Brian Selznick and comprises two stories about deaf children told simultaneously, one about boy in 1977 and the other about a girl in 1927, who share a mysterious connection. Moore reportedly appears in both stories. Give it to us now! - Murtada
What is your most antipated 2017 film?
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Reader Comments (25)
Widows isn't being released until next year.
Kidman and Farrell are co-starring in two films this year? Fun!
PTA and DDL movie should be number 1.
So much to look forward to from modern masters. I am not sure how we can reconcile this output with "the death of cinema".
Also keep giving Nicole these darker supporting roles where she can shine.I'm not the biggest fan of warm huggable Nicole.
Holy shit, Wonderstruck sounds amazing/fascinating!
Rooney as Mary Magdalene is one of The worst and most offensive cases of white washing in recent memory.
Great list... I'm most looking forward to Wonder Woman! I can't help it!
Weird not to find in the list the Allen/Winslet upcoming movie
The PTA/DDL movie sounds delicious.
Looking forward to The Wife with Glenn Close. The book had great character development, despite being a little slow in places. Interested to see how it transitions to screen. And maybe Glenn can finally win an Oscar?
I'm curious to see what Garth Davis brings next, but I really don't get the love for Rooney Mara. She's fine, but I haven't found myself that curious about her future roles..
Yes to all of these and I would like to add Ismael's Ghosts.
Neither The Seagull nor Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool were able to make the cut?
That image of Rooney having a crucifixion smoke is begging for a "Say What?" post.
From this part of the list, it's 8, 4, 3, 2 and 1 I'm anticipating most. (I'm not gonna read Call Me By Your Name until after I see the film, though. I can't enjoy an adaptation when my own mental images are too fresh in my mind.)
Rooney as Mary Magdalene is one of The worst and most offensive cases of white washing in recent memory.
Name one Jesus movie with a nonwhite cast.
Catherine Hardwicke's version of The Nativity Story casts Keisha Castle-Hughes and Oscar Isaac as Mary and Joseph and has actors like Shohreh Aghdashloo and Alexander Siddig in supporting roles. Of course, it was a tiny movie.
I agree that the Rooney Mara casting is odd, particularly since she previously courted controversy by playing Tiger Lily in Pan.
Word from Sundance is that "Call Me By Your Name" is ravishing. I doubt it will be an Oscar contender, but we'll see.
I'm so excited for Call Me By Your Name. I read the book a few years ago and it easily became one of my favorites.
Even with all of Hollywood's whitewashing history, this is bizarre.
She was middle eastern. They could have cast someone who looked more southern- european/ mediterranean if they couldnt find a middle eastern actress.
They could go with a Monica Bellucci or Penélope Cruz type. Someone with italian, spanish, greek, arab, heritage. God, someone with "Kardashian" features would have been more fitting.
Lea Michelle, who is of middle eastern jewish looks more adequate. (Not saying they should have cast her- someone like her)
The same goes for Joaquín Phoenix. Middle eastern jew. Rami Malik, anyone??
Well, Joaquin is of Jewish Hungarian-Russian descent (maternal side).
Since she's smoking a cigarette the ethnicity of the ensemble maybe the least controversial element of this movie.
Even if super pale skin was mandatory, even considering that Many middle-easterns have super pale/fair skin and very dark hair, even if thats what they were going for, she is still not a good choice.
Lea Michelle, Gal Gadot, Paz Vega, Nina Dobrev, Mila Kunis, Morena Baccarin, Emmy Rossun, even Natalie Portman would have been more adequate.
(Not talking about Their acting skills. About Being fit for The role).
Leila Hatami, that girl from "The Americans".... If they wanted to, they has choices. They chose not to.
"Lea Michelle, Gal Gadot, Paz Vega, Nina Dobrev, Mila Kunis, Morena Baccarin, Emmy Rossum, even Natalie Portman would have been more adequate."
Half of these women aren't even very good actresses. And Morrena Baccarin is Brazilian, not Jewish or Middle Eastern/Arab descent. Is your criteria for casting simply looking "vaguely ethnic"? The Arab world is quite vast ethnically and culturally - Lebanon, for instance, has a rich history with lots of European influence. Some of its inhabitants look like Rooney Mara, some like Natalie Portman, some like Shohreh Aghdashloo.
I assume Rooney got the part because she just worked with Garth Davis in Lion, and he must've wanted to collaborate with her again. She's a fine actress too.
I know How diverse the arab world is. I know How fair/pale some are. I know Many have fair eyes. I know Morena is brazilian- Brazil is even more ethinically and racially diverse then The Middle East.
I still Think casting Rooney is not a good fit and "nordic washing" to The extreme.
Todd Haynes and his favorite muse together again yes!
Amanda, more offensive than Rooney Mara in Pan?
Good, interesting list of films here.