Monthly Archives: January, 2012

An Annenberg Film Fellowship Grant recipient and Sundance NHK Filmmaker Award winning project that was supported via the Sundance Screenwriters and Directors labs, I'm not sure what comparisons this debut feature from the Filmmaker Magazine Top 25 alumni might draw, but a rural backdrop and apocalyptic state makes me think of Jeff Nichols' Take Shelter.

While the unveiled brief synopsis doesn't sound alluring, James Gray can be affecting with his dramas and what could you ask for more when you have Jeremy Renner, Marion Cotillard and regular James Gray contributer Joaquin Phoenix under one billing?

Joined by a solid supporting cast in Catherine Keener and David Strathairn, Maladies will forever be known as the film that set Franco off towards a stint on General Hospital in 2010. Despite not knowing much on Carter, we're curious enough to include this in our top 100.

Ken Loach isn't showing any signs of slowing down in his fourth decade of filmmaking, but what's noteworthy in this portion of the Palme D'Or winning English filmmaker's career is how his material, and not his trademark realism is switching up the tone. Shot in Glasgow and penned by his right-hand man Paul Laverty, Loach is taking on another comedy (2009's Looking For Eric was his first successful attempt).

Before his inside look into modern-day crime and corruption (Gomorrah), Matteo Garrone was better known as the helmer of Euro hits The Embalmer and First Love. Hopefully this comedy slash drama will be a biting commentary rather than a Truman Show like concoction.