Original post can be found at Renegade Cinema

5. In the Heart of the Sea

After seeing Chris Hemsworth and Ron Howard come together for one of 2013’s most underrated gems in Rush, I can’t wait to see what the two will bring to an entirely different sort of historical drama. This time they are leaving the race track and heading to the high seas to explore the terrors of the deep that inspired the legend of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. The footage we’ve seen so far is pushing the movie as a horror, but the true story points to an exploration of the extent people will sink to to survive. If it’s a slick or half as insightful as Howard’s other most recent outings, I think we’re in for a real treat.

4. The Hateful Eight

When Quentin Tarantino speaks a piece of cinema into existence, we’ve all grown wise enough to sit back and listen. His first venture into the wild wild west was a moderate success as he addressed the issue of racism in the old south, but his latest looks less like a spaghetti western and more like  a who done it in the same vein as Reservoir Dogs. If there’s one thing the acclaimed auteur knows how to do, it’s writing long single locations scenes to build dramatic tension.  The director’s unique sensibilities are matched only by an undeniably fun cast including Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Tim Roth, Bruce Dern,  and Jennifer Jason Leigh. With Star Wars set to release a week before, it’s hard to envision a better double header come this holiday season.

3. MacBeth

It’s been nearly 500 years since it’s original performance and Shakespeare’s dark political drama remains as relevant as ever. While there are rarely poor adaptions of the classic tragedy, this movie looks to up it’s upping production value by bringing in some of the best talent in the business with Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard set for the titular roles. Everything we’ve seen so far points to Oscar quality turns in what appears to be one of the bloodiest re-tellings of the story yet. Shakespeare adaptions have never been a surefire success in the Hollywood business, but I think we’re in for one of the absolute best.

2. The Revenant

Not much is known about Alejandro González Iñárritu‘s  follow up to Birdman which is one of the reasons it’s one of the most obvious award-baity movies of the coming season. What we do know is it killer trio of stars which includes Leonardo DiCaprio,  Tom Hardy, and Domhnall Gleeson playing in a revenge western set in the Dakota territory during the dead of winter. My deepest hope is that this will finally give Leo enough clout to finally win the Oscar he’s been forfeited the last three years. Aside from the acting talent, it looks like Emmanuel Lubezki continues his tradition to bring some of the most stunning and creative cinematography in the business. Whether or not this wins the hearts of voters has yet to be seen, but given Iñárritu’s newfound momentum, I think we’re in for a good sit. 

1. Steve Jobs

The visionary who was Steve Jobs hasn’t been gone from this earth for even five years and he’s already become a modern myth. There’s no doubt he was an undeniable genius who changed the world and after one piss poor Ashton Kutcher adaptions, it looks like he’s finally getting a film that will live up to his legacy. This movie marks a collaboration of some of the greatest artists working in Hollywood including Oscar winning writer Aaron Sorkin,  the award winning Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle, and the nominated Michael Fassbender to create the definitive recounting of Apple’s founder. It’s not often that we see a biopic receive a sequel, but if The Social Network were ever to have a follow-up, Steve Jobs looks to be it. The promo footage for the film looks slick, energetic , and full of all of the things we think of when we think of Apple. It’s a shoe in for award nominations in every category and I can’t wait to catch it on the big screen.