Mud

Two young boys encounter a fugitive and form a pact to help him evade the bounty hunters on his trail and to reunite him with his true love.

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Director: Jeff Nichols

Writer[s]: Jeff Nichols

Starring: Tye Sheridan, Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Jacob Lofland

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After my favorite film of 2011, Take Shelter, wirter/director Jeff Nichols has been on the top of my watch list. Now his next film is finally out, and it is additionally the first real base and launching pad for what I’ve heard called the Renaissance of Matthew McConaughey. McConaughey seems to have moved past his cheap rom/com days and has been doing some deeper, more dramatic roles since the start of this decade. To be cast in the main male role following Michael Shannon‘s part in Take Shelter is a huge step towards some real, award winning potential roles.

But don’t worry, he still finds a way to take his shirt off.

To the Wonder

After visiting Mont Saint-Michel, Marina and Neil come to Oklahoma, where problems arise. Marina meets a priest and fellow exile, who is struggling with his vocation, while Neil renews his ties with a childhood friend, Jane.

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Director: Terrence Malick

Writer: Terrence Malick

Starring: Ben Afleck, Olga Kurylenko, Rachel McAdams, Javier Bardem

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After 2011’s Tree of Life, Terrence Malick became my favorite director, and on certain days of the week, my answer to the question “What’s your favorite movie?” will be Tree of Life. I think Roger Ebert best described my thoughts towards the movie in his review, in which he called the film “…a prayer…”. It is [so far] the pinnacle of Malick’s style and vision, and will more than likely be the measuring stick for his future films, including this one.

To the Wonder marks the beginning of a new regime for Malick. This is the shortest amount of time between movies that he has ever given, and he has three more movies slated for the next couple years. After his 20 year hiatus followed by a routine of one film every four-and-a-half years, this is very different and exciting. This is also the shortest film Malick has made in 30 years, and the only film he has ever made that is set completey in current time. While I am glad to see all these new things so quickly after Tree of Life, it shows in To The Wonder that Malcik didn’t give as much time to the film as we are used to.

The Master

A Naval veteran arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future – until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader.

Paul Thomas Anderson [Magnolia, There Will Be Blood] has a remarkable talent for making movies in the same general style while still having each one be incredibly unique and different, not only from his other films but anyone’s films. His slow, deliberate, and simple stylings are far from the Hollywood norm, and it’s too bad that he takes so much time between movies. He does have one slated for 2014, also starring Joaquin Phoenix [Gladiator, Walk the Line], a detective drama set in 1960’s California.

Seven Psycopaths

A struggling screenwriter inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends kidnap a gangster’s beloved Shih Tzu.

Writer/director Martin McDonagh was the creator of the 2008 film In Bruges, which was probably my first and definitely my favorite movie of this style of dark comedy. This production uses a very similar style of comedy, but you can rest easy, for this film isn’t quite as dark and gross, although you still might not want to watch it with the easily offended.

Flight

An airline pilot saves a flight from crashing, but an investigation into the malfunctions reveals something troubling.

It has been 12 years since the legendary Robert Zemeckis has directed a live action film. His last one? Cast Away. With a movie like that and Forest Gump in your resume people expect great things, but since it has been so long since he has made a movie with real people, who knows what to expect?