2005: Looking forward
Now Playing: My 25 most anticipated films for the rest of the year
Some of these films aren't currently scheduled for release before the end of the year, but that's not really a big deal for me. I'm more excited that they're coming out at all.

(in *grumble* alphabetical order)

(links provided to official sites where applicable)

ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL - Terry Zwigoff and Daniel Clowes, together again.

THE BAD NEWS BEARS - I'm a little weary of remakes, but I love Linklater and Billy Bob, plus the writers of BAD SANTA are doing this, and that sounds like a winning team to me.

THE BRAND UPON THE BRAIN! - a follow-up to COWARDS BEND THE KNEE? Seems too good to be true...

BROKEN FLOWERS - seems almost conventional by Jarmusch standards, but it has Bill Murray (or billmurray?) in wry-sad mode, and Jarmusch > Sofia Coppola in my opinion.

THE CHILD - the Dardenne brothers' first three films are all great, and all indications are that this one (which copped the Palme d'Or) is just as good.

CORPSE BRIDE - Tim Burton's first animated project since NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS looks great, and that he's co-directing has me intrigued. More than CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, anyway.

ELIZABETHTOWN - if you haven't checked out the online-only trailer yet, I HIGHLY recommend it (warning: huge file).

THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN - the cast (Carell, Keener, Rudd, Rogen) rocks, and the trailer is a hoot. I have high hopes.

THE FOUNTAIN - a hugely ambitious sci-fi film from Darren Aronofsky, starring Hugh Jackman (a talented actor who needs a worthy role), and allegedly spanning over a thousand years. Could go either way, really.

HIDDEN - Haneke is one of the greats, and this is allegedly one of his better works. Good enough for me.

A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE - allegedly Cronenberg's most accessible work since THE FLY two decades ago. And THE FLY rocks, so that's cool with me.

IDIOCRACY - in spite of delays, I'm still excited. Mike Judge's stuff tends to be pretty hilarious.

KING KONG - lest we forget that this, not LORD OF THE RINGS, is Peter Jackson's dream project...

KISS KISS BANG BANG - Shane Black is back! If that doesn't excite you, then you have my pity.

MANDERLAY - oh that Lars. Stirring up trouble again. Either you can't wait to see this or you can't wait to skip it. You know which applies to you.

MATCH POINT - could it be that Woody Allen is really back?

ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW - early word is sparkling. Could be the year's "little-movie-that-could."

THE NEW WORLD - that it has been a mere seven years since the last Malick film was released is some kind of miracle.

PRINCESS RACCOON - I wasn't the biggest fan of PISTOL OPERA, but I'm nonetheless stoked at the idea that Seijun Suzuki is making films again, and is still completely nuts.

THE SUN - Sokurov's film about Hirohito, starring YI YI's great Issey Ogata.

TIDELAND - THE BROTHERS GRIMM looks fun, but I'm more intrigued by Gilliam's upcoming heartland odyssey, not least for Gilliam's reunion with FISHER KING's Jeff Bridges.

UNTITLED SPIELBERG 1972 OLYMPICS PROJECT - I was actually dreading this until I found out that it dealt mostly with the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. Will he deal with the darker themes of the story (namely, vengeance), or will his tendency toward audience-pandering win the day?

WALLACE AND GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT - these guys rule.

THE WAYWARD CLOUD - along with the Maddin film, Tsai Ming-liang's follow-up to WHAT TIME IS IT THERE? is my most anticipated "sequel" of the year.

WHAT IS IT? - Indeed.