2013 is looking like a great year for films. We can look forward to genuine blockbusters like Star Trek 2, Iron Man 3 and Man Of Steel, potential Oscar bait like The Wolf Of Wall Street and The Great Gatsby, and original films by big names like The Counselor from Ridley Scott and Guillermo Del Toro’s Pacific Rim.
There are reboots (Jack Ryan), re-imaginings (Evil Dead), sequels (Thor 2) and three-quels (Hangover 3) all vying for our attention, but with all these huge releases, some smaller, lesser-known films can fail to find the audience they deserve. Here we’re going to be taking a look at the films that are up against big studio endeavors that might still offer a rewarding cinematic experience over the next 12 months…
10. Dead Man Down
First up for your consideration is Dead Man Down released in March. This is a film from Niels Arden Oplev, the director of the original version of The Girl With A Dragon Tattoo and tells the story of Victor (Colin Farrell) right hand man to Terence Howard’s underground crime lord, who secretly wants revenge for the death of his family. When he strikes up a friendship with Noomi Rapace, who also wants revenge on Howard, things get messy.
This is Oplev’s first film since the global success of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, so he will be eager to show it wasn’t a flash in the pan. It also has a really interesting cast with Isabelle Huppert and Dominic Cooper rounding out the supporting characters. It looks like a gritty, intense and adult thriller, but if Noomi Rapace can channel her inner Lisbeth Salander then it might just be the best thriller of the year so far.
However, if you prefer your crime thrillers to be a bit more slick and polished, you could opt for Broken City which promises to be a solid two hours of big studio entertainment also released in March. As an added attraction, it also features Russell Crowe wearing so much fake tan his skin is the colour of a hangover pee.
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12 Comments
Ty for The Seventh Son, might check it out
you’re welcome, thanks for commenting
People may be skeptical about Lee redoing oldboy, but it’s better than the old rumor that it was gonna be Spielberg and Will Smith
thanks dude, good read, have never heard of Trance or Field England tho?..
Plenty of 2013 films to see I’ve read, I think I’ve never seen Twelve Years a Slave to make any list, with that director (some people might hate him though) and that cast. I’m looking forward to seeing Michael Fassbender grabs at least one Oscar nomination next year (12AS or The Counselor, or even both).
Good point, I think the McQueen/Fassbender collaborations have all been excellent, thought provoking films and can’t wait to see Twelve Years a Slave.
Elysium for me. loved district9 so i am really looking forward to his next movie.
pacific rim also looks like a lot of fun.
The Place Beyond the Pines looks phenominal. I’ve been real high on it ever since I saw the trailer last month.
Trance is new to me, but I’m definately interested. As is A Field in England, but mostly because of Wheatly, Kill List is one of the best surprises I’ve seen in a while.
‘Talented’ and ‘David Spade’ – that made me laugh. Nice write up, liked that you also plugged some of the more mainstream movies that may take on the same ideas for a comparison. Grown-ups made that much money? man…
Thansk JR…R.I.P. btw…Dallas hasn’t been the same without you
Cracking article, it is a huge shame some of these films will be totally overlooked by a lot of people. Looking forward to every one of them!
Thanks Shaun..or is Emilio Zapata? Great facial hair…Bring back the ‘tache people!