19. The Circle
Director: James Ponsoldt Starring: Tom Hanks, Emma Watson, Ellar Coltrane, Bill Paxton Release Date: TBC 2016 James Ponsoldts last two films (three if you include Smashed) have been indie darlings. The Spectacular Now (starring Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley) tackled a typical teen romance in a fresh and unsentimental way, whereas this years The End of the Tour, which tells the story of a an interview between two writers (the iconic David Foster Wallace and David Lipsky, a fine writer in his own right) remains one of the best, most under-appreciated films of 2015. David Foster Wallaces Infinite Jest has a foreword by writer Dave Eggers, and its his work that Ponsoldt will adapt next. The Circle, a 2013 novel by Eggers, chronicles a woman who lands a job at a powerful, mysterious tech company - the titular shape. Its an intriguing premise based on a good source, and Ponsoldt has acquired a great cast for it. This is sure to be one of the most important independent films of the year.