0
With just shy of two months until the curtain comes down on 2013, there are still a few intriguing films to watch.
Here are our top ten upcoming flicks to watch on the silver screen before another year ends.
1. GRAVITY
Released earlier this week, Alfonso Cuaron’s long overdue yet spectacular sci-fi blockbuster has already been cited as one of the best films of this year.
Hollywood A-listers Sandra Bullock and George Clooney are on top form as a pair of astronauts battling to survive in space after their shuttle gets destroyed.
Tense and atmospheric, 3D glasses are definitely required for this visual effects-driven masterpiece.
2. THE BUTLER
Helmed by Precious director Lee Daniels, this political biopic stars Oscar-winner Forest Whittaker as the real-life butler Cecil Gaines, a man who served under eight presidents (including Kennedy, Nixon and Reagan) and experienced various changes in American history such as Watergate and the Vietnam War.
Whittaker is aided by a starry support cast which ranges from Oprah Winfrey and Jane Fonda to Alan Rickman and Robin Williams.
3.THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
Fresh from her Oscar-winning success, Jennifer Lawrence reprises her role as heroine Everdeen Katniss in the follow-up to last year’s blockbuster smash The Hunger Games.
This time around, our female tribute finds herself thrown back into the arena as the Capitol try to prevent a district rebellion from taking place.
The sequel offers up more danger for our leading lady while there are new faces including Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
4. BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR
Winner of the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, this intimate and powerful French drama depicts the passionate relationship between two young women.
The on-screen chemistry between actresses Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux has already raised a few eyebrows with the film attracting controversy for its graphic sex scenes.
Fortunately it’s far more than that with some critics calling it one of the great love stories of the 21st century.
5. SAVING MR BANKS
The origins of Mary Poppins author P.L Travers are covered in this splendid-looking biopic which explores the creation of the classic family musical.
Emma Thompson makes a return to mainstream film with her performance as the troubled writer while Tom Hanks follows on from his successive comeback role in Captain Phillips with his charismatic turn as the legendary Walt Disney.
Fingers crossed it ends up being ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’!
6. FROZEN
Another Disney offering sees Veronica Mars actress Kristen Bell voice a girl named Anna who embarks on a quest to find her brainwashed sister Elsa (voiced by Glee’s Idinia Menzel) and prevent her from plunging their kingdom into darkness.
Set for release just ahead of Christmas, the animated film has already received positive reviews for its humour and heart-warming story with some calling it a return to form for Disney.
7. OLDBOY
Spike Lee directs this Hollywood remake of the renowned 2003 Korean film with Josh Brolin taking on the gritty role of a businessman who vows vengeance on the man that had him locked up in a chamber for fifteen years.
Bolstering a fine support cast which includes Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley and Samuel L. Jackson, it promises to shock and disturb Western audiences with its gruesome violence and sickening twists.
8. THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG
Following on from last year’s An Unexpected Journey, this second instalment of the Lord of the Rings prequel trilogy sees Bilbo Baggins and his dwarf companions continue their quest to reclaim gold from the sinister dragon Smaug (voiced by man of the moment Benedict Cumberbatch).
With Orlando Bloom also returning as the Elvish archer Legolas, LOTR fans will be hoping for some improvement here before next year’s concluding film, There and Back Again.
9. AMERICAN HUSTLE
David O. Russell reunites with a talented quartet of former actors – Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence in this 70s-based crime drama.
The group’s respective characters are tasked with working together to try and bring down the criminals of New York during the 1970s with their main target being corrupted mayor Jeremy Renner.
10. ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND CONTINUES
News anchor Ron Burgundy and his team of hopeless sidekicks are back in town for this long-awaited sequel to the 2004 comedy hit.
The trailers have already sent us into a fit of hysteria courtesy of the hilarious dialogue (Say Whaaaaat?!) while epic cameo appearances from Harrison Ford, Kanye West and Sacha Baron Cohen are bound to make this follow-up even greater than its predecessor.