Winter’s Tale, rated PG-13
Akiva Goldsman’s tale of love and reincarnation opens on Valentine’s Day and stars Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Jennifer Connelly, Russell Crowe, William Hurt, Eva Marie Saint and Will Smith. I’m excited for Winter’s Tale because it looks like something daring and risky by a major studio, along the lines of Cloud Atlas (2012).
The Wind Rises, rated PG-13
The final film from legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Ponyo, Princess Monoke), The Wind Rises is said to be one of Miyazaki’s greatest achievements. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci lead the impressive American voice cast.
Muppets Most Wanted, rated PG
Any fans of The Muppets (2011) will likely be overjoyed with its sequel, Muppets Most Wanted. Although this film sadly does not appear to have a rapping villain played by Chris Cooper like its predecessor, it does feature appearances from Christoph Waltz, Tina Fey, Ray Liotta, Tom Hiddleston, Salma Hayek and, of course, Kermit the Frog.
Noah, rated PG-13
If you’re going to make a big-budget film about Noah’s Ark just in time for Easter, you had better find a visionary director to tackle the story – and Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler, Black Swan) is just that. Starring Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins and Emma Watson, Noah looks wonderfully ambitious.
Jack Kyser is a graduate of Austin High School and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
