Most Anticipated 2020

Started by Alethia, February 07, 2020, 05:01:10 PM

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Quote from: The Film Stage
71. Paradis sale (Bertrand Mandico)

Bertrand Mandico's second narrative feature film, following the critically acclaimed The Wild Boys, seems to be continuing his incredibly experimental and audacious style of filmmaking. Escalating in scale and ambition for his sophomore production, Mandico has moved onto explicit science-fiction, grappling with new worlds and a more definitive premise than his previous. While the basic plot details sound like a thriller, it's to be expected that nothing in the film will adhere to convention. –


68. State of the Empire (Amat Escalante)

While details are still minimal about the new Amat Escalante film, his previous works Heli and the Venice prize-winning The Untamed suggest that whatever he has in store for audiences will be thought-provoking and formally magnificent. Escalante has done substantive work exploring the social injustices that linger underneath contemporary Mexican society, through horrifying monsters or cruel human beings, making the prospect of a new release of his in an even more horrifying climate extremely appealing. – Logan K.


47. The Devil All the Time (Antonio Campos)

Antonio Campos has been a divisive auteur since his directorial debut Afterschool, exploring disturbed and heartbreaking subjects with distance and occasional introspection. His film Christine offered empathetic insight into a suicidal woman's last few weeks, making it clear that he's capable of portraying the distress of post-war trauma that his next film will be exploring. Adapted from the acclaimed 2011 novel, this Ohio-set film is likely to explore controversial subjects and emotional distress with elegance and occasional overwhelming terror. Starring Tom Holland, Sebastian Stan, Robert Pattinson, Mia Wasikowska, Eliza Scanlen, Bill Skarsgard, Jason Clarke, Riley Keough, Haley Bennett, Harry Meling, Douglas Hodge, and Jason Collett, it'll arrive on Netflix later this year. – Logan K.


40. On A Half Clear Morning (Bruno Dumont)



You can never pin Bruno Dumont down. His shift from austere arthouse titles to broad comedy came as a shock back when Li'l Quinquin premiered in 2014, and just as he settled into a groove with films like Slack Bay, Jeannette: The Childhood of Joan of Arc, and Quinquin sequel Coincoin and the Extra Humans, he surprised us again with the graceful Joan of Arc (a tonally different sequel to Jeannette). But the man doesn't seem to stop working, as last fall he wrapped shooting on a new film that sounds like another change of pace. This time, Lea Seydoux stars as a TV celebrity and journalist whose life spirals out of control after a series of events. Most of what's known about the story comes from various sources and translations so details aren't exactly clear at the moment. That should likely change by May, where On A Half Clear Morning will likely screen somewhere at Cannes, and hopefully one of the most exciting filmmakers working today can find another way to surprise us. – CJP


34. The Nest (Sean Durkin)

After his extraordinary debut Martha Marcy May Marlene, it's been quite a wait for Sean Durkin's feature film follow-up, but it'll finally premiere this year at Sundance. The Nest, starring Jude Law and Carrie Coon, follows American family in the 1980s who head to an isolated manor in Britain. Shot by Son of Saul cinematographer Mátyás Erdély, we're looking forward to seeing what Durkin has crafted for his long-awaited return. – Jordan R.


25. Siberia (Abel Ferrara)

Abel Ferrara's recent run of narrative features ranks up with the best films of his entire career. The lack of funding he receives has led to greater formal and thematic experimentation, making the prospect of him finally getting the chance to film the long-delayed Siberia even more tantalizing. His continued work with frequent collaborator Willem Dafoe ensures that there will be a phenomenal leading performance, on top of likely existential contemplation and mournful beauty. – Logan K.


4. Benedetta (Paul Verhoeven)



Following up Elle, Paul Verhoeven's next film Benedetta will tell the story of a 17th-century nun who suffers from disturbing religious and erotic visions. She develops a romantic love affair with a fellow nun assigned to help her through the visions. Based on a book by Judith C. Brown, the writer Gerard Soeteman distanced himself from the project due to the extreme sexual aspects of the film, so if that doesn't increase your anticipation, I don't know what will. After post-production was delayed last year, we expect the film is now ready for a Cannes debut this year. – Jordan R.


3. Blonde (Andrew Dominik)

With just a few feature films under his belt, scattered over a 20-year career, Andrew Dominik has masterfully crafted stories that explore legends and genres in achingly somber and subversive ways. In 2020, he'll unveil his long-gestating look at another legend: Marilyn Monroe. Based on the Joyce Carol Oates novel of the same name, Blonde is a fictionalized gaze into the personal life of Monroe, including her potential assassination. Starring Ana de Armas as the Hollywood bombshell, and shot by BlacKkKlansman and Lemonade DP Chayse Irvin, the biopic is shaping up to be a welcome, long-awaited return for the filmmaker. – Conor O.


2. Undine (Christian Petzold)

The new film from Christian Petzold, following his masterpiece Transit, reunites leads Franz Rogowski and Paula Beer to perform in a narrative that's a deviation from his traditional work. A contemporary version of the myth Undine, it focuses on a modern version of the water spirit who is torn by the primal need within her to kill her ex-partner and journey back to the sea, and her desire to remain human and love her new boyfriend. It's sure to be as thoughtful and heartbreaking as Petzold's recent works, with his descent into fantasy elements likely pushing his stellar aesthetics even further. – Logan K.