So Get Down, Down Here Beside Me: Five Upcoming Films That Should Be on Your Radar

By Cindy Davis | Lists | August 16, 2012 |

By Cindy Davis | Lists | August 16, 2012 |

Not sure what might be on the off-the-beaten film horizon after the summer of mostly humid blahs? Here are a few films of different genres that may peak your autumnal into wintry interests.

Brian De Palma’s Passion: De Palma returns to the psychological thriller with this remake of Alain Corneau’s Love Crime. Rachel McAdams stars as a high powered executive who demeans, and steals ideas from her naive assistant, played by Noomi Rapace. The director was drawn to the story’s “eroticism, suspense, mystery and murder,” and likened its elements to Dressed to Kill. (The newly released photos remind me of Almodóvar’s The Skin I Live In, which haunts me still.) Passion will premiere at both the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals.

Joseph Kosinski’s Oblivion: Adaptation of Kosinski’s (Tron: Legacy) graphic novel about a veteran soldier, Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) stranded on an alien planet, where he repairs drones that are cleaning up the previous inhabitants’ remains. A downed spacecraft brings unexpected company and triggers a series of events that puts humanity’s fate into Harper’s hands. Oblivion also stars Morgan Freeman, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Melissa Leo, Olga Kurylenko and Andrea Riseborough. Release date: April 12, 2013.

Andres Muschietti’s Mama: Based on Muschietti’s own short film (see video below), this supernatural thriller is produced by Guillermo del Toro. Two little girls disappear the day their mother was murdered. Discovered in a cabin after five years, they are taken in by their aunt and uncle, Annabel (Jessica Chastain) and Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). Annabel comes to believe there may be another guest in her home—the ghost of the girls’ mother—who may be an obstacle to dear Auntie’s own dastardly plans…dum dum dum…

Terry Gilliam’s The Zero Theorem: In perhaps a return to Brazil-land, Christoph Waltz will play reclusive computer genius, Qohen Leth in this dystopian fantasy “about a man waiting for a telephone call that will give meaning to his life. Some other things happen as well. It’s profound and funny in more or less equal measures…” Just the thought of Gilliam and Waltz together makes my head go tingly.

James Marsh’s Shadow Dancer: Set in 1990s Belfast, Andrea Riseborough stars as a single mother and IRA member turned MI5 informant, with Clive Owen as the officer trying to get information and keep her safe. The “brilliant, taut thriller” by the director of Man on Wire and “Red Riding: 1980” premiered at Sundance to great reviews and also stars Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen and Michael McElhatton. Premieres in Ireland August 24th.

Cindy Davis loves that creepy Collins laugh.