A Reel Preview - The Year in Film 2013: Final Episode

Believe it or not, the final month of the year is upon us, and with it comes an onslaught of Oscar hopefuls. Reel Speak’s final Episode previewing the year in the film 2013 hits the ground running with:

OUT OF THE FURNACE – Writer/director Scott Cooper (CRAZY HEART) directs an all-star cast in this tale about two brothers in the Rust Belt. Stars Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson, Willem Dafoe, Forest Whitaker, Sam Shepard, and Zoe Saldana.

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS – Joel and Ethan Coen (FARGO, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN) return for another Oscar run with this brooding look at a folk singer trying to make his way. Stars Oscar Isaac (DRIVE), Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund, and Justin Timberlake.

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG – Peter Jackson’s second part to his adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s famed novel finally unleashes the magnificence of the dragon Smaug. Martin Freeman returns as Bilbo Baggins, while Ian McKellen reprises Gandalf the wizard for a fifth time.

SAVING MR. BANKS – Tom Hanks stars as Mr. Walt Disney in this story of how MARY POPPINS was brought to the big screen. Co-stars Emma Thompson, Colin Farrell, Paul Giamatti, and Bradley Whitford.

AMERICAN HUSTLE – Oscar darling David O’Russell (THE FIGHTER, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK), directs another all-star cast in this flick which fictionalizes one of the biggest scandals the nation has ever seen. Stars Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jeremy Renner.

HOURS – One of the final films of the late Paul Walker.

TRICKED – In what may be one of the most unique documentary films ever made, Paul Verhoeven (ROBOCOP, TOTAL RECALL), directs a film composed of seven different stories; based upon scripts submitted by seven different competitors to put together one of the first user-generated films.

HER – Spike Jonze (WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, ADAPTATION), directs this quirky yet heartful film about a withdrawn writer (Joaquin Phoenix), who falls in love with his new computer’s highly advanced artificial intelligence. Scarlett Johansson provides the voice of the computer, while Amy Adams and Rooney Mara (THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO) tag along.

ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES – The long-awaited followup to ANCHORMAN finally gets to show its classiness. Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, and Christina Applegate reprise their roles in this sequel directed by Adam McKay (ANCHORMAN, STEP BROTHERS).

47 RONIN – Keanu Reeves joins a group of 47 outcast Samurai on a mission of revenge.

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET – Famed director Martin Scorsese (GOODFELLAS, THE DEPARTED) is back; this time with an adaptation of Jordan Belfort’s memoir concerning a crooked banker in the 1990’s. Stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughy, Jonah Hill, and Jean Dujardin (THE ARTIST).

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY – Ben Stiller directs and stars in this visual stunner about a daydreaming man who escapes his real life by disappearing into a fantasy world. Co-stars Patton Oswalt, Kristen Wiig, and Shirley MacLaine.

GRUDGE MATCH – Sylvester Stallone and Robert DeNiro star as two retired boxers who renew their decades-old rivalry in a rematch.

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY – John Wells (of TV’s ER fame) directs this dark comedy about a dysfunctional family who reunites after decades apart. Stars Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis, Ewan McGregor, and Abigal Breslin.

THE INVISIBLE WOMAN – Ralph Fiennes directs and stars as Charles Dickens in this love story. Co-stars Kristin Scott-Thomas.

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In a few weeks: The Year in Film 2014…Episode I.