2008 preview: movies to look out for

2008: will it be better than 2007?
Take a look at the following list: the first quarter should be a stonker, the early summer holds much for comic geeks, but the second half lacks quality at the moment.
I've listed films in release date order, followed by some corkers that don't yet have releases set. All release dates are of course subject to change, particularly as England didn't make the Euro Finals, meaning some distributors may change their schedules.

Charlie Wilson's War 11 January
Directed by Mike Nichols, this Arron 'West Wing' Sorkin-scripted Cold War satire has been nominated for 5 Golden Globes. The film that puts Tom Hanks back on the map? Co-starring Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

No Country For Old Men 18 January
The Coen Brothers' latest is a mini-masterpiece, showcasing their trademarked skewed take on film noir. Nominated for four Golden Globes. Read my review on 17 January.

In The Valley of Elah 25 January
Produced, written and directed by Paul 'Crash' Haggis, this Iraq war-related drama stars Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron. Reviews should be strong.

Sweeney Todd 25 January
Tim Burton. Johnny Depp. The well-known musical. What's not to like? Nominated for four Golden Globes.

The Savages 25 January
An uncommonly humane comedy drama about losing an ageing parent, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and the brilliant Laura Linney. Read my review on 24 January.

Before The Devil Knows You're Dead 1 February
Sidney Lumet returns to top form with this corruption thriller starring Seymour Hoffman (again!), Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney and Marisa Tomei. Should be worth seeking out.

Cloverfield 1 February
From the man that brought us Alias and Lost, now comes Cloverfield. Likely to be the worldwide box office smash of the first quarter, this disaster movie is shot from one of the heroes' video camera POV - so expect plenty of stomach-churning wobbly camerawork. A huge monster attacks New York, chaos ensues, etc. Bring it on!

Things We Lost In The Fire 1 February
Superior drama with career-best performances from Benecio del Toro and Halle Berry. Read my review on 31 January.

Juno 8 February
Nominated for three Golden Globes and surprise winner of the Best Film Award at Rome, this is director Jason Reitman's second film (after Thank You For Smoking). Founded on a superb script and anchored by great performances, especially by Ellen Page's career-making turn as the potty-mouthed pregnant teen of the title, this was the sweetest comedy of 2007. Read my review on 7 February.

Jumper 15 February
The first super hero movie post-Heroes, this teleporting actioneer is directed by Doug Liman (Bourne Identity and Mr & Mrs Smith). Hayden Christensen and Samuel L Jackson star. Should have the brain to match the brawn.

Margot At The Wedding 29 February
Noah Baumbach's follow-up to the excellent The Squid And The Whale is another drama about dysfunctional and unlikeable characters, this time set at Jennifer Jason Leigh's wedding to Jack Black. Family chaos ensues when Leigh's sister, the sharp-tongued Nicole Kidman arrives. Reviews have been strong.

There Will Be Blood 29 February
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Daniel Day Lewis in a performance that may garner him another Oscar, this film tells the story of a prospector in the early days of the Texas oil business.

Lars And The Real Girl 21 March
Ryan Gosling could snag another Oscar-nom for his performance in this offbeat gem, in which his loner marries a blow-up doll; not wishing to ruin his new-found happiness, his friends and family treat her as real.

Persepolis 11 April
Nominated for best foreign film at the Golden Globes, this is the black and white animated adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novel telling the story of a headstrong girl growing up in Iran in the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution.

Iron Man 2 May
The latest Marvel super hero flick should be a corker: Robert Downey Jnr, in a role he was born to play, is billionaire industrialist Tony Stark, a womanising, alcoholic with the gift for creating the weapons the world needs who ultimately is forced to become the hero of the title, backed by an Oscar-friendly cast (Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard). I'm gagging for this!

Indy 4 22 May
Sorry, I can't be bothered to give it its full title: to the film-goer on the street this simply is Indy 4. Nuff said.

The Incredible Hulk 13 June
Marvel's second major adaptation of the year, and while the director has no real quality form to speak of, the cast is top-notch again: Ed Norton is Banner/Hulk, Liv Tyler his girlfriend Betty Ross, William Hurt her obsessed army father and Tim Roth the Russian scientist who becomes the Abomination. Surely it can't suck?

Wanted 20 June
An adaptation of Mark Millar's no holds barred super villian comic by the director of Night Watch with yet another fantastic cast: James McAvoy is the dweeb who finds out his father was one of the great super villians and that he is destined to be one too. The cast includes Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie and Terence Stamp. Should be good (although with many of the comic's more insulting, inventive edges and characters removed, more's the pity).

The Dark Knight 25 July
Christopher Nolan's sequel to his well-respected reboot Batman Begins features most of the same quality cast (Christian Bale as the titular hero, Michael Caine, and Gary Oldman) with the addition of Heath Ledger as the Joker. This really can't fail.

X-Files 2 1 August
The TV series spawned the rash of cult TV that dominates the airwaves (Alias, Lost, Heroes, etc), but will enough people care?
Co-written and directed by creator Chris Carter and with Duchovny and Anderson along for the ride, this will be a stand-alone story, not harking back to the convoluted mythology that killed off the TV series. Can Carter deliver the story and the dialogue? Can the leads re-generate the old chemistry? I certainly hope so!

Valkyrie 3 October
Bryan Singer's first proper push for Oscar, this is a thriller based on the true story of the plot to assassinate Hitler. Top of the bill is Tom Cruise, but don't let that put you off: the cast is simply stunning, full of British and European actors with a history of playing Nazis - Bill Nighy, Ken Branagh, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard, Tom Wilkinson, Stephen Fry, Carice Van Outen, Kevin McNally, and David Bamber. Mouthwatering, I'd say.

Bond 22 7 November
Need I say more?

Star Trek 11 26 December
JJ Abrams again, this time directing the origin of the classic Trek crew, lead by James T Kirk. Yet another intriguing cast, but surely just a Xmas delicacy for Trekkies?

Some top work without release dates set yet include: Grace Is Gone, Julio Medem's Chaotic Anna, Asif Kapadia's gripping Far North, and the achingly funny Son Of Rambow.

For more previews, try the Guardian.