MAKING hard and fast predictions about the films coming out in the year ahead is a mug's game.
Many of the highlights are yet to be unfurled at film festivals like January’s Sundance, February’s Berlin and May’s Cannes, followed by Toronto and Venice in September.
Here there are bound to be surprises that no-one has predicted; if we’re lucky, one or two movies will arrive like a starburst and dazzle everyone who sees it - witness the French silent movie tribute The Artist at Cannes in 2011.
While some of these new discoveries will be released in the year ahead, a few will be held back for the following year, as is the case with The Artist, finally due for Australian release in February.
Conversely, highly anticipated films - ones from respected directors, featuring beloved stars, or part of a popular “franchise” - can all too easily turn out to be bombs; years in the making and destined to be forgotten in an instant.
Of course some of the bigger Hollywood movies will never see light of day at festivals and instead be kept under close wraps ready for their mega-marketed launches - though websites devoted to leaks from audience test screenings such as Ain’t It Cool News will do their darnedest to spoil any shocks.
Looking ahead is not all guess work though. Since the date of the Academy Awards was brought forward a few years ago, critics and other entertainment media tend to be shown many of the big-ticket items due for release in the first couple of months of the year.
You can add to that the number of independent and foreign language releases that gain premieres on Australia’s own film festival circuit - a testing ground for many film distributors, who use it to gauge audience reaction and spread the word on their top films.
As a result, I’m fortunate enough to have seen eight out of the upcoming 10 films listed here (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/gallery-e6frg8pf-1226225658544) and can say with confidence that if 2012 also brings the release of some other great titles it will be a rewarding year for cinema lovers.
Of course some of the bigger Hollywood movies will never see light of day at festivals and instead be kept under close wraps ready for their mega-marketed launches - though websites devoted to leaks from audience test screenings such as Ain’t It Cool News will do their darnedest to spoil any shocks.
Looking ahead is not all guess work though. Since the date of the Academy Awards was brought forward a few years ago, critics and other entertainment media tend to be shown many of the big-ticket items due for release in the first couple of months of the year.
You can add to that the number of independent and foreign language releases that gain premieres on Australia’s own film festival circuit - a testing ground for many film distributors, who use it to gauge audience reaction and spread the word on their top films.
As a result, I’m fortunate enough to have seen eight out of the upcoming 10 films listed here (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/gallery-e6frg8pf-1226225658544) and can say with confidence that if 2012 also brings the release of some other great titles it will be a rewarding year for cinema lovers.
A Few Best Men
Sure, it’s tasteless in the Hollywood grossout manner. But Stephan Elliott's best chance at a hit since The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is also very funny, thanks in part to Olivia Newton John’s priceless turn as a coke-crazed mother-of-the-bride. Pictured is Tim Draxl, Kevin Bishop, Kris Marshall and Xavier Samuel.
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