Daniel Radcliffe faces a new evil in The Woman in Black (2012) trailer

Danielle Radcliffe has stretched his acting legs on Broadway, but now with the Harry Potter franchise finished he must continue his motion-picture career without his wand.  Instead of a snake-faced sorcerer, audiences will see him face an evil ghost out for revenge in his first feature film post-Volde-mortem (sorry had to).

The sensational, must-see trailers for Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy (2011) showcase an incredible cast

This is an absolute must-see film; Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011)  ranks in the top ten of my Most Anticipated Films list, partly because the novel was outstanding as well.  Given its release date, it will have to compete with the mega-blockbuster Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part 1, though if you choose that movie over this one then perhaps this isn’t as appealing to you.  Nonetheless, after watching the two provided previews you should be lining up to buy your ticket(s) already.  The first trailer displays brooding suspicion backed by part of Danny Elfman’s The Wolfman score, which helps elevate the preview to one of the year’s best.  The second trailer ups the intensity and utilizes one of this year’s best scores in Henry Jackman’s “Frankenstein’s Monster” from X-Men: First Class, also one of my favorite films of the year (full review HERE).  Aside from the creative genius found in the trailers, the film features an impeccable cast of British actors.  Hopefully Gary Oldman will finally get the awards-recognition he deserves; this film is a great opportunity for him to do so.

First preview of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’s score by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross

After winning last year’s Oscar for Best Original Musical Score for The Social Network (2010), David Fincher recruited Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross again for his English-language remake of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011).  Just a few months away from release, the studio has begun its marketing campaign, first with the teaser trailer (more information found HERE) and now with an early, seven-minute preview of Reznor and Ross’s haunting score.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt deals with the cancer diagnosis in the 50/50 (2011) trailer

Don’t be turned off or misled by the inclusion of the oft one-dimensional Seth Rogen, 50/50 (2011) has been regarded one of the year’s best yet-to-be-released films and most compelling dramas; the comedy is a nice touch to the dire situation, but by no means is the film to be considered a straight up comedy.  In actuality, early screenings had many viewers in tears at how well the film depicts the situation and praised Joseph Gordon-Levitt‘s portrayal of the conflicted character and Anna Kendrick’s strong performance as well.  Critics have applauded the filmmaker’s ability to smoothly shift between and balance the lighthearted tone with the grave prognosis.  My expectations for the film have steadily risen to the point that it nearly cracks the top twenty-five on my Most Anticipated Films list and may do so in a few weeks.

Elizabeth Olsen stars in the haunting trailer for Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

This film looks absolutely riveting.  Kudos to the editor(s) who crafted the trailer, as it features creepy music and slowly building yet palpable tension.  Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize (GJP) at and winning the Directing Award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) looks like another gem of an independent film thriller in the vein of last year’s GJP and screenwriting winner at Sundance Winter’s Bone (2010).  Similar to “making” Jennifer Lawrence, this indie flick allows Elizabeth Olsen, younger sister of the famous Mary Kate and Ashley, to prove her acting chops as her performance has been regarded as one of the year’s best and will likely garner an Oscar nomination.  The other obvious comparison, other than the settings, is supporting actor John Hawkes who appears as a country creeper once again and also should garner awards recognition.  In all, Martha Marcy May Marlene is pretty high on my list of Most Anticipated Films.

Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive (2011) races forward in the intense trailer

After winning the Best Director, garnering a nomination for the Palm D’Or (basically one of the highest honors at Cannes) at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, and seeing the release of the trailer, Drive (2011) has forced its way into the upper third of my Most Anticipated Films list.  Acclaimed director Nicolas Winding Refn (Valhalla Rising, Bronson) knows how to film hardcore, intense action flicks that also have some depth to them.  Moving on from visceral performances by Mads Mikkelson and Tom Hardy, Refn has chosen Ryan Gosling as his lead for this film.  Gosling has proven himself to be an acting force to be reckoned with, and much like Leondardo DiCaprio has done since the romance Titanic, Gosling has shed his Notebook roots and become a legitimate star.  Purely based on what’s shown in the preview, he seems to give another tremendous performance here.

The action-packed trailer for Coriolanus (2011) features another Shakespeare play set in modern-day

Ralph Fiennes is an exceptional actor, but he not only appears in this film but also directs it.  His modern-day update to the Shakespeare play Coriolanus (2011) looks to be a raw, action-packed powerhouse.  Opposite Gerard Butler, Fiennes looks as good as ever, if a bit melodramatic in the preview.  This film makes a modest appearance on my Most Anticipated Films list.

The heartbreaking trailer for Like Crazy (2011) shows the difficulty of long-distance relationships

Not everyone has praised the 2011 Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize (dramatic) and Special Jury Prize (acting) winner, but the first two previews for Like Crazy (2011) (the second of which is posted here) appear heartbreakingly beautiful.  Anyone who has struggled through a long-distance relationship ought to relate, and Felicity Jones’s performance has many people buzzing with admiration.  The film makes a decently high-ranking appearance on my Most Anticipated Films list.  The preview and premise has this independent romantic drama looking like a tear-jerking, poignant love-story.

The initial trailer for War Horse (2011) promises another tear-jerking Spielberg-directed war epic.

When you put Steven Spielberg together with World War II material, you get some of the finest filmmaking ever to grace the silver screen.  In fact, of all the blockbusters that have given him celebrity, he has only won Best Director twice: for Schindler’s List (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998).  When he announced that he would make yet another war epic, though this time regarding World War I, many people went ballistic and would surely blitzkrieg to a nearby theater as soon as its released.  War Horse (2011) seems to have all the ingredients for an amazing yet heart-breaking war story, complete with master composer John Williams scoring the film.

The chilling Dream House (2011) trailer reveals mind-boggling psychological-horror

Just because the trailer for Dream House (2011) appears to spoil some significant plot points does not mean the film is ruined; in fact, the studio may intend to reveal certain “twists” when in reality they are not twists but simply part of the premise to begin with.  Nonetheless, the comparison to The Others (2001), The Amityville Horror, and Shutter Island (2010) seem fairly apt, in so far as the preview features a haunted house, perhaps with primary characters as ghosts themselves, and a mental institution patient who doesn’t remember he is one.  However, based on the cast, director, and chilling trailer, I have high hopes for Dream House, as it ranks well on my Most Anticipated Films list.