I don’t wait for too much movies in 2012: the only movie I most anticipate in this year is “The Dark Knight Rises” and it really amused me. As the news spread and the trailers or photos released, some movies are considered to be recommended, either because of the quality that is brought by the crew or the cast (and of course a bigger chance to enter next year’s movie award season) or the story itself. I see the chances of these movies to be highly appreciated in the movie award season, though I still put some movies that suit my taste in this list. Below is a list of 14 movies I’d like to watch for the rest of the year, sorted descendingly by how eagerly I am to see them :)

PRECAUTION: This list is more likely to list award's choices (because, again, I don't wait for too much movies except for "The Dark Knight Rises", which has been released, or "Skyfall"), so you won't find out movies like "Total Recall", "Resident Evil", whatsoever. I'm sorry in advance.

RELEASE DATE 7 Sept 2012 (Canada, Toronto International Film Festival) GENRE Drama CAST Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kelly Macdonald, Matthew Macfayden WRITER Tom Stoppard (screenplay), Leo Tolstoy (novel) DIRECTOR Joe Wright

This movie is so Academy. I mean, Academy loves this kind of movie and missing this movie could mean missing the celebration of the awards. That’s why I think I should watch “Anna Karenina”, regardless how I am wondering  how boring this movie will be. This movie is about, of course, Anna Karenina (played by Keira Knightley), a girl from late 19th century Russia high society who get involved in a romance with Count Vronsky (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Again, Keira Knightley meets Joe Wright in this movie and I see that “Anna Karenina” will go slightly the same with “Atonement” or “Pride & Prejudice” where both worked together. The limited release of this movie in Toronto International Film Festival ends up as mixed reviews from the media. “Atonement” and “Pride & Prejudice” got so much appreciation in Oscar, so let see if “Anna Karenina” will do the same next year. SEE TRAILER HERE

RELEASE DATE 31 Aug 2012 (USA, Telluride Film Festival) GENRE Biography, Comedy, Drama CAST Bill Murray, Ollivia Williams, Laura Linney, Olivia Colman, Samuel West WRITER Richard Nelson DIRECTOR Roger Michell

Again, some media on the web make “Hyde Park on Hudson” into another candidate of next year’s Oscar. “Hyde Park on Hudson” is more likely to be a biopic compared to “Anna Karenina”: it talks about the affair that Franklin D. Roosevelt (played by Bill Murray) and Margareth Stuckley (played by Laura Linney), his distant cousin, made while the King and Queen of Great Britain came to visit New York. Of course, the presence of Bill Murray will make this movie a bit more comedic rather than too drama. The trailer of “Hyde Park on Hudson” shot good cinematographic scenes that will attract viewers at the first sight. Roger Michell, the director, is well-known for “Notting Hill” and I didn’t find any other appreciation records about him. Well, let’s see how “Hyde Park on Hudson” will be after its public release on this year-end. SEE TRAILER HERE

RELEASE DATE 2 Sept 2012 (Italy, Venice Film Festival) GENRE Drama, Romance CAST Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Olga Kurylenko, Javier Bardem, Charles Baker WRITER Terrence Mallick DIRECTOR Terrence Mallick

This is the next work of the artsy Terrence Mallick, right after he made the outstanding “The Tree of Life” last year. As a romantic drama, “To The Wonder” talks about a man reconnected to a woman after his break-up. “To The Wonder” made its debut on Venice Film Festival this September, and although it brought a Golden Lion nomination for Mallick, it is not so much discussed. Maybe the power of “The Master”, that made its debut on the same event, was so high that it made “To The Wonder” left unnoticed. However, some media said that “To The Wonder” was still surprisingly achieving and beautiful. The Mallick Effect is what attracts me to watch it, although I know that the probability of it being released publicly was small. 

RELEASE DATE 14 Dec 2012 (Canada) GENRE Drama, Musical CAST Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Helena Bonham Carter WRITER Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil (book by), Victor Hugo (based on the novel by), Herbert Kretzmer (lyrics), Alain Boublil (original: French text), Jean-Marc Natel (original: French text), James Fenton (additional text), William Nicholson (screenplay) DIRECTOR Tom Hooper

The latest movie-remake of this popular classic novel by Victor Hugo was made in 1998, starring Uma Thurman, Liam Neeson, and Geoffrey Rush. Now, “Les Misérables” back to the big screen. Directed by Tom Hooper, who successfully brought an Oscar statue as the 2011 “Best Director” for “The King’s Speech”, and starred by so much well-qualified casts like Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Hugh Jackman, Helena Bonham Carter, and Russell Crowe, of course “Les Misérables” come with a special package you won’t miss. I see that the competition for next Oscars gonna be so full of drama (again) and  “Les Misérables” could be one of the hardest competitors. The musical touch, of course, will likely win some appreciations. I am just looking forward how Hathaway could probably put herself in the list of Oscar’s “Best Leading Actress” nominators, because this is a good chance for her to get it back. SEE TRAILER HERE