Worst2First: My Most Anticipated Films Winter 2016-2017

Worst2First: 

My Most Anticipated Films Winter 2016-2017

With the arrival of winter, it's also time for the dramatic movies to take form on the big screen.  This winter brings a lot of different films to the table, and it's shaping to be a great winter at the movies.  There's several films to look forward to, and I picked ten of the films I'm most excited to see this winter (which, to my definition, falls between December-February).

**There will be no spoilers since the films 

aren't actually released yet.

Also, the release dates are subject to change.**

#10

Hidden Figures

January 6

Featuring an all-star cast including Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst and Jim Parsons, "Hidden Figures" tells the true-life story of a team of African American women in the 60s who were pivotal in providing the mathematical data to successfully send a man into space.  With Oscar nominee Henson and Oscar winner Spencer at the helm, it'll be no surprise to see this being a strong Oscar contender.

#9

Patriots Day

January 13

Director Peter Berg and actor Mark Wahlberg have worked together on some truly amazing movies including "Lone Survivor" and "Deepwater Horizon," and now they've come together again to tell the powerful true story of the Boston Marathon bombing.  It looks to be one of those tear-jerker movies with a stellar cast including Wahlberg, John Goodman, JK Simmons and Kevin Bacon.

#8

The LEGO Batman Movie

February 10

"The LEGO Movie" was a huge surprise hit that was witty, hilarious and filled with heart, and a delight for young and old alike.  Its breakout star was Batman, voiced by the amazing Will Arnett, and now he has his own spinoff movie that looks just as funny, and features the voice talents of Ralph Fiennes, Rosario Dawson, Zach Galifianakis and Michael Cera as possibly the most amazing Robin ever seen on screen.  Looks to be another massive hit for the growing LEGO franchise.

#7

La La Land

December 16

I'm a sucker for musicals, and there just doesn't seem to be that many out there nowadays.  "Les Miserables" and "The Artist" are some of my recent favorites, and it looks like "La La Land" will join that list.  It's already garnered significant Oscar buzz, and combining the talents of Oscar nominees Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone for their third outing (they previously appeared in "Crazy, Stupid, Love" and "Gangster Squad") - not to mention their natural charisma and on-screen chemistry - it'll be no surprise to see this on several critics' top choice lists and Oscar nominations.

#6

Split

January 20

To say M. Night Shyamalan is a lopsided director wouldn't be far of a stretch.  He brought films like "The Sixth Sense" and "Unbreakable" to the big screen, but also directed flat-out flops like "The Lady in the Water," "The Last Airbender" and "After Earth."  It looked like his career was over, but then he brought "The Visit," and it became a surprise hit with a suspenseful tale.  "Split" looks to be an incredibly promising movie about a man who has 24 different personalities, one of which seems to transform him into a literal monster, led by the always incomparable James McAvoy.

#5

Nocturnal Animals

December 9

Oscar nominees Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal star in this highly cerebral tale of murder, revenge and secrets between a formerly happy married couple, mixed in with a revenge tale written by the husband that gives the film a second layer of suspense and drama.  Adding to the caliber of actors are Oscar nominees Michael Shannon and Laura Linney, as well as Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Isla Fisher and Michael Sheen.

#4

God Particle

February 24

Not much is known about this sci-fi epic, but according to imdb.com, the synopsis reads: "A shocking discovery forces a team of astronauts aboard a space station to fight for survival while their reality has been altered."  The film features Daniel Bruhl, Ziyi Zhang, Chris O'Dowd and David Oyelowo, and according to J.J. Abrams, it will serve as another addition to the "Cloverfield" franchise, which is what makes this such a highly anticipated film, especially after the audience and critical success of "10 Cloverfield Lane."

#3

Passengers

December 21

Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence and everyone's lovable action hero Chris Pratt team up for the first time in "Passengers," a story of two people accidentally awakened 90 years before they were supposed to, on a spaceship traveling to a distant planet, while the remaining thousand people remain in stasis.  Being the only two people awake, they eventually fall in love and must also protect the other passengers from a calamity affecting the ship.  With a brilliant blend of romance, sci-fi and thrilling suspense - not to mention the high caliber acting talent - this will easily be a huge crowd-pleasing feature film.

#2

Collateral Beauty

December 16

"I was there in her love, but I'm also here now in your pain."  If I didn't want to see this film before, that line itself solidified by desire and made me all the more excited for it.  Even though it seems like a typical Will Smith movie, it still looks to be one amazingly moving tale.  After losing his young daughter, a man looses purpose in life and writes letters to Love, Time and Death, only to have them reply in the form of personified humans.  The cast is outstanding, including Will Smith, Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet, Edward Norton, Keira Knightley and Michael Pena, and the tale is as heartwarming as heart-wrenching, and I'm truly excited to see this.

#1

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

December 16

"Rogue One" takes place between Episodes III and IV, where the Death Star has just been created and is about to be tested, and a team of heroes set out to destroy it before it can unleash its power.  Gareth Edwards ("Monsters," "Godzilla") directs and Felicity Jones, Forest Whitaker and Mads Mikkelsen star in this prequel tale that will no doubt be a huge success, and will keep audiences on edge for the anticipated Episode VIII.  Plus it marks the return of Darth Vader, and James Earl Jones reprises the iconic villain's ominous voice.