The first few months of the movie year have become, well, weird. January includes a combination of awards contenders ("Selma,""American Sniper") and expected nonsense ("Taken 3,""The Wedding Ringer"), and what follows jumps around among high-profile franchises ("The Divergent Series: Insurgent,""Furious 7"), movies that have been delayed ("Jupiter Ascending,""Hot Tub Time Machine 2") and a handful of titles big and small ("Fifty Shades of Grey,""Unfinished Business") that could turn out about 10 different ways.
Here's a scattered, categorical breakdown of what's on tap at the movies for the next four months.
Awards contenders (that I've already seen)
Jan. 9
"Selma"
David Oyelowo deserves a best actor Oscar nomination for his turn a Martin Luther King Jr., and Ava DuVernay likely will be the first-ever woman of color to earn a best director nod.
"Inherent Vice"
Paul Thomas Anderson's ("The Master,""Magnolia") latest rides a strange vibe of early '70s paranoia and isn't for everyone. But it's a great, funny, challenging movie featuring another fantastic turn from Joaquin Phoenix.
Jan 16
"American Sniper"
Bradley Cooper likely will be left out of a crowded best actor field, but he's excellent in the true, Clint Eastwood-directed story of a Navy SEAL sniper who owns the record for the most confirmed kills.
Jan. 30
"Mommy"
Already passed over on the list of best foreign language Oscar finalists, this French-Canadian effort features some of the year's best performances. Though they won't be nominated, consider that endorsement one of several reasons to see this startling drama.
The big ones
Feb. 13
"Fifty Shades of Grey"
Everyone starts talking about bondage when Jamie Dornan ("Once Upon a Time") and Dakota Johnson ("Need for Speed") star in the big-screen version of E.J. James' steamy book. Is it hot in here, or is it just me?
Feb. 27
"Focus"
The con is on with this big-screen evidence that Will Smith and Margot Robbie can talk people out of and into anything. This might be the most believable premise of the season.
March 20
"The Divergent Series: Insurgent"
Chicago author Veronica Roth's bestselling series lands in the hands of the director of "Red" and "The Time Traveler's Wife." Great. At least Shailene Woodley and Theo James still are around.
April 3
"Furious 7"
This series has seven installments. Seven! Crazy. This one, of course, was finished after star Paul Walker passed away.
Possible nonsense
Jan. 9
"Taken 3"
Here we go again.
Jan. 23
"The Boy Next Door"
A teacher (Jennifer Lopez) sleeps with a student (Ryan Guzman) who also is her neighbor and eventually discovers that he's unstable. Warning: The trailer seems to reveal the entire story.
"Mortdecai"
This zany comedy, starring Johnny Depp as an art dealer, would look like a disaster if it didn't come from director David Koepp, whose last two movies ("Premium Rush,""Ghost Town") are both underrated.
Feb. 20
"The DUFF"
It's cool to see Mae Whitman ("Parenthood,""Arrested Development") get to star in a movie-this one's about a teenager who discovers she's the "Designated Ugly Fat Friend" in her clique-but are we really going to believe the 26-year-old Whitman and 17-year-old Bella Thorne as classmates?
March 6
"Unfinished Business"
Vince Vaughn (boo), Dave Franco (yay) and Tom Wilkinson (a very surprising third leg of this tripod) play colleagues trying to close an important deal. Could be hilarious or awful.
Movies that previously were delayed
Feb. 6
"Jupiter Ascending"
Pushed from last summer, this sci-fi epic from Chicago sibling filmmakers Lana and Andy Wachowski stars Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum. You've seen the ads. You hope it's good. We'll see.
"Seventh Son"
Ben Barnes ("The Chronicles of Narnia") gets another chance at stardom. The biggest question is if co-star Julianne Moore, assumed best actress winner for "Still Alice," will wish "Seventh Son" didn't open right before the Oscars.
Feb. 13
"Kingsman: The Secret Service"
Director Matthew Vaughn ("X-Men: First Class") helms this cool-looking secret agent saga, co-starring Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson.
Feb. 20
"Hot Tub Time Machine 2"
This makes a lot more sense as a February release than a Christmas Day release. Still happy about Adam Scott subbing in for John Cusack.
Chris Hemsworth starring roles
Jan. 16
"Blackhat"
In case a new movie from Michael Mann ("Heat,""Collateral") wasn't enough to capture your attention, this one gives Hemsworth a more complex character to work with than usual while telling a disturbingly timely story about powerful, dangerous hackers.
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March 13
"In the Heart of the Sea"
And now for another meaty Hemsworth role from another major director (Ron Howard): This great-looking action-drama is based on the true story of a ship's encounter with a very, very, very large whale.
Kevin Hart starring roles
Jan. 16
"The Wedding Ringer"
At a glance, this story of a cool dude (Kevin Hart) hired to be an awkward dude's (Josh Gad) best man looks like "Hitch" meets "I Love You, Man," minus any charm.
March 27
"Get Hard"
A car-wash employee (Kevin Hart) pretends to be an ex-convict to prepare a rich guy (Will Ferrell) for his time in prison. Looks funny, despite some similarities to "Malibu's Most Wanted."
Kevin Costner starring roles
Jan. 30
"Black or White"
A white man (Costner) fights for custody of his black granddaughter, and a discussion of race relations in the U.S. ensues. Octavia Spencer and Anthony Mackie co-star.
Feb. 20
"McFarland, USA"
Costner stars as the coach of a high school cross-country team in this drama, inspired by a true story. Who doesn't like sports movies like this ("Invincible,""Miracle")? Usually.
Movies about artificial intelligence
March 6
"Chappie"
Let's pretend "Elysium" never happened and get excited for this sci-fi effort from the director of "District 9" about a robot that can think and feel. Hugh Jackman and Dev Patel star.
April 10
"Ex Machina"
Does a woman who happens to be a machine (Alicia Vikander) actually have feelings for her assigned programmer (Domhnall Gleeson of "Unbroken"), or is the boss (Oscar Isaac) manipulating them?
Kids' stuff that raises our curiosity anyway
Jan. 16
"Paddington"
Spoiler alert: I've seen this live-action feature (with a CGI bear at its center), and it's delightful. Entertaining no matter how old you are.
March 13
"Cinderella"
Lily James ("Downton Abbey") and Cate Blanchett star in director Kenneth Branagh's live-action version of the much-told tale.
April 17
"Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2"
Yeah, I liked the first one, and I'm not ashamed of it.
Watch Matt review the week's big new movies Fridays at 11:30 a.m. on NBC.
mpais@tribune.com
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