The Edge of the Frame

It’s funny to pay attention to world-class director Steven Spielberg’s working schedule. The man has a habit of going on two to three year hiatuses without releasing any films. Then, suddenly he will compete against himself by releasing upwards of two films in a very short time frame. He performed this act in 2005 with “War of the Worlds” and “Munich,” in 2002 with “Catch Me If You Can” and “Minority Report,” in 1997 with “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” and “Amistad,” and, perhaps his most acclaimed and successful year, in 1993 with “Schindler’s List” and “Jurassic Park.”

Now, 2011 will become another such “year of Spielberg.” Will it be a good one? Who can tell at this point. Everyone has heard quite a bit about the auteur’s animated venture with Peter Jackson, “The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn.” I am personally not looking forward to this project at all, however, without a highly profile Pixar release this year (I consider the idea of a “Cars” sequel to be laughable), the Best Animated Feature category at the Oscars is really kind of wide open, this year. And how hilarious would it be to see Steven Spielberg accept and Academy Award for the animated medium?

Meanwhile, Spielberg’s other project, “War Horse” has been largely secretive in its production phase. The film is adapted from both a 1982 children’s novel and highly acclaimed stage play from the current decade. It tells the story of a teenage boy and his horse who share a very strong connection of friendship. However, that relationship is separated when the horse is conscripted into service in World War I. The film sounds to me like sentimental-city, but it is Spielberg paired up with a story of war, a subject he has definitely reached some level of expertise at directing.

Anyway, the first stills from the film have been released. One is above and the rest are below. The movie is currently entering the cutting room and is slated for a December release. I am highly anticipating it.