With the help of ASB president Rod Bridges, Movie reviewer Mary Moses Hitt takes a look at fall’s upcoming films.
The Sci-Fi – The Martian
Release Date: October 2
Why You Should See It: Andy Weir’s debut novel “The Martian” has skyrocketed from free online release to New York Times Best Sellers list to the big screen in a matter of four years. With director Ridley Scott (“Alien”, “Gladiator”) and screenwriter Drew Goddard (“Cloverfield”, “Cabin in the Woods”) collaborating on their latest sci-fi flick, the promise of a great film is there. Much like the role he played in Nolan’s “Interstellar” last fall, Matt Damon stars as an astronaut who must survive the extreme elements of space after his team leaves him stranded on Mars. If “Apollo 13”, “Gravity” and “Castaway” somehow all had a love-child, this would be it. Expect “The Martian” to be a huge hit when it crash lands into theaters this October.
The Biopic – Steve Jobs
Release Date: October 9
Why You Should See It: Many have attempted–and many have failed horribly–to give the world a glimpse into the mind of the man behind the most valuable company in the world. This time around, Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (“The Social Network”, “The West Wing”) and Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle (“Slumdog Millionaire”) are teaming up to adapt Walter Isaacson’s bestselling biography of the same name. Ambitiously structured as a three-act drama that takes place 40 minutes before a few of Apple’s biggest product launches, the film aims to paint a complex, stark portrait of Steve Jobs. With Michael Fassbender playing the titular role and Seth Rogen, Kate Winslet and Jeff Daniels playing members of the Apple team, the stars have finally aligned to provide a biopic movie-goers deserve.
The Family Film – Pan
Release Date: October 9
Why You Should See It: We all know how the Darling children got to Neverland, but how did Peter? Director Joe Wright (“Atonement”, “Hannah”), through this upcoming prequel, provides a unique twist to an age-old story everyone knows and loves. Throughout his adventure in Neverland, Peter will team up with a young Captain James Hook (Garrett Hedlund) to take down the nefarious Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman), while also meeting some familiar faces and creatures along the way. Through cutting-edge CGI, colorful costumes and extravagant set pieces, “Pan” will hopefully have families leaving the theaters full of happy thoughts.
The Period Piece – Bridge of Spies
Release Date: October 16
Why You Should Go See It: Steven Spielberg + Tom Hanks + the Coen Brothers = enough said. Heck, if this movie were actually about another werewolf/vampire/depressed teen love triangle, we’d probably still see it… Maybe. Luckily, this incredible combination of talent is taking audiences to the thick of the Cold War, in which one Brooklyn lawyer participates in high-stakes negotiations for the release of an American U-2 pilot who has fallen in the hands of the Soviet Union.
The Gamechanger – Beasts of No Nation
Release Date: October 16
Why You Should See It: Both on-screen and off-screen, “Beasts of No Nation” is gaining some tremendous traction as we inch closer to October 16. Netflix’s first official foray into the theatrical film realm comes in swinging as it focuses on an orphaned African boy who is adopted by a charismatic warlord (Idris Elba) and brainwashed into becoming a ruthless killing machine. With Cary Fukunaga (“True Detective”) at the director’s helm, “Beasts of No Nation” is guaranteed to make you cringe, make you cry and make you wish that the horrors of war weren’t so devastatingly tragic. If you’re a Netflix subscriber, look for this in your queue next month–if you’re not, you might be hard-pressed to find the movie in theaters, since multiple cinema chains have refused to release it.
The Animated Choice – The Peanuts Movie
Release Date: November 6
Why You Should See It: Good grief! Almost 65 years since their appearance in the Sunday papers, Charles Schulz’s iconic, beloved characters Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, Lucy, Linus, Sally and the rest of the gang are making their big screen debut in “The Peanuts Movie”. For the generations who grew up watching the “Peanuts” cartoons or reading the comic strips, this film will reintroduce the characters in a unique hybrid of 2D/3D animation and pave the way for a whole new generation of moviegoers to fall in love with a little boy named Charlie Brown and his adventurous beagle. Hopefully, if this does well enough, studios will get smart and greenlight a Calvin & Hobbes film.
The Modern Classic – SPECTRE
Release Date: November 6
Why You Should See It: When we first heard the title of Daniel Craig’s next outing, we were instantly taken back to the Sean Connery days of James Bond. “SPECTRE” refers to the international crime syndicate full of villainous masterminds that have equalled 007 throughout the decades–Dr. No, Emilio Largo and Ernst Stavro Blofeld to name a few. We’re personally excited to see how Sam Mendes, Daniel Craig & Co. top 2012’s excellent, nostalgic “Skyfall”, especially after the events that introduced a new Q, M, and Moneypenny (spoiler alert). Christoph Waltz (“Inglorious Basterds”) is playing Franz Oberhauser, a member of “SPECTRE”, so expect another eccentric villain, a beautiful Aston Martin, explosions, exotic locales and shaken (not stirred) martinis.
The Moneymaker – The Hunger Games – Mockingjay Part 2
Release Date: November 20
Why You Should Be Excited: When the Harry Potter era ended in 2011, crazed fans were desperate for another book-trilogy-turned-movie-trilogy that gave them the excuse to attend even more midnight premieres. Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” became this outlet for many people, and after three years in Panem, the J-Law vs. Donald Sutherland battle will come to an end in this final installation—“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2”. Whether fans are Team Peeta or Team Gale, the film shows all the signs of satisfying the fanbase and breaking the box office. If you’ve been watching the “Hunger Games” movies to this point, might as well finish it out.
The Oscar Bait – The Danish Girl
Release Date: November 27
Why You Should See It: Fresh off his Oscar win for portraying Stephen Hawking, Eddie Redmayne has all the trimmings to be nominated yet again for his depiction of Einar Wegener and his transformation into female Lili Elbe. This film and its focus on the transgender community adds to the recent list of empowering films that have used historical backdrops to bring light to modern issues, such as “The Imitation Game” (homosexuality), “Selma” (civil rights), and “Suffragette” (women’s rights). As it makes its way through the film festival circuit, Oscar buzz for “The Danish Girl” has only gotten louder.
