Fall & Winter Movie Calendar
Movies come and go without much fanfare now during covid and streaming releases. I miss the events of the movies. We try to make events of a few now and then, but I understand movies as we knew them are just changing. Not dying, but evolving. Not in a good way in my opinion, but hey, sometimes your body just has an appendix that could burst at any time. Don’t see why, but it’s there. That said, here goes some movies that may come out this fall. September, October, November & December. Here’s to hoping Covid numbers are lower then.
Going to try a new format. Telling you why it might be good or why it might be bad then my prediction if it’s a thumbs up or thumbs down.
SEPTEMBER 3RD
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Short Term 12) Starring: Simu Liu, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, Benedict Wong, Ben Kingsley and Tim Roth
Why it might be good - Branching out and trying to make a new hero that isn’t just a buff white guy. Cretton has been a good director of humans and since we all know Marvel directors don’t actually get to direct about half of their movies, hopefully the half he does get to work on is solid.
Why it might be bad - Fatigue of superheroes finally kicking in and this just being fine at best like Black Widow and just coming and going since there aren’t huge stars attached. The same reason I mentioned about directors not getting to actually direct these is why it will probably not be worth your time. But Marvel rarely misses (never?) and I’m sure this one will be the same. I’m cheering for it, but not much hope.
Prediction - thumbs down
Worth directed by Sara Colangelo (The Kindergarten Teacher) Starring: Michael Keaton, Amy Ryan, and Stanley Tucci
Why it might be good - Michael Keaton, Amy Ryan, Stanley Tucci, and directed by someone who knows how to create suspense just with tone. Looks like it might have that Spotlight / A Civil Action vibes of a courtroom drama. Helping victims of 9/11 is something we will be able to get behind and cheer for the leads.
Why it might be bad - It’s a Netflix movie, and those are good about the amount of time that is equal to a decent baseball batting average. Poster sucks, and the title changed. These things may not mean anything but I chose this format.
Prediction - thumbs up
We Need to Do Something directed by Sean King O’Grady () Starring: Lisette Alexis, Pat Healy, and Vinessa Shaw
Why it might be good - Book adaptation about a family stuck inside during a storm and realizing something is wrong. It’s listed as a horror film and Pat Healy is the dad. That’s all I need. Also, a name like that director has makes me think he won’t be bad.
Why it might be bad - Indie horror has a low batting average just like Netflix but it also has much more goodwill from me. I don’t see this being worse than fine.
Prediction - thumbs up
SEPTEMBER 10TH
The Card Counter directed by Paul Schrader (First Reformed) Starring: Oscar Isaac, Willem Dafoe, Tiffany Haddish, and Tye Sheridan
Why it might be good - One of my favorite writer/directors has Oscar Isaac and Willem Dafoe doing a slow burn thriller about war crimes and poker. Tiffany Haddish plays the romantic interest. One of my most anticipated of the year.
Why it might be bad - Schrader is one of the highest ceiling lowest floor filmmakers. He made The Canyons, he made Dog Eat Dog (which is not bad but it’s not good either) all within this decade. He wears influences on his sleeve and sometimes those influences make for great film, and other times they are experiments that don’t work. So this could be a failed one. But, I’m very hopeful.
Prediction - thumbs up
Malignant directed by James Wan (The Conjuring) Starring: Annabelle Wallis
Why it might be good - One of the most successful directors in modern history is back with an original horror movie with a pretty good poster. A woman is dealing with terrifying visions that may actually be real. I like the sound of all of this. I’m an easy mark for horror and I think this has mostly promising details.
Why it might be bad - No well known good actors, and led by Annabelle Wallis, who I find boring. This has a chance to be a dud. Wan, while I am a defender, has fully gone huge studio filmmaker. Him coming back to smaller budget horror without great actors makes me wonder if he has it in him to put the real work in here. I am dubious, but hope I’m wrong.
Prediction - thumbs down :(
SEPTEMBER 17TH
Cry Macho directed by Clint Eastwood (A lot of things, let’s go with Sully) Starring: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam, and Eduardo Minett
Why it might be good - The old man just keeps going and making things that sound like I will love them. This time he stars as a former rodeo star who takes a job bringing a kid home and away from his alcoholic mother and teaches him what it means to be a good man. The Mule had it’s flaws but was a good movie. Clint rarely misses and made me cry with Richard Jewell. I’m ready to cry again, but this time, MACHO.
Why it might be bad - Clint is old as hell and eventually will mess one up. He isn’t a great actor anymore, his movies have weird TV lighting to them now and he makes things so fast I can’t imagine even with his level of experience nailing it each time. I’ll still be surprised if it doesn’t work.
Prediction - thumbs up
The Eyes of Tammy Faye directed by Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) Starring: Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Cherry Jones
Why it might be good - Jessica Chastain is going for that Oscar. Andrew Garfield and her will be playing the famous Bakker couple who are some of the most influential Televangelists in history and helped create a culture of horrible con artists following in their wake. I am endlessly interested in these con artist types using faith to mask greed and ego. Showalter is a solid director, and this cast is good enough to make anything work.
Why it might be bad - Jessica Chastain going fo rthat Oscar. They are doing accents, wearing makeup, and really going for it. That kind of thing raises volatility. It’s hard to explain but I’m actually expecting to be disappointed and I hope I’m wrong.
Prediction - thumbs down
The Nowhere Inn directed by Bill Benz () Starring: Annie Clark, Carrie Brownstein, and Dakota Johnson
Why it might be good - St. Vincent and Carrie Brownstein trying to make a meta movie that sounds like it is up my alley. I don’t have anymore info, but Annie Clark is probably a good actor and I am bullish on this.
Why it might be bad - Lots of chances here. St. Vincent may not be a good enough actor. The idea might lose steam or just be boring. It might be going for a Persona but with 1% of the creativity. I am torn which way to feel. Tie goes to the runner.
Prediction - thumbs up
Prisoners of the Ghostland directed by Sion Sono (Suicide Club) Starring: Nicolas Cage & Sofia Butella
Why it is good - Nicolas Cage continues his great year with a wild movie I got to see at Sundance. But a wild movie that actually earns his performance. He’s pretty subdued and playing it quieter. More like a stoic tough guy western performance. It is a a strange out of the subconscious movie that features a testicle exploding, evil curse, and samurai fights this one is exciting and worth watching.
I Am Your Man directed by Maria Schrader (Unorthodox) Starring: Marin Eggert, Dan Stevens, and Sandra Huller
Why it might be good - A woman joins an experiment where she lives with a robot designed to be her ideal life partner. Dan Stevens is the humanoid robot and I think that is perfect casting. I’ve seen good things about this from festivals. Sounds like an A.I. story I can get into.
Why it might be bad - Indie movies with big concepts can end up being boring since they let the themes do most of the work and then it just looks like a TV pilot. I have hope but I also have my feelers up here.
Prediction - thumbs up
OCTOBER 1ST
The Many Saints of Newark directed by Alan Taylor (Thor: The Dark World) Starring: Alessandro Nivola, Michael Gandolfini, Vera Farmiga, Jon Bernthal, and Corey Stoll
Why it might be good - Easily one of the most universally anticipated of the year. James Gandolfini is missed greatly and getting to see his son play his most iconic character is bittersweet and wonderful. Alessandro Nivola leading the way and brings along Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, and Corey Stoll. I think this is at worst a good movie that is only for fans. I think at best it could be a top 5 of the year that is good without even knowing the show.
Why it might be bad - Gandolfini’s son is stunt casting and not actually good? Maybe it has one too many fake noses or call backs? Maybe it is boring since we don’t have the characters we love? Nah. I don’t think so. This movie will rule.
Prediction - thumbs up
Titane directed by Julia Ducournau (Raw) Starring: Vincent Lindon, Agathe Rousselle, and Garance Mariller
Why it will be good and there’s no other option - An incredible trailer got me more excited for this than anything else I’ve seen images of this year besides my guy PTA’s new movie. Raw was one of the most confident impressive debut films. Now she is back with her Palme d’Or winner. She has become one of the great directors of the 21st century and I expect this oddball will continue that streak. I’ll be surprised if this isn’t a top 5, and at least top 10 for me.
Coming Home in the Dark directed by James Ashcroft () Starring: Daniel Gillies, Erik Thomson, Miriama McDowell and Matthias Luafutu
Why it is good - A morality tale with a mean streak dealing with some dark history of New Zealand’s educational system. It has Funny Games on a roadtrip feeling to it that won’t be for everyone but if you have the stomach for tense thrillers and horror you should be right on board with this one. One of the best movies I saw during Sundance.
OCTOBER 8TH
No Time to Die directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective Season 1) Starring: Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Rami Malek, Lea Seydoux, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, LaShana Lynch, Ralph Fiennes, Christoph Waltz, and Jeffrey Wright
Why it might be good - The director has me excited for this alone. Add in we have Rami Malek, who’s stock has gone on a roller coaster since Bohemian Rhapsody. Truly strange career. Ana de Armas, and bringing back a lot of the regular cast makes this an exciting final Bond for Craig. Fukunaga has crafted some of the most creative images and sequences in TV.
Why it might be bad - I don’t know how much he can really do since any franchise is conservative to a degree. But I have faith this will be better than Spectre & Quantum of Solace. Trying to outdo Casino Royale & Skyfall will be a tall order though.
Prediction - thumbs up
Lamb directed by Valdimir Johannsson () Starring: Noomi Rapace
Why it might be good - The new A24 animal/flower horror but not really horror and more just weird suspense drama. This one brings Noomi Rapace to play in the beautiful Icelandic drama. They know how to brand, and I’m excited to see if this joins the A24 ranks. They rarely miss so I’ll be ready to have another good odd movie to appreciate.
Why it might be bad - Just one arsty horror movie too many, maybe? I’m not sure what there is not to like unless you’re just tired of The Witch and Midsommar type things.
Prediction - thumbs up
Mass directed by Fran Kranz () Starring: Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton, and Ann Dowd
Why it is good - Jason Isaacs, Ann Dowd, and Martha Plimpton do incredible work in a shabby looking but affecting drama about the parents of a school shooter and a victim meeting in the aftermath. It is a rough hang initially but the work here eases you in more than you expect. It’s basically a stage play on camera but it works and is pretty good. Another Sundance favorite.
OCTOBER 15TH
Venom: Let There Be Carnage directed by Andy Serkis (Mowgli) Starring: Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Williams, Stephen Graham, and Naomie Harris
Why it will BE GOOD SO SHUT UP ABOUT ANY OTHER possibility - Tom Hardy is a treasure and made what should have not worked be a fun movie with the first one. Now add Woody Harrelson and a more interesting director with Golem himself and you get a very intriguing sequel. GIVE ME ANOTHER LOBSTER SCENE YOU COWARDS!
The Last Duel directed by Ridley Scott (Alien) Starring: Adam Driver, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Jodie Comer
Why it might be good - Ridley Scott’s first movie this year is written by Damon and Affleck, also starring them, and Adam Driver. That all sounds like it was meant to be good.
Why it might be bad - Americans just being the most french they can be, looking stupid, and Ridley Scott while a good director can miss and has recently. I’m not as excited about this one as his other coming later but Adam Driver makes this feel almost impossible not to be something I enjoy.
Prediction - thumbs up
Halloween Kills directed by David Gordon Green (Stronger) Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, and Will Patton
Why it might be good - Halloween movies have a low bar and yet still seem to make it hard to clear them by tripping over their own feet. Although I thought the new one was bad to fine, they got something right about this franchise. I saw the trailer and I think this one might be twice as good.
Why it might be bad - As stated, the first one is not good to me and this is just more of that. I trust they figured something out though and will only get better. I trust Green & McBride.
Prediction - thumbs up
Bergman Island directed by Mia Hansen-Love (Eden) Starring: Vicky Krieps, Tim Roth, and Mia Wasikowska
Why it might be good - Love is a tender and beautiful filmmaker who I don’t always connect with but always want to see what she does. This has Vicky Krieps, Tim Roth, and Mia Wasikowska. Filmed on the island that Ingmar Bergman filmed and lived. It seems like cat nip for cinephile dumbasses like myself.
Why it might be bad - I don’t think bad is possible, but it may be boring or just okay.
Prediction - thumbs up
OCTOBER 22ND
Dune directed by Denis Villeneuve (Sicario) Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgaard, David Dastmalchian, Oscar Isaac, and Dave Bautista
Why it probably will be good - Insane stacked cast (Chalamet / Bardem / Brolin / Ferguson / Zendaya / Skarsgaard & more!) , good source material, great director, and all the money behind it. This would be a huge bummer if it doesn’t work. He got a dumb sequel to Blade Runner to work I think he did this one right. I just hope I am booster shot’d up and in a theater for it.
Why it is unlikely to be bad - A huge undertaking and if it doesn’t nail the themes and message in the source material it could be dismissed. But, yeah, I don’t think so.
Prediction - thumbs up
The French Dispatch directed by Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums) Timothee Chalamet, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Benicio Del Toro, Elisabeth Moss, Jeffrey Wright, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson, Lea Seydoux, Liev Schreiber, Edward Norton, Willem Dafoe, Lois Smith, Saoirse Ronan, Jason Schwartzman, Christoph Waltz, Henry Winkler, Bob Balaban, and Anjelica Huston
Why it will be good - Come on, Anderson’s worst film is a stop motion dog movie. And that is even entertaining and well meaning. This should be a wonderful love letter to journalists and artists. The cast is even more stacked than Dune (Chalamet again, Benicio Del Toro, Elisabeth Moss, Bill Murray, and many more!) and if I had to choose which to see, I would pick this.
Jackass: Forever directed by Jeff Tremaine (Jackass!!) Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Jascon Acuna, Dave England, Preston Lacy, Ehren McInerney, Jasper Dolphin, Eric Andre, Shaq, Tony Hawk, Spike Jonze, and Tyler the Creator
Why it will be good to see no matter what - I think I might get sentimental about this one. Bless these idiots.
OCTOBER 29TH
Last Night in Soho directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead) Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin McKenzie, Matt Smith, and Terence Stamp
Why it will be good - Again, a guy whose worst movie is a documentary I enjoyed a couple weeks ago. So he doesn’t miss so far. Two of the best young stars of a generation Anya Taylor Joy and Thomasin McKenzie. Weird horror homage stuff. Pretty neon lights and surely good music drops. Ready for this one.
Antlers directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart) Starring: Jesse Plemons and Keri Russell
Why it might be good - Jesse Plemons and Keri Russell in a creature feature that has been delayed so much since the pandemic started it makes me think it is actually good. But the trailer was good and shows a movie that seems to be right up my alley.
Why it might be bad - Cooper makes good movies, to me, but they can be very self serious and dark. This could be his first real misfire and they keep moving it because they have to make some money off of it someway. I doubt that though.
Prediction - thumbs up
NOVEMBER 5TH
Eternals directed by Chloe Zhao (Nomadland) Starring: Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjani, Brian Tyree Henry, Barry Keoghan, and Kit Harington
Why it might be good - if Feige let Zhao direct more of it than others then maybe. The cast is solid, and it looked pretty in the trailer. These movies have a hard ceiling. Jolie was good in Those Who Wish Me Dead this year and now she gets her big check.
Why it might be bad - It’s marvel and it’s going to be talked about like it’s a big swing but all that means is that it has a diverse cast of people not everyone knows. So that’s stupid and reductive. It honestly looked like their best movie in a while based on the trailer but it’s still about a group of gods basically and these movies can only be so good.
Prediction - thumbs up (barely)
Spencer directed by Pablo Larrain (Jackie) Starring: Kristen Stewart, Sally Hawkins, Sean Harris, and Timothy Spall
Why it might be good - Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana directed by one of the better filmmakers working today about the holidays when Diana decided to leave her husband. He made Jackie a beautiful film of sorrow and I imagine Stewart won’t be going for the Oscar as hard as Portman did so it should be better. Stewart doing anything is must see now. She’s in a zone.
Why it might be bad - Another one that I can’t see being bad but could just not be your thing.
Prediction - thumbs up
The Beta Test directed by Jim Cummngs (Thunder Road) Starring: Jim Cummings, Virginia Newcombe, PJ McCabe, and Olivia Grace Applegate
Why it might be good - Cummings is one of the most exciting young filmmakers going. He finally doesn’t play a cop and gets to do some hollywood satire. I will be surprised if he ever makes something I don’t like. Don’t see that not liking starting with this.
Why it might be bad - It sounds like this was his most collaborative movie effort so far and he seems like a sweetheart of a man so he could let other people's ideas cloud his vision. But I have faith.
Prediction - thumbs up
NOVEMBER 12TH
Ghostbusters: Afterlife directed by Jason Reitman (Juno) Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Sigourney Weaver, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Bokeem Woodbine
Why it might be good - Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Tracy Letts, McKenna Grace, and other performers are all very good at their jobs and will sell this stuff.
Why it might be bad - Jason Reitman says a lot of stupid things in interviews and the existence of this movie legitimizes those big dumb babies who were mad about the Ghostbusters being women a couple years ago. It looks like it is taking the “legacy” of Ghostbusters very seriously and that is dumb as hell. I hate the idea of this movie but might enjoy the execution. Jason Reitman also makes good movies, but 3 of his last 4 have been stinkers so there’s no guarantee. He also hasn’t made a franchise action movie like this before.
Prediction - thumbs up (barely, against my better judgement, because of Rudd and Coon)
NOVEMBER 19TH
King Richard directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters and Men) Starring: Will Smith, and Jon Bernthal
Why it might be good - Will Smith is still a star and if he puts all of himself into this like he does sometimes it could not even matter how good the rest is. True story of Serena and Venus Williams dad and how he raised them. It’s asking for Oscars so if done right we might be hearing a lot about it.
Why it might be bad - Oscar bait! Will Smith trying really hard and a movie not helping him. There’s a blueprint for Concussion part 2 here without the accent but equal amounts of TRUTH. I have no read on this but I think he will channel Pursuit of Happyness and it’ll work fine.
prediction - thumbs down
Top Gun: Maverick directed by Joseph Kosinski (Only the Brave) Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Jon Hamm, Jennifer Connelly, and Ed Harris
Why it might be good - The trailer gets me jazzed and I don’t even like the original. This director has a great eye and nailed a movie that shouldn’t have been as good as it is about firefighters I put in the parenthesis up there. Cruise, Hamm, Teller, Jennifer Connelly and many more showing up to work here. I have high hopes.
Why it might be bad - I don’t see it, but trying too hard after 35 years to try and connect the two and not doing enough of it’s own thing. But I think this will work.
Prediction - thumbs up
Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time directed by Robert B. Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Why it might be good - Vonnegut is a treasure trove of quotes and stories that could fill 90 minutes in no time. His life was interesting and the filmmakers being from comedy should help.
Why it might be bad - can’t see it being bad but maybe they focus on the wrong things or try and make it too light and funny but I see this being at worst fine.
prediction - thumbs up
NOVEMBER 24TH
House of Gucci directed by Ridley Scott (Blade Runner) Starring: Adam Driver, Lady Gaga, Al Pacino, and Jared Leto
Why it might be good - Adam Driver is on a hot streak, Lady Gaga with her return to glory after A Star is Born, plus you get Al Pacino. Should be a fun movie with a dark humorous streak. I just think this will be the better of the two Scott & Driver movies this year. Making a movie about a true story assassination is usually a good move.
Why it might be bad - Too many accents, costumes, and Jared Leto. I don’t think any of that will really matter ultimately but there’s always a chance with Ridley Scott for him to just miss the mark by a bit.
Prediction - thumbs up
National Champions directed by Ric Roman Waugh (Shot Caller) Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Stephan James, J.K. Simmons, Uzo Aduba, David Koechner, Tim Blake Nelson, Jeffrey Donovan, and Lil Rel Howery
Why it might be good - Waugh makes solid movies even if they aren’t home runs they are solid ground rule doubles. A story about athletes organizing a strike before the championship game with a lot of good character actors sounds like a great idea for a movie.
Why it might be bad - Could just not be realistic enough for sports fans and not interesting enough for movie lovers. I think this mix will work though.
Prediction - thumbs up
DECEMBER 3RD
Nightmare Alley directed by Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape of Water) Starring: Bradley Cooper, Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Richard Jenkins, Ron Perlman, Willem Dafoe, Holt McCallany, David Strathairn, and Jim Beaver
Why it might be good - Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Ron Perlman, Willem Dafoe, Toni Collette, and more great people join this modern noir homage remake of an old film. I expect this to be beautiful to look at and easy to get into.
Why it might be bad - No way, I think the noir style could make some people tune out but it won’t be bad.
Prediction - thumbs up
Benedetta directed by Paul Verhoeven (Robocop) Starring: Virginie Elfrie and Charlotte Rampling
Why it will be good - It’s Verhoeven making a movie about Nuns in the 17th century. It’s going to be good.
DECEMBER 10TH
West Side Story directed by Steven Spielberg (The Terminal) Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Rita Moreno, Corey Stoll, and Brian d’Arcy James
Why it might be good - Spielberg always has a chance to make the best movie of the year just by sheer talent and scope. I don’t think this is it, but I think it has one of the best trailers I’ve seen in a long time.
Why it might be bad - Ansel Elgort.
Prediction - thumbs down (because of casting and length of the movie.)
DECEMBER 17TH
Spider-Man: No Way Home directed by Jon Watts (Cop Car) Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Benedict Cumberbatch, Alfred Molina, Jamie Foxx, J.K. Simmons, Hannibal Buress, Martin Starr, and J.B. Smoove
Why it might be good - This is the best MCU franchise and they haven’t messed it up yet. I trust Watts and Co. to finish this trilogy off correctly. Visiting the past and different iterations of this thrice rebooted character is a fun way to do this.
Why it might be bad - The mixing up of movie universes could be messy and them not being able to bring it all together is very possible. It’s still Marvel, and there’s a chance they don’t nail it.
Prediction - thumbs up
DECEMBER 24TH
The Matrix Resurrections directed by Lana Wachowski (Speed Racer) Starring: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Ann Moss, Yahya-Abdul Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jonathan Groff, Priyanka Chopra, and Christina Ricci
Why it might be good - Returning to a franchise that so many people only remember the first will be tricky. Bringing back the central cast is huge, and adding more fun people is exciting. The modern technology updates should make this must see in a theater the way only the best blockbusters are.
Why it might be bad - They made two movies that people didn’t care about and there’s a chance this only pleases huge fans and doesn’t do much more for those who only liked the first one. I think this will work though!
Prediction - thumbs up
Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson Project directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (Mattress Man Commercial) Starring: Bradley Cooper, Benny Safdie, Cooper Hoffman, Alana Haim, and Joseph Cross
Why it will be good - PTA is back after 4 years with a movie that has Philip Seymour Hoffman’s son in a big role. It is so nice to see that legacy carried on like this. It looks like it will be a sprawling darkly funny story. This is the least amount of star power he’s ever had in a movie and that actually gets me more excited. Cooper has a big year planned but I think this will be the biggest part of it. I’m being calm because this is my most anticipated movie in years.
Parallel Mothers directed by Pedro Almodovar (The Skin I Live In) Starring: Penelope Cruz
Why it will be good - Pedro doesn’t make bad movies, but he does sometimes make thoughtful personal stories I don’t connect with. This one about two women who give birth on the same day will no doubt be a fascinating one. And even if I don’t care for it I know it’ll be worth watching.
The King’s Man directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass) Starring: Harris Dickinson, Ralph Fiennes, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Gemma Arterton, Matthew Goode, Djimon Hounsou, Charles Dance, Daniel Bruhl, Stanley Tucci, and Rhys Ifans
Why it might be good - This is an unlikely franchise with incredible action set pieces but it doesn’t always come together. I liked the first one alright and the second one was questionable but I think going backwards makes it more fun because too much tech can drown a movie like this.
Why it might be bad - It’s the third movie with a bloated cast in a franchise that I’m not sure is actually good.
Prediction - thumbs down
A Journal for Jordan directed by Denzel Washington (The Great Debaters) Starring: Michael B. Jordan and Chante Adams
Why it might be good - Denzel and MBJ involved makes anything of interest, and then add in a true story based on a pulitzer prize winning journalists relationship with a soldier overseas who writes lessons down for his unborn child.
Why it might be bad - maybe the most oscar bait possible? It will be a mix of dour and uplifting tearjerker with a fine line to walk across or else it will get eye rolls and I don’t know for sure Denzel can do it. Fences worked for some, not for others, and his love of the theater and melodrama makes it hard to know.
Prediction - thumbs down
Cyrano directed by Joe Wright (Atonement) Starring: Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Brian Tyree Henry, Ben Mendlesohn, and Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Why it might be good - The cast, and it being an ambitious musical about the life of Cyrano de Bergerac the french writer of the 17th century plus Joe Wright, who although I am immune to his charms, is a talented guy.
Why it might be bad - Joe Wright makes stinkers occasionally and this seems like a pretty creative endeavor and after the Oscar bait of Darkest Hour I think he will be trying something less conventional here. I won’t be surprised if this is the musical of the season instead of Spielberg’s remake up there.
Prediction - thumbs up
NO DATE YET BUT SHOULD BE OUT THIS YEAR
Don’t Look Up
Directed by Adam McKay (Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy) and Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Jonah Hill, Timothee Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Himesh Patel, Ron Perlman, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Rob Morgan, Kid Cudi, Melanie Lynskey, Gina Gershon, and Matthew Perry
Two astronomers discover a meteor will strike earth soon. Prediction - thumbs up
The Tragedy of Macbeth
Directed by Joel Coen (The Hudsucker Proxy) and Starring Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Brendan Gleeson, Corey Hawkins, and Moses Ingram
A retelling of the classic play but with the Coen touch. Prediction - thumbs up
Nitram
Directed by Justin Kurzel (True History of the Kelly Gang) and Starring Caleb Landry Jones, Judy Davis, and Essie Davis
A character study about a troubled man in Australia and a vehicle for acting for C Laundry J. Prediction - thumbs up
Power of the Dog
Directed by Jane Campion (In The Cut) and Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, and Thomasin McKenzie
A family drama with a huge heart no doubt. Prediction - thumbs up
Red Rocket
Directed by Sean Baker (The Florida Project) and Starring Simon Rex
Washed up porn star goes back to his hometown. Prediction - thumbs up
The Hand of God
Directed by Paolo Sorrentino (The Young Pope) and Starring Toni Servillo
Sorrentino finally does his childhood movie about Naples in the 80s. Prediction - thumbs up
The Harder They Fall
Directed by Jeymes Samuel and Starring Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Regina King, Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, and Lakeith Stanfield
Classic revenge western. Prediction - thumbs up
C’mon C’mon
Directed by Mike Mills (20th Century Women) and Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffman, and Woody Norman
man bonds with his nephew in what will surely make me cry or just happy. Prediction - thumbs up
The Humans
Directed by Stephen Karam and Starring Beanie Feldstein, Steven Yeun, Richard Jenkins, Amy Schumer, and June Squibb
Inside a pre-war duplex a family gathers for Thanksgiving as the world crumbles outside. Prediction - thumbs up
The Eternal Daughter & The Souvenir Part II
Directed by Joanna Hogg (The Souvenir) and Starring Tilda Swinton & also Starring Honor Swinton Byrne, Tilda Swinton, Charlie Heaton, Joe Alwyn, Harris Dickinson, Ariane Labed, and Richard Ayoade
Hogg got the most acclaim of her career after The Souvenir and now she returns with a sequel and a movie about a woman and mother dealing with their dark secrets. Prediction - two thumbs up (but might not be for me)
A Hero
Directed by Asghar Farhadi (A Separation)
A man on a 2 day furlough from jail tries to convince those in power to forgive his debt before he goes back. Prediction - thumbs up
Memoria
Directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakful (Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Lives) and Starring Tilda Swinton
A woman visiting her sister suffers from a mysterious head injury that keeps her from sleeping. Prediction - thumbs up
Petite Maman
Directed by Celine Sciamma (Portrait of a Lady on Fire)
Young girl deals with family tragedy by exploring the woods where her mother used to play. Prediction - thumbs up