Let’s continue taking a look at this fall’s most anticipated Hollywood releases.
November:
INTERSTELLAR – In a world facing starvation, astronauts travel through a newly discovered wormhole hoping mankind’s first interstellar voyage will be its salvation. The film is directed (and co-produced) by maestro Christopher Nolan (MEMENTO, The Batman Trilogy, INCEPTION) so expect yet another IMAX experience that will blow your mind. It’s nearly impossible for this film to not kick-ass. It combines arguably the best contemporary filmmaker with arguably the best actor over the past two years (Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey) plus it’s based on the theories of physicist Kip Thorne, and will have Oscar-winner Hans Zimmer composing the score as he does for Nolan regularly. The one missing member from the normal Nolan team is cinematographer Wally Pfister who was busy directing TRANSCENDENCE, and was replaced by Hoyte van Hoytema (HER, TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY.) Co-starring Oscar-winners Anne Hathaway and Michael Caine plus Jessica Chastain, Casey Affleck, and John Lithgow. If you see one movie this fall, it should be this one.
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING – James Marsh (MAN ON WIRE) directs Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne in this biopic about the relationship between Jane and Stephen Hawking. This film and INTERSTELLAR could combine to form a science nerd’s wet dream.
THE HOMESMAN – Tommy Lee Jones returns to the director’s chair for this film about a claim jumper and a pioneer woman who escort three insane women across the Nebraska/Iowa border. An all-star cast includes Academy Award-winners Jones, Hilary Swank, and Meryl Streep. Grace Gummer, Miranda Otto, Sonja Richter and John Lithgow also star. Good westerns are rare these days but if this flick stays faithful to the Glendon Swarthout novel it should be a home run.
DUMB AND DUMBER TO – The Farrelly Bros. are back to direct the sequel to their 1994 debut comedy hit, with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels returning as well. Yep, DUMB AND DUMBER was 20 years ago – we’re that old.
FOXCATCHER – The true story of brothers and Olympic wrestlers Mark and David Schultz (Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo) whose relationship with sponsor John du Pont (Steve Carell) ends in horror. Based on Mark’s autobiography. Co-starring Anthony Michael Hall, Sienna Miller, and Oscar-winner Vanessa Redgrave. This tale of weak-minded men hoping their obsessions will prove their worth is an American tragedy of the highest order, and is the most intriguing role for Carell to date.
THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1 – The final book of the series will be split into two films. In this installment Katniss (Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence) reluctantly becomes the figurehead of the rebellion while trying to get Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) back from the Capitol. Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Oscar-winner Phillip Seymour-Hoffman, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Jena Malone, and Jeffrey Wright all reprise their roles plus the addition of Julianne Moore as Alma Coin. If you haven’t given this series a shot because you think it’s too girly or childish – you’re wrong. It’s a fantastic fantasy adventure and a great date movie. THE IMITATION GAME – The true story of Alan Turing, the super-genius who cracked the Enigma code helping to defeat the Nazi’s in WWII, and was later chemically castrated for being a homosexual. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley. Hopefully this movie informs a younger generation of the staggering amount of contributions Turing made to humanity, while also depicting the cruel juxtaposition of a despicably ungrateful world that persecuted him for being gay (illegal in the UK at the time.) This is a story that needs to be told.
Other Nov. releases that need no description: HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 and VHS: VIRAL.
December:
WILD – A woman (Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon) dealing with the end of her marriage, the death of her mother, and her regrets embarks on a 1,100 mile hike alone seeking catharsis. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee (DALLAS BUYERS CLUB.) Anytime an actor is tasked with spending most of the film alone there is an opportunity for a great performance. CAST AWAY, GRAVITY, 127 HOURS, and LOCKE are all examples of actors really getting a chance to show their chops. This has the potential to be another Oscar-nom for Witherspoon.
EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS – The newest Ridley Scott (ALIEN, BLADE RUNNER, GLADIATOR) venture will bring to life the tale of Moses (Christian Bale) leading the Israelite slaves out of Egypt. With Aaron Paul, Joel Edgerton, Sigourney Weaver, John Turturro, and Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley. The appeal here is getting to see the 10 Plagues of Egypt ravage in 3D. All of Scott’s films have mind-blowing special effects, and the trailer looks beautiful. If you’re thinking this is going to be a wishy-washy religious tale á la THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956) think again. Scott, an atheist, said in a recent interview “(Religion is) the biggest source of evil…everyone is tearing each other apart in the name of their personal god. And the irony is…they’re probably worshiping the same god.”
INHERENT VICE – Paul Thomas Anderson (THERE WILL BE BLOOD, BOOGIE NIGHTS, THE MASTER) again teams with Joaquin Phoenix in this story set in 1970 about a drug-fueled detective investigating the disappearance of a former girlfriend leading him to unravel a twisted plot. Co-starring Josh Brolin, Jena Malone, Benicio Del Toro, Owen Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Eric Roberts, and Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon. Based on the Thomas Pynchon novel. All of Anderson’s movies have an intensity to them that’s hard to describe. You can bet this one will feel like 1970 and have some incredibly compelling characters, as Anderson is the master of the character study.
THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES – The final film of the Hobbit trilogy and the sixth Lord of the Rings film overall returns all cast and crew for the final chapter.
UNBROKEN – Angelina Jolie directs this Coen Bros. (FARGO, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN) script chronicling the life of U.S. Olympian Louis Zamperini, who was taken hostage by the Japanese in WWII. This inspiring tale will be in theatres just in time for Christmas.
AMERICAN SNIPER – Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller star in this film about a Navy SEAL recounting his military career, which included over 150 confirmed kills. Directed by Academy Award-winner Clint Eastwood (MILLION DOLLAR BABY, MYSTIC RIVER.) Eastwood is 84 years young and still going strong. He loves these military stories and few directors do them better.
BIG EYES – Tim Burton (BEETLEJUICE, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS) will direct this biopic about the success and subsequent legal troubles of painter Margaret Keane (Amy Adams.) With Christoph Waltz, Jason Schwartzman, and Danny Huston. It’s billed as a biography but it’s a Tim Burton biography, which means a Tim Burton movie about Tim Burton-world that happens to have Margaret Keane as a character.
THE INTERVIEW – This is the James Franco/Seth Rogen flick about a news team that scores an interview with Kim Jong Un only to be recruited by the government to assassinate him. It was supposed to be released in October, but North Korea called it “a wanton act of terror” and threatened “merciless” retaliation against the U.S. if the film was released. Naturally Japanese-owned Sony studios caved and will re-cut film. If this movie causes a nuclear holocaust it better be funny.
Other Dec. releases that need no description: HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2, ANNIE, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB.
Article By: Anthony Schiano
