According
to: Cat
20 – Rock the Kasbah (10/23)
Tag Line: Opportunity rocks when you least expect it.
Production Companies: Dune Films, QED International, Shangri-La Entertainment,
Venture Forth
Director: Barry Levinson
Writer: Mitch Glazer (screenplay)
Actors: Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Zooey Deschanel, Kate Hudson,
Kelly Lynch, Taylor Kinney, Danny McBride, Scott Caan
Genre: Comedy
Rated: R
The movie
title has me pondering if they’ve used the song by that same name somewhere in
the film. That’s not the only reason to go watch this one, however. The cast
for this film is amazing. It might just prove to be a proverbial diamond in the
rough.
One has to also take into consideration – it’s Bill Murray (Zombieland, The Monuments Men, The Grand
Budapest Hotel). For that same reason, I’ll wager some parts might be a
little odd; but the man has mastered kooky-funny.
19 – Gravy (10/2)
Tag Line: You Are What We Eat
Production Companies: Siren Digital - Hollywood, TapouT Films (with the support
of)
Director: James Roday
Writers: James Roday, Todd Harthan
Actors: Lothaire Bluteau, Lily Cole, Molly Ephraim, Sutton Foster,
Stefanie E. Frame, Dulé Hill, Gabriel Luna, James Roday, Paul Rodriguez, Kate
Rogal, Gabourey Sidibe, Sarah Silverman
Genre: Comedy Horror
Rated: NR
This movie looks like it’s a slice of insanity. That’s not
necessarily a bad thing. The trailer promises dark comedy and plenty of
cringe-worthy gore. Sarah Silverman (The Muppets, Wreck-It Ralph, A Million Ways
to Die in the West) should be interesting to watch, here.
I also can’t wait
to see what Paul Rodriguez (Beverly Hills
Chihuahua, The Deported, Without Men) is up to in this film. The man is
hilarious.
18
– Breaking Through (10/9)
Tag Line: N/A
Production Companies: BB Film Productions, F.J. Productions, Get Lifted Film
Company, Mad Horse Films
Director: John Swetnam
Writer: John Swetnam
Actors: Julie Warner, Jordan Rodrigues, Jay Ellis, Robert Roldan,
Lindsey Sterling, Carlito Olivero, Sophia Aguiar, Marissa Heart, Dominic
Sandoval, McCarrie McCausland
Genre: Drama
Rated: NR
I absolutely adore dance movies like this. I think it’s
wonderful that dance is featured so prominently in cinema in recent years. I
hope that it’s a trend that just keeps growing. To that note, this film might
not be unique, plot-wise. Honestly, this is one of the times that really
doesn’t matter. It should be highly entertaining.
I have three reasons for you
that this one is a ‘can’t miss,’ for those that love dance: Robert Roldan (Glee, Grace, Chasing 8s), Dominic
Sandoval (Battle of the Year, Everything
Before Us, Smosh: The Movie), and YouTube sensation Lindsey Sterling (Lindsey Sterling: Shatter Me, Lindsey
Sterling: Take Flight, 2015 Billboard Music Awards).
Robert and Dominic
both got their breaks on one of my favorite shows ever - So You Think You Can Dance (2005-); and are both phenomenal.
Lindsey is an America's Got Talent (2006) success story, and has over 2 million
subscribers on YouTube. This ‘dancing violinist’ has got the moves and some
serious musical talent.
17 – Shanghai (10/2)
Tag Line: In a world filled with secrets, solving a mystery can be
murder.
Production Companies: Living Films, Phoenix Pictures, TWC Asian Film Fund, The
Weinstein Company
Director: Mikael Håfström
Writer: Hossein Amini
Actors: John Cusack, Li Gong, Yun-Fat Chow, David Morse, Ken
Watanabe, Franka Potente, Jeffery Dean Morgan, Hugh Bonneville
Genre: Mystery, Drama
Rated: R
This film looks like it is going to be an amazing period
piece; full of intrigue, action, and romance. The combination of Ken Watanabe (Inception, Godzilla, The Sea of Trees),
Yun-Fat Chow (Bulletproof Monk,
Confucius, The Monkey King), John Cusack (Igor, 2012, The Raven) in one film is definitely worth the price
of a ticket.
16 – Burnt (10/23)
Tag Line: Never underestimate a man with nothing to lose.
Production Companies: 3 Arts Entertainment, Double Feature Films, PeaPie Films
Director: John Wells
Writers: Steven Knight (screenplay), Michael Kalesniko (story)
Actors: Lily James, Alicia Vikander, Bradley Cooper, Uma Thurman,
Sienna Miller, Emma Thompson, Daniel Brühl, Matthew Rhys, Omar Sy
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rated: NR
The culinary arts are gaining momentum in the entertainment
industry. This, no doubt, is partially thanks to the efforts of superstar chefs
like Gordon Ramsay (Love's Kitchen,
Hell's Kitchen, Masterchef), whom have prime-time shows on major television
networks.
Add to that, what appears to be a classic tale of redemption, helmed
by Bradley Cooper (All About Steve, The
A-Team, Hit and Run); and you already have the potential for greatness.
Then toss in the talents of Uma Thurman (The
Producers, Motherhood, Movie 43), Sienna Miller (Stardust, Foxcatcher, American Sniper), Emma Thompson (Pirate Radio, Brave, Saving Mr. Banks).
This film has the potential to be excellent.
15
– The Dressmaker (10/22)
Tag Line: A film about love, revenge and haute couture.
Production Companies: Apollo Media, Film Art Media, Screen Australia
Director: Jocelyn Moorhouse
Writers: Jocelyn Moorhouse (screenplay), Rosalie Ham (novel), P.J.
Hogan
Actors: Kate Winslet, Liam Hemsworth, Hugo weaving, Sarah Snook,
Caroline Goodall, Judy Davis, Rebecca Gibney, Kerry Fox
Genre: Drama
Rated: NR
Shamelessly, I admit that this film shines a little more
brightly due to the fact that Liam Hemsworth (Knowing, Paranoia, Cut Bank) will be shirtless in it.
Now that’s
out of the way; I present to you that the film seems to have great story merit,
as well. Kate Winslet (All the King's
Men, The Holiday, Contagion) looks to be perfect for this role. This is
another redemption tale, told with wit and high fashion!
14
– This is Happening (10/2)
Tag Line: This is life. This is family.
Production Companies: Seed&Spark
Director: Ryan Jaffe
Writer: Ryan Jaffe
Actors: Cloris Leachman, Judd Nelson, Mickey Sumner, Emily
Tremaine, James Wolk
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rated: R
This movie looks like it will both be hilarious and an
emotional roller-coaster. I’ve really enjoyed James Wolk’s (You Again, Always Woodstock, The Stanford
Prison Experiment) performance in the show Zoo (2015-). I am interested in seeing what he brings to the big
screen.
Cloris Leachman (The
Croods, The Wedding Ringer, The Bronx Bull) is going to steal the screen.
As one of the greats, her performance in this film should be reason to see it,
all on its own.
13
– Scout's Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (10/30)
Tag Line: Always bring protection
Production Companies: Broken Road Productions, Brucks Entertainment, Oops
Doughnuts Productions, Paramount Pictures
Director: Christopher Landon
Writers: Emi Mochizuki, Carrie Lee Wilson, Christopher Landon, Lona
Williams
Actors: Tye Sheridan, Logan Miller, Joey Morgan, Sarah Dumont,
Halston Sage, Cloris Leachman, Patrick Schwarzenegger
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Rated: R
What would happen if a bunch of Boy Scouts were faced with a
zombie apocalypse? Someone had the brilliant idea to make a movie about it!
There’s likely some blue humor involved, as indicated by the trailer – but the
main characters are adolescent boys. That sort of thing is expected.
It’s
October, and the movie has zombies. This is an essential ingredient for the
horror enthusiast’s countdown to
Halloween.
12 – The Exorcism of Molly Hartley (10/9)
Tag Line: N/A
Production Company: WT Canada Productions
Director: Steven R. Monroe
Writer: Matt Venne
Actors: Sarah Lind, Devon Sawa, Gina Holden, Peter MacNeill, Daina
Leitold, Julia Arkos, Tom McLaren
Genre: Horror
Rated: NR
The trailer for this movie was pretty creepy. I can only imagine what the whole film must be
like, considering it’s unrated. A
possession and exorcism conducted in a mental health facility gives a broad
license for, literally, crazy shenanigans.
This exorcism looks pretty hardcore,
and what better time of year to watch movies like this, right?! It’s the season
for scaring ourselves silly. I am curious how it will measure against the
various exorcism films that have come before.
11
– The Diabolical (10/16)
Tag Line: Evil is timeless.
Production Company: Campfire
Director: Alistair Legrand
Writers: Luke Harvis, Alistair Legrand
Actors: Ali Larter, Patrick Fischler, Merrin Dungey, Laura
Margolis, Mark Steger, Arjun Gupta
Genre: Horror
Rated: NR
I loved the trailer for this movie. I am fairly sure that it
didn’t give away the important scary bits for this film, the way some do. It,
instead, left me catching my breath with so many questions. What in the world
is going on?!? Something supernatural, for sure; and Ali Larter (Confess, Resident Evil: Extinction, You're
Not You) can be counted on to kick its ass.
Fans of Once Upon A Time (2011-) will recognize a couple familiar
faces in this film, as well. Merrin Dungey (Masterwork,
L!fe Happens, Some Kind Of Beautiful) and Patrick Fischler (Dinner for Schmucks, Red State, 2 Guns),
whom played Ursula and The Author in last season, are both in this film.
10 – Tales of Halloween (10/16)
Tag Line: Eleven Visionary Directors. One Horrifying Vision.
Production Companies: Epic Pictures Group, Film Entertainment Services
Directors: Darren Lynn Bousman (segment "The Night Billy Raised
Hell"), Axelle Carolyn (segment
"Grimm Grinning Ghost"), Adam Gierasch (segment "Trick"),
Andrew Kasch & John Skipp (segment "This Means War"), Neil
Marshall (segment "Bad Seed"), Lucky McKee (segment "Ding
Dong"), Mike Mendez (segment "Friday the 31st"), Dave Parker
(segment "Sweet Tooth"), Ryan Schifrin (segment "The Ransom of
Rusty Rex"), Paul Solet (segment "The Weak and the Wicked")
Writers: Assorted
Actors: Grace Phipps, Booboo Stewart, Lisa Marie, Greg Grunberg,
Lin Shaye, Cerina Vincent, Sam Witwer, Adrienne Barbeasu, Barry Bostwick, John
Landis, Robert Rusler, Adrianne Curry
Genre: Horror
Rated: R
What’s an October movie-to-see list without at least one
film that’s geared specifically for the holiday? It’s an incomplete list, I
tell you.
Of course, this is an anthology; so we know that some sections are
going to likely be hit or miss. I believe they were smart in giving the film a
well defined and cohesive framework for the segments to work around.
A town
goes berserk on Halloween, and these are the stories of the mayhem that ensues.
The majority of the segments featured in the trailer looked interesting. This
is definitely worth a watch to find out!
9 –
The Wicked Within (10/16)
Tag Line: We all pay for our sins, especially when the devil itself
claims our souls
Production Companies: High Five Films, Wicked Within Movie
Director: Jay Alaimo
Writer: Stephen Wallis
Actors: Sienna Guillory, Gianni Capaldi, Enzo Cilenti, Michele
Hicks, Eric Roberts, Karen Austin, Patrick Muldoon
Genre: Horror
Rated: R
This doesn’t appear to be your average possession and
exorcism movie.
This particular malevolent entity is determined to tear a
family apart, just for fun, before it can be cast out. Will it work? Will there
be a sequel? I can’t wait to watch and find out!
I really enjoyed the trailer. Sienna
Guillory (Inkheart, The Big Bang, High-Rise) looks to be magnificent in this
role. Her possessed character is full of sass, and offers eerie comedic
elements to the film. After just a little over two minutes of teaser, I’m hooked;
and I think audiences will be, too.
8
– Knock Knock (10/9)
Tag Line: One night can cost you everything
Production Companies: Black Bear Pictures, Camp Grey, Dragonfly Entertainment,.
Elevated Films, Sobras International Pictures
Director: Eli Roth
Writers: Eli Roth, Nicolás López, & Guillermo Amoedo
(screenplay); Anthony Overman & Michael Ronald Ross (story)
Actors: Keanu Reeves, Lorenza Izzo, Ana de Armas, Ignacia
Allamand, Aaron Burns, Colleen Camp
Genre: Thriller
Rated: R
Keanu Reeves (The Lake
House, Henry's Crime, 47 Ronin) is making a comeback. I really enjoyed John Wick (2014), and am excited that
film is getting a sequel. I hope that it fares better than The Matrix (1999) sequels did. I digress.
The theme of this film seems to be a blend of the saying ‘no
good deed goes unpunished’ and a morality tale about giving in to temptation. I
can tell that this is going to be one of those I’ll be tempted to holler at (‘Don’t
do it!! It’s a trap!!’). I manage to only let those slip while watching at
home, thankfully.
Reeves has brought more maturity and depth to his last few
roles. I want to see if this trend continues!
7 –
The Final Girls (10/9)
Tag Line: N/A
Production Companies: Groundswell Productions, Studio Solutions, Ulterior
Productions
Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson
Writers: M.A. Fortin, Joshua John Miller
Actors: Taissa Farmiga, Malin Akerman, Alexander Ludwig, Nina
Dobrev, Alia Shawkat, Thomas Middleditch, Adam DeVine, Angela Trimbur, Chloe
Bridges, Tory N. Thompson
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Rated: PG-13
I am so very excited about this movie!
The premise is
brilliantly imaginative. As a ‘child of the 80’s,’ this film seems to pay
homage to so many of the classic slasher movie tropes from that time period. I
am having a nostalgic fangirl moment.
I’ve also been dying to see what Nina
Dobrev (The Roommate, Arena, Let's Be
Cops) has been up to since the wrap of last season’s The Vampire Diaries (2009-).
The trailer seems to indicate that I will not be disappointed. Taissa Farmiga (Higher
Ground, The Bling Ring, 6 Years) is amazing in the American
Horror Story (2011-) anthology series.
I want to see what she brings to this film, and I am highly optimistic!
6 –
Momentum (10/16)
Tag Line: N/A
Production Companies: Azari Media, Thaba Media
Director: Stephen S. Campanelli
Writers: Adam Marcus, Debra Sullivan
Actors: Olga Kurylenko, Morgan Freeman, James Purefoy, Jenna
Saras, Sabine Palfi, Grant Roberts, Karl Thaning, Lee-Anne Summers
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rated: NR
Three names got my attention immediately when I looked up t
his title: Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of
Solace, Centurion, Seven Psychopaths), Morgan Freeman (Oblivion, The Lego Movie, Lucy), and James Purefoy (Solomon Kane, The Following, High-Rise).
Done. I already want to watch this movie. I have only watched Oblivion (2013) about a bazillion times,
recently –mostly for the music; but I really enjoyed Olga’s performance there,
as well as the other films I’ve seen her in.
I’m excited that she is the focal
point of this movie, and she gets to kick some ass. Add Morgan Freeman and
James Purefoy into the mix, and this movie is guaranteed at the very least to
give an audience an eargasm. I could listen to them talk all day long –
reciting menus, the days off of a calendar...I would listen! The bonus is that
they’re both phenomenal actors.
5
– The Martian (10/2)
Tag Line: Help is only 140 million miles away
Production Companies: Genre Films, International Traders, Mid Atlantic Films,
Scott Free Productions, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Director: Ridley Scott
Writers: Drew Goddard (screenplay), Andy Weir (book)
Actors: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels,
Michael Peña, Sean Bean, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Chiwetel
Ejiofor
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi
Rated: PG-13
The premise of this film is fairly straight forward. Matt
Damon’s (Ponyo, Contagion, Interstellar)
character gets stranded on Mars after his crew presumes that he has died. How in the world is he going to survive the
number of years that it will take for even the remote chance of rescue?
I am
highly curious what sort of ingenious things this character comes up with to
make supplies last. Necessity is, indeed, the mother of invention, as the old
English proverb advises.
It’s also fun to note that Sean Bean (The Hitcher, Black Death, Jupiter Ascending)
is in this film. How long do you think he will survive in this movie? Will he
make it to the end? His characters’ propensity for on-screen death is nearly a
thing of legend. I want to know how this one turns out!
4
– Goosebumps (10/16)
Tag Line: The stories are alive.
Production Companies: Columbia Pictures, LStar Capital, Original Film,
Scholastic Entertainment, Sony Pictures Animation,. Sony Pictures
Entertainment, Village Roadshow Pictures
Director: Rob Letterman
Writers: Darren Lemke (screenplay), Scott Alexander & Larry
Karaszewski (story), R.L. Stine (based on the books "Goosebumps" by)
Actors: Jack Black, Odeya Rush,l Halston Sage, Dylan Minnette, Amy
Ryan,. Ryan Lee, Ken Mrino, Jillian Bell
Genre: Action/Adventure, Comedy
Rated: PG
With the smorgasbord of horror movies hitting the theaters
leading up to Halloween, there have been very few family-friendly flicks out
there to fit the season. This movie
looks to be perfect to fit that bill.
Any movie with Jack Black (The Holiday, Year One, Bernie) as the
lead is sure to be interesting, and likely highly entertaining. I believe this
movie will give a blend of creepy and comedy that people of all ages will enjoy
– without pushing younger audiences too far into the nightmare zone.
I loved
the Goosebumps books, growing up. I
think Black was an excellent choice to portray the author of the beloved
series, R. L. Stine.
3
– Pan (10/9)
Tag Line: Every legend has a beginning.
Production Companies: Berlanti Productions, RatPac-Dune Entertainment
Director: Joe Wright
Writers: Jason Fuchs, J.M. Barrie (characters)
Actors: Hugh Jackman, Levi Miller, Garrett Hedlund, Rooney Mara,
Amanda Seyfried, Cara Delevingne
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Rated: PG
It’s hard not to love the tale of Peter Pan – the boy who
never grew up. There have been many re-imaginings of this story over the years;
as well as various spin-offs. I think this film will take us to a cinematic
place that few have before. The visuals are stunning, and the cast is magnetic.
This is Hugh Jackman (Real Steel, Rise of
the Guardians, Prisoners) as you’ve never seen him before. I can’t wait to see the dynamic between his
Blackbeard, Hook played by Garrett Hedlund (Country
Strong, Lullaby, Unbroken), and young Peter played by Levi Miller (A Heartbeat Away, Terra Nova, Supergirl).
This prequel to the story we all know by heart promises to be a grand
adventure. Come fly with me to the box office!
2 –
Crimson Peak (10/16)
Tag Line: Beware.
Production Company: Legendary Pictures
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writers: Guillermo del Toro, Matthew Robbins
Actors: Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam, Tom Hiddleston, Mia
Wasikowska
Genre: Horror
Rated: R
I, like many other fans of Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014), have missed seeing the captivating Charlie
Hunnam (Cold Mountain, Deadfall, Pacific
Rim) on the screen. We need wait no longer!
Crimson Peak is the first of
several films featuring the actor, which will hit theaters in the next few
years.
Of course, then you have the impressive Tom Hiddleston (War Horse, The Pirate Fairy, I Saw the Light),
of Loki fame, involved with this film as well. Just that combination of acting
talent, alone, would draw me to the theater.
When you add Mia Wasikowska (Defiance, The Kids Are All Right, Jane Eyre),
whom was brilliant in Alice in Wonderland
(2010) and Jessica Chastain (The Help,
Mama, Interstellar); you have a recipe for a phenomenal movie.
This Gothic
horror period piece promises to be chilling (and I’m not just talking about the
snow featured in the trailers).
1
– The Last Witch Hunter (10/23)
Tag Line: Live forever. Hunt forever.
Production Companies: Aperture Entertainment, Atmosphere Entertainment MM,
NeoReel, Summit Entertainment
Director: Breck Eisner
Writers: Cory Goodman, Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless
Actors: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood, Michael Caine
Genre: Action/Adventure, Fantasy
Rated: PG-13
Vin Diesel (The
Pacifier, Babylon A.D., Guardians of the Galaxy) was really the only name
necessary to pique my interest for this movie.
When you add the other well
known actors to the film, such as Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones, Now is Good, Honeymoon), Elijah Wood (Grand Piano, Cooties, Open Windows), and
Michael Caine (The Prestige, Inception,
Kingsman: The Secret Service); you’ve really got my attention.
This film
promises to be a fantastical supernatural adventure. When Vin Diesel isn’t driving fast cars, we
enjoy him in roles that marry action with imagination. I believe this movie
will deliver on both fronts.
Calling the legion of Outlander (2014-) fans! Here's a bit of trivia for you. Lotte Verbeek (Sonny Boy, The Fault in Our Stars, Entertainment), whom played
Geillis Duncan in the show, is also in this film.
Movies
to Look out For
According
to: Selina
The
Keeping Room - 20
Burnt
- 19
Beasts
of No Nation - 18
Yakuza
Apocalypse - 17
Paranormal
Activity: The Ghost Dimension - 16
Experimenter
- 15
Rock
the Kasbah - 14
The
Dressmaker - 13
Crimson
Peak - 12
Gravy
- 11
Hell
& Back - 10
The
Lobster - 9
Jem
and the Holograms - 8
Scout's
Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse - 7
The
Martian - 6
The
Exorcism of Molly Hartley - 5
The
Final Girls - 4
Goosebumps
- 3
Pan
- 2
The
Last Witch Hunter - 1
