According to: Selina
20 – The Great
Alaskan Race (10/25)
Production/Distribution:
Rebel Road Entertainment, P12 Films
Director: Brian
Presley
Writer: Brian
Presley
Actors: Brian
Presley, Treat Williams, Brad Leland, Henry Thomas, Bruce Davison, Will
Wallace, Brea Bee, James Russo
Genre: Action,
Adventure, Drama
Rated: PG
Length: 87
minutes
IMDb Blurb: In 1925's historic great race of mercy, a group of
brave mushers travel 700 miles to save the small children of Nome, Alaska from
a deadly epidemic.
Yes, this story has been told before; most notably in the
animated film: Balto (1995).
Predictably, the Universal film wasn’t the most historically
accurate. Balto concentrated on being entertaining, and recognizable,
for kids. Let’s not even consider the sequels, which might as well have had no
basis in reality at all.
I didn’t hate Balto. There is a place in the general cinematic
landscape for kid movies that scratch the surface of reality, without going too
far in depth. It’s important for kids to understand that the ‘impossible’ can
be achieved by relatable characters. Even if they are dogs and not humans.
That’s where The Great Alaskan Race seems to differ.
Despite its PG rating, it seems to be geared more toward adults. With the lack
of talking K-9s and the addition well utilized live-action settings, it also
seems to be holding a bit more toward the actuality of the situation. It
doesn’t just concentrate on one dog or one musher. It shows the team-effort
that it was. It even seems to acknowledge that it was the dog, Togo, that
crossed the most treacherous stretch of the relay.
It looks amazing, amping up the drama and action while
telling the story of how some essential vaccines reached a community in need in
the 1920s.
I’m a fan of just about anything that reminds the community
that vaccines are important. Especially in this day and age. Even without that,
though, the trailer looks pretty damn great.
On another note, there are a LOT of amazing films coming out
this month. So much, in fact, that a Top 20 wasn’t enough to cover them all.
It’s important to remember that just because a movie doesn’t make this list,
doesn’t mean I think it isn’t worth watching. That is truer this month than
most. I had to cut films for the October list that I never would have had to
cut on other months. Keep that in mind as you read on.
19 – The Addams
Family (10/11)
Production/Distribution:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Cinesite Animation, BRON Studios, BermanBraun, Bron
Creative, Creative Wealth Media Finance, Nitrogen Studios Canada, United
Artists Releasing, Andes Films, B&H Film Distribution, CJ CGV Viet Nam,
Cineforum, Eagle Pictures, Forum Film Bulgaria, Forum Film Slovakia, Forum
Films, Forum Hungary, SF Film, SF Norge A/S, Svensk Filmindustri (SF),
Toho-Towa, Tulip Entertainment, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal
Pictures International (UPI), Universal Pictures
Director: Greg
Tiernan, Conrad Vernon
Writer: Matt
Lieberman, Charles Addams, Pamela Pettler
Actors: Finn
Wolfhard, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Pom Klementieff, Catherine
O’Hara, Oscar Isaac, Allison Janney, Aimee Garcia, Mikey Madison, Nick Kroll,
Maggie Wheeler, Bette Midler, Martin Short, Elsie Fisher, Snoop Dogg, Harland
Williams, Jenifer Lewis, Tituss Burgess, Conrad Vernon, Chelsea Frei, Deven Green,
Scott Underwood, Cole Prawer
Genre: Animation,
Comedy, Family
Rated: PG
Length: 105
minutes
IMDb Blurb: An animated version of Charles Addams' series of
cartoons about a peculiar, ghoulish family.
Undoubtedly this movie should be higher on my list, but it’s
the curmudgeon in me that put it this low.
There’s nothing wrong with the trailer. It’s hilarious. The
casting is fantastic, and the story seems like fun. For me, personally? Nothing
will ever hold a candle to the original or the first remake. I had such dreams
of seeing a story continued with Christina Ricci’s (Black Snake Moan,
Mothers and Daughters, Around the Block) Wednesday becoming the matriarch
of the family.
Yes, I know, that was never a thing. But a girl can dream.
I’m not a huge fan of the way the characters are designed in
this one. Gomez, in particular. I can learn to like the others. There’s just
something about Gomez’s animation that’s a huge turn off to me, but that’s the
only real issue I have.
18 – Making Waves:
The Art of Cinematic Sound (10/26)
Production/Distribution:
Ain’t Heart Nothin’ Yet Corp., Goodmovies Entertainment
Director: Midge
Costin
Writer: Bobette
Buster
Actors: Erik
Aadahl, Ioan Allen, Richard L. Anderson, Karen Baker Landers, Bobbi Banks,
Richard Beggs, Anna Behlmer, Mark Berger, Ben Burtt, Ryan Coogler, Sofia
Coppola, Dane A. Davis, Peter J. Devlin, Teri E. Dorman, Teresa Eckton, Jessica
Gallavan, Ludwig Göransson, Cecelia Hall, Greg Hedgepath, Lora Hirschberg,
Tomlinson Holman, Richard Hymns, Pat Jackson, Richard King, Ai-Ling Lee, Ang
Lee, George Lucas, David Lynch, David MacMillan, Mark A. Mangini, Alyson Dee
Moore, Walter Murch, Christopher Nolan, Robert Redford, John Roesch, Gary
Rydstrom, Steven Spielberg, Barbara Streisand, Randy Thorn, Douglas Vaughan,
Peter Weird, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Hans Zimmer
Genre: Documentary
Rated: Unrated
Length: 94
minutes
IMDb Blurb: An exploration of the history, artistry, and
emotional power of cinema sound, as revealed by legendary sound designers and
visionary directors, via interviews, clips from movies, and a look at their
actual process of creation and discovery.
When documentaries make my list, it’s usually because it’s a
bad month and there isn’t much I want to see. I just don’t tend to gravitate
toward the genre. I like true stories, but a lot of documentaries feature
monotone narrators or problematic research. Sometimes they’re just on subjects
I don’t care all that much about or feature experts I have no interest in.
Whatever the reason, they just don’t tend to resonate with me.
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound is making my
list on a month when I have had to cut another movie off to make room. With
good reason.
A lot of the experts are people from the movie business that
we all know and love. We don’t have to ask what their qualifications are, we
know them. Some of us know them by heart.
I don’t know much about how narration will go throughout the
entire hour and a half, but I can guarantee there will some excited and
emotion-producing sounds in general.
Then there’s simply my interest in the subject. Clearly, I
love films. Even the worst of them, I can usually find some reason to want to
see it, if only to learn what not to do. Here is an entire film full of people
I admire telling me what to look for in a movie’s sound. Showing me how the
sausage gets made, as the expression goes.
I don’t know how to not be interested in this.
I may never make my own movie – I don’t think my interests
go that route (I’d rather write one). Still, knowing more about cinematic sound
will help me appreciate the work that goes into films even more.
17 – Maleficent:
Mistress of Evil (10/18)
Production/Distribution:
Roth Films, Walt Disney Pictures, Forum Hungary, Press Play Pictures, Walt
Disney Studios Japan, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Director: Joachim
Rønning
Writer: Micah
Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster, Linda Woolverton
Actors: Angelina
Jolie, Michelle Pfeiffer, David Gyasi, Elle Fanning, Juno Temple, Ed Skrein,
Imelda Staunton, Harris Dickinson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sam Riley, Lesley
Manville, Judith Shekoni, Robert Lindsay, Miyavi
Genre: Adventure,
Family, Fantasy
Rated: Unrated
Length: 118
minutes
IMDb Blurb: Maleficent and her goddaughter Aurora begin to
question the complex family ties that bind them as they are pulled in different
directions by impending nuptials, unexpected allies, and dark new forces at play.
I’ve only seen bits and pieces of the first Maleficent
(2014). Because of that, I don’t feel comfortable putting the sequel up any
higher than this. I’m well aware of the mixed reviews for the first one, but
that doesn’t affect my personal opinion. If anything, the fact that the
audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is drastically higher than the critics score
tells me I’d most likely enjoy it immensely.
The trailer for this sequel looks amazing. It seems to
indicate that the movie tells a different story while staying true to the feel
of its predecessor. That’s what a sequel should be. Of course, trailers can
easily be misleading.
I recommend keeping expectations in check while still being open
minded. Although it’s possible for Maleficent: Mistress of Evil to
suffer from sequelitis, it could also be decent. Take it on its own merit.
16 – The Current
War (10/4)
Production/Distribution:
Bazelevs Production, Film Rites, FlightAV.com, Fourth Floor Productions, Lantern
Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, The Weinstein Company, GEM Entertainment,
Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Diamond Films, 01 Distribution, 101 Studios,
Entertainment Film Distributors, Forum Film Poland, Golden Village Pictures,
Viva International Pictures, Concorde Filmverleih, Film & TV House, Noori
Pictures, Spyglass Media Group
Director: Alfonso
Gomez-Rejon
Writer: Michael
Mitnick
Actors: Tom Holland,
Tuppence Middleton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Matthew Macfadyen, Nicholas Hoult,
Katherine Waterston, Michael Shannon, Damien Molony, Craig Conway, Louis
Ashbourne Serkis, Simon Kunz, Celyn Jones, Woody Norman, Amy Marston, Emma
Davies, Colin Stinton, John Schwab, Ekow Quartey, Simon Lowe, Conor MacNeill,
Tim Steed, Sophia Ally, Nancy Crane, Liza Ross, Abigail Sakari, Oliver Powell,
Ben Mars, Jeremy Oliver, Kevin Millington, Katy Poulter
Genre: Biography,
Drama, History
Rated: PG-13
Length: 107 minutes
IMDb Blurb: The dramatic story of the cutthroat race between
electricity titans Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse to determine whose
electrical system would power the modern world.
The story of Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla/George
Westinghouse is a fascinating one.
In my schools, growing up, we only learned about Edison.
Tesla wasn’t even a foot note. It wasn’t until much later that I learned how
much more in depth the story of electricity went. It’s a shame, because the story
is a really interesting one that might have actually caught my interest as a
student.
This film looks like it’ll up the drama a bit, but otherwise
stay pretty true to life. The idea that this may be an introduction for many
students to what really happened is a little sad, but it’s not a bad
introduction.
The cast is outstanding. Benedict Cumberbatch (The
Imitation Game, Doctor Strange, Star Trek Into Darkness), Nicholas Hoult (Mad
Max: Fury Road, Warm Bodies, X-Men: Days of Future Past), and Michael
Shannon (The Shape of Water, Take Shelter, Revolutionary Road) are
playing Edison, Tesla, and Westinghouse respectively. All of them are engaging
and talented actors that are bound to embody their parts expertly. They’re
supported by people like Tom Holland (Avengers: Infinity War, The
Impossible, The Lost City of Z) and Katherine Waterston (Inherent Vice,
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Alien: Covenant). If there’s
anything wrong with this movie, it definitely won’t be because of a casting
issue.
Really, the only reason it’s this low on my list is because
it looks like every other biographical film that’s been coming out for the past
five years. Straight down to the same coloring and camera angles. It’s starting
to look so familiar that it’s getting old. I don’t have a problem with
biographical projects… but I would love to see something different done with
them.
15 – Wonder
Woman: Bloodlines (10/5)
Production/Distribution:
Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Director: Justin
Copeland, Sam Liu
Writer: William
Moulton Marston, Mairghread Scott
Actors: Marie
Avgeropoulos, Rosario Dawson, Mozhan Marnò, Jeffrey Donovan, Constance Zimmer,
Michael Dorn, Cree Summer, Nia Vardalos, Adrienne C. Moore, Ray Chase,
Courtenay Taylor, Kimberly Brooks
Genre: Animation,
Fantasy
Rated: PG-13
Length: 83
minutes
IMDb Blurb: (Since the blurb has clearly not been updated since
before 2017, I won’t be including it.)
Normally, you’d never see a DC animated film this low on my
list, but there are a couple of factors at play here.
The most obvious thing to consider is that there are some amazing
films coming out this month that are hard to compare to. When you add the fact
that this movie is reusing part of an origin that’s already currently in use, I
just couldn’t defend putting this film higher.
That’s my big problem. Sure, Spiderman uses the same origin
over and over again, but not while there’s another series already out using
that story.
Take, for instance, the live-action Spidey films and Into
the Spider-verse. The only similarity between them is that Spidey is bit by
a radioactive spider – and the live-action films don’t even do that part on
screen.
In this case, both Wonder Woman (2017) and Wonder
Woman: Bloodlines start the exact same way – if the trailer is to be
believed. Diana starts on Themyscira. Steve crash lands there. She gets him
healthy enough to travel, then goes with him against the Amazon’s wishes.
I mean… there’s only 2 years between the live-action film (a
film that is going to have a sequel so it’s not even on the remake/reboot clock
yet) and this animated version. I think that was a SERIOUS misstep. If they
wanted to use the same origin, they didn’t have to do it on screen.
It’s possible that this film was written before the
live-action version came out, but even if it was… there’s been enough time to
change or remove the origin.
Luckily, the rest of the story seems different enough.
Really, the reason it’s even this high on my list is because
of DC’s insane track record with animated films. They really don’t do much
wrong in this form. I’m hoping that the repeated origin is either played up a
little too much in the trailer, or they cut it from the film entirely.
14 – Girl on the
Third Floor (10/25)
Production/Distribution:
Queensbury Pictures, Dark Sky Films, Umbrella Entertainment
Director: Travis
Stevens
Writer: Travis
Stevens, Paul Johnstone, Ben Parker
Actors: C.M.
Punk, Trieste Kelly Dunn, Sarah Brooks, Elissa Dowling, Karen Woditsch, Travis
Delgado, Marshall Bean, Anish Jethmalani, Bishop Stevens, Tonya Kay
Genre: Horror
Rated: Unrated
Length: 93
minutes
IMDb Blurb: Don Koch tries to renovate a rundown mansion with a
sordid history for his growing family, only to learn that the house has other
plans
I gave Girl on the Third Floor a little bit more
benefit of the doubt than I normally would. As great as the movie selection is for
October this year, there’s only a few great Halloween flicks to look forward
to. I had to take that into account.
This is my dark horse pick of the month.
There are a few factors that make it tough to judge this
film.
C.M. Punk (Rabid, Maron, Clash Time) is a well-known
WWE wrestler. Now, WWE wrestlers can be amazing actors. Look at people like
Dave Bautista (Stuber, Guardians of the Galaxy, Blade Runner 2049) and
Dwayne Johnson (Ballers, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,
Moana). It’s not unheard of to see wrestlers blow up in Hollywood. Of
course, for every one of those there’s a Paul Levesque (Blade: Trinity, The
Chaperone, Clash Time) or Mark Calaway (Suburban Commando, Poltergeist:
The Legacy, Clash Time). Being a good wrestler does not necessarily mean
they will be a good actor. I’m glad to see C.M. Punk shooting his shot, though,
and I hope he succeeds.
A lot of the trailer indicates that tropes are utilized
quite a bit in Girl on the Third Floor. That’s pretty typical for horror
movies these days, especially for newer production companies. Queensbury
Pictures is so new that they only have two movies listed on IMDb and one of
them has only been announced. That means there isn’t anything to really help build
expectation.
Even with all that, the trailer looks great. It’s engaging
and does a good job of showing the audience what kind of frights to expect.
There are flashes of brilliant cinematography woven in to a more familiar plot.
I feel comfortable choosing Girl on the Third Floor for
the Top 20. I believe there’ll be more to it than the trailer portrays.
13 – Greener
Grass (10/18)
Production/Distribution:
Gulp Splash Productions, Vanishing Angle, Russian World Vision, IFC Midnight
Director: Jocelyn
DeBoer, Dawn Luebbe
Writer: Jocelyn
DeBoer, Dawn Luebbe
Actors: D’Arcy
Carden, Dot-Marie Jones, Mary Holland, Julian Hilliard, Jim Cummings, Beck
Bennett, Jocelyn DeBoer, Neil Casey, Lauren Adams, Janicza Bravo, John
Milhiser, Santina Muha, Dawn Luebbe, Asher Miles Fallica, Will Hines, Ammie
Masterson, Sutton Johnston, Inessa Frantowski, Jaxon Rose Moore, Boden
Johnston, Haven Nutt, Paul Ryden, Mitch Magee, Mike Scollins, Beth Appel
Genre: Comedy
Rated: Unrated
Length: 95
minutes
IMDb Blurb: Suburban soccer moms find themselves constantly
competing against each other in their personal lives as their kids settle their
differences on the field.
This film has a WTF factor that reminds me a bit of Rubber
(2010).
I have no idea what to make of Greener Grass, but
it’s so wild and out there that I simply HAVE to know what it’s all about. I’m
not overly familiar with anyone involved in this movie, but every single person
in the trailer was incredibly intriguing. Whether it’s them as actors or them
as their characters, I can’t tell you.
From the moment I saw this trailer, it’s been stuck in my
mind. I’ve rarely seen anything even remotely like it. If it’s done well, this
film could be a name-maker.
12 – Black and
Blue (10/25)
Production/Distribution:
Hidden Empire Film Group, Royal Viking Entertainment, Screen Gems, Sony
Pictures Releasing, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures
International (UPI)
Director: Deon
Taylor
Writer: Peter A.
Dowling
Actors: Frank
Grillo, Reid Scott, Naomie Harris, Mike Colter, Tyrese Gibson, Beau Knapp,
Nafessa Williams, Kenneth Kynt Bryan, Michael Papajohn, James Moses Black,
Nelson Bonilla, Deneen Tyler, Tim Bell, Frankie Smith, John Charles II
Genre: Action,
Crime, Drama
Rated: Unrated
Length: 108
minutes
IMDb Blurb: 'Black and Blue' is an action thriller about a
rookie cop (Naomie Harris) who inadvertently captures the murder of a young
drug dealer on her body cam. After realizing that the murder was committed by
corrupt cops, she teams up with the one person from her community who is
willing to help her (Tyrese Gibson) as she tries to escape both the criminals
out for revenge and the police who are desperate to destroy the incriminating
footage.
This is an interesting take on the racial tensions involving
police officers.
Black and Blue offers a very real look at how black
officers are viewed. That truth is then combined with an exciting action plot.
The trailer alone had me on the edge of my seat. Assuming
that not all the twists and thrilling moments are spoiled in the coming
attraction, the movie is likely to hold just about anyone’s attention.
Where the cast is concerned, there doesn’t seem to be any
weak points. We all know how I feel about Mike Colter (Luke Cage, Skin,
Breakthrough), and he’s joined by Tyrese Gibson (Fast Five, Death Race,
Four Brothers), Frank Grillo (Into the Ashes, Point Blank, Reprisal)
and James Moses Black (All Styles, 24: Legacy, 68 Kill).
Now, I’ll admit, I’m not very familiar with Naomie Harris (Moonlight,
Skyfall, Rampage). I’ve been interested in a lot of her films, but I haven’t
gotten the chance to see any. I have no excuse; she’s been in some serious bangers.
In this trailer, though, there is one line she performs that instantly makes me
take notice. Where she says: “we’re still alive, aren’t we,” her voice cracks
just a little and you can hear the mental and physical exertion the character
is going through. She shows so much personality in that ONE line, that it’s
insane. Even if the rest of the trailer was lame, I’d be here for Harris.
11 – Mary (10/11)
Production/Distribution:
Tucker Tooley Entertainment, Film & TV House, GEM Entertainment, BF
Distribution, Pioner, RLJE Films, WW Entertainment, Noori Pictures
Director: Michael
Goi
Writer: Anthony
Jaswinski
Actors: Gary
Oldman, Jennifer Esposito, Emily Mortimer, Owen Teague, Michael Landes,
Stefanie Scott, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Natalie Jean, Chloe Perrin, Griffin Hood,
Teance Blackburn, John Leaptrott, Kenneth Herrington, Nicole Ciccarelli, Violet
Ladner, Caiden Vaughn
Genre: Horror
Rated: R
Length: 84
minutes
IMDb Blurb: A family looking to start a charter-boat business
buys a ship that holds terrifying secrets once out on isolated waters.
I will admit that the trailer is a little trope-filled, but
I stand behind my inclusion of Mary this high on my list.
There are some jump scares and some basic haunting moments,
but I also see something very special here. Ignoring the cast, which is incredible
on its own, the story isn’t as typical as the trailer makes it seem.
First of all, horror movies involving the sea usually
revolve – obviously – around the sea. A great deal of the time it’s about
sharks, but it can also be about being lost or stranded without a boat/oxygen
tank/life vest. Second of all, it usually involves scientists, a pair of
siblings, or your usual cadre of ridiculous teen stereotypes.
I didn’t see any of that here. In fact, the trailer seems to
indicate that the sea is used as a setting – or supporting factor at best. It’s
being used to heighten the claustrophobia of the situation; that necessary
‘nowhere to go’ feeling. And the story is about a family – something you might
be more likely to see in a haunted house story rather than on a boat.
Those seem like small differences, and they very well could
be, but I’ve also seen movies take small differences and make them feel huge.
As much as I want to say Gary Oldman (The Space Between
Us, Lawless, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) will be the one to decide, it won’t
be. How Mary utilizes its plot differences will be all on the shoulders
of writer, Anthony Jaswinski (Vanishing on 7th Street, Kristy, Satanic).
I know very little of his work, but I love giving the unknown a chance.
10 – Lucky Day
(10/11)
Production/Distribution:
Davis-Films, Avary, Don Carmody Productions, Metropolitan Filmexport, Lionsgate
Home Entertainment
Director: Roger
Avary
Writer: Roger
Avary
Actors: Luke
Bracey, Nina Dobrev, Crispin Glover, Ella Ryan Quinn, Clé Bennett, Clifton
Collins Jr., David Hewlett, Nadia Farès, Tomer Sisley, Mark Dacascos, Roberto
Campanella, Gabrielle Graham, Josie Ho, Darrin Baker, Scott Faulconbridge, Wole
Daramola, Maverick
Genre: Action,
Crime, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 99
minutes
IMDb Blurb: Red, a safe cracker who has just been released from
prison, is trying to hold his family together as his past catches up with him
in the form of Luc, a psychopathic contract killer who's seeking revenge for
the death of his brother.
There’s a minor issue with this one. The green band trailer
looks amazing, but the red band? Not so much. In the red band, it looks kind of
typical – almost disappointing. But the green band has a whole different feel.
It really shows off the mind of the creator.
Normally, that discrepancy would cause me to put Lucky
Day much lower on my list. It certainly wouldn’t be in the top 10. The
reason I still hold so much faith and interest in it is because of Roger Avary
(Silent Hill, Beowulf, Killing Zoe).
We’re not dealing with a film written by some newbie – or even
just a decent established writer/director. We’re dealing with a flick written
and directed by a legend. SO many of Roger Avary’s films turn out to be fast
favorites of mine that he could put out the worst trailer in history and I’d still
be nodding along like “yes, yes. I must see it.” That’s just fact.
He had a hand in Reservoir Dogs (1992). He wrote with
Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained, Kill Bill: Vol. 1, From Dusk Till Dawn)
for Pulp Fiction (1994). He was responsible for The Rules of Attraction
(2002).
I believe the green band trailer is likely a more honest
representation of what we can expect out of Lucky Day. I refuse to bet
against Roger Avary.
9 – The
Laundromat (10/18)
Production/Distribution:
Anonymous Content, Grey Matter Productions, Netflix, Topic Studios
Director: Steven
Soderbergh
Writer: Jake
Bernstein, Scott Z. Burns
Actors: Gary
Oldman, Meryl Streep, Sharon Stone, Melissa Rauch, David Schwimmer, Antonio
Banderas, Shoshana Bush, James Cromwell, Robert Patrick, Matthias Schoenaerts,
Will Forte, Jeffrey Wright, Chris Parnell, Rosalind Chao, Nonso Anozie, Amy
Louise Pemberton, Jay Paulson, Cristela Alonzo, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Larry Clarke,
Marsha Stephanie Blake, Veronica Osorio, Larry Wilmore, Kunjue Li, Jessica
Allain, Daniyar, Juliet Donenfeld, Jane Morris, Frank Gallegos, Jaime Aymerich,
Miriam A. Hyman, Brock Brenner, Adrian Dev, Guido Foehrweisser, Ming Lo, Alexander
Stasko, Josef Urban, Lucy Morningstar, Carlos Mena, Jeff Michalski, Myron
Parker Wright, Jeffrey Scott Basham, Miracle Washington, Iris Svis, Brenda Zamora,
Jonah Gould
Genre: Drama
Rated: R
Length: 96
minutes
IMDb Blurb: A widow investigates an insurance fraud, chasing
leads to a pair of Panama City law partners exploiting the world's financial
system.
The more Gary Oldman on my list for a month, the better you
know that month is. The guy is just a legend. I’m not even sure he’s human –
he’s a chameleon. He always loses himself so much in a part that it’s hard to
recognize him at times.
When you pair him with the absolute TITANS of the industry
that are in this film… it almost doesn’t matter what the trailer looks like.
Aside from Oldman you have Meryl Streep (The Post, Into
the Woods, The Iron Lady), Sharon Stone (The Disaster Artist, Mothers
and Daughters, Bobby), Antonio Banderas (Life Itself, Acts of Vengeance,
Automata), and so many more. It’s even directed by Steven Soderbergh (Logan
Lucky, Ocean’s Thirteen, Erin Brockovich).
Of course, the trailer does look amazing as well. The whole
thing looks like a masterpiece.
There are parts of Hollywood that still don’t take Netflix
as real competition – but those parts are not paying attention. They are
getting real talent and respected creators to work with them.
We’re well in the midst of an entertainment revolution, and
my money is on the streaming companies.
8 – Gemini Man
(10/11)
Production/Distribution:
Skydance Media, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Fosun Group Forever Pictures, Alibaba
Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Central Partnership, Sabay MVP, Towa Pictures,
United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI)
Director: Ang Lee
Writer: David
Benioff, Billy Ray, Darren Lemke
Actors: Mary
Elizabeth Winstead, Will Smith, Clive Owen, Benedict Wong, Douglas Hodge,
Theodora Miranne, Ralph Brown, Linda Emond, Andrea Sooch, Ilia Volok, Tim
Connolly, E.J. Bonilla, Alexandra Szucs, Justin James Boykin, Jeff J.J.
Authors, Badonics Titusz, Lilla Banak, Diego Adonye
Genre: Action,
Drama, Sci-Fi
Rated: PG-13
Length: 117
minutes
IMDb Blurb: An over-the-hill hitman faces off against a younger
clone of himself.
I’ve known about Gemini Man for a long time. I really
thought it would be higher on my list when it came out. But, here we are.
I adore Will Smith (Concussion, Winter’s Tale, Hancock).
I’ve been a fan since his Fresh Prince of Belair (1990-1996) days. I
think the majority of people my age would agree. He was a decent actor back
then and now he’s just amazing. He makes very few missteps in my mind.
Gemini Man does remind me enough of Looper (2012)
that I couldn’t defend putting it any higher. That said, the trailer still
looks worth it. There are enough differences shown that it’s possible any
similarities to the aforementioned film won’t matter once you watch the whole
thing.
The graphics look interesting. Every time I’m not watching, I
remember the younger Will looking weird – but when I am, I’m caught off guard
by how great it looks. I think it’s because I remember how he looked when he
was younger and there’s just a few aspects off.
Honestly, it wouldn’t matter. I’d see this just because I
follow Smith’s career. It’s been a joy to watch him go from his earlier
comedy-only stuff to his hardcore drama and blockbusters. I hardly believe I’ll
stop following him anytime soon.
Also, can we stop calling Will Smith “over-the-hill”? It
makes me feel old. Kthx.
7 – Jexi (10/11)
Production/Distribution:
CBS Films, Entertainment One, Lionsgate, Film & TV House, GEM
Entertainment, WW Entertainment, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Eagle Films
Director: Jon
Lucas, Scott Moore
Writer: Jon Lucas,
Scott Moore
Actors: Rose
Byrne, Alexandra Shipp, Adam Devine, Michael Peña, Justin Hartley, Charlyne Yi,
Wanda Sykes, Ron Funches, Kelly Richardson, Baily Hopkins, Laurie Burke,
Tiffany Chen, AnnaCorey, Bianca Von Krieg, Joseph Zinsman, Aaron Wilton, Gavin
Root, Dawayne Jordan
Genre: Comedy
Rated: R
Length: 84
minutes
IMDb Blurb: A comedy about what can happen when you love your
phone more than anything else in your life.
Although there will undoubtedly be a lot of cringe in this
film, it had my attention from the first watch-through of the trailer.
The subject of phones comes up a lot when it’s a discussion
between generations. There are the beliefs that phones are taking over our
lives, that they’re bettering our lives, that they’re fine in moderation, that
people are being too uptight about their use… the points of view are endless.
This movie touches on that in a hilarious way.
Will there be an end moral? Maybe. Maybe not. It’s a
single-genre comedy, so it could go either way. I don’t think it matters,
though.
It’s a relatable and interesting little story with some very
funny cast members supporting it and the writers of The Hangover (2009).
Regardless of how ridiculous the script might get, it’s going to be a hell of a
ride.
6 – Dolemite is
my Name (10/25)
Production/Distribution:
Davis Entertainment, Netflix
Director: Craig
Brewer
Writer: Scott
Alexander, Larry Karaszewski
Actors: Eddie
Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Keegan-Michael Key, Craig Robinson, Chris Rock, Snoop
Dogg, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Mike Epps, Tituss Burgess, T.I., Chelsea Gilson, Da’Vine
Joy Randolph, Ivo Nandi, Luenell, Tommie Earl Jenkins, Phil Abrams, Aaron
Craven, Kazy Tauginas, Gerald Downey, Aleksandar Filimonovic, Li Eubanks,
Knajula Edwards, Jernard Burks, Toni Duclottni, Baker Chase Powell, Denise
Milfort, Akono Dixon, Milan Carter, Joshua Weinstein, A.J. Tannen, Saudia
Rashed, Leonel Claude, Michael Peter Bolus, Allen Rueckert, Bernadine Durham,
Megan McEwen
Genre: Biography,
Comedy, Drama
Rated: R
Length: 118
minutes
IMDb Blurb: Eddie Murphy portrays real-life legend Rudy Ray
Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious,
obscene, kung-fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s Blaxploitation
phenomenon.
Kids these days just don’t know. They don’t know about Eddie
Murphy (Shrek, The Golden Child, Doctor Dolittle). His days as a king of
comedy. Sure, kids today could pick his voice out of a line-up without seeing its
donkey manifestation – but still. From the late 80s to the early 2000s, Murphy
was EVERYWHERE. My personal favorite is probably Coming to America
(1988).
Anyway, we haven’t seen him in a film since 2016 – and
before that his last credit was in 2013. I’m very excited to see him in this
now. Not only just because he’s Eddie Murphy, but because the movie itself
looks epic.
It’s a comedy, sure, but also a biography. A true story about
a person that I think Murphy is perfect to portray. Remember earlier how I
mentioned that a lot of biographies have the same feel to it, making them feel
tired and overdone? Here’s your answer. Dolemite is my Name is FAR from
tired. It’s an ode to an era and includes talented actors that deserve serious
recognition.
Alongside Murphy there’s Wesley Snipes (Chi-Raq, Blade, The
Expendables 3), Keegan-Michael Key (The Lion King, Toy Story 4, Keanu),
Craig Robinson (Hot Tub Time Machine, This is the End, The Office),
Chris Rock (2 Days in New York, Everybody Hates Chris, Dogma), Snoop Dogg
(Future World, What Are the Chances?, Pitch Perfect 2), Mike Epps (Acts
of Violence, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, The Hangover Part III),
Tituss Burgess (Set It Up, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, I Hate Kids), and
T.I. (The Trap, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Krystal) – all of them huge names in
their selected fields. Some of them are straight-up household names.
This film is going to be nearly two hours of badass dramedy
performed by the best of the best. I’m so looking forward to it. We’ll be
reviewing it pretty early on when it’s released, likely in the first week of
November, look out for it.
5 – Jojo Rabbit
(10/18)
Production/Distribution:
Czech Anglo Productions, Piki Films, Defender Films, Fox Searchlight Pictures,
20th Century Fox Argentina, 20th Century Fox Brazil, 20th Century Fox, Forum
Hungary, Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Director: Taika
Waititi
Writer: Christine
Leunens, Taika Waititi
Actors: Roman
Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Taika Waititi, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett
Johansson, Rebel Wilson, Alfie Allen, Stephen Merchant, Archie Yates, Luke
Brandon Field, Sam Haygarth
Genre: Comedy,
Drama, War
Rated: PG-13
Length: 108
minutes
IMDb Blurb: A young boy in Hitler's army finds out his mother
is hiding a Jewish girl in their home.
This film has one of the most unique plots I’ve seen in a
long time.
In the past, I’ve gone into why I’m so interested in stories
from the holocaust. In short, it’s a cultural necessity to not forget the past.
Not just as humanity, but because I come from a Jewish family. I devour all the
media I can find on the subject. And that includes stuff like Jojo Rabbit.
Now, most creative works based on the holocaust are very
serious. It makes sense because that entire period of history is nothing to
laugh at. That said, sometimes it’s easier to swallow the truth when it’s told
with a different tone. Even if it’s one that doesn’t quite fit the gravity of
the true story.
With the re-emergence of neo Nazi groups, it’s important to
educate our children on the dangers of hate, but also the idiocy of it. Jojo
Rabbit concentrates less on the graphic awfulness of the holocaust so that
it can be more accessible to younger teens. At that point, Taika Waititi (Thor:
Ragnarok, What We Do in the Shadows, Boy) is then able to really bring
across how absolutely ridiculous and idiotic it is to hate someone based on
their race, religion, or culture. If he had directed a bloodier, more graphic,
film – with a more serious tone – It would have just been another story unfit
for younger ears.
Hatred begins young. We’re taught hate as we grow, and Jojo
Rabbit acknowledges that, even when the entire world says that a certain
brand of hate is ok – children are fluid enough to learn differently. We will
get to see a young boy go from a Hitler fanatic to someone who grows to
understand what’s wrong with that ideology.
I get the controversy from critics. We live in a time where
hatred is resurfacing at an alarming rate. It’s difficult, sometimes, to look
at a piece of media and wonder who it will inspire to do what. That’s art,
though. It’s always up for interpretation and there’s no telling who will take
what out of it.
As an artist, Waititi set out to create an anti-hate satire.
By the look of the trailer, I’d say he succeeded. At the very least, he’s
opened a discussion about it by cultivating the controversy among critics –
which isn’t a bad thing either.
I’m looking forward to this one. I’m in the middle of
moving, but if I get a chance to hit the theaters at all, this is one I’ll want
to give my money to.
4 – Zombieland:
Double Tap (10/18)
Production/Distribution:
Columbia Pictures, Pariah, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures
Entertainment, Sony Pictures Filmverleih, Sony Pictures Releasing, United
International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI)
Director: Ruben
Fleischer
Writer: Dave
Callaham, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
Actors: Emma
Stone, Abigail Breslin, Zoey Deutch, Bill Murray, Rosario Dawson, Woody
Harrelson, Thomas Middleditch, Dan Aykroyd, Jesse Eisenberg, Luke Wilson, Avan
Jogia
Genre: Action,
Horror, Comedy
Rated: R
Length: 93
minutes
IMDb Blurb: Columbus, Tallahasse, Wichita, and Little Rock move
to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow
survivors, and the growing pains of the snarky makeshift family.
It’s been 10 years! I have been looking forward to the sequel
for Zombieland (2009) since the damn movie came out.
I know. Sequel-culture isn’t the best thing to support, but
this isn’t even the last one you’ll see on this list. Sometimes, I just can’t
help but want to delve further into a world that I’ve already fallen in love
with. There IS a place for sequels.
In this case, I’m dying to know what happened to Columbus,
Tallahassee, Wichita, and Little Rock after the events of the last film. After
all, the zombie apocalypse didn’t just END. Life went on. Did they find
survivors? Did they find a safe town? There are questions that a sequel can
absolutely explore without stretching a story that didn’t need to be stretched.
I’m here for this one. I honestly can’t believe it’s as low
as number 4 on my list.
3 – Jay and
Silent Bob Reboot (10/15)
Production/Distribution:
SModcast Pictures, Destro Films, Hideout Pictures, Intercut Capital, Mewesings,
Miramax, Skit Bags Entertainment, View Askew Productions, Saban Films, Mongrel
Media, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE)
Director: Kevin
Smith
Writer: Kevin
Smith
Actors: Chris
Hemsworth, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Melissa Benoist, James Van Der Beek, Val
Kilmer, Rosario Dawson, Shannon Elizabeth, Kevin Smith, Joe Manganiello, Justin
Long, Joey Lauren Adams, Molly Shannon, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes, Harley Quinn
Smith, Fred Armisen, David Dastmalchian, Kate Micucci, Diedrich Bader, Craig
Robinson, Jason Biggs, Frankie Shaw, Tommy Chong, Method Man, Jennifer
Schwalbach Smith, Joseph D. Reitman, Brian Quinn, Aparna Brielle, Brian O’Halloran,
Jeff Chase, Chris Jericho, Sue-Lynn Ansari, Kenneth Kynt Bryan, Ralph Garman, Donnell
Rawlings, Jake Richardson, Redman, Billy Slaughter, Alice Wen, Christopher Robin
Smith, Treshelle Edmond
Genre: Comedy
Rated: R
Length: Unknown
IMDb Blurb: Jay and Silent Bob return to Hollywood to stop a
reboot of 'Bluntman and Chronic' movie from getting made.
The fact that this is not number 1 for me is mind boggling.
Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma) is ALWAYS number 1 for me. Almost
without fail. Alas, this month he’s only number 1 in my heart.
My favorite thing about this movie is that Jay and Silent
Bob Reboot is not actually a reboot. It’s the sequel to Jay and Silent
Bob Strike Back (2001). Smith just took George R.R. Martin (Game of
Thrones, Nightflyers, The Twilight Zone) level time to write it.
This film looks like it has all of the usual goofy, raunchy,
Kevin Smith humor in it that we have come to know and love. It’s self-aware, it’s
dumb, it’s ridiculous and insane. It’s everything you want from a View
Askewniverse flick. Don’t go into it expecting anything deep and thoughtful
(except for whichever one moment Silent Bob opts to speak) and you’ll be fine.
If anything, this will be a great movie to just sit down and
turn your mind off for. Even if you’re not generally a fan of Kevin Smith, you
HAVE to admit with the constant, unrelenting stressors being thrown at us every
single day – it could be nice to get to watch something that just seeks to make
you laugh with no strings.
I cannot wait.
2 – Farming (10/11)
Production/Distribution:
Groundswell Productions, Logical Pictures, Metalwork Pictures, Montebello
Productions, The Sundance Institute, GEM Entertainment, Front Row Filmed
Entertainment, Momentum Pictures, Icon Film Distribution Australia, Icon Film
Distribution
Director: Adewale
Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Writer: Adewale
Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Actors: Kate
Beckinsale, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Cosmo Jarvis, Damson Idris, Adewale
Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jaime Winstone, Theo Barklem-Biggs, John Dagleish, Ann Mitchell,
Lee Ross, James Eeles, Genevieve Nnaji, Paul O’Kelly, Zach Avery, Skye Lourie,
David Olawale Ayinde, Tom Canton, Brooklyn Appiah, Scarlett Brookes, Kirstie
Brough, Ryan Enever, Leke Adebayo,
Bradley Bissett
Genre: Drama
Rated: R
Length: 101
minutes
IMDb Blurb: Based on the writer/director's childhood, FARMING
tells story of a young Nigerian boy, 'farmed out' by his parents to a white
British family in the hope of a better future. Instead, he becomes the feared
leader of a white skinhead gang.
This one caught me way off guard. It doesn’t even have a U.S.
release date, so this one is based on the U.K. release. I hadn’t heard ANYTHING
about it until I started collecting resources for this article. I’d call it a
dark horse, but there are factors that definitely show that Farming is
more than just a film with potential.
This is the writer/director, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s (Suicide
Squad, Trumbo, Lost), first full-length feature film. He’s known more as an
actor. Still, he’s got some seriously seasoned back-up with Gugu Mbatha-Raw (A
Wrinkle in Time, Concussion, Touch) and Kate Beckinsale (Stonehearst
Asylum, Total Recall, Underworld).
The plot is terrifying. So much so that it’s almost hard to
keep in mind that the entire thing is based on a true story. You want it to be
a work of fiction. You want to believe the world could never be that sadistic
to an entire group of people. Watching a film like this, I imagine, would be
the same for a person of color as it would be for a member of the Jewish
community to watch something showing the worst of the holocaust. It is
uncomfortable and awful – but the trailer shows sophisticated acting and direction
that is impossible to look away from.
In this film, Akinnuoye-Agbaje gets to tell his truth. A
heart-wrenching story of hatred and what it can do to a person. I’m hoping we
will also get to see that moment in his life where he began his healing – where
he understood himself better, out of the context of the life he was stolen into.
Movies like this, with a plot so devastating that it could
easily cause nightmares, are so important. I was born in the 80s in New York. I
never saw any of this. My grandparents on my father’s side were serious racists
and my mom refused to expose me to it, so I never met them. I think she did the
right thing. That meant I wasn’t exposed to it until I was old enough to know
that hate like that is wrong. Of course, that also means I didn’t know how far
racism could go. I never knew anything about people being ‘farmed out’. I knew
what my school taught me, and they barely scratched the surface.
Films, and other works of art, that tell this kind of lesser-known
story of history from the viewpoint of a person you can feel empathy for… they
mean so much. They teach so much. They give us more information that we can use
to relate to people who are different than us.
This will clearly not be a movie that will offer viewers any
comedy to help ease the blow of the truth. It will be horrifying, and it will
make our hearts hurt. It should.
When I can get my hands on this, I will be watching it.
1 – Joker (10/4)
Production/Distribution:
BRON Studios, Creative Wealth Media Finance, DC Comics, DC Entertainment, Joint
Effort, Village Roadshow Pictures, Warner Bros., Karo Premiere, Roadshow Films,
Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: Todd
Phillips
Writer: Todd
Phillips, Scott Silver
Actors: Joaquin
Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Jolie Chan, Marc Maron, Frances Conroy,
Shea Whigham, Mary Kate Malat, Bryan Callen, Brett Cullen, Douglas Hodge, Bill
Camp, Dante Pereira-Olson, Glenn Fleshler, Josh Pais, Michael Benz, Mandela
Bellamy, Leigh Gill, James Ciccone, Sondra James, Ben Warheit, Brendan Patrick
Connor, Keith Buterbaugh, Alissa Bourne
Genre: Crime,
Drama, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 121
minutes
IMDb Blurb: A gritty character study of Arthur Fleck, a man
disregarded by society.
To be honest, I think this one is tied with Farming
for my first place. The only reason I decided to put Joker first is
because I’ve been looking forward to it longer. Since long before the preview
came out. When Joaquin Phoenix (Her, I’m Still Here, Walk the Line) was
initially tapped to play the titular character – I was skeptical, but ready.
Sure, Phoenix is an amazing actor, but I think everyone rose
an eyebrow when he was chosen. We’d just come to terms with Jared Leto’s (Dallas
Buyers Club, Requiem for a Dream, The Thin Red Line) take on the character
and we were already getting a new one.
Then the trailer came out.
I don’t think any of us are confused anymore. I think Leto’s
Joker is going to be lost to the wind now. This movie looks insane – no pun
intended.
I know there’s some controversy over it because people are
worried it glorifies violence and may inspire people to do dumb shit… but I
really don’t see the argument here. Science has proven – consistently – that movies
and video games do not cause violence in people. It’s an outlet. When people
HAVE outlets, they don’t need to erupt into dumb-shit-territory because they’re
not bottling it up. It’s not an opinion, it’s fact. It’s in the studies.
Plural.
Wage a verbal war needlessly if you must, but I’m looking
forward to Joker.
Movies to Look out For
According to: Cat
Nighthawks .20
The King .19
Semper Fi .18
Lucky Day .17
Low Tide .16
The Great Alaskan Race .15
Dolemite is my Name.14
Black and Blue .13
Girl on the Third Floor
.12
High Strung Free Dance .11
Lucy in the Sky .10
Countdown .9
Mary .8
The Dead Center .7
The Addams Family .6
The Current War .5
Gemini Man .4
Maleficent: Mistress of
Evil .3
Jay and Silent Bob
Reboot .2
Zombieland: Double Tap .1
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