As fall arrives, so does the anticipation for films that inspire, captivate, and educate.
Perhaps, just perhaps, avoid having an odor.
The debate continues as to whether cinema is back or has disappeared like the buffalo, meaning that people now simply watch them at home once they're available. Honestly, I'm not concerned with theater earnings, though it would be good if films generated enough revenue to remain viable.
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We prioritize excellence over the number of tickets sold. Naturally, both factors are difficult to forecast, but that won’t stop me from making an effort.
Here are the 15 films I'm eagerly anticipating for the upcoming autumn season.
(I know, "Wicked: For Good" and "Avatar: Fire and Ash" will be released this autumn. I assume you're already familiar with everything there is to know about them.)
‘Him’ (Sept. 19)
Tyriq Withers portrays a talented football athlete who gets invited to train at the estate of a retired but famous quarterback (Marlon Wayans). So far, it sounds pretty typical, right? But this is actually a horror film produced by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions. That says it all.
'Another Battle Following One' (September 26)
If it's a film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, then it's definitely worth watching. Even when it might not reach perfection, which doesn't happen often. This is his latest project after "Licorice Pizza," featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, and Regina Hall, along with numerous other actors. A collection of former revolutionaries must reunite to rescue a member's daughter. I'm really looking forward to it.
‘Anemone’ (Oct. 3)
I don't mind what it's about. It features Daniel Day-Lewis. Isn't that sufficient? The finest actor of his era (perhaps of all time). any The generation aspect isn't very effective these days, so you appear when he does. The logline states, "Explores family ties among fathers, sons, and brothers as intricate relationships develop through individual experiences and clashes across generations." Okay. While the father-son dynamic seems accurate—Ronan Day-Lewis wrote the movie with his father and directed it.
'Aftershow' (October 10)
Luca Guadagnino ("Call Me By Your Name," "Challengers") keeps producing compelling movies with this latest one, featuring Julia Roberts as a prestigious university instructor. Her top student (Ayo Edebiri, who seems to be appearing in everything lately) accuses another faculty member (Andrew Garfield). Could her hidden truths surface? I'm not sure—that's exactly what draws us in. There's plenty of big-name talent involved here.
'A House of Dynamite' (October 10, Netflix October 24)
I've always enjoyed every film directed by Kathryn Bigelow. "The Hurt Locker," naturally, which earned her (and the film) an Academy Award. Additionally, I appreciated "Zero Dark Thirty" and even "Detroit." However, my personal favorite remains her debut work, "Near Dark," a remarkable but overlooked vampire film. I bring this up because details about her newest project remain scarce, except that it revolves around the White House team preparing for an imminent missile attack on America. The cast includes Rebecca Ferguson, Idris Elba, Willa Fitzgerald, Greta Lee, and the talented Tracy Letts.
"If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You" (October 10)
There's a lot of excitement surrounding Mary Bronstein's movie, which follows a woman (played by Rose Byrne) who is rapidly losing control of her life. Conan O'Brien (!) is receiving positive reviews for his role as her psychiatrist. You can't argue with that. that isn’t intriguing.
‘Good Fortune’ (Oct. 17)
Aziz Ansari penned, directed, and performed in this movie where a freelance worker (Ansari) swaps lifestyles with a venture capital executive (Seth Rogen), aided by an angel—portrayed by Keanu Reeves. A mystical version of "Trading Places?" Doesn’t matter? It seems intriguing.
‘Bugonia’ (Oct. 24)
Another partnership between Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, after "The Favourite," "Poor Things," and "Kinds of Kindness." In this instance, Stone portrays a chief executive officer whom some abductors think is an extraterrestrial seeking to annihilate our planet. The movie is a remade version of the 2003 South Korean film "Save the Green Planet!"
'Springsteen: Take Me Out of Here' (October 24)
The tale of Bruce Springsteen recording "Nebraska," one of his most significant albums (though I found it quite challenging to get into). What an ensemble! Jeremy Allen White from "The Bear" portrays Springsteen, Jeremy Strong from "Succession" plays critic-turned-manager Jon Landau, along with Paul Walter Hauser, Gaby Hoffman, and Marc Maron—what a stellar group. Now tackle "Born to Run."
"Die My Love" (November 7)
Like "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You," the film features strong performances and intense moments. Jennifer Lawrence portrays a young mother experiencing postpartum depression followed by psychosis. Robert Pattinson stars as her spouse; together, they relocate from New York City to remote Montana. It doesn’t turn out smoothly, to say the least. Additionally, it blends elements of humor and drama.
'Jay Kelly' (November 14, Netflix December 5)
George Clooney portrays an actor similar to himself. Adam Sandler, who Clooney constantly praises (he instructed the team not to refer to him as "Sandman"), takes on the role of his agent. Noah Baumbach wrote (alongside Emily Mortimer) and directed the film, which also features Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, and roughly half of Tinseltown.
‘Eternity’ (Nov. 26)
Elizabeth Olsen portrays a woman who passes away and is given seven days to choose between spending eternal life with her first husband (Callum Turner), who perished during wartime, or her second husband (Miles Teller), with whom she constructed her life. It’s an intriguing concept, somewhat similar to the excellent film "Defending Your Life."
‘Hamnet’ (Nov. 27)
After losing his 11-year-old son Hamnet, William Shakespeare (played by Paul Mescal) pens a play with a comparable name. Jessie Buckley, one of my top choices, portrays Agnes, William's spouse. Adapted from the novel by Maggie O'Farrell and brought to life by director Chloé Zhao ("Nomadland"). A touch of sophistication for your next film experience.
‘Frankenstein’ (November)
Numerous exceptional versions of Frankenstein have been made. Is an additional one truly necessary? Absolutely! Particularly when helmed by Guillermo del Toro, someone deeply familiar with the genre of horror, as he has mentioned in interviews. Oscar Isaac portrays Victor Frankenstein, whereas Jacob Elordi takes on the role of the Creature.
‘Marty Supreme’ (Dec. 25)
Director Josh Safdie features Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser, a character with aspirations of becoming a top table-tennis player and taking extreme measures to reach his goals. The film is inspired by Marty Reisman, an actual champion in the sport. It seems quite unusual, which is exactly why I'm eager to watch it.
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This piece first was published in the Arizona Republic: The fall movie season is set to be exciting. Here are 15 films I'm really looking forward to watching.