“First Man”
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler
Synopsis: The riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969. A visceral, first-person account, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the movie will explore the sacrifices and the cost on Armstrong and on the nation of one of the most dangerous missions in history.
What You Need to Know: American flag controversy aside (because of course), Damien Chazelle’s first film since “La La Land” has been met with nearly universal praise, especially once again for the director’s incredible craftsmanship. With “Whiplash,” the aforementioned “La La Land,” and now this, Chazelle is proving that he isn’t confined to any one style or genre of filmmaking, instead keen to take risks with each go-around. Ryan Gosling reteams with Chazelle to play Neil Armstrong in a role described as perfectly suited to Goslings often vulnerable stoicism while Claire Foy (having a big fall with this and her take on Lisbeth Salander in “The Girl in the Spider’s Web“) is saddled with the supportive wife role but is said to bring enough to make it her own and leave a lasting impression. Our critic saw its premiere at Venice and described the film as “…an immersive, immaculately crafted, often spectacular and satisfyingly old-fashioned epic that may well become the definitive moon-landing movie.”
Release Date: October 5
“22 July”
Cast: Anders Danielsen Lie, Jonas Strand Gravli, Thorbjorn Harr, Maria Bock
Synopsis: On 22 July 2011, 77 people were killed when a far-right extremist detonated a car bomb in Oslo before carrying out a mass shooting at a leadership camp for teens. “22 July” uses the lens of one survivor’s physical and emotional journey to portray the country’s path to healing and reconciliation.
What You Need to Know: It’s hard to fathom just what is enticing about a film dedicated to the real-life story of the mass-murder of teenagers, but filmmaker Paul Greengrass is no stranger to mining real tragedy for cinema with his previous entries including “Captain Phillips” and “United 93.” Being released through Netflix, the film so far has generated positive responses, with our critic, dubbing it “visually assaultive.”
Release Date: October 10 on Netflix.
“Bad Times at the El Royale”
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Dakota Johnson, Chris Hemsworth, Cynthia Erivo, Jon Hamm
Synopsis: Seven strangers, each with a secret to bury, meet at Lake Tahoe’s El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past. Over the course of one fateful night, everyone will have a last shot at redemption… before everything goes to hell.
What You Need to Know: Director Drew Goddard built himself quite the immediate following with his directorial debut “The Cabin in the Woods,” a movie that deconstructed the horror movie and the meta approach to its characters and the archetypes they embodied. It was self-aware without being smug. “Bad Times at the El Royale” marks his second outing as director (in film, at least) and once again, he’s delivering a film that is decidedly singular, building off of genres and the tropes that encapsulate them to great effect. The cast is sprawling and reportedly Cynthia Erivo (also strong in Steve McQueen’s upcoming “Widows”) is the standout. (Read our review)
Release Date: October 12
“Beautiful Boy”
Cast: Steve Carell, Timothee Chalamet, Amy Ryan, Maura Tierney
Synopsis: Based on the best-selling pair of memoirs from father and son David and Nic Sheff, “Beautiful Boy” chronicles the heartbreaking and inspiring experience of survival, relapse, and recovery in a family coping with addiction over many years.
What You Need to Know: Based on a remarkable true story, Timothée Chalamet proves his Oscar-nominated performance in “Call Me By Your Name” was no fluke with an equally stunning and heartbreaking turn as Nic Sheff. His performance is the main draw but Steve Carell also does strong work as his father. It’s an actors’ film with a truly compelling story at its center, but one that falls victim to the cyclical nature of the story it’s telling. Regardless, it’s an honest and painful extension of the Sheffs’ family experience. (Read our review)
Release Date: October 12
