September is right around the corner which means a two-fold attack of movies. 1) the wealth of riches that arrives in the more-adult-themed awards season and 2) the overlapping films that appear first during the fall film festival circuit. So, our fall preview essentially doubles for both, a few films here and there missing due to lack of release dates yet. But yes, the Venice Film Festival starts this week, the Telluride Film Festival this weekend and following that a brief reprieve before the Toronto International Film Festival and then the genre-focused Fantastic Fest in Austin and artsy and prestigious New York Film Festival in late September and early October.
Frankly, there are hundreds of films that are arriving this fall and it is one of the best fall film festival seasons on record. Coming this fall and early winter we have new films coming by auteurs like Alfonso Cuarón, Barry Jenkins, Jacques Audiard, Paul Greengrass, Nicole Holfcener, Tamara Jenkins, the Coen Brothers and dozens more. It’s the best fall film festival season on record in years and a fantastic-looking several months that should provide something for pretty much every moviegoer out there. Here we go!
SEPTEMBER
“The Predator”
Cast: Olivia Munn, Jacob Tremblay, Thomas Jane, Boyd Holbrook, Sterling K. Brown, Keegan-Michael Key
Synopsis: When a young boy accidentally triggers the universe’s most lethal hunters’ return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled science teacher can prevent the end of the human race.
What You Need to Know: Audiences may remember Shane Black as Hawkins, a bit part from the hit ‘80s genre classic “Predator.” Well, life has a funny way of coming full circle sometimes, as, over three decades later, Black is returning to the franchise as a writer and director of the new installment in the now-iconic franchise. The “Lethal Weapon” screenwriter and “Iron Man 3” helmer, once the highest-paid screenwriter in Hollywood, has made a return to the mainstream over the past decade after taking a much-needed break from the pressures of the studio system. He’s returning to his roots in more ways than one, reteaming with his “The Monster Squad” screenwriter Fred Dekker for “The Predator.” Fans will see some fresh new faces in Black’s new vision, but, perhaps most notably, will have the opportunity to see another R-rated “Predator” film. This means that audiences will be exposed to the most gore in the franchise since “Predator 2.” Don’t say you weren’t warned.
Release Date: September 14 – Alex Arabian
“Lizzie”
Cast: Chloë Sevigny, Kristen Stewart, Kim Dickens, Fiona Shaw
Synopsis: A psychological thriller based on the infamous murders of the Borden family in the late 1800s.
What You Need to Know: Despite the urge to disregard “Lizzie” as yet another costume-heavy, overly serious period piece sure to satisfy the few pinky-waving arthouse crowd members in attendance, it’s unlikely that the film will pass through this fall season completely unnoticed, and for good reason. With director Craig William Macneill handling the directorial duties behind the camera — the filmmaker’s full-length debut “The Boy” received a fair amount of critical praise upon its release in 2015 — and two high caliber actresses such as Sevigny and Stewart heading up the cast, “Lizzie” is almost guaranteed to showcase a noteworthy combination of gripping performances and white-knuckled tension. Taking all these factors into account, you might just find yourself tightening your corset in preparation for the flick’s theatrical unveiling.
Release Date: September 14 [our review] – Jonathan Christian
“Mandy”
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, Bill Duke, Richard Brake
Synopsis: “Mandy” is set in the primal wilderness of 1983 where Red Miller, a broken and haunted man hunts an unhinged religious sect who slaughtered the love of his life.
What You Need to Know: Who doesn’t revel in the opportunity to see Nicolas Cage lose his shit on screen these days? Ever since that viral video was released, compiling every clip of Cage’s infamous tendency to overact throughout his filmography, Cage’s cinematic freakouts have been celebrated far and wide. Recently, audiences and critics alike lauded Cage for an appropriately unhinged performance in “Mom and Dad.” In “Mandy,” he has the opportunity to work with visionary director Panos Cosmatos (“Beyond the Black Rainbow”). Ironically, the very thing that had pushed him to the outskirts of stardom, is now bringing him back into relevance: his maniacal rage. Actor Elijah Wood is one of the producers of “Mandy,” which will feature Oscar nominee Jóhann Jóhannsson’s final score. When Oscar winner Guillermo Del Toro tells you to “Watch and be in awe!” well, you do it.
Release Date: September 14 [our review] – AA
“The Land Of Steady Habits”
Cast: Ben Mendelsohn, Edie Falco, Thomas Mann, Elizabeth Marvel, Bill Camp, Charlie Tahan, and Connie Britton
Synopsis: Feeling existentially trapped and lost, a wealthy financial advisor leaves his wife in the hopes that it will renew his lust for life.
What You Need to Know: Sharp, funny and observant indie writer/director Nicole Holofcener (“Enough Said,” “Lovely And Amazing”) takes another humanist coming of age look at middle life, but this time with her first male protagonist played by the great Ben Mendelsohn. While she’s adapted the work of male writer before, “The Land Of Steady Habits” is the first feature film she’s made based on someone else’s work and a man no less (novelist Ted Thompson). This doesn’t dull “The Land Of Steady Habits,” which reads like yet another compassionate, hilarious and insightful look at those in crisis trying to find their way through life. A terrific ensemble cast anchors the picture and given Holofcener has yet to ever direct a middling film, let alone a bum note, all eyes will be on this one when it debuts at TIFF and then hits Netflix days later.
Release Date: September 14 – Rodrigo Perez
“White Boy Rick”
Cast: Richie Merritt, Matthew McConaughey, Bruce Dern, Eddie Marsan, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Brian Tyree Henry
Synopsis: Based on a true story, Richard Wershe Jr. becomes the youngest FBI informant in history at the age of 14 in the 1980’s.
What You Need to Know: Let’s face it, White Boy Rick is a cool nickname. It’s simple, it’s catchy and it’s memorable. But most importantly, it’s just downright smooth. However, the film based on its eponymous real-life character seems to be anything but slick, but still holds all the right ingredients for an unforgettable theatrical experience. The gritty sophomore feature from director Yann Demange — the filmmaker responsible for the critically-acclaimed historical thriller “‘71” — seems to pick up where the Safdie Brothers’ “Good Time” left off. In addition to the eye-catching cast, which fuses Hollywood royalty like Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Jason Leigh with up-and-comers such as Brian Tyree Henry and Richie Merritt — the first-time actor depicting White Boy Rick — the premise seems insane enough to turn heads and hopefully convince your average filmgoer to buy a ticket to this fever dream of a crime drama.
Release Date: September 14 –JC
“Fahrenheit 11/9”
Synopsis: The firebrand documentarian Michael Moore makes his big screen return with a response to the election and presidency of a one Donald J. Trump.
What You Need to Know: It would feel a bit auspicious if we slogged through this era of Trump without a rallying cry from Moore. He’d been hinting to have been working on something DJT-related, and now, we know what his next game plan is. The trailer hints to something of a nation-wide pulse check, with Moore breaking down the highlights and talking to everyday citizens about their feelings of the moment. He’s also shown taking a truck of contaminated Flint water and spraying it on the lawn of Michigan governor Rick Snyder. So, of course, he’s in fine form. Moore’s always been an impassioned filmmaker, never afraid to push the envelope or drive in discomfort to make his point. While Moore got to take a bit of a breather from hammering out at D.C.’s underbelly during the Obama years, it’ll be something to watch him wade through the Trumpian swamp. The potential is there for another “Bowling for Columbine” or “Roger and Me.”
Release Date: September 21 – Cory Woodroof
“The Sisters Brothers”
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, John C. Reilly, Jake Gyllenhaal, Riz Ahmed
Synopsis: In 1850’s Oregon, a gold prospector named Hermann Warm (Ahmed) is being pursued by two assassins named Eli and Charlie Sisters (Reilly and Phoenix).
What You Need To Know: At the helm is Jacques Audiard whose previous work includes films like “Rust And Bone” and “A Prophet” which was a Best Foreign Language Film nominee at the Oscars. Not only is “The Sisters Brothers” his English language debut but it stars an incredible quartet of actors. You have Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly as the titular anti-heroes. It also has Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed which makes this an exciting “Nightcrawler” reunion for anyone who’s a big fan of that film. What’s even more exciting is that judging by the previews, it seems like a slapstick Western. That’s something we don’t always see and I’m sure we can’t wait to see what else “The Sisters Brothers” has to offer.
Release Date: September 21 – Matt St. Clair
“Life Itself”
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Olivia Wilde, Antonio Banderas
Synopsis: As a young New York couple go from college romance to marriage and the birth of their first child, the unexpected twists of their journey create reverberations that echo over continents and through lifetimes.
What You Need to Know: From the creators of your mom’s favorite show, “This is Us,” comes yet another story of interconnected lives which span generations and explore love and loss and all that falls in between. Hitting quite the saccharine note in the trailer – unsurprising considering the writers behind the film whose credits, along with the NBC hit, also includes “Crazy, Stupid Love,” “Life Itself” has yet to cement itself as an obvious success, at the most assuming the post of the “feel good autumn movie.” With such an extensive and sprawling cast with a wealth of talents, perhaps the dialogue won’t come across as hackneyed when more context is given. At the very least we’re given a chance to see Oscar Isaac and Annette Bening in a film together.
Release Date: September 21st – Ally Johnson
“The Old Man and the Gun”
Cast: Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek, Danny Glover
Synopsis: A kindly senior citizen (Redford) robs banks and stuns bank tellers with his manners; Affleck’s detective pursues the benevolent bandit.
What You Need to Know: David Lowery has an opportunity to score a hat-trick after his folksy “Pete’s Dragon” remake and indie darling “A Ghost Story” proved that “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints” was just a foretaste of what was to come. His patient, longing style looks to match with Redford, who might be bidding his big screen farewell here. Redford’s a legend in front of and behind the camera, so this film could carry an added significance if this is truly goodbye for the actor. Affleck, Spacek, and Glover make for a strong supporting cast, and “BlacKkKlansman” star John David Washington, musician-turned-actor Tom Waits, Elisabeth Moss, Tika Sumpter and Isiah Whitlock Jr. are all scheduled to pop up. Lowery stands to be one of the more exciting new voices in cinema, and it’ll be great to see him back with Redford, spinning what’s sure to be another timeless yarn and a keen meditation on the aging process.
Release Date: September 28 – CW
“Hold the Dark”
Cast: Jeffery Wright, Alexander Skarsgård, Riley Keough, James Badge Dale
Synopsis: A wolf expert sets off into the Alaskan Wilderness to track down a missing six-year-old taken by a pack of wolves.
What You Need to Know: Considering his talent for turning stomachs and bending genres, it might’ve seemed foolish if “Hold the Dark” had attached anyone other than Jeremy Saulnier as its director. As an adaptation of William Giraldi’s novel of the same name, the Netflix-distributed thriller sets out to continue Saulnier’s streak of crafting movies lingering on the razor edge of a tightrope, a balance set somewhere between solemn character studies and deranged neo-noirs. Although “Hold the Dark” was penned by longtime collaborator Macon Blair, this forthcoming project shows that Saulnier isn’t afraid to push his brand forward, not only in terms of adapting pre-existing material but also by tackling a large-scale story. If the quality of actors attached is any indication of what’s to come, fans of Saulnier’s work can expect a film sure to leave a haunting impression on its audience, for better or worse.
Release Date: September 28 – JC
