December
“Nomadland” – December 4
Maybe our most anticipated premiere of the festival season, Chloe Zhao’s (“The Rider”) “Nomadland” stars the incomparable Frances McDormand as a woman who says, “Fuck it,” deciding to pack up her van and become a nomad after her Nevada business collapses. The centerpiece showcase of NYFF (an honor that went to “Marriage Story” last year), Zhao’s film will also screen at TIFF and Venice. There’s obviously been a lot of talk about the director being snatched up by Marvel Studios (she’s helming “Eternals,” if you weren’t aware) so many eyes are going to be on what could very well be her last more intimate movie project in a while. Co-starring the always reliable David Strathairn, “Nomadland” also happens to be McDormand’s first major role since her Oscar winning turn in ‘Three Billboards,” so, there’s a wee bit of hype around Zhao’s newest. – AB
“Coming to America 2” – December 18
While it feels like one of the films he’s best known for now, “Coming to America” was almost seen as a departure for Eddie Murphy in 1988. A box office smash that was not nearly as critically recognized, then, as it is popular on the internet today (meme culture lent a hand), the bellying comedy about the Crown Prince of Zamunda attempted a TV spin-off that never came to fruition. But isn’t it funny, living in a time where everything may reboot itself, decades after the fact (who ever thought Patrick Stewart would play Picard again, for example)? 30 years after the original movie, Akeem (Murphy) is set to take the mantle of King, but returns to America at the behest of his father (James Earl Jones), learning he has a son (Jermaine Fowler) who lives in Queens. Murphy started a little comeback last year with “Dolemite Is My Name,” the director of which, Craig Brewer, the comedian has tapped to helm his long- anticipated cult-sequel. – AB
“Dune” – December 18
One of the most talked about movies this side of the Milky Way galaxy, Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” looks to be one of the most ambitious cinematic epic’s ever produced (honestly, possibly the grandest saga we’ve seen since Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy). Based on one of the most essential science fiction texts in history, Frank Hebert’s book is not something that will translate easily (just ask David Lynch). The plan is to split the main novel into two films, while a concurrent series, “Dune: The Sisterhood” is being developed for HBO Max. Starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem, Villeneuve has been editing remotely during pandemic, which has been a challenge. We sincerely hope he’s not being pressured to rush the film out, as WB has sunk worlds of resources into the potential franchise. – AB
“West Side Story” – December 18
When you think about it, it’s surprising that Steven Spielberg has yet to gift us his take on the classical Hollywood musical. The sweeping grandiosity of his visions, paired with DP Janusz Kaminski’s effortless camerawork, will lend itself perfectly to flash mobs set pieces. Spielberg has had the idea for a “West Side Story” remake for some time. His mother was a pianist after all, and he grew up enamored with Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s Broadway musical – which the film will reportedly stray closer to than the 1961 film. Teaming again with renowned playwright Tony Kushner, (“Angels in America,” “Lincoln”) Spielberg has cast Ansel Elgort as white Jet, Tony, and Rachel Zegler as the Puerto Rican Shark, Maria. If this weren’t… you know, 2020, it’d be hard to imagine “Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story,” not drawing in droves and droves of audiences. – AB
“News of the World” – December 25
After one of the most notorious Oscar snubs in awards history for “Captain Phillips,” Tom Hanks and Paul Greengrass (known for the kinetic urgency of his political thrillers (“The Bourne Ultimatum,” “United 93”) reteam for “News of the World,” based on Paulette Jiles’ Western novel, which involves the kidnapping and release of a 10-year old girl on a tumultuous border between Texan and “Indian” land. We have yet to receive a poster or see any footage of the film, but frontier country Paul Greengrass sounds extremely intriguing (we’d wager it probably looks something like the insane opening shootout of “The Proposition”). Originally a Fox production that has since moved over to Universal because of the Disney merger, if ‘News’ ends up making its release date, expect to hear FYC buzz in the coming months. – AB
Additional December
The Empty Man – 12/4
Free Guy – 12/11
The Father – 12/18
The Croods: A New Age – 12/23
The Truffle Hunters – 12/25
Fall TBD
None of these films have officially release dates yet, but of all the films either waiting in the wings or playing at the upcoming fall film festivals, this batch feels very likely for an official fall release in the weeks to come.
“Mank”
David Fincher’s first movie in far too long, “Mank” is easily one of our most anticipated projects of 2020. Co-written by the infamously meticulous filmmaker’s father, Jack Fincher (allegedly, a script Papa Fincher has been tinkering with since the ‘70s), the concentrated stylist’s latest follows the production troubles/squabbles that occurred between Hollywood screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz and the director of some movie he wrote called “Citizen Kane.” “Mank” is reportedly taking the stance that Orson Welles did not deserve a co-writing credit on the film, Gary Oldman starring as the Oscar winning scribe, with Tom Burke taking on the sure to be scrutinized role of Welles himself. Most of production took place at a single location, the Kemper Campbell Ranch in Victorville, California, where Mankiewicz holed up with a typewriter, churning out ‘Kane’ draft pages. Given its David Fincher we’re talking about, a biopic in the traditional sense doesn’t seem likely; sounds like we may be in for a chamber piece showcase, with much of the film possibly taking place in a solitary setting. – AB
“Passing”
Rebecca Hall is an incredible talent, so we can’t wait to see what she does behind the camera with her directorial debut, “Passing,” an adaptation of Nella Larsen’s pertinent Harlem Renaissance novel, a work that tackles the issue of “racial passing” – referring to persons able to find acceptance within multiple racial communities. Starring Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga as “two women struggling not just with what it meant to be Black in America in 1929, but with gender conventions, the performance of femininity, the institution of marriage, the responsibilities of motherhood, and the ways in which all of those forces intersect.” The acclaimed actor discussed her long gestating project (which she co-wrote) at length with us during an episode of our Deep Focus podcast, so be sure to check that out. Hall clearly has a lot of care wrapped up in this movie, and it could not be more timely. – AB
“Hillbilly Elegy”
Ron Howard’s latest flick, “Hillbilly Elegy,” (great title, btw) is based on J.D. Vance’s memoir of the same name. In the book, Vance describes the struggles between his Appalachian upbringing and the untapped potential inside him, often overshadowed by traditions he comes to see as damaging. His family marred by abuse, alcoholism, and addiction, Vance starts to resent the culture that raised him. Taking place across multiple generations, Howard has had nothing but the highest compliments for his cast, which includes Glenn Close, Amy Adams, Haley Bennet, Freida Pinto, Bob Hoskins, and Gabriel Basso as J.D. Vance. Netflix was likely planning a small theatrical window alongside the film’s streaming launch, so we are anxious to see whether ‘Hillbilly’ still ends up getting an exhibition release or not. – AB
“Mainstream”
Her first film since “Palo Alto” made waves at Telluride, Gia Coppola has described her follow-up project, “Mainstream,” as “a love story of being in love with someone who doesn’t love themselves set against the new emerging culture of today’s world” (sound relatable?). The idea stemmed from an interest in media – specifically, social media – sensation culture. When Frankie (Maya Hawke) – a young woman still trying to find her direction and purpose – has a series of encounters with Link (Andrew Garfield), a contrarian of everyday society whose prone to go on heated tirades, Frankie sees as an opportunity to get some clicks by uploading his transgressive ramblings online. Also featuring Nat Wolff and Jason Schwartzman, there’s a chance the film won’t make it to theaters this year (if any of us do) but it’s set to premiere at Venice nonetheless. – AB
“One Night in Miami”
Set on February 25, 1964, the amazing Regina King’s feature debut, “One Night in Miami,” (based on Kemp Powers’ play) is a fictional dramatization of Cassius Clay/Muhammed Ali (Eli Goree) celebrating his win over former world heavyweight champion, Sonny Liston. Throwing a party in a motel room with Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), Powers’ script brings four vital Black icons together, providing a more nuanced window into their beliefs and lives, far removed from the more mythological personas history has carved out. While the movie may not be released until next year, it wouldn’t surprise us if a few festival titles, such as ‘One Night’ are snagged up by distributors aiming to capitalize on an inevitably weaker awards season, and there couldn’t be a more welcome contender than the first directorial effort from Sister Night herself. – AB