“The Brutalist”
Brady Corbet’s follow-up to 2018’s “Vox Lux,” this historical drama chronicles 30 years in the life of László Tóth (Adrian Brody), a fictional character who survives the holocaust before immigrating to the United States following the war. Not much else is known about the picture beyond the fact that Tóth arrives stateside with his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) and eventually begins working for a “mysterious” wealthy client, Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce). Co-written by Corbet and his wife, Mona Fastvold (the underrated “The World to Come“), the film also stars Joe Alwyn, Alessandro Nivola, and Jonathan Hyde, among others. The drama is also 3 hours and 30 minutes long with credits, making it one of the longest narrative acquisition titles in years. With that running time, it may need massive critical acclaim to land a significant U.S. distributor. – GE
“I’m Still Here”
Based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s bestselling 2015 novel, “I’m Still Here” follows the lives of Eunice Paiva (Fernanda Torres, Fernanda Montenegro) and her five children following the disappearance of her husband, Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello), under the oppression of the Brazilian military dictatorship in 1971. Paiva, who also spent 12 days in jail, is forced to become an activist as she attempts to find out the truth about what happened to her husband, a congressman who fought the military regime, and the author’s father. Remarkably, this is Salles’ first narrative film since “On The Road,” 12 years ago. Considering his pedigree, however, it is also expected to be an International Film Oscar contender if selected by Brazil. Sony Pictures Classics will release it in the U.S., so you likely won’t find it in theaters until February or March 2025. – GE
“Wolfs”
The first non “Spider-Man” movie from Jon Watts since his 2015 Sundance breakout “Cop Car,” “Wolfs” reunites George Clooney and Brad Pitt on screen for the first time since the Coen Bros. “Burn After Reading” way back in 2008. As easily deciphered by the movie’s trailer, this comedy thriller finds the pair playing competing “fixers” who are forced to work together to protect a “kid” played by Austin Abrams (“Euphoria”). Originally a wide release, Apple recently decided to scale down its theatrical window, and it will debut on Apple TV+ just a week following its September 20th opening. Read into that what you will. – GE
“The Room Next Door”
After experimenting with two short films, “The Human Voice” and “Strange Way of Life,” the one and only Pedro Almodóvar has finally made his first feature-length English-language film. Adapted from Sigrid Nunez’s 2020 novel “What Are You Going Through,” this contemporary melodrama centers on a conflict between Martha (Tilda Swinton), a war correspondent, and her daughter’s ex-lover, Ingrid (Julianne Moore). The cast also includes John Turturro and Alessandro Nivola, with Almodovar shooting not only in the familiar confines of Madrid but also in New York City (a rare overseas excursion). Almodovar has once again reunited with Sony Pictures Classics to distribute, and the film will screen not only in competition at Venice but at TIFF, San Sebastian, and is a centerpiece gala at the New York Film Festival (a good sign overall). Whether it can return Almodovar, Swinton, and Moore to their former awards season glory remains to be seen. – GE
“Harvest”
The first English language film from Rachel Athina Tsangari since 2000’s “The Slow Business of Going,” “Harvest” is a major departure for the Greek filmmaker in several different directions. Her first adaptation of a novel (in this case, “Harvest” by Jim Crace), the film is set in a small village in Middle Ages England where a mob mentality attempts to scapegoat three visitors for events outside of their control. The cast is led by Cannes Best Actor winner Caleb Landry Jones and features Harry Melling (“The Queen’s Gambit”), Rose McEwen (“The Alienist”), and Frank Dillane (“Fear the Walking Dead”). It will also screen at TIFF and the New York Film Festival – GE