Thoughts on Upcoming Releases: Week of Oct. 19, 2018

In this installment, we take a look at the return of The Shape, three directorial debuts from actors, another film directed by an actress who has directed before, a literary forger, and foreign thriller.

Before I go on, I want to clarify something. The movies I feature in these posts are based on what is listed as coming out this weekend according to Rotten Tomatoes. Now, a lot of times it shifts around and they'll include films that were already released in a limited capacity but then got a wider release. For example, this coming weekend they're including the wider release of The Hate U Give which I already discussed. I am including another one listed that had a previous limited release because I hadn't talked about it before.

There are also two other films coming to my area that had previously been released limitedly but to keep this short I'll just say I hope to see The Sister Brothers and Colette if not because they're awards contenders.

Speaking of which, since it's awards season I'm including a * next to titles that have some awards buzz. When I say awards buzz I don't mean every one of these is up for Best Picture or whatever. I mean they could possibly get a major award. 

Halloween - dir. David Gordon Green

"Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago. This being the 11th film in the “Halloween” series, will ignore the events of all previous sequels, picking up 40 years after the events of the original film."

John Carpenter's original 1978 film was my first taste of a slasher film - and traumatized me for a while but that's a topic for another post - and I love it. The sequels and remakes.... ehhhh. They range from "Okay" to "WHAT?!" But this film seems to be ignoring all those films and is a direct sequel to the original. THANK GOODNESS! Also, I'm always up for more Jamie Lee Curtis.

The Old Man & The Gun* - dir. David Lowery

"The true story of Forrest Tucker (Robert Redford), from his audacious escape from San Quentin at the age of 70 to an unprecedented string of heists that confounded authorities and enchanted the public. Wrapped up in the pursuit are a detective (Casey Affleck), who becomes captivated with Forrest’s commitment to his craft, and a woman (Sissy Spacek), who loves him in spite of his chosen profession."

This is a film I've been looking forward to seeing for a while for three reasons: 1. It's a cool sounding story. 2. Redford has said this would be his last acting role which I can't miss. 3. A part of it was filmed in my home state of Ohio in Dayton. 

Wildlife* - dir. Paul Dano

"14-year-old Joe (Ed Oxenbould) is the only child of Jeanette (Carey Mulligan) and Jerry (Jake Gyllenhaal)—a housewife and a golf pro—in a small town in 1960s Montana. Nearby, an uncontrolled forest fire rages close to the Canadian border, and when Jerry loses his job—and his sense of purpose—he decides to join the cause of fighting the fire, leaving his wife and son to fend for themselves. Suddenly forced into the role of an adult, Joe witnesses his mother’s struggle as she tries to keep her head above water."

The first of the three actor directorial debuts I referenced above, in this case it's from Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood, 12 Years a Slave, Little Miss Sunshine, etc.). I'm more than certain the fire is a big symbol of something involving the domestic lifestyle or things "they shouldn't be drawn to." Also I'm always up for more Gyllenhaal and Mulligan.

Mid90s* - dir. Jonah Hill

"Stevie (Sunny Suljic) is a sweet 13-year-old about to explode. His mom (Katherine Waterson) is loving and attentive, but a little too forthcoming about her romantic life. His big brother (Lucas Hedges) is a taciturn and violent bully. So Stevie searches his working-class Los Angeles suburb for somewhere to belong. He finds it at the Motor Avenue skate shop."

The second of three acting directorial debuts I mentioned and I won't lie, I never saw Jonah Hill going behind the camera. I don't know why. It's nothing against Hill. But whatever this film still looks solid.

Can You Ever Forgive Me?* - dir. Marielle Heller

"When bestselling celebrity biographer Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) is no longer able to get published because she has fallen out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception, abetted by her loyal friend Jack (Richard E. Grant)."

I don't know much about this story involving Israel and the controversy surrounding her but it'll be interesting to see. Especially since they're basing this on her memoirs. So, it'll be interesting to see how they handle it. Also, I like seeing Melissa McCarthy do more serious acting roles.

The Guilty - dir. Gustav Möller

"Alarm dispatcher and former police officer, Asger Holm (Jakob Cedergren), answers an emergency call from a kidnapped woman. When the call is suddenly disconnected, the search for the woman and her kidnapper begins. With the phone as his only tool, Asger enters a race against time to save the endangered woman. But soon he realizes that he is dealing with a crime that is far bigger than he first thought."

I kept seeing the poster for this film but just now looked into it and it sounds awesome!

What They Had* - dir. Elizabeth Chomko

"A woman (Hilary Swank) must fly back to her hometown when her Alzheimer’s-stricken mother, wanders into a blizzard. The return home forces her to confront her past."

This is the third actor-directorial debut, though I'll be honest I hadn't heard of her until this point, sadly. But anyway this looks a solid film and it's probably going to be one of those movies where I'll want to call my parents afterward. That or I'll find it really schmaltzy. But I'm sure this will be someone's go-to tearjerker.

Galveston - dir. Mélanie Laurent

"After a violent encounter with his boss’ men, Roy (Ben Foster) finds a prostitute (Elle Fanning) and sees something in her frightened, defiant eyes that prompts a fateful decision. He takes her with him as he flees to Galveston, an action as ill-advised as it is inescapable."

When I saw French-actress Mélanie Laurent was attached I thought "wow this is the fourth movie this week with an actor making their directorial debut!" But looking into a bit more she's actually directed a few other films, though I haven't heard/seen them, sadly. But it sounds like a solid film and I like Ben Foster. Also, I won't lie, as soon as I read the title I instantly started humming the Glen Campbell song. 

Those are my thoughts? What are your thoughts on these films or others coming out this weekend?

Thanks for reading. 

Thoughts on Upcoming Releases: Week of Oct. 12, 2018

First Man - dir. Damian Chazelle

"A look at the life of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969."

Oh yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!

*clears throat*

I'm looking forward to this. 

The Happy Prince - dir. Rupert Everett

"THE HAPPY PRINCE tells the story of the last days of Oscar Wilde. This great man of letters, once one of the most famous authors in England, is now a superstar on the skids. As Oscar lies on his death bed, the past comes flooding back to him, transporting him to other times and places."

A film about Oscar Wilde. Yep, I'm sold.

22 July - dir. Paul Greengrass

"In Norway on 22 July 2011, right-wing terrorist Anders Behring Breivik murdered 77 young people attending a Labour Party Youth Camp on Utöya Island outside of Oslo. This three-part story will focus on the survivors of the attacks, the political leadership of Norway, and the lawyers involved."

Oh boy. This is going to be a hard sit through. If this anything like Greengrass's other film United 93 (2006), it'll be an emotional punch in the gut but an important film.

Bad Times at the El Royale - dir. Drew Goddard

"Seven strangers, each with a secret to bury, meet at Lake Tahoe’s El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past in 1969. Over the course of one fateful night, everyone will have a last shot at redemption."

Oh yes! This looks like an absolute blast!

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween - dir. Ari Sandel

"Two boys face an onslaught from witches, monsters, ghouls and a talking dummy after they discover a mysterious book by author R. L. Stine."

I liked the first film. It was a pretty fun film that was perfect for a family Halloween party. It's kind of like a family-friendly version of Monster Squad (1987, dir. Fred Dekker).

This film? Eh, it looks okay. I don't think I'll be rushing out to watch it. But I'm sure it'll be fine for the kids. 

Beautiful Boy - dir. Felix Van Groeningen

"After he and his first wife separate, journalist David Sheff struggles to help their son Nic, who goes from experimenting with drugs to becoming devastatingly addicted to methamphetamine."

Oh dear... oh dear... this is going to be an emotional punch in the gut. This is the kind of movie that'll make me want to call my Dad after watching it.

B&B - dir. Joe Ahearne

"Gay Londoners Marc and Fred plan for a weekend of mischief, baiting the Christian owner of a remote Christian B&B. Events take a deadly turn when another guest arrives, who they think might have something more sinister in mind."

Not gonna lie, the main reason why I want to watch this movie is because Paul McGann is in it. He was the 8th Doctor, and I'm a massive Doctor Who nerd, duh. 

So those are my thoughts on this week's upcoming releases

  What are your thoughts on these films?

Thoughts on Upcoming Releases: Week of Oct. 5

I decided to try something a bit different with the upcoming releases post. Since I want to try and get more stuff out I'm going to try and do it by week instead of a huge monthly one.

I'm also including plot summaries from Letterboxd.com.

Let's go ahead and get started with the first week of October.

A Star Is Born - Dir. Bradley Cooper

"Seasoned musician Jackson Maine discovers—and falls in love with—struggling artist Ally. She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer—until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons."

I remember when I first heard of this I was skeptical. I don't know what it is, maybe it was the cynical part of my mind going, "ugh! A remake and with Lady Gaga, and Bradley Cooper is going to sing? Ugh!" But even then, I can't image that being the big reason. 

I've grown to like Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper is one of my favorite actors working today. Also, I've grown less cynical about remakes. And this isn't the first time the story has been retold. This is the third version A Star Is Born with previous versions being made in 1937, 1954 and 1976. 

Sadly, I have not seen any of those but I plan to fix that. 

But back to this film, watching the trailer and listening to the song "Shallow" from the soundtrack, I'm excited about the film.

Venom - dir. Ruben Fleischer

"When Eddie Brock acquires the powers of a symbiote, he will have to release his alter-ego 'Venom' to save his life."

Oooooohhhhh.... boy. 

Now, a part of me is hopeful about this film, but I'm still very "meh" about this film. Mainly, because this comes off Sony Pictures trying to be like, "See! Our Spider-Man movies are better than Marvel's!" 

It comes off as a case of them trying too hard to look "edgy" and "cool." But it's hard to look like that when you have the line, "like a turd in the wind."

I like Tom Hardy, I like Michelle Williams, and I like Fleischer - and I like apparently this was one of Williams' best experiences on a set. But it's still a "meh" looking film, at best. 

The Hate U Give - Dir. George Tillman Jr. 

"Raised in a poverty-stricken slum, a 16-year-old girl named Starr now attends a suburban prep school. After she witnesses a police officer shoot her unarmed best friend, she’s torn between her two very different worlds as she tries to speak her truth." 

I sadly haven't read the book by Angie Thomas - which I've heard is amazing - so I can't say to how if this book is loyal or not. But I can say this film looks powerful. 

This looks like one of the most relevant films for today. And if you don't see how, then... man, how on Earth have you been able to avoid the news?

So, yeah, this looks like a pretty impactful film and worth a watch. 

October 2017 Releases I Hope to See

A spooky salutation to you all! It's the October now which means the colors of the trees are changing, everything all of sudden gets a Pumpkin Spice version (though in some cases they shouldn't), and awards season is well underway for us film lovers.

Now, I know not everybody loves this kind of stuff, but I can't help it. I've said this before and I'll say it again, the Oscars are my Super Bowl. So, obviously, I'm keeping an eye on movies getting buzz or might get attention for awards.

Sadly, I feel like I should reiterate, I don't get to do this for a living which means I won't be able to see all of these movies. But none the less I'm going to try and see as many as I can and try to get something written or maybe at least a little video.

But, anyway, here are the ones I'm looking forward to seeing for whatever reason. I'm listing these in order of release according to Rotten Tomatoes. * = Awards potential movie.

Blade Runner 2049 - dir. Denis Villeneuve*

Confession: I've never seen the original Blade Runner. Why? Well, I just haven't gotten around to it until now and I'm never sure which one to watch. For simplistic sake, I'm going to watch the theatrical cut and then I'll watch the others... eventually. 

The Mountain Between Us - dir. Hany Abu-Asaad*

Idris Elba? Kate Winslet? Survival movie? Sign me up! Though there's a good chance if I don't see it during its opening week I won't see the week I have a flight. 

The Florida Project - dir. Sean Baker*

While I didn't like of Baker's last film (Tangerine) as much as everyone else I am looking forward to this film. It looks it could be a sweet, heartfelt coming-of-age story. And it's nice to see Willem Dafoe take on this kind of role. I don't think I've ever seen him in the role of a grouchy but lovable guy. If I'm wrong then please correct me.  

Better Watch Out - dir. Chris Peckover

Hey, who doesn't love a darker and more twisted Christmas movie? Come on, admit it. You're looking for something a bit edgier for the Holiday season in between whatever is showing on ABC Family's... oh wait I mean Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas. Why else would we watch something like Gremlins (1984) or the first two Die Hard movies? Outside of them being awesome of course.  

Brawl in Cell Block 99 - dir. S. Craig Zahler

I dug S. Craig Zahler's first film Bone Tomahawk (2015) and this looks like another interesting film. It's cool to see Vince Vaughn trying out something different than his usual schtick. Also, Don Johnson is in it, that's a plus. 

The Foreigner - dir. Martin Campbell

It's a Jackie Chan action movie! Why wouldn't I want to see it? Add that it's being helmed by Martin Campbell who gave awesome flicks like GoldenEye (1995), The Mask of Zorro (1998), and Casino Royale (2006), it should hopefully be a good film. But then again, some of Chan's more recent films haven't gotten the best reviews and Campbell has some stinkers in his filmography - lookin' at you Green Lantern (2011).  But I'm an optimist about it.

Happy Death Day - dir. Christopher Landon

I had heard of this movie earlier in the year but didn't pay attention to it mainly because, 80% of the time, modern day horror films don't do it for me. But when I saw the trailer for this I was intrigued. It's basically Groundhog Day (1993, dir. Harold Ramis) but as a murder mystery and that sounds cool. If it does turn out bad, then I won't be too surprised - mainly because it's made by the guy that gave us Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015). Here's hoping it's good. 

Goodbye Christopher Robin - dir. Simon Curtis*

A look at the life of Winnie the Pooh creator A.A. Milne, his relationship with his family, and as he battles his PTSD. It also seems to look at the good and bad sides of obtaining success and how it can affect family life, especially if your child served as an inspiration for one of the characters. I won't lie, this does look a little Oscar Bait-like (I hate that term by the way. But that's how the film looks). The story and presentation may not be the best in the end, but it looks like it could give us some stellar performances.

Marshall - dir. Reginald Hudlin*

Thurgood Marshall was one of those historical figures I always heard about - mainly about how he was the African-American Supreme Court Justice - but I never really gave thought to a movie about him. But yeah, why not? He's an important figure and why not have it be about him as a young lawyer during one of his earliest cases? I'm looking forward to it. Though I will admit I was kind of thrown off by the action movie-like parts in the trailer. Regardless, I want to see it. 

Breathe - dir. Andy Serkis*

Yes, you read that right. This film is directed by motion capture maestro Andy Serkis - his first outing as a director. Much like Christopher Robin, this looks a bit like an Oscar Bait movie but I really like Andrew Garfield and it looks like it could be good. 

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) - dir. Noah Baumbach*

It looks like a good film. Plus it looks like it's giving us that Adam Sandler we actually want. That's about it. It's going to premier on Netflix on Oct. 13, keep an eye out for it. 

Professor Marston & the Wonder Women - dir. Angela Robinson*

Wonder Woman was a big hit, so why check out the story about how she was created. 

78/52: Hitchcock's Shower Scene - dir. Alexandre O. Philippe

I'm not too sure this documentary can add much else to discussions about Alfred Hitchcock and his career, particularly with Psycho (1960) but I'm a sucker for documentaries about movies so of course, I'll see it. 

Tom of Finland - dir. Dome Karukoski*

The main reason I'm adding this is that I've seen some buzz for it in the Best Foreign Language category. 

Geostorm - dir. Dean Devlin

This movie looks so stupid I kind of want to see it. Although, given recent events - the multiple hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires - I may skip it. It'll just depend on my mood when it's release. 

The Snowman - dir. Tomas Alfredson*

It looks like an awesomely creepy thriller. I've heard of the book is great which I've got a copy of it so I'll hopefully finish reading it before the premier. 

Only the Brave - dir. Joseph Kosinski*

With Geostorm I said I may skip it because of recent events. The same thing may happen with this film, except this film doesn't appear to be using catastrophic natural disasters as cheap thrills. This movie is about actual firefighters who battled actual fires. It also looks like it goes into their training and their family lives, telling us about them. It could be good, but I imagine it'll be tough to watch as a well. Especially given that it's based on the Yarnell Hill Fire where 19 firefighters died. 

Same Kind of Different As Me - dir. Michael Carney

Given that this is distributed by Pure Flix, I would normally avoid it and not give it much attention. I'll spare you all my rantings about them for now. But then I read an article by Stuart Heritage of The Guardian where he called the trailer, "the worst, most offensive thing I have ever seen." And having now seen it... oh boy. This is... certainly questionable at the least. Especially since Djimon Hounsou appears be only an animated sequence away from telling us about them zippity-doo-dah days. Oh hell, I'd rather watch Song of the South (1946), at least that film has catchy songs. As for the this, I may see because it could be a candidate for my worst of the year list and give me material for a rant fest. But if I don't see it, don't be surprised.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer - dir. Yorgos Lanthimos*

Another confession: I can't say I liked The Lobster (2015), also directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. It could be that it wasn't my cup of tea but to me, it just felt too overly dreary and it kind of prevented me from getting into the film. But looking at the trailer, it looks slightly more interesting than The Lobster. 

Wonderstruck - dir. Todd Hayes*

I don't really have too many thoughts on this movie as of right now. It does look interesting and it has some award buzz surrounding it. 

Suburbicon - dir. George Clooney*

In the Nostalgia Critic's review the 2004 Garfield movie, he opens it up with a parody of Coen Brothers movies (it'll make sense, trust me) that has the line "(the audience) won't know if they like the movie after seeing it. Buf after letting it sit for a while, they'll figure to themselves, 'Eh, it was f**ked up enough. I guess I like it fine.'" While watching the trailer to this movie, co-written by the Coens, that's how I felt and if that's how I felt when watching the trailer I'm hoping that's how I feel after the movie. As for now, it looks fine, I just don't know how to feel about it yet. 

Thank You for Your Service - dir. Jason Hall*

This movie marks the directorial debut of American Sniper (2014, dir. Clint Eastwood) screenwriter Jason Hall. Again, he's going into the subject of soldiers and what the war can do to them. I know American Sniper is a very divisive film as for me, I liked it - though I'll admit it isn't Eastwood's best. I thought the film did an alright job at looking at how combat can affect veterans. But it looks like this film is keeping the home life stuff front and center which I think is something that does need to be covered more in movies. 

The Square - dir. Ruben Östlund*

Yet another film I heard of mainly because of Best Foreign Language Film buzz. But I will say this,  after watching the trailer, it looks bats**t crazy enough that it should interest me. 

Novitiate - dir. Margaret Betts*

This movie looks like it could be this year's Silence (2016, dir. Martin Scorsese) and given how much I loved Silence I'm looking forward to this movie. That and I'm always up for seeing a Melissa Leo performance. 

So there are the October releases that are on my watch list for whatever reason. 

Which October releases are you looking forward to?