With fall, we move away from the sweltering heat and bombastic blockbusters of the summer and, like fall leaves floating in the wind (though I don’t fully understand this imagery, as a native Southern Californian), fall brings a crisp mix of different kinds of movies to see, all of which you can wear in your sensible sweaters, of which I own none, since it’s still eighty degrees in October here.
Disclaimer: Release dates are subject to change. These dates are based on what was listed in the Fall Movie Preview issue of Entertainment Weekly.
A DANGEROUS METHOD – NOVEMBER 23rd
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortensen, Keira Knightley, Vincent Cassel
Why I’m Excited: David Cronenberg directs this period piece that examines the relationship between Sigmund Freud (Mortensen), Carl Jung (Fassbender), and the affair that Jung had with a patient he was attempting to treat (Keira Knightley, bringing the creys) and how this lead to the development of modern psychoanalysis. Fassbender has been on a role this, with a stellar run in X-MEN: FIRST CLASS over the summer, and JANE EYRE earlier in the year. Mortensen has worked with Cronenberg on EASTERN PROMISES, and I think that this collaboration will be just as good. Since I am not lucky enough to be attending the Toronto International Film Festival, where the film will be screening, I’ll have to wait until November to see it.
MELANCHOLIA – NOVEMBER 11th
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alexander Skarsgard, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling, John Hurt
Why I’m Excited Lars Von Trier directs this sci-fi epic, which centers around Justine (Dunst, who earned a Best Actress Award at Cannes for her role), who becomes increasingly depressed after her wedding, and begins having issues with her other family members. On top of all this, a planet, previously hidden behind the sun, is on an apparent collision course with Earth. I think that this might be a more palatable take on the intimate vs cosmic tone that TREE OF LIFE was trying to take and hopefully without people asking for refunds.
J EDGAR – NOVEMBER 9th
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Josh Lucas, Dermot Mulroney
Why I’m Excited: Clint Eastwood’s HEREAFTER and it’s oddly Oscar nominated TSUNAMI OF DOOM were not really my cup of tea, but I think that he will fare better in this biopic, which examines the career and the private live, including the alleged homosexuality of former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. What really interests me is Dustin Lance Black’s script, which, according to interviews he’s given, has not been de-gayed, the way many films in the past whose source material (historical or otherwise) has been changed. If you don’t know what I mean or don’t believe me, rent THE CELLULOID CLOSET. However, worse comes to worse, Armie Hammer, who will play Hoover’s alleged lover, is pretty freaking hot and he will definitely be making out with DiCaprio, which is fine in my book.
No trailer has been released for J. EDGAR
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN – DECEMBER 23rd
Starring: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Toby Jones
Why I’m Excited: After getting to finally see some actual footage of Tintin at Comic Con this year, I’m much more sold on the film, based on the series of French graphic novels. I never grew up with Tintin, so I don’t know much about who he is other than a boy reporter with a dog named Snowy who seems to get himself in a lot of trouble. If you’re into things that are awesome, the pedigree of the script should be enough to sell you: Steven Moffat (DOCTOR WHO, SHERLOCK), Edgar Wright (SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WOLRD), and Joe Cornish (ATTACK THE BLOCK) and based on the footage they showed at the Con, TINTIN is much more Indiana Jones than KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL ever was. If that’s not enough to entice you, if TINTIN does well enough, Peter Jackson will direct the next installment, which would be amazing.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL – DECEMBER 21st
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Tom Wilkinson, Ving Rhames, Josh Holloway
Why I’m Excited: Normally Tom Cruise movies aren’t my thing, but something about Brad Bird’s take on this franchise appeals to me. I think what I want to see is how well his skills, which he’s proven with great films like THE INCREDIBLES and THE IRON GIANT, will translate to live action. The stunts and actions look completely bonkers, and I think that blowing shit up and jumping off of buildings will be a good way to spend the holidays.
THE IDES OF MARCH – OCTOBER 7th
Starring: George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
Why I’m Excited: I saw FARRAGUT NORTH, the play which this film is based on, about a year ago in Los Angeles, with Chris Pine and Chris Noth playing the roles that Ryan Gosling and George Clooney are playing in the film, which is based loosely on Howard Dean’s political campaign in 2004. It’s a great political thriller and I’m interested to see what Gosling will bring to the role, because while he’s fantastic (Gosling’s DRIVE is very high on my list), I really felt that Pine knocked it out of the park.
CARNAGE – DECEMBER 16Th
Starring: Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz
Why I’m Excited Based on the multiple Tony Award winning play GOD OF CARNAGE, Roman Polanski directs this drama about two sets of parents who try to engage in conversation after one of their sons beats up the other. What follows is utter chaos, some excellent scene chewing by the phenomenal cast. The trailer features what is sure to be one of series of things I will be saying to people when I get drunk and irate.
TINKER TAILOR SOLIDER SPY – SEPTEMBER 16th (UK), DECEMBER 9th (US)
Starring: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong, Toby Jones
Why I’m Excited I’ve always been a sucker for a good British film or television series, but this film, based on the novel by John Le Carre (who also wrote THE CONSTANT GARDENER, which was also adapted into a film), is about espionage and backstabbing, intrigue, and other goodness and features perhaps the best British actors working today. Sign me up.
THE MUPPETS – NOVEMBER 23rd
Starring Kermit The Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzy Bear, Gonzo, Rolf, Jason Segel, Amy Adams
Why I’m Excited It’s the freaking Muppets. I love them. You love them. We all watched Muppet Babies and had the same crippling fears about what Nanny actually looked liked. Jason Segel, who co-wrote the film, really has an affection for the material and I think that has come through in the almost universal praise that the film has been getting so far. It will make you feel green all over – but not in a nauseous way.
DRIVE – SEPTEMBER 16th
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman, Christina Hendricks, Oscar Isaac
Why I’m Excited: I, along with Courtney, saw this film at the LA Film Festival, and while she wrote the absolutely glowing review of it, let me assure you that not only did I love DRIVE, I was blown away by it. As of now, DRIVE is the single best movie I’ve seen this year; it is a modern classic, and that’s not a term I’d throw around lightly. The soundtrack is also easily the best of the year. My only word of advice: AVOID every trailer for this movie. It’s giving away FAR too much, and I think it’s best if you go into DRIVE knowing it’s Ryan Gosling, a car, and a killer soundtrack. You’ll be in for one hell of a ride.
So that’s what I’m excited about this fall! Let me know what movies you’re waiting for in the comments below!
Great list! I’m glad I was able to read this and see what potentially-good films are coming out in the Fall and many of them that I hadn’t heard of, or seen the trailer to prior, such as TINKER TAILOR SOLIDER SPY, appeal to me.