Fall/Winter Movie Season 2016

Now that Summer Movie Season is over, its time to turn to the upcoming Fall-Winter movies.  This is the time usually when the "important" movies come out.  The reason being that studios want Academy and other awards groups to have their movies fresh in voters minds.

Lately, however, some studios realized that this is a good time to release a big blockbuster because there is less competition, even though more people are home watching television. 

Here is a list, with a few brief thoughts of my own, including on a scale of 1-5 stars my likelihood of seeing it in theaters (1 being “Not at all” 5 being “Cannot wait!”).

So here are some of the movies that are coming out along with my level of excitement.  My ability to get out to the theater may be limited this time around.  But I will try to get to the ones that really excite me.

September 9th ( I know this date is past, but I wanted to include these)

Sully

American Sniper was the best directed movie that I think Clint Eastwood has done.  Even in his 70's he's pushing himself as a storyteller.  With Tom Hanks, this looks very interesting (***)

The Disappointments Room - I know nothing about this movie other than it has the worst title of the season (*)

September 16th

Snowden

Oliver Stone is very much hit or miss, and there isn't enough in the trailers to grab me, even though I am a huge fan of JGL.  (**)

Hillsong - Let Hope Rise
-As concert movies go, it looks pretty good, but I think I'll wait for video (**)

Bridget Jones's Baby

Didn't see the second, so I won't see the third (*)

Blair Witch

I have very little desire to see this sequel, as I wasn't a fan of the first in any way (*)

Mr. Church

The story looks a little convoluted, but I love seeing Eddie Murphy in a dramatic role, where he seems to excel.

September 23

The Magnificent Seven

It has been a long time since I've seen a Western that I can really get behind.  I love the cast and I think this could be excellent (****)

Storks

This movie looks too cutsie for its own good (**)

Queen of Katwe

This reminds me of Searching for Bobby Fischer, and that is a good thing (***)

The Dressmaker

Something about the trailers is warning me off of this movie.   I get the feeling that it is ultimately about something distasteful, but I could be wrong (**)

Goat

I loathe hazing in all its forms, so I don't think I'll see this one at all (*)

September 30th

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Friends of mine highly recommend the books on which this movie is based and I would love to see Tim Burton return to his better days. (***)

Deepwater Horizon

As much as I like Mark Wahlberg, the subject just doesn't interest me. (**)

Masterminds

This movie looks horrid.  Pure putridness.  It doesn't help that 75% of the most recent Ghostbusters are in it. (*)

October 7th

The Girl on the Train

The trailer just didn't grab me and I'm getting a very Gone Girl vibe (that's not a good thing) (**)

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

This looks awful.  I don't think a little school rebellion is bad, but this looks like it goes too far for a kid's movie (**)

October 11

Shin Godzilla

Whether I want to or not, I made a promise to a friend that I would see this in the theater (***)

October 14

Underworld: Blood Wars

It amazes me that this mediocre series is still pushing on.  Good for them, but it's not my taste (**)

Max Steel

This movie looks like generic superhero tropes mixed up in a blender (*)

The Accountant

The trailers for this have been outstanding and the cast is excellent.  Lately I've loved everything Ben Affleck as done (even when in bad movies like Gone Girl) (****)

Kevin Hart: What Now?

I like Kevin Hart, but I'll wait for video (**)

October 21st

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back

The first one was surprisingly good and the trailers for this make it look better than the first (****)

Keeping Up with the Joneses

If this was only a Zach Galifinakas vehicle, I would say that I'd have no interest.  But the rest of the cast looks like this could be some fun (***)

I'm Not Ashamed

The trailers moved me, but I'm scared that this will end up like most Christian films: all preaching and no story.

October 28th

Inferno

This might be the only Robert Langdon movie I would consider seeing since it doesn't seem to directly target my faith.  But the series has built up so much ill-will that I think I'll pass (**)

November 4th

Doctor Strange

Benedict Cumberbatch is the perfect choice and I can't wait to see this! (*****)

Trolls

This looks absolutely forgettable in every way.

Hacksaw Ridge

I think Mel Gibson could knock this out of the park.  And it's a unique story that I am very interested in seeing.  Plus I love Randall Wallace's writing.

Loving

This might be good, but everything tells me that this movie is a metaphor for same-sex marriage.  (**)

November 11th

Arrival

I hope this movie is good, but it could be more like Contact than I would like (***)

November 18th

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Don't get me wrong, I'm so excited to jump back into the world of Harry Potter, but I am a bit skeptical, particularly because I've developed a strange disdain for Eddie Redmayne.  And setting in the past makes me worried about very clunky metaphors about tolerance.  (***)

The Edge of Seventeen

This would look more intersting to me if it also didn't look so raunchy. (**)

Nocturnal Animals

I can't make sense of this story from the trailers, although it has a good cast. (**)

Manchester by the Sea

This movie is getting so much awards buzz, but it doesn't seem like there is anything there.  The acting seems fine, but the critics are too hyperbolic (**)

November 23

Bad Santa 2

Didn't see the first.  I have no desire to see the second. (*)

Moana

Disney has built up a track record comparable to PIXAR, so I think I will give this a try (****)

Allied

I think Robert Zemeckis is one of the best directors around but he doesn't make enough movies.  I want to be excited about this, but the trailer didn't do much for me (***)

December 2

La La Land

Whiplash was surprisingly good.  But this film seems very strange.  It will either be magical and charming or pretentious and off-putting.  I'm hoping for the former because Gosling and Stone have great chemistry. (***)

December 9th

Office Christmas Party

There is nothing about this that makes it stand out (**)

Miss Sloane

Looks like a vehicle to get Jessica Chastain an Oscar.  It looks okay but predictable (**)

December 16th

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Cannot wait!  This has the potential to change how we look at Star Wars movies.  Opening night!  (*****)

The Space Between Us

This looks like a sweet and creative romantic drama.  Good cast too (***)

Collateral Beauty

This will either be an incredibly touching movie or it will be a piece of crap.  It all depends on how they play they characters of Death, Time, and Love and if they are real or not. (**)

The Founder

This looks fascinating, but a bit cold.  Michael Keaton REALLY wants an Oscar (and quite frankly he deserves one). (**)

December 21

Assassin's Creed

I'm ignorant of this game's main story, but it is very popular.  I'd need to see more in order to be convinced.  (**)

Passengers

Even without seeing a trailer, the plot is intriguing enough with two great stars.  I'm in.  (****)

Sing

I don't know... there's something about this that seems like corporate cynicism masking as big-dream idealism.  (**)

December 23

A Monster Calls

The trailers hit the metaphor to hard on the head for my taste, but I'm open-minded (**)

Patriots Day

This could be interesting and exciting, but I don't think Christmas is a good time to release a movie about the Boston Bombing (***)

December 25th

Why Him?

This would have more appeal to me if the obvious response of the father wasn't complete and utter revulsion at James Franco.


Thoughts?