Now that the Summer movie season has ended, it is time to look ahead to Fall and Winter.
Last year was very unusual for movies because of the actors and writers striking. Most of the big blockbusters were finished before the actors strike so that they could go and promote them. Perhaps this year will be a a return to form, with more prestige and Oscar-bait movies coming out. We will see.
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!”).
SEPTEMBER
September 13th
Speak No Evil
This looks like a well-made, creepy thriller, but it just doesn't seem to be my taste. (**)
The Killer's Game
I think that Dave Bautista has actually developed into a very decent actor. This movie looks like it could be a fun, violent time, but I don't know if I want to see it in the theater. I may wait for streaming. (**)
The 4:30 Movie
This semi-autobigraphical Kevin Smith movie has a lot of resonence with me. Growing up, I loved going to the movies with my friends and then arguing about them afterwards. I still do that. I would be a lot more interested if I didn't get the feeling that this was going to devolve into typical Kevin Smith fare where the heart is lost in the vulgarity. (**)
September 20th
Transformers One
I think I am the only person on the interent who actually enjoyed the trailer for this movie. I have no problem with a comedic take on these character. This movie actually looks like it could be a lot of fun (***)
Never Let Go
There is something about this movie that reminds me of Birdbox: a creepy thriller abotu an unseen evil. However, this is another one that looks intriguing enough only for streaming. (**)
Super/Man
As I wrote in my post on the trailer, this movie looks like it could break my heart. Christopher Reeve looms large in my childhood memory and imagination. To see his real-life struggle and the battle he fought every day is something that I want to experience in the theater. (*****)
September 27th
Megalopolis
Everything about this movie looks terrible. It looks like it is overly pretentious and showy, with an over-the-top style that seems silly. And yet I want to see it for those reasons. It looks like this could be one of those movies that is so overly terrible that it crosses the line into enjoyable. Maybe I'm wrong, but I am curious. (***)
The Wild Robot
This movie has been lavished with praise, but the more I see of it, the more mediocre it seems. But the premise has me interested enough that I may go see it when it opens. (***)
Saw XI
No thank you (*)
Lee
It looks like Kate Winslet is trying for another Oscar. This movie about a WWII photographer looks reasonably entertaining and it has a good cast. I'll wait on word-of-mouth for this one. (**)
OCTOBER
October 4th
Joker: Folie a Deux
The first one was so much better than I thought that it would be. For a while I was very skeptical of a sequel, but the more I see of it, the more I can see that director Todd Philips has more to say about our society and the cult of celebrity. In addition, I'm looking forward to really seeing the character's madness from the inside. (*****)
The Outrun
This looks like a super-depressing melodrama that will only be good because of the performances. (*)
Monster Summer
I really enjoyed the trailer for this movie. It has the potential to a cross between It and The Goonies. I don't know if it could live up to that potential, but have Mel Gibson in the cast certainly does help (****)
October 11th
Saturday Night
I am fascinated with the history of Saturday Night Live and I think that Jason Reitman is an incredibly talented director. The idea that he is shoot a real-time account of the 90 minutes leading up to the first episode is very intriguing both from a story and artistic perspective. This is definitely high on my list to see. (****)
We Live in Time
This looks like it could be much too depressing to see in the theaters. (**)
October 18th
Anora
This movie has won all kinds of critical acclaim, but the subject matter looks incredibly off-putting and none of the trailers have made me want to see it. (*)
October 25th
Venom: The Last Dance
This movie just looks bad. Of course I said the same thing about the first Venom, and that turned out to be a pretty decent film. The sequel was mediocre and I don't think that this one is going to be much better. (**)
NOVEMBER
November 1st
Here
As I wrote in my article about the trailer, this single-camera angle gimmick could either be horrible or genius. I really don't think there will be an in-between. But with Robert Zemeckis, I am curious enough to find out (***)
November 8th
Conclave
This looks like another attack on the Church in the Da Vinci Code style. No thank you (*)
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Dallas Jenkins has earned a lot of good will because of The Chosen, where he showed he can make faith-inspiring productions that are also highly artistic and entertaining. This looks like it could be a fun family film for the holiday. (***)
November 15th
Red One
This premise looks completely silly, but it just might be silly enough to work. I have a feeling that if you give yourself over to the silliness, there will be an enjoyable film to watch (***)
Heretic
Watching Hugh Grant transform from bumbling comedic lead to horror movie villain is fascinating. But horror just isn't my genre. Also, I can't tell yet if this movie is an attack on religous faith or not (*)
November 22nd
Gladiator II
I wish that this movie wasn't tied to the original classic Gladiator because the story seems intriguing enough, but it will probably suffer by comparrison. I like the idea (which I am getting from the trailer) that the main hero has a vendetta against a Roman general, but that neither are necessarily evil like the Emperior. This could lead to some interesting character-driven moments if the movie allows. And the action looks pretty good. (****)
Wicked
There are a lot of things about the trailer that look lame, corny, and cringy. The top of that list is Ariana Grande, whose dead-behind-the-eyes performance looks to be torturous to watch. But the every time I see the trailer, the music gives me chills. I'm conflicted but leaning on seeing it in the theater. (***)
November 27th
Moana 2
I'll be honest: the original Moana was mediocre at best, so I'm not that excited for a sequel. I missed seeing it, it wouldn't be the end of the world. (**)
DECEMBER
December 6th
Y2K
I like the idea of a retro horror comedy about the turn of the century. But the trailer didn't make me laugh once, so I think movie will be a slog to sit through (*)
December 13th
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
I'm not a big fan of the anime style and after Rings of Power, I'm skeptical of exploring more of Middle-Earth on film (even though I know that this from the producers of the LOTR Trilogy) (**)
Kraven the Hunter
This movie was supposed to come out a year ago and nothing since then, especially the release of Madame Web has convinced me that this is going to be good (*)
December 20th
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
I've never been the biggest Sonic fan, but his movies have been goofy-fun aimed at little kids. When taken on those terms, the films are very enjoyable. I am more likely than not going to see this movie, I just don't know if it will be in the theaters. (***)
Mufasa: The Lion King
For whatver reason, I have no desire to see this. Nothing about it makes me want to watch the origin of the doomed father of Simba (*)
December 25th
Nosferatu
Again, another artistic-looking film that is in a genre I don't enjoy (*)
A Complete Unknown
Director James Mangold and star Timothee Chalamet REALLY want that Oscar. The trailer looks like it could be transportive to the time and the performances look pretty good. I'm curious (***)
Thoughts?
No comments:
Post a Comment