A friend asked me back in February what movies I was looking forward to this year, and I didn't have much of an answer. But I do now. So for M.D. (and anyone else who's interested), here are twenty movies coming out between now and the end of the year that I CANNOT WAIT to get in my eyeballs.
(from Mandy)
MANDY (9/14)
I've been hearing about this since Sundance. The latest from Panos Cosmatos, who made Beyond the Black Rainbow. That, plus a reportedly bazonkers Nic Cage (more bazonkers than usual, even) is all I need to know. (Trailer)
TEA WITH THE DAMES (9/21)
Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins and Joan Plowright, drinking and dishing about their careers. What could be better? (Trailer)
THE OLD MAN & THE GUN (9/28)
Yes, it has Casey Affleck in it, which might be a dealbreaker for some. But it's also Robert Redford's swan song before he leaves acting for good, and Sissy Spacek is supposed to be really fantastic in it. (Trailer - omg they used the Butch & Sundance font!)
(from A Star Is Born)
A STAR IS BORN (10/5)
Not gonna lie, this is my *most* anticipated film of the fall. It blew people away at Telluride and Venice. I've been watching the previous incarnations, and there's a moment in the trailer for the new one that I realized is a very specific callback to all of the previous films and I can't even think about it without crying. (Trailer)
BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE (10/5)
Drew Goddard's follow-up to Cabin in the Woods, and it looks like a very different endeavour. I'm not that into movie trailers these days, but this one is great and I hope the film has that same cool, creepy feel they're trying to sell. (Trailer)
FIRST MAN (10/12)
Another movie that slayed at the end-of-summer festivals. It's Damien Chazelle's follow-up to La La Land with Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong. I've tried to be cynical about this one, but I can't. I'm DYING at the controversy over the American flag thing, though. (Also at the idea that a story about American astronauts landing on the moon wouldn't be inherently fiercely patriotic.) (Trailer)
HALLOWEEN (10/19)
Everything I've seen of this so far has been incredible. I'm thrilled to see Jamie Lee Curtis back as Laurie Strode and to see Michael Myers as an actual human villain, not a death-proof killing machine. I also kind of like that they're pretending Halloweens 4, 5, 6, H20 and Resurrection never happened. (No need to touch 3, of course.) (Trailer)
SUSPIRIA (10/26 limited, 11/2 expanded)
The original is one of the more messed-up horror films of all time, as well as a movie I love, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Luca Guadagnino does with this (it seems miles from his previous film, Call Me By Your Name). I'm glad, to begin with, that it doesn't look too similar to Argento's version, because I couldn't deal with that. (Trailer)
(from Widows)
BODIED (11/2)
This was the most talked about movie from Fantastic Fest last year. I watched the trailer once, but didn't quite ... get it? I mean, I get that it's a rap battle movie, but I'm curious what sets this apart. Anxious to slap eyeballs on it. (Trailer)
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND (on Netflix 11/2)
A previously unreleased film by Orson Welles? YES PLEASE. The documentary about the making of this film, They'll Love Me When I'm Dead, is being released concurrently with this. (Trailer)
PETERLOO (11/9)
New Mike Leigh movie. 'Nuff said. It looks different from most of the stuff he's done, in that he doesn't usually make films with this kind of scope. Topsy-Turvy is a glorious exception, and if that's anything to go by, I am really excited to see this. (Trailer)
FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD (11/16)
I was mildly interested in the first film but didn't fall in mad love with it. This one, however, is going to give us some beloved characters and settings we're familiar with -- Dumbledore! Hogwarts! NICHOLAS FLAMEL! (Trailer)
WIDOWS (11/16)
Steve McQueen directing an all-female heist movie? With Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Jackie Weaver, Liam Neeson, Daniel Kaluuya, Carrie Coon, Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall? I am so here for this! (Trailer)
THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS (on Netflix 11/16)
I'm always up for a new Coen Brothers joint, and this one is a western anthology. Starring Tim "we thought you was a toad" Blake Nelson from my favorite Coen flick (so far), O Brother, Where Art Thou?. (Fun fact: another member of the cast is Harry Melling, aka Dudley Dursley.) (no trailer yet)
RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET (11/21)
I don't care what else is even in the movie, They had me at the Disney Princess scene. (Trailer)
THE FAVOURITE (11/23)
The new Yorgos Lanthimos. Loved The Lobster and loved Killing of a Sacred Deer even more. This looks utterly bonkers (even better -- PERIOD bonkers!). And that cast! (Trailer)
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (11/30)
New film by Barry Jenkins, who directed Best Picture-winner Moonlight. It looks beautiful, and it's based on a James Baldwin book, and I'm so ready. (Trailer)
ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE (limited 11/30)
Another Fantastic Fest favorite from last year. A zombie Christmas musical. Deck the halls with blood and guts, baby! (Trailer)
(from Roma)
MARY POPPINS RETURNS (12/19)
Why have we not seen more of this since that teaser that played during ... was it the Super Bowl? Anyway, Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins, with a supporting cast that includes Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, Emily Mortimer, Ben Whishaw, and even Dick Van Dyke (though not as Burt - we'll see if that accent returns). (Trailer)
ROMA (12/14)
The latest from Alfonso Cuarón and his first feature film since 2013's Gravity. Heard this was incredibly emotional. And semi-autobiographical. It's being released by (on?) Netflix, but it will also have a theatrical run. (Trailer)**********
POSSIBLE WILD CARD:
Clint Eastwood's latest (The Mule) is in post-production, and he is well known for dropping movies into the schedule unexpectedly. Haven't seen or heard anything about this yet, but Eastwood cares not for your fall movie schedule. Clint gonna Clint. (If this slips into the Oscar race, Bradley Cooper could be looking at a possible FIVE Oscar nominations this year alone.)
