Where did summer go? It seemed like yesterday I was driving down to Bonnaroo then driving up to Wayhome. Maybe too many festivals in a summer causes it to go by so quickly. Either way, I hate that now I need to wear a sweater AND a jacket most days. We are almost at the point of the great festival films getting wide releases and the Oscar contenders this year to come to the forefront AKA the most exciting time of the year for me!
New Theatrical Releases
The Martian
Release Date: October 2nd
Directed By: Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Alien, Prometheus)
Starring: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, Jeff Daniels, Michael Peña, Sean Bean (what is this, The Avengers or something?)
IMDb Summary: During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.
Why I Am So Excited: While Prometheus was a touch of a letdown, only if you compare it to its predecessors; Ridley Scott has directed two of the greatest Sci-Fi films ever in Blade Runner and Alien, not to mention American Gangster, Gladiator, Matchstick Men and more. Add in Matt Damon who has even in bad movies turns in great performances *couch Elysium cough* and you have an interesting combo. The fact that seemingly every A-lister not in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is interesting as ensemble casts this large are hit and miss. Early previews say that this film should not be skipped though.
Watch the trailer HERE
Steve Jobs
Release Date: October 9th
Directed By: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours, 28 Days Later)
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, Jeff Daniels
IMDb Summary: Set backstage at three iconic product launches and ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac, Steve Jobs takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution to paint a portrait of the man at its epicenter.
Why I Am So Excited: Frankly I couldn’t care less about the subject matter, sorry Sean Chin, what excites me is seeing how the trifecta of Boyle, Fassbender and writer Aaron Sorkin mesh with each other. Boyle has proven himself to be a kinetic director where he doesn’t care if you get left behind, Fassbender is easily one of the most in demand actors (his Macbeth coming later this year is probably my most anticipated film of the year) and when Sorkin is on point, boy does he ever knock it out of the park. Much like Sorkin’s script to The Social Network was about friendship and not the jerk behind Facebook, here is to hoping that Steve Jobs isn’t just about the jerk behind Apple.
Watch the trailer HERE
Bridge of Spies
Release Date: October 16th
Directed By: Steven Spielberg (if you don’t know his films off by heart, there is no helping you)
Starring: Tom Hanks, Alan Alda, Amy Ryan, Eve Hewson
IMDb Summary: An American lawyer is recruited by the CIA during the Cold War to help rescue a pilot detained in the Soviet Union.
Why I Am So Excited: Honestly, the trailers make this film look fairly ho-hum. I included the film here hoping that Spielberg would throw us another late career curveball like Lincoln and Munich and not drivel like War Horse and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The same goes for Tom Hanks whose performance in Captain Phillips (holy crap that end scene with the paramedic) was amazing, while everything to do with Saving Mr. Banks is pretty much unredeemable. Old Spielbzies does quite well with period pictures, as his filmography would attest. At worst this will be forgetten for being mediocre, at best we might have this year’s Flight on our hands.
Watch the trailer HERE
Room
Release Date: October 16th
Directed By: Lenny Abrahamson (Frank, What Richard Did)
Starring: Brie Larson, Joan Allen, William H. Macy, Megan Park
IMDb Summary: After 5-year old Jack and his Ma escape from the enclosed surroundings that Jack has known his entire life, the boy makes a thrilling discovery: the outside world.
Why I Am So Excited: After reading, and hearing personally from Andreas Babiolakis all the great things about this film, it is square on my radar. To wit from Andreas’ review “Room goes above and beyond a typical survival story because of how much it focuses on the epilogue. It shows that it, too, can be as important as the main obstacle.” The films I most know Larson from are Trainwreck and my personal favourite Scott Pilgrim vs. The World having not seen her standout performances in Short Term 12 and The Spectacular Now, which is why I won’t get on the ‘She’s going to Oscar nominated’ train just yet.
Watch the trailer HERE
All Things Must Pass
Release Date: October 16th
Directed By: Colin Hanks (feature length debut)
Starring: Chris Cornell, Dave Grohl, Chuck D., Elton John
IMDb Summary: ‘All Things Must Pass’ is a documentary that explores the rise and fall of Tower Records, and its legacy forged by its rebellious founder, Russ Solomon.
Why I Am So Excited: I am a sucker for a great music doc. From 20 Feet From Stardom, Muscle Shoals, Searching for Sugarman, I love them all. Nothing like people getting misty eyed talking about great tunes. Hanks, trying to separate himself further from big daddy Tom and make a mark on directing much like Tom did with That Thing You Do! and Larry Crowne. The trailer looks like it is pure music nerd gold, so I will no doubt love it.
Watch the trailer HERE
New on Blu-Ray
San Andreas
Release Date: October 13th
Directed By: Brad Peyton (Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore)
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario
IMDb Summary: In the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescue-chopper pilot makes a dangerous journey with his ex-wife across the state in order to rescue his daughter.
Why I Am So Excited: I wouldn’t say excited per se, but I was told San Andreas is a decent popcorn action adventure film, and sometimes that’s all that you really need. I like The Rock’s shtick enough to at least consider watching it down the line. It would most likely be a scenario where I can’t find anything else to watch and it pops up on Netflix, which frankly is sometimes all you need.
Watch the trailer HERE
