A huge selection of great movies is coming out this fall. Even though February seems so far away, Oscar season starts right about now, so all the so-called “critically acclaimed” movies are going to start popping up in theaters. Here are five movies to keep an eye out for, as well as a general list of films premiering throughout the fall:
5. Crimson Peak: dir. Guillermo del Toro; starring Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, and Jessica Chastain
A return to form for del Toro, Crimson Peak just premiered in Austin to fantastic reviews. The film finds Edith Cushing (Wasikowska) retreating to a gothic manor with her husband (Hiddleston) and his sister (Chastain), only to discover the manor is just as alive as she is. Part horror, part fantasy, and part gothic romance, Crimson Peak opens on Oct. 16.
4. Room: dir. Lenny Abrahamson; starring Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen, and William H. Macy
The top prize-winner at the Toronto Film Festival, Room—adapted from the novel of the same name—sees a mother (Larson) and her son struggle to adjust to the real world after being held captive in a small room for years. Apparently Larson’s performance knocks it out of the park, and if it’s anything like the book, it’s definitely worth checking out. Room also opens on Oct. 16.
3. Suffragette: dir. Sarah Gavron; starring Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Meryl Streep, and Brendan Gleason
This film may be more important than it is good (reviews out of festivals were mixed). Suffragette depicts the early feminist movement in Britain and women’s fight for the right to vote. Though I’ve heard it’s slightly generic, it is full of great performances, and was written and directed by women, so it’s a step in the right direction towards equality in the film industry. Suffragette opens on Oct. 23.
2. Sicario: dir. Denis Villeneuve; starring Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, and Josh Brolin
About an FBI agent (Blunt) who gets sucked into the drug war at the US-Mexico border, Sicario (which means “hitman” in Mexico) is crushing records in its current limited release. Villeneuve (Prisoners, Incendies) is known for his taut, brooding, and dark thrillers, and this looks to be just that. Blunt—another leading female!—and Del Toro are incredible, as is cinematography by the legendary Roger Deakins. Sicario starts expanding on Oct. 2 and will continue to reach more theaters throughout the fall.
1. Carol: dir. Todd Haynes, starring Cate Blanchet, Rooney Mara, Kyle Chandler, and Sarah Paulson
Based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith, Carol tells of a forbidden romance between two women (Blanchet and Mara), in 1950s New York. Mara won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival, and both she and Blanchet give the performances of their careers in this elegant, moving drama. Carol is out Nov. 20.
Other movies to look out for: Twin-Towers high-wire act The Walk with Joseph Gordon-Levitt is out Oct. 9 along with Joe Wright’s reimagining of Peter Pan, Pan. Also worth noting, Cary Fukunaga’s (True Detective) child soldier drama Beasts of No Nation would have been included in the top list were it coming to theaters. With a terrifying turn by Irdis Elba, the film hits Netflix on Oct. 16. Lastly, Steve Jobs with Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet opens on Oct. 23 and is supposedly pretty intense.
In November, Spectre, the next James Bond movie, lands on the 6th. Released on that same date is Spotlight, which chronicles the Boston Globe’s discovery of child molestation cover-ups in the Catholic Church and has a phenomenal cast. Later, the Brad Pitt/Angelia Jolie Euro drama By the Sea opens on Nov. 13, and the final Hunger Games installment hits theaters on the 20th. Lastly, the Rocky sequel/continuation Creed opens right before Thanksgiving, on Nov. 25.
There’s a ton of great movies coming out, so make sure to head over to the theaters, and check back with Skid News for more reviews throughout the semester.