November’s must-see movies
There’s something for everyone dropping into Kiwi cinemas next month. Charlie’s Angels is back (November 14) for a whole new generation, Spanish favourite Pedro Almodovar has a new Antonio Banderas-starring tale
Pain and Glory (November 7) and Ready or Not (November 21) has been one of the surprise horror hits of the year. For the kids, there’s animated adventure
Arctic Justice (November 7) and the Donald Sutherland-narrated reindeer story Ailo’s Journey
(November 14).
Documentary fans can look forward to tales focused on astronaut Neil Armstrong (November 7’s Armstrong) and American sex therapist Dr Ruth Westheimer (November 28’s Ask Dr Ruth). Features returning from the New Zealand International Film Festival include Portrait of a Lady on Fire
(November 14), The Realm
(November 14) and Kiwi rural drama Bellbird (November 7).
And, if that isn’t enough, the British and Terror-Fi film festivals are screening in select cinemas around the country over the next few weeks.
Stuff has picked out these six titles as the November movies we’re most excited about seeing.
Last Christmas (November 7)
Featuring the music of the much loved George Michael (and his Wham partner Andrew Ridgeley), this festive British rom-com is directed by Bridesmaids’ Paul Feig and cowritten by Emma Thompson.
Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke plays Kate, a troubled young woman whose life turns upside down when she meets Tom (Henry Goulding), while working as a department store elf.
Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep (November 14)
Almost three decades after Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining scared a generation of moviegoers, this sequel (based on author King’s 2013 book) focuses on a now adult Danny Torrence (Ewan McGregor). He’s still struggling to put the trauma of the Overlook Hotel behind him, a problem not helped when he encounters a teenager with similar abilities to himself.
Ford V Ferrari (November 14)
Matt Damon and Christian Bale team up for this 1960s-set motorsport drama.
The pair play US designer Carroll Shelby and British driver Ken Miles, two men charged by the Ford company with creating a race car that can defeat the all-conquering Ferrari team at the 1966 24-Hour Le Mans race.
The Irishman (November 22)
Released in select Kiwi cinemas just a few days before its November 27 debut on Netflix, Martin Scorsese’s hotly anticipated crime story is based on Charles Brandt’s 2004 memoir I Heard You Paint Houses.
The all-star cast includes Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano and our own Anna Paquin. Meanwhile, the global streaming service is also adopting the same release strategy with the Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver two-hander Marriage Story a week later.
Frozen II (November 28)
Six years after Disney’s musical tale of two sisters swept the world, Elsa and Anna are back.
This time around, our heroines must embark on a new journey beyond Arendelle to save their kingdom. Joining the original vocal cast are Evan Rachel Wood, Sterling K Brown, Alfred Molina and Jason Ritter.
Knives Out (November 28)
Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette and Don Johnson are part of the amazing acting ensemble gathered together for this murder mystery.
Craig plays a master detective sent to investigate the death of a family’s patriarch. Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s Rian Johnson is the man on writing and directing duties.