LET’S JAM!
A bunch of intriguing movies, including a couple powered by music, are hitting theaters soon
Look, the next couple of months are packed.
You won’t be able to see it all — the early Academy Award hopefuls, the based-on-real-life dramas, the seasonal scares and the family-friendly entries on the slate — but there’s a lot that looks tempting.
So, with a summer season that started way back in April finally behind us, let’s take a look at much of what’s hitting theaters before the holiday season arrives with even more.
‘A Simple Favor’ (Sept. 14)
Director Paul Feig is an unusual choice to direct this thriller about a mother and vlogger (Anna Kendrick) who seeks the truth about the disappearance of another woman (Blake Lively), who had become her friend. We are promised secrets and revelations, love and loyalty and murder and revenge in this adaptation of the 2017 novel by Darcey Bell.
‘Lizzy’ (Sept. 14)
This drama from director Craig William Macneill (“The Boy”) pledges a new take on the infamous Lizzy Borden. Portrayed here by Chloe Sevigny (HBO’s “Big Love”), Borden was accused and acquitted of the brutal slayings of her father and stepmother in late 1800s Massachusetts. Kristen Stewart (the “Twilight” movies) portrays a housemaid and Lizzy’s lover.
‘The Predator’ (Sept. 14)
If the profanity-laced final trailer can be trusted, this may be the most fun of the “Predator” movies. The tough-to-kill alien species returns to earth after some DNA modifications that are likely to be bad news for humanity in this film from Shane Black (“Iron Man 3,” “The Nice Guys”). The ensemble cast boasts Boyd Holbrook, Jacob Tremblay, Olivia Munn Keegan-Michael Key, Trevante Rhodes, Alfie Allen and Sterling K. Brown.
‘White Boy Rick’ (Sept. 14)
In this drama, which is based on a true story, Matthew McConaughey portrays the father of a teenage boy (Richie Merritt) who became an undercover police informant and, later, a drug dealer.
‘Colette’ (Sept. 21)
Keira Knightley portrays French novelist Colette in this biographical drama, which is earning strong early reviews and praise for its star.
‘The House With a Clock in its Walls’ (Sept. 21)
Horror director Eli Roth (“Cabin Fever,” “Hostel”) will dial things back for what should be a spooky but ultimately family-friendly adaptation of John Bellairs’ novel about an orphan who moves into a large old house with his uncle. In this likely hit brought to you by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, Jack Black plays the uncle, Owen Vaccaro (“Daddy’s Home”) the nephew and Cate Blanchett a neighbor, who like the man, keeps secrets. Along with the mysterious clock, expect strange creatures behind doors and magic galore.
‘Life Itself’ (Sept. 21)
Dan Fogelman, the creator and executive producer of the hit NBC ensemble drama series “This Is Us,” is the writer and director of this ensemble comedy-drama that, based on the trailer, looks like it will borrow a bit from that series’ winning formula. The seemingly alwaysworking Oscar Isaac heads the cast, which also boasts Olivia Wilde, Mandy Patinkin, Annette Bening and Antonio Banderas.
‘The Sisters Brothers’ (Sept. 21)
Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly portray brothers with the last name Sisters who encounter a gold prospector (Riz Ahmed) being pursued across the many miles of the Oregon desert on his way to San Francisco in the 1850s. Jake Gyllenhaal also plays a key role in this dark-comedy Western from French writer-director Jacques Audiard (“Rust and Bone”).
‘Smallfoot’ (Sept. 28)
In this offering from Warner Animation Group, Channing Tatum voices a yeti determined to prove the existence of a “smallfoot.” It’s a fun twist on a familiar idea, but we’ll wait and see with this one.
‘Night School’ (Sept. 28)
Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish are each hilarious, so chances are good this comedy from director Malcolm D. Lee will offer a solid course on laughter. Lee directed last year’s “Girls Trip,” which served as a showcase for Haddish’s over-thetop comedic gifts. The premise of “Night School” has Hart’s character attending classes to get his GED, while Haddish’s is teaching to get a little extra scratch.
‘A Star Is Born’ (Oct. 5)
There is strong early buzz for this, the fourth version of a film with this title. Co-stars Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga are being talked about for major awards, and Entertainment Weekly calls Cooper’s performance a “career best.” Cooper also makes his directorial debut in this film he co-wrote, a rock ‘n’ roll twist on the familiar tale of an aging star finding a young up-and-coming talent to mold. Cooper’s Jackson Maine, said to be inspired a bit by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, is a rock star with a raspy voice, while Lady Gaga’s Ally an unknown singer-songwriter with talent. This is not the debut acting performance for the pop siren, who earned a Golden Globe for her work on 2016’s “American Horror Story: Hotel.”
“Venom’ (Oct. 5)
The next couple of months are shockingly devoid of superheroes — DC Comics and Warner Bros. Pictures will continue their DC Extended Universe with “Aquaman” right before Christmas, while Marvel Studios won’t drop its next entry, “Captain Marvel,” until March — but we will get an anti-hero in the form of Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock. Made by Sony Pictures, which a few years ago struck a deal to bring the iconic Marvel character Spider-Man to the MCU, “Venom” is said to exist in a Marvel universe sort of adjacent to the MCU. (It’s very confusing. Just try not to worry about it.) Traditionally a nemesis of Spider-Man and looking like a nightmarish version of the hero, Venom is the combination of investigative reporter Eddie and an alien symbiote that gives him powers. Directed by Ruben Fleischer (“Zombieland,” “Gangster Squad”), “Venom” also features talented actors Michelle Williams (“All the Money in the World”) and Riz Ahmed (HBO’s “The Night Of”). And while you shouldn’t be surprised if we get a cameo from Peter Parker himself, Tom Holland, the real draw here is the always-fascinating Hardy (“Dunkirk,” FX’s “Taboo”).
‘Beautiful Boy’ (Oct. 12)
Timothee Chalamet, who made such an impression last year in his Academy Awardnominated turn in “Call Me by Your Name,” portrays a young man in the throes of meth addiction in this based-on-a-truestory drama. Chalamet portrays Nic Sheff, while Steve Carell plays his father, David. The latter’s memoir, “Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction,” is the basis for the film from Belgian director Felix Van Groeningen. The cast also features Maura Tierney and Amy Ryan, who shared screen time on “The Office” with Carell during the actor’s final stretch on the show.
‘First Man’ (Oct. 12)
What would director Damien Chazelle do for an encore following his almost-Oscar-winning 2016 musical, “La La Land”? Obviously, a period space drama about U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong in the years leading up to 1969’s landmark Apollo 11 moon mission. Chazelle, who snagged his “La La Land” leading man, Ryan Gosling, to star as Armstrong, tells Entertainment weekly what fascinated him about the story was how these astronauts would balance a goal of reaching the moon with day-to-day family lives in Texas. Claire Foy, so good as a young Queen Elizabeth on “The Crown,” portrays Armstrong’s wife, Janet. It’s hard to imagine how this won’t be a stirring cinematic experience given the people involved, but if you want to let the decision to omit the well-known image of Armstrong planting an American flag on the moon from the film — a silly bit of controversy — keep you away from the theater, knock yourself out.
‘Bad Times at the El Royale’ (Oct. 12)
“The Cabin in the Woods” director Drew Goddard, whose writing credits include “The Martian” and “World War Z,” appears to be channeling Quentin Tarantino with this stylish thriller. Based on a viewing of the fun trailer, “Bad Times at the El Royale” is going to offer a good bit of comedy with its mayhem. Written and directed by Goddard, it has a group of strangers — folks played by Jon Hamm, Chris Hemsworth, Jeff Bridges, Dakota Johnson, Cynthia Erivo — with secrets to keep come together at the movie’s rundown namesake hotel.
‘The Old Man & the Gun’ (Oct. 12)
In what is said will be his final performance, the great Robert Redford portrays Forrest Tucker, who made a life out of robbing banks and escaping prison. Written and directed by David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”), the film also features acting work by Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek, Danny Glover and Tom Waits.
‘Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween’ (Oct. 12)
The big-screen horror-comedy fun started in 2015 with “Goosebumps” continues in this latest film spawned by the popular book series by R.L. Stine.
‘Halloween’ (Oct. 19)
While this actually is the 11th installment in this slasher-horror series, the powers-that-be would prefer you think of it as the second. It helps that this direct sequel to 1978’s “Halloween” — all the continuity since then is suffering a bloody killing — brings back Jamie Lee Curtis as heroine Laurie Strode to take on masked maniac Michael Myers. The film is directed by David Gordon Green (“Pineapple Express”), who co-wrote the film with pal Danny McBride.
‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’ (Oct. 19)
This biographical drama — it’s based on the memoir by writer Lee Israel — has Melissa McCarthy portraying a woman who, when her career stalls, starts selling letters she writes but claims were penned by great deceased scribes. When that starts to land her in hot water, Lee has another trick up her sleeve. Richard E. Grant co-stars as Lee’s friend Jack.
‘The Hate U Give’ (Oct. 19)
Based on the young-adult novel by Angie Thomas, “The Hate U Give” centers on young black woman Starr (Amandla Stenberg) who lives between worlds: the nice, mostly white prep school she attends and her mostly black neighborhood. Her life is turned upside down when she witness the killing of a friend, a young black male, by white police officers. Regina King and Russell Hornsby, who shared screen time in memorable scenes as parents dealing with a tragedy on Netflix’s “Seven Seconds,” portray Starr’s parents in this film from “Barbershop” director George Tillman Jr.
‘Hunter Killer’ (Oct. 26)
Gerard Butler (“300”) plays an American submarine captain who, through a series of events, finds himself attempting to rescue the Russian president in this action film. The cast also boasts Gary Oldman, Common and Linda Cardellini.