Fall films
“JOJO RABBIT” >>
If any filmmaker can pull off a satire with a boy imagining Hitler as his invisible sidekick, it would be the wacky Taika Waititi (“Hunt for the Wilder people,” “Thor: Ragnarok”). Set during World War III, the tricky material finds the kid doubting his own thoughts when his mom hides a Jewish girl in their home. (Oct. 18)
“QUEEN & SLIM” >>
A couple on their first date (Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner Smith) go on the lam after being pulled over by a cop in Melina Matsoukas’ (HBO’s “Insecure”) drama. The trailer had me biting my nails. (Nov. 27)
“HONEY BOY” >>
In case you haven’t heard, this is the year of Shia LaBeouf. No, really. He wrote and stars in this semi-autobiographical story about the tortured relationship between a father (LaBeouf) and his son (Lucas Hedges). (Nov. 15)
“PARASITE” >>
One of our best living filmmakers, Bong Joon Ho, maneuvers into the Lynchian dark side of the burbs with a tale of two families — one rich, one poor — and how their intermingling produces horrific results. (Oct. 11)
“PAIN & GLORY” >>
It’s always a pleasure to watch a Pedro Almodovar film, even when he’s not at his best. Critics claim the director of “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” is at his best again in this artsy existential look at a filmmaker taking risks in his twilight years. Antonio Banderas stars and is earning raves. (Oct. 11)
“HARRIET” >>
Kasi Lemmons directs Cynthia Erivo in a biography of American hero Harriet Tubman, who helped slaves gain freedom via the Underground Railroad. (Nov. 1)
“KNIVES OUT” >>
Filmmaker Rian Johnson can spice up any genre to make it refreshing and original. Here, the director of “Brick” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” sleuths his way into Agatha Christie territory and tears it up with an A-list cast playing family members and friends with ulterior motives. (Nov. 27)
“MS. PURPLE” >>
Justin Chon follows up his explosive black-and-white award winner “Gook” with a family drama built around a messy sister-brother relationship. The advance reviews hail it as another triumph from one of our best new directors. (Sept. 20)
“THE IRISHMAN” >>
Martin Scorsese throws Netflix back into best picture Oscar discussion with a crime epic anchored around a mafioso (Robert De Niro) who knows a thing a two about what happened to Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). Release date to be announced.
“GEMINI MAN” >>
The first trailer underwhelms but the second one has us ready to buy tickets for this action film from Oscar winner Ang Lee. Will Smith doubles down, facing off with his younger self/older self in a hitman thriller. (Oct. 11)