”Suffragette” is among promising releases on the fall movie schedule.
The fall movie stable is loaded with awards contenders, but has plenty of non-thoroughbreds too. Until they start screening, here’s a glance at their hooves and teeth … because everybody loves a horse race (many more indies featured elsewhere in these pag
True stories … or true enough (for awards consideration)
Experimenter (Oct. 23)
Along the lines of “The Stanford Prison Experiment” comes this chronicle of Stanley Milgram’s obedience experiment, in which the social psychologist sought to understand how Nazism could be socially possible. Odds for a nomination: Even money. Don’t be shocked if the long-overdue Peter Sarsgaard finally scores a nomination. Legend (October)
British gangster twins the Krays get another film treatment. Odds: Underdog. Tom Hardy is his own madding crowd as both brothers. Rock the Kasbah (Oct. 23)
A washed-up rock manager stranded in Kabul guides a talented young Afghan woman through her country’s version of “American Idol.” Odds: Even money. Barry Levinson has been on a bit of a dry spell since “What Just Happened?” (2008) or, arguably, “Wag the Dog” (1997). But the trailer is promising, and Bill Murray looks in rare form. Steve Jobs (Oct. 9)
Aaron Sorkin, Danny Boyle and Michael Fassbender take their bite of the Apple legend. Odds: Favorite. After Ashton Kutcher’s “Jobs” (the Apple Watch of Steve Jobs movies) and the brutal doc “Steve Jobs: Man in the Machine,” will people be lining up overnight for this latest release? The Walk (Sept. 30 Imax; Oct. 9 wide)
Philippe Petit’s 1974 highwire walk between the Twin Towers (a documentary version, “Man on Wire,” won the Oscar). Odds: Underdog. The always watchable Joseph Gordon Levitt is directed by envelopepusher Robert Zemeckis.
Ripped from the headlines!
The 33 (Nov. 13)
Survival drama about the 2010 Chilean mining accident. Stars Antonio Banderas. Odds: Long shot. Black Mass (Sept. 18)
Johnny Depp in another transformative performance, this time as organized-crime figure Whitey Bulger — hero to some, rat to others, sociopath to the rest of us. Odds: Favorite. Director Scott Cooper made “Crazy Heart” … but also made “Out of the Furnace.” Everest (Sept. 25)
Two expedition groups in the 1996 Mount Everest disaster. Odds: Even money. Some really good actors, including Jason Clarke, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Emily Watson and Jake Gyllenhaal. Stonewall (Sept. 25)
One assumes this fictional drama is very, very fictional— it’s directed by Roland Emmerich (“The Day After Tomorrow,” “The Patriot”). Odds: Long shot. This muchsmaller film may be a passion project for Emmerich, and yield different results.
They shoot political movies, don’t they?
Bridge of Spies (Oct. 16)
A lawyer negotiates the release of the American U-2 pilot captured by the Soviets. Odds: Favorite. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg reteam; the Coen brothers co-wrote the script. Our Brand Is Crisis (Oct. 30)
Fictionalized version of 2005 doc about American political consultants interfering in Bolivia. Odds: Favorite. George Clooney and Grant Heslov produce, David Gordon Green directs, Sandra Bullock stars. Truth (Oct. 23)
The hoodwinking of a Rather naive top CBS newsman who reported on George W. Bush’s National Guard service based on forged documents. Robert Redford plays Dan Rather; Cate Blanchett plays his producer. Odds: Even favorite. Debut director James Vanderbilt wrote David Fincher’s “Zodiac” … and the two “Amazing Spider-Man” movies.
Topical as all get-out
Beasts of No Nation (Oct. 16)
Oakland’s own Cary Joji Fukunaga writes and directs this drama about African child soldiers, starring Idris Elba. Odds: Even. HBO’s “True Detective” (the brilliant first season, not the laughable second) confirmed Fukunaga as one of the most fascinating
rising talents in Hollywood. Freeheld (Oct. 9)
Julianne Moore and Ellen Page as a lesbian couple fighting for benefits when one is diagnosed with cancer. Odds: Favorite. Labyrinth of Lies (Oct. 9)
In 1958, a young German prosecutor finds it almost impossible to go after Nazi war criminals. Odds: Favorite. Germany’s official Oscar selection. Sicario (Sept. 25)
FBI agents (Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin) work with a “consultant” (Benicio Del Toro) because Drugs Are Bad. Odds: Underdog. Director Denis Villeneuve is on a roll, and Del Toro gives what some are calling his best performance.
Prestige pedigrees
The Martian (Oct. 2)
An astronaut stranded on Mars struggles to survive. Odds: Favorite. Ridley Scott’s gripping film of Andy Weir’s book is a celebration of science. Should contend for multiple nominations, including for star Matt Damon. Secret in Their Eyes (Nov. 20)
Remake of the Oscarwinning Argentine film is an FBI thriller about how an unresolved case haunts for years. It sounds awfully different from the original. Odds: Even. Writerdirector Billy Ray (“Captain Phillips”), producer Mark Johnson (“Rain Man”), and stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts are all Oscar winners or nominees.
Blockbuster bait
The Hunger Games: Mocking jay Part 2 (Nov. 20)
The Young-Adult behemoth wraps up.
Odds: Underdog. Fire will be catching, indeed — but if the academy didn’t recognize J-Law for Part 1, when she had to carry an action-lite blockbuster, why would they for the epic conclusion?
Pan (Oct. 9)
Live-action origin of Peter Pan, Hook, et al.
Odds: Long shot. Hugh Jackman looks to be living it up as Blackbeard in the trailers.
Spectre (Nov. 6)
The veil is finally lifted from James Bond’s nemesis organization.
Odds: Very long long
shot. Sam Mendes returns to direct Daniel Craig, and Christoph Waltz looks fantastic in the trailers.
A few other indie coattuggers
Among the other names being bandied about to finish in the winners’ circle (more indie coverage elsewhere in these pages): Carol (Oct. 23) Cate Blanchett (double trouble for this and “Truth”) and Rooney Mara in a lesbian romance directed by Todd Haynes. I Smile Back (Oct. 23) Sarah Silverman is getting raves for her bareknuckles dramatic turn as a housewife with severely self-destructive behaviors. Suffragette (Oct. 23) Historical drama with Carey Mulligan checks off a lot of awards-fodder boxes (including the “Meryl Streep” one). Trumbo (Nov. 6) Bryan Cranston as storied screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, victimized by the McCarthy-era blacklist.
But not all films should be judged on their awards cred …
Animated/kids
Extraordinary Tales (Oct. 23)
Animated versions of five Edgar Allan Poe stories, with the talents of Guillermo del Toro, Christopher Lee, and, apparently, Bela Lugosi. Don’t tell Ed Wood! Outlook: Poe-try in motion. Goosebumps (Oct. 16)
Live-action adaptation of the kids’ books finds the monsters escaping from the pages. Just so you know: Stars Jack Black. Hotel Transylvania 2 (Sept. 25)
Nice Count Dracula (Adam Sandler) and company have family issues. Before you run away: The cast adds Mel Brooks and Nick Offerman. The Peanuts Movie (Nov. 6) Early footage is promising. Don’t scoff: The animators have gone to great lengths to convey Charles M. Schulz’s characterizations.
Otherwise interesting
Crimson Peak (Oct. 16) Location is important, but … an aspiring author is “swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds … and remembers.” That guy again: Guillermo del Toro directs Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain and Tom Hiddleston (who at the end of the year will appear as Hank Williams in “I Saw the Light”). Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (Oct. 30) Horror comedy (duh). Be prepared: Tye Sheridan, so good in “Mud,” is ascending. Next for him: “X-Men: Apocalypse” as young Cyclops.