The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Take a look at what’s coming to theaters, streaming services
Season packed with big theatrical releases, as well as smaller films for the big and small screens
As concerns over the delta variant of the novel coronavirus remain, the movie industry is charging ahead with a packed slate of releases in theaters and via streaming platforms. ¶ Along with some smaller-budget films, we finally should be getting long-delayed big-ticket affairs such as “No Time to Die” — which will bring to a close an era of James Bond storytelling — along with “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.”
Here’s a look at some of what’s coming our way into November. And remember, these days, more than ever, dates are subject to change.
“SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS” | SEPT. 3 | THEATERS >> The fourth phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues with the bigscreen debut of lesserknown hero Shang-Chi (Simu Liu, “Blood and Water”). Directed by Hawaiian-born Destin Daniel Cretton (“Just Mercy”), “The Legend of the Ten Rings” is an origin story for Shang-Chi that benefits from comic relief by Awkwafina (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) as the character’s partner in irresponsibility, Katy. Shang-Chi’s powerful estranged father (Tony Leung) re-enters his life to ignite an adventure that plays like a cross between a typical MCU entry and 2000’s acclaimed “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”
“CINDERELLA” | SEPT. 3 | PRIME VIDEO >> This new musical spin on the classic tale is written and directed by Kay Cannon, the writer of the “Pitch Perfect” series and director of the highly enjoyable 2018 comedy “Blockers.” It stars singer Camila Cabello as a dress-making Cinderella and boasts noteworthy supporting players including Idina Menzel, Minnie Driver, Nicholas Galitzine, Billy Porter, Pierce Brosnan and James Corden.
“ZONE 414” | SEPT. 3 | THEATERS >> Guy Pearce (“Mare of Easttown”) is a private detective who teams up with an artificial intelligence after he’s hired by a powerful man to find his daughter in this sci-fi thriller.
“COME FROM AWAY” | SEPT. 10 | APPLE TV+ >> Instead of a planned film adaptation of this charming, spiritlifting musical, we’ll get a filmed stage performance along the lines of Disney+’s “Hamilton.” Inspired by a true story, “Come From Away” is about what happens in the days following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when a number of planes are forced to land in the tiny town of Gander in Canada’s Newfoundland and the locals help shelter and feed thousands of unexpected visitors. It’s nice that the release was able to be timed with the 20th anniversary of 9/11. “QUEENPINS” | SEPT. 10 | THEATERS >> Written and directed by husband-andwife team Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, this comedy about a counterfeit coupon ring features Kristen Bell (“The Good Place”), Vince Vaughn (“Freaky”) and Paul Walker Houser (“Cruella”). “THE CARD COUNTER” | SEPT. 10 | THEATERS >> Paul Schrader (“First Reformed”) is in the director’s chair, and the talented Oscar Isaac (“A Most Violent Year”) stars as a man playing a very dangerous game in this grittylooking drama. Supporting roles are inhabited by Tiffany Haddish (“Girls Trip”) and Willem Dafoe (“At Eternity’s Gate”). “MALIGNANT” | SEPT. 10 |
THEATERS AND HBO MAX >> Director James Wan decided not to return to direct this year’s “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” — after helming the first two films in the horror franchise — but he’s sticking with scary business in another movie releasing simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. “Malignant” stars Annabelle Wallis (“Peaky Blinder”) as a woman tormented by horrifying visions. “NIGHTBOOKS” | SEPT. 15 | NETFIX >> Krysten Ritter is a witch who takes a boy (Winslow Fegley) prisoner in this adaptation of the J. A. White’s 2018 horror-fantasy children’s book.
“THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE” | SEPT. 17 | THEATERS >> Jessica Chastain portrays the sadly unforgettable Tammy Faye Bakker, and Andrew Garfield is her husband and partner in televangelism, Jim Bakker, in this drama exploring the controversial couple’s rise to power. The trailer looks … OK, but the film is directed by Michael Showalter, whose last two efforts, “The Big Sick” and “The Lovebirds,” were terrific. Plus, the gifted Chastain (“Molly’s Game”) would seem to be an inspired choice for the role.
“CRY MACHO”| SEPT. 17 | THEATERS AND HBO MAX >> Clint Eastwood directs and stars as a former rodeo star hired to kidnap a friend’s son and bring him from Mexico to the United States in this adaptation of N. Richard Nash’s 1975 novel. “CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG” | SEPT. 17 | THEATERS >> Author Norman Bridwell’s canine looks to be very big and quite red in this family-friendly adventure, and he makes a difference in the life of a young girl (Darby Camp of “The Christmas Chronicles”) having a tough time at home and at school. “EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE” | SEPT. 17 | PRIME VIDEO >> Rerouted from a theatrical release to Amazon’s streaming platform, this is an adaptation of the stage musical of the same name about a boy fighting through obstacles in a quest to become a drag queen. (The stage production stems from a documentary, 2011’s “Jamie: Drag Queen at 16.) Max Harwood stars as Jamie.
“DEAR EVAN HANSEN” | SEPT. 24 | THEATERS >> With this adaptation of the acclaimed stage show with by music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and book by Steven Levenson, Ben Platt steps back into the titular role, which in 2017 earned him the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical. Debuting on Broadway in late 2016, “Dear Evan Hanson” revolves around Evan, a high school student dealing with social anxiety disorder who becomes entangled with a family dealing with the loss of their son. Stephen Chbosky, who directed 2017’s “Wonder,” is at the helm.
“THE ADDAMS FAMILY” | OCT. 1 | THEATERS >> The creepy and enduring clan goes road-tripping in this sequel to 2019’s computer-animation hit, with Oscar Isaac and Charlize Theron among those returning to provide voicework.
“THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK” | OCT. 1 | THEATERS AND HBO MAX >> Warner Bros. Pictures’ much-discusses prequel to acclaimed HBO series “The Sopranos” finally — after multiple delays — felt real when a trailer dropped in late June. And what a trailer it was, with Michael Gandolfini appearing to be exactly the right choice to portray a younger version of his late father James’ iconic character, mob boss Tony Soprano. It’s been thought the film would revolve around Tony’s mentor, Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola), and it may still, but the trailer suggests the evolution of young Anthony is of prime concern. Co-written by “Sopranos” mastermind David Chase and directed by series veteran Alan Taylor, “Newark” is set in the New Jersey city in the late 1960s when tensions between Italian-Americans and African-Americans were running high.
“NO TIME TO DIE” | OCT. 8 | THEATERS >> It was a different, simpler time. Many of us were only barely concerned about the novel coronavirus in early March 2000 when this 25th James Bond adventure — the fifth and final film with Daniel Craig in the role of Agent 007 — was postponed from its original release date the following month. More pushbacks followed, but we are finally set to see the action-filled spy romp helmed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (“True Detective”). You probably know all this by now, but the impressive supporting cast boasts old and new faces in Christoph Waltz, Jeffrey Wright, Ana de Armas, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris and, last but not least, Rami Malek (“Mr. Robot,” “Bohemian Rhapsody”) as the villainous Lyutsifer Safin. “HALLOWEEN KILLS” | OCT. 15 | THEATERS >> This 12th “Halloween” killfest is a sequel to 2018’s “Halloween,” which was a direct sequel to the 1978 original “Halloween.” (Got all that?) Jamie Lee Curtis returns as Laurie Strode to continue to wage war on masked psychopath Michael Myers (Nick Castle). Director David Gordon Green also returns from the hit from 2018. The plan is to make it a bloody trilogy, with “Halloween Ends” slated for 2022.
“THE LAST DUEL” | OCT. 15 | THEATERS >> Ridley Scott directs this historical drama based on the book by Eric Jager about the last officially recognized judicial duel in France. In the 14th century, Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer of “Killing Eve” and “Free Guy”) says she has been raped by Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), the best friend of her husband, knight Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon). The cast also includes Damon’s longtime pal Ben Affleck.
“VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE”
| OCT. 15 | THEATERS >> A lot of people loved 2018’s Venom, a Sony Pictures release that saw Tom Hardy portray the Marvel antihero commonly associated with Spider-Man who walks around with an uncouth extra-terrestrial entity attached to him. With apologies to the excellent actor, that was a strange choice by a lot of people, as “Venom” so often was messy and irritating. Perhaps things will be a little smoother with Andy Serkis in the director’s chair, the “Lord of the Rings” star having worked as a second director on Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” trilogy. It’s hard to see how, though, as the sequel will pair Hardy’s Eddie Brock with Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson), who becomes the villain Carnage when he gets his own alien symbiote. “DUNE” | OCT. 22 | THEATERS AND HBO MAX >> Gifted director Denis Villeneuve (“Blade Runner 2049”) should finally see the unveiling of his adaptation of the first half of Frank Herbert’s classic science-fiction novel from 1965. (If it does well enough, a sequel will cover the second half.) Expect something much more watchable than David Lynch’s 1984 version. (After all, how could it not be?) Timothee Chalamet (“Call Me by Your Name”) stars as Paul Atreides, with Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Dave Bautista, Josh Brolin, Zendaya and Stellan Skarsgard among those with supporting roles. ‘RON’S GONE WRONG” | OCT. 22 | THEATERS >> In this vibrant-looking animated work, all young Barney (voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer of “It”) wants is a digitally connected B-bot. Only problem is his Ron (Zach Galifianakis) seems to have … all sorts of problems.
This adventure about an unusual friendship also features voice work by Olivia Colman and Ed Helms. “JACKASS 4” | OCT. 22 | THEATERS >> Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O and the crew return for more “Jackass”-ery. “ANTLERS” | OCT. 29 | THEATERS >> A boy (Jeremy T. Thomas) is keeping something scary at home, and his concerned teacher (Keri Russell) enlists her brother (Jesse Plemons) to help her get to the bottom of it all in this slice of supernatural horror from director Scott Cooper (“Crazy Heart,” “Hostiles”).
“LAST NIGHT IN SOHO” | OCT. 29 | THEATERS >> Although he directed the well-received documentary “The Sparks Brothers” that was released earlier this year, Edgar Wright last delighted us with a stylish piece of narrative fiction with 2017’s “Baby Driver.” His new work, “Last Night in Soho,” boasts a seductive trailer hinting at a mind-bending piece of psychological horror. Thomasin McKenzie (“Jojo Rabbit”) suddenly finds herself in 1960s London — as a singer portrayed by the always terrific Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit”) — and her situation grows only more concerning from there. “ETERNALS” | NOV. 5 | THEATERS >> Things may not yet seem normal, but Disney-owned Marvel Studios releasing not one but two MCU entries exclusively in theaters within a couple of months of each other feels like something from pre-pandemic times. “Eternals” is about a team of immortal aliens living on earth for thousands of years that aims to protect humanity from an evil force known as the Deviants. And while its cast boasts “Game of Thrones” alums Richard Madden and Kit Harington, as well as Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan, Kumail Nanjiani and Brian Tyree Henry, it’s who’s behind the camera that’s more interesting. Its director and cowriter is Chloé Zhao, who was introduced to many when her 2019 film, “Nomadland,” won the Academy Award for best picture earlier this year. Given that film’s rooted-in-reality aesthetic, it will be fascinating to see how Zhao handles the realms of such a fantastical and big-budget adventure.
“FINCH” | NOV. 5 | APPLE TV+ >> Tom Hanks stars as a robotics engineer living in a postapocalyptic world hoping to ensure his beloved dog, Goodyear, will be cared for after he’s gone. Having lived in a bunker for a decade, Hanks’ Finch creates a robot for the job portrayed by Caleb Landry Jones (“Get Out,” “The Outpost”). Director Miguel Sapochnik helmed multiple episodes of “Game of Thrones.” “GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE” | NOV. 11 | THEATERS
>> Another long-delayed, highly anticipated release, this installment in the “Ghostbusters” franchise is directed and co-written by Jason Reitman (“Juno,” “Up in the Air”), the talented son of the director of the original 1984 supernatural comedy, Ivan Reitman. Complete with a cast member (Finn Wolfhard) from Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” “Afterlife” appears to be borrowing the tone of that hit supernatural show, to which we do not object in the slightest. The main cast also features Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd and Mckenna Grace, while we can expect cameos from old faves Bill Burray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts and Ernie Hudson. “BELFAST” | NOV. 12 | THEATERS >> In what is said to be a very personal film to him, Kenneth Branagh directs a drama about a boy’s childhood in the tumultuous late 1960s in the Northern Ireland capital. The cast includes Caitriona Balfe, Judie Dench, Jamie Dornan and Ciaran Hinds
“RED NOTICE” | NOV. 12 | NETFLIX >> This action thriller from the streaming giant boasts a powerhouse trio in Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot and Ryan Reynolds. Johnson is a top FBI profiler and Gadot and Reynolds are rival criminals, all of whom are pulled together after Interpol issues a global alert to capture the world’s most wanted. Johnson has previously worked with the movie’s director, Rawson Marshall Thurber, on projects that include 2018’s “Skyscraper.”
“HOME SWEET HOME ALONE” | NOV. 12 | DISNEY+ >>
Disney’s streaming platform invites you to stay home for this new entry in he “Home Alone” franchise, which sees mischievous but resourceful Max Mercer (Arcie Yates of “Jojo Rabbit”) left alone when his family travels to Japan for a holiday vacation. Max will have to protect the house from trespassers in this comedy that also boasts Ellie Kemper (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) and Rob Delaney (“Deadpool 2”) and is directed by Dan Mazer (“Dirty Grandpa”).
“TOP GUN: MAVERICK” | NOV. 19 | THEATERS >> Seemingly, Tom Cruise at long last will jet back into theaters as hotshot pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell” in this endlessly delayed sequel to 1986 fave “Top Gun.” Expect Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller, “Whiplash”), the son of Mav’s late friend, to test him in more ways than with just daring aerial maneuvers. Jennifer Connolly (“A Beautiful Mind”) also will be added into the mix as Mav’s new love interest, Penny Benjamin. Joseph Kosinski (“Tron: Legacy”) directs.
“KING RICHARD” | NOV. 19 | THEATERS AND HBO MAX >> Will Smith portrays Richard Williams — the driven father of future tennis phenoms Serena and Venus — in this biographical drama from “Joe Bell” director Reinaldo Marcus Green. Expect a few emotional moments as the Compton, California father pushes his young ladies to succeed in an arena not exactly teeming with young Black talents.