A list of big titles – Star Wars, Terminator, Frozen 2 – as well as the 15 films you shouldn’t miss like Clemency, Knives Out, Jojo Rabbit. All of which are set for a fall and winter release.
Let’s start off with the big ones. The obvious.
- Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker
- IT: Chapter 2
- Hustlers
- Rambo V: Last Blood
- Ad Astra
- Gemini Man (which for the record looks terrible even if it’s from Ang Lee)
- Bad Trip
- Terminator: Dark Fate
- Doctor Sleep AKA The Shining 2
- Frozen 2
- Jumanji: The Next Level
Gamespot has summarized the big titles in a handy video compilation
The Less Obvious: 15 Films you shouldn’t miss
15. The Farewell
Sad, with an ironic, funny bite – The Farewell fittingly describes the indie drama that enchanted the audiences at Sundance and is likely to be the breakout hit this summer, with an iTunes and Amazon release set for early September. The film starring Awkwafina in a remarkably serious role breathes life into the indie genre while also telling an old tale at the same time.
“enchanted the audiences at Sundance”
The movie doesn’t submit to the traps that are usually set in a regular Hollywood film (overly dramatized situations, heightened reactions, pointless love interests, etc.), and because of this, it’s a complete revelation.
The Farewell is all about internal sensibilities and morals of the characters. For a movie about the dynamics between West and East starring an actress in last year’s biggest rom-com, the film doesn’t compromise its charm to appeal to bigger demographic. The Farewell is exactly what it is; a heart-felt, sweet, funny, and heart-wrenching movie about love, identity, family, and loss.
14. The Nightingale
If ever there were a horror film that earned an additional set of warnings besides the usual MPAA rating, it would be The Nightingale – the latest work of Jennifer Kent which is a follow-up to The Babadook, her 2014 horror hit.
The Nightingale is a bit different than Kent’s previous work. However, this doesn’t mean that this tale of revenge set in nineteenth century Tasmania is less horrifying as it is filled with some of the most brutal and shocking moments ever depicted onscreen.
“the latest work of Jennifer Kent which is a follow-up to The Babadook, her 2014 horror hit”
The Nightingale isn’t a horror film or a superhero film. It is an Aussie Western firmly grounded in human nature and historical fact. It lacks both the signifiers and the structure that define horror. Yet, The Nightingale is not an easy film to watch. It will certainly make you feel something, which is quite rare for a movie to be able to do nowadays.
13. Where’d You Go, Bernadette
Adapted from Maria Semple’s novel, the story of Where’d You Go, Bernadette revolves around a mother and architect who has troubles sleeping. The script follows a 15-year-old daughter who uses the correspondence between her anti-social and reclusive mother as well as other parents at her school to figure out why her mother suddenly vanished.
“It’s Linklater. Enough said.”
The tone of the film is certainly a bit odd. However, if you read about the novel on which the movie is based on, you will hear nothing but great things. The trailer for the film may seem like some kind of cutesy schmaltz, especially if you know nothing about the novel or Linklater. However, until proven otherwise, Linklater is a director who makes films worth awards consideration. While not every movie he makes becomes a blockbuster, with an excellent source material, exciting producer/distributor, top-notch behind the scenes talent, and a strong cast, the ingredients are here for an Academy Award nomination. We should expect this to get a late 2019 VOD release.
12. Blinded by the Light
Blinded by the Light is an addictively entertaining and uplifting rhyme to the music that plays music to our lives. The film is basically a socially relevant look into the family, culture, and the influence of Bruce Springsteen’s music.
Set in 1987, Blinded by the Light is a movie that chronicles the experiences of Javed – a British Pakistani boy who learns to understand his family, live life, and find his own voice through the music and words of Bruce Springsteen. However, the movie is not really about Springsteen, instead it’s about the power of his music. Blinded by the Light is a profound, simple, and pleasant story while songs like “Born to Run” as well as “Born in the USA” act as the main theme of the story, providing even more reason to watch.
11. Downton Abbey: The Movie
Downtown Abbey: The Movie will be a continuation of the critically-acclaimed series. The television series focused on the lives of Crawley family as well as their servants in an Edwardian English country home in the 20th century. Over its 6 seasons, Downtown Abbey garnered 69 Emmy nominations, a Special BAFTA award, 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, and 3 Golden Globe Awards, making it the most nominated non-US TV show.
While not much information regarding the movie’s plot has been revealed, there are plenty of reasons for the fans of the series to get excited for this film. Some fans of the series are calling it the most anticipated film of the year. Downtown Abbey: The Movie will feature most of the original cast of the series and it is expected to bring back quite an audience who have been waiting for another go around. Like it or not, this will likely attract a huge amount of rentals and downloads from iTunes and Amazon.
10. The Kitchen
If you are a fan of Widows, then there are several reasons to get excited for The Kitchen. Elisabeth Moss, Tiffany Haddish, and Melissa McCarthy play Irish mob wives turned bosses in this entertaining movie. However, The Kitchen is not the comedy film as some are expecting it to be from the looks of its trailer. It’s the directional debut of Andrea Berloff, who penned Straight Outta Compton as well as wrote the screenplay for this film.
The Kitchen may be a simple film but it tells its story in such an amazing way that will surely get you invested somewhat in the characters. Haddish does a really good job as an assassin wife along with Elisabeth Moss and Melissa McCarthy who bring unique charm and variety to these three main characters coming together. Except some pacing issues, The Kitchen ends up being quite an entertaining movie overall.
9. Joker
There might not be a more interesting film releasing in the second half of this year than Joker. Directed by Todd Philips, Joker is a standalone origin story of one of the most infamous villains of DC comics.
If you haven’t heard about this movie before, then you should know that Joker is not a part of the well-known DC Extended Universe so it doesn’t have any continuity with the existing DC films like Batman v Superman or Suicide Squad. It is a one-off feature that promises an origin story of Batman’s arch nemesis that you have never seen or read before.
“Joker is likely to get an Oscar DVD Screener leak”
The plot of Joker will apparently follow the story of the Gotham City’s bad guy in a more experimental, darker way, similar to a crime drama. The film is basically a gritty character study of Arthur Fleck (played by Joaquin Phoenix). Warner Bros. and DC are releasing the movie on October 4. Which probably means its getting its digital release and torrent leak in late December.
8. Zombieland 2
Officially known as Zombieland: Double Tap, Zombieland 2 is a sequel to Zombieland that was released a decade ago and the cast of the cult classic film is back for some more action.
“Sadly without, and what made the first one great, Bill Murray.”
Most of the original cast members will return in the sequel and you can expect to see some new faces as well. The plot will be more of the same – the crew will fight back many new kinds of zombies that have evolved; however, the action will take place in the middle of American heartland this time. The four slayers must face the growing pains of their own makeshift, snarky family. Zombieland: Double Tap will be released on October 11. Likely to hit BluRay, it Itunes and other VOD as well as torrents in late December.
To be honest, I’m not sure this should be on the list. But this seems to have a generation of fans I don’t get. I’m old.
7. The Goldfinch
The Goldfinch is a film adaptation of the best-selling novel of the same name by Donna Tartt which won several awards. Starring an amazing cast that includes Sarah Paulson, Nicole Kidman, Ansel Elgort, and more, The Goldfinch is one of the many films Oscar experts will surely be keeping their eyes on.
Directed by John Crowley, The Goldfinch tells a story of a 13 years old boy in New York City whose life turns upside down when his mother gets tragically killed in a terrorist attack at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The tragedy changes the course of his life, sending him on a journey of guilt and grief, redemption and reinvention, and even love. Through it all, the boy clings to a tangible piece of hope from that tragic incident – The Goldfinch. The movie is scheduled to be released on September 13 in cinemas, and a digital release in December.
6. Jojo Rabbit
Based on the Christine Leunens’ novel Caging Skies, Jojo Rabbit is one of the most anticipated movies this year in the comedy genre. Directed by Taika Waititi, Jojo Rabbit features Adolf Hitler – who will be played by the director himself.
Whatever you do – You’ve got to see the trailer.
The plot of the film revolves around Roman’s Jojo – a boy growing up in Germany during World War II. His world gets upturned when he realizes that his mother is harboring a young Jewish girl in their attic. That’s where he summons an imaginary Adolf Hitler in order to help him get through his troubles.
From the looks of it, Jojo Rabbit is certainly going to be one of the best films of the year. It will poke fun at the ‘nationalists’ and racists who are slowly occupying every authoritative position in the world.
5. Ford v Ferrari
If you are a motorsport fan, then Ford v Ferrari is something you might want to look forward to. Or just want more Christian Bale and Matt Damon. The film tells the story of one of the greatest achievements in motorsport history and from the looks of it, this one could be really good.
“From the director behind Cop Land, 3:10 to Yuma and Logan”
Academy Award winners Christian Bale and Matt Damon star in this upcoming movie which is based on the amazing true story of the iconic British-born driver Ken Miles and the inspiring American race car designer Carroll Shelby, who battled the laws of physics, corporate interference, as well as their own personal issues to build an iconic race car for Ford Motor Company to take on Enzo Ferrari in 1966’s event 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Even if fast cars aren’t your thing, there are several reasons to watch this film; it features one of the best casts of the year, excellent below-the-line talent, massive budget, and the trailer makes it seem like a promising movie. Ford v Ferrari is scheduled to be released on November 15. This might be one of this year’s Oscar DVD screener leaks.
4. The Lodge
The Lodge is a claustrophobic horror movie about a soon-to-be stepmother who is snowed in with her two future stepchildren at a remote holiday village. Just as relations start to thaw between the three, some frightening and strange events take place.
“Called the scariest film of the year”
Directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, The Lodge is being hailed as the scariest film of the year by many media outlets (usually to be taken with a grain of salt). But the directors of the film are well-known for their previous work “Goodnight Mommy” and they are aiming to deliver an unnerving and haunting examination of parental conflicts and psychological trauma, although in different ways this time around.
The movie looks like a dreadful and dark little horror film, taking place in an isolated winter wonderland. The performances from Lieberher and Keough are both top-notch and the story takes some very compelling twists and turns. The Lodge is scheduled to be released on November 15 with a VOD release following shortly after.
3. Clemency
Clemency follows the story of Bernadine – an experienced prison warden. Years of working on death row has brought psychic toll on her and when she prepares to execute the next inmate, she faces various psychological issues because of the connection she forms with that inmate.
Clemency is basically a haunting look at the processes of the modern-day death row. The powerhouse performance from Alfre Woodard alone is reason enough to watch this enthralling drama. She gives a calculated, cold performance as a prison warden whose latest death-row inmate forces her to face the demons of her job. Directed by Chinonye Chukwu, Clemency is truly an atmospheric, immersive, and heart-breaking movie that is also tough-minded, haunting inquiry into the morality of capital punishment and the dignity of work. The film does an excellent job at diving deep into the psychology of death row inmates as well as the individuals whose job it is to perform these acts.
2. Knives Out
If you love a good mystery, then get ready to be treated this fall to Knives Out – Rian Johnson’s latest movie, which comes with a superb cast of suspects in this amazing thriller.
Knives Out follows the story of a wealthy patriarch who meets his demise at a family gathering. Benoit Blanc, a southern detective, arrives at the scene to investigate the case, while a room in the darkened mansion full of suspects awaits the outcome.
The cast of Knives Out is filled with well-known actors, including Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Toni Collette, Jamie Lee Curtis, and more. By the looks of the trailer, Craig gets to show off a southern accent, while Evans, being as the smartass in the family, gets to enjoy some scene stealing moments. Knives Out is scheduled to be released on November 27. Another contender for a DVD Screener leak this year.
1. The Irishman
The Irishman is one of the most anticipated movies on Netflix this years. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the movie reunites the ‘Goodfellas’ director with De Niro and Pacino. The film is based on Charles Brandt’s book ‘I Heard You Paint Houses’ in which a mob hitman recalls his potential involvement with slaying of Jimmy Hoffa.
“Just let that sink in – It’s Martin Scorsese, reuniting Goodfells and putting it on Netflix. Mind blown.”
The Irishman is reportedly the most expensive film in Scorsese’s career and most of the budget is said to be spent on visual effects to make the lead actors look 30 years younger at various parts in the movie. The plot is about Frank Sheeran who confesses his role that he played in slaying Jimmy Hoffa.
Al Pacino will be playing Hoffa, and Robert De Niro will be playing Frank Sheeran. Then there is the return of Joe Pesci as well. The fact that the film is directed by Scorsese and features an amazing cast are reasons enough to get you excited about The Irishman. It’s a Netflix exclusive, so might not see an early leak floating around on torrent sites. But this is going to be worth the wait.
Which movies did I forget? What would you add?
