October 1, 2021
OK, we’re back for part three of my Fall Movie Preview. If you missed the first two parts, you can check them out here and here. I’m going to cover a lot in this part – an additional dozen pictures that I have my eye on, so we’re going to jump right in. Here goes.
A Royal Portrait – Spencer
I’ve been pretty vocal about my opinion on the biopic film over the last several months, particularly the ones that try to cram the entire life of its subject into 2 ½ hours, and it feels very formulaic and underwhelming, rarely succeeding. I previously wrote about my disappointment with Respect, the Aretha Franklin biopic, and also recently saw The Eyes of Tammy Faye, with Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker. Like Jennifer Hudson’s performance in Respect, Chastain is outstanding as the wife of upstart turned successful turned disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker. She plays the role with such conviction that at times, you don’t even recognize her, especially under the mountain of makeup she put on every day to capture Tammy Faye’s look. Just like Respect, I found Chastain’s performance much better than the overall movie, if that makes sense. Now, Chastain and Hudson are definitely in the Oscar mix for Best Actress, but after the debut of Spencer at the Venice International Film Festival, the new leader in the clubhouse is Kristen Stewart, who plays Princess Diana in this movie.
There are two reasons I am optimistic about Spencer, despite my hesitation about biopics and zero interest in the royal family (sorry, just not for me.) The first is the obvious one – Stewart looks incredible in the recently released trailer and the reviews of her performance have been stellar. The second reason is that Spencer is not a cradle to grave story about Princess Diana’s life. Instead, it is focused on one weekend in the early 1990s, where the royal family is gathered together to celebrate the holidays. It also happens to be the time where she is contemplating the decision to end her marriage and leave the royal family. I’m sure there will be flashbacks to other aspects of her life, but it looks to be focused on the events of that weekend, and the profound influence it had on the rest of her life, which should make it a tighter, more compelling story. Spencer premieres in theaters on November 5th.
An Acting Showcase – Mass
Speaking of outstanding acting performances, one of the best movies I’ve seen all year was Mass, which I watched during the Sundance Film Festival way back in January. This picture comes across more like a play, featuring two sets of parents dealing with the aftermath of the unspeakable tragedy of a school shooting. The parents of the shooter agree to meet with the parents of one of the victims who want to gain some understanding of what happened that fateful day. This can be a tough watch at times, given the emotional topic, but the acting performances were brilliant and I highly recommend it. Mass premieres in theaters on October 8th.
Who Ya Gonna Call? – Ghostbusters: Afterlife
OK, maybe we should lighten things up a little bit, shall we? Another film that has been delayed countless times by the pandemic, the long-awaited continuation of the 1980s classic franchise, is finally coming to theaters. The new Ghostbusters story has connections to characters from the original movie, with a family discovering their grandfather’s original Ghostbusters equipment after inheriting his old farm. That grandfather was Egon Spengler, played in the original by the late, great Harold Ramis, who co-wrote the first film with Dan Aykroyd. His daughter (played by Carrie Coon, one of the best actresses working today, who isn’t a megastar yet) and her family move to the farm, and when the kids discover their grandfather’s past while new supernatural events start to emerge, we’re back in gear for some 1980s nostalgia. This looks like a good one, and word has it, we’ll get some cameos from some stars of the original film, including Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, and yes, even Bill Murray. Ghostbusters: Afterlife premieres in theaters on November 19th.
Want a Pill? Would You Like Red or Blue? – The Matrix Resurrections
Want some more nostalgia? How about back to the early 2000s, and journeying back to the crazy world of The Matrix. This will be the fourth installment in the series and the first since the second and third were both released in 2003. I have to admit that while I never got around to seeing the sequels, I was very impressed with the original film, featuring Keanu Reeves as a mild-mannered computer programmer who stumbles into a world of alternative reality. The Matrix featured great performances from Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and Laurence Fishburne, but the true star was the mind-bending (and body-bending) special effects, particularly groundbreaking for 1999, the year the movie was released. I’m not sure if I would have considered this new one for my watch list, but after seeing the recently released trailer, I’m now intrigued – first, it looks fantastic, and second, I can only imagine the special effects with improved technology in the twenty years since the franchise started. The Matrix Resurrections premieres in theaters and on HBO Max on December 22nd. Note that it will only be on HBO Max for thirty days.
A New Marvel Chapter – Eternals
The Marvel Studio juggernaut continues, or restarts, in a way. After an incredibly successful run of films beginning with Iron Man in 2008, the early phases of the “Infinity Saga” culminated with Avengers: Endgame and Spider Man: Far From Home in 2019, putting a stamp on Marvel’s dominance of the international box office over the previous decade. The next phase of Marvel’s plan includes a combination of both television series on Disney+ and feature films. Earlier this year, Black Widow kicked off the next phase of movies, to great box office and streaming success, with the latter creating controversy and a lawsuit from star Scarlett Johansson. But the biggest box office film of the year was the next release, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which will make its way to Disney+ in November. In fact, that film’s performance was so strong, that Disney (owner of Marvel Studios) announced that their remaining slate of movies for the foreseeable future would be released exclusively in theaters. No more simultaneous release on Disney+. I’m sure the Johansson lawsuit also had a big influence on that decision.
Next on the docket for Disney is Eternals, which has been described as a bit of a reset, introducing a mostly new cast of characters. Not that the favorites from previous films are going away – Marvel’s long list of upcoming projects includes Spider Man: No Way Home in December of this year, as well as new movies featuring Thor, Doctor Strange and Black Panther in 2022. To me, the most intriguing aspect of Eternals is the director – it’s Chloe Zhao, who just won two Oscars for producing and directing last year’s Nomadland. She was reportedly given carte blanche to develop her own vision for a Marvel movie, including rewriting the original script. This one is receiving strong word of mouth buzz from early screenings and will likely be a monster hit. Eternals will premiere in theaters on November 5th.
What IMAX Was Made For – Dune
OK, first disclosure – I have hardly any familiarity with the world of Dune, which started as a science-fiction novel in 1965 and continued with several books that are still going today. I’ve never read the original and never saw the critically-panned 1984 film adaptation from director David Lynch. All I know about this is that it involves a battle among warring factions on a desert planet. And there’s some enormous sandworms. Now, why would I be interested in a movie like this, especially since I wouldn’t consider myself a sci-fi fanatic? Well, my interest begins and ends with the director, Denis Villeneuve, who has created some amazing films over the last ten years, including Prisoners, Arrival, and Blade Runner 2049. He’s considered a visionary filmmaker in Hollywood, which he’s demonstrated multiple times. So, I’m willing to trust him enough to spend a couple of hours in a theater to see the world he has created. Speaking of which, with all of the movies Warner Bros. Pictures has released on HBO Max on the same day its premiered in theaters, this will likely be the only one I venture into the theater to see, and that is strictly because it feels like the kind of film meant to be seen on the big-screen, and will probably be even better on IMAX, given the wondrous landscape that Villeneuve has created. While I know very little about the world of Dune, I did find one resource I will be reading in advance of the movie, this spoiler-free article about the relevant terminology that appears in the Dune universe. Also, I learned that the expansive novel could not be covered in just one film and Villeneuve is planning a sequel. So, while it’s not titled Dune Part I, people should go in with the expectation that this is, in fact, the first of a two part movie adaptation of the original novel. Dune premieres in theaters and on HBO Max on October 22nd. Note that it will only be on HBO Max for thirty days.
Bring on the Craziness – House of Gucci
Last week, I wrote about 91 year-old Clint Eastwood still shunning retirement and continuing to work. Not to be outdone by that legend is 83 year-old Ridley Scott who has not one, but two, projects coming out this Fall. I covered The Last Duel in part two of this preview, and his other movie teed up for release certainly looks a lot different than his previous pictures, like Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator, or even The Martian. No, this is decidedly different. House of Gucci is based on a true-crime book that tells the story of the internal battles and an assassination of a prominent leader of the Gucci fashion company. I’m purposely trying to not find out too much about this one, as the trailer looks fantastic and I don’t want the plot details spoiled. The film features Adam Driver in a leading role, with Jared Leto and Al Pacino in supporting roles, but suffice it to say, the real attraction here is Lady Gaga, who exudes Italian fashion icon in the trailer, which you can watch here. Whenever you have Driver and Lady Gaga going all-in on a performance, with a classic Blondie song, you’ve got a winning trailer. Let’s hope the movie lives up to the hype. House of Gucci premieres in theaters on November 24th.
Spielberg Remakes a Classic – West Side Story
If there’s one thing we know about the Fall movie season, it’s when the studios start to plan out their campaigns towards awards season, carefully strategizing when to release their films and start the march to the Oscars. One picture sure to be on the shortlist based on two key facts is West Side Story. The first is the obvious one – it’s a remake of a classic musical from fifty years ago and we know that the Academy loves musicals (well, maybe not all musicals – as I predicted last week, Dear Evan Hansen is bombing with audiences and critics and is on its way to a quick departure from theaters). The second reason is the director. The natural reaction to remaking a classic is “Why?” Now, West Side Story, the adaptation of the hit Broadway play that moves the classic Romeo and Juliet story from the streets of Verona to the streets of New York City, was a critically-acclaimed success. But after fifty years, it hasn’t aged very well, tending to reflect the outdated filmmaking styles of the 1960s, especially when it comes to casting decisions of immigrant characters. OK, so maybe we’ll give it a shot to be remade, but you better pick the right director. Who better than legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg? Early footage came out a few months ago, raising anticipation that we may have something special on our hands. The first full trailer and early word on the movie indicates that this will likely be a hit both at the box office and on the awards circuit. West Side Story premieres in theaters on December 10th.
Movie Masters Take on Shakespeare – The Tragedy of Macbeth
I wasn’t planning on including this one on my list, even though I will likely check it out, but after reading the early reviews following its premiere at the New York Film Festival last week, it’s likely we’re going to be hearing a lot about this movie for the next several months. And when you team up director Joel Cohen (part of the legendary filmmaking team with his brother Ethan, responsible for such classics as Fargo, No Country for Old Men, and The Big Lebowski), and two actors who have a reputation for being pretty good, you’re bound to get the next hot picture. Who are the actors taking on the lead characters in a Shakespeare adaptation? Oh, that would be Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. I’m sure you’ll be stunned to read that their performances have been described as amazing. Now, I wouldn’t consider myself a “fan” of Shakespeare. I’m not going to do a deep dive on the Bard’s work before seeing this movie, but after seeing the trailer, with Washington and McDormand acting in a beautiful black and white landscape, I’m definitely intrigued. The Tragedy of Macbeth premieres in theaters on December 25th and will be streaming on Apple TV+ on January 14th.
Start the Oscar Talk – The Power of the Dog and Belfast
With contenders from Spielberg and Cohen leading the way towards awards season, two other contenders emerged following premiere at recent film festivals, both from accomplished directors. Almost thirty years ago, Oscar recognition was delivered to Jane Campion, who wrote and directed The Piano, a beautiful period piece that also earned acting Oscars for Holly Hunter and Anna Paquin. After a few average films and shifting gears to television for a number of years, Campion is back with another period piece featuring three outstanding actors in leading roles. The Power of the Dog was written by Campion, based on a novel, and features Benedict Cumberbatch and Jesse Plemons as brothers living on a Montana ranch in 1925, who compete over the affection of a woman, played by Kirsten Dunst. Campion has a history of successfully delivering period pieces and this looks like another hit for her. The Power of the Dog premieres in theaters on November 17th and will be streaming on Netflix on December 1st. The other period piece sure to attract Oscar attention is Belfast, a semi-autobiographical feature film from director Kenneth Branagh about his childhood in Ireland. While Branagh has historically been known for his acting, he is also a fairly accomplished director and for this film, he is strictly behind the camera, in addition to his work writing the screenplay. The lead character of Buddy, the child growing up in the tumultuous 1960s in Belfast, is played by a newcomer, but the supporting cast features a number of well-known names, including Judi Dench and Jamie Dornan. Look for Belfast to hit that soft spot that Academy voters have for period piece family dramas. Belfast premieres in theaters on November 12th.
Netflix’s Big Bet – Don’t Look Up
Happy Holidays. Here comes a comet. Shifting gears a bit away from Oscar-bait type films, comes the biggest title on Netflix’s release schedule for the rest of 2021. This is not another period piece drama. Quite the contrary. Don’t Look Up is a black-comedy / satire film about two astronomers (played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence) who set out on a mission to warn the world about a comet on a path to destroy the planet. Now, on the one hand, the premise seems a little flimsy and my antenna goes up that this could be silly, stupid, and just plain…bad. It’s really hard to do comedy well. A black-comedy is even harder. It’s like walking a tightrope to make it really good. Also, part of me worries that there will be some not-so-subtle messaging comparing the film’s impending disaster with the recent pandemic that will feel preachy and not funny. On the other hand, Lawrence is outstanding in just about everything she makes, and Leo rarely makes a bad movie. Also, Don’t Look Up was written and directed by Adam McKay, who has created such hits as Anchorman, The Big Short, and Vice. Lastly, the supporting cast for the movie is pretty loaded, including Meryl Streep as the President, Jonah Hill, Cate Blanchett, and Tyler Perry, among many more famous faces. I have a strong feeling this is going to be one of those polarizing releases that people are going to love or not connect with at all. We’ll find out this Christmas. Don’t Look Up premieres in theaters on December 10th and will be streaming on Netflix on December 24th.
That’s all for this week. I hope you enjoyed this three part Fall Movie Preview and found some movies to look forward to in the next few months. I’m going to be changing things up a bit next week and traveling back to my college days to look at my favorite music from 1991, which was (gasp!) thirty years ago. Thanks again for reading and if you’d like to be notified of future posts, you can subscribe here.