By Paul Hall
Every now and then, I get to divert from writing a review to just being a fan of the movies coming down the road. It’s time to be grab your favorite seat and look ahead at a few of the titles coming this fall to a theater near you. Get your popcorn ready!
Animated fare has made its way to the fall movie season. Look for The Lego Ninjago Movie (Sept. 22) to get your Lego fix, while My Little Pony: The Movie (Oct. 6) has a big screen run for the young kids and “bronies” out there. There is a look at the birth of Jesus in The Star (Nov. 17) that includes voices from stars like Kristin Chenoweth, Anthony Anderson and Oprah Winfrey, while Disney gives us a big Thanksgiving release with Coco (Nov. 22), which will feature a music-filled journey through the Land of the Dead.
Both moms and dads are represented in comedies this season. A Bad Moms Christmas (Nov. 3) stars Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn in a raw take on what Christmas means to the mom next door. Dads have their offering with Daddy’s Home 2 (Nov. 10), featuring the return of Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.
The Marvel vs. DC battle continues as Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok (Nov. 3) and DC’s Justice League (Nov. 17) both have fall premieres. Which of these two giant blockbusters will the crowds flock to? Is there enough love to go around?
Don’t forget remakes and reboots. Go beyond life as we know it with Nina Dobrev, Ellen Page and Diego Luna in Flatliners (Sept. 29), while Harrison Ford is back but the reins are firmly in the hands of Ryan Gosling for Blade Runner 2049 (Oct. 6). Ride Murder on the Orient Express (Nov. 10) with Kenneth Branagh, Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer, or catch Bruce Willis in Eli Roth’s Death Wish (Nov. 22).
But the big fun for fall is in the unique titles heading to a theater near you. Darren Aronofsky, a personal favorite of mine, has Mother! (Sept. 15) starring Jennifer Lawrence, who is always an awards-season fave.
American Made (Sept. 29) is Doug Liman’s thriller starring Tom Cruise. Liman is one cool dude and I really dig his style when it comes to action and fast-paced films. If history is your thing, don’t miss Marshall (Oct. 13), featuring the story of a young Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman).
The disaster flick Geostorm (Oct. 20) rolls into theaters with big-budget effects for all. Sounds like it might be the loudest film we can find. And Molly’s Game (Nov. 22) from Aaron Sorkin features a magnificent cast led by Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba in a tale of a high-stakes poker game that became an FBI target.
Remember, all of these release dates are subject to change. This is really a great time to go to the movies, and over the next three months there is something for everyone. As I said, get your popcorn ready!
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NEW THIS WEEK
Home Again
Rated PG-13
Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Nat Wolff, Michael Sheen
Director: Hallie Meyers-Shyer
After splitting from her husband, Alice decides to move back home to Los Angeles with her two daughters. It is in being home and close to her family and friends that she hopes to rediscover herself. But when three young men move into her guest house, things get a bit complicated.
It
Rated R
Stars: Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Lieberher, Finn Wolfhard
Director: Andy Muschietti
An evil clown is terrorizing the town of Derry and it is up to a group of seven kids, struggling with bullying, to rise up and fight back. This terrifying tale of kids going missing is based on the Stephen King novel.
9/11
Rated R
Stars: Charlie Sheen, Whoopi Goldberg, Gina Gershon
Director: Martin Guigui
Five individuals have been brought together in the same elevator on the fateful day that is not forgotten by any of us. This film looks at the terror felt by diverse individuals and their families as they do their best to work together and refuse to give up hope.
