Going forward, I’ll be previewing notable movies to be (wide) released within the next 30 days at the beginning of each month. I’ve always found it to be a bit of a hassle to keep track of movies that I’d like to see and when they actually get released, so hopefully this will be a helpful tool for everyone. My “intrigue” rating is on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being a hard pass and 10 being a must-see.
Arctic Dogs – Friday November 1st
Intrigue: 4
I’ve heard virtually nothing about this and the trailer seems like a pretty good indicator why (comes off very Wonder Park-y). Should be something to take the kids to, but that’s about it. Jeremy Renner, Heidi Klum, James Franco, Alec Baldwin, John Cleese, and Anjelica Huston star.
Harriet – Friday November 1st
Intrigue: 7
I’m typically pretty wary of biopics like these, but I’m looking forward to this one specifically because Tubman is one of the most fascinating individuals in recent human history. Hopefully it can avoid most of the typical pitfalls that come with biopics, and I think having extremely talented lead actresses like Cynthia Erivo (Widows) and Janelle Monae should help.
Motherless Brooklyn – Friday November 1st
Intrigue: 7
Based on a novel and follows a detective with Tourette’s syndrome (Edward Norton) on his search to find the killer of his mentor (Bruce Willis). It’s directed by Norton himself and he looks fantastic in his role in the trailer, so I’ve got a fair amount of hope that this works. Michael Kenneth Williams, Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Beauty and the Beast), Willem Dafoe, Alec Baldwin, Leslie Mann, Bobby Cannavale, and Ethan Suplee also highlight the packed cast.
Terminator: Dark Fate – Friday November 1st
Intrigue: 6
I’ve pretty much been off the Terminator train since the 3rd one, but I have to admit the trailer has me slightly more interested in this than I expected to be. It’s actually a direct sequel to Judgement Day and with Tim Miller (Deadpool) directing and James Cameron back as a producer, I could see this winding up as a competent movie. Arny is obviously back, but so is Linda Hamilton as the original Sarah Connor and Ed Furlong as the first John Connor. New additions Mackenzie Davis (Blade Runner 2049) and Diego Boneta (Rock of Ages) should be solid, too.
Doctor Sleep – Friday November 8th
Intrigue: 6
The follow up to The Shining (1980) from Stanley Kubrick and based on Stephen King’s novel. I loved the first and while the trailer is terrific, I’m just not sure I’m that intrigued by another movie delving into this universe. Mike Flanagan (Haunting of Hill House, Oculus) is in the director’s chair so the horror aspect should be effective and well-made, at a minimum. Hopefully the story can match. Ewan McGregor stars as the grown up Danny Torrance, with Kyliegh Curran, Rebecca Ferguson, and Bruce Greenwood (among others) in supporting roles.
Last Christmas – Friday November 8th
Intrigue: 5
Last Christmas is the tale of Kate (Emilia Clarke) who is looking for direction after a heart transplant. She gets a job at a department store where she meets Tom (Henry Golding – Crazy Rich Asians) and her life takes a brand new path. Looks like your typical holiday fodder, though it’s directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, Spy) and co-written by Emma Thompson (who also co-stars). Potentially a diamond in the rough here.
Midway – Friday November 8th
Intrigue: 3
A late fall blockbuster, dramatizing the Battle of Midway. I have my doubts with this one, seeing as it’s directed by Roland Emmerich (Godzilla, Independence Day), whose most recent project was the appallingly bad Independence Day: Resurgence. He’s always been an admirer of bloated action movies with large ensemble casts (as is the case again here), and unfortunately I think his filmmaking weaknesses have only gotten more conspicuous with age. On the other hand, an argument could be made he’s the kind of director well-suited for a mammoth movie like this. We’ll see.
Playing with Fire – Friday November 8th
Intrigue: 2
I like Cena but this looks atrocious. His humor usually works better in a supporting role rather than a featured one, and I have a feeling it’s going to be tough for him to carry what’s more than likely an awful script. Worth noting that director Andy Fickman was previously in charge of iconic movies such as The Game Plan and Paul Blart 2. Would love to be wrong, and Keegan-Michael Key and John Leguizamo should help ease some of the load.
Charlie’s Angels – Friday November 15th
Intrigue: 6.5
Another remake based on the series, this time at the hands of Elizabeth Banks (who has proven to be a competent director and even has a role here). Naomi Scott (Aladdin), Kristen Stewart, and Ella Balinska (making her film debut) are the leads, with Banks, Patrick Stewart, and Djimon Hounsou also credited. I didn’t really care for either of the original remakes, but I really like this cast and the trailer makes it look pretty fun. Hopefully it is.
Ford v Ferrari – Friday November 15th
Intrigue: 8
Ford v Ferrari is based on the true story of Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and Ken Miles (Christian Bale) on their quest to unseat the seemingly invincible Ferrari at the 1966 Le Mans race. I’ve always found this story pretty captivating, and my excitement only skyrocketed when I found out James Mangold (Logan, Walk the Line, 3:10 to Yuma) would be at the helm. Can’t wait to see Damon and Bale verbally spar for 2.5 hours while trying to build one of the best engines the world has ever seen.
The Good Liar – Friday November 15th
Intrigue: 7
Trailer is outstanding and one of the main reasons I’m looking forward to this. McKellen and Mirren are joys to watch in virtually everything they do, and I think they’ll thrive in a movie that looks to have multiple layers (and plenty of potential twists). Bill Condon (Beauty and the Beast – 2017) directs.
21 Bridges – Friday November 22nd
Intrigue: 5
A little tricky to make out the plot based on the trailer, but it appears to follow a detective trying to make sense of a city-wide conspiracy involving his fellow cops. Seems like a new type of role for Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) and I think he’s up to the task. JK Simmons, Sienna Miller (American Sniper), Taylor Kitsch, and Keith David highlight a pretty solid cast list.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood – Friday November 22nd
Intrigue: 8
Man, that trailer. Title is a little misleading in that it looks like a traditional biopic, though it actually follows Esquire journalist Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) and how Fred Rogers altered his life while he wrote a piece on him. It’s nice to see a bit of a resurgence in Mister Rogers lore, with this following the magnificent Won’t You Be My Neighbor? documentary from last year. The world needs more like him and it appears this movie will do well highlighting his legacy and what made him so compassionate and inspirational.
Frozen II – Friday November 22nd
Intrigue: 5.5
Anna, Elsa and the gang return, this time on an adventure further North in search of answers about their world. Sterling K. Brown (Black Panther) and Evan Rachel Wood (The Wrestler) also join the cast. I’m not particularly interested by this, as I found the first one pretty overrated and Disney’s recent track record with sequels hasn’t been good. Maybe the new music can help compensate.
Knives Out – Wednesday November 27th (Thanksgiving)
Intrigue: 9
To say this looks amazing would be an understatement. It’s the first project from Rian Johnson since the polarizing Last Jedi (though I’ve got a feeling the quality of this winds up much closer to his prior movies in Looper and Brick). It’s been awhile since we’ve gotten an excellent murder mystery in general, and it’s doubly interesting that this appears to be a modern day Clue (from which KO draws plenty of inspiration from). It’s the story of a family gathering gone awry after the family patriarch (Christopher Plummer) seems to commit suicide, to which a pair of detectives are called to investigate. It’s a star-studded cast, with Daniel Craig, Lakeith Stanfield, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Toni Collette, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, M. Emmet Walsh and Frank Oz (along with Plummer) all having roles. Can’t. Wait.
Queen & Slim – Wednesday November 27th (Thanksgiving)
Intrigue: 6
Not sure what to make of this one. Essentially a modern day Bonnie & Clyde story (even alludes to it in the trailer), though I wonder how truly functional it’ll be with all the advancements in today’s technology. Still, I like the idea behind it and think it’s possible it can be pulled off. Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out), Jodie Turner-Smith (Neon Demon), Chloe Sevigny (Zodiac), Bokeem Woodbine (Spiderman: Homecoming), and Sturgill Simpson are all involved.