In the words of Griffin Mills: “Movies now more than ever.” Fall of 2019 will be one to watch for cinephiles and movie fans alike.
After a less-than-stellar 2018, 2019 has been a great year for movies. While there has been a lot of requisite superhero trash, reboots and remakes, there has also been a resurgence in well-made motion pictures.
Earlier this year, Jordan Peele showed he’s not a one hit wonder with Us. Quentin Tarantino said goodbye to filmmaking with the arresting, stellar and unique Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.
The train keeps on rolling this fall. Here are eight movies to watch out for during the school year; all great chances to get out of the house and see something new.
IT: Chapter Two
dir. Andy Muschietti (Warner Brothers) release date: September 6th.
A sequel was always planned for IT, but it has become a hotly anticipated one after the first instalment was a smash-hit success back in 2017. ‘Wow! They make movies that aren’t Marvel or Star Wars and they can be good?’
If you live under a rock and haven’t seen IT, the film tells the story of seven children in the small town of Drury, Maine and their struggles with the demon clown Pennywise. Chapter two takes place 27 years later and features an adult cast, headlined by Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy.
Fans of the Stephen King novel know the high stakes ending to the novel and surely can’t wait to see how Muschietti adapts the conclusion.
Ad Astra
dir. James Gray (20th Century Fox) release date: September 20th
Film lets us travel to places we could never go on our own, so journey to the alternate reality where NASA is still relevant.
Brad Pitt is the latest hunky Hollywood big-hitter to be shot into space, after Ryan Gosling’s underrated flick Neil Armstrong biopic, First Man.
Ad Astra looks to invoke stunning cinematography realized through wide screen beauty, and looks like another worthy addition to Pitt’s ever-growing filmography of star vehicles.
Tommy Lee Jones and Donald Sutherland will back him up in a family drama about coming together—IN SPACE!
The Joker
dir. Todd Phillips (Warner Brothers) release date: October 4th
Is there any villain more beloved than the Joker? Darth Vader comes close, maybe the Xenomorph from Alien. But, our minds cannot absorb enough of the Clown Prince of Crime.
So seeing one of our generations’ best actors, Joaquin Phoenix, take on the role, is enough to have all the comic fanboys in the world stop commenting on r/TheLastJedi threads and buy a ticket.
Early reviews are bowing in reverent praise to Phoenix’s performance and the amazing cinematography. Come on October 4th, let’s put a smile on that face!
The Irishman
dir. Martin Scorcese (Netflix) release date: TBD
Hey, are you a Golden Age of Hollywood fan? Can you quote the entire Godfather verbatim? Joe Pesci is funny how? Do you eat, sleep, breathe and wear movies? Well, Martin Scorcese has the movie for you!
Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are coming together on the silver screen for the first time. Me, oh my, take my money already Netflix. The 175-million dollar super production is Scorcese’s most expensive to date. It will premiere at the Venice film festival next month and then on Netflix.
This movie is definitely to be added to the watch list. Let’s hope the rumoured twist ending is more Scorcese Taxi Driver and less Scorcese Shutter Island.
1917
dir. Sam Mendes (New Line Cinema) release date: Christmas Day
From one of Hollywood’s most beloved modern directors, this Christmas comes a heart-pounding story of war.
A group of Englishmen portrayed by iconic working actors on a dangerous mission deep behind enemy lines, need to be rescued (no, this is not stealing from or capitalizing on the success of Dunkirk, so don’t ask that.)
This movie is poised to be this year’s The Revenant: a beautifully shot, incredibly directed, awe-inspiring film that people didn’t see because they were watching Star Wars instead.
Parasite
dir. Joon ho-Bong (Focus Features) release date (Canada): October 25th
The winner of this year’s Cannes Film festival Palme D’Or (the fancy French Oscars), comes a psychological thriller set in Hong-Kong.
Get ready for some chills, thrills, subtitles and discomfort. This movie has a limited release in Canada only being shown in Ottawa at the Mayfair and Bytowne theatre. So this reading week, really impress your date with your unique taste in movies.
The Lighthouse
dir. Robert Egger (A24) release date (Canada): October 19th
From A24—the studio that made Hereditary, the movie that made you go “that was really good,” Climax, the movie that made you go “that was super disturbing,” and Midsommar, the movie that made you say “I’m never looking at wildlife the same way again”—comes a movie that is poised to make you say, “that was really good, I’m super disturbed and I’m never looking at wildlife the same way again.”
Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson star as two men in the 1890s, stuck in a lighthouse off the coast of New England (filmed in Nova Scotia), when things start getting spooky. Mermaids are involved. I repeat, mermaids are involved.
With a small cast and a phenomenal director of photography shooting on antique cameras, this film has been receiving rave reviews out of test screenings.
Knives Out
dir. Rian Johnson (Lionsgate) release date: November 27th
This is a murder mystery and “whodunnit” action comedy that takes place during a family gathering gone awry, starring James Bond (Daniel Craig) as the detective. When Captain Von Trapp passes away, Bond must figure out which of the A-list ensemble cast is guilty.
Was it Captain America? Or could it be 13 Reasons Why girl, the mom from Freaky Friday or Joi from Blade Runner 2049?
Whoever it was, this movie seems self-contained, new and unique. Settle down and give it a try!
