As summer goes gentle into that good night, let’s look ahead to all the wonders of the fall movie season. As Hollywood gears up for awards season, here are all the movies you’ll want to see this fall.
“The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby” (Sept. 12)
Why We’re Excited: After making the festival rounds in 2013, Ned Benson’s heartbreaking drama about a fraying couple (Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy) at the end of its rope makes its theatrical debut, albeit into one condensed film. The “Him” and “Her” versions of “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby,” which expand on the story being told here, arrive in limited release in October.
“Skeleton Twins” (Sept. 12)
Why We’re Excited: A hit at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, “The Skeleton Twins” is a drama starring Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader that features the pair lip-syncing to Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.”
“The Maze Runner” (Sept. 19)
Why We’re Excited: Because if there’s one thing we need more of in theaters it’s teen dystopia? (The novel is pretty popular too.)
“This Is Where I Leave You” (Sept. 19)
Why We’re Excited: The cast includes Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Connie Britton, Kathryn Hahn and Rose Byrne, aka this movie is our favorite dinner party.
“A Walk Among The Tombstones” (Sept. 19)
Why We’re Excited: Liam Neeson made another movie.
“The Drop” (Sept. 19)
Why We’re Excited: Beyond this being James Gandolfini’s last film, Tom Hardy plays with a dog.
“The Boxtrolls” (Sept. 26)
Why We’re Excited: The last film from animation company Laika was “ParaNorman,” and it was a delight.
“The Equalizer” (Sept. 26)
Why We’re Excited: The last time Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua made a movie together, it was “Training Day,” and Washington won an Oscar. Sony is bringing “The Equalizer” to the Toronto International Film Festival, so maybe the studio thinks lightning can strike twice.
“Gone Girl (Oct. 3)
Why We’re Excited: Beyond being David Fincher’s new film, “Gone Girl” might provide Ben Affleck, playing accused wife killer Nick Dunne, with the role of his entire life.
“Men, Women and Children” (Oct. 3)
Why We’re Excited: One year after stumbling with “Labor Day,” Jason Reitman returns with a sprawling ensemble drama about families, infidelity and the Internet. Here’s the cast: Jennifer Garner, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ansel Elgort, Kaitlyn Dever from “Short Term 12,” Judy Greer, Dean Norris, Emma Thompson and, in a rare dramatic role, Adam Sandler.
“Alexander” (Oct. 10)
Why We’re Excited: Because a movie version of “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” sounds cute before putting Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner in the mix.
“The Judge” (Oct. 10)
Why We’re Excited: “The Judge” will include at least one scene where Robert Duvall and Robert Downey Jr., playing an estranged father and son, go at each other. The movie world will be better for its existence.
“Kill the Messenger” (Oct. 10)
Why We’re Excited: Fun fact that a lot of people probably don’t remember: Jeremy Renner has two Oscar nominations in the last five years. He’s made some junk since breaking out with “The Hurt Locker” and “The Town,” but “Kill the Messenger” looks like it could be a return to form.
“Whiplash” (Oct. 10)
Why We’re Excited: Another Sundance Film Festival hit, “Whiplash” has been described as “Full Metal Jacket” in the jazz world, with J.K. Simmons in the R. Lee Ermey part. An Oscar nomination for one of Hollywood’s best character actors would be nice.
“Birdman (Or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance)” (Oct. 17)
Why We’re Excited: Michael Keaton deserves the comeback.
“Listen Up Philip” (Oct. 17)
Why We’re Excited: This caustic comedy, which Tribeca Film will release after picking it up following the Sundance Film Festival, stars Jason Schwartzman and Elisabeth Moss aka two of our favorite actors.
“Fury” (Oct. 17)
Why We’re Excited: According to Michael Cieply’s New York Times preview piece on “Fury,” the World War II drama is violent. So, that’s something. There’s also this: Shia LaBeouf co-stars and apparently pulled his own tooth out as part of his preparation for the role.
“Laggies” (Oct. 24)
Why We’re Excited: Originally set to star Anne Hathaway, “Laggies” instead features Keira Knightley as a woman trying to start her life over. That role worked for Knightley in “Begin Again,” which was not without its charms, so maybe it’ll be a success here too. Lynn Shelton (“Your Sister’s Sister”) directs.
“St. Vincent” (Oct. 24)
Why We’re Excited: Bill Murray plays a misanthrope in a movie not directed by Wes Anderson.
“Nightcrawler” (Oct. 31)
Why We’re Excited: The trailer makes “Nightcrawler” look like the spawn of “Drive,” “Bringing Out the Dead” and “Zodiac.” In Gyllenhaal we trust.
“Big Hero 6″ (Nov. 7)
Why We’re Excited: The robot looks cute.
“Interstellar” (Nov. 7)
Why We’re Excited: Really?
“The Theory of Everything” (Nov. 7)
Why We’re Excited: The trailer is incredible and Eddie Redmayne deserves a big, meaty lead role like Stephen Hawking. Bonus excitement: Will the movie detail how Hawking left his wife (played here by Felicity Jones) in 1990 and married his nurse? If not, will that nugget be used during an awards-season smear campaign by another studio?
“Rosewater” (Nov. 7)
Why We’re Excited: Jon Stewart directed this movie.
“Dumb and Dumber To” (Nov. 14)
Why We’re Excited: Maybe it’ll be funny?
“Foxcatcher” (Nov. 14)
Why We’re Excited: Bennett Miller’s first two movies, “Capote” and “Moneyball,” were nominated for Best Picture and scored Best Actor nominations for Philip Seymour Hoffman (who won) and Brad Pitt (who did not). Miller, Steve Carell and Channing Tatum should make sure their tuxedos are pressed for awards season.
“The Imitation Game” (Nov. 21)
Why We’re Excited: Benedict Cumberbatch.
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1″ (Nov. 21)
Why We’re Excited: Because “Mockingjay” is actually a pretty lousy book, and there’s a good chance Francis Lawrence and screenwriters Danny Strong and Peter Craig will improve on it by a lot.
“Horrible Bosses 2″ (Nov. 26)
Why We’re Excited: Hey, “Horrible Bosses” was really funny.
“Wild” (Dec. 5)
Why We’re Excited: As 2014 shapes up to be the Year of Reese Witherspoon, “Wild” stands as her best chance at Oscar glory. We’d be plenty pleased to hear Witherspoon give an acceptance speech for Best Actress at the Academy Awards next year, especially if she includes a couple of dance moves.
“Exodus: Gods and Kings” (Dec. 12)
Why We’re Excited: The forthcoming debate this movie will start about how Hollywood white-washes so much history will, we hope, create a change of the status quo.
“Inherent Vice” (Dec. 12)
Why We’re Excited: Paul Thomas Anderson adapted Thomas Pynchon’s novel about a stoned private eye and cast Joaquin Phoenix, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Jena Malone, Maya Rudolph and Jillian Bell. We are very excited.
“Annie” (Dec. 19)
Why We’re Excited: “Annie” looks like pure camp.
“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” (Dec. 17)
Why We’re Excited: This is the last “Hobbit” movie.
“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” (Dec. 19)
Why We’re Excited: The third “Night at the Museum” movie provides us with a chance to see Robin Williams on screen, one of the final four times this will happen.
