I love my monthly film preview, but with all the games that have come out in the last 2-3 weeks, I’ve missed so much at the theater. I still haven’t seen Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, IT: Chapter Two, or Ad Astra, all of which have received modest to critical acclaim. You know what I did go see? Good Boys and Crawl. They both sucked. But this month is just so packed with films that are right up my alley, that I think I’m gonna have to at least see one movie a week. Check it:
Joker (October 4th)
If Batman is my favorite comic book character of all time, The Joker is easily number two. He is one of the best-written characters of all time. You’ve got the wacky crazy acts of violence, but also the deep and thought-provoking moments seen in works like The Killing Joke and The Dark Knight. Joaquin Phoenix has wanted this film to be made for the better part of a decade, and Todd Phillips finally is making it happen. This is a passion project for both men, and I cannot see this film being anything less than a cult classic. It’s gonna be gritty, it’s gonna be violent, and it’s gonna be the biggest film in DC’s history.
Lucy in the Sky (October 4th)
Black Swan in space anyone? I really like the premise for this; an astronaut suffering from PTSD like symptoms because being in space is just that fucking awesome. I think Natalie Portman is so underrated as an actress, and the rest of the cast is rounded out with some pretty good players in Jon Hamm (Don Draper), Zazie Beetz (Lucky Girl in Deadpool 2), and Dan Stevens (Legion). The director is the creator of both the Legion and Fargo TV series, which were both pretty good, but he doesn’t really have much film experience. I think this will probably end up being an OK film, but not one that I’ll be seeing in theaters. More like a Netflix Friday night date movie.
Little Monsters (October 11th)
I guess I’m just a sucker for zombie comedy films because I’m completely sold on this being a good film regardless of the obvious red flags. The director has a horrible resume, and he’s been in film for over a decade. We’ve also seen so many zombie films in the last 5 years and I can count on one hand how many actually turned out to be good. The real question is will that even matter when you have Lupita Nyong’o, one of the top 5 actresses in the industry, leading the way? The premise is very original (it looks like Sound of Music meets Shaun of the Dead), and I am a pretty big fan of Josh Gad and his comedic style. It looks like the best movie coming out this weekend in October, so if you’re looking for a fun movie to see with the boys, this is it.
Gemini Man (October 11th)
God, I love Will Smith but he keeps getting put in these dumbass movies. This movie is going to be trash. Absolute garbage. I’d bet my whole savings account on it. The film has been in development hell for over 20 years and is clearly just a money grab to cash in on whatever is left of Will Smith’s dying reputation. Sure the director has done great films like Life of Pi and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, but he’s also made an equal amount of box office bombs in that time period like the Hulk movie from 2003. There are some other well-known actors and actresses in this cast, but the whole film is gonna revolve around Will Smith vs. Will Smith. We’ve seen this idea in film before; it almost never works out. If this gets over a 50% on Rotten Tomatoes I’ll be absolutely shocked. Don’t buy a ticket to this film.
The King (October 11th)
I think at this point any movie starring Timothee Chalamet is guaranteed to be amazing. He’s unquestionably the best actor under the age of 25, an is already being heralded as the next James Dean. For me, I think he’s more of a young Leonardo DiCaprio. Remember how incredible he was in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and The Basketball Diaries? That’s how fucking good Timothee is. The King is based on the Shakesperian plays dramatizing the rise of Henry V (Timothee’s character). He’s joined by Joel Edgerton (Zero Darth Thirty) and Robert Patterson (Twilight), both great actors in their own right. The director hasn’t had much success since Animal Kingdom in 2010, but there’s too much star power for that to get in the way. However, DO NOT buy a ticket to see this film. It comes out in theaters on October 11th, but it will be added to Netflix on November 1st. But when it does hit Netflix, this is going to be an absolute must-see.
Zombieland: Double Tap (October 18th)
I loved the original Zombieland for what it was: an above-average zombie comedy that launched Jessie Eisenberg and Emma Stone into stardom. However, I don’t think this follow-up is going to be any good. Just watch that trailer and you’ll see what I mean. When you have a formula that works, sometimes all you need is just “more”. No reinvention, no gimmicks, no deep thoughtful plotlines. And that’s what this film is going to end up being. Fans of the first Zombieland will love it, and everyone else will think it’s just a money grab, which technically it is. But I think it will be better than your typical action flicks or horrible horror movies that usually flood theaters in October. Good drunk/high movie.
Jojo Rabbit (October 18th)
As cute as this film looks on the outside, I guaran-damn-tee you that it will open the floodgates before the credits roll. Taika Waititi (Thor Ragnarok) will no doubt have us laughing multiple times throughout the film, but regardless of the comedy and young leads, this is a film about Nazis hunting Jews. The girl (and maybe boy) are absolutely going to die by the end of the film. I think it actually has a decent shot at an Academy Award for Best Film. The star power is there, the acting with be great, and we already know that the director is incredible. Out of the three films coming out this weekend, this is the one I’m probably going to end up seeing in theaters. Hell, I’m already getting sad just thinking about how this movie is going to end…
The Lighthouse (October 18th)
This is gonna be a weird one, and that’s a drastic understatement. I remember seeing Robert Eggers last film, The Witch, in 2015 and man it was bone-chilling. He did such an excellent job building up to the climax of the film, and the ending will leave you thinking about the film for hours afterward, much like this year’s hits Us and Midsommar did with little to no jumpscares. Willaim Defoe and Robert Patterson are phenomenal method actors, and putting them together in a secluded lighthouse to be driven mad is such an incredible idea. As I said about Joker, I see no way that this film is anything less than a cult classic. It won’t be for everyone, but for people who enjoy slow-burn horror films, mark this date on your calendar.
