HOLLYWOOD—Summer is over and fall is quickly upon us. For movie studios, this is the time of year that major Oscar-bait flicks hit theaters just in time for awards season. One of the must-see flicks on my list is “Secret in Their Eyes” starring Oscar winners Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman and Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor. The movie is a remake of the Argentine thriller that follows FBI investigators Ray (Ejiofor) and Jess (Roberts) who continue a 13-year hunt for the person responsible for murdering Jess’s daughter. The movie hits theaters on November 20.
The movie screams Oscar, and it looks like Roberts could be a strong contender in the Lead Actress race in 2016. Another film stirring plenty of buzz is Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s “The Revenant.” The drama and period piece stars Leonardo DiCaprio as frontiersman Hugh Glass looking to survive against all odds including the bitter cold and a bear attack. Leo could finally capture that long-awaited Oscar he deserves.
Jennifer Lawrence could see herself back in the Lead Actress race for her role in David O. Russell’s “Joy” which chronicles the life of the Long Island woman who created the Miracle Mop. Any flick that deals with real life characters is always a hit with theatergoers especially around Christmas. Johnny Depp assumes the role of Whitey Bulger in the hotly anticipated gangster flick “Black Mass” alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and Joel Edgerton which hits theaters on September 18.
While Quentin Tarantino doesn’t make movies often, when the director does it’s always something that people buzz about. To follow-up his crowd-pleaser “Django Unchained,” Tarantino brings “The Hateful Eight” to multiplexes on December 25. The flick has an all-star cast including Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Dern, who find themselves trapped during a massive winter storm.
It may not be at the top of the list in terms of Oscar contenders, it might be the most anticipated film ever as “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” arrives in theaters on December 18. While not much is known regarding the plot of the film, familiar faces from the past: Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, and Harrison Ford, join newcomers Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac and John Boyega for a tale that is certain to send fans in a tizzy.
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2” is the final installment in the franchise that sees Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) leading an army against the Donald Sutherland and his political colleagues. I’d say there will be blood, but audiences are already well aware of that. It all ends on November 20. Bond, James Bond is back in “Spectre” which alludes to a darker bond, but not really. Daniel Craig reprises his role as he does battle against a villainous Christoph Waltz. Bond returns on November 6.
Ridley Scott returns to outer space; no he’s not tackling the “Alien” franchise. “The Martian” stars Matt Damon as an astronaut who is presumed dead, but very much alive. I get the feeling that this flick might be a mash-up of “Interstellar” meets “Gravity.” The choice will be fans on October 2. We say the Ashton Kutcher drama attempting to tackle the tale of Apple creator Steve Jobs falter, but here we go again. Michael Fassbender takes on the title role in “Steve Jobs” chronicling the life of Jobs and the evolution of Apple. The movie arrives on October 9.
If there are members in Hollywood who are golden when it comes to movie magic, those names would be Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. The duo reteams for “Bridge of Spies” which stars Hanks as Atticus Finch, the lawyer who negotiated the exchange of an American pilot for a Soviet spy. The flick looks intense and many are already predicting that Hanks could be a Lead Actor contender, while Spielberg could be a Best Director contender. The movie opens on October 16.
Edward Snowden, the man who has been labeled a traitor by most Americans will receive the big-screen treatment in Oliver Stone’s “Snowden.” Joseph Gordon-Levitt will tackle Snowden in the movie that is sure to be the talk of the town when it’s released on Christmas Day.
If movie lovers are looking for scares in the fall, things will be scarce. Guillermo del Toro tackles the haunted house genre with “Crimson Peak.” The thriller stars Mia Wasikowska who finds herself entangled in a love triangle with Tom Hiddleston and Charlie Hunnam, while receiving the stare that could kill from Jessica Chastain. The film arrives in theaters on October 16, just in the nick of time before Halloween.
Mobsters Ronald and Reginald Kray arrive to the big screen courtesy of Tom Hardy in “Legend” on October 2. The gangsters terrorized London for years and it’ll be interesting to see Hardy tackle identical twins that are nothing alike.
If its stellar acting that places a smile on the face, than “Suffragette” starring acting icon Meryl Streep is certain to raise plenty of debate. The woman’s rights movement starrer also allows Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter shine in roles that are sure to be awards contenders in the coming months.
Emily Blunt digs deep in the drama “Sicario” which finds a group of FBI agents working together to take down a violent Mexican cartel. This is a flick that rose a bit of controversy because of its level of violence. Audiences will decide when the picture arrives on September 18.
While there is plenty of comedy and drama to entertain audiences this fall, it’s apparent that drama will be victorious with movie lovers. Is anyone ready for Oscar?
