2015 Preview: October

The Fall/Awards Movie Season continues as we look into the month of Halloween, October. Quite a lot to talk about this month, especially when compared to September. That’s usually the case around this time of the year; the season really gets started in October. But anyway, welcome back to Rhode Island Movie Corner’s year-long preview of the films that are set to come out in 2015. This is Part 10 of 12 and today we’ll be looking at the films that will be hitting theaters this October. Let’s get started…

OCTOBER 2- One main wide release and an IMAX exclusive debut to kick off the month. Aside from that, the Denis Villeneuve/Emily Blunt pic ‘Sicario’ will make its nationwide debut.

*Matt Damon stars in Ridley Scott’s latest film, ‘The Martian’, based off of the novel of the same name by Andy Weir. In it, he plays an astronaut who ends up getting stranded on Mars, resulting in him having to survive on the Red Planet while his crew tries to rescue him. The film’s big ensemble cast also includes Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Michael Pena, and Kate Mara.

*Debuting early on September 30^th exclusively in IMAX theaters, ‘The Walk’, directed by Robert Zemeckis, is the true story of high-wire artist Phillipe Petit’s famous tightrope walk between the Twin Towers on August 7, 1974. Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Petit and the film also stars Ben Kingsley, Charlotte Le Bon, and James Badge Dale.

OCTOBER 9- One main wide release this week while ‘The Walk’ expands into all theaters nationwide.

*Director Joe Wright brings to life the world of Neverland in this prequel to J.M. Barrie’s classic novel ‘Peter Pan’, ‘Pan’. It’s the story of how the young Peter Pan (Levi Miller) is first brought to Neverland and how he first met James Hook (Garrett Hedlund). The film also stars Hugh Jackman as the main villain Blackbeard and Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily.

OCTOBER 16- A trio of new wide releases include the latest from directors Steven Spielberg and Guillermo Del Toro.

*Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg reunite for the first time in over a decade with ‘Bridge of Spies’. Co-written by the Coen Brothers, the film, based on a true story, stars Hanks as lawyer James B. Donovan, who in 1962 negotiated the release of captured U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell) from the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The film also stars Mark Rylance, Amy Ryan, and Alan Alda.

*Guillermo Del Toro returns to his horror roots with ‘Crimson Peak’. Mia Wasikowska stars as a young author who moves into the haunted estate of her new husband (Tom Hiddleston) and his sister (Jessica Chastain), where she comes across all sorts of ghostly beings.

*The classic children’s horror series by R.L. Stine, ‘Goosebumps’, gets brought to the big screen. Jack Black stars as R.L. Stine himself as the film centers on him, his daughter Hannah (Odeya Rush), and their new neighbor Zack (Dylan Minnette) as they try and stop the monsters of his stories when they are accidentally unleashed from their books.

OCTOBER 23­- Boy oh boy is this a busy week. Six (!) new releases, one of which is a nationwide expansion.

*Bradley Cooper stars in director John Wells’ ‘Burnt’ alongside a big ensemble cast that also includes Cooper’s ‘American Sniper’ co-star Sienna Miller as well as Daniel Bruhl, Alicia Vikander, Lily James, Uma Thurman, and Emma Thompson. Cooper plays a chef named Adam Jones (and I’m only saying that because that was one of the working titles for the film) who looks to establish a prestigious London restaurant but must overcome his personal problems that had previously derailed his career.

*In a rare non-horror turn for Blumhouse Productions, we have ‘Jem and the Holograms’, based off of the toy line and 80’s animated series of the same name. Directed by Jon M. Chu (‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’ and, yes, two Justin Bieber concert films), the film, like the original series, centers on a group of friends who form a hit rock band. The film stars Audrey Peeples, Molly Ringwald, and Juliette Lewis.

*But then there’s the other Blumhouse Productions release this week, which serves as the return of the ‘Paranormal Activity’ franchise. Reportedly the ‘final’ installment of the series, ‘Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension’ will revolve around the protagonists actually being able to see the ‘paranormal activity' this time around.

*Vin Diesel stars in and produces ‘The Last Witch Hunter’, in which he stars as the ‘titular’ witch-hunter who teams up with, of all people, a witch to take down the covens of New York City. The film also stars Elijah Wood and Michael Caine.

*In director Barry Levinson’s ‘Rock the Kasbah’, Bill Murray stars as a down-on-his-luck manager who finds a young girl from Afghanistan with an incredible voice and manages her as she competes in the Afghanistan equivalent of ‘American Idol’. The film also stars Bruce Willis, Zooey Deschanel, Kate Hudson, and Danny McBride.

*And finally from this week there’s the nationwide expansion of the Danny Boyle directed and Aaron Sorkin written biopic ‘Steve Jobs’. Michael Fassbender stars as the titular co-founder of Apple as the film will be based around three major product launches. The film also stars Seth Rogen as fellow Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Kate Winslet as Mac and NeXT team member Joanna Hoffman, and Jeff Daniels as former Apple CEO John Sculley.

OCTOBER 30- After all of those wide releases on the 23^rd, the month ends on an easier note with only two main wide releases.

*Sandra Bullock stars in ‘Our Brand is Crisis’, which is a ‘remake’ of a 2005 documentary of the same name that was about the 2002 presidential elections in Bolivia and how one of the candidates enlisted the help of an American political consulting firm to help him win the election. Bullock stars as the politician’s manager alongside Billy Bob Thornton as her rival political consultant.  

*Finally, there’s ‘Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse’, in which a trio of scouts have to help their town deal with a zombie outbreak.

And those are the films that are set to come out this October. Check back next week for Part 11 of this year-long preview as we’ll be looking at the films that will be hitting theaters in November.

2014 Preview: October

Welcome back to Rhode Island Movie Corner’s year-long preview of the films that are set to come out in 2014. This is Part 9 of 11 (previously 12) and today we’ll be looking at the films that will be hitting theaters this October. And I must say… after looking through this month, there is quite a lot to talk about in regards to what is coming out this month. So let’s not waste any time and get started looking at the October 2014 schedule.

OCTOBER 3- 3 new wide releases will open up the month, including the latest from director David Fincher and a spin-off of one of 2013’s biggest hits.

*David Fincher’s latest film, ‘Gone Girl’, is based off of the best-selling book of the same name by Gillian Flynn, who also wrote the film’s screenplay (allegedly altering the ending, although current reports say that the ending is the same as it was in the book). The story centers on the investigation into the disappearance of Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) but soon the case takes a different turn when her husband Nick (Ben Affleck) becomes the prime suspect. The film also stars Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, and Kim Dickens.

*When it was released in July of last year, director James Wan’s ‘The Conjuring’ was a major hit both critically and commercially. A sequel is currently in production for a planned October 2015 release but before that, a spin-off hits theaters this October in the form of ‘Annabelle’, based around the creepy doll of the same name featured in ‘The Conjuring’. In this film, a family purchases a vintage doll but soon find themselves dealing with an evil entity after their home is invaded by a satanic cult.

*The next film is actually a reboot of a series of Christian films starring Kirk Cameron that were released from 2000 to 2005; ‘Left Behind’, based off of the book series of the same name by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. The film focuses on a group of people who try to survive after millions of people suddenly disappear without a trace and the world is thrown into chaos. Nicolas Cage stars as a pilot caught up in the whole situation.

OCTOBER 10- Another trio of new films this weekend including a new Dracula film.

*Taking the title as one of the longest film titles you’ve ever seen is ‘Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day’, based off of the book of the same incredibly long name by Judith Viorst. The titular Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) is a 11-year old kid who has one very bad day compared to the rest of his family (the parents played by Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner) but then they too start to experience their own ‘bad day’.

*Universal is currently in the works of rebooting their classic monster franchises and that journey begins with ‘Dracula Untold’. Based, of course, on Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’, the film tells the story of Vlad the Impaler, a prince from Transylvania who becomes endowed with supernatural powers as he looks to protect both his kingdom and his family when it is threatened by an Ottoman sultan. Luke Evans stars in the title role alongside Sarah Gadon, Dominic Cooper, and Charles Dance.

*Robert Downey Jr. stars in ‘The Judge’, a rare dramatic turn for director David Dobkin (‘Wedding Crashers’). In the film, Downey Jr. stars as a successful lawyer named Hank Palmer who returns to his hometown in Indiana when he learns that his mother has just died. However, when he returns, he finds out that his father Joe (Robert Duvall), the town’s local judge, is being suspected of murder resulting in Hank now looking to defend his father in court. The film also stars Vera Farmiga, Vincent D’Onofrio, Billy Bob Thornton, and Dax Shepard.

OCTOBER 17- Once again, another trio of three new wide releases (it’s sort of the main pattern this month) along with a film that is expanding nationwide. I’ll also throw in one limited release.

*The latest adaptation of a best-selling Nicolas Sparks novel, ‘The Best of Me’ stars James Marsden and Michelle Monaghan as a pair of old high-school sweethearts who reunite with each other when they return to their hometown for a friend’s funeral.

*Produced by Guillermo Del Toro, ‘The Book of Life’ is an animated film centered on a rivalry between two men, Manolo (Diego Luna) and Joaquin (Channing Tatum), for the affections of Maria (Zoe Saldana). But when Manolo ends up getting killed as the result of a spirit who is trying to make it so that Joaquin will become Maria’s lover, he must embark on a quest in order to face his greatest fears and to return to the human world. The film also stars Ron Perlman, Christina Applegate, and Ice Cube.

*Director David Ayer’s second film of the year following March’s ‘Sabotage’, ‘Fury’ is a war film starring Brad Pitt as the commander of a tank crew that find themselves outnumbered and outgunned when they embark on a mission behind enemy lines during the last few months of World War II. The film also stars Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Pena, and Jon Bernthal as the other members of the crew.

*Expanding nationwide after its initial release on October 1^st, ‘Men, Women, and Children’ is directed by Jason Reitman (‘Juno’) and is based on the novel of the same name by Chad Kultgen. The film centers on a group of teenagers and their families who all try to deal with the rise of technology and how it is having a major impact on all of their lives. The film’s ensemble cast includes Adam Sandler, Jennifer Garner, Judy Greer, Ansel Elgort, and Dean Norris.

*Opening in limited release is ‘Birdman’ AKA ‘Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)’, directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (‘21 Grams’). Michael Keaton stars as a former actor, who was famous for playing the famous superhero Birdman, who tries to start up a new Broadway while also dealing with his ego and his family. The film also stars Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Zach Galifianakis, Amy Ryan, and Andrea Riseborough.

OCTOBER 24- Same as last week. Three new films, one nationwide expansion and a noteworthy limited release.

*Keanu Reeves stars in ‘John Wick’, in which he stars as the titular character, a hit man who goes on the run from an old friend of his who is tasked with killing him by a crime boss. The film also stars Willem Dafoe, Ian McShane, and Bridget Moynahan.

*In ‘Laggies’, Keira Knightley stars as a woman who goes on a week-long ‘vacation’ from her life, including dealing with having her boyfriend propose to her, after meeting a high-school student (Chloe Grace Moretz) sometime after returning home for her high school reunion.

*A new horror film from producers Jason Blum and Michael Bay, ‘Ouija’ centers on a group of friends who awaken an ancient spirit when they try to use an Ouija board to contact their recently deceased friend.

*Bill Murray stars in ‘St. Vincent’ in which he plays a war veteran who is recruited by his neighbor (Melissa McCarthy) to watch her kid. The film, expanding nationwide this weekend, also stars Naomi Watts, Chris O’Dowd, and Terrance Howard.

*Opening in limited release, ‘White Bird in a Blizzard’ is based off of the novel of the same name by Laura Kasischke. Shailene Woodley stars as a young girl in 1988 whose life is turned upside down when her mother (played by Eva Green) suddenly disappears. The film also stars Christopher Meloni, Shiloh Fernandez, and Angela Bassett.

OCTOBER 31- Two major wide releases will be closing out the month and I’ll include one major limited release.

*In ‘Before I Go to Sleep’, based off of the novel of the same name by S.J. Watson, Nicole Kidman stars a woman who ends up in a car accident but years later she starts to wonder what really happened to her. Colin Firth and Mark Strong co-star.

*Dan Gilroy, brother of ‘Bourne’ writer Tony Gilroy, makes his directorial debut with ‘Nightcrawler’. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a man who takes up a job in the world of freelance crime journalism. The film also stars Rene Russo and Bill Paxton.

*Finally we have ‘Horns’, directed by Alexandre Aja (‘Piranha 3D’) and starring Daniel Radcliffe as a man who is accused of murdering his girlfriend (Juno Temple), resulting in him trying to find out who really killed her with the help of some new paranormal powers.

And those are the films that are set to come out this October. Check back next month when we’ll look at the month of November, a month that certainly has some big-name releases coming out.

2013 Preview: October

Welcome back to Rhode Island Movie Corner’s year-long preview of the films that are set to come out during 2013. This is Part 10 of 12 and today we’ll be looking at the lineup of films that will be released during the month of October. Thankfully, this month is a little easier than previous months because there is not a single week this month where more than two movies hit theaters during the same weekend. This, of course, comes after months of seeing weekends where at least four new movies come out in one single weekend.

OCTOBER 4- September’s ‘Metallica: Through the Never’ expands nationwide after its initial release in IMAX. Meanwhile, a pair of new movies will hit theaters this weekend.

*Alfonso Cuaron’s (‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’, ‘Children of Men’) newest film, ‘Gravity’, will hit theaters after making its North American debut at TIFF last month. Sandra Bullock stars as medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone, who is on her first Space Shuttle mission with retiring vet astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney). Things start to go haywire when their shuttle is hit by debris, leaving the two stranded in space.

*Ben Affleck recently made headlines when Warner Bros announced that he would be taking over the role of Batman for the 2015 Man of Steel sequel. While we’re still two years away from that film, Affleck takes on his first villain role with ‘Runner, Runner’, directed by Brad Furman (2011’s surprise critical hit ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’). Justin Timberlake stars as a Princeton student who travels to a remote island when he loses his tuition money through online poker to confront the owner of the poker site (Affleck), but he ends up becoming his protégé in the process. While this is going on, an FBI agent tries to use him in order to take his new boss down. Gemma Arterton and Anthony Mackie co-star.

OCTOBER 11- Another pair of films will be released; the latest films from the director of ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ and the director of ‘Machete’.

*’Captain Phillips’, directed by Paul Greengrass (‘The Bourne Supremacy/Ultimatum’, ‘United 93’) is the true story of the Maersk Alabama hijacking which happened in April 2009, when Somali pirates seized control of a cargo ship near the coast of Somalia and took the ship’s crew hostage. Tom Hanks stars as the ship’s captain, Richard Phillips.

*The second film in director Robert Rodriguez’s planned ‘Machete’ trilogy, Machete Kills, will hit theaters, originally set for a release last month but is now pushed back to this month. Danny Trejo reprises his role as Machete, an ex-Federale who is recruited by the President (played by Charlie Sheen, credited here as Carlos Estevez) to take down an arms dealer (Mel Gibson). Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez reprise their roles from the previous film, joined by Sofia Vergara, Lady Gaga, Antonio Banderas, and Cuba Gooding Jr.

OCTOBER 18- A remake of a classic Stephen King story and a team-up between two of the 80’s most famous action stars.

*Following Brian De Palma’s 1976 horror classic and a 2002 made for TV film, both of the same name, the third film adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘Carrie’ will be released. According to distributors MGM and Screen Gems, the film will be closer to King’s original novel. Chloe Grace Moretz stars as Carrie White, a young, shy outcast who develops telekinesis powers, which she soon unleashes on her peers when she is pushed too far. The film also stars Julianne Moore as Carrie’s mom and Judy Greer as Carrie’s sympathetic gym teacher, Miss Desjardin. The film is directed by Kimberly Pierce (‘Boys Don’t Cry’).

*Two of Hollywood’s most famous action stars, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger team up again (following the first two ‘Expendables’ films (not counting the third currently in production) for ‘Escape Plan’ (previously titled ‘The Tomb’). Stallone plays a structural engineer who is wrongly convicted for a crime and sentenced to a maximum security prison. Schwarzenegger co-stars as a fellow inmate who helps Stallone’s character in his attempt to escape the prison (one that he designed himself). The film also stars Jim Caviziel as the prison warden and 50 Cent as the assistant of Stallone’s character.

OCTOBER 25- Ridley Scott’s latest film and a ‘Jackass’ spinoff will close out the month.

*Ridley Scott’s latest film, ‘The Counselor’ is based on a script written by Cormac McCarthy (author of ‘No Country for Old Men’ and ‘The Road’). The film follows a lawyer (played by Michael Fassbender) who ventures into the world of drug trafficking. The film also stars Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz, and Brad Pitt.

*The final release of the month is a spinoff of the popular ‘Jackass’ franchise, ‘Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa’, based around the character of Irving Zisman, played by Johnny Knoxville, an 86-year old man who travels the country with his grandson as hijinks ensue.