1. The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them (September 12) - Ned Benson's romance is one of the year's most intriguing projects, and one that will take three trips to the theater to fully comprehend. James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain star in the film, about a married couple whose marriage is challenged by a life-changing event. The film has received raves from its festival appearances, and Craig Kennedy - a man whose opinion I very much respect - called it the best romance since Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which is very high praise indeed. Them combines Benson's two separate chapters - titled Him and Her - into one film. But those two films, which tell the story from each character's perspective, will find their way to theaters in October. First, audiences will see a more objective take on the tale, combining parts of Him and Her. I'm interested to see how the three versions compare.
2. The Skeleton Twins (September 12) - Kristen Wiig is a phenomenal actress who hasn't always found work worthy of her talent outside of Saturday Night Live. Bridesmaids served not only as a phenomenal comedic showcase for the actress, but also let her stretch her dramatic chops a bit; Annie had some serious trust issues and emotional baggage to work through, and Wiig handled that weightier material beautifully. In The Skeleton Twins, Wiig pairs up with fellow SNL alum Bill Hader for a more serious film than one might expect to find them in. They play Maggie and Milo, estranged twins who reunite after they both have near-death experiences. Directed by Craig Johnson, The Skeleton Twins looks like a tonally complex piece, with some humor mixed into the pathos, and a great vehicle for helping Wiig and Hader further demonstrate their range.
3. The Boxtrolls (September 26) - Over the course of its two previous films, Coraline and ParaNorman, Laika has proven itself an animation studio worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as hallowed houses like Disney, Pixar, and Studio Ghibli. Not only do these folks make jaw-droopingly beautiful movies; they also make movies with deft story-telling, developed characters, and imaginative worlds. The trend looks to continue with The Boxtrolls, based on Alan Snow's Here Be Monsters! Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran from Game of Thrones) voices orphan Eggs, who was raised by the nominative creatures and must help rescue them from evil exterminator Archibald Snatcher (Ben Kingsley). The bountiful voice cast includes Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Elle Fanning, Toni Collette, Tracy Morgan, and Richard Ayoade; so, expect to laugh. As evidenced by the trailers, an enormous amount of work went into making this world come to life, and it will undoubtedly prove one of the most visually sophisticated movies of the year.
4. The Guest (September 17) - On first viewing, I didn't really know what to make of Adam Wingard's You're Next. But upon further reflection and revisiting, I came to appreciate the film as an absolute gem of the slasher genre, sending up the home invasion plot with such panache and humor that it's a wonder I didn't appreciate it immediately; it's a matter of subtlety being hard to notice amongst all the hysterical bloodshed. So, I'm perhaps going into The Guest with a better sense of what I'm getting into, as it reunites Wingard and screenwriter Simon Barrett. I can't wait to see Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens in a very different role; here, he plays a soldier who introduces himself to the family of a fallen comrade. Whether he's telling the truth, and what madness ensues, remains to be seen. With Wingard at the helm, it'll probably be bloody brilliant.
5. Pride (September 19) - Winner of the Queer Palm award at this year's Cannes film festival, Matthew Warchus's Pride looks to be a standout in what has shaped up to be a very good year for queer film. The film, based on a true story, depicts the unlikely alliance formed between gay and lesbian activists striking mineworkers in the UK in 1984. The miners are uncomfortable accepting aid from sexual minorities, but - as one might expect - the trepidation subsides, friendships are formed, and change is achieved. I love seeing LGBT stories of the past now cast in a more celebratory light; I imagine the coverage of and reactions to these sorts of events at the time were much less positive. Bill Nighy, Imelda Stauton, Paddy Considine, and George MacKay are some of the most exciting names in the lovely cast. I imagine they're all pretty proud to have been part of this project. (I'm funny.)
Other Notable Releases: Thunder and The House of Magic (September 5), Wetlands (September 5), Kelly & Cal (September 5), Levitated Mass (September 5), Rocks in My Pockets (September 5), But Always (September 5), My Old Lady (September 10), Honeymoon (September 12), The Green Prince (September 12), I Am Eleven (September 12), 20,000 Days on Earth (September 17), The Maze Runner (September 19), This is Where I Leave You (September 19), Tracks (September 19), The Zero Theorem (September 19), The Drop (September 19), The Two Faces of January (September 26), Lilting (September 26), Advanced Style (September 26)
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