Welcome to October, the third-best month of the film release calendar! It’s not quite Oscar season, but the major film festivals have concluded, and the word-of-mouth awards campaigns are roaring to life. So, after a long summer of comic book blockbusters, Disney IP, low-budget horror flicks, and the occasional indie darling, October promises a cineplex packed with…comic book blockbusters, Disney IP, low-budget horror flicks, and the slightly-more-than-occasional indie darling. Check out the highlights:
Joker– October 4
What it is: An edgy and nihilistic re-imagining of America’s favorite killer clown that suggests he once liked doing stuff other than killing. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Arthur Fleck, a struggling stand-up who trades his microphone for clown make-up.
Why you should see it: It might actually be good? Despite the protestations of snobs such as yours truly, Joker garnered rave reviews, comparisons to Taxi Driver, and the Golden Lion award for best picture at the Venice Film Festival.
Dolemite is My Name- October 4
What it is: A biopic about down-and-out comedian Rudy Ray Moore and the rise of his most iconic creation, the foul-mouthed pimp/vigilante Dolemite. Eddie Murphy co-produced and stars in this ode to blaxploitation that critics compared to The Disaster Artist.
Why you should see it: Eddie’s back, baby. It’s been more than a decade since the Academy snubbed his last tour-de-force dramatic turn (here’s looking at you, Norbit), but Dolemite drew praise on the festival circuit, and his upcoming appearance on SNL indicates that he wants that Oscar.
Gemini Man- October 11
What it is: Will Smith plays Henry Brogan, an aging super-assassin on the run from the one thing he can’t escape—(a clone of) himself.
Why you should see it: Will Smith and director Ang Lee are fascinating collaborators; each responsible for spectacular action hits (Men in Black; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and inexplicable misses (After Earth, Billy Lynn’s Halftime Walk). Lee filmed Gemini Man at 120 frames per second, so expect either a new, silky-smooth standard for action filmmaking or an unwatchable mess.
Parasite– October 11
What it is: After engaging in some light document forgery, a lower-class family of four secures employment for the Parks, an ultra-wealthy family. Director Bong Joon-ho documents the various lies, exploitations, and parasitic relationships upon which economies are built in this nasty satirical thriller.
Why you should see it: Bong Joon-ho is one of the world’s great living weirdos. His best films, including The Host and Snowpiercer, balance slapstick comedy, action set pieces, and scathing cultural commentary. Earlier this summer, Parasite unanimously won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, so it apparently ranks among his best.
The King– October 11
What it is: A modernization of Shakespeare’s Henriad (that’s Henry IV Parts 1 & 2 plus Henry V for those of you who didn’t waste six figures on an English degree), featuring Timothée Chalamet as the rakish prince-turned-conquering-king Hal.
Why you should see it: Sword fights are VERY cool. I’m talking Top-5 Cool Things. Those who require further persuasion may be interested in Shakespearean court intrigue minus Shakespearean language, or in the fact that it’s a Netflix film, and therefore free for subscribers.
Jojo Rabbit- October 18
What it is: A young German boy, Jojo, questions his devotion to the Reich and the Fuhrer after discovering a Jewish girl hiding in his home. Director Taika Waititi, best known for Thor: Ragnarok, also appears as Jojo’s imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler, in this goofy send-up of Nazi Germany specifically, and racism generally.
Why you should see it: Despite a middling critical reception, this crowd-pleaser won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. In other words, it’s this year’s Green Book or Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
The Lighthouse- October 18
What it is: Two 19th century lighthouse keepers settle in for a long and lonesome winter, but their peaceful coexistence is threatened by ego, madness, and mermaids in this black-and-white horror period piece.
Why you should see it: As with his exceptional 2017 debut The Witch, writer/director Robert Eggers studied the customs and folklore of New England to inform the colorful dialogue and supernatural unease of The Lighthouse. Those seeking a traditional horror experience may leave disappointed, but fans of slow-building nightmares or Willem Dafoe’s bug eyes should have a creepy good time.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil– October 18
What it is: Angelina Jolie returns as the titular horned demon in this sequel to the 2014 Sleeping Beauty quasi-prequel. Michelle Pfeiffer joins the cast as Jolie’s foil, a manipulative, faux-noble queen.
Why you should see it: Did you know Maleficent made $700 million? Wild. Get that money, Ms. Jolie. Anyway, big-budget blockbusters made by women (veteran Disney scribe Linda Woolverton returns as a co-writer) and targeted at teen girls are shamefully rare.
Countdown- October 25
What it is: There’s an app for almost everything, so what if there was one that counted down to your murder?!?!
Why you should see it: I mean, you probably shouldn’t. Countdown looks too corny for anyone older than 14 to take seriously, but there are joys in watching 30-year-old models play high schoolers, and in showing one’s kids something scarier than Pixar.
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