One film journalist’s stream-of-consciousness cinematic journey through the pandemic, Part 106
By Laurence Lerman / New York City
Looking back at Reel Streaming’s October preview from a month ago, there was such a wide assortment of films making their way to the theaters—sexy thrillers, action powerhouses, newsworthy docs, star-laden rom-coms, slasher flicks—that it’s exciting to report that a good number of them really connected with audiences.
A handful of titles immediately jumped to the top of the award-worthy list—films like Ruben Ostlund’s Triangle of Sadness, a Palme d’Or winner at Cannes; the romantic thriller Decision to Leave, which won South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook the Best Director prize at Cannes; and Todd Fields’ acclaimed Tár, which is already being discussed as the film that will win Cate Blanchett her third Oscar. And they all performed well in their limited theatrical roll-outs.
Meanwhile, the George Clooney/Julia Roberts rom-com Ticket to Paradise, which opened domestically on Oct. 21, passed the $100 international box office mark this past week. The latest collaboration between the mega-stars led them to a new milestone—the five films they’ve starred in together have grossed a combined $1 billion at the worldwide box office. That is some serious money.
Jamie Lee Curtis’ final bow in the Halloween series, Halloween Ends, and Martin McDonagh’s latest dark comedy, The Banshees of Inisherin starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, also posted impressive numbers.
Audiences are clearly enjoying going back to the theaters!
Then there’s the case of Amsterdam, David O. Russell’s A-list packed period comedy crime thriller. Coming off Russell’s three previous well-received films—Joy, American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook—Amsterdam was positioned to be an award magnet and box office champ.
But following a series of unengaging and confusing trailers, a lack of “influencer” hype and a critical lambasting, Amsterdam was dead on arrival, ringing up a barely-there $22 million in wide release, and pronouncements by the trades that the movie stands to lose $100 million when the dust and ancillary revenues settle.
Oy.
Well, as Paul Newman’s pool shark Fast Eddie Felson told Tom Cruise’s cocky young champ Vincent in 1986’s The Color of Money, “the balls roll funny for everybody, kiddo.”
But November is here and studios large and small are ready to serve up a fresh helping of goodies to prospective audiences.
Here are 10 new movies that might be worth your time and money.
The Wonder (Nov. 2)
When an 11-year-old girl in the 19th century Irish Midlands appears to live for months without eating, a British nurse is sent to investigate the case of what many believe to be a saint surviving on manna from heaven. Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio directs this psychological thriller starring the always-game Florence Pugh.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical (Nov. 9)
The inevitable film adaptation of the Tony- and Olivier Award-winning musical about an extraordinary girl with a sharp mind and an even sharper imagination. British film and theater helmer Matthew Warchus directs a cast that includes Stephen Graham, Emma Thompson, Andrea Riseborough and newcomer Alisha Weir as the young Matilda.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Nov. 11)
The Marvel Comic Universe’s nation of Wakanda clashes against intervening world powers as they mourn the loss of their king, T’Challa. The cast and director (Ryan Coogler) of Black Panther return for this sequel to the 2018 smash, with the exception of the original smash’s hero, the late Chadwick Boseman.
The Fabelmans (Nov. 11)
Loosely based on director Steven Spielberg’s childhood growing up in post-WWII era Arizona, the story here focuses on teenager Sammy Fabelman, who discovers the magic and power of cinema just as a shattering family secret comes to light. Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen and young Gabriel LaBelle star in what’s being described as Spielberg’s most personal film.
The Son (Nov. 11)
A couple of years after his parents’ divorce, a 17-year-old boy feels he can no longer stay with his mother, Kate., prompting him to move in with his father and his new lady friend. Writer/director Florian Zeller keeps it in the family for his follow-up to 2020’s The Father. This one stars Hugh Jackman, Vanessa Kirby, Laura Dern, Zen McGrath and The Father’s Anthony Hopkins.
Eo (Nov. 18)
From veteran Polish filmmaker Jerzy Skolimowski (Deep End, Moonlighting) comes a spin on Robert Bresson’s 1966 French classic Au Hasard Balthazar. In this tale, an itinerant donkey’s journeys find him encountering good and bad people, joyful and painful experiences, and his own vision of modern Europe. When Skolimowski shared the Jury Prize at Cannes for this film earlier in the year, he thanked all six donkeys (by name) who played the title burro.
The Menu (Nov. 18)
Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult are a young couple who travel to an exclusive destination restaurant on a remote island where the lavish tasting menu harbors some shocking surprises and the evening begins to smack of a Most Dangerous Game vibe. Mark Mylod directs and Ralph Fiennes plays the restaurant’s foreboding chef.
She Said (Nov. 18)
One of the year’s most anticipated pictures stars Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan as New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, who together broke the 2017 Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse story that helped propel the #MeToo movement. German-born actor/filmmaker Maria Schrader directs this ripped-from-the-headlines journalism drama that co-stars Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher and Jennifer Ehle.
Bones and All (Nov. 23)
Timothée Chalamet is a disenfranchised cannibal drifter and Taylor Russell the marginalized young woman who loves him in this offbeat road movie based on Camille DeAngelis’ 2016 novel by the same name. The film reunites Chalamet with his Call Me by Your Name director Luca Guadagnino.
White Noise (Nov. 25)
Writer/director Noah Baumbach’s adaptation of Dom DeLillo’s 1985 darkly comic post-modern novel stars Adam Driver as a college professor specializing in “Hitler Studies” and Greta Gerwig as his memory-lapsed wife. The pair, along with their children from previous marriages, find themselves confronting such fears as environmental disaster and their own mortalities.
Laurence Lerman is a film journalist, former editor of Video Business--Variety's DVD trade publication--and husband to The Insider's own Gwen Cooper. Over the course of his career he has conducted one-on-one interviews with just about every major director working today, including Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Clint Eastwood, Kathryn Bigelow, Ridley Scott, Walter Hill, Spike Lee, and Werner Herzog, among numerous others. Once James Cameron specifically requested an interview with Laurence by name, which his wife still likes to brag about. Most recently, he is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the online review site DiscDish.com.
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