This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact The Epoch Times Reprints.
The summer is officially over, football is in full swing, and the days are growing shorter and cooler. You know what this means, right? It’s Hollywood awards season, of course. If you are rolling your eyes and chuckling now, I’ll know I reached my goal.
For the next 50 or so days, studios large and small will be carpet-bombing critics with screeners of their films in the hopes of making it on to year-end Top 10 lists. Some of the titles on this list will likely result in award nominations which, by and large, most of you won’t care about in the least, as it should be.
Please note: All release dates are subject to change.
Oct. 1
‘Play Dirty’
A scene from "Play Dirty." Amazon/MGM
Based on the “Parker” series of books by Richard Stark, this crime thriller stars Mark Wahlberg as Parker and LaKeith Stanfield as Grofield, another Stark character. After pulling off a huge heist, Parker finds himself the target of a foreign dictator, the New York mob, and the world’s richest man. (Amazon/MGM)
Oct. 3
‘The Smashing Machine’
A scene from "The Smashing Machine." A24
Buried under pounds of makeup, Dwayne Johnson is in full awards-seeking mode starring as Mark Kerr, a real-life mixed martial arts fighter. Emily Blunt leads an impressive supporting cast as Kerr’s former wife, Dawn Staples. The movie also marks the “solo” debut of writer-director-editor Benny Safdie, whose previous eight features were codirected with his older brother Josh. (A24)
The plot details of “Anemone” are fuzzy and the trailer is equally unclear. What we do know: It’s the first movie starring Daniel Day-Lewis since “Phantom Thread” in 2017. He cowrote the screenplay with his son Ronan, who is directing his first feature. Sean Bean and Samantha Morton costar, and I can’t wait to see it. (Focus)
Oct. 10
‘Roofman’
A scene from "Roofman." Paramount
In this “stranger than fiction” absurd comedy, Channing Tatum stars as Jeffrey Manchester, a former member of the Army who gained notoriety for breaking into (via the roofs of) and then robbing between 40 and 60 McDonald’s locations. When not doing this, he lived within the walls of a Toys “R” Us store. Costars include Peter Dinklage, Ben Mendelsohn, and Kirsten Dunst as Manchester’s love interest. (Paramount)
‘The Woman in Cabin 10’
Laura (Keira Knightley), in "The Woman in Cabin 10." Parisa Taghizadeh/Netflix
Based on the 2016 novel by Ruth Ware, this psychological mystery thriller stars Kiera Knightley as Laura, a travel critic covering the maiden voyage of a new luxury liner. Laura claims that she saw a passenger being tossed overboard. The trouble is, no one else witnessed the event, and all of the passengers and crew members are still on the boat. (Netflix)
‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’
A scene from "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You." A24
Rose Byrne’s performance is getting rave reviews from multiple festivals. She plays a mother and housewife whose desire to also have a thriving professional career is shredding her psyche. Adding to her woes is her indifferent shrink (Conan O’Brien) and unsympathetic family and friends. (A24)
‘A House of Dynamite’
Capt. Olivia Walker (Rebecca Ferguson) manages a crisis, in "A House of Dynamite." Eros Hoagland/Netflix
This latest from director Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker,” “Zero Dark Thirty”) is a political thriller about a possible incoming nuclear attack directed at Chicago. The impressive cast includes Idris Elba as the U.S. president and Rebecca Ferguson as a military communications specialist. (Netflix)
‘Soul on Fire’
A scene from "Soul on Fire." Affirm Films
In this fact-based crowd pleaser, Joel Courtney stars as John O’Leary who, as a child, suffered burns over 95 percent of his body. News of this caught the attention of St. Louis-based sportscaster Jack Buck (William H. Macy) who spearheaded an effort to provide O’Leary financial and emotional support, which led to O’Leary’s career as a motivational speaker. (Affirm Films)
Oct. 17
‘Truth & Treason’
To be followed by a limited series of the same name, this is the latest effort from Angel Studios. English actor Ewan Horrocks stars as Helmuth Hübener, a German teen whose high-profile opposition to the Third Reich led to his execution. (Angel)
‘Good Fortune’
(L–R) Gabriel (Keanu Reeves), Jeff (Seth Rogen), and Arj (Aziz Ansari), in "Good Fortune." Eddy Chen/Lionsgate
Written, directed, and produced by Aziz Ansari, this comedic fantasy costars Seth Rogen as a wealthy tech tycoon whom the barely surviving Arj (played by Ansari) envies. In an attempt to make Arj understand that rich people have problems, too, is Keanu Reeves as Arj’s guardian angel Gabriel. (Lionsgate)
‘Blue Moon’
A scene from "Blue Moon." Sony Pictures Classics
For the ninth time, director Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke are collaborating on a feature. Here, Hawke stars as famed lyricist Lorenz Hart, the first musical partner of composer Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott). Set on a single night in 1943, the plot finds Hart looking back on his career on the opening night of the premiere of the play (“Oklahoma!”) by Rodgers and his new partner Oscar Hammerstein II. (Sony Pictures Classics)
Oct. 24
‘Regretting You’
Morgan (Allison Williams) and Chris (Scott Eastwood), in "Regretting You." The film releases on Oct. 24. Paramount
Based on the book by Colleen Hoover, this romantic drama stars Allison Williams as Morgan Grant, the wife of Chris (Scott Eastwood). Jonah (Dave Franco) and Allison’s sister Jenny (Willa Fitzgerald) are married. Got it so far? One member of each couple is having an affair with the other and both end up dead. The remainder of the movie finds the surviving ex-spouses trying to cope with the messy aftermath. (Paramount)
Oct. 29
‘Ballad of a Small Player’
A scene from "Ballad of a Small Player." Netflix
Enjoying a white-hot career revival, Colin Farrell stars as a British con artist who travels to Asia and attempts to portray himself as English nobility while racking up considerable gambling debts. It recalls “Molly’s Game,” “Rounders,” and “The Cincinnati Kid,” among others. (Netflix)
What to Watch For
I’m particularly looking forward to “Anemone,” “The Woman in Cabin 10,” “A House of Dynamite,” and “Blue Moon.”
What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to [email protected]
Originally from the nation's capital, Michael Clark has provided film content to over 30 print and online media outlets. He co-founded the Atlanta Film Critics Circle in 2017 and is a weekly contributor to the Shannon Burke Show on FloridaManRadio.com. Since 1995, Clark has written over 5,000 movie reviews and film-related articles. He favors dark comedy, thrillers, and documentaries.
