While November will have a few comedies and action flicks, the majority of the month’s fare is heavy with serious, sometimes overlong, award-seeking dramas. This is par for the course. On the upside, at least a handful of them look to be very good.
Please note: All release dates are subject to change.
Nov. 7
‘Nuremberg’
Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring in "Nuremberg." Sony Pictures Classics
Based on the book, “The Nazi and the Psychiatrist” by Jack El-Hai, this dramatic thriller is written and directed by James Vanderbilt. Rami Malek plays Dr. Douglas Kelley, the man charged with determining whether Nazi officers are competent to stand trial. The main plot finds Kelley engaged in a battle of wits with Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe), Hitler’s second-in-command. (Sony Pictures Classics)
‘Train Dreams’
Felicity Jones as Gladys and Joel Edgerton as Robert in "Train Dreams." Netflix
Directed by Clint Bentley (“Jockey”), this ethereal and mystical epic is based on the acclaimed Denis Johnson novella of the same name. Joel Edgerton stars as logger Robert, and Felicity Jones as his wife, Gladys, who endures long periods of separation because of his career dedication. William H. Macy and Kerry Condon deliver standout supporting performances. (Netflix)
‘Sentimental Value’
Stellan Skarsgard as Gustav Borg and Elle Fanning as Rachel Kemp in "Sentimental Value." Neon
The early word is that this Norwegian comedic drama is the frontrunner for next year’s Academy Award for best international feature. Stellan Skarsgard stars as a fading auteur filmmaker whose desire to make a movie based on his dysfunctional family drives a wedge between him and his two daughters. Elle Fanning plays an American actress cast in the divisive production. (Neon)
‘Christy’
Ben Foster as James Martin and Sydney Sweeney as Christy Martin in "Christy." Black Bear Pictures
Recalling “Girlfight” and “Million Dollar Baby,” this is a fact-based story of retired pro boxer Christy Martin (Sydney Sweeney). Martin won the World Boxing Council super welterweight crown in 2009 and became the first woman voted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The main plot has Martin as the target of domestic abuse at the hands of her manager-turned-husband (Ben Foster). (Black Bear Pictures)
Nov. 14
‘The Running Man’
Glen Powell (C) as Ben Wilson in "The Running Man." Paramount Pictures
This latest effort from director Edgar Wright (“Baby Driver”) is a remake of the only so-so 1987 original starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Glen Powell (“Hit Man,” “Twisters”) stars as Ben Wilson, one of several contestants on a reality TV show. They must elude death while being hunted by professional assassins for 30 days. The last person standing wins $1 billion. (Paramount)
‘Eternity’
(L–R) Elizabeth Olsen as Joan, Miles Teller as Larry, and Callum Turner as Luke in "Eternity." A24
Suggesting a hybrid of “Heaven Can Wait” and “Defending Your Life,” this romantic fantasy stars Elizabeth Olsen as the recently deceased Joan. In the afterlife, Joan can have only one eternal partner. She must choose between her first husband, war hero Luke (Callum Turner), and her second husband, Larry (Miles Teller), the man she spent the rest of her life with. (A24)
‘Muzzle: City of Wolves’
Aaron Eckhart as Jake Rosser in "Muzzle: City of Wolves." RLJE Films
In this sequel to 2023’s “Muzzle,” Aaron Eckhart reprises his role as Jake Rosser, a K-9 unit handler who previously investigated the suspicious death of his dog partner. Based on the trailer, returning director John Stalberg Jr. isn’t taking many chances. There looks to be plenty of action, gunfire, chase scenes, and the bonding of a man and his loyal four-legged partner. (RLJE Films)
‘Murder at the Embassy’
A poster for "Murder at the Embassy." Lionsgate
The sequel to 2023’s “Invitation to a Murder” (2023) sees the return of English private eye Miranda Green (Mischa Barton). In this outing, Green travels to the British Embassy in Cairo to investigate a slaying connected with the disappearance of a top-secret document. (Lionsgate)
Nov. 21
‘Sisu: Road to Revenge’
Jorma Tommila as Aatami in "Sisu: Road to Revenge." Screen Gems
Based on the trailer for the sequel to the largely dialogue-free 2022 film “Sisu,” this follow-up looks to provide more of the same, which would be great. The first was set in 1944 during the Lapland War and suggested “Die Hard” by way of “Mad Max.” “Revenge” sees the return of director Jalmari Helander and leading man Jorma Tommila, with new addition Stephen Lang. (Screen Gems)
‘Rental Family’
Brendan Fraswer as Phillip Vandarpleog in "Rental Family." Searchlight Pictures
In this dramatic comedy, Brendan Fraser stars as a once-famous American actor barely eking out a living in Tokyo. He’s hired by a talent company specializing in “family rental” services, in which performers play stand-ins pretending to be their clients’ missing family members. (Searchlight Pictures)
Nov. 26
‘Wake Up Dead Man’
Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery." Netflix
The third and final (?) installment in the “Knives Out” murder mystery franchise sees the return of Southern supersleuth Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) alongside a completely different A-list cast. With the first two films, writer-director Rian Johnson (“Looper”) came up aces. The early festival buzz is that he’s done it again. (Netflix)
Nov. 27
‘Hamnet’
Jessie Buckley (C) as Agnes Hathaway in "Hamnet." Focus Features
This historical drama concentrates on the lives of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and his wife, Agnes Hathaway (Jessie Buckley), after the death of their preteen son, Hamnet. Predicted by some to win a slew of Oscars, it’s directed by Chloe Zhao, whose four previous films (save for 2017’s “The Rider”) left me unimpressed. As a huge Shakespeare fan, I’m crossing my fingers on this one. (Focus Features)
What to Watch For
I’m particularly looking forward to “Nuremberg,” “Train Dreams,” “Eternity,” “Wake Up Dead Man,” and “Hamnet.”What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to [email protected]
Correction: A previous version of this article misspelled the name of director John Stalberg Jr. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
