“Lizzie”
Cast: Chloë Sevigny, Kristen Stewart, Kim Dickens, Fiona Shaw
Synopsis: A psychological thriller based on the infamous murders of the Borden family in the late 1800s.
What You Need to Know: Despite the urge to disregard “Lizzie” as yet another costume-heavy, overly serious period piece sure to satisfy the few pinky-waving arthouse crowd members in attendance, it’s unlikely that the film will pass through this fall season completely unnoticed. Director Craig William Macneill takes the directorial duties behind the camera — the filmmaker’s full-length debut “The Boy” received a fair amount of critical praise upon its release in 2015 — and two high caliber actresses such as Sevigny and Stewart heading up the cast, “Lizzie” is almost guaranteed to showcase a noteworthy combination of gripping performances and white-knuckled tension. Taking all these factors into account, you might just find yourself anticipating the flick’s theatrical unveiling.
Release Date: September 14 – Jonathan Christian
“The House with the Clock in the Walls”
Cast: Jack Black, Cate Blanchett
Synopsis: A young boy goes to live with his Uncle, but finds that there’s more to his new living situation than meets the eye, as magic and a ticking clock hidden in the walls are discovered.
What You Need to Know: It’s difficult to determine just how to feel about this Eli Roth feature, a film that, on paper, is hilariously far removed from his typical masochistic horror films. There’s a bit of a creep factor for the PG crowd, sure, but largely “The House with the Clock in the Walls” appears damn near wholesome to those used to Roth’s typical offerings. That being said, it’s always a thrill when a director pivots to a tone and genre foreign to them and Jack Black and Cate Blanchett are on on screen pairing we didn’t know we were interested in until the first preview. Adapted from the novel by John Bellairs, we’ll have to wait and see if this fits in the tone of the “Goosebumps” adaptation or into something a little darker.
Release Date: September 21st – AJ
“Colette”
Cast: Keira Knightley, Dominic West, Eleanor Tomlinson
Synopsis: After moving to Paris, author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette agrees to ghostwrite a semi-autobiographical novel for her husband. Its success soon inspires her to fight for creative ownership and overcome the societal constraints of the early 20th century.
What You Need to Know: Despite being rather unfairly known for specifically playing period piece roles, Keira Knightley being cast in a film is nearly always indicative of the quality you’re going to find and she’s delivered a versatile bout of characters thus far. With “Colette” which premiered at this years Sundance Film Festival she returns to the period piece genre, but with a bold character in a turn our critic called “Oscar-worthy.” Based on the Parisian writer who is credited for her husbands success, our critic said, “If only more period pieces these days were as finely tuned and accessibly pleasurable as Westmoreland’s film.”
Release Date: September 21st – AJ
“Mandy”
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, Bill Duke, Richard Brake
Synopsis: “Mandy” is set in the primal wilderness of 1983 where Red Miller, a broken and haunted man hunts an unhinged religious sect who slaughtered the love of his life.
What You Need to Know: Who doesn’t revel in the opportunity to see Nicolas Cage lose his shit on screen these days? Cage’s cinematic freakouts have become so celebrated and so instantly synonymous with the actor, that it’s easy to forget a time when he was celebrated for his talent and not just his ability to (accidentally). Recently, audiences and critics alike have begun to get a sense of the Cage of old in an unhinged performance in “Mom and Dad” which allowed the zany aspects of his performances meet somewhere in the middle. “Mandy” see’s him team up with visionary director Panos Cosmatos (“Beyond the Black Rainbow”), allowing him to bottle that trademarked maniacal rage for a role that asks specifically just that, finally allowing his demeanor match the surroundings, rather than stick out. Elijah Wood acts as one of the producers, and the film features Oscar nominee Jóhann Jóhannsson’s final score. When Oscar winner Guillermo Del Toro tells you to “Watch and be in awe!” it’s on you to listen.
Release Date: September 14 – AA
