CALENDAR
Opening dates for movies, especially smaller art house fare, often change. We’ve put together a list of what’s known and what’s tentative, but other movies will be added to the calendar as the season progresses.
Sept. 13: “The Family,” “Insidious: Chapter 2,” “Jayne Mansfield’s Car,” “Salinger”
Sept. 20: “Battle of the Year,” “Prisoners”
Sept. 27: “Baggage Claim” (tentative), “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2,” “Don Jon,” “Rush”
Oct. 4: “Gravity,” “Parkland” (tentative), “Runner Runner”
Oct. 11: “Captain Phillips,” “Gambit” (tentative), “Machete Kills,” “Muscle Shoals”
Oct. 18: “Carrie,” “Escape Plan,” “The Fifth Estate”
Oct. 25: “12 Years a Slave” (tentative), “All Is Lost” (tentative), “Blue Is the Warmest Color” (tentative), “The Counselor,” “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa”
Nov. 1: “Diana” (tentative), “Ender’s Game,” “Free Birds,” “Last Vegas”
Nov. 8: “About Time” (tentative), “Thor: The Dark World”
Nov. 15: “The Book Thief,” “The Best Man Holiday,” “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Nov. 22: “Delivery Man,” “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” “Nebraska”
Nov. 27: “Black Nativity” (tentative), “Frozen,” “Grace of Monaco” (tentative), “Homefront,” “Oldboy” (tentative)
Nov. 29: “Mandela: Long Walk Home” (tentative)
Dec. 6: “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Out of the Furnace”
Dec. 13: “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” “Tyler Perry’s Madea Christmas”
Dec. 18: “The Monuments Men”
Dec. 20: “Anchorman: The Legend Continues,” “Inside Llewyn Davis,” “Saving Mr. Banks,” “Walking with Dinosaurs”
Dec. 25: “47 Ronin,” “American Hustle” (tentative), “August: Osage County” (tentative), “Grudge Match,” “Jack Ryan,” “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”
After one of the most miserable slates of summer movies in recent memory, we can finally expect some measure of quality to return to movie theaters this fall.
Having endured flopped would-be blockbusters, moviegoers get rewarded with Oscar-bait and adult fare like Alfonso Cuaron’s thriller “Gravity,” starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, and Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street,” starring Austinite Matthew McConaughey.
And even though summer has passed, there is still room at the multiplex for hot thrills, such as Ron Howard’s Formula One heart-pounder “Rush” and thoughtful franchise films such as “The Hunger Games” and “The Hobbit.”
And a Cormac McCarthy-Ridley Scott collaboration? Yes, please, and thank you.
Below we take a look at some of the most heavily anticipated films coming to theaters between now and Christmas.
Sept. 13
“The Family”
Robert DeNiro and Michelle Pfeiffer play parents of a family that leaves their mob life and enters the witness protection in France, where they have a little trouble adjusting. Hard to tell if this is supposed to be more comedy or drama, but hopefully “La Femme Nikita” director Luc Besson can find a balance.
“Insidious: Chapter 2”
The Lambert family (helmed by Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson) are back to having their wits scared out of them by the supernatural in this sequel from the director of “Saw.”
“Salinger”
J.D. Salinger is one of the most enigmatic characters of the 20th century. His “The Catcher in the Rye” has sold tens of millions of copies. But following its success, Salinger went dark, disappearing from the public eye for the final 40-plus years of his life. This documentary, which features interviews with Tom Wolfe, Gore Vidal, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Judd Apatow and many more, tries to uncover the man from the shroud of mystery and examines what contributed to the famed writer’s tortured brilliance.
Sept. 20
“Prisoners”
This thriller with a strong cast (Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, Maria Bello and Melissa Leo) will probably keep people from letting their children out of the house ever again. And it may win Paul Dano an award for Creepiest Dude of the Year. Why can’t they release movies like this in the summer?
Sept. 27
“Rush”
Formula One drivers have long held rock star status in much of the world beyond the U.S. border. Ron Howard’s adrenaline-fueled film likely will introduce many American audiences to two of the sport’s biggest stars from the 1970s, James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl).
“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2”
There was a chance of meatballs the last time, too. Sometimes I think these weathermen don’t know what they’re talking about. The adorable Anna Faris is back for the family-friendly sequel, along with a bunch of other people whose faces you won’t see.
“Don Jon”
Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut features the actor buffed, oiled and resembling a “Jersey Shore” character in this dramedy about a porn-addicted muscle-head. Tony Danza and Scarlett Johansson are both shocking in very different ways.
Oct. 4
“Gravity”
Director Alfonso Cuarón is brilliant, as evidenced by films such as “Children of Men.” Here he puts George Clooney and Austinite Sandra Bullock in space. And the early word is that the movie is beautiful and excellent. Jon Frosch of the Atlantic called it a “master class in fluid camerawork.”
“Parkland”
Director Peter Landesman’s film dramatizes the hours surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The film stars Zac Efron as Kennedy’s tending physician, with co-starring turns by Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton, Colin Hanks, Mark Duplass and many more.
“Runner Runner”
Can Justin Timberlake pull off leading-man duties in a dramatic film? We’re about to find out. He plays a broke college kid who gets into a mess of trouble after taking a job with a shady online gambling mogul (Ben Affleck).
Oct. 11
“Machete Kills”
Robert Rodriguez is back with a giant cast of characters, including Amber Heard. Oh, and Charlie Sheen. Playing the president. Sounds about right. Expect B-movie camp and flesh from the Austin, Texas, director.
“Captain Phillips”
“Bourne Supremacy” and “United 93” director Paul Greengrass should have no trouble ratcheting up the suspense in this based-on-real-life story about Somali pirates hijacking the U.S.-flagged MV Maersk Alabama. Tom Hanks plays the titular character, so expect a few melodramatic phone calls to the wife back home.
Oct. 18
“The Fifth Estate”
Benedict Cumberbatch looks and sounds a lot like Julian Assange in this dramatized retelling of the birth, success and controversy of WikiLeaks.
“Carrie”
Chloë Moretz, who was so wonderful in her role as an adolescent vampire in “Let Me In,” plays the troubled high school girl in this reimagining of Brian DePalma’s 1976 horror classic based on the Stephen King novel.
“Escape Plan”
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone are still bankable stars? Apparently somebody thinks so. The 1980s action heroes team for a prison-escape, revenge movie.
Oct. 25
“The Counselor”
Michael Fassbender, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem in a thriller written by Cormac McCarthy and directed by Ridley Scott? Count me in. I can even overlook the fact that somehow Cameron Diaz made her way into the movie. Maybe the director of “Blade Runner” and “Black Hawk Down” knows something I don’t.
“12 Years a Slave”
Brit Steve McQueen (“Shame”) directs this harrowing tale about Solomon Northup, a free black man in 19th-century New York sold into slavery. The always excellent Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Northup, alongside Brad Pitt, Paul Dano and Michael Fassbender.
“Blue is the Warmest Color”
By most accounts, Tunisian/French director Abdellatif Kechiche has delivered a devastating masterpiece. The almost-three-hour movie is centered on the story of two lesbian lovers and the agony and joy of romantic love.
Nov. 1
“Ender’s Game”
Writer-director Gavin Hood (“X-Men Origins: Wolverine”) takes a much-anticipated swing at Orson Scott Card’s classic science-fiction novel with star Harrison Ford. But will recent publicity about Card’s controversial views on gays hinder the box office?
“Last Vegas”
Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline are best pals who head to Vegas for one last Rat Pack-ish lost weekend in Vegas, which is no longer the domain of Frank and Sammy.
“Free Birds”
Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson are the voices of two turkeys who go back in time to get their kind off of the Thanksgiving menu in this animated feature. From the director of megabomb “Jonah Hex.”
Nov. 8
“Thor: The Dark World”
Chris Hemsworth returns as the Norse thunder god in this Marvel Comics movie, helmed by veteran HBO television series director Alan Taylor.
Nov. 15
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
Once again Martin Scorsese teams with his late-life muse, Leonardo DiCaprio. Here, DiCaprio is Jordan Belfort, the securities trader whose escapades also inspired the 2000 movie “Boiler Room.”
“The Book Thief”
Based on Markus Zusak’s novel, Emily Watson and Geoffery Rush star in this World War II-era tale of a girl in love with books. The novel is narrated by Death; one wonders how that will work in the film.
“The Best Man Holiday”
Writer-director Malcolm D. Lee’s story of college friends who get together over the Christmas holiday and rekindle old rivalries. With Terrence Howard, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long and Taye Diggs.
Nov. 22
“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”
The “Empire Strikes Back” of the smash-hit “Hunger Games” trilogy, this time directed by Francis Lawrence (“Water For Elephants” and no relation to franchise star Jennifer Lawrence). Look for great costumes, decent special effects and J-Law worship to continue unabated.
“Delivery Man”
Habitual sperm donor Vince Vaughn finds out he has fathered hundreds of children; 142 of them file suit to meet him.
“Nebraska”
Bruce Dern gives an award-worthy performance as a bitter old man in this film from director Alexander Payne.
Nov. 27
“Homefront”
Star: Jason Statham. Screenwriter: Sylvester Stallone, based on a thriller by Chuck Logan. There will be punching.
“Frozen”
This Thanksgiving’s Disney animated feature is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen.” With Kristen Bell voicing Anna, the adventure-bound lead and Idine Menzel as the Queen.
“Grace of Monaco”
Nicole Kidman plays Grace Kelly during the Monaco years, as the title indicates. With Tim Roth as Prince Rainier III and Paz Vega as Maria Callas.
Dec. 6
“Dallas Buyers Club”
Matthew McConaughey stars as Texas electrician Ron Woodroof, who, after being diagnosed with HIV in 1986, struggled to find alternative treatments in an era when AIDS felt like a coming apocalypse.
“Out of the Furnace”
“Crazy Heart” director (and Southwestern Virginia native) Scott Cooper helms a thriller starring Christian Bale, a working man who finds himself in the middle of an Appalachian crime ring when his brother goes missing. With a really scary Woody Harrelson and beautiful mountains.
Dec. 13
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”
The second third(!) of Peter Jackson’s terrifyingly high definition version of the beloved children’s classic.
Dec. 18
“The Monuments Men”
George Clooney writes, directs and, most importantly, stars in the story of a band of civilians and soldiers charged with rescuing works of art and other items stolen by Nazis or hidden from harm during World War II. With John Goodman, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray and Hugh “Downton Abbey” Grantham.
Dec. 20
“Inside Llewyn Davis”
Joel and Ethan Cohen take on the early 1960s New York folk scene, based loosely on Dave Van Ronk’s memoir “The Mayor of MacDougal Street.” Starring Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman and Justin Timberlake, the film won the Grand Prix at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. The soundtrack was produced by T-Bone Burnett.
“Anchorman: The Legend Continues”
Everyone is back in this film that was partly filmed in Atlanta: Star and co-writer Will Ferrell, director Adam McKay, producer Judd Apatow, co-stars Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and many more. In no way is that depressing.
“Saving Mr. Banks”
Tom Hanks stars as Walt Disney himself as the mogul campaigning to make a movie out of the book “Mary Poppins,” but the author, P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson), has no interest in such a film.
Dec. 25
“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”
Ben Stiller directs and stars in this Internet-era adaptation of the classic 1939 James Thurber short story, already made in 1947 starring Danny Kaye. Looks beautifully shot and extremely earnest.
“American Hustle”
Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Amy Adams star in director David O. Russell’s story of con men and law enforcement in 1970s Camden, N.J. Amazing use of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times” in the trailer.
“47 Ronin”
Keanu Reeves stars as a half-Asian samurai who leads an army of ronin (one guess as to how many) bent on revenge against slavers in feudal, fantastical Japan.
“Jack Ryan”
Chris “Captain Kirk 2.0” Pine stars in this reboot of the Tom Clancy thriller franchise, though this is the first such movie not directly based on one of Clancy’s novels.
“Grudge Match”
Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone star as boxers who fight one final time, 50 years after their last bout.
