Can you believe it? There is only two months left in 2015 and soon the time that was once thought of as the future…will simply be the past. However, there are a string of interesting movies coming this month that refuse to let the year go out with a whimper. Sure, everyone is looking forward to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but there are a slate of films that will certainly keep you busy until December rolls around. So let’s get into it!
November 6
Trumbo
Stars: Bryan Cranston, Louis C.K., Elle Fanning, Helen Mirren, John Goodman, Diane Lane, Alan Tudyk, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Stuhlbarg
Official Synopsis:
The successful career of 1940s screenwriter Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston) comes to a crushing end when he and other Hollywood figures are blacklisted for their political beliefs. “Trumbo” (directed by Jay Roach) tells the story of his fight against the U.S. government and studio bosses in a war over words and freedom, which entangled everyone in Hollywood from Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren) and John Wayne to Kirk Douglas and Otto Preminger.
This is a fascinating part of Hollywood that is hardly talked about in recenttimes. Seeing the mechanization of the old studio system should shine a light on some present-day issues, as studios have moved into the era of franchise movie making. Bryan Cranston hasn’t found nearly the same amount of success on the big screen, as he had with his legendary performance on TV’s Breaking Bad. However, this looks like the type of project that could possibly be another turning point in his career. In addition, the supporting cast is full of legends as well, including Helen Mirren, John Goodman, and Diane Lane. A strong dramatic pick for the month.
The Peanuts Movie
Stars: Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, Lucy, Sally, Linus, Peppermint Patty, Franklin, Pig Pen
Official Synopsis:
Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the beloved “Peanuts” gang make their big-screen debut, like they’ve never been seen before, in state of the art 3D animation. Charlie Brown, the world’s most beloved underdog, embarks upon an epic and heroic quest, while his best pal, the lovable beagle Snoopy, takes to the skies to pursue his arch-nemesis, the Red Baron. From the imagination of Charles M. Schulz and the creators of the ICE AGE films, THE PEANUTS MOVIE will prove that every underdog has his day.
I’m fully aware of the concept of counter-programming. However it seems extremely naive to open The Peanuts Movie against James Bond’s Spectre. The last movie, Skyfall, made more than a billion dollars at the worldwide box-office. Perhaps the studio actually wants to be in a real-life Charlie Brown style, unwinnable situation. This past summer Inside Out had a $90 million dollar opening, so there is a huge audience for quality animation. Regardless, this looks like a rare combination of classic Peanuts authenticity and modern age wizardry. I can not wait to check this out!
Spectre
Stars: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Dave Bautista, Lea Seydoux, Monica Bellucci, Ben Whishaw, Naomi Harris, Ralph Fiennes
Official Synopsis:
A cryptic message from the past sends James Bond on a rogue mission to Mexico City and eventually Rome, where he meets Lucia Sciarra (Monica Bellucci), the beautiful and forbidden widow of an infamous criminal. Bond infiltrates a secret meeting and uncovers the existence of the sinister organisation known as SPECTRE.
Meanwhile back in London, Max Denbigh (Andrew Scott), the new head of the Centre for National Security, questions Bond’s actions and challenges the relevance of MI6, led by M (Ralph Fiennes). Bond covertly enlists Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and Q (Ben Whishaw) to help him seek out Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux), the daughter of his old nemesis Mr White (Jesper Christensen), who may hold the clue to untangling the web of SPECTRE. As the daughter of an assassin, she understands Bond in a way most others cannot.
As Bond ventures towards the heart of SPECTRE, he learns of a chilling connection between himself and the enemy he seeks, played by Christoph Waltz.
It’s a new James Bond movie, so everybody is going to inevitably show up. However, it doesn’t seem as if there is the same level of excitement for Spectre, as previous installments. Skyfall was one of the biggest hits of 2013, by grossing over one billion dollars worldwide. Yet, the trailers and first looks for Spectre haven’t offered much to make it truly stand out. The production budget was one of the largest ever also, so there is a lot riding on the movie. Let’s see what tricks Bond has up his sleeve this time.
November 13
The 33
Stars: Antonio Banderas, Lou Diamond Phillips, Gabriel Byrne,
Official Synopsis:
In 2010, the eyes of the world turned to Chile, where 33 miners had been buried alive by the catastrophic explosion and collapse of a 100-year-old gold and copper mine. Over the next 69 days, an international team worked night and day in a desperate attempt to rescue the trapped men as their families and friends, as well as millions of people globally, waited and watched anxiously for any sign of hope. But 200 stories beneath the surface, in the suffocating heat and with tensions rising, provisions—and time—were quickly running out. A story of resilience, personal transformation and triumph of the human spirit, the film takes us to the Earth’s darkest depths, revealing the psyches of the men trapped in the mine, and depicting the courage of both the miners and their families who refused to give up. Based on the gripping true story of survival—and filmed with the cooperation of the miners, their families and their rescuers—“The 33” reveals the never-before-seen actual events that unfolded, above and below ground, which became nothing less than a worldwide phenomenon.
This looks really intense. The best stories are the ones that really took place and this horrific tale actually happened just five short years ago. There have been a few good movies that reenacted real-life events this fall, including Everest and The Walk. Hopefully The 33 is able to also bring the same high level of drama, heart, and authenticity. We will find out soon.
November 20
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt 2
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Donald Sutherland, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Hemsworth, Jeffrey Wright, Julianne Moore, Stanley Tucci, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Official Synopsis:
The epic global phenomenon of “The Hunger Games” arrives at its powerful final chapter with “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” – in which Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) now fully realizes the stakes are no longer just for survival, they are for the future. With the nation of Panem in a full scale war, Katniss Everdeen confronts President Snow (Donald Sutherland) in the final showdown. Teamed with a group of her closest friends – including Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Finnick (Sam Claflin), and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) – Katniss goes off mission, using the unit from District 13 – and risking their lives – to stage an assassination attempt on President Snow increasingly obsessed with destroying her, the mortal traps, enemies, and moral choices that await Katniss will challenge her more than any arena she faced in The Hunger Games.
The last movie was a yawn. It’s a classic case study of the pitfalls in two-part movie finales that are all the rage these days. With that said, the second part of Mockingjay does look like it will be full of excitement. This is the second movie this month, along with the aforementioned Spectre, that is expected to make at least one billion dollars at the worldwide box-office. Let’s see if the series will close out with class.
The Night Before
Stars: Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anthony Mackie
Official Synopsis:
From Jonathan Levine, the acclaimed director of “50/50,” comes the new comedy “The Night Before.” Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Seth Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) have been friends since childhood, and for a decade, their yearly Christmas Eve reunion has been an annual night of debauchery and hilarity. Now that they’re entering adulthood, the tradition is coming to an end, and to make it as memorable as possible, they set out to find the Nutcracka Ball – the Holy Grail of Christmas parties.
This looks like the best bet for an adult laugh at the movies this month. Seth Rogen (Steve Jobs), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (The Walk), and Anthony Mackie (Ant-Man), are all riding the wave of successful careers. It’s also intriguing because they are all capable of comedy and drama, plus the three playing long-time friends just makes sense. Rogen and Gordon-Levitt are also reunited with Jonathan Levine, who directed both actors in 50/50, which is a underrated film. That also means that we should expect some grounded dramatic moments within the chaos as well. Hopefully, the movie’s biggest laughs aren’t being ruined in the marketing. Can’t wait to find out.
November 25
The Good Dinosaur
Stars: Anna Paquin, Frances McDormand, Sam Elliott, Steve Zahn, Jeffery Wright
Official Synopsis:
“The Good Dinosaur” asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? Pixar Animation Studios takes you on an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo (voice of Raymond Ochoa) makes an unlikely human friend. While traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of.
Pixar proved that they are still the leaders in the animation industry with this summer’s Inside Out. The movie reaffirmed the studio’s ability to create original movies and characters. Can they do it again just six months later? I wouldn’t bet against it. The movie doesn’t look completely original, but it never hurts to go into a movie with lowered expectations. Pixar has made a name for itself by creating films that the entire family can enjoy. Let’s see what they come up with next… The more Pixar the better!
Victor Frankenstein
Stars: James McAvoy, Daniel Radcliffe
Official Synopsis:
James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe star in a dynamic and thrilling twist on a legendary tale. Radical scientist Victor Frankenstein (McAvoy) and his equally brilliant protégé Igor Strausman (Radcliffe) share a noble vision of aiding humanity through their groundbreaking research into immortality. But Victor’s experiments go too far, and his obsession has horrifying consequences. Only Igor can bring his friend back from the brink of madness and save him from his monstrous creation.
This movie is coming straight out of left field, with an unconventional twist on a very well-known tale. Screenwriter Max Landis has had his highs and lows recently ranging from Chronicle to American Ultra. Beyond the presence of Frankenstein, the real draw for this movie lies in the chemistry between McAvoy and Radcliffe, who made quite an impression at this year’s San Diego Comic Con. Victor Frankenstein is this month’s wild card pick. With the film’s destiny resting anywhere from disaster to franchise starting cult classic.
Creed
Stars: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad
Official Synopsis:
Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa.
Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring.
With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?
This has been on the most anticipated list all year long. Much like Star Wars, the Rocky franchise goes back for generations and has a lot of dedicated fans who have a lot of emotional investment in saga. It seems that director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station) has taken the exact right approach, with the story, tone and iconic characters, from early looks at Creed. This is at the top of the list for the month.
What movies are you looking forward to this month? When you see them, let us know what you thought of the November’s films in the comment boards, , , and ! Share our stories by clicking below!
Source: Coming Soon