September 9

 

 

 

Sully

 

Stars: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart

Director: Clint Eastwood

Official Synopsis:

On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed the “Miracle on the Hudson” when Captain “Sully” Sullenberger glided his disabled plane onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. However, even as Sully was being heralded by the public and the media for his unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career.

I’m a sucker for true-life stories. The team-up of Hanks and Eastwood seems like it should have happened long ago. While the choice to dramatize the “Miracle on the Hudson” seems obvious, hopefully there are more layers under Sully than meets the eye. It also seems that this movie is treading dangerously close to ground that Robert Zemeckis and Denzel Washington covered in Flight. Regardless, this seems like the best option for the weekend.

 

 

Kicks

 

Stars: Jahking Guillory, Mahershala Ali

Director: Justin Tipping

Official Synopsis:

In Justin Tipping’s feature debut “Kicks,” nothing is as simple as it seems. Fifteen-year-old Brandon longs for a pair of the freshest sneakers that money can buy; assuming that merely having them on his feet will help him escape the reality of being poor, neglected by the opposite sex and picked on by everyone — even his best friends. Working hard to get them, he soon finds that the titular shoes have instead made him a target after they are promptly snatched by local hood, Flaco. Seemingly the embodiment of menace, Flaco harbors complexities of his own that will be revealed when Brandon goes on a mission to retrieve his stolen sneakers with his two best friends in tow.

Boasting a strong ensemble cast and featuring a memorable lead performance by newcomer Jahking Guillory, the film transcends a deceptively traditional hero’s journey to deliver an entertaining and sobering look at the realities of inner-city life, the concept of manhood and the fetishization of sneaker culture. Visually and thematically rich, with an amazing soundtrack of both hip-hop classics and Bay Area favorites, Kicks creates an authentic and original portrait of a young man drowning in the expectations of machismo.

Every year there is a compelling coming-of-age story that comes out of nowhere. Last year it was Dope, this year it might be Kicks. This will also be a good opportunity to check out Mahershala Ali before his turn as Cottonmouth at the end of the month on Luke Cage. This doesn’t seem to be a cookie cutter tale of urban strife, but a creative and metaphorical story that deserves a viewing.

 

 

September 16

 

 

Snowden

 

Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Tom Wilkinson, Rhys Ifans, Nicolas Cage

Director: Oliver Stone

Official Synopsis:

Academy Award®-winning director Oliver Stone, who brought “Platoon,” “Born on the Fourth of July,” “Wall Street” and “JFK” to the big screen, tackles the most important and fascinating true story of the 21st century. “Snowden,” the politically-charged, pulse-pounding thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley, reveals the incredible untold personal story of Edward Snowden, the polarizing figure who exposed shocking illegal surveillance activities by the NSA and became one of the most wanted men in the world. He is considered a hero by some, and a traitor by others. No matter which you believe, the epic story of why he did it, who he left behind, and how he pulled it off makes for one of the most compelling films of the year.

Oliver Stone’s name used to be synonymous with controversy. However, nowadays his name is barely mentioned at all. He is teaming up with one of the most dynamic young actors around in Joseph Gordon-Levitt to bring Edward Snowden’s story to the big-screen. Unfortunately, Stone has proved to exaggerate the facts at times, which takes away some of the impact of his movies based on true events. We will see…

 

Blair Witch

 

Stars: Callie Hernandez, Valorie Curry, Brandon Scott, James Allen McCune

Director: Adam Wingard

Official Synopsis:

A group of college students venture into the Black Hills Forest in Maryland to uncover the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of James’ sister who many believe is connected to the legend of the Blair Witch. At first the group is hopeful, especially when a pair of locals offer to act as guides through the dark and winding woods, but as the endless night wears on, the group is visited by a menacing presence.  Slowly, they begin to realize the legend is all too real and more sinister than they could have imagined.

We will see if Lionsgate’s tricky marketing will pay off. This has been a great summer for horror, with hits like The Conjuring 2, Lights Out, and Don’t Breathe, all three proving to be considerable hits. Horror movies always play well in the fall, so all signs are pointing to a resurgence of the Blair Witch.

 

 

September 23

 

 

Queen of Katwe

 

Stars: David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o, Madina Nalwanga

Director: Mira Nair

Official Synopsis:

For 10-year-old Phiona Mutesi (Nalwanga) and her family, life in the impoverished slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, is a constant struggle. Her mother, Harriet (Nyong’o), is fiercely determined to take care of her family and works tirelessly selling vegetables in the market to make sure her children are fed and have a roof over their heads. When Phiona meets Robert Katende (Oyelowo), a soccer player turned missionary who teaches local children chess, she is captivated. Chess requires a good deal of concentration, strategic thinking and risk taking, all skills which are applicable in everyday life, and Katende hopes to empower youth with the game. Phiona is impressed by the intelligence and wit the game requires and immediately shows potential. Recognizing Phiona’s natural aptitude for chess and the fighting spirit she’s inherited from her mother, Katende begins to mentor her, but Harriet is reluctant to provide any encouragement, not wanting to see her daughter disappointed. As Phiona begins to succeed in local chess competitions, Katende teaches her to read and write in order to pursue schooling. She quickly advances through the ranks in tournaments, but breaks away from her family to focus on her own life. Her mother eventually realizes that Phiona has a chance to excel and teams up with Katende to help her fulfill her extraordinary potential, escape a life of poverty and save her family.

Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o has rarely gotten the opportunity to show her face in recent roles, whether its The Jungle Book or Star Wars: The Force Awakens, so it nice to actually see her on screen before her turn in Black Panther. Queen of Katwe is Disney’s attempt to try to transform the basic tenets of their “princess” mold, with an diverse, yet universal, tale that they probably wouldn’t have attempted in the past. The biggest reason beyond the cast, that is giving me optimism is director Mira Nair, who has a sense of poetry to her filmmaking. Hopefully, the movie is elevated beyond a series of cliches and offers something fresh and authentic. It seems to have all the pieces in play.

 

The Magnificent Seven

 

Stars: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D’onofrio

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Official Synopsis:

With the town of Rose Creek under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), the desperate townspeople employ protection from seven outlaws, bounty hunters, gamblers and hired guns – Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington), Josh Farraday (Chris Pratt), Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), Jack Horne (Vincent D’Onofrio), Billy Rocks (Byung-Hun Lee), Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier). As they prepare the town for the violent showdown that they know is coming, these seven mercenaries find themselves fighting for more than money.

This is the movie to watch this month. Last month Ben Hur proved that you need more than a classic film title to make a good movie and to bring audiences to theaters. However, this remake of The Magnificent Seven has a lot going for it. Fuqua rarely makes bad movies and it seems that he has been teasing greatness for some time, while Washington and Pratt also seem to be a great starring duo. This is by far my most anticipated movie of the month.

 

 

 

September 30

 

 

 

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

 

Stars: Asa Butterfield, Chris O’Dowd, Samuel L. Jackson, Allison Janney, Terence Stamp, Judi Dench

Director: Tim Burton

Official Synopsis:

From visionary director Tim Burton, and based upon the best-selling novel, comes an unforgettable motion picture experience. When his beloved grandfather leaves Jake clues to a mystery that spans different worlds and times, he finds a magical place known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. But the mystery and danger deepen as he gets to know the residents and learns about their special powers…and their powerful enemies. Ultimately, Jake discovers that only his own special “peculiarity” can save his new friends.

This is clearly Tim Burton’s take on the X-Men franchise and with this being a Fox production, it seems to be an odd decision for this movie to be made. It’s a big budget special effects film, that no one has heard of or at least is talking about. I’ve honestly lost some faith in Burton after a string of movies that I found barely tolerable including Alice in Wonderland and Dark Shadows, so I will be going into this one with low expectations.

Masterminds

 

Stars: Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis, Owen Wilson, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones

Director: Jared Hess

Official Synopsis:

In this action comedy based on true events, directed by Jared Hess (“Napoleon Dynamite,” “Nacho Libre”), David Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis) discovers the true meaning of adventure far beyond his wildest dreams. He is an uncomplicated man stuck in a monotonous life. Day in and day out he drives an armored vehicle, transporting millions of other people’s money with no escape in sight. The only glimmer of excitement is his flirtatious work crush Kelly Campbell (Kristen Wiig) who soon lures him into the scheme of a lifetime.

Along with a group of half-brained criminals led by Steve Chambers (Owen Wilson) and an absurdly faulted heist plan, David manages the impossible and makes off with $17 million in cash…only problem is he foolishly hands the money over to this wild group of double crossers and has been set up to take the fall. With the bandits blowing the millions on lavish and ridiculous luxuries, they leave behind a glaring trail of evidence. Now on the lam and in over his head, David must dodge the authorities, evade a hilarious hit man, Mike McKinney (Jason Sudeikis), and try to turn the tables on the ones he trusted most.

This month is light on comedies and heavy on movies based on true stories. Interestingly enough, Masterminds combines the best of both worlds. It seems like this movie has been on the shelf for awhile, so hopefully that’s not a reflection of the studio’s faith in the project. Plus, this movie offers the reunion of Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones, from this summer’s Ghostbusters reboot.

 

Deepwater Horizon

 

Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, Dylan O’Brien, Gina Rodriguez, John Malkovich, Kate Hudson

Director: Peter Berg

Official Synopsis:

On April 20th, 2010, one of the world’s largest man-made disasters occurred on the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico. Directed by Peter Berg (“Lone Survivor”), this story honors the brave men and women whose heroism would save many on board, and change everyone’s lives forever.

Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg have already proven to be a solid team, both in front and behind the camera. Lone Survivor was a pleasant surprise, so hopefully this is another unexpected quality flick. While the original trailer had some clever editing, it’s hard to get excited about this one. However, the movie’s supporting cast might be it’s saving grace as it’s loaded with solid character actors. There could be worse ways to close out the month!

When you see them, let us know what you thought of September’s films in the comment boards, , , and ! Share our stories by clicking below!

Source: ComingSoon