Autumn is a great time of year for many reasons such as football, big video game releases and the changing of the leafs, just to name a few. One of the best reasons though is because this is the time where some of the best movies of the year start to trickle out. Whether it is the award darlings or big budget action movies, there is a lot to love about the next couple of months. Here is a look at the movies I cannot wait to go the theaters for.
Honorable Mention: The Martian
Ridley Scott’s space epic gets an honorable mention just because I have already seen what is my favorite movie of the year (so far). “The Martian” continues in the recent trend of great space movies that examine the human spirit in tremendous fashion (“Gravity” and “Interstellar). Matt Damon is riveting as Mark Watney as the stranded astronaut is so engrossing because he knows that he is probably doomed, yet he refuses to give up. The movie is also one of the funniest movies of the year as director Scott, book writer Andy Weir and his stellar cast keeps the movie light and funny when it could have got dark and depressing. Add in some stellar effects and some great cinematography and you have absolutely one of the best movies of the year.
No. 5: The Hateful Eight
Quentin Tarantino’s first movie since 2012’s Django Unchained has taken a bumpy road to get to its Christmas day release this year. According to the eccentric director, the movie was never going to see the light of day because someone he trusted, rumored to be Michael Madsen, leaked the initial script. Luckily though, Tarantino decided to move forward and I am ecstatic that he did. The trailer has shown everything that makes his movies so great: a great cast, a unique filming choice as Tarantino shot the entire film in 70 mm, an intense setting (another western!), and the promise of plenty of tension and violence. Wrap that all together and you have a great way to finish off the Christmas season.
No. 4: The Revenant
“The Revenant” appears to be one of the most intense movies of the year. Leading man Leonardo DiCaprio continues his quest for his first Oscar win as Hugh Glass, a 19th century frontiersman who gets left for dead by his posse after he gets mauled by a bear. He miraculously survives and goes on a quest for vengeance against his deserting friends, led by Tom Hardy. This appears to be Leo’s most intense role since his turn as underrated villain Calvin Candie in “Django Unchained” and the bleak and dark tone of film screams award season.
No. 3: Steve Jobs
Michael Fassbender is my favorite actor on the planet right now, so it is safe to say I am pumped for his turn as one of the greatest and most controversial minds of the last 40 years. Fassbender’s role as Steve Jobs is complemented by Danny Boyle’s inspired direction, Aaron Sorkin’s engrossing and intelligent writing, and an all-star cast featuring Jeff Daniels, Kate Winslet, and Seth Rogen. The real draw of this film for me is that it isn’t afraid to show that Steve Jobs, while brilliant, was kind of an asshole, a theme that Sorkin and Boyle really seem to emphasizing. With Fassbender leading the way, “Steve Jobs” look poised for a run at Oscar gold.
No. 2: Spectre
This is where I get to nerd out a bit. Growing up, James Bond movies were in the VCR as much as Disney movies were. Whether it was Connery, Moore, Brosnan, or Craig, I would be there with popcorn in hand. This year’s entry in the long running series, “Spectre,” looks to continue to build on some of the best Bond movies of the last 30 years and then some. With an almost finite feel to the trailers and theme song, Bond is going up against what could be his biggest challenge in Christoph Waltz’s evil agency in SPECTRE. This is director Sam Mendes last trek into 007’s world and could be Daniel Craig’s last as Bond as well, so you know both are going to bring it when the movie comes out this November.
No. 1: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Like this one was a surprise. Ever since Disney announced they would be bringing the series back to the big screen, people have been chomping at the bit to find out more about Episode VII. For me, the best part about this installment is that I literally know almost nothing about it. We know the old favorites like Luke and Han will join new favorites like BB-8 and badass Kylo Ren and we have gotten some tantalizing peaks into the post-Empire-ruled galaxy, but that is about it. I am a huge fan of everything stories (yes even the prequels), and when I heard that J.J. Abrams was at the helm and he was emphasizing the use of practical effects, I was one hundred percent sold. I will see you in line in December. I will be the big guy in the Wookie onesie.
