Fall is officially upon us and with that comes the fall movie season! With so many movies having been delayed because of the pandemic, there is no shortage of movies coming out in the remainder of 2021 and I, for one, have been adding a new one to my “To Watch” list almost every week. It’s no secret that university can get quite stressful, so what better way to decompress than to escape into a new world for a few hours, especially now that theatres are back in business. From musicals to sci-fi blockbusters, I’ve managed to cut down my list to 10 movies (in order of release date) that I’m excited to watch during the fall semester.
1. The Card Counter
Director: Paul Schrader | Release Date: September 10th
As you can see, I’m already behind considering that The Card Counter, starring Oscar Isaac, has been in theatres for a few weeks. Isaac made waves at this year’s Venice International Film Festival for his performance both in the movie and on the red carpet with his Scenes From a Marriage co-star, Jessica Chastain; the clip of the famous red carpet arm kiss quickly made its rounds on social media. Without giving too much of the plot away, The Card Counter follows an ex-military gambler on the hunt for revenge against an enemy from the past. If you’re a fan of thrillers, revenge, Oscar Isaac, and intense plots (Paul Schrader’s signature style), you should try to catch a screening of The Card Counter while you still can.
2. The Eyes of Tammy faye
Director: Micheal Showalter | Release Date: September 17th
Speaking of Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye sees her take on the role of Tammy Faye Bakker, a controversial American televangelist known for her inclusivity and over-the-top makeup, alongside Andrew Garfield as her partner, Jim. Early reviews suggest Chastain could be a contender in the Best Actress race after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. If you’re looking for a quirky biopic, a strong character performance, and some very unique singing, add The Eyes of Tammy Faye to your fall watchlist.
3. Dune
Director: Denis Villeneuve | Release Date: October 22nd
After its release date was delayed from its original November 2020 slot because of the pandemic, it feels like I’ve been waiting a lifetime to see this movie. When I first heard about Dune, I, like many others, decided I’d give Frank Herbert’s 1965 book a read before seeing the movie in theatres because despite my robust love for movies, I stand by the “book is always better” principle. The delayed-release turned out to be a blessing in disguise because let me tell you, this book is long, and I absolutely did not finish it before the original release date. This sci-fi blockbuster has a stacked cast starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem, to name just a few. Dune is to sci-fi what The Lord of The Rings is to fantasy in terms of the insanely in–depth world-building it provides, and the visuals from the trailer have me nothing short of ecstatic to see the planet Arrakis brought to life. Whether you’re a sci-fi expert or a just big fan of Timothée Chalamet, this larger-than-life movie calls for a theatre viewing, so make sure you buy your tickets!
4. The French Dispatch
Director: Wes Anderson | Release Date: October 22nd
Timothée Chalamet has certainly been busy this festival season. In addition to Dune, Chalamet stars in the latest Wes Anderson movie alongside yet another star-studded cast, including Tilda Swinton, Benecio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Frances McDormand, and many, many more. The French Dispatch follows a collection of three stories published in the French newspaper of the same name, creating a chapter-based storyline habitually utilized in other Wes Anderson movies. Anderson’s idiosyncratic characters, aesthetic colour themes, and whimsically deadpan comedy makes for a very recognizable style that makes his movies not only visually pleasing but also fun to watch; based on the trailer, The French Dispatch promises to follow suit. With Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel being one of my all-time favourite movies, I have been anticipating the release of this movie since the day it was announced. So if you’re looking for a movie that is captivating and unconventional, from the set design to the score, take a break from studying to go see The French Dispatch.
5. Last night in soho
Director: Edgar Wright | Release Date: October 29th
Starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Thomasin McKenzie, Last Night in Soho is a psychological thriller following a fashion designer who finds herself in the body of a ’60s nightclub singer; however, her life is not as fun and charming as she might’ve thought when it seems like murder might’ve ended it. Horror is not a genre that I usually dabble in (I didn’t watch Coraline until I was 15), but I like to tell myself that psychological thrillers are only adjacent to horror films and that I can definitely handle it. The trailer features some very alluring visuals with over-the-top lighting and ’60s-styled clothes, so even though I might have to cover my eyes here and there, I am determined to watch this movie, if not at least for Anya Taylor-Joy.
6. The Eternals
Director: Chloé Zhao | Release Date: November 5th
As a long-time watcher of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), The Eternals is a must. Most Marvel movies are designed so that you can watch them as stand-alone; that way, anyone can go to the theatres and enjoy one without having to have seen the other 24 films. In my experience, however, when you have seen the universe as a whole, you can catch those little references and one-liners that make the experience that much more fun and in the end, all the characters and micro-plots have a role to play in the grand scheme of things. This marks The Eternals’ first MCU appearance, so whether you’re an MCU veteran or just a casual movie-goer, we’ll all be learning about these characters for the first time. Directed by Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao, this movie will bring the MCU to whole new universes with visuals that look off the charts. Even if you’re not a consistent watcher of the MCU, I would recommend watching The Eternals; and who knows, if you enjoy this film and are looking for a little project to start, why not add the other 24 movies, especially the recently released Shang-Chi, to your watchlist?
7. Spencer
Director: Pablo Larraín | Release Date: November 5th
Spencer follows Diana, Princess of Wales as she decides to separate from Prince Charles. Known as the “people’s princess”, there has certainly been no shortage of content surrounding Diana’s life, as evidenced by the latest season of The Crown which was centred around her marriage to the prince. Despite how much content already exists, Spencer promises to offer a fresh take on the well-known story by focusing solely on what might have happened during the few days of deliberation. Kristen Stewart, whose transformation as Princess Diana is a sight to see, is already garnering Oscar buzz for her performance and could earn her first nomination, making Spencer a performance — and production — that we don’t want to miss.
8. House of gucci
Director: Ridley Scott | Release Date: November 24th
Even if you haven’t heard of this movie yet, you’ve probably heard the viral Tik Tok audio that it created. “I don’t consider myself to be a particularly ethical person, but I am fair” is a line spoken by Lady Gaga as Patrizia Gucci in the upcoming House of Gucci. The movie is set to follow the tumultuous marriage of Patrizia and Maurizio Gucci and the murder that ensues. Alongside Lady Gaga, House of Gucci features Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Salma Hayek, and Jared Leto. If you’re looking for high-end fashion and messy relationships that intertwine business and love, go watch Lady Gaga and Adam Driver bring the fashion moguls to life in this dramatized biographical crime drama.
9. West side story
Director: Steven Spielberg | Release Date: December 10th
As a fan of musical theatre, this adaptation of the Broadway musical by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim is something I’ve been really looking forward to. Like Dune, West Side Story was supposed to come out a year ago, except this time I didn’t have a book I needed to finish first. West Side Story is one of the most well-known musicals out there and features some of the most memorable songs that you’re sure to find on any Broadway essentials playlist, including “America” and “I Feel Pretty”. This movie is also Rachel Zegler’s big break, as she scored the leading role of Maria after responding to the open casting call on Twitter with videos of her singing for the part. If you’re a fan of the classic musical theatre style, where characters break out in song, conflicts are expressed through dance numbers, and the plot is driven by the quintessential love story, be sure to catch Rachel Zegler’s film debut in West Side Story.
10. Tick, tick…Boom!
Director: Lin-Manuel Miranda | Release Date: Netflix This November
This fall seems to be the season of musical adaptations as this last movie brings the West End Stage production to the big screen. Directed by the creator of Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda is bringing to life the story of a theatre composer going through a midlife crisis as he realizes that his career is not going as planned. Andrew Garfield takes on the role of Jonathan Larson, the real-life composer of the smash-hit musical Rent. If you’re looking for an emotional soundtrack, or are just as curious as I am to see Andrew Garfield immerse himself into the world of musicals, you should look for Tick, Tick…Boom on Netflix this fall.
Movie theatres in Ontario will require you to show your vaccine receipt to prove that you are fully vaccinated.