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Fall Preview 2014: No. 5 – No. 1

Happy Friday, film fans! The conclusion to my “Fall Preview 2014” is finally here. Over the past couple of days, I have shared with you my five Honorable Mentions and No. 10 – No. 6 on the list of my most anticipated fall film releases. But now it is on to the big reveal. So, without further ado, I give you films No. 5 – No. 1 on my Fall Preview 2014 list.

No. 5 – A Walk Among the Tombstones

A Walk Among the Tombstones (based on the 1992 novel of the same name) follows Matthew Scudder, an ex-cop turned private investigator that is hired to find the people that abducted and murdered a high-end drug dealer’s wife.

Although the plot and the beginning of the trailer initially make it seem like the film is vastly similar to Neeson’s acclaimed Taken, director Scott Frank wants fans to know that it will not be the same movie. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Frank stated, “It’s not Taken. It’s not an action movie—it’s a very different sort of thing.” And when you watch the trailer in its entirety, it is more than evident that Frank is absolutely on point—this movie is way more of a thriller noir than Neeson’s modern action flicks.

Speaking of the trailer, it is incredible. My future sister-in-law turned me onto this film a few months ago by pointing me to its trailer, and ever since, I have considered this to be one of the movies that I absolutely cannot miss out on. The trailer is dark, chilling, thrilling, vengeful, and violent—and with Neeson on the screen, this superfluity of cinematic emotions will surely be presented with veteran fluidity and seasoned passion. Although average film fans may only accredit Neeson’s modern relevancy in film to action movies like Taken, Taken 2, and Non-Stop, I truly believe that he is an actor with noteworthy range (given his major award-nominated performances in Schindler’s List, Michael Collins, and Kinsey); this performance appears likely to cement Neeson as an acclaimed dramatic actor in this modern era, as opposed to a mere action star. A Walk Among the Tombstones is set for a theatrical release on September 19, 2014.

Director: Scott Frank (The Lookout).

Starring: Liam Neeson (Taken, Non-Stop), Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, The Fifth Estate), and Boyd Holbrook (The Host, Out of the Furnace).

No. 4 – Interstellar

Interstellar is set in the not-so-distant future on an Earth that has ceased to produce enough food for the population to survive. On a mission to save humanity, widowed engineer Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) leaves his family and joins a group of scientists to travel to planets past our own solar system in hopes of finding a solution or even a new place for humans to call home.

This film is this high on the list for one reason: Christopher Nolan. The 44-year-old genius director has a limited but illustrious history as a filmmaker, and every movie fan has been waiting on pins and needles for his newest project. Nolan has incredible range as a director, creating a neo-noir psychological thriller (Memento), a superhero trilogy of innovative proportions (The Dark Knight trilogy), and a heist taking place in a sequence of interconnected dreams (Inception); but in Interstellar, he dives into his first full-blown science-fiction space narrative. His films are interesting, captivating, thrilling, and cinematically brilliant, and I am more than looking forward to this renowned director’s bright new adventure.

Matthew McConaughey (aka “I’m in everything lately, and I’m absolutely killing it”) leads this ensemble in what looks like an emotionally dedicated role, and once again, he will probably be the substance of many Oscar conversations this fall. He is joined by a posse of critically acclaimed performers, namely Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, John Lithgow, Casey Affleck, Michael Caine (he’s now been in each of Nolan’s last six films), and Ellen Burstyn. The director is inimitable. The trailer is entrancing. And the cast is extraordinary—Oscar buzz will most assuredly be following the Interstellar ship no matter how many light-years away it is, and I sure hope it lives up to the expectations that have been set for it. Interstellar is set for a theatrical release on November 7, 2014.

Director: Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception).

Starring: Matthew McConaughey (Mud, Dallas Buyers Club), Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty, Mama), and Anne Hathaway (The Dark Knight Rises, Les Misérables).

No. 3 – Fury

Fury is a war film set during the final month of World War II. The film follows a five-man crew of American soldiers that command a M4A3E8 Sherman tank named “Fury.” The leader of the crew is an Army sergeant called “Wardaddy” (Brad Pitt), and in the face of the Nazis, he and his outnumbered crew are forced to overcome improbable odds in order to survive.

If Brad Pitt is in a movie, I am already sold. Yes, Brad and Angelina (newly married now—Mazeltov) are an odd pair of humans, wearing an unparalleled pop-culture crown, but at the heart of one of the most popular men in the world is an actor with an unbridled commitment to continually perfecting his art—for this, I am grateful. I was hooked on this film from the very moment I first watched its trailer. It looks dark and dreary. It looks cold and exhausted. But a narrative such as this about a group of men at the point of no return is just the kind of story that reeks of power and persistence. The tank itself appears to play a major role in the film, and with Pitt leading his men into the depths of hell in this monstrous machine of mayhem, filmgoers everywhere will most likely be well-rewarded for the experience.

I am also looking forward to seeing Pitt’s supporting cast alongside him in the battlefield. Logan Lerman is a budding young star with immense potential. Shia LaBeouf, although weird as $&*#, is still determined and focused on growing as an actor. Jon Bernthal impressed in The Wolf of Wall Street, and it will be great to see him branch out into this role. And lastly, Michael Peña is continually one of the better supporting actors on the Hollywood circuit, and the film will greatly benefit from his veteran presence. Fury is set for a theatrical release on November 14, 2014.

Director: David Ayer (End of Watch, Sabotage).

Starring: Brad Pitt (World War Z, 12 Years a Slave), Logan Lerman (The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Noah), Shia LaBeouf (Lawless, Nymphomaniac), Jon Bernthal (Snitch, The Wolf of Wall Street), and Michael Peña (End of Watch, American Hustle).

No. 2 – Foxcatcher

Foxcatcher takes a look into the real-life events surrounding the 1996 shooting of Olympic gold-medal wrestler David Schultz (Mark Ruffalo). The film follows the relationship of eccentric millionaire John du Pont (Steve Carell) with Olympic brothers David and Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) in anticipation for the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul. John’s desire to attain the respect of his disapproving mother leads him into a dark spiral of obsession and compulsion, and his rage casts a wide net of derivative effects on Mark and his career. Furthermore, John’s disturbing pathology seems to steer the film in one direction, and that direction is tragedy.

This movie looks menacing. Absolutely, unequivocally, frightening. And obviously I do not mean it the sense of a horror film; rather, I refer to it in the mold of a film that you already know the ending to but refuse to look away, hypnotized by the mystery and thrill. I am drawn to this film because both Steve Carell and Channing Tatum almost unrecognizable in their respective roles—that is what makes this work. Carell is always the 40-Year-Old-Virgin funny guy, while Tatum is the ripped ladies’ man. Director Bennett Miller (of Capote and Moneyball fame) has shredded those stereotypes and created a haunting level of eccentricity and enigma—one that earned him the Best Director award at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.

I love sports, I love drama, and I love film. Mix these three ingredients, and all of a sudden I have a pleasant cocktail to consume. But this is no ordinary drink. This is top-shelf. This is the kind of film that surpasses all others of its kind to reach a pinnacle of critical success. I have high Oscar hopes for this film, its director, and the cast he assembled, and I cannot wait to see it for myself very soon. Foxcatcher is set for a theatrical release on November 14, 2014.

Director: Bennett Miller (Capote, Moneyball).

Starring: Steve Carell (Despicable Me 2, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues), Channing Tatum (White House Down, 22 Jump Street), and Mark Ruffalo (Now You See Me, Begin Again).

No. 1 – Gone Girl

In Gone Girl (based on the best-selling novel of the same name), Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) reports his wife missing on their fifth wedding anniversary. An intense police investigation and a modern day media frenzy ensues, and quickly, the marriage of Nick and his missing wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) begins to crumble under the nose of the nation. As more and more of Nick’s lies and deceit become readily apparent, the world begins to wonder if Nick himself is at fault for Amy’s disappearance.

If you have been following the writing in my Fall Preview closely, you probably think that I believe every movie in my Top 10 could be No. 1; if so, you are almost correct. I definitely do think my Top 10 consists of commendable films with untapped potential, but I saved Gone Girl for my No. 1 spot for a reason—it is clearly the film to watch out for this fall season!

Like Inherent Vice and Interstellar before it, Gone Girl has received an immense amount of hype due to its director; here, that visionary filmmaker is the legendary David Fincher. Fincher has such a unique style of filmmaking, and his innate capability to create mystery and thrill is evident by renowned films like Se7en, Fight Club, Panic Room, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (all of which I own personally). And in recent years, he has mastered the art of drama, too, with successful ventures in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Social Network (both of which I also own). I list Fincher’s eminent résumé to make the point that he is clearly one of the most talented and thriving filmmakers around today. Everyone who loves film is always anxiously awaiting the next picture from Fincher, and even though that wait is always carried out with a particular degree of impatience, it is always well worth it.

David Fincher’s film can only succeed with a carefully crafted cast, and in Gone Girl, he has assembled a diverse group of heavy hitters, bubbling stars, and relatively unknowns. From the early reports, it appears this interesting dynamic works exceptionally well, and I cannot wait to see those interactions play out on the big screen. Ben Affleck leads the film as the mysterious Nick Dunne, and his missing bride is played by Rosamund Pike, an experienced actress that finally gets the chance to make a huge impact on the screen. Affleck and Pike are joined by the traditionally comedic Neil Patrick Harris, the usually-in-a-female-outfit Tyler Perry, the former SNL cast member Casey Wilson, and the oft-topless “Blurred Lines” music-video star Emily Ratajkowski. It is a fascinating choice for an assemblage of characters in such a serious, dramatic film, but I believe it will pay off tenfold in the end. Gone Girl is set for a theatrical release on October 3, 2014.

Director: David Fincher (The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).

Starring: Ben Affleck (The Town, Argo), Rosamund Pike (Jack Reacher, The World’s End), and Neil Patrick Harris (The Smurfs 2, A Million Ways to Die in the West).

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Fall Preview 2014: No. 10 – No. 6

I hope everyone found the Honorable Mentions post yesterday enjoyable. It is always a fun post as it truly gets this vital film season rolling. Today’s post reveals films No. 10 through No. 6 on my list of Top 10 most anticipated movies coming out during the fall season.  This batch includes some potential heavy hitters, and if you are looking for a great movie to go see in theaters in the next few months, this post will give you some top-notch options among the films that look most poised for success.

No. 10 – Inherent Vice

Inherent Vice is a crime noir set in the psychedelic period of the 1970s, which follows Private Investigator Larry “Doc” Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix) and, according to Entertainment Weekly, chronicles his search for answers in the “disappearance of his ex-girlfriend’s wealthy boyfriend.”

At first glance, this film does not appear to have much to offer in terms of high-levels of anticipation—and that is because the plot currently known to the public is entirely vague, and a trailer still does not exist. Notwithstanding this mystery, the movie is regarded as one of the most likely films to receive critical success because of numerous factors, namely its director: Paul Thomas Anderson. PTA is one of my favorite filmmakers around, and furthermore, I believe he is one of the best at what he does (most film nerds share this sentiment). His filmography is impeccable, and the fact that he is back behind the camera is enough of a reason for me to salivate with eagerness.

In addition to P.T. Anderson, the cast is as accomplished as it gets. The film features the likes of Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, and Benicio del Toro. It is sure to be a genius film, and the film’s spot at No. 10 on this list is ONLY because very few details have been released. Inherent Vice is set for a theatrical release on December 12, 2014.

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood, The Master)

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix (The Master, Her), Josh Brolin (Guardians of the Galaxy, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For), and Katherine Waterson (Manhattan Romance, Night Moves).

No. 9 – The Judge

In The Judge, big-shot attorney Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.) returns to his small hometown to attend his mother’s funeral. The trip is notably momentous for Palmer because for decades, he has been estranged from his father, a well-respected local judge. As if the awkward reuniting between father and son is not arduous enough, Palmer learns that his father is being accused of a fatal hit-and-run accident.

As a second-year law student and life-long aspiring attorney, it is not the least bit surprising that legal films like this have always tickled my fancy. However, I have always strayed away from the law movies that lack any heartfelt drama outside of the courtroom—The Judge does not appear to be one of those.

From the box-office success of the Iron Man franchise, I say this with full confidence that I am in the majority: I buy into Downey’s charisma on the screen. He has his own style and always impresses in his performances, and for this, I am definitely looking forward to this film. I am also excited to see him beside Robert Duvall, an elder statesman in Hollywood with a storied career. I am hopeful that these two silver-screen heavyweights will carry the film with esteem, and if the trailer is of any worth, it appears they have. The Judge is set for a theatrical release on October 10, 2014.

Director: David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers, The Change-Up)

Starring: Robert Downey Jr. (The Avengers, Iron Man 3), Robert Duvall, (Jack Reacher, A Night in Old Mexico), Vera Farmiga (Safe House, The Conjuring), and Vincent D’Onofrio (The Break-Up, Charlie Countryman).

No. 8 – The Equalizer

The Equalizer (adapted from the 1980s TV show of the same name) follows Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), a man with a mysterious past and a wealth of combat skills who wishes now to lead a quiet life. However, when he befriends a young prostitute named Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz) who is nearly killed by a mob of Russian gangsters, his thirst for justice reemerges in hopes of rescuing her.

This movie looks good. Really good. And if the Taken-like trailer does not do enough for you, I am sure this will: Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington. The last time the two collaborated was in 2001, when Washington played the Oscar-winning role of Detective Alonzo Harris in Fuqua’s masterful directorial effort Training Day. That film was one of my favorites of all time, and even though Fuqua has not had similar commercial or critical success since, I am highly optimistic about the potential for The Equalizer to lift the 48-year-old director back into Hollywood relevance.

I am also eager to see Moretz playing the supporting character in this movie. Ever since I saw her completely own her scenes in (500) Days of Summer as a 12-year-old, I knew she had a special career ahead of her. So far she has not disappointed, and now she has the chance to take command of a complex role in what is sure to be a fall blockbuster. The Equalizer is set for a theatrical release on September 26, 2014.

Director: Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Olympus Has Fallen)

Starring: Denzel Washington (Flight, 2 Guns) and Chloë Grace Moretz (Carrie, If I Stay).

No. 7 – The Interview

In The Interview, two famous journalists are hired by the CIA to conduct an exclusive interview with Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s tyrannous leader. But the trip is not about the interview at all—the two are specifically tasked with carrying out an assassination on the crazed despot.

With the rioting success of every single one of Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen’s past collaborations, it goes without saying that this movie will most unquestionably live up to the hype in terms of comedic quality. It is also reunites Rogen and James Franco, an on-screen duo that has been making the world laugh for the past few years in blockbuster comedies like Pineapple Express and This Is the End. There it is—the scene is set for another hilarious installment in the young, but storied comedic careers of these three gentlemen. So what else is there to get excited about?

The answer is this specific plot and the controversy that has followed. With the exception of masterminds Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park, Team America: World Police), no one else would dare insult such a trigger-happy autocrat on a worldwide scale—but Goldberg, Rogen, and Franco have done just that. But in this film, the funnymen take their gag one step further by attempting to assassinate the real-life dictator. Naturally, the North Korean leader and his posse (those left that have not been executed already, that is) are not happy about the film’s release, even though Kim Jong-un will reportedly watch it. I find the entire ploy an act of a group of men with some serious cojones. Moreover, I cannot wait to watch it myself! The Interview is set for a theatrical release on December 25, 2014.

Director: Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen (This Is the End).

Starring: James Franco (Pineapple Express, This Is the End), Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express, This Is the End), Lizzy Caplan (Mean Girls, Masters of Sex), and Randall Park (The Five-Year Engagement, Sex Tape).

No. 6 – The Drop

The Drop tells the story of a Brooklyn bartender named Bob (Tom Hardy). The bar Bob works at serves as a location for mob-related “money drops”—a means of illegally funneling cash. According to Fox Searchlight, “under the heavy hand of his employer and cousin Marv (James Gandolfini),” Bob soon finds himself at the heart of a robbery-gone-wrong, and a subsequent investigation threatens to dig up the past secrets of his community.

Like most films on these Fall Preview lists, The Drop appears to be one of the better movies slated for a release this fall for multiple reasons. First, the fact that Tom Hardy is in the leading role feverishly adds to my interest in this film. Hardy is quickly becoming my favorite actor in modern cinema, and it is because with every single movie, he takes on his characters with a distinctive fervor and unparalleled commitment. From his inimitable performances in Bronson and Locke and everything in between, his passion for his art is admirable, and I grow to appreciate his talent even more with every new role he explores.

Also, I am highly anticipating this film because it is the late Sopranos-legend James Gandolfini’s last appearance on the silver screen. He has had an immense career filled with memorable performances and deserved acclaim, and this particular role seems to fit his style perfectly.

Lastly, author Dennis Lehane wrote the screenplay. A couple of my favorite movies of all time, Mystic River and Gone, Baby, Gone, were films that were adapted from Lehane’s novels. It will be a pleasure to finally see a film that is written directly from the pen of the accomplished wordsmith. The Drop is set for a theatrical release on September 12, 2014.

Director: Michaël R. Roskam (Bullhead).

Starring: Tom Hardy (Lawless, Locke), James Gandolfini (Zero Dark Thirty, Enough Said), and Noomi Rapace (Prometheus, Dead Man Down).

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Fall Preview 2014: Honorable Mentions

Movie fans—ASSEMBLE! Welcome back, everyone. As of today, we are exactly 180 days away from the 87th Academy Awards. As usual, my preparation for the release of a large portion of this year’s Oscar-worthy films begins now! So far throughout this calendar year, there has been a decent amount of good films that have been released and a couple that are downright superb.

And now it’s time to get this Fall Movie Season started. I have again compiled a list of my most anticipated movies of the season. Below is the schedule for my three Fall Preview posts, so make sure to be on the lookout this week:

Today: Honorable Mentions

Wednesday: No. 10 – No. 6

Friday: No. 5 – No. 1

Kicking off this year’s Fall Preview are the five films that just missed out on making the Top 10 list (in alphabetical order). Enjoy!

Birdman

Birdman follows Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton), a former star actor known for his role as a superhero named Birdman, and his desire to return to his A-list status. Riggan hopes to retain his past glory through a Broadway play that he has created, but in anticipation of opening night, he battles a breakdown. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu is not known for making comedies (he has directed critically-acclaimed dramas, such as 21 Grams and Babel), but with this film, he brings to the table an entire new experience.

The trailer is rather mysterious, not lending itself to many comedic overtones (other than Mike Keaton parading through the streets of NYC in his tightie-whities), but with a cast that includes Keaton, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Emma Stone, and Zach Galifianakis, it is sure to be enjoyable—in a weird kind of way. Birdman is set for a theatrical release on October 17, 2014.

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu (21 Grams, Babel)

Starring: Michael Keaton (Batman Returns, Jackie Brown), Edward Norton (Fight Club, Moonrise Kingdom), Naomi Watts (The Impossible, Diana), Emma Stone (The Amazing Spider-Man, Magic in the Moonlight), and Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover trilogy, The Campaign)

Horrible Bosses 2

Horrible Bosses 2 reunites fans with three friends who attempted to kill their respective bosses in the previous installment in the series: Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis), and Dale (Charlie Day). This time around, the guys have started their own business, but a smooth-talking investor (Christoph Waltz) threatens to bring them down. In order to get the business back, the three hapless friends forge a plan to kidnap the investor’s son (Chris Pine) for ransom. “That obviously goes sideways pretty quickly,” Bateman told Entertainment Weekly.

Horrible Bosses is by far one of my favorite comedies of all time, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing this comedy trio back in action. The trailer reveals cameos from three of the last film’s funniest characters: David Harken (Kevin Spacey), Dr. Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston), and Dean Motherf*$%#^ Jones (Jamie Foxx). I am hopeful that this film will become a classic sequel, as it definitely looks way better than Anchorman 2 and the new Dumb and Dumber sequel. Horrible Bosses 2 is set for a theatrical release on November 26, 2014.

Director: Sean Anders (Sex Drive, That’s My Boy)

Starring: Jason Bateman (Identity Thief, Bad Words), Jason Sudeikis (Drinking Buddies, We’re the Millers), Charlie Day (Pacific Rim, The Lego Movie), Chris Pine (Star Trek Into Darkness, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit), and Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained)

Jimi: All Is by My Side

Jimi: All Is by My Side is the true-life story of musical legend Jimi Hendrix (André Benjamin). The film follows the rockstar’s journey to his breakthrough performance at the Monterrey Pop Festival in the late 1960s, as opposed to tracking Hendrix from birth to death, and director John Ridley did this intentionally for creative purposes. “The excitement was in avoiding what was expected,” Ridley told Entertainment Weekly.

Unlike most, I am not particularly privy to Jimi Hendrix’s musical career, but this film piques my interest for multiple reasons. For starters, Ridley is directing, and last year he won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Best Picture-winner, 12 Years a Slave. It was my favorite film of last year, and I anticipate Ridley’s impeccable writing skills translating well to the director’s chair. I am further intrigued by André Benjamin’s casting in the lead role of Hendrix. In the few movies I have seen him in, “Three Stacks” (Outkast fans, where ya at?) always did a tremendous job on the screen. The trailer reveals a performance that is committed and authentic, and I am excited to see his portrayal of Hendrix on the silver screen. Jimi: All Is by My Side is set for a theatrical release on September 26, 2014.

Director: John Ridley (Red Tails, 12 Years a Slave)

Starring: André Benjamin (Four Brothers, Idlewild), Hayley Atwell (The Duchess, Captain America: The First Avenger), and Imogen Poots (That Awkward Moment, Need for Speed).

Kill the Messenger 

Kill the Messenger tells the true-life tale of award-winning journalist Barry Webb (Jeremy Renner) and the dangerous story he happens upon. The film chronicles America’s crack epidemic and the government’s implicit knowledge of the drug trade. As Webb’s investigation soldiers on, a range of CIA officials and high-ranking drug lords warn him to stop; however, Webb keeps digging for answers, and this journey becomes grueling as his life is incessantly put into grave danger.

Aside from Renner and cameos from Hollywood heavy hitters Ray Liotta, Andy Garcia, and Michael Sheen, this film’s cast is made up of predominantly second-string character actors. In spite of this revelation, it has a mass amount of potential because of two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner at the helm. Ever since his performance in The Hurt Locker in 2008, Renner has developed into one of the best talents in the business, and it is hard to imagine a world where he does not succeed in this movie. The trailer gives me high hopes for the film, and I am excited to see this conspiracy thriller in action. Kill the Messenger is set for a wide theatrical release on October 24, 2014.

Director: Michael Cuesta (Dexter, Homeland)

Starring: Jeremy Renner (American Hustle, The Immigrant), Barry Pepper (Snitch, The Lone Ranger), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Death Proof, The Spectacular Now), and Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married, The Watch).

Mr. Turner

According to Entertainment Weekly, Mr. Turner profiles the “last 25 years of the prolific early-19th-century British seascape painter J.M.W. Turner (Timothy Spall).” The biopic conveys his vast impact on the early days of impressionism, and in the trailer, a woman utters, “You’re a man of great vision, Mr. Turner.” That seems to be the enlightening theme behind this untold story. Although this film is probably enormously unknown to the average moviegoer in the United States, it is one that is highly anticipated in Great Britain. Director Mike Leigh is a well-known filmmaker, and this is his sixth collaboration with Spall, fourth with Marion Bailey, and third with Dorothy Atkinson—obviously this continuity and chemistry behind the scenes will help the film along in a refined manner.

I became interested in the film due to the critical acclaim it received at this year’s Cannes Film Festival in France. Early reviews have been wholly positive and complimentary, and most of the praise has been directed at Spall. In fact, Spall won the Best Actor award at Cannes, and it is this specific accolade that gives me faith in the biographical drama. I am also a sucker for great cinematography, and at Cannes, Mr. Turner cinematographer Dick Pope took home the award in that category. All of the pieces are in place for a successful run this winter, and I hope to continue broadening my cinematic horizons by taking in this film. Mr. Turner is set for a theatrical release on December 19, 2014.

Director: Mike Leigh (Secrets & Lies, Vera Drake)

Starring: Timothy Spall (Harry Potter films, The King’s Speech), Dorothy Atkinson (Topsy-Turvy, Chatroom), and Marion Bailey (Meantime, All or Nothing).