The beginning of October means one thing to me: awards season movies are ready to hit the big screen. The last two years have provided some really great films during fall. I was skeptical of what kind of movies we would get this year. Not anymore. Below are my picks for October’s must-see films.
“The Good Lie”
Am I getting all types of “The Blind Side” feelings about this one? Sure. One good note, however, is Reese Witherspoon returning to the big screen in a major way. Along with this movie, she is also a producer on “Gone Girl,” has a starring role in the upcoming movie “Wild,” which has received worldwide acclaim and a supporting role in “Inherent Vice.” Odds are, Witherspoon is going to be a regular at the award shows early next year for at least one of these films. Sudanese refugees are given the chance to resettle in America and arrive in Kansas, where their encounter with an employment agency counselor (Witherspoon) forever changes all of their lives. “The Good Lie” opens in theaters today.
“Gone Girl”
Hopefully I’m not the only one who has not read the book and is just going into the movie blind. The trailer is utterly creepy. In the film, Ben Affleck stars as Nick Dunne. After the disappearance of his wife, and having become the focus of an intense media circus, he sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent. “Gone Girl” opens in theaters today.
“The Judge”
Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall is really all you need to know. I’ll just say it: anything with Downey in it, I’m watching. This film, however, is something that branches out for the bigheaded, but loveable actor. Downey stars as successful, big city lawyer Hank Palmer who returns to his childhood home where his father (Duvall), the town's judge, is suspected of murder. Hank sets out to discover the truth and reconnects with his estranged family along the way. The film also stars Vera Farmiga, Vincent D'Onofrio and Billy Bob Thornton. “The Judge” opens in theaters Oct. 10.
“You’re Not You”
Hilary Swank and Emmy Rossum look to make us weep like babies. Well, I doubt I’ll weep because I only produce tears over the stupidest of things. However, this film looks to be the tearjerker of the month. The film stars Swank as a classical pianist who has been diagnosed with ALS who slowly begins to lose her voice. Rossum stars as her brash caregiver who lends her a voice while discovering the full power of her own. “You’re Not You” opens in theaters Oct. 10.
“Fury”
A movie set in World War II is really all I needed to know. I could watch the military channel all day, but that’s another story. Set against the backdrop of the last month of the European Theater during World War II in April 1945, the film stars Brad Pitt as a battle-hardened army sergeant named Wardaddy. He commands a Sherman tank and its five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Out-numbered, out-gunned and with a rookie soldier thrust into their platoon, Pitt and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany. “Fury” opens in theaters Oct. 17.
“St. Vincent”
If Billy Murray and Melissa McCarthy are going to star in the same film, you can go ahead it call it a success. I know I am. The film stars Murray as Vincent, a drunken, gambling war veteran who gets recruited by his new single mom neighbor Maggie (McCarthy) to watch over her undersized 12-year-old son Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher). Vincent's ideas of after-school activities involve racetracks and strip clubs, but eventually the mismatched pair begins to help each other grow up. “St. Vincent” opens in theaters Oct. 24.
October is a great start to the fall movie lineup. A few more movies that won’t necessarily be awards contenders but might be worth checking out include: “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” opening Oct. 10, “The Best of Me” opening Oct. 17 and “Before I go to Sleep” opening Oct. 31. October is only setting up for an extrodinary November, which I will cover in a future issue. Until then, check out one, or some or all of these movies. You won’t regret it, but if you do, don’t blame me.
