Ana de Armas offers a glimpse into Marilyn Monroe’s inner life in Blonde PHOTO: COURTESY OF NETFLIX
FROM VENICE TO TORONTO, SUMMER WRAPPED UP WITH THE DEBUT OF THE YEAR’S BIGGEST MOVIES AT THE INDUSTRY’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS FILM FESTIVALS. HERE’S WHAT TO KEEP YOUR EYE OUT FOR AS THE FILMS MAKE THEIR WAY TO THEATERS AND STREAMING SERVICES THIS AWARDS SEASON.
Colin Farrell and Barry Keoghan team up in The Banshees of Inisherin, Martin McDonagh’s examination of friendship PHOTO: BY JONATHAN HESSION FOR SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES
THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
Pádraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson) have been lifelong friends. Then, suddenly, Colm puts an unexpected end to their friendship. On a quest to understand why, Pádraic seeks help from sister Siobhán (Kerry Condon) and troubled young local Dominic (Barry Keoghan). He refuses to take no for an answer, but only pushes Colm to feel more hardened in his decision, which leads to an ultimatum with dire consequences in this dark comedy written and directed by British Irish playwright Martin McDonagh. Currently in theaters from Searchlight Pictures
Daniel Giménez Cacho shines in Bardo, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s black comedy with Oscar ambitions. PHOTO: BY SEOJU PARK FOR NETFLIX
BARDO
Oscar-winning Birdman and The Revenant director Alejandro G. Iñárritu is back. With music from The National’s Bryce Dessner, Bardo captures the story of renowned Mexican journalist Silverio (Daniel Giménez Cacho) who, after winning a prestigious award, must return home for what ends up being a lifechanging, existential trip. Streaming on Netflix beginning Nov. 18
Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet lead the cannibal love story Bones and PHOTO: BY YANNIS DRAKOULIDIS FOR METRO GOLDWYN MAYER PICTURES
BLONDE
Based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates and directed by Andrew Dominik, the Marilyn Monroe biopic stars Ana de Armas as Norma Jeane in her navigation of stardom, romance and the widening gap between her public and private selves. The cast also features Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Xavier Samuel, Julianne Nicholson and Lily Fisher. Currently streaming on Netflix
BONES AND ALL
Reuniting Call Me by Your Name director Luca Guadagnino with Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet, Bones and All has all the best elements of teen romance and enticing horror. Equally dark and tender, Maren (Taylor Russell) and Lee (Chalamet) embark on a road trip through the Reagan-era United States. Love blossoms, but not without their terrifying pasts getting in the way. Coming to theaters Nov. 23 from MGM
DON’T WORRY DARLING
Tick. Tock. It’s only a matter of time before the facade of a perfect life shatters. In Booksmart director Olivia Wilde’s sophomore project, a mystery-thriller, Alice (Florence Pugh) and Jack (Harry Styles) live in an idyllic but experimental town that houses the men who work for the top-secret Victory Project. Alice starts to notice cracks in this lifestyle, revealing something much more sinister beneath the surface—leading her to the dilemma of exposing the truth, or living life in paradise. Currently in theaters from Warner Bros. Pictures
Florence Pugh proves her bona fide stardom in Don’t Worry Darling PHOTO: COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. PICTURES
EMPIRE OF LIGHT
From British film and stage writer-director Sam Mendes, Empire of Light unfolds in an English seaside town in the ’80s and hones in on the magic of cinema and power of human connection. The romantic drama stars Oscar winner Olivia Colman, Oscar winner Colin Firth, Micheal Ward, Toby Jones, Crystal Clarke and Tanya Moodie. Coming to theaters Dec. 9 from Searchlight Pictures
Paul Dano and Michelle Williams star in Steven Spielberg’s self-reflective The Fabelmans. PHOTO: BY MERIE WEISMILLER WALLACE FOR UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND AMBLIN ENTERTAINMENT
THE FABELMANS
Winner of the Toronto International Film Festival People’s Choice Award, The Fabelmans is writer-director Steven Spielberg’s reflection on the experiences that made him a filmmaker. His most personal film yet follows Sammy Fabelman from age 7 to 18 as he comes of age in post-World War II Arizona. After learning a shattering family secret, Sammy explores how the power of films can help him see the truth. Coming to theaters Nov. 11 from Universal Pictures
Cate Blanchett is running headfirst into awards season as one of the world’s greatest living conductors in Tár PHOTO COURTESY OF: FOCUS FEATURES
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
Audiences have been itching for more after the whip-smart, laugh-out-loud Knives Out hit theaters in 2019. Now, famed Southern detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back to take on an all-new case that lands him in Greece. The murder mystery written and directed by Rian Johnson features an ensemble cast that also includes Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Madelyn Cline, Jessica Henwick, Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista. Streaming on Netflix Dec. 23
Daniel Craig is head-to-toe Southern charm in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. PHOTO COURTESY OF: NETFLIX
THE SON
Following up his directorial debut, The Father, Oscar-winning screenwriter and director Florian Zeller returns with another story of complicated family dynamics—also co-written with Oscar-winning screenwriter and British playwright Christopher Hampton. Starring Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, Anthony Hopkins and Vanessa Kirby, the drama immerses you into one family’s struggle to support a teenager with severe depression. Coming to theaters Nov. 11 from Sony Pictures Classics
TÁR
Perhaps the top critical highlight of the Venice Film Festival, where it premiered, Todd Field’s psychological drama starring Cate Blanchett focuses on renowned conductor and composer Lydia Tár, the first-ever female conductor of a major German orchestra. Now in theaters from Focus Features
TRIANGLE OF SADNESS
Back in May, Ruben Ostlund’s social satire nabbed the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival— and for good reason. While watching an examination of the relationship between power and beauty, you’ll laugh your way through as celebrity model couple Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean) experience the antics of an unhinged boat captain (Woody Harrelson) helming their luxury cruise. When the boat sinks, the survivors are left stranded on a desert island and must fight for survival. Now in theaters from Neon
Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, Rooney Mara and more channel the power of women’s whispers in Women Talking PHOTO BY: MICHAEL GIBSON
THE WHALE
Based on the 2012 play of the same name by Samuel D. Hunter, this drama from Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Wrestler) captures the efforts of a reclusive, 600-pound English teacher (Brendan Fraser) to reconnect with his estranged teen daughter (Sadie Sink) for one final chance at redemption. Coming to theaters Dec. 9 from A24
Sadie Sink continues her star ascent in The Whale PHOTO BY: NIKO TAVERNISE
WHITE NOISE
There is spectacularity in ordinary life—at least according to Noah Baumbach’s newest film. Set to music by Danny Elfman, White Noise is based on the eponymous 1985 novel by Don DeLillo and explores a contemporary American family who grapple with everyday life, love, death and the possibility of happiness. The star-studded cast includes Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, Don Cheadle, Raffey Cassidy, Sam Nivola, May Nivola, Jodie Turner- Smith, André 3000 and Lars Eidinger. Streaming on Netflix Dec. 30
Suburban life is thrown for a spin after a chemical leak causes The Airborne Toxic Event in White Noise. PHOTO BY: WILSON WEBB FOR NETFLIX
WOMEN TALKING
Based on the 2018 novel by Miriam Toews, this film follows women in an isolated religious community who attempt to reconcile with their faith following a series of sexual assaults by members of the colony. Featuring an all-star team of women, the film is written and directed by Sarah Polley, and the cast features four-time Oscar winner Frances McDormand, Rooney Mara, Claire Foy and Jessie Buckley—along with Ben Whishaw. Coming to theaters Dec. 2 from United Artists
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