Film Friday (10/31): This Week's New Movies & Trailers

Metacritic
Updated

Opening this weekend

Nationwide releases . Nightcrawler R THRILLER Trailer

Jake Gyllenhaal is earning raves for his performance as an aspiring crime journalist in this stylish L.A.-set thriller that serves as the directorial debut for screenwriter Dan Gilroy (Real Steel, The Bourne Legacy).

. Saw NC-17 HORROR Trailer

The film that kicked off the nearly billion-dollar torture-horror franchise returns to theaters for a one-week run in honor of its 10th anniversary.

. Before I Go to Sleep NR THRILLER Trailer

Nicole Kidman, Mark Strong, and Colin Firth star in (and are the best things about) a psychological thriller that's an adaptation of S.J. Watson's novel by director Rowan Joffé (Brighton Rock).

. Goodbye to Language 3D NR FOREIGN/EXPERIMENTAL

The Jury Prize winner at this year's Cannes and the first 3D film from 83-year-old director Jean-Luc Godard is an enigmatic, narrative-free experiment that critics find visually stunning, challenging, and fragmentary.

. ABCs of Death 2 NR HORROR/COMEDY

The sequel to 2013's The ABCs of Death is another horror anthology that features 26 short films from directors ranging from Vincenzo Natali (Cube) to animator Bill Plympton.

. Point and Shoot NR DOCUMENTARY

This portrait of a young American man who traveled to Libya in 2011 to help overthrow Gaddafi's regime recently received documentary of the year nominations from several groups, including the International Documentary Association.

Notable limited releases . Horns R HORROR/THRILLER

In this adaptation of Joe Hill's novel, Daniel Radcliffe stars as a man who attempts to escape charges that he raped and murdered his girlfriend (Juno Temple) by using his newfound supernatural powers to track down the real killer.

Additional limited releases (in alphabetical order) . All You Need Is Love NR DOCUMENTARY

. Blood Ransom NR THRILLER/FANTASY

. Braddock America NR DOCUMENTARY

. The Great Invisible NR DOCUMENTARY

. Hit by Lightning NR ROM-COM

. Magical Universe NR DOCUMENTARY

. Missionary R THRILLER

. Plot for Peace NR DOCUMENTARY

. Private Peaceful NR DRAMA

. Revenge of the Mekons NR DOCUMENTARY/MUSIC

. Showrunners: The Art of Running a TV Show NR DOCUMENTARY

. True Son NR DOCUMENTARY

. Warsaw Uprising NR DOCUMENTARY

All movies now in theaters... | Recent DVD/Blu-ray releases... | Recent streaming releases...

New trailers and updates for upcoming films

Ex Machina: Alex Garland's directorial debut

After writing a novel that was adapted into a film (The Beach), several original screenplays (28 Days Later, Sunshine), and even adaptations of others' work (Never Let Me Go, Dredd), Alex Garland finally makes his debut behind the camera with Ex Machina, a sci-fi thriller that he also scripted. The story follows Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), a programmer at a giant tech company who wins a competition to spend a week at the private estate of the company’s brilliant CEO, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac). But Caleb soon finds out he’s not on a vacation. He’s there to test Nathan’s latest experiment in artificial intelligence, Ava (Alicia Vikander), and this proves much more difficult than either imagined. Ex Machina hits theaters on April 10, 2015.

The final trailer for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 opens on November 21st. Tickets are already on sale, and this week brings one last trailer for the third film in The Hunger Games series (and first of a two-part finale). The film picks up with Katniss reluctantly accepting the role of poster child for the rebellion, and Peeta in the clutches of President Snow. But it’s not a game this time; it’s war. Francis Lawrence returns to direct stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Jeffrey Wright, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Among those joining the cast for the two-part finale are Julianne Moore as District 13 President Alma Coin and Natalie Dormer as Cressida.

Marvel’s timeline

This week, Marvel responded to Warner Bros.'s DC Comics slate with their own announcement of releases through 2019. The third Captain America film will be titled Captain America: Civil War, with a plot that pits Steve Rodgers against Tony Stark. Following that May 4, 2016 release will be Doctor Strange on November 4, 2016. Marvel did not confirm Benedict Cumberbatch’s casting even though it has been widely reported. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 will now open on May 5, 2017 and be followed later in 2017 by Thor: Ragnarok on July 28th and Black Panther starring Chadwick Boseman (who reportedly has a five picture deal) on November 3rd. The following year will also bring three Marvel films to theaters with Avengers: Infinity War - Part I on May 4, 2018, the female-led Captain Marvel on July 6, 2018, and Inhumans on November 2, 2018. Lastly, May 3, 2019 will see the battle between the Avengers and Thanos end in Avengers: Infinity War - Part II.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (presumably other things happen too)

Ana Lily Amirpour’s debut feature has been dubbed the “first Iranian vampire western.” The black-and-white film does follow a vampire, played by Sheila Vand, and it is set in the very western-sounding Iranian town of Bad City, but it is a film full of surprises. Excellent reviews from its premiere at Sundance this year make A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night one to look for in select cinemas beginning November 21st.

Third time's not the charm for Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence

Poor reviews greeted Serena, the third collaboration between Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence (following Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle), when it recently opened in the UK. As the film's North American theatrical release date of March 27, 2015 (and VOD date of February 26) approaches, Magnolia Pictures has released a new trailer for this 1920s-set tale of love in thnulle North Carolina mountains, where Cooper’s George Pemberton marries Lawrence’s titular character and struggles to maintain control of his timber empire. The film was shot two-and-a-half years ago by director Susanne Bier (Love Is All You Need, In a Better World) from Christopher Kyle’s adaptation of Ron Rash’s novel.

Make the effort to watch the trailer for Zero Motivation

Set in a remote desert outpost of the Israeli Army, Talya Lavie’s debut feature follows best friends Zohar (Dana Ivgy) and Daffi (Nelly Tagar) as they spend their time in the Human Resources Office playing video games, singing pop songs, and generally frustrating their senior officer, Rama (Shani Klein). Zero Motivation won an award for best narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival this year (as well as six awards from the Israeli Film Academy, including best director and best screenplay). Look for the dramedy in select North American theaters beginning December 3rd.

Paddington: Now with 100% more Whishaw

An impressive cast (Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Nicole Kidman, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, and Julie Walters) has gathered to support an animated bear voiced by Ben Whishaw (a late replacement for Colin Firth) in Paddington. Based on Michael Bond’s books and directed by Paul King, the film follows the Peruvian bear as he’s taken in by the Brown family and catches the eye of an evil taxidermist (Kidman). The family-friendly film lands in theaters on January 16, 2015.

Comet doesn't make much of an impact

Justin Long and Emmy Rossum are star-crossed lovers whose relationship blooms and unravels over the course of six years in writer-director Sam Esmail’s debut feature. The film jumps between five different moments in the couple’s relationship, but this conceit doesn’t work for everyone. Critics are currently split on Comet, which comes to VOD and select theaters on December 5th.

Short takes

Thor’s hammer takes center stage in this new extended version of last week’s debut trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron.

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water brings the beloved Nickelodeon character above the surface, where he tangles with a pirate (Antonio Banderas) over the secret recipe for the Krabby Patty. See it in theaters beginning February 6, 2015.

News and notes

  • Joel and Ethan Coen’s 1950s-set Hollywood comedy Hail, Caesar!, starring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, and Jonah Hill, has booked a February 5, 2016 release date.

  • Seth Rogen will play Steve Wozniak opposite Christian Bale’s Steve Jobs in Danny Boyle’s Aaron Sorkin-scripted biopic based on Walter Isaacson’s biography. - Variety

  • Benedict Cumberbatch is in talks to play the title character in Marvel’s Doctor Strange. Scott Derrickson (Sinister) will direct from a script by Jon Spaihts (Prometheus). - Deadline

  • Chris Miller and Phil Lord will return to write the sequel to The LEGO Movie. - Deadline

  • DreamWorks announced that three-time Tony-winner Mark Rylance will play the title character in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The BFG (Big Friendly Giant).

  • Paul Greengrass is attached to direct Berlin Wall thriller The Tunnels. - Variety

  • John Gatins (Flight) will write the next draft of the King Kong origin story Skull Island for director Jordan Vogt-Roberts. - Deadline

  • Luke Evans, Armie Hammer, Cillian Murphy, and Olivia Wilde will star in Ben Wheatley's 1970s Boston-set crime drama Free Fire. - THR

  • Jason Bateman will direct and star in IPO Man based on Joshua Davis’ Wired article on Mike Merrill, who sold shares of himself and let the stockholders vote on what he should do with his life. - Deadline

  • Michael Bay is in talks to direct 13 Hours, an adaptation of Mitchell Zuckoff’s book about the Benghazi attack. - THR

  • Hailee Steinfeld will star in Dustin Lance Black’s adaptation of Jennifer E. Smith’s YA novel The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. - Variety

  • Elle Fanning, Naomi Watts, and Susan Sarandon will star in Three Generations, the story of a teenager transitioning from female to male and her relationship with her mother and grandmother. - THR

  • Orson Welles’ famously unfinished final film project, the Hollywood satire The Other Side of the Wind, will be completed by director Peter Bogdanovich (who co-stars in the film) and producer Frank Marshall and could reach theaters in 2015. - NY Times

  • Demián Bichir, Eva Longoria, and Lily Collins will star in Ricardo de Montreuil’s family drama set in lowrider culture. - Variety & Deadline

  • Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel will star in Lion, based on Saroo Brierley’s memoir A Long Way Home about a Calcutta street kid adopted by an Australian couple. - THR

  • Sorry, Google Glass and other wearable tech will not be allowed inside movie theaters. - Variety