Moviember "Films"

November is the beginning of future award-winning film releases. These movies hope to be bringing in the big-bucks…just in time for Thanksgiving. There seem to be a few great films, some questionable films, and some that you probably shouldn’t waste anytime watching (cough, cough, Nicholas Cage).

Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them

Harry Potter fans have been waiting YEARS for this. When the final Harry Potter film ended something died in all of us knowing there would be no more to the story, but now, there is more. The 1920s New York City landscape, the, well, fantastic Eddie Redmayne, and the utter brilliance of J.K. Rowling are sure to make this the best movie of the season by far. Counting the minutes.

Doctor Strange

Ok whoa. Don’t watch this movie if you’re high. Don’t even watch the trailer if you’re high. Even if you’re sober, this shit in 3D is Inception plus six years of digital advancements. It also seems reminiscent of Batman Begins, and even a little bit of Dark Knight Rises, and X-Men—long story short, it seems like this movie is another iteration of a movie from the past.

Trolls

It’s apparent this film was made by the same guys as Shrek: similar plot of a mismatched pair trying to save the town and singing along the way. While there have recently been several “kids movies” that have actually made us “adults” bawl our eyes out, this doesn’t seem to be one of them. This might be a good one to see on some sort of substance as it has spectacular colors, and a glee-inducing soundtrack made by Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel, Russel Brand, James Corden and Gwen Stefani.

Shut In

I decided to check out this trailer since Charlie Heaton, also known as Jonathan Byers (older brother of demogorgon-abducted Will Byers), is featured in this film. Anything to get even a glimmer of Stranger Things in this trying time between seasons, right? It also stars a miraculously non-aging Naomi Watts. The trailer quickly established the “secluded house in the woods” cliché, which at this point is just boring. Can’t we write anything better? Then, the children’s giggling started and I was TERRIFIED, so I turned it off.

Miss Salone

Jessica Chastin is wonderful—her appearances in The Help, Zero Dark Thirty, and The Martian make her a must-watch actress. Not to mention that many of these past films received a variety of awards. But, frankly speaking, we as a country, have had enough “politics” for a long, long time. And since this movie is about lobbying in D.C., I might have to pass.

Loving

This is some real stuff right here. The story is about an interracial couple, The Lovings, in the South during the 1950s. The movie features their struggle with racial segregation and their relationship’s journey through and up to their case in the Supreme Court. This film was incredibly well received at the Cannes Film Festival. It is claimed to be “based on a true story.” So I’m sure some shit is going to fly about reality vs. artistic liberty here, but in the end it seems like one of the few movies this November with integrity, and not just the objective to entertain with spectacular visuals.

Hacksaw Ridge

Wow, is Andrew Garfield out of place in this movie. He plays a soldier who enters WWII refusing to use any form of weapon, yet receives the Medal of Honor for saving many comrades’ lives. It’s some really powerful stuff, but Garfield’s strange accent is just so off and confusing. After half a semester of drama for non-majors, I think I could do better. While the ending is pretty predicable, this true story has been in the making for 14 freaking years, so it better be good.

Notable mentions: Rule’s Don’t Apply, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, Arrival.

Whatever you’re into, drama, horror, comedy, or animation, there is something out there in theaters this November for you. So as the weather gets colder and the hot popcorn sounds better and better, make your way out to a movie, or three.