1. “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: THEM” (Sept 12)
Director: Ned Benson
Cast: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Viola Davis, Ryan Eggold, Bill Hader, Ciarán Hinds
Distributor: The Weinstein Company
Criticwire Average: B +
Why is it a “Must See?” “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: THEM” is the third installment in Ned Benson’s first major feature film starring Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy as Eleanor and Conor, young lovers struck by tragedy which leads to the ultimate disappearance of Eleanor herself. The previous installments “Her” and “Him” are told from the perspectives of male and female leads. “Them” is a merging of the two tales, delivering what is meant to be a final, cohesive narrative. The film itself isn’t so much rooted in the plot of lovers and their fall from grace, but rather, the journey of their tumultuous relationship.
2. “The Skeleton Twins” (Sept 12)
Director: Craig Johnson
Cast: Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell
Distributor: Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions
Criticwire Average: A-
Why is it a “Must See?” Craig Johnson’s well-received black comedy touches upon themes of life, death and how deep familial ties can ruin, run and re-inspire. That said, Johnson’s film is much more than your run-of-the-mill drama. Former “Saturday Night Live” stars Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig star as estranged twins who manage to beat death at pivotal moments in their lives.The film is full of tongue-in-cheek pop cultural self-awareness and pithy one liners. Yet the duo’s on-screen chemistry spreads layers of poignancy over the humor. Hader’s portrayal as a failed actor in tow with Wiig’s desperate housewife in “The Skeleton Twins” is heavy enough to stir emotion but light enough to prevent the glass from tipping over.
3. “The Drop” (Sept 12)
Director: Michael Roskam
Cast: Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini, Matthias Schoenaerts, John Ortiz, Ann Dowd, James Frecheville
Distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures
4. “The Guest” (Sept 17)
Director: Adam Wingard
Cast: Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe, Leland Orser, Sheila Kelley, Brendan Meyer, Lance Reddick
Distributor: Picturehouse
Criticwire Average: B+
5. “20,000 Days on Earth” (Sept 17)
“Why is it a “Must See”? If you’re interested in documentary filmmaking and want to delve into an unusual tale about a beloved Australian musician, “20,000 Days on Earth” may be right up your alley. The film follows acclaimed musician Nick Cave and is a fictitious exploration of 24 hours in his life, specifically looking at his 20,000th day on Earth. The film garnered positive reviews when it premiered at Sundance and is more than just a biographical film.
6. “Pride” (Sept 19)
Why is it a “Must See”? Winner of the Queer Palm at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, “Pride” is a drama film that looks at two very different groups who come together at a pivotal moment in English history. In 1984, the National Union of Mineworkers went on strike, which inspired the LGBT community to raise money to support the strikers’ families. Inspired by this very real time, the film chronicles the unlikely pairing between two communities that brought on change.
7. “Tracks” (Sept 19)
Why is it a “Must See”? “Tracks” is based on the true story of Robyn Davidson, a woman who crossed almost 2,000 miles of the Australian deserts with only camels. The film, which stars the always-reliable Mia Wasikowska, chronicles this incredible journey, which was documented by a National Geographic photographer (played by “Girls” star Adam Driver). On Wasikowska’s performance, Indiewire’s Eric Kohn said, “she gives ‘Tracks’ a level of depth that nothing else in the movie can provide.”
8. “The Zero Theorem” (Sept 19)
Why is it a “Must See?” For one, “The Zero Theorem” is directed by Terry Gilliam, the acclaimed director behind films such as “Brazil” and “12 Monkeys.” The drama looks at the efforts of a computer genius, a man who tries to determine whether or not life has any meaning. It boasts a fantastic cast and just the concept is wacky enough to make it a film to watch. Although it’s received mixed reviews, it is a Gilliam film through and through and for many that will be enough.
9. “The Green Prince” (Sept 12)
Why is it a “Must See?” Winner of the World Cinema – Documentary Audience Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, Nadav Schirman’s Israeli documentary thriller tells the riveting story of Mosab Hassan Yousef. The son of Hamas leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef, Mosab was arrested and interrogated by Israel’s security service, the Shin Bet, for smuggling guns at age 17. While detained, the prisoner turned against his Palestinian roots and agreed to spy for Israel, becoming the country’s most valuable asset within the Hamas leadership for over a decade (1997-2007). Mosab’s 2010 autobiography “Son of Hamas” is the inspiration behind Schirman’s pulse-pounding feature film, which combines aerial surveillance footage of Israel, beautifully constructed reenactments and an intense score from Max Richter (“Waltz with Bashir”) to create a humanistic portrait of its espionage subject.
10. “Memphis” (September 5)
Why is it a “Must See?” Following its warm reception earlier this year at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, writer-director Tim Sutton’s “Memphis” finally makes its way to select theaters this month. A soul-searching musical drama that takes emotional melodies out of the studio and onto the streets, “Memphis” stars Chicago-born musician Willis Earl Beal as a strange drifter who wanders around Memphis city as he waits to fulfill a recording contract. Though his God-given talents have brought him this far, the drifter questions his relationship with music and is driven by his own core of self-discovery as he runs into beautiful women, a religious preacher, and a group of kids over the course of his long day. With an astounding soundtrack that does the titular city justice and direction that gives the proceedings a poetic lyricism, “Memphis” is a dreamy journey through the mind of a brilliant musician.
11. “Art and Craft” (Sept 19)
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