October is here! Don’t worry; we’ve got one spooky film this month as well as some other great looking heavy hitters.
Starting strong, we have the highly anticipated Killers of the Flower Moon. The next massive film from Martin Scorsese (buckle up – it’s over three hours long!) is finally here, and boy does it look to deliver. Based on the book of the same name, the story concerns murders in the Oklahoma-based Osage Nation during the 1920s, on land where heavily desired oil was recently discovered. With an all-star cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone (Certain Women) and Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad), the movie looks to be Scorsese’s next masterpiece, with early reviews indicating a colossal triumph. It hits select theaters on Oct. 6 with a general release on Oct. 20.
For your thriller fix, check out Anatomy of a Fall. The story follows Sandra, a German writer, who is arrested in France for allegedly murdering her husband. The circumstances are murky and the only witness to the crime is the couple’s blind son, so Sandra must work to clear her name. Directed by Justine Triet, who won the Palme d’Or (the highest prize) at Cannes for the film, the movie stands to be a wonderful foreign film to add to your must-see list when it hits select theaters on Oct. 13.
For a spooky, jump scare-filled time, hold hands with your partner for Five Nights at Freddy’s. Based on the popular video game franchise of the same name, the plot follows Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson, The Hunger Games) as the newly minted night shift security guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a once thriving but now massively declining family entertainment center akin to Chuck E. Cheese. (Side note: Chuck’s government name is Charles Entertainment Cheese – don’t ever forget this.) The trailer has lots of nods to the source material and seems to be doing a decent job of capturing what the games are about. Prepare to never want to be around animatronic animals ever again when this releases in theaters on Oct. 27.
For a much lighter comedy-drama, make sure to see The Holdovers. Starring Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham, a disliked teacher at Barton Academy, the story takes place during Christmas break. While most students go home, Hunham is responsible for those who have nowhere to go, including one rebellious student named Angus. Directed by Alexander Payne (Sideways), the film tells a very personal, slow burn story about a teacher and student coming to terms with their differences. Giamatti will likely turn out an Oscar-worthy performance. The movie has a limited release Oct. 27 and a wide release Nov. 10.
Lastly, please watch the television series The Bear as soon as you can. Starring Jeremy Allen White (Shameless) as Carmen Berzatto, the series focuses on him and his kitchen crew at his late brother’s Italian sandwich shop. You’ll see their daily struggles to keep things running and their own personal issues. The show is full of stressful moments – both in and out of the kitchen – and the buzz of seeing them succeed and fail is as thrilling as it is heartbreaking. Both seasons are streaming now on Hulu.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy Patti Perret/Universal Pictures
