by Langdon Kessner ‘17
Arts & Life Editor
The summer movie season was disappointing to say the least. It started nicely with Captain America: Civil War, then quickly went downhill with films like Warcraft, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Independence Day: Resurgence. And Alice Through the Looking Glass. And Ghostbusters. And Suicide Squad. And The Legend of Tarzan. I am getting off-track, but you get the point. There were a couple gems here and there, like Star Trek Beyond and The Nice Guys, but those were too few and far between. The good news is the fall movie season is here, which means Oscar contenders and good films. So, before I drown myself in a pool of cynicism, let us rank the five most anticipated movies.
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – Few plot details have been released, but from what has been gathered, it is a war film set in the Star Wars canon. The film follows a group of rebels as they plan to steal the Death Star plans. For those who have not lived under a rock, we all know how that story ends. I am not too keen on a prequel, but I think the war film idea is pretty cool and that is something we have not seen before. Because it is Star Wars and Star Wars is awesome. The film is scheduled to be released Dec. 16.
- La La Land – A new musical from Damien Chazelle, the director of Whiplash back in 2014. If you did not see Whiplash, check it out and you will see why this is at #2. It has also been a long time since we have had an original musical, especially one that harkens back to the glory days of MGM and Gene Kelly. This musical has received a unanimously positive critical response from the Venice Film Festival. Also it stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, both of whom are incredibly talented. The musical is scheduled to be released Dec. 2.
- Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk– Directed by one of the best directors in the film industry today, Ang Lee’s new war film is destined for success. His last film, Life of Pi (2012), was a visual and emotional spectacle, and judging from the trailer this looks to have the same effect. Plot details are very vague, but the official synopsis is Billy Lynn coming home after a harrowing battle in Iraq, and the contrast between his and America’s perception of the war. This film is scheduled to be released Nov. 11.
- Doctor Strange – After Captain America: Civil War, it is evident that Marvel is taking the whole franchise in a different direction. Because of this change, it will be interesting to see how this new film plays out. Plus, it has a stellar cast including Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, and Rachel McAdams. The plot makes little sense as it follows a doctor finding himself in a world of inter–dimensional threats. It is a little out there, but it is Marvel. So, people, myself included, will see it regardless. This film is scheduled to be released Nov. 4.
Arrival – Starring Amy Adams and directed by Denis Villeneuve, this science fiction film looks promising. Villeneuve’s last two films, Prisoners (2013) and Sicario (2015), were excellent thrillers. The question now is, can he make a third? The premise is a linguist (Adams) has been recruited by the military for translating alien communication. Its premiere at the Venice Film Festival has trafficked a lot of positive buzz. This film is scheduled to be released Nov. 11.
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