Don’t Miss …
Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine/Steve Jobs Too soon is over. ’Tis the season to dismantle a legend. First up is a documentary about the Apple founder by Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney (Going Clear), hitting theaters in limited release Sept. 4. Alex Needham of The Guardian calls the film “a riveting and important corrective to the myths Jobs helped to propagate.” On Oct. 15, Michael Fassbender stars in Steve Jobs, directed by Academy Award winner Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting) and written by fellow Oscar winner Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network), adapted from Walter Isaacson’s best-selling biography of the Apple founder.
Crimson Peak Guillermo del Toro is putting down the blockbuster popcorn and giving us the moody hauntings he does best. He told the L.A. Times that the film “has a lot of echoes with Devil’s Backbone.” Hell, yes. Stars Jessica Chasten and Tom Hiddleston. Opens Oct. 16.
Spotlight Thomas McCarthy (Win Win, The Station Agent) is one of the best screenwriters in the biz. Combine his nuanced character portrayals with an all-star cast and a topical storyline, and you have a sure bet for Oscar season. The plot deals with the Boston Globe’s reporting on the Catholic Church sex scandal and stars a mighty impressive ensemble: Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Michael Keaton, John Slattery and Stanley Tucci. Opens Nov. 6.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens The anticipated release of the Lucasfilm, that for a long time seemed light years away, is finally in our time-space continuum. This month, the release of the first movie poster hit, featuring stars Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), Rey (Daisy Ridley) and the returning Han Solo (Harrison Ford); art by Indian Jones poster artist Drew Struzan. As you know, Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be released Dec. 18. Original cast members Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill are also returning, with J.J. Abrams of Star Trek and Lost fame in the director’s chair.
Also on the radar …
I Am Chris Farley Christina Applegate, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Molly Shannon, David Spade, and Kevin Farley contribute to a documentary about the boisterous SNL star who left us too young. Playing now in limited release.
Diary of a Teenage Girl The intense, provocative and unwavering coming-of-age story follows a 15-year-old girl growing up in the mid-‘70s in San Francisco. Read more from Caitlin Albritton’s review next Friday at cltampa.com/arts. Opens at AMC Regency 20 Brandon and AMC Veterans 24 on Aug 28.at
7 Chinese Brothers A screwball slacker comedy starring Jaso n Schwartzman, Tunde Adebimpe, Olympia Dukakis and Eleanore Pienta. Opens in limited release on Aug. 28.
Sicario You know that Mexican no-man's land where Trump wants to erect that big-ass wall? Well, here's a story that takes place amidst that lawless border. Go-get-'em FBI agent (Emily Blunt) and elite government task force official (Josh Brolin) team up to fight the war lords. Benicio Del Toro plays a consultant with a questionable past. Opens Sept. 25.
The Martian Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner) is back with his fourth sci-fi tour de force that may or may not feature “little green men” or that nasally intoned alien and his lethal space modulator. Stars Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Michael Peña, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Kate Mara and Donald Glover. Opens Oct. 2.
Pan Joe Wright (Atonement, Pride & Prejudice) directs the live-action origin story film adapted from J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan tale. Stars Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard. Opens Oct. 9.
Carol Todd Haynes (I’m Not There, Velvet Goldmine) returns to the big screen after eight long years with a film that was a darling at Cannes and stars the impeccable Cate Blanchett. Opens Nov. 20.
Creed There will never be an end to Rocky sequels, but this one has a twist. Opens Nov. 25.
Chiraq Spike Lee’s controversial joint about Chicago’s Southside is the first film that will release on Amazon. The musical comedy, yes, deals with urban violence and stars Nick Cannon, Wesley Snipes, Jennifer Hudson, Angela Bassett, John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson. Scheduled for release sometime in December.
The Hateful Eight Quentin Tarantino’s all-star Civil War stagecoach adventure opens Christmas Day and stars Kurt Russell, Walton Goggins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Samuel Jackson, Bruce Dern and several others.
The Revenant Leo DiCaprio stars in a gritty tale by double Oscar-winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Gravity, Birdman). Opens Dec. 25.
