Ah, September movies. Too late for summer blockbusters, too early for prestige awards bait. A weird mishmash of genres that nobody knows what to do with. A month where films as varied as Crocodile Dundee, The Good Son, The River Wild, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and Hotel Transylvania can all hold the #1 box office slot. So with superheroes in hibernation until spring, and the Weinstein Oscar machine idle until November, the SAGindie staff looks ahead at our most anticipated movies coming out this September.
——
Darrien’s Picks:
I don’t know if I’m coming down from my Guardians of the Galaxy summer high, but the films opening in September evoke within me emotions that range from “huh?” to “meh.” I am giving best wishes for The Equalizer because it’s always fun to see Denzel get his swagger on. And Jimi: All Is by My Side has a LOT to live up to. There are two more relationship-y (I may have made that word up) movies that have promise: The Skeleton Twins by our SAGindie favs the Duplass Bros. and This Is Where I Leave You. Either seems possible to break out as an indie(ish) hit. Both have casts of which I hold great appreciation, so there’s hope for September.
BUT, the film that evokes the greatest emotion from me is The Maze Runner. Not in a good way. I haven’t been so tense and claustrophobic watching a trailer since Gravity. And the cast is a plethora of young performers looking to make a name for themselves. That seems like a great indication, right? Maybe it should be, but to me it combines the intense discomfort of claustrophobia with my basic disdain for young adult television. A Gravity as performed by the Fresh Beat Band. I’m not saying this is fair… I’m just saying.
Eliza’s Picks:
God Help the Girl – 16 year old me is pretty excited.
The Last Days in Vietnam – I like being depressed.
Space Station 76 – You had me at 30 year old sexpot (which is coincidentally what I am).
20,000 Days on Earth – 20 year old me is pretty excited.
Lilting – I like being depressed.
Take Me to the River – I should have made this.
The Guest – I’m into weird hot dudes with guns.
Colin’s Picks:
I second Darrien’s choice of The Skeleton Twins. I am sort of an SNL junkie, so seeing Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig in a weird indie dramedy is exactly what I’m looking for in my life (I could probably watch them lip-sync to Starship all day). More than a few September flicks have me intrigued based solely on their casts: The Drop (containing two power duos: Tom Hardy & James Gandolfini and Tom Hardy & a pitbull puppy); Kelly & Cal (we’re overdue for a Juliette Lewis renaissance); and This Is Where I Leave You (that whole cast should definitely come to my birthday party). I’m hoping Two Night Stand turns out to be a better-than-expected rom-com (Miles Teller has been on a hot streak lately, so hopefully this one continues it). And I don’t know what the hell a Boxtroll is, but I think I want one.
Amanda’s Picks:
Although Superhero Ensemble 5 and Michael Bay Explosion Fest 17 were fun to see this summer, my mind and my wallet are ready to take a month to mellow out before Oscar season starts. At the top of my watch list this September is The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby. It’s rare that Hollywood tries something new, so when you say “a love story in three movies from three different perspectives” I say “take my money.” But the month won’t be complete without a comedy and a thriller in the mix too, so for the former, I can’t wait to see my future wife Tina Fey (yes, I know she’s already married) in This Is Where I Leave You; and for the latter, The Two Faces of January, because Viggo Mortensen is finally back on the silver screen! Ow ow!
WHAT MOVIES ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THIS SEPTEMBER?
——
If you’re an independent filmmaker or know of an independent film-related topic we should write about, email blogadmin@sagindie.org for consideration.