Aside from “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” and “Guardians of the Galaxy,” the amount of unsatisfactory summer blockbusters (just look at the rebooted “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”) leaves audiences with something to look forward to for the fall season.
Starting off with a mixture of indie and midsized Hollywood budget films, then leading up to the more prestigious for awards season, here’s a look at some of the more worthy movies to watch:
SEPTEMBER
“The Skeleton Twins,” Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader
These two “SNL” alums pair up on the big screen as estranged fraternal twins in this dark comedy. Wiig and Hader play siblings, Maggie and Milo, as the two reunite and re-evaluate their lives after they both independently cheat death. Look toward this film for filling the void “Little Miss Sunshine” may have left in the dark comedy section of Netflix. (Release date: 9/12)
“The Maze Runner,” Dylan O’Brien,
Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Dystopian world? Check. Good-looking young adults? Check. Female heroine? No. A young boy wakes up in a giant maze with no recollection as to how he got there, and adventure ensues as he and a band of other boys figure out how to escape. Unlike the “Divergent” and “The Hunger Games” franchises, “The Maze Runner” lead character is a hero only your little sister is probably familiar with (Dylan O’Brien of “Teen Wolf”). This movie will hold over “The Hunger Games” fans while they wait for the release of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.” (Release date: 9/19)
“The Boxtrolls,” Issac Hempstead-Wright, Simon Pegg, Elle Fanning
From the creators of “Coraline” and “Paranorman,” this stop-motion animation film is based on “Here Be Monsters,” a children’s fantasy book by Alan Snow. The story follows a boy called Eggs who was raised by the film’s namesake, trash-collecting trolls, who are then targeted by an exterminator named Archibald Snatcher (voiced by Ben Kingsley). (Release date: 9/26)
OCTOBER
“Gone Girl,” Ben Affleck, Neil Patrick Harris, Rosemund Pike
Under the direction of David Fincher, known for his work with films like “Fight Club” and “The Social Network,” the adaptation of the popular crime thriller novel “Gone Girl” is in good hands. Affleck plays a husband under suspicion in his wife’s disappearance and faces scrutiny when the media spotlights him during the investigation. (Release date: 10/3)
“Fury,” Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman
Looking for a good movie to watch with your dad? Keep an eye on this based-on-a-true-story film following Pitt as a U.S Army Sergeant commanding a five-man crew on a mission behind enemy lines near the end of World War II. (Release date: 10/17)
“Birdman,” Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton
Keaton returns to the big screen in a tongue-in-cheek role as a washed-up actor best known for playing a caped hero who makes a return to his craft through a Broadway play. It also includes performances by an all-around worthy cast with Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Stone and Amy Ryan. (Release date: 10/17)
NOVEMBER
“Interstellar,” Starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain
Christopher Nolan’s much-hyped science fiction film has the potential to deliver. To continue McConaughey’s revived career, post Oscar win, Nolan taps him to play a widowed engineer who leaves Earth along with his two kids on a voyage to save humanity via a wormhole. Doesn’t sound like something up your alley? Nolan’s track record can prove you wrong, i.e. “The Dark Knight Rises” and “Inception.” (Release date: 11/7)
“Foxcatcher,” Channing Tatum, Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo
A departure from Tatum’s usual course of romantic, action-comedy movies, “Foxcatcher” focuses on the tragic story of the Shultz brothers, a decorated Olympian wrestling duo. Carell sets up as the manic millionaire who sets up a training camp for the brothers that takes a turn for the worst. (Release date: 11/14)
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1,” Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutchinson
Beginning the end (ahem, adapt) the Hollywood adaptation of the popular young adult book series, “Mockingjay” picks up where “Catching Fire” left off. As most critics agree that “Catching Fire” was better than the first, one can only hope that under returning director Francis Lawrence, it will again satisfy the hunger of fans. See what I did there? Hunger, get it? (Release date: 11/21)
