From Christopher Nolan to Charlie Kaufman and Miranda July there is no shortage of highly anticipated films in September, following a rather slow summer season. With fall festivals pressing on, it will be interesting to see where the film discourse takes us in the coming months, especially as some films begin to tiptoe back into theaters.
READ MORE: Fall Film Preview: 40 Most Anticipated Films To Watch
Streaming services will still dominate for the foreseeable future though, with studios as enormous as Disney even releasing a new film through that format with the upcoming “Mulan.” It’s crazy times still to love movies but there will be plenty of offerings incoming in the near future.
“Tenet”
Cast: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki
Synopsis: A secret agent embarks on a dangerous, time-bending mission to prevent the start of World War III.
What You Need to Know: Director Christopher Nolan (along with some help from a bizarre promo by notable risk-taker Tom Cruise) is hoping to pack theaters for his latest film “Tenet.” Fans of the filmmaker will surely find something worth championing as it looks as slick and stylish as anything Nolan has done in the past and John David Washington and Robert Pattinson make for an intriguing onscreen duo. Our critic found it to be an impressive spectacle but one that lacked much depth. They wrote, “Unfortunately if you’re looking for substance and characters to go along with that style, no amount of pseudo-science and time-manipulation is going to help transport you there.”
Release Date: September 4
“I’m Thinking of Ending Things”
Cast: Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette, David Thewlis
Synopsis: Despite second thoughts about their relationship, a young woman takes a road trip with her new boyfriend to his family farm. Trapped at the farm during a snowstorm with Jake’s mother and father, the young woman begins to question the nature of everything she knew or understood about her boyfriend, herself, and the world.
What You Need to Know: Due to long stretches between films, Charlie Kaufman releases (his last was 2015’s “Anomalisa”) are typically widely anticipated by film fans – especially when we can look back and see work that includes “Synecdoche, New York” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” His latest, the upcoming Netflix drama “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” looks to be his most dizzying yet. Based on the 2016 novel of the same name by author Iain Reid and starring an up and coming superstar Jessie Buckley alongside Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette and David Thewlis (who he worked with on “Anomalisa”), the film marries concepts the director has worked with before, mixing together his unsettling ability to bring the surreal to real-life surrounds. Our critic called it “brilliant,” writing, “…“I’m Thinking of Ending Things” is a weird, infinite, messy cacophony of reflections, somehow expansive in its narrowness and confrontational in its honesty to a soul-baring degree.”
Release Date: September 4 on Netflix
“Mulan”
Cast: Liu Yifei, Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Rosalind Chao, Gong Li
Synopsis: To save her ailing father from serving in the Imperial Army, a fearless young woman disguises herself as a man to battle northern invaders in China.
What You Need to Know: The latest product of the Disney remake machine is “Mulan.” Directed by Nikki Caro (“Whale Rider,” “The Zookeeper’s Wife”), the film was one of the first of the COVID bumped releases by a major studio to make the decision to release the film through their streaming services, Disney+ for $29.99 along with the monthly subscription fee. As one of the animated films best-suited for a live-action remake (no trying to make realistic looking lions emote) and trailers that suggest enough changes to warrant a remake, rather than simply creating the same film beat for beat (“Beauty and the Beast”). Our critic wrote, “A stirring and majestic adaptation of the cherished 1998 animated movie with spectacular action and remarkable visuals, for all its dazzling bravura, the most disarming qualities of 2020’s live-action “Mulan” might still be its surprising emotional depth.”
Release Date: September 4 on Disney+
“Cuties”
Cast: Fathia Youssouf, Médina El Aidi, Esther Gohourou, Ilanah, Myriam Hamma
Synopsis: Amy, an 11-year-old girl, joins a group of dancers named “the cuties” at school, and rapidly grows aware of her burgeoning femininity – upsetting her mother and her values in the process.
What You Need to Know: One of the worst parts of the botched promotional posters for the French film “Cuties” is how much it has taken over the narrative of a film that so defies what the original US marketing material was promoting. This is especially true due to the fresh talent at the helm and the stories about young pre-teen girls trying to adapt and rebel to an ever-changing world that feel pressingly urgent. Maïmouna Doucouré’s film was acquired by Netflix prior to its initial Sundance 2020 debut where it won the years Directing Award and it marks Doucouré’s first feature-length film. Our critic called it uneven but ambitious, calling it “…a vibrant portrait of self discovery, a realist exercise in expressive empathy that doubles as a cautionary tale on the dangers of vanity.”
Release Date: September 9 on Netflix
“Unpregnant”
Cast: Haley Lu Richardson, Barbie Ferreira, Giancarlo Esposito
Synopsis: A 17-year old girl, Veronica, discovers she is pregnant, a development that threatens to end her dreams of matriculating at an Ivy League college, and the career that will follow.
What You Need to Know: Looking to dispel stigma surround the topic of abortion, “Unpregnant,” the latest from Rachel Lee Goldberg (“Valley Girl”) strives for levity and realism when it comes to a topic that often is depicted with an overly dramatic brush. In a sense, it’s similar to this year’s “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” as it follows two best friends as they cross state lines to find a clinic that will perform an abortion without a guardian’s consent. In Goldberg’s take, this adaptation of a novel of the same name by Ted Caplan and Jenni Hendriks, the film takes a lighter approach to the topic, finding humor in the odd couple, road movie influences. The film stars the immensely watchable Haley Lu Richardson and the “Euphoria” up and coming star Barbie Ferreira.
Release Date: September 10 on HBO Max
“I Am Woman”
Cast: Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Evan Peters, Danielle Macdonald
Synopsis: Helen Reddy’s popular song “I Am Woman” becomes an anthem for the women’s movement in the 1970s.
What You Need to Know: Directed by Unjoo Moon (“The Zen of Bennett”) and written by Emma Jensen (“Mary Shelly”) “I Am Woman” explores the life of Australian singer and feminist icon Helen Reddy. Tilda Cobham-Hervey stars as the titular character with supporting turns by Evan Peters and Danielle Macdonald. The film made its premiere at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival where our critic was less than impressed. Considering the legacy Reddy has but how many people likely don’t recognize her name, this could’ve been a good opportunity for a film to shine a light on an impactful voice. Our critic wrote of the leading star’s turn as the icon, saying, “She’s got her looks and mannerisms down, but recreating Reddy’s onstage magic is beyond her.”
Release Date: September 11 on VOD
“The Devil All the Time”
Cast: Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Riley Keough, Bill Skarsgård
Synopsis: A young man is devoted to protecting his loved ones in a town full of corruption and sinister characters.
What You Need to Know: A sprawling gothic tale about characters post World War II in Southern Ohio and West Virginia as they grapple with morality and an increasingly sinister world. The trailer promises something grim with imagery that seems pulled straight from classic horror. Based on the novel by Donald Ray Pollock, director Antonio Campos (“Christine,” “Simon Killer”) is tasked with bringing the novel to life with a larger playing field than he’s been given in the past. Along with the vast storyline comes a tremendous cast, lead by Tom Holland in a role that seems like the right kind of direction twist following his recent turns as Peter Parker in the Marvel films.
Release Date: September 16 on Netflix
“Antebellum”
Cast: Janelle Monáe, Jena Malone, Gabourey Sidibe, Kiersey Clemons
Synopsis: A successful author finds herself in a horrifying reality and must figure out the mystery behind it before it is too late.
What You Need to Know: Janelle Monáe has such obvious star power that it’s easy to want anything she touches to succeed. Along with her career in music, she’s done for herself in the film field as well with charming and memorable performances in films such as “Moonlight” and “Hidden Figures.” In her first leading role (aside from the second season of “Homecoming”), Monáe is tasked with a lot as the protagonist in a film that, as reports are saying, leans heavily into exploitative territory. Written and directed by first-time feature filmmakers Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz, the film looks to bridge the supernatural to real-life horrors. Our critic said it lacked complexity, writing, “’Antebellum’ contains symbols rather than people and intrigue without meaningful discovery.”
Release Date: September 18 on Premium VOD
“Enola Holmes”
Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin
Synopsis: While searching for her missing mother, intrepid teen Enola Holmes uses her sleuthing skills to outsmart big brother Sherlock and help a runaway lord.
What You Need to Know: As the world seems to grow exhausted by the sheer amount of Sherlock Holmes content over the years (the Guy Ritchie films, “Sherlock,” “Elementary,” “House”) it seems that the higher-ups have decided to take a new approach: introduce his younger sister. “Enola Holmes” introduces the titular character played by Millie Bobby Brown as the famous sleuth’s younger sister who is determined to outwit him in his latest case. It looks like charming enough stuff and Henry Cavill as Sherlock is inspired casting. The film is directed by Harry Bradbeer (“Killing Eve,” “Fleabag”) and written by Nancy Springer, the author who penned the inspiration of the film with her “The Enola Holmes Mysteries” series.
Release Date: September 23 on Netflix
“Kajillionaire”
Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Richard Jenkins, Debra Winger, Gina Rodriguez
Synopsis: Two con artists have spent 26 years training their only daughter to swindle, scam, and steal at every turn. During a desperate and hastily conceived heist, they charm a stranger into joining them, only to have their entire world turned upside down.
What You Need to Know: Miranda July has had an eclectic career but is perhaps best still known for her startling and tremendous “Me and You and Everyone We Know.” Her ongoing commitment to the arts means that any and all new releases from the director/writer are well worth the wait. “Kajillionaire” stars Evan Rachel Wood in an offbeat performance in a film built for it. The movie premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival where our critic called it “fantastic and frustrating” writing, “ “Kajillionaire” can feel a little like a present that you can’t decide if you’ll treasure forever, or return to the store for a full cash refund.”
Release Date: September 25 in theaters followed by an October 16 release on VOD
“Ava”
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Colin Farrell, Geena Davis
Synopsis: An assassin becomes marked for death by her own black ops organization after questioning orders and breaking protocol.
What You Need to Know: Despite being one of the best actresses of her generation when given the right role, Jessica Chastain has had an odd track record regarding which projects she takes on. In “Ava” she gets to enter action star territory, playing an assassin who is on the run, and reuniting her with “The Help” director Tate Taylor. Taylor replaced Matthew Newton following resurfacing domestic violence allegations. The film co-stars Geena Davis and Colin Farrell.
Release Date: September 25