“Pitch Perfect 3”
Cast: Anna Kendrick, Elizabeth Banks, Ruby Rose and many more
Synopsis: Following their win at the world championship, the now separated Bellas reunite for one last singing competition at an overseas USO tour, but face a group who uses both instruments and voices.
What You Need To Know: The Bellas are back, pitches. We’re not expecting the world, but a return to form would be nice. The endearing “Pitch Perfect” caught the mainstream comedy world by storm in 2012 and launched an unexpected franchise. “Pitch Perfect 2,” stumbled from the second album blues and didn’t catch fire in the same way, but with an all-female ensemble, an increasingly inclusive cast and the potential return of the delightful charm that made the original film so special, we’ll at least give the final tune a listen.
Release date: December 22
“Happy End”
Cast: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Isabelle Huppert, Mathieu Kassovitz
Synopsis: Set against the ongoing European refugee crisis wealthy French family begins to come apart at the seams after a labor accident. Expect dourness and bleak humor.
What You Need to Know: Every year a few films get a bum rap at Cannes only to be ‘rediscovered’ later on in the festival circuit—expect Austrian helmer Michael Haneke’s dark comedy to fit that bill (for the record, we loved it from the get-go). “Happy End” plays a bit like a Haneke greatest hits compilation with its class criticism, focus on technology and caustic tone. The film may not hit as hard as “The Piano Teacher” and “Amour,” but that’s okay; the cast is pitch-perfect and more than anything, it’s funny as hell (not like either “Funny Games”). Handled once again by Sony Pictures Classics, the sunny Calais setting of “Happy End” and its pitch-black tone are certain to make for excellent holiday counter programming at the arthouse.
Release Date: December 22
“The Papers”/Untitled Steven Spielberg Film
Cast: Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Alison Brie, Sarah Paulson, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, Bradley Whitford, David Cross, Bob Odenkirk
Synopsis: In 1971 The Washington Post published the Pentagon Papers — which revealed a history of America’s military involvement in Vietnam and uncovered a two decade cover-up — and sparked a legal battle between the government and journalists about the future of press freedoms.
What You Need To Know: Really, there isn’t much more to say about Spielberg’s Oscar player than look at that cast. Stacked from top to bottom, the movie follows a stunningly dramatic moment in American history that will likely ring especially true at our current tumultuous state. To boot, “The Papers” was at one time a Black List approved script from Liz Hannah and Josh Singer, who shared an Oscar with Tom McCarthy for his work on “Spotlight”. Other than that, the details about the film have been kept close to the chest, though pundits have been happy to heap awards potential nonetheless. A Black Listed script
Release Date: December 22
Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson Film
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis
Synopsis: Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest follows the fashion industry during the 1950’s and explores the life of a designer based on that of Charles James’ who commissioned custom dresses for movie stars and European royalty.
What You Need to Know: There is a lot to be excited about from PTA’s side of things. However, the selling point of this film (rumored titled is ”Phantom Thread”) is undoubtedly Daniel Day-Lewis, the only three-time Academy Award winner for Best Actor. After announcing his retirement from a career in acting on June 21st, Lewis transcendent acting will grace the silver screen one last time and how fitting that it will be under the direction of Paul Thomas Anderson, arguably the greatest director of the 21st century. Although information about this untitled project has remained ambiguous, be rest assured that the actor-director duo that brought Lewis his second Oscar (“There Will Be Blood” ) will be headlining nominations one more time once they are announced.
Release Date: December 25
“The Greatest Showman”
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya
Synopsis: Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, “The Greatest Showman” is an original musical that celebrates the birth of show business and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create the famous traveling Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus that became a worldwide sensation. Expect old-school razzle dazzle.
What You Need To Know: After hanging up his adamantium claws for the last time in the elegiac “Logan” and after would-be raunch-fests “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” and “Baywatch” flopped hard, Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron are returning to the skillset that originally made their names in this brand-new movie musical about circus impresario P.T. Barnum. The Christmas release date might suggest family-friendly treacle, but musical-aficionados should remain optimistic about the film boasting original music from “La La Land” and “Dear Evan Hanson” duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
Release Date: December 25
Honorable mention:
Of course, you can’t fit everything in. Opening in September is Stephen Frears‘ “Victoria And Abdul” which comes to cinemas, and Angelina Jolie‘s “First They Killed My Father” which lands on Netflix shortly after its festival rollout. Of course, it’s possible more fall film festival pictures earn some Oscar buzz and then get slotted for later in the season, but right now, all the major contenders have been slated, though we’re keeping our fingers crossed for Andrew Haigh‘s “Lean On Pete.”
As far as mainstream films coming in the fall there’s Netflix‘s “Bright” which comes out December 22, so clearly Netflix thinks its going to compete with the likes of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and blockbusters of that ilk. Also coming in the fall is Doug Liman‘s Tom Cruise-starring “American Made,” Netflix’s “Our Souls At Night,” “Murder on the Orient Express,” “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” and “The Flatliners” remake.
In the off chance that something plays really well, films from Venice that could race into cinemas include pictures from Lucrecia Martel (“Zama“), Paul Schrader (“First Reformed“), William Friedkin (“The Devil And Father Amorth“), James Toback (“The Private Life Of A Modern Woman“), Abdellatif Kechiche (“Mektoub My Love: Canto Uno“), S. Craig Zahler (“Brawl In Cellblock 99“), and Michael R. Roskam (“The Racer and the Jailbird“).
Films from the Toronto Film Festival that could be rushed into the schedule include Louie C.K.‘s (“I Love You, Daddy“), Craig Gillespie‘s “I, Tonya” with Margot Robbie, Deniz Gamze Ergüven‘s “Kings” with Daniel Craig and Halle Berry, “On Chesil Beach” with Saoirse Ronan, and Brie Larson‘s directorial debut “Unicorn Store.”
Additional titles of interest, there are many and you never know if they’ll find distributors and land in the season include Scott Cooper‘s “Hostiles” starring Christian Bale, Sebastián Lelio‘s “Disobedience” with Rachel Weisz (the director’s other film his year, “A Fantastic Woman,” has been picked up by Sony Pictures Classics), John Curran‘s “Chappaquiddick,” Clio Barnard‘s “Dark River,” “Loveless” by Andrey Zvyagintsev, “Mary Shelley” by Haifaa Al Mansour, Tali Shalom-Ezer‘s “My Days of Mercy” starring Ellen Page and Kate Mara and Sussana White‘s “Woman Walks Ahead” with Jessica Chastain. — Rodrigo Perez, Ally Johnson, Gary Garrison, Kyle Kohner, Zach Martino, Reese Conor, Lena Wilson, Will Ashton, Eli Fine, Ales MacKay, Joe Blessing, Bradley Warren