“Bohemian Rhapsody”
Cast: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Joseph Mazzello
Synopsis: A chronicle of the years leading up to Queen’s legendary appearance at the 1985 Live Aid concert.
What You Need To Know: From Sacha Baron Cohen disputing with band members and Dexter Fletcher leaving and later returning, this film experienced over eight years of casting and directorial struggles, as well as creative differences plaguing the project. Thankfully, though, this movie still looks promising, even if it’s been quite the journey to get to the finish line. Getting into character required extensive work for Malek, who worked with a movement coach to nail Freddie Mercury’s distinct dance moves and a dialogue coach to get the accent right. He also was fitted with prosthetic teeth because Mercury had a famous overbite and four extra upper teeth. Malek, however, was unable to master singing like Mercury, so the signing in the film will be from recordings of Mercury, as well as, Canadian singer Marc Martel.
Release Date: November 2 – JR
“Boy Erased”
Cast: Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Joel Edgerton, Xavier Dolan
Synopsis: The son of a Baptist preacher is forced to participate in a church-supported gay conversion program after being forcibly outed to his parents.
What You Need to Know: Let’s be honest. The odds that “Boy Erased” will turn out to be anything other than one of 2018’s best are exceedingly slim. If you didn’t wipe your teary eyes at least once after watching that debut trailer, you’re soulless. Based on the memoir of the same name written by Garrard Conley, Joel Edgerton’s daring directorial follow-up to “The Gift” is sure to incite conversation due to its controversial subject matter and almost guaranteed to spark more than a few Academy Award nominations. Nevertheless, whether it’s blatant Oscar bait or not, “Boy Erased” seems poised to take the prize as the bittersweet tearjerker of the year.
Release Date: November 2 – JC
“The Front Runner”
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Vera Farmiga, Molly Ephraim, J.K. Simmons, Mike Judge, Bill Burr
Synopsis: The true story of U.S. Senator Gary Hart’s sex scandal-plagued 1988 presidential campaign.
What You Need to Know: 1988 has never felt further away than when one looks at the devastation a sex scandal wrought on the political hopes and dreams of U.S. Senator Gary Hart. In “The Front Runner” Hugh Jackman plays the embattled politician whose romantic affair becomes public knowledge and ruins the very real chance he had at claiming the presidency. It almost seems trite to think about a sex scandal upending the political landscape the way this story’s very real narrative did, what with the state of the news cycle thirty years on. Director Jason Reitman might have something special on his hands with this one, though, dropping the picture right on the doorstep of the U.S. mid-terms, and with a loaded supporting cast that includes Vera Farmiga, Molly Ephraim, J.K. Simmons, Mike Judge, and Bill Burr.
Release Date: November 7 –WC
“The Girl In The Spider’s Web”
Cast: Claire Foy, Sverrir Gudnason, Lakeith Stanfield, Sylvia Hoeks, Stephen Merchant
Synopsis: Computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Foy) and journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Gudnason) become caught up in a web of spies and deceit.
What You Need To Know: 2018 is undoubtedly becoming the year of Claire Foy. In addition to having a starring role in the horror film “Unsane” early this year, she’ll appear in both “First Man” and of course, “The Girl In The Spider’s Web.” As the famed hacker Lisbeth Salander, Foy has some pretty big shoes to fill since Rooney Mara, the last actress to play the role, scored a Best Actress nomination for her portrayal. But given how Foy is a 2-time Emmy nominee, there’s little doubt in our minds that she’ll do wonders with the role. She’ll also be teaming with director Fede Alvarez who previously helmed “Don’t Breathe” and the 2013 remake of “Evil Dead.” With a pairing like this, “The Girl In The Spider’s Web” may provide proof that not all remakes or reboots are underwhelming.
Release Date: November 9 – MS
“Outlaw King”
Cast: Chris Pine, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, Billy Howle, Tony Curran, Stephen Dillane, James Cosmo, Sam Spruell
Synopsis: A true David v Goliath story of how the great 14th Century Scottish ‘Outlaw King’ Robert The Bruce used cunning and bravery to defeat and repel the much larger and better equipped occupying English army.
What You Need To Know: Scottish filmmaker David Mackenzie’s been making films for two decades now and received early acclaim with 2002’s “Young Adam” with Ewan McGregor, but despite working constantly, it wasn’t until 2013’s prison drama “Starred Up,” that he started to get noticed on the international stage and began to get on a serious role. The Best Picture-nominated neo crime western “Hell or Highwater” followed and now he’s got the pick of the litter for casts and whatever script he wants to make. Always eclectic in his choices, for his latest he turns to medieval Scotland and a story about a defeated nobleman turned outlaw hero during the country’s 14th century occupation once again tapping his ‘Highwater’ lead, Chris Pine. “Outlaw King” makes its world premiere at TIFF in just a few short days.
Release Date: November 9 on Netflix. – RP
“Peterloo”
Cast: David Bamber, Rory Kinnear, Alastair Mackenzie, Nico Mirallegro
Synopsis: In 1819, British forces charge on a peaceful pro-democracy rally at Peter’s Field in Manchester, England, which results in the Peterloo Massacre
What You Need to Know: Mike Leigh returns with his first film in four years with “Peterloo,” following his Oscar-nominated biopic “Mr. Turner.” Returning to the 19th century, his newest film traces the post-Napoleon protests that emerged to demand economic reform. Featuring a cast of relative newcomers, including a number of TV actors, Leigh appears to be shaking up his usual theatrical company for a film that could possibly be an Oscar contender.
Release Date: November 9 – Christian Gallachio
“Widows”
Cast: Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, Colin Farrell, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Robert Duvall, Liam Neeson
Synopsis: Four women plot a heist after their husbands are killed.
What You Need to Know: Well, here it is — the cinephile movie of the year. Filled to the brim with a top-notch cast, eye-popping cinematography, and a confrontational demeanor, Steve McQueen’s timely twist on the heist genre seems intent on stealing the top spot on any film geek’s favorite films of the year list. Based on the ‘80s British mini-series of the same name, “Widows” finds McQueen crafting his pulpiest project to date, and alongside co-writer Gillian Flynn, the author responsible for penning “Gone Girl,” “Sharp Objects” and “Dark Places,” it’s a cinema enthusiast’s dream come true. Let’s hope it can deliver.
Release Date: November 16 – JC
“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”
Cast: Tim Blake Nelson, Zoe Kazan, Tom Waits, Liam Neeson, James Franco
Synopsis: An anthology film weaves together the stories of six individuals in the old West at the end of the Civil War.
What You Need to Know: We should always expect the unexpected when it comes to the Coen Brothers, for they have mastered the element of surprise over the course of their prestigious filmmaking careers. But when news broke that “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” would release as a feature-length film instead of the Netflix Original series it was intended to be, everyone and their mother was shocked. While their latest features a stacked cast that includes the likes of Tim Blake Nelson (a Coen Brothers staple), Liam Neeson, Tom Waits and Zoe Kazan, the inclusion of James Franco may raise a few eyebrows and draw a considerable backlash. Nevertheless, the darkly comedic duo have many waiting anxiously as they’ve kept information regarding the plot relatively under wraps. However, we do know the film will retain the originally planned anthological structure, with each tale being a separate chapter connected to the titular character. With ‘Buster Scruggs’ recently announced as part of this year’s loaded Venice Film Festival lineup, expectations are sky high.
Release Date: November 16 – KK
“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald”
Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Johnny Depp, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Zoe Kravitz, Jude Law
Synopsis: Dark Wizard Grindelwald (Depp) escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings. In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead.
What You Need to Know: In an alternate universe where Colin Farrell had remained cast as Grindelwald and Johnny Depp’s hadn’t squirmed his way onto set, perhaps it would be easier to enjoy another nostalgia grab adventure into the wonderful world of witches and wizards. Instead, we’ll have to put up with him for the entire runtime along with Jude Law’s Dumbledore (whose sexuality won’t be addressed, for…reasons) and the rest of our ragtag team of Harry, Hermione and Ron rip-offs. Bitterness aside, the sequel does look to be ramping up the excitement and Law looks to be delightful as a younger, more ruthless Dumbledore and while none of the cast made much of an impression the first time around, with more familiarity under their belt, perhaps this sequel will charm more fans.
Release Date: Nov 16 – AJ
“Creed 2”
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Dolph Lundgren, Florian Muntean
Synopsis: Adonis Creed returns to the ring to take on the son of Ivan Drago, the Russian boxer who killed his father.
What You Need to Know: After “Creed” situated itself as one of the decade’s most explosive and best tentpole releases, some wondered if a follow-up would pursue the “Rocky IV” storyline. After all, it’s by Drago’s glove that the younger Creed no longer has a father. There’s no doubt Jordan will play the drama with the same aplomb he did in the first film, and we’re curious to see how Steven Caple Jr., one of our 25 breakthrough directors from 2016 for his film “The Land,” fills in for rising auteur Ryan Coogler.
Release Date: November 21 – CW