Good riddance summer! Hello fall and movies for adults! There was a time when the summer used to be my most anticipated movie-going season of the year. I used to sit up late, compiling stupid lists of my most anticipated movies of the summer. I used to run out and buy all the summer movie preview magazine issues. I even played box office games with friends. Eventually, when I started writing for film, I tried to ensure that my summer movie preview stories were the ones that received the most hits because, you know, it’ the biggest movie season of the year.
But as I’ve gotten older, things have gradually changed. I find myself more interested in seeking out the serious, dark, and prestige pictures instead of the fluffy explosion-fest crowd-pleasers. I find myself more excited for a three hour mood piece made by a Danish director starring the fourth lead in The Dark Knight instead of the latest J.J. Abrams blockbuster. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older or maybe it’s just that my tastes are maturing. Perhaps it’s just that I’ve grown weary of watching the same narrative play itself out over and over and over again. I mean, there’s only so many times one can watch two robots blow each other to smithereens.
Anyway… with that out of the way, this fall offers a dazzling array of films to choose from. Along with the usual crop of Oscar contenders, there are also flashy genre pictures from some of the most respected art house auteurs in the world. So, goodbye Michael Bay, Marvel and J.J. Abrams, and hello Scorsese, Ridley Scott and the Coen brothers! Without ado, here are the 20 movies I can’t wait to this fall at the movies!
Read PART 1 here
