The Fall Movie Guide
Prestige Movie Season is Here!
It’s a long one this week! We’re doing a preview of all the awards-fodder films coming out before the end of the year, plus my thoughts on Killers of the Flower Moon. Scroll through and land on whatever piques your interest — or just skim the list to get an idea of what’s ahead in the movie world!
Friends, it’s November! The season when I scroll NYT Cooking recipes for status symbols like “ombré pie,” “galettes,” or “perfect pie crust,” and then go back about my business, never touching a single baking dish or rolling pin.
November also means…Prestige Movie Season!!!1 The awards-darling films making their cotillion debut before the Academy selects Oscar nominees in January.
On Saturday, Ben and I took ourselves out to see Martin Scorsese’s three-and-a-half-hour [!] epic drama, Killers of the Flower Moon — the unquestionable Belle of the Prestige Movie Ball this year.
You can scroll down to the end of this post to read my thoughts on Scorsese’s masterpiece [and my survival tips for the four-hour experience!]. But first, we’re doing a rundown of all the prestige films on the horizon!
A question for you, Dear Readers: What’s your stance on prestige movie season? Does it excite you? Bore you? What movies are you most looking forward to as the year ends? Drop a comment; I’d love to hear!
16 Upcoming Awards-y Films for Your Consideration
Actor’s Strike or not, we have SO MANY movies coming out in November and December. But I’m restricting this [still very long] list to the ones that I deem as PRESTIGE — a.k.a. having the potential to qualify for Awards consideration or, at the very least, be discussed in film schools.
Sadly, this list will not include Timothée Chalamet’s Wonka, starring Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa.
Now, get out your monocles and Moleskine notebooks, folks: It’s snobby movie time! Here are all 16, in order of their release date.
1. Priscilla (out now)
It’s rather soon to have another Elvis movie after Baz Luhrmann’s bombastic Elvis biopic that was really just a movie about Tom Hanks being a bully in bad prosthetics. But where Luhrmann’s film is a compassionate look at Elvis as a victim of his talent, this seems to be a takedown of Elvis as an abusive partner and a man who intentionally sought out underaged girls. [Just the facts!]
The reviews seem to be divided along party lines, where each party picks their Elvis movie and finds the other one unnecessary. But I’m an eternal optimist, and I like to think it’s great that we got two Elvis movies so close together! After all, people — even our heroes — are complex, and they — even our villains — can be more than one thing.
Why You Should Care: Sofia Coppola is one of our great filmmakers, especially when telling stories of lonely young women.
Why You Should Be Skeptical: I don’t know, did you see the Bling Ring?? [Another of Sofia Coppola’s.] Yikes!
2. Dream Scenario (in theaters Nov. 10)
Nick Cage is back, baby! I’ve said it before: “In THIS house, we respect Nicolas Kim Coppola-Cage!”
This trailer reminds me of Everything, Everywhere, All at Once in the sense that chaotic magic is afoot [Nick Cage keeps appearing in people’s dreams!], and a small family must deal with it [they have differing opinions on how useful it is to appear in other people’s dreams].
Why You Should Care: There is no actor more powerful than Nick Cage when he’s in the right project! With the A24 brand attached, one has reason to hope.
Why You Should Be Skeptical: It’s a big swing, so if it misses, it will be a big miss.
3. The Holdovers (wide release Nov. 10)
The Holdovers is a movie where Paul Giamatti plays a cranky boarding school professor who is stuck during the Christmas holidays with an angsty student. With help from one of the school staff, played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph, a journey from moody quarrels to love and understanding surely ensues!
To me, it looks like Dead Poets Society mixed with Good Will Hunting mixed with A Charlie Brown Christmas. And that is not an insult!
Why You Should Care: A 96% critic’s score plus a talented cast and crew!
Why You Should Be Skeptical: I honestly cannot think of a reason unless you hate yourself life-affirming movies made by capable creators.
4. The Killer (out now in select theaters | on Netflix Nov. 10)
From its trailer, this movie looks like yet another installment of the overworn “heartless assassin goes on vengeful killing spree” trope.
But it was made by David Fincher, the godfather of sick, lurid, nihilistic, twisted plots exploring the underbelly of human existence: Fight Club, Seven, Gone Girl, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc. In other words, you’re gonna feel really f**ked up after you watch this, but presumably, they shall study it in film school.
Why You Should Care: Like I said: David Fincher! *fist-pumps the air with excitement*
Why You Should Be Skeptical: I mean, if you don’t like David Fincher, or don’t like feeling sick to your stomach about human depravity….
5. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (in theaters Nov. 17)
While even the title of this film makes me want to pause for a long nap, I am excited for the return of Young Adult Fantasy/Dystopian Franchises! This is the Hunger Games prequel starring a lead actor who looks like one of the Vampire Cullens and the gal from West Side Story who isn’t Ariana DeBose.
Why You Should Care: Everyone else will be watching this, and you don’t want FOMO!
Why You Should Be Skeptical: It looks like a good time, maybe, but also like “The Twelve Days of Christmas” in the sense there’s too much going on, and no one is quite sure what part of the song they’re on.
6. Rustin (out now in theaters | on Netflix Nov. 17)
A biopic about the civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. It looks good! I will watch anything produced by the Obamas, and I hope it’s fantastic. I have nothing snarky to say about this movie because that is not my place. It looks wonderful.
Why You Should Care: What an important part of our collective history, and what a life to delve into!
Why You Should Be Skeptical: It might feel too preachy, which isn’t good storytelling. But at least the sermon is an important one?
7. Saltburn (limited release Nov. 17 | wide release Nov. 22)
Well, it really is the Year of Jacob Elordi, isn’t it!? Not only is the horrible boyfriend from Euphoria playing Elvis in Priscilla, but he’s also playing a hot/scary/pretty boy in this sexy/weird/gothic thriller about a schoolboy visiting his wealthy friend’s ancestral home, whereupon dread ensues! In addition to Elordi, it’s starring Barry Keoghan, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, and Carey Mulligan — all the prestige Brits!
It’s also written and directed by Emerald Fennell, who created Promising Young Woman, which was terrific but also left me with the sense that I irrevocably lost some part of my innocence in the process.
Why You Should Care: Anyone who watched Promising Young Woman knows that Emerald Fennell’s aesthetic is deliciously dark, stylish, and twisted to perfection.
Why You Should Be Skeptical: The trailer seems exceptionally chaotic and like they might’ve bit off more than they can chew. I hope not, though!
8. May December (in theaters Nov. 17 | on Netflix Dec. 1)
Sticking with the Saltburn theme of creepy sexual overtones nobody really asked for, Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore star in this…thriller(?)…drama(?)…about an actress shadowing a woman for a role about that woman’s controversial (and illegal?) relationship with a much younger man. New York Magazine calls it “Deeply Uncomfortable,” which I think is supposed to be a compliment!
Why You Should Care: Two of our most talented actresses doing twisted messed-up stuff? Sure!?
Why You Should Be Skeptical: I don’t know why, but I can’t drum up any interest in myself for this movie.
9. Napoleon (in theaters Nov. 22)
Like all Joaquin Phoenix projects, this movie is just begging and pleading for an Oscar no one wants to give it. Phoenix is like the middle child of awards season; he’s CVS Daniel Day-Lewis. [Maybe I’m still bitter about Joker, which he was fantastic in, but was not as good as everyone says. Dare I say, “derivative”!]
Full disclosure: I’m tired of historical war movies! It’s the only genre of R-rated movies I watched in high school, the result of which is I’ve seen enough Ridley Scott films for several lifetimes.
Also, Ridley’s idea of a woman is: “Look at this strong lady doing the lady things strongly! Isn’t the strong lady so pretty, isn’t she so sexy, a strong, pretty little lady? Back to the MEN!” Anyhoo, I do like Vanessa Kirby, though.
Why You Should Care: Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix have made magic before, and this will be a sprawling feast for the eyes.
Why You Should Be Skeptical: Everything I said above.
10. Poor Things (in theaters Dec. 8)
A young woman [Emma Stone] who killed herself is Frankensteined back to life by a mad scientist [Willem Dafoe] and runs off with a debauched lawyer [inexplicably: Mark Ruffalo????!???!??!?] to demand sexual and personal liberation.
Conclusion: This looks like an absolute HORRIFIC time!! Poor Things is directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, who made The Lobster and The Favourite—both unwatchable. [I had a migraine for several days after watching The Favourite. I can never unsee Olivia Colman eating those cakes.]
Why You Should Care: This is for the capital-”A” ART girlies. This is for the David Byrne girlies. The David Lynch girlies. The girlies who love any weirdo old guy named David, I guess, or, apparently, Yorgos.
Why You Should Be Skeptical: NOPE! You could not PAY me to see this movie!2
11. American Fiction (limited release Dec. 15)
I mean, you had me at Issa Rae!! And then let’s not forget Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Sterling K. Brown — this movie is STACKED. It’s also my ideal mix of style, comedy, and substance.
It’s a story about a high-brow novelist (Wright) who can’t really get sales with his smart novels and keeps getting overshadowed by other Black writers who give in to racial tropes and stereotypes to get sold. So he writes a sarcastic version of that, and it BLOWS TF UP.
Looks hilarious, pointed, and smart as a whip without taking itself or anyone else too seriously.
Why You Should Care: Do you want to laugh AND think about art/value/what we bring to the world at the same time? Who wouldn’t!?
Why You Should Be Skeptical: Maybe some of it is too on the nose? I don’t know; I can’t wait to watch this.
12. All of Us Strangers (in theaters Dec. 22)
A time-jumping drama/love story/fantasy [I can’t tell] starring Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Claire Foy, and Jamie Bell. This is for everyone who fell in love with Andrew Scott as the hot priest from Fleabag and Paul Mescal from Normal People and thought, “I would like to watch them fall in love, but in a confusing, tragic way.”
[So, basically, not all that different from Fleabag and Normal People.]
Why You Should Care: First of all, the cast. Second of all, the reviews are glittering, glowing, gasping for breath.
Why You Should Be Skeptical: Some say it’s rather cliché? I will be watching to find out myself!
13. Maestro (in theaters Nov. 22 | on Netflix on Dec. 20)
The movie Bradley Cooper stole from Jake Gyllenhaal! [I mentioned this last June.] I’m sure the Swifties are forever grateful!
Cooper directs and stars in this film about American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein and the woman [and many others?] that he loved. The cast is full of prestige darlings: Carey Mulligan, Jeremy Strong, Maya Hawke. Both Scorsese and Spielberg are producers.
From the trailer, it looks like Tár if Tár took itself completely seriously as a great tragic romance and wasn’t secretly a comedy. In other words, if Tár was A Star is Born, Cooper’s other directorial project. Thankfully, Tár didn’t and isn’t.
Why You Should Care: People are going to be talking about this one. Also, did I mention Scorsese and Spielberg are on board? And the cast??
Why You Should Be Skeptical: Some of us DID NOT like A Star is Born! [It’s an entire film built on the general vibe of secondhand embarrassment!??]
14. The Iron Claw (in theaters Dec. 22)
Another A24 project, this time with Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, and Lily James. This is Zac Efron in his working-class sexy era and Jeremy Allen White with his shirt off a lot. It’s like if the Aragorn Girls/Gays decided to make a movie about wrestlers, and the Legolas Girls/Gays said, “Just let us do the casting, sweetie!!”
This trailer reminds me of so many other movies: Warrior, Logan Lucky, Fighting With My Family — all perhaps better films than this, or maybe this will be the pinnacle of all wrestling and family movies; who can say?
Why You Should Care: Why shouldn’t you care!!??? Zac and Jeremy! A movie the Aragorn and Legolas girls can come together on!
Why You Should Be Skeptical: Methinks the shirtlessness doth protest too much. Is this a distraction from the fact they didn’t make that good of a movie??
15. The Color Purple (in theaters Dec. 25)
A film adaptation of the musical adaptation of The Color Purple! Listen, I love musicals, but I usually don’t like when they’re adapted as movies. It feels like watching your favorite concert on film, which, until The Eras Tour, I always thought was a waste of time. [Maybe that’s a weird take from someone who once had tape recordings of “Josh Groban in Concert,” “Riverdance,” and “Celtic Woman Live” on repeat. (My childhood was sponsored by PBS.)]
Much like The Eras Tour might change my mind on filmed concerts, I hope The Color Purple will change my mind on filmed musicals.
Why You Should Care: This is a cultural institution and a devastatingly beautiful story of gender and racial empowerment, justice, equality, and personal overcoming.
Why You Should Be Skeptical: I say again: Movie musicals.
16. Ferrari (in theaters Dec. 25)
Adam Driver saw this picture of Bradley Cooper in his Leonard Bernstein wig and said, “GET ME HAIR AND MAKEUP NOW!!!!!!!” He saw Michael Imperioli in White Lotus Season 2 and said, “Give me the Imperioli, stat!!”
This is the biopic about Ferrari by Michael Mann, who directed Heat, Collateral, etc. What more can I say? Well, this: There are only two women in it, Penelope Cruz and Shailene Woodley. My least favorite thing about Oppenheimer was how little Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh had to do; Blunt was just drinking all the time, and Pugh just had her t*ts out. I anticipate such a fate for Penelope and Shailene, but I’ll hope for the best.
Why You Should Care: Adam Driver and Michael Mann.
Why You Should Be Skeptical: Shall the male director cast women as props for his famous man again? He probably shall!
My Review: Killers of the Flower Moon
THE prestige movie of the year!
It’s not every day you spend four hours [with previews!] in a movie theater for one film. But I’d heard that Killers of the Flower Moon didn’t FEEL as long as it is — that you’re so caught up in the beauty of the film you don’t even clock the time passing.
Well, having seen it myself, I have to say: It’s still too long, honey! I have a small bladder, and I like breaking several times for snacks and to Google where I’ve seen that actor before! Solution: Don’t see it at 8:30 p.m. like I did. Go to a nice matinee, pee five times before it starts, and pack a whole charcuterie board.
OK, potty breaks and snacks aside….
The movie was visually breathtaking. Sprawling like the Oklahoma plains, with a beauty and sadness that makes you ache. It was the kind of movie that you feel all over you the next day; that you wear like Mollie’s heavy blankets.
Some of what made the film stretch past three hours was how much time Scorsese gave us with the Osage people. He has shared how they were adapting the best-selling book — which focuses on the FBI perspective through its formation — and realized they needed to rewrite it from the Osage perspective, with input from the Osage Nation. While that seems a little obvious, it’s also commendable, and it’s what makes the movie emotionally powerful.
The winners of the movie for me were Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone. Leo, too, was outstanding, but in that opening scene, De Niro made DiCaprio look like a student in acting class! And Lily Gladstone. What can I say? She carried the entire emotional weight of that movie in her eyes. She gave such a powerful performance, ranging from subtle and restrained silence to torrential, overwhelming grief.
That said, I wish Scorsese had gifted us more from her perspective. Perhaps her mystery was the point, but I wanted Mollie’s thoughts. We got it a few times when she would talk with her sisters, and I wanted more of that rather than just showing her from Ernest’s [Leo’s] perspective. Scorsese opts for long scenery shots with no dialogue over like really exploring the interior lives of the women. However, the ending scene was such a powerful tribute to her.
Anyone else seen it yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
That’s it! WHEW! We made it, y’all! Congrats if you made it through the whole list! I’d love to hear which of these films you’re excited about, skeptical about, or which ones I missed. Drop a comment or a heart to let me know your thoughts! See you next week :)
This isn’t exaaaactly a term, but I’m using it like we talk about “prestige TV” — projects that are of the highest quality with deep writing, rich plots, nuance acting. i.e. The types of projects that win awards.
[That’s not at all true. I went to see Under the Skin by myself in theaters because I thought I was hard. Turns out I am not hard, and all it takes to put me in the fetal position is a surrealist art film where an alien in the form of Scarlett Johansson melts ugly men in a vast, placeless expanse of what looks like crude oil. Don’t see that movie!!]
I see the irony of coming to this post in Dumpuary - which tbh the crappy January movies are my jam right now!! There are so many of these that I missed because they either didn't come to theaters here or were only in the theater for a few weeks. I'm hoping to get to Priscilla, The Holdovers, All of Us Strangers, The Color Purple, and American Fiction. I will actively be avoiding Poor Things because SAME (i hated the favourite, cannot handle these types of films) and Ferrari (women deserve better).
Killers of the Flower Moon was incredible and I agree with the thoughts you shared here. As I already shared with you The Iron Claw made me open mouth sob but also it was so good. Sorry in advance for all the notifications you're about to get as I catch up on my backlogged substack subscriptions.
I feel super-prepared for Prestige Movie Season! I took notes and have a few (?) added to my watch list. The rule was basically "If Hannah’s gonna watch it, so am I." 😜 So, has this prestige thing been around forever? Never heard of it.