Summer is finally over! This usually means moviegoers are offered cinema of a higher caliber….well, hopefully. Having seen a couple of these releases, I can attest: so far, so good. September could be quite promising with new films by the following directors: Bennett Miller, Steven Soderbergh, Jim Sheridan, Kevin Smith, Gus Van Sant, Cameron Crowe, and Nicolas Winding Refn. There’s also the requisite schlocky horror, needless remake, stupid comedy, and curious documentaries. Disney releases what looks to be a gorgeous 3D version of “The Lion King”, to be embraced by a whole new generation of cubs. So, “Hakuna matata”, after all, there’s something for everyone.
Here’s this month’s list. As always, release dates are subject to change and IMDB links are provided….
September 9th
- The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceausescu (NY)
- Beware the Gonzo (limited)
- Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star
- Burke & Hare (limited)
- Contagion (conventional theaters and IMAX)
- Creature
- Grave Encounters (NY, limited)
- Inside Out (limited)
- Laugh at My Pain (limited)
- Love in Space (limited)
- Main Street (limited)
- Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (limited)
- One Fall (limited)
- Shaolin (limited)
- Tanner Hall (limited)
- Warrior
- We Were Here (NY; LA release: Sept. 16)
- Where Soldiers Come From (NY)
September 16th
- 3 (DREI) (NY, LA)
- Drive
- Happy, Happy (NY, LA)
- I Don’t Know How She Does It
- Jane’s Journey (limited)
- The Lion King 3D
- My Afternoons with Margueritte (limited)
- Prince of Swine (NY)
- Restless (NY, LA)
- Silent Souls (NY; LA, Sept. 30)
- Stay Cool (limited)
- Straw Dogs
- The Weird World of Blowfly (limited)
- The Whale (limited)
- Pearl Jam Twenty (limited)
- A Bird of the Air (limited)
- Abduction
- Dolphin Tale 3D (3D/2D theaters)
- The Double (limited)
- Killer Elite
- Limelight (limited)
- Machine Gun Preacher (NY, LA)
- Moneyball
- Puncture (NY, LA, Houston)
- Red State (limited)
- Thunder Soul (limited)
- Toast (NY; LA release: Oct. 7)
- Weekend (NY)
- 50/50
- Bunraku (limited)
- Courageous
- Dream House
- Margaret (limited)
- Munger Road (limited)
- My Joy (NY)
- Take Shelter (NY, LA; wider release: October)
- Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (limited)
- What’s Your Number?
The photo at the top was taken by Charlene Epple, from artist Gordon McAlpin’s collection of Patio Theatre pics. Check out Gordon’s, Multiplex, a twice-weekly humor comic strip about the staff of a movie theater. It’s fun, funny, and quite often very real. If you live in the Chicago area, go support The Patio Theatre in the Portage Park neighborhood, if you haven’t already done so. It’s a beautiful classic theatre, showing movies that are at most 3 weeks old at a measly five bucks!