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25 new films to look out for this awards season
Barry Jenkins, Damien Chazelle and Yorgos Lanthimos all look like early contenders for major awards.
WORDS
LILLIAN CRAWFORD
We may be more than halfway through 2018 but, judging by the recent autumn festival programme announcements, there’s still plenty of cinematic delights to savour between now and the 91st Academy Awards. Ahead of the Veniceand Toronto film festivals, now generally regarded as the most important Oscars launchpads, we’ve compiled a list of 25 of our most anticipated upcoming releases. These aren’t necessarily the films we think will pick up major honours this awards season, more an indication of what we expect to be in contention. Let us know what you’re most looking forward to @LWLies
1. A Star Is Born
Released 5 October
If you had to guess what Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut would be, chances are it wouldn’t be this. It will be the third remake of the 1937 William A Wellman romantic drama, following in the more musical footsteps of George Cukor’s 1954 version starring Judy Garland, and the Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson-starrer from 1976. Casting himself in the lead alongside Lady Gaga, it looks like it will be very hip-and-happening indeed.
2. First Man
Released 12 October
For his hotly anticipated follow-up to La La Land, Damien Chazelle has picked up a Neil Armstrong biopic for his latest Oscar bait. The director will be reunited with Ryan Gosling in the lead role as NASA agonises just how to get him on the Moon. The film will also star Lukas Haas as Michael Collins – hopefully he will deliver a great performance so people will stop forgetting his name at pub quizzes.
3. The Sisters Brothers
Eta late 2018
Palme d’Or-winner Jacques Audiard is bringing us his first English language feature this year, based on the novel by Patrick deWitt. Dubbed a western dark comedy, the film will focus on John C Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix as the titular siblings hunting down a prospector who has stolen from their boss. The best thing is, he’s being played by Rutger Hauer.
4. The Other Side of the Wind
Released 2 November
An Orson Welles film being released in 2018 feels very strange indeed, but good things come to those who wait. And those lucky few who have already seen it are enraptured, with The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson giving it a rave review. Coming to Netflix in November, we’ll get to see John Huston and Peter Bogdanovich starring in this mockumentary spoof of Michelangelo Antonioni. Don’t rule out Welles receiving a special posthumous award for this one.
5. Peterloo
Released 2 November
Anything new film from Mike Leigh is cause for excitement, and the revered British director will be hoping to build on the success of 2014’s Mr Turner with his latest historical drama. The film arrives in time for the bicentennial of the Peterloo Massacre of 1819, which left some 700 peaceful protestors killed or wounded. Rory Kinnear and Maxine Peake will be the familiar faces in the rambunctious crowd.
6. Widows
Released 9 November
Lynda La Plante was the defining voice of 1980s crime drama, and her British TV series has inspired Steve McQueen to direct a present-day update. The plot centres on four women whose husbands are killed in a failed heist which the widows then decide to complete themselves. McQueen has teamed up with Gone Girl writer Gillian Flynn, and has put his faith in the very capable hands of Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki and Cynthia Erivo.
7. If Beale Street Could Talk
Released 30 November
Barry Jenkins, the director behind 2017’s Best Picture-winner, Moonlight, returns with an adaptation of the eponymous 1974 James Baldwin novel. Following a woman from Harlem’s battle to clear the name of her fiancé after he is accused of rape, the film stars Kiki Layne, Stephan James, Dave Franco and Diego Luna. Only time will tell if Jenkins can replicate his historic success, but we wouldn’t bet against it.
8. Roma
Eta late 2018
Following the massive success of 2013’s Gravity, Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón returns home for an autobiographical family drama shot in black-and-white. Recently announced as the centrepiece of the New York Film Festival, Roma focuses on middle-class domestic life in 1970s Mexico City.
9. Suspiria
Released 2 November
After the effervescent Call Me by Your Name, director Luca Guadagnino is indulging his sadistic streak with this remake of Dario Argento’s giallo classic. Suspiria stars Tilda Swinton as the dance academy’s Madame Blanc, with Chloë Grace Moretz and Dakota Johnson providing support. At CinemaCon earlier this year audiences were reportedly left nauseated by some graphic preview footage. Here’s hoping it lives up to the original.
10. Boy Erased
Released 2 November
Based on Garrard Conley’s harrowing memoir, this is the second film of 2018 (along with Desiree Akhavan’s The Miseducation of Cameron Post) concerning a Christian community forcing their children to go through conversion therapy. Joel Edgerton’s follow-up to The Gift stars Lucas Hedges as repressed teenager Jared, with Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe playing his parents. Hopefully it will pack a powerful punch, and raise further awareness of a deeply troubling issue.
11. White Boy Rick
Released 7 December
Yann Demange follows up ’71 with a crime-drama about a teenage undercover FBI informant who was arrested for drug-trafficking in the 1980s. The film stars Jennifer Jason Leigh and Matthew McConaughey alongside Bruce Dern and Bel Powley, with Darren Aronofsky on producing duties. Newcomer Richie Merritt plays the juvenile kingpin, whose remarkable story has to be seen to be believed.
12. The Old Man and The Gun
Released 7 December
Ain’t Them Bodies Saints and A Ghost Story writer/director David Lowery is trying his hand at true-crime with Robert Redford in tow. Selling itself on the absurdity of it being about, well, an old man with a gun, the film tells the story of Forrest Tucker’s last heist, as recorded in a 2003 New Yorker article by David Grann.
13. The Miseducation of Cameron Post
7 September 2018
Appropriate Behaviour director Desiree Akhavan brings us a beautiful, spirited critique of conversion therapy. Finally taking on a role worthy of her talent, Chloë Grace Moretz plays the titular teen who is sent to an evangelical Christian camp after being caught making out with another girl in the backseat of her car. American Honey’s Sacha Lane co-stars.
Barry Jenkins, Damien Chazelle and Yorgos Lanthimos all look like early contenders for major awards.
WORDS
LILLIAN CRAWFORD
We may be more than halfway through 2018 but, judging by the recent autumn festival programme announcements, there’s still plenty of cinematic delights to savour between now and the 91st Academy Awards. Ahead of the Veniceand Toronto film festivals, now generally regarded as the most important Oscars launchpads, we’ve compiled a list of 25 of our most anticipated upcoming releases. These aren’t necessarily the films we think will pick up major honours this awards season, more an indication of what we expect to be in contention. Let us know what you’re most looking forward to @LWLies
1. A Star Is Born
Released 5 October
If you had to guess what Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut would be, chances are it wouldn’t be this. It will be the third remake of the 1937 William A Wellman romantic drama, following in the more musical footsteps of George Cukor’s 1954 version starring Judy Garland, and the Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson-starrer from 1976. Casting himself in the lead alongside Lady Gaga, it looks like it will be very hip-and-happening indeed.
2. First Man
Released 12 October
For his hotly anticipated follow-up to La La Land, Damien Chazelle has picked up a Neil Armstrong biopic for his latest Oscar bait. The director will be reunited with Ryan Gosling in the lead role as NASA agonises just how to get him on the Moon. The film will also star Lukas Haas as Michael Collins – hopefully he will deliver a great performance so people will stop forgetting his name at pub quizzes.
3. The Sisters Brothers
Eta late 2018
Palme d’Or-winner Jacques Audiard is bringing us his first English language feature this year, based on the novel by Patrick deWitt. Dubbed a western dark comedy, the film will focus on John C Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix as the titular siblings hunting down a prospector who has stolen from their boss. The best thing is, he’s being played by Rutger Hauer.
4. The Other Side of the Wind
Released 2 November
An Orson Welles film being released in 2018 feels very strange indeed, but good things come to those who wait. And those lucky few who have already seen it are enraptured, with The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson giving it a rave review. Coming to Netflix in November, we’ll get to see John Huston and Peter Bogdanovich starring in this mockumentary spoof of Michelangelo Antonioni. Don’t rule out Welles receiving a special posthumous award for this one.
5. Peterloo
Released 2 November
Anything new film from Mike Leigh is cause for excitement, and the revered British director will be hoping to build on the success of 2014’s Mr Turner with his latest historical drama. The film arrives in time for the bicentennial of the Peterloo Massacre of 1819, which left some 700 peaceful protestors killed or wounded. Rory Kinnear and Maxine Peake will be the familiar faces in the rambunctious crowd.
6. Widows
Released 9 November
Lynda La Plante was the defining voice of 1980s crime drama, and her British TV series has inspired Steve McQueen to direct a present-day update. The plot centres on four women whose husbands are killed in a failed heist which the widows then decide to complete themselves. McQueen has teamed up with Gone Girl writer Gillian Flynn, and has put his faith in the very capable hands of Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki and Cynthia Erivo.
7. If Beale Street Could Talk
Released 30 November
Barry Jenkins, the director behind 2017’s Best Picture-winner, Moonlight, returns with an adaptation of the eponymous 1974 James Baldwin novel. Following a woman from Harlem’s battle to clear the name of her fiancé after he is accused of rape, the film stars Kiki Layne, Stephan James, Dave Franco and Diego Luna. Only time will tell if Jenkins can replicate his historic success, but we wouldn’t bet against it.
8. Roma
Eta late 2018
Following the massive success of 2013’s Gravity, Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón returns home for an autobiographical family drama shot in black-and-white. Recently announced as the centrepiece of the New York Film Festival, Roma focuses on middle-class domestic life in 1970s Mexico City.
9. Suspiria
Released 2 November
After the effervescent Call Me by Your Name, director Luca Guadagnino is indulging his sadistic streak with this remake of Dario Argento’s giallo classic. Suspiria stars Tilda Swinton as the dance academy’s Madame Blanc, with Chloë Grace Moretz and Dakota Johnson providing support. At CinemaCon earlier this year audiences were reportedly left nauseated by some graphic preview footage. Here’s hoping it lives up to the original.
10. Boy Erased
Released 2 November
Based on Garrard Conley’s harrowing memoir, this is the second film of 2018 (along with Desiree Akhavan’s The Miseducation of Cameron Post) concerning a Christian community forcing their children to go through conversion therapy. Joel Edgerton’s follow-up to The Gift stars Lucas Hedges as repressed teenager Jared, with Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe playing his parents. Hopefully it will pack a powerful punch, and raise further awareness of a deeply troubling issue.
11. White Boy Rick
Released 7 December
Yann Demange follows up ’71 with a crime-drama about a teenage undercover FBI informant who was arrested for drug-trafficking in the 1980s. The film stars Jennifer Jason Leigh and Matthew McConaughey alongside Bruce Dern and Bel Powley, with Darren Aronofsky on producing duties. Newcomer Richie Merritt plays the juvenile kingpin, whose remarkable story has to be seen to be believed.
12. The Old Man and The Gun
Released 7 December
Ain’t Them Bodies Saints and A Ghost Story writer/director David Lowery is trying his hand at true-crime with Robert Redford in tow. Selling itself on the absurdity of it being about, well, an old man with a gun, the film tells the story of Forrest Tucker’s last heist, as recorded in a 2003 New Yorker article by David Grann.
13. The Miseducation of Cameron Post
7 September 2018
Appropriate Behaviour director Desiree Akhavan brings us a beautiful, spirited critique of conversion therapy. Finally taking on a role worthy of her talent, Chloë Grace Moretz plays the titular teen who is sent to an evangelical Christian camp after being caught making out with another girl in the backseat of her car. American Honey’s Sacha Lane co-stars.