As the campus now enters the chilling month of October, many students will likely be interested in what’s playing in the nearby theaters. This time of the year has its share of blockbusters, but it is also the best time for filmmakers to truly show what they’re capable of as Oscar season is just around the corner.
While it was difficult, I’ve selected three movies that are worth your time to watch on the big screen during this semester, specifically divided by what month they appear in.
October: Steve Jobs
It was a difficult choice between this, Ridley Scott’s The Martian, and Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies, but Steve Jobs has a lot of talent. Yes, this isn’t the only movie we’ve had focused on the deceased Apple co-founder in the last three years, but it’s one that has the right people behind it.
The film takes place during three important Apple product launches and ends with the ’98 unveiling of the iMac. The audience gets to see what kind of person the iconic Steve Jobs was and the relationships he had with his co-workers and family.
The film is based upon Walter Isaacson’s best-selling biography of the same name. Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (known for critically acclaimed hits like The American President, The West Wing, and The Social Network) ensured the film’s accuracy by interviewing several of Steve’s colleagues such as Steve Wozniak, Lisa-Brennan Jobs, and John Sculley.
The film is directed by Academy Award winning director Danny Boyle of Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours fame, and stars Michael Fassenbender, Kate Winslet, and Seth Rogen amongst a star-studded cast.
The first group of critics to see the production all gave it praise for the direction and acting, even Steve Wozniak said, “I was actually watching Steve Jobs and the others…. not actors playing them.”
November: Spectre
November is the time where the “Oscar bait” movies like to reserve their spot, but that doesn’t mean there’s no time for a little fun and action. The Peanuts, The Good Dinosaur, and Mockingjay: Part 2 have my interest.
The one I am most looking forward to is Daniel Craig’s next James Bond film, Spectre, which pits Ian Fleming’s spy against the criminal organization of the same name.
This is the second Bond film directed by Sam Mendes after the well-received Skyfall, with Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, and Ralph Fiennes reprising their MI6 roles for the production. The story’s antagonist will be portrayed by Christoph Waltz, who plays a mysterious figure claiming to have a connection to Bond’s tragic past.
While the new M is busy facing the political pressures that occurred following the events of Skyfall, Bond takes it upon himself to protect the daughter of a powerful enemy in order to uncover the multiple conspiracies taking place.
The film’s theme song, “The Writing’s on the Wall” by Sam Smith has been released to a mixed response, though most discuss how it pales in comparison to Adele’s “Skyfall.” I’d recommend listening it to yourself and let you be the judge. I think it’s a good song, but it’s debatable if it matches the style of what the James Bond stands for. We can only wait to see if the movie does as well.
December: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
For December, was there really any other choice but Star Wars Episode VII? In a year with Avengers: Age of Ultron and Jurassic World, it’s quite an accomplishment to be the most anticipated film of 2015.
Ever since Disney’s acquisition of the Star Wars brand in 2012, many were curious to see how the new trilogy they had planned would turn out. Would it capture the magic of the original trilogy? Would it do nothing but disappoint like the prequels? The set photos demonstrating the use of practical events, the casting of the actors from the original trilogy including Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford, and the trailers have done nothing but generate even more hype for the final product.
Little is known about the plot at this point. All we know is that there’s lightsabers, droids, Sith lords, Stormtroopers, and just about anything you’d expect in a Star Wars film.
Newcomer actors for the first installment of the new trilogy include John Boyega as Finn, a former Stormtrooper and Jedi-in-training, Daisy Ridley as the scavenger Rey, Adam Driver as the villainous Kylo Ren, and Oscar Isaac as X-Wing pilot Poe Dameron.
The director of Episode VII is none other than J.J. Abrams, who’s had experience with space crews in the recent Star Trek films. The movie will kick-off not only a new Star Wars trilogy, but also plans for spin-offs in between the trilogy films in the form of Rogue One and a Han Solo anthology film. So expect a Star Wars movie in some shape or form every year for the next five years.
With so much hinging on it, Star Wars Episode: VII cannot afford to fail. Hopefully the force is strong with this one.