Upcoming Releases, September 2021

 

We're up to September, Summer is over and Awards Season is about to kick into high gear. But September is always an interesting time for films, with a few diamonds and plenty of rough. Let's see what's in store for us this September!

Thursday, September 2:
Afterlife of the Party (Netflix): A social butterfly (Victoria Justice) dies during the week of her birthday but gets a chance to come back and right some wrongs. This feels like a familiar formula, of people getting a chance to be a better person in the afterlife. Justice has done some interesting projects in the past, we'll see if this works.

Friday, September 3:
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings (Theaters): This is the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The trailer looked interesting and the MCU has a kicking track record, so I'm pumped. A huge release for Labor Day Weekend.

Cinderella (Amazon Prime): This one is a new spin on a classic tale with Camilla Cabello in the lead and Billy Porter and James Corden in the cast. Color me skeptical about this one.

JJ+E (Netflix): This one is a teen romance with a twist. The two involved come from different cultures and have to break through barriers to connect. It's a familiar set up, we'll see if it develops into anything memorable.

Worth (Netflix): Based on a true story, this one finds Stanley Tucci as a lawyer tasked with determining how to compensate families that lost a loved one on 9/11. So, year, expect some tears.

Thursday, September 9:
Blood Brothers: Malcolm X and Muhammed Ali (Netflix): This new documentary examines the relationship between the two icons. It figures to be a fascinating look into the two iconic figures.

Friday, September 10:
Malignant (Theaters/HBO Max): Malignant focuses on Alan Gates, a cancer patient with a terminal diagnosis who is resigned to his fate until he discovers that his tumor is actually a mysterious parasite. This one comes from James Wan, who is a master of horror films and figures to have plenty of creepy thrills and chills.

Queenpins (Theaters (Sept. 30 Paramount+): This one is based on a true story, and sees a pair of homemakers (Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste) who stumble into a counterfeit coupon scheme that spins out of control. It looks funny and has an interesting premise.

The Voyuers (Prime Video): This one centers on a young couple who become obsessed with their neighbors and things spiral out of control. It lacks a high-profile cast but has a fairly familiar premise so, you know, this figures to be a fairly stock thriller.

Firedrake the Silver Dragon (Netflix): This new animated film features a dragon and the voice talents of Freddie Highmore, Felicity Jones and Patrick Stewart, among others. Netflix is having a solid year with animated films and this looks like another potential hit.

Kate (Netflix): After she’s poisoned, a ruthless criminal operative has less than 24 hours to exact revenge on her enemies and in the process forms an unexpected bond with the daughter of one of her past victims. We'll see if the action pans out in this one.

Come From Away (Apple TV+): This one is a filmed performance of the Broadway show from Bill Condon. We'll see if it draws Hamilton-like crowds.

Wednesday, September 15:
Nightbooks (Netflix): This one features young kids and a witch played by Krysten Ritter. It's in range for the scary season, so this could be one worth checking out.

Schumacher (Netflix): Fully supported by Michael Schumacher’s family, Schumacher features rare interviews and previously undisclosed archival footage and draws a very sensitive yet critical portrait of the seven-time World Champion. I think this one could be a fascinating sports documentary to check out.

Friday, September 17:
Cry Macho (Theaters/HBO Max): This is the latest from Clint Eastwood, where he stars on camera and takes the lead behind the camera. It's about a washed up horse breeder bringing a kid back from Mexico on the backroads of Texas. It's Eastwood, so there will definitely be an audience.

Carshop (Theaters): A bullet-riddled Crown Vic, the Nevada dessert, a con artist and a hitman, Gerard Butler and Frank Grillo. Need I saw more. You know what you're getting here, and I'm on board for it.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie (Prime Video): This brightly colored musical is about, you know, Jamie. It's gotten decent early buzz and reviews and looks like a bit of fun.

Wednesday, September 22:
Intrusion (Netflix): A paint-by-numbers thriller starring Logan Marshall-Green and Freida Pinto as a couple who move to a new town and suffer a home invasion. This one feels like a shoulder shrug of a film concept.

Friday, September 24:
Dear Evan Hansen (Theaters): The Broadway musical is finally adapted into a film starring the original Broadway Star Ben Platt. This will have a built-in audience and is a highly anticipated Fall offering.

The Starling (Netflix): This latest from Melissa McCarthy centers on a woman who tries to get over a recent loss, and her grief, as she battles a territorial bird for supremacy of her garden. This one features Daveed Diggs and Chris O'Dowd. Hopefully there's some laughs here.

Birds of Paradise (Amazon Prime): Two dancers at an elite Parisian ballet academy connect in a time of stress and tragedy. Hard to tell about this one.

Wednesday, September 29:
Sounds Like Love (Netflix): This one feels like a pretty generic and vanilla romantic comedy, but, hey, it's a mid-week option!

No One Gets Out Alive (Netflix): And if you don't like romantic comedies, here's a horror release for you...