Upcoming Releases — October

September is quickly fading away, and October is coming. With it comes more and more movies of substance. For those that have craved great stories, get ready for the start of the Golden Quarter.

Friday, October 3:
Gone Girl — David Fincher is a masterful director, and in adapting Gillian Flynn's popular novel, he's again in the zeitgeist. The trailer for this movie is incredible, as is the cast. It's looking like this could be one of the biggest movies of the fall, and a great chance for Ben Affleck to add to his improved resume the past few years.

The Good Lie — Reese Witherspoon hasn't been in big movies the past few years, but with her role as a plucky woman helping refugees in this film, that could change. This looks like a story with heart and a story that needs to be told. This could be another gem in October.

Annabelle — You may not be aware, but October is a big time for horror movies due to a holiday later in the month. The creepy doll Annabelle was a key element in "The Conjuring," a surprisingly well done thriller from 2013. So I think this might be a treat for horror movie fans. And it will also probably be creepy thanks to that frightening doll. All this movie needs is a clown and a chainsaw to be part of my permanent nightmare.

Left Behind (Limited) — Christians have long been enthralled with the "Left Behind" book series, which chronicles life on earth after the Rapture. Kirk Cameron famously brought some of these books — including the titular "Left Behind" — to the screen in the early 2000s. Now the film is being re-made with Nicholas Cage in the lead role. I'm skeptical, but the trailer actually looked good.

Friday, October 10:
The Judge — Robert Downey, Jr., has spent much of the last decade as either Tony Stark/Iron Man or Sherlock Holmes. It's easy to forget he's a great and versatile actor. With "The Judge," he pairs with Robert Duvall and Billy Bob Thornton in what looks like an exceptional family drama. It's going to be a good month.

Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day — Long title, potentially funny movie. This is one of the few family-friendly releases in the past few months, which is a plus, and stars Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner, which is better. This looks like a bit of family fun at the Box Office.

Addicted — This is some kind of steamy thriller based on a book I've never heard of. It's hard to see how this will find a big audience in a crowded field in October.

Dracula Untold — It's October. It's near Halloween. Sometimes these are the movies you get. This one tries to tell Dracula's origin story. Expect a lot of violence, gore, and slow motion.

Kill The Messenger (Limited) — This is the true story of Gary Webb, a California reporter who uncovered a CIA conspiracy. It stars Jeremy Renner and Rosemarie DeWitt, and it looks like a fascinating biopic featuring a story not many have heard.

Whiplash (Limited) — This film, featuring a strong breakout performance from Miles Teller, has drawn a lot of positive buzz. Teller plays a top jazz drummer, and this could be a big step forward for him as a performer.

Friday, October 17:
Fury — This is a World War II story about a tank crew and the role they played in helping defeat the Nazis. This is the kind of movie that looks designed to garner award attention, and it stars Brad Pitt. It also looks like a fascinating biopic.

Book of Life — This is an unusual animated feature. It's got a latin flair, and looks a bit like the Day of the Dead renderings, offering a bit of an alternative for kids during the Halloween season.

Men, Women and Children — This is the latest from Jason Reitman. Reitman gave the world "Juno" and "Up In The Air," but had a bit of a miss with his last film, "Labor Day." This looks like more of a return to form, and an exploration of a more serious topic. Adam Sandler is in this film, too, and looks to be trying his hand at more serious acting. This has some potential.

Birdman (Limited) — This is the latest from director Alexander Gonzalez Inarritu ("Babel"), and stars Michael Keaton as a washed up actor best known for playing a superhero who tries to reboot his career. It sounds a little metta, but also like something that will be worth checking out.

Friday, October 24:
Ouija — These are the kind of movies you get the week before Halloween. No big stars, creepy set pieces, no real depth.

John Wick — Keanu Reeves hasn't made a good movie in quite some time. I doubt this film, about a former hit man coming out of retirement to track down some no good gangsters.

St. Vincent (Limited) — This comedy starring Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy looks like it could be a late fall gem.

Friday, October 31:
Nightcrawler — This film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as an ambitious young reporter trying to make it covering crime in seedy parts of LA. This looks like a strong dramatic turn for Gyllenhaal.