September is an odd time in the cinematic schedule, no longer part of the summer blockbuster season but still too early for the prestige awards bait of later months. It doesn’t even have a particularly well-known holiday like Halloween to gear towards programming. With that being said, the September slate is a mixed bag of some very promising films, most of them original (only two sequels and one remake in the bunch). Can “Blair Witch” live up to the original and the hype that’s been steadily building for it? And what about true-life stories like “Sully,” “Snowden” and “Deepwater Horizon?” Is there enough in each of those to tell a gripping tale? Only time will tell.
Who: Kate Mara, Anya Taylor-Joy, Paul Giamatti, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Brian Cox
What: A corporate risk-management consultant has to decide and determine whether or not to terminate an artificial being’s life that was made in a laboratory environment.
When: September 2nd
Why: Made by Luke Scott (music video director and son of Ridley), this sounds like an intriguing, original sci-fi film that will be both entertaining to watch and actually grapple with some heavier, headier stuff. Also, the cast is pretty much stacked with talent, including Anya Taylor-Joy, who has proven to be an incredible actress at a young age with her performance in “The Witch” and whose role as the AI in question should be suitably captivating. This may be a retread of “Ex Machina,” but considering that was a brilliant film, that’s no knock on “Morgan,” which looks to be a mix of Alex Garland’s thriller, Luc Besson’s “Lucy” and an especially engrossing episode of “Black Mirror.”
Who: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Mike O’Malley, Laura Linney and Anna Gunn
What: The story of Chesley Sullenberger, who became a hero after landing his airplane on the Hudson River, saving all of the Flight 155’s crew and passengers.
When: September 9th
Why: Tom Hanks appears to be in serious actor mode in this Clint Eastwood true-life drama. Surrounded by a bunch of incredibly gifted actors, Hanks looks to be telling a tale of doubt, courage and what it means to be a hero in the 21st century. Unfortunately, one never knows which version of Clint Eastwood will show up: the able storyteller of “American Sniper” or the bored gun-for-hire of “Jersey Boys?” Hopefully, it’s the former, as this could be a great profile on how America raises people up just to see them fall and could garner serious awards talk later in the year.
Who: Renée Zellweger, Patrick Dempsey, Colin Firth and Emma Thompson
What: The continuing adventures of British publishing executive Bridget Jones as she enters her 40s.
When: September 16th
Why: The first two “Bridget Jones” films are charming, if formulaic, rom-coms that did a good job of speaking to the neuroses of modern life. It’s a welcomed return to the character for Renée Zellweger, who really should get more work. Plus, it’s also a delight to see Colin Firth in anything – the man is just a suave dreamboat. This may be a good solution for date night for those who want to actually laugh at the film they are being forced to see, as there’s usually at least a few gags that land extremely well.