Renee Zelleweger as Garland in ‘Judy’.
29 films to look out for this fall
ARNOLD WAYNE JONES | Executive Editor
jones@dallasvoice.com
The last week of August is usually the dead letter office of movies (unless you’re talking art house films and documentaries; see sidebar, Page 15), but it’s also the perfect time to look ahead to the most promising films set to release before the end of the year, when lots of prestige pictures make their debuts. And, as been the case in recent years, many are overflowing with queer content. Here are some of the titles we are most looking forward to from now ’til Christmas. (Release dates are local premiere dates subject to change.)
SEPTEMBER
It: Chapter Two. The kids are all grown up, and it’s time to confront Pennywise again.
Brittany Runs a Marathon. Festival hit, the debut feature from out writer-director Paul Downs Colaizzo.
The Goldfinch. Screen adaptation of the acclaimed novel about a boy struggling following the murder of his mother. Nicole Kidman and Sarah Paulson costar.
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice. The gay documentary team of Jeffrey Friedman and Rob Epstein release this biopic about the 10-time Grammy winner.
Ad Astra. The long-delayed sci-fi epic starring Brad Pitt.
Downton Abbey. The feature film adaptation of the beloved TV series about the landed aristocracy in early 20th century England… and their staff.
Roy Cohn is the subject of a documentary.
Where’s My Roy Cohn? The queer (but closeted) Machiavelli of American 20th century politics — a counselor to McCarthy and a young Donald Trump — is the subject of this documentary.
Judy. Renee Zellweger stars as the iconic star (and gay touchstone) Judy Garland. The trailers make it look superb.
OCTOBER
Joker. An origin story about Batman’s most celebrated rival. Stars River Phoenix and Brian Tyree Henry.
Lucy in the Sky. Natalie Portman portrays an astronaut transformed by her space mission once she returns to earth.
The Current War. A battle of invention between Tesla, Edison and Westinghouse.
Filmmaker Pedro Almodovar cast Antonio Banderas to play a brush-cut movie director — not unlike himself — in his latest, “Pain and Glory.’
Pain and Glory. The latest from queer Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar, with stalwart Antonio Banderas playing a film director!
Gemini Man. Will Smith stars in Oscar winner Ang Lee’s latest, a sci-fi film about cloning.
Parasite. This year’s Palme D’or prizewinner at the Cannes Film Festival.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Angelina Jolie returns as the Disney villainess.
By the Grace of God. Queer filmmaker Francois Ozon’s drama about three men bound by their victimization at the hands of a priest decades earlier.
NOVEMBER
Harriet. Cynthia Erivo stars as the famed abolitionist.
Midway. Gay director Roland Emmerich’s WWII epic.
The Report. Annette Bening is getting a lot of early Oscar buzz for playing Dianne Feinstein.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Tom Hanks stars in this biopic about Mister Rogers.
Frozen 2. Sequel to the hit animated film, starring Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Adele Nazeem (aka Idina Menzel).
Charlie’s Angels. Elizabeth Banks directs this remake of the women-led actioner, starring Kristen Stewart.
The Good Liar. Bill Condon directs Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren in this thriller about a con man who gets conned.
Knives Out. Rian Johnson’s mystery thriller, with an all-star cast including Christopher Plummer, Chris Evans and Jamie Lee Curtis.
DECEMBER
Cunningham. A 3D documentary about gay choreographer Merce Cunningham.
Cats. Finally, the stage musical sensation comes to film, with Jennifer Hudson, Judi Dench and Jason Derulo in the cast.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. ’Nuff said.
Bombshell. Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie star as Megyn Kelly, Gretchen Carlson and Kayla Pospisil, who took down FoxNews head Roger Ailes.
Little Women. Latest remake of the American classic, directed by Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird).
