Fall at last.
Fall is the season studios release their best and brightest movies — the ones that’ll rack up at the awards ceremonies.
So get out your planner and start writing these dates in.
“The Skeleton Twins”
Sept. 12
“Saturday Night Live” co-stars Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig team up in this dramedy about a pair of twins who reconnect after a decade of not speaking.
Already getting rave advance reviews, it’s gonna be a blast to see these two tackle roles together outside of the sketch comedy norm.
“This Is Where I Leave You”
Sept. 19
Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda and Adam Driver on screen together.
That’s really all that should be necessary to cause you to sprint, not run, to the darkly-premised comedy about a family coming together after the death of their father and husband.
“A Walk Among the Tombstones”
Sept. 19
Based on the Lawrence Block novel of the same name, “A Walk Among the Tombstones” is the story of a private investigator looking into the kidnapping and murder of a criminal’s wife.
This movie’s important because its bone-chilling trailer reveals it might finally be a change of pace from the Liam Neeson garbage of late.
“Gone Girl”
Oct. 3
One of the most anticipated films of the year, “Gone Girl,” based off the Gillian Flynn novel that sold millions of copies — you know, the one you haven’t read but seemingly every single person you’ve ever met is obsessed with — comes out this October.
Directed by David Fincher (“The Social Network,” “House of Cards”) and starring Ben Affleck and Neil Patrick Harris among others, this is one you really shouldn’t miss.
“The Judge”
Oct. 10
A lawyer, played by Robert Downey, Jr., returns to his hometown because his father (Robert Duvall), a judge in the town, is a murder suspect. Along with these two, the film stars Vera Farmiga and Billy Bob Thornton. Oh, and Leighton Meester. From “Gossip Girl.” This is going to be interesting to say the least.
“Fury”
Oct. 17
This is a pretty surefire hit.
High-profile World War II movies are almost always great, and Brad Pitt is a living legend. I’m not too worried that “Fury” is going to be at the very least a very solid film, definitely worth the price of admission.
Paired with its fall release date, “Fury” might be eyeing some shiny trophies.
“Interstellar”
Nov. 7
Christopher Nolan. Matthew McConaughey. Space.
All coming together at once. Matthew is in the prime of his McConaissance (I’m not smart enough to have come up with that word myself) in a space-travelling film directed by the man behind so many of my favorites, such as “Inception” and “The Dark Knight.”
And as if that wasn’t enough, we get the added bonus of Anne Hathaway as a co-star. Nov. 7 can’t come soon enough.
“Dumb and Dumber To”
Nov. 14
It’s definitely going to be strange to see the man we’ve come to know and love in recent years as Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels) of “The Newsroom” return to the truly ... well, dumb, ways of Harry Dunne of “Dumb and Dumber,” but it’s also exciting to see this franchise make a return after so many years.
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1”
Nov. 21
Taking off the “Harry Potter” model of splitting the final chapter up into two parts to get as much money out of the hands of unknowing young audiences everywhere, “The Hunger Games” returns to the screen — this time, with Panem teetering on the edge of rebellion. Expect J-Law to kill it ... as always.
“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”
Dec. 17
Love it or hate it, it’s finally coming to an end. This holiday season, Peter Jackson will release his final installment of “The Hobbit” trilogy, once again starring Martin Freeman at the helm. If for no other reason, go to see Sir Ian McKellan once more rock the all-white (long after Labor Day) as Gandalf.
