Top 5 Must-See Movies of the Fall

1.     Perks Of Being A Wallflower

Release Date- September 21^st

Starring- Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Mae Whitman, Paul Rudd

What It’s About- Based on the best-selling book of the same name, the film centers on introverted high school freshman Charlie (Lerman) who initially has trouble fitting in at his new school after his best friend commits suicide several months before.  Soon after, he makes friends with a group of seniors, including Sam (Watson) and her gay stepbrother Patrick (Miller) who both help to introduce Charlie to the many experiences of high school.   

Why I Want To See It- This will be Emma Watson’s first leading role since the Harry Potter films   finally came to a close last year and I’m interested to see how (or if) Emma Watson’s career goes on without the blockbuster series.  Also, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find the story at least a little relatable.

2.     Argo

Release Date- October 12^th

Starring- Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Alan Arkin

What It’s About- In 1979, the CIA conspires to rescue several victims of the Iranian hostage crisis with a plan so insane that when I first heard about it I assumed it had to be made up.  They decide to go to Iran pretending to be Hollywood producers scouting for locations to shoot a fake science fiction movie.  

Why I Want To See It- This will be the third movie that Ben Affleck has directed.  Gone Baby Gone showed audiences that he was a capable director and The Town verified it wasn’t a fluke. With a talented ensemble cast at Affleck’s disposal this should prove to be an excellent follow-up.

3.     Looper

Release Date- September 28^th

Starring- Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt

What It’s About- In the future, time travel has been invented but is highly illegal and is mostly used by the mob through black market connections.  Now when they want someone to disappear they send them thirty years into the past where one of their hit-men or “loopers” is waiting to finish the job.  One such “looper” Joe (Gordon-Levitt) is living large until he finds out his next target is his future self (Willis).

Why I Want To See It- Aside from Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s surprisingly dead-on Bruce Willis impression, I enjoy watching his movies because he very rarely gives a bad performance.  He’s been paying his dues for some time with leading roles in excellent independent movies (500 Days of Summer, 50/50) and supporting roles in summer blockbusters (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises).   I’ve always been hopeful that Gordon-Levitt’s next movie will be the one that propels him to the well-deserved A-List status that’s been eluding him. 

4.     Wreck It Ralph

Release Date- November 2^nd

Starring- John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch

What It’s About- Ralph, an arcade game villain, fed-up with always being the bad guy decides to abandon his game in hopes of being a hero elsewhere, unaware of the can of worms he has opened in the process.  

Why I Want To See It- While a villain deciding that he’s tired of being a villain isn’t exactly the most original plot (Megamind being a recent example), I love this approach.  I’m pretty sure the trailer convinced me to see this movie after seeing the support group with the villains from all my favorite video games growing up.  It was like the video game equivalent of seeing all the Disney and Looney Tunes characters on screen together in Who Framed Roger Rabbit?   

5.     Silver Linings Playbook

Release Date- November 21^st  

Starring- Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro, Jackie Weaver

What It’s About- A former schoolteacher (Cooper) moves back in with his mother after a four-year stint in a mental hospital with hopes to get his life back on track and reconcile with his ex-wife.  Along the way he starts a friendship with his attractive neighbor (Lawrence) who is going through mental problems of her own.

Why I Want To See It- While from what I’ve heard, this movie leans a bit on the sentimental side and I should therefore hate it, I actually really enjoy watching those kinds of films as long as they are done correctly.  While it’s naturally hard to tell so far from trailers alone if this will be one of those movies, the casting of Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence as the two leads and David O. Russell’s involvement as director has me hopeful this will be one worth watching.