- “You Can See Everything” (out now): “You Can See Everything” is a documentary centered on deposed Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, as well as her husband Billy Evans, in the month before she reports to prison. The film is the brainchild of two Jewish creators: Nathan Fielder, best known for his comedy shows “Nathan for You” and “The Rehearsal,” and Lance Oppenheim, a documentary filmmaker who recently made his first foray into narrative with “Primetime.” The documentary’s existence was kept a complete secret until it dropped in a surprise screening at Telluride Film Festival in September, and it’s been the talk of the town ever since. “You Can See Everything” blurs the line between documentary and when filmmakers start to involve themselves in the story they are portraying. There’s something deeply unnerving about it, and absolutely captivating. Just be warned — it’s almost three hours long, and probably not as action-packed as “The Odyssey” at that.
- “Whalefall” (out now): If you liked Austin Abrams in horror films such as “Weapons” and “Resident Evil,” good news — he’s back and more terrified than ever! This time, Abrams plays Jay Gardiner, a diver who is searching for the remains of his father (Josh Brolin), but instead gets swallowed by a sperm whale — Jonah style. Now Jay has an hour to escape from the belly of the beast before his air runs out. The trailers promise a nonstop gore fest. In reality, “Whalefall” might be more half horror, half family drama. The film is cut up with many flashbacks between Abrams and Brolin, as Jay uses the lessons his father left with him to try to make it back to the surface. Come for the brand-new horror icon, stay for the truly inventive thrills.
- “Wildwood” (out now): Not only is October spooky season, it’s also stop-motion season. Created by Laika Studios (the creators of “Coraline” and, a personal favorite, “Kubo and the Two Strings”), “Wildwood” centers on a young girl (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) who ventures out into the magical forest beyond Portland, Oregon, to save her little brother (Arthur Knight). The movie is based on the graphic novel series by Colin Meloy and directed by Laika CEO Travis Knight, who also directed the silly but surprisingly entertaining He-Man adaptation this past June. “Wildwood” reminds me of Studio Ghibli films like “Spirited Away,” but Laika historically portrays darker and more mature stories, even if they look like they’re for kids. Prepare to be wowed by the stunning world-building and powerful voice performances. Reportedly, the animators at Laika have been crafting this movie for over a decade, so it’s sure to be a beautiful adventure.
- “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York” (out now): John Turturro (the great character actor, though you might know him as Irving from “Severance”) plays Harry Lehman, an aging pickpocket dealing with the ever-modernizing New York. It’s hard to make your living when no one carries cash anymore. Harry, an older Jewish man supporting his disabled wife through a decreasingly lucrative trade, one day steals a high-tech MacGuffin that turns out to be too dangerous to keep, and must journey to return it before the danger becomes irreversible. The film is directed by Noah Segan, a native New York Jew. Segan has a great conversation with The Forward about Harry’s Jewish identity, and inserting Yiddishisms and Jewish morals into his films. The cast includes Giancarlo Esposito, Steve Buscemi, and Jamie Lee Curtis. The movie is as much a portrait of the city as a whole as it is of Harry — the old school trying to find its place in a new, technological world.
- “Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” (opens Nov. 21): “Sunrise on the Reaping” is set many years before the original “Hunger Games” series, and after “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” the first prequel from 2023. This particular prequel portrays Haymitch Abernathy’s (Joseph Zada) time as a tribute in the 50th Hunger Games, which will see 48 instead of the usual 24 contestants. “Twice the tributes, twice the glory,” says Glenn Close’s Effie Trinket-esque announcer. Twice the thrill, she should say. “Sunrise on the Reaping” is similar to “Ballad of Songbirds” in that both have a title you can’t completely say with one breath. If “Sunrise” is anything like its predecessor, it’ll be long, overwritten, but very, very action-packed once we reach the main show.
- “Ray Gunn” (opens Dec. 4): Did you know that Brad Bird, creator of the beloved “Incredibles,” is coming out with an animated movie this year? Me neither. But apparently Netflix is bringing the movie to theaters for a limited time before it streams on Dec. 18. “Ray Gunn” is a glitzy, high-concept detective thriller, but one that seems to lean on the aesthetics of classic noir and also animated sci-fi. The movie is set in a retro-futuristic city where humans and aliens live together, and the detail to which it is animated is awe-inspiring. The cast is stacked with talented voice actors, with Sam Rockwell starring as the titular detective and Scarlett Johansson as a pop star embroiled in controversy. “Ray Gunn” looks like an odd movie, in that it’s animated but not exactly marketed like a “Minions” movie would be. If you’re a fan of animation but like something slightly more aged-up, this might be for you.
- “The Debut” (opens Dec. 11): “The Debut” is the second project directed by Jewish actor Jesse Eisenberg. Eisenberg’s first try, “A Real Pain,” in which he and Kieran Culkin play two Jewish cousins on a Poland trip, scored him an Oscar nomination for best screenplay. This time Eisenberg takes his signature dark humor and character exploration to the illustrious world of community theater. Imagine all the anxieties and dramas of high school theater — and now imagine them with 50-year-olds. The egos of Paul Giamatti (who knocked my socks off in “The Holdovers”) and the indomitable Julianne Moore come to blows in the production of a community musical. Giamatti is the overexacting director, and Moore is a middle-aged housewife hoping to regain some spark in life by trying something new. Eisenberg’s ironic witticisms are as likely to fuel the laughs as the freak-outs these two are about to have over, of all things, amateur acting.
- “Dune: Part Three” (opens Dec. 18): Get ready for the final return of Denis Villeneuve’s genre-defining adaptation of Frank Herbert’s “Dune.” One of the series’ foundational themes is messianism, a concept which stems from the Hebrew word “mashiach” (anointed one). Its protagonist, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), wrestles with the ideas of charismatic leadership and religious fanaticism, and the consequences of war and absolute power. “Dune: Part Two” left with quite a bang, but Part Three might start quieter — picking up 17 years later and focusing on problems later on in Paul’s rule. Most crucially, he will have to contend with the challenges to his rule that will be made by Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), the shape-shifting Scytale (Robert Pattinson), and his former ally Chani (Zendaya). Expect the same captivating image and sound as the first two films, a true spectacle worthy of at least one theater visit.
- “Avengers: Doomsday” (opens Dec. 18): The perhaps not long-awaited, but certainly long-discussed, “Avengers: Doomsday” is Marvel’s newest eventized team-up movie. “Doomsday” hopes to be the capstone in what has been called the Multiverse Saga, or the phases of Marvel films since 2018’s “Avengers: Endgame.” I found that the best movies from this phase were the intimate, character-forward pieces like “Thunderbolts*” or “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” I can’t say I’m fully on board for an “Endgame”-level showdown featuring twenty-something characters from different planets — and franchises. Still, there’s no denying that “Doomsday” is going to be one of the key cultural events of the year, and hopefully we’ll be in for at least a few cheer-worthy moments. The movie sees the return of Robert Downey Jr., taking a villain role as Doctor Doom, as well as Chris Evans’ Captain America and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. Expect some fun meetups between new and old characters, questionable executions of CGI, and a lot of people going, “Wait, who is that again?”
Nine movies to see before the end of the year
Here are nine movies either already out this fall, or coming soon, to watch before the new year arrives. Some you have probably heard about, others you may have not, but any of them could be worth your while.
