Fall 2013 Movie Preview

"Rush"

Apollo 13 director Ron Howard returns to form with Rush, the true story of the heated rivalry between Formula One racers Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) and James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth). It seems the gripping trailers haven't disappointed the critics or audiences overseas, where Rush has already opened. This is to be a sleek, exhilarating ride with breathtaking racing sequences and marvelous performances from Bruhl and Hemsworth. Renowned playwright Peter Morgan pens a screenplay that should make its rounds come awards season. In theaters September 27th.

“Gravity”

From director Alfonso Cuarón (“Children of Men”) comes this highly-anticipated adventure featuring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as astronauts struggling for survival after a freak accident leaves them stranded in outer space. Buzz from last week’s screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival have Gravity slated as an early Oscar favorite and one that critics are touting as a landmark in 3-D visual effects technology. Titanic director James Cameron recently told Variety that it’s “the best space film ever done.” In theaters October 4^th.

"12 Years a Slave”

Hunger director Steve McQueen brings to life the incredible true story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free man who is abducted and sold into slavery in the pre-Civil War era. Ejiofor is already being lauded as this year’s Oscar favorite for Best Actor. He leads a fine ensemble cast consisting of Brad Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender, Alfre Woodard and Paul Giamatti. In theaters October 18^th.

“The Counselor”

Ridley Scott (Gladiator) directs an original screenplay from Cormac McCarthy, author of The Road and No Country for Old Men. It tells the story of a corrupt lawyer (Michael Fassbender) who finds himself in over his head when he gets involved in drug trafficking. McCarthy’s screenplay should be a heavy contender come Oscar time. The Counselor also stars Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz and Cameron Diaz. In theaters October 25^th.

“The Wolf of Wall Street”

In the 1990s, Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) was a stockbroker who hoodwinked his way to the top only to come tumbling down towards the end of the decade. Director Martin Scorsese brings Belfort's true story to the big screen this fall. DiCaprio plays a role reminiscent of his recent turn as Jay Gatsby in what looks to be a sure Oscar vehicle for him. Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie and The Artist’s Jean Dujardin round out the cast. In theaters November 15^th.

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”

The most highly-anticipated release of the fall picks up immediately after the first Hunger Games, in which Katniss Everdeen’s and Peeta Mellark’s victory spawns a rebellion against the fascist Capitol. The original cast returns along with Oscar-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, among other new faces. Catching Fire is sure to ignite a spark of its own when it hits theaters on November 22^nd.

“Frozen”

The next big adventure from Disney sees a young girl teaming up with a friend in order to save her sister, whose ice-cold powers have locked the kingdom in an eternal winter. With the creative minds behind Tangled and Wreck-it Ralph at the helm, hilarity is bound to ensue in Frozen. Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Jonathan Groff lend their voices. In theaters Novemeber 27th.

"Get a Horse!"

An all-new Mickey Mouse short titled Get a Horse! will play before Frozen. You won’t want to miss this because it’s the first feature to use a state-of-the-art animation technique. The creators were able to combine hand-drawn, two-dimensional imagery with slick, 3-D computer animation that’s made to look like one of Mickey’s original adventures, circa 1928’s “Steamboat Willie.” At the time, Walt Disney himself was the voice of Mickey, so with a little bit of Disney magic, the animators were able to render Walt’s voice for use in this new cartoon! In theaters November 27^th.