By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
As is typical of most Novembers, a very large assortment of movies will be released this month that represent nearly every genre. From big budget spectacles to lower budget dramas, from the gladiatorial pits of Rome to the yellow brick road of Oz, Hollywood hopes to make this holiday season a memorable one. So, strap in and hold on tight, let’s navigate through these films so you have a better idea of what you want to see.
November 1st
Jesse Eisenberg (“A Social Network”) and Kieran Culkin (“Succession”) team up for a comedy/drama as they travel through Poland. “A Real Pain” is also written and directed by Eisenberg and looks to be a funny, yet emotional type of film. It’s been generating positive buzz on the film festival circuit, so don’t be surprised if this is a winner.
Oscar winning director Robert Zemeckis reunites the cast and crew of “Forrest Gump,” including Tom Hanks and Robin Wright to create a brand-new drama that is looking to generate Oscar buzz. “Here” is a multi-generational tale that focuses on the lives of families over time. If this has even a fraction of impact that “Forrest Gump” had, then expect this one to be an uplifting tearjerker that will have everyone talking.
November 8th
To get the positive holiday vibes rolling, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” releases this day. It is based on the book of the same name that was published in 1972 by Barbara Robinson. While this looks to be a wholesome family flick with a message of inclusion, it appears to be riddled with cheesiness that makes it seem to be a better fit for the Lifetime movie of the week rather than a theatrical release. The director is Dallas Jenkins, who is the creator of a popular religious based TV show called “The Chosen,” and it stars Judy Greer with Lauren Graham as the narrator.
Nestled between snowy, holiday infused movies, how about a little horror to get the blood and adrenaline pumping? “Heretic” features Hugh Grant in the antagonist role of a homeowner who traps two young female missionaries to make them prove their faith in a deadly and twisted game. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods once again collaborate to write and direct this horror film. The last time these two worked together was to make the atrociously bad film “65,” so approach “Heretic” with extreme caution.
November 22nd
Hollywood is desperately hoping to recapture the box office magic of “Barbenheimer” this Thanksgiving weekend with two big budget blockbusters. First up is “Gladiator II,” the sequel to the Oscar winning film from 2000. Ridley Scott returns to direct a new cast featuring Pedro Pescal, Denzel Washington, and Paul Mescal. It will be very difficult to recapture the magic of the first film, but let’s just hope this Ridley epic is better than his effort last Thanksgiving with “Napoleon.”
On the opposite side of the genre spectrum comes “Wicked,” which has been delighting audiences for the last couple of decades on stage. Whether it can make the jump to the big screen is a big question mark. At a runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes, many parents of children with short attention spans will likely forego the lofty time commitment. Cynthia Erivo stars with Ariana Grande, which has had rocky reactions. Cynthia’s overreaction to a fan made poster has irked many, while Ariana may have a lovely singing voice, but has demonstrated a lack of acting ability. This may not be the decisive hit many thinks it will be.
There’s another movie that releases with the two juggernauts above, and while it may not compete to win the box office, it may be the better-quality film of weekend if not the month. “Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.” is a WWII drama based on the true story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Angel Studios is distributing this film, and they’re already responsible for two of the best films this year in “Cabrini” and “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot,” so this is as close to a guaranteed quality movie as you’re going to find.
November 15th
How about another Christmas-themed film? “Red One” is an action/adventure/comedy in which Santa has been kidnapped, forcing an unlikely team-up between the North Pole’s head of security and an infamous bounty hunter in order to save Christmas. Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, and J.K. Simmons star, so expect plenty of action and dialogue driven comedy. It could be a lot of fun, or it could be a yuletide disaster, best to wait for reviews before committing to this one.
November 27th
Closing out the month is another heavy hitter that will contend for box office glory. Disney arrives with “Moana 2,” featuring the returning voice cast of Dwayne Johnson as Maui and Auli’I Cravalho as the title character. It’s been eight years since its wonderful Oscar nominated predecessor, so anticipation is high, but there are some red flags to be weary of before jumping in with both feet. The director crew from the original is not returning for this sequel, neither is Lin-Manuel Miranda, the incredible Oscar nominated songwriter. So, this could be another uneventful money grab by Disney, which is something they’ve been guilty of more often than not as of late.
