The new season means cold nights, bitter winds and rainy days.
But as students take refuge inside from the chilling weather, another season rolls in — the fall film season. With new movies releasing every week, here are five stand-outs for students’ viewing pleasures:
Dune (Oct. 22)
“Dune,” which is directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya, has been hotly anticipated since COVID-19 restrictions delayed its original set release in 2020.
A sci-fi epic in content and runtime (at 2 hours and 35 minutes, this is no quick watch), the film promises to indulge its audience with an intricate world of desert planets, life-extending drugs and perilous destinies.
After several failed attempts of adapting “Dune” to the silver screen, viewers can only hope that Villeneuve’s take on the sci-fi novel of the same name is the one to stick the landing.
Last Night in Soho (Oct. 29)
Directed by Edgar Wright, this British psychological horror film promises a disturbing trip into the past, as modern-day fashion designer Eloise, played by Thomasin McKenzie, develops the ability to travel to the 1960s in her dreams.
With the backdrop of neon lights and Mod fashion, Wright’s version of the swinging sixties does not just deliver dazzle and glam, but creates a story rife with murder and nightmares come true.
Hitting the silver screen just two days before Halloween, this movie looks like it is the perfect compliment for viewers’ spooky season needs, without feeling overly seasonal.
It also doesn’t hurt that Anya Taylor-Joy, of “The Queen’s Gambit” fame, plays opposite McKenzie, sporting a soon-to-be iconic look of striking platinum blonde hair and a hot-pink nightgown.
Eternals (Nov. 5)
Marvel movies always create a buzz. A Marvel movie directed by Best Picture winner, Chloé Zhao, and featuring the star-studded cast of “Eternals,” is something to make a roar about.
With performances by the likes of Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Kit Harington and others, the film is likely to deliver strong acting performances while extending the MCU into the realm of the titular ancient immortals native to Earth.
More than furthering the storyline from “Avengers: Endgame,” “Eternals” also offers many firsts for the MCU, including the first deaf superhero (played by deaf actress, Lauren Ridloff) and first openly gay couple.
Spencer (Nov. 5)
A stark departure from her “Twilight” origins, Kristen Stewart stars in this biopic, as the titular Diana Spencer, better known as Diana, Princess of Wales.
The film, which explores Princess Diana’s decision to divorce Prince Charles, comes at a time of steep criticism against Britain’s Royal Family, particularly following Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah in March 2021.
With a story as deeply rooted in controversy as Princess Diana’s, from mistreatment by the Royal Family to her ex-husband’s infamous affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, this film by director Pablo Larrain is sure to provide insight into the so-called People’s Princess.
Encanto (Nov. 24)
Disney never seems to disappoint in its animated features, and “Encanto” appears to be no exception. Just judging from its vividly colored artwork and catchy tunes, featured in its trailer, the film promises an experience of delight and extraordinariness.
The second animated Disney film to follow a Latin American family, after “Coco,” “Encanto” follows the story of a Colombian girl and her journey as the only family member without magical powers in a time when their magic is in danger.
With songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and the voice of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s” Stephanie Beatriz, “Encanto” is certain to be an exciting dive into magical-realism, a genre with strong roots in Latin American culture.
Kara Anderson is the assistant arts editor and can be reached at kara.anderson@ubspectrum.com
Kara Anderson is a senior arts editor at The Spectrum. She is an English and Spanish double major and is pursuing a certificate in creative writing. She enjoys baking chocolate chip cookies, procrastinating with solitaire and binging reality TV on the weekends.
