There are only a handful of directors working today whose track record demands you stop what you're doing and go see their new film, regardless of story, genre or pre-release buzz. It's exciting then that three of them — Christopher Nolan, Paul Thomas Anderson and David Fincher — all have movies coming out this fall/holiday season. Those guys' films were going to make the latest Movie Excitability Index no matter what, and it wasn't hard to find seven other intriguing upcoming releases to round it out. Here are the ten films I'm most excited to see over the next four months:
1. Interstellar
Director: Christopher Nolan | Release date: November 7
So is this still the McConaissance? Or are we now officially Post-McConaissance? Eh, it matters not. This "big idea" sci-fi flick is Nolan's first non-Batman film since Inception and looks to be as much of a twisty mind-fuck. In addition to Matthew McConaughey, the stacked cast also features Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and, of course, Michael Caine. You get the sense that so much of what this movie is about has been left out of the trailers. I hope to be blown away.
2. Inherent Vice
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson | Release date: December 12
Many of you won't get to see Anderson's latest until January, as it will only be playing in limited release until then. As usual, P.T. is keeping his film mostly under wraps — there's not even a trailer yet! — but we know it's at least loosely based on the Thomas Pynchon 1970s-set detective novel that's often described as "psychedelic noir." The Master's Joaquin Phoenix reteams with Anderson to play a P.I. tasked with tracking down his ex-girlfriend's missing current flame. As usual, Anderson has built himself a hell of an ensemble for this. Co-starring are Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Benicio Del Toro, Jena Malone, Martin Short and Eric Roberts.
3. Birdman
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu | Release date: October 17
Here's how this plays out in my head: Birdman is released. The critics adore it. Michael Keaton is nominated for the Best Actor Oscar. I miraculously score an interview with him. It goes swimmingly. Keaton wins Best Actor. We keep in touch and become best friends, going to Pirates games together every time Keaton returns home to Pittsburgh. Hey, it could happen, right?
4. Foxcatcher
Director: Bennett Miller | Release date: November 14
Everyone was bummed when Steven Soderbergh bailed out on directing Moneyball, but Miller stepped in and did a fantastic job. Now he's back with this dark true-life tale about the 1996 shooting of Olympic wrestler David Schultz. There's playing against type and then there's what Steve Carell is doing here, making himself unrecognizable as a wealthy athletic sponsor turned murderer. Mark Ruffalo co-stars as Schlutz, while Channing Tatums takes on the meatier role of Schultz's brother, on whose autobiography the film is based.
5. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Director: Peter Jackson | Release date: December 17
Folks are down on Jackson's second Middle-Earth trilogy, and even I admitted that the last Hobbit film was the first one of these films I found myself not adoring unconditionally. Still, I think the masses have been overly harsh. There remains a massive amount of creativity on display within The Hobbit movies, and I'd like nothing more than to see this series end on a strong note.
6. Gone Girl
Director: David Fincher | Release date: October 3
Honestly, I was never interested enough in the book to read it, but a dark drama from Fincher starring Ben Affleck?! "I'll wait for the movie" has never sounded so appropriate.
7. The Homesman
Director: Tommy Lee Jones | Release date: November 7
This one's off a lot of people's radars, but all you need to say is "Tommy Lee Jones" and "western" and my ears perk up. The film stars Jones as 19th-century claim jumper tasked with transporting three insane woman across the midwest. The trailer is dynamite, and filling out the stellar cast are Hilary Swank, John Lithgow, William Fichtner, James Spader and Meryl Streep.
8. Big Hero 6
Directors: Don Hall & Chris Williams | Release date: November 7
Thanks to Wreck-It Ralph and Frozen, Disney Animation is on a roll again. Can a loose adaptation of an obscure Marvel comic continue the streak? The cutesy trailer suggests probably.
9. Horns
Director: Alexandre Aja | Release date: October 31
Look, there's a good chance this might not work. Horns is a darkly comic horror film starring Daniel Radcliffe as a murder suspect who discovers that devilish horns have begun to sprout from his noggin. (Not exactly a "can't miss" logline.) But the Joe Hill book it's based on is acclaimed, and the trailer points toward Aja capturing a unique tone for the movie. I'm definitely curious.
10. Dumb and Dumber To
Directors: Bobby and Peter Farrelly | Release date: November 14
Here's the deal: I think the Farrelly brothers are incredibly overrated comedy filmmakers. I also find the original Dumb and Dumber to be amusing at best, as opposed to some kind of modern comedy classic. Still, I really like early-era Jim Carrey and am heartened to see him back in full wild-eyed gonzo mode after playing it safe in dreck like Yes Man and Mr. Popper's Penguins for too long. So do I wish this were rather Ace Ventura 3? Yes, I do. But I'll take it anyway and hope the Farrellys find inspiration in directing their first-ever sequel.
