Things Coming Up

Let's make a plan.

I feel like I’ve been extra insane lately. If you’ve gotten any of the run-off craziness, I’m sorry for that. We just have three months left of movies, annually the most hectic time of the film calendar. This year is certainly no different.

Doing a newsletter every week requires a lot of foresight and planning. To be honest, it’s tough (lol). And frankly, I don’t have the wherewithal to break anything down right now. I have seen some great things lately: Apocalypse Now, Petite Maman (again) and Get Out (again). Some good things: No One Will Save You. And some decent but slightly disappointing things: Stop Making Sense and In the Mood for Love, but to be honest this is a really busy work week and I don’t have any good ideas for a full column.

Instead, let’s look at the future.

Many of you might know this and ridicule me for it already, but instead of a normal calendar, I use my notes app. I like having a clean list of what’s coming up and that’s that. It’s called “Things Coming Up” and is a rundown of … things coming up. It’s truly as simple as Mon, Oct 2: BOYGENIUS. Yes, I’m seeing boygenius on Monday. Yes, I am excited. Yes, I have already convinced myself that Taylor Swift will be making a surprise appearance.

Anyway, over the next month or so, I’m seeing quite a few of my most anticipated movies of the year. Most of them are through the New York Film Festival, which is in my opinion the best thing ever invented. So, here’s the list of “Things (Movies) Coming Up” for me in theaters.

Sat, Sept 30: FLOWER MOON

I don’t want to jinx it, but it looks like I might be seeing Killers of the Flower Moon early. Very possibly my most anticipated movie in years. It’s a Martin Scorsese thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone and Robert De Niro, and I may have finagled a ticket to a premiere featuring a Q&A with Scorsese, editor Thelma Schoonmaker and plenty of others. I am very, very, very excited. Did I say very? The problem I have with this movie is that it’s only three hours and 26 minutes. Should be at least five hours.

Wed, Oct 4: The Witch?

So, when I put a question mark in my notes app, that means I’m not sure if I’m going to make it to this one or not. Right now, I’m giving it a 50-50 chance. It may be too much during a chaotic week, but if I can get the opportunity, I’d love to see this Robert Eggers movie on the big screen. It’s one of my favorite horror movies and a true what the fuck is happening classic. Great poster right there too. THE VVITCH

Fri, Oct 6: Priscilla

I know some people out there enjoyed Elvis, but those people are as ridiculous as the movie itself. Elvis is your run-of-the-mill biopic with some Baz Luhrmann flourishes. Elvis Presley made hits, I get it. There’s so much more meat on the bone here, and it looks like that’s what’s coming with Priscilla, which I will be seeing at the New York Film Festival. I love Sofia Coppola’s movies, especially Lost in Translation and Somewhere, and the centering of the Elvis Presley narrative on Priscilla feels like the Coppola touch that will allow this movie to transcend. Can’t wait for this one. I’m sure it’s going to be controversial and annoy the idiots out there. To which I say … good.

Sat, Oct 7: The Taste of Things

I gotta be honest. I don’t know much about this French movie. I’ve read and heard rave reviews, and that’s enough for me. I know it’s about food—the title really spoils that one—and I think it’s a kitchen romance thing. It was already selected as France’s pick for the International Feature Film race, a bit of a surprise over the very good Anatomy of a Fall. We’ll find out soon enough if this was the right choice. I’ll report back. It’s an NYFF showing and a perfect way to start a weekend, I think. Again, I’m not sure.

Mon, Oct 9: The Zone of Interest

The feel-bad movie of the year, The Zone of Interest looks to be a major 2023 film that also may ruin days, weeks and months. It’s based on a Martin Amis novel centered on a Nazi officer and has been reviewed as both a “masterpiece” and “devastating.” Jonathan Glazer is a fascinating director who does everything on his own terms and timelines, so I'm very curious to check this one out. It’s another NYFF movie and I truly don’t know what I’m in for, which is the best way to approach any piece of art. Looking forward to this one taking over my thoughts.

Sun, Oct 15: The Killer

New David Fincher, motherfuckers! This was a late addition to the NYFF and I can’t wait to see it. The man has made Zodiac, Se7en, Fight Club, The Social Network and Gone Girl. I recently rewatched The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Absolute gangbusters sicko shit. This hit-man movie stars Michael Fassbender and features some of the best actors in the business like Arliss Howard and Tilda Swinton. It looks like a pure tension-building genre picture. I initially couldn’t find tickets but got two through the Twitter DMs. I hope they’re real. If not, I’ll certainly have a newsletter topic for the following week.