Winter is coming and that means award season for movies is approaching. A huge number of movies are coming out over the next few months. Some are serious contenders for awards, while others are purely for entertainment. Below are my choices of movies that look interesting or may possibly collect some awards.
“Coco” (November 22)
Although this is technically a kids movie, Disney seems to be able to make even children’s cartoons enjoyable for adults. While being cute and entertaining, the film is sure to still pull in some awards as Disney’s Pixar films usually do. The movie is centered on the Day of the Dead, a traditional Mexican holiday. The film follows a boy, Ernesto, who wishes to be a musician, but his family forbids it. Somehow Ernesto becomes invisible to the living, and skeletons become involved. Clearly you will have to watch it to understand what is happening. Coco has a 96 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and is the first film of its budget size to feature an all-Latino cast.
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” (December 15)
I think it is a no-brainer why this film is so highly anticipated. “Star Wars” is a huge franchise loved by multiple generations. “The Last Jedi” is the second film in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy. The preceding film, “The Force Awakens,” was highly successful, grossing over $2 billion at the box office and receiving 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. This addition to the series will feature the first Asian-American actress, Kelly Marie Tran, to star in the franchise. This is a step in the right direction for the series, which previously featured mostly white actors.
“I, Tonya” (December 8)
“I, Tonya” follows the controversy surrounding two U.S. women figure skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan. The movie mostly follows Harding, who in 1994 paid a man to break the leg of Kerrigan, one of her rivals in the sport. Based on the previews, it seems that the movie will also delve into Harding’s childhood and provide background for the decisions she made. The story is pretty wild. Margot Robbie plays the eponymous role and Allison Janney plays her mother, LaVona Golden. Only having seen clips of scenes of the two, their dynamic is already at the forefront. The movie is also described as being fairly comedic, so it will be interesting to see how that aspect and the film’s tragedy are balanced.
“Lady Bird” (November 3)
This is potentially one of the movies I am most excited to see. It stars Saoirse Ronan, who you may recognize from “Brooklyn” (2015), playing the titular character. “Lady Bird” is a high schooler who has a turbulent relationship with her mother (Laurie Metcalf). The film has a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is the highest rated film of all time on the site. The movie is expected to be nominated for Best Film at the Oscars and has a strong chance of winning.
“The Post” (limited release December 22, wide release January 12)
The film follows the release of the Pentagon Papers by the Washington Post and the battle that ensued with the government. Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks star in the movie, so you already know it is great. Streep portrays the first female newspaper publisher in the U.S., while Hanks plays an editor, both of whom work for The Post. The movie presents the timely message of free journalism. Streep and Hanks characters came under attack by President Nixon, who demonized the press (sound familiar?). Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film will surely rake in multiple nominations, including Best Film. It would also not be shocking if Streep and Hanks received individual nominations for their roles.
You really cannot go wrong with any of these options. So cheers to the end of the semester and go see a rad movie.
Cover photo courtesy of Disney-Pixar.