Before I Go To Sleep
September is set to kick off the autumn movie season in fine style, as there are a whole host of terrific and exciting films on the horizon over the next few weeks.
We are going to be treated to a bit of everything as action, comedy, drama and political thrillers, and we take a look at those films that you cannot afford to miss.
- The Guest (released 5th September)
Dan Stevens is set to return to the big screen in a new action packed role in The Guest… Matthew Crawley this is most certainly not. This really does promise to be a character that we have never seen the Brit actor tackle before.
The Guest sees Stevens team up with director Adam Wingard for the first time, as he returns to the director’s chair: this is his first full-length feature since What Fun We Were Having.
Stevens takes on the central role of David, a soldier who introduces himself to the Peterson family as a friend of their son who was killed in action. He tells them that he is keeping a promise to check in on them after he returned home. However, after being welcomed into their family a series of accidental deaths seem connected with him.
The Guest promises to be an action packed flick that will continue Stevens’ transition from small screen success to big screen star. He is joined on the cast list by Maika Monroe, Lance Reddick, Brendan Meyer, Sheila Kelly and Leland Orser.
The Guest is a movie that I have been looking forward to for sometime, as it is completely different to anything that we have seen Stevens tackle before.
- Before I Go To Sleep (released 5th September)
Another thriller to watch out for this month is Before I Go To Sleep as the S.J. Watson novel is given the big screen treatment.
We have already seen Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth play husband and wife this year in The Railway Man, and they have reunited for the Rowan Joffe directed film. Mark Strong completes an exciting trio of central actors.
The movie follows Christine Lucas (Kidman), who wakes up every day, remembering nothing as a result of a traumatic accident in her past. One day, new terrifying truths emerge that force her to question everyone around her.
I have to say, I am not familiar with the book, but Before I Go To Sleep does look like it is going to be a tense watch - the central cast alone will be worth the ticket price.
Rowan Joffe made his directorial debut with the terrific Brighton Rock back in 2010, and this is first film since that debut. Joffe is also on writing duties and has adapted Watson’s novel into a screenplay.
- A Most Wanted Man (released 12th September)
We haven’t had too many political thrillers so far this year, but A Most Wanted Man really does look set to be the one not to miss.
A Most Wanted Man is a big screen adaptation of the novel of the same name by John le Carre, and sees Anton Corbijn in the director’s chair. Corbijn has brought us Control and The American in recent years, and it is great to see him back.
As if that wasn’t exciting enough, the director has brought together the best cast list of the month: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Daniel Bruhl, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright, Willem Dafoe and Grigoriy Dobrgin are just some of the names on board.
A Most Wanted Man follows a Chechen Muslim illegally immigrates to Hamburg, where he gets caught in the international war on terror.
Le Carre novels always made terrific movies and A Most Wanted Man promises to continue that fine tradition - I have my fingers tightly crossed that it is as good a movie as I want it to be.
- Pride (released 12th September)
There are a handful of British movies to watch out for this autumn, and Pride is one of them: it is already being called one of the most uplifting movies of 2014.
Pride is only the second feature film for director Matthew Warchus - he has been linked to the director’s chair for a remake of Matilda - after making his debut with Simpatico back in 1999.
Pride boasts another impressive line up as George MacKay, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Paddy Considine, Bill Nighy, and Andrew Scott are all on board.
The movie follows UK gay and lesbian activists who come out in support of the miners during heir lengthy strike in 1984.
Of all of the British movies that are on the horizon between now and the end of the year, Pride is one that I am really looking forward to - it really does look like it is going to be another terrific Brit comedy.
- A Walk Among The Tombstones (released 19th September)
Liam Neeson has turned himself into quite an action hero in the last couple of years, and he is back in another hardman role as he leads the cast in A Walk Among The Tombstones.
A Walk Among The Tombstones is an adaptation of the book of the same name by Lawrence Black, and sees Neeson team up with director Scott Frank for the first time: Frank has also penned the screenplay.
Neeson takes on the role of private investigator Matt Scudder, who is hired by a drug kingpin after his wife is kidnapped and killed.
Dan Stevens - who already has one film coming out this month in The Guest - Boyd Holbrook, and Sebastian Roche are also on board.
It has been a busy year for Neeson with the likes of Non-Stop and A Million Ways To Die In The West, but this does look like it is going to be his best role of the year. It is always great to see him back in more of an action role.
- Magic In The Moonlight (released 19th September)
We haven’t seen Woody Allen in the director’s chair since the success of Blue Jasmine last year, but this month he is back with Magic In the Moonlight: he is also on writing duties as well as being behind the camera.
Allen always bring together a great cast list, and Magic in the Moonlight is no different as Colin Firth, Emma Stone, Marcia Gay Harden, Jacki Weaver, and Eileen Atkins are just some of the names on board.
This new comedy follows an Englishman brought in to help unmask a possible swindle. Personal and professional complications ensue.
- The Equalizer (released 26th September)
Denzel Washington is back on the big screen this September as he leads the cast in new action film The Equalizer.
It is always exciting to see Washington on the big screen, but The Equalizer sees him reunite with Training Day director Antoine Fuqua for the first time since that Oscar success.
However, The Equalizer is not all about Washington, as he is joined on the cast list by Chloë Grace Moretz, Melissa Leo, Bill Pullman, and Marton Csokas.
The Equalizer tells the story of a former black ops commando who faked his death and is now living a quiet life and returns to action to rescue a prostitute from evil pimps.
His actions cause the Russian mob to send rogue CIA agents to kill him; he battles back against overwhelming odds, defeating them and becoming 'The Equalizer.'
Other September movies to watch out for include Sex Tape, The Boxtrolls, The Riot Club, and Maps To The Stars.