The end of September means that fall movies and award season is just about here. This year, the studios have a couple of excellent LGBT contenders that may very well end up in the winner's circle. Read on for some highlights from the fall movie season.
Late September
King Cobra—Reeling, Chicago's LGBT film festival ( of which I'm the co-programming director ), closes its eight-day festival with this highly anticipated, advance screening of out writer-director Justin Kelly's screen adaptation of the true-life crime thriller—the story of gay-porn twink Brett Corrigan ( played by former Disney channel star Garrett Clayton ), whose value to two competing porn producers ( James Franco and Christian Slater ) leads to murder. It plays at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema ( 2828 N. Clark St. ) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29. Clayton and Kelly will attend the screening. reelingfilmfestival.org/2016/films/king-cobra-closing-night/ Sept. 29 only
Deepwater Horizon—It's a dramatic re-enactment of the explosion aboard the oil drilling rig that was one of the worst man-made disasters in the world. Mark Wahlberg heads the cast. Sept. 30
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children—Tim Burton's latest is a big-screen adaptation of the young adult best-seller—the dark fantasy adventure of a teenage boy who discovers a magical place and begins to suspect that the fairy tales his grandfather told him as a child are actually coming true. Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Allison Janney, Rupert Everett, Terence Stamp, Samuel L. Jackson and Judi Dench co-star. Sept. 30
October
Pause of the Clock—Twenty years after leaving behind his first film, Chicago-based author/film critic Rob Christopher ( a member of the Queer Film Society ) returned to finish what he started. The film focuses on the relationship between two roommates, Dylan and Rob, who are film students in the midst of making a film in Colorado. When Dylan discovers and reads Rob's diary, the relationship between the two takes a decided turn. Christopher will appear at the screening, which takes place at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St., on Monday, Oct. 3 ( SiskelFilmCenenter.org/pauseoftheclock ).
American Honey—A teenage girl joins a band of other outsiders ( which includes a lesbian ) on the road, selling magazine subscriptions by day as they travel throughout the Midwest and partying hard at night. Shia LeBeouf is Jake, the leader of the group, and the film features a star-making performance from Sasha Lane in the title road. Oct. 7
The Birth of a Nation—A remake of D.W. Griffith's controversial classic about the political awakening of a Black slave has become mired in controversy itself. The movie received tremendous reviews after previewing at Sundance but then it was revealed that writer/producer/director/star Nate Parker and his co-writer had been charged with rape in 1999. Though later acquitted, Parker's discussion of the charges in the media received an overwhelmingly negative response. Oct. 7
The Girl on the Train—Emily Blunt stars in this big-screen adaptation of the best-selling mystery crime thriller by Paula Hawkins. Helmed by out director Tate Taylor ( The Help ) and co-starring Justin Theroux, Allison Janney, Lisa Kudrow, Luke Evans and Rebecca Ferguson. Oct. 7
Howards End—Gay director James Merchant's glorious 1992 adaptation of the beloved 1910 E.M. Forster novel cemented the movie stardom of Emma Thompson, who won the Oscar, as the elder of the two Schlegel sisters ( Helena Bonham Carter plays the younger ) whose fates are unexpectedly entwined with a wealthy family headed by a stern patriarch ( Anthony Hopkins ) and his gentle but chronically ill wife ( Vanessa Redgrave ) and the family's bucolic country home. The ultimate Merchant-Ivory film will be presented by the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., in an eye-popping new 4K Restoration. www.musicboxtheatre.com/features/howards-end; Oct. 7
The Music Box of Horrors—The 12th annual 24-hour marathon of non-stop fright flicks returns to the Music Box Theatre with its usual diverse line-up of classic chillers, splatter flicks and recently unearthed finds ( including one of my all-time favorites, Eyes of Fire ) on the bill. www.musicboxtheatre.com/festivals/music-box-of-horrors-2016; Oct. 15-16
The Chicago International Film Festival—The Cadillac of the Windy City's film festivals, the Chicago International Film Festival returns for its 52nd edition Oct. 13-27. The fest's Outlook section spotlights queer cinema and this year includes Miles from out writer-director Nathan Adloff ( a Columbia College graduate ), Being 17 ( the latest from French director Andre Techine ), the ultra-sexy Paris 05:59, the lesbian black comedy Women Who Kill and several others. The fest also features the Chicago premiere of Barry Jenkins' Moonlight, the story of a gay Black man observed at three stages of his life that has won unprecedented critical acclaim on the festival circuit along with tributes to Geraldine Chaplin and filmmakers Steve McQueen and Peter Bogdanovich. ChicagoFilmFestival.com; Oct. 13-27
Certain Women—The latest from female mumblecore writer-director Kelly Reichardt ( Meek's Crossing, Wendy and Lucy ) features a triptych of female driven stories including a lesbian themed one. Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams, Laura Dern and Lily Gladstone co-star. Oct. 16
King Cobra—Justin Kelly's film arrives in select theatres and VOD after its Chicago premiere as the closing night of Reeling ( see details above ). Oct. 16
Moonlight—Barry Jenkins' film arrives in theatres after its Chicago premiere as part of the Chicago International Film Festival line-up ( see details above ). Oct. 28
The Handmaiden—The visual splendor of director Park Chan-Wook ( Stoker ) meets a 1930s set Gothic thriller with strong lesbian overtones. It won the Palme d'or at Cannes. Oct. 23
November
Trolls—The beloved—and sometimes reviled ( take your pick )—wild-haired toys get their own 3-D animated musical adventure. The film features the voices of Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel, Russell Brand, James Corden, Gwen Stefani and Transparent's Jeffrey Tambor. Nov. 4
Doctor Strange—The Marvel Studios universe expands once again with this new superhero action franchise starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor ( Kinky Boots, 12 Years a Slave ), Rachel McAdams and Tilda Swinton. Nov. 4
Almost Christmas—A dysfunctional family gathers for Christmas following the death of their mother. Kimberly Elise, Omar Epps, Danny Glover, Romany Malco, Gabrielle Union and Mo'Nique are among the stars. Nov. 11
Arrival—An elite team is brought together to look for answers when mysterious space craft land on earth. Advance word on this movie is that director Denis Villeneuve ( Sicario ) has created an instant sci-fi classic. Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker and Michael Stuhlbarg co-star. Nov. 11
Loving—A reenactment of the story of Mildred and Richard Loving, the couple who fought against laws prohibiting their interracial marriage all the way to the Supreme Court in 1967. Nov. 11
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them—Eddie Redmayne stars as Newt Scamander, a wizard from Hogwarts, arrives at a conference for magicians in New York City, armed with an expanding briefcase filled with all manner of dangerous creatures who naturally escape, threatening to expose wizards to Muggles. J.K. Rowling's first screenplay looks to expand the Harry Potter universe into yet another fantasy franchise. Nov. 18
Moana—Disney's latest bid for an animated classic is this South Seas Island tale about Princess Moana who sets sail in search of a fabled island. Dwayne Johnson is the most famous of the voices, many of them performing songs penned by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Nov. 23
Rules Don't Apply—Warren Beatty returns to the screen as elusive billionaire Howard Hughes in this romantic dramedy about a young starlet and a businessman who work for Hughes in the 1950s but are prevented from becoming romantically involved because of Hughes' outrageous rules. Beatty also wrote, directed and produced. Nov. 23
Allied—During World War II, while on assignment in Africa, assassins Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard fall in love, marry and discover that one of them is a double agent who must be eliminated. This is the movie that may be responsible for ending Brangelina! Nov. 23
