'American Honey,' 'American Pastoral,' Terrence Malick, & More Trailers You Might Have Missed
Staying on top of the trailer circuit can be a full-time job. We're here to help.
American Honey (dir. Andrea Arnold)
When we saw American Honey at Cannes, it was the talk of the town, and with good reason: Andrea Arnold's Jury Prize-winning film is hypnotic. With ethereal cinematography and a commitment to verisimilitude, American Honey chronicles the misadventures of a rag-tag group of teenagers selling magazines door-to-door in the Midwest. We enter the story as Star (Sasha Lane) ditches her abusive home for a life on the road; in true Arnold fashion, Star embraces her independence and comes of age in that ecstatic barrage of highs and lows that can only exist in adolescence.
The story of self-actualization also occurred in the production itself: Arnold found Lane, a non-actor, on the streets and immersed her in a group of teenagers who actually sold magazines. Together, the cast and crew embarked on a 12,000-mile road trip, shooting much of the film like a documentary. This sense of freedom and chaos echoes throughout every shot in the movie. Release Date: September 30, 2016, via A24
American Pastoral (dir. Ewan McGregor)
Two decades in the waiting, this adaptation of Philip Roth's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name captures the political tumult of the '60s through the haunting memories of its protagonist, Seymour. The film is Ewan McGregor's first stab at directing; he also stars, along with Jennifer Connelly, who plays his wife, and Dakota Fanning, who plays his vigilante daughter. The film looks to be just as powerful as its literary parent. The cinematography, laced with deep grays and blues, belies the free-wheeling and colorful notions of the time period in American counter-culture. Release Date: October 21, via Lionsgate
Denial (dir. Mick Jackson)
Based on Deborah E. Lipstadt’s novel History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier, the film focuses on a case brought against an alleged Holocaust denier (Timothy Spall) by the lawyer who accused him of the crime (Rachel Weisz). Because it was a libel case—under English law, the burden of proof lies on the defendant, not on the plaintiff—the trial transmogrified into an absurd effort to prove that the Holocaust actually occurred. Denial is a big awards season contender, as well as a sure bet on the fall festival circuit. Release Date: September 30, 2016, by Bleecker Street
It's Only the End of the World (dir. Xavier Dolan)
Xavier Dolan's films are riddled with the complications of family. From estrangement to dark secrets, there's always something roiling under the surface. It's Only the End of the World, Dolan's sixth film in eight years, is no different; starring Lea Seydoux and Marion Cotillard, it follows a young man who confronts his estranged family with news of his terminal illness. The film played at Cannes this year to mixed reviews. Release Date: September 21 (in France; US release date TBA)
Kicks (dir. Justin Tipping)
Teenaged Brandon gets his first pair of awesome new sneakers stolen, and Kicks trails him all over Oakland as he hunts down the perpetrator—and finds himself in the process. The promising feature debut premiered at Tribeca this year with an unforgettable hip hop soundtrack and overall vision. Release Date: September 9, 2016 (TBD), via Focus World
Life, Animated (dir. Roger Ross Williams)
A Disney movie without the logo, Life, Animated is the true story of an autistic man who learned to live through Disney movies. At age two, Owen Suskin stopped speaking; it was only through observing and absorbing the themes and emotions of Disney films that, over time, Suskin learned to communicate and effectively reenter the world. The film is an ode to the invaluable power of narrative and the mechanisms through which we strive to create meaning. Release Date: July 1, via The Orchard
Tallulah (dir. Sian Heder)
Inspired by her short film, Mother, Sian Heder's Sundance 2015 hit stars Ellen Page as a drifter who kidnaps a baby from a negligent mother in order to save her life. Release Date: July 29, via Netflix
Voyage of Time (dir. Terrence Malick)
It took four decades to make, and Terrence Malick's iMAX trip through the history of our universe—"billions of years in the making"—looks worth every bit worth the wait. Though he already depicted the birth of the cosmos in his magnum opus The Tree of Life, Malick's approach there was lyrical; here, he takes an experimental approach to hard science with his first documentary. Magnificent solar flares and gaping chasms of dark matter abound—and you can rest assured that meditations on life will, too. The film will be released in two versions: an IMAX presentation narrated by Brad Pitt, followed by a 35mm theatrical presentation narrated by Cate Blanchett. Release Date: October 7, via Broad Green Pictures
