With the start of school and cool autumn nights, the theatre beckons all with a thrilling fall lineup. After a heavy week of studying, a night at the movies is the perfect way to take your mind off your work and relax. Luckily, Denver has a wide variety of moviegoing options for students, with many theatres offering enticing discounts for those with a college ID. Whether you head to the eccentric Landmark Mayan or to one of Denver’s many updated and luxurious theatres, this collection of sure-fire fall releases will undoubtedly put the student mind at ease.
The most anticipated film of the season, “Blade Runner 2049” (Oct. 6), is expected to ascend new heights in the sci-fi genre just as the original “Blade Runner” did in 1982. Set three decades after its predecessor, the film boasts a visionary, neo-noir aesthetic entirely of its own. Ryan Gosling (“Drive”) stars as an LAPD blade runner seeking Rick Deckard who is played by the premier “Blade Runner” star Harrison Ford. Although many sci-fi fanatics initially expressed apprehension towards a sequel of the cult classic, the fear quickly dissipated and has been replaced by a frenzy of excitement and impatience for the film’s release.
Acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky (“Black Swan”) is known for his melancholic, muted tones and emotionally disturbed characters, and this fall’s “Mother!” (Sep. 15)does not break away from the pack. This psychological thriller centers around a newly married couple who must open their home to a pair of unexpected visitors. With startling performances from Jennifer Lawrence (“Silver Linings Playbook”) and Michelle Pfeiffer (“The Wizard of Lies,”) this autumnal thriller is sure to have a strong presence during this year’s awards season.
“Battle of the Sexes” (Sep. 22) is a fresh, heartening film that honors a pioneering voice in the fight for gender equality. Emma Stone (“La La Land”) stars as Billie Jean King, a champion in women’s tennis who spoke out for women’s rights in more ways than one, the most prominent example being her match against chauvinistic tennis pro, Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell “The Big Short.”) In 1973, at the height of the women’s movement, Riggs challenged King to a match in order to prove that men would always be superior to women. King won the match in three straight sets, earning a victory for female athletes and women across the country. With two of today’s leading comedic actors and a story that is as pertinent as ever, “Battle of the Sexes” is a must-see.
There is truly nothing better than a great murder mystery. This season, actor and director Kenneth Branagh (“Cinderella”) delivers a playful and modern rendering of a flawless classic. “Murder on the Orient Express” (Nov. 10) is based on the 1930’s novel by the Queen of Mystery, Agatha Christie. The film’s illustrious cast includes Johnny Depp (“Pirates of the Caribbean,”) Willem Dafoe (“The Grand Budapest Hotel,”) Judi Dench (“Tulip Fever”) and Daisy Ridley (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”) When a passenger is murdered on the Orient Express, everyone is suspected and who better to take on such a perilous case than Christie’s notorious leading detective, Hercule Poirot played by Branagh. This film possesses all the ingredients for a box-office success.
