Issue 16 / Get Reel: September's Must-See Movies

by Matthew Currie

Get Reel: September’s Must-See Movies

Sep 26, 2015

The latest pulse-pounding flicks from M. Night Shyamalan, Johnny Depp and The Fast & Furious gang.

The Visit (Now Playing, Universal)

^{Photo Credit: Universal/forbes.com}

After a series of high-profile, critically eviscerated failures, director M. Night Shyamalan tries to return to Sixth Sense form with this stripped-down found-footage shocker. It follows two young children who head out to stay with their grandparents — whom they’ve never met — while their mom is on a two-week cruise. But before long, it becomes clear that something is very wrong with grandma and grandpa — something that could cost the kids their lives.

Meet the Patels (Now Playing, Alchemy)

^{Photo Credit: Four in a Billion Pictures}

America-raised actor Ravi Patel has recently put himself on the pop-cultural map as a co-star in Fox’s new John Stamos-led sitcom Grandfathered. But before that, he and his filmmaker sister Geeta spent six years crafting this intimate documentary exploring Ravi’s attempts, at the behest of his doting parents, to settle down and find a bride — a bride also named Patel, to be precise. Told largely through conversations between brother, sister and their quirkily delightful mom and dad, it’s a thoroughly warm, funny and engaging exploration of searching for love while straddling the line between Indian heritage and American upbringing.

Black Mass (Now Playing, Warner Brothers)

^{Photo Credit: Warner Brothers/ibtimes.com}

Johnny Depp finally ditches the extravagant top hats, pirate pantaloons and pancake makeup for a much-anticipated return to serious acting. Crazy Heart director Scott Cooper shepherds a nigh-unrecognizable Depp in the role of infamous real-life gangster Whitey Bolger, who ruled South Boston in the 1970s while secretly cooperating with (or perhaps manipulating) an FBI agent (Joel Edgerton) to take down rival mobsters. But, as they say, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Flanking Depp is an all-star cast, including Benedict Cumberbatch as Bolger’s politican brother, 50 Shades of Grey’s Ashley Johnson as Bolger’s wife, as well as Kevin Bacon, Corey Stoll and Adam Scott.

Everest (Now Playing, Universal)

^{Photo Credit: Universal/forbes.com}

Perhaps the most downright spectacular flick of the fall season, this breathtaking blockbuster takes viewers to the upper reaches of the world’s most notorious mountain, as a group of thrill-seekers (headlined by Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ Jason Clarke) try to reach the summit. Alas, it’s not long before a vicious storm has them fighting for survival in one of the deadliest climates on Earth. See this one in IMAX if you can.

DVD

Mad Max: Fury Road (Now Available, Warner Brothers)

^{Photo Credit: Warner Brothers/comingsoon.net}

The Road Warrior returns better than ever in this jaw-dropping series reboot, which finds original director George Miller back in the director’s chair, while Tom Hardy slips behind the high-octane wheels previously occupied by Mel Gibson. Strange as it may sound, though, this isn’t really Max’s story; co-penned by Vagina Monologues writer Eve Ensler, the film belongs to Charlize Theron’s ferocious Imperator Furiosa, a weary warrior on a mission to free five young women from their monstrous warlord “husband.” Once she teams up with our shotgun-sporting hero, the stage is set for a non-stop, two-hour chase packed with explosions, gunplay and a guitar that shoots fire.

Furious 7 (Now Available, Universal)

^{Photo Credit: Universal/comingsoon.net}

Continuing to defy the laws of franchise filmmaking, this high-octane blockbuster series only gets better with age, as Dom (Vin Diesel), Brian (Paul Walker), Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and their crew return for another over-the-top mission, this time doing battle with the vengeful brother (Jason Statham) of the last Big Bad they tangled with. International intrigue, over-the-top fight sequences and gravity-defying automotive escapades ensue. What’s more, given Walker’s tragic death before the film was completed, this entry packs more of an emotional wallop than you might expect.

Spy (Now Available, Sony)

^{Photo Credit: Sony/movieinsider.com}

Melissa McCarthy reunites with her Bridesmaids director Paul Feig for a star vehicle that’s worthy of her talents. Susan Cooper spends her days stuck behind a desk in the basement of the CIA, feeding vital info and strategy to the suave, sexy field agents (Jude Law and Jason Statham) who take all the credit for her work. But when a tragedy strikes and the 007-types are all compromised, it’s up to Susan to head of into the field and take down a nuke-stealing megalomaniac (fellow Bridesmaids alum Rose Byrne). Delightful turns from McCarthy, Byrne and, somewhat surprisingly, Statham highlight this savvy spoof that functions surprisingly well as both a spy flick and a satire of spy flicks.

Unexpected (September 29, Millenium)

^{Photo Credit: Millenium/reddit.com}

Canadian How I Met Your Mother star Cobie Smulders continues her burgeoning film career with this under-the-radar gem about a Chicago high school teacher who winds up pregnant, threatening both her personal and professional dreams. At the same time, one of her students (Gail Bean) also finds herself with a baby bump, leading to an unlikely, but nonetheless heartwarming bond.

^{Main Image Photo Credit: Universal/skynews.com.au}

Matthew Currie

Author

A long-standing entertainment journalist, Currie is a graduate of the Professional Writing program at Toronto’s York University. He has spent the past number of years working as a freelancer for ANOKHI and for diverse publications such as Sharp, TV Week, CAA’s Westworld and BC Business. Currie ...