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The New York Film Festival is one of the last major festivals that thrusts us into Oscar season. Kicking off Friday and running through Oct. 11, this year's NYFF will serve up the first screenings of "The Walk" and "Bridge of Spies," both of which could shift the Oscar race. In between, look for a heap of celebrated foreign titles and remnants of the year's other big festivals. Here are 13 movies we're excited to see.
"The Walk" (Opening Night • World Premiere)
Sony Pictures
Directed by Robert Zemeckis • Written by Christopher Browne and Robert Zemeckis
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Kingsley, Charlotte Le Bon and Ben Schwartz
What to expect: JGL had two potential Oscar bids this year, until "Snowden" was delayed to 2016. Now he'll have to coast on his stint as French high-wire artist Philippe Petit, who tightroped his was between the Twin Towers in 1974. It's "Man on Wire" in the form of a 3-D spectacle, thanks to the director of "Back to the Future" and "Forrest Gump."
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Kingsley, Charlotte Le Bon and Ben Schwartz
What to expect: JGL had two potential Oscar bids this year, until "Snowden" was delayed to 2016. Now he'll have to coast on his stint as French high-wire artist Philippe Petit, who tightroped his was between the Twin Towers in 1974. It's "Man on Wire" in the form of a 3-D spectacle, thanks to the director of "Back to the Future" and "Forrest Gump."
"Steve Jobs" (Centerpiece)
Universal
Directed by Danny Boyle • Written by Aaron Sorkin
Starring Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, Jeff Daniels, Katherine Waterston and Michael Stuhlbarg
What to expect: Critics who caught "Steve Jobs" at the Telluride Film Festival earlier this month raved about it. Just don't be confused with the dismal biopic that starred Ashton Kutcher a couple of years ago -- this one is based on Walter Isaacson's biography and will probably walk away with a pile of Oscar nominations.
Starring Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, Jeff Daniels, Katherine Waterston and Michael Stuhlbarg
What to expect: Critics who caught "Steve Jobs" at the Telluride Film Festival earlier this month raved about it. Just don't be confused with the dismal biopic that starred Ashton Kutcher a couple of years ago -- this one is based on Walter Isaacson's biography and will probably walk away with a pile of Oscar nominations.
"Miles Ahead" (Closing Night • World Premiere)
NYFF
Directed by Don Cheadle • Written by Steven Baigelman, Don Cheadle, Stephen J. Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson
Starring Don Cheadle, Ewan McGregor, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Michael Stuhlbarg, Keith Stanfield and Austin Lyon
What to expect: "Miles Ahead" doesn't have a release date, but Don Cheadle is firing up his jazz horns to play Miles Davis at NYFF anyway. It'll be tough to find a slot for this biopic on the crowded fall movie calendar, especially if Cheadle wants a leg up in the Best Actor and Best Director races.
Starring Don Cheadle, Ewan McGregor, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Michael Stuhlbarg, Keith Stanfield and Austin Lyon
What to expect: "Miles Ahead" doesn't have a release date, but Don Cheadle is firing up his jazz horns to play Miles Davis at NYFF anyway. It'll be tough to find a slot for this biopic on the crowded fall movie calendar, especially if Cheadle wants a leg up in the Best Actor and Best Director races.
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"Bridge of Spies" (World Premiere)
DreamWorks
Directed by Steven Spielberg • Written by Matt Charman, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Starring Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Amy Ryan, Alan Alda and Austin Stowell
What to expect: One of the few major Oscar contenders that has yet to hit the festival circuit, "Bridge of Spies" marks Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's fourth film collaboration after "Saving Private Ryan," "Catch Me If You Can" and "The Terminal." It's about the lawyer who was recruited to defend an American pilot imprisoned in the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Starring Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Amy Ryan, Alan Alda and Austin Stowell
What to expect: One of the few major Oscar contenders that has yet to hit the festival circuit, "Bridge of Spies" marks Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's fourth film collaboration after "Saving Private Ryan," "Catch Me If You Can" and "The Terminal." It's about the lawyer who was recruited to defend an American pilot imprisoned in the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
"Carol"
TWC
Directed by Todd Haynes • Written by Phyllis Nagy
Starring Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Kyle Chandler, Sarah Paulson and Jake Lacy
What to expect: A favorite at the Cannes Film Festival, "Carol" is destined to appear on ample best-of lists this year. It's the moving, delicate tale of a young retail clerk and an older, married woman who begin a clandestine relationship in 1950s New York. Prepare to be stunned by this movie.
Starring Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Kyle Chandler, Sarah Paulson and Jake Lacy
What to expect: A favorite at the Cannes Film Festival, "Carol" is destined to appear on ample best-of lists this year. It's the moving, delicate tale of a young retail clerk and an older, married woman who begin a clandestine relationship in 1950s New York. Prepare to be stunned by this movie.
"The Assassin" (U.S. Premiere)
NYFF
Directed by Hou Hsiao-Hsien • Written by Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Chu Tien-wen, Hsieh Hai-Meng and Zhong Acheng
Starring Shu Qi, Chang Chen, Zhou Yun and Satoshi Tsumabuki
What to expect: Hou Hsiao-Hsien won the Cannes Film Festival's directing prize in May, and earlier this month it was announced that "The Assassin" will be Taiwan's submission for 2016's Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. The martial-arts tale focuses on a political rivalry in the ninth century's Tang dynasty.
Starring Shu Qi, Chang Chen, Zhou Yun and Satoshi Tsumabuki
What to expect: Hou Hsiao-Hsien won the Cannes Film Festival's directing prize in May, and earlier this month it was announced that "The Assassin" will be Taiwan's submission for 2016's Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. The martial-arts tale focuses on a political rivalry in the ninth century's Tang dynasty.
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"Maggie's Plan" (U.S. Premiere)
NYFF
Written and directed by Rebecca Miller
Starring Greta Gerwig, Ethan Hawke, Julianne Moore, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph and Travis Fimmel
What to expect: "Maggie's Plan" left the Toronto Film Festival with decent reviews but no distribution deal. That changed on Thursday when Sony Pictures Classics snatched it up, and rightfully so. We saw it at Toronto and are of the mind that Julianne Moore's performance as an arrogant academic Dane is worth a hefty sum. In truth, the Baumbach-esque comedy belongs to Greta Gerwig, whose title character falls for a married writer while on the path to becoming pregnant via a donor.
Starring Greta Gerwig, Ethan Hawke, Julianne Moore, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph and Travis Fimmel
What to expect: "Maggie's Plan" left the Toronto Film Festival with decent reviews but no distribution deal. That changed on Thursday when Sony Pictures Classics snatched it up, and rightfully so. We saw it at Toronto and are of the mind that Julianne Moore's performance as an arrogant academic Dane is worth a hefty sum. In truth, the Baumbach-esque comedy belongs to Greta Gerwig, whose title character falls for a married writer while on the path to becoming pregnant via a donor.
"The Lobster"
NYFF
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos • Written by by Efthimis Filippou and Yorgos Lanthimos
Starring Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw and Ashley Jensen
What to expect: "Dogtooth" is one of the most divinely bizarre movies of the past decade, and the same director has made one of this year's most divinely bizarre movies. "The Lobster" peeks in on a near-future dystopia in which single people are transformed into animals. We saw it at the Toronto Film Festival and thought it was thrilling.
Starring Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw and Ashley Jensen
What to expect: "Dogtooth" is one of the most divinely bizarre movies of the past decade, and the same director has made one of this year's most divinely bizarre movies. "The Lobster" peeks in on a near-future dystopia in which single people are transformed into animals. We saw it at the Toronto Film Festival and thought it was thrilling.
"Son of Saul"
NYFF
Directed by László Nemes • Written by László Nemes and Clara Royer
Starring Géza Röhrig, Urs Rechn, Levente Molnár and Sándor Zsótér
What to expect: This grisly portrait of the Holocaust has been called "visceral" and "gripping and grueling." Tracing an Auschwitz prisoner forced to escort his fellow Jews to the gas chambers, "Son of Saul" could slip into this year's Oscar conversation.
Starring Géza Röhrig, Urs Rechn, Levente Molnár and Sándor Zsótér
What to expect: This grisly portrait of the Holocaust has been called "visceral" and "gripping and grueling." Tracing an Auschwitz prisoner forced to escort his fellow Jews to the gas chambers, "Son of Saul" could slip into this year's Oscar conversation.
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"Everything Is Copy" (World Premiere)
NYFF
Directed by Jacob Bernstein and Nick Hooker
What to expect: Nora Ephron gave us some of film's most beloved romances, and now there is a love letter in her honor in the form of "Everything Is Copy." The documentary, co-directed by the "When Harry Met Sally" scribe's son, traces Ephron's career from journalist to filmmaker. It will air on HBO at a later date.
What to expect: Nora Ephron gave us some of film's most beloved romances, and now there is a love letter in her honor in the form of "Everything Is Copy." The documentary, co-directed by the "When Harry Met Sally" scribe's son, traces Ephron's career from journalist to filmmaker. It will air on HBO at a later date.
"Where to Invade Next" (U.S. Premiere)
NYFF
Written and directed by Michael Moore
What to expect: Michael Moore's newest documentary was a secret until it appeared on the Toronto Film Festival lineup in July. It's billed as a diatribe about America's penchant for invading other countries, but the movie may be Moore's least partisan outing yet. He visits other nations to poach ideas that would make America a fairer place, and the results are equal parts witty and damning.
What to expect: Michael Moore's newest documentary was a secret until it appeared on the Toronto Film Festival lineup in July. It's billed as a diatribe about America's penchant for invading other countries, but the movie may be Moore's least partisan outing yet. He visits other nations to poach ideas that would make America a fairer place, and the results are equal parts witty and damning.
"De Palma" (North American Premiere)
NYFF
Directed by Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow
What to expect: Film buffs can rely on NYFF to deliver documentaries and special events that highlight cinema's history. In keeping, this film pulls back the curtain on Brian De Palma, who is best known as the director of "Carrie" and "Mission: Impossible."
What to expect: Film buffs can rely on NYFF to deliver documentaries and special events that highlight cinema's history. In keeping, this film pulls back the curtain on Brian De Palma, who is best known as the director of "Carrie" and "Mission: Impossible."
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"No Home Movie" (U.S. Premiere)
NYFF
Directed by Chantal Akerman
What to expect: Chantal Akerman's 1975 drama "Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles" is considered a feminist masterpiece. Her body of work in subsequent years has been expansive, but "No Home Movie" may be her most intimate. It's a documentary that chronicles Akerman's mother in the final years of her life.
What to expect: Chantal Akerman's 1975 drama "Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles" is considered a feminist masterpiece. Her body of work in subsequent years has been expansive, but "No Home Movie" may be her most intimate. It's a documentary that chronicles Akerman's mother in the final years of her life.
"Junun" (World Premiere)
NYFF
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
What to expect: Paul Thomas Anderson recruited Jonny Greenwood to score "There Will Be Blood," "The Master" and "Inherent Vice." Now he's following the Radiohead guitarist to India to record an album with a slew of musicians.
What to expect: Paul Thomas Anderson recruited Jonny Greenwood to score "There Will Be Blood," "The Master" and "Inherent Vice." Now he's following the Radiohead guitarist to India to record an album with a slew of musicians.
"Microbe & Gasoline" (U.S. Premiere)
NYFF
Written and directed by Michel Gondry
Starring Théophile Baquet, Ange Dargent and Audrey Tautou
What to expect: Something trippy, as this is the newest comedy from the director of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "The Science of Sleep." The movie, which revolves around two young boys who build their own vehicle for a road trip, opened to positive reviews in France over the summer before hitting the American festival scene.
Starring Théophile Baquet, Ange Dargent and Audrey Tautou
What to expect: Something trippy, as this is the newest comedy from the director of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "The Science of Sleep." The movie, which revolves around two young boys who build their own vehicle for a road trip, opened to positive reviews in France over the summer before hitting the American festival scene.
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"O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
NYFF
Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
Starring George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, John Turturro, John Goodman and Holly Hunter
What to expect: This Odyssey update is turning 15, so the Coen brothers will gather with a few cast members to commemorate the men of constant sorrow.
Starring George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, John Turturro, John Goodman and Holly Hunter
What to expect: This Odyssey update is turning 15, so the Coen brothers will gather with a few cast members to commemorate the men of constant sorrow.
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