Our Top 10 Films to see in Newcastle in September

Article by 'What Sie Says'

Hey movie fans,

So, blockbuster season has come to an end and we’ve all been witness to some spectacular, big budget beauties and some, not so spectacular. With the likes of Marvel put to one side, Disney hit back at their recent terrible run of live action reboots with Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book and Steven Spielberg's The BFG, both proving their worth in the Box Office takings and, in my opinion, this Summer’s greatest offerings.

Some predicted hits got on the wrong side of the critics; Suicide Squad took at kicking and almost sparked an all-out war amongst the fan boys. However, the joke’s on them as director David Ayer recently took to Twitter to thank fans all over the world when the Squad reached $600 million globally. 

We lost a couple of legends last month. 2016 is established as being responsible for the loss of some significantly iconic personalities and the numbers unfortunately continue to toll.  R2-D2 himself, Kenny Baker passed away in early August and, only just recently, the much loved, original Willy Wonka, Gene Wilder passed due to complications with Alzheimer's disease.

Let the countdown to Christmas commence! While I will most likely be watching Home Alone and Die Hard reruns, it appears this festive season will give birth to a couple of highly anticipated spin-offs in that of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. In the meantime, there are still plenty of exciting new movies to keep us busy until then. Here is a list of my top picks for September and where to see them in Newcastle.

Sausage Party

Empire

2 September 2016

Maybe don’t take the kids to this one. The characters in Sausage Party may look cute but they drop more f-bombs than a blind cobbler. Seth Rogan, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader are just a few names to grace this hilarious cartoon for grown-ups about food products in a supermarket who strive to discover what happens once they leave the store. Although, they get more than what they bargained for once the carnage ensues.

From the director of Shrek, Madagascar, Puss in Boots and… Thomas the Tank Engine(?). Rogan sits on writing duties with a bunch of his comedy pals, so you know from the offset that the jokes are going to be rude, crude and ridiculous.

One More Time with Feeling

Tyneside Cinema

An exclusive documentary featuring Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds from the director of The Assassination of Jesse James and Killing Them Softly, Andrew Dominik. One More Time with Feeling is a unique cinematic experience, showcasing brand new material from their forthcoming album Skeleton Key. An in depth look at making the album with interviews and footage which detail Cave’s struggle with the recent loss of his son.

Ben-Hur

Empire

7 September 2016

From the director of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and a man who has a notoriously difficult name to spell; Timur Bekmambetov revives the Charlton Heston classic, Ben Hur with Brit actor Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) and Dead Man’s Shoes star, Toby Kebbell. 

Could we have another Gladiator on our hands? I think not. Chances are this one could be a bit of a dud but with a $100 million dollar budget then at least we’ll be in for a decent bit of mindless action.

Captain Fantastic

Empire

9 September 2016

Viggo Mortensen as you’ve never seen him before! Captain Fantastic is a comedy drama about a father of six whose parenting techniques are tested when he is forced to venture into the outside world.

Written and directed by Matt Ross whose career stems from acting roles in rather prominent movies such as American Psycho and The Aviator. His directorial offerings are yet to build up any credibility but this one has already been labelled a triumph by critics.

Don't Breathe

Empire

One of the more promising horror movies of the year, Fede Alvarez writes and directs Don’t Breathe, with his Evil Dead starlet Jane Levy who, in the accompaniment of her merry band of thugs, breaks into the home of a wealthy blind man thinking it would be an easy score. They couldn’t be more wrong.  Stephen Lang (Avatar) plays the most menacing antagonist in a horror movie that we’ve seen in a long time.

Horror legend Sam Raimi sits on production duties for this highly intensified suspense horror.

Anthropoid

Empire / Tyneside Cinema

This WWII thriller based on a true story to assassinate SS General Reinhard Heydrich, the Reich’s third in command, comes from director Sean Ellis, stars Cillian Murphy and, surprisingly, a fully clothed Jamie Dornan.

Anthropoid is co-written by Anthony Frewin who, in his younger days, was assistant to Stanley Kubrick on movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining and Full Metal Jacket.

Blair Witch

Empire

15 September 2016

Finally, a sequel The Blair Witch Project deserves. Director Adam Wingard (VHS, You’re Next) boldly goes where some other guy has failed before.  The original was essentially a genre defining movie and an incredible success story. It cost $15,000 to make but generated millions in revenue, however, it gave birth to a barrage of despicable “found footage” movies.  I don’t know whether to thank it or swear at it.

Blair Witch follows James, a guy who finds a video detailing his sister’s experience in the wood’s before her disappearance and therefore drags his poor, unsuspecting friends in there with him to find her. You fools!

Bridget Jones's Baby

Empire / Tyneside Cinema

16 September 2016

OK, we’re clutching at straws here but love her or hate her, you can’t deny the huge success Bridget Jones has had over the over the years. It’s been over a decade since the Jones graced our screens and now with an original script from author Helen Fielding, fans can expect a fun, new edition to the series.

Colin Firth, Emma Thompson and Sally Phillips return to their roles. No Hugh Grant, unfortunately, but newcomer Patrick Dempsey fills his shoes as Firth’s love rival. Oh, and there’s a baby.

The Magnificent Seven

Empire

23 September 2016

Two words for this movie; ‘bad’ and ‘ass’.  Denzel Washington heads up this slick, gun-toting western with his band of merry men, including; Ethan Hawke, chubby comedian turned chiseled action hero Chris Pratt, the excellent Vincent D’Onofrio and.. Some other guys you probably haven’t heard of.  But that’s OK, what we can expect from this is some cool and intense action scenes from the director of Training Day, Antoine Fuqua. 

Now, where did I put those chaps.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Empire

30 September 2016

Tim Burton latest offering is a family friendly affair involving a place inhabited by children with magical powers..  Hello, Harry Potter.  Based on the novel by Ransom Riggs and adapted for screen by Jonathan (W)oss’ wife, Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class).  Eva Green leads the cast as Miss Peregrine with Asa Butterfield, Samuel L. Jackson and Judy Dench in support.

Could this be another franchise in the making? God knows we need one to fill that Potter shaped void in our lives.  Although, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them may already have beaten them to it.

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