NPR's Movie Preview: 16 New Films To Watch This Fall
Every year, summer gives way to fall, and in movie theaters, blockbusters give way to awards contenders. On this week's Pop Culture Happy Hour, All Things Considered film critic Bob Mondello and I spoke with Tasha Robinson of The Verge and film writer Bilal Qureshi about some of what we all saw at the Toronto International Film Festival, which kicks off the fall movie season. But if you need a list to carry in your pocket, Bob and I put together this rundown of some of the best, buzziest and otherwise noteworthy films coming to you over the next few months. (Keep in mind that release dates are subject to change.)
Our favorites:
Battle of the Sexes (Sept. 22): Billie Jean King didn't want to play Bobby Riggs in 1973. It was a sucker bet, since she had much to lose and he didn't. But in this film, Emma Stone conveys King's understanding that because of the precarious position of women's tennis in the early 1970s, she had no choice. Steve Carell, as Riggs, makes a pathetic, credible troll, and the film nails the no-win situation of a pioneer forced to defend all she's trying to accomplish from people who know that the laziest and most potent weapon against her is to make her a joke. — Linda Holmes
Sean Baker's 2015 film might be as famous for its low-cost production (it was shot on an iPhone) as for its stunning performances and moving story. Here, Baker has more resources to play with as he follows a 6-year-old girl who lives with her mom in a grungy motel in the shadow of Walt Disney World that often houses the very poor. Naturalistic and unforgettable, features a surprisingly sweet turn from Willem Dafoe as the motel manager who tries to balance enforcing the rules and acting like an on-site surrogate parent. —
