No opinions, no agenda. All you need are the basic facts needed to answer the eternal question. “Is there anything good to play?”
Welcome to the first installment of the Monthly Align Movie Guide. While we can't guarantee that Hollywood will make entertainment worth your time and money, we can help you understand your choices.
From big-budget spectacles to Christmas warm-ups, here are some promising films hitting theaters in November
“Here” — November 1st
Director Robert Zemeckis' attempt to recapture some of the magic of “Forrest Gump'' by reuniting Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in “Here'' was completely panned by critics and most viewers. failed. This is a shame, since the film takes on a relatively bold challenge of depicting a drama that unfolds over centuries in one place.
Perhaps more interesting than the story is the film's groundbreaking effects work. A new AI technology, Metaphysical Live, will be used to swap and de-age Hanks and Wright's faces in real-time during filming, rather than doing the work after filming.
“Red One” — November 15th
If you consider “Die Hard” to be a Christmas movie, you might want to consider “Red One.”
When Santa Claus is kidnapped by evil forces a few days before Christmas Eve, North Pole Security Chief Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson) must use the world's best to fight fantastical creatures and find the merry Ol. They enlist the help of tracker Jack O'Malley (Chris Evans). Saint Nick appears in an action-packed Christmas adventure.
When it comes to blockbusters, can't do it It won't work out with Chris Evans and Dwayne Johnson…or will it? Evans, a staunch Democrat, has expressed support for Kamala Harris in recent years, slamming fans who protested a lesbian kissing scene in Pixar's Toy Story spinoff Lightyear. It shows a partisan side.
“The Rock” is not without controversy either. He was accused of urinating into a bottle on the “Red One” set to save time after showing up hours late to the set. It's a surprisingly natural move for a man whose latest films, “Black Adam'' and “Jungle Cruise,'' failed to impress audiences.
Again, no one is perfect. The concept seems like a fun and action packed Christmas movie. if it is Your tea “Red One” may be worth opening the package.
“Gladiator II” — November 22
Singer-songwriter Nick Cave once wrote the outlandish script for the sequel to the popular film Gladiator, which introduced Maximus (Russell Crowe) to the world. An epic time travel quest. That idea never came to fruition, but original director Ridley Scott is looking to provide a more direct sequel with “Gladiator II.” The film follows Maximus' son Lucius (Paul Mescal). Like his father, he must fight for his life and all of Rome as a gladiator. The film was highly anticipated due to its expansive physical set and stellar cast, including Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Derek Jacobi.
“Wicked” — November 22nd
No one said being green was easy. The long-awaited big-screen adaptation of the popular musical “Wicked” has a built-in audience of loyal fans, but it would be best not to alienate them by shouting “racist.” Still it is What star Cynthia Erivo did When an X user innocently edited a movie poster to resemble a Broadway poster.
Time will tell if this glimpse behind the DEI curtain deters viewers from attending Yellow Brick Road, but so do Erivo's co-stars, including Ariana Grande. Maybe. glinda (Good Witch), Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Bowen Yang, Peter Dinklage, and Jeff Goldblum (who plays the wizard) are enough to make it appealing.
“Moana 2” — November 27th
Perhaps the movie with the most to prove this month is Disney's “Moana 2,” which hit theaters just nine months after its announcement.
“Moana 2” originally took the form of an eight-episode Disney+ series. Disney CEO Bob Iger claimed that he liked the film so much that he decided to make it into a feature film.
That's all well and good, but insiders say his real motive was to replace another enlightened animated film — the one-two punch of Strange World and the well-intentioned Wishes. Hardly a selling point after failure. The film was discarded.
Even stars Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson had to renegotiate their contracts and re-record their lines for the film (Johnson's cameo-sized role was expanded to co-starring). While the trailer appears to show a simple adventure with the iconic Wayfinder, it's a welcome sign that Disney is returning to what it does best: family entertainment. Audiences, and Disney, should expect the Mouse House to come up with another billion dollar crowd-pleaser.
Here are some of the lesser-hyped upcoming movies.
“The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever” — November 8th
Those looking to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year early should consider taking the family to “The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever,” a new adaptation by “The Chosen” author Dallas Jenkins of Barbara Robinson's book. Why not consider it? When the Hardman brothers, who have a reputation as the worst kids in the world, take over a local Christmas church competition, they just might teach a shocked community the true meaning of Christmas. Starring Judy Greer, Lauren Graham, Pete Holmes, and Elizabeth Tabish.
“Heretic” — November 8th
In this horror-thriller from A24, two young missionaries find themselves in a deadly cat-and-mouse game when they knock on the door of the nefarious Mr. Reed. Trapped in his house, they must return to their faith if they want to escape alive. Starring Hugh Grant (in a stunning heel turn), Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East, and Topher Grace. Directed by Scott Beck and Brian Woods.
“Christmas Sudden Incident” — November 8th
An American couple takes their 10-year-old daughter Claire to her grandfather's hotel in Italy and tells him they are separating. Claire asks the whole family to celebrate one last Christmas together in August, hoping to bring them back together. Starring Danny DeVito, Lucy DeVito, Andie MacDowell, Wilmer Valderrama, Adrian Dunbar, and Antonella Rose. Directed by Peter Chelsom.
“Bonhoeffer” — November 22
From Angel Studios, producers of The Sound of Freedom, Bonhoeffer is a drama about the life of a German theologian and pastor who fought against the Nazis during the Third Reich. Starring Jonas Dassler as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, August Diehl, Moritz Bleibtreu, Nadine Heidenreich, David Jonsson, and Fleur Borg.
Complete list by date:
- “The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever” — November 8th
- “Christmas Sudden Incident” — November 8th
- “Gladiator II” — November 22nd
- “Wicked” (Part 1) — November 22
