Interstellar

Nov. 7

It’s been two years since Christopher Nolan’s prolific Batman trilogy concluded. Now, Nolan, who also directed “Inception,” “Insomnia” and “Momento,” is bringing “Intersellar” to the big screen.  In “Interstellar,” Earth is environmentally devastated and the fate of humanity is doomed. Upon the discovery of a wormhole, a team of scientists and explorers embark on a voyage through space in hopes of finding an inhabitable planet.

The film features a star-studded cast. Matthew McConaughey stars as Cooper, a widowed engineer who makes the difficult decision to leave his children in an attempt to save humanity. Anne Hathaway stars opposite him as Amelia Brand, another member of the team, and Jessica Chastain stars as Murph, the grown-up version of Cooper’s daughter.

If you found “Inception” confusing, “Interstellar” is allegedly even more complicated. The plot is based primarily is astrophysical concepts, and viewers without a strong scientific knowledge will have to pay very close attention to avoid confusion. While many critics agree that “Interstellar” is too ambitious for its own good, the film has received mostly positive reviews, and it’s praised for its dazzling special effects, epic scale and sophisticated script.

The Theory of Everything

Nov. 7

Few theoretical physicists are as renowned as Stephen Hawking, the English genius behind the gravitational singularity theorem. “The Theory of Everything” is a romantic biographical film that follows Hawking’s theoretical research, his relationship with his wife Jane Wilde and his battle against motor neuron disease, a crippling illness that left him entirely paralyzed.

“The Theory of Everything” stars Eddie Redmayne as Hawking and Felicity Jones as Wilde. Redmayne is best known for his work in “Les Miserables,” and Jones received critical acclaim for her work in “Like Crazy.” Both actors have received overwhelming praise for their performances in this film, and critics predict they will both receive Oscar nominations.

So far the film has received overwhelmingly positive reviews; critics praise its inspirational message and bittersweet love story. Like most independent films, “The Theory of Everything” is currently scheduled to only receive limited release, but it’s likely to hit theaters everywhere later this year once it receives its due in Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.

Foxcatcher

Nov. 14

The names Channing Tatum, Steve Carell and Mark Ruffalo are hardly associated with the psychological drama film genre, yet that’s exactly the case with the movie “Foxcatcher,” directed by Academy Award Nominee Bennet Miller. “Foxcatcher” is about Mark Schultz, a wrestler offered the chance to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics on John du Pont’s estate. Mark desperately wants to escape his life of poverty and step out of the shadow of his renowned older brother Dave. The film is an emotionally chilling recount of true events, and it explores the psychology of Carrel and Tatum’s characters as they obsessively vie for greatness.

In between “40 Year Old Virgin,” “22 Jump Street” and “The Avengers,” most people associate Carell, Tatum and Ruffalo with comedy, though “Foxcatcher” appears to be a dramatic departure from this. This is especially the case for Steve Carell, whose complete shift in acting style for is being compared to the late Robin Williams’ shift for the 1997 classic “Good Will Hunting.” Much like Williams won his first Oscar for “Good Will Hunting,” Carell is currently an Oscar favorite for his performance in “Foxcatcher.” The film has received very positive critical reception thanks to its impressive acting, its thought-provoking nature and Miller’s smart direction.