The Mastermind
Celebrated Indie filmmaker, Kelly Reichardt (“First Cow,” “River of Grass”), brings her film “The Mastermind,” fresh off its Cannes Film Festival run, to select theaters with the backing of art-house streaming service Mubi. It’s a contemplative crime drama about a guy named J. B. Mooney who plans and executes his first heist, stealing four paintings from a museum in the middle of the day. An otherwise quiet, unemployed family man circa 1970, he believes his plan is airtight, until it isn’t. Great reviews, Josh O’Conner’s performance in the lead, and a great early 70s vibe, make this one well worth checking out at a theater. Also starring Hope Davis and Alana Haim.
Opens Oct. 7 at the State Theatre.
A House of Dynamite
A single, unattributed missile is launched at the United States. A race to determine who is responsible and how to respond is told from three different perspectives. Directed by Katheryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker,” “Zero Dark Thirty”), “A House of Dynamite” is a taught thriller that will hopefully remind us of the threat of nuclear war, which has largely disappeared from the culture for the last two generations despite the fact that we’ve been closer than ever to exactly this kind of disaster. Bigelow started her career in the 1980s cold-war era, making her uniquely qualified to broach this subject compared to directors emerging in the last 25 years. Idris Elba as POTUS and Rebecca Ferguson as Captain Walker lend their considerable talent. Also starring Jared Harris and Tracy Letts.
Opens Oct. 10 at the State Theatre.
Bugonia
Director Yorgos Lanthimos teams up yet again with muse, Emma Stone, for his latest film “Bugonia,” a sci-fi, horror drama which is a remake of Jang Joon-Hwan’s “Save the Green Planet.” Two conspiracy obsessed young men kidnap the CEO of a major company, convinced she’s an alien intent on destroying Earth. While reviews are divided, it promises to be a departure, in general, for both Lanthimos and Stone. If you’re a fan of strange, cutting-edge cinema this may be just what you’re looking for! Also starring Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis.
Opens Oct. 31 at the State Theatre.
Blue Moon
Director Richard Linklater (“Boyhood,” “Before Sunrise”) teams yet again with Ethan Hawke for the story of Lorenz Hart’s (Hawke) struggles with alcoholism and mental health during the opening of his musical “Oklahoma.” Heavy in dialogue, rich in character, the film takes place at a time in Hart’s career when he’d stopped collaborating with Richard Rogers due to his escalating drinking habit. Hart died from his addiction in 1943, not long after the timeframe depicted in “Blue Moon,” a fact that hangs heavy over the story. Obviously this is Hawke’s film and whether or not you’re a fan may temper your enjoyment, though his performance has been largely praised. Also starring Margaret Qualley and Bobby Cannavale.
Opens Oct. 17 at the State Theatre.
