Why Watch That Radio

On this episode of Why Watch That:

Dash & Lily (Season 1)

Website: Netflix

The Crown (Season 4)

Website: Netflix

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On this episode of Why Watch That:

FIRST LOOK

Roald Dahl’s The Witches

Website: HBO Max

Synopsis: Reimagining Dahl’s beloved story for a modern audience, Zemeckis’s visually innovative film tells the darkly humorous and heartwarming tale of a young orphaned boy (Bruno) who, in late 1967, goes to live with his loving Grandma (Spencer) in the rural Alabama town of Demopolis. As the boy and his grandmother encounter some deceptively glamorous but thoroughly diabolical witches, she wisely whisks our young hero away to an opulent seaside resort. Regrettably, they arrive at precisely the same time that the world’s Grand High Witch (Hathaway) has gathered her fellow cronies from around the globe — undercover — to carry out her nefarious plans.

Release Date: October 22, 2020 (HBO Max); October 28 (in theaters internationally)

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Screenplay by: Robert Zemeckis, Kenya Barris, and Guillermo del Toro

Based on the book by Roald Dahl

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci, Kristin Chenoweth, Chris Rock, and Jahzir Kadeen Bruno

Distributor: HBO Max (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family

Running Time: 1 hour 46 minutes

Rated PG

HBO TV SNEAK PEEK

Industry 

Website: HBO

MOVIE SNEAK PEEKS

Let Him Go 

Website: Focus Features

Synopsis: Following the loss of their son, retired sheriff George Blackledge (Costner) and his wife Margaret (Lane) leave their Montana ranch to rescue their young grandson from the clutches of a dangerous family living off the grid in the Dakotas, headed by matriarch Blanche Weboy. When they discover the Weboys have no intention of letting the child go, George and Margaret are left with no choice but to fight for their family.

Release Date: November 6, 2020

Directed by: Thomas Bezucha

Screenplay by: Thomas Bezucha

Based on the book by Larry Watson

Starring: Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Lesley Manville, and Jeffrey Donovan

Distributor: Focus Features

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Running Time: 1 hour 54 minutes

Rated R

Jungleland 

Website: Paramount Movies

Synopsis: Stan (Charlie Hunnam) and Lion (Jack O’Connell) are two brothers struggling to stay relevant in the underground world of bare-knuckle boxing. When Stan fails to pay back a dangerous crime boss (Jonathon Majors), they’re forced to deliver an unexpected traveler as they journey across the country for a high-stakes fighting tournament. While Stan trains Lion for the fight of his life, a series of events threaten to tear the brothers apart but their love for one another and belief in a better life keep them going in this gripping drama that proves family pulls no punches.

Release Date: November 6, 2020 (in select theaters); November 10, 2020 (Premium VOD)

Directed by: Max Winkler

Screenplay by: Theodore Bressman, David Branson Smith, and Max Winkler

Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Jack O’Connell, Jessica Barden, Jonathan Majors, and John Cullum

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Genre: Drama

Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Rated R

Proxima 

Website: Unifrance

Synopsis: Sarah (Eva Green) is a French astronaut training at the European Space Agency in Cologne. She is the only woman in the arduous program. She lives alone with Stella, her seven-year-old daughter. Sarah feels guilty that she cannot spend more time with her child. Her love is overpowering, unsettling. When Sarah is chosen to be part of the crew of a year-long space mission called ‘Proxima,’ it creates chaos in the mother-daughter relationship. 

Release Date: November 6, 2020 (Digital and VOD)

Directed by: Alice Winocour

Screenplay by: Alice Winocour with Jean-Stéphane Bron

Starring: Eva Green and Matt Dillon

Distributor: Vertical Entertainment

Genre: Drama

Running Time: 1 hour 47 minutes

Not Rated 

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On this episode of Why Watch That:

SERIES PREMIERE

The Undoing

Website: HBO

SEASON PREMIERES

Deutschland 89

Website: Sundance TV

This Is Us 

Website: NBC

Black-ish 

Website: ABC

The Mandalorian

Website: Disney+

SEASON FINALE

Tehran 

Website: Apple TV+

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On this episode of Why Watch That:

Sneak Peek: His House

Website: Netflix

Synopsis: After making a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan, a young refugee couple struggle to adjust to their new life in a small English town that has an unspeakable evil lurking beneath the surface.

Release Date: October 30, 2020

Directed by: Remi Weekes

Screenplay by: Remi Weekes

Story by: Felicity Evans and Toby Venables

Starring: Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Wunmi Mosaku, and Matt Smith

Distributor: Netflix

Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller

Running Time: 1 hour 33 minutes

Rated TV-14

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To hear the Critic’s quick reactions to the first half of offerings that he saw at AFI Fest 2020, click here.

On this episode of Why Watch That:

HIGHLIGHTED OFFERINGS AT THE END OF AFI FEST 2020:

1. World Cinema: Wolfwalkers

In 17th-century Ireland, a magical friendship takes shape. Young Robyn and her wolf-hunter father, Bill, are sent from England tasked with ridding the woodland outside of town of wolves. After being told to stay within the city walls, Robyn sneaks out to explore the magical world of the forest where she meets Mebh (“Maeve”), a wild girl raised by wolves. Robyn undergoes a secret transformation, turning into the very thing her father is sent to destroy and creating a final battle between the wolf pack and townsfolk.

Following THE SECRET OF KELLS and SONG OF THE SEA, WOLFWALKERS is the third film of Academy Award®-nominated animators Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart’s “Irish folklore trilogy” and an exciting visual adventure for the whole family. –Sarah Harris

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2. Special Presentation: World Premiere: Pink Skies Ahead

Los Angeles, 1998. After dropping out of college and moving back home to live with her parents, Winona is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Skeptical of her doctor’s opinion — she hasn’t had a panic attack after all —Winona carries on with her wild lifestyle. Only when things begin to truly unravel around her, does she reluctantly decide to see a therapist and face her truths.

Jessica Barden gives a magnetic performance as the passionate and struggling Winona. The directorial debut film of Kelly Oxford, based on her essay “No Real Danger,” PINK SKIES AHEAD is a powerful and empathetic portrait of mental health often hidden beneath the surface. –Sarah Harris

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3. World Cinema: Uncle Frank

Beth has always been keen on her uncle Frank. On the rare occasions whenever he would visit them in rural South Carolina from New York City, she would revel in how he was clever, worldly and different in a good way. When she goes off to college at NYU in the early ’70s, she learns more about his world, including his longtime partner Walid (“Wally”). When a death in the family strikes, Beth and her uncle set out on a road trip to their hometown to confront their family and their pasts.

Director and writer Alan Ball (SIX FEET UNDER, TRUE BLOOD) has spent much of his career contemplating death, and in UNCLE FRANK he tells another story where we face mortality the only way we know how: with life as a mirror. –Eric Moore

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4. World Cinema: Wander Darkly

How would you regard the arc of a romance if you could revisit it? This visually stunning, moving and time-bending drama is told assuredly by director Tara Miele. The viewer is rewarded with an exploration of love, memory, regret, loss and death and a profound examination of the complexity of relationships. Adrienne (Sienna Miller) and Matteo (Diego Luna) have a new baby and are about to become homeowners. Their chemistry is palpable, but distrust and uncertainty are tearing them apart. A traumatic event intervenes, and their story takes a surreal and fascinating turn. Each traces the history of their relationship, commenting as they relive events from their past from differing perspectives. Both lead actors give magnificent, emotionally layered performances. The film takes intriguing risks that intensify its profound emotional heft.

–Claudia Puig

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5. World Cinema: I Carry You With Me

Realism and romanticism come together artfully in this poignant, decades-long story. Ivan (Armando Espitia) and Gerardo (Christian Vazquez) fall in love and must face homophobia, racism and injustice, while weathering the perils of undocumented immigration. Documentarian Heidi Ewing’s first narrative feature cleverly incorporates her non-fiction background, weaving in the real-life couple with the actors who play them in a lyrical, non-linear fashion. Clear-eyed and tender in equal measure, the film moves with fluidity and grace from the slower rhythms of Puebla, Mexico, to bustling New York City. Gerardo and Ivan face a series of hurdles in the course of their relationship. Comparisons can be made to TREE OF LIFE and MOONLIGHT in the way this sweeping saga glides forward and back in time, through memories and over hardships to the ultimate transcendence of love.

–Claudia Puig

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6. World Cinema: My Little Sister

Dramas exploring adult brother-sister relationships are rare in cinema. And when told well, they resonate in powerful ways. Such is the case with Lisa and Sven in MY LITTLE SISTER, a graceful tale of a playwright (superbly played by Nina Hoss) and her twin brother, a Berlin-based stage actor (Lars Eidinger). Lisa has abandoned writing while living with her husband (Jens Albinus) and children in a small Swiss city. Bored by the way her cloistered existence revolves around the international school her husband heads, Lisa re-evaluates her life. When Sven develops leukemia, the pair bond even more profoundly over their shared passion for theater. Writer-directors Stephanie Chuat and Veronique Reymond, both working actors, draw a compelling, raw and honest performance from Hoss which will stay with the viewer well after the credits roll. –Claudia Puig

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7. Special Presentation: The Father

Living alone in London and nearing 80 years old, Anthony (Anthony Hopkins) has refused another nurse that his daughter Anne (Olivia Colman) has set up for him. Exuberant and independent, Anthony has struggled with his memory beginning to slip away. Anne announces she is moving to Paris with a new boyfriend, but later in the living room Anthony sees a stranger claiming to be Anne’s husband. Who is this man? Confusion sets in.

Academy Award®-winner Hopkins delivers a brilliant performance of a man with dementia, creating a powerful cinematic experience of memory and loss. Based on his award-winning play, Florian Zeller has crafted a moving and insightful portrait of a cruel disease and the heartbreak it brings. –Sarah Harris

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On this episode of Why Watch That:

SERIES PREMIERES

Soulmates 

Website: AMC

NEXT 

Website: FOX

The Right Stuff 

Website: Disney+

Helstrom 

Website: Hulu

Flesh and Blood 

Website: PBS 

Cobra 

Website: PBS

SEASON PREMIERE

Star Trek: Discovery 

Website: CBS All Access

SEASON FINALES

Last Tango in Halifax 

Website: PBS 

Lovecraft Country 

Website: HBO

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On this episode of Why Watch That:

First Look: The Trial of the Chicago 7

Website: Netflix

Synopsis: What was intended to be a peaceful protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention turned into a violent clash with police and the National Guard. The organizers of the protest — including Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden and Bobby Seale — were charged with conspiracy to incite a riot and the trial that followed was one of the most notorious in history.

Release Date: October 16, 2020

Directed by: Aaron Sorkin

Screenplay by: Aaron Sorkin

Starring: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella, John Carroll Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, and Jeremy Strong

Distributor: Netflix

Genre: Drama, History

Running Time: 2 hours 9 minutes

Rated R

Sneak Peek: Bad Hair

Website: Hulu

Synopsis: In this horror satire set in 1989, BAD HAIR follows an ambitious young woman (Elle Lorraine) who gets a weave in order to succeed in the image-obsessed world of music television. However, her flourishing career comes at a great cost when she realizes that her new hair may have a mind of its own.

Release Date: October 23, 2020

Directed by: Justin Simien

Screenplay by: Justin Simien

Starring: Elle Lorraine, Vanessa Williams, Lena Waithe, Laverne Cox, Jay Pharoah, Kelly Rowland, Blair Underwood, James Van Der Beek, and Usher Raymond

Distributor: Hulu

Genre: Horror, Satire

Running Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

Rated TV-MA

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On this episode of Why Watch That:

HIGHLIGHTED OFFERINGS FROM AFI FEST 2020 SO FAR:

1. Special Presentation: Opening Night World Premiere: I’m Your Woman

Suburban housewife Jean (Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) lives a seemingly easy life, supported by husband Eddie’s (Bill Heck) career as a thief. But when Eddie betrays his partners, Jean and her baby are forced to go on the run, and Eddie’s old friend Cal (Arinzé Kene) is tasked with the job of keeping them safe. After Cal mysteriously disappears, Jean befriends Teri (Marsha Stephanie Blake), and the two women set out on a perilous journey into the heart of Eddie’s criminal underworld. A decidedly female take on crime dramas of the 1970s, I’m Your Woman is a tale of love, betrayal, motherhood, family and what it takes to claim your life as your own.

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2. World Cinema: Industry

In the latest series from HBO, an ambitious group of graduates compete for a permanent role at Piedmont, a top London bank. Harper, the sole American, with a mysterious past, navigates privilege and egos in this world of international finance, determined to prove herself as the best hire. Boundaries blur and rankings intensify within the group as they are immersed into a company culture driven by success at all costs. AFI FEST is honored to host the North American premiere of the first four episodes of this electric ensemble-drama.

–Sarah Harris

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3. New Auteurs: Nine Days

What if you had just a little over a week to persuade an enigmatic gatekeeper to allow you to be born? How would you proceed? Winston Duke plays the cryptic and somber Will, the figure in charge of selecting the right soul for life on Earth. Will interviews several prospective candidates, aided by his more light-hearted colleague Kyo, played by Benedict Wong. As one soul dies, another takes its place. But the choice of who makes the cut is fraught. The unborn — personifications of human souls — must demonstrate why they deserve life. One applicant, played by Zazie Beetz, challenges Will in unexpected ways. A beautifully crafted, heartfelt sci-fi film that explores the existential, NINE DAYS marks the directorial debut of Edson Oda. An innovative concept thoughtfully plotted, this metaphysical tale is at once artistic, thought-provoking and life-affirming. –Claudia Puig

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4. Special Presentation: World Premiere: Really Love

Set in a gentrifying Washington, DC, a rising Black artist, Isaiah (Kofi Siriboe), spends most of his days pouring his heart into his paintings but still struggles to find his place in the prestigious and competitive art world. At a gallery show, Stevie (Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing), an impressive and intelligent law student, catches his eye. A chance encounter is one thing, but the stars align and they meet again, leading to a whirlwind romance. When both Isaiah and Stevie hit crossroads in their careers, they are forced to consider if their relationship is a love for a season or a love for a lifetime. 

In director Angel Kristi Williams’s debut feature, she delivers a poignant look at the sacrifices we make for careers and life-changing relationships. This well-crafted script by Felicia Pride and Williams is complemented by an impeccable soundtrack and incredible art. –Eric Moore

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5. Special Presentation: U.S. Premiere: A Suitable Boy

1951. In a newly independent India, passionate literature student Lata Mehra defies tradition and her meddling mother’s wish to choose her a husband. Torn between family duty and the excitement of romance, Lata embarks on a journey of love and heartache as three very different men try to win her heart. Also threatening to break with tradition is the charming but directionless Maan Kapoor, whose romantic entanglements begin to jeopardize his father’s political career. As Lata and Maan attempt to shape their futures, India too is coming of age. Only a few years after independence from British colonial rule, tensions are high as its people prepare to campaign and vote in their first democratic general election. A Lookout Point production for the BBC, internationally distributed by BBC Studios.

–Claudia Puig

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6. New Auteurs: Shadow in the Cloud

On a stormy night during World War II, a female pilot with top secret cargo talks her way on board a bomber plane about to take-off. The crass all-male crew reluctantly agrees, but their suspicions about her identity and the mysterious cargo quickly grow. Just then a shadow appears in the clouds — was it the incoming Japanese fleet? Or caused by some other sinister stowaway?

SHADOW IN THE CLOUD is a thrilling nightmare in the sky and its lead, Chloë Grace Moretz, is a badass to be reckoned with. After her exciting horror short DO NO HARM dominated the festival circuit in 2017, director Roseanne Liang returns with a feature proving she is a dynamic and powerful female voice in genre filmmaking. –Sarah Harris

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7. World Cinema: Sound of Metal

A recovering drug addict, Ruben has finally achieved balance in his life and knows his place in the world. He spends his nights drumming in a heavy-metal band with his girlfriend, traveling from show to show in a ragged RV – it may not be much, but it is full of love. When his ear pops during a performance, Ruben thinks little of it at first, but his hearing quickly deteriorates. When your existence and love is music, what happens when your world suddenly changes?

Riz Ahmed gives a powerful performance as a man on a complicated journey of grief and identity. With clever sound design and a sensitive script, SOUND OF METAL is a profound exploration on both the experience and culture of deafness. –Sarah Harris

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On this episode of Why Watch That:

NETFLIX TV SNEAK PEEKS

Grand Army 

Website: Netflix

Social Distance 

Website: Netflix

The Queen’s Gambit 

Website: Netflix

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On this episode of Why Watch That:

The complete AFI FEST program includes 124 titles (54 features, 3 episodic, 33 shorts, 19 Meet the Press Film Festival at AFI FEST shorts and 15 AFI Conservatory Showcase shorts) of which 53% are directed by women, 39% are directed by BIPOC and 17% are directed by LBGTQ+. This year's program represents 35 countries and includes 7 World Premieres. The total film breakdown by section is: Special Presentations (8), Tributes (4), World Cinema (16) New Auteurs (14), Documentary (15), Cinema’s Legacy (4), Short Films (33), Meet the Press Film Festival at AFI FEST (19) and AFI Conservatory Showcase (15).  

“AFI FEST is committed to supporting diverse perspectives and new voices in cinema and this year is no different,” said Sarah Harris, Director of Programming, AFI Festivals. “While we wish we were able to be together in Hollywood, this year’s festival is an opportunity to celebrate the many great films yet to be discovered by audiences across the nation.”

The Grand Jury Award winners for Live Action and Animated Short will be eligible for the 2021 Best Live Action Short and Best Animated Short Academy Awards®. Short Film Competition Jurors this year are film critic Carlos Aguilar, filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison and Film Festival Alliance Executive Director Lela Meadow-Conner.

Passes are now available at FEST.AFI.com and individual tickets will be available for purchase for AFI members and the general public on October 7.

Website: AFI Fest

QUICK MENTIONS

INDUSTRY

In the latest drama series from HBO, an ambitious group of graduates compete for a permanent role at a top London bank. DIR Lena Dunham, Tinge Krishnan, Ed Lilly. SCR Mickey Down, Konrad Kay, Sam H. Freeman, Kate Verghese. CAST Myha’la Herrold, Marisa Abela, Harry Lawtey, David Jonsson, Nabhaan Rizwan, Conor MacNeill. USA, UK

SOUND OF METAL

A recovering drug addict and heavy-metal drummer begins to lose his hearing and must face the complicated changes to his identity and passion. DIR Darius Marder. SCR Darius Marder, Abraham Marder. CAST Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci, Lauren Ridloff, Mathieu Almaric. USA

WOLFWALKERS

Robyn befriends wild girl Mebh while exploring the magical forest outside an Irish town’s walls and undergoes a transformation in this adventurous animated film from THE SECRET OF KELLS creators, Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart. DIR Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart. SCR Will Collins. CAST Honor Kneafsey, Eva Whittaker, Sean Bean, Simon McBurney, Tommy Tiernan, Maria Doyle Kennedy. Luxembourg, Ireland, USA

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