Movies fall into award season with Oscar-pleasing true stories from around the world and a lineup that will captivate many cinephiles in the upcoming months.
Among them are Ryan Gosling walking the moon in First Man and Robin Hood taking another shot at the bullseye with Taron Egerton. More comic-book movies are on the way before the end of 2018, with Venom, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Aquaman. The popular Autobot Bumblebee spins off from the Transformers' world and Mary Poppins Returns with Emily Blunt in the starring role. Who is ready for a car chase or a singalong?
There are holiday happenings with Pharrell Williams narrating Dr. Seuss' The Grinch and the star-studded The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. Kiera Knightley and Richard E. Grant are both in The Nutcracker and portray LGBT characters in films based on true-life people from our history books.
There are several fall opportunities to see movies early in film festivals around Chicago with Reeling: The Chicago LGBT International Film Festival Sept. 20-30 and the 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Oct. 10-21.
Here are a few films with upcoming release dates that have special interest for our rainbow community:
September
—A Simple Favor: ( Sept. 14 ) This is a murder mystery thriller starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in some of the best fashion seen on the screen recently. Girl-on-girl kisses and past lesbian relationships are all part of the fun in a movie that will keep you guessing until the very end. No spoilers, please!
—Colette: ( Sept. 28 ) This is a biographical drama about the life of French novelist Gabrielle Sidonie Colette who had lesbian affairs during her marriage. Keira Knightley stars in the movie along with several trans actors spotlighting gender-defying costumes and casting.
October
—A Star Is Born: ( Oct. 5 ) Watch Lady Gaga become a movie star in her first cinematic leading role as a waitress named Ally. She meets established musician Jackson Maine, played by Bradley Cooper, at where else? A gay bar!
—Halloween: ( Oct. 19 ) Who else besides Cher doesn't know how to say farewell? Michael Myers returns 40 years later to battle it out once again with Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode for the last time. This is a direct sequel to the 1978 film which murders the previous continuity.
—Can you Ever Forgive Me?: ( Oct. 19 ) Melissa McCarthy stars as Lee Israel, a best-selling celebrity biographer and actor Richard E. Grant plays her gay best friend. Many of the scenes were shot at the gay bar Julius in the West Village that still exists today.
—The Happy Prince: ( Oct. 19 ) Out actor Rupert Everett multitasks as a writer, director and star of this biopic about Irish poet Oscar Wilde. A couple of Colins are along for the ride with Firth and Morgan as standout stars. The title refers to a children's story that Wilde wrote.
—Suspiria: ( Oct. 26 ) Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino shifts genre gears by remaking horror maestro Dario Argento's 1977 classic, bringing Dakota Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz, Tilda Swinton and original star Jessica Harper along for the ride.
November
—Bohemian Rhapsody: ( Nov. 2 ) British band Queen will rock you with the story of singer Freddie Mercury, leading into the group's performing at Live Aid in 1985. Some in the LGBT community were concerned Mercury's gay backstory might not be in the forefront, so stay tuned.
—The Girl in the Spider's Web: ( Nov. 9 ) Claire Foy stars as bisexual hacker Lisbeth Salander in the film version of the popular novel.
—Boy Erased: ( Nov. 9 ) Based on Garrad Conley's memoir, Boy Erased has the not straight in real life Lucas Hedges playing the son of two religious parents who put him in conversion therapy. Gay singer Troye Sivan and lesbian actor Cherry Jones are among the cast.
—Instant Family: ( Nov. 16 ) Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne adopt foster children and out comic Tig Notaro plays a social worker involved in the process.
—Widows: ( Nov. 16 ) Strong female cast including Viola Davis and bisexual actor Michelle Rodriguez in an intriguing caper movie brought to us by Gone Girl writer Gillian Flynn.
—Second Act: ( Nov. 21 ) Jennifer Lopez portrays a big box store worker who has big dreams. Real life bestie Leah Remini and Milo Ventimiglia join her onscreen for this romantic comedy.
—The Favourite: ( Nov. 23 ) Director Yorgos Lanthimos reunites with Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz ( after working together on The Lobster ) for this lesbian love triangle period piece.
December
—Anna and the Apocalypse: ( Dec. 7 ) A zombie Christmas musical has a lesbian character in the main cast. Can Ella Hunt and the gang sing their way out of the situation or is this dead in the water?
—Aquaman: ( Dec. 14 ) Game of Thrones hunk Jason Momoa returns as the Superfriend perhaps least likely to have their own dedicated motion picture. Amber Heard also reprises her Justice League role as Mera; Patrick Wilson ( Angels in America ), Willem Dafoe and Nicole Kidman co-star as well.
