Music and Movie Mondays: What to watch, October

October is a great month for moviegoers. Sleeper hits that sometimes become Oscar favorites abound, and all the hype of the November-January "Oscar Season" hasn't yet hit. So, here's a heads-up on what to check out this month:

October 9: An Education

From All Movie Guide: "A suburban London teen finds her traditional education replaced by something slightly more sinister when an older, more worldly suitor sweeps her off of her feet while placing her future in jeopardy. London, 1961: 16-year-old Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is smart, attractive, and eager to start her adult life. She's grown tired of the familiar adolescent routine, so when urbane newcomer David (Peter Sarsgaard) appears in town, Jenny senses a rare opportunity to shake things up a bit. Quickly falling under David's spell, the impressionable Jenny begins accompanying her newfound beau to classical concerts, art auctions, crowded pubs, and dinners that stretch into the small hours of the night. But Jenny is brighter than most kids her age, and her parents always dreamt of getting their exceptional daughter into Oxford. These days it seems like she's headed in a different direction -- will David ultimately be her undoing, or the person who helps her finally realize her true potential?"

ShiverCities Points: Peter Sarsgaard has long been a supporting character to watch, and he definitely deserves a role that will put him in the limelight. I can't wait to see him corrupt the Oxford-bound youth of London. PLUS: The film also stars Dominic Cooper, the favorite bad boy of both The History Boys and The Duchess.


October 16: Where the Wild Things Are

Ok, this one is easy. For anyone who was a child, is a child, or has had a child, you are familiar with Maurice Sendak's beautiful book. Take this, add Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers and a soundtrack completely done by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and you've got cinematic gold. (I'm excited too, but check out this link, because we've all got to laugh at ourselves.)

A mixture of real actors, computer animation, and live puppeteering, Where the Wild Things Are follows the adventures of a young boy named Max (Max Records) as he enters the world of the Wild Things, a race of strange and enormous creatures who gradually turn the young boy into their king.

October 16: New York, I Love You

This year's follow-up to last season's Paris, Je T'Aime is another short-film montage, composed of 12 short films from some of the world's most respected directors, it aims to pay tribute to the city of New York in a more down-to-earth fashion than conventional film depicts.

ShiverCities Points: While I'm still waiting on a Twin Cities, I Love You, I'm excited to see the work of directors such as Natalie Portman, Allen Hughes, Scarlett Johansson and Randall Blasmeyer all wrapped in to one - Paris, Je T'Aime was a beautiful project, and I'm hoping New York, I Love You doesn't disappoint. PLUS, where else can you see Bradley Cooper, Justin Bartha, Andy Garcia, Hayden Christensen, Rachel Bilson, Natalie Portman, Irrfan Khan, Emilie Ohana, Orlando Bloom, Christina Ricci, Maggie Q, Ethan Hawke, Anton Yelchin, James Caan, Olivia Thirlby, Blake Lively, Drea De Matteo, Julie Christie, John Hurt, Shia LaBeouf, Ugur Yucel, Taylor Geare,Carlos Acosta, Jacinda Barrett, Shu Qi, Burt Young, Chris Cooper, Robin Wright Penn, Eva Amurri, Eli Wallach, and Cloris Leachman all in one film? HOLY CRAP.

More worth mention:

Amelia- 10/23

Motherhood- 10/23

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee- 10/23

Michael Jackson's This Is It- 10/28

Gentlemen Broncos- 10/30

Youth In Revolt- 10/30