As ILT joins forces with the good folks at Set The Tape, here’s a look forward to what’s coming up during the remainder of 2017, and whether it can save what has so far been an average year for cinema…Follow ILT on twitter @iltfilm
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As cinematic years go, the first half of 2017 flattered to deceive. For some reason the internet has grown accustomed to pretending each well made popcorn action flick should be declared an instant classic (yes, this includes Baby Driver and Logan), or that decent horrors Split and Get Out were not let down by weak finales. A quick dig beneath the surface of that first six months, however, reveals a distinctly underwhelming feel.

The second half of the year has so far done its best to raise the bar with a few notable releases (Dunkirk, a technical sensation, Wind River, Taylor Sheridan’s annual out pouring of pain, and David Lowery’s intriguingly layered A Ghost Story spring to mind), but as we move into the traditional business-end of the year, do any upcoming big hitters or indie reels have the potential to ultimately save the day for 2017?

Blade Runner 2049

Not a bad place to start. When a sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 moody sci-fi classic was initially announced, the excitement was rightly balanced with a healthy slab of wariness. I mean, how on earth do you follow up Blade Runner? Why, you hire one of the finest double teams in Hollywood, naturally.

Director Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Arrival) would have been enough to settle most fanboy’s nerves, but with legendary cinematographer and frequent Villeneuve collaborator Roger “The Deak” Deakins behind the camera, it is probably time to let that feeling of excitement take over. Harrison Ford’s franchise farewell tour continues with his return as Rick Deckard, and while thankfully he is not the sole lead (Ryan Gosling stars alongside), fanboys everywhere can only hope Denis did not let him phone this one in…

UK release date: October 6

Thor: Ragnarok / Justice League

To be clear, it is difficult to see either of these superhero juggernauts saving any cinematic days this year. However, the billions of dollars both films are bound to generate will come straight from the pockets of moviegoers everywhere, so to deny the eye-watering level of interest in both pictures is futile. While Thor is not exactly a standout standalone Marvel character, Ragnarok is being helmed by Taika Waititi – writer and director of last year’s exceptional Hunt for the Wilderpeople – who will no doubt hammer out a tight, witty production with relative ease.

Unfortunately, such basic optimism escapes the outlook for DC’s Justice League. With perennial offender of common sense Zack Snyder heading up proceedings (before he stepped away and Joss Whedon took over to finish the job), and a collection of promotional material that so far screams little more than “lots of CGI enemies you won’t care about”, it is difficult to see why anyone bar Warner Bros. accountants would be bracing themselves for this one.

Thor / Justice League UK release dates: October 27 / November 17

Suburbicon

Following Joel and Ethan Coen’s slick, but altogether flat addition to their back catalogue in the form of last year’s Hail, Caesar!, the kings of weird are back with a script apparently penned way back in 1986. The tale of how a brutal home invasion disrupts an unassuming community in small town 1950s America; Suburbicon promises a dose of deliciously dark comedy, intercut with spurts of Fargo-esque bloodletting.

Long time Coen brothers collaborator George Clooney directs, with Matt Damon starring atop a strong ensemble cast featuring Julianne Moore, Oscar Isaac and Josh Brolin, each of whom has worked with the Coens on at least one occasion previously.

UK release date: November 24

Brigsby Bear

If you are after something a little different during Oscar season, look no further than Dave McCary’s directorial debut. Brigsby Bear is the adventure of James Pope, a man forced by his parents to remain inside their home at all times. His only connection to the outside world? A children’s television show starring… you guessed it. Like last year’s perfectly strange Swiss Army Man, it appears as though Brigsby Bear will fall into the new age realm of low budget, abstract comedy-drama satire with a legitimate emotional core.

Eyes will be on seasoned SNL segment director McCary, while co-writer Kyle Mooney also stars alongside Jane Adams, Greg Kinnear, Claire Danes and, best of all, Mark Hamill, whose return to live action roles outside Star Wars is all too welcome.

UK release date: December 8

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

Speaking of Star Wars… here we go again. Following the safe-as-houses disappointment (or awesome return, depending on who you ask) that was The Force Awakens, Disney veered off from the main series last year to give us the well-received side project, Rogue One. But now it is time for the full steak and chips. Written and directed by Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper), The Last Jedi is arguably the series’ last chance to try something off the beaten path; to move sort of far, far away from the grip of the original trilogy.

While the initial teaser did the opposite at times, with numerous references to Empire, and the Skywalker lineage already set to play an overly central role in the plot thanks to TFA, hope remains strong that Johnson, along with key players Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver and that man Hamill, will deliver an original, memorable picture. For most, Jedi will also be the onscreen so long to Carrie Fisher and Princess Leia both, a moment that is bound to stir up plenty of emotion.

UK release date: December 15

Molly’s Game

Legendary screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, Steve Jobs) makes his directorial debut with Molly’s Game, a drama based on the real life rise and fall of “poker princess” Molly Bloom. Bloom, a former Olympic skiing hopeful, went on to attract the attention of the FBI as the founder of a long-running high-stakes international poker game, frequented by countless Hollywood A-listers.

Already recognised as an industry standard on the writing front, Sorkin finally gets the intriguing opportunity to bring his own work to life and show off his chops behind the camera, supported here by a cast featuring Jessica Chastain as Bloom, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner and Michael Cera.

UK release date: December 29

This Year; Next Year

As usual, UK audiences will be forced to play catch up with numerous 2017 North American releases at the start of next year. Set the Tape will of course preview all such films as they draw near, but in the meantime it is worth marking your calendar for one or two in advance, namely Pixar’s Day of the Dead-themed, Spanish guitar-infused Coco (January 19) and Paul Thomas Anderson’s glance into the world of 1950s London fashion, Phantom Thread (February 2), starring Daniel Day Lewis in his *cough* final *cough* role.

This article originally appeared on SetTheTape.com