September Movies

September’s new film releases previewed by Chris Potts:

ParaNorman

Coraline, a dark fairy tale from 2009 about a girl who finds a strange world that exists through a secret door in her new house, was a critical and commercial success when it was released, despite using stop motion animation techniques rather than CGI. Laika, the production company behind that film, release their follow up, ParaNorman this month, a similarly dark tale also using stop motion animation, about a young boy with the ability to talk to the dead who must try and stop a curse placed on his town. With a cast of voices that includes John Goodman, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck and Bernard Hill, ParaNorman should be fun for children, but also dark enough in tone for adults to enjoy more than the usual animated fare – think Tim Burton more than Disney.

Released 14 September

Anna Karenina

Director Joe Wright returns to familiar ground this month as he reunites with Keira Knightly for a period drama - something he first did in 2005 with his version of Pride and Prejudice and then again in 2007 for Atonement. Now he takes on Tolstoy’s classic 19th century novel set amongst Russia’s high society, which tells the tale of the eponymous Anna and her attempts to escape her loveless marriage by embarking on an affair with Count Vronsky. With a screenplay by the multi-award winning Tom Stoppard, and a cast that, along with Knightly, also includes Jude Law, Aaron Johnson, Emily Watson and Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery, the film is packed with British talent both on and off screen, and if there is one thing the British know how to do it’s period drama, so expect beautiful costumes and amazing locations to match the high drama and emotion.

Released 7 September