Film preview : September 2019

This month there are high profile returns from both film and television.

Two years ago, ‘It’ (based on the novel by Stephen King) became the highest grossing horror film in history after amassing $700 million worldwide on a $35 million production budget. In that story, children of a small American town are terrorised by a shapeshifting clown and in its sequel, ‘It: Chapter 2’ released on 6 September 2019, those children return as adults to destroy the evil clown completely. With an impressive ensemble cast that includes Jessica Chastain (A Most Violent Year) and James McAvoy (X-Men: First Class), will this installment topple its predecessor Pennywise? I can only apologise.

Witness the grand reopening of ‘Downton Abbey’ on 13 September 2019, four years after the multiple Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe-winning drama series closed its doors after six series. In this film, a visit from the Royal Family of the day causes much more drama with Hugh Bonneville (Paddington), Elizabeth McGovern (Ragtime) and Maggie Smith (Gosford Park) reprise their roles from television while newcomers include Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake), Geraldine James (Sherlock Holmes) and Stephen Campbell Moore (The History Boys) joining this expansive cast ensemble. 

Also releasing is ‘Ad Astra’ with Brad Pitt (Moneyball), Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive) and Donald Sutherland (Ordinary People) on 18 September 2019.

Following that is ‘The Kitchen’ with Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?), Elisabeth Moss (High Rise) and Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip) on 20 September 2019.