This month in culture: November 2024

Here

In theaters November 1

What happens when the director, writer and stars of Forrest Gump get together in 2024? A goosebump-inducing story of family, time, space, home and the enduring nature of love. The “Here” in question is taken from the graphic novel by Richard McGuire, which tells the story of a location through generations and eras, transcending time. Director Robert Zemeckis plays on the panel-frames of graphic literature by employing a fixed camera angle throughout the film. AI de-aging technology is used to depict the actors from teenagerhood through their eighties. Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly and Michelle Dockery star.

— Calla Di Pietro

A Real Pain

In theaters November 1

We’re excited about anything Jesse Eisenberg does, so when he writes, directs and also stars, you know we’re in. Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin play odd-couple cousins on a road trip through Poland. Released to rave reviews at Sundance earlier this year, it’s also produced by Emma Stone, who has been on a string of critical and commercial successes of late.

— Zack Christenson

Dune: Prophecy

Max, November

While fans of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune film adaptations will have to wait years for his planned adaptation of Dune: Messiah to conclude his Timothée Chalamet-led trilogy, HBO is planning to tide them over with Dune: Prophecy, a prequel series premiering in November. The series, starring Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Jodhi May, Travis Fimmel and Mark Strong, focuses on the formation of the Bene Gesserit cult in an adaptation of the 2012 book Sisterhood of Dune. While the series has been promoted heavily to Max customers given the success of the second film (Dune: Part Two is currently fourth in worldwide box office for 2024), it has gone through multiple directors, showrunners and several recastings, making the fan community buzz around the project somewhat wary, who now refer to these Villeneuve-inspired entries as part of the “Duniverse.”

— Ben Domenech

The Day of the Jackal

Peacock, November 7

Normally, I’d be upset over a remake of one of cinema’s classic spy thrillers (The Jackal, the Bruce Willis remake, is a fantastic film, notwithstanding). But I’ll make an exception for the Eddie Redmayne TV series based on the classic novel by one of the masters of the genre, Frederick Forsyth. The original film, released in 1973, is one of the greats, alongside Three Days of the Condor and the BBC version of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, in the top echelon of classic spy films and TV. If the buzz of this outing lives up to expectations, I’ll be happy.

—ZC

Paddington in Peru

In theaters November 8

A full decade on from the first Paddington film, everyone’s much-loved ursine is back, once again voiced by Ben Whishaw. The decision to uproot the action from West London to Paddington’s native home of Peru was a bold one, running counter to the carefully constructed mayhem of the first two pictures, and it remains to be seen whether it’s successful; Olivia Colman’s singing nun shtick looks tedious from the trailers alone, and the absence of original writer-director Paul King is noted. Still, all being well this should be a superior slice of family-oriented fun nonetheless.

—Alexander Larman

Heretic

In theaters November 8

“Hugh Grant does horror!” Not, in all honesty, the pitch that one could have imagined in his floppy-haired romantic-comedy heyday, but Grant has now reinvented himself as a character actor of remarkable versatility. This A24 picture, in which he plays a superficially charming but deeply sinister figure who invites two young Mormon missionaries into his home with nefarious intent, received rave reviews on its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival and promises to be one of the fall’s most chilling and thrilling releases, even if we’re wondering if it will just be The Book of Mormon but scary.

—AL

Say Nothing

FX/Hulu, November 14

If you’re of Irish origin, chances are that at some point in the past few years a relative has implored you to read Say Nothing. The book, from the New Yorker’s Patrick Radden Keefe, offers a gripping account of the murder of Jean McConville in Belfast by the Provisional IRA at the start of the Troubles, and follows the story through the next decades. Now it’s set for a TV adaptation, featuring Tuesday’s Lola Petticrew, The Gentlemen’s Josh Finan, Masters of the Air’s Anthony Boyle and Black Mirror’s Maxine Peake. A must-watch for avid fans of recent history.

— Matt McDonald

Landman

Paramount+, November 17

Taylor Sheridan, king of the neo-Western, is back with a new series, Landman, and, of course, it’s about various troubled characters working in an amoral landscape, wrestling with demons and struggling not to become monsters. He’s explored similar terrain with Hell or High Water, Sicario, Tulsa King and Yellowstone, but Landman is about the oil business — the owners, engineers and oil rig crewmen. Sheridan’s work has got shakier over time, but Landman has a great premise and an incredible cast, including Billy Bob Thornton, Demi Moore, Jon Hamm, Michael Peña, Andy García and Jacob Lofland. Will it be among his best work? Who knows, but I’m excited to see it, particularly given that Hamm has been woefully underutilized by Hollywood (though Confess, Fletch was a delight).

— Ross Anderson

Gladiator II

In theaters November 22

The legendary British director Ridley Scott will turn eighty-seven this month, a week after the long-awaited US release of Gladiator II, the sequel to his 2000 Roman epic that won five Academy Awards. But are the Alien and Blade Runner director’s best days behind him? His offerings over the last decade — particularly last year’s Napoleon — have proven patchy and disappointing. Let’s hope Gladiator II marks a return to form. It stars Paul Mescal as Lucius, son of Russell Crowe’s Maximus from the earlier film, who similarly finds himself forced into the arena to fight as a gladiator. The trailer promises fiery battles, monkey fights, a rhino matador routine, a naval clash inside a water-filled coliseum and, yes, lots of swordplay. Denzel Washington will look to provide the gravitas with which Oliver Reed and Richard Harris burnished the first film. Can Gladiator II mimic Top Gun: Maverick and improve on the original? Scott is said to be planning a third already…

—MM

Wicked

In theaters November 22

Much can be said about the long-teased film production of Wicked, but all whispers ceased this spring when the trailer dropped. Set in L. Frank Baum’s Land of Oz and based on the plot of 1995’s novel Wicked by Gregory Maguire, the movie retells Act I of the smash hit musical. Dorothy is but a ruby slipper in the distance in this origin story, which sees the evolution of Glinda and Elphaba, played by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, from girls into the prototypical “good” and “bad” witches. Helping them tell the tale are numerous Broadway talents with Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard. With a blockbuster this epic, consider karaoke covered for the next few years; part two will be released in 2025.

— CDP

Blitz

In theaters November 1, Apple TV+, November 22

Set in World War Two London, Blitz tells the tale of a mother’s sacrifice and the enduring love that bonds family. Saoirse Ronan plays Rita, a mother who arranges for her son’s countryside safety during the German bombing and is enraged when she learns things have not gone to plan. Young George, played by debut actor Elliot Heffernan, is defiant and determined as he sets out to return home to East London.

— CDP

Moana 2

In theaters November 29

Disney’s Moana returns with a coming-of-age epic to delight every family member, no matter their age. With familiar friends in tow, wayfinder Moana reunites with Maui to dive deep into ancestral lore and journey to the faraway seas of Oceania. The classic hero’s journey is enchantingly delivered through music and stunning animation as Moana charts her course for adventure.

— CDP

Senna

Netflix, November 29

In the wake of Formula One’s explosion in popularity there’s been a rush to find more racing and car content to feed a hungry audience. The latest is a new Brazilian biographical miniseries about racing legend Ayrton Senna (Gabriel Leone), who won three Formula One World Championships over eleven seasons and tragically perished at the San Marino Grand Prix in Italy in 1994. We’ll watch Senna’s start in karting all the way through his career as one of the more charismatic Formula One stars.

—ZC

This article was originally published in The Spectator’s November 2024 World edition.