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October 2014

Books on Screen

October 2014

It's October, the spookiest month of the year for movies! If you're feeling daring, check out Dracula Untold, which offers a unique twist on the most classic horror story there is, the tale of Dracula. See if you can keep your eyes open the whole time.

Or if you've spilled your pumpkin spice latte, can't figure out your Halloween costume and are just having a terrible time, make sure to go see Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and watch Alexander and his family have the worst day ever. It's sure to cheer up a lousy day.

So grab a handful of pumpkin shaped Halloween candy and head out to see some books on screen!


 

In Theaters:

Left Behind
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Chad Michael Murray, Cassi Thomson, Nicky Whelan, Jordin Sparks, Lea Thompson
Director: Vic Armstrong
Distributor: Stoney Lake Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: October 3rd
Based on: LEFT BEHIND: A Novel of the Earth’s Last Days by Tim F. LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

Left Behind is an apocalyptic action-thriller movie starring Nicolas Cage and based on the New York Times bestselling novel that brings biblical prophecy to life in modern times. A small group of survivors are left behind after millions of people suddenly vanish and the world is plunged into chaos and destruction.

 

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Cast: Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner, Ed Oxenbould, Dylan Minnette, Kerris Dorsey, Bella Thorne
Director: Miguel Arteta
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG
Release Date: October 10th
Based on: ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY by Judith Viorst

Disney's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day follows the exploits of 11-year-old Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) as he experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life --- a day that begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by one calamity after another. But when Alexander tells his upbeat family about the misadventures of his disastrous day, he finds little sympathy and begins to wonder if bad things only happen to him. He soon learns he is not alone when his mom (Jennifer Garner), dad (Steve Carell), brother (Dylan Minnette), and sister (Kerris Dorsey) all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Anyone who says there is no such thing as a bad day just hasn't had one.

 

Dracula Untold
Cast: Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Samantha Barks
Director: Gary Shore
Distributor: Universal Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: October 10th
Based on: DRACULA by Bram Stoker

Facing threats to his kingdom and his family, Vlad Tepes looks to make a deal with dangerous supernatural forces --- without succumbing to the darkness himself.

 

One Chance
Cast: James Corden, Alexandra Roach, Julie Walters
Director: David Frankel
Distributor: The Weinstein Company
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: October 10th
Based On: ONE CHANCE: A Memoir by Paul Potts

From the director of The Devil Wears Prada, One Chance is the remarkable and inspirational true story of Paul Potts, a shy, bullied shop assistant by day and an amateur opera singer by night. Paul became an instant YouTube phenomenon after being chosen by Simon Cowell for “Britain's Got Talent.” Wowing audiences worldwide with his phenomenal voice, Paul went on to win “Britain’s Got Talent” and the hearts of millions. Fresh from celebrating his Tony Award-winning Broadway run in One Man, Two Guvnors, BAFTA winner James Corden (The History Boys) stars as Paul Potts and is supported by an acclaimed ensemble cast that includes Julie Walters (Mamma Mia!, Calendar Girls, Billy Elliot), Mackenzie Crook (The Pirates of the Caribbean), Colm Meaney (Get Him to the Greek), Jemima Rooper (Kinky Boots), Valeria Bilello (Pazze Di Me) and rising star Alexandra Roach (The Iron Lady). Directed by David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me, Hope Springs) and written by Justin Zackham (The Bucket List), One Chance is produced by Mike Menchel, Brad Weston, Kris Thykier (Kick-Ass, The Debt, I Give it a Year) and Simon Cowell, and executive produced by Bob and Harvey Weinstein.

 

The Best of Me
Cast: James Marsden, Michelle Monaghan, Luke Bracey Liana Liberato,
Director: Michael Hoffman
Distributor: Relativity Media
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: October 17th
Based On: THE BEST OF ME by Nicholas Sparks

A pair of former high school sweethearts reunite after many years when they return to visit their small hometown.

 

Stonehearst Asylum
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Brendan Gleeson, John Sturgess, Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine
Director: Brad Anderson
Distributor: Millennium Films
MPAA Ratings: PG-13
Release Date: October 24th
Based On: "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether" by Edgar Allan Poe

A recent medical school grad who takes a position at a mental institution soon finds himself taken with one of his colleagues --- though he has no initial idea of a recent, horrifying staffing change.


 

On DVD:

Cast: Chloe Grace Moretz, Jamie Blackley, Mireille Enos, Liana Liberato
Director: R.J. Cutler
Distributor: Waren Bros. Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: August 22nd
Based On: IF I STAY by Gayle Forman
Mia Hall thought the hardest decision she would ever face would be whether to pursue her musical dreams at Juilliard or follow a different path to be with the love of her life, Adam. But what should have been a carefree family drive changes everything in an instant, and now her own life hangs in the balance. Caught between life and death for one revealing day, Mia has only one decision left, which will not only decide her future but her ultimate fate.

 

Edge of Tomorrow 
Cast: Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt
Director: Doug Liman
Distributor: Warner Bros. Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: October 7th
Based onALL YOU NEED IS KILL by Hiroshi Sakurazaka

The epic action of Edge of Tomorrow unfolds in a near future in which an alien race has hit the earth in an unrelenting assault, unbeatable by any military unit in the world. Major William Cage (Cruise) is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop --- forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again…and again. But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Blunt). And, as Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.

 

Million Dollar Arm
Cast: Jon Hamm, Aasif Mandvi, Lake Bell, Alan Arkin
Director: Craig Gillespie
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG
Release Date: October 7th
Based On: MILLION DOLLAR ARM: Sometimes to Win, You Have to Change the Game by J. B. Bernstein

JB Bernstein is a once-successful sports agent who now finds himself edged out by bigger, slicker competitors. He and his partner, Aash, will have to close their business down for good if JB doesn't come up with something fast. Late one night, while watching cricket being played in India on TV, JB comes up with an idea so radical it just might work. Why not go to there and find the next baseball pitching sensation? Setting off for Mumbai with nothing but a gifted but cantankerous scout in tow, JB stages a televised, nationwide competition called "Million Dollar Arm," where 40,000 hopefuls compete before two 18-year-old finalists, Rinku and Dinesh, emerge as winners. JB brings them back to the United States to train with legendary pitching coach Tom House. The goal: get the boys signed to a major league team. Not only is the game itself difficult to master, but life in the U.S. with a committed bachelor makes things even more complicated-for all of them. While Rinku and Dinesh learn the finer points of baseball and American culture, they in turn teach JB the true meaning of teamwork and commitment. Ultimately, what began as a purely commercial venture becomes something more and leads JB to find the one thing he was never looking for at all --- a family.

 

X-Men: Days of Future Past
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Evan Peters, Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, James McAvoy, Peter Dinklage, Nicholas Hoult
Director: Bryan Singer
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: October 14th
Based On: UNCANNY X-MEN, “Days of Future Past” by Chris Claremont and John Byrne

The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-Men: Days of Future Past. The beloved characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from X-Men: First Class, in an epic battle that must change the past --- to save our future.