A criminal family, a confused dream-goer, a defensive lawyer … and Jim Knopf – all of them can be seen in the cinema in October.
Because the superhero comeback of Scarlett Johansson (35) as "Black Widow" and the new case for Hercule Poirot fall into the water due to corona, smaller films have to get the cinema coals out of the fire in October. A new adventure by Jim Knopf, for example, or the dark flick "Cortex". In the coming weeks, thanks to this and other films such as the thriller "Poisoned Truth" or the crime drama "Kajillionaire" with Evan Rachel Wood (33), there should still be something for small and adult cinema fans.
"Jim Button and the Wild 13," October 1st
New adventures await Jim Knopf (Solomon Gordon, 15) and Lukas the locomotive driver (Henning Baum, 48)! After the two friends have defeated the dragon Frau Mahlzahn, the pirate gang "Die Wilde 13" seeks revenge. With their steam locomotives Emma and Molly, the Lummerländer embark on a dangerous journey, on which Jim's most ardent wish could come true: he finally wants to bring the truth about his mysterious origins to light.
Assessment:
About two years after "Jim Button and Lukas the Engine Driver" conquered the canvases as real characters, their second adventure starts punctually for October. Anyone who wants to go to the cinema with their kids and has no problem with a (over) clear moral club will probably not get a better opportunity in the coming weeks. Especially since the sequel, like the first trip to the cinema in 2018, invites you to go back to your own childhood.
"Poisoned Truth," October 8th
Cincinnati, 1998. Successful corporate attorney Rob Bilott (Mark Ruffalo, 52) finds himself at odds when two farmers point out strange going on in Parkersburg, West Virginia, where large numbers of cows have mysteriously died. The farmers suspect the chemical company DuPont, for which Bilott himself works as a lawyer. Despite this conflict of interest, the conscientious lawyer wants to unreservedly clear up the case and actually quickly finds incriminating evidence that points to an environmental scandal of enormous proportions.
Assessment:
"Poisoned Truth" by Todd Haynes (59) shows one of those "David against Goliath" fights that keep getting carried away. Similar to the film "Erin Brockovich" with Julia Roberts (52) from 2000, the film is based on true events and shows what some people are ready for for profit. Anne Hathaway (37) and Tim Robbins (61) can also be seen in other roles.
"Cortex," October 22
Two men, two lives, a fateful encounter: Hagen (Moritz Bleibtreu, 49) plagues uncontrolled sleep phases in which he can no longer distinguish between dream and reality. The battered relationship with his wife Karoline (Nadja Uhl, 48) suffers more and more every day. Her affair with the petty criminal Niko (Jannis Niewöhner, 28), however, sets off a disturbing chain of events that drastically changes the lives of both men. A never-ending nightmare between reality and dream that sets a merciless spiral in motion.
Assessment:
Given the gritty cinematography of the film and the insomniacs suffered from the main character, it is difficult not to immediately think of David Fincher's (58) "Fight Club" film adaptation. At the same time, the statements made by one of the characters in the trailer also arouse associations with Christopher Nolan's (50) dream action from "Inception" – in "Cortex" it is more about nightmares. There are really worse films to be compared to. But also simpler ones, against which you have to be measured. Moritz Bleibtreu also acts as a main actor as well as screenwriter and director.
"Kajillionaire", October 22nd
Con artists Theresa (Debra Winger, 65) and Robert (Richard Jenkins, 73) trained their only daughter, Old Dolio (Evan Rachel Wood), for 26 years to seize every opportunity to cheat and steal. The family's everyday life is shaken when the parents bring the unknown Melanie (Gina Rodriguez, 36) into the team for a planned coup.
Assessment:
With the mixture of drama, comedy and crime thriller, "Kajillionaire" dares to do a difficult genre balancing act, which, if it succeeds, knows how to entertain on many levels. With "Westworld" star Evan Rachel Wood, the perfect cast for this multi-layered cinema fare has been found.