Looking ahead: November releases

November is one of the best months for film releases in 2013.  Last November we saw some of the most acclaimed films of the year released, including Argo, Silver Linings Playbook and Amour, and the quality is just as high this year.

Upmarket, ABC1

The stand-out title of the month opens early and is one of the stand-out titles of the entire year. Alfonso Cuaron’s stunning Gravity 3D is the kind of film that rarely comes along, it pushes cinema in directions we’ve not seen before but also contains a gripping, heart-pounding story. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney play astronauts who, whilst on a routine mission, are cut adrift from the spaceship after it’s hit by flying debris. They somehow have to return to earth by travelling towards other spacecraft. Visually, it’s astonishing and 3D has rarely been used this effectively. It’s perfect for an upmarket, ABC1 audience but has such broad appeal it should appeal to film lovers of all ages.

British film-making legend Ridley Scott returns with The Counsellor on 15 November. With a stellar cast, including Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt and Penelope Cruz it’s a brutal tale written by acclaimed American author Cormac McCarthy (The Road, No Country For Old Men). Fassbender plays a lawyer who finds himself in over his head when he gets involved in drug trafficking. Seriously guys, just say ‘no’ (to drugs) but yes to The Counsellor.

45+, ABC1

Two major titles are ideal for the more mature ABC1 audience. Everyone loves Judi Dench but few people more than my Mum. She’ll see anything Dench is in and she’s already psyched for Philomena (8 November). Dench plays a woman searching for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent. Steve Coogan plays a political journalist who agrees to tell her story. It doesn’t sound particularly funny but it features an amusing screenplay co-written by Coogan, which won the best screenplay prize at the Venice Film Festival. It’s a genuine crowd-pleaser.

Right at the end of the month Hollywood legend Tom Hanks returns in what is the prestigious London Film Festival closing night film. Saving Mr.Banks tells the story of author P. L. Travers (Emma Thompson) who travels to California to meet with filmmaker Walt Disney (Hanks) during production for the adaptation of her novel, Mary Poppins. It looks perfect for the run up to Christmas and will no doubt garner awards attention in January and February.

Blockbuster Thrills

November kicks off with a Marvel sized bang with Thor: The Dark World 3D. Picking up where Avengers Assemble ended, Thor is faced with a formidable enemy that will test the might of Odin and Asgard. Reuniting with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), he must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet. Avengers Assemble grossed over £50m at the UK box office and basking in its afterglow, Iron Man 3 achieved a series best performance when it was released earlier this year. Expect Thor: The Dark World to do the same when it’s released on 30 October.

Three weeks later one of the most eagerly anticipated films of the year goes on general release, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The first Hunger Games was expected to be big but nobody expected it to rake in a whopping £24m. The books have since found a wider audience and we’re expecting Catching Fire to do even more. This time around Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem. It’s a safe bet to finish up as one of the biggest films of the year and will play well with everyone but particularly 15-34 women.