New movies to watch in November

Despite the fading passion for superhero adventures, Disney & co., regrettably still have some films in their pipeline. Will The Marvels (Nov. 10) be good? Who is to say? Carol Danvers gets her powers entangled with those of Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, forcing them to work together to save the universe. Brie Larson stars as Captain Marvel. 

Another major franchise is hitting the big screen this month with The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Nov. 17). This prequel to the original series is an origin story for legendary villain Coriolanus Snow. It is a rare series geared towards young adults with incisive things to say about war, media and morality. Even without Jennifer Lawrence, this film is more successful than not. 

Though mostly hit or miss as a director these days, Ridley Scott has taken an epic stab at Napoleon (Nov. 22), which promises to be one of the more interesting late-season Oscar contenders. Joaquin Phoenix stars as the infamous French military leader in a film that charts his rise viewed through the prism of Napoleon’s addictive, volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine (Vanessa Kirby). 

Two films that had their premiere at Festival du Nouveau Cinéma are hitting theatres this month. Sofia Coppola’s much-anticipated response to last year’s Elvis, Priscilla (Nov. 3), told from his teenage wife’s POV, stars Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi (read our review here). FNC’s opening film, The Taste of Things (Nov. 10), tells the soft and tender story of two people bound together by a shared love of cooking. Starring Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel, it’s a gentle and mouth-watering movie (read our review here). 

For something a little more hip and young, check out Dream Scenario (Nov. 17), the latest A24 film starring Nicolas Cage as a boring professor who starts popping up in the dreams of people across the globe. The film was partially shot in Montreal (read our review here). Also this month, Emerald Fennell’s much-anticipated follow-up to her feature debut, Promising Young Woman, is Saltburn (Nov. 17). Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi star in this class clash about an Oxford student who finds himself drawn into the world of a charming and aristocratic classmate.

For something the whole family can enjoy, two animated films hit the big screen this month. The popular film series Trolls returns to the big screen with Trolls Band Together (Nov. 17) with new music from N*Sync. Wish (Nov. 22) is an upcoming original animated musical fantasy set to be released to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of Disney corp. 

For something that might also have some family vibes, Taika Waititi’s first directorial effort post-Marvel is the “based on a true story” film Next Goal Wins (Nov. 17). Michael Fassbender stars as Dutch coach Thomas Rongen, who tries to turn the American Samoa soccer team into winners (read our review here).

We also have Quiz Lady (Nov. 3). Awkwafina and Sandra Oh star in this R-rated comedy about a gameshow-obsessed woman and her estranged sister working together to help cover their mother’s gambling debts. 

Though Canadian Thanksgiving is long past, if you’re looking for something thrilling this holiday season, gross-out master Eli Roth is back with Thanksgiving (Nov. 17). Patrick Dempsey and Addison Rae star in this horror thriller set after a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy and a mysterious killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts. 

For a little Can-con, check out Dope Is Death (Nov. 9), a documentary about how Dr. Mutulu Shakur, stepfather of Tupac Shakur, along with the Black Panthers and the Young Lords, combined community health with radical politics to create the first acupuncture detoxification program in America in 1973. Also in Canadian content is an adaptation of Kim Thúy’s beloved and critically acclaimed novel Ru. Ru (Nov. 27) is the story of the arduous journey of a wealthy family fleeing from Vietnam, before landing in Quebec.
There are also two major festivals taking place this month in Montreal. French film festival Cinémania is on from Nov. 1 to 12, followed closely by RIDM, one of the best documentary festivals in the world, which runs from Nov. 15 to 26. ■

This article was originally published in the November 2023 issue of Cult MTL. Check Montreal cinema showtimes here.

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