50 Movies to Watch This Autumn

      As the summer movie season draws to a close, autumn is upon us. Like every year, after showcasing the standout films released so far, we've prepared a roundup of the titles that should be on your list.

      This preview spans 50 films, featuring both those we've already reviewed (with complete critiques when available) and the highly anticipated releases (with mostly confirmed dates) slated for the next four months. Many of these will debut in the upcoming weeks at Telluride, Venice, TIFF, and NYFF, so make sure to return for our reviews. Listed below are theatrical release dates unless indicated otherwise.

      Check out the list and return soon for updates on our most-anticipated films premiering at fall festivals that lack confirmed fall release dates or U.S. distribution.

      **Twinless (James Sweeney; Sept. 5)**

      Beginning like a classic Sundance film—serious with moments of unexpected humor—*Twinless* sets the tone of a festival that coined the term “dramedy.” An offscreen car accident leads us to a funeral scene where Roman (Dylan O’Brien) mourns alongside his mother (Lauren Graham) as his gay identical twin brother, Rocky, is laid to rest. The atmosphere is heavy with sorrow—tears, tissues, and a violinist playing “Danny Boy”—until the tune halts abruptly, leading to an awkward silence that permits laughter and highlights the absurdity of mourners expressing their grief over Roman's striking resemblance to the deceased. – Jake K-S. (full review)

      **The Baltimorons (Jay Duplass; Sept. 5)**

      Marking a return to form for Jay Duplass, who also makes his solo directorial debut, *The Baltimorons* is a delightful throwback to the low-budget indie films he created with his brother Mark. Written by and starring comedian Michael Strassner, the film, set in Baltimore, follows the misadventures of an unlikely romantic pair: Strassner’s Cliff, a stand-up comic six months sober, and his overworked dentist Didi (Liz Larsen). Cliff finds himself frantically searching for a dentist on Christmas Eve after he chips a tooth, with Didi being the only one to answer his call, showing up for an emergency procedure. – John F. (full review)

      **Riefenstahl (Andres Veiel; Sept. 5)**

      *Riefenstahl*, a documentary from Andres Veiel, examines the life of filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl and the justifications she devised for her collaborations with the Nazi Party during their rule in Germany. Even at the age of 101, when she passed away in 2003, Riefenstahl persistently denied knowing about the atrocities occurring around her, insisting in a 1976 interview that she never witnessed any wrongdoings, despite evidence to the contrary. The film showcases her denial alongside suggestions that she was, in fact, more aware of the horror surrounding her than she acknowledged. – Dan M.

      **The History of Sound (Oliver Hermanus; Sept. 12)**

      Hearing Appalachian fiddle music in a French theater crafted by a South African director is an unusual experience, yet *The History of Sound* presents a heartfelt narrative about the tender yet poignant love story between two American men, portrayed by British actors. Oliver Hermanus’ adaptation of Ben Shattuck's short story collection is a beautifully felt drama that oscillates between sorrow and joy, promising to resonate with audiences familiar with hauntingly beautiful voices and emotional romance. – Luke H. (full review)

      **Dreams (Dag Johan Haugerud; Sept. 12)**

      This summer brought multiple sequels, but Dag Johan Haugerud and Strand Releasing have crafted an entire trilogy throughout the season. The concluding part of the Oslo Trilogy, the Berlinale Golden Bear winner *Dreams*, is set to release this September and follows Johanne, a young woman who chronicles her first love for her teacher through her intimate writing. – Jordan R.

      **Sunfish (& Other Stories On Green Lake) (Sierra Falconer; Sept. 12)**

      *Sierra Falconer's Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake)* evokes bittersweet emotions regarding simultaneous endings and beginnings. Across eighty minutes, the film unfolds four short narratives around Green Lake, including a girl (Maren Heary) learning to sail after her neglectful mother leaves her with her grandparents, and a boy (Jim Kaplan) under pressure to excel in his summer camp's orchestra. It also features an overworked mother (Karsten Liotta) captivated by a charming bar patron (Dominic Bogart), and a touching story of two sisters (Tenley Kellogg and Emily Hall) managing a lakeside bed-and-breakfast as the older sibling prepares for college. – Dan M. (full review)

      **Happyend (Neo Sora; Sept. 12)**

      The phrase, “Something