By John Saeger
The ongoing series from The Philadelphia Globe gives a peak ahead at the next week of television and new movie releases. The Globe will also spotlight topical classics and cult films.
The Witches (HBO MAX)
The second adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 1983 book of the same name has a fun cast. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the fantasy comedy follows a family’s interaction with a group of witches. What makes the film intriguing is the actor playing the Grand High Witch. Anne Hathaway, who can turn just about anything into gold, portrays the lead spell caster. Her character was played by Anjelica Huston in the 1990 film.
Octavia Spencer, Chris Rock, Stanley Tucci, and Kristin Chenoweth are also in the supporting cast.
Spell (10/30)
If you are not willing to brave movie theaters this year, the movie Spell looks primed to be a creepy Halloween horror flick. The film will be released on VOD this Friday. Spell stars Omari Hardwick as the pilot of a small plane that crashes in rural America and is cared for by a family that practices voodoo. The family’s treatment plan is to “heal” Hardwick through a voodoo doll, setting the table for a scary thriller.
Spell is directed by Mark Tonderai. It is the filmmaker’s first venture into feature films in nearly a decade, which might help his movie translate well on the small screen. Tonderai has worked on TV series like The Passage, Gotham, and Doctor Who.
Radium Girls (VOD)
Set in New Jersey, Radium Girls stars Abby Quinn and Joey King as two sisters who work at the American Radium Factory. When one of them becomes ill from radiation sickness, the film follows a battle between her family, co-workers, and the corporation they work for. Lydia Dean Pilcher and Ginny Mohler co-directed the indie film.
The movie was originally set for a spring release, but the film’s debut was delayed by COVID-19. Radium Girls is available through Bryn Mawr Film Institute’s Theater 5 portal.
Philadelphia Union vs. Columbus Crew (3:30 PM 11/1, PHL17)
Sports fans might not be aware that Philadelphia actually has two first place football teams right now. In addition to the Eagles, the Union have quietly dribbled their way to the top of the MLS Eastern Conference Standings. The red hot squad is enjoying the best season in club history and is in position to make a run at the MLS Cup in 2020. The Union square off against the Columbus Crew on Sunday afternoon.
Election Night (11/3)
The beginning of the end of one of the most critical elections in American history starts next Tuesday. Philadelphia area residents can anticipate being the center of attention from every major news network in the country. Pennsylvania has a shot to relive the 2000 election, except this time… we’re Florida.
News outlets will heavily focus on the Keystone State if the Electoral College is tight. Cozy up with your favorite news anchors on what may be the first night of another long month.
Oldie, But Goodie….
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939)
It may seem hard to believe, but a film about a young American senator standing up to corruption in the senate was deemed controversial by real-life senators at the time of its release. The Jimmy Stewart classic may seem like a straightforward premise in 2020, but it was a lightening rod in 1939.
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington is one of Stewart’s finest. It is a story about ordinary people standing up for themselves and doing the right thing, a film that should empower citizens to go to the polls on Election Day.
Available on: Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Google Play.
About the Author: John Saeger is a music and film writer from Philadelphia. Since 2017 he has been writing his pop-culture blog Long After Dark, a site dedicated to the arts in the City of Brotherly Love.
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