Fun Detour – Corey’s Top Four Fall Movie Recommendations

As the nights turn cooler and the leaves begin to change, I find myself returning to a handful of favorite fall movies. Perhaps not surprisingly, all of them are set in Vermont.

Building off the start of the school year, I have to begin with Dead Poets Society, the story of an inspirational teacher at a private prep school in 1950s Vermont. Robin Williams masterfully plays Mr. Keating, though the story is really about the students learning who they are in a highly restrictive environment. The lessons go beyond literature to loyalty, truth, and ethics. Cade and Liberty enjoy this one. For me, the takeaway is to not be afraid to follow your gut, pivot, or change direction. Be curious.

On a very different note, Hope Springs stars Colin Firth, Heather Graham, and Minnie Driver. The film follows a British artist who comes to Vermont for an escape. Along the way, he finds love, understanding, and artistic inspiration in a new place. This movie is not well known (and not the one with Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones), but it is worth your time if you enjoy dry humor and quirky situations.

State and Main is one of my all-time favorites, and one I return to year-round for a good laugh. The ensemble cast includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alec Baldwin, Rebecca Pidgeon, Julia Stiles, and more. The story follows a Hollywood production that descends on a small Vermont town to make a movie. At its center is a playwright trying his hand at screenwriting and the local bookstore owner. My kids humor me by watching this one with me.

Finally, The Trouble with Harry is a dark comedy from Alfred Hitchcock starring John Forsythe, Shirley MacLaine in her debut, Kris Kringle from Miracle on 34th Street, and the Beaver from Leave It to Beaver. Much of the movie was filmed on location in Vermont during peak foliage, but despite its European success, it never caught on in the United States. Still, it is a wonderfully offbeat fall film.

So, if you are looking for a way to welcome the season, I encourage you to curl up and watch one of these movies. Whether you want inspiration, laughter, or a glimpse of Vermont life from your couch, these films offer something worth revisiting every fall.