"We're not critics. We're professional fan-girls." --- This blog is dedicated to movies and the entertainment industry. We use random selection to bring into light the best and worst of streaming films and entertainment news.
Streaming Services: Shudder Movie Name/Year: Caveat (2021) Genre: Horror, Thriller Length: 88 minutes Rating: Unrated Production/Distribution: HyneSight Films, Shudder Director: Damian Mc Carthy Writer: Damian McCarthy Actors: Ben Caplan, Conor Dwane, Jonathan French, Leila Sykes Blurb from IMDb: A lone drifter suffering
from partial memory loss accepts a job to look after a psychologically troubled
woman in an abandoned house on an isolated island.
Selina’s Point of View: Caveat started, and ended, especially strong. A girl wielding a
strange bunny toy and wandering some house felt silly, but it was surprisingly
tense. I could almost hear my heart beating. The conclusion took an interesting
turn and left things a little open – it wound up leaving me relatively
fulfilled. The rest of Caveat
was kind of hit-or-miss The set-up is a
little ridiculous. Isaac, played spectacularly
by Jonathan French (Coranna, The Anniversary, Bravado), is talked into his
‘leash’ very quickly. He doesn’t seem to ask enough questions. The guy who hired
him just relies on guilt to get him into the lock, and there you have it. I don’t
know about that. I would have MANY more questions than the main character asked
– and I would still be unlikely to agree. It just didn’t
feel believable, and that hurt my immersion.
In fact, the
majority of the decisions made by the protagonist were just awful. He left no
stupid decisions for anyone else, he used them all. It bordered on parody,
maybe? Not the funny kind, either. There were also
some heavy exposition scenes that were painful to sit through. They were just boring.
I felt like a few of them could have been cut. Despite that, a
lot of the scares were effective – if a little predictable. I mean, one of
the scenes reminded me of Parasite (2019). If you’re going to be inspired
by a film for your horror moments, that’s not exactly the worst one to refer
to. For a full-length
feature film debut, I think writer/director Damian Mc Carthy (Never Ever
Open It, Hatch, Hungry Hickory) showed a lot of promise. I think this won’t
be the best film he creates in his career – but it’s a good start. I didn’t hate Caveat.
It’s not the kind of thing I could sit through again, personally – but I might
refer it to someone here or there.
Cat’s Point of View: If I had to
summarize Caveat with two words, they would be: dark and unsettling. Frankly, I
haven’t been quite so unnerved by a movie in quite a while, so I’d have to say
that Caveat was wildly successful as a minimalist horror film. The
setting was eerie, and even the shadows were utilized well. This movie featured
the creepiest toy I’ve seen employed in a flick in quite a while. I think I
might just have nightmares about that thing. Caveat makes you feel every bit of its
nearly hour and a half runtime – and yet, the time spent is on the edge of your
seat rather than watching a clock to see when it’s over. It was odd, and
confusing, at moments but it was hard to look away. Of course, I was
squinting to discern what was going on sometimes because dark can be used to
describe the tone, but also refers to the literal nature of the film.
Flashlights and their narrow beam of light are almost a whole character unto
themselves here. The light was more than just a way to watch where the
characters were going, but also unveiled some of the horrors that dwelled in
the dark.
At first, I
thought I had Caveat pegged for a typical haunted house tale when a few
familiar tropes played out, but then everything turned on its ear a bit. There was a
psychological aspect that I didn’t quite expect from the description of the
film, and it certainly helped elevate the story.
Speaking of such: what
the hell, man? The whole premise of this movie would have been a giant nope for
me if I were in the poor schmuck’s shoes. I can’t say that
I’ll be watching Caveat again in the future, but Shudder has a winner
with this movie and I’d highly recommend anyone with a subscription to give it
a go. Just…maybe not if you’re seriously claustrophobic.
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 85% Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – None Metascore – 60/100 Metacritic User Score – None IMDB Score – 6.6/10 Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 3.5/5 Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5 Trust-the-Dice’s
Parental Advisory Rating:
R Movie Trailer:
Streaming Services: Amazon Prime, Hulu Movie Name/Year: Saint Maud (2019) Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery Length: 84 minutes Rating: R Production/Distribution: Escape Plan Productions, Film4, BFI Film Fund, A24,
Diaphana Films, Elevation Pictures, M2 Films, StudioCanal UK, Epix, Sony
Pictures España, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions, Stage 6 Films Director: Rose Glass Writer: Rose Glass Actors: Morfydd Clark, Jennifer Ehle, Lily Frazer,
Carl Prekopp, Faith Edwards, Jel Djelal, Lily Knight, Marcus Hutton, Noa
Bodner, Rosie Sansom, Takatsuna Mukai, Turlough Convery Blurb from IMDb: Follows a pious nurse who becomes dangerously
obsessed with saving the soul of her dying patient.
Cat’s Point of View: Saint Maud is one
of the many unfortunate films that experienced several delays due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. It had registered as lucky #13 on my Top 20 Movies to Look Out For in July 2020 list, though
didn’t see wide release until February 2021. Some poor reviews of Saint
Maud seem to stem from misunderstandings regarding the nature of the plot
leading to disappointment. The trailer gave a slightly different impression to
some, apparently. I can’t say that I understand that backlash because this
movie delivered pretty much what I was expecting in the wake of the trailer.
The only thing I seemed to have misunderstood was the fact that Maud was a
nurse and not a nun. I suppose I confused British nursing garb for a nun’s
habit. It’s neither here nor there – it ultimately didn’t change my opinion of
the film. I can see how it would be easy to confuse other aspects,
though. After my initial watch-through of the trailer, I also believed that
stigmata might also be involved with this movie. Apparently, my inference was
somewhere off in left field so I don’t feel I’m spoiling anything by clarifying
that is not the case.
Honestly, the only thing I was confused about regarding Saint Maud was the setting. We often see
references to Coney Island, as Maud passes by this one brightly lit place that
might be an arcade on several occasions. The name is there on a giant sign. It’s
apparent, however, by everyone’s accents in the film that this takes place in
Britain somewhere. So my only disconnect was the jarring notion of thinking ‘wait,
isn’t that in New York?’ I digress… Some serious kudos go out to Rose Glass (Storm House, The Silken Strand, A Moment of
Horror) for her film writing and directorial debut. She had several shorts
under her belt prior to Saint Maud,
and she certainly made a big leap bringing us this particular movie as her
first full-length feature. Some of the unnecessarily lengthy filler might be
attributed to her freshman offering, but otherwise, it was a sound – and profound
beginning to a promising next step in her career. I’m interested in seeing
where she goes from here.
The cast was phenomenal. Jennifer Ehle (The Fundamentals of Caring, Vox Lux, The Professor and the Madman)
captured the essence of a former starlet fading in the grip of cancer, consumed
by her vices and drinking in as much life as possible before the final curtain.
Morfydd Clark (Pride and Prejudice and
Zombies, Crawl, The Personal History of David Copperfield) was eerie in her
portrayal of Maud. She gave me chills with her feverish performance that had to
be physically demanding, even though this was far from an action movie. She
brought the zealotry of her character to blazing life. In the end, I still have so many questions. Saint Maud plays out on a psychological
level more than anything. Are we really witnessing a religious experience and a
dance with the supernatural or divine? Is this all taking place in Maud’s head?
Did her psychological trauma manifest her beliefs? I loved how the ending played
to both scenarios and left me wondering as I watched with my jaw dropped. My best suggestion is to try and watch this film without
any preconceived notions – maybe just toss the trailer right out of your mind.
It’s solid, if feeling a little lengthy, and something interesting and new for
fans of psychological horror.
20 – The House
Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2 (6/11) Production/Distribution:
Hidden Empire Film Group, Naptown Productions, Lionsgate Director: Deon
Taylor Writer: Corey
Harrell, Deon Taylor Actors: Mike
Epps, Katt Williams, Bresha Webb, Zulay Henao, Lil Duval, Michael Blackson,
Danny Trejo, Rick Ross, Alex Henderson, Andrew Bachelor, Gary Owen, Snoop Dogg,
Tyrin Turner, Milan Taylor, Johann Sebastian Genre: Action,
Comedy, Horror Rated: R Length: 80 minutes IMDb Blurb: When best selling author Carl Black moves his
family back to his childhood home, he must team up with oddball neighbors to do
battle with a pimp, who may or may not be an actual vampire. I remember watching the first Meet the Blacks (2016).
I even associate amusement with it. That said, I couldn’t tell you a damn thing
about it. There is not a single scene that I can pull up in my memory. Looking back through the blog, It seems I did give it a decent
score, though. I trust past-me. If I gave it a good score, that means it’s
likely a decent parody film. I can’t put the sequel any higher than this,
because I can’t imagine any parody film being something I would drop money on
to see in theaters. Still, once it makes its way to streaming services, I will
be all over it. 19 – Spare Parts
(6/1) Production/Distribution:
9 Light Entertainment, Raven Banner Entertainment Director: Andrew
Thomas Hunt Writer: David
Murdoch, Svet Rouskov Actors: Julian
Richings, Michelle Argyris, Emily Alatalo, Kiriana Stanton, Chelsea Muirhead,
Ryan Allen, Jason Rouse, Kathryn Kohut Genre: Horror Rated: Unrated Length: 91
minutes IMDb Blurb: While travelling on their first American tour, Ms.
45, an all-girl punk band, is drugged and kidnapped. They awaken to find their
limbs removed and replaced with crude weaponry, and are forced to fight as
Gladiators for a sadistic town. Spare Parts looks ridiculous, gory, and grimy.
Everything you’d expect from a grindhouse flick. I love that kind of thing, but it won’t be for everyone. Having
released in various festivals and countries before now, it’s easy to see by the
reviews that a lot of critics immediately disliked it. Since they were probably
judging it as a real horror film – I can understand. That’s not what this seems like, though. Spare Parts looks like it’s supposed to be more of a
gratuitously fun flick than one that means much of anything. A B-horror that is
about pulse-pounding fights and gore – not so much plot. That’s not what most critics are looking for in the few
horror films they opt to acknowledge as worthwhile. I’m definitely going to be giving this film a chance when I get
my hands on it. 18 – The Unhealer
(6/8) Production/Distribution:
Horror Business Films, Sunset Pictures, 7 Ideas, Gama Entertainment Partners,
Scream Factory Director: Martin
Guigui Writer: J. Shawn Harris,
Kevin E. Moore Actors: Natasha
Henstridge, Chris Browning, Lance Henriksen, Adam Beach, Gavin Casalegno,
Branscombe Richmond, Kayla Carlson, Angeline Appel, Elijah Nelson, Cristi
Harris, Will Ropp, Corbin Timbrook, David Gridley, Mike Gray Genre: Sci-Fi,
Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 94
minutes IMDb Blurb: A botched faith healing bestows supernatural Shaman
powers on a bullied teenager. When his lifelong tormentors pull a prank that
kills someone he loves, he uses his powers for revenge and goes on a bloody
rampage to settle the score. The Unhealer is a stupid title for a movie. I get why
it’s used for this flick, but it’s still dumb. That said, it looks interesting. As far as the trailer shows, the plot goes into some serious
morality ideas where revenge is concerned. It incorporates sudden mystical
powers into the story to add a bit of spice. There’s no immediate idea of what
the end will bring. Does the kid lose his powers? Does he die? Is it all a
dream? There are a lot of possibilities. I am worried that it’s going to suffer from bad title
syndrome. People tend to judge a flick by the name, and if it feels like a bad name,
it doesn’t draw crowds. We’ll see what happens. 17 – Domino:
Battle of the Bones (6/11) Production/Distribution:
Dow Jazz Films, Her Pictures, No Label Productions, Slated, TriCoast Worldwide Director: Baron
Davis, Steven V. Vasquez Jr., Carl Reid Writer: Pamela
Azmi-Andrew, Baron Davis, Carl Reid Actors: David
Arquette, Tom Lister Jr., Snoop Dogg, Tasie Lawrence, Lou Beatty Jr., Carlito
Olivero, Megan Sousa, Ruben Garfias, Baron Davis, Anthony McKinley, Carson
Nicely, Kelly V. Dolan, Melanie Mosley, Andrew Lipson, Jackie Torres, Britt
Ellis Genre: Comedy Rated: R Length: 110
minutes IMDb Blurb: Domino: Battle of the Bones is a feel-good comedy
about an elderly black man who teams up with his awkward, white step-grandson
to defeat his rival in a domino tournament. Much like my #19 and #20 picks, this movie doesn’t
necessarily look like it would stand up to some of the more mainstream stuff
coming out. What it does look like, is a lot of fun. Although I absolutely love, and understand the need for,
serious films that delve into important topics; or films that explore thrills
and mystery; serious movies in general – I still think there’s more than enough
room in the cinematic landscape for flicks that solely exist to offer a whole
lot of fun. Life is hard. We all battle demons every day. There’s
racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-vaxxers, and just plain-old-assholes littered
throughout the world. Some of us have family that don’t know we exist; others
marry into family that wish we didn’t. Some of us are struggling through school
or dealing with going into a job that abuses us daily. Then there’s all manner
of disasters and sickness. It’s important to be able to shut our brains completely off
and just laugh for a little while. Domino: Battle of the Bones is
exactly what we need. It’s full of ridiculous scenarios, jokes, and Snoop Dogg
(F Is for Family, Utopia Falls, Dolemite Is My Name). Whether you know
him from his current side quests, or the main story-line he’s already completed
– Snoop Dogg is always a good addition to a project. I honestly believe that, even if Domino: Battle of the
Bones winds up not being a good movie, it would still be something worth
watching – if only for that ability to shut our brains off for an hour and a
half. 16 – Batman: The
Long Halloween, Part 1 (6/22) Production/Distribution:
DC Comics, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Director: Chris
Palmer Writer: Jeph
Loeb, Tim Sheridan Actors: Josh Duhamel,
Jack Quaid, Jensen Ackles, Alyssa Diaz, Titus Welliver, Billy Burke, David
Datmalchian, Troy Baker, Fred Tatasciore, Amy Landecker, Naya Rivera, Julie
Nathanson, Jim Pirri, Alatair Duncan Genre: Animation,
Crime, Action Rated: PG-13 Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: Batman investigates a murder spree that takes place
on holidays. Although I will always be more of a Marvel fan, there is
absolutely no denying that DC knows how to animate. When comparing Marvel and
DC on an animated platform, DC is almost objectively better. If they could
translate their animated success into their live-action works – they would be
unstoppable. That said, I don’t feel like I can put this one any higher. I get nervous when a superhero film includes too many people
from the rogue’s gallery in question. More often than not, it indicates a lack
of focus in the plot that can make the project feel muddled. Just in the
trailer alone we can see Harvey Dent, Catwoman, Joker, Calendar Man, and
Solomon Grundy. That’s not including the Falcone family. Then we have to
remember that this is only part 1. The second part could include more
antagonists – which may wind up being foreshadowed in this one. There will rarely be a time that I don’t include a DC
animated film on my Top 20, when applicable. I will, however, worry when there’s
this much of a possibility that the story is just trying to do too much at
once. 15 – The Ice Road
(6/25) Production/Distribution:
Code Entertainment, ShivHans Pictures, Envision Media Arts, Aperture Media
Partners, Manitoba Film & Music, Ice Road Productions, Solution
Entertainment Group, Netflix, Film & TV House, GEM Entertainment, California
Films S.A., Empire Entertainment, Forum, GAGA, Metropolitan Filmexport, Pioneer,
Rialto Distribution, Scanbox Entertainment, Shaw Organisation, Signature
Entertainment, Tanweer Films, Wild Bunch, Eagle Films, Joy n Cinema, VVS Films Director: Jonathan
Hensleigh Writer: Jonathan
Hensleigh Actors: Liam
Neeson, Holt McCallany, Amber Midthunder, Laurence Fishburne, Matt McCoy, Matt
Salinger, Martin Sensmeier, Lauren Cochrane, Paul Esseimbre, Marcus Thomas Genre: Thriller Rated: PG-13 Length: 103
minutes IMDb Blurb: After a remote diamond mine collapses in the far
northern regions of Canada, an ice driver leads an impossible rescue mission
over a frozen ocean to save the lives of trapped miners despite thawing waters
and a threat they never see coming. Liam Neeson (The Grey, The Marksman, Honest Thief)
seems to crank out one of these films a month. A lot of them seem to be just
for the paycheck these days. Still, it’s almost impossible to not be drawn to them,
as an action fan. A lot of what he’s in these days tends to be basic, but not
necessarily bad. This looks cool. Is it going to be the kind of film that
makes you think and changes your perspective? Hell no. It’s going to be a basic
action thriller that has some cool scenes and a predictable ending. And it’s still going to be fun to watch. Not every film has to be a masterpiece. Sometimes it’s just
about fun. That’s what this will probably be. 14 – The
Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (6/4) Production/Distribution:
New Line Cinema, Atomic Monster, The Safran Company, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner
Bros. Singapore, Warner Bros., HBO Max Director: Michael
Chaves Writer: David
Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, James Wan (Story only) Actors: Patrick
Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ruairi O’Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, Julian Hilliard,
John Noble, Eugenie Bondurant, Shannon Kook, Ronnie Gene Blevins, Keith Arthur
Bolden, Steve Coulter, Vince Pisani, Ingrid Bisu, Andrea Andrade, Ashley
LeConte Campbell, Sterling Jerins, Paul Wilson Genre: Horror, Mystery,
Thriller Rated: R Length: 112
minutes IMDb Blurb: The Warrens investigate a murder that may be linked
to a demonic possession. I’m not a huge fan of The Conjuring (2013) or it’s sequels.
I was never overly drawn to them. I get put off by the claims of it being based
on a ‘true story.’ I’m just not a believer. Without that claim, I might be more
interested. That said, I can’t deny the draw that other people have to
this series, especially if they believe in the supernatural aspects shown
within. Even I have to admit, some of the scenes depicted in this
trailer look pretty cool. 13 – False Positive
(6/25) Production/Distribution:
A24, Hulu Director: John
Lee Writer: Ilana
Glazer, John Lee Actors: Justin
Theroux, Pierce Brosnan, Sophia Bush, Sullivan Jones, Gretchen Mol, Ilana
Glazer, Josh Hamilton, Lucy Walters, Sabina Gadecki, Kelly AuCoin, Taylor Ortega,
Francesca Faridany, S.J. Son Genre: Horror,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: R Length: 92
minutes IMDb Blurb: As if getting pregnant weren't complicated enough,
Lucy sets out to uncover the unsettling truth about her fertility doctor. When Cat and I streamed the trailers for the films coming
out in June, this one hadn’t appeared yet. It was no big deal, that happens a
lot. Plenty of trailers won’t come out until the last week of the month. When
something did appear, it was a teaser. Even that tiny peek at False Positive immediately drew
my interest. I’ve wanted to see more of Ilana Glazer (Rough Night,
BoJack Horseman, Green Eggs and Ham). I forced myself to sit through Broad
City (2014-2019) – which is a show I didn’t really enjoy, but I did see why
others would and, more importantly, I saw a lot of good in the lead actors. I
did believe I’d be interested in seeing them perform in something that was more
up my alley. Here is this mind bending, interesting horror that not only features
Glazer, but is written by her. This is what I’ve been waiting for. It looks great. Although Shudder is my first choice for original horror streaming
content, Hulu doesn’t do too badly with it. I’ve been following their Into
the Dark (2018- ) movie series. It can be hit or miss, but when it hits –
it hits hard. I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with False Positive. 12 – Queen Bees (6/11) Production/Distribution:
Astute Films, Big Indie Pictures, Gravitas Ventures Director: Michael
Lembeck Writer: Donald
Martin, Harrison Powell Actors: Ellen
Burstyn, James Caan, Ann-Margret, Jane Curtin, Loretta Devine, Christopher
Lloyd, Elizabeth Mitchell, Matthew Barnes, French Stewart, Alec Mapa, Marianne
Muellerleile, Cindy Hogan, Ricky Russert, Matt Lewis Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Romance Rated: PG-13 Length: 100
minutes IMDb Blurb: After reluctantly agreeing to move in to a senior's
home, a woman encounters a clique of mean-spirited women and an amorous
widower. I’ve noticed a lot more movies geared toward the older
generation coming out in the past few years. A lot of them look cute, but they
don’t usually speak to me – which is fine, because I’m not their target
demographic. This one is a little different. Not only does this flick bring a YA trope into a geriatric story,
which is pretty interesting, but it also serves as a who’s who of the older Hollywood
generation. I remember the first time I was introduced to most of the
actors portrayed in this trailer, and every one of those projects became a
favorite of mine – for at least a while. Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream,
The Exorcist, The Babysitter’s Club), James Caan (The Godfather, Misery,
Dick Tracy), Ann-Margret (Bye Bye Birdie, Grumpy Old Men, Made in Paris),
Jane Curtin (3rd Rock from the Sun, Coneheads, Antz), Loretta Devine (Boston
Public, Urban Legend, Waiting to Exhale), and Christopher Lloyd (Back to
the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Camp Nowhere) were huge actors that I
grew up with. I’d say they raised me almost as much as my family did. Whatever happens with the plot, the direction, the setting,
or anything else in Queen Bees – it’s going to be worth watching for the
cast alone. 11 – Werewolves
Within (6/25) Production/Distribution:
Ubisoft Film and Television, Ubisoft, Vanishing Angle, IFC Films, Shaw
Organisation, BIM Distribuzione, Diamond Films, Kismet Films, Odean S.A., Shaw
Renters, Signature Entertainment, Telepool Director: Josh Ruben Writer: Mishna
Wolff Actors: Sam
Richardson, Milana Vayntrub, George Basil, Sarah Burns, Michael Chernus,
Catherine Curtin, Wayne Duvall, Harvey Guillén, Rebecca Henderson, Cheyenne
Jackson, Michaela Watkins, Glenn Fleshler, Anni Krueger Genre: Comedy,
Horror Rated: R Length: 97
minutes IMDb Blurb: Feature adaptation of the video game where
werewolves attack a small town. How long have I been begging for a good, old-fashioned,
werewolf flick? No love-triangles. No metaphor for abuse or fear. Just people
turning into werewolves and causing chaos. That’s what this looks like. It would be much higher on my list, but there’s one issue. It is said to be an adaptation of a video game. I don’t know
the game in question – but we all know how video games are treated in
Hollywood. Most of these particular adaptations come up lacking. We might be
better off not knowing the game before seeing the flick, just for that reason. Still, it’s werewolves, and I’m excited.
10 – Luca (6/18) Production/Distribution:
Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, Forum Hungary, Walt Disney
Studios Motion Pictures Argentina, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney+,
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Director: Enrico
Casarosa Writer: Jesse
Andrews, Mike Jones Actors: Jacob
Tremblay, Maya Ruldolph, Giacomo Gianniotti, Jack Dylan Grazer, Jim Gaffigan,
Emma Berman, Deyvi Stib Rodriguez, Marco Barricelli, Saverio Raimondo Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: On the Italian Riviera, an unlikely but strong
friendship grows between a human being and a sea monster disguised as a human. I’m not a fan of this particular brand of animation style,
but it’s still Pixar. There’s no way a Pixar film doesn’t make its way onto every
Top 20 list. It doesn’t matter how I feel about the trailer, they’re clearly
going to make the actual film unignorable. For that reason alone, I’m looking forward to it. 9 – Spirit
Untamed (6/4) Production/Distribution:
DreamWorks Animation, Walden Media, B&H Film Distribution, Cinemundo, Toho-Towa,
United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI), Universal
Pictures Director: Elaine
Bogan, Ennio Torresan Writer: John
Fusco, Kristin Hahn, Katherine Nolfi, Aury Wallington Actors: Isabela
Merced, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marsai Martin, Mckenna Grace, Julianne Moore, Walton
Goggins, Eiza González, Andre Braugher, Gary A. Hecker Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Family Rated: PG Length: 87
minutes IMDb Blurb: Lucky Prescott's life is changed forever when she
moves from her home in the city to a small frontier town and befriends a wild
mustang named Spirit. I’m unfamiliar with the series this film is based on, but I may
go look it up after seeing the trailer. It looks like a great story for kids, with visuals and plot
points that might actually hook an adult as well. I’m always for flicks like
this that can draw people from various generations – simply because it makes
family movie night better. I really like the animation style on display, and I love it
when art promotes the idea that it’s ok for a kid to become something their
parent didn’t imagine. I want my daughter to have that kind wild spirit, and to
be able to call me out when I’m wrong. Movies like this reinforce that
behavior. I’m here for it. 8 – Flashback (6/4) Production/Distribution:
Resolute Films and Entertainment, Trinity Media Financing, Entertainment One, Front
Row Filmed Entertainment, Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Originals Factory Director: Christopher
MacBride Writer: Christopher
MacBride Actors: Dylan O’Brien,
Maika Monroe, Amanda Brugel, Hannah Gross, Keir Gilchrist, Emory Cohen, Sima
Fisher, Josh Cruddas, Aaron Poole, Liisa Repo-Martell, Ian Matthew, Jackie
English Genre: Drama,
Thriller Rated: R Length: 97
minutes IMDb Blurb: After a chance encounter with a man forgotten from
his youth, Fred literally and metaphorically journeys into his past. The trailer for Flashback reminds me a bit of Synchronic
(2019). The fast paced, (possible) time travel – the association with a strange
new drug that causes it… it’s a very close comparison. There are some differences that I believe make Flashback
worth checking out, instead of assuming it would just be a carbon copy. Synchronic put its emphasis on the dramatic, and
science fiction, aspects of the story. It looks like Flashback comes
more from the thriller perspective. I think it would be interesting to watch
and compare the two. I do, also, appreciate Dylan O’Brien (Love and Monsters,
Bumblebee, Teen Wolf) as an actor. I think, at the very least, this should be a decent movie night
film. 7 – Hero Mode (6/4) Production/Distribution:
Lost Trail Productions, Real by Fake, Particular Crowd, Peak Curiosity, 101
Films, Blue Fox Entertainment Director: A.J.
Tesler Writer: Jeff
Carpenter Actors: Mira Sorvino,
Chris Carpenter, Sean Astin, Indiana Massara, Philip Solomon, Nelson Franklin,
Mary Lynn Rajskub, Kimia Behpoornia, Bobby Lee, Creed Bratton, Bret Harrison,
Erik Griffin, Monte Markham Genre: Comedy Rated: PG Length: 88
minutes IMDb Blurb: A teenage coding genius has just 30 days to create
the world's greatest video game or his family loses everything. No pressure. Video games are one of my biggest hobbies. I’ve been
streaming some Don’t Starve Together with Cat, and some other friends,
and it’s been a lot more fun than I thought it would be. Naturally, my mind is
going to be attracted to this kind of video game creation story. I also like movies that show how good teens can be at their
interests. More often than not, in the real world, teens are blown off. They
aren’t given a chance, or people just expect them to fuck up. Flicks like this
remind the whole world, that there are some kids out there than can do
phenomenal things. I feel like I know how this is going to go. The ending probably
won’t be a shocker, but the ride looks interesting. 6 – Good on Paper
(6/23) Production/Distribution:
Burn Later Productions, Meridian Content, Universal Pictures, Netflix Director: Kimmy
Gatewood Writer: Iliza
Shlesinger Actors: Iliza Shlesinger,
Rebecca Rittenhouse, Ryan Hansen, Matt McGorry, Beth Dover, Margaret Cho, Taylor
Hill, Britney Young, Kimia Behpoornia, Rebekka Johnson, Nick Waters, Rebecca
Delgado Smith Genre: Comedy, Romance Rated: R Length: 92
minutes IMDb Blurb: After years of putting her career first, a stand-up
comic meets a guy who seems perfect: smart, nice, successful and possibly too
good to be true. I enjoy Iliza Shlesinger’s work as a comedian. She’s incredibly
funny. When I saw that this was a movie based on a true story from her life – I
was instantly intrigued. This is the kind of thing stand-up comedians do extremely
well. Most of the best comedians take stories from their own lives and present
them in unique ways that make them funny. Shlesinger is incredible with that
that kind of thing. The trailer highlights how amusing the story is, but it also
indicates a bit of mystery – which I did not expect when I heard about it. I’m
really looking forward to seeing how it plays out. 5 – The Hitman’s
Wife’s Bodyguard (6/16) Production/Distribution:
Millennium Media, Summit Entertainment, Above the Line Set Assistance &
Security, Campbell Grobman Films, Lionsgate, Lionsgate UK, Film & TV House,
GEM Entertainment, BF Distribution, Dutch FilmWorks (DFW), Joyncontents Group, Kinepolis
Film Distribution (KFD), Kinomania, Paramount Pictures, Roadshow Film
Distributors (NZ) Ltd., Roadshow Films, Telepool, Top Film, VVS Films, Blue
Swan Entertainment Director: Patrick
Hughes Writer: Tom O’Connor,
Brandon Murphy, Phillip Murphy Actors: Ryan
Reynolds, Salma Hayek, Frank Grillo, Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman, Antonio
Banderas, Tom Hopper, Richard E. Grant, Caroline Goodall, Gabriella Wright Genre: Action,
Comedy, Crime Rated: Unrated Length: 116
minutes IMDb Blurb: The bodyguard Michael Bryce continues his friendship
with assassin Darius Kincaid as they try to save Darius's wife Sonia. I absolutely adored The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017). There
was a lot more action than comedy, which blew my mind, because I did not see
that coming. All the actors brought life to their parts and, of course, I’d
follow Ryan Reynolds (Detective Pikachu, 6 Underground, Deadpool) and
Samuel L. Jackson (The Banker, Shaft, Spiral) anywhere. I don’t care
what the movie’s about – if they’re in it, I’m watching. Here, I get both. I’m really looking forward to seeing the continuation of
this story. I think that the way the plot was written made it more unique than
expected in the first, I’m hoping this one uses that same subversion of
expectations. Even if it doesn’t, it’s sure to be hilarious. 4 – Fatherhood (6/25) Production/Distribution:
BRON Studios, Free Association, Higher Ground Productions, Sony Pictures
Entertainment, Temple Hill Entertainment, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures
Entertainment (SPE), Sony Pictures Releasing Argentina, Sony Pictures Releasing,
United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI), Netflix Director: Paul
Weitz Writer: Dana
Stevens, Paul Weitz, Matt Logelin Actors: Kevin
Hart, Paul Alexander Désiré, Rodney Alexandre, Christine Lan, Julian Casey,
Teneisha Collins, Holly Gauthier-Frankel, DeWanda Wise, Rachel Mutombo, Lil Rel
Howery, Marco Ledezma, Achilles Montes-Vamvas, Paul Reiser, Milana Sayavong, Julie
Trépanier, Melody Hurd, Alfre Woodard Genre: Comedy,
Drama Rated: PG-13 Length: 109 minutes IMDb Blurb: A father brings up his baby girl as a single dad
after the unexpected death of his wife who died a day after their daughter's
birth. This sounds a bit like Jersey Girl (2004). I don’t
mind that, though, because I’m going to guess it’ll do the plot more justice. I’m
a huge Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma) fan… but I’m gonna guess
that Kevin Hart (Jumanji, Night School, The Upside) will win this one. Kevin Hart is a phenomenal comedian, and he’s got some
amazing timing when he brings that talent into acting. The fast-paced speaking
combined with his legendary wit, is something I enjoy watching. I especially
enjoy that kind of thing when it’s interwoven with drama. As a single-genre, drama doesn’t do it for me. But with
comedy, it’s a different story. Comedy just feels like the spoon-full of sugar
that helps the medicine go down. Dramedies still work as escapism, despite
touching on heavy subjects. I think that’s where this movie is going to go. I expect some heavy scenes. There will be tears, but there
will be just as much laughter. 3 – F9: The Fast
Saga (6/25) Production/Distribution:
One Race Films, Roth/Kirschenbaum Films, Perfect Storm Entertainment, Original
Film, B&H Film Distribution, Meloman, Toho-Towa, United International
Pictures, Universal Pictures Argentina, Universal Pictures Canada, Universal
Pictures International (UPI), Universal Pictures Director: Justin
Lin Writer: Daniel
Casey, Justin Lin, Alfredo Botello, Gary Scott Thompson Actors: Vin
Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Nathalie
Emmanuel, Charlize Theron, John Cena, Finn Cole, Sung Kang, Anna Sawai, Helen
Mirren, Kurt Russell, Lucas Black, Shad Moss, Thue Ersted Rasmussen, Don Omar,
Shea Whigham, Vinnie Bennett, JD Pardo, Michael Rooker, Jim Parrack, Siena
Agudong, Isaac Holtane, Immanuel Holtane, Azia Dinea Hale, Juju Zhang, Karson
Kern, Igby Rigney Genre: Action,
Adventure, Crime Rated: PG-13 Length: 145 minutes IMDb Blurb: Cipher enlists the help of Jakob, Dom's younger
brother to take revenge on Dom and his team. I don’t follow the Fast and the Furious films. I saw
the first one, and I liked it, but it feels like they get more and more
ridiculous. In this trailer, you actually see a car tarzan-ing from one cliff
to another. Like… what? I can’t deny the draw, though. I don’t think it’s supposed
to be rooted in reality. It’s just some hardcore action and pretty cars. People
love it, because it’s not rooted in reality. I can absolutely appreciate
that. Which is why I put it so high on my list. I may not go see it, but there
is still a lot of worth here for others. 2 – Awake (6/9) Production/Distribution:
Entertainment One, Netflix, Paul Schiff Productions Director: Mark
Raso Writer: Gregory
Poirier, Joseph Raso, Mark Raso Actors: Jennifer
Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Frances Fisher, Ariana Greenblatt, Barry Pepper,
Finn Jones, Gil Bellows, Shamier Anderson, Sebastian Pigott, Helen Hayden Genre: Action,
Adventure, Drama Rated: Unrated Length: 96
minutes IMDb Blurb: After a devastating global event wipes out all
electronics and eliminated people's ability to sleep, a former soldier may have
found a solution with her daughter. Dystopias and apocalyptic worlds are my bread and butter. I
absolutely love them, but I will admit there seems to be a lack of creativity
when it comes to the catalyst of such worlds. There’s just a limit to the list
of reasons for the setting to be in that situation. Awake goes for something I’ve never seen before. One could argue that there’s a comparison to be made between
Awake and the plot found in Children of Men (2006). We’re clearly going to see the main family having to hide
the child’s ability to sleep. The world will also be full of people trying to
kill her out of jealousy or delusion, while others find out her ability and
treat her as a precious commodity. The plot itself, has been seen before – but the
actual reason for the apocalyptic aspect feels new. As a Netflix original, the creators of this film likely had
more freedom to stick as close to their vision as possible. That’s why we see
such a range of good to bad in movies distributed by them. A lot of their apocalyptic
stuff tends to be on the better side, though. I’m looking forward to seeing what Awake did with its
creative freedom. 1 – In the
Heights (6/11) Production/Distribution:
5000 Broadway Productions, Likely Story, Scott Sanders Productions, Warner
Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Singapore, Warner Bros., HBO Max Director: Jon M.
Chu Writer: Quiara
Alegria Hudes, Lin-Manuel Miranda Actors: Stephanie
Beatriz, Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ariana Greenblatt, Daymien Valentino,
Melissa Barrera, Jimmy Smits, Chris Jackson, Corey Hawkins, Dascha Polanco,
Leslie Grace, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Marc Anthony, Olga Merediz, Susan Pourfar,
Gregory Diaz IV Genre: Drama,
Music, Musical Rated: PG-13 Length: 143
minutes IMDb Blurb: The scent of a cafecito caliente hangs in the air
just outside of the 181st Street subway stop. The likeable, magnetic bodega
owner Usnavi saves every penny from his daily grind as he hopes, imagines and
sings about a better life. I have been waiting for In the Heights for over a
year. I saw the trailer during the coming attractions of one of the last flicks
I saw in theaters. It immediately hooked me. I’m a HUGE fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda (Moana, Clayton’s
Friends, Vivo). Hamilton (2020) is one of my favorite pieces of art
every created. I have the entire soundtrack memorized – from the words, to the
inflections, to the pauses. Here we have another project that seems to adopt the feel of
Hamilton (2020). The trailer very clearly showcases a story-telling
soundtrack that is, at the very least, on par with it. On top of that, Anthony
Ramos (She’s Gotta Have It, Honest Thief, Godzilla: King of the Monsters)
is going to be playing the main character. In the aforementioned work he played
John Laurens and Philip Hamilton – both extremely well done. The story also speaks to me on a deeper level. I grew up in
Brooklyn, no more than 15 minutes away from Brooklyn Heights. When I moved, it
was not because my love for the borough had ceased, but because there’s no way
I could afford anything more than a one bedroom in the area. My heart will always belong to Brooklyn, and seeing a film
like this celebrate the borough and its people – without glorifying the
gentrifying hipsters that took over – is amazing. I have such incredibly high hopes for this movie that I
intend to go to whatever midnight showing I can obtain tickets to. Then I’ll probably see it a few more times in theaters. I can’t
imagine it being anything but spectacular.
