"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.
Friday, September 30, 2022
Top 20 Movies to Look Out For In October (2022)
According to: Selina
20 – Luckiest
Girl Alive (10/7) Production/Distribution:
Made Up Stories, Orchard Farm Productions, Picturestart, Netflix Director: Mike
Barker Writer: Jessica
Knoll Actors: Mila Kunis,
Connie Britton, Justine Lupe, Jennifer Beals, Scoot McNairy, Finn Wittrock,
Chiara Aurelia, Gage Munroe, Thomas Barbusca, Isaac Kragten, Dalmar Abuzeid, Kylee
Evans, Alexandra Beaton, Leah Pinsent Genre: Drama,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 53min IMDb Blurb: A woman in New York, who seems to have things under
control, is faced with a trauma that makes her life unravel. I’m not in love with the narration in the Luckiest Girl
Alive trailer. I’m hoping it’s just a part of the coming attractions and
not throughout the film, but I have a feeling I’ll be let down. Even with that red flag, I’m really interested in the
mystery aspect of Luckiest Girl Alive. There are also some creative
cinematic shots shown throughout the trailer that makes me think that, at the
worst, it would still be a gorgeous watch. 19 – Guardians of
Time (10/11) Production/Distribution:
Ace Entertainment Films, African Entertainment Distributors, Lionsgate Home
Entertainment Director: Stephen
Shimek Writer: Katy
Baldwin, Jerome Reygner-Kalfon, Sebastien Semon Actors: Natalie
Daniels, Katie Burgess, Ava Torres, Drew Pollock, Harper Heath, Katherine
Bellantone, Skip Schwink, Nicolas Greco, Samantha Ryan, Carley Colemon, David
Fletcher-Hall, Nia Salaam Genre: Action,
Adventure Rated: PG Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: One day, in the family manor, four cousins discover
a passage leading to a mysterious world. Trapped in this unearthed land, the
Kingdom of Keoherus, they must confront the Guardian of Time, face dark forces
and beasts to hopefully get back home. Although the trailer for Guardians of Time looks amazing,
I can’t ignore that it’s a bit more of a long shot than most of the films this
month. The production company, Ace Entertainment Films, is not
known for the greatest projects. The only one that I remember liking – under protest
at that – was Swiss Army Man (2016). To this day, that is still one of
the strangest flicks I’ve ever seen. Third behind Fried Barry (2020) and
Rubber (2010). Director Stephen Shimek (Dudes & Dragons, The
Adventures of RoboRex, The Maze), along with the writers and most of the cast,
are more familiar with projects of the corny B-movie variety than anything
else. Never-the-less, nothing about the trailer screams B-movie.
The effects look good. I don’t hate the acting. Even the bits of the script
that we get a peek at feel steady. On paper there are a lot of red flags, but
not in the coming attractions. I think Guardians of Time has the potential to be
decent. It might be worth taking a chance on. 18 – Spirit
Halloween: The Movie (10/11) Production/Distribution:
Hideout Pictures, Particular Crowd, Strike Back Studios Director: David
Poag Writer: Billie
Bates Actors: Rachael
Leigh Cook, Christopher Lloyd Genre: Adventure,
Family, Fantasy Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 27min IMDb Blurb: When a Halloween store opens in a deserted
strip-mall, three friends, thinking they've outgrown trick or treating, decide
to spend the night locked inside. But their night of spook-filled fun soon
turns to outlandish survival. There are so many amazing flicks coming out this month that it
was genuinely hard to choose. Any other month, this movie likely wouldn’t have
made my list. That said, it’s Halloween time, damn it, and I want my spookies. Spirit Halloween is my favorite store. I wait with bated
breath until it opens and I’m there on day one. It’s just such a fun place to
be with Halloween around the corner. When I saw there was a movie coming out
based on it, I was ready. I’m just lucky Spirit Halloween: The Movie looks like
a cute young teen movie, because it would have found its way onto my list
regardless. It gives off Goosebumps (1995-1998) vibes. Specifically,
the Goosebumps TV-series from the 90s. It looks campy and cute, with a creepy
aspect. I loved that kind of thing as a teenager. I feel like it’ll give me
some nostalgia, despite not actually being a remake of anything. Just as a side note, the actors involved give me hope. Rachael
Leigh Cook (Josie and the Pussycats, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, All I Wanna
Do) is severely underrated, especially in the campy sub-genre, and I’d
follow Christopher Lloyd (Nobody, Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger
Rabbit) anywhere. For a near-Halloween release, Spirit Halloween: the Movie
is perfect. 17 – Significant
Other (10/7) Production/Distribution:
Paramount Players, Quay Street Productions, ITVX, Paramount+ Director: Dan
Berk, Robert Olsen Writer: Dan Berk,
Robert Olsen Actors: Maika Monroe,
Jake Lacy, Teal Sherer, Loudon McCleery Genre: Drama,
Sci-Fi, Thriller Rated: R Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: Follows a young couple who take a remote
backpacking trip through the Pacific Northwest and face sinister events leading
them to realize that everything about the place is not as it seems. This agoraphobic horror has an unease about it that
immediately puts me on the defensive. At no point are there any less than about
10 questions I’m throwing at the screen while watching the trailer. Significant Other is a chilling watch, even just for the
2-minutes the coming attractions are running. I’m excited for a new film from writers/directors Dan Berk (Villains,
Body, Revenge for Jolly!) and Robert Olsen (Body, Indigo Children, Long
Nights Short Mornings). I remember back when they had Don’t Kill It (2016)
up for crowdfunding. I was blown away by that flick, both before and after it
was made. I’m looking forward to seeing this new project. 16 – Mr.
Harrigan’s Phone (10/5) Production/Distribution:
Blumhouse Productions, Ryan Murphy Productions, Netflix Director: John Lee
Hancock Writer: John Lee Hancock,
Stephen King Actors: Kirby
Howell-Baptiste, Jaeden Martell, Donald Sutherland, Joe Tippett, Cyrus Arnold, Iván
Amaro Bullón, Thomas Francis Murphy, Colin O’Brien, Caitlin Shorey Genre: Horror Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 44min IMDb Blurb: When Mr. Harrigan dies, the teen who befriended and
did odd jobs for him, puts his smart phone in his pocket before burial and when
the lonely youth leaves his dead friend a message, he is shocked to get a
return text. I get some The Black Phone (2021) vibes from Mr.
Harrigan’s Phone. It’s more than just the part the phone plays in the tale,
too. Really, it shouldn’t surprise me since The Black Phone was
based on a book by Joe Hill (Locke & Key, Creepshow, Horns) and Mr.
Harrigan’s Phone is attributed to a book by Hill’s father, Stephen King (Firestarter,
It, The Stand). Either way, I loved The Black Phone so much that I
will jump head-first into absolutely anything that even mildly reminds me of
it. In this case, it’s adapted and directed by John Lee Hancock
(The Alamo, The Blind Side, Snow White and the Huntsman), who’s
exceptional in his own right. Mr. Harrigan’s Phone is going to be a creepy ride,
and I can’t wait to get on. 15 – Ticket to
Paradise (10/21) Production/Distribution:
Universal Pictures, Working Title Films, Smokehouse Pictures, Red Om Films, Cinemundo,
Tulip Entertainment, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures
Argentina, Universal Pictures International (UPI) Director: Ol
Parker Writer: Ol
Parker, Daniel Pipski Actors: George Clooney,
Sean Lynch, Julia Roberts, Arielle Carver-O’Neill, Ling Cooper Tang, Billie
Lourd, Kaitlyn Dever, Charles Allen, Maxime Bouttier, Francis McMahon, Geneviève
Lemon, Romy Poulier Genre: Comedy,
Romance Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 44min IMDb Blurb: A divorced couple that teams up and travels to Bali
to stop their daughter from making the same mistake they think they made 25
years ago. For a rom-com to make my list during the spooky season is
impressive. There’s something about Ticket to Paradise, though.
It doesn’t seem all that straight-forward on the plot. I can’t tell just from
the trailer the exact timeline of what’s going to happen. Most rom-com’s are
predictable enough that I can. Add to that the fact that George Clooney (Fail Safe, Argo,
Gravity) swore he would never do another rom-com and here he is? What about
this script changed his mind? I have to know. 14 – Halloween
Ends (10/14) Production/Distribution:
Blumhouse Productions, Miramax, Rough House Pictures, Trancas International
Films, Universal Pictures, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal
Pictures Argentina, Universal Pictures International (UPI), Peacock Director: David
Gordon Green Writer: Chris Bernier,
David Gordon Green, Paul Brad Logan, Danny McBride, John Carpenter, Debra Hill Actors: Jamie Lee
Curtis, Kyle Richards, Will Patton, Andi Matichak, Nick Castle, Stephanie
McIntyre, Rohan Campbell, James Jude Courtney, Candice Rose Genre: Horror, Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 51min IMDb Blurb: The saga of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode comes
to a spine-chilling climax in this final installment of the franchise. When they went back to the Halloween franchise, no
one expected the film to be good. Some of us held out hope, since Jamie Lee
Curtis (Knives Out, A Fish Called Wanda, Everything Everywhere All At Once)
was reprising her role, but even we were skeptical. When Halloween (2018)
finally came out, we were all pleasantly surprised by how good it was. They
went a direction most slasher series’ don’t and gave us something unexpected
and fun. Then they went back on their bullshit with Halloween
Kills (2021). Now, it’s hard to know exactly what to expect. I had more faith in Halloween Ends before I found out
that they’ve already secured more sequels. This was supposed to be the end of
the story. Of course, we all knew it probably wouldn’t be – but they could have
let us linger on the possible doubt for a bit. I’m trying hard to hold hope. 13 – Werewolf by
Night (10/7) Production/Distribution:
Marvel Studios, Disney+ Director: Michael
Giacchino Writer: Peter
Cameron, Heather Quinn Actors: Gael
García Bernal, Laura Donnelly, Harriet Sansom Harris, Leondardo Nam, Eugenie
Bondurant, Kirk R. Thatcher, Al Hamacher Genre: Action, Adventure,
Comedy Rated: TV-14 Length: 52min IMDb Blurb: Follows a lycanthrope superhero who fights evil
using the abilities given to him by a curse brought on by his bloodline. I was caught completely off-guard by this release. I was not
expecting something from Marvel this month. It’s not really a part of the MCU, just a Halloween special,
though. Marvel’s first Halloween special, in its current form. I’m not mad at
it. I love me some werewolves and I’ve been dying for a good shifter flick that
isn’t meant to be anything more than fur-deep. This will undoubtedly be that. Werewolf by Night is going to be the perfect flick to
turn on to get you into a spooky mood. 12 – The Curse of
Bridge Hollow (10/14) Production/Distribution:
Ugly Baby Productions, Netflix Director: Jeff
Wadlow Writer: Todd
Berger, Robert Rugan, John R. Morey Actors: Lauren
Lapkus, Priah Ferguson, Marlon Wayans, Nia Vardalos, Rob Riggle, Dave Sheridan,
Kelly Rowland Genre: Adventure,
Comedy, Family Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 29min IMDb Blurb: A teenage girl, who accidentally releases an
ancient and mischievous spirit on Halloween which causes decorations to come
alive and wreak havoc, must team up with the last person she'd want to in order
to save their town - her father. The Curse of Bridge Hollow looks hilarious. Marlon Wayans (Requiem for a Dream, A Haunted House, On
the Rocks) is a funny guy and putting him in a situation to really play to
his comedic timing is a great idea. Especially when it’s not a parody. (I enjoy
parodies, but not the kind that he’s usually in.) His banter with Priah Ferguson (Stranger Things, The
Oath, Bluff City Law) seems to be the star of The Curse of Bridge Hollow.
I love flicks that focus on that brand of dialogue. And, even at her young age,
Ferguson’s already a master of it. There are several other amazing actors
involved in this, but I think it’s the story that really draws me. It’s cute. Not necessarily super-original, but far from
overdone. I think it’s the kind of film to watch with the kids to get ready for
Halloween. 11 – Lyle, Lyle,
Crocodile (10/7) Production/Distribution:
Eagle Pictures, Hutch Parker Entertainment, Sony Pictures Animation, Sony
Pictures Entertainment (SPE), Speck & Gordon, Columbia Pictures, Sony
Pictures Releasing Argentina, Sony Pictures Releasing International, United
International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI) Director: Josh Gordon,
Will Speck Writer: Javier
Bardem, Constance Wu, Scoot McNairy, Brett Gelman, Winslow Fegley, Shawn
Mendes, Rudie Bolton Actors: Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG Length: 1h 46min IMDb Blurb: Feature film based on the children's book about a
crocodile that lives in New York City. With some strong Sing (2016) meets Alvin and the
Chipmunks (2007) vibes, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile stands out as
absolutely adorable. There was not a single moment during the trailer where I
wasn’t smiling. It’s clearly for younger kids, but I think adults will be fine
watching it. The soundtrack is bound to be on point. The acting is going
to be more than decent, as well. Constance Wu (Fresh Off the Boat, Hustlers,
Crazy Rich Asians) is a phenomenal choice for leading lady and Javier
Bardem (Skyfall, Being the Ricardos, Dune) is such a part of his role
that he’s practically unrecognizable. There’s a lot of good in Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. The creative
team could have decided to half-ass it and make it just for the kids, but they
gave adults something to look forward to as well.
10 – Armageddon
Time (10/28) Production/Distribution:
Focus Features, Keep Your Head, MadRiver Pictures, RT Features, Spacemaker
Productions, Universal Pictures International (UPI), Universal Pictures Director: James
Gray Writer: James
Gray Actors: Anne
Hathaway, Jeremy Strong, Banks Repeta, Jaylin Webb, Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Sell,
Andrew Pol, Tovah Feldshuh, Marcia Haufrecht, Teddy Coluca, Richard Bekins,
Dane West, John Diehl, Jessica Chastain Genre: Drama Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 55min IMDb Blurb: A deeply personal coming-of-age story about the
strength of family and the generational pursuit of the American Dream. I’m here for the way Anthony Hopkins (The Virtuoso, The
Son, Elyse) has been leaning into the grandpa roles he’s been handed
lately. Whether he’s suffering from amnesia or speaking a bit of Yiddish to his
on-screen grandkids, he’s just the GOAT. Nobody can deny that. In this case, I also feel like the story is an interesting
one; going back in time to see how a Jewish child grows up in Queens. Although
my family wasn’t all that religious, culturally we’re Jewish – and I grew up in
the 80s in Brooklyn. There’s a lot in Armageddon Time that feels natural
to me. Armageddon Time is going to be a heavy film. I’m
guessing there will be a lot of tears along the way. Bring tissues. 9 – Mona Lisa and
the Blood Moon (10/6) Production/Distribution:
141 Entertainment, Grisbi Productions, Le, Saban Films, Weltkino Filmverleih, Front
Row Filmed Entertainment, The Searchers Director: Ana
Lily Amirpour Writer: Ana Lily
Amirpour Actors: Kate Hudson,
Jeon Jong-seo, Craig Robinson, Ed Skrein, Evan Whitten, Lauren Bowles, Serene
Lee, Cory Roberts, Kyler Porche, Michael Carollo, Anthony Reynolds, Jennifer Vo,
Antonio Jackson, Donna Duplantier Genre: Fantasy,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 46min IMDb Blurb: A girl with unusual powers escapes from a mental
asylum and tries to make it on her own in New Orleans. Something about this movie speaks to me. There are movies lower
in this list that have better trailers, but Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon has a lot of green flags going on. The trailer is
dark, engaging, and in depth without giving away so much that I don’t need
anymore answers. In fact, I come away from it needing to understand what’s
going on. The main character has some unique and interesting abilities that
make me wonder whether she’s meant to be good or bad. The characters around her
react naturally and seem more like real people than in most films I watch. On paper, it also
looks good. Ana Lily Amirpour (The Bad Batch, A Girl Walks Home Alone at
Night, Homemade) may not be super
well-known, but her filmography as a writer/director speaks for itself. Her
positive reviews vastly outweigh her negatives. There’s also a cast that’s
worth watching. Kate Hudson (Marshall,
Deepwater Horizon, Rock the Kasbah)
is fantastic at what she does, and so is Ed Skrein (Deadpool, If Beale Street Could Talk, Kill Your Friends). Craig Robinson (This is the End, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Hot Tub
Time Machine) is an outstanding
comedic actor, and I’m dying to know what kind of flick could get him to jump
over to something as drastically different as a thriller. Mona Lisa and the
Blood Moon has a lot going for it.
I think there’s a possibility it could be one of the best of the month. 8 – The School
for Good and Evil (10/19) Production/Distribution:
Feigco Entertainment, Jane Startz Productions, Netflix, Roth Films, Roth/Kirschenbaum
Films, Universal Pictures Director: Paul
Feig Writer: David
Magee, Soman Chainani Actors: Rachel
Bloom, Cate Blanchett, Charlize Theron, Michelle Yeoh, Ben Kingsley, Laurence
Fishburne, Kerry Washington, Sofia Wylie, Sophia Anne Caruso Genre: Action,
Drama, Fantasy Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h 27min IMDb Blurb: Best friends Sophie and Agatha find themselves on
opposing sides of an epic battle when they're swept away into an enchanted
school where aspiring heroes and villains are trained to protect the balance
between Good and Evil. I absolutely love the story idea for The School of Good
and Evil. So much of the media that touches on the idea of good and
evil is about the world. But this one is more concerned with the battle that
occurs within, and I really love when fairytales go that way. The stories of my
youth were very black and white. The evil witch. The fair princess. The prince
charming. Copy and paste with a different setting, or catalyst, every time. The real world isn’t black and white. Those of us growing up
with traumas that cause us to question ourselves need stories like these. Where
there’s an external battle, sure, but there’s also one that’s very much
internal. The trailer looks amazing, and the cast could not be better. I have high hopes for The School for Good and Evil. 7 – Black Adam
(10/21) Production/Distribution:
DC Entertainment, Flynn Picture Company, New Line Cinema, Seven Bucks
Productions, Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures Germany, Warner Bros. Pictures,
Warner Bros. Singapore Director: Jaume
Collet-Serra Writer: Adam
Sztykiel, Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani, Otto Binder, C.C. Beck Actors: Viola Davis,
Dwayne Johnson, Sarah Shahi, Pierce Brosnan, Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Odelya
Halevi, Quintessa Swindell Genre: Action,
Fantasy, Sci-Fi Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h 4min IMDb Blurb: Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the
almighty powers of the Egyptian gods-and imprisoned just as quickly-Black Adam
(Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of
justice on the modern world. We all know I’m a lover of good superhero stories. I particularly
enjoy anti-heros, which is the way the titular character of Black Adam
is portrayed in the trailers. That said, I understand the limitations of the
DCU. The MCU has cracked the code. They know what the fans want,
and they deliver. That said, for a long time, DC has been trying to emulate
Marvel instead of becoming its own thing. DC comics are almost always darker than Marvel comics. It’s
just a fact. Marvel may have its somber story arcs here and there but opts to
go for a more humorous tone. The reason why Marvel’s films work better is
because the creators have leaned into the humor that their comic fans expect.
Now that DC is starting to honor their comic fans with the right tone, they are
finding that their films do better. Clearly, the darker path is the right one for them. With dark comedies like Birds of Prey (2020) and The
Suicide Squad (2021), and darker dramas like The Batman (2022) and Joker
(2019), DC seems to have gone back to its roots. I’m hoping they stick with that. If Black Adam keeps
up the aura of the comics, then it’s going to be bad ass. Also, Dwayne Johnson (Moana, Red Notice, Jumanji: The
Next Level). I don’t care how corny he can get; I will never fail to watch
one of his films. The guy just oozes charisma like no one else. 6 – V/H/S/99
(10/20) Production/Distribution:
Shudder Director: Various Writer: Various Actors: Various Genre: Horror,
Anthology Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 39min IMDb Blurb: Witness a hellish vision of 1999, as social
isolation, analog technology and disturbing home videos fuse into a nightmare
of found footage savagery. I’ll be the first to admit that the V/H/S series has
not been 100% reliable. V/H/S (2012) and V/H/S/2 (2013) were both
pretty good. The first one was still finding its footing, but the second one gave
us something special. I remember watching it for the first time and being
really impressed. Especially since I have a huge aversion to shaky cam. For a
shaky cam film to get my stamp of approval, it needs to be exceptional. Even Cat
gave it a good review, and she literally gets sick watching found footage. Then came V/H/S Viral (2014). I was so excited for it, only to be let down by the biggest
case of sequelitis. The whole thing was a hot mess, and I gave it the lowest of
scores. It didn’t flow well, the acting was shoddy, the scripts were badly
written, I could go on. I didn’t find much, if anything, positive about it. Our
resident optimist didn’t see much good either. When we finally got V/H/S/94 (2021), I wasn’t ready
to accept that it could get better. Normally, once a series goes downhill, it
does not reach high again. There are exceptions, but they are few. The trailer
looked good, but I was still skeptical. The damn thing blew my mind. Now we’re getting V/H/S/99, which is created in the
same vein as 94 was. We’ve got all new writers and directors, which is to be expected,
but Shudder picked up the distribution rights again. The trailer also looks
hot. I think this series is on an up-swing. They figured out what
went wrong with V/H/S Viral and they fixed it. This is going to be one
to watch. 5 – Hellraiser
(10/7) Production/Distribution:
20th Century Studios, 247Hub, Phantom Four Films, Spyglass Media Group, Hulu Director: David
Bruckner Writer: Ben
Collins, Luke Piotrowski, David S. Goyer, Clive Barker Actors: Jamie
Clayton, Odessa A’zion, Goran Vidnjic, Selina Lo, Hiam Abbass, Brandon Flynn,
Drew Starkey, Jason Liles, Aoife Hinds Genre: Horror,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: R Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: A take on Clive Barker's 1987 horror classic where
a young woman struggling with addiction comes into possession of an ancient
puzzle box, unaware that its purpose is to summon the Cenobites. I loved the original Hellraiser (1987). I thought it
was a great horror idea, and it was terrifying. That said, I didn’t see it
until I was well into my 20s, and movie magic had evolved much further than it
had in the 80s. I have often wondered what it would look like with a greater
production quality. I tried to watch some of the later flicks in the series, but
they were… rough. This incarnation of Hellraiser has been in the works
for a little over a decade. It was originally supposed to come out around 2011,
but Hellraiser: Revelations (2011) came out instead as the production
companies fought to control the rights to the story. I guess they stopped fighting for it after they drove the
series in the ground. In new hands, I have a lot more faith for what Hellraiser
could be. The trailer looked outstanding. I cannot wait. 4 – Wendell &
Wild (10/28) Production/Distribution:
Artists First, Gotham Group, Monkeypaw Productions, Netflix Animation, Netflix,
SIF 309 Film Music Director: Henry
Selick Writer: Clay
McLeod Chapman, Jordan Peele, Henry Selick Actors: Lyric
Ross, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Angela Bassett, James Hong, Sam Zelaya,
Tamara Smart, Seema Virdi, Ramona Young, Ving Rhames, Michele Mariana Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 45min IMDb Blurb: Two scheming demon brothers, Wendell and Wild, must
face their arch-nemesis, the demon-dusting nun Sister Helly, and her two
acolytes, the goth teens Kat and Raul. However, Raul cannot see them so Kat
helps Wendell and Wild to help him. Jordan Peele (Candyman, Us, Nope) is a brilliant
creator. Henry Selick (Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Little
Nightmares) is, also, absolutely amazing. Putting them together leads me to
believe we’re about to get something exceptionally close to flawless. An animated, stop-motion, film with a deep Halloween feel –
lead by two of the greatest film-centric minds of our time – starring some
incredible actors? How could anyone pass up Wendell and Wild. It’s
almost guaranteed to have a little something for everyone. I cannot wait to see this one. 3 – Call Jane
(10/28) Production/Distribution:
bTv, FirstGen Content, Front Row Filmed Entertainment, Hulu, Ingenious Media, LB
Entertainment, M2 Films, Mars, Noori Pictures, Our Turn Productions, Paradiso, RB
Entertainment Production, Redline Entertainment, Roadside Attractions, SND
Films, Spentzos Films, Synthetic Cinema International, Unburdened Entertainment,
Vertigo Releasing Director: Phyllis
Nagy Writer: Hayley
Schore, Roshan Sethi Actors: Elizabeth
Banks, Sigourney Weaver, Chris Messina, Wunmi Mosaku, Kate Mara, Cory Michael
Smith, Grace Edwards, Evangeline Young, Kristina Harrison, Rebecca Henderson Genre: Drama,
History Rated: R Length: 2h 1min IMDb Blurb: A married woman with an unwanted pregnancy lives in
a time in America where she can't get a legal abortion and works with a group
of suburban women to find help. Back in June, a documentary called The Janes (2022)
came out. I don’t normally include documentaries on my Top 20 list, but that
one made it because of it’s import. I tend to prefer fiction, or biographies, to documentaries.
Not because I don’t think there’s anything important in them, but because I
learn differently than most people and documentaries simply do not engage me. That’s
also why I appreciate when something like this comes out. I still think the subject matter is important, but here we’re
served the same information with a spoonful of sugar. That sugar being the production
value and embellished script. It’s not going to be the whole truth, there’ll be
exaggeration I’m sure, but it’s an introduction to the subject that is easier
to concentrate on, and easier to swallow. Call Jane still focuses on why abortion is important,
and who really gets hurt by outlawing it. A lot of what people go through that
leads to them making the decision to abort, is overlooked by pro-birthers. Projects
like this call that out. In this case, there’s also a great cast backing up the
facts. I think it’s important to not miss this one. 2 – The Banshees
of Inisherin (10/21) Production/Distribution:
Blueprint Pictures, Film 4, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Metropolitan Films
International, Searchlight Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Walt
Disney Studios Motion Pictures Argentina Director: Martin
McDonagh Writer: Martin
McDonagh Actors: Colin
Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan, Pat Shortt, Gary Lydon, Sheila
Flitton, David Pearse, Jon Kenny, Bríd Ní Neachtain Genre: Comedy,
Drama Rated: R Length: 1h 49min IMDb Blurb: Two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse
when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both
of them. In Bruges (2008) might well be one of my top 10 films
ever. The reason it’s so good is because of the glorious love/hate chemistry
between Colin Farrell (It’s Not Dark Yet, Crazy Heart, The Batman) and
Brendan Gleeson (Song of the Sea, The Tragedy of Macbeth, The Ballad of
Buster Scruggs). There were other actors in that film, but I struggle to remember
any of them. Even Ralph Fiennes (The Hurt Locker, Schindler’s List, The
Grand Budapest Hotel) almost seems to disappear into the background. He’s
not an easy person to overshadow. Now, we have this new movie coming out that is capitalizing
on the same two main characters and their interactions. Any other month, even a
month featuring a main MCU film, The Banshees of Inisherin would be my
ultimate #1. Even better, The Banshees of Inisherin is brought to
life by the same writer/director as In Bruges. Martin McDonagh (The
Guard, Seven Psychopaths, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri) knows
exactly how to get the most out of this concept. There’s no way this movie isn’t brilliant. Even if nothing
else goes right, just seeing Farrell and Gleeson together again would make it
all worth it. 1 – Till (10/14) Production/Distribution:
Frederick Zollo Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Orion Pictures, Whoop/One
Ho Productions/Lil' Whoop Productions, United Artists Releasing (2022), Endeavor
Content (2022), United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures
International (UPI) Director: Chinonye
Chukwu Writer: Keith
Beauchamp, Chinonye Chukwu, Michael Reilly Actors: Danielle
Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Jamie Renell, Whoopi Goldberg, Sean Patrick Thomas, John
Douglas Thompson, Gem Marc Collins, Diallo Thompson, Tyrik Johnson, Enoch King,
Haley Bennett, Carol J. Mckenith, Elizabeth Youman, Keisha Tillis, Sean Michael
Weber, Eric Whitten, Njema Williams, Destin Freeman Genre: Drama Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h 10min IMDb Blurb: Till is a profoundly emotional and cinematic film
about the true story of Mamie Till Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for
her 14 year old son, Emmett Till, who, in 1955, was lynched while visiting his
cousins in Mississippi. In Mamie’s poignant journey of grief turned to action,
we see the universal power of a mother’s ability to change the world. There was no way I could put anything at #1 other than Till. Till seems to be a well-made film, with some
incredible people involved, but it’s the story that matters. Especially because
the person responsible for the death of the 14-year-old this film is named
after had no consequences for her action. We need to remember the worst moments in our history, or we’re
doomed to relive them.
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