"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 Service: Peacock Movie Name/Year: The 355 (2022) Genre: Action, Thriller Length: 124 minutes Rating: PG-13 Production/Distribution: Universal Pictures, CAA Media Finance, FilmNation
Entertainment, Freckle Films, Genre Films, Huayi Brothers Media, Perfect World
Pictures, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Belga Films, Blue Lantern
Entertainment International, Chantier Films, China Film Group Corporation,
Cinemundo, Diamond Films, Entertainment One, Forum Film Slovakia, Golden Screen
Cinemas, HKC Entertainment, Independent Films, Italia Film, Italia Films,
Joyncontents Group, Kino Films, Leone Film Group, Leonine Distribution, Lev
Cinemas, Nordisk Film Distribution, Nordisk Film, Norsk Filmdistribusjon, PT.
Prima Cinema Multimedia, PVR Pictures, Pioneer Films, Roadshow Film
Distributors, Roadshow Films, SND Films, Shaw Organisation, Spentzos Films,
Ster-Kinekor Pictures, Sun Distribution, Universal Pictures International,
Vertical Entertainment, Starz! Director: Simon Kinberg Writers: Theresa Rebeck, Simon Kinberg,
Bek Smith Actors: Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz,
Lupita Nyong'o, Diane Kruger, Édgar Ramírez, Sebastian Stan, Atul Sharma,
Bingbing Fan, David Olawale Ayinde, Eddie Arnold, Evie Wray, Francisco Labbe,
Hiten Patel, Jason Wong, Leo Staar, Marta Svetek, Maud Druine, Nick Owenford,
Oleg Kricunova, Pablo Scola, Raphael Acloque, Sylvester Groth, Toby Sauerback,
William El Gardi IMDb Blurb: When a top-secret weapon falls
into mercenary hands, a wild card CIA agent joins forces with three
international agents on a lethal mission to retrieve it, while staying a step
ahead of a mysterious woman who's tracking their every move.
Cat’s Point of View: I was excited enough regarding The 355 that I listed it as my #3 pick on my January
2022 Top 20 List. The burning question, now, must certainly be: did it
deserve its placement? Hesitation lingers in the air as I ponder my answer. It’s
not really cut and dry. In hindsight, I might have dropped it a little bit in
ranking. I have a few problems with The 355, but it was entertaining and,
certainly, was not without merit. Let this be your warning now. If you don’t want spoilers to
a couple of the 2nd act twists, you might want to skip the trailers. The 355 has a bit
of a marketing problem.
My impression, after watching the trailer, was that this
film was going to be a badass all-female spy team recovering some dangerous tech.
While that assessment wasn’t exactly incorrect, The 355 serves as more of an origin story to a team rather than one
that is already connected from the beginning. Of course, the trailer does touch
on that a little bit – but it wasn’t nearly clear enough to the extent of the
disparity between that concept and what the production actually delivered. The good news is that The
355 held my attention sufficiently that I managed not to succumb to my
occasional narcoleptic tendencies (and, considering I’m still in
energy-recovery mode post-Mardi Gras, that is saying something). Yet, at the
same time, I wasn’t as engaged as I would have liked, and I had to fight my urge
to grab my phone and fiddle.
I rather enjoyed the twisty nature of the story and both the
intelligence and independence of the main characters. They weren’t ‘damsels in
distress’ even when they were faced with dire circumstances. The action was
decent and pretty standard fare for a movie such as this. The 355 has fairly good production quality and a satisfying conclusion. I just wish that
the message of the teasers hadn’t muddled things from the outset for me. I
would have spent far less time confused. If you’re looking for an entertaining option to watch with
some popcorn, The 355 is a fair
choice. I’m not sure I’m going to remember it in the long term. It does,
however, give a bit of sequel bait so it remains to be seen if there will be
future installments.
Streaming Service: Shudder Movie Name/Year: Heckle (2022) Genre: Horror, Comedy, Drama Length: 81 minutes Rating: Unrated Production/Distribution: Voodoo Media Group, Voodoo Productions, The Haunted
Cinema, Evolutionary Films, Quantum Film Productions, Uncork'd Entertainment Director: Martyn Pick Writer: Airell Anthony Hayles Actors: Clark Gable III, Steve
Guttenberg, Guy Combes, Madison Clare, Louis Selwyn, Helena Antonio, Stephanie
Leigh Rose, Natasha Starkey, Dani Dyer, James Littlewood, Jane Ledsom, Toyah
Willcox, Daisy Humpherston, Samuel Jinks, Henry Osmani, Deborah Osmani, Peter
Devlin, Gledisa Arthur, Brad Moore, Nicholas Vince, Lluis Foguet-Gonzalez, Mike
Willoughby, Christine Randall, Rachel Clifford, Dave Nott, Stuggy, Giselle
Fryatt, Dana Hudson, Jack Fairbank IMDb Blurb: A stand up comedian encounters
a seemingly insane heckler, who becomes his stalker. This is a heckle on a
whole new level...
Selina’s
Point of View: I
always knew I’d be scheduling Heckle for this month. Steve
Guttenberg is a slice of beloved nostalgia for me. I grew up on stuff
like Police Academy (1987) and Three Men and a
Baby (1987). As I’ve grown up, I’ve followed the Guttenberg name to a
whole host of films. I’ve even enjoyed his more ridiculous stuff, like Lavalantula (2015). I
didn’t watch the trailer for Heckle because I wanted to go
into it with no expectations. With the involvement of Uncork’d, I knew this was
going to be a bit on the low-budget side, but that it still had some potential.
The thing is that the movies I’ve seen from Uncork’d tend to get me in the
second half, rather than straight through. There’s usually some kind of twist
that catches my attention. If the trailer revealed it beforehand, I might not
have been caught by it. So, I skipped coming attractions entirely.
I’m
glad I did. The trailer does ruin quite a bit and Heckle DID
get me in the second half.
The first thing I have to note is that Heckle is not a comedy. It’s a
straight-up horror drama. Don’t go into it expecting giggles, you won’t get
any. That
said, the twist was something else. It completely blindsided me, but still
made sense enough to not feel convoluted. When exposition was warranted, the
creative team showed what needed to be seen instead of making it a long dumb
speech. In that way, I think even big-budget films could have learned a lesson. I
enjoyed it. There was some suspect acting, some loopholes, and the story could
have used a little tightening, but it still hooked me. It’s still going down in
my memory as something I’m glad I saw. Heckle is absolutely worth seeing for people who enjoy these smaller
off-the-cuff flicks. Turn the lights out and make some popcorn. Just don’t
expect to laugh.
Cat’s Point of View: I love the horror and comedy genres. It’s amazing when both
are combined together effectively. It’s awkward and cringe-inducing when they
are not. For a movie about comedians, there was an abysmal lack of comedy
involved. If Heckle was trying to aim
for that lightning in a bottle fusion, it fell far short. It really pains me to
say that, too. The way the trailer was put together, I had hopes that there
would be some interjection of stand-up comedy sessions for the titular heckler
to mess up – like a horror version of something like Foolish (1999). It built up a level of expectation that the film
just didn’t deliver on.
I was intrigued when we were offered a chance to screen Heckle. I have warm and fuzzy nostalgic feels
for Steve Guttenberg (Lookin' Up,
Ballers, The Goldbergs) movies. The movies he was in during the golden age
of my personal cinematic landscape will forever bring me comfort and laughs. I
mean, we’re talking movies like Short
Circuit (1986) and Police Academy
(1984). This is why I was so over the moon for the Lavalantula (2015) movies. It brought back all those feels. Heckle under-utilized his talent. To be
fair, though, his was the only performance that felt genuine. I hated his
character – but the audience is expected to. He played a real jerk. I had a hard time suspending disbelief to buy in that Guy
Combes’ (The Incidentals, Kill Ben Lyk,
Rookie) character was a comedian. He did a great job portraying someone who
was rather unhinged, however. Heckle was also
generally hard to watch. The camera bobbed and weaved so much. I can’t tell if
it was shaky-cam on purpose to give the slasher more of a helter-skelter vibe or
if budgetary issues prevented a more streamlined experience.
Of course, I feel I must also admit that Heckle had the misfortune of following
behind my viewing Scream (2022) last
night. Much like the opening act of a concert blowing off the roof and the main
event off-key and underwhelming in comparison; my mental bar was set too high
for Heckle to compete. Try as I may
to be objective and separate what I’ve watched before from the movie at hand, sometimes
it is just not possible to avoid the comparisons. It wasn’t all bad, thankfully. The practical effects for the
slasher scenes had decent production quality and the atmosphere fit the theme,
cinematically speaking. I also quite liked the retro feel of the soundtrack. I
wasn’t expecting the direction the ending took, so that definitely elevated Heckle for me. All told, however, while it wasn’t without some merit, I
couldn’t see myself recommending Heckle
to others.
Production/Distribution:
Burning Sky Films, Snakebyte Productions and Entertainment Group, Willow
Pictures, Tip-Top Productions, Lucky 13 Productions, Red Coral Productions,
Scarlett Pictures, Skipstone Pictures, Umbrelic Entertainment, Film Mode
Entertainment, Screen Media Films Director: Chris
Sivertson Writer: Carol
Chrest Actors: Christina
Ricci, Santino Barnard, Don Baldaramos, Colleen Camp, Lew Temple, Carol Anne
Watts, Sally Elbert, Rachael Edlow, Anna Tenney, Chris Mullinax, Nancy
O'Fallon, Matt Lovell, Lola Grace Combs Genre: Horror,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 89 minutes IMDb Blurb: Story centers on a traumatized woman fleeing
from her abusive ex-husband with her 7-year-old son. In their new, remote sanctuary
they find they have a bigger, more terrifying monster to deal with.
Kicking off this month’s list, I couldn’t help but go with Monstrous. The trailer gave me a few
vibes that told me it might not be the strongest movie hitting screens in March
2022, but it’s at least going to be interesting. Of course, Christina Ricci (The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, The Matrix Resurrections, Yellowjackets)
in the lead role of a legit monster movie is always a huge draw for me. She
tends to excel with the macabre and off-the-wall projects, after all. Examining the trailer further, I am wondering if there are
layers to this plot. Was the young mother and her son lured to this house on a
monster-infested lake on purpose? Was the stink-eye look from the woman in the
vehicle merely because Ricci’s character was a single mother in an era that was
still pushing the “nuclear family” ideal where women should be in the home
instead of the workforce, etc – or was there something more sinister to it? Things that make you go ‘hmm,’ indeed. I appreciated that the trailer didn’t give a full-blown look
at the lake monster. The production
quality on what we did get to see, however, looked pretty cool.
Monstrous will be
available to stream on Shudder.
19 - Against the Ice (3/2)
Production/Distribution:
Ill Kippers Productions, RVK Studios, Netflix Director: Peter
Flinth Writers: Nikolaj
Coster-Waldau, Joe Derrick, Ejnar Mikkelsen Actors: Nikolaj
Coster Waldau, Joe Cole, Charles Dance, Diarmaid Murtagh, Ed Speleers, Frankie
Wilson, Gísli Örn Garðarsson, Heida Reed,
Nick Jameson, Sam Redford Genre: Adventure,
Drama, History Rated: Unrated Length: 102 minutes IMDb Blurb: In 1909, two explorers fight to survive
after they're left behind while on a Denmark expedition in ice-covered
Greenland.
Against the Ice
gives us an on-screen reunion, of sorts, of the father and son pairing from
fictional Westeros, played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones, Oblivion, Exit Plan) and Charles Dance (Godzilla: King of the Monsters, The Crown,
The King's Man). Coster-Waldau and Dance will likely only share limited
scenes here, however, since Against the
Ice is primarily about the survival adventure expedition, itself, rather
than the behind-the-scenes boardroom politics. If you are a fan of survival adventures pitting man against
the elements, then Against the Ice
looks like it’s going to be right up your alley. The trailer seemed to promise
quite the intense experience as a duo undertakes a perilous journey to discover
what happened to an earlier expedition. They face challenges with terrain,
supplies, wildlife, and both mental and physical health. When movies like this are based on true stories, it just
makes them that much more intense. My curiosity is piqued. While Against the Ice looks like it will be a
brutal ride, I’m on board this mission for better or worse.
Against the Ice
will release to Netflix.
18 - Windfall (3/18)
Production/Distribution:
High Frequency Entertainment, Mutressa Movies, Netflix Director: Charlie
McDowell Writers: Justin
Lader, Charlie McDowell, Jason Segel, Andrew Kevin Walker Actors: Jason
Segel, Jesse Plemons, Lily Collins, Omar Leyva Genre: Crime,
Drama, Thriller Rated: R Length: 92 minutes IMDb Blurb: A man breaks into a tech billionaire's empty
vacation home, but things go sideways when the arrogant mogul and his wife
arrive for a last-minute getaway.
The trailer for Windfall
captured my attention. When you’re looking at a home invasion scenario, one
generally doesn’t sympathize with the intruder. In the case of Windfall, I found myself leaning in that
direction because Jesse Plemons’ (Black
Mirror, The Irishman, The Power of the Dog) tech mogul character was just
that off-puttingly revolting.
Truth be told, I find most of his characters fall into that
category. He really excels in those roles. He’s one of those actors whose
characters I love to hate.
When you throw Jason Segel (Despicable Me, This Is the End, Dispatches from Elsewhere) and Lily
Collins (Mirror Mirror, Tolkien, Emily in
Paris) into the mix, things get even more interesting. Windfall seems to be a bit of a departure from Segel’s usual fare,
and I’m here for it. He was serving some serious intensity in the bit we see
with the trailer. I could feel a storm of emotions under the surface, and I’m
dying to know more of his story to tell me what led to this particular course
of action. Windfall will be
releasing directly to Netflix.
17 – The Weekend Away
(3/3)
Production/Distribution:
42, Netflix, Pakt Media Director: Kim
Farrant Writer: Sarah
Alderson Actors: Amar
Bukvic, Christina Ulfsparre, Leighton Meester, Luke Norris, Ziad Bakri Genre: Crime,
Drama, Mystery Rated: TV-14 Length: minutes IMDb Blurb: A weekend getaway to Croatia that goes awry
when a woman is accused of killing her best friend. As she attempts to clear
her name and uncover the truth, her efforts unearth a painful secret.
I’ll be upfront and mention that I have not read the novel
that The Weekend Away has adapted
from. That being said, the author of said novel has also been a staff writer
for at least 63 episodes or so of the TV Series S.W.A.T. (2017-). That series is still going strong. If she wasn’t
doing a good job crafting story there,
then she wouldn’t have stuck around that long. I digress. My point was that I’m
more inclined to have faith in the story. Crime drama is completely up her alley. Aside from that, I like Leighton Meester (Country Strong, Semper Fi, How I Met Your
Father). I find it easy to connect with her performances, and it was the
same with The Weekend Away’s trailer. It was all too easy to see myself in her shoes. My luck is
generally bad enough that I could see something like this happening to me if I
took a random weekend getaway trip halfway around the world from home. My curiosity is burning to know what happened to the friend –
and why? Something was clearly up and the girl got mixed up in something she
shouldn’t have – but what?! How does the driver fit into it? I have so many
questions I’m dying for the answers to. Netflix is firing on all cylinders with its March lineup.
This isn’t even the last of the movies the streaming giant is releasing this
month that will appear on this list.
16 - The Exorcism of
God (3/11)
Production/Distribution:
Epica Pictures, Mouth of the Devil, Terminal, Digicine, Saban Films, Première
TV Distribution, XYZ Films Director: Alejandro
Hidalgo Writers: Santiago
Fernández Calvete, Alejandro Hidalgo Actors: Joseph Marcell, María Gabriela de Faría, Will
Beinbrink, Raquel Rojas, Irán Castillo, Hector Kotsifakis, Alfredo Herrera,
Juan Ignacio Aranda, Christian Rummel, Eloisa Maturen, Maria Antonieta Hidalgo,
Johanna Winkel, Evelia Di Gennaro, Patricia Pacheco, Marcela Girón, Simona
Chirinos Genre: Drama,
Horror Rated: R Length: 99 minutes IMDb Blurb: An American priest working in Mexico is
possessed during an exorcism and ends up committing a terrible act. Eighteen
years later, the consequences of his sin come back to haunt him, unleashing the
greatest battle within.
All signs are
pointing in the direction of The Exorcism
of God being a deeply disturbing movie. The trailer really gave me the
creeps. That’s phenomenal news for writer/director Alejandro Hidalgo (The House at the End of Time, House of the
Disappeared, 40 Years of Fantasporto), if this production lives up to the
teaser’s hype. Hidalgo doesn’t have many projects under his belt as yet, at
least according to IMDb, so the jury is still out whether or not he can capture
the essence of a story such as this without it feeling like a rinse and repeat
of what has come before.
That being said, the snippets we were shown in the preview
do toss out a few new bits right out of the gate. I have hope. Another
chill-worthy moment was the scene that looked like it could have stepped
straight out of a moment in The Exorcist
(1973). Selina and I both noticed that during our trailer stream, and it
spurred me to try and dig a bit to see if there was a connection between the
movies. I couldn’t find anything specific aside from that one shot. The
characters aren’t the same in any way, so it was likely a homage to the movie
that started it all. While I am not familiar with most of the cast, I was quite
excited to see Joseph Marcell (Much Ado
About Nothing, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, The Sandman) involved with
this production. Of course, he played the butler Geoffrey on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996).
All the nostalgia feels just rushed right on in. The Exorcism of God
will have a limited theater release and will be available On Demand before
releasing to DVD and Blu-Ray in April.
15 – So Cold the River (3/25)
Production/Distribution: 1804 Productions, Pigasus Pictures, Saban Films, Blue Finch Films Releasing, Defiant Screen Entertainment Director: Paul Shoulberg Writers: Paul Shoulberg, Michael Koryta Actors: Bethany Joy Lenz, Alysia Reiner, Katie Sarife, Andrew J. West, Deanna Dunagan, Kevin Cahoon, Aaron Roman Weiner, Kingston Vernes, David Myers Gregory, Rupert Spraul, Ruth Kaufman, Daniel Burke Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller Rated: R Length: 95 minutes IMDb Blurb: A documentary filmmaker's research on a town's mysterious benefactor unearths an unexplained evil while staying at a local resort.
So Cold the River
is an adaptation of a horror novel penned by the same author behind Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021). While the
screenplay writer and director of So Cold
the River is relatively untested, with few credits on IMDb under his belt,
the original author, Michael Koryta, is one of the executive producers in this
production team, so we can assume that this project was executed to his
satisfaction. I enjoyed the aforementioned forest fire movie, so I am holding
out hope for So Cold the River to
meet or exceed my expectations. All that aside, I am generally down to support any of the
alums from One Tree Hill (2003-2012).
The fact that Bethany Joy Lenz (Colony,
Extortion, Pearson) is the lead here instantly grabbed my attention. There
is a small chance I might be slightly inherently biased in favor of this movie
as a result, but at least I can be honest about it. Delving deeper into So
Cold the River based on the trailer, there’s plenty to like. There are some
supernatural shenanigans and a malevolent mystery to uncover. I was happy to
recognize Deanna Dunagan (The Visit, An
Acceptable Loss, Stillwater) and Andrew J. West (The Walking Dead, The Nightmare Code, Once Upon a Time) among the
cast, as well.
So Cold the River
will release first to theaters and will follow up with a Digital and On Demand
release on March 29th.
14 - Rescued by Ruby (3/17)
Production/Distribution: Fezziwig Studios, Netflix Director: Katt Shea Writer: Karen Janszen Actors: Brad Mann, Camille Sullivan, Eileen Pedde, Giacomo Baessato, Grant Gustin, Jude Culham-Keays, Kaylah Zander, Scott Wolf, Sharon Taylor, Todd Mann, Tom McBeath Genre: Biography, Drama, Family Rated: Unrated Length: 90 minutes IMDb Blurb: Chasing his dream to join an elite K-9 unit, a state trooper partners with a fellow underdog: clever but naughty shelter pup Ruby.
My emotions are really raw right now. My best friend whom I
consider a sister had to say goodbye to her Dane-mastiff just a few days ago.
She’d had him since he was weaned from his litter and he was my “fur-nephew.”
It was tragic and I am heartbroken. Everyone that knew Rex, the gentle giant,
loved him. He was my friend’s world. There’s a long story involved, but this
is the TL;DR so I don’t digress too far down that rabbit hole. Needless to say, writing about a dog-centric movie right now
– even watching the trailer – has me misty-eyed and on the verge of tears. That
being said, please forgive me for not elaborating at length about my choice for
Rescued by Ruby. The cast looks solid. I’ve been a fan of Scott Wolf (Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters, The Night
Shift, Nancy Drew) since Party of
Five (1994-2000) and Grant Gustin (Affluenza,
Krystal, The Flash) is awesome. I think Gustin is amazing for the lead
here, opposite the titular dog. It’s neat this is based on a true story and is an excellent
reminder that shelter dogs can be just as great as dogs from anywhere else –
and sometimes even better.
Rescued by Ruby
isn’t the last movie on this list releasing to Netflix this month, either.
13 – The Spine of
Night (3/24)
Production/Distribution:
Gorgonaut, Reno Productions, Koch Films, Velvet Spoon, Wild Duck Productions,
Freaks On, RLJE Films, Shudder Directors: Philip
Gelatt, Morgan Galen King Writers: Philip
Gelatt, Morgan Galen King Actors: Richard
E. Grant, Lucy Lawless, Patton Oswalt, Betty Gabriel, Joe Manganiello, Patrick
Breen, Larry Fessenden, Jason Gore, Maggie Lakis, Tom Lipinski, Nina
Lisandrello, Rob McClure, Malcolm Mills, Abigail Savage, Jordan Douglas Smith Genre: Animation,
Action, Adventure Rated: Unrated Length: 93 minutes IMDb Blurb: Ultra-violent, epic fantasy set in a land of
magic follows heroes from different eras and cultures battling against a
malevolent force.
I have a complicated relationship with anthologies. Some of
them turn out amazing, while others fall far short of expectations. Sadly, my
experiences have been more towards the latter than not. Be that as it may, The Spine of Night gives me hope. Animated movies for adults are awesome. I can’t say that
enough, and there aren’t that many out there. When most people see an animation,
they tend to immediately chalk the production up as a kiddie cartoon. Let me
tell you that this movie absolutely is not for children whatsoever. Older teens
might be able to handle it with parental oversight; but if the violence in the
trailer was any indication, this is far too much for the young. That being said, I am not generally a fan of the animation style
used with The Spine of Night. This is
one of the few exceptions where I might tolerate it better. This strongly
reminds me of another adult-oriented animated anthology from yester-year - Heavy Metal (1981). It is one of the few
anthologies I really enjoyed. The nostalgia feels add to my desire to give this
one a chance. Also, can we talk about the cast? The Spine of Night is stacked with amazing talent. We’re talking Lucy
Lawless (Spartacus, The Breaker Uppers,
Ash vs Evil Dead), Betty Gabriel (Get
Out, Upgrade, The Purge: Election Year), Richard E. Grant (Logan, Earwig and the Witch, Hitman's Wife's
Bodyguard), Joe Manganiello (True
Blood, Smurfs: The Lost Village, Archenemy), and Patton Oswalt (Please Stand By, The Secret Life of Pets 2,
The Goldbergs) among others. I am very excited that we are going to get a chance to
screen The Spine of Night and provide
a review for you before this movie releases on Shudder.
12 - Cheaper by the
Dozen (3/18)
Production/Distribution:
20th Century Studios, Fox Family Films, Khalabo Ink Society, Twentieth Century
Fox, Walt Disney Pictures, Disney+ Director: Gail
Lerner Writers: Kenya
Barris, Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, Frank B. Gilbreth Jr., Jenifer Rice-Genzuk,
Craig Titley Actors: Brittany
Daniel, Carlos Santos, Cynthia Daniel, Cynthia Murell, Erika Christensen,
Gabrielle Union, Kylie Rogers, Luke Prael, Mykal-Michelle Harris, Ron Funches,
Zach Braff Genre: Adventure,
Comedy, Family Rated: PG Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: The raucous exploits of a blended family of
12, the Bakers, as they navigate a hectic home life while simultaneously
managing their family business.
When we first watched the trailer for Cheaper by the Dozen, my first thoughts were: “another one? Again?”
Okay Disney, we get it. You like to re-spin ideas. I just couldn’t imagine why
anyone would want to remake or reboot the 2003 movie by the same name. It was
clear this decidedly isn’t a sequel within that same storyline. Well, it turns out the movie I thought was the ‘original’
was a remake, itself. Cheaper by the
Dozen is actually a loose book adaptation from a 1948 semi-autobiographical
novel written by a pair of siblings who grew up in a household of 12 children.
The original Cheaper by the Dozen
movie was released back in 1950. Sometimes it is appropriate to revisit a story. After
watching the trailer for this newest Cheaper
by the Dozen, I have found that I was likely a little hasty in my judgment
of the Mouse House’s decision. This new version updates the family dynamic for
a new generation. Current pop culture references, technology, trends, and diversity
bring this iteration forward. The 2003 movie still felt a bit old fashioned in
comparison, even though it came out just after the turn of the century. I really enjoyed Gabrielle Union (Think Like a Man Too, Almost Christmas, Breaking In) and Zach Braff
(Scrubs, Percy Vs Goliath, The Comeback
Trail) in the trailer and I really think they’ll bring a lot to this
production. I’m not discounting the child actors, but if I listed everyone, we’d
be here all day. Cheaper by the Dozen
will release directly to Disney+ at no additional premium.
11 - Expired (3/18)
Production/Distribution:
Bunya Productions, Grindstone Entertainment Group, TriCoast Worldwide Director: Ivan
Sen Writer: Ivan Sen Actors: Bianca
Wallace, Brooke Nichole Lee, Hugo Weaving, Ivy Dupler, Jillian Nguyen, June
Yoon, Keiichi Enomoto, Patrick Moroney, Ryan Kwanten, Shinji Ikefuji Genre: Sci-Fi,
Romance Rated: R Length: 102 minutes IMDb Blurb: In an uncharted future, two hardened souls
meet and confront each other with the things they have done and what they have
become.
This March is a surprisingly strong month for science
fiction. Expired is the first of
several within the sci-fi genre we’ll be exploring on this list. It might be
labeled as a single genre romance on IMDb, but the trailer made it abundantly
clear this story is set in a potentially dystopian future full of cybernetically enhanced humans. It’s not exactly clear
just how far into the cyberpunk sub-genre Expired
delves, but I’m down for it either way. I’m not really familiar with writer/director Ivan Sem
(Beneath Clouds, Dreamland, Mystery Road), but with Ryan Kwanten (Knights of Badassdom, The Hurricane Heist,
Them) and Hugo Weaving (Cloud Atlas,
Hacksaw Ridge, Mortal Engines) at the head of this cast, I want to give
this movie a chance. For those that enjoy a deeper and more intricate plot than a
simple love story, Expired promises
some action and thrills to go with the feelings. Expired will be
released to a limited theater run as well as On-Demand availability.
10 - Project Gemini (3/15)
Production/Distribution:
KD Studios, BF Distribution, Blue Swan Entertainment, Condor, Crystalsky
Multimedia, Eagle Entertainment, JL Vision Film, Mis. Label, Noori Pictures,
Phoenicia Pictures, Selecta Visión, Splendid Film, Well Go USA Entertainment Director: Serik
Beyseu Writers: Natalya
Lebedeva, Dmitriy Zhigalov Actors: Dmitriy
Frid, Josh Petersdorf, River Kanoff, Luis Bermudez, Egor Koreshkov, Ashely
Biski, Nikita Dyuvbanov, Caleb Yen, Petr Romanov, Alyona Konstantinova, Martinez
Lisa, Aeric Azana, Carlyle DePriest, Viktor Potapeshkin, Samoukov Kostya Genre: Horror,
Sci-Fi, Thriller Rated: Unknown Length: 100 minutes IMDb Blurb: A sci-fi thriller about a space mission sent
to terraform a distant planet. However, the mission encounters something
unknown that has its own plan for the planet.
Project Gemini is
our next sci-fi offering for March. The production quality on this space
adventure looks outstanding. The visuals in the trailer were spectacular. I was
also getting some serious Alien
(1979) vibes. I’m not familiar with any of the production team or cast,
but the trailer was captivating enough that I am not bothered by that in the
slightest. Project Gemini
will release direct to Digital and On-Demand services, bypassing theaters here
in the US.
9 - The Bunker Game (3/17)
Production/Distribution:
Eagle Pictures, Kador, Place du Marché Director: Roberto
Zazzara Writers: Manuela
Cacciamani, Francesca Forristal, Davide Orsini, Kt Roberts, Roberto Zazzara Actors: Gaia
Weiss, Lorenzo Richelmy, Mark Ryder, Tudor Istodor, Makita Samba, Amina Smaïl,
Nicolo Pasetti, Felice Jankell, Léa Rostain, Serena de Ferrari Genre: Horror Rated: Unrated Length: 90 minutes IMDb Blurb: After several mysterious accidents, A Live
Action Role Playing game is interrupted and the players leave the bunker while
the staff remains behind to investigate the disappearance of Greg, the
mastermind of the game.
The Bunker Game is
another movie where I know generally nothing about the production team or cast.
Once more, I really don’t mind. The story presented for The Bunker Game looks new and refreshing, bringing a new tale to
the horror genre. The atmosphere of a bunker-hosted role-playing game is
inherently interesting. This one is sure to make claustrophobes and those
uncomfortable underground a bit squirmy in their seats. I was intrigued by the
filming location, so I looked it up. The
Bunker Game was actually filmed in a real bunker system that was built
prior to World War II in Italy North of Rome, and later converted into a
fallout shelter during the Cold War. This bunker is open to the public as a
tourist destination available for tours regularly. The Bunker Game
will release as a Shudder exclusive, and you can be sure we’ll be screening it
for review.
8 - Alice (3/18)
Production/Distribution:
Steel Springs Pictures, Roadside Attractions, Vertical Entertainment Director: Krystin
Ver Linden Writer: Krystin
Ver Linden Actors: Keke
Palmer, Common, Jonny Lee Miller, Gaius Charles, Madelon Curtis, Kenneth
Farmer, Natasha Yvette, Jaxon Goldenberg, Craig Stark, Alicia Witt, David
Andrew Nash, Jim McKeny, Sharonne Lanier, Janet L. Burns, Durrell Lyons Genre: Drama Rated: Unrated Length:100
minutes IMDb Blurb: A slave in the antebellum South escapes her
secluded plantation only to discover a shocking reality that lies beyond the
tree line.
Alice is a movie
that I really hope will do well at the box office. It is absolutely horrifying
to learn that this is based on a true story. Somewhere in the backwoods of
Georgia, some plantation just decided to take it upon themselves to ignore the
laws and pretend the whole Civil War didn’t happen. I honestly don’t know how
they got away with it all the way through to the 70s, if the timeline given in
the movie is accurate to the real events. It just blows my mind. While the second act of this revenge drama might feel like Blaxploitation
at first blush, Alice is clearly
thematically opposite. This film is meant to be empowering, and is merely
giving a nod to the films of the 70s era where the story is set. Alice has an
outstanding cast to pair with this powerful story. Keke Palmer (Ice Age: Collision Course, Scream Queens,
Hustlers) is the perfect fit for the titular protagonist and Common (Now You See Me, John Wick: Chapter 2, The
Kitchen) was an excellent choice for her modern-day mentor. I honestly didn’t
realize that Jonny Lee Miller (Dark
Shadows, T2 Trainspotting, Elementary) was under the beard of the
plantation owner when I watched the trailer. He really delivered with his
performance, as well. Alice will be
released to theaters as well as digital and On-Demand services.
7 - After Yang (3/4)
Production/Distribution:
A24, Cinereach, Per Capita Productions, Watcha, Elevation Pictures, Front Row
Filmed Entertainment, Showtime Networks Director: Kogonada Writers: Kogonada,
Alexander Weinstein Actors: Colin
Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Adeline Kerns, Ava DeMary, Brett Dier, Clifton
Collins Jr., Eve Lindley, Haley Lu Richardson, Justin H. Min, Malea Emma
Tjandrawidjaja, Orlagh Cassidy, Ritchie Coster, Sarita Choudhury Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi Rated: PG Length: 96 minutes IMDbBlurb: In a near future, a family reckons with questions of love, connection,
and loss after their A.I. helper unexpectedly breaks down.
Every time I see that there’s a new Colin Farrell (Seven Psychopaths, Dumbo, Voyagers) project
releasing, I get a bit giddy. He is among the handful of actors that I would
watch in absolutely anything, and one of my all-time favorite Irish thespians.
Imagine my excitement that there are 2 of his movies hitting screens this
month. Of course, the characters from each couldn’t be more different from one
another. That’s a bit of the point, though. I digress. Farrell, while a huge draw, is not the only reason why I am
eagerly anticipating After Yang. I am
also happy to see Jodie Turner-Smith (The
Last Ship, Queen & Slim, Anne Boleyn) in this production. I became a
big fan of hers with the series Nightflyers
(2018). Of course, we couldn’t forget the titular character, Yang, played by Justin
H. Min (Dating After College, New
Amsterdam, The Umbrella Academy). I think Min is a really good choice for
Yang, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what he does with this role. As I mentioned before, this March is a strong month for
sci-fi. After Yang gives us the new
term ‘techno-sapien’ as a new moniker for androids, and shows us a family where
one of these AI beings is considered one of the children of the household. The
trailer mentions Yang specifically as a ‘sibling’ to the young girl played by Malea
Emma Tjandrawidjaja (Tim and Eric's
Bedtime Stories, Coop and Cami Ask the World, iCarly). Ultimately, the film seems to pose some deep existential
questions about the nature of ‘being real’ and the connections of family. While
it’s likely this will be a bit of a slow burn and lean more heavily towards the
drama genre, I am here for all of it. After Yang will
have a limited release theater run and will also be available On-Demand. I saw
that the Showtime network was mentioned with After Yang’s release information, but it is unclear if that means
the film will be available at a later date via Showtime or if there will be an
immediate availability to subscribers.
6 - Everything
Everywhere All at Once (3/25)
Production/Distribution:
AGBO, Hotdog Hands, Ley Line Entertainment, Year of The Rat, A24, Elevation
Pictures, Entract Films Directors: Dan
Kwan, Daniel Scheinert Writers: Dan
Kwan, Daniel Scheinert Actors: Amanda,
Andy Le, Anthony Molinari, Audrey Wasilewski, Brian Le, Harry Shum Jr., James
Hong, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jenny Slate, Jonathan Ke Quan, Michelle Yeoh, Peter
Banifaz, Stephanie Hsu Genre: Action,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: R Length: 140 minutes IMDb Blurb: An
aging Chinese immigrant is swept up in an insane adventure, where she alone can
save the world by exploring other universes connecting with the lives she could
have led.
I had an excruciatingly hard time deciding the order for the
next several movies, this one included. From here on out in my list, I am
pretty much bouncing in my seat with anticipation for watching each and every
one of these films. It’s fairly literal. I’m having trouble ‘holding my horses.’ The trailer for Everything
Everywhere All at Once is just absolutely bonkers in all the best ways. I
love the multiverse concept explored here, and how the character, Evelyn, is
connected to all of her selves much like the characters of Sense8 (2015-2018)
were. Of course, brilliant insanity is something we should expect from the
writing and directing team from Swiss Army Man (2016). Sure, the plot looks amazing for Everything Everywhere All at Once (and, seriously, the googly eyes
everywhere) but can we talk about this cast for a minute? There’s a veritable
hit parade going on here. We have Jamie Lee Curtis (Scream Queens, Knives Out, Halloween Kills) embodying the
antagonist, which is fun. I really enjoy the work of Harry Shum Jr. (Crazy Rich Asians, Escape Plan: The Extractors,
Love Hard) and Jenny Slate (The
Secret Life of Pets, Venom, Bob's Burgers), too. Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of
Destiny, Mechanic: Resurrection, Star Trek: Discovery), playing our heroine
Evelyn, is iconic and amazing. I’m over the moon about James Hong (Kung Fu Panda, Star Wars: Rebels, Beast Mode),
too. He has had a storied acting career dating back to the 1950s, and has appeared
across my whole life’s cinematic landscape on big and small screens. He was
even in the original Godzilla: King of
the Monsters! (1956). I think I’m the most excited to see Ke Huy Quan (Encino Man, Second Time Around, Finding
'Ohana), though. He is none other than Short Round from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(1984) and Data from The Goonies
(1985). Some of the segments in the trailer for Everything Everywhere All at Once really reminded me of his
delivery for those characters and the nostalgia feels hit me like a ton of
bricks. I absolutely can’t wait for this hilarity to unleash on the
world. Everything Everywhere
All at Once will release to theaters and On Demand, and will follow up with
availability on Showtime (likely after the now-standard 45 day run) according
to the deal A24 has with the network. I feel I must add a disclamer. There is a minute chance that
this film release has been postponed. A24’s
website as well as most other sources show that it is still on target for
the March date; however, MovieInsider
is showing the date has been changed to April 8th. I’m crossing my
fingers this doesn’t get bumped.
5 - Operation
Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (3/18)
Production/Distribution:
Miramax, STX Films, Tencent, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Constantin-Film,
Diamond Films, Elevation Pictures, Encore Films, Golden Village Pictures,
Leonine Distribution, Roadshow Films, STX Entertainment, The Searchers, Eagle
Films Director: Guy
Ritchie Writers: Ivan
Atkinson, Marn Davies, Guy Ritchie Actors: Aubrey
Plaza, Bugzy Malone, Cary Elwes, Conor MacNeill, Eddie Marsan, Eugenia Kuzmina,
Hugh Grant, Jason Statham, Josh Hartnett, Kaan Urgancioglu, Lourdes Faberes,
Max Beesley, Peter Ferdinando, Sam Douglas Genre: Action,
Comedy, Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 155 minutes IMDb Blurb: Special agent Orson Fortune and his team of
operatives recruit one of Hollywood's biggest movie stars to help them on an
undercover mission when the sale of a deadly new weapons technology threatens
to disrupt the world order.
When you put Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes, Aladdin, Wrath of Man) and Jason Statham (The Expendables, Redemption, The Meg) together,
magic happens. I really could leave it there, but Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre deserves so much more. Statham is only the tip of the iceberg that makes up this
stellar cast. I’m excited to see Josh Hartnett (30 Days of Night, The Ottoman Lieutenant, Wrath of Man) in more
action oriented roles again. He’d gone to the drama genre side pretty hardcore
in recent years. Hugh Grant (The Man from
U.N.C.L.E., The Gentlemen, The Undoing) is always impeccable, and I adore Aubrey
Plaza’s (Ingrid Goes West, Legion,
Happiest Season) quirky sense of humor and delivery. Can we take a moment,
though, to appreciate that Cary Elwes (Saw,
Stranger Things, A Castle for Christmas) is also involved here in a serious
(okay, as serious as one of these comedic action thrillers gets) role? I loved every minute of Operation
Fortune: Ruse de Guerre’s trailer and I can’t wait to see the whole movie.
This is just the sort of popcorn movie to provide some much needed humor and
escapism right about now. Operation Fortune:
Ruse de Guerre is set to release to theaters and On Demand, though, I feel
I need to add another release date disclaimer here. While most sources still
list March 18th as the official release date for the film, MovieInsider seems to
indicate that this might be changing to an uncertain future point in time. I’m
definitely keeping my fingers crossed that it stays on track for March.
4 - Turning Red
(3/11)
Production/Distribution:
Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, HKC Entertainment, Walt Disney
Studios Motion Pictures, Disney+, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Director: Domee
Shi Writers: Julia
Cho, Domee Shi Actors: Ava
Morse, Finneas O'Connell, Ho-Wai Ching, Hyein Park, James Hong, Jordan Fisher,
Josh Levi, Lori Tan Chinn, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Orion Lee, Rosalie Chiang,
Sandra Oh, Sasha Roiz, Sherry Cola, Wai Ching Ho Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG Length: 90 minutes IMDb Blurb: A 13-year-old girl named Mei Lee turns into
a giant red panda whenever she gets too excited.
Turning Red captured
my attention for so many reasons. First, and foremost, I loved the trailer and
it looks amazingly cute and endearing. The story feels important, tackling the
emotional roller coaster that kids experience while growing up. In this case,
we see a physical manifestation of the main character’s emotions. I am also digging that this new Disney Pixar star has red
hair and glasses. I can forgive them that they didn’t give her curls. (Merida
is my girl. Just saying.) I digress. Fun plot and adorable red panda aside, Turning Red is stacked with an amazing cast and some Disney benchmarks. Sandra Oh (Grey's
Anatomy, Raya and the Last Dragon, Killing Eve), Jordan Fisher (To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, Work
It, Star Wars: Visions), and James Hong are worth mentioning among the
voice talent here. Finneas O'Connell (Life
Inside Out, Modern Family, Glee) is also lending his voice to this animated
movie, though the character he’s playing isn’t clear yet. (Of course, his
sister, Billie Eilish, also has a song on the soundtrack; and Finneas is
heavily involved with the production of her work, as well.) Rosalie Chiang (Clique
Wars, The Interns, Soiled) is playing the main character, Meilin Lee, in
her full-length feature debut. If the trailer is an accurate reflection of the
overall performance, it looks like she hit this one out of the ballpark on her
first at-bat. Doubling down on the ‘firsts,’ this is also the directorial debut
for Domee Shi (SparkShorts, Pixar Short
Films Collection 3, Bao). Her career thus far has mostly been in Pixar’s
animation department, so she’s not new to the process. I have a good feeling
that she’s going to do some great things. I am super excited that Turning
Red will be released directly to Disney+ for subscribers without the need
for premium purchase.
3 - The Lost City
(3/25)
Production/Distribution:
Paramount Pictures, 3dot productions, Exhibit A, Fortis Films, Paramount
Pictures International, United International Pictures, Universal Pictures
International Directors: Aaron
Nee, Adam Nee Writers: Oren
Uziel, Dana Fox, Adam Nee Actors: Sandra
Bullock, Channing Tatum, Brad Pitt, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Daniel Radcliffe,
Héctor Aníbal, Oscar Nuñez, Patti Harrison, Raymond Lee, Thomas Forbes-Johnson Genre: Action,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: Unrated Length: 92 minutes IMDb Blurb: A reclusive romance novelist on a book tour
with her cover model gets swept up in a kidnapping attempt that lands them both
in a cutthroat jungle adventure.
The Lost City is
everything I need right now. When unlikely adventurers are forced into a crazy life and
death situation that they are generally unequipped to deal with, if handled
correctly, it adds up to absolute comedy gold. Then you add an outstanding cast
with Sandra Bullock (Gravity, Minions,
Bird Box) and Channing Tatum (Foxcatcher,
White House Down, Dog) paired for the leads, Daniel Radcliffe (Jungle, Guns Akimbo, Miracle Workers) as
the antagonist, and a cameo by Brad Pitt (World
War Z, Fury, Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood) and it’s a done deal. I just
absolutely have to watch it. I didn’t forget Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Office Christmas Party, Dolemite Is My Name, Only Murders in the
Building), who plays the publisher or agent (if I’m correct). Her
appearance in the trailer had me in stitches. Seriously, what about her
skillset does she think will help the situation? This is the sort of luck I seem to have. The moment in the
trailer that Bullock’s character reaches for the car door handle and the whole
vehicle falls off the cliff was an unbelievably relatable and hilarious moment. Even before I read it on the IMDb Trivia page for The Lost City, I was getting some
serious Romancing the Stone (1984)
vibes when I watched the trailer. That just gave me an extra little nostalgic
boost of happy. The Lost City
falls squarely in the ‘shut up and take my money’ category. This film will be
releasing to theaters, but given its Paramount affiliation, look for it on
Paramount+ in 30-45 days.
2 - The Adam Project
(3/11)
Production/Distribution:
21 Laps Entertainment, Maximum Effort, Skydance Media, Netflix Director: Shawn
Levy Writers: Jonathan
Tropper, T.S. Nowlin, Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin Actors: Alex
Mallari Jr., Ben Wilkinson, Braxton Bjerken, Catherine Keener, Ellie Harvie,
Jennifer Garner, Lucie Guest, Mark Ruffalo, Melanie Hubert, Ryan Reynolds,
Walker Scobell, Zoe Saldana Genre: Action,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG-13 Length: 106 minutes IMDb Blurb: A time-traveling pilot teams up with his
younger self and his late father to come to terms with his past while saving
the future.
The moment someone mentions Ryan Reynolds (Life, Free Guy, Red Notice) is attached
to a project, my answer is always going to be ‘yes.’ I don’t need any other
reason, really. I’ve enjoyed pretty much everything I’ve ever seen him in. His
wit and cheeky humor is absolutely amazing. I need more laughs like this in my
life right now. I do realize, however, that there is more to The Adam Project than just Reynolds. I’m
excited to see that Jennifer Garner (Peppermint,
Llama Llama, Yes Day), Mark Ruffalo (Now
You See Me 2, Dark Waters, What If...?), Zoe Saldana (Columbiana, I Kill Giants, Maya and the Three), and Catherine
Keener (Get Out, The Croods 2: A New Age,
Brand New Cherry Flavor) are also involved with the film. This will be the debut for young Walker Scobell as well. If
the trailer was a good indication, I think he has a promising career ahead of
him. It will be a treat to see him in his first role. The icing on the proverbial cake here is that this is a time
travel sci-fi action/adventure story. Those are all words that make my heart go
pitter pat. In any other month, The Adam
Project would have easily been my #1. The competition was too stiff this
time around, though. What’s better still? The
Adam Project is a Netflix original so I won’t have to wait to see it and can
blast my surround sound from the comfort of my own couch.
1 - The Batman (3/4)
Production/Distribution:
6th & Idaho Productions, DC Comics, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros., HKC
Entertainment, Roadshow Films, Warner Bros. Pictures Germany, Warner Bros.
Pictures Director: Matt
Reeves Writers: Matt Reeves,
Peter Craig, Bob Kane, Bill Finger Actors: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano, John Turturro, Andy Serkis, Peter Sarsgaard, Barry Keoghan, Jayme Lawson, Gil Perez-Abraham, Peter McDonald, Con O'Neill, Alex Ferns, Rupert Penry-Jones, Kosha Engler, Archie Barnes, Janine Harouni, Hana Hrzic, Joseph Walker, Luke Roberts, Oscar Novak, Stella Stocker, Sandra Dickinson, Jack Bennett, Andre Nightingale, Richard James-Neale, Lorraine Tai, Charlie Carver, Max Carver, Mark Killeen Genre: Action,
Crime, Drama Rated: PG-13 Length: 175 minutes IMDb Blurb: When the Riddler, a sadistic serial killer,
begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, Batman is forced to investigate
the city's hidden corruption and question his family's involvement.
Do I really need to give a reason why The Batman is my #1 pick?
I could leave you with a single word: ‘duh;’ but I won’t.
Honestly, it took me all of a few minutes to get over my
knee-jerk reaction to the announcement years ago that Robert Pattinson (Good Time, High Life, Tenet) was going
to be the new Batman. It was really an unfair reaction – and one too many
people have, still. Pattinson is really underrated as an actor. His range is
phenomenal. Everyone just has him stuck in this shoebox that those sparkly
vampire movies created. He is so much more than that. Trust me when I say that
I’m not even saying that from a swoony standpoint. The minute I saw him in the
first trailer for The Batman, I knew
they were really onto something here. I think that the franchise is in good hands with Matt Reeves
(Cloverfield, Let Me In, War for the
Planet of the Apes) at the helm. Everything feels grounded and gritty, like
the world of Gotham should be. He’s drawing inspiration from some really heavy
and serious material that will take this story and the future installments to a
whole new level.
I can’t wait to see what he’s done with it. The better news
is that he’s in a 3 picture deal so there will be a full trilogy to play with.
I am anticipating with bated breath what he’s going to do next. The Batman is
releasing exclusively in theaters, though I would expect a high-price On-Demand
rental might be available. Look for the movie to hit HBO Max after the 45 day
window.
