According
to Cat
20 -
The Blue Angels (5/17)
Director:
Paul Crowder
Genre:
Documentary
Rated:
G
Length:
1h 34min
RottenTomatoes
Blurb: The Blue Angels have been enthralling people, across
the country and around the globe, for more than 75 years. Now, Amazon
MGM Studios and IMAX bring a brand new documentary -- The Blue Angels
-- that will take audiences soaring with the Navy's elite Flight
Demonstration Squadron as never before. Filmed for IMAX, the
immersive footage puts you in the cockpit for a firsthand view of the
Blue Angels' precision flying, while the aerial shots deliver a
spectacular showcase of the breathtaking maneuvers that have made
them the world's premier jet team. The Blue Angels also takes
audiences behind the scenes for a revealing, in-depth look at what it
takes to become a Blue Angel -- from the careful selection process to
the challenging training regimen, and on through the demanding
eight-month show season. The film is a fitting tribute to the
extraordinary teamwork, passion and pride of the hundreds of
outstanding men and women of the Navy and Marine Corps who have had
the honor to serve in the Blue Angels squadron... past, present and
future.
I'm going to say something that's going
to sound really “out there” for anyone that's followed Trust the
Dice for a while: I was excited to have a chance to list a
documentary this month.
Between attention span shortages and
the predisposition to watch movies for escapism and entertainment,
it's not often that documentaries make the final cut for our Top 20
articles. It's not that we don't find them significant in the
landscape of film, however. Documentaries often cover important
topics, and even quite often they can be interesting. Selina
generally prefers to take in her non-fiction through written
materials, and I tend to want to be transported somewhere else when I
spend time watching a film.
The Blue Angels actually
accomplishes that. It's a documentary filmed for IMAX that takes
audiences on-board with the elite Navy flight demonstration squadron.
“Off we go, into the wild blue yonder...” as the song so famously
says. I'm absolutely here for the cinematography involved with
bringing us inside the cockpit and offering perspectives of the
team's training and performances for a full year.
Of course, I'm also a little bit of an
adrenaline junkie when it comes to air shows and fighter jets, dating
way back to a young age. I often feel that need to witness speed as
these skilled pilots and agile aircraft complete death-defying
maneuvers mere hundreds of feet in the air. I love watching the glow
of the afterburners, feeling the rumble of the engines in my chest,
and marveling at the intricate formations teams such as The Blue
Angels are known for. The bright blue and gold painted F/A-18
Super Hornets are some sexy planes, as well.
The Blue Angels also hold a
particularly sentimental spot in my heart. They were the first flight
demonstration team I met in person in my youth, and they were so kind
and gracious answering my million questions and humoring my
fan-girling while they were on a post-show break. My mom and I ended
up in the fligh tline ops building where they were hanging out as
crowds made their way off-base from that late 1980s Defenders
of Liberty Airshow at Barksdale AFB. Our car had overheated in
the blistering sun while idling in line on the tarmac & we were
waiting for my grandfather to come give us a ride home. The Blue
Angels were also the first team that my daughter met, as well.
They had a meet-and-greet with autographs one year when she was
little, and the individuals were just as charismatic and approachable
as the team that had come before them. She got a big kick out of the
uniform for the captain of the #5 plane. The digit was upside down on
their flight suit, because they were most often the member of the
team flying, quite literally, upside down at the shows.
We're always excited when The Blue
Angels come back to Barksdale. They were just here in 2023. (The
teams rotate and the air shows now take place every other year, so
it's not as frequent as I'd wish for.)
A lot goes into these demonstration
shows. These Navy and Marine Corps aviators have a crew of over 100
enlisted personnel working with them, so it's not jut the pilots in
the planes. I am eager to see the never-before-seen behind-the-scenes
glimpse at their selection process, training, and performances for
the year they were filming. Fun fact: The Blue Angels are also
the second oldest aerobatics squad in the world, apparently – which
I learned today. (#1 is a team in France.) I digress...
Who better to produce such an
action-packed thrill ride in the guise of a documentary than J.J.
Abrams (Star Trek Beyond, Lovecraft Country, Westworld) and
Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick, Devotion, Anyone But You).
Powell was bitten by the aviation bug apparently when he filmed his
role as Hangman in the 2022 Top Gun (1986) sequel. That
production was so thoroughly in-depth with flight training and
teaching all of the on-screen pilots how to direct themselves in the
planes while filming in the air, etc. that I am honestly not
surprised.
If you have access to an IMAX dome that
is showing The Blue Angels this May, my recommendation is to
go experience this documentary on the biggest screen there is. If you
don't have a dome near you, but have a multiplex with an IMAX screen,
this would definitely be worth the price of admission. Alas, my local
dome isn't set to play it, but there is a Regal I might just visit.
The Blue Angels will have a 1
week limited IMAX run beginning May 17th before it hits Amazon Prime
Video May 23rd, 2024.
19 - Ezra (5/31)
Director: Tony Goldwyn
Writer: Tony Spiridakis
Actors: Robert De Niro, Rose
Byrne, Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson, Bobby Cannavale, Whoopi Goldberg,
Daphne Rubin-Vega, Matilda Lawler, William A. Fitzgerald, Brian
Donahue, Tess Goldwyn, Ella Ayberk, Amy Sheehan, Jackson Frazer, Joe
Pacheco, Lois Robbins, Greer Barnes, Alex Plank, Bryan Burton, Barzin
Akhavan, John Donovan Wilson, Jacqueline Nwabueze, Joshua Hinck,
Oliver Morales, Sophie Mulligan, Thomas Duverné
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rated: R
Length: 1h 40min
RottenTomatoes Blurb: EZRA
follows Max Bernal (Bobby Cannavale), a stand-up comedian living with
his father (Robert De Niro), while struggling to co-parent his
autistic son Ezra (introducing William Fitzgerald) with his ex-wife
(Rose Byrne). When forced to confront difficult decisions about their
son's future, Max and Ezra embark on a cross-country road trip that
has a transcendent impact on both their lives. Directed by Tony
Goldwyn, who also appears in the film alongside additional cast
members Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg, EZRA is an
endearing and often funny exploration of a family determined to find
their way through life’s complexities with humor, compassion, and
heart.
Ezra is one of those movies that
causes me to feel the need to mention that just because a movie is
“low” or closer to the #20 spot in one of these lists, it by no
means indicates that I don't believe in it or have any negative
feelings specifically towards it.
This film does, however, feel like it
might be a little on the heavier side, emotionally speaking, for the
dramatic elements of the story in between the moments of levity. I'm
just not generally in a hurry to run towards stories that I have a
serious suspicion will make me cry out of empathy.
There are multiple people in my life
that are or have family members living with autism. Needless to say,
it's something very close to me and strikes an emotional chord
regardless if a production is meant to be funny or not.
Further, the autism spectrum is not
always portrayed accurately or with sensitivity in movies; so I tend
to tread a little carefully if I'm not sure how those proverbial
chips are going to fall. I'm not down to promote anything that would
be exploitive or spread misinformation.
In the case of Ezra, I'm fairly
confident I won't be disappointed, and I'm keeping my fingers
crossed.
The trailer was heartwarming and gave
me a few chuckles, even through my attempted stoic skepticism. I just
couldn't help but melt in favor of young William A. Fitzgerald's
character on screen and how his father and grandfather fight for him
to be treated correctly and be understood so he could have a
fulfilling life. The titular character's actor is providing his film
debut performance here, and from what I saw in those few minutes, I
am already generally impressed.
Of course, it probably helps that
Ezra's dad and grandpa are played by Bobby Cannavale (Jumanji:
Welcome to the Jungle, Sing 2, Allswell in New York) and Robert
De Niro (Joker, The Irishman, Killers of the Flower Moon),
respectively.
They're not the only oscar-worthy or
powerhouse cast members, either. This production's deck is stacked
with the likes of Rose Byrne (Instant Family, Insidious: The Red
Door, Physical), Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring, Bates Motel,
Origin), Rainn Wilson (Backstrom, The Meg, Dark Winds),
and Whoopi Goldberg (Toy Story 3, Till, The Color Purple).
I'm crossing my fingers that this
family dramedy holds up to my expectations.
Ezra
is receiving a wide theatrical release beginning May 31, 2024. On
Demand and streaming information were not available at the time of
this article.
18
- Summer Camp (5/31)
Director:
Castille Landon
Writer:
Castille Landon
Actors:
Kathy Bates, Diane Keaton, Josh Peck, Eugene Levy, Betsy Sodaro,
Dennis Haysbert, Beverly D'Angelo, Alfre Woodard, Victoria Rowell,
Nicole Richie, Tom Wright, Kensington Tallman, Ray Santiago, Maria
Howell, Stephanie Hong, Tyler Weaks, Audrianna Lico, Ashley Abrams,
Billy Jack Harlow, Gabrielle Days, Lindsey Blanchard, Taylor Madeline
Hand, Gabe Sklar
Genre:
Comedy
Rated:
PG-13
Length:
1hr 36min
IMDb
Blurb: Follows Nora, Ginny, and Mary, three childhood best
friends who used to spend every summer at a sleep away camp together.
After years, when the opportunity to get back together for a summer
camp reunion presents itself, they all seize it..
Summer
camp is something special to those of us that have experienced
it in our youth – well most of us. There are some camps that aren't
anything to write home about, but we're not talking about that.
I know sometimes I have to be a bit
predictable and redundant telling my old camp stories, and I realize
that it entirely comes across as “This one time? At band camp?...”
but I don't care. I had lots of fun times at Girl Scout Camp (shout
out to Camp Wawbansee!) and there are so many warm fuzzy nostalgic
memories. There are also a few lasting “battle scars” as well.
Don't get me started about the year I won “first place tippy
canoe.” It wasn't my fault, promise – but my sunburn that day
will be an everlasting patch of freckles that reminds me of how my
sunblock and towel went floating downriver without me. First aid
safety tip: never put an adhesive bandage over sunburn blisters on
the same day you get them. I digress...
Summer Camp is the sort of story
about fun and friendship that gives all the good feels.
I can absolutely relate to Diane
Keaton's (Book Club, Love Weddings and Other Disasters, Green Eggs
and Ham) character's anxiety about reconnecting with her best
friends she'd fell out of touch with for many years. I'm horrible as
a correspondent. You pretty much have to bonk me with a message or a
call when I crawl under my proverbial rock. My not thinking to
communicate has nothing to do with anyone else or how I feel about
them, usually. I just get caught up with the minutia of day to day.
There are so many excellent cast
members that just had me grinning through the entire trailer – such
as Kathy Bates (On the Basis of Sex, American Horror Story, The
Highwaymen), Alfre Woodard (The Gray Man, The Book of
Clarence, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur), Eugene Levy (Finding
Dory, Schitt's Creek, Human Resources), Dennis Haysbert (24,
Lucifer, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers), and Beverly D'Angelo
(Shooter, Violent Night, True Lies).
We're on the cusp of summer and it's
nearing time for camps to be opening and welcoming the youthful
masses once more. I have to go check out whether or not the camp I
attended offers a reunion sort of experience.
Summer
Camp is receiving a limited theatrical release beginning Friday,
May 31st, 2024. Details regarding streaming or On-Demand
rental were not available at the time of this article.
17
- Young Woman and the Sea (5/31)
Director:
Joachim Rønning
Writers:
Jeff Nathanson, Glenn Stout
Actors:
Daisy Ridley, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Stephen Graham, Kim Bodnia,
Jeanette Hain, Ethan Rouse, Doc Butler, Yordan Angelov, Robert Eades,
Tessa Bonham Jones, Saskia Marguerite, Glenn Fleshler, Christopher
Eccleston, Sian Clifford, Olive Abercrombie, Lilly Aspell, Alexander
Karim, Cat Haave, Hyoie O'Grady, Velizar Binev, Meglena Karalambova,
Devina Vassileva, Michael Amiar, Lylianna Eugene, David Calvitto,
Sebastian Griegel
Genre:
Biography, Drama, Romance
Rated:
PG
Length:
1h 40min
IMDb
Blurb: The story of competitive swimmer Trudy Ederle, who, in
1926, was the first woman to ever swim across the English Channel.
Young Woman and the Sea was a
bit of a no-brainer for me to list this month. We need movies that
are inspirational – especially to young women. It might seem cliché
to offer the old addage of “you can accomplish anything you put
your mind to with determination and hard work,” but historical
figures such as Trudy Ederle are the proof of concept.
Who was Trudy Ederle? Before this movie
was announced, I honestly couldn't tell you.
Now, however, I can offer a few fun
facts that weren't in the trailer. Trudy was a nickname for Gertrude
Ederle. The press also sometimes called her “Queen of the Waves.”
She was an American-born olympic gold medalist in addition to her
world-record-holder status. Young Woman and the Sea is an
adaptation from a biographical novel about Trudy Ederle. I haven't
personally read it, but she really seems like a fascinating
individual.
Young Woman and the Sea is a
period piece that looks to be poignant and powerful in its message,
and has a great cast helmed by Daisy Ridley (Murder on the Orient
Express, Peter Rabbit, The Marsh King's Daughter), as well as
Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who, Thor: The Dark World, True
Detective) and Stephen Graham (Boardwalk Empire, The Irishman,
Venom: Let There Be Carnage).
This movie was originally set to
premiere on the Disney+ platform, however was given a theatrical
release after positive test screenings.
Young Woman and the Sea will
receive a limited theatrical release beginning May 31st,
2024. It should eventually end up on the Disney+, but the details
regarding on-demand rental and streaming release were not available
at the time of this article.
16 - Chief of Station (5/3)
Director: Jesse V. Johnson
Writer: George Mahaffey
Actors: Aaron Eckhart, Olga
Kurylenko, Alex Pettyfer, Chris Petrovski, Laëtitia Eïdo, Nick
Moran, Daniel Bernhardt, Nina Bergman, James Faulkner, Jonathan
Ajayi, Kris Johnson, Isobel Wood, Josef Cannon, Hans Peterson, Bleona
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rated: Unrated
Length: 1h 37min
RottenTomatoes Blurb: Ben is
a former CIA station chief whose world comes crashing down after his
wife, a former operative, dies in a terrible accident. Soon, a
cryptic message sends him back into the shadowy underworld of Eastern
Europe, teaming up with a former adversary to unravel a conspiracy
that challenges everything he thought he knew about his wife and the
agency that he worked for.
Things have already started heating up
in the action movie department before the summer blockbuster season
has even really started. A popcorn movie full of action and intrigue
sounds like it's right up my alley.
I really enjoy Aaron Eckhart (Midway,
Muzzle, The Bricklayer), Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace,
Seven Psychopaths, Extraction II), Alex Pettyfer (I Am Number
Four, Lee Daniel's The Butler, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare)
in these settings so this should be a lot of fun.
Chief of Station seems to focus
on the mystery of what really happened to Eckhart's character's wife,
but this film shouldn't be a surprise for offering a solid 90 minutes
of entertainment.
Chief
of Station is receiving a limited theatrical release, as well as
availability On-Demand on Friday, May 3rd, 2024.
Streaming information was not available at the time of this article.
15
- Tarot (5/3)
Directors:
Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg
Writers:
Nicholas Adams, Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg
Actors:
Humberly González, Avantika, Olwen Fouéré, Jacob Batalon, Harriet
Slater, Larsen Thompson, Adain Bradley, Wolfgang Novogratz, Stasa
Nikolic, James Swanton, Alan Wells, Joss Carter, Suncica Milanovic
Genre:
Horror, Thriller
Rated:
PG-13
Length:
1h 32min
IMDb
Blurb: When a group of friends recklessly violates the sacred
rule of Tarot readings, they unknowingly unleash an unspeakable evil
trapped within the cursed cards. One by one, they come face to face
with fate and end up in a race against death.
OK so Tarot is one of the movies
that does tend to get shuffled down the ranking on my list because
I'm not sure how I feel about it. Don't get me wrong, this has the
recipe for a really excellent horror movie if it's executed properly.
The trailer was sufficiently creepy. I expect all the horror elements
will be present and there will be plenty of jump-scares.
My concern is the way that the tarot
cards themselves are being portrayed. This particular divining tool
already has a strong negative stigma – thus fuel for stories like
this. Though, it's really not the “evil” thing that it's made out
to be. The belief regarding tarot
cards is that they inherently retain energy from their owner and the
intentions utilized when using them. There is no real rule that says
you can't use someone else's deck of tarot
cards – it's just not recommended because of the way energies
interact and how the reading process works. They're not really cursed
items inherently and using them doesn't draw bad spirits, etc. I
worry when such things are further demonized (in this case quite
literally) in media because it further reinforces all the negativity
out there already.
It does, however, make for a spine
tingling story to think about the 'what if' factor if the complete
worst case scenario were to happen. If an evil person imbued their
deck with foul intentions – or worse. That seems to be the jumping
point from which the youth in this this story run afoul of the random
tarot deck they find... and then use.
Tarot also has a couple
recognizable cast members for me that further draws me in to this
production. I absolutely adore Jacob Batalon (The True Don
Quixote, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Lift) and am excited that he
has a movie hitting big screens at the same time the new season of
Reginald the Vampire (2022-) is hitting small ones. Then
there's also Harriet Slater (Pennyworth, Indiana Jones and the
Dial of Destiny, Belgravia: The Next Chapter) – incidentally
not directly related to Helen or Christian – and Olwen Fouéré
(Sea Fever, The Northman, Halo).
I'm looking forward to giving Tarot
a chance, and am hoping I can minimize my inclination to give it
side-eye.
Tarot
is receiving a wide theatrical release on May 3rd, 2024.
Streaming and on-demand information was not available at the time of
this article.
14
- Robot Dreams (5/31)
Director:
Pablo Berger
Writers:
Pablo Berger, Sara Varon
Actors:
Ivan Labanda, Albert Trifol Segarra, Rafa Calvo, José García Tos,
José Luis Mediavilla, Graciela Molina, Esther Solans
Genre:
Animation, Drama, Music
Rated:
Unrated
Length:
1h 42min
IMDb
Blurb: DOG lives in Manhattan and he's tired of being alone.
One day he decides to build himself a robot, a companion. Their
friendship blossoms, until they become inseparable, to the rhythm of
80's NYC. One summer night, DOG, with great sadness, is forced to
abandon ROBOT at the beach. Will they ever meet again?
Robot Dreams isn't your typical
animated movie – or even a typical movie, in general. This graphic
novel adaptation has been getting rave reviews from critics and
audiences, alike, since it premiered on the festival circuit. Robot
Dreams was even nominated for an Oscar in the Best Animated
Feature category, going up against Disney and Sony powerhouse
projects. While it didn't win, that speaks heavily for the quality of
the story and production, itself.
One thing to keep in mind, however, as
an audience member, is that there is ZERO dialogue in this movie.
None. Characters will vocalize sounds occasionally but that's it. It
is not an easy task for a film to convey its message without words
even for live-action – for an animated piece, it takes brilliance
of execution to connect with viewers in the same way.
Robot Dreams promises to be a
touching story about the love of friendship and about relationships.
I am always happy to see when movies explore platonic love rather
than going the typical romance route.
I am planning to have some tissues
handy when I watch Robot Dreams. The trailer already had me on
an emotional rollercoaster, so I have a feeling the full film is
going to have me in tears. I hope that it's the sort that leaves you
with a feeling of catharsis, rather than emotional destruction. I'm
crossing my fingers – maybe my toes too.
Robot
Dreams is hitting US theaters on May 31st, 2024. While
digital on-demand information is currently unavailable, I was able to
find that this movie will be heading to AppleTV+,
as they already have their “coming soon” page set-up, but no date
is available yet.
13
- Mars Express (5/3)
Director:
Jérémie Périn
Writers:
Jérémie Périn, Laurent Sarfati
Actors:
(English Dub Cast) Morla Gorrondona, Kiff VandenHeuvel, Josh
Keaton, Sarah Hollis, Ben Diskin, Fiona Jones, Jenapher Zheng, Billy
Bob Thompson
Genre:
Action, Animation, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Rated:
Unrated
Length:
1h 28min
RottenTomatoes
Blurb: In 2200, private detective Aline Ruby and her android
partner Carlos Rivera are hired by a wealthy businessman to track
down a notorious hacker. On Mars, they descend deep into the
underbelly of the planet's capital city where they uncover a darker
story of brain farms, corruption, and a missing girl who holds a
secret about the robots that threatens to change the face of the
universe.
I absolutely adore sci-fi. I can't even
really articulate well how much I'm eagerly anticipating the English
dub version of Mars Express to be released in the US via
GKIDS. Some of my earliest forays into sci-fi, especially regarding
futuristic robotics involved Isaac Asimov's 3 Laws of Robotics:
“(1) A robot may not injure a human
being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. (2)
A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such
orders would conflict with the First Law. (3) A robot must protect
its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with
the First or Second Law.”
Asimov later added an additional law
meant to be set above all others, the "Zeroth Law,” which
states “A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow
humanity to come to harm.” I am unsure if that particular parameter
is worked into Mars Express's plot, but I'd be curious to see.
I digress...
Asimov's works transcended the written
page and have worked into the fabric of robotics and also sci-fi that
has followed in his footsteps.
When you layer a neo-noir detective
story on top of this and then set it in the far flung future where AI
robots live side by side with humans and the visuals of a sleek blend
of 2D and 3D animation, it's a combination I just can't resist.
Mars Express is receiving a
limited theatrical release beginning Friday, May 3rd,
2024. Digital on-demand and streaming information weren't available
at the time of this article. Considering the movie is distributed by
GKIDS in the US, it would stand to reason, however, Mars Express
should eventually appear on one of the streaming platforms they
regularly work with, such as Disney/Fox owned Hulu or Tubi as well as
Crunchyroll.
There
will be a blu-ray release in France on May 8th, and a
special 2-disc blu-ray collector's edition which includes a 20-part
making-of documentary beginning May 22nd. It is unclear at
this time if the English dub of this film or the documentary will be
available on those blu-rays or if English speaking audiences will
need to wait for a future additional release.
12
- Kitty the Killer (5/3)
Director:
Lee Thongkham
Writers:
Sorawi Alapach, Venus Saksiri, Lee Thongkham, Teerat Vanavongtanate
Actors:
Ploypailin Thangprapaporn, Denkhun Ngamnet, Somchai Kemglad, Nara
Aniwat, Sutina Laoamnuaichai, Vithaya Pansringarm, Keetapat Pongrue
Genre:
Action, Comedy, Thriller
Rated:
Unrated
Length:
2h
IMDb
Blurb: A highly trained teenage assassin, Dina, and her
mentor, Charlie, form an unlikely duo as they unexpectedly join
forces to stop a sinister plot and save millions of lives.
I'm a bit giddy with anticipation for
Kitty the Killer. This martial arts action flick is out of
Thailand, and I am loving every second of the trailer.
This movie looks like it will be a
mashup of hard hitting martial arts with inserts of animated graphic
novel. The concept is a lot of fun and will provide a varied
experience for audiences. There might even be a hint of romance mixed
up with the fights, thrills, and comedic elements.
Kitty
the Killer is receiving a limited theatrical release beginning
May 3rd, 2024 and will become available on digital
on-demand services beginning May 7th.
11
- Something in the Water (5/3)
Director:
Hayley Easton Street
Writer:
Cat Clarke
Actors:
Hiftu Quasem, Lauren Lyle, Natalie Mitson, Nicole Rieko Setsuko,
Ellouise Shakespeare-Hart, Laura Costa, Clearco Giuria, Gabriel
Prevost-Takahashi
Genre:
Thriller
Rated:
R
Length:
1h 26min
TMDb
Blurb: Reunited at an exotic destination wedding, five
girlfriends decide to rent a boat to spend a day together along the
paradise-like coast. Their friendship is put to the ultimate test
when they find themselves stranded in open water fighting for their
lives against sharks and mother nature as they desperately try to
survive.
I am ALWAYS going to be a sucker for a
shark movie – good or bad. (I prefer the better ones, though –
unless it's a so-bad-it's-good situation like the Sharknado
(2013) franchise.) It goes without saying that I am eager to jump
into these shark-infested waters of Something in the Water,
which is releasing with good timing at the beginning of swim-vacation
season.
The cast has quite a few unknown (at
least to me) up-and-comers, but also a couple names I have
encountered before. I'm familiar with the more fantastical work of
both Hiftu Quasem (Ten Percent, The Witcher: Blood Origin, The
Witcher) and Lauren Lyle (Tell It to the Bees, Outlander,
Mercy Falls), so I'm interested in seeing how they fare with this
very dramatic “real-world” thrill ride.
Something in the Water also
boasts a female writer/director team sharing this movie as their
feature-length film debut. Cat Clarke (Ten Percent, Good Omens)
has had succes as a YA novel authorand Hayley Easton Street (Stealth,
The Colour Rush) has worked on well-known productions in the
past. Those projects include a few Harry Potter films,
Stardust (2007), and Wrath of the Titans (2012).
Needless to say, she has a proven artistic eye, so I'm interested in
seeing how this translates as a visual storyteller through her
directing role.
All told, I can't wait to sink my teeth
into this new tale featuring toothsome terrors of the deep.
Something
In the Water is receiving a limited theatrical release beginning
May 3rd, 2024. On-demand and streaming information was not
available at the time of this article.
10
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (5/10)
Director:
Wes Ball
Writers:
Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver
Actors:
Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Dichen Lachman, William H. Macy, Owen
Teague, Peter Macon, Lydia Peckham, Sara Wiseman, Neil Sandilands,
Eka Darville, Ras-Samuel, Travis Jeffery, Nina Gallas
Genre:
Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure
Rated:
PG-13
Length:
2h 25min
IMDb
Blurb: Many years after the reign of Caesar, a young ape goes
on a journey that will lead him to question everything he's been
taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for
apes and humans alike.
The original Planet of the Apes
(1968) is one of those early core movie experiences within my
personal cinematic landscape. Of course, I wasn't around when it hit
theaters, but I did enjoy watching it when it appeared on TV. The
visuals and concepts were unforgettable – that and the incomparable
Charlton Heston (1923-2008) and his railing against the "...damn
dirty apes!"
I've been following along since this
franchise got new life breathed into it beginning in 2011. It's a
shame that Heston didn't get a chance to see how far this saga has
come. I digress...
Needless to say, I am looking forward
to watching Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. I'm curious if
the storyline here begins to overlap the timeline of the original
movies, or if this all still takes place before those events. Throw
away any concerns, however, that this is some sort of reboot – it
maintains the continuity from the last few films, but is set 300
years in the future. I just can't remember how far past the fall of
man and rise of apes the originals were set.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
has a star-studded cast, as most of thee films have, including Freya
Allan (Gunpowder Milkshake, The Witcher, Baghead). Kevin
Durand (The Strain, Locke & Key, Abigail), Dichen Lachman
(Altered Carbon, Animal Kingdom, Jurassic World Dominion),
William H. Macy (The Wind Rises, Shameless, Ricky Stanicky),
Owen Teague (It, The Empty Man, You Hurt My Feelings), and
Peter Macon (Shameless, The Orville, Family Guy).
I've
seen a few mentions that there might be some early screenings of
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes on May 8th, but
the official wide release date remains May 10th, 2024. At
the time of this article, information regarding on-demand and
streaming wasn't available. Chances are, however, that it will
eventually land on Hulu/Disney+ along with its predecessors.
9
- I Saw the TV Glow (5/3)
Director:
Jane Schoenbrun
Writer:
Jane Schoenbrun
Actors:
Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Ian Foreman, Helena Howard,
Lindsey Jordan, Danielle Deadwyler, Fred Durst, Conner O'Malley, Emma
Portner, Madaline Riley, Amber Benson, Albert Birney, Timothy Griffin
Allan, Tyler Dean Flores, Marlyn Bandiero, Phoebe Bridgers
Genre:
Horror, Thriller, Drama
Rated:
PG-13
Length:
1h 40min
RottenTomatoes
Blurb: Teenager Owen is just trying to make it through life in
the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a mysterious
late-night TV show — a vision of a supernatural world beneath their
own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen’s view of reality
begins to crack.
I think I'd probably watch just about
anything that Justice Smith (Ron's Gone Wrong, The Voyeurs,
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves). I really appreciate
the general vibe he brings to his characters.
I Saw the TV Glow seems to be
somewhat of a love letter to the 1990s but with a twist.
That particular decade seems to be
ingrained within writer/director Jane Schoenbrun (A
Self-Induced Hallucination, We're All Going to the World's Fair, Big
Brother Volcano) to the point that she included familiar
faces from that era. Limp Bizkit front-man Fred Durst (Revelations,
Population 436, Play Dead) as well as the boys from The
Adventures of Pete & Pete (1992-1996) Michael C. Maronna
(What Alice Found, Bad Apple, Men Without Jobs) and Danny
Tamberelli (Fillmore!, Crypta!, Ham on Rye) are examples of
such. Also, the mysteriously cancelled-too-soon show within I Saw
the TV Glow also is repordedly based on inspiration from a mashup
of various 1990s productions from the large and small screens, alike.
Of course, there's also more current
talent such as Brigette Lundy-Paine (Bombshell, Bill & Ted
Face the Music, Atypical) and Danielle Deadwyler (Paradise
Lost, The Harder They Fall, Till).
I am dying to find out what the twist
with this TV show is and how it impacts the characters. The trailer
has me seriously intrigued.
I
Saw the TV Glow is set for a wide theatrical release beginning
May 3rd, 2024.On-demand and streaming information weren't
available at the time of this article.
8 -
Poolman (5/10)
Director:
Chris Pine
Writers:
Ian Gotler, Chris Pine
Actors:
Chris Pine, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, John
Ortiz, DeWanda Wise, Ray Wise, Juliet Mills, Evan Shafran, Hollis W.
Chambers, Christopher Chen, Armie Hicks Jr., Laurent Schwaar, Ren
Burttet, Scot Coker Free
Genre:
Comedy, Mystery
Rated:
Unrated
Length:
1h 40min
IMDb
Blurb: Darren Barrenman is an unwavering optimist and native Angeleno
who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki
apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to
live.
We all know that Chris Pine (All the
Old Knives, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Wish) is
talented in front of the camera. Now we get a chance to see what he
can do when he's also calling the shots behind it, too! Poolman
is Pine's feature directorial debut.
When you add that with the goofy,
though seemingly endearing, comedic mystery afoot in this story of a
fish-out-of-water man seeking to fight corruption in his city through
espionage, and the stellar cast; I think that's a combination worth
taking note of and giving a shot!
When I say stellar cast, these stars
shine bright with the likes of DeWanda Wise (She's Gotta Have It,
Jurassic World Dominion, Imaginary), Annette Bening (Death on
the Nile, Jerry adn Marge Go Large, Nyad), Danny DeVito (The
One adn Only Ivan, Haunted Mansion, Migration), and Jennifer
Jason Leigh (Annihiliation, The Hateful Eight, Atypical).
I can't wait to see how it turns out.
(I'm hoping that the critic reviews from the festival circuit are
negative because they mised the point, as they are often known to
do.)
Poolman
is set for a limited theatrical release beginning May 10th,
2024.
7
- The Last Stop in Yuma County (5/10)
Director:
Francis Galluppi
Writer:
Francis Galluppi
Actors:
Jim Cummings, Jocelin Donahue, Richard Brake, Nicholas Logan, Faizon
Love, Michael Abbott Jr., Gene Jones, Robin Bartlett, Sierra
McCormick, Connor Paolo, Ryan Masson, Alexandra Essoe, Sam
Huntington, Jon Proudstar, Barbara Crampton, Robert Broski, Matt
McVay
Genre:
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Rated:
R
Length:
1h 30min
IMDb
Blurb: While stranded at a rural Arizona rest stop, a
traveling salesman is thrust into a dire hostage situation by the
arrival of two bank robbers with no qualms about using cruelty-or
cold, hard steel-to protect their bloodstained fortune.
I love the premise of The Last Stop
in Yuma County. It feels like a plausible scenario – at the
very least, grounded in reality. Little pit-stop stations out in the
middle of nowhere somewhere in between when the Mother Road fell into
disuse and the age of cell phones would be prime settings for
something like this to happen. It also feels like a fresh idea in a
sea of recycled ones. At least, I can't think of anything like it in
recent years.
There's a great cast involved, as
well. The stand-out that caught my attention before I started
pointing in recognition at nearly everyone was Richard Brake (3
From Hell, Barbarian, Lore). Here, he's doing what he does best –
playing a very bad man.
I feel like The Last Stop in Yuma
County is going to have me on the edge of my seat from start to
finish, even with the apparent injections of levity that seem to be
woven into this intense crime thriller. That's really the way I enjoy
them best.
The
Last Stop in Yuma County is set to release in select theaters as
well as on digital on-demand on Friday, May 10th, 2024.
Streaming service information was not available at the time of this
article.
6
- Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (5/24)
Director:
George Miller
Writers:
George Miller, Nick Lathouris
Actors:
Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Angus Sampson, Charlee Fraser, Tom
Burke, Nathan Jones, Alyla Browne, Lachy Hulme, Goran D. Kleut, David
Collins, Ian Roberts, Matuse, Rahel Romahn, CJ. Bloomfield, Darcy
Bryce, Lauren Myhre Fox, Dylan Adonis, Robert Jones, Florence
Mezzara, Chong Wei Zhang, Dylan Hill, Kelli Bailey
Genre:
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Rated:
R
Length:
2h 28min
IMDb
Blurb: The origin story of renegade warrior Furiosa before her
encounter and teamup with Mad Max.
Now we're starting to delve into the
“shut up and take my money” category of movies that I want to
watch this upcoming month.
Why Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga?
Because when you can Mad Max (1979) you should always Mad
Max.
Of course, Anya Taylor-Joy (The
Queen's Gambit, The Northman, Dune: Part Two) and Chris Hemsworth
(Bad Times at the El Royale, Avengers: Endgame, Extraction)
both help sell this film, as well. I would watch just about anything
these two are in, whether they're starring together or not. They both
have layers and depth to their performances that exceeds the boxes
that Hollywood tries to put them in.
This franchise has been a cornerstone
of the cinematic landscape at large for so many years, and it remains
in the brilliant hands of its creator - George Miller (The Witches
of Eastwick, Happy Feet, Three Thousand Years of Longing). He has
a co-writer credit with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, but not to
fret. The new writer helping him along is well-versed in the Mad
Max universe – he was a Grease Rat in the original movie, at
that.
I love Furiosa as a character, and
can't wait to learn more of her story and some more of the back-story
to the place where me met her in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).
Furiosa:
A Mad Max Saga is set to premiere at Cannes May 15th before
receiving theatrical releases in Australia May 23rd, and
then the US on May 24th, 2024. Streaming and digital
on-demand information was not available at the time of this article.
5
- The Garfield Movie (5/24)
Director:
Mark Dindal
Writers:
Paul A. Kaplan, Mark Torgove, David Reynolds, Jim Davis
Actors:
Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames,
Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén, Brett Goldstein,
Bowen Yang, Snoop Dogg, Dev Joshi, Alicia Grace Turrell, Lynsey
Murrell, Luke Cinque-White
Genre:
Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Rated:
PG
Length:
1h 41min
IMDb
Blurb: After Garfield's unexpected reunion with his long-lost
father, ragged alley cat Vic, he and his canine friend Odie are
forced from their perfectly pampered lives to join Vic on a risky
heist.
I love Garfield. Period.
I really don't care who's voicing him
as long as they don't try to CHANGE him in their interpretation of
the character. In this movie, it doesn't matter that he won't sound
like the orange tabby of my childhood cartoons. We're seeing a bit of
Garfield's origin story here, when he was younger. This is my
rationalization, okay?
From the comic strips to the seasonal
cartoon specials even before Garfield and Friends
(1988-1995) hit the small screen, I have voraciously enjoyed
everything regarding our favorite Monday-hating lasagna-lover. I even
had a Garfield themed card game I would play with my mom often
when I was little. (I think it was some sort of variation on Go-Fish
– either that or a memory game. Aah the irony that I can't
remember!)
The Garfield Movie's cast is
simply amazing and you can't argue with me otherwise. (Yes, I seem to
be repeating this sentiment in varying ways – because I've already
“heard” plenty of grumbling out there about the titular
character's casting. I don't have to be a purist to enjoy this.
Seriously.)
The
Garfield Movie is set for a wide release on May 24th,
2024. Streaming details are unclear at this time, however, it is
known that licensing agreements have been made so that there's a
strong chance The Garfield Movie will appear on more than one
streaming platform after its exclusive theater run is completed.
4
- Unfrosted (5/03)
Director:
Jerry Seinfeld
Writers:
Jerry Seinfeld, Spike Feresten, Andy Robin, Barry Marder
Actors:
Isaac Bae, Jerry Seinfeld, Rachael Harris, Kue Lawrence, Catherine
Last, Christian Slater, Jim Gaffigan, Hugh Grant, Nelson Franklin,
Sarah Cooper, Kyle Mooney, Mikey Day, Drew Tarver, Patrick Warburton,
Ken Narasaki, Amy Schumer, Max Greenfield, Andy Daly, Cedric The
Entertainer, Bailey Sheetz, Eleanor Sweeney, Earthquake, Kyle
Dunnigan, John Forest, Beck Bennett, Gregory Burke, Melissa McCarthy,
Adrian Martinez, Jack McBrayer, Thomas Lennon, Bobby Moynihan, James
Marsden, Sasheer Zamata, Will Allan, Aparna Nancherla, Michael Joseph
Pierce, Felix Solis, Tony Hale, Spike Feresten, Maria Bakalova, Dean
Norris, Peter Dinklage, Bill Burr, Nicole Peters, Lauren Peters,
George Wallace, Ronny Chieng, Sarah Burns, Jeff Lewis, Cedric
Yarbrough, Alex Edelman, Jon Hamm, Fred Armisen, Winter Bassett,
Jessica Seinfeld, Darrell Hammond, Dan Levy, Mark Kwak, Susan Elle
Genre:
Biography, Comedy, History
Rated:
PG-13
Length:
1h 33min
IMDb
Blurb: In 1963 Michigan, business rivals Kellogg's and Post
compete to create a cake that could change breakfast forever.
Love him or hate him, you've got to
admit that it seems like a hilarious prospect that Jerry Seinfeld
(Bee Movie, The Marriage Ref, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee)
is both directing and starring in a movie about how Pop Tarts came to
be. (The fact that it's his feature directorial debut as well as his
leading role live-action debut in a feature film is beside the
point.)
What I find more alluring than the
bonkers premise and the fact that Unfrosted was inspired by a
podcast stand-up comedy bit, is that this movie is packed to the
gills with seriously talented and funny people.
If I tried to name them all, it would
take forever to read through and I know I've already been a little
long-winded in this article. Further, there's a list above this
section so you don't have to go far to see for yourself.
Bonus?
You don't have to go anywhere at all to watch this film. Unfrosted
is releasing on May 3rd, 2024 as a Netflix Original.
3
- Atlas (5/24)
Director:
Brad Peyton
Writers:
Leo Sardarian, Aron Eli Coleite
Actors:
Jennifer Lopez, Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, Gregory James Cohan,
Abraham Popoola, Lana Parrilla, Mark Strong, Briella Guiza, Adia
Smith-Eriksson, Logan Hunt, Jared Shimabukuro, Ashley J. Hicks, Paul
Ganus, Zoe Boyle, Howland Wilson
Genre:
Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure
Rated:
PG-13
Length:
1h 58min
Metacritic
Blurb: Atlas Shepherd (Jennifer Lopez), a brilliant but
misanthropic data analyst with a deep distrust of artificial
intelligence, joins a mission to capture a renegade robot with whom
she shares a mysterious past. But when plans go awry, her only hope
of saving the future of humanity from AI is to trust it.
We have been contemplatnig what AI will
mean for mankind ever since The Terminator (1984) warned us
about Judgement Day – and some sci-fi lovers have done so even
longer than that.
AI has already begun to creep into
aspects of our daily lives in both subtle and not-so quiet ways.
I welcome any and all thoughts as to
what might just happen if that were to go awry. We need those
cautionary tales to help us press pause and contemplate the
consequences of our breakthroughs in innovation. We as a species tend
to charge forth to stretch our limits to find out what we CAN do and
often don't stop to ponder whether or not we SHOULD.
Atlas has a ridiculously amazing
cast on top of that. I would enjoy watching this movie if only 1 or 2
of these talented actors were involved. When you add all the cool
effects, the kick ass action, and the thrill of exploring a new place
out among the stars to that mix, my answer to “do you want to watch
this?” would tend to be along the lines of “hell yeah.”
Atlas
is also hitting our screens as a Netflix Original beginning May 24th,
2024.
2
- The Fall Guy (5/3)
Director:
David Leitch
Writers:
Drew Pearce, Glen A. Larson
Actors:
Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham,
Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, Winston Duke, Ben Knight,
Matuse Matuse, Adam Dunn, Zara Michales, Ioane Saula, Gregory J.
Fryer, Madeleine Wilson, Kalkidan China, Angela Nica Sullen, Di
Smith, Megan O'Connell, Jack Doherty, Tony Lynch, Georgia Nottage,
David Collins, Semu Filipo, Andrew Owen, Dan Reardon, Marky Lee
Campbell, Chris Matheson, Ben Gerrard, Lee Majors
Genre:
Action, Comedy, Drama
Rated:
PG-13
Length:
2h 6min
IMDb
Blurb: A down-and-out stuntman must find the missing star of
his ex-girlfriend's blockbuster film.
I have been chomping at the bit to see
The Fall Guy ever since I saw the first trailer for this
movie.
I love the cast, the story had me
giggling on top of the action rush and warm fuzzies for the romantic
elements. I love the snarky wit and all the banter. The premise is
great, both from a perspective of mistaken identities and getting a
peek 'behind the scenes' at what stunt workers do, in general.
I just can't wait to watch The Fall
Guy, and will be fairly bouncing in my chair with anticipation until
I can. I don't even mind that this is either a reboot or a remake.
The
Fall Guy is set for a wide theatrical release beginning May 3rd,
2024. It is possible that we could see its digital release as early
as June 2024, though there is always potential for that to be moved
up or further out depending on box office numbers. Other details
regarding streaming and on-demand services were unavailable at the
time of this article.
1
- IF (5/17)
Director:
John Krasinski
Writer:
John Krasinski
Actors:
Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Cailey Fleming, Steve Carell, Phoebe
Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Maya
Rudolph, Jon Stewart, Sam Rockwell, Sebastian Maniscalco, Christopher
Meloni, Richard Jenkins, Awkwafina, Bobby Moynihan, Alan Kim, Liza
Colón-Zayas, Mellanie Hubert, George Clooney, Michael Sarnoski,
Arlette Aponte, Keegan-Michael Key, Matthew Rhys, Bradley Cooper,
Holden Goodman, Blake Lively, Gay Haubner, Amy Schumer, Fiona Shaw,
Catharine Daddario, David Weissmann, Audrey Hoffman
Genre:
Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Rated:
Not Rated
Length:
1h 44min
IMDb
Blurb: A young girl who goes through a difficult experience
begins to see everyone's imaginary friends who have been left behind
as their real-life friends have grown up.
So my note when I (re)watched the IF
trailer for Top 20 sorting purposes (mostly to save the link because
I'd already seen it already... several times) was “fuck yes.”
Ryan Reynolds (Free Guy, The Adam
Project, Spirited) + imaginary friends = magic.
I'm not ashamed to say that the
Deadpool (2016) actor has earned a spot as one of my favorites
of all time. He can make even simple things hilarious in his
wonderfully snarky way. He's the king of hilarious banter and
off-the-cuff riffs.
Then when you add the gifted mind of
John Krasinski (The Office, The Hollars, A Quiet Place) for
his first non-horror project for a while, it just sweetens the deal.
I want to see IF desperately.
Now. Yesterday. Tomorrow. I don't care – I just need to ASAP.
IF
is set for a wide theatrical release beginning May 17th,
2024. Digital on-demand and streaming service information were not
available at the time of this article. Considering that IF is being
distributed by Paramount, however, the chances are good that it will
eventually land on Paramount+.
Movies
to Look out For
According
to Selina
Chasing Chasing Amy .20
Dragonkeeper .19
Cabrini .18
The Idea of You .17
Something in the Water .16
Back to Black .15
Thelma the Unicorn .14
The Contestant .13
The Garfield Movie .12
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes .11
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom .10
Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever .9
Young Woman and the Sea .8
Tarot .7
The Strangers: Chapter 1 .6
Unfrosted .5
Turtles All the Way Down .4
The Fall Guy .3
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga .2
IF .1
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