"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.
Production/Distribution: Aperture Entertainment, Fangoria,
Media Finance Capital, CINESTATE, RLJE Films, Double Dutch International
Director: Chelsea Stardust
Writer: Grady Hendrix, Ted
Geoghegan
Actors: Rebecca Romijn, Arden Myrin,
Hayley Griffith, Ruby Modine, AJ Bowen, Jordan Ladd, Jeff Daniel Phillips,
Jerry O’Connell, Hannah Stocking, Whitney Moore, Michael Polish, Skeeta
Jenkins, Maya Perkins, Mike E. Winfield, Jonas Lerway, Ranger Lerway, Clarke
Wolfe, Gina Marie Hughes, Aaron N. Martin
Blurb
from IMDb: A
pizza delivery girl at the end of her financial rope has to fight for her life
- and her tips - when her last order of the night turns out to be high society
Satanists in need of a virgin sacrifice.
Selina’s
Point of View:
This
was a high-quality B-horror film.
There
are some recognizable names involved and the overall quality of filming was
relatively high… but it was just as cheesy and over-the-top as you would want
your B-horrors to be.
As
much as I tend to enjoy comedy horror, there’s a balance that needs to be met. Satanic
Panic just didn’t get there.A lot of the scenes that were supposed
to be funny, were problematic at best. I’m not very sensitive to comedy – some
really dark shit makes me laugh – but even I feel like this movie crossed a few
lines. I wasn’t offended, but I also didn’t find it funny.
Simply
put: there were better ways to frame the off-color comedy scenes that would
have made the movie much funnier and easier to watch.
Other
than that, Satanic Panic had some good parts. I enjoyed the concept and
the cheesy acting. I also thought a few of the scenes were pretty memorable.
I
still didn’t like it.
Between
the issues I had with the unnecessarily uncomfortable scenes in the beginning
and the unimaginative ending, I just can’t bring myself to want to recommend
this movie. It’s just not worth the watch.
That
said, it WAS the first full-length feature film for the director, and I see a
lot in Satanic Panic that suggests she will get better with experience.
Cat’s
Point of View:
Horror-comedy is
my jam. I would still say sci-fi/fantasy and action are at the top of my list,
but this sub-genre is a close third. For that reason, I absolutely had to have Satanic
Panic in my Top 20 from September 2019; albeit, it was #19.
I’m on the fence
about this one.
Mostly, I found
that the best funny bits were all in the trailer.
I was expecting a comedic
romp poking fun at cultists and highlighting an up-and-coming female lead. What
I got was a film drowning in occult detail and ritual babble, with not enough
laughs. I’d almost say that the movie was taking itself seriously; as more of a
full-fledged horror without the comedy. It was like the marketing felt wrong.
I almost feel I
have to discount that aspect of the movie entirely in order to give it a
chance.
If I pretend I
wasn’t supposed to be laughing, I’d say that this was a decent horror film. The
characters found themselves in what seemed like near-impossible situations.
There was blood and disgusting horror elements everywhere. There was even a
twist I didn’t see coming. I appreciated how the foreshadowing early in the
movie tied in for the final ‘aha’ moment.
All told,
however, I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch this one again. I wouldn’t try to
steer anyone specifically away from it, however. There are just better
horror-comedies out there if that’s what you’re in the mood for. If the laughs
aren’t what you’re hunting, then it’s fine as a basic horror on its own.
Be careful when
you search for this, however, if you have your Shudder service connected to
Amazon Prime Video. There is another movie by the same name, from and earlier
year, available on Prime. I almost watched that one by accident due to my voice
remote finding it in error.
Writer: Joe
Gatto, Chris Henchy, James Murray, Brian Quinn, Sal Vulcano
Actors: Brian
Quinn, Joe Gatto, James Murray, Sal Vulcano, Jaden Smith, Paula Abdul, Joey
Fatone, Kane Hodder
Genre: Comedy
Rated: Unrated
Length: 93
minutes
IMDb Blurb: The story of a humiliating high school mishap from
1992 that sends the Impractical Jokers on the road competing in hidden-camera
challenges for the chance to turn back the clock and redeem three of the four
Jokers.
Honestly? I’m not a fan of Impractical Jokers (2011-).
I’m not the biggest fan of pranks and I think some of their stuff borders on
mean. That said, I do understand why other people might enjoy something like
it.
Aside from a bit of a story-driven framing device, it could
be pretty much a long episode of the show. That leads me to believe that if
you’re a fan, you’ll probably enjoy it.
It’s not for me, though.
19 – Saint
Frances (2/28)
Production/Distribution:
Oscilloscope
Director: Alex
Thompson
Writer: Kelly
O’Sullivan
Actors: Kelly
O’Sullivan, Ramona Edith Williams, Charin Alvarez, Braden Crothers, William
Drain, Laura T. Fisher, Mary Beth Fisher, Meighan Gerachis, Francis Guinan, Max
Lipchitz, Lily Mojekwu, Bradley Grant Smith, Jim True-Frost, H.B. Ward, Rebekah
Ward, Roger Welp
Genre: Comedy,
Drama
Rated: Unrated
Length: 106 minutes
IMDb Blurb: After an accidental pregnancy turned abortion, a
deadbeat nanny finds an unlikely friendship with the six-year old she's charged
with protecting.
Saint Frances is getting insane reviews among the
film festival circuit goers. Still, I’m a bit concerned about it.
I can’t deny that the trailer makes the characters seem
interesting and I definitely look forward to seeing it. That said, movies like
this can turn out to be a bit preachy about whatever stance on abortion they
happen to be taking. Personally, I don’t care if I believe with the stance or
not, I don’t watch fiction movies to be preached at. If I want that I know
where the documentary section is.
That said, there’s no guarantees that this film will have
that kind of quality to it – and there are some other aspects that make me want
to see it.
Saint Frances touches on a huge number of
female-centric topics. The only movies I’ve seen cover this many of those
topics have been coming-of-age films. It’s like movie creators believe that
once a woman hits 18, those issues just vanish. It’s nice to see adults dealing
with them for once.
I do think that this film probably deserves to be higher
than I’m putting it, but my personal concerns won’t really let me do that.
18 – Greed (2/21)
Production/Distribution:
Film4, Revolution Films, Sony Pictures International Productions, Sony Pictures
Classics
Director: Michael
Winterbottom
Writer: Michael
Winterbottom, Sean Gray
Actors: Asa Butterfield,
Sophie Cookson, Isla Fisher, Shirley Henderson, Stephen Fry, Steve Coogan,
David Mitchell, Sarah Solemani, Enzo Cilenti, Pearl Mackie, Jamie Blackley,
Charlie Cooper, Shanina Shaik, Polly Kemp
Genre: Comedy,
Drama
Rated: R
Length: 164 minutes
IMDb Blurb: Satire about the world of the super-rich.
Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge, The Secret Life of Pets,
Holmes & Watson) just has the most punch-able face I’ve ever seen. It
doesn’t help that I’ve only ever seen him play obnoxious characters. Of course,
that could be due to the face thing. In which case, I get it.
Previous opinion aside, this does look like an interesting
movie.
I enjoy films that explore the war between the classes. I
try not to fall victim to prejudgment of people, but I think it’s a very human
flaw that a lot – if not most – of us have. Movies like this let me indulge the
flaw for a couple of hours before I have to go back to fighting it, and I think
that’s important.
That said, the plot is a little muddled in the trailer,
that’s why I can’t put this any higher. I know it’s about a rich guy and I know
he’s super obnoxious (after all, he’s played by Coogan), but other than that I
don’t know much. Is it tax evasion? Is he scamming people? The trailer’s all
over the place, I don’t really know.
I might see this one, but I’m not likely to see it in
theaters.
17 – Olympic
Dreams (2/14)
Production/Distribution:
IFC Films
Director: Jeremy
Teicher
Writer: Nick
Kroll, Alexi Pappas, Jeremy Teicher
Actors: Gus
Kenworthy, Nick Kroll, Alexi Pappas, Morgan Schild
Genre: Comedy,
Romance, Sport
Rated: PG-13
Length: 85
minutes
IMDb Blurb: In the Olympic Athlete Village, a young cross-country
skier bonds with a volunteer doctor after her competition ends.
I’ll be honest, the movie itself looks pretty basic,
plot-wise. There are other things that make this film seem more interesting
than most.
Olympic Dreams is the first feature film made in an
Olympic village. That alone is kind of interesting. It’s not just a setting
designed to look like the Olympics – it’s the actual place. That gives the
whole thing an extra layer of authenticity that I feel comes through in the
trailer.
Then there’s Nick Kroll (Big Mouth, Operation Finale,
Uncle Drew). I only know Kroll from his comedy work. While researching this
movie, I found dramas that he’s been in, but I don’t recall him ever being a
leading man in a romance before. I’m significantly interested in seeing how
he’ll do in this role. I’ve also looked into getting to see one of his dramas.
I’ve never considered Kroll as anything but a comedian an I’m looking forward
to seeing him in parts I once couldn’t fathom him in.
I think that Olympic Dreams can go one of two ways. It
could be incredibly basic, not much more than a sports romance that you’d see anywhere
else. Or it could rise above other films with a sense of realism because of the
phenomenal setting and interesting casting choices. I look forward to finding
out.
16 – Brahms: The
Boy II (2/21)
Production/Distribution:
Huayi Brothers, Lakeshore Entertainment, STX Entertainment, GEM Entertainment,
Capelight Pictures, Golden Village Pictures, Polyfilm Verleih, Viva
International Pictures, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group,
The Searchers
Director: William
Brent Bell
Writer: Stacey
Menear
Actors: Katie
Holmes, Owain Yeoman, Ralph Ineson, Anjali Jay, Christopher Convery, Oliver
Rice, Joely Collins, Daphne Hoskins, Charles Jarman, Natalie Moon, Ellie King,
Joanne Kimm
Genre: Horror,
Mystery, Thriller
Rated: PG-13
Length: Unknown
IMDb Blurb: After a family moves into the Heelshire Mansion,
their young son soon makes friends with a life-like doll called Brahms.
The first film, The Boy (2016), had good and bad
aspects. There was decent suspense and some really great acting. On the other
hand, there were unnecessary scenes and, although the twist at the end should
have been good, it kind of negated the rest of the film.
That ending, however, makes what the trailer shows for the
sequel interesting.
Already, you have a different feel because the child seems
to be the main focus of the malevolent entity this time around and he doesn’t
seem all that innocent according to the trailer. It seems like the film is
building him up to be some kind of psychopath in the making.
There will be a different cast, which is pretty par for the
course in movies like this – but it does leave the casting quality up in the
air. The new actors will be filling some pretty big shoes. Katie Holmes (Ocean’s
Eight, Logan Lucky, The Giver), however, gives me some hope that the
quality should be pretty parallel to the first one.
Without going too much into it, in an attempt to not spoil
the first one, the sequel looks like it will be relying much more heavily on a
supernatural feel than the first one did. Although this makes me worry that the
suspense factors will suffer, especially since we already know the original
twist, it also leaves room for William Brent Bell (The Devil Inside, Stay
Alive, Wer) and Stacey Menear (Mixtape), the director and writer, to
explain some of the essence of the first film a little better.
If it’s made properly, Brahms: The Boy II could wind
up improving the original. Here’s hoping.
15 – VFW (2/14)
Production/Distribution:
Fangoria, RLJE Films
Director: Joe Begos
Writer: Max
Brallier, Matthew McArdle
Actors: Martin Kove,
Stephen Lang, David Patrick Kelly, William Sadler, Sierra McCormick, Dora
Madison, George Wendt, Fred Williamson, Tom Williamson, Travis Hammer, Graham
Skipper, Josh Ethier, Chloe Carabasi, JP DeStefano, Linnea Wilson
Genre: Action,
Horror
Rated: Unrated
Length: 92
minutes
IMDb Blurb: A group of war veterans must defend their local VFW
post and an innocent teen against a deranged drug dealer and his relentless
army of punk mutants.
Although VFW does seem to have a lower production
value than some of the movies lower on my list, I still find it interesting
enough that I don’t mind.
The film was shot on location in a Texas Veterans of Foreign
Wars hall. There were actual veterans used as extras. Normally, movie trivia
doesn’t affect my decision on whether or not I want to see a film, but in this
case it’s caught my attention.
A lot of films about veterans follow strict trope rules. As
much as you want to root for those characters, it’s hard to see past their
cookie-cutter existence.
VFW seems like it’s going to take a different route.
They may have one or two characters that follow the veteran recipes, but with
as many as there are in the film, they’ll have to deviate and give the audience
a fresh take somewhere. Otherwise, what would be the point?
Stephen Lang (Into the Badlands, Don’t Breathe, Avatar)
is a bonus. It’s hard to look away from him when he’s on screen.
Also, the punk mutants remind me of the Freakshow enemy group
from City of Heroes and I’m looking forward to seeing how they work on
the big screen.
Actors: Elijah
Wood, Stephen McHattie, Garfield Wilson, Madeleine Sami, Martin Donovan,
Michael Smiley, Simon Chin, Ona Grauer, Ryan Beil, Raresh DiMofte, Alla Rouba, Noam
Zylberman, Gord Middleton, Oliver Wilson
Genre: Comedy, Horror,
Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 93
minutes
IMDb Blurb: A man in his thirties travels to a remote cabin to
reconnect with his estranged father.
I had trouble getting past the title of this film. ‘Come to
daddy’ just feels like such a gross and creepy sentence to me. I don’t know
why. It’s just, ick.
Of course, the trailer fits with what the title imparts upon
me. It seems creepy and weird and scary. It’s remarkable just how good Elijah
Wood (Star Wars Resistance, Lord of the Rings, The Last Witch Hunter) is
at portraying that kind of film or the kinds of characters that belong in that
kind of film.
With the interesting trailer, this film would be higher, but
there’s something stopping me.
I know the writer, Toby Harvard (Tropical Cop Tales, The
Greasy Strangler, Privado), from ABCs of Death 2 (2014). If you
remember that review, I hated that movie, though I liked some of the segments.
Harvard, however, is from one of my least favorite parts of the film. “G for
Grandad” was nonsensical and relied on basic gross out cringe. It didn’t even
really feel like horror.
I’m concerned that Harvard might not be up to a movie like
this. I’m hoping I’m wrong, though. Maybe Wood’s involvement should be telling
me different. We’ll have to watch it to find out.
13 – Buffaloed (2/14)
Production/Distribution:
Lost City, Bold Crayon, Particular Crowd, Magnolia Pictures
Director: Tanya
Wexler
Writer: Brian
Sacca
Actors: Zoey Deutch,
Judy Greer, Jai Courtney, Noah Reid, Lusia Strus, Jayne Eastwood, Jermaine
Fowler, Raymond Ablack, Brian Sacca, James M. Connor, Kate Moyer, Alex
Harrouch, Casey Hudecki, Nicholas Carella, Nicole Williams, Jennifer Farrugia
Genre: Comedy,
Drama
Rated: Unrated
Length: 95
minutes
IMDb Blurb: Set in the underworld of debt-collecting and follows
the homegrown hustler Peg Dahl, who will do anything to escape Buffalo, NY.
I love this story – at least the way the trailer shows it.
I have some insane student loan debt and I can kind of understand
the desire to do pretty much anything to get through it. Personally, I’ll stick
to the legal shit, though.
Still, with that in mind, this plot seems very realistic.
Zoey Deutch (The Politician, Set it Up, The Disaster Artist) looks adorable
and well-fit for her part in it and the trailer looks bad ass. There’s nothing
I don’t want to see about Buffaloed.
12 – The Lodge (2/7)
Production/Distribution:
FilmNation Entertainment, Hammer Films, Neon, GEM Entertainment, Cine Canibal,
SquareOne Entertainment, The Searchers, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Sony
Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA), Stage 6 Films, VVS Films
Director: Severin
Fiala, Veronika Franz
Writer: Sergio
Casci, Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz
Actors: Richard
Armitage, Riley Keough, Alicia Silverstone, Jaeden Martell, Lia McHugh, Rebecca
Faulkenberry, Katelyn Wells, Danny Keough, Lola Reid
The Lodge feels like an interesting take on the
typically claustrophobic ‘cabin in the woods’ film. The ‘mom’ figure is barely
known to the children which takes away that built-in form of trust that you get
whenever the main characters in a film are a family. They don’t trust her and
they definitely don’t seem to like her.
That leaves a lot more room for psychological scares. I’m
betting, at some point in the film, either the mother figure suspects the kids
or vice-versa.
I’ll admit that this film could turn out to be very tropey,
possibly preachy. I’m hoping it checks itself enough to be able to utilize the
intriguing setting that’s being used.
11 – Emma (2/21)
Production/Distribution:
Working Title Films, Blueprint Pictures, Perfect World Pictures, Focus
Features, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International
(UPI)
Director: Autumn
de Wilde
Writer: Eleanor
Catton, Jane Austen
Actors: Tanya
Reynolds, Anya Taylor-Joy, Josh O’Connor, Gemma Whelan, Bill Nighy, Johnny
Flynn, Mia Goth, Callum Turner, Miranda Hart, Rupert Graves, Chloe Pirrie,
Amber Anderson, Myra McFadyen, Isabella Kennard-Barden, Rose Shalloo, Jill
Buchanan, Suzy Bloom, Charlotte Todd
Genre: Comedy,
Drama
Rated: PG
Length: 122
minutes
IMDb Blurb: Based on the classic Jane Austen novel.
It could be argued that Emma looks like just another film
based on a classic book. It very well could be. That said, the trailer does a
decent job of portraying the characters to me. I wind up curious about how the
actors will interact on screen.
Both the director and writer, Autumn de Wilde (The
Postman Dreams, Directions, Blame it on the Youth) and Eleanor Catton (The
Luminaries), are wild cards. For both of them in their respective roles, it’s
their first full-length feature film. Since they’re working off a well-known
masterpiece, however, I feel like it will be a decent measure of what they are
capable of.
The actors are where the majority of my interest comes from,
though.
Production/Distribution:
Paramount Pictures, Sega, Original Film, Blur Studio, Marza Animation Planet, DJ2
Entertainment, Paramount Animation, Digital Makeup Group, Sega Sammy Group, Stories
International, Andes Films, B&H Film Distribution, Blitz, Central
Partnership, Finnkino, Forum Film Bulgaria, Intercontinental Film Distributors
(HK), Karantanija Cinemas, Lotte Entertainment, Towa Pictures, United
International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI)
Actors: Jim
Carrey, James Marsden, Neal McDonough, Ben Schwartz, Adam Pally, Tika Sumpter,
Leanne Lapp, Debs Howard, Michael Hogan, Shannon Chan-Kent, Lisa Chandler, Emma
Oliver, Elfina Luk, Lee Majdoub, Melody Nosipho Niemann
Genre: Action,
Adventure, Family
Rated: PG
Length: 100 minutes
IMDb Blurb: After discovering a small, blue, fast hedgehog, a
small-town police officer must help it defeat an evil genius who wants to do
experiments on it.
I don’t really find the trailers that compelling for Sonic
the Hedgehog. It’s not that I wouldn’t be up for a movie about the
character, either. When other people had a Nintendo, I had a Sega. I was a
Sonic girl up until much later in life. Still, the story in the trailers seems
a bit on the weak side.
Never-the-less, it’s in my top 10 because something needs to
be said for a production company that listens to the fans.
After that first atrocious Sonic design came out, I was
ready to shrug off the film altogether. I figured there was no way the company
was going to spend millions just to fix things. It was clearly going to go the
way of Super Mario Bros. (1993). When they decided to change things
instead and then came out with the MUCH better look we see in later trailers… I
knew that the story no longer mattered to me.
I intend to see this movie in theaters, opening weekend. I
feel like I have to. The more money this movie makes, the more likely
production companies will be to listen to the fans in the future. As movie
goers, we have a chance to send a message to the production companies that if
they write and design for the fans, it will be better for them. Then maybe
we’ll have to be a little less nervous about adaptation flicks.
I hope it’s worth it.
9 – The Call of
the Wild (2/21)
Production/Distribution:
3 Arts Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Animation, Twentieth Century Fox, 20th
Century Studios, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 20th Century Fox
Argentina, 20th Century Fox Brazil, 20th Century Fox, Forum Hungary, Walt
Disney Studios Japan, Galaxy Distributors
Director: Chris
Sanders
Writer: Michael
Green, Jack London
Actors: Karen
Gillan, Harrison Ford, Cara Gee, Dan Stevens, Bradley Whitford, Jean Louisa
Kelly, Omar Sy, Wes Brown, Terry Notary, Preston Bailey, Colin Woodell, Michael
Horse, Scott MacDonald, Stephanie Czajkowski, Alex Solowitz, Brad Greenquist,
Adam Fergus
Genre: Adventure,
Drama, Family
Rated: PG
Length: 105 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A sled dog struggles for survival in the Alaskan
wild.
Who doesn’t like a good faithful dog story?
Honestly, my love of dogs knows no bounds. I would watch
pretty much any film based around a pup, no matter how ridiculous. In this case,
there seems to be some serious action going on. It looks like the kind of movie
no one’s going to be bored during. (Assuming not all the action is in the trailer.)
I will admit that the CGI dog looks a little off. I imagine
they went that route, instead of having a dog actor, because a lot of the
stunts look very dangerous. Even for a well-trained animal. I have to respect
that… but the CGI still looks a little weird. If it was a bit more realistic
this film might have been higher on my list.
8 – The
Photograph (2/14)
Production/Distribution:
Perfect World Pictures, Will Packer Productions, United International Pictures
(UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI), Universal Pictures
IMDb Blurb: A series of intertwining love stories set in the past
and in the present.
With Valentine’s Day coming up, I’m much more likely to have
a soft spot for films like The Photograph. That said? It really does
look like a beautiful movie. It takes a look at two different generations and
how the younger of the two learns from her mother’s successes and mistakes. I love
stories that go into that kind of thing.
The plot alone, and how it’s shown on the trailer, would
have gotten it on my list. The reason it’s so high is because of my absolute
adoration of LaKeith Stanfield (Knives Out, Atlanta, Get Out).
Even with Stanfield’s awards and nominations I still find
him criminally under-valued. As amazing as he’s been in good films, I’ve seen
him take bad movies and make them watchable – in some cases even somewhat
enjoyable. I’m absolutely sure that he can elevate just about any film he’s in
to new heights. I think he should be a household name. I’ll follow him to any
movie he’s in.
7 – Wendy (2/28)
Production/Distribution:
The Department of Motion Pictures, Court 13 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures,
20th Century Fox Brazil, 20th Century Fox España, 20th Century Fox, Twentieth
Century Fox, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Director: Benh
Zeitlin
Writer: Benh
Zeitlin, Eliza Zeitlin
Actors: Tommie
Lynn Milazzo, Shay Walker, Devin France, Stephanie Lynn Wilson, Ahmad Cage,
Gage Naquin, Krzysztof Meyn, Gavin Naquin, Romyri Ross
Genre: Drama,
Fantasy
Rated: PG-13
Length: 112
minutes
IMDb Blurb: Lost on a mysterious island where aging and time
have come unglued, Wendy must fight to save her family, her freedom, and the
joyous spirit of youth from the deadly peril of growing up.
This seems like a more realistic version of the Peter Pan
story, told entirely about Wendy instead of Peter. I have to admit, it’s cute
take.
The trailer looks like it’s full of action and whimsy. It
tells a new story from the view point of Wendy about Wendy but, at the same
time, there are familiar aspects. You can see pirates and that fear of growing up.
Adults vs. children. Hope. It’s all there.
Pretty much everyone in, and responsible for, this film is an
unknown to me. That interests me as well. It’s pretty rare that a big film like
this would involve so many less experienced people. It’s something to take note
of.
6 – Downhill (2/14)
Production/Distribution:
Filmhaus Films, Likely Story, Searchlight Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures, Twentieth Century Studios Home Entertainment
Director: Nat
Faxon, Jim Rash
Writer: Nat Faxon,
Jim Rash, Jesse Armstrong, Ruben Östlund
IMDb Blurb: Barely escaping an avalanche during a family ski
vacation in the Alps, a married couple is thrown into disarray as they are
forced to reevaluate their lives and how they feel about each other.
I am not a Will Ferrell (Zeroville, Daddy’s Home, Get
Hard) fan. I don’t like his style of line delivery. It’s just my general
opinion of things and I understand it’s not the popular opinion. Still, as a
result, his movies do tend to be lower on my list – if they make it at all.
That makes it kind of interesting that Downhill is
this high.
Will Ferrell’s involvement is not as important to me as how
amusing the plot is.
Everyone thinks they know what they’d do in a life-or-death
situation. I mean, how many times have you heard someone say they’d take a
bullet for someone else? There’s a whole damn song about it. This film explores
the truth that you don’t really know what you would do if your life was on the
line. It’s instinctual. Fight or flight.
In this case, the father of the family doesn’t protect them,
he grabs his phone and runs away and there’s, understandably, fall out.
The concept is interesting and the trailer looks so amusing
that I’m absolutely here for it.
5 – To All the Boys:
P.S. I Still Love You (2/12)
Production/Distribution:
Ace Entertainment, All The Boys Productions, Awesomeness Films, Overbrook
Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Netflix
Director: Michael
Fimognari
Writer: Sofia
Alvarez, J. Mills Goodloe, Jenny Han
Actors: Noah Centineo,
Madeleine Arthur, Lana Condor, Ross Butler, Sarayu Blue, Holland Taylor, Jordan
Fisher, John Corbett, Janel Parrish, Jill Morrison, Anna Cathcart, Emilija
Baranac, Trezzon Mahoro, Jara Zeimer, Julie Tao, Linda Ko, Momona Tamada,
Christian Darrel Scott, June B. Wilde, Alessandro Miro, Maggie Sullivun, James
Hibbard, Gary Hetherington, Winslow Holmes, Irene Reynolds
Genre: Drama,
Romance
Rated: Unrated
Length: 99 minutes
IMDb Blurb: Lara Jean and Peter have just taken their
relationship from pretend to officially official when another recipient of one
of her old love letters enters the picture.
As cute at the first move was, and as much as I could
personally relate to it, there was no way for me to know that it would become a
film some would say was iconic of a generation. It was a good film, but for
people in the age demographic it targeted, it rose to much higher levels.
That means that I’ve known the sequel would be on my list
since way before I ever saw the coming attraction.
The trailer, however, looks pretty good. It gives me the
same feelings I got watching the John Hughes (Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast
Club, Sixteen Candles) films from the 80s – much like the first film did.
Everything feels relatable and it tugs at the heart strings. Even just assuming
what the full-on plot will be, I feel for the characters. I want to know what’s
going to happen.
Lana Condor (Summer Night, Alita: Battle Angel, Patriots
Day) and Noah Centineo (The Perfect Date, T@gged, Swiped) are
returning, which I’m all for. Their characters are acted phenomenally by them
and I couldn’t imagine a sequel without either actor. I’m eager to see how they
interact with Jordan Fisher (Liv and Maddie, Rent: Live, Grease Live!) –
who looks adorable in the trailer.
I want to believe that this film will stack up to the first.
I hope it does.
4 – Blumhouse’s Fantasy
Island (2/14)
Production/Distribution:
Columbia Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, Sony Pictures Releasing, AMC Theatres,
Columbia TriStar Marketing Group, Galaxy Distributors, Sony Pictures Releasing,
Universal Pictures International (UPI)
Director: Jeff
Wadlow
Writer: Jillian
Jacobs, Christopher Roach, Jeff Wadlow
Actors: Maggie Q,
Lucy Hale, Portia Doubleday, Michael Peña, Michael Rooker, Kim Coates,
Charlotte McKinney, Ryan Hansen, Parisa Fitz-Henley, Evan Evagora, Robbie
Jones, Austin Stowell, Jimmy O. Yang, Goran D. Kleut, Nick Slater, Ian Roberts,
Renee Murden, Jeriya Benn, Tim Wong, Steven A. Davis, Tane Williams-Accra, Mark
Weinhandl
Genre: Adventure,
Comedy, Horror
Rated: PG-13
Length: 110
minutes
IMDb Blurb: A horror adaptation of the popular '70s TV show
about a magical island resort.
I have a weak spot for ‘be careful what you wish for’ horror
films. Most of them are pretty basic, though. Make a wish, a supernatural being
makes it come true, usually with malicious intent. Occasionally, it could just
not be what the main character thought it would be like.
This is a little different. If anything, it reminds me of a
horror version of the episode of the original Star Trek (1966-1969) series
called ‘Shore Leave’. It was my favorite episode of that entire series next to ‘I,
Mudd.’ So, I’m really in love with the trailer for Blumhouse’s Fantasy
Island.
It doesn’t hurt that it has a hell of a cast. Lucy Hale (Dude,
The Unicorn, Pretty Little Liars), Michael Rooker (Brightburn, Guardians
of the Galaxy, Hypothermia), and Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy, Bad Blood,
Goon: Last of the Enforcers) are all great at their art. Michael Peña (A
Wrinkle in Time, 12 Strong, Extinction) was an actor that I enjoyed even
before his part in the Marvel films, but after that I just find him that much
more adorable – especially since a lot of his ranting was apparently ad-libbed.
Then there’s Maggie Q (Designated Survivor, Young
Justice, Allegiant) who is just a QUEEN. I have been following her since Nikita
and I think she is VERY underrated. I’ve never seen her turn in a bad
performance.
Logically, I know that there are a thousand ways for this
film to go wrong. It is an adaptation, after all. That said, I have high hopes.
3 – The Invisible
Man (2/28)
Production/Distribution:
Goalpost Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, Dark Universe, Universal Pictures, United
International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI)
Director: Leigh
Whannell
Writer: H.G.
Wells, Leigh Whannell
Actors: Elisabeth
Moss, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, Michael Dorman, Harriet
Dyer, Amali Golden, Benedict Hardie, Zara Michales, Sam Smith, Anthony Brandon
Wong, Bianca Pomponio, Dennis Kreusler, Michael Knott, Randolph Fields
Genre: Horror,
Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: Unknown
IMDb Blurb: When Cecilia's abusive ex takes his own life and
leaves her his fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of
coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia works to prove that she is being hunted by
someone nobody can see.
I love this trailer. It takes a realistic motivation for an
antagonist and adds in a thread of paranormal. I’ve been looking forward to
this film for a while.
If you’re a horror fan and you’re not looking forward to this,
then I think you might need to re-evaluate things.
Writer/Director Leigh Whannell (Saw, Insidious, Upgrade)
is a modern horror heavyweight where writing is concerned. He is responsible
for millions of butts jumping in theater seats. If anyone is going to do the
story of the invisible man justice, it’s him. He knows creepy. It runs in his
veins.
He’s even getting to work with a great cast. I’m a casual
fan of Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale, Us, The Pack), but a huge
fan of Aldis Hodge (Clemency, Brian Banks, Hidden Figures). He’s been
getting some decent attention these past few years and I hope that recognition
keeps on coming, because he deserves it.
There’s a deep psychological terror woven, even just through
the trailer. It draws attention to mental abuse and equates it to the physical
stuff that people think of much more often when someone has an issue. It doesn’t
just go through the intensity of an invisible antagonist, but even the
invisible torture an abused person can suffer.
It’s brilliant and I will be severely pissed off if the
movie doesn’t measure up.
2 – Burden (2/28)
Production/Distribution:
Bill Kenwright Films, The Fyzz Facility, Unburdened Entertainment, Thefyzz, 101
Studios
IMDb Blurb: When a museum celebrating the Ku Klux Klan opens in
a South Carolina town, the idealistic Reverend Kennedy strives to keep the
peace even as he urges the group's Grand Dragon to disavow his racist past.
There is so much to say about this film based on a true
story.
A lot of the plot of Burden is grounded in forgiveness.
Honestly, that’s something that never came easy to me. Especially when it comes
to severe breaks of trust. I absolutely believe I wouldn’t be able to forgive a
former KKK member. That’s a crime against mankind. Not exactly an ‘I scratched
your car’ kind of thing.
I think that’s why I find this movie to be such an
incredible draw. I don’t understand what kind of faith and love someone needs
to hold inside them to help a person that has hurt so many of their own.
There’s a lot to be said for the thread of ‘change through
love’ that is shown in the trailer. I understand that the world needs to
believe people can change. That racists can be shown the light. That violence can
be turned into protectiveness.
The world is fucked up and I treasure films like this that
try to show a glimmer of hope in the darkness.
There are some decent actors involved here. I very much
enjoy the talent of Garrett Hedlund (Mudbound, Pan, Tron) and Usher
Raymond (Hands of Stone, People You May Know, Bad Hair). They’re both
very good at what they do and tend to embody their characters well.
Forest Whitaker (Finding Steve McQueen, Empire, Black
Panther) is who I found myself watching the most in the trailer. Just from
what I can get from the plot, I don’t think there’s anyone else I would have
been able to believe as the reverend. I think he was the perfect choice.
This was a passion project for writer/director Andrew Heckler
(Roads to Riches, Duty Dating, Lip Service). He learned the story of
Reverend Kennedy in 1998 and he’s been working on it since then. Whenever there’s
passion like that involved, I expect a lot. And this was a behemoth of a
subject to tackle for his first time writing or directing a full-length feature
film.
I have faith in Burden and I cannot wait to see how
it turns out.
1 – Birds of Prey
(2/7)
Production/Distribution:
Clubhouse Pictures (II), DC Entertainment, Kroll & Co. Entertainment, LuckyChap
Entertainment, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Singapore, Warner Bros.
Director: Cathy
Yan
Writer: Christina
Hodson
Actors: Margot
Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ewan McGregor, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie
Perez, Bojana Novakovic, Greice Santo, Matthew Willig, Chris Messina, Ali Wong,
Charlene Amoia, Ella Jay Basco, Jenelle McKee, Steven Williams, Isabel Pakzad, François
Chau, Derek Wilson, Paloma Rabinov, Nico Greetham, Dana Lee, Mike Ferguson, Dominic
Pace, Anthony Molinari, Sara Montez, Gerald Downey, Michael Masini, Anna
Mikami, David Anthony Buglione, Lenora May, Ella Mika, Joe Bucaro III, Miyuki
Matsunaga, Ego Mikitas, Dan Cole, Bruno Oliver
Genre: Action,
Adventure, Crime
Rated: R
Length: 109
minutes
IMDb Blurb: After splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins
superheroes Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from
an evil crime lord.
They took the best part of Suicide Squad (2016), cut
the rest, and made a movie out of it. Of course this was going to be my number
one film for February.
Margot Robbie (Bombshell, Mary Queen of Scots, Terminal)
IS Harley Quinn. The casting director that tapped her was on point that day.
Robbie is to Quinn as Robert Downey Jr. (Avengers: Endgame, The Judge, Chef)
is to Iron Man. I can’t imagine anyone else being able to do better than her.
End of story.
I cannot wait to see what she does in her very own movie. There’s
a great cast backing her, but I’m ALL Robbie for this one.
Even if I wasn’t, though. All the trailers are SICK. Even
the soundtrack trailer. I’m going to trust this new era of DC and give my faith
to Birds of Prey.
I’m going to see this film as soon as I can – hopefully opening
night, definitely that first weekend.
Production/Distribution: Abramorama, Atlantic Records
Director: Melanie Martinez
Writer: Melanie Martinez
Actors: Melanie Martinez, Emma Harvey, Zión Moreno, Megan Gage, Zinnett
Hendrix, Jesy McKinney, Marsalis Steven Wilson,Maggie Budzyna, Quei Tann,
Vilmos Heim, Scott Alexander Young, Anne Wittman, Genesis Ilada, Natalia Toth
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, Musical
Rated: Unrated
Length: 96 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A brave-hearted girl and
her charming best friend make a bewitching pair as they embark on a mission to
take down the oppressive schooling system of K-12.
This month seems to be
a little odd for movies. There just aren’t that many releasing in September. I
have a suspicion that there will be a few hidden gems that will pop up, but we
can only consider those that have had advance press and trailers.
Right in theme with
the quirky month of movies, K-12
stands out as something rare and interesting. Melanie Martinez (Melanie Martinez: Mad Hatter, Melanie
Martinez:Pacify Her, Melanie Martinez: Dollhouse) is an American musical
artist that came to the public’s attention through participation on The Voice (2011-). She has since
released an album and is known for writing and directing her own music videos.
K-12 is Martinez’s second album offering, and to mark the
occasion of its release and the launch of her tour she has created a special
one-day-only event with the limited cinematic release of this film. She has
described it as a surrealist dark comedy; and, after watching the trailer, I can
attest that it looks to be bonkers, interesting, and entertaining. It seems to
be something along the lines of a cinematic treatment of the album, itself – as
if it were one giant music video that connects all the individual songs.
While this isn’t a
revolutionary idea, it’s not done often. I have hope that it will be
successful.
19 – Satanic Panic (9/6)
Production/Distribution: Aperture Entertainment, Fangoria Films, Cinestate, RLJE Films
Director: Chelsea Stardust
Writers: Ted Geoghegan, Grady Hendrix
Actors: Ruby Modine, Rebecca Romijn, Jerry O'Connell, Jordan Ladd,
Whitney Moore, Arden Myrin, Michael Polish, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Hayley
Griffith, Whitney Moore, Jeff Daniel Phillips
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Rated: R
Length: 85 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A pizza delivery girl at
the end of her financial rope has to fight for her life - and her tips - when
her last order of the night turns out to be high society Satanists in need of a
virgin sacrifice.
I have been dying to
see this movie since I first saw the trailer. It looks absolutely hilarious.
It’s really a bonus that Jerry O'Connell (Piranha
3D, Veronica Mars, Wish Upon) and his wife, Rebecca Romijn (The Con Artist, Phantom Halo, The Librarians),
get a rare opportunity to share the screen together.
Of course, given the
“religious” aspect of this story, it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
For those that don’t mind taking all of that with a grain of salt, it looks
like quite the entertaining romp. I expect some camp and eye-rolling moments
just as much as amusement as a totally insane scenario plays out.
If the summer heat has
you down, a frosty air-conditioned movie theater just might be the ticket to
shake off sweaty misery.
Actors: David Call, Joshua Leonard, Alex Breaux, Ana Kayne, Maria
Dizzia, Chloe Levine, Owen Campbell, Addison Timlin
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Rated: Unrated
Length: 114 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A disillusioned field
surgeon suffering from PTSD makes a man out of body parts and brings him to
life in a Brooklyn loft.
You’ll find a lot of
horror movies on my list this month. This is largely as a result of the overall
pool of movies we had available to choose from, but it’s also fun to start
getting into that spooky fall spirit. Halloween is next month, after all.
What better way to
kick off the season than a modern re-imagining of the Frankenstein tale?
17 – 3 From Hell (9/16)
Production/Distribution: Capital Arts Entertainment, Spookshow International, Lionsgate,
Saban Films
Director: Rob Zombie
Writer: Rob Zombie
Actors: Sheri Moon Zombie, Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Emilio Rivera, Danny
Trejo, Clint Howard, Richard Brake, Daniel Roebuck, Dee Wallace, Chaz Bono,
Matthew Willig
Genre: Horror
Rated: R
Length: 111 minutes
IMDb Blurb: Sequel to The Devil's Rejects.
The mind of Rob Zombie
(Halloween, The Lords of Salem, 31)
is a scary place. My summary of watching the first two movies in this trilogy
can be described with one word: disturbing. This third installment promises to
be no different. That’s really the only reason this film is placed here on my
list this month. I am likely going to be waiting ‘til I can stream this one
just so I can pause and walk away if I need to.
I have no doubt that
this movie will showcase Zombie’s masterful gift for the twisted. Insanity and
violence to the soundtrack of Baby Firefly’s cackle will certainly fill a
horror enthusiast’s gore quota.
Actors: Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, Cardi B , Lili Reinhart, Keke
Palmer, Julia Stiles, Mercedes Ruehl, Mette Towley, Lizzo, Madeline Brewer,
Usher Raymond
Genre: Comedy, Crime Drama
Rated: R
Length: 110 minutes
IMDb Blurb: Inspired by the viral New
York Magazine article, Hustlers follows a crew of savvy former strip club
employees who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients.
When this movie’s
trailer dropped, I can imagine all the squees of …excitement… to see Jennifer
Lopez (The Boy Next Door, Shades of Blue,
Second Act) pole dancing. Tsk tsk. Kidding. There’s no doubt that she’s a
gifted performer – both vocally and in dance. Her movies can be a little hit
and miss sometimes – but, honestly, I think she’s been honing her acting craft
rather well in recent years.
Of course, there’s
more that draws me to this movie than the obvious. I like the fact that the ‘dancing’
isn’t the sole focus of the film. At its core, Hustlers seems to be a comedic crime drama. The rest is just the
icing and decorations on the cake. I’m curious, also, how some other music
artists among the cast do in their feature film debut.
15 – Running With the Devil (9/13)
Production/Distribution:Patriot Pictures, Jaguar Bite, Quiver
Distribution
Director: Jason Cabell
Writer: Jason Cabell
Actors: Nicolas Cage, Natalia Reyes, Laurence Fishburne, Leslie Bibb,
Adam Goldberg, Barry Pepper, Cole Hauser, Clifton Collins Jr., Peter Facinelli
Genre: Crime Drama, Action, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 100 minutes
IMDb Blurb: The CEO of an
International conglomerate sends two of his most regarded executives to
investigate why shipments of cocaine are being hijacked and over cut somewhere
on the supply chain.
Speaking of hit or miss, one of
our favorite crazy guys is back on the big screen this month with Running With
the Devil. The trailer leads me to believe that Nicolas Cage (The Humanity
Bureau, 211, Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse) is in his comfort zone with this
movie. There’s going to be plenty of action and tension. It was hard to tell
what ‘side of the fence’ he was really on, and that might be a really
interesting component to see play out.
My teen daughter recently wanted
to watch the Matrix (1999) trilogy. That’s only relevant here because I saw Laurence
Fishbourne (Last Flag Flying, Black-ish, Where'd You Go, Bernadette) in the
trailer and got this familiar warm and fuzzy feeling. I am excited to see him
in this role, as it seems to be a departure from the typical persona he’s
portrayed in movies and television. Of course, it’s not something alien to his
repertoire – it’s just been a bit since we’ve gotten to see this side.
14 – Corporate Animals (9/20)
Production/Distribution: Snoot Entertainment, Protagonist Pictures, Pacific Electric
Picture Company, Screen Media Films
Director: Patrick Brice
Writer: Sam Bain
Actors: Demi Moore, Ed Helms, Jessica Williams, Karan Soni, Isiah
Whitlock Jr., Martha Kelly, Dan Bakkedahl, Calum Worthy, Jennifer Kim, Nassim
Pedrad, Frank Bond, Wendy Meredith, Britney Spears
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Rated: R
Length: 86 minutes
Moviefone Blurb: An egotistical
megalomaniac CEO leads her staff on a corporate team-building trip that
involves a weekend of caving in New Mexico. When they become trapped
underground after a cave-in, the group must pull together to survive.
If you thought
team-building meetings and activities at work were scary, this takes the
corporate retreat to a whole new nightmare level. It’s the concept that’s
terrifying, really. I don’t think that the movie will really deliver many
chills and thrills. If the trailer is an accurate representation, it looks to
be leaning more towards over-the-top dark comedy rather than horror.
The cast looks
amazing, though, and I was already giggling a little with that short peek into
the film. I’d say it’s worth a watch – even if you wait to catch it on Red Box
or a streaming service.
13 – The Pretenders (9/27)
Production/Distribution: SSS Entertainment, Rabbit Bandini Films, Yale Productions,
Cleopatra Entertainment
Director: James Franco
Writer: Josh Boone
Actors: Dennis Quaid, James Franco, Jack Kilmer, Jane Levy, Juno Temple,
Brian Cox, Shameik Moore, Mustafa Shakir
Genre: Drama
Rated: Unrated
Length: 95 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A love triangle involving
a photographer, a director and an actress.
The relationships in
this film are likely going to be a complicated mess. That’s what you get with a
love triangle in a pure drama movie. While it felt a little dark and odd at
times, there seems to be something hinting at a deeper story than is portrayed
in the trailers. This might be an option for someone who’s not quite ready for
the horror-fest that is the fall movie lineup, and tired of the summer action
blitz.
12 – Dauntless (9/1)
Production/Distribution: Bayou Pictures, Gypsy Lane Films
Director: Mike Phillips
Writer: Adam Klein
Actors: C. Thomas Howell, Judd Nelson, James Austin Kerr, Aidan Bristow,
Will Ropp, Louie Chapman, Drew Garrett, Miles Tagtmeyer, Chris Roark, John
Enick, Will Jorgenson, Troy Musil, Byrne Offutt, Adam Peltier, David Snyder,
Demetris Hartman, Wyatt Derman, Mendel Fogelman, Christopher Lee Page, Jade
Willey, Jack Malykin, Jerry Buteyn, Paul Kennedy Jr.
Genre: Action, War, Drama
Rated: Unrated
Length: Unknown
IMDb Blurb: By June 1942, the Japanese
Navy has swept across the Pacific. In an effort to change the course of the
war, a United States carrier group is positioned off the coast of Midway,
tasked with springing a trap on the enemy. During this pivotal battle, the
two-man crew of a U.S. Navy dive bomber is forced to ditch in the sea. Set
adrift, the men look towards their comrades for rescue; namely, the ragtag crew
of a PBY Catalina, who are sent to search for survivors. Amid the vast openness
of the Pacific, with days passing and the chance of rescue fading, the men are
forced to face their own mortality.
This movie has bobbled
up and down on my list a bit. While taking place from a different perspective
of the Battle of Midway to refresh the events for a new generation, the trailer
gave the impression that it will be somewhat stylized to fit in with the older
and similar war movies.
WWII films are a bit
maudlin for me right out of the gate, because they remind me of my
grandfathers’ service and how much I miss them both. Neither of them was in
this particular battle, to my knowledge. All the same, it’s hard to separate my
thoughts and feelings from the topic.
For those that enjoy a
good historical movie or war drama, this should be right up your alley,
however.
Actors: James Franco, Will Ferrell, Seth Rogen, Jacki Weaver, Megan Fox,
Danny McBride, Dave Franco, Craig Robinson, Jacki Weaver, Cynthia Murell, Thomas
Ian Nicholas, Horatio Sanz, Mia Serafino
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rated: R
Length: 96 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A young actor arrives in
Hollywood in 1969 during a transitional time in the Industry.
“This is a very weird
movie” is a line actually heard during the trailer. I am guessing that it’s
attributed to Megan Fox’s (Jennifer's
Body, The Dictator, Above the Shadows) character. By that point, I
wholeheartedly agreed with her statement – whether she meant it for the
movie-within-the-movie or not.
This is an interesting
take on 70s Hollywood. James Franco’s (Burn
Country, Why Him?, The Deuce) character seems a little strange (which may
be the point), but I am highly intrigued to see how all of this seemingly
random information we’re given fits together. This is also one of the handful
of recent movies where he’s been able to share the screen with his brother, Dave
Franco (Warm Bodies, Nerve, The Disaster
Artist).
Aside from the
aforementioned cast members, this film seems to be jam-packed with the who’s
who of irreverent comedy. This is one of those that my curiosity is dragging me
towards, to be honest.
10 – Strange But True (9/6)
Production/Distribution: Automatik, First Generation Films, Head Gear Films, Metrol
Technology, GEM Entertainment, CBS Films, Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Director: Rowan Athale
Writers: Eric Garcia, John Searles
Actors: Margaret Qualley, Mena Massoud, Brian Cox, Nick Robinson, Amy
Ryan, Greg Kinnear, Blythe Danner,Connor Jessup, Tennille Read, Janaya
Stephens, Vanessa Burns
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Rated: PG-13
Length: 96 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A woman surprises the
family of her deceased boyfriend by telling them she's pregnant with his child.
I am wondering if
there’s something dark and sinister lingering under the guise of this ‘medical
miracle’ of a ‘years later’ conception. On the surface, there’s the sweet story
of brothers, friendship, and romance. The trailer alludes to something else
going on in the wings – aside from the natural reaction that the girl is either
lying or crazy.
My curiosity is
piqued. The story grabbed me effectively and between that and the draw of the
excellent cast, I will be watching this as soon as I can.
9– Can You Keep a Secret? (9/13)
Production/Distribution: BCDF Pictures, Big Indie Pictures, Vertical Entertainment
Director: Elise Duran
Writers: Peter Hutchings, Sophie Kinsella
Actors: Alexandra Daddario, Tyler Hoechlin, Sunita Mani, Laverne Cox,
Kimiko Glenn, Judah Friedlander, Kate Easton, Sam Asgharil, Ashlyn Alessi,
Courtney Gonzalez, Bobby Tisdale, David Ebert
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Rated: Unrated
Length: 94 minutes
IMDb Blurb: Thinking they're about to
crash, Emma spills her secrets to a stranger on a plane. At least, she thought
he was a stranger...Until she later meets Jack, her company's young CEO, who
now knows every humiliating detail about her. Based on the blockbuster NYT
bestseller.
If you’re looking a
break from heavier topics, like world news or deep-thinking dramas; or you’re
just ready to disconnect and want some cute entertainment, this might be the
movie for you.
Of course, a good
rom-com is great for a date movie, too.
Either way, it feels
refreshingly original for its genre, and it might just be my guilty pleasure of
the month!
8 – Downton Abbey (9/20)
Production/Distribution: Focus Features, Perfect World Pictures, Carnival Film &
Television, Universal Pictures International
Director: Michael Engler
Writer: Julian Fellowes
Actors: Matthew Goode, Maggie Smith,Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle
Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Michael Fox, Joanne Froggatt, Tuppence Middleton,
Elizabeth McGovern, Allen Leach, Imelda Staunton, Sophie McShera, Kate Phillips,
Geraldine James, Simon Jones
Genre: Drama
Rated: PG
Length: 122 minutes
IMDb Blurb: The continuing story of
the Crawley family, wealthy owners of a large estate in the English countryside
in the early 20th century.
I have been dying to
get into the TV Series of Downton Abbey,
but it is among a very long list of shows I need to get around to watching. I
was fairly giddy when they announced the upcoming movie. This should be a
fairly good litmus test for anyone wanting to test the waters to see if the
Brit drama is to their liking or not. Of course, it helps if you’re a fan of
the genre already. I’m looking forward to some subtle, dry British humor and
gorgeous set pieces. I really am a sucker for period pieces.
7 – The Day Shall Come (9/27)
Production/Distribution: See-Saw Films, Archer Gray, BFI Film Fund, Film4, Riverstone
Pictures, IFC Films
Director: Christopher Morris
Writers: Jesse Armstrong, Sean Gray, Tony Roche, Christopher Morris
Actors: Anna Kendrick, Jim Gaffigan, Kayvan Novak, Danielle Brooks,
Denis O'Hare, Miles Robbins, Pej Vahdat, Adam David Thompson, Drew Gehling,
Mousa Kraish, James Adomian, Malcolm M. Mays, Marchánt Davis, Andrew James
Bleidner, Curtiss Cook Jr., Michael Braun, Isaiah Stratton, Stephany Liriano,
Rodney Richardson, Calah Lane, Andrel McPherson, Michael Reagan
Genre: Comedy
Rated: Unrated
Length: 87 minutes
IMDb Blurb: An impoverished preacher
who brings hope to the Miami projects is offered cash to save his family from
eviction. He has no idea his sponsor works for the FBI who plan to turn him
into a criminal by fueling his madcap revolutionary dreams.
Somehow I feel like
this is something that could actually happen. It doesn’t even have to be an
actual preacher. Anyone can get ordained on the internet these days. Hell,
someone find that guy that held a political office and wore a boot for a hat. I
digress…
The big sell with this
film for me is really that Anna Kendrick (The
Accountant, Table 19, A Simple Favor) is a part of it. The trailer had me
laughing and scratching my head. I want to see how this all plays out and
think there’ll be some good entertainment along the way.
6 – The Goldfinch (9/13)
Production/Distribution: Kaap Holland Film, Color Force, Warner Bros. Pictures, Amazon
Studios
Director: John Crowley
Writers: Peter Straughan, Donna Tartt
Actors: Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman, Oakes Fegley, Aneurin Barnard, Finn
Wolfhard, Sarah Paulson, Luke Wilson, Jeffrey Wright, Ashleigh Cummings, Willa
Fitzgerald
Genre: Drama
Rated: R
Length: 149 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A boy in New York is taken
in by a wealthy Upper East Side family after his mother is killed in a bombing
at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
We transition from
something lighthearted to a film that feels like it will be decidedly heavy. I
mean seriously, there might be tears involved. It’s hard to imagine not when
faced with a boy orphaned by a bombing.
There are some big names with
amazing talent attached to this movie, and the trailer did not disappoint. I
want to know where the story is going and how the titular goldfinch ties in and
brings the narrative full circle, as the trailer alludes.
5 – Rambo: Last Blood (9/20)
Production/Distribution: Millennium Films, Lionsgate, Campbell Grobman Films, Balboa
Productions, Dadi Film Group, NYLA Media Group, Templeton Media
Director: Adrian Grunberg
Writers: Matthew Cirulnick, Sylvester Stallone, David Morrell
IMDb Blurb: Rambo must confront his
past and unearth his ruthless combat skills to exact revenge in a final
mission.
I’m sure I’ve
mentioned before, but it bears repeating – I’m an 80s baby. Sylvester Stallone
(Bullet to the Head, The Expendables,
Ratchet & Clank) was just part of the cultural landscape as I was
growing up. Rambo with his long hair and headband was an icon of the era, and
even the very first R rated movie I saw (sneaking in) as a kid was Rocky IV (1985).
Aside from the trailer
giving a glimpse of a kick-ass action movie, I get this warm fuzzy nostalgic
feeling. I am intrigued at the decision to crop John Rambo’s long locks, but I
suppose it fits with the theme. Those were staples of early Rambo from the
likes of First Blood (1982) even up
to the last film. This new John Rambo is a man pushed too far when perhaps he’d
rather be living the retired life. I think it’ll have something for fans of the
franchise and regular action fans alike.
4 – Night Hunter (9/6)
Production/Distribution: Arcola Entertainment, Arise Pictures, Buffalo Gal Pictures,
Fortitude International, PalmStar Media, Saban Films
Director: David Raymond
Writer: David Raymond
Actors: Alexandra Daddario, Henry Cavill, Minka Kelly, Stanley Tucci,
Ben Kingsley, Nathan Fillion, Eliana Jones, Sara Thompson, Brendan Fletcher,
Emma Tremblay, Carlyn Burchell, Mpho Koaho, Daniela Lavender, Kristen Harris,
Jason Tremblay, Stephanie Sy, Annika Elyse Irving
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 98 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A weathered Lieutenant,
his police force, and a local vigilante are all caught up in a dangerous scheme
involving a recently arrested, troubled man who's linked to years of female
abductions and murders.
I am prepared to be on
the edge of my seat with this movie. I will admit that the cast got my
attention first, and then the plot sucked me in so far that I think I’m
going to go a bit bonkers if I don’t actually get to watch this film sometime
soon to find out what happens.
I did mention the cast, right? Not
only is it led by none other than Henry Cavill (Stardust, Sand Castle, Mission Impossible: Fallout) and the iconic Sir
Ben Kingsley (The Jungle Book, The
Ottoman Lieutenant, War Machine), but we find Alexandra Daddario (Burying the Ex, San Andreas, The Layover)
in a strong role, as well. This cast is on fire right now. Daddario even finds
herself in multiple films hitting the screen this month.
I’m so glad that Cavill hasn’t let
himself get pigeon-holed into the clean-cut hero that becoming the Man of Steel (2013) could have
triggered. His roles outside of that franchise have been more action-oriented,
but also a bit cheekier in some cases and definitely grittier. This looks like
it will definitely be a solid film to tide me over as I wait on pins and
needles for Netflix to get on with releasing the upcoming The Witcher series. Of course, the two concepts are nothing alike.
One is high fantasy, while this movie is rooted in grimy reality.
Brendan Fletcher (The Revenant, Braven, Siren) gave me a
really eerie chill from the snippets of his performance in the trailer. He does
crazy rather well. I am really hoping I get a chance to see this one in the
theater.
3 – Abominable (9/27)
Production/Distribution: DreamWorks Animation, Pearl Studio, Universal Pictures
Directors: Jill Culton, Todd Wilderman
Writer: Jill Culton
Actors: Chloe Bennet, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, Albert Tsai, Eddie Izzard,
Sarah Paulson, Michelle Wong
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Rated: PG
Length: 92 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A magical Yeti must return to his family.
Here, we have the best
of what September has to offer for kids movies. It helps that the film looks
absolutely adorable.
If you’re looking for
a way to beat the heat with the family, this might be a good call. Imagine
yourself in the snowy mountains or up among the clouds as this intrepid little
girl helps her yeti friend find his way home.
There’s a bonus in
this one for me, as well. I love it when movies like this one incorporate kids
playing musical instruments. The film’s heroine plays the violin and something
truly magical seems to happen. I’ve always seen music as a form of real magic.
It’s sound that can alter our moods and fuel our imaginations. In any case, I’m
hoping that there might be some inspiration here for kids to create magical music
of their own.
2 – Ad Astra (9/20)
Production/Distribution: Bona Film Group, Plan B Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, New
Regency Pictures, RT Features, Keep Your Head, MadRiver Pictures
Director: James Gray
Writers: James Gray, Ethan Gross
Actors: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler, Donald
Sutherland, John Ortiz, John Finn, Loren Dean
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Rated: PG-13
Length: 124 minutes
IMDb Blurb: Astronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission across an unforgiving
solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and his doomed
expedition that now, 30 years later, threatens the universe.
I’m super excited
about this movie’s release. I love space movies and sci-fi in general. This
film has reportedly taken care to be as realistic as possible with the concepts
of space travel and how things work. I have much respect for productions that
actually take such things into account.
Aside from the
superstar cast and attention to detail, the story is intriguing. Just from
watching the various trailers, I have some burning questions. If nothing else,
this movie is set to be quite the visual feast. I have serious doubts that it
will let us down on the plot, however.
1 – It Chapter Two (9/6)
Production/Distribution: Rideback, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, Toma 78, Lin
Pictures, Vertigo Entertainment, KatzSmith Productions
Actors: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay
Ryan, James Ransone, Bill Skarsgard, Andy Bean, Jaeden Martell, Wyatt Oleff,
Jack Dylan Grazer, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray
Taylor, Teach Grant, Nicholas Hamilton, Stephen King, Joan Gregson
Genre: Horror
Rated: R
Length: 169 minutes
IMDb Blurb: Twenty-seven years after their first encounter with the
terrifying Pennywise, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, until a
devastating phone call brings them back.
Have I mentioned
before that I’m a die-hard Stephen King (The
Stand, Pet Sematary, The Mist) fan? I haven’t his newest work, but I
have pored over many a volume of ‘classic King.’ IT is one of those stories
that sticks with you – whether your first introduction to it was the book, or
one of the cinematic treatments its been given. I actually saw the original It
(1990) before I read the book. Clowns are creepy, ok?
I had been somewhat
skeptical but cautiously optimistic about the 2017 remake with chapter 1 of
this story in 2 parts.
You know that
something has struck a serious chord when something as simple and innocent as a
red balloon instills a deep sense of dread that tempts you to shout at the
screen during an entirely different movie ‘stay away from the balloon you silly
bear, don’t you know it’s attached to an evil clown?!’ Needless to say, all doubts were soundly
tossed to the wind. It was terrifyingly good. I can’t wait to watch the final
installment as soon as possible. Just be cautioned that it will stick with you.
