"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.
20 – Diary of a
Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever (12/8) Director: Luke
Cormican Writer: Jeff
Kinney, Kathleen Shugrue Actors: Erica
Cerra, Wesley Kimmel, Hunter Dillon, Gracen Newton, Spencer Howell, Sil van der
Zwan Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG Length: 1h 35min IMDb Blurb: For Greg the winter vacations are going a little
rough, after getting stuck with his family in the snow and worrying about
getting the new console. I know precious little about the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.
I’m also a little put off by the animation style. That said, I can’t deny its
popularity. There are books everywhere, films, spinoffs, and even a musical.
It’s won, or been nominated for, 10 Kids Choice awards. That’s insane. Obviously,
there’s something here that kids adore, and that can’t be ignored. I hope it lives up to the fans’ expectations. 19 – May December
(11/17) Director: Todd
Haynes Writer: Samy
Burch, Alex Mechanik Actors: Natalie
Portman, Chris Tenzis, Charles Melton, Julianne Moore, Andrea Frankle, Gabriel
Chung, Mikenzie Taylor Genre: Comedy,
Drama Rated: R Length: 1h 57min IMDb Blurb: Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance
gripped the nation, a married couple buckles under pressure when an actress
arrives to do research for a film about their past. There’s a bit of a disconnect between the trailer for May
December and its labeled genres. The trailer for May December is dark and dramatic.
There’s a touch of thriller in there that would lead me to believe it leans in
a frightening direction. The labels for it, however, claim it’s a comedy drama.
So, either the labels are way off, or it’s being marketed abysmally. It makes
me a bit nervous about recommending it. Even with the insane casting and
creative team. 18 – Eileen
(12/1) Director: William
Oldroyd Writer: Luke
Goebel, Ottessa Moshfegh Actors: Thomasin
McKenzie, Shea Whigham, Sam Nivola, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Tonye Patano, Anne Hathaway Genre: Drama,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 37min IMDb Blurb: A woman's friendship with a new co-worker at the
prison facility where she works takes a sinister turn. Every time I watch this trailer, it looks amazing. Anne
Hathaway (Les Miserables, The Dark Knight Rises, Dark Waters) and
Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit, Leave No Trace, Last Night in Soho) are
intense, the tension is palpable, and the overall feel of it is different. Of
course, the problem is that I have to keep watching the damn thing. For some reason that I cannot pinpoint, I can’t keep Eileen
in my brain. It was originally much higher on my list, but every time I had to
rewatch the trailer to try and remember it, I moved it lower. I don’t know
what’s off about it that is keeping it from leaving an impression, but I trust
my instincts. It looks great, but something is just… off. 17 – Waitress:
The Musical (12/7) Director: Diane
Paulus, Brett Sullivan Writer: Jessie
Nelson, Adrienne Shelly Actors: Sara
Bareilles, Drew Gehling, Charity Dawson, Dakin Matthews, Christopher
Fitzgerald, Eric Anderson, Anastacia McCleskey Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Musical Rated: Unrated Length: 2h 24min IMDb Blurb: The hit Broadway musical about a small-town pie
baker with big dreams gets the silver screen treatment. I’ve heard about this musical, but never really given it
much thought. I couldn’t really picture what it would be about unless it was
somewhat parody-esk. The trailer changed my mind very quickly. I believe Waitress: The Musical is going to be packed
with emotional scenes. I’m hoping for a feel-good style to the ending, which is
not normally my thing, but I’m guessing there will be many tears before that
comes to pass. Sara Bareilles (Little Voice, Battle of the Sexes, She’s
Out of My League) has an enchanting voice. At the very least, it should be
full of earworms. 16 – The Color
Purple (12/25) Director: Blitz
Bazawule Writer: Marcus
Gardley, Alice Walker, Marsha Norman Actors: Fantasia
Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Phylicia
Pearl Mpasi, Halle Bailey, Ciara, H.E.R., David Alan Grier, Deon Cole Genre: Drama,
Musical Rated: PG-13 Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: A decades-spanning tale of love and resilience and
of one woman's journey to independence. Celie faces many hardships in her life,
but ultimately finds extraordinary strength and hope in the unbreakable bonds
of sisterhood. I simply cannot picture The Color Purple as a musical.
Which makes sense because following the adaptation line of this story actively
gave me a headache. Let me see if I got this straight. This musical is based on
a book by Marsha Norman, which was based on the 1985 film adaptation, which was
based on the 1982 novel by Alice Walker. Is that right? Don’t quote me, I could
have that wrong. I’ve never seen such a convoluted path from original work to final
product before. So, is this based on the original Alice Walker novel or not? I had this movie way higher on my list until I saw that
ridiculous family tree of previous works. Now I don’t know what to think. My familiarity with The Color Purple comes from
reading the original novel by Walker. I read it in college, and it fucked me right
up. I cannot picture a musical coming out of it. Now that I know there’s about
4 degrees of separation, I’m wondering how much it could possibly honor the
original story. It’s like a creative game of telephone. I’m confused, but still curious enough to put The Color
Purple on my list. 15 – The Family
Plan (12/15) Director: Simon
Cellan Jones Writer: David
Coggeshall Actors: Mark
Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, Ciarán Hinds, Maggie Q, Zoe Margaret Colletti,
Felicia Pearson Genre: Action,
Comedy Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 58min IMDb Blurb: A former top assassin living incognito as a
suburban dad must take his unsuspecting family on the run when his past catches
up to him. I enjoy action flicks like this, but they are becoming a dime
a dozen. It already wasn’t a new idea before, but everyone in Hollywood seems
to be involved in another one every month after the success of John Wick
(2014). I’m still in that place where I’m having fun with the idea, but you’ll
notice they are falling lower and lower on my list each time. The Family Plan has the added benefit of being a
comedy. Straight action is what most creative teams have been going for. Of
course, Mark Wahlberg (The Fighter, Father Stu, In Treatment) is in it,
and I’m not so much a fan of him these days, so it’s equals out. 14 – Silent Night
(12/1) Director: John
Woo Writer: Robert
Archer Lynn Actors: Joel
Kinnaman, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Kid Cudi, Harold Torres, Vinny O’Brien, Yoko
Hamamura, Anthony Giulietti, John Pollack Genre: Action Rated: R Length: 1h 44min IMDb Blurb: A grieving father enacts his long-awaited revenge
against a ruthless gang on Christmas Eve. Holiday films are not my favorite – unless there’s blood. When
you combine the joy and colorful nature of the season with horror or action, it
opens the door for a great many plot lines that are just not open otherwise. If
not plot, then at least you get strange/unique kills. In this case, you’ve also got John Woo (Face/Off, Red
Cliff, Hostage). That’s a hell of a get. Silent Night is clearly going to be some bad-ass
turn-your-brain-off-fun. 13 – Candy Cane
Lane (12/1) Director: Reginald
Hudlin Writer: Kelly
Younger Actors: Eddie
Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell, Genneya Walton, Thaddeus J. Mixson,
Madison Thomas, Nick Offerman, Chris Redd, Robin Thede, David Alan Grier,
Anjelah Johnson-Reyes Genre: Comedy,
Fantasy Rated: PG Length: 1h 57min IMDb Blurb: A man is determined to win the neighborhood's
annual Christmas decorating contest. He makes a pact with an elf to help him
win--and the elf casts a spell that brings the 12 days of Christmas to life,
which brings unexpected chaos to town. I have a deep love for holiday horrors. Technically, Candy
Cane Lane is a fantasy, not a horror, but it follows the well-known ‘be
careful what you wish for’ trope. Which means it dips a toe into the latter.
Especially since the result of the magic could have the main character turn
into a doll for the rest of eternity. That’s horrific if you lend it much
thought. I’m also still a fan of Eddie Murphy (Coming to America,
Dolemite is My Name, Shrek). He was the comedy GOAT growing up, and I get a
smack of nostalgia whenever I see him in a modern comedy film. 12 – Aquaman and
the Lost Kingdom (12/22) Director: James
Wan Writer: David
Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, Jason Momoa, Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, Mort Weisinger,
Paul Norris Actors: Jason
Momoa, Ben Affleck, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Dolph Lundgren,
Temuera Morrison, Nicole Kidman, Jani Zhao Genre: Action,
Adventure, Fantasy Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 55min IMDb Blurb: Aquaman balances his duties as king and as a member
of the Justice League, all while planning a wedding. Black Manta is on the hunt
for Atlantean tech to help rebuild his armor. Orm plots to escape his Atlantean
prison. I went back and forth about adding Aquaman and the Lost
Kingdom at all. That whole thing with Amber Heard was a fucking side-show
of epic proportions and I don’t want anything to do with anything she does. That
said, she’s been cut out of this film as much as possible, maybe even
completely. As a result, I’ve decided to go with it. The first Aquaman (2018) was a whole lot of fun. One
of the better films DC has churned out in the past few years, if a bit more
forgettable than I thought it would be. At the very least, Jason Momoa (Slumberland,
Peacemaker, Dune) is a great choice for the title character. The trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom looks
like even more fun than the first one. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s
been done with it. 11 – Concrete
Utopia (12/15) Director: Tae-hwa
Eom Writer: Tae-hwa
Eom, Lee Shin-ji Actors: Park
Seo-joon, Lee Byung-hun, Park Bo-young, Kim Sun-young, Park Ji-hu, Na Chul,
Do-yoon Kim Genre: Action,
Adventure, Drama Rated: Unrated Length: 2h 10min IMDb Blurb: Survivors from a massive earthquake struggle for a
new life in Seoul. There’s something about a good disaster film. When you put
it together with Korean cinema, I’m 100% in. I tend to jump headfirst into
both. Concrete Utopia is unique in the way that it does
give that small oasis of normalcy to the characters – in the form of an
unfelled apartment complex. Really, the idea reminds me of a show I started
watching called Sweet Home (2020 -) – of course that’s more monster-y
than natural. The cast is a great one, too. Park Seo-joon (Parasite, Midnight
Runners, Jinny’s Kitchen) and Lee Byung-hun (I Saw the Devil, A
Bittersweet Life, Our Blues) stand out the most to me, personally, but
there are many other popular actors alongside them.
10 – The Shift (12/1) Director: Brock
Heasley Writer: Brock
Heasley Actors: Neal
McDonough, Kristoffer Polaha, Sean Astin, Elizabeth Tabish, Jason Marsden, Emily
Rose, Rose Reid Genre: Sci-Fi Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 55min IMDb Blurb: After meeting a mysterious stranger, a man must
escape a " dystopian " world to return to his wife. There’s something about alternate reality stories that just do
it for me. Our world, just slightly off. Or a film featuring the same people
that have made different choices. I think it comes from my own ‘what ifs.’ They
make me wonder who I’d be in the worlds of those other choices I could have
made. But I digress. The Shift shows an alternate reality story that I
absolutely see myself getting sucked into. There’s action and intrigue and romance…
it checks all the boxes for me. On top of that, there’s the added bonus of Neal
McDonough (Project Blue Book, Minority Report, Boomtown) and Sean Astin’s
(Stranger Things, The Lord of the Rings, No Good Nick) inclusion. I think The Shift will be a solid sci-fi offering. 9 – Freud’s Last
Session (12/22) Director: Matt Brown Writer: Matt
Brown, Mark St. Germain Actors: Matthew
Goode, Anthony Hopkins, Jodi Balfour, Orla Brady, Stephen Campbell Moore, Liv
Lisa Fries, Rhys Mannion, Tarek Bishara Genre: Drama Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 48min IMDb Blurb: The movie's story sees Freud invite iconic author
C.S. Lewis to debate the existence of God. And his unique relationship with his
daughter, and Lewis' unconventional relationship with his best friend's mother. The idea of being a fly on the wall during a conversation
between C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud is outstanding. It’s a philosophical
heavyweight match. I would have wanted to see Freud’s Last Session just
based on that description alone. Then you add in the outstanding Anthony Hopkins (The Son,
The Silence of the Lambs, King Lear) as Freud with Matthew Goode (The
Imitation Game, The King’s Man, Silent Night) playing across from him? How
could anyone pass up this film? I don’t know anything about the writers, Matt Brown (The Man
Who Knew Infinity, London Town, Ropewalk) and Mark St. Germain (Duma,
The Wright Verdicts, Lifestories), but I feel like this is the kind of film
that could catapult them to something even bigger than what they already have –
provided it’s done right. 8 – Poor Things (12/8) Director: Yorgos
Lanthimos Writer: Tony
McNamara, Alasdair Gray Actors: Emma
Stone, Willem Dafoe, Vicki Pepperdine, Ramy Youssef, Mark Ruffalo Genre: Romance,
Sci-Fi Rated: R Length: 2h 21min IMDb Blurb: The incredible tale about the fantastical evolution
of Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and
unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter. A star-studded fever dream of a Frankenstein adaptation. That’s
the only thing I can think of when I watch the trailer for Poor Things. What
else could you expect from director Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, The
Killing of a Sacred Deer, Dogtooth), though? He may not be a household
name, but when it comes to this kind of unique, almost experimental, direction
he is well-known among film-lover. Everything I’ve seen of his has been insanely
out of pocket and impossible to look away from. Just from his track record, I’d be into Poor Things.
The trailer was just the cherry on top. 7 – Godzilla
Minus One (12/1) Director: Takashi
Yamazaki Writer: Takashi
Yamazaki Actors: Minami
Hamabe, Sakura Ando, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Kuranosuke
Sasaki Genre: Action,
Adventure, Drama Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h 5min IMDb Blurb: Post war Japan is at its lowest point when a new
crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power
of the atomic bomb. A new Japanese Godzilla movie is so fucking exciting. It
feels like the titular monster is heading home. Spearheaded by phenomenal writer/director Takashi Yamazaki (Parasyte:
Part 1, The Fighter Pilot, The Great War of Archimedes), Godzilla is going
to get the best treatment it’s had since the original came out in 1954. When I
saw this trailer, I practically jumped out of my chair I was so here for it. 6 – Migration (12/22) Director: Benjamin
Renner, Guylo Homsy Writer: Benjamin
Renner, Mike White Actors: Elizabeth
Banks, Awkwafina, Danny DeVito, Carol Kane, Keegan-Michael Key, Kumail
Nanjiani, David Mitchell, Jimmy Donaldson Genre: Animation,
Action, Adventure Rated: PG Length: 1h 22min IMDb Blurb: A family of ducks try to convince their
overprotective father to go on the vacation of a lifetime. This is a bit off subject, but I’m a little tired of all
Illumination’s trailers starting off looking like a new Minions (2015) flick.
Just show the title screen and movie on, FFS. They do make a good animated film, though, don’t they? Migration looks uplifting, heartwarming, and
flawlessly designed. I am absolutely looking forward to going on a quest to the
city with a little family of cartoon ducks. I bet my daughter will be excited
too. It should be fun for the whole family. 5 – Anyone But
You (12/15) Director: Will Gluck Writer: Will
Gluck, Ilana Wolpert Actors: Sydney
Sweeney, Glen Powell, Alexandra Shipp, Darren Barnet, Bryan Brown, Joe
Davidson, Gata, Rachel Griffiths, Dermot Mulroney, Michelle Hurd, Hadley
Robinson Genre: Comedy,
Romance Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 40min IMDb Blurb: After an amazing first date, Bea and Ben's fiery
attraction turns ice cold - until they find themselves unexpectedly reunited at
a destination wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would
do: pretend to be a couple. I had a whole piece written about Anyone But You, and
then I found out there are two very different trailers – both made by Sony. The one I’ve included above is the one I originally saw. It’s
goofy, and yet still shows plenty of romance. The emphasis is definitely more on
the Comedy part of this rom-com. Then there’s the other one. The second trailer is hot.
Its emphasis is fully on the Romance aspect and the chemistry shown throughout the
1-minute runtime will leave you weak in the knees. It’s almost hard to imagine
these are both the same film. I’ve never seen such a perfect example of how much marketing
matters in a film. If you’ve read the earlier entries in this article, then you
know that I don’t love it when a movie is marketed in a way that makes me
question the genre. This might be the exception, though. It’s not showing
comedy and claiming to be a single-genre romance, or vice-versa. Instead, it’s a
rom-com and each trailer seems to be specifically geared toward one half of what
it claims to be. That makes me more curious than annoyed. Is Anyone But You going to lean hard into the
goofiness? Is it going to steam the glass of my windows? Or is it going to be
some perfect balance of the two? I’m more likely to watch it now that I have those
questions. 4 – The Archies (12/7) Director: Zoya
Akhtar, Ryan Brophy Writer: Farhan
Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, Ayesha DeVitre, John L. Goldwater, Reema Kagti, Bob
Montana Actors: Agastya
Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, Suhana Khan, Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, Dot, Yuvraj Menda Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Musical Rated: Unrated Length: 2h 21min IMDb Blurb: Set in 1960s India, Archie and the gang navigate
romance, friendship and the future of Riverdale as developers threaten to
destroy a beloved park. I grew up with The Archies. My mom and I used to read
the comics together. When Riverdale (2017-2023) came out, I was super
excited, though I fell off it after a couple of seasons. It’s edgier-than-thou aura
didn’t really capture the feel of Archie and the gang. This movie, however,
seems to be a much closer adaptation of my beloved childhood comics. The period is reflected well, and I can pretty much pick out
each of the characters in the trailer, even though it’s translated into a whole
other culture. I’m really looking forward to it. 3 – The Iron Claw
(12/22) Director: Sean
Durkin Writer: Sean
Durkin Actors: Grady
Wilson, Valentine Newcomer, Holt McCallany, Zac Efron, Harris Dickinson, Jeremy
Allen White, Lily James, Stanley Simons, Maura Tierney Genre: Biography,
Drama, Sport Rated: Unrated Length: 2h 10min IMDb Blurb: The true story of the inseparable Von Erich
brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional
wrestling in the early 1980s. This was a movie that came out of nowhere for me. I hadn’t
heard anything about it. That should make sense, because of the strikes, but
even with those it’s been impossible to stay away from most news regarding
Jeremy Allen White (The Bear, The Rental, Fremont). As a fan of Shameless (2011-2021), I saw his
popularity coming from a mile away. But I digress. The Iron Claw looks like a family drama masquerading
as a sick wrestling-centric sport film. The trailer is done exceptionally well.
I originally had it lower on the list, but a second look changed my mind. I thought it would be a good idea to get some insight from
someone more into wrestling than I am. Obviously, I checked in with our friends,
the Basement Bookers. Basement Jer put it perfectly: “Bro. I can’t wait to see
this fucking movie.” Succinctly put. 2 – Rebel Moon
Part 1: A Child of Fire (12/22) Director: Zack
Snyder Writer: Shay
Hatten, Kurt Johnstad, Zack Snyder Actors: Jena
Malone, Sofia Boutella, Ed Skrein, Charlie Hunnam, Sisse Marie, Cary Elwes,
Anthony Hopkins, Michiel Huisman, Cleopatra Coleman, Djimon Hounsou Genre: Action,
Adventure, Drama Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h 13min IMDb Blurb: When a peaceful settlement on the edge of a distant
moon finds itself threatened by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, a
mysterious stranger living among its villagers becomes their best hope for
survival. Most other months, Rebel Moon Part 1: A Child of Fire would
have been any easy #1. Heavy sci-fi, dystopian feel, glorious fight choreography,
directed by Zack Snyder (300, Justice League, Snow Steam Iron) and with a
cast that includes: Jena Malone (Contact, The Hunter Games: Catching Fire, Goliath),
Sofia Boutella (Hotel Artemis, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Star Trek
Beyond), Ed Skrein (Deadpool, Midway, Alita: Battle Angel), Anthony
Hopkins, Michiel Huisman (Game of Thrones, The Age of Adaline, The Haunting
of Hill House), Cary Elwes (BlackBerry, The Princess Bride, The Story of
Luke), Charlie Hunnam (The Gentlemen, Sons of Anarchy, Children of Men)
and Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond, Gran Turismo, The King’s Man)? There
is not a single flaw in this flick on paper. I can’t wait to see what it does on screen. 1 – Wonka (12/15) Director: Paul
King Writer: Simon Farnaby,
Paul King, Roald Dahl Actors: Timothée
Chalamet, Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant, Paterson Joseph, Sally Hawkins, Rowan
Atkinson, Keegan-Michael Key, Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Matt Lucas, Jim
Carter Genre: Adventure,
Comedy, Family Rated: PG Length: 1h 52min IMDb Blurb: Based on the extraordinary character at the center
of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, "Wonka" tells the wondrous
story of how the world's greatest inventor, magician and chocolate-maker became
the beloved Willy Wonka we know today. It’s impossible to not be excited for a prequel to Willy
Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). It looks every bit as whimsical
and fun as the first one. I feel like Timothée Chalamet (Dune, Call Me by
Your Name, Little Women) is the perfect person to play a young Willy Wonka,
and the idea of Hugh Grant (Glass Onion, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among
Thieves, Paddington 2) as an Oompa-Loompa is just fantastic. Wonka is everything I need to finish off this
disaster of a year. A sweet childhood fantasy to take me out of the gloom and
into a rainbow of sugar. I just cannot wait for Wonka.
Streaming Service: Amazon Prime ($5.99) Movie Name/Year: Sing 2 (2021) Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy Length: 112 minutes Rating: PG Production/Distribution: Illumination Entertainment, Cinemundo, Toho-Towa,
United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures Argentina, Universal
Pictures International (UPI), Universal Pictures, Netflix Director: Garth Jennings Writers: Garth Jennings Actors: Matthew McConaughey, Taron
Egerton, Tori Kelly, Reese Witherspoon, Nick Kroll, Scarlett Johansson, Bobby
Cannavale, Halsey, Bono, Eric André, Pharrell Williams, Letitia Wright, Chelsea
Peretti, Garth Jennings, Angelo Arce, Adam Buxton, Katherine Kelloway, Jennifer
Saunders, Peter Serafinowicz, Ayden Soria, Spike Jonze, Jason Schwartzman, Tara Strong, Edgar Wright, John Kassir, Wes Anderson
IMDb Blurb: Buster Moon and his friends must
persuade reclusive rock star Clay Calloway to join them for the opening of a
new show.
Cat’s Point of View: I haven’t had a chance to see Sing 2 in a theater, so I’ve been waiting with bated breath for it
to hit digital On Demand services – much like a singer awaits their musical cue
to begin. I did list Sing 2 as the #3
on my personal Top 20 list for December 2021, after all. (You can read
about Selina’s expectations for the film in her #5 entry.) Needless to say, the day it became available to rent, the
whole family piled onto the couch in the livingroom with popcorn in-hand and
watched together. We even watched it a second time today. Sing 2 defied the
odds by surpassing the bar set by Sing
(2016). This was definitely one of those times that the sequel outshined what
had come before.
The story grabbed me hard and just held my attention with a
vicelike grip through the whole production. I loved the music selections, the
cast members were all on point, and I caught a serious case of The Feels. When writer/director Garth Jennings (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Son of Rambow, Sing) got
together with the music department for Sing
2, they were firing on all cylinders. Every song brought an extra layer to the
story and hit just right. My daughter was excited that Halsey (Teen Titans GO! To the Movies, A Star Is Born, If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power) had
a character in the story. I, however, was absolutely giddy that Sing 2 had Bono (Across the Universe, Lost in London, Pandemica). I kept trying to
sing along with the U2 songs during the movie and got shushed…a lot. (I couldn’t
help it, and hey – we were at home, where silence doesn’t have an usher to
enforce its golden status.)
Of course, one would hope for something like that with a
director experienced with the music industry and the regular production of
music videos. Jennings didn’t disappoint. I liked him before, but now I’m
excited for his next big project…whatever that might be. There was enough action and boogie to everything that Sing 2
would entertain and hold the fleeting attention of younger kids, while the
deeper stories would easily connect with older audiences.
The visual spectacle would be best viewed on a big screen,
so if you have a chance to find a theater that might still have it – go for it
if you can. Otherwise, it would be a wonderful addition to a family night in. I
know it was for me.
It is unclear at the time of this review which streaming service that Sing 2 will eventually land on. Netflix was reportedly involved with the distribution in some way, but Universal's movies tend to release to Peacock. Just keep your eyes peeled if you need to wait til the rental exclusive period is over.
20 – Mixtape
(12/3) Production/Distribution:
Netter Productions, Reunion Pacific Entertainment, Netflix Director: Valerie
Weiss Writer: Stacey
Menear Actors: Julie
Bowen, Jackson Rathbone, Nick Thune, Kiefer O’Reilly, Gemma Brooke Allen,
Audrey Hsieh, Anthony Timpano, Olga Petsa, Russell Roberts, Diego Mercado, Ken
Godmere, Lucas Yao Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Family Rated: Unrated Length: 93 minutes IMDb Blurb: When a young girl accidentally destroys the mixtape
that belonged to her mother, she sets out to track down each of the obscure
songs on the cassette. I really enjoy the premise of this film. I love the
references to Y2K, the mixtape central theme… it’s nostalgic. Sure, a lot of my
interest comes from the ‘member-berries, but it’s also got a decent cast and
some room for real heart-warming. Stacey Menear’s involvement confuses me a bit, though.
Having been responsible for The Boy (2016) and Brahms: The Boy II
(2020) this feels like a bit of a departure for her. Not to mention the
discrepancy in quality between both films. Does it speak well for her writing
or not? I don’t even know. There’s also the fact that it’s Netflix. Quality can’t be
assured there, either. They give a lot more leeway to directors than
traditional production companies. They also have different qualifications to
meet when picking up films to distribute. There are a lot of ways Mixtape can go wrong, but
I’ve always been fond of a little randomness in my choices. 19 – Portal
Runner (12/10) Production/Distribution:
Terror Films Director: Cornelia
Duryée Writer: J.D.
Henning, Tallis Moore Actors: Elise
Eberle, Brian S. Lewis, Denny McAuliffe, Shaunyce Omar, Carol Roscoe, Matt
Shimkus, Sloane Morgan Siegel, Roy Luke Genre: Sci-Fi Rated: Unrated Length: 72
minutes IMDb Blurb: 15 year old Nolan is blessed with the ability to
travel to parallel worlds-- and cursed to be chased through them by a monstrous
Evil. When he gets stuck in a parallel world, with a sister he's never met, he
must make allies and dig deep to destroy the creature-- before it destroys him. Portal Runner has a premise that could carry it to
places many of the bigger films I passed up just wouldn’t get to. The plot is a
huge draw for me. I love films that have a bit of that ‘different world’
fantasy to them, and you get that here. Including it on this list is absolutely about faith in the
plot, but there are other green flags to consider. Not the least of which is
that the trailer does not try to hide the acting. Other lower-budget flicks tend to have schlocky,
unconvincing performances. As a result, you get a lot of B-roll and
misdirection in the trailers. In the case of Portal Runner, the trailer
focuses almost solely on the actors. It feels transparent. Like they’re not
trying to hide anything faulty. That’s huge. Acting can make all the difference
in how it’s perceived. It’s the difference between a Disney movie, and a Disney
Channel movie. If you know, you know. I think Portal Runner will have the opportunity to
become a cult film, as long as people take a chance on it. 18 – Death of a
Telemarketer (12/3) Production/Distribution:
Datari Turner Productions, Kasomo Productions, Sony Pictures Worldwide
Acquisitions (SPWA) Director: Khaled
Ridgeway Writer: Khaled
Ridgeway Actors: Lamorne
Morris, Jackie Earle Haley, Haley Joel Osment, Alisha Wainwright, Woody
McClain, Matt mcGorry, Gil Ozeri, David So, Starletta DuPois, Gwen Gottlieb Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Thriller Rated: R Length: 88
minutes IMDb Blurb: A smooth-talking telemarketer finds himself at the
mercy of the man he tried to swindle. Death of a Telemarketer feels like a hilariously
thrilling ride. In fact, there’s more comedy in the trailer than thrills.
Normally, that would make me nervous, but I’m very ok with it here. Lamorne Morris (How it Ends, Valley of the Boom, Human
Discoveries) is a great comedic actor. He’s got amazing timing. Anyone
who’s seen New Girl (2011-2018) knows how right I am. It’s less known
that he’s also got chops for other genres. I think a comedy/thriller is the
best way for him to showcase that. Besides, who doesn’t hate telemarketers? 17 – Mosley
(12/10) Production/Distribution:
Huhu Studios, China Film Animation, Mosaic Public Relations, Paramount Home
Entertainment, Saban Films, Top Film, Eagle Films, Grindstone Entertainment Group,
Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Movie On Pictures & Entertainment, NOS
Audiovisuais Director: Kirby
Atkins Writer: Kirby
Atkins Actors: Lucy
Lawless, Temuera Morrison, John Rhys-Davies, Rhys Darby, Lara Macgregor, Kirby
Atkins, Irene Wood Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Family Rated: PG Length: 100
minutes IMDb Blurb: A species of creatures known as
"thoriphants" rebel against their life of servitude and embark on a
treacherous journey to find the fabled city of Uprights. I love this. It’s an animated kid’s film that introduces the
idea of extinction and evolution while still being entertaining. I’m here for
it. In general, it looks like a decent movie, not overly-special,
but still decent. For me, the design of the creatures just feels a smidge
off-putting. That’s what’s keeping me from being more excited for it. That bit
is more of a ‘personal taste’ thing than any kind of objective take, though. I am really looking forward to hearing the voice of Lucy
Lawless (The Spine of Night, Ash vs Evil Dead, The Changeover) again. I
grew up with Xena, and Lawless was a role model for me. It’s hard for me to
ignore any project she takes part in. 16 – A Journal
for Jordan (12/25) Production/Distribution:
BRON Studios, Columbia Pictures, Creative Wealth Media Finance, Escape Artists,
Mundy Lane Entertainment, Outlier Society, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) Director: Denzel
Washington Writer: Dana
Canedy, Virgil Williams Actors: Tamara
Tunie, Michael B. Jordan, Genre: Drama Rated: PG-13 Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: 1st Sgt. Charles Monroe King, before he is killed
in action in Baghdad, authors a journal for his son intended to tell him how to
live a decent life despite growing up without a father. I always crave holiday films at the end of the year, but I
cannot express just how much I detest the Hallmark/Lifetime variety. When we do
‘Tis the Season every December, where we review only holiday films, I do my
best to step out of my preferences to review those flicks. I put more effort
into finding creative movies for the schedule, though. With A Journal for Jordan, I believe we get something
a bit more on the creative side. It’s heartfelt, but doesn’t fall on the
saccharin side of things. It’s got a great director in Denzel Washington (Unstoppable,
The Magnificent Seven, Fences), as well. Plus, it’s Michael B. Jordan (Fahrenheit 451, Black
Panther, Creed). That’s always a huge benefit. The only reason it’s so low on the list is because it still
has that possibility of being basic. I think this one will be what I’m hoping
for, but there’s a bit of an opening for the writers to take the road most
traveled – and that makes me nervous. 15 –
Mother/Android (12/17) Production/Distribution:
6th & Idaho Productions, Miramax, Hulu Director: Mattson
Tomlin Writer: Mattson
Tomlin Actors: Chloë
Grace Moretz, Steve M. Robertson, Oscar Wahlberg, Raúl Castillo, Algee Smith,
Liam McNeill, Owen Burke, Kate Avallone, Jared Reinfeldt, Kiara Pichardo,
Tamara Hickey Genre: Drama,
Sci-Fi, Thriller Rated: R Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: Georgia and her boyfriend Sam go on a treacherous
journey to escape their country, which is caught in an unexpected war with
artificial intelligence. Days away from the arrival of their first child, the
couple must face No Man's Land, a stronghold of the android uprising, in hopes
of reaching safety. Apocalypse is my favorite flavor of sci-fi. I don’t normally
lean toward the robot-uprising type, but this one looks pretty good. Chloë Grace Moretz (Shadow in the Cloud, Gaslight,
Suspiria) won me over all the way back in Kick-Ass (2010). I adore
her, and I tend to follow her through all her projects – even without meaning
to. They all just usually look great to me. Maybe it’s because of her acting in
the trailers, or because she’s got decent taste in the scripts she accepts (for
the most part). Either way, it’s a safe bet that I’ll be paying attention to
anything she’s a part of. That said, I can’t put it any higher on my list than this.
The trailer has two of the most telling red flags of all of them: there’s a LOT
of B-roll, and there are a lot of scenes that don’t match up with what’s being
said. Explaining the B-roll issue is simple. Many trailers that
use the B-roll strategy do so because the films just don’t have enough interesting
scenes completed in time for the trailer. Sometimes it could be a setting
issue, other times it’s bad CGI. Either way, it’s a hint that something’s
wrong. As for the scenes not matching up with what’s being said,
that could be two things. Either there’s not enough marketable dialogue in the
script, or there are script issues. Neither red flag means that the movie will definitely be
bad. They are, however, concerning. I’m still going to watch it when it comes out. 14 – Diary of a
Wimpy Kid (12/3) Production/Distribution:
20th Century Studios, Bardel Entertainment, Color Force, The Walt Disney
Company, Twentieth Century Animation, Twentieth Century Fox Animation, Disney+ Director: Swinton
O. Scott III Writer: Jeff
Kinney Actors: Cyrus
Arnold, Braxton Baker, Erica Cerra, Lossen Chambers, Ethan William Childress,
Christian Convery, Brenda Crichlow, Chris Diamantopoulos, Hunter Dillon Genre: Animation,
Comedy, Drama Rated: PG Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: Greg Heffley is an ambitious kid with an active
imagination and big plans to be rich and famous. The problem is that he has to
survive middle school first. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a no-brainer for this list. As kids’ books, the series is well-respected. It’s won a huge-amount
of Kids’ Choice Awards. All but 2 of the awards it’s been nominated for,
actually. It’s also been on the New York Times Best Seller list. For a period
of time, even before I had a kid of my own, it was inescapable. The adaptation cannot be ignored. That said, it does look like a pretty good adaptation. Not
only because the trailer is fun, but because the writer of the books, Jeff
Kinney (Poptropica Worlds, Adventure Pig), is also the writer of the
screenplay for this flick. I always find that to be a great sign when it comes
to book adaptations. This is going to be a great flick to flip on for the kids. 13 – Don’t Look
Up (12/24) Production/Distribution:
Bluegrass Films, Hyperobject Industries, Netflix Director: Adam
McKay Writer: Adam
McKay, David Sirota Actors: Timothée
Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Melanie Lynskey, Cate
Blanchett, Jonah Hill, Meryl Streep, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Mark Rylance,
Michael Chiklis, Tyler Perry, Himesh Patel, Rob Morgan, Paul Guilfoyle, Kid
Cudi, Hettienne Park Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Sci-Fi Rated: R Length: 145
minutes IMDb Blurb: Two low-level astronomers must go on a giant media
tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy planet Earth. A giant catastrophic event is about to affect the whole
world and the powers-that-be decide to ignore scientists specializing in what’s
happening? Hits so close to home that it’s almost painful. In fact, Netflix
uses the blurb, “Based on real events that haven’t happened – yet,” on YouTube
to describe the trailer. The claim might feel a little ballsy for any other plot, but
this one I believe. Even if I didn’t find the story fascinating, the cast is
impossible to ignore. Just about every face in Don’t Look Up is
recognizable, if not a household movie-staple. Of course, it is Netflix. Quality is not definite, but I’ve
got high hopes for this one. 12 – The Tender
Bar (12/17) Production/Distribution:
Big Indie Pictures, Smokehouse Pictures, Amazon Studios Director: George
Clooney Writer: J.R.
Moehringer, William Monahan Actors: Ben
Affleck, Tye Sheridan, Daniel Ranieri, Lily Rabe, Christopher Lloyd, Max Martini,
Rhenzy Feliz, Briana Middleton, Max Casella, Sondra James, Michael Braun,
Matthew Delamater, Ivan Leung, Danielle Ranieri, Kate Avallone Genre: Drama Rated: R Length: 104
minutes IMDb Blurb: A boy growing up on Long Island seeks out father figures
among the patrons at his uncle's bar. I fell in love with this trailer the moment I saw it. Kid of
a single mother grows up to be a writer while replacing his father figure with
an uncle? God damn that sounds familiar. It’s almost impossible to ignore a movie that you feel like
you relate to. It doesn’t matter who stars in it, who wrote it, who directed or
produced it. You feel that little twinge of relation and it’s almost a given
you’ll watch it. Although it gives it that added draw, there’s no doubt that
the annoyance will be grand if it doesn’t live up to expectations. This film comes out on a limited-bases in the US on 12/17,
but it will release on streaming 12/22. 11 – The Tragedy
of Macbeth (12/25) Production/Distribution:
A24, IAC Films, Apple TV+ Director: Joel
Coen Writer: Joel
Coen, William Shakespeare Actors: Denzel
Washington, Frances McDormand, Alex Hassell, Bertie Carvel, Brendan Gleeson,
Corey Hawkins, Harry Melling, Miles Anderson, Matt Helm, Moses Ingram, Sean
Patrick Thomas, Ralph Ineson Genre: Drama,
History, Thriller Rated: R Length: 105
minutes IMDb Blurb: A Scottish lord becomes convinced by a trio of
witches that he will become the next King of Scotland, and his ambitious wife
supports him in his plans of seizing power. I’ll admit, I’m I little Shakespeare’d out at the moment. If
this were just another Macbeth adaptation, it probably wouldn’t have even made
my list. In the case of The Tragedy of Macbeth, though, there are a lot
of things that make it stand out. This film is the first time Joel Coen (True Grit, Fargo,
The Big Lebowski) has directed anything without his brother, Ethan. In
fact, they are so in sync with each other that it’s rare to hear their first
names. They’re usually just referred to as the Coen brothers. It’s fascinating
to see that Joel’s taken on a solo project. As a solo director, Joel has taken the interesting risk of
shooting The Tragedy of Macbeth almost completely on a soundstage. That’s interesting because it puts this story of Macbeth in a
more familiar setting for it. It’s more like a play and less like the
blockbuster adaptations we’re used to. Even the cast is a huge draw. With Lord Macbeth being played
by Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand (Nomadland, The French Dispatch,
Burn After Reading) behind Lady Macbeth, it’s impossible to underestimate
the leads. The awards between them are staggering. The Tragedy of Macbeth is almost definitely going to
be worth a watch, even if you don’t tend to gravitate toward Shakespeare
adaptations.
10 – Licorice
Pizza (12/25) Production/Distribution:
BRON Studios, Focus Features, Ghoulardi Film Company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
(MGM), United Artists Releasing, United International Pictures, Universal
Pictures Argentina, Universal Pictures International (UPI), Universal Pictures Director: Paul
Thomas Anderson Writer: Paul
Thomas Anderson Actors: Alana
Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Will Angarola, Griff Giacchino,
James Kelley, Bradley Cooper, Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Romance Rated: R Length: 133
minutes IMDb Blurb: The story of Alana Kane and Gary Valentine growing
up, running around and going through the treacherous navigation of first love
in the San Fernando Valley, 1973. This looks like a solidly funny romantic drama. I’m not overly familiar with the leads, but Paul Thomas
Anderson (There Will Be Blood, Punch-Drunk Love, Magnolia) as
writer/director is a big deal. He’s got some serious classics under his belt,
and a film like this seems like it would make an amazing addition to his
collection. You can see small clips of his sense of humor woven
throughout, none of which seems to cut off the drama that’s offered up. I think Licorice Pizza is as safe a pick for movies
to look out for as there ever was. 9 – Wolf (12/3) Production/Distribution:
Feline Films, Head Gear Films, Kreo Films FZ, Lava Films, Metrol Technology,
Focus Features, Front Row Filmed Entertainment Director: Nathalie
Biancheri Writer: Nathalie
Biancheri Actors: Lily-Rose
Depp, George MacKay, Paddy Considine, Terry Notary, Martin McCann, Fionn
O’Shea, Lola Petticrew, Eileen Walsh, Senan Jennings, Karise Yansen, Darragh
Shannon Genre: Drama,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: R Length: 98
minutes IMDb Blurb: A high-concept arthouse drama about a boy who
believes he is a wolf. The trailer for Wolf looks huge, and it’s got a
decent cast on top of it. I’ve been following George MacKay (The Trick, Been So
Long, Nuclear) to all his projects ever since I saw 1917 (2019). He
was glorious in it, and I refuse to miss another performance by him. The stills
for Wolf lead me to believe he’s putting in his 100%. If the film rest
on his shoulders, then it’s going to be successful. There are some discrepancies in the reviews that have come
out of the Toronto International Film Festival, though. On IMDb, it has a 4.1 rating (out of 10). Whereas on Rotten
Tomatoes, it’s sitting at 83%. I don’t know what would cause this kind of
spread in its ratings. It concerns me, but not enough to leave it off my list. Besides, reviews are fine – but I think it’s always
important to make your own decisions. Use reviews as suggestions, guidelines
even, never as fact. 8 – Swan Song
(12/17) Production/Distribution:
Anonymous Content, Apple, Concordia Studio, Know Wonder, Apple TV+ Director: Benjamin
Cleary Writer: Benjamin
Cleary Actors: Mahershala
Ali, Naomie Harris, Glenn Close, Awkwafina, Adam Beach, Lee Shorten, Dax Rey,
Nyasha Hatendi, JayR Tinaco Genre: Drama,
Sci-Fi Rated: R Length: 116
minutes IMDb Blurb: In the near future, Cameron Turner is diagnosed
with a terminal illness. Presented with an experimental solution to shield his
wife and son from grief, he grapples with altering their fate in this
exploration of love, loss, and sacrifice. A lot of sci-fi films have been coming out with premises
similar to Swan Song. They feel like lengthy episodes of Black Mirror
(2011-2019). I’m not complaining about it. My interest in sci-fi tends to lean
toward this kind of thing. Heightened scientific advancement that takes place
on our planet, in our timeline (often in secret), speaks to me more than
stories revolving around aliens and other planets. What makes this one special to me is the cast. Mahershala
Ali (True Detective, Hidden Figures, Luke Cage), Naomie Harris (Rampage,
Moonlight, Spectre), Glenn Close (Father Figures, The Wife, The Girl
with All the Gifts), and Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians, Raya and the Last
Dragon, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) are absolute masters of
their craft. I think they can take a plot like this and elevate it to such a
level that it stands out among the others we’ve seen. To a lesser point, I saw JayR Tinaco (Another Life, Space
Force, Drown) in one scene of Always Be My Maybe (2019) and I
remember them killing it so hard, that I pointed it out in my review. It’s not
often that a relatively unknown actor, in a bit part, is that memorable. Not
only for it to be worth noting in my take on the film, but for me to remember
it over a year later? They’ve clearly got something special in them. I cannot
what to see what they do here. Even if it winds up being another super-small
part. 7 – Nightmare
Alley (12/17) Production/Distribution:
Fox Searchlight Pictures, Double Dare You (DDY), Searchlight Pictures, TSG
Entertainment, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Forum Hungary, Walt Disney
Studios Motion Pictures Argentina, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Germany Director:
Guillermo del Toro Writer: Guillermo
del Toro, Kim Morgan, William Lindsay Gresham Actors: Rooney
Mara, Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Willem Dafoe, Paul Anderson, Mary
Steenburgen, Toni Collette, Ron Perlman, Tim Blake Nelson, Richard Jenkins,
David Strathairn, Holt McCallany, Clifton Collins Jr., Jim Beaver, David
Hewlett, Lara Jean Chorostecki Genre: Action,
Crime, Drama Rated: R Length: 150
minutes IMDb Blurb: An ambitious carny with a talent for manipulating
people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychiatrist who is
even more dangerous than he is. Nightmare Alley was originally attractive to me mostly
because of the cast, but then I saw Guillermo del Toro’s (The Shape of
Water, Pan’s Labyrinth, Crimson Peak) name. How could anyone see Toro’s name attached to a project and
not immediately want to see it. Sure, his movies are often plagued with bad
luck, but the finished products simply work. He must have amazing crisis
management and ability to adapt. Seriously, look up the shit he’s gone through
with his directed films. 90% of his projects are cursed, despite being
top-shelf work. The trailer also looks pulse-pounding. There’s no doubt in
my mind that this flick is going to be more than any of us could have possibly
hoped for. 6 – The King’s
Man (12/22) Production/Distribution:
20th Century Studios, Marv Films, Marv Studios, Forum Hungary, HKC
Entertainment, Ukrainian Film Distribution (UFD), Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures Argentina, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Finland, Walt Disney
Studios Motion Pictures International, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures,
Disney+ Director: Matthew
Vaughn Writer: Matthew
Vaughn, Karl Gajdusek, Mark Millar, Dave Gibbons Actors: Gemma Arterton,
Ralph Fiennes, Matthew Goode, Stanley Tucci, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Rhys Ifans, Daniel
Brühl, Olivier Richters, Charles Dance, Tom Hollander, Djimon Hounsou, Harris
Dickinson, Alexandra Maria Lara, Alison Steadman, Neil Jackson, Robert Aramayo,
Branka Katic Genre: Action,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: R Length: 131
minutes IMDb Blurb: In the early years of the 20th century, the
Kingsman agency is formed to stand against a cabal plotting a war to wipe out
millions. I’m a fangirl of the Kingsman films. I know they are a bit
campy and often ridiculous. I don’t care. They are so much fun to watch. In
fact, I like them because they’re campy and ridiculous. Some people may have already gotten sick of this franchise,
but not me. I’ve been looking forward to seeing The King’s Man since
before they started casting for it. I’ve always been all-in. It’s hard to ignore the red flags, though. Sequels don’t tend to rise in quality, and the second film
did follow that trend. This one is a prequel, however. Sometimes those go by
different rules. There were also delays that weren’t Covid-related. That can
sometimes point to issues with the film itself. Now, sometimes, those delays do
fix things. Most of the time, that’s not the case. I’m hoping The King’s Man
is one of the flicks helped by it. Either way, I’m still here for it. 5 – Sing 2 (12/22) Production/Distribution:
Illumination Entertainment, Cinemundo, Toho-Towa, United International Pictures
(UIP), Universal Pictures Argentina, Universal Pictures International (UPI),
Universal Pictures, Netflix Director: Garth
Jennings Writer: Garth
Jennings Actors: Matthew
McConaughey, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly, Reese Witherspoon, Nick Kroll, Scarlett
Johansson, Bobby Cannavale, Halsey, Bono, Eric André, Pharrell Williams,
Letitia Wright, Chelsea Peretti, Garth Jennings, Angelo Arce, Adam Buxton,
Katherine Kelloway, Jennifer Saunders, Peter Serafinowicz, Ayden Soria Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG Length: 112
minutes IMDb Blurb: Buster Moon and his friends must persuade reclusive
rock star Clay Calloway to join them for the opening of a new show. The first Sing was pretty good. It doesn’t stick out
too much in my mind, but I do remember having a basic enjoyment of it. The
trailer for Sing 2, however, feels like a completely different beast. I got feels from it. Actual feels. From a trailer. Maybe I was a little hormonal or something. The most feeling
I get from good trailers tends to be the occasional goosebump, or jump-scare.
Actual, wet-eyed, feels? Not really. That alone makes Sing 2 stand out. Sing 2 looks epic. I think, if the trailer wasn’t
overly manipulated, we might be looking at a rare series where the sequel is
better than the original. It’s a big statement, I know. But I definitely didn’t catch
these feels from the first movie, let alone the trailer. That says a lot. 4 – Silent Night
(12/3) Production/Distribution:
Maven Screen Media, Marv Films, Distributors, BfParis, AMC+, Altitude Film
Entertainment, Husky Films, Madman Entertainment, RLJE Films Director: Camille
Griffin Writer: Camille
Griffin Actors: Annabelle
Wallis, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Lily-Rose Depp, Lucy Punch, Kirby
Howell-Baptiste, Roman Griffin Davis, Trudie Styler, Holly Aird, Sope Dirisu,
Rufus Jones, Davida McKenzie, Dora Davis, Gilby Griffin Davis, Hardy Griffin
Davis Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Horror Rated: Unrated Length: 92
minutes IMDb Blurb: Nell, Simon, and their son Art are ready to welcome
friends and family for what promises to be a perfect Christmas gathering.
Perfect except for one thing: everyone is going to die. As the trailer starts, it’s easy to mistake Silent Night
for a typical family comedy Christmas film. When they start talking about
resting in peace – it’s almost like a slap-in-the-face wake-up call. The way it’s framed and advertised, the genres… I have no
IDEA what to expect from this flick. Is it a doomsday cult? Is it the start of
an actual apocalypse? Is it some kind of trick they’re playing on the kids? Is
it a social commentary on global warming? I can’t even explain how rare it is for a trailer to give a
satisfying hint at what’s going on in the plot of a film, without making me
feel like I already know exactly how it will play out. I honestly don’t think
I’ve ever seen any coming attraction that has struck this kind of balance. Not
even in Marvel, and they’ll out-right lie in their marketing material. I have significantly high hopes for Silent Night, but
even if it turns out to be mediocre, it’s guaranteed to surprise – which is
more of a guarantee than most movies have. The one aspect that makes this more of a dark horse than a
sure thing, is that it’s the full-length feature film debut for writer/director
Camille Griffin (Say Sorry, Confused, Feeder). She’s done some work with
shorts, however, so she’s not completely inexperienced. I’m looking forward to seeing this original tale told by a
brand new voice. 3 – West Side
Story (12/10) Production/Distribution:
Amblin Entertainment, Amblin Partners, TSG Entertainment, 20th Century Studios,
Forum Hungary, HKC Entertainment, Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures Argentina, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Germany, Walt
Disney Studios Motion Pictures Director: Steven
Spielberg Writer: Tony
Kushner, Arthur Laurents Actors: Ansel
Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Rita Moreno, Brian d’Arcy
James, Corey Stoll, Mike Faist, Josh Andrés Rivera, Iris Menas, David Aviles
Morales, Sebastian Serra, Ricardo Zayas, Carlos E. Gonzalez, Ricky Ubeda,
Andrei Chagas, Adriel Flete, Jacob Guzman, Kelvin Delgado, Carlos Sanchez Falu,
Julius Rubio, Yurel Echezarreta Genre: Crime,
Drama, Musical Rated: PG-13 Length: 156
minutes IMDb Blurb: An adaptation of the 1957 musical, West Side Story
explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage
street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. West Side Story is a classic. I have a friend that
doesn’t even like musicals, and the original West Side Story is his
favorite movie ever. With good reason. It was one of the first musicals I ever
fell in love with. These days, it’s easy to look back and acknowledge the
problematic casting, but it was revolutionary back then. It told a story about
race that made people who’d never thought about it, start. Remaking this film is a mine-field. You couldn’t ask for a more experienced director than Steven
Spielberg (Ready Player One, Minority Report, Saving Private Ryan), in
most cases. It’s easy to forget that this will be his first musical direction.
How his talent with traditional films translates is anyone’s guess. I also have a minor issue with the cast. Although Ansel
Elgort (Paper Towns, Baby Driver, The Goldfinch) is a decent actor, I
have trouble seeing him as Tony. I don’t think he has the right feel, or look.
Of course, no one expected Heath Ledger (The Brothers Grimm, I’m Not There,
The Four Feathers) to pull off the Joker. Anything is possible. Regardless of the pitfalls that could trip up this remake, I
cannot wait to see the story updated for 2021 audiences. If done well, it could
become a classic for a whole new generation. 2 – The Matrix
Resurrections (12/22) Production/Distribution:
Village Roadshow Pictures, NPV Entertainment, Silver Pictures, Warner Bros.,
HKC Entertainment, Roadshow Entertainment, Warner Bros. Pictures Germany,
Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Singapore, HBO Max Director: Lana
Wachowski Writer: Lana
Wachowski, David Mitchell, Aleksander Hemon, Lilly Wachowski Actors: Keanu
Reeves, Christina Ricci, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica
Henwick, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Ellen
Hollman, Jada Pinkett Smith, Daniel Bernhardt, Eréndira Ibarra, Lambert Wilson Genre: Action,
Sci-Fi Rated: R Length: 148
minutes IMDb Blurb: The plot is currently unknown. I saw all the original Matrix films in theaters. I
remember loving the first one, and watching the cinematic landscape change in
the years that followed. I didn’t know that’s what I was watching at the time,
but it’s hard to miss now. The Matrix (1999) changed a lot about film.
It even changed people. It was, and is, an important film. The sequels that followed? Not so much. Doesn’t change how much I want to see The Matrix
Resurrections. I’m sad that Lana Wachowski (Sense8, Jupiter Ascending, V
for Vendetta) handled this one on her own, but I get it. She opted to
resurrect Neo and Trinity as a way to cope with her parent’s death – while
Lilly Wachowski (Sense8, Jupiter Ascending, V for Vendetta) couldn’t do
the same. People grieve differently. Even sisters. I hope this was the catharsis that Lana was looking for. If
it was, this has the potential to be as good as the first. When a creator puts
that much emotion into a project, enough to help them work through even the
death of both their parents, it has a tendency to elevate the project.
Substantially. I’ll be seeing The Matrix Ressurections in theaters. 1 – Spider-Man:
No Way Home (12/17) Production/Distribution:
Pascal Pictures, Marvel Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), Columbia
Pictures, HKC Entertainment, Sony Corporation of Japan, Sony Pictures Releasing
Argentina, Sony Pictures Releasing International, Sony Pictures Releasing,
United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI), Disney+ Director: Jon
Watts Writer: Chris
McKenna, Erik Sommers, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko Actors: Tom
Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, J. K.
Simmons, Willem Dafoe, Angourie Rice, Alfred Molina, Jamie Foxx, Jacob Batalon,
Paula Newsome, Benedict Wong, Martin Starr, Tony Revolori, Hannibal Buress,
Thomas Hayden Church, Rhys Ifans Genre: Action,
Adventure, Sci-Fi Rated: Unrated as
of 11/29/21 Length: 148
minutes IMDb Blurb: With Spider-Man's identity now revealed, Peter asks
Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other
worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be
Spider-Man. There is not a Marvel fan on this planet that isn’t looking
forward to Spider-Man: No Way Home. The multiverse is open, Tom
Holland’s (The Devil All the Time, Chaos Walking, Onward) contract is
up, and there have been rumors flying for months about interesting castings.
Out by me, tickets sold out for the first couple of days within an hour (or so)
of being on sale. Anyone who didn’t see this movie coming in at #1 has been
living under a rock. Instead of defending my choice, I’m going to talk about some
of the rumors. Let’s start with the villains. The trailers have been confirming for a while that Alfred
Molina (There Used to Be a Me, The Water Man, Don’t Let Go) would be
back as a digitally de-aged Doctor Octopus. In following coming attractions
we’ve seen other returning villains from various Spider-man films, such as: Jamie
Foxx (Soul, Project Power, Just Mercy) as Electro, Willem Dafoe (Siberia,
Motherless Brooklyn, The Lighthouse) as Green Goblin, Thomas Hayden Church
(Hellboy, The Peanut Butter Falcon, Max) as Sandman, and Rhys Ifans (Misbehaviour,
Last Call, Snowden) as The Lizard. It looks like a decent set-up for the Sinister Six. There’s
only 1 villain missing to round it out. So, we can be pretty sure, that we’re
going to see one more surprise baddie pop-up - even if it’s in the after-credit
scene. My personal belief is that it will be Michael Keaton’s (The Protégé,
Worth, American Assassin) Vulture – since we don’t actually see a villain
from Tom Holland’s universe just yet and Tom Hardy’s (Dunkirk, Mad Max: Fury
Road, Lawless) Venom isn’t really set-up to go down that road. Now, for the other heroes. Rumors have been flying for YEARS that Tobey Maguire (Labor
Day, Brothers, Tropic Thunder) and/or Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge,
Silence, Mainstream) would be reprising their web-slinger roles for this
flick. The whole time, everyone’s been denying it. None of the trailers seem to
be insisting that the rumors hold any water at all. If another Spider-man does show up, I think it will be a new
live-action one. Maybe a Miles or a Gwen. Now, granted, Marvel has been known to lie their asses off
in order to protect their spoilers. That said, I believe that if Maguire or
Garfield were actually going to take part in this film, it would be a hard
secret to keep. SOMEONE would have gotten a picture. Especially with how hard
people were pushing the narrative that they wouldn’t be there. Speaking of Marvel lying about their films, there’s another
rumor that’s been debunked that I DO still have hope for. Charlie Cox (King of Thieves, Kin, The Theory of Everything)
was rumored to be returning as Matt Murdock. People got the idea that he was
going to be playing Peter’s defense lawyer. A few months back, Cox seemed to
deny it. That said, I’ve found a record of who’s playing the prosecution – but
there doesn’t seem to be any notice of who’s playing defense. Strange. I’m looking forward to seeing what goes down in Spider-Man:
No Way Home. At the very least, I think there will be some extremely
unexpected twists and/or reveals. If you can’t see it the day it comes out, be
careful on social media until you can. Remember, although the US release date is 12/17, it comes
out as early as 12/15 in other countries.
