"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.
Actors:
Joel Courtney, Jessica Tuck,
Joel McKinnon Miller, Ryan Lee, Zach Mills, Riley Griffiths, Gabriel
Basso, Kyle Chandler, Ron Eldard, AJ Michalka, Andrew Miller, Jakob
Miller, Jade Griffiths, Britt Flatmo, Elle Fanning, Glynn Turman,
Noah Emmerich, Richard T. Jones, David Gallagher, Brett Rice, Michael
Giacchino, Beau Knapp, Bruce Greenwood, Dale Dickey, Jack Axelrod,
Dan Castellaneta, Thomas F. Duffy, Teri Clark, Tom Quinn, Caitríona
Balfe, Bingo O'Malley, Tony Guma, Marco Sanchez, Katie Lowes
Metacritic
Blurb: In the summer of 1979, a
group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train
crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not
an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable
events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to
uncover the truth – something more terrifying than any of them
could have imagined.
Cat’s
Point of View:
This year for our spooky month series,
we decided to bring you something a little different – a countdown
of horror or thriller movies that have a number in the title. These
aren't in a bad/good arrangement or even in order of desire to watch,
as our Top 20 Lists usually are. We're set to have 8 reviews for you,
including this one, between now and the end of October, thus counting
down from 8 to 1. Some of these movies are a little off the beaten
path, so to speak, but they sparked our curiosity.
That being said, we're kicking things
off with Super 8. This wasn't my first watch of this film, but
I remember it fondly. It was a fun retrospective as well as a
nostalgia fix given the time-period of the setting. I was happy to
give Super 8 a fresh look to bring you this review with a new
experience, rather than memories from years ago.
Super 8 has a very
'kids-with-bikes' adventure quality, and while this is a Sci-fi/
Horror blend, it is definitely watchable for the age range of the
kids depicted on the screen. There might be some content that might
be too disturbing for the younger set, but the PG-13 rating is very
appropriate. There's little to no “real” blood, tame language for
the most part, and a good deal of the violent shenanigans are just
off-screen or obscured in a way that you don't always see it
directly. I think it's a brilliant touch that helps build the
suspense throughout the movie. Our imaginations are very crafty with
filling in the horrible blanks. Not only does the anticipation ramp
up for the “big reveal,” but it's also a little cost-conscious
for the production due to savings on the effects – putting the big
bucks into the payoff scenes at the climax. I was relieved that there
was an amazing reveal here that was worth the wait.
I would, honestly, expect no less from
a production helmed by J.J. Abrams (Lost, Star Trek Into Darkness,
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens) and with Steven
Spielberg (E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Ready Player One, West Side
Story) as a producer greatly hands-on with the project. He is one
of, if not my top favorite creative cinematic voices. I have adored
his movies ever since I was literally a baby.
This movie offers a full range of
emotions on this wild ride of a story. It opens with some deep
dramatic notes that helps the audience invest in the characters. Then
you get into some relatable coming-of-age stuff right as all hell
breaks loose. The fewer details I discuss here, the better – trust
me.
If you haven't already seen Super 8,
this season of chills and thrills would be a great time to cue it up.
If you have already watched this film in the past, then why not give
it another spin? It was definitely a pleasant re-watch for me.
20 – Go West
(7/19) Production/Distribution:
Brothers’ Ink Productions, JK Studios, Purdie Distribution Director: Stephen
Meek, Jeremy Warner Writer: Adam
Berg, Whitney Call, Mallory Everton, Jason Gray, Stacey Harkey, Natalie Madsen,
Stephen Meek, Matthew Meese, James Perry, Jeremy Warner Actors: Sean
Astin, Mallory Everton, Whitney Call, Matthew Meese, Jason Gray, Natalie
Madsen, Stephen Meek, Jeremy Warner, Stacey Harkey, Adam Berg, James Perry Genre: Comedy,
Western Rated: Unrated Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: A crazy group of pioneers brave the harsh elements
and numerous mishaps to travel thousands of miles out west to find a place to
call home. I usually don’t go for westerns, but this film looks a whole
lot more like Blazing Saddles (1974) than anything else from the genre. I’m
not saying it’s going to be the same level as that film, but it does seem to
have a similar, if updated, sense of humor. It’s parody at its best. Not perfect, but funny and worth
giving a chance. The July 19th release is limited, a wider release will
happen on August 11. 19 – Biosphere
(7/7) Production/Distribution:
Duplass Brothers Productions, IFC Films, AMC+ Director: Mel
Eslyn Writer: Mark Duplass,
Mel Eslyn Actors: Sterling
K. Brown, Mark Duplass Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Mystery Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 46min IMDb Blurb: In the not-too-distant future, the last two men on
earth must adapt and evolve to save humanity. Biosphere is tricky. The plot looks interesting – I do
love a good apocalypse story, after all – but there are only two actors
involved. Now, that isn’t a deal breaker of course, it just means that the
entire thing is riding on their backs. If they throw themselves into it and
have the talent to back it up, then it will be an incredible watch. But if they
falter, at all, it could wind up feeling like watching paint dry. Sterling K. Brown (Black Panther, This is Us, The Rhythm
Section) is a great actor. I have no doubt that he can hold my interest for
the run-time of Biosphere. That said, I’m much more ambivalent toward
Mark Duplass (Language Lessons, Big Mouth, Duck Butter). I don’t have a
problem with him, but his name rarely stands out to me when I’m looking through
the cast of films. I’m cautiously optimistic, but I couldn’t justify putting Biosphere
any higher on my list. 18 – Call Her
King (7/6) Production/Distribution:
Blacklight Entertainment, BET+ Director: Wes
Miller Writer: Wes
Miller Actors: Naturi
Naughton, Jason Mitchell, Lance Gross, Nicholas Turturro, Johnny Messner, Tobias
Truvillion, Han Soto, Barry Ratcliffe Genre: Action,
Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: Unknown
Length IMDb Blurb: After the courthouse is hijacked by Black Caesar,
brother of Sean Samuels, who has just been sentenced, Judge Jaeda King must
rely on her strength and skills to find a way to end the standoff, save the
hostages, and make her escape. Call Her King doesn’t look overly original, but it
does look like a wonderful, turn-your-brain-off, action. I believe there’s a
place for that kind of movie, there are days when that’s what I prefer.
Especially since the world always seems to be ending around us these days. Something
about watching a bad-ass take down antagonists, while making things better,
just does it for me. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what Call Her
King does. 17 – Quicksand
(7/14) Production/Distribution:
Dawn’s Light, Elemental Stories, Sangre Films, Two Twenty Two Pictures, AMC+,
Shudder Director: Andres
Beltran Writer: Matt
Pitts Actors: Allan
Hawco, Carolina Gaitan, Sebastian Eslava, Andrés Castañeda Genre: Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: Unknown
Length IMDb Blurb: Follows a married couple almost divorcing who
become trapped in quicksand while hiking through a rainforest in Colombia. They
will battle the elements of the jungle and must work together in order to
survive. (This movie was supposed to come out last month but was delayed
til July. This was my blurb from last month.) Did anyone else who grew up in the 80s expect quicksand to
be more of a threat than it actually is? All our movies and shows utilized it. The
Neverending Story (1984) down-right traumatized us with it. Finally, we
have a horror movie that is based completely on it. Quicksand looks interesting and claustrophobic –
despite the fact that it takes place outside. I find that to be an intriguing effect.
I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with it. 16 – The Miracle
Club (7/14) Production/Distribution:
Zephyr Films, City Films Entertainment, City Films I, Ingenious Media, ShinAwil
Productions, Sony Pictures Classics Director: Thaddeus
O’Sullivan Writer: Joshua D.
Maurer, Timothy Prager, Jimmy Smallhorne Actors: Laura
Linney, Kathy Bates, Maggie Smith, Agnes O’Casey, Mark O’ Halloran, Mark
McKenna, Niall Buggy, Hazel Doupe Genre: Comedy Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 31min IMDb Blurb: There's just one dream for the women of Ballygar to
taste freedom: to win a pilgrimage to the sacred French town of Lourdes. The Miracle Club takes place in Ireland and if I didn’t
include it, Cat would have kicked my butt. This is technically her month, but
she had an emergency. That said, I do want to take her opinion into account as
least some. (Though her list can be found at the bottom of this.) Laura Linney (Ozark, Falling, The Roads Not Taken),
Kathy Bates (Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, American Horror Story,
Moose), and Maggie Smith (A Boy Called Christmas, The Lady in the Van,
My Old Lady) are all GOATS. Not of the ‘old’ variety, either. When you put these
legends in one place it’s impossible not to notice. Putting them all in the
same comedy drama is a recipe for success. It feels like the drama aspect is going to lead to something
tissue-worthy, but up until then the comedy will be second to none. 15 – Sympathy For
the Devil (7/28) Production/Distribution:
Hammerstone Studios, Capstone Global, Signature Films, RLJE Films Director: Yuval
Adler Writer: Luke
Paradise Actors: Nicolas
Cage, Joel Kinnaman Genre: Horror, Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 30min IMDb Blurb: After being forced to drive a mysterious passenger
at gunpoint, a man finds himself in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse where
it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems. Much as I loved The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,
a return to good-old crazy Nic Cage (Renfield, Willy’s Wonderland, Pig)territory works for me. When he plays his most insane characters is when I think
he shines the best. There’s something about those characters that other actors
just can’t recreate. I’m excited to see what direction the story takes. If Cage’s
character really chose Joel Kinnaman’s (The The Suicide Squad, Altered
Carbon, The Killing) for a reason, or if it was more on the random side.
Depending on what they do with it, both options could work. At the very least, Sympathy for the Devil is bound to
be insane. 14 – The Out-Laws
(7/7) Production/Distribution:
Happy Madison Productions, Netflix Director: Tyler
Spindel Writer: Evan
Turner, Ben Zazove Actors: Poorna
Jagannathan, Ellen Barkin, Nina Dobrev, Adam Devine, Pierce Brosnan, Michael
Rooker, Lauren Lapkus, Richard Kind, Julie Howery, Blake Anderson, Derek Russo,
Laci Mosley Genre: Action,
Comedy, Crime Rated: R Length: 1h 35min IMDb Blurb: A straight-laced bank manager about to marry the
love of his life. When his bank is held up by infamous Ghost Bandits during his
wedding week, he believes his future in-laws who just arrived in town, are the
infamous Out-Laws. Adam Devine (Workaholics, Pitch Perfect, Magic Camp)
is hit-or-miss for me. Sometimes he can be a touch too cringey. I believe he’ll
be balanced out by his co-stars in The Out-Laws. Even when she’s in a comedy, Nina Dobrev (Redeeming Love,
Love Hard, The Vampire Diaries) tends to be more on the grounded side, so do
Pierce Brosnan (Mamma Mia, The November Man, The World’s End) and
Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Walking Dead, The Suicide Squad).
I think because that cringe is outweighed, The Out-Laws will wind up
feeling humorous without dipping too far into that parody-esk feel. It’s a funny concept, I just can’t put it higher than this
on the list because I don’t have quite so much faith in the writers/director. 13 – The Beanie
Bubble (7/28) Production/Distribution:
Apple Original Films, Apple Studios, Imagine Entertainment, Apple TV+ Director: Kristin
Gore, Damian Kulash Writer: Kristin
Gore Actors: Sarah
Snook, Elizabeth Banks, Geraldine Viswanathan, Zach Galifianakis, Kurt YaegerSweta
Keswani, Jason Burkey Genre: Comedy,
Drama Rated: R Length: 1h 50min IMDb Blurb: Ty Warner was a frustrated toy salesman until his
collaboration with three women grew his idea into the biggest toy craze in
history. I was the perfect age to be absolutely obsessed with beanie babies
when they came out. My first job was at a collectible store that sold them, so
I got a discount on each one I bought. And, as an irresponsible teenager with
money for the first time in my life, I spent way too much on them. They’ve since
all been sold or given away, but it’s a nostalgic part of my past none-the-less. When I heard there was a movie coming out about the creators,
I was all-in. Even before I learned who would be a part of it. In any other month, it would have probably made my top 10,
but this month is just packed with some of the best movie offerings we’ve seen
in a long time. The Beanie Bubble looks funny, but that thread of
drama running through it is also apparent. I don’t know the story of the actual
creators, or how close this film will stick to it, but I’m guessing there will
be some tissues needed at some point. I’m really looking forward to it. 12 – Resident
Evil: Death Island (7/25) Production/Distribution:
Capcom Company, TMS Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Director: Eiichirô
Hasumi Writer: Makoto
Fukami Actors: Erin
Cahill, Kevin Dorman, Matthew Mercer, Stephanie Panisello, Nicole Tompkins Genre: Animation,
Action, Adventure Rated: R Length: 1h 27min IMDb Blurb: D.S.O. agent Leon S. Kennedy is on a mission to
rescue Dr. Antonio Taylor from kidnappers, when a mysterious woman thwarts his
pursuit. Meanwhile, B.S.A.A. agent Chris Redfield is investigating a zombie
outbreak in San Francisco, where the cause of the infection cannot be
identified. The only thing the victims have in common is that they all visited
Alcatraz Island recently. Following that clue, Chris and his team head to the
island, where a new horror awaits them. I’m still, and always, a fan of Resident Evil. Moreso
the games than the movies, but I have enjoyed some of the flicks too. Some of
them may be a little brain-dead, but there’s a place for those on hard days
when you just want to vegetate. In the case of Resident Evil: Death Island, the story
looks as if it’s going to be something fans can be proud of, while the animation
looks super clean. Death Island is bound to be over-the-top zombie fun.
I am, however, a little concerned about the sound quality. Even though the
trailer is directly from the Sony YouTube page, it still seems a little sus.
That could mean that it wasn’t given the attention it deserves – but it could
have also just been on my side. (I would doubt that, though, since all the other
trailers are coming through just fine.) I guess we’ll see. 11 – Paradise
(7/27) Production/Distribution:
NEUESUPER, Netflix Director: Boris
Kunz Writer: Simon
Amberger, Peter Kocyla, Boris Kunz Actors: Numan
Acar, Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, Iris Berben, Kostja Ullmann, Diana Krueger,
Lukas von Horbatschewsky, Matthias Ziesing, Egle Lekstutyte Genre: Action,
Sci-Fi, Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 56min IMDb Blurb: After his wife is forced to give up 40 years of her
life as payment for an insurance debt, a man desperately searches for a way to
get them back. Paradise seems about as chilling as a thriller can
get. At the same time, it gives a kind of metaphor into what people mean when
they talk about billionaires ‘hoarding’ money. It’s a lot easier to see exactly
what it means when they show it as years of someone’s life instead of a dollar
bill that’s hard to put into context. I have a feeling it’s not going to be the easiest watch, but
absolutely worth it in the end.
10 – Talk to Me
(7/28) Production/Distribution:
Bankside Films, Causeway Films, Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology, Screen
Australia, Talk to Me Holdings, The South Australian Film Corporation, A24 Director: Danny
Philippou, Michael Philippou Writer: Bill
Hinzman, Danny Philippou, Daley Pearson Actors: Sophie
Wilde, Joe Bird, Alexandra Jensen, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto, Marcus Johnson,
Alexandria Steffensen, Zoe Terakes, Chris Alosio, Ari McCarthy Genre: Horror,
Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 34min IMDb Blurb: When a group of friends discover how to conjure
spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one
of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces. I find myself completely hypnotized by the trailer for Talk
to Me. The visuals are terrifying. Even parts that would otherwise come
across as basic jump scares feel like there’s more to them. The part where one
of the characters is repeating ‘run’ is tense as hell. The only reason I don’t have this higher on my list is because
there’s a small red flag in the beginning. The voices don’t entirely sync up to
the lips at one point. It could be nothing, just an editing mishap, but it
could also be a sign of those in charge trying to hide a sub-par script. I’m
hoping that’s not it, because it seems like a solid horror flick otherwise. 9 – Insidious:
The Red Door (7/7) Production/Distribution:
Alliance, Blumhouse Productions, Screen Gems, Sony Pictures Entertainment
(SPE), Stage 6 Films, Columbia Pictures Director: Patrick
Wilson Writer: Scott
Teems, Leigh Whannell Actors: Rose
Byrne, Patrick Wilson, Ty Simpkins, Hiam Abbass, Lin Shaye, Andrew Astor,
Juliana Davies, Sinclair Daniel Genre: Horror,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 47min IMDb Blurb: The Lamberts 10 years after the last installment,
as Dalton begins college. I’ve never really gotten into the Insidious films.
Every time one comes out, the trailer looks amazing, but then when it’s time to
sit down and watch something there’s always a different movie that draws my
attention more. I think what’s kept me away from Insidious is the
belief that it’s connected to the Conjuring universe, which I’ve just
been corrected on. So, I think it’s time for me to sit down and really watch
the rest of the series in anticipation of The Red Door. The mystery aspect of Insidious: The Red Door is more
inviting to me than I thought it would be. The trailer engages me enough to make
me want to know what’s going on. It’s impressive, considering my ambivalence up
until now. This is, allegedly, the last installment of Insidious.
You know how Hollywood goes, though, if it’s successful enough that could be up
for debate. From what the trailer is showing, it may go down that route. 8 – They Cloned
Tyrone (7/14) Production/Distribution:
Federal Films, MACRO, Made With Love Media, Netflix Director: Juel
Taylor Writer: Tony
Rettenmaier, Juel Taylor Actors: Jamie
Foxx, John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, David Alan Grier, Kiefer Sutherland, J.
Alphonse Nicholson, James Moses Black Genre: Action,
Comedy, Mystery Rated: R Length: 2h 2min IMDb Blurb: A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio
onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in this pulpy mystery
caper. They Cloned Tyrone is going to be one of the funniest
movies out there. It has a stunning cast and a fun plot. The idea of people being cloned due to some government conspiracy,
while someone with the comedic timing of Jamie Foxx (Strays, Day Shift, Just
Mercy) is running around is hilarious. It’s still also topical, especially
with the history of non-consensual experimentation on people of color and other
minorities. To be fair, I’d have added They Cloned Tyrone to the
list just with the excitement of seeing Foxx, Teyonah Parris (Candyman,
Charm City Kings, Chi-Raq), and David Alan Grier (Joe Pickett, The Cool
Kids, Sprinter) work off each other. It’s going to be a killer film. 7 – Bird Box
Barcelona (7/14) Production/Distribution:
Chris Morgan Productions, Dylan Clark Productions, Netflix Studios, Nostromo
Pictures, Netflix Director: David
Pastor, Àlex Pastor Writer: David
Pastor, Àlex Pastor Actors: Georgina
Campbell, Mario Casas, Diego Calva, Michelle Jenner, Patrick Criado, Leonardo
Sbaraglia Genre: Horror,
Mystery, Sci-Fi Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 50min IMDb Blurb: After an entity of mysterious origin annihilates
the world's population causing those who observe it to take their lives,
Sebastián and his daughter begin their own great adventure of survival in
Barcelona. The first Bird Box (2028) was a lot of fun. Much like
A Quiet Place (2018), it robbed the characters of one of their senses and
put them in a dangerous world. And, despite the similarities, they did wind up being
two very different movies. Not showing the big bad at all was one of the best things Bird
Box did. It allowed audiences to use their imagination to create something terrifying
for them. It’s a strategy that is too often not taken in horror films, and it’s
one that works. I hope that Bird Box Barcelona continues down the same
road, allowing the antagonist creatures to remain a mystery. The biggest
mistake I believe they can make is to show us some kind of creature. No matter
how well done, it would remove some of the tension. Luckily, the trailer makes
it seem as though they will be taking that same route. I’m glad they’ve opted to go into a different story in a different
part of the world. As much as I’d enjoy checking in with the original story and
seeing how that’s going, there wasn’t a whole lot to do with that that wouldn’t
mess up what we’ve already gotten. Seeing a whole new perspective from new
characters was absolutely the way to go about it. There’s a bit of concern that the change in writer/director could
mean a change in tone, but Àlex and David Pastor (The Head, Self/less, Carriers)
are brilliant with apocalyptic stories. If there is a change in tone, it just might
be for the better. 6 – Cobweb (7/21) Production/Distribution:
Lionsgate, Media Capital Technologies, Point Grey Pictures, Vertigo
Entertainment Director: Samuel
Bodin Writer: Chris
Thomas Devlin Actors: Lizzy
Caplan, Antony Starr, Cleopatra Coleman, Luke Busey, Woody Norman Genre: Horror, Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 28min IMDb Blurb: Horror strikes when an eight-year-old boy named
Peter tries to investigate the mysterious knocking noises that are coming from
inside the walls of his house and a dark secret that his sinister parents kept
hidden from him. The trailer for Cobweb does a good job of showing
that it was inspired by The Telltale Heart. Obviously, it’s not the same
story, but the inspiration is apparent. What I love about the direction the film takes is that I can’t
predict it from the start. There are a lot of different ways it can go. All the
supernatural stuff could be real, or just part of the kid’s nightmares. The
parents could have a body hidden from someone they killed, or from someone the
kid killed. There are a ton of possible outcomes. That means it will be more
interesting to watch than the basic jump-scare fare that we’ve become used to. It seems like Cobweb will be a solid horror flick. 5 – Mission:
Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (7/12) Production/Distribution:
Paramount Pictures, Skydance Media, New Republic Pictures, TC Productions, Bad
Robot Director: Christopher
McQuarrie Writer: Erik
Jendresen, Christopher McQuarrie Actors: Rebecca
Ferguson, Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, Vanessa
Kirby, Rob Delaney, Simon Pegg, Cary Elwes, Ving Rhames Genre: Action,
Adventure, Thriller Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h 43min IMDb Blurb: Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a
dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands. I’m not much of a Mission Impossible (1996-)girl,
but you can’t write a Top 20 for movies coming out in July of 2023 without
acknowledging this one. Tom Cruise (Top Gun: Maverick, Edge of Tomorrow, Jack
Reacher) does all his own stunts and pours his heart and soul into each of these
films. He’s a talented guy, regardless of anything else. He never does anything
without doing it 100%, often to a fault. That does tend to make his movies
worth dropping the theater money on. If you’re a fan of the Mission Impossible films, this
is a must-see. Especially since it’s part one of what is supposed to be the
finale to the flicks. 4 – Joy Ride
(7/7) Production/Distribution:
Lionsgate, Point Grey Pictures Director: Adele
Lim Writer: Cherry
Chevapravatdumrong, Teresa Hsiao Actors: Stephanie
Hsu, Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Sabrina Wu, David Denman, Meredith Hagner, Annie
Mumolo Genre: Comedy Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 35min IMDb Blurb: Follows four Asian-American friends as they bond
and discover the truth of what it means to know and love who you are, while
they travel through Asia in search of one of their birth mothers. What I thought would be a basic buddy comedy in the vein of Girls
Trip (2017) took a hell of a left turn in the trailer. Suddenly there are cocaine
mules and fake K-pop stars singing Cardi B. No doubt there’s going to be a bunch of cringe in Joy
Ride, which is not my favorite, but there’s also a lot of heartfelt story
as well. Aside from the story of friendship, there’s also the plot addition of
one of the main characters looking for answers in a homeland they never knew. That
has the potential to get extremely deep. Done right, it might even lead to some
ugly crying. Now, this is Adele Lim’s (Dynasty, Reign, Life Unexpected)
directorial debut, but she’s credited as a writer for some beloved flicks such
as Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and Raya and the Last Dragon (2021).
Being a good writer doesn’t necessarily make someone a good director, but I
have a lot of faith in her. She’s been gathering writing credits for just over
20 years, and I think she has the know-how to make her directorial debut shine. Both writers, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong (Awkwafina is
Nora from Queens, The Orville, Resident Alien) and Teresa Hsiao (Awkwafina
is Nora from Queens, American Dad!, We Bare Bears) have credits writing for
Family Guy (1999-). I know that’s not everybody’s humor, but I happen to
love the show. I feel like that gives me a clue as to what the majority of the
jokes will be like – and I’m here for it. I believe Joy Ride is going to strike a balance
between heartfelt and funny that will delight audiences. 3 – Haunted
Mansion (7/28) Production/Distribution:
Walt Disney Productions, Rideback, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Director: Justin
Simien Writer: Katie
Dippold Actors: Jamie Lee
Curtis, Winona Ryder, Rosario Dawson, Jared Leto, Danny DeVito, Owen Wilson, Dan
Levy, LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Hasan Minaj Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Family Rated: PG-13 Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: A single mom named Gabbie hires a tour guide, a psychic,
a priest, and a historian to help exorcise her newly bought mansion after
discovering it is inhabited by ghosts. If you put LaKeith Stanfield (Sorry to Bother You, Uncut
Gems, Judas and the Black Messiah) in a movie, I’m going to see it. I don’t
know if I’ll enjoy the film, but I know from the jump that I’ll enjoy his part
in it. The man is brilliant. I’ve seen him take on films that are absolute
stinkers and still shine like the god-damn sun in them. After all, I fell in
love with his acting after watching Death Note (2017) which was
otherwise objectively bad. I must not have been the only one, because, since 2017, Stanfield
has been cast in some seriously amazing projects. To put it in perspective: he’s
been in 14 full-length feature films/TV shows since then and only 1 of them has
been deemed rotten on Rotten Tomatoes (by either audience or critics). That
means he has roughly a 93% success rate for his films. Clearly, either only the
best creators are interested in him – or, more likely, he chooses his projects
carefully. Either way, I will follow him to all the films he does. Blindly. Aside from Stanfield, they got Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween,
Everything Everywhere All at Once, Knives Out), Winona Ryder (Stranger
Things, Destination Wedding, Beetlejuice), Rosario Dawson (Clerks III, The
Lego Batman Movie, Luke Cage), Danny DeVito (Matilda, It’s Always Sunny
in Philadelphia, Jumanji: The Next Level), Owen Wilson (Loki, Paint,
Marry Me), Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek, Happiest Season, Degrassi: The Next
Generation), Tiffany Haddish (Like a Boss, Keanu, Night School), Hasan
Minhaj (The Daily Show, No Hard Feelings, Goatface), and more. It’s an
absolutely stacked cast. It just so happens that Haunted Mansion looks good. I’m
a little surprised there’s a PG-13 rating. The original Haunted Mansion
(2003) starred Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls, Dolemite is my Name, Shrek) and
was undoubtedly made for kids. Then there was Muppets Haunted Mansion
(2021) which was also a kid’s film. Both previous films were rated PG. The trailer for this Haunted Mansion looks like it’s
geared more toward older teens and adults. There’s some actual ghost-based
horror in it. I think this is going to be a new look at an old favorite. I’m
looking forward to it. 2 – Oppenheimer
(7/21) Production/Distribution:
Universal Pictures, Atlas Entertainment, Syncopy Director: Christopher
Nolan Writer: Christopher
Nolan, Kai Bird, Martin Sherwin Actors: Josh
Hartnett, Florence Pugh, Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, Matt
Damon, Olivia Thirlby, Jack Quaid, Gary Oldman, Gustaf Skarsgård, Kenneth Branagh,
David Dastmalchian, Rami Malek Genre: Biography,
Drama, History Rated: R Length: 3h IMDb Blurb: The story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and
his role in the development of the atomic bomb. Although Oppenheimer is not a horror, there’s no
doubt in my mind that the story of the title character’s life and ‘accomplishment’
is going to be harrowing. To say the least. It’s a story that’s more than worth
watching play out. The choice of Cillian Murphy (Inception, 28 Days Later,
Sunshine) for the title role was the right one. He’s capable of bringing weight
to the performance that might have been missed by many others. He’s joined by a
staggering amount of talent that would take me weeks to write about in any way
that does the cast honor. Oppenheimer is just about a guaranteed success. 1 – Barbie (7/21) Production/Distribution:
Heyday Films, LuckyChap Entertainment, Mattel Films, Mattel, Warner Bros. Director: Greta
Gerwig Writer: Greta
Gerwig, Noah Baumbach Actors: Margot
Robbie, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Ryan Gosling, Hari Nef, Ariana Greenblatt, Helen
Mirren, Michael Cera, John Cena, Simu Liu, Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, Rhea
Perlman, America Ferrera, Dua Lipa, Issa Rae, Alexandra Shipp, Ncuti Gatwa Genre: Adventure,
Comedy, Fantasy Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 54min IMDb Blurb: To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in
a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you're a Ken. I don’t know what I was expecting the Barbie movie to
be about, but I can tell you that it wasn’t what the trailer showed. In fact,
this is another film I was surprised to find a PG-13 rating for. I 100% thought
it would be for little kids. I’d say the only thing I got that I knew I would get was oversaturated
pinks and pastels. They hurt my eyes, but anything other than that would have
felt unbelievably wrong. The trailer looks incredible. Margot Robbie (Suicide
Squad, The Wolf of Wall Street, Babylon) embodies the presence of the
Barbie we all know. Seeing Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine, Drive, The Gray Man)
as a peppy Ken doll makes me laugh just by the thought of it. I always
associate him with sarcastic banter. I have no idea how that’s going to
translate to the rose-colored glasses of his character but I’m dying to find
out. I love that every single Barbie or Ken doll featured in the
film represents a doll that actively exists somewhere in our world. That means
there should be a touch of nostalgia for just about anyone who goes to see it.
What I find most interesting is that it’s written and
directed by Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird, Little Women, Nights and Weekends).
Most of the film is from the viewpoint of characters that are significant naïve
and viewing the world through an unmarred perspective of innocence. Gerwig is
not a happy-go-lucky story creator. Her stories have a sense of realism and
understanding of the world around her. That makes me certain that this bright
and peppy flick is going to have a few more realistic twists that people won’t be
able to peg from the jump. As tempting as it may be to bring young children to see it,
I doubt this Barbie film will be for them. I, however, will be seeing it
ASAP.
Production/Distribution: Paramount Pictures, Closest to the Hole Productions, Leverage Entertainment, Two Grown Men, Paramount Pictures International, Sony Pictures Releasing, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI), Paramount Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures
Director: Sean Anders
Writers: Sean Anders, John Morris
Actors: Britt Rentschler, Carson Holmes, Charlie McDermott, Eve Harlow, Gustavo Escobar, Iliza Shlesinger, Isabela Merced, Joan Cusack, Julianna Gamiz, Julie Hagerty, Jody Thompson, Margo Martindale, Mark Wahlberg, Michael O'Keefe, Octavia Spencer, Rose Byrne, Tig Notaro, Tom Segura
IMDb Blurb: A couple find themselves in over their heads when they foster three children.
Cat’s Point of View:
Instant Family was one of those movies that looked fine in the trailer; but, as a story, it might have the potential to be heavier than I was feeling up for in the dramatic feels department. It didn’t make my personal Top 20 for November 2018 for that reason, and not based on the potential merit of the movie.
Now that it came up in our random review rotation, I did my best to push aside any preconceived notions and even didn’t re-watch the trailer beforehand so I could experience the film with an open mind and fresh eyes. I am very glad I did.
Instant Family didn’t shy away from the drama, though tempered the more intense elements of the story with comedy and lots of heart. The laughs were organic and woven into the tale deftly so that the production worked as a whole rather seamlessly. I’ve seen movies in the past that made clunky attempts at such but there was no hiding the segmented feeling. I didn’t find any such problems with Instant Family. It all had a natural flow about it. I didn’t even really note the passage of time all that much during my watch-through.
The foster and adoption system is one that doesn’t often get press, and generally when it does, it’s not good. There are so many kids out there that need good homes that can’t be the ones they started out with. In that way, Instant Family really hit an important topic and gave a positive feel-good story to go with it - without glossing over or sugarcoating anything.
When I was in the 3rd grade, I got a front-row seat to some aspects of the lives of foster kids, as some of my family fostered often, and I stayed with them for a time and got to know the children that were around when I was. Instant Family hit on so many levels and had the benefit of authenticity, as well. I hadn’t realized it before, but writer and director Sean Anders (Horrible Bosses 2, Daddy's Home, Spirited) based Instant Family on aspects from his own life with fostering and adopting children. You could tell that this came from a place of deep understanding.
Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the outstanding cast. I couldn’t fault any of the performances within Instant Family whether they were Hollywood heavy hitters such as Mark Wahlberg (Deepwater Horizon, Spenser Confidential, Father Stu), Rose Byrne (I Am Mother, Jexi, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway), Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures, The Shape of Water, Ma), and Tig Notaro (Lucy in the Sky, Army of the Dead, We Have a Ghost) or the up-and-coming child actors. Everyone was cast well and just felt right in their roles. Though, I do have to say my favorite was Isabela Merced (Sicario: Day of the Soldado, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Sweet Girl), who played the oldest of the 3 primary kids in Instant Family, Lizzy.
While there was a family theme throughout Instant Family and the word even within the movie’s title, as well as young kids featured in the film, this is not a movie for the very young. The PG-13 was a good rating here for the occasional language and some scenarios shown.
Instant Family was definitely worth the watch, and I didn’t even mind the Paramount+ related ads. I have to be pretty invested in something for that not to be bothersome. If you’re looking for a heartwarming movie with laughs and just enough edge, this could be a good one to try.
