According
to Cat
20 - The Merry Gentlemen (11/20)
Director: Peter Sullivan
Writers: Jeffrey Schenck, Peter
Sullivan, Marla Sokoloff
Actors: Britt Robertson, Chad
Michael Murray, Marla Sokoloff, Marc Anthony Samuel, Colt Prattes,
Hector David Jr., Maxwell Caulfield, Michael Gross, Beth Broderick,
Maria Canals-Barrera, Meredith Thomas, Rivkah Reyes, Dominique
Domingo, Bella Shepard, Michael Gaglio, Katie Amanda Keane, Chuck
Spitler, Adrian Gaeta, Gizmo Nolan
Genre: Comedy, Holiday, Romance
Rated: TV-PG
Length: 1h 26min
IMDb Blurb: To save her
parents' small-town performing venue, a former big-city dancer
decides to stage an all-male, Christmas-themed revue.
Netflix is stacking up an interesting
holiday lineup this year with several Christmas-themed movies hitting
the streaming service in November. The Merry Gentlemen is one
of them. When I watched the trailer for this movie, I just giggled –
and not just because they showed off the shirtless guys dancing. I am
very appreciative of the Netflix store-brand version of a Christmas
Magic Mike (2012), but that's not the entirety of why I'm
looking forward to this film.
The Merry Gentlemen is a warm
and fuzzy nostalgia journey for me in addition to promising a sweet
rom-com story, as well as some sexy dancing.
How so? This cast is stacked with
familiar faces that bring me back to simpler times and my enjoyment
of their careers in general.
Michael Gross (Camp Cool Kids,
Noelle, Tremors: Shrieker Island) isn't just Burt Gummer from the
Tremors (1990) franchise. He was the dad in one of my favorite
sit-coms from my youth, Family Ties (1982-1989). Beth
Broderick (Under the Dome, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, The
Nana Project) inspires similar feelings from her work with
Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2003) among other projects.
Maria Canals-Barrera (Cristela, Dora, Seven Cemeteries) was a
frequent staple in my household while my daughter was growing up as
the mom on Wizards of Waverly Place (2007-2012). Britt
Robertson (The Space Between Us, Books of Blood, The Rookie: Feds)
caught my attention in The Secret Circle (2011-2012) and I've
enjoyed watching her career really blossom since then.
Finally, but certainly not last for
lacking, Chad Michael Murray (Agent Carter, The Beach House,
Riverdale) is great for this role. Now I don't know about his
dancing ability, but he has a background in modeling before he turned
to acting so I'm sure he'll have the strutting involved with this
movie down easily. Chad Michael Murray is one of several actors whose
careers I have closely followed since I fell in love with the
ensemble cast of One Tree Hill (2003-2012). He's been in
several rom-com and dramatic made-for-tv Christmas movies in recent
years, but he's also been in some really solid productions in his
career, and has even worked with Netflix recently on Mother of the
Bride (2024). Needless to say, there's more to him than looking
good shirtless.
The Merry Gentlemen is offering
a different variation on a familiar theme – often one seen on the
likes of The Hallmark Channel, Lifetime, or ION – but I don't care.
It's a recipe for enjoyment and an entertaining heartwarming story.
Why not have a little sizzle with your Santa this year?
19 - The Best Christmas Pageant
Ever (11/8)
Director:
Dallas Jenkins
Writers:
Platte Clark, Darin McDaniel, Ryan Swanson, Dallas Jenkins, Barbara
Robinson
Based On:
Bestselling novel The
Best Christmas Pageant Ever
by Barbara Robinson
Actors:
Pete Holmes, Lauren Graham, Judy Greer, Elizabeth Tabish, Stephanie
Sy, Kirk B.R. Woller, Molly Belle Wright, Matthew Lamb, Kynlee
Heiman, Lauren Cochrane, Beatrice Schneider, Sebastian
Billingsley-Rodriguez, Lorelei Olivia Mote, Danielle Hoetmer, Isla
Verot, Sara Angelica, Ewan Wood, Daina Leitold, Mason D Nelligan,
Nolan Grantham, Tom Young, Essek Moore, Jenni Burke, Wyatt Dewar,
Davison Gee
Genre:
Adventure, Family, Holiday, Comedy, Drama
Rated:
PG
Length:
1h 39min
RottenTomatoes Blurb:
The Herdmans are
absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, they
steal, they bully... and now they've hijacked the town Christmas
pageant. Directed by Dallas Jenkins ("The Chosen") and
based on the international bestseller by Barbara Robinson, THE BEST
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER follows six siblings who sneak into church
searching for snacks and walk away with the lead roles in the town
pageant. Grace (Judy Greer) is directing the performance for the very
first time; she and her daughter Beth (Molly Belle Wright) and
husband Bob (Pete Holmes) are in over their heads, especially against
a town that wants them to kick the Herdmans out. But the play's
mischievous stars might unwittingly teach a community the true
meaning of Christmas.
The trailer for The Best Christmas
Pageant Ever reminded me of holiday specials I used to watch when
I was little. It is full of the “spirit of the season” and
clearly gives a “Christmas miracle” redemption story for the
family of misfit mischievous children.
While this might not be ground-breaking
cinema, and looks to be a full-length feature remake of a made-for-TV
movie from 1983 based on the same book, this is a tried and true
recipe for an entertaining feel-good movie.
18 - Black Cab (11/8)
Director: Bruce Goodison
Writer: Virginia Gilbert
Actors: George Bukhari, Nick
Frost, Synnove Karlsen, Luke Norris, Tessa Parr, Tilly Woodward
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rated: Unrated
Length: 1h 27minin
Metacritic Blurb: When Anne
(Synnøve Karlsen) and Patrick (Luke Norris) hail a black cab after a
night out their driver (Nick Frost) is chatty, jovial even, but they
are in no mood to talk. In fact, the couple is barely on speaking
terms. That is, until they realize the driver has no intention of
taking them home. Locked in the cab with no means of escape, the
driver transports the couple to a stretch of deserted and supposedly
haunted road. But what is his purpose? Is he mad or just plain evil?
And why has he selected Anne and Patrick as his victims?
We're only just past Halloween and definitely not in full-swing of the holly jolly season yet, so it's
still fair game for some spooky thrills. Black Cab caught my
attention, and I can advise with surety that I'll be giving this
movie a watch as soon as it hits Shudder.
I am a big fan of Nick Frost (Shaun
of the Dead, Into the Badlands, Seize Them!), so that's naturally
a big draw for this film. There's more than that, however. I have so
many questions in the wake of the trailer. What happened to cause
Frost's character to seemingly serve this malicious roadside “lady
in white” specter? Is he possessed? Are there other layers to the
couple that he takes captive in his cab?
There were a few blips within the
trailer for Black Cab that did give me momentary pause, but
overall my curiosity and desire to see this story play out warranted
this listing. It definitely looks solid enough to at least give a
chance.
17 - 72 Hours (11/1)
Director:
Christian Sesma
Writers:
Sean Crayne, Roberto Sanchez, Christian Sesma
Actors: Cam
Gigandet, Sam Trammell, Nicky Whelan, Jana Kramer, Pierson Fode,
Vernon Davis, Max Amini, Taylor Bedford, Keith Arthur Bolden, Luis Da
Silva Jr., Sean Michael Gloria, Laneya Grace, Billy Jack Harlow,
Alexander Kane, Ava Paloma, Jessica Serfaty, Buddy Watkins
Genre:
Action, Crime, Thriller
Rated:
Unrated
Length: 1h
27min
Metacritic
Blurb: Two brothers, a dedicated FBI agent and a crypto
international money launderer, must put aside their differences and
join forces to save their family. The duo embarks on a dangerous
mission deep into kingpin territory, where they face life-threatening
challenges in a race against time.
I'm a sucker for an action thriller –
as evident by multiple landing on this month's list.
72 Hours stood out to me for a
few reasons. One of those was intriguing story. I like the angle of
the brothers on different sides of the law having to come together
for the sake of family. Sure, it's not the most original thing ever,
but it doesn't have to be, if it's executed well. Sometimes I just
want a good popcorn movie where I can enjoy a familiar premise and
cast. This is one of those movies.
Speaking of cast, that's another point
in 72 Hours' favor. The combination of Cam Gigandet
(Burlesque, The Magnificent Seven, Violent Night) and Sam
Trammell (True Blood, The Fault in Our Stars, Organ Trail)
playing the brothers should work out really well. When you add Jana
Kramer (One Tree Hill, Support the Girls, The Holiday Fix Up)
and Nicky Whelan (Chosen, The Wedding Ringer, The Nana Project)
into the mix, it just sealed the deal for me.
I don't expect 72 Hours to be a
perfect blockbuster, but I do feel like it will be an entertaining
experience and deserving of a chance.
16 - Aftermath (11/1)
Director: Patrick Lussier
Writer: Nathan Graham Davis
Actors: Dylan Sprouse, Dichen
Lachman, Nick Apostolides, Jeff Bouffard, Thomas Brogan, Kevin
Chapman, Joshua Wolf Coleman, Mark Dancewicz, Jared Frenke, Heidi
Garza, Mason Gooding, Mark Irvingsen, Shahjehan Khan, Will Lyman,
Jason Armani Martinez, Derek K. Moore, Mark Pettograsso, Ashley Pynn,
Daniel Rios Jr, Megan Stott, Tanner Zagarino
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 1h 37min
IMDb Blurb: A returning war
veteran, stricken with PTSD, unwittingly gets trapped with his
teenage sister on Boston's Tobin Memorial Bridge as a heavily
weaponized group of ex-military revolutionist take everyone hostage.
Aftermath really taps in to one
of my phobias, which makes me anticipate that it will be all the more
harrowing an experience while watching it. I'm very uncomfortable
with bridges – especially really high ones, narrow ones, and long
ones. There are a couple bridges in south Louisiana that are just
plain nightmare fuel for me, and I have to watch my breathing if I
have to cross them – preferably not as the driver so I can even
close my eyes. My fear isn't about the bridge, specifically, but
rather ending up trapped in a vehicle that has fallen off of one into
water. Don't ask me why – I am really not sure where this one came
from, unlike my fear of twisters.
In Aftermath, an army vet with
PTSD gets trapped on a bridge with his little sister as digruntled
and disgraced members of the military take the bridge hostage. This
is not the only action movie taking place on a bridge this month,
either. What's up with that?! I digress...
I love the cast here with Dylan Sprouse
(After We Collided, The Duel, Beautiful Disaster) as our vet
that fights to get his sister out of the precarious situation. Dichen
Lachman (Altered Carbon, Jurassic World Dominion, Kingdom of the
Planet of the Apes) has already portrayed several badass
characters that I've enjoyed, and I have no doubts she has the action
chops to fit in as the prisoner the rogue soldiers seem to want in
the trailer. Mason Gooding (Booksmart, Fall, Scream VI) seems
to be playing the leader or the face of the rogue group on the
bridge, and I'm interested in how he fares in this genre after
previously seeing him in more of a horror and dramatic setting
before.
I'm looking forward to seeing how this
all turns out.
15 - Cellar Door (11/1)
Director: Vaughn Stein
Writers: Sam Scott, Lori Evans
Taylor
Actors: Scott Speedman, Jordana
Brewster, Laurence Fishburne, Chris Conner, Katie O'Grady, Jenny Lam
Tien, Randy Sean Schulman, Zach Feiner, Kiah Butts
Genre: Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 1h 37min
IMDb Blurb: Looking for a
fresh start after a miscarriage, a couple find themselves being
gifted the house of their dreams with one caveat - they can never
open the cellar door. Whether they can live without knowing triggers
shocking consequences.
The first thing that impressed me
regarding Cellar Door is the cast it boasts. When I see Laurence
Fishburne (John Wick: Chapter 2, The School for Good and Evil,
Slingshot) attached to a project, I tend to pay closer attention.
He doesn't sign on to just anything, after all. When you add Jordana
Brewster (Random Acts of Violence, Simulant, Fast X) and Scott
Speedman (Crimes of the Future, Animal Kingdom, Grey's Anatomy)
into the mix, I'm generally going to be down to watch whatever the
production is.
In this case, the plot of Cellar
Door is fascinating. It piqued my curiosity right away. I am
dying to find out what is in the mysterious forbidden cellar of this
lavish house and what the consequences will be once it's inevitably
opened. Is it Fishburne's character's missing family members? Is it a
pile of the previous residents that couldn't contain their curiosity
either? Is it a drug factory? It could be any number of things 'best
left in the past.' I do have my own hunch as to which of those
options is more feasible, though.
I can't wait to see how this all plays
out and if it lives up to the expectations I've already set for it
within my own mind.
14 - A Real Pain (11/1)
Director: Jesse Eisenberg
Writer: Jesse Eisenberg
Actors: Kieran Culkin, Jesse
Eisenberg, Banner Eisenberg, Will Sharpe, Daniel Oreskes, Liza
Sadovy, Kurt Egyiawan, Jennifer Grey, Ellora Torchia
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rated: R
Length: 1h 30min
IMDb Blurb: Mismatched
cousins David and Benji reunite for a tour through Poland to honor
their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the
odd-couple's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their
family history.
I'm not the biggest fan of Jesse
Eisenberg (Louder Than Bombs, Vivarium, Zombieland: Double Tap).
For some reason he just drives me nuts in an annoying way. I have,
however, really enjoyed some of the productions he's been in
throughout his career. For A Real Pain, I think it's brilliant
that he has paired himself with Kieran Culkin (Scott Pilgrim vs.
the World, No Sudden Move, Succession) in this heartwarming, and
also heartbreakingly intense dramedy. For Eisenberg to have written,
directed, and co-starred in this film, I say kudos to him.
It's a beautiful concept for a pair of
cousins to travel overseas to their grandmother's homeland to walk
the proverbial ,and perhaps quasi-literal, mile in her shoes
regarding her WWII experience as a Jew in Poland – both as a
celebration of her survival then and to grieve for her recent loss.
The subject matter has the potential to
be oppressive and even offensive, if not handled correctly. The
trailer for this buddy road-trip tale gives me hope that this
production has done the concept justice.
13 - Juror No. 2 (11/1)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Writer: Jonathan A. Abrams
Actors: Nicholas Hoult, Zoey
Deutch, Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, Chris Messina, Kiefer
Sutherland, Francesca Eastwood, Adrienne C. Moore, Drew Scheid,
Leslie Bibb, Hedy Nasser, Phil Biedron, Cedric Yarbrough, Amy Aquino,
Gabriel Basso, Chikako Fukuyama, Zele Avradopoulos, Onix Serrano,
Jason Coviello, Rebecca Koon, Gabriel Butler
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Rated: PG-13
Length: 1h 53min
IMDb Blurb: Family man Justin
Kemp who, while serving as a juror in a high profile murder trial,
finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma...one he could
use to sway the jury verdict and potentially convict - or free - the
wrong killer.
Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino, Sully,
Cry Macho) is not only a legendary actor, but a superb filmmaker.
He's directed over 40 movies, and it is entirely possible that Juror
#2 might be his last before retirement. That thought alone makes
Juror #2 all the more an appealing watch this month.
When you add the stellar cast into the
mix, it's even harder to pass this one up. We see a moment of Toni
Collette (Hereditary, Mafia Mamma, Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken)
and J.K. Simmons (Little Brother, Invincible: Atom Eve, The Union)
facing off in the trailer. While it's clear that Collette is
commanding the role of the prosecuting attorney, I initially thought
Simmons was the defense counsel... but I'm not 100% sure. I'm also
curious as to how Kiefer Sutherland (Designated Survivor, The
Contractor, They Cloned Tyrone) fits in to the equation, given he
is consulted for advice as our lead stews over his potential
involvement in the case at hand. Regardless, I'm excited that he's
involved with this production.
Nicholas Hoult (The Menu, Renfield,
The Garfield Movie) is a solid bet in the titular character's
role, and I have no doubts he's going to knock this one out of the
park. I don't envy his position within this story, or the moral
dilemma he encounters. Seriously folks, if you drop your phone while
you're driving, please pull over or at least wait for a red light and
come to a complete stop before you reach for it. My only concerns for
this story are tied to how Hoult's character actually ended up on
this jury, given his proximity to the events – but that's neither
here nor there, and I'm down to watch and discover the answers.
I'm dying to find out what decision
Hoult's character makes and how all of that plays out.
12 - Emilia Perez (11/1)
Director: Jacques Audiard
Writers: Jacques Audiard, Thomas
Bidegain, Nicolas Livecchi, Léa Mysius, Boris Razon
Based On: Boris Razon's novel “Écoute”
Actors: Zoe Saldaña, Karla
Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Edgar Ramírez, Mark
Ivanir, Eduardo Aladro, Emiliano Hasan, Gaël Murguia-Fur, Tirso
Pietriga, Magali Brito, Sébastien Fruit, Alejandra Reyes, Daniel
Velasco-Acosta, James Gerard, Théo Guarin, Lucas Varoclier
Genre: Crime, Comedy, Musical,
Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 2h 12min
Metacritic Blurb: Overqualified
and undervalued, Rita is a lawyer at a large firm that is more
interested in getting criminals off the hook than bringing them to
justice. One day, she is given an unexpected way out, when cartel
leader Manitas hires her to help him withdraw from his business and
realize a plan he has been secretly preparing for years: to become
the woman he has always dreamt of being.
It's not that often that you see a
genre mashup that puts a comedic crime musical together with a
thriller. Given that this story involves a Mexican cartel boss, I can
see how the latter might play into events. I'm hoping that the
musical aspect fits in organically and adds enhancement to the
experience rather than pulling audiences out of it.
The marketing for Emilia Perez
has seemingly focused on the sizzling and sexy side of this story,
however, which has left me with so many questions.
Honestly, if my curiosity didn't push
me to watch just for the answers, I'd still give this film a shot
anyway because of the combination of Selena Gomez (Hotel
Transylvania, The Dead Don't Die, Only Murders in the Building)
and Zoe Saldaña (The Adam Project, Amsterdam, Avatar: The Way of
Water) in the cast.
Emilia Perez does have the
potential to be a really powerful experience, if the production team
pulled this off. Considering that it is releasing on Netflix, you
wouldn't even be out the ticket price for giving it a try.
11 - A Sudden Case of Christmas
(11/8)
Director: Peter Chelsom
Writers: Peter Chelsom, Tinker
Lindsay
Actors: Andie MacDowell, Danny
DeVito, Antonella Rose, Adrian Dunbar, Wilmer Valderrama, José
Zúñiga, Lucy DeVito, Valeria Cavalli, Leo Ferrari, Roderick Hill,
Tommaso Sacco, Matteo Miraglia, Kate Muda, Francesco Salvi
Genre: Family, Holiday, Comedy
Rated: Unrated
Length: 1h 31min
RottenTomatoes Blurb: Lawrence
Armanetti (Danny DeVito) runs a grand hotel in the mountains of
Italy. Every winter, he hosts his extended family for Christmas, but
this summer he'll get more than he bargained for. His daughter and
son-in-law are divorcing, and have tasked Lawrence with breaking the
bad news to their young daughter, Claire (Antonella Rose). Realizing
that her family won't be returning together in December, Claire
insists on having one last Christmas with the entire family... in the
middle of summer. As the relatives gather, Claire and Lawrence hatch
a plan to inspire her parents' reconciliation: a last-ditch effort to
keep the family together.
This really looks like it's going to be
a fun Christmas in July type story – just in time for the actual
Holiday Season. I'm looking forward to a funny and feel-good story.
When you put the talent of Danny
DeVito (The Lorax, Jumanji: The Next Level, It's Always Sunny in
Philadelphia), Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day, The Way Home,
Goodrich). and Wilmer Valderrama (From Dusk Til Dawn: The Series,
Encanto, NCIS) together, I don't see how you could go wrong.
I expect all sorts of shenanigans and
am absolutely here for it.
10 - Gladiator II (11/22)
Director: Ridley Scott
Writers: David Scarpa, Peter
Craig, David Scarpa, David Franzoni
Actors: Pedro Pascal, Connie
Nielsen, Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Derek Jacobi, Joseph Quinn,
Fred Hechinger, Rory McCann, Peter Mensah, Matt Lucas, Tim McInnerny,
Lior Raz, Alec Utgoff, Yuval Gonen, Lee Charles, Alexander Karim, Chi
Lewis-Parry, Alfie Tempest, Riana Duce, Dean Fagan, Hadrian Howard,
Tom Moutchi
Genre: History, Drama,
Adventure, Action
Rated: R
Length: 2h 28min
Metacritic Blurb: Years after
witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his
uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after
his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome
with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the
Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and
honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.
When I heard that there would be a
sequel to Gladiator (2001), not only did the main soundtrack
theme from the original movie start playing in my mind as I
envisioned fields of grain, but I was a little skeptical. It's been
over 20 years, after all. There had to be a good story and a decent
connection to the original film to really capture my interest.
I'd say they've succeeded.
Honestly, all anyone really had to say
was that Sir Ridley Scott (The Martian, All the Money in the
World, The Last Duel) was directing. He's right up there with my
favorite directors of all time.
Aside from that, there are some
distinct ties to the first movie. Connie Nielsen (The Catcher Was
a Spy, Sea Fever, Role Play) is reprising her role as Lucilla,
and we will also see Sir Derek Jacobi (Cinderella, Tomb Raider,
Tolkien) as Gracchus again. Little Lucius from the first
Gladiator is now all grown up, and seems to have the same
misfortune as his father – ending up fighting in the arena after a
sudden change in fortune.
While there seems to be similar themes
such as the riches to rags fight for survival the son of Maximus must
now face, and a gladiatorial slave-owner with aspirations – this
time played by none other than Denzel Washington (2 Guns, Fences,
The Equalizer 3) – there also are elements that distinguish
this sequel from the original.
I am highly interested in how Pedro
Pascal's (The Last of Us, The Mandalorian, The Wild Robot)
character Marcus Acacius ends up winning Lucius to his side in the
effort to take down the new emperors that upended the balance of
Rome.
Needless to say, my reaction after
watching this trailer was “shut up and take my money.”
9 - Heretic (11/8)
Directors: Scott Beck, Bryan
Woods
Writers: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Actors: Hugh Grant, Sophie
Thatcher, Chloe East, Topher Grace, Elle Young, Julie Lynn Mortensen,
Haylie Hansen, Elle McKinnon, Hanna Huffman, Anesha Bailey, Miguel
Castillo, Stephanie Lavigne, Wendy Gorling
Genre: Horror, Psychological
Horror, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 1h 50min
IMDb Blurb: Two young
missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the
wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant),
becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.
This sort of situation depicted in The
Heretic is exactly why they tell you not to go inside houses when
selling Girl Scout Cookies or school fundraiser stuffs. Exactly this.
Unless you know the person whose door you're knocking on, it's just
not safe to traipse inside. Stranger danger and all that.
Apparently these door-to-door
evangelists didn't get that memo.
Hugh Grant (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Wonka) was
chillingly horrifying in the trailer. His cool calculation and
matter-of-fact manner of delivery that is clearly only a thin veneer
over malevolent glee made my skin crawl. I both really want to know
and do not want to know at all what he has in store for those poor
girls behind the doors of their choices.
Ultimately, the first door choice that
sealed their fate was the front one.
My curiosity demands that I see how
this all plays out, and if those girls even have a single hope of
making an escape from the madman's labyrinth.
8 - Here (11/1)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writers: Eric Roth, Robert
Zemeckis
Based On: comic book "Here"
by Richard McGuire3
Actors: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright,
Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly, Ellis Grunsell, Teddy Russell, Finn
Guegan, Callum Macreadie, Lauren McQueen, Grace Lyra, Jemima
Macintyre, Billie Gadsdon, Beau Gadsdon, Harry Marcus, Diego Scott,
Logan Challis, Albie Salter, Zsa Zsa Zemeckis, Albie Mander, Eloise
Ferreira, Eliza Daley, Elodie Crapper, Faith Delaney, Michelle
Dockery, Gwilym Lee, David Fynn, Ophelia Lovibond, Nicholas Pinnock,
Nikki Amuka-Bird, Cache Vanderpuye, Anya Marco Harris, Tony Way,
Jemima Rooper, Keith Bartlett, Daniel Betts, Leslie Zemeckis, Alfie
Todd, Lilly Aspell, Jonathan Aris, Louis Suc, Eloise Webb
Genre: Drama
Rated: PG-13
Length: 1h 44min
Moviefone Blurb: An odyssey
through time and memory, centered around a place in New England
where—from wilderness, and then, later, from a home—love, loss,
struggle, hope and legacy play out between couples and families over
generations.
Here (literally) we have another
case of a director that inspires my instant announcement of “Yes”
when their name is mentioned. I'm talking about Robert Zemeckis
(Death Becomes Her, Forrest Gump, The Polar Express), of
course. He's got to be in my top 5. This is the same director as many
of my favorite movies including Romancing the Stone (1984),
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), and the Back to the Future
(1985) trilogy.
While this isn't an epic adventure full
of action, a sci-fi odyssey, or an animated outing, this dramatic
offering has captured my attention if nothing else than by the cast
alone. Tom Hanks (Elvis, Pinocchio, A Man Called Otto) and
Robin Wright (Wonder Woman, House of Cards, Damsel) reunite as
a couple on screen – as if Forrest and Jen-nay finally get their
happy ever after family. (I know it's not the same story, but I can
imagine! Fans of Gump out there, you know you're thinking it, too!) I
also adore Paul Bettany (Inkheart, Transcendence, WandaVision)
and appreciate Kelly Reilly (The Cursed, Yellowstone, A Haunting
in Venice) so I'm looking forward to how they fit in to this
journey through time from a single vantage point.
Speaking of that single perspective on
a fixed point, I'm really interested in seeing how that works with
the story. Does the fixed camera position fight with the narrative to
where we have to guess at what's happening off screen quite a bit, or
does it enhance the experience? I'm looking forward to finding out.
7 - Elevation (11/8)
Director: George Nolfi
Writers: John Glenn, Jacob
Roman, Kenny Ryan
Actors: Morena Baccarin, Anthony
Mackie, Maddie Hasson, Shauna Earp, Danny Boyd Jr., Ian Hummel, Dave
Malkoff, Dalila Orozco, Gregg S. Perry, James Anthony Perez, Drexel
Malkoff, Mike Hickman
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 1h 30min
Metacritic Blurb: The world
has changed. The only habitable place left for humanity is in the
high mountains, above 8000 feet. Go below 8000 feet, and waiting for
you are the very creatures that killed 95% of the human population
less than three years ago. But what happens if -- to save the life of
his young son -- a father (Anthony Mackie) is forced to do just that:
to venture below “The Line” with two others, a scientist he
despises (Morena Baccarin), but who just might hold the key to
defeating the monsters, and a young woman (Maddie Hasson), determined
to keep them both alive long enough to save the human race.
I'll be honest. The combination of a
sci-fi action thriller and Morena Baccarin (Gotham, Greenland,
Deadpool & Wolverine) made my Browncoat heart happy. Sold.
It doesn't hurt that fellow Louisianian
Anthony Mackie (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, We Have a
Ghost, Twisted Metal) is headlining this cast, too.
I'm intrigued by the monsters that
invade our world and why they can't venture above a certain
elevation. I'll be on pins and needles to see if not only they
succeed in getting the medicine for the child in time, but if they
can also find a way to combat the deadly invasive species.
6 - Weekend in Taipei (11/8)
Director: George Huang
Writers: Luc Besson, George
Huang
Actors: Luke Evans, Sung Kang,
Lun-Mei Gwei, Wyatt Yang, Virginia Chien, Patrick Pei-hsu Lee,
Pernell Walker, Zach Ireland, Yi-ching Lu
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 1h 40min
RottenTomatoes Blurb: Years
ago, committed DEA agent John Lawlor fell in love with Joey Kwang, a
Taipei-based transport driver working in the criminal underworld, but
was forced to flee due to tragic circumstances. Now, the duo reunites
when Lawlor blows his cover as a chef and takes an off-the-books
weekend mission to Taipei to bring down a billionaire drug kingpin...
who just so happens to be Joey's new husband.
Sometimes I'm just in the mood for some
spectacular action full of trick driving, tension, good banter, and
great fight choreography. All of that seems to be part of Weekend
in Taipei, if the trailer is to be believed.
It's also fun that Sung Kang (Power,
Raya and the Last Dragon, Fast X) and Luke Evans (Midway,
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol, 5lbs of Pressure), both from the Fast
Saga, get to share the screen again.
Is the boy Evans' character's son? Will
the drug lord get taken down before these star-crossed lovers get
taken out by his goons?
I'm not expecting anything deep from
Weekend in Taipei. This feels like a glorious popcorn movie
where the audience can sit back and enjoy a little exciting escapism.
In this stressful season of a zillion things to do and not enough
hours (or energy) in the day to do them, that sounds like just what I
need.
5 - Spellbound (11/22)
Director: Vicky Jenson
Writers: Vicky Jenson, Lauren
Hynek, Elizabeth Martin, Julia Miranda
Actors: Rachel Zegler, Miguel
Bernardeau, Giovanna Bush, Jenifer Lewis, Dee Bradley Baker, Nicole
Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Olga Merediz, Rich Moore, Nathan
Lane, Tituss Burgess, John Ratzenberger
Genre: Adventure, Animation,
Comedy, Fantasy, Family, Musical
Rated: PG
Length: 1h 49min
IMDb Blurb: Spellbound
follows the adventures of Ellian, the tenacious princess who must go
on a daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious
spell transforms her parents, the King and Queen of Lumbria, into
monsters.
I'm here for the little floofy purple
critter and their tiny blue puffball friends. I need all of that
mischievous adorableness in my life STAT.
Of course, Spellbound is
perfectly timed to hit Netflix the week before Thanksgiving (here in
the US, that is). This looks to be an amazing heart-felt movie to
share with the whole family.
Further, the cast here is absolutely
bonkers. From John Lithgow (Bombshell, Cabrini, Conclave),Nathan
Lane (Mirror Mirror, Only Murders in the Building, Beau is
Afraid), and Jenifer Lewis (Cars 3, Big Hero 6: The Series,
Black-ish) to Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies, Being the
Ricardos, Lioness) and Javier Bardem (Skyfall, Mother!, Dune:
Part Two) there are some real heavy hitters here. Of course, we
can't forget up-and-comer Rachel Zegler (West Side Story, The
Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, Y2K) .
For Pixar fans that can spot John
Ratzenberger (Luck, Monsters at Work, Inside Out 2) in every
movie, can you find him here without looking at IMDb? Sometimes he
ventures off the beaten path to non mouse-house productions, after
all.
I've already got my reminder set on my
Netflix account, now I just need to find a way to wait somewhat
patiently 'til November 22nd.
4 - Flow (11/22)
Director: Gints Zilbalodis
Writers: Matiss Kaza, Gints
Zilbalodis
Actors: None
Genre: Adventure, Animation,
Family, Fantasy
Rated: PG
Length: 1h 24min
Metacritic Blurb: A wondrous
journey, through realms natural and mystical, Flow follows a
courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming
up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog to navigate a boat in
search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage, and wits to
survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet.
I
think this is a brilliant concept. There are no voice actors listed
for this animated movie because there simply are none. The production
team for this feature went around and captured the sounds of actual
animals by visiting zoos and the like. I think it's a magnificent
idea. Between the animation, story, and sound teams they're creating
something unique and fabulous.
I
will note that they did take a smidge of creative license with the
sounds a capybara makes. When they recorded the actual noises that
come from those adorable overgrown guinea pigs, they found that it
didn't fit the tone of the character for the purpose of the movie, so
they used a baby camel, instead.
The
animation also looks absolutely gorgeous.
3 - Red One (11/15)
Director: Jake Kasdan
Writers: Chris Morgan, Hiram
Garcia
Actors: Dwayne Johnson, Chris
Evans, Lucy Liu, J.K. Simmons, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Kiernan
Shipka, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Wesley Kimmel, Nick Kroll, Wyatt Hunt,
Clayton Cooper, Lanz Duffy, Marc Evan Jackson, Samantha Benson,
Ashleigh Domangue, Jon Rudnitsky, Regina Ting Chen, Reinaldo
Faberlle, Philip Fornah, Kenny Waymack Jr., Gissette Valentin,
Matthew Cornwell, Jeff Chase, Morla Gorrondona
Genre: Holiday, Action,
Adventure, Comedy
Rated: PG-13
Length: 2h 3min
IMDb Blurb: After Santa Claus
(code name: Red One) is kidnapped, the North Pole's Head of Security
(Dwayne Johnson) must team up with the world's most infamous bounty
hunter (Chris Evans) in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to
save Christmas.
My daughter and I laughed so much when
we saw the first trailer for Red One. We absolutely can't wait
to watch this.
I think Chris Evans (Knives Out, The
Gray Man, Deadpool & Wolverine) in another anti-hero role is
amazing. He's got such great comedic timing to go along with the rest
of this total package of talent. He's played a squeaky clean and
straight-arrow character for so long that it's refreshing and fun
(for him, too!) to see him get to wield snark and sass.
When you pair that up with Dwayne "The
Rock" Johnson's (Moana, Jumanji: the Next Level, Young Rock)
Big Elf Energy and throw in talking polar bears, angry buff snowmen,
Lucy Liu Lucy Liu (Elementary, Shazam! Fury of the Gods,
Presence), and Kristofer Hivju (Game of Thrones, Cocaine Bear,
Twilight of the Gods)as Krampus and that is a recipe for a fun
Christmas movie experience.
Of course, it also doesn't hurt that
Santa appears to be a shredded badass with J K Simmons (The
Tomorrow War, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, You Can't Run Forever)in
fine form.
I'm glad this is getting a theatrical
release instead of straight to streaming and can't wait to see it.
2 - Moana 2 (11/27)
Directors: David G. Derrick Jr.,
Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller
Writers: Jared Bush, Dana Ledoux
Miller, Ron Clements, John Musker, Chris Williams, Pamela Ribon,
Jared Bush, Don Hall, Aaron Kandell, Jordan Kandell
Actors: Dwayne Johnson, Auli'i
Cravalho, Alan Tudyk, Rachel House, Nicole Scherzinger, Temuera
Morrison, Rose Matafeo, Awhimai Fraser, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda,
Hualalai Chun, David Fane, Gerald Ramsey
Genre: Family, Comedy,
Adventure, Animation, Fantasy, Musical
Rated: PG
Length: 1h 40min
IMDb Blurb: After receiving
an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana journeys to
the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an
adventure unlike anything she has ever faced.
What
can I say but "You're Welcome!"
We
all saw that coming, right? I can just picture a snippet of that song
as the opening animation of the movie. It probably isn't, but I
giggled in my head when I thought about it.
All
of the leads are back again for this sequel -- even Alan Tudyk's
(Disenchanted, Harley Quinn, Resident Alien) Hei Hei.
I
love that Pua gets to go on the new adventure this time, and I can't
wait to see what insanity the crazy chicken gets up to. Sure, I'm
excited about the rest, too. I'm just saying.
Hopefully
my family and I will get a chance to watch this one on the big screen
at some point during the holidays.
1 - Wicked (11/22)
Director: Jon M. Chu
Writers: Winnie Holzman, Dana
Fox, Winnie Holzman, Gregory Maguire, L. Frank Baum
Based On: Characters by L. Frank
Baum, The novel by Gregory Maguire, the musical book by Winnie
Holzman for the Broadway Musical.
Actors: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana
Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh,
Jeff Goldblum, Keala Settle, Bronwyn James, Bowen Yang, Aaron Teoh
Guan Ti, Adam James, Colin Michael Carmichael, Peter Dinklage, Jenna
Boyd, Andy Nyman, James Dryden, Grecia De la Paz, Courtney
Mae-Briggs, Poppy Townsend White, Skylar Blu Copeland
Genre: Family, Musical, Fantasy,
Adventure
Rated: PG
Length: 2h 40min
Metacritic Blurb: Elphaba
(Cynthia Erivo), misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, has
yet to discover her true power. Glinda (Ariana Grande) is a popular
young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to
discover her true heart. The two meet as students at Shiz University
in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound
friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,
their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very
different paths. Glinda's unflinching desire for popularity sees her
seduced by power, while Elphaba's determination to remain true to
herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking
consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will
ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and
the Wicked Witch of the West.
Shall I sing for you all the reasons
that I am excited for Wicked to hit screens this month?
I haven't made it to see a stage
production of the musical yet, but I have heard so many good things
that I've been hoping that the universe would bring a show to my city
(or reasonably nearby) at a good price, and when I could afford
tickets. That hasn't happened yet, so I'm overjoyed that I'll get a
chance to see this adaptation.
I find the story of how Jeff Goldblum
(Hotel Artemis, Jurassic World Dominion, What If...?) got cast
as the Wizard to be absolutely hilarious. He is, indeed, the “Wizard
of Uh..” and it's glorious..
In further casting brilliance, Cynthia
Erivo's (Bad Times at the El Royale, Harriet, Luther: The Fallen
Sun) voice and talent is something to behold. She is only an
Oscar away from an EGOT, after all. Let's make it happen!
Ariana Grande (Scream Queens, Don't
Look Up, Hairspray Live!) was also an interesting, yet
appropriate choice to contrast with Erivo's Elphaba, and she has the
vocal ability to slay any song you put in front of her.
Just keep in mind that this is going to
be a Part One of Two, and expect a cliffhanger.
According
to Selina
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