"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.
Showing posts with label Uncork'd Entertainment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Uncork'd Entertainment. Show all posts
Streaming Service: Amazon Prime Video Movie Name/Year: Monsternado(2023) Genre: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi Length: 1h 21min Rating: Unrated Director: Tyler-James Writer: Derek Miller Actors:Derek Miller, Chloe Karr,
Graham Miller, Jase Rivers, May Kelly, Lila Lasso, Michael S. Siegel, Danielle
Scott, Nick Adamson, Hannah Pauley, Daniel Subin, Adam Rojko Vega, Charlie Kemp
IMDb Blurb:A tornado, infested with
prehistoric monsters, has formed in the Bermuda Triangle, and is making its way
towards land. Now the city must fight to survive against these deadly
creatures.
Selina’s Point of View: It’s been a while since
we’ve done a low-budget horror flick like this, but when Cat told me she came
across a movie called Monsternado on Amazon Prime, you know I had to
dust off my B-movie-loving heart and throw it on.
Anyone following the blog
for a while knows that I very much enjoyed the Sharknado (2013-2017)
films and the intertwined Lavalantula (2015-2016) tie-in flicks.Clearly, Monsternado paid as much
homage to those as it did with a few other movies, such as Robocop
(1987), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), and Anaconda (1997). I imagine
there were more, but on a single watch-through that’s what I caught.
Movies like this need to
be judged by a different standard. No one needs to compare Monsternado
to classics like Bride of Frankenstein (1935) or more modern monster favorites
such as A Quiet Place (2018). That’s like bringing a rubber chicken to a knife
fight. Something like Monsternado needs to be judged against flicks like
The VelociPastor (2018) and Zoombies (2015).
As far as that goes, Monsternado
was fun. It had pop culture references that made me giggle, wacky acting that
made me face-palm, and plenty of badly rendered monsters. All of which is
exactly what I would expect from a movie like this.
The problem came when it
took itself too seriously.
There was a trafficker
storyline was way out of place, especially near the conclusion of it, and a few
moments where the levity was replaced by an odd attempt at actual drama. When
it was just a bunch of actors having fun, though, it was cute.
It’s not something I’d
watch to take my mind of the day, but I would throw it on with a few drunk
friends during Halloween.
Cat’s Point of View: When I was browsing through movies on Prime Video, I couldn’t
help but notice the new offering of Monsternado. Of course, we’re huge
fans of the Sharknado franchise. I was hoping that this new movie would
follow suit and lean in so that it fell into the “so bad it’s good” if not at
least decent category.
Unfortunately, much like a puzzle bought at a garage sale –
the pieces here just didn’t fit together, and it seemed like there were extra
bits just thrown in because they were roughly the same size.
There were several things that just yanked me right out of
the vibe of Monsternado. The first was the distracting disconnect
between the setting the production team was clearly going for with the story,
and the obvious shooting location. I get it that shoestring budgets don’t allow
for much in the way of effects or props, perhaps, to create the illusion of
taking place somewhere other than where the filming is happening. There are
ways around that, however. Different camera angles or even simply temporarily
hanging a canvas your art department just whipped together could easily have masked
the issues here.
Why am I irked? This felt lazy or haphazard. The film was
clearly shot in London, but was pretending that it was in the United States
somewhere. Major London, UK landmarks were plainly visible outside of office
windows, they made no attempt to mask that the vehicles had steering on the
opposite side of US cars, and there was even a sign inside a building that flat
out said London. I might have been able to overlook the cars if the freaking
Gherkin building (you know, the one shaped like a giant Fabergé egg) wasn’t
visible from the window. They could have at least just put up some paper
blinds.
Don’t even get me started on the actual “nado.” It looked
like the effects were swiped from the Sharknado movies and then they
just threw an octopus in the spinning mix just so they could say “no, no, this
is different, see?!” I really found it hard to buy it. The waterspouts were
clearly 99% sharks. I felt let down that the movie had promised ancient
monsters and failed to deliver on any rudimentary level outside of the weird
giant bugs and the flying dinosaurs. The poster lied. I wanted my T-Rex.
Further, I get that it’s plausible for weird things to get
spawned from the Bermuda Triangle, but the technobabble that the scientist in
this film was, indeed, babbling about just made no sense and was clearly
something made up to sound smart.
Sharknado and its sequels that followed captured
lightning in a bottle. They had several factors working together that, while absolutely
ludicrous, still made the whole thing work as an entertaining experience. Sharknado
never took itself too seriously. They seemed to anticipate what the silliest
idea would be for the story and then went after making it happen. They also
grabbed a few familiar faces to pad out the cast. The sequels were fun for the
quirky cameos, but the first movie was able to stand alone with its cheesy plot
and clever crafting.
Monsternado, which released a decade after the first
shark-storm offering, clearly tried to make a grab for the creature feature
niche that was carved out by its predecessor, but failed to take into
consideration the elements that made the trailblazer successful.
The movie took itself too seriously and lacked the levity
and enjoyability that its template had. Unfortunately, rather than laughing I was groaning and
regretting the loss of my time. But hey, we watched it so others don’t have to.
Streaming Service: None Movie Name/Year: Murder, Anyone? (2023) Genre: Comedy Length: 1h 21min Rating: Unrated Production/Distribution: Red Phoenix Productions, Sandaled Kid Productions, Uncork’d Entertainment Director: James Cullen Bressack Writer: Gordon Bressack Actors: Sally Kirkland, Kristos Andrews, Galadriel Stineman, Maurice LaMarche, Charles M. Howell IV, Carla Collins, Spencer Breslin
IMDb Blurb: Two playwrights, George and Charlie, are tasked with the challenge of creating the next "avant-garde, surrealistic, mind-bending neo-noire thriller". As they write, the story comes to life in real time. However, their own emotions and arguments also begin to manifest on film, creating sharp twists and turns that affect the entire movie. Filled with hilarity and chaos, Murder, Anyone? is a comedic play-within-a-play-within-a-movie that contemplates the complexities of language, art, theater, film and more.
Cat’s Point of View:
When we watched the trailer for Murder, Anyone? I was instantly in love with this concept. Learning that this production was made by James Cullen Bressack (Survive the Game, Fortress, Hot Seat) to honor his father was simply icing on the cake.
We, as audiences, don’t really get to see the process that goes on behind the scenes in the writer’s room, so to speak. Murder, Anyone? gave us a peek at that collaborative creative process, as well as the fun off-the-wall story it created.
As a writer, this film really resonated with me on several levels. Sometimes characters take on a life of their own in your mind and you just go with the flow. Other times, it’s a lot of trial and error to figure out what makes the most sense for a story. When you write with someone else and have differing opinions, it can be frustrating to come to a compromise that works for the project at hand. Murder, Anyone? wonderfully captured that process and the emotions behind it.
I also adored the cinematography choices switching between black and white and color for the various scenes. That was a stroke of brilliance, marking clearly for the audience what the writers envisioned for their play-that-might-be-a-movie as well as what was going on in the ‘real world.’
The narrative for the ‘play,’ itself was a bit over-the-top but in a really fun way. The actors embraced the fact that they were characters in a scene in progress. Some bits felt really hokey and some of the dialogue was a little wonky, but it all seemed to fit and it was still entertaining.
I enjoyed Murder, Anyone? and feel connected to the director's intended message and his love for his father.
Murder, Anyone? Is set for a digital release by Uncork’d Entertainment on February 7th, 2023.
20 – Disquiet
(2/10) Production/Distribution:
SP Media Group, Government Island, Paramount Global Director: Michael
Winnick Writer: Michael
Winnick Actors: Jonathan
Rhys Meyers, Rachelle Goulding, Elyse Levesque, Lochlyn Munro, Trezzo Mahoro,
Garry Chalk, Anita Brown Genre: Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 25 IMDb Blurb: After a near-fatal car accident, Sam (Meyers) wakes
to discover he is trapped in an abandoned hospital by mysterious and sinister
forces that have no intention of letting him leave. My initial thought while watching the trailer for Disquiet
is that the character played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers (American Night, The Good
Neighbor, Hide and Seek) is in some kind of coma-related purgatory. I don’t
hate the idea. I love the psychological aspect that forces us to ask if
what the character is going through is real or not. I’ll admit that I find it
most fulfilling when it does turn out to be real, but I’ve seen it done
successfully both ways. There are some very creepy scenes highlighted throughout the
trailer. The part with the two mummy-wrapped women reminds me of the nurses in Silent
Hill (2006). It’s looking like reviews are negative for Disquiet so
far, but I’m looking forward to seeing for myself. 19 – Mummies
(2/24) Production/Distribution:
Warner Bros. Entertainment España, 4 Cats Pictures, Anangu Grup, Moomios Movie
AIE, Atresmedia Cine, Movistar+, With Televisió de Catalunya (TV3), Warner
Bros. Director: Juan
Jesús García Galocha Writer: Jordi
Gasull, Javier López Barreira Actors: Sean
Bean, Joe Thomas, Eleanor Tomlinson, Santiago Winder, Hugh Bonneville, Celia
Imrie, Dan Starkey, Shakka Genre: Animation,
Comedy, Family Rated: PG Length: 1h 28min IMDb Blurb: It follows three mummies as they end up in
present-day London and embark on a journey in search of an old ring belonging
to the Royal Family, stolen by the ambitious archaeologist Lord Carnaby. Mummies looks like a simple, funny, kids’ movie that
might not completely bore the adults they’re with at the theaters. It’s not
going to reinvent any wheels, it’s probably not going to be all that deep, but
it should be a cute introduction to Egyptian mythos for children. 18 – Huesera: The
Bone Woman (2/10) Production/Distribution:
Disruptiva Films, Machete Producciones, Maligno Gorehouse, Terminal, XYZ Films Director: Michelle
Garza Cervera Writer: Michelle
Garza Cervera, Abia Castillo, Patricio Saiz Actors: Alfonso
Dosal, Mayra Batalla, Natalia Solián, Sonia Couoh, Samantha Castillo, Mercedes
Hernández, Aida López, Enoc Leaño, Martha Claudia Moreno Genre: Drama,
Horror Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 33min IMDb Blurb: Valeria has long dreamed about becoming a mother.
After learning that she's pregnant, she expects to feel happy, yet something's
off. The fear of birth and motherhood is more common than people
think. I, personally, had a miserable pregnancy/birth experience. I had bad
doctors, health issues, and significant mood alterations – most of which I was
required to hide while people told me how happy I SHOULD be. The only way to
keep from getting into constant fights with these people was to pretend I was. I don’t regret getting pregnant, my daughter is my world,
but you would not believe the amount of people who believe that had the right to
tell me how to feel at the time and who still try to guilt trip me into
remembering it positively. Even more that still try to pressure me into doing
it again. Movies like Huesera: The Bone Woman really amp up the
anxiety and horror of that bad birth experience. I find them somewhat
cathartic. I imagine I’m not the only one. Huesera: The Bone Woman has some psychological
aspects – or supernatural, depending on the way they opt to go – that really
seems to elevate the horror of it all. 17 – The Amazing
Maurice (2/3) Production/Distribution:
Studio Rakete, Red Star 3D, Cantilever Group, Moonshot Films, Narrativia, Sky,
Squeeze Studio Animation, Ulysses Filmproduktion, Viva Pictures, Viva Kids Director: Toby Genkel,
Florian Westermann Writer: Terry Rossio,
Terry Pratchett, Robert Chandler, Toby Genkel Actors: Hugh
Laurie, Emilia Clarke, David Thewlis, Himesh Patel, Gemma Arterton, Rob Brydon,
Hugh Bonneville, David Tennant, Peter Serafinowicz Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG Length: 1h 33min IMDb Blurb: This story follows Maurice, a goofy streetwise cat,
who has the perfect money-making scam. He finds a dumb-looking kid who plays a
pipe and has his very own horde of rats, who are strangely literate. How cute does The Amazing Maurice look? This hilarious tale about a fat streetwise cat is based on a
novel by Terry Pratchett (Good Omens, Hogfather, Welcome to the Discworld).
That alone makes it a must see, but then the jokes shown in the trailer are
also pretty funny. I’m particularly amused by the part about the dead rats.
That hits me right in my funny bone. Also, David Tennant (Doctor Who, Fright Night, Good Omens)
is voicing a character named Dangerous Beans and I just can’t get past that. 16 – Swallowed
(2/14) Production/Distribution:
All the Dead Boys, Leroi, Witchcraft Motion Picture Company, Momentum Pictures Director: Carter
Smith Writer: Carter
Smith Actors: Jena
Malone, Cooper Koch, Mark Patton, Jose Colon, Roe Pacheco, Michael Shawn Curtis Genre: Horror, Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 32min IMDb Blurb: Follows two best friends on their final night
together, with a nightmare of drugs, bugs, and horrific intimacy. On first look I thought Swallowed was going to be a
super basic crime film about smuggling drugs. I was so bored by the idea that
my eyes started to glaze over. Then the big twist came, and I found myself needing
to watch the trailer a second time. I’m not sure what kind of bug, alien, or supernatural
creature the characters in Swallowed are forced to smuggle, but I’m
dying to find out. The trailer gives just enough information to let me know this
isn’t your basic gritty crime thriller, then leaves me hanging on the answers –
which is a great way to approach the coming attractions for this kind of plot. I know only enough to know I want to know more. 15 – Who Are You
People (2/17) Production/Distribution:
Paperclip Limited, Gravitas Ventures Director: Ben
Epstein Writer: Ben
Epstein Actors: Alyssa
Milano, Devon Sawa, Ema Horvath, Yeardley Smith, John Ales, Reid Miller, Peter
Parros, Siddharth Dhananjay Genre: Drama Rated: Unrated Length: Unknown
Length IMDb Blurb: After a botched attempt to seduce her English
teacher, 16-year-old Alex runs away from boarding school to seek out the
biological father her mother always kept hidden and learn the dark secret of
her roots. The cast for Who Are You People was the first thing
that caught my eye. Devon Sawa (Final Destination, Chucky, SLC Punk!) is criminally
underrated. Even when he was younger, he was a lot more versatile than he was
given credit for. Now he’s got that grizzled action look to him, and he’s got
even more options. Going from something like Hunter Hunter (2020), which
was memorably suspenseful and terrifying, to something like this that’s much
more heartfelt and down-to-Earth, proves that. I’ve opted not to hold Brazen (2022) against Alyssa
Milano (You Are My Home, Insatiable, Little Italy). She’s still a draw,
as far as I’m concerned. Then there’s Ema Horvath (Don’t Look Deeper, What Lies Below,
Like.Share.Follow.). She’s newer on the scene, but I remember her from The
Mortuary Collection (2019). She was impressive there. I haven’t seen her in
much else yet, but I have some high hopes just based on that one film. The trailer shows a relatable story to anyone who’s ever
felt out of place with their family. I have a feeling Who Are You People
is going to require a box of tissues close by. 14 – Cocaine Bear
(2/24) Production/Distribution:
Universal Pictures, Brownstone Productions (II), Lord Miller Director: Elizabeth
Banks Writer: Jimmy
Warden Actors: Ray
Liotta, Margo Martindale, Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich, Matthew Rhys,
Kristofer Hivju, Isiah Whitlock Jr., O’Shea Jackson Jr., Jesse Tyler Ferguson,
Brooklynn Prince, Christian Convery Genre: Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 35min IMDb Blurb: An oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists, and
teens converge in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound black bear goes on a
murderous rampage after unintentionally ingesting cocaine. I did a double take when I first saw this film on our list.
I figured it was some kind of SYFY creature feature made by The Asylum. When I
saw an actual cast list, with a big-name production company involved, it was a
little hard to digest. I had no idea what to expect. The trailer for Cocaine Bear was absolutely wild. It
was bloody and hilarious, with some awful CGI. Now, the awful CGI isn’t necessarily a bad thing. With a plot
based around a bear that’s gotten high off some lost drugs (loosely inspired by
a true story) the ridiculousness of some janky CGI might just heighten the
humor aspect. You still get the blood and gore of the story, but it becomes
easier to swallow when you can’t take the bear design seriously. It’s one of the things I find amusing about movies that are
so bad they’re good. I don’t think Cocaine Bear will be a masterpiece, but
I do think it’ll be amusing and fun to watch with some drunk friends. 13 – Somebody I
Used to Know (2/10) Production/Distribution:
Amazon Studios, Black Bear Pictures, Temple Hill Entertainment, Amazon Prime
Video Director: Dave
Franco Writer: Dave
Franco, Alison Brie Actors: Alison
Brie, Jay Ellis, Kiersey Clemons, Danny Pudi, Olga Merediz, Haley Joel Osment,
Julie Hagerty, Ayden Mayeri, Fabi Reyna, Marian Li, Ted Rooney Genre: Comedy,
Romance Rated: R Length: 1h 46min IMDb Blurb: On a trip to her hometown, workaholic Ally
reminisces with her ex Sean and starts to question everything about the person
she's become. Things only get more confusing when she meets Cassidy, who
reminds her of the person she used to be. I’ll admit that the story in Somebody I Used to Know reminds
me – just a bit – of My Best Friend’s Wedding. The prelude is different,
but the basic feel is pretty much the same. There are two differences that made
me want to see this one. I am a big fan of Dave Franco (Day Shift, The Disaster Artist,
Nerve). He’s not acting in Somebody I Used to Know, but he is
directing. He also wrote the script alongside his significant other. I’m really
interested in seeing what he’s got. I haven’t seen The Rental (2020)
yet, which was his debut as writer/director, but I’ve heard good things. This
film would be a big difference, though, since The Rental was a horror. The second thing that really intrigued me about the trailer
for Somebody I Used to Know is that it hints at a unique and somewhat
daring ending. If Franco and his co-writer Alison Brie (Spine Me Round, Happiest
Season, Promising Young Woman) took the road less traveled, Somebody I
Used to Know could very well end in a multi-partner relationship. I find
that very interesting. It’s not something I’ve ever seen in a mainstream
romance. Now, the chances of it are very low, but there are enough
clues in the trailer that lead me to believe it’s a possibility that I’m really
interested in seeing how it plays out. 12 – Sharper (2/10) Production/Distribution:
A24, Apple TV+, Picturestart Director: Benjamin
Caron Writer: Brian
Gatewood, Alessandro Tanaka Actors: Justice
Smith, Briana Middleton, Sebastian Stan, Julianne Moore, John Lithgow, Hannah
Dunne, Giullian Yao Gioiello, Phillip Johnson Richardson Genre: Drama Rated: R Length: 1h 56min IMDb Blurb: A con artist takes on Manhattan's billionaires. Sharper is labeled as a single-genre drama, which is
not my go-to kind of movie at all, but there’s clearly more to it. There’s intrigue involved. Suspense. Even if the film doesn’t
delve as deep as it could into those themes, it’s still there. Enough-so that
it doesn’t feel like a single-genre at all. Not only that, but the cast is more than decent. I’m becoming a big fan of Justice Smith (Pokémon:
Detective Pikachu, Jurassic World: Dominion, Ron’s Gone Wrong). Even in movies
I don’t enjoy, he still stands out to me as a great addition. Then there’s
Sebastian Stan (Fresh, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, The Devil All the
Time), Julianne Moore (Dear Evan Hansen, When You Finish Saving the
World, Kingsman: The Golden Circle), and John Lithgow (Bombshell,
Interstellar, This is 40) – all who speak for themselves. There’s a lot to look forward to with Sharper. 11 – Knock at the
Cabin (2/3) Production/Distribution:
Universal Pictures, Blinding Edge Pictures, FilmNation Entertainment, Perfect
World Pictures, Wishmore Director: M.
Night Shyamalan Writer: M. Night
Shyamalan, Steve Desmond, Michael Sherman, Paul Tremblay Actors: Dave
Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Rupert Grint, Abby
Quinn, Kristen Cui Genre: Horror,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 40min IMDb Blurb: While vacationing, a girl and her parents are taken
hostage by armed strangers who demand that the family make a choice to avert
the apocalypse. The trailer for Knock at the Cabin shows just enough
for me to feel a desperate need to know more. Is the apocalypse really coming,
or are the four antagonists not playing with a full deck? What choice does this
family need to make? The general feel of the movie is shown well in the coming
attractions. It explains the premise and leaves everything else to my incredibly
dark imagination. It’s exactly what a trailer should be. Especially for a
horror/mystery. There is no part of me that thinks anything it showed will be a
spoiler. That said, it is written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan
(Old, The Visit, Split). I love a good twist in a story, so I’m inclined to give him
the benefit of the doubt, but Shyamalan’s proved that he would include a twist
even at the cost of the overall quality of the story. I’m a little nervous
about where he’ll go with this. In my mind, the biggest twist of all would be if
the apocalypse really occurred, but I highly doubt that’s the direction he’d
go. I’m going to remain cautiously optimistic.
10 – Marlowe
(2/15) Production/Distribution:
Parallel Film Productions, Hills Productions AIE, Davis-Films, H2L Media Group,
Nickel City Pictures, Storyboard, Aperture Media Partners, Elipsis Capital,
Jeff Rice Films, Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, Briarcliffe Entertainment Director: Neil
Jordan Writer: William
Monahan, John Banville, Raymond Chandler Actors: Liam
Neeson, Diane Kruger, Jessica Lange, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Colm Meaney,
Daniela Melchior, Alan Cumming, Danny Huston, Seána Kerslake, François Arnaud,
Ian Hart Genre: Crime,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 50min IMDb Blurb: In late 1930's Bay City, a brooding, down on his
luck detective is hired to find the ex-lover of a glamorous heiress. Film noir is a hard genre to beat. When done right, it’s
full of so much intrigue that even the slow moments feel tense. Marlowe seems
like a fully updated form. I’m not saying it’s modern in setting, but in feel. The
story telling is from our century, while the subject is the past. I love that
kind of thing. Viewing the past through updated views and ideals sheds a new
light on stories like these. It’s interesting. There are absolute legends in the cast, and the trailer
looks exciting. I want to see what they do with this one. 9 – Magic Mike’s
Last Dance (2/10) Production/Distribution:
Warner Bros., HBO Max Director: Steven
Soderbergh Writer: Reid
Carolin Actors: Salma
Hayek, Channing Tatum, Caitlin Gerard, Nancy Carroll, Gavin Spokes, Christopher
Bencomo, Juliette Motamed, Ayub Khan-Din Genre: Comedy,
Drama Rated: R Length: 1h 52min IMDb Blurb: Mike takes to the stage again, following a business
deal that went bust, leaving him broke and taking bartender gigs in Florida.
Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite who lures him with an offer he
can't refuse. There’s a part of me wondering if Channing Tatum (Dog,
Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Logan Lucky) is pulling from real life
experiences for his performance in Magic Mike’s Last Dance. Going from
stripping to mainstream entertainment is how he started after all. If he is, then we could be looking at one of his best
performances. He won’t have to wonder what anything feels like, he knows. That
means that he can portray specifics that other actors might not have thought of
in the same part. There’s bound to be some amazing dance numbers shuffled into
everything. Tatum never disappoints in that area. It does seem a bit different than the first two. I don’t
think a love for the franchise will be necessary to enjoy this one, however. We’ll
see. 8 – True Spirit
(2/3) Production/Distribution:
Resonate Entertainment, Martin Chase Productions, Sunstar Entertainment, The
Rebel Fleet, Netflix Director: Sarah
Spillane Writer: Rebecca
Banner, Cathy Randall, Sarah Spillane Actors: Anna
Paquin, Cliff Curtis, Teagan Croft, Josh Lawson, Todd Lasance, Alyla Browne,
Alice Tate Genre: Adventure,
Biography, Drama Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 49min IMDb Blurb: The story of Australian teenager, Jessica Watson,
the youngest person ever to sail solo, non-stop around the world. For years the world has been spiraling in a way that has made
a lot of people give up. I don’t have statistics for the whole world, but I
know that my own life has seen a lot of it. I cringe now when the phone rings. You never know what’s going to help someone. Maybe it’s a
simple adventure film that tells someone it’s ok to be struggling right now. It’s
ok to not be ok. There’s a way through it. When we first watched the trailer for True Spirit
that’s what stuck out in my head most. There’s an uplifting quality to it that really
speaks to me right now. A message that says you can do absolutely anything you
put your mind to, even if the world tells you otherwise. The fact that it’s based
on a true story makes the message even more compelling. I’m looking forward to seeing True Spirit. We’ll be
scheduling it for review next month. 7 – We Have a
Ghost (2/24) Production/Distribution:
Legendary Entertainment, Temple Hill Entertainment, Netflix Director: Christopher
Landon Writer: Christopher
Landon, Geoff Manaugh Actors: Anthony
Mackie, Erica Ash, Jennifer Coolidge, David Harbour, Tig Notaro, Steve Coulter,
Tom Bower, Niles Fitch Genre: Adventure,
Comedy, Family Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h 6min IMDb Blurb: Finding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new
home turns Kevin's family into overnight social media sensations. But when
Kevin and Ernest investigate the mystery of Ernest's past, they become a target
of the CIA. I absolutely adore the premise to We Have a Ghost. Instead of going full horror, like Paranormal Activity
(2007), or full comedy, like Casper (1995), We Have a Ghost takes
the haunting tale to a mixed genre that looks awesome. There are tons of
hilarious moments in the trailer, but with scenes like the face melting one,
you can’t ignore the potential for horror. Even if it’s mostly geared toward teens. With a cast involving Anthony Mackie (The Falcon and the
Winter Soldier, Outside the Wire, The Banker) and David Harbour (Stranger
Things, Violent Night, Black Widow) among the main protagonists, backed up
by people like Tig Notaro (Army of the Dead, Together Together, Lucy in the
Sky), Jennifer Coolidge (Shotgun Wedding, The Watcher, 2 Broke Girls)
and Steve Coulter (Shotgun Wedding, A Little Prayer, She-Hulk: Attorney at
Law), we’re guaranteed a good time. 6 – Winnie the Pooh:
Blood And Honey (2/15) Production/Distribution:
ITN Studios, Jagged Edge Productions, ITN Distribution, Fathom Events Director: Rhys
Frake-Waterfield Writer: Rhys
Frake-Waterfield, A.A. Milne Actors: Gillian
Broderick, Paula Coiz, Chris Cordell, Frederick Dallaway, Amber Doig-Thorne,
Craig David Dowsett, Simon Ellis, Mark Haldor, May Kelly, Nikolai Leon Genre: Horror Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 24min IMDb Blurb: It follows Pooh and Piglet as they go on a rampage
after Christopher Robin abandons them for college. I’ve been hearing about this movie for a while, but I thought
it was a joke. Or, at the most, a fan flick that was going to come out straight
to DVD. There are a lot of those based around horror cults – such as Voorhees
(2020), Never Hike Alone (2017), Krueger: Tales from Elm Street
(2017), or Scream: Obsession (2020). To name only a few. What I didn’t realize was that on January 1, 2022 Winnie-the-Pooh
characters from the original story (made in 1926) became part of the public
domain. It is now perfectly legal to take the characters and do whatever you
want with them – commercially. Naturally the first thing people decided to throw the beloved
children’s characters in was a horror flick. As antagonists. And it’s coming out in theaters. Sure, it’s a limited release, but it’s still going to be
hitting big screens. My inner child is way too curious for me to miss it. I don’t
hear great things, but I’m still excited. I have to know how they execute this one. No pun intended. 5 – Attachment
(2/9) Production/Distribution:
Nordisk Film Productions, Shudder Director: Gabriel
Bier Gislason Writer: Gabriel
Bier Gislason Actors: David
Dencik, Ellie Kendrick, Sofie Gråbøl, Josephine Park, Elinor Znaider, Filippa
Marcella Olesen Olsson Genre: Comedy,
Horror, Romance Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 45min IMDb Blurb: Maja, a Danish has-been actress, falls in love with
Leah, a Jewish academic from London. Leah suffers a mysterious seizure, and
Maja returns with her to London. There, she meets Leah's mother, Chana, a woman
who could hold dark secrets. You don’t really see a lot of Jewish horror films. Yes, you
see dybbuks used a bit, but those stories barely scratch the surface of the
mythology behind it. In the case of Attachment, the plot goes much
further into Jewish culture and folklore. I’m really interested in seeing how they opt to portray the
bits and pieces of mythos that Attachment is delving into. Even without appealing to me on a cultural level, the
trailer looks sufficiently creepy. It’s coming out on Shudder and I’m psyched. 4 – Shehzada (2/17) Production/Distribution:
Allu Entertainment, Allu Mantena Media Ventures, Brat Films, FAVS Global,
Haarika & Hassine Creations, T-Series Films, PVR Pictures, Yash Raj Films, Netflix Director: Rohit
Dhawan Writer: Hussain
Dalal, Rohit Dhawan, Trivikram Srinivas Actors: Kartik
Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala, Ronit Roy, Sachin Khedekar,
Rajpal Naurang Yadav, Ankur Rathee, Sunny Hinduja Genre: Action,
Comedy, Drama Rated: Unrated Length: 2h 33min IMDb Blurb: Bantu is hated by his father Valmiki since he was a
toddler. Samara, his boss show him affection and love until he discovers that
the Jindals are his parents. Bantu decides to seek Jindals love and protect
them from threats they facing. The trailer for Shehzada is a trip. On first
watch-through, it’s almost confusing. It’s as if two movies are smushed
together for the coming attraction. The first half of the trailer makes it seem like a light-hearted
comedy flick. Not unlike some of the Hallmark stuff you see during December,
but with brighter colors and exceptional song/dance breaks. Then you get to about
the 2-minute mark and some dude gets stabbed with an umbrella. The vibe totally
changes. It goes from delightful musical to bad-ass action flick. And
some of the action scenes that are highlighted are really unique. After the success of RRR (2022), we’re bound to see
more and more Indian films drawing attention in US cinemas. Shehzada has
all the ingredients of the kind of film that can do just that. I want to see
more of this. 3 – Murder,
Anyone? (2/7) Production/Distribution:
Red Phoenix Productions, Sandaled Kid Productions, Uncork’d Entertainment Director: James
Cullen Bressack Writer: Gordon
Bressack Actors: Kristos
Andrews, Galadriel Stineman, Maurice LaMarche, Charles M. Howell IV, Carla
Collins, Spencer Breslin Genre: Comedy Rated: Unrated Length: Unknown
Length IMDb Blurb: Two playwrights, George and Charlie, are tasked
with the challenge of creating the next "avant-garde, surrealistic,
mind-bending neo-noire thriller". As they write, the story comes to life
in real time. However, their own emotions and arguments also begin to manifest
on film, creating sharp twists and turns that affect the entire movie. Filled
with hilarity and chaos, Murder, Anyone? is a comedic
play-within-a-play-within-a-movie that contemplates the complexities of
language, art, theater, film and more. Murder, Anyone? has a genius concept. Low budget films get a bad rap. People picture low video
quality, bad acting, and a corny script when you mention that a film is low
budget. With Murder, Anyone? the writer and director take those expectations
and use them in favor of the film. Because most of the story occurs in the mind of the two
writers, there’s a ton of leeway with everything else. If it’s done correctly,
I can see it being on the same lines as The Gamers: Dorkness Rising
(2008). Most of the story in that took place in the minds of the role-players. The
over-the-top acting made everything fit better than it would have if it’d been
made with the best of the best. The low budget MADE that film as fun as was. I think Murder, Anyone? has the same potential. I
cannot wait to see it. 2 – Unlocked
(2/17) Production/Distribution:
Studio N, Netflix Director:
Tae-joon Kim Writer: Akira
Shiga Actors: Si-wan
Yim, Woo-hee Chun, Kim Hee-won, Park Ho-San, Jeon Jin-oh, Kim Ye-Won Genre: Crime,
Drama, Mystery Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 57min IMDb Blurb: "Stolen Identity" is a realistic thriller
that tracks the incidents that occur when an ordinary company employee begins
to get her entire life threatened after she loses her smartphone containing all
her personal information. I’ve been known to complain about the way horror films do
their best to ignore modern technology. Way too many new horror movies attempt to live in the 80s
and 90s. Instead of using cell phones to add a new layer of fear to a slasher
flick, they do whatever necessary to take it out of consideration. There’s no
service. The character lost it. Someone stepped on it. It’s always the same
nonsense, time and time again. That’s probably why I immediately gravitate toward movies
like Unlocked when I see them. It feels current… modern. We have a ton of technology at our fingertips every day, and
a lot of it is naturally dangerous. You wouldn’t have to modify much to make it
terrifying. Even just a cautionary tale could be made into a horror story –
easily. That’s what Unlocked seems to do. A stalker with access to a lost phone and social media pages
makes him near invincible. Not to mention that laws haven’t fully caught up to
technology and stalking doesn’t carry much, if any, punishment. That makes the
trailer terrifying. When the antagonist in the Unlocked trailer admits to
doing it because he found her phone, it sends shivers up my spine and makes me
think of every time I’ve accidentally left my phone behind or found it fallen
out of my pocket. It’s an aspect of everyday life that the horror genre could
be doing a hell of a lot more with. I’m also a huge fan of Korean cinema – especially horrors. 1 – Ant-Man and
the Wasp: Quantumania (2/17) Production/Distribution:
Marvel Studios, Truenorth Productions, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney
Studios Motion Pictures Director: Peyton
Reed Writer: Jack
Kirby, Jeff Loveness Actors: Paul
Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Kathryn Newton, William Jackson
Harper, Katy M. O’Brian, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Bill Murray,
Randall Park Genre: Action,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h 5min IMDb Blurb: Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne, along with Hank Pym
and Janet Van Dyne, explore the Quantum Realm, where they interact with strange
creatures and embark on an adventure that goes beyond the limits of what they
thought was possible. As a Marvel fangirl, was there any doubt that this would be
my number 1? Kevin Feige (Loki, I Am Groot, Moon Knight) has said
that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is going to be “a direct line”
into Phase 5. It’s going to forever alter the MCU. How could I possibly hear
something like that and not be more excited than I have been in a while. Of course, I was excited for Black Panther: Wakanda
Forever, but I was also nervous. The whole thing was a bit more bittersweet
because of Chadwick Boseman’s (Marshall, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Da 5
Bloods) passing. I couldn’t even see that one in theaters. I had to watch
it at home where I could ugly cry without judgment. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has the benefit of
being the movie we move forward with. There’s less sadness woven into it, and
it gives us something big to look forward to.
Production/Distribution:
Lionsgate, HB Wink Animation, Huayi Brothers Media, Splash Entertainment,
Timeless Films Director: Anthony
Bell Writer: Rob Muir Actors: Graham
Hamilton, Ashleigh Ball, Andrew Francis, Kathleen Barr, Eddie Izzard, Bethany
Brown, Nicole Oliver, Doron Bell, Jason Simpson, Donny Lucas, Cathy Weseluck,
Richard Newman, Michael Adamthwaite, James Higuchi, Sabrina Pitre, Brian
Dobson, Brian Drummond, Andrea Libman Genre: Adventure,
Comedy, Music, Animation Rated: PG Length: 1h 30min IMDb Blurb: When the young performers on a music contest
show admit they have never heard of Angus Scattergood, Bodi is compelled to
join the show to restore the Rock Legend's good name. Happy New Year, everyone! This month’s slate of new release movies has turned out to
be slightly underwhelming. This Top 20 is really a mixed bag of films I’m
actually really excited about – and the best of the rest because there just
wasn’t that much to choose from. Rock Dog 3 fits
into the latter category. Honestly, I don’t know why this particular franchise
needed another sequel or a full-fledged trilogy. Here we are, though. It looks
cute and the core characters still seem to be involved. There are a lot of
R-rated movies on this list so Rock Dog 3
also offers some more family-friendly fun. This 3rd installment is releasing straight to DVD
and digital on-demand. 19 - Maybe I Do (1/27)
Production/Distribution:
Endeavor Content, Vincent Newman Entertainment, Vertical Entertainment Director: Michael
Jacobs Writer: Michael
Jacobs Actors: Diane
Keaton, Richard Gere, Setty Brosevelt, Susan Sarandon, William H. Macy, Emma
Roberts, Luke Bracey, Gina Jun, Kirk Kelly, Natalie Ortega Genre: Comedy,
Romance Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 35min IMDb Blurb: Michelle (Roberts) and Allen (Bracey) are in
a relationship. They decide to invite their parents to finally meet about
marriage. Turns out, the parents already know one another well, which leads to
some differing opinions about marriage. Maybe I Do lands
late enough in January that it’s really in the window of time that fits into
pre-Valentine’s festivities. What better time to release a star-studded
rom-com? The cast here is really what stood out to me – and then I
had a few giggles along the way while watching the trailer. I have a feeling
that there will be a chunk of cringe associated with Maybe I Do as well, given the context of the plot. That’s one of
the main reasons it’s placed this low. I also tend to avoid stories where the dramatic elements
involve cheating – especially when it’s treated in a blasé manner. The trailer
didn’t make the best impression with me in that regard. It’s just not my cup of
tea. I feel like I could trudge through that, for the most part, if the comedy
and the rest of the story have a good enough payoff. I’m willing to give it a
chance, at least. Maybe I Do will
have a limited theater release. Digital rental and streaming details are
unavailable at this time. 18 - The Seven Faces
of Jane (1/13)
Production/Distribution:
Superconductor, Gravitas Ventures Directors: Julian
Acosta, Xan Cassavetes, Gia Coppola, Ryan Heffington, Boma Iluma, Gillian
Jacobs, Ken Jeong, Alex Takacs Writers: Julian
Acosta, Xan Cassavetes, Ben Del Vecchio, Ryan Heffington, Tran Ho, Boma Iluma,
Nick Iwataki, Gillian Jacobs, Antonio Macia, Alex Takacs, Kaydee Volpi Actors: Gillian
Jacobs, Joel McHale, Sybil Azur, David Balcorta, Sergio Calderón, Angelina
Capozzoli, Lupe Carranza, Kamori Clark-McGeoy, Daniela Hernandez, Kevin L.
Johnson Jr., Leticia LaBelle, Paris Nicole, Chido Nwokocha, Emanuela
Postacchini, Joni Reiss, Anthony Skordi, Soledad St. Hilaire, Breeda Wool Genre: Drama Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 32min IMDb Blurb: Its protagonist is Jane (Jacobs), who finds
herself tumbling through a gauntlet of surreal, beautiful and heartbreaking
adventures. After dropping off her daughter at a summer camp for the first
time, and encouraging her reticent child to engage in new experiences, Jane
finds herself heeding her own advice. The Seven Faces of
Jane’s trailer was intriguing. It reminded me a bit of Look Both Ways (2022), which we reviewed back in August of this
past year. This production, however, strikes me more like it could be closer to
an anthology – given the number of directors and writers attributed to the
film. That wasn’t entirely clear in the trailer, however. Even if it isn’t an anthology, the concept is interesting. This
is also the debut feature-length film where Ken Jeong (Occupation: Rainfall, Extinct, Murderville) has a directorial
credit. I’m curious how that will turn out, and whether his comedic voice will
shine through to elevate the drama. Single genre drama just isn’t what I’ve been craving lately,
and thus its placement. The Seven Faces of
Jane is set to have a limited release theatrical run and will also be
available right away through digital rental services. 17 – Last Resort (1/6)
Production/Distribution:
Eloïse Films, Saban Films Director: Jean-Marc
Minéo Writer: Jean-Marc
Minéo Actors: Alex
Santi, Angelina Ismalone, Armin Parvin, Clayton Norcross, Jon Foo, Julaluck
Ismalone Genre: Action,
Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 47min IMDb Blurb: Tells the story of a former special forces
soldier who becomes a one-man army when his wife and daughter are taken hostage
during a bank robbery. Last Resort seems
to be a solid action offering. Fans of the genre should look forward to some
cool fight choreography and a story that seems to hit all the right notes to
meet expectations. I can’t say that it’s offering anything shiny and new, but
there’s nothing wrong with a movie you can just turn your brain off to enjoy
now and again. Some bad guys have decided to take the wrong hostages during
the bank heist and just wait ‘til the dad mops the floor with the bad guys on
his way in to save the day. It’s a pretty straight-forward recipe. Last Resort is
releasing to digital and on-demand services on 1/10, after it has had a few
days of theatrical release under its belt. 16 - Firenado (1/3)
Production/Distribution:
Dark Abyss Productions, Uncork'd Entertainment
Directors: Rhys
Frake-Waterfield, Scott Jeffrey Writer: Tom
Jolliffe Actors: Sian
Altman, Nicola Wright, Daniel Godfrey, Leah McInnes, Toby Wynn-Davies, Gordon
Joseph Millar, Stuart Falconer Genre: Action,
Disaster, Crime Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 18min Rotten Tomatoes Blurb:
The film, one to rival Geostorm and The
Day After Tomorrow, tells of four scientists that uncover a ground-breaking
technology capable of controlling weather. On the first use of the device, it
malfunctions and creates a Fire Tornado. As the Firenado leaves a wake of
destruction, the group assist in evacuating nearby residents but stumble upon
into an organized crime home invasion. Stuck between a rock and a hard place;
the group struggle to survive the two threats. Okay, so if you’ve tuned in to our monthly trailer streams
here at Trust the Dice, you will likely have heard us discussing Uncork’d
Entertainment as a bit of a little-production-company-that-could sort of
situation. The productions they release aren’t always at blockbuster caliber
but they really get a good one out every once in a while. You likely won’t see
any of these up for Oscar consideration, but you stand a good chance to be
entertained. Firenado quite
possibly could be one of those rare diamonds in the rough. The production value
shown in the trailer seemed pretty good, all things considered. I’m curious as
to how the fiery tornado, the weather experiment, and the heist elements come
together. I’m really rooting for this one – though I wouldn’t go as far as the
film comparisons that the blurb on RottenTomatoes had. Hey, Firenado could surprise us all. Who
knows. Firenado is
releasing to digital on-demand. 15 - Snow Falls (1/17)
Production/Distribution:
Colton Tran Films, Skowl Films, Lionsgate Home Entertainment Director: Colton
Tran Writers: Luke
Genton, Colton Tran, Laura M. Young Actors: Jonathan
Bennett, Patrick Fabian, Victoria Moroles, Anna Grace Barlow, Colton Tran,
Johnny Berchtold, James Gaisford Genre: Horror Rated: R Length: 1h 37min IMDb Blurb: After a winter storm strands five friends in
a remote cabin with no power and little food, disorientation slowly claims
their sanity as each of them succumbs to a fear that the snow itself may be
contaminated or somehow evil. I confess. I have a soft spot for movies that take an old
recipe and twist it up with a new element. The premise of Snow Falls might feel
really familiar because it’s been done before – in a broad sense, at least. The
trailer was giving me serious Cabin Fever
(2002) vibes. The twist, however, is that this situation is dealing with
isolation due to mysterious power outage and heavy snow. This one feels a little on-the-nose for what broad swaths of
the country have been going through this winter with the Arctic blast that came
through and buried parts of the northern states in deadly blizzard conditions.
For those that might feel triggered due to real-life harrowing snowy conditions
– please consider this your warning on this film. The allure and mystery for me regarding Snow Falls centers on the big question – are these young people
just going stir crazy and being psychologically affected in some sort of mass
hysteria sort of way because of being stranded in those conditions, or is
something else going on? The precise midnight power outage and crazy cell phone
interference shown in the trailer, coupled with the concept of ‘what if the
snow has a contagion’ intrigue me. I want to know what’s really going on, so
you can bet I’ll be watching this one as soon as it becomes feasible. Snow Falls is
releasing direct to digital on-demand services. 14 - Jethica (1/13)
Production/Distribution:
Spartan Media Acquisitions, Pretty Ideas Director: Pete
Ohs Writers: Andy
Faulkner, Callie Hernandez, Will Madden, Pete Ohs, Ashley Denise Robinson Actors: Callie
Hernandez, Ashley Denise Robinson, Andy Faulkner, Will Madden, Stephanie Hunt,
Alan Palomo, Ross Yingst, Nican Robinson Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 12min IMDb Blurb: When Jessica's stalker surprises her in New
Mexico, she must seek help from beyond the grave to get rid of him for good. Having a stalker is a terrifying situation. I had a
cyber-stalker once, and it was a horrible experience – and that was back in a
time before social media was a thing. I can only imagine what that sort of
thing would be like now. In-person stalkers are even scarier. Now imagine that your stalker passes and then continues to
harangue you from beyond the grave. You can’t exactly put a restraining order
on a ghost – in a literal sense, at least. I appreciate that Jethica
is approaching this concept with a dark comedy spin. I was entertained by the
trailer and I want to get the answers to how this all started – and what
happened to the stalker to send him to the afterlife. Jethica will have
a limited theater release before landing on the Fandor platform on 2/14. After that,
it is slated to have an exclusive run on Screambox. The exact dates for that
were not immediately available. 13 – Fear (1/27)
Production/Distribution:
Hidden Empire Film Group, Hidden Empire Releasing Director: Deon
Taylor Writers: John
Ferry, Deon Taylor Actors: Joseph
Sikora, Ruby Modine, Andrew Bachelor, Iddo Goldberg, Annie Ilonzeh, Tyler
Abron, T.I., Terrence Jenkins, Jessica Allain, Evan Shafran Genre: Horror Rated: R Length: 1h 40min Rotten Tomatoes Blurb:
A year into living through a worldwide
pandemic, a group of friends gather in the remote Tahoe Mountains, to stay at
the "Historic Strawberry Lodge". What was supposed to be a much
needed getaway and celebratory weekend, quickly turns into a waking nightmare.
As the truth about the historic lodge slowly unravels in front of them, this
group of friends will be pushed to the brink of survival. This Fear shouldn’t
be confused with the 1996 movie of the same name which featured a young Marky
Mark as its antagonist. I had a trip down memory lane when I saw this movie
title, let me tell you. (Not because of the cast, either. One of my favorite
songs came from that soundtrack.) I digress… Focusing on this particular Fear movie, this feels like a pretty straight-forward horror
offering. The cast is respectable, and there’s just enough mystery involved
with the trailer to leave you with a few questions worth watching for the
answers. Aside from that, it feels like it’s generally paint-by-numbers
for horror fans. When you gather in the woods and reveal your darkest fears in
a horror movie, you just know that pretty much everyone in that situation is
going to die horribly. I think most of us can relate to the basic underlying premise
that brings the group of friends together, though. After slogging through this
pandemic, connecting with friends in person has been harder to come by –
especially at the beginning of everything. Our collective consciousness has had
to deal with fears stemming from the global viral situation. I get why they
might want to just have a purge of all of that sort of stuff before trying to
have a fun getaway at a historic lodge. Of course, that’s when all the haunted house stuff sweeps in
to knock everything sideways. Whoops. I’m intrigued to find out the story
behind the lodge and what is lurking beneath the surface of Fear. Fear is releasing
to a limited theatrical run. Details for on-demand or streaming are not
available at this time. 12 - When You Finish
Saving the World (1/20)
Production/Distribution:
CAA Media Finance, Fruit Tree, A24 Director: Jesse
Eisenberg Writer: Jesse
Eisenberg Actors: Julianne
Moore, Finn Wolfhard, Billy Bryk, Alisha Boe, Jack Justice, Jay O. Sanders,
Eleonore Hendricks, Catherine Haun, Annacheska Brown, Sara Anne, Laura-Love
Tode, Mimi Fletcher, Jordyn Aurora Aquino, Monica Sanchez, DezBaa', Kenneth
McGlothin, Jeanette Aguilar Harris Genre: Comedy,
Drama Rated: R Length: 1h 28min IMDb Blurb: Evelyn and her oblivious son Ziggy seek out
replacements for each other as Evelyn desperately tries to parent an unassuming
teenager at her shelter, while Ziggy fumbles through his pursuit of a brilliant
young woman at school. When You Finish Saving
the World’s trailer resonated with me more than I’d like to admit. My mom
and I are a lot alike and that was the source of much head-butting when I was
younger. Awkward family dynamics in dramas tend to make me squirm, but the
comedy woven into this story seems to push past that for me. I actually find
myself wanting to watch this one. Of course, part of that is due to the spectacular cast. I
love Julianne Moore (Bel Canto, The Woman
in the Window, Dear Evan Hansen) and Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Guillermo del Toro's
Pinocchio) and feel they were great choices for these roles. As a little tidbit of trivia, When You Finish Saving the World is an adaptation from the Audible
Original of the same name. Wolfhard is the only actor reprising his role in the
big-screen version. Both the Audible and the screenplay for the film were
penned by Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland,
Vivarium, Resistance). This will also be his directorial debut. I’m
interested to see his vision for this story. When You Finish Saving
the World will have a limited theatrical release. Information regarding
video-on-demand and streaming is unavailable at this time.
11 - The Offering (1/13)
Production/Distribution:
Millennium Media, DECAL Director: Oliver
Park Writers: Hank
Hoffman, Jonathan Yunger Actors: Paul
Kaye, Nick Blood, Allan Corduner, Emily Wiseman, Jonathan Yunger, Velizar
Binev, Nathan Cooper, Anton Trendafilov, Daniel Ben Zenou, Jodie Jacobs, Boyan
Anev, Sofia Weldon, Yonko Dimitrov Genre: Horror Rated: R Length: 1h 33min IMDb Blurb: A family struggling with loss finds
themselves at the mercy of an ancient demon trying to destroy them from the
inside. The trailer for The
Offering was very effective with its ominous tone and really gave me vibes
from the Mortuary Assistant (2022) video
game. Of course the two are technically unrelated. Be that as it may, there are
some thematic similarities with aesthetics and the whole demon-possessed corpse
situation. I concur with Selina’s assertion when we watched the trailer
on-stream that it’s really interesting and a fresh new twist that this story is
being told from a Jewish perspective. Generally possession movies lean towards
general Christianity or Catholicism. This different spin helps elevate this
particular movie’s watchability when the general theme has been covered so many
times before. The Offering is
set to hit theaters for a limited release. Digital on-demand and streaming
details are unavailable at this time.
10 - New Gods: Yang Jian
(1/20)
Production/Distribution:
Bilibili, Light Chaser Animation Studios, Zhejiang Dongyang Xiaoyuzhou Movie
& Media, GKIDS Director: Ji Zhao Writer: Muchuan Actors: David
Chen, Alex Hom, Jason Ko, Liam Kyle, Christine Lin, Nicholas Andrew Louie, Risa
Mei, Max Moreno, Luke Naphat, Kamran Nikhad, David Shatraw, Stephanie Sheh,
Parry Shen, James Sie, Angela Tran, Kai Wang, Jeff Wong, Jimmie Yamaguchi Genre: Action,
Fantasy, Animation Rated: Unrated Length: 2h 7min IMDb Blurb: Fifteen hundred years after the war of gods,
the heaven declined. Yang Jian, the God of Erlang, made a living by working as
a catcher. One day, Yang Jian was ordered to hunt down a young man, his own
nephew. New Gods: Yang Jian
promises to be an action-packed adventure through Chinese folklore. It also
helps that the visuals are absolutely stunning. I have enjoyed other films in
this style and from this production company. I expect this one will also be a
great experience. New Gods: Yang Jian
will be available in both subtitles and dubbed versions for English speakers. (I
didn’t have a chance to research how many languages it will be available in, if
any others.) This latest installment in the New Gods series will have a
limited theatrical run. Streaming and digital on-demand details are unavailable
at this time. 9 - The Old Way (1/6)
Production/Distribution:
Intercut Capitall, Saturn Films, Tri-Fold Pictures, EchoWolf Productions,
Capstone Studios, Saban Films Director: Brett
Donowho Writer: Carl W.
Lucas Actors: Nicolas
Cage, Clint Howard, Abraham Benrubi, Adam Lazarre-White, Dean Armstrong, Kerry
Knuppe, Nick Searcy, Noah Le Gros, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Shiloh Fernandez Genre: Action,
Western Rated: R Length: 1h 35min IMDb Blurb: An old gunslinger and his daughter must face
the consequences of his past, when the son of a man he murdered years ago
arrives to take his revenge. The reason I’m actually really excited to see The Old Way is very simple. This has Nicolas
Cage (The Croods: A New Age, Pig, The
Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) in a traditional western. All of the elements of a typical western genre film are
present. There will be horse riding, gun battles, a quaint town with a local
saloon, law men with shiny badges, and gorgeous landscape vistas. Then add Cage
into the mix. I don’t even know how to process this correctly. I’m giddy. The Old Way falls
under the ‘shut up and take my money’ category for sure. This film will have a
limited theater release and will be available for on-demand rental beginning
1/13. 8 - Plane (1/13)
Production/Distribution:
Di Bonaventura Pictures, G-BASE, Lionsgate, MadRiver Pictures, Olive Hill
Media, Pimienta, Riverstone Pictures Director: Jean-François
Richet Writers: Charles
Cumming, J.P. Davis Actors: Gerard
Butler, Mike Colter, Claro de los Reyes, Daniella Pineda, Evan Dane Taylor,
Joey Slotnick, Paul Ben-Victor, Remi Adeleke, Tony Goldwyn, Yoson An, Lilly
Krug, Tara Westwood, Kelly Gale, Oliver Trevena, Amber Rivera, Ariel Felix,
Quinn McPherson, Jeff Francisco, Jessica Nam, Modesto Lacen, Rose Eshay, Ricky
Robles Cruz, Haleigh Hekking, Angel Fabián Rivera, Heather Seiffert, Kate
Bisset Genre: Action,
Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 47min IMDb Blurb: A pilot finds himself caught in a war zone
after he's forced to land his commercial aircraft during a terrible storm. I don’t feel like there are going to be any surprises with Plane. It’s going to be a turn your
brain off and enjoy some action type of movie. The trailer gave me vibes along the
lines of a mashup of Con Air (1997) and
Rambo (2008). Grab your popcorn and settle in while Gerard Butler (Den of Thieves, Hunter Killer, Greenland)
and Mike Colter (Luke Cage, Black and
Blue, Evil) team up to kick some ass and save some people. Plane is set for a
wide theatrical release. Digital rental and streaming information is unclear at
this time. 7 - Infinity Pool (1/27)
Production/Distribution:
Film Forge, Hero Squared, 4 Film, Celluloid Dreams, Croatian Film Association,
Elevation Pictures, Eurimages, Neon, Topic Studios, Téléfilm Canada Director: Brandon
Cronenberg Writer: Brandon
Cronenberg Actors: Alexander
Skarsgård, Amanda Brugel, Amar Bukvic, Caroline Boulton, Cleopatra Coleman,
Jeff Ricketts, John Ralston, Mia Goth, Roderick Hill, Thomas Kretschmann Genre: Sci-Fi,
Mystery, Thriller, Horror Rated: R Length: 1h 57min IMDb Blurb: James
and Em Foster are enjoying an all-inclusive beach vacation in the fictional
island of La Tolqa, when a fatal accident exposes the resort's perverse
subculture of hedonistic tourism, reckless violence and surreal horrors. What do you get for the wealthy person that has everything?
A body double they can watch receiving punishment like a whipping boy of old,
of course. Things are far deeper and more twisted than that in Infinity Pool. It’s Brandon Cronenberg (Broken Tulips, Antiviral, Possessor) at
the helm, after all. He seems to be leaning into the strange and body horror
that his father’s films are well known for. The first cut of Infinity Pool was so out there that it
initially received an NC-17 rating and had to be re-edited to bring it down to
R. Just let that thought marinate for a moment. Infinity Pool is
going to be one wild ride that horror fans are going to want to be on. Of course, then you have the phenomenal cast involved. Alexander
Skarsgård (Mute, Big Little Lies, The
Northman) and Mia Goth (Everest,
Emma., X) caught my attention here. Infinity Pool is
set for a theatrical release and details of subsequent digital on-demand or
streaming are unavailable at this time. There is a small loophole to that,
however. This year’s Sundance Film Festival is going to be a hybrid event with
in-person and online participation available. Infinity Pool is one of the festival entrants and will be available
online on-demand via the festival for a short window starting 1/24 through the
end of the festival’s run. 6 - Missing (1/20)
Production/Distribution:
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions, Stage 6 Films, Screen Gems Directors: Nicholas
D. Johnson, Will Merrick Writers: Aneesh
Chaganty, Nicholas D. Johnson, Will Merrick, Sev Ohanian Actors: Nia Long,
Storm Reid, Amy Landecker, Daniel Henney, Joaquim de Almeida, Ken Leung, Lisa
Yamada, Megan Suri, Thomas Barbusca, Tim Griffin, Tracy Vilar, Zeke Alton Genre: Drama, Mystery,
Thriller Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 51min Metacritic Blurb:
When her mother (Nia Long) disappears
while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June’s (Storm Reid)
search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of
miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at
her fingertips to try and find her before it’s too late. But as she digs
deeper, her digital sleuthing raises more questions than answers...and when
June unravels secrets about her mom, she discovers that she never really knew
her at all. Missing is said to
be the sequel to Searching (2018). It
doesn’t seem to be a true sequel situation because none of the characters are
shared between the two films, but they are apparently confirmed to be within
the same ‘world’ or ‘universe’ even. I’ve seen some articles online about a
subtle sub-plot that ran in the background of Searching that was somewhat of a ‘blink and you missed it’ sort of
thing. That’s said to be continued into Missing,
though to what degree I’m unsure. (I’m going to need to re-watch Searching to see if I can catch it.) You
won’t need to have watched the first before this one, however. That aside, Missing
is a testament to the online resourcefulness of this current younger
generation. I also really appreciate the framework of experiencing the movie
via the screens in the manner that Searching
started. We’ll get more of that here. I’m curious to find out what the big mystery is and whether
or not the mom is ok. Missing is set for
a theatrical release and digital on-demand and streaming info is not available
at this time. I imagine it will eventually land on Hulu after the 45 day
window, considering this is a Sony film. 5 - The Pale Blue Eye
(1/6)
Production/Distribution:
Cross Creek Pictures, Grisbi Productions Le, Streamline Global Group, Netflix Director: Scott
Cooper Writers: Louis
Bayard, Scott Cooper Actors: Charlie
Tahan, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Christian Bale, Fred Hechinger, Gillian Anderson,
Harry Melling, Lucy Boynton, Robert Duvall, Simon McBurney, Timothy Spall, Toby
Jones Genre: Mystery,
Thriller, Horror, Crime Rated: R Length: 2h 8min IMDb Blurb: A world-weary detective is hired to
investigate the murder of a West Point cadet. Stymied by the cadets' code of
silence, he enlists one of their own to help unravel the case - a young man the
world would come to know as Edgar Allan Poe. It feels like I’ve been waiting for The Pale Blue Eye to release for forever. This was one of the few
films we made an exception for this month. It was in contention or even listed
on a previous Top 20 month. We don’t usually like to repeat, but considering
the scarcity of good material eligible for consideration this month, and the
delay of the Netflix release for The Pale
Blue Eye, here we are. I love Edgar Allen Poe. While The Pale Blue Eye is not derivative of any of his work
specifically, it is an adaptation of a novel that features him as a character. Much
like a movie we reviewed in 2022, it focuses on Poe’s time as a military cadet
and postulates that dark and sinister occurrences during that time helped fuel
the burgeoning writer’s sense of macabre and mystery. Of course, then you take a look at the cast and it’s a
foregone conclusion that The Pale Blue Eye
should be at least an intriguing watch with the likes of Christian Bale (The Big Short, Ford v Ferrari, Amsterdam),
Gillian Anderson (The X-Files, Crooked
House, The Crown), Robert Duvall (Crazy
Heart, Widows, Hustle), Harry Melling (The
Current War, The Old Guard, The Devil All the Time), Toby Jones (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, The
Wonder, Empire of Light), Timothy Spall (Early Man, The Corrupted, The Last Bus), and Lucy Boynton (Don't Knock Twice, Rebel in the Rye,
Bohemian Rhapsody) on board. The Pale Blue Eye
will be available on Netflix. 4 - Shotgun Wedding (1/27)
Production/Distribution:
Mandeville Films, Maximum Effort, Nuyorican Productions, Lionsgate, Amazon
Prime Video Director: Jason
Moore Writer: Mark
Hammer Actors: Jennifer
Lopez, Josh Duhamel, Lenny Kravitz, Cheech Marin, Jennifer Coolidge, Alex
Mallari Jr., Callie Hernandez, D'Arcy Carden, Desmin Borges, Héctor Aníbal,
Melissa Hunter, Sônia Braga, Steve Coulter Genre: Action,
Comedy, Romance Rated: R Length: 1h 40min IMDb Blurb: A couple's extravagant destination wedding
is hijacked by criminals. In the process of saving their families, they
rediscover why they fell in love in the first place. A blend of rom-com and action is actually how I prefer my
romantic comedies. Sometimes they feel less cheesy when there are chases, fight
scenes, and explosions going on. I really enjoyed the trailer for Shotgun Wedding and have been eagerly awaiting its release. I think
Jennifer Lopez (Second Act, Hustlers,
Marry Me) and Josh Duhamel (Night of
the Animated Dead, Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Bandit) have great chemistry
for these parts and both have the range to pull off these characters well. Cheech
Marin (Cars 3, The War with Grandpa, Maya
and the Three) is also in this as well! Shotgun Wedding is
releasing as an Amazon Prime Video original. 3 - M3GAN (1/6)
Production/Distribution:
Atomic Monster, Blumhouse Productions, Divide/Conquer, Universal Pictures Director: Gerard
Johnstone Writers: Akela
Cooper, James Wan Actors: Allison
Williams, Amie Donald, Arlo Green, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jack Cassidy, Jen Van
Epps, Jenna Davis, Kimberley Crossman, Kira Josephson, Michael Saccente,
Natasha Kojic, Ronny Chieng, Stephane Garneau, Violet McGraw Genre: Sci-Fi,
Thriller, Horror Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 42min Moviefone Blurb: A brilliant toy company roboticist uses
artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN, a life-like doll programmed to
emotionally bond with her newly orphaned niece. But when the doll's programming
works too well, she becomes overprotective of her new friend with terrifying
results. What could possibly go wrong with a life-size AI doll? I have a feeling we’re going to find out the precise answer
to that question in M3GAN. That doll
is horrifyingly creepy – even when it’s just standing there and not ganking
people. I’m telling you, stuff like this is what’s going to make the
‘rise of the machines’ happen eventually. Let’s’ all take this as a cautionary
tale, yes? I’m excited to see the mayhem unfold. M3GAN is set to creep out audiences on the big screen in a
theatrical release. Details for digital on-demand and streaming aren’t
available at this time. 2 - House Party (1/13)
Production/Distribution:
New Line Cinema, SpringHill Entertainment, The Hideaway Entertainment, Warner
Bros., HBO Max Director: Calmatic
Will Writers: Stephen
Glover, Jamal Olori Actors: Allen
Maldonado, Andrew Santino, Anthony L. Fernandez, Aviel Ayoung, Bill Bellamy,
Bottara Angele, Chinedu Unaka, Christopher Wolfe, D.C. Young Fly, Jacob
Latimore, Jason Toler, Karen Obilom, Lester Purry, Maria Arroyo, Melvin Gregg,
Michael Heidemann, Nakia Burrise, Olivia Sky, Paris Nicole, Ren Burttet,
Rotimi, Shakira Ja'nai Paye, Tamera Kissen, Tosin Cole, Trevion Twosifix
Pleasant Genre: Comedy Rated: R Length: 1h 40min Metacritic Blurb:
Aspiring club promoters and best buds
Damon and Kevin are barely keeping things together. Out of money, down on their
luck and about to lose the roofs over their heads—and freshly fired from their
low-lift jobs as house cleaners—the pair needs a huge windfall to make their
problems go away. In a ‘what the hell?’ move, they decide to host the party of
the year at an exclusive mansion, the site of their last cleaning job, which
just happens to belong to none other than LeBron James. No permission? No
problem. What could go wrong? I’ve been hearing about this new House Party movie for a while now. My initial feelings were mixed,
given that there were already 5 movies in the franchise that Kid N’ Play
started back with the original in 1990. However, with this reboot, we’re
getting a new and more updated take on the story without re-hashing what’s gone
on in the past. The concept of this House
Party incarnation is actually a great setup for a hilarious movie and I
have found myself actually really excited to see it. The cameos alone make this
film worthwhile – and that allegedly includes the OGs Kid N’ Play popping in to
the party. I’m also a bit giddy as a Whovian that Tosin Cole (Unlocked, Pirates, Till) is one of the
leads here. I don’t remember seeing him in much until he crossed my path on Doctor Who (2005-) as a companion of the
13th Doctor from 2018-2021. I digress… House Party was
originally set to be released directly to HBO Max, however with the recent
merger with Discovery, the studio decided to give the film a theatrical run.
You can bet it will land on the streaming platform after the now customary 45 day
window. I wasn’t able to locate on-demand details at this time. 1 - Operation
Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (1/12)
Production/Distribution:
Miramax, STX Films, Tencent Pictures Director: Guy
Ritchie Writers: Ivan
Atkinson, Marn Davies, Guy Ritchie Actors: Aubrey
Plaza, Bugzy Malone, Cary Elwes, Conor MacNeill, Eddie Marsan, Eugenia Kuzmina,
Hugh Grant, Jason Statham, Josh Hartnett, Kaan Urgancioglu, Lourdes Faberes,
Max Beesley, Peter Ferdinando, Sam Douglas Genre: Action,
Comedy, Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 54min IMDb Blurb: Special agent Orson Fortune and his team of
operatives recruit one of Hollywood's biggest movie stars to help them on an
undercover mission when the sale of a deadly new weapons technology threatens
to disrupt the world order. We’ve finally reached my #1 pick for January of 2023. “Finally”
is also the appropriate word when it comes to Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. I’ve been chomping at the bit
for this movie to be released for well over a year now. I really don’t know why
it got delayed, but here we are. There were hints at the time This was another of our exceptions this month, because Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre was
actually listed on a prior Top 20 – but that was back in March
of 2022. It was my #5 pick that month. Most of what I said can be
summarized by an excerpt from that article entry: “When you put Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes, Aladdin, Wrath of Man)
and Jason Statham (The Expendables,
Redemption, The Meg) together, magic happens.” There’s so much more to love about Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. I wish it were available now
rather than having to wait for mid-month. There will be a theatrical release
followed by HBO Max after 45 days. Digital on-demand information is not
available at this time, but I can imagine they’ll want to get this one out
there sooner than later considering how long its been on the shelf.
