Author: dpugh007

It all began in 2015. After seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens, we started messaging each other furiously. For nearly two weeks there was non-stop chatter – on theories, ideas, things to look for, things we noticed, fleeting thoughts, any- and everything related to the movie. Two years went by, and after many many more text message debates like this, Mike and I decided to launch a podcast so we could just talk directly about everything. So in December of 2017, with the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, we launched The First Word Podcast – in-depth discussion, analysis, and interviews about the latest movies, and some old ones, too. We just released our 10th episode this week, so it’s time for a recap of all the episodes so far. You know, in case you might’ve missed one. Or maybe you’ve never listened? There’s no better time to start than now. ›››

Continue Reading Listen Now! The First Word Podcast EP – 10 Eps from Our First Album

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“My Lady, they’re ready for you.” eOne UK has revealed the first official trailer for a court drama titled The Children Act, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last year. The film’s title is a reference to a particular law in England: “When a court determines any question with respect to the upbringing of a child, the child’s welfare shall be the court’s paramount consideration.” The film stars Emma Thompson as an eminent high court judge, who is asked to rule on the case of Adam, a brilliant young boy who is refusing a life-saving blood transfusion on religious grounds. The cast includes Fionn Whitehead, Stanley Tucci, Ben Chaplin, Jason Watkins, Rosie Cavaliero, and Nikki Amuka-Bird. This looks like a compelling film that deals with a complex issue, not only about ethics and law, but humanity and survival and life itself. ›››

Continue Reading Emma Thompson in First Trailer for Court Drama ‘The Children Act’

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“Oooh this is going to be a long semester.” Universal has released a second official trailer for the comedy Night School, which is actually being released in the fall even though this feels much more like a summer comedy. The film stars two of the biggest comic actors of the moment, Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish, and is about a group of troublemakers who are forced to attend night school in hopes that they’ll pass the GED exam to finish high school. Doesn’t seem funny to me, but they’re not making this film for me, I guess. The full cast of Night School includes Keith David, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Rob Riggle, Taran Killam, and Romany Malco. This trailer isn’t much better than the first trailer at all, and still makes this look quite awful. This kind of stupid comedy just makes me eyes roll, but what can you do. Have fun – if you can. ›››

Continue Reading Second Trailer for Dumb Comedy ‘Night School’ with Hart & Haddish

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“I wonder, I wonder, what you would do if you had the power to dream at night any dream you wanted to dream.” Future Park has debuted a trailer for an intriguing indie film titled Zen Dog, which is actually not about a dog (unfortunately). Zen Dog premiered at the Raindance Film Festival in the UK back in 2016, and played at a few fests last year, but it is only now getting a release some two years later. Trapped by daily routine, a man experiences complete freedom by dreaming himself across the country in a psychedelic VW with the guiding words of philosopher Alan Watts. Zen Dog stars Kyle Gallner as Mud, along with Adam Herschman, Celia Diane, Clea DuVall, and Devin Finch. This looks a bit too odd and too psychedelic to be good, but I am most curious about the Alan Watts recordings used in the film as a guide. Check it out. ›››

Continue Reading New Trailer for Weird Lucid Dreaming Film ‘Zen Dog’ with Kyle Gallner

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“One night in the lives of ten unforgettable people…” Global Road has released another new trailer for the action film Hotel Artemis, arriving in theaters next week. This new trailer is a bit different than the other two we’ve seen – it’s a retro trailer with grain, bad fades, and everything, introducing all 10 of the different characters rather than focusing on the plot. Set in riot-torn, near-future Los Angeles, Jodie Foster plays “The Nurse”, a nurse who runs a secret, members-only emergency room for criminals known as “Hotel Artemis”. The ensemble cast for this “stylish, high-octane action-thriller” includes (as seen in this trailer): Sterling K. Brown, Sofia Boutella, Jeff Goldblum, Brian Tyree Henry, Jenny Slate, Zachary Quinto, Charlie Day, and Dave Bautista. I like when studios try something different with trailers, even if it’s the cliche “retro” trailer, it’s still cool to see them do something that isn’t the same as always. Enjoy it. ›››

Continue Reading Grungy Retro Trailer for ‘Hotel Artemis’ Introduces All the Characters

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“The world is strange…” Indican Pictures has released a trailer for a funky indie film titled Poor Boy, from filmmaker Robert Scott Wildes. This actually premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and New Hampshire Film Festival back in 2016, but it has been waiting for a release and is finally going to hit a few cinemas this year. Poor Boy is about two misfit redneck brothers who run various cash scams in the desert dreaming of getting out. When the bank threatens to repossess their junky home in the Nevada desert, they “cook up an epic con to finally leave their dusty town behind and sail off into the sunset.” Lou Taylor Pucci and Dov Tiefenbach star as the two brothers, and the cast includes Justin Chatwin, Amanda Crew, Pat Healy, Amy Ferguson, Dale Dickey, plus Michael Shannon as a sad rodeo clown. This looks a bit too insane. ›››

Continue Reading Michael Shannon is a Sad Rodeo Clown in New Trailer for ‘Poor Boy’

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“What did you do this time, Samantha?” Those pesky computer viruses! Always causing chaos. But not like this, never like this! Eldritch Code is an excellent, nerdy, Lovecraftian short film made by filmmaker Ivan Radovic, based on a story by Glen Cadigan & Chee from the Cthulhu Tales comic books. The story is about an IT guy who has to stop a computer virus before it gets out of hand and unleashes hell, but this ain’t your regular virus. You’ll see what I mean when you watch it. Eldritch Code stars Martin Hendrikse and Lisa Bearpark. I really dig the uber-geeky 90s vibe, the synth score, and real computer code, which all makes this massively entertaining to watch in a nice 10 minute package. Just don’t download anything suspicious. ›››

Continue Reading Watch: A Computer Virus Unleashes Hell in ‘Eldritch Code’ Short Film

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“How’s it ever going to work?! You’re scared!” FilmRise has debuted a full US trailer for the indie drama Dark River, the latest feature from British filmmaker Clio Barnard (The Selfish Giant, The Arbor). The film stars Ruth Wilson (of The Lone Ranger, Saving Mr. Banks, “Luther”, “The Affair”) as a woman who goes back to her farm in rural England. Following the death of her father, Alice returns to her home village for the first time in 15 years, to claim the tenancy to the family farm she believes is rightfully hers. She ends up in a stressful fight with her brother, played by Mark Stanley. The cast includes Sean Bean, Shane Attwooll, Steve Garti, and Una McNulty. This is a superb trailer that will make you curious to see this, with lovely music and strong performances. It’s the same as the UK trailer, but we’ve added posters below. ›››

Continue Reading Ruth Wilson & Mark Stanley in Official US Trailer for Indie ‘Dark River’

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“If you see the girl, it mean it’s nearby.” Well Go has released a new official US trailer for a psychological horror film from Korea titled The Mimic. This is the latest feature made by director Huh Jung (Hide and Seek) and it plays with a twisted ghost story concept based on Korean folk lore. The story follows a family that takes in a lost girl they find in the woods, but she doesn’t seem to even be human. It’s based on the idea of the Jangsan Tiger, who mimics human voices to lure them close. The Mimic stars Yum Jung-Ah, Park Hyuk-Kwon, Heo Jin, Lee Jun Hyeok, and Shin Rin-Ah. This does look eerie and somewhat creepy, but this trailer doesn’t make it very clear where it’s all going. Is there really a monster, or is it just the girl? ›››

Continue Reading US Trailer for Creepy Korean Horror ‘The Mimic’ Directed by Huh Jung

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“Who does a thing like this?” Magnolia Pictures has debuted an official US trailer for the indie dark comedy Under the Tree, one of the few films from Iceland made every year. The film premiered at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals last year, and played at a number of other fests. It will be released in US theaters this July. When Baldwin and Inga’s next door neighbours complain that a tree in their backyard casts a shadow over their sundeck, what starts off as a typical spat between neighbours in the suburbs unexpectedly and violently spirals out of control. The film stars Steinþór Hróar Steinþórsson, Edda Björgvinsdóttir, Sigurður Sigurjónsson, Þorsteinn Bachmann, and Selma Björnsdóttir. I watched this and it’s such a depressing film, despite good intentions. It’s very well made but just too sad by the end. Take a look below. ›››

Continue Reading Official US Trailer for Dark Comedy Film ‘Under the Tree’ from Iceland

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