Author: dpugh007

“Beauty and truth are to be found everywhere.” Strand Releasing has debuted an official US trailer for the upcoming release of a Brazilian film titled Gabriel and the Mountain, which makes me think of that film The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain, even though the two have nothing in common. Gabriel and the Mountain is a docu-drama hybrid film, mixing fact and fiction, that features real people, places and things. The story follows João Pedro Zappa as Gabriel Buchmann, who decided to travel the world for one year before going to university. After ten months on the road, he arrived in Kenya determined to discover the African continent. Until he reached the top of Mount Mulanje, Malawi, his last destination. Cristina, played by Caroline Abras, is his girlfriend who follows him along. This looks like a deeply spiritual and thoughtful film about how much this amazing world has to offer us. Take a look below. ›››

Continue Reading Official US Trailer for Brazilian Travel Film ‘Gabriel and the Mountain’

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“She’s the most precious thing in the whole world.” Magnolia has unveiled the official trailer for the western comedy Damsel, which premiered at the Sundance and Berlin Film Festivals earlier this year. Made by the Zellner Brothers (of Kumiko the Treasure Hunter), the film is a “loving reinvention of the western genre” that “showcases [the Zellners’] trademark unpredictability, off-kilter sense of humor, and unique brand of humanism.” The story follows a young man who brings a miniature horse to his bride-to-be, only to discover she has plans of her own. Robert Pattinson co-stars with Mia Wasikowska, with a cast includes David & Nathan Zellner, Robert Forster, Joseph Billingiere, Morgan Lund, and Ray Kelleher. The ‘lil horse, named Butterscotch, totally steals the show. One of the best indie comedies from Sundance this year. ›››

Continue Reading Mia Wasikowska & Robert Pattinson in Trailer for the Zellners’ ‘Damsel’

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“A great escape. An incredible true story.” Bleecker Street Media has unveiled an official US trailer for the film Papillon, a remake of the 1973 film Papillon starring Steve McQueen as Henri “Papillon” Charrière. Both films tell the same story of a French safecracker from the Parisian underworld who is framed for murder and condemned to life in the notorious penal colony on Devil’s Island. This film seems to tell his entire life story of how he got there and how he escapes, while the original 1973 film focuses mostly on his time on the island and eventual escape with another prisoner. The cast of this Papillon film includes Rami Malek, Eve Hewson, Roland Møller, Michael Socha, Christopher Fairbank, Brian Vernel, and Ian Beattie. This looks like a thrilling, harrowing prison film that tells a very impressive life story – but I don’t think it will top the original. Not too much buzz out of TIFF last year where it first premiered. Dive in. ›››

Continue Reading First Trailer for ‘Papillon’ Remake with Charlie Hunnam & Rami Malek

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“You have no idea how hard he hit American culture.” Oscilloscope Labs has released the official US trailer for a documentary titled The King, formerly known as Promised Land when it first premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. This doc is the latest made by Eugene Jarecki (The Trials of Henry Kissinger, Why We Fight, Reagan, The House I Live In) who delivers a deeply engaging, uber-intelligent, thoughtful documentary comparing Elvis Presley’s rise & fall over his life to the rise & fall of America. It’s a fascinating, thought-provoking, and considerably entertaining film framed around taking Elvis’ 1963 Rolls Royce around the country to explore the places he frequented. I saw this film in Cannes last year and loved it, one of the most intriguing docs I’ve seen in a while, featuring so much intelligent discussion and discourse. A must see. ›››

Continue Reading New Official Trailer for Eugene Jarecki’s Excellent Elvis Doc ‘The King’

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Every year at the Cannes Film Festival, there are one or two films that I see at the right time and right place for me to suddenly get that visceral feeling where I’m screaming inside about “holy shit I’m at the Cannes Film Festival!!!!!” This year, watching Gaspar Noé’s latest film Climax gave me that feeling, and it was sublime to experience. Noé’s return to Cannes with his latest work came with an immense amount of hype and expectations and buzz, but he’s actually made his least controversial film to date. It’s half a dance film, half a drug-trip horror film and that’s pretty much it, but it’s pure artistic joy and cinematic expression. It’s the kind of film you can only properly experience on the big screen, not because it really needs a big screen, but because it’s the epitome of what great cinema is – the vibrant art and unique magic of visual storytelling. ›››

Continue Reading Cannes 2018: Gaspar Noé’s Dance-Horror ‘Climax’ is Pure Artistic Joy

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“Lock down this boat right away!” Saban Films has debuted an official trailer for another one of these super cheesy action movies titled Black Water, which is the feature debut of a cinematographer named Pasha Patriki. The title of the film relates to the setting of the film – a submarine which is actually a CIA black site (meaning: a secret place where deep, dark things happen). The plot involves a deep cover operative who awakens to find himself imprisoned there, and then eventually discovers another prisoner while attempting to escape. The big selling point is that this stars two big action legends: Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren. The rest of the cast features Al Sapienza, Jasmine Waltz, and Patrick Kilpatrick. This looks as bad as it sounds, even with these two guys in it, but maybe it’s a fun time with friends & beer. ›››

Continue Reading Van Damme & Lundgren in Official Trailer for Action Film ‘Black Water’

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“When you were a cub… I looked you in the eye and saw no fear.” Warner Bros has debuted the first official trailer for the next new Jungle Book movie titled Mowgli, adapted directly from Rudyard Kipling’s novel. This is the new movie directed by Andy Serkis that features hybrid motion capture CGI and live-action, a bit like the other Jungle Book from Disney. And coming from Serkis, the master of motion capture, there’s no doubt it’s going to be amazing. Mowgli stars young newcomer Rohan Chand as Mowgli, with an incredible ensemble cast including Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Naomie Harris, Andy Serkis, Matthew Rhys, Freida Pinto, Peter Mullan, Jack Reynor, Eddie Marsan, and Tom Hollander. I had a feeling this would look good, but I didn’t think it would look THIS good. Wow. I love the opening voiceover from Bale as Bagheera. It may be the same, but I’m up for another telling of this tale. ›››

Continue Reading First Official Trailer for Andy Serkis’ New Jungle Book Movie ‘Mowgli’

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“A murder like that only goes unsolved, if the police don’t want to solve it.” Global Road Entertainment has released the first official trailer for City of Lies, a new investigative thriller from director Brad Furman (of The Lincoln Lawyer, Runner Runner, The Infiltrator). The film is about how the murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious BIG spark an investigation, following an LAPD detective who has spent two decades trying to solve his biggest case. Johnny Depp stars as Detective Russell Poole, and co-stars with Forest Whitaker, a reporter named Jack Jackson. The full cast includes Toby Huss, Dayton Callie, Neil Brown Jr., Shea Whigham, Xander Berkeley, Melanie Benz, Shamier Anderson, Christian George, and Michael Paré. This looks okay, but doesn’t seem like anything more than a standard detective thriller set in LA, even though the crime they’ve investigating is very well knonw. Might have some slick twists and turns. Check it. ›››

Continue Reading Johnny Depp & Forest Whitaker in Trailer for Crime Film ‘City of Lies’

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“You always hurt people that you love!” Netflix has unveiled an official trailer for an anthology film titled Lust Stories, telling four different stories about modern romance and love in India. The film is directed by four major directors: Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar and Dibakar Banerjee. They previously made the anthology film Bombay Talkies in 2013, and this is the follow-up, giving us a look at the trials and tribulations of love in India. The full cast of Indian actors includes Bhumi Pednekar, Neil Bhoopalam, Kiara Advani, Vicky Kaushal, Neha Dhupia, Manisha Koirala, Sanjay Kapoor, Radhika Apte, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Akash Thosar. This doesn’t look that amazing, but I’m curious to see a film about the different sides of love from an entirely different country and culture. Available on Netflix next month. ›››

Continue Reading First Trailer for Anthology Film ‘Lust Stories’ About Romance in India

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Why do I keep doing this? Why do I write reviews, why do I write about films? Why do I even watch films? What is the point of pursuing a creative life when you know that maybe there’s nothing waiting for you at the end – no fame, no fortune, no glory. Why? My favorite films are those that challenge me and stimulate me intellectually, that ask big questions and stoke discussions about existence and society and humanity. The Wild Pear Tree, originally titled Ahlat Agaci in Turkish, is the latest film to do this. It’s the very last film to premiere at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, and they saved the best for last. Acclaimed Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan is a master of words. His dialogue is incomparable, on a whole other level. And he continues to prove this with each and every film he makes. His latest film is one of his best yet, an existential examination of his own fears while taking us on a journey about life focusing on a father and son. ›››

Continue Reading Cannes 2018: Ceylan’s ‘The Wild Pear Tree’ is Profound, Existential Art

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