Category: Movies

“Something is going down in Salem…” This is going to be wild. A teaser trailer has debuted for a film titled Assassination Nation, premiering at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival at Midnight tonight. This is the film that hooked me based on its very short, weird single-sentence synopsis that it’s a “1000% true story” about “how the quiet, all-American town of Salem, absolutely lost its mind.” We all know Salem is where the infamous witch hunt took places in the 1800s, but this one is set in modern times, with the freaky concept of: what if all of our text messages and photos and everything were released to the public for anyone to see. The cast of rowdy youngsters includes Odessa Young, Suki Waterhouse, Hari Nef, Abra, Anika Noni Rose, Colman Domingo, Maude Apatow, Kelvin Harrison Jr., with Bill Skarsgard, Joel McHale, and Bella Thorne. This is a wild trailer and doesn’t reveal much, but I’m still excited to see this. Have fun. ›››

Continue Reading Teaser Trailer for Crazy Sundance Midnight Film ‘Assassination Nation’

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What happens when a bunch of bored young American teens try to pull off an art heist? That’s the premise behind this new film from director Bart Layton, titled American Animals, which just premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Back in 2012, Bart Layton brought his documentary The Imposter to Sundance, and I wrote in my review that it’s “one of those unbelievable true stories you just must see to believe.” American Animals is very similar, thematically, to that film in the way that it’s another almost-unbelievable, can’t-believe-it’s-a-true-story story. But this is about of a group of wacky, free-spirited kids who failed miserably trying to pull off an art heist at a local university in Kentucky. It’s creative and fun, but not that memorable. ›››

Continue Reading Sundance 2018: ‘American Animals’ is a Fun, Unbelievable True Story

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We’re living in a time where art, including cinema, must speak loudly about today’s times, today’s society and what’s happening all around us. It’s not just important social commentary, but a chance to really make us think and ask questions and hold a mirror up to ourselves. One of the best films from the 2018 Sundance Film Festival to do exactly that is a called Blindspotting, from filmmaker Carlos López Estrada making his feature directorial debut. This film is kind of a buddy comedy, about two friends from Oakland, California dealing with the craziness of contemporary times. Half of the film is a hilarious smackdown of hipsters and gentrification, but the other half is a very fresh, bold, in-your-face commentary on society, racism, and the inherent biases that are eroding society these days. I really loved this film, it’s ambitious yet still enjoyable. ›››

Continue Reading Sundance 2018: ‘Blindspotting’ is a Very Fresh, Bold, Modern Comedy

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“I just want to disappear.” The first official trailer has debuted for an indie drama from Brazil titled Rust, which is currently premiering at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival this month in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition category. Directed by Aly Muritiba, the film deals with a group of high school teens and a case of sexual abuse that gets even worse when a private video leaks to the entire school. The film specifically focuses on the brewing relationship between teens Tati and Renet, as well as their home lives. The film’s cast is lead by Giovanni de Lorenzi, Tifanny Dopke, Enrique Diaz, and Clarissa Kiste. This looks like a very strong drama from Brazil addressing a very important topic of the times – and how everything gets even crazier when it’s spread among teens in high school. Seems like it’s worth catching at the festival. ›››

Continue Reading First Trailer for Brazilian Teen Drama ‘Rust’ Playing at Sundance 2018

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“Why did you run, Mr. Kelly?” Samuel Goldwyn has unveiled an official US trailer for an Australian racism drama titled Sweet Country, from acclaimed director Warwick Thornton (of Samson & Delilah). This first premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year, and played at the Toronto and London Film Festivals. It also plays at the Sundance Film Festival this month hitting pretty much every big fest. Sweet Country takes place in the Northern Territory of Australia nearly 100 years ago, telling the story of an Aboriginal stockman who shoots a white man and is taken to trial. Hamilton Morris stars, with Sam Neill, Ewen Leslie, Bryan Brown, Thomas M. Wright, and Matt Day. I saw this already in Venice and I liked it, but it’s not my cup of tea – way too dry and slow for me. But other critics seem to be loving it, so it may still be worth your time. ›››

Continue Reading New US Trailer for Warwick Thornton’s Outback Drama ‘Sweet Country’

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“It’s time to live up to the family name.” Wait, what? Is this real? It can’t be, this has to be a joke. A trailer has debuted online for a supposed sequel to the classic Australian comedy Crocodile Dundee, released in 1986 starring Paul Hogan. Everyone knows this one, right? This new film is titled Dundee: The Son of a Legend Returns Home and stars Danny McBride as the new Dundee. Apparently he’s the son of the original Dundee? Named Brian Dundee. And he’s returning home? This movie appeared out of nowhere and there’s no official information available anywhere yet – except for an article from People magazine and an official website with sparse details. Which makes me wonder if this is some elaborate hoax for a new comedy series or TV show or movie or something else that Danny McBride is involved in. My guess is this might be a viral Australia tourism kind of thing, but the trailer is weirdly amusing and worth wathcing below anyway. ›››

Continue Reading Danny McBride in ‘Dundee: The Son of a Legend Returns Home’ Trailer

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“They’ve been waiting for a second chance… waiting for their country to need them again…” Damn Yanks! Crazy Canadians! Fox Searchlight has debuted the new full-length trailer for the long-awaited sequel Super Troopers 2, hitting theaters on April 20th this spring, because of course it opens on 4/20. Makes total sense. This stoner comedy sequels picks up where the first film (released back in 2001) left off and follows the Super Troopers who are tasked with establishing a Highway Patrol station in a border area between the US and Canada. Pretty much everyone is back: Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske, Brian Cox, Lynda Carter, and Marisa Coughlan. The newcomers this time include Emmanuelle Chriqui, Rob Lowe, Tyler Labine, Will Sasso, and Hayes MacArthur. As expected, this looks totally nuts and ridiculous, but still hilarious. Light up that blunt, kick back, and enjoy. ›››

Continue Reading Official Full-Length Trailer for ‘Super Troopers 2’ Pits USA vs Canada

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“I know how to communicate ideas – that’s really why I win.” A trailer has debuted for a documentary titled Science Fair, premiering at the Sundance Film Festival – which kicks off today in Park City, Utah. As the title indicates, this is a doc about going to the big “science fair” – specifically the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (or Intel ISEF). The film profiles nine different high school students from all around the world who must “navigate rivalries, setbacks, and hormones on their quest to win the international science fair. Only one can be named ‘Best in Fair.’” This looks like a very fun, inspiring, enjoyable look at the world of science fairs. It reminds me of October Sky, one of my favorite films involving a science fair. I’m most interested to see the kids from foreign countries who make it in, seems like that’s the bigger challenge. ›››

Continue Reading First Fun Trailer for Inspiring Doc ‘Science Fair’ Premiering at Sundance

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Another year, another Sundance. There’s no place I’d rather be. I’m so so happy to be back again. This is my 12th year in a row returning to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, and I’m totally ready to jump in and start watching films. I’ve written so many of these introductory posts over the years, and I’m well aware that I usually just keep saying the same things over and over. But really, it’s how things are at the start. It’s all fresh – we have no idea what we’re about to see, we don’t really know which films will be good or bad, we don’t know what we’ll discover, we don’t know what we’ll end up loving (or hating) by the end. It’s exciting to be here, nervously waiting for the doors to open and the projectors to fire up. Let’s go watch some films. ›››

Continue Reading Back to Park City, Time to Discover Unforgettable Films & Filmmakers

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“What are you doing here, Lara?” Warner Bros has released the second trailer for the new Tomb Raider movie, based on the popular video game series about adventurer Lara Croft. This trailer is a bit better than the first one, thankfully, so fire it up and take a look. Swedish actress Alicia Vikander stars as Lara Croft, playing a young woman living in London who decides to travel to a mysterious island in an attempt to figure out what happened to her eccentric adventurer father. The cast includes Hannah John-Kamen, Walton Goggins, Dominic West, Daniel Wu, and Alexandre Willaume. This new trailer actually promises an entertaining movie, with some badass action and thrilling mystery. Yes, it’s a big Hollywood movie but at least it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a disaster. I’m honestly really looking forward to this now. Dive in. ›››

Continue Reading Second Trailer for ‘Tomb Raider’ Starring Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft

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