Category: Movies

There’s something inevitably comedic about a film called The Accountant, especially if that movie is about a cool-blooded CPA with equal penchants of crunching numbers and cracking skulls. My father was a CPA, and I can assure you the thought of him as a ruthless killer in the vein of John Wick is in itself almost laughable. That’s the idea behind this film, The Accountant, though, and the fact that it stars Ben Affleck as the eponymous character certainly goes a long way in helping boost its sincerity. Aid also comes from the commitment from his surrounding cast as well as the film’s ability to notch up the intensity and excitement with an endless stream of cliché-ridden-but-entirely-enjoyable action sequences. If you can get past the cheesiness and forgive it for its by-the-numbers suspense, The Accountant is a thriller worthy of your time. ›››

Continue reading Review: ‘The Accountant’ is Hackneyed, But Still Fun Entertainment

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One Man, One Mission, One Choice. If you haven’t already seen this trailer, it might be worth checking out. Capsule is an indie film about Britain’s first manned mission to space. It’s not actually a true story (as they never sent anyone into space at that time), so this technically counts as “sci-fi”, but considering it plays very much like a real thriller that’s probably how it should be categorized. Edmund Kingsley plays Guy Taylor, the first British pilot ever sent up into space in 1959, but his capsule malfunctions and he starts to suffer from hypoxia (oxygen deprivation). The cast includes Lisa Greenwood, David Wayman, Nigel Barber and Michael Koltes. This looks like a nice contained thriller, there’s just something off about it. See below. ›››

Continue reading Trailer for Indie ‘Capsule’ About Britain’s First Manned Space Mission

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“Life happens. And it sweeps you up, and then you die. That’s it. Stupid really…” Need a good laugh? Watch this short. Curmudgeons is a comedic short film directed by Danny DeVito, starring Danny DeVito and his longtime friend David Margulies as two old “curmudgeons” who meet up again at an assisted living home. The cast includes Danny DeVito’s daughter Lucy DeVito, as well as Sarah Nina Hayon and Kett Turton. It’s a wonderful mix of hilariously crude humor and life lessons being imparted to youngsters, with a sweet side to it that comes out in just the right way. I’m really impressed by this – it’s the kind of film you should watch if you’re feeling sad and need a reminder of what happiness is. Take a few minutes and watch. ›››

Continue reading Watch: Comedy Short Film ‘Curmudgeons’ Directed by Danny DeVito

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“Don’t be scared, we’re all hunters.” Oiffy has debuted a trailer for a very interesting dystopian drama titled The White King, based on the novel of the same name, a reference to chess as well as the actual story. The film is about a care-free 12-year-old boy growing up in a ruthless dictatorship in a dystopian future. His father is suddenly imprisoned as a traitor, and he sets off to try and find him again. Starring Jonathan Pryce, Agyness Deyn, Ross Partridge, Fiona Shaw, and newcomer Lorenzo Allchurch as the boy – named Djata. There’s certainly a bit of The Hunger Games vibe to this, but it also seems like an intriguing story of struggle in a world that purports to be perfect. There are a few really great shots in this, I am sold. ›››

Continue reading International Trailer for ‘The White King’ Starring Lorenzo Allchurch

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“I’m just going ’round in circles.” Sundance Selects + IFC Films have debuted another official US trailer for Ken Loach’s new film titled I, Daniel Blake, which ended up winning the coveted Palme d’Or (the top prize) at the Cannes Film Festival back in May. We posted the UK trailer a few months ago. Dave Johns stars as Daniel Blake, an aging man living in the UK who must file for pension and benefits from the country after losing his job. He befriends a new neighbor, Katie played by Hayley Squires, a single mother having trouble making ends meet. The film has been earning buzz all year as it’s one of the most emotional and provocative looks at how broken bureaucracy is in the UK right now. IFC will be putting this out in theaters in December, just before the end of the year, in hopes that it will find a good audience here in the US, too. ›››

Continue reading Official US Trailer for Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or Winner ‘I, Daniel Blake’

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“I enjoy listening to you.” The Orchard has unveiled a trailer for a quirky romance titled Operator, about a relationship that goes awry when the programmer creates a digital version of his wife’s voice. The indie film stars Martin Starr (from “Silicon Valley” and “Party Down”) and Mae Whitman (seen in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and The Perks of Being a Wallflower), along with Nat Faxon, Cameron Esposito, Retta, Christine Lahti and Kate Cobb. I hate to say it, but this almost seems like a low-rent TV-movie version of Spike Jonze’s brilliant Her, playing on the technology angle and the romance. Maybe there’s something to it, but it didn’t really grab my attention aside from Whitman’s performance (she’s a voice actor in real life, too). ›››

Continue reading Martin Starr & Mae Whitman in Trailer for Call Center Film ‘Operator’

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“What? I wouldn’t let myself be eaten!” Eureka has released an official UK trailer for Japanese director Kôji Fukada’s latest film Harmonium, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this year and won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard category. Harmonium is a slow burn drama about a Japanese family. One review stated “the film’s insights into the isolation evident in the relationships most take for granted – marriages, parent-child connections and long-term friendships – don’t merely hit their targets; they smash them with a sledgehammer.” The cast includes Mariko Tsutsui, Tadanobu Asano, Kanji Furutachi, Kana Mahiro, Takahiro Miura, Taiga, and Momone Shinokawa. This also reminds me of Hirokazu Koreeda’s Like Father, Like Son a bit, but I’m sure it has plenty of insight to offer on its own. Have a look. ›››

Continue reading Watch: Full UK Trailer for Kôji Fukada’s Slow Burn Drama ‘Harmonium’

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“I need the old Blade Runner.” This isn’t exactly new, but it is a fun trailer to watch if you’ve never seen it. Chet Desmond has cut a special “classic film noir” version of the trailer for Ridley Scott’s seminal sci-fi Blade Runner from 1982 starring Harrison Ford. Of course, we all know the film is already very much a noir film, about a detective in the future trying to chase down “Replicant” androids on the run. This is an impressive trailer that brings this all the way back to the olden days of Hollywood, with sepia B&W to top it off. I like the way he made this feel like something completely different, even though it’s still the same sci-fi film we all know (and most of us love). Plus it’s good to look back before the sequel Blade Runner 2049 hits. ›››

Continue reading Classic Film Noir Version of the Trailer for Sci-Fi Noir ‘Blade Runner’

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“If the wickedness pleases you, let the window become a door…” Here’s yet another excellent horror short film to watch. Givertaker, a “Dead Kids Club Story”, is directed by Paul Gandersman, and written by Peter S. Hall, a movie writer who many cinephiles probably know already. In the film, Nell Kessler plays Sarah, a high schooler who decides to get revenge on the people who have been bullying her by asking for help from a mysterious wishing well. This is an impressive horror short that relies more on storytelling and strong performances than any special effects. Though I do really like the look of swirling smoke in the wishing well. There’s also a fantastic old school poster for this short (made by artist Stephen Andrade) seen below. Enjoy. ›››

Continue reading Watch: Fantastic Horror Short ‘Givertaker’ About Bullying & Witchcraft

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“This is our chance to make a real difference.” Disney + LucasFilm have launched the third official trailer for the first Star Wars spin-off movie – Rogue One: A Star Wars Story directed by Gareth Edwards. This is potentially the last trailer we’ll see before release in December. Following the first two trailers, this one contains even more VFX-packed footage and more time with the various characters, including the droid K-2SO. Starring Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso, plus Mads Mikkelsen, Donnie Yen, Ben Mendelsohn, Forest Whitaker, Diego Luna, Jonathan Aris, Riz Ahmed & Alan Tudyk, Rogue One is about a group of rebels who set out on a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. I’m glad they’re still not giving away everything in the footage, but are giving us even more to get excited about. Only two months left to go! ›››

Continue reading Must Watch: Third Trailer Launches for ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’

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