Category: Movies

It fills me with so much energy and excitement and enthusiasm when I watch an incredible film. Sometimes you can tell from the first few minutes that a film is going to be amazing. There’s just something about the filmmaking and opening scenes that shows how massively talented and in control the filmmaker is, and as the rest of the film plays out, it only gets better and better. Jennifer Kent’s new film The Nightingale is phenomenal, one of the best films of the year. I don’t even think the word “masterpiece” can do it justice, it’s such a riveting, enlivening, extraordinary cinematic creation that it’s worthy of more rigorous lingo and more thorough praise. I loved every last second of it — and I mean LOVED it — and the film features two of my favorite performances of the year. It’s also an important, affecting film that addresses racism and sexism head on, showing that we haven’t changed much in 200 years but we can – and will – through compassion. ›››

Continue Reading Venice 2018: Jennifer Kent’s ‘The Nightingale’ is a Phenomenal Film

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“What are we doing?” “How’s this going to end?!” Roadside Attractions has revealed a second teaser trailer for a holiday-themed, hilarious poltical comedy titled The Oath, the feature directorial debut of actor-writer-comedian Ike Barinholtz. Barinholtz also stars in this as Chris, married to a woman named Kai, as played by Tiffany Haddish. The film is set around Thanksgiving time and is about a controversial White House policy that turns family member against family member. Described as a “savagely funny dark comedy about surviving life and Thanksgiving in the age of political tribalism.” Bring it on and all the savagery. The cast includes Billy Magnussen, John Cho, Meredith Hagner, Carrie Brownstein, Nora Dunn, Jon Barinholtz, Chris Ellis, and Priah Ferguson. The first teaser was great, but this one is even better, even though they’re still holding back it seems. Looking forward to seeing what this is really about later this fall. ›››

Continue Reading Second Trailer for ‘The Oath’ Starring Ike Barinholtz & Tiffany Haddish

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“Life comes down to these moments…” A teaser trailer has debuted for an indie film titled Teen Spirit, the feature directorial debut of actor Max Minghella. The film is premiering at the Toronto Film Festival this month, which is why this trailer is being released – in hopes of bringing some extra attention to it. Set in the world of pop-music, Teen Spirit is a universally heartwarming story about growing up, dreaming big, and finding your voice. Violet, played by Elle Fanning , is a shy teenager living in the Isle of Wight who dreams of pop stardom as an escape from her small town and shattered family life. The cast includes Zlatko Buric, Agnieszka Grochowska, Clara Rugaard, Archie Madekwe, Ursula Holliday, Jordan Stephens, Millie Brady, and Rebecca Hall. Not sure what to make of this yet, but they definitely got my attention. ›››

Continue Reading Teaser Trailer for Max Minghella’s ‘Teen Spirit’ Starring Elle Fanning

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Surprise – it’s a family! “You’re just another white lady who wants to adopt charity orphans to make you feel good about yourself!” Paramount Pictures has debuted an official trailer for a comedy titled Instant Family, the latest movie by Sean Anders (of Sex Drive, That’s My Boy, Horrible Bosses 2, Daddy’s Home 1 & 2). Instant Family is inspired by the real events from the life of writer/director Sean Anders, telling the story of a couple that find themselves in over their heads when they adopt three children. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Octavia Spencer, Tig Notaro, Isabela Moner, plus Margo Martindale. This looks like an amusing comedy, but the humor doesn’t seem that smart to me. Watch the trailer below. ›››

Continue Reading Mark Wahlberg & Rose Byrne in Full Trailer for ‘Instant Family’ Comedy

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“What a time to be alive!” Orion Pictures has debuted the new full-length trailer for a horror comedy titled Anna and the Apocalypse, which is a zombie Christmas musical. Here’s the plot: a girl and her friends must fight – and sing – their way through a zombie invasion to reach the supposed safety of their school, not knowing if their parents and friends will still be alive when they get there. There’s a bunch of original songs in this that are quite amusing and clever, even if they’re not the catchiest. Starring Ella Hunt as Anna, along with Malcolm Cumming, Sarah Swire, Christopher Leveaux, Ben Wiggins, Marli Siu, and Mark Benton. I saw this at the Sitges Film Festival last year and wrote a great review, which is quoted in this trailer (huzzah!). Orion is releasing this awesome horror musical in theaters this December, just in time for the holidays, which is just about perfect timing. Hopefully people go see this movie. Take a look below. ›››

Continue Reading Bloody Trailer for Zombie Christmas Musical ‘Anna and the Apocalypse’

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Time for a taste of some Danish mystery. Zentropa Entertainment has debuted the full official trailer for a Danish thriller titled The Purity of Vengeance, originally titled Journal 64. This film is about a series of mysterious disappearances in 1987 that are all eerily connected to the same person. The investigative thriller follows Carl Mørck and Assad from Department Q, who try to figure out how a bunch of dead bodies are connected and who’s behind everything. The Purity of Vengeance stars Fares Fares, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Nicolas Bro, Anders Hove, Søren Pilmark, and Elliott Crosset Hove. This looks very cool, a bit like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo films or even Fincher’s Se7en, but with some unique twists. I am curious to see more footage from this and check it out whenever it hits theaters outside of Denmark. Dig in. ›››

Continue Reading Official Trailer for Danish Mystery Thriller ‘The Purity of Vengeance’

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“I have prayed every night that he would escape…” Universal has debuted the second official trailer for the new take on the Halloween horror franchise, titled simply Halloween – in theaters this October. This highly anticipated sequel brings back Jamie Lee Curtis, who starred in the original 1978 film by John Carpenter as high school student Laurie Strode. At the helm of this Halloween movie is filmmaker David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express, Your Highness, Prince Avalanche, Joe, Stronger), who co-wrote the screenplay with Danny McBride. The cast of this new one also includes Judy Greer, Virginia Gardner, Will Patton, Toby Huss, Miles Robbins, Jefferson Hall, Haluk Bilginer, Andi Matichak, with Nick Castle (who also starred in the original 1978 film) as Michael Myers. This is an intense trailer, I love the footage they use – freaky shots all over, smart cuts, and powerful as hell. You have to see this new trailer. ›››

Continue Reading Intense Second Trailer for David Gordon Green’s ‘Halloween’ Sequel

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“Most people don’t realize: there are troubled realms within our world… And you hold the key to their secrets…” Disney has released one final official trailer for their new live-action take on a classic story – The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. Going back to the original concept based on the E.T.A. Hoffmann story, this one has a darker side and seems to be a mix of Alice in Wonderland and Chronicles of Narnia involving a big war between realms. Starring Mackenzie Foy as Clara, who gets lost in other worlds where she finds gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice. Also starring Keira Knightley, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Matthew Macfadyen, Miranda Hart, Ellie Bamber, and Jack Whitehall. This looks intensely CGI heavy, with tons of crazy imaginative worlds and fanciful action and characters. This is the best trailer of all of them they’ve released, but I’m still not sure if this movie is going to be any good. Enjoy. ›››

Continue Reading Vibrant Final Trailer for Disney’s ‘The Nutcracker and the Four Realms’

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“This pressure is part of this business.” Kino Lorber has debuted an official trailer for an indie documentary titled Chef Flynn, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year and also played at the SXSW, San Francisco, Hot Docs, Nashville, Sydney, and Nantucket Film Festivals. Chef Flynn is about a prodigy chef from California named Flynn McGarry, who has been running his own kitchen since he was a child. He’s now in his teens and is planning to open his own restaurant in New York City. But this film tells the story of who he is, and how his parents supported him to follow his dreams, and become the best chef he can be. Pairing his mother Meg’s exhaustive home videos with intimate vérité footage, director Cameron Yates creates a collage of Flynn’s singular focus and one-of-a-kind childhood. This is a “uniquely comprehensive portrait” of a young star’s rise as seen from the inside. I really enjoyed this doc, it’s definitely worth a look. ›››

Continue Reading Official Trailer for Young Master Chef Documentary Film ‘Chef Flynn’

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He’s at it again with more brutal violence. Filmmaker S. Craig Zahler is back at the Venice Film Festival again this year after premiering his film Brawl in Cell Block 99 starring Vince Vaughn last year. His latest is Dragged Across Concrete, a 2-hour-and-40-minute-long slow burn drama about two cops who get into some crazy stuff after they’re suspended from the force. Vince Vaughn and Mel Gibson star as the two police officers, who finish a drug bust at the start, but get in trouble for being a bit too violent to the perp during their apprehension. What follows is an extremely slow burn film that builds up with the payoff punch line coming at the very, very end. With this film, Zahler has finally gone a little too far with his slow burn-plus-brutal violence indulgence, and the film comes close to making some shady statements along the way. ›››

Continue Reading Venice 2018: S. Craig Zahler’s ‘Dragged Across Concrete’ is Uber Brutal

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