Bryan Cranston Battles the Blacklist in 'Trumbo'

It must almost be Oscar season. We're starting to get trailers for the fall movies every day now, and that means a deluge of biopics about important people, right? In this one Bryan Cranston stars as the blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who wrote dozens of Hollywood movies in the 1950's that he was never given credit for until decades later. It looks a bit like an HBO movie to me, but the story is interesting, since there haven't really been too many films that explored the wild scandal of the Hollywood blacklist in the '50's. The House Un-American Activities Committee's dogged pursuit against Hollywood remains somewhat underknown history to a lot of people.

First Trailer for 'The Hateful Eight' Shows Off a Great Cast

After plenty of poster and picture leaks, we finally get the first trailer for Quentin Tarantino's new western, The Hateful Eight. What can I say, other than that it looks like a Tarantino movie? Actually, I get the feeling this is going to be one of his talkier ones, with most of it set in the one cabin room and lots of dialogue, if this teaser is anything to go by. I hope Jennifer Jason Leigh's part isn't silent though, as looks like might be the case. Hateful Eight is coming out on Christmas Day, so set your calendars.

New 'Jem and the Holograms' Trailer Adds a Robot

So I guess this is meant to target fans of the old show, but boy does it look terrible. Sorry guys, this movie just isn't for me, and the wobbly little robot guy doesn't make things better. It also seems to disrupt the flow of the movie, which kinda looks like a coming of age teenage girl thing, but then suddenly there's a friendly robot in the mix? Um, wtf? Yeah, not here for this.

Blu-Ray Pick of the Week: "The Knick" Season 1 (2014)

Honestly, I didn't like many of the movies that came out on blu-ray this week, so I'm recommending this series instead, which was ten episodes in its first season for Cinemax (a channel not a lot of people have) and all directed by Steven Soderbergh, who gives the season a distinct visual and cinematic flourish. It can be pretty graphic at times, but it's an enthralling look at medical practices at the turn of the twentieth century, as a group of doctors at the Knickerbocker hospital come to terms with the rapid changes in medicine right as it's coming down the pipeline. Clive Owen is the star, but Andre Holland is just as compelling as the only black doctor in the hospital at a time when that was dangerous and rare. Catch up before Season 2, which premieres on October 16th.

Season 1 Trailer:

Jennifer Jason Leigh on the Front of the New 'Hateful Eight' Poster

Another new poster for Tarantino's latest is the coolest one, with Jennifer Jason Leigh front and center- I hope she's the lead of the film, although I've heard she's more of a supporting role. Still, it's been a long time since she's been prominently featured in anything, so maybe this is the comeback role for her that Quentin Tarantino has shepherded for so many other actors.

Elle Fanning is a Transgender Teen in 'About Ray'

Boy, the last year and a half or so has really seen the trans community come to light like never before, hasn't it? You can probably point directly to Caitlyn Jenner, Laverne Cox and Transparent for leading the way. Here's another film that gives a major acting challenge to Elle Fanning as a teen in transition, with Naomi Watts, Susan Sarandon and Tate Donovan on board as well. About Ray comes out on September 18th.

Vin Diesel is Bearded and Immortal in 'The Last Witch Hunter'

Boy, does this look like a mess. Goofy costumes, bad special effects at every turn, and random appearances by Elijah Wood and Michael Caine making long, humorless, on the nose speeches about the "very serious" events. What's worse is that it all looks played perfectly straight instead of embracing the camp, as obviously should have been required by this insane material. Yikes.

Brangelina Teams Up for 'By the Sea'

When I first heard about this Angelina scripted and directed movie, my first thought was that it'd be a self-indulgent vanity project. Nothing about this teaser makes me think otherwise. Self-consciously pretentious and artsy- sounds about right for something Jolie was in charge of. Anyway, it comes out in November for people who've been dying to see them together since Mr. and Mrs. Smith.