Suffragette premiered at Telluride last night to respectable reviews, especially for the passion of the subject matter, which, having been a film produced, written, directed by and starring women, is kind of hard to knock down. It's being pushed as an awards contender, but its best shot looks to be Carey Mulligan in Best Actress, who's being raved as the best thing about it.
Idris Elba Trains Child Soldiers in Trailer for 'Beasts of No Nation'
Netflix's Beasts of No Nation premiered at Venice the other day, to some very good reviews, although its awards chances are slightly iffier. There seems to be some question as to how rough of a sit it might be, both for general audiences and Academy members. That's not surprising- how could it be when the topic is African child soldiers, right? Yet, I would bet on Elba getting some recognition for acting here- he's supposed to be fantastic and frightening as the commander in charge.
Bond is Back in New Poster for 'Spectre'
The new Spectre poster isn't all that different from many of the Skyfall ones, but there's a cool-looking skeleton in the background, hinting at the big Day of the Dead festival that Bond heads to in Mexico for this new entry. Hopefully Sam Mendes' second crack in a row at a 007 film will live up the high standards that Skyfall set last time around. Spectre is out Nov 6th.
Colin Farrell Seeks Love in 'The Lobster'
This sci-fi romance won the Jury prize at Cannes this year and received stellar reviews, but it doesn't have a release date yet in the U.S., so here's the UK trailer for now, where it's coming out in October. It looks pretty great, I have to say. A high concept premise where the recently dumped Farrell must find a new partner or literally be turned into an animal. Farrell was always better as a character actor than a leading man type, so it's nice to see him in something that matches his actual talents, and the same goes for Rachel Weisz, who showed up in two Cannes films this year, this one and Youth. I hope it gets a release here soon, because I totally want to see it.
Cate Blanchett to Play Lucille Ball in Aaron Sorkin Biopic
All these posts keep bleeding into each other, don't they? Cate Blanchett has just been announced to star in a biopic about Lucille Ball which will be written by Aaron Sorkin, such a powerful writer in Hollywood now that his next films are simply announced with the stars attached, no need for a director yet with it. But this is kind of exciting, first of all, because I do and will watch anything that Aaron Sorkin writes, and Lucy of all people getting the big screen treatment?! I can't wait. But Cate Blanchett, huh? Not sure if I can see it, even though she's obviously a great actress who's done some good impressions before (Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator, Bob Dylan in I'm Not There).
This is another one like those, a very universally known figure whose image, mannerisms and personality are still out there for anyone to see. You think she's up to the challenge? My pick for Desi Arnaz, by the way, is Oscar Isaac. It has to happen, people- yes, he's younger than Blanchett, but Desi was younger than Lucy by about six years too, so it could work. What do you think?
New 'Carol' Poster Features Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara
Speaking of Weinstein, we haven't gotten a full trailer for Carol yet, but it's gotta be right around the corner, since it's coming out in the typical sweet spot of November 20th, right in time for Thanksgiving and a prime spot for awards consideration. It'll very likely be in the Oscar conversation after great reviews from Cannes, and I can almost guarantee you that its two actresses will both be nominated. It's really the Weinstein Co.'s only contender this year, so it can expect to get the full backing of the publicity machine, and that's good for director Todd Haynes, who's never been recognized by the Academy despite great movies like Far From Heaven, I'm Not There and Velvet Goldmine on his resume.
New 'Macbeth' Trailer Sells the Action
I don't know about this movie. It looks more like a Ridley Scott epic in the vein of Robin Hood and Kingdom of Heaven than a Shakespeare adaptation. That may be what it amounts to as well, because Harvey Weinstein isn't putting the usual muscle behind it for Oscar consideration, instead placing it in limited release December 4th, despite it having gotten positive reviews (so far) when it premiered at Cannes. I'd say don't get your hopes up to Shakespeare fans on this one.
10 Back-to-School Movies for the Month of September
Happy September, everyone! It's the start of a new month, and even though it's not officially fall, the moment September arrives, it sure does feel like it, doesn't it? This means it's time for a new theme of the month, which is back to school. We have 10 great movies in a school setting to celebrate, including some all time classics like Rebel Without a Cause, To Sir With Love and Carrie, along with modern classics like Clueless, The Social Network and Juno, all of them set in some kind a school, whether it focuses on the students or the teachers. So go to our Movies for Every Month page to read more about the description of the month and click here for th full list of ten films and trailers to kick off Back to School Month. Happy Movie Watching!
Blu-Ray Pick of the Week: "Peter Pan" (1955)
Remember how horrendous last year's Peter Pan Live! was that aired on NBC? Well, you can forget all about that, because the definitive, iconic version starring Mary Martin from 1955 has finally been released on blu-ray. This play broke mass records at the time it was broadcast, for both the 1955 and 56 audiences, and just watching it now you can see how triumphant the legendary Martin was in the role, and why this version remained so beloved for decades. It still works, because you can see the professionalism of the stage actors who'd played their parts on Broadway for years, unlike the ones hired for the live broadcasts now. It's a wonderful musical that will probably still be entertaining for little kids even today. Do them a favor and show it to them, will you?
Original 1956 TV Promo:
Eddie Redmayne Transitions in 'The Danish Girl' Trailer
Oscar alert, guys. Last year's Best Actor winner is almost surely headed for at least another nomination for this new film about the very first person known to have transitioned from a man to a woman. From Tom Hooper, back in King's Speech mode and less the schizophrenic manner in which he directed Les Mis, this luscious looking period film seems made for awards and frankly, looks like it's going to be pretty emotional as well. With two back to back transformative performances like this, Redmayne is certainly building quite the reputation for himself. The Danish Girl is premiering at Venice this week and being released on Nov 27th.
Will Smith Blows the Whistle on NFL Head Injuries in 'Concussion'
Will Smith has attempted to get back to making decent movies again, and in this trailer you are reminded that he really can be a good actor when he tries. The movie is about the doctor who discovered the trauma being caused to football players that was covered up and squashed by the NFL, so if anything I hope this story is enough to bring to light the serious injuries involved and maybe lead to some action being taken. Concussion comes out on Christmas Day.
Wes Craven 1939-2015
Horror movie maestro Wes Craven has passed away after a battle with brain cancer at the age of 76. Responsible for the massively successful Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream franchises, he was a legend of the genre, the creator of Freddy Krueger himself. Getting his start in the early 70's with horror films The Hills Have Eyes, The Last House on the Left, and Swamp Thing, he soon went on to write and direct A Nightmare on Elm Street in 1984, which spawned seven sequels and the crossover film Freddy vs. Jason, although Craven only directed the first film in the franchise and Wes Craven's New Nightmare. He directed all four films in the Scream series, which turned into a 90's phenomenon and ultimately birthed the Scream TV show currently airing on MTV. Other notable credits include the Meryl Streep drama Music of the Heart (1999), and the Rachel McAdams/Cillian Murphy thriller Red Eye (2005).
Original Trailer for A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984):
Original Trailer for Scream (1996):
