After a long stint as a paycheck director in Hollywood with movies like Thor, Cinderella and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Kenneth Branagh has finally gotten back to something that might get taken a bit more seriously this year. A black and white look back at Ireland in the late 1960’s from a child’s point of view (his own, as this is an autobiographical film). Looks lovely and we’ll be hearing how it plays when it screens at the Telluride film festival this weekend. Also, good for Outlander’s Caitriona Balfe and The Fall’s Jamie Dornan (yes I know most people know him from 50 Shades, but I don’t acknowledge those), who both look good in this.
Final 'No Time to Die' Trailer Promises Action and Familiar Faces
This is probably the best trailer for this movie yet, which is good because it’s definitely, finally coming out soon- October 8th (feels like it’s been thirty years since we were supposed to see this). This is the most streamlined trailer for it that doesn’t make the movie look like it’s suffering from overstuffed plot elements involving past characters that don’t need to be there (though I still maintain both Lea Seydoux and Christoph Waltz don’t in fact, need to be there). But it looks fun and for Craig’s last 007 outing, I hope it’s a good one- if so, it would leave him with the best hit or miss Bond track record since Connery.
Benedict Cumberbatch Stars in Jane Campion's 1st Movie in a Decade 'The Power of the Dog'
I’m so excited for this! Jane Campion is a legend (The Piano, An Angel at My Table) and hasn’t made a feature film in over ten years, since Bright Star (she’s worked on some television shows in that time, like Top of the Lake and its sequel). This film is premiering on Netflix Dec 1st, but is playing virtually all of the film festivals over the next month, so Netflix obviously considers it a major awards player for them. I’d like to see a real trailer, since it’s kind of hard to tell anything from a teaser like this, but it looks good!
Kristen Stewart in a Bad Wig Looks Nothing Like Princess Diana in 'Spencer' Teaser
Why you would cast someone who’s 8 inches shorter and has the complete opposite head/face shape of the extremely famous person they’re playing is a mystery to me, but since this movie is clearly Jackie 2.0, maybe Pablo Larrain thought that was part of the irony. At least Natalie Portman looked more like Jackie Kennedy in general. Also, with actual Brit Emma Corrin having just done this on The Crown in a far superior way and set to probably win an Emmy for it next month, it’s just a bad comparison all around.
Penelope Cruz Stars in Pedro Almodovar's 'Parallel Mothers'
Always here for a new Almodovar movie! He very rarely misses. And of course, last year’s Pain and Glory resulted in Antonio Banderas’s first Oscar nomination. This one looks a bit low key but I’m the sure the trailer is hiding things. It comes out Dec 24th. Can’t wait.
The Multiverse is Here in the First Teaser for 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'
Finally, Marvel decides to release the Spider-Man trailer after it leaked online last night. This movie is coming out in December and this is the first look at it! Dr. Strange clearly has a big role (the new Tony Stark as Spidey’s mentor?), but the big news is all the rumors that we’re getting past Spider-Man villains and heroes, and here we at least get Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus confirmed, reprising his role from Spider-Man 2 (still one of the best superhero movies ever). Also a little hint at Green Goblin and maybe more that I missed. No sign of Tobey Maguire yet but I’m sure he’ll be teased in a future trailer if he’s in it. What do you all think?
More Mayhem in New 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' Trailer
Blech. I HATED the first Venom movie and even though I usually check out most of the big movies of the year, I gotta be honest. This one you couldn’t pay me to see. Even this trailer makes my skin crawl. Hate. It’s not funny, it’s just stupid and gross. Also, it was delayed for the 7000th time by the studio, so that it’s now coming out on October 15th, and you know what? The studios just gotta take the hit this year. Clearly we’re not getting out of the pandemic anytime soon, so the truth is there’s not going to be a good time to release a big movie in 2021. Pick a date and stick to it.
Final Trailer for 'Eternals' Shows Off Varying Accents
I don’t know- this doesn’t look that interesting to me overall, but since it confirms that Richard Madden is being allowed to use his regular voice (that sexy scottish accent that made me LOVE him on Bodyguard), I’m seeing it no matter what. That’s the only thing that sells me though. Brian Tyree Henry’s wisecracks seem to exist to assure the audience it’s definitely still a Marvel movie, so don’t worry that’s it going to be too serious or god forbid, different from any of the others.
Lady Gaga and Adam Driver Camp it Up in 'House of Gucci' Trailer
Umm, I’m sorry but is this movie real? It looks to be competing for the title of campiest film ever made, but it’s from Ridley Scott and Adam Driver seems like the only one not in on the joke, so I don’t think it’s intentional. Still, those accents! Could actually be entertaining, but based on this look at it, I’d be shocked if it was good. Also, Jared Leto in this and Colin Farrell in The Batman show that a new trend seems to be casting people who look absolutely nothing like the person they’re playing, so having to reshape their entire face with makeup to pull off the part. Why, exactly? Again, why not cast an actor who fits the look you want?
Will Smith Shoots for the Stars as 'King Richard'
I’d say this looks like another Oscar nomination for Will Smith, his first since The Pursuit of Happyness. He’s actually playing a character here, but the only issue I see is the fact that Richard Williams (Venus and Serena’s dad) was a consultant for this film and the trailer sure makes that obvious. He’s clearly going to be lionized in a sanitized, heroic biopic, when I’ve heard the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. That will definitely cause some controversy.
Nostalgia Runs Amok in New 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' Trailer
First of all, I keep forgetting this movie still hasn’t come out yet. But second, this is clearly not a remake or even a reboot, it seems more like a loving shrine to the original movie? So weird. It doesn’t even seem like a comedy. I guess that means it’s intended for the audience who saw the original movie and yet at the same time it’s going for sort of a Stranger Things vibe? I don’t know. The whole thing seems off. But, it looks like they maybe got Bill Murray to show up after all.
See the Epic New 'Dune' Trailer
Dune is now premiering at the Venice Film Festival and the trailer makes it look quite impressive, but since it’s WB, it will also be premiering on HBO Max the same day, much to director Denis Villeneuve’s consternation. This one may be worth seeing in a theater (especially because the lighting in this trailer is not so great, and one of my pet peeves is cinematography that thinks it’s cool to not allow you to actually see anything).
