The 2015 shocker THE INVITATION opens Friday at The Chase Park Plaza Cinema (212 Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108). The film’s director Karyn Kusama, a St. Louis native, will be appearing at the Chase Park Plaza Cinema for two showings. She will be introducing the film and taking part in a post-film Q&A with Andy Triefenbach of DestroytheBrain.com SATURDAY, APRIL 23 at 7:20pm and SUNDAY, APRIL 24 at 2:50pm.
Look for Stephen Tronicek’s review of THE INVITATION Thursday night here at We Are Movie Geeks.com
In the taut psychological thriller THE INVITATION, the tension is palpable when Will (Logan Marshall-Green) shows up to his ex-wife Eden (Tammy Blanchard, Into the Woods) and new husband, David’s (Michiel Huisman) dinner party. The pair’s tragic past haunts an equally spooky present: Amid Eden’s suspicious behavior and her mysterious house guests, Will becomes convinced that his invitation was extended with a hidden agenda. Unfolding over one dark evening in the Hollywood Hills, The Invitation blurs layers of mounting paranoia, mystery, and horror until both Will-and the audience-are unsure what threats are real or imagined.
THE INVITATION has been receiving rave reviews:
Michael Phillips at The Chicago Tribune says THE INVITATION is:
“…….an unusually evocative achievement in suspense, and in a brand of cinematic paranoia unique to the hills, canyons and denizens of LA.”
Felix Vasquez Jr. at Cinema Crazed calls THE INVITATION:
“An absolute masterwork mixing horror, mystery, and drama, in to one truly haunting piece of art…”
Ray Pride at Newcity claims:
“Seething paranoia in the form of slow-burn tension marks Karyn Kusama’s scalpel-sharp Hollywood Hills dinner party-gone-wrong chamber drama where agendas overlap and bite.”
Don’t miss THE INVITATION when it plays in St. Louis!
THE QUAY BROTHERS IN 35MM screens this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (April 22nd. 23rd, and 24th) at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 E. Lockwood, Webster Groves, MO 63119). The program begins each evening at 7:30.
Christopher Nolan has launched some of the most ambitious blockbusters of the past decade including INCEPTION, INTERSTELLAR and his Batman trilogy. The filmmaker’s newest project has nothing to do with his own films. Screening this weekend at Webster University, THE QUAY BROTHERS IN 35mm is a dazzling collection of experimental shorts from identical twin stop-motion animators Stephen and Timothy Quay. Curated by Nolan himself, and including his new eight-minute short film, QUAY, the program finds Nolan using his international recognition to shine a spotlight on two of the most visionary animators working in cinema today.
The program consists of Nolan’s 8-minute documentary about the Quays and three shorts by the Brothers Quay:
IN ABSENTIA (2000 – 20 minutes) is a short is set to a nightmarish score by Karlheinz Stockhausen and uses impressionistic black-and-white cinematography to tell the story of a woman trapped inside an insane asylum.
THE COMB (1991 – 18 minutes) stars a cast of battered, blank-eyed dolls who inhabit th erotic dream of a sleeping, live-action actress. Phallic ladders rise and fall through mysterious orifices, fingers flick back and forht in a blurred frenzy, a map to unknown tyerrain is distorted in the background. The woman awakens, having only fleeting memories of this worls. She combs her hair as her mind purges her dream.
STREET OF CROCODILES (1986 – 20 minutes) follows a gaunt puppet who is released from his strings as he explores his bizarre surroundings: rooms full of dark shadows, unexplained machinery, and strange eyeless dolls. Everything has a sense of decay and melacnholy. There is a hint of a plot possibly dealing with sexual tension but really it’s about establishing a mood and a nightmarish and sinister world.
Admission is:
$6 for the general public
$5 for seniors, Webster alumni and students from other schools
$4 for Webster University staff and faculty
Free for Webster students with proper I.D.
Advance tickets are available from the cashier before each screening or contact the Film Series office (314-246-7525) for more options. The Film Series can only accept cash or check.
The Webster University Film Series site can be found HERE
“If I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die historic on the Fury Road!”
MAD MAX FURY ROAD, the best movie of the 21st century so far, screens midnights this weekend (April 22nd and 23rd) at The Tivoli Theater as part of their ‘Reel Late at The Tivoli’ Midnight Series.
Thirty years after writer/director George Miller led us all to believe his Mad Max franchise had run out of gas with MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME, he resurrected the Road Warrior with a larger budget, a bigger crew, and more vehicles to destroy. Well worth the wait, MAD MAX FURY ROAD, released last May, was pure dynamite, with enough wit and ingenuity to put all recent action films to shame. It richly deserved the six Oscars that it won and should have won the other four it was nominated for (especially Best Picture – SPOTLIGHT?!?!?!…..puh…leeeez!)
Not a sequel nor prequel nor reboot, MAD MAX FURY ROAD is simply another installment in the post-apocalyptic chronicles of Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy replacing “Mad Mel” Gibson). He’s introduced as a man haunted by flashbacks of past barbarity, mostly involving a young child he failed to protect. He’s seized by a band of pale-faced desert outlaws known as War Boys, and taken to The Citadel, a settlement where his uninfected blood will be gathered. The War Boys do the bidding of their masked ruler, Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne – who played Toecutter in the original MAD MAX 36 years ago – not that anyone would recognize him but it’s a cool touch). Max seems doomed until he meets Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), a hard-bitten, one-armed driver who has organized an escape for herself and Joe’s five wives (I guess he’s Mormon). Wanting his spouses (including Riley Keough, Zoë Kravitz, and a pregnant Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) back, Joe and his band of deranged toadies give chase. Max helps Furiosa in the road rage scrimmage against these degenerates as they sprint their way across the desolate Wasteland to the safe oasis known as Green Place.
MAD MAX FURY ROAD was the movie every action had been waiting for since THE ROAD WARRIOR and no one was disappointed. Director Miller staged his film as one long, gonzo action set piece, mostly involving custom vehicles of death barreling down deserted post-apocalyptic highways at breakneck speeds. Miller’s adherence to practical effects made CGI-neutered noise like FURIOUS 7 look removed and low-rent. Some of MAD MAX FURY ROAD – the sand storm and Curiosa’s left arm – were CG-enhanced but when you see out-there vehicular carnage and stunts on an epic scale – motorcycles flying over huge trucks in order to drop fire bombs on top while actors balance precariously between vehicles – there’s a palpable sense of danger because you knew that’s for real. The action had none of the confused visual sense so prevalent in movies like FURIOUS 7 and theTransformersfranchise that use ridiculous fast editing that makes keeping track of who is where or doing what during a fast-cut sequence nearly impossible.
In keeping with Gibson’s precedent, Hardy’s Max doesn’t talk much. He looks ragged and disheveled, his leather jacket dusty and cracked, his face covered at first with a Bane-like mask. Hardy did as good a job as anyone could, but my one complaint about MAD MAX FURY ROAD was that I miss Gibson. Mel was 59 when the film was made, hardly too old to repeat this role (Harrison Ford was still playing Indy at 66), and his familiar, haunted Max would have made this already-amazing film the greatest movie ever made! (and would have turned around his self-imposed career slump). But Charlize Theron’s Furiosa was really the film’s true center. The actress was terrific and gets as much screen time as Hardy, maybe more, and its Furiosa’s quest that is the driving force of the story. The R rating doesn’t quite seem justified. MAD MAX FURY ROAD was violent and intense but seems to be cut around the really gruesome stuff, as if they were shooting for a PG-13. But that’s not something you even notice as Miller brilliantly sustains the edge-of-your-seat 120-minute chase with crisp editing, sharp photography by John Seale, and a pounding music score by Junkie XL. Nothing is spared in MAD MAX FURY ROAD and the sheer inventiveness of it demands repeat viewings, so buckle up, spray-paint your mouth silver, and enjoy the ride when it returns to the big screen this weekend midnights over at The Tivoli (6350 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63130) at midnight!?!
Here’s the rest of the schedule for the coming weeks:
April 29-30 KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE – subtitled
May 6-7 BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT
May 13-14 ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND – Written by Charlie Kaufman (ANOMALISA)
May 20-21 THE EVIL DEAD
May 27-28 PULP FICTION
Reel Late at the Tivoli takes place every Friday and Saturday night andWe Are Movie Geeks own Tom Stockman (that’s me!) is there with custom trivia questions about the films and always has DVDs, posters, and other cool stuff to give away. Ticket prices are $8 . We hope to see everyone late at night in the coming weeks.
STAR TREK BEYOND director Justin Lin announced today a first-ever fan event to take place on May 20 in celebration of the series’ milestone 50th Anniversary this year and the film’s release this summer.
The one-time only special event, taking place at the historic Paramount Pictures studio lot, will include the premiere of the newest STAR TREK BEYOND trailer, an exclusive first-look of never before seen footage from the upcoming film, a Q&A with Lin and the cast and crew, special guests appearances, and other surprises. The Q&A will be streamed via Facebook Live.
Said Justin Lin, “As a lifelong fan of Trek, we wanted to do something special for the fans and we couldn’t think of a better way to do that than creating an event dedicated to them in the year that we also come together to celebrate the series’ amazing 50th year.”
STAR TREK BEYOND, the highly anticipated next installment in the globally popular Star Trek franchise, created by Gene Roddenberry and reintroduced by J.J. Abrams in 2009, returns with director Justin Lin (“The Fast and the Furious” franchise) at the helm of this epic voyage of the U.S.S. Enterprise and her intrepid crew. In BEYOND, the Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.
Opening July 22, 2016 from Paramount Pictures and Skydance, STAR TREK BEYOND is a Bad Robot, Sneaky Shark, Perfect Storm Entertainment production. The film stars John Cho, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoë Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin and Idris Elba. Directed by Lin, the third film in the franchise series is produced by J.J. Abrams, Roberto Orci, Lindsey Weber, and Lin; and executive produced by Jeffrey Chernov, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Tommy Harper. Based upon “Star Trek” created by Gene Roddenberry, the screenplay is written by Pegg & Doug Jung.
Producer Jon Landau and Director James Cameron seen at Twentieth Century Fox 2016 CinemaCon Presentation on Thursday, April 14, 2016, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Twentieth Century Fox/AP Images)
During the presentation at CinemaCon today, 20th Century Fox revealed the details for their upcoming movies. James Cameron surprised the audience by announcing 4 AVATAR sequels, targeting 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023.
Below is the lineup including official synopses for all 2016 and 2017 titles. Check out the trailers HERE.
2016
X-MEN: APOCALYPSE
Release Date: May 27, 2016
Director: Bryan Singer
Screenplay by Simon Kinberg; Story by Bryan Singer, Simon Kinberg, Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris
Producers: Simon Kinberg, Bryan Singer, Hutch Parker & Lauren Shuler Donner
Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Olivia Munn, Lucas Till, Evan Peters, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alexandra Shipp, Josh Helman, Lana Condor, Ben Hardy
SYNOPSIS
Following the critically acclaimed global smash hit X-Men: Days of Future Past, director Bryan Singer returns with X-MEN: APOCALYPSE. Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshipped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.
INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE
Action-Adventure
Release: June 24, 2016
Director: Roland Emmerich
Producers: Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich, Harald Kloser
Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Vivica A. Fox, Brent Spiner, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jessie Usher, Maika Monroe, Angelababy, William Fichtner, Sela Ward
SYNOPSIS
We always knew they were coming back. After INDEPENDENCE DAY redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.
MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES
Comedy
Release: July 8, 2016
Director: Jake Szymanski
Written by: Andrew Jay Cohen and Brendan O’Brien
Produced by: Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Jonathan Levine
Cast: Zac Efron, Anna Kendrick, Adam Devine, Aubrey Plaza, Stephen Root
SYNOPSIS
Hard-partying brothers Mike (Adam Devine) and Dave (Zac Efron) place an online ad to find the perfect dates (Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza) for their sister’s Hawaiian wedding. Hoping for a wild getaway, the boys instead find themselves outsmarted and out-partied by the uncontrollable duo.
ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE
Animated Comedy
Release: July 22, 2016, in 3D
Director: Mike Thurmeier
Screenplay: TBD
Producer: Lori Forte
Cast: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck, Simon Pegg, Keke Palmer, Wanda Sykes, and Jennifer Lopez. Stephanie Beatriz, Adam DeVine, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Max Greenfield, Jessie J, Nick Offerman, Melissa Rauch, Michael Strahan and Neil deGrasse Tyson.
SYNOPSIS
Scrat’s epic pursuit of the elusive acorn catapults him into the universe where he accidentally sets off a series of cosmic events that transform and threaten the Ice Age World. To save themselves, Sid, Manny, Diego, and the rest of the herd must leave their home and embark on a quest full of comedy and adventure, traveling to exotic new lands and encountering a host of colorful new characters. ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE, opening in theaters everywhere July 22, 2016, stars returning cast members Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck, Simon Pegg, Keke Palmer, Wanda Sykes, and Jennifer Lopez. Joining the herd are Stephanie Beatriz, Adam DeVine, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Max Greenfield, Jessie J, Nick Offerman, Melissa Rauch, Michael Strahan and Neil deGrasse Tyson.
MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN
Fantasy-Adventure
Release: September 30, 2016
Director: Tim Burton
Based upon the novel Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Producers: Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping
Cast: Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Ella Purnell, Allison Janney, Terence Stamp, Rupert Everett, with Judi Dench and Samuel L. Jackson
SYNOPSIS
From visionary director Tim Burton, and based upon the best-selling novel, comes an unforgettable motion picture experience. When Jake discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times, he uncovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As he learns about the residents and their unusual abilities, Jake realizes that safety is an illusion, and danger lurks in the form of powerful, hidden enemies. Jake must figure out who is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is.
TROLLS
Release: November 4, 2016
Director: Mike Mitchell (Shrek Forever After)
Co-director: Walt Dohrn (Shrek Forever After)
Producer: Gina Shay (Shrek Forever After)
SYNOPSIS
DreamWorks Animation’s TROLLS is an irreverent comedy extravaganza with incredible music! From the genius creators of SHREK, TROLLS stars Anna Kendrick as Poppy, the optimistic leader of the Trolls, and her polar opposite, Branch, played by Justin Timberlake. Together, this unlikely pair of Trolls must embark on an adventure that takes them far beyond the only world they’ve ever known.
The party continues to grow as DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls adds Zooey Deschanel (New Girl, (500) Days of Summer), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (How to Train Your Dragon, Neighbors), Jeffrey Tambor (Transparent, Arrested Development), Christine Baranski (The Good Wife, Into the Woods), Quvenzhané Wallis (Annie, Beasts of the Southern Wild) and John Cleese (Shrek Forever After, A Fish Called Wanda) to an already star-studded cast, led by Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake. 20th Century Fox will begin the film’s global release rollout in select European markets beginning October 13, 2016 and in the US on November 4.
“Our cast is quite literally bursting with talent,” said Director Mike Mitchell. This mix of comedic and musical star-power is every filmmaker’s dream.”
From director Mike Mitchell (Director, Shrek Forever After, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water), co-director Walt Dohrn (Head of Story, Shrek Forever After) and produced by Gina Shay (Producer, Shrek Forever After), comes a smart, funny and irreverent animated comedy, DreamWorks’ Trolls. This holiday season, enter a colorful, wondrous world populated by hilariously unforgettable characters and discover the story of the overly optimistic Trolls, with a constant song on their lips, and the comedically pessimistic Bergens, who are only happy when they have trolls in their stomach.
Trolls features original music from Justin Timberlake and soon-to-be-classic mash-ups of songs from popular artists and, with the addition of this new talent, the cast now includes Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Russell Brand, James Corden, Kunal Nayyar, Ron Funches, Icona Pop, Gwen Stefani and many more. DreamWorks’ Trolls is a fresh, broad comedy filled with music, heart and hair-raising adventures. In November of 2016, nothing can prepare you for our new Troll world.
“We’re fortunate to work with such an incredible group of artists,” said Co-Director Walt Dohrn. “We can’t wait to share the colorful, magical Trolls universe with fans around the world.”
ASSASSIN’S CREED
Action-Adventure
Release: December 21, 2016
Director: Justin Kurzel
Screenplay by: TBD
Producers: Arnon Milchan, Frank Marshall, Michael Fassbender, Conor McCaughan, Pat Crowley
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Khalid Abdalla,
Michael K. Williams
SYNOPSIS
Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day.
ASSASSIN’S CREED stars Academy Award® nominee Michael Fassbender (X-Men: Days of Future Past, 12 Years a Slave) and Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard (The Dark Knight Rises, La Vie en Rose). The film is directed by Justin Kurzel (Snowtown, Macbeth); produced by New Regency, Ubisoft Motion Pictures, DMC Films and Kennedy/Marshall; co-financed by RatPac Entertainment and Alpha Pictures; and distributed by 20th Century Fox . ASSASSIN’S CREED opens in theaters worldwide on December 21st, 2016.
WHY HIM?
Comedy
Release: December 25, 2016
Director: John Hamburg
Producers: Shawn Levy, Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill, Dan Levine
Written by: TBD
Cast: James Franco, Bryan Cranston
SYNOPSIS
Over the holidays, Ned (Bryan Cranston), an overprotective but loving dad and his family visit his daughter at Stanford, where he meets his biggest nightmare: her well-meaning but socially awkward Silicon Valley billionaire boyfriend, Laird (James Franco). The straight-laced Ned thinks Laird, who has absolutely no filter, is a wildly inappropriate match for his daughter. The one-sided rivalry-and Ned’s panic level-escalate when he finds himself increasingly out of step in the glamorous high-tech hub, and learns that Laird is about to pop the question.
2017
HIDDEN FIGURES
Release: January 13, 2017
Director: Ted Melfi
Screenplay by: Alison Schroeder, Ted Melfi, Lori Lakin Hutcherson
Producers: Donna Gigliotti, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Pharrell Williams, Ted Melfi
Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, Glen Powell and Kevin Costner
SYNOPSIS
HIDDEN FIGURES is the incredible untold story of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae)-brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.
MAZE RUNNER: THE DEATH CURE
Action-Adventure
Release: February 17, 2017
Director: Wes Ball
Producers: Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Lee Stollman
Cast: Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Giancarlo Espositio, Aidan Gillen, Ki Hong Lee, Barry Pepper, Will Poulter, and Patricia Clarkson
UNTITLED WOLVERINE
Action-Adventure
Release: March 3, 2017
Director: James Mangold
Cast: Hugh Jackman
THE BOSS BABY
Animation, in 3D
Release: March 10, 2017
Directed by: Tom McGrath
Producer: Ramsey Naito
A CURE FOR WELLNESS
Supernatural Thriller
Release: March 24, 2017
Director: Gore Verbinski
KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES
Comedy
Release: TBD
Director: Greg Mottola
Written by: Michael LeSieur
Producers: Laurie Macdonald, Walter F. Parkes
Cast: Zach Galifianakis, Jon Hamm, Isla Fisher, Gal Gadot
SYNOPSIS
An ordinary suburban couple (Zach Galifianakis, Isla Fisher) finds it’s not easy keeping up with the Joneses (Jon Hamm, Gal Gadot) – their impossibly gorgeous and ultra-sophisticated new neighbors – especially when they discover that Mr. and Mrs. “Jones” are covert operatives.
MOTHER / DAUGHTER
Comedy
Release: May 12, 2017
Director: Jonathan Levine
Written by: Katie Dippold
A Chernin Entertainment/Feigco Entertainment Production
Cast: Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn
CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS
Animation, in 3D
Release: June 2, 2017
Director: David Soren
KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
Action-Adventure
Release: June 16, 2017
Director: Matthew Vaughn
WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES
Action-Adventure
Release: July 14, 2017
Director: Matt Reeves
Producers: Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver
Cast: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Toby Kebbell
FERDINAND
Animation, in 3D
Release: July 21, 2017
Directed by: Carlos Saldanha
ALIEN: COVENANT
Sci Fi-Thriller
Release: August 4, 2017
Director: Ridley Scott
Screenplay: John Logan* (*writing credit not final)
Producers: Ridley Scott, Michael Schaefer, Mark Huffam
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Amy Seimetz, Jussie Smollet, Callie Hernandez, Nathaniel Dean, Alexander England, Benjamin Rigby
SYNOPSIS
Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created in ALIEN with ALIEN: COVENANT, the second chapter in a prequel trilogy that began with PROMETHEUS — and connects directly to Scott’s 1979 seminal work of science fiction. Bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, the crew of the colony ship Covenant discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world — whose sole inhabitant is the “synthetic” David (Michael Fassbender), survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition.
UNTITLED FOX / MARVEL
Release: October 6, 2017
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Mystery
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Screenplay by: Michael Green
Produced by: Ridley Scott, Mark Gordon, Simon Kinberg
Cast: Kenneth Branagh
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
Musical
Release: December 25, 2017
Cast: Hugh Jackman
Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures have announced that production is underway on GHOST IN THE SHELL, starring Scarlett Johansson (AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, LUCY) and directed by Rupert Sanders (SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN). The film is shooting in Wellington, New Zealand.
Paramount Pictures will release the film in the U.S. on March 31, 2017.
The film, which is based on the famous Kodansha Comics manga series of the same name, written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow, is produced by Avi Arad (“THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 1 & 2,” “IRON MAN”), Ari Arad (“GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE”), and Steven Paul (“GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE”). Michael Costigan (“PROMETHEUS”), Tetsu Fujimura (“TEKKEN”), Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, whose animation studio Production I.G produced the Japanese GHOST IN THE SHELL film and television series, and Jeffrey Silver (“EDGE OF TOMORROW,” “300”) will executive produce.
Based on the internationally-acclaimed sci-fi property, GHOST IN THE SHELL follows the Major, a special ops, one-of-a-kind human-cyborg hybrid, who leads the elite task force Section 9. Devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists, Section 9 is faced with an enemy whose singular goal is to wipe out Hanka Robotic’s advancements in cyber technology.
“We are so pleased to be in Wellington to shoot ‘GHOST IN THE SHELL,’” said producers Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Michael Costigan and Jeffrey Silver. “The city boasts state-of-the-art production facilities and a rich urban landscape that make it an ideal setting for a sci-fi action film. The crew-base in New Zealand working on the film is first class, and working with Sir Richard Taylor and the team at Weta Workshop is inspirational on every level. The people of New Zealand have been terrific partners in helping us bring this story and its beloved characters to audiences around the world and we are thankful for their continued hospitality.”
Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures have entered into a marketing agreement with the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC), Tourism New Zealand (TNZ), Callaghan Innovation and the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) which recognizes the significant economic, cultural and industry development benefits the production will bring to New Zealand. The collaboration will further promote New Zealand’s growing screen industry, develop local talent and showcase New Zealand to the rest of the world.
“The production will broaden the perceptions of the diversity of New Zealand’s locations by showcasing a science fiction urban setting in New Zealand,” says Dave Gibson NZFC Chief Executive.
Tourism New Zealand’s Chief Executive Kevin Bowler said: “Tourism New Zealand is thrilled to be working with Paramount Pictures for the first time on ‘GHOST IN THE SHELL.’ Film tourism is an important element in Tourism New Zealand’s work to inspire people to visit New Zealand and we look forward to this new opportunity to showcase New Zealand to the rest of the world.”
The cast of GHOST IN THE SHELL includes Beat Takeshi Kitano (“MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. LAWRENCE,” “BATTLE ROYALE” series) as Daisuke Aramaki, Juliette Binoche (“THE ENGLISH PATIENT,” “CHOCOLAT”) as Dr. Ouelet, Michael Pitt (“Hannibal,” “Boardwalk Empire”) as Kuze, Pilou Asbæk (“BEN-HUR,” “LUCY”) as Batou, and Kaori Momoi (“MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA,” “HONG KONG CONFIDENTIAL”). The members of Section 9 are played by Chin Han (“INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE”), Danusia Samal (“Tyrant”), Lasarus Ratuere (“Terra Nova”), Yutaka Izumihara (“UNBROKEN”) and Tuwanda Manyimo (“THE ROVER”).
The film’s crew includes Cinematographer Jess Hall (“THE SPECTACULAR NOW”), Editor Neil Smith (“SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN”), Production Designer Jan Roelfs (“FAST & FURIOUS 6”), and Costume Designers Kurt Swanson and Bart Mueller (“THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PARTS 1& 2”).
“The Virgin Mary. I spoke to her yesterday. She was outside the post office.”
THE LADY IN THE VAN, the British comedy-drama based on Alan Bennett’s memoir about an eccentric elderly woman who “temporarily” parks her van in Mr. Bennett’s driveway and proceeds to live there for 15 years, arrives on Blu-ray™, DVD & Digital HD April 19 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. This critically acclaimed Sony Pictures Classics film features the magnificent Maggie Smith (TV’s “Downton Abbey”), whose portrayal of Miss Mary Shepherd earned her a Golden Globe® nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture. Alex Jennings (Babel) heads the ensemble cast, along with James Corden (TV’s “The Late Late Show with James Corden”), Dominic Cooper (My Week with Marilyn), and Jim Broadbent (Brooklyn). THE LADY IN THE VAN was written by Oscar®-nominated playwright Alan Bennett (The Madness of King George) and directed by BAFTA and five-time Tony®-winning director Nicholas Hytner (The History Boys). The Blu-ray, DVD & Digital releases of THE LADY IN THE VAN will include a Maggie Smith profile, making-of featurette, deleted scenes, visual effects piece and more.
Enter for a chance to winthe LADY IN THE VAN Blu-ray and Screenplay
1. You must have a U.S. mailing address.
2. No purchase necessary.
Now you can own a copy of the Blu-ray and the screenplay (in book form) by Alan Bennett. We Are Movie Geeks has three sets of Blu-ray/Books to give away. All you have to do is answer this simple question: What is your favorite Maggie Smith movie? (mine is A ROOM WITH A VIEW).
It’s so easy! Just leave your answer in the comments section below. We’ll pick three winners next week. Good luck!
Credit: Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures
During a presentation showcasing the future projects of Illumination Entertainment at CinemaCon today in Las Vegas, the company’s founder and CEO, Chris Meledandri, announced that MOWERMINIONS – a never-before-seen short film starring the Minions – will debut with Illumination and Universal’s new film, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, when it arrives in theaters domestically on July 8, 2016, and also all around the world.
Correlating to the format in which THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS is showing in specific theaters, Mower Minions will be available in both 3D and 2D.
The short film stars the iconic Minions, who first appeared in the blockbuster DESPICABLE ME series and who most recently starred in 2015’s massive hit MINIONS, which grossed more than $1.15 billion at the global box office and became the second-biggest animated title of all time. Continuing the unpredictable adventures of Gru’s curious and subversively sweet band of yellow brothers, Mower Minions represents the first time ever that Illumination has released a short film theatrically.
“It’s been a year since Minions appeared on movie screens, and will be another year until they show up in Despicable Me 3 next summer. Fans are always asking us for more content with the Minions, so the timing felt right for them to star in an all-new short film right before audiences experience Illumination’s newest original film, The Secret Life of Pets,” said Meledandri. “The theatrical release of this short serves as an opportunity for some of the most talented storytellers, visual development artists, colorists and story artists in the Illumination family to flex their creative muscles and create a new piece of content for the big screen.”
Credit: Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures
Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game, upcoming Doctor Strange) voices the title role of The Grinch in the newly imagined version of the enduring holiday classic. Directed by Pete Candeland and Yarrow Cheney, and adapted from Dr. Seuss’ book by Michael LeSieur, the animated film will be produced by Illumination’s Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy and Scott Mosier, and executive produced by Audrey Geisel and Chris Renaud.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas will be released on November 10, 2017.
.Credit: Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures
Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award winner Trey Parker, co-creator of Comedy Central’s global phenomenon South Park and the Broadway smash The Book of Mormon, has joined Despicable Me 3 to voice the role of villain Balthazar Bratt, a former child star who’s grown up to become obsessed with the character he played in the ’80s. He proves to be Gru’s most formidable nemesis to date. The team who brought you Despicable Me and the biggest animated hits of 2013 and 2015, Despicable Me 2 and Minions, returns to continue the adventures of Gru, Lucy, their adorable daughters—Margo, Edith and Agnes—and the Minions. Despicable Me 3, directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, co-directed by Eric Guillon, and written by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio, will be released in theaters on June 30, 2017.
The animated film is produced by Illumination’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and executive produced by Chris Renaud.
Warner Bros. Pictures showcased an impressive lineup of talents and highly anticipated films at this year’s CinemaCon, which generated tremendous excitement for the Studio’s wide-ranging slate. Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara opened the program and announced that Ben Affleck—who will again play the role of Batman in the upcoming Justice League movie—will direct, as well as star in, a new stand-alone Batman feature.
The Studio’s presentation was highlighted by trailers and film clips—including some never-before-seen footage—and appearances by some of the major stars and filmmakers involved in each of the movies. It also served to illustrate Tsujihara’s statement about the diversity of the slate: built on the foundation of the key franchises of DC Super Heroes, animated LEGO® features, and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” but also encompassing a broad scope of dramas, action adventures, horror thrillers and comedies.
There were also speeches from Sue Kroll, in her new post as Warner Bros. Pictures President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, who was recently named President of Worldwide Distribution.
Remarking on the Warner Bros. event, Kroll said, “CinemaCon is always one of the high points of our year: when we get to introduce our upcoming slate to our partners in the exhibition community who are responsible for bringing our films to audiences worldwide. It was wonderful to have this opportunity to showcase the broad range of films Warner Bros. has on the horizon, as well as some of the extraordinary artists behind them.”
Kwan Vandenberg added, “We appreciated the enthusiastic participation of actors and filmmakers from every title, who added tremendous star power to the presentation. CinemaCon gives us a chance to reinforce our commitment to the big-screen experience on a global level.”
Kicking off the film presentation with a bang, Ben Affleck and Amy Adams introduced a thrilling reel spotlighting the Studio’s ambitious slate of DC films. The roster includes the new Justice League film, as well as stand-alone features for Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg. Director Zack Snyder closed the reel with a greeting from the Justice League film set, surrounded by his stars.
The DC preview also included a glimpse of the summer’s hotly anticipated action adventure “Suicide Squad” and, immediately following, writer/director David Ayer took the stage and introduced the main ensemble cast, led by Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie and Joel Kinnaman. The extended version of the “Suicide Squad” trailer was met with loud applause and the buzz surrounding the film was palpable.
Host Mario Lopez then took the attendees through the rest of the summer line-up, including advance footage from the wide range of titles.
The stars and filmmakers who excited the crowd about their upcoming films included: Russell Crowe for the action comedy “The Nice Guys”; Emilia Clarke for the drama “Me Before You” (from New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn Mayer); James Wan, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson for the supernatural thriller “The Conjuring 2” (from New Line Cinema); Teresa Palmer and David F. Sandberg for the horror thriller “Lights Out” (from New Line Cinema); Kevin Hart and Rawson Marshall Thurber for the action comedy “Central Intelligence” (from New Line Cinema and Universal Pictures), which included a taped greeting from Dwayne Johnson; Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson and Christoph Waltz for the adventure “The Legend of Tarzan” (from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures); and Todd Phillips and Bradley Cooper for the comedic drama “War Dogs,” which is based on real events.
Looking past the summer, Warner Bros. unveiled some of the films on the drawing board from the Warner Animation Group, or WAG for short. Three of the brilliant minds in the WAG think tank—Christopher Miller, Phil Lord and Nicholas Stoller—came to the stage to introduce a special reel featuring a few of the titles in the pipeline, anchored by three new films in the LEGO®movie franchise: “The LEGO® Batman Movie,” “The LEGO® Movie 2” and “Ninjago.” Stoller, who co-directed the next WAG film on the slate, “Storks,” was joined by fellow director Doug Sweetland and voice talents Andy Samberg and Katie Crown to present new footage from the heartwarming and hilarious family adventure.
The animation portion wrapped with never-before-seen footage from “The LEGO® Batman Movie,” which gives the breakout star of the hit “The LEGO® Movie” a film of his own. Drawing laughter and enthusiastic applause, the clip was presented by producers Lord and Miller, joined by the voice of LEGO® Batman himself, Will Arnett, who made a surprise appearance to the delight of everyone there.
Warner Bros. closed the presentation with a look at the most magical film of the year, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” written by Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, which will bring moviegoers to a new place and time in the wizarding world. Four of the film’s stars, Eddie Redmayne, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler and Colin Farrell, came to the stage to introduce the new teaser trailer and a look behind the scenes of the film, which has already captivated fans.
“So we can’t call Ripley’s Believe it or Not, because… they wouldn’t believe it.”
THE IRON GIANT screens Friday night, April 15th at 9:30pm in Webster University’s Winifred Moore Auditorium (470 E. Lockwood Ave.). The screening is FREE
Without doubt one of the very best animated films of the past twenty years, Brad Bird’s THE IRON GIANT (1999) is a fabulous love letter to 1950s science fiction b-movies and b-fiction. The central figure is as grand and cool a physical design for a robot as ever put on film; perfectly balanced with the character of the robot.
The Iron Giant (voiced by Vin Diesel), befriended by a young boy named Hogarth (voiced by Eli Marienthal) who is himself a SF b-movie junkie during the reactionary 1950s time period, engages the boy and his beatnik confidant Dean McCoppin (Harry Connick) with his trust. The Iron Giant comes to understand his own nature, the possibility of becoming a deadly weapon and a “monster” from the boy’s comic books, and his understanding of heroism and love for his friends.
THE IRON GIANT has a wonderful nostalgic, small-town atmosphere that is brought to life by the stunning animation. The attention to period detail, from the cheesy educational videos that Hogarth’s class is forced to watch, to the way townspeople talk, is faithfully recreated and really goes a long way to drawing you in.
THE IRON GIANT is one of those rare animated films that appeals to both children and adults, that doesn’t contain one annoying musical number a la Disney, and that isn’t one long advertisement for a toy. In fact, this film is an entertaining, even touching, story about tolerance and compassion and now you’ll have the chance to see it again on the big screen when it plays Friday night at 9:30 Webster University’s Moore Auditorium. It’s part of Webster Us’ Kinematifest 9 – The International Animation and Interactive Media Festival. (for more about Kinematifest, go to their site HERE)
