In this prequel to Zack Snyder’s ARMY OF THE DEAD (review), small-town bank teller Dieter gets drawn into the adventure of a lifetime when a mysterious woman recruits him to join a crew of Interpol’s most wanted criminals, attempting to heist a sequence of legendary, impossible-to-crack safes across Europe.
The prequel is directed by and star Grimme Award winner Matthias Schweighöfer and will follow his Army of the Dead character “Ludwig Dieter”. The movie is produced out of Germany.
ARMY OF THIEVES is from producers by Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder and Wesley Coller of The Stone Quarry and Matthias Schweighöfer and Dan Maag of PANTALEON Films.
From writer/director James Gunn comes Warner Bros. Pictures’ superhero action adventure “The Suicide Squad,” featuring a collection of the most degenerate delinquents in the DC lineup.
Welcome to hell—a.k.a. Belle Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out—even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X. Today’s do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn. Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave…and Amanda Waller’s government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement. And as always, one wrong move and they’re dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself). If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them—all of them.
The film stars Margot Robbie (“Birds of Prey,” “Bombshell”), Idris Elba (“Avengers: Infinity War”), John Cena (upcoming HBO Max series “Peacemaker,” “Bumblebee”), Joel Kinnaman (“Suicide Squad”), Jai Courtney (the “Divergent” franchise), Peter Capaldi (“World War Z,” BBC’s “Doctor Who” ), David Dastmalchian (upcoming “Dune,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp”), Daniela Melchior (“Parque Mayer”), Michael Rooker (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films), Alice Braga (“Elysium”), Pete Davidson (“The King of Staten Island,” TV’s “Saturday Night Live”), Joaquín Cosio (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” TV’s “Narcos: Mexico”), Juan Diego Botto (“The Europeans”), Storm Reid (“The Invisible Man,” “A Wrinkle in Time”, “Euphoria”), Nathan Fillion (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” TV’s “The Rookie”), Steve Agee (“Brightburn,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”), Sean Gunn (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, the “Avengers” films), Mayling Ng (“Wonder Woman”), Flula Borg (“Ralph Breaks the Internet”), Jennifer Holland (“Brightburn,” upcoming HBO Max series “Peacemaker”) and Tinashe Kajese (TV’s “Valor,” “The Inspectors”), with Sylvester Stallone (the “Rocky,” “Rambo” and “Expendables” franchises), and Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Suicide Squad”).
Gunn (the “Guardian of the Galaxy” films) directs from his own screenplay, based on characters from DC. The film is produced by Charles Roven and Peter Safran, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo, Nikolas Korda and Richard Suckle executive producing.
Gunn’s creative team includes director of photography Henry Braham (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”), production designer Beth Mickle (“Captain Marvel”), editors Fred Raskin (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood”) and Christian Wagner (the “Fast & Furious” films) and Oscar-nominated costume designer Judianna Makovsky (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”).
The music is by John Murphy (“Kick-Ass”).
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents An Atlas Entertainment/Peter Safran Production, A James Gunn Film, “The Suicide Squad.” The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is set for release nationwide in theaters and IMAX on August 6, 2021 and will be available on HBO Max’s Ad-Free plan for 31 days from theatrical release.
THE NIGHT HOUSE, will be in theaters nationwide August 20th, starring Rebecca Hall and from director David Bruckner. This trailer looks terrifying!:
Reeling from the unexpected death of her husband, Beth (Rebecca Hall) is left alone in the lakeside home he built for her. She tries as best she can to keep it together—but then the dreams come. Disturbing visions of a presence in the house call to her, beckoning with a ghostly allure. Against the advice of her friends, she begins digging into her husband’s belongings, yearning for answers. What she finds are secrets both strange and terrible and a mystery she’s determined to resolve.
THE NIGHT HOUSE stars Rebecca Hall, Stacy Martin, Sarah Goldberg (“Barry”), Evan Jonigkeit (X-Men: Days of Future Past)
The Wait is Over When Marvel Studios’ BLACK WIDOW Lands Early on Digital August 10 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD September 14th Includes Nine Deleted Scenes, Bloopers and More…
Marvel Studios’ Black Widow arrives early on all major digital platforms on August 10 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on September 14. Black Widow fans can enjoy the film in stunning Ultra HD quality and immersive Dolby Atmos audio along with never-before-seen bonus footage, including nine deleted scenes, bloopers and featurettes. The aspect ratio is 2.39:1. Additionally, the 4K Blu-ray will be released in high dynamic range on the HDR10 format
In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff — aka Black Widow — confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger. Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Natasha/Black Widow, Florence Pugh stars as Yelena, David Harbour portrays Alexei/The Red Guardian, and Rachel Weisz is Melina. Black Widow — the first film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe — is directed by Cate Shortland and produced by Kevin Feige.
Marvel Studios’ Black Widow Bonus Features*
Bloopers – Take a look at some of the fun mishaps on set with the cast and crew of Black Widow.
Deleted Scenes
Grocery Shopping – Natasha heads into a grocery store to prepare for her journey through Norway. After a long drive, she arrives at her destination: a mysterious trailer in the middle of nowhere.
Bike Chase – Tailed by assailants, Natasha and Yelena speed through the city in order to escape their nemeses.
Gulag Fight – Alexei squares up against several enemies and is quickly overpowered. When all hope seems lost, Natasha leaps in to lend a hand in the fight.
Smile – The Taskmaster protocol is activated in a tense moment, and an iconic helmet is unveiled.
Come After Me – Secretary Ross and Mason discover an important message Natasha left behind.
Walk and Talk – Alexei and Melina have a playful exchange. The Taskmaster arrives and faces off with Alexei.
Widows in Training – Yelena and Alexei awaken in captivity. Melina hands the Taskmaster vials while the Widows train.
Kiss – Alexei and Melina reunite after the action. Natasha grieves over an untimely demise in the brutal aftermath.
Ohio – Natasha witnesses the carefree nature of the Ohio suburbs through the neighborhood children.
Filmmaker Introduction Featurette – Director Cate Shortland introduces the film and her vision for it.
Sisters Gonna Work It Out Featurette – Watch Scarlett and Florence as they train, fight, and bond to become the sister duo in Black Widow. Listen as the cast and crew discuss the characters, rigorous training, and building the dynamic between the two fearsome siblings.
Go Big If You’re Going Home Featurette – Step back to appreciate the size and scale of Black Widow’s solo film. Shot around the world, the film balances family and drama with mind-blowing action. The cast and crew reveal the intricacies of stunts that made the film so action-packed.
*bonus features vary by product and retailer
Cast:
Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova Rachel Weisz as Melina David Harbour as Alexei/Red Guardian Ray Winstone as Dreykov O-T Fagbenle as Mason William Hurt as Secretary Ross
“Psychologically, I’m very confused, but personally I feel just wonderful.”
Judy Garland in IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME will be available on Blu-ray August 17th from Warner Archive
Judy Garland, Van Johnson and silent comedy icon Buster Keaton star in this delightful musical when love can bloom between the most unlikely of couples In the Good Old Summertime.
It’s turn of the century America when Andrew and Veronica first meet – by crashing into each other. They develop an instant and mutual dislike which intensifies when, later on, Andrew is forced to hire Veronica as a saleslady at Oberkugen’s music store. What the two don’t know is that while they may argue and fight constantly throughout the day, they are actually engaged in an innocent, romantic and completely anonymous relationship by night, through the post office.
“You’re supposed to be reputable scientists! Not two dorm kids freaking on Mexican mushrooms!”
The Strange Brew Cult Movie night returns at their new home, the Arkadin Cinema & Bar, with a nostalgic screening of Ken Russell’s ALTERED STATES (1980) on Wednesday, August 4th at 8:30 pm (movie starts at sundown on the backlot Patio). The Arkadin is located at 5228 Gravois Ave, St Louis, MO 63116. Following the film will be an all-acoustic set by local musicians Burnt Pizza performing songs inspired by the film. The Strange Brew Cult Movie night takes place the first Wednesday of every month at Arkadin Cinema. Films are currently showing on the Backlot Patio (Enter through the Heavy Anchor) and bringing extra lawn chairs is strongly encouraged. Admission: $9.00. Tickets can be purchased in advance HERE
It’s the late 1960’s. Just for a lark, graduate student Eddie Jessup, known for being unconventional, brilliant and slightly mad, conducts experiments with an isolation chamber, using himself as the subject. His experiences in the chamber cause him to hallucinate, much of the imagery being religious-based despite his not being a religious man. Seven years later, he is a respected full professor in the Harvard Medical School. Believing he has lost his edge and has fallen into an unwanted state of respectability, Eddie decides to resume his work with sensory deprivation, this time using hallucinogens, specifically untested ones used in mystical Mexican rituals, to enhance the experience of being in the isolation tank. After initial tests, he claims he entered an alternate physical and mental state. Although unbelieving of Eddie’s claims, his colleagues Arthur Rosenberg and Mason Parrish, as well as Eddie’s wife, Emily, who is in her own right a respected academic, are concerned for Eddie’s well being. However, if Eddie’s claims are indeed true, he could do irreparable harm to himself and others around him, especially if his altered states are uncontrollable
“Remember kid, there’s heroes and there’s legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die, follow your heart kid, and you’ll never go wrong.”
Eight members of the cast of THE SANDLOT (1993) will be signing autographs from Beginning at 11am on Saturday August 7th at the Collectibles Corner in Belleville, IL That’s located at 120 East Main Street. The Collectibles CornerFacebook page with updates, prices, preorders, and more info can be foundHERE.
Come meet:
Tom Guiry “Scotty Smalls”
Chauncey Leopardi “Michael ‘Squints'”
Marty York “Yeah-Yeah’ McClennan”
Brandon Quintin Adams “Kenny DeNunez”
Grant Gelt Bertram “Grover Weeks”
Shane Obedzinski “Tommy ‘Repeat’ Timmons”
Victor DiMattia Timmy Timmons
Patrick Renna Hamilton ‘Ham’ Porter
THE SANDLOT is a beloved film that over the last 23 years has gained quite a cult following thanks its joyous nostalgia that’s along the lines of A CHRISTMAS STORY. Unlike many movies that claim to be family films, THE SANDLOT actually is a “family film”. Kids like it for the situations and dialogue, while adults relate to it as well. Young Scotty Smalls (Tom Guidry) moves into a new town and desperately wants to fit in with the rest of the neighborhood boys and in the summer of 1962, a bat and a ball is all it takes. A solid swing will send the ball sailing over the fence to never be seen again for it lands in Mr. Mertle’s (James Earl Jones) backyard, which is guarded by a humongous dog…a super slobbering “beast” that devours anything and everything. The high drama and dilemma of the summer is trying to retrieve a Babe Ruth autographed ball from the beast. Other cast members of note: Patrick Renna, Mike Vitar, Chauncey Leopardi, Denis Leary and Karen Allen. THE SANDLOT is nostalgic, sentimental and stuffed full of innocence and humor.
On 17 August 2021, UNDER THE VOLCANO, the untold story about the studio that changed the world from an isolated island paradise, will be on available on digital release in the U.S. Directed by Gracie Otto (The Last Impresario) and produced by Cody Greenwood, UNDER THE VOLCANO charts the rise and fall of AIR Studios Montserrat, the recording studio at the center of the pop universe in the 1980s. Here’s the trailer:
Built by Beatles’ producer Sir George Martin in 1979, AIR Studios Montserrat was a custom-built, state-of-the-art recording facility tucked away on a Caribbean paradise. In the shadow of an active volcano, the studio not only attracted the biggest musical talent on the planet but was the birthplace of mega-hits such as Money for Nothing and Every Breath You Take.
Some of the notable albums recorded on Montserrat:
YEAR
MONTH
ARTIST
ALBUM
1979
May
Jimmy Buffett
Volcano
1979
Dec
Roger Daltrey
McVicar
1980
Earth, Wind & Fire
Faces
1981
February
Paul McCartney
Tug of War
1981
June
The Police
Ghost In The Machine
1982
Jan
Elton John
Jump Up
1982
January
Duran Duran
Rio
1982
April
Roger Daltrey
Parting Should Be Painless (parts)
1982
September
Elton John
Too Low For Zero
1982
December
The Police
Synchronicity
1983
March
James Taylor
That’s Why I’m Here
1983
June
Duran Duran
Seven and the Ragged Tiger
1983
Dec
Elton John
Breaking Hearts
1984
March
Eric Clapton/Phil Collins
Behind The Sun
1984
November
Dire Straits
Brothers In Arms
1985
August
Art Garfunkel
1986
March
Sting
Bring On The Night
1986
Aug
Boy George and Culture Club
From Luxury to Heartache
1986
September
Black Sabbath
Eternal Idol
1987
May
Sting
Nothing Like The Sun
1989
March
The Rolling Stones
Steel Wheels
For a decade, AIR Montserrat formed the backdrop to monumental events in music history including the break-up of The Police, the reunion of The Rolling Stones, and the reinvigoration of Paul McCartney after the tragic murder of John Lennon. After a decade of hits, and at the peak of its popularity, the studio was destroyed when the island was hit by a series of devastating natural disasters.
Through personal accounts and backed by a blistering soundtrack, UNDER THE VOLCANO is the definitive account of Sir George Martin’s studio at the end of the world, a place that generated a perfect storm of talent, technology and isolation, ushering in music that would live on long after the last tape rolled.
UNDER THE VOLCANO is the electrifying story of musical powerhouse and the secluded hit factory that produced some of the 70s and 80s most iconic records from the world’s most famous artists.
Yasuzô Masumura’s BLIND BEAST (1969) will be available on Blu-ray August 24th from Arrow Video
Blind Beast is a grotesque portrait of the bizarre relationship between a blind sculptor and his captive muse, adapted from a short story from Japans foremost master of the macabre, Edogawa Rampo (Horrors of Malformed Men, The Black Lizard, Caterpillar).
An artists model, Aki (Mako Midori), is abducted, and awakens in a dark warehouse studio whose walls are decorated with outsized womens body parts eyes, lips, legs and breasts and dominated by two recumbent giant statues of male and female nudes. Her kidnapper introduces himself as Michio (Eiji Funakoshi), a blind sculptor whom she had witnessed previously at an exhibition in which she featured intently caressing a statue of her naked torso. Michio announces his intention of using her to sculpt the perfect female form. At first defiant, she eventually succumbs to his intense fixation on her body and finds herself drawn into his sightless world, in which touch is everything.
Blind Beast is a masterpiece of erotic horror that explores the all\-encompassing and overwhelming relationship between the artist and his art and the obsessive closed world that the artist inhabits, with maestro director Yasuzo Masumura (Giants and Toys, Irezumi) conjuring up a hallucinogenic dreamworld in which sensual and creative urges combine with a feverish intensity.
SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation Original uncompressed Japanese mono audio Optional English subtitles Brand new audio commentary by Asian cinema scholar Earl Jackson Newly filmed introduction by Japanese cinema expert Tony Rayns Blind Beast: Masumura the Supersensualist, a brand new visual essay by Japanese literature and visual studies scholar Seth Jacobowitz Original Trailer Image Gallery Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated booklet featuring new writing by Virginie Sélavy
“Only I didn’t say fudge… I said THE WORD. The big one. The queen mother of all dirty words… the F-dash-dash-dash WORD!!!!”
It’s Christmas in July whenA CHRISTMAS STORYscreens at The Wildey Theater in Edwardsville, IL ( 252 N Main St, Edwardsville, IL 62025) at 7:00pm Tuesday July 27th. $3 Tickets available starting at 3pm day of movie at Wildey Theatre ticket office. Cash or check only. (cash, credit cards accepted for concessions) Lobby opens at 6pm.
I used an air rifle I got one Christmas growing up, but I never had a mail-in decoder ring which required me to consume mass quantities of Ovaltine, I never ran into bullies with yellow eyes, and I never took a dare to stick my tongue to an aluminum pole in the middle of winter. Of all the holiday films that have been released in the last 34 years, did anyone envision that the sleepy low budget film from 1983, generically titled A CHRISTMAS STORY, would be at the top of the almost everyone’s list? It actually bombed when first released in theater (though I saw it there twice) but has developed such an enormous following over the years, mostly through cable TV airings, that it probably is #1 on more favorite Christmas movies list than anything. Who would have thought Bob Clark, director of terrifying low-budget horror movies such as BLACK CHRISTMAS and DEATHDREAM (as well as the raunchy comedy hit PORKY’S) could capture such an innocent and nostalgic slice of life? Don’t miss A CHRISTMAS STORY when it screens at The Wildey Theater.
