MOKA (directed by Frédéric Mermoud, 2016, France/Switzerland, 89 min.) screens Friday September 22nd through Sunday September 24th at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood). The movie starts each evening at 7:30pm.
To find the driver of the vintage mocha-colored Mercedes, which she thinks hit her son and devastated her life, Diane Kramer (Emmanuelle Devos) embarks on a trip to take revenge. She goes to Évian, where she has learned the driver of the Mercedes lives, but she now has to face another woman, Marlene (Nathalie Baye) – a beauty salon proprietor and owner of the car. In order to get closer to her, Diane pretends to be a potential buyer for the car, but the path of revenge is more tortuous and complicated than it seems. Adapted from Tatiana de Rosnay’s 2006 novel, Moka is a moody, riveting psychological thriller, showcasing the tremendous talents of two of France’s best actresses. In French with English subtitles.
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
In Universal Pictures’ American Made, Tom Cruise reunites with his Edge of Tomorrow director, Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Mr. and Mrs. Smith), in this international escapade based on the outrageous (and real) exploits of Barry Seal, a hustler and pilot unexpectedly recruited by the CIA to run one of the biggest covert operations in U.S. history.
Based on a true story, American Made co-stars Domhnall Gleeson, Sarah Wright Olsen, E. Roger Mitchell, Jesse Plemons, Lola Kirke, Alejandro Edda, Benito Martinez, Caleb Landry Jones and Jayma Mays.
The film is produced by Imagine Entertainment’s Academy Award®-winning producer Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind), Cross Creek Pictures’ Brian Oliver (Black Swan) and Tyler Thompson (Everest), Quadrant Pictures’ Doug Davison (The Departed), and Kim Roth (Inside Man). Gary Spinelli wrote the screenplay.
In theaters September 29.
WAMG invites you to enter for the chance to win TWO (2) seats to the advance screening of AMERICAN MADE on September 26 at 7:00 pm in the St. Louis area.
Answer the Following:
Name Tom Cruise’s character in Edge of Tomorrow and his British co-star.
TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWER AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. No purchase necessary. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house.
RATING:AMERICAN MADE has rated R (Restricted – Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian) for language throughout and some sexuality/nudity.
Everything seems to be on track for cinema’s final months of the year. Sure, that demented clown ruled the box office for a couple of weeks, but Ben and Jake are here now with some real “Oscar bait” flicks that will usher in the season of serious film works. Hmm, not so fast. Looks like another comics-inspired franchise is blasting into the multiplex. Now, the JLA and Thor are still many weeks away, but this series is more Bond and Bourne than Marvel and DC. Oh, and it’s from graphic novel/ movie adapter veteran Matthew Vaughn. He injected most welcomed energy to the Marvel mutants with X-MEN: FIRST CLASS in 2011, just a year after spicing up that genre with the R-rated KICK-ASS. His follow-up in 2014 was the “origin/training” tale of a super-secret (“veddy veddy” hush-hush, you know) organization whose operatives are impeccably dressed, well-mannered gentlemen (think TV’s John Steed…squared) in the unexpected smash KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE. So, have they been at rest, polishing their shoes and pressing their suits in the last three years? The second in the series, KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE, should answer that question.
On the streets of modern day London, Eggsy AKA Agent Galahad (Taron Egerton) is under attack by sinister forces lead by someone thought dead at the end of the last big mission, rejected agency recruit Charlie (Edward Holcroft). After escaping them, Eggsy meets up with tech-wiz Merlin (Mark Strong) under a lake (they’ve got lotsa’ underground hiding spots). Eggsy must dash away and escort his girlfriend, Princess (of Sweden, from the first flick) Tilde (Hanna Alstrom) to a birthday party for him thrown by his old “mates” from the neighborhood. But it turns out that old Charlie had a little something up his “bioniclly enhanced” sleeve. Just who is really behind this security breach? His boss, the world’s biggest drug kingpin, the master criminal genius known as Poppy (Julianne Moore). Hidden away at the top of a jungle mountain, in a village designed to look like a 1950’s neighborhood complete with a diner (she loved the nostalgia craze of the 70’s…GREASE, “Happy Days”, y’know), she unleashes deadly missiles that annihilate the Kingsman. Well, everybody but Eggsy and Merlin, luckily. They meet in a hidden room at a spirits shoppe, and open a safe containing a bottle of Kentucky bourbon. This sends them across the pond, hoping to track down their enemies. There the two men are approached by their US counterparts, the agency known as the “Statesmen”, headed by Champaign AKA “Champ” (Jeff Bridges). Merlin meets his American double (not quite), scientist Ginger (Halle Beery), while Eggsy is introduced to agents Tequila (Channing Tatum) and Whiskey (Pedro Pascal). Then Champ stuns his guests by revealing an old friend behind a one-way mirror: the supposedly deceased Harry Hart, the first Galahad (Colin Firth)! That’s just the first surprise as they join forces to thwart the deadly, devious Poppy.
Just as in the last installment, Egerton is an energetic action hero, evoking memories of Michael J. Fox in his late 80’s glory, not only in stature, but in confident attitude and charisma. Eggsy is at home hangin’ with her ‘buds or impressing royalty at a swanky. And he can literally charm the pants off a high-class “deb” who has vital intel (take that, Mr. Bond). He’s got a terrific rapport with Strong as the brainiac who can put him in his place with a quick retort. This time out, Firth is the one in need of training, since his…accident… has left him in a thick fog (butterflies appear at the worst times) and those razor-sharp reflexes are dulled (a call back to a fave scene from the first doesn’t go smoothly). The best addition and improvement is Moore’s twisted take on June Cleaver (yes, she wields a really sharp one) with the perennially peppy Poppy (just thought Samuel L Jackson was too goofy in the earlier flick). Her twinkly grin makes her demeanor near impossible to gauge giving her crimes an extra quirk. The US agents aren’t as interesting as their Brit brothers. Bridges reprises his guttural drawl , seeming more cattle baron than strategist. Berry is perky and assured, but is mostly a sounding board for Merlin as she pines to be out in the “field”. Pascal (I really thought he was Jeremy Renner when I saw the first teasers) has a good cowboy swagger as he echoes Indiana Jones with his glowing lasso and retractable bullwhip. Speaking of teasers, that sums up Tatum’s role here. Though he’s featured heavily in the marketing, his Tequila character is taken out of the story for nearly an hour, literally “on ice”. Of course, he’s great in the first encounter with Eggsy and Merlin, which gives the rest of the film a “bait and switch” vibe. But kudos to the always wonderful Bruce Greenwood for his comic turn as a funny doofus Prez.
Vaughn delivers the action goods and should satisfy the many fans of the first flick. The high-tech gadgets are inventive and fun, especially during the opening car chase (that’s something considering all the similar scenes in this year’s action movie crop). Poppy has a unique master plan that lobs a few laughs at current politics (the first one jabbed the other end of the political spectrum). And her hideout is not the standard “airplane hangar” supervillain lair (though it really resembled downtown Hill Valley from BACK TO THE FUTURE). Plus there’s another pop icon (Mark Hamill last time) that provides some nice comic bits. Unfortunately, at 140 minutes, the film feels bloated, losing some of the bouncy light spirit of the former flick. Many action set pieces go on for too long (most of the ski lift stuff) and border on tedious, with one ending trying to “top” the next. The script from Vaughn and Jane Goldman needed another pass or two to shake the “excess” off, or to tighten up some character relations (there’s little spark between Eggsy and Tilde). And the killer “robo-dogs” felt like something from a 90’s straight-to-video title. With KINGMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE there’s plenty of “bang” (and “booms”) for your movie buck, but at the cost of much of the charm and wit of their introductory flick. Put the bowlers back in the hatbox till a better mission comes along
A dark force threatens Ponyville, and the Mane 6 – Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity – embark on an unforgettable journey beyond Equestria where they meet new friends and exciting challenges on a quest to use the magic of friendship to save their home.
The film has an all-star voice cast including Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth, Liev Schreiber, Michael Peña, Sia, Taye Diggs, Uzo Aduba and Zoe Saldana. The movie features original music and songs performed by Sia, Diggs, Saldana, Chenoweth and Blunt. Lionsgate is releasing MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE in theaters nationwide on October 6, 2017.
WAMG invites you to enter for the chance to win FOUR (4) seats to the advance screening of MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE on September 30, Saturday, at 10:30 am in the St. Louis area.
Answer the Following:
Tell us the name of your favorite pony!
TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWER AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. No purchase necessary. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house.
From L to R: Fluttershy (Andrea Libman), Spike (Cathy Weseluck), Rainbow Dash (Ashleigh Ball), Pinkie Pie (Andrea Libman), Rarity (Tabitha St. Germain), Princess Skystar (Kristin Chenoweth) and Applejack (Ashleigh Ball) in MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE. Image Courtesy of Lionsgate and Hasbro.
A campfire tale for the social media age, FRIEND REQUEST is Hollywood’s latest attempt to portray the internet as a scary place. It’s a conventional and predictable horror yarn, though well-executed enough that if you go in with lowered expectations, you may have some fun with it. FRIEND REQUEST begins promisingly, introducing protagonist Laura Woodson (Alycia Debnam-Carey) in a lively and well-edited montage showing how she blends her real life with the internet. Laura is an outgoing popular college sophomore with plenty of friends including close ones Olivia (Brit Morgan), Izzy (Brooke Markham) and Gus (Sean Marquette), boyfriend Tyler (William Moseley), and over 800 more on Facebook (though the word ‘Facebook’ is never actually uttered in the film). She accepts a friend request from a fellow student, the damaged goth misfit Marina Nedifar (anagram of ‘A Friend’ – and played by Liesl Ahlers), who seems to do little except stare off into space and post nightmarish little B&W videos on her timeline (which only Laura sees since Marina has zero other friends). Soon Marina is cyberstalking Laura, posting creepy and inappropriate content on her timeline nonstop and throwing a fit when she’s not invited to her birthday dinner. It’s too much for Laura who decides to cut ties with her and clicks the dreaded ‘unfriend’ button. Marina doesn’t take that well at all. She kills herself and begins stalking Laura from beyond, picking off her friends in bloody fashion through via social media and their nightmares.
The idea of a haunted Internet was handled better in 2015’s UNFRIENDED, but for its first half, FRIEND REQUEST is a well-made and innovative little horror movie featuring young people behaving the way young people actually behave—in how they talk, in how they interact with technology, in how they can be jerks. The screenplay touches on themes of loneliness, bullying, suicide, and sexual abuse and has a few things to say about social media infatuation and how Facebook can be a dangerous tool used to blindly demean others. The biggest problem with FRIEND REQUEST is that, despite a plethora of cheap jump scares and loud noises, it’s simply not scary. There’s so much going on with haunted mirrors, swarms of black wasps, mutilated dead children, and possessed killers (we know they’re possessed because they wear bright contact lenses) that it loses control of the various horror components it’s trying to squeeze in, resulting in an otherworldly mess that fails to generate any real tension and the slow pace gives us too much time to think about the story’s lapses in logic. Director Simon Verhoeven brings some style to the proceedings but all the various scare devices and horror images he throws on the screen often feel lazy and old-school (though after last week’s MOTHER!, perhaps comfortingly so). The acting is exceptionally good. Alycia Debnam-Carey’s Laura has a breezy charm that’s most appealing while Liesl Ahlers generates real sympathy. FRIEND REQUEST breaks no new ground, but if you’re looking for cheap thrills and have already seen IT, you could probably do worse.
Virtual reality gets real for some unsuspecting people on behalf of FRIEND REQUEST. Take a look to see what happens when signing up for a brand new VR experience takes a shockingly fun turn! Entertainment Studios Motions Pictures’ new horror film, starring Alycia Debnam-Carey, William Moseley and Connor Paolo, scares its way into theaters this Friday!
Popular college student Laura (Alycia Debnam-Carey) has tons of friends, both on Facebook and IRL. She graciously accepts social outcast Marina’s (Liesl Ahlers) online friend request, until Marina crosses the line and Laura unfriends her. To everyone’s shock, Marina takes her own life in a ritual meant to torment Laura, which appears in a video posted on Laura’s profile. Even though it wasn’t Laura who posted the video, or other creepy content that begins appearing on her page, her Facebook friend count begins to dwindle as a result. When her real-life friends start dying mysterious, cruel deaths, Laura must figure out how to break the deadly curse before it’s too late.
With awards season approaching it’s time to get serious at the multiplex, at least for some actors that may be best known for rowdy raunchy comedies. That may be the case for Ben Stiller who’s playing this flick’s title character. Mind you, there’s still some funny stuff in this story, we’re not in heavy, somber tragedy territory at all. It’s just that Ben is playing an “everyman”. a fellow that many of us know, or “down deep” the person staring back at us from the mirror. Oddly, this man is constantly reflecting on his past, his regrets, and choices. These concerns and worries make up the bulk of BRAD’S STATUS.
The title Brad is played by Mr. Stiller. Brad Sloan is sliding toward the big “5-0” and shares a home in Sacramento, CA with his lovely wife Melanie (Jenna Fisher) and their eighteen year-old aspiring musician son Troy (Austin Abrams). He’s about to go on a college “scouting” tour of East Coast schools with his pop (mom has a big work conference to attend). This prompts Brad to recall his old college days at Tufts (a quaint smaller campus) and compare his life to those of his old classmates. Seems every time Brad channel surfs past a TV political show, one of the “talking heads” is old buddy Craig Fisher (Michael Sheen) a former White House staffer, now published pundit. Then there’s Wall Street whiz Jason Hatfield (Luke Wilson) who’s crisscrossing the globe in his private jet. Billy Wearstler (Jemaine Clement) made a bundle on a tech gizmo and has retired to an Hawaiian island (with two much younger ladies). And Nick Pascale (Mike White) is a celebrated Hollywood producer. As for Brad, he’s running a not-for-profit organization (connecting rich donors to charities) and wondering if he can pay for Troy’s college. But soon into the trip Troy drops a bombshell: his academic counselor said he could get into any school he wanted, including, dare we say, Havard. This energizes Brad who is now “laser-focused” on getting his son into the prestigious college. But when the interview is fouled up, can he get things “back on track” via his old campus pals? Or will he get the “brush off’ (guess the newer term is “ghosted”)?
After several years of franchise flicks (NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, MEET THE PARENTS), Stiller reminds us of his considerable dramatic acting “chops”. It’s a thoughtful, quiet performance as he lets eyes (and furrowed brow) do quite a bit of the “heavy lifting” on Brad. The “weight of the world” seems to be on his weary wobbly shoulders as he shuffles through the campus “quads”. Luckily there are the lighter moments and Stiller handles them with subtlety (this from Zoolander?) particularly as he tries to bluff his way past several school officials. Stiller also shows us Brad’s warmth especially in the low-key, “just hangin’ out” at the hotel bits with his son. Abrams is a great partner with Stiller, particularly when he calms down his frenzied father, balancing exasperated embarrassment (the mortified teen) with affection that affirms their deep bond. Though she gets less screen time than him, Fisher is superb as another soothing voice, Brad’s “rock” and Troy’s very proud Mum. It’s a shame that for the bulk of the film she’s regulated to another “wife on the phone”, but thanks to Fisher’s solid work, her presence is always felt. As in the recent HOME AGAIN, Sheen is the hissable villain, though he’s much more complex this time out. Smug and stuffy, as Fisher he haunts Brad like a “ghost of Christmas past”, a reminder of missed chances. Craig does come through in a pinch, but at the dinner reunion with Brad, he reveals his casual cruelty, unaware of the consequences of his actions and words. In between historical figures (Blair, Frost, etc.) Sheen has played many arrogant jerks, but with this script he injects the film with an acidic giddy energy. Wilson and Clement have extended cameos in phone conversations with Stiller, but both deliver the dramatic and comedic “goods”. One supporting actor who’ll soon be on every studios’ “radar” is young Shazi Raja who plays Ananya, a former classmate of Troy’s who is already in the music program at Harvard. A meeting and conversation with her stirs up Brad’s nostalgia for his collegian sense of exploration, perhaps reminding him of lost school crushes. We’re led to think that Brad is smitten, but at a late night cocktail minus Troy, she delivers a scathing “wake up call” in one of the film’s best scenes. Yes, the camera “loves” her, but Raja projects an intelligence and strength that takes the story in a compelling direction.
Mike White may be best known as a writer (SCHOOL OF ROCK, THE GOOD GIRL) and occasional actor (he has no dialogue as Nick Pascale as we see him living in “the lap of luxury” with hubby Xavier), but he shows great skill as a director in this his second feature film ten years after YEAR OF THE DOG. He keeps the story (which he wrote) gliding along at a brisk pace and peppers the flick with some clever fantasy sequences (what if Troy becomes a jerk). Working with the gifted musician Mark Mothersbaugh, White balances Brad’s voiceover with his interior soundtrack that shifts gears as he plunges from euphoria to depression. And White gets great work from several screen vets and a couple of talented newcomers who serve his wise script very well. It’s a thoughtful funny spin on the old “the grass is always greener” adage, showing why “coveting” is mentioned so much in the ten commandments. Despite his restless nights full of worry, BRAD’S STATUS is pretty darned positive. Just like this engaging little film.
Before you see the movie Jigsaw in theaters October 27th, experience this horror based escape room at The Darkness!
Horror Escape puts players inside the movie where they find themselves with a life and death decision…one member of your group must die to save the rest. Will you survive?
The new 3-minute Escape Room experience opens the first weekend of October. It is located at the exit of The Darkness, plays up to five people and costs $5.00 per person. The totally renovated Darkness opens September 22nd. This new attraction at The Darkness joins their Zombie Laser Tag, Terror Visions, St Louis Escape, Outdoor Scream Zone.
At scarefest.com they’re ready for the most horrifying time of the year in St. Louis. Named among the top 13 haunts in the country, the terrifying attractions of Scarefest.com — The Darkness and Creepyworld Haunted Screampark —are ready to open on September 22.
Check out this terrifying trailer for JIGSAW:
THE DARKNESS
This year The Darkness is celebrating Its 24th Year of Fear. The Darkness Haunted House, St Louis’ longest running haunted house, has now doubled in size. The seasonal attraction now features several all-new offerings, including Zombie Laser Tag where guests hunt, kill and eradicate real zombies. The Darkness also features Silo-X haunted house where visitors are the prey of flesh-eating zombies.
The Darkness has been totally renovated again for 2017, adding a new indoor interactive queue line with monsters, special effects, and a new three-minute Jigsaw Horror Escape Room inside the facility’s Monster Museum. The Darkness won best float in the Soulard Mardi Gras Grand Parade and now those same monsters will haunt the streets outside the Darkness in 2017. See the monsters of the Darkness at the 2017 Mardi Gras Parade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg0vKT32Kg0
Horror fans should be prepared to scream inside the biggest, scariest Darkness ever. The Darkness was recently rated the best haunted house in America by Faceoff TV show Judge Glenn Hetrick. See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX9e4w4leV0.
Representatives from the worldwide Haunted House industry visited The Darkness in March of 2017 and acclaimed the Darkness 2017 as the best haunted attraction in the industry. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVWVeeaAZjk&t=137s
LOUIS ESCAPE
St Louis Escape is located inside the Darkness complex. The escape room attraction now features four highly themed escape rooms, including the Haunted Hotel, Cellar Escape, Subway Escape and Mummy Escape. St. Louis Escape also features new party rooms and an amazing themed lobby. Booking for Escape rooms can be found at www.StLouisEscape.com.
The Darkness and St. Louis Escape are located at in the Soulard neighborhood, just south of downtown St. Louis and next to the historic Soulard Market at 1525 South 8th Street, St. Louis, Mo. 63104.
Creepyworld is America’s Biggest Haunted Screampark, now with 13 haunted attractions in one location including two all-new haunted attractions: Trick R Treat Haunted Hayride and Quarantine World War Zombie. Creepyworld also features haunted houses themed around zombies, clowns, hospitals, prisons, cemeteries, corn mazes and even Krampus, a Christmas Horror Story.
An all-new world-class Haunted Hayride is being opened at Creepyworld for the 2017 season. This hayride enters the deadliest neighborhood ever created, home to serial killers, slashers, demons, and worse. Trick R Treat haunted hayride is filled with amazing special effects, animations and Hollywood-style set design. To see how big Creepyworld is, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8VZ5sQfbRg
Creepyworld is located at 1400 S Old Highway 141, Fenton, MO 63026.
Her legend begins. Check out the first trailer for TOMB RAIDER starring Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft. The film directed by Roar Uthaug (The Wave) also stars Dominic West (The Wire) and Walton Goggins (The Hateful Eight) arrives in cinemas March 2018.
Lara Croft is the fiercely independent daughter of an eccentric adventurer who vanished when she was scarcely a teen. Now a young woman of 21 without any real focus or purpose, Lara navigates the chaotic streets of trendy East London as a bike courier, barely making the rent, and takes college courses, rarely making it to class. Determined to forge her own path, she refuses to take the reins of her father’s global empire just as staunchly as she rejects the idea that he’s truly gone.
Advised to face the facts and move forward after seven years without him, even Lara can’t understand what drives her to finally solve the puzzle of his mysterious death.Going explicitly against his final wishes, she leaves everything she knows behind in search of her dad’s last-known destination: a fabled tomb on a mythical island that might be somewhere off the coast of Japan. But her mission will not be an easy one; just reaching the island will be extremely treacherous. Suddenly, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Lara, who—against the odds and armed with only her sharp mind, blind faith and inherently stubborn spirit—must learn to push herself beyond her limits as she journeys into the unknown. If she survives this perilous adventure, it could be the making of her, earning her the name tomb raider.
L.O.R.D: LEGEND OF RAVAGING DYNASTIES, starringFan Bingbing and Kris Wu, will be available onDVD, Digital HD,and On Demand next Tuesday, September 26th
In an ancient world of magic and monsters, mystical lords must save their kingdom in L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties,arriving on DVD, Digital HD and On Demand September 26 from Lionsgate. From the visual effects team behind James Cameron’s Avatar and Warcraft, this computer- animated, motion-capture, action-adventure odyssey stars Kris Wu and Fan Bingbing as sorcerers battling an evil traitor in order to restore peace to the kingdom. Based on the fantastic and epic novels by Guo Jingming, the L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.98.
Supernatural warriors clash with dark forces of evil in this electrifying fantasy-adventure. In a distant time, seven lords who wield powers beyond imagination share dominion over a world. But when one lord falls from grace, the others summon all their magic to stop an epic war that is ravaging the land — and threatening the order of the universe.
CAST
Fan Bingbing Iron Man 3, X-Men: Days of Future Past
Kris Wu xXx: Return of Xander Cage, The Mermaid
Cheney Chen The Great Wall, TV’s “Yes! Mr. Fashion”
Check out the L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties trailer:
