In the early 1960s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. Forming his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement, making a controversial choice that reverberates worldwide.
Timothée Chalamet stars and sings as Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, the electric true story behind the rise of one of the most iconic singer-songwriters in history.
The film also stars Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash and Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie.
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, a film by James Mangold. Only in theaters Christmas Day.
The St. Louis screening is at 7pm on Dec 17th at The Alamo Drafthouse (6pm Suggested Arrival).
New York, early 1960s. Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives in the West Village with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. As he forms his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement and, refusing to be defined, makes a controversial choice that culturally reverberates worldwide. Timothée Chalamet stars and sings as Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, the electric true story behind the rise of one of the most iconic singer-songwriters in history.
Here’s a look at the brand new trailer.
Wow – he sounds just like Dylan, especially with the singing.
James Mangold has directed two biopic movies. WALK THE LINK (2005), the story of Johnny Cash starring Joaquin Phoenix as Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter Cash. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it earned Phoenix and Witherspoon Academy Award nominations. FORD V FERRARI (2019) told the true story of Ford’s attempt to beat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1966. Christian Bale and Matt Damon starred and the film was a critical and commercial success, earning both actors Academy Award nominations.
In addition to these two biopics, Mangold has also directed a number of other successful films, including COP LAND, GIRL, INTERRUPTED, IDENTITY, 3:10 TO YUMA, THE WOLVERINE, and LOGAN.
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN opens in theaters on December 25.
Set in the influential New York music scene of the early 60s, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician BOB DYLAN’s (Timothée Chalamet) meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts – his songs and mystique becoming a worldwide sensation – culminating in his groundbreaking electric rock and roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.
From Searchlight Pictures, check out the brand new trailer.
The cast also includes Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, Dan Fogler, Norbert Leo Butz and Scoot McNairy.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine, director James Mangold spoke about Timothée Chalamet’s performance:
“And I think he does an incredible job of growing the character up, because one of the things I think that will be startling is, most Dylan fans don’t focus on the boy in the newsboy cap who’s arriving in town. And Timmy really carries this character from a 19-year-old boy telling tales of working on the carnival into this person that we recognize as an icon. Timmy finds the path to carry us there. It’s going to be impossible for people in trailers or teasers or photos to see, but the way he grows this character is a real act of acting brilliance in my opinion.”
This weekend sees the release of a brand new film from an acclaimed director with an all-star cast that’s a cinematic “call-back” to a genre that’s gone AWOL from the multiplexes and even the drive-ins (still enjoying a pandemic “bump) for the last few decades. And no, I’m not talking about the Western, which gallops back with Kevin Costner in the saddle next week. Well, there are a few comparisons, though these flicks began in the fifties and were an exploitation staple (a fave of the “passion pit”) into the swingin’ 70s. Going for more speed than the “oaters” were the “motorcycle gang” action epics, which have played a big role in the futuristic world of Mad Max and Furioisa. Now, this flick has those elements, but it’s more of a historical overview following some guys, and a few gals, who really thought of themselves as a “club” rather than a “gang” which accounts for their more genteel designation as THE BIKERIDERS.
It all begins quietly in mid-70s suburbia as photojournalist Danny Lyon (Mike Faist) catches up with a past “subject”. Kathy (Jodie Comer) tells him of a fateful night at a Chicago bar in the late 50s where she encountered the Vandals Motorcycle Club and became smitten with one of its senior members, the silent smoldering Benny (Austin Butler). When he offers her a lift on his cycle, he remains outside her apartment driving away her current beau. Of course, she had to marry him a couple of weeks later. Kathy then also becomes a part of CVMC and meets its leader/founder Johnny (Tom Hardy) who was inspired by watching THE WILD ONE on TV. His group is more of a family with several of his “surrogate sons”. There’s the lumbering, spacey Zipco (Michael Shannon), and their devious mechanic Cal (Boyd Holbrook) whose past membership with a West Coast club catches up to him when Funny Sonny (Norman Reedus) tracks him down, who then also “changes colors” Through the years the club clashes with rival crews and the local police while slowly expanding. But their growth isn’t fast enough for a much younger “upstart” called “the Kid” (Toby Wallace). Over the miles traveled and wild antics, Danny is recording it all on reel-to-reel tapes and snapping lots of pics. But the good times are threatened by the influx of drug-dealing (and using) returning vets, violent crime, and the Kid’s less “civil’ cohorts which may put an end to Johnny’s dream of leading his pals on an endless cruise down the highways and byways in pursuit of “new kicks”.
As two of the main leads a pair of lauded Brits do a splendid job of delivering accents from the upper Midwest. Comer mixes the Windy City vocal styling with a good chunk of Minnesota (thinking of Marge from the film FARGO) as the no-nonsense devoted biker spouse Kathy. She’s tender and fiercely protective of her Benny while not taking any “guff’ from him as he makes several questionable choices. Hardy’s Johnny is an affable everyman who often opts for the “hard way” in guiding the group and keeping his “alpha dog” rep, though Benny brings out his warm patriarchal instincts. Though he’s often staring intently and saying little, Butler as Benny is a compelling “hair trigger” nearly always settling “beefs” with his fists rather than his words. Shannon only has a few scenes to shine, but he makes the most of this character role giving Zipco a dense clueless sweetness. Ditto for Holbrook when Cal boasts and brags about his garage “magic” to rescue the banged-up bikes from the scrap heap. Faist is the fascinated outsider, drawn to danger even as his “models” are perplexed by his probing and constant documentation. Reedus seems to be having a blast as the “Cali-transplant” as he whips his tangled mane and flashes a set of truly gnarly “chopper” (teeth, not bikes). And hovering at the edge, Wallace simmers with anger and just oozes dread and doom.
Writer/director Jeff Nichols concocts a sprawling multi-decade saga from the real-life Danny Lyon’s same-titled book of photo-essays (many of those great silver images are seen in the end credits). He recreates the eras quite well, but we never really get into the heads of the principals to explore their need for this “fellowship” and their urge to act on any impulse. The near-constant parties (many are almost orgies) harken back to the Roger Corman (miss you, sir) seminal speed thriller WILD ANGELS more than the Brando classic. But Nichols really heightens the tension before the first punch, and doesn’t shy away from the resulting agony (Benny really pays a big price for his stubbornness). As the story progresses Nichols’ vision steers the story into the gangster genre (he’s said that GOODFELLAS was a big influence) with the anti-drug stance of the GODFATHER trilogy. But there’s a bit of a nod to ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD.. with the darkness of the late 60s souring the “good vibes” of the early part of the decade. Soon the film bounces back and forth through the timeline making it merely a cool nostalgic stitching of various setpieces with this great cast “cosplaying” as the brawlers and “gear-heads”. It all finishes abruptly in the 1970s leaving us wondering just how some of the principals “settled down” and why they chose ths path. THE BIKERIDERS looks and sounds great, but the last stop isn’t worthy of the meandering trek, sputtering when it should soar through the years.
Harrison Ford returns to the role of the legendary hero archaeologist for this highly anticipated final installment of the iconic franchise– a big, globe-trotting, rip-roaring cinematic adventure. Starring along with Ford are Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”), Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory”), John Rhys-Davies (Raiders of the Lost Ark), Shaunette Renée Wilson (“Black Panther”), Thomas Kretschmann (“Das Boot”), Toby Jones (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”), Boyd Holbrook (“Logan”), Olivier Richters (“Black Widow”), Ethann Isidore (“Mortel”) and Mads Mikkelsen (“Another Round”).
Directed by James Mangold (“Ford v Ferrari,” “Logan”) and written by Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth and David Koepp and James Mangold, based on characters created by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman, the film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel, with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas serving as executive producers. John Williams, who has scored each Indy adventure since the original Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981, has once again composed the score.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 14: Marquee display at the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny U.S. Premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on June 14, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Fans and celebrities turned out on Wednesday evening for the U.S. Premiere of Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. In attendance at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood were stars Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Olivier Richters and Ethann Isidore; Director/Writer James Mangold; Producers Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel; Executive Producers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas; and Composer John Williams.
Alongside the cast and filmmakers introducing the movie, the audience was also treated to a surprise 15-minute orchestral performance of the iconic “Indiana Jones” theme music, conducted by John Williams himself.
The film opens in theaters on June 30.
Harrison Ford returns to the role of the legendary hero archaeologist for this highly anticipated final installment of the iconic franchise– a big, globe-trotting, rip-roaring cinematic adventure. Starring along with Ford are Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”), Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory”), John Rhys-Davies (Raiders of the Lost Ark), Shaunette Renée Wilson (“Black Panther”), Thomas Kretschmann (“Das Boot”), Toby Jones (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”), Boyd Holbrook (“Logan”), Olivier Richters (“Black Widow”), Ethann Isidore (“Mortel”) and Mads Mikkelsen (“Another Round”). Directed by James Mangold (“Ford v Ferrari,” “Logan”) and written by Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth and David Koepp and James Mangold, based on characters created by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman, the film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel, with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas serving as executive producers.
John Williams, who has scored each Indy adventure since the original Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981, has once again composed the score.
Check out the photos from the emotional night.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 14: (L-R) Harrison Ford and George Lucas attend the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny U.S. Premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on June 14, 2023. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Disney)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 14: Steven Spielberg attends the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny U.S. Premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on June 14, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 14: (L-R) Bob Iger, CEO, Walt Disney Company, John Williams, George Lucas, James Mangold, Harrison Ford, Kathleen Kennedy, President, Lucasfilm, Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall and Alan Bergman, Chairman, Disney Studios Content attends the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny U.S. Premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on June 14, 2023. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Disney)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 14: Set design details at the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny U.S. Premiere after party at The Hollywood Roosevelt in Hollywood, California on June 14, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 14: (L-R) Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Karen Allen and James Mangold attend the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny U.S. Premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on June 14, 2023. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Disney)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 14: Costume props at the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny U.S. Premiere after party at The Hollywood Roosevelt in Hollywood, California on June 14, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 14: John Williams performs onstage during the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny U.S. Premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on June 14, 2023. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Disney)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 14: Cast and crew onstage during the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny U.S. Premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on June 14, 2023. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Disney)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 14: (L-R) Kathleen Kennedy, President, Lucasfilm, John Williams, and James Mangold attend the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny U.S. Premiere after party at The Hollywood Roosevelt in Hollywood, California on June 14, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 14: John Williams performs onstage during the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny U.S. Premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on June 14, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
And finally…
Indiana Jones and Short Round reunited in Hollywood on Wednesday night.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 14: (L-R) Ke Huy Quan and Harrison Ford attend the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny U.S. Premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on June 14, 2023. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Disney)
Ke Huy Quan surprised Harrison Ford at the “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” star-studded premiere in Hollywood.
Quan won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in March for his role in “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”
“The Goonies” actor played Short Round, the trusty sidekick of the fictional archeologist, in 1984’s “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.”
(L to R) Ashton Kutcher as Quentin Sellers and B.J. Novak as Ben Manalowitz in VENGEANCE, written and directed by B.J. Novak and released by Focus Features. Credit: Patti Perret / Focus Features
As Summer begins its transformation into Fall, the studios are still offering virtual getaways at the local multiplex. This newest “travel tale’ also combines the popular theme of the “fish out of water” with a protagonist in very unfamiliar surroundings. Now, the movie marketing folks are hitting this aspect hard in the trailers and TV spots, making it appear to be an edgy modern spin on the cult fave TV sitcom “Green Acres” where a “city feller'” was flummoxed by the simple “country folk” (who often got the better of him). Oh but don’t be misled. There’s a lot more going on in this film since it comes from one of the busiest creative minds in the media today. And he stars in it, as an intellectual who’s never really felt a burning desire for VENGEANCE.
The story’s cerebral center is Ben Manalowitz (B.J. Novak), a writer/podcast journalist living in the Big Apple. Actually, the film’s opening sequence is far from NYC as we watch a young woman frantically texting on her cell phone as she crawls past several oil derricks on a remote dusty hill. But back to Ben. That same night, his unexpected “booty call” is interrupted by an early morning “unknown” caller. The distraught voice tells Ben that his “girlfriend” Abeline is dead and pleads with him to attend her funeral. The fact that Ben doesn’t recall her indeed complicates things even further. And he really doesn’t want to travel all the way to Texas. Oh, but this could end his “writer’s block”. Ben contacts his editor at the podcast communication company, Eloise (Issa Rae), and sells her on the idea of making his “journey” into an audio series highlighting the divide in the nation. She agrees to ship him the recording equipment. After several connecting flights Ben meets the “caller” at the airport: Abeline’s still distraught brother Ty Shaw (Boyd Holbrook), who drives him straight to the memorial. The photos of him with the “dearly departed” jog Ben’s memory. They “hooked up” a few times over the last couple of years, but she told everyone that he was her long-distance beau. Soon Ben meets the family who insists he stay at the Shaw house (and he can take Abeline’s room). At dinner, Ty tells Ben that they will track down those drug dealers responsible for his sister’s overdose death (“She never even took an Advil!”). But can the meek Manhatten writer really join Ty on his quest for vengeance?
In the lead role, Novak confidently hits all the required emotional ‘marks”. In the opening scenes he’s required to almost be the “straight man” to many of the “great unwashed” he encounters on his travels. But Ben subtly shifts, his journalistic curiosity “kicks in” and he’s a determined seeker of truth, even as he’s out of his element amidst the escalating violence. Though mainly known as a “master of snark”, Novak makes a compelling though unlikely screen hero. Also drawing us in is Ashton Kutcher as a most engaging and enigmatic ‘suspect”, Quentin Sellers, the smart and shady owner of the recording studio where Abilene Shaw pursued her dreams of performing. In their “interrogations” Quentin bobs and weaves like a fighter, never allowing Ben to “land a punch”. And Kutcher’s “trash-stash” just oozes evil. More straightforward is Holbrook as Ty, whose bravado masks his crippling grief, with a swaggering “good ole’ boy” way of seeking justice. And though he adds to the humor with his ignorance, he’s a protective partner to Ben. J-Smith-Cameron brings a lot of grit to her role as the wounded family matriarch Sharon, who opens her heart to Ben without revealing everything. Her mother, played by Louanne Stephens, is rougher ‘around the edges” as she tosses off bits of unfiltered wisdom to Ben. Lio Tipton is a sad specter as Abilene, who is haunting in the images and videos that inspire Ben. Ms. Rae makes for a great emotional and professional anchor for Novack as the boss who slowly begins to care about him more than the story. Kudos also to Dove Cameron as the kid sister who, like many of her age, only desires to be famous, no matter the reason.
And Mr. Novak does the “hat trick’ by also writing and directing this, his first feature film (after lots of TV work, most notably the US version of “The Office”). As with his acting work, director Novack “switches gears” going from boozy NYC nightlife to the eerie desolation of dusty Texas (actually New Mexico doubling here)., with the churning oil derricks belching fire into the dark night sky, giving it a Hellish glow. The humorous scenes are never overplayed with quick close-ups or choppy editing, allowing the tossed-off retorts to sneak in and build. But as the story progresses it begins to take on the tempo of the classic film noir, with Ben as the gumshoe that’s not intimidated by the boisterous “packing” yahoos. Unfortunately, the film’s final act becomes a bit too “talky” with characters delivering long soliloquies, hammering in a sometimes clever, sometimes obvious commentary on the current state of America. But the final denouncement should inspire some thought about the resolution and how it would affect the protagonists. So, though it’s not what the marketers are selling, VENGEANCE gives viewers more to ponder than the usual “city slicker” farces.
Focus features has your first look at the brand new poster for VENGEANCE.
VENGEANCE, the directorial debut from writer and star B.J. Novak (“The Office”), is a darkly comic thriller about Ben Manalowitz, a journalist and podcaster who travels from New York City to West Texas to investigate the death of a girl he was hooking up with. With an ensemble cast that includes Issa Rae, Ashton Kutcher, Boyd Holbrook, J. Smith-Cameron, and Dove Cameron.
Focus Features will releaseVENGEANCE in theaters on Friday, July 29th
(L to R) Ashton Kutcher as Quentin Sellers and B.J. Novak as Ben Manalowitz in VENGEANCE, written and directed by B.J. Novak and released by Focus Features. Credit: Patti Perret / Focus Features
(L to R) B.J. Novak as Ben Manalowitz and Boyd Holbrook as Ty Shaw in VENGEANCE, directed and written by B.J. Novak and released by Focus Features. Credit: Patti Perret/Focus Features
VENGEANCE, the directorial debut from writer and star B.J. Novak (“The Office”), is a darkly comic thriller about Ben Manalowitz, a journalist and podcaster who travels from New York City to West Texas to investigate the death of a girl he was hooking up with.
With an ensemble cast that includes Issa Rae, Ashton Kutcher, Boyd Holbrook, J. Smith-Cameron, and Dove Cameron, Focus Features will release VENGEANCE in theaters on Friday, July 29th. Also written by B.J. Novak, the film is produced by Jason Blum, Adam Hendricks, Greg Gilreath.
Check out the trailer now and see VENGEANCE in theaters July 29.
It was announced earlier this month that VENGEANCE will be the Centerpiece Film at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.
Ready for growing hair, sprouting teeth, and howling at the moon that is a Werewolf horror movie?
Director Sean Ellis’ gothic thriller The Cursed will be released in theaters on February 18, 2022. Written and helmed by Sean Ellis, The Cursed stars Boyd Holbrook (The Sandman, The Fugitive, Logan), Kelly Reilly (Yellowstone, True Detective, Above Suspicion) and Alistair Petrie (Sex Education, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Night Manager) in a reimagining of the werewolf legend.
Ellis said: “The Cursed was born from the desire to reimagine and update the Werewolf legend for a modern day audience. I wanted to play on the known folklore of the legend and give it a fresh approach to the cliched story devices that have been copied from the original 1941 film, The Wolf Man.”
In the late 1800s, a once-peaceful remote country village is under attack—but by who or what, no one knows. Villagers spread rumors of a cursed land, supernatural forces, and even demonic creatures, as the disappearances and killings continue. Pathologist John McBride arrives to investigate the danger, only to discover something much deeper and more sinister than he ever could have imagined.
Released by LD Entertainment, the film is produced by Ellis, Mickey Liddell and Pete Shilaimon, and executive produced by Alison Semenza and Jacob Yakob. Ellis also shot the film. Formerly titled Eight for Silver, the film premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
Filmmaker Sean Ellis commented, “Sundance is always an incredible place to showcase your work. In the time that has followed that valuable experience, we took the opportunity to invigorate the film with an updated score by Lorne Balfe; we changed much of the CGI and decided to put back much of the original in-camera effects. We also elevated elements of the story that pay tribute to the incredible multitude of layers that live within the horror genre.”
LD’s Mickey Liddell and Pete Shilaimon said, “We set out to make a genre film with an incredibly talented filmmaker. Sean Ellis has created a story that is so much more than that: it’s timely, scary as hell, and most importantly unique. We are thrilled for people to finally see Sean’s striking vision on the big screen.”
