Tag: christopher lloyd

NOBODY 2 – Review

Bob Odenkirk as Hutch Mansell in NOBODY 2, directed by Timo Tjahjanto. Courtesy of Universal Studios

Regular readers of mine and other reviewers are undoubtedly familiar with the complaint about “sequel drop-off.” Follow-ups trying to cash in on the popularity of the first rarely match the magic. In fact, that phenomenon is so common that disappointing scions usually get more of a sigh of resignation than outrage. The latter is saved for lame remakes and re-boots. The superfluous re-creations of THE BISHOP’S WIFE and MR. AND MRS. SMITH come readily to mind as particularly odious. This one’s thankfully at the opposite end of the spectrum. Ain’t no drop-off to be found in NOBODY 2.

I loved NOBODY notably because of its surprise factor. Hutch (Bob Odenkirk) appears to be an ordinary suburban nebbish whose life is drab, drab, drab. Dull job; cookie-cutter cul-de-sac. An UNfunny Rodney Dangerfield on the respect scale. He’s easily pushed around by others and dismissed by his own family. That’s until someone presses the wrong button, unleashing the inner demons of a highly skilled former covert operative, akin to Jason Statham’s BEEKEEPER character. The resulting film blended high-octane action with character comedy to deliver a real hoot for viewers.

This isn’t a new premise by any means, but the aforementioned surprise factor of its “reveal” was greatly enhanced by its titular star. Odenkirk had been known for offbeat skit comedy and his sketchy Saul Goodman lawyer persona from “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.” Nothing in his resume presaged a guy who would suddenly kick ass without bothering to take names.

Rather than just trading on unsealing the can of whoop-ass we already know exists within him, they upped the ante on the action. Big time. In the first, the inner Hutch was triggered by a home invasion. This time it’s bullies ruining the peaceful vacation he’d planned for his family (Connie Nielsen, with kids Gage Munroe and Paisley Cadorath) at a huge amusement park. That venue was picked because it was Hutch’s only childhood trip with his dad (Christopher Lloyd) and brother (RZA), and he wanted to share that joyful memory with his brood. But, much like “Wonder World” in BEVERLY HILLS COP III, beneath the noisy, colorful attractions lurks a major criminal enterprise – this one run by psycho-bitch Lendina (Sharon Stone, channeling Snow White’s evil queen with a heavy dose of Pacino’s Scarface), who blithely kills anyone who crosses her, including all innocent witnesses unlucky enough to be in the vicinity. It’s tough to top the Russian mobsters of the original, but she and her minions manage quite nicely.

As before, the film opens with a battered Hutch being interrogated by a couple of detectives wondering who he could be, and then cutting to the main story from its beginning, leading to the inevitable climactic battle that out-dazzles the warehouse shootout of the first in all respects. The heavy dose of violence is again tinged with varying degrees of comedy. This production is further boosted by a few plus factors. The family is more involved. Hutch’s struggle to just have the intended vacation despite growing obstacles, due to no fault of his own, is more emotional. And casting Colin Hanks as one of the bad guys, unlike anything we’d expect from him or his daddy, Tom, adds to the comic value.

Despite changes of writers and director, the result is just what fans of the first hoped it would be. For pure escapist fun, including bad guys gettin’ blowed up real good, NOBODY 2 is as close as you can get to a sure bet.

NOBODY 2 opens in theaters on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025.

RATING: 3.5 out of 4 stars

Win Passes To The St. Louis Advance Screening Of NOBODY 2

THIS SUMMER, NOBODY RUINS HIS VACATION!  UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS BOB ODENKIRK IN NOBODY 2.  RATED R. 

ONLY IN THEATERS AUGUST 15TH.

The St. Louis screening is at 7PM on Tuesday on Aug 12th at The Galleria 6 Cine. (6pm Suggested Arrival) 

ENTER HERE FOR PASSES: http://gofobo.com/VoiGL05692

Please arrive early as seating is not guaranteed.

Nobody 2

Sometimes the most dangerous place for a dad is a family vacation.

Bob Odenkirk returns as suburban husband, father and workaholic assassin Hutch Mansell in the new chapter to Nobody, the hit 2021 bare-knuckle action-thriller that opened at number one at the U.S. box office.

Four years after he inadvertently took on the Russian mob, Hutch remains $30 million in debt to the criminal organization and is working it off with an unending string of hits on international thugs.

Much as he likes the slam-bang action of his “job,” Hutch and his wife Becca (International Emmy nominee Connie Nielsen) find themselves overworked and drifting apart. So, they decide to take their kids (Gage Munroe, Paisley Cadorath) on a short getaway to Wild Bill’s Majestic Midway and Waterpark, the one and only place where Hutch and his brother Harry (Grammy and Emmy nominee RZA) went on a vacation as kids.

With Hutch’s dad (Emmy winner Christopher Lloyd) in tow, the family arrives in the small tourist town of Plummerville (“Plummerville is Summerville!”), eager for some fun in the sun.

But when a minor encounter with some town bullies yanks the family into the crosshairs of a corrupt theme-park operator (John Ortiz; Fast and Furious franchise, Bumblebee) and his shady sheriff (Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Colin Hanks), Hutch finds himself the focus of the most unhinged, blood-thirsty crime boss he (or anyone) has ever encountered (Emmy winning and Oscar® nominated screen icon, Sharon Stone).

Nobody 2 is an 87North/Eighty Two Films/Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment production, directed by Timo Tjahjanto (The Night Comes for Us, The Big 4). The screenplay is by returning writer Derek Kolstad (John Wick, Die Hart) and by Aaron Rabin (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan), from a story by Derek Kolstad, based on characters created by Derek Kolstad.

This film’s returning producers are 87North founders Kelly McCormick (Bullet Train, The Fall Guy) and David Leitch (Bullet Train, The Fall Guy); Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment founder Marc Provissiero (No Hard Feelings, PEN15), Eighty Two Films founder Braden Aftergood (Hell or High Water, Samaritan); and Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad). The executive producer is David Hyman.

The stunt designer and coordinator is GREG REMENTER (Bullet Train, Nobody), the stunt coordinator is KYLE MCLEAN (Bullet Train, Black Adam) and the fight choreographer is KIRK JENKINS (Bullet Train, Nobody). The motorcycle driver is RICK SKENE (Nobody, The Ice Road) and the stunt rigging coordinator is NEIL ADAMS (Nobody, Violent Night).

The film’s director of photography is CALLAN GREEN ACS, NZCS (The Enforcer, The Gentlemen); the production designer is MICHAEL DINER (supervising art director Killers of the Flower Moon, art director Jurassic World: Dominion) and the costume designer is PATRICIA J. HENDERSON (Nobody, Under the Bridge). The film is edited by ELÍSABET RONALDSDÓTTIR ACE (Bullet Train, John Wick), and the music is by DOMINIC LEWIS (Bullet Train, The Fall Guy). The casting is by MARY VERNIEU CSA (Alien: Romulus, The Fall Guy) & LINSDAY GRAHAM AHANONU CSA (The Fall Guy, The Last of Us).

Bob Odenkirk as Hutch Mansell in Nobody 2, directed by Timo Tjahjanto.

THE TENDER BAR – Review

BEN AFFLECK and TYE SHERIDAN star in TENDER BAR Photo: CLAIRE FOLGER © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC

Every family has some quirkiness but this one more than most, with Ben Affleck as a bartender uncle who guides the young J.R. (Tye Sheridan) to adulthood, in the comic coming-of-age tale THE TENDER BAR. Based on J.R. Moehringer’s memoir of the same name, George Clooney directs this story of a fatherless boy stumbling towards career and love, with the help of a colorful assortment of relatives, particularly Uncle Charlie (Affleck) who offers advice and support in a bar that is pretty much home.

Mixing affection, youthful adventure, and humor, THE TENDER BAR is a charmer, that features not only Affleck but Christopher Lloyd as J.R.’s grouchy grandpa and Lily Rabe as his beloved hard-working, emotionally-overwhelmed mother, working so hard that J.R. hardly sees her. But while J.R.’s hard-drinking, unreliable father may be absent, the boy has no shortage of colorful working-class father figures eager to help the boy out, and especially see that he has some fun too. Affleck’s charismatic, self-educated Uncle Charlie dispenses whiskey, classic books and advice from behind the bar at a neighborhood pub named for Charles Dickens in Manhasset, Long Island. The whole family lives together in Grandpa’s rambling, decaying old house, much to Grandpa’s dismay.

Affleck is having a very good year. Here, he delivers one of his most appealing performances in years, a kind of working class tough guy with the highest of ethical standards and an insistence that his nephew always do the right thing and be his best self. It is a wonderful follow up the to actor’s against-type performance in THE LAST DUEL, a complete opposite role where Affleck plays a charming but treacherous nobleman, one of the film’s villains, who encourages bad behavior and is a corrupting force rather than an ethically elevating one.

THE TENDER BAR tends to have a story that wanders a bit, reflecting J.R.’s own journey towards career and romance. Daniel Ranieri plays the very young J.R., who longs for his absent father, while Tye Sheridan plays the teen and adult J.R. Winning a scholarship to Yale, J.R. goes off to college, determined to be a writer, no small feat with no money to support him. He meets the girl of his dreams, although the young woman’s upper-middle class bi-racial family greets him coolly and the young woman herself blows hot and cold. Things seem to get off to a good start with a dream job but life proves difficult after all.

There are plenty of comic moments in this film, particularly with the younger J.R., taken under to wing of an assortment of Uncle Charlie’s barfly buddies who take the youngster along on trips to baseball games, bowling and trips to the beach. One of the most memorable and entertaining moments in the film involves one of trip to the beach, where Uncle Charlie collects young J.R. in his vintage turquoise green convertible, and drives all over town picking up his pals, rearranging the seating arrangements as they go, until the laden car finally arrives at the beach. That description does not begin to convey how funny this sequence is, as it is all in how the actors use this material, but it is a comic gem. A riveting dramatic high point centers on a scene with J.R. and his father (Max Martini), in one of the father’s occasional attempts to reconnect with his son, a scene that serves a pivotal moment in both the film and J.R.’s life.

There are equal measures of heartbreak and triumph in this honest, down-to-earth and thoroughly charming film. Although he is not the central character, Affleck’s Uncle Charlie is the heart of the film, just as he is the linchpin in J.R.’s life, and Affleck’s standout performance makes this warming, winning, quirky charmer of a coming-of-age film.

THE TENDER BAR opens Wednesday, Dec. 22, in theaters.

RATING: 4 out of 4 stars

BACK TO THE FUTURE Screens Sunday Night June 13th at the Sky View Drive-in in Litchfield, Illinois

“One other thing. If you guys ever have kids, and one of them, when he’s eight years old, accidentally sets fire to the living room rug… go easy on him.”

BACK TO THE FUTURE screens Sunday Night June 13th at the Sky View Drive-in in Lichtfield, Il. (1500 Historic Old Route 66) This is part of the Sky View’s ‘Throwback Sundays’. The second Sunday of the month, they screen a classic movie. Admission is only $7 (free for kids under 5). The movie starts at 8:45pm and will be followed by a screening of SPIRIT UNTAMED. The Sky View’s site can be found HERE.

Today, the original BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985) is dated only by its Huey Lewis soundtrack and the choice of a De Lorean as a time machine. Except for a needless scene in which an obviously dubbed Michael J. Fox pretends he’s both Chuck Berry and Jimi Hendrix, there’s little to criticize, and much to admire. One surprise in watching BACK TO THE FUTURE 32 years later is how cleverly the plot and script ties the past and present events together. Watching the film for a second or third time only adds to the pleasure, because references become clear that during a first viewing only seemed like idle dialogue. You’ll have the chance to watch it again on the big screen this weekend when it plays Sunday night at the Sky View!

NOBODY – Review

As most of the country enters full Spring break “status”, the studio wants to lure film fans back into the theatres with a genre that usually thrives in the warmer months, the “rock ’em, sock ’em”, ” hard” R-rated action flick. Ah, but something sets this one apart from the other “bone-crunchers” of the box office. Well, right off, from the poster and other marketing, we see it stars an actor being, to put it mildly, “cast against type” (no offense, but “The Rock”, he ain’t’). Oh, but the lead role is the vital ingredient in this new mix of thriller elements while tossing in tropes of other genres. From those comic book-inspired sagas, we get a “master of mayhem” who’s wrapped in the guise of an average joe. And, as with horror flicks, there’s lots of concern about whether his unleashed “inner beast” can be tamed once more. So basically, almost everyone initially dismisses him since, and he proclaims this to many other characters, he appears to be a real NOBODY.

The “non-entity” in the title refers to “mild-mannered” suburban husband and father “Hutch” Mansell (Bob Odenkirk). His days are pretty much routine. Hutch awakes at the same time, eats the same breakfast, always seems to just miss the garbage pick-up, then takes the bus to his nine-to-five job at a small-sized machinery shop (is it automotive, or heating equipment). After clocking out, it’s another ride home to his bored (a massive cushion between them at night in the bed they share) real estate sales agent wife Becca (Connie Nielsen), surly unimpressed teenage son Blake (Gage Munroe), and sweet, doting nine-year-old daughter Abby (Paisley Cadorath). And then, late one night, that routine is shattered. Hearing a noise, Hutch goes downstairs and stumbles upon a pair of black-clad, ski-masked home invaders. Unfortunately, they get the drop on him, but Hutch complies with their demands giving away his watch, wedding band, and a few bucks in the “petty cash” bowl. Ah, but son Blake springs into action, trying to tackle one of them as Hutch freezes. The teen is rewarded with a black eye as the duo escapes into the night. Of course, nearly everyone, co-workers, neighbors, even the police, inform Hitch that they would’ve “taken out” the crooks. But Hutch seems resigned to be the “wimp of the block” until daughter Abby tells him that her kitty-cat bracelet is gone. This flips on an inner switch, as Hutch switches gears into “revenge” mode. He pays a late-night visit to the retirement complex home of father David (Christopher Lloyd), opens a wall safe, and takes out a pistol along with a big wad of cash. Playing “detective”, he tracks the thieves down (in the scuffle Hutch saw a unique wrist tattoo), who don’t have the bracelet, but are in very “dire straights”. Hutch’s “code” will not allow him to punish them. However, a group of violent drunken thugs harassing a young woman on the bus ride back home? Well, they will certainly satisfy his “blood lust’. After emptying his gun of cartridges, he leaves them in a bloody, crumpled mess. But wouldn’t you know…one of those creeps he put in the hospital is related to the city’s most feared Russian gangster, the kingpin/ dance club-owner Yulian (Aleksey Serebryakov). When he does his own “sleuthing”, the entire Mansell family has a target on their backs. Can Hutch possibly protect them despite the return of these hidden skills from a past violent life? And does he have a “reset” button?

Of course, the subject of my earlier casting comments is Odenkirk, who displays another unforeseen “skill set’ in his talent roster. After establishing himself as a major comic talent as co-creator of the influential HBO gem “Mr. Show”, he continued in supporting roles in several other humorous movies and TV shows (he auditioned for the lead in “The Office”), until AMC-TV’s “Breaking Bad” spun-off his lawyer character for the acclaimed drama “Better Call Saul”. Yes, comedy and drama, but an action star? Fortunately Odenkirk sells it, giving the script an extra jolt with his “low-energy” everyman in the film’s opening sequences. When he peels away his timid outer shell, Odenkirk shows us that Hutch is re-vitalized as he returns to his former self. Luckily he still shows us that his love of family hasn’t been discarded, which injects an extra urgency to the story’s last act. Nielsen as wife Becca also seems to awaken from her slumber as she finds much more mystery in the man she’s been keeping at a distance so long. Lloyd is also terrific as another man wearing a “false front”, who’s happy that his boy has returned” while gleefully joining him and diving into the real chaos, after numbing himself with the phony carnage of “late show” TV Westerns. Serebryakov proves a worthy adversary as an unrestrained rabid dog whose ego will not let this little “worm” get the best of him (he inspires panic in both his enemies and allies). The great Michael Ironside (the “exploder” of SCANNERS) is the most understanding employer ever as Hutch’s long-time boss. Oh, and there’s a terrific final battle cameo role for a great music/action flick star (no spoilers from me) that helps the flick end on a high note.

The man behind HARDCORE HARRY, Ilya Naishuller directs the destruction with a deft, confident flair, shifting gears with ease from the drudgery of Hutch’s “comfy” lifestyle to the adrenaline-fueled set-pieces, in particular, the bus “beat-down”. For that he gets us inside Hutch’s head as he scopes in the enemy and the surroundings like a general hatching a battle strategy. Oh, but he’s not a super-human, as the somewhat-tipsy creeps inflect loads of damage to the “one man armada”. It helps that Odenkirk sells the pain of flexing little-used muscles. This tale combines themes from THE EQUALIZER, AMERICAN BEAUTY, and the JOHN WICK flicks (the script is from one of its creators Derek Kolstad) and produces a really original spin on the urban action genre. But at the midpoint, it veers a tad off course into a now-familiar staple with the current “go-to” baddies, the “made-men from Moscow”. I believe I literally sighed and said under my breathe “Russian mobsters, again” since I CARE A LOT was mere weeks ago. This leads to the finale that owes a bit too much to Denzel’s outing and the HOME ALONE flicks (really). Oh, but when it works in that first half, Odenkirk as the savage suburban Centurian is a sight of awesome bloody wonder. Thanks to him Hutch is most memorable and far from a NOBODY. Cross him and you’d better call Saul, right after 9-1-1.

3 Out of 4

NOBODY opens in select theatres everywhere beginning Friday, March 26, 2021

SENIOR MOMENT – Review

By Mark Glass

I approached this rom-com among the elderly with great trepidation. The cast of SENIOR MOMENT is headed by three actors whose work I’ve enjoyed many times – William Shatner, Christopher Lloyd and Jean Smart. The anxiety comes from decades of such films turning out to be mush that can be downed without dentures, as the seniors become caricatures in absurd situations. One common trope is for a hot, much younger woman to fall for a man old enough to be at least her father. Such connections develop even without the geriatric gent having enough money or fame to provide incentive. I suppose the tradition arose from old white male studio heads, who lived their own fantasies vicariously via the screening room. If a Walter Matthau character could reel in an Ann-Margret, as he did in GRUMPY OLD MEN, hope remains alive for them and the old dudes who buy tickets. 

Mercifully, this script resists the temptations of schmaltz and gives us a relatively believable story, set in a California desert city, mainly full of retirees. Shatner is a former jet pilot, who chases skirts ardently, propping up his appeal with his Porsche convertible. He drives rather sportily, if not recklessly, as part of his charm. Unfortunately, he does so once too often, costing him possession of his car and driver’s license. For him, that’s the equivalent of a gelding. The rest of the film follows his efforts to regain both with the help of several friends. Along the way, he meets a free-spirited, age-appropriate baker (Smart) for whom he develops an uncharacteristic attraction. You can fill in the rest of where they’ll wind up on your own. But screen writers Kurt Brungardt and Christopher Momenee make the journey entertaining, while director Giorgio Serafini runs the table in a crisp 92 minutes. 

There’s less need to suspend disbelief here than usual for the genre. The supporting cast contributes well all around. Scenes in a retirement home are free of cheap gags at the occupants’ expense. The scenery of Palm Springs and its environs is used to good advantage. Shatner forgoes the long mid-sentence pauses he made (in)famous as Star Trek’s Captain Kirk. That either means at 90 he’s more lucid than 50, or so, years ago; or he’s become a better actor, who no longer needs such gimmicks. Ideally, both would be true. Smart plays a very contemporary woman, strong and certain of her standards and aspirations, helping to make SENIOR MOMENT fresh and current. 

There’s nothing profound to be gained here, but at least it’s a safe bet for your entertainment time and money. That’s more than many wind up offering.

Rating: 2.5 out of 4 stars

In Select Theaters & On Demand March 26, 2021

SENIOR MOMENT Starring William Shatner, Jean Smart, Christopher Lloyd, Esai Morales and Katrina Bowden Acquired By Screen Media

Screen Media, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment company, announced today the acquisition of worldwide distribution rights to Giorgio Serafini’s comedy SENIOR MOMENT, starring William Shatner, Jean Smart, Christopher Lloyd, Esai Morales and Katrina Bowden, produced by Gina G. Goff.

Screen Media will release the film in theaters and on demand in March.

Clay Epstein and Film Mode Entertainment will handle foreign sales of the title immediately and will present the film to buyers at the 2021 European Film Market. 
 
Victor Martin (William Shatner) is a retired NASA test pilot often seen speeding around Palm Springs in his vintage Porsche convertible with his best friend Sal (Christopher Lloyd) in tow. His life changes when his license is revoked for drag racing and his car is impounded. Forced to take public transportation for the first time, he meets his polar opposite Caroline (Jean Smart) and learns to navigate love and life again as he goes up against the state’s new DA to get back his license and car.
 
 “Giorgio and I are thrilled to be working with Screen Media and bringing this feel-good story to audiences looking for a fun movie,” stated Goff.
 
“We’re excited to share this hilarious and heartwarming title with audiences everywhere,” said Screen Media in a statement. “William Shatner and Jean Smart’s characters will make you laugh out loud, renew your sense of hope, and serve as a reminder that it’s never too late to find love.”
 
Senior Moment was directed by Giorgio Serafini; written by Kurt Brungardt and Christopher Momenee and produced by Gina G. Goff of Goff Productions.
 
The deal was negotiated by Seth Needle, SVP of Global Acquisitions and Co-Productions, on behalf of Screen Media with Endeavor Content on behalf of Goff Productions.
 
Screen Media’s recent acquisitions include the documentary Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street and the comedy Off the Rails.  Current films in distribution include Rod Lurie’s The Outpost, which was one of the top-performing films of the summer and is on many end of year top ten lists, the Bella Thorne thriller Girl and Simon West’s action disaster film Skyfire. Upcoming, Screen Media has the Nicolas Cage starrer Willy’s Wonderland.

BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE ULTIMATE TRILOGY Coming To 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD On October 20th

“Well, that is your name, isn’t it? Calvin Klein? It’s written all over your underwear.”

IN HONOR OF BACK TO THE FUTURE’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY, 
ONE OF THE BIGGEST MOTION PICTURE TRILOGIES COMES TO 
4K ULTRA HD FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! BACK TO THE FUTURE:
THE ULTIMATE TRILOGY 

EXPERIENCE BACK TO THE FUTURE LIKE NEVER BEFORE. INCLUDES OVER AN HOUR OF NEW BONUS FEATURES WITH RARE CASTING AUDITIONS WITH CELEBRATED HOLLYWOOD STARS. OWN THE NEW 4K ULTRA HD COMBO PACK WITH NEWLY REMASTERED BLU-RAY™ AND DIGITAL CODE ON OCTOBER 20, 2020 
FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Great Scott! In 1985, Director Robert Zemeckis, Executive Producer Steven Spielberg and Producer/Screenwriter Bob Gale embarked on a three-part journey through time that broke box-office records worldwide and catapulted BACK TO THE FUTURE into one of the most beloved trilogies in motion picture history. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment celebrates the 35th Anniversary of the groundbreaking first film with 

BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE ULTIMATE TRILOGY available on 4K Ultra HD for the first time ever on October 20, 2020 – just in time to celebrate “Back to the Future Day” on October 21! This collection is loaded with bonus material including a bonus disc that comes with over an hour of brand-new content such as rare audition footage from Hollywood stars Ben Stiller, Kyra Sedgwick, Jon Cryer, Billy Zane, Peter DeLuise and C. Thomas Howell, a tour of the film’s props and memorabilia hosted by co-writer/producer Bob Gale, a sneak peek at the new musical show, and a special episode of the popular YouTube Series “Could You Survive The Movies?” Join Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and a time traveling DeLorean for the adventure of a lifetime as they travel to the past, present and future, setting off a time-shattering chain reaction that disrupts the space-time continuum!

BACK TO THE FUTURE PART III, Christopher Lloyd, Michael J. Fox, 1990, (c) Universal/courtesy Everett Collection

BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE ULTIMATE TRILOGY will include all three movies in collectible discbook packaging plus a bonus disc including all-new bonus content. For the first time, the past, present and future collide in eye-popping Ultra HD resolution for a time-traveling celebration. New 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray™ deliver the highest quality picture, more colors than ever before, and immersive, multi-dimensional sound. From filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, this unforgettable 35th anniversary collection features hours of bonus features and is an unrivaled trilogy that stands the test of time making this a must-own for everyone’s movie library. All three BACK TO THE FUTURE films will also be available on 4K Ultra HD digitally for the first time ever and BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE COMPLETE TRILOGY will also be available on DVD.

Three premium collections will be available at select retailers for a limited time only:

  • BACK TO THE FUTURE 35TH ANNIVERSARY TRILOGY LIMITED EDITION GIFT SET (4K UHD): Includes exclusive levitating Hoverboard replica (Amazon Exclusive)
  • BACK TO THE FUTURE 35TH ANNIVERSARY TRILOGY LIMITED EDITION GIFT SET (Blu-ray™): Includes exclusive levitating Hoverboard replica (Target Exclusive)
  • BACK TO THE FUTURE 35TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION TRILOGY (4K UHD): Includes three newly designed steelbooks (Best Buy Exclusive)
  • For more information on these exclusives, please visit the individual retailer’s stores and websites. 

BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE ULTIMATE TRILOGY will be available on 4K Ultra HD combo pack, which includes 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, & Digital Code and on Blu-ray™ which includes the Blu-ray™ & Digital Code.

BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE ULTIMATE TRILOGY bonus DISC FEATURES ON BLU-RAY™:

  • An Alternate Future: Lost Audition Tapes (NEW) – Get a glimpse of the BACK TO THE FUTURE that could have been with rare audition footage featuring now-famous celebrities.
    • Ben Stiller
    • Kyra Sedgwick
    • Jon Cryer
    • Billy Zane
    • Peter DeLuise
    • C. Thomas Howell  
  • The Hollywood Museum Goes BACK TO THE FUTURE (NEW) – Join Co-writer/Producer Bob Gale on an intimate tour of an exhaustive exhibit of the films’ props and memorabilia.
  • BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL Behind the Scenes (NEW) – Get a sneak peek at the new musical show including a Q&A with the cast and creative team plus two new song recordings.
    • Cast and Creative Q&A
    • Original Songs
      • Gotta Start Somewhere
      • Put Your Mind To It
  • Could You Survive The Movies? BACK TO THE FUTURE (NEW) – Explore the magic and science of BACK TO THE FUTURE and find out which laws of physics were actually violated in this special episode of the popular YouTube series.
  • 2015 Message from Doc Brown
    • DOC BROWN SAVES THE WORLD!
  • OUTATIME: Restoring the DeLorean
  • Looking BACK TO THE FUTURE
    • The Script
    • Casting Marty McFly
    • Christopher Lloyd Reflects on Doc Brown
    • The DeLorean Time Machine
    • Building Hill Valley
    • Prepping for the “Johnny B. Goode” Scene
    • The Score
    • Rushing the Cut
    • The Legacy
  • BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Animated Series
    • Brothers (Season 1, Episode 1)
    • Mac the Black (Season 2, Episode 1)
  • 2015 Commercials
    • JAWS 19 Trailer
    • Hoverboard Commercial

BACK TO THE FUTUREbonus FEATURES ON 4K Ultra Hd & BLU-RAY™:

  • Deleted Scenes (Commentary by Producer Bob Gale available)
    • Peanut Brittle
    • “Pinch Me”
    • Doc’s Personal Belongings
    • “She’s Cheating”
    • Darth Vader (Extended Version)
    • “Hit Me George”
    • “You Got a Permit?”
    • The Phone Booth
  • Tales from THE FUTURE: In the Beginning…
  • Tales from THE FUTURE: Time to Go
  • Tales from THE FUTURE: Keeping Time
  • Archival Featurettes
    • The Making of BACK TO THE FUTURE
    • Making the Trilogy: Chapter One
    • BACK TO THE FUTURE Night
  • Michael J. Fox Q&A
    • How He Got the Role
    • The Character of Doc
    • Working on a Film and TV Series at the Same Time
    • Shooting BACK TO THE FUTURE II and III Together
    • DeLoreans
    • Special FX and Stunts
    • The Appeal of BACK TO THE FUTURE
    • Shooting BACK TO THE FUTURE
  • Behind the Scenes
    • Original Makeup Tests
    • Outtakes
    • Nuclear Test Site Sequence (Commentary by Producer Bob Gale available)
    • Photo Galleries*
      • Production Art
      • Storyboards
      • Behind-the-Scenes Photographs
      • Marketing Materials
      • Character Portraits
  • Huey Lewis and the News “The Power of Love” Music Video
  • Theatrical Teaser Trailer
  • Join Team Fox
  • Q&A Commentary with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale
  • Feature Commentary with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton

*Only on the Blu-ray™ disc

BACK TO THE FUTURE II bonus FEATURES ON 4K Ultra Hd & BLU-RAY™:

  • Deleted Scenes (Commentary by Producer Bob Gale available)
    • Old Terry and Old Biff
    • “Dad’s Home” (Extended Version)
    • Pizza Scene
    • Jennifer Faints (Extended Version)
    • Old Biff Vanishes from Car
    • Burned Out High School
    • Marty Meets Dave
  • Tales from THE FUTURE: Time Flies
  • The Physics of BACK TO THE FUTURE with Dr. Michio Kaku
  • Archival Featurettes
    • The Making of BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II
    • Making the Trilogy: Chapter Two
  • Behind the Scenes
    • Outtakes
    • Production Design
    • Storyboarding
    • Designing the DeLorean
    • Designing Time Travel
    • Hoverboard Test
    • Evolution of Visual Effects Shots
    • Photo Galleries*
      • Production Art
      • Storyboards
      • Behind-the-Scenes Photographs
      • Marketing Materials
      • Character Portraits
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Q&A Commentary with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale
  • Feature Commentary with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton

*Only on the Blu-ray™ disc

BACK TO THE FUTURE III bonus FEATURES ON 4K Ultra Hd & BLU-RAY™:

  • Deleted Scene (Commentary by Producer Bob Gale available)
    • The Tannen Gang Kills Marshal Strickland
  • Tales from THE FUTURE: Third Time’s the Charm [FEATURED BONUS]
  • Tales from THE FUTURE: The Test of Time [FEATURED BONUS]
  • Archival Featurettes
    • The Making of BACK TO THE FUTURE Part III
    • Making the Trilogy: Chapter Three
    • The Secrets of the BACK TO THE FUTURE Trilogy
  • Behind the Scenes
    • Outtakes
    • Designing the Town of Hill Valley
    • Designing the Campaign
    • Photo Galleries*
      • Production Art
      • Storyboards
      • Behind-the-Scenes Photographs
      • Marketing Materials
      • Character Portraits
  • ZZ Top “Doubleback” Music Video
  • FAQs About the Trilogy
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Ride
    • Lobby Monitor
    • The Ride
  • Q&A Commentary with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale
  • Feature Commentary with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton

*Only on the Blu-ray™ disc

BOUNDARIES – Review

Christopher Plummer and Vera Farmiga in BOUNDARIES. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

With a fine cast headed by Christopher Plummer and Vera Farmiga, BOUNDARIES looked promising but the road trip dramedy manages to hit every cliche pothole along its way. Which is a shame – such a good cast deserved a better script.

Laura (Vera Farmiga) has daddy issues, and talks with her therapist about how she needs to set “boundaries” with her charming but unreliable father Jack (Christopher Plummer). Laura’s problem is a big heart, taking in endless strays and bordering on animal hording, but she is most devoted to her 13-year-old son Henry (Lewis MacDougall). It has been just them since her equally unreliable ex (Bobby Cannavale) abandoned them early on but Laura has carved out a stable life for her son.

When she gets a call that her dad has been kicked out of his retirement home for dealing pot. He’s broke and Laura has to pick him up. He wants to move in with her but Laura refuses, determined to protect her young son from the influence of her wily, law-breaking father. Laura’s plan is to put Dad on a plane to go live with her always-sunny younger sister JoJo (Kristen Schaal) in her studio apartment. When they pick him up, Dad insists they have to drive his old car to his new home, so he can transport his copious supply of adult diapers. Of course, Dad is transporting more than Depends and his secret plan is to sell his stash of pot to his old buddies along the way to raise some cash.

That sets up BOUNDARIES’ road trip premise. The strong cast has a lot of talent that goes to waste, including Christopher Lloyd as one of dad’s pot-smoking old hippie buddies, and Peter Fonda as another old buddy, although one who has done very well financially.

Writer/director Shana Feste could have crafted a charming offbeat family drama out of this film with this cast. Instead she steers the film into every cliche pothole and avoids anything like authentic human feelings. Laura complains endlessly about driving across the country but they are really only driving from Texas to California. Along the way, she can’t help but pick up more stray dogs, a cute conceit that is supposed to be heart-warming but instead comes off as contrived. Hilarity ensues every time charming Jack enlists his grandson’s help to unload the pot.

Feste’s script does not allowed the characters to evolve and develop into real people in real relationships. Every character remains two-dimensional and none of the sentiment in the film rings true. The cast sometimes tries to wring something out of the too-familiar situations but the trite script gets in the way. Still, they manage a few moments, although not enough to save the film.

BOUNDARIES is a disappointing experience that could have been much more, and a shameful waste of a good cast. No reason to take this trip.

RATING: 2 out of 5 stars

SLIFF 2016 Interview: Griff Furst – Director of COLD MOON

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Director Griff Furst’s COLD MOON screens Friday, Nov. 4 at 7:00pm at The Tivoli Theater as part of this year’s St. Louis International Film Festival. Furst and COLD MOON screenwriter Jack Snyder will be in attendance. Ticket information can be found HERE.

The supernatural crime thriller COLD MOON tells the story of Nathan Redfield (Josh Stewart), an arrogant man of great wealth who has either lost his mind or is being tormented by terrible forces beyond even the most paranoid of imaginings. In a sleepy Southern town, the Larkins have suffered a terrible tragedy, but the family is now about to face an even more grievous trial. As traffic lights blink an eerie warning, a ghostly apparition prowls the streets, and corpses erupt from the graves of the local cemetery in an implacable march of terror. And beneath the murky surface of the river, a shifting, vaguely human shape slowly takes form, rising up from the deep to seek a terrible vengeance. Featuring a cast that includes Frank Whaley, Christopher Lloyd, Candy Clark, and “The Room” auteur Tommy Wiseau, COLD MOON is co-written by native St. Louisan Jack Snyder (“Ghost Image,” “Fatal Call”). The film is adapted from a novel by Michael McDowell, hailed as “the finest writer of paperback originals in America” by master of horror Stephen King.

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Griff Furst took the time to talk to We Are Movie Geeks about COLD MOON.

Interview conducted by Tom Stockman October 26th, 2016

Tom Stockman: You’re coming to the screening in St. Louis on the 4th. Have you ever been to St. Louis before?

Griff Furst: Yes, I shot a movie there in 2006 for director Jack Snyder who is from St. Louis. GHOST IMAGE it was called, I had a good time doing it.

TS: I’ve interviewed Jack.

GF: Yes he’s a good friend of mine and we’ve done tons of projects together and are planning on doing more.

TS: How did the script for COLD MOON come about? It was based on a novel, correct?

GF: It came about because I had we re-watched BEETLEJUICE one Halloween and remembered how solid and unique the story was.  I looked up the screenwriter, Michael McDowell, and found out that he was also a novelist. I touched base with his manager and find out that he had written a bunch of novels, many of which have never been produced as screenplays. So, I read all of his novels and ended up purchasing the rights to a few of them. COLD MOON was the first to turn into a movie and I’m working on having a couple more of them filled as well.

TS: I spotted a visual BEETLEJUICE reference in the film COLD MOON. That snake monster with a Beetlejuice-type head pops up.

GF: Yes, that’s actually straight from the book. That author Michael McDowell wrote the screenplay for THINNER and he also wrote some episodes of Tales From the Darkside. He wrote BEETLEJUICE and NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS after his novels have been written, so in his movies you see a lot of similarities, and characters with the same names. That snake creature for one, you recognize things that he had already created in novel form, modified and used in the later movies.

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TS: I was looking at your filmography. You’ve directed a lot of horror movies, especially a lot of monster movies. Do you prefer these more character-driven horror films like COLD MOON, or do you like the monster stuff?

GF: They’re both fun. I prefer character-driven stuff. I am an actor and I come from theater and I love creating a scene and working with actors as opposed as opposed to working with CGI. But there is some fun to be had with the B-movie monster movies as well especially today because they are so self-aware, you can have a lot of fun. But I definitely prefer the more straightforward horror. COLD MOON is something of a supernatural mystery thriller.

TS: Right, it’s more of a ghost story. Are you a lifelong horror movie fan?

GF: Oh yes. When I was a kid I had every horror movie I could find. I had an extensive collection of VHS tapes of horror movies and I would just wear those tapes out. Loved them.  And I still do. Anytime a good horror movie comes out, I am first in line.

TS: Who are some of your favorite horror film directors?

GF: Alfred Hitchcock of course. Genius. I really like the stuff that Marcus Nispel has been doing. Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino are also great horror directors. I also loved the Wes Craven stuff growing up, but a lot of it is just nostalgia, especially when you get high up in a series like Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th. Spielberg is a great horror director though he hasn’t done a lot of that. JAWS is it such a great horror film.

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TS: You’ve acted in a lot of films. Who are some of the directors that you work with as an actor that have inspired you?

GF: This past year I worked with Antoine Fuqua on THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN and with John Lee Hancock on THE FOUNDER. I’ve worked with some fantastic directors. Reecntly I’ve had great luck with directors such as Glenn Ficarra and John Requa who directed me and FOCUS and I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS. Those guys are so much fun.

TS: Let’s talk some more about COLD MOON. Where was the film shot?

GF: It was shot outside of New Orleans in a town called Slidell which is close to where the novel is set. We also shot a small portion of it in Pensacola.

TS: What were some of the challenges in making this particular film?

GF: Whatever you’re shooting a movie in a limited amount of time, which most independent films are, the challenges are to get that studio-level quality in a fraction of the time that a studio would allow, probably less than half. That’s always a challenge on any production. We shot this movie in about 18 days but it felt like more of a 60-day shoot.

TS: You do have a great cast, which of course always helps.

GF: Yes, I think they nailed all of their roles.

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TS: How long was Christopher Lloyd on the set?

GF: Just two days. We had two long days with Chris.

TS: How the heck Tommy Wiseau get involved in your film and what was he like?

GF: He’s a nut but he does it on purpose.  I think he’s a lot more sane that he leads on to. One of the co-producers on the film was friends with Tommy because they used to work out together in Los Angeles and Tommy just happen to be in the neighborhood with one of the screenings of THE ROOM. It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment, offbeat thing. Tommy came by and had all these wild ideas. He wanted to have a knife fight and a big dramatic sequence that didn’t exist on paper. But he just ended up doing what he did. He has a good sense of humor, he’s a funny guy.

TS: Yes, I’ve interviewed him. I can’t tell whether he’s in on the joke or not, but I guess it doesn’t matter. What about Candy Clark? Tell me about working with her.

GF: She really busted her ass on this film. It was a very emotional role. Her character is in a perpetual state of grief pretty much the whole time. She’s not a method actress, but she may have been borderline method on this shoot, being in a constant state that her character is in after losing her granddaughter. She was fantastic though. A real pro and team player, really down to make the best movie that could possibly be made.

TS: And Josh Stewart. He looked so familiar. I guess I recognized him from THE COLLECTOR movies.

GF: He was in those yes. He was also in THE DARK KNIGHT. He’s done a ton of stuff.  He’s got a really nice role in INSIDIOUS 4 which is coming out next year.

TS: Did you allow your actors to have much leeway with their roles, or did you insist on sticking to the script?

GF: I love for my actors to bring anything to the table because if they’re doing their job well, which they were, they know more about these characters than I do. But no one really expressed a desire to go off of the script despite permission from me to do so. As far as far as dialogue and story goes, it was pretty much on page.

TS: How has COLD MOON been received so far? 

GF: We’ve shown it at five or six festivals so far. I’ve read some very positive reviews and some negative reviews. Nobody seems to be on the fence about it. But people who get what it is really love the movie. People who are expecting something like THE CONJURING or INSIDIOUS may not get it because it’s not exactly that genre of horror. It’s more of a Tales From the Crypt kind of feel.

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TS: What’s next for you?

GF: We’ve done so much since COLD MOON. I’ve just finished a Hallmark Christmas movie which was quite the change of pace. We shot that in Atlanta and are just wrapping that up. Then we’re doing another one of Michael’s novel called How Bitter the Blood. We also have deals coming in from sci-fi and Hallmark so we’re keeping busy.

TS: You’re going to keep acting?

GF: Oh yes, I have several jobs lined up. That’s what I do a lot of the time and I love it.

TS: Well good luck with COLD MOON and I hope you have a good time here in St. Louis at the St. Louis international film Festival.

GF: Thanks a lot