NEON has released the brand new poster for ORIGIN. The film presently site at 84% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Written and directed by Academy Award nominee Ava DuVernay, ORIGIN chronicles the tragedy and triumph of Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson as she investigates a global phenomenon of epic proportions.
Portrayed by Academy Award nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (“King Richard”), Isabel experiences unfathomable personal loss and love as she crosses continents and cultures to craft one of the defining American books of our time. Inspired by the New York Times best-seller “Caste,” ORIGIN explores the mystery of history, the wonders of romance and a fight for the future of us all.
In his Vulture review, Bilge Ebiri says: “The film’s structure might have recommended an intellectualized approach, but DuVernay understands that the whole thing only works if she can reassert these people’s humanity. And her feelings for them come through in every scene, no matter how small the moment. Will it work for everyone? I can only say that the movie left me a complete wreck.”
ORIGIN also features Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Audra McDonald, Niecy Nash-Betts, Nick Offerman, Blair Underwood.
The film opens for an exclusive one-week engagement on December 8 in NY and LA, and in select cities January 19.
Disney+ and Marvel Studios invite you on an unexpected holiday getaway, unwrapping the official trailer and first poster for “Hawkeye,” a new series set in post-blip New York City.
Former Avenger Clint Barton has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas. Possible? Maybe with the help of Kate Bishop, a 22-year-old archer with dreams of becoming a Super Hero. The two are forced to work together when a presence from Barton’s past threatens to derail far more than the festive spirit.
Starring Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye and Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, “Hawkeye” also features Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, Tony Dalton, Zahn McClarnon, Brian d’Arcy James and newcomer Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez.
Helmed by Rhys Thomas and directing duo Bert and Bertie, “Hawkeye” debuts exclusively on Disney+ on November 24, 2021.
Legends aren’t born. They’re made. A prequel to The Sopranos, watch the new trailer for THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK.
The film is slated for release in theaters nationwide on September 24, 2021 and will be available in the U.S. on HBO Max for 31 days from theatrical release. It is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and has been rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, sexual content and some nudity.
New Line Cinema’s “The Many Saints of Newark” is the much-anticipated feature film prequel to David Chase’s groundbreaking, award-winning HBO drama series “The Sopranos.” Young Anthony Soprano is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark’s history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters begin to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family’s hold over the increasingly race-torn city. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he idolizes, Dickie Moltisanti, who struggles to manage both his professional and personal responsibilities—and whose influence over his nephew will help make the impressionable teenager into the all-powerful mob boss we’ll later come to know: Tony Soprano.
“The Many Saints of Newark” stars Alessandro Nivola (“Disobedience,” “American Hustle”), Tony winner Leslie Odom Jr. (Broadway’s “Hamilton,” “Murder on the Orient Express”), Jon Bernthal (“Baby Driver,” “The Wolf of Wall Street”), Corey Stoll (“First Man,” “Ant-Man”), Michael Gandolfini (TV’s “The Deuce”), Billy Magnussen (“Game Night,” “The Big Short”), Michela De Rossi (“Boys Cry,” TV’s “The Rats”), John Magaro (“The Finest Hours,” “Not Fade Away”), with Emmy winner Ray Liotta (TV’s “Shades of Blue,” “Goodfellas”) and Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga (“Up in the Air,” “The Conjuring” films).
Alan Taylor (“Thor: The Dark World”), who won an Emmy for his directing work on “The Sopranos,” is helming the film from a screenplay by series creator David Chase & Lawrence Konner, based on characters created by Chase. Chase, Konner and Nicole Lambert are producing the film, with Michael Disco, Marcus Viscidi, Toby Emmerich and Richard Brener serving as executive producers.
Taylor’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Kramer Morgenthau (“Creed II,” “Thor: The Dark World”), production designer Bob Shaw (“The Wolf of Wall Street,” “The Sopranos”), Oscar-nominated editor Christopher Tellefsen (“Moneyball,” “A Quiet Place”) and costume designer Amy Westcott (“The Wrestler,” “Black Swan”).
“The Many Saints of Newark” was shot on location in New Jersey and New York, and several beloved characters from the original series that inspired the film are featured in the movie. During its six-season run, “The Sopranos”—widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential television drama series of all time—was honored with 21 Primetime Emmy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, and two Peabody Awards, to name only a portion.
Another film in the CONJURING universe is heading your way this summer, THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT
THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT is the seventh film in the “Conjuring” Universe, the largest horror franchise in history, which has grossed more than $1.8 billion worldwide. It includes the first two “Conjuring” films, as well as “Annabelle” and “Annabelle: Creation,” “The Nun,” and “Annabelle Comes Home.”
The film opens in theatres and IMAX nationwide on June 4, 2021 and will be available on HBO Max for 31 days from theatrical release.
THE CONJURING movies, and all haunted house/ghost/evil possesion films, lead me back to Eddie Murphy and his take on scary places as fast as possible. FYI – the video if NSFW.
“The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” reveals a chilling story of terror, murder and unknown evil that shocked even experienced real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. One of the most sensational cases from their files, it starts with a fight for the soul of a young boy, then takes them beyond anything they’d ever seen before, to mark the first time in U.S. history that a murder suspect would claim demonic possession as a defense.
Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return to star as Lorraine and Ed Warren, under the direction of Michael Chaves (“The Curse of La Llorona”). The film also stars Ruairi O’Connor (Starz’ “The Spanish Princess”), Sarah Catherine Hook (Hulu’s “Monsterland”) and Julian Hilliard (the series “Penny Dreadful: city of Angels” and “The Haunting of Hill House”).
“The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” was produced by James Wan and Peter Safran, who have collaborated on all the “Conjuring” Universe films. Chaves directed from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (“The Conjuring 2,” “Aquaman”), story by James Wan & David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, based on characters created by Chad Hayes & Carey W. Hayes. Serving as executive producers were Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Victoria Palmeri, Michael Clear, Judson Scott and Michelle Morrissey.
The behind-the-scenes creative team reunited “Conjuring” Universe contributors, including director of photography Michael Burgess, production designer Jennifer Spence, costume designer Leah Butler and composer Joseph Bishara, along with the director’s editor from “The Curse of La Llorona,” Peter Gvozdas, and editor Christian Wagner (“Furious 7”).
New Line Cinema presents An Atomic Monster/A Peter Safran Production, “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.” It will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
The film is rated R for terror, violence and some disturbing images.
THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT at long last is scheduled to open in theaters and HBO Max on June 4, 2021.
The film reveals a chilling story of terror, murder and unknown evil that shocked even experienced real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. One of the most sensational cases from their files, it starts with a fight for the soul of a young boy, then takes them beyond anything they’d ever seen before, to mark the first time in U.S. history that a murder suspect would claim demonic possession as a defense.
Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return to star as Lorraine and Ed Warren, under the direction of Michael Chaves (“The Curse of La Llorona”). The film also stars Ruairi O’Connor (Starz’ “The Spanish Princess”), Sarah Catherine Hook (Hulu’s “Monsterland”) and Julian Hilliard (the series “Penny Dreadful: city of Angels” and “The Haunting of Hill House”).
Chaves helmed the horrifying and brilliant THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA. Check out the preview of his other fright-fest.
“The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” was produced by James Wan and Peter Safran, who have collaborated on all the “Conjuring” Universe films. Chaves directed from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (“The Conjuring 2,” “Aquaman”), story by James Wan & David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, based on characters created by Chad Hayes & Carey W. Hayes. Serving as executive producers were Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Victoria Palmeri, Michael Clear, Judson Scott and Michelle Morrissey.
The behind-the-scenes creative team reunited “Conjuring” Universe contributors, including director of photography Michael Burgess, production designer Jennifer Spence, costume designer Leah Butler and composer Joseph Bishara, along with the director’s editor from “The Curse of La Llorona,” Peter Gvozdas, and editor Christian Wagner (“Furious 7”).
(L-r) PATRICK WILSON, director MICHAEL CHAVES and VERA FARMIGA on the set of New Line Cinema’s horror film “THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
“The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” is the seventh film in the “Conjuring” Universe, the largest horror franchise in history, which has grossed more than $1.8 billion worldwide. It includes the first two “Conjuring” films, as well as “Annabelle” and “Annabelle: Creation,” “The Nun,” and “Annabelle Comes Home.”
New Line Cinema presents An Atomic Monster/A Peter Safran Production, “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.” It will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film opens in theatres and IMAX nationwide on June 4, 2021 and will be available on HBO Max for 31 days from theatrical release.
The film is rated R for terror, violence and some disturbing images.
Who would have thought that James Wan’s modern haunted house classic THE CONJURING would spawn an entire universe of evil spirits? Over the course of seven films (with an eighth entry filming right now), horror fans have been treated to evil spirits of all different shapes and sizes. Yet, leave it to the littlest demon, Annabelle, to usher in a whole slew of new demons to scare audiences.
ANNABELLE COMES HOME is a rollercoaster ride for fans of “THE CONJURING Universe.” It ramps up playfully, and then quickly turns into ANNABELLE: HOUSE OF HORRORS. Director Gary Dauberman subverts expectations and delivers more than just the standard creepy doll film that audiences have seen before. Annabelle might be coming home, but it’s the new demons that take center stage and receive the warmest welcome.
Taking a page from John Carpenter’s HALLOWEEN, Dauberman’s screenplay smartly keeps the story and the cast small, centering it around a babysitter and her button-pushing friend. After opening with familiar favorites Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) tracking down our title character, the duo lock up the possessed doll in their famous artifacts room of their home behind sacred church glass.
In typical Warren fashion, the two are soon off on their next ghost-hunting adventure, leaving their ten-year-old daughter, Judy, (McKenna Grace) alone with babysitter Mary Ellen (Madison Iseman). Daniela (Katie Sarife), Mary Ellen’s best friend, soon learns of the Warrens being away and decides that she wants to come over to disrupt the slumber party and sneak into the locked artifacts room. Suffice to say, Annabelle gets unleashed and with her a few new friends.
Gary Dauberman is smart enough to know that after two Annabelle films (not counting the first CONJURING film), you aren’t gonna turn horror heads by having a doll slightly move or blink. Once the initial setup is put in place and Annabelle is unleashed, she takes a backseat to a grisly group of new characters. From the Ferry Man to the Bride to even a ghost werewolf (the weakest and cheesiest of the new villains), “THE CONJURING Universe” has almost doubled the number of side-characters in just one film. By the finale, it may feel a little bit like they were trying to just create more spinoffs, but it’s hard not to grin at the fun the film is having during the process.
The female-driven cast all handles the tension and scares well, providing just enough emotion and character beats to make the scare-fest not just an empty ride. However, the dialogue isn’t the film’s strong suit. At times, it surprisingly leans into 80s cliches: a stoner pizza guy, the cute boy next door, awkward dialogue between high school crushes. Sure, there are these cliches and some cheesy dialogue about evil and demons (some of which not even Vera Farmiga can make better), but ANNABELLE COMES HOME knows when it works best and tries to keep the dialogue to a minimum in order to make more room for rolling old coins, a creepy television, a bloody wedding gown, and a kid’s game that you will not want to get your hands on.
Having previously written the other ANNABELLE films and recently THE NUN, it’s clear that Dauberman knows what fans want and delivers the most exciting film in THE CONJURING universe. The scares are unleashed at a rapid pace, and unlike many horror films, they aren’t just loud noises or fake-outs. By cleverly setting the film in one location and having it take place over just a matter of hours, Dauberman is able to create a claustrophobic funhouse effect with real scares and fun world-building. I’m not sure if this universe can last another seven entries, but it’s promising to see that the ride and the visuals keep getting better.
OVERALL SCORE: 3 OUT OF 4
ANNABELLE COMES HOME opens in theaters Wednesday, June 26th
Who are the real monsters? The humans or the creatures that terrorize them. It’s a classic monster movie theme that, dare I say, can’t really be approached in a new way after over 70 yrs of creature features. Sure, it’s a trope of the genre that has effectively won over my heart time and time again. And yet, it feels a little forced and hollow when it takes a backseat to explosions, destruction, and roars from gigantic titans.
In GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, the crypto-zoological agency, Monarch, is under fire as the government wants to take over their monster-hunting activities. Meanwhile, they have been able to locate several god-sized monsters, including Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed Ghidorah. Monarch’s Dr. Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga) has developed a device known as the “Orca” which allows communication with the creatures by layering the sounds of species to create sonic-waves… or something or another. When Russell, the “Orca” and her daughter Madison (Millie Bobby Brown) are kidnapped by an eco-terrorist, Monarch recruits ex-member and Russell’s ex-husband Mark (Kyle Chandler, charming as always and delivering a level of energy not many in this film lend it) to help track and stop the terrorist plot.
Complaints surrounding the previous GODZILLA (2014) film — the first of now three films in a shared universe with KONG: SKULL ISLAND — centered around the lack of monster action. In truth, GODZILLA did play more of an ominous legend or boogeyman that people talked about instead of a character that’s in your face during the entire film. Writer and director Michael Dougherty (TRICK ‘R TREAT and KRAMPUS) aims to correct this in GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS. If the trailers didn’t make it clear already, perhaps Dougherty overshot a little when it comes to the monster/human ratio. KING OF THE MONSTERS is packed with fights between some of the most legendary Toho Co. monster creations. Die-hard fans will marvel at the opportunity to see some of these beloved creatures duke out, claw to claw, wing to wing, head to head (or head to three-heads if we’re talking about Ghidorah).
For those who haven’t grown up watching these characters on poorly dubbed VHS tapes, your patience might be tested along with your ability to withstand motion sickness without even moving. For long patches of film, you have close-ups or medium shots of giant monsters rolling around in the rain, water, or smoke, making it impossible to tell what scaly creature is hitting who. You could call this the TRANSFORMERS effect or the PACIFIC RIM effect, but either way, it becomes an indecipherable endurance test. Constant flashes of light from electrical outages and lightning strikes create a strobe effect that makes the shaky visuals event worse. For every stunning, wide shot that shows the full scale of these behemoths — something the marketing has clearly shown off in the effective trailers — there are 50-times as many shaky close-ups to the point where I gave up on the battle of who would be King by the finale.
There are a couple of moments where the connection between the humans and the monsters is actually felt both literally and figuratively. One early on is the birth of Mothra. Vera Farmiga and Millie Bobby Brown both lend the film one of the best heartfelt moments in its entirety, as they finally see the birth of something they have nurtured for so long. This is only surpassed later on by Ken Watanabe. When he decides to come face to face with Godzilla — the God he worships — it’s a moment that rings true for monster fans. We connect with them for there flaws but we also relate to them because they are ostracized and seen as outsiders. And director Michael Dougherty, who comes with a clear love of monsters and horror, treats the monsters with the level of respect given to Superman or other superheroes.
With all that happens in its bloated 2 hr and 11 min runtime, the story of monstrous superheroes never really draws general audiences in. GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS simply throws you in without much setup in order to give fans of the characters something to cheer for. In both story and execution, Dougherty has missed creating the human connection. Sacrifice becomes a central theme in the film, and what it sacrifices to give fans cool creatures and monster mayhem is a proper stage set for real emotions to fight alongside with the visuals.
Overall Score: 2.5 out of 5
GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS opens in theaters everywhere May 31st
Check out the new motion poster from Focus Features’ CAPTIVE STATE. From the director of Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, Rupert Wyatt, the upcoming sci-fi thriller starring John Goodman, Ashton Sanders, Jonathan Majors, Colson Baker and Vera Farmiga opens in theaters March 15th.
Set in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after an occupation by an extra-terrestrial force, “CaptiveState” explores the lives on both sides of the conflict – the collaborators and dissidents. We can’t wait for this one and Focus Features has done a good job of not giving too much away.
After 10 years of occupation, some chose cooperation, others chose resistance.
Colson Baker (left) as Jurgis and Ashton Sanders (right) as Gabriel in Rupert Wyatt’s CAPTIVE STATE, a Focus Features release. Credit: Parrish Lewis / Focus Features
Ashton Sanders stars as Gabriel in Rupert Wyatt’s CAPTIVE STATE, a Focus Features release.
A ship prepares to take on passengers in Rupert Wyatt’s CAPTIVE STATE, a Focus Features release. Credit: Focus Features
John Goodman as Mulligan and Ashton Sanders as Gabriel star in Rupert Wyatt’s CAPTIVE STATE, a Focus Features release.
John Goodman stars as Mulligan in Rupert Wyatt’s CAPTIVE STATE, a Focus Features release.
Following the global success of “Godzilla” and “Kong: Skull Island” comes the next chapter in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ cinematic MonsterVerse: “Godzilla II: King of the Monsters,” an epic action adventure that pits Godzilla against some of the most popular monsters in pop culture history.
The film was directed by Michael Dougherty (“Krampus”), and stars Oscar nominees Vera Farmiga (“Up in the Air,” “The Conjuring” films), and Ken Watanabe (“The Last Samurai”) and Sally Hawkins (“Blue Jasmine”), both reprising their “Godzilla” roles; Kyle Chandler (“The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Manchester by the Sea”); Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”) in her feature film debut; Bradley Whitford (“Get Out”); Thomas Middleditch (HBO’s “Silicon Valley”); Charles Dance (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”); O’Shea Jackson Jr. (“Straight Outta Compton”); Aisha Hinds (“Star Trek Into Darkness”); and Golden Globe nominee Zhang Ziyi (“Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”).
The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.
Dougherty directed from a script he wrote with Zach Shields. The film was produced by Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Brian Rogers, Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni, with Zach Shields, Barry H. Waldman, Dan Lin, Roy Lee, Yoshimitsu Banno and Kenji Okuhira serving as executive producers, and Alexandra Mendes and Jay Ashenfelter co-producing for Legendary.
Behind the scenes, Dougherty’s creative team included director of photography Lawrence Sher, whose past credits include “War Dogs” and “Godzilla,” for which he handled additional photography; production designer Scott Chambliss (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Star Trek Into Darkness”); editors Roger Barton (“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” the “Transformers” films), Oscar nominee Richard Pearson (“United 93,” “Kong: Skull Island”), and Bob Ducsay (“Godzilla,” “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”); costume designer Louise Mingenbach (the “X-Men” and “Hangover” films); and Oscar-winning VFX supervisor Guillaume Rocheron (“Godzilla,” “Ghost in the Shell,” and part of the Oscar-winning team behind “Life of Pi”).
THE FRONT RUNNER tells the true story of American Senator Gary Hart’s presidential campaign in 1988, when it was derailed when he was caught in a scandalous love affair.
Director Jason Reitman’s THE FRONT RUNNER opens November 21st, but We Are Movie Geeks would like to give St. Louis-area a chance to see it early! There’s a screening Thursday, November 15th at at 7pm at the Creve Coeur Theater. Just leave your name in the comments section below, and we’ll contact you how to redeem your free passes (each good for two people).
THE FRONT RUNNER stars Hugh Jackman, Vera Farmiga, and J.K. Simmons
