Cannes Director's Fortnight Selection Announced, Includes Films by Sean Baker, Claire Denis and Bruno Dumont



I am very much looking forward to these, some as much, if not more, than official competition titles. Sean Baker's "The Florida Project" is particularly intriguing. Also, new works from Clair Denis, Abel Ferera, Bruno Dumony, Phillipe Garel and Amos Gitai. Yes, please!

 “Un beau soleil interieur” (“Dark Glasses”), Claire Denis (opening film)
“A Ciambra,” Jonas Carpignano
“Alive in France,” Abel Ferrara
“Bushwick,” Cary Murnion & Jonathan Milott
“L’Amant d’un jour,” Philippe Garrel
“Cuori Puri,” Roberto De Paolis
“The Florida Project,” Sean Baker
“Frost,” Sharunas Bartas
“I Am Not a Witch,” Rungano Nyoni
“Jeanette, J’Enfance de Jeanne D’Arc,” Bruno Dumont
“L’Intrusa” (“The Intruder”), Leonardo Di Costanzo
“La Defensa del Dragon,” Natalia Santa
“Marlina si Pembunuh Dalam Empat Babak” (“Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts”), Mouly Surya
“Mobile Homes,” Vladimir de Fontenay
“Nothingwood,” Sonia Kronlund
“Otez-Moi D’Un Doute,” Carine Tardieu
“The Rider,” Chloe Zhao
“West of the Jordan River (Field Diary Revisited),” Amos Gitai
“Patti Cake$,” Geremy Jasper (closing film)

The Avengers & Guardians of the Galaxy Will Meet in Space in "The Avengers: Infinity War"


Fandango has this:
"We were so cocky," Zoe Saldana said when asked what it will be like when the Guardians finally meet the Avengers in Infinity War, due out May 4, 2018. "Deep down we were like, “We’re the Guardians of the Galaxy!” But it was super exciting -- the fact that they’re bringing every character in the Marvel universe together and that this super villain is such a prominent figure amongst the Guardians of the Galaxy gives our level of importance quite a boost."
Dave Bautista, who plays Drax, revealed that when the Guardians meet the Avengers, it'll be all of them together as one unit. 
"When we come onto set as the Guardians, we are the Guardians," he said. "Anybody stepping onto set with us has to deal with all of us. There are usually one or two Avengers. We are the Guardians, we come as that and carry a scene like that and we do business as usual, which is a lot of chemistry, a lot of interaction amongst ourselves. And the Russos were very encouraging of that. I think we’ve established ourselves and we deserve to be right up there with the Avengers. I think we’re just as strong, if not stronger, as a unit, ‘cause we’re a family."
Saldana also noted that when the groups meet, they'll be doing so on the Guardians' home turf.
"We're also in space, so we're not being held by gravity," she said, adding, "And you know we're stronger."
So will the Guardians throw down against those Avengers in Infinity War? While we didn't get confirmation of a full-on brawl, there's clearly some trash talking going on already. And if it plays out like it has in other Marvel movies, there will be a bit of a tustle between heroes before they all realize they're on the same side and should join together as one team.
"We're the Guardians of the Galaxy -- we don't get intimidated!" Chris Pratt proclaimed before adding that, actually, he was secretly intimidated by the man who they call Thor.
"[Okay] I was a little secretly intimidated," he said. "Chris Hemsworth, he’s so tall and handsome -- I had to go home and really look myself in the mirror and say, you know, there’s a possibility that you just might be one of those guys who mostly loves your wife but also kind of loves Chris Hemsworth a little bit too."

No, Just No: Will Smith Might Play Genie in Disney's Live Action "Aladdin"




Robin Williams' take on the Genie in 1992's "Aladdin" is a legendary voice performance. So full of rich humor and the sardonic wit we all came to expect from the late Williams. We all knew it was going to be a frustrating process to find someone to play that role in the live-action version Disney is currently concocting. However, Will Smith? Really? That's the best you could come up with to replace what is the best voice acting performance in the history of animation?! Albeit, Smith is just in talks for the moment, but all signs point to him nabbing the role.

 Deadline has it going something like this:
"Will Smith is in talks to take on the genie role made famous by the late Robin Williams in Disney’s live-action Aladdin from Guy Ritchie, we hear. The adaptation of the animated feature follows the studio’s strategy of bringing its classic animated titles to life and so far it has been a goldmine, most recently with Beauty and the Beast which has already grossed over $1B worldwide. Smith had previously been in talks with Tim Burton about Dumbo but that did not materialize and we’re told these talks are also early."
It's already a red flag that Guy Ritchie is directing this film. "Aladdin" is supposed to wrap filming early next year with a tentaive late 2018/early 2019 release date.

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" Soundtrack Revealed



It's safe to call the “Guardians of the Galaxy” soundtrack iconic, no? The 2014 film would have not been the pop-culture thrill ride that it was without the catchy pop of Blue Swede‘s “Hooked on a Feeling, or, really, any of the other dozen or so songs used in the film. Most of them were what would be qualified as "seventies pop" and director James Gunn hasn't been shy about his love for that era's top 40 tunes. 
When a sequel was announced the question most fans had was, surprisingly, not about what would be next for the quirky and loveable bunch of characters used in the first film, but was actually about the film's soundtrack. What songs would Gunn be using to tell his story? We finally have our answer, the director has revealed, on Twitter no less, the "set list" for "Guardians of the Galay Vol. 2."

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 Soundtrack

Marvel Head Says Marvel Will Not Be Making R-Rated Movies, Spidey Will Be in Avengers 4, and Joss Whedon Made The Call for "Batgirl"

THR has the follwing courtesy of Marvel head honcho Kevin Feige:
Feige has no plans for an R-rated movie.
Don’t look for an R rated Marvel movie in wake of success of such bloody and potty-mouthed movies such as Logan and Deadpool any time soon.
“My takeaway from both of those films is not the R rating, it’s the risk they took, the chances they took, the creative boundaries that they pushed,” Feige explained. “That should be the takeaway for everyone.”
While the R-rating is an easy-identifiable trait of those movies, Feige cited the breaking of the fourth wall in Deadpool and the finality of the Wolverine story as examples of what made those movies stand out.
Joss Whedon called Feige about Batgirl.
Whedon spent years at Marvel not just as the writer and director of the two Avengers movies but also as a consultant, giving input on other projects. And thus when it was revealed he was taking on Batgirl for DC, fans were shocked at the news. It turns out Feige had known about it for a while. And was cool about it.
"He called. A couple months ago, which he didn't have to do and was super cool of him and super nice of him," Feige said. "And we couldn't be more supportive. We want to see a Joss Whedon Batgirl film be awesome."
Spider-Man is in Avengers 4 … and Marvel has no involvement in the Spidey spinoffs.
Marvel's landmark deal with Sony has allowed the wall-crawler to enter the MCU, and Feige confirmed Spider-Man will appear in 2019's untitled Avengers 4. That’s after his starring turn in Spider-Man: Homecoming and 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War.  After the second Avengers appearance, it will be back for a Homecoming sequel, set for 2019. 
“That’s as far as it goes for now,” Feige said. (For now? Hmm.) 
Sony is moving ahead with Spidey spin-offs for Venom and a Silver Sable, Black Cat teamup movie, but Marvel isn't involved.
"We had a very particular plan about Spidey himself," Feige explained when asked why Marvel wasn't involved in Sony's projects with those characters, although he kept those plans to himself.
James Gunn's role could extend past Guardians 3.
Gunn revealed Monday that he will return to write and direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and he teased that just as the first ten years of Marvel's movies built to 2018's Avengers: Infinity War, the third Guardians film would help set up the next ten years of movies. Feige suggested Gunn's relationship with Marvel could extend past that film, which does not yet have a release date.
"I think James in particular has an amazing connection with these characters and with this cosmic world. So he, I think, could easily oversee additional stories beyond Vol. 3," said Feige. "And I think has them and just continues to come up with them, which is cool. All of our core writers and filmmakers know what we are doing in other places and help give input on the various projects."

Director James Gray: ‘I Am Struggling Financially’



You know, I saw "The Lost City of Z" just a few weeks ago and I can't believe I haven't shared my thoughts. It's such a beautiful, surreal and ambitious film. Some parts meander, but the overall impact is stunning. Its director James Gray has become one of the very best American filmmakers around, I believe it all started with 2007's "We Own the Night," then he follwed that one up with 2009's "Two Lovers," one of the most underrated films of all-time, and continued on with 2014's "The Immigrant." There's a beautifully realized classicism to Gray's filmmaking. He's making movies that are all, but, extinct these days in the populous and highly stylized cinematic market in this country. 

With all that being said it pains me to hear him tell Vulture that he is struggling financially:

 “You know, people assume that because I’m a director, I make tons of money. I am struggling financially,” he said.

 “Now, I’m very lucky I get to do what it is I want to do,” Gray continued. “I’ve made, good or bad, very uncompromising movies, the movies exactly that I wanted to make, and that’s a beautiful gift, so I’m not complaining about that. But I struggle. I have a hard time paying my bills. I’m 47 years old, I live in an apartment, I can’t buy a house.”
“Now, I’m very lucky I get to do what it is I want to do,” Gray continued. “I’ve made, good or bad, very uncompromising movies, the movies exactly that I wanted to make, and that’s a beautiful gift, so I’m not complaining about that. But I struggle. I have a hard time paying my bills. I’m 47 years old, I live in an apartment, I can’t buy a house.”
“If I were coming of age in 1973, I would be in Bel Air,” said Gray. “The whole reason for this is exactly what we were talking about, where the middle is gone. So now you have franchises, and you have, ‘I made a movie on my iPhone.’ This is the economic system in a nutshell, right? Five directors make Marvel, and then there’s the rest of us who are trying to scrounge around to find the money to make films.”
“it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: If the audience only gets to see Marvel, then they only want Marvel, and then if they only want Marvel, only Marvel is made. I don’t even have a problem with Marvel. The problem is not the specifics of each movie, the problem is it’s the only movie you can see now in a multiplex, and when it’s the only game in town, you’re looking at the beginning of the death throes of an art form.” 

Summer Movie Preview 2017


I wrote a Summer Movie Preview for Awards Daily, which can be read HERE
Here's the full transcript:

 Summer movie season tends to start off the first Friday of May, but lately it’s been a different story, studios have been relying on mid-April to get things going. This year is no exception with the latest “Fast and the Furious” installment, “The Fate of the Furious,” getting released this coming Friday. No, in this summer movie preview you won’t find that movie, nor will you find “Baywatch,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Wonder-Woman,” “Valerian and The City of A Thousand Planets,” “The Mummy,” “The Dark Tower,” “Pirates Of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tales,” just to name a few muckraking blockbusters. It doesn’t mean the formerly mentioned movies will bad, it’s just that there are better, more artful things, to look forward to this summer than The Rock and Zac Efron strutting their chiseled abs on the beach or Jack Sparrow fighting another villainous captain. Judging by the lineup of films I’ve chosen, 21 of them, cinema seems to be alive and well. The focus is on the movies, indie or Hollywood, that actually aim for some kind of artistic integrity this summer. The following films have the stuff to shake things up and, even, be contenders come awards season. There is hope in the next four months.
1) Detroit (August 4th)The eagerly anticipated follow-up to Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker” and “Zero Dark Thirty” is probably the one many are looking forward to most, besides Nolan’s Dunkirk.  It has a late summer release which has Oscar pundits scratching their heads until they realize that the film is likely to stir conversation and it’s always better to get that all over with before the more brutal Oscar season starts. Many films are simply chewed up and spit out for even daring to “go there” – so an earlier release date does two things: takes the Oscar heat off a bit, and gives people time to get it all out of their system before fall. Zero Dark came out way too late and by the time its absurd backlash died down it was long past too late.  Mark Boal has written the screenplay which details the 1967 Detroit race riots, one of the biggest citizen uprisings in U.S. history.  Bigelow is at her best dealing with scenes of war, or even violence on the streets.
2) Dunkirk (July 21st)
Christopher Nolan is trying to reinvent the war movie with “Dunkirk,” just like he tried to reinvent sci-fi with “Inception.” “Interstellar,” “The Prestige” and the superhero movie with “The Dark Knight Trilogy.” What strikes one most upon first look of the film’s trailer is how un-Nolan the whole thing feels. However, what one should expect are the incredibly ambitious shots that Nolan is known for pulling off. What a risk he’s taking by casting a mostly unknown bunch of actors, safe for Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy and Mark Rylance in supporting roles, to do the job. Completing the cast are Fionn Whitehead, Aneurin Barnard, James D’Arcy, Jack Lowden, Barry Keoghan and, yes, One Direction’s Harry Styles, who beat out more than 1000 other actors that auditioned for the role.  Nolan has promised “pared back” dialogue and confirmed “Dunkirk” is a “survival tale.” My rule is Trust Nolan, he’s proven his worth. This could be just the story that Oscar ordered.
3) Okja (June 28th)
Bong Joon-Ho’s “Snowpiercer” was a brilliant film, and ended up being a mild commercial success, but found its groove with critics and developed quite the fan base. Joon-Ho really was the South Korean visionary that, his previous films, “Memories of Murder” and “The Host” set him up to be. It is then no coincidence that his next film is being produced by Netflix. The streaming company has given Joon-Ho total carte banche to make “Okja.” Not much is known about the plot, which is being kept secretive, but we do know the film follows a young girl that puts everything on the line to fight a corporate company that is trying to kidnap Okja, her unusual “animal” friend. The film stars Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano and Lily Collins.
4) The Beguiled (June 30th)
Sofia Coppola remains among the most promising and important female filmmakers in Hollywood today. Her Oscar winning film Lost in Translation continues to grow and evolve as time wears on. Each time she releases a film it tells its story uniquely, even if it doesn’t hit the sweet spot with critics on occasion. “The Beguiled” is a remake of the similarly titled Clint Eastwood film from the 1970s. Judging by its trailer this “remake” looks like it will only be loosely based on the original. Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning star.
5) Logan Lucky (August 18th)
“Logan Lucky” is Steven Soderbergh’s first film out of his so-called retirement, which always seemed like an extension of Soderbergh performance art.  In the meantime,  he’s been concentrating on television, most notably his excellent FX show “The Knick.” Now that it’s been, frustratingly, cancelled, Soderbergh is back and ready to add more to an impressive filmography which includes “Traffic,” “The Limey,” “Out of Sight,” Sex, Lies and Videotape,” “Erin Brockvich,” and “Ocean’s Eleven.” “Logan Lucky” is a heist movie, set in the NASCAR world, starring Daniel Craig, Adam Driver, Channing Tatum, and Hilary Swank, among many others.
6) It Comes At Night (August 25th)
There is no doubt that many of you missed out on 2016’s hidden masterpiece: Trey Edward Schults’ “Krisha.” The film did not get a proper release and was all but shunned at the box-office. However, there is already a vocal fanbase building up on the film and many are starting see Schults as one of the most talented young filmmakers to come around in years, right up there with Shane Carruth. Not much is known about “It Comes At Night,” except that it stars  Joel Edgerton, Riley Keough, Christopher Abbott, and Carmen Ejogo. The short synopsis we did get was that about a man protecting his family from a presence, we’re not sure what, lurking outside his door. Schults’ incredible filmmaking prowess in “Krisha” will likely continue with this film. A major mainstream audience is what this writer-director deserves.
7) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 (May 5th)Am I looking forward to a Marvel movie this summer? You bet. But don’t expect “Spider-Man: Homecoming” or “Wonder-Woman” to make it on this list. The Marvel film I’m most looking forward to is writer-director James Gunn’s sequel to 2014’s “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The first film had enough smarts and well drawn out characters to compensate for formula. Gunn’s keen eye for visual detail proved that he had the stuff to last. It also helped that the soundtrack, a blend of 70’s and 80’s bouncy pop , had us bopping our constantly heads in approval. Look for the 137 minute “Vol.2” to up the ante with everything that made the first film such a treat.
8) Alien: Covenant (May 19th)Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created, with “Alien: Covenant.” This new chapter has the crew of the colony ship Covenant discovering uncharted paradise, but eventually uncovering a dark force hiding at every corner. We all know what this threat is and it seems like Scott might be playing it by the books here by making a survival picture, but how can anyone resist the urge to watch this film? Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir and Carmen Ejogo star in this highly anticipated prequel to Scott’s original 1979 classic.
9) War Machine (May 26th)
Countless production delays didn’t stop Netflix from Acquiring David Michôd’s “War Machine.” For good reason. Michôd proved his worth with 2010’s Aussie indie “Animal Kingdom,” and this latest film, based on a true story, stars Brad Pitt as an anti-Establishment four star general commanding NATO forces in Afghanistan. His own ego, and an aggressively committed journalist, could be his downfall, unless he realizes the severity’s of his mistakes. The cast includes Topher Grace, Anthony Michael Hall, Meg Tilly, Tilda Swinton and Sir Ben Kingsley.
10) All Eyes On Me (June 16th)
It’s about time they made a film about Tupac Shakur. After all, “Notorious” was made for Biggie, Straight Outta Compton for the N.W.A -the latter had fresh and vitally alive filmmaking, courtesy of F Gary Gray, and was robbed of a Best Picture nomination. Tupac songs are well-known in the hip-hop community, maybe not enough in the mainstream, but his life story, filled with twists and turns, highs and lows, should be told. Tupac lookalike Demetrius Shipp Jr. will play the legendary rapper. Did they wait two decades to make this movie just to get a guy that looks EXACTLY like Shakur? No matter the lack of acting experience, the 28 year old Shipp Jr. seems to be the real deal, at least based on the trailer. Danny Boom directs.
11) War For The Planet Of the Apes (July 14th)Woody Harrelson is added to the cast for this sequel to 2014’s “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” Having recently re-watched the 1968 original, I know all about the social issues that can be raised in these films. Matt Reeves directs this new chapter, which will continue to follow Caesar’s rise as a revolutionary figure, one which will be talked about for centuries by his fellow apes, against the humans and the human army led by a ruthless colonel. The third chapter of franchise, Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel.
Also added are 10 indies that I’ve already seen, in order of release date, all of which rank among the year’s best films so far, make sure not to miss these, sure to be, summer MVPs:

Paris Can Wait (May 17th)
Eleanor Coppola, Francis Ford’s wife, is known for her documentary “Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse” which is about the tumultuous and depressing shoot of her husband’s “Apocalypse Now” stands as a great, important time capsule in film history. She has never really delved into narrative  fiction until now. With “Paris Can Wait,” another under-seen Telluride gem, she has made one of the most enjoyably sexy road movies in quite some time. Casting Diane Lane as Anna, an unsatisfied wife whose Hollywood producer husband (Alec Baldwin) is always away on the road, was a stroke of genius. This spiked bonbon of a film has Lane playing Anne, left alone again by her husband this time at the Cannes Film Festival, which leads to her being playfully lured to go on a two-day road trip through the south of France with her Hubby’s business partner Jacques (Arnaud Viard). Jacques delights in showing her a good time, but also doesn’t shy away from telling her how beautiful she is. Their cat and mouse game makes for an intriguing romcom filled with substance.
Wakefield (May 19th)
Bryan Cranston’s Howard Wakefield seems to have a great life: Success as a NYC lawyer, married to a loving, beautiful wife, two great teenage daughters, and, of course, a dream house. However, problems do lurk beneath  and, before we could even get to know him a little better, he decides to disappear. He hides in the attic, where his family never really cares to go, and observes how his loved ones deal with his sudden disappearance. “Wakefield” would not be as fascinating if its central performance, courtesy of Bryan Cranston, wasn’t as fully fleshed out and brilliant. This is the best performance, most impressive acting of Cranston’s film career, made even more impressive by the fact that he is alone for the majority of the film. Riveting is the word to use for his work in “Wakefield.”
The Big Sick (June 23rd)All hesitations you might have had about this Judd Apatow-produced film is thrown out the window once Kumail Nanjiani appears in Michael Showalter’s The Big Sick. The film, a touching and heartfelt personal account of the real-life relationship between Nanjiani and his wife Emily Gordon (played beautifully by Zoe Kazan), is one of the best romantic comedies to come around in ages because it makes us actually care about the outcome. This is the best Judd Apatow movie and it wasn’t even directed by Apatow.
A Ghost Story (July 7th)
David Lowery’s film is one of the most audaciously original narratives I have seen this decade. Shot with friends Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck as a personal side project while he was filming Pete’s Dragon, the film is not really supposed to be scary as much as an engrossing meditation on life and death. The less you know, the better, but the film’s official synopsis is perfectly put together to tell you what you need to know: “This is the story of a ghost and the house he haunts.”

Lady Macbeth (July 14th)
Get ready for a star-in-the-making. Florence Pugh is mesmerizing in “Lady Macbeth,” first-time director Wiliam Oldroyd’s adaptation of Nikolai Leskov’s “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.” Pugh plays Lady Katherine, a young woman forced into marriage and who decides to take matters into her own hands. Katherine is a woman who defies conventions and will do almost anything to get the freedom she most desperately craves in a society that refuses to give it. Especially if you’re a woman. Her desires and needs are things that come naturally to women in today‘s society (freedom, true love, her own free will), but since this is a story set in Victorian London those things are taboo and punishable. She dares to break those conventions by doing unspeakable things, including murder. Oldroyd has reinvented the genre by injecting a much needed dosage of adrenaline. “Lady Macbeth” is a thriller masquerading as a period piece The critics were unanimous in their praise and Roadside quickly snatched it up not too long after. You’re in for a real treat.
Patti Cake$ (July 7th)
I thought of Geremy Jasper’s Patti Cake$ as a “hip-hop Whiplash” when I saw it at Sundance, and that’s an apt description for a familiar film that also feels like it’s directed by a new, exciting talent. The film’s breakout star, Australia’s Danielle Macdonald, plays Patti, an overweight, extremely white Jersey-born aspiring rapper who can win any free-style battle, but can’t find a way out of her miserable, blue-collar town. Jasper directs the hell out of the film, and his visually exciting style breaks through the film’s familiar tropes by making you care about Patti and her road to a better life. Jasper pulls off the impossible: although you feel like you have seen a film like this one before, you can rest assured that there has never been anything quite like Patti Cake$.
City of Ghosts (July 14th)
Another documentary about Syria, this one about ISIS stronghold Raqqa, Syria, might just be the definitive document thus far about the Syrian civil war. Director Matthew Heineman gets frontline access to the citizen journalist collective of “Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently” as they try to defy threats against their lives by the terrorist organization and fight the misinformation and indoctrination of their people at the hands of evil. Another great Syria documentary, “Last Man in Aleppo,” also comes out this summer. Both are unflinching and unforgettable.
Ingrid Goes West (August 4th)
If there ever was a film that dealt with our craze for social media in the most intelligent and assured way, it would be Matt Spicer’s Ingrid Goes West. Thee film has a career-making performance from Aubrey Plaza as an emotionally unbalanced, celebrity obsessed millennial (Aubrey Plaza) who decides to head out west and stalk an Instagram celebrity (a pitch-perfect Elizabeth Olsen) to the brink of martyrdom. It’s one of the best dark comedies to come around in ages and smartly updates the stalker genre for the social media generation. A perfect fit if you ask me.
Baby Driver (August 11th)
“Baby Driver” premiered at the 2017 SXSW Film Festival  with, mostly, rave reviews. This is the first film director Edgar Wright has released since 2013’s “The World’s End.” His aborted plan to direct “Ant-Man” was probably the cause of the delay. Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Jon Bernthal, Eiza González, Jon Hamm, and Jamie Foxx star in “Baby Driver,” which has a talented, young getaway driver (Ansel Elgort) forced to work on  a heist for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey). No surprise here, but the film is a visually driven, candy-colored mashup of “Drive,” The Driver” and Michael Mann’s “Thief.” In other words, it’s a cinematic delight. Wright doesn’t do boring, he’s one of the most visually interesting filmmakers working today and “Baby Driver” proves that once again. You can watch this film with no sound and still get sucked into Wright’s dream of a movie. He  drives this film into sheer visual nirvana.
Brigsby Bear (July 28th)
Brigsby Bear sets up the viewer for an unpredictable ride. The film’s main character, 25 year-old James Pope (James Mooney), has a serious obsession with children’s show Brigsby Bear. We learn that James’ passion for Brigsby isn’t the only thing keeping him in his room. He lives with his parents in a bunker set up in a deserted, unknown location.  It isn’t too long before the FBI shows up, raiding the bunker, arresting the parents and telling James the harsh truth: He was abducted as a baby by his fake parents who have taught him a completely different way of learning. His parents go to jail and James is then forced to reintegrate with his birth family, and society in general, which proves to be a difficult task. It’s an outrageous concept that’s pulled off quite brilliantly. McCary, an SNL writer and director, shows great promise and satirical sting with his directing chops, managing to create something wholly unique and original here. You haven’t seen anything like “Brigsby Bear,” and probably never will again.

James Gunn Says He's Returning for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3"

James Gunn is the man. No, really, he's the reason why Marvel has found a new, fresh direction in their cinematic universe. "Guardians of the Galaxy" has turned into a Marvel classic no thanks to its satirical, deadpan, meta humor and awesomely assembled, nostalgic pop soundtrack. Just look at "Deadpool" or the newly revamped "Thor" trailer. Gunn IS Marvel. With all that being said it is then no surprise that he will return to direct a third installment of "Guardians."

Here’s what Gunn had to say, via Facebook, about returning for the next ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ film:
Well, this week we start the U.S. press junket, before traveling to Europe at the end of the week. Of course I know some of the questions that come up a lot – “Wasn’t there a lot more pressure dealing with the sequel of a beloved film?” (No, there was less, because this time I knew there was an audience waiting to see it!) and, “What was it like working with Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone?” (Daunting and at times overwhelming – I ran around in my backyard as a kid pretending to be Snake Plissken and John Rambo, so these guys are true icons to me.)
But the question that comes up perhaps the most is, “What’s the deal with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and are you going to direct?”
Before I was able to honestly answer this, I needed to know it was, in my heart, what I truly felt called to do. There is a history in Hollywood of haphazard endings to trilogies, and I didn’t want to become a part of that dishonorable tradition of pretending the third one doesn’t exist. I couldn’t do it for the money, and I couldn’t do it because it was what other people wanted me to do. I needed to do it because it was what I needed to do. I have never made choices in my career based on anything other than passion and love for the stories and characters, and I didn’t want to start now.
So, after many months of ruminations and discussions, I know the answer. I could save this answer for the first, random interviewer to ask me during the press junket but instead I thought I’d share it with the most important people in the Guardiansverse – you, the fans, who have been so incredibly supportive and enthusiastic over the past five years, it has moved me to tears on a regular basis.
So, yes, I’m returning to write and direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” comes out on May 5, 2017.

Mark Hamill Hints Luke Could Turn To The Dark Side, Says Reading "The Last Jedi" Script Was "Shocking"

As if last week's Star Wars celebration in Orlando didn't given us enough food for thought in relation to "The Last Jedi," comes this week's latest news, this time Hamill spoke to ABC news and gave us a few more clues in regards to "Episode 8." and beyond. During the conversation he also mentions that it is "possible" that Luke could turn to the dark side by the end of the trilogy.
“There’s a difference between teaser and a trailer. A teaser is supposed to show you dynamic images that heighten your awareness and make you want to see the trailer, but avoid all story points if at all possible. [But] I think that’s the only story point that’s in the teaser, which is Luke saying it’s time for the Jedi to end… It was as shocking to me to read what Rian Johnson had written as I’m sure it will be for the audience.”

 [ABC News]

"Fate of the Furious" makes record-breaking $530 Million dollars worldwide at the weekend box-office




I was on vacation last week so I didn't catch "The Fate of the Furious." Will likely watch it this week. Am I excited for it? Not really. The only film of the franchise that really did anything for me was "Fast Five." Much of it having it do with its setting in Rio and also it being The Rock's debut in the franchise. It felt like a cat and mouse cop procedural and it worked splendidly well. I mean, in all honesty, the only reason why I still watch these is because of The Rock. Vin Diesel has become a complete buffoon in my books.

 Anyway, the latest "Furious" film just broke a record with half a billion dollars worldwide at the weekend box-office. 

 1. The Fate of the Furious— $100,181,640
2. The Boss Baby — $15,540,000 ($116,323,907)
3. Beauty and the Beast —$13,634,000 ($454,649,751)
4. Smurfs: The Lost Village — $6,500,000 ($24,728,326)
5. Going in Style — $6,350,000 ($23,376,352)
6. Gifted — $3,000,000 ($4,369,910)
7. Get Out — $2,917,865 ($167,547,880)
8. Power Rangers — $2,850,000 ($80,563,748)
9. The Case for Christ — $2,720,000
10. Kong: Skull Island — $2,670,000 ($161,246,181)





















[Box-Office Mojo]

Mark Hamill hints "The Last Jedi" could be the end of Luke Skywalker's journey

Bear with me here on all the Star Wars news that's being posted here at World of Reel. The Orlando celebrations have really given us more clues as to where this saga is headed. Here's Mark Hamill talking to Fandango about Luke's possible death, or end of journey, in "The Last Jedi."
“Well he’s a completely different person,” he said. “He had an arc [in the original trilogy], and I think Carrie and Harrison admitted their characters were pretty much the same throughout, but Luke was always changing. Now we have this 30-year gap between the films, so a lot of if is conjecture. It’s not specifically my story – Rey is now the protagonist.”
Hamill went on to admit that he wasn’t happy originally with the path Luke takes in this film. “I think you’ll find some things that’ll surprise you,” he said. “They certainly surprised me. I said to Rian, I think I fundamentally disagree with everything you’ve decided for me. Now having said that, I have to accept it, get my mind around it and do my best to realize your vision. Once I got into it, a lot of my fears went away.”
On whether Luke is going to stick around past The Last Jedi, Hamill hints that he may not. “That’s why I enjoy Rogue One so much… because I’m not in it. This is a little too high-profile for me.” On whether this is the last we’ll see of Luke, Hamill smirked. “To be determined.”
Hamill also revealed to us his version of the reunion between Luke and Han Solo that he wanted to see happen in The Force Awakens. 

Carrie Fisher Won't Appear in Star Wars Episode IX

Last week Todd Fisher, Carrie's brother, had said that Disney wanted to bring back Princess Leia. Todd, and Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd, had given Disney permission to use "recent footage" for "Episode IX," but it seems like it won't be happening after all, at least according to Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy.
“Sadly, Carrie will not be in nine,” Kennedy said during an interview with ABC News “But we will see a lot of Carrie in eight.” This is a bit of a bombshell and likely a disappointment for “Star Wars” fans who assumed the filmmakers had at least found one way to work her into the plot.
“[Todd Fisher] was probably confused because we finished everything in ‘Eight,’ and Carrie is absolutely phenomenal in the movie” she said. “We’re so happy that we were able to complete shooting in the summer. Unfortunately, Carrie passed away. So by the time we were well under way with Episode IX– in our thoughts–we had not written the script, but we’ve regrouped and started over again in January.”
In a separate interview with Yahoo, Kennedy said. “When Carrie passed away in December that was a huge blow for all of us, and it caused us to sit with Colin to really think where we were headed with ‘Episode IX.’ Carrie was a significant part in that story — that was something she very much wanted and something we very much wanted. But given the circumstances, we would not carry on with that.”
‘Episode IX’ will hit theaters on May 23, 2019. It will be Directed by Colin Trevorrow

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" Director Rian Johnson reveals Carrie Fisher helped re-write screenplay

star-wars-8-trailer-images-4
As If "The Last Jedi" wasn't going have enough Carrie Fisher awesomness, comes this news that she also doctored the screenplay with its director Rian Johnson. No surprise here, Fisher was one of the most sought after script doctors in Hollywood for more than three decades. Here's Johnson describing the way they worked together on and off set:

 “I'd go to her house and sit on her bed for hours, and we'd go through the script, I love her so much. I just adore her. I connected with her first and foremost as a writer. She was an incredible writer, with an incredible mind,” 
These, as he described “stream of consciousness, jazz poetry ad-lib sessions", would sometimes only result in a four-word line, yet Johnson seemed deeply thankful for everything Fisher offered him as both an actor and a writer."

 Lucasfilm Head, Kathleen Kennedy had this to say about Fisher's performance:

 “Carrie is remarkable in the movie,” Kennedy stated. “What Rian wrote, and the performance she ended up giving; I think you guys will find that an amazing tribute to her talent.”