Usually movies are added to HBO GO on the 15th, but nothing was added today. Perhaps because these 5 movies are expiring, the new ones will be added tomorrow. Stay tuned! Check these out before they’re gone!
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Much in the same way that the last film I reviewed, Justin Reardon‘s Playing It Cool (read review here), took on its subject in a manner that can only be described as meta, Hernán Guerschuny takes a similar concept and flips it.It seems that the film world is now fertile ground for movies (frankly none of them hold a candle to Altman‘s The Player). So let’s see how this one shakes out…
Instead of screenwriter incapable of falling in love being commissioned to write a romantic comedy, we get a famous, surly film critic, Victor Tellez (Rafael Spregelburd) who is notorious for trashing every movie he sees. Day after day, he goes with a set of other critics to watch unoriginal movies that have no soul (according to him). They go to the same coffee shop afterwards to discuss further the films they have seen and then adjourn to write their respective reviews. Tellez is in an interesting place in his personal, perhaps explaining his bitterness. He has just broken up with his special ladyfriend and is in desperate need of a new apartment as the building he’s living in is undergoing construction and the hammering is driving him crazy. Add to it that his newspaper editor is on his case about how he trashes every movie and is threatening to rewrite his reviews to make the distributors happier with them, he’s got a lot on his plate. And is doesn’t get any less complicated when Sofia (the stunning Dolores Fonzi) enters his life, at first hating one another, then…falling for one another.
But can it work? She, who is at times is affectionate and others aloof and secretive clashes with his minimalist existence, filled by films and conversation and an unhealthy obsession with the women he’s seen in classic films (namely Jean Seberg in Godard‘s À bout de souffle) and using them as his standard of measure. Clearly something needs to give. But when Tellez needs some extra cash, he ventures into territory in the same vein as the likes of Godard,Truffaut and all of the other Cahiers du Cinema critics did back in the late 50s – making their own films, although in Tellez’s case, he only takes an assignment to write a script. The final complication is that he ends up writing his own life and specifically focusing on his relationship with Sofia, all of which she is unaware.Like Belmondo‘s Michel Poiccard, his goose is cooked. And worst of all…the movie sucks.
I really enjoyed this film. Where it succeeds, however, it also kind of fails. The familiar cliches that the Tellez character rants against appear in an ironic way in his own story, but they aren’t reconciled in a satisfying way, not turning them enough on their head to make a statement about them. Despite that, however, Guerschuny weaves an interesting enough tale to keep the viewer engaged. In the latter part of the second act and into the third act, the film shifts gears, somewhat jarringly, into unexpected territory in a side plot involving a disgruntled director (Ignacio Rogers) taking revenge for a bad review that Tellez wrote of his film. Somewhat out of place, the film quickly rights itself and gets back on its proper trajectory with somewhat surprising results. Dolores Fonzi is really quite angelic in this film and is expertly cast in the mysterious role of Sofia. Likewise, Spregelburd fits his role as the bearded, overly pretentious film critic to a T. They have wonderful chemistry together on screen as well.
The Film Critic‘s successes may be varied, but it is still a worthwhile viewing. As someone who obviously reviews movies, it’s interesting to see a role like that woven into a film. Guerschuny shows a deft touch for a first-time writer/director and I hope to see more films from him in the future, especially as the South American film scene sis beginning to make a name for itself.
The Film Critic opens in theaters and hits VOD today.
HBO has released a new trailer for True Detective Season Two, which you can view below!
The second season will focus on a trio police officers including Ray Velcoro (Colin Farrell), a corrupt officer with ties to the mob, and a career criminal named Frank Semyon (Vince Vaughn), who’s move into legitimate business is thwarted by the death of his business partner.
Rachael McAdams also stars as Ani Bezzerides, a Ventura County Sheriff’s detective whose uncompromising ethics put her at odds with others and the system she serves, while Taylor Kitsch stars as Paul Woodrugh, a war veteran and motorcycle officer for the California Highway Patrol, running from a difficult past and the sudden glare of a scandal that never happened.
The show will premiere on Sunday, June 21st at 9pm ET
Laura Lippman‘s best-selling novel Every Secret Thing has been brought to life by Academy Award(r) Nominated Filmmaker Amy Berg. Two 11 year old girls are convicted of kidnapping and killing a biracial infant. Released after seven years in a jeuvenile detention center, Ronnie and Alice are back in their hometown attempting to adjust to normal life as newly minted adults. Two weeks after their release, another young biracial girl goes missing from a local furniture store. Can the lead detective from the first case survive this new one? Who can you trust? Every Secret Thing puts your suspicions to the test at every turn.
Utilizing flashbacks and he said/she said interrogation tactics, Berg skillfully crafts a film filled with mystery. Having not read the book, I was pleasantly surprised that the film clearly stands on it’s own. Never once did I feel cheated or left in the dark for the wrong reasons. In fact I was scratching my head, trying to figure it out right along with the detectives. I was fully engrossed with the story and structure. Bravo, I say.
Dakota Fanning plays Ronnie with a beautiful mixture of shyness and a hardened edge. Ronnie is from “The wrong side of the tracks”. Quiet and smart, her heavily rimmed eyes speak volumes as a severely damaged young woman. Danielle Macdonald gives one hell of a performance as Alice. Her eerie lack of emotional growth is startling. She walks a fine line between naivete and incredulity. Someone go cast her in something else, please?
Diane Lane plays Alice’s mother, Helen. This is a woman with issues in broad daylight. Her relationship with Ronnie and Alice is beyond peculiar and most definitely off putting. Alcoholic and self loathing, she has been silently molding the girls whether she realizes it or not. This performance should garner her attention for the sheer sliminess and moral justification that comes off the screen. Elizabeth Banks play Detective Nancy Porter. Haunted by the death of the first child 7 years earlier, she is determined to figure out the truth this time around. Banks is vulnerable but tough in all the right areas.
It was so refreshing to see a cast that was female dominated and extraordinarily talented. This film blows the Bechdel test out of the water. Applause to Berg, screenwriter Nicole Holofcener, and executive producer Frances McDormand for bringing Every Secret Thing to the big screen. I will say, even after seeing the film twice, (once at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival and again this week) I am still intrigued to go out and grab Lippman’s novel. At the heart of it all, this is a story about emotional abuse and it’s long term consequences. Every Little Secret will keep you guessing until the very last frame.
Synopsis: From a producer of FOXCATCHER and based on the novel by New York Times best-selling author Laura Lippman, EVERY SECRET THING is a gripping psychological thriller about the chilling consequences of the secrets we keep.
Detective Nancy Porter (Elizabeth Banks) is still haunted by her failure to save the life of a missing child from the hands of two young girls. Eight years later, another child goes missing in the same town just days after Ronnie and Alice (Dakota Fanning and newcomer Danielle Macdonald), the two girls convicted of the former crime, were released from juvenile detention. Porter and her partner (Nate Parker) must race against the clock to prevent history from repeating itself. But as they begin to investigate the girls and their families, especially Alice’s protective mother (Diane Lane), they unearth a web of secrets and deceptions that calls everything into question.
Directed by Academy Award(r) Nominated Filmmaker Amy Berg and Executive Produced by Frances McDormand.
Rated R
RT: 93 Minutes
Netflix has a full slate of movies and series coming out this year. Here’s their official slate, but some don’t have more than just a title.
Between (All territories except Canada)
Release Date: May 21st – Series
Between is the story of a town under siege from a mysterious disease that has wiped out everybody except those 21 years old and under. The series explores the power vacuum that results when a government has quarantined a 10-mile diameter area and left the inhabitants to fend for themselves.
Jen Kirkman: I’m Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine)
Release Date: May 22nd – Stand-Up Comedy Special
Jen Kirkman delivers some sharp, hilarious truths about divorce, kids, sex and turning 40, in this Netflix original comedy special.
The Other One: The Long, Strange Trip of Bob Weir
Release Date: May 22nd – Documentary
The Other One: The Long Strange Trip of Bob Weir chronicles Weir’s journey from Palo Alto youth to global success as a member of one of the world’s most influential and popular bands. With a special emphasis on his brotherhood with Jerry Garcia and ample musical performances and archival footage, The Other One features interviews with bandmates, colleagues, fans, family and Bob Weir himself.
Sense8 — Available in Ultra HD 4K
Release Date: June 5th – Series
Sense8 is centered around eight characters that live in different cities around the world who experience a violent vision, and soon find themselves mentally connected by this experience. They are suddenly able to see and talk to each other as though they were in the same place, and have access to each other’s deepest secrets. Not only must these eight adapt to this new ability and to each other, they must figure out what happened and why and what it means for the future of humanity, while being hunted by an organization out to capture, kill or vivisect them.
Orange is the New Black – Season 3
Release Date: June 12th – Series
Created by Jenji Kohan (“Weeds”), a funny, thought-provoking and powerful series about a diverse group of inmates serving time in a women’s prison.
What Happened, Miss Simone
Release Date: June 26th – Documentary
Classically trained pianist, dive-bar chanteuse, black power icon and legendary recording artist, Nina Simone lived a life of brutal honesty, musical genius, and tortured melancholy. In this epic documentary, director Liz Garbus interweaves never-before-heard recordings and rare archival footage together with Nina’s most memorable songs, to create an unforgettable portrait of one of the least understood, yet most beloved, artists of our time.
Chris Tucker Live
Release Date: July 10th – Stand-Up Comedy Series
Chris Tucker headlines his first full length stand-up comedy special, Chris Tucker Live, premiering exclusively on Netflix on Friday, July 10.
Wet Hot American Summer
Release Date: July 17th – Series
Welcome to Camp Firewood! From the filmmakers that brought the original 2001 cult classic, Wet Hot American Summer – First Day of Camp is the hilarious prequel to the film starring the entire original cast in addition to an all-star lineup of new cast members.
Crouching Tiger: The Green Destiny — Available in Ultra HD 4K
Release Date: August 28th – Film
BoJack Horseman – Season 2
Release Date: 2015 – Series
Will Arnett voices BoJack, the failed legendary 90’s sitcom star from the favorite family sitcom “Horsin’ Around,” who has been trying to find his way through a muddle of self-loathing, whisky and failed relationships. Now, in the presence of his human sidekick Todd (Aaron Paul) and his feline agent and ex-paramour Princess Carolyn (Amy Sedaris), BoJack is primed for his comeback…
Chelsea Handler Docu-Comedy Specials
Release Date: 2015 – Comedy Doc Special
No info yet, stay tuned!
Club de Cuervos
Release Date: 2015 – Series
The 13 episode series from Alazraki Entertainment, which reunites the team from “We Are The Nobles” with Luis Gerardo Méndez (“We Are The Nobles”, “Cantinflas”) in the leading role, centers on a family feud among heirs of a soccer club after the owner’s death.
Dinotrux
Release Date: 2015 – Kids
No info yet, stay tuned.
Dragons: Race to the Edge
Release Date: 2015 – Kids
Overview: In the new Netflix original series, Hiccup and Toothless lead the Dragon Riders as they soar beyond the borders of Berk and discover the mysterious Dragon eye — an ancient artifact filled with secrets that will lead them to new lands filled with undiscovered dragons. But the heroes find themselves pursued by marauding dragonhunters, who will stop at nothing to seize the power of the Dragon Eye.
Ever After High
Release Date: 2015 – Kids
The sons and daughters of the world’s most famous fairytale characters have come together, at the enchanted high school of Ever After High, to follow in their parents’ fabled footsteps. Divided between the Ever After Royals™, those who want their promised Happily Ever After – and the Ever After Rebels™, those looking to re-write their parents’ storybook endings – Ever After High™ celebrates the idea that the story of your life is not written in permanent ink. You have the power to create your own destiny.
F is for Family
Release Date: 2015 – Series
Created by Bill Burr and EmmyⓇ award-winner Michael Price as a half-hour animated comedy series, F is for Family follows the Murphy family in the 1970’s, a time when you could smack your kid, smoke inside and bring a gun to the airport.
Hemlock Grove – Season 3
Release Date: 2015 – Series
From executive producer Eli Roth and based on Brian McGreevy’s novel of the same name,Hemlock Grove is a riveting one-hour murder mystery that revolves around the residents of a former Pennsylvania steel town. When 17- year-old Brooke Bluebell is brutally murdered, any of Hemlock’s peculiar inhabitants – or killer creatures – could be suspects. Through the investigation, the town’s seamier side is exposed, revealing nothing is what it seems. Beautiful, terrifying and graphic, Hemlock Grove is unlike anything else in its genre.
Knights of Sidonia – Season 2
Release Date: 2015 – Anime Series
No info yet, stay tuned!
Longmire – Season 4 (US & Canada only)
Release Date: 2015 – Series
Season four of Longmire picks up moments after season three’s exciting finale. Walt Longmire (series star Robert Taylor), having found out who was behind the murder of his wife, succumbs to his darker impulses and takes off in pursuit of the killer with murder on his mind. Meanwhile, Branch Connally (Bailey Chase), the deputy who Walt fired for erratic, violent behavior, believes he has already figured out who the real culprit is. But during his confrontation with this suspected killer, a gun goes off. Now the audience will finally learn what happened, and whether Walt can be stopped before he makes a fatal choice.
Marseille
Release Date: 2015 – Series
No info yet, stay tuned!
Narcos — Available in Ultra HD 4K
Release Date: 2015 – Series
Narcos is the true-life story of the growth and spread of cocaine drug cartels across the globe and attendant efforts of law enforcement to meet them head on in brutal, bloody conflict. It details the many, often-conflicting forces – legal, political, police, military and civilian – that clash in the effort to control cocaine, one of the world’s most valuable commodities.
Pompidou
Release Date: 2015 – Series
In a clapped-out old caravan, parked in front of his now crumbling estate, lives Pompidou (Matt Lucas), a tubby, pompous, penniless, eccentric, yet ultimately lovable aristocrat. He is an elderly oddball who has fallen on hard times. Alex MacQueen plays the character of Hove, Pompidou’s long-suffering butler. Each episode sees Pompidou and Hove face a new challenge – from stealing back a priceless bowl they once owned, to extracting a live bird which has flown into Hove’s mouth and is nesting in his stomach.
Popples (All territories except France)
Release Date: 2015 – Kids
No info yet, stay tuned!
Some Assembly Required (All territories except Canada)
Release Date: 2015 – Kids
When a teenager becomes the new owner of a toy company he hires a bunch of his high school friends to help him design new toys
Super 4
Release Date: 2015 – Kids
No info yet, stay tuned!
Trailer Park Boys – Season 9
Release Date: 2015 – Series
“Trailer Park Boys” is a Canadian comedy television series that stars Robb Wells (“Ricky”), John Paul Tremblay (“Julian”) and Mike Smith (“Bubbles”) as a group of trailer park residents living in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The series follows the boys’ misadventures, mixed with plenty of gunfights, dope, liquor and a healthy dose of foul language. Hailed in their native Canada, the Boys are going global with the premiere of Season 8 only on Netflix. Viewers around the world can now discover these foul-mouthed lovable misfits, their petty antics and dysfunctional relationships in ten all-new 30-minute episodes filled with outlandish scenarios, hilarity, and a whole lot of heart.
With Bob and David
Release Date: 2015 – Series
After being dishonorably discharged from the Navy Seals, Bob and David are back serving our country the way they do best, making sketch comedy. Four half-hours of brand new comedy featuring all new characters, all new scenes, and most importantly, all new wigs.
Hands down one of the most touching documentaries to come out of theTribeca Film festival last year is I AM BIG BIRD. This is the heartwarming story of the man inside the big yellow icon, Caroll Spinney. I’ve already gushed about the film in my review, so I was thrilled to get the opportunity to talk with directors Chad Walker and Dave LaMattina this afternoon. Here is our brand new episode of Girls On Film: I Am Big Bird
I AM BIG BIRD is now playing in theaters in selected cities with a national expansion coming in throughout the summer. Stay tuned to Reel News Daily for more information!
Transgender actors and actresses are hard to find. When director Eric Schaeffer wrote the script for coming of age rom-com Boy Meets Girl, he literally had to Google who might be available. Finding a young and dynamic YouTube vlogger Michelle Hendley was god send. The story revolves around an early 20 something transgender girl, Ricky, who is stuck in her hometown (Followed the best casual sex calvin website). Thankfully she is surrounded by a supportive family and an adoring best friend, Robby. Into daydreaming, creating original outfits she features on her Youtube channel, and trying to navigate friendships, Ricky finds herself attracted to the new girl around town, Francesca. Not knowing how “things” work sexually with a girl, Robby becomes her tutor in the ways of wooing a female properly. We make your experience a fun and unforgettable one with plan your hens night. In a small Southern town, there are of course those who don’t fully accept Ricky as well as the masked sexual tensions from those in denial.Fleshlight imitate the feel of vaginal, anal and oral sex with lifelike openings, internal canals and soft material. If you have never considered a Fleshlight , it will change the way you view masturbation.The beauty of booking with Absolute Angels Bangkok is that quality is always assured. Our first-class companionship agency represents the most outstanding Thai escort can provide in terms of beauty, professionalism, personality and elegance.avai Michelle is a real gem. She is naturally funny and sweet. Not to mention drop dead gorgeous, she carries this film with the help of Twilight alum Michael Welch. His performance is also extraordinarily organic and likable. The two steer this movie into the ABC Family category, meaning that it’s meant for tweens (at the youngest) and up audience. The dialogue is honest and reminiscent of conversations we’ve all had while trying to figure out where we belong. You can book for your next night out the best hotel where topless waiter are available. The Male Revue can supply a shirtless barman to your location. Whether it’s a girl’s night out or a special occasion, male strippers can add fun and excitement to any event. Why do the same boring things when you’re out with your friends? Try something new. Enjoy a show featuring male strippers ct and spice up your night! Going out to conventional clubs for dancing or bars for good cheers is the sure-fire recipe for quickly becoming bored and frustrated. There is little entertainment to be had in such places. Having to push through crowds just to find a place to stand, or dodging drunks who are always in danger of spilling drinks on you, is no way to spend an evening. Avoid such foibles by booking a place for your party at an exotic club, where you will be able to enjoy male strippers who are completely sober and sizzling hot! Hard-working women deserve to be entertained by hard-bodied men. This is one of the motivating ideas behind a male strip club: to give you a fun and unique experience for your celebration. Here, you get to enjoy yourself in style as male strippers ct give you a show you are not soon to forget. Male strip clubs offer comprehensive entertainment. The men are fit and very skilled as performance artists. They are dedicated to delivering a dazzling and spectacular show that will raise your heart rate and get the blood flooding through your veins. With your booking, you get to choose the male strippers you want to service you, and you get to time blocked off exclusively for your event. The atmosphere in an exotic club is electric! The music, the lights, the scents, the well-oiled muscles, and the stupendous dance routines-all of these provide an energy that you won’t find in a normal club or bar. Away from the humdrum of your life and into the great sphere of male entertainment, you can really let loose and allow yourself to feel sexy and excited. This is the value offered by male strippers and the clubs in which they perform.The stage is set! Lights shining. Smoke machine steaming, hearts are racing and blood is pumping. As the curtains unveil and the electrifying music fills the air, our Magic Men appear and take the stage in what only promises to be an unforgettable evening ahead. Come watch the ultimate male revue shows at the hottest venues and nightclubs around Melbourne. Whether it’s a Friday, Saturday or you just wanting to have your very own magic night, come see our MagicMen hens night venue hire perform their spectacular dance routines at a male revue show Melbourne. Our guys bring a high energy performance with electrifying dance moves that will have you sitting on the edge of your seats. Want to visit one of our shows? Enquiry with us today to book your tickets and reserve your seating. No walk-ins permitted! Voted one of Australia’s hottest male strip clubs, Magic Men is one male strip show you don’t want to miss. Reserve your tickets and book today.
In the end, this film is not about being transgender, it’s about loving yourself. Boy Meets Girl has a great message to people of all ages and should be on your agenda. So many folks we know have lived in fear of judgement for years. I had an amazing teacher who was married, had children, all hiding the fact that he was gay. This is not a unique scenario. Too many teens are taking their own lives because of bullying. Boy Meets Girl is a beautiful introduction into a world some are still having a rough time accepting. Parents, watch it first, then watch it with your kids. Now is the time.
I had the privilege of interviewing Michelle about her very first role in a feature film:
Michelle: Wow! Thank you so much! And absolutely! I’m thrilled that you want to interview with me! Eric found me via my Youtube vlog, and from there I auditioned with him over Skype. He worked with me on the script for a few months before making the final decision to cast me as Ricky.
Michelle: We did not spend a lot of time together before shooting, but there was a Skype call or two and I do remember getting Indian food together and having an in-depth discussion about spirituality and the after life….the curry was pretty great too. Michael is genuinely a great guy, and incredibly easy to work with (I know Alex and Michael Galante would also agree).
Michelle: Oh yes! Definitely. I’m working with an agency in New York right now, and just got done shooting and NBC pilot. It looks like I have an acting career coming my way!
Michelle: Oh my gosh. Eric taught me *so* much! He basically put me through actor’s bootcamp (and even sent me off to an acting coach for a little while), and showed me the ins and outs of being on camera. Perhaps the most important thing I learned from him was to know your lines in-and-out so you can allow yourself to play with line readings and give the director a variety of takes. Seems like basic knowledge, but what did I know? I was just a Missouri girl in the middle of beauty school when he found me.
Michelle: There are a number of parallels between Ricky and myself. I certainly relate with her when it comes to the struggles of gender transition, and the horribleness that dating can be. We also come from a supportive family and have loving friends. However, Ricky has a darker past than I do, and therefore carries herself with more of an edge. Ricky is stronger than me, and it was important that I made that distinction when portraying her. Oh, and I can’t sew for anything.
Michelle: You are absolutely 110% right. It is amusing (in the most frustrating, hair-pulling kinda way) the way people get up-in-arms about sexuality (and gender) – there own identity and other peoples’! I’m not a huge fan of labels, but I am very much attracted to men. That isn’t to say there couldn’t be a lady out there who had it goin’ on for me, but for the most part…I like dudes. I identify as a heterosexual female… Most people have not seen a transgender body, and I honestly feel that is why there is so much stigma against trans individuals. I think the world needs to face their fear and see that my body is beautiful, powerful, and that it isn’t threatening anyone (or their sense masculinity).
Michelle: A lot of people are beginning to see me as a representative for the trans community, and I am more than happy to see Jacob Hansen , Ashton Summers performing as gay twinks in helix studios videos. Yes, it is intimidating and I do feel a bit of pressure, but if their community feels they are doing them justice, then It couldn’t be happier. they receive a ton of messages from individuals all over the LBGTQ spectrum.
Michelle: Thank *you* so much! I LOVED your questions, and I hope I have the opportunity to interview with you again!
Available today on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Instant, Vudu, and cable On Demand. DVD is available WOLFEONDEMAND.COMand many other retailers across the country.
One of the most popular and award-winning LGBT films of the year, BOY MEETS GIRL is an authentic Southern romantic-comedy starring the newcomer Michelle Hendley as Ricky, a young transwoman trying to navigate life and looking for romance in her small Kentucky hometown. Will she find love with the beautiful rich girl Francesca (Alexandra Turshen, RED OAKS) or with her lifelong best pal Robby (Michael Welch, TWILIGHT franchise)? Authentically written and directed by accomplished indie filmmaker Eric Schaeffer (IF LUCY FELL starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Ben Stiller, Elle Macpherson, NEVER AGAIN starring Jeffrey Tambor and Jill Clayburgh), BOY MEETS GIRL simultaneously exemplifies and transcends the category of “LGBT film” to present the very human story of the blurry and complicated lines between friendship and romance, gender and sexuality.
Said writer-director Eric Schaeffer, “In making this film, I wanted everyone–regardless of gender (cis or trans) or sexual orientation to have a chance to identify with the film’s themes of wanting to be unconditionally loved and accepted for who we are. The message in this film is the same as in all my work: labeling leaves no room for who we really are, or how we really experience life. I think our only chance is to bury those labels forever in favor of a singular new one: human. Hate is easy. The real courage is in love.”
BOY MEETS GIRL completed its theatrical run in February 2015 and garnered numerous awards on the film festival circuit, including Best Feature at the Teaneck International Film Festival, the prestigious Iris Prize Festival and the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The film also picked up multiple awards at FilmOut San Diego, sweeping up nearly every jury award for which it was eligible at the 2014 festival – nabbing statues for Best Feature, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor. Hendley also won the Programming Award for Outstanding Emerging Talent.
This incredibly funny and endearing film is one of the most upbeat things I’ve seen this year. Long story short, not unlike the title suggests, Allan is turning 100 and is stuck in a nursing home. Reminiscing through pictures and stories from his past, Allan decides to jump out of the window and go on an adventure, anywhere. He ends up with a suitcase full of money belonging to some pretty scary people and on his way to freedom he runs into other wayward souls that get entangled in his absurd journey.
Allan (Robert Gustafsson) and Julius (Iwar Wiklander) in THE 100 YEAR OLD MAN. Courtesy of Music Box Films.
Lead actor Robert Gustafsson is an absolute delight. Comic timing and facial expressions of a real genius, he takes this film through time and through encounters with historical figures like Ronald Reagan and Joseph Stalin, just to name a few. With a passion for blowing things up and an innate ability to talk to anyone, Allan becomes a double agent, a soldier, and perhaps the actual creator of the atomic bomb.
THE 100 YEAR OLD MAN. Courtesy of Music Box Films.
The film is a mixture of scenes from Allan’s youth and the shenanigans he’s gotten himself into on his birthday. Adapted beautifully from the novel of the same name by author Jonas Jonasson, with the help of screenwriters Felix Herngren & Hans Ingemansson, it is definitely full of belly laughs and good times. Herndren, also the director, gives us a colorful, lush, and impeccable comedic foreign film, unlike the many melodramatic features we’re used to getting from over seas. The theater I was in was in stitches the entire duration, and when you can get a theater full of critics laughing, well that’s a feat unto itself. I highly recommend you catch this movie. It is available in theaters in on demand!
Allan (Robert Gustafsson) in THE 100 YEAR OLD MAN. Courtesy of Music Box Films.
Powered by the antics of a mischievous centenarian on the run, comic fable The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared abounds with irreverent charm. After a long and colorful life working in munitions and getting entangled in the Spanish Civil War, the Manhattan Project, and other definitive events of the 20th century, Allan Karlsson finds himself stuck in a nursing home. Determined to escape on his 100th birthday, he leaps out of a window and onto the nearest bus, kicking off an unexpected journey involving, among other surprises, a suitcase stuffed with cash, some wicked criminals, and an elephant named Sonya. Like an unruly Nordic cousin of Forrest Gump, Allan’s youthful escapades and current adventures weave together into an offbeat treat for anyone who’s young at heart. Starring beloved comedian Robert Gustafsson, this fanciful spin on world history is based on a best-selling novel and also the highest-grossing Swedish film of all time.
There is no denying that most of us are fans of anything zombie genre. With The Walking Dead becoming a televised phenomenon, we got to see a story line based around the characters and not the infected. This is very much the scenario in Henry Hobson‘s new film Maggie. Wade has promised his late wife that he would do anything to protect their daughter. Living in a world where an infection causes people to turn into cannibal zombies, the government have ordered that at 8 weeks into said infection, you must deliver your family member to the hospital quarantine wing… where they essentially wait to die. But how can you just give up? What if your loved one is different? What if you believe they can be saved?
Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Wade with a love and affection that is altogether new for him. This legendary action star is gentle and protective, and any of us would be proud to call him Dad. He is able to hold the screen in long quiet shots with complete ease and not much more than his pensive face. I would love to him in more roles like this, as he is clearly capable of giving us an entire range of real emotion without any slow motion explosions going off behind him. Joely Richardson is Caroline, Wade’s second wife and Maggie’s stepmother. After sending her two small children off to live with relatives one Maggie returns to the home, she is hesitant to fully trust Wade’s parenting decisions, as would anyone afraid of being attacked by a zombie. Supportive but always on edge, Richardson displays the same great acting talents we’ve come to know from The Tudors and Nip/Tuck. 
The real star of this film, hands down, is Abigail Breslin. To navigate as a teenager in a world where awkwardness is already the norm, then add in the inevitability of turning into a monster is quite the feat. Breslin is graceful and raw in her spiral both emotionally and physically. She is able to balance sadness, thoughtfulness, and a little bit of frightening all at once. I am truly impressed with her portrayal of Maggie and it should not go unnoticed by Hollywood. 
Maggie is Henry Hobson‘s first feature length film. He is known for his genius art direction with title sequences, ironically including The Walking Dead. Hobson’s experience is evident in the way he chooses to shoot in an almost kamikaze style. Indie films have smaller budgets and tight schedule, but his actors and crew trusted him so much that at the drop of a hat, the entire team would run from one location to another in order to fit in a shot to capture a perfect moment in time and its natural light. I see a great future for Henry Hobson if Maggie is any indication of what he is capable of. 
Don’t expect massive actions scenes but do expect some phenomenal makeup effects and a truly lovely script by John Scott 3. For a first time screenwriter, he definitely knows his stuff about the genre and great family dynamics. Maggie is a slow burn, beautifully shot and scored, with one hell of an ending. It’s slightly outside the box for a zombie film and for Schwarzenegger, but totally worth your time. You can check out Maggie in theaters and On Demand today, May 8th.
Below you can find the audio from The Tribeca Film Festival press conference I attended for Maggie. Joely, Henry, and Arnold were in attendance. All three were completely gracious and articulate, it’s worth a listen for some insider information on the production. Enjoy!
Miles To Go – On Demand Now, In Theaters May 15th
A writer from Los Angeles, who doesn’t believe that relationships can last, struggles to mend his most recent failed relationship, believing it may just be the key to his success and happiness in life.
Caroll Spinney in I AM BIG BIRD: THE CAROLL SPINNEY STORY a Tribeca Film release.
I Am Big Bird – On Demand & In Theaters
Directed by: Dave LaMattina and Chad N. Walker
Producer by: Dave LaMattina and Chad N. Walker
Written by: Dave LaMattina
Starring: Caroll Spinney
For 45 years, Caroll Spinney has been beloved by generations of children as the man behind Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch – and at 80 years old, he has no intention of stopping. A loving portrait of the man in the yellow suit, I Am Big Bird features extraordinary footage of Spinney’s earliest collaborations with Jim Henson as it traces his journey from bullied child to childhood icon. And as the yellow feathers give way to grey hair, it is the man, not the puppet, who will steal your heart.
Eat With Me – On Demand
Seen through the eyes of a mother and her gay son who must reconnect, heal, and grow together to save the son’s Chinese restaurant, writer/director David Au has created a touching and personal tribute to his Chinese-American family, the healing power of food and love, and a transcendent tribute to motherhood.
Set in one of the glorious food capitals of the world, Los Angeles, this deliciously emotional and redemptive story features adept performances and a memorable cameo by iconic actor George Takei (Star Trek). Starring Sharon Omi, Teddy Chen Culver, Aidan Bristow, and Nicole Sullivan (TV’s “Family Guy”, “MADtv”).
I’ve stated this before a few times, but romantic comedies aren’t traditionally films that I will watch. Most of them are ill-conceived and rife with so many cliches that are so bad they make me want to punch my own face. From time to time, some stand out and rise above the all-too familiar trappings of being a romantic comedy (Cameron Crowe’s Say Anything is a perfect example) and that’s just what Justin Reardon‘s Playing It Cool aims to do. The film is what essentially is a meta-romantic comedy, think the Scream of the romantic comedy genre. But is it successful? 
The narrator and protagonist (played by Chris Evans) is a screenwriter hired to write…a romantic comedy (how meta is that)! The problem is he’s never been in love, and in fact has done everything he can to avoid it, so he is struggling to find his story and meet his deadline despite pleas from his agent (played by Evans‘s Avengers co-star Anthony Mackie). When the narrator (no, he doesn’t have a real name in the film) gets dragged to a charity benefit with his friend Scott (Topher Grace), he meets Her (she, too, has no name but is played by the exquisite Michelle Monaghan) and as would happen in your standard rom-com, they share a moment or at least the narrator thinks so. After they part, he can’t stop thinking about her so he embarks on a whirlwind tour of all the charity events he can find. Of course, he finally meets her again at an event. They talk more and of course, she’s got a boyfriend. But does that stop him? HELL NO! This is a romantic comedy, after all. The pursuit begins and it’s clear that the narrator has fallen for Her. His group of friends (played by Grace, Luke Wilson, Aubrey Plaza and Martin Starr) give him varying degrees of advice, some good, most of it bad. So the narrator is left to figure out what his approach should be. Does he get the girl? Remember, even a meta-rom com is still a rom com.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this film, but I enjoyed it. Evans and Monaghan have real chemistry together, which obviously is key for a film like this. Monaghan really stands out, though. She is everything that a paramour should be in a romantic comedy – funny, pretty, witty and vulnerable. Evans does an admirable job stepping outside his more action-based filmography (his best role being in Danny Boyle‘s Sunshine). A lot hinges on how these two actors interact and they pull it off well. Writers Chris Shafer and Paul Vicknair did a fantastic job deconstructing the romantic comedy genre and employing its more ridiculous conventions in funny ways right down to using the same cafe/diner that appears in every other romantic comedy. Honestly, I wish they would have eviscerated it a bit more, but I guess that may be too much to ask. The scenes with the narrator and his group of friends are the absolute highlight of the film, although I would liked to have seen more Martin Starr. Luke Wilson gets back to his early Wes Anderson-film form, which is nice to see since he been in a pile of shitty movies since Idiocracy.
All in all, Playing It Cool is a satisfying experience and one that may well surprise you. This film opens today in theaters and will be the perfect antidote to the universally panned and borderline offensive Hot Pursuit. Monaghan‘s infectious performance is worth the price of admission. Here is the list of theaters where it is playing and it is also available On Demand as well.
Bravetown – In Select Theaters & VOD on May 8th
Maggie – in theaters & on demand May 8th
Directed by Henry Hobson
Written by John Scott 3
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin, Joely Richardson
When a deadly zombie virus sweeps the nation, a father will stop at nothing to save his infected daughter in this post-apocalyptic thriller starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Abigail Breslin.
Saint Laurent – in theaters May 8th
Skin Trade – On Demand & iTunes (April 23), In Theaters (May 8)
RATING R
GENRE Action Thriller
New Jersey detective, Nick Cassidy (Dolph Lundgren) heads to Bangkok where he teams up with Thai detective, Tony Vitayakui (Tony Jaa) to hunt down Viktor Dragovic (Ron Perlman) and destroy his human trafficking network. Nick had inadvertently killed Dragovic’s son in a sting operation on the New Jersey docks, and Dragovic responded by attempting to kill Nick and his family. Nick miraculously survived the brutal attack, but his wife and daughter were killed. With nothing but vengeance to live for, Nick and Tony traverse their way through the Bangkok underworld in search of the elusive Dragovic. Meanwhile, FBI Agent Eddie Reed (Michael Jai White) is sent in to bring Nick home. But as the crossfire ensues, Nick has to determine who his true allies are.
OFFICIAL SITES
http://www.magnetreleasing.
https://www.facebook.com/
CAST
Dolph Lundgren
Tony Jaa
Michael Jai White
Ron Perlman
Peter Weller
Celina Jade
DIRECTOR
Ekachai Uekrongtham
The D Train – in theaters
All his life, Dan Landsman (Jack Black) has never been the cool guy. That’s about to change – if he can convince Oliver Lawless (Marsden), the most popular guy from his high school who’s now the face of a national Banana Boat ad campaign, to show up with him to their class reunion. A man on a mission, Dan travels from Pittsburgh to LA and spins a web of lies to recruit Lawless. But he gets more than he bargains for as the unpredictable Lawless proceeds to take over his home, career, and entire life. Showcasing Jack Black and James Marsden’s most intoxicating performances to date, D TRAIN serves up the question: how far would you go to be popular? Co-starring Kathryn Hahn and Jeffrey Tambor.
STARRING: Jack Black, James Marsden, Kathryn Hahn, Mike White, Kyle Bornheimer, Henry Zebrowski, Russell Posner and Jeffrey Tambor
RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2015
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY: Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel
PRODUCED BY: Mike White, David Bernad, Jack Black, Priyanka Mattoo, Ben Latham-Jones, Barnaby Thompson
GENRE: Comedy
RUNNING TIME: 98 Minutes
MPAA RATING: R
DISTRIBUTOR: IFC Films
When I was a very small child, my mother would set me up each morning on my little wooden and plastic potty with a tray of cheerios and Sesame Street. Every night, I listened to the likes of Bert and Ernie, Telly and Grover, but I as I think back to a voice that was so distinct, I always think of one in particular. A tall, endearing, yellow fellow named Big Bird. When I was a preschool teacher I played my students the songs of my past and I fully intend to share the same memories with my own children. Chad Walker and Dave LaMattina bring us the joyous new documentary about the man inside the bird, Caroll Spinney. I AM BIG BIRD is a fascinating look into how this beloved character came to fruition.
Caroll Spinney in I AM BIG BIRD: THE CAROLL SPINNEY STORY a Tribeca Film release.
From humble beginnings, a volatile relationship with his father, and a supportive mother, Caroll fell in love with puppetry early on. As a young boy this did not necessarily make school an easy environment, but he soldiered on in his passion. Caroll was discovered at a 1969 Puppet Festival by none other than Jim Henson and fate. The two had a very special relationship, with Jim being a less of a boss and more of a friend and mentor to Caroll. Navigating through bouts of depression and low self worth, work was his saving grace as was his second wife Debra. Her love brought him back to life and has sustained the magic both on screen and behind the scenes ever since. The Big Bird we know now what not always this childlike. Initially, he was a very skinny yokel type. Thankfully, with more self confidence and encouragement from the entire Sesame Street family, Caroll gave us the magical creature we adore today.
Caroll Spinney and Debra Spinney in I AM BIG BIRD: THE CAROLL SPINNEY STORY a Tribeca Film release.
Walker and LaMattina had a gold mine of footage from Sesame Workshop but the jackpot came from Caroll and Deb’s years of home video footage. Mixed with Caroll’s own art work, intimate sit down interviews with his children, Sesame cast members, and even Jim’s daughter, we are privileged as an audience to see how moments of time came to be. From Follow The Bird to Big Bird in China and many other Muppet specials, we see the good and the bad. There are no kid gloves when it comes to talking about Caroll and company. One of innumerable interesting things we learn is that Caroll also plays Oscar the Grouch. You learn how this has become the perfect counter balance to our big yellow friend and Caroll alike. Their memories become your own and tear at your heartstrings. You feel so special as you see past the feather into Caroll’s soul.
Caroll Spinney and Jim Henson in I AM BIG BIRD: THE CAROLL SPINNEY STORY a Tribeca Film release.
We all have an innate love for Kermit and Big Bird. The Muppets and Sesame Street have molded millions of minds all over the globe since their inception. You will watch this film with tears in your eyes and laughter in your heart. There is no escaping the love that engulfs this movie. This is a timeless classic you will want to show your children down the line. I AM BIG BIRD is nothing short of extraordinary.
Caroll Spinney in I AM BIG BIRD: THE CAROLL SPINNEY STORY a Tribeca Film release.
Stay tuned for an interview with directors Chad Walker and Dave LaMattina in the next few days!
VOD: Available on iTunes & VOD: May 5, 2015
Theatrical: Select theatrical release beginning May 6, 2015
New York: IFC Center – opens May 6, 2015
May 15:
Boston: Brattle Theater – opens May 15, 2015
Chicago: Gene Siskel Film Center – opens May 15, 2015
Columbus: Gateway Film Center – opens May 15, 2015
Detroit: Cinema Detroit – opens May 15, 2015
Los Angeles area:
– Los Angeles: Royal – opens May 15, 2015
– Santa Ana, CA: South Coast Village – opens May 15, 2015
Minneapolis: St Anthony Main – opens May 15, 2015
New Orleans: Zeitgeist Theater – opens May 15, 2015
Philadelphia: PFS at Roxy Theater – opens May 15, 2015
Portland: Living Room Theaters – opens May 15, 2015
San Diego: Digital Cinema – opens May 15, 2015
Santa Fe: CCA – opens May 15, 2015
San Francisco area:
– Berkeley: Rialto Cinemas Elmwood – opens May 15, 2015
– San Francisco: Balboa Theater – opens May 15, 2015
– Sonoma: Sebastopol Rialto Cinemas – opens May 15, 2015
Scottsdale: Shea 14 – opens May 15, 2015
May 22:
Eugene, OR: Metro Cinemas – opens May 22, 2015
Gainesville, FL: The Wooly – opens May 22, 2015
Louisville: Village 7 – opens May 22, 2015
Miami area:
– Coral Gables: Cosford Cinema – May 22,2015
– Miami: O-Cinema – opens May 22,2015
Palm Springs: Camelot – opens May 22, 2015
Pittsburgh: Hollywood Theater – opens May 22, 2015
Sedona, AZ: Mary Fischer Theater – opens May 22, 2015
May 29:
Denver: Sie Film Center – opens May 29, 2015
June 10:
Boulder, CO: Boedicker Theater – opens June 10, 2015
June 12:
Seattle: SIFF Cinema – opens June 12, 2015
Bellingham, WA: Pickford – opens June 12, 2015
Pelham, NY: Picturehouse – opens June 12, 2015
Dave LaMattina and Chad N. Walker
Dave LaMattina
Dave LaMattina and Chad N. Walker
Caroll Spinney
87 minutes
For 45 years, Caroll Spinney has been beloved by generations of children as the man behind Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch – and at 80 years old, he has no intention of stopping. A loving portrait of the man in the yellow suit, I Am Big Bird features extraordinary footage of Spinney’s earliest collaborations with Jim Henson as it traces his journey from bullied child to childhood icon. And as the yellow feathers give way to grey hair, it is the man, not the puppet, who will steal your heart.
One moment links 8 minds in disparate parts of the world, putting 8 strangers in each other’s lives, each other’s secrets, and in terrible danger.
All 12 episodes of the global dramatic thriller will launch Friday, June 5 only on Netflix.
From the unparalleled creative minds of The Wachowskis (“The Matrix” trilogy, “Cloud Atlas”) and J. Michael Straczynski (Clint Eastwood’s “Changeling,” ”World War Z”), as well as Grant Hill (“The Matrix” trilogy, “Cloud Atlas”).
The international cast includes: Brian J. Smith, Tuppence Middleton, Jamie Clayton, Miguel Angel Silvestre, Tina Desai, Doona Bae, Aml Ameen and Max Riemelt. Also, Daryl Hannah, Naveen Andrews, Terrence Mann, Freema Agyeman, Alfonso Herrera, Erendira Ibarra, Adam Shapiro, Ness Bautista and Joe Pantoliano.
Unlike anything seen on television before, Sense8 pushes the boundaries in style, scope and story. For more information about #Sense8, follow the series on Twitter.
What We Do In The Shadows – available online
Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav are vampires who are finding that modern life has them struggling with the mundane – like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming flatmate conflicts.
Eat With Me – Digital today, DVD June 5th
EAT WITH ME is a poignant and life affirming comedy-drama that celebrates the unconditional love between mother and son and the strong cultural bonds of family, food and friendship. Written, produced, directed and edited by David Au, EAT WITH ME is Au’s personal and vibrant tribute to his Chinese-American family, the cultural glory of food and its ability to heal and bond family, and most of all, his mother. The film offers a fresh take on life, love, and food in the heart of Los Angeles through a deliciously emotional and redemptive story, supported by adept cast and featuring a pivotal surprise moment with George Takei.
EAT WITH ME had its World Premiere at the 2014 Los Angeles Film Festival and has since played at dozens of top LGBT film festivals in the US, including the Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco, Boston LGBT Film Festival (Opening Night Film), Houston Film Festival (Closing Night Film), Chicago Reeling Film Festival and Out In Film Atlanta Festival. EAT WITH ME has also picked up several prestigious festival awards, includingBest Comedy Film and Best Actress at the 2014 Out In Film Atlanta, and Best Feature at the 2014 Florence Queer Film Festival.
Caroll Spinney in I AM BIG BIRD: THE CAROLL SPINNEY STORY a Tribeca Film release.
I Am Big Bird – Available on iTunes, VOD and Amazon Instant May 5, 2015, In theaters May 6th
Directed by: Dave LaMattina and Chad N. Walker
Producer by: Dave LaMattina and Chad N. Walker
Written by: Dave LaMattina
Starring: Caroll Spinney
For 45 years, Caroll Spinney has been beloved by generations of children as the man behind Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch – and at 80 years old, he has no intention of stopping. A loving portrait of the man in the yellow suit, I Am Big Bird features extraordinary footage of Spinney’s earliest collaborations with Jim Henson as it traces his journey from bullied child to childhood icon. And as the yellow feathers give way to grey hair, it is the man, not the puppet, who will steal your heart.
It’s that time again! Here’s the new stuff to HBO and what’s returning.
| Name | Expiring | |
| 12 Years a Slave | 5/16/2015 | |
| A Good Woman | n/a | |
| About Time | 7/31/2015 | Returning |
| The Amazing Catfish | 6/30/2015 | |
| Battle for Terra | 5/31/2015 | Returning |
| Before Night Falls | 6/30/2015 | |
| Before Sunset | 6/30/2015 | Returning |
| Being Flynn | 6/30/2015 | Returning |
| Best In Show | n/a | |
| The Beverly Hillbillies | 6/30/2015 | |
| Bogus | 5/31/2015 | |
| Bull Durham | 6/21/2015 | |
| Catch a Fire | 10/31/2015 | |
| Class Act | 8/31/2015 | Returning |
| Contact | 9/30/2015 | |
| The Cure | n/a | |
| De-Lovely | 7/31/2015 | |
| Deck the Halls | 7/31/2015 | |
| Desk Set | 7/31/2015 | |
| Dirty War | n/a | |
| Doctor Zhivago | 8/31/2015 | Returning |
| Dolphin Tale 2 | n/a | |
| Emma | n/a | |
| Empire | 5/31/2015 | |
| Ender’s Game | 8/31/2015 | Returning |
| Eye For An Eye | 8/31/2015 | |
| Eyewitness | 6/30/2015 | |
| Fellow Traveller | n/a | |
| The Fever | n/a | |
| Fflolkes | n/a | |
| For a Good Time, Call… | 6/21/2015 | Returning |
| The Great Gatsby | 5/31/2015 | Returning |
| He Got Game | 6/21/2015 | |
| I Dreamed of Africa | 7/31/2015 | Returning |
| In & Out | n/a | |
| In the Mouth of Madness | 6/30/2015 | Returning |
| Jersey Boys | n/a | |
| King Kong | 6/14/2015 | Returning |
| Kuffs | 6/30/2015 | |
| The Lake House | 6/30/2015 | |
| The Last of the Blonde Bombshells | 8/31/2015 | |
| Leap Year | 6/27/2015 | Returning |
| Life Is Beautiful | n/a | |
| Little Shop of Horrors | 6/30/2015 | Returning |
| Living Out Loud | 5/31/2015 | Returning |
| Love and a .45 | n/a | |
| Lovely & Amazing | 6/30/2015 | |
| The Magnificent Seven | 5/31/2015 | |
| Mary and Martha | n/a | |
| Mr Nice Guy | 10/31/2015 | Returning |
| Must Love Dogs | 7/31/2015 | |
| Narrow Margin | 7/31/2015 | Returning |
| Next of Kin | 6/30/2015 | Returning |
| Night at the Museum | n/a | |
| Nothing to Lose | 6/21/2015 | |
| Oh, God! | 6/30/2015 | |
| Oh, God! Book II | 6/30/2015 | |
| Oh, God! You Devil | 6/30/2015 | |
| Once Around | 5/31/2015 | |
| Picture This | n/a | |
| Pleasantville | 9/30/2015 | Returning |
| Prime | 6/26/2015 | Returning |
| The Producers: The Movie Musical | n/a | |
| Pure Luck | 6/30/2015 | Returning |
| Queen of the Damned | 10/31/2015 | |
| Restraint | 9/30/2015 | |
| The Return of the Musketeers | n/a | |
| Save the Last Dance | 9/30/2015 | |
| Scary Movie | 6/21/2015 | |
| Serial Mom | n/a | |
| Shout | 6/30/2015 | Returning |
| Star Trek: First Contact | 6/30/2015 | Returning |
| Stop! or My Mom Will Shoot | 6/30/2015 | Returning |
| The Story of Us | 6/30/2015 | Returning |
| Talk Radio | n/a | |
| Tequila Sunrise | 6/21/2015 | |
| That Thing You Do! | 8/31/2015 | |
| Hangover Part III | 5/31/2015 | Returning |
| Thelma & Louise | 5/31/2015 | Returning |
| The Trouble With Spies | 6/30/2015 | |
| The Truth About Cats & Dogs | 5/31/2015 | Returning |
| Twilight Zone: The Movie | 7/31/2015 | |
| Two of a Kind | 6/30/2015 | |
| The Upside of Anger | 6/30/2015 | Returning |
| Uptown Girls | 10/31/2015 | |
| Walk of Shame | n/a | Returning |
| White Oleander | 6/30/2015 | |
| X-Men | n/a | |
| X-Men: Days of Future Past | n/a | |
| The Year of Living Dangerously | 6/21/2015 | |
| Young Frankenstein | 6/21/2015 | Returning |
#
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp – Series Premiere July 17th
The counselors are confirmed in this teaser for Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, a limited 8-episode series coming to Netflix just in time for summer. Elizabeth Banks, Michael Ian Black, Bradley Cooper, Judah Friedlander, Janeane Garofalo, Joe Lo Truglio, Ken Marino, Christopher Meloni, Marguerite Moreau, Zak Orth, Amy Poehler, David Hyde Pierce, Paul Rudd, Molly Shannon,and Michael Showalter are among some of the cast joining the series, which tells the story of the first day of Camp Firewood’s famous summer season, now fourteen years after the film’s debut. The series is directed by David Wain and co-written by Wain and Michael Showalter.
Jon Heder
You see Jon Heder‘s face above? That’s the one you’ll be making during the entire film. However, if you’re a fan of Dupieux’s previous work (Rubber, Wrong, Wrong Cops), you’ll really enjoy the trippy and dream-within-a-dream wormhole that is Reality.
Eric Wareheim
It’s very safe to say that this movie is not for everyone, as it’s completely absurd and really makes no sense whatsoever. What separates it is the fantastic cinematography and the brilliant score of which Dupieux does himself. It’s no wonder it all works together so well.
Alain Chabat
My first introduction to Dupieux was Rubber (currently on Netflix) about a tire (yes, a tire), that’s a serial killer. Obviously ridiculous but completely imaginative and surprising, I was smitten. Reality has the same sort of imaginative writing but this time the story is a man who is pitching a movie and must get the perfect “groan” in order to land the funding. I used story very loosely, as there are many other things happening simultaneously.
Jon Heder
The score is essential to the movie. At times unnerving, that’s exactly what its meant to be. It complements the story without overshadowing it all. The movie would not be the same without it and it’s not something you’d want to listen to on its own either. Quite extraordinary.
Much like when you’re in a dream, it seems like it’s making sense, then suddenly you wake up and it’s completely incoherent. Only in Reality, you don’t wake up.
Mental illness is a touchy subject. Certainly putting a pretty face to it makes us more comfortable to talk about it. Films like Gabriel and Silver Linings Playbook have since tackled these issues, on two very opposite ends of the spectrum. A new film starring Kristen Wiig, Welcome to Me, looks at both sides of something that can be hard to discuss. The story revolves around a young woman with borderline personality disorder who wins 86 million dollars in the lottery. Obsessed with being the next Oprah, Alice approaches a local TV station and pays a great sum of money for them create a talk show just for her, about her, and only, her. Believing that her new found wealth can solve anything in her recently unmedicated surroundings, Alice’s behavior spins out of control as she becomes an internet sensation. The show becomes an inappropriate arena for her to air all the emotional hurt in her head. The station is owned by two very different brothers, Rich and Gabe. The first is desperate for the checks to keep rolling in from Alice, while the other, has his own issues and a thing for his new host. Can Alice pull her life together in time to save any of the relationships in her life?
This film is filled with a crazy talented cast. James Marsden plays the smarmier of the two brothers, while Wes Bentley is the odder, more lovable one. Marsden is a real dick, while Bentley is sensitive and interesting. The two are totally believable as siblings. Alan Tudyk, who I can never get enough of, is Alice’s gay ex-husband and charming and adorable as always. Joan Cusak, funny lady extraordinaire, plays Welcome To Me’s director so think Gelman à la Live with Kelly and Michael. Her sincerity is what makes her so effortlessly hilarious. Jennifer Jason Leigh is the more realistic producer who spends most of her time face palming and attempting to interject reason to this insane scenario. Linda Cardellini is Gina, Alice’s best friend since middle school. Cardellini is loving, quiet, and the ultimate caretaker. Tim Robbins plays Alice’s therapist. He puts his foot down when it comes to Alice pushing boundaries, and I would hire him as my real life Dr. in a heartbeat… is that weird?
But let’s get to our leading lady, Kristen Wiig. Famous for her SNL characters like “The Target Lady”, “Penelope”, “Judy Grimes” (Just Kidding Lady), “Babe” (One-of-Two A-Holes), and “Junice Merill” (Slightly-Off Laurwence Welk Performer) but since her departure we’ve seen her take on some truly challenging indie roles. She was a delight in Hateship Loveship, The Diary of a Teenage Girl, and The Skeleton Twins. She, of course, has impeccable comic timing, but is exceptionally gifted in the dramatic. Also, on aside note, she is a pretty woman, no doubt, but there is something altogether gorgeous about her in Welcome To Me. The character of Alice Klieg is incredibly damaged, but if I’m being honest, she is just acting in the ways we all wish we could if they were socially acceptable. This is yet another performance in a long line of impressive ones for Kristen. For the love of all that is holy, go see her in this!
Synopsis: A woman with borderline personality disorder (Kristen Wiig) wins the Mega-
Millions and—much to the dismay of her parents, therapist, gay ex-husband and local TV station—uses the winnings to fund her lifelong dream of becoming the next Oprah.
Starring:
Kristen Wiig, Wes Bentley, Linda Cardellini, Joan Cusak, Loretta Devine, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Thomas Mann, James Marsden, Tim Robbins, Alan Tudyk
Written by Eliot Laurence
Directed by Shira Piven
WELCOME TO ME comes to theaters May 1st.
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