TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL begins tomorrow! RND has a few (40) recommendations

tribeca film festival 2015 logoThis year’s fest is bigger and better than ever! We’re very excited here at Reel News Daily to bring you the very best of what’s screening. Get ready for interviews, roundups, special events, and reviews coming your way. Here are the films we recommend… so far!

 

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Tribeca Film Festival 2015 MarqueeDocumentary Selections

INDIAN POINTIndian_POint_Press_3 Tribeca

TFF 2015 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
  • Release Year: 2015
  • Runtime: 94 minutes
  • Directed By: Ivy Meeropol
  • Country: USA
Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant looms just 35 miles from Times Square. With over 50 million people living in close proximity to the aging facility, its continued operation has generated controversy for the surrounding community. In the brewing fight for clean energy and the catastrophic possibilities of complacency, director Ivy Meeropol weaves a startling portrait of our uncertain nuclear future. 

SCREENING TIMES

FRI 4/17 5:30 PM SVA Theater 2 Beatrice
SUN 4/19 3:45 PM Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11-1
WED 4/22 3:30 PM Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 6
FRI 4/24 6:15 PM Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 4

Read More →

First Look at Netflix Original Series: ‘DreamWorks Dragons: Race to the Edge’

Dragons

Today, Netlflix and Dreamworks Studio announced that an all-new original series based on the How to Train Your Dragon series would be coming to the streaming service on June 26th. The show will be called DreamWorks Dragons: Race to the Edge and it will feature Hiccup and Toothless in an all new adventure. We have a sneak peek at the show’s opening credits for you to view below!

The show follows Hiccup and the Dragon Riders beyond the boundaries of Berk as they come upon an ancient artifact known as the Dragon Eye, which leads them to discover a slew of unknown dragons in new lands. The only hitch is a gang of marauding dragon hunters, who are also after the secrets and power of the Dragon Eye.

All thirteen episodes will be available on June 26th

 

‘EX MACHINA’ plays God with our emotions.

ExMachinaPosterHow far are we from a true functioning, fully self aware A.I.? We’ve all seen the Youtube videos of robots that can walk and “talk” and serve us things. These creations are programmed to respond to our needs, but what happens when we get so good at creating artificial intelligence, the machine doesn’t need us anymore? Writer Alex Garland, who brought us SUNSHINE and 28 DAYS LATER, now strolls us through a world where this very matter is at hand. EX MACHINA is the story of a young and brilliant programmer, Caleb, who wins a contest that allows him to visit the creator of what, in today’s society, would be the equal of Google. Nathan lives on a compound in the middle of nowhere. His home is state of the art in every way possible. But Caleb isn’t  just there to pick the brain of a prodigy, he is there as a pawn in a much bigger game. Nathan has created an A.I. so perfect, that it defies what Caleb imagined to be the realm of possibility. His challenge: test “Ava”. But the real test is something much more sinister. Read More →

‘TRUE STORY’ stars James Franco and Jonah Hill in roles you never saw coming.

True StoryPosterThe mind is a dangerous place. Power is a dangerous thing. Manipulation is a dangerous game. Fame is a monster. Infamy is forever. TRUE STORY, based on real life events, is the story of former New York Times writer, Mike Finkel. Once highly regarded for gutsy journalism, his choice to fabricate pieces of one story come crashing down on him. Let go from the NYT, he moves back to middle America with his lonely and tremendously supportive wife. Soon after his return, Mike receives a phone call about a man who, when arrested for the murder of his family, claimed to be the NYT reporter, Michael Finkel. Naturally intrigued, he sets up a meeting with now inmate, Christian Longo. Armed with only his wits and a notepad, Finkel agrees to tell Longo’s story, that is, if he can get it.

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The question in this film is who’s playing whom? The manipulation of both men walk a razor thin line throughout. Jonah Hill is excellent as Finkel. Thoughtful, gentle, needing to understand why Longo acts as he does. James Franco is downright frightening in this role. The roller coaster ride of this character’s journey is plain to see, with engrossing effort on Franco’s part. These two duel it out in each scene, many times with nothing but eye contact that speaks 1000 words where there are none. This is some serious acting going on here. We all know Hill is perfectly capable of this level of intensity with Moneyball and The Wolf of Wall Street under his belt. Franco, while  I am a huge fan already, really knocks it out of the park as Longo. As an audience member, he is likable and seemingly sincere, all while having an undercurrent of potential sociopath. The way these two play off one another is movie magic. I really think it would be a shame to ignore these performances come awards season.

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Felicity Jones plays Finkel’s wife, Jill, with huge range, as usual on her part. She is vulnerable yet strong, as a woman stuck between a healthy marriage and the ambition of a husband hungry to rebuild his name. Once again, it’s the quiet moments that are some of the most frightening for her. Left alone in the house with remnants of Longo’s drawings and writings, she is visually confronted by his enigmatic musings that are wholly unsettling to stare at. This film is perfectly timed in its release with the popularity of The Jinx and the wildly successful podcast Serial. If you are a fan of either (which, frankly, you should be) True Story will be right up your alley.

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Bottom line, TRUE STORY will chill you to your bone. It will give you pause. The film is so profoundly menacing because it is based on actual events. That creepy crawly feeling under your skin lasts long after you’ve exited the theater. The question still remains; “Who do you believe?”

TRUE STORY is now available on VOD and comes to theaters Friday, April 10th.

SYNOPSIS: When disgraced New York Times reporter Michael Finkel meets accused killer Christian Longo—who has taken on Finkel’s identity—his reporting job morphs into an unforgettable game of cat and mouse. Based on actual events, Finkel’s relentless pursuit of Longo’s true story encompasses murder, love, deceit, and redemption.

Cast:
Jonah Hill
James Franco
Felicity Jones
Robert John Burke
Ethan Suplee
Gretchen Mol

Reel News Interview Series: Christopher McDonald

Christopher-McDonald

 

On the promotional trail talking about his new film The SqueezeChristopher McDonald called in to talk about the film and what makes golf such a great game!

Make sure you check out my review of the film!

The Squeeze hits VOD and select theaters across the nation on April 17th

‘True Detective’ Season 2 Trailer Premieres

True
HBO has released the first trailer for much anticipated True Detective season two! You can check it out below!

The second season will focus on a trio police officers including Ray Velcoro (Farrell), a corrupt officer with ties to the mob, and a career criminal named Frank Semyon (Vaughn), who’s move into legitimate business is thwarted by the death of his business partner.

 True Detective season two premieres on HBO Sunday, June 21st.

Check out the photo gallery below

 

J.K. Rowling Mini-Series ‘The Casual Vacancy’ Will Debut on HBO April 29-30

casual-vacancySTARRING MICHAEL GAMBON, JULIA MCKENZIE, KEELEY HAWES, RORY KINNEAR;
DIRECTED BY JONNY CAMPBELL FROM A SCRIPT BY SARAH PHELPS

Pagford is a quaint, picturesque town in the Cotswolds, a seemingly idyllic English village with a cobbled market square and ancient abbey. Behind the pretty façade, however, is a town at war: rich vs. poor; parents vs. children; wives vs. husbands; and teachers vs. pupils. Read More →

Trailer for ‘Orange is the New Black’ Season 3 is Here!

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Netflix has released the trailer for Orange is the New Black Season 3 which you can view below!

The show stars  Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Kate Mugrew, Danielle Brooks, Uzo Aduba, Natasha Lyonne, Taryn Manning, Laverne Cox, Michael Harney, Samira Wiley, and Yael Stone.

Season 3 will debut on Netflix June 12th

Daredevil’s Red Suit Revealed!

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Marvel Entertainment and Netflix have finally revealed The Man Without Fear’s red suit for the upcoming series, which debuts this Friday on Netflix. The full 13-episode season will be made available at that time wherever Netflix is available.

Marvel’s Daredevil follows Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer with extraordinary senses, who fights against injustice by day as a lawyer, and by night as the super hero Daredevil in modern day Hell’s Kitchen, NYC.

The show stars Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson, Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple, Bob Gunton as Leland Owlsely aka The Owl, Vondie Curtis Hall as Ben Urich, Toby Leonard Moore as Wesley, Ayelet Zurer as Vanessa Fisk, and Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk.

The New Trailer for Netflix Series ‘Grace & Frankie’ Starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Martin Sheen & Sam Waterson Is Even More Hilarious Than Expected!

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Sam Waterston, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Martin Sheen in the Netflix Original Series "Grace and Frankie". Photo by Melissa Moseley for Netflix.Ê

Sam Waterston, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Martin Sheen in the Netflix Original Series “Grace and Frankie”. Photo by Melissa Moseley for Netflix.Ê

From the co-creator of Friends, Netflix original comedy GRACE AND FRANKIE stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as two women who form an unlikely bond after their husbands reveal they are gay and leave them for each other.

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All episodes May 8
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#GraceandFrankie

‘BROKEN HORSES’ takes your heart strings on an extraordinary ride.

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Your parents teach us right from wrong. What if your parents aren’t around? What if we’re molded from something evil instead? In Vidhu Vinod Chopra‘s new film BROKEN HORSES we meet two very different brothers at a pinnacle time in their life. When a manipulative man strolls into their lives, each brother takes a path of his own. 15 years down the road, simple minded and gentle soul Buddy works and does a little too well for himself, while younger brother Jake, now living in the city, is the successful music prodigy from his youth. Buddy reaches out to the newly engaged Jake to give him his wedding gift. Jake is hesitant to return to his desolate, Mexican border hometown, but understands that the love of his brother wills him to do so. Upon arrival, he learns that Buddy is being used as a deadly pawn in a drug lord’s chess match. Jake has no choice but to dedicate himself to saving his brother. 
BrokenHorsesAntonStillThe script takes some truly unexpected turns. I was constantly on my toes, especially emotionally. This engrossing story is only amplified by the stunning character development by Chopra’s writing and the outstanding and moving performances by Anton Yelchin and Chris Marquette as Jake and Buddy. Yelchin, in yet another film in a long line for 2015, plays a caring and protective role. It’s slightly more challenging than his usual boyish, all American vibe. Vincent D’Onofrio is manic in the role of evil puppeteer, Julius. There is very carefully crafted back story that we only get a glimpse of, and frankly it’s just enough.BroeknHorsesChrisVincentStillThe profoundly magnificent acting award, hands down, goes to Chris Marquette. There is a fine line when portraying a person that is not of average cognitive function . It can so easily read disingenuous and forced. Marquette gives us a performance of a career as Buddy. Every beat is perfection. This is one that must not be overlooked. Even if the film were not as great as is, Marquette blows everything out of the water. BrokenHoresesStillBroken Horses is enchanting and thrilling all in one. A game of sick manipulation is slowly built into a war for the soul. The acting is top notch and the scenery is breathtaking. Heart-pounding and gut-wrenching, Broken Horses is a story of undying love and devotion that will resonate with everyone.

Synopsis: Having left town as a child after the death of his father, young music prodigy, Jacob Heckum (Anton Yelchin), returns to his desolate hometown after years only to discover that Buddy (Chris Marquette), the child-like brother he left behind now works for a drug gang. The gang’s ruthless leader (Vincent  has twisted his simple mind and manipulated him into a killer… a surrogate son who blindly does as he is told. He is unable to convince Buddy to leave his new fraternity. Drowned in guilt for having abandoned him, Jacob quickly realizes the only way to save Buddy is from the inside out.

BROKEN HORSES comes to theaters in limited release Friday, April 10th

CBS All Access $5.99/month – 7 Day Free Trial – Now Available on Roku

CBS all access

Another day, another way to go with out traditional cable. You can also use on mobile apps – http://www.cbs.com/mobile

The CBS All Access channel gives you access to more of your favorite CBS shows than ever before. The channel offers thousands of episodes from the current season, previous seasons and classic shows on demand, as well as the ability to live stream local CBS Television stations in 14 top markets. CBS All Access is $5.99 per month, after a free 7-day trial, and brings the following to subscribers on the Roku platform:

  • Full current seasons of 16 primetime shows with episodes available the day after they air, including this season’s new series Scorpion, Madam Secretary, NCIS: New Orleans, The Odd Couple and more.
  • Live streams of CBS Stations in 14 local markets, with more to be added soon
  • Past seasons of eight major current series, including The Good Wife, Blue Bloods and Survivor
  • Nearly 6,000 episodes of CBS Classics, including every episode of Star Trek, Cheers, Jag, Touched by an Angel and CSI: Miami
  • Access to exclusive additional content for CBS Television’s biggest special events, like The GRAMMY® Awards, The Academy of Country Music Awards and The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

Customers without a CBS All Access subscription can browse the channel and watch the latest and most popular clips from your favorite CBS TV shows for free.

You can find CBS All Access under “Movies & TV” in the U.S. Roku Channel Store now on Roku players and Roku TV models.

HBO NOW Available to Apple and Optimum Online Customers Today! Find out how to sign up!

HBONow_iOS_1024Home Box Office announced today that HBO NOWSM – the network’s highly anticipated standalone premium streaming service – is available starting today, providing audiences with instant access to HBO’s acclaimed programming. To subscribe, consumers only need the internet. HBO NOW is available directly through Apple or Optimum Online for a monthly subscription of $14.99. Customers who sign up for HBO NOW in April will enjoy a 30 day introductory free trial period.

Just in time for the premiere of the fifth season of Game of Thrones on Sunday, April 12, HBO NOW subscribers will have access to every episode of every season of the best series programming, more of the biggest and latest Hollywood hit movies, original HBO Films, groundbreaking documentaries, sports, and comedy and music specials.

Similar to HBO GO, HBO NOW will offer more than 2,000 titles online. This includes current critically acclaimed series like Game of Thrones®, True Detective®, Silicon Valley®, Girls®, Veep®, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver®, and The Leftovers®, as well as classics like The Sopranos®, Sex and the City®, True Blood®, The Wire® and Deadwood®In addition, HBO NOW subscribers will have instant access to more Hollywood hits like Divergent, X-MEN: Days of Future Past, Neighbors, Godzilla and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. HBO continues to be in discussions with its existing network of distributors and new digital partners to offer HBO NOW.

Subscribing to HBO NOW Through Apple

STEP 1: Apple customers can subscribe to HBO NOW by downloading the app on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch or directly on Apple TV using their iTunes account.

STEP 2: Customers purchase an HBO NOW subscription directly in-app through Apple for $14.99 per month, following the limited time, introductory 30 day free trial period.

STEP 3: Upon registering with Apple, subscribers will set up HBO NOW login credentials, enabling them to watch their favorite HBO programming on their iOS devices as well as on HBONOW.com via PC or Mac.

Subscribing to HBO NOW Through Optimum Online

STEP 1: Cablevision’s Optimum Online customers can purchase an HBO NOW subscription by ordering the service online atOptimum.net/HBONOW or by calling 866-262-9329 for $14.99 per month, following the limited time, introductory 30 day free trial period.

STEP 2: After purchasing their HBO NOW subscription, Optimum Online customers can access the service by downloading the HBO NOW app on their Apple TV or iOS device or by going to HBONOW.com. Customers then select “Optimum” from the drop down menu of providers and sign in using their Optimum username and password.

STEP 3: Upon registering with Optimum, subscribers will set up HBO NOW login credentials, enabling them to watch their favorite HBO programming on their Apple TV or iOS devices as well as on HBONOW.com via PC or Mac.

New Netflix Series ‘Special Correspondents’ Written & Directed by Ricky Gervais Starring Eric Bana

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Special Correspondents, a new original feature film written and directed by Ricky Gervais and starring Eric Bana (Deliver Us From Evil, Lone Survivor) and Gervais (Muppets Most Wanted, Derek), will debut worldwide on Netflix next year. Read More →

3 Ways to View ‘Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck’ – Tribeca Film Festival, Lincoln Center or HBO

Kurt CobainKURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK is the first fully-authorized documentary made with the cooperation of Kurt Cobain’s family. It is a raw and visceral journey through Cobain’s life and provides no-holds-barred access to Kurt Cobain’s archives, home to his never-before-seen home movies, recordings, artwork, photography, journals, demos, personal archives, family archives and songbooks. The film features dozens of Nirvana songs and performances as well as previously unheard Cobain originals. Read More →

First Look at Lily Tomlin & Jane Fonda in the Netflix Series ‘Grace and Frankie’

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the Netflix Original Series "Grace and Frankie". Photo by Melissa Moseley for Netflix.Ê

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the Netflix Original Series “Grace and Frankie”. Photo by Melissa Moseley for Netflix.Ê

Netflix logoTake a look at 12 First Look images from the Netflix original series, Grace and Frankie. The series premieres on Friday, May 8 exclusively on Netflix in all territories where the service is available.

In Grace and Frankie, Jane Fonda (“Grace”) and Lily Tomlin (“Frankie”) star as two women whose lives are suddenly turned upside down when their husbands reveal they are gay and leave them for each other. Both sparring partners and partners-in-crime, they form an unlikely bond to face an uncertain future together and discover a new definition of “family,” with laughter, tears and plenty of mood enhancers along the way.

From executive producers Marta Kauffman (“Friends”) and Howard J. Morris (“Home Improvement”), the hilarious and heartbreaking comedy takes on aging with gusto – from joint pain to joint rolling and blind dates to night blindness – and offers a poignant look at how life’s turning points show us who we really are. The series also stars Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston, along with Brooklyn Decker, Ethan Embry, Baron Vaughn and June Diane Raphael.

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110 New Movies on HBO to Watch This Weekend!

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Victor Levin’s ‘5 to 7’ brings Parisian romance to New York City.

5 to 7 poster There is something about the French that evokes whimsy and passion. Paris is touted as the romance capital of the world. The language is oozing with lust and the men and women who reside there, are to be envied and adored. But give me NYC, anyday. There are so many stories just waiting to happen. In 5 to 7, we meet Brian, (ANTON YELCHIN) a 24 year old, down and out writer who won’t quit following his passion. He wallpapers his apartment with rejection letters but never stops creating. One day, by sheer chance or perhaps by fate, he looks across the street to find a stunning, French brunette smoking a cigarette. This moment is the catalyst for the entire story. Arielle (BÉRÉNICE MARLOHE) is a married 33 year old woman with two children and a unique understanding with her husband. The two and affair but with rules in place; only from 5-7pm. Arielle’s husband has a mistress, as well. She is Jane (OLIVIA THIRLBY), a 25 year old editor, who has followed the rules for a year already. Brian is welcomed into the “family” with open arms, everything is out in the open, and as unusual as it seems, somehow it works… for the while at least. At some point, sharing the woman of his dreams is too much for Brian to bare and an ultimatum is presented.5 to 7 AntonBereniceThe angst in this film is palpable. The heaviness of the situation and the excitement is wrought from the very beginning. There is something so wrong with this arrangement and yet you cannot help but root for them, and for everyone. The struggle between happiness and traditional thinking is constantly challenged in the script, crafted carefully by Victor Levin who does double duty as Director. As a New Yorker, this film is also a love story with the City itself. Peering into locations like The Guggenheim, Central Park, The St. Regis, and neighborhoods all over Manhattan is a love affair no city dweller can overlook. We are also treated to diverse cultural experiences between young downtown and sophisticated wealthy uptown. “Beer Vs. Wine”, if you will, but all New York City at heart.5 to 7 GlennFrankYelchin, who is in quite a few feature this year alone, is wonderful, charming and insightful as ever.  Marlohe is enchanting and effortless. Rounding out the amazing cast is Glenn Close and Frank Langella as Brian’s parents, Arlene and Sam Bloom. These two pros come into their scenes as if they were married for 30 years. Funny and honest and keeping us on our toes, they are a delight as a foil to Brian and Arielle. 5 to 7 has a built in audience. This film is for anyone who has ever had stars in their eyes and hope in their hearts. It’s a story of choices and finding out how far you’ll go for your happy ending.Victor Levin 5 to 7

In speaking to Victor Levin this week, I got a whole new insight on his first feature. He was simply a gentleman and a scholar and I thank him for every minute of his time. Take a listen to our chat below.

 

5 to 7 opens in theaters today in NY and LA, with a nationwide release next Friday, April 10th. It is also available now on VOD.

 

 

‘EFFIE GRAY’ is a true story of a Victorian feminist.

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Courting is essentially a thing of the past in today’s society. In the Victorian age, it was the norm. Women joined the family of their husband and were better seen and not heard. Effie Gray was a real life young women wed to infamous art critic, John Ruskin. With dreams of entering a love filled marriage, Effie was thrown into high society under an overbearing mother-in-law and a frigid husband. Parties and showing social grace in a world where she was an object for show became increasingly more smothering and confusing. Ruskin was a progressive and outspoken art critic, which is what attracted Effie as a child. Although once married, she was discouraged from speaking her views, sexually rejected, and labeled a harlot by the one person she sought affection from. This virgin bride suffered years of emotional abuse until encountering a helpful soul and patron of the arts, Lady Eastlake. Effie_NDove_1183Without giving too much away, this film actually becomes a wonderful example of the power of a determined woman. In an age where divorce was simply not an option, Effie Gray finds a loophole allowing her move forward with someone who loves her deeply. The film is artistically crafted by Emma Thompson with careful detail of Victorian society alongside the world of art. One of the loveliest aspects of the film, visually, is the juxtaposition of paintings that reflect where Effie is on her emotional journey through time. Effie_NDove_1659Dakota Fanning is elegant and vulnerable as Effie. She has just enough tenacity to pull off a role with an arc such as this. Greg Wise is a stifled tyrant as John Ruskin. His temperament grows increasingly more horrid and he is borderline frightening at moments. Julie Walters, as Mrs. Ruskin, is just about as serpentine as one comes. A far cry from her famed roles as Mrs. Weasley in the beloved Harry Potter films, Walters is a crazed woman who needs to “cut the cord” already. The handsome Tom Sturridge plays Pre-Raphaelite Painter, John Everett Millais and the eventual object of Miss Gray’s affection. Emma Thompson portrays Lady Eastlake with an ease known to few actresses of our time. I could think of no other woman to play this part. Her watchful eye and skilled hand play such a massive part in this historical drama.Effie_NDove_1892Shot on location in Scotland, London, and Venice, EFFIE GRAY is a beautiful portrait of a young woman’s inner strength and the world she so desperately tried to escape. With a haunting score and outstanding performances by a true ensemble cast, EFFIE GRAY will inspire those with passion for art and life.

In EFFIE GRAY, Emma Thompson peers boldly inside the forbidden realms of Victorian society through the true story of the marriage of Effie Gray and renowned art critic John Ruskin, courageously exposing a secret world of unrequited passion hidden behind the veil of an opulent public life. Set in an era when neither divorce, nor gay marriage were an option, EFFIE GRAY is the story of a beautiful young woman coming of age, and finding her own voice in a world where women were expected to be seen but not heard. Within the lush environs of a world brimming with art, painting and high society and feverishly bucolic scenes of the Scottish countryside, EFFIE GRAY explores the intricate relationship between sexual intolerance, repression and desire which continue to permeate society today. In this impeccably crafted period drama, Thompson delicately and incisively probes the marital politics of the Victorian Era, and beyond.

Cast: Emma Thompson, Dakota Fanning, Tom Sturridge, David Suchet, Sir Derek Jakobi, Julie Walters, Riccardo Scamarcio and the legendary Claudia Cardinale.

The film opens nationwide on April 3.

Netflix Renews ‘House of Cards’ for Fourth Season

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Netflix officially announced today that their hit series House of Cards would be returning for a fourth season in 2016. The online streaming service took to their Facebook to announce the news along with the words “I will leave a legacy,” and hashtag “#Underwood2016″.

The show stars Kevin Spacey as Congressman turned President Frank Underwood, who, along with his wife Clare (Robin Wright), continue their ruthless rise to power, to secure another term as president, while taking out anyone who gets in their way.

Based on the BBC miniseries of the same name, House of Cards is one of Netlfix’s most popular offerings. The show is produced by David Fincher, Joshua Donen, Beau Willimon, Kevin Spacey, Dana Brunetti, John David Coles and Eric Roth.

Seasons 1-3 are available right now on Netflix