While the two Mission: Impossiblefilms may no longer be shooting back-to-back, we at least know the next one will be star-studded. The latest additions to join Tom Cruise’s latest mission are Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), Rob Delaney (Deadpool 2), Mark Gatiss (Sherlock), Charles Parnell (Transformers: Age of Extinction), and the always-great Indira Varma (Game of Thrones). Are we looking at members of a new terrorist organization or something? Can Varma be its leader, please?
The reason I ask that question is in the announcements by director Christopher McQuarrie. In his Instagram post about Elwes, McQuarrie specifically mentions “The Community” which sounds like either a terrorist group or a secret government faction with ulterior motives. All of the photos look deadly serious, and in Delaney’s case he’s clearly playing a military figure. Perhaps one who has grown disillusioned with the United States? Hmmm…anyway, just put Varma in charge, please? She’s having quite a month, having recently agreed to join the Obi-Wan Kenobi cast, as well. The more of her we get, the better, as far as I’m concerned.
The new additions join Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Vanessa Kirby, Henry Czerny, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Angela Bassett, Frederick Schmidt, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, and Esai Morales.
Mission: Impossible 7 opens November 7th 2021, while M:I 8 arrives in November 2022.
Bart (Finn Wittrock) with Vienna (Zoe Chao) in Sony Pictures' THE LONG WEEKEND.
Happenstance is a very real thing in writer/director Stephen Basilone’s debut film, Long Weekend, and it impacts not only his pair of hopelessly-in-love characters, but this critic who stumbled upon this movie at just the right time. This is not the light, airy rom-com that I was expecting to be reviewing. I mean, it is that, but there’s so much more to this whimsical, good-natured film about lovers who meet when they need one another most. Like time travel. Sci-fi elements emerge when least expected and fuse with familiar rom-com tropes to make a fresh, spirited pick-me-up that will take a lot of people by surprise.
Long Weekend is one of those movies that centers on a struggling writer with heartbreak infecting his soul. Right from the beginning, we think we know where this is going. Bart (Finn Wittrock) is just a year removed from the death of his mother, compounded by the sudden breakup from his girlfriend that has forced him to move out of the apartment they shared together. That’s probably not such a bad thing. Moving into the garage of his married friends Doug (Damon Wayans, Jr.) and Rachel (Casey Wilson) provides more than just a place to rest his head, but the potential for emotional recovery.
Repeated calls, mostly ignored, by family tell us that Bart has some physical or mental ailment he doesn’t want to deal with. Instead, he spends his time drinking, hanging out and, this being L.A., he can always find a showing of Peter Sellers’ Being There at a local theater. It’s while taking in the comedy classic that he encounters Vienna (Zoë Chao), a beautiful, enigmatic newbie to the city who is so lonely she immediately asks him to join her at the nearest watering hole.
The “Is this really happening?” idea gets floated, and it’s a feeling that Long Weekend sort of luxuriates in. Vienna is almost too good to be real. She’s funny, outgoing, and affectionate, but what’s her deal? Why’s she carrying around a wad of cash? How is it she’s never held a sparkler in her life? Why is she staying at a really nondescript hotel? And who in this age doesn’t carry a cell phone? That first day together is magical. She lifts his spirits in the way Peter Sellers movies used to but no longer can. He introduces her to aspects of life that seem fairly common, but which she is unaware. She’s hiding a secret, but being in love tends to make those things come out more easily. Vienna says she’s a time traveler from the future, there for a purpose that doesn’t make a lot of sense.
The questions surrounding Vienna are ones that Basilone knows we in the audience are asking. Is she really from the far-flung future? Has someone lost their grip on reality, either him or her? Or is Vienna some figment of Bart’s imagination, his idea of the perfect woman? This Ruby Sparks scenario is what Basilone leaves us to ponder the longest, but he also has his characters recognize what’s happening, too. Vienna and Bart briefly argue about the Manic Pixie Dreamgirl trope, but Basilone has no intention of deconstructing it. Instead, he chooses to run with it in order to set in our minds certain expectations for the direction of the story, expectations he then proceeds to upend pleasantly.
The mysterious truth surrounding Vienna wouldn’t matter if we didn’t care about them as a romantic pair, however. In this, Wittrock and Chao have incredible chemistry that endears us to the odd nature of their relationship. We’re invested in their conversations, his desperate attempts to learn more about her, and her attempts to shield him from what she knows. While their sexual encounters play out a bit repetitively, they feel like two people falling in love despite knowing something, whether it’s mental instability or calls to return to the future, will get between them.
I’ll be honest, Wittrock isn’t an actor I’ve thought much about he’s impressed me so little. He certainly has the square-jawed look of a star but has rarely been emotive enough compared to his co-stars, but here he connects surprisingly well in capturing Bart’s insecurity, which leads to his willingness to embrace Vienna and all of her quirks. Chao is an actress I’ve grown accustomed to as a snarky friend, and have never seen her so lively and charming.
Long Weekend easily could’ve been a disaster. Romance films about people who fall in love with time travelers are more plentiful than one might think. I like to believe that what attracts us to them is the notion that we must learn to live in the moment and accept love wherever we can find it for however long we can hold on to it. Long Weekend isn’t breaking new ground or anything like that, but its earnest commitment to this mindful notion, coupled with Wittrock and Chao’s performances, will linger for more than just a weekend.
Movies that sweep us away from the homes we’ve been sheltered in for a year are more crucial now than ever. And that feeling of being somewhere else, someplace exotic, and having a whirlwind of a time is going to be part of the attraction to Argyris Papadimitropoulos’ latest film, Monday. The other reasons are its stars: Sebastian Stan and Denise Gough.
After we’ve seen him suit up again as Bucky in Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Stan will take a trip to Athens for a steamy summer fling opposite Gough. She is probably best known for her performances in The Other Lamb, The Kid who would be King, and her Tony-nominated role in Angels in America. The film marks Papadimitropoulos’ first since 2016’s festival darling Suntan.
Here’s the synopsis: Mickey (Sebastian Stan) and Chloe (Denise Gough), two Americans in their mid-thirties living in Athens, meet in the heat of summer one whirlwind weekend. The chemistry between them is undeniable. When Chloe’s time in Greece is drawing to a close, she decides to give up her high-flying job back home and explore whether one weekend’s passion can blossom into something more. Argyris Papadimitropoulos’ follow-up of the festival sensation Suntan is a fun, sensuous romance about how love gets in the way of life, and life gets in the way of love.
Monday opens in theaters and digital on April 16th, having made its world premiere at last year’s TIFF.
For a while there it looked like Ron Howard might be a major awards season player with Hillbilly Elegy. Then the movie actually came out and that ain’t happening. However, he’s still one of the most respected filmmakers around, and has no problem assembling talent for anything he does. Such is the case with his upcoming Thai cave rescue filmThirteen Lives, which will boast the star power of Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, and Joel Edgerton.
Deadline reports Mortensen, Farrell, and Edgerton will head up Howard’s film about the real-life rescue of thirteen members of a Thailand boys soccer team. Along with their coach, they were trapped 1,000 meters below ground during a monsoon. The story will follow the divers who undertook the two-week mission to save their lives.
Also in the cast are Weir Sukollawat (Malila), Thiraphat Sajakul (The Serpent), Sahajak Boonthanakit (The Serpent), Vithaya Pansringarm (The Prey), Teeradon “James” Supapunpinyo (Bad Genius), Nophand Boonyai (Only God Forgives), Tom Bateman (Death on the Nile), Paul Gleeson (The Thin Red Line), and Lewis Fitz-Gerald (Pitch Black).
Filming begins later this month in Australia and Thailand, and here’s hoping Howard can rebound. This is the sort of human drama that he really excels at, so there’s reason to have high expectations.
I know, you’re probably asking yourself “Wasn’t Kiersey Clemons always in The Flash“? Well, sorta. It’s been about four years since she was cast as Iris West in the film, along with appearing in Justice League. Not only were her scenes with Ezra Miller cut from Joss Whedon’s version of the superhero teamup film, but The Flash has been…well, troubled ever since, leaving Clemons’ involvement on shaky ground.
Well now it’s been reported by THR that Clemons is back as part of The Flash cast, with shooting expected to begin in April. Production has been saddled by a revolving door of filmmakers, but also because of Miller’s busy Fantastic Beasts schedule. However, that has all been ironed out and things are ready to roll with Andy Muschietti behind the camera.
The Flash will also feature Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck playing different versions of Batman, as the DC Universe concept of the Multiverse gets introduced. Also in the film is Sascha Calle as Supergirl, although it’s unclear if she’ll be of the regular universe or from an alternate one.
Clemons’ scenes have been restored for Zack Snyder’s Justice League, so we’ll finally be able to see Barry Allen rescue Iris West, leading to what should be a romantic pairing in The Flash. The film is currently set to open on November 4th 2022.
As parents, it’s our job to be gatekeepers for our kids. Sure, we love our children and want for them to get the most out of life. But of course, more times than not, we have to always play the “bad cop” when it comes to what we allow them to do. As a result, the word “no” can be said at least 200 times a day. But with all these constant “nos” being said, what would happen if just for one day, said you said “yes” to whatever our children want? Well, that gets answered in Yes Day.
Allison (Jennifer Garner) and Carlos (Édgar Ramírez) Torres have lived their whole lives full of just going with the flow and always saying “Yes” for themselves. But as soon as they have their children “No” becomes the dominant word in their vocabulary. Their three children Katie (Jenna Ortega), Nando (Julian Lerner), and Ellie (Everly Carganilla) pretty much equate their parents with dictators, to the point that Nando makes a well-edited video for his school assignment comparing their mother to Stalin, much to their parents’ surprise at a back-to-school meeting. As Alison and Carlos finally realize that they are the “old parents” who are “no fun,” they are confronted by fellow teacher Mr. Deacon (Nat Faxon) who tells them about his philosophy of “Yes Day” as a means of improving their relationship with their children. A Yes Day is just as simple as it sounds, you simply don’t say “no” to anything your child asks for 24 hours after they have earned the right to a Yes Day.
After setting some ground rules (they can’t ask for things in the future like getting a dog, they can’t travel outside of a 25-mile radius of where they live, and they can’t do anything illegal, so no killing their enemies), Alison and Carlos tell their children that if they do their chores, make good grades, and behave themselves, they can have a Yes Day. Oldest child Katie knows that their parents will fold, but still welcomes the challenge. Surely enough, the kids meet their requirements, and then they plan themselves a Yes Day.
First off the bat: these kids are psychopaths! Their planned yes day for their parents seems to be a stress test to see how much they can get away with and still remain alive. The kids literally paint their parents’ faces; they get taken out to ice cream and have to eat a $40 sundae within 20 minutes at a nearby ice cream shop, which leads to some poop humor; they have to go to a car wash (with the windows down: destroying their family car); have a paint-filled water balloon fight with random strangers; go to an amusement park, and plenty of other crazily planned events. Although this event is planned to bring the family together, hijinks happen which lands folks in jail, and even a guest appearance from R&B artist H.E.R. By the end of the film, it’s almost impossible to think that any parent would be hugging their child after the torment they were put through.
While Yes Day is a family-friendly comedy, the jokes often fall flat. The true middle line for a film like this to work is to have enough silly fun for kids to enjoy, but enough either clever adult humor or enough drama to keep their parents entertained through the movie as well. Unfortunately, Yes Day struggles with both aspects. Garner and Ramirez are doing their best to make the film work, as is Jenna Ortega as the eldest sibling who wants a little bit of independence from her parents. Unfortunately, for the most part, the film doesn’t land the way it’s intended to.
Yes Day does have some charm though. Having Garnet and Ramirez in the film as a married couple, Yes Day showcases just the right amount of diversity for the film. The Torres family often switches conversations between English and Spanish as many Latino households do, which is refreshing to see in a feature film. Screenwriter Justin Malen and director Miguel Arteta pay special attention to that aspect of the film. There are also plenty of great guest appearances from some comedians that pop up for a few moments (June Diane Raphael, Hayden Szeto, Fortune Feimster, Arturo Castro) that also works well.
If you have children, Yes Day might be a fun ride for them to spend during the weekend. Just don’t let it give them any ideas!
Yes Day will be available on Netflix on March 12, 2021
Yorgos Lanthimos has decided on his followup to The Favourite, and, shocker, it’ll reunite him with one of that acclaimed film’s stars: Emma Stone. The Frankenstein-esque film Poor Things will also feature Willem Dafoe in a lead role which, given his past playing creepy characters, should make him feel right at home.
Deadline has the news on Stone and Dafoe joining Poor Things, an adaptation of Alasdair Gray’s satirical novel that puts a postmodern spin on the classic Frankenstein tale. Here’s the book synopsis:
One of Alasdair Gray’s most brilliant creations, Poor Things, is a postmodern revision of Frankenstein that replaces the traditional monster with Bella Baxter— a beautiful young erotomaniac brought back to life with the brain of an infant. Godwin Baxter’s scientific ambition to create the perfect companion is realized when he finds the drowned body of Bella, but his dream is thwarted by Dr. Archibald McCandless’s jealous love for Baxter’s creation.
Sounds positively weird and perfect for Lanthimos, who has a penchant for subverting genre. Tony McNamara, who wrote both The Favourite and Hulu’s The Great, will adapt the script. He also worked with Stone on Disney’s upcoming villain film, Cruella. So it’s a lot of reunions going on here in absurdist territory they’re all quite familiar with. Expecting a lot from this one.
Kenneth Branagh is getting in on the rock music biopic craze. Variety reports Branagh will direct a biopic on Hall of Fame band The Bee Gees which is developing at Paramount. This is following on the recent HBO doc The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart by Frank Marshall, but Branagh’s film will be a narrative ala Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman.
The untitled Bee Gees film will follow “the life and times of the genre-spanning band, following the humble beginnings of brothers Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb into their journey to pop superstardom.” The group’s 50 year career included over 1,000 songs and nearly two dozen number one hits, including “Staying Alive”, “How Deep is Your Love”, and “Jive Talking.”
The script is by Ben Elfton, who had a role in Branagh’s Much Ado About Nothing and also wrote his 2018 historical drama All Is True.
Also on board the film are a couple of familiar hands at this sort of thing. Producer Graham King was previously involved on Bohemian Rhapsody, and that obviously turned out quite well. Steven Spielberg, who had been rumored to direct the movie himself at one point, is producing through his Amblin Entertainment banner. Clearly he digs that Bee Gees sound.
There is another Bee Gees film in the works that Bohemian Rhapsody writer Anthony McCarten attached. Last we heard of that one Bradley Cooper was being eyed for a role, but that was a year ago and who knows where it stands now. Maybe this is the same one
Next up for Branagh is his long-delayed sequel Death On the Nile, followed by the Brit drama Belfast.
If Apple TV+ is going to attract me to some of their upcoming projects, this is the way to do it. Ramin Bahrani, the acclaimed filmmaker behind 99 Homes, At Any Price, Goodbye Solo, and Netflix’s The White Tiger, has signed on to direct an exec-produce The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, which has Samuel L. Jackson as star. Not only that, but Dominique Fishback has been namd as the series’ latest castmember.
Apple has announced Bahrani is set to direct The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, which stars Jackson as “a 91 year old man forgotten by his family, by his friends, by even himself. On the brink of sinking even deeper into a lonely dementia, Ptolemy experiences a seismic shift when he’s given the tremendous opportunity to briefly regain his memories, and uses this precious and fleeting lucidity to solve his nephew’s death and come to terms with his past.”
Fishback is currently earning rave reviews for her quietly powerful performance in Judas and the Black Messiah. She’s also been featured on HBO’s Show Me a Hero and The Deuce, plus Netflix superhero film Project Power. Her best role, however, was in the little-seen drama Night Comes On from a few years ago. Seek it out if you can.
Bahrani is a director who likes to tackle big social issues in his films, so we can expect something like that in this series has attracted his attention.
John Wick co-director Chad Stahelski has found his next project, and, shocker, it’s being described as a “high octane cat ‘n mouse thriller”. Between Stahelski and his former tag partner David Leitch they seem to have that market cornered.
Deadline reports Stahelski will direct Classified, an action-thriller picked up by New Line after a competitive auction with other studios. Described as “Die Hard meets Indiana Jones”, the story takes place in a top secret government bunker like the kind we saw in Raider of the Lost Ark. Does that mean Nazis faces will be getting melted? Possibly, because inside this bunker are powerful and dangerous relics recovered during WWII.
The film has a script by Andrew Deutschman and Jason Pagan, who previously wrote Project Almanac and Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension.
Stahelski has directed all three John Wick films but has yet to branch out into other solo efforts the way Leitch has. He’s been attached to a Highlander reboot for a while now, but that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere except maybe to television. Other projects coming up include comic book adaptation Analog, a high-concept car film from the A Quiet Place producers, and he’s ready the fourth John Wick film. He also did some action work on Birds of Prey, something I thought would lead to a further connection with DC Films or perhaps a move over to Marvel. So far that hasn’t happened yet, but if Classified is a hit could lead to bigger things.
