Well, there’s good news and bad news! First, the bad. One of the most anticipated movies of the year is Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17, his follow-up to Best Picture winner, Parasite, and it’s just been pulled from its March release date by Warner Bros. While that indeed does suck, it opens up a spot for another movie that a certain group of fans is eager for: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
Talk about courting different audiences with this one. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empiremoves up two weeks and into the March 29th slot vacated by Mickey 17. This wasn’t some vindictive move by the studio, or even proof of a troubled production. According to reps, the dual strikes had an impact on things and so the film will take a bit longer to be ready. No biggie.
Mickey 17 stars Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo. Pattinson plays a “disposable” employee, who takes on dangerous jobs and is eventually replaced by newer clones. Finally, one decides he doesn’t want to be replaced.
As for the latest Monsterverse Godzilla movie, it is the sequel to 2021’sGodzilla vs. Kong, and is once again directed by Adam Wingard. The cast is led by Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, Rachel House, and Fala Chen. No longer clashing, Godzilla and Kong must take on a new threat to Hollow Earth and the surface world.
Just in time for the release shuffle, a new international trailer offers some never-before-seen footage. You can check it out below.
Can you tell that we’re starting to get close to the start of production on The Last of Us season two? With the Internet still buzzing over the casting of Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Variety reports that Beef actor Young Mazino has landed another key role from the video game.
According to the report, Young Mazino will take on the role of Jesse in the second season of The Last of Us. Jesse is a key supporting character in The Last of Us Part II, playing a friend to Ellie who joins her on a quest that is best left a secret for those who don’t know the plot already. Jesse is part of a community of survivors in the post-apocalyptic landscape where a fungal virus takes over human bodies and transforms them.
Mazino is best known for his breakout role as Paul Cho in the Netflix series Beef. Coming up for him is the horror film Opus alongside Ayo Edibiri, Amber Midthunder, and John Malkovich, so Mazino’s star is definitely on the rise.
It looks as if The Last of Us season two will begin production soon, and we can probably expect to see it hit HBO in 2025.
As usual when Paul Thomas Anderson has a new film in the works, rumors run rampant about the cast he’s putting together. That’s what happens when your first few movies are as stacked as Anderson’s tend to be, and that includes his most recent, Licorice Pizza. Well, it turns out many of the rumors are true, as Deadline reports Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, and Sean Penn will lead Anderson’s untitled movie.
Details on the project are few, but the story is said to involve a young Black girl training in martial arts. DiCaprio is expected to play her mentor, which is funny in and of itself. A huge ensemble is expected for this one, probably something like Anderson’s Boogie Nights, so expect a lot of casting news to drop. It’s unclear who will play the young girl at the center of the story, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Anderson reached out to an unknown about it.
This is a long time coming, this chance for Anderson and DiCaprio to finally work together. People might remember that DiCaprio was initially up for the Dirk Diggler role in Boogie Nights that went to Mark Wahlberg. Why? Because DiCaprio decided to do some movie called…let me see here…Titanic.
With his James Dean good looks, Jacob Elordi would seem to be the perfect actor to embody a chain-smoking, jean jacket-wearing, hitchhiking enigma in the turbulent 1960s. Well, enigma probably isn’t the right word. He’s a serial killer in Jeffrey Darling’s new film, He Went That Way, based on a preposterous but true account involving said serial killer, a celebrity animal trainer, and his star chimp, during a fraught road trip down Route 66. And Elordi is indeed perfect for the role, at times captivating, charming, and volatile. It’s only a shame the film Elordi is so good in doesn’t level up to his talents.
I’m not going to spend a lot of time beating up on this one. Darling was a respected industry veteran in the Australian filmmaking scene. He Went That Way was his directorial debut, completed after his untimely death in 2022 after a surfing accident. So I’m not inclined to dump all over his directorial debut, the only feature that will ever be to his credit.
The film is based on a wild account by animal trainer Dave Pitts, here referred to as Jim Goodwin and played with maximum timidity by Zachary Quinto. The story goes that he was on the road with his celebrity performing chimp, Spanky, and he picked up Larry Lee Ranes, a serial killer regarded in the movie as Bobby Falls, played by Elordi. It doesn’t take Jim long to figure out that he’s driving around a lunatic who can be set off at any moment. But this is the summer of ’64, and as the opening narration tells us, hitting the road is all about freedom and going where life leads you. Darling gets the almost mythical quality of the road experience down to a tee; lots of roadside gas stations, diners, the sound of rock ‘n roll, all under sunkissed skies and backed by desert landscapes.
This little buddy road trip is fraught from the beginning. Bobby doesn’t take long to rob Jim of his stuff, holding him at gunpoint. And yet the ride continues, with Jim experiencing what can only be described as a form of Stockholm Syndrome. In the beginning, he stayed with Bobby out of fear that he might hurt Spanky, but later they form some kind of weird bond. Never mind that Bobby frequently holds a gun to Jim’s face, shoves him into the animal cage, gags him, threatens to kill him and Spanky…y’know, things a friend would do.
The tone is just plain bizarre, and some of that might have to do with Darling and screenwriter Evan M. Wiener trying to have it every which way. We’re told that this is neither meant to be a biopic or a documentary, but they also want us to believe that most of what’s being presented is true. That’s clearly not the case since the crimes don’t match up and there are obvious attempts at oddball comedy. Perhaps adapting Conrad Hilberry’s book, Luke Karamazov, a fictionalized account of Larry Lee Ranes, was the wrong choice to make. An example of the film going too far out of its depth involves a pit stop where Jim confronts his brother-in-law, Saul (Patrick J. Adams, a welcome surprise), a shady preacher living in a trailer with a little girl who does not appear to be his daughter. Saul owes Jim money but won’t pay. Some verbal sparring over religion and freedom ensues before Bobby starts making things worse, but it all comes across as just words tossed against a wall. The encounter means nothing, adds nothing.
It’s also possible that choices made after Darling’s death impacted the overall presentation of the movie, which feels scattered at best. Quinto’s performance, with his questionable Midwestern accent, does little to have us sympathize with Jim, who is rather bland and pathetic. We care more about Spanky, who is played by an actor with some animatronic effects that can be distracting. It’s just sad that the chimp is being dragged through this Hellish tour with a couple of humans who appear to barely be at his intellectual level. At least Bobby has charisma on his side. Even though he’s a loose cannon and a murderer, Bobby almost comes across as someone we can feel sorry for turning out the way he did. Almost. Ultimately, despite Elordi’s magnetic presence, He Went That Way drags when it should smolder, wasting a chance to bring such a fascinating true story to vivid life.
He Went That Way is in theaters now and hits VOD on January 12th.
As a loyal fan of this movie, you may choose to customize some peripherals to commemorate and express your love. For example, you can choose custom enamel pins as the peripheral of “He Went That Way.”
Not only because it is light and portable and has great collection value, but also because the pins can cleverly condense the core symbols of the movie, such as the iconic pink Cadillac or greyhound pattern in the film, which instantly evokes memories of the plot. This wearable artwork can not only show the identity of fans in a low-key manner, but also become a “code” among like-minded people through its unique design, which is more personalized than traditional peripherals.
Remember David Benioff and D.B. Weiss? You may have tried to shove the Game of Thrones creators out of your mind because the final season sucked or whatever, but they are still around and quite busy. That’s what $200M will do, and that’s what Netflix paid them to create streaming content rather than do a Star Wars movie. And finally, all of that money is about to reap benefits with 3 Body Problem, a series adaptation of the Chinese sci-fi novel by Liu Cixin.
Teaming up with Alexander Woo (The Terror), Benioff and Weiss’s 3 Body Problem follows the generations-long repercussions of a fateful decision made in the 1960s, leading to the targeted killing of the planet’s best and brightest scientists. Here’s the synopsis:
The story begins in 1960s China when a young woman makes a fateful decision that reverberates across space and time into the present day. When the laws of nature inexplicably unravel, a tight-knit group of brilliant scientists must join forces with an unflinching detective to stop humanity’s greatest threat. 3 Body Problem is an epic story that redefines sci-fi drama with its layered mysteries and story of human connection.
The massive ensemble includes Jess Hong, Benedict Wong, Eiza González, Jovan Adepo, Alex Sharp, John Bradley, Saamer Usmani, Liam Cunningham, Rosalind Chao, Jonathan Pryce, Marlo Kelly, Sea Shimooka, Ben Schnetzer, and Zine Tseng.
Rian Johnson, Rosamund Pike, and Brad Pitt are aboard as exec-producers, adding to what looks to be a powerhouse project from Benioff and Weiss.
The conversation surrounding The Last of Us is interesting because the game’s rabid fans are just as rabid over the TV show’s casting. I remember before the first season ever went into production, and they were screaming for Maisie Williams to play Ellie, but that was before another Game of Thrones alum came along in Bella Ramsey. For weeks, the question has been who should take on arguably the most important character in season two, Abby. Rumors have swirled that the role would go to Booksmartstar Kaitlyn Dever, and now those rumors have been confirmed.
The news was confirmed by Variety after dropping on Max and Naughty Dog’s social media channels. For the most part, this is amazing news. Dever has been one of the best actresses around ever since her breakout role in Short Term 12, a film that also launched the careers of Brie Larson and LaKeith Stanfield, by the way.
However, the decision has led to furious debate. Without going too far into what happens in The Last Of Us Part II, Abby is essentially the second protagonist of that game alongside Ellie. Unlike Dever, Abby is physically tough, built like a tank, which makes her the polar opposite of Ellie. When they finally confront one another, you’re meant to see and feel that disparity.
Dever is anything but physically imposing.
“Our casting process for season two has been identical to season one: we look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material,” said showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. “Nothing matters more than talent, and we’re thrilled to have an acclaimed performer like Kaitlyn join Pedro, Bella and the rest of our family.”
In short; they know fans are going to complain and they are getting in front of it.
Anyway, I understand fan desire to have everything stick as close to the source material as possible, but I love this casting. Abby is more than just ruggedly built, she’s mentally tough and has the attitude to match. And if Kaitlyn Dever doesn’t exactly look like Abby, she can definitely project her other attributes. The rest can be fixed through other means.
Besides, for those who have never played The Last of Us Part II and don’t know where the story goes…well, they’re going to have other things to be more concerned about.
Look for The Last of Us season two to hit HBO next year.
We're thrilled that Kaitlyn Dever is joining @TheLastOfUsHBO Season 2 as Abby!
With his electric directorial debut, The Harder They Fall, musician and filmmaker Jeymes Samuel delivered one of the most entertaining Westerns in recent memory. A mix of deft humor, exaggerated takes on real-life historical figures, and over-the-top action featuring a nearly all-Black cast, the film instantly put Samuel on the map. And now his anticipated follow-up, The Book of Clarence, is here and it follows the same trajectory except in the form of a Biblical epic. Both riotously funny and preachy, it’s a film that too often gets in its own way but still is worth filling up the pews for.
LaKeith Stanfield stars as Clarence, a small-time hustler who we first meet while in a dangerous chariot race with Mary Magdalene, played by A Thousand and One breakout Teyana Taylor. That should tell you all you need to know about the way these Biblical figures will be handled. Clarence has gambled everything on this, so when he loses, it puts him in debt to the local crimelord, Jedediah the Terrible (Eric Kofi-Abrefa), who wants his money by the end of the month. Along with his loyal sidekick Elijah (RJ Cyler), Clarence starts his scheming to earn some quick cash.
It sounds like a plot from a contemporary crime comedy, which is part of the joy of The Book of Clarence. The story and its themes are current, and thus relevant to people whether they have ever read the Good Book or not. Clarence’s story parallels the rise of Jesus Christ (Nicholas Pinnock), and, being the petty conman that he is, Clarence sees this as an opportunity. Not for revelation, mind you, but for grift. So Clarence tries unsuccessfully to become Jesus’ 13th apostle, joining his pious brother Thomas as part of the flock. When that fails in humiliating fashion, Clarence decides to turn himself into a messiah, scamming the locals with fake miracles so they’ll fill his collection plate.
The Book of Clarence is at its best with a satirical edge. Clarence has a tremendously funny encounter with Mother Mary (Alfre Woodard) in which he debates her supposed virginity, questions Jesus’ messianic credentials, and ignores poor Joseph hiding in the corner. While the people who know Clarence best see through his ruse, others begin to put their faith in him, and he wants to try and live up to their high expectations.
Samuel hits on just the right balance of Life of Brian meets Friday, blending lowbrow buddy humor with witty insights. Clarence and Elijah get high and literally float into the sky, only to head to a nearby nightclub for a dance battle. Meanwhile, a stellar cameo by Benedict Cumberbatch finds the British actor as a dirty, unshaven beggar who is mistaken for Jesus. Of course, hilarity ensues, with Samuel teasing a white Jesus ascension.
Problems arise in the final act as The Book of Clarence gets overly serious, grim, and sanctimonious. The shift in tone is a head-snapper and doesn’t serve the film well at all. If Samuel’s goal was to sneakily drop a Sunday School class on audiences, he was doing an effective job using humor to spread the good word.
The Book of Clarence opens in theaters on January 12th.
This was inevitable, but now we know for certain that Din Djarin and his little green pal Grogu are headed to the big screen. Today, Lucasfilm announced that Jon Favreau will direct The Mandalorian and Grogu, which will go into production later this year.
At such a start date, we could see the movie arrive in 2025, likely as a replacement for The Mandalorian season 4 which has never actually been greenlit. Favreau will direct the movie, joined by Dave Filoni as a producer. The two have worked together a lot to establish the Star Wars universe in the post-Lucas era. It can be argued they’ve done more than anybody to flesh out the stories and build new characters.
While plot details remain unclear, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy says the story is “a perfect fit for the big screen”. Expect Pedro Pascal to don the Mandalorian’s helmet once again. Who he’ll be joined by is another question. All of season three centered on a return to Mandalore and the revival of the Mandalorian culture. But the duo have crossed paths with characters from all across the Star Wars map, including Boba Fett, Luke Skywalker, Bo-Katan Kryze, Cad Bane, and Ahsoka Tano, who made her live-action debut on the series.
Favreau created The Mandalorian, which became the killer must-watch series that drove early Disney+ subscribers. He’s been involved in the writing of every episode. It’s unclear where The Mandalorian and Grogu will fit in the overall timeline of events.
“I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” Favreau said in a statement. “The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.”
As for Filoni, Lucasfilm confirmed that he is gearing up for Ahsoka season two. Add this to his list of projects which includes a feature film reportedly set within the New Republic and tying together many of shows’ plot threads.
Lucasfilm also confirmed the upcoming Rey Skywalker movie with Daisy Ridley and directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. A movie tying into the Jedi origin is also in the works from James Mangold.
Open dates on the Lucasfilm calendar include an untitled Star Wars movie scheduled for May 22nd 2026. Another is set for Dec. 18th 2026, while a third is coming on Dec. 17th 2027. It’s unclear what these projects will be, but we do know that films are in the works from Taika Waititi, Shawn Levy, and Rian Johnson. They could be any or none of them.
The inciting incident has already happened when The Teachers’ Lounge begins. Taking place at a German middle school, we first meet sixth-grade teacher Carla Nowak as she and two other co-workers are questioning her class representatives about a series of thefts. We don’t know fully what was stolen, but they indicate a Turkish student may be involved. Carla is watching this interaction go down, stepping in when a teacher starts to cross a boundary. She’s still on the side of the authority but she still wants to do right by these kids.
It’s a dynamic that Carla (Leonie Benesch) straddles throughout the film. As this Turkish student is questioned, she once again steps in when another teacher is too close to violating civil liberty. She is determined to find out who is committing these thefts but is heavily aware not to disrupt the school environment.
One day while working in the teachers’ lounge and observing a fellow teacher take some donations from a fundraiser, she decides to stage her own experiment. She leaves her wallet, jacket, and computer behind as she goes to the bathroom. When her computer’s camera is left on, she catches the culprit in the act. Their face is not shown, but Carla does recognize the very distinguished shirt of the school secretary Mrs. Kuhn (Eva Löbau). Her son Oskar (Leonard Stettnisch) is a quiet but bright student in Carla’s class. When confronted with the evidence against her, she starts shouting her innocence as a few students hear down the hall.
Throughout İlker Çatak and Johannes Duncker’s script, people overhear and gossip while Carla tries to do the right thing. Çatak, who is also the director of The Teachers’ Lounge builds tension within that snowball effect with closeups and sweeping pans in an almost comical way. He uses classroom management techniques as a way to show Carla’s loss of control among her students as Oskar plans a pre-teen coup.
One of the biggest complaints teachers, parents, and students have after returning to school after COVID is how much harder it is. While COVID doesn’t play a part in this film, it actively reflects the natural distrust permeating classrooms worldwide. This frustration is reflected as things get out of hand in Carla’s school. She tries her best to fix the problem and defend her students but can’t help when other adults don’t play by the rules. It’s a smaller-scale version of our modern world, which makes The Teachers’ Lounge just as fascinating and defeating.
The Teachers’ Lounge opens in theaters on January 12th.
*NOTE: This review was originally part of our 2023 Middleburg Film Festival coverage.*
The buzz has been building for the Australian sci-fi thriller, Monolith, which premiered stateside last year at SXSW. The film is directed by Matt Vesely, but a lot of the attention has been focused on star Lily Sullivan. And for good reason, as the Evil Dead Rise actress is the only actor ever seen on screen, and thus carries the full weight of the story on her shoulders. Based on early reviews, Sullivan proves more than capable.
As seen in the new trailer, Sullivan plays “The Interviewer”, a journalist who tries to salvage her career by turning to podcasting. But this new journalistic path takes a turn when she uncovers a mysterious artifact that she believes is evidence of an alien conspiracy. Questions swirl whether these discoveries are real or a fabrication, and it’s safe to say the Interviewer’s credibility is also in question.
After directing a few short films, Vesely makes his feature-length directorial debut on Monolith. He’s joined by screenwriter Lucy Campbell.
After the world premiere, Monolith was nominated for Best Indie Film at the AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) Awards. It currently sits at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.
All good signs that Monolith is a film to check out when it hits theaters and digital on February 16th.
