‘Silent Night’ Trailer: Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Roman Griffin Davis, & More Are Definitely Not In The Holiday Spirit

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November 10, 2021

Keira Knightley starred in one of the most beloved Christmas rom-coms ever in Love, Actually, a film that will be an annual favorite probably for the rest of time. But she’s going for a different kind of holiday spirit with Silent Night, which sees her in another ensemble of terrific British thespians. Just don’t go in expecting any cheesy declarations of love.

Silent Night stars Knightley alongside Matthew Goode, Jojo Rabbit‘s Roman Griffin Davis, Lucy Punch, Lily-Rose Depp, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Sope Dirisu, Rufus Jones, and Annabelle Wallis. Knightley and Goode play a married couple who along with their son invite a group of friends to their home in the English countryside, and while things seem to be full of merry holiday cheer, outside the world is doomed and this is probably going to be the last Christmas they ever share. Kinda puts a damper on things.

The film marks writer Camille Griffin’s directorial debut, with Kingsman‘s Matthew Vaughn on board as producer. Camille also happens to be Roman’s mother, which should have made for some interesting moments on set.

Silent Night opens December 3rd in theaters and on AMC+. It premiered in September at the Toronto International Film Festival to really strong buzz that could carry it through the holidays.

Silent Night follows parents Nell (Knightley) and Simon (Goode) who have invited their closest friends to join their family for Christmas dinner at their idyllic home in the English countryside. As the group comes together, it feels like old times – but behind all of the laughter and merriment, something is not quite right. The world outside is facing impending doom, and no amount of gifts, games or Prosecco can make mankind’s imminent destruction go away. Surviving the holidays just got a lot more complicated.

‘Being The Ricardos’ Trailer: Nicole Kidman & Javier Bardem Struggle With Tension On The ‘I Love Lucy’ Set

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Travis Hopson

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November 10, 2021

There are only a few major films left that are expected to be major awards contenders, and Aaron Sorkin’s Being the Ricardos is one. However, judging from the reaction I’ve seen from colleagues over the last few days, there’s quite a lot of skepticism about the film, with most of it centering around the casting of Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball and Javier Bardem as her husband, Desi Arnaz.

Neither Kidman or Bardem looks like a natural fit for their roles as the powerhouse comedy couple, who struggle with their personal and professional lives during a week of production on the I Love Lucy set. But even if everything about the film isn’t perfect, we know Sorkin’s script is going to be something special. Also in the cast are Jake Lacy, J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda, Tony Hale, and Alia Shawkat.

This marks Sorkin’s third directorial effort following Molly’s Game and last year’s The Trial of the Chicago 7. Sorkin has made himself a factor during this critical time on the movie calendar, and we’ll find out if Being the Ricardos is going for gold when it hits theaters on December 10th, followed by Amazon Prime Video on December 21st.

Lucille Ball (Nicole Kidman) and Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem) are threatened by shocking personal accusations, a political smear, and cultural taboos in Academy Award®-winning writer and director Aaron Sorkin’s behind-the-scenes drama Being the Ricardos. A revealing glimpse of the couple’s complex romantic and professional relationship, the film takes audiences into the writers’ room, onto the soundstage, and behind closed doors with Ball and Arnaz during one critical production week of their groundbreaking sitcom I Love Lucy. Featuring J.K. Simmons and Nina Arianda.

Tom Hardy & Channing Tatum To Star In Afghanistan Evacuation Film From ‘The Adjustment Bureau’ Director

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Travis Hopson

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November 10, 2021

I’ve always felt Tom Hardy and Channing Tatum were meant to star in a movie together, however, I thought should play thieving brothers in a crime comedy or something. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen (yet), but the two will team up for a movie set during the military’s recent evacuation from Afghanistan, and it’ll be for writer/director George Nolfi.

Deadline reports Hardy and Tatum will star in a new film from Nolfi about a reportedly true event during the evacuation of Afghanistan. They will play part of a group of American special forces who join with Afghan troops to help rescue people during all of the chaos.

The film will be written and directed by George Nolfi, best known for writing a pair of Jason Bourne sequels, and for directing the excellent thriller The Adjustment Bureau. He most recently directed Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson in Apple’s The Banker.

After taking some time away from the big screen, Tatum has the road comedy Dog coming up, along with The Lost City of D with Sandra Bullock. Hardy can be seen right now in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, one of the year’s biggest hits.

‘Wonder Woman 3’ Will See Lynda Carter Return As Asteria

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Travis Hopson

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November 9, 2021

Wonder Woman 1984 may not have been met with the same praise as its predecessor, but there was still some pretty cool stuff in it. One of those was the appearance of Asteria, the legendary Amazonian warrior played by Lynda Carter, who famously played Wonder Woman in the iconic television series. And now we know it wasn’t just a one-shot cameo, as Carter will be returning for the next film.

The news was broken by star Gal Gadot herself to THR, while also discussing Carter’s influence on her and the franchise as a mentor figure…

“First of all, Lynda has mentored me from the very first moment that I got cast as Wonder Woman. She was always there, talking to me, giving me tips and everything. She’s a true champion of what Patty and I have been doing, and it was so great that we managed to find the right opportunity to bring her to the last movie and now to the third one.”

Gadot added, “It’s even better this time. I love her very much. I love her dearly.”

That’s good, because fans of Wonder Woman really want to see this next movie bounce back. If that means giving Carter’s Asteria a bigger role, then that’ll be pretty cool, too. Who wouldn’t want to see a showdown between the original Wonder Woman and the modern version played by Gadot?

As for now, there is no set date for Wonder Woman 3 but Gadot will be reteaming with director Patty Jenkins.

‘C’mon C’mon’ Trailer: Joaquin Phoenix Is An Imperfect Caretaker In Mike Mills’ Acclaimed Family Dramedy

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Travis Hopson

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November 9, 2021

Mike Mills is back, and look, this is his time. His previous films, Beginners and 20th Century Women, both funny, hearbreaking films about the relationship between adults and their children, were showered with accolades. And the same looks to be the case for C’mon C’mon which has been earning raves everywhere including from our own reviewer, Cortland.

Joaquin Phoenix is likely back in the Best Actor race for his performance as Johnny, a journalist who agrees to care for his sister’s thoughtful, precocious son while she takes care of her mentally ill husband. As Johnny collects stories from kids from many different walks of life, he also learns a lot about his own family from his energetic nephew.

Gaby Hoffman and Scoot McNairy are also in the cast, but it’s Phoenix’s young co-star Woody Norman who is turning heads. Having seen the film recently myself, Norman really is terrific and expressive, a welcome counter to Phoenix who is dialed down compared to some of his recent roles.

C’mon C’mon opens in theaters on November 19th.

Leonardo DiCaprio To Serve Up Poisoned Kool-Aid As Infamous Cult Leader Jim Jones

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Travis Hopson

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November 9, 2021

The phrase “drinking the Kool-Aid” gets tossed around all of the time for anyone who is on another’s bandwagon, but it’s actually quite a dark term. It refers to cult leader Jim Jones, who as the leader of The People’s Temple commanded his followers to drink poisoned Flavor-Aid in November 1978, after his security forces assassinated a U.S. Congressman and his entourage. Jones is an infamous figure, and Leonardo DiCaprio will play him in the upcoming movie Jim Jones.

Deadline reports MGM has secured a 7-figure deal for Jim Jones, with DiCaprio in talks to star and produce. He’ll play Jones, monstrous leader of the People’s Temple cult and instigator of the deaths of over 900 members. Scott Rosenberg, a writer on the recent Jumanji films and an exec-producer on Cowboy Bebop, will pen the screenplay.

Next up for DiCaprio is Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up opposite Jennifer Lawrence, a film many are anxious to see for its potential as an Oscar contender.

Patty Jenkins’ ‘Rogue Squadron’ Film Delayed Indefinitely

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Travis Hopson

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November 8, 2021

It’s been two years since The Rise of Skywalker left a steaming pile behind it, and while there’s been a lot of talk about what Lucasfilm will do on the big screen, the first official project was to be Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron film. Well, the team of X-wing pilots have been grounded, and that film is suddenly in jeopardy of not getting into the air.

THR reports Rogue Squadron has been yanked off the schedule and its December 22nd 2023 release date. The plan had been for production to start next year, but there are apparently conflicts of some kind. The only other films we know of for Jenkins are a Cleopatra film that would reunite her with Gal Gadot, and of course Wonder Woman 3 which was supposed to shoot after Rogue Squadron.

So what now? Love & Monsters writer Matthew Robinson had been hired to do the screenplay, but will that be the case when Jenkins is ready to go? Will Rogue Squadron actually happen or is it actually dead? And what’s next for Star Wars? Taika Waititi’s movie? He’s pretty busy, too. So are Rian Johnson and Kevin Feige, both with films supposedly in the works. Hopefully, we’ll get some clarity on this soon.

Final ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Trailer Goes Deep On The Fan Service And Nostalgia

By

Travis Hopson

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November 8, 2021

It’s been no secret that Jason Reitman’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife is pure fan service. That can be really cool if the nostalgia isn’t too overwhelming. But one of many downsides is that the studio sees no reason to have a filter when it comes to spoiling shit, as you’ll see in this supposedly “final” trailer.

The footage we get reveals just how deep the connection between this movie and the 1984 classic. And let’s just say it’s significant as Hell. From returning monsters to the voice of a certain O.G. Ghostbuster, Sony isn’t messing around. They figure giving this stuff away will put more butts in seats and that calculation is probably right. The 2016 movie lacked this type of connection and people stayed away.

I’m not going to go through what happens bit by bit, but what I’ll say is that you get a pretty good idea of the entire plot. Watch if you don’t care about that.

Starring Paul Rudd, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon, Logan Kim, and pretty much every surviving cast member from the original movie, Ghostbusters: Afterlife opens November 19th.

‘Midnight Run’ Sequel To Star Regina Hall, Robert De Niro To Produce

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Travis Hopson

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November 8, 2021

Midnight Run, one of the great action-comedies ever, is about to get a true sequel. THR reports Girls Trip actress Regina Hall will produce and star in the film, joined by original star Robert De Niro who will produce, as well.

Details on the sequel are being kept under wraps. Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s Ayesha Carr will write the script, but no director has been named yet. This seems like a Malcolm D. Lee or Tim Story sort of project, doesn’t it?

The original 1988 film starred De Niro as bounty hunter Jack Walsh, tasked with tracking down a mob accountant played by the late great Charles Grodin. What a duo those two were.

Plans for a sequel have been in the works for decades, but what we got instead were three lesser made-for-TV sequels all released in 1994. They carried over a few characters but I’m sure this new film will ignore them entirely.

Vin Diesel Wants “Little Brother” Dwayne Johnson Back For ‘Fast & Furious 10’

By

Travis Hopson

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November 8, 2021

This macho beef between Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson will always be entertaining. These two muscle heads have been feuding, both overtly and passive-aggressively, for years ever since Johnson joined the Fast & Furious franchise. The whole thing escalated with The Fate of the Furious, in which it was visibly clear that these two weren’t getting along so they shared very limited screen time. Johnson then left to do the spinoff Hobbs & Shaw, unlikely to ever return. But even thought beef was supposedly squashed, Diesel perked it back up by claiming it was his “tough love” that helped Johnson be a better actor.

I’m telling you, this shit will never end. And now it’s taken a new turn. Posting to his popular Instagram, Diesel just comes right out and asks Johnson to return for the franchise’s 10th and “final” movie. Why? To fulfill a promise to the late Paul Walker.

“My little brother Dwayne… the time has come. The world awaits the finale of ‘Fast 10.’ As you know, my children refer to you as Uncle Dwayne in my house. There is not a holiday that goes by that they and you don’t send well wishes… but the time has come. Legacy awaits.”

Diesel added, “I told you years ago that I was going to fulfill my promise to Pablo. I swore that we would reach and manifest the best ‘Fast’ in the finale that is ‘10!’ I say this out of love… but you must show up, do not leave the franchise idle you have a very important role to play. Hobbs can’t be played by no other. I hope that you rise to the occasion and fulfill your destiny.”

I mean, I think Diesel is being sincere here. HOWEVER, when your plea begins with calling the 6 foot 5, 275lb Johnson “little brother”, it sounds like some dickhead shit. Can’t wait to see how Johnson responds but trust that there will definitely be one.