AD
Home Blog Page 1144

‘All In: The Fight For Democracy’ Trailer Reveals Stacey Abrams’ Voter Suppression Doc

By
Travis Hopson
-

Been paying attention to what’s been going on with the United States Postal Service lately? The so-called President is actively trying to steal the 2020 election, and admitting to it in broad daylight. While this latest controversy may have clued people in to the voter suppression going on right now, the fact is people, especially black and brown ones, have been targets of it since given the right to vote. And the history of voter suppression is the focus of timely documentary, All In: The Fight for Democracy.

Appropriately enough, All In uses the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election between Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams and then-Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Using the power of his office, Kemp twisted laws and implemented strict rules (such as removing polling places and shortening voting hours) targeted at Democratic communities in an effort to suppress the vote.  It’s just one example of what women and people of color have had to endure just to do their patriotic duty and be part of democratic process.

The film is directed by Liz Garbus (Bobby Fischer Against the World, Lost Girls) and Lisa Cortes (The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion).  Stacey Abrams, who has since become a major figure in the fight for fair voting practices, is on board as a producer.

All In: The Fight for Democracy hits theaters on September 8th and Amazon Prime Video on September 18th.

SYNOPSIS: In anticipation of the 2020 presidential election, ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY examines the often overlooked, yet insidious issue of voter suppression in the United States. The film interweaves personal experiences with current activism and historical insight to expose a problem that has corrupted our democracy from the very beginning. With the perspective and expertise of Stacey Abrams, the former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, the documentary offers an insider’s look into laws and barriers to voting that most people don’t even know are threats to their basic rights as citizens of the United States.

 

 

 

Elizabeth Debicki Is Princess Diana In Final Two Seasons Of ‘The Crown’

By
Travis Hopson
-

There was really only one way to get me interested in The Crown, and Showtime has found it. Elizabeth Debicki, who I’ve probably gushed about way too much on here the last couple of weeks, has been cast as Princess Diana in the series’ final two seasons.

Here’s what Debicki had to say, following the announcement on The Crown‘s official Twitter.

“Princess Diana’s spirit, her words, and her actions live in the hearts of so many. It is my true privilege and honor to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one,” Debicki said.

Debicki was most recently seen stealing every damn scene in The Burnt Orange Heresy. She also has the female lead in Christopher Nolan’s Tenet. You might’ve heard of it.  She really broke through with her role as Jordan Baker in Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, which led to her starring in Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Widows, and Emmy-winning series The Night Manager.

This follows on the news of Jonathan Pryce joining The Crown as Prince Philip, with Imelda Staunton taking the role of Queen Elizabeth, following on Claire Foy in the first two seasons and Olivia Colman in the next two. Season four hits Showtime later this year, and then look for Debicki and season five to begin in 2022.

Attend Tomorrow’s Free Virtual Screening Of ‘Words On Bathroom Walls’

Starring Charlie Plummer and Taylor Russell!

By
Travis Hopson
-

We’re happy to offer our readers the chance to attend a free virtual screening of Words on Bathroom Walls, starring Charlie Plummer (Lean on Pete) and Taylor Russell (Waves). The film opens on August 21st, making it among the first in theaters as they begin to reopen.

SYNOPSIS: WORDS ON BATHROOM WALLS tells the story of Adam (Charlie Plummer), who appears to be your typical young adult – a little unkempt with raging hormones and excited about a future pursuing his dream of becoming a chef. Expelled halfway through his senior year, Adam is diagnosed with a mental illness that he keeps secret at his new school. Living in constant fear of being exposed, Adam finds a soulful, comforting connection in Maya (Taylor Russell), an outspoken and fiercely intelligent girl who inspires him to open his heart and not be defined by his condition. With the love and support of his newfound romance and family, Adam is hopeful for the very first time that he can see the light and triumph over the challenges that lie ahead.

The screening takes place tomorrow, August 18th at 7pm EST. If you’d like to attend, simply register at the Gofobo site here. Feel free to share! It’s been a long time since we’ve had a screening to look forward to, so spread the word!

Words on Bathroom Walls opens August 21st.

Cinema Royale: Talking THE TAX COLLECTOR, I USED TO GO HERE, DC FanDome, & More

By
Travis Hopson
-

In an absolutely jammed show we talk the Gillian Jacobs/ Jemaine Clement comedy I USED TO GO HERE, Shia LaBeouf in David Ayer’s THE TAX COLLECTOR, Robert Pattinson and Johnny Depp in WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS, and the stunning Elizabeth Debicki in THE BURNT ORANGE HERESY! Somehow there’s still time for DC FanDome chat, and a little about the new KNIGHT RIDER movie!

And sorry for the technical difficulties which caused us to split the show! We hope to have everything corrected for next week.

Follow the Punch Drunk Critics and Cinema Royale!

www.PunchDrunkCritics.com

twitter.com/punchycritic

twitter.com/punchdrunkjohn

twitter.com/pdcmovies

https://www.facebook.com/Cinemaroyaleshow/

https://www.twitch.tv/Cinematic_Enforcer

Daniel Kaluuya Will See The Future In Netflix Sci-Fi Film ‘The Upper World’

By
Travis Hopson
-

Anybody remember Daniel Kaluuya in Sicario? Or as Black Death in Kick-Ass 2? Yeah, Black Panther wasn’t his first superhero movie. He’s come up in a big way, mostly due to his role in Jordan Peele’s Get Out, and now Kaluuya is about to take the lead in a new sci-fi film for Netflix.

Variety reports Kaluuya will star in and produce an adaptation of The Upper World, based on the upcoming YA fantasy novel, first in a series, by British-Nigerian author/physicist Femi Fadugba.  Kaluuya takes on the role of Esso, a man who can see glimpses of the past and the future, and must use this gift to stop something terrible from happening.

SYNOPSIS: Esso is caught in a deadly feud and on the verge of expulsion when he realizes he has an unexpected gift: access to a world where he can see glimpses of the past and the future. A generation away, Rhia is walking to football practice in 2035, unaware that the mysterious stranger she’s about to meet desperately needs her help to avert a bullet fired 15 years ago.

Next up for Kaluuya is Judas and the Black Messiah, in which he plays Black Panther leader Fred Hampton.

 

James Wan Says To Expect More Horror In ‘Aquaman’ Sequel

By
Travis Hopson
-

Going into Aquaman, the one thing we probably didn’t expect to get was a horror movie. While it’s definitely pure superhero silliness for the most part, the Trench sequence, in which Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Mera (Amber Heard) are attacked by fish-like monstrosities, is pretty terrifying. While we know the Trench are getting a spinoff movie at some point, director James Wan plans to bring the scares back in an Aquaman sequel.

An excerpt from next week’s Aquaman panel during DC FanDome has been teased by the DC Comics Twitter, and it has Wan talking up the frights he plans to bring the audience in Aquaman 2…

“I would say yes. Just like the first movie had a touch of my horror sensibility in it, in regards to the Trench sequence, I would say there’ll be a little bit of that in this next one. I think it’s something that’s a big part of who I am, and it just naturally comes out in these kinds of films.”

“And especially a movie like Aquaman, you know where the story takes place in these underwater worlds that can be very scary. So naturally, my love for the horror genre just means that I latch myself to these scenes and try to give them a little bit more of my scary sauce.”

I guess we shouldn’t be surprised given Wan’s history as one of the most important filmmakers in all of horror with Saw, The Conjuring, and more.  It’ll be interesting to see what else Wan reveals about the sequel when DC FanDome arrives on August 22nd.

Aquaman 2 hits theaters on December 16th 2022.

 

Edgar Wright Talks Robert Pattinson’s “Intense” ‘Scott Pilgrim’ Audition; Soundtrack To Get Vinyl Re-Release With Brand New Music

By
Travis Hopson
-

A few days ago marked the ten year anniversary of Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. I think you all know how dear this movie is to me by now; there’s barely anything to find fault with. Wright’s hyper-kinetic video game love story has perfect casting of then-rising-stars, and a soundtrack that kicks so hard it’s still playable today. But it’s sometimes fun to imagine how different things could’ve been if a decision had gone a different way. Like, what if Chris Evans had been swapped out for Robert Pattinson?

Vanity Fair has been doing a whole retrospective on Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, full of cool trivia and behind-the-scenes images. You should go and check it out. They also spoke with Wright, of course, who spoke about the movie’s terrific cast. One thing he revealed is that Chris Evans’ role as douchebag actor and one of the evil exes, Lucas Lee, also had Robert Pattinson trying out. This was in 2008 on the cusp of Twilight, the movie that would make him a superstar. Turns out, Pattinson and Evans aren’t at all the same style of actor. Who’da thunk it?

“I remember it vividly,” Wright said. “He did a much more intense read of it as well. Obviously, Robert is an incredible actor and someone who I’d love to work with now. But it was a very different take from what Chris did.”

Turns out, Rooney Mara also tried out for the role of Scott’s drummer pal, Kim Pine, a role too-perfectly played by Alison Pill. I can’t imagine anybody else, just as I can’t imagine anybody other than Evans.

Meanwhile, if you’re like me and can’t get enough of the Scott Pilgrim soundtrack with all of its Sex Bob-omb goodness, check out this joint right here.  The full soundtrack is being re-released on vinyl to celebrate the movie’s 10-year anniversary. Not only that, but it’ll come with 24-minutes of unreleased music and a special edition of “Black Sheep” performed by Brie Larson. *swoon* My favorite song with an absolutely killer video.

Idris Elba To Suit Up For Africa-Set Spy Film From Producer Simon Kinberg

By
Travis Hopson
-

Sadly, Idris Elba has probably ages out of ever being James Bond, but that’s okay. He’s so cool he makes everything sorta seem like a spy movie, y’know? Well, now he’s going to play an actual secret agent in a new film acquired by Apple, and it comes from Simon Kinberg, who knows a thing or two about the genre.

Deadline reports Apple has won the rights to a new Africa-set spy film starring Idris Elba and produced by Simon Kinberg. Kinberg, who is probably best known for the X-Men movies at this point, is also the guy who wrote Mr. and Mrs. Smith, which this new movie is said to be very similar to. The script is by Travon Free, an Emmy-winning writer for The Daily Show. Elba will also produce.

Other than the movie’s action/romance vibes, there aren’t any other details. Kinberg is entrenched in the genre right now. He’s also the director behind 355, the female espionage film led by Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz, and Lupita Nyong’o. He most recently directed X-Men film Dark Phoenix.

Elba will probably be seen next week at DC FanDome hyping his role in The Suicide Squad.

DC FanDome Schedule Includes Panels For Pretty Much The Entire DCEU

By
Travis Hopson
-

DC FanDome is pulling out all of the stops to best what Comic-Con @ Home was last month. And based on the schedule released today, pretty much every superhero movie you’re waiting for is going to be there. The panels will be virtual, but the promise is a ton of sneak peeks, guests, and hopefully some new announcements of upcoming DCEU films. Maybe Man of Steel 2? A guy can dream.

A reminder that DC FanDome is more than what’s going on in the movie world. The Arrowverse, DC Animation, DC Universe, and DC Comics will all be there as part of the 24-hour event.

What we’re interested in are the movies, and reading this it reminded me of the gigantic Hall H panels Warner Bros. throws at Comic-Con every year. I’ve always said WB puts on the bigger, better show to please the fans, and it looks like they’ve done it again.

So you can expect to see The Batman represented, with director Matt Reeves and “a surprise or two” which probably means the full cast including Robert Pattinson. Wonder Woman 1984, Aquaman, The Flash, The Suicide Squad, Shazam, and Black Adam will be there, as well.

Of course, so is Zack Snyder’s Justice League in what I think has to be the most anticipated presentation of the day.

DC FanDome takes place on August 22nd. Check out the full schedule here. The DCEU panels that look particularly interesting are below:

Wonder Woman 1984
10 AM (Encores at 6PM, 2AM)
Hall of Heroes
Wonder Woman 1984 stars Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig and Pedro Pascal, and director/co-writer/producer Patty Jenkins join forces with Brazilian hosts Érico Borgo and Aline Diniz to celebrate the fans in a big way. They will answer questions from fans from all over the world, talk fan art and cosplay, and reveal an all-new sneak peek at the upcoming film — plus a few more surprises! (25 min)

The Suicide Squad
12PM (Encores at 8PM, 4AM)
Hall of Heroes
What else would you expect from The Suicide Squad but the ultimate elimination game? First up, writer/director James Gunn takes on fan questions, then brings out Task Force X for a fast-paced, no-holds-barred Squad Showdown that tests every team member’s Squad knowledge — and survival skills! (30 min)

The Snyder Cut of Justice League
2:45PM (Encores at 10:45pm, 6:45AM, 8:15AM)
Hall of Heroes
Zack Snyder fields questions from fans and a few surprise guests as he discusses his eagerly awaited upcoming cut of the 2017 feature film and the movement that made it happen. (25 min)

Black Adam
3PM (Encores at 11PM, 7AM)
Hall of Heroes
Star of the first-ever Black Adam feature film Dwayne Johnson sets the stage for the story and tone of the new movie with a fans-first Q&A…and a few surprises. (15 min)

Aquaman
4PM (Encores at 12AM, 8AM)
Hall of Heroes
Aquaman director James Wan and King Orm himself, Patrick Wilson, take a deep dive into the world of Atlantis that Wan created, revealing their favorite behind-the-scenes moments from the largest DC movie ever! (10 min)

Wonder Woman 80th Celebration
4:15PM (Encores at 12:15AM, 8:15AM)
Hall of Heroes
As an Amazon and a god, Wonder Woman is truly timeless. So, it’s hard to believe she’s turning 80! Join Wonder Woman 1984 director Patty Jenkins and star Gal Gadot, along with a very special guest, as they reflect on the character’s influence on them personally, and look forward to the 2021 celebrations! (5 min)

SHAZAM!
4:30PM (Encores at 12:30AM, 8:30AM encore)
Hall of Heroes
Zac Levi and the cast can’t tell you s#&t! Sworn to secrecy on the new script for their upcoming movie, Zac and a few of his SHAZAM! castmates talk with the Philippines’ #1 DC fan, Gino Quillamor, about what the next movie might be about, while commenting on everything from panels to the other Zack’s cut — and even have a few surprise guests drop in! (10 min)

The Batman
5:30PM (Encores at 1:30AM, 9:30AM)
Hall of Heroes
The Batman filmmaker Matt Reeves joins host and self-professed fangirl Aisha Tyler for a discussion of the upcoming film…with a surprise (or two) for the fans! (30 min)

‘Scare Me’ Trailer: Aya Cash Needs A Good Fright In Shudder’s Hit Sundance Horror-Comedy

By
Travis Hopson
-

This might be the year of Aya Cash. If you dug her fierce brand of humor in FX’s You’re the Worst, Cash will be taking it to another level in the second season of Amazon’s The Boys, playing a fascist “superhero”. Earlier this year at Sundance she starred in one of the festival’s most talked-about movies, Scare Me, a clever dark comedy that’s a perfect fit for the horror enthusiasts at Shudder.

Scare Me has a simple premise, but what takes you by surprise is how it escalates out of control. Cash and writer/director/co-star Josh Ruben play a couple, stuck inside a cabin in the woods when she comes up with a game they can play.

“Scare me. You scare me and I’ll scare you.”

From the beginning it’s clear that she’s wearing the pants in this relationship, and she doesn’t scare easily.

“Scare me, mutherfucker! We’re burning moonlight!”

And try he does. But she gets a turn, too.

The cast also includes SNL vet Chris Redd and comedian Rebecca Drysdale. The film marks Ruben’s directorial debut and I have a feeling he and Shudder are going to be in business together for a long time.

Scare Me hits Shudder exclusively on October 1st.

 

1...1,1431,1441,145...1,883Page 1,144 of 1,883
Want To Advertise With Punch Drunk Critics?
Contact us: info@punchdrunkcritics.com
Facebook Instagram Mail Twitter Youtube
© Copyright 2020 PDC Entertainment