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‘3 Body Problem’ Trailer: Benioff And Weiss’ Genre-Bending, Generations-Spanning Series Hits Netflix This March

By
Travis Hopson
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3 Body Problem

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.

3 Body Problem hits Netflix on March 21st.

‘The Last Of Us’ Casts Kaitlyn Dever As Abby And It’s A Great Choice

By
Travis Hopson
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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 Booksmart star 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.

Review: ‘The Book Of Clarence’

LaKeith Stanfield Is A Phony Messiah In Jeymes Samuel's Funny But Uneven Biblical Farce

By
Travis Hopson
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The Book of Clarence

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.

‘The Mandalorian And Grogu’: Jon Favreau Is Bringing Din Djarin And Baby Yoda To The Big Screen

By
Travis Hopson
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The Mandalorian and Grogu

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.

 

Review: ‘The Teachers’ Lounge’

İlker Çatak's Searing Classroom Drama Hits Upon Current Educational Woes

By
Cortland Jacoby
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Leonie Benesch in THE TEACHERS' LOUNGE

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.*

‘Monolith’ Trailer: Lily Sullivan Believes She’s Uncovered An Alien Conspiracy In Acclaimed Sci-Fi Thriller Arriving Next Month

By
Travis Hopson
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Lily Sullivan in MONOLITH

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.

‘Tokyo Vice’ Season Two Trailer: Ansel Elgort And Ken Watanabe Return To Japan’s Criminal Underworld In February

By
Travis Hopson
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Tokyo Vice

HBO’s Tokyo Vice series saw its cinematic language established by the great Michael Mann, who directed the opening episode. But the series maintained that muscular structure through the guidance of showrunner, writer, and creator J.T. Rogers, taking us into the Japanese criminal underworld to show its darkening impact on society. And now the show is back with season two, taking viewers further into the seedy underbelly experienced by author Jake Adelstein and captured in his memoir.

Ansel Elgort returns as Jake Adelstein, an American reporter in Tokyto to investigate the Japanese yakuza, with Ken Watanabe as altruistic police detective Hiroto Katagiri, who takes Adelstein under his wing.

Season one of Tokyo Vice ended with a major character, Show Kasamatsu’s Sato getting stabbed with his life hanging in the balance. The new trailer for season two confirms the character’s fate, but I’m not going to spoil anything here. You can watch for yourself.

All of the primary cast returns including Rinko Kikuchi, Rachel Keller, Ayumi Ito, and the always-awesome Rinko Kikuchi. They’re joined by new series regulars Yosuke Kubozuka and Miki Maya.

Here’s the season two synopsis: Loosely inspired by American journalist Jake Adelstein’s first-hand account of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police beat, season two of the series, filmed on location in Tokyo, takes us deeper into the city’s criminal underworld as Adelstein (Ansel Elgort) comes to realize that his life, and the lives of those close to him, are in terrible danger.

Tokyo Vice returns to Max on February 8th.

‘Shirley’ Teaser Trailer: Regina King Is Trailblazing Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm In John Ridley’s Biopic This March

By
Travis Hopson
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Regina King and Terrence Howard in SHIRLEY

In her first role since 2021’s The Harder They Fall, Regina King is taking trailblazing figure in civil rights and politics. King transforms into Shirley Chisholm for the upcoming Netflix biopic, Shirley, from writer/director John Ridley.

Chisholm, who has been a supporting subject in numerous projects, including the 2020 miniseries Mrs. America, has long been overdue to have her story told. In 1968, Chisholm became the first Black elected to the United States Congress, representing New York’s 12th district from 1969 to 1983. But that’s not all, as Chisholm broke another barrier in 1972 when she ran for President of the United States, becoming the first Black woman to seek a major party’s nomination for that office.

According to Netflix, Shirley “chronicles her audacious, boundary-breaking 1972 presidential campaign.”

The film marks one of the final roles of the late Lance Reddick, who died suddenly last year. Also in the cast are Lucas Hedges, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christina Jackson, Michael Cherrie, Dorian Crossmond Missick, Amirah Vann, W. Earl Brown, Brad James, Reina King, André Holland and Terrence Howard.

This is a passion project for King, who worked with her sister Reina for over 15 years to get off the ground.

Ridley is best known as the Oscar-winning writer of 12 Years a Slave. He most recently directed sci-fi/romance Needle in a Timestack, and before that the unfortunate Hendrix biopic Jimi: All is by My Side. He has not found the same success as a director than as a writer.

In keeping with that, some rumors have surfaced about poor Shirley test screenings after numerous delays and reshoots. World of Reel has an account by one attendee who called the film “every cliche of a generic biopic” while also criticizing King’s performance.

Take any such rumors with a grain of salt, though. There’s a lot of talent on this film and just as much passion behind it.

Shirley streams exclusively to Netflix on March 22nd.

 

Attend A Free Virtual Screening Of ‘Role Play’ Starring Kaley Cuoco & David Oyelowo

By
Travis Hopson
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Role Play opens 1/12 on Prime Video

We’re happy to offer our readers the chance to attend a free virtual screening of Prime Video’s Role Play, the action-comedy film starring Kaley Cuoco and David Oyelowo.

SYNOPSIS: Emma has a wonderful husband and two kids in the suburbs of New Jersey—she also has a secret life as an assassin for hire, a secret that her husband David discovers when the couple decide to spice up their marriage with a little role play.

This is a virtual screening, taking place on Wednesday, January 10th at 7:30pm. If you’d like to attend, RSVP at the Amazon screening link here. Enjoy the show!

Role Play will premiere globally on January 12th, exclusively on Prime Video

 

‘Mother’s Instinct’ Trailer: Psychological Thriller Stars Jessica Chastain And Anne Hathaway As 1960s Suburban Housewives

By
Travis Hopson
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Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastan in Mother's Instinct

The year is only a few days old, with a great many films to look forward to. One that is high on a lot of most anticipated lists is Mother’s Instinct, the directorial debut of French cinematographer Benoît Delhomme, known for At Eternity’s Gate, A Most Wanted Man, and photo work on Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life. It’s that last film that put Delhomme into the orbit of Jessica Chastain, who reunites with him here. But that’s not the best reason to be excited for it.

As seen in the new trailer, Mother’s Instinct centers on the lead performances by Chastain and Anne Hathaway. They play suburban mothers in the 1960s whose friendships and seemingly perfect lives erode after a tragedy. The film is an adaptation of Olivier Masset-Depasse’s 2018 French-language drama and co-stars Josh Charles and Anders Danielsen Lie.

Here’s the official synopsis: Alice and Celine live a traditional lifestyle with successful husbands and sons of the same age. Life’s perfect harmony is suddenly shattered after a tragic accident. Guilt, suspicion, and paranoia combine to unravel their sisterly bond.

NEON plans to release Mother’s Instinct in the U.S. later this year, while Studio Canal will do the same in the U.K.

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