‘District 10’: Neill Blomkamp Isn’t Sure He Wants To Make ‘District 9’ Sequel

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August 29, 2023

Neill Blomkamp emerged hot out of the gate with 2009’s District 9, a sci-fi thriller and political allegory that earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. While Blomkamp has had his share of hits and misses, fans have been clamoring for a sequel to the film that put him on the map. But if it’s up to Blomkamp, and it is, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of interest in doing one.

Just a couple of years ago, it appeared that a sequel, appropriately titled District 10, would indeed happen. Blomkamp himself said it was in the “near future”. However, nothing has been heard about it since, and now in an interview with THR Blomkamp sounds pretty distinterested…

“I don’t know if it’s getting made or not. I don’t know if I even want to make that right now, but at some point down the line, it’ll probably get made.”

Now, he does say “it’ll probably get made” but clearly there are other things Blomkamp is interested in. And the way it reads to me is that Blomkamp might not even do District 10, but that a studio might move ahead on it without him. We’ll see.

Blomkamp’s latest, Gran Turismo, is in theaters now and recently beat out Barbie for the top spot.

‘The Hill’ Interview: Rickey Hill And Director Jeff Celentano Talk Baseball, Faith, Fathers & Sons

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Travis Hopson

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August 28, 2023

Baseball is more than just a game in the new film, The Hill, inspired by the real-life story of Ricky Hill. A baseball prodigy from a young age, Rickey overcame a degenerative spine disease and braces on his legs to become a baseball phenom. The film stars Colin Ford as Rickey Hill, and Dennis Quaid as his protective father, who discouraged him from playing baseball with hopes of steering him into following in his footsteps as a preacher.

While baseball is at the center of the film, it is truly about the deeply held faith of Ricky and his father, despite the complicated relationship between them.

It was my pleasure to speak with Rickey Hill himself, along with The Hill director Jeff Celentano about the making of the film. Rickey discussed seeing his story on the big screen and how close to accurate it was in the portrayal of his father. They also talked about how crucial faith was in telling this story, and how it impacted the entire production.

The Hill is available in theaters now. Please check out the interview below, and be sure to Like, Share, and Subscribe!

‘Onyx The Fortuitous & The Talisman Of Souls’ Trailer: Andrew Bowser’s Sundance Horror-Comedy Hits Theaters In October

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Travis Hopson

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August 28, 2023

Going viral is a surefire path to a TV or movie, and years ago Andrew Bowser went viral with his character Ony the Fortuitous. And earlier this year, Bowser hit Sundance with his comedy feature, Onyx the Fortuitous & the Talisman of Souls, which he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in.

Bowser is joined by a motley group of co-stars in Jeffrey Combs, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Barbara Crampton, Ralph Ineson, Rivkah Reyes, TC Carson, Arden Myrin, and Melanie Chandra. The story centers on the titular goth who joins his idol in a ritual to raise an ancient demon.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t hear much buzz about this one in Park City and sorta forgot about it. Bowser has a lot of fans and they’ll be happy to see how far his popular character has come, and just in time for Halloween.

Onyx the Fortuitous & the Talisman of Souls opens in theaters on October 19th.

‘My Sailor, My Love’ Trailer: James Cosmo And Bríd Brennan Share A Seaside Romance

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Travis Hopson

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August 28, 2023

I’ve been a big fan of James Cosmo ever since his role in Braveheart, and he’s been great in tons of films including Trainspotting, Wonder Woman, and in Game of Thrones as Jeur Mormont. But the Scottish actor has largely been a supporting actor for most of his career, which makes it extra special to see him in a lead role, in a romantic drama no less, in the new film My Sailor, My Love.

Cosmo stars with Tony Award-winning Irish actress Bríd Brennan (The Escape Artist) in a film that is about two people finding love much later in life.

Here’s the synopsis: “Howard is a widowed sailor living alone on the coast of Ireland and struggling to care for himself. His daughter, Grace, hires Annie to help out around the house. Though Howard initially rejects this imposition, Annie’s charm and gentle care win him over, and the two fall in love. Annie’s large and loving family welcomes Howard into their lives, but these new relationships only serve to illuminate the depth of pain and hurt between Howard and Grace, who is facing challenges of her own. Grace’s resentment tears at Howard and Annie’s otherwise idyllic seaside love story. This windswept drama deftly balances a universal family saga with a tender and timeless romance.”

Finnish filmmaker Klaus Härö (The Fencer) directs from a script by Jimmy Karlsson and Kirsi Vikman. Others in the cast include Catherine Walker and Nora-Jane Noone.

After landing a spot as an Official Selection at last year’s TIFF, My Sailor, My Love will open in select theaters on September 22nd, followed by a digital release on October 24th.

‘Rustin’ Trailer: Colman Domingo Organizes The March On Washington In Netflix’s Civil Rights Drama

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Travis Hopson

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August 28, 2023

Is Colman Domingo on the verge of his first Academy Award nomination? Avy Kaufman, veteran casting director, believes Domingo’s starring performance in the civil rights drama Rustin could be his ticket to the big stage. She told Collider…

“…a film that’s coming out this year that’s called Rustin, when you see it – if he’s not nominated for an Oscar, Colman [Domingo], the gentleman who plays Rustin is phenomenal.”

And now we can look at Domingo as civil rights activist Bayard Rustin in the film, as part of a new teaser released by Netflix. Rustin was a key figure in the civil rights movement and helped organize the March on Washington. His struggles ran deep, living life as an openly gay Black man in the 1960s. Not that it ever stopped him from championing what he believed in.

The film is directed by George C. Wolfe, who most recently was at the helm of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom which also included Domingo. Barack and Michelle Obama produce through their High Ground Productions banner, with a screenplay co-written by Milk writer Dustin Lance Black. Domingo is surrounded by an incredible ensemble that includes Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, CCH Pounder, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Johnny Ramey, Michael Potts, Lilli Kay, Jordan-Amanda Hall, Jakeem Powell, Grantham Coleman, Jamilah Rosemond, Jules Latimer, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper, Frank Harts, Kevin Mambo, Carra Patterson, Bill Irwin, Cotter Smith, Adrienne Warren, Jeffrey Wright, and Audra McDonald.

Here’s the synopsis: The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. He challenged authority, never apologized for who he was, what he believed, or who he desired. And he did not back down. He made history, and in turn, he was forgotten. Directed by DGA Award and five-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe and starring Emmy Award winner Colman Domingo, Rustin shines a long overdue spotlight on the extraordinary man who, alongside giants like the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and Ella Baker, dared to imagine a different world, and inspired a movement in a march toward freedom.

Rustin opens in select theaters on November 3rd, followed by Netflix on November 17th.

‘Not Another Church Movie’: Jamie Foxx Is God, Mickey Rourke The Devil In Upcoming Biblical Comedy

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Travis Hopson

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August 28, 2023

Jamie Foxx has some very big sandals to fill. Deadline reports Foxx will play the role of God in Not Another Church Movie, the upcoming comedy from writer/director Johnny Mack.

Opposing Foxx in the film is Mickey Rourke in the role of the Devil. The cast is led by Kevin Daniels (Sirens), Vivica A. Fox, Tisha Campbell, Jasmine Guy, Kyla Pratt and Lamorne Morris.

The story is described as “as a wild ride through the fabulous world of Taylor Pharry (Daniels), an ambitious young man given a holy mission from God himself: to tell his family’s stories and inspire his community. His only concern? His family and community. What he doesn’t know is that the Devil has plans of his own.”

Foxx, who is back making public appearances after a major health scare, recently starred in the films They Cloned Tyrone and Strays, the latter in theaters now.

Shooting was completed prior to the current Hollywood strikes. Not Another Church Movie is eyeing a release later this year.

‘Dune 3’ Teased By Director Denis Villeneuve: “There Are Words On Paper”

By

Travis Hopson

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August 28, 2023

The sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune has been pushed to 2024, but that hasn’t deterred him from making plans to explore Arrakis further. In an interview with Empire, Villeneuve teased the potential for a sequel following Dune: Part Two.

“If I succeed in making a trilogy, that would be the dream…I will say, there are words on paper.”

Of course, a lot will depend on the success of the upcoming movie. Dune opened in 2021 and made just over $400M worldwide. The list of accolades was extensive, with ten Academy Award nominations and six victories.

A third Dune would be based on author Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah, a direct sequel to his Dune novel in 1965.

“’Dune Messiah’ was written in reaction to the fact that people perceived Paul Atreides as a hero,” Villeneuve said. “Which is not what he wanted to do. My adaptation [of ‘Dune’] is closer to his idea that it’s actually a warning.”

Villeneuve added that if Dune Messiah does get made, it will be his last of the adaptations because Herbert’s sequels after that become “more esoteric.”

Timothée Chalamet returns as Paul Atreides in Dune: Part Two, joining Zendaya as Chani of the Fremen, who band together to get revenge on House Arrakis, destroyers of Paul’s family. Others in the cast include Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Stellan Skarsgard, and Lea Seydoux.

Dune: Part Two opens March 15th 2024.

Box Office: ‘Gran Turismo’ Barely Beats Out ‘Barbie’ for the #1 Spot

By

John Nolan

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August 27, 2023

1. Gran Turismo (review)- $17.3M

It was a surprisingly appropriate finish in the race for #1 this weekend with Sony’s video game inspired racing film Gran Turismo eking out a photo finish that would make the Indy 500 proud. Only a slight 200K margin kept the Blonde Box-Office Bomber known as ‘Barbie’ from taking back the #1 position after being pushed out last week.

Similar to Blue Beetle last week Gran Turismo wins, but doesn’t take in what the filmmakers hoped. With solid Cinemascores and good word of mouth hopefully it will keep its weekly drops low.

2. Barbie – $17.1M/$594.8M

3. Blue Beetle – $12.7M/$46.3M

4. Oppenheimer – $9M/$300M

While it lost almost 450 theaters over the last week Oppenheimer continues to show a strong presence sporting only a 16% drop in attendance and crossing the $300M mark in its domestic box office.

5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – $6.1M/$98.1

6. Meg 2: The Trench– $5.1M/$74.4M

7. Strays – $4.6M/$16.1M

8. Retribution (review) – $3.3M

The glory days of Liam Neeson as the go-to geriatric action star appear to be long gone as his latest, Retribution failed to impress audiences or critics with a paltry opening weekend topping it all off. Time to step out of the spotlight Liam, we love you but I think its time you take that “head of the shadowy agency that supports the star” role.

9. The Hill – $2.1M

10. Haunted Mansion – $2.1M/$62.2M

Review: ‘You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah’
Sunny Sandler Proves That Talent Runs in the Family In This Sweet and Real Coming of Age Tale

By
John Nolan
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I’m going to let you in on a little secret, as a 41 year old man I have very little idea what goes on in the mind of a 13 year old girl. That being said, I think I’m a little less in the dark after taking in the Adam Sandler produced and Sandler-brood starring You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah. The film, the latest in Sandler’s production deal with Netflix brings Sandler’s usual practices a little closer to home, bringing in his immediate family instead of his circle of friends. Usually this ends in disaster, after all at least his friends are professional actors, BUT….apparently so is his family and I would argue, dramatically at least, more professional then the rest.

You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah, directed by Sammi Cohen, follows Stacey Friedman (Sunny Sandler) through, what I imagine are, the usual tumultuous highs and lows of the transition to womanhood for a young Jewish girl. Sunny and her best friend Lydia have already planned their perfect lives out together which includes matching loft’s in NYC (in Taylor Swift’s apartment no less) and class dreamboat Andy Goldfarb on Stacey’s arm. As the plans of a 13 year old usually go, it all blows up when Lydia and Andy kiss at a party and start dating. Suffering from the ultimate betrayal (at that age) Stacey and Lydia go from best friends to worst enemies with Stacey taking her revenge too far at times. All the while Stacey is preparing for that Bat Mitzvah that she things will change her life and regularly running head first into her anxious but loving father Danny (Adam Sandler) and caring but “been through it” mom Bree (Idina Menzel). It really feels like we haven’t had good movies like this for a while, that could be because it hasn’t been my demo for close to 30 years, but I think we’re seeing a bit of a resurgence in the coming of age tale.

Screw anyone that throws around the term “nepo-baby” (except for me right there…I was making a point). Sunny Sandler kills it, bringing a realness to the role that few others could have. Even at her worst you can understand the feelings behind her actions and her ability to draw you in is astounding at such a young age. It honestly makes me mad that this stunning debut is going to be marred by that term, even though most are saying things like “Surprise, she’s not that, she’s actually good!”. I feel like people forget all to often just how talented Adam Sandler is, a talent that he obviously passed down to now just Sunny but also Sadie Sandler who nails it in her, admittedly not a stretch, role of Ronnie, Stacey’s sister. Rounding out the Sandler family reunion is Adam’s wife Jackie, who oddly enough doesn’t play his wife but rather the mother of Stacey’s frenemy Lydia. I can’t imagine how that conversation went “Honey, we’re going to do a family movie! But here’s the thing, you’re not in the family. I’m going to be married to Idinia Menzel and you are going to be our kids friend’s mom”… Either he spent weeks on the couch after that or he is the most persuasive man on the planet.

While there are no real surprises throughout You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah hits every point it intends to both as a result of a solid script, good direction and wonderful performances. Having been a fan of Adam Sandler since the early 90s I absolutely love watching his career progression. He’s seemed to find his niche at every phase of life, and while the Billy Madison Sandler will always be my favorite this current phase with him as the slightly overwhelmed but very loving father is coming in at a close second. I can’t put into words how good it is to have a solid, emotional, family film that is entertaining as it is educational…we just don’t have enough of that.

You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah is available now on Netflix!

DC Readers: Attend A Free Virtual Screening Of ‘Sitting In Bars With Cake’

By

Travis Hopson

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August 25, 2023

We’re happy to offer our DC readers the chance to attend a free virtual screening of Sitting in Bars with Cake, Prime Video’s new “cakebarring” film starring Yara Shahidi, Odessa A’zion, with Ron Livingston and Bette Midler.

Synopsis: Inspired by true events, Sitting in Bars with Cake follows best friends Jane (Yara Shahidi) and Corinne (Odessa A’zion) navigating life in Los Angeles in their twenties. Corinne, the ultimate extrovert, convinces her shy-but-extremely-talented home baker best friend Jane to commit to a year of baking cakes and bringing them to bars, with the goal of meeting people and developing confidence–also known as “cakebarring.” During their year of “cakebarring,” Corinne receives a life-altering diagnosis, and the pair face a challenge unlike anything they’ve experienced before. Sitting in Bars with Cake isn’t only a madcap joyride through some of L.A.’s most colorful watering holes, it’s a moving celebration of female friendship, forging identity, and finding joy in the most unexpected places.

The screening takes place on Thursday, August 31st at 7:00pm. This is a virtual screening so you can sit back and watch the film from the comfort of your own home by going to this Amazon screenings RSVP link.

Sitting in Bars with Cake hits Prime Video on September 8th.