‘The Pod Generation’ Trailer: Chiwetel Ejiofor And Emilia Clarke Have A High-Tech Birth In New Sci-Fi Rom-Com

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July 13, 2023

Decades of movies, including this week’s Mission: Impossible-Dead Reckoning, have told us that artificial intelligence will eventually take over the world. And honestly, it does sorta seem like those dire warnings are starting to come true. AI is slowly becoming part of our everyday life, and that’s what Sophie Barthes’ new sci-fi rom-com The Pod Generation is all about, as Chiwetel Ejiofor and Emilia Clarke become high-tech pod parents.

Written and directed by Barthes, her third feature after Cold Souls and Madame Bovary, the film centers on a couple in futuristic New York who have very different philosophies on how they should birth a child. Ejiofor’s character is a botanist who prefers they have a natural birth, while Clarke’s wants to embrace birthing technology with artificial wombs and birthing pods. Taking the leap by caring for a baby in an artificial pod, they are forced to confront what it really means to be parents.

Ejiofor and Clarke are joined in the cast by Rosalie Craig, Vinette Robinson, Kathryn Hunter, and Jean-Marc Barr.

Here’s the synopsis: Sophie Barthes’ third feature film is set in the very near future world where AI is all the rage and technology has trumped nature in nearly every aspect of life. The Pod Generation follows Rachel (Clarke) and Alvy (Ejiofor), a New York couple who are ready to start a family. As a rising tech company executive, Rachel lands a coveted spot at the Womb Center, which offers couples the opportunity to share pregnancy on a more equal footing by way of mobile, artificial wombs, or pods. Alvy, a botanist and devoted purist about the natural environment, has doubts, but his love for Rachel prompts him to take a leap of faith. And so, begins the wild ride on their tech-paved path to parenthood.

Cortland saw the film early at Sundance and wasn’t really feeling it, finding the lead characters “ignorant” and “insufferable.” I find it hard to believe anyting with Ejiofor and Clarke could be that bad, and the premise is timely and quite interesting to me.

The Pod Generation hits theaters on August 11th.

‘birth/rebirth’ Trailer: Laura Moss’ Modern Frankenstein Story Stars Marin Ireland And Judy Reyes

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Travis Hopson

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July 13, 2023

What is it about the classic Frankenstein story that has up ‘n coming filmmakers using it as a vehicle to present new ideas and explore contemporary themes? Recently, there was The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster which took on racism and gun violence. And now Laura Moss’ Sundance hit birth/rebirth uses horror to focus on motherhood, female friendship, and more.

Marin Ireland and Judy Reyes star in this update of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, centering on a pathologist obsessed with reanimating the dead, and a mother desperate to see her dead child once again.

Moss is an NYC-based filmmaker who not only directed but co-wrote the script with Brendan J. O’Brien.A .J. Lister, Breeda Wool, Monique Garbiela Curnen, Rina Mejia, Grant Harrison, and LaChanze co-star.

Here’s the synopsis: Rose is a pathologist who prefers working with corpses over social interaction. She also has an obsession — the reanimation of the dead. Celie is a maternity nurse who has built her life around her bouncy, chatterbox six-year-old daughter, Lila. When one tragic night, Lila suddenly falls ill and dies, the two women’s worlds crash into each other. They embark on a dark path of no return where they will be forced to confront how far they are willing to go to protect what they hold most dear.

This standout directorial debut from Laura Moss reimagines Mary Shelley’s classic horror myth Frankenstein with such a contemporary understanding that it becomes something exciting, terrifying, and singularly new.

birth/rebirth opens in theaters on August 18th via IFC Films and Shudder.

Expect Less Marvel Content As Bob Iger Says Too Many Disney+ Shows “Diluted” Fan Focus

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Travis Hopson

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July 13, 2023

Ant-Man-and-the-Wasp-Quantumania-family — ANT-MAN & THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA: An awful year for Marvel Studios was led by this dubious sequel, an utterly charmless piece of blah that now has the unfortunate distinction of being associated with Jonathan Majors. Scott Lang can’t shrink himself small enough to get away from this one.

Straight up, Marvel is in a bit of a drought. While this year it obviously began with the lackluster numbers for Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania, it’s actually been going on for longer. When did it all start? Well, you could argue that it began once folks at home were able to watch Marvel shows every week on Disney+. And you know who agrees? Disney CEO Bob Iger, who also recognizes that all of Disney is in a skid right now.

Speaking with CNBC (via Variety), Iger said the plan for Disney is “spending less” and “making less” when it comes to Marvel and other major tentpoles. The overall goal is cost-cutting to save more than $5.5B, and yes that means there will be more employee layoffs.

“There have been some disappointments,” said Iger. “We would have liked some of our more recent releases to perform better. It’s reflective not as a problem from a personnel perspective, but I think in our zeal to basically grow our content significantly to serve mostly our streaming offerings, we ended up taxing our people way beyond — in terms of their time and their focus — way beyond where they had been.”

“Marvel’s a great example of that,” Iger continued. “They had not been in the TV business at any significant level. Not only did they increase their movie output, but they ended up making a number of television series, and frankly, it diluted focus and attention. That is, I think, more of the cause than anything.”

In short, expect to see less Marvel Studios content, and probably less Star Wars, too. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Lucasfilm rearrange the scheduling for the three big screen projects they recently announced.

‘Oppenheimer’ Opening Look Teaser Reveals New Footage From Christopher Nolan’s Summer Blockbuster

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Travis Hopson

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July 13, 2023

Next week the showdown of the summer kicks off when Barbie squares off against Oppenheimer! What will movie fans choose? Will it be a bunch of celebs hanging out in Barbie’s Malibu Dream House? Or will it be Christopher Nolan’s film about the guy who invented the atomic bomb? On paper it seems obvious which one will win out (hint: there’s a lot of pink), but Universal is taking one last crack at generating buzz with a new Oppenheimer sneak peek.

The five-minute “Opening Look” trailer features new footage of star Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, along with a taste of the beautiful score by Ludwig Gorranson. The movie’s editor Jennifer Lame put this little preview together.

Here’s the synopsis: Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer is an IMAX®-shot epic thriller that thrusts audiences into the pulse-pounding paradox of the enigmatic man who must risk destroying the world in order to save it.

Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Kenneth Branagh, and Florence Pugh are just a small part of the A-list ensemble that Nolan has put together. Oppenheimer opens in theaters on July 21st.

‘The Witcher’ Season 3 Volume 2 Trailer: Henry Cavill Bids Farewell To Geralt Of Rivera On July 27th

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Travis Hopson

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July 13, 2023

Later this month, Netflix’s The Witcher returns for the final batch of episodes for season three. And with them, the last chance for fans to enjoy Henry Cavill’s Geralt of Rivera. It’s not that Geralt is going to die or anything. It’s just that the next time he’ll be seen, it’ll be Liam Hemsworth in the role.

Here’s the synopsis for the second half of season three: As monarchs, mages, and beasts of the Continent compete to capture her, Geralt takes Ciri into hiding, determined to protect his newly-reunited family against those who threaten to destroy it. Entrusted with Ciri’s magical training, Yennefer leads them to the protected fortress of Aretuza, where they hope to uncover more about the girl’s untapped powers; instead, they discover they’ve landed in a battlefield of political corruption, dark magic, and treachery. They must fight back, put everything on the line – or risk losing each other forever.

Cavill is joined by co-stars Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, Joey Batey, Myanna Buring, Eamon Farren, Mimî M Khayisa, Royce Pierrseon, and Anna Shaffer.

The Witcher season three volume two hits Netflix on July 27th.

‘War Pony’ Trailer: Riley Keough And Gina Gammell’s Native American Drama Arrives This Month

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Travis Hopson

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July 13, 2023

Over the last couple of years we’ve seen an exposion of Native American stories told on the big and small screen, with shows such as Reservation Games, Rutherford Falls, and moves such as Killers of the Flower Moon. Riley Keough might not be who one expects to make such a film, but with War Pony she and co-director Gina Gammell have already earned acclaim at Cannes for their efforts.

Half-sisters Keough and Gammell teamed up to co-director and co-write War Pony which tells the intertwining stories of Lakota boys on the reservation. The cast is led by Native American actors who aren’t household names today, but could be soon. Jojo Bapteise ,Ladainian Crazy Thunder, Jesse Schmockel, and Sprague Hollander star.

So how did this project even come about? Keough earned the trust and respect of the Lakota while shooting Andrea Arnold’s American Honey in South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and that’s how it all got started.

Here is the synopsis: WAR PONY follows the interlocking stories of two young Oglala Lakota men growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation. At 23, Bill just wants to make something of himself. Whether it’s delivering goods or breeding Poodles, he is determined to hustle his way to the “American Dream.” Meanwhile, 12-year-old Matho can’t wait to become a man. Desperate for approval from his young father, a series of impulsive decisions turns Matho’s life upside down, and he finds himself unequipped to deal with the harsh realities of the adult world. Bound by their shared search for belonging, each of the boys grapples with identity, family, and loss as they navigate their unique paths to manhood.

War Pony opens in theaters and VOD on July 28th.

‘Superman: Legacy’ Adds ‘Barry’ Breakout Anthony Carrigan As Metamorpho

By

Travis Hopson

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July 12, 2023

And the Superman: Legacy casting is really ramping up. Following yesterday’s additions of Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, and Edi Gathegi as major DC Comics heroes, today comes word from THR that Barry breakout Anthony Carrigan has also landed a role as a prominent superhero: Metamorpho.

Carrigan, who emerged as a scene-stealer playing Noho Hank in HBO series Barry, will take on the role of Rex Mason aka Metamorpho, a Justice League member and founder of The Outsiders. Metamorpho has the power to shapeshift and change his body into any element, taking on its properties.

With Carrigan aboard, James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy boasts a cast led by David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, and Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner.

Gunn has taken to Twitter to confirm Carrigan’s casting, so this is for real.

Superman: Legacy opens July 11th 2025.

I am unbelievably excited for Metamorpho (and this opportunity to work with Anthony Carrigan.) https://t.co/tdWrBsX1il

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 12, 2023

Review: ‘Theater Camp’
Molly Gordon And Ben Platt Lead This Off-Key Musical Mockumentary

By
Cortland Jacoby
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THEATER CAMP-Just watch Todd Graff’s 2003 film Camp. It’s so much better, has more to say about drama kids, has better jokes, more talent on display, and it didn’t need a bunch of favors called in to friends who could be doing better things.

When their over-the-top leader and theater camp director is put into a coma after a strobe-light incident, the staff of Adirond-ACTS must come together to get their campers through the summer. Directed by Nick Lieberman and Molly Gordon and starring Gordon, Ben Platt, Noah Galvin, and Jimmy Tatro, Theater Camp is a messy and unlikeable mockumentary that follows the misadventures of its staff and administration when the more interesting story is with the campers themselves.

Though an ensemble piece, the film focuses on Amos and Rebecca Diane, best friends and counselors at Adirond-ACTS. The two write and produce an original show every year and with the camp director, Joan, out of commission for the time being the two collaborate on a tribute show for her called Joan Still. Platt plays Amos as the intense, not afraid-to-be-insulting acting coach while Gordon’s Rebecca-Diane is the spiritual, hippy music teacher that is still very extreme.

Amos notices his partner’s waning concentration as the summer goes on which causes tension between the two. Running the business side of the camp is Troy Rubinsky (Jimmy Tatro), Joan’s son and an inspiring influencer. He’s poor with money and is willing to break child labor laws in order to keep the camp afloat. His storyline of connecting with his mother’s legacy and finding the value in Adirond-ACTS is one of Theater Camp’s most underdeveloped storylines and doesn’t hold any real emotional weight.

Noah Galvin is the film’s one bright light as Glenn, the under-appreciated stage manager and techie who’s secretly pining for the stage. He’s genuinely funny and plays into the mockumentary format. There’s a montage of him being pulled all around camp doing various tasks for his coworkers with little thanks that ends with him rolling down a hill for an extended amount of time before popping up at the bottom and enthusiastically running away. His drag performance at the film’s end proves Galvin’s talent as not only a musical theater performer, but a comedic force.

You can feel directors Lieberman and Gordon trying to channel the brilliant Wet Hot American Summer and Waiting for Guffman but they never cross the line into the absurd the way those films do. Theater Camp’s characters push into theater kid stereotypes, with nothing grounding Platt and Gordon’s leading performances.

Though Lieberman, Gordon, Platt, and Galvin are all credited with the script, large portions of the dialogue are improvised by the cast. You can tell that they think they are funny as a group, but there’s a reason most of us don’t make movies with our friends. We aren’t that funny to other people. Just being insufferable isn’t funny.

This movie already came out nearly 20 years ago in Camp. It starred Robin de Jesús and Anna Kendrick in her first film role. Stephen Sondheim even makes an appearance. While it’s not a mockumentary like Theater Camp, it does feel more truthful and endearing than this new iteration. Bought by Searchlight, this film will inevitably find its audience. However, whether it deserves to remains to be seen.

Theater Camp opens on July 14th. Expands to DC on July 21st.

‘The List’ Trailer: Halston Sage Seeks Her Celebrity “Free Pass” In Los Angeles

By

Travis Hopson

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July 12, 2023

Every couple has had that conversation about which celebrity they get a “free pass” for. Y’know, if one ever meets their celebrity crush, they can sleep with them with no strings attached and no consequences. Sounds great, right? Because the chances of it ever happening are slim, right? Well, not in the new rom-com The List, where Halston Sage finds out that a celebrity free pass isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Sage, who I dearly miss on The Orville, plays Abby, a woman who finds out that her fiancé actually did sleep with his celebrity crush. Abby can’t get over it, and so she decides the only way to do so is to also bang a famous person. Yeah, that sounds like a healthy relationship. Heading to Los Angeles where all the famous folks roam, Abby meets a man who makes her question what she wants out of life.

The cast includes Chrissie Fit (Pitch Perfect 2 & 3), Christian Navarro (13 Reasons Why), Gregg Sulkin, Clark Backo, and The Bachelor‘s Nick Viall.

Directed by Melissa Miller Costanzo, The List releases digitally on August 22nd.

Here’s the synopsis: Abby is about to get married, and everything is perfect. Until she finds out her fiancé slept with a celebrity from his “free pass” list. To get her mind off things, Abby and her best friend Chloe come up with a crazy idea—Abby should pursue a celebrity from her own list, which includes tough guy action movie star Mac West, Sexiest Man Alive Cooper Grant, and multi-Platinum Grammy-award-winning rapper Avon. In LA, their friend Sam, a Hollywood talent agent and Chloe’s ex, calls in all her favors to help Abby get into the same room as her celebrity crushes. But getting their attention will be up to Abby. Just as she starts to get close to living the ultimate dream in La La Land, things become complicated when Abby meets Jake, a local waiter with big dreams of his own, who gives her a fresh perspective.

‘Aporia’ Trailer: Judy Greer Grapples With Changing The Past In New Sci-Fi Drama

By

Travis Hopson

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July 12, 2023

If there’s anything we learned from everyone’s favorite movie, the beloved global blockbuster The Flash, it’s that you shouldn’t fuck with the past. Only bad things can come from trying to fix the terrible things that make us who we are. And it’s a lesson that Judy Greer has to grapple with in Aporia, a sci-fi drama set to make its world premiere at Fantasia Fest.

Written and directed by Jared Moshé (The Ballad of Lefty Brown), the film finds Greer as a mother struggling to cope with the death of her husband in a car accident. When the chance to fix what happened and get back her life arises, she must grapple with the inevitably awful consequences.

Greer is mostly known for her comedic work, but she has long since proven herself an excellent dramatic actress. She’s joined in the cast by Payman Maadi, Faithe Herman, and Edi Gathegi who was just cast in Superman: Legacy.

Aporia opens in theaters on August 11th.