Monthly Archives: March 2017

“IT” Trailer, Interviews, and Premiere Footage

I am totally freaked out about this trailer. IT is so scary that I keep looking behind me to see if I am truly alone. The house noises are unsettling and this is a true classic horror movie based on Stephen King’s book of the same title.

Let’s face it. Kids do not like clowns. My daughter was terrified of them, so what better story to scare kids and adults.  You can’t trust a clown because they are hidden behind all that make up.  Take off the clown makeup and what do you have? Just a scary man…but leave it on and I am diving under that table or running for the hills.

This is an awesome, horrific trailer.

They are arriving on a bus!!

 

“The Lost City of Z” Trailer

Written and directed by James Gray and based on author David Grann’s nonfiction bestseller, The Lost City of Z tells an unbelievable true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett, played by Charlie Hunnam, who journeys into the Amazon in 1906 and discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization. During the two-year Royal Geographical Society expedition, Fawcett and his aide-de-camp Henry Costin (Robert Pattinson) map uncharted territory in Bolivia and, with the help of local tribesmen, trace the legendary Rio Verde upriver to its breathtaking source. Deep in the heart of the rainforest, Fawcett discovers weathered pottery shards which seem to offer proof of a lost city.

During the two-year Royal Geographical Society expedition, Fawcett, and his aide-de-camp Henry Costin, played by Robert Pattinson, map uncharted territory in Bolivia and, with the help of local tribesmen, trace the legendary Rio Verde upriver to its breathtaking source. Deep in the heart of the rainforest, Fawcett discovers weathered pottery shards which seem to offer proof of a lost city.

When Fawcett returns to England and proclaims his belief in an ancient South American civilization he calls the Lost City of Z, he’s ridiculed by members of the scientific establishment who regard indigenous populations as “savages.”

Fawcett also confronts the toll his adventures have taken on his spirited wife Nina, played by Sienna Miller, and their young son, who was born in his absence. With Nina’s help and encouragement, Fawcett defies the skeptics and organizes a second expedition that includes wealthy adventurer James Murray, played by Angus Macfadyen.

The rest of the movie is adventurous and eye-opening in what a person will go through to make a true discovery.  The tale continues and the ending you should know if you are up on famous explorers.

“Ferdinand” Trailer

Directed by Carlos Saldanha, Ferdinand follows a giant but reluctant bull with a big heart. After being mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure. Set in Spain, Ferdinand proves you can’t judge a bull by its cover.

Looks like the movie is perfect for kids as a heartwarming animated comedy adventure with a talented cast that includes John Cena, Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, Anthony Anderson and much more.

Nick Jonas of the former Jonas Brothers band co-wrote and sings in “Home” an original song for the animated feature.  “I’ve always wanted to write an original song for a film,” says Jonas. “When they showed me the materials of the movie, Ferdinand, a story I was familiar with, I was thrilled.”

Listen to part of “Home” in this trailer.

Jonas says “Home ” encompasses the film’s theme of acceptance. “I wrote this song with good friends of mine Justin Tranter and Nick Monson,” says Jonas. “And we wrote about feeling accepted and feeling loved, wherever that place is for you. For me it’s home, it’s my family, people I have closest to me, and the experiences we’ve shared.”

“Megan Leavey” Trailer

Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Megan Leavey is a tearjerker and low-budget movie based on a true story that I am happy it is being told. It’s hard to believe the dedication of these service dogs and their owners.

The trailer pretty much tells the story based on the true life story of a young marine corporal, played by Kate Mara, whose unique discipline and bond with her military combat dog saved many lives during their deployment in Iraq.

When she is assigned to clean up the K9 unit after a disciplinary hearing, Leavey identifies with a particularly aggressive dog, Rex, and is given the chance to train him. Over the course of their service, Megan and Rex completed more than 100 missions until an IED explosion injures them, putting their fate in jeopardy.

Wish Upon Trailer

Directed by John R. Leonetti, the movie arrives twelve years after discovering her mother’s suicide. The movie follows seventeen-year-old Clare Shannon, played by Joey King, is not only bullied in high school, embarrassed by her manic, hoarder father Jonathan, played by Ryan Phillippe, but ignored by her longtime crush.

Yet, all that changes when her father comes home with an old music box whose inscription promises to grant its owner seven wishes. While Clare is initially skeptical of this magic box, she can’t help but be seduced by its dark powers and is thrilled as her life radically improves with each wish.

But, finally she has the life she’s always wanted and everything seems perfect – until the people closest to her begin dying in violent and elaborate ways after each wish. Oh….now the plot thickens.

Clare realizes that she must get rid of the box, but finds herself unable and unwilling to part with her new-and-improved life – leading her down a dark and dangerous path.

Captain Underpants Trailer

Directed by David Soren, Captain Underpants, is based on a popular book series, and with a cast headed by Kevin Hart and Ed Helms.

DreamWorks put the movie together and the winded title is  Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie. This raucously subversive comedy for the entire family tells the story of two overly imaginative pranksters named George and Harold, who hypnotize their principal into thinking he’s a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dimwitted superhero named Captain Underpants.

I thought all principals thought they were superheroes.

“The Lovers” Poster and Trailer

Directed by Azazel Jacobs, The Lovers looks like a fun movie to watch as long as the funny moments are actually funny.

The movie follows Michael, played by Tracy Letts, and Mary, played by Debra Winger, are long past passion, never mind patience, after decades of turmoil and tedium in their marriage.

Each is now contentedly distracted by a lover on the side. And each fully intends to call it quits on the other after one last family get-together with their collegiate son, played by Tyler Ross.

So, we meet Michael’s fiery ballet teacher, played by Melora Walters, while Mary is holding her guy, who is a playful novelist, played by Aidan Gillen.

But when the dried-up spark between Michael and Mary unexpectedly, indeed feverishly, reignites, it sends their plans into chaos, forcing them to navigate the hilarious new complications of having to “cheat” on their respective lovers. It all sets the stage for a collision of betrayals and agendas that crescendos to a truly unforgettable ending.

“Baby Driver” Poster, Trailer & Clips

Directed by Edgar Wright, Baby Driver follows a talented young getaway driver, played by Ansel Elgort, whom I adored in The Fault in Our Stars, relies on the beat of his soundtrack to be the best in the game. When he meets the girl of his dreams, played by Lily James, Baby sees a chance to ditch his criminal life and make a clean getaway. But after being coerced into working for a crime boss, played by Kevin Spacey, he must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love, and freedom.

Here is another poster, and I like this one better because it shows the cast. The cast is stellar. The movie is available on Amazon

It is a fun trailer to watch.

“Song to Song” Trailer and Film Clips

Directed by Terrence Malick, who brought of The Thin Red Line and The Tree of Life, brings his filmmaking style in this modern love story set against the Austin, Texas music scene, two entangled couples—struggling songwriters Faye, played by Rooney Mara, and BV, played by Ryan Gosling, and music mogul Cook, played by Michael Fassbender, and the waitress whom he ensnares, played by Natalie Portman, —chase success through a rock ‘n’ roll landscape of seduction and betrayal.

I am curious how this will play out with Malick’s style of artful and non-sequitur cut ways he uses to tell a deep and meaningful life of his characters.

The Andy Warhol styled poster is pretty cool and does convey a modern twist of Pop Art and its crazy, eschewed pop culture.

Atomic Blonde Trailer, Clips, and Interviews

Directed by David Leitch and starring Oscar winner Charlize Theron, Atomic Blonde appears to be a breakneck action-thriller that follows MI6’s most lethal assassin through a ticking time bomb of a city simmering with revolution and double-crossing hives of traitors.   But, it is actually a hilarious movie. The trailer is such a wonkier.

The crown jewel of Her Majesty’s Secret Intelligence Service, Agent Lorraine Broughton, played by Theron, is an equal parts spycraft, sensuality, and savagery, willing to deploy any of her skills to stay alive on her impossible mission.  Sent alone to Berlin to deliver a priceless dossier out of the destabilized city, she partners with embedded station chief David Percival, played by James McAvoy, to navigate her way through the deadliest game of spies.  Does this make any sense? It’s hilarious.

The rest of the cast is just awesome. The movie also stars John Goodman, Til Schweiger, Eddie Marsan, Sofia Boutella and Toby Jones. The movie is based on the graphic novel series The Coldest City by Antony Johnston and illustrator Sam Hart.

These two interviews with Charlize and Sofia are well thought out.  Charlize mentions Apartheid and Berlin during the Cold War.  Sofia talks about stunt work is quite different than dancing.

I am having fun watching the clips, so much fun and funny.