Monthly Archives: February 2022

“Elvis” Biographical Musical Drama

Directed by Baz Luhrmann, Elvis follows Colon Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks. At the beginning of the trailer, Parker says, “There are some who make me out to be a villain.”

With the story by Luhrmman and Jeremy Doner, the screenplay is co-written by Luhrmann, Soner, Craig Pearce and Sam Bromell.

The story follows the life and career of the rock-n-roll legend Elvis Presley, played by Austin Butler. Australian, Olivia DeJonge plays Priscilla Presley.

“Lucy and Desi” Documentary

Directed by Amy Poehler, Lucy and Desi explores the unlikely partnership and enduring legacy of one of the most prolific power couples in entertainment history.

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz risked everything to be together. Their love for each other led to the most influential show in the history of television, I Love Lucy.

After his family lost everything during the Cuban revolution of 1933, Desi was a refugee from Cuba and became a bandleader, an actor, and a brilliant producer and technology pioneer. Lucille came from nothing and, with an unrivaled work ethic, built a career as a model, chorus girl and eventually as an actor in the studio system. She found her calling in comedy, first in radio.

When Lucille was finally granted the opportunity to have her own television show, she insisted that her real-life spouse, Desi, be cast as her husband. Defying the odds, they re-invented the medium on the screen and behind the cameras.

The foundation of I Love Lucy was the constant rupture and repair of unconditional love. Lucy and Desi couldn’t make it work with each other; they gave to the rest of the world.

Lucy and Desi documentary offers an insightful and intimate peek behind the curtain of these two remarkable trailblazers — featuring interviews with Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, Norman Lear, Desi Arnaz Jr, Carol Burnett and Bette Midler.

Poehler’s earliest memories, as a child, of I Love Lucy are of countless chuckles coming from her family’s living room, hearing her parents’ laughter as they watched the show. 

I Love Lucy and television were almost fused,” she states. “It was as if that show came with every television.” 

But it was not until she was deep in her own career that she truly connected with it — and with its stars. 

“It wasn’t until I got older, and doing comedy myself, that I really understood what they were doing and was able to see the many layers to their genius. I’m inspired by the big swings that the two of them took. They came to their success with a lot of confidence. 

And, because of that, they said ‘No’ to a lot of things. They took giant leaps. They left their homes and worked really hard and just kept gambling. And they didn’t play small. They were very, very brave.”

“The way into a lot of stories,” Poehler explains, “for most people, is a love story. It’s really universal. I knew I wanted to touch on important themes — the different ways they approached work, what kind of work comedy is, and what they did as pioneers for television. 

But we succeed and fail based on how much we care about their love story.”  

Poehler was also keen to tell the story of how Ball and Arnaz completely turned the television world upside down, Sinclair notes. “Amy came to this with a very strong point of view about who Lucille Ball was — an insurgent or a disruptor of the business. 

They shot in L.A. They shot it on film; they used three cameras; they cast a man of color in the leading role for a national sitcom. This isn’t just a story of ‘funny’ — it’s a story of disrupting the T.V. business, and of a relationship that breaks and makes.”

Another key part of their story for Poehler quickly became evident.  “One of the themes that I grasped onto very early on was the idea of ‘rupture and repair,’ which is something that comedy can do really well. It’s what people turn to when their own lives are chaotic. And I Love Lucy was one of the early adopters of that genre: you have a problem, let everything unravel, but, don’t worry, it’s gonna be okay.”

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”

Sam Raimi is back directing in the superhero genre with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The film follows Dr. Stephen Strange, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, as he casts a forbidden spell and opens a portal to the multiverse.

A threat occurs and emerges that may be too big for his team to handle. Other cast members include Xochitl Gomez, Elizabeth Olsen and Rachel McAdams.

“Sonic the Hedgehog 2” Zooms Once Again

Directed by Jeff Fowler, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 starts out in Green Hills. Sonic, played by BE Schwartz, wants to prove that he truly is a hero. His abilities come face to face when Dr. Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey, returns with a new partner, Knuckles, played by Idris Elba.

The two evil dudes are in search of a mystical emerald. The gem has the power to destroy civilizations.

Jim Carrey in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.

Sonic and his sidekick, Tails, played by Colleen O’Shaughnessey, embark on a global adventure to locate the emerald before it falls in the two scoundrels’ hands.

“Firestarter” Based on Stephen King Novel

Coming to us again from Stephen King’s classic thriller and directed by Keith Thomas, Firestarter is about a girl, played by Ryan Kiera Armstrong, with extraordinary pyrokinetic powers, who fights to protect her family and herself from sinister forces that seek to capture and control her.

For decades, parents Andy a new adaptation of Stephen King’s classic thriller from the producers of The Invisible Man, a girl with extraordinary pyrokinetic powers fights to protect her family and herself from sinister forces that seek to capture to control her.

For more than a decade, parents Andy, played by Zac Efron, and Vicky, played by Sydney Lemmon, have been on the run. They are desperate to hide their daughter, Charlie, from a shadowy federal agency that wants to harness her remarkable gift for creating fire into a weapon of mass destruction.

Andy has taught Charlie how to defuse her power, triggered by anger or pain. But as Charlie turns 11, the fire becomes harder and harder to control. After an incident reveals the family’s location, a mysterious operative, played by Michael Greyeyes, becomes deployed to hunt down the family and seize Charlie once and for all. Charlie has other plans.

Drew Barrymore played the girl with the powers in the first movie. The CGI special effects will prove most beneficial as a popcorn thriller with the technology today.

“Nope” Peele’s Horror Film Brings Laughter

Written and directed by Jordan Peele, Nope is the Oscar-winning director’s next movie. The story is all hush-hush right now, but here is a teaser from Peele.

According to IMDB and the poster, the movie stars Barbie Ferreira, Daniel Kaluuya, Steven Yeun, Keke Palmer and Michael Wincott.

“No Exit” Thriller Based on Bestseller

Directed by Damien Power from the bestseller No Exit by Taylor Adams, the movie follows Darby Throne, played by Havana Rose Liu. Darby is driving to see her mother in the hospital when a blizzard hits.

Darby end ups at a lodge where a handful of people are also waiting out the snowstorm, played by Dale Dickey, Daniel Rameriz, Dennis Haysbert and David Rysdahl.

She discovers a young girl, played by Mila Harris, locked in a van parked in the parking lot outside. Darby tries to find out who of the handful of people snowbound put the girl in the van.

Goodreads and IMDB helped with information about this movie, which will play on Hulu.