Based on The New York Times bestselling novel of the same name by Scott Turow, the gripping series takes viewers on a journey through the horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office when one of its own is suspected of a crime.
The series explores obsession, sex, politics, and the power and limits of love, as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.
Jon Watts wrote and directed Wolfs, starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney. The story follows two professional fixers, played by Pitt and Clooney.
Though they consider themselves lone wolves, they are forced to work together. One night, their ideologies of working alone and fixing the situation spiral out of control in ways that hopefully make the film entertaining.
It’s good to see Amy Ryan in the trailer. She’s great in Sugar opposite Colin Farrell, which also plays on Apple TV. Austin Abrams is also in the film and seems to have the potential to be hilarious in this movie.
Other movies directed by Jon Watts:
Spiderman No Way Home
Spiderman
Cop Car
Clown
David Shurmann directed this sweeping family adventure. My Penguin Friend follows a triumphant tale of friendship between a lonely father and a little lost penguin who recharges his spirit and heals his family with an unshakable, ocean-crossing loyalty.
Humble fisherman João, played by Jean Reno, has turned away from the world in the wake of a tragedy. But when he discovers a penguin drifting alone in the ocean, drenched in oil from a spill, his first instinct is to help.
To his wife’s dismay, played by Adriana Barraza, he not only rescues the sea creature but also takes the flightless bird under his wing. For the first time in years, João feels joy, even if he cannot fathom just how unbreakable a bond is being formed.
When the penguin suddenly disappears back into the immense wilds of the ocean, João believes it is impossible that he will ever see his friend again. But thousands of miles away, the penguin is caught in misadventures, determined to use his unique GPS-like powers to find his way back to where he now considers home.
Based on an emotional true story that riveted the world and filmed on the spectacular coasts of Brazil and Argentina, My Penguin Friend is a tale that traverses the magic of the ocean, the beauty of nature, and the transformative power of love.
Before you watch the movie, have a handful of tissues. It’s a tearjerker.
A Sundance audience favorite, Sean Wang wrote and directed Didi. It’s an autobiographical story that follows a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy, played by Izaac Wang, during his last summer before high school begins.
Frustrated, he discovers his family cannot teach him how to flirt, skate or love his mom.
Fancy Dance, directed by Erica Tremblay, stars Lily Gladstone. The film follows Jax, played by Gladstone. She has cared for her niece, Roki, played by Isabel DeRoy-Olson, since her sister disappeared.
They have scraped by while living on an Indian Reservation in Oklahoma, dedicating every spare minute to finding her missing sister. Jax also is helping Roki prepare for an upcoming powwow.
Tremblay is a Native American filmmaker best known for her documentary films. She worked with Gladstone in the short Little Chief.
Karim Aïnouz directed Firebrand, based on a screenplay by Jessica Ashworth and Henrietta Ashworth from the 2013 novel Queen’s Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle.
The story is about the royal relationship in blood-soaked Tudor England. Twice married, accomplished, and educated, Katherine Parr, played by Alicia Vikander. She reluctantly agrees to become the sixth wife of the tyrannical King Henry VIII, played by Jude Law.
Katherine’s decision to marry Henry carries immense personal risk, considering the fate of her predecessors, who were either divorced, beheaded, or dead. Her situation becomes even more perilous when Henry appoints her as regent, the nation’s ruler, during his absence for overseas battles, setting her on a treacherous path.
Amidst Henry’s court’s political intrigue, Katherine’s sympathies for the radical Protestant beliefs that have taken root in the kingdom become a cause for suspicion. The courtiers, fearing the threat to their power, conspire against her and sow seeds of doubt about her loyalty to the increasingly ailing and paranoid king.
Once Henry returns to England, his courtiers convince him to turn his fury on the nation’s radicals, including Katherine’s childhood friend Anne Askew, played by Erin Doherty. Anne becomes one of the many people convicted of treason and burned at the stake.
Horrified and privately grieving, Katherine finds herself under ever-increasing scrutiny and suspicion. Knowing that even a whisper of scandal might lead to her downfall, Katherine must unleash her own scheme to fight for survival.
Other supporting cast include Eddie Marsan, Simon Russell Beale and Sam Riley.
Aïnouz is an award-winning director and screenwriter. Firebrand is his first British/American film.
I had the pleasure of meeting Ellen Kuras at a film festival, where we were both on a panel discussing women and minorities in film. It was shortly after 9/11, and Kuras talked about her experience. Living across the water, she invited friends who had no place to stay after the horrific incident to her large home. Together, they watched the smoking rubble. Surprisingly, Kuras said it was both depressing and healing.
Since the film festival, Kuras and I stayed in touch at first, with me lining up an interview with a now-defunct film website. The last time I heard about her was when she received an Oscar nomination for the documentary The Betrayal, which she co-wrote and co-directed while also being the cinematographer. Kuras has won many awards for her cinematography.
Kuras directs Lee based on a pivotal decade in the life of American war correspondent and photographer Lee Miller, played by Kate Winslett. Miller’s singular talent and unbridled tenacity resulted in some of the 20th century’s most memorable images of war, including an iconic photo of Miller herself, posing defiantly in Hitler’s private bathtub.
Miller had a profound understanding and empathy for women and the voiceless victims of war. Her images display both the fragility and ferocity of the human experience. Above all, the film shows how Miller lived her life at full throttle in pursuit of truth, for which she paid a huge personal price. This forced her to confront a traumatic and deeply buried secret from her childhood.
The supporting cast includes Josh O’Connor, Andrea Riseborough, Andy Samberg, Alexander Skarsgård and Marion Cotillard.
When I saw that Kuras had directed this film, I was super excited for her and delighted at her success.
Viggo Mortensen’s new Western feature, The Dead Don’t Hurt, written and directed by Mortensen, blends the action, grit, and thrills of the American West with a captivating story of two pioneers embarking on a life journey fraught with obstacles.
Hopefully, Mortensen sets this film apart with his unique storytelling, keeping the audience on the edge.
The story depicts the conflict between revenge and forgiveness and offers a unique female-forward perspective, adding depth and complexity.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where Vicky Krieps received the Tribute Performer Award.
The story begins with star-crossed lovers on the western U.S. frontier in the 1860s. Krieps plays Vivienne Le Coudy, a fiercely independent woman who embarks on a relationship with Danish immigrant Holger Olsen, played by Mortensen.
After meeting Olsen in San Francisco, she agrees to travel to his home near Elk Flats, Nevada, where they start a life together. The outbreak of the civil war separates them when Olsen makes a fateful decision to fight for the Union. Vivienne must fend for herself in a place controlled by corrupt Mayor Rudolph Schiller, played by Danny Huston, and his evil business partner, powerful rancher Alfred Jeffries, played by Garret Dillahunt. Alfred’s violent, wayward son, Weston, played by Solly McLeod, aggressively pursues Vivienne, who is determined to resist his unwanted advances.
Olsen returns from the war. He and Vivienne must confront and make peace with the person each has become. It’s a portrait of a passionate woman determined to stand up for herself in an unforgiving world dominated by ruthless men.
Jeff Nathanson wrote the script, and Barry Jenkins directed Mufasa: The Lion King. The musical drama prequel is about the rise of Simba’s father. In the original The Lion King, Mufasa’s brother, Scar, killed him to steal the throne.
Some of the cast includes Aaron Pierre, Seth Rogen, Thandiwe Newton, Donald Glover and Beyonce.
Castille Landon directed Summer Camp, which tells the story of Nora, played by Diane Keaton, Ginny, played by Kathy Bates and Mary, played by Alfe Woodard. They have been best friends since being inseparable at summer camp.
As the years have passed, they’ve seen each other less and less, so when the chance to reunite for a summer camp reunion arises, they all take it, some begrudgingly and others excitedly.
Each of their lives might not be where they’d imagined, but one thing is sure — Nora, Ginny, and Mary need each other, and summer camp reminds them why.
