NEW MOVIES: Feb. 29 – March 6, “Lo Capitano,” “Navalny,” “Elio,” “The Chosen: Season 4 – Episodes 7-8”

LO CAPITANO

LO CAPITANO

Io capitano (lit. ’Me Captain’) is a 2023 drama film directed by Matteo Garrone, from a screenplay written by Garrone with Massimo Gaudioso, Massimo Ceccherini and Andrea Tagliaferri.[3]

The film, an international co-production between Italy, Belgium, and France, is based on an original idea by Garrone and is inspired by actual stories of migrants’ African routes to Europe. It was shot in Senegal, Morocco, and Italy.

It competed for the Golden Lion at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, winning the Silver Lion for Matteo Garrone’s direction and the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Seydou Sarr’s performance.[4] It was released in Italy on 7 September 2023. Io Capitano received critical acclaim and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 81st Golden Globe Awards, and Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.

Plot

Seydou and Moussa, two Senegalese teenagers, leave their hometown, Dakar, to reach Italy and escape poverty. They transit through Mali equipped with a false passport, and although a policeman discovers the scam, they avoid prison in exchange for 50 dollars. Once in Niger, they face the desert until they enter Libya, where they are arrested and taken to separate detention centers.

Seydou is subjected to torture but manages to get out, as another inmate pushes him to offer himself as a bricklayer like him. Having worked well, both are released, and their trip to Tripoli is paid for. In the Libyan capital, Seydou meets Moussa, with whom he resumes his journey towards Europe.

When they turn to a fixer, Ahmed, who organizes the crossings in the Mediterranean Sea, not having enough money, they are offered only one option: Seydou will have to drive the boat. Instructed by Ahmed on how to steer the vehicle, Seydou leads all the passengers safely to Sicily.

Cast

  • Seydou Sarr as Seydou
  • Moustapha Fall as Moussa
  • Issaka Sawagodo
  • Hichem Yacoubi
  • Doodou Sagna
  • Khady Sy
  • Bamar Kane
  • Cheick Oumar Diaw[1]

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NAVALNY

NAVALNY

Navalny is a 2022 American documentary film directed by Daniel Roher.[2][3] The film revolves around Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and events related to his poisoning.[4] HBO Max and CNN Films produced it. The film premiered on January 25, 2022, at the Sundance Film Festival, where it received critical and audience acclaim and won the Audience Award in the US Documentary competition and the Festival Favorite Award.[5] It also won the Best Documentary Feature at the 95th Academy Awards, won the award for Best Political Documentary at the 7th Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards, and picked up Best Documentary at the 76th BAFTA Awards ceremony.[6]

Synopsis

The film tells about the events related to the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and the subsequent investigation into the poisoning. On August 20, 2020, Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent,[7] falling sick during a flight from Tomsk to Moscow, and was hospitalized in serious condition. Navalny was taken to a hospital in Omsk after an emergency landing there and put in a coma. Two days later, he was evacuated to the Charité hospital in Berlin, Germany. The use of the nerve agent was confirmed by five Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) certified laboratories. Navalny blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for his poisoning, while the Kremlin repeatedly denied involvement.[8][9]

The film shows how Bellingcat journalist Christo Grozev and Maria Pevchikh, the head investigator for Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, reveal the details of a plot that indicates Putin’s involvement.[10]

The director described the film as “the story of one man and his struggle with an authoritarian regime.”[11][12]

 

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ELIO

ELIO

Elio is an upcoming American animated science fiction adventure film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is written and directed by Adrian Molina (in his feature directorial debut) and produced by Mary Alice Drumm. The film stars the voices of Yonas Kibreab, America FerreraJameela Jamil, and Brad GarrettElio follows an eleven-year-old boy named Elio Solis (Kibreab), who accidentally becomes the intergalactic Ambassador of planet Earth after being beamed up to the Communiverse by aliens for making contact. Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms and survive formidable trials.

The film was officially announced at the D23 Expo in September 2022, with Molina and Drumm attached to the project as writer/director and producer, respectively, while Kibreab and Ferrera were revealed to be cast in the lead voice roles. Jamil and Garrett joined the cast in June 2023.

Premise

For centuries, people have called out to the universe looking for answers—in Disney and Pixar’s all-new movie Elio, the universe calls back! The original feature film introduces Elio, an underdog with an active imagination who finds himself inadvertently beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide. Mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador to the rest of the universe, and completely unprepared for that kind of pressure, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, survive a series of formidable trials and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.[2]

— Pixar

Voice cast

  • Yonas Kibreab, as Elio Solis, is an eleven-year-old boy mistakenly identified by aliens as Earth’s ambassador.[3]
  • America Ferrera as Major Olga Solis, Elio’s mother who runs a top-secret military project.[3]
  • Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa, a cobra/manta ray-like alien ambassador.[4]
  • Brad Garrett as Ambassador Grigon, a bulky, four-legged alien ambassador.[4]

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THE CHOSEN: SEASON 4 – EPISODES 7-8

THE CHOSEN: SEASON 4 – EPISODES 7-8

The Chosen is an American Christian historical drama television series. Created, directed, and co-written by filmmaker Dallas Jenkins, it is the first multi-season series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. Primarily set in Judaea and Galilee in the 1st century, the series centers on Jesus and the people who met, followed, or interacted with him. The series stars Jonathan Roumie as Jesus, alongside Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel, Noah James, and George H. Xanthis.

After Jenkins noted there had never been a multi-season, episode-based portrayal of Jesus that could be “binge-watched” like shows on streaming mediums such as Netflix,[1] he set out to create the series in partnership with Angel Studios, formerly VidAngel. Intending to differ from previous portrayals of Jesus, he crafted a story arc that focused more on the people who encountered Jesus and viewed him through their eyes.[1] He has stated in interviews that he sought to present Jesus in a way that was more “personal, intimate, [and] immediate.”[2]

According to a 2022 analysis commissioned by the producers, 108 million had seen at least part of the show through the app and streaming platforms.[4] The Come and See Foundation funds translation into as many as 600 languages.[5]

Synopsis

The first season is set in 1st century Galilee, where Jesus starts to build a group for his ministry,[6] inviting several people with different backgrounds.[7] As he performs his first miracles, Jesus calls the redeemed woman Mary Magdalene; the stonemason Thaddeus; the choir member Little James; the fishermen SimonAndrewBig James, and John; the caterer Thomas and vintner Ramah; and the tax collector Matthew to follow him. As the group travels through Samaria, following his meeting with Nicodemus, Jesus launches his public ministry after revealing himself to Photina, a Samaritan woman.

Beginning in Samaria, the second season moves into nearby regions such as Syria and Judea, where Jesus continues to build his group of students.[7] As he continues to perform miracles while preparing for an important sermon, Jesus additionally calls John the Baptizer‘s disciple Philip, the architect Nathanael, and the Zealot Simon Z. As word of Jesus continues to spread throughout the region,[6] he encounters both opportunities and difficulties.[8] The season culminates with preparations for the Sermon on the Mount with the help of the business apprentice Judas Iscariot.

The group returns to Capernaum in the third season, with the increasing popularity of Jesus troubling different societal and political groups, including the Romans and the Pharisees.[9][10] Following the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus sends his twelve apostlestwo by two, to preach and perform miracles without him, leading the disciples to face their biggest challenge yet. Jesus then returned to his hometown, Nazareth, which resulted in a shift to his ministry in the year of his popularity. At the season’s climactic end in the Decapolis and at the Sea of Galilee, Jesus feeds thousands with loaves and fish and then walks on the water.

In the fourth season, after feeding the thousands, walking on water, and then traveling to Jerusalem, Jesus is left to bear the weight of his mission alone as his adversaries converge on him. At the same time, his disciples struggle to keep pace with him.[11][12]

Main cast

  • Shahar Isaac as Simon Peter
  • Jonathan Roumie as Jesus
  • Elizabeth Tabish as Mary Magdalene
  • Paras Patel as Matthew
  • Noah James as Andrew
  • Janis Dardaris as Zohara (season 1)
  • Lara Silva as Eden (seasons 1, 3, and 4; guest season 2)
  • Shaan Sharma as Shmuel
  • Nick Shakoour as Zebedee
  • George H. Xanthis as John
  • Shayan Sobhian as Big James (season 1, episodes 1–4)
  • Erick Avari as Nicodemus (season 1)
  • Kian Kavousi as Big James (season 1, episodes 5–8)
  • Brandon Potter as Quintus (seasons 1, 3, and 4; recurring season 2)
  • Kirk B. R. Woller as Gaius (seasons 1, 3, and 4; recurring season 2)
  • Giavani Cairo as Thaddeus
  • Jordan Walker Ross as Little James
  • Abe Bueno-Jallad as Big James (seasons 2–4)
  • Joey Vahedi as Thomas (seasons 2–4; guest season 1)
  • Yasmine Al-Bustami as Ramah (seasons 2–4; guest season 1)
  • Vanessa Benavente as Mary (seasons 2–4; guest season 1)
  • Yoshi Barrigas as Philip (seasons 2–3)
  • Austin Reed Alleman as Nathanael (seasons 2–4)
  • Alaa Safi as Simon Z. (seasons 2–4)
  • Luke Dimyan as Judas Iscariot (seasons 3–4; guest season 2)
  • Ivan Jasso as Yussif (seasons 3–4; recurring seasons 1–2)
  • Amber Shana Williams as Tamar (seasons 3–4; recurring season 2; guest season 1)
  • Elijah Alexander as Atticus Aemilius Pulcher (seasons 3–4; recurring season 2)
  • Reza Diako as Philip (season 4)
  • David Amito as John the Baptizer (season 4; recurring seasons 1–3)

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2/27/2024#”Lo Capitano,” “Navalny,” “Elio,” “The Chosen: Season 4 – Episodes 7-8”

 

NEW MOVIES: Feb. 22-28, 2024, “Dune: Part Two,” “Ordinary Angels,” “Drive Away Dolls,” “Golden Years”

DUNE: PART TWO

DUNE: PART TWO

Dune: Part Two is an upcoming American epic science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spaihts. The sequel to Dune (2021), it is the second of a two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert, and follows Paul Atreides as he unites with the Fremen people of the desert planet Arrakis to wage war against House HarkonnenTimothée ChalametRebecca FergusonJosh BrolinStellan SkarsgårdDave BautistaStephen McKinley HendersonZendayaCharlotte Rampling, and Javier Bardem reprise their roles from the first film, with Austin ButlerFlorence PughChristopher Walken and Léa Seydoux joining the ensemble cast.

Premise

Paul Atreides continues his journey, united with Chani and the Fremen, as he seeks revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family and endeavors to prevent a terrible future that only he can predict.[3]

Cast

Additionally, Tim Blake Nelson and Anya Taylor-Joy have been cast in undisclosed roles.

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ORDINARY ANGELS

ORDINARY ANGELS

Ordinary Angels is an upcoming American drama film directed by Jon Gunn and written by Meg Tilly and Kelly Fremon Craig. It stars Hilary SwankAlan RitchsonNancy Travis, and Tamala Jones.

The film is scheduled to be released by Lionsgate on February 23, 2024.[2]

Premise

Inspired by a true story, in 1994 Louisville, Kentucky, a hairdresser rallies the community to help a widowed father save the life of his critically ill young daughter after Louisville is hit by a major snowstorm from the 1994 North American cold wave.[3]

Cast

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DRIVE AWAY DOLLS

DRIVE AWAY DOLLS

Drive-Away Dolls is an upcoming American comedy road film directed by Ethan Coen. Coen wrote the screenplay and edited the film with his wife Tricia Cooke; they also produced the film with Robert Graf and Working Title Films’ Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner. It stars Margaret QualleyGeraldine ViswanathanBeanie FeldsteinColman DomingoPedro PascalBill Camp, and Matt Damon.

Drive-Away Dolls is set to be released in the United States by Focus Features on February 23, 2024.

Premise

This comedy caper follows Jamie, an uninhibited free spirit bemoaning yet another breakup with a girlfriend, and her demure friend Marian who desperately needs to loosen up. In search of a fresh start, the two embark on an impromptu road trip to Tallahassee, but things quickly go awry when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals along the way.

Cast

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GOLDEN YEARS

GOLDEN YEARS

Plot: What’s the story about?

Alice and Peter are celebrating their retirement – and, with it, a new phase in their lives. However, shortly after the couple’s retirement party, a sudden tragedy befalls Alice’s best friend, Magalie. Peter, sympathetic to the suffering of Magalie’s widower, Heinz, invites him on the retirement cruise their children gave them. Alice had hoped this trip would infuse fresh life into their marriage, but instead of enjoying their time together, they are drifting further apart. Disappointed and hurt, Alice doesn’t reboard the cruise ship during a shore excursion and instead embarks on a journey of self-discovery, taking her across Southern Europe and bringing her into a community of older people finding joy outside traditional notions of gender, marriage, and the later years of one’s life.

Who stars in  Golden Years: Cast List

Who’s making Golden Years: Crew List

A look at the Golden Years behind-the-scenes crew and production team.

Director

Barbara Kulcsar

Screenwriters

Company

Music Box Films

Production Companies

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2/20/2024#”Dune: Part Two,” “Ordinary Angels,” “Drive Away Dolls,” “Golden Years”

NEW MOVIES: Feb. 15-21, 2024, “2024 Oscar Shorts,” “Bleeding Love,” “Land of Bad,” “Out of Darkness”

2024 OSCAR SHORTS

2024 OSCAR SHORTS

Animated Shorts:

Not for children under 13, verging on R. This isn’t a family-friendly program – topics include the Holocaust, inferred child sexual abuse, and violent battle scenes.

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BLEEDING LOVE

BLEEDING LOVE

Bleeding Love is a 2023 American drama film starring real-life father and daughter Ewan McGregor and Clara McGregor. Directed by Emma Westenberg in her feature-length debut, it was written by Ruby Caster from an original story by Caster, Clara McGregor, and Vera Bulder. It had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 11, 2023, under the title You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder, and is scheduled to be released by Vertical Entertainment on February 16, 2024.

Cast

Premise

A father secretly drives his estranged daughter to rehab after she overdoses, aware that she has inherited his addiction problems, and after he has started a new family elsewhere.[2]

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LAND OF BAD

LAND OF BAD

Land of Bad is an upcoming American action thriller film directed by William Eubank, who co-wrote the script with David Frigerio. The film stars Liam HemsworthRussell CroweLuke HemsworthRicky Whittle, and Milo Ventimiglia.

Land of Bad will be released theatrically on February 16, 2024.

Premise

Captain Eddie “Reaper” Grimm, a US Air Force drone pilot, provides air support from a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper to a US Army Delta Force team on the ground in the Philippines. After a mishap, Sergeant JJ “Playboy” Kinney, a young Air Force TACP officer attached to the drone team as its JTAC, finds himself part of an extraction team relying only on Reaper’s remote air support.

Cast

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OUT OF DARKNESS

OUT OF DARKNESS

Out of Darkness (previously titled The Origin) is a 2022 British adventure horror thriller film directed by Andrew Cumming in his feature-length debut and starring Safia Oakley-Green and Chuku Modu. The film was nominated for five awards at the 2023 British Independent Film Awards, winning Best Breakthrough Performance for Oakley-Green. The film had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on 6 October 2022.

Synopsis

A starving, ragtag group of six prehistoric humans has reached the shores of a new world, searching for food and a new place to live. Adem is the group leader, joined by his pregnant mate, Ave, and his 11-year-old son, Heron. Geirr is a younger male in the group who has befriended Beyah, a young female ‘stray’ with a low ranking in the group. Odal is an elder who was allowed to accompany the group because of his wisdom. Heron asks Beyah for a story, but after her refusal, Odal relates how the boy’s father has taken them on an adventure based on childhood stories to find a new life.

As they journey towards the mountains to find a new cave, the group is ambushed at night, and Heron disappears. The group is forced to wait until morning to track the young boy, although they are reluctant to enter the woods where the trail leads. Adem hears mysterious noises in the woods as darkness falls and runs in pursuit while the others hold back. Adem is later attacked and brought back to the group’s camp, his face damaged and a partially ripped-out jaw.

Cast

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1/14/2024#”2024 Oscar Shorts,” “Bleeding Love,” “Land of Bad,” “Out of Darkness”

 

NEW MOVIES: Feb. 8-14, 2024, “Lisa Frankenstein,” “The Taste of things,” “Bob Marley: One Love,” “Madame Web”

LISA FRANKENSTEIN

LISA FRANKENSTEIN

Lisa Frankenstein is an upcoming American horror comedy film directed by Zelda Williams in her feature-length directorial debut, written by Diablo Cody, and starring Kathryn NewtonCole SprouseLiza Soberano, Henry Eikenberry, Joe Chrest, and Carla Gugino.

The film is inspired by Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus, and tells the story of a misunderstood teenage goth girl who reanimates a Victorian-era corpse and works to make him into the man of her dreams. The film is scheduled to be released on February 9, 2024 in the horror-comedy genre.[4]

Cast

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THE TASTE OF THINGS

THE TASTE OF THINGS

The Taste of Things (FrenchLa Passion de Dodin Bouffantlit.‘The Passion of Dodin Bouffant’), previously titled The Pot-au-Feu,[3] is a 2023 French historical romantic drama film written and directed by Trần Anh Hùng starring Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel.

Set in 1885, it depicts a romance between a cook and the gourmet she works for.[4] The character of the gourmet is based on Dodin-Bouffant, created by Swiss author Marcel Rouff in his novel La Vie et la passion de Dodin-Bouffant, gourmet (The Passionate Epicure).[5]

The film premiered on 24 May 2023 at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, and was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or in its main competition section, where Tran Anh Hung won the Best Director award. It was released in France on 8 November 2023. The film was chosen as the French entry for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.[6][7]

Synopsis

France in 1885:[8] Eugénie worked as a chef for the famous restaurant owner Dodin for 20 years and is considered excellent in her field. Because Eugénie and Dodin spent years in the kitchen together, feelings arose between them. Their shared love of food has created unique, delicious and exquisite dishes that are second to none and attract diners from all over the world. However, freedom-loving Eugénie never wanted to marry Dodin. Then Dodin decides to cook for his beloved for the first time.[9]

Juliette Binoche, 2022
Benoit Magimel, 2015
Juliette Binoche, 2022 (left) and Benoit Magimel, 2015 (right)

Cast

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BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE

BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE

Bob Marley: One Love is an upcoming American biographical musical drama film directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and written by Green, Terence WinterFrank E. Flowers, and Zach Baylin, from a story by Winter and Flowers. It is based on the life of reggae singer and songwriter Bob Marley, from his rise to fame up until his death in 1981. The film stars Kingsley Ben-Adir as Marley, alongside Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley, and James Norton as Chris Blackwell.

The film is scheduled to be released theatrically by Paramount Pictures on February 14, 2024.

Cast

Additionally, Jesse Cilio, Michael GandolfiniNadine Marshall and Anthony Welsh were cast in undisclosed roles.[2]

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MADAME WEB

MADAME WEB

Madame Web is an upcoming American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character of the same name, produced by Columbia Pictures and Di Bonaventura Pictures in association with Marvel Entertainment. Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, it is intended to be the fourth film in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU). The film is directed by S. J. Clarkson, who co-wrote the screenplay with Claire Parker and the writing team of Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless. It stars Dakota Johnson in the title role, alongside Sydney SweeneyCeleste O’ConnorIsabela Merced, and Tahar Rahim. In the film, Cassie Webb (Johnson) confronts her past while trying to save three young women and their futures from a deadly adversary.

Premise

Cassandra “Cassie” Webb is forced to confront her past while trying to survive with three young women with powerful futures who are being hunted by a deadly adversary.[1][2]

Cast

  • Dakota Johnson as Cassandra “Cassie” Webb / Madame Web:
    paramedic in Manhattan and a clairvoyant who, after an accident, develops psychic abilities which allow her to see future events within the “spider world”.[1][3][4] In the film, Cassie is depicted as an inexperienced clairvoyant in her 30s learning her new powers, compared to the comic book version which is a blind and paralyzed elderly woman connected to a life support system and a “fully fledged” clairvoyant. Johnson and director S. J. Clarkson sought to differentiate the film’s portrayal from this version while embracing the character traits from the comics.[3][5] Johnson felt Cassie’s wit, humor, and abrasiveness were balanced with her compassion, particularly through her forming a “sort of family” with the three young women after not getting along through the film’s events.[5] She was interested in playing a female character whose superpowers stem from her mind, and by the prospect of seeing into the future while understanding the character’s past and present, while Clarkson was inspired by the psychological and cerebral aspects of the character, with Cassie questioning her sanity which she battles within herself and attempts to understand.[3] Clarkson called Webb a loner and described her as somewhat abrasive, quirky, and “on the outer edges of things”, which she compared to the title character of the Marvel Television series Jessica Jones (2015–2019).[6]
  • Sydney Sweeney as Julia Cornwall / Spider-Woman[3][7]
  • Celeste O’Connor as Mattie Franklin / Spider-Woman[3][8]
  • Isabela Merced as Anya Corazon / Araña[3][8]
  • Tahar Rahim as Ezekiel Sims:
    An explorer who, while accompanying Cassie’s mother during her research on spiders before her death, is searching for a secret tribe in the Amazon rainforest in Peru.[9][10] He gained their enhanced strength and health abilities through a powerful spider, as well as clairvoyance which allows him to see the future and his death, making him obsessively search for his killers.[9] This leads him to hunt three young women who have the potential to become Spider-Women in the future.[9][10] Clarkson said the character was not afraid to be intense and had a “level of ambiguity” with multiple layers.[5] He also wears a black Spider-Man-styled suit.[10]

Additionally, Mike Epps,[11] Emma Roberts,[12] Adam Scott,[13] and Zosia Mamet have been cast in undisclosed roles.[14]

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2/6/2024#”Lisa Frankenstein,” “The Taste of things,” “Bob Marley: One Love,” “Madame Web”