NEW MOVIES: Aug 29-Sept 4, 2024, “Reagan,” “Freedom Hair,” “Across the River and Into the Trees,” “Merchant Ivory”

REAGAN

REAGAN

Reagan is an upcoming American biographical drama film directed by Sean McNamara and written by Howard Klausner, based on Paul Kengor‘s 2006 book The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism. The film stars Dennis Quaid as Ronald ReaganPenelope Ann MillerRobert DaviLesley-Anne Down and Jon Voight feature in supporting roles.

Principal photography on the film began on September 9, 2020, and included locations such as Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Reagan is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on August 30, 2024.

Premise

The film follows Ronald Reagan‘s life from his childhood to his years as president of the United States, told through a conversation between by a former KGB agent, Viktor Petrovich (Jon Voight) and a young up-and-coming Russian politician, Andrei Novikov (Alexey Sparrow).

Cast

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FREEDOM HAIR

FREEDOM HAIR

When a determined mother decides to start a natural hair braiding business to achieve financial independence, she must overcome unexpected obstacles imposed by a powerful cosmetology cartel and the state of Mississippi.

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ACROSS THE RIVER AND INTO THE TREES

ACROSS THE RIVER AND INTO THE TREES

Across the River and into the Trees is a 2022 war drama film directed by Paula Ortiz and adapted by Peter Flannery from the 1950 novel by Ernest Hemingway. It stars Liev SchreiberMatilda De AngelisJosh HutchersonLaura MoranteMassimo Popolizio, and Danny Huston. The film premiered at the Sun Valley Film Festival on 30 March 2022.

Premise

American Army Colonel Richard Cantwell confronts the news of his terminal illness with stoic indifference and enlists a military driver for presumably his final hunting trip and a visit to Venice. Along the way, Cantwell has a chance encounter with a young countess.

Cast

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MERCHANT IVORY

MERCHANT IVORY

Cohen Media Group will give “Merchant Ivory,” a documentary about the professional and personal partnership of director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant and their  production company — Merchant Ivory Productions — a theatrical release on Aug. 30 in select markets, including New York and Los Angeles, before expanding to theaters nationwide in September.

Directed by Stephen Soucy, “Merchant Ivory” chronicles the pair’s road to success and how their company became synonymous with nuanced literary adaptations in the 1980s and 1990s, making an indelible impact on film culture. The company’s output of more than 40 productions over nearly 50 years includes Academy Award-winning films “A Room With a View” and “Howards End,”  as well “The Remains of the Day,” “Mr. & Mrs. Bridge” and “Maurice.”

The doc is split into chapters with sections devoted to Merchant, Ivory, screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (“A Room With a View,” “Howards End”) and composer Richard Robbins (“Howards End,” “The Remains of the Day”). Crew members and frequent Merchant Ivory film collaborators including Emma Thompson, Vanessa Redgrave, Helena Bonham Carter and Hugh Grant are all featured in the doc, which combines talking heads with archival footage to tell the story of  Ivory and Merchant’s 44-film partnership professionally and as a couple. (Ivory is 96 years-old. Merchant, Jhabvala and Robbins have all died.)

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August 27, 2024 #Reagan #Freedom Hair #Across the River and Into the Trees #Merchant Ivory

 

 

NEW MOVIES: August 22-28, 2024, “Blink Twice,” “The Crow,” “The forge,” “Greedy People”

BLINK TWICE

BLINK TWICE

Blink Twice is a 2024 American psychological thriller film directed by Zoë Kravitz, in her directorial debut, from a script she co-wrote with E.T. Feigenbaum. The film stars Naomi AckieChanning TatumChristian SlaterSimon RexAdria ArjonaHaley Joel OsmentKyle MacLachlanGeena Davis, and Alia Shawkat.

Blink Twice premiered at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles on August 8, 2024, and is scheduled to be released in the United States by Amazon MGM Studios through the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer banner on August 23, 2024.[3]

Premise

A cocktail waitress becomes infatuated with a billionaire tech mogul and travels with him to his private island for a luxurious party, where things begin to go wrong after her friend vanishes.[4]

Cast

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THE CROW

THE CROW

The Crow is a 2024 American gothic[5] superhero film[6][7] directed by Rupert Sanders from a screenplay by Zach Baylin and William Schneider. A reboot of The Crow film series, it is the fifth film in the franchise, and is the second film, after the 1994 film, to directly adapt the 1989 comic book series of the same name by James O’Barr.[a] The film stars Bill Skarsgård as Eric / The Crow, a murdered musician who is resurrected to avenge the deaths of himself and his fiancée, played by FKA Twigs.

The film entered development in December 2008, with Stephen Norrington stating that he would write and direct a “reinvention” of The Crow. It entered a complicated production process with various directors, screenwriters, and cast members attached at various points. Filmmakers Norrington, Juan Carlos FresnadilloF. Javier Gutiérrez, and Corin Hardy were initially signed to direct while Bradley CooperLuke EvansJack Huston, and Jason Momoa were all cast as Eric during various points in development. Skarsgård was announced as Eric in April 2022, along with Sanders as director. Filming began in July, occurring in Prague and Penzing near Munich.

The Crow is set to be released in the United States by Lionsgate Films on August 23, 2024.

Plot

Soulmates Eric and Shelly are brutally murdered when the demons of her dark past catch up with them. Given the chance to save his true love by sacrificing himself, Eric sets out to seek merciless revenge on their killers, traversing the worlds of the living and the dead to put the wrong things right.

Cast

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THE FORGE

THE FORGE

The Forge is an upcoming American Christian biblical drama film directed by Alex Kendrick and co-written by Stephen Kendrick. A spin-off to War Room, it is the Kendrick brothers’ ninth film and the sixth through their subsidiary, Kendrick Brothers Productions. Their initial five films were created under Sherwood Pictures. It stars Cameron Arnett, Priscilla Shirer, Aspen Kennedy, Karen Abercrombie, T.C. Stallings, BJ Arnett, Ken BevelBenjamin Watson, Jonathan Evans, Jerry Shirer, and Tommy Woodard.

The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on August 23, 2024.

Premise

After graduating from high school without any plans for the future, Isaiah receives a push to start making better life decisions.

Cast

  • Cameron Arnett as Joshua Moore
  • Priscilla Shirer as:
    • Cynthia Wright, Elizabeth’s identical twin sister
    • Elizabeth Jordan, Cynthia’s identical twin sister (reprising her role from War Room)
  • Aspen Kennedy as Isaiah Wright, Cynthia’s teenage son
  • Karen Abercrombie as Miss Clara Williams (reprising her role from War Room)
  • T.C. Stallings as Tony Jordan, Elizabeth’s husband (reprising his role from War Room)
  • BJ Arnett as Janelle Moore, Joshua’s wife
  • Ken Bevel as James
  • Benjamin Watson
  • Jonathan Evans as Jonathan
  • Jerry Shirer as Vaughn
  • Tommy Woodard as Bobby
  • Marianne Haaland as Wanda

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GREEDY PEOPLE

GREEDY PEOPLE

Greedy People is an upcoming American comedy mystery film directed by Potsy Ponciroli and written by Michael Vukadinovich. The film stars Himesh PatelLily JamesJoseph Gordon-LevittSimon RexTim Blake NelsonJoey Lauren AdamsUzo Aduba, and Jim Gaffigan.

The film is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on August 23, 2024, by Lionsgate.

Synopsis

A cop in a small island town has to investigate a murder and the discovery of a large sum of money.

Cast

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August 20, 2024 #Blink Twice #The Crow #The Forge #Greedy People

 

NEW MOVIES: August 15-21, 2024, “Alien: Romulus,” “Good One,” “Rob Peace,” “Crescent City”

ALIEN: ROMULUS

ALIEN: ROMULUS

Alien: Romulus is an upcoming American science fiction horror film. Directed by Fede Álvarez, who co-wrote it with Rodo Sayagues, the film was produced by Scott Free Productions and Brandywine Productions. It is the seventh installment in the Alien franchise and serves as a standalone interquel set between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986).[2] It stars Cailee SpaenyDavid JonssonArchie RenauxIsabela MercedSpike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.

The film is scheduled to be theatrically released by 20th Century Studios on August 16, 2024.

Premise

Set between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986),[3] the story concerns a group of young space colonists who, while scavenging a derelict space station, come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.[4]

Cast

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GOOD ONE

GOOD ONE

Good One is a 2024 American drama film written, directed, and produced by India Donaldson in her directorial debut. It stars Lily Collias, James Le Gros, and Danny McCarthy.

It had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2024, and was released by Metrograph Pictures on August 9, 2024.

Premise

Sam, a young Queer woman, navigates clashes between her father and his friend during a backpacking trip in the Catskills.

Cast

  • Lily Collias as Sam
  • James Le Gros as Chris
  • Danny McCarthy as Matt
  • Sumaya Bouhbal as Jessie
  • Diana Irvine as Casey
  • Sam Lanier as Zach
  • Peter McNally as Jake
  • Eric Yates as Andy

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ROB PEACE

ROB PEACE

Rob Peace is a 2024 American biographical drama film written and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor and starring Ejiofor, Jay Will, and Mary J. Blige. It is based on the 2014 biography The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs.[3]

The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival[4] on January 22, 2024, and Republic Pictures is scheduled to release it in limited theatrical release in the United States on August 16, 2024.

Premise

Yale University graduate Rob Peace, known as Shaun at the time his father was arrested for crimes he may not have committed, turns to drug dealing to get his father out of jail while maintaining other activities.[5]

Cast

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CRESCENT CITY

CRESCENT CITY

Crescent City is an upcoming American crime thriller written by Rich Ronat, directed by R. J. Collins, and starring Alec Baldwin, Esai Morales, Terrence Howard, and Nicky Whelan.[1]

A small town in the south is ravaged by a serial killer, with everyone being a suspect, including the police.

Cast

[edit]

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8/13/2024 #Alien:Romulus #Good One #Rob Peace #Crescent City

 

NEW MOVIES: August 8-14, 2024, “Borderlands,” “It Ends with Us,” “A Carpenter’s Prayer,” “Dance First”

BORDERLANDS

BORDERLANDS

Borderlands is an upcoming American science fiction action comedy film directed by Eli Roth, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Crombie, based on the video game series developed by Gearbox Software. Starring an ensemble cast featuring Cate BlanchettKevin HartJack BlackEdgar RamírezAriana GreenblattFlorian MunteanuGina Gershon, and Jamie Lee Curtis, the film follows Lillith (Blanchett), an infamous outlaw who returns to the place where she grew up and forms an alliance with a team of misfits to find the missing daughter of the most powerful man in the universe.[4]

A film adaptation of the video game series was announced in August 2015, with Lionsgate developing the project with Ari and Avi Arad producing, and Leigh Whannell in talks to direct it. By February 2020, Roth was attached to direct the film from a screenplay written by Craig Mazin, and Erik Feig joined as producer. Casting occurred from May 2020 to April 2021, with Blanchett cast first and others added the following year. Principal photography began in April 2021 in Budapest, Hungary, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and wrapped in June. However, two weeks of reshoots occurred in early 2023, directed by Tim Miller due to Roth’s commitments to Thanksgiving (2023).[5]

Borderlands is set to be released by Lionsgate in the United States on August 9, 2024.

Premise

Lilith, an infamous outlaw with a mysterious past, reluctantly returns to her home planet of Pandora to find the missing daughter of the universe’s most powerful S.O.B., Atlas. Lilith forms an alliance with an unexpected team — Roland, a former elite mercenary, now desperate for redemption; Tiny Tina, a feral teenage demolitionist; Krieg, Tina’s musclebound, rhetorically challenged protector; Tannis, the scientist with a tenuous grip on sanity; and Claptrap, a persistently wiseass robot. These unlikely heroes must battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to find and protect the missing girl, who may hold the key to unimaginable power. The fate of the universe could be in their hands but they’ll be fighting for something more: each other.[6]

Cast

Additionally, Penn Jillette has a cameo in the film as a preacher overseeing a wedding, after voicing Pain in the video game Borderlands 3 (2019).[18]

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IT ENDS WITH US

IT ENDS WITH US

It Ends with Us is an upcoming American romantic drama film directed by Justin Baldoni from a screenplay by Christy Hall, based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover. The film stars Blake Lively, Baldoni, Brandon SklenarJenny Slate, and Hasan Minhaj.

Adapted from the Colleen Hoover novel, Lily overcomes a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life. A chance meeting with a neurosurgeon sparks a connection but Lily begins to see sides of him that remind her of her parents’ relationship.

It Ends with Us is scheduled to be released by Sony Pictures Releasing in the United States on August 9, 2024.[6][7][8]

Cast

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A CARPENTER’S PRAYER

A CARPENTER’S PRAYER

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DANCE FIRST

DANCE FIRST

Dance First is a 2023 biographical film about Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, directed by James Marsh and written by Neil ForsythGabriel Byrne stars as Beckett, with a supporting cast featuring Fionn O’Shea as a younger Beckett and Aidan Gillen as James Joyce.

Synopsis

The film documents the Irish writer’s life, from his childhood, his friendship with James Joyce until the incarceration of the latter’s mentally ill daughter Lucia Joyce, his relationship with his future wife Suzanne Dumesnil, his time as a fighter for the French Resistance during the Second World War, his postwar literary rise and subsequent Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969, his affair with translator Barbara Bray and his later life until his death in 1989. Throughout the film, Beckett carries out an interior monologue.[3]

Cast

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August 6, 2024 #Borderlands #It Ends with Us #A Carpenter’s Prayer #Dance First