Month: January 2025

NEW MOVIES: Jan 30-Feb 5, 2025, “Companion,” “Like Father, Like Son,” “Valiant One,” “Dogman”

COMPANION

COMPANION

Companion is an upcoming American horror film[3] starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid. It follows a weekend getaway among friends at a remote cabin, which unravels into chaos after a revelation that one of the guests is a companion robot.[4]Drew Hancock wrote and directed the film, which was produced by Zach Cregger, Roy Lee, Raphael Margules, and J. D. Lifshitz. Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert Friend also appear in supporting roles.

Companion will be released in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures on January 31, 2025. The film received positive reviews from critics.

Cast

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LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

Plot: What’s the story about?

Eli is a young man whose father waits on death row for the crime of murder in the first degree. As Eli’s life begins to fall apart, he discovers similar terrifying triggers in himself and takes extreme measures to ensure that the family’s string of savagery ends.

Who stars in Like Father Like Son: Cast List

Dylan Flashner

Prey , Running On Empty

Ariel Winter

Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Smurfs: The Lost Village

Vivica A. Fox

Not Another Church Movie, Kinky

Jim Klock

The Burial, Secrets in the Woods

Prima Apollinaare

Eric Michael Cole

Mayim Bialik

Father, Mother, Sister, Brother

Dermot Mulroney

When I’m Ready, Laws of Man

Who’s making Like Father Like Son: Crew List

A look at the Like Father Like Son behind-the-scenes crew and production team.

Director

Barry Jay

Screenwriter

Barry Jay

Company

Lionsgate Studios distributor logoLionsgate Studios

Production Companies

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VALIANT ONE

 

VALIANT ONE

Valiant One is an upcoming American action thriller film directed by Steve Barnett and co-written by Eric Tipton.

The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on January 31, 2025, by Briarcliff Entertainment.

Cast

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DOGMAN

DOGMAN

Dog Man is an upcoming American animated superhero comedy film based on Dav Pilkey‘s children’s graphic novel series Dog Man. Produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures, it is a spin-off and story within a story of Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017) and the second film in the Captain Underpants franchise. The film was written and directed by Peter Hastings, and stars the voices of Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery, Isla Fisher, Poppy Liu, Stephen Root, Billy Boyd and Ricky Gervais, with Hastings providing vocal effects for the titular character.

DreamWorks Animation announced a film adaptation of Dog Man in December 2020, with Hastings set to direct after his experience with Pilkey’s works from The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants (2018–20). Karen Foster joined as a producer in January 2024, and the cast was announced that September.

Dog Man premiered at the 2025 edition of the Festival de l’Alpe d’Huez in Alpe d’Huez, France on January 15, 2025, and is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on January 31.

Premise

When a human police officer named Knight and his dog Greg are injured together on the job, a life-saving surgery changes the course of history when Dog Man is born. Dog Man must protect and serve as he doggedly pursues the feline Petey the Cat, but the unexpected arrival of Li’l Petey changes their dynamic.[4][5]

Voice cast

  • Peter Hastings as the vocal effects of Dog Man, a hybrid between a dog and a police officer who was created as a result of a medical operation that fused an injured Officer Knight together with his pet dog, Greg. Keeping in line with the source material, Dog Man does not speak, although Hastings still provides his barks and expressions.[6]
    • Hastings also provides the vocal effects of Greg, Officer Knight’s dog whose head is used to create Dog Man.
  • Pete Davidson as Petey, a quick-witted and arrogant orange cat who is Dog Man’s archenemy and the self-proclaimed “world’s most evilest cat”.[7][8]
  • Lucas Hopkins as Li’l Petey, a kind-hearted kitten clone of Petey and Dog Man’s adopted son and sidekick.[6]
  • Lil Rel Howery as Chief, the short-tempered police chief of the station Dog Man works at.[7][8]
  • Isla Fisher as Sarah Hatoff, a news reporter.[8]
  • Billy Boyd as Seamus, Sarah’s cameraman.[8]
  • Ricky Gervais as Flippy the Fish, a fish with telekinesis.[8]
  • Stephen Root as Grampa, Petey’s father.[8]
  • Poppy Liu as Butler, Petey’s assistant.[8]

Additionally, Laraine Newman, Melissa Villaseñor, Cheri Oteri, Kate Micucci, Maggie Wheeler, Pearce Bunting, Max Koch, and Rahnuma Panthaky have been cast in undisclosed roles.[9]

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1/28/2025 #Companion #LikeFatherLikeSon #ValiantOne #Dogman

NEW MOVIES: Jan 23-29, 2025, “Brave the Dark,” “Disfluency,” “Presence,” “Flight Risk”

BRAVE THE DARK

BRAVE THE DARK

Brave the Dark is a 2023 American drama film directed by Damian Harris and starring Jared Harris and Nicholas Hamilton. The film premiere took place at the Heartland International Film Festival in October 2023.

Cast

  • Jared Harris as Stan Deen, a small-town teacher in 1980s Pennsylvania
  • Nicholas Hamilton as Nate, a homeless teenager living in his car
  • Jamie Harris as Barney, Nate’s parole officer
  • Sasha Bhasin as Tina, Nate’s girlfriend
  • Will Price as Johnny, Nate’s friend
  • Daisy Galvis as the judge overseeing Nate’s sentencing
  • Joey Cabrera as Jim Baxter, Tina’s Father

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DISFLUENCY

DISFLUENCY

Plot: What’s the story about?

After unexpectedly failing her final college class, Jane retreats to her hometown. With the support of her friends, family, and a nostalgic summer on the lake, Jane comes to terms with the trauma that derailed her senior year.

Who stars in Disfluency: Cast List

Libe Barer

I See You, Among The Beasts

Ariela Barer

How to Blow Up a Pipeline, Marvel’s Runaways (Series)

Chelsea Alden

Dylan Arnold

1992, Halloween Kills

Director

Anna Baumgarten

Screenwriters

—

Company

Buffalo 8

Production Companies

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PRESENCE

PRESENCE

Presence is a 2024 American supernatural horror thriller film[3][4][2] film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by David Koepp. It stars Lucy Liu, Julia Fox, and Chris Sullivan. It is scheduled to be released by Neon on January 24, 2025.

Premise

A family moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they’re not alone.[5]

Cast

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FLIGHT RISK

FLIGHT RISK

Flight Risk is an upcoming American suspense thriller film directed by Mel Gibson and starring Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace. Wahlberg plays a pilot transporting an Air Marshal (Dockery) and a fugitive (Grace) across the Alaskan wilderness, where the identities and intentions of those onboard come into question.[2]

Lionsgate will release the film in theaters in the United States on January 24, 2025.

Premise

A U.S. Marshal escorts a government witness to trial after he is accused of getting involved with a mob boss, only to discover that the pilot who is transporting them is also a hitman that had been sent to assassinate the informant. After they subdue him, they’re forced to fly together after discovering that there are others attempting to eliminate them.

Cast

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1/21/2025 #BraveTheDark #Disfluency #Presence #FlightRisk

NEW MOVIES: Jan 16-22, 2025, “Autumn and The Black Jaguar,” “One of Them Days,” “Left Behind,” “Wolfman”

AUTUMN AND THE BLACK JUGUAR

AUTUMN AND THE BLACK JUGUAR

Plot: What’s the story about?

Growing up in the Amazon rainforest gave Autumn the rarest of friendships – a lost jaguar cub she discovers named Hope. When a tragic event forces Autumn to leave Hope for the unknowns of New York City, she dreams for years of going back to the rainforest and her friend. Aged 14, and having grown accustomed to city life, Autumn discovers her childhood village is under threat from animal traffickers and decides she must return to the Amazon to her beloved jaguar. Anja – Autumn’s endearingly clumsy biology teacher – unsuccessfully tries to dissuade her from this reckless plan. Joined by Anja, Autumn embarks on a journey to reunite with Hope and save her from those who seek to destroy the rainforest and its wildlife.

Who’s making Autumn and the Black Jaguar: Crew List

A look at the Autumn and the Black Jaguar behind-the-scenes crew and production team. The film’s director Gilles de Maistre last directed The Wolf and the Lion and Mia and the White Lion. The film’s writer Prune de Maistre last wrote The Wolf and the Lion and Mia and the White Lion.

Director

Gilles de Maistre

Screenwriter

Prune de Maistre

Producer

Catherine Camborde

Companies

Blue Fox Entertainment distributor logoBlue Fox Entertainment

Production Company

StudioCanal

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ONE OF THEM DAYS

ONE OF THEM DAYS

One of Them Days is an upcoming American buddy comedy film directed by Lawrence Lamont and written by Syreeta Singleton, and starring Keke Palmer and SZA.

Plot

When her boyfriend takes her rent money, Alyssa and her roommate race against the clock to avoid eviction and keep their friendship intact.

Cast

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LEFT BEHIND

LEFT BEHIND

Documentary

“Left Behind” illuminates the struggles of NYC schoolchildren with dyslexia, following a diverse group of parents who, frustrated by the lack of support, founded the Literacy Academy Collective. Driven by the stark reality that 1 in 5 people are dyslexic and nearly 50% of prison inmates share this diagnosis, these passionate advocates fight to de-stigmatize dyslexia and secure proper education for their kids. The film reveals the power of grassroots activism, offering an eye-opening and uplifting message of hope and resilience. – Karen McMullen

Director: Anna Toomey
Executive Producer: Zofia Moreno, Jean Reno, Sarah Johnson, Ellen Lovejoy, Dan Fougere, Stephanie Fougere, Lisa Domenico Brooke, Juju Chang
Producer: Larry Mullen Jr., Sian Edwards-Beal, David Beal, Chris Farrell, Mari Keiko Gonzalez, Anna Toomey
Cinematographer: James Fideler
Editor: Brittany Kaplan
Language: English
Country: United States of America

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WOLFMAN

WOLFMAN

Wolf Man is an upcoming American horror film directed by Leigh Whannell, who co-wrote it with Corbett Tuck. A reboot of The Wolf Man (1941), the film stars Christopher Abbott, Julia Garner, and Sam Jaeger.

The film was announced in 2014 and was to be part of the Dark Universe, a shared cinematic universe centered on the Universal Monsters. Aaron Guzikowski and David Callaham were attached to pen the script. After the failure of The Mummy (2017), Universal shifted its focus to standalone films. The success of Whannell’s The Invisible Man (2020) rekindled Universal’s interest in the Monsters franchise. They accepted a pitch by Ryan Gosling, who was also set to star, for a new Wolf Man film with Derek Cianfrance to direct. However, Gosling dropped out of the role and Cianfrance left the project in 2023, while Whannell took over as director. Principal photography took place in New Zealand in early 2024.

Wolf Man is scheduled to be released in the United States by Universal Pictures on January 17, 2025.

Premise

Family man Blake relocates from San Francisco to Oregon with his workaholic wife Charlotte and daughter Ginger after inheriting his childhood home, left vacant following his estranged father’s mysterious disappearance and presumed death. At the farmhouse at night during a full moon, the family is attacked by a werewolf that claws Blake’s arm. They barricade themselves inside the home, but soon Blake begins to transform into something horrifying, jeopardizing the safety of his wife and daughter.

— Universal Pictures

Cast

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1/14/2025  #AutumnAndTheBlackJaguar #OneOfThemDays #Wolfman

NEW MOVIES: Jan 9-15, 2025, “Emilia Perez,” “I’m Still Here,” “Hand Truths,” “Game Changer”

EMILIA PEREZ

EMILIA PEREZ

Emilia Pérez is a 2024 Spanish language French musical crime comedy film written and directed by Jacques Audiard.[5] The French production is based on Audiard’s opera libretto of the same name, which was in turn loosely adapted from Boris Razon’s 2018 novel Écoute.[6] The film stars Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Mark Ivanir, and Édgar Ramírez.

The film is about a Mexican cartel leader (Gascón) who enlists a lawyer (Saldaña) to help her disappear and achieve her dream of transitioning into a woman. Its original songs were written by Camille, while its original score was provided by Clément Ducol. Filming took place from May to July 2023 in Île-de-France. The choreographic sections of the film are designed by Damien Jalet.

The film had its world premiere on 18 May 2024 at the main competition of the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d’Or, winning the Jury Prize and the Best Actress award for its female ensemble. It was theatrically released by Pathé in France on 21 August 2024 to positive reviews. It became the second most-nominated film in Golden Globe history with ten nominations at the 82nd ceremony, winning four, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (the first time a non-English-language film won the category) and Best Foreign Language Film, while Gascón became the first trans woman to be nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.[7] Additionally, it was named one of the top 10 films of 2024 by the American Film Institute,[8] and was selected as the French entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.[9]

Plot

Rita Mora Castro, an underappreciated lawyer in Mexico, writes the defense for a murder case involving a prominent media figure’s wife, going against her conscience to argue the death as a suicide (“El alegato”). After winning the case, Rita receives an anonymous call with a mysterious but lucrative offer. Reflecting on her discontent, Rita agrees to a meeting (“Todo y nada”). The client, revealed to be cartel kingpin Juan “Manitas” Del Monte, expresses desire to covertly undergo gender-affirming surgery, beginning a new and authentic life (“El encuentro”).

After meeting with doctors in Bangkok (“La vaginoplastia”) and Tel Aviv (“Lady”), Rita finds a surgeon who agrees to perform the procedure after hearing Manitas’ recollections of gender dysphoria during childhood (“Deseo”). Following the procedure, Manitas’ children and wife, Jessi, are relocated to Switzerland for their safety; Rita receives an exorbitant sum of money, while Manitas stages a fake death and begins a new life as Emilia Pérez.

Cast

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I’M STILL HERE

I’M STILL HERE

I’m Still Here (Portuguese: Ainda Estou Aqui) is a 2024 political biographical drama film directed by Walter Salles from a screenplay by Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega, based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva‘s 2015 memoir of the same name. It stars Fernanda Torres and Fernanda Montenegro as Eunice Paiva, a mother and activist coping with the forced disappearance of her husband, the dissident politician Rubens Paiva, during the military dictatorship in Brazil.[3] Soon after its release in Brazilian theaters on 7 November 2024 by Sony Pictures Releasing International, the film was the target of an unsuccessful boycott by the Brazilian far-right.[4][5][6] It has grossed $11.3 million on a $1.5 million production budget.[7]

The film had its world premiere on 1 September 2024 at the 81st Venice International Film Festival,[8] where it received critical acclaim, with unanimous praise towards Torres’ performance,[9] winning the Best Screenplay award.[10] It was named one of the Top 5 International Films of 2024 by the National Board of Review.[11] At the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, Torres won the Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama category, while the film was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. It was also selected as the Brazilian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, making the December shortlist.[12]

Plot

In the 1970’s Rio de Janeiro, former congressman Rubens Paiva returns to Brazil after six years of self-exile following the revocation of his tenure at the outset of the 1964 Brazilian coup d’état. Living in an idyllic house near Leblon beach with his wife Eunice and their five children, Paiva returns to his civil career while continuing to support expatriates without discussing his activities with his family.

Following the kidnapping of the Swiss ambassador by far-left revolutionary movements, Brazil faces a looming political instability. A military raid takes place in Paiva’s house, resulting in his arrest and disappearance in January 1971. Eunice’s public inquiries on Rubens’ whereabouts results in her arrest and torture for 12 days. Eliana, their teenage daughter, is also imprisoned but is released after 24 hours. After moderate media outrage ignited by family friends, Eunice is unofficially informed of Rubens’ fate.

Twenty-five years later, in 1996, Eunice receives from the Brazilian state, now once again a democracy, Rubens Paiva’s official death certificate.

In 2014, during a family gathering surrounded by her children and grandchildren, the now eighty-five-year-old Eunice lives with advanced Alzheimer’s. When a TV report about the National Truth Commission addresses Rubens’ case, a distressed Eunice appears to remember her past.

Cast

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HARD TRUTHS

HARD TRUTHS

Hard Truths is a 2024 drama film written and directed by Mike Leigh, starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Michele Austin, and David Webber.

The film premiered at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival on 6 September 2024,[2] and was met with widespread critical acclaim for its screenplay, direction and Jean-Baptiste’s performance. It was released theatrically in the United States on 6 December 2024 by Bleecker Street,[3][4] it will be released in the United Kingdom on 31 January 2025,[5] and in Spain on 28 February 2025. It was named one of the top 10 independent films of 2024 by the National Board of Review,[6] while at the 30th Critics’ Choice Awards Jean-Baptiste received a Best Actress nomination.

Plot

Set in London, the plot follows the plight of depressed middle-aged woman Pansy and her relationship with her close ones—including the crumbling relationship with her jovial sister, Chantelle (who is a polar opposite in terms of mood), and the state of her other interpersonal relationships.[7][8]

Cast

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GAME CHANGER

GAME CHANGER

Game Changer is an upcoming Indian Telugu-language political action film written and directed by S. Shankar (in his first Telugu film). It is produced by Sri Venkateswara Creations, and stars Ram Charan alongside Kiara Advani, Anjali, Srikanth, and S. J. Suryah.

The film was announced in February 2021 and its title was revealed in March 2023. Principal photography commenced in October 2021 and wrapped up three years later in July 2024 after various production delays. Filming took place in Japan, China, Malaysia, Cambodia and New Zealand. Game Changer has a big-budget music composed by Thaman S, with cinematography by Tirru and editing by Shameer Muhammed and Ruben.

Game Changer is scheduled to be released on 10 January 2025, coinciding with Sankranti, in standard, IMAX, 4DX, Dolby Cinema and Qube EPIQ formats.

Premise

Ram Nandan, an IAS officer with anger issues, strives to combat corrupt politicians, including the CM Bobbili Mopidevi, for destroying his father Appanna’s dream of a corruption-free country. While on his mission He faces the wrath of his own brother Charan IPS, who is a corrupt police officer and mopidevi’s friend

Cast

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1/7/2025 #EmiliaPerez #I’mStillHere #HardTruths #GameChanger

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