NEW MOVIES: July 18-24, 2024, “Twisters,” “Widow Clicquot,” “The Good Half,” “Modernism, Inc.”

TWISTERS

TWISTERS

Twisters is a 2024 American disaster film directed by Lee Isaac Chung with a screenplay by Mark L. Smith from a story by Joseph Kosinski. Produced by Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley, it is a standalone sequel to the 1996 film Twister and stars Daisy Edgar-JonesGlen PowellAnthony RamosBrandon PereaMaura Tierney, and Sasha Lane.

Twisters premiered in London on July 8, 2024, and was released internationally by Warner Bros. Pictures on July 10, 2024, and will be released in the United States by Universal Pictures on July 19, 2024. The film received positive reviews from critics.

Premise

Haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado, Kate Cooper gets lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi, to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. She soon crosses paths with Tyler Owens, a charming but reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures. As storm season intensifies, Kate, Tyler, and their competing teams fight for their lives as multiple systems converge over central Oklahoma.

Cast

______________________________________________________________________

WIDOW CLICQUOT

WIDOW CLICQUOT

Widow Clicquot is a 2023 internationally co-produced drama film directed by Thomas Napper, from a screenplay by Erin Dignam and Christopher Monger based on the book The Widow Clicquot by Tilar J. Mazzeo. It stars Haley BennettTom SturridgeSam Riley, Anson Boom, Leo SuterBen Miles, and Natasha O’Keeffe.

It had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2023.

Cast

______________________________________________________________________

THE GOOD HALF

THE GOOD HALF

The Good Half is a 2024 American comedy-drama film written by Brett Ryland, directed by Robert Schwartzman, and starring Nick Jonas.

The film premiered on June 8, 2023, at the Tribeca Festival, and it is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 23, 2024.[1]

Premise

Renn Wheeland returns home to ClevelandOhio, for his mom’s funeral. Once there, he forges new relationships while healing old ones before confronting his problems and trying to face his grief.

Cast

______________________________________________________________________

MODERNISM, INC.

MODERNISM, INC.

MODERNISM INC. tells the story of Eliot Noyes, the influential architect of comprehensive corporate design programs in the mid-20th Century. Noyes is most noted for his work at IBM, where he transmitted Modernist thinking, set the standards for corporate design, and played a critical role in the rise of computers.

Photo: “Eliot Noyes built IBM’s landmark design program between 1956-1977.”  (Photo courtesy of the Eliot Noyes Archive)

Architect Eliot Noyes was one of the leading pioneers of modern design during the mid-century post-war boom in the United States. Educated by Walter Gropius at Harvard, Noyes did more than anyone to align the Modernist design ethos with ascendant corporate America’s needs. His impact on companies like IBM and Mobil Oil paved the way for Apple and many other design-conscious brands we know today.

  • Country USA
  • Running Time 79 minutes
  • Format DCP
  • Distributor First Run Features
  • Director Jason Cohn
  • Cast Sebastian Roche, Katrina Alcorn, Gordon Bruce, Dave Danielson

Filmmaking Team

Jason Andrew Cohn is a writer, producer, and director who has worked in print, radio, television, and film. He is the Peabody Award-winning director of “EAMES: The Architect and the Painter.” His 2019 film “The First Angry Man,” which traces the roots of the Tax Revolt to a California ballot initiative, was a Library of Congress – Lavine / Ken Burns Prize finalist and winner of the Los Angeles Press Club award for political documentary. His writing on public affairs and culture has appeared in the New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and Rolling Stone Magazine.

Camille Servan-Schreiber was born in France and has been working in documentary film in the US since 1998. She has produced for American Masters, Frontline, PBS, National Geographic, and many other outlets and has received numerous honors, including a Peabody, a Golden Spire Award from the San Francisco Film Festival, and a national Emmy nomination. Her 2021 film, “Land of Gold,” goes behind the scenes of an idiosyncratic production from the San Francisco Opera while also exploring the violent reality behind the myth of the Gold Rush.

Architect Eliot Fette Noyes (August 12, 1910 – July 18, 1977) was an American architect and industrial designer who worked on projects for IBM, most notably the IBM Selectric typewriter and the IBM Aerospace Research Center in Los Angeles, California. Noyes was also a pioneer in developing comprehensive corporate-wide design programs that integrated design and business strategies. Noyes worked on corporate imagery for IBM, Mobil Oil, Cummins Engine, and Westinghouse.[

______________________________________________________________________

7/16/2024 #Twisters #Widow Clicquot #The Good Half #Modernism, Inc.

NEW MOVIES: July 11-17, 2024, “Longlegs,” “Touch,” “America’s Burning,” “Johnny Puff: Secret Mission”

LONGLEGS

LONGLEGS

Longlegs is an upcoming American horror thriller film written and directed by Osgood Perkins. The film stars Maika MonroeNicolas CageAlicia WittBlair Underwood, and Kiernan Shipka.

Longlegs is scheduled to be released in the United States by Neon on July 12, 2024.

Premise

In the 1990s, new FBI agent Lee Harker was assigned to an unsolved case involving a Satanic serial killer known as Longlegs.[4] As the investigation becomes more complicated with occult evidence uncovered, Harker realizes a personal link to the killer and must act quickly to prevent another family murder.[2]

Cast

  • Maika Monroe as Lee Harker, an FBI agent assigned to Longlegs’ case[5]
    • Lauren Acala as young Lee Harker[6]
  • Nicolas Cage as Longlegs, an elusive serial killer being hunted down by the FBI[5]
  • Blair Underwood as Agent Carter[6]
  • Alicia Witt as Ruth Harker, Lee’s religious mother[6]
  • Michelle Choi-Lee as Agent Browning
  • Dakota Daulby as Agent Horatio Fisk[7]
  • Kiernan Shipka as Carrie Anne Camera, Longlegs’ only known survivor[6]
    • Maila Hosie as young Carrie Anne Camera
  • Jason Day as Father Camera
  • Lisa Chandler as Mother Camera[7]
  • Ava Kelders as Ruby Carter
    • Rryla McIntosh as Adult Ruby Carter[7]
  • Carmel Amit as Anna Carter
  • Peter James Bryant as Senior FBI agent

_______________________________________________________________________

TOUCH

TOUCH

Touch (IcelandicSnerting) is a 2024 romantic drama film directed by Baltasar Kormákur, written by Kormákur and Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson,[1] and produced by Kormákur, Agnes Johansen, and Mike Goodridge.[2][3] The film is based on Ólafsson’s 2022 novel of the same name.[4] It stars Egill ÓlafssonKōki, and Palmi Kormakur.

Touch was first released in Icelandic on May 29, 2024, and is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 12, 2024.[5]

Premise

widower tries to find his first love 50 years after she disappeared.

Cast

_______________________________________________________________________

AMERICA’S BURNING

AMERICA’S BURNING

From Executive Producers Michael Douglas and Barry Levinson, America’s Burning draws on an amazing collection of thinkers and strategists, from James Carville and Amy Chua to Ian Bremmer and Leon Panetta. New York Times best-selling author David Smick guides viewers to discover the reasons for today’s hate and division and the rising risk of civil war.

For 40 years, the US economy has been a paradox. It’s been an extraordinary wealth-creating machine, but only for the half of the country that owns stocks. As James Carville put it, Capitalism has become “a racket” — the ultimate corporate insider’s club, a system centrally controlled by the well-connected few.  As a result, the middle class is shrinking, and the American Dream’s promise of social mobility for all who work hard is dying. A new Velvet Rope Society of brains and money has cut itself off from the rest of America. Working families feel forgotten and angry, but it doesn’t have to be this way. America has an impressive history of resilience. Narrated by Michael Douglas, the film shows why our best days could still lie ahead.

Directed and Written by David Smick
Executive Produced by: Michael Douglas, Barry Levinson
Produced by: Ian Michaels
Associate Produced by: Ryan Pallas
Featuring: Michael Douglas, James Carville, Ian Bremmer, Leon Panetta, James Baker, Amy Chua, Katherine Gehl, Arthur Brooks, Hawk Newsome, Derek Black, Gilda Alegria, Stan Druckenmiller, and Larry Summers

_______________________________________________________________________

JOHNNY PUFF: SECRET MISSION

JOHNNY PUFF: SECRET MISSION

“Superbirds. Johnny Puff: Secret Mission is a 2024 Italian-Spanish animated film directed by Nestor F. Dennis, based on his own script.

Plot

The characters in the TV series Dead Ends are based on the animated film Guardians of the Arctic.

Puff bird Johnny Puff and his friends Tick, Tuck, Deedy, and Pete, who possess original superpowers, embark on a secret mission to save their home village of Tygasville from the evil plans of the insidious engineer Otto von Morjus.

The film’s story also focuses on recycling, environmental protection, and team spirit.

Voiced

_______________________________________________________________________

July 9, 2024  #LONGLEGS  #TOUCH #AMERICA’S BURNING #JOHNNY PUFF: SECRET MISSION

NEW MOVIES: July 4-10, 2024, “Despicable Me 4,” “Fly Me to The Moon,” “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot,” “The Secret Art of Human Flight”

DESPICABLE ME 4

DESPICABLE ME 4

Despicable Me 4 is a 2024 American animated comedy film produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is the sequel to Despicable Me 3 (2017), the fourth main installment, and the sixth overall installment in the Despicable Me franchise. The film was directed by Chris Renaud, co-directed by Patrick Delage (in his feature directorial debut), produced by Chris Meledandri and Brett Hoffman, and written by Mike White and Ken Daurio. It stars the voices of Steve CarellKristen WiigPierre CoffinJoey KingMiranda CosgroveSteve CooganSofía Vergara, Renaud, Madison Polan, Dana GaierChloe Fineman, with Stephen Colbert, and Will Ferrell.

Development of a fourth Despicable Me film began in September 2017. It was officially confirmed in February 2022, with Renaud, Delage, and White attached as director, co-director, and writer, respectively. Production was underway by June 2022. Most of the main voice cast was announced in January 2024, with Hoffman and Daurio revealed as co-producer and co-writer, respectively. Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams returned from previous installments to compose the score and write original songs and themes, respectively.

Despicable Me 4 premiered at the Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on June 9, 2024, and was theatrically released in Australia on June 20 and in the United States on July 3. Like its predecessor, the film received mixed reviews from critics.

Plot

Undercover Anti-Villain League (AVL) agent Gru attends a class reunion at his former high school, Lycée Pas Bon, where he reunites with Maxime Le Mal, a former classmate who has a feud with Gru for stealing his talent show act. During the ceremony, Maxime reveals he has enhanced himself with cockroach body parts, and Gru has him arrested by the AVL. Helped by his girlfriend Valentina, Maxime escapes prison and reveals his new invention. This gun transforms people into cockroach hybrids, which he plans to use specifically on Gru’s infant son Gru Jr.

Voice cast

  • Steve Carell as Felonious Gru, a former supervillain turned Anti-Villain League agent; who is Margo, Edith, and Agnes’ adopted father, the biological father of Gru Jr., and Lucy’s husband, who poses as “Chet Cunningham”
  • Kristen Wiig as Lucy Wilde, an Anti-Villain League agent, Gru’s wife and adoptive mother to Margo, Edith, and Agnes, and Gru Jr.’s biological mother, who poses as “Blanche Cunningham”
  • Will Ferrell as Maxime Le Mal, a French-accented supervillain who seeks revenge on Gru and his family
  • Joey King as Poppy Prescott,[4][5] an aspiring supervillain who has admired Gru for a long time
  • Sofía Vergara as Valentina, Maxime’s femme fatale girlfriend
  • Stephen Colbert as Perry Prescott, Poppy’s father, Patsy’s husband, and Gru’s new neighbor at Mayflower[5]
  • Chloe Fineman as Patsy Prescott, Poppy’s mother, Perry’s wife, and Gru’s new neighbor at Mayflower[5]
  • Miranda Cosgrove as Margo, Gru and Lucy’s oldest adopted daughter, who poses as “Bree Cunningham”
  • Steve Coogan as Silas Ramsbottom, the previously-retired director of the Anti-Villain League
  • Pierre Coffin as the Minions, the yellow henchmen of Gru, most of them later get jobs at the Anti-Villain League as agents
  • Dana Gaier as Edith, Gru and Lucy’s middle adopted daughter, who poses as “Blair Cunningham”
  • Madison Polan as Agnes, Gru and Lucy’s youngest adopted daughter, who poses as “Britney Cunningham”. Polan replaces Nev Scharrel from the third film
  • Chris Renaud as Übelschlecht, the principal of Lycée Pas Bon
  • Laraine Newman as Melora, a salon customer who was accidentally burned by Lucy
  • Tara Strong as Gru Jr., Gru and Lucy’s biological son
  • John DiMaggio as a Bus Driver

Additionally, Gru’s neighbor, Fred McDade, his mother Marlena Gru, his twin brother Dru Gru, and Dr. Nefario make non-speaking cameos. Several villains from the previous films (consisting of Vector and his father, Mr. Perkins, El Macho, Scarlet and Herb Overkill, Balthazar Bratt, and the Vicious 6) have non-speaking cameos at the end of the film as well.

________________________________________________________________________

FLY ME TO THE MOON

FLY ME TO THE MOON

Fly Me to the Moon is an upcoming American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Greg Berlanti from a screenplay by Rose Gilroy. The film stars Scarlett JohanssonChanning Tatum, Nick Dillenburg, Anna Garcia, Jim RashNoah RobbinsColin Woodell, Christian Zuber, Donald Elise Watkins, Ray Romano, and Woody Harrelson. Its plot follows the relationship between a marketing specialist and a NASA director during the 1960s Space Race.

Fly Me to the Moon is scheduled to be released theatrically in the United States and Canada by Columbia Pictures through Sony Pictures, Releasing on July 12, 2024, before streaming on Apple TV+ at a later date.[3][4][5]

Premise

During the 1960s Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union, a relationship developed between the NASA director in charge of the Apollo 11 launch and the marketing specialist brought in to fix NASA’s public image and stage a “back-up” fake Moon landing.[6]

Cast

________________________________________________________________________

SOUND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF POSSUM TROT

SOUND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF POSSUM TROT

Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot (also simply known as Possum Trot) is an upcoming American drama film directed by Joshua Weigel and co-written by Rebekah Weigel. Actress and activist Letitia Wright serves as executive producer.

Plot

Inspired by a true story, the film follows Donna and Reverend Martin of Possum Trot, Texas, as they ignite a fire in the hearts of their rural church to embrace kids in foster care that no one else would take in. By doing the impossible—adopting 77 children—this East Texas community proved that with determined love, the battle for America’s most vulnerable can be won.

Cast

________________________________________________________________________

THE SECRET ART OF HUMAN FLIGHT

THE SECRET ART OF HUMAN FLIGHT

The Secret Art of Human Flight is a 2023 American fantasy comedy-drama film written by Jesse Orenshein, directed by H.P. Mendoza, and starring Grant Rosenmeyer.

Plot

The Secret Art of Human Flight is a 2023 American fantasy comedy-drama film directed by H.P. Mendoza and starring Grant Rosenmeyer. The film tells the story of a grieving widower who turns to a mysterious self-help book from the dark web, promising to unlock the power to fly12Quirky and gentle, the movie explores themes of loss and letting go34.

Cast

________________________________________________________________________

7/3/2024 #Despicable Me 4 #Fly Me To the Moon #Sound of Hope: The Story of Poissum Trot #The Secret Art of Human Flight

 

NEW MOVIES: June 27-July 3, 2024, “A Quiet Place: Day One,” “Horizon: An American Saga, Chapter 1,” “Daddio,” “How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer”

A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE

A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE

A Quiet Place: Day One is an upcoming American apocalyptic horror film written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, based on a story he conceived with John Krasinski. It is the third installment in the A Quiet Place film series, serving as a spin-off prequel to the first film. The film stars Lupita Nyong’oJoseph Quinn, and Alex Wolff, with Djimon Hounsou reprising his role from A Quiet Place Part II (2020).

A Quiet Place: Day One is scheduled to premiere at the Tribeca Festival on June 26, 2024, and be released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on June 28, 2024.

Premise

Follows a woman named Sam during the early stages of an invasion in New York City by alien creatures with ultrasonic hearing.

Cast

_____________________________________________________________________

HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA, CHAPTER 1

HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA, CHAPTER 1

Kevin Costner’s Western epic “Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter 1” premieres, but it faces challenges.

Key takeaways

  • Director: Kevin Costner
  • Writer: Jon Baird, Kevin Costner
  • Stars: Kevin Costner, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington
  • Genre: Drama, Western
  • Release Date: 2024-06-28
Chronicles a multi-faceted, 15-year span of the American West’s pre-and post-Civil War expansion and settlement.

_____________________________________________________________________

DADDIO

DADDIO

Daddio is a 2023 American drama film produced, written and directed by Christy Hall. It stars Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn.

Premise

After landing at JFK International Airport, a young woman takes a cab back to her apartment in Manhattan. During the ride, she and the cab driver, Clark, have unexpectedly honest conversations about numerous topics, including their past and present relationships, sex and power dynamics, loss, and vulnerability.[2]

Cast

_____________________________________________________________________

HOW TO COME ALIVE with NORMAN MAILER

HOW TO COME ALIVE with NORMAN MAILER

“HOW TO COME ALIVE with Norman Mailer” is an upcoming documentary set to release on June 28, 20241Directed by Jeff Zimbalist and written by Victoria Marquette and Jeff Zimbalist, the film explores the life of Norman Mailer, a significant figure in American literature1The documentary covers Mailer’s journey from his early years in Brooklyn to becoming a leading cultural voice, detailing his six marriages, nine children, eleven bestselling books, and two Pulitzer Prizes1It offers an intimate look at Mailer’s life, featuring access to his family and previously unseen footage1.

Nachem “Norman” Malech (“King”)[b] Mailer was born to a Jewish family in Long Branch, New Jersey, on January 31, 1923.[2][3] His father, Isaac Barnett Mailer, popularly known as “Barney,” was an accountant[3] born in South Africa, and his mother, Fanny (née Schneider), ran a housekeeping and nursing agency. Mailer’s sister, Barbara, was born in 1927.[4]

Mailer was raised in Brooklyn, first in Flatbush on Cortelyou Road[5] and later in Crown Heights at the corner of Albany and Crown Streets.[6] He graduated from Boys High School and entered Harvard College in 1939 when he was 16. As an undergraduate, he was a member of the Signet Society. At Harvard, he majored in engineering but took writing courses as electives.[7] He published his first story, “The Greatest Thing in the World,” at age 18, winning Story magazine’s college contest in 1941.[8]

Mailer graduated from Harvard in 1943 with a Bachelor of Science with honors. He married his first wife, Beatrice “Bea” Silverman, in January 1944, just before he was drafted into the U.S. Army.[9] Hoping to gain a deferment from service, Mailer argued that he was writing an “important literary work” that pertained to the war.[10] The deferral was denied, and Mailer was forced to enter the Army.[11] After training at Fort Bragg, he was stationed in the Philippines with the 112th Cavalry.[12]

During his time in the Philippines, Mailer was first assigned to regimental headquarters as a typist, then assigned as a wire lineman. In early 1945, after volunteering for a reconnaissance platoon, he completed more than two dozen patrols in contested territory and engaged in several firefights and skirmishes. After the Japanese surrender, he was sent to Japan as part of the army of occupation, was promoted to sergeant, and became a first cook.[13]

When asked about his war experiences, he said that the army was “the worst experience of my life, and also the most important.”[14] While in Japan and the Philippines, Mailer wrote to his wife Bea almost daily, and these approximately 400 letters became the foundation of The Naked and the Dead.[15] He drew on his experience as a reconnaissance rifleman for the novel’s central action: a long patrol behind enemy lines.[16][17]

 

_____________________________________________________________________

6/25/2024 #A Quiet Place: Day One #Horizon: An American Saga, Chapter 1 #Daddio #How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer

 

NEW MOVIES: June 20-26, 2024, “The Bikeriders,” “Thelma,” “Bread & Roses,” “Kinds of Kindness”

THE BIKERIDERS

THE BIKERIDERS

The Bikeriders is a 2023 American crime drama film written and directed by Jeff Nichols. It tells a fictional story inspired by Danny Lyon’s 1967 photo book of the same name, which depicts the lives of the Outlaws MC, a motorcycle club founded in McCook, Illinois. The film stars Jodie ComerAustin ButlerTom HardyMichael ShannonMike Faist, and Norman Reedus.

The Bikeriders premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023. Originally scheduled to be released theatrically in the United States on December 1, 2023, by 20th Century Studios, the release was delayed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Ultimately, Focus Features acquired the film from producer New Regency, scheduling it for its current release date of June 21, 2024.

Plot

Set in the 1960s, it follows the rise of the Vandals MC, a Chicago outlaw motorcycle club. Seen through the lives of its members and their families, the club evolves over a decade from a surrogate family for local outcasts into a violent organized crime syndicate, threatening the founder’s unique vision and way of life.[3]

Cast

_______________________________________________________________________

THELMA

THELMA

Thelma is a 2024 American comedy film written and directed by Josh Margolin, starring June SquibbFred HechingerRichard RoundtreeParker PoseyClark Gregg, and Malcolm McDowell.[2]

Premise

When 93-year-old Thelma Post is duped by a phone scammer, she embarks on a quest to take back what is hers.

Cast

June Squibb and Fred Hechinger at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

_______________________________________________________________________

BREAD & ROSES

BREAD & ROSES

“Bread & Roses” offers a powerful window into the seismic impact that the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in 2021 had on women’s rights and livelihoods. The film follows three women in real-time as they fight to recover their autonomy. Sahra Mani captures the spirit and resilience of Afghan women through a raw depiction of their harrowing plight.

Sahra Mani Director
Sahra Mani Producer
Jennifer Lawrence Producer
Justine Ciarrocchi Producer
Malala Yousafzai Executive Producer
Farhad Kosravi Executive Producer

_______________________________________________________________________

KINDS OF KINDNESS

KINDS OF KINDNESS

Kinds of Kindness is a 2024 absurdist black comedy anthology film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos from a screenplay he co-wrote with Efthimis Filippou.[2][3] The film stars Emma StoneJesse PlemonsWillem DafoeMargaret QualleyHong ChauJoe AlwynMamoudou Athie, and Hunter Schafer.

Kinds of Kindness had its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2024, where Plemons won the Best Actor award. Searchlight Pictures released it theatrically in the United States on June 21, 2024, and in Ireland and the United Kingdom on June 28, 2024.

Premise[edit]

Kinds of Kindness, described as a “triptych fable,” consists of three distinct but loosely connected stories: “The Death of R.M.F” follows a man struggling to take charge of his destiny after quitting his powerful job that dictates what he does in a day.; “R.M.F. is Flying” depicts a man plagued by suspicions that his spouse, who has recently returned after being reported missing, is an imposter; “R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich,” revolves around a cultist, after being kicked out of the said cult for being “contaminated,” vehemently attempting to fulfill her task to find a specific person with the ability to resurrect the dead.[4][5]

Cast[edit]

  • Emma Stone as:[6]
    • Rita (“The Death of R.M.F”)
    • Liz (“R.M.F. is Flying”)
    • Emily (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)
  • Jesse Plemons as:[6]
    • Robert (“The Death of R.M.F”)
    • Daniel (“R.M.F. is Flying”)
    • Andrew (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)
  • Willem Dafoe as:[6]
    • Raymond (“The Death of R.M.F”)
    • George (“R.M.F. is Flying”)
    • Omi (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)
  • Margaret Qualley as:[6]
    • Vivian (“The Death of R.M.F”)
    • Martha (“R.M.F. is Flying”)
    • twins Ruth and Rebecca (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)
  • Hong Chau as:[6]
    • Sarah (“The Death of R.M.F”)
    • Sharon (“R.M.F. is Flying”)
    • Aka (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)
  • Joe Alwyn as:[6]
    • collectibles appraiser man 1 (“The Death of R.M.F”)
    • Jerry (“R.M.F. is Flying”)
    • Joseph (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)
  • Mamoudou Athie as:[6]
    • Will (“The Death of R.M.F”)
    • Neil (“R.M.F. is Flying”)
    • the morgue nurse (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)
  • Hunter Schafer as Anna (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)[6]
  • Yorgos Stefanakos as R.M.F.[7]
  • Merah Benoit as Emily’s daughter (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)[8]

_______________________________________________________________________

6/20/2024 #The Bikeriders #Thelma #Bread & Roses #Kinds of Kindness

NEW MOVIES: June 13-19, 2024, “Inside Out 2,” “Tuesday,” “Firebrand,” “The Grab”

INSIDE OUT 2

INSIDE OUT 2

Inside Out 2 is a 2024 American animated coming-of-age film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. The sequel to Inside Out (2015) was directed by Kelsey Mann (in his feature directorial debut) and produced by Mark Nielsen, from a screenplay written by Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein and a story conceived by Mann and LeFauve.[3][4] The film stars Amy PoehlerPhyllis SmithLewis BlackDiane Lane, and Kyle MacLachlan, reprising their roles from the first film with Tony Hale (replacing Bill Hader as Fear), Liza Lapira (replacing Mindy Kaling as Disgust), Maya HawkeAyo EdebiriAdèle ExarchopoulosPaul Walter Hauser, and Kensington Tallman (replacing Kaitlyn Dias as Riley) joining the cast. It tells the story of Riley’s emotions as they join new emotions that want to take over Riley’s head.

Inside Out 2 was first announced in September 2022 during the D23 Expo announcement, with Mann, Nielsen, and LeFauve attached as director, producer, and writer, respectively, while Poehler was revealed to reprise her role in the film, along with Smith, Black, Lane, and MacLachlan. Hale, Lapira, and Hawke joined the cast in November 2023, while Edebiri, Exarchopoulos, Hauser, and Tallman’s roles were confirmed in March 2024. That same month, Holstein was confirmed to have co-written the screenplay with LeFauve. The film features Pixar chief creative officer Pete Docter‘s “five to 27 emotions” idea from the first film that Mann pitched during its production to utilize “truthful” worldbuilding.

Inside Out 2 premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on June 10, 2024, and is scheduled for release in theaters in the United States on June 14, 2024.

Premise

Inside Out 2 returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone.

— Pixar Animation Studios[5]

Voice cast

  • Amy Poehler plays Joy, a yellow happy emotion.[6]
  • Phyllis Smith as Sadness, a blue sad emotion.[6]
  • Lewis Black as Anger, a red angry emotion.[6]
  • Tony Hale as Fear, a purple scared emotion. Hale replaces Bill Hader from the first film.[6]
  • Liza Lapira as Disgust, a green disgusted emotion. Lapira replaces Mindy Kaling from the first film.[6]
  • Maya Hawke as Anxiety, a new orange anxious emotion.[6]
  • Ayo Edebiri plays Envy, a new cyan envious emotion.[7]
  • Adèle Exarchopoulos as Ennui, a new indigo bored emotion.[7]
  • Paul Walter Hauser as Embarrassment, a new pink embarrassed emotion.[7]
  • Kensington Tallman as Riley Andersen, a 13-year-old girl in whose mind the emotions live. Tallman replaces Kaitlyn Dias from the first film.[7]
  • Diane Lane plays Mrs. Andersen, Riley’s mother.[6]
  • Kyle MacLachlan as Mr. Andersen, Riley’s father.[6]
  • Lilimar plays Valentina “Val” Ortiz, a popular hockey player at Riley’s high school.[7]
  • Paula Pell as Mom’s Anger.[7][8]
  • Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green is Bree’s friend.[9]
  • Grace Lu as Grace, Riley’s friend.[9]
  • Yvette Nicole Brown is Coach Roberts, a hockey coach and head of the summer hockey camp.[7]
  • John Ratzenberger[7] as Fritz.
  • June Squibb as Nostalgia, a new beige nostalgic emotion.[10]
  • Ron Funches as Bloofy, a character from Riley’s favorite childhood TV show. He is similar to the hosts of interactive children’s shows such as Barney & Friends or Dora the Explorer.[11]
  • Yong Yea is Lance Slashblade, a heroic video game character Riley had a crush on when she was younger. He is similar to characters from Final Fantasy.[11]
  • John Morris is the cameo appearance of Andy Davis, who works at McDonald’s with his Entire Set of Emotions, such as Sadness, Joy, Disgust, Anger, Fear, Envy, Anxiety, Ennui, and Embarrassment, all appearing during the Closing credits.[12]

Additionally, television personality Sam Thompson cameos in the UK version of the film as Security Man Sam, a character who finds himself on a chase with emotions.[13]

In addition, Sarayu BlueFleaDave GoelzJames Austin JohnsonBobby MoynihanFrank OzPaula PoundstoneKendall Coyne Schofield, and Kirk Thatcher have been cast in undisclosed roles.[14][7]

______________________________________________________________________

TUESDAY

TUESDAY

Tuesday is a 2023 fantasy drama film written and directed by Daina O. Pusić in her feature directorial debut. A co-production between A24, the BFI, and BBC Film, it stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Lola Petticrew as a mother and daughter who are guided by Death itself in coping with the daughter’s impending death by terminal illnessLeah Harvey and Arinzé Kene also star.

The film premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on September 1, 2023, and was released in the United States on June 7, 2024.

Premise

Zora lives with her terminally ill daughter, Tuesday. One day, Death in the form of a size-altering macaw arrives and sends Zora and Tuesday on an emotional journey about life, love, and death.[3][4]

Cast

______________________________________________________________________

FIREBRAND

FIREBRAND

Firebrand is a 2023 British historical drama film directed by Karim Aïnouz and written by Henrietta Ashworth and Jessica Ashworth, based on the 2013 novel Queen’s Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle. The film focuses on Katherine Parr, Queen of England and the wife and widow of Henry VIII. It stars Alicia VikanderJude Law, and Eddie Marsan. The film marks Aïnouz’s first directorial effort in the English language.

Firebrand premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 21 May 2023, where it was selected to compete for Palme d’Or.

Premise

The film occurs during the final years of Henry VIII‘s reign and centers around his sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr. Ambitious and cunning, Katherine becomes caught between Henry’s desire to purge those who challenge the teachings of his Church of England and the radical preaching of Anne Askew, whom Katherine respects.

Cast

______________________________________________________________________

THE GRAB

THE GRAB

The Grab is a 2022 American documentary film directed and produced by Gabriela Cowperthwaite. It follows investigative journalists at The Center for Investigative Reporting as they uncover efforts to control vital resources on Earth.

It had its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2022, and is scheduled to be released by Magnolia Pictures and Participant on June 14, 2024.

Plot

It follows investigative journalists at The Center for Investigative Reporting as they uncover efforts to control food and water by foreign actors to the detriment of the local population.[2][3]

The film tries to outline a global warming reaction by several nation-states, where the powerful use force, economy, and illegal mercenaries to take control of food and water stocks. The narrative begins with the 2014 purchase of US-based Smithfield Foods by Chinese WH Group, which the filmmakers say gives control of 1/4 of all pigs in the US. It then follows other difficult-to-explain deals, such as the purchase of arid land in Arizona by a Saudi company. Russians hired American cowboys to work in a region too cold for farmland. Blackwater (the company) deals with securing land in Africa. All those strange deals are linked by “following the money,” as is said several times in the film. This raises connections between governments, commercial enterprises, and legal and illegal military actors such as mercenary companies. The filmmakers ultimately conclude that it is all part of plans, considering changes happening because of global warming.[3][4]

While the film is mostly archive and research image collages, it also contains some guerrilla filmmaking about the crew being denied access, for example, during their detention at a Zambian airport.[4]

Production

Gabriela Cowperthwaite spent six years working on the film after journalist Nathan Halverson reported on Smithfield Foods.[5][6][7] Cowperthwaite was initially asked if the investigative process behind Halverson’s articles would make a good film.[8] Due to the sensitive material of the subject[clarification needed], the production team did diagnostics on computers, did not talk in rooms with windows, and did not talk about the film at all.[9] They also used encrypted servers and hand-delivered all the footage. [10]

______________________________________________________________________

6/11/2024 #Inside Out 2 #Tuesday #Firebrand #The Grab

NEW MOVIES: June 6-12, 2024, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” “The Watchers,” “Hitman,” “Kidnapped: the Abduction of Edgardo Mortara”

BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE

BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE

Bad Boys: Ride or Die is a 2024 American buddy cop action comedy film directed by Adil & Bilall and written by Chris Bremner and Will Beall.[3] Produced by Columbia PicturesDon Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer FilmsWestbrook Studios and 2.0 Entertainment, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, it is the sequel to Bad Boys for Life (2020) and the fourth installment in the Bad Boys franchiseMartin LawrenceWill SmithJoe PantolianoVanessa HudgensAlexander LudwigPaola NúñezJacob Scipio, and DJ Khaled reprise their roles from the previous film with Tasha Smith taking over the role of Theresa Burnett from Theresa Randle, who previously played the character in the last three films. New cast members include Eric DaneIoan GruffuddRhea SeehornMelanie Liburd and Tiffany Haddish.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die premiered at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on May 22, 2024. The film is scheduled to be theatrically released in France, Germany and the United Kingdom on 5 June 2024; in Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico and South Korea on 6 June 2024; in the United States on June 7, 2024.[4]

Premise

Detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett investigate corruption within the Miami PD when their late Captain Conrad Howard is posthumously accused of being involved with the Romanian Mafia, but a setup turns them into fugitives, forcing them to work outside the law in order to solve the case.

Cast

______________________________________________________________________

THE WATCHERS

THE WATCHERS

The Watchers (titled The Watched in the United Kingdom and Ireland[1]) is an upcoming American supernatural horror film written and directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan, produced by her father M. Night Shyamalan, and based on the novel of the same name by A. M. Shine. It stars Dakota FanningGeorgina Campbell, Oliver Finnegan, and Olwen Fouéré.

Filming took place from July to September 2023. It is scheduled to be theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures on June 7, 2024.

Premise

28-year-old artist Mina gets stranded in an expansive, untouched forest in western Ireland. Upon finding shelter, she unknowingly becomes trapped alongside three strangers who are watched and stalked by mysterious creatures each night.[2]

Cast

______________________________________________________________________

HITMAN

HITMAN

Hit Man is a 2023 American romantic black comedy film produced and directed by Richard Linklater, who co-wrote the screenplay with Glen Powell, based on the 2001 Texas Monthly magazine article of the same name by Skip Hollandsworth. The film stars Powell, Adria ArjonaAustin Amelio, and Retta, and follows an undercover New Orleans police contractor who poses as a reliable hitman as he tries to save a woman in need.

Hit Man premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 5, 2023, and was released in select theaters in the United States on May 24, 2024, before its streaming debut by Netflix on June 7. The film received praise from critics.

Plot

A part-time staffer with the New Orleans Police Department stumbles into the role of posing undercover as a reliable hitman with the goal of arresting those trying to hire him. He discovers he has a talent for theatrically matching the expectations of his suspects with often-humorous costumes, accents, and mannerisms, which makes him especially adept at his work. He meets a battered woman who wants to hire him to kill her husband, but he advises her to pursue better options for getting help. They become romantically entangled.

Cast

  • Glen Powell as Gary Johnson, college professor and tech guy turned undercover mole
  • Adria Arjona as Maddy Masters, Gary’s love-interest
  • Austin Amelio as Jasper, an undercover cop
  • Retta as Claudette, a police officer Gary works for
  • Sanjay Rao as Phil, a police officer Gary works for
  • Evan Holtzman as Ray Masters, Maddy’s ex-husband
  • Molly Bernard as Alisha, Gary’s ex-wife

______________________________________________________________________

KIDNAPPED: THE ABDUCTION OF EDGARDO MORTARA

KIDNAPPED: THE ABDUCTION OF EDGARDO MORTARA

Kidnapped (ItalianRapito) is a 2023 Italian-language historical drama film co-written and directed by Marco Bellocchio, about Edgardo Mortara, a young Jewish boy who was taken from his family by the Papal States and raised as a Catholic. It is loosely based on Daniele Scalise’s book Il caso Mortara.[3] It is a co-production between Italy, France and Germany.

The film was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered on 23 May 2023. It was theatrically released in Italy on 25 May. It received 11 nominations at the 69th David di Donatello, and won 5 awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay.[4]

Synopsis

1851. Edgardo Mortara is the sixth child of a Jewish family from the city of Bologna, part of the Papal States. Believing him sick and dying, the Christian maid Anna Morisi administers baptism in secret, for fear that when he dies he will end up in limbo. The child survives, but seven years later Anna tells Pier Feletti, head of the Bolognese office of the Holy Inquisition, about the baptism: the sacrament would have made the child irrevocably Catholic, and since the laws of the Papal States forbid a Christian to be raised by non-Christians, Feletti decides to remove the child from his family. On 24 June, Edgardo was forcibly taken and brought to Rome, where he would stay in the Casa dei Catecumeni, the boarding school for the children of converted Jews.

Cast

______________________________________________________________________

NEW MOVIES: #Bad Boys: Ride or Die #The Watchers #Hitman #Kidnapped: the Abduction of Edgardo Mortara

NEW MOVIES: May 30-June 5, 2024, “Ezra,” “Summer Camp,” “The Young Wife,” “The Girl Who Wore Freedom”

EZRA

EZRA

Ezra is a 2023 American comedy drama film directed by Tony Goldwyn and written by Tony Spiridakis. It stars Bobby CannavaleRose ByrneVera FarmigaWhoopi GoldbergRainn Wilson, Goldwyn, William Fitzgerald, and Robert De Niro.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2023. It is scheduled to be released theatrically on May 31, 2024.

Premise

Max Brandel, a stand-up comedian living with his father, Stan, struggles to co-parent his autistic son Ezra with his ex-wife, Jenna. When faced with difficult decisions about their son’s future, Max and Ezra set out on a cross-country road trip.

Cast

____________________________________________________________________

SUMMER CAMP

SUMMER CAMP

Summer Camp is an upcoming American comedy film written and directed by Castille Landon. It stars Diane KeatonKathy BatesAlfre WoodardBeverly D’AngeloNicole RichieJosh PeckBetsy SodaroDennis Haysbert, and Eugene Levy.

The film is scheduled to be released theatrically by Roadside Attractions in the United States on May 31, 2024.

Premise

Nora, Ginny, and Mary have been close friends since they were children and have spent their summer vacations together without fail, attending sleepaway camp as a trio. As they have aged, their opportunities to spend time together have dwindled. Thus, when the chance for a summer camp reunion presents itself, they all accept it, albeit with different levels of enthusiasm.[1]

Cast

____________________________________________________________________

THE YOUNG WIFE

THE YOUNG WIFE

The Young Wife is a 2023 American drama film written, directed, and produced by Tayarisha Poe. It stars Kiersey ClemonsLeon BridgesKelly Marie TranMichaela WatkinsAya Cash, Sandy Honig, Brandon Micheal HallLukita MaxwellSheryl Lee Ralph and Judith Light.

It had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 12, 2023.

Cast

____________________________________________________________________

THE GIRL WHO WORE FREEDOM

THE GIRL WHO WORE FREEDOM

The Girl Who Wore Freedom is a documentary film that tells the untold stories of D-Day from the perspective of the men, women, and children who lived through German occupation and the Allied liberation of Normandy, France12It uncovers an untold love story between two nations, highlighting the values and pride in country that emerged during that time1.

Discover the untold stories of D-Day from the men, women, and children who lived through the German occupation and Allied liberation of Normandy, France. Powerful and deeply personal, THE GIRL WHO WORE FREEDOM tells the stories of an America that lived its values, instilling pride in a country that is in danger of becoming a relic of the past.

____________________________________________________________________

5/28/2024 #Ezra #Summer Camp  #The Young Wife  #The Girl Who Wore Freedom

 

NEW MOVIES: May 23-29, 2024, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” “The Garfield Movie,” “Sight,” “Solo”

FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA

FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a 2024 post-apocalyptic action adventure film co-produced and directed by George Miller, who co-wrote it with Nico Lathouris. It is the fifth installment in the Mad Max franchise, serving as both a spin-off and prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). The film stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Alyla Browne as younger versions of the title character Imperator Furiosa, originally portrayed by Charlize TheronChris Hemsworth and Tom Burke also star.[2]

In March 2020, Miller conducted casting auditions for the title role of the film. In October, Taylor-Joy, Hemsworth and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II were cast in starring roles, but due to a scheduling conflict, Abdul-Mateen was replaced by Burke in November. Several crew members from Fury Road returned for the film, including screenwriter Lathouris, film editor Margaret Sixel, costume designer Jenny Beavan, and composer Tom HolkenborgPrincipal photography took place in Australia from June to October 2022.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga had its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on 15 May 2024, and is scheduled to be released in theatres in Australia by Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures on 23 May 2024, and in the United States the following day.

Premise

As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.

— Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast

__________________________________________________________________

THE GARFIELD MOVIE

THE GARFIELD MOVIE

The Garfield Movie is a 2024 American animated adventure comedy film based on the comic strip Garfield created by Jim Davis. Directed by Mark Dindal from a screenplay by Paul A. Kaplan, Mark Torgove, and David Reynolds, the film stars Chris Pratt as the voice of the titular character, alongside the voices of Samuel L. JacksonHannah WaddinghamVing RhamesNicholas HoultCecily StrongHarvey GuillénBrett GoldsteinBowen Yang, and Snoop Dogg. In the film, Garfield is reunited with his long-lost father, a street cat named Vic, being forced into joining him on a high-stakes adventure.

Development on the first animated Garfield film for theatrical release started at Alcon Entertainment in May 2016. Dindal was announced as the film’s director in November 2018, and pre-production began the following month. By 2021, Sony Pictures had already purchased the film rights for global distribution and Pratt was cast as Garfield, with the rest of the cast joining the following year. The film was animated by DNEG Animation, while John Debney, a frequent collaborator of Dindal, composed the score.

The Garfield Movie is set to be released in the United States by Sony Pictures Releasing on May 24, 2024.

Premise

Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt), the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father – scruffy street cat Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) – Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.

— The Garfield Movie official website[5]

Voice cast

__________________________________________________________________

SIGHT

SIGHT

Sight is an upcoming American biographical drama film directed by Andrew Hyatt, written by Hyatt, John Duigan, and Buzz McLaughlin, and starring Terry Chen and Greg Kinnear.[1] The film is about Ming Wang, a Chinese immigrant to the United States who became a renowned eye surgeon. It is based on Wang’s 2016 autobiography From Darkness to Sight.[2]

Cast

__________________________________________________________________

SOLO

SOLO

“Solo” is a film written and directed by Sophie Dupuis. It stars Théodore Pellerin and Félix Maritaud as two drag performers whose love affair takes center stage. Here’s what you need to know:

  1. Plot Summary:
  2. Director’s Perspective:
  3. Release and Reception:
  4. Trailer:

“Solo” promises a unique blend of passion, romance, and drag performances. It’s a celebration of chosen families, self-discovery, and the power of love. 🌈✨

__________________________________________________________________

5/21/2024 #Furiosa: A Mad Max Sage, #The Garfield Movie, #Sight, #Solo

NEW MOVIES: May 16-22, 2024, “If,” “Back to Black,” “Babes,” “Taking Venice”

IF

IF

IF is an upcoming American live-action/animated fantasy comedy film written, produced, and directed by John Krasinski. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Cailey FlemingRyan Reynolds, Krasinski, Fiona ShawAlan Kim, and Liza Colón-Zayas, along with the voices of Phoebe Waller-BridgeLouis Gossett Jr., and Steve Carell. Its plot follows a young girl and her neighbor who find themselves able to see imaginary friends.

Paramount Pictures is scheduled to release IF in the United States on May 17, 2024.

Premise

A young girl named Bea, who has been going through a troubling experience in her life, unexpectedly gains the ability to see people’s imaginary friends (referred to as “IFs” for short) who have been abandoned by the kids they helped. Bea then discovers that her neighbor, Cal, has the same ability. Together, they join forces to reunite the IFs with their former kids.

Cast

Voices

___________________________________________________________________

BACK TO BLACK

BACK TO BLACK

Back to Black is a 2024 biographical drama film based on the life of British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, played by Marisa Abela. Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and written by Matt Greenhalgh, the film also stars Jack O’ConnellEddie Marsan, and Lesley Manville.

Following Winehouse’s death in July 2011, several filmmakers attempted to create biopic projects, but none of them progressed. In 2018, Winehouse’s estate announced they had signed a deal for a film about her life and career. By July 2022, StudioCanal moved forward with production, and filming took place in London from January to April 2023.

StudioCanal released the film theatrically in Australia on April 11, 2024, and in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2024.Focus Features will release the film in the United States on May 17, 2024. It received mixed reviews from critics.

Plot

The film opens with scenes of Amy Winehouse’s Jewish family background, her father Mitch, and her grandmother “Nan” Cynthia, with their love for music and singing. Amy’s friend Tyler hands his manager Nick a demo tape of Amy’s recording and is impressed by her talent. She then signed a contract with Island Records and released her first album, Frank.

After enjoying acclaimed success, her record label wishes to make some changes to her stage act, which Amy strongly disagrees with. Amy then reveals she needs time off to live her songs and meets Blake in a pub in Camden Town, where they fall in love. Their relationship is soon troubled by Blake’s cocaine addiction, Amy’s alcoholism, and her bulimia. After experiencing Amy’s irritable behavior, Blake reveals that he thinks they would be better as friends and wants to work on things with his ex-girlfriend, Becky, which leaves Amy heartbroken. Before going to New York City, she learns that her grandmother is dying of lung cancer. After a difficult period of these traumatizing events all happening at once, she then gathers inspiration to write her hit album Back to Black.

Blake and Amy reconciled shortly after the release of her second album. They get married in Miami, Florida, much to Mitch’s dismay. But soon after, Blake is arrested and then serves a two-year sentence in jail for perverting the course of justice. Before he is released and Amy has now become a drug addict, Blake reveals he has been having counselling and informs Amy that he wishes to divorce as he wants a fresh start.

After various blackouts, Amy decides to accept “rehab”. She later receives five Grammy Awards. The last scene shows her new home in Camden Square, where Amy is now free of drugs and trying to tackle her alcohol dependence. After saying goodbye to her father, Mitch, for the final time, the paparazzi appear outside her gate and reveal that Blake has a new girlfriend and will have a baby. The film concludes with a tearful Amy singing “Tears Dry on Their Own” to herself and finishes with her walking up the stairs to her demise.

Cast

Jeff Tunke was also cast as Mark Ronson, but his scenes were ultimately cut.

___________________________________________________________________

BABES

BABES

Babes is a 2024 American comedy film directed by Pamela Adlon, written by Ilana Glazer and Josh Rabinowitz, and starring Glazer. It is Adlon’s feature directorial debut.

The film will be released in the United States on May 17, 2024.

Premise

When Eden, an aggressively single woman, gets pregnant from a one-night stand, she turns to her best friend Dawn, a married mother of two, for help.[2]

Cast

___________________________________________________________________

TAKING VENICE

TAKING VENICE

“Taking Venice” is a documentary directed by Amei Wallach. It delves into the true story behind rumors that the U.S. government and a team of high-placed insiders rigged the 1964 Venice Biennale, the “Olympics of art,” so their chosen artist, Robert Rauschenberg, could win the grand prizeThe film explores this captivating tale with expert interviews and extensive archival footage, shedding light on the intersection of art, politics, and ambition during the height of the Cold War.

At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. government was determined to fight communism with culture. The Venice Biennale, the world’s most influential art exhibition, became a proving ground in 1964. Alice Denney, a Washington insider and friend of the Kennedys, recommends Alan Solomon, an ambitious curator making waves with trailblazing art, to organize the U.S. entry. Together with Leo Castelli, a powerful New York art dealer, they embark on a daring plan to make Robert Rauschenberg the winner of the Grand Prize. The artist is yet to be taken seriously with his combinations of junk off the street and images from pop culture, but he has the potential to dazzle. Deftly pulling off maneuvers that could have come from a Hollywood thriller, the American team leaves the international press crying foul and Rauschenberg questioning the politics of nationalism that sent him there.

 

___________________________________________________________________

5/14/2024 #”If,” #”Back to Black,” #”Babes,” #”Taking Venice”