I’m not a big fan of Valentine’s Day since there is no love in this barren wasteland I call my life. I am, however, fond of Horror movies so “Heart Eyes” should be right up my alley. Two of the screenwriters (Michael Kennedy, Christopher Landon) penned “Freaky” (which Landon directed). “Heart Eyes” director Josh Ruben is the filmmaker behind the first rate “Werewolves Within.” It’s a good filmmaking crew, and the teaser and poster visuals are also standouts.
“Normal People,” “All of Us Strangers,” and “Aftersun” have all been critically acclaimed and bolstered the early career of Paul Mescal. His first credit was in 2019, and in just five years he is the lead in “Gladiator II.” Ridley Scott is one of cinema’s most legendary filmmakers, so it’s no surprise that Mescal learned an “endless” amount from the “Gladiator II” director.
Matt Rife has seen his stand-up comic career skyrocket, and his popularity should help the prospects of his latest feature “Trapped Inn.” Rife is a member of an American cycling team that are holed up in a historic lodge in the remote mountains of Europe. Check out the trailer and let us know what you think!
Kieran Culkin has been recounting during the “A Real Pain” press tour that he initially was going to back out of the project. He ultimately hopped on board after a call from producer Emma Stone (he talks about in on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert).
Gino Vannelli at Podium the Vorstin in Hilversum, Netherlands.
Photograph by Erik Wynberg, Provided by COA Productions
Singer/songwriter Gino Vannelli will release “The Life I Got (To My Most Beloved),” his 22nd album, on February 7, 2025 via BFD/The Orchard. The album’s first single is a rearranged version of “Keep On Walking,” a track featured on his third album “Storm at Sunup.”
Beatrice Schneider as Imogene Herdman and Judy Greer as Grace in Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Photo Credit: Allen Fraser
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” based on Barbara Robinson’s popular 1972 novel, centers on six children who aim to ruin the town’s annual celebration. This is the 75th anniversary of the Christmas Pageant, and Grace (Judy Greer) is in charge of the event. Greer talks about what she hopes people take away from this holiday film.
A still from Presence by Steven Soderbergh, an official selection of the Premieres Program at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Hitting theaters January, “Presence” is a haunted house story that, from the looks of the trailer, takes the POV of the ghost. The simple plotline centers on a family that moves into a suburban house, only to realize they are not alone. Check out the trailer for this Steven Soderbergh directed spooker!!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s novel “The Sorrows of Young Werther” is described as a tragic romance, so it will be interesting to see how “Young Werther” puts a romcom spin on things.
Columbia Noir - Criterion Channel / Columbia Pictures / Sony Pictures
Noirvember is upon us, and The Criterion Channel is celebrating this month with a spotlight on the 100th anniversary of Columbia Pictures. Filmmakers Samuel Fuller (“The Crimson Kimono”), Charles Vidor (“Gilda”), and Fritz Lang (“The Big Heat”) were among the luminaries who worked on the lot to craft modestly budgeted and classic film noirs. Check out the Columbia noirs availabe to stream on The Criterion Channel!
