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!
On the latest episode of CinemAddicts, I reviewed Liam Neeson’s new feature “Absolution.” Since a healthy share of Neeson’s resume can be deemed as action thrillers, that label might be perfectly suited for this film. If you are looking for a shoot ’em up revenge thriller, you have come to the wrong place. “Absolution” focuses on an entirely different element of storytelling, so you might be disappointed if you are expecting another “Taken.”
Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” is a live-action, kids centric adventure that launches December 3 on Disney+. Check out the trailer and share your thoughts!
If you love jazz and an inspired editing style, “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” is definitely worth a look. Director Johan Gimonprez gives an in-depth look at the 1961 assassination of Congolese prime minister Patrice Lumumba. There are a lot of players in this 150 minute documentary, but watching this feature was, at least to me and Bruce Purkey, an immeasurably immersive experience.
Filmmaker Vaughn Stein’s previous movies “Inheritance” and “Every Breath You Take” explore different facets of the suspense thriller. He returns to the genre once again with “Cellar Door,” finding a new creative element to explore. All of these movies feature cinematographer Michael Merriman, and in the past four years the pair have crafted standout thrillers. Stein talked to Deepest Dream about his approach to “Cellar Door” and why he saw it as a “dark fairy tale.”
I have Two Blu-rays of “The Beast Within,” a thriller starring Kit Harington, up for grabs. Blu-rays are courtesy of Well Go USA. Check my post for entry details!
