Previews: The Dead Don’t Die Trailer, MIDSommAR, More!

Plenty of hotly-anticipated movies in this week’s preview of coming attractions, including The Dead Don’t Die trailer, Midsommar, Rocketman, and more…

The Dead Don’t Die Trailer

Here is the new The Dead Don’t Die trailer. The film, written and directed by Jim Jarmusch (Only Lovers Left Alive), is about a small town that becomes overrun with zombies. The comedy horror stars Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Chloë Sevigny, Danny Glover, and Tilda Swinton. The Dead Don’t Die hits UK screens on 12th July 2019.

Rocketman Featurette

Here is a new featurette on the costumes for the upcoming Rocketman. The film, a biopic of the early career of Elton John, stars Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, and Jamie Bell. Directed by Dexter Fletcher, Rocketman is out in UK cinemas on 22nd May 2019.

Spider-Man: Far From Home Trailer

Warning: this trailer contains spoilers for Avengers: Endgame. The sequel to 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home takes place after the events of Endgame. Tom Holland, Marisa Tomei, and Zendaya return, and they are joined by Jake Gyllenhaal and Samuel L. Jackson. Spider-Man: Far From Home is set for release on 2nd July 2019.

Midsommar Trailer

Filmmaker Ari Aster follows up last year’s critically acclaimed horror Hereditary with Midsommar. The film is about an American couple who join friends at a festival in a remote Swedish village. Midsommar stars Florence Pugh, Will Poulter, and Jack Reynor. The film will be released in UK cinemas on 5th July 2019.

Crawl Trailer

Above is the trailer for Crawl. The horror thriller is about a young woman who goes looking for her missing father during a massive hurricane. Those with a fear of alligators should look away now. Alexandre Aja directs the film, with Sam Raimi producing. Starring Kaya Scodelario, Crawl is set for release this summer.

Film Review: The First Purge

Dystopian horror prequel The First Purge offers the same brand of violence and social commentary as the rest of the series. Four films in, it all feels a bit too familiar. 

After the breakdown of American society, a new political party (the New Founding Fathers of America) is in power. The party allow an experiment to take place on Staten Island; for twelve hours, all crime is legal…

A prequel to the horror trilogy, The First Purge shows viewers how the annual event first began. The film concentrates on an experiment that takes place on Staten Island, which paves the way for a national event. The opening gambit summarises how America got to the point where the purge experiment would be acceptable. Director Gerard McMurray breezes through this aspect, using newsreel of protests to show how America has come to this point. The reasoning behind the experiment is flimsy, with the scantest of efforts exploring the method behind it. 

From the first film in 2013, The Purge series has become more of a reflection of contemporary America. The first film felt like satire, but the filmmakers have tried to marry the films to real-life issues increasingly as the series has progressed. This prequel continues this trend, feeling less satire and more possible future. Some of the imagery, references, and phrases capitalise on this. 

There is a high body count in The First Purge, but the feeling of déjà vu is strong. As the narrative is set up, the movements are too familiar. The protagonists are made clear, but character development is not a priority for writer James DeMonaco. Later in the film there is a sequence taken straight from The Raid; the foreshadowing is almost overpowering for those familiar with Gareth Evans’ film. 

Performances in the film are perfectly acceptable. Mugga’s Delores given some good lines, providing necessary comic relief. Marisa Tomei is underused in a thankless role. Lex Scott Davis is decent. Dialogue in the film is not always great, but an improvement on the last chapter, The Purge: Election Year.

The First Purge rounds up the series suitably well, and leaves the film franchise no where to go. The film is not boring, but is not original either. 

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Film Review: Spider-Man: Homecoming

Spider-Man: Homecoming is a joyous comic book movie. It is easily superior to the last four Spider-Man films.

After his adventure with the Avengers, Peter Parker must return to his reality as a high school student from Queens. He attempts to balance his regular life with fighting low-level crime as Spider-Man. Things become complicated with a new villain on the scene…

After some false starts, Sony have teamed up with Marvel to deliver a Spider-Man film that ticks all the boxes. Spider-Man: Homecoming is well written, well directed, and captures the essence of the title character. The film is fun, engaging and entertaining.

Perhaps the most pivotal shift in this latest Spider-Man film is the quality of the writing. Spider-man: Homecoming was penned by no less than six writers (including director Jon Watts), and this combination seems to work. Characters are given enough depth, scenes are well constructed, and jokes are plentiful. Plot development is smartly executed. The film keeps an even keel, balancing frequent humour with action and sufficient motivation.

A refreshing aspect of this film is its scale. Whilst there are the necessary big set pieces, the narrative is performed within a smaller scope. In contrast to the grandstanding of the previous Avengers films, the world explored by Watts’ film takes place in a smaller world. Peter’s motivation is stopping the bad guys in his neighbourhood, even if he longs for a more striking fight. Similarly, the antagonist here has more down-to-earth concerns, rather than the world domination that consumes so many others in this genre. Spider-Man: Homecoming is a better film for this.

There are some great sequences in the film, including the montage of the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. Action sequences offer spectacle, whilst the visuals always look great. Tom Holland impresses as Peter Parker; his energy works well in the role. Michael Keaton turns in a great performance, as always. There is good support from Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, and Laura Harrier.

Spider-Man: Homecoming is a very welcome addition to the Marvel world. The film entertains, amuses, and will leave viewers eager for more.

Previews: Flatliners Trailer, Girls Trip, More!

This week’s preview of coming attractions features the new Flatliners trailer, Girls Trip, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, and more…

Flatliners Trailer

Is it a remake of the 1990 movie, or is it a sequel? This new Flatliners trailer reveals a lot about the plot, but does not answer the question resolutely. The film stars Ellen Page and Diego Luna as medical students who decide to experiment with near-death experiences. Flatliners will hit UK cinemas on 29th September 2017.

The Hitman’s Bodyguard Trailer

This movie looks like a lot of fun. Action comedy The Hitman’s Bodyguard is about a notorious hitman who has to be guarded Trailerby a top protection agent. The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L Jackson, Salma Hayek, and Gary Oldman. The Hitman’s Bodyguard is out in UK cinemas on 18th August 2017.

The Mountain Between Us Trailer

Here is the new trailer for The Mountain Between Us. The film is a thriller about two strangers who become stranded on a mountain following a crash. Based on the novel of the same name, the film is directed by Hany Abu-Assad, and stars Idris Elba and Kate Winslet. The Mountain Between Us is released on UK screens on 6th October 2017.

Girls Trip Poster

Here is the new poster for Girls Trip. The film is about four long-time friends who head down to New Orleans for the Essence Festival. The film stars Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Tiffany Haddish. Girls Trip is out in UK cinemas on 26th July 2017.

Spider-Man: Homecoming Featurette

This Spider-Man: Homecoming featurette focuses on the Spidey Suit. The film stars Tom Holland in the title role. He is joined by Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, as well as Michael Keaton, Zendaya, and Marisa Tomei. Spider-Man: Homecoming launches onto UK screens on 5th July 2017.

Scribe Trailer

Here is the trailer for political thriller Scribe. The film is about a middle-aged man who is hired by a mysterious employer to transcribe phone-tapped conversations. François Cluzet, Scribe is released in UK cinemas and on demand from 21st July 2017.

Previews: Spider-Man: Homecoming Trailer, Goodfellas, More!

This week’s preview of coming attractions features the new Spider-Man: Homecoming trailer, Baywatch, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2, The Mummy, and more…

Spider-Man: Homecoming Trailer

Here is the full Spider-Man: Homecoming trailer. The film seems to be very much in the style of the recent Marvel films, not least with the appearance of Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark. Starring Tom Holland as the title character, and featuring Michael Keaton and Marisa Tomei, Spider-Man: Homecoming is set for release on 7th July 2017.

Baywatch Trailer

Here is the trailer for the Baywatch film. Whilst it is yet another film reboot of a television show, this one looks like it will be a lot of fun. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, and Priyanka Chopra, the film reprises the characters from the original television show.  Directed by Horrible Bosses‘ Seth Gordon, Baywatch will be released in Summer 2017.

Goodfellas Trailer

Here is the first new Goodfellas in 25 years, produced for the 4K restoration of the film. The film is being re-released UK-wide, and as part of the BFI’s Martin Scorsese’s retrospective season which runs from 1st January-28th February 2017. The classic gangster film will be re-released in UK cinemas on 20th January 2017.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 Trailer

Baby Groot is just enchanting. Here is the first real look at next year’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Guardians of the Galaxy was a brilliant mix of action, spectacle, comedy, and music, and the sequel seems to offer the same. The film sees the return of Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, and the voice of Bradley Cooper. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will hit UK screens on 28th April 2017.

Live By Night Poster

Here is the latest poster for Live By Night. Director, screenwriter and star Ben Affleck channels the classic gangster movie with his latest. Affleck collaborates with author Dennis Lehane once again (after Gone Baby Gone) for the Boston-set thriller. Featuring an all-star cast, Live By Night will be released in UK cinemas on 13th January 2017.

The Mummy Trailer

Here is the trailer for Universal’s The Mummy. The film is another incarnation of the series of films, the first of which was released in 1932. This version stars Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, and Annabelle Wallis. Much of the action seems to take place in London, continuing the trend of city being destroyed in big-budget movies. The Mummy will hit UK screens on 9th June 2017.

Transformers: The Last Knight Trailer

Here is the trailer for the latest Transformers movie, the fifth in this franchise. Mark Wahlberg returns in Transformers: The Last Knight, along with Stanley Tucci, Josh Duhamel, and Tyrese Gibson. Anthony Hopkins also joins the cast this time around. Transformers: The Last Knight is set for release in Summer 2017.

Film Review: The Lincoln Lawyer

The Lincoln Lawyer is an enjoyable if not gripping legal thriller, overall. What appears at first to be a straightforward courtroom drama transforms into a rather bizarre crime case.

Mick Haller is a top defense lawyer who does most of his work out of the back of his Lincoln car. Haller’s services are requested by a wealthy young client, who strongly protests his innocence. As Haller takes on the case, he discovers that it is more complicated and dangerous than it initially seemed…

The Lincoln Lawyer is entertaining, but not without its flaws. The pacing in the film is uneven. There is too much build up before the more critical scenes commence. This leaves the significant sequences feeling rushed; it takes too long to this point. Moreover, the conclusion of the film is not as climactic as it should be, especially with the prolonged build up.

The case that is presented to Haller is really quite intriguing. It seems rather straightforward to begin with, but it quickly becomes clear that there is more than meets the eye. Rather than plain courtroom drama, The Lincoln Lawyer combines action and violence, making Brad Furman’s film more of a crime thriller. This works reasonably well, however the film would have functioned with just as much suspense, perhaps more so, if the action was kept in the confines of the courtroom.

The Lincoln Lawyer is very much a one-man show. That is not to say that Matthew McConaughey offers a particularly powerful performance. Rather, the character Haller dominates the entire film, leaving little room for the auxiliary characters. These side characters drift in and out of the film, with little time or exertion spent on developing them. It is a shame, as the movie could have been stronger if the supporting players had been given meatier roles.

Matthew McConaughey is adequate as Haller. It is refreshing to see McConaughey in something other than a romantic comedy. But while the actor exudes the charisma of the character, his mark is not so indelible in the more dramatic sequences. Ryan Phillippe is convincing as client Louis Roulet, offering a more commanding performance than the lead. Marisa Tomei, Willaim H. Macy and John Leguizamo are all good, but underused in their meagre roles.

Production values are decent, especially Jeff McEvoy’s editing. Music is also a plus; the film uses a mixture of classic and contemporary urban tunes. The Lincoln Lawyer is slick and entertaining, but lacks the execution to elevate the film beyond this.

Film Review: Cyrus

Cyrus effectively mixes drama with comedic episodes, producing a thoroughly watchable movie. The style of the film distinguishes itself from many others in the comedy-drama category, resulting in an offbeat picture that is unlikely to set the box office ablaze, but should be enjoyed by all that take a punt on Cyrus.

Divorced John is stuck in a rut until he meets an amazing woman at a party. Things are going well for the pair, until John stats to spend time with her grown-up son Cyrus…

Whilst the trailer suggests Cyrus is a comedy foremost, in reality the film is a drama with comedic interludes. Hopefully this will not deter viewers, as Cyrus is an earnest and believable movie. It is also a film that should resonate with a wide range of cinemagoers, and not just those who may have had similar experiences as the protagonist. Cyrus is really about the complexities of relationships and fitting into a structure; themes that should be universally identifiable.

A major part of what makes the film works so well is the performances by the cast. In a rare leading man role, John C. Reilly gives a great performance as the down-on-his-luck guy looking to make the most of this rare chance of romance. It is refreshing to see a leading man in a romance who is not conventionally good-looking; John’s lack of self-confidence is all the genuine because of this.

Jonah Hill is excellent as dependent son Cyrus. It is a reticent performance; Hill’s deadpan expressions and monotone responses generate a lot of the laughs in Cyrus. Marisa Tomei appears authentic as Molly, mother of Cyrus and object of John’s affection. Catherine Keener also puts in a good performance as John’s ex-wife.

Writer and director team Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass produce a real indie-feel to Cyrus. There is a lot of hand-held camera action, and the sound is at odds with most Hollywood films. The film combines natural sound with a score by Michael Andrews. Some of the scenes between John and Molly feature the dialogue over edited shots of the pair; giving these sequences a dream-like effect. Whilst the camera work is at times distracting, on the whole the less-polished approach seems appropriate given the nature of the film.

If you are expecting a out-and-out comedy, Cyrus will come as a disappointment. But as a drama with hints of humour, Cyrus works well.