What if it's just really bad heartburn?
GUESS THE QUOTE
"I'm supposed to act like they aren't here.
Assuming there's a they at all.
It may just be my imagination."
Heads up that Late Night, the Mindy Kaling / Emma Thompson movie about a talk show host (Thompson) who needs diversity and hires Kaling had it's release pushed from next weekend (June 7th) to June 14.
Likely because the studio wants to try and create positive word of mouth about it because, based on reviews, it seems to be pretty good. However, it's still releasing in NY / LA next weekend, if you're inclined and geographically well placed.
Gettin cutoff? Go here, click "most recent edition."
GODZILLA:
KING OF MONSTERS
AKA
"a title that really loud chihuahua from down the street would take umbrage at"
PG-13 / 2 hrs 12 mins
Action-Sci-Fi / Warner Bros.
WHAT'S THE DEAL
Picture yourself at eight years old. Did you ever mash dolls together, making them fight while creating noises like *choouuuwaaa* *Krrmuuhg* *brrrwaaaa* If so, you could've directed Godzilla: King of Monsters. Ok, not really, but kinda! Mostly because you couldn't stay up past 9 pm and partly because you didn't have and millions of dollars to spend on cg artists. But Warner Brothers does and they sure as hell aimed to prove it.
As you've likely guessed, this movie is a lot less subtle and an order of magnitude less patient with the action than 2014's Godzilla. Which is likely due two big factors: this sequel is not directed by the original's Gareth Edwards (who also did the Star Wars movie Rogue One) and because they added a crap ton of monsters - including Mothra, Rodan and triple threat King Ghidorah. So yeah, some peoples gonna die and some buildings gonna get stepped on.
Did we forget to mention that there are humans in this? We didn't, we just delayed because they're kind of negligible. Sure there are loads of good actors (Vera Farmiga, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford - Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, David Strathairn returning) and the story does continue with Monarch, the secret org that does... um, stuff around the giant creatures. But when you had those toys in your hands, it was all about the *Pwaaaa* and *Foooosh*. Just as it is here.
NOTE: this ties in with the King Kong movie from 2017 (they're all in the same universe) and the studio has already dated Godzilla vs King Kong so you can bet on a tease.
REVIEWS
One reviewer compared it to Transformers movies. Oof. But still seems if you're cool with mostly monster battles in dark rainy conditions, you'll be quite content.
"It's fun to watch Godzilla and pals wreak kaiju havoc, but there's no surviving a humorless script, lazy-ass directing and slumming actors who are forced to scream in terror when they're not shoveling tons of mind-numbing exposition." - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 56%
(39 reviews @ publish)
WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?
For: you love Godzilla no matter the story, because it's Godzilla
(Not): if you tell Alexa to "turn that racket down" and you don't even own an Echo
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ROCKETMAN
AKA
"the movie that bummed Elon Musk out super hard because he obviously wants that to be the title of his biopic"
R / 2 hrs 1 min
Drama-Musical / Paramount
WHAT'S THE DEAL
Paramount would loooove for Rocketman to be "the next Bohemian Rhapsody." Hell, they even got the guy who took over directing duties on Bohemian Rhapsody, after Bryan Singer (the credited director) went AWOL and got his ass fired, to helm the Elton John (early to mid years) biopic. But this is not that Freddie Mercury biopic.
By most accounts, it's a lot better.
Now will it make as much money as BH without those eargasm inducing guitar riffs and a died (way) too young icon who could reach higher vocal altitudes than most opera singers? Nah, prolly not (even though John sold more albums than Queen). But the benefit of having a living subject is they can tell you what the hell happened. Including the bad shit. Especially the bad shit. Whereas in BH you had a movie shaped by living band members who probably didn't wanna look like jerks ragging too much on a dead person, here you have Elton John saying, "ya know, I was huge asshole during this time" so by all means, make me an asshole. In fact, the movie apparently revels in how once Elton John became Elton John, he had to pull himself from the addiction, the fame and ask for help.
The other big difference is that while Elton John can sing, he ain't Mercury. Which allowed for Taron Egerton, (yup, the dude from the Kingsman movies) to sing in the movie. And sing he does, as this one bleeds into fantastical"ness" at times and becomes part musical. Pulling off the feeling of the moment vs being bound by the reality.
So sure, Paramount wants this to be BH, but lucky for you, it isn't.
REVIEWS
Really love it. Many noting how good Egerton is and how it allows itself to get into John's flaws as well as accents his charms.
"Rocketman manages to be campy and yet sincere, serious and yet ridiculous, profound and yet silly, and quite wonderful. Just like Elton himself." - Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun Times
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
(102 reviews @ publish)
WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?
For: you love watching humanness, no matter what outfit it's draped in
(Not): you think Roy Moore running for the Senate again is a good idea
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MA
AKA
"Stewie's bullets"
R / 1 hr 50 mins
Horror / Universal
WHAT'S THE DEAL
Based on marketing alone, Ma is a horror movie about a crazy woman who terrorizes a group of small town high school kids after letting them party in her basement - with the slightly odd twist of having an Oscar winner (Octavia Spencer) play the villain. And yet...
It's directed by the guy who did The Help (also starring Spencer). Huh. It stars a black (female) lead, as the villain in a horror movie (rare, Us withstanding) who yes, terrorizes a group of (mostly) white teens - whose parents maaaay have some connection as to why Ma is slightly off kilter and looking to get close to / ultimately harm these newly licensed drivers (a fun discussion on the topic of representation and more from The Frame - start at around 12:30 mins in). And it (successfully or not) also addresses topics of bullying and mental health? Double huh.
But still, the marketing isn't lying, it's just hard to communicate all that in a 30 second spot on Hulu.
REVIEWS
All about Spencer's performance and how it managed (for most, but not all reviewers) to cover lots of the film's flaws - which were still fairly numerous even for those who endorsed it.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 64%
(44 reviews @ publish)
WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?
For: you can have some fun yelling at the screen and the ridiculousness of it all
(Not): if reading Apple News headlines is enough horror in your day
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ALREADY IN THEATERS + BOX OFFICE
(*4-Day Weekend* / Domestic Total - $ = millions)
1) Aladdin ($116.8) NEW
Live action remake with Will Smith as JG
58% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
2) John Wick: Chapter 3 Par... ($31 / $108)
Keanu is back as the puppy loving assassin
89% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
3) Avengers: Endgame ($22.1 / $803)
The end before the new beginning
95% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
4) Detective Pikachu ($17.2 / $120)
Pikachu can talk... just like Ryan Reynolds
66% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
5) Brightburn ($9.6) NEW
What if Superman was evil?
57% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
6) Booksmart ($8.7) NEW
As high school ends, best friends party it up
97% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
7) A Dog's Journey ($5.4 / $16)
A dog movie. Ok, some humans are in it too
48% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
8) The Hustle ($4.6 / $31)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels remake
15% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
9) The Intruder ($2.9 / $33)
Dennis Quaid goes full bonkers on couple
30% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
10) Long Shot ($2 / $29)
Charlize Theron & Seth Rogen... makeout?
80% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
DARK PHOENIX
The next X-Men movie, and also almost assuredly the last X-Men movie - in this iteration of the characters at least - due to Disney buying FOX. Gives the beloved Jean Grey / Phoenix storyline another try after the awful attempt in X-Men: The Last Stand.
THE SECRET
LIFE OF PETS 2
More of the cats, dogs and other fluffballs doin things behind our backs.
LIMITED RELEASE SPOTLIGHT
THE LAST BLACK MAN
IN SAN FRANCISCO
A sort of dreamy movie about a man trying to rebuild a victorian home his grandfather built in fast changing SF. Reviews are just as dreamy.
ANNABELLE
COMES HOME
June 26, 2019
Second trailer. Next movie in The Conjuring universe and a sequel to the first two Annabelle movies. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are in it (stars of The Conjuring), but seems as supporting rather than full roles.
ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR
Apple Google Outlook
THE NIGHTINGALE
August 2, 2019
Next movie from the director of the very well liked horror movie, The Babadook. This one is not a horror movie, at least in the traditional sense. Deals with a woman seeking revenge during colonization of Australia in 1825. This one already has reviews and is also very well liked.
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Apple Google Outlook
THE GOLDFINCH
September 13, 2019
Based on the very popular (Pulitzer Prize winning) novel about a boy whose mother is killed in a terrorist attack at the MET and his story since. Ansel Elgort (Baby Driver) is the lead and also stars a bunch of other other knowns, including Nicole Kidman. Directed by dude who made Brooklyn.
ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR
Apple Google Outlook
ABOMINABLE
September 27, 2019
Weird to say, but the third animated "yeti movie" within a year. It's set in Shanghai / Himalayas and deals with a magical snow lover. Semi contextual business note, this one is a co-production between Dreamworks and a Chinese production company Pearl (of which Dreamworks is part owner) which split release duties (Pearl in China, DW everywhere else) - which makes its setting much more explainable.
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Apple Google Outlook
TERMINATOR:
DARK FATE
November 1, 2019
Yes, another Terminator movie, but wait... It's a direct sequel to T2: Judgement Day. Huh. And James Cameron is back - but not directing. Aw. He is credited with the story and is producing though. Linda Hamilton (!!!!) and Arnold Schwarzenegger are back too. Directed by Tim Miller who made the first Deadpool.
ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR
Apple Google Outlook
IN FABRIC
TBD
Oh boy. Get ready for some strange. A killer dress, literally. Part gonzo horror part dark comedy. From the director of the BDSM laced The Duke of Burgundy. It has pretty stellar reviews (but it sure as hell won't be for everyone) and of course A24 is releasing.
ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR
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