Let's Think Some Thoughts
All you have to do is imagine
In This Week’s Edition: the holiday deluge begins, with something for maybe not everyone, but probably lots of someones
Movie Quote of the Week 🎬 💬
“I'm watching you, Wazowski. Always watching. Always.”
hint: from one of the more underrated Pixar movies
THINK THOUGHTS 💭
Another light week up here in Think Thoughts. Woah woah woah, did you just “brand” your ramblings? Why yes, yes I did. He proclaims… proudly? I figure why not give this section a name like I do the rest of ‘em. /shrug
Anyway, I’m still visiting fam and there were six movies getting a head start on turkey massacre day that I felt compelled to feature, so I actually had to keep everything pretty short (editor’s note: yaaaayy!) I.e. the overviews will mainly be a few quips, tips and clips.
Although I will say that one thing I have been thinking about is the movie choices you make when you’re with family. It’s like, you wanna watch something interesting, but maybe not too interesting? Took an outing to see The Holdovers this past weekend and it was as much of a crowd pleaser as advertised. The Killer was… less so (I liked it!). Some forewarning that I got word from a friend that next week’s Saltburn (which is getting a limited release this weekend) is a potentially awkward watch with the parentals. Well, unless you enjoy watching many scenes of the act by which you were created portrayed on screen whilst sitting next to the people who engaged in it.
Stay sharp out there kids.
NEWSY BITS 👾
‘Coyote Vs. Acme’: Warner Bros Shelves Finished Live-Action/Animated Pic Completely As Studio Takes $30M Tax Write-off (Full Article): super inside business-y I know, but basically studios are making stronger distinctions between “streaming” movies and “theater” movies. WB considered this neither, and even though it apparently was well liked by tests audiences (see story), the studio didn’t think it had a strong enough angle. Bummer, cuz I love me some Coyote - Deadline
How David Zaslav Blew Up Hollywood (Full Article): Zaslav is the head of Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of Warner Bros. movie studio. These profiles happen from time to time on “notable figures,” and they’re all roughly the same if not in the specifics, but if you want more insight into some aspects of the current situation in Hollywood and the decision above, this might give some, but will surely be wordy. - The New York Times Magazine
Barbie The Album leads nominations for the 2024 Grammy Awards (Full Article): I’d expect a similar slew of nominations (and not just for the music) when Academy Award noms are announced - The Line of Best Fit
EXTRA CREDIT MOVIE(S) 📝
Best. Christmas. Ever! - Brandy (yeah, the singer), Heather Graham and Jason Biggs (American Pie, yo) in a hardcore drama about the oil industry. 🙃 No reviews, but the candy sheen on Xmas movies protects them from any negativity. Streaming on Netflix TODAY
Dashing Through the Snow - No. Freakin’. Way. Ludacris and Lil Rel Howery also have an intense dramatic thriller that involves the oil industry coming out this week?! 🤠 Samesies on the review front and that whole candy sheen 🍭. Streaming on Amazon Prime Friday
NOTABLE NEW RELEASES 🎟 & 📺
A biopic that shows that there is always more to the story when it comes to the big names and big events. In this case, the “more” is civil rights leader and organizer, Bayard Rustin (played by the always awesome Colman Domingo, getting lots of love from critics here), who helped make the March on Washington into what it was.
Out: Friday
Where: Netflix
1 hr 39 mins | PG-13 | 🍅: 85%
A prequel, set six decades before Katniss said kat-niss my ass to the rulers of Panem, and specifically Prez Coriolanus Snow, who instead of the cantankerous dictator, here is a youngin’ who just might make the right decisions on account of the “tribute” he’s asked to “help” (Rachel Zegler from the West Side Story remake and the upcoming live action Snow White). Villains origin stories, so hot right now.
Out: Friday
Where: Theaters
2 hrs 37 mins | PG-13 | 🍅: 58%
Who knew the N’SYNC reunion would happen in the third Trolls movie - three more than anyone would’ve guessed would exist when the boy band was dropping hits and *ahem* other things in the 90’s?
Out: Friday
Where: Theaters
1 hr 32 mins | PG | 🍅: 61%
Taika Waititi (director of the last two Thor movies) does his version of a 90’s inspiring sports comedy and bases it on the true story of the American Samoa men’s soccer team that was literally the worst in the world. Spoiler alert, they don’t win the World Cup. But they do have some fun.
Out: Friday
Where: Theaters
1 hr 43 mins | PG-13 | 🍅: 45%
If it seems like a fake slasher movie, it is. Er, was. Hostel director Eli Roth made a stunt trailer for the Grindhouse double feature (remember, Tarantino and Robert Rodrguez did a thing?) back in 2007 and finally got around to making it for realsies. Turns out, it might be worth the wait (peep the positive reviews saying it’s a classic slasher, but stylistic and is as gory as you want it to be).
Out: Friday
Where: Theaters
1 hr 47 mins | R | 🍅: 86%
The SNL trio that made that Pete Davidson / Taylor Swift “Three Sad Virgins” video (and a few others) made a movie that looks as awesomely zany as their skits (and Conan O’Brien plays their dad sooooo). Don’t know what that first sentence means? I wouldn’t sweat it.
Out: Friday
Where: Peacock
1 hr 32mins | R | 🍅: TBD
TRAILERS! ⏯ “Tease me…”
Inside Out 2 - Tease me… with the fact I’ll be balling my eyes out in exactly six months, why don’t ya Pixar. 😭
Damsel - Tease me… with an opening scene that looks like Stranger Things, but isn’t Stranger Things, but is instead an epic fantasy adventure starring Stranger Things lead Millie Bobby Brown why don’t ya Netflix.
Orion and the Dark - Tease me… about my fear of dark by making an entire children’s movie about it why don’t ya Netflix.
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire - Tease me… with some Star Wars vibes in a non-Star Wars movie, why don’t ya Netflix (jesus, lots of Netlfix eh?).
Candy Cane Lane - Tease me… with another seeming Eddie Murphy renaissance movie, only to see it’s another broad comedy family movie, the likes of which stalled his career why don’t ya Amazon (to be fair, it doesn’t look nearly as ridiculous as his early aught stinkers, maybe even kinda fun?).
Madame Web - Tease me… with a bunch of superheros, but like, before they’re superheros.
The Garfield Movie - Tease me… with a cute wittle cat that is OH MY GOD IT’S GARFIELD, WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY SO SONY?