My best pun ever?

It's in the trailer section FYI.

THE QUOTE 🎬 💬

“Listen... if you're gonna name my, my member, you've gotta name it something hyper-masculine. Something like Spike, or Butch, or Krull the Warrior King, but not Princess Sophia.”

hint: shouldn’t take you DAYS to figure this one out

THINK THOUGHTS 💭

I’d just like to say there’s nothing more Hollywood than Seth Rogen (and Evan Goldberg) making a very well liked series about Hollywood (The Studio) where this headline

Seth Rogen Has Heard From ‘Almost Every’ Hollywood Exec About His Satire ‘The Studio’: They Say It’s ‘Great, but Very Traumatic to Watch’

and this headline

Seth Rogen Spills on Real-Life Inspirations Behind ‘The Studio’: “I’ve Been Yelled at Three Times in the Last Week”

come out simultaneously.

While I haven’t been able to watch the show yet (this weekend hopefully), it seems to epitomize the dual nature of the industry. Everybody gets it—”it” being the madness—and yet everybody participates in it.

NEWSY BITS 👾

The Sundance Film Festival announces its new home: Boulder, Colorado - big deal! - NPR

Val Kilmer, Star of ‘Batman Forever,’ ‘Tombstone,’ Dies at 65 - this one hit for a good segment of people. Btw, no Top Gun in the title Variety? - Variety

Head of Amazon’s TV and Film Steps Down - they will not be replacing her role. What happened? Lots of things (see: expensive Lord of the Rings series not being an insane success) but heads of studios do tend to have short tenures. Tough business! - New York Times

Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, Harris Dickinson, and Joseph Quinn announced as the Beatles in '4-film cinematic event' - director Sam Mendes is directing four movies, each from the POV of a different Beatle. All releasing in April 2028. Also, it’s the “first biopic made with full life story and music rights from each of the members' estates.“ - Entertainment Weekly

David Fincher To Direct Brad Pitt In ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ Sequel Written By Quentin Tarantino - not gonna lie, did not expect this. While Tarantino started out writing scripts for other people, he’s been writer / director since From Dusk Till Dawn. It’s also interesting because Sony made Once Upon a Time, but this sequel (which evolved from Tarantino’s “The Movie Critic”) will be at Netflix - Tarantino owns the rights rather than Sony. Which is also unique. - The Playlist

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NOTABLE NEW RELEASE(S) 🎟 & 📺

A Minecraft Movie

When I say the name of this movie, I feel compelled to shrug in doing so because it feels less like a title and more of a bland descriptor. A very confusing one if you were I were to be in a conversation.

So, since you’re *air quotes and condescending head bob* “the big movie guy,” what’s coming out this weekend?

A Minecraft Movie.

Oh, interesting, like the game?

Right-o!

What’s it called?

A… Minecraft Movie.

I know, you already said that, but what’s the title?

A. Minecraft. Mo.vie.

I. heard. you. But. what. is. it. called?!

THE MOVIE. IT IS TITLED, “A MINECRAFT MOVIE.” THREE WORDS. TOGETHER. EQUALS TITLE.

Jesus, fine, you don’t have to yell about it. Is it any good?

I mean, “good” is always relative, but it’s a Minecraft movie, which means it’s based on a video game with literally no plot. But it does star Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Jennifer Coolidge and is directed by the dude who made Napoleon Dynamite, sooooo.

Oh, cool, I like those people. And hey, I know the game doesn’t have a plot, but the movie has to have one, right? What’s it about?

I mean, humans from our world get “sucked in” to the game world, so it’s basically a Jumanji movie.

I thought you said it was based on Minecraft??

*jumps off a cliff*

Out: Friday

Where: Theaters

Details: 1 hr 41 mins | PG | 🍅: 52%

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The Friend

I normally work to avoid spoilers, but I feel compelled to tell you, this is not a “dead dog movie.” No Marley and Me “are you fucking kidding me?!” ending here.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t death—in fact, it’s actually the catalyst and crux here—it’s just that some people I know *cough* my partner *cough* will literally plug their ears and sprint in the opposite direction if there’s a whiff of an animal saying “sup” to the scythe laden grim reaper.

However, I’m not promising you won’t cry. Because a close second to an adorable innocent creature meeting its demise is its owner and friend leaving that creature alone in the world. Which is what happens when Bill Murray’s Walter, the owner of Apollo, a 150 pound great dane, passes away. But anticipating his pet’s hardship, he asks his best friend Iris (Naomi Watts) to take care of him.

Or maybe Apollo to take care of Iris…

It’s basically two creatures grieving, that grow to be friends during their respective processes.

But it’s not all sorrow. Because remember, Apollo is a dog the size of a human living in New York City and Iris does not have a big apartment. 😅

It’s the kind of movie critics say you’ll wish you had more of—original (well, in the movie sense, it is based on a well liked book) and treats its characters, all of them, with respect while never straying too far into either hijinks or sorrow.

And no superheroes to be seen on the horizon. Just a bit hope.

Out: Friday

Where: Theaters

Details: 2 hrs 3 mins | R | 🍅: 87%

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Freaky Tales

Different than tales of the duck variety, though oddly similar level of threats of violence and money grabbing. 🦆

It’s Pedro Pascal (and others, like Ben Mendelsohn and Jay Ellis) in an 80’s set vibe-y crime caper. I’m not really going to get into plot except to say Pulp Fiction is referenced in the reviews. Not necessarily in terms of how well it all comes together (high bar), more just the overall wildness of it all.

I’d suggest watching the trailer and if you’re vibing with its vibe, maybe give it a hoo hah.

I’d say the only other pertinent bit of info is that this is from directing duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck who made Captain Marvel. Big movie! But they’re more known for a bunch of well liked smaller movies in Half Nelson (early Ryan Gosling) and Mississippi Grind (a personal fave of mine).

Out: Friday

Where: Limited Theaters

Details: 1 hr 47 mins | R | 🍅: 67%

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EXTRA CREDIT MOVIE(S) 📝

Hell of a Summer - Finn Wolfhard, Mike Wheeler from Stranger Things, stays in the 80’s by co-directing (and starring in) this Friday the 13th homage horror comedy. The reviews are kinda split, but seems like a solid effort for a first movie. Limited Theaters Friday

The Luckiest Man in America - (true) story about the dude (Paul Walter Hauser) who went on the game show Press Your Luck and didn’t have to worry about the whammies, because he knew exactly where they’d be. Cheating or skill? The reviews seem to congregate around the idea it’s an interesting, if slight, story and that the movie is mostly well done. Limited Theaters Friday

A Nice Indian Boy - Karan Soni (Dopinder in Deadpool) is looking for a nice boy to bring home to his parents. He finds one, and he’s Indian too, kinda… the “boy” is white, but was adopted to Indian parents. Which of course sets up all sorts of fun scenarios. The reviews are universally positive so far, saying it’s a sweet (if inevitably cliched) rom-com. Limited Theaters Friday

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THE WEEKLY TRAILER PLAYLIST ⏯

Fountain of Youth - Jimdiana Jones.

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Karate Kid: Legends - kung fu meets karate.

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The Accountant 2 - he’s got a (very different, but similarly gun happy) brother.

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Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 - so if my math is correct, that’s 10 nights at Freddy’s.

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Bring Her Back - next freak show from the directing duo who made Talk to Me, the creepy hand movie.

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Fight or Flight - Josh Hartnett gets in on the hyper-choreographed action movie… action. Apparently it’s very fun.

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