Time keeps on slippin'... 🕰️
But to where?
THE QUOTE 🎬 💬
THINK THOUGHTS 💭
You’d think I’d learn. I keep promising things “next week” and then all of a sudden “next week” becomes “this week” and time has slipped away yet again.
Feel like there’s a metaphor for life in there somewhere. But I don’t have *ahem* time now to think too much about that, “next week” it shall be yet again.
NEWSY BITS 👾
Ian McKellen Is Open to Returning as Gandalf in New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movies, but Warns Filmmakers: ‘They Better Be Quick!’ - he’s 85 🥹 - Variety
EXTRA CREDIT MOVIE(S) 📝
Rebel Ridge - one of those straight-forward looking action movies that should be like all the rest, and yet, this looks like it might’ve pulled off something interesting, by not being a drab cliched riddled affair in which star Aaron Pierre battles a load of corrupt cops, led by Don Johnson. Helps it was directed by Jeremy Saulnier who also made the excellent Green Room. The reviews are pretty damn strong saying while it’s simple, it’s definitely not boring. And this is a Netflix movie! Streaming on Netflix Friday
The Thicket - Peter Dinklage chases a ruthless Juliette Lewis in the frozen west. Not a ton of reviews, but they’re nearly all into it. And I’m super into the gorgeous visuals. Playing in Limited Theaters Friday
The Front Room - Brandy (the singer! who apparently hasn’t aged??) battles her racist mother-in-law in this gonzo looking horror movie from Max Eggers, the brother of David Eggers, director of The Witch, The Lighthouse, with whom he co-wrote, and the wardrobe. Shit wrong, series. No reviews yet, but looks far more like a vibes play than anything else. Playing in Limited Theaters Friday
NOTABLE NEW RELEASE(S) 🎟 & 📺
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
It makes all of sense they’re making a Beetlejuice sequel now. I mean the 90’s are so back. (editor’s note: *whispers in clueless writer’s ear*). Are you fucking kidding me? That shit came out in the 80’s??
Damn. Now that’s a trip.
Of course I’m not old, but you dear reader, you are ancient af. Ok fine, we’re both old. I guess it really has been 36 years since Michael Keaton donned the white and black (and puke green) face paint while retorting one of my favorite lines in all of cinema.
It’s also the return of Keaton’s beloved director Tim Burton, who gave him the role of Batman. Sure, Burton hasn’t exactly gone anywhere, but it’s kinda felt like his joie de vivre has - at least in the way Burton exhibits his brand of it. Which is generally with shades of black and a deep sense of macabre. He’s said his last outing, the live action Dumbo, was so arduous it almost pushed him into retirement. But that the series Wednesday (the Addams Family show on Netflix) and now Beetlejuice 2x (B2x) “reenergized” him after he “got caught up in the Hollywood thing.”
That sure sounds it could be a line to promote the movie, but turns out, critics are saying you can actually feel it. That Burton, reunited with his practical effects and (under)world of death, is the most inventive and plain old fun he’s been in a long time. But it’s not just him, Keaton (at 73!) is getting all sorts of love for embodying the demonic Betelgeuse in a manic manner that feels like he was just playing the character last week, and yet he doesn’t overdo it. And then there’s Winona Ryder, 15 (yeah, wild) in the first one, who plays mother to Jenna Ortega’s character, a kid just as disturbed and petulant as she was.
Ortega got involved because she and Burton also work on Wednesday together, which is kind of thing for Burton, finding his muse of the moment and riding with them. He did it with Ryder and Keaton for a minute (Johnny Depp for a looooong time) and seems Ortega is his current inspiration.
Now, just because most people like B2x, doesn’t mean everyone likes it. They would never. But even the critiques are still relatively soft, saying the plot is a bit too full here, a few too many callbacks there. But by and large you’re seeing people say this movie has a legit reason to exist - not very common for these “legacy sequels” (i.e. movies restarting franchises after a long time dormant). I think it’s fair to say I haven’t seen an acceptance for a series revival like this since Top Gun: Maverick.
It’s worth noting one reason this movie doesn’t have to exist, is to bring back Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin, who aren’t in it at all. Why? Weeeell, in short, Burton says the story wasn’t about them (but could also be ghosts don’t age? 😬). Instead the story is focused on the trio of Deetz women, including Katherine O’hara back as Delia, all of whom have their own messed up relationship with that green haired freak.
Let’s just hope all three of them don’t see his name at the same time…
Out: Thursday
Where: Theaters
Details: 1 hr 44 mins | PG-13 | 🍅: 78%
THE WEEKLY TRAILER PLAYLIST ⏯
Nightbitch - Amy Adams plays a mother that stays home with the kids, but as she gets increasingly frustrated by being discounted, she starts to realize the power she has as a woman. Which may include turning into a dog?? I mean, ok, I’m into it.
A Minecraft Movie - ngl, it looks kinda like a weak version of the Jumanji movies (it even stars Jack Black). However, it’s only a teaser and it is directed by Jared Hess who made Napoleon Dynamite, so you have to imagine there’s some level of oddity or subversiveness hidden in there.
Winner - a much lighter looking take (than the HBO version starring Sydney Sweeney) on the story of Reality Winner (actual name), the woman who was convicted of releasing documents to the media indicating Russia had hacked voter registration around the time of the 2016 presidential election.