Morbius (2020), Jared Leto, Sony Pictures Entertainment
In new action / adventure Morbius, Jared Leto is Biochemist Michael Morbius. As he tries to cure himself of a rare blood disease, he inadvertently infects himself with a form of vampirism.
From director Daniel Espinosa, additional key cast includes Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Michael Keaton…
I am intrigued by this trailer and I want the end result to be good.bHowever, I can’t quite say that this trailer gives me plenty of confidence. I’d love to be completely wrong, of course.
J.K. Simmons, Tyrese Gibson, Ria Fend, Charlie Shotwell, Corey Johnson, Tom Forbes, Archie Renaux, Adam Collins, Al Madrigal and Ruth Horrocks also star.
Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019), Warner Bros. Pictures
I enjoyed Pikachu’s cuteness, his red cheeks and the vibrant yellow of his fur. I remember being relieved when 20 minutes in, I finally heard Ryan Reynolds as the voice of Pikachu. Nevertheless, it’s unfortunate that I can’t say I had a good time while watching Pokémon Detective Pikachu.
From director Rob Letterman and set in a world where people collect pocket monsters (Pokémon) to do battle, Pokémon Detective Pikachu focuses on an intelligent monster (Pikachu) who wants to be a detective, and his new lonely friend Tim (Justice Smith).
I must first admit that I never really got into Pokémon as a child and I’m sure this has a little something to do with why I didn’t enjoy Letterman’s film – but only a little something.
In all honesty, I thought the film would have been funnier. But instead, the main focus is on a troubled father/son relationship resulting in some rather emotional scenes, most of which felt awkward and somehow out of place. Certainly out of place with my expectations at least, but also I feel, out of place with the tone that was set in the trailer.
There’s even a moment where it seemed obvious that the simple removal of a certain item of headgear towards the end, could have prevented a lot of mayhem, but I guess to keep the story moving, the obviousness of that solution seemed to be deliberately ignored.
Overall, Pokémon Detective Pikachu is a movie very likely most enjoyed by long time fans of Pokémon. As a non-superfan, I unfortunately think that the script/story needed more work.
Thanks to advances in technology, new Netflix documentary Night On Earth will show us the the hidden lives of the world’s animals during night time.
From lions, Elephants, bats and more Night On Earth is narrated by Samira Wiley who’s most well known for playing Poussey Washington in Of Orange Is The New Black…
I’m in for the animals (especially the big cats) and the beautiful images.
I wonder if this film will include foxes. I see them more often than I’d like at night, in London. Let’s just say that I’m glad they’re quite easily startled by people.
Standing Up, Falling Down (2019), Ben Schwartz, Billy Crystal
The unlikely friendship between a struggling comedian named Scott and his alcoholic dermatologist Marty is at the centre of Standing Up, FallingDown, the new drama / comedy starring Billy Crystal and Ben Schwartz.
Directed by Matt Ratner, additional key cast includes Nate Corddry, Jill Hennessy, Caitlin McGee…
Movies about unlikely friendships are some of my absolute favourites. I recall Schwartz’s work most vividly in Parks and Recreation. Now I’m curious about what else he can do on screen – besides also playing Sonic in the upcoming Sonic The Hedgehog (2020) movie of course.
David Castañeda, Leonard Ouzts, John Behlmann, Debra Monk, Kevin Dunn and Wade Allain-Marcus also star.
Directed by Mijie Li, Confucian Dream is a new documentary about a young Chinese mother named Chaoyan, and her truggle to bring ancient teachings of Confucianism into her modern family.
Having transitioned from countryside dweller to her new city based role as wife and mother with a steady job, Chaoyan is determined to rid her life of the emptiness she finds at home with her family…
I’m curious about confucianism’s focus on the importance of the family, social harmony, and the reasons Chaoyan’s family give for not wanting it in their lives.
Marriage Story is a good movie. Beautifully written, well acted – by everyone, including Ray Liotta, Laura Dern and young Azhy Robertson.
Directed by Noah Baumbach of Greenberg (2010) and Frances Ha (2012); Marriage Story is a film I wanted to see because of its director’s previous works. I’m also a big fan of the lead actors, (Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver). I loved the very well edited trailer and I wanted to see what Baumbach’s movie had to say about this thing called marriage. Particularly the very type that ends in divorce.
Categorised as a comedy / drama, you’ll indeed smile and laugh but certainly not as much as you’ll be moved almost to tears if not actual streaming tears. This one is a film that deals with the classic challenges faced in many modern relationships. Especially, the kind that can arise where both parties are ambitious and with clear ideas of what they want for their life and career. It’s also a story that features the one thing that’s always there as one of the key reasons for the breakdown of all relationships; ‘ineffective communication’.
Marriage Story (2019), Scarlett Johansson, Azhy Robertson, Adam Driver, Netflix
I’m glad to confirm that the things I liked most about the trailer for Marriage Story are the very things that stood out beautifully in the finished film. Great writing and dialogue, editing so well executed that I personally didn’t need a second to question any of Baumbach’s creative decisions; they all made sense to me since everything felt rooted in a level of unquestionable realism that resonated.
As you watch Baumbach’s movie, almost throughout you’ll find yourself smiling, then sad within seconds or minutes. Yet it’s unlikely you’ll be mad that you decided to watch at all.
Other things that stood out about Marriage Story… I loved the humour, perfectly choreographed scenes and the film’s general rhythm. There’s also the heartbreaking yet fun to watch courtroom drama antics, that last big argument and Driver’s character’s singing at the very end. That scene was just somehow perfect.
Waiting For Anya (2020), Anjelica Huston, Jean Reno, Vertical Releases
Based on a true story; starring Anjelica Huston, Jean Reno, Sadie Frost and Noah Schnapp, Waiting For Anaya is a new Ben Cookson directed wartime drama. The story of Jo (Schnappp), a young shepherd along with the help of the widow Horcada (Huston) as the help to smuggle Jewish children across the border from southern France into Spain, during World War2.
Additional key cast includes Frederick Schmidt, Thomas Kretschmann, Nicholas Rowe, Gilles Marini…
The moving and well edited trailer grabbed my attention and now I’m compelled to find out if Anya and her father are reunited.
Tómas Lemarquis, Joséphine de La Baume, Elsa Zylberstein, Urs Rechn, William Abadie, Jean-François Balmer, Raj Awasti
The latest trailer for Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn in DC Universe’s Birds Of Preyjust arrived…
It’s a good looking trailer that certainly has me excited to experience the entirety of Robbie’s performance, both emotional and physical.
Chris Messina, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ewan McGregor, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Derek Wilson, Rosie Perez, Matthew Willig, Charlene Amoia, Isabel Pakzad and Ali Wong Also star.
The Movie My Life 