From writer / director Dan Scanlon, Onward is a new Disney Pixar animated adventure starring Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Octavia Spencer, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Set in a suburban fantasy world, Onward is about two teenage elf brothers who embark on a quest to discover if there is still magic out there…
The two moons at 01:33 into this trailer have me intrigued; the same with the idea of usually majestic unicorns as ‘vermin.’
I can’t wait to see how this story about a world of imaginary creatures such as pixies, mermaids, gnomes, unicorns and pet dragons actually unfolds.
Instant Family (2018), Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Paramount Pictures
After seeing the trailer for Instant Familyseveral months ago in 2018, I really wanted to get excited about it because the story looked like a great one and because I like both of its main stars, Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne. Having previously seen Wahlberg in the Daddy’s Homemovies and finding myself not fully loving them, I’m really glad to confirm that Instant Family is definitely not that.
Directed and co-written by Sean Anders, Instant Family is a comedy / drama based on the true story of the ups and downs faced by a couple who foster / adopt three children all at once.
Things were looking good for this movie within the first few minutes. Firstly, the editing. I really appreciate the fact that I didn’t find myself wishing I could fast forward any of the scenes. Second, the relationship between the central couple played by Wahlberg and Byrne. Last but not least, the dynamic and banter between Octavia Spencer and Tig Notaro’s characters is another definite key highlight.
I found myself laughing during Instant Family more than I expected to. An especially memorable moment being the scene at the dinner table with the pair of closed eyes. I was of course also moved by the beautiful moments of familial love and the truth of some of the experiences of children and teenagers in the foster care system.
Watch Instant Family because it’s good, very likely better than you expect and it’s definitely – as a fellow film lover predicted, more grounded than the Daddie’s Home films.
In new horror / thriller Ma, Octavia Spencer is Sue Ann, a lonely woman who befriends a group of teenagers and invites them to party at her house. Everything suddenly changes when they do the one thing Sue Anne asked that they don’t.
Ma is directed by Tate Taylor and co-stars Juliette Lewis, Luke Evans, Missi Pyle, Allison Janney…
I was most creeped out by this trailer when I saw what happens just after 2:10. Excited to see Spencer in a role I didn’t see coming.
May the finished film be even more interesting and /or surprising than I imagine.
Diana Silvers, Tanyell Waivers, Gianni Paolo, McKaley Miller, Dominic Burgess and Dante Brown also star.
Instant Family is a new comedy starring Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne and Octavia Spencer.
Directed and co-written by Sean Anders, it’s the story of a couple dealing with the often humorous challenges that come with adopting three children at once…
I don’t know how much I’ll enjoy this, especially since I didn’t totally love Wahlberg’s Daddy’s Home movies. still I’m in because I appreciate him and I’m excited for the happy ending. I really want the happy ending!
Isabela Moner. Eve Harlow, Iliza Shlesinger, Tom Segura and Tig Notaro also star.
A Kid Like Jake (2018), Claire Danes, Leo James Davis, Jim parsons
Directed by Silas Howard, A Kid Like Jake stars Claire Danes, Jim parsons, Octavia Spencer and Priyana Chopra.
Parsons and Danes play a Brooklyn based couple whose four-year-old son’s preschool director points out that his gender-nonconforming play may be more than just a phase…
The subject matter is so very interesting and is a great reminder of why I love movies and the often useful stories they tell.
Besides the great cast and promising story, I’m really looking forward to the beautiful images of a well lit New York City, a place I always miss.
The Shape Of Water (2017), Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer
Set in Cold War era America, circa 1963, director Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape Of Water is an other-worldly fairy tale and fantasy / romance about a lonely mute called Elisa. Played beautifully by Sally Hawkins, Elisa falls in love with ‘amphibian man’, a sea creature captured for a secret classified experiment due to take place at Elisa’s work building where she cleans.
Featuring good performances by all, including Octavia Spencer, Richard Jenkins and Michael Shannon, I found Hawkinsto be particularly captivating as Elisa. Her great performance along with the beautiful visuals, filming style – the way the camera barely stood still combined with the editing and pacing managed to keep me engaged.
The Shape Of Water is generally a well executed movie. Nevertheless, I’m not as enthused post viewing as I thought I might be. I understand the film’s message about love and how there are near to zero limitations in terms of where one can find it. Still, perhaps it’s just the kind of film, though good, it doesn’t inspire a certain level of excitement within me. It could have something to do with not really seeing myself ever falling in love with ‘amphibian man’. It could also be that the ‘love can be found anywhere’ message is one I’d already fully digested. Lastly, maybe I loved the first half more than I did the second half, where things got really serious. Yes, that may be it. I think I had more fun in the first half when Elisa was happy and tap-dancing in her corridor!
Richard Strickland’s (Shannon) voice and suit before the true nature of his character is revealed, the capabilities of ‘amphibian man’ and Hawkins’ performance are my favourite things about The Shape Of Water.
Watch it if you’re curious. Maybe you’ll be more wowed and enthused than I. It is the Best Picture Academy Award winner after all.
Lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) works in a hidden high-security government laboratory and is trapped in a life of silence and isolation. Her life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment.
Also starring Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg and Doug Jones, The Shape Of Water is an other-worldly fairy tale set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1963…
Director Guillermo del Toro is all the reason I need to watch this one but I’ll add the cast and the intriguing ‘secret experiment’ to the list.
For some reason, when I read the words ‘high-security government laboratory’ and ‘secret classified experiment,’ Captain America – The First Avenger (2011) came to mind. Anyone else? Just me? Ok.
Hidden Figures (2016): Taraji P. Henson, Mahershala Ali
Hidden Figures, the movie about the three African American women whose mathematical contributions led to NASA’s first successful space missionsis a film that did two important things for me. First it gave myself and many others a long overdue history lesson and second, it reminded me that that even though there’s still a considerable way to go, humanity really has come quite the distance in terms of equality and civil rights.
Seeing the challenges faced by the film’s main characters, the ways they dealt with the obstacles they encountered is really a great and empowering thing for anyone to witness.I particularly adore the sisterhood, strength, determination and good humour between them. By them I of course mean Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. I see these ladies as the kind of women with personal attributes that many would probably want for the women and young girls in their life. And I’m not even talking about the mathematical genius.
Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae, there really is no faulting any of the performances in Hidden Figures. Director Theodore Melfi’s movie is a good example of what a well-put-together film can look like. Watch it because it’s thoroughly deserving of all its success. It’s also a beautiful celebration of truly great women and the people good and brave enough to do what was necessary to help them shine.
Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Glen Powell and Mahershala Ali also star.
The Movie My Life 