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 them not to do.
Ma is directed by Tate Taylor and co-stars Juliette Lewis, Luke Evans, Missi Pyle and Allison Janney.
I was most creeped out by this trailer when I saw what happens just after 2:10. Still, I’m excited to watch 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 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 Priyanka 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 it’s a great reminder of why I love movies and the often useful stories they tell.
Besides the great cast and promising story, I’m looking forward to the beautiful images of a well-lit New York City, a place I always miss when I’m not there.
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 of motivators.
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.
The Movie My Life 