The Matrix Resurrections (2021), Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Warner Bros. Pictures
The long awaited forth instalment of The Matrix finally has a trailer, and goo/promising are the words.
The Matrix Resurrections, an action/sci-fi film directed by Lana Wachowski stars Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
Very little about the original Matrix movies comes to mind when I try to remember. I’ll be watching because of Reeves, the promise of great special effects and the fact that this is one of the major movie events of 2021. One I just happen to be rather curious about.
I’m hoping like crazy that this will be worth the wait. And in between all the hoping, I’ll rewatch the first, second and third Matrix movies.
Jessica Henwick, Neil Patrick Harris, Jada Pinkett Smith, Ellen Hollman, Telma Hopkins, Max Riemelt and Daniel Bernhardt also star.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Eddie Redmayne, Netflix
Master of great dialogue Aaron Sorkin is the writer and director of new historical drama/thriller The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Set around the 1968 uprising at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois and focused on the seven people on trial for various charges at the time, I found Sorkin’s story adequately engaging.
Starring Eddie Redmayne, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II to name just a few, I enjoyed the dialogue – as expected. I mean Sorkin did, after all, write the words in one of my favourite screenplays, The Social Network (2010). Even though I didn’t find the dialogue quite as scintillating as Sorkin’s Mark Zuckerberg movie, I certainly wouldn’t call it bad. For there are moments that delighted, several of which take place in the courtroom.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch. Sacha Baron Cohen
Sorkin’s movie starts with an editing style that felt disruptive because it wasn’t as easy to keep track of timelines as I’d have liked. Luckily, things do eventually settle into a better rhythm, after which I enjoyed TheTrial of the Chicago 7 as a brilliantly performed tale, especially by Redmayne, Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Rylance.
In addition to the engaging and dramatic courtroom scenes, you’ll enjoy watching the evolution of the relationship between the seven-plus men on trial. Sorkin’s is going to break your heart as it puts up a mirror to some of America’s ills, especially when you realise how very little seems to have changed where racial injustice and abuse of power is concerned. Yet, I wouldn’t say that The Trial of the Chicago 7 will leave you hopeless.
In addition to the earlier editing and the dialogue being good bur not as scintillating as the words in The Social Network, the only other thing that didn’t stand out in the best way is Sacha Baron Cohen’s American accent. It’s also not the worst I’ve ever heard, so give Sorkin’s film a chance if you’re curious. You’ll likely become an even bigger fan of Redmayne while also finding that Abdul-Mateen II is now on your radar, in case he wasn’t already.
Written/directed by Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a new historical thriller about 7 people on trial for various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Alex Sharp and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are among the key cast.
I can’t deny how happy I was to see Redmayne’s face on screen again. He’s one of my favourites, along with Baron Cohen
It’s going to be emotional but I’m quite sure it’ll be worth it because of the fantastic cast and that magic that Sorkin does so well with words.
Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Rylance, Ben Shenkman, J.C. MacKenzie, Frank Langella and Noah Robbins also star.
Candyman (2020), Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Universal Pictures
Candyman (1992) was a horror hit about a murderous soul with a hook for a hand. A dark soul that can be summoned simply by a person saying his name in the mirror five times.
Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Tony Todd, Teyonah Parris, plus, co-written by Jordan Peele and directed by Nia DaCosta; we have a new Candyman story for 2021. This time the dark murderous soul returns to the now-gentrified Chicago neighbourhood where it all began.
I remember watching the original Candyman movie but I’d forgotten about the bees. I don’t believe the original movie gave me nightmares. However, I may have blocked out such unsavoury events from memory.
This trailer looks good, DaCosta is a promising new director and Jordan Peele’s involvement can only mean good things. I therefore can’t wait to see how this turns out. I’ll be watching as early as possible in the day. That way, by nighttime, hopefully I’d have forgotten about the scenes that have the potential to induce nightmares.
Colman Domingo, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Rebecca Spence, Cassie Kramer, Brian King, Miriam Moss, Avery Moss, Nadia Simms and Hannah Love Jones also star.
Aquaman (2018), Jason Momoa, Warner Bros. Pictures
In director James Wan’s latest, Jason Momoa is Aurthur, a.k.aAquaman, a man who reluctantly begins a journey to take his rightful place as heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis and become a hero to the world.
Considering how DC Comics’ recent films have turned out, Wonder Woman (2017) being an exception; as much as I enjoyed the Aquaman trailer, I made sure to not get too excited.
Having now seen it, even though Aquaman is not my favourite super hero movie, there is definitely some fun to be had by watching. For example, I found Momoa quite delightful, thanks to his aesthetic, physicality and charisma. If I had to choose though, it’s definitely the underwater special effects in Aquaman that I loved most. From the toothy flesh eating creatures to the beautifully lit colours of the deep, I couldn’t help but be reminded to look forward to the upcoming C.G.I-rich Avatar movies… whenever director James Cameron is ready.
Other key highlights in Aquaman include the action sequences in Sicily, Willem Dafoe’s performance and Nicole Kidman’s rather convincing fight sequences. Maybe I’m really into seeing Kidman fight because I don’t remember having seen her fight like that in a movie before. Either way, I remain impressed.
In terms of the elements I wish weren’t quite so about Wan’s movie, that would be the romance between Aurthur and Mera. ‘Forced’ is the word because I simply didn’t buy it. I also noticed a few awkward instances regarding the placement of music as well as some less than inspiring dialogue. Lastly, we have Manta; he’s simply not the best superhero villain I’ve ever been exposed to.
By the end of Aquaman, I was just glad that I found more things to enjoy than not. Plus, I’m happy for DC Comics because things seem to be turning around.
From writer/director Jordan Peele, the new horror/thriller Us is a story of uninvited visitors who bring tension and chaos to a family vacationing at a beach house.
Key cast includes Lupita N’Yongo, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Elisabeth Moss, Anna Diop…
I’m definitely in for the intriguing story concept. I particularly can’t wait to see the actors playing two characters each.
All because of how much I enjoyed Get Out (2017), just reading the words ‘tension’ and ‘chaos’ have me excited about the journey Peele has in store for his audience.
Kara Hayward, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph and Noelle Sheldon also star.
The Movie My Life 