Wes Anderson is….an acquired taste. And it’s a taste that I have fully acquired. His movies have their very own style and his humor resembles no other. His upcoming movie “Asteroid City” looks, feels, and sounds like a Wes Anderson movie. From color palette, to wacky setting, to an A-list cast of Anderson regulars. There’s also some compelling new faces that should be a lot of fun. Yesterday Focus Features dropped the official movie poster. Today they shared the first trailer and it’s pretty incredible. Wes Anderson fans rejoice.
“Asteroid City” takes place in a tiny American desert town during the 1950s as parents and students from across the country gather for a Junior Stargazer convention. It starts as a well-meaning event to promote scholarly competition and to commemorate a particularly funny past event. But it turns to chaos after something resembling an alien encounter ends up with the town being quarantined. A veritable who’s who of talent pop up in the trailer including Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Jeffrey Wright, Maya Hawke, and Jason Schwartzman. The film also features Margot Robbie, Tilda Swinton, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Bryan Cranston, Hong Chau, and Adrien Brody among others. I’ll be there on opening day.
“Asteroid City” lands in theaters on June 16th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.
A new Wes Anderson movie is always going to be on my must-see list. His latest feature “Asteroid City” is looking to be right up my alley. The film is set in a fictional American desert town circa 1955 where students and their parents from across the country gather for an annual junior Stargazer convention. An eye-catching group of Anderson regulars and some striking new faces fill out the star-studded cast. Meanwhile the setting and concept alone looks to be prime territory for a Wes Anderson comedy. With the first trailer landing today, Anderson and Focus Features have dropped the movie poster. Whatcha think?
DIRECTOR – Wes Anderson
WRITER – Wes Anderson
STARRING – Tilda Swinton, Tom Hanks, Adrien Brody, Margot Robbie, Rupert Friend, Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Cranston, Jeff Goldblum, Hope Davis, Jeffrey Wright, Liev Schreiber, Tony Revolori, Matt Dillon, Edward Norton, Steve Park, Willen Dafoe, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Hong Chau, Jake Ryan, Fisher Stevens, Sophia Lillis
I remember when I first played Tetris, the simple yet joyously addictive puzzle game created in 1984 by Soviet-born computer engineer Alexey Pajitnov. In 1989 the game came packed with Nintendo’s ambitious Game Boy hand-held game console. I was instantly hooked. Between it and a version released a few months later for Nintendo’s home console, there’s no telling how many hundreds of hours I’ve spent rotating and placing blocks in what would become one of the best selling video games of all-time.
But it’s what went on behind the game that turns out to be the most fascinating, specifically what it took to bring Tetris beyond the volatile Iron Curtain. The new fittingly named film “Tetris” from director Jon S. Baird sets out to tell that story. Noah Pink’s knock-out script drops us into the dull sounding world of licensing and publishing rights. But together with Baird, the two unwrap this remarkable true story that plays like a political, an espionage, and a corporate thriller all wrapped into one.
“Tetris” is a riveting film that’s sure to speak to any long-time fan of the game itself or the video game industry. There’s lots of fun industry lingo. There are some terrific 8-bit pixelated vignettes and title cards. There are some cool nods to early video game development. And there’s some rich history that serves as a window into the time when video games were exploding and on their way to becoming the lucrative entertainment juggernaut they are today.
Image Courtesy of Apple TV+
But “Tetris” is also for anyone who simply loves good storytelling and filmmaking. Pink’s script is full of twists and turns. It’s ripe with corporate collusion, shaky loyalties, even shakier ethics, and shifting allegiances. But it also plays like a windy Cold War spy thriller, tapping into all sorts of late 1980s era political and cultural history. Baird attacks it all with a go-for-broke zest, infusing the film with a playful yet propulsive energy. It all makes for a funny, absorbing, and at times surprisingly thrilling ride.
The mostly real-life characters are portrayed by a fantastic cast led by the wonderfully vibrant Taron Egerton. He plays Henk Rogers and we first meet him at the 1988 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. He’s there to sell his not-so-great video game GO to any interested parties. The problem is, there are no interested parties. Even his own salesgirl has ditched him for another game just a few spaces over. That’s where Henk is introduced to Tetris and he’s instantly smitten by the seemingly simple game of falling tetriminoes.
Seeing dollar signs, Henk uses the money he borrowed from the bank to fund his own failed video game and snatches up the PC and arcade rights for Tetris. But he quickly learns that obtaining licensing and distribution rights for a game made in the crumbling Soviet Union isn’t as easy as writing a check. And as word about the game spreads, Henk finds himself in a ruthless race against two other Western rivals to lockup Tetris, most notably the potentially bankable handheld rights that would allow it to be distributed with Nintendo’s new Game Boy console.
Image Courtesy of Apple TV+
Racing against Henk is businessman Robert Stein, (Toby Jones), the owner of the British company Andromeda Software. Also in the hunt is billionaire media tycoon Robert Maxwell (Roger Allum) and his entitled son Kevin (Anthony Boyle). Before long Henk, Stein, and the younger Maxwell are in communist Moscow courting the game’s creator, Alexey Pajitnov (portrayed by Nikita Efremov), a kindhearted programmer at the Soviet Computer Science Center. But more than him they need the ok of the Soviet government, and that’s no easy ask.
Soon the determined Henk and company are trying to win over a high-ranking government official (Igor Grabuzov), dodging a menacing yet undeniably greedy KGB agent (Oleg Shtedanko), figuring out a mysterious translation specialist (Sofya Lebedeva), and even convincing Mikhail Gorbachev himself (Matthew Marsh). The supporting cast does a great job bringing to life these characters, some with comically massive personalities. But the performances hit their marks, and Baird gives them plenty of scenes to shine.
I do wish more time had been given to Henk’s savvy and reasonably concerned wife Kimmy (a really good Ayana Nagabuchi). And it’s easy to get lost in all the heavy corporate chatter about licensing agreements and distribution rights. Thankfully the snappy pacing doesn’t give us time to dwell on how little it makes sense at times. And it’s so much fun bouncing around between Seattle, London, Tokyo, and Moscow, mostly with Taron Egerton who delivers a career best performance. He proves to be the perfect escort through this incredible blend of history and old-school thriller. In a nutshell, “Tetris” is a blast. “Tetris” premieres March 31st on Apple TV +.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced the home video release of “Missing” from co-directors Nick Johnson and Will Merrick. This taut, savvy, and thoroughly gripping tech thriller is the spiritual successor to 2018’s “Searching”, similarly telling its story through phone calls, text messages, FaceTime, home movies, security cameras, web browsers, etc. It’s a fast-paced and absorbing ride that keeps us hooked on every virtual detail. You can read my FULL REVIEW of the film HERE.
This Blu-ray and Digital edition of “Missing” hits shelves March 28, 2023. See below for a full synopsis and features breakdown of this brand new combo-pack.
OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS
Year: 2023
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 110 minutes
Directors: Will Merrick and Nick Johnson
Starring: Storm Reid, Nia Long, Joaquim De Almeida, Ken Leung, Amy Landecker, Daniel Henney
From the minds behind “Searching” comes “Missing”, a thrilling roller-coaster mystery that makes you wonder how well you know those closest to you. When her mother (Nia Long) disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June’s (Storm Reid) search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it’s too late. But as she digs deeper, her digital sleuthing raises more questions than answers…and when June unravels secrets about her mom, she discovers that she never really knew her at all.
BONUS MATERIALS
BLU-RAY AND DIGITAL
Deleted Scenes
Hunting for the MISSING Easter Eggs
Behind-The-Scenes Featurettes:
Storm Reid and the Challenge of MISSING
Misdirects, Online Crimes and the Social Media Mystery
The Screens that Rule Our Lives
Filmmaker Commentary
Blu-ray and DVD include a digital code for movie and bonus materials as listed above, redeemable via Movies Anywhere for a limited time.
SPECS
Feature: 1080p High Definition / 1.78:1 / Color
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, French (Doublé au Québec), Spanish, English & French (Doublé au Québec) – Audio Description Tracks 5.1 Dolby Digital
Who knew that a little movie about a hitman avenging his dog’s death would evolve into the most popular action franchise going? Of course that’s an overly simplified synopsis of 2014’s “John Wick”, a movie that instantly won people over (yours truly included) with its ferocious style, exciting yet proudly tongue-in-cheek story, and the incandescent charms of its lead actor, Keanu Reeves. Great reviews from critics and strong word of mouth from audiences catapulted the film to unexpected heights.
2017’s “John Wick: Chapter 2” stepped up the world-building while 2019’s “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” gave some fan favorite side characters more time in the limelight. Now Reeves is back for a fourth installment. “John Wick: Chapter 4” is the biggest, wildest, and certainly the most ambitious film of the franchise. It travels to more locations, introduces a slew of cool new characters, and features even bigger and more mind-blowing set pieces. “Chapter 4” takes much of what fans have loved about the previous three films and amplifies them. The results are nothing short of terrific.
Unfortunately there is a cloud of sadness that hangs over the release of “John Wick: Chapter 4”. Esteemed actor Lance Reddick, who has appeared in all four films playing Charon, the faithful concierge at the New York Continental Hotel, unexpectedly passed away on March 17th at the age of 60. It was a crushing loss for the franchise and the entertainment world. Reddick’s passing adds an extra level of emotion to a film that already has a surprising amount of feeling baked into it.
Image Courtesy of Lionsgate
Fans of the franchise should know exactly what to expect from “Chapter 4”. Stuntman turned director Chad Stahelski returns after helming the first three films and orchestrates yet another stylish ballet of relentless heart-pumping action. Yet more than any of its predecessors, “Chapter 4” is almost poetic in its presentation, mixing together meticulously choreographed movements, pulse-pounding music, and some of the most incredible stunt-work I’ve seen in a while.
To say the affable 58-year-old Reeves has made the title character his own would be a massive understatement. His fourth venture as the almost mythical Baba Yaga is his most challenging yet (it’s said Reeves did 90% of his own stunts!!!). As mentioned, everything is bigger including the running time (2 hours and 49 minutes) and the budget ($100 million). Yet despite its waves of violence and the massive body count (140 by one pretty reliable count), in many ways “Chapter 4” may be the most intimate and personal John Wick film since part one.
Picking up where the previous movie left off, the story (penned by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch) sees John Wick in New York City preparing to enact his revenge on the formidable High Table – the powerful and mostly faceless faction of crime lords that rules the underworld. He’s helped by The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), a loyal and reliable provider of useful information, weapons, and finely tailored Kevlar suits.
John’s first order of business is to head to Morocco where he assassinates The Elder (George Georgiou), the one person who sits above the High Table. As a result, Winston Scott (Ian McShane), John’s friend and the manager of the New York Continental Hotel is summoned by Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård), a high-ranking member of the High Table. In response to failing to kill John in the previous movie, the Marquis revokes Winston’s status as hotel manager and then doles out some even harsher punishment.
De Gramont then hires a blind yet deadly hitman named Caine (Donnie Yen). He’s retired and wants no part in killing his old friend John Wick. But he’s forced to take the contract after the Marquis threatens to kill his daughter. Meanwhile John is holed up in the Osaka Continental which is managed by his trusted friend Shimazu Koji (the always great Hiroyuki Sanada) and Koji’s daughter/concierge Akira (Rina Sawayama). Soon Caine arrives, accompanied by de Gramont’s right-hand muscle Chidi (Marko Zaror) and an army of High Table assassins. It leads to the first of several hyper-kinetic showdowns.
Image Courtesy of Lionsgate
Among the many joys of watching a John Wick film is relishing the incredible world-building and the colorful array of side characters. “Chapter 4” delivers both in spades. Stahelski takes us around the world, shooting on location in places like New York, Paris, Tokyo, and Berlin. At each stop we’re thrust deeper into the franchise’s vibrant (and often violent) underworld network. In addition to Koji, Akira, and Caine, we’re also introduced to other fascinating players such as The Harbinger (Clancy Brown), a high-ranking representative of the High Table, a crime boss in Germany named Killa (Scott Adkins), and a mysterious “Tracker” who adopts the name Mr. Nobody (Shamier Anderson).
If there was ever a movie that showed the need of Oscar categories for stunt-work and choreography, it’s “John Wick: Chapter 4”. Whether throwing down in a famed Berlin nightclub or on a never-ending outdoor staircase in Montmartre; in a neon-bathed hotel in Osaka or on a busy roundabout circling the iconic Arc de Triomphe, Jeremy Marinas” graceful yet intense fight choreographer stuns and the work from stunt coordinators Scott Rogers and Stephen Dunlevy will routinely have your jaw on the floor. And it’s all emphasized by Dan Laustsen’s gloriously precise cinematography.
“John Wick: Chapter 4” is a full-on action extravaganza and an unforgettable cinematic experience. It’s an adrenaline-fueled spectacle but with a beating heart. It’s also one of the best action movies of the last decade-plus. Keanu Reeves, with his quiet charisma and amazing physicality, once again has us rooting for his tragically heartbroken yet intensely lethal former hitman who remains trapped between his insatiable thirst for revenge and his longing for some semblance of peace. John Wick has evolved into a legendary character – one who I’ll follow to his grave. “John Wick: Chapter 4” is now showing in theaters.
Who knew the world of big city professional tutoring was so treacherous? Well it certainly is in the lightly gonzo and undeniably entertaining new thriller “The Tutor”. The film comes from director Jordan Ross, working from a screenplay by Ryan King, and stars the inspired trio of Garrett Hedlund, Victoria Justice, and Noah Schnapp.
Hedlund plays Ethan, a highly sought after tutor for the children of the rich and privileged. He works for a firm ran by his boss and friend, Chris (Joseph Castillo-Midyett), that sends its private educators to the homes of one-percenters to teach an assortment of pampered pupils. Ethan has earned a good reputation, mainly due to his ability to connect with the often troubled teens he instructs.
Image Courtesy of Vertical Entertainment
Ethan gets a call from Chris who tells him about a new client who has requested him by name. The family wants to start with a one-week trial basis, during which they’ll pay Ethan $2500 per day. There are a couple of conditions. First, he’ll have to spend the entire week on the premises. Second, they’ll be paying him under the table (now if that isn’t a warning sign). The deal is too sweet to pass up, especially since Ethan and his girlfriend Annie (Justice) are about to have a baby. They need the money so Ethan takes the job.
After being picked by a spit-shined luxury Cadillac, Ethan is driven to a gated country estate with its swanky accommodations, well-manicured gardens, and a garage full of expensive motorcycles. There he meets Jackson (Schnapp), an oddly disconnected teen and the only child of glaringly wealthy parents who are nowhere to be found. His dad is away on business, but Jackson says he’s not allowed to talk about his father’s work. And he’s even more vague about his mother. If things weren’t weird enough, Jackson has no idea what he scored on his SATs. He doesn’t even know what they’re supposed to be studying.
Aside from the family’s stern yet well tailored butler, also staying at the estate is Jackson’s space cadet cousin Gavin (Jonny Weston) and his sex kitten girlfriend Jenny (Kabby Borders). The two add an extra coat of weirdness to a story that gets more twisted with each scene. Jackson’s behavior gets more erratic and he develops “a slightly unhealthy attachment” to Ethan. Soon we’re asking the question, is Jackson a mad genius or is he something far more sinister.
You may be thinking this sounds like just another crazy stalker flick, and you wouldn’t be wrong in doing so. It has all the pieces that help make it feel that way. But to Ross and King’s credit, they kinda bait us into that easy-to-make snap judgement. In reality, their story begins taking on a different shape in the third act, and the big twist(s) swing things in an unexpected new direction. It makes things fun, in a very ‘I didn’t see that coming‘ sort of way. But admittedly things get a little far-fetched and not all the pieces fit as nicely as they should.
Image Courtesy of Vertical Entertainment
Still, I can see “The Tutor” being catnip for fans who enjoy the steady flow of big-twist thrillers that regularly come out today. Both Ross and King seem to know what genre lovers are looking for and they meet those easy-to-define expectations. Really good performances from Hedlund, Schnapp, and Justice help keep the characters interesting and make it easier to overlook some of the material’s more far-out turns. But honestly, it’s those far-out turns that often make movie’s like this fun.
At the same time, you can’t help but pick apart some of the more outrageous aspects of the story. Some pretty obvious questions spring up once you start considering how things take shape. That ultimately holds the movie back and keeps it from being as memorable as it might have been. But for those able to avoid the traps of over-critiquing or even overthinking, “The Tutor” captures much of what people enjoy about these popular popcorn thrillers. “The Tutor” is now showing in select theaters and on VOD.
