“Eternals” remains one of the most curious films on the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s docket. As the MCU slowly moves away from many of its most iconic superheroes and forges its own new batch, the Eternals seemed like an odd choice. But Kevin Feige and his team of wizards at Marvel Studios have locked up the unwavering trust of their intensely loyal fan base. At this point they could introduce anyone they want and the pushback would be minimal to none at all.

The final trailer for “Eternals” dropped today and its purpose seems obvious. It gives us a closer look at this team of immortals while teasing answers to glaringly obvious questions, namely why didn’t these protectors of earth help when Thanos was having his way with humanity. The trailer has an interesting yet unusual vibe that makes it resemble a sci-fi drama more than a comic book inspired superhero movie. I’m sure much of that is due to the unique sensibility director Chloé Zhao brings. How will it ultimately play out? We’ll find out in November.

“Eternals” hits theaters November 5th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

“Venom” blew up the box office which all but guaranteed a sequel. The early looks at “Let There Be Carnage” have been mostly positive (I could do without the forced comedy, but it’s just a trailer). The posters have been great especially this new one which Sony recently shared. Now if they’ll stop with the delays and finally let us see the movie! Check it out below. Whatcha think?

DIRECTOR – Andy Serkis

WRITER – Kelly Marcel

STARRING – Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris, Reid Scott, Stephen Graham

RELEASE – October 15, 2021 (allegedly but the delays keep coming)

I’ve been holding onto this for the last few days, but I’m excited to share that I’ll be joining the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper as a contributing film critic with my first review printing as early as next Friday. As a result, any review of mine that publishes in the paper won’t be visible on this site until the day of printing. So a handful of potentially early reviews may get pushed back a couple of days to meet my exclusivity agreement with the paper. And look for me to share links to each of my published reviews (hope you’ll check them out).

I’m really excited as this is a step I’ve often thought about but never really pursued. I’m grateful for the opportunity and thrilled to join such a talented group of critics. See you in the papers…..(and on here, but you know what I mean).

The sheer number of movies that Nicolas Cage churns out has made him a cultural sensation of sorts. But as a friend of this site recently pointed out to me, even though Cage puts out a load of forgettable straight-to-VOD fodder, he still surprises with the occasional unexpected gem (look no further than this summer’s “Pig”). His latest is the Sundance hit “Prisoners of the Ghostland”. And if you thought some of Cage’s past work has been bonkers, wait till you see the first trailer for this one.

“Ghostland” is a gonzo samurai neo-western from director Sion Sono. In it Cage plays a bank robber who is let out of prison to rescue the daughter of a wacky character called the Governor (Bill Moseley). The problem is the granddaughter is trapped in a mystical and violent wasteland known as Ghostland. Much bloodshed and hilarious Nic Cage hijinks ensue. The trailer looks absolutely gonzo which is probably the only way to handle material like this. Either way it’s crazy enough to grab my interest.

“Prisoners of the Ghostland” will release in theaters and on VOD September 17th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

“Dear Jordan, just take one look at your mother. That will tell you what I think beautiful is.” That’s a line from the upcoming movie “A Journal for Jordan”. Based on a true story, the film is an adaptation of Dana Canedy’s memoir “A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor”. The story has an interesting hook, but the biggest draw may be the names attached to the film. It’s directed by Denzel Washington and stars Michael B. Jordan. And they’re joined by an intriguing new face Chanté Adams.

The new trailer gives us a brief glimpse of what Washington is going for. The story (written by Virgil Williams) follows 1st Sgt. Charles Monroe King (Jordan) who pens a journal for his newborn son telling him how to live and love the right way. The movie looks sweet, heartwarming, and poignant with Jordan and Adams showing off some sparkling chemistry. I’m in.

“A Journal for Jordan” opens December 10th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

Yesterday Netflix dropped the trailer for their upcoming biographical drama “Worth”. The film is directed by Sara Colangelo and debuted way back at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. It sports a compelling cast led by three Academy Award nominees – the always great Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci, and Amy Ryan.

“Worth” tells the story of attorney Kenneth Feinberg (played by Keaton) who was assigned to head the Victim Compensation Fund following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Feinberg was tasked with making the decisions on how much each family of a 9/11 victim would receive. The drama unfolds as Feinberg puts together an imperfect formula to help figure benefits. But it quickly sparks the ire of families who see it as unfair and insulting. As movies like “Spotlight” and “The Founder” have shown, Keaton is a terrific fit for this kind of material. Adding Tucci and Ryan is icing on the cake.

“Worth” drops on Netflix September 3rd. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.