Paul Thomas Anderson is a highly regarded filmmaker who earns attention with every new movie he releases. For me personally, I find his films to be pretty hit-or-miss. But when PTA does hit, he hits BIG. That’s the main reason I’m excited for his latest, “One Battle After Another”. Today the first full trailer dropped and let’s just say my excitement got a boost.

“One Battle After Another” is a black comedy said to be inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s classic 1997 novel “Vineland.” It stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a manic hippie turned anti-government activist who calls on a motley band of revolutionaries to help him take on some white supremacist organization. The film is highlighted by a fun supporting cast that includes Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Alana Haim, and Sean Penn. With a budget somewhere in the $100 – $145 million range, it looks like PTA is pouring a lot into this one.

“One Battle After Another” hits theaters September 26th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass. 

Ryan Coogler reteams with Michael B. Jordan in “Sinners”, a period horror film set in the 1930s Jim Crow-era South. Jordan gets double duty playing twin brothers who attempt to leave their troubled lives behind by returning to their small hometown. But instead of a warm welcome, they’re faced with a brutal supernatural evil that has them fighting for their lives. The trailers for “Sinners” have done a great job setting the table. Now Warner Bros. has released a killer new poster for a movie that looks to be a blood-soaked and action-packed good time.

DIRECTOR – Ryan Coogler

WRITER – Ryan Coogler

STARRING – Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Miles Caton, Delroy Lindo, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, Li Jun Li, Lola Kirke, Yao, Peter Dreimanis

RELEASE – April 18, 2025

Check out the new poster below and let me know what you think.

Celine Song gave us one of the best directorial debuts in recent history with 2023’s “Past Lives”, an aching drama that earned Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. As a result, many of us have been anxiously anticipating what she was going to do next. Now we get a taste following the release of the first trailer for “Materialists”, a romantic drama with three pretty big names leading the way.

Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans star in a film that looks as if it’s leaning into a more traditional romantic story. Johnson plays Lucy, a successful matchmaker who suddenly finds herself torn between two men, a dashing millionaire named Randy (Pascal) and a re-emerging old friend named John (Evans) who she has a lot of history with. Again, the story doesn’t sound like anything new. But Song has such a compelling cinematic voice and I’m excited to see what she has to say. Meanwhile Johnson and Pascal are intriguing pieces. Evans – we’ll see.

“Materialists” opens in theaters June 13th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

Only three years removed from making the $1.5 billion mega-hit “Top Gun: Maverick”, director Joseph Kosinski is back in a cockpit of a different kind. This time he’s entering the fuel-injected world of Formula One racing with the aptly titled “F1”. Joined by an all-star cast of actors and real-life drivers, Kosinski and company have made a movie with a broad appeal. Whether you’re a racing fan or not, “F1” looks terrific. Just check out the killer new trailer for proof.

Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a former F1 driver who retired following a devastating crash. He’s persuaded by his old friend and Formula One team owner Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem) to come out of retirement and help mentor a young hotshot prodigy (Damson Idris). While the chance to race again is too good to pass up, the kid’s cockiness proves to be more than Sonny bargained for. The great Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, and Shea Whigham also star in what looks to be an exhilarating experience.

“F1” races into theaters on June 27th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

The El Dorado Film Festival saved one of its best short film blocks for last. As its name reveals, the Southern Made selections highlights a wonderfully curated assortment of short films that have a distinct Southern flavor to them. Together they make for a diverse and entertaining collection that once again promotes a wide arrange of styles and visions.

Here are a few impressions out of the nine films included in the block...

“Love is Neat.” takes the simplest of titles and the oldest of stories and turns it into a bittersweet tale of self-discovery. Director, writer, producer, and editor Taylor Deville attempts to add her own unique spin to the storybook romantic comedy. She starts by introducing us to James (Caleb Lemon) who genuinely hates his job as a barista at a small coffee shop. But he sticks with it because of Jessica (Anne Nichols Brown), a regular customer who won’t give him the time of day. He obliviously believes she is his dream girl, but over time reality sets in with the help of a straight-shooting bartender named Kate (Ivy McGrew). Deville’s romcom inspiration is hard to miss. But her film has a lot of charm and a good central message that comes together nicely by the end.

VERDICT – 3.5/5

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Of the many films at the 2025 El Dorado Film Festival, there was nothing quite like “Fast”. This entertaining psychological horror and black comedy genre blend came from the mind of writer-director Clayton Henderson who puts a gonzo spin on his own personal experience with fasting. Desperate to lose weight, Jake (Samuel Bosh) is put on an extended fast by his maniacal personal trainer (Donnovan Roe). It’s an intense regiment consisting of seven days with no food. During that time, all he is allowed to drink is bone broth. He’s doing it for his girlfriend Sydney (Sara Patterson), but over time he begins to mentally unravel, culminating in a suitably bonkers finish that’s sure to get a reaction. Henderson has a blast dabbling in horror while making his audience laugh. At the same time, his themes of self-confidence and fulfillment really strike a chord.

VERDICT – 4/5

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David Michael Long grabs your attention with his work in front of and behind the camera in “The Artiste”. Long directs, writes, and stars in this dark dramedy of sorts that follows his character Terrence, a frustrated and temperamental street mime who encounters a man named Ben (Paul Petersen) who starts as a nuisance and turns into an admirer before becoming a rival. “The Artiste” is equal parts funny and sobering with much of its energy coming from Long and Petersen’s well-tuned chemistry. But most of all it’s the themes at its core that gives the film its identity. Holding onto your legacy, art versus entertainment, fleeting fame in the viral era – just some of things on Long’s mind in this well-conceived and well-made short.

VERDICT – 4/5

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Shirley Ford (Gail Cronauer) is an 83-year-old widow from East Texas who gains an unhealthy infatuation with a fellow she sees as the spitting image of the Marlboro Man in director Diffan Sina Norman’s shrewd and unpredictable film “Pasture Prime”. Shirley first lays eyes on Marvin Clope (Patrick Kirton) when he pays a visit to her church. The two have a friendly greeting which (for Shirley) turns into a wild obsession. Her son Dean (Chris Alan Evans) and daughter-in-law Debbie (Susan Kirton) plead for her to leave Marvin alone, but for Shirley that’s easier said than done. Norman and screenwriter Carolyn Purnell approach the story with an almost Hitchcockian verve. But sprinkled in with the eerie music and earnest narration are moments of well-timed humor which help give the film its form.

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A seasoned but disillusioned magician prepares for his final performance in director and screenwriter Jeremy Enis’ “The Stage”. A terrific Lance E. Nichols plays Arthur, a classic magician who has owned and performed in his own theater for years. But just as he’s about to go onstage, he surprises his faithful and longtime assistant, Evelyn (Sherri Eakin) with the news that this will be his last performance. Even more, he’s determined that he doesn’t need her for his final show which he will end with a brand new trick. But as the two cut through their frustrations and begin pouring their hearts out, the film reveals a real beauty in tragedy. Enis puts a lot of heart into this well-written two-hander that is ultimately a showcase for Nichols and Eakin. The two beautifully convey the emotional stakes through an onscreen exchange so rooted in truth that you nearly forget you’re watching a screen.

VERDICT – 4/5

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The El Dorado Film Festival has treated cinema lovers to a fascinating variety of short films from all around the globe. But it has always taken the time to showcase an exciting range of filmmakers with Arkansas connections. The year’s Arkansas Shorts Block featured an impressive group of films that offer just a sample of the filmmaking talent found right here in the Natural State.

Here are a few impressions out of the eleven films included in the block.

Director Jennifer Gerber’s intriguing short film “Generational” takes a family drama and adds a pinch of psychological horror to tell an affecting story that many people are sure to connect with. Gerber and co-writer Samuel Brett Williams introduce us to Layla (Harper Keith) and her mother Katie (Lacy Dunn) as they get ready to leave home for a cheer audition. Layla gets a phone call from her distressed grandmother, Diane (Kristine Artymowski) and insists they check on her despite Katie’s objections. What they find is troubling to young Layla who makes a life-changing discovery about her family. Strong performances, solid production value, and Gerber’s shrewd handling of the material ensures “Generational” leaves a deeply felt impression.

VERDICT – 4/5

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Co-directors Laura Shatkus and Russell Sharman bring their own special seasoning to the traditional Thanksgiving dinner in “Carving”. Working from a script by John Walch, the directing duo craft a compelling daddy/daughter story that keeps you involved right through to its gut-punch ending. Two terrific performances anchor the story. Tyler Meredith plays a young woman named Sarah who is preparing for her first Thanksgiving since splitting from her husband, Pete. She asks her father Davis (Eric Dean White) to teach her how to carve a turkey. In the process, the two have an extended conversation that cut me right to the heart. The film was shot in one uninterrupted take with DP Adam S. Hogan employing an array of techniques including slow zooms, pans, and tracking shots. It’s exceptionally well executed and plays a crucial part in telling this subtly rich and poignant story.

VERDICT – 4.5/5

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A granddaughter Clark (Andie Van Kuren) and her grandfather George (Barry Clifton) playfully set up a plan to sucker his Vietnam war buddies at their next poker match in the sweet yet genuine short film “Two of a Kind”. Clark has gotten closer with her grandfather since he began teaching her how to play poker. In one lesson he instructs her on how to notice when other players are tipping their hands, namely his three friends and fellow vets (charmingly played by the trio of Marx Mitchell, Faron Ledbetter, and John Gale). Director, writer, and producer Skylar Nelsen shows great instincts by leaning into her characters and giving her actors room to bring out their personalities. And once the game starts, Nelsen makes us feel as if we’re at the table, playing cards, laughing at corny cracks, and soaking up old heartfelt war stories.

VERDICT – 4/5

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Though only six minutes in length, there is an overflow of personality, heart, and humor in “Little Bit”, a spirited, inspiring, and well-made documentary short film from director Raeden Greer. Following up her powerful and thought-provoking 2023 film “The Hill We Climb”, Greer’s latest shares the story of Elaine “Little Bit” Kirkpatrick whose 25-year career as a heavy equipment operator turned heads in what remains a male-dominated industry. Shooting in Kirkpatrick’s home, hearing her experiences in her own words, sharing old snapshots from past jobs, incorporating dashes of stylish animation – it all adds character and texture especially when combined with Kirkpatrick’s infectious energy and charm. Greer has teased the idea of a series of similar films highlighting trailblazing women. Here’s hoping it happens.

VERDICT – 4.5/5

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Early into “Smoothie” it’s hard to make out what the film is going for. That ends up being key to the genius of director, writer, and editor Chris Churchill’s sly and restrained drama. Michael B. Woods plays John, a model stay at home dad on the surface. While chopping up fruit for smoothies, his daughter’s best friend Lily (Rylee Bolls) pays a surprise visit. Their conversation that follows is revealing in a number of ways. Chief among the revelations, Lily informs John that she spotted him the night before with another woman. I won’t spoil how things plays out, but uncertainty mounts once John’s wife Annie (Kristen Bush) comes home. The performances are a real strength as is Churchill’s patient uncoiling of his story. He leaves us with plenty of questions which fits with the elusive truth at the heart of his film.

VERDICT – 4/5

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