Fresh off its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, writer-director Wes Anderson’s latest film, “The Phoenician Scheme” is set to open in select theaters this weekend ahead of its full release on June 6th. This “espionage black comedy” features a sterling ensemble of Anderson regulars and new faces including Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Richard Ayoade, Mathieu Amalric, Scarlett Johansson, Jeffrey Wright, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, F. Murray Abraham, Steve Park, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and more.

Del Toro gets top billing playing Zsa-zsa Korda, a millionaire business magnate and father of ten. There hasn’t been a lot said about the story, but it seems Korda takes on a “land and sea infrastructure scheme” with the help of his reluctant daughter who’s a nun (Mia Threapleton) and his antsy tutor (Michael Cera). Of course they have a number of wacky encounters with a colorful collection of characters, all to an stylish backdrop that is every bit a vibrant Wes Anderson tapestry.

In anticipation of its upcoming release, Focus Features has released a collection of stylish character posters. Check them out below….

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment is bringing the biographical crime drama “The Alto Knights” to home video. Robert De Niro takes on dual roles in this underseen and underappreciated telling of the complex relationship between New York crime bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese. Unfortunately the movie failed to make a splash at the box office, grossing just $9.6 million worldwide. But “The Alto Knights” is well worth seeing and now you’ll have the chance at home. Check out my full review of the film [HERE].

This Blu-ray edition of “The Alto Knights” comes packed with a digital copy and will be available to purchase on May 27th. See below for a full synopsis of the film as well as release information including a list of special features.

About the Film:

Year: 2025

Runtime: 94 Minutes

Director: Barry Levinson

Screenwriter: Nicholas Pileggi

Cast: Robert De Niro, Debra Messing, Cosmo Jarvis, Kathrine Narducci, Michael Rispoli, Michael Adler, Ed Amatrudo, Joe Bacino, James Ciccone, Anthony J. Gallo, Wallace Lagham, Louis Mustillo

Rating: R for violence and pervasive language

Starring legendary actor Robert De Niro in a dual role, and from the dream team of mafia movie filmmakers, such hitmakers as director Barry Levinson, writer Nicholas Pileggi and producers Irwin Winkler and Jason Sosnoff, “The Alto Knights” explores one of the most pivotal moments of organized crime history. 

This compelling story of friendship and betrayal, jealousy and greed, corruption and an epic power struggle reveals the deadly decades-long battle between notorious mob bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese—both portrayed by De Niro—and unravels the truth behind the near downfall of organized crime in America.   

De Niro’s Frank and Vito are childhood friends whose lives take different paths, but whose destinies as powerful mob bosses are forever intertwined.  When we meet the two men, Frank is respected as a highly influential yet diplomatic mafia boss in New York City; and Vito, formerly a boss who once handed over his position when forced into a sort of exile, is a violent, ambitious man who will stop at nothing to regain his seat at the top.  Ultimately, it is their differing ambitions combined with their hugely contrasting personalities that will set the former friends against each other for good. 

Special Features:

• One Legend, Two Mobsters – Featurette

Say what you want about the state of the now unwieldy Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the folks at Marvel Studios have done a bang-up job promoting what is easily the most compelling movie on their release schedule. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” has the potential to overcome the MCU fatigue that has grown due to the oversaturation of subpar big screen and television projects. The film looks genuinely intriguing and the brilliant promotion is a big reason so many of us are looking forward to it.

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is the second reboot for Marvel’s First Family. Directed by Matt Shakman and written by a team of SIX, this 37th entry into the MCU is set on a 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic Earth somewhere in the seemingly never-ending multiverse. Bypassing another retelling of their origin story, the family (played by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are forced to defend their world against a planet-devouring cosmic entity known as Galactus (Ralph Ineson).

The marketing has been fantastic from the early teases to the full trailer releases. But best of all may be the retro-styled poster campaign. Since the early days of the movie’s announcement Marvel Studios has delivered a series of cool posters and they’re still going strong. Recently they dropped new character posters inspired by classic bubblegum card packs. Check them out below and tell me what you think.

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” releases exclusively in theaters on July 25th.

I openly admit to not being well-versed in the “Final Destination” franchise. In fact, it legitimately surprised me to find out this was the SIXTH movie in a film series that began twenty-five years ago. “Final Destination 5” released in 2011 and was a modest commercial success. Enough so that plans for a sixth installment were quickly set in motion. It took fourteen years, but now we have “Final Destination Bloodlines”.

So did we really need another “Final Destination” movie? Was anyone really asking for one? Those are two questions that are often thrown around with movies like this and I’ve never liked them. Why restrict creatives with arbitrary ideas of what we “need” or limit them to giving us strictly what we want. Here’s a better question – Does the movie bring enough fun ideas and/or fresh energy to make it entertaining? To my surprise, “Bloodlines” does just that.

The movie kicks off with a bang. In 1968 Paul (Max Lloyd-Jones) surprises his girlfriend Iris (Brec Bassinger) with opening night reservations at the swanky Skyview Restaurant. It sits atop a staggeringly tall tower that’s only reachable by a cramped glass elevator or an endless spiral staircase. Once at the top, the privileged patrons are met with top-quality dining, a fancy bar, a dance floor, and an energetic band. Paul is planning to propose while Iris is hiding that she’s pregnant. But any dreams for their future are crushed after a chain of events causes the tower to collapse, killing everyone inside.

Some 50 years later, college student Stefani (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) suffers from gruesomely detailed reoccurring nightmares about the Skyview catastrophe. She hasn’t been able to sleep which leads to her being put on academic probation. Stefani ends up leaving school and going home in hopes of finding out what may be causing her terrifying dreams. But first she needs to reconnect with her family who she hasn’t been close to since she left for college.

But Stefani faces a bigger and far deadlier problem with the revelation that her family has a direct link to the Skyview incident. Without giving away too much, her estranged and reclusive grandmother (Gabrielle Rose) cheated death on that day and later had a family who should never have existed. Now death has come to collect and it has Stefani’s family in its grisly crosshairs.

Of course the movie’s gimmick is in how it shows the chain of seemingly chance events that can lead to a person’s fatal end. Co-directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein lean into the anxiety-ridden, gore-drenched craziness of it all, delivering some shockingly gnarly deaths that are often laced with twisted dark humor. Death proves to be a devilishly crafty antagonist with Lipovsky and Stein stoking our paranoia through tense and cleverly envisioned buildups before delivering some savagely satisfying payoffs.

I would be lying if I said I knew how all of the story stuff works. And I can’t say I found the characters all that compelling. But they’re defined well enough to make good victims for the merciless Death. It all makes for a morbidly fun and inventive horror feature that can make you laugh and grimace, often at the same time. And to top it off, we’re gifted with seeing the late Tony Todd in his incredibly fitting final big screen role. His brief scene alone makes the movie worth seeing. Rest in peace Mr. Todd.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS

We’ve seen teasers and a first trailer for the upcoming film “F1”. Yesterday we were given what Warner Bros. has called the “Main Trailer”. And just like before, this thing looks terrific. Apple Studios has poured a ton of money into this action sports drama centered around the world of Formula One racing. Some have estimated as much as $300 million which is a lot of money to make back. I’m hoping it pays off because it would be nice to see a successful blockbuster that isn’t linked to existing franchises.

Brad Pitt gets top billing playing Sonny Hayes, a former Formula One driver who retired following a horrible crash. He’s convinced to return to racing after an F1 team owner and old friend (played by Javier Bardem) offers him a spot mentoring a hotshot prodigy (Damson Idris). The always compelling Kerry Condon also stars. The film is directed by Joseph Kosinski who’s coming off the enormous success of “Top Gun: Maverick”. There’s no way “F1” does those kinds of numbers. But hopefully people will give it a shot, especially after seeing the killer new trailer.

“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 (awful pun intended).

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is bringing Steven Soderbergh’s exhilarating spy thriller “Black Bag” to home video. Released in theaters in mid-March, “Black Bag” remains one of the best films of 2025 thanks to David Koepp’s razor-sharp script and two dynamic lead performances from Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett. But ultimately it’s Soderbergh, whose signature style and pinpoint precision energizes every facet of the storytelling. And now you can bring this gem home.

This new Blu-ray edition of “Black Bag” comes with a digital copy and will be available to purchase on May 13th. See below for a full synopsis of the film as well as release info including a list of special features.

About the Film:

Year: 2025

Runtime: 94 Minutes

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Screenwriter: David Koepp

Cast: Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Pierce Brosnan, Regé-Jean Page, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Kae Alexander, Ambika Mod

Rating: R for language including some sexual references, and some violence

From Academy Award-winning Director Steven Soderbergh, “BLACK BAG” is a gripping spy drama about legendary intelligence agents George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) and his beloved wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchett). When she is suspected of betraying the nation, George faces the ultimate test – loyalty to his marriage or his country.

Special Features:

• Deleted Scenes
• “The Company of Talent” – In the world of spies, there are no small players. Join the ensemble cast and learn about their distinct character motivations, secrets, and overall creative approach to bringing each role to life under the direction of Steven Soderbergh.
• “Designing BLACK BAG” – Enter the world of espionage and collect intelligence on the production design, costumes, makeup, and special effects that came together to embody the looks of each character and the aesthetic of each space they inhabit.