The idea of J.K. Simmons playing Santa Claus is easily the biggest draw of “Red One”, an upcoming holiday film from director Jake Kasdan. With a massive budget of reportedly nearly $300 million, the Christmas-themed action-adventure comedy has its sights set on being a full-blown franchise. But after seeing its recently released first trailer, I’m curious to see if it will come anywhere close to making its money back despite the star wattage of its leads, Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans.

The premise centers around Santa Clause being kidnapped. The head of North Pole security, Callum Drift (Johnson) is forced to team up with obnoxious bounty hunter Jack O’Malley (Evans) to find Saint Nick and save Christmas (so to speak). Kasdan and company seem to be shooting for a buddy movie with a Christmastime setting. That could be entertaining. Unfortunately the trailer isn’t all that promising. An unconvincing CGI polar bear, even more unconvincing killer snowmen, patently unfunny banter – it’s all present plus some. Who knows what to expect?

“Red One” jiggles into theaters on November 15th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

The wickedly interesting cinematic vision of filmmaker Robert Eggers is without question distinctly and uniquely his own. His three feature films have ran the gamut between incredible (“The Witch”) to disappointing (“The Lighthouse”) to something in between (“The Northman”). Regardless, each film displayed an alluring visual and narrative style unlike anything else out there today. Judging by its captivating first trailer, his new film “Nosferatu” looks to continue that trend.

Essentially a remake of F. W. Murnau’s 1922 film of the same name, “Nosferatu” is a gothic period piece that tells the story of Count Orlock (Bill Skarsgård) and his growing infatuation with a troubled young woman named Ellen Hunter (Lily-Rose Depp). The film also features Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Willem Dafoe, Ralph Ineson, and Simon McBurney. Eggers’ fascinating use of imagery is seen all through the trailer and we get a really good sense of the tone he’s going for. I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us.

“Nosferatu” is currently set to release on December 25th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

Warner Brothers Discovery Home Entertainment and Amazon MGM Studios have announced the release of “The Boys in the Boat” to home video. Directed by George Clooney and featuring a fantastic Callum Turner lead performance, this inspiring biographical sports drama is based on Daniel James Brown’s non-fiction book about the 1936 University of Washington rowing team and their unlikely run towards the Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Read my full review [HERE].

This Blu-ray edition of “The Boys in the Boat” will be available for purchase on July 25th. See below for a full synopsis and release information including special features.

About the Film:

Year: 2024

Runtime: 123 Minutes

Director: George Clooney

Screenwriter: Mark L. Smith

Based on the Book by: Daniel James Brown

Cast: Callum Turner, Joel Edgerton, Peter Guinness, Jack Mulhern, James Wolk, Hadley Robinson, Courtney Henggeler, Chris Diamantopoulos, Sam Strike, Alec Newman

Rating: PG-13 for Language and Smoking

“The Boys in the Boat” is a sports drama based on the #1 New York Times bestselling non-fiction book written by Daniel James Brown. The film, directed by George Clooney, is about the 1936 University of Washington rowing team that competed for gold at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. This inspirational true story follows a group of underdogs at the height of the Great Depression as they are thrust into the spotlight and take on elite rivals from around the world.

“The Boys in the Boat” stars Joel Edgerton (“Loving”), Callum Turner (The “Fantastic Beasts” films), Peter Guinness (“Sleepy Hollow”), Jack Mulhern (TV’s “Mare of Easttown”), James Wolk (TV’s “Mad Men”), Hadley Robinson (“Anyone But You”), and Courtney Henggeler (TV’s “Cobra Kai”).

Special Features:

None

Well Go USA is bringing one of the best surprises of 2024 to home video. The riveting, stylishly made, and darkly funny action-thriller “The Last Stop in Yuma County” is coming to Blu-ray and it shouldn’t be missed. It marks the feature film debut for writer/director Francis Galluppi who pulls inspiration from the Coen brothers, “Pulp Fiction”, and many other genre gems. A cracking cast along with a terrific sense of time and place are just some of the reasons the film works so well. Read my review [HERE].

This Blu-ray edition of “The Last Stop in Yuma County” will be available for purchase on July 16th. See below for a full synopsis and release information including special features.

About the Film:

Year: 2024

Runtime: 90 Minutes

Director: Francis Galluppi

Screenwriter: Francis Galluppi

Cast: Jim Cummings, Jocelin Donahue, Richard Brake, Sierra McCormick, Faizon Love, Nicholas Logan, Michael Abbott Jr., Gene Jones, Connor Paolo, Alex Essoe, Robin Bartlett, Jon Proudstar, Sam Huntington, Ryan Masson, Barbara Crampton, Robert Broski

Rating: R for Violence and Language

While awaiting the next fuel truck at a middle-of-nowhere Arizona rest stop, a traveling young knife salesman is thrust into a high-stakes hostage situation by the arrival of two similarly stranded bank robbers with no qualms about using cruelty—or cold, hard steel—to protect their bloodstained, ill-begotten fortune.

“The Last Stop in Yuma County” is the impressive debut feature film by writer/director Francis Galluppi, who has been tapped to write and direct the next Evil Dead movie—makes its Blu-ray^™ debut July 16 from Well Go USA Entertainment. While stranded at a rural Arizona rest stop, a traveling salesman is thrust into a dire hostage situation by the arrival of two bank robbers with no qualms about using cruelty—or cold, hard steel—to protect their bloodstained fortune. “THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY” stars Jim Cummings (Halloween Kills), Jocelin Donahue (Insidious: Chapter 2), Sierra McCormick (The Nana Project), Nicholas Logan (“Dopesick”), Michael Abbott Jr. (Killers of the Flower Moon), Connor Paolo (A Creature was Stirring), Alexandra Essoe (The Pope’s Exorcist), Robin Bartlett (“Playing For Time”), Jon Proudstar (Young Guns II), and Sam Huntington (Seven Stages to Achieve Eternal Bliss). Bonus materials include a Making-of featurette and three commentary tracks.

Special Features:

– Making-of Featurette

– Three Commentary Tracks

Ok, this may be my favorite movie poster of the entire year. I missed “Thelma” at this year’s Sundance Film Festival but it won over a lot of hearts. Now it’s set to hit theaters and I can’t wait. From writer-director Josh Margolin, this infectious looking comedy stars the infinitely lovable June Squibb who plays a feisty elderly woman who gets scammed over the phone by someone pretending to be her grandson. She sets out across Los Angeles with her friend Ben (the late great Richard Roundtree) to find the conman and reclaim what his rightfully hers. The new poster from Magnolia Pictures fits the movie so incredibly well. You’ll see what I mean.

DIRECTOR – Josh Margolin

WRITERS – Josh Margolin

STARRING – June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Malcolm McDowell, Nicole Byer, Coral Pena

RELEASE – June 21, 2024

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

He’s baaaaack. No not Arnold in another Terminator film. I’m talking about Paddington, the infinitely lovable, marmalade loving, anthropomorphic bear from the deep jungles of Peru who found a home with a loving human family in the big city of London. 2014’s “Paddington” was a big-hearted joy and 2017’s “Paddington 2” was even better, adding a Wes Anderson style of humor to its already delightful formula. Now we’re getting the third installment, “Paddington in Peru” and I couldn’t be more onboard.

The one big difference is the absence of writer-director Paul King. Instead, “Paddington in Peru” is being helmed by Dougal Wilson. The first trailer certainly ‘feels’ like the other films (at least early on). Ben Whishaw returns to voice Paddington who heads back to Peru for a visit, this time with his adopted British family, the Browns. There he discovers his beloved Aunt Lucy has ventured out into the jungle on “some sort of quest”. Determined to find her, Paddington and the Browns set out into the Amazon. Hijinks are sure to ensue and I’ll be there for them.

“Paddington in Peru” lands in theaters on November 8th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.