Let me be honest. There’s nothing about the new trailer for the upcoming flick “Plane” that will have any critic rethinking their awards season ballots. Yet I have to admit, I really get a kick out of these wacky (and sometimes undeniably bad) action romps. And sometimes a little disposable nonsense is all I really need from a movie. Gerard Butler has certainly provided plenty of that in recent years. But to be fair, he does occasionally surprise us with an unexpectedly good movie. That considered, it’s hard to tell where “Plane” will land (see what I did there?).

Make no mistake, the generically titled “Plane” looks absolutely absurd. In it Butler plays a commercial pilot named (and this is such a Gerry Butler movie name) Brodie Torrance. When his plane is damaged during a severe storm, he’s forced to do an emergency landing. The problem is he lands in a territory full of hostile militants who take his passengers hostage. With the help of a federal prisoner (Mike Colter), put on his plane for extradition, Brodie sets out to rescue the passengers as only Gerry Butler can. Silly beyond measure but potentially fun….maybe?

“Plane” hits theaters January 27th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

Kino Lorber Studio Classics has two Clint Eastwood gems as part of their November home video lineup. The first is a beautiful 4K UHD release of Eastwood’s terrific 1979 prison thriller “Escape From Alcatraz”. Inspired by J. Campbell Bruce’s 1963 non-fiction book of the same name, the film saw Eastwood re-teaming with director Don Siegel in what was a gripping and methodically told story that still holds up well today. You can read my full film review HERE.

This new 4K UHD “Escape From Alcatraz” hits shelves NOVEMBER 8, 2022. See below for a full synopsis and breakdown of the bonus features.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS:

Year: 1979

Rating: PG

Runtime: 112 Minutes

Director: Don Siegel

Actors: Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan, Fred Ward, Roberts Blossom, Jack Thibeau, Larry Hankin

Screen legend Clint Eastwood (Coogan’s Bluff, Dirty Harry) and director Don Siegel (Two Mules for Sister Sara, The Beguiled) re-team for their fifth and final film in this fascinating account of the only three men ever to escape from the infamous maximum-security prison at Alcatraz. In 29 years, the seemingly impenetrable federal penitentiary, which housed Al Capone and “Birdman” Robert Stroud, was only broken once—by three men never heard of again.

Eastwood portrays Frank Morris, the cunning bank robber who masterminded the elaborately detailed and, as far as anyone knows, ultimately successful, escape. Patrick McGoohan (Ice Station Zebra, TV’s The Prisoner) is a superb counterpoint as the suspicious warden. Filmed on location in Alcatraz, this gritty and realistic reenactment of a true story has all the power one expects of an Eastwood/Siegel movie. The stellar cast includes Fred Ward (Remo Williams), Roberts Blossom (Deranged), Jack Thibeau (Sudden Impact), Paul Benjamin (Across 110th Street) and Larry Hankin (Running Scared). Screenplay by Richard Tuggle (Tightrope), based on a book by J. Campbell Bruce.

BONUS FEATURES:

DISC 1 (4KUHD): HDR/Dolby Vision Master by Paramount Pictures – From a 4K Scan of the Original Camera Negative | NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson | 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Stereo | Triple-Layered UHD100 Disc | Optional English Subtitles

DISC 2 (Blu-ray): HD Master by Paramount Pictures – From a 4K Scan of the Original Camera Negative | NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson | THE GHOSTS OF ALCATRAZ: NEW Interview with Screenwriter Richard Tuggle | TALES FROM THE CELLBLOCK: NEW Interview with Actor Larry Hankin | Theatrical Trailer (Newly Remastered in 2K) | Dual-Layered BD50 Disc | Optional English Subtitles

In a mind-blowing Tuesday afternoon shocker, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran have been named the heads of DC Studios, a brand-new Warner Bros. division replacing DC Films. The pair will oversee DC’s films, television, and animation going forward. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Gunn and Safran will be operating as co-CEOs of DC Studios, with Gunn focusing on the creative and Safran handling the business and production side. However the duties are split up, this is an unprecedented move.

In a statement, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said “DC has among the most entertaining, powerful, and iconic characters in the world and I am thrilled to have the singular and complementary talents of James and Peter joining our world-class team and overseeing the creative direction of the storied DC Universe. Their decades of experience in filmmaking, close ties to the creative community, and proven track record thrilling superhero fans around the globe make them uniquely qualified to develop a long-term strategy across film, TV, and animation, and take this iconic franchise to the next level of creative storytelling.”

In a separate statement Gunn and Safran expressed their excitement saying, “We’re honored to be the stewards of these DC characters we’ve loved since we were children. We look forward to collaborating with the most talented writers, directors, and actors in the world to create an integrated, multilayered universe that still allows for the individual expression of the artists involved. Our commitment to Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Harley Quinn, and the rest of the DC stable of characters is only equaled by our commitment to the wonder of human possibility these characters represent. We’re excited to invigorate the theatrical experience around the world as we tell some of the biggest, most beautiful, and grandest stories ever told.“

It’s still a little hazy as to how this impacts movies already in the works, mainly those outside of the DCEU such as Todd Phillips’ upcoming “Joker” sequel and Matt Reeves’ developing universe revolving around “The Batman”. But one thing is for sure, Gunn has a deep affection for comics and superhero storytelling. And Safran is no stranger to producing big-budgeted superhero franchise movies. Gunn’s brash and more comedy-leaning individual style is reasonably concerning. But there’s no reason to believe he will force that style onto every DC property.

What’s most exciting about the hiring is that DC is all but guaranteed to once again have a vision. Gunn and Safran already have some terrific groundwork laid with the recent release of “Black Adam” and the announcement that Henry Cavill is back as Superman. Stability will do wonders, and Gunn’s enthusiasm is sure to take the DCEU (or whatever it’s going to be called) into some fresh and fun directions. Let’s go!

So what do you think about the big news?

Hey look, an upcoming marvel movie that may help wash away the bad taste left by their last film, “Thor: Love & Thunder”! As someone who genuinely likes the comic book characters, Thor’s latest wasn’t a happy experience. And the steady stream of mediocre television hasn’t exactly helped the MCU’s current state. And then along comes the trailer for “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and suddenly I’m feeling a slight reason for optimism.

Both of the previous Ant-Man movies have been flawed but fine when it comes to entertainment. This third feature looks as if it has a lot more significance than what we have seen before. Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily, Michael Douglas, and Michelle Pfeiffer all return, while MCU newcomer Kathryn Newton takes over as Cassie Lang (still not sure why, but ok). But the big attraction from the trailer is Jonathan Majors reprising his role of Kang the Conqueror. There are several other teases to be found if you look close. But most importantly, it looks like we’re finally getting a movie that (hopefully) will bring some of these MCU properties together.

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” hits theaters February 21st. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

I loved the 2015 Swedish dramedy “A Man Called Ove”, and I remember thinking then that an American remake was all but guaranteed. It actually took longer than I expected to get here, but now we have “A Man Called Otto” from director Marc Forster. And playing the titular curmudgeon is none other than Tom Hanks. I’m always a believer in Hanks, but this felt like an odd role for him. Then I saw the new trailer. In typical Hanks fashion, he falls right into the character and I’m looking forward to seeing where he takes it.

Storywise, Otto is in a bad way. His wife has died, and he was forced out of a job he loved. So he’s decided to end his life. But every attempt is accidentally thwarted by his sweet and lively new neighbors. Soon this single mother, two young daughters, and one persistent gray cat help Otto see that he has more to live for. The original film was dark yet funny. I’m not sure how far this version will go, but the trailer looks really promising.

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

Few movies have surprised me more than “Creed” and “Creed II”. The very idea of jump-starting the “Rocky” franchise by focusing on the son of Apollo Creed seemed like a stretch. As it turned out, Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, and Sylvester Stallone had a great story to tell, and they followed it up with an exceptional sequel (Stallone was robbed of a Best Supporting Actor Oscar). Now the third chapter is on the way with Jordan not just starring, but making his feature directorial debut.

The first trailer has dropped giving us a good taste of what we can expect. This time around Adonis Creed (Jordan) finds himself on a collision course with Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors), a close friend from his past who’s fresh out of prison following an 18 year sentence. While the two were once like brothers, Damien clearly has animosity towards his old friend and he intends to settle things in the ring. “I’m coming for everything”, Majors utters with a confident snarl. Gratuitous body-flexing aside, the trailer captures the same spirit as the previous two films. I’m all in.