With the Oscars hosting controversy, 2019 didn’t start well for Kevin Hart. But at least there’s an upside. Literally — he’s got a new movie called The Upside, and it’s a real departure for the comedian. Yes, the movie does have plenty of laughs, but there’s also a lot of drama — especially between Hart and his co-star, Bryan Cranston. And that’s no easy task, to act against Cranston, who has established himself as one of this generation’s elite actors. When we spoke to Cranston, though, he told us Hart definitely held his own on the set. (Click on the media bar below to hear Bryan Cranston)
The tense trailer Little Woods has just been released and, upon first impression, this looks to be an excellent vehicle for Tessa Thompson (Creed II) and Lily James (Cinderella).
Set in Little Woods, North Dakota, the tale centers on Ollie (Thompson), a woman who’s on her final days of probation after illegally transporting prescription pills over the Canadian border. A tragedy leads Ollie to reconnect with her estranged sister Deb (James). Deb, who has an unplanned pregnancy, teams up with Ollie to find a way to make money and save their mother’s house from foreclosure.
Ollie’s return to selling pills, though filled with good intentions, will probably come at a price, and though the subject matter is grim the trailer ends on a subtle comedic note. The feature, directed by Nia DaCosta was a Best Narrative Feature nominee at the Tribeca Film Festival and received Honorable Mention at the Denver Film Festival for the American Independent Award. Check out the trailer and tell us what you think!
Little Woods, co-starring James Badge Dale, opens in theaters April 19,
Chiwetel Ejiofor’s directing debut The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind will kick off the New York International Children’s Film Festival. The 22nd annual fest runs from February 22nd through March 17 and will feature live action, documentary, VR, and experimental shorts from over 30 countries.
Based on William Kamkwamba’s memoir, the narrative centers on a determined young boy who saves his Malawian village from famine. Ejiofor, whose previous credits include 12 Years a Slaveand Secret In Their Eyes, also penned the screenplay and co-stars in the feature (the feature also debuts on Netflix on March 1).
Other films spotlighted in the fest includes the animated adventure Pachamamaand My Extraordinary Summer With Tess. For more information on the festival (tickets go on sale January 23), go to www.nyicff.org.
Liam Neeson has braved adversity in the snow with 2011’s The Grey, and now he’s back for a bit more frosty weather in the action thriller Cold Pursuit. The feature centers on a snowplow driver (Neeson) who is hunting down the drug dealers he believed killed his son (Micheål Richardson, who is Neeson’s actual son).
“It’s a good character driven revenge thriller with very sort of interesting bad guys,” said Neeson. “And there’s a very dark undercurrent element of humor that kinda runs through it too that is quite appealing.”
Click on the media bar to hear Neeson talk about working with his son in Cold Pursuit.
Cold Pursuit, co-starring Laura Dern and Emmy Rossum, hits theaters February 8.
Halloween turned out to be one of last year’s biggest hits, as it collected over $253 million worldwide. Shot on a modest $10 million budget, the picture promised a final showdown between Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Michael Myers. The feature hits Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on Tuesday, January 15.
Halloween’sspecial features (featured in all of the versions) include deleted scenes and several featurettes (“Back in Haddonfield: Making Halloween,” “The Original Scream Queen,” “The Sound of Fear,” Journey of the Mask,” and “The Legacy of Halloween.”
Throughout her career, Curtis has starred in a diverse array of films including Trading Places, Blue Steel, True Lies, and A Fish Called Wanda. Click on the media bar to hear Jamie Lee Curtis explain why she initially decided to stop doing horror films after shooting Halloween II.
It’s been 20 years since M. Night Shyamalan made Unbreakable with Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis. Now, the trio has reteamed for Glass, a sort-of sequel to Unbreakable. Shyamalan said it’s something he’s been talking about with Jackson and Willis for years, and he’s excited that they were finally able to make it happen. (Click on the media bar below to hear M. Night Shyamalan)
With the Oscars hosting controversy, 2019 didn’t start well for Kevin Hart. But at least there’s an upside. Literally — he’s got a new movie called The Upside, and it’s a real departure for the comedian. Yes, the movie does have plenty of laughs, but there’s also a lot of drama — especially between Hart and his co-star, Bryan Cranston. And that’s no easy task, to act against Cranston, who has established himself as one of this generation’s elite actors. When we spoke to Cranston, though, he told us Hart definitely held his own on the set. (Click on the media bar below to hear Bryan Cranston)
