The Killing of a Sacred Deer

The Killing of a Sacred Deer might be one of the hardest films to review.  It was a brilliantly haunting and dark thriller that sent chills down my spine as it built to a very creepy climatic ending.  I’m not sure what I saw because the experience of watching it was not unlike being inside of a dream or a nightmare.  Not so much in that the film is scary or filled with blood and gore or that it overuses scenes of a sadistic nature but it leads you inward and you root around alone in the dark for two hours caught somewhere between who you were when you sat down to watch the film and who you are when you stand up to walk away from the screen.  In fact, you might not be able to stand right away.  As if under a trance of some sort, you will still be in the grips of the story and these characters; still be controlled by whatever it is that controls the characters themselves.

The movie was hypnotic, the music and cinematography were masterful.  In fact, as the film opens, a black screen playing breathtakingly beautiful music crescendos to a beating heart during surgery, something you fixate on a bit, reveling in its importance to you and to everyone.  Though the heart is tucked away unseen, it is you, it is me yet there it is… so vulnerable.  ‘What must you be in for next??’, assaults your imagination as you look away from the screen barely able to watch the all-important and unquestionably magnificent organ do its thing.  

Soon we meet the characters, which are few.  Each is so awkward and basic they’re almost underdeveloped but you’re now within the world where director Lanthimos basks.  What made this film so much more unique than most you see is the language that is used.  The way the script was written and how the actors speak makes you feel as if you were witnessing a normal family but from another plane, unlike your own… maybe you were fantasizing all of this or peering into the future?  The application of an almost ‘Queens English’ style of language is so little used in modern society that hearing an entire movie dedicate its speech pattern to it may sound exotic, but it does take a toll on you, however, the movie couldn’t have the effect on you that it will had not every piece been in play so anything that may seem like a flaw works in its favor.

Steven (Farrell) and his wife Anna (Kidman), are the parents of a teenage daughter named Kim (Cassidy) and a young son named Bob (Suljic).  We see that all is well and their lives are fairly routine.  There’s nothing that stands out as unusual, people are just going through the motions until we meet who Steven, a Cardiologist, sees on a regular basis.  Martin, played exceedingly well by Barry Keoghan (Dunkirk), a lonely, possibly mentally impeded young man that Steven spends some of his days with comes into the picture.   After the death of Martin’s father, Steven becomes a father figure and gives the boy gifts and has meals and conversations with him when he’s asked to.  He has Martin over for dinner and Steven introduces him to his family who seems to like Martin right away, especially Kim who takes a particular interest.  Scenes like this play out for half the film and in the back of your mind you know something is wrong but what is it?!  As time passes, the cinematography by Thimios Bakatakis, who has worked with Lanthimos before, becomes more engrossing.  Camera angles get stranger, the music gets more intense and piercing and before long we are told why we have that strange prickling in the back of our necks. 

This is a story of ‘an eye for an eye’ and its revelation is presented so matter-of-factly that you’ll be creeped out by Keoghan to such a degree you may never be able to see him in any other way again.  It’s safe to assume that we are not seeing mere people at this point but instead good and evil.  Each actor portrays an important role in detailing the struggles of being one and fighting another; their eyes so intense that they practically leave an imprint on the screen when it cuts to the next shot.  The systematic breaking down of the children’s father and protector is regarded as nothing more than absurd and futile which brings you to feel uneasy, but Farrell does his best to make it seem he has control.  The acting here is outstanding.  Keoghan is very calculating and incredibly unsettling.  Kidman is his opposite; protecting her children at all costs whether they want it or not.  Though I felt the ending was a bit contrived, an ending for ending’s sake, this is a must see this weekend if you can handle the haunting tone.  If you liked The Lobster see The Killing of a Sacred Deer in the theatre as soon as possible.  It will show up during award season, for that I am sure.

Winchester: The House That Ghosts Built – Trailer

Ready for a good ghost story?!? Too bad!  You have to wait until 2018 but here’s the trailer for what you have to look forward to!

Directed By: The Spierig Brothers (Jigsaw, Predestination)

Starring: Helen Mirren (Red, The Queen, Trumbo) and Jason Clarke (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Zero Dark Thirty)

Synopsis: Inspired by true events. On an isolated stretch of land 50 miles outside of San Francisco sits the most haunted house in the world. Built by Sarah Winchester, (Academy AwardÂŽ-winner Helen Mirren) heiress to the Winchester fortune, it is a house that knows no end. Constructed in an incessant twenty-four hour a day, seven days a week mania for decades, it stands seven stories tall and contains hundreds of rooms. To the outsider, it looks like a monstrous monument to a disturbed woman’s madness. But Sarah is not building for herself, for her niece (Sarah Snook) or for the brilliant Doctor Eric Price (Jason Clarke) whom she has summoned to the house. She is building a prison, an asylum for hundreds of vengeful ghosts, and the most terrifying among them have a score to settle with the Winchesters…

The film is produced by Tim McGahan of Predestination and Brett Tomberlin of The Ellen DeGeneres Show

In Theaters February 2018

http://www.fandango.com

Phantom Thread – Trailer

Focus Features release PHANTOM THREAD

 

Story: Set in the glamour of 1950’s post-war London, renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his sister Cyril (Lesley Manville) are at the center of British fashion, dressing royalty, movie stars, heiresses, socialites, debutants and dames with the distinct style of The House of Woodcock. Women come and go through Woodcock’s life, providing the confirmed bachelor with inspiration and companionship, until he comes across a young, strong-willed woman, Alma (Vicky Krieps), who soon becomes a fixture in his life as his muse and lover. Once controlled and planned, he finds his carefully tailored life disrupted by love. With his latest film, Paul Thomas Anderson paints an illuminating portrait both of an artist on a creative journey, and the women who keep his world running. “Phantom Thread” is Paul Thomas Anderson’s eighth movie, and his second collaboration with Daniel Day-Lewis.

Writer/Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (“There Will Be Blood,” “Magnolia,” “The Master”)

Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lesley Manville, and Vicky Krieps

For more info, please follow the film on social:

Official Site I Facebook I Twitter I Instagram

#PhantomThread

In select cities on December 25, 2017

http://www.fandango.com

“Only the Brave” Red Carpet Event PHOTOS

The cast of the ‘Only the Brave’, based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots made an appearance at Harkins Tempe Marketplace for a special red carpet screening.  The screening was also filled with Arizona firefighters and first responders.

The cast appearances included Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, James Badge Dale, Director Joseph Kosinski as well as Dierks Bentley, who wrote ‘Hold the Light’, a song featured in the film.  The public was welcome to come out to watch the event and even met some of their favorite stars.   

Photos by: Steven Fellheimer        

About Columbia Pictures’ ONLY THE BRAVE

It’s not what stands in front of you… it’s who stands beside you. Only the Brave, based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, is the heroic story of one unit of local firefighters that through hope, determination, sacrifice, and the drive to protect families, communities, and our country became one of the most elite firefighting teams in the nation.  As most of us run from danger, they run toward it – they watch over our lives, our homes, everything we hold dear, as they forge a unique brotherhood that comes into focus with one fateful fire.

The film stars Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, James Badge Dale, with Taylor Kitsch and Jennifer Connelly. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Ken Nolan and Eric Warren Singer, based upon the GQ Article “No Exit” by Sean Flynn, the film is produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Michael Menchel, Erik Howsam, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill, Trent Luckinbill, Dawn Ostroff, and Jeremy Steckler.

HERE is our review of the film.

To learn more about ONLY THE BRAVE and how you can support the wildland firefighter communities through THE GRANITE MOUNTAIN FUND, go tohttp://www.onlythebrave-movie.com/site/

12 Strong – Trailer

12 STRONG

Director: Nicolai Fuglsig

Writers: Ted Tally, Peter Craig

Based on the acclaimed book by best-selling author Doug Stanton

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael PenŢa, Navid Negahban, Trevante Rhodes, Geoff Stults, Thad Luckinbill, Austin Stowell, Ben O’Toole, Austin Hebert, Kenneth Miller, Kenny Sheard, Jack Kesy.

Producers: Jerry Bruckheimer, Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill, Thad Luckinbill

SYNOPSIS:

“12 Strong” is set in the harrowing days following 9/11 when a U.S. Special Forces team, led by their new Captain, Mitch Nelson (Hemsworth), is chosen to be the first U.S. troops sent into Afghanistan for an extremely dangerous mission. There, in the rugged mountains, they must convince Northern Alliance General Dostum (Negahban) to join forces with them to fight their common adversary: the Taliban and their Al Qaeda allies. In addition to overcoming mutual distrust and a vast cultural divide, the Americans—accustomed to state-of-the-art warfare—must adopt the rudimentary tactics of the Afghani horse soldiers. But despite their uneasy bond, the new allies face overwhelming odds: outnumbered and outgunned by a ruthless enemy that does not take prisoners.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: @12StrongMovie

Twitter: @12StrongMovie

Instagram: @12StrongMovie

#12StrongMovie

I, TONYA – Teaser Trailer

Director: Craig Gillespie

Cast: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Paul Walter Hauser, Julianne Nicholson, Bobby Cannavale, Mckenna Grace

Producers: Bryan Unkeless, Steven Rogers, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley
Executive Producers:  Len Blavatnik, Aviv Giladi, Vince Holden, Toby Hill, Craig Gillespie, Zanne Devine, Rosanne Korenberg

Screenplay by: Steven Rogers
Cinematography by: Nicolas Karakatsanis

Based on unbelievable but true events, I, TONYA is the darkly comedic tale of American figure skater Tonya Harding and one of the most sensational scandals in sports history. Though Harding was the first American woman to complete a triple axel in competition, her legacy has forever been defined by her association with an infamous, ill-conceived and worse-executed attack on fellow Olympic competitor Nancy Kerrigan. Featuring an iconic turn by Margot Robbie as the fiery Harding, a mustachioed Sebastian Stan as her impetuous ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, a tour-de-force performance from Allison Janney as her acid-tongued mother LaVona Golden, and an original screenplay by Steven Rogers, Craig Gillespie’s I, TONYA is an absurd, irreverent, and piercing portrayal of Harding’s life and career in all of its unchecked––and checkered––glory.

 

Limited Release December 8, 2017

 Expansion Dates To Be Announced

Official Website:

ITONYAMOVIE.COM

Killing Gunther movie review

The opening scene for Killing Gunther, including the credits, is fantastic.  It sets up the story perfectly.  Right away, we learn that the film is coming from the point of view of a documentary crew.  This film is that documentary.  Blake (Killam) is a contract killer who hired the crew for proof of his actions.  He explains that Gunther (Schwarzenegger) is at the top of the contract killing business, the king so to speak, and if you’re going to dethrone the king as Blake plans to do, you’re going to need the proof that you had been the one that took him out.

Blake proceeds to explain how he plans to do this.  The reason he feels he’ll be successful is that he has put together a team of people he knows will get the job done.  There’s Donnie (Moynihan) a man good at killing but not at relationships.  Not surprisingly, he’s mostly comic relief.  There’s Sanaa (Simone) who started killing at the age of eight.  She wants to be recognized for her skills not for being her deadly father’s daughter.  Watch out for his character.  When he, whose nickname is ‘The Nightmare,’ enthusiastically fawns all over his daughter, he’s absolutely priceless.  There’s a young hacker, a ‘human computer’ named Gabe (Brittian) who’s new to the group.  He joined because there’s more money in all of this than just your ‘standard hacking.’  We also meet Ashley (Sixto) who doesn’t show up too much.  I’ll let the film explain the reason why.  With Ashley, who Blake introduces as his secret weapon, being on the team, he’s convinced there’s no way he can fail at his mission.

When a problem arises and Blake needs an extra man, he puts the word out that he needs someone.  There are some very witty moments while he interviews some candidates for the job, especially when the criminals realize they’re being filmed and don’t want any part of it.  Each of these cleverly written characters stands out in unique ways that you’ll appreciate. 

Not far in, the documentary crew reveals the real reason that Blake wants Gunther.  He can say it’s to be number one all he wants but it’s actually because of Lisa McCalla (Smulders), a retired hitwoman and… his ex-girlfriend!  Lisa and Blake had been together for four years and she left him for, you guessed it, Gunther!  When he’s confronted by the crew with Lisa’s name and what they know of her, Blake denies he ever heard of a Lisa.  He proclaims that they must have been misinformed.  What happens after that is quite memorable and something worth rewinding and watching more than once.  It’s side-splitting and moments like this are all over the landscape of this film making it worth seeing more than once lest you overlooked something.  During their conversations with Lisa, she informs us that she’s much happier not killing people anymore.  

During the film, problems arise that I don’t want to give up here but Blake does end up confronting Gunther.  Gunther informs him that his group had been infiltrated in several ways and he knew what Blake had been up to the entire time.  There’s a special treat for the audience, in meeting Gunther.  We get to hear a few classic action film lines which, no matter what you thought of the film up to this point, makes it an instant smash for any comedy fan.  There are a few issues such as the budget and having to use cheesy effects, but Killam makes even that work to his advantage.  It’s incredibly silly so don’t take it too seriously, just have fun!  Oh!  And watch the credits, as well. 

*Opens at AMC Arizona Center and On Demand October 20th

GUY FIERI IS ON MISSION TO FIND FOOD NETWORK’S NEXT BIG FOOD-ROAD SHOW ON ALL-NEW “GUY’S BIG PROJECT”

GUY’S BIG PROJECT

NEW Series Premieres Sunday, November 5th at 9pm ET/PT 

New York – September 29, 2017 – Guy Fieri has visited thousands of restaurants on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, literally putting food-road shows on the map. Now, Guy is searching for Food Network’s next big culinary-travel series. After receiving and sorting through thousands of submissions from hopeful hosts with promising concepts, Guy and his team of food and television experts narrowed it down to a final group of prospects that will vie to have their idea developed into a show on Guy’s Big Project. The six-episode journey begins on Sunday, November 5th at 9pm ET/PT and documents every twist and turn as the prospects move from initial pitch through development to network review, to the ultimate end goal – the premiere of a new show on Food Network.

“Over a decade ago I was given a chance that I could never have dreamed of on Food Network Star, and now I’m honored to have the opportunity to help make someone else’s dream a reality,” said Fieri. “As a producer, I know what it takes to get a show off the ground, and we will see if these prospects have the passion and skills needed because a great idea is just the first step.”

“Guy’s Big Project invites viewers behind-the-scenes to see how a series goes from a passionate idea to a reality on-air,” said Courtney White, Senior Vice President Programming, Scripps Networks Interactive. “Guy’s betting on not only identifying the next big idea for the network, but he’s also committed to doing everything needed to help the prospects succeed.”

Guy and his team of experts including Food Network’s Alex Guarnaschelli and veteran television producer Mark Dissin, are taking the most promising prospects out on the road to see who has what it takes to be a success. The journey begins with the finalists picking a restaurant that best represents them and their show idea, where they film a pitch video to convey what their show would be about. Then, the pressure heats up as they whip up a meal in Guy’s personal kitchen that embodies their idea. One prospect will find the feedback hard to chew and will be sent home.

As the season progresses, the prospects are put through the paces by Guy and his team, learning that there is a lot more to hosting a food-television show than a passion for food and cooking skills.  From describing each bite of food in order to convey the flavors, aromas and textures, to engaging the audience while eating and interviewing a wide variety of chefs, there is a lot to digest especially when your hopes and dreams are on the line.

On the finale on Sunday, December 10th at 9pm ET/PT, the remaining prospects each shoot a pilot employing all the skills they learned from the previous weeks. After submitting their tapes to the network, they must wait to hear the decision. Immediately following the finale, at 10pm ET/PT, viewers will find out who made the cut as they get a sneak peek of the winner’s series!

The prospects include: Mark Anderson (Boise, Idaho) together with Ryan Fey (Los Angeles, California), Zane Caplansky (Toronto, Canada), Sharon Damante (Napa, California) together with Sherri Williams (Crestview, Florida), Christian Gill (Cincinnati, Ohio), Lindsay Greene (Atlanta, Georgia), Rashad Jones (Ocala, Florida), Dariany Santana(Kenilworth, New Jersey), and Vincenzo Vaccaro (Astoria, New York).

Fans can get an insider’s look at the making of Guy’s Big Project with behind-the-scenes photos of Guy and the prospects, as well as bonus videos and recipes inspired by the show at FoodNetwork.com/GuysBigProject. To join the conversation on social media use #GuysBigProject.

Here, Kitty Kitty!!! NEW “Black Panther” Trailer and Images

Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” opens in U.S. theaters on February 16, 2018.

Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.

“Black Panther” stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, with Angela Bassett, with Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis.

The film is directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nate Moore, Jeffrey Chernov and Stan Lee serving as executive producers.  Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole wrote the screenplay.

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