“The Zookeeper’s Wife” is a tale that does need to be told. The amount of courage and bravery shown makes for an interesting story.
In the Town of Derry, the local kids are disappearing one by one, leaving behind torn body parts/remains. In a place known as ‘The Barrens’, a group of seven kids are united by their horrifying and strange encounters with a clown called Pennywise.
Directed by:  Andrés Muschietti
Starring: Â Bill SkarsgĂĄrd, Finn Wolfhard and Javier Botet
*EXCLUSIVE: Within 24 hours of its CinemaCon debut on Wednesday, the trailer for New Line/Warner Bros. upcoming Stephen King feature adaptation It smashed all online global traffic records with 197 million views, blowing past the previous 139M record set by Fate of the Furious when Universal dropped that trailer back in December.
New Line released the trailer for the Andres Muschietti-directed horror film in English along with 30 localized versions starting at 9AM Wednesday. Of the trailer’s 197M global views, more than 81M views and over 1.8M shares on the U.S. Facebook instance alone. Within hours after dropping, the It trailer became a viral sensation, trending across Facebook, Twitter and rising to the top of the Reddit Homepage with 30K-plus up votes in four hours. The video quickly rose to the No. 1 position on YouTube’s trending videos and remained there throughout the day.
The trailer helped It trend globally on Twitter with trends for It, It Movie, Pennywise and the Red Balloon Emoji  all appearing.
It is based on the 1986 novel by King, and follows seven children who are terrorized by the eponymous being, who exploits the fears and phobias of its victims in order to disguise itself while hunting its prey. It generally appears as a clown in order to lure young children.
It opens on Sept. 8, the weekend after Labor Day.
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From Focus Features comes THE BOOK OF HENRY
Sometimes things are not always what they seem, especially in the small suburban town where the Carpenter family lives. Single suburban mother Susan Carpenter (Naomi Watts) works as a waitress at a diner, alongside feisty family friend Sheila (Sarah Silverman). Her younger son Peter (Jacob Tremblay) is a playful 8-year-old. Taking care of everyone and everything in his own unique way is Susan’s older son Henry (Jaeden Lieberher), age 11. Protector to his adoring younger brother and tireless supporter of his often self-doubting mother – and, through investments, of the family as a whole – Henry blazes through the days like a comet. Susan discovers that the family next door, which includes Henry’s kind classmate Christina (Maddie Ziegler), has a dangerous secret – and that Henry has devised a surprising plan to help. As his brainstormed rescue plan for Christina takes shape in thrilling ways, Susan finds herself at the center of it.
Director: Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World, Safety Not Guaranteed)
Writer: Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X)
Cast: Naomi Watts, Jaeden Lieberher, Jacob Tremblay, Sarah Silverman, Lee Pace, Maddie Ziegler, and Dean Norris
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 105 minutes
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In Wikipedia, this movie is described as an “experimental romantic drama film”. Well… that makes it different. Exactly what is “experimental” about it?
Well, there are lots of nice shots that are visually pleasing, many at sunset with the light fading just right… There are actors in the movie, and they sometimes speak words. But when they do, it is usually in a voice-over when the image on the screen is the actor in close-up looking ponderous or pensive out to the horizon…Â
There are people portrayed (sort of) in the movie. Cook (Michael Fassbender) is some type of rich music industry big-wig, I think. BV (Ryan Gosling) is an up-and-coming artist who works with Cook to create his music, but then feels cheated by him and goes independent. I guess.
Faye (Rooney Mara) is a woman who works at Cook’s company as a receptionist, but is also an artist, but she never makes any albums. She was Cook’s girlfriend, but he gave up on her and now she is BV’s girlfriend. Perhaps? Rhoda (Natalie Portman) is a teacher who works now as a waitress but is swept off her feet by the rich and powerful Cook. Maybe? Will any of this ever come together?
But there is no movement, no plot, no development… The scenes are arranged in no particular order, and there is no continuity. Damn, it sure is pretty to look at. The way each scene is framed and shot shows that more thought was given to the camera work and the visual images than to the actual movie.
It seems to have something to do with the music industry. Wait, look – there’s punk icon Patti Smith and Iggy Pop. And there are some cameo roles. Was that Holly Hunter? Hold on, that looks like Cate Blanchett. No way, was that Val Kilmer???
Experimental movies are OK, if you are going to show them to bored college students on a Friday afternoon. Taking some fantastic acting talent and putting out a weird nonsensical junk-fest like this is a crying shame.
With the roles she’s choosing, Kristen Steward has been redefining herself, and this part was a wise decision made by both she and director Olivier Assayas (Clouds of Sils Maria.) Having worked with her in the past he knew that when he needed an actress to pull off the look of someone pained and tormented and to also be engaging that Stewart was the best choice. She was his supporting character is Clouds but this time she carries the entire film as Maureen. The film is a bit hard to follow at first but give it time.Â
You’re in the hands of a filmmaker who doesn’t want to reveal anything too soon. Pacing and all things becoming revealed in due time are critically important.Â
At first, it’s hard to distinguish what exactly is going on with Maureen. She’s dark and distant but at the twenty-eight-minute mark, you learn that her twin brother had died of the heart defect they both have. Not only is she sad, she’s lonely and fears for her own health. When this comes to light it explains the very beginning of the film where she quietly walks through a dark house looking to make contact with a spirit.Â
She’s a young American woman working in Paris as a personal shopper for a celebrity during the day but at night she’s a brooding sister waiting for her brother who, before he passed away, promised he’d make contact with her after his death. They had a pact that whoever died first, the other would reach out from the other side and give them a sign. She goes to the house she once shared with her brother and hopes to see a manifestation or feel something encouraging so that maybe she can move on with the rest of her life but it doesn’t happen so fast.Â
The audience is on a psychological journey with someone who may very well be better off in treatment but the way the film is rolled out; you don’t pick up on that too soon. There’s a certain strain put on you to understand Maureen because she seems so fragile but at the same time you’re getting frustrated at some of the decisions she’s making. Like when she receives text messages from a stranger and she begins to engage. What so good about this, outside of the overall tone, is it keeps you wondering, is it her brother or is it no one? Is this happening or is it in her head? With precision, Assayas does an incredible job of leading you into the trap you don’t see coming. He uses sound and music as he takes you on this trip where you’re on the edge of your seat for the entire ride, but he doesn’t really end up showing you much of anything. It’s a refreshing take on the subject and it’s a beautiful piece of art.
Personal Shopper can be creepy at times and those moments are done with a special technique. She becomes more upset, desperate and even frantic. The more she does, the more engaged with her character you become. Maureen, the personal shopper and the girl looking for a spirit, seem to be in two different movies. Kristen Stewart is so good that these two different entities become one in the end. She makes what Personal Shopper is, so special. She keeps you vested with slight changes to her character and Assayas uses everything in his power to keep from exposing the tortured young soul too soon without losing you in the meantime. Personal Shopper is gripping and intense and a movie I’d have to recommend you see as soon as you can.  Â
Movie Synopsis:Â Witness the real-life story of one working wife and mother who became a hero to hundreds during World War II.
In 1939 Poland, Antonina Żabińska (portrayed by two-time Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain) and her husband, Dr. Jan Żabiński (Johan Heldenbergh of “The Broken Circle Breakdown”), have the Warsaw Zoo flourishing under his stewardship and her care. When their country is invaded by the Nazis, Jan and Antonina are stunned – and forced to report to the Reich’s newly appointed chief zoologist, Lutz Heck (Daniel Brühl of “Captain America: Civil War”). To fight back on their own terms, Antonina and Jan covertly begin working with the Resistance – and
Director Danny Boyle made the movie “Trainspotting” 20 years ago, and has gone on to make many superb movies. The original cast of the movie has also done well, especially Ewan McGregor. With a script that updated the original main characters after twenty years, Boyle is back with “T2 Trainspotting”. This new sequel has all the characters back for a new visit to the Scottish underclass, with an updated look at their lives.
“Trainspotting” introduced the heroin-addicted characters who made up the 1996 movie. There was Mark (Ewan McGregor) a de-facto leader of companions. “Spud” (Ewen Bremner) was along for a fun time, as was Simon (Jonny Lee Miller). The tough guy in the group was Begbie (Robert Carlyle) who was always in a fight. The last story ended with a bad drug deal where Mark took all the money. Spud knew and never let on, and Simon and Begbie wanted revenge. Begbie was the fall guy and was jailed.
“T2 Trainspotting” brings the group back into the present day, where Mark has been in Amsterdam for 20 years. After a medical scare, he comes back to Edinburgh – but he has other issues. His wife has kicked him out and the job he had is now gone. He has kicked the heroin habit and replaced it with exercise. Spud has never left heroin behind, and is about to end it all, but Mark saves him. Simon now runs a dumpy bar near the docks, but he cannot kick cocaine. Begbie finds a way to escape prison so he can raise more mayhem.
Simon is not pleased to see Mark return. Simon has a girlfriend named Veronika, who is planning to become a high-class Madame when Simon turns the bar into a brothel. The local crime boss has a say in that, so it never gets off the ground. Simon and Veronika instead go about trying to blackmail some locals in compromising positions.
Begbie tries to get back into the breaking and entering game, and he gets his son involved. When that does not work out too well, he goes to see Simon. Simon does not let on that Mark is back in town, but Begbie is still looking for revenge. Getting put back into prison would be enough for Begbie, as long as he can kill Mark.
Simon and Mark have a night out at a local pub, trying to grab some extra wallets. Mark and Begbie have a run-in where Mark is able to narrowly escape. Spud finds a new hobby in his quest to fight off addiction. But they all notice that the world around them has changed in the past 20 years, but they have stayed the same.
Danny Boyle burst onto the scene with “Trainspotting” all those years ago. He found some very talented actors, and he was able to bring them back for another go. Boyle’s style and camera flourishes are always on display, in many clever and noticeable ways. The acting is all-around terrific, because these actors have lived these lives before.
But the nagging feeling is that you cannot bottle lightning twice. Everything that was fresh and new and exciting in the first movie has a less of an edge here. The setup is not exactly the same of course, but the lovable loser group will always end up with the short end of the stick. Mark’s 20 year escape from the poverty and lowlife of Edinburgh might have made a better story just by itself.
“T2 Trainspotting” is a familiar ride for those who know the original film. And the returning cast and crew do their best to make the journey enjoyable. But when this train pulls into the station, you might feel that the return trip was a little rough going down the tracks…
In a word, Raw is… raw. A movie about cannibalism might frighten you away but keep reading before you make your final decision. It’s an unquestionably unique film, from the opening shot to the final moment. Cinematographer, Ruben Impens (The Sky Above Us), approaches the film by seeing it as a blank canvas in which to paint a bold piece of art; one that so intrigues you that you’re unable to look away. He’s able to extract elegance from a world of complete ugliness and if your first instinct is to not see this due to the content; I hope to change your mind.Â
Raw will be an uncommon guilty pleasure but you’ll have to experience it to know what I mean and watching with others is the best way to go for this particular trip. There will be moments where trying not to think about the cannibalism will be futile but just sit back and watch the story unfold. Masterfully, director Julia Ducournau, keeps your interest in the character development and you don’t focus so much on the disgusting thought of a human wanting to eat another human… cooked, let alone raw! But I assure you, if you like the abnormal and unconventional, Raw is the film for you.
Justine (Marillier), a young student new to veterinarian school, who is also a vegetarian, ends up devouring plenty of meat throughout the film once she gets a taste for it. This happens after she goes through a hazing ritual where she’s commanded to eat raw rabbit kidneys. Wanting to fit in like her big sister, Alexia (Rumpf) who’s very popular at the school, she does as ordered. After that and a Carrie-style blood soaking, something inside her awakens; a thirst and hunger for more. You’d think behavior such as this wouldn’t take part in a vet school but alas, that’s where we find ourselves, however, it isn’t animal flesh she now craves. A situation arises where she can consume human flesh and as much as she tries to fight against the urge, her animalistic lust kicks in and she gives in to it.Â
If you get sick at the idea of this happening, the film might not be for you. If you’re worried the film is going to be too graphic and that’s your only concern, don’t be. It may be hard to believe but Raw is a magnificent piece of cinema. Ducournau uses makeup, paint, effects, animals and fantastic music to force us to peek into the macrocosm that is Justine’s life. Alexia loves to watch as her innocent baby sister gets her personal boundaries pushed to the breaking point but she goes beyond the point of breaking and snaps completely in two. Once she does, she’s much stronger than she thought she’d ever be and Alexia and the audience catch a glimpse of a devil once believed to be an angel. However, when you think the story is all Justine, give Alexia another look. What once might be thought of as a sibling rivalry might just be one sister following in the others footsteps… and perhaps just a little too closely. The scenes Garance Marillier and Ella Rumpf are in together are outstanding, believable and realistic even though the situation they’re in isn’t quite so much. Their performances alone are worth the ticket price.Â
Getting you to see his on the big screen is my goal because I think the artistic nature for which the film was made will be appreciated fully at theatre but I can’t say much more without giving too much away. Yes, this is ultimately a gory movie but at its core, it’s the story of a girl becoming a woman and this is one way I can guarantee you’ve not see the subject tackled before. So, for an unimaginable look at a story told a million times before, see Raw this weekend at Harkins Valley Art in Tempe or wherever you can near you. I can assure you of one thing… you’ll never look at your sister the same way again, especially if she eats Steak Tartare.
Most of us have been through buying a car, am I right? What works so well about Car Dogs is the writer, Mark Edward King, used to work in a dealership and used his knowledge of the process and of what salesman do behind the scenes, to make the story more believable and more compelling.
In Car Dogs, Malcolm, the dictatorial business owner of the car dealership which employees his son, Mark, takes advantage of him and his other employees by expecting them to do “Whatever It Takes” to meet a certain number of car sales by end of day, all to make himself look good as he closes a deal behind the scenes. He has promised Mark the next dealership and works him hard with very little reward. There’s a powerful struggle going on between father and son which at times gets very intense. Malcolm often pulls other salesmen into the situation which proves he’s even more ruthless than Mark ever thought. Mark is currently the sales manager at Chamberlain Auto but can Mark meet the demands of his father to get the prize he so deeply covets, the prize of having a dealership of his own? Will his ambitions lead him to delude his team and possibly cheat buyers who walk in, making him become more and more like his father? With his marriage on the rocks, he doesn’t have a lot of time to look for the answers to these questions.Â
Mark is played beautifully by Patrick Adams and Chris Mulkey is a very frightening Malcolm. Similar to the theme of Glengarry Glen Ross, the film gives us a rare glimpse at what happens behind the salesroom floor and from what I learned by interviewing director, Adam Collis, the sales motto of doing whatever it takes to sell a car makes me question whether or not to buy one at a dealership again. You will feel sorry for Mark to a degree as he tries to balance work life with home life but the film more focuses on the goings on in the store. It’s an exciting and often miserable place to be and looking back on it, it’s surprising we’re only seeing one day of it. Other characters, played by Octavia Spencer, George Lopez, and Nia Vardalos, move in and out during the film (not to mention all the local Arizona talent the filmmaker used), and they top off the story. One Local actor, in particular, Drew Moore, was hysterical as a buyer who wasn’t going to be taken advantage of. Some tricks of the trade are revealed by how the salesmen approach a difficult sale, but he was walking out of that dealership with a good deal and anything else he could get his hands on.Â
Outside of Moore, many other local Arizona actors provided depth to the narrative as the clock moves closer to closing time. Quick cuts and fast talking keep you in the story but it’s a treat watching Adams and Mulkey. They nail their characters as they spar, however, the real meat of the story is Mark. You’ll appreciate the closing shot when you see the boy become a man. His wife feels he’s choosing the store over their marriage. Is he and if he is, what can he do to change the situation?  Watch Car Dogs at your nearest Harkins Theater, today, and let me know what you think he’s willing to do.
See CAR DOGS exclusively in Harkins Theaters around Arizona NOW!
Visit www.HarkinsTheatres.com for show times and to purchase tickets. Â
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Cast: Rachel Weisz, Sam Claflin, Holliday Grainger, Iain Glen, and Pierfrancesco Favino
Directed by: Roger Michell
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