Author: Alex Billington

"Who made the console orange?" Things are getting messy. Disney + Pixar have revealed the first teaser trailer for the highly anticipated sequel Inside Out 2, arriving in theaters in the summer of 2024. This is the follow-up to the beloved 2015 Pixar movie Inside Out, which introduced us to Riley and her 5 emotions: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger. For this sequel, as she's getting older, a few more emotions appear - namely Anxiety. According to director Kelsey Mann, the new character promises to stir things up within headquarters. "Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, might be new to the crew, but she's not really the type to take a back seat," said Mann. "That makes a lot of sense if you think about it in terms of what goes on inside all our minds." The voice cast also includes Amy Poehler returning as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Lewis Black as Anger, Tony Hale as Fear, Liza Lapira as Disgust. This is a fun first look at one of the new emotions inside teenager Riley. So far so ...

"It's only a matter of time before California legalizes sports betting..." Max Originals has revealed the first official trailer for a series titled simply Bookie, which is launching for streaming later in November. Worth a look, seems pretty good. It's a shortened version of the original title How to Be a Bookie, which is the latest TV comedy creation from brand name producer Chuck Lorre, known for "The Big Bang Theory" and "The Kominsky Method" and many other hit series. A veteran bookie named Danny is struggling to survive the impending legalization of sports gambling, increasingly unstable lifestyle that bounces him around every corner of Los Angeles. The eight-episode series will stream with two new episodes dropping every week this fall. Sebastian Maniscalco stars as Danny, with Omar J. Dorsey co-starring as his buddy Ray. The cast also features Charlie Sheen, along with Andrea Anders, Vanessa Ferlito, Jorge Garcia, and Maxim Swinton. This is a short teaser, but the vibe between these two guys is hilarious and they got my attention. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Chuck Lorre's ...

"It's a drug that makes them violent." A full official trailer has debuted for an indie film from Japan called Mad Cats, marking the feature directorial debut of Japanese filmmaker Reiki Tsuno. This first premiered at the 2023 Slamdance Film Festival, the alternative to Sundance that runs at the same time, at the start of the year (here's the teaser). After playing there, it's now set for a streaming release on a new service called Midnight Pulp. A crazy mix of comedy & action, Mad Cats tells the story of Taka, a shiftless young man, who sets off on a quest to find his missing brother Mune. Teaming up with his new friend Takezo and an edgy, mysterious young woman, Taka finds himself taking on a pack of vicious, pistol-packing monster cats who look like women determined to execute unscrupulous pet shop owners. This indie sensation stars Sho Mineo, Yuya Matsuura, Ayane, So Yamanaka, and Michael Aaron Stone. This is a whimsical trailer that nicely teases the wacky vibe of this one-of-a-kind modern Japanese flick. Something funky from Japan. Here's the ...

"His musical touch hasn't left my ear." Sony Pictures Classics has unveiled a full US trailer for a fascinating, jazzy Spanish documentary called They Shot the Piano Player, which first premiered at the Annecy Film Festival in France this summer. It's a doc made by filmmakers Fernando Trueba & Javier Mariscal (of Chico & Rita) telling the true story of a missing pianist. A New York music journalist goes on a quest to uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of the young Brazilian piano virtuoso Tenorio Jr. - in full Francisco Tenório Júnior. A celebratory origin story of the world-renowned Latino musical movement Bossa Nova, They Shot The Piano Player captures a fleeting time bursting with creative freedom at a turning point in Latin American history in the 60s and 70s, just before the continent was engulfed by totalitarian regimes. Starring Jeff Goldblum as the voice of Jeff Harris, with Caetano Veloso & Joao Gilberto. It has some stunning animation that may seem basic but is quite vivid and dynamic. This is all my jam - I'll be watching. Here's ...

"There will be people who may seek to misuse it. To abuse it." Check this out! The very first science fiction film ever from the African country of Tanzania is called EONII, the feature debut of Tanzanian filmmaker Eddie Mzale. Even though it has been playing at fests since the summer, we're only catching up with it now - thanks to a tip from Akoroko about its European unveiling. Set in a near future when Tanzania has advanced technologically but is also facing the devastation of climate change, the plot revolves around a lone scientist who makes a groundbreaking discovery known as EONII, which has the potential to save the nation & the continent. However, this discovery also sets off a series of events involving shadowy forces, lies, betrayal, politics, and war, all centered around the pivotal question of: who should control the power of EONII​. The film presents a fusion of traditional Swahili culture with futuristic concepts, including advanced tech and robots. It's not the only African sci-fi film - we also recommend Neptune Frost. But it does look ...

"It's etched in my memory forever." Paramount+ is releasing a new documentary film this fall titled JFK: What The Doctors Saw, turning the latest evidence from the doctors into a whole film. You've probably heard about this as it first came from the doctor's book, but now they have ALL of them sitting down for an interview. Previously unreleased footage unveils an extraordinary reunion involving seven doctors who were present in the Parkland Hospital Emergency Room where President John F. Kennedy was rushed after being shot on November 22nd, 1963. Their testimonies divulge unsettling medical details about the assassination, raising doubt about government investigations that found Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. JFK: What the Doctors Saw also examines the inconsistencies and gaps that plagued the official autopsy, raising even more questions about how many bullets hit the President and what damage they caused, leaving viewers with the looming question: Was there more than one shooter? And what does it all mean? Did the government really take him out? Of course they did. But it will forever be a question without ...

"One man must choose: his country, or his honor?" FS is exclusively debuting the official US trailer from Epic Pictures Group for a World War II thriller titled Betrayal from The Netherlands. After opening in The Netherlands in March earlier this year, it's set for a US release in theaters and on VOD this December. Set in 1945 near the end of WWII, when a German-Dutch officer in the German Nazi army is transferred to the Netherlands, he decides to help a farm family covering up people in hiding. Betrayal tells the story of the German-Dutch Nazi officer Ludwig Mengelberg. When he is transferred, he attempts to help a Dutch farm family that is keeping people in hiding. In doing so, he commits high treason against his own men. When the SS becomes suspicious and the resistance advances, Mengelberg not only puts his own life in danger, but also those of the people he aims to help. The film stars Peter Nillesen as Ludwig, Dirk Gunther Mohr, Kai Kolderand, Ingrid Bisschop, Berit van de Wouw, and Andreas Lessig. "Betrayal is ...

"You should've just stopped at cleaning toilets." Brainstorm Media has revealed the first official trailer for Raging Grace, an indie horror thriller made by filmmaker Paris Zarcilla - making his feature directorial debut. The film premiered at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival earlier this year, where it won the Grand Jury Prize as well as the Thunderbird Rising Award. Arriving on VOD to watch this December. An undocumented Filipina immigrant and her daughter become ensnared by horrifying truth while working as a caretaker for a terminally ill old man. As they take care of this strange man, they unwittingly become entangled in a chilling secret. Starring Max Eigenmann, Jaeden Boadilla, Leanne Best, and David Hayman as Mr. Garrett. It also won awards at the Neufchâtel Fantasia Film Festival, including the Audience Award. While this story isn't particularly unique nowadays (also see Sundance winner Nanny), there is clearly something going on in this. Looks like it has some especially eerie moments. Very good trailer, this will make you sit up straight. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Paris Zarcilla's Raging ...

"What is it?" "The Death Chill..." Sony Pictures has unveiled the first look teaser trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, also known as Ghostbusters 2, the sequel to 2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife - which was a reboot of the franchise that also acts a sequel to the original two Ghostbusters films of the 80s. "It'll send a chill down your spine." When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new & old must join forces to protect their home and also save the world from a second Ice Age. City of Ember, Poltergeist, A Boy Called Christmas director Gil Kenan is taking over from Jason Retiman, though Reitman is still involved as producer & writer. The cast in Frozen Empire features Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Celeste O'Connor, Logan Kim, and Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson + Annie Potts. This is a solid teaser, setting up the stakes and the scary villain in this next one, without giving away too much in the footage. I'm down! Looks like it should be good. Here's ...

"We gotta catch an elf." "You messed with the wrong family!" Prime Video has unveiled the full trailer for the holiday comedy Candy Cane Lane, which seems like it's related to the Candy Land board game (all too common these days), though it's not the same. Arriving for streaming on December 1st, no theaters for this movie. "Chaos comes to town when Candy Cane Lane premieres" this winter, in this story about holiday obsession. A man is set on winning the neighborhood's annual Christmas decorating contest. After making a pact with an elf to help him win, the elf casts a spell bringing the "12 Days of Christmas" song to life and unexpectedly bringing chaos to cheerful town. This comedy for everyone in the family stars Eddie Murphy as Chris, with Tracee Ellis Ross, Robin Thede, Nick Offerman, Chris Redd, Riki Lindhome, Ken Marino, and Jillian Bell. This looks like a strange mix of Santa Clause and other concepts mashed up into a forgettable streaming release just so Prime Video has more "content" for the holidays. Will anyone watch? Here's the ...