Review: Andres Veiel’s ‘Riefenstahl’ is a Damning Look at Her Nazi Past
One of the most eye-opening, chilling, fascinating, and frightening documentaries this year just premiered at the Venice Film Festival. It's titled Riefenstahl, referencing the iconic & also infamous German female filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl. The film is sort of a biopic taking us through her life as a filmmaker, though it actually ends up being an indictment regarding her past association with the Nazis in the 1930s & 40s. It's the latest film directed by acclaimed German filmmaker Andres Veiel, who previously made the excellent doc Beuys (which I saw at the 2017 Berlin Film Festival and wrote about back then). For much of the film, I was wondering if Veiel is trying to portray Riefenstahl as a misunderstood artist unfairly scrutinized, or if he was going to lean in on hinting she has always been a Nazi. It's the latter. There's no debate anymore. After watching scene after scene of irrefutable evidence (which she always refutes) this becomes an eye-opening experience. By the end, I couldn't stop thinking this is a doc version of The Zone of Interest. It shows ...
‘¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor!’ Doc Trailer About the Beloved CO Restaurant
"Is there a possibility that it just never opens?" Sweet Relief, in association with MTV Documentary Films, have revealed the official trailer for ¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor!, a documentary film from filmmaker Arthur Bradford about the famous Mexican restaurant. This doc premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival and is next play at the Telluride Film Festival before opening in theaters (Denver first, of course) this fall. ¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor! tells the story of the beloved Denver, Colorado restaurant known as Casa Bonita, a huge place with a waterfall, cliff divers, hidden caves, and tons of tasty tacos and sopaipilla (I went many times as a kid because I grew up in Colorado and my parents took my brother and I). ¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor! tracks the rise, fall and revival of the beloved Colorado landmark Casa Bonita by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who bought the place after it nearly went bankrupt. I'm so so excited to watch this film! It seems like an incredible inside look at how hard it is to renovate and ...
Delightful Trailer for Adam Elliot’s ‘Memoir of a Snail’ Stop-Motion Film
"I believe in glasses half-full and silver linings..." IFC has revealed the official US trailer for the wonderful stop-motion animated film Memoir of a Snail, the latest creation from animation maestro Adam Elliot. It's set for a US release in October this fall. Adam won an Oscar in 2004 for his short Harvie Krumpet, but he is best known for his exceptional stop-motion film Mary and Max, which premiered at Sundance 2009. He's back again 15 years later with his second feature. A bittersweet memoir of a melancholic woman called Grace Pudel - a hoarder of snails, romance novels, & guinea-pigs. Set in 1970s Australia, her life is troubled by misfortune & loss. After their mom dies during pregnancy, she and her twin brother, Gilbert, are raised by their paraplegic-alcoholic former juggler father, Percy. Despite a life filled with love, tragedy strikes when Percy passes away in his sleep. The siblings are separated and thrust into different homes to grow up. With voices of Sarah Snook as Grace, Jacki Weaver, Eric Bana, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Dominique Pinon, Magda Szubanski, with Nick ...
New Trailer for Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon: The Director’s Cut’ on Apple
"When I move, the world moves forward." Apple has announced that a brand new official "Director's Cut" version of Ridley Scott's Napoleon is now available to watch on Apple TV+. Anyone planing to dive in? The original theatrical cut of Napoleon opened in theaters last year, right before Thanksgiving in November, playing in theaters worldwide before it ended up streaming. It earned mostly negative reviews and a lower-than-expected box office because it wasn't that great. Napoleon is an original & personal look at Napoleon Bonaparte's origins. Along with his swift and ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine. As she says: "You want to be great. But you are nothing without me." Joaquin Phoenix stars as Bonaparte, with Vanessa Kirby as Josephine, plus Ludivine Sagnier, Ben Miles, Tahar Rahim, Catherine Walker, Youssef Kerkour, Paul Rhys, and Matthew Needham. Ridley Scott's Napoleon: The Director's Cut features 48 minutes of new, never-before-seen footage from the Academy Award-nominated historical action epic. There's a new trailer out (view it ...
Official Trailer for ‘Paris Has Fallen’ Action Series with Tewfik Jallab
"When the city falls, heroes will rise." Studiocanal has launched an official trailer for their upcoming action series called Paris Has Fallen, streaming in France first this fall. This is a TV continuation of the "Has Fallen" franchise of movies - which includes Olympus Has Fallen (2013), London Has Fallen (2016), Angel Has Fallen (2019). While we wait for the next Night Has Fallen movie, it's time to head to Paris for another dangerous mission. A protection officer and an MI6 operative team up after a terrorist attack in Paris. They suspect a mole as they race to thwart a larger conspiracy threatening Paris. The plot follows protection officer Vincent Taleb who finds himself working with street-smart MI6 agnet Zara Taylor to save the day. Starring Tewfik Jallab, Ritu Arya, and Sean Harris as the main bad guy, with Ana Ularu, Camille Rutherford, Jérémie Covillault, Emmanuelle Bercot, Karl Collins, and Nathan Willcocks, and others. No idea why they needed to make a series from this action franchise, but why not I guess? Wasn't Sean Harris already a villain in a ...
Emilia Jones is Reality Winner in Another Film About ‘Winner’ Trailer
"Reality Winner is just like us." She is? Vertical has revealed an official trailer for a film called Winner, yet another film about the American whistleblower Reality Winner. This premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and will be out on VOD to watch this September. There were two other films about the same person recently: Reality starring Sydney Sweeney, and the feature doc Reality Winner. Now we have Winner to watch. What's next, two more films called R. Winner and Reality W.? Yes we've heard her story, what's next. Reality Winner, a brilliant, sarcastic young misfit from Texas with a relentless need for helping others, finds her morals challenged working as an NSA contractor, ultimately leaking Russia's hacking campaign of the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. Emilia Jones (from CODA) stars as Reality, with Connie Britton, Danny Ramirez, Kathryn Newton, and Zach Galifianakis in the cast. This seems to look like a cheap, cheesy made-for-TV movie that would air as a Saturday Night Special. Oh well, it happens.
Here's the official trailer for Susanna Fogel's film Winner, direct ...
Kristen Bell & Adam Brody in Lovers Series ‘Nobody Wants This’ Trailer
"Are you dating hot rabbi?" "Yes, chef!" Netflix has revealed an official trailer for a romantic comedy series titled Nobody Wants This, streaming this fall. The love story series is created & written by actress Erin Foster, following the unexpected relationship between a rogue rabbi and an irascible, loud, agnostic woman. "This show really represents how I view love now, which is so different than how I viewed it before," Erin states. "Being in a really beautiful, healthy, fun relationship, it made me soften some of my cynicism." She adds: "This show is based on the only good decision I ever made: falling for a nice Jewish boy. But I realized that being happy is way harder than being miserable — there’s nothing to complain about. So, I created this show based on all the ways that finding the right person can be so hard." Okay. Kristen Bell and Adam Brody star as the two new lovers, with Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons, Stephanie Faracy, Michael Hitcock, Tovah Feldshuh, Paul Ben-Victor, and Emily Arlook. This looks kinky & sweet & amusing, ...
Intriguing First Teaser for ‘Happyend’ – Japanese Surveillance Drama
"If we're going to die, let's have fun." NYFF has revealed the first look teaser for a Japanese film arriving soon called Happyend, the first feature film directed by filmmaker Neo Sora, best known for his many Ryuichi Sakamoto docs. Happyend is premiering at the 2024 Venice Film Festival this weekend, before it goes on to play at both TIFF and NYFF later this fall, with an October release in Japan. Set in near-future Tokyo, the threat of a catastrophic earthquake looms. Two friends prank their principal before graduation, leading to school surveillance installation, which eventually leads to a rift between the high schooler boys. Happyend "amplifies the sociopolitical dynamics already present in Japan today." It's another fascinating surveillance thriller, with commentary on contemporary society, much like the other one Stranger Eyes also premiering in Venice. With Hayato Kurihara, Yukito Hidaka, Yuta Hayashi, Shina Peng, ARAZI, Kilala Inori, PUSHIM, and Makiko Watanabe. The story is about two friends dealing with their new surveillance world that's taking over their entire lives. Another film must watch new film at the fall festivals.
Here's ...
‘Rosemary’s Baby’ Horror Prequel Movie ‘Apartment 7A’ Official Trailer
"There's something wrong with these people..." Paramount+ has revealed an official trailer for new horror thriller titled Apartment 7A, the official or sort of unofficial prequel to Rosemary's Baby. This detail is barely mentioned in the marketing, though it is adapted from the same book that the classic 1968 horror movie is based on as well. The highly anticipated prequel will debut at this year's Fantastic Fest. Set in 1965 New York City, the film tells the story prior to the legendary horror classic Rosemary's Baby, exploring what happened in the infamous Bramford building before Rosemary moved in. Julia Garner (from "Ozark", The Assistant, The Royal Hotel) stars as Terry Gionoffrio, joined by Dianne Wiest, Jim Sturgess, and Kevin McNally, plus Marli Siu, Andrew Buchan, Rosy McEwen, and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. As much as a horror prequel like this should be a bigger deal, sadly this one is getting a direct-to-streaming debut because it seems like direct-to-video quality. Not the carefully crafted atmospheric horror like the original.
Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Natalie Erika James' film Apartment 7A, direct from ...
Teaser for Timo Tjahjanto’s ‘The Shadow Strays’ Badass Action Thriller
Let's go!! Netflix has launched a totally badass first look teaser trailer for the next awesome action film from Indonesian filmmaker Timo Tjahjanto titled The Shadow Strays. This is premiering in the Midnight Madness section at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival this fall. It will be on Netflix in October as well - not long of a wait at all. Codename 13, a 17-year-old assassin, is suspended due to a sloppy mission in Japan. But she meets 11-year-old Monji, who loses his mother, and sets out to rescue him. Aurora Ribero stars as 13 – an assassin determined to save a child from a crime syndicate, even if it means going against her own mentor and her organization. TIFF adds: "Not since The Night Comes for Us has Indonesia's preeminent architect of ultra-violent action, Timo Tjahjanto, conducted such a meticulous martial arts massacre. Opening with a bravura set piece that lays waste to dozens of yakuza, his latest proceeds as a kind of taxonomy of the action genre with a string of sword fights, shoot-em-ups, and old-fashioned fisticuffs..." Hell yes!! ...