Author: Alex Billington

"Even my death doesn't interest them!" Is any of this funny? Studiocanal has revealed an official trailer for a film titled Dear Paris, also called Paradis Paris (Paradise Paris), another Paris anthology film creation featuring an interconnected set of stories. Not related to 2006's Paris, I Love You anthology, but it reminds me of it anyway. A new film from the award-winning director Marjane Satrapi (who also made Persepolis, Chicken with Plums, The Voices), witness a darkly hilarious love letter to the city of light - with a stunning ensemble cast including Monica Bellucci, Rossy de Palma, Alex Lutz, Martina García, Eduardo Noriega , and Ben Aldridge. A comedy with a dark sense of humor, where a flurry of charming characters confront death only to embrace life once again. This opens in France soon this month, but no international dates are set yet – expected later this year. This looks charming & amusing, with plenty of awkward humor. Here's the official French trailer (+ poster) for Marjane Satrapi's Dear Paris, from Studiocanal's YouTube: What makes life worth living? In a set of ...

"Do you have a green card?! I need one!" An official trailer has debuted for an indie documentary film titled Hummingbirds, made by two young filmmakers from Texas telling an autobiographical story of their time living in America. This premiered at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival, and also played at the True/False, San Francisco, and Boston Independent Film Festivals this spring. Silvia Del Carmen Castaños & Estefanía "Beba" Contreras tell their own coming-of-age story in Hummingbirds, a punk-rock portrait of the last summer of their youth on the Texas-Mexico border. This is similar to the doc Gasoline Rainbow. Together they transform their hometown of Laredo into a cinematic wonderland of creative expression and activist hijinx. Berlinale Generation's Grand Jury Prize winner, Hummingbirds celebrates the power of friendship, laughter, and joy as tools of survival and resistance. As they discuss immigration, gender, sexuality, mental health, and class, a moving story of trying to find the joy in uncertainty emerges. Check out the film below. Here's the first official trailer for Castaños & Contreras' doc Hummingbirds, from YouTube (via TFS): Via Berlinale: "In Laredo, ...

"I firmly believe that everybody has talent, beauty, and potential." Focus Features has unveiled the first official trailer for Piece by Piece, a LEGO version of the story of musician Pharrell Williams. This is one of the first LEGO movies that is not related to another franchise (like Star Wars or Jurassic Park) or its own creation, instead it's all about Pharrell, but told using the same animated LEGO style as the other movies. Described as a "one-of-a-kind cinematic experience about one of music's most innovative minds." Yeah this is cool. With appearances by Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg. Follow this autobiographical movie where Pharrell Williams shows his imaginative and creative process using LEGO, as he constructs models representing his artistic development. Each build reflects a different creative milestone. It's directed by doc mastermind Morgan Neville, and will hit theaters in October this year. This looks really good! I dig it! Nice to see someone shaking up the biopic doc concept. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Morgan Neville's Piece by ...

An entrancing animated film in the works to keep an eye on. An early promo teaser is available for a unique animation project called Island of Salamanders, that's being written & directed by filmmaker Catherine Maximoff. The film is in development now, and likely won't be ready to premiere for a while longer, however it's on my radar. This first look footage is gorgeous, definitely got my attention. When 11-year-old Juliet & her father wash up on a remote island, her encounter with an incredible species of giant salamanders leads her straight to the heart of a secret legend and the adventure of a lifetime... A fable about our society, loosely inspired by the 1936 Czech sci-fi novel known as "War with the Newts". The book satirizes and comments on science, runaway capitalism, fascism, journalism, militarism, even Hollywood, most of which seems to be worked into this version of the story. No voice cast or other details are confirmed yet. It's made with Unreal utilizing a 2D animation style. Until there's any more news, this 2-minute preview is a must ...

"You speak Irish, but you don't understand the language." Let's go!! WildCard Distr. in the UK has revealed the official trailer for a killer, unforgettable, energetic new rap musical film from Ireland called Kneecap. It premiered at Sundance earlier this year and received near universal acclaim (it ended up on my Top 10 Best of the Fest list). This film is legit! So good! Based on the origin story of the riotous and ground-breaking Irish-language rap trio Kneecap, the film stars the band's original members Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí (also known as Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, JJ Ó Dochartaigh) in their acting debuts alongside Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender, with Simone Kirby, Jessica Reynolds, Fionnuala Flaherty, and Josie Walker. Set in west Belfast in 2019, it chronicles how fate brings the trio together and how they then go on to "change the sound of Irish music forever". Winner of the Next Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival 2024. I'm a huge fan of this one - I hope it ends up becoming a ...

"I am here for her!!" Brainstorm Media has unveiled an official US trailer for a British folk horror film titled Starve Acre, written and directed by British filmmaker Daniel Kokotajlo. This first premiered last year at the 2023 London Film Festival in the Main Competition, but it didn't win anything then or show up at any other festivals after. The film is described as a "meditation on grief and memory", starring Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark (from The Rings of Power) as an idyllic rural couple who descend into madness. Their life is thrown into turmoil when their son starts acting strangely, unwittingly allowing dark and sinister forces into their home, awakening a long-dormant ancient evil rooted deep in the countryside. Also starring Erin Richards, Sean Gilder, Robert Emms, & Roger Barclay. It did get mostly positive reviews, one saying it is "fantastically enigmatic horror film done beautifully well." Seems like it has plenty of creepy moments. Here's the official US trailer (+ poster) for Daniel Kokotajlo's film Starve Acre, direct from YouTube: After relocating to their remote family estate Starve ...

Ready for a 3-minute excursion into the mind of David Lynch? Click play on this new music video created by the mastermind filmmaker David Lynch in his next collaboration with singer Chrystabell. This isn't the first time they've collaborated, this will be their third album together. The music video Lynch created is for one of the songs "Sublime Eternal Love" off of the new album called "Cellophane Memories" - arriving in August. There's not much to it, don't expecting anything totally crazy, but it is undeniably a Lynch creation for sure. Chrystabell & Lynch have had a relationship for years - in 1999, an agent introduced her. Together, they've released two albums before this one – This Train (2011) and Somewhere in the Nowhere (2016). She also appeared on the 2017 revival of Twin Peaks as Special Agent Tamara Preston. In an interview, Lynch explains he was inspired to make this "during a nighttime walk through a forest of tall trees" when a bright light became Chrystabell’s voice, and in signature Lynch fashion, "revealed a secret to him." Sure, why ...

"What have you done?!" BBC Three has revealed the official trailer for a crime thriller mystery series titled A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, arriving this summer in the UK to watch. Yet another series capitalizing on the true crime / murder mystery obsession right now. Adapted from the book by Holly Jackson. Pip Fitz-Amobi, a brilliant young woman, is unsure if schoolgirl Andie Bell was really killed by her lover Sal Singh five years ago. How far will they go to protect Pip from learning the truth if Sal Singh turns out not to be the murderer? As she digs into the past uncovering more secrets & lies, she finds herself drawn into the dark underside of Little Kilton. Filmed in & around Somerset, England. The six-part series stars Emma Myers, Anna Maxwell Martin, Gary Beadle, Mathew Baynton, Asha Banks, Raiko Gohara, Yali Topol Margolith, Jude Collie, and newcomer Zain Iqbal. This is pretty much a fictional UK TV series version of the real life Adnan Syed case, with many similarities and a few unique twists & turns. Check ...

"This is the passport to Dalí coming here." Music Box Films has revealed an official US trailer for a Spanish comedy called Waiting for Dalí, arriving to watch in US theaters this July. It first premiered and opened in Spain last summer. Yet another Dali-related comedy film to watch, with plenty others recently including Daaaaaali! and Dalíland (with Sir Ben Kingsley). This one involves mixing Dali with food, following a chef who starts working in a kitchen at a place called El Surreal, a whimsical restaurant run by Jules, a man with a consuming obsession for local resident Salvador Dalí. Fernando, a talented chef, arrives to the village of Cadaqués (Google Maps) during the 70s, residence of the internationally renowned Dalí. The paths of the chef and the artist will cross and cause the birth of a new culinary genius. Waiting for Dalí "is a fanciful tale of love, art, and revolution — all set against the backdrop of culinary genius and surrealism." Starring Ivan Massagué, José Garcia, Clara Ponsot, Pol López, Nicolas Cazalé, Paco Tous, Vicky Peña. Enjoy. Here's the ...

"I was having a man's life in a woman's body. Yes." Hulu has revealed the full trailer for the documentary film Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge, arriving streaming later this month. The film, from directors Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton, focuses on the life and work of Von Furstenberg, who created a name for herself in a field that was predominantly male at the time and amassed a multi-million dollar fashion empire in the process. It's premiering at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival in NYC first before it heads online to stream this month. Hulu presents Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge, an intimate view of the creator of the wrap dress as you've never seen her before. Discover Diane's untold stories of love, work, and play in this captivating portrait. The story of the iconic trailblazer known by her initials "DVF" worldwide. Featuring interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Marc Jacobs, Hillary Rodham Clinton, & many others. As she approaches the eve of her new exhibition, marking a 50-year distinguished career, DVF contemplates her pioneering fashion path in a male-dominated ...