Author: Alex Billington

"I guess you just popped into my mind, and uh..." Who would you call when you're having an existential crisis? Is there anyone you need to reconnect with? The Day After The Day After is a short film written and directed by filmmaker Sam Benenati, riffing on the gripping existential fear that washes over anyone who watches this iconic movie about a nuclear attack. Starring Brian DeMarco as Frank. This intro from our friends at Short of the Weeks sums it up: "The writer/director of this film, Sam Benenati, does not truly care about the 1983 made-for-TV movie The Day After [watch it here] or its cultural legacy, but latching onto a nostalgic event does serve as an intriguing hook for his sometimes spartan short, and as clever shorthand for communicating Frank's distressed headspace." It's sort of a dark comedy, though it gets super emotional as it plays out. Either way, this is a great short with a fantastic performance from this Frank guy. Thanks to Short of the Week for the tip on this one. Intro via YouTube: "After a ...

"It's a movie club where you come, see a film and afterwards, talk about it." Several Futures has unveiled another new official US trailer for an acclaimed indie documentary film titled Coconut Head Generation from Nigeria, about African cinephiles at a university. This premiered at numerous film festivals in 2023 and is set to open in the US this month. The older generation sometimes disparagingly calls them 'coconut heads" (or "brainless youth"), but the students at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria are anything but that. They follow-up their visits to a campus film club with in-depth discussions about subjects such as feminism, migration, human rights, colonialism, and politics – always inspired by watching films. The debate gets heated sometimes, but always stays focused on the subject. Every Thursday, a group of students organize a film club, transforming a small theater into a political agora where they refine their vision and develop a critical voice. This term Coconut Head Generation takes on a whole new meaning when students turn this stigma around to claim their freedom of thought. Looks intriguing! I'd ...

"We need to shoot the backup version of the Moon landing..." Sony Pictures & Apple TV have revealed the official trailer for Fly Me to the Moon, a romantic comedy from writer / filmmaker Greg Berlanti, who last directed the hit romcom Love, Simon. This is opening in theaters nationwide in July, a big mainstream comedy set during the Apollo 11 moon landing era of NASA - about creating a fake moon landing "backup". Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum star as a 1960s ad shark and a by-the-book launch director on a mission set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA's historic moon landing. Marketing maven Kelly Jones wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis's already difficult task. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, Jones is directed to stage a fake moon landing as alternative incase they need it. In addition to Johansson & Tatum, this also stars Nick Dillenburg, Anna Garcia, Jim Rash, Noah Robbins, Colin Woodell, Christian Zuber, Donald Elise Watkins, with Ray Romano, and Woody Harrelson. This looks funny and sweet, though not ...

"His face was as the heavens and therein stuck." Who knew we'd be getting another brand new Jonathan Glazer film so soon after the Oscar-winning The Zone of Interest? Prada commissioned Glazer to direct a short ad promoting their latest handbag. He re-teamed with his Under the Skin star Scarlett Johansson, who is really the star of the show in this ad for Prada's The Galleria bag. "The campaign is a celebration of technique, an ode to the mechanism of acting as the true motor of cinema – and to the talent of the actor... Still & motion images showcase Johansson as an actor, honing her art — repeating phrases with different feeling and meaning, she showcases the infinite self-transformation that define an actor's skill." It also has another intriguing Mica Levi score, though it's hard to tell since there is barely 90 seconds of footage here. In addition to his acclaimed features, Glazer also made the other short films The Fall and Strasbourg 1518. Thanks to Twitter for the tip on this commercial short. Full intro via Prada's YouTube: "Prada ...

"Go and rouse your people... raise your weapons!" Transmission Films has revealed an official trailer for an indie film from New Zealand titled Ka Whawhai Tonu, directed by Kiwi filmmaker Mike Jonathan. Set in New Zealand in 1864, the film follows the story of a crucial conflict of the nation's first land warfare, fought between Maori and colonial soldiers. The film's full title is Ka Whawhai Tonu - Struggle Without End: the historical story of the battle of O-Rākau as told for the first time from the point of view of the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand, in their own language Te Reo Māori. Set in Aotearoa New Zealand in 1864, it's the story of a pivotal battle in the first New Zealand land wars in the Waikato region. A battle fought with impossible odds between Māori and the Colonial forces. This heroic conflict is told through the eyes of two young teenagers forced to take control of their own destiny amidst the chaos of the battle & their escape. Starring Cliff Curtis, Temuera Morrison, Jason Flemyng, Miriama Smith, ...

"Time to eat my beans!" With the release of the Fallout streaming series on Prime Video next week, they've launched a series of featurettes + an online contest to get people excited. Both videos are included below. Fallout is a live-action streaming series based on the immensely popular, beloved video game series of the same name from Bethesda Softworks. It was developed by and is being written / showrun by Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, the two minds behind HBO's "Westworld" series as well. Set in a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles citizens must live in underground bunkers to protect themselves from radiation, mutants, and bandits after nuclear annihilation. The streaming series follows Lucy trying to survive in the aftermath of a nuclear war in an alternate history of a 1950s-esque retrofuturistic world, split between two factions. Ella Purnell stars with Walton Goggins as The Ghoul, Kyle MacLachlan, Xelia Mendes-Jones, Aaron Moten, Mike Doyle, Moisés Arias, Johnny Pemberton, with Dale Dickey as Ma June. Prime is also launching a "Prepare for Fallout" contest where you can win tons of prizes. And ...

"Use that energy to do what you need to do for our community." LvL Film has revealed an official trailer for a documentary film titled The 50, made by filmmaker Brenton Gieser as his first feature film. While serving life sentences in a dangerously overcrowded and drug-saturated prison system, 50 men embark on a radical journey to become some of the first incarcerated Substance Abuse Counselors. 85% of the prison population has an active substance use disorder or were incarcerated for a crime involving drugs or drug use - which is why this story and this program is so important. This is being released during "Second Chance Month", a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction, and unlock second-chance opportunities for people who have completed their sentences to become contributing citizens. The doc premiered at the 2022 DOC NYC Film Festival, and it will be available to watch on VOD next week. Looks incredibly powerful and inspiring, a rare look at real optimism and actual positive change. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Brenton ...

"You have unleashed the creature that we have feared for more than 3000 years." Universal Pictures has revealed a new official trailer for the 25th Anniversary re-release of the beloved action horror movie The Mummy, considered by many to be one of the best 90's Hollywood blockbusters. It's returning to theaters later in April! Finally! I love this movie so much. At an archaeological dig in the ancient city of Hamunaptra, an American in the French Foreign Legion accidentally awakens a mummy who begins to wreak havoc as he searches for the reincarnation of his long-lost love. "As we celebrate its 25th anniversary, we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring it back to the big screen. A fantastic opportunity for both devoted fans & newcomers to immerse themselves in the exhilarating adventure and timeless story." The Mummy stars Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo, with Oded Fehr as Ardeth as well as Kevin J. O'Connor as Beni. I am a huge fan of this Brendan Fraser movie, I watched it many, many times when it originally came out ...

"You really don't think I know you??" Another impressive short film that runs under 5 minutes. The Kid is the creation of a filmmaker named Vogue Giambri, and it was shot on location on St Marks Place in New York City. The short depicts a heated argument between a father and son and that's pretty much it - no other introduction is needed for this. Just watch below and enjoy The Kid. "We made this film with absolutely no money just pure passion and friendship. I wrote this because I didn't understand why I could feel so small and hysterical when visiting home even though I’m not a kid anymore and I grew up & moved on so much." Well that cuts deep. The film stars her actual 80 year old cousin Phillip Giambri, and Dion Costelloe as "the kid." There are so many emotions, and so much being said without being said, in these few scenes. It's really amazing how much of a story is told in just a few lines of dialogue being shouted between two people. Thanks to ...

"You cannot stop what has begun." Disney+ has revealed the main official trailer for a new animated Star Wars series called Tales of the Empire, officially the follow-up second season of the Tales of the Jedi series from 2022. This is a continuation but with an entirely different focus. Tales of the Empire is also split into two arcs - with one following Morgan Elsbeth (voiced by Diana Lee Inosanto) and the other following former Jedi Barriss Offee (voiced by Meredith Salenger). The new series will launch on Star Wars Day, May 4th, coming soon, featuring six episodes in total to enjoy. The talented voice cast for Tales of the Empire includes Diana Lee Inosanto, Meredith Salenger, Rya Kihlstedt (Lyn, aka Fourth Sister), Wing T. Chao (Wing), Lars Mikkelsen (Thrawn), Jason Isaacs (Grand Inquisitor), & Matthew Wood (General Grievous). This looks pretty damn good! Same style as the Tales of the Jedi and Clone Wars series before it, with darker themes following happenings in the Empire. I'm really digging all of this footage! They got my attention. Especially with Thrawn, ...