Second Teaser for Park Chan-wook & A24’s ‘The Sympathizer’ Series
"I infiltrated the enemy, and did everything to undermine them, because I am a communist – undercover." HBO Max has debuted a second "teaser" trailer for The Sympathizer series, even though it runs a full two minutes like a regular trailer (catch the first teaser again here). This is an adaptation of the award-winning book of the same name written by Viet Thanh Nguyen. It's developed by Don McKellar, along with Korean mastermind Park Chan-wook, who is directing a few episodes as well. The series is an espionage thriller and also cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy from the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the USA. Hoa Xuande stars as the Captain, with Robert Downey Jr. playing multiple American antagonist characters. The cast includes Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Duy Nguyễn, Vy Le, Alan Trong, Sandra Oh, and Kieu Chinh. This is looking crazy good! An A24 + Max production from Park Chan-wook?! I'm sold. Keep an eye out for this arriving in April.
Here's the second teaser trailer for ...
Watch: Superb Stop-Motion Music Video for Chinese Man’s ‘Too Late’
"Oh hey, didn't see you there. While I've got your ears, there's something I'd like you to hear..." We always love a good stop-motion animated music video. And this is one of the best! Paris-based stop-motion creator Victor Haegelin (aka "Patator") created this outstanding music video for the track called "Too Late" by Chinese Man (a French trip-hop band composed of DJ Marseille Zé Mateo and High Ku and beatmaker SLY). It's an incredible bit of stop-motion brilliance, with some fourth-wall-breaking elements that show the workshop where it's being created. There's some creative visualization: the horse tell us the story walking in his giant hamster wheel of life. "Let the rappers sing on this endless wheel." The song itself is about life passing by, and the music video plays with this concept in such an intriguing way. I love everything about it! Especially the horse with his big grin and little turntable and breakdancing skills. What a champion! We've featured plenty of great stop-motion music videos on FS, and this one absolutely deserves to join the ranks.
Thanks to Vimeo Staff ...
Berlinale 2024 Begins – What Will the Big Discoveries Be This Year?
Wir sind wieder da für mehr Kino. The 2024 Berlin Film Festival, known locally as Berlinale celebrating its 74th year, kicks off today in the capital city of Germany. With every year, the festival continues to fade further & further into irrelevance (read my report from last year), with an unimpressive line-up and staunch refusal to make any changes to the way the festival runs. Most major film festivals nowadays need to evolve, adapt, update and improve in so many ways right now. Berlinale is one of the most defiant, standing firm in its badly positioned slot in February (right after Sundance, and just before SXSW & Cannes) focusing on so many bleak and boring films. Not much ever makes it out of his festival anymore... Much like Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, Berlinale is becoming a fest where films go to be forgotten, where they have one big premiere and then are never get talked about again. Many of my colleagues get really grumpy when they hear me say this, but it's how I feel about this ...
Official Trailer for ‘Shamrock Spitfire’ – WWII Irish Fighter Pilot Movie
"This is what I want to do. I want to fly." 101 Films & Trinity Creative have revealed an official trailer for The Shamrock Spitfire - a WWII thriller about the true story of a famed fighter pilot. It's co-directed by brothers Dominic & Ian Higgins, and will be heading direct-to-VOD / DVD soon. The Shamrock Spitfire is based on the inspiring true story of Irish World War II hero Brendan "Paddy "Finucane, who at the age of 21 became the youngest ever Wing Commander in the RAF, and one of its most celebrated fighter pilots. The film chronicles the true story of Finucane, who was killed when a bullet from ground fire pierced the radiator of his Spitfire flying a mission over France. His leadership of the 452 Australian Squadron became the stuff of legend. Starring Shane O'Regan, Chris Kaye, Emily Outred, Eoin Lynch, Bethany Billly, Carl Wharton, Sophia Eleni, and Rafe Bird. This looks bloody awful! No wonder it's being sent straight to video. Just go watch Masters of the Air on Apple TV+ instead of this hazy ...
Gael García Bernal & Renate Reinsve in Sci-Fi ‘Another End’ Trailer #1
"Take this time to spend it well with her." 01 Distribution in Italy and Rai Cinema have revealed the first official promo trailer for Another End, an intriguing sci-fi film from Italian filmmaker Piero Messina. This is set to premiere at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival this weekend, hence the trailer dropping. It's playing in the Main Competition as a contender for the Golden Bear. Yet another film about grief and someone trying to bring back a lost loved one through futuristic tech. Since Sal has lost Zoe, the love of his life, he has been living only in his memories: memories like fragments of a shattered mirror that cannot be put back together. Sal's sister suggests he turn to Another End, a new technology that promises to ease the pain of separation by briefly bringing back to life the consciousness of those who have died. Sal finds Zoe again in this way, but in the body of another woman. What was broken seems to come together again. But this joy is fragile, fleeting, treacherous. Can love truly survive as ...
Official Trailer for Spiritual Horror Thriller Film ‘The Woods Are Real’
"Bravery is real. Out here, bad people become good." Gravitas Ventures has revealed an official trailer for an indie horror film titled The Woods Are Real, made by filmmaker Alix Lambert. This seems to be a shoddy "liberals are dumb!" film made by American conservatives, which is not surprising to see nowadays but it also doesn't have much of anything interesting to say either... The film is described as a "folk horror twist" on the story of Job from the Bible. Joba and Quincy are a wealthy Brooklyn couple who value charity above all. But when a friend returns from a country pilgrimage to challenge their bleeding hearts, they accept an invitation that will change their lives forever. They end up trapped in the woods with everything taken from them... Starring Matt Dellapina and Chinasa Ogbuagu as Joba and Quincy, with Campbell Scott as The Woodsman, Nick Westrate, Jeffrey Omura, Kathleen McElfresh, Teresa Avia Lim, & Laura Esposito. This looks so obnoxiously cheesy and pretentious, I doubt anyone will even care to see it.
Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for ...
Second Trailer for Excellent ‘Femme’ Film Featuring George MacKay
"I'm a private person." "Are you now?" Utopia has unveiled a second trailer for the edgy new film Femme, which first premiered at the 2023 Berlin Film Festival (here's my review) last year. One year later - they're giving this another push before it hits US theaters. It's a remarkably powerful look at the dynamic between a gay man & closeted "tough guy" in London. Jules' life as a drag queen is destroyed by a homophobic attack. But when he re-encounters his attacker, the deeply-closeted Preston in a sauna, he is now presented with a chance to exact revenge. Unrecognizable out of his wig and make-up, Jules infiltrates Preston’s life, and in doing so, discovers power in a different kind of drag. A provocative contemporary thriller. Starring George MacKay as Preston & Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Jules, with a cast including Aaron Heffernan, John McCrea, Nima Taleghani, Antonia Clarke, and Moe Bar-El. I am a big fan of this film and raved in my review that it's "an edgy, compelling cinematic story." Arriving in cinemas this March - keep an eye ...
Full Trailer for Mystery Series ‘Apples Never Fall’ with Annette Bening
"Nobody can break your heart like your own children." Peacock has debuted the official trailer for mystery thriller series called Apples Never Fall, arriving to watch streaming in March. Another new crime thriller series to watch along with so many others nowadays. It's adapted from the book of the same name by Liane Moriarty. The lives of retired tennis coaches are upended upon the disappearance of the wife. The Delaney family seems happy, but everything changes when a wounded young woman knocks on their door. When Joy suddenly disappears, her children are forced to re-examine their parents' so-called perfect marriage as their family’s darkest secrets begin to surface. The mysterious series stars Annette Bening as Joy Delaney, Sam Neill as Stan Delaney, Alison Brie as Amy Delaney, Jake Lacy as Troy Delaney, Georgia Flood, Conor Merrigan Turner, Essie Randles, Jeanine Serralles, & Dylan Thuraisingham. Obviously this looks like it has plenty of twists and turns, and it seems that maybe the children aren't so innocent in this family.
Here's the main official trailer (+ poster) for Peacock's series Apples Never Fall, ...
Trailer for Dementia Film ‘Knox Goes Away’ Directed by Michael Keaton
"There's no coming back from this one..." Saban Films has revealed the trailer for Knox Goes Away, a film directed by and starring Michael Keaton. This originally premiered at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival last year to mixed reviews - some good & some bad. Set for a limited release in theaters only this March. Yet another hit man film to join the many out there right now. When a contract killer learns he has a rapidly evolving form of dementia, he is offered an opportunity to redeem himself by saving the life of his estranged son caught in a bind. Keaton stars as John Knox, the aging hit man, along with James Marsden as his son, Suzy Nakamura, John Hoogenakker, Joanna Kulig, Ray Mckinnon, Lela Loren with Marcia Gay Harden and Al Pacino. This doesn't look that good - a bit muddled and so poorly shot - but all these nice quotes from this trailer do make me curious to find out why it is so "entrancing" and "twisted." Take a look.
Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Michael ...
Adam Wingard’s Sequel ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ Trailer #2
"It's not just a signal. That's a call for war." Warner Bros and Legendary have debuted the second official trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, again directed by filmmaker Adam Wingard, a sequel to 2021's Godzilla vs. Kong (which kicked ass). This next one is set to open in theaters everywhere at the end of March coming up pretty soon. The two mega monsters Godzilla and King Kong having to team up to take on a "colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world" - which seems to be some kind of "Red Ape" massive chimpanzee. GxK also delves further into the histories of these Titans and their origins, as well as the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while spending more time in the Hollow Earth realm where Kong is from. The cast of Godzilla x Kong features Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Rachel House, and Alex Ferns. Wingard says that "Godzilla and Kong will have a buddy-cop dynamic in the spirit of Lethal Weapon." Which is why they're launching this new trailer on Valentine's Day ...