Above: Still from “Why Did You Kill Me” / Photo Credit: Netflix
New and ready to stream is this true crime documentary from Netflix
Based on the 2006 murder case and the hunt for the real events that led to 24-year-old Crystal Theobald’s 2006 murder, “Why did you kill me?” intercuts footage of the family members of the victim, the detectives that were assigned to the case and the accused, alleged gang members, that were the primary suspects in the case.
The surprises comes to this otherwise standard plot and method due to the twist related to how the truth eventually begins to come to light. Surprisingly, it is Theobald’s mother, Belinda Lane, and then-teenage cousin, Jaimie McIntyre that do the sleuthing via Myspace “cat fishing” profiles that are meant to lure the possible guilty parties into divulging incriminating data.
This bold attempt by the bereaved to ferret out the killer(s) was all the more emotionally poignant due to the use of Crystal Theobald’s actual personal photos in the profiles.
Unlike recent Netflix docs like “Red Dot” and “Crime Scene” that, while extremely suspenseful, had endings that did not offer closure or resolutions. Below is the “Why Did You Kill Me?” official trailer for more:
Nomadland was added to the AP best films and National Society of Film Critics 2020, and as well as beingan Oscar contender will now be available for viewers to watch starting February 19, 2021. Movie-goers can either visit the big screen available anywhere movie theaters are open, or opt for a stay-at-home watch.
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell and Josey McNamara, Producers
Apple TV+ announces new original documentary special
As a way to take some of the doom and gloom away from reporting and documenting climate change and global warming, and to celebrate Earth Day 2021, Apple will showcase three new earth related programs.
First, ‘The Year Earth Changed’ narrated by Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning broadcaster David Attenborough will go live on April 16th. In addition, both documentary series “Tiny World” and “Earth At Night In Color” will return for second seasons.
The hour long documentary special release will focus on the way a world-wide crisis, in this case the global pandemic of 2020, can impact human behavior, travel restrictions, closed beaches and lock-downs, which then in turn, surprisingly in this case, led to positive adaptations by wildlife around the globe.
“During this most difficult year, many people have reappraised the value and beauty of the natural world and taken great comfort from it,” said Attenborough. “But the lockdown also created a unique experiment that has thrown light on the impact we have on the natural world. The stories of how wildlife responded have shown that making even small changes to what we do can make a big difference.”
David Attenborough
All three productions also highlight the commitment of Apple TV+ & the respective production units (BBC Studios Natural History Unit, along with director Tom Beard for The Year the earth Changed) to the highest quality visuals and using the uplifting images to inspire through the beauty of the natural world.
It is being called “a love letter to planet Earth, highlighting the ways nature bouncing back can give us hope for the future” in Apple’s words.
Above: Original Trailer for ‘The Year Earth Changed’
In an educational and entertainment corollary to other green initiatives Apple is using its resources to influence positive change
Seasontwoof “Tiny World”, which was narrated and executive produced by Paul Rudd (“Ant-Man”), used high-end macro filming techniques to capture 3,160 hours of rarely seen “ant’s eye views” of over 200 species. The resulting final edit gives the viewer entry into a fascinating miniature natural world that is otherwise unseen all around us.
Paul Rudd’s participation is not without note, since he is literally known as “Ant-Man” and therefore in a unique position to narrate and executive produce “an illuminating the ingenuity and resilience of the planet’s smallest creatures”.
Above: Original “Behind the Scenes” Trailer for ‘Tiny World’
As per Apple: “Returning for season two, “Tiny World,” narrated and executive produced by Paul Rudd, grants viewers a unique perspective into the natural world, illuminating the ingenuity and resilience of the planet’s smallest creatures. With over 200 species filmed and 3,160 hours of footage, the six-episode docuseries shares surprising stories and spectacular cinematography that spotlight small creatures and the extraordinary things they do to survive.”
Above: “earth At Night In Color” Credit: Apple
“Earth At Night In Color” is also returning for a second season with six all-new episodes narrated by Tom Hiddleston (“Avengers”).
Once again, the production values are designed to wow and elicit awe, “with the use of cutting-edge cameras and a revolutionary post-production process, “ the series seeks to reveal “nature’s nocturnal wonders with striking new clarity.”
Further, as per Apple;
“Some never-before-seen behaviors of animals after dark, captured using low-light cameras and light from a full moon, include elephants battling hyenas around starlit waterholes and kangaroos embracing under the cover of darkness to find a mate.”
Other animals in the new season include pumas, polar bears, manta rays, and tiny planktonic life at night in the ocean. “Earth At Night In Color” is produced by Offspring Films. The series is executive produced by Alex Williamson and series produced by Sam Hodgson.
Above: ‘WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn’ Credit: HULU
The story of a fiasco of monumental proportions that deserves to be told
WeWork, from the fabled insanity of the SoftBank funding to the crash and burn of founder and then CEO Adam Neumann would, in any other epoch, perhaps, be the most spectacular and outrageous failure of our time.
That is until one takes a closer look. With a ‘valuation” ( a term that had little actual meaning in the case of WeWork) of $47 billion at its peak, just a month-and-a-half from near bankruptcy, is one way to try and put the absurdity into context.
In the end, after perhaps a feature film and a couple of more documentaries such as “WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn” it will be brought out how venture capital excesses and ideas like those of SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son, who was primarily responsible for WeWork’s meteoric rise that will be seen as the real madness of the age.
According to an oft told anecdote, in 2017, Mr. Neumann needed only 12 minutes of walking Mr. Son around WeWork’s headquarters to convince the SoftBank mogul to shell out an investment of $4.4 billion.
Complex and even more insane ideas motivated the $billions in funding
It was, after all, Masayoshi Son who chose to invest billions based on this “elevator pitch” and who, according to many accounts, egged on the young founder to think bigger, faster and “crazier”. And that advice was taken seriously, by all means.
However, during an era where it is a truism in VC culture, particularly in Silicon Valley, that it’s “harder to get a $100,000 investment than it is to get 100 million, it was ultimately more about systemic excesses, which inexorably lead to the enabling of a megalomaniacal start-up personality like Neumann and give him enough funds to turn him into a madman of nearly historical proportions.
Directed by Jed Rothstein’s (The China Hustle) the new Hulu documentary (trailer below) is a good first draft of an account trying to depict Neumann’s extravagant rise and fall. However the sheer scope and depth of the hubris that underlie, not just the WeWork saga, but the corrupt age itself, that makes the treatment here somehow less successful than a deeper, more insightful look at what brought about this tragic farce could have been.
Making Neumann the center of the madness is an easy way out of asking, and answering, deeper questions
For all his “reincarnated hippie” talk of uniting the world around an idea – after charged his own company $5.9 million for his absurd trademark of the word “we” (which he was forced to pay back when the details leaked)- and how he would unite the world (and be the first world president and trillionaire ), the actual “idea” and the company was based on little more than infantile greed run amok.
Unfortunately, it’s the complex back room mathematics made his “dream” a reality and now this documentary look into it and the real estate “empire of cards” that sill exists after Neumann has long departed. I fear it will require a more revelatory and analytical treatment than this credible and watchable first look can provide. Still worth checking out for the thrill and nonsense of the waning days of pre-2020 excesses nearly beyond imagination. On Hulu now.
Above: Official trailer for ‘WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn’
John Wick with a milquetoast twist? No, much better than that…
Are you, like me, someone who just has to watch any movie with Liam Neeson after “Taken” where he plays an underestimated character doing mega damage to the bad guys? Was “John Wick” (and 2 and 3 etc) a worthwhile experience but you could imagine a bit of Bob Odenkirk à la mode mixed in? You’re in luck (seriously).
The official blurb from Universal goes like this: Emmy winner Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul, The Post, Nebraska, Breaking Bad) stars as Hutch Mansell, an underestimated and overlooked dad and husband, taking life’s indignities on the chin and never pushing back. A nobody.
Add to this his “particular set of skills” and ominous past and you have an inspired next step in this now established feel-good as the blood-flows genre. (trailer below)
At a time when, metaphorically, perhaps all of us feel like we are bullied once too many times, and when the vagaries of trying to live in peace have us at wits end, watching this could be the antidote to all those pent-up feelings.
However, if going to see it live in a movie theater still seems too dangerous, you will soon be able to stream – if you are willing to pay for video-on-demand.
As of Friday, April 16th you will be able to purchase to stream at the usual VOD outlets (most likely, Apple, Amazon and others) and there’s even a blu-ray disk in the offing which has pre-order options already.
Directed by Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry), and written by Derek Kolstad (John Wick), a great cast that includes Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul, The Post, Nebraska) and co-stars legendary Emmy winner Christopher Lloyd as Hutch’s father, musician-actor RZA as Hutch’s brother, whose own hidden talents aid Hutch in his quest for vengeance.
Here is the description provided on the official web site by Universal Pictures:
Sometimes the man you don’t notice is the most dangerous of all. Emmy winner Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul, The Post, Nebraska) stars as Hutch Mansell, an underestimated and overlooked dad and husband, taking life’s indignities on the chin and never pushing back. A nobody.
When two thieves break into his suburban home one night, Hutch declines to defend himself or his family, hoping to prevent serious violence. His teenage son, Blake (Gage Munroe, The Shack), is disappointed in him and his wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen, Wonder Woman), seems to pull only further away.
The aftermath of the incident strikes a match to Hutch’s long-simmering rage, triggering dormant instincts and propelling him on a brutal path that will surface dark secrets and lethal skills. In a barrage of fists, gunfire and squealing tires, Hutch must save his family from a dangerous adversary (famed Russian actor Aleksey Serebryakov, Amazon’s McMafia)—and ensure that he will never be underestimated as a nobody again.
Nobody is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry), from a script by Derek Kolstad, the narrative architect of the John Wick franchise, and co-stars legendary Emmy winner Christopher Lloyd as Hutch’s father and multi-hyphenate musician-actor RZA as Hutch’s brother, whose own hidden talents aid Hutch in his quest for vengeance.
The film is produced by Kelly McCormick, p.g.a, and David Leitch, p.g.a., the filmmakers of Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Deadpool 2 and Atomic Blonde, for their company 87North, by Braden Aftergood, p.g.a. (Hell or High Water, Wind River), for his Eighty Two Films, and by Bob Odenkirk and Marc Provissiero (Hulu’s PEN15) for Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment. The film is executive produced by Derek Kolstad, Marc S. Fischer, Annie Marter and Tobey Maguire.
Made for Love, is a new half-hour dramedy series streaming now on HBO Max. The first three episodes were released on April fools day, (not sure if this is significant) and there are seven more episodes that will come out in a subsequent 2 bundles all available as of April 15th.
Although there may be a familiar vibe for those who enjoyed “Palm Springs”, the Hulu production, there are also some meaningful differences. “Made for Love” is mining the rich ground where love and disaster intersect. The united front in the face of chaos is no longer central to the themes.
The twin or triumvirate of themes, all dark yet at times ridiculously amusing are woven well. Those that have an appetite for the dystopia of tech and romance will be right at home and feel an affinity for the tone.
From HBO: Made for Love is a darkly absurd and cynically poignant story of love and divorce. It follows Hazel Green (Cristin Milioti), a thirty-something woman on the run after 10 years in a suffocating marriage to Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen), a controlling tech billionaire.
Synopsis: “A woman is on the run after 10 years in a suffocating marriage to a tech billionaire, who has implanted a monitoring device in her brain, allowing him to track her, watch her and know her “emotional data” as she tries to regain her independence.”
Above: Emilia Clarke in “above Suspicion” Credit: HULU
After 2019’s ‘Last Christmas RomCom, finally some gritty drama and action from the G.O.T. star
Coming just hours ahead of the new trailer for “Black Widow“, we are gifted with two films coming soon with the most dynamic female actors in action and drama. Long synonymous with Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke is now branching out and, after the cute but less weighty “Last Christmas” outing in 2019, we now can feast on her upcoming role via the brand new trailer for her upcoming thriller, “Above Suspicion”.
With a release scheduled for next month, the film also stars Fargo‘s Jack Huston as a crime partner – and Jackass star Johnny Knoxville, who rounds out the main desperado ensemble.
Phillip Noyce (Salt; Netflix series What/If) helmed the project and it was written by Chris Gerolmo. “Above Suspicion” is actually based on a true story and “one of the most notorious crimes in FBI history”.
According to the official synopsis: “This gritty crime-thriller stars Emilia Clarke as Susan Smith, a young woman desperate to escape a seedy life of crime and drugs in a Kentucky coal mining town. When a newly minted FBI agent named Mark Putnam recruits Susan as his informant for a high-profile case, she believes her bad luck may finally be changing. But as Susan and Putnam’s relationship deepens, so does the danger, setting them both on a collision course with deadly consequences.”
Above: Emilia Clarke in “above Suspicion”
Above Suspicion will open in US cinemas and on-demand on May 14. A UK release date is not yet confirmed.
Above: Scarlett Johansson as ‘Black Widow’ Photo Credit: Disney
Building to a climax? A tough road but Black Widow still has potential to be worth the wait…
A year since the first potential release window and various delays, and after a launch postponement from May to July, finally this new trailer is released, and is designed, it would appear, to keep the anticipation, suspense and interest in the future blockbuster in waiting.
Since this has to be the real and bonafide date we can confirm it here: “Black Widow” will hit theaters and Disney+ on July 9th, 2021.
“Black Widow is directed by Cate Shortland and was written by Eric Pearson from a story conceived by Jac Schaeffer and Ned Benson. Starring, as is well known, Scarlett Johansson, reprising Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, along with Florence Pugh, David Harbour, O-T Fagbenle, William Hurt, Ray Winstone, and Rachel Weisz.
Set sometime after the Captain America: Civil War epoch, which had Natasha on the run from the government and dealing with her personal spy history, and the many personal changes since she became an Avenger.
Natasha’s voiceover sets the stage as the trailer begins, while flashbacks to previous movies are cross-cut beneath — and the focus on her secrets and mysterious past are intoned:
“You don’t know everything about me, I’ve lived a lot of lives,” she says. “Before I was an Avenger. Before I got this family. I made mistakes choosing between what the world wants you to be, and who you are.”
Dialog from new “Black Widow” Trailer
Synopsis: “In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.”
Above: “Black Widow” Credit: Marvel Studios
Above Suspicion will open in US cinemas and on-demand on May 14. A UK release date is not yet confirmed.
In the Director – Star pairing this marks the fourth try
Has anyone noticed the seemingly sudden surge in new films announced and confirmed for release dates? Especially for theatrical runs? And doesn’t it feel like summer is kicking off artificially early? I guess that’s a sign of all of us wanting to kick-in the teeth of the lock-down era. Miami was just a beginning, perhaps.
Part of the reason, of course, for the sudden surge in film release activity, is the need to push forward and outward various productions that were previously on ice due to the pandemic. One example of this phenomena is “Wrath of Man,” from MGM and Miramax, which will get its theatrical launch from United Artists on May 7. As already mentioned this is the newest, fourth match-up between English filmmaker Ritchie and action staple Jason Statham.
The first date that was set for this film was an optimistic January 15th, which just so happened to coincide with the peak of what is now being called the “third wave”, and certainly no fortuitous release date, action god or no.
A second scheduling attempt was originally set for April 23rd until finally landing on the May 7th date. That date is traditionally one that can be a strong one for future summer blockbusters and was, luckily for “Wrath of Man” recently vacated by “Black Widow” which has been shifted by Disney to July 9th for both streaming on Disney+ and in theaters.
Whew! Stay tuned for more updates as the changes and new confirmed releases are happening, seemingly, by the hour. Oh, and enjoy the trailer.
Sex, Drugs, Florida, Strip Clubs, what can go wrong?
“Zola” emerged initially as a tweet thread (of approximately 148 tweets) which captivated and vent viral at the time, say around late 2016. The thread was Aziah Wells’ firsthand account of what Rolling Stone has called “The Greatest Stripping Saga ever Tweeted“, which began with an idea, inspired by her work-friend, that it might be fun and profitable to try to make money dancing at strip clubs…
It’s actually spawned a feature film – one that attempts to bring online mash-up ethos and and mind-set to the big screen. Staring Taylour Paige and Riley Keough this genre obliterating dark, wild stab into now had its initial run at Sundance (2020) and has gained adherents enough to gain a theatrical release now that the lock-down is finally abating.
This new trailer will give more than a taste of what’s in store with Zola arriving in theaters (exclusively, at least initially) this summer.
The Dystopian drama will proceed after almost 2 year hiatus
Hulu’s biggest hit series will continue starting on April 28th. After Season 3, almost two years ago, the much loved drama starring Elisabeth Moss will finally return. The series, which was based on the classic novel by Margaret Atwood, revolves around Moss’s character, June, who lives in a world called Gilead, a.k.a. “The Devine Republic, a totalitarian patriarchal theocracy, which belonged to the former continental United States in the Novel. The dystopian society portrays a place where women are oppressed and only used in society for their fertility.
Above: The Handmaid’s Tale Credit: HULU
As per Hulu: In the upcoming fourth season of The Handmaid’s Tale, June (Elisabeth Moss) strikes back against Gilead as a fierce rebel leader, but the risks she takes bring unexpected and dangerous new challenges. Her quest for justice and revenge threatens to consume her and destroy her most cherished relationships.
Synopsis as per IMDB: The Handmaid’s Tale is the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was the United States. Gilead is ruled by a fundamentalist regime that treats women as property of the state, and is faced with environmental disasters and a plummeting birth rate.
The trailer (below) reveals a constant struggle for justice against a seemingly hopeless established oppressive order.
Bring the Luck of the Irish to your nearest streaming device
The Boondock Saints
We found a collection of Irish movie favorites ranging from action packed to love stories – movies both old and new that you can surely indulge from the comfort of your couch (while also enjoying a pint of Guinness if you’re into that kind of thing). Check out our pick of movies below with trailers that star big names like Leonardo DiCaprio, Norman Reedus, Gerard Butler, Hilary Swank, Judy Dench and more. Enjoy!
Directed by Troy Duffy. Tired of the crime overrunning the streets of Boston, Irish Catholic twin brothers Conner (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus) are inspired by their faith to cleanse their hometown of evil with their own brand of zealous vigilante justice. As they hunt down and kill one notorious gangster after another, they become controversial folk heroes in the community. But Paul Smecker (Willem Dafoe), an eccentric FBI agent, is fast closing in on their blood-soaked trail.
Also a sequel: The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day – From Troy Duffy, writer and director of The Boondock Saints, comes the much anticipated sequel to the tough, stylized cutting edge saga of the MacManus brothers (Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flanery). The two have been in deep hiding with their father, Il Duce (Billy Connolly), in the quiet valleys of Ireland, far removed from their former vigilante lives. When word comes that a beloved priest has been killed by sinister forces from deep within the mob, the brothers return to Boston to mount a violent and bloody crusade to bring justice to those responsible. With a new partner in crime (Clifton Collins Jr., Star Trek) and a sexy FBI operative (Julie Benz, TV’s “Dexter”) hot on their trail…the Saints are back! Available on Amazon and Walmart.
South Boston cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes under cover to infiltrate the organization of gangland chief Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). As Billy gains the mobster’s trust, a career criminal named Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) infiltrates the police department and reports on its activities to his syndicate bosses. When both organizations learn they have a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin must figure out each other’s identities to save their own lives. Available on Amazon and Walmart.
A 2015 romance and historical drama. Young Irish immigrant Eilis Lace (Saoirse Ronan) navigates her way through 1950s Brooklyn. Lured by the promise of America, Eilis departs Ireland and the comfort of her mother’s home for the shores of New York City. The initial shackles of homesickness quickly diminish as a fresh romance sweeps Eilis into the intoxicating charm of love. But soon, her past disrupts her new vivacity, and Eilis must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within. Available on Amazon and Walmart.
A 2007 romantic film. When Gerry (Gerard Butler), the husband of Holly Kennedy (Hilary Swank), dies from an illness, she loses the love of her life. Knowing how hard Holly will take his death, Gerry plans ahead. Beginning on her 30th birthday, she receives the first in a series of letters written by him, designed to ease her grief and encourage her to move forward to a new life. Available on Amazon and Walmart.
In a 2013 drama film directed by Stephen Frears, based on the book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by journalist Martin Sixsmith. 1952, Irish teenager Philomena (Judi Dench) became pregnant out of wedlock and was sent to a convent. When her baby, Anthony, was a toddler, the nuns took Philomena’s child away from her and put him up for adoption in the United States. For the next 50 years, she searched tirelessly for her son. When former BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) learns of the story, he becomes her ally. They travel together to America to find Anthony and become unexpectedly close in the process. Available on Amazon and Walmart.
2007 Irish romantic musical drama film written and directed by John Carney. The film stars Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová as two struggling musicians in Dublin, Ireland. A vacuum repairman (Glen Hansard) moonlights as a street musician and hopes for his big break. One day a Czech immigrant (Marketa Irglova), who earns a living selling flowers, approaches him with the news that she is also an aspiring singer-songwriter. The pair decide to collaborate, and the songs that they compose reflect the story of their blossoming love. Available on Amazon and Walmart.
What you didn’t even know you needed: a zombie heist movie!
Director Zack Snyder has been hard at work. As most are patiently awaiting the upcoming “Justice League” movie to drop on HBO Max on March 18, 2021, another entertainment gem has landed on our laps.
A new teaser trailer for the next action packed film by Snyder, this time for the Netflix streaming platform has dropped called “Army of the Dead”.
According to Netflix, the film will follow a group of fearless mercenaries who decide to take the ultimate gamble during a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas. The group breaks away from the quarantine zone to pull off one of the wildest heists ever attempted.
“It is a full-blown, balls-to-the-wall zombie heist movie, so it’s genre-on-genre in a great way,” Snyder told EW.com. “So you expect pure zombie mayhem, and you get that, 100 percent. But also you get these really amazing characters on a fantastic journey. It’s going to surprise people that there’s a lot of warmth and real emotion with these great characters.”
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The movie will be released later this year, May 21, 2021, with plans to make the film into a franchise in the form of a prequel anime series.
Starring Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Ana de la Reguera, Matthias Schweighöfer, Tig Notaro, Nora Arnezeder, Hiroyuki Sanada, Raúl Castillo, Michael Cassidy, and Garret Dillahunt.
With the incredibly ambitious 2021 lineup for Netflix, that boasts 71 titles this year alone, means that the streaming platform has to make way for a fresh slate of incoming TV show and movies.
However, even as they add so many new titles, each month, a few dozen movies are no longer available to watch. Before the start of the new month, check out the library of titles below that will be gone by March 1. This list has a variety of genres, both newer and classic oldies. So check the list and there are some of these titles you haven’t seen yet, now is the perfect time, before it’s too late!
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During the 2021 Disney+ Winter TCA Press Conference, the panel unloaded some major content coming to the streaming platform this spring. Just coming this March, there will be no shortage of content to choose from; a handful of new TV shows and movies, a Premiere Access movie debut and a season finale.
Kicking off the month, on March 5, “Raya and the Last Dragon” the theatrical release/Premier Access animated movie inspired by Southeast Asian folklore. The movie will not be available under the base tier for Disney+ subscribers as there will be an additional charge for access for those subscribers.
Rest assured, there are also many more on the way, with a preview, below, of free-with-subscription new TV shows and movies coming soon.
Next up are for all those Superhero fans, particularly the Avengers , we can look forward to the upcoming “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and “Marvel Studios: Legends” and (crying) the season finale of “WandaVision”.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier – March 19:
The new series will premiere March 19, 2021 a spinoff starring Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan as their reprised roles of The Falcon and Bucky Barnes. The show will follow the events from “Avengers: Endgame”.
Marvel Studios: Legends – March 12:
The series will feature different characters in the Marvel Universe and debut on March 12, 2021.
“WandaVision” fans, no need to fret, aside from Wanda and Vision kicking off the first episode of “Legends” there will also be more content with Wanda, Vision and Agnes a week after the finale (March 5th with “Assembled: The Making of WandaVision” showcasing behind-the-scenes on the inspiration and challenges of the show.
Mighty Ducks: Game Changer – March 26:
Also dropping at the end of March, the moving picking up on the iconic blast from the past movie “Mighty Ducks”. Emilio Estevez is back as Coach Gordon Bombay to lead a whole new group of skaters in “Game Changers”.
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Much to look forward to in May and June 2021
Other exciting streaming titles that Disney+ recently dropped include premiere dates coming later in the spring including “StarWars: The Bad Batch” coming May 4th and Marvel Studio’ “Loki” staring June 11.
The movie makes waves in its portrait of the iconic jazz singer
Grammy nominated singer Andra Day appears in her first lead acting role in the new Hulu film “The United States vs. Billie Holiday”. The film has already earned the actress two Golden Globe nominations, for best original song and for best actress in a motion picture drama.
The film’s cast also includes Trevante Rhodes, Garrett Hedlund, Natasha Lyonne, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.
The film has been met with some criticism, in the mean time, as some that have already watched the film point out the movie fails to fully encapsulate the vibrance and stardom of Billie Holiday. Yet others offer praise in how the film explores the singer’s rough up-bringing and shines a light on the treatment of African Americans living in a Jim Crow America during the 1940’s.
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The movie follows the jazz singer, chronicling how the government went after her for her ballad, an anti-racist song titled “Strange Fruit” that spoke about the lynching of African American people and racism. For fear that its popularity would spark a civil rights movement, Holiday became the target by the Federal Department of Narcotics with much of the film focusing on her drug addiction as government tries to quiet and derail the star.
“The United States vs. Billie Holiday” streams on Hulu starting February 26, 2021.
The new year means new shows plus the debut of new seasons
Apple launched a new YT video, giving Apple TV+ watchers a glimpse of what to expect as the coming year unfolds. It’s a lot! The video breaks it all down with an exclusive preview of new TV shows, as well as films coming to the platform very soon.
There are now so many streaming platforms: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Discovery+, with a new one launching on March 4th, Paramount+ (Teaming up with ViacomCBS).
Apple TV+, although live for some time now, can be viewed as one of the newcomers in the streaming game. With that, it’s not always easy to decide if you should jump aboard to pay for yet another monthly subscription if you aren’t already a user.
For those that do not currently have Apple TV, subscription starts at $4.99 per month with a 7 day free trial. For that low of a price and the handful of new TV shows and movies coming this year, it may be a perfect time to try. However, if you are a buyer of Apple products such as an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac, it includes one year of Apple TV+ for free.
The two minute clip unloads lots of titles. New shows and movies: Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry, Cherry, Foundation, Lisey’s Story, Losing Alice, The Mosquito Coast, Mr. Corman, Palmer, Schmigadoon!, Physical and many more.
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In addition, there will be returns of successful shows included: Central Park, Dickinson, For All Mankind, Ghostwriter, Home Before Dark, The Morning Show, Mythic Quest, See, Servant, Trying, and Truth Be Told.
Here’s a taste of some of the full trailers for most of the upcoming titles to be hitting the streaming service in in the next several weeks.
Billie Eilish Documentary – February 26:
Cherry with Tom Holland – March 12:
The Mosquito Coast – April 30:
Mythic Quest Season 2 – May 7:
Foundation – Fall 2021:
Most titles will be premiering late Spring and Summer 2021. From the previews alone, it seems that all the different titles will be well worth the wait. Apple TV+ even gave a teaser video of the highly anticipated adaption of Isaac Asminov’s “Foundation” sci-fi novels.
Apple TV+ and YouTube event: Acoustic performance, interview and “surprises” in store
The release for the upcoming Apple TV+ documentary which follows Billie Eilish’s journey into fame, spotlighting a “sliver” of her life during the three year period the doc was filmed, is nearly here. Aside from the upcoming film, fans will also get another musical treat before the debut. Apple teamed up with the artist to commemorate the release with a livestream and exclusive performance, which will be available for all to watch for free. (Free!)
During the live event, Eilish will perform some (new) music, and maybe even talk about her new album that her and brother/co-writer created during her time at home due to covid-19 restrictions.
The artist also recently launched a live version of the song, “ilomilo” which has the song lyric “the world’s a little blurry” from which the title of the doc is inspired. Check out video above.
In addition to the musical performance, there will also be an interview with director R.J. Cutler, hosted by Apple Music’s DJ Zane Lowe. The Apple press release also notes that the event will include “other special surprises” but you have to watch in order to find out what those may be.
Eilish will perform live and can be streamed for free Thursday, Feb. 25 starting at 6 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. ET via the Apple TV app, Apple Music app or Billie’s YouTube Channel. Immediately following the event, her documentary will debut on the Apple TV+ streaming platform.
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The trailer gives fans a peak of what’s to come, centered around Eilish’s rise to fame, offering behind the scenes of the inner workings of her highly successful album: “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”.
There is also footage of Eilish off stage, doing normal teenage activities like getting her driver’s license, as well as scenes of her at home hanging out with her brother and collaborator, Finneas.
“Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry” tells the true coming-of-age story of the singer-songwriter and her rise to global superstardom. From award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler, the documentary offers a deeply intimate look at this extraordinary teenager’s journey, at just 17 years old, navigating life on the road, on stage, and at home with her family, while writing, recording and releasing her debut album “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?”
For those that do not currently have Apple TV, subscription starts at $4.99 per month with a 7 day free trial. Any buyer of Apple hardware is given a free subscription for up to a year as well.
Earlier in the year, Warner Bros. announced its plan to release ALL its 2021 movies in an unprecedented, unique hybrid, consumer-focused, yet very 2020 way. Releasing its films theatrically worldwide, while also adding exclusive access to the HBO Max streaming platform on the same day for a one month period (U.S. only).
For January, we got “The Little Things” , next up and currently available, “Judas and the Black Messiah” the Golden Globe nominated film for best original screenplay.
https://youtu.be/xhXFYEeiLSU
The historical dramatization follows FBI informant William O’Neal played by LaKeith Stanfield who infiltrates (and ultimately betrays, hence Judas) the Illinois Black Panther Party and tasked on following its charismatic leader Fred Hampton played by Daniel Kaluuya.
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Get ready for an entertaining showcase of hilarious yet predatory wickedness
Watch out for Marla Grayson in Netflix’s “I Care a Lot”, she’s truly bad, bad to the bone. The crooked legal guardian played by Rosamund Pike is all about the next opportunity.
Grayson and business partner Fran are hawks, able to easily identify rich powerless older clients. She traps them in her care by declaring them mentally incompetent and then drains all their savings.
Marla then meets her latest mark, Jennifer Peterson, played by Dianne Wiest who has a nice amount in her savings and no apparent living relatives.
This time around, she may have finally met her match, when up pops some unexpected baggage she was definitely not prepared for. Those that have watched the movie have called it “diabolical ruthlessness“, “unapologetically sour” and “a sleekly unnerving thriller“.
In addition to Pike and Wiest, the film stars Peter Dinklage, Eiza González, Chris Messina, Alicia Witt, Isiah Whitlock Jr. and Macon Blair. Available to stream starting February 19, 2021 on Netflix.
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Mixture of comedy, drama and history during the rise of AIDS in London
The AIDS crisis around the 1980’s in the UK is the topic surrounding the latest mini-series now available on HBO Max. “It’s a Sin” originally premiered on Britain’s Channel 4 and was met with much acclaim.
Created by Russel T. Davies who was responsible for creating “Queer as Folk” well over twenty years ago.
The show follows a small group of queer friends that do as many college-aged young people do, party. Those that have already watched have made clear that the show doesn’t hold back on the horrifying pains and real horrors of what it meant to have lived amidst HIV/AIDS during the 80’s.
The official synopsis reads:
It’s 1981, the start of a new decade and Ritchie (Olly Alexander), Roscoe (Omari Douglas) and Colin (Callum Scott Howells) begin a new life in London. Strangers at first, these young gay lads, and best friend Jill (Years and Years’ Lydia West), find themselves thrown together, and soon share each other’s adventures.
But a new virus is on the rise, and soon their lives will be tested in ways they never imagined. As the decade passes, and they grow up in the shadow of AIDS, they’re determined to live and love more fiercely than ever.
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Hope those that can are watching #ItsASin, which premiered tonight on @Channel4. It was a sincere honor to be part of something so epic, yet so intimate. Bravo @russelldavies63 for being brilliant. @REDProductionCo
Also noteworthy and powerhouse acting in the show include the likes of Stephen Fry, Neil Patrick Harris, Keeley Hawes, Shaun Dooley and Tracy Ann Oberman
The 5 episodes will be available to watch, in one go around if you like to binge on HBO Max starting February 18, 2021.
Watch the drama on Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century
The film that was added to the AP best films and National Society of Film Critics 2020, as well as an Oscar contender will now be available for viewers to watch starting February 19, 2021. Movie-goers can either visit the big screen available anywhere movie theaters are open, or opt for a stay-at-home watch.
The movie, starring Frances McDomand will be on the Hulu platform and will premiere on its regular service tier, meaning that as long as you are a subscriber, there will be no additional purchases necessary.
The concept is sure to be relatable for many, as it deals with struggles to survive in hard economic times, and follows her journey and experience traveling across the American Heartland looking for ways to get back on her feet.
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The story is based on the book of the same title, telling a tale of darker side of the American economy, one where many low-cost labor pools have resulted in many transient older adults, Americans that have to be incredibly resilient and find creative ways in order to survive.
The movie with Frances McDormand, who plays as a widow, unable to afford her home during the recession, sells her home and packs up all her necessities into her van. There she embarks on journey through the American West, living in her van, as a modern-day, nomad, picking up seasonal work and relying on the compassion and generosity in her travels. Written, edited and produced by Chloe Zhao.
Don’t miss the most celebrated film of the season. Tickets are available now.
