Tag Archives: Warner Brothers

Matrix 4 Resurrections 2nd Official Trailer is out: Watch Now

Digital vs. Post-Apocalyptic, the Matrix Resurrections latest trailer continues with mystery and confusion

The new preview hints at repeating loops (deja vu) and even scenes from previous films from the trilogy.   

The foundations of the Matrix movies always played with the question of what is reality, and that it can be both artificially created and manipulated. 

In a world of two realities – everyday life and what lies behind it – Thomas Anderson will have to choose to follow the white rabbit once more,” reads the movie’s official synopsis. “Choice, while an illusion, is still the only way in or out of the Matrix, which is stronger, more secure, and more dangerous than ever before.”

Fans gets to see Jada Pinkett Smith’s character Niobe with a drastic transformation.  In addition it appears that Jonathan Groff’s character is playing Agent Smith.

There’s a hint that something special is lurking beneath the entertaining endless action sequences

Both Neo, looking, just like Keanu a lifetime removed and yet the same, and Trinity appear to be aiding the cause by bringing a kind of effortless perfection to the cast – No need to mention John Wick or any intervening saga, this is a continuation, or more aptly, a resurrection of what was so amazing in the time, place spirit of that original film.

A thread like an unbroken through line, connecting the 1999 moment anew, yet absorbing the intervening changes to the fictional worlds of artifice within the films and to a third, that we, the audience, have grown with bringing us to December 22, 2021.

Naturally, some images produce more curiosity and questions than they answer, even when a still frame is isolated and studied. There is a particularly interesting interaction with the rooftop crowd in this case (above) and the image begs the question: will Neo lead uprisings both within the Matrix and the revolutions in the “real” world?

What kinds of mental challenges and trickery will a more mature Neo encounter while in the Matrix? This shot also produces mystery and begs for speculation regarding the script and how the various logical and illogical pathways will be traversed.

Multiple flash frames do confirm that a romantic adventure and escape will extend the story of Neo & Trinity, and that, while perfectly fitting, also appears to be something that could add more interest on a level above the intervening sequels (2 & 3). For all these reasons and many more, it does look like the buzz and building anticipation will start here and just keep growing until we all have a chance to experience the film in its entirety. On December 22, 2021 either in the Theater (best!) or on HBO Max for subscribers.

If anything, it feels like there is a depth and poignancy to the characters, the images and the implied story that extends and deepens the original, as a great sequel should do. For once it’s as if the maturity of the main stars in the cast is not an obstacle to manage or navigate but a built in feature.

As per W.B. press kit: The film also stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (“Candyman,” the “Aquaman” franchise) Jessica Henwick (TV’s “Iron Fist,” “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens”), Jonathan Groff (“Hamilton,” TV’s “Mindhunter”), Neil Patrick Harris (“Gone Girl”), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (TV’s “Quantico,”), Christina Ricci (TV’s “Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story,” “The Lizzie Borden Chronicles”), Telma Hopkins (TV’s “Dead to Me,”), Eréndira Ibarra (series “Sense8,” “Ingobernable”), Toby Onwumere (TV’s “Empire”), Max Riemelt (series “Sense8”), Brian J. Smith (series “Sense8,” “Treadstone”), and Jada Pinkett Smith (“Angel Has Fallen,” TV’s “Gotham”). 

Lana Wachowski directed from a screenplay by Wachowski & David Mitchell & Aleksander Hemon, based on characters created by The Wachowskis. The film was produced by Grant Hill, James McTeigue and Lana Wachowski. The executive producers were Garrett Grant, Terry Needham, Michael Salven, Jesse Ehrman and Bruce Berman. 

 

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‘Malignant’ Trailer: James Wan brings new kind of Terror to Theaters & HBO

Every kill…brings…him…closer..to…you…

Warner Bros. is set to release its next big horror movie. The film is helmed by James Wan. If that name doesn’t strike a cord, one of his many many scary movies like “Saw”, “The Conjuring”, “Annabelle”, “Demonic” “Lights out”, “Insidious” or “The Curse of La Llorna” probably will.

This time around, the director wants to deviate from what he is most known for, mastering the jump scare, you know that moment when something crazy scary pops up on the screen and you are immediately jerked, or in my case, scream like an insane person. He promises that “Malignant” will be a different kind of horror movie from his past endeavors.

And I’m always trying to find new ways to reinvent myself so that I don’t get stale, so to speak… Part of the reason, too, why I wanted to make Malignant was that I want people to know that this is not a jump scare film.”

-James Wan / Malignant

In the film, “Madison is paralyzed by shocking visions of grisly murders, and her torment worsens as she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities.”

The cast includes Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, Mckenna Grace, Jake Abel, George Young, Ingrid Bisu, Michole Briana White and Jacqueline McKenzie. “Malignant” will be released simultaneously in theaters and HBO Max (for 31 days) on September 10.

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‘Mortal Kombat’: Check out the Explosive new Trailer release

https://lynxotic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/MortalKombat.mp4

Up until this point, fans have only gotten a small taste of what to expect with a teaser trailer and “first look images” for the upcoming “Mortal Kombat”. The time has finally come. Wait no longer, Warner Brothers’ live-action film inspired by the popular fighting video game franchise dropped its official trailer and its awesome! The trailer is pretty violent, which most likely suggests the movie will keep in line with the famously gory and brutality shown within the video game series.

https://twitter.com/MKMovie/status/1362432505236783105?s=20

Read More: New ‘Mortal Kombat’ Movie Images Feature Gnarley Fights & Explicit Fatalities

In anticipation for the new trailer,  the official twitter account for the movie also shared a series of moving posters, showing a more detailed look into the well-known favorites like Mileena (Sisi Stringer), Kung Loa (Max Huang), Sub Zero (Joe Taslim) and Shang Tsung (Chin Han) to name a few.

A peak at Shang Tsung, the powerful warlord.

Below we get to see a shot of Joe Taslim as the cryomancer posing with his kori blade. 

https://twitter.com/MKMovie/status/1361857905562062851?s=20

The synopsis for the upcoming cinematic adventure according to WB:

In “Mortal Kombat,” MMA fighter Cole Young, accustomed to taking a beating for money, is unaware of his heritage—or why Outworld’s Emperor Shang Tsung has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero, an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt Cole down. Fearing for his family’s safety, Cole goes in search of Sonya Blade at the direction of Jax, a Special Forces Major who bears the same strange dragon marking Cole was born with. Soon, he finds himself at the temple of Lord Raiden, an Elder God and the protector of Earthrealm, who grants sanctuary to those who bear the mark. Here, Cole trains with experienced warriors Liu Kang, Kung Lao and rogue mercenary Kano, as he prepares to stand with Earth’s greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe. But will Cole be pushed hard enough to unlock his arcana—the immense power from within his soul—in time to save not only his family, but to stop Outworld once and for all?

Mortal Kombat” is scheduled for release in theaters and HBO Max streaming platform (available for 31 days from theatrical release) starting on April 16, 2021.

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Warner Bros. police thriller ‘The Little Things’: When to watch in theaters and HBO Max

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/the-little-things/the-little-things-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

Above: Official Trailer of ‘The Little Things’

Another serial killer thriller- how will this latest release stack up?

Another anticipated  HBO Max movie from Warner Brothers is “ The Little Things”. The movie stars not one, but three Oscar winners: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek and Jared Leto. Denzel Washington plays a Kern County Deputy Sheriff, Joe “Deke” Deacon, who joins forces with homicide sergeant Jim Baxter played by Rami Malek to search for a serial killer who’s terrorizing Los Angeles.

As they track the culprit, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke’s past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than just his case.  Jared Leto , plays a menacingly creepy Albert Sparma, a stringy hair, electrical repairman who is pegged as the suspected serial killer. 

Read More: Don’t miss out on ‘Euphoria’, news on ‘Justice League’ and more coming to HBO Max

Those that got an early viewing of the movie have made mention that the film has elements of other serial killer movies including: “Seven” and “Zodiac”. As always, there are those that liked the movie and talk-up its all-star cast, while others have given it low ratings claiming it just did not hit the mark. Those that have the HBO Max streaming platform will get the chance to watch for a month after its release which is scheduled for the end of the January (2021).

Writer-director John Lee Hancock has been waiting over 20 years to put his neo-noir script of a classic Hollywood case onto the big screen. The film is set in the 1990’s and plays tribute to the old school nature of detective work, before cell phones and technological advances like DNA profiling became commonplace with investigative police work.

“The Little Things” debuts in theaters on January 29, and isavailable on the HBO Max streaming platform for 30 days from that date (as will be the case for all 2021 Warner Bros. theatrical titles).


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‘Dune’ and all Warner Bros. 2021 films to stream on HBO Max same day as In Theaters

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The epic sci-fi with man eating sandworms is coming to a theater or couch near you 

The production company Warner Bros. announced its plan to release ALL its 2021 movies in an unprecedented, unique hybrid, consumer-focused, yet very 2020 way.  Warner Bros. will release 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). 

There will be a wide range of releases on HBO Max throughout 2021 for every type of movie lover. One much anticipated movie on the list is Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s of Dune.  The movie will hits both theaters and HBO Max on October 1, 2021.  

Read More: Matrix 4, Mortal Kombat and Godzilla vs. Kong will stream on HBO Max at Theater Launch

The  star-studded cast includes: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Stellan Skarsgård, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, and Javier Bardem. 

Speaking of Zendaya and HBO,  the “Euphoria” Rue special is coming this weekend and will air Dec. 6. The series premiered summer 2019 and was supposed to return for a second season this year.  Due to COVID-19 the production was shut down but creator Sam Levinson shot two “special episodes” in order to give audience a little something and bridge the gap to Season 2.

In an article by Inverse, Herbert’s son, Brian Herbert spoke about the upcoming film:

 “I was very impressed by the trailer, and I was thrilled to actually be on the movie set in Budapest last year, where my wife and I watched the filming of several scenes. This is a really big movie, a major project that will forever be considered THE definitive film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic novel. Fans are going to love this movie. Denis Villeneuve is the perfect director to do Dune.”

The mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Here is a little taste of the titles you’ll be seeing next year 

Alongside “Wonder Woman: 1984” for Christmas release 2020, there will be an additional 17 movies to be released over the next 12 months.

  • The Little Things
  • Judas and the Black Messiah
  • Tom & Jerry
  • Godzilla vs. Kong
  • Mortal Kombat
  • Those Who Wish Me Dead
  • The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
  • In The Heights
  • Space Jam: A New Legacy
  • The Suicide Squad
  • Reminiscence
  • Malignant
  • The Many Saints of Newark
  • King Richard
  • Cry Macho
  • Matrix 4

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HBO Max gets Huge Boost from Warner Brothers: All 2021 films to stream free same day in theaters

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1334568716713906178/vid/720x720/s5zY3RLaq-Ti_EtD.mp4?tag=13

Immediate streaming option set after unprecedented, game-changing announcement

Warner Bros. has announced it will be releasing its 2021 movies in a unique hybrid, consumer-focused, yet very 2020 way.  Warner Bros. will release 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). 

HBO Max and Warner Bros. are both owned by WarnerMedia, which is owned by AT&T.

This shift and strategic response by WarnerMedia is a game changer and highlights a major shift industry’s are recognizing in how viewers consume entertainment, or at least for the next year.  

There will be a wide range of releases on HBO Max throughout 2021 for every all types of movie lovers. Alongside Wonder Woman:1984 for Christmas release 2020, there will be an additional 17 movies to be released over the next 12 months.

  • The Little Things
  • Judas and the Black Messiah
  • Tom & Jerry
  • Godzilla vs. Kong
  • Mortal Kombat
  • Those Who Wish Me Dead
  • The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
  • In The Heights
  • Space Jam: A New Legacy
  • The Suicide Squad
  • Reminiscence
  • Malignant
  • Dune
  • The Many Saints of Newark
  • King Richard
  • Cry Macho
  • Matrix 4

The only other studio that is currently set up for dual release besides Warner Bros with HBO Max, is Disney with Disney+, which certainly will help to secure its position in the top tier of the very competitive world of streaming entertainment.  

Only time will tell if the pandemic will permanently alter the way we watch movies. Yet if  given  the option of getting access to blockbuster films at home and on the same exact date as the theatrical release, poses a serious question to how theaters will react.  

“No one wants films back on the big screen more than we do. We know new content is the lifeblood of theatrical exhibition, but we have to balance this with the reality that most theaters in the U.S. will likely operate at reduced capacity throughout 2021. With this unique one-year plan, we can support our partners in exhibition with a steady pipeline of world-class films, while also giving moviegoers who may not have access to theaters or aren’t quite ready to go back to the movies the chance to see our amazing 2021 films. We see it as a win-win for film lovers and exhibitors, and we’re extremely grateful to our filmmaking partners for working with us on this innovative response to these circumstances.”

-Ann Sarnoff, Chair and CEO, WarnerMedia Studios

What will come of Theater Chains and the future of the movie viewing experience

he debut for WB’s slate of movies to hit streaming services concurrently with theater releases, will undoubtedly have drastic consequences for the the already hard-pressed and struggling theaters.

Warner Bros. made mention that the hybrid release is strictly due to the pandemic, yet it’s unclear how the studio will navigate with movie releases for 2022 and beyond given the new model they are setting into motion.

Movie theater stock prices fell on the news. AMC shares dropped more than 15 percent, while Cinemark was down 14.5 percent.

Following the announcement, theater chain AMC’s CEO and president, Adam Aron made note they have “already commenced an immediate and urgent dialogue with the leadership of Warner on this subject.” He continued by saying “As for AMC, we will do all in our power to ensure that Warner does not do so at our expense. We will aggressively pursue economic terms that preserve our business.”

Theaters like AMC were agreeable to the one time exception of the Wonder Woman:1984 release to both theaters and streaming, however it appears they are less on board with the decision to upload  the entirety of 2021’s schedule of films with that same release model.

Another large theater chain, Cinemark, wasn’t able to comment on how the hybrid model would impact its theaters in the long-term,  “In light of the current operating environment, we are making near-term booking decisions on a film-by-film basis,”  said a spokesperson. 

It’s hard to not to have seen something like this coming.  Streaming videos are been on the rise. Earlier this year Disney+  released  “Mulan” and Universal released “King of Staten Island” and “Trolls: World Tour” straight to on-demand platforms.  

Warner Bros and HBO are doing it a little differently.  What has been typical during the pandemic, is the rise of premium video-on- demand (PVOD) where viewers are given access to blockbusters on the same day as theater release but you have to pay a premium price, upwards of $30.   Yet in the case of WB’s 2021 movies, if you are already a HBO Max subscriber, you get to watch these movies at no additional charge, other than your monthly fee. Compared to a PVOD price of $30 for one movie, $14.99 a month for the 17 movies for 2021 is a no brainer. 

Even though, announcements like those for WB are in a way a form of the studio experimenting to see what works while we are in a pandemic, there’s some major signs that this is the beginning of the end for movie theaters. 

It’s unclear whether the dual release model will become the new precedent for how Warner Bro operators in business, as currently only 2021 films are on the table.  However, at present,  theaters, like Regal Cinema are nearly at the brink of bankruptcy.   


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Free rental of “Just Mercy” and “Selma” available from Warner Bros. and Paramount in support of Black Lives Matter

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/just-mercy/just-mercy-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
official trailer for “just mercy”

Production Companies making a stand? Helping to educate through free viewing

Warner Brothers has made the film “Just Mercy” available to rent for free on all major digital platforms for the whole month of June 2020. Shortly after, Paramount made “Selma” free to rent as well. The announcement comes during the wake of mass global protests in support of Black Lives Matter (BLM) following the murder of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and in honor of the many other Black men and women targeted by racists and killed at the hands of unjust police.

A movement has been created and from that theres been a light shed that there are many people that hold an open and eager desire to educate and expand their awareness on matters of race, especially those coming from a place of privilege.  Books, documentaries and movies can be positive starting point to learn more about the history of discrimination and systemic racism that continues to take place against African Americans and many people of color on a continuous basis.  

Read More: Black Lives Matter: Antiracist Books and Authors seeing massive Spike in Interest

Just Mercy

Click to see “Just Mercy” and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores.  Also available on Amazon.

“Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn’t commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship–and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever. Click to see book “Just Mercy” also available on Amazon.

Warner Brothers released the following statement on its website

“We believe in the power of story. Our film Just Mercy, based on the life work of civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson, is one resource we can humbly offer to those who are interested in learning more about the systemic racism that plagues our society. For the month of June, Just Mercy will be available to rent for free across digital platforms in the US. To actively be part of the change our country is so desperately seeking, we encourage you to learn more about our past and the countless injustices that have led us to where we are today. Thank you to the artists, storytellers and advocates who helped make this film happen. Watch with your family, friends and allies. For further information on Bryan Stevenson and his work at the Equal Justice Initiative please visit EJI.org.

Selma

Click to see “In Peace and Freedom
and help Lynxotic
and Independent Bookstores.
  Also available on Amazon.

SELMA is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s SELMA tells the real story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history.

Paramount released a statement ” “We hope this small gesture will encourage people throughout the country to examine our nation’s history and reflect on the ways that racial injustice has infected our society. The key message of Selma is the importance of equality, dignity and justice for all people. Clearly, that message is as vital today as it was in 1965.”

https://twitter.com/ava/status/1268935546849472512?s=20

Just Mercy” and “Selma” are available to watch for free on the following streaming platforms: Apple TV, Fandango Now, Google Play, Amazon Video, Redbox, PlayStation Store, YouTube and Vudu).


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New Trailer: Bill and Ted Face the Music

https://video-lynxotic.akamaized.net/Bill-and-Ted-Face-The-Music.mp4
Original Official Trailer for “Bill & Ted Face the Music”

The new film mimics real life (sans 5 years or so) bringing the characters and actors together again after 30 years to reprise their excellent roles and adventures. Alex Winters and Keanu Reeves are back as Bill S. Preston, Esq. and Ted “Theodore” Logan to revisit the plot twists and add a few more 30 years older and still très excellent.

As is to be expected and adored, challenges abound and hilarity ensues, with the trailer already tinged with a sweet comic potency due to the aged dynamic duo faithfully playing their younger selves with no held back pride or shame at exposing themselves in decrepitude of the physical form due simply to the years gone by.

With no hard fast release date due to the uncertainty of the level safety that a theatrical celebration of such excellence would enjoy, summer is at least promised and that would be a righteous chance to party on to the new historical phase of in-theater celebration of celluloid for the next generation.

We hope in all certitude that the original date for release, which was August 23rd, can be help or at least will be in the vicinity of the actual theatrical one. Orion Pictures Release with distribution by Warner Brothers.


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New Trailer for Chris Nolan’s “Tenet”: WB stays true to Original Release Despite Coronavirus

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/tenet/tenet-trailer-2_h1080p.mov

Is July 17th too soon for Theatrical Release?

With movie theaters shut down around the globe and many films either getting delayed releases or siphoned off to streaming services, Warner Brothers has been anomalously adamant about keeping its highly anticipated Christopher Nolan directed “Tenet” on schedule for a July 17th theatrical release. It recently reaffirmed this plan by releasing a new trailer.

“Tenet” is a sci-fi action spy film, but like most Chris Nolan projects, details about the (presumably intricate) plot have been kept under tight wraps. We don’t even know the names of the characters and from the trailers, all we can decipher is that it will have to do with time travel/inversion to prevent World War III and “something worse” than nuclear holocaust. Overall, it looks very twisty and complex… classic Nolan.

Perhaps the reason Warner Brothers has been so steadfast about a theatrical release for “Tenet” is that Chris Nolan is a highly cinematic filmmaker. The director of “Inception,” “Interstellar,” and “The Dark Knight,” Nolan frequently shoots in IMAX and his final products are visual feasts best served on the big screen. He blends practical and visual effects in a manner that few other directors can pull off nowadays and is considered one of the few remaining auteurs in the business, able to rake in blockbuster revenue and hype without relying on franchise or studio labels.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/tenet/tenet-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

Visual feast could be vicarious travel replacement for fans

For “Tenet,” Nolan shot the film on location across seven countries, working with cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema and an all-star cast including John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Kenneth Branagh, Michael Kane, and other recognizable faces (including Indian stars Dimple Kapadia and Denzil Smith). Behind the camera, Nolan also teamed up with editor Jennifer Lame, VFX supervisor Andrew Jackson, SFX supervisor Ludwig Göransson, and executive producer Thomas Hayslip. Nolan being a Brit himself, “Tenet” is an acutely international production.

Right now, a few theaters are opening back up, so maybe come July, “Tenet” will be able to deliver on its high box office expectations. However, most intended summer blockbusters have been pushed back to November at the earliest. If the pool of open theaters is not large enough by the intended release date, perhaps “Tenet” will follow suit.

Until then, we will have to wait with bated breath, theorizing what the movie could be about, what weight its palindrome of a title carries, and when we will actually get to see it. One thing’s for sure, though, the film will definitely throw us for unexpected loops and keep us on the edge of our seats. After all, this is the director who most recently gave us the Oscar-nominated WWII epic “Dunkirk,” started his career with the chronologically warped “Momento” and came into the spotlight by transforming the superhero genre with his thrilling reimagining of Batman over a decade ago.

We can’t wait to find out what this modern master of suspense has up his sleeve this time around.


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Keanumania: “John Wick 4” and “The Matrix 4” Set To Release on the Same Day

2019 has been a big year for Keanu Reeves. With a reprised leading performance in “John Wick: Chapter 3—Parabellum,” a voice acting role in “Toy Story 4,” and a plethora of social media attention through interviews and memes, the fifty-five year old actor has found himself back in the spotlight for the first time in about fifteen years. Fans have affectionately dubbed this resurgent stage in his career, “The Keanussance.”

Happily, the Keanu Reeves fun will not stop anytime soon. Recent announcements from Warner Brothers and Lionsgate respectively reveal that “The Matrix 4” and “John Wick 4” will be released on the same date—May 21, 2021, a day that the Internet is already starting to declare “Keanu Reeves Day.”

Neither of these upcoming films have revealed their plots yet, as “The Matrix 4” is merely in pre-production and “John Wick 4” remains in development. All we really know is that they are each the fourth installments in their franchises, and that Keanu Reeves has been casted in both of them.

The last Matrix film, “Matrix Revolutions” came out in 2003. “Revolutions” wrapped up the science-fiction, reality-bending narrative, and left Neo—the main protagonist played by Reeves—dead. Thus, we are all very curious to see how Reeves returns in “The Matrix 4.” Likewise, it will be interesting to find out what Warner Brothers does with the story given the conclusive nature of “Revolutions.”

Warner Brothers has actually stated that Neo will not be the main character in “The Matrix 4,” and that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II of “Watchmen,” “Aquaman,” and “Black Mirror,” will play the new protagonist. Nevertheless, Reeves will somehow still be reprising his role in the film, as will “Revolutions” co-star Carrie-Anne Moss. Additionally, Lana Wachowski will be back behind the camera, directing a script from Aleksandar Hemon and David Mitchell.

Compared to the nineteen-year gap between “The Matrix: Revolutions” and “The Matrix 4,” “John Wick 4,” is a much quicker turnaround from the third film in its franchise. Once again, all we know for sure is that Reeves will be back as the titular character. Given the John Wick series so far, the fourth film will likely follow the same James Bond style, action-packed storyline as the last three movies. We can expect lots of gun, knife, and fist fights to happen and for Keanu to give yet another performance that can only be described as “badass.”

Furthermore, although it has not formally been asserted yet, we can reasonably anticipate the return of director Chad Stahelski for “John Wick 4”, as the stuntman-turned-filmmaker has directed all of the Wick movies so far.

Whoever he ends up fighting in the two films, Keanu Reeves will ultimately be going up against himself at the box office that fateful weekend in 2021. Both films are bound to be summer blockbusters, but which movie will fare better commercially is anyone’s pick. “The Matrix 4” is coming off of a classic franchise that redefined the sci-fi genre in 1999. However, the source material is admittedly a little dated, and The Matrix sequels tended to diminish in quality as the series continued. “John Wick 4,” on the other hand, is young and fresh, but it lacks the same longevity and cinematic prestige as The Matrix.

It’s impossible to tell which movie will end up triumphant on Keanu Reeves Day. Most fans will probably end up seeing both, but a lot can happen in the next year and a half. Until then, we can look forward to the dual release and enjoy the Keanussance throughout 2020, as Reeves will appear in movies such as “The Spongebob Movie: Sponge On The Run,” “Bill & Ted Face The Music,” and “Fast & Furious 9.”


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5 Trailers of Oscar Contenders: Check out the films that Insiders are Predicting to Win

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/universal/1917/1917-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for “1917”

1917

Oscar buzz and predictions are building ahead of the Golden Globes, which are traditionally used as a gauge of what will most likely be among the Oscar nominations. The Globes are slated for January 6th, 2020 and the Oscar’s, a.k.a. 91st Academy Awards telecast is on Sunday, 24 February.

Some of the films that are getting the most buzz and are favored to be in the running can be seen by peeking at the trailers (with links to our in depth articles) below:

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/fox_searchlight/jojo-rabbit/jojo-rabbit-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for “Jojo Rabbit”

Jojo Rabbit

New Zealand director Taika Waltiti’s movie “Jojo Rabbit” was released October 18th. The critic’s reactions have been positive, and the film won the Toronto Film Festival audience award putting it in line, if past years winners are any indication, for a possible Oscar nod. Waititi was also awarded the Festival’s new Ebert Director Award.

Waltiti is known for directing wacky comedies such as “What We Do In The Shadows,” “Hunt For The Wilderpeople,” and the borderline parody Marvel hit, “Thor: Ragnarok.” His latest film, “Jojo Rabbit” follows this same vein of outrageous, yet charming humor, but there is one key difference… “Jojo Rabbit” focuses on Germany’s Nazi party during World War II, making its hilarity just a touch more complicated.

More specifically, “Jojo Rabbit” is about a young boy in the Hitler Youth. Like many German kids of the time, he aspires to be a Nazi soldier when he grows up. He buys into the party’s ideologies and believes their propaganda. That is until he comes face to face with a Jewish girl and learns, despite what the Nazis have taught him, that she is harmless, pleasant, and appealing.

On the surface, the premise seems like the bones of a complex and sophisticated historical drama. With Waltiti behind the camera, though, such is obviously not the case. Instead of dry historical accuracy, Waltiti makes the Hitler Youth look like a summer camp filled with likable children and goofy leaders. Most boldly perhaps, Waltiti himself plays Adolf Hitler in the movie, but rather than depict him as the brutal dictator that he was, Waltiti makes him out to be the kind-uncle archetype, a socially inept, hilarious motivator and idol for the children in the story.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/sony_pictures/once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood/once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood

Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood

Quentin Tarantino has had success with his ninth movie, “Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood”. In a slight departure from his stark early 70s styled crime dramas, this time Tarantino pays homage to the late- 60’s genre and his love for his hometown, Los Angeles.

The film takes place in 1969 Hollywood, amidst the chaotic events of that year, including the infamous Manson Murders. Much like The Altamont Free Concert, as chronicled in the film Gimme Shelter (with it’s high profile murder during the show), the gruesome, violent Manson murders are often cited as an historical moment marking the end of the free love 60’s and a pivot towards the darker times in the me decade of the 70’s.

The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Rick Dalton, as an actor on a Western television series alongside Brad Pitt as Cliff Booth, Dalton’s stuntman. The two work and live closely together as they carry out their urban cinematic adventures. The characters and their friendship are said to be based on 70’s icon Burt Reynolds and his stuntman Hal Needham.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/joker/joker-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for “Joker”

Joker

Even before seeing “Joker” the origin-story from Warner Brothers, there is a sense that this is an epic not easily categorized within the Comic-Book movie genre.

Starring Joaquin Phoenix (Oscar nominee for “Walk the Line”, “The Master” and “Gladiator”), directed and co-written by Todd Phillips (“Borat” and “The Hangover Trilogy”) and with Robert De Niro (as TV host Murray Franklin), the focus on how Arthur Fleck becomes “Joker” screams a muted, uneasy tension, that’s oozing from every pixel revealed so far.

In “Joker”, Batman’s Gotham City is a cesspool of dirt and depravity where Arthur appears doomed to live and die encircled with nothing but depression and humiliation. Mentally Ill and mercilessly tortured by the “sane” members of society all around him, he finds some respite in his chosen career of clown-for-hire and hopeful comedian wannabe by night.

The potential for the story to transcend the genre of Comic book heroes and villains is hinted at in the placard with the words “we are all clowns” scrawled on it, that can be seen in a flash, about halfway through the new trailer (above).

Followed by scenes showing mobs of clown-mask-wearing demonstrators / rioters (shades of anonymous, Guy Fawkes, Antifa and Hong Kong), there’s an implication that an anti-social movement is growing up around, and identifying with, the anger and twisted humor of the emerging “Joker” super-villain character.

The real life parallels to the fictional world of Gotham City and the way many could relate, after having suffered similar fates to those that produced the madness into which Arthur descends, are scary, already in previews, and could portend a film that is not only horrifically entertaining, but thought provoking, when seen in the shadows of current events and today’s zeitgeist.

In the wake of so many “uplifting” but heavily computer assisted films where Comic book superheroes battle cartoon villains (and each other) the emphasis on live action grit and human emotions and failings is, at first look, refreshing and terrifying (in an interesting way), and that seems to have hit a nerve with the general public, judging from the $1 billion plus bos office take so far.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/fox/ford-v-ferrari/ford-v-ferrari-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official trailer for “Ford v FerRari”

Ford v Ferarri

From “Logan” and “Walk The Line” director James Mangold, “Ford v Ferrari” follows the true story of American engineer Carroll Shelby who is solicited by Henry Ford II to build a car that can beat Ferrari at the 1966 Le Mans World Championship in France. Shelby, determined to complete Ford’s ambitious task, insists on putting the wild and loose British driver Ken Miles behind the wheel. What ensues is the fast-playing tale of a couple eccentric and erratic people infiltrating a world filled with professional industrialists to take on the impossible.

Matt Damon plays Shelby in the film and Christian Bale as Miles. Rather than one being the lead and the other being a supporting role, both actors are co-leading the film, making them both eligible for Best Actor in a Leading Role nominations at the Oscars come February.


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‘Joker’ Breaks $1 Billion, Surpassing ‘Deadpool’ As Most Successful R-Rated Movie Of All Time

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/joker/joker-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
Second Official Trailer for “Joker”

Amidst Family-Friendly ‘Billionaire’ Movies, ‘Joker’ is the Only R-Rated Feature to Break the Mold

“Joker” came out nearly two months ago on October 4th. Upon release, it earned an immediate $93.5 million, giving it the highest-grossing October opening weekend ever. Recently, however, “Joker” broke yet another record, this time solidifying it as a financial success and a milestone movie. 

Earlier this week, “Joker” became the first R-rated movie to earn more than $1 billion at the box office, edging out “Deadpool” as the most lucrative R-Rated film of all time.

Only a handful of movies have managed to break the $1 billion threshold. This year, “Joker” joins the likes of “Avengers: Endgame,” “Toy Story 4,” and “The Lion King” as a film that managed to earn ten figures. It is also Warner Brothers’ biggest success since “Aquaman,” which came out in December 2018 and grossed $1.2 billion. 

Almost every movie to make over a $1 billion has been a family-friendly action-comedy blockbuster, nestled somewhere between a PG and PG-13 rating. This usually allows for a wider range of people to buy tickets. “Joker,” however, stands out as an R-rated sinister drama that made an artistic debut at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals. The movie even received some backlash for its ultra-violent themes and its humanization of the criminally insane. 

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/joker/joker-teaser-1_h1080p.mov
Original Official Trailer for “Joker”

Public Obsession with ‘Joker’ Brings Alarm as Many Fear it could Spawn Copy Cats

Of course, the movie is about Batman’s arch nemesis and is technically under the DC Entertainment label. Thus, it was bound to find success from the beginning. Nevertheless, given “Joker’s” mature nature and radical subject matter, it remains quite impressive that the film is doing as well as it is.

Like most big-budget films nowadays, the majority of “Joker’s” success came from foreign ticket sales. The movie has earned $694 million abroad compared to $322.6 million domestic. However, Warner Brothers also managed to make this hefty figure without releasing the film in China, which is the second largest movie market in the world. 

Some may find it disturbing that a movie focusing on the antagonist is drawing so much attention. Many fear that audiences will empathize with the Joker too much and perhaps try to follow in his deranged and violent footsteps.

Despite Criticism, Filmmakers Defend Artistry as a Potential Oscar Buzz surrounds the ‘Clown Prince’

Director Todd Phillips and lead actor Joaquin Phoenix (who plays the titular character) have heard these criticisms loud and clear, but they still defend their work. Essentially, they take the stance that filmmakers have artistic freedom to tell the stories they want to tell, no matter how unsavory the characters or how risky the themes. They contend that filmmakers (like any artists) do not have an obligation to teach viewers morality—it is up to the individual to interpret the story ethically and make the right choices.

Regardless, the criticism is not stopping people from seeing the movie. Evidently, millions of people from all around the world are flocking to theaters for “Joker.” Meanwhile, it is also getting positive reviews and potential Oscar buzz, especially regarding Joaquin Phoenix transformative performance as the Clown Prince of Darkness. 

“Joker” as a whole is a divisive and morally ambiguous picture. The movie was a risk on Warner Brothers’ part and its ultimate legacy is yet to be determined. At the very least, though, Warner Bros knows that the risk paid off financially, and that they are cashing a big check for their fast and loose quasi-Batman anti-hero project.


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The Goldfinch: From a Pulitzer Prize Winning Novel, with an Esteemed Director, Cast and Crew

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/the-goldfinch/the-goldfinch-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
2nd Official Trailer for “The Goldfinch” Still image: BOYD GAINES as Mr. Barbour, OAKES FEGLEY as Young Theo Decker and NICOLE KIDMAN as Mrs. Barbour in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Amazon Studios’ drama, THE GOLDFINCH, a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

On September 13th, director John Crowley releases his sixth feature film, a Warner Brothers and Amazon Studios adaptation of Donna Tartt’s 2014 Pulitzer Prize winning novel, “The Goldfinch”. The film, which goes by the same title as the book, will be Crowley’s first film since his 2015 indie hit “Brooklyn” and it will star an impressive cast including Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman, Finn Wolfhard, and Luke Wilson.

In addition to all of this talent on screen, there is a lot to be excited about behind the camera as well. The film’s two trailers show off a uniquely warm aesthetic through production design and costumes.

It is therefore no surprise that the film has some very exceptional individuals working in those departments. K.K. Barret, who received an Oscar nomination for creating the intricate world of Spike Jonez’s “Her”, is spearheading production design on “The Goldfinch”, and Kasia Walicka-Maimone, whose wardrobe work appeared prevalently in “Moonrise Kingdom” and “Ready Player One”, is leading costume design.

On top of these two astounding professionals creating the look of “The Goldfinch”, their work will be captured on camera by none other than Roger Deakins, the Oscar winning cinematographer behind “Blade Runner 2049”, “Skyfall”, and “No Country For Old Men”. All narrative aside, it is safe to assume that “The Goldfinch” will be a spectacular visual experience.

However, narrative cannot go un-noted when it comes to cinema, especially when the film in question is an adaptation of a renowned book. The two trailers seem to offer different versions of the same story about a boy who loses his mother in a museum explosion and grows up in the grieving shadow of this event.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/the-goldfinch/the-goldfinch-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Original Official Trailer for “The GOldfinch”. Still photo caption: (L-r) ANSEL ELGORT as Theo Decker and ANEURIN BARNARD as Boris in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Amazon Studios’ drama, THE GOLDFINCH, a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

 The first trailer depicts the story as a straightforward coming-of-age family-drama, but the second trailer throws in hints of suspense, with scenes of the main character being questioned by authorities and withholding secrets about what is presumably a stolen piece of art.

Obviously, the movie is not trying to be any particular drama, and given that the screenplay comes from “Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy”, “The Snowman”, and “Frank” screenwriter Peter Straughan, “The Goldfinch” is bound to be narratively distinctive.

It thus feels like no risk to preemptively label “The Goldfinch” an art film. Although it was made on a somewhat lofty $40 million budget and has had more marketing than most indie flicks, it is far from a guaranteed blockbuster. If anything, it could be deemed Oscar-bait, but let’s not jump to Academy-anchored conclusions just yet.

Just because the film is based off of a revered novel and has emotionally charged trailers does not mean that it will find immense critical acclaim. It runs the risk of not living up to its source material, and also must beware of becoming emotionally overcharged or sappy. Consider films such as “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” or “Cloud Atlas”, both of which seemed like promising adaptations of acclaimed books with stellar casts and crew.

The outcomes, however, were somewhat underwhelming for a number of reasons—emotional and artistic over-saturation being just a couple of them. In total, Warner Brothers and Amazon Studios are taking in a big, juicy, tender bite by adapting “The Goldfinch”, hopefully they have the teeth to chew it and the stomach to handle it in a satisfying way.

Photo / WARNER BROS.

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IT Chapter Two: Stephen King Based Killer-Clown Sequel will have to get by without 1980s Nostalgia

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/it-chapter-two/it-chapter-2-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
2nd Official trailer for “it chapter two”

It’s All Grown Up: Monster Stephen King novel takes a Scary Jump into Adulthood…

This week, the most anticipated horror movie of the year finally hits theaters. “IT: Chapter 2” is the sequel to Warner Brother’s 2017 blockbuster hit, “IT”, but audiences already know that the film will not be the most conventional of sequels, particularly based on the timeline and source material that it grapples with.

Based on Stephen King’s epic 1986 novel, the two “IT” movies, both directed by Andrés Muschietti, try to translate the over-one-thousand-page book into film. Thus, the project was pretty much always bound to be more than just one movie.

A pre-planned franchise is nothing new to Hollywood. More interesting is the way that Warner Brothers and Muschietti plan on adapting the novel’s intricate narrative structure. Over hundreds of pages, King’s original book switches back and forth between the main characters’ present lives and their childhoods.

It seems that the modern films have decided to take a more linear approach, though, with the first It focusing entirely on the characters as children and “IT: Chapter Two” telling their adult story.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/it-chapter-two/it-chapter-two-teaser-1_h1080p.mov
1st OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “IT CHAPTER TWO”

Liberties taken Could be the Ticket to Clarity

This may be a wise decision on Muschietti and Warner Brothers’ part, for a previous adaptation of “IT”—the miniseries that aired on ABC in 1990—attempted to follow King’s original structure and ultimately ended up congested and ill-paced.

Splitting the extensive story into two chronological films will likely be a more enthralling and digestible way to appreciate It, even if it does deviate from King’s literary form. Therefore, what makes this film an anomaly in the world of direct sequels, is that it takes place twenty-seven years after the events of the first film.

Of course, the “distant sequel” has been somewhat of a trend in Hollywood lately, with classic franchises like Star Wars, Blade Runner, and Men in Black (amongst others) all returning to the big screen within the past few years after decades-long hiatuses.

However, these distant sequels are effective in part because the temporal gap between them and their predecessors is usually mirrored in real time. Seeing beloved characters and settings come back on camera after such long absences can evoke a strong senses of nostalgia, and lure in wistful audiences, also introducing the stories to new generations.

“IT: Chapter Two”, however, has skipped the “real time” gap and instead simply re-casted the characters as adults. It also helps that first film took place in 1989, which causes the twenty-seven year gap to land the sequel right in modern times.

Grown-ups of the Present Day vs. Kids of our Memories

This may allow the sequel to have more contemporary relevance, the relatively short time since the 2017 original allows Warner Brothers to capitalize on the current fanaticism around the first film.

At the same time, though, it sacrifices a sense of authentic nostalgia, and given the amount of mileage the first film got out of retro 1980s references, the lack of nostalgia may put Chapter Two at a critical disadvantage.

Similar to they way that the childhood storyline from Stephen King’s novel took place in the 1950s and made references to the era’s classic horror movies, the first It movie exploited 1980s nostalgia, with music queues, cultural references, and cinematic troupes that brought viewers back to the thriller-filled decade of Nightmare on Elm Street, The Shining, and Friday the 13th, but also the blissful bildungsroman blockbuster era of Stand By Me and ET.

This was evident from the first movie’s marketing alone—the opening line of the 2017 trailer being “when you’re a kid, you think the universe revolves around you,” over shots of the tween-aged characters biking around town and jumping into swimming holes.

The trailers for Chapter Two — which is all we have to go on until the film opens — do not have the same 1980s nostalgic flavor.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/it-chapter-two/it-chapter-two-teaser-1_h1080p.mov
“old’ original official trailer for “it chapter two”

It seems like the sequel will keep a small foot in that door through flashbacks, but the bulk of the movie will have to stand on its own unconventional two legs as a modern-day adaptation of a beloved thirty-year old horror novel.

Expectations are high and the trailers imply that “IT: Chapter Two” will deliver on scariness and epic-ness, but without the Kevlar of nostalgic charm that truly made the 2017 movie stand out, audiences will have to see if Chapter Two compensates those lost strengths.

Photo / Warner Bros.

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