Every now and again, my routine gets broken and I forget what day it is. As a result, I forgot to do this when I normally would so I’m going to have to do an abridged version. Anyway, it’s a busy week so let’s get to it.
Blue Bayou (Theaters)
Written & Directed by: Justin Chon
Starring: Justin Chon, Alicia Vikander, & Mark O’Brien
A Korean man living and working in Louisiana has his life turned upside down as he’s threatened with deportation. I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while and Justin Chon is all-in on this project which usually means the artistic direction will have the filmmaker’s clearly defined direction.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye (Theaters)
Written by: Abe Sylvia | Directed by: Michael Showalter
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, & Vincent D’Onofrio
Based on the documentary of the same title by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, Jessica Chastain stars as famous televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker. This is one of the roles that has had Oscar buzz written all over it for a while. The cast is great and this story is in great hands with Michael Showalter in the director’s chair.
Cry Macho (Theaters + HBO Max)
Written by: Nick Schenk & N. Richard Nash | Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam, & Daniel V. Graulau
Whether you like him or not, at the age of 91, Clint Eastwood has continued to excel in his craft as a filmmaker and actor. I never thought I would see the day where he was making a movie where toxic masculinity is part of the context of the story, but it’s an interesting leaf to turn over in the twilight of his career as he plays a former rodeo star who takes a job to rescue man’s son from his alcoholic mom in Mexico.
Best Sellers (Theaters + VOD)
Written by: Anthony Grieco | Directed by: Lina Roessler
Starring: Michael Caine & Aubrey Plaza
I have become a bigger and bigger fan of Aubrey Plaza over the years because she doesn’t bullshit. Here she plays a young publisher who’s desperate for a win and recruits a cantankerous old writer, played by Michael Caine, to publish a manuscript and do a book tour. It’s a more buttoned-down role for Plaza in Lina Roessler’s debut feature film, but I trust her and Caine to make it work.
Prisoners of the Ghostland (Theaters)
Written by: Aaron Hendry & Reza Sixo Safai | Directed by: Sion Sono
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Sofia Boutella, & Nick Cassavetes
No list of mine would be complete without the latest adventure of the one-and-only Nic Cage. This time he’s an infamous criminal who’s sent to rescue a girl that was abducted and break a curse in the process. A renaissance man of sorts in contemporary Japanese cinema, Sion Sono has been making movies for 40-years and his linking up with Cage promises to be something memorable.
What Else Is New:
Nightbooks (Netflix)
Written by: Mikki Daughtry & Tobias Iaconis | Directed by: David Yarovesky
Starring: Kristen Ritter, Winslow Fegley, & Lidya Jewett
Based on the book by J.A. White, children’s horror comes home to Netflix as a young boy who loves scary stories is trapped by a witch in New York. Not for me but if you are looking for something family-friendly to set the tone for the upcoming Halloween, then this should do the trick.
Schumacher (Netflix)
Written & Directed by: Hanns-Bruno Kammertöns, Vanessa Nöcker, & Michael Wech
Starring: Ross Braun, Flavio Briatore, & Luca Cordero di Montezemolo
Growing up as the son of a German immigrant and having an uncle who was a race car driver, I knew about the legend of Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher. This documentary takes a look at his life and the dedication to excellence that propelled him to be a 7-time F1 champion. If you enjoy sports documentaries, this looks like a good one.
Copshop (Theaters)
Written by: Kurt McLeod, Joe Carnahan, & Mark Williams | Directed by: Joe Carnahan
Starring: Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo, & Toby Huss
A conman, an assassin, and a rookie cop walk into a police station together and shit hits the fan. That’s the gist of it here but Joe Carnahan knows how to make fun movies and Gerard Butler and Frank Grillo are surely going to be entertaining.
Lady of the Manor (Theaters + VOD)
Written & Directed by: Christian Long & Justin Long
Starring: Judy Greer, Melanie Lynskey, & Justin Long
Brothers Christian and Justin Long team up to bring us the story of a tour guide who befriends the ghost of a historic Victorian manor. I like Justin Long and Judy Greer, but I’m not going to be jumping over any hurdles to see this one. However, if you’re looking for something lighthearted and fun, this could be just what you are looking for.
Little Girl (Theaters)
Written & Directed by: Sébastien Lifshitz
This documentary centers around a young child who questions their gender identity and elicits the kind of puzzled and perturbed reactions of a society that wants to adhere to a conventional binary mindset.
The Nowhere Inn (Theaters + VOD)
Written by: Carrie Brownstein & Annie Clark | Directed by: Bill Benz
Starring: Annie Clark, Ezra Buzzington, Toko Yasuda
A reality-bending documentary of sorts focused on musical artist St. Vincent. The trailer looked interesting but it’s hard to tell what this movie actually is and I think that’s the point.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Amazon Prime Video)
Written by: Tom MacRae | Directed by: Jonathan Butterell
Starring: Max Harwood, Lauren Patel, & Sarah Lancashire
Director Jonathan Butterell helms the film adaptation of the stage musical he co-wrote the original stage musical with Dan Gillespie Sells about a teenager who dreams of becoming a drag queen. It looks incredibly colorful and marks the second musical to hit Amazon in as many weeks. Plus, Richard E. Grant steps into the mentor role and that should be fun.
As usual, if you like what I’m doing, please like, subscribe, and share. Be well, be safe, and have fun no matter how you get your movies!