THEATRE CAMP hits theatres this July and here’s a new look at the Trailer for this Sundance and SXSW selection!

Synopsis:

Tony Award winner Ben Platt and Molly Gordon star in the original comedy THEATER CAMP as Amos and Rebecca-Diane – lifelong best friends and drama instructors at a rundown camp in upstate New York. When clueless tech-bro Troy (Jimmy Tatro) arrives to run the property (into the ground), Amos, Rebecca-Diane and production manager Glenn (Noah Galvin) band together with the staff and students, staging a masterpiece to keep their beloved summer camp afloat. Cast: Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, Jimmy Tatro, Patti Harrison, Nathan Lee Graham, Ayo Edebiri, Owen Thiele, Alan Kim, Alexander Bello, Bailee Bonick, Kyndra Sanchez, Donovan Colan, Vivienne Sachs, Quinn Titcomb, Caroline Aaron, Amy Sedaris

Searchlight Pictures release THEATER CAMP July 14, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)

Premiering soon at Cannes, today we get a Trailer for Martin Scorsese‘s KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON! We will have a review soon!

Synopsis:

At the turn of the 20th century, oil brought a fortune to the Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight. The wealth of these Native Americans immediately attracted white interlopers, who manipulated, extorted, and stole as much Osage money as they could before resorting to murder. Based on a true story and told through the improbable romance of Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), “Killers of the Flower Moon” is an epic western crime saga, where real love crosses paths with unspeakable betrayal. Also starring Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is directed by Academy Award winner Martin Scorsese from a screenplay by Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese, based on David Grann’s best-selling book.

Hailing from Apple Studios, “Killers of the Flower Moon” was produced alongside Imperative Entertainment, Sikelia Productions and Appian Way. Producers are Martin Scorsese, Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas and Daniel Lupi, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Rick Yorn, Adam Sommer, Marianne Bower, Lisa Frechette, John Atwood, Shea Kammer and Niels Juul serving as executive producers. 

Director:  Martin Scorsese                  

Cast:       Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Lily Gladstone, 

Tantoo Cardinal, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, Jillian Dion, William 

Belleau, Louis Cancelmi, Tatanka Means, Michael Abbot Jr., Pat Healy, 

Scott Shepard, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson 

Writers: Eric Roth, Martin Scorsese

Producers: Martin Scorsese, Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Daniel Lupi 

Exec. Producers:  Leonardo DiCaprio, Rick Yorn, Adam Somner, Marianne Bower, Lisa Frechette, John Atwood, Shea Kammer, Niels Juul

(Photo/video credit: Apple TV+)

By Amanda Gilmore

Director Kore-eda Hirokazu pleas for acceptance with this powerful film about morals.

It’s hard to explain what Monster is truly about due to the hidden story within the central narrative. The most straightforward summary would be that Monster is about a young boy, Minato (Soya Kurosawa), who begins acting strange. His single mother Saori (Sakura Ando) begs to get the truth from her only son. He tells her that his teacher Mr Hori (Eita Nagayama) has been harassing him. Saori demands answers from Mr Hori and the Principal, but is Minato telling the full truth?

That overview doesn’t do the narrative the justice it deserves, because of the deeply nuanced script from Yûji Sakamoto. He’s broken down the story into three points of view. Each one tells a different part of the same central story — Minato’s behaviour drastically declines and he claims it’s due to his teacher’s harassment.

The first POV focuses on the story Minato tells his mother. We follow Saori as she demands that action be taken against Mr Hori for what he’s done to her boy. Hirokazu’s most recent Films (Palme d’Or winning Shoplifters and last year’s Broker) have revolved around the theme of family, and what constitutes a family. This first act brings out this theme again but in a different form. This time it’s a single mother, who recently lost her husband, fighting for their son. Ando delivers a commanding performance that captures the nurturing mother and the fierce mama bear that lives within.

It’s once we get to the second POV that the theme of the family begins to shed. The focus is on Mr Hori. These POV changes aren’t first person, but rather Hirokazu placing focus on that character living through the same events. In the first part, we are taking Minato’s word for it just as his mother is. Here, we are seeing behind the curtain what Mr. Hori actually did. We begin to realize there are cracks in the young boy’s story. And we’re gifted a red herring about Minato being a bully to classmate Eri (Hinata Hiiragi).

Sakamoto and Hirokazu play with the timelines of each POV and control when crucial information is revealed, keeping the audience guessing where the story will go. It isn’t until the final POV, that of Minato, that we are given the full side of the story. Like how Eri and Minato are really close friends. They spend their time outside of school with each other, playing games in an abandoned train car in the forest. They find a family with each other.

There will be some who will call this third act a twist, however, it’s really revealing Minato’s truth in a mysterious and secretive way. It mirrors the fact that Minato believes he has to lie to keep himself safe. It plays into the overarching theme of Monster which is a cry for acceptance. More importantly, the negative mental impact inflicted on those scared to live their truth due to the lack of acceptance.

Monster screens at Cannes ’23:

Wed May 17 at 7PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Thu May 18 at 8:30AM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Thu May 18 at 11AM at AGNÈS VARDA THEATRE

Thu May 18 at 11:15AM at CINEUM IMAX

Thu May 18 at 9:30PM at LICORNE

Fri May 19 at 5:15PM at CINEUM AURORE

20th Century Studios, New Regency and Entertainment One have released the trailer and poster for their epic sci-fi action thriller “The Creator,” which opens in theatres September 29, 2023. Directed by Gareth Edwards (“Rogue One,” “Godzilla”), the film stars John David Washington (“Tenet”), Gemma Chan (“Eternals”), Ken Watanabe (“Inception”), Sturgill Simpson (“Dog”), newcomer Madeleine Yuna Voyles and Academy Award® winner Allison Janney (“I, Tonya”). The film’s screenplay is by Gareth Edwards and Chris Weitz, from a story by Edwards. The producers are Gareth Edwards, p.g.a., Kiri Hart, Jim Spencer, p.g.a. and Arnon Milchan. The executive producers are Yariv Milchan, Michael Schaefer, Natalie Lehmann, Nick Meyer and Zev Foreman.

Amidst a future war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence, Joshua (Washington), a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife (Chan), is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war… and mankind itself. Joshua and his team of elite operatives journey across enemy lines, into the dark heart of AI-occupied territory… only to discover the world-ending weapon he’s been instructed to destroy is an AI in the form of a young child.

Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy announced yesterday at The Walt Disney Company’s Upfronts Presentation that the iconic “Indiana Jones” movies and series will be available to stream on Disney+ starting May 31, 2023. Fans can stream “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” and the television series “The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones” before the final installment of the beloved franchise, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” opens exclusively in theatres June 30.

“Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark”

In this first installment of the series, which was nominated for eight Academy Awards® including Best Picture and won four, archeologist-adventurer Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is tasked by Army Intelligence to track down an invaluable staff that is the key to locating the Ark of the Covenant, which is being sought by the Nazis.

“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”

After fleeing a nightclub shooting and being dropped out of an abandoned plane, Professor Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), singer Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) and 12-year-old Short Round (Ke Huy Quan) find themselves in a starving Indian village who blame their plight on the loss of three mystical stones that have always brought the village prosperity. Jones vows to return the stolen rocks — which brings him and his unlikely cohorts face-to-face with a deadly cult.

“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”

There’s nothing more exciting than trying to keep up with the Joneses in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” Indy’s Nazi enemies are back and have kidnapped his father, Professor Henry Jones, Sr. (Sean Connery), in their effort to locate the sacred Holy Grail. Following a trail from America to Venice to the deserts of the Middle East, it’s up to Indy (Harrison Ford) to save his father, save the Grail and save the day in this non-stop, action-packed adventure the whole family will treasure.

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”

Famed archaeologist/adventurer Dr. Henry Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is called back into action when he becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls.

“The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones”

At the dawn of the 20th century, Indiana Jones (Sean Patrick Flanery) discovered the world. From globetrotting family expeditions as a 9-year-old to the battlefields of World War I as a teenager, Indy’s experiences shaped the heroic, whip-cracking archaeologist he would become. At every turn, Indy encounters history in the making, meeting true-life activists, soldiers, writers, artists, and thinkers who helped influence the world we live in today.

Finally, we get this official Trailer for MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: DEAD RECKONING PART ONE! This is in theatres July 12, 2023.

Synopsis:

In Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, and dark forces from Ethan’s past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission – not even the lives of those he cares about most.

DIRECTED BY
Christopher McQuarrie

WRITTEN BY
Christopher McQuarrie & Erik Jendresen

BASED ON THE TELEVISION SERIES CREATED BY
Bruce Geller

PRODUCED BY
Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY
David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Tommy Gormley, Chris Brock, Susan E. Novick

STARRING
Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Mariela Garriga, Henry Czerny, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Charles Parnell, Frederick Schmidt, Cary Elwes, Mark Gatiss, Indira Varma, Rob Delaney

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

By Amanda Gilmore

Cannes ’23 opening night film tells the true story of Jeanne Bécu (Maïwenn). Jeanne was born as the illegitimate daughter of an impoverished seamstress in 1743. As she grew up, and got kicked out of the convent she was forced into, she had two choices — work as a maid like her mother or become a courtesan. She choose the latter as she believed that was a way to live her fullest life. It was that life that lead her to become a mistress to King Louis XV (Johnny Depp). Becoming his favourite but hated among the court.

Maïwenn, who in addition to acting as directs and co-writes, brings us into the Age of Enlightenment in Versailles. Maïwenn shot the Film on location at the Château de Versailles when it was closed to the public on Mondays. From the moment Jeanne steps into the Palace, wealth drips from every angel. The King even gifts her a decadent diamond necklace following their first night.

Many Period Films lose focus on their subject. Especially when another character is more known in history books. Thankfully, Maïwenn doesn’t divert from telling Jeanne’s story. It’s a sad story to watch. She has only two choices due to her class within society, but also due to being a woman. Jeanne Du Barry is really a story about a woman locked inside society’s cage. Yet, Jeanne never loses her light. She had an exuberant personality that Maïwenn embodies. She perfectly captures the daring Jeanne and allows her light to shine through even in the dark.

Learning about this woman who rose the ranks within society is enthralling. Yet, a shorter run time may pack a harder punch. There are recurring moments that only needed to be included twice at most (like the King’s daughters finding ways to embarrass and hurt Jeanne).

Although Jeanne’s life story was challenging, Maïwenn and her co-writers find levity. This is shown through Jeanne’s zest for life and in the relationship she shares with the King. There’s even a recurring gag that runs throughout revolving around how one should never turn their back to the King but rather bounce backwards. The Film highlights the relationship they shared and how the King went against his family to have her at his side. Depp and Maïwenn have good chemistry that helps aid in the romantic storyline.

Jeanne Du Barry screens at Cannes ’23:

Tue May 16 at 7PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Tue May 16 at 11:30PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Wed May 17 at 9AM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Wed May 17 at 12PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Thu May 18 at 10AM at CINEUM IMAX

Thu May 18 at 4:30PM at LICORNE

Sphere Films today announced the acquisition of the Canadian rights for WE LIVE IN TIME by John Crowley (Academy-Award nominated Brooklyn) starring award-winning actors Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, currently in production in London, England.

WE LIVE IN TIME is a romantic drama scripted by playwright and screenwriter Nick Payne with Benedict Cumberbatch on board as Executive Producer. Developed and produced by STUDIOCANAL with partners at SunnyMarch: Leah Clarke (The Mauritanian, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain), Adam Ackland (The Mauritanian, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, Patrick Melrose) and Guy Heeley (Cyrano, Together, Locke), the project is co-financed by Film4 and STUDIOCANAL. International sales are handled by STUDIOCANAL while the U.S. distribution rights have been acquired by A24.

Sphere Films also picked up three titles ahead of the Cannes Film Festival. They include ABOUT DRY GRASSES (Official Competition) by the esteemed, award-winning Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan, CLUB ZERO (Official Competition) by Austrian filmmaker Jessica Hausner, who has regularly premiered her films in Cannes, and BONNARD PIERRE ET MARTHE (Cannes Premiere) by Martin Provost (The Good Wife, Séraphine) which stars Vincent Macaigne, Cécile de France and Stacy Martin.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

Prime Video plunges into summer with the return of Canadian Amazon Original series The Lake on June 9, 2023. The trailer for Season Two of the sun-kissed lakeside comedy premieres today. Justin (Jordan Gavaris), Maisy-May (Julia Stiles), and Billie (Madison Shamoun) are joined for the summer by Maisy-May’s mom, Mimsy (Lauren Holly), whose presence adds even more drama to the mixed-family dynamic. The Lake Season Two is the latest addition to the Prime membership. Prime members in Canada enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership for just $9.99/month or best value $99/year.

“Much like taking a well-deserved vacation to your favourite summer getaway, it’s a thrill to revisit these wildly funny characters with another season at The Lake,” said Brent Haynes, head of local originals, Canada. “We’ve been extremely lucky to work with our production partners at AMAZE, showrunner Julian Doucet, and the stellar cast and crew on a hilarious and, at times, touching series that will snap customers in Canada and around the world out of their winter doldrums.”

“We’re thrilled to return with a sophomore season of The Lake,” said Teza Lawrence and Michael Souther, co-founders and executive producers, AMAZE. “We can’t wait for audiences to join us on this next chapter of the series and to yet again showcase the beauty of Northern Ontario as the perfect backdrop for our story.”

In Season Two, Justin and Riley (Travis Nelson), decide to make their relationship official. But their plans, along with the beloved boathouse, go up in flames. Carrying equal parts shame and blame, Justin sets out to prove his innocence, rebuild the heart of the lake, and win back the man he loves. Meanwhile, Maisy-May is dealing with a wildfire of her own: The return of her mother Mimsy, who claims she’s dying and wants to spend her final summer with her family on the lake. Billie returns for what is meant to be a one-week vacation. Her holiday changes after a gorgeous tree planter, Forrest (Jhaleil Swaby), and a fierce climate activist, Ivy (Max Amani), suddenly give her two reasons to blow up her summer. Series regulars back this season include Terry Chen, Jon Dore, Carolyn Scott, Natalie Lisinka, and Declan Whaley.

Written and executive produced by Julian Doucet, the series is produced by AMAZE, with Teza Lawrence and Michael Souther serving as executive producers along with Karen Troubetzkoy and Andrew De Angelis.

The Lake is part of Prime Video’s Canadian Amazon Original slate that includes The Kids in the Hall, LOL: Last One Laughing Canada, Three Pines, LOL: Qui rira le dernier?, All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs, and upcoming series The Sticky, Luxe Listings Toronto, Nuit Blanche, and more. Since 2015, Amazon Studios has filmed more than 25 Amazon Original series and films in Canada, including The Man in the High Castle and Upload in British Columbia; The Boys, Reacher, and The Expanse in Ontario; Tales from the Loop in Manitoba; as well as parts of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and The Voyeurs in Quebec. 

The series will join the thousands of TV shows and movies from Hollywood and around the world in the Prime Video catalog, including award-winning and critically acclaimed Amazon Originals like Citadel, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the award-winning The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, and more.

TIFF proudly presents the exclusive Canadian launch of Elliot Page’s highly anticipated and groundbreaking coming-of age memoir Pageboy. A generation-defining actor and one of the most famous trans advocates of our time, Page joins TIFF in person to discuss his personal journey, his starring role in the hit series The Umbrella Academy, and the process of establishing himself as a key creative force behind the camera as a director and producer with his company Pageboy Productions.

Moderated by filmmaker Chase Joynt (No Ordinary Man, Framing Agnes), this In Conversation With… is part of the Pride month celebrations taking place at TIFF Bell Lightbox in June.

In Conversation With… Elliot Page is done in partnership with HarperCollins Canada and with community partner Glad Day Bookshop, Trans Film Mentorship, and Inside Out Toronto. 10% of proceeds from the book sales for this event will go towards trans artists in Toronto, courtesy of Glad Day Bookshop.

TIFF will partner with several organizations across Canada to provide a livestream of the event. Confirmed partners include: Vancouver Public Library (Vancouver), Calgary Wordfest (Calgary), THIN AIR Winnipeg (Winnipeg), and King’s Co-op Bookstore (Halifax). More information about the livestreams will be available on the websites of the respective organizations.

Tickets for TIFF’s In Conversations With… Elliot Page will go on sale Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 10 am to Members, and May 19, 2023 to the public. For more information, visit tiff.net. Each ticket purchase includes an assigned seat and a copy of Pageboy pre-signed by Elliot Page.