#FIRSTLOOK: “UNSTOPPABLE” COMING TO PRIME VIDEO CANADA

Unstoppable is an inspiring, true story about Anthony Robles (played by Jharrel Jerome) who defied every expectation to become a national wrestling champion. It also will premiere at TIFF ’24! In select theatres December 2024.

This film marks William Goldenberg’s directorial debut. He is a decorated Academy Award winning editor for Argo with previous nominations including The Imitation Game, Zero Dark Thirty, Seabiscuit and The Insider.

The film features an all-star ensemble cast including Jharrel Jerome, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña with Don Cheadle and Jennifer Lopez.

Anthony Robles himself is seen in the film and credited as ‘Anthony Robles Double’, performing the complex wrestling moves and stunts. He is also a producer on the film.

Jharrel Jerome trained for months and worked very closely with Anthony to establish the physicality and determination required for the role.

Unstoppable is produced by Artists Equity, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company.

Unstoppable employed Accessibility Coordinators from IndieVisible to ensure a safe working environment, including productivity tools for all cast and crew.

Starring Jharrel Jerome, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Anthony Robles, with Don Cheadle and Jennifer Lopez

Directed by William Goldenberg

Screenplay by Eric Champnella and Alex Harris and John Hindman

Based upon the book by Anthony Robles and Austin Murphy

Produced by Ben Affleck, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Anthony Robles, Andrew Fraser, Gary Lewis,

David Crockett

Genre Biography, Drama, Sport

Rated PG-13

Anthony Robles, despite being born without a right leg, rises to become a NCAA Division 1 Champion wrestler ultimately winning a national championship against the school that rejected him, national powerhouse Iowa. (Based on the book Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion, by Anthony Robles and Austin Murphy.)

#FIRSTLOOK: DATE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR “I’M A VIRGO” COMING TO PRIME VIDEO

Today, Prime Video announced the premiere date of the highly anticipated mythical coming-of-age comedy I’m A Virgo, starring Emmy-winning actor Jharrel Jerome (When They See Us, Moonlight) with a sneak-peek of the upcoming series from critically acclaimed writer-director Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You). The series is created, written, and executive produced by colorful-sock-wearing filmmaker Boots Riley, who directed all seven episodes. Jharrel Jerome also serves as an executive producer. All seven episodes of the Amazon Original series will be available exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world on June 23, 2023. I’m A Virgo will be a part of the savings, convenience, and entertainment that Prime members enjoy in a single membership.

About I’m A Virgo

I’m A Virgo is a darkly comedic fantastical coming-of-age joyride about Cootie (Jerome), a 13-foot-tall young Black man in Oakland, California. Having grown up hidden away, passing time on a diet of comic books and TV shows, he escapes to experience the beauty and contradictions of the real world. He forms friendships, finds love, navigates awkward situations, and encounters his idol, the real-life superhero named The Hero, played by Walton Goggins (The Hateful Eight, The Righteous Gemstones). I’m A Virgo is a mythical odyssey that questions the purpose of the mythical odyssey.

The bad-ass cast also includes Brett Gray (On My Block, Star Trek: Prodigy, his mother thinks he sings like the ‘90s group Hi-Five), Tony-nominated and Obie-winning actor Kara Young (The Punisher, her mother was a Belizean beauty queen), Allius Barnes (PEN15, his cousin made the song “Kung Fu Fighting”), Olivia Washington (Breaking, plays classical piano), Mike Epps (The Upshaws, Dolemite Is My Name, a damn good dancer), and Carmen Ejogo (True Detective, Fantastic Beasts, was in Eric B. & Rakim’s “Paid In Full” music video).

I’m A Virgo is co-produced by Amazon Studios and Media Res Studio. Boots Riley and Tze Chun (Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai) are the series co-showrunners and serve as executive producers, alongside Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer for Media Res Studio (Pachinko, The Morning Show), Rebecca Rivo (Escape Room), and Jharrel Jerome. The series features original music and score by art pop duo Tune-Yards.

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “MONSTER”

Kelvin Harrison, Jr. stars in the gripping Drama MONSTER, coming soon to Netflix. Wait till you see the incredible Supporting Cast.

Synopsis:

Monster tells the story of Steve Harmon (Kelvin Harrison, Jr.) a seventeen-year-old honor student whose world comes crashing down around him when he is charged with felony murder. The film follows his dramatic journey from a smart, likeable film student from Harlem attending an elite high school through a complex legal battle that could leave him spending the rest of his life in prison.

Cast: Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jennifer Hudson, Jeffrey Wright, Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Ehle, Rakim Mayers, Nasir ‘Nas’ Jones, Tim Blake Nelson and John David Washington

MONSTER arrives on Netflix May 7, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#TIFF20: “CONCRETE COWBOY”

By David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Cole (Caleb McLaughlin from Stranger Things) has been expelled from his Detroit school for fighting. With nowhere else to go, his mother drives him to stay with his Dad, Harp (Idris Elba), for the summer in North Philadelphia. Cole does not really know him, and is not aware that Harp spends his time caring for the horses with other local cowboys at the stables down the street. With few options available, Cole starts working at the stables during the day and spends his nights hanging out with his drug-dealing friend Smush (Emmy-winner Jharrel Jerome).

My central issue with Concrete Cowboy is how exhausting and longwinded it feels. Does Staub want to focus on Harp, his fellow riders and the urban cowboy subculture they are a part of, or does he want to focus on the strained relationship between Harp and Cole? Or should the focus be on Cole and Smush’s friendship and the dangerous path it is leading towards? The Film never seems content enough to settle on one through line, and spends far too much of its 111-minute running time jumping between all three of these Subplots and the assortment of intriguing but underdeveloped characters that populate them. Worse, Staub shoots the Film with handheld, digital cameras and no tripods. So no matter what is happening in the scene, the camera is always shaking and never steady. It is certainly an eclectic choice for a Film like this, but it makes watching it an increasingly frustrating experience.

Concrete Cowboy is an admirable debut feature from Co-Writer/Director Ricky Staub. He tells a story about a subculture few of us were aware of previously, and he strives for authenticity in every frame. The story is personal and his direction reflects that. Elba is not the lead here, but he is just as rock solid and dependable as he always is – and he looks wicked riding a horse (is there anything he cannot do?). McLaughlin holds his own against him and does a great job as the Film’s Lead. He digs down deep into Cole’s psyche, playing into his confused, emotionally fragile state with ease. He is keenly aware of the expectations the audience has of him as a Child Actor in one of their favourite Netflix series and is all too pleased to subvert and flip them around entirely.

As the Credits roll, we are treated to brief talking head clips from the real life cowboys starring in the Film discussing the challenges that urban development and gentrification have created for them. The clips are far too short, but their words are fascinating and illuminating. I found myself immediately much more interested in what was happening, and then really disappointed when they ended so quickly. Why this was not the immediate and only focus of the Film?

CONCRETE COWBOY screens at TIFF ’20 as follows:

Sun, Sep 13
TIFF Bell Lightbox
9:00pm

Mon, Sep 14
Online at Bell Digital Cinema
6:00pm

Sat, Sep 19
TIFF Bell Lightbox
9:00pm