Matt writes: Music legend Leonard Cohen passed away on November 7th, and became the latest in a long string of celebrity deaths this year that have inspired an outpouring of grief among fans. RogerEbert.com editor Brian Tallerico penned an impassioned obituary for Cohen, while Chaz Ebert shared a scene from Steve James’s acclaimed documentary, “Life Itself,” in which Roger Ebert recalls how a Cohen song saved his life. “Thank you Leonard Cohen for the grace you brought to this planet,” wrote Chaz. “May you rest in bliss.”
Trailers
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) Written and directed by Luc Besson (based on the comic book by Pierre Christin & Jean-Claude Mézières). Starring Cara Delevingne, Dane DeHaan, Ethan Hawke. Synopsis: Time-traveling agent Valerian is sent to investigate a galactic empire, along with his partner Laureline. Opens in US theaters on July 21st, 2017.
Beauty and the Beast (2017). Directed by Bill Condon. Written by Evan Spiliotopoulos, Stephen Chbosky and Bill Condon. Starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans. Synopsis: An adaptation of the classic fairy-tale about a monstrous prince and a young woman who fall in love. Opens in US theaters on March 17th, 2017.
La La Land
(2016). Written and directed by Damien Chazelle. Starring Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, J.K. Simmons. Synopsis: A jazz pianist falls for an aspiring actress in Los Angeles. Opens in US theaters on December 16th, 2016.
Patriots Day (2017). Directed by Peter Berg. Written by Peter Berg, Matt Cook and Joshua Zetumer. Starring Melissa Benoist, Michelle Monaghan, Mark Wahlberg. Synopsis: An account of Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis’s actions in the events leading up to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the aftermath, which includes the city-wide manhunt to find the terrorists behind it. Opens in US theaters on January 17th, 2017.
I Am Not Your Negro (2017). Directed by Raoul Peck. Synopsis: Writer James Baldwin tells the story of race in modern America with his unfinished novel, Remember This House. Opens in US theaters on February 3rd, 2017.
Live By Night (2017). Written and directed by Ben Affleck (based on the novel by Dennis Lehane). Starring Ben Affleck, Zoe Saldana, Elle Fanning. Synopsis: A story set in the Prohibition Era and centered around a group of individuals and their dealings in the world of organized crime. Opens in US theaters on January 13th, 2017.
All We Had (2016). Directed by Katie Holmes. Written by Josh Boone and Jill Killington (based on the novel by Annie Weatherwax). Starring Katie Holmes, Eve Lindley, Richard Kind. Synopsis: A mother struggles to make a better life for her daughter. Opens in US theaters on December 9th, 2016.
Office Christmas Party (2016). Directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck. Written by Justin Malen and Laura Solon. Starring Kate McKinnon, Olivia Munn, Jennifer Aniston. Synopsis: When his uptight CEO sister threatens to shut down his branch, the branch manager throws an epic Christmas party in order to land a big client and save the day. Opens in US theaters on December 9th, 2016.
Solace (2016). Directed by Afonso Poyart. Written by Sean Bailey and Ted Griffin. Starring Colin Farrell, Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Synopsis: A psychic works with the FBI in order to hunt down a serial killer. Opens in US theaters in December 16th, 2016.
LIFE (2017). Directed by Daniel Espinosa. Written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. Starring Rebecca Ferguson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds. Synopsis: An international space crew discovers life on Mars. Opens in US theaters on May 26th, 2017.
Gifted (2017). Directed by Marc Webb. Written by Tom Flynn. Starring Chris Evans, Jenny Slate, Mckenna Grace. Synopsis: Frank, a single man raising his child prodigy niece Mary, is drawn into a custody battle with his mother. Opens in US theaters on April 12th, 2017.
T2: Trainspotting (2017). Directed by Danny Boyle. Written by John Hodge (based on the novel by Irvine Welsh). Starring Kelly Macdonald, Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller. Synopsis: A continuation of the Trainspotting saga reuniting the original characters. Opens in US theaters on March 10th, 2017.
Collateral Beauty (2016). Directed by David Frankel. Written by Allan Loeb. Starring Will Smith, Keira Knightley, Kate Winslet. Synopsis: Retreating from life after a tragedy, a man questions the universe by writing to Love, Time and Death. Opens in US theaters on December 16th, 2016.
Shinjuku Swan II (2017). Directed by Sion Sono. Written by Mataichirô Yamamoto (based on the manga by Ken Wakui). Starring Tadanobu Asano, Yûsuke Iseya, Kippei Shîna. Synopsis: A continuation of the Shinjuku Swan saga. US release date is TBA.
The Eyes of My Mother (2016). Written and directed by Nicolas Pesce. Starring Kika Magalhaes, Will Brill, Olivia Bond . Synopsis: A young, lonely woman is consumed by her deepest and darkest desires after tragedy strikes her quiet country life. Opens in US theaters on December 2nd, 2016.
The LEGO Batman Movie (2017). Directed by Chris McKay. Written by Seth Grahame-Smith, Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers (based on the characters by Bob Kane and Bill Finger). Starring Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Zach Galifianakis. Synopsis: Bruce Wayne must not only deal with the criminals of Gotham City, but also the responsibility of raising a boy he adopted. Opens in US theaters on February 10th, 2017.
Wonder Woman (2017). Directed by Patty Jenkins. Written by Allan Heinberg and Geoff Johns (based on the characters by William Moulton Marston). Starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright. Synopsis: An Amazonian princess leaves her island home to explore the world and, in doing so, becomes one of the world’s greatest heroes. Opens in US theaters on June 2nd, 2017.
Ghost in the Shell (2017). Directed by Rupert Sanders. Written by Jonathan Herman and Jamie Moss (based on the manga by Masamune Shirow). Starring Scarlett Johansson, Michael Wincott, Michael Pitt. Synopsis: A cyborg policewoman attempts to bring down a nefarious computer hacker. Opens in US theaters on March 31st, 2017.
Disturbing the Peace
Matt writes: When Stephen Apkon and Andrew Young’s documentary, “Disturbing the Peace,” screened at this year’s Ebertfest, it earned a rapturous ovation from the audience. The film explores how Israelis and Palestinians have come together to form the Combatants for Peace, a group holding nonviolent protests while calling for unity in the Middle East. Chaz Ebert conducted an interview with Apkon that has become even more relevant in the days following the presidential election, with the country as divided as ever. On Friday, I published my three-and-a-half star review of the film, hailing it as a courageous and uplifting achievement.
Lucky 13 Must-See Movies
Matt writes: Looking for more must-see films this awards season? Chaz Ebert has singled out thirteen of them in a new list highlighting some of her favorite works of cinema released (and set for release) this year. They include Maren Ade’s “Toni Erdmann,” Jeff Nichols’ “Loving,” Nate Parker’s “The Birth of a Nation” and Scott Derrickson’s “Doctor Strange.” To read the full list, click here.
Free Movies
Dressed to Kill (1946). Directed by Roy William Neill. Written by Leonard Lee and Frank Gruber (based on the story by Arthur Conan Doyle). Starring Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Patricia Morison. Synopsis: Sherlock Holmes sets out to discover why a trio of murderous villains, including a dangerously attractive female, are desperate to obtain three unassuming and inexpensive little music boxes.
Watch “Dressed to Kill”
Beat the Devil (1953). Directed by John Huston. Written by Truman Capote and John Huston (based on the novel by Claud Cockburn). Starring Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida. Synopsis: On their way to Africa are a group of rogues who hope to get rich there, and a seemingly innocent British couple.
Watch “Beat the Devil”
The Little Shop of Horrors (1960). Directed by Roger Corman. Written by Charles B. Griffith. Starring Jonathan Haze, Jackie Joseph, Jack Nicholson. Synopsis: A clumsy young man nurtures a plant and discovers that it’s carnivorous, forcing him to kill to feed it.
Watch “The Little Shop of Horrors”
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