It was an enjoyable screening with two of the grandsons. The five year old said it was happy and sad at the same time. And he loved it! The twelve year old who has read …
Unstoppable is the inspiring true story of Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome) who was born with one leg but whose indomitable spirit and unbreakable resolve empowered him to defy the odds and pursue his dreams. With the …
“Sonic 3 will beat out Mufasa, for sure!” — JimmityCritic (12) Sonic the Hedgehog 3, what a fun evening with the grandkids it was. When you have a 12, 10 and 5 year-old clap their hands at the end …
Mufasa: The Lion King was entertaining and the production value was amazing to watch. Set in Africa, all-new film blends live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery. My 12 year-old grandson thought it was one …
I’m Still Here is an official Brazilian submission to the 97th Academy Awards. We really enjoyed this film. It’s a tough story with a lot of heart. And it has a great cast. Synopsis: …
This new film tells Roberta Flack’s story in her own words, it features exclusive access to Flack’s archives and interviews with Reverend Jesse Jackson, Clint Eastwood, Yoko Ono, Angela Davis, Eugene McDaniels, Joel Dorn, Peabo Bryson and more.
American Masters:Roberta Flack follows the music icon from a piano lounge through her rise to stardom. From “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” to “Killing Me Softly,” Flack’s virtuosity was inseparable from her commitment to civil rights. The film provides an intimate look into Flack’s artistry, life and triumphs over racism and sexism within and outside of the recording industry.
I think this is a great documentary on an amazing talent. Her sound makes everything feel so intimate.
It’s that time of the year. We didn’t see everything that was out there. We are still looking at films but here are our publisher’s picks for 2022, that she’s seen.
20th Century Studios’ Avatar: The Way of Water, had its world premiere in London’s Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on December 6, 2022.
Attendees included cast members Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Joel David Moore, Jamie Flatters, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Jack Champion, Brendan Cowell, Bailey Bass,director/producer/writer/editor James Cameron and producer Jon Landau. The film opens in theaters on Friday, December 16.
The world premiere of James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on December 06, 2022 in London, England. Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Disney
It has been more than a decade since James Cameron blew away audiences with Avatar, and now the first sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, appears to be on its way to do the same thing.
Synopsis: Jake Sully and Ney’tiri have formed a family and are doing everything to stay together. However, they must leave their home and explore the regions of Pandora. When an ancient threat resurfaces, Jake must fight a difficult war against the humans.
We can’t help but agree with everything said below.
Wednesday is the head of the class. In just two weeks, the new comedy mystery is now Netflix’s third Most Popular English-language TV series ever with 752.52M hours viewed, behind Stranger Things 4 and DAHMER-Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Since its premiere, nearly 115M households globally have seen the series (752.25M hours viewed divided by 6.8 hours). Wednesday held the #1 spot on the weekly Top 10 English TV List for the second week in a row with a mega 411.29M hours viewed – smashing its record-breaking first week number of 341.23M hours viewed. Starring Jenna Ortega, who choreographed this infamous dance scene, the series was also #1 in 89 countries.
Wednesday continues to have a resounding cultural impact across entertainment, the internet, music, fashion and beauty as fans can’t get enough of the series.
A fun reminder why we love this Wednesday character so much.
Independent films are usually a hit or miss—but for the most part, they have a lot of heart. And it’s always interesting to see what comes from not having huge budgets. Sometimes, there’s some great creativity that happens. Below are three films I checked out recently.
Moon Heart/El Corazón de la Luna (2022) Peru’s entry for Academy consideration.
Micaela Cajahuaringa
I’m not going to lie, this film left me very depressed. It deals with so much without any dialog at all. The amount of grief, mental health, homelessness and old age is up front and in your face.
The actress, Haydeé Cáceres is very convincing in this role. Her expressions showed her thoughts and strong emotions. And the cinematography by Micaela Cajahuaringa is wonderful. Her lighting was amazing.
Synopsis: M is alone, almost invisible to society, not an outcast, just old, poor, homeless and ignored. Her only friend is a lone ant. M’s world is full of nostalgic memories and a dark presence that haunts her. Then one day, a “mechanical angel” arrives to help change her life.
At its core, this is a film about marginalization and the abandonment and mental anguish that homeless people suffer.
Directed by Aldo Salvini. Other cast include Bruno Balbuena, César Chirinos, Mirta Urbina, and Sergio Velasco.
Car 24 (2023)
This crime thriller is not perfect, but it’s entertaining. For the most part, I enjoyed the film. There were two scenes, I could have seen less or not at all. All in all, very impressive for a first time director.
Synopsis: Two hit men who don’t know each other end up trapped in a car for 24 hours parked in a Los Angeles street awaiting orders to kill a target. Both men will undergo a conscience check as well as human existence conflicts.
The film is by first time director, Matias Desiderio (Walter). Who co-wrote, co-produced and co-starred with Salvatore di Costanzo (Toto). Rounding out the cast are Lexy Panterra, Cody Renne Cameron, Tony Panterra, Ciera Foster, Tony Tanelli, and Frank Trenado.
The film was nominated in the “Best Feature Narrative” category for the 25th annual Arpa International Film Festival (Arpa IFF).
Not a perfect script but it has some good things going for it. Some of the action is good and I found Dyana Ortelli’s part compelling as Teresa, Dragon’s (Seth Michaels) mother.
Synopsis: A young El Salvadorian woman flees abuse and falls in love with a hard-hearted coyote along a deadly journey through the treacherous Mexican migration route. The film is set along a dangerous trail to the Mexican border, where every migrant is prey to assault, extortion, sexual abuse and murder, perpetrated by a wide range of violent characters. The story captures Eva, a proud knife-wielding heroine born into circumstances of poverty, that force many women into a life of prostitution and abuse. Unwilling to compromise, she will risk it all to be free. Her aspirations for education and a better life fuel a deep hatred for all men, until she meets a skilled coyote named Dragon, the one man who can protect her dream through the journey through hostile lands where the cartels are the law.
Written and directed by Erik Bernard. Starring Edy Ganem, Robert Avellanet, Patricia Velasquez, Alejandro De Hoyos, Al Coronel, Robert LaSardo, Marco-Angela La Porta, Marcus DeAnda, Juan Pablo Olyslager, Thomas Hennessy, Christiana Leucas, and Anna Carvalho.
Before the screening, which took place in Santa Monica, California, I did a short interview with the writer, producer and director, John F. Uranday (Lost Souls, Trolled) and producer Bobby Cloud (Lost Souls, Trolled). Together, they are co-founders of Penwheel Universe.
A fast growing company, based on creating and telling stories that they feel aren’t being told. Or ideas that come from stories they have read, events in their personal lives or even just a meme seen on FB.
L-r: Director John F. Uranday, Rafael Petardi and Jay Acovone
About Depth of Field, is the story of Charles, a widower who has given up on life until he meets a foster child next door that would change his life forever.
The film has a good pace and I found it very satisfying at the end.
Depth of Field stars Rafael Petardi (Red Notice), George Stroumboulopoulos (The Communist Daughter), Jay Avocone (Lethal Weapon), Carrie Quinn Dolin (Bruce Almighty), Ella Thomas (NCIS: Los Angeles), Diana Diaz (Music), and Thea Saccoliti in the role of Valerie.
Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me will premiere globally onAppleTV+ on November 4.
The announcement was made on World Mental Health Day (October 10), in support of global mental health education and awareness, as Selena bravely shares her own journey in this revealing film.
After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness. This uniquely raw and intimate documentary spans her six-year journey into a new light.
As a recording artist, Gomez has sold more than 210 million singles worldwide and amassed over 45 billion global streams of her music. This year, she received a Grammy nomination for her first all-Spanish EP and an Emmy nomination for her role in the critically acclaimed and award-winning series Only Murders in the Building (HULU), in which she stars opposite Steve Martin and Martin Short.
Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, is directed and produced by Alek Keshishian (Madonna: Truth or Dare).
On Monday evening, we attended Amazon Studios celebration of Latino heritage and culture.
Where they announce their Latino community initiatives, and partnerships with the Latino Film Institute and LA Collab. Which will help redefine the Hollywood pipeline.
“After two decades of building the pipeline from our community into Hollywood, we are excited that Amazon Studios is supporting our work with the Youth Cinema Project. Only together will we be able to create Hollywood’s multicultural future,” said LFI founder Edward James Olmos
The studio has joined forces with Edward James Olmos’ Latino Film Institute and is the exclusive sponsor of its Youth Cinema Project (YCP) Alumni Program for the 2022-2023 school year. YCP’s Alumni program connects over 300 program graduates from low income, under-resourced public schools to hands-on access and learning opportunities across the industry, including mentoring and assistance with college applications.
L-r: Gloria Calderon Kellett, Edward James Olmos, YCP Executive Director Erika Sabel Flores, and Global Head of DEIA for Amazon Studios Latasha Gillespie (Photo by Jc Olivera/Amazon Studios)
LA Collab Co-Founder Ivette Rodríguez, Latasha Gillespie, LA Collab Co-Founder Beatriz Acevedo (Photo by Jc Olivera/Amazon Studios)
Amazon Studios is also funding the inaugural YCP Fellowship, which will provide 15 college bound students with resources to make a high-quality short film as a team to strengthen their film school applications and scholarship opportunities. The film will then screen at The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) in 2023.
LFI Founder Edward James Olmos, Global Head of DEIA for Amazon Studios, Freevee and IMDb Latasha Gillespie (Photo AMOS Art 2022)
Amazon Studios is also continuing its support of local non-profitLA Collab to build the entertainment vertical of LTX Match platform from the ground up. The smart tech platform will use technology to match Latino talent at scale with jobs, mentorship, boards, capital, and community, at all levels of the Hollywood ecosystem, helping to address the all-too-common statement “we can’t find Latinos to work in entertainment.”
“It is time to put the incredible tech innovation that exists today to help fix the brokenbridge between Hollywood and our Latino creative community not finding each other, with LTX Match, we aim to connect our community with access to make sure we have equal opportunity to thrive in Hollywood,” said Beatriz Acevedo, Co-founder of LA Collab.
L-r: Edward James Olmos, Se Fija!’s Angela Ortiz and Martin Alfalan
The event also featured a conversation between showrunner Gloria Calderon Kellett (Amazon’s With Love), Director of the Entertainment and Media Research Initiative at UCLA, author of the UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report and LFI board member Dr. Ana Christina-Ramón, and Amazon Studios Sr. Executive Lorenza Muñoz as well as performances from rising Chicana songstress Doris Anahi and Latin electronica project Jguero.
We met some young amazing filmmakers and everything looks and sounds promising. And it was great to see many old friends and acquaintances. — A.O.
YES! We’ve been waiting for this this series to happen. And the trailer doesn’t disappoint.
Wednesday, an upcoming Netflix series from the imagination of Tim Burton. Wednesday Addams—starring Jenna Ortega in the title role, alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzman, Issac Ordonez, Gwendoline Christie, Christina Ricci and more—is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Snap snap.
Laugh Out Loud with The Wayans Bros.: The complete series coming to DVD on February 4.
Premiering in 1995, The Wayans Bros. quickly became a fan favorite with its hilarious mix of family dynamics, quirky characters, and memorable one-liners. Following the misadventures of two distinctly different brothers sharing an apartment in New York City, the series was a cultural touchstone for ’90s television blending physical humor, clever wit, and heartfelt moments. The Wayans Bros. was created by Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Leslie Ray, and David Steven Simon.
° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° Regular Show: The Complete Series is coming to DVD. Enjoy the hit series on February 4.
About the series: Regular Show follows the lives of best friends Mordecai and Rigby, whose lazy afternoon adventures always seem to be interrupted by zombies and misadventures with their gang of friends Benson, Pops, Muscle Man, Hi-Five Ghost, Skips, Thomas, Margaret and Eileen or sometimes even dealing with Death himself.
Created by JG Quintel and produced by Cartoon Network Studios, the series originally premiered in September 2010 and remains to be a massive hit with new and old fans alike.
Regular Show: The Complete Series, includes all 245 episodes created over the years, including specials, and a movie.
° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° The Last of Us: The Complete First Season available for the first time ever in a 4K Ultra HD Steelbook limited-edition collectable on March 18.
In anticipation of the Season 2 premiere of The Last of Us on HBO, catch up on all nine episodes of the critically-acclaimed first season, along with nearly 3 hours of special features!
Synopsis: The Last of Us takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° Moana 2 is now available at Digital retailers, and will be released on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD March 18.
Synopsis:Moana 2 reunites Moana (Auli’i Cravalho and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller.
Kakamora Chronicles–Ever wanted to know more about the Kakamora? Gather
’round while Moni, everyone’s favorite Motunui historian, tells the tales from real
Solomon Island folklore surrounding the mysterious and unforgettable beings known as
the Kakamora. Fun in the Booth–Step inside the recording booth with the brilliant and talented actors of Moana 2 for some creative fun as they bring their characters to life. Deleted Scenes–Overall introduction to deleted scenes by directors.
° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° Shameless The complete series. All 134 episodes from theEmmy® Award Winning series will be available to purchase on DVD March 18.
Synopsis: Meet Frank Gallagher (William H. Macy): proud, working-class patriarch to a motley brood of six smart, spirited and independent kids who, without him, would be…better off. In Frank’s booze-addled view, parenting just eats into his hard-earned bar-crawling time around Chicago–so he leaves it to eldest daughter Fionna (Emmy Rossum) to hold down the fort. Bearing the de facto parent badge/burden, she’s donned the proverbial apron and makes sure her younger siblings do their chores, keep a clean-ish home, and everyone (no matter how small) works to keep the house lights on, as well as food on the table. Brothers Lip (Jeremy Allen White), Ian (Cameron Monaghan), and Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) use their intellect to break every rule in the book to survive and make the bank, while younger sister Debbie (Emma Kenney) would sooner steal her share, Toddle Liam (Christian Isaiah), the youngest, is just happy to be along for the ride. The Gallaghers are irreverent, endearing, resilient–and they’re absolutely, wildly and unapologetically Shameless.
Favorite Shot of the Day
Podcast
You can also listen to any episode of all of the podcast at thebradmunson.com
This new film tells Roberta Flack’s story in her own words, it features exclusive access to Flack’s archives and interviews with Reverend Jesse Jackson, Clint Eastwood, Yoko Ono, Angela Davis, Eugene McDaniels, Joel Dorn, Peabo Bryson and more.
