Nightmare Alley is a 2021 psychological thriller film directed by Guillermo del Toro and starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, and Willem Dafoe. The film is an adaptation of the 1947 novel of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham. It tells the story of a carnival worker named Stanton Carlisle (Cooper), who rises through the ranks of the carnival world by using his skills as a manipulator and con artist. However, his ambition and greed lead him down a dark path, as he becomes embroiled in a web of deceit and corruption.
The film explores themes of power, manipulation, and the corrupting influence of ambition. Del Toro's direction and the performances of the cast, particularly Cooper and Blanchett, have been praised for their intensity and nuance. The film's visual style, which evokes the gritty, seedy world of carnivals and sideshows, also received praise for its ability to create a sense of unease and danger.
Overall, Nightmare Alley is a well-crafted, gripping thriller that delves into the psyche of its characters and the dark side of human nature. With a talented cast and director, the movie is a must-watch for fans of psychological thrillers, crime dramas, and film noir.
"The Bob's Burgers Movie" is a 2022 American animated musical comedy film based on the animated television series Bob's Burgers. It is directed by the series creator Loren Bouchard and series director Bernard Derriman, written by Bouchard and Nora Smith, and produced by Janelle Momary-Neely, Bouchard, and Smith. The original voice cast from the series reprises their roles, including H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Larry Murphy, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal, David Wain, Zach Galifianakis, and Kevin Kline. The plot follows Bob and his family as they struggle to pay their loan after a sinkhole opens in front of their restaurant and affects business, while the kids try to solve the murder of a carnie. The film premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood on May 17, 2022, and was theatrically released by 20th Century Studios in the United States on May 27, 2022, following previous delays of almost two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $34 million worldwide, dedicated to character designer Dave Creek and matte painter Denise Fuller, both of whom died prior to its release.
The Bob's Burgers movie received positive reviews from critics and audiences, with an 88% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, an average rating of 7.0/10, and a Metacritic score of 75 out of 100, indicating generally favorable reviews. Audiences also gave the film an average grade of "A" and 89% of audience members gave it a positive score with 69% saying they would definitely recommend it.
The animation for the Bob's Burgers movie was done by a team of animation studios, including Tonic DNA, Lighthouse Studios, Bento Box Entertainment, Golden Wolf, Yeson Entertainment, Brilliant Pictures, Synergy Animation, Mighty Animation, Dave Enterprises and Mercury Filmworks. The production team wanted the film to be mostly done through hand-drawn animation to keep the visuals similar to the series. The larger budget and animators available allowed for more detailed animation in the film. Tonic DNA was originally supposed to work only in musical numbers but was later assigned two additional sequences. Animators at Tonic DNA used both hand-drawn and cutout animation techniques for the film, with both being simultaneously used in certain sequences, particularly the "Lucky Ducks" musical number. This film would be the final animation work for Tuck Tucker and Dale Baer before their deaths.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a 2022 American mystery film written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Johnson and Ram Bergman. It is a standalone sequel to the 2019 film Knives Out, with Daniel Craig reprising his role as master detective Benoit Blanc as he takes on a new case revolving around tech billionaire Miles Bron. The ensemble cast also includes Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista. The film was greenlit by its original distributor Lionsgate in 2020, but in March 2021 Netflix bought the rights to two Knives Out sequels for $469 million. The cast signed on that May. Filming took place with a $40 million budget on the island of Spetses, Greece in June and July 2021, and continued in Belgrade until September. It premiered on September 10, 2022 and released in limited theaters on November 23, 2022 and on Netflix on December 23, 2022.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a standalone film, not a continuation of its predecessor, with a new story and cast. The film's setting of Greece was a desire of the director to travel abroad when international travel had been shut down due to COVID-19. The director, Rian Johnson, took inspiration from Agatha Christie novels, especially "The Last of Sheila" and "tropical getaway murder mysteries" and desired the title of the film to refer to something hidden in plain sight. He chose the title "Glass Onion" from a song by The Beatles and featured in the end credits. The character of Benoit Blanc is revealed as gay in the film.
"Glass Onion" is a 2022 American mystery film written and directed by Rian Johnson, and produced by Johnson and Ram Bergman. It is a standalone sequel to the 2019 film "Knives Out," which features Daniel Craig reprising his role as master detective Benoit Blanc as he takes on a new case revolving around tech billionaire Miles Bron (played by Edward Norton) and his closest friends. The film has received positive reviews from critics, with an average rating of 8/10 on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised Johnson's screenplay and direction, the performances of the cast, and musical score. The National Board of Review named Glass Onion as one of the top ten films of 2022. It also received numerous other accolades and has been compared to current business magnates.
Terminator Genisys is the fifth installment in the Terminator series, set in the year 2029. John Connor is currently fighting the machines as leader of the Resistance, when he is notified that Skynet will attack him in the past as well as the future. He sends Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back in time to save his mother, Sarah Connor (this was the premise for the first Terminator movie), but the past has changed, diverging from the plot of the original film. In this new altered reality, Sarah Connor was orphaned at age nine by a T-800 sent to kill her, and has been raised by another T-800 model which has been programmed to protect and train her to meet her destiny. The film is set to act as prequel, sequel and reboot for the series, and once again stars Arnold Schwarzenegger in his titular role, supported by Emilia Clarke, Jason Clarke, Jai Courtney, Matt Smith, Lee Byung-hun and J.K. Simmons
Chappie (stylized CHAPPiE) is a science fiction film directed by Neil Blomkamp, based on the director's own 2004 short film, Tetra Vaal. Set in the near future, Chappie features a world which is policed by mechanized robots. The robots are oppressive toward humanity, but do not have the ability to think and feel. Chappie is a robot designed with artificial intelligence. Chappie can feel emotions and think for himself, and it is up to him to stand up to the forces that are trying to oppress humanity and take him down. The film stars Sharlto Copley as Chappie, supported by Dev Patel, Hugh Jackman, Watkin Tudor Jones, Yolandi Visser, Jose Pablo Cantillo, and Sigourney Weaver. Chappie is Blomkamp's third feature length film, written alongside his wife Terri Tatchell, who worked with him on District 9, which also starred Sharlto Copley
Everly is a 2014 action thriller directed by Joe Lynch, starring Salma Hayek as the titular character. Everly is a prostitute working for the crime lord Taiko (Hiroyuki Watanabe), working secretly to bring down his organization with the help of the police. While trapped inside her apartment, Everly faces off with hired killers and even other prostitutes who have been promised a bounty if they are able to kill her. The film features music by Bear McCreary, who did the soundtrack for the rebooted version of the Battlestar Galactica television series. Lynch originally wrote the story while listening to the soundtrack for the second season of the show. Early reviews of the film have been mixed to positive, and compared to the early Die Hard movies or the blood-spattered epic of Kill Bill. The film plays toward assassin and mafia tropes and offers little in the way of plot, but plenty in the way of action.
The Lazarus Effect is a 2015 horror film directed by David Gelb and starring Mark Duplass, Olivia Wilde, Donald Glover, Evan Peters, and Sarah Bolger. Frank (Duplass) and his fiancé Zoe (Wilde) and their team of medical researchers have discovered a way to resurrect the dead using a serum which they have given the codename "Lazarus." So far, Zoe and Frank have only tested their research on a lifeless animal, but when Zoe is killed in a lab accident, Frank decides to resurrect her in an unsanctioned experiment with the help of their research team. Zoe returns from the grave with the help of the Lazarus serum, but begins to display uncanny supernatural abilities. The team then realizes that she may not be alone, and they have unleashed a terrible and powerful evil into the world.
Focus is a 2015 film starring Will Smith as Nicky, an accomplished con artist, and Margot Robbie as Jess, his apprentice. While Nicky teaches Jess his trade, the two become involved in a romantic relationship. Uncomfortable with the change in their situation, Nicky severs the relationship, only to encounter Jess again years later while working a dangerous job in Buenos Aires involving a billionaire international race car owners. Jess is working the opposite side of the same scam that Nicky is involved in—the most dangerous job he has tackled yet. To add to Nicky's woes, Jess is now an accomplished con artist in her own right, and manages to throw Nicky off his game at a time when he cannot afford to be anything but focused. What will happen when these two seasoned con artists with a romantic history collide?
Fifty Shades of Grey is a 2015 erotic romantic drama directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, based on the bestselling novel of the same name by E.L. James. Dakota Johnson stars as Anastasia Steele, a sexually inexperienced and repressed college graduate, who enters into a codependent relationship with emotionally stunted businessman Christian Grey, played by Jamie Dornan. The film grossed more than $410 million in the first month of its release, but met with largely negative reviews from critics, who felt the source material was weak. Nonetheless, they praised the actors and the director for their effort to make the movie shine. The film polarized moviegoers, who either loved or hated it. To some, Fifty Shades of Grey is an erotic film based on a beloved book; to others, it is a story that glamorizes abuse. Love it or hate it, there is no denying it is a film which has shattered records worldwide.
Ballet 422 is a 2015 documentary by cinematographer and documentarian Jody Lee Lipes, and offers viewers a rare look behind the curtain of the professional world of ballet. The film follows Justin Peck, the 25-year-old choreographer of the New York City Ballet as he strives to create the ballet company's 422nd original piece while also balancing other professional commitments in the ballet world. This film offers an intimate look at Peck's creative process, and has been well received by critics. Not only does the movie provide startling insight into the process that brings an idea from its inception into realization as a ballet show, but it also highlights the commonplace workaday atmosphere that pervades life behind-the-scenes in an industry which is usually enshrouded in glamour. This piece is a must-see for anyone who is thinking of becoming a professional in the ballet world, or for any passionate ballet enthusiast who wants to learn more about what goes on behind the curtain.
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water is a 2015 animated/live action film based on the popular Nickelodeon TV show SpongeBob SquarePants, and serves as a sequel to 2004's The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. Tom Kenny stars as SpongeBob and Gary the Snail, supported by Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick Star, Rodger Bumpass as Squidward Tentacles, Clancy Brown as Mr. Krabs, Mr. Lawrence as Plankton, and Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy Cheeks. In the movie, SpongeBob must team up with his nemesis Plankton in order to recover the secret Krabby Patty formula from a pirate. The show received positive reviews from critics, who enjoyed its sense of humor, entertaining pacing, and visual effects. It was also a big hit with fans of SpongeBob SquarePants, and received the 2015 Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie. For those in search of a fun, colorful family film, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water has a lot to offer.
