Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Movies: “Ocean’s” Trilogy Director Steven Soderbergh Shot New Film “Unsane” Using iPhone


From Steven Soderbergh, director of highly-successful heist trilogy “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Ocean’s Twelve” and “Ocean’s 13” comes his latest horror thriller “Unsane” starring Claire Foy (Netflix’s The Crown) about a woman who was involuntarily confined to a mental institution after failing to prove to the authorities that she is being followed by a digital stalker.  Within the asylum, she gets to confront her greatest fear – is it real or is it a delusion?

Director Soderbergh shot “Unsane” entirely using an iPhone.  It was reported that Soderbergh was greatly impressed with the quality of iPhone, “I think this is the future,” he said in recent interviews. “Anybody going to see this movie who has no idea of the backstory to the production will have no idea this was shot on the phone. That’s not part of the conceit.”


“Unsane” will open in cinemas on March 21 from 20th Century Fox.  Check out the film’s trailer - https://www.facebook.com/20t hcenturyfoxphilippines/videos/ 10159948020670582/

Movies: Take A Peek At The New Poster For Dark Comedy “Game Night”


It’s all fun and games until… Check out the new poster for Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema's Game Night, an adult comedy with wild adventures, in Philippine cinemas March 14.

Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams star in Game Night as Max and Annie, whose weekly couples game night gets kicked up a notch when Max’s charismatic brother, Brooks (Chandler), arranges a murder mystery party, complete with fake thugs and faux federal agents. So when Brooks gets kidnapped, it’s all part of the game…right? But as the six uber-competitive gamers set out to solve the case and win, they begin to discover that neither this “game”—nor Brooks—are what they seem to be.

Over the course of one chaotic night, the friends find themselves increasingly in over their heads as each twist leads to another unexpected turn. With no rules, no points, and no idea who all the players are, this could turn out to be the most fun they’ve ever had…or game over.

Joining Bateman and McAdams in the cast are Billy Magnussen, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris, Jesse Plemons, Kylie Bunbury, Michael Cyril Creighton and Kyle Chandler.

Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (Vacation) are directing the film from an original screenplay by Mark Perez (Accepted).

Game Night is a New Line Cinema presentation and distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Movies: No Fairy-Tale Ending As “Fifty Shades Freed” Begins


Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) and Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson)
return in Universal Pictures' romantic thriller Fifty Shades Freed, the climactic chapter based on the worldwide bestselling Fifty Shades phenomenon. Bringing to a shocking conclusion events set in motion in 2015 and 2017’s blockbuster films that grossed almost $950 million globally, the film arrives for pre-Valentine’s Day in the Philippines, February 7.

(Watch the new spots of Fifty Shades Freed at https://youtu.be/8ze300Qpxn0 and https://youtu.be/5TLqDUX0Sow.)

Believing they have left behind shadowy figures from their past, newlyweds Christian and Ana fully embrace an inextricable connection and shared life of luxury. But just as she steps into her role as Mrs. Grey and he relaxes into an unfamiliar stability, new threats could jeopardize their happy ending before it even begins.

Movies: Armie Hammer Succumbs To Desire In “Call Me By Your Name”


Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe-nominee Armie Hammer (The Social Network) stars in Sony Pictures Classic's Call Me By Your Name as Oliver, the charismatic 24 year-old graduate student who forms a special bond with Elio (Timothee Chalamet), a 17-year old boy, setting in motion an experience that will linger with both of them forever.

The two actors became inseparable in the weeks leading up to shooting. “We rode bikes, we listened to music, we talked, we went to meals, we hung out in many of the same places you see us in the movie,” says Hammer. After shooting commenced, the two rehearsed their scenes every night before shooting. The intimacy and chemistry that became palpable on screen grew out of the closeness the two actors developed in real life.

The entire cast lived on location in Crema, Italy and were able to absorb the unique charms and rhythms of Lombardian small town life. Says Hammer: “[Director] Luca Guadagnino was able to introduce an element of la dolce vita that doesn't really exist in Italy anymore. Working on the movie, being with all these people who I honestly fell in love with, was incredibly analogous to the story of the movie for me. When I look back on it, it’s my love affair with making the movie.”

Movies: First Official Photos Amplify “Mission: Impossible - Fallout”


Ahead of the anticipated launch of the first official trailer soon, Tom Cruise has released via Instagram two new photos from the sixth Mission: Impossible film, and in the process, also revealed the film’s title – Mission: Impossible – Fallout.

Check out the “death-defying” photos below and watch Mission: Impossible – Fallout in Philippine cinemas July 25.

The best intentions often come back to haunt you. Mission: Impossible – Fallout finds Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his IMF team (Alec Baldwin, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames) along with some familiar allies (Rebecca Ferguson, Michelle Monaghan) in a race against time after a mission gone wrong. Henry Cavill, Angela Bassett, and Vanessa Kirby also join the dynamic cast with filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie returning to the helm.


Mission: Impossible - Fallout is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Movies: “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again” Trailer Goes Back To The Beginning


Universal Pictures has just released the new trailer for Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, the follow-up the 2007 global hit, Mamma Mia! The Movie.

Check out the trailer at the links below.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uipmoviesph/videos/1839323336142058/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/hDBwi1tehrc

Get ready to sing and dance, laugh and love all over again.

Ten years after Mamma Mia! The Movie grossed more than $600 million around the world, you are invited to return to the magical Greek island of Kalokairi in an all-new original musical based on the songs of ABBA. With the film’s original cast expected to return and new additions joining them, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again will delight audiences in Philippine cinemas this July.

With a soundtrack full of ABBA songs not featured in the first film—along with some reprised favorites—Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again once more brings the producers of the original film, Littlestar’s Judy Craymer and Playtone’s Gary Goetzman, together. Craymer is also the creator and producer of the smash-hit stage musical. Ol Parker, writer of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, writes and directs. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus are aboard again to provide music and lyrics and serve as executive producers.

Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Movies: Filming Is Underway On Warner Bros.' Powerful Drama “The Goldfinch"

Ansel Elgort and Oscar winner Nicole Kidman lead an ensemble cast in the film based on the award-winning bestseller.


Principal photography has begun on “The Goldfinch,” Warner Bros. Pictures and Amazon Studios’ highly anticipated film adaptation of Donna Tartt’s globally acclaimed best-selling novel, which won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.

The drama is being directed by BAFTA Award winner John Crowley (“Brooklyn”) and features a multigenerational cast led by Ansel Elgort (“Baby Driver”) as Theo Decker and Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman (“The Hours,” “Big Little Lies”) as Mrs. Barbour.

Friday, January 26, 2018

Movies: An Immersive And Unique Love Story Emerges In “Shape Of Water”


Guillermo Del Toro’s “Shape of Water” has emerged to be this year’s frontrunner in the 90th
Academy Awards with 13 major nominations including Best Picture, Best Actress – Sally Hawkins, Best Supporting Actress – Octavia Spencer, Best Supporting Actor – Richard Jenkins, Best Director – Guillermo Del Toro, Best Original Score – Alexandre Desplat, Best Orignal Screenplay – Guillermo Del Toro and Vanessa Taylor , Best Cinematography – Dan Laustsen, Best Costume Design – Luis Sequiera, Best Film Editing – Sidney Wolinsky, Best Sound Mixing – Glen Gaulthier, Christian Cooke and Brad Zoern, Best Sound Editing – Nathan Robitaille and Nelson Ferreira  and Best Production Design -  Paul Austerberry, Shane Vieau and Jeff Melvin.

“The Shape of Water” is set in a secret government laboratory at the height of the Cold War, where a visually dazzling, emotionally daring feat of the imagination erupts.  Del Toro mixes many genres from lush musicals to suspenseful noir, the film particularly revisits and reinvigorates the enduring allure of the monster movie playing upon our most primal emotions of fear, abandonment and danger but also curiosity, awe and desire.

The film brings its audience into a mysterious government facility in Baltimore where, in the deepest recesses of the lab, an amphibious creature (played by Doug Jones) is being studied for its unusual abilities. As Agent Strickland (Michael Shannon) demands for it to be killed and autopsied, Dr. Hoffstetler (Michael Stuhlbarg) insists that the creature’s secrets can only be revealed with a lighter touch.

Movies: It's Survival Of The Biggest In The New “Pacific Rim: Uprising” Trailer


The new official trailer for Universal Pictures' 3D epic adventure
Pacific Rim: Uprising, the follow-up to Guillermo del Toro's 2013 cinematic epic Pacific Rim, has just arrived online.

Check out the trailer below and watch Pacific Rim: Uprising in Philippine cinemas March 2018.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uipmoviesph/videos/1872974416110283/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/Hj-bTisy9oY

Movies: Zenadaya Rewrites The Stars With Zac Efron In “The Greatest Showman”


Playing opposite mulit-talented actor Zac Efron as Anne Wheeler is another fast-ascending young star,   Zendaya in the big screen musical “The Greatest Showman” along with Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Keala Settle and Rebecca Ferguson.

“The Greatest Showman” is a vibrant and engrossing “rags-to-riches” story about a man who achieved the impossible, through determination and the sheer power of his vivid imagination. A pioneer who invented the Big Top, P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman) is considered to be the original showman. The Oscar-nominated, Golden Globe and Tony Award winner brings the impresario and entrepreneur to life and we follow him as he launches his circus, ultimately revolutionizing entertainment. Michelle Williams delivers a wonderfully nuanced performance as Barnum’s wife, Charity, while Rebecca Ferguson gives a scene-stealing turn as the iconic 18th-century opera singer Jenny Lind, known as the ‘Swedish Nightingale’. With original songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the Oscar and Tony-winning songwriters behind La La Land, the movie was directed by the exciting new filmmaker, Michael Gracey.

Though much of The Greatest Showman is drawn from the outlines of P.T. Barnum’s life, two fictional characters bring in fresh points of view:  Zac Efron’s Phillip Carlyle, the sophisticated man of the theatre who quits his upper-crust life to join the circus – Barnum’s ringmaster protégé; and Zendaya’s Anne Wheeler, the daring, taboo-breaking, pink-haired aerialist for whom Carlyle falls headlong.

Movies: "Love, Simon" Trailer Reveal


From blockbuster filmmakers Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen ("Fault In Our Stars", "Maze Runner" and "Twilight") comes another highly-anticipated YA movie "Love, Simon" - about a boy's coming out and finally facing his anonymous correspondent online whom he's fallen in love with. 

Everyone deserves a great love story. In "Love, Simon", seventeen-year old Simon Spier's (Nick Robinson) situation is a little more complicated: he’s yet to tell his family or friends he’s gay and he doesn’t actually know the identity of the anonymous classmate he’s fallen for online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, terrifying and life-changing.

Directed by Greg Berlanti (Dawson’s Creek, Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl ), written by Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger (This is Us), and based on Becky Albertalli’s acclaimed novel, "Love, Simon" is a funny and heartfelt coming-of-age story about the thrilling ride of finding yourself and falling in love.

Movies: Breakout Actor Ki Hong Lee In Final Chapter Of Gladers In “Maze Runner: The Death Cure”


The highly-anticipated conclusion of the worldwide YA hit book-to-movie franchise “The Maze Runner” that was released in 2014 meets its final chapter in “Maze Runner: The Death Cure” starring an ensemble of today’s most talented actors led by Dylan O’Brien along with Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee, Kaya Scodelario, Rosa Salazar, Giancarlo Esposito, Dexter Darden, Aidan Gillen and Patricia Clarkson.

Maze Runner was Ki Hong Lee’s first feature film role. Lee played Minho in the film, a key ally to Thomas when he first arrived in the Glade – the prison he found himself in at the start of the movie. He returned in the follow-up, “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials,” and comes back once again to complete the trilogy in The Death Cure.  But at the end of The Scorch Trials, Minho was captured by the forces of WCKD, and so The Death Cure starts with the Gladers on a mission to save their friend, and bust him out of the prison train he’s being transported on.

Lee’s career outside of THE Maze Runner has gone from strength to strength since the first film’s release. He starred in the first two seasons of the Netflix hit “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”, and had further feature film roles in “Everything Before Us,” “The Stanford Prison Experiment,” “The Mayor” and “Wish Upon.” His other television credits include recurring appearances in “Motherlover” and “The Nine Lives of Chloe King.”

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Movies: “Call Me By Your Name” Vies For Oscar Best Picture, Actor, Screenplay


MANILA, Jan. 25, 2018 – Sony Pictures Classics' heartbreaking love story Call Me By Your Name received four major Academy Award nominations Tuesday night, a week before it opens in the Philippines, exclusively in Ayala Malls Cinemas, on Januay 31.

The critically acclaimed romantic drama is vying for Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Timothee Chalamet), Best Adapted Screenplay (James Ivory) and Best Original Song - “Mystery of Love” – Music & Lyrics by Sufjan Stevens (http://youtu.be/KQT32vW61eI).

"Wow, what an incredible morning. I'm a bit in shock. ... I am in awe of the pedigree of the Academy. I am truly honored,” Chalamet said in a statement.

Movies: Oscar Best Picture Nominee “The Post” In PH Cinemas Feb 24


Fresh from receiving a Best Picture nomination in the 90th Academy Awards, Univeral Pictures' timely thriller The Post is headed to Philippine cinemas on February 24, a week before the actual Oscars.

Marking their historic, first-ever on-screen collaboration, Steven Spielberg directs Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in The Post, a thrilling drama about the unlikely partnership between The Washington Post’s Katharine Graham (Streep), the first female publisher of a major American newspaper, and editor Ben Bradlee (Hanks), as they race to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spanned three decades and four U.S. Presidents.

The two must overcome their differences as they risk their careers – and their very freedom – to help bring long-buried truths to light.

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Movies: Lara Croft Chases Her Destiny In New “Tomb Raider” Trailer


Her destiny will be fulfilled. Alicia Vikander is Lara Croft in Warner Bros. Pictures' new action adventure Tomb Raider, the story that will set her on a path toward becoming a global hero.

Check out the film's official trailer #2 in the links below and watch Tomb Raider in Philippine cinemas Thursday, March 15.

FACEBOOK: https://web.facebook.com/warnerbrosphils/videos/1942818549081010/

YOU TUBE: https://youtu.be/ezlBKSKhEcs

Movies: Zac Efron Delivers Winning Musical Performance In “The Greatest Showman”

Zac Efron & Hugh Jackman in The Greatest Showman
Nurturing an impressive body of work that encompasses both film and television, Zac Efron has proven to be one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents.  Efron became a household name with the launch of the 2006 Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel phenomenon “High School Musical” as Troy Bolton.  He reprised his role as Troy Bolton, head of the basketball team, in “High School Musical 2,” which broke cable TV records garnering 17.5 million viewers.  Zac also starred in the Disney feature film “High School Musical 3:  Senior Year,” the third installment of the extremely successful High School Musical franchise.  HSM3 set a box office record as the highest grossing opening weekend total for a musical.  He also starred in the box-office smash summer film “Hairspray,” which won the Critics’ Choice award for Best Ensemble.             

Continuing his box-office breaking records with musicals, Efron gives an all-out different kind of performance in his latest movie “The Greatest Showman” with Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Keala Settle and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II directed by Michael Gracey who makes his feature film debut.

Hugh Jackman stars as the visionary innovator, P.T. Barnum, who invented show business in “The Greatest Showman.”  Raised in a poor family, and through the sheer scope of his imagination and tenacity, Barnum sets about achieving the impossible, launching his groundbreaking circus and in the process, transforming entertainment.  Efron takes on the role of Phillip Carlyle, an upper-class New York thespian and entrepreneur, the kind of person who looks down on Barnum’s circus until he’s asked to work with the charismatic impresario.


Movies: "See The Future" In New “Ready Player One” Sizzle Video


Steven Spielberg brings his trademark storytelling to new heights in the futuristic action-adventure “Ready Player One” – in Philippine cinemas Saturday, March 31.

Watch the newly released sizzle video now titled “See the Future” at the following links:

FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/warnerbrosphils/videos/vl.104549400226619/1946603355369196/?type=1

YOUTUBE : https://youtu.be/AjFA6Zy33Lk

Monday, January 22, 2018

Movies: “A Wrinkle In Time” Characters Up Close In New Posters


Chris Pine, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Storm Reid get their own character posters for Walt Disney Pictures' upcoming fantasy adventure A Wrinkle In Time (in Philippine cinemas Mach 7).

Check out the character one-sheets below featuring Pine as Dr. Alex Murry, Mbatha-Raw as Dr. Kate Murry and Reid as their onscreen daughter, Meg.

From visionary director Ava DuVernay comes Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time, an epic adventure based on Madeleine L’Engle’s timeless classic which takes audiences across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and, ultimately, the triumph of love. Through one girl’s transformative journey led by three celestial guides, we discover that strength comes from embracing one’s individuality and that the best way to triumph over fear is to travel by one’s own light.

Movies: For Matt Damon, Idea For “Downsizing” Is Larger-Than-Life


Considered one of the most revered actors in Hollywood today, in terms of talent and box office draw, Matt Damon now stars in Paramount Pictures' new quirky comedy Downsizing, a social satire in which a guy realizes he would have a better life if he were to shrink himself.

The film will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Trinoma, Greenbelt 1) starting January 24.

Downsizing imagines what might happen if, as a solution to over-population, Norwegian scientists discover how to shrink humans to five inches tall and propose a 200-year global transition from big to small.

Friday, January 19, 2018

Movies: Meet The Warriors Of Wakanda In Latest “Black Panther” Featurette


Wakanda Forever! The cast of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther – Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa/Black Panther), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), and Michael B. Jordan (Erik Killmonger) – showcase the fiercest and most accomplished fighting team, the Dora Milaje, in a new featurette.

Meet the warriors of Wakanda in this special look at http://youtu.be/HnnRyhuX_jM and watch Black Panther in Philippine cinemas February 14.

Marvel Studios’ Black Panther follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.

The film stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis.

The film is directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nate Moore, Jeffrey Chernov and Stan Lee serving as executive producers. Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole wrote the screenplay.

Marvel Studio's Black Panther will be distributed in the Philippines by The Walt Disney Company. Follow Marvel on Twitter: ‪https://twitter.com/marvel. Like Marvel on FaceBook: ‪https://www.facebook.com/Marvel

Movies: Title Characters Unite In New “Ant-Man And The Wasp” Photo

Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and the Wasp is set for release in Philippine cinemas on July 4, and now a new photo has debuted showing the title characters together for the first time in full costume!


Check out the new image below of Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man and Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne/Wasp, as the latter finally suits up for battle in the new film.


From the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes Ant-Man and the Wasp, a new chapter featuring heroes with the astonishing ability to shrink. In the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang grapples with the consequences of his choice as both a Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to rebalance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside the Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from the past.


Ant-Man and the Wasp is directed by Peyton Reed and stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Pena, Walton Goggins, Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer, Tip “T.I.” Harris, David Dastmalchian, Hannah John Kamen, Abby Ryder-Forston, Randall Park, with Michelle Pfeiffer, with Laurence Fishburne, and Michael Douglas.


Kevin Feige is producing with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard, Charles Newirth, and Stan Lee serving as executive producers. Chris McKenna & Eric Sommers, Paul Rudd, Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari wrote the screenplay.


Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp will be distributed in the Philippines by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Follow the official social media accounts of Marvel, namely, (FB) MarvelPhilippines, (Twitter) @marvelstudiosph and (Instagram) @marvelphilippines.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Movies: Monique Lhuillier Designs Anastasia Steele's Wedding Gown In “Fifty Shades Freed”


Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele dons a custom-lace wedding gown and veil by Monique Lhuillier, renowned bridal, ready-to-wear and accessories designer, in Fifty Shades Freed, the all-new installment of the Fifty Shades of Grey series.

Known for her romantic glamour and modern elegance, Monique Lhuillier brilliantly captures Anastasia’s alluring beauty and vulnerability in this design. The long sleeve, off-the-shoulder, dégradé Chantilly-lace tulle-sheath gown—with open illusion back and trail of lace covered buttons—exudes femininity and sophistication. A Cathedral-length tulle veil with appliqués of Chantilly lace adds astonishing glamour for Anastasia’s grand entrance.

In keeping with the essence of her brand, Monique’s design evokes an enchanting and whimsical, yet sophisticated vision by weaving together sensuous and modern elements. The classic, ethereal and effortless silhouette of the dress—topped with the elegantly embellished veil—is distinctly Monique Lhuillier.

Movies: Asian Actress On The Verge Of Getting Oscar Nom For “Downsizing”


If her lucky streak continues, Big Little Lies actress Hong Chau is on the cusp of being only the sixth Asian actress ever to be nominated for an Oscar.

And this well-deserved recognition will be for her portrayal of Ngoc Lam, a Vietnamese immigrant who finds herself in a new world against her wishes, in Paramount Pictures' dramedy, Downsizing.

To be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Trinoma, Greenbelt 1) starting January 24, Downsizing imagines what might happen if, as a solution to over-population, Norwegian scientists discover how to shrink humans to five inches tall and propose a 200-year global transition from big to small.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Movies: “Call Me By Your Name” To Seduce Audiences Jan 22 & 23 In Sneak Previews


MANILA, Jan. 17, 2018 – Sony Pictures Classics' Call Me By Your Name, hailed as the Best Picture of 2017 by the L.A. Film Critics, and likely to garner major Oscar nominations next week, will hold special sneak previews exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 22 & 23.

Rated R-16 With No Cuts by the MTRCB, the coming-of-age drama stars Armie Hammer and Timothee Chalamet (New York Film Critics Best Actor winner for his role) as two men who share a special kind of friendship.

The participating Ayala Malls are Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3, Alabang Town Center, Trinoma, Harbor Point, Ayala Malls Legaspi, Ayala Center Cebu, Abreeza and Centrio. Fans may visit www.sureseats.com for screening schedules and advance ticket sales.

Movies: Deadliest Rescue Mission In “Maze Runner: The Death Cure” Begins January 24 Nationwide

Dylan O'Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Ki Hong Lee in Maze Runner: The Death Cure fans day in Seoul Korea
Action reaches new heights in this mission-oriented third and final segment of The Maze Runner Series, “Maze Runner: The Death Cure.”  The Wes Ball-directed adaptation of the bestselling James Dashner YA trilogy is a 20th Century Fox production.  The screenplay was written by T.S. Nowlin. Producers are Ellen Goldsmith-Vein of The Gotham Group, Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen of Temple Hill Productions Joe Hartwick, Jr., Wes Ball, and Lee Stollman.

“Maze Runner: The Death Cure,” picks up roughly six months after the Scorch Trials ended.  In the final battle of The Scorch the survivors of The Flare, a disease that has devastated the world’s population, have defined their purpose; to find a safe haven away from the influence of WCKD. This exciting conclusion of the Maze Runner trilogy reunites many of the original cast members from 2014’s The Maze Runner; Dylan O’Brien as Thomas; Kaya Scodelario as Teresa; Ki Hong Lee as Minho; Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Newt; Dexter Darden as Frypan and Patricia Clarkson as Dr. Ava Paige along with newer cast members from Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials; Giancarlo Esposito as Jorge, Rosa Salazar as Brenda, Aidan Gillen as Janson, Barry Pepper as Vince and Walton Goggins as Lawrence.

Uncertain if this “last city” had even survived, the “Gladers” knew that somehow gaining entry would be difficult. To then break in to the WKCD headquarters where Minho was being held, that was impossible. For Thomas, setting difficult goals was not unusual.  As Dylan O’Brien says of his character, “In the first movie the challenge was to solve the maze, to break out of the glade.  A big part of the group, led by Gally, wanted no part of that. They looked at the glade as their home and they were safe.  In Scorch Trials we were out of the maze, had a building to live in and were taken care of but there was a price to pay.  In this film, in Death Cure, Thomas wants to break in to the place that caused all of this to save his friend Minho, which he promised he’d do. Most thought it was a crazy plan.”

Movies: 20TH Cetnury Fox’s Award-Winning Movies In Cinemas This February

Frances McDormand in Three Billboards In Ebbing Missouri
Shaping to be this year’s major award frontrunners, 20th Century Fox’s / Fox Searchlight’s highly-acclaimed films “The Shape of Water” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” have already bagged major awards from the 75th Golden Globe Awards and the 23rd Critics’ Choice Awards.

“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” is a darkly comedic drama from Academy Award® winner Martin McDonagh (In Bruges).  After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter’s murder case, Mildred Hayes (Academy Award® winner Frances McDormand) makes a bold move, commissioning three signs leading into her town with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby (Academy Award® nominee Woody Harrelson), the town's revered chief of police. When his second-in-command Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell), an immature mother’s boy with a penchant for violence, gets involved, the battle between Mildred and Ebbing's law enforcement is only exacerbated.  A last stand erupts in as a mother is pushed to the edge by her daughter’s unsolved murder.

From this year’s Golden Globe Awards, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” has already won Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Screenplay for a Motion Picture – Martin McDonagh, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Drama – Frances McDormand and Best Supporting Actor – Sam Rockwell.  The film also took home major awards in this year’s Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Acting Ensemble, Best Actress – Frances McDormand and Best Supporting Actor – Sam Rockwell.

Movies: “Pitch Perfect 3” Scores All-Time Biggest Opening Weekend For Musical-Comedy


MANILA, Jan. 16, 2018 – They saved the biggest for last! Universal Pictures' Pitch Perfect 3 sang its way straight to the Philippine box-office to the tune of P101-M – the industry's highest opening weekend ever for a musical-comedy.

That figure also represents the sixth biggest opening weekend ever for a Universal Pictures title, ahead of 2015's Fast and Furious 7 (at P97.9-M); and the all-time biggest January opening for Universal, surpassing last year's P65-M debut of The Great Wall.

In the US, the Bella's farewell run has grossed a resounding $94.7-M and $67.7-M internationally with numerous markets yet to open.

Movies: “The Greates Showman” Sneak Previews On January 22 And 23 In Sselect Cinemas


The sneak previews of “The Greatest Showman” have been set on January 22 and 23 before its nationwide release on January 31.

Starring an extremely talented ensemble cast composed of Hugh Jackman,  Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson and Keala Settle, “The Greatest Showman” is the most thrilling musical movie ever filmed for the big screen.  With original songs by then unknown and now Oscar-winning duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, “The Greatest Showman” told through powerful series of dance and songs is a full-on celebration of humanity, our oddities and the larger-than-life belief in oneself amidst impossible hurdles.

It’s a classic rags-to-riches story about a man who started out life with nothing, but by the sheer force of his imagination and ambition, realized his dreams, going on to transform entertainment, while becoming a global sensation. An optimist and an idealist responsible for inventing the Big Top, P.T. Barnum’s story is nothing short of remarkable. Hugh Jackman takes the leading role and it is impossible to imagine anyone other than the charismatic, Oscar-nominated and Tony-winning actor playing the legendary 19th-century impresario and showman.

Movies: “Jumanji” Roars To A P115.3-M Gross In PH, Opens At No.1


MANILA, Jan. 15, 2018 – The Filipino audience embraced the thrills and comedic antics of Columbia Pictures' Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, hurling the comedy adventure to the No.1 spot of the box-office with a 7-day opening weekend of a roaring P115,275,439.

The Dwayne Johnson blockbuster now holds the record for the sixth biggest opening for a Columbia Pictures title, bested only by, in descending order, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man 2, The Amazing Spider-Man.

Welcomed by local critics with superlative reviews, Jumanji signals a great year-starter for Columbia which still has potential hits Insidious: The Last Key, Venom, The Girl in the Spider's Web, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse for the rest of the year.

Movies: Filipino Artist Wins “Insidious: The Last Key” Alternative Poster Contest


MANILA, Jan. 15, 2018 – The Insidious: The Last Key art activation campaign that Blumhouse Productions, the powerhouse studio of blockbuster thrillers (The Purge, Get Out, Split) collaborated with the open-source creative platform Talenthouse, has recently ended with Blumhouse's Jason Blum himself selecting the five winners from participants all over the world.

Among the winning entries is created by Filipino visual artist, Adriann Delmo from Cavite. He is joined in the winners' circle by artists from Peru, Ecuador, Spain and France.

The five winning pieces of artwork are featured in Insidious: The Last Key's international marketing campaign and received a cash prize of $2,000 each.

Movies: Wilson, Helms Go On A Roadtrip In Search Of Dad In “Father Figures”


From the filmmakers behind “The Hangover” comes the new comedy “Father Figures” starring Owen Wilson and Ed Helms as twin brothers whose eccentric mother raised them to believe their father had died when they were young. When they discover this to be a lie, they set out together to find their real father, and end up learning more about their mother than they probably ever wanted to know.

The adult comedy will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Trinoma and Greenbelt 1) starting January 17.

"Father Figures" is Wilson and Helms' first big-screen pairing, and since their interaction is the backbone of every scene there was a lot riding on their chemistry. Luckily, there wasn't much of a learning curve. "Owen Wilson is one of the funniest people I have ever met in my entire life," Helms proclaims. "Any time you meet a co-star, you spend about a week or two figuring out how they work and what makes them tick. With Owen, it took about two days for us to find this rhythm and be in sync and crack each other up."

Movies: Dystopian Dramedy, Bitterseet Sci-Fi Adventure In “Downsizing”


From the Oscar-winning writer-director of The Descendants and Sideways, comes Paramount Pictures' new quirky comedy Downsizing directed by Alexander Payne and starring Matt Damon.

The film will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas starting January 24.

Downsizing imagines what might happen if, as a solution to over-population, Norwegian scientists discover how to shrink humans to five inches tall and propose a 200-year global transition from big to small.

Movies: Watch New Video For “Call Me By Your Name” Song `Mystery Of Love'

Featuring clips from the Luca Guadagnino-directed film


Music artist Sufjan Stevens has shared the music video for “Mystery of Love,” his track written for the critically acclaimed and award-winning love story, Call Me By Your Name.

The video features clips from the film, as well as footage taken at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale of Naples.

Check out the video at http://youtu.be/KQT32vW61eI and watch Call Me By Your Name exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas starting January 31.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Movie Review: The Greatest Showman




Heeelloooooo! I'm back to writing movie reviews (hopefully, on a regular basis), after receiving a diagnosis of Heart Failure, two months after giving birth, it was a complication from my Gestational Hypertension. 

Honestly, I'm still not sure what the future holds, I took an extended medical leave for three months to rest. I'm back to work, taking care of my son during the weekends and hopefully back to my good old self. In the mean time, here is my first review for 2018-the historical period drama musical "The Greatest Showman" !!!

I came in the theater with no expectations about the film, I haven't listened to any of the songs prior to seeing the film, which is unusual for me given that I'm such a music nerd. I only saw this special on Fox Movies, which really didn't reveal much, except that Hugh Jackman is really the ultimate performer (as if we didn't already know that already!) and that the original song from the movie, "This is Me" recently won "Best Original Song" during the recent Golden Globes. So, despite not knowing any of the songs, there I was, wanting to get up from my seat to stomp my feet and start to singing and dancing.

I loved the transitions used in the film, it had that theater feel, where one dance twirl would move the story nine months forward, aside from that it is visually appealing, it keeps the story at a quick pace. 

Additional praise for incorporating sound effects in the film to give emphasis to the songs. I'm a real sucker for that!   



The story follows a pretty simple format, P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman) is a poor tailor's son, who works for the rich Halletts, P.T. falls in love with the Hallett's daughter Charity (Michelle Williams) and they marry years later and have two daughters. 

Charity is happy with their simple life but Barnum wants more, after being laid off work, he gets a bank loan (through not so honest means) and starts his "business venture" which through some changes becomes "Barnum's Circus"

Aside from being a music nerd, I'm pretty much a history buff and while I already mentioned that the artistic liberties taken and historical inaccuracies in the film can be disappointing and deceiving, there really is more to the story of P.T. Barnum and his circus than the movie lets on. 

Some of the characters in the film, are even composite characters (composite characters are made up of more than one individual). A quick Google search will make for additional history lessons, just in case you are interested. 

Its also interesting to note that when the film was released in the US in December of 2017, this was seven months seven months after the circus stopped operating (after a 146-year run), amid animal cruelty cases and a decline in ticket sales.    

Okay. I know its not a happy thought but just in case you guys needed a little reminder, you might also want to think of it in a way, that this is the closest to a Circus you will probably be, also so you know what to say to your kids when they ask. 

Historical inaccuracies aside, the film also celebrates being different and unique and raising your freak flag high! Nowadays, we have supermodels who suffer from skin disorders like Vitiligo but its always a good reminder for us to be more accepting of the outcasts of society and those who are different from us. It still makes me sad when I hear of stories of bullying and this goes beyond being bullied for your physical appearance but other aspects as well (interest and passions, mental health, social status, among others).         


This review will not be complete, without singing praise for the performance of Hugh Jackman, Zac Effron, Zendaya and Michelle Williams. 

We all know that Huge Jackman-errr Hugh Jackman (watch the hilarious Crosswalk Musical of "The Greatest Showman" on The Late, Late Show With James Corden here) is the ultimate triple threat and he definitely delivered on the expectations of him, being 'the greatest showman' -so to speak, so I will just leave it at that. 

Michelle Williams has a slew of awards under her name but I didn't know she was such a good singer and dancer! Okay, so she does Broadway too-my bad! 

It was really a pleasant surprise to see her sing and dance with Hugh Jackman! 

Can I just say that I am so happy to see Zac Efron put his High School Musical props to good use in this film, I've kind of gotten tired of him doing adult romantic comedies. Its nice to see him put those pecs to good use with those impressive dance moves while belting out those tunes. 

Now, I don't really follow the career of Zendaya since she is from a younger generation of entertainers, I first saw her in Spiderman: Homecoming and I must say that this Tita of Manila was really impressed with her voice, her trapeze act and chemistry with Zac Efron was on point.  

8 out of 10. "The Greatest Showman" is a musical spectacle which will make you stomp your feet and whose music will stir and move you; its story telling through music is a sensory overload. Although liberties taken with the artistic license, AKA historical inaccuracies and a rather simple and predictable story was the price that had to be paid but its all worth it, for a memorable cinematic and musical experience. 

"The Greatest Showman" will be having previews on January 22 and 23, before being released nationwide on January 31. 

The soundtrack to the film is already available for streaming on Spotify, you can follow me ica_cheng for my personal favorites from the OST. :)



    

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Movies: Fans `Welcomed' To The Set Of “Venom” In New Featurette


Tom Hardy and Director Ruben Fleischer welcome you to the set of Columbia Pictures' upcoming super hero movie, Venom.

The Studio has just released new footage from the Brazil Comic-Con panel last month, showing Fleischer and Hardy from the Venom set in Atlanta.

Check out the newly released featurette at https://youtu.be/3B-fiIh5miU and watch Venom in Philippine cinemas this 2018.

Friday, January 12, 2018

Movies: Kendrick Lamar, Anthony 'Top Dawg' Tiffith To Curate, Produce “Black Panther: The Album”


Kendrick Lamar has royalty inside his DNA. Marvel Studios is pumped to announce that Grammy Award-winning artist Kendrick Lamar and Billboard Magazine’s Executive of the Year Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith will curate and produce “Black Panther: The Album” with music from and inspired by the Marvel Studios film “Black Panther.”

Kendrick Lamar and label mate SZA teamed up for lead single “All the Stars” from the upcoming soundtrack.

Listen to the single at http://youtu.be/GfCqMv--ncA now and watch “Black Panther” in Philippine cinemas February 14.

Movies: Gleeful Teaser Trailer Arrives For “Teen Titans Go! To The Movies”


When the Teen Titans go to the big screen, they go big! Watch the official teaser trailer for “Teen Titans GO! to the Movies” that's just been released by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warnerbrosphils/videos/1934854636544068/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/N57Zpp7lHQM

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Movies: Blockbuster Producer Behind Chris Hemsworth's “12 Strong”


From blockbuster filmmaker Jerry Bruckheimer (“Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, “Black Hawk Down”), Chris Hemsworth (“Thor,” “The Avengers” films) and Oscar nominee Michael Shannon (“Revolutionary Road,” “Nocturnal Animals”) star in “12 Strong,” a powerful new war drama based on the best-selling book Horse Soldiers. 

“12 Strong” is a story of heroism based on true events that unfolded a world away in the aftermath of 9/11.  Inspired by the true story of the harrowing aftermath of 9/11, the war drama “12 Strong” sees Chris Hemsworth as Captain Mitch Nelson and his small band of U.S. Special Forces soldiers (which include Michal Shannon, Michael Pena, and Trevante Rhodes) as they are sent into Afghanistan to hunt down the Taliban terrorists and their Al Qaeda brethren for orchestrating and executing the attack on the United States back in 2001.

Overcoming cultural differences in a foreign land, once in Afghanistan, the soldiers soon find that they won’t be able to rely on their high-tech gear or any back-up in order to complete this mission. They eventually joined forces with Northern Alliance General Dostum (played by Navid Negahban) and his band of Afghani soldiers in order to fight this common enemy.  Fighting against an insurmountable number of adversaries, the U.S. Special Forces soldiers rode to war on horses along with their new allies in order to strike a group who’s a common enemy also terrorizing people in Afghanistan for years.

Movies: Get Possessed Again By Lin Shaye With “Insidious: The Last Key”


Dr. Elise Rainier—a brilliant psychic, clairvoyant and demonologist—has spent her life guiding innocents back into the light…and thwarting creatures that have opened unholy doors into eternal darkness.

As a child who could communicate with the dead, she accidentally unleashed something unspeakable into our world, in Columbia Pictures' new horror-thriller Insidious: The Last Key

Lin Shaye was thrilled with the opportunity to play Elise as a badass. “I’m learning more about Elise through each film,” says the actress. “When we first meet her in Insidious, she’s a confident clairvoyant, an empath. She takes on other people’s feelings very strongly, which allows her to respond to them deeply. She’s a seer with a gift that she didn’t ask for, but one that she was born with.”

Movies: Sex Comedy “Blocker” Reveals Two Trailers


Universal Pictures has just unveiled two trailers for its upcoming adult comedy, Blockers, starring John Cena, Leslie Mann and Ike Barinholtz as as a trio of parents who spend prom night trying to stop their teenage kids from having sex.

Check out the trailers at http://youtu.be/iRjMIhBQUD8 and http://youtu.be/eCDlXsOD5aY, and watch Blockers in Philippine cinemas this May 2018.

When three parents stumble upon their daughters’ pact to lose their virginity at prom, they launch a covert one-night operation to stop the teens from sealing the deal. Leslie Mann (Knocked Up), Ike Barinholtz (Suicide Squad) and John Cena (Trainwreck) star in Blockers, the directorial debut of Kay Cannon (writer of the Pitch Perfect series).

The comedy is produced by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and James Weaver, under their Point Grey Pictures banner (Neighbors, This Is the End), alongside Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg (Harold & Kumar series) and DMG Entertainment’s Chris Fenton (47 Ronin).

Good Universe’s Nathan Kahane and Joseph Drake (Don’t Breathe, Juno) executive produce with Chris Cowles (Collide) of DMG and Josh Fagen, Dave Stassen and Jonathan McCoy. The film is written by brothers Brian & Jim Kehoe, Hurwitz & Schlossberg and Eben Russell.

Blockers is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Movies: Beware The “Slender Man” In New Teaser Poster


Columbia Pictures has just unveiled the teaser poster for its upcoming horror-thriller Slender Man which may be seen below.

In a small town in Massachusetts, four high school girls perform a ritual in an attempt to debunk the lore of Slender Man. When one of the girls goes mysteriously missing, they begin to suspect that she is, in fact, HIS latest victim.

Sylvian White (The Losers) directs the film from a screenplay by David Birke (Elle). Slender Man stars Joey King, Julia Goldani-Telles, Jaz Sinclair, Annalise Basso, and Javier Botet.

In Philippine cinemas 2018, Slender Man is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. #CanYouSeeHim

Movies: “Truth Or Dare” Teaser Trailer Invites Yout To Play


Universal Pictures has released the first trailer for the new Blumhouse horror film, Truth or Dare, co-written and directed by Kick-Ass 2 helmer Jeff Wadlow.

Check out the trailer at http://youtu.be/c0BLsxEIM9w and watch Truth or Dare in Philippine cinemas this 2018.

Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars) and Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf) lead the cast of Blumhouse’s Truth or Dare, a supernatural thriller from Blumhouse Productions (Happy Death Day, Get Out, Split). A harmless game of “Truth or Dare” among friends turns deadly when someone—or something—begins to punish those who tell a lie—or refuse the dare.

Directed by Jeff Wadlow (Kick-Ass 2), the thriller co-stars Violett Beane, Nolan Gerard Funk, Hayden Szeto and Sophia Taylor Ali. The film was produced by Blumhouse’s Jason Blum and executive produced by Wadlow.


Truth or Dare is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Movies: Jennifer Lawrence Gets Lethal in “Red Sparrow” Latest Trailer Reveal


Following the highly intriguing teaser of Jennifer Lawrence’s spy thriller “Red Sparrow” comes its latest trailer revealing the most lethal female spy to hit Philippine cinemas soon this February 28  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGPpngLLcmY

Jennifer Lawrence stars as Dominika Egorova in “Red Sparrow,” who is drafted against her will to become a “sparrow,” a trained seductress in the Russian security service. Dominika learns to use her body as a weapon, but struggles to maintain her sense of self during the dehumanizing training process. Finding her power in an unfair system, she emerges as one of the program’s strongest assets. Her first target is Nate Nash (Joel Edgerton), a CIA officer who handles the agency’s most sensitive infiltration of Russian intelligence. The two young operatives fall into a spiral of attraction and deception, which threatens their careers, allegiances and the security of both countries. Based on the book by former CIA officer Jason Matthews, “Red Sparrow” reunites Jennifer Lawrence with her “Hunger Games” director, Francis Lawrence with with Joel Edgerton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Charlotte Rampling, Mary-Louise Parker and Jeremy Irons rounding out the cast.


“Red Sparrow” opens February 28 in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Movies: Warner Bros. Reels-Off 2018 With “Tomb Raider,” “Ready Player One,” “Fantastic Beasts” Sequel


MANILA, January 9, 2017 – Fantasy-adventure, action-thriller, outrageous comedy, horror-suspense and heart-wrenching drama – the genres are well-represented in Warner Bros. Pictures' line-up of films for 2018.

Fresh from crossing the $5 billion mark at the global box office last year, Warner is poised yet again for a smash, blockbusting 2018! Check out what's in store from the Studio below.

Tomb Raider. The action-adventure will set a young and resolute Lara Croft on a path toward becoming a global hero. Leaving everything she knows behind, Lara goes in search of her late father’s last-known destination: a fabled tomb on a mythical island that might be somewhere off the coast of Japan. The stakes couldn’t be higher for Lara, who must learn to push herself beyond her limits as she journeys into the unknown.


Ready Player One. From filmmaker Steven Spielberg comes the science fiction action adventure based on Ernest Cline’s bestseller. The film is set in 2045, with the world on the brink of chaos and collapse. But the people have found salvation in the OASIS, an expansive virtual reality universe created by the brilliant and eccentric James Halliday. When Halliday dies, he leaves his immense fortune to the first person to find a digital Easter egg he has hidden somewhere in the OASIS, sparking a contest that grips the entire world.


Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. At the end of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings. In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead.


Father Figures. Ed Helms and Owen Wilson play Peter and Kyle Reynolds, two brothers whose eccentric mother (Glenn Close) raised them to believe their father had died when they were young. When they discover this to be a lie, they set out to find their real father, learning more about their mother than they probably ever wanted to know.


Game Night. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams star as Max and Annie, whose weekly couples game night gets kicked up a notch when Max’s charismatic brother, Brooks (Kyle Chandler), arranges a murder mystery party, complete with fake thugs and faux federal agents. So when Brooks gets kidnapped, it’s all part of the game…right?


Rampage. Global megastar Dwayne Johnson headlines this action adventure about primatologist Davis Okoye who shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent, silverback gorilla who has been in his care since birth. But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry mutates this gentle ape into a raging creature of enormous size. Okoye teams with a discredited genetic engineer to secure an antidote, fighting his way through an ever-changing battlefield, not only to halt a global catastrophe but to save the fearsome creature that was once his friend.


A Star is Born. Bradley Cooper directs and stars with Lady Gaga, in her first leading role in a major motion picture. In this new take on the tragic love story, he plays seasoned musician Jackson Maine, who discovers—and falls in love with—struggling artist Ally (Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer… until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.


Oceans 8. The tide has turned and it’s a whole new “Ocean’s” when eight women plan and execute a heist in New York. Sandra Bullock stars in the title role, alongside Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, with Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter.

The Nun. Filmmaker James Wan explores another dark corner of that universe with “The Nun.” When a young nun at a cloistered abbey in Romania takes her own life, a priest with a haunted past and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate. Together they uncover the order’s unholy secret.