[Trailer] Focus
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Before Will Smith and Margot Robbie share the screen in DC and Warner Bros.' upcoming Suicide Squad adaptation, they'll be starring as the leads in Crazy, Stupid, Love directors Glen Ficarra and John Requa's next film, Focus. Smith stars as Nicky, a veteran con artist who falls for Robbie's Jess, a newcomer to the con game. However, Nicky suddenly calls off the blooming romance when Jess gets too close. Three years later, Jess shows up during one of Nicky's schemes, causing the experienced con artist to lose his focus and potentially fall into danger.
Focus is Smith's first lead role since 2013's abysmal After Earth, and he appears to be back in Hollywood lead man form. Robbie, meanwhile, follows up her breakout performance in The Wolf of Wall Street in a role that should give her even more exposure and further show off her range. Focus looks like it balances both comedy and action elements well, and should be (at least) a moderate box office hit.
Focus will be in theaters on February 27, 2015. You can read the film's official synopsis below.
Will Smith stars as Nicky, a seasoned master of misdirection who becomes romantically involved with novice con artist Jess (Margot Robbie). As he’s teaching her the tricks of the trade, she gets too close for comfort and he abruptly breaks it off. Three years later, the former flame—now an accomplished femme fatale—shows up in Buenos Aires in the middle of the high stakes racecar circuit. In the midst of Nicky’s latest, very dangerous scheme, she throws his plans for a loop…and the consummate con man off his game.
[Trailer] American Sniper
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Clint Eastwood's second film of the year following this summer's Jersey Boys could be one of his best films to date. Based on the true story of Chris Kyle, American Sniper stars Bradley Cooper as a Navy SEAL sniper struggling to balance his military life with his family life. It sounds like typical fodder of modern war films (especially those that are centered around the Iraq War, re: The Hurt Locker), but with Eastwood's eye for balancing human drama with tense moments of conflict. The film received lukewarm reviews following its premiere at the AFI Fest in November. However, it's also received a few accolades, including being named to the American Film Institute's Top Ten Films of the Year and the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films and Best Director for Eastwood.
American Sniper opens in limited theaters on December 25th to meet the Academy Awards consideration deadline, with a wide release set for January 16th. You can read the film's official synopsis below.
U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms. His pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his courageous exploits spread, he earns the nickname “Legend.” However, his reputation is also growing behind enemy lines, putting a price on his head and making him a prime target of insurgents. He is also facing a different kind of battle on the home front: striving to be a good husband and father from halfway around the world.
Despite the danger, as well as the toll on his family at home, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, personifying the spirit of the SEAL creed to “leave no one behind.” But upon returning to his wife, Taya Renae Kyle (Sienna Miller), and kids, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.
[Trailer] Knight of Cups
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The once-elusive Terrence Malick has been going through a public resurgence in recent years, emerging from a five-year absence to work on six films between 2011 to 2016 (The Tree of Life, To the Wonder, The Better Angels, Knight of Cups, Project V (AKA Untitled Terrence Malick project), and Voyage of Time). While Knight of Cups was shot in 2012, the film has been in post-production for awhile now, given Malick's meticulous process in ensuring his films are as close to perfect as he can craft them. Finally, Knight of Cups was confirmed to make its debut at next year's Berlin Film Festival in February. To commemorate the announcement is Knight of Cups' first trailer.
At first glance, gone is the existential awareness that pervaded The Tree of Life. While the film still retains the narrative voiceover that's come to be expected of Malick films and the overall visual aesthetic, the theme is a little less heady by first impressions. Christian Bale stars as Rick, a man who finds himself partaking too much in life's overindulgences. There's no official synopsis, but telling by the trailer, Knight of Cups sounds like a The Wolf of Wall Street done by Terrence Malick, which is hopefully as awesome as it sounds. The film also stars Cate Blanchett and Natalie Portman in primary roles.
There's no word on a wide release date, so if you find yourselves in Berlin, be sure to attend the film's premiere.
[Trailer] Terminator Genisys
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I had no idea what's going on with the Terminator storyline anymore, and it honestly bugs me to no end. It's not rooted in any allegiance or deep fandom to the Terminator franchise; rather, I love tracing and threading together time travel stories. However, with four films and a TV series under its belt, it's about time somebody took over the franchise and attempted to settle all of the various threads and inconsistencies.
Terminator Genisys serves as a reboot of the entire Terminator franchise thus far while also establishing a new trilogy going forward. Some things are still as is: Sarah Connor (Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke) is still humanity's savior; John Connor (Jason Clarke) is still the leader of the human resistance in the future; T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is still a Terminator that ultimately protects Sarah; Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) is still John's right-hand man and his father. However, what differs this time around is the timeline itself: In Genisys, Sarah was orphaned at a young age by a Terminator, but is protected and raised by the original T-800, which allows the production to feature a badass Sarah Connor from the get-go rather than the reluctant Sarah Connor of the past. Genisys also features a new T-1000 played by G.I. Joe's Lee Byung-hun.
I don't think I'll ever figure out the Terminator narrative, and that might be for the best. However, it won't prevent me from seeing Terminator Genisys when it hits theaters on July 1st, 2015. Who can resist seeing Arnold return to the role that rocketed him to stardom? He did say he'd be back, after all...
[Trailer] Jurassic World
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Despite a countdown that implied the first official trailer for Jurassic World would premiere later this week, Universal has gone ahead and released our first look at the highly-anticipated Jurassic Park sequel. Starring one of this year's biggest stars, Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Parks and Recreation), Jurassic World returns to Jurassic Park, a park where dinosaurs were revived thanks to genetic engineering. With sales and attendance declining, the park's scientists attempt to boost visibility by combining the genes of multiple dinosaurs to create a Frankenstein-esque dinosaur hybrid. However, when it escapes and is let loose in the park, it poses a huge danger for both the park's staff and attendees.
This first trailer does enough to introduce the film's plot and main conflict, but also highlights just how far we've come with CGI since Jurassic Park III's release in 2001. There are some armchair logistical questions, like how the park is still open after all of events that took place in the previous three films, but I'm sure all of this will be addressed within the context of the film. Then again, I'm just nitpicking and trying to contain my excitement over dinosaurs returning to the big screen and becoming cool again.
Jurassic World will be in theaters on June 12, 2015.
[Trailer] The Sheik
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I can't quite explain how it happened, but wrestling has somehow invaded my life recently for the first time since I was 14. While I don't actively watch wrestling on TV, I do spend an absurd amount reading wrestling blogs and following wrestlers on social media. Hell, as I write this, my cousin and I are playing through the recently released WWE 2K15. Despite falling out of interest in the "sport" since 8th grade, nostalgia (and WWE documentaries on Netflix) has effectively pulled me back into the fray.
While not possessing the same mainstream appeal and popularity as Hulk Hogan, The Iron Sheik was one of WWF's most popular antagonists, going toe-to-toe with Hulk Hogan a number of times as a "heel," which is a wrestling term for wrestlers that portray bad guy characters. Essentially, Hulk Hogan wouldn't have become the pop culture icon he is now without his rivalry with The Iron Sheik. The Sheik is a documentary tracing the life of the man behind the character: Khosrow Vaziri. With interviews from such notable wrestlers as Hogan, Dwayne Johnson, Mick Foley, Bret Hart, and more, The Sheik looks to be a comprehensive and insightful look into the wrestler's life.
The Sheik will be available on VOD and other digital platforms on December 2nd.
[Trailer] Amira & Sam
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A romantic comedy starring Freaks and Geeks and Silicon Valley star Martin Starr? Sounds like a bit of a stretch at first, but after watching the trailer for Amira & Sam, the pairing fits. Starr stars as Sam, an army veteran adapting back with civilian life when he befriends a former translator's niece, Amira (Dina Shihabi). Like many romantic comedies, the two don't get along at first, but when Amira faces issues due to her questionable immigration status, Sam offers to protect and help her. Before long, their friendship begins to develop into something more. A subplot also features Sam's cousin Charlie (Before I Disappear's Paul Wesley) offering him an opportunity at his hedge fund that primarily targets army vets, but it leads to something much more sinister.
Martin Starr may not be the typical rom-com leading man, but his everyman charm and natural geekiness helps audiences empathize with him easier. Sean Mullin, who is making his feature debut as both writer and director, previously served as an Army officer in Germany, so his perspective and insight on the film should keep the plot grounded and realistic.
Sam & Amira will be available in theaters and On Demand on January 30th, 2015.