Matt writes: RogerEbert.com publisher Chaz Ebert recently announced that Oscar-nominated French Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award at the 2021 TIFF Tribute Awards, which will take place during the 46th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival in September. This coveted Golden Thumb award has previously been given to such distinguished directors as Martin Scorsese, Wim Wenders and Agnès Varda. Villeneuve received a Best Director Oscar nomination for "Arrival," and also received acclaim for such pictures as "Prisoners," "Sicario" and "Blade Runner 2049" (his latest film, the much-anticipated remake of "Dune" starring Zendaya, will screen at TIFF next month). Below is an excerpt from Chaz's official announcement...

"Villeneuve's 2010 breakthrough feature, 'Incendies,' received an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and was praised by Roger Ebert, who wrote that the film 'wants to be much more than a thriller and succeeds in demonstrating how senseless and futile it is to hate others because of their religion. Most people do not choose their religions but have them forced upon themselves by birth, and the lesson of 'Incendies' is that an accident of birth is not a reason for hatred.'"

Trailers

House of Gucci (2021). Directed by Ridley Scott. Written by Becky Johnston and Roberto Bentivegna (based on the book by Sara Gay Forden). Starring Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto. Synopsis: Spanning three decades of love, betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately murder, we see what a name means, what it's worth, and how far a family will go for control. Debuts in the US on November 24th, 2021.

Vivo (2021). Directed by Kirk DeMicco and Brandon Jeffords. Written by Kirk DeMicco and Quiara Alegría Hudes. Starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, Zoe Saldana, Brian Tyree Henry. Synopsis: Sony Pictures Animation's first-ever musical adventure, featuring all-new original songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda, will take audiences on an epic adventure to gorgeous and vibrant locations never before seen in animation. Debuts on Netflix on August 6th, 2021.

King Richard (2021). Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green. Written by Zach Baylin. Starring Will Smith, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton. Synopsis: A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard Williams. Debuts in the US on November 19th, 2021.

Flag Day (2021). Directed by Sean Penn. Written by Jez Butterworth (based on the book by Jennifer Vogel). Starring Sean Penn, Dylan Penn, Regina King. Synopsis: A father lives a double life as a counterfeiter, bank robber and con man in order to provide for his daughter. Debuts in the US on August 20th, 2021.

Mogul Mowgli (2021). Directed by Bassam Tariq. Written by Bassam Tariq and Riz Ahmed. Starring Riz Ahmed, Anjana Vasan, Aiysha Hart. Synopsis: A British Pakistani rapper is on the cusp of his first world tour, but is struck down by an illness that threatens to derail his big break. Debuts in the US on September 3rd, 2021.

Mad God (2021). Written and directed by Phil Tippett. Starring Alex Cox, Niketa Roman, Satish Ratakonda. Synopsis: A corroded diving bell descends amidst a ruined city and the Assassin emerges from it to explore a labyrinth of bizarre landscapes inhabited by freakish denizens. Debuts in the US on August 5th, 2021.

The Card Counter (2021). Written and directed by Paul Schrader. Starring Oscar Isaac, Willem Dafoe, Tiffany Haddish. Synopsis: Told with the director's trademark cinematic intensity, the revenge thriller tells the story of an ex-military interrogator turned gambler haunted by the ghosts of his past. Debuts in the US on September 10th, 2021.

Lamb (2021). Directed by Valdimar Jóhannsson. Written by Valdimar Jóhannsson and Sjón. Starring Noomi Rapace, Hilmir Snær Guðnason, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson. Synopsis: A childless couple, María and Ingvar discover a mysterious newborn on their farm in Iceland. The unexpected prospect of family life brings them much joy, before ultimately destroying them. US release date is TBA.

The Night House (2021). Directed by David Bruckner. Written by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski. Starring Rebecca Hall, Sarah Goldberg, Vondie Curtis-Hall. Synopsis: A widow begins to uncover her recently deceased husband's disturbing secrets. Debuts in the US on August 20th, 2021.

Parallel Mothers (2021). Written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar. Starring Penélope Cruz, Rossy de Palma, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón. Synopsis: The story of two mothers who give birth the same day. Debuts in the US on September 10th, 2021.

Army of Thieves (2021). Directed by Matthias Schweighöfer. Written by Shay Hatten. Starring Matthias Schweighöfer, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ruby O. Fee. Synopsis: A prequel, set before the events of "Army of the Dead," which focuses on German safecracker Ludwig Dieter leading a group of aspiring thieves on a top secret heist during the early stages of the zombie apocalypse. US release date is TBA.

Language Lessons (2021). Directed by Natalie Morales. Written by Natalie Morales and Mark Duplass. Starring Natalie Morales, Mark Duplass, Desean Terry. Synopsis: A Spanish teacher and her student develop an unexpected friendship. Debuts in the US on September 10th, 2021.

Official Competition (2021). Directed by Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat. Written by Mariano Cohn, Andrés Duprat and Gastón Duprat. Starring Penélope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, Irene Escolar. Synopsis: A wealthy businessman hires a famous filmmaker to help make a smash hit film. US release date is TBA.

Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami (2021). Directed by Billy Corben. Synopsis: Two childhood friends go from high school dropouts to the most powerful drug kingpins in Miami in this true story of a crime saga that spanned decades. Debuts on Netflix on August 4th, 2021.

American Rust (2021). Directed by John Dahl. Based on the novel by Philipp Meyer. Starring Jeff Daniels, Maura Tierney, Bill Camp. Synopsis: A compelling family drama that will explore the tattered American dream through the eyes of complicated and compromised chief of police Del Harris in a Rust Belt town in southwest Pennsylvania. Debuts on Showtime on September 12th, 2021.

Nine Perfect Strangers (2021). Directed by Jonathan Levine. Written by John-Henry Butterworth, David E. Kelley, Liane Moriarty and Samantha Strauss. Starring Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon. Synopsis: Nine stressed city dwellers visit a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation. The resort's director is a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies. Debuts on Hulu on August 18th, 2021.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021). Directed by Jason Reitman. Written by Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan (based on the film written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis). Starring Finn Wolfhard, Paul Rudd, Bill Murray. Synopsis: When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind. Debuts in the US on November 11th, 2021.

Dune (2021). Directed by Denis Villeneuve. Written by Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth (based on the novel by Frank Herbert). Starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac. Synopsis: The son of a noble family is entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy. Debuts in the US on October 22nd, 2021.

Celebrating "Gene and Roger"

Matt writes: In celebration of The Ringer's new podcast, "Gene and Roger," in which host Brian Raftery chronicles the history of "Siskel & Ebert," we presented a special edition of Thumbnails focusing on the irreplaceable duo of critics, while reposting our contributor Donald Liebenson's twentieth anniversary article about the show, originally published in The Los Angeles Times, in its entirety. You can listen to an excerpt from the podcast's first episode in the video embedded above.

"Blow Out" Turns 40

Matt writes: Frequent RogerEbert.com contributor Peter Sobczynski penned an in-depth tribute to one of his favorite films, Brian De Palma's 1981 masterpiece, "Blow Out," which screened at Ebertfest in 2016 with star Nancy Allen in attendance. Read Roger Ebert's four-star review of the film here, and watch him and Gene Siskel praising the picture in the video embedded above.

Free Movies

Marie Galante (1934). Directed by Henry King. Written by Reginald Berkeley (based on the novel by Jacques Deval). Starring Ketti Gallian, Spencer Tracy, Ned Sparks. Synopsis: Marie is kidnapped and taken aboard ship, then thrown off at Yucatan. She winds up singing in a café in the Panama Canal zone. There she gets involved in a plot to destroy the canal and runs into American intelligence officer Crawbett.

Watch "Marie Galante"

The Headline Woman (1935). Directed by William Nigh. Written by Jack Natteford and Claire Church. Starring Heather Angel, Roger Pryor, Jack La Rue. Synopsis: When the daughter of a newspaper publisher is falsely charged with murder, a reporter on her father's paper goes into hiding with her. At first hoping to get an exclusive story, the reporter eventually finds himself falling in love and trying to find the real killer.

Watch "The Headline Woman"

Danny Boy (1945). Directed by Terry O. Morse. Written by Raymond L. Schrock. Starring Robert 'Buzz' Henry, Ralph Lewis, Ace the Wonder Dog. Synopsis: The dog of a boy scout is kidnapped at the instigation of a neighbor. The boy gets the help of a war veteran.