Matt writes: Leonard Maltin's invaluable Movie Guides were IMDb before the dawn of the internet. I was always impressed by how he managed to capture the essence of a picture in only a few sentences, and now the iconic film critic has graced us with a memoir, Starstruck: My Unlikely Road to Hollywood, that is guaranteed to be a must-read for film buffs of all stripes. Click here to read Donald Liebenson's in-depth interview with Maltin, and also be sure to watch the video embedded below from the 2013 TCM Classic Film Festival in which Maltin pays heartfelt tribute to Roger Ebert.
Trailers
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.
The Lost Daughter (2021). Written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal (based on the novel by Elena Ferrante). Starring Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Peter Sarsgaard. Synopsis: A woman's beach vacation takes a dark turn when she begins to confront the troubles of her past. Debuts on Netflix on December 31st, 2021.
Being the Ricardos (2021). Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. Starring Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, J.K. Simmons. Synopsis: Follows Lucy and Desi as they face a crisis that could end their careers and another that could end their marriage. Debuts on Amazon Prime on December 10th, 2021.
The Tender Bar (2022). Directed by George Clooney. Written by William Monahan (based on the book by J.R. Moehringer). Starring Ben Affleck, Tye Sheridan, Christopher Lloyd. Synopsis: A boy growing up on Long Island seeks out father figures among the patrons at his uncle's bar. Debuts on Prime Video on January 7th, 2022.
Cusp (2021). Directed by Isabel Bethencourt and Parker Hill. Synopsis: In the lazy days of a Texas summer, three teenage girls navigate friendship, relationships, and toxic masculinity as they make the transition to the adult world. Debuts on Showtime on November 26th, 2021.
Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time (2021). Directed by Robert B. Weide and Don Argott. Synopsis: Recounting the extraordinary life of author Kurt Vonnegut, and the 25-year friendship with the filmmaker who set out to document it. Debuts in the US on November 19th, 2021.
Mayor Pete (2021). Directed by Jesse Moss. Synopsis: An inside look at Pete Buttigieg campaign to run for President of the United States. Debuts on Prime Video on November 12th, 2021.
Zeroes and Ones (2021). Written and directed by Abel Ferrara. Starring Ethan Hawke, Valerio Mastandrea, Cristina Chiriac. Synopsis: An American soldier stationed in Rome with the Vatican blown up, embarks on a hero's journey to uncover and defend against an unknown enemy threatening the entire world. Debuts in the US on November 19th, 2021.
France (2021). Written and directed by Bruno Dumont. Starring Léa Seydoux, Blanche Gardin, Benjamin Biolay. Synopsis: A celebrity journalist, juggling her busy career and personal life, has her life over-turned by a freak car accident. Debuts in the US on December 10th, 2021.
Ambulance (2022). Directed by Michael Bay. Written by Chris Fedak, Laurits Munch-Petersen and Lars Andreas Pedersen. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eiza González. Synopsis: Two robbers steal an ambulance after their heist goes awry. Debuts in the US on February 18th, 2022.
The Feast (2021). Directed by Lee Haven Jones. Written by Roger Williams. Starring Annes Elwy, Nia Roberts, Julian Lewis Jones. Synopsis: Filmed in Welsh, the picture follows a young woman serving privileged guests at a dinner party in a remote house in rural Wales. The assembled guests do not realize they are about to eat their last supper. Debuts in the US on November 19th, 2021.
The Beta Test (2021). Written and directed by Jim Cummings and PJ McCabe. Starring Jim Cummings, Virginia Newcomb and PJ McCabe. Synopsis: A married Hollywood agent receives a mysterious letter for an anonymous sexual encounter and becomes ensnared in a sinister world of lying, infidelity, and digital data. Debuts in the US on November 5th, 2021.
Red Notice (2021). Written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot. Synopsis: An Interpol agent tracks the world's most wanted art thief. Debuts on Netflix on November 12th, 2021.
Uncharted (2022). Directed by Ruben Fleischer. Written by Art Marcum, Matt Holloway and Rafe Judkins.Starring Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Banderas. Synopsis: The story is a prequel to the games, starring Holland as a younger Drake, showing us details of how he came to meet and befriend Sully. Debuts in the US on February 18th, 2022.
Bruised (2021). Directed by Halle Berry. Written by Michelle Rosenfarb. Starring Halle Berry, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Adan Canto. Synopsis: A disgraced MMA fighter finds redemption in the cage and the courage to face her demons when the son she had given up as an infant unexpectedly reenters her life. Debuts on Netflix on November 24th, 2021.
Night Raiders (2021). Written and directed by Danis Goulet. Starring Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Brooklyn Letexier-Hart, Amanda Plummer. Synopsis: A mother joins an underground band of vigilantes to try and rescue her daughter from a state-run institution. Debuts in the US on November 12th, 2021.
Home Sweet Home Alone (2021). Directed by Dan Mazer. Written by Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell (based on characters created by John Hughes). Starring Archie Yates, Ellie Kemper, Rob Delaney. Synopsis: A married couple tries to steal back a valuable heirloom from a troublesome kid. Debuts on Disney+ on November 12th, 2021.
The Batman (2022). Directed by Matt Reeves. Written by Matt Reeves, Peter Craig and Mattson Tomlin (based on characters created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger). Starring Robert Pattinson, Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis. Synopsis: In his second year of fighting crime, Batman uncovers corruption in Gotham City that connects to his own family while facing a serial killer known as the Riddler. Debuts in the US on March 4th, 2022.
Val Lewton's Horror Classics
Matt writes: Just in time for Halloween, our contributor Bill Ryan has penned an essay entitled "Death is Good: The Horror Films of Val Lewton," which celebrates the nine horror films that the legendary producer made for RKO between 1942 and 1946, like "The Seventh Victim" and "Cat People."
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Matt writes: Our Far-Flung Correspondent Jana Monji was privileged to pay a visit to the long-awaited Academy Museum of Motion Pictures upon its grand opening on September 30th. You can read her full report here.
Free Movies
Spirit of Youth (1938). Directed by Harry L. Fraser. Written by Arthur Hoerl. Starring Joe Louis, Clarence Muse, Edna Mae Harris. Synopsis: The story of the rise of boxer Joe Thomas, which paralleled the life of Joe Louis.
Watch "Spirit of Youth"
Carnival Story (1954). Directed by Kurt Neumann. Written by Kurt Neumann, Hans Jacoby, Dalton Trumbo and Michael Wilson. Starring Anne Baxter, Steve Cochran, Lyle Bettger. Synopsis: An American carnival in Germany sets the scene for sin, sex and melodrama.
Watch "Carnival Story"
The Black 6 (1973). Directed by Matt Cimber. Written by Mikel Angel. Starring Robert Howard, Cindy Daly, Mikel Angel. Synopsis: When a Black high school student is killed after being caught dating a white girl, the boy's brother, who is a member of a Black biker gang, hears about it and comes to town to avenge his brother's death.
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