What to Watch This Weekend: Cruella, A Quiet Place, Deliver Us From Evil, Welcome Matt, Women, Chaos Walking, Emma, Blue Miracle

For A Stylish Origin Story: Cruella (Theaters and Disney+ Premiere)
Cruella is a stylish, bold origin story and an unexpected surprise from Disney, with a marvelously wicked performance from Stone and a darker, more fashionable film from the House of Mouse.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Quietly Good Sequel: A Quiet Place Part II (Theaters)

A Quiet Place Part II continues the Abbott's story with the same amazing sound effects and trademark muffled horror that made the first movie such an auditory treat.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Korean Man on Fire: Deliver Us From Evil (Digital and Physical)

Deliver Us From Evil has exciting action, a booming soundtrack, and a gritty story that starts as a slow-burning crime thriller and ends as a raging action inferno.  For more information, check out the review! 

For Those Wanting To Stay In: Welcome Matt (Digital)

Welcome Matt brings together a very funny all black cast for a hilarious and human story about life, love, success, and overcoming obstacles.  For more information, check out the review!

For The True Crime Fans: Women (Digital)

Women is a slow building crime drama with a well realized world, good character build up, and a dramatic, slow burning story that will capture your attention.  For more information, check out the review!

For Those Who Can't Hear Themselves Think: Chaos Walking (Redbox)
Chaos Walking's interesting premise, great chemistry between Holland and Ridley, and unusual story will invade your thoughts in this new sci-fi epic.    For more information, check out the review!

For Those Looking For Something Happy - Emma (HBO)

Emma brings the Jane Austin classic to life with a colorful style, a stellar cast, and an absolute charm that will capture you from the first scene.  It is leaving HBO after this weekend so make sure to catch it before it's gone.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Feel Good Film: Blue Miracle (Netflix)
Based on a true story, this feel good film reels you in with its balance adventure, characters, and feel good spirit.  It is not a deep film, but it is one that will at least pull at your heartstrings in all the right ways!

Watch or Pass's Top 10 Movies of 2020: Weathering With You, Onward, All About Who You Know, The High Note, Host, Emma, Fishbowl, Sword of God, Gutterbug, Soul

2020 has been a unique year and one that has brought lots of hardship and challenges, but also some titanic changes in the movie industry.  With theaters essentially closed this year, the risse of digital distribution and indie films filled the void that theaters used to fill.  Here are my top 10 movies I saw this year. 

Weathering With You
My absolute favorite movie of this year!  It came out right at the start of 2020 but was such an amazingly beautiful, heartfelt animated film that it stuck with me all year.  It is absolutely the film I watched the most in 2020 and its lessons about burdening future generations is an important one.  For more information, check out the review!

Onward
One of the first casualties of theaters closing, Onward opened at the absolute worst time and led to an early Disney+ release.  It ushered in a more digital focus for releases and led to hours and hours of entertainment for kids and adults stuck at home.  And as a nerd, the fantasy modern setting and wonderfully heartfelt and heart wrenching story cast a spell over me from the first time I saw it.  For more information, check out the review!

Emma

What a wonderful burst of color right before the pandemic started.  Emma was a wonderful retelling of the Jane Austin classic with some amazing performances and a confident costume design that brought the story to life.  It was an enjoyable film even if you have no experience with the story and had an absolute charm that brought a smile to my face throughout.  For more information, check out the review!

All About Who You Know

This wonderful film was the first indie I saw this year to knock my socks off.  In a year that saw a huge uptick in indie films, this movie was such a refreshingly different love story that I had to take notice.  The characters, the writing, the acting, and the overall anit-Hollywood take on romantic films was so much fun to see and has held up on repeated viewings.  For more information, check out the review!

The High Note

This film had the combination of wonderful characters, performances, and some truly amazing music.  A chance for Tracie Ellis Ross to show that she is both an amazingly funny actor and wonderful singer, this film had so much heart and a soundtrack that I listened to for months after the film was over.  For more information, check out the review!

Host

No film captured the pandemic quite like Host.  A film that was filmed completely during the early months of lockdown, Host showed what could be done even without the ability for people to gather on a set.  Filmed completely remotely, the movie had an amazingly modern take on life because it was filmed during that time.  The references were timely and the effects were still exciting and scary.  For more information, check out the review!

Fishbowl

Few movies this year spoke to me like this one did.  From the wonderful shot choice and fantastic characters, to the focus on small town and religious angst, this movie touched on some weighty topics with a dramatic and sometimes darkly comedic style.  The film is a special one and so smartly done.  It is a master of telling you about the story without overtly saying it, and the iconography and cinematography are truly amazing.  For more information, check out the review!

Sword of God

I called this a devoutly atmospheric masterpiece and I stick by it.  The movie has a horror aesthetic that is more primal than supernatural, but it just does everything so well.  It has a smart use of colors to really make the intense scene pop, and a story that evolves slowly as you learn more and more about this situation.  And the sets and costumes are perfectly done, completely transporting you to this unsettling medieval village.  For more information, check out the review!

Gutterbug

What a high energy film about mental illness and youthful rebellion, Gutterbug is fueled by an amazing performance by Andrew Yackel and a confident filmmaking that belies the indie nature of this film.  And underneath this all, it tells a very human story about many of societies vices and issues, and the trouble with coming to terms with your choices and changing your life.  For more information, check out the review!

Soul

What a way to close out the year.  In a year filled with so much uncertainty, we were given a hopeful, beautiful film about finding your purpose in life.  And it also marked a milestone being Pixar's first film with a black lead character and a wonderful animated portrayal of black culture.  But it also showed the beauty in the world, for a year with so much ugliness just stopping to appreciate what is around you and our short time on Earth is a gift in itself.  For more information, check out the review!

What to Watch This Weekend Veeeeerrryyy Niiiiccce Edition: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Haunt, On the Rocks, White Riot, The Owners, Totally Under Control, Blush, Emma

For Veeerrrryy Niiiice Viewer People - Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Amazon)

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm keeps much of what made the first film such a crazy, funny experience while tackling some new, modern American issues.  However, the shock value that was characteristic of the first movie just doesn't have as much impact this time around.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Missing Halloween Festivities - Haunt (Digital, Disc, Streaming)

Haunt's combination of atmospheric, impactful sound, tense and gruesome horror, and unsettling villains makes this a haunted house you will want to explore.  For more information, check out our review!

For Rock Fans and Future Activists - White Riot (Virtual Cinema)

White Riot is a sadly timely movie that showcases how music can be a force for good with a rebellious soundtrack and cast of characters.  For more information, check out our review!

For Relationship Drama Fans - On the Rocks (Apple)

On The Rocks takes many of the tropes of this genre and turns them on their head, with an unconventional story, Bill Murray craziness, and great chemistry between Jones and Wayans.   For more information, check out our review!  

For Those Going Through A Midlife Crisis - Blush (Amazon)

Blush tells a different mid life crisis story with some great acting and an unconventional plot.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Stuck At Home - Totally Under Control (Hulu)

Totally Under Control looks at the US response to COVID-19 in an eye opening and timely documentary!

For Those Bored And Looking For Trouble - The Owners (Redbox and Digital)

The Owners turns the traditional break in thriller on its head with some brutal scenes, a ton of tension, and a good cast of characters.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Looking For Something Happy - Emma (HBO)

Emma brings the Jane Austin classic to life with a colorful style, a stellar cast, and an absolute charm that will capture you from the first scene.  For more information, check out our review!

Deal: Get Emma in 4K for $15 (or $7.50 if previously rented)

Need something to lift your spirits during quarantine?  The just released Emma, one of my favorite movies of last year, is on sale for $14.99 on digital.  This movie just came out on Tuesday!  In our review, we said it "Emma brings the Jane Austin classic to life with a colorful style, a stellar cast, and an absolute charm that will capture you from the first scene."  Further, if you rented for $20, you might have additional savings.  For example, FandangoNOW offered those who rented the movie 50% off the purchase price, bringing the total down to $7.50.

It is available in 4K or HD depending on which retailer you go with.  But it is also Movies Anywhere, so it will port to your linked iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, FandangoNOW, and Vudu accounts.  However, make sure to buy it in the highest resolution you want, because it will port over in that resolution.  So if you buy it in HD, it will be available in HD on all your linked accounts.  If you buy it in 4K, it will be 4K if available on your linked accounts.

Links for Emma:

• Apple (4K)
• Amazon (HD)
• FandangoNOW (4K)
• Google Play (HD)
• Microsoft (4K)
• Vudu (4K)

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Deal: Rent The Invisible Man, The Hunt, or Emma; free if you have Sprint Rewards!

Today is the day that Universal and Focus Feature's theatrical movies are available for digital rental.  And if you have Disney Movie Insider points, you can get a deal on renting these movies through FandangoNOW.  The rentals normally are $20, but if you have Sprint Rewards and have FandangoNOW rentals in your account, you can use them for a free SD rental!  This works on the SD rentals of The Invisible Man, The Hunt, or Emma!

Follow these steps to take advantage:

1. Make sure to check your Sprint Rewards app on your phone for FandangoNOW rentals. 
2. Redeem your FandangoNOW rental codes on FandangoNOW before going to checkout.  Redeem here.
3. You can check your rental promotions by going to FandangoNOW and clicking rewards.
4. Pick which movie you would like to see:
1. The Invisible Man
2. The Hunt
3. Emma  
5. Select the SD $19.99 rent option
6. The promo should automatically apply if you have selected SD.
7. Price becomes $0.00
8. Enjoy your movie tonight!

This is a glitch in FandangoNOW so it might be fixed at any time.  If you want to watch these movies, I suggest you rent quickly!

News: Universal Theatrical Movies to be Available to Stream on March 20

As everyone adjusts to the new Quarantine world, Universal Pictures has made the stunning move of offering some of their theatrical movies available to stream as soon as this Friday, March 20, including The Invisible Man, The Hunt, and Focus Feature's Emma.  Today, NBCUniversal announced that movies under the Universal Pictures banner will be available on-demand on the date of the theatrical release, including the upcoming Trolls: World Tour on April 10.

This should not change the delays of some prominent films such as No Time to Die, A Quiet Place 2, Mulan, and Universal's own Fast 9, but it should provide another avenue for those looking to avoid theaters but still wanting to see the newest movies.  This should also provide a boost for the box office, which saw its worst weekend since 1995 as consumers stayed home rather than head to the theaters.

Although details are still being worked out, it looks like these new theatrical movies will be $20 for a 48-hour rental period, which is about in line with how film rentals work on streaming services.  The first movies to be available will be The Invisible Man, the Hunt, and Emma on March 20.

"Given the rapidly evolving and unprecedented changes to consumers’ daily lives during this difficult time, the company felt that now was the right time to provide this option in the home as well as in theaters. NBCUniversal will continue to evaluate the environment as conditions evolve and will determine the best distribution strategy in each market when the current unique situation changes," read the company's release.

“Universal Pictures has a broad and diverse range of movies with 2020 being no exception. Rather than delaying these films or releasing them into a challenged distribution landscape, we wanted to provide an option for people to view these titles in the home that is both accessible and affordable,” said NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell in the same statement. “We hope and believe that people will still go to the movies in theaters where available, but we understand that for people in different areas of the world that is increasingly becoming less possible.”

Expect more details as this evolves!

What to Watch This Weekend: February 28, 2020

In Theaters: Emma.

Emma brings the Jane Austin classic to life with a colorful style, a stellar cast, and an absolute charm that will capture you from the first scene.  For more information, check out our review!

In Theaters: The Invisible Man

The Invisible Man is a new take on the classic concept, with great, minimalist effects, wonderful tension, and an amazing performance by Elisabeth Moss..  For more information, check out our review!

At Redbox: Knives Out

Knives Out assembles a killer cast of characters and pairs it with Rian Johnson's amazing style and wonderful, witty writing to create a very entertaining whodunit.  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (Showtime): On The Basis Of Sex

The RBG biopic--helped by fantastic performances by Felicity Jones and Armie Hammer does a great job of highlighting the challenges that she encountered trying to practice law and fight against inequality in a male dominated profession and culture.

Streaming (Netflix): The Angry Birds Movie 2

The Angry Birds Movie 2 takes the unenviable task of following on to the unlikely movie based on the mobile game.  It is a fun adventure that is at times laugh out loud funny, but also a little too disjointed.  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (Amazon): Good Newwz
Good Newwz delivers some enjoyable characters, laugh out loud comedy, and tackles some important issues with surprisingly heartfelt dramatic moments in a film that will entertain you right from conception.  For more information, check out our review!

Review: Emma.

Release date: February 21, 2020
Running time: 122 minutes
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Bill Nighy 

What a wonderful winter we have had.  First we had the phenomenal adaptation of Little Women and now we have this stunning film version of the Jane Austin tale Emma.  For those who have not read the book (myself included), Emma is the story of a good-natured but meddling young woman who plays matchmaker in her small English town.  She befriends another young lady, and attempts to find her a suitable husband to disastrous results.  All the while, she tries to weather the various social dynamics of aristocratic England.  

As the namesake of the movie, Emma is the main character and star.  And thankfully, Anya Taylor-Joy is absolutely enchanting as Emma, with a strong-willed modern take on the literary character.  She speaks her mind and freely communicates her thoughts, does not let herself be influenced by anyone, and runs both her father's estate and the entire town's social calendar.  Taylor-Joy bring the character to life with her perfect dialog and facial expressions.  Much of the fun and drama in the movie comes from Emma's interaction with various characters in the town, and thankfully they are equally enchanting and add to the wonderful life that this film has.  Bill Nighy is absurdly delightful as Emma's father, and his antics are fun to watch.  Johnny Flynn is perfect as Mr. Knightley, Emma's blunt friend who is above the social schemes of the protagonist.  Each character is perfectly cast and delivers a stellar performance.  

The film adaptation of Emma retains much from the Jane Austin novel, including plenty of dialogue, key plot points, and several scenes that are expertly recreated for the big screen.  What the film version adds to the story are some amazing sets, costumes, and phenomenal acting.  The sets and costumes are really something to behold.  The filmmakers went all out when bringing this story to the big screen.  The colors pop off the screen and contribute to the beauty of this film.  The costumes are equally wonderful, with a mix of colors and flashy accessories that express so much about the characters and their circumstances.  On top of this visual aspect, the film tells so much without resorting to dialogue.  The writing is wonderful, don't get me wrong, but there is so much that is conveyed from character's facial expressions or the shots that they use.  Some of my favorite scenes didn't have any speaking at all, which is a testament to the filmmakers.  Altogether, I went in not knowing what to expect and left this movie with a massive smile on my face.  

Emma brings the Jane Austin classic to life with a colorful style, a stellar cast, and an absolute charm that will capture you from the first scene.  

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