Cannes 2023 Predictions - Part 2: Hollywood Makes a Splash Overseas April 5, 2023 By: Hunter Friesen As one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, the Cannes Film Festival always attracts the attention of cinephiles and industry professionals alike. Each year, the festival presents a diverse lineup of films that represent the best of international cinema, including both established and emerging filmmakers. With the 76th edition of the festival set to take place in May, film enthusiasts around the world are eagerly anticipating the announcement of the official selection on April 13th. While the festival organizers keep their cards close to their chest, there are already some strong players emerging as likely contenders for the coveted Cannes spotlights. In this four-part series, I’ll take a closer look at some of the films that are generating buzz and predict which ones are likely to make it to the Croisette this year. Each part will represent a category of films, which are: The Festival Masters Hollywood Makes a Splash The Festival Mainstays The Irregulars and Up-and-Comers This second part encompasses the biggest fish in the pond, which are the Hollywood blockbusters from the major studios. Cannes may be a Mecca for international cinema, but that doesn’t mean they exclude the big boys. The festival thrives on star power, and nothing rolls out the red carpet more than a blockbuster with lots of names attached to it. Both Top Gun: Maverick and Elvis started their journeys on the Croisette, as well as Mad Max: Fury Road and The Da Vinci Code in the years prior. Let’s take a look at which big tent poles might debut in the Palais. Which of these films are you most interested in? I'll be keeping you all posted on my adventures and sharing my thoughts on the films that I see. Stay tuned for more updates! Asteroid City With Asteroid City a certainty to debut on the French Riviera, Cannes now replaces Berlin as the film festival to debut the most Anderson films. Moonrise Kingdom opened the festival in 2012, and The French Dispatch sat on a shelf throughout the pandemic to ensure it debuted at the 2021 edition. Cannes thrives on star power to fill its historic red carpet, and Anderson’s films have plenty to spare. His newest cast will feature no less than Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie, Bryan Cranston, Steve Carell, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, and Jeffrey Wright. May December A rumor has been slowly spreading over the past few years that Todd Haynes’ Carol was a near lock to win the Palme d’Or in 2015, but was snubbed at the last minute by jury member Xavier Dolan. The film had to settle for a joint Best Actress prize for Rooney Mara. His newest film finished production in November, reuniting him with Julianne Moore, and bringing Natalie Portman back into the fold. Poor Things Coming off the blazing Oscar success of The Favourite , all eyes are on what Yorgos Lanthimos will do next. He’s keeping his partnership with leading lady Emma Stone and screenwriter Tony McNamara for Poor Things , which will be set in Victorian England and about a mad scientist who brings a woman back to life. Willem Dafoe, Mark Ruffalo, and Margaret Qualley mix into the supporting cast. Lanthimos’ unique arthouse sensibilities have matched well with Cannes in the past, with Dogtooth, The Lobster , and The Killing of a Sacred Deer , all winning various prizes. Now that Oscar buzz follows Lanthimos wherever he goes, Searchlight Pictures will have to make a decision of sending the film to a festival with an already established fandom for Lanthimos or wait and debut it in the fall with the rest of the Oscar bunch. Killers of the Flower Moon With extensive reshoots and release date delays, Martin Scorsese’s epic western has become one of his longest projects to get to audiences. Rumors started to swirl late last year that the film was eyeing a premiere on the Riviera, followed by a fall festival tour. With CODA becoming the first streaming film to win Best Picture, Apple will do everything in its power to repeat that success. The Little Mermaid The timing lines up perfectly for Disney to use the festival as a launching pad for the international release of their newest live-action remake. The film packs plenty of buzzy names such as Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy and an acclaimed director in Rob Marshall. Hitman While we’ll have to wait almost another two decades for Richard Linklater’s ambitious adaptation of Merrily We Roll Along , the famed Texan filmmaker has something up his sleeve to tide us over. Top Gun: Maverick star Glen Powell, a frequent collaborator of Linklater’s, co-wrote the screenplay with him for this story of a hitman who turns the tables on those who hire him. It’s been twenty years since Linklater last competed on the Croisette (2005’s Fast Food Nation ), so it might be time for him to be brought back into the fold. Oppenheimer Very few filmmakers carry as much name value as Christopher Nolan, who will be potentially delivering a more stripped-down story about the trials and tribulations of the titular father of the atomic bomb. Nolan has never shown one of his films at Cannes, but he did introduce his 70mm restoration of 2001: A Space Odyssey before it was pushed into theaters. If Nolan does decide to bring his material this time, then a glitzy out-of-competition premiere would be the most likely route taken. The Bikeriders Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Jodie Comer, Norman Reedus, and Boyd Holbrook star as members of a Midwestern motorcycle club in writer/director Jeff Nichols’ return to feature filmmaking after a brief hiatus. Nichols served on the jury last year and brought both Mud and Loving to the Croisette. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Cannes thrives on a small batch of Hollywood blockbusters looking to make a splashy international premiere, as evidenced by Top Gun: Maverick and Elvis grabbing headlines last year. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull debuted at the festival back in 2008, so there is precedent for the famed archaeologist to stop by. More Reviews Tony August 18, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Buddy August 25, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Colony August 26, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Teen Sex & Death at Camp Miasma August 12, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Hunter Friesen

Twin Cities Film Fest 2024 Preview October 11, 2024 By: Hunter Friesen With the conclusion of the fall festival trio of the Venice Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, and Toronto International Film Festival, it’s time for the regional festivals to step up to the plate. Throughout the next four to six weeks, festivals all over the country will bring together a collection of the best that world cinema has to offer this year. Many of these festivals are nearly as famous and prestigious as the ones that birth those films, with two examples being the New York Film Festival and AFI Fest Now celebrating its 15th year, the Twin Cities Film Fest (TCFF) provides that central space of celebration for cinephiles within the state of Minnesota. The festival recently announced its full lineup , which featured its usual mixture of awards season contenders from large studios, smaller films that have made a name for themselves throughout the festival circuit, and productions that shine a spotlight on local artists. Opening the festival is Conclave , Focus Features’ papal thriller from Edward Berger, director of the recent Netflix adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front . Ralph Fiennes leads an all-star cast comprised of Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. I was able to see the film at TIFF and greatly admired it, so I hope that my positivity spreads to the Minnesota crowd. Searchlight Pictures will be pulling double duty at the festival with Nightbitch and A Real Pain . The former premiered at TIFF, while the latter debuted at Sundance all the way back in January. Amazon MGM studios won’t be outdone as they also bring two notable titles from their catalog. Premiering on the first weekend is Unstoppable , the true underdog story of one-legged wrestler Anthony Robles starring Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Lopez, and Don Cheadle. RaMell Ross’s avant-garde adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s novel Nickel Boys will be seen on the final day of the festival. Screening immediately after that and rounding out the big studio features will be Steve McQueen’s World War II film Blitz , which premieres at the BFI London Film Festival in a few days. Stopping here as part of its regional tour since its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival is La Cocina , which tells the story of the lives of the employees working at a New York restaurant. Winner of the Best Director prize in the Un Certain Regard section at this year’s Cannes Film Festival is On Becoming a Guinea Fowl , which A24 will show midway through the festival ahead of its December release. The Centerpiece film of this year’s edition will be Magpie , a thriller about a married couple whose relationship begins to fracture when a glamorous movie star enters their lives. Writer Tom Bateman and star Daisy Ridley will be in attendance to introduce the film and receive the TCFF Indie Vision Awards. Also awarded will be Josh Duhamel, who will receive the NorthStar Award and headline an “In Conversation” event. The top prize at the festival is the Best Feature Film Award. Previous winners over the years have been Marriage Story , Women Talking , American Fiction , Green Book , and Moonlight . Officially closing the festival will be a sneak preview of the Minnesota-connected feature Days When the Rain Came . Writer and actress Marisa Coughlan will be present for a post-film discussion alongside actors Beau Bridges and Eliza Coupe. A new prize this year is the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA) Critics Prize, of which I will be heading the selection process. Myself and a few other critics from the organization will glean through the lineup and award a standout film with the special prize. Films that will be a part of this process are: Boundary Waters, Schiroka: In Lies We Trust, We Strangers, Luther: Never Too Much, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, Bob Trevino Likes It, All We Carry, Camp Ricstar, Band on the Run , and Queen of the Ring . It’s an eclectic mix of films, including several from local filmmakers. I look forward to seeing what all these works have in store, and giving a boost to one that stood out from the crowd. More than 140 films will be screened during the ten-day event, with almost half of them simultaneously streaming via the TCFF Streams platform. Details for the lineup and other events can be found at the festival website ( twincitiesfilmfest.org ). Expect full reviews for several of the studio titles listed above, and a recap article at the conclusion of the festival. More Reviews Tony August 18, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Buddy August 25, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Colony August 26, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Teen Sex & Death at Camp Miasma August 12, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Hunter Friesen

Explore a captivating collection of must-watch films on our curated list page. Lists MSPIFF 2026 Preview April 6, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Top 50 Films of the 2020s February 23, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen 2026 Sundance Film Festival Preview January 19, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen 26 Most Anticipated Films of 2026 January 12, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen 2022 Losers Button 2023 Losers Button 2026 Sundance Film Festival Preview Button 25 Most Anticipated Films of 2024 Button 26 Most Anticipated Films of 2026 Button A Brief History of Presidents' in Film Button Cannes 2022: 50 Films That Could Premiere Button Cannes 2023 Predictions - Part 2: Hollywood Makes a Splash Overseas Button Cannes 2023 Predictions - Part 4: The Irregulars and Up-and-Comers Button Cannes 2023 Recap Button Cannes 2024 Predictions - Part 3: The Loyalists Button Cannes 2025 Lineup Predictions Button Every Spider-Man Movie Ranked Button MSPIFF 2023 Recap Button MSPIFF 2025 Preview Button MSPIFF 2026 Preview Button Omaha Film Festival 2024 Recap Button Ranking the Films of Adam McKay Button Ranking the Films of Michael Haneke Button Ranking the Planet of the Apes Franchise Button Sundance 2023 Recap Button TIFF23 Recap Button TIFF24 Recap Button TIFF25 Preview Button TIFF25: Tyler's Time at the Festival Button The Best Hollywood Screenwriters of All-Time Button The Biggest Flops in TIFF History Button The Greatest Irish Filmmakers Button The Worst Cannes Premieres Ever Button Top 10 Films of 2018 Button Top 10 Films of 2020 Button Top 10 Films of 2022 Button Top 10 Films of 2023 (So-Far) Button Top 10 Films of 2024 (So Far) Button Top 10 Films of 2025 (So Far) Button Top 10 Oliver Stone Films Button Top 10 Steven Spielberg Films Button Twin Cities Film Fest 2022 Preview Button Twin Cities Film Fest 2023 Recap Button Twin Cities Film Fest 2025 Preview Button 2022 Winners Button 2023 Winners Button 25 Most Anticipated Films of 2022 Button 25 Most Anticipated Films of 2025 Button 36 Most Anticipated Films of 2023 Button Cannes 2021: All The Films That Could Premiere Button Cannes 2023 Predictions - Part 1: The Festival Masters Button Cannes 2023 Predictions - Part 3: The Festival Mainstays Button Cannes 2023 Preview Button Cannes 2024 Predictions - Part 1: The Question Marks Button Cannes 2024 Predictions- Part 2: The Regulars Button Cannes 2025 Recap Button MSPIFF 2023 Preview Button MSPIFF 2024 Preview Button MSPIFF 2025 Recap Button Movies That Made More Money Than You Think Button Predicting the Cannes Jury President Button Ranking the Films of Christopher Nolan Button Ranking the Mad Max Franchise Button Sundance 2023 Preview Button TIFF23 Preview Button TIFF24 Preview Button TIFF24: Tyler's Time at the Festival Button TIFF25 Recap Button The Best Cinematographers Working Today And Where To Find Them Next Button The Best Military Movies for Veterans Day Button The Great Musical War of 2021 Button The Most Successful Directors at Cannes Button Top 10 DreamWorks Animated Movies Button Top 10 Films of 2019 Button Top 10 Films of 2021 Button Top 10 Films of 2023 Button Top 10 Films of 2024 Button Top 10 Films of 2025 Button Top 10 Martin Scorsese Films Button Top 10 Pixar Films Button Top 50 Films of the 2020s Button Twin Cities Film Fest 2023 Preview Button Twin Cities Film Fest 2024 Preview Button Tyler's Favorite Musicals Button

26 Most Anticipated Films of 2026 January 12, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Heading into 2026, there are so many existential questions that Hollywood has to grapple with. Between Netflix and Paramount, which will become the new owner of Warner Bros.? With the May 1st deadline for a new labor deal between the studios and guilds fast approaching, will we see a repeat of the industry-stopping strikes of 2023? Can the box office finally bounce back after years of accelerated depression from the COVID-19 pandemic? The answers to all these questions remain shrouded in mystery, although the past few years haven't instilled much room for optimism. But a new year also brings a new wave of possibilities for the road ahead. 2025 saw big-name directors cashing in their blank checks for career-defining projects: Paul Thomas Anderson with One Battle After Another , Ryan Coogler with Sinners , and Guillermo del Toro with Frankenstein . 2026 will (hopefully) contain more of the same, with Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, and David Fincher returning to the silver screen. International directors have also garnered increased attention over the years, with numerous great films emerging from every corner of the globe. To get you all excited as I am, listed below (in alphabetical order) are the twenty-six films I'm most looking forward to in 2026! Honorable Mentions: Animals, Cry to Heaven, Enemies, Hope, Ink, Mother Mary, Sense and Sensibility, The Bride!, The Uprising, Wild Horse Nine All of a Sudden Between Drive My Car being an unexpected Oscar heavyweight and Evil Does Not Exist sneakily being one of the best films of last year, Japanese auteur Ryûsuke Hamaguchi has rapidly ascended to becoming one of the most sought-after voices in international cinema. With the lights being the brightest that they've ever been, he's shifting over to France for a story about two female scholars who form a deep connection as they exchange letters. Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto will star, with the former promising that the film will contain some “astonishing formal choices” during a recent interview. Artifical Artificial intelligence has taken over nearly every facet of our lives, so it’s only natural that it's made its way into the cinema as well. Thankfully, I’m not talking about an artificially generated movie, but a biopic about Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI. Cinema’s premiere workaholic, Luca Guadagnino, is taking the reins, and he’s reuniting with Andrew Garfield. Supporting him will be a cast comprised of Monica Barbaro, Cooper Hoffman, Jason Schwartzman, Mark Rylance, and Yura Borisov. Avengers: Doomsday (December 18th) On the one hand, the return of the Russo brothers to the director’s chair, along with Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr., feels like an act of desperation and a slight betrayal of the finality of Avengers: Endgame . On the other hand, the films directed by the Russos solely occupy my MCU Mount Rushmore, and I haven’t been interested in continuing the stories of any of the characters introduced over the past few years. A multi-billion-dollar empire hangs in the balance, so this will be quite the spectacle whichever side the coin lands. Behemoth! Most famous on the silver screen for his directorial debut of Michael Clayton , Tony Gilroy hasn’t helmed a film since 2012’s The Bourne Legacy , the continuation of the Matt Damon-starring trilogy that he penned. In the meantime, he’s proved to both Disney and the fandom that Star Wars can still be relevant with Andor . He’s pairing up with another Disney+ star, Pedro Pascal, for a movie about a cellist composing music for the big screen. It’s described as a “love letter to the music of the movies and the people who make it,” so expect some sentimentality attached to the tunes that helped those images soar. Burning Rainbow Farm The Australian Justin Kurzel has become the preeminent gritty filmmaker over the past decade, exploring the darkness within Shakespeare ( Macbeth ), as well as real-life tragedies within his native country ( Nitram ) and America ( The Order ). His next film comes from that same mold, with Sebastian Stan (his first of a few appearances on this list) and rising star Leo Woodall appearing as a marijuana advocate couple who endure a five-day standoff against the FBI at their farmstead. The climactic shootout in The Order was some of the best work Kurzel has produced, so I can only imagine what he'll be able to pull off with a wider scope. Butterfly Jam After nabbing the Best Director prize from the Un Certain Regard section at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival for his sophomore feature, Beanpole , it seemed like writer/director Kantemir Balagov would become one of the top young voices in cinema. His disagreements with the current regime in his Russian homeland stalled his ability to make another project there, and he eventually was transplanted to New Jersey. He'll be exploring that area's Circassian community, centering on Barry Keoghan as an aspiring professional wrestler who gets caught up in his father's criminal schemes. Digger (October 2nd) When the world needs saving, that means it’s time to call in Tom Cruise. It looks like he’ll be up to that task again for a “comedy of catastrophic proportions.” Although judging by his hairpiece and shovel dancing in the recent title announcement, his titular character won’t be as suave as Ethan Hunt or Maverick. Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki won back-to-back Oscars in their respective fields for Birdman and The Revenant . Each of those films also netted nominations for their lead stars, with Leonardo DiCaprio finally nabbing that elusive trophy in the latter film. Here’s hoping the same happens for Cruise, who hasn’t been nominated for acting since Magnolia . Disclosure Day (June 12th) Steven Spielberg has solely made movies based on preexisting material or history in the forty-plus years since E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial . That makes it extra fitting that the streak will be broken for an original story about aliens walking among us. Spielberg has enlisted his trusted screenwriter, David Koepp, to flesh out the details, as well as a cast consisting of Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Eve Hewson, Colin Firth, and Colman Domingo. Morbidly, this film will likely feature the final compositions by legendary maestro John Williams. Dune: Part Three (December 18th) The first two parts of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi franchise were adaptations of the initial book in the famed series by Frank Herbert. This third chapter will leap ahead to Dune: Messiah , which contains several story elements that could take this series in bold directions. It’s unclear how strongly Villeneuve will follow the source material. What is clear is that much of the same cast and crew return, with new additions in Robert Pattinson and Anya Taylor-Joy. After The Odyssey , this will be the second film shot entirely in IMAX, a naturally epic canvas for Villeneuve to paint with. Fjord While he has yet to break into the mainstream, Romanian auteur Cristian Mungiu has consistently been one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of the 21st century. He won the Palme d’Or in 2007 for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days , and will likely compete again with his starriest film to date. Coming off their work in A Different Man , Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve will play an immigrant Romanian couple who are persecuted shortly after settling in Norway. Judging by Mungiu’s continuous critiques of the flawed justice system, it’s doubtful that this will be a happy tale. Her Private Hell True to his nature, Nicolas Winding Refn's first film in ten years promises "lots of glitter, sex, and violence." The Danish bad boy director is the epitome of style over substance, sending Ryan Gosling down a path of bloody crime in Drive and Only God Forgives . His two leading ladies this time around are Sophie Thatcher and Havana Rose Liu, who, between their looks and acting styles, seem like perfect additions to his intoxicating world. Jack of Spades Since the breakup of the Minnesota-born brothers, Ethan has released two wacky comedies ( Drive-Away Dolls and Honey Don’t! ), while Joel has dabbled in Shakespeare ( The Tragedy of Macbeth ). This second solo effort from the latter brother will probably give us enough evidence to solidify any theory about the dynamics of their working relationship. As with every Coen project, specific details are closely guarded, with the only known information being that it’s set in London during the nineteenth century, and will star Josh O’Connor, Frances McDormand, Damian Lewis, and Lesley Manville. Madden Between the slight disappointment of Joy and the outright disaster of Amsterdam , there’s been quite a cooling off for David O. Russell since his early-2010s hot streak of The Fighter , Silver Linings Playbook , and American Hustle . Despite those most recent failures, he’s attracted a star-studded cast for this story of the birth of the chart-topping football video game series. Nicolas Cage will be caked in makeup to play the turducken-loving coach, and so will Christian Bale as he portrays longtime Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis. This will probably be a mess, but entertaining nonetheless. Paper Tiger Not that it can be taken too seriously, but Rodrigo Teixeira, a producer on Paper Tiger , claims that it’s the best work that writer/director James Gray has ever done. Bias aside, that kind of enthusiasm is what Gray deserves, whose consistently remained underappreciated despite his near impeccable filmography, which includes Ad Astra , The Lost City of Z , and We Own the Night . He's got his starriest cast yet with Adam Driver and Miles Teller playing brothers caught up in the violence of the American dream, with Scarlett Johansson also involved. Parallel Tales Sandwiched between his Oscar-winning dramas of A Separation and The Salesman , Iranian writer/director Asghar Farhadi dipped his toe into the Parisian waters with the equally acclaimed The Past . Thirteen years later, he's back in France, this time with an all-star cast comprised of Isabelle Huppert, Catherine Deneuve, Vincent Cassel, Virginie Efira, and Pierre Niney. The plot is under wraps, so we'll just have to wait and see what’s in store. Sheep in the Box and Look Back Hirokazu Kore-eda has arguably been one of the greatest filmmakers of this millennium, with even his recent "lesser" films like The Truth, Broker , and Monster being near the top of my list in their respective years. He has two films in the can for this year, the first being set in the near-future as a couple takes in a state-of-the-art humanoid into their home as their son. The second is a live-action adaptation of the immensely popular manga, which recently received a highly acclaimed anime version. Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma Jane Schoenbrun's I Saw the TV Glow felt like a defining film of the 2020s, containing a voice that stemmed from several influences, yet was entirely its own. They'll be staying in that liminal space for their third feature, which follows a queer director (Hannah Einbinder from Hacks ) making a modern sequel to an iconic 80s slasher franchise. Gillian Anderson stars as the original film's 'final girl,' who becomes psychologically and sexually tangled with Einbinder. The Adventures of Cliff Booth Between a novelization and now a sequel script, it seems that Quentin Tarantino really wants to stay in the world of Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood before he finally ventures into making his tenth and final film. And for the first time in thirty years, he won’t be directing his own screenplay, having personally hired David Fincher for that task. It’s an odd pairing of the cold and calculating Fincher with a potentially shaggy comedy. But the talent both on and off the screen is too immense for those doubts to cloud my excitement. The Dog Stars (August 28th) Ridley Scott has continually defied the notion that age should slow a person down. Since he turned 80 years old in 2017, he has directed four blockbusters and several television pilots. Even at 88, he’s still lining up projects that will not be filmed for many more years. For now, he’s got an adaptation of the popular sci-fi novel set in a post-apocalyptic world after a virus wipes out most of humanity. Jacob Elordi stars as Hig, a pilot who survived the plague and must scavenge the desolate wasteland in order to preserve what’s left of our species. The Entertainment System Is Down In the year since he started production on his newest film, Ruben Östlund has been claiming that it will cause the most walkouts in the history of the Cannes Film Festival, where he recently won consecutive Palme d'Ors for The Square and Triangle of Sadness . A real Boeing 747 was acquired specifically for the production, with a cast that includes Keanu Reeves, Kirsten Dunst, Daniel Brühl, and Vincent Lindon, stuck on a long-haul international flight where the titular scenario occurs. While the characters will certainly be bored as they must grapple with life free of distractions, we will not, as Östlund doles out another helping of his outlandish social commentary. The Last Disturbance of Madeline Hynde Although he has yet to share any plot details, writer/director Kenneth Branagh has been very open about his admiration for star Jodie Comer, even going so far as to compare her to Meryl Streep. That’s a lofty pedestal to place her on, and a funny coincidence since Branagh will be starring as Streep’s husband in The Devil Wears Prada 2 . Branagh has always been an inconsistent director, with his more successful films being the ones he wrote. Let’s hope that streak continues here. The Odyssey (July 17th) I may not have approved of the practice, but I did cave and buy a year-ahead ticket for the first IMAX 70mm showing of The Odyssey at AMC Lincoln Square. It only felt right for me to witness Christopher Nolan's new film on the biggest screen in the country. His retelling of the epic that started it all will be presented entirely in IMAX, making this not just a film, but also a cultural event. The Social Reckoning (October 9th) The scope of The Social Network feels quaint compared to what Facebook has become in the fifteen years since. That’s why original screenwriter Aaron Sorkin is returning to the subject for a follow-up investigation, which will include data leaks, invasions of privacy, and how it became connected to the January 6 United States Capitol attack. Mikey Madison will mark her return to the screen after winning her Oscar, and Jeremy Strong replaces Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg. It is somewhat of a shame that Sorkin is now directing his own scripts instead of entrusting them to a top-tier filmmaker. But if that’s the price that must be paid to experience his signature masterful dialogue, then so be it. The Way of the Wind Now that we’ve reached the seventh consecutive year of this film appearing on this list, the joke has more than run its course. Although it does seem fitting for a film about the life of Jesus Christ to continually test my faith in its existence. I worship at the altar of Terrence Malick, so I’ll continue to say my prayers. Werwulf Between Guillermo del Toro and Robert Eggers, the classic movie monsters have been receiving the respectful modern adaptations that they deserve. While Eggers’ newest film is technically not a story about the famous werewolf, it will definitely have those familiar elements. He’s working again with his The Northman screenwriter, Sjón, as well as a majority of the cast of Nosferatu . Likely to be bathed in darkness and blood, this will be the feel-bad movie of Christmas. Wuthering Heights (February 13th) Emerald Fennell has become something of a prestige provocateur this decade with Promising Young Woman and Saltburn . The latter film may not have fared as well as the former, but it still packs a lot of messy glitz and glamor. How will those sensibilities mesh with literature's most famous love story, which has amassed a loyal fanbase in the nearly two centuries since its publication? It's hard to tell, with the imagery from the trailer looking ravishing and the passion between stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi seemingly being off the charts. More Reviews Tony August 18, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Buddy August 25, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Colony August 26, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Teen Sex & Death at Camp Miasma August 12, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Hunter Friesen

Top 10 Films of 2018 January 24, 2019 By: Hunter Friesen With political and social upheaval, natural disasters, and the overall feeling of optimism fading away, 2018 was a rocky year that really never seemed to end. Fortunately for moviegoers, the year did offer a way of escape through some great films, ranging from record-setting blockbusters to genre-defying indies. Now that the year is finally over and all the films have been released, I can finally release my list of what I thought were the ten best films of 2018. Honorable Mentions They Shall Not Grow Old The Sisters Brothers Mission: Impossible - Fallout Thoroughbreds Wildlife 10. Private Life Coming out of Sundance, this film written and directed by Tamara Jenkins illustrates the challenges a forty-something couple goes through in order to start a family. Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti star as the couple as they go through treatments, adoption, and every method to have a child. The gripping performances from the leads along with Jenkin’s touching screenplay gave this film a ton of comedy and tragedy that led to one of the most emotional films of the year. 9. Vox Lux Dubbed by many as the anti- A Star Is Born , this film tracks the unsettling career of Celeste as she becomes famous through tragedy and chooses to live in that dark moment. Raffey Cassidy and Natalie Portman play Celeste as a teenager and adult, respectively. They each do an incredible job of creating a conflicted character that holds a mirror up to a society that worships celebrities. With a soundtrack by Sia, this pop tale has some great music to go along with its disturbing subject matter. 8. First Man Damien Chazelle and Ryan Gosling follow up La La Land with another equally great film. Trading in his piano for a rocket ship, Gosling stars as Neil Armstrong and gives us an accurate look into the turbulent life of one of America’s most famous figures. Chazelle's impeccable directing made for some of the most terrifying sequences of the year and allow us to bear witness to the immense danger that many brave men experienced in the name of exploring the unknown. Full Review 7. Roma Probably one of the best directors working today, Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma is his most personal and epic film to date. The sweeping story is centered around a housemaid named Cleo. Through her eyes, we watch the domestic struggle a large family must go through in 1970s Mexico City. Along with directing, writing, and editing, Cuarón also manned the camera and gave us some of the most awe-inspiring cinematography of the century. Available on Netflix, this film is the most accessible must-see of 2018. 6. First Reformed One of the most influential writers of American cinema, Paul Schrader both writes and directs this film about a tortured priest and the inner turmoil he struggles with as he examines the world we currently live in. Boasting some of the best dialogue of the year along with a career-best performance by Ethan Hawke, this dark and metaphorical film challenges its audience to see the effects humans have had on this planet and how we cope with our misdoings. 5. BlacKkKlansman Spike Lee returns to form with a true story of black cop Ron Stallworth infiltrating the KKK in 1970s Colorado Springs. Both John David Washington and Adam Driver deliver great performances, and Lee’s powerful editing near the end of this comedy/drama serves as both a history lesson and a modern commentary on how our society really hasn’t changed as much as we think it has. Full Review 4. Leave No Trace Also out of Sundance, This small film also is a quiet character study of a father and daughter that have chosen to live in the woods rather than within the confines of civilization. Sporting spectacular performances from breakout star Thomasin McKenzie and Ben Foster, the film expertly explores the idea of how we identify with home and how society reacts to the life choices we have made. 3. Avengers: Infinity War The more you think about it, Infinity War had no right to even work, let alone be great. Credit should go to directors Joe and Anthony Russo who were able to take a project that culminated eighteen films rostering twenty-five characters and make it into a high-stakes thriller that never felt overstuffed. It also delivered the MCU’s best villain and was able to leave a permanent mark on pop culture with just one snap. Hopefully, Endgame will be just as good. 2. A Star Is Born More of a 1B than a clear #2 , Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut more than lived up to its lofty expectations. The pairing of him and Lady Gaga in the lead roles was a match made in heaven as their chemistry lit up the screen both on and off the stage. With one of the best songs of the year in “Shallow”, this pitch-perfect retelling of a classic story left no dry eyes after its endearing tribute ending. Full Review 1. The Favourite My favorite film of the year (pun intended), this 18th-century piece can best be described as Barry Lyndon meets Mean Girls . The plot follows a spiteful struggle between two women, Abigail (Emma Stone) and Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz), as they battle for the affection of the unhinged Queen Anne (Olivia Colman). Combining three excellent actresses, a whip-smart script, and the uniquely awkward style of director Yorgos Lanthimos, this dark comedy was by far the most enjoyable and unforgettable film of 2018. More Reviews Tony August 18, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Buddy August 25, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Colony August 26, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Teen Sex & Death at Camp Miasma August 12, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Hunter Friesen

Discover a new dimension of storytelling as we delve into the world of cinema, sharing our perspectives and sparking conversations about the latest and greatest movies. Reviews Masters of the Universe June 2, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Pressure May 29, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Power Ballad May 27, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Obsession May 13, 2026 By: Hunter Friesen Reviews by Hunter Friesen Reviews by Tyler Banark Button Button A Christmas Party Button Button Button Eden Button Button Button Friendship Button Button Button In a Violent Nature Button Button Button Kung Fu Panda 4 Button Button Button Pinocchio Button Button Button Saturday Night Button Button Button TIFF24 Dispatch #2 Button Button Button TIFF25 Dispatch - Cannes Catchup Button Button Button The Wild Robot Button Button Button We Live in Time Button Button Button Boy Kills World Button Button Button Eileen Button Button Button Immaculate Button Button Button Inside Out 2 Button Button Button Late Night with the Devil Button Button Button Robot Dreams Button Button Button Snack Shack Button Button Button TIFF24 Dispatch #4 Button Button Button The Last Showgirl Button Button Button We Grown Now Button

'Immaculate' Review March 27, 2024 By: Tyler Banark In recent years, Hollywood has found a knack for releasing random religion-themed horror films that either get overlooked or flop altogether. This was evidenced when I saw Neon’s latest fright fest, Immaculate , and got a trailer for the upcoming 20th Century Studios horror film The First Omen . Director Michael Mohan and screenwriter Andrew Lobel craft a twist on the Rosemary’s Baby narrative with one of the hottest actresses working today, Sydney Sweeney. The movie looked like an intense, bloody horror show from the trailers. Ultimately, it’s a boring film that restrains itself from being the scariest thing to come out of 2024. After her parish shuts down in her hometown, American nun Cecilia (Sweeney) is assigned to a convent in rural Italy. As she settles in, she miraculously becomes pregnant and is proclaimed the next Virgin Mary. However, the more her pregnancy progresses, the more Cecilia learns of the convent’s darkest secrets. Although the synopsis seems too familiar, Immaculate initially appears to have the intention of breaking that formulaic mold through some solid cinematography and the casting of such a modern-day actress in Sweeney. But between Will Bates’ stock score and repetitious cycle of loud jumps scares and gotchas, this just feels like another entry in the already watered-down The Nun franchise. Sweeney is on a fascinating streak right now as Immaculate comes nearly one month after the disastrous Madame Web , which in turn came out a month and a half after the box office hit Anyone But You . Both of those polar opposites (as well as this project, which she produced) came after years of her presence on HBO with Sharp Objects , The White Lotus , and the controversial drama Euphoria . Her performance here might not break any new ground, but it does check off the box of being a solo leading lady who can sell a project on a concept and her acting abilities. She has a scream near the end where she’s caked in blood that echoes the signature outbursts from Janet Leigh in Psycho and Jenna Ortega in X . Aside from Sweeney, the cast isn’t very noteworthy, with everyone playing cookie-cutter horror characters. You’ve got the strict mother superior nun, the freaky priest who tries to defuse the situation but doesn’t help, the rebellious friend, and the one nun who thinks she’s better than everyone else. The only one that comes close to breaking out is Benedetta Porcaroli as Sister Gwen, the rebellious nun. When she and Cecilia are talking to each other and making humor out of whatever they’re doing, it’s cute, but it feels forced. If Immaculate is going to accomplish anything, it’s likely just that it’s a horror movie starring Sydney Sweeney and nothing else. There’s a moment where the nuns have a ceremony for Cecilia after the word of her pregnancy gets out. Cecilia is dressed in a lavish blue and yellow dress with a gold crown and see-through veil, metaphorically spotlighting her as the Virgin Mary. Everyone else is smiling and bowing their heads to her, reflecting how numerous viewers see Sweeney today. Then, in an instance, there’s a close-up of Cecilia shedding a tear, a callback to a certain shot of Sweeney in the second season of Euphoria . Are we as a society beginning to worship her as royalty this fast in her short career? Only time will tell, but I can guarantee people won’t look back at Immaculate as the primary reason for her ascendency. Must Read 'Immaculate' Review If this is going to accomplish anything, it’s likely just that it’s a horror movie starring Sydney Sweeney and nothing else SHOP 'Snack Shack' Review I hope to see Hollywood starting to see more of Nebraska than they’ve presumed, and Snack Shack was the first step in the right direction toward getting there. SHOP 'Road House' Review For as much as its faults are glaringly apparent, there’s nothing offensive about it. SHOP 'Robot Dreams' Review It speaks volumes, while never containing a single line of dialogue. SHOP 'Shirley' Review Good intentions canceled out by poor filmmaking and an overly basic approach SHOP

'Snack Shack' Review March 22, 2024 By: Tyler Banark My fellow Nebraskans and Midwesterners, we have a big-name movie set and shot entirely in Nebraska for the first time in years. If you’re reading this and don’t understand the significance, Nebraska is a state that NEVER gets the Hollywood spotlight. When it does, it usually showcases only farmland, cornfields, and the nature of the panhandle/western part of the state. The only times Nebraska has been seen in a light where that’s not the case is in Alexander Payne’s filmography ( Citizen Ruth , Election , About Schmidt , Nebraska ). With Snack Shack , director Adam Carter Rehmeier crafts a love letter to his hometown of Nebraska City, a small town with roughly 7200 people. It’s a delightful treat, as Snack Shack doesn’t focus on the cliches Hollywood created for the Cornhusker State. Instead, it’s a simple teen comedy with the small town as the backdrop and a great heart. It’s 1991, and we meet our two leads, AJ (newcomer Conor Sherry) and Moose (Gabriel Labelle, in his follow-up role to The Fabelmans ), who are skipping their school field trip to the Omaha Zoo to bet on dog racing. These ambitious fifteen-year-olds want nothing more than to make a buck without doing any hard work. AJ’s strict parents catch wind of their rendezvous, and he’s forced to find a real job for the summer. While the two seek a job, their much older friend Shane (Nick Robinson) suggests buying the pool’s snack shack from the city. The two do it, and the shack becomes a hit as kids of all ages pay them hand over fist to get whatever they desire. Meanwhile, they both vie over Brooke (Mika Abdalla), a new lifeguard at the pool that puts their friendship to the test Rehmeier penned the script and does so flawlessly, taking the tropes of the coming-of-age teen comedy and applying them to his own methods. AJ and Moose are ambitious boys who are similar to the likes of duos we’ve seen in the past from the genre (i.e., Evan and Seth from Superbad , Ferris and Cameron from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ). They try to scheme something big despite being in their early teens and do everything from making/selling their own beer to painting house numbers on curbs. One, in this case, Moose, can be seen as a bad influence while the other is playing along despite his parent's disapproval. It helps that Sherry and Labelle’s chemistry is fun and quick-witted, with comedic timings balancing each other out. Sherry brings a welcoming introduction as he fits the role of AJ perfectly. He doesn’t go overboard or play it safe; instead, he interprets the character to his own persona. AJ’s a dorky kid, and whenever he talks to Brooke, he tries to play it cool simply to impress. Luckily, Brooke finds him cute, and they build something together. On the other hand, Labelle continues to prove why The Fabelmans wasn’t a one-and-done situation. I feared he may not have much of a career after the 2022 hit, but I was proven wrong. Moose is the brains of the duo, but he often gets carried away in their plans to the point where he bosses AJ around. He can often be unlikable, and Labelle ensures that audiences feel that way whenever he does wrong by AJ. His train looks to keep going at full speed as he’s got another big project on the horizon in Jason Reitman’s SNL 1975 , which has become my most anticipated movie ever since Barbenheimer. The rest of the ensemble is fun to see on screen with Sherry and Labelle. Nick Robinson’s Shane is the big brother figure to AJ, and he nails the role. There’s a scene where AJ and Shane eat runzas at a lake when Shane gives AJ the best advice on handling Brooke and Moose. David Costabile and Gillian Vigman play AJ’s parents and are surprisingly funny whenever they scold the boys. Mika Abdalla as Brooke is also a great turn as she casually jokes around with AJ before their relationship blossoms into something more. Some viewers may see her character as one-dimensional or kind of a bland love interest. Yet, Brooke comes off as a love interest who initially intends to build a friendship with AJ, and the sparks fly when they spend time together. Rehmeier paints Nebraska summers just like how I remember them as a teenager. The plot of Snack Shack could have taken place anywhere, but he chose Nebraska City, which was a solid choice. At no point does Snack Shack present what moviegoers expect to see in a movie set in Nebraska, and it’s so satisfying that filmmakers understand that there’s more to the state than rural areas. Although Nebraska City is nowhere near as big as Omaha, it’s a neighborly town where you won’t need cornfields and farms if you find the right places. It also helps that cinematographer Jean-Philippe Bernier captures little idiosyncrasies that encapsulate a Nebraska summer, most notably whenever there’s a shot of a street at dusk with the streetlights starting to turn on. Bernier showcases the humid atmosphere of hot summer nights and how one would want just to stand outside and take it in wherever they are. Whether our characters are at a party, having a cookout, or going for a swim, it’s a refreshing sight to see. Above all, it’s a comforting feeling that only natives would understand, and those unfamiliar need to experience it to understand. Bernier also has some long takes in certain scenes, which looked great, but it made me wish it was done more often. If Snack Shack falters in any other way, it tends to milk a joke too far. When AJ and Moose open the shack, they sell candy, soda, and hot dogs. However, AJ gets the idea to write an obscene word on the hot dogs and charge 75 extra cents. Once the joke is introduced, it recurs numerous times, and by the time the film is over, it’s not as funny. Despite the humor wearing off, Snack Shack is still a fun teen comedy posing as a love letter to the small-town Nebraska that’s never seen on screen. Thanks to Sherry and Labelle's leadership and a solid script, Rehmeier knew precisely what he was going for and accomplished it satisfactorily. There’s no denying Sherry and Labelle’s fun banter and quick reactions with each other and their costars. I can guarantee these two are set for a bright future in Hollywood, especially Labelle, who has nowhere to go but up. As for Rehmeier, he made a statement for himself and the state of Nebraska. In time, I hope to see Hollywood starting to see more of Nebraska than they’ve presumed, and Snack Shack was the first step in the right direction toward getting there. You can follow Tyler and hear more of his thoughts on Twitter , Instagram , and Letterboxd . Must Read 'Snack Shack' Review I hope to see Hollywood starting to see more of Nebraska than they’ve presumed, and Snack Shack was the first step in the right direction toward getting there. SHOP 'Road House' Review For as much as its faults are glaringly apparent, there’s nothing offensive about it. SHOP 'Robot Dreams' Review It speaks volumes, while never containing a single line of dialogue. SHOP 'Shirley' Review Good intentions canceled out by poor filmmaking and an overly basic approach SHOP 'Love Lies Bleeding' Review Every character is ready to pop at any moment, each outburst promising gory results that beg you to look away. SHOP

'Road House' Review March 20, 2024 By: Hunter Friesen Remaking Road House for modern times doesn't sound like a good idea on paper, with immediate expectations slotting it next to the other misplaced-in-time remakes of Ghost in the Shell and Baywatch . There wasn’t exactly a compelling story to the 1989 original, just Patrick Swayze delivering cans of whoop ass on greasy goons with his black belt in karate. And for a film that made less money than you would think, its cultural footprint has persevered throughout the decades thanks to the funny title, cheesy concept, and, for kids closer to my generation, the frequent Family Guy parodies . Even with the setting being transplanted to the modern day, Elwood Dalton (Jake Gyllenhaal) is still a man stuck in the past. He has no phone, a clunker of a car, and simply drifts from town to town scraping by through low-end cage fights. For him, it’s harder to fight the rage inside than any opponent. He’s calm and composed, but there’s always a twinge of insanity ready to let loose. “You don’t want to know me” and “I’m not afraid of him, I’m afraid of what I’ll do,” he says a few times, with brief snapshots of his UFC past (all shot at an actual UFC event) explaining how he fell so far. Like the idea of remaking the film itself, the casting of Gyllenhaal to take over from Swayze is an odd choice. He’s an actor not exactly known for being relaxed, as evidenced by his previous work in Okja , Nightcrawler , and Velvet Buzzsaw . It’s perhaps a case of the chicken or the egg, with Gyllenhaal being a great piece of casting for this newer take on the character, or his involvement changing the tone. Either way, it works out, with Gyllenhaal’s grounded approach never taking away from the fun. Plus, he’s already had fighting experience with Southpaw , so the producers probably saved a nice chunk of change on training costs. Dalton is hired by Frankie (Jessica Williams) to be the bouncer/enforcer of her family bar called The Road House, just one of several hit-or-miss attempts at some tongue-in-cheek humor by writers Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry. It’s located on a beautiful beach in Florida, with the only problem being the infestation of bikers and roid ragers. It’s nothing Dalton can’t handle, with his laissez-faire attitude towards kicking the crap out of someone almost making it more disrespectful. None of these guys were worth his time, which leads him up the food chain toward the head of the richest crime family in the area, Ben Brandt (Billy Magnussen). He’s got some dastardly plan and needs the bar taken out of commission by any means necessary, including kidnapping, murder, and explosions. The further the plot progresses, the less fun Road House becomes. It’s a bit of a bummer that the first fight where Dalton dismantles five bikers singlehandedly is by far the film’s best-set piece. Even if they are cartoonishly punchable, there is plenty of guilty pleasure in seeing some hooligans get their comeuppance. However, you can’t exactly fill a two-hour movie with your hero facing no resistance, so former UFC champion Conor McGregor has to be introduced as a bruising wildcard. McGregor won’t find himself with a lucrative acting career like former fighters Dwayne Johnson and Dave Bautista, but he fills his wildcard role enough here to be entertaining. Helming this bare-knuckle brawler is director Doug Liman, who helped revolutionize the action genre in the 2000s with The Bourne Identity and gave Tom Cruise another action vehicle outside of his usual Mission: Impossible films with Edge of Tomorrow . All that prowess quickly goes out the window the longer the fight scenes drag on, with questionable visual effects and camera movements overselling the brutality and undercutting the choreography. Once gasoline explosions and boat jousting get involved, things quickly go all the way overboard. Still, for as much as its faults are glaringly apparent, there’s nothing offensive about Road House . I guess that’s what you get when you do a remake of a movie that wasn’t that good to begin with and have it released exclusively on Prime Video. Must Read 'Road House' Review For as much as its faults are glaringly apparent, there’s nothing offensive about it. SHOP 'Robot Dreams' Review It speaks volumes, while never containing a single line of dialogue. SHOP 'Shirley' Review Good intentions canceled out by poor filmmaking and an overly basic approach SHOP 'Love Lies Bleeding' Review Every character is ready to pop at any moment, each outburst promising gory results that beg you to look away. SHOP 'Kung Fu Panda 4' Review Audiences were wishing for more skadoosh, but they got more of a whimpering pow instead. SHOP

Omaha Film Festival 2024 - A Recap March 17, 2024 By: Tyler Banark Three weeks ago, I attended the 19th edition of the Omaha Film Festival. Smaller in scale compared to the likes of TIFF, Cannes, Venice, Sundance, and NYFF, Omaha focuses on telling Nebraska-based stories along with narratives from around the country and even the world. Although other somewhat big-named movies were part of the festival lineup, such as the documentaries Frida , Chasing Chasing Amy , and the Oscar-nominated short Red, White, and Blue , there were also various feature-length and short films. Here are my thoughts on some of the films I saw this year. Lousy Carter Lousy Carter is a comedy starring David Krumholtz as the titular character, a low-life college professor who finds out he has a terminal illness. He tries to sleep with a student of his graduate seminar on The Great Gatsby and sleeps with his best friend’s wife, all while trying to complete an animated film. Krumholtz turns in a dry but entertaining performance, making Lousy into a character that lets the audience decide whether or not he’s worth cheering for. The supporting cast of Martin Starr, Olivia Thirlby, and Jocelyn DeBoer do their parts well as the other people in his life. Although the movie didn’t offer much other than its dry, dark humor, it’s still a fun comedy thanks to Byington's script. Brave the Dark Following the true story of Pennsylvania teen Nathaniel Deen, Brave the Dark is about a troubled high school student who tries to turn his life around with the guidance of his English teacher (played by Jared Harris). Easily the best I saw at the festival this year, Brave the Dark also won Best Film and Audience Choice Feature Film prizes. The movie is fearlessly made to evoke a no-filter look into a troubled teen’s upbringing and how it transpired into his life. Nathan (played by Nicholas Hamilton, best known for playing Henry Bowers in 2017’s IT ) went through the wringer with his parents, who raised him as a little kid, leading him to the foster care system. Hamilton is great, but Jared Harris is the real MVP. He embodies the inspirational teacher trope we’ve seen (i.e., Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society , Sidney Poitier in To Sir, With Love ) and runs with it as he fights tooth and nail to ensure Nathan gets a second chance at life. The movie’s tone does feel a little melodramatic at specific points, but it still leaves a lasting impression on viewers as it’s a tearjerker that wins over their hearts. Guacamole Yesterdays A spin on Michel Gondry’s 2004 sci-fi romance drama Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind , Guacamole Yesterdays follows a woman using a machine to manipulate memories of a relationship that ended in a painful separation. The two leads, Sophie Edwards and Randy Havens, showcase some excellent chemistry in not only the romantic side of their relationship but also in the darker moments. Hudson Phillips’ script benefits from this, and the movie acts as a meditation on grief and how people handle it differently depending on their situations. Guacamole Yesterdays does pull a plot twist in the vein of Shutter Island in the third act, preventing it from sticking to the landing. Overall, it’s a neat sci-fi drama that may be a bit on the nose regarding the movie it’s spinning off of, yet still gets the job done. Don't Get Eaten Don’t Get Eaten is a family comedy about YouTuber dad Noah, who takes his family on a weekend trip to a cabin in the woods. He hopes to unplug and reconnect with his wife, Rose, as their marriage is on the rocks due to his channel and her on-the-rise career as an entrepreneur. One night into the trip, he and his daughters are attacked by zombies and must hold them off before Rose finds out. This was hands down the worst movie I saw at the festival, as it was tailor-made for families to enjoy, with humor appealing mostly to the current generation of kids. Generational moments such as Noah using a GoPro or watching his videos on a live stream were some of the sight gags that don’t land. The other half of the movie’s head-shaking humor consists of dumb jokes viewers would expect to see from every other kid's movie ever (people getting severely injured from the smallest inconvenience, goofy noises, etc.). It’s a boring watch that families surely enjoyed at the screening, but for the typical viewer, it’s another headache-inducing mess. The Headliner Shot entirely in Omaha with a cast and crew entirely of Omaha natives, The Headliner is a comedy that follows a middle-aged comedian hoping to break out on the stand-up scene in Omaha. Director Tony Bonacci has been making several commercials and short films over the years, one of which is a short film version of this. He brings back Darrick Silkman to play the lead, Chad, a comedian who is out of touch with modern society and is estranged from his wife and daughter. Throughout the movie, audiences see various comedians doing their bits in the Omaha stand-up scene. Although it’s nothing compared to the likes of big cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City, Bonacci uses this chance to give comedians at this scale a platform to be seen. The choice is neat and does its job, but the film’s narrative is lacking because of it. Chad gets offered a stand-up gig in Montreal, which coincides with his daughter’s wedding on the same day. Screenwriter Christine Burright tries to juggle these subplots with others (Chad having an intimate relationship with one of his daughter’s besties and learning how to use an iPhone), but the result is messy. Chad comes off as a one-note character, which is partially Silkman’s fault and potentially Burright’s. In the big picture, The Headliner is a movie that highlights Omaha positively but doesn’t bring a story to keep audiences invested. You can follow Tyler and hear more of his thoughts on Twitter , Instagram , and Letterboxd . Must Read 'Shirley' Review Good intentions canceled out by poor filmmaking and an overly basic approach SHOP 'Love Lies Bleeding' Review Every character is ready to pop at any moment, each outburst promising gory results that beg you to look away. SHOP 'Kung Fu Panda 4' Review Audiences were wishing for more skadoosh, but they got more of a whimpering pow instead. SHOP 'Ricky Stanicky' Review Seeing how far Cena is willing to go makes up for a lot of other rougher stretches. SHOP 'Spaceman' Review The simple sight of the comedian in a lower register isn’t enough to cover up an oversimplified love story with liberally borrowed plot points. SHOP

'Kung Fu Panda 4' Review March 10, 2024 By: Tyler Banark As time has proved, it’s a risky choice for a franchise to leap beyond a trilogy and into a fourth entry. For every John Wick: Chapter 4 , Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol , and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ; there is Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Cyrstal Skull, The Bourne Ultimatum , and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides . DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda 4 falls more into the latter bucket by providing the expected stunning visuals, yet also displaying an overfamiliar story that signals a franchise running out of steam and bound to implode. Kung Fu Panda 4 ’s biggest flaw is its script; penned by recurring writers Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, and newcomer Darren Lemke. While the three previous entries mixed plenty of laughs and memorable moments, there wasn’t a single laugh-out-loud moment here, not even for the younger members of the audience. It didn’t help that most of these attempted jokes are featured in a senseless plot. Po has taken the next step in his journey by fulfilling the position of spiritual leader for the Valley of Peace. Because of this, he must step down as The Dragon Warrior and look to find a successor. As he does this, yet another power-hungry villain in The Chameleon (Viola Davis) threatens China by harnessing the powers of all of Po’s past villains. Tai Lung, Lord Shen, and General Kai all return, with Tai Lung being the only one in the spotlight since Ian McShane was the only original voice actor of the trio to come back. Also missing are Furious Five, with their absence being attributed to “other duties.” Of course, Jack Black returns as Po, a character he never seems to take for granted. He’s up to his usual antics, which is enough since seeing Black do his thing is enough of an enjoyable time. Viola Davis’ inclusion in the franchise is great on paper, but it’s not as great in execution considering her character’s copied and pasted motivations. Although he’s not given much screentime, Dustin Hoffman still phones it in as Shifu, which also marks his first appearance in a studio film since 2017’s The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) . Zimmer returns to the maestro’s corner, collaborating again with Steve Mazzaro. Although there are no outstanding pieces, the duo does provide an interestingly Eastern-sounding rendition of “Crazy Train” during a chase sequence. And that’s not the only cover song to be prominently featured, with Black and his band, Tenacious D, covering Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time” during the end credits. It’s a better use of Black’s musical talent than “Peaches” from The Super Mario Bros Movie . Kung Fu Panda 4 feels like a dishonor to the franchise, with almost every aspect being inferior to the previous entries. Even the DreamWorks opening credit logo lacked the personality it once had. From a franchise that has always been willing to take risks, this fourth outing is safe and forgettable. Audiences were wishing for more skadoosh, but they got more of a whimpering pow instead. Must Read 'Kung Fu Panda 4' Review Audiences were wishing for more skadoosh, but they got more of a whimpering pow instead. SHOP 'Ricky Stanicky' Review Seeing how far Cena is willing to go makes up for a lot of other rougher stretches. SHOP 'Spaceman' Review The simple sight of the comedian in a lower register isn’t enough to cover up an oversimplified love story with liberally borrowed plot points. SHOP 'Drive-Away Dolls' Review The results here are a bit scatterbrained, sort of touching on a few too many Coen trademarks with only half the potency they used to have. SHOP 'Dune: Part Two' Review Just as he did with 'Blade Runner 2049,' Villeneuve has accomplished what has long been thought to be impossible. SHOP

'Argylle' Review January 31, 2024 By: Hunter Friesen Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, and behold one of the unexplained mysteries of the universe! What I present to you on the screen is a cat. But it’s also not a cat. It walks like a cat, talks like a cat, and has the overall presence of a cat. And yet, any time you look into its eyes, you are unable to detect any semblance of a soul. How can this be, you ask? The foremost scientists of our time have been unable to determine that answer, nor have they been able to ascertain an answer for why it exists. Did the producers of Argylle not think that cats already exist, and can be trained? Did they recently watch Tom Hooper’s Cats and think that they could go even further down the uncanny valley? Or are they modern Robin Hoods and decided to waste millions of dollars of Apple’s money on something so monumentally stupid? I leave all these questions up to you, ladies and gentlemen. But be warned, the journey to acquire the knowledge that you seek will not be as fun as the marketing would have you believe. A fully CGI cat is only one of several frustrating peculiarities within the freak show brought to us by the “twisted mind” of Matthew Vaughn. At this point, I’d suggest replacing “twisted” with “childish” or “immature.” “Edgy” would also be a good substitute, but only in the context of a twelve-year-old who thinks of themselves as edgy when they tell their first joke that involves swearing or sex. “Original,” however, is a word I would not use for Vaughn or Argylle , no matter how much they try (and let me tell you, they try A LOT ) to make you think they’re one step ahead. In an opening almost ripped straight from Austin Powers in Goldmember (we’re really stealing from the cream of the crop here); we see Henry Cavill sporting one of the most hideous hairstyles in modern cinema, right up there with Taylor Lautner’s flowing locks from Twilight and Nicolas Cage’s from Con Air . He’s on the trail of Lagrange (Dua Lipa), but his role gets flipped to prey once she catches him in a trap. With the help of his two sidekicks (John Cena, Ariana DeBose), Argylle escapes and gets one step closer to solving the ultimate conspiracy. But scratch all that, as Agent Argylle is only a story within a story. The topmost layer has Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) the author of Argylle’s adventures, a series in a long line of successful spy novels. For some reason, almost everything that Elly writes comes true, leading to her life being in danger once a rogue spy syndicate decides to silence her. The only source of help to keeping Elly safe and finding out the full truth is a good spy named Aidan (Sam Rockwell), who claims to know more than he lets on. It’s not that the plot of Argylle is confusing, it’s more that it never registers as interesting or sensical. There’s a lot of moving pieces, but the thread that connects them all together is embarrassingly thin. Before you have time to raise your hand and question why anything is happening, writer Jason Fuchs takes a hard pivot for another “out of this world” twist. The unpredictability of everything becomes tiringly predictable, and even more annoying. What’s also predictable is Vaughn’s staging of the action, which contains no fewer than five set pieces queued to clichéd 60s tunes. To give him credit, one of those scenes contains some nice visual flourishes and choreography. But the rest are bogged down by either horrendous CGI or excessive editing. I’m sure with $100+ million at his disposal, there wasn’t much from Vaughn’s imagination that couldn’t be filmed. But the real question was if he should, not if he could. And the vast majority of this shouldn't have left the brainstorming session. Must Read 'Argylle' Review It's time to find out who the REAL Agent Argylle is! SHOP 'Mean Girls' Review It’s harmless, fun, and will probably be forgotten within due time… kind of like a piece of plastic. SHOP 'The Beekeeper' Review It’s only the second week of January and 2024 already has its best bad movie of the year. SHOP 'The Book of Clarence' Review Samuel is more interested in making this into a good time than a good film SHOP 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom' Review It’s hard to care about something so uneventful and incohesive SHOP