Sony Pictures announced they’re offering free tickets to see Concussion in theaters to NFL players and their families. The tickets will be offered for the course of the movie’s theatrical run which kicks off on Christmas. The film, written and directed by Peter Landesman, has already screened privately to players in NFL markets across the US as part of the studio’s outreach efforts. NFL players need to show their NFLPA membership card at any Cinemark theater to receive two free tickets.
Producers Ridley Scott and Giannina Scott commented on the free tickets, saying, “This is a movie for the players, so we wanted to give them a chance to see it before its nationwide release and free admission during its run in theaters. The movie is so inspiring – Will Smith gives one of the best performances of his career as Dr. Bennet Omalu, a man who shined a light on the truth. The odds were stacked against him, but he had the truth on his side, and now, his discovery is all anyone’s talking about. We think the players will enjoy watching this movie about Dr. Omalu’s incredible courage – courage that changed the game.”
The Concussion Plot:
Will Smith stars in Concussion, a dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth to be known. Omalu’s emotional quest puts him at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful institutions in the world.
Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling star in ‘The Big Short’ (Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures)
Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Christian Bale, and Hamish Linklater talk about the story of The Big Short in this new ‘The Big Leap’ featurette from Paramount Pictures. Director/co-writer Adam McKay and producer Jeremy Kleiner also offer up some insight into the making of the dramatic film based on the bestselling book by Michael Lewis (The Blind Side, Moneyball). The Big Short earned four Golden Globe nominations and was released in theaters on December 23, 2015.
The Plot:
When four outsiders saw what the big banks, media and government refused to, the global collapse of the economy, they had an idea: The Big Short. Their bold investment leads them into the dark underbelly of modern banking where they must question everyone and everything.
The official trailer’s arrived for Desierto starring Gael García Bernal, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Alondra Hidalgo. The thriller is directed by Jonás Cuarón who co-wrote the script with Mateo García and also edited the film. Jonás Cuarón, who also produced the film with Alfonso Cuarón, Carlos Cuarón, Alex García, and Charles Gillibert, says Desierto was a very personal project that he spent seven years working on and nurturing the story into a feature film.
“I took a trip through the U.S. Southwest where I encountered first-hand stories surrounding immigration and the often cruel and violent story of the migrant journey,” explained Jonás Cuarón. “I was very moved and immediately felt compelled to outline the film – which happened even before writing Gravity. I’ve always been very interested in the concept of films like Spielberg’s Duel, Konchalovskiy’s Runaway Train and Bresson’s A Man Escapes. They are non-stop nail biting thrillers with very little dialogue but that at the same time manage to juggle various themes. I was very interested in the drive of these films where the audience connects with the story and character in a very visceral way. In Desierto, I wanted to create a gripping film that would engage the audience in that same kind of visceral, cathartic experience and also allow them to reflect on this very complicated subject which illuminates the often devastating experience migrants face in the search for a better life.
Bringing Gael (García Bernal) on board was a no-brainer, not just for his skillful acting but also for the soul I trusted he would bring to the story. I knew that Gael also felt very passionately about issues surrounding immigration and would bring to life the struggle, hope and determination that are the fabric of the migrant story.”
STX Entertainment is releasing Desierto in theaters on March 4, 2016.
The Plot: What begins as a hopeful journey to seek a better life becomes a harrowing and primal fight for survival when a deranged, rifle-toting vigilante chases a group of unarmed men and women through the treacherous U.S.-Mexican border. In the harsh, unforgiving desert terrain, the odds are stacked firmly against them as they continuously discover there’s nowhere to hide from the unrelenting, merciless killer.
The My Big Fat Greek Wedding is back together for the film’s sequel, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, and Universal Pictures has just unveiled a new poster featuring 11 members of the ensemble cast. Nia Vardalos and John Corbett lead the cast that includes Lainie Kazan, Gia Carides, Joey Fatone, Elena Kampouris, Alex Wolff, Louis Mandylor, Bess Meisler, Bruce Gray, Fiona Reid, Ian Gomez, Jayne Eastwood, Mark Margolis, Andrea Martin, and Michael Constantine.
Nia Vardalos wrote the script with Kirk Jones directing and Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson and Gary Goetzman producing.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 will open in theaters on March 25, 2016.
The original My Big Fat Greek Wedding was a sleeper hit back in 2002 and holds the record as the biggest grossing romantic comedy in box office history. The film grossed more than $368 million dollars worldwide during its theatrical run and it earned Nia Vardalos a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination.
Batman, Superman, Captain America, Doctor Strange, the X-Men, and Deadpool will all be represented in theaters in 2016. 2016 looks like a good year for fans of comic book adaptations/superhero movies, with the Merc with a Mouth (played by Ryan Reynolds) kicking off the year and Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange finishing it up.
Comic Book Movie Preview:
(Listed in release date order)
Deadpool (February 12, 2016) – Starring Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano, and Brianna Hildebrand The Plot: Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds), who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (March 25, 2016) – Starring Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Jesse Eisenberg, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Michael Shannon, Holly Hunter, Jeremy Irons, and Jason Momoa The Plot: Fearing the actions of a god-like super hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.
Captain America: Civil War (May 6, 2016) – Starring Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Emily VanCamp, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Frank Grillo, William Hurt, and Daniel Brühl The Plot: Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War finds Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.
X-Men: Apocalypse (May 27, 2016) – Starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Olivia Munn, Lucas Till, Evan Peters, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alexandra Shipp, Josh Helman, Lana Condor, and Ben Hardy The Plot: Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshiped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (June 3, 2016) – Starring Megan Fox, Stephen Amell, Sheamus Farrelly, Gary Anthony Williams, Tyler Perry, Will Arnett, William Fictner, Brittany Ishibashi, Laura Linney, and Brian Tee The Plot: The sequel to 2014’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Out of the Shadows features Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo once again fighting to save their city.
‘Suicide Squad’ cast photo (Photo Courtesy of David Ayer / WB)
Suicide Squad (August 5, 2016) – Starring Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney, Joel Kinnaman, Cara Delevingne, Viola Davis, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Adam Beach, Jay Hernandez, and Karen Fukahara The Plot: A squad of anti-heroes help out the government in exchange for reduced prison sentences.
Gambit (October 7, 2016) – Starring Channing Tatum The Plot: Plot details are being kept secret and it’s likely the film won’t actually arrive in October as production was pushed to early 2016 after director Rupert Wyatt exited the film.
Doctor Strange (November 4, 2016) – Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mads Mikkelsen, and Tilda Swinton The Plot:Doctor Strange follows the story of neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a horrific car accident, discovers the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions.
Bradley James stars in A&E’s upcoming series, ‘Damien’ (Photo by Ben Mark Holzberg / Copyright 2015)
A&E will premiere The Omen sequel Damien in 2016 and today the network revealed a short teaser video for the horror series. The new video premiered via Twitter and features a woman leaping to her death after declaring, “It’s all for you, Damien.”
The Plot:
Damien follows the adult life of Damien Thorn, the mysterious child from the 1976 motion picture who has grown up seemingly unaware of the satanic forces around him. Haunted by his past, Damien must now come to terms with his true destiny — that he is the Antichrist. Barbara Hershey stars as Ann Rutledge, the world’s most powerful woman who has been tasked with making sure Damien fulfills his destiny. Omid Abtahi portrays Amani Golkar, a close colleague of Damien’s whose fierce loyalty will be tested when he realizes who his brother-in-arms actually is. Meganlyn Echikunwoke plays Simone Baptiste, a woman whose life is thrown into turmoil when tragedy unexpectedly strikes.
As a holiday treat for fans of the Merc with the Mouth, a special IMAX trailer and poster have arrived online for Deadpool starring Ryan Reynolds. The new poster features Deadpool (Reynolds), Colossus, Angel Dust (Gina Carano), and Weasel (T.J. Miller), and even Stan Lee puts in an appearance on the poster for the 2016 release. Tim Miller directs from a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, with Reynolds, Simon Kinberg, and Lauren Shuler Donner producing.
Deadpool will be digitally remastered for the film’s IMAX 3D release on February 12, 2016.
The Deadpool Plot:
Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.
Richard Linklater’s 2016 comedy Everybody Wants Some, which is described as the “spiritual sequel” to his Dazed and Confused, has just released its first trailer and teaser poster. Everybody Wants Some is set in the ’80s and, judging by the trailer, we can expect dozens of classic tunes from the decade to be featured in the college-set comedy.
The ensemble cast includes Glen Powell, Zoey Deutch, Wyatt Russell, Ryan Guzman, and Tyler Hoechlin.
Everybody Wants Some opens in theaters on April 15, 2016 after premiering at SXSW.
The Plot:
Set in the world of 1980s college life, Everybody Wants Some follows a group of college baseball players as they navigate their way through the freedoms and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood. Get ready for the best weekend ever.
Pretty much every genre is represented on our list of the best movies released in 2015, a list that had to be expanded from 10 to 15 in order to truly represent the most outstanding theatrical offerings of the year. Our picks for the best films of 2015 include two sequels, a couple of action films, a creepy horror movie, Pixar’s best animated comedy in years, two sci-fi thrillers, a riveting documentary, one vampire mockumentary, and a behind the scenes look at Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. Adult dramas and one of the best ever adaptations of a bestselling novel are also included in our Top 15 list.
Even with expanding the list to 15, there were still a few films that had to be left out. The Big Short (minus the first shaky cam 15 minutes), Clouds of Sils Maria, Spy, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Woman in Gold, Phoenix, Son of Saul, and The Diary of a Teenage Girl were this|close to making the top 15.
Best Movies of 2015:
(Listed in alphabetical order)
Amy (July 2015) starring Amy Winehouse, Tony Bennett, Blake Fielder, and Mitchell Winehouse The Plot: Amy tells the incredible story of six-time Grammy-winner Amy Winehouse – in her own words. Featuring extensive unseen archival footage and previously unheard tracks, this strikingly modern, moving and vital film shines a light on our culture and the world we live in today. A once-in-a-generation talent, Amy Winehouse was a musician that captured the world’s attention with her unforgettable voice and charisma. A pure jazz artist in the most authentic sense, Amy poured her heart and soul into her music, expressing personal struggles and pain through her intimate lyrics. The combination of her raw honesty and virtuosity resulted in some of the most unique and adored songs of our time. Amy became an international sensation, experiencing a meteoric rise to fame she had never sought nor expected. The relentless and invasive media attention, coupled with Amy’s troubled relationships and addictions, led her into a tragic cycle of self-destruction, resulting in her untimely death at age 27. Four years later, Asif Kapadia’s powerful documentary invites audiences to remember and celebrate Amy as a brilliant artist while asking ourselves how it was that we watched her disappear in front of our eyes.
Brooklyn (November 2015) starring Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, and Domhnall Gleeson The Plot:Brooklyn tells the profoundly moving story of Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), a young Irish immigrant navigating her way through 1950s Brooklyn. Lured by the promise of America, Eilis departs Ireland and the comfort of her mother’s home for the shores of New York City. The initial shackles of homesickness quickly diminish as a fresh romance sweeps Eilis into the intoxicating charm of love. But soon, her new vivacity is disrupted by her past, and Eilis must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.
Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett in a scene from ‘Carol.’
Carol (November 2015) starring Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Kyle Chandler, Jake Lacy, Cory Michael Smith, and Sarah Paulson The Plot: Set in 1950s New York, two women from very different backgrounds find themselves in the throes of love in Carol. As conventional norms of the time challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change.
A young woman in her 20s, Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), is a clerk working in a Manhattan department store and dreaming of a more fulfilling life when she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage. As an immediate connection sparks between them, the innocence of their first encounter dims and their connection deepens. While Carol breaks free from the confines of marriage, her husband (Chandler) threatens her competence as a mother when Carol’s involvement with Therese and close relationship with her best friend Abby (Sarah Paulson) comes to light. As Carol leaves the comfort of home to travel with Therese, an internal journey of self- discovery coincides with her new sense of space.
Creed (November 2015) starring Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, and Anthony Bellew The Plot: Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring. With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?
In an interesting twist on the standard year-end awards voting, members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association* were asked yesterday to vote on whether to include Star Wars: The Force Awakens as a Best Picture nominee. Disney held press screenings around the U.S. on December 15, 2015 which was after the Critics’ Choice Awards nomination process had ended and a day after nominees were announced. An email was sent to all BFCA members asking if had the screening taken place in time for the initial round of voting, would Star Wars: The Force Awakens have earned a Best Picture nomination. The majority voted yes and Star Wars: The Force Awakens was just added as an 11th nominee in the Best Picture category. (The film was not added in any other category and members were not asked if any of the actors should be considered for awards.)
Announcing the new addition to the Best Picture category, the BFCA said this is the second time a film that was screened too late for consideration was added in the Best Picture category. A late screening also took place in 2000 for Cast Away and the membership voted after the nominations were announced to add it to the Best Picture category. Per the official announcement: “It is the purpose of the Critics’ Choice Awards to honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement. Making this exception to our rules serves this purpose.”
The 21st annual Critics’ Choice Awards show will be held on January 17, 2016. T.J. Miller is hosting and the show will air live on A&E, Lifetime, and LMN at 5pm PT/8pm ET.
Critics’ Choice Awards Best Picture Nominees:
The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Room
Sicario
Spotlight
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
