Inspired by the classic theme park ride, Disney’s ‘Haunted Mansion’ is a fun adventure filled with ghastly frights. Directed by Justin Simien (‘Dear White People’), the tale takes place inside a New Orleans manor where a mother and her son stumble upon the 999 happy haunts. This all-age film strikes a good balance of humor and horror with an adequate amount of jump scares that are perfect for the younger audience.
This isn’t the first time the classic ride got the live-action movie treatment. Eddie Murphy starred in the 2003 ‘The Haunted Mansion,’ but the film was criticized by both critics and audiences alike. The 2003 film received a 13% critics score and a 31% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The mansion has also been featured in ‘Muppets Haunted Mansion,’ a Halloween special that was released on Disney+.
Aside from the lore of the ghosts, there is an unexpected story of loss and grief. Ben Mathis (LaKeith Stanfield) was very passionate about his work in the paranormal until a tragic event that led to the loss of his wife. Ben became bitter and morose, giving up on his work in the paranormal until Father Kent recruited him to investigate the mansion. Throughout the film, it is revealed why certain spirits are drawn towards Ben and other individuals with a similar story.
The official synopsis for ‘’Haunted Mansion” is below:
Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, Haunted Mansion tells the story of Gabbie (Rosario Dawson), a single mom, who discovers that the home she and her son share is haunted by irksome ghosts. Hoping to restore domestic tranquility, Gabbie recruits a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid the house of the supernatural squatters.
The movie did a great job of adapting the fan-favorite attraction onto the big screen to include many Easter Eggs. Pulling distinguished scenes directly from the ride, such as the Stretching Room and its portraits, the endless hallway, the seance room, and the ballroom scene.
The film also highlighted characters such as Madam Leota (Jamie Lee Curtis), The Hatbox Ghost (Jared Leto), the hitchhiking ghosts, Constance the Bride, and more as some of the spirits haunted Gabbie and crew.
Director Justin Simien was a former Disney cast member, and with the Haunted Mansion being one of his favorite attractions from the theme park, he and writer Kate Dippold made sure the mansion was presented in its truest fashion.
‘Haunted Mansion’ premiered on July 15, 2023, at Disneyland in Anaheim, California and was released domestically on July 28, 2023. The film is no longer in theaters, as it has passed the 45-day theatrical window and is making its way to digital and streaming.
Where to Watch: ‘Haunted Mansion’ Online
The movie will be streaming on Disney+ starting October 4 and available for purchase on platforms such as Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV, Vudu, YouTube, and more. ‘Haunted Mansion’ has a total runtime of 2 hours and 3 minutes.
Watch the official trailers for ‘Haunted Mansion’ below:
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For those who prefer to bring the film home in physical media, Disney’s ‘Haunted Mansion’ will be available on Blu-Ray and DVD on October 17. It will include never-before-seen bonus features and featurettes such as:
In Disney’s ‘Haunted Mansion,’ Gabbie and her son Travis have just barely moved into their brand new home when they realize something more sinister is afoot. As they continue to encounter the unruly ghosts that haunt the property, they seek help from an unlikely group of spiritual experts to rid them of the spooky souls once and for all.
‘Haunted Mansion’ is a love letter to the iconic theme park ride, filled with references and Easter eggs that will satisfy longtime fans. The horror element is just light enough for a younger audience, with adequate jump scares and ghastly images. LaKeith Stanfield gives a standout performance as Ben, who has an unexpected story of loss and grief that serves as the emotional core of the movie. However, the film focuses on too many storylines, causing the pacing to be uneven.
The screenplay was written by Katie Dippold and directed by Justin Simien, a former Disneyland Cast Member. Unlike the 2003 ‘The Haunted Mansion’ starring Eddie Murphy, which portrayed the mansion in a more cartoony manner, the 2023 adaption properly showcases the Haunted Mansion that is known amongst parkgoers. Essentially, the mansion is a character in itself and is highlighted as so.
In the trailer, the story seemed to center on Gabbie and Travis, the newest residents of the mansion. However, the main focus is really on Stanfield’s Ben Mathis. At the beginning of the movie, Ben is passionate about his work with the paranormal, creating a special camera that spots spirits. Due to unforeseen circumstances, which are later discovered at the end of the second act, a morose Ben emerges, having given up on his supernatural career.
Using Ben’s story and connecting him to the mansion is quite clever. Father Kent, who had heard of Ben’s work, comes to him with a well-compensated offer – to use his special camera to capture the spirits on film. It is only then Ben agrees to visit Gabbie and Travis at the mansion. At first, Ben tries to remain unphased and skeptical through every supernatural encounter. It isn’t until an unexpected spirit that begins making waves in his every life he is forced to return to the mansion. With the help of psychic Harriet, Father Kent, and Professor Bruce, Ben searches for answers on why Gabbie’s new home is a hotspot for ghosts.
By telling Ben’s unexpected story of loss and grief, it provides a deeper meaning than just a cursed manor. It dives into the history of the mansion and the fascinating origins of several spirits that reside there.
Haddish’s hilarious performance stood out with the best story arc. Initially, she was an insecure medium who didn’t feel strong enough to battle the big bad of the mansion, but she came into her own after proving herself capable. Though Haddish’s Harriet was entertaining, the same could not be said with the other characters’ various storylines. There were just too many stories to keep up with, which felt convoluted and unnecessary.
Just like the ride, ‘Haunted Mansion’ has to strike that perfect balance of humor and horror. It succeeds in most parts, giving solid jump scares and eerie elements. However, many emotional scenes were met with a lighter moment to break up the tension. It isn’t uncommon to use this approach in film, though the jokes that follow a heartfelt moment come too quickly, leaving those emotional scenes feeling less meaningful.
When a movie is based on an iconic theme park ride such as ‘Haunted Mansion,’ fans will expect to see references and Easter eggs. What this movie does so well is that it gives nods to the ride without feeling out of place. It happens naturally as the characters explore parts of the mansion and learn of its history rather than being shoehorned in for the purpose of an Easter egg.
Here are some of the Easter eggs you can expect to see:
Fans of the ride will certainly enjoy seeing the iconic Haunted Mansion being properly featured and highlighted on the big screen. Every Easter egg and reference spotted will leave a smile on your face. Stanfield is fantastic in this role, bringing much heart with his emotional performance. The pacing and tonal shift are uneven as it tries to find the balance between humor and horror and juggling too many storylines. Although it is definitely better than the 2003 adaptation and a bit ambitious with the all-star cast, it is still entertaining and fun for all ages.
Walt Disney Studios kicked off the first day of D23 Expo 2022 in style today with tons of advance looks at what the House of Mouse has in store for fans in the coming days, months, and years. You can watch Moviefone‘s exclusive backstage interviews by clicking on the video player above.
The first D23 Expo in three years began with the president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, Sean Bailey, revealing the first-ever footage from ‘Hocus Pocus 2’.
Bailey was joined by the wacky Sanderson Sisters themselves – stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy – who appeared via video to show how their characters are back for the first time since 1993 for more soul-stealing Halloween action.
Battling them this time around are aspiring witch Becca (Whitney Peak) and magic shop owner Gilbert (Sam Richardson).
But the audience’s biggest applause went to the original film’s Billy Butcherson (‘The Shape of Water’s Doug Jones) upon his return from the grave. ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ hits Disney+ on September 30th. The trailer is in the video player above.
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Next up on the panel was another eagerly anticipated sequel, ‘Disenchanted’. Returning stars Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Idina Menzel, and James Marsden took the stage, alongside Maya Rudolph, the film’s new villain. ‘Disenchanted’ finds Adams’ Giselle and hubby Dempsey moving to the suburbs with their infant and teenage children.
“I was a huge fan of the original,” said Rudolph. “I can’t believe I got to be part of this… It’s not easy being mean to Amy Adams.” The new teaser trailer for the sequel is in the video player above.
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As far as live-action remakes of Disney animated classics go, ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ was the first on deck today: with star Jude Law (Captain Hook) flanked by newcomers Alexander Molony (Peter Pan), Ever Gabo Anderson (Wendy), and Alyssa Wapanatâhk (Tiger Lily).
Expect more empowered female characters this time around, including at least one Lost Girl among Peter’s Lost Boys.
“Disney has worked very hard to give her more depth and a lot more character,” said Anderson of Wendy. “She and Peter are equals in this film.”
Law added that Hook and Pan’s prior relationship is also fleshed out. “We got to mine their back story a little bit more. You get to understand their past,” he said, hinting that the two were once friends.
“I got to make sure all the little details, all the Easter eggs are there. Because I’m a nerd,” confessed Simien. He then joined another of the film’s stars – scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis – in a Doom Buggy rolling across the D23 Expo stage.
Few Disney films are so beloved as 1994’s ‘The Lion King’. And fans will get more of the film’s animal kingdom in the 2024 prequel ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’.
Director Barry Jenkins appeared to explain how “Mufasa is the origin story of one of the greatest kings of the Pride Land… It’s the real story of how Mufasa found his place in the circle of life. What you learn is that Mufasa is great because of the family and the friends he has with him.”
Of course Disney Studios wouldn’t exist without its very first animated classic, 1937’s ‘Snow White’.
Director Marc Webb is tackling the live-action 2024 remake, featuring Gal Gadot as the Wicked Queen and Rachel Zegler as its eponymous heroine. The two were touched by the warm response they received as they presented a first look at their characters.
“Just your reaction means the world to us,” said Gadot.
A visibly moved Zegler explained that, “Snow White is the girl you remember, but she’s definitely made for the modern age,” stating the film redefines what it means to be the fairest of them all.
Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot at Disney D23 Expo 2022 Getty Images
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While ‘Snow White’ is Disney’s first animated feature, 1989’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ is responsible for the studio’s renaissance. As well as its renewed dedication to musicals, as Rob Marshall, director of May 2023’s live-action adaptation, reminded fans today.
“It was very important for us to honor the original. We went to Alan Menken, who was divine to work with, and also our dear friend Lin-Manuel Miranda. They had never worked together before… There are four new songs. We still retain the beauty of the original score, written by the late great Howard Ashman as well.”
Fans were treated to the film’s entire “Part of Your World” number, featuring a note-perfect Halle Bailey, who appeared on stage with Marshall.
“Three days of filming ‘Part of Your World,’” said Bailey, “that was the most beautiful experience of my life. Just getting to sing a song I’ve loved since I was a child was so exciting.”
“The camera loves you,” Marshall told Bailey. “But it’s more than that. [It] loves what’s inside. [It] loves what you bring.”
The two then unveiled a teaser that recalled ‘Finding Nemo’ in the color and detail of its underwater world. You can find a teaser version of the clip in the video player at the top of the page.
It was then time for Pixar Animation Studios’ turn in the spotlight, with chief creative officer Pete Docter introducing next summer’s ‘Elemental’.
Director Peter Sohn spoke of how the film’s Element City was inspired by the culturally mixed New York of his childhood. Footage shown depicted the star-crossed romance of its fire-based heroine Ember (Leah Lewis) and her watery boyfriend Wade (Mamoudou Athie).
Pixar also unveiled its first original long-form series in the form of ‘Win or Lose’, each episode of which follows the perspective of a different character connected to a co-ed softball team, the Pickles.
With this year’s ‘Lightyear’, Pixar returned to the science fiction of ‘Wall-E’. Expect more in this vein soon, starting with ‘Elio’.
Announced today at D23 with star America Ferrera on stage, the film’s title character is an 11-year-old boy who doesn’t feel like he fits in his world. His mom (Ferrera) runs a top-secret military project, which inadvertently results in Elio making first contact with alien life and becoming our planet’s ambassador to the rest of the universe. It’s due out in spring 2024.
Last but by no means least on the Pixar slate – ‘Inside Out’ star Amy Poehler made a surprise appearance alongside Docter to announce ‘Inside Out 2’.
“Joy and the emotions are back for an all new adventure inside Riley’s head,” said a fittingly ebullient Poehler. “Only this time she’s a teenager!”
New emotions will also appear in the film, as Kelsey Mann takes over the directing chores from Docter, with Meg LeFauve returning to write the summer 2024 release.
To cap off the panel, Disney Animation’s chief creative officer (and Oscar-winning ‘Frozen’ director) Jennifer Lee greeted the D23 Expo audience to show what’s in store for the studio’s 100th anniversary next year.
But first, Disney’s fan-favorite 2016 ‘Zootopia’ will get a spin-off series this November on Disney+. And attendees got an advance look at the aptly titled ‘Zootopia+’, consisting of six short ‘Zootopia’-style spoofs of everything from ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ to ‘The Godfather Part II’.
Perhaps Disney’s most unique offering at the Expo was ‘Iwaju’. Coming this year to Disney+, it finds the animation studio partnering for the first time in its long history with an overseas animation studio – Africa’s Kugali. Its three founders appeared today, describing their Afrofuturism fable and its characters as a love letter to their hometown of Lagos, Nigeria.
More sci-fi arrived with a new look at ‘Strange World’, described by Lee as “a film about family, legacy, and what we leave behind for the generations that follow.” Director Don Hall explained how the film chronicles three generations coming together on an alien planet in order to save their world.
Stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, and Lucy Liu introduced a rip-snorting clip of an exciting chase through ‘Strange World’s creature-packed planet.
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The Disney Animation segment, and indeed entire panel, concluded with the revelation of the studio’s 100th anniversary feature film – ‘Wish’. The tale of the star upon which so many Disney characters have wished throughout the past century, ‘Wish’ is co-directed by the attending team of Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn.
Buck, who co-wrote the film with Lee, explained how ‘Wish’ explores a kingdom of wishes, in which wishes can literally come true. Offering a lush, animated watercolor style coupled with CG animation, it stars newly minted Oscar winner Ariana DeBose as 17-year-old Asha, who pleas to the heavens for help, and gets an actual star from the sky, named Star, who communicates through pantomime.
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Disney “good luck charm,” actor Alan Tudyk appeared with footage of his character, a goat named Valentino who wishes to communicate with people. Finally, DeBose saw fans off with a sizzling live performance of “More for Us,” one of the film’s songs by Grammy winner Julia Michaels.
It’s the story of a doctor (Dawson) and her 9-year-old son (Chase Dillon), looking to start a new life, who move into a strangely affordable mansion in New Orleans. They soon discover that the place is much more than they bargained for. Desperate for help, they contact a priest (Wilson), who, in turn, enlists the aid of a widowed scientist-turned failed-paranormal expert (Stanfield), a French Quarter psychic (Haddish) and a crotchety historian (DeVito).
Leto is reportedly playing the Hatbox ghost, who pops up occasionally during the ride, while One Take News has heard that Curtis is aboard as Madame Leota, the ghost of a psychic whose head is encased in her crystal ball. The character is an iconic element in the attraction, so it makes sense to have someone as respected as Curtis in the role.
Jamie Lee Curtis in 2018’s ‘Halloween.’
We don’t yet know whether either actor was on set for the movie itself, or whether they’ve simply been digitally scanned and will be providing their performances via a little post-production magic.
The original ‘Haunted Mansion’ attraction originally opened at Disneyland in California in 1969, a few years after it was initially dreamt up by Walt Disney as a walk-through attraction. It then evolved into a ride that takes guests through a supernaturally charged mansion in Louisiana.
Later versions at other parks have altered the theme and location, with both Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland’s editions featuring more show scenes, a longer ride time, and a Gothic aesthetic, while Disneyland Paris’ version, known as ‘Phantom Manor,’ is themed to a decimated house on the American frontier.
That adaptation didn’t exactly win over the critics and it was far from a smash at the box office either, though it did manage to scare up $180.2 million worldwide (though it cost $90 million to make before marketing costs).
‘Haunted Mansion’ will glide into theaters on March 10th, 2023.
Jared Leto in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Morbius.’
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Best Picture nominees ‘Judas and the Black Messiah,’ ‘Nomadland,’ ‘Promising Young Woman,’ ‘Sound of Metal,’ ‘Mank,’ ‘Minari,’ ‘Trial of the Chicago 7,’ & ‘The Father’
Early in the morning on March 15th, Nick Jonas and Prianka Chopra-Jonas announced the nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards. Here are the nominees for this years’ awards:
BEST PICTURE
‘The Father’
‘Judas and the Black Messiah’
‘Mank’
‘Minari’
‘Nomadland’
‘Promising Young Woman’
‘Sound of Metal’
‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’
DIRECTOR
Thomas Vinterberg, ‘Another Round’
David Fincher, ‘Mank’
Lee Isaac Chung, ‘Minari’
Chloe Zhao, ‘Nomadland’
Emerald Fennell, ‘Promising Young Woman’
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Riz Ahmed, ‘Sound of Metal’
Chadwick Boseman, ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’
Anthony Hopkins, ‘The Father’
Gary Oldman, ‘Mank’
Steven Yeun, ‘Minari’
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Viola Davis, ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’
Andra Day, ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’
Vanessa Kirby, ‘Pieces of a Woman’
Frances McDormand, ‘Nomadland’
Carey Mulligan, ‘Promising Young Woman’
Sacha Baron Cohen, ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’
Daniel Kaluuya, ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’
Leslie Odom Jr., ‘One Night in Miami’
Paul Raci, ‘Sound of Metal’
Lakeith Stanfield, ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
‘Onward’
‘Over the Moon’
‘A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon’
‘Soul’
‘Wolfwalkers’
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
‘Borat Subsequent MovieFilm’
‘The Father’
‘Nomadland’
‘One Night in Miami’
‘The White Tiger’
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
‘Judas and the Black Messiah’
‘Minari’
‘Promising Young Woman’
‘Sound of Metal’
‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
‘Another Round’ – Denmark
‘Better Days’ – Hong Kong
‘Collective’ – Romania
‘The Man Who Sold His Skin’ – Tunisia
‘Quo Vadis, Aida?’ – Bosnia and Herzegovina
‘The Father’
‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’
‘Mank’
‘News of the World’
‘Tenet’
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Sean Bobbitt, ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’
Erik Messerschmidt, ‘Mank’
Dariusz Wolski, ‘News of the World’
Joshua James Richards, ‘Nomadland’
Phedon Papamichael , ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’
‘Burrow’
‘Genius Loci’
‘If Anything Happens I Love You’
‘Opera’
‘Yes-People’
DOCUMENTARY (SHORT)
‘Colette’
‘A Concerto Is a Conversation’
‘Do Not Split’
‘Hunger Ward’
‘A Love Song For Latasha’
ORIGINAL SONG
‘Fight For You’ from ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’
‘Hear My Voice’ from ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’
‘Husavik’ from ‘Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga’
‘lo Sì (Seen)’ from ‘The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)’
‘Speak Now’ from ‘One Night in Miami…’
ORIGINAL SCORE
‘Da 5 Bloods’
‘Mank’
‘Minari’
‘News of the World’
‘Soul’
Delayed by the pandemic, the Oscars ceremony will be on Sunday, April 25 on ABC.
Welcome to this week’s edition of Female Filmmakers in Focus, a column where you will find a recommendation for films directed by women to seek out each week.
Shatara Michelle Ford on the set of ‘Test Pattern’
Shatara Michelle Ford has written and directed a handful of shorts over the last decade. In 2016, she worked as James Gray’s assistant during the filming of ‘Lost City of Z’ and her script ‘Queen Elizabeth’ was on the 2017 Black List of the best unproduced screenplays. Self-financed, and shot over just a few weeks in Austin and Los Angeles, her feature film debut ‘Test Pattern’ first premiered at Blackstar Film Festival in 2019. It also played several festivals before being acquired by Kino Lorber and released just this February. Proof that although sometimes it can take a while great films will eventually find their way to audiences.
Currently available in virtual cinemas via Kino Marquee, writer-director Shatara Michelle Ford’s ‘Test Pattern’ begins when Renesha (a star-making performance from Brittany S. Hall) and Evan (Will Brill) first meet at an Austin bar. We then see them bump into each other at a grocery store, go on their first date, and eventually move in together. The rest of the film follows the aftermath of one fateful girls’ night out, as Renesha meets up with a friend at a bar, and they’re both immediately hit on by some newly-rich tech bros. What starts as casual conversation and mild flirtation slowly devolves into the men drugging both women, and finally ends with Renesha being assaulted. The second half of the film follows Evan’s determination to get Renesha a rape kit, despite the labyrinthine Texas medical and legal system. Ford intercuts this journey with flashbacks to moments of tension from their relationship, revealing holes in their seemingly idyllic relationship. ‘Test Pattern’ examines not just the broken medical system in Texas, but also toxic masculinity, the murky waters of consent, and the power dynamics in interracial couples – especially between Black women and white men. Rarely are debut filmmakers this deft at tackling so many complex issues at once, but with ‘Test Pattern,’ Shatara Michelle Ford’s vision is clear, as are her skills to realize it with exacting precision.
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The Photograph (2020) – written and directed by Stella Meghie
Lakeith Stanfield, Issa Rae, and Stella Meghie on the set of ‘The Photograph’
Born to Jamaican immigrant parents in Toronto, Stella Meghie quit a job in the fashion industry to learn the art of screenwriting at University of Westminster in England. She has since directed four feature films, three of which she also wrote. Her debut film ‘Jean of the Joneses’ premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in 2016 and received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Screenplay. She was then hired by Warner Bros. to direct ‘Everything, Everything’, an adaptation of Nicola Yoon’s popular YA novel of the same name starring Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson. Her third film ‘The Weekend’ premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. Although it received mostly positive critical acclaim, it did not get a very wide distribution. After the release of her fourth film ‘The Photograph’ last year it was announced that she will be helming a Whitney Houston biopic entitled ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody.’ Meghie’s films simultaneously explore familial and romantic relationship dynamics and how they often intersect in ways we cannot predict or control.
Starring Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield, ‘The Photograph’ is a romantic drama inspired by Meghie’s grandmother, who reconnected with a daughter she hadn’t seen in over thirty years. The film begins with Michael (Stanfield), a journalist working on a story about life in the Delta post-Hurricane Katrina, interviewing a man named Isaac (Rob Morgan). After seeing the striking photograph of a woman in Isaac’s house, Michael decides he wants to learn more about her story. Discovering she is a photographer named Christina Eames, he seeks out her daughter Mae (Issa Rae) who works as aan museum curator in New York City. Sparks fly immediately between Michael and Mae, their encounters straddling the line between professional and personal. As their relationship blossoms, the film cuts back and forth in time revealing how Christina (Chanté Adams) and Isaac (played in flashbacks by Y’lan Noel) knew each other and what led to their eventual split. While Mae learns more about her mother’s secrets, she questions everything she thought she knew about her family, her relationship with the man she thought was her father (Courtney B. Vance), and about the complicated nature of love itself. If you’re in the mood for some good old-fashioned soapy romance, grab some tissues, because Meghie’s film more than delivers. ‘The Photograph’ is available on HBOMax.
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If you’re curious as to what new movie this week might be best for you, Moviefone is here to help you find it and watch it. This week’s selection of movies features a zany comedy, a historic drama, and several varieties of character-driven stories. Here are the movies we’re suggesting this week:
Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar (Premium VOD)
Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo in ‘Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar’
Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo reunite after their Bridesmaids success and introduce us to two women who are best friends that just became FUNemployed. Throwing caution to the wind, they travel down to sunny Vista Del Mar for a much-needed break from their average lives. What they don’t know is that Vista Del Mar is in the crosshairs of an evil criminal mastermind Barbara Minerva (Wiig) and her lovesick sidekick (Jamie Dornan). But hey, before all that happens, there’s still time for a cocktail served in a fishbowl. Watch this if… You don’t understand how this took so long to make happen after Bridesmaids, watch Kristen Wiig Saturday Night Live reruns, and need to watch something unpredictable.
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Cowboys (Premium VOD)
Sasha Knight and Steve Zahn in ‘Cowboys’
Joe (Sasha Knight) was born female but identifies as a boy. As he brushes off his mother’s (Jillian Bell) attempts to make him wear pink cowboy boots in their small hometown in Montana, it appears that the only person willing to understand him is his father Troy (Steve Zahn). When he is released from prison, he and Joe go on the lam in the Montana wilderness with nothing but a stolen horse and campfire songs. Ann Dowd plays the law enforcement agent on the case. Watch this if… You crave vast landscapes, absolutely ADORE Steve Zahn, and are interested in heartwarming tales of acceptance with a side of danger.
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French Exit (In theaters in Los Angeles and New York)
Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges in ‘French Exit’
Michelle Pfeiffer’s glamorously forlorn Frances thought that her life would run out before the money did. Alas, she was incorrect, and as she finds herself on the brink of financial ruin, she liquidates her assets, grabs her adult son (Lucas Hedges) and her cat (Tracy Letts), and leaves New York for a small apartment in Paris. She is the kind of woman who sharpens knives in the dark and lights cigarettes in a steady stream that (unfortunately) looks every bit as cool as tobacco companies promised in their early days. The move didn’t brighten Frances’ dreary skies, and she must figure out how to get her figurative groove back, and the journey proves fabulous. Watch this if… Seeing Michelle Pfeiffer’s version of “down and out” makes you feel warm and fuzzy, and if you are especially interested in noteworthy cat roles.
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Judas and the Black Messiah (In theaters and HBO Max)
Daniel Kaluuya in ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’
The Black Liberation Movement of the 1960s was considered by J.Edgar Hoover “the greatest threat to our national security.” The FBI, under pressure to quell the movement, coerced a former car thief, William O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield), into helping them bring down the leader of The Black Panthers, Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). While O’Neal was actively working against them and rising in their ranks, the film captures the power of the revolution, and how timely their message still is today. Watch this if… You’re a history buff, and want an Awards Season film with incredible performances.
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Land (In theaters)
Robin Wright in ‘Land’
Robin Wright’s feature film debut has her starring as Edee, a woman that needs an escape from society, and who seeks refuge in the wilderness. Since she is woefully unprepared for the harsh reality of Wyoming country life, she finds herself in need of help. Thankfully Demiàn Bichir is there to lend his knowledge of the land and a sympathetic ear, and together their interactions against the gorgeous landscape help their troubled hearts heal. Watch this if… You’re in House of Cards withdrawal, want to support Wright’s first feature film, and like movies with lots of meaningful staring.
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The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (Amazon Prime Video)
Kyle Allen and Kathryn Newton in ‘The Map of Tiny Perfect Things’
While you find yourself in what feels like a real-life time loop, why not check out this time-loop movie based on a short story about gifted, nerdy teenagers?! Mark (Kyle Allen) and Margaret (Kathryn Newton) are two crazy kids with varying degrees of desire to leave their small town. Mark is an artist, stuck in the familiar time loop scenario…but when he meets Margaret and realizes he’s not alone in reliving the same day, his predictable world opens up into an entirely new experience. You’ll feel a little déjà vu watching this, but the added YA spin and charming protagonists will help the feeling pass. Watch this if… You want something off the beaten path for Valentine’s Day and have watched Palm Springs too many times.
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Minari (In theaters)
Alan Kim and Steven Yeun in ‘Minari’
Director Lee Isaac Chung introduces us to the Yi family, who have left Korea in search of prosperity in America. Their dream is to begin a farm in 1980s Arkansas. Jacob (Steven Yeun) and Monica (Yeri Han) do their best to introduce their family to the community and get their fledgling business off the ground. While they toil and worry and do all the things parents do, their impossibly adorable son David (Alan Kim) and the family matriarch Soonja (Yuh-jung Youn) make an irresistible pair of co-conspirators. Watch this if… You need to feel really, really good.
Lakeith Stanfield is heading to the kitchen for “Notes From a Young Black Chef,” a film adaptation of American-Nigerian chef Kwame Onwuachi’s memoir.
The “Sorry to Bother You” and “Atlanta” star will portray Onwuachi’s unprecedented journey from childhood in the Bronx with a mostly single mother to opening a fine-dining restaurant in Washington D.C. at the age of 26.
It will chronicle the extreme highs and lows of his path to becoming a chef in a mostly white, elitist industry, including financing his first catering business by selling candy on the subway, appearing on “Top Chef,” and his first restaurant, Shaw Bijou in D.C., closing just 11 weeks after its opening.
Onwuachi recently won the 2019 James Beard award for Rising Chef of the Year.
Stanfield has been extremely busy in the last couple of years after breaking out in “Get Out.” He next appears in Rian Johnson’s murder mystery “Knives Out” and recently wrapped the romantic comedy “The Photograph” opposite Issa Rae.
Lakeith Stanfield and Olivia Cooke may live happily ever after. The two stars are in talks for an untitled fairy tale film at Disney+.
The project comes from writer Cat Vasko and will be directed by Susan Johnson (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”). No plot details are known so far.
Stanfield’s career has heated up thanks to his recurring role in FX’s “Atlanta” and a memorable turn in “Get Out.” He also starred in the acclaimed indie “Sorry to Bother You” and will appear in Rian Johnson’s upcoming mystery “Knives Out.”
Cooke starred as Becky Sharp in Amazon’s period miniseries “Vanity Fair” and has appeared in “Life Itself” and “Ready Player One.”
The script was written by Meghie, and it won over Universal. It tells love stories that intertwine through the past and present. Character details have not been revealed, so we don’t know yet how Rae and Stanfield tie in.
Both actors have acclaimed TV series on their resumes. Rae stars in HBO’s “Insecure,” and is also the show’s co-creator and one of its executive producers. Her accolades for her lead role include two Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy nod. Meanwhile, Stanfield is a regular on FX’s Atlanta. The show’s first season won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series — Musical or Comedy.
Rae and Stanfield are also keeping busy on the big screen. She most recently appeared in 2018’s “The Hate U Give” and stars in the upcoming “Little” and “The Lovebirds.” Stanfield’s recent films include “The Girl in the Spider’s Web,” “Come Sunday,” and “Sorry to Bother You.” His next movie out is “Someone Great.”
Executive producers on “The Photograph” include Meghie and Rae. Will Packer will produce through his banner, Will Packer Productions, alongside James Lopez. Universal’s Sara Scott and Mika Pryce are set to oversee production.
