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  • ‘Michael’ Interview: Antoine Fuqua and Graham King

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    ‘Michael’, the long-awaited biopic based on the life and career of legendary musician Michael Jackson, opens in theaters on April 24th.

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    The film, which was directed by Antoine Fuqua (‘The Equalizer’) and produced by Graham King (‘Bohemian Rhapsody’), stars Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, as well as Colman Domingo (‘Sing Sing’) as Joe Jackson, Nia Long (‘Friday’) as Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller (‘Top Gun: Maverick’) as Jackson’s manager John Banca.

    'Michael' producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua.
    ‘Michael’ producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Antoine Fuqua and producer Graham King about their work on ‘Michael’, developing the project, finding the right actor for the role, working with Jaafar Jackson, what moments from Michael’s life they wanted to focus on, which moments they wish they could have included or spent more time on, creating the costumes, and if Fuqua kept any mementos from the production.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.

    Related Article: Director Antoine Fuqua Talks ‘The Equalizer 3’

    (L to R) Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson and Director Antoine Fuqua on the set of 'Michael'. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson/Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson and Director Antoine Fuqua on the set of ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson/Lionsgate.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Antoine, what was your first reaction to reading John Logan’s screenplay and why you personally wanted to tell Michael’s story on the big screen?

    Antoine Fuqua: My first reaction was that it’s a solid screenplay about Michael Jackson. My second reaction was, “Who’s going to play Michael Jackson?” When I met with Graham, he introduced me to Jaafar, and the rest is history as far as that goes. But, yeah, it’s daunting when you read a Michael Jackson script by John Logan. It’s a great script and then we had to find Michael and Jaafar was no question the right choice.

    MF: Graham, to that point, I understand that you discovered Jaafar and recommended him to Antoine. At what point did you realize he was the right choice?

    Graham King: Over lunch. I had a lunch with Jaafar. I know the family well and I’ve known (his father) Jermaine since 1981. I met with Jaafar and during that lunch, I kept asking him if he was auditioning, because he was channeling Michael. It was very eerie and weird. He kept saying, “I don’t want to be an actor. I’ve got no interest in acting.” I kept saying, “Just be honest with me.” Because obviously I’ve produced a few movies, and you know what it is when you sit down with an actor who wants a job, and I kept thinking it’s reverse psychology. “No, I don’t want to act.” But he really didn’t. Two weeks after that lunch, I said, “If you’re up for it, let’s go through some training and bootcamp.” Kind of like what I put Rami Malek through to play Freddie Mercury, but at a much different level. In fact, the first time he spent a month with Rich + Tone, who were Michael’s choreographers, and they said, “We’re not sure. We’re not confident that he can get these dance moves down.” He called me that night and he said, “Give me some time and then come and see. I’ll show you what I’ve got.” I think it was about a month later, we both went to Hayvenhurst, to the house that he was staying in, which is Michael’s house in Encino. He just blew us away with his dance moves. I mean, he got it down. The only thing he asked for in that month was, he kept saying, “I want mirrors. Just get me long, tall mirrors and let me do my thing.” I mean, look at that performance now. It’s incredible.

    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in 'Michael'. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson.
    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson.

    MF: Antoine, can you talk about the first time you did a screen test with Jaafar? Was that when you realized you found your Michael?

    AF: Yeah, it was. We did a screen test with Jaafar, and he came out as Michael. It was my first time seeing him in person as Michael, and I was kind of blown away just on his whole presence. That got me right away. Then we put him in front of the camera and started filming him doing different things. He would sing a little bit and dance a little bit. Then me and Graham were sitting there, and we asked Jaafar a question. I can’t remember what it was, but he answered it as if he was Michael and tears started flowing around the room. Our cinematographer was crying. I looked back, he had tears in his eyes. We were all trying to hide it, but he really answered in such an honest, pure way. He’s never acted in his life. I just thought, “This guy’s special.” That was the moment for me. It was just off the cuff. He didn’t know it was coming. I wanted to see if he was in the moment. Was he just here in makeup or was he in the moment? I threw something at him, and he just paused, and he thought about it, and he answered. It was just so beautiful, elegant, honest, and pure. I was like, “This Jaafar is special.”

    MF: Graham, why did you want to focus on this specific time in Michael’s life, and how do you think your experience producing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ prepared you to make this movie?

    GK: I guess I’ve made a career out of taking these iconic artists or people like Muhammad Ali, Howard Hughes, and Freddie Mercury, obviously, and showing the world a side that they’ve never seen before and humanizing them, these iconic people. I think it’s such a challenge to find that three act structure to make it an entertaining film and not a documentary. You kind of have fun with it. I have fun with it. Of course, there is also the music side, having the rights to Queen’s catalog and now Michael’s catalog, and really digging into the songs we’re going to use and the time periods of the movie. I was at Dodger Stadium in 1984 at the ‘Victory Tour’ when Michael quit. It was the most amazing organic third act drama and conflict moment you could ask for. You couldn’t ask for it any better. A writer couldn’t write it any better than that. I remember talking to Michael’s brothers about it, “Did you know that he was going to do this?” They were like, “No, we had no idea, and we kind of thought he was playing at the time. We didn’t know he was serious.” So that was sitting with John Logan and Antoine and saying, “Let’s head for that moment and make that the pinnacle point of the storytelling and put Joe at the side of the stage,” because he’s going to tell Joe, and he does it in front of 50,000 people at Dodger Stadium.

    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in 'Michael'. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson.
    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson.

    MF: Antoine, can you talk about recreating iconic moments in Michael’s life like the making of the ‘Thriller’ video and his performance at the Motown 25th Anniversary show and was there any one moment that you wish you had more time to explore?

    AF: I mean, everything. Right? Because being a director, you never have enough time. But it’s the quiet moments you got to get just right. It’s really the quiet moments. The bigger moments we know, the performances, and we knew what we needed to do. It was the more quiet, intimate moments that you hope you capture the spirit of Michael in each moment. What’s interesting with Jaafar is that we would try different things to find the right tone, and the right frequency. Again, Jaafar’s never acted before, but he was so good that I would forget. We’d go to Jaafar, try something, and he would nail it. Then we would realize, “This guy has never acted before in his life, and we’re throwing these things at him.” He would come through with flying colors every single time. I don’t remember him missing too many beats at all. But making the bigger moments was magical. Because of the authenticity of the film, it lives in all the real places like Hayvenhurst, we had where he recorded ‘Off the Wall’, where he shot the ‘Thriller’ video, and the Pasadena Civic Auditorium where Motown 25 took place, all real places. You get chills whenever you go to those kinds of places and remember those moments. The idea that we had the opportunity to recreate it and do that was a little of an out of body experience at times. It’s a big responsibility to get it just right. So, Graham and I, we really would study what it was and look at what we’re doing and compare it. Because we knew Michael’s audience, they’re going to do that, every little move. So, it was daunting, but exciting and magical. When we shot the ‘Thriller’ video, we had a full moon every night, which was amazing. I’ve never seen a crew more excited about a scene. When I got dropped off on the set, the grips and everybody had on wolf masks, and they were dancing around to ‘Thriller’. It was like this big event. It was like a movie within itself. So, that to me was a special day.

    MF: Graham, is there any moment from Michael’s life during this period that you wanted to put in the film but just couldn’t because of time?

    GK: Certainly, the ‘Dancing Machine’ era, when Michael was, I think, 16 or 17, around that era. We thought about putting that in. But when you’re making a film, you’ve got to have a certain running time and you can’t tell every story you want to tell, so you’ve got to make sacrifices. That cut from young Michael at the county fair to Michael at the window with Quincy Jones, I think that time cut worked well for our story as opposed to stopping in different times like the ‘Dancing Machine’ era.

    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in 'Michael'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: Finally, Antoine, can you talk about working with your costume designer Marci Rodgers to recreate all of Michael’s famous outfits for the film, and did you keep a sequenced glove for yourself as a memento?

    AF: I got the producer sitting here, I’m not going to tell. No, I didn’t keep anything. I wish I could. I mean, Marci did a great job, but we had a great crew and a great team. They really did their homework, and she did her homework. She would design these jackets, like when he’s holding the Grammys, and the jacket was about 15 pounds. It had all the jewels and everything. I thought, “Did it have to feel this heavy for Jaafar?” It was authentic though. Those were the real Grammys. Those were Michael’s Grammys he’s holding. I mean, the whole crew, they really cared so much about getting it right, every little detail.

    'Michael' opens in theaters on April 24th.
    ‘Michael’ opens in theaters on April 24th.

    What is the plot of ‘Michael’?

    Discover the story of Michael Jackson (Jaafar Jackson), one of the most influential artists the world has ever known, and his life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world, highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Michael’?

    'Michael' opens in theaters on April 24th.
    ‘Michael’ opens in theaters on April 24th.

    List of Musician Biopics:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Michael’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Michael Jackson Music on Amazon

     

  • ‘Beast’ Exclusive Interview: Daniel MacPherson

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    Opening in theaters on April 10th is the new mixed martial arts drama ‘Beast’, which was written by Oscar winner Russell Crowe (‘Gladiator’) and David Frigerio (‘Land of Bad’), directed by Tyler Atkins (‘Bosch & Rockit‘), and stars Daniel MacPherson (‘Poker Face’), Kelly Gale (‘Plane’), Luke Hemsworth (‘Westworld’), and Crowe.

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    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Daniel MacPherson about his work on ‘Beast’, his first reaction to Russell Crowe’s screenplay, working with the Oscar winning actor, how his triathlon experience prepared him physically for the film, training for the MMA fight sequences, his character’s relationship with his wife, and creating that on screen with actress Kelly Gale.

    You can watch the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.

    Related Article: Russell Crowe Talks ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ and What to Expect from the Film

    Daniel MacPherson as “Patton James” in the action/drama, 'Beast', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Daniel MacPherson as “Patton James” in the action/drama, ‘Beast’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to Russell Crowe and David Frigerio’s screenplay, and did you recognize immediately that this would be a great role for you to play?

    Daniel MacPherson: Absolutely I did. I was given the original script for ‘Beast’ by David Frigerio, I think maybe the day we wrapped ‘Land of Bad’. That was my second film with Russell, we did ‘Poker Face’, which he directed, and then ‘Land of Bad’. We filmed the final two weeks of that shoot together, and Dave was like, “You guys work well together. I’ve got this great fight movie, it’s a father and son dynamic. I think it’d be great. I think we could shoot it in Australia. You should read it”. So, I dived straight into that. I started training in 2022, but the movie was on, then it was off, the finances were in, then they were out, Russell was in, then Russell was out. But I never stopped training and I ended up, thankfully, training for three and a half years. By the time the film finally got going, I was in a stage in my life and a stage physically with the level of martial arts that I’d learnt during that time that I was able to attack a role like Patton. But initially, as soon as I read it, it was the family aspect. It was the husband-and-wife relationship. It was the role of the father, the husband, the protector, the provider, and a man fighting for his identity and his place in life and that resonated straight away.

    MF: Can you talk about how your triathlon experience prepared you for this movie and what it was like training for the MMA sequences?

    DM: Yeah, I had 20 something years of triathlon experience. I raced at a high level, a race world championship level, across every distance in triathlon, which I loved. So, when it came to martial arts, I had to start from the very beginning. I taught my hips to go in one direction, running and cycling for 25 years. With martial arts, they must go in all different directions, and I was in my early 40s and that’s a bit more difficult than people give you credit for. But I started at the very beginning, I started with an obsessive nature as I do with many things, and I separated the training. I went specifically to a boxing coach, specifically to a jujitsu coach and to a Muay Thai coach, and I learnt those separately, particularly trying to get technically proficient and understand each of the cultures. Then I put them together into MMA, learning that that was a completely different sport all its own, but I needed to know those other languages to be able to then speak the language of MMA. Then I was trying to put on 20 pounds of muscle, and I was trying to drop body fat. I was trying not to get injured. I was working with Tyler Atkins on ideas for the way the script was going to evolve, and the story was going to evolve, and the way the characters were going to grow. All the while you’re waiting for a green light to go and step into the biggest role of your career, opposite the great Russell Crowe. So, we never lost faith, but I also never stopped working. I worked extraordinarily hard on every aspect because you must when you’re acting opposite Russell Crowe, and you must fight opposite Bren Foster, who is a multiple world champion martial artist, an incredible ex-professional fighter, and a credible actor. He pushed me as hard in the fight sequences as Russell pushed me in the acting and dramatic sequences. So, I had that kind of level of intensity to rise to on every part of the film. But then I was also trying to learn all of that, particularly in the last six or eight weeks on no calories. So, it’s hard when you’re trying to learn really intricate, specific, intense, martial arts choreography and your brain is mush. So, it was a very precarious balance.

    (L to R) Russell Crowe as “Sammy” and Daniel MacPherson as “Patton James” in the action/drama, 'Beast', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Russell Crowe as “Sammy” and Daniel MacPherson as “Patton James” in the action/drama, ‘Beast’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: Russell Crowe’s character is really the “Mickey to your Rocky”. Can you talk about creating that relationship with Crowe on screen and what he was like as an actor to work with?

    DM: Oh, it was incredible. Russell elevates every scene, every moment, and every set he walks on. I’ve worked with him now as a director and as a co-star, but the roles were a bit reversed on this where he was there going toe to toe with me but supporting me into the lead in ‘Beast’. He’s taught me about the art of cinema. He’s taught me about really being grounded in cinematic stillness in a scene. I had a great education on a film called ‘Poker Face’ that we did, where I was further down the call sheet, but I played Russell’s lawyer. One day after shooting around the poker table, when everyone else was off at lunch, I got to watch Russell’s close-up, and my close-up, which were filmed simultaneously, and I got to watch them side by side on the monitor. I got to watch what Russell Crowe, Oscar winner, does in a close-up, as opposed to what Daniel McPherson circa 2021 was doing in a close-up. That was one of the greatest cinematic lessons that I’ve ever had, and that was extraordinary. He’s been a great scene partner. He is a powerhouse. He’s got one of the most incredible imaginations. He comes on set armed with ideas, extensive preparation, and he can also see everything around you. He can elevate every set. He was incredibly generous to Tyler Atkins, who is a second time filmmaker, and they worked incredibly well together. I’m slightly ruined now. It’s like flying first class, it’s an incredible experience and it’s what you always want. I also now feel a responsibility to pay it down to those who come after me and those who are younger than me and give them their shot on the way up as well.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about how Patton’s relationship with his wife Luciana is threatened by his return to the ring and working with actress Kelly Gale?

    DM: She’s wonderful. Kelly came in and we worked hard. It was that relationship for me that was always the nucleus of the story. It was always what I loved about it, and it was always going to be the most important part for me. Kelly came in wholeheartedly, open, ready to work, ready to commit, and ready to jump on essentially a treadmill that was already running at a pace because we’d been shooting for weeks before she got there. So, that’s always a challenge to come in when the film’s up and running. She got better and better as it went on and her final sequence, in that final moment of the film, you’ve got three people on screen at the same time, and she absolutely holds her own against one of the greats of all time. So, I’m a massive fan of Kelly. She’s got a huge career ahead, and I’m just proud of the work that she put in and the emotional strength and complexity that she brought to the movie.

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    What is the plot of ‘Beast’?

    After years away from the cage, a once-feared MMA champion (Daniel MacPherson) is pulled back in for the fight of his life when his younger brother (Mojean Aria) is put in danger. Reuniting with the trainer (Russell Crowe) who once made him a legend, he commits to one final showdown against the reigning titleholder (Bren Foster), a brutal fighter determined to dismantle the ex-champ’s legacy in front of the world.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Beast’?

    • Daniel MacPherson as Patton James
    • Russell Crowe as Sammy
    • Luke Hemsworth as Gabriel Stone
    • Mojean Aria as Malon
    • Kelly Gale as Luciana
    • George Burgess as Neal
    • Bren Foster as Xavier Grau
    • Saphira Moran as Nadine James
    • Amy Shark as Rose
    'Beast' opens in theaters on April 10th.
    ‘Beast’ opens in theaters on April 10th.

    List of Daniel MacPherson Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Beast’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Daniel MacPherson Movies on Amazon

  • Best Halle Berry Movies of All Time Ranked

    Halle Berry attends the European Gala Screening for Amazons: 'Crime 101' at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on January 28, 2026 in London, England. Photo: Kate Green/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
    Halle Berry attends the European Gala Screening for Amazons: ‘Crime 101’ at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on January 28, 2026 in London, England. Photo: Kate Green/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

    Academy Award winner Halle Berry is one of the most accomplished and beloved actresses of her generation.

    First appearing in supporting roles in now classic movies like ‘Jungle Fever‘, ‘The Last Boy Scout‘, and ‘Boomerang‘, Berry won an Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in 2001’s ‘Monster’s Ball‘, becoming the first and only Black woman to ever receive that honor from the Academy.

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    But she has also appeared in some of the most popular franchises of all time including the original ‘X-Men‘ trilogy, ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum‘, ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle‘, and the James Bond movie, ‘Die Another Day‘.

    Not to mention starring in critically acclaimed movies like ‘Losing Isaiah‘, ‘Bulworth‘, and ‘Could Atlas‘. Her latest, the new crime thriller ‘Crime 101‘, opens in theaters on February 13th.

    In honor of the new film’s release, Moviefone is counting down the 20 best movies of Halle Berry’s long and impressive career, including her latest.

    Let’s begin!

    Related Article: Halle Berry, Percy Daggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins Talk ‘Never Let Go’

    20. ‘X-Men: The Last Stand‘ (2006)

    (L to R) Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman in 'X-Men: The Last Stand'. Photo: Marvel Studios.
    (L to R) Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman in ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’. Photo: Marvel Studios.

    When a cure is found to treat mutations, lines are drawn amongst the X-Men, led by Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), and the Brotherhood, a band of powerful mutants organized under Xavier’s former ally, Magneto (Ian McKellen).

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    19. ‘Never Let Go‘ (2024)

    In this new psychological thriller/horror, as an Evil takes over the world beyond their front doorstep, the only protection for a mother (Berry), and her twin sons (Percy Baggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins) is their house and their family’s protective bond. Needing to stay connected at all times – even tethering themselves with ropes – they cling to one another, urging each other to never let go. But when one of the boys questions if the evil is real, the ties that bind them together are severed, triggering a terrifying fight for survival.

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    18. ‘Executive Decision‘ (1996)

    Terrorists hijack a 747 inbound to Washington D.C., demanding the release of their imprisoned leader. Intelligence expert David Grant (Kurt Russell) suspects another reason and he is soon the reluctant member of a special assault team that is assigned to intercept the plane and hijackers.

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    17. ‘The Program‘ (1993)

    Several players from different backgrounds try to cope with the pressures of playing football at a major university. Each deals with the pressure differently, some turn to drinking, others to drugs, and some to studying.

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    16. ‘The Call‘ (2013)

    Jordan Turner (Berry) is an experienced 911 operator but when she makes an error in judgment and a call ends badly, Jordan is rattled and unsure if she can continue. But when teenager Casey Welson (Abigail Breslin) is abducted in the back of a man’s car and calls 911, Jordan is the one called upon to use all of her experience, insights and quick thinking to help Casey escape, and not just to save her, but to make sure the man is brought to justice.

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    15. ‘Swordfish‘ (2001)

    (L to R) Halle Berry, John Travolta, Don Cheadle and Hugh Jackman in 'Swordfish'. Photo: Warner Bros.
    (L to R) Halle Berry, John Travolta, Don Cheadle and Hugh Jackman in ‘Swordfish’. Photo: Warner Bros.

    Rogue agent Gabriel Shear (John Travolta) is determined to get his mitts on $9 billion stashed in a secret Drug Enforcement Administration account. He wants the cash to fight terrorism, but lacks the computer skills necessary to hack into the government mainframe. Enter Stanley Jobson (Hugh Jackman), a n’er-do-well encryption expert who can log into anything.

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    14. ‘Losing Isaiah‘ (1995)

    Khaila Richards (Berry), a crack-addicted single mother, accidentally leaves her baby in a dumpster while high and returns the next day in a panic to find he is missing. In reality, the baby has been adopted by a warm-hearted social worker, Margaret Lewin (Jessica Lange), and her husband, Charles (David Strathaim). Years later, Khaila has gone through rehab and holds a steady job. After learning that her child is still alive, she challenges Margaret for the custody.

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    13. ‘Bulworth‘ (1998)

    A suicidally disillusioned liberal politician (Warren Beatty) puts a contract out on himself and takes the opportunity to be bluntly honest with his voters by affecting the rhythms and speech of hip-hop music and culture.

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    12. ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past‘ (2014)

    The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods as they join forces with their younger selves in an epic battle that must change the past – to save our future.

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    11. ‘Die Another Day‘ (2002)

    James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) is sent to investigate the connection between a North Korean terrorist and a diamond mogul, who is funding the development of an international space weapon.

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    10. ‘Crime 101‘ (2026)

    (L to R) Chris Hemsworth and Halle Berry star in 'Crime 101'. Photo Credit: Merrick Morton.
    (L to R) Chris Hemsworth and Halle Berry star in ‘Crime 101’. Photo Credit: Merrick Morton.

    Set against the sun-bleached grit of Los Angeles, ‘Crime 101’ weaves the tale of an elusive jewel thief (Chris Hemsworth) whose string of heists along the 101 freeway have mystified police. When he eyes the score of a lifetime, his path crosses that of a disillusioned insurance broker (Berry) who is facing her own crossroads. Convinced he has found a pattern, a relentless detective (Mark Ruffalo) is closing in, raising the stakes even higher. As the heist approaches, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, and all three are faced with life-defining choices–and the realization that there can be no turning back.

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    9. ‘Boomerang‘ (1992)

    Marcus (Eddie Murphy) is a successful advertising executive who woos and beds women almost at will. After a company merger he finds that his new boss, the ravishing Jacqueline (Robin Givens), is treating him in exactly the same way. Completely traumatized by this, his work goes badly downhill.

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    8. ‘X-Men‘ (2000)

    Two mutants, Rogue (Anna Paquin) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), come to a private academy for their kind whose resident superhero team, the X-Men, must oppose a terrorist organization with similar powers.

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    7. ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle‘ (2017)

    When an attack on the Kingsman headquarters takes place and a new villain rises (Julianne Moore), Eggsy (Taron Egerton) and Merlin (Mark Strong) are forced to work together with the American agency known as the Statesman to save the world.

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    6. ‘The Last Boy Scout‘ (1991)

    When the girl (Berry) that detective Joe Hallenback (Bruce Willis) is protecting gets murdered, the boyfriend (Damon Wayans) of the murdered girl attempts to investigate and solve the case. What they discover is that there is deep seated corruption going on between a crooked politician and the owner of a pro football team.

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    5. ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum‘ (2019)

    (L to R) Keanu Reeves and Halle Berry in 'John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Keanu Reeves and Halle Berry in ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Super-assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) returns with a $14 million price tag on his head and an army of bounty-hunting killers on his trail. After killing a member of the shadowy international assassin’s guild, the High Table, John Wick is excommunicado, but the world’s most ruthless hit men and women await his every turn.

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    4. ‘Jungle Fever‘ (1991)

    A successful and married black man (Wesley Snipes) contemplates having an affair with a white girl (Annabella Sciorra) from work. He’s quite rightly worried that the racial difference would make an already taboo relationship even worse.

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    3. ‘X2‘ (2003)

    Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his team of genetically gifted superheroes face a rising tide of anti-mutant sentiment led by Col. William Stryker (Brian Cox). Storm (Berry), Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) must join their usual nemeses—Magneto (Ian McKellen) and Mystique (Rebecca Romijn)—to unhinge Stryker’s scheme to exterminate all mutants.

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    2. ‘Monster’s Ball‘ (2001)

    A prison guard (Billy Bob Thornton) begins a tentative romance with the unsuspecting widow (Berry) of a man whose execution he presided over.

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    1. ‘Cloud Atlas‘ (2012)

    (L to R) Tom Hanks and Halle Berry in 'Cloud Atlas'. Photo: Warner Bros.
    (L to R) Tom Hanks and Halle Berry in ‘Cloud Atlas’. Photo: Warner Bros.

    A set of six nested stories spanning time between the 19th century and a distant post-apocalyptic future. ‘Cloud Atlas’ explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future. Action, mystery and romance weave through the story as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution in the distant future.

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  • ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ Interview: Milo Ventimiglia and More

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    Opening in theaters on February 20th is ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’, which was directed by Andrew Erwin (‘American Underdog’) and Brent McCorkle (‘Jesus Revolution’) and serves as a sequel to 2018’s ‘I Can Only Imagine’.

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    Written by musician Bart Millard, the film stars John Michael Finley (‘Faith of Angels’) as Millard, and Milo Ventimiglia (‘This Is Us’) as musician Tim Timmons, along with Sophie Skelton (‘Outlander’), Arielle Kebbel (‘John Tucker Must Die’), Trace Adkins (‘The Lincoln Lawyer’), and Dennis Quaid (‘The Substance’).

    (L to R) Milo Ventimiglia and Tim Timmons discuss 'I Can Only Imagine 2'.
    (L to R) Milo Ventimiglia and Tim Timmons discuss ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Milo Ventimiglia and Tim Timmons about their work on ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’, Ventimiglia’s first reaction to the screenplay and his approach to playing Tim, and Timmons reaction to having a film made about his life.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Ventimiglia and Timmons, Dennis Quaid, Arielle Kebbel, John Michael Finley, Sophie Skelton, Sammy Dell, musician Bart Millard, and director Andrew Erwin.

    Related Article: Milo Ventimiglia Talks ‘Land of Bad’ and Working with Liam and Luke Hemsworth

    Milo Ventimiglia as Tim in 'I Can Only Imagine 2'. Photo: Jake Giles Netter.
    Milo Ventimiglia as Tim in ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’. Photo: Jake Giles Netter.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Milo, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and your approach to playing Tim?

    Milo Ventimiglia: I mean it’s a different kind of “double G.” It’s not the ‘Gilmore Girls’, it’s “grief and gratitude”. I mean what an honor to know Tim and be able to share his story through what it is that I do in front of the camera. But we had a beautiful script and a nice pathway to tell this story of grief and gratitude and connection and walking through the fires of life and coming out the other end and being able to still represent love and share love and all of that. I mean for me as an artist, you want to be a part of projects that are going to impact people, make them feel, make them cry, make them laugh, make them think, and then hopefully take to action what you feel and think and cry out in that moment of watching a 90-minute movie. Then, how do you put that into your own life? How do you get through those struggles of life? How do you help somebody in your community in those struggles? Because, as Tim says, life is hard, but if you’re carrying that gratitude with the grief and the hard moments, you’re doing great. Remember, these things can exist and be there sharing the same space. You can hold onto them and give respect to each of them and still move forward positively with grace. It’s just a wonderful reminder. I know, for me, especially in a moment where I needed it, given my life and the loss that my family had this year, but also the great birth we had with our daughter and just tons of things. But what a wonderful gift it has been for me this year.

    (L to R) Tim Timmons and Milo Ventimiglia as Tim on the set of 'I Can Only Imagine 2'. Photo Credit: Jake Giles Netter.
    (L to R) Tim Timmons and Milo Ventimiglia as Tim on the set of ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’. Photo Credit: Jake Giles Netter.

    MF: Finally, Tim, what was it like for you to have Milo play you in this movie and bring your story of survival to the big screen?

    Tim Timmons: I mean I never saw this coming, which I know sounds cliche and cheesy because the movie is about this, but my goal was just to wake up. They gave me five years to live 25 years ago, and I still have tumors on my liver wearing out my heart. But this bald guy got to wake up again today. So, when I’m sober enough just in life to live with that awareness, waking up again becomes the gift. Literally the gift that I get is that I get to wake up again. If I get up again today, I get to hang with you and Milo today. Tomorrow, if I wake up again, what else could happen?

    Editorial Note: Krisily Fernstrom conducted this interview and contributed to this article.

    'I Can Only Imagine 2' opens in theaters on February 20th.
    ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ opens in theaters on February 20th.

    What is the plot of ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’?

    After the breakout success of the song “I Can Only Imagine,” MercyMe’s Bart Millard (John Michael Finley) is living the dream—sold-out arenas, a devoted fan base, and a thriving career. But behind the spotlight, Bart’s past threatens the family he’s built, especially the fragile bond with his son, Sam (Sammy Dell). When hopeful newcomer Tim Timmons (Milo Ventimiglia) joins the band for their biggest tour yet, he unknowingly brings a renewed gratitude to Bart’s life through their unlikely friendship. Bart soon discovers that Tim carries hardships—and secrets—of his own, forcing him to face his past and repair his relationships with Sam and his wife, Shannon (Sophie Skelton), before fame costs him what matters most.

    Who is in the cast of ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’?

    • John Michael Finley as Bart Millard
    • Milo Ventimiglia as Tim Timmons
    • Sophie Skelton as Shannon Street
    • Arielle Kebbel as Hilary Timmons
    • Sammy Dell as Sam Millard
    • Trace Adkins as Scott Brickell
    • Dennis Quaid as Arthur Millard
    (L to R) Arielle Kebbel as Hilary and Milo Ventimiglia as Tim in 'I Can Only Imagine 2'. Photo Credit: Jake Giles Netter.
    (L to R) Arielle Kebbel as Hilary and Milo Ventimiglia as Tim in ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’. Photo Credit: Jake Giles Netter.

    List of Milo Ventimiglia Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Milo Ventimiglia Movies On Amazon

  • New Images from the Michael Jackson Biopic Online

    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in 'Michael'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Preview:

    • New images from ‘Michael’ have landed online.
    • Antoine Fuqua directs the Michael Jackson biopic.
    • It’ll be in cinemas this coming April.

    It’s been a while since we’ve heard much from the team –– including director Antoine Fuqua –– behind Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael.’

    There has been chatter about re-shoots, legal concerns and speculation as to whether it might even arrive as two movies.

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    Now, though, we have a confirmed April release date, some fresh images from the movie and the latest trailer, which you can find lower down the page.

    Related Article: First Look at Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in New Biopic ‘Michael’

    What’s the story of ‘Michael’?

    Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson in 'Michael'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson in ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Per the official blurb: “The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before.”

    In addition to Jaafar Jackson (the late singer’s nephew), the movie features Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller and Kat Graham.

    When will ‘Michael’ make its cinematic bow?

    The movie will be in theaters on April 24.

    (L to R) Judah Edwards as Young Tito, Jaylen Hunter as Young Marlon, Juliano Krue Valdi as Young MJ, Nathaniel McIntyre as Young Jackie and Jayden Harville as Young Jermaine in 'Michael'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Judah Edwards as Young Tito, Jaylen Hunter as Young Marlon, Juliano Krue Valdi as Young MJ, Nathaniel McIntyre as Young Jackie and Jayden Harville as Young Jermaine in ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Nia Long as Katherine Jackson in 'Michael'. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson/Lionsgate.
    Nia Long as Katherine Jackson in ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson/Lionsgate.
    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in 'Michael'. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson/Lionsgate.
    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson/Lionsgate.

    List of Movies Similar to ‘Michael’:

    Buy Antoine Fuqua Movies on Amazon

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  • ‘Dirty Dancing’: New Sequel to Shoot This Year

    (L to R) Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze in 'Dirty Dancing'. Photo: Vestron Pictures.
    (L to R) Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze in ‘Dirty Dancing’. Photo: Vestron Pictures.

    Preview:

    • ‘Hunger Games’ producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson have boarded the new ‘Dirty Dancing’ sequel.
    • The movie will be a direct continuation of the 1987 film.
    • Original star Jennifer Grey is aboard to appear in and also produce the movie.

    Lionsgate is hoping to have the time of its life all over again.

    While plans have been underway for a while now to a new, more official sequel to 1987 hit ‘Dirty Dancing’, the studio is adding the producing power of Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, who together have shepherded the ‘Hunger Games’ franchise to screens. They’re joining Jennifer Grey, who starred in the original alongside Patrick Swayze and will appear in and produce the new one.

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    The aim is to have the movie shooting this year, but doesn’t currently appear to have a director aboard, as the new Lionsgate statement about the sequel doesn’t mention one.

    Related Article: ‘Dirty Dancing’ is Headed for the Stage Via a New Musical Adaptation

    What’s the story of the ‘Dirty Dancing’ sequel?

    (L to R) Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in 'Dirty Dancing'. Photo: Vestron Pictures.
    (L to R) Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in ‘Dirty Dancing’. Photo: Vestron Pictures.

    We don’t yet know the exact story of the sequel –– though Grey’s return as Frances “Baby” Houseman, the character from the original suggests that we’ll see the story of a new young woman through her eyes.

    ‘Dying for Sex’ co-creator Kim Rosenstock has written the script.

    ‘Dirty Dancing’ sequel: Jennifer Grey talks

    (L to R) Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in 'Dirty Dancing'. Photo: Vestron Pictures.
    (L to R) Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in ‘Dirty Dancing’. Photo: Vestron Pictures.

    Here’s what Grey said in a new statement about returning to the world of ‘Dirty Dancing’:

    “The role of Baby has held a very deep and meaningful place in my heart, as it has in the hearts of so many fans over the years. I’ve long wondered where we might find Baby years later and what her life might be like, but it’s taken time to assemble the kind of people that I felt could be entrusted to build on the legacy of the original film… and I’m excited to say that It looks like the wait will soon be over!”

    (L to R) Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in 'Dirty Dancing'. Photo: Vestron Pictures.
    (L to R) Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in ‘Dirty Dancing’. Photo: Vestron Pictures.

    Other Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Dirty Dancing’ Franchise:

    Buy ‘Dirty Dancing’ Movies On Amazon

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  • Sydney Sweeney to Return for ‘The Housemaid’s Secret’

    Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway in 'The Housemaid'. Photo: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.
    Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway in ‘The Housemaid’. Photo: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.

    Preview:

    • The sequel to ‘The Housemaid’ is scheduled to shoot this year.
    • Star Sydney Sweeney and director Paul Feig are both in talks to return.
    • It’ll once again adapt a Freida McFadden book.

    Aiming to strike while the iron is hot and people are still talking about the first movie, Lionsgate has quickly given the thumbs up for a sequel to psychological thriller ‘The Housemaid,’ which has been doing solid business at the box office since December 19 (to be exact: $75 million domestically in its first 17 days of release and $133 million worldwide, with more countries still to come).

    Star Sydney Sweeney and director Paul Feig are both aiming to return for ‘The Housemaid’s Secret,’ adapted from the second of Freida McFadden‘s books which the studio has had quietly in development for the past few months.

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    According to the company’s announcement, Sweeney’s co-star Michele Morrone is also expected to return.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘The Housemaid’

    What was the story of ‘The Housemaid’?

    (L to R) Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway and Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester in 'The Housemaid'. Photo Credit: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway and Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester in ‘The Housemaid’. Photo Credit: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.

    Trying to escape her past, Millie Calloway Sweeney) accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for the wealthy Nina (Amanda Seyfried) and Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar).

    But what begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous—a sexy, seductive game of secrets, scandal, and power.

    ‘The Housemaid’s Secret’ will see Millie working for another family that –– surprise, surprise! –– harbors some dark secrets. We suppose there wouldn’t really be a movie if they didn’t.

    Returning screenwriter Rebecca Sonnenshine has been at work on the new script, which Feig should be filming this year. And with a third book already on shelves (“The Housemaid is Watching”), we can expect more if the sequel does well.

    ‘The Housemaid’s Secret’: the studio and director talk

    (L to R) Brandon Sklenar, Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney and director Paul Feig at the Lionsgate presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas.Photo: Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Brandon Sklenar, Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney and director Paul Feig at the Lionsgate presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas.Photo: Lionsgate.

    Here’s Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson on the decision to kickstart the sequel:

    “It’s clear from both the global box office and from the outpouring on social media that audiences have responded strongly – and audibly – to the totally unique and truly theatrical experience of ‘The Housemaid’ and want to know what happens next. We believed in these stories from the very beginning, and we are beyond excited to bring the next chapter of Millie’s story to life on-screen in collaboration with our outstanding creative partners Todd, Paul, Laura, Carly, Alex, and Sydney. ‘The Housemaid’s Secret’ is another wildly thrilling book in Freida’s series that has captivated readers worldwide, and we look forward to translating it into a similarly rousing and riotous moviegoing experience.”

    And here’s Feig on the sequel:

    “It’s been thrilling to see audiences around the world fall in love with The Housemaid and the incredible work of our talented cast and crew. We’re lucky that Freida McFadden has already extended Millie’s journey on the page, and that we get to work with Rebecca Sonnenshine and Lionsgate to bring this next story to audiences.”

    When will ‘The Housemaid’s Secret’ be in theaters?

    Lionsgate has yet to confirm when the new movie might be on screens, but we’d guess it could be ready for 2027 at the latest.

    Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway in 'The Housemaid'. Photo Credit: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.
    Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway in ‘The Housemaid’. Photo Credit: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.

    Sydney Sweeney Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Housemaid’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Sydney Sweeney Movies on Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Greenland 2: Migration’

    (L to R) Gerard Butler as John Garrity, Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity, and Roman Griffin Davis as Nathan Garrity in 'Greenland 2: Migration'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Gerard Butler as John Garrity, Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity, and Roman Griffin Davis as Nathan Garrity in ‘Greenland 2: Migration’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Opening in theaters on January 9 is ‘Greenland 2: Migration,’ directed by Ric Roman Waugh and starring Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, Roman Griffin Davis, Amber Rose Revah, William Abadie, Trond Fausa Aurvag, Sophie Thompson, Nelia Da Costa, and Tommie Earl Jenkins.

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    Related Article: Hayley Atwell and Gerard Butler to Star in New Thriller ‘Empire City’

    Initial Thoughts

    Gerard Butler as John Garrity in 'Greenland 2: Migration'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Gerard Butler as John Garrity in ‘Greenland 2: Migration’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    It’s hard to say what’s weirder: that a movie with the word ‘Greenland’ in the title is coming out right now during the current geopolitical crisis, that the movie is a sequel to a surprise COVID-era hit, or that the film it’s following is one of Gerard Butler’s better efforts.

    Nevertheless, ‘Greenland 2: Migration’ is here, and we can tell you that it’s a worthy successor to the original Ric Roman Waugh-directed action disaster movie. Gerard Butler is back, of course, with his now-perfected balance of gruff hyper-competence and jarring vulnerability, and the film is the kind of fast-moving, no-nonsense afternoon-filler that Roland Emmerich wishes he could make.

    Story and Direction

    (L to R) Gerard Butler as John Garrity, Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity, Amber Rose Revah as Dr. Casey Amina, and Roman Griffin Davis as Nathan Garrity in 'Greenland 2: Migration'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Gerard Butler as John Garrity, Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity, Amber Rose Revah as Dr. Casey Amina, and Roman Griffin Davis as Nathan Garrity in ‘Greenland 2: Migration’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    2020’s ‘Greenland’ was a tense, surprisingly emotional actioner in which Butler’s John Garrity, a structural engineer, is selected along with his family for emergency sheltering when it’s learned that a comet will pancake into the Earth in two days. The clan must make their way to an underground bunker in the title country, but even though they survive, the impact of Clarke — as the comet is dubbed — wipes out most of human civilization.

    ‘Greenland 2: Migration’ picks up five years later and jiggers the continuity a little: while the first film ended on a sad but cautiously hopeful note, ‘Migration’ finds the community in the bunker running out of food and resources while pieces of Clarke still fall from the sky, causing earthquakes, lava flows, bad air, and radioactive storms. There are rumors that the original impact crater in the south of France has become not just habitable, but is flourishing (due to some wonky, hand-waving science), although reports of war between the remnants of Europe and Asia make clear information hard to come by.

    When one of those storms takes out the bunker for good, the Garritys decide to make their way to France and see if the stories about the Clarke crater are true. They and a small band of steadily dwindling survivors make their way in a boat across the Atlantic to a submerged Liverpool, and from there it’s onto London and beyond by whatever means possible. Along the way, the Garritys encounter both the best and worst of humanity on their presumed road to salvation, while we also discover that John is hiding a secret of his own.

    (L to R) Gerard Butler as John Garrity and Roman Griffin Davis as Nathan Garrity in 'Greenland 2: Migration'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Gerard Butler as John Garrity and Roman Griffin Davis as Nathan Garrity in ‘Greenland 2: Migration’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    As with the original ‘Greenland,’ Waugh judiciously uses visual effects (some, like the submerged streets of Liverpool or a bent-over Eiffel Tower, are striking; others look a little too Volume-y) but keeps the focus on his human characters, which is what makes both movies work despite their familiar disaster movie beats. All the people in ‘Migration’ are recognizably human and doing what they think they must to survive, wrong or right. And it’s the very ordinary nature of John, his wife Allison (Morena Baccarin), and their now-teen son Nathan (Roman Griffin Davis, aging up from the first film’s Roger Dale Floyd) that keeps us engrossed in their story and fate, even as implausible as some of it seems.

    Even with the occasionally dodgy visuals and episodic script, the director consistently turns up the tension with his action set pieces, including a scary walk across a rope bridge and sudden bursts of violence from marauders, and the pace rarely flags, with the film even delivering a surprisingly moving conclusion. ‘Migration,’ like the 2020 original, knows exactly what kind of film it is, but aims a little higher nonetheless.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity, Gerard Butler as John Garrity and Roman Griffin Davis as Nathan Garrity in 'Greenland 2: Migration'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity, Gerard Butler as John Garrity and Roman Griffin Davis as Nathan Garrity in ‘Greenland 2: Migration’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    There isn’t a ton of character development here, but this is Gerard Butler doing what he does best, playing a beefy, working-class kind of guy who’s good at everything but not so tough that he doesn’t get scared or hurt. He’s in his element here as Garrity, and if you’re already a fan you’ll find his solid performance as comfortable as an old shoe.

    The always appealing Morena Baccarin (‘Deadpool & Wolverine’) does fine work here as the dutiful and resourceful Allison, while no one else really sticks around long enough to make much of an impression, save Sophie Thompson as a kindly friend they catch a break with in London and William Abadie as a Frenchman who comes to their aid at a critical moment.

    Final Thoughts

    Gerard Butler as John Garrity in 'Greenland 2: Migration'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Gerard Butler as John Garrity in ‘Greenland 2: Migration’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    What makes the ‘Greenland’ movies work are the fact that they’re centered on a single, relatable family, and that we see how humanity can both rise and fall without resorting to horror movie extremes (not that there’s anything wrong with those). No one’s going to mistake this for high cinema, but ‘Migration’ keeps its core elements in place while expanding its scope.

    At a time when it feels like 2026 is kicking off with the world on fire (and not even a comet to get the flames going), the heartfelt sensibility of this film and its predecessor will take your mind off real world problems for a couple of hours. Not bad for a movie about the end of human civilization.

    ‘Greenland 2: Migration’ receives a score of 77 out of 100.

    A scene from 'Greenland 2: Migration'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    A scene from ‘Greenland 2: Migration’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    What is the plot of ‘Greenland 2: Migration’?

    Ten years after the Clarke interstellar comet destroyed most of Earth, the Garrity family must leave the safety of the Greenland bunker and embark on a perilous journey across the wasteland of Europe to find a new home.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Greenland 2: Migration’?

    • Gerard Butler as John Garrity
    • Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity
    • Roman Griffin Davis as Nathan Garrity
    • Amber Rose Revah as Dr. Casey Amina
    • William Abadie as Denis Laurent
    • Nelia Da Costa as Camille Laurent
    • Susan Eljack as Julia Laurent
    • Sophie Thompson as Mackenzie Matthews
    • Trond Fausa Aurvag as Adam Shaw
    • Tommie Earl Jenkins as General Sharpe
    'Greenland 2: Migration' opens in theaters on January 9th.
    ‘Greenland 2: Migration’ opens in theaters on January 9th.

    List of Gerard Butler Action Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Greenland 2: Migration’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Gerard Butler Movies on Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘The Housemaid’

    Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway in 'The Housemaid'. Photo Credit: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.
    Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway in ‘The Housemaid’. Photo Credit: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.

    Opening in theaters on December 19 is ‘The Housemaid,’ directed by Paul Feig and starring Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone, Indiana Elle, Megan Ferguson, Ellen Tamaki, and Elizabeth Perkins.

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    Related Article: Sydney Sweeney to Star in ‘That Man from Rio’ for Director Justin Lin

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway and Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester in 'The Housemaid'. Photo Credit: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway and Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester in ‘The Housemaid’. Photo Credit: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.

    Too often these days, a trailer for a new movie sells you a different experience than the one you eventually end up seeing – making something darker look funnier than it is, for example. There’s no such problem with ‘The Housemaid’: based on the best-selling novel by Freida McFadden, director Paul Feig’s adaptation is exactly what it promises: a campy, twisty psychological thriller, laced with laughs and a narrative that almost makes fun of itself – until it doesn’t.

    Feig – who seems to find his best groove lately with potboilers like this and ‘A Simple Favor’ – navigates the story’s twists and turns mostly successfully, aided by his trio of lead performers. While the film’s third act spins off the rails a bit in terms of tone and control, it still manages to be entertaining, with a crowd-pleaser of an ending that will send audiences out satiated.

    Story and Direction

    (L to R): Sydney Sweeney as Millie and Amanda Seyfried as Nina in 'The Housemaid'. Photo: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.
    (L to R): Sydney Sweeney as Millie and Amanda Seyfried as Nina in ‘The Housemaid’. Photo: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.

    Millie Calloway (Sydney Sweeney) applies for a job as a live-in housemaid with Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried), a seemingly pleasant if high-strung homemaker who lives in her extravagant Long Island mansion with her rather cheeky daughter Cici (Indiana Elle) and handsome, charming, and effortlessly attentive husband Andrew (Brandon Sklenar).

    Millie, despite lying about her background and hiding the fact that she’s sleeping in her car and on parole after serving 10 years in prison, gets the job – only to find out once she starts that Nina is hiding a few secrets of her own, including the fact that she spent nine months in a psych ward for reasons revealed much later. Right off the part, Nina’s mood swings and capriciously cruel treatment of Millie indicate that something is wrong, along with the suspicious behavior of the groundskeeper, Enzo (Michele Morrone, from Netflix’s ‘365 Days’ sexathons). Luckily, Andrew is there to comfort Millie – even if his lingering glances indicate that he wants more than that.

    (L to R) Brandon Sklenar as Andrew Winchester and Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester in 'The Housemaid'. Photo Credit: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Brandon Sklenar as Andrew Winchester and Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester in ‘The Housemaid’. Photo Credit: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.

    For much of its first two-thirds, ‘The Housemaid’ follows a seemingly conventional narrative almost to a fault, but the go-for-broke performances from its leads, precision needle drops, and Feig’s skillful balancing act of camp and psychological cat-and-mouse keep it thoroughly engaging. The world of wealth and privilege that the Winchesters inhabit is also roasted quite handily, thanks to Andrew’s almost ridiculously snooty mother (Elizabeth Perkins) and the local housewives, who at one point gossip about Nina after she leaves the room – even though Millie, who is all but invisible to them, is still there and can hear everything.

    ‘The Housemaid’ becomes predictable enough at a certain point that it almost screams that a twist is coming – one that is more or less telegraphed – and when that rug-pull is revealed, the movie tumbles into some surprisingly darker territory. It’s in the final third that Feig and screenwriter Rebecca Sonnenshine lose some of their grip on the material, diverging a bit from the book and stretching things out a bit too long with one betrayal or turnaround after another. Yet ‘The Housemaid’ still wraps up nicely, its conclusion both satisfying and leaving the door open for a continuation (McFadden did write two follow-up novels).

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R): Amanda Seyfried as Nina and Sydney Sweeney as Millie in 'The Housemaid'. Photo: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.
    (L to R): Amanda Seyfried as Nina and Sydney Sweeney as Millie in ‘The Housemaid’. Photo: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.

    ‘The Housemaid’ opens one week before ‘The Testament of Ann Lee,’ also starring Amanda Seyfried, and you’re not likely to see two more different performances in theaters this year. That’s a compliment to the immense range of Seyfried, who plays Nina as an unpredictable weather pattern whose next ferocious storm will be followed just as quickly by a brief ray of sunshine. She keeps the audience off-balance throughout with a broad-strokes, jangling energy and does pampered housewife just as well as she does colonial religious leader.

    Sweeney is more low-key as a counterpoint, and a bit more limited in her range here than in her underrated ‘Christy’ from earlier this fall, but her seemingly submissive surface seethes subtly with a coiled watchfulness and smirking sense of play. As Andrew, Brandon Sklenar has the necessary physical presence to sell the character’s in-your-face masculinity, but otherwise his initial blandness comes across almost as a parody yet suits the contours of his character.

    Final Thoughts

    Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway in 'The Housemaid'. Photo: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.
    Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway in ‘The Housemaid’. Photo: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.

    ‘The Housemaid’ may feel at times like one of those lightly erotic true-crime dramas that are the stock-in-trade of Netflix (and there is a smattering of sultry scenes here), but Paul Feig and his leading ladies give it a cinematic gloss and a sense of satire that may often elude that oversaturated genre.

    Playful and fun at some points, unnervingly dark at others, ‘The Housemaid’ might end up being what some grownups want for date night at the movies this holiday season instead of talking Disney animals or the blue cat people of Pandora (not that there’s anything wrong with those, of course). At a time when pulpy, provocative, adult-oriented movies are harder to find, ‘The Housemaid’ may be just the help you’re looking for.

    ‘The Housemaid’ receives a score of 80 out of 100.

    Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester in 'The Housemaid'. Photo: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.
    Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester in ‘The Housemaid’. Photo: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate.

    What is the plot of ‘The Housemaid’?

    When Millie Calloway takes a job as live-in housemaid to the wealthy yet moody Nina Winchester and her attractive, charming husband Andrew, it’s only a matter of time before dark secrets, bizarre occurrences, and hidden passions erupt in the Winchesters’ seemingly perfect lives.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Housemaid’?

    • Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway
    • Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester
    • Brandon Sklenar as Andrew Winchester
    • Michele Morrone as Enzo
    • Elizabeth Perkins as Evelyn Winchester
    • Indiana Elle as Cecilia Winchester
    • Megan Ferguson as Jilianne
    • Ellen Tamaki as Patrice
    'The Housemaid' opens in theaters on December 19th.
    ‘The Housemaid’ opens in theaters on December 19th.

    Sydney Sweeney Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Housemaid’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Sydney Sweeney Movies on Amazon

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  • ‘Turbulence’ Exclusive Interview: Kelsey Grammer

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    Opening in theaters, On Demand and Digital December 12th is the new thriller ‘Turbulence‘, which was directed by Claudio Fäh (‘No Way Up’), and stars Hera Hilmar (‘Mortal Engines’), Jeremy Irvine (‘War Horse’), Kelsey Grammer (‘The Marvels’), and Olga Kurylenko (‘Thunderbolts*’).

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    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kelsey Grammer about his work on ‘Turbulence’, his first reaction to the screenplay, shooting the balloon scenes, his character, and working with the cast and the director, as well as telling us about his experience shooting the upcoming ‘Avengers: Doomsday’.

    Kelsey Grammer as “Harry” in the action thriller 'Turbulence', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Kelsey Grammer as “Harry” in the action thriller ‘Turbulence’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Grammer and Olga Kurylenko.

    Related Article: Kelsey Grammer Talks ‘Murder Company’ and Playing Beast in ‘The Marvels’

    Kelsey Grammer stars in 'Turbulence'.
    Kelsey Grammer stars in ‘Turbulence’.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay?

    Kelsey Grammer: Well, I liked it because it’s a classic exercise to say, “Okay, let’s take an action movie and make everybody sit in a box and see what happens.” So, it’s a perfect overlay on what’s an emotional situation anyway. Because of the cramped space, emotions tend to get a little higher, a little quicker, a little more frenzied. There’s a sense of claustrophobia about it. So yeah, it’s a good device and I think it bore fruit. You’re sitting there going with one person’s a liar, one person’s an absolute scoundrel, and one guy’s a complete innocent, and the other’s just a nice person who got taken for a bit of a ride and is innocent. It’s cool to see how that plays out.

    MF: Can you talk about how you shot the balloon scenes?

    KG: Yeah, it’s very confined. Honestly, the whole thing was shot in a basket. It really was. Everything I did was just in a basket. It was on a green screen, on a soundstage. We did one thing outside, like the very first scene where I’d say, “Oh, hi, here’s somebody else coming.” Then they just hoisted the basket up with a crane, I think. I said something like, “Here we go.” But it was mostly in that basket. It was fun. I had a cast on my foot at the time. I’d just had surgery on my foot, so I was limited in movement. So that was one of the things that made it appealing to do the film as well, because we weren’t going to be moving very far. It was just the weirdest little place in Hampstead Park. But it was cool. It was nice to be out there for just that one scene, and then we were inside the rest of the time.

    (L to R) Director Claudio Fäh, Hera Hilmar and Jeremy Irvine behind the scenes of the action thriller 'Turbulence', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Director Claudio Fäh, Hera Hilmar and Jeremy Irvine behind the scenes of the action thriller ‘Turbulence’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: Can you talk about how you approached playing Harry?

    KG: So, he’s like an avuncular character. He’s got a bit of wisdom. I haven’t seen the whole film, but when the truth starts to come out about the guy and all that, there’s a couple of eye rolls that an older gentleman knows, “Why be such an idiot? Why be so stupid as a young man? If you love this person, what possess you to do such a thing?” But of course, it’s the stuff the history books are filled with. It’s an old story, but my character is a gentleman, and he likes the young wife. I love that about it. He just says, “You’re going to be okay.” I think that’s great.

    MF: Can you talk about working with the rest of the cast?

    KG: Yeah, they were all pros. Wonderful. Everybody kind of knew what they were doing. We’d talk a little bit and rehearse a little bit and figure out what we thought was the right move, because there was a choreography involved with the cameras inside the gondola as well and where the camera operator was going to be with the lens. There was a little bit of stuff to figure out traffic-wise. But mostly, everybody showed up ready to work and they all have their note to play. So, it wasn’t hugely challenging. We got Olga then the husband, the scoundrel, Hera the hero. It was lovely. Yeah, it was a good group and we got along well, so that was nice.

    (L to R) Jeremy Irvine as “Zach” and Hera Hilmar as “Emmy” in the action thriller 'Turbulence', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Jeremy Irvine as “Zach” and Hera Hilmar as “Emmy” in the action thriller ‘Turbulence’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: What was your experience like collaborating with director Claudio Fäh on set?

    KG: He knew what he was looking for. So, it was easy to say, “Yeah, okay, cool.” The only thing they were worried about was when I said I want to sing this Schubert Corral piece, the one, “Not quite his age”. I sang it back at Julliard, my first year at Julliard we would sit around in choir and sing. It’s such a beautiful piece of music, I thought. They said, “We’re nervous about paying for the rights.” I said, “It’s got to be eminent domain. Schubert died a long time ago. You’re going to be okay.” So, we kept it, and I was really excited about that.

    MF: Finally, rumor is that the ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ trailer will be dropping soon. You’ve been on some big sets throughout your career, but was this the biggest and what was it like working with the Russo brothers and the rest of the cast?

    KG: Very interesting. Yeah, it probably is, except I think maybe ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’, where I did Beast, that was amazing. I was picked up by a cab driver at the airport my first day, the night I flew in, and he said, “You want me to drive you by the set?” I replied, “Yeah, sure. Why not?” So, we start driving and then I see this on the horizon behind a silhouetted ridge line, I see lights, lights everywhere. It seemed like the whole horizon was lit up. Then he said, “Do you know there’s not a crane left in all of Canada because they’re all here?” Then we came up and over the rise and there was a blue screen version of the famous prison, and then right next to it was the actual prison, Alcatraz, over like three football fields. That just blew me away. When we were shooting, they would take cars, light them on fire, hoist them up on a crane and have the crane just swing them and then release them. Flaming cars were flying right by us, and you could feel the heat. So, it was an extraordinary experience.

    Editorial Note: Krisily Fernstrom conducted this interview and contributed to this article.

    'Avengers: Doomsday'.
    ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.

    What is the plot of ‘Turbulence’?

    Zach (Jeremy Irvine) and Emmy’s (Hera Hilmar) romantic retreat aboard a hot air balloon takes a terrifying turn when they are hijacked by a sinister third passenger (Olga Kurylenko) with a link to Zach’s past. As the mystery of their secret relationship is revealed, their spectacular ride becomes a brutal mental chess match and a lethal battle high in the sky.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Turbulence’?

    • Jeremy Irvine as Zach
    • Hera Hilmar as Emmy
    • Olga Kurylenko as Julia
    • Kelsey Grammer as Harry
    'Turbulence' opens in theaters, On Demand and Digital December 12th.
    ‘Turbulence’ opens in theaters, On Demand and Digital December 12th.

    List of Kelsey Grammer Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Kelsey Grammer Movies on Amazon