"Thanks for being my dad." "Thanks for being my son." Gravitas has revealed an official US trailer for an Australian coming-of-age drama titled Ocean Boy, which is the rather generic US title for this film. The original Australian title is Bosch & Rockit, which is the name of the two kids that the film is about - and it fits better than something as bland as "Ocean Boy". Inspired by true events, the film is stirring, provocative and peppered with laconic Australian humor, a compelling story about the light and shade of life, reflecting strength & vulnerability. In the late summer along the coast, Bosch, a young father goes on the run for drug dealing with his surf gang. In tow is his son, Rockit, who believes he's on a magical holiday. Filmed at iconic Byron Bay, against the canvas of Australia's famous east coast surf beaches and rain forests, Ocean Boy is a raw and unapologetic exploration of unconscious parenting and the deeper themes of love. Starring Luke Hemsworth, Isabel Lucas, Leanna Walsman, & Ramsus King as Rockit. Looks like it might be great. https://onfs.net/3ZCKwow

He's back!! Hulu has revealed a first look teaser trailer for History of the World, Part II, a long awaited sequel to Mel Brooks iconic comedy classic History of the World, Part I. Originally released in 1981, that anthology film features a series of vignettes mocking and making fun of great moments in human history. This follow-up sequel does the same, except they've turned it into a sketch comedy series that will play out over four nights. And there's a massive cast of special guests - here's a sampling of a few of them: Pamela Adlon, Tim Baltz, Zazie Beetz, Jillian Bell, Ronny Chieng, Rob Corddry, Danny DeVito, David Duchovny, Jay Ellis, Josh Gad, Kimiko Glenn, Brandon Kyle Goodman, Jake Johnson, Richard Kind, Johnny Knoxville, Lauren Lapkus, Jenifer Lewis, Poppy Liu, Joe Lo Truglio, Jason Mantzoukas, Ken Marino, Jack McBrayer, Zahn McClarnon, Charles Melton, Kumail Nanjiani, Brock O'Hurn, Andrew Rannells, Emily Ratajkowski, Sam Richardson, Nick Robinson, Seth Rogen, Sarah Silverman, Timothy Simons, J.B. Smoove, David Wain, Taika Waititi, Reggie Watts, Tyler James Williams. Check out the footage below and stay tuned this March. https://onfs.net/3CJbiSs

"How are the boys?" "Rambo is cramping more than Rocky." Fandor has revealed an official US trailer for The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic, a powerful Finnish film about a blind man going on in the world. Jaakko and Sirpa have never met face to face but used to talk on the phone every day. When he hears about her declining health, Jaakko sets out to meet Sirpa in a different city with only the help of strangers to rely upon. The film originally premiered at the 2021 Venice Film Festival, and also played at the 2022 SXSW & Sydney Film Festivals, stopping by many other international fests along the way. The award-winning film stars Petri Poikolainen, Marjaana Maijala, Samuli Jaskio, Hannamaija Nikander, Matti Onnismaa, and Rami Rusinen. Not only is it about a blind man who watches movies, but it's also about an experience of a blind mind giving us an incredibly profound perspective of what it's like for him to be out in the world. It seems like a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience, worthy of anyone's time & attention. https://onfs.net/3XPNBQL

New year, new January horror movies. According to popular sayings, the infamous month is often called the "recycling bin" of Hollywood studios, where the films they most regret creating are released in the hopes no one talks about them too much. A more accurate statement would be that the first month of each year rarely delivers any movie of such a level of excellence that, by the end of the same year, it is still being mentioned by viewers and cinephiles worldwide. The horror genre is undoubtedly the one genre that usually suffers the most, but occasionally some good surprises come around the corner. Fortunately, M3GAN is one of them. https://onfs.net/3izuWK1

"In the golden age of documentary, who benefits?" Dogwoof has revealed an official trailer for Subject, an intriguing new meta documentary from filmmakers Camilla Hall & Jennifer Tiexiera. This first premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival last year, and played at a few other festivals including Camden, Calgary, Palm Springs, and AFI Fest. It focuses on the ethics and responsibility inherent in documentary filmmaking. It examines well-known documentaries of the past decade and reveals the impact their commercial success has had on the lives of the onscreen subjects. Specifically focusing on the people seen in these famous docs: Staircase, Hoop Dreams, The Wolfpack, Capturing the Friedmans, and The Square. This is a compelling concept to explore, especially because this kind of exposure in a film really can be detrimental. Just look at what happened to the kid from Death in Venice - as covered in the doc The Most Beautiful Boy in the World, showing how much this affected him negatively his whole life. If you're curious, give it a look. https://onfs.net/3QQixhq

Returning to theaters!! Sony Classics has revealed a new official trailer for the 4K restoration re-release of the incredible martial arts classic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The beloved film won a total of four Oscars, including Best Cinematography and Best Score, originally premiered at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival 13 years ago, and was a box office smash when it initially opened in early 2001. It's one of the best martial arts films ever made, featuring fight choreography from master Yuen Wo Ping. It's finally getting a proper re-release in theaters in February 2023, perhaps connected to the potential for actress Michelle Yeoh to win the Oscar this year. A young Chinese warrior steals a sword from a famed swordsman and then escapes into a world of romantic adventure with a mysterious man in the frontier of the nation. The cast also includes Chow Yun Fat, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, Sihung Lung, and Cheng Pei-Pei. I still remember the first time I ever saw it in the cinema and was blown away. Not much has come close to topping this! It's a must see on a big screen, especially if you've never experienced it that way before. Don't miss this chance. https://onfs.net/3w7nSap

"Fear the purr." You have to see this!! Check out the first teaser trailer for a film titled Mad Cats, marking the feature directorial debut of Japanese filmmaker Reiki Tsuno. It's premiering at the 2023 Slamdance Film Festival, the alternative version of Sundance that runs in the exact same town during the same week (more info + tickets right here). "No more depressing movies from Japan," is Tsuno's motto for this project. What should have been a young man's emotional journey to find his missing brother turns into a nightmare when he gets embroiled in a monster cats' revenge massacre against evil humans who abused them. Wait, this has monster cats in it?! The indie film stars Sho Mineo, Yuya Matsuura, Ayane, So Yamanaka, and Michael Aaron Stone. Unfortunately there's no shots of any cats in this trailer, but there's plenty of other kick ass glimpses in this upbeat, energetic 30 second tease. It looks amazing so far! I wasn't sure if this would be really worth it, but with this first look I'm totally sold. Will definitely be keeping an eye out for it. https://onfs.net/3WoeREQ

"We're trying to keep you alive. You're not immune from being ripped apart." HBO premiered their brand new series post-apocalyptic survival series The Last of Us this past weekend. The very first episode is now available to watch via streaming, with more episodes arriving every week. So far so good? How many of you have already started watching? The series will continue and HBO has revealed another preview hinting at "the weeks ahead" and showing more footage of what's to come. Joel and Ellie, a pair connected through the harshness of the world they live in, are forced to endure brutal circumstances and ruthless killers on a trek across post-pandemic America. Based on the popular video game series, this stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as Joel and Elli, with Gabriel Luna, Nick Offerman, Merle Dandridge, Murray Bartlett, Jeffrey Pierce, Melanie Lynskey, and Anna Torv. The original game composer Gustavo Santaolalla is scoring, and Chernobyl's Craig Mazin directed the pilot. This looks like it's getting scarier! Ready for more? https://onfs.net/3GMHKV8

"Now you may think you know the story, but there's one more layer of this bloomin' onion left to peel back." Peacock has revealed another trailer for their mystery-of-the-week series Poker Face, streaming later this month. This is labeled as a "TCA Exclusive Look" that adds even more footage on top of the other full-length trailer from last month. Glass Onion director Rian Johnson made this with co-writer Charlie Peppers and Natasha Lyonne after filming his last movie. The series follows Lyonne's Charlie, who has an "extraordinary ability" to determine when someone is lying - a "human lie detector," as she is known. She hits the road driving in her Plymouth Barracuda and with every stop encounters a new cast of characters and strange crimes she can’t help but solve. The ensemble cast includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Stephanie Hsu, David Castañeda, Ron Perlman, Benjamin Bratt, Adrien Brody, Danielle Macdonald, Dascha Polanco, Lil Rel Howery, Ellen Barkin, Chloë Sevigny, the Tim Blake Nelson, Hong Chau, Cherry Jones, Judith Light, Tim Meadows, and Jameela Jamil. This is lookin' like it will be some delectable & spicy murder-solving fun. https://onfs.net/3ZE4XBF

"Of all the places I could be, I just want to be here with you." Another year, another Top 10. After watching over 400 films throughout 2022 (always logging everything on my Letterboxd) it's time to share my final selection of My Top 10 Favorite Films of 2022. I try to watch as much as I can and give myself time to catch up with any extra films at the end of the year, but my favorites can come from anytime in 2022. The one that stuck with me all the way through the year was Everything Everywhere All at Once - I really believe it's an all-timer, on the same level as The Matrix in terms of its technical innovation and dynamic storytelling. I went to see it four times in theaters and I knew that nothing would knock it off the top spot. A few of my other faves are from the many film festivals I attend all year. Whatever really grabs me, connects deeply with me, brings out the emotions, and impresses me visually is usually what I fall for above all else. https://onfs.net/3CUsF2N

Everyone who loves animation as much as we do knows that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a certified masterpiece. It also had a huge impact on the animation industry. This video essay created by Vox spends a few minutes examining the impact Into the Spider-Verse had, by showing how the look of it forced animation to evolve. Ever since Toy Story in 1995, most 3D animated CG movies are designed to be photo-realistic and have the glossy look & feel of most Pixar movies. They call this the "Pixar Look" and most of the animation industry has been using this for the last 25 years. That changed big time with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, made by Sony Pictures Animation. This video is a bit simplistic, ignoring animation made outside of the studio system, and forgetting about The Bad Guys entirely (which also uses a clever cel-shading style), but it's a good intro for those trying to catch up with what's going on. Sony Animation is also working on the sequels, with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse due out this year and the next in 2024. https://onfs.net/3knoDJV

"Being a Mandalorian's not just learning about how to fight, you also have to know how to navigate the galaxy. That way you'll never be lost." Disney has revealed the first trailer for Season 3 of the hit show The Mandalorian, finally returning to the screen after nearly three years. The last season of Mando aired back in late 2020, and so much has happened since then! There's been a number of other Star Wars series to fill the gap (watch Andor if you haven't seen it yet) along with many more changes around the world. Creator Jon Favreau wrote all eight episodes of this new season, working with Noah Kloor on the third and Dave Filoni on the fourth and seventh episodes. "The Mandalorian will cross paths with old allies and make new enemies as he and Grogu continue their journey together." Starring Pedro Pascal, Katee Sackhoff, Carl Weathers, Amy Sedaris, Emily Swallow, and Giancarlo Esposito. There's Jedi! And more of Grogu! And tons of droids! And more little Babu Frik guys! This really is going to be worth the wait - looks fantastic. https://onfs.net/3GP35gZ

"This place... it isn't what you think. It's a cage." Will they be able to break free? Marvel has debuted yet another new 60-second trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the third movie in the Ant-Man series in the MCU. Each new trailer takes us even deeper into the very trippy Quantum Realm, with all kinds of epic shots of this weird universe. Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne, along with Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne and Scott's daughter Cassie, go on a new adventure exploring the spectacular Quantum Realm. It also reintroduces the big bad villain Kang, played by Jonathan Majors, who everyone should remember from the Loki series. What does he want with Pym? What his ultimate goal? Clearly he can't be trusted but he might be the only one who can help them escape. The cast includes Paul Rudd as Scott, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathryn Newton, William Jackson Harper, Randall Park. I'm a sucker for these kind of big, psychedelic, whole-other-world visuals - very excited to watch this. https://onfs.net/3QL0w3Q

"Welcome to Paris... Where you've stepped into the spotlight as the star of you're own romantic comedy." Roku has revealed an amusing official trailer for a "unscripted" romantic comedy concept called Meet Me in Paris. Technically it's a film, so we're posting it anyway, though this is clearly just some cheesy reality TV show that they're trying to promote as a big Valentine's Day movie instead. "Love like in the movies." Three real women follow a script and write their own endings in Meet Me in Paris, a first-of-its-kind reality rom-com and Roku Original Film, made by Hello Sunshine and Cinestar. The film stars Danielle Matteo, Mimi Shou, and Jasmine Fleet as they make their way around Paris, going on dates, meeting men, and having fun. As always, these reality shows look entirely scripted, or at least setup in terms of activities and the most cliche Parisian moments to capture on camera with them. Definitely not for me, won't be watching. https://onfs.net/3XA3BGm

"Gather the crew, crack the code, and discover an adventure greater than fiction." Lionsgate has revealed an official trailer for an adventure comedy movie titled The Quest For Tom Sawyer's Gold, which will be skipping theaters and debuting directly on VOD later in March. A risk-averse English teacher is forced to face her greatest fears when several of her students venture alone into the southern wilderness in search of Sawyer's long lost gold. Told through the eyes of JJ Harper, great-grandson to one of the men who helped hide the gold, Aggy must outwit both a nefarious rival from her past, intent on claiming the gold himself, and the dangers of the deep south to rescue her son and students, and along the way, regain her long lost lust for adventure. Patrick Muldoon and Joey Lauren Adams star in this fun-filled family adventure about a family who must use the classic book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer to uncover a vast treasure trove. Also with Deja Monique Cruz, Alex Hyde-White, Scott Bailey, Cole Springer, Kobi Frumer, and Amanda Joy Erickson. Yeah this looks as boring as it sounds, despite that National Treasure pitch. https://onfs.net/3krFUlm

"I owe her!" "Not like that..." Screen Media Films has revealed an official trailer for a con thriller titled The Locksmith, marking the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Nicolas Harvard. Arriving in both theaters and on VOD to watch this February. A thief fresh out of prison, tries to work his way back into the life of his daughter and ex-fiancé, with the help of an old friend named Frank. Determined to move on from his past, he is forced to use the skills he has as a gifted locksmith. Things take a tumultuous turn after an unexpected disappearance. The film stars Ryan Phillippe as Miller Graham, with Kate Bosworth, Ving Rhames, Jeffrey Nordling, Gabriela Quezada, Madeleine Guilbot, Noel Gugliemi, and Charlie Weber. It looks fairly generic, yet another crime story, but with a few different twists. The cast makes up for the script, giving it their best to turn this into something better than it really seems. Might be worth renting sometime. https://onfs.net/3w8DiuW

It's January again, which means it's time for yet another Sundance Film Festival. After two years of only a virtual film festival, Sundance returns in 2023 to an in-person event in the snowy town of Park City, Utah. And we're back again! Ready to start watching, diving into the impressive line-up of films this year. This is my 17th year in a row covering this film festival; I'm always looking forward to returning and watching all the new films premiering at Sundance. Packing in as many as I can catch. Out of the 100+ films showing at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, I've picked 10 films that I'm looking forward to seeing the most. To keep things well balanced, I've chosen 5 feature films and 5 documentaries from the line-up. For 2023, the fest is leaning heavily on unknown directors, first-time filmmakers, and gems with breakout potential. As usual with Sundance, you never can really tell what'll good or bad before, but here's my early picks anyway. https://onfs.net/3QIVftP

"I'm well aware that at times your task will seem... monumental." Janus Films has revealed a new official US trailer for the Icelandic film titled Godland, made by acclaimed Icelandic filmmaker Hlynur Pálmason. This initially premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival last year playing in Un Certain Regard, and it also played at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival (where I eventually saw it and reviewed). It's a stunning, slow burn, mesmerizing film about how nature is God and how this young priest struggles to survive. In the late 19th century, a young Danish priest travels to a remote part of Iceland to build a church and try to photograph its people. But the deeper he goes into the unforgiving landscape, the more he strays from his purpose, the mission, and morality. The film stars Elliott Crosset Hove, Ingvar Sigurðsson, Vic Carmen Sonne, Jacob Hauberg Lohmann, Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir, Waage Sandø, and Hilmar Guðjónsson. This was high on my list of Top 10 from last year, I love it so much. I've seen it twice and it's just as incredible a second time around. Every last shot is alluring. Plus it has one of the best movie dogs ever as one of its stars. https://onfs.net/3iIVXL1

"Make sure he is elected." Samuel Goldwyn Films has revealed the new US trailer for Cairo Conspiracy, the film formerly known as Boy From Heaven, set entirely in Egypt even though it's actually a Swedish production. This premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Screenplay award, and has since played at numerous other festivals including Zurich, Hamburg, London, Busan, Vancouver, Ghent, Mill Valley. The story follows Adam, the son of a fisherman, who is offered the ultimate privilege to study at the prestigious Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the epicenter of power of Sunni Islam. Shortly after his arrival in Cairo, the university's highest ranking religious leader, the Grand Imam, suddenly dies and Adam soon becomes a pawn in a ruthless power struggle between Eqypt's religious and political elite. The film stars Tawfeek Barhom as Adam, Fares Fares, Mohammad Bakri, Makram Khoury, Mehdi Dehbi, Moe Ayoub, Sherwan Haji, and Ahmed Lassaoui. I saw this in Cannes and gave it a positive review, mostly because it's so frighteningly honest about corruption and that is worthwhile to show. I still recommend it. https://onfs.net/3kqsy8V

"Satisfy every movie mood with Netflix in 2023." It's time for a 2023 preview! Netflix has launched the "Save the Dates" trailer featuring a look at the new 2023 line-up of original films debuting on this global streaming service. We've heard of many of these before, but now they've set actual release dates for them so we know when to expect each of them. Have a look below! "Start saving the dates for your perfect movie nights in 2023. We’ve got new must-watch movies from your favorite filmmakers featuring the stars you love. Whether it’s big action blockbusters, intimate dramas, romantic comedies, sci-fi thrillers, international escapades, family adventures or eye-opening documentaries — we are delivering films for everyone!" Netflix has a new David Fincher film, The Killer, a new Sam Esmail film, Leave the World Behind, a new Zack Snyder film, Rebel Moon, and a fun Robert Smigel animated movie called Leo. These four are featured in here with a glimpse at footage, along with the rest of their 2023 selection. What are you most excited about? https://onfs.net/3XzEbs8

"Now I'm not being dramatic, but... these people are evil." Focus Features has revealed an official US trailer for Polite Society, a kick ass new British film marking the feature debut of filmmaker Nida Manzoor ("We Are Lady Parts"). This is premiering in just a few days at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, as part of the Midnight section, which is why they're dropping this trailer just before that unveiling. A merry mash up of sisterly affection, parental disappointment & bold action, Polite Society follows martial artist-in-training Ria Khan who believes she must save her older sister Lena from her impending marriage. After enlisting the help of her loyal friends, Ria attempts to pull off the most ambitious of all wedding heists in the name of independence and sisterhood. The cast includes Priya Kansara as Ria, with Ritu Arya, Nimra Bucha, Akshay Khanna, Seraphina Beh, and Ella Bruccoleri. I just listed this as one of my Most Anticipated at Sundance, can't wait to see Ria kick some ass!! Looks like it will be a blast, especially with a big audience. https://onfs.net/3XCk1xR