"Sisterhood above all..." Warner Bros has revealed the first look teaser trailer for the epic new sci-fi series Dune: Prophecy, a spin-off TV series streaming on Max later in 2024 (aiming for a fall release). It's set 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides, before the universe knew them as the Bene Gesserit... This is directly connected to Denis Villeneuve's two (so far) brilliant Dune movies but it's not a direct prequel since it's set so far in the past. It's also based on the book "Sisterhood of Dune" by Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert (Frank's son). The intro to that book is much more fascinating: "It is eighty-three years after the last of the thinking machines were destroyed in the Battle of Corrin, after Faykan Butler took the name of Corrino and established himself as the first Emperor of a new Imperium. Great changes are brewing that will shape and twist all of humankind." This sounds intense! Dune: Prophecy stars Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, Mark Strong, Jade Anouka, Chris Mason, Jodhi May, Josh Heuston, Tabu, plus Sarah-Sofie Boussnina & Shalom Brune-Franklin. We've been waiting for this ever since Dune: Part Two opened a few months ago! Glad to finally get a glimpse at some footage - check it out below. https://onfs.net/4bgADT5

"We're gonna change the world, Maria." Netflix has revealed an official trailer for an upcoming sci-fi movie called Bionic, the first Brazilian (sci-fi) movie of its kind produced by Netflix, featuring (what they claim are) "innovative visual effects." This is set to drop on Netflix in just a few weeks coming up at the end of May - not too long of a wait at all. The year is 2035 and the world has been transformed by technology. In this dystopian future where these robotic prosthetics redefine sports, two sisters compete in long jump — but their rivalry leads them down a sinister path. The story focuses on one sister named Maria who rejects the bionic enhancements. Starring Jessica Córes, Gabz, Bruno Gagliasso, Christian Malheiros, Paulo Vilhena, Danton Mello, and Klebber Toledo. In Bionic, ambition, moral dilemmas and family conflicts unfold in a cyberpunk setting, with numerous adrenaline-filled action scenes. Bionic tech isn't really a brand new thing in sci-fi movies, but it's cool to see them trying something else within sci-fi. It seems worth a look. https://onfs.net/3UHhd2G

"Do the police not teach you that coincidences don't exist?" Lionsgate has revealed an official US trailer for a psychological thriller film titled It's Not Over, made by Italian producer / director Alessandro Riccardi. This is an Italian production but shot in English, that first opened in Italy in 2022, now hitting VOD in the US two years later. Max and Sarah are lovers. They meet whenever Albert, her doctor husband, is on duty at the hospital. One night, Albert dies in a domestic accident and, suddenly, Max and Sarah's clandestine love can come out into the open. However, Max notices some disturbing details in Sarah's behavior, insinuating a series of suspicions into the man. What if he's not the person he says he is? It's described as "a spine-chilling thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last minute." Starring Christopher Lambert, Gianni Capaldi, Weronika Rosati, Ian Reddington, Sarah Collier, and John-James Colvin. Ugh this looks like an extremely trashy Lifetime After Dark made-for-TV movie that you really don't want to waste time on. https://onfs.net/4dFoCbs

Another year, another Cannes Film Festival. The 77th Festival International du Film de Cannes has begun this week in the South of France in the lovely beach city of Cannes on the Mediterranean coast. We're back again, along with thousands (and thousands) of film critics, journalists, cinephiles, industry members, filmmakers, students, and more. Cannes remains the BIGGEST film festival in the world, not only with the most prestigious line-up and the most attendees. It's always an exciting time, just to be here in the midst of it all. In the weeks leading up to Cannes, it's particularity challenging to gauge whether everyone is actually excited about coming back, or if there's some other controversy or snag that will disrupt the festival... With its pandemic years now in the rear-view, Cannes is powering forward with another full-on, fireworks-filled two week celebration of the power of cinema. Artistic director Thierry Frémaux also stated during the announcement of the official selection that due to the strikes in Hollywood last year, there are not as many American films, but there are plenty of other new discoveries and surprises ready to shine on the big screen. https://onfs.net/3yjulDA

"This land has it all." Time for a look at even more footage. Les Films du Losange has debuted the first full-length official trailer for The Damned, a French production made by an Italian filmmaker about America's Civil War in the 1860s. The film just premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, playing in the "Un Certain Regard" section. It's the latest narrative feature made by Italian filmmaker Roberto Minervini, whose last film was a doc also set in America called What You Gonna Do When the World's on Fire?. The Damned is set in the winter of 1862, during the Civil War. The U.S. Army (meaning the Union army) sends a volunteer company to patrol the uncharted Western territories. As their mission changes course, the meaning behind their engagement begins to elude them. The film stars Jeremiah Knupp, René W. Solomon, Cuyler Ballenger, Noah Carlson, Judah Carlson, and Tim Carlson. We posted the first teaser just a few days ago, but apparently that didn't get enough buzz so here comes a longer trailer. Still not sure about this one. https://onfs.net/4dJqakQ

"If you can’t trust yourself, who can you trust?" Lionsgate has debuted an official trailer for Blackwater Lane, yet another of these cheap and clunky thrillers that looks like it was made-for-TV in the 90s. This is getting released in June right away on VOD if anyone cares. Adapted from the book titled "The Breakdown" written by B.A. Paris. Late one night a woman drives by a stranded motorist who is later revealed to have been murdered. After a series of terrifying events the woman believes she is the killer's next victim. From the book: "The only thing she can't forget is that woman, the woman she might have saved, and the terrible nagging guilt. And the silent calls she's receiving, or the feeling that someone's watching her..." Blackwater Lane stars Minka Kelly, Maggie Grace, Dermot Mulroney, with Natalie Simpson, Kris Johnson, Edward Baker-Duly, and Pandora Clifford. "It doesn't make any sense..." Why does this look so bad? https://onfs.net/3WIFoQH

Time for something scary. Lionsgate has revealed an official trailer for Never Let Go, a new horror film from the acclaimed horror filmmaker Alexandre Aja (of High Tension, The Hills Have Eyes, Mirrors, Piranha 3D, Horns, Crawl). This one is set for release in theaters nationwide in September later this year. Never Let Go follows a mother and her fraternal twin sons who have been tormented by an evil spirit for years and are convinced to never let go of their family’s protective bond. But when one of the boys questions if the evil is real, their connection is severed, triggering a terrifying fight for survival. It's set almost entirely at a creepy old cabin in the woods. Halle Berry stars as the mother, with Percy Daggs & Anthony B. Jenkins as the two boys. Alexandre Aja is a master of horror and is always cooking up something terrifying - this is no exception. A chilling trailer promising a clever new horror movie that will frighten audiences later this year. https://onfs.net/3V1eAKh

"Ultraman - do your job!" Netflix has unveiled the full official trailer for Ultraman: Rising, a brand new animated take on Ultraman from director Shannon Tindle (also of Kubo and "Lost Ollie"). This has been in development for years at ILM, with the VFX house handling most of the key animation, along side Netflix Animation & Tsuburaya Productions. Based on the classic Japanese mecha superhero of the same name, this Ultraman movie is a fresh update made for American audiences (there's already the Ultraman anime series on Netflix to watch as well). Ken Sato is a superstar baseball player who returns to Japan to become the latest hero to carry the mantle of Ultraman. His plans go awry, however, when he ends up raising a newborn kaiju monster as his own kid. Staring Christopher Sean, Tamlyn Tomita, Gedde Watanabe, Keone Young, and Julia Harriman. This is a fantastic trailer that really sets up the vibe of this movie, which is kid friendly with this adorable kaiju, but it still looks like everyone can enjoy it. Don't write this off! Dive in. https://onfs.net/44HeZ85

"Mike – there's a storm coming. Things are gonna get bad..." Sony Pictures has debuted a second & final trailer for Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the fourth Bad Boys movie after the previous #3 Bad Boys for Life from 2020. Dropping in theaters this June! This sequel is once again directed by Belgian-Moroccan action duo Adil & Bilall, who also directed Bad Boys for Life and Batgirl and Rebel. The world's favorite "Bad Boys" are back with their iconic mix of edge-of-your seat action and outrageous comedy but this time with a twist: Miami's finest are now on the run in Miami. This one is produced by Columbia Pictures in association with 2.0 Ent., Don Simpson / Jerry Bruckheimer Films, and also Westbrook Studios. Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, DJ Khaled, and Jacob Scipio reprise their roles from the previous film, with Tasha Smith taking over the role of Theresa Burnett from Theresa Randle, who played the character in the last three. New cast members include Eric Dane, Ioan Gruffudd, Rhea Seehorn, and Joyner Lucas. Also starring Tiffany Haddish, and Joe Pantoliano of the previous movies, who has a key role in this. Will it be any good? Worth a watch? Who knows! Have fun. https://onfs.net/3UCgUWQ

"All of this was part of a bigger story." HOB has revealed an official trailer for a documentary film titled MoviePass, MovieCrash, another of these "rise and fall" business stories, this one about something that really hits close to home. MoviePass was a movie lover's dream, offering access to movie theater tickets at a discounted monthly subscription rate when it launched in 2017. However, the co-founders, who had built the pop culture phenomenon from scratch, were cast aside and forced to watch from the sidelines as new executives seized control. Produced by Mark Wahlberg, the doc film follows the meteoric rise and stranger-than-fiction implosion of theatrical movie subscription service MoviePass, and how they crashed & burned (spoiler: it was greed and dumb executives, like pretty much every other corporate downfall story). This doc profiles all of "the key players who, in peddling a false narrative and seeking to fly too high, created a wild ride that ended with hundreds of millions of dollars in lost value and the early demise of the now infamous company." Yep, it was never going to last, it was destined for failure. Always destroyed by the biz schmucks. https://onfs.net/3UNIVuH

"Don't let the now destroy the forever." There will be no one review that will say everything that one could say about this film. No one critic will be able to cover it all, nor will they be able to accurately describe the experience of watching this film. It is a film that needs to be seen (with your own eyes) to be believed. As cliche as that is to write, considering this is the spectacular new $100M+ passion project from the cinema legend Francis Ford Coppola, it couldn't be truer anyway. Megalopolis premiered today at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, leaving critics baffled, confused, astounded, and intrigued. No matter what I have to say, no matter my own thoughts, this is just one quick take on it and great cinema is about discussing many interpretations and perspectives. That said, Megalopolis is definitely not a new masterpiece. Maybe it will be considered one in 20 years? Maybe not. Only time will tell... As for today's viewing experience, well, it's a mix of everything. Confounding yet fascinating! Exhilarating yet trashy! Even if you hate the film, you really can't be against Coppola for giving it his all trying to make his point (or many points) before his time is up. https://onfs.net/4bi9zTm

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Start your engines!" Strap in, grab your chrome, and get ready for one of the best action movies of this decade! George Miller's action masterpiece Mad Max: Fury Road is already known as one of the best action movies of the 2010s. I'm ecstatic to report that his follow-up prequel Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is officially as good as Fury Road in every single way. Believe the hype!! Furiosa is almost TWO entire Fury Road's packed into one movie. Holy smoke it rules!! George Miller did it. He really went and did it and made another one of the best action movies ever made all over again. Maestro!! 👏 This isn't even a surprise. I'd have been much more surprised if it didn't live up to the hype and/or was not as good. The word from Down Under where they shot Furiosa is that even the crew was excited to be working on this movie, which Miller has been wanting to make for years even before he directed Fury Road. And it shows; it shows in every single shot, in every stunt, in every performance, in every aspect of this instant action classic. https://onfs.net/44NwKm5

"That looks like a promising place... a place I might be able to see myself." Warner Bros has unveiled the second official trailer for Horizon: An American Saga, which is directed by, produced by, and starring Kevin Costner. The first movie in this two-part epic will debut at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival this week - hence this next trailer arriving now. The two westerns chronicle a multi-faceted, 15-year span of pre-and post-Civil War expansion and settlement of the American West. The massive ensemble cast for Horizon: An American Saga includes tons of major actors: Kevin Costner, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Danny Huston, Luke Wilson, Michael Rooker, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jeff Fahey, Will Patton, Tatanka Means, Owen Crow Shoe, Ella Hunt, Will Patton, Thomas Haden Church, Dale Dickey, and Jamie Campbell Bower, among others. After the success of "Yellowstone", I think Hollywood is hoping this will end up as one of the most successful westerns of the modern era. Can he pull it off? The first full trailer that arrived earlier in the year was seriously impressive, with some stunning footage of this sprawling saga. This new trailer isn't as good, but does have Costner getting into more fights. https://onfs.net/4bLzcMl

"You and DinDim have quite a friendship." Roadside Attractions has revealed a trailer for an adorable true story of a penguin and a fisherman. My Penguin Friend is directed by the Brazilian filmmaker David Schurmann, and it tells the story of a Brazilian fisherman who rescued a penguin and their bond. Starring French actor Jean Reno in the lead role as Joao. A heartbroken fisherman finds a penguin drifting alone in the ocean, drenched in oil from a spill. He not only rescues the sea creature, which migrates hundreds of miles ever year, but takes it under his wing – finding a sense of joy for the first time in years. The penguin and the fisherman become unlikely friends, so bonded that even the vast ocean cannot divide them. The cast also includes Adriana Barraza, Rocío Hernández, Nicolás Francella, Alexia Moyano, Thalma de Freitas, with Pedro Caetano and Pedro Urizzi. This seems charming and uplifting and cheesy in a very Hollywood way, telling another of these stories about humans & animals becoming friends. 🐧 Have a look. https://onfs.net/3QRZ9lf

"I wanted to rewrite the rulebook of what is possible in life. We're too quick to be put into pigeon-holes by society and by oursevles." Universal All-Access has debuted the official trailer for a documentary film titled The Mountain Within Me, made by filmmaker Polly Steele. This disability doc is set for a VOD release in August at the end of the summer if anyone wants to watch. After suffering a catastrophic and almost fatal spinal cord injury, professional rugby player Ed Jackson's world changed forever. The Mountain Within Me follows Ed's journey on his recovery as he achieves the mental and physical heights of Snowdonia, the Alps and Himalayas to the life-altering challenges closer to home. From multi-award-winning director, Polly Steele and BAFTA and Emmy nominated producer, George Chignell, The Mountain Within Me doc film is an inspiring, thought-provoking experience about unexpected change, hope & finding renewed purpose in life. It looks like yet another powerful, moving story about proving to the world that nothing can hold you back. https://onfs.net/3wFlGe7

One of the best things about being at film festivals is that most of the time you never know what is going to happen in the film you're about to watch. At Cannes, it's usually the first time the film is ever being shown to an audience. Walking into these films without any expectations or any idea what we're all in for can result in some of the most wildly exhilarating experiences when you encounter a truly ambitious, unexpected, one-of-a-kind creation. That's the case with Emilia Perez from French filmmaker Jacques Audiard. I shouldn't be surprised, however, considering my love for Audiard's films goes back all the way to my very first visit to Cannes in 2009 - Un Prophet (A Prophet) is still one of my all-time favorite Cannes films. 15 years later and Audiard has totally blown me away again with Emilia Perez, a full-on Broadway-esque musical about Mexican society and a Mexican cartel kingpin who changes sex and reinvents herself. I did not think we'd see a more ambitious film than Megalopolis at Cannes 2024, but here we are with Emilia Perez. Incredible. https://onfs.net/4auxIVs

This film instantly joins the ranks as one of the best dogs movies ever made. There's usually one or two of these every year, so the "best dog movies ever" subgenre is constantly growing, but that's also totally fine. As a dog lover, I am more than happy to keep adding amazing movies to "best of" list. Especially when there's a new story to tell, especially when the production takes care of the dogs and animals on set, especially when the film makes you feel even more in love with dogs (if that's even possible). Black Dog is a new film from China from a filmmaker named Hu Guan, who has already made plenty of other feature films before this. He's obviously a dog lover, there's no way he could make this film if he wasn't. There's also a title card at the end when the credits come up stating that no animals were harmed in the making of the film, and all of the animals on set were properly taken care of. This is expected nowadays, of course, but it is still an important reassurance because it's a tricky film to pull off with a plot that involves some of the animals being harmed. https://onfs.net/4bF7q3U

"Everybody's gone surfin'..." Except for you and you! One of the highlights within the 2024 Cannes Film Festival line-up is the Out of Competition presentation of The Surfer starring the legendary Nicolas Cage. It's the fourth feature film from Irish filmmaker Lorcan Finnegan, who also made his mark back at Cannes 2019 with the sci-fi flick Vivarium (here's my review of that one). He's back once again in Cannes with another entertaining contained, minimal (though maximal on the craziness), one-location story titled The Surfer, about a dude who starts a fight with the local surf bros who stop him from catching some waves on a secluded Australian beach. I had a fantastic time with this film! It's funny and absurd, but also clever and astute, commenting on way more than just the bro culture of surfers. In fact, I was intrigued to discover by the end that it's not actually about surfing culture or beaches, it's about capitalism and toxic masculinity. https://onfs.net/4dNTkPv

"He's traveling between reality & fantasy, and losing the ability to tell them apart." Another magnificent doc about Hayao Miyazaki has just debuted. The 2024 Cannes Film Festival is hosting a special series of events - starting out by giving filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli an Honorary Palme d'Or, along with screenings of a few special Ghibli short films and this never-before seen doc. Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron is a two-hour doc film version of the recent making of doc following animation master Miyazaki making his latest film The Boy and the Heron, which also won the Oscar earlier this year. Japan's NHK TV also aired a version of this doc called 2399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli a few weeks ago. This special Cannes version is a "two-hour window into the heart of Hayao Miyazaki's creative process. The documentary follows six long years of work during the making of The Boy and the Heron." Rave reviews call it one of the most intimate & lovely looks at this legendary filmmaker yet, following up the other docs about him that have popped up over these last few years. I definitely need to see this doc - Miyazaki is the greatest. https://onfs.net/3wOniCk

"Is it scary being a lady FBI agent?" "Yep..." Neon has debuted the full-length official trailer for Longlegs, arriving in theaters nationwide starting this July. We've featured the other cryptic teasers before as well as the incredible first official trailer for this film a few months ago. This is the final "payoff" trailer that has the most footage yet. FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes unexpected turns, revealing eerie evidence of the occult. Harker soon discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again. Longlegs is the creation of director Oz Perkins (of The Blackcoat's Daughter, I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, Gretel & Hansel). The horror film stars Maika Monroe as Lee Harker, Nicolas Cage, Alicia Witt, Blair Underwood, and Dakota Daulby. This looks SO creepy and extra frightening & disturbing - and the buzz from early reviews is that this seriously is one of the best horror films of 2024. Have one more creepy look below and get ready to watch this in theaters soon. https://onfs.net/4arsNET

"So, when you're inside a role, do you destroy who you are?" "No, no – you reach into yourself... you find yourself. And only after that, are you free to be who you really are." There's another Martin Scorsese-directed advertisement to enjoy if you're into these kind of videos. Chanel just launched a new ad for their male perfume line called Bleu de Chanel, featuring celebrated actor Timothée Chalamet as the global ambassador. "The perfume of a man who chooses his way." These kind of promotions always seem so stale and strange - this works on people? The ad was shot by Scorsese and features Chalamet dealing with a late night talk show appearance, discussing his work as an actor and allowing himself to "be who you really are." Chanel adds that it's "an actor's conflict between celebrity and staying true to himself." It's only a 90 second video and goes by pretty fast, which is the norm for these kind of advertisements. And yes, it is a corporate commercial, but it's technically a new short film made by two masters of cinema so it's worth a look anyway. https://onfs.net/3UPqHcj