MOVIE Morning

Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams, an adaptation of a novella of the same name, has finally hit select cinemas around the globe. I had the chance to see this beautiful movie about a month ago at the BFI London Film Festival and I’ve been dying to talk about it but I wanted you guys to at least have the opportunity to seek the film out immediately after hearing me rave about it and… I wanted to see it again! Stick around to find out why I think this is one of 2025’s best movies!Train Dreams:Directed by: Clint BentleyScreenplay by: Clint Bentley, Greg KwederBased on the novella by: Denis JohnsonProduced by: Michael Heimler, Will Janowitz, Marissa McMahon, Ashley Schlaifer, Teddy SchwarzmanExecutive Producers: Joel Edgerton, John Friedberg, Scott Hinckley, Greg KwederMusic by: Bryce DessnerDirector of Photography: Adolpho VelosoEdited by: Parker LaramieCasting by: Nike Imoru, Avy KaufmanProduction Design by: Alexandra SchallerCostume Design by: Dakota Keller, Malgosia TurzanskaCast: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Joens, Kerry Condon, Paul Schneider, Clifton Collins Jr., Will Patton, William H. MacySynopsis: A logger leads a life of quiet grace as he experiences love and loss during an era of monumental change in early 20th-century America.

Dan Trachtenberg’s next Predator adventure - Predator: Badlands - is now out in theaters! This is already his THIRD entry into the franchise - one more and he’ll match the amount of standalone Predator movies there were before he arrived. I wouldn’t call myself a fan of this franchise, but I love the idea of the Yautja as these intergalactic hunters in a clan where they’re either the Predator or the Prey. It’s just unfortunate that all these movies, including the few I like, are basically the same. I’ve liked both Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers but I wouldn’t say I’ve been as crazy about them as others; I think it’s fair to say I’m pretty burnt out on the formula of this franchise. I can’t even say I’m IN LOVE with the original or anything like that. But now, we finally have a movie where one of the Yautja is actually the protagonist with Badlands. Does it deliver on the premise and live up to the very positive reviews? Find out in this review!Predator: BadlandsDirected by: Dan TrachtenbergScreenplay by: Patrick AisonBased on characters created by: Jim Thomas & John ThomasStory by: Patrick Aison, Dan TrachtenbergProduced by: John Davis, Brent O’Connor, Ben Rosenblatt, Marc ToberoffExecutive Producers: Lawrence Gordon, Stefan GrubeMusic by: Sarah Schachner, Benjamin WallfischDirector of Photogaphy: Jeff CutterEdited by: Stefan Grube, David TrachtenbergCasting by: Jessica ShermanProduction Design by: Ra VincentCostume Design by: Ngila DicksonCast: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-KoloamatangiSynopsis: Cast out from his clan, a young Predator finds an unlikely ally in a damaged android and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.

Noah Baumbach’s latest Netflix venture - Jay Kelly - hits limited release in cinemas in just a few weeks. I had the pleasure of seeing it at the BFI London Film Festival a few weeks back and have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to talk about it in a full-length review. The reactions to this movie have been pretty mixed since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Why anyone at Netflix thought a European premiere made sense for a movie about an aging Hollywood movie star is beyond me… but here we are. Since that premiere, the reviews for this movie have grown to be much more kind. I’ve been really long forward to Jay Kelly because Noah Baumbach’s films tend to work for me and the premise, as well as as the opportunity for Adam Sandler to be on a serious movie again, had me very excited. So, am I one of the people really high on Jay Kelly, or was the initial mixed reception warranted? Find out in this review! Jay Kelly hits Netflix on December 5th.Jay Kelly:Directed by: Noah BaumbachWritten by: Noah Baumbach, Emily MortimerProduced by: Noah Baumbach, David Heyman, Amy PascalExecutive Producer: Donald SabourinMusic by: Nicholas BritellDirector of Photography: Linus SandgrenEdited by: Valerio Bonelli, Rachel DuranceCasting by: Douglas Aibel, Nina GoldProduction Design by: Mark TildesleyCast: George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Grace Edwards, Stacy KeachSynopsis: Famous movie actor Jay Kelly embarks on a journey of self discovery confronting both his past and present, accompanied by his devoted manager Ron.

Well, here we are. Chloe Zhao's Hamnet - one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the year - premiered at the BFI London Film Festival two weeks ago. Since it's premiere at Telluride back in late August, this movie has been billed as a locked-in OSCAR contender and potentially one of the biggest threats to WIN Best Picture. Reviews like that always get on my nerves because it's classic film festival overhype. You watch a movie surrounded by all the cast & crew and thousands of like-minded movie fans and, inevitably, the hype is going to be through the roof. All that being said, I watched this movie at a film festival as well... so I'll be telling you all today whether the hype was real. I've been a little nervous going into Hamnet because, while the trailers have excited me and the reviews were certainly promising, I am neither a Chloe Zhao guy or a Shakespeare guy. Zhao's movies have always felt cold to me and I truly believe that Nomadland is probably one of the worst Best Picture winners.... of all-time! But, I'm happy to report that Hamnet is the first time that I've truly been able to connect with one of her movies. Find out why in this review!Hmanet:Directed by: Chloé ZhaoScreenplay by: Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’FarrellBased on the novel "Hamnet" by Maggie O'FarrellProduced by: Liza Marshall, p.g.a., Pippa Harris, p.g.a, Nicolas Gonda, p.g.a., Steven Spielberg, p.g.a., Sam Mendes, p.g.a.Executive Producers: Laurie Borg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Chloé ZhaoMusic by: Max RichterDirector of Photography: Lukasz ZalEdited by: Alfonso Gonçalves, Chloé ZhaoCasting by: Nina GoldProduction Design by: Fiona CrombieCostume Design by: Malgosia TurzanskaCast: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Jacobi Jupe, David Wilmot, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Olivia Lynes, Freya Hannan-Mills, Noah JupeSynopsis: The powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

Springsteen: Delvier Me from Nowhere was born in the U.S.A. and the rest of the world today. This has been one of my most anticipated movies of the back half of this year because I'm a big Bruce guy and I love Jeremy Allen White. The Bear is, without question, one of my favorite shows of the last couple of years and the idea of him playing The Boss was pretty awesome. The trailers ceetainly won me over and the pretty solid reviews out of the festivals have gotten me even more hyped. But, there is one elephant in the room: I am completely sick of these stupid and slight music biopics. Whetehr it was the Dylan movie, or the Elvis movie, all these movies have the same flaws and the same crowd that ends up really liking them. And I'm usually not a part of the latter. Is Springsteen an exception to that rule? Find out in this review!Springsteen: Deliver Me from NowhereWritten for the Screen and Directed by: Scott CooperBased on the book "Deliver Me from Nowhere" by Warren ZanesProduced by: Scott Cooper, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Eric Robinson, Scott StuberCo-Produced by: Richard Mirisch, Christopher SurgentExecutive Produced by: Tracey Landon, Jon Vein, Warren ZanesMusic by: Jeremiah FraitesDirector of Photography by: Masanobu TakayanagiEdited by: Pamela MartinCasting by: Francine MaislerProduction Design by: Stefania CellaCostume Design by: Kasia Walicka MaimoneCast: Jeremy Allen White, Jeremy Strong, Paul Walter Hauser, Stephen Graham, Odessa Young, Gaby Hoffmann, Marc Maron, David KrumholtzSynopsis: Bruce Springsteen, a young musician on the cusp of global superstardom, struggles to reconcile the pressures of success with the ghosts of his past.

Kathryn Bigelow - the first woman who won the Best Director OSCAR at the Academy Awards - is back to deliver us her latest tense thriller... but on Netflix. Bigelow's films have had a big impact on me as a film fan since I was an early teen and I've been waiting years for her to finally make a new movie. I - thank god - had the opportunity to see A House of Dynamite in cinemas last week, with it currently running a select cinemas release in the lead-up to it's drop on Netflix on October 24th. This movie's been garnering pretty rave reviews since the it's premiere at the Venice Film Festival... but I'm coming in pretty hot with a slightly controversial opinion on one of Netflix's biggest awards contenders for 2025. Find out more in this review!A House of Dynamite:Directed by: Kathryn BigelowWritten by: Noah OppenheimProduced by: Kathryn Bigelow, Noah Oppenheim, Greg ShapiroExecutive Producers: Brian Bell, Sarah BremmerMusic by: Volker BertelmannDirector of Photography: Barry AckroydEdited by: Kirk BaxterCasting by: Sussane ScheelProduction Design by: Jeremy HindleCostume Design by: Sarah EdwardsCast: Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Greta Lee, Jonah Hauer-King, Jason Clarke, Willa Fitzgerald, Malachi BeasleySynopsis: When a single, unattributed missile is launched at the United States, a race begins to determine who is responsible and how to respond.

Luca Guadagnino, one of the most prolific filmmakers of our time, is back with yet another movie having its European Premiere at the BFI London Film Festival: After the Hunt. I happen to be a pretty big fan of Guadagnino, really liking movies such as Call Me By Your Name and Challengers. Last year though, he did disappoint me with his Daniel Craig OSCAR vehicle, Queer. After the Hunt boasts a terrific cast, including Julia Robert’s and Andrew Garfield who are first-time collaborators with Guadagnino. The movie promises to be a provocative #MeToo inspired thriller but does it deliver on making an insightful statement on the generational divide in our times through some pretty tough and controversial subject matter? Find out in this review!After the Hunt:Directed by: Luca GuadagninoWritten by: Nora GarrettProduced by: Jeb Brody, Brian Grazer, Luca Guadagnino, Allan MandelbaumExecutive Producers: Alice Dawson, Nora Garrett, Karen Lunder, Justin WilkesMusic by: Trent Reznor & Atticus RossDirector of Photography: Malik Hassan SayeedEdited by: Marco CostaCasting by: Jessica RonaneProduction Design by: Stefano BaisiCostume Design by: Giulia PiersantiCast: Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri, Michael Stuhlbarg, Chloë Sevigny, Lio MehielSynopsis: A college professor finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star pupil levels an accusation against one of her colleagues, and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come to light.

Guillermo del Toro is back! This time, he's putting out his lifelong passion project: an adaptation of Mary Shelley's iconic FRANKENSTEIN... on Netflix. I have admired GDT as a filmmaker for my entire life as a cinephile and am always game to see WHATEVER he's putting out in theaters... or, err, on Netflix. Back a few days ago, I had the amazing privilege to see Frankenstein at it's UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival Gala on Monday. Guillermo, as well as the whole cast, was in attendance and gave a lovely introduction before the movie. I just wish I could come on here and report better news about the movie itself. Find out my full thoughts in this review!Frankenstein:Directed by: Guillermo del ToroScreenplay by: Guillermo del ToroBased on the book "Frankenstein; or: The Modern Prometheus" by Mary ShelleyProduced by: J. Miles Dale, Guillermo del Toro, Scott StuberLine Producer: Melissa GirottiMusic by: Alexandre DesplatDirector of Photography: Dan LaustenEdited by: Evan SchiffCasting by: Robin D. CookProduction Design by: Tamara DeverellCostume Design by: Kate HawleyCast: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Christian Convery, Charles DanceSynopsis: Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist, brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

The DCU continues! Season 2 of James Gunn's Peacemaker - technically the third project of the DCU - has now wrapped up it's 8-episode run on HBO Max. As all of you know, I love James Gunn and all his movies & shows, and for years... I've been PUMPED for his DCU and fully believe in his vision for the new DC Universe. So, I was unbelievably relieved this summer that I loved Superman as much as I did. I love it more and more every time I see it , and I've now seen it five times! Peacemaker season 1, I truly believe, is one of the greatest achievements of James Gunn's career and I've been excited but confused about the upcoming season 2. I talked about the first episode but have been eager to finally come back on here and talk about all the wild twists & turns of season 2 as people have been freaking out about them online. Is this season better than season 1, and a great continuation for the DCU? Find out that, plus hidden details and future teases included in the finale, in this SPOILER-FILLED breakdown!

Dwayne Johnson is officially turning a page in his career as he stars in an A24 movie, now out in theaters! Benny Safdie's The Smashing Machine, which tells the real-life story of wrestler Mark Kerr. I've been looking forward to Benny Safdie's next movie for years, since I was a big fan of his collaborations with his brother - especially their work on Good Time. And I, despite how silly this sounds, have been rooting for The Rock. I've been enjoying him in movies since I was a kid and has always, like Benny Safdie, had an inkling that he had more in him than play The Rock in every movie. There's also been some surprising OSCAR buzz for his performance in this movie. Is it warranted? Find out in this review!The Smashing Machine:Written and Directed by: Benny SafdieProduced by: Eli Bush, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, David Koplan, Benny SafdieExecutive Producer: Tracey LandonMusic by: Nala SinephroDirector of Photography: Maceo BishopEdited by: Benny SafdieCasting by: Jennifer VendittiProduction Design by: James ChinlundCostume Design by: Heidi BivensCast: Dwayne Johnson, Emily BluntSynopsis: The story of legendary mixed martial arts & UFC fighter Mark Kerr.

Hey, everyone - It's been a while but I'm finally back with another review. Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another is now out in theaters. This is, as of now, by far the best reviewed movie of the entire year, even over Sinners, so expectations were high going into the theater. I've always found PTA to be a little hit-or-miss with me. He always makes good films, but I've found movies such as Licorice Pizza and Punch-Drunk Love to be somewhat overrated while still recognizing the brilliance of some of his other films. So, does One Battle After Another solidify itself as the Best Picture frontrunner? Find out in this review!One Battle After Another:Written and Directed by: Paul Thomas AndersonInspired by the novel 'Vineland' by Thomas PynchonProduced by: Paul Thomas Anderson, Sara Murphy, Adam SomnerExecutive Prodocuers: Pete Chiapetta, Andrew Lary, Anthony Tittanegro, Will WeiskeMusic by: Johnny GreenwoodDirector of Photography: Michael BaumanEdited by: Andy JurgensenCasting by: Cassandra KulukundisProduction Design by: Florencia MartinCostume Design by: Colleen AtwoodCast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Chase InfinitiSynopsis: When their evil nemesis resurfaces after 16 years, a band of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own.

Wow! James Gunn, after months and months of speculation, has finally announced his follow-up to Superman. And, as expected, it’s pretty much a Superman sequel. Man of Tomorrow hits theaters in July 2027, and will see the return of David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult to their now iconic roles. Rumors are also floating out there of other cast members who may be involved… and I’ll be breaking those down as well. Along with the title and date announcement, three pieces of new artwork were dropped by Gunn, Corenswet and Hoult - each teasing some variation of Superman and Lex Luthor onscreen together. The biggest reveal though is that it seems we’re finally getting that green mech in live-action. Heck yeah! So, sit back and relax, grab some popcorn if you wish, and listen as I break down everything we know about James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow.

The DCU's next chapter has already arrived. Season 2 of James Gunn's Peacemaker dropped its first episode on HBO Max earlier today. This is, of course, the second season of the spin-off show from The Suicide Squad, but that description almost feels degrading because I kind of think season 1 might have even been better than The Suicide Squad. It's taken much longer than expected to get season 2, thanks in no small part to James Gunn being hired as the Co-CEO of DC Studios mere months after season 1 released. He has also put out Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 (& the Holiday Special), Creature Commandos and Superman since. Now, the show has extra baggage because it's being folded into a whole new continuity. I adore James Gunn's films and shows, but I found it an interesting choice that Team Peacemaker would be some of the only characters carrying over into this new universe. So, is the new Peacemaker canon in the DCU explained, and what connections does this first episode have to Superman? Find out in this SPOILER-FILLED breakdown of episode 1!

The summer movie season is coming to a close, which means another season of movies is about to begin. Fall 2025 seems packed with all the trademarks of this season of movies: awards darlings, feel-good films, seasonal releases and some of the biggest franchise movies of the year! It's been a bit of a mixed bag of a year so far when it comes to movies, but I'm sure I'll finally get to see some of my favorite movies of the year over the next couple of months. I also have a film festival to look forward to in a couple of months, so keep that on your mind. So today, I'll be ranking my top 10 most anticipated movies of fall 2025, which, I'd say, begins on the first weekend of September (others say its after the last major wide release in August or before school opens but whatever). Grab some popcorn and find a comfy chair... and enjoy!

Alien: Earth, from Fargo and Legion's Noah Hawley, has now arrived on Disney+, Hulu and FX worldwide. The first two episodes have just premiered, with one episode releasing on each of the following weeks. I consider myself a very casual Alien fan, but I am a bigger fan of it than Predator so there's that. I love the first two films and really enjoyed Fede Alvarez's Romulus from last year as well. The other Alien movies definitely have merit too but I'm mixed-negative on most of the rest of the franchise. Alien: Earth, I believe, is this franchise's first foray into TV. There's been comics for decades and even a really liked video game released, beyond the movies. I had the chance of watching the first two episodes when they dropped and this review will contain my thoughts on the first two episodes, WITHOUT giving spoilers. Enjoy!

One of my most anticipated horror movies of the year - Zach Cregger's Weapons - has finally hit theaters worldwide. This is Zach Cregger's follow-up to Barbarian, which was the 'WTF was that' horror movie of 2022, that had a lot of huge fans. This film's script, also written by Cregger, sparked a huge bidding war back over two years ago, with New Line Cinema picking it up for nearly $40 million. There's even some alleged rumors that Jordan Peele parted ways with his management team over them losing the rights to the script for Weapons. So, needless to say, there's been a lot of buzz around this movie in Hollywood and horror circles for a few years now. I, myself, may or may not have even taken a peek at the script a while back. But, does Weapons live up to the standards that Zach Cregger set with Barbarian? Find out in this review!Weapons:Written and Directed by: Zach CreggerProduced by: Zach Cregger, Roy Lee, J.D. Lifshitz, Raphael Margules, Miri YoonExecutive Producers: Richard Brener, Josh Brolin, Michelle MorrisseyMusic by: Zach Cregger, Hays Holladay, Ryan HolladayDirector of Photography: Larkin SeipleEdited by: Joe MurphyProduction Design by: Tom HammockCostume Design by: Trish SummervilleCast: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Toby Huss, Austin Abrams, June Diane Raphael, Amy Madigan, Cary ChristopherSynopsis: When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

Is this finally the return of the theatrical comedy? The Naked Gun reboot has finally hit theaters, after years of rumors and development. But this time, it's led by one Liam Neeson. I only watched the original movies, starring another actor with LN initials, for the first time a few weeks back and surprisingly, mildly enjoyed them. I have been interested in this reboot for a while though because I generally really find Neeson's ultra serious persona naturally funny and because I miss all-out comedies on the big screen. So, does The Naked Gun recapture the magic of the originals and will it spark the return of comedies on the big screen? Find out in this review!The Naked Gun:Directed by: Akiva SchafferWritten by: Doug Gregor & Doug Mand & Akiva SchafferTelevision series "Police Squad" by: Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Jerry ZuckerProduced by: Erica Huggins, Seth McFarlaneExecutive Producers: Pete Chiappetta, Andrew Lary, Akiva Schaffer, Daniel M. Stillman, Anthony TittanegroCo-Producers: Dan Gregor, Doug MandMusic by: Lorne BalfeDirector of Photography: Brandon TrostEdited by: Brian Scott OldsCasting by: Carmen CubaProduction Design by: Bill BrzeskiCostume Design by: Betsy Heimann, Maria TortuCast: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Danny Huston, CCH Pounder, Kevin DurandSynopsis: Only one man has the particular set of skills… to lead Police Squad and save the world: Lt. Frank Drebin Jr.

The fourth MCU Spider-Man movie is finally in production. From Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers (the writers of the previous trilogy) and director Destin Daniel Cretton, Spider-Man: Brand New Day promises to be a bit of a new start for all of our favorite web slinging hero. I, of course, love Spider-Man (look at my profile photo!). He’s always been my favorite Marvel character and I can promise you that will never change. The last few years have definitely been a bit tumultuous as a fan, getting some of the greatest stories ever told with this character in video games and animated movies… but then some of the worst Spider-related movies ever from the Sony Spin-Off Universe. But I think it’s safe to say that we’re ALL looking forward to getting Tom Holland’s version back on the big screen. No Way Home became one of the biggest movies ever made, but it also left the character in a place that a lot of fans have been waiting a long time for this version of the character to reach. That being said, I don't think anyone quite expected as long of a wait as its been for this movie to just be in production, especially considering the gap between Holland's first Spider-Man movie - Homecoming - to No Way Home will ultimately be a shorter gap then between No Way Home and Brand New Day. But I really hope that the wait has been due to them knowing that No Way Home set the bar really high. At long last, we have our first looks at the suit, as well as a number of news regarding antagonists and supporting Marvel players. Here, I break down all the news we have so far about SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY.

James Cameron is back to deliver the goods! The first trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash debuted with The Fantastic Four: First Steps last week and now, the trailer is finally online. I started off as the world’s biggest Avatar hater. I loved James Cameron’s films and was appalled by his decision to spend DECADES of his career making movies in Pandora as opposed to returning to making a variety of all-time classics. No joke, I think True Lies is one of the greatest comedies of all-time. But, on a fateful day in September 2022… everything changed. I saw the first movie in theaters for the first time, in 3D of course, and I fell in love. And then a couple months later, I ended up loving Avatar: The Way of Water even more. Then I saw that movie two more times in theaters. I have become the world’s biggest Avatar stan and this is now my most anticipated movie for the rest of the year. Cameron and his team have a lot to live up to, following two Best Picture nominated films and quite literally two of the biggest movies of all-time. So, does this trailer deliver? Find out in my initial reaction episode to the trailer!

Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now in theaters. This film was first announced to be in development six years ago this weekend and it’s extremely exciting that Marvel’s First Family finally has a worthy big screen adaptation. I’ve loved these characters ever since I was a kid and I’ve been praying for a good F4 adaptation since I was a kid. This movie had heart, humor and all the family that I’d want from a Fantastic Four movie, finally complete with the sci-fi wackiness too. The film scored an A- Cinemascore, the same as Thunderbolts* and Superman, and made more money than expected on its opening weekend. It seems like this is finally going to be another win for Marvel Studios. Today though, I’ll be taking a deep dive into my SPOILER-FILLED thoughts on the movie, and even reflect on how this movie compares to James Gunn’s Superman. Along with that, I’ll be going over all the easter eggs I noticed and any comic book tie-ins that might hint at future stories. So relax, grab some popcorn and enjoy!