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Warner Bros. Announces THE MATRIX 4 with Keanu Reeves & Director Lana Wachowski[teaser]Keanu Reeves will be back to dodge more bullets in a new sequel to The Matrix trilogy.[/teaser] As reported by Variety, Warner Bros. is officially developing a fourth entry in The Matrix franchise. The new installment will be directed by Lana Wachowski, and will feature the return of stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss. "Many of the ideas Lilly and I explored 20 years ago about our reality are even more relevant now. I'm very happy to have these characters back in my life and grateful for another chance to work with my brilliant friends,” said Lana Wachowski. Though plot details and a release date have not been announced yet, the movie will once again star Keanu Reeves as Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity. With that said, it's unknown if the character of Morpheus, played by Laurence Fishburne in the original trilogy, will factor into the new film, and Variety's sources even mention the possibility of recasting the character. In addition to directing, Lana Wachowski has also written the script for the new film, along with Aleksandar Hemon and David Mitchell. Wachowski previously served as co-director and co-writer on the original Matrix films with sibling Lilly Wachowski. The Matrix was first released in theaters on March 31, 1999. The movie was then followed by two sequels, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, in 2003. Likewise, the franchise has also spun-off into various video games, comics, and animated projects. Beyond the new film, Warner Bros. also recently announced plans to celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Matrix with special Dolby Cinema screenings at select AMC theaters nationwide. Source: VarietyPosted Tue Aug 20, 2019 at 03:00 PM PDT by: -
Marvel Studios Reportedly Loses Rights to Use Spider-Man in the MCU[teaser]It's looking like Marvel's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man won't be hanging out with The Avengers on the big screen anymore.[/teaser] According to a report by Deadline, Disney and Sony will no longer be collaborating on future Spider-Man films. The two companies previously had a deal in place that allowed the character to appear in Disney's MCU films and gave Marvel Studios' head, Kevin Feige, creative input on the character's big screen adventures. The partnership was reportedly terminated when both parties became unable to agree on new financial terms. Per Deadline's sources, Disney wanted a 50/50 co-financing arrangement with Sony on new Spider-Man movies going forward. Likewise, they also hoped to expand their involvement into other Spider-Man spin-off titles like Venom. Sony apparently turned down the offer and instead proposed keeping the previous terms in place -- which would have seen Marvel continue to receive around 5% of first dollar gross -- but Disney turned that down. Though Spider-Man is a Marvel comics property, Sony has held the film rights to the character for many years. In 2016, the studios struck a deal that allowed Marvel and Kevin Feige to help develop a new big screen version of the character that could appear in solo films for Sony and team-up movies for Disney all within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Under that deal, Feige went on to serve as a producer on Sony's Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Sony is still planning to develop new Spider-Man movies with current star Tom Holland and director Jon Watts, but if the studio's partnership with Disney really is over, Feige and Marvel will no longer have any substantial creative input and the character will no longer appear in MCU movies. Disney and Sony have yet to officially comment on the news. Source: DeadlinePosted Tue Aug 20, 2019 at 02:15 PM PDT by: -
Official Title & New Plot Details Revealed for BOND 25[teaser]007 will return to theaters in April.[/teaser] MGM has finally revealed the official title for the next installment in the James Bond franchise. The upcoming movie will be called No Time to Die, and is set to premiere on April 3, 2020 in the UK and April 8, 2020 in the US. Here's the new official plot synopsis per MGM: In No Time to Die, Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology. Check out the title reveal teaser below! No Time to Die will star Daniel Craig as James Bond, Rami Malek as the movie's currently unamed villain, Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris as Eve Moneypenny, Léa Seydoux as Dr. Madeleine Swann, Ben Whishaw as Q, Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter, Ana de Armas as Paloma, Lashana Lynch as Nomi, and Christoph Waltz as Ernst Stavro Blofeld. This will mark Craig's fifth appearance as 007 on the big screen following his previous turns in Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, and Spectre. The film is being directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. Fukunaga is best known for directing the first season of HBO's True Detective starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, and Netflix's Beasts of No Nation starring Idris Elba. Likewise, he also directed the Netflix series Maniac starring Jonah Hill and Emma Stone, and is credited as one of the writers on Andy Muschietti's It. Source James Bond (YouTube)Posted Tue Aug 20, 2019 at 01:40 PM PDT by: -
THX Debuts New Deep Note Trailer with Spatial Audio[teaser]The new trailer utilizes THX's three-dimensional sound tech.[/teaser] In honor of the company's 35th anniversary, THX has released a Deep Note trailer. The clip features an assortment of impressive 4K imagery and immersive sound effects using THX Spatial Audio mixing. And to help mark the premiere, THX is also letting fans vote on the official name for the new trailer via a 24-hour Twitter poll. "We are thrilled to release the new THX Deep Note trailer to entertainment lovers around the world," said Min-Liang Tan, THX chief executive officer. "As a nod of appreciation for THX fans and as a bridge to new fans, we're offering this trailer in THX Spatial Audio with incredible pre-rendered immersive sound. We engaged brilliant and imaginative people to create a remarkable audio-video experience for broad appeal, that looks and sounds the best it can and can be enjoyed where and when people want it‒in the theater, in your home, or on the go from any mobile devices." The trailer is designed to highlight the THX brand and iconic logo, as well as showcase the company's new technology. THX Spatial Audio offers multidimensional sound through headphones and earbuds. The tech uses object and ambisonics-based mixing to create a full-sphere audio soundscape with effects coming from all directions. Check out the new Deep Note trailer below with headphones to experience the Spatial Audio for yourself! The trailer was developed by production house American Meme in collaboration with Video Copilot. Members of the impressive creative team include Ben Rosenblatt, Executive Producer (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Micho Rutare, Writer and Director (Z Nation), Andrew Kramer, Director of Animation/Visual Effects (Star Trek Into Darkness), Lindsey Alvarez, Immersive Audio Lead (War for the Planet of the Apes), Robby Stambler, Sound Design Supervisor (10 Cloverfield Lane), and Gabriela Quiroz, Head of Story (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation). Check out a behind-the-scenes look at the trailer's creation below! "Our aim with this piece is to extend the legacy that inspired us as young people in the movie theater," said Ben Rosenblatt, the trailer's executive producer and co-founder of American Meme. "As a kid, I was blown away by the THX Deep Note trailer and would go back to the movie theater again and again just to see it, which inspired me to pursue the career I have in Hollywood today. We hope we've taken this a step beyond the originals to open up young minds and inspire an entirely new generation." In addition to its YouTube and social media debut, the new THX Deep Note trailer will also be made available to THX Ultimate Cinema and THX Certified Cinema theaters around the world. And be sure to CLICK HERE in order to vote on the official name for the trailer. Options include Emerge, Genesis, Transform, and Evolve. Source: THXPosted Tue Aug 20, 2019 at 12:50 PM PDT by: -
HDD Gear Deals: 15% off TCL Alto 7+ 2.1 Channel Sound Bar[teaser]The sound bar is now available for a reduced price, along with an additional coupon code![/teaser] TCL has announced a price reduction for its Alto 7+ 2.1 Channel Home Theater Sound Bar, bringing the MSRP down from $179.99 to $149.99 via Amazon and Best Buy. In addition, the company is also offering a limited time promotional code for an extra 15% off online purchases. To take advantage of the deal, customers simply need to use the promo code "15TCLSOUND" during checkout through Amazon or Best Buy. The code will be active through August 31 until 11:59PM CST, while supplies last. Designed to serve as a complement to TCL TVs 55-inches and larger, the Alto 7+ Sound Bar system features 2.1 channel playback with one 1-1/2" tweeter and one 4-1/2" full range driver on both sides, along with a dedicated wireless subwoofer. In addition, the device offers three distinct listening modes (music, movies, and news), Dolby Digital decoding, wireless audio streaming via Bluetooth, and support for WAV, MP3, and FLAC files. Wired connectivity options include HDMI ARC, Optical, and Aux/3. 5mm. Here's a rundown of everything included in the package per TCL and Best Buy: 3.5mm - 3.5mm cable HDMI cable IR pass-through cable Optical cable Owner's Manual Power cord Quick Start Guide Remote w/batteries TCL ALTO 7+ 2.1-Channel Soundbar System with Wireless Subwoofer Wall mounting kit In addition to the Alto 7+ price drop and discount promotion, TCL also recently announced pricing and availability for its new 2019 8-Series, 6-Series, and 5-Series 4K HDR TVs. Source: TCLPosted Mon Aug 19, 2019 at 01:45 PM PDT by: -
Disney Announces Device Support and Foreign Market Pricing for Disney+[teaser]The streaming service is coming to several different connected platforms and regions around the world.[/teaser] Disney has revealed initial device support for its Disney+ streaming app. Likewise, the studio has also announced pricing and availability for several markets outside of the US. Disney+ will arrive in the US on November 12 for $6.99 per month or an annual subscription price of $69.99. Likewise, users can also sign up for a streaming bundle with Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for $12.99 per month. Here's a rundown of connected devices and platforms set to offer the app at launch per Disney: Apple (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV, and fully integrated with the Apple TV app; customers can subscribe to Disney+ via in-app purchase); Google (Android phones, Android TV devices, Google Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices); Microsoft (Xbox One); Sony / Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation®4 and all Android based Sony TVs); Roku (Roku® streaming players and Roku TV™ models) And beyond the US, Disney+ will also launch in Canada and the Netherlands on November 12 for $8.99CAD per month (or $89.99 per year) and €6.99 per month (or €69.99 per year). The service will then arrive in Australia and New Zealand on November 19 for $8.99AUD per month (or $89.99 per year) and $9.99NZD per month (or $99.99 per year). Additional regions will be added at a later date as well, with the goal of covering most major global markets within the first two years of the platform's debut. Disney+ will feature an extensive library of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic content, including exclusive Marvel shows like Hawkeye, Loki, WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Solider, and What If…?; along with an exclusive Star Wars: Rogue One prequel series starring Diego Luna and a second& Star Wars live-action show titled The Mandalorian. Likewise, the service will be home to several original movies and is also expected to house Disney's complete vault of catalog films and all 30 seasons of The Simpsons. Source: Disney+Posted Mon Aug 19, 2019 at 07:40 AM PDT by: -
Is 4K a Scam?Many folks obsess over whether or not they're buying "real" or "fake" 4K. Someone asks us about this almost every day. And we get it. We empathize with anyone who dislikes 4K as the nomenclature or branding term or who feels 4K misrepresents the final product. The box says 4K, but it's a 2K upscale? It's a scam! The truth is more complicated but, [Teaser] in my sincerest and humblest opinion, focusing solely on source resolution requires ignoring a host of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray benefits. With this in mind, we thought we'd take a moment to give a little background about 4K, outlining how we got here and everything the format does well, in hopes of clarifying a few misconceptions.[/Teaser] Before we dive in, remember: if you're happy with Blu-ray and HDTV in general, great. Stick with what works for you and/or what fits your budget. However, after three years of testing and comparing, we are confident that 4K is currently the superlative way to enjoy two-dimensional content. Even if it's imperfect at times. Image Courtesy of Wikipedia. Marked CC0. What is 4K? 4K actually covers two separate resolutions, which adds some confusion. 4K DCI refers to 4096 x 2160 resolution video. It's the standard for 4K cinema projectors and boasts a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. 4K UHD or Ultra HD refers to 3840 x 2160 resolution video. It's the standard for Ultra HD televisions and boasts a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Despite all of the 4K cinema projectors and booming 4K TV sales, many Hollywood productions are still finished at a 2K resolution (2048 x 858 for "Scope" & 1998 x 1080 for "Flat") and then upscaled to 4K Ultra HD for home entertainment purposes. Why Are They Called 4K Movies If They Aren't All 4K? In 2015, the Blu-ray Alliance (now the Ultra HD Alliance) branded their new format -- Ultra HD Blu-ray -- around latest-gen Ultra HD TVs. Thanks to marketing, branding, and consumers embracing the language, 4K became the catch-all term for new TVs and physical media / streaming formats. Speaking of formats, remember this: every home video format has a particular set of specifications and capabilities, but not every release lives up to this full potential. (Remember when Danny Boyle's SD-resolution 28 Days Later got a Blu-ray release?) This gap between a specific movie and a format's capability is why High-Def Digest exists. We strive to let our readers know what movies and TV shows look and sound amazing so you can make informed purchases. Is 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Better than Blu-ray? There are exceptions, naturally, but almost every single 4K Ultra Blu-ray outperforms its Blu-ray counterpart visually, especially on large displays. They are typically brighter with better contrast and colors and fewer encoding errors. Why is this? 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is superior to Blu-ray in several ways regardless of source-material resolution: A More Efficient Codec. Ultra HD's HEVC is 25% to 50% more efficient than Blu-ray's AVC. Higher Bitrates. 4K UltraHD Blu-ray are encoded at up to 100Mbps versus 40Mbps on Blu-ray. High Dynamic Range. HDR is technically resolution agnostic, but you won't see it on standard Blu-rays ever. Make sure to read our article What is HDR? for a deeper dive on the tech, but HDR makes the overall image brighter with deeper black levels and more highlight & shadow details. 10 Bit / Wider Color Gamut. Blu-ray is an 8-bit technology, limited to the Rec.709 color space, or about 16.7 million colors. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is 10-bit video and can display over 1 BILLION colors. The format is capable of Bt.2020 color, but since no current displays achieve this color gamut, studios grade 4K Blu-rays to the DCI P3 color space, which is the same as commercial cinemas. Exclusive Sound Formats. While standard Blu-ray has carried Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks for years, studios like Disney, Fox, and Sony often make Dolby Atmos and DTS:X mixes 4K Blu-ray exclusives. Better Source Materials. Standard Blu-rays may look terrific on 4K TVs, but it's not the same as a professional 2K upscale. Why? Upscaled 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays come from studio master files, which are uncompressed (or lossless). Those masters look LEAGUES better than Blu-rays with more fine details. How? Compression. Blu-ray is a consumer product; not a professional one. Also, many studios are in the (bad) habit of remastering and restoring movies only for a new 4K transfer, leaving the older Blu-ray untouched. While this isn't technically a format-benefit, the reality is, if you want to watch the highest-quality version of your favorite movie, you need 4K. Also Worth Noting. Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+ are HDR formats, encompassing both High Dynamic Range and Wide Color Gamut features. So when someone's talking about "HDR improving color," that's why. We have a full series of articles explain these over HERE. Is every 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray amazing and a perfect encapsulation of the format's true potential? Of course not. But when you compare the vast majority of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray's to the same movie's best Blu-ray release, the 4K Blu almost always stands above. And the bigger and more capable you make your display, the more pronounced this visual upgrade becomes. Is 4K Streaming Better than HD Streaming/Broadcast? Yup. Outside of the specifics of max bitrates (4K streaming is around 15-20Mbps, not 100Mbps), everything we just covered applies to 4K versus HD streaming. You get a better codec, higher bit rates, HDR, 10bit/wider colors, and access to the latest transfers and source materials. Further, studios tie most Dolby Atmos mixes to 4K productions, 4K-level subscription plans, and/or 4K-capable equipment. To be clear, where 4K Blu-rays almost always includes HDR, there is a fair amount of standard dynamic range 4K streaming content. Even without the improved colors and contrast, higher bitrates and an efficient codec produce noticeably improved video presentations. This week, for example, I watched AMC's The Terror: Infamy via a DirecTV VR as well as Amazon's The Boys via an Apple TV 4K. Both shows feature dark sequences with lavish production design. Both shows were projected on a 100" screen via the Epson 5050 UB 4K projector. But, where The Terror's HD broadcast was compressed and drowning in encoding errors, The Boys' 4K SDR presentation was crisp and clear and much more akin to watching physical media. Once you upgrade to 4K streaming, it's hard to watch regular TV, to be honest. Why Aren't All Movies Finished In 4K? Time and money. Please pardon the oversimplification, but most Hollywood studios could probably shoulder the cost of further upgrading their post-production pipelines. What they often can't do is give the filmmakers more time. Even with years make a giant production, movies race toward release dates and adding extra rendering time for 4K visual effects could delay productions by weeks or months. It just doesn't make sense. Yet. And even when it does -- when a movie is finished in 4K -- it often includes 2K visual effects elements that are then upscaled to match the rest of the content. Why Buy 4K When "All Movies are 2K?" We see this comment a lot, but it's just not true. Yes, most studio movies are still finished in 2K or include some 2K visual effects, but 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and 4K streaming offer tons of native and mixed 4K content. Catalog Titles. The move to 2K digital intermediates began with movies like Pleasantville and O Brother, Where Art Thou? (though, at the time, movies still printed to film). Simultaneously, cinemas transitioned from 35mm film projection to digital from the early 2000s to total market dominance a few years ago. In other words, most movies made before the early 2000s were finished photochemically and can be scanned at a 4K (or higher) resolution for Ultra HD Blu-ray and streaming releases. TV. Here's the big one. Studios have been making TV shows in 4K for a while (Sony started producing TV shows in 4K circa Breaking Bad). With the transition to 4K, most streaming services like Netflix and Amazon finish their original content -- features, series, and documentaries -- in 4K or 4K+HDR. Modern 4K Movies. While you probably won't see a Pixar movie rendered in 4K for a long time, studios and indie producers are pushing to finish more movies in 4K. Why? Everyone's going to have their own streaming services and distributors pay more to indie-producers for 4K productions. There's also IMAX productions to consider aka almost everything Christopher Nolan touches. The catch? As pointed out above, even native 4K productions do include 2K elements to save time and money. In other words, while most features are still 2K upscales, there's a growing collection of native and mixed resolution 4K content you can enjoy right now. Are There Any Downsides to 4K? You betcha. The 4K ecosystem is loads more complicated than the HD days, which leads to frustrations and headaches that aren't well suited for non-enthusiasts. Expense. If you want to upgrade to 4K, it can be expensive because everything in your a/v chain needs to be HDCP 2.2 compliant or it won't play. Digital Gremlins. Even when everything IS compliant, you'll still sometimes get errors and handshake issues. You should also upgrade our HDMI cables because 4K/HDR video and lossless audio take up a lot of bandwidth. Even today I had to drop an AppleTV 4K down to 4:2:0 chroma to get it to play Dolby Atmos with 4K content despite buying a brand new High-Speed HDMI cable. Wonky HDR CGI. While HDR formats elevate some visual effects, others become much more transparent and visual, making what was once passable look extra fake and weightless. You Need Fast Internet. For 4K streaming, you need fast, reliable high-speed Internet. And even if you have this, sometimes you get buffering and slow loading errors. Such is life in the 21st century. Not All 4K TVs Are Worthy. If you buy the wrong 4K TV or fail to engage a flagship 4K TV's proper settings, you'll probably hate 4K. In the Blu-ray days, a mediocre TV might not look amazing, but it was still a sharp, clean, visible image. If you buy a mediocre 4K TV -- too dark, poor contrast, an 8-bit panel, or no HDR -- or you mess up your settings, 4K movies can look like absolute trash. Make sure to read our constantly updated Best Gear List to see budget-friendly and flagship TVs worth your money It's Not Always Backward Compatible. In our testing, downconverting 4K movies to HDTVs resulted in HDR-encoding errors, which darkened the image, crushed black levels, and blew out highlights. Personally, I don't recommend playing 10-bit material on 8-bit panels. However, after this article was first published, a few readers shared stories of getting high-quality HD presentations out of 4K discs, so this too is not cut-n-dry. In other words, results will depend on the equipment involved. Blu-ray CAN be Good Enough. If you have a medium or smaller TV (below 55", give or take) or don't have an amazing TV with wide color gamut and HDR, it might be best for you to stick with Blu-rays which, as we've discussed, upscale nicely and still look great. Again, if you're happy with this format, stick with it. Final Thoughts We get asked about real and fake 4K almost every single day here at High-Def Digest. And while we empathize with folks who demand a format live up to its promised specifications, the reality is more complicated than binary categories like real or fake. While it's easy to blame 2K resolution for rubbish 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays, we've seen native 4K Blu-rays that look mediocre thanks to flawed source materials, and we've seen upscaled 2K transfers that set benchmark reference-quality visuals. The point is this: we measure 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and 4K streaming quality by the sum of their parts -- resolution, fidelity, color, contrast, black levels, specular highlights, shadow details, and so on -- not just one aspect. Again, this is why we're here. To help tell home theater enthusiasts discover the absolute best 4K content while avoiding the worst. Cheers & thanks so much for reading.Posted Fri Aug 16, 2019 at 03:16 PM PDT by: -
Coming Soon to Streaming: PEAKY BLINDERS, THE MORNING SHOW, and More[teaser]The fifth season of Steven Knight's crime drama headlines this week's roundup of streaming trailers.[/teaser] Netflix, Hulu, and Apple have all released new previews and info for several of their upcoming shows and films. Here's a full rundown of titles scheduled to arrive on each service: The Morning Show (Apple TV+, Fall) - Stars Academy Award-winner Reese Witherspoon, Emmy Award-winner Jennifer Aniston and Golden Globe-winner Steve Carell in a high-stakes drama that pulls back the curtain on early morning TV. Cannon Busters (Netflix, Now Streaming) - Immortal renegade Philly the Kid and his transforming pink Cadillac join a relentlessly upbeat friendship droid on her quest to find a missing prince. Starring Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Hinaki Yano, and Shiori Izawa. Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus (Netflix, Now Streaming) - ZIM discovers his almighty leaders never had any intention of coming to Earth and he loses confidence in himself for the first time in his life, which is the big break his human nemesis, Dib has been waiting for. Starring Richard Steven Horvitz, Rikki Simons, and Andy Berman. Created by Jhonen Vasquez. American Factory (Netflix, August 21) - From Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winners Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar (“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant,” “A Lion in the House,” “Seeing Red”) comes American Factory, a Netflix Original Documentary presented by Higher Ground Productions and Participant Media. The acclaimed film takes a deep dive into a post-industrial Ohio, where a Chinese billionaire opens a new factory in the husk of an abandoned General Motors plant and hires two thousand blue-collar Americans. Early days of hope and optimism give way to setbacks as high-tech China clashes with working-class America. 13 Reasons Why: Season 3 (Netflix, August 23) - A new harrowing crime unfolds in Season 3 of 13 Reasons Why as the characters try to uncover who killed Bryce Walker. Based on the best-selling books by Jay Asher, Season 1 follows teenager Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette) as he returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers a group of cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) - his classmate and crush-who tragically committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah unfolds an emotional audio diary, detailing the thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, 13 Reasons Why weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect viewers. Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones (Netflix, August 26) - Legendary comedian Dave Chappelle is back with an all-new stand-up comedy special, Sticks & Stones, his fifth Netflix Original. Unflinching and boundary-pushing, Dave gives his provocative perspective on the tidal wave of celebrity scandals, the opioid crisis, and more -- in trademarked Chappelle fashion. Falling Inn Love (Netflix, August 29) - After losing her job and her boyfriend, city girl Gabriela (Christina Milian) spontaneously enters a contest and wins a rustic New Zealand inn. Thousands of airline miles later, she discovers that The Bellbird Valley Farm boasts a crumbling facade, a goat house-mate, and a meddling neighbor who covets the space. Eager to renovate and sell the property fast, she partners with Jake Taylor (Adam Demos), the Kiwi contractor who's amused by her city-girl culture shock. Now she has to make a decision to continue the life that she is building, or return to the life that she's left behind. Styling Hollywood (Netflix, August 15) - A series following celebrity stylist Jason Bolden and his interior designer husband Adair Curtis as they run their lifestyle company JSN STUDIO while balancing marriage and life’s ups and downs. With their talented crew of colorful employees, watch as they curate "Black Girl Magic" for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars including Taraji P. Henson, Gabrielle Union, Eve, and Ava DuVernay (just to name a few). Styling Hollywood is produced by Kingdom Reign Entertainment and ITV America. Carlos King, David George and Jordana Hochman serve as executive producers with Angela Rae Berg serving as executive producer and showrunner. Peaky Blinders Season 5 (Netflix, October 4) - Crime boss Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) begins his new role as a Member of Parliament in Series 5 of Peaky Blinders. Starring Cillian Murphy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sam Claflin, Finn Cole, Helen McCrory, and Brian Gleeson. Created by Steven Knight. Set to premiere first in the UK on August 25 via BBC One. Dolemite Is My Name (Netflix, Fall) - Stung by a string of showbiz failures, floundering comedian Rudy Ray Moore (Academy Award nominee Eddie Murphy) has an epiphany that turns him into a word-of-mouth sensation: step onstage as someone else. Borrowing from the street mythology of 1970s Los Angeles, Moore assumes the persona of Dolemite, a pimp with a cane and an arsenal of obscene fables. However, his ambitions exceed selling bootleg records deemed too racy for mainstream radio stations to play. Moore convinces a social justice-minded dramatist (Keegan-Michael Key) to write his alter ego a film, incorporating kung fu, car chases, and Lady Reed (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), an ex-backup singer who becomes his unexpected comedic foil. Despite clashing with his pretentious director, D’Urville Martin (Wesley Snipes), and countless production hurdles at their studio in the dilapidated Dunbar Hotel, Moore’s Dolemite becomes a runaway box office smash and a defining movie of the Blaxploitation era. Looking for Alaska (Hulu, October 18) - The series centers around teenager Miles “Pudge” Halter (Charlie Plummer), as he enrolls in boarding school to try to gain a deeper perspective on life. He falls in love with Alaska Young (Kristine Froseth), and finds a group of loyal friends. But after an unexpected tragedy, Miles and his close friends attempt to make sense of what they’ve been through. The series stars Charlie Plummer, Kristine Froseth, Denny Love, Jay Lee, Landry Bender, Sofia Vassilieva, Uriah Shelton, and Jordan Connor. Also starring are Ron Cephas Jones (This Is Us) and Timothy Simons (Veep). - A current Netflix subscription starts at $13 per month for HD streaming and $16 per month for Ultra HD streaming. - A current Hulu subscription starts at $6 per month with commercials. In addition, ad-free playback is available for $12 per month and Live TV bundle is available for $45. - Pricing and a launch date for Apple TV+ have not been announced yet, but the service is expected to debut this fall. Sources: Netflix (YouTube), Hulu (YouTube), Apple TV (YouTube), Peaky Blinders (Twitter)Posted Fri Aug 16, 2019 at 01:25 PM PDT by: -
Coming Soon to Blu-ray: Criterion November 2019 Titles[teaser]Films directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Greg Mottola, Pawel Pawlikowski, and more are all in the works for Blu-ray.[/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion is preparing All About Eve, Now, Voyager, Betty Blue, Cold War, and The Daytrippers for Blu-ray throughout the month of November. The Daytrippers (November 12) - With its droll humor and bittersweet emotional heft, the feature debut of writer-director Greg Mottola announced the arrival of an unassumingly sharp-witted new talent on the 1990s indie scene. When she discovers a love letter written to her husband (Stanley Tucci) by an unknown paramour, the distraught Eliza (Hope Davis) turns to her tight-knit Long Island family for advice. Soon the entire clan—strong-willed mom (Anne Meara), taciturn dad (Pat McNamara), and jaded sister (Parker Posey) with pretentious boyfriend (Liev Schreiber) in tow—has squeezed into a station wagon and headed into Manhattan to find out the truth, kicking off a one-crazy-day odyssey full of unexpected detours and life-changing revelations. Performed with deadpan virtuosity by a top-flight ensemble cast, The Daytrippers is a wry and piercing look at family bonds stretched to the breaking point. New 4K digital restoration, supervised by director Greg Mottola, with uncompressed stereo soundtrack on the Blu-ray New audio commentary featuring Mottola, editor Anne McCabe, and producer Steven Soderbergh New interviews with Mottola and cast members Hope Davis, Parker Posey, Liev Schreiber, and Campbell Scott The Hatbox, a 1985 short film by Mottola, with audio commentary by the director PLUS: An essay by critic Emily Nussbaum Order the Blu-ray Cold War (November 19) - This sweeping, delirious romance begins in the Polish countryside, where Wiktor (Tomasz Kot), a musician on a state-sponsored mission to collect folk songs, discovers a captivating young singer named Zula (Joanna Kulig, in a performance for the ages). Over the next fifteen years, their turbulent relationship will play out in stolen moments between two worlds: the jazz clubs of decadent bohemian Paris, to which he defects, and the corrupt, repressive Communist Bloc, where she remains—universes bridged by their passion for music and for each other. Photographed in luscious monochrome and suffused with the melancholy of the simple folk song that provides a motif for the couple’s fateful affair, Pawel Pawlikowski’s timeless story—inspired by that of his own parents—is a heart-stoppingly grand vision of star-crossed love caught up in the tide of history. New 4K digital master, supervised and approved by director Paweł Pawlikowski and director of photography Łukasz Żal, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio Soundtrack on the Blu-ray New conversation between Pawlikowski and filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñàrritu Press conference featuring Pawlikowski and Żal; actors Joanna Kulig, Tomasz Kot, and Borys Szyc; and producer Ewa Puszczynska Documentaries from 2018 on the making of the film Trailer New English subtitle translation PLUS: An essay by film critic Stephanie Zacharek Order the Blu-ray Betty Blue (November 19) - When the easygoing would-be novelist Zorg (Jean-Hugues Anglade) meets the tempestuous Betty (Béatrice Dalle in a magnetic breakout performance) in a sunbaked French beach town, it’s the beginning of a whirlwind love affair that sees the pair turn their backs on conventional society in favor of the hedonistic pursuit of freedom, adventure, and carnal pleasure. But as the increasingly erratic Betty’s grip on reality begins to falter, Zorg finds himself willing to do things he never expected to protect both her fragile sanity and their tenuous existence. Adapted from the hit novel 37°2 le matin by Philippe Djian, Jean-Jacques Beineix’s art-house smash—presented here in its extended director’s cut—is a sexy, crazy, careening joyride of a romance that burns with the passion and beyond-all-reason fervor of all-consuming love. High-definition digital restoration, approved by director Jean-Jacques Beineix, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray Blue Notes and Bungalows, a sixty-minute documentary from 2013 featuring Beineix, actors Jean-Hugues Anglade and Béatrice Dalle, associate producer Claudie Ossard, cinematographer Jean-François Robin, and composer Gabriel Yared Making of “Betty Blue,” a short video featuring Beineix and author Philippe Djian Le chien de Monsieur Michel, a short film by Beineix from 1977 French television interview from 1986 with Beineix and Dalle Dalle screen test Trailers New English subtitle translation PLUS: An essay by critic Chelsea Phillips-Carr Order the Blu-ray Now, Voyager (November 26) - Nervous spinster Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis) is stunted from growing up under the heel of her puritanical Boston Brahmin mother (Gladys Cooper), and remains convinced of her own unworthiness until a kindly psychiatrist (Claude Rains) gives her the confidence to venture out into the world on a South American cruise. Onboard, she finds her footing with the help of an unhappily married man (Paul Henreid). Their thwarted love affair may help Charlotte break free of her mother’s grip—but will she find fulfillment as well as independence? Made at the height of Davis’s reign as the queen of the women’s picture and bolstered by an Oscar-winning Max Steiner score, Now, Voyager is a melodrama for the ages, both a rapturous Hollywood romance and a poignant saga of self-discovery. New, restored 4K digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray Episode of The Dick Cavett Show from 1971 with actor Bette Davis Interview with Paul Henreid from 1980 Selected-scene commentary on the film’s score by professor Jeff Smith New interview with film critic Farran Smith Nehme on the making of the film New interview with costume historian Larry McQueen Two radio adaptations from 1943 and 1946 PLUS: An essay by scholar Patricia White and a 1937 reflection on acting by Davis Order the Blu-ray All About Eve (November 26) - In Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s devastatingly witty Hollywood classic, backstage is where the real drama plays out. One night, Margo Channing (Bette Davis) entertains a surprise dressing-room visitor: her most adoring fan, the shy, wide-eyed Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter). But as Eve becomes a fixture in Margo’s life, the Broadway legend soon realizes that her supposed admirer intends to use her and everyone in her circle, including George Sanders’s acid-tongued critic, as stepping-stones to stardom. Featuring stiletto-sharp dialogue and direction by Mankiewicz, and an unforgettable Davis in the role that revived her career and came to define it, the multiple-Oscar-winning All About Eve is the most deliciously entertaining film ever made about the ruthlessness of show business. 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray Two audio commentaries from 2010, one featuring actor Celeste Holm, director Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s son Christopher Mankiewicz, and author Kenneth L. Geist; the other featuring author Sam Staggs All About Mankiewicz, a feature-length documentary from 1983 about the director Episodes of The Dick Cavett Show from 1969 and 1980 featuring actors Bette Davis and Gary Merrill New interview with costume historian Larry McQueen Hollywood Backstories: “All About Eve,” a 2001 documentary featuring interviews with Davis and others about the making of the film Documentaries from 2010 about Mankiewicz’s life and career, the short story on which the film is based and its real-world inspiration, and a real-life “Sarah Siddons Society” based on the film’s fictional society Radio adaptation of the film from 1951 Trailer PLUS: An essay by critic Terrence Rafferty and the 1946 short story on which the film is based Order the Blu-ray You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed throughout November.Posted Fri Aug 16, 2019 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
Ewan McGregor in Talks to Return as Obi-Wan Kenobi in New STAR WARS Series for Disney+[teaser]The actor could be returning to a galaxy far, far away.[/teaser] According to a report by Deadline, Ewan McGregor is currently in talks to star as Obi-Wan Kenobi in a new Star Wars streaming series for Disney+. The actor previously appeared as Obi-Wan in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002), and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) -- where he portrayed a younger version of the character first played by Alec Guinness in the original Star Wars trilogy. Plot details for the potential show have not been revealed yet, but an Obi-Wan Kenobi spin-off project has been rumored for some time. A standalone film featuring the character was reportedly in the works last year with McGregor and director Stephen Daldry (The Reader) attached. Now, however, it appears as if development has shifted away from the big screen and toward Disney's upcoming streaming service. In addition to the rumored Obi-Wan Kenobi show, two Star Wars series have already been confirmed for Disney+, including The Mandalorian starring Pedro Pascal, and a Rogue One spin-off series focused on the character of Cassian Andor played by Diego Luna. Likewise, the streaming platform will be home to an extensive library of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and National Geographic content, including exclusive Marvel shows like Hawkeye, Loki, WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Solider, and What If…?. Disney+ is set to launch on November 12 for $6.99 per month. The service will also be available as a bundle with Hulu and ESPN+ for $12.99 per month. Though Disney has yet to confirm the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, if Ewan McGregor's casting does go through, the studio will likely announce the news at its upcoming D23 Expo on August 23 - 25. Source: DeadlinePosted Fri Aug 16, 2019 at 09:21 AM PDT by:
