Great numbers for new releases this week,
and another return to the film industry.
As always, another interesting week for film.
So let’s jump straight into it.
LATEST RELEASES
1- VENOM : THE LAST DANCE
Director - Kelly Marcel
Starring - Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tom Hardy, Stephen Graham, Rhys Ifans
Runtime - 1hr 49mins
Synopsis - Eddie and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision.
THE NEWS
SMILE 2 HITS MAJOR BOX OFFICE MILESTONE
The sequel debuted with a strong $23 million domestic box office in its opening weekend.
Per Collider, Smile 2has just hit the $50 million milestone for worldwide gross, with $27 million coming domestically, and $23 million from international territories. It recently surpassed blood-soaked vampire horror Abigail to become the 39th highest-grossing movie of 2024 domestically and currently sits at #1 on the domestic box-office charts.
Smile 2's strong opening is a good sign of the movie's long-term prospects, and with Halloween on the horizon, the movie should enjoy a spike of interest over the holiday season. While the horror sequel cost slightly more than its predecessor, at $28 million, it could surpass the former's total box office during its run, especially as its Rotten Tomatoes outperformed the original. Another factor that might help buoy the movie's success in theaters is that the first Smile movie is currently enjoying a strong run on streaming platforms.
NEW GUY RITCHIE GANGSTER SERIES SET TO STAR GUY RITCHIE AND PIERCE BROSNAN
The new series is reportedly called The Associate, per Deadline, and will follow two different generations of gangsters, their businesses, and their relationships.
Tom Hardy is set to star as a character called Harry, with Pierce Brosnan as the family's patriarch, and Helen Mirren as the matriarch.
Ritchie will direct and produce, alongside Ronan Bennett, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin and Ivan Atkinson.
It is set to air on Paramount+.
JAMES FRANCO RETURNS TO THE SCREEN WITH “HEY JOE”
James Franco was in Rome recently for the Rome Film Festival launch of Italian director Claudio Giovannesi’s “Hey Joe.” In the gritty drama, Franco plays Dean, an alcoholic American WWII vet who winds up back in Naples in the early ’70s in search of a son he fathered there before absconding to New Jersey.
This is James Franco’s first time back in the festival circuit after his hiatus from the film industry since 2019 following his lawsuit.
Franco had a very successful career before his break, from starring in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, Harmony Korine’s “Spring Breakers,” stoner comedies with Seth Rogen such as “Pineapple Express” and Danny Boyle’s “127 Hours” – for which he scored an Oscar nomination.
He also was awarded a Golden Globe for 2018’s “The Disaster Artist,” which he also directed.
‘Hey Joe’ is set to release in Italy on 28 November 2024.
UPCOMING PROJECTS
ANORA
Director - Kelly Marcel
Starring - Mikey Madison, Paul Weissman, Lindsey Normington
Runtime - 2hrs 19mins
Release Date - 1st November 2024 (UK)
Synopsis - Anora, a young sex worker from Brooklyn, meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as his parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.
HERETIC
Director - Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Starring - Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East
Runtime - 1hr 50mins
Release Date - 1st November 2024 (UK)
Synopsis - Two young religious women are drawn into a game of cat-and-mouse in the house of a strange man.
JUROR #2
Director - Clint Eastwood
Starring - Zoey Deutch, J.K Simmons, Nicholas Hoult
Runtime - 1hr 53mins
Release Date - 1st November 2024 (UK)
Synopsis - Family man Justin Kemp who, while serving as a juror in a high profile murder trial, finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma...one he could use to sway the jury verdict and potentially convict-or free-the wrong killer.
SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE
Director - Tim Mielants
Starring - Cillian Murphy, Emily. Watson, Michelle Fairley
Runtime - 1hr 38mins
Release Date - 1st November 2024 (UK)
Synopsis - In 1985 devoted father Bill Furlong discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent and uncovers shocking truths of his own.
THIS WEEKS RECOMMENDATIONS
THE TRANSPORTER
Now we all know Jason Statham is one of the best action stars currently working in hollywood, and this film is the one of the reasons he gets that title.
The film follows Frank, a transporter who’s job is to transport goods between criminals.
However his latest package isn’t what he’s used to.
A great action film, definintely worth the watch!
And that’s it for this weeks issue!
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