Ethan Hawke (Leave the World Behind, Moon Knight, The Black Phone), Daniel Radcliffe (Guns Akimbo, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, The Lost City), and Jessica Biel (Candy, The Illusionist, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) will pack their gear for Batso, a film based on the true story of three groundbreaking climbers who scaled the iconic peak El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in the early 1970s.

Kyle Marvin (80 for Brady, All Wrong) directs from a screenplay by Eamon O’Sullivan, with Ethan Hawke playing Warren “Batso” Harding and Daniel Radcliffe as Dean Caldwell, the first climbers to challenge the incredibly daunting sheer face El Capitan route known as “The Wall of Early Morning Light.” Meanwhile, Jessica Biel plays Beryl Knauth, a trend-setting climber and Warner’s romantic partner.

Here’s the official synopsis from Deadline‘s exclusive report:

“In 1970, ‘The Wall of Early Morning Light’ was an unthinkable climb. For larger-than-life climbing legends Warren ‘Batso’ Harding and Dean Caldwell, it represented a near-impossible physical and mental challenge. For iconoclast Batso, it also offered one last chance to stick it to the naysayers who thought him too old, too out of touch and too crazy. For novice Dean, it was a way to see beyond his 9-to-5 existence and unlock the awesome potential of the human spirit.

“What began as an almost farcical exercise became one of the great underdog stories in the history of the sport. The estimated 10-day climb stretched into a 28-day marathon of grit and determination that sparked a media sensation.”

The official Yosemite website recapped Warren and Dean’s harrowing story, saying, “The pair was forced to wait out storms while on the wall and to drill extensively through areas that looked to be more natural from the ground. They started the climb with 15 days of provisions but required 27 days to finally make the summit. The National Park Service mounted a rescue for the team when they were mid-route, but Harding and Caldwell famously refused and continued their epic ascent unaided. They were met on the summit by throngs of media.”

Wow! Can you imagine refusing help when storms threaten to knock you off a cliff face? I don’t know whether that’s guts or pure insanity. I would have had the rescue team airlift my ass out of there so quickly. You can keep your fame and pride. I’ll take safety and a stack of pancakes back at the lodge, thank you.

Are you familiar with this story of Batso? Have you ever scaled a world-famous cliffside? If you have, tell us about the experience in the comments below.

The post Ethan Hawke, Daniel Radcliffe, and Jessica Biel strap in to scale the iconic peak of El Capitan in Batso appeared first on JoBlo.

PLOT: The story of how reggae icon Bob Marley overcame adversity, and the journey behind his revolutionary music.

REVIEW: I remember discovering Bob Marley in college and being blown away at the amount of passion he put into his music. Those on the outside may have just minimalized him to simply being a reggae pot smoker, but he was so much more than that. His message of peace through unity always stuck in this hippie’s mind. So I’ve always felt Bob would be a fantastic subject for a big-budget musical biopic. Unfortunately, I’m not sure I’m any closer to knowing the man than I was before sitting down in the theater.

Bob Marley: One Love follows Marley through one of the biggest times of his life: the creation of Exodus and his unity concert(s) in Jamaica. The film does a good job of showing just how much music can affect people. Marley was more than just a musician in Jamaica: he was an icon. And they do a great job of presenting him as such. The crowds of adoring fans and looks of sheer amazement that his band members give him, do a great job of showing what a presence he was. I’ve grown to hate CGI crowds, as they take some of the soul out of moments. But I’d say they absolutely nail it here, with the right blend of real crowds, with digital ones.

Kingsley Ben-Adir is absolutely wonderful as Bob Marley, getting down the voice and mannerisms perfectly. Bob is a very unique individual, so it’s nice to see Kingsley nail the nuances. A “vibe” is a very hard thing to get right, but the energy that Kingsley exudes is the perfect encapsulation of the legendary reggae artist. Sure, he’s about a foot larger than Marley was in real life, but I’ll always argue things like that can be ignored with a great performance. While most of the performances feature Marley’s real voice, there are some jam sessions where Ben-Adir’s work shines through.

I was most impressed with Issa Rae‘s Rita Marley, who has one of the most powerful scenes in One Love. There were hints at their unique relationship, but I would have liked to have seen it expanded a bit. Instead, their story feels mostly like one that plays out off-camera. The audience is given very little outside of the music side of Bob. When you see the credits roll, you’ll notice many Marley’s were involved with production. This means there’s authenticity in the music and look that cannot be ignored. Though it’s hard not to wonder if this would have felt a little more true with a little less involvement. Bob is essentially treated as this godlike figure, with very few flaws. They don’t address his womanizing and just gloss over his many children with different women. At one point, he goes from having two kids to suddenly having a bunch, with little to no explanation.

Much of the problem with Bob Marley: One Love is its lack of truth. I’m not sure if is just the idolization of the man, without getting into the stuff that made him human or the lack of meaty emotional moments, it didn’t make for a satisfying narrative. Sure, the music is wonderful but it feels like it’s doing so much of the heavy lifting with the narrative. The lyrics are constantly spelling out the message versus letting the audience experience it themselves. Remember, show, don’t tell. The most interesting elements are simply glossed over. Even Marley’s cancer feels like just another box they have to check off in the story versus the massive life event that it was.

I was also very disappointed with how the film simply ends. There’s a massive buildup to Jamaica uniting and Bob playing this concert. Yet this information ends up being given through archive footage and on-screen titles. In the end, Bob Marley: One Love is an uneven film with some tremendous performances. It ultimately doesn’t end up being anything other than a way to introduce a younger generation to a talented artist they may not be familiar with. But in terms of getting to understand the man behind it all? At this point, I’m not sure we’ll ever get that in movie form.

BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE IS PLAYING IN THEATERS ON FEBRUARY 14TH, 2023.

Bob Marley: One Love

AVERAGE

6

The post Bob Marley: One Love Review appeared first on JoBlo.

The classic sitcom Bewitched ran for eight seasons and a total of 254 episodes, premiering on September 17, 1964 and wrapping up on March 25, 1972. A spin-off called Tabitha came and went in 1977, then Bewitched received a big screen reboot back in 2005… and in recent years, Sony has shown that they’re very eager to reboot the property again. Back in 2018, it was announced that Black-ish creator Kenya Barris and writer Yamara Taylor were working on a TV series reboot that would give the concept “an interracial twist”. That didn’t go anywhere. In 2021, it was reported that Terry Matalas (MacGyver) and Travis Fickett (12 Monkeys) had been hired to write the screenplay for a new Bewitched movie. That never made it into production… and apparently the idea has been abandoned, because now Deadline has learned that writer/producer Judalina Neira has signed an overall deal with Sony Pictures Television that’s focused on developing drama series for cable and streaming through her newly launched production company, Famous Last Words Productions. And the first project to come out of this deal is a TV series reimagining of Bewitched.

The original series showed us what happened when a witch married an ordinary mortal man, vowing to lead the life of a typical suburban housewife.

Neira is writing what is described as being an “irreverent hourlong” take on Bewitched. (Episodes of the original show aired in a half-hour time slot.) She will be executive producing the series with The Goldbergs executive producer Doug Robinson and Lauren Moffat of the Sony TV-based Doug Robinson Productions.

Lauren Stein, Head of Creative, Sony Pictures Television had this to say about the Neira deal: “Judalina joined the Sony family with her work on The Boys, and we are incredibly proud of her contributions to supporting creator Eric Kripke’s vision. She brings passion and authenticity and has been such a champion for the representation and growth of Latinx writers — we knew we had to make a deal with her! We are so excited to have her call Sony home and can’t wait for what is to come as we deepen our relationship.“

Neira added: “It’s been such a pleasure telling wicked stories with the team at Sony TV these past few years. I couldn’t be more amped to join forces with them for this next big step in my career. And under our newly launched Famous Last Words Productions, I’m excited to both write and produce a full slate of hooky character-forward shows that dish up delight with bite.“

Neira’s previous credits include working as a writer and story editor on The Flash, where she was also a producer, serving as a writer and supervising producer on Daisy Jones & The Six, being co-executive producer on Gen V, and being a consulting producer on The Morning Show. As mentioned, she has also written for The Boys.

Are you interested in seeing what a modern, irreverent, hourlong show could do with the concept of Bewitched? Share your thoughts on this news by leaving a comment below.

The post Bewitched: classic sitcom is being reimagined as an irreverent hourlong show appeared first on JoBlo.

The EFM (European Film Market) continues to heat up, with another promising project hitting the scene. Will Smith (Men in Black, Emancipation, I Am Legend) will star in the biggest-budgeted project at the show, Sugar Bandits. With a reported budget that circles $80 million, Sugar Bandits follows “a former Special Forces solider who joins an elite, vigilante squad aiming to wipe out the drug trade in Boston, but soon learns things are not what they seem.”

Sugar Bandits has sat on the Hollywood sidelines with Universal setting director Joe Carnahan on the project. However, it’s now heading to EFM, where filmmakers scope out independent projects. Sugar Bandits is based on the screenplay and novel Devils In Exile by Chuck Hogan (The Town, The Strain, 13 Hours), with Smith and Jon Mone producing through Westbrook Studios. Ryan Shimizaki oversees the project, with Stuart Ford joining the production effort through AGC Studios, which is financing the film entirely. Additionally, Richard Abate produces via 3 Arts Entertainment.

Smith is starring in the film, but he’s not the lead. It’s rare for Smith to attach himself to a movie in the indie arena, making Sugar Bandits a coveted project at the upcoming film market festival.

Smith’s last big screen outing was for Antoine Fuqua’s Emancipation. Smith played Peter in the hard-hitting drama about a runaway slave who forges through the swamps of Louisiana on a torturous journey to escape plantation owners who nearly killed him. Smith’s Bad Boys 4 is in post-production, with Adil El Arbi and Billal Fallah directing. Martin Lawrence returns for the action-packed sequel, with Alexander Ludwig, Eric Dane, Vanessa Hudgens, Rhea Seehorn, Melanie Liburd, and more starring as primary cast members.

Details about Smith’s Planes, Trains, & Automobiles remake remain a mystery. Aeysha Carr (Uncoupled, Born Again Virgin, The Carmichael Show) directs, with Kevin Hart starring opposite Smith. The remark takes inspiration from the 1987 comedy starring Steve Martin and John Candy, which is about an odd couple traveling together during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Are you excited to see Will Smith in another action film? Who do you think will be cast alongside him for Sugar Bandits? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Will Smith enters the indie arena to star in the vigilante squad action film Sugar Bandits appeared first on JoBlo.

A Valentine’s Day episode of the Real Slashers video series has just been released, and with this one we’re celebrating the holiday by taking a look at the 2001 slasher movie Valentine (watch it HERE). To hear all about it, check out the video embedded above!

Based on a novel by Tom Savage, Valentine was directed by Jamie Blanks from a screenplay by Gretchen J. Berg, Aaron Harberts, Donna Powers, and Wayne Powers. The film has the following synopsis: On Valentine’s Day in 1988, Jeremy, a geeky boy, is falsely accused by a girl of attacking her and trashed by others. In 2001, the girl is part of a group that begins to lose its members to a killer.

Denise Richards, David Boreanaz, Marley Shelton, Jessica Capshaw, Jessica Cauffiel, Katherine Heigl, Hedy Burress, Chelcie Burgart, Joel Palmer, Brittany Mayers, Kate Logie, Chelsea Florko, Sarah Mjanes, Fulvio Cecere, Daniel Cosgrove, Johnny Whitworth, Woody Jeffreys, Adam J. Harrington, Claude Duhamel, Wyatt Page, and Benita Ha star, with Marshall Virtue as The Cherub.

Here’s what Real Slashers is all about: Ahhh the ’80s. A simpler time where the blood ran red, the boobies swung freely, and the weed was copiously smoked. A time where rampant killers were simply excuses for excessive sex and over the top murder. Yes, we’re looking at an era where the slasher movie ran wild over cinemas everywhere. Today, we’re looking at “Real Slashers.”

The show is Written, Narrated, and Edited by Tyler Nichols, Produced by John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

What do you think of Valentine, and how did you like this episode of Real Slashers? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

A couple of the previous episodes of Real Slashers can be seen below. To see more, and to check out some of our other shows, head over to the JoBlo Horror Originals channel – and subscribe while you’re at it!

The post Valentine (2001) Revisited – Horror Movie Review appeared first on JoBlo.

On April 5th, 20th Century Studios will be giving a theatrical release to The First Omen, which serves as a prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen (watch it HERE). Two weeks later, on April 19th, Universal will be releasing their latest monster movie, a Dracula’s Daughter project called Abigail. Today, the Motion Picture Association ratings board has announced that they have given R ratings to both of these horror films. The First Omen has earned its R rating for violent content, grisly/disturbing images, and brief graphic nudity. Meanwhile, Abigail has been rated R for strong bloody violence and gore throughout, pervasive language and brief drug use.

The First Omen was directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on characters created by David Seltzer, with a story by Ben Jacoby. Stevenson crafted the screenplay with Tim Smith and Keith Thomas. Here’s the synopsis: When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.

Nell Tiger Free of the Apple TV+ series Servant stars alongside Tawfeek Barhom (Mary Magdalene), Sonia Braga (Kiss of the Spider Woman), Ralph Ineson (The Northman), and Bill Nighy (Living).

The film was produced by David S. Goyer and Keith Levine, with Tim Smith serving as executive producer with Whitney Brown and Gracie Wheelan.

Abigail is coming our way from Radio Silence, the filmmaking team that previously brought Ready or Not, Scream (2022), and Scream VI to the screen. Radio Silence members Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett directed the film, while the third member of the trio, Chad Villella, is a producer. This movie has the following synopsis: Children can be such monsters. After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl. 

The film stars Melissa Barrera (Scream), Dan Stevens (The Guest), Kathryn Newton (Freaky), William Catlett (Black Lightning), Kevin Durand (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), and Angus Cloud (Euphoria), who play her fellow kidnappers, with Alisha Weir (Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical) as Abigail. Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad) is also in the cast.

Radio Silence’s Scream movie collaborators William Sherak, Paul Neinstein, and James Vanderbilt of Project X Entertainment are also producing the monster movie alongside their Ready or Not producer Tripp Vinson. Ron Lynch and Macdara Kelleher serve as executive producers. Jay Polidoro, Holly Goline, Kelly Cannon, and Jacqueline Garell are overseeing the project for Universal. Stephen Shields wrote the initial screenplay for this take on Dracula’s Daughter, and Guy Busick (who co-wrote the two recent Scream movies with Vanderbilt) has since done some revisions.

Are you looking forward to The First Omen and/or Abigail, and are you glad to hear these horror films have secured R ratings? Share your thoughts on these ones by leaving a comment below.

The post Horror films The First Omen and Abigail have both been rated R appeared first on JoBlo.

Sylvester Stallone is returning to the mean streets of Philadelphia for AGC Studios’ forthcoming crime thriller Epiphany. Focusing on a hard-boiled detective on the verge of retirement, the soon-to-be former police detective must team up with a younger cop and former priest to hunt and apprehend a serial killer on a murderous rampage through the wintery streets of the Keystone State.

Will Eubank (Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin) directs from a screenplay by Katie Lovejoy and Russell Sommer. Cameras roll this summer, with Stallone and Braden Aftergood producing through Balboa Productions alongside Stuart Ford of AGC Studios. The project goes to EFM (European Film Market) this week.

More details to come…

The post Sylvester Stallone returns to Philadelphia to hunt a serial killer in the crime thriller Epiphany appeared first on JoBlo.

It may be Valentine’s Day, but it’s also a Godzilla kind of day. Earlier today, I shared the news that Godzilla Minus One director Takashi Yamazaki wants to make a sequel to that Toho production that would feature some “kaiju vs. kaiju” action, and now a new trailer has arrived online for a different Godzilla monster mash, the fifth film in the Legendary Monsterverse (following Godzilla, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Kong: Skull Island, and Godzilla vs. Kong), Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. This film is set to reach theatres on March 29th, and you can watch the new trailer in the embed above.

Godzilla vs. Kong director Adam Wingard is back at the helm for Godzilla x Kong, working from a screenplay written by Simon Barrett (You’re Next), Terry Rossio (the Pirates of the Caribbean series), and Jeremy Slater (Moon Knight) that follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence – and our own. The epic new film will delve further into the histories of these Titans, their origins and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.

The story sees the legendary Titans Godzilla and Kong team up to face a world-ending threat so terrifying that neither could survive alone.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire stars returning Godzilla vs. Kong stars Rebecca Hall and Brian Tyree Henry, who reprise the roles of Monarch linguist and Kong expert Dr. Ilene Andrews and Apex Cybernetics technician turned cult podcaster Bernie Hayes, as well as Kaylee Hottle, who made her screen acting debut in the previous Godzilla / Kong movie. Joining the mix are Fala Chen (Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Alex Ferns (Wrath of Man), Rachel House (Hunt for the Wilderpeople), and Wingard’s The Guest star Dan Stevens. Stevens describes his character Trapper as “a specialist in these creatures… If you’ve got a sick titan, Trapper is your guy.“

Are you looking forward to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire? What did you think of the new trailer? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire gets a new trailer ahead of March theatrical release appeared first on JoBlo.

Marvel is sure showing us some love this Valentine’s Day with some news updates. Firstly, news has just broken that the confirmed cast of The Fantastic Four is Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Marvel Studios would amusingly make the announcement in an unusually casual manner by posting a Valentine’s Day greetings on the official Instagram account with old-fashioned artwork which emulates Valentine’s Day cards from yesteryears. This is also days after the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer dropped during Super Bowl LVIII and became the most-watched trailer on YouTube.

Additionally, the folks at Disney have now unveiled, in a release, their upcoming schedule for their Marvel films. It has been revealed through this schedule that some dates have been changed for certain films. Firstly, on their schedule, Disney has updated the title to the previously known Deadpool 3 to the official Deadpool & Wolverine and lists the premiere for July 26 as seen in the trailer. The schedule also now reveals that Thunderbolts has moved up from July 25, 2025 to May 2, 2025. The title to Fantastic Four is now officially changed to The Fantastic Four and switches places with Thunderbolts to release on July 25, 2025 instead of its original date on May 2, 2025.

Other films confirmed through this schedule include Mahershala Ali’s Blade which will drop on November 7, 2025, and Captain America: Brave New World will be premiering in a year on February 14, 2025. Although there is much to be re-planned, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is still on the schedule and confirmed for May 1, 2026. As well as “Untitled Marvel” films on February 13, 2026, July 24, 2026 and November 6, 2026. Finally, on May 7, 2027, Avengers: Secret Wars is schedule to premiere.

Get a look at the full Disney schedule below:

The post Marvel Studios reveals release schedule for upcoming slate of films appeared first on JoBlo.

I still vividly remember the Oscar campaign for Amélie with its whimsical tone and saturated colors. It was several years until I watched the film myself, but I was absolutely blown away when I did. Amélie provides an almost fantastical look at romance in a way I’d never experienced. Audrey Tatou is a revelation and absolutely mesmerizing in every shot. So I was pleased to be able to talk to Amélie’s director, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, about the film’s re-release. Amélie has some strange rights issues for those unaware, which means the film has no worldwide distributor. But thankfully, Sony Pictures Classics has come along and given us a re-release of the film. However, don’t get your hopes up for a 4K release, as the director views them as nothing more than a gimmick. So when you see that eventual Blu-Ray release, don’t hold out hope for a 4K behind it. It’s unfortunately never going to happen.

And you’d be crazy if you thought I would talk to Jean-Pierre without getting into Alien: Resurrection. I’ve always appreciated the visual style of the film (despite some of its other qualities), so it’s nice to hear the pride Jean-Pierre has in it. Because, despite the film being the odd duck of the franchise, it’s very French in its sensibilities, which we don’t see a lot in American Blockbusters. So make sure you check out the interview above and let me know below if you’re going to check out the Amélie re-release in theaters. I know I will!

Amélie plot synopsis:

Amélie (Audrey Tatou), the heroine of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s award-winning whimsical romance, is no ordinary young woman. A waitress in a Montmartre, Paris bar, Amélie observes people and lets her imagination roam free. One day,
she suddenly finds her purpose in life: to solve other people’s problems. Wefollow her around a lovingly and vividly photographed Paris of saturated colors, as she engineers offbeat solutions to better her deserving co-workers, relatives
and neighbors’ lives…Among them the concierge who spends her day sipping port while communing with a stuffed dog; Georgette, the hypochondriac newsdealer; and the “glass man”, who lives vicariously through a Renoir
reproduction. Amélie’s mission to help others is rudely interrupted when she meets a strange, off-beat young man, Nino Quincampoix (Mathieu Kassovitz), who captures her interest, and sets her on a misson to accomplish something for
herself…in the most charming and complicated way possible.

AMELIE IS IN THEATERS AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 14TH, 2024.

The post Interview: Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet talks the Amélie re-release + hating 4K Blu-Rays appeared first on JoBlo.