IF
IF
IF is an upcoming American live-action/animated fantasy comedy film written, produced, and directed by John Krasinski. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, Alan Kim, and Liza Colón-Zayas, along with the voices of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., and Steve Carell. Its plot follows a young girl and her neighbor who find themselves able to see imaginary friends.
Paramount Pictures is scheduled to release IF in the United States on May 17, 2024.
Premise
A young girl named Bea, who has been going through a troubling experience in her life, unexpectedly gains the ability to see people’s imaginary friends (referred to as “IFs” for short) who have been abandoned by the kids they helped. Bea then discovers that her neighbor, Cal, has the same ability. Together, they join forces to reunite the IFs with their former kids.
Cast
- Cailey Fleming as Bea, a young girl who can also see IFs[4]
- Ryan Reynolds as Cal, Bea’s neighbor who can see IFs[4]
- John Krasinski as Bea’s Dad[5]
- Fiona Shaw as Bea’s Grandmother[4]
- Alan Kim as Benjamin[4]
- Liza Colón-Zayas as Janet
- Bobby Moynihan as Jeremy
Voices
- Steve Carell as Blue, a kind purple furry creature who was Jeremy’s childhood imaginary friend[4]
- Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Blossom, an excitable humanoid butterfly who was Bea’s grandma’s childhood imaginary friend[4]
- Louis Gossett Jr. as Lewis, an elderly bear
- Emily Blunt as Unicorn[4]
- Matt Damon as Sunny, a flower
- Maya Rudolph as Ally, an alligator[4]
- Jon Stewart as Robot[4]
- Sam Rockwell as Guardian Dog
- Sebastian Maniscalco as Magician Mouse[4]
- Christopher Meloni as Cosmo[4]
- Richard Jenkins as Art Teacher, an animation figure
- Awkwafina as Bubble[6]
- John Krasinski as Marshmallow Man[7]
- Blake Lively as Octopuss[7]
- George Clooney as Spaceman, an astronaut[7]
- Matthew Rhys as Ghost[7]
- Bradley Cooper as Ice, a glass of ice water[7]
- Amy Schumer as Gummy Bear[7]
- Keegan-Michael Key as Slime, a green blob[7]
- Vince Vaughn[8]
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BACK TO BLACK
BACK TO BLACK
Back to Black is a 2024 biographical drama film based on the life of British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, played by Marisa Abela. Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and written by Matt Greenhalgh, the film also stars Jack O’Connell, Eddie Marsan, and Lesley Manville.
Following Winehouse’s death in July 2011, several filmmakers attempted to create biopic projects, but none of them progressed. In 2018, Winehouse’s estate announced they had signed a deal for a film about her life and career. By July 2022, StudioCanal moved forward with production, and filming took place in London from January to April 2023.
StudioCanal released the film theatrically in Australia on April 11, 2024, and in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2024.Focus Features will release the film in the United States on May 17, 2024. It received mixed reviews from critics.
Plot
The film opens with scenes of Amy Winehouse’s Jewish family background, her father Mitch, and her grandmother “Nan” Cynthia, with their love for music and singing. Amy’s friend Tyler hands his manager Nick a demo tape of Amy’s recording and is impressed by her talent. She then signed a contract with Island Records and released her first album, Frank.
After enjoying acclaimed success, her record label wishes to make some changes to her stage act, which Amy strongly disagrees with. Amy then reveals she needs time off to live her songs and meets Blake in a pub in Camden Town, where they fall in love. Their relationship is soon troubled by Blake’s cocaine addiction, Amy’s alcoholism, and her bulimia. After experiencing Amy’s irritable behavior, Blake reveals that he thinks they would be better as friends and wants to work on things with his ex-girlfriend, Becky, which leaves Amy heartbroken. Before going to New York City, she learns that her grandmother is dying of lung cancer. After a difficult period of these traumatizing events all happening at once, she then gathers inspiration to write her hit album Back to Black.
Blake and Amy reconciled shortly after the release of her second album. They get married in Miami, Florida, much to Mitch’s dismay. But soon after, Blake is arrested and then serves a two-year sentence in jail for perverting the course of justice. Before he is released and Amy has now become a drug addict, Blake reveals he has been having counselling and informs Amy that he wishes to divorce as he wants a fresh start.
After various blackouts, Amy decides to accept “rehab”. She later receives five Grammy Awards. The last scene shows her new home in Camden Square, where Amy is now free of drugs and trying to tackle her alcohol dependence. After saying goodbye to her father, Mitch, for the final time, the paparazzi appear outside her gate and reveal that Blake has a new girlfriend and will have a baby. The film concludes with a tearful Amy singing “Tears Dry on Their Own” to herself and finishes with her walking up the stairs to her demise.
Cast
- Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse
- Jack O’Connell as Blake Fielder-Civil
- Eddie Marsan as Mitch Winehouse
- Juliet Cowan as Janis Collins-Winehouse
- Lesley Manville as Cynthia Winehouse
- Sam Buchanan as Nick Shymansky
- Harley Bird as Juliette Ashby
- Ansu Kabia as Raye Cosbert
- Ryan O’Doherty as Chris Taylor
- Spike Fearn as Tyler James
- Francesca Henry as Chantelle Dusette
- Liv Longbourne as Catriona Gourlay
- Bronson Webb as Joey
- Therica Wilson-Read as Becky
- Thelma Ruby as Auntie Renee
- Matilda Thorpe as Melody Abelson-Winehouse
- Pete Lee-Wilson as Perfume Pete
- Miltos Yerolemou as Jimmy
Jeff Tunke was also cast as Mark Ronson, but his scenes were ultimately cut.
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BABES
BABES
Babes is a 2024 American comedy film directed by Pamela Adlon, written by Ilana Glazer and Josh Rabinowitz, and starring Glazer. It is Adlon’s feature directorial debut.
The film will be released in the United States on May 17, 2024.
Premise
When Eden, an aggressively single woman, gets pregnant from a one-night stand, she turns to her best friend Dawn, a married mother of two, for help.[2]
Cast
- Ilana Glazer as Eden[2]
- Michelle Buteau as Dawn[2]
- John Carroll Lynch[3]
- Hasan Minhaj[3]
- Stephan James[3]
- Oliver Platt[3]
- Kenny and Keith Lucas[3]
- Sandra Bernhard[3]
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TAKING VENICE
TAKING VENICE
“Taking Venice” is a documentary directed by Amei Wallach. It delves into the true story behind rumors that the U.S. government and a team of high-placed insiders rigged the 1964 Venice Biennale, the “Olympics of art,” so their chosen artist, Robert Rauschenberg, could win the grand prize. The film explores this captivating tale with expert interviews and extensive archival footage, shedding light on the intersection of art, politics, and ambition during the height of the Cold War.
At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. government was determined to fight communism with culture. The Venice Biennale, the world’s most influential art exhibition, became a proving ground in 1964. Alice Denney, a Washington insider and friend of the Kennedys, recommends Alan Solomon, an ambitious curator making waves with trailblazing art, to organize the U.S. entry. Together with Leo Castelli, a powerful New York art dealer, they embark on a daring plan to make Robert Rauschenberg the winner of the Grand Prize. The artist is yet to be taken seriously with his combinations of junk off the street and images from pop culture, but he has the potential to dazzle. Deftly pulling off maneuvers that could have come from a Hollywood thriller, the American team leaves the international press crying foul and Rauschenberg questioning the politics of nationalism that sent him there.
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5/14/2024 #”If,” #”Back to Black,” #”Babes,” #”Taking Venice”
