January 23, 2024

Read Time:7 Minute

Matt writes: The Sundance Film Festival is now in full swing through Sunday, January 28th, and you can find all of our daily dispatches penned by Brian Tallerico, Robert Daniels, Marya E. Gates, Monica Castillo, Tomris Laffly, and Niani Scott at RogerEbert.com. Click here to see twenty of this year’s most enticing titles spotlighted by Tallerico, which include Rose Glass’ highly anticipated “Love Lies Bleeding” starring Kristen Stewart.

Trailers

Problemista (2024). Written and directed by Julio Torres. Starring Julio Torres, Tilda Swinton, RZA. Synopsis: Alejandro is an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador struggling to bring his unusual ideas to life in NY. As time runs out on his work visa, a job assisting an erratic art-world outcast becomes his only hope to stay in the country. US release date is TBA.

Players (2024). Directed by Trish Sie. Written by Whit Anderson. Starring Gina Rodriguez, Tom Ellis, Liza Koshy. Synopsis: New York sportswriter Mack has spent years devising successful hook-up “plays” with her friends, but when she unexpectedly falls for one of her targets, she must learn what it takes to go from simply scoring to playing for keeps. Debuts on Netflix on February 14th, 2024.

Suncoast (2024). Written and directed by Laura Chinn. Starring Nico Parker, Laura Linney, Woody Harrelson. Synopsis: A semi-auto-biographical coming of age story about a young woman dealing with her brother’s serious illness. Debuts in the US on February 9th, 2024.

Lola (2024). Written and directed by Nicola Peltz Beckham. Starring Nicola Peltz Beckham, Virginia Madsen, Will Peltz. Synopsis: Lola James works to save enough money to get her little brother, Arlo, out of their toxic home. Arlo keeps her hopeful, until one tragic night, when her whole world gets uprooted. From that moment on, nothing will ever be the same. Debuts in the US on February 9th, 2024.

Abigail (2024). Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. Written by Guy Busick and Stephen Shields. Starring Alisha Weir, Kathryn Newton, Dan Stevens. Synopsis: After a group of criminals kidnap the ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, they retreat to an isolated mansion, unaware that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl. Debuts in the US on April 19th, 2024.

Bleeding Love (2024). Directed by Emma Westenberg. Written by Ruby Caster. Starring Ewan McGregor, Clara McGregor, Jake Weary. Synopsis: A father takes his estranged daughter on a road trip in an effort to get her out of trouble. Along the way they meet all types of strangers, as their strained relationship is put to the test. Debuts in the US on February 16th, 2024.

Mother’s Instinct (2024). Directed by Benoît Delhomme. Written by Sarah Conradt (based on the novel by Barbara Abel). Starring Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Josh Charles. Synopsis: Alice and Celine live a traditional lifestyle with successful husbands and sons of the same age. Life’s perfect harmony is suddenly shattered after a tragic accident. Guilt, suspicion and paranoia combine to unravel their sisterly bond. US release date is TBA.

Cold Copy (2024). Written and directed by Roxine Helberg. Starring Bel Powley, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jacob Tremblay. Synopsis: An ambitious journalism student falls under the thrall of an esteemed yet cutthroat news reporter whom she’s desperate to impress, even if it means manipulating her latest story – and the very idea of truth itself. Debuts in the US on January 26th, 2024.

American Dream: The 21 Savage Story (2024). Directed by Stephen Glover, Jamal Olori, Luis Perez and Fam Udeorji. Written by Stephen Glover and Jamal Olori. Starring Donald Glover, Caleb McLaughlin, Natasha Lyonne. Synopsis: Follows 21 Savage’s journey from UK birth to US upbringing where he conquers adversity like poverty and crime to attain success in rap music. US release date is TBA.

Veni Vidi Vici (2024). Directed by Daniel Hoesl and Julia Niemann. Written by Daniel Hoesl. Starring Olivia Goschler, Ursina Lardi, Johanna Orsini-Rosenberg. Synopsis: The Maynards and their children lead an almost perfect billionaire family life. Amon is a passionate hunter, but doesn’t shoot animals, as the family’s wealth allows them to live totally free from consequences. US release date is TBA.

Igualada (2023). Directed by Juan Mejia Botero. Synopsis: Black Colombian activist Francia Márquez transforms a derogatory term, “Igualada,” into a symbol of rights defiance. Her presidential campaign inspires a nation to dream of a more equitable future, challenging societal norms. Debuts in the US on January 21st, 2024.

The Greatest Night in Pop (2024). Directed by Bao Nguyen. Synopsis: On January 25th, 1985, dozens of the era’s most popular musicians gathered in Los Angeles to record a charity single for African famine relief. Setting egos aside, they collaborated on a song that would make history. Debuts on Netflix on January 29th, 2024.

This is Me…Now: A Love Story (2024). Directed by Dave Meyers. Written by Jennifer Lopez and Matt Walton. Starring Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Sofía Vergara. Synopsis: A Love Story is like nothing you’ve ever seen from Jennifer Lopez. Debuts on Prime Video on February 16th, 2024.

Genius: MLK/X (2024). Created by Kenneth Biller, Suzan-Lori Parks and Noah Pink. Starring Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jayme Lawson. Synopsis: The life stories of history’s greatest minds, from their days as young adults to their final years: their discoveries, loves, relationships, causes, flaws, and genius. Debuts on Disney+ on February 1st, 2024.

The Gentlemen (2024). Created by Guy Ritchie. Starring Kaya Scodelario, Theo James, Joely Richardson. Synopsis: Eddie Halstead inherits large estate from father, unaware it fronts Pearson’s drug empire. With no crime experience, he must take over the operation or lose the estate. US release date is TBA.

Curb Your Enthusiasm (2024), Final Season. Created by Larry David. Starring Larry David, Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines. Synopsis: The life and times of Larry David and the predicaments he gets himself into with his friends and complete strangers. Debuts on Max on February 4th, 2024.

Orion and the Dark (2024). Directed by Sean Charmatz. Written by Charlie Kaufman and Lloyd Taylor (based on the book by Emma Yarlett). Starring Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, Werner Herzog. Synopsis: Follows Orion, a young boy who is afraid of heights, pets, and rendered nearly catatonic by the worst of all perils: the dark. The Dark takes Orion on a nighttime trip to prove to the youngster that the only thing to fear is fear itself. Debuts on Netflix on February 2nd, 2024.

Back to Black (2024). Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. Written by Matt Greenhalgh. Starring Marisa Abela, Jack O’Connell, Lesley Manville. Synopsis: It chronicles the life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. Debuts in the US on May 10th, 2024.

Ava DuVernay on “Origin“

Matt writes: Acclaimed filmmaker and cherished Ebertfest guest Ava DuVernay recently spoke with Marya E. Gates about her provocative new film, “Origin,” which received four stars from Robert Daniels. You can read their full conversation here.

R.I.P. Tom Shales (1944-2024)

Matt writes: Pulitzer Prize-winning critic and longtime friend of Roger Ebert, Tom Shales, died on January 13th at age 79. Be sure to read Matt Zoller Seitz’s tribute to him and watch Shales’ 1999 episode as a guest critic on “Siskel & Ebert” in the video embedded above.

Free Movies

Midnight (1934). Written and directed by Chester Erskine (based on the play by Paul Sifton and Claire Sifton). Starring Humphrey Bogart, Sidney Fox, O.P. Heggie. Synopsis: The foreman of a jury asks questions that send a woman to the electric chair for a murder committed in the heat of passion. On the night of the execution, his actions come back to haunt him.

Watch “Midnight”

The St. Louis Bank Robbery (1959). Directed by Charles Guggenheim and John Stix. Written by Richard T. Heffron. Starring Steve McQueen, Crahan Denton, David Clarke. Synopsis: A gang’s plans for a St. Louis bank robbery are complicated when the sister of one of the thieves starts voicing her well-founded suspicions.

Watch “The St. Louis Bank Robbery”

Mars Needs Women (1968). Written and directed by Larry Buchanan. Starring Tommy Kirk, Yvonne Craig, Byron Lord. Synopsis: Dop leads his fellow Martians to Earth on an interplanetary quest for females. Dop proves that Martians have impeccable taste when one of his first conquests turns out to be sexy scientist Dr. Marjorie Bolen.