Matt writes: As one last addition to our in-depth coverage of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, the entirety of which can be found in this table of contents, RogerEbert.com publisher Chaz Ebert presents her tenth and final video dispatch embedded below. It contains her interviews with acclaimed actor Jeffrey Wright (at Cannes with Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City”); DePaul University/CHA Youth Resident Filmmakers Isis Gullette, Unique Moore and Christal Westmoreland; “Become a Filmmaker” program director Liliane Calfee and mentor/chaperone Pier Smith; Ebertfest festival director Dr. Nate Kohn; professor and frequent Ebertfest guest Dr. Eric Pierson; and accomplished film student Nia Lambert.
Trailers
Poor Things (2023). Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Written by Tony McNamara (based on the novel by Alasdair Gray). Starring Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Mark Ruffalo. Synopsis: The incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Bax, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist, Dr. Godwin Baxter. Debuts in the US on September 8th, 2023.
Bottoms (2023), red-band trailer. Directed by Emma Seligman. Written by Emma Seligman and Rachel Sennott. Starring Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Nicholas Galitzine. Synopsis: Two unpopular queer high school students start a fight club to have sex before graduation. Debuts in the US on August 25th, 2023.
Biosphere (2023). Directed by Mel Eslyn. Written by Mel Eslyn and Mark Duplass. Starring Mark Duplass and Sterling K. Brown. Synopsis: In the not-too-distant future, the last two men on earth must adapt and evolve to save humanity. Debuts in the US on July 7th, 2023.
The Adults (2023). Written and directed by Dustin Guy Defa. Starring Michael Cera, Hannah Gross, Sophia Lillis. Synopsis: The plan to make a trip back home as short as possible begins to unravel as Eric finds himself balancing the challenging relationship with his two sisters and his addiction to a local poker game. Debuts in the US on July 4th, 2023.
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed (2023). Directed by Stephen Kijak. Synopsis: The biography of renowned actor Rock Hudson is examined in this relevant investigation of Hollywood and LGBTQ+ identity, from his public “ladies’ man” character to his private life as a gay man. Debuts in the US on June 28th, 2023.
Stan Lee (2023). Directed by David Gelb. Synopsis: 100 years of dreaming. 100 years of creating. 100 years of Stan Lee. Debuts on Disney+ on June 16th, 2023.
The Passengers of the Night (2023). Directed by Mikhaël Hers. Written by Mikhaël Hers, Maud Ameline and Mariette Désert. Starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Quito Rayon Richter, Noée Abita. Synopsis: Left by her husband, Elisabeth finds herself alone, responsible for the day-to-day care of her two children. She picks up a job on a night-time radio show, where she meets Talulah, a youngster she decides to take under her wing. US release date is TBA.
Maximum Truth (2023). Directed by David Stassen. Written by David Stassen and Ike Barinholtz. Starring Ike Barinholtz, Dylan O’Brien, Kiernan Shipka. Synopsis: A documentary crew follows political grifter Rick Klingman as he teams up with his sketchy buddy Simon to take down a rival congressional candidate. Debuts in the US on June 23rd, 2023.
Jagged Mind (2023). Directed by Kelley Kali. Written by Allyson Morgan. Starring Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Shannon Woodward, Rosaline Elbay. Synopsis: Billie is plagued by blackouts and strange visions that lead her to discover she’s stuck in a series of time loops, possibly related to her mysterious new girlfriend. Debuts on Hulu on June 15th, 2023.
The Lesson (2023). Directed by Alice Troughton. Written by Alex MacKeith. Starring Julie Delpy, Daryl McCormack, Richard E. Grant. Synopsis: A young author takes a tutoring position at the estate of a legendary writer. US release date is TBA.
Sympathy for the Devil (2023). Directed by Yuval Adler. Written by Luke Paradise. Starring Nicolas Cage, Joel Kinnaman, Kaiwi Lyman. Synopsis: After being forced to drive a mysterious passenger at gunpoint, a man finds himself in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse where it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems. Debuts in the US on July 28th, 2023.
Lumberjack the Monster (2023). Directed by Takashi Miike. Starring Kazuya Kamenashi. Synopsis: The latest film from the acclaimed director of “Audition” and “13 Assassins.” US release date is TBA.
Final Cut (2023). Written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius. Starring Romain Duris, Bérénice Bejo, Grégory Gadebois. Synopsis: Things go badly for a small film crew shooting a low budget zombie movie when they are attacked by real zombies. US release date is TBA.
Talk to Me (2023). Directed by Michael Philippou and Danny Philippou. Written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman. Starring Sophie Wilde, Joe Bird, Miranda Otto. Synopsis: When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces. Debuts in the US on July 28th, 2023.
Expend4bless (2023). Directed by Scott Waugh. Written by Kurt Wimmer, Tad Daggerhart and Max Adams (based on characters created by Dave Callaham). Starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, 50 Cent. Synopsis: The Expendables will square up against: an arms dealer who commands the might of a massive private army. Debuts in the US on September 22nd, 2023.
Bird Box Barcelona (2023). Directed by David Pastor and Àlex Pastor. Written by David Pastor and Àlex Pastor (based on the novel by Josh Malerman). Starring Georgina Campbell, Mario Casas, Diego Calva. Synopsis: After an entity of mysterious origin annihilates the world’s population causing those who observe it to take their lives, Sebastián and his daughter begin their own great adventure of survival in Barcelona. Debuts on Netflix on July 14th, 2023.
Star Wars: Ahsoka (2023). Created by Dave Filoni. Starring Rosario Dawson, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Wes Chatham. Synopsis: After the fall of the Galactic Empire, former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy. Debuts on Disney+ on August 23rd, 2023.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023). Directed by Jeff Rowe and Kyler Spears. Written by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit (based on characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird). Starring Seth Rogen, Ayo Edebiri, Jackie Chan. Synopsis: The Turtle brothers as they work to earn the love of New York City while facing down an army of mutants. Debuts in the US on August 2nd, 2023.
Alexandre O. Philippe on “Lynch/Oz”
Matt writes: After ranking the brilliant documentary, “Lynch/Oz,” as my #2 film of 2022, I had the thrill of interviewing its director, Alexandre O. Philippe, at length for RogerEbert.com. You can read our full conversation here, and Glenn Kenny’s enthusiastic review of the film here.
Georgia Oakley on “Blue Jean“
Matt writes: In the latest installment of Marya E. Gates’ Female Filmmakers in Focus column, she spoke with director Georgia Oakley about her riveting and achingly timely film, “Blue Jean,” which was praised by our critic Monica Castillo.
Free Movies
Road to Bali (1952). Directed by Hal Walker. Written by Frank Butler, Hal Kanter and William Morrow. Starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour. Synopsis: Two unemployed show-biz pals accept treasure-diving work in Bali for a local princess and they find treasure, love and trouble.
Watch “Road to Bali”
The Brain from Planet Arous (1957). Directed by Nathan Juran. Written by Ray Buffum. Starring John Agar, Joyce Meadows, Robert Fuller. Synopsis: An evil alien brain from the planet Arous hijacks the body of an Earth scientist in order to control the Earth.
Watch “The Brain from Planet Arous”
The Four Deuces (1975). Directed by William H. Bushnell. Written by Lester Franklin. Starring Jack Palance, Carol Lynley, Warren Berlinger. Synopsis: The film centres around gangland boss Vic Morono who presides over a mixed pack of cards with the trumps being the ‘The Four Deuces’-Chip Morono, Mickey Navarro, Ben Arlen and Smokey Ross.
