Matt writes: I will remember William Friedkin (1935-2023) for many reasons: for leaving me in awe of his immaculate craft in “The French Connection”; for giving me and my mom many a sleepless night courtesy of “The Exorcist”; for sharing so many invaluable insights about his life and career in Alexandre O. Philippe’s extraordinary 2019 documentary, ”Leap of Faith”; and most especially, for attending a screening of his brilliant 1977 film, “Sorcerer,” at the inaugural Chicago Critics Film Festival a decade ago, where he paid tribute to the late Roger Ebert by quoting a verse of Dylan Thomas’ poem, “And Death Shall Have No Dominion” (see video below), which I am now quoting today in his honor:
“And death shall have no dominion.
Dead men, naked, they shall be one
With the man in the wind, and the west moon;
Though they go mad
They shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea
They shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost
Love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.”
Be sure to read our site’s in-depth tributes to William Friedkin penned by Chaz Ebert, Scout Tafoya and other contributors.
Trailers
Anatomy of a Fall (2023). Directed by Justine Triet. Written by Justine Triet and Arthur Harari. Starring Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado Graner. Synopsis: A woman is suspected of her husband’s murder, and their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the sole witness. Debuts in the US on October 13th, 2023.
My Animal (2023). Directed by Jacqueline Castel. Written by Jae Matthews. Starring Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Amandla Stenberg, Heidi von Palleske. Synopsis: Heather, an outcast teenage goalie, falls for newcomer Jonny, an alluring but tormented figure skater. As their relationship deepens, Heather’s growing desires clash with her darkest secret, forcing her to control the animal within. Debuts in the US on September 8th, 2023.
She Came to Me (2023). Written and directed by Rebecca Miller. Starring Anne Hathaway, Peter Dinklage, Marisa Tomei. Synopsis: Follows a composer who suffers writer’s block and rediscovers his passion after an adventurous one-night stand. Debuts in the US on September 29th, 2023.
The Persian Version (2023). Written and directed by Maryam Keshavarz. Starring Layla Mohammadi, Niousha Noor, Kamand Shafieisabet. Synopsis: When a large Iranian-American family gathers, a family secret is uncovered that catapults the estranged mother and daughter into an exploration of the past, and to discover they are more alike than they know. US release date is TBA.
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023). Directed by Sammi Cohen. Written by Alison Peck (based on the book by Fiona Rosenbloom). Starring Jackie Sandler, Adam Sandler, Idina Menzel. Synopsis: It follows Stacey Friedman as she prepares for her bat mitzvah, but her plans comedically unravel and threaten to ruin the event. Debuts on Netflix on August 25th, 2023.
Sitting in Bars with Cake (2023). Directed by Trish Sie. Written by Audrey Shulman. Starring Yara Shahidi, Odessa A’zion, Bette Midler. Synopsis: Based on the popular cookbook. Debuts on Prime Video on September 8th, 2023.
All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt (2023). Written and directed by Raven Jackson. Starring Kaylee Nicole Johnson, Chris Chalk, Jayah Henry. Synopsis: A decades-spanning exploration of a woman’s life in Mississippi and an ode to the generations of people, places, and ineffable moments that shape us. US release date is TBA.
El Conde (2023). Directed by Pablo Larraín. Written by Pablo Larraín and Guillermo Calderón. Starring Alfredo Castro, Paula Luchsinger, Antonia Zegers. Synopsis: Centers on Augusto Pinochet who is not dead but an aged vampire. After living 250 years in this world, he has decided to die once and for all. Debuts on Netflix on September 15th, 2023.
Eureka (2023). Directed by Lisandro Alonso. Written by Lisandro Alonso, Martín Caamaño and Fabian Casas. Starring Viggo Mortensen, Chiara Mastroianni, Viilbjørk Malling Agger. Synopsis: Murphy searches for his daughter after she is kidnapped by the outlaw Randall. US release date is TBA.
Rebel (2023). Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. Written by Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah, Kevin Meul and Jan van Dyck. Starring Aboubakr Bensaihi, Lubna Azabal, Tara Abboud. Synopsis: Three strangers – who live in the same New York City apartment building and share an obsession with true crime – suddenly find themselves embroiled in a murder. US release date is TBA.
Uproar (2023). Directed by Hamish Bennett and Paul Middleditch. Written by Hamish Bennett and Sonia Whiteman. Starring Julian Dennison, Minnie Driver, Rhys Darby. Synopsis: A 17 year-old student is forced to get off the fence he has actively sat on all his life to stand up for himself, his whanau (family) and his future in this heartwarming story of identity. US release date is TBA.
Painkiller (2023). Created by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster. Starring Matthew Broderick, Uzo Aduba, Taylor Kitsch. Synopsis: The causes and consequences of America’s opioid epidemic unfold in this drama following its perpetrators, victims and an investigator seeking the truth. Now available on Netflix.
A Million Miles Away (2023). Directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella. Written by Alejandra Márquez Abella, Bettina Gilois and Hernán Jiménez. Starring Michael Peña, Rosa Salazar, Garret Dillahunt. Synopsis: Follows Jose Hernandez, the first migrant farmworker to travel to space. A tale of perseverance, community and sacrifice to accomplish an impossible dream. Debuts in the US on September 15th, 2023.
Vacation Friends 2 (2023). Written and directed by Clay Tarver (based on characters created by Clay Tarver, Tom Mullen, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley). Starring John Cena, Lil Rel Howery, Steve Buscemi. Synopsis: A couple who meets up with another couple while on vacation in Mexico, see their friendship takes an awkward turn when they get back home. Debuts on Hulu on August 25th, 2023.
The Book of Solutions (2023). Written and directed by Michel Gondry. Starring Pierre Niney, Blanche Gardin, Frankie Wallach. Synopsis: Follows a man, a director who tries to vanquish his demons, which are oppressing his creativity. Debuts in the US on September 13th, 2023.
The Battle of Chile (1975), 4K restoration. Directed by Patricio Guzmán. Synopsis: The chronicle of the political tension in Chile in 1973 and of the violent counter revolution against the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende. US release date is TBA.
Stop Making Sense (1984), 4K restoration. Directed by Jonathan Demme. Synopsis: Considered by critics as the greatest concert film of all time, the live performance was shot over the course of three nights at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater in December of 1983 and features Talking Heads’ most memorable songs. US release date is TBA.
Maestro (2023). Directed by Bradley Cooper. Written by Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer. Starring Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Maya Hawke. Synopsis: The complex love of Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre, from the time they met in 1946 at a party and continuing through two engagements, a 25-year marriage and three children. Debuts on Netflix on December 20th, 2023.
Ira Sachs on “Passages“
Matt writes: Filmmaker Ira Sachs recently spoke with Isaac Feldberg about his new acclaimed picture, “Passages,” which was praised by our critic Glenn Kenny. You can read their full conversation here.
Park Chan-wook on “Oldboy”
Matt writes: In honor of its new theatrically released twentieth anniversary 4K restoration, the 2003 masterwork “Oldboy” is revisited by its director Park Chan-wook in this interview conducted by Isaac Feldberg. Also be sure to read Roger Ebert’s four-star review of the film.
Free Movies
Pot o’ Gold (1941). Directed by George Marshall. Written by Walter DeLeon. Starring James Stewart, Paulette Goddard, Horace Heidt. Synopsis: Jimmy goes to work with his uncle, the owner of a food factory. Before he gets there, he befriends an Irish family who happens to be his uncle’s worst enemy because of their love for music and in-house band who constantly practices.
Watch “Pot o’ Gold”
Ma Barker’s Killer Brood (1960). Directed by Bill Karn. Written by F. Paul Hall. Starring Lurene Tuttle, Tristram Coffin, Paul Dubov. Synopsis: Ma Barker and her four sons terrorize the 1930s South and Midwest with a string of kidnappings, robberies and murders, and even get to work with such famous criminals as John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson.
Watch “Ma Barker’s Killer Brood”
White Fang and the Gold Diggers (1975). Directed by Alfonso Brescia. Written by Giuseppe Maggi and Piero Regnoli. Starring Robert Woods, Ignazio Spalla, Franco Lantieri. Synopsis: A father, son, and their faithful dog White Fang go on a dangerous journey in search of a gold mine.
