Trailerblazing -- Tau

Tau (2018) -- June 29, 2018 -- directed by Federico D'Alessandro -- starring Maika Monroe, Ed Skrein, Gary Oldman, Fiston Barek, Ivana Zivkovic

Serving up an intriguing premise reminiscent of Cube, this film is out on Netflix next week. Yes, it is YET ANOTHER one of those women-as-captives works that I was criticizing a few months go, but it does show an empowered principal character and a story with potential, so that is a plus. Kidnapped and imprisoned in a technologically advanced dungeon by Skrein's maniac, Monroe's character needs to bypass a sophisticated computer system in order to escape, discovering other secrets along the way. Academy Award winner Gary Oldman is the voice of the system, showing once again that he can play anyone. Monroe has found her niche in the horror/thriller genre, starting with the kinetic The Guest and the incredible It Follows, and Skrein seems chilling in a very different role for the actor. It needs to be said that the house is a character in its own right; the elaborate visuals and labyrinthine set design are not surprising, considering that director D'Alessandro has worked as a storyboard artist with Marvel and on films such as Where the Wild Things Are and I Am Legend. There are unique effects to feast one's eyes on, as well as gorgeous and creepy sequences hinting at cool twists. Since there are not too many mystery/thriller films being released these days, Tau might possibly reboot that trend if it ends up bringing something new to the genre. Give this abode a chance.   

Trailerblazing -- A Star is Born

A Star is Born -- October 5, 2018 -- directed by Bradley Cooper -- starring Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott, Dave Chappelle, Anthony Ramos, Bonnie Somerville 

 

Everyone can agree that some stories never go out of style and are always welcome with audiences. A Star is Born is one of them, following a troubled musician who discovers and promptly falls for a gifted singer. Bradley Cooper, who stars in the fourth incarnation of the timeless tale, has also co-written and directed the film AND sings in it, while Lady Gaga has already won a Golden Globe for playing a mercurial vampire in "American Horror Story: Hotel". I cannot get over how talented these two people are, so please excuse my gushing, but I also have to say that they make a truly believable couple. From the looks of the trailer, the chemistry between the pair is off the charts and it is this chemistry, of course, that the entire film hinges upon. Sam Elliott and Dave Chappelle are but two of the amazing supporting players gracing us with their presence and the music also sounds fantastic -- the beautiful "The Shallow" is already popular. I am looking forward to seeing Lady Gaga in another role and hearing some duets between her and Cooper, as well as checking out the similarities and differences between this version and the previous ones.  

Trailerblazing -- Suspiria

Suspiria -- November 2, 2018 -- directed by Luca Guadagnino -- starring Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, Lutz Ebersdorf, Angela Winkler, Renée Soutendijk

  

As was the case with many a horror fan, I was not too keen on the remake of Dario Argento's wonderfully atmospheric and deliciously ominous classic. Enter Luca Guadagnino, a filmmaker whose rich vision corresponds with the unspoken horror of a ballet academy that no one would ever wish to attend... or maybe they would, to each their own. The trailer shows Guadagnino's usual lush aesthetics muted and darkened in equal measure, with angst, witchcraft, menacing glances and THOSE costumes colliding. Radiohead's Thom Yorke's oppressive-yet-stirring score is on full display here, following the brilliant cast through their trials and tribulations and looming into crescendos that remind us that we are pretty much not in Kansas anymore. Dakota Johnson's star is on the rise, while Tilda Swinton adds charisma and mystery to every work that she is in. I am also loving Sayombhu Mukdeeprom's cinematography, which is already making me want to open all the windows and feel the sun on my face. The new Suspiria looks like an effective remake, one that finds new details to add to a previously filmed story and one that might even be an award contender. I am looking forward to falling for its melancholy.