Ladies in Black
The movie has received great reviews. Based on the book by Madeleine St John. Directed by Bruce Beresford. Stars Julia Ormond, Angourie Rice, Shane Jacobson. A young school-leaver joins the sales staff of a fashionable store in the late 1950s and is befriended by the people there, changing her life forever. A musical version with songs by Tim Finn toured in 2017 and was excellent! Out now.
https://www.filmink.com.au/reviews/ladies-in-black/
First man
Directed by Damien Chazelle. Stars Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy. Biographical drama about Neil Armstrong and the years leading up to the Apollo 11 mission. Opens 11 Oct 2018.
The house with a clock in its walls
Based on the book by John Bellairs. Directed by Eli Roth. Stars Cate Blanchett and Jack Black. A young orphan aids his magical uncle in locating a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world. Out now.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/house-a-clock-walls-review-1143515
Storm Boy
Aww Mr Percival again…such a great story. In this retelling, Storm Boy has grown up to be a retired businessman who begins to see images from his past and tells his granddaughter about his life. Directed by Shawn Seet (Peter Allen; The code). Stars Geoffrey Rush, Jai Courtney, Trevor Jamieson, Finn Little and Mr Percival. Gulpilil has a cameo as Fingerbone Bill’s father. A video game is also being made. Opens Jan 2019.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-15/storm-boy-remake-trailer-and-poster-released/10123090
Mortal engines
Based on the novel by Philip Reeve. Directed by Christian Rivers. Stars Hugo Weaving and Hera Hilmar. Screenplay by Peter Jackson and wife Fran Walsh. Many years after the Sixty Minute War, cities survive on desolate Earth by moving around on giant wheels, attacking and devouring smaller towns to replenish their resources. Opens Dec 2018.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1571234/
Boy erased
Based on the memoir by Garrard Conley. Directed by Joel Edgerton. Stars Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe. The 19 year old gay son of a Baptist pastor is given an ultimatum by his parents: attend a conversion therapy program or be shunned by his family, friends and faith. Opens 8 Nov 2018.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/boy-erased-review-1139231
Fantastic beasts: the crimes of Grindelwald
Sequel to Fantastic beasts and where to find them. Directed by David Yates. Screenplay by J.K.Rowling. Stars Eddie Redmayne and Katherine Waterston. Newt Scamander and Dumbledore (Jude Law) attempt to take down the dark wizard Grindelwald, while facing new threats in a more divided wizarding world. Opens 15 Nov 2018.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4123430/
Mary Queen of Scots
Directed by Josie Rourke. Great cast- stars Saoirse Ronan as Mary, Margot Robbie as her distant cousin Queen Elizabeth I, Guy Pearce and David Tennant. Mary Stuart attempts to overthrow Elizabeth I, Queen of England, only to find herself condemned to years of imprisonment before facing execution. Opens 17 Jan 2019.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-44951930
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2328900/
Toy story 4
Directed by Josh Cooley. Voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts. Woody and Buzz set out on a journey to find Woody’s love interest, Bo Peep, who was given away prior to the events of the third film. Opens 20 June 2019.
http://screencrush.com/toy-story-4-delays-annie-potts/
And movie musicals are coming back!…..
Mary Poppins Returns
The trailer looks amazing! Directed by Rob Marshall. Set in 1935, Emily Blunt plays Mary, who returns to help the grown-up family after a tragedy. Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) has written some of the new songs and plays Jack, a street lamplighter. Also features Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Dick Van Dyke and Meryl Streep, who plays Mary’s eccentric cousin. Opens 1 Jan 2019.
Bohemian rhapsody
Previews look excellent. Biopic of the rise to fame of rock band Queen and lead singer Freddie Mercury. Directed by Bryan Singer and Dexter Fletcher. Stars Rami Malek as Freddie. Rami will do an amazing job. Opens 1 Nov 2018.
https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/bohemian-rhapsody-queen-biopic-696188/
A star is born
Remake directed by Bradley Cooper. Cooper plays a country music star and Lady Gaga is a struggling singer. Cooper and Gaga wrote songs together and performed them live. Gaga looks excellent in the previews. Opens 18 Oct 2018.
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20180902-film-review-a-star-is-born
Cats
Directed by Tom Hooper (Les mis, The king’s speech). Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, James Corden and Taylor Swift will journey up to the Heaviside Layer….what a cast! Andrew Lloyd Webber is also writing some new songs and music for the film. Due out Dec 2019.
Aladdin
Live-action remake, with additional songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La la land and The greatest showman). Directed by Guy Ritchie. Stars Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott and Will Smith as the Genie. Due May 2019.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/aladdin-everything-know-disneys-live-action-remake-1125148
The lion king
Live-action remake with a new Elton John song for Beyonce and a reworked score by Hans Zimmer. Directed by Jon Favreau. Stars the voices of Donald Glover, Beyonce, James Earl Jones. Due July 2019.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lion-king-everything-know-2019-disney-remake-1123979
Wicked
Directed by Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot). The story of Glinda and Elphaba has yet to begin filming and may come out in 2020.
http://www.darkhorizons.com/wicked-film-will-eventually-happen/
West side story
Remake directed by Steven Spielberg. Casting has just begun. Due 2020.
https://screenrant.com/steven-spielberg-west-side-story-filming-start-date/
And in 2019 there will also be a Judy Garland biopic (Judy) with Renee Zellweger and Rocketman, the Elton John biopic.
Lots of great viewing!