Ghosts are real. This much I know. There are things that tie them to a place, very much like they do us. Some remain tethered to a patch of land. A time and date. The spilling of blood. A terrible crime. There are others, others that hold on to emotion. A drive. Loss. Revenge. Or love. Those, they never go away. -Edith Cushing
Thanks for everyone’s submissions and a tour of Sharpe Manor to Kim (Tranquil Dreams) for answering correctly.
Synopsis
Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) is the daughter of an American business man (Jim Beaver) who falls for the mysterious Englishman Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston). When Edith marries Thomas, she moves to England with Thomas and his sister, Lucille (Jessica Chastain). Once in her new home, Edith realizes there is more to the house than she is being told.
Review
So far, the fall movie season has been filled with movies that have been different than I have expected. Going into Crimson Peak, I was expecting a supernatural horror along the lines of Mama, which is coincidentally another Guillermo del Toro film. However, it was much more of a suspense thriller with a supernatural element. The beginning made it look the former but it quickly became apparent that’s not what this movie was going for. Horror elements were present, only they were used to build the suspense, not to make you jump out of your seat (mostly). On that note, it did great to build the suspense, especially as it reached the final scenes. A lot of this can be attributed to the acting skills of the three main actors.
The majority of the movie was spent with Wasikowska, Hiddleston, and Chastain. My favorite was Chastain as Lucille. From the beginning, you could tell something wasn’t quite right about her. She maintains a noble poise that is unnerving but natural at the same time. I constantly found myself on the edge of my seat, not from fear but from how uncomfortable she could make me feel. Chastain really hit it out of the park. Like many of del Toro’s movies, the special effects look wonderful. I really liked how the ghosts looked. Sometimes they were just the skeletons and other times they were filled in to varying degrees but they always had these wisps coming off them. There were three different colors of ghosts: black, red, and white. I’m sure the colors mean something but I’m not sure exactly right now. Or maybe I’m looking too much into it. In any case, Crimson Peak looks beautiful and thanks to Chastain, it really keeps you looking towards what happens next.
Rating
3.5/5
Trailer
Cast & Crew
Guillermo del Toro – Writer / Director
Mathew Robbins – Writer
Fernando Velazquez – Composer
Mia Wasikowska – Edith Cushing
Tom Hiddleston – Thomas Sharpe
Jessica Chastain – Lucille Sharpe
Charlie Hunnam – Dr. Alan McMichael
Jim Beaver – Carter Cushing
Burn Gorman – Holly
Doug Jones – Edith’s Mother / Lady Sharp
Emily Coutts – Eunice
Happy Monday everybody! And Happy Memorial Day to my US readers. Sorry to those of you who look forward to the weekly Trailer Round-Ups. The last few weekends have kept me pretty busy and I haven’t had the time to put them together. Anyway, it’s here now so let’s dig in. I’ve included a few trailers from two weeks ago as well because they are awesome. There are a lot so let’s just get right to it. To jump to a specific trailer, click on it’s link below.
Official Synopsis: In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds…and remembers.
Crimson Peak screams into US theaters October 16, 2015. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, it stars Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, and Charlie Hunnam.
The Intern
Official Synopsis: In “The Intern,” De Niro stars as Ben Whittaker, a 70-year-old widower who has discovered that retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin (Hathaway).
The Intern climbs in US theaters September 25, 2015. Directed by Nancy Meyers, it stars Rober Di Nero, Ann Hathaway, Rene Russo, Anders Holm, Andrew Rannells, Adam Devine, Celia Weston, Nat Wolff, Linda Lavin, Zack Pearlman, Jason Orley, and Christina Scherer.
Jem and the Holograms
Synopsis: Music executive, Jerrica Benton, lives a secret, adventurous life as a glamorous rock star named Jem.
Jem and the Holograms goes to US theaters October 23, 2015. Directed by Jon M. Chu, it stars Aubrey Peeples, Juliette Lewis, Molly Ringwald, Ryan Guzman, Hayley Kiyoko, Stefanie Scott, and Samantha Newark.
Minions Trailer #3
Official Synopsis: Starting as single-celled yellow organisms, Minions evolve through the ages, perpetually serving the most despicable of masters. After accidentally killing off so many of them—from T. rex to Napoleon—the Minions find themselves without a master to serve and fall into a deep depression. B ut one Minion named Kevin has a plan, and he—alongside teenage rebel Stuart and lovable little Bob—ventures out into the world to find a new evil boss for his brethren to follow. The trio embarks upon an adventure that ultimately leads them to their next potential master, Scarlet Overkill (Academy Award® winner Sandra Bullock), the world’s first-ever female super-villain. They travel from frigid Antarctica to 1960s New York City, ending in mod London, where they must face their biggest challenge to date: saving all of Minionkind…from annihilation.
Minions will be in US theaters July 10, 2015. Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, it stars the voice talents of Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, and Steve Coogan.
Pan Trailer #2
Official Synopsis: Offering a new take on the origin of the classic characters created by J.M. Barrie, the action adventure follows the story of an orphan who is spirited away to the magical Neverland. There, he finds both fun and dangers, and ultimately discovers his destiny—to become the hero who will be forever known as Peter Pan.
Pan flies into US theaters October 9, 2015. Directed by Joe Wright, it stars Hugh Jackman, Levi Miller, Garrett Hedlund, Rooney Mara, and Adeel Akhtar.
Pixels Trailer #2
Official Synopsis: When aliens misinterpret video-feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war against them, they attack the Earth, using the games as models for their various assaults. President Will Cooper has to call on his childhood best friend, ‘80s video game champion Sam Brenner, now a home theater installer, to lead a team of old-school arcaders to defeat the aliens and save the planet.
Pixels blasts into US theaters July 24, 2015. Directed by Chris Columbus, it stars Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Josh Gad, Peter Dinklage, Jane Krakowski, Ashley Benson, Sean Bean, and Brian Cox.
We Are Your Friends
Official Synopsis: Set in the world of electronic music and Hollywood nightlife, an aspiring 23-year-old DJ named Cole (Efron) spends his days scheming with his childhood friends and his nights working on the one track that will set the world on fire. All of this changes when he meets a charismatic but damaged older DJ named James (Bentley), who takes him under his wing. Things get complicated, however, when Cole starts falling for James’ much younger girlfriend, Sophie (Ratajkowski). With Cole’s forbidden relationship intensifying and his friendships unraveling, he must choose between love, loyalty, and the future he is destined for.
We Are your Friends hits US theaters August 28, 2015. Directed by Max Joseph, it stars Zac Efron, Emily Ratajkowski, Wes Bentley, and Johnny Weston.
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
Official Synopsis: In this next chapter of the epic “Maze Runner” saga, Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and his fellow Gladers face their greatest challenge yet: searching for clues about the mysterious and powerful organization known as WCKD. Their journey takes them to the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles. Teaming up with resistance fighters, the Gladers take on WCKD’s vastly superior forces and uncover its shocking plans for them all.
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials runs into US theaters September 18, 2015. Directed by Wes Ball, it stars Dylan O’Brian, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee, Giancarlo Esposito, Aidan Gillen, Nathalie Emmanuael, Barry Pepper, Rosa Salazar, Lili Taylor, Jacob Lofland and Katherine McNamara.
Amy Trailer #2
Synopsis: Asif Kapadia’s 90′ minutes documentary on the six-time Grammy-winner will feature previously unseen archive footage and seek to tell the London performer’s tragic story in her own words.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl International Trailer
Official Synopsis: Greg (Thomas Mann), a high school senior who is trying to blend in anonymously, avoiding deeper relationships as a survival strategy for navigating the social minefield that is teenage life. He even describes his constant companion Earl (RJ Cyler), with whom he makes short film parodies of classic movies, as more of a ‘co-worker’ than a best friend. But when Greg’s mom (Connie Britton) insists he spend time with Rachel (Olivia Cooke) – a girl in his class who has just been diagnosed with cancer – he slowly discovers how worthwhile the true bonds of friendship can be.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl will be in US theaters June 12, 2015. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, it stars Olivia Cooke, Jon Bernthal, Nick Offerman, Connie Britton, Thomas Mann, Molly Shannon, and Matt Bennett.
Cooties
Synopsis: When a cafeteria food virus turns elementary school children into little killer savages, a group of misfit teachers must band together to escape the playground carnage. The film stars Elijah Wood (The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings), Rainn Wilson (The Office), and Alison Pill (The Newsroom) as teachers who fight to survive the mayhem while hilariously bickering in an uncomfortable love triangle on the worst Monday of their lives.
Cooties will swarm into US theaters September 18, 2015. Directed by Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion, it stars Elijah Wood, Alison Pill, Rainn Wilson, Sunny May Allison, Armani Jackson, Leigh Whannell, Morgan Lily, Nasim Pedrad, Jack McBrayer, Jorge Garcia and Peter Kwong.
Black Mass Trailer #2
Synopsis: The true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf.
Black Mass shoots into US theaters September 18, 2015. Directed by Scott Cooper, it stars Johnny Depp, Dakota Johnson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Joel Edgerton, Juno Temple, Corey Stoll, Kevin Bacon, Adam Scott, Jesse Plumber, and Peter Sarsgaard.
Fantastic Four International Trailer #2
Official Synopsis: The Fantastic Four, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.
The Fantastic Four makes its way into US theaters August 7, 2015. Directed by Josh Trank, it stars, Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Toby Kebbell, and Reg E. Cathey.
Which of these films are you looking forward to the most?
This week was quite the week for trailers. In this TRU, the Bella’s must dance their way to the top… again, the popular Hitman video game series comes to the big screen… again, Amy Schumer plays Amy Schumer, the last look at the new Cinderella, Bradley Cooper gets stuck between two women, a 1960s hit action show comes to the big screen, Modern Family’s Gloria goes into protective custody, Clive Owen leads a revolution, and Guillermo del Toro brings us another horror film from his twisted imagination. To jump to a specific trailer, click on it’s link below.
Official Synopsis: The Barden Bellas enter an international acapella competition that no American group has ever won.
Pitch Perfect 2 sings into US theaters March 15. Directed by Elizabeth Banks, it stars Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld, Alexis Knapp, Anna Camp, Hana Mae Lee, Elizabeth Banks, and John Michael Higgins.
Hitman: Agent 47
Official Synopsis: HITMAN: AGENT 47 centers on an elite assassin who was genetically engineered from conception to be the perfect killing machine, and is known only by the last two digits on the barcode tattooed on the back of his neck. He is the culmination of decades of research – and forty-six earlier Agent clones — endowing him with unprecedented strength, speed, stamina and intelligence. His latest target is a mega-corporation that plans to unlock the secret of Agent 47’s past to create an army of killers whose powers surpass even his own. Teaming up with a young woman who may hold the secret to overcoming their powerful and clandestine enemies, 47 confronts stunning revelations about his own origins and squares off in an epic battle with his deadliest foe.
Hitman: Agent 47 shoots into US theaters August 28, 2015. Directed by Aleksander Bach, it stars Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary Quinto, Ciarán Hinds, and Thomas Kretschmann.
Trainwreck
Official Synopsis: Since she was a little girl, it’s been drilled into Amy’s (Amy Schumer) head by her rascal of a dad (Colin Quinn) that monogamy isn’t realistic. Now a magazine writer, Amy lives by that credo—enjoying what she feels is an uninhibited life free from stifling, boring romantic commitment—but in actuality, she’s kind of in a rut. When she finds herself starting to fall for the subject of the new article she’s writing, a charming and successful sports doctor named Aaron Conners (Bill Hader), Amy starts to wonder if other grown-ups, including this guy who really seems to like her, might be on to something.
Trainwreck will be in US theaters July 17, 2015. Directed by Judd Apatow, it stars Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Colin Quinn, Barkhad Abdi, Mike Birbiglia, Jon Glaser, John Cena, and Vanessa Bayer.
Cinderella #3
Official Synopsis: The story of “Cinderella” follows the fortunes of young Ella (Lily James) whose merchant father remarries following the death of her mother. Eager to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) into the family home. But, when Ella’s father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother’s dying words and to “have courage and be kind.” She will not give in to despair nor despise those who mistreat her. And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an apprentice at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella’s hopes of once again encountering the charming Kit (Richard Madden). Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand, and a kindly beggar woman (Helena Bonham-Carter) steps forward and — armed with a pumpkin and a few mice — changes Cinderella’s life forever.
Cinderella waltz into US theaters March 13, 2015. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, it stars Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter, Stellan Skarsgard, Sophie McShera, Nonso Anozie, and Derek Jacobi.
Aloha
Official Synopsis: A celebrated military contractor (Bradley Cooper) returns to the site of his greatest career triumphs – the US Space program in Honolulu, Hawaii – and reconnects with a long-ago love (Rachel McAdams) while unexpectedly falling for the hard-charging Air Force watchdog (Emma Stone) assigned to him.
Aloha flies into US theaters May 29, 2015. Directed by Cameron Crowe, it stars Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Emma Stone, Bill Murray, John Krasinski, Danny McBride, and Alec Baldwin.
The Man From UNCLE
Official Synopsis: Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” centers on CIA agent Solo (Henry Cavill) and KGB agent Kuryakin (Armie Hammer). Forced to put aside longstanding hostilities, the two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology. The duo’s only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.
The Man From UNCLE blasts into US theaters August 14, 2015. Directed by Guy Ritchie, it stars Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Hugh Grant, Jared Harris, Elizabeth Debicki, and Luca Calvani.
Hot Pursuit
Official Synopsis: An uptight and by-the-book cop (Reese Witherspoon) tries to protect the sexy and outgoing widow (Sofia Vergara) of a drug boss as they race through Texas pursued by crooked cops and murderous gunmen.
Hot Pursuit hits US theaters May 8, 2015. Directed by Anne Fletcher, it stars Reese Witherspoon, Sofia Vergara, John Carroll Lynch, Robert Kazinsky, Richard T. Jones, Michael Mosley, and Matthew Del Negro.
Last Knights
Official Synopsis: A knight seeks vengeance when his lord is unjustly executed by a tyrannical emperor. Knight’s commander RAIDEN (Clive Owen) receives an honor above all else when BARTOK (Morgan Freeman), his childless lord, names him as his heir. But his happiness is destroyed when the emperor’s evil emissary MOTT (Aksel Hennie) forces him to behead his surrogate father, and casts him and his men out of their castle divested of all titles and livelihood. But even as the paranoid Mott seeks to erase any trace of the Bartok’s clan and legacy, Raiden secretly conspires an audacious plan to infiltrate Mott’s impenetrable fortes and exact revenge.
Last Knights rides into select US theaters April 3, 2015. Directed by Kazuaki Kiriya, it stars Clive Owen, Morgan Freeman, and Aksel Hennie.
Crimson Peak
Official Synopsis: In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds…and remembers.
Crimson Peak will be in US theaters October 16, 2015. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, it stars Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, and Charlie Hunnam.
Which of these movies are you looking forward to most?
Drew's Movie Reviews 