It’s a tale of two blockbusters and an indie.
If you want a snapshot of the diversity of today’s cinema, then this is it; sure blockbusters are like the eighty ton gorilla that seems to cinematically stomp over everything, but the well done ones, and let’s hope these are among their number, can be an escapist delight to watch, and they are balanced out by their more thoughtful arthouse and indie brethren.
If you’re an eclectic film watcher like this blogger, you relish of such different stories being within your grasp, thankful than you have access to both and that you can feed both the demands of the diversion-seeking soul and the emotionally poignant mind, often in the same month and cinema complex.
Let the multi-faceted cinema times roll …
SNAPSHOT
The film finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced – a quest for inner peace. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.The film will also feature a number of Marvel Cinematic Universe alums such as Jaime Alexander as Sif, Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster, Waititi as Korg, and Guardians of the Galaxy stars including Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill, Karen Gillan’s Nebula, Sean Gunn’s Kraglin, and Vin Diesel’s Groot. Thanks to previous set photos, it has also been revealed that Matt Damon, Sam Neill, and Luke Hemsworth will once again return for cameo roles along with Melissa McCarthy and Russell Crowe. (official synopsis courtesy Coming Soon)
There’s a lot going on this trailer so let Gizmodo explain what you might have missed.
Thor: Love and Thunder opens 7 July in Australia and 8 July in USA and UK.
SNAPSHOT
After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster”. Top Gun: Maverick is directed by the visionary American filmmaker Joseph Kosinski, of the movies Tron: Legacy, Oblivion, and Only the Brave previously. The screenplay is written by Christopher McQuarrie, Peter Craig, Justin Marks, and Eric Warren Singer. Based on the original characters created by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and David Ellison. And executive produced by Tommy Harper, Chad Oman, Mike Stenson, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger. (synopsis courtesy First Showing)
Top Gun: Maverick opens 26 May in Australia and 27 May in USA and UK.
SNAPSHOT
The biopic explores the turbulent life of WWI poet Siegfried Sassoon (Jack Lowden). The writer and soldier was a complex man who survived the horrors of fighting in the First World War and was decorated for his bravery but who became a vocal critic of the government’s continuation of the war when he returned from service. His poetry was inspired by experiences on the Western Front, and he became one of the leading war poets of the era. Adored by members of the aristocracy as well as stars of London’s literary and stage world, he embarked on affairs with several men as he attempted to come to terms with his homosexuality. At the same time, broken by the horror of war, he made his life’s journey a quest for salvation, trying to find it within the conformity of marriage and religion. Benediction is both written & directed by acclaimed British filmmaker Terence Davies, director of the films Distant Voices Still Lives, The Long Day Closes, The Neon Bible, The House of Mirth, The Deep Blue Sea, Sunset Song, and A Quiet Passion previously. It’s produced by Michael Elliott. (synopsis courtesy First Showing)
Benediction opens in USA on 3 June and Australia on 9 June 2022.