The Third Day

Genre Drama

Cast Jude Law, Naomie Harris, Katherine Waterston, Emily Watson

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere September 14th, 2020 (HBO)

“The line between reality and fantasy begins to blur for a man visiting a mysterious Island off the British coast.”

“‌The show is divided into two parts: “Summer” and “Winter.” In “Summer,” one man (The New Pope’s Jude Law) visits a mysterious island off the British coast and discovers a group of inhabitants intent on preserving their home at any cost. In the second half, aka “Winter,” a strong-willed outsider (Moonlight’s Naomie Harris) comes to the island seeking answers — but instead causes a battle to decide its fate.”

— HBO

Check out the official trailer for the HBO limited drama series The Third Day below!!

Slice

Director Austin Vesely

Genre Comedy | Horror

Cast Chance the Rapper, Joe Keery, Zazie Beetz, Paul Scheer

Rating R

Release Date September 14th, 2018 (Limited & On-Demand)

“When a pizza delivery driver is murdered on the job, the city searches for someone to blame: ghosts? drug dealers? a disgraced werewolf?”

Written and directed by Austin Vesely, Slice is a comedy horror from A24 about a pizza delivery guy that gets murdered and the immediate attempts to figure out who is responsible. The cast includes Chance the Rapper, Joe Keery, Zazie Beetz, and Paul Scheer. Check out the official trailer below!!

The Predator

Director Shane Black

Genre Action | Adventure | Horror

Cast Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan Michael-Key

Rating R

Release Date September 14th, 2018

“When a young boy accidentally triggers the universe’s most lethal hunters return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled science teacher can prevent the end of the human race.”

Co-written and directed by Shane Black, the man who brought us Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Iron Man 3, and The Nice Guys, The Predator is the 4th film in the "Predator" franchise, and this time around a young boy inadvertently unleashes the most lethal hunters in the universe, and the force brought together to stop them is extremely outmatched. The very first Predator film released in 1987 when I was three years old, so these movies have a bit of a nostalgic feel for me. With Shane Black at the helm with a big budget and a talented cast,  I have a lot of faith in the success of this film. The cast includes Boyd Holbrook (Logan), Trevante Rhodes (Moonlight), Jacob Tremblay (Room, Wonder), and Keegan Michael-Key (Keanu). Check out the official trailer below!!   

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Predator:

• The film was originally conceived as a reboot of the "Predator" film franchise, until Shane Black came aboard and confirmed he would be making a sequel instead, as he wanted to continue to explore the "Predator" mythology.

• After the success of Iron Man 3 (2013), Shane Black was approached by 20th Century Fox with an Iron Man 3 (2013)-sized budget to direct a new "Predator" movie, and he could not resist. He actually played the role of Hawkins in the original 1987 film.

A Simple Favor

Director Paul Feig

Genre Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Cast Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding, Linda Cardellini

Rating R

Release Date September 14th, 2018

“Stephanie, a mommy vlogger, seeks to uncover the truth behind her best friend Emily’s sudden disappearance from their small town.”

From director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, The Heat, Spy), A Simple Favor centers around Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), a mommy blogger who seeks to uncover the truth behind her best friend Emily's (Blake Lively) sudden disappearance from their small town. Full disclosure, I will watch pretty much anything with Blake Lively (she is GORGEOUS), and I am also a big fan of Kendrick even though she isn't a great tipper. The full cast includes Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding, Linda Cardellini, and Rupert Friend. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, A Simple Favor:

• In order to promote the film, Blake Lively deleted all her photos and unfollowed everyone on Instagram and proceeded to exclusively follow individuals called 'Emily Nelson'.

• Based on the novel of the same name from author Darcey Bell.

White Boy Rick

Director Yann Demange

Genre Crime | Drama

Cast Matthew McConaughey, Richie Merritt, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jonathan Majors

Rating R

Release Date September 14th, 2018

“The story of teenager Richard Wershe Jr., who became an undercover informant for the FBI during the 1980s and was ultimately arrested for drug-trafficking and sentenced to life in prison.”

From French director director Yann Demange, White Boy Rick is based on the true story of Ricky Wershe Jr., a street hustler who was also an FBI informant and Drug Kingpin- all before the age of 16. The cast includes Matthew McConaughey, Richie Merritt, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jonathan Majors, and Eddie Marsan. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Film Facts, White Boy Rick:

• As of July 14th 2017 "White Boy Rick" had been paroled from the MICHIGAN prison system after 29 years. Upon release Mr. Wershe was immediately turned over to U.S. marshals for transfer to FLORIDA and begin serving time there on a separate charge.

• The film cast includes one Oscar winner: Matthew McConaughey; and three Oscar nominees: Piper Laurie, Bruce Dern and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

The First

Genre Drama | Sci-Fi

Cast Sean Penn, Rey Lucas, Brian Lee Franklin, T.C. Matherne

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere September 14th, 2018 (Hulu)

“Fictional series to chronicle the effort to send the first manned mission to Mars.”

From creator Beau Willimon (Ides of March, The House if Cards), the Hulu exclusive series The First tells the fictional story of the effort to send the first manned mission to Mars. The cast includes Sean Penn, Rey Lucas, Brian Lee Franklin, and T.C. Matherne. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts Hulu exclusive series The First:

• The First marks the small-screen series regular debut for Oscar winner Sean Penn.

The Land of Steady Habits

Director Nicole Holofcener

Genre Comedy | Drama

Cast Ben Mendelsohn, Edie Falco, Thomas Mann, Connie Britton

Rating Unrated

Release Date September 14th, 2018 (Netflix)

“Feeling trapped in the stifling, wealthy enclave of Westport, Connecticut, Anders Hill retires from his job in finance and leaves his wife in the hopes that it will renew his lust for life.”

Written and directed by Nicole Holofcener (Friends with Money, Enough Said), The Land of Steady Habits is a comedy drama based on the book of the same name from author Ted Thompson. Anders Hill is a successful married man with a grown son who begins feeling trapped in his suburban lifestyle, deciding to quit his job and leave hos wife for what he feels will give his life meaning again, although as they say the grass isn't always greener on the other side. The cast includes Ben Mendelsohn, Edie Falco, Thomas Mann, Connie Britton, Natalie Gold, and Charlie Tahan. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Land of Steady Habits:

• After five feature films together, Catherine Keener will not appear in this sixth and latest movie by Nicole Holofcener.

• Australian born actor Ben Mendelsohn, the oldest of three boys, offered to remove his front teeth for the role of Robin in Place Beyond the Pines, which was written as having dentures. The director accepted the offer but changed his mind when an producer intervened before Mendelsohn had the dental work done.

Mandy

Director Panos Cosmatos

Genre Action | Thriller

Cast Nicolas Cage, Andrea Risenborough, Linus Roache, Bill Duke

Rating Unrated

Release Date September 14th, 2018

“Mandy is set in the primal wilderness of 1983 where Red Miller, a broken and haunted man hunts an unhinged religious sect who slaughtered the love of his life.”

Co- written and directed by Panos Cosmatos, Mandy is an action thriller set in the primal wilderness of 1983 where a broken and haunted man hunts an unhinged religious maniac who slaughtered the love of his life. The cast includes Nicolas Cage, Andrea Risenborough, Linus Roache, Bill Duke, and Richard Brake. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Film Facts, Mandy:

• The first fan owned entertainment company, Legion M, helped co-produce the film and the Jóhann Jóhannsson soundtrack. This is Jóhannsson's final scored film before his death.

• Sold out all international territories before its premiere in the 'Directors' Fortnight' at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2018.

The Children Act

Director Richard Eyre

Genre Drama

Cast Emma Thompson, Stanley Tucci, Fionn Whitehead, Ben Chaplin

Rating R

Release Date September 14th, 2018 (Limited)

“In the midst of a marital crisis, a High Court judge must decide if she should order a life-saving blood transfusion for a teen with cancer despite his family’s refusal to accept medical treatment for religious reasons.”

From director Richard Eyre (Iris, The Other Man), The Children Act is a drama about a High Court judge who amidst the crumbling of her marriage, must decide whether or not to order a life-saving blood transfusion for a teen with cancer despite his family's refusal to accept medical treatment for religious reasons. The cast includes Emma Thompson, Stanley Tucci, Fionn Whitehead, and Ben Chaplin. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Film Facts, The Children Act:

• Film is based on the 2014 novel of the same name written by Ian McEwan, who also wrote the script for the film.

• Had its world premiere at the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2017.

Final Score

Director Scott Mann

Genre Action

Cast Dave Bautista, Pierce Brosnan, Ray Stevenson, Martyn Ford

Rating R

Release Date  September 14th, 2018 (Limited)

From director Scott Mann (Heist), Final Score is an action thriller that looks to be more of a homage to the films of the 90’s. After deadly terrorists abduct his niece at a soccer match, an ex-soldier with lethal fighting skills wages a one-man war to save her and prevent mass destruction. The cast includes Dave Bautista, Pierce Brosnan, Ray Stevenson, and Martyn FordCheck out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Final Score:

• Marks the second collaboration between director Scott Mann and actor Dave Bautista.

• Both Pierce Brosnan and Dave Baustisa have starred in at least one James Bond movie. Brosnan was Bond from GoldenEye (1995) to Die Another Day (2002) and Baustisa was in Spectre (2015).

Lizzie

Director Craig William Macneill

Genre Biography | Crime | Drama

Cast Chloë Sevigny, Kristen Stewart, Kim Dickens, Fiona Shaw

Rating R

Release Date September 14th, 2018 (Limited)

“A psychological thriller based on the infamous 1892 murders of the Borden family.”

From director Craig William Macneill, Lizzie is a crime drama based on the 1982 murders of the Borden family. The cast includes Chloë Sevigny, Kristen Stewart, Kim Dickens,and  Fiona Shaw. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Lizzie:

• Filmed in just 23 days, Lizzie premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.

• This project was in development for many years as a passion project of Chloë Sevigny's. At one point it was set up at HBO as a miniseries, until a rival project from another studio caused HBO to axe the project. Sevigny and writer Bryce Kass then bought the rights back to the project.

• Chloe Sevigny was born in Massachusetts like her character, Lizzie Borden.