Phantom Thread

Director Paul Thomas Anderson

Genre Drama

Cast Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville, Camilla Rutherford

Rating R

Release Date January 19th, 2018 (Limited)

“Set in 1950’s London, Reynolds Woodcock is a renowned dressmaker whose fastidious life is disrupted by a young, strong-willed woman, Alma, who becomes his muse and lover.”

Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood), Phantom Thread is a drama based in 1950's London about a renowned dressmaker who has his life disrupted by a young, strong willed woman. To be honest I really don't know much about this film but the combination of Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day-Lewis is all I need to convince me to give it a shot. The full cast includes Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville, and Camilla Rutherford. Check out the official trailer below!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Phantom Thread:

• This will be Daniel Day-Lewis's last film. He announced that he will be retiring from acting on June 20, 2017
• Paul Thomas Anderson directed and shot the film as he served as both the Director and Cinematographer.
• At $35 million, this is Paul Thomas Anderson's second highest budgeted movie after Magnolia (1999) at $37 million.

The Shape of Water

Director Guillermo del Toro

Genre Adventure | Drama | Fantasy

Cast Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg

Rating R

Release Date January 19th, 2017 (Limited)

“In a 1960s research facility, a mute janitor forms a relationship with an aquatic creature.”

Directed and co-written by twisted mastermind Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water is an R-rated fantasy drama set during the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1963, and it looks pretty twisted! The cast includes Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, and Michael Stuhlbarg. Check out the newly released official trailer below!! 

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Shape of Water:

• Set during a real-life war and featuring magical elements. This was also the premise for Guillermo del Toro's earlier film Pan's Labyrinth (2006).
• del Toro has worked on this film for several years, and developed it before he began production on Pacific Rim (2013). Eventually, he chose to direct this film instead of Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018).

Check out the newly released unrated Red Band trailer below!!

Release day is less than a month away and the final trailer is here, check it out below!!

Call Me by Your Name

Director Luca Guadagnino

Genre Drama | Romance

Cast Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar

Rating R

Release Date January 19th, 2018 (Limited)

“In Northern Italy in 1983, seventeen year-old Elio begins a relationship with visiting Oliver, his father’s research assistant, with whom he bonds over his emerging sexuality, their Jewish heritage, and the beguiling Italian landscape.”

From director Luca Guadagnino (A Bigger Splash), Call Me by Your Name is a romance drama based on the 2007 novel from American author André Aciman.  The critically acclaimed film has been making its mark at film festivals prior to receiving a wider theatrical release in the U.S. The cast includes Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Amira Casar. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Call Me by Your Name:

• The entire film (including the opening credits) was shot with a single 35mm lens.
• On its premiere night, Call Me By Your Name (2017) received a ten-minute standing ovation, which was the longest standing ovation ever at the New York Film Festival.
• Timothée Chalamet learned to speak Italian and to play the guitar for the role of Elio.

Molly's Game

Director Aaron Sorkin

Genre Biography | Drama

Cast Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Chris O'Dowd, Kevin Costner

Rating R

Release Date January 5th, 2017

“The true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game and became an FBI target.”

The directorial debut for successful screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, Moneyball, Steve Jobs), Molly's Game is an incredible story based on true events right from Molly Bloom's hard-hitting memoir. The impressive cast includes Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Chris O'Dowd, Kevin Costner, and Michael Cera. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Molly's Game:

• Based on the memoir Molly's Game: From Hollywood's Elite to Wall Street's Billionaire Boys Club, My High-Stakes Adventure in the World of Underground Poker by Molly Bloom
• Aaron Sorkin's directorial debut.

The Post

Director Steven Spielberg

Genre Biography | Drama | History

Cast Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Alison Brie, Carrie Coon

Rating PG-13

Release Date January 12th, 2018

“A cover-up that spanned four U.S. Presidents pushed the country’s first female newspaper publisher and a hard-driving editor to join an unprecedented battle between journalist and government. Inspired by true events.”

From acclaimed director Steven Spielberg, The Post is a biographical drama based on a widespread cover-up that set forth a battle between a journalist and the government. The cast includes Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Alison Brie, and Carrie Coon. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Post:

• This is the fifth feature film collaboration of actor Tom Hanks and director Steven Spielberg. The earlier films were: Saving Private Ryan (1998), Catch Me If You Can (2002), The Terminal (2004), and Bridge of Spies (2015).
• This is the second film coming out in 2017 about a historical high-profile whistleblower case. Spielberg's The Post (2017) is based on Daniel Ellsberg and the release of the secret 'Pentagon Papers', while Landesman's Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House (2017) is based on 'Mark Felt' and the Watergate scandal. Both films feature by coincidence Canadian actor Bruce Greenwood.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Director Rian Johnson

Genre Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Cast Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill, Laura Dern

Rating PG-13

Release Date December 15th, 2017

“Having taken her first steps into the Jedi world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Rey joins Luke Skywalker on an adventure with Leia, Finn, and Poe that unlocks more mysteries of the Force and secrets of the past.”

From director Rian Johnson (The Brothers Bloom, Looper), Star Wars: The Last Jedi is an extension of The Force Awakens and promises more of what fans have come to love! The cast includes Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill, and Laura Dern. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Film Facts, Star Wars: The Last Jedi:

• Benicio Del Toro was announced to be playing a villain in the film. He was previously cast as Darth Maul, the primary antagonist of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace(1999), but dropped out after George Lucas removed most of Maul's lines from the script.
• It was confirmed that none of Carrie Fisher's scenes in the movie are cut out. Fisher passed away tragically in 2016. It has also been rumored that the film will honor her memory with a post-credit scene, if so it will be the first ever post-credit scene in a Star Wars film.

Ferdinand

Director Carlos Saldanha

Genre Animation | Adventure | Comedy

Cast Kate McKinnon, Daveed Diggs, Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Bobby Cannavale

Rating G

Release Date December 15th, 2017

“After Ferdinand, a bull with a big heart, is mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure.”

From director Carlos Saldanha (Ice Age, Rio), Ferdinand is an animated adventure comedy based on the book by Munro Leaf. The cast of voice actors includes Kate McKinnon, Daveed Diggs, Miguel Ángel Silvestre, and Bobby Cannavale. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Ferdinand:

• A short show about Ferdinand is shown on TV every Christmas Eve in Sweden. It's a very popular and known tradition in most homes.
• This marks the 4th animated film John Cena has been involved after Scooby-Doo Wrestlemania Mystery (2014), The Flintstones and WWE Stone Age Smackdown (2015), and Surf's Up 2 Wavemania (2017).
• Originally intended to release in July 2017, then it was pushed back to December 20th the same year, then it was pushed forward to December 15th, releasing the same day as Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017).

Check out the exclusive new trailer #2 below!!

The Greatest Showman

Director Michael Gracey

Genre Biography | Drama | Musical

Cast Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Rebecca Ferguson, Michelle Williams

Rating PG

Release Date December 25th, 2017

“Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman is an original musical that celebrates the birth of show business and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.”

The directorial debut for Michael Gracey, The Greatest Showman is a musical drama highlighting the birth of show business as it is inspired by P.T, Barnum (Barnum & Bailey circus). The cast includes Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Rebecca Ferguson, and Michelle Williams. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Film Facts, The Greatest Showman:

• In January 2017, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus, the circus founded by P.T. Barnum, announced they would be closing their doors forever, due to decreased attendance and protests by animal rights activists. Their last shows are scheduled for May 2017.
• This has been a dream project for Hugh Jackman since 2009.
• It was reported that Jackman actually saved Zac Efron from a fire on set.

The Disaster Artist

Director James Franco

Genre Comedy | Drama | History

Cast James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie

Rating R

Release Date December 8th, 2017 (Limited)

“A behind-the-scenes look at the making of Tommy Wiseau’s The Room (2003).”

Directed by veteran actor James Franco, The Disaster Artist is a cult classic in the making, based on the behind the scenes madness that took place during the filming of Tommy Wiseau's The Room (2003). The talented cast includes James Franco, Alison Brie, Zoey Deutch, Lizzy Caplan, Zac Efron, Bryan Cranston, and Dave Franco. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Disaster Artist:

• Greg Sestero stated that when he was writing the book, Tommy Wiseau said that only two actors could play him in the adaptation: James Franco or Johnny Depp.
• Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero gave their approval to the casting of Dave Franco as Greg Sestero.
• James Franco described the script as "a cross between Boogie Nights (1997) and The Master (2012)".

I, Tonya

Director Craig Gillespie

Genre Biography | Drama | Sport

Cast Margot Robbie, Bobby Cannavale, Sebastian Stan, McKenna Grace

Rating R

Release Date December 8th, 2017 (Limited)

“Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises among the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the sport is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes.”

From director Craig Gillespie (Fright Night, The Finest Hours), I, Tonya tells the story of Tonya Harding and her rise and fall among the ranks of U.S. figure skating. I was 10-years old when the "Nancy Kerrigan attack" happened so aside from a few basic details of the incident I was never given the full story and after watching the trailers for this movie I am excited to learn more about it! Plus I LOVE Margot Robbie and can't wait to see her portrayal of Tonya Harding. The cast includes Margot Robbie, Bobby Cannavale, Sebastian Stan, and McKenna Grace. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, I, Tonya:

• Steven Rogers' script was featured on the 2016 Black List of the most-liked scripts of the year.
• Although a member of an amateur ice hockey league, Margot Robbie didn't have that much skating experience before taking on the role of Tonya Harding.
• Premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.

Coco

Director Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina

Genre Animation | Adventure | Comedy

Cast Benjamin Bratt, Gael García Bernal, Renee Victor, Anthony Gonzales

Rating PG

Release Date November 22nd, 2017

“Coco follows a 12-year-old boy named Miguel who sets off a chain of events relating to a century-old mystery, leading to an extraordinary family reunion.”

From directors Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) and Adrian Molina, Coco is Pixar's very first animated musical. This is also Pixar's very first animated feature where the lead is a person of color.  The cast of voice actors includes Benjamin Bratt, Gael García Bernal, Renee Victor, and Anthony Gonzales. Check out the official trailers below!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Coco:

• This the first Pixar animated musical film.
• This is Pixar's seventh film to release in November and fifth to release on Thanksgiving.
• Directed by Lee Unkrich, the same director of Best Picture Oscar nominee Toy Story 3 (2010), with Coco (2017) being his second directorial effort.

Need more?! Man you're greedy!! Check out the newly released "find your voice" trailer below!

Darkest Hour

Director Joe Wright

Genre Biography | Drama | History

Cast Lily James, Gary Oldman, Ben Mendelsohn, Stephen Dillane

Rating PG-13

Release Date November 22nd, 2017

“During the early days of WWII, the fate of Western Europe hangs on the newly-appointed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Hitler or fight on against incredible odds.”

From acclaimed director Joe Wright, the man who brought us Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, and Hannah, Darkest Hour tells the story of Winston Churchill and his pivotal role in the early days of WWII. The cast includes Lily James, Gary Oldman, Ben Mendelsohn, and Stephen Dillane. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Film Facts, Darkest Hour:

• Veteran actor John Hurt, with 205 acting credits according to his IMDb page, died during the filming. Hurt was supposed to be in the film portraying Neville Chamberlain, but Gary Oldman said in an interview, that because of how sick he was and that he never made it to a reading, Hurt never filmed a scene, as he was being treated for cancer, which later took his life as filming was going on. The film will still be dedicated to Hurt, as it was his final project he was involved with.

Wonder

Director Stephen Chbosky

Genre Drama

Cast Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Jacob Tremblay, Daveed Diggs

Rating PG

Release Date November 17th, 2017

“Based on the New York Times bestseller, WONDER tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.”

From director Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), Wonder is a heartwarming story based on the New York Times bestselling novel written by R.J. Palacio. I was able to get my hands on the book and it was AMAZING! Such a great read that brings to light struggles within our society that many people may ignore or be unaware of. I am a huge fan of the casting decisions for this film, especially Jacob Tremblay who is a young actor on the rise! The full cast includes Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Jacob Tremblay, and Daveed Diggs. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Wonder:

• The second film adaptation of a novel in which it is narrated from the perspective of a child played by Jacob Tremblay, the first being Room.
• The second film based off a novel to be directed by Stephen Chbosky. The first was The Perks of a Being a Wallflower.
• The character of Auggie loves Star Wars. Jacob Tremblay in real life is also a huge fan of Star Wars.

Mudbound

Director Dee Rees

Genre Drama

Cast Garrett Hedlund, Carey Mulligan, Jonathan Banks, Jason Mitchell

Rating R

Release Date November 17th, 2017 (Netflix Streaming & Limited Theaters)

“Two men return home from World War II to work on a farm in rural Mississippi, where they struggle to deal with racism and adjusting to life after war.”

Co-written and directed by Dee Rees (Pariah, Bessie), Mudbound is the story two men who return home from war to work on a farm in rural Mississippi, and find themselves knee deep in  a new struggle due to racism. The cast includes Garrett Hedlund, Carey Mulligan, Jonathan Banks (Mike from Breaking Bad), and Jason Mitchell. Check out the official new trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Mudbound:

• The film was premiered at The Sundance Film Festival 2017 where it received a standing ovation.
• Second film with Garrett Hedlund and Carey Mulligan playing alongside each other, the first was Inside Llewyn Davis (2013).

Roman J Israel, Esq.

Director Dan Gilroy

Genre Crime | Drama

Cast Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Shelley Hennig, Carmen Ejogo

Rating Unrated

Release Date November 3rd, 2017

“Denzel Washington stars as Roman Israel, a driven, idealistic defense attorney who, through a tumultuous series of events, finds himself in a crisis that leads to extreme action.”

Written and directed by Dan Gilroy, who previously wrote and directed Nightcrawler and also penned the scripts for The Bourne Legacy and Kong: Skull Island, Roman J Israel, Esq. is a crime drama about a defense attorney who finds himself in a very serious situation that requires immediate action. The stellar cast includes Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Shelley Hennig, and Carmen Ejogo. Check out the newly released official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Roman J Israel, Esq.

• Second movie from director Dan Gilroy. The first being "Nightcrawler" (2014). 

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Director Martin McDonagh

Genre Crime

Cast Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Peter Dinklage

Rating R

Release Date November 10th, 2017 (Limited)

“In this darkly comic drama, a mother personally challenges the local authorities to solve her daughter’s murder, when they fail to catch the culprit.”

Written and directed by Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a controversial crime thriller with a star studded cast. The trailer looks pretty damn good and has sort of a Fargo feel to it, can't wait! The cast includes Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, and Peter Dinklage. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri:

• The town where the movie is filmed is actually a small mountain town in western North Carolina called Sylva.

• In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Woody Harrelson described this as "Super Troopers (2001) meets Seven Psychopaths (2012)"

• The hospital and doctor's office scenes were filmed at Haywood Regional Medical Center in Clyde, NC. The restaurant scene was filmed at J. Arthur's restaurant in Maggie Valley, NC.

Lady Bird

Director Greta Gerwig

Genre Comedy

Cast Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges

Rating R

Release Date November 3rd, 2017 (Limited)

“The adventures of a young woman living in Northern California for a year.”

Written and directed by 34-year old actress Greta Gerwig, her solo directorial debut (she previously co-directed the 2008 film Nights and Weekends), Lady Bird is a coming-of-age comedy drama about a girl trying to navigate her final year of high school, highlighted by the unique relationship she has with her mother. I am a huge Saoirse Ronan fan and this looks like yet another gem from A24, who has yet to let me down. The cast includes Saoirse Ronan, Odeya Rush, Danielle Macdonald, and Jordan Rodrigues. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Lady Bird:

• Greta Gerwig said in an interview that she would have preferred the film to be "just close-ups of Saoirse Ronan face" because of her immense beauty.
• Lucas Hedges and Stephen Henderson previously appeared in the Oscar winning film Manchester by the Sea (2016).

Marshall

Director Reginald Hudlin

Genre Biography | Drama

Cast Chadwick Boseman, Dan Stevens, Josh Gad, and Kate Hudson

Rating PG-13

Release Date October 13th, 2017

“The story of a young Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice, as he battles through one of his career-defining cases.”

From director Reginald Hudlin (House Party, The Great White Hyper),  Marshall is a biography drama centered on the first ever African American Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall. The cast includes Chadwick Boseman, Dan Stevens, Josh Gad, and Kate Hudson. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Marshall:

• This will be the third biographical figure played by Chadwick Boseman. He has also starred as James Brown and Jackie Robinson.
• Sterling K. Brown and Keesha Sharp previously worked together in the FX series American Crime Story: The People v. OJ Simpson.

Blade Runner 2049

Director Denis Villeneuve

Genre Sci-Fi | Thriller

Cast Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Harrison Ford

Rating R

Release Date October 6th, 2017

“Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K, unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. ”

Directed by master filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, the man who brought us Prisoners and most recently the epic sci-fi drama Arrival, Blade Runner 2049 is the sequel to the 1982 hit film. The cast includes Harrison Ford (who also starred in the original), Ryan Gosling, Jared Leto, and Ana de Armas. Check out the highly anticipated and newly released trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Blade Runner 2049:

“Denis Villeneuve noted that he’s fully aware of the immense pressure he’s under, and how hardcore fans of the original view the prospect of a new film: “I know that every single fan will walk into the theater with a baseball bat. I’m aware of that and I respect that, and it’s okay with me because it’s art. Art is risk, and I have to take risks. It’s gonna be the biggest risk of my life but I’m okay with that. For me it’s very exciting... It’s just so inspiring, I’m so inspired. I’ve been dreaming to do sci-fi since I was 10 years old, and I said ‘no’ to a lot of sequels. I couldn’t say ‘no’ to Blade Runner 2049 (2017). I love it too much, so I said, ‘Alright, I will do it and give everything I have to make it great.’””

— IMDb

Need more?! A brand new trailer just released, check it out below!!

The intense official trailer #2 is here, check it out below!!

Victoria and Abdul

Director Stephen Frears

Genre Biography | Drama | History

Cast Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Olivia Williams, Michael Gambon

Rating PG-13

Release Date October 6th, 2017 (Limited)

“Queen Victoria strikes up an an unlikely friendship with a young Indian clerk named Abdul Karim.”

From director Stephen Frears (High Fidelity, The Queen, Philomena), Vicoria and Abdul is a biography drama chronicling the life of Queen Victoria, and is based on the book written by Shrabani Basu. I thought Philomena was fantastic and I admire Frears as a director, plus how can you go wrong with the amazing Judi Dench?! The cast includes Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Olivia Williams, and Michael Gambon. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Victoria and Abdul:

• Judi Dench at the time the film was made was already older than Queen Victoria was when she died.
• Judi Dench previously played Queen Victoria in Mrs Brown (1997).