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.

Paddington 2

Director Paul King

Genre Animation | Comedy | Family

Cast Hugh Grant, Brendan Gleeson, Jim Broadbent, Ben Whishaw

Rating Unrated

Release Date January 12th, 2018

“Paddington, now happily settled with the Brown family and a popular member of the local community, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday, only for the gift to be stolen.”

Paddington (2014) director Paul King returns for the sequel, and the world's cutest bear is packed and ready for a new adventure! The original was very well received by critics, finishing with a phenomenal 98% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The sequel looks to build on that success. The cast includes Hugh Grant, Brendan Gleeson, Jim Broadbent, and Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington. Check out the official trailer below!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Paddington 2:

• After months of speculations, in October 2015 it was confirmed that Paul King would return to helm this second installment.
• Creator of the Paddington books, Michael Bond, was told of the official announcement of the second film on his 90th birthday.
• Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent and Hugh Grant previously all three appeared in Cloud Atlas (2012).

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.

Before I Wake

Director Mike Flanagan

Genre Drama | Fantasy | Horror

Cast Jacob Tremblay, Kate Bosworth, Thomas Jane, Annabeth Gish

Rating PG-13

Release Date January 5th, 2018 (Netflix)

“A young couple adopt an orphaned child whose dreams - and nightmares - manifest physically as he sleeps.”

You never quite now what to expect with the horror genre these days but Before I Wake is certainly an intriguing entry. Originally set to release in 2016, this movie fell off the map for awhile in the states and just turned back up recently as a Netflix exclusive now available for streaming. It is directed by Mike Flanagan, who also directed the highly rated horror film Oculus, The cast includes Kate Bosworth, Thomas Jane, and Jacom Tremblay from the Oscar-winning film Room. Before I Wake looks like it could provide plenty of scares and I am looking forward to finally checking it out. Check out the official trailer below.

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Before I Wake:

• This movie was originally titled "Somnia," which would have made it the third film by Mike Flanagan featuring a single Latin word for a title after, Absentia (2011) and Oculus(2013).
• This movie was slated for wide release on September 25, 2015 until Relativity Media (the film's domestic distributor) filed for bankruptcy, leaving the fate of the film unknown. The film was later acquired by Netflix.
• Director Mike Flanagan had repeatedly objected to the film being marketed as a "horror movie," and instead referred to it as a "fable" or a "supernatural drama."

The Polka King

Director Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky

Genre Biography | Comedy | Drama

Cast Jack Black, Jenny Slate, Vanessa Bayer, Jason Schwartzma

Rating Unrated

Release Date January 12th, 2018 (Netflix)

“Local Pennsylvania polka legend Jan Lewan develops a plan to get rich that shocks his fans and lands him in jail.”

Written and directed by Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky, The Polka King is the story of local Pennsylvania Polka king Jan Lewan who concocts a get rich scheme that lands him in jail, as well as in hot water with the locals. The cast includes Jack Black, Jenny Slate, Vanessa Bayer, and Jason Schwartzman. Check out the official trailer below!!  

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Polka King:

• The real Jan Lewan, whose life this film is based, was in attendance at the Sundance Film Festival 2017 screening at the Eccles theatre. During the cast and crew Q&A, Jan joined Jack Black onstage to perform an a capella version of the Polka Rap.
• A book based on Jan Lewan's life is currently in the works by author Melinda Stanislawczyk.
• This film was selected as an official entry to the Sundance film festival 2017.

Proud Mary

Director Babak Najafi

Genre Action | Thriller

Cast Taraji P. Henson, Neal McDonough, Danny Glover, Xander Berkeley

Rating R

Release Date January 12th, 2018

“Taraji P. Henson is Mary, a hitwoman working for an organized crime family in Boston. Mary’s life is completely turned around when she meets a young boy whose path she crosses when a professional hit goes awry.”

From director Babak Najafi (London Has Fallen), Proud Mary is an action thriller about a hitwoman working for an organized crime family in Boston. Her career takes a drastic turn when she crosses paths with a young boy after a contract goes south. The cast includes Taraji P. Henson, Neal McDonough, Danny Glover, and Xander Berkeley. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Proud Mary:

• Multiple scenes filmed in Lowell, MA.
• This film reunites Danny Glover and Margaret Avery, who starred together in The Color Purple (1985).

HBO's Divorce Season 2

Genre Comedy

Cast Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church, Molly Shannon, Tracy Letts

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere Sunday January 14th, 2018 10:00 PM EST (HBO)

“A couple goes through a long, drawn-out divorce.”

HBO's comedy series Divorce returns for a second season this January and I personally cannot wait. I loved the first season and simply couldn't get enough of the back and forth between Sarah Jessica Parker and one of my absolute favorite underappreciated actors Thomas Haden Church. This show is a perfect example of societies sick obsession with finding enjoyment in the pain of others, and man is it enjoyable! The show is created by Sharon Horgan, co-creator and star of the Amazon series Catastrophe. I have enjoyed that show as well but to me Divorce is much more of a satisfying guilty pleasure. The cast includes Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church, Molly Shannon, and Tracy Letts. Check out the official season 2 teaser trailer below!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, HBO's Divorce:

• Creator Sharon Horgan was not only interested in the intricacies of the couple parting ways, but also the industry of lawyers, authors, mediators and counselors that deals with divorce.
• Despite many offers, this is Sarah Jessica Parker's first foray into a television show, since Sex and the City (1998). Just like that show, this is also an HBO production and Parker herself also serves as a producer. She also spent four years developing the series.

The End of the F***ing World

Genre Comedy | Drama

Cast Jessica Barden, Alex Lawther, Steve Oram, Jack Veal

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere January 5th, 2018 (Netflix)

“James is 17 and is pretty sure he is a psychopath. Alyssa, also 17, is the cool and moody new girl at school. The pair make a connection and she persuades him to embark on a road trip in search of her real father.”

Netflix has been busy offering a TON of exclusive content and I just stumbled across yet another seemingly binge-worthy TV show. This is a British comedy drama about two very troubled teens who find themselves together on a path of destruction, sort of speak. I really like when I can sit down and binge a show that has 30-minute episodes so this one is now high on my list. Plus, the trailer looks pretty damn good! The cast includes Jessica Barden, Alex Lawther, Steve Oram, and Jack Veal. Check out the official trailer below.

Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams

Genre Sci-Fi

Cast Steve Buscemi, Bryan Cranston, Greg Kinnear, Juno Temple

Rating Unrated

Series Premiere January 12th, 2018 (Amazon Prime)

“A sci-fi anthology series with stand-alone episodes based on the works of Phillip K. Dick.”

Based on Philip K. Dick's short stories, which have inspired films like Blade Runner and Minority Report, Electric Dreams is a sci-fi anthology series featuring 10 standalone episodes. The show will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime. The cast includes Steve Buscemi, Bryan Cranston, Greg Kinnear, and Juno Temple, to name a few. Check out the official trailer below!!

Open Water 3 Cage Dive

Director Gerald Rascionato

Genre Drama | Horror | Thriller

Cast Joel Hogan Josh Potthoff, Megan Pita Hill, Pete Valley

Rating R

Release Date TBD 2017

“Three friends filming an audition tape for an extreme reality show, take part in shark cage diving, only to be left in great white infested waters, turning their recording into life and death.”

Written and directed by Gerald Rascionato, Open Water 3 Cage Dive is a found-footage style shark attach thriller. The trailer actually shows some promise so I am interested as to how this will be. The cast includes Joel Hogan Josh Potthoff, Megan Pita Hill, and Pete Valley. Check out the official trailer below!