Gotti

Director Kevin Connolly

Genre Biography | Crime | Drama

Cast John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Stacy Keach, Pruitt Taylor Vince

Rating R

Release Date June 15th, 2018 (Limited)

“The story of crime boss John Gotti and his son.”

Directed by Kevin Connolly, who most will recognize from his recurring role as Eric "E" Murphy in the HBO hit series Entourage, Gotti is a look at the life of feared Italian-American crime boss John Gotti. A straight to T.V. movie released in 1996 starring Armand Assante as John Gotti, and was pretty good all things considered. Gotti was a notorious criminal and an extremely successful one at that so this movie better do the story justice. The cast includes John Travolta (as Gotti), Kelly Preston, Stacy Keach, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Megan Leonard, Lydia Hull, and William DeMeo. Check out the newly released official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Gotti:

• Joe Pesci was originally cast as Angelo Ruggiero. Pesci later filed a $3 million lawsuit against the producers claiming breach of contract. In the lawsuit, Pesci claims that after he gained 30 pounds for the role of the overweight Ruggiero, he was instead offered a different role. The suit is still pending.
• Lindsay Lohan was temporarily dropped from the film by the producers citing difficult demands made by her management team. Lohan called producer Marc Fiore personally to convince him to let her keep her role. Lohan is no longer in this film.
• John Travolta wore many of John Gotti's clothing accessories in this production, such as his ties.

Goliath: Season 2

Genre Drama

Cast Billy Bob Thornton, Nina Arianda, Tania Raymonde, Diana Hopper

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere June 15th, 2018 (Amazon Prime)

“A disgraced lawyer, now an ambulance chaser, gets a case that could bring him redemption or at least revenge on the firm which expelled him.”

if you enjoy edgy courtroom dramas Amazon's Goliath is absolutely worth a look. Billy Bob Thornton plays the lead role of washed up defense attorney Billy McBride. who was once the best of the best, now he spends the majority of his time getting blackout drunk in his favorite dive bar. The show builds a solid backstory with it's rags to riches/root for the little guy premise and includes a solid cast. I personally really enjoyed the first season so I am looking forward to what season 2 brings to the table. The cast includes Billy Bob Thornton, Nina Arianda, Tania Raymonde, and Diana Hopper. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Goliath:

• Both the Ocean Lodge Hotel (where Billy lives) and the Chez Jay bar (where Billy drinks) are real places in Santa Monica, California. The interior of Chez Jay, however, was too small to accommodate a cast and camera crew, so an expanded version was replicated on a studio soundstage. Chez Jay was only used for the exteriors.
• Season one showrunner David E. Kelley chose to feature the Santa Monica 'Chez Jay' bar because that's where he first met his wife, Michelle Pfeiffer.
• Billy Bob Thornton liked including the late John Ritter in his films (Sling Blade, Bad Santa) and now John Ritter's son Jason appears in Goliath.

Loving Pablo

Director Fernando León de Aranoa

Genre Biography | Crime | Drama

Cast Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz,, Peter Sarsgaard, and Julieth Restrepo

Rating R

Release Date June 15th, 2018 (Limited)

“A journalist strikes up a romantic relationship with notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar.”

From director Fernando León de Aranoa, who also wrote the screenplay, Loving Pablo is the story of a journalist who strikes up a romantic relationship with notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar. The film is based on the book from Virginia Vellejo. The cast includes Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz,, Peter Sarsgaard, and Julieth Restrepo. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Loving Pablo:

• Leads Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz have been married since 2010. 
• The movie is based on Virginia Vallejo's bestselling memoir Loving Pablo, Hating Escobar.

Ocean's 8

Director Gary Ross

Genre Action | Crime | Thriller

Cast Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling

Rating PG-13

Release Date June 8th, 2018

“Debbie Ocean gathers a crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City’s yearly Met Gala.”

Directed and co-written by Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, The Hunger Games, Free State of Jones), Ocean's 8 is the latest entry in the popular franchise of complex crime thrillers. Considered to be a "spin-off" of the original franchise with a all-female cast, the talent alone involved in this project has me looking forward to it. The cast includes Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, and Sarah Paulson. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Ocean's 8:

• In her 2011 book, Mindy Kaling expressed an interest in wanting to do a reboot of Ocean's 11, called Ocean's 5, that would feature an all female cast.
• Matt Damon and Carl Reiner are the only cast members from the "Ocean's Eleven" films to appear in the "Ocean's Eight" spin-off.
• The eight main cast has won four Oscars, two Emmys, eight Grammys, six Golden Globes, five BAFTAs, and 10 SAGs combined.

Hereditary

Director Ari Aster

Genre Drama | Horror | Mystery

Cast Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro

Rating R

Release Date June 8th, 2018

“When the matriarch of the Graham family passes away, her daughter’s family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry.”

Have no fear, a horror movie from A24 is almost here!! Oh wait, I guess you should have some fear- and lots of it! The trailer finally dropped for Hereditary, the A24 horror film that made waves at the Sundance Film Festival. The film tells the story of a family who's reclusive grandmother passes away and not long after begins to haunt the family relentlessly. The cast includes Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff, and Milly Shapiro. I am a fan of old school horror so I cannot wait for this to hit theaters. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Hereditary:

• The trailer was accidentally shown before a screening of Peter Rabbit at a theater in Western Australia, causing minor panic among the audience expecting kid-friendly previews.
• The fourth A24 movie to get a wide release after The Witch (2016), Free Fire (2017), and It Comes At Night (2017).

Hotel Artemis

Director Drew Pearce

Genre Action | Crime | Sci-Fi

Cast Jodie Foster, Sterling K. Brown, Sofia Boutella, Charlie Day

Rating R

Release Date June 8th, 2018

“Set in riot-torn, near-future Los Angeles, ‘Hotel Artemis’ follows the Nurse, who runs a secret, members-only emergency room for criminals.”

Written an directed by Drew Pearce, Hotel Artemis is a sci-fi action thriller set in a riot torn near future Los Angeles, following the activities of a nurse who runs a secret members-only emergency room for criminals. The cast includes Jodie Foster, Sterling K. Brown, Sofia Boutella, Charlie Day, and Dave Bautista. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Hotel Artemis:

• Drew Pearce's directorial debut.
• Jodie Foster's first acting role since Elysium (2013)
• Staring K. Brown and Bryan Tyree Henry have both appeared on This Is Us and were both nominated for Emmys for the first season. Brown won for his leading role in the series.

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Director Morgan Neville

Genre Documentary | Biography

Cast Joanne Rogers, Fred Rogers (archive footage)

Rating PG-13

Release Date June 8th, 2018 (Limited)

“An exploration of the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children’s television host, Fred Rogers.”

From director Morgan Neville, Won't You Be My Neighbor? is a documentary that gives an intimate look at the life of the iconic children's television host, Fred Rogers. Utilizing archive footage of Mr. Rogers himself as well as a huge contribution from his widow Joanne Rogers, this is a documentary that is not to be missed. Check out the official trailer below!!

Hearts Beat Loud

Director Brett Haley

Genre Drama | Music

Cast Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Ted Dansen, Toni Collette

Rating PG-13

Release Date June 8th, 2018 (Limited)

“A father and daughter form an unlikely songwriting duo in the summer before she leaves for college.”

Directed and co-written by Brett Haley (The Hero), Hearts Beat Loud is a coming-of-age drama about a father and his college bound daughter who decide to form an unlikely songwriting duo together. I am a huge fan of Nick Offerman and the trailer looks really, really good. The cast includes Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Ted Dansen, and Toni Collette. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Hearts Beat Loud:

• The film made its debut at The Sundance Film Festival and has garnered widespread critic praise since.
• Nick Offerman and Ted Danson have previously worked together on the second season of FX's Fargo.

The Staircase

Genre Documentary | Crime

Cast Michael Peterson, David Rudolf, Ron Guerette, Tom Maher

Rating TV-14

Series Premiere June 8th, 2018 (Netflix)

“Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, presents a gripping courtroom thriller, offering a rare and revealing inside look at a high-profile murder trial.”

““There’s no murder weapon, there’s no motive,” a voiceover says in the new trailer for Netflix’s relaunch of The Staircase. But in the case of crime novelist Michael Peterson, who was charged and convicted of the murder of his wife Kathleen, things aren’t always so cut-and-dry in the judicial system.

The Staircase originally aired in 2004. Director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, who was granted complete access to the case, crafted the series around crime novelist and accused killer, Michael Peterson. Lestrade chronicled Peterson’s battle to clear his name after Kathleen was found dead at the bottom of the staircase of their home in 2001.

Netflix’s The Staircase will include the original 2004 series along with three new episodes. The 13-episode seriesof The Staircase will debut on the streaming service June 8th.”

— RollingStone.com

I don't know about you but I am an absolute sucker for these edge-of-your-seat crime documentaries. Most recently I watched Manhunt: Unibomber which was incredible so I am looking forward to finding out what The Staircase has to offer. Check out the official trailer below!!

Action Point

Director Tim Kirkby

Genre Comedy

Cast Johnny Knoxville, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Johnny Pemberton, Susan Leagley

Rating R

Release Date June 1st, 2018

“A daredevil designs and operates his own theme park with his friends.”

From director Tim Kirkby (Veep, Fleabag), Action Point is a action comedy about a former daredevil who decides to design and operate his own theme park with the help of his friends. The cast includes Johnny Knoxville, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Johnny Pemberton, and Susan Leagley. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Film Facts, Action Point:

• Action Point is about the man who designed Action Park in Vernon, N.J. The park was known as one of the deadliest theme parks in the United States. At least 6 people have died due to the poorly designed rides. The park closed in 1996, but has since reopened.
• Johnny Knoxville did his own stunts while filming which caused him to go to the emergency room multiple times within 14 weeks. 

Adrift

Director Baltasar Kormákur

Genre Action | Adventure | Drama

Cast Shailene Woodley, Sam Claflin, Jeffrey Thomas, Elizabeth Hawthorne

Rating PG-13

Release Date June 1st, 2018

“Based on the true story of survival, a young couple’s chance encounter leads them first to love, and then on the adventure of a lifetime as they face one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history.”

From director Baltasar Kormákur, Adrift is an action drama based on a true story of survival about a young couple who fall in love after a chance encounter and soon find themselves in the middle of one of the worst hurricanes in recorded history. The cast includes Shailene Woodley, Sam Claflin, Jeffrey Thomas, and Elizabeth Hawthorne. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Adrift:

• Miles Teller was once attached to star, marking a reunion with Shailene Woodley after 4 movies together but dropped out and was replaced by Sam Claflin.

• Adapted from the book by Tami Oldham titled 'Red Sky in Mourning : The True Story of Love, Loss, and Survival at Sea'.

Upgrade

Director Leigh Whannel

Genre Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

Cast Logan Marshall-Green, Rosco Campbell, Richard Cawthorne, Michael M. Foster

Rating R

Release Date June 1st, 2018

“From the creator of Saw and Insidious, Upgrade tells the story of a man in a near-future world who uses an experimental computer chip to avenge his wife’s murder.”

Written and directed by Leigh Whannel (Saw, Insidious), Upgrade is a sci-f horror thriller that takes place in a not so distant future where technology essentially controls nearly all aspects of life. A technophobe finds his life turned upside down when he has to rely on the one thing he has spent his life avoiding. Jason Blum is producing the film under his Blumhouse BH Tilt banner, the same company that brought us Get Out, Happy Death Day, and The Purge. The cast includes Logan Marshall-Green, Rosco Campbell, Richard Cawthorne, and Michael M. Foster. Check out the official unrated trailer below!!

A Kid Like Jake

Director Silas Howard

Genre Drama | Family

Cast Claire Danes, Jim Parsons, Priyanka Chopra, Octavia Spencer

Rating Unrated

Release Date June 1st, 2018

“A Brooklyn couple have always known that their 4-year-old son is more interested in princesses than toy cars. When his preschool director points out that his gender-nonconforming play may be more than a phase, they rethink their roles as parents.”

From director Silas Howard, A Kid Like Jake is a family drama that takes on the real-life struggle of gender identity. The film is written by Daniel Pearle, and is based on his 2013 play of the same name. The cast includes Claire Danes, Jim Parsons, Priyanka Chopra, and Octavia Spencer. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, A Kid Like Jake:

• The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2018. Shortly after, IFC Films acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.
• Actor Jim Parsons is 6' 1", and by far the tallest principal cast member on the hit show The Big Bang Theory (2007). None of the other regular cast are taller than 5' 7".

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Director Ron Howard

Genre Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Cast Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover

Rating PG-13

Release Date May 25th, 2018

“During an adventure into a dark criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his future copilot Chewbacca and encounters Lando Calrissian years before joining the Rebellion.”

From Oscar-winning director Ron Howard (Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind), Solo: A Star Wars Story takes us back to the story of how Han Solo came to be one of the best pilots in the galaxy, including the beginning if his unbreakable bond with copilot Chewbacca. The highly anticipated film has an extremely talented director and a fantastic cast so my expectations are pretty high, plus the newly released official trailer looks amazing! The cast includes Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, and Joonas Suotamo. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Solo: A Star Wars Story:

• Although originally brought on board to complete "Solo; a Star Wars Story" after Lord and Miller had been dismissed due to " creative differences ", it was widely reported in October 2017 that Ron Howard had re-shot more than 80% of the movie.
• This will mark the first time an academy award winning director has ever made a Star Wars film.
• Woody Harrelson was picked over Christian Bale as Solo's mentor.

Ibiza

Director Alex Richanbach

Genre Comedy | Romance

Cast Gillian Jacobs, Vanessa Bayer, Phoebe Robinson, Richard Madden

Rating Unrated

Release Date May 25th, 2018 (Netflix)

“A young American woman and her two best friends seek out a hot DJ in Spain.”

From director Alex Richanbach, Ibiza is a comedy romance about three women who take a much needed vacation and things get out of hand very quickly. The cast includes Gillian Jacobs, Vanessa Bayer, Phoebe Robinson, and Richard Madden. Check out the official trailer below!!

Mary Shelley

Director Haifaa Al-Mansour

Genre Biography | Drama | Romance

Cast Elle Fanning, Maisie Williams, Douglas Booth, Joanne Forggatt

Rating PG-13

Release Date May 25th, 2018 (Limited & On-Demand)

“The love affair between poet Percy Shelley and 18 year old Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, which resulted in Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein.”

Directed and co-written by Haifaa Al-Mansour, Mary Shelley is a biography drama about the love affair between poet Percy Shelley and 18-year old Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, that ultimately resulted in Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein. The cast includes Elle Fanning, Maisie Williams, Douglas Booth, and Joanne Forggatt. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Mary Shelley:

• Haifaa Al-Mansour becomes the first Saudi female director ever to direct a Hollywood film.
• Maisie Williams and Stephen Dillane have also acted in Game of Thrones (2011). They never shared any scenes.

Deadpool 2

Director David Leitch

Genre Action | Adventure | Comedy

Cast Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Josh Brolin

Rating R

Release Date May 18th, 2018

“Foul-mouthed mutant mercenary Wade Wilson (AKA. Deadpool), brings together a team of fellow mutant rogues to protect a young boy of supernatural abilities from the brutal, time-traveling mutant, Cable.”

Directed by stuntman turned director David Leitch, who assisted on John Wick and recently directed Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2 is the highly anticipated sequel for Marvel's foul-mouthed "superhero". The new trailer sheds some light on the film and reveals a few additional pieces of the cast, including Terry Crews and young New Zealand born actor Julian Dennison, the star of one of my favorite under the radar coming-of-age films Hunt for the Wilderpeople (from Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi). Plus, the X-Force is introduced.The cast includes Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Josh Brolin, Brianna Hildebrand, Zazie Beetz, Terry Crews, Karan Soni, and Julian Dennison. Check out the highly anticipated official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Deadpool 2:

• The sequel was announced 3 days before the release of Deadpool (2016).
• Brad Pitt met with the director to discuss the part of Cable, but couldn't commit due to scheduling conflicts.
• It was announced in October 2016, that Tim Miller would not be returning as director for this sequel, He decided not to return due to mutual creative differences with lead actor Ryan Reynolds during pre-production of this film. Miller later stated that he left the sequel because he "didn't want to make some stylized movie that was 3 times the budget", and wished to create the same kind of film that made the first one a success.

Book Club

Director Bill Holderman

Genre Comedy

Cast Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen

Rating PG-13

Release Date May 18th, 2018

“Four lifelong friends have their lives forever changed after reading 50 Shades of Grey in their monthly book club.”

Directed and co-written by Bill Holderman, Book Club is about four lifelong friends who have their lives changed forever after reading 50 Shades of Grey in their monthly book club. The talented cast includes Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Book Club:

• The film cast includes four Oscar winners: Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen, and Richard Dreyfuss; and two Oscar nominees: Candice Bergen and Andy Garcia.
• Craig T. Nelson and Mary Steenburgen have played husband and Wife previously in The Proposal (2009).

On Chesil Beach

Director Dominic Cooke

Genre Drama | Romance

Cast Saoirse Ronan, Billy Howle, Emily Watson, Samuel West

Rating R

Release Date May 18th, 2018

“In England in 1962, a young couple finds their idyllic romance colliding with issues of sexual freedom and societal pressure, leading to an awkward and fateful wedding night.”

From director Dominic Cooke, On Chesil Beach is a romance drama based on Ian McEwan's novel about a young couple that finds their perfect romance derailed by issues of sexual freedom and societal pressure. The cast includes Saoirse Ronan, Billy Howle, Emily Watson, and Samuel West. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, On Chesil Beach:

• Based on Ian McEwan's 2007 novel of the same name.
• Saoirse Ronan's second role in a film based on an adaptation of a novel by Ian McEwan. The first is Atonement (2007).
• The first time Ian McEwan has written a screenplay for his own work.

13 Reasons Why: Season 2

Genre Drama | Mystery

Cast Dylan Minnette, Katherine Langford, Christian Navarro, Derek Luke

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere May 18th, 2018 (Netflix)

“Follows teenager Clay Jensen, in his quest to uncover the story behind his classmate and crush, Hannah, and her decision to end her life.”

The details for 13 Reasons Why season 2 have finally been announced!! The new season for the hit Netflix series that was surrounded by controversy due to the subject matter will take a different path. Instead of focusing on another suicide, the new season will take a look at the very serious issue society is facing today with sexual assaults. The first season was amazing and extremely addicting so I can't wait for this! This is the definition of binge-worthy television. Check out the official trailers for 13 Reasons Why: Season 2 below!!