Manifest: Season 1

Genre Drama | Mystery

Cast J.R. Ramirez, Josh Dallas, Jack Messina, Melissa Roxburgh

Rating Unrated

Series Premiere Monday September 24th, 2018 (NBC)

“After a turbulent, but routine flight, the passengers and crew discover the world has aged five years, yet no time has passed for them, and soon a deeper mystery unfolds.”

A brand-new show for the NBC Fall 2018 show lineup, Manifest tells the story of a group of passengers who embark on a turbulent yet routine flight, only once they reach their destination they find that the world has aged five years but no time has passed for them. The cast includes J.R. Ramirez, Josh Dallas, Jack Messina, and Melissa Roxburgh. Check out the official trailer below!!

The Good Cop

Genre Comedy | Drama

Cast Josh Groban, Tony Danza, Monica Barbaro, Brooke Carrell

Rating Unrated

Series Premiere September 21st, 2018 (Netflix)

“A disgraced former NYPD officer lives with his son, an earnest, obsessively honest NYPD detective.”

From creator Andy Breckman (Sgt. Bilko, SNL), The Good Cop follows a disgraced former NYPD officer who finds himself on parole and living with his straight shooter NYPD detective son. The cast includes Josh Groban, Tony Danza, Monica Barbaro, and Brooke Carrell. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Good Cop:

• Before he starred in the successful TV series Taxi (1978), actor Tony Danza was a boxer and was still fighting professionally during the first few seasons.

I Think We're Alone Now

Director Reed Morano

Genre Drama | Sci-Fi

Cast Peter Dinklage, Elle Fanning, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Paul Giamatti

Rating R

Release Date September 21st, 2018 (Limited)

“The apocalypse proves a blessing in disguise for one lucky recluse — until a second survivor arrives with the threat of companionship.”

From director Reed Morano (The Handmaid's Tale) and writer Mike Makowski, I Think We're Alone Now is the story of a reclusive man who is thrilled that the apocalypse has brought him the serenity he has longed for, only to find that another lucky person has survived and threatens companionship. The cast includes Peter Dinklage, Elle Fanning, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Paul Giamatti. Check out the official trailer below!!

New Amsterdam: Season One

Genre Drama

Cast Ryan Eggold, Christopher Cassarino, Vera Lam, Stacey Raymond

Rating TV-14

Series Premiere  Tuesday September 25th, 2018 (NBC - Following This Is Us)

“A new medical director breaks the rules to heal the system at America’s oldest public hospital.”

A new medical drama is hitting NBC this fall, following Dr. Max Goodwin (Ryan Eggold) as he becomes the medical director of one of the United States' oldest public hospitals, aiming to reform the neglected facility to provide exceptional care to patients. The cast includes Ryan Eggold, Christopher Cassarino, Vera Lam, and Stacey Raymond. Check out the official trailer below!!

“Dr. Max Goodwin is brilliant, charming — and the new medical director at America’s oldest public hospital. While he’s set on tearing down the bureaucracy to provide exceptional care, the doctors and staff are not so sure. They’ve heard this before, and no one else has delivered on those promises. Not taking “no” for an answer, Max disrupts the status quo and proves he will stop at nothing to breathe new life into this understaffed, underfunded and underappreciated hospital — the only one in the world capable of treating Ebola patients, prisoners from Rikers Island and the president of the United States all under one roof — and return it to the glory that put it on the map. Inspired by Bellevue in New York City.”

— NBC

Colette

Director Wash Westmoreland

Genre Biography | Drama | History

Cast Keira Knightley, Eleanor Tomlinson, Dominic West, Fiona Shaw

Rating Unrated

Release Date September 21st, 2018 (Limited)

“Colette is pushed by her husband to write novels under his name. Upon their success, she fights to make her talents known, challenging gender norms.”

Written and directed by Wash Westmoreland, Colette is based on the true story of a female author who is convinced to publish her work in her husbands name, and upon their success she ignores gender norms and fights to make her talents known. The cast includes Keira Knightley, Eleanor Tomlinson, Dominic West, and Fiona Shaw. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Colette:

• Westmoreland had originally written the script in 2001, but could not get the film made at that time.

• Premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.

Love, Gilda

Director Lisa Dapolito

Genre Documentary

Cast Gilda Radner (Archive Footage), Andrew Alexander, Anne Beatts, Chevy Chase

Rating Unrated

Release Date September 21st, 2018 (Limited)

“Diaries, audiotapes, videotapes and testimonies from friends and colleagues offer insight into the life and career of Gilda Radner — the beloved comic and actress who became an icon on “Saturday Night Live.””

The cast includes Gilda Radner (Archive Footage), Andrew Alexander, Anne Beatts, Chevy Chase, Bill Hader, Janis Hirsch, and Melissa McCarthy, to name a few. Check out the official trailer below!!

“In her own words, comedienne Gilda Radner looks back and reflects on her life and career. Weaving together recently discovered audiotapes, interviews with her friends, rare home movies and diaries read by modern day comediennes (including Amy Poehler), LOVE Gilda offers a unique window into the honest and whimsical world of a beloved performer whose greatest role was sharing her story.”

— Diector Lisa Dapolito

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!!

Terrifier

Director Damien Leone

Genre Horror | Thriller

Cast Jenna Kanell, Samantha Scaffidi, David Howard Thornton, Catherine Corcoran

Rating Unrated

Release Date March 15th, 2018 (Netflix)

“A maniacal clown terrorizes three young women on Halloween night and everyone else who stands in his way.”

Written and directed by Damien Leone, Terrifier is a horror film about a maniacal clown that was originally a short film that Leone also wrote and directed in 2011. Full disclosure, I will watch pretty much any film in the horror genre and this was recommended to me as a low budget old-school style horror with a good feel overall - and it is that and then some. I have a very high tolerance for horror or gore in general and I took a few double takes. Go into it expecting cheesy acting and low production value and you will not be disappointed Check out the official trailer below!!

DISCLAIMER:

This movie is seriously f’d up so if you have a genuine fear of clowns or a weak stomach, you may want to steer clear. On the other hand, as far as low budget horror flicks go Terrifier is legit, that is undeniable. But again, seriously messed up.

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Terrifier:

• David Howard Thornton who portrays Art the Clown has previous mime experience, which he utilizes in his performance.

• This is a return for Art The Clown, as he was previously used by the same director in the film "All Hallows Eve"

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.

American Horror Story: Apocalypse

Genre Drama | Horror | Thriller

Cast Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Evan Peters, Emma Roberts

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere Wednesday September 12th, 2018 10:00 PM EST (FX)

“An anthology series centering on different characters and locations, including a house with a murderous past, an insane asylum, a witch coven, a freak show, a hotel, a possessed farmhouse, a cult, and the apocalypse.”

American Horror Story returns with it's 8th season Apocalypse, and promises more of what fans have come to love about the series. Production value has always been top notch on this show and it has always been one of the rare shows where I rarely fast forward through the intro. Specific plot details have yet to be shared but it is fair to say that this season will be somehow centered around a baby being the cause of an impending apocalypse - we will share more details as they surface. Some of the returning cast members include Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Evan Peters, Emma Roberts, and Adina Porter. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, American Horror Story:

• On September 2, 2014, show creator Ryan Murphy announced that all seasons are connected to each other in some way, which means he finally wrote the kind of narrative he wanted to write (but hasn't written) in the only TV Series he created without any other creators or co-creators: Nip/Tuck (2003), a Golden Globe Winning drama series that inspired many artists around the world, including the Brazilian actor and singer Gustavo Goulart, who has publicly admitted that.

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.

The Nun

Director Corin Hardy

Genre Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Cast Taissa Farmiga, Demián Bichir, Bonnie Aarons, Charlotte Hope

Rating R

Release Date September 7th, 2018

“A priest with a haunted past and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate the death of a young nun in Romania and confront a malevolent force in the form of a demonic nun.”

From director Corin Hardy (The Hallow), The Nun is an extension of The Conjuring universe and is a horror thriller about a priest who is sent to Romania to investigate the mysterious death of a nun. Personally I really enjoyed both Conjuring films as well as the Annabelle films, and I look forward to seeing where they take things with the Nun that was introduced in the 2nd Conjuring. The cast includes Taissa Farmiga, Demián Bichir, Bonnie Aarons, and Charlotte Hope. Check out the official trailer below including a Featurette with James Wan!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Nun:

• After the "Demon Nun" from The Conjuring 2 (2016) proved to be a popular horror antagonist, a spin-off focusing on the character was green-lit, making her the second character from the franchise to get her own feature after Annabelle (2014).

• Taissa Farmiga, who plays Sister Irene in this film, is the younger sister of Vera Farmiga, who plays Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring (2013) and The Conjuring 2 (2016). The Demon Nun, played by Bonnie Aarons, also appeared in The Conjuring 2.

Peppermint

Director Pierre Morel

Genre Action | Drama | Thriller

Cast Jennifer Garner, Tyson Ritter, John Gallagher Jr., Kyla Drew Simmons

Rating R

Release Date September 7th, 2018

“A woman lands in a coma after a gang of thugs guns down her husband and daughter. Years later, she embarks on a mission to punish everyone she holds responsible — including shady lawyers and corrupt cops.”

From director Pierre Morel, the man behind Taken (2008) and From Paris with Love (2010), Peppermint is a revenge story that is already being referred to as the female John Wick, that is a high bar right there. The story follows a woman who ends up in a coma after she is badly beaten by a gang of thugs who murder her husband and daughter. On a tour of revenge she intends to take down all who she considers to be responsible, including corrupt cops and politicians. The cast includes Jennifer Garner, Tyson Ritter, John Gallagher Jr., Kyla Drew Simmons, and Method Man. Check out the official trailer below!!