The Christmas Chronicles

Director Clay Kaytis

Genre Animation | Comedy | Family

Cast Kurt Russell, Oliver Hudson, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Lamorne Morris

Rating Unrated

Release Date November 22nd, 2018 (Netflix)

“The story of sister and brother, Kate and Teddy Pierce, whose Christmas Eve plan to catch Santa Claus on camera turns into an unexpected journey that most kids could only dream about.”

From director Clay Kaytis, who made his directorial debut with The Angry Birds Movie (2016), The Christmas Chronicles tells the story of a brother and sister who have plans to catch Santa Claus on camera but instead end up on an adventure that kids only dream about. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Christmas Chronicles:

• Oliver Hudson, the brother of Kate Hudson, is Kurt Russell's stepson with Goldie Hawn.

The Front Runner

Director Jason Reitman

Genre Biography | Drama

Cast Vera Farmiga, Hugh Jackman, Molly Ephraim, Kaitlyn Dever

Rating R

Release Date November 21st, 2018

“American Senator Gary Hart’s presidential campaign in 1988 is derailed when he’s caught in a scandalous love affair.”

From director Jason Reitman (Juno, Up in the Air, Tully), The Front runner is a biography drama that tells the story of American Senator Gary Hart's presidential campaign in 1988 that is derailed when he's caught in a scandalous love affair. The cast includes Vera Farmiga, Hugh Jackman, Molly Ephraim, and Kaitlyn Dever. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Front Runner:

• The film premiered at TIFF (Toronto international Film Festival) in Canada in September 2018.

• Reunites Mike Judge and Toby Huss who worked together on the animated series King of the Hill (1997).

Escape at Dannemora

Genre Drama

Cast Benicio Del Torro, Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano, Bonnie Hunt

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere November 18th, 2018 (SHOWTIME)

“An employee at a prison in upstate New York becomes romantically involved with a pair of inmates and helps them escape.”

From director Ben Stiller, Escape at Dannemora is a limited-series drama based on true events telling the story of a prison break in Upstate New York that brought on a massive manhunt. The series is only available on SHOWTIME. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Escape at Dannemora:

• First time in nearly 20 years that Bonnie Hunt and David Morse have shared screen time, they both appeared in "The Green Mile" (1999) which also takes place in a prison.

• Dannemora was named after a Swedish mining town.

The Final Table

Genre Cooking | Reality-TV

Cast Andrew Knowlton

Rating Unrated

Series Premiere November 20th, 2018 (Netflix)

“Teams of chefs vie to impress some of the world’s toughest palates as they whip up iconic dishes from different nations in this reality cooking competition.”

The Final Table is a cooking competition reality show where teams of chefs come together to try and impress some tough critics with food from all over the world. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Final Table:

• Celebrity tasters for the show include Colin Hanks and Dax Shepard. They briefly spoke about the experience on Dax's podcast Armchair Expert.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Director David Yates

Genre Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Cast Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Johnny Depp, Zoë Kravitz

Rating PG-13

Release Date November 16th, 2018

“Magizoologist Newt Scamander joins forces with young Albus Dumbledore to prevent the devious Gellert Grindelwald from raising pure-blood wizards to rule over all non-magical beings.”

Director David Yates, the man who brought us Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Legend of Tarzan, and the last four Harry Potter Films, returns for the sequel Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. From the imagination of J.K Rowling, the film follows Magizoologist Newt Scamander who joins forces with young Albus Dumbledore to prevent the devious Gellert Grindelwald from raising pure-blood wizards to rule over all non-magical beings. The cast includes Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Johnny Depp, and Zoë Kravitz. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald:

• Newt Scamander carries a wand, practices magic, and works for the Ministry of Magic even though he was expelled from Hogwarts, which puzzled several fans online especially since Hagrid wasn't afforded those liberties. J.K. Rowling explained that the reason for this will be revealed throughout the series.

Widows

Director Steve McQueen

Genre Crime | Drama | Thriller

Cast Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo

Rating R

Release Date November 16th, 2018

“Set in contemporary Chicago, amidst a time of turmoil, four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities, take fate into their own hands, and conspire to forge a future on their own terms.”

From director Steve McQueen (Shame, 12 Years a Slave), Widows is a crime thriller about four women who all lose their husbands and find themselves in the same situation- badly in-debt to some extremely dangerous people. Having only their current circumstances in common, these four women must risk it all to redeem their livelihoods. The cast includes Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Brian Tyree Henry, and Daniel Kaluuya. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Widows:

• Steve McQueen's first film as a director since his Academy-Award winning film 12 Years a Slave (2013).

• The film is based on the 1985 British series.

• Liam Neeson and Colin Farrell are both Irish actors and are working together for the first time. They were both runners for James Bond which eventually went to Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.

Instant Family

Director Sean Anders

Genre Comedy

Cast Rose Byrne, Mark Wahlberg, Isabela Moner, Octavia Spencer

Rating PG-13

Release Date November 16th, 2018

“A couple find themselves in over their heads when they adopt three children.”

Directed and co-written by Sean Anders, Instant Family of a couple who decide to start a family and are inspired to pursue adoption through the foster care system. They feel like wonderful, altruistic people until they suddenly have three wild kids in their home. The cast includes Rose Byrne, Mark Wahlberg, Isabela Moner, and Octavia Spencer. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Instant Family:

• The movie is inspired by the real events from the life of writer/director Sean Anders.

• This is the 3rd collaboration between director Sean Anders, and Mark Wahlberg. Their previous 2 films being, Daddy's Home (2015) & Daddy's Home 2 (2017).

Jonathan

Director Bill Oliver

Genre Drama | Sci-Fi

Cast Ansel Elgort, Patricia Clarkson, Suki Waterhouse, Matt Bomer

Rating Unrated

Release Date November 16th, 2018 (Limited & On-Demand)

“Jonathan leaves the office everyday at noon. When he gets home, he goes to sleep. Every morning he wakes up and there is a breakfast prepared for him along with a video telling him about the second part of his day.”

From director Bill Oliver, his directorial debut, Jonathan is a sci-fi drama about a man who essentially lives as two separate people. Jonathan leaves the office everyday at noon and goes to bed as soon as he gets home, waking the next morning to a prepared breakfast and a video telling him about the second part of his day. I really like the cast and the trailer is pretty damn good so this is one I will be keeping an eye out for. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Jonathan:

• Actor Ansel Elgort, known for the drama The Fault in Our Stars and Baby Driver, is 6 ft 3 inches tall which is unusually tall compared to most actors.

• Both Ansel Elgort and Suki Waterhouse were in both Insurgent (2015) and Billionaire Boys Club (2018).

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Director Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Genre Comedy | Drama | Western

Cast Tim Blake Nelson, James Franco, Liam Neeson, David Krumholtz

Rating R

Release Date November 16th, 2018 (Netflix)

“An anthology western following six different storylines centering on a man named Buster Scruggs.”

Written and directed by Ethan & Joel Coen, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a western comedy/drama that plays out as an anthology with six different story-lines focused on a man named Buster Scruggs. The cast includes Tim Blake Nelson, James Franco, Liam Neeson, David Krumholtz, Brendan Gleeson, and Zoe Kazan. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs:

• Was originally envisioned as a feature film, however the Coen's decided they had enough material to create both a miniseries and a theatrically released movie.

• At 132 minutes, this is the longest film directed by the Coen Brothers.

Narcos: Mexico

Genre Crime | Drama

Cast Diego Luna, Michael Peña, Teresa Ruiz, Clark Freeman

Rating Unrated

Season Premiere November 16th, 2018 (Netflix)

“The rise of the Guadalajara Cartel as an American DEA agent learns the danger of targeting narcos in Mexico.”

“Narcos: Mexico exploring the origins of the modern drug war by going back to its roots, beginning at a time when the Mexican trafficking world was a loose and disorganized confederation of independent growers and dealers. Witness the rise of the Guadalajara Cartel in the 1980s as Félix Gallardo takes the helm, unifying traffickers in order to build an empire. When DEA agent Kiki Camarena moves his wife and young son from California to Guadalajara to take on a new post, he quickly learns that his assignment will be more challenging than he ever could have imagined. As Kiki garners intelligence on Félix and becomes more entangled in his mission, a tragic chain of events unfold, affecting the drug trade and the war against it for years to come.”

— IMDb

A Private War

Director Matthew Heineman

Genre Biography | Drama | War

Cast Rosamund Pike, Jamie Dornan, Stanley Tucci, Faye Marsay

Rating R

Release Date November 16th, 2018 (Limited)

“One of the most celebrated war correspondents of our time, Marie Colvin is an utterly fearless and rebellious spirit, driven to the frontline of conflicts across the globe to give voice to the voiceless.”

From director Matthew Heineman (Cartel Land, City of Ghosts), A Private War tells the true story of one of the most celebrated war correspondents of our time, Marie Colvin, as her courage and fearlessness drove her to the front line of conflicts across the globe to give a voice to the voiceless. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, A Private War:

• Taron Egerton was originally cast but ended up dropping out. Jamie Dornan replaced him.

• The film premiered at TIFF in September 2018.

The Grinch

Director Yarrow Cheney, Scott Mosier

Genre Animation | Comedy | Family

Cast Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones, Angela Lansbury, Kenan Thompson

Rating PG

Release Date November 9th, 2018

“A grumpy Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville.”

From Illumination Entertainment, the team behind Despicable Me, Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, and The Secret Life of Pets, The Grinch is an upcoming animated comedy about every ones favorite grouch. The film is directed by Yarrow Cheney and Scott Mosier, and features Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of The Grinch. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Grinch:

• Illumination's second Dr. Seuss film, after The Lorax (2012).

• This is Benedict Cumberbatch's second animated film. His first was Penguins of Madagascar (2014), four years prior.

• Illumination's ninth feature film.

The Girl in the Spider's Web

Director Fede Alvarez

Genre Crime | Drama | Thriller

Cast Claire Foy, Lakeith Stanfield, Sylvia Hoeks, Sverrir Gudnason

Rating Unrated

Release Date November 9th, 2018

“Young computer hacker Lisbeth Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist find themselves caught in a web of spies, cybercriminals and corrupt government officials.”

Co-written and directed by Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead, Don't Breathe), The Girl in the Spider's Web is the next chapter in the series of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" film franchise, and is based on the fourth novel in the Millenium novel series. The cast includes Claire Foy, Lakeith Stanfield, Sylvia Hoeks, and Sverrir Gudnason. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Girl in the Spider's Web:

• The late author Stieg Larsson had planned to write ten books about Lizbeth Salander and Mikael Blomquist, and the notes are in the possession of his partner, Eva Gabrielson. However, since they were not married, his father and brother inherited the rights to his literary estate upon his death, and the two parties never came to terms about the direction of the series. The family then hired another writer to create new stories.

• While it's a direct sequel to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), it features a new director and entirely new cast.

Overlord

Director Julius Avery

Genre Action | Horror | Mystery

Cast Wyatt Russell, Bokeem Woodbine, Pilou Asbæk, Iain De Caestecker

Rating R

Release Date November 9th, 2018

“The story of two American soldiers behind enemy lines on D-Day.”

From director Julius Avery (Son of a Gun), Overlord is an action horror telling the story of two American soldiers behind enemy lines on D-Day.  The cast includes Wyatt Russell (Everybody Wants Some!!, Ingrid Goes West), Bokeem Woodbine (The Big Hit, Fargo: Season 2), Pilou Asbæk, and Iain De Caestecker. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Overlord:

• Confirmed by J.J. Abrams at the Paramount CinemaCon presentation on April 25, 2018 that the film is, in fact, not an entry in the Cloverfield franchise, despite initial speculations.

• Bad Robot's first R-rated film.

Outlaw King

Director David Mackenzie

Genre Action | Biography | Drama

Cast Chris Pine, Florence Pugh, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tony Curran

Rating R

Release Date November 9th, 2018

“A true David v Goliath story of how the great 14th Century Scottish ‘Outlaw King’ Robert The Bruce used cunning and bravery to defeat and repel the much larger and better equipped occupying English army.”

From talented director David Mackenzie, the man behind Starred Up (2013) and one of my personal favorites Hell or High Water (2016), which also starred Chris Pine, Outlaw King is a biography drama tells the true story of a 14th Century Scottish “Outlaw King” who’s bravely and resilience helped him defeat a much larger and better equipped occupying English army. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Outlaw King:

• Following a screening of the film at the Toronto International Film Festival, David Mackenzie decided to cut 20 minutes from the film.

• Ben Foster was originally cast in the film to reunite with his Hell or High Water (2016) colleagues, director David Mackenzie & Chris Pine. While the project was in development, Foster dropped out & was later replaced by Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

El Angel

Director Luis Ortega

Genre Biography | Crime | Drama

Cast Lorenzo Ferro, Chino Darín, Daniel Fanego, Mercedes Morán

Rating Unrated

Release Date November 9th, 2019 (Limited)

“A teenager embarks on a murderous crime spree with a friend he hopes to impress.”

“Carlitos is a seventeen-year-old youth with movie star swagger, blond curls and a baby face. As a young boy, he coveted other people’s things, but it wasn’t until his early adolescence that his true calling—to be a thief—manifested itself. When he meets Ramon at his new school, Carlitos is immediately drawn to him and starts showing off to get his attention. Together they will embark on a journey of discoveries, love and crime. Killing is just a random offshoot of the violence, which continues to escalate until Carlitos is finally apprehended. Because of his angelic appearance, the press dubs Carlitos “The Angel of Death.” Showered with attention because of his beauty, he becomes an overnight celebrity. Altogether, he is believed to have committed over forty thefts and eleven homicides. Today, after more than forty-six years in jail, Carlos Robledo Puch is the longest- serving prisoner in the history of Argentina.”

The Long Dumb Road

Director Hannah Fidell

Genre Comedy

Cast Jason Mantzoukas, Tony Revolori, Taissa Farmiga, Ron Livingston

Rating R

Release Date November 9th, 2018 (Netflix July 8th, 2020)

“Two guys serendipitously meet at a time when they both find themselves at personal crossroads and decide to embark on an unplanned road trip across the American Southwest.”

Co-written and directed by Hannah Fidell, The Long Dumb Road is a comedy about two guys who cross paths at a time when they are both at a personal crossroads and decide to take an eventful road trip together. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Long Dumb Road:

• This film features Taissa Farmiga, Ben Rosenfield and Lindsay Burdge in the cast; all three actors starred in Hannah Fidell's previous film, 6 Years (2015). Burdge also portrayed the lead role in Fidell's A Teacher (2013).

• Actor Jason Mantzoukas is fatally allergic to eggs.

River Runs Red

Director Wes Miller

Genre Thriller

Cast Taye Diggs, George Lopez, Luke Hemsworth, Gianni Capaldi

Rating Unrated

Release Date  November 9th, 2018 (Limited & On-Demand)

“A vengeful judge takes the law into his own hands when two cops kill his young son during a routine traffic stop.”

Written and directed by Wes Miller, River Runs Red is a thriller about a vengeful judge who takes the law into his own hands after two cops kill his son during a routine traffic stop. The premise reminds me of Law Abiding Citizen so if it’s half as good as that, count me in. Check out the official trailer below!!

Time Freak

Director Andrew Bowler

Genre Comedy | Drama | Romance

Cast Asa Butterfield, Sophie Turner, Skyler Gisondo, Will Peltz

Rating PG-13

Release Date November 9th, 2018 (Limited)

“Physics prodigy Stillman is destined for great things but his plans are fall apart when his girlfriend suddenly dumps him. But Stillman isn’t beaten, he does what any heartbroken genius would do - he invents a time machine to get a second chance at love.”

Written and directed by Andrew Bowler, Time Freak is a romantic drama about a physics prodigy who creates a time machine to try and change the future after his girlfriend abruptly dumps him. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Time Freak:

• Based on the 2011 short film also written and directed by Andrew Bowler.

Halloween

Director David Gordon Green

Genre Horror | Thriller

Cast Judy Greer, Jamie Lee Curtis, Virginia Gardner, Nick Castle

Rating R

Release Date October 19th, 2018

“Laurie Strode comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.”

Co-written and directed by David Gordon Green, a talented director/writer who brought us Pineapple Express, Joe, and Stronger, as well as numerous episodes of shows such as Eastbound & Down, Red Oaks, and Vice Principals, Halloween is the highly anticipated remake/re-imagining of the popular slasher franchise. Bringing John Carpenter's iconic killer back to the big-screen, the script is co-written by Danny McBride, which is an interesting venture for the actor known for his comedic roles. He has worked on a number of projects with Green over the years so the partnership does make sense. The rumor mill is saying that this film will pick up after the first Halloween (1978) and will focus on Laurie Strode, one of Michael Myers first victims, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. I am a HUGE fan of slashers so I cannot wait for this movie to hit theaters. The cast includes Judy Greer, Jamie Lee Curtis, Virginia Gardner, and Nick Castle. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Halloween:

• Jamie Lee Curtis returns in this film. She portrays Laurie Strode and has been in 5 films. Halloween (1978), Halloween 2 (1981), Halloween: 20 Years Later (1998), Halloween: Resurrection (2002), and Halloween (2018). She was also the voice of the "Santa Mira" curfew announcer and telephone operator in Halloween 3 but was uncredited.

• The film wasn't said to be a "remake" nor a "reboot", but a "recalibration" of the character Michael Myers. However, after David Gordon Green and Danny McBride took over the project, these two stated that it would be none of the aforementioned and that the film was going to be a continuation of the original Halloween's sequel.