Do YOU have a story? Email [email protected] Codie Bullen For Mailonline Published: 13:01 EDT, 7 September 2024 | Updated: 13:07 EDT, 7 September 2024
Orlando Bloom Thought He Was Going To Die For New Movie
This post contains discussion of body image issues.
Sounds like Orlando Bloom’s latest film role wasn’t exactly a peachy-keen dream to film.
So, Orlando’s upcoming flick The Cut just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie centers around a boxer struggling to make weight for an upcoming match. It sounds pretty intense.
And according to a new interview with People, it was a physically taxing experience for the actor in real life as well.
“I was very hangry,” he said of his experience engaging in drastic weight loss for the sake of the film. “The last three weeks in London, before we started filming, were just tuna and cucumber.”
He went on to explain that a nutritionist who worked on the film “had me on a strict regime to tear me down, so that we started the film at my lightest weight. And then I put on weight as we filmed.”
“I literally thought I was gonna die,” he said about the process.
Orlando also said that his fiancée Katy Perry was “freaked out” when she saw the film for a first time. “She watched it and was like, ‘I need a stiff drink,'” he claimed, later adding that she cried during the film’s premiere. “She was really moved. She knew what it took.”
Even Orlando’s co-stars were a bit unnerved by the extreme results. Caitriona Balfe, who plays his wife and trainer in the film, said that his face was “gaunt” before filming started. “The transformation was shocking… I was like, ‘You look like a raisin,'” she said.
Fellow co-star (and, might I add, absolute legend) John Turturro also joked that “the only reason [Bloom] put himself through this” was the paycheck.
Personally, you couldn’t pay me enough to make myself feel like I was going to die, but what do I know? I’m no actor. Anyway, read the whole interview here.
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Popular streamer Netflix has only a handful of films starring Julia Roberts in its library, and two of them are soon set to leave. If you have been putting off plans to watch these titles in the hope of revisiting them sometime in the future, well, that time is limited now and you may want to catch them sooner then later.
Here are the Julia Roberts films that are leaving Netflix and the last day you can catch them.Javier Bardem and Julia Roberts in Eat Pray LoveEat Pray Love
Julia Roberts was Elizabeth Gilbert, a divorcee who heads on a year-long journey of adventure, self-discovery and culinary indulgence across Italy, India and Indonesia. The 2010 biographical romantic drama is based on the book Eat Pray Love, a memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert. The book was on the New York Times’ bestsellers list for a whopping 187 weeks.
The film follows Roberts as Elizabeth, as she discovers the joys of Italian cuisine, embraces spirituality in India and finds love again in Bali. Eat Pray Love opened to mixed reviews but was a financial success.
Leaving Netflix on: September 29
George Clooney and Julia Roberts in Ticket to ParadiseTicket to Paradise
This 2022 romantic comedy paired Julia Roberts with George Clooney, as a long-divorced couple heading to Bali, where their recently-graduated daughter Lily (Kaitlyn Dever) headed to celebrate with friends and ended up finding love in a seaweed farmer. As David and Georgia, the former couple that can’t stand each other, work separately and later together, to sabotage Lily’s wedding.
The film, written and directed by Ol Parker, also stars Maxime Bouttier, Billie Lourd, Lucas Bravo, Agung Pindha, Ifa Barry and Cintya Dharmayanti, among others. Ticket to Paradise was not a runaway success, but it said to have recovered its production cost, making it a commercial success.
Leaving Netflix on: September 30
Also, on the platform’s list of titles that are leaving soon are Jennifer Lawrence’s No Hard Feelings and Passengers and Matt Damon’s The Talented Mr Ripley and Downsizing. Priyanka Chopra’s Love Again is also ending its stint on Netflix shortly.
Kannada cinema’s Real Star Upendra released a self-titled film, Upendra, way back in 1999, which was his fifth as a filmmaker. While he’d only done cameos in his early directorials, with his fourth A, he had graduated to leading man, and Upendra was his second as protagonist. He served as lyricist, writing 3 of the 6 songs, while V Manohar wrote the other 3. Upendra also sang the hit number Uppigintha Ruchi Bere Illa.If Ranbir in Animal is an alpha male, Upendra was the OG, say Kannada audiencesThe film, which was philosophical, explored human emotions through the protagonist’s relationship with the three heroines, played by Prema, Damini and Raveena Tandon. The Bollywood actress, who is now best known in Sandalwood circles for her role in KGF: Chapter 2 had debuted in the industry with Upendra. The film also starred Arun Govil, who played Ram in Ramanand Sagar’s TV series Ramayana, as well as music composer Gurukiran.
The film, which was released in Kannada and Telugu, was a commercial success in both versions. It is now being prepped for re-release with a remastered 4K version and will be made available for audiences on September 18, on the occasion of the actor-filmmaker’s birthday.In the film Upendra, the actor was Naanu, an egotistical rogue, who detests hypocrisy and only speaks the truth. Naanu’s relationships with the three women he comes across, Rathi, a swami’s daughter, Keerthi, a heiress, and Swathi. Raveena was Keerthi in the film.
UpendraSince then, the actor-filmmaker has directed only two other films – Super and Uppi 2 – the latter being the follow up to Upendra. His much-awaited comeback to the director’s chair is UI, the release date of which is expected to be announced f or Upendra’s birthday. It is currently rumoured that UI will be in theatres on October 31, giving it 2 weeks at the box office before Shivarajkumar’s Bhairathi Ranagal releases.
Paran Bandyopadhyay is a busy actor. Paran is currently shooting the film Paran Jaha Chay. He finished shooting Keertan 2, Patuliganjer Putul Khela, and Tekka. He will be immensely busy till next December. It has been a while since Paran Bandyopadhyay was seen in any national project. That does not mean that the veteran actor did not get any offer from Bollywood. On the contrary, he had to turn down some of the offers, and here is why. A few years back, Paran played Kali Da in the film Bob Biswas. The Bollywood audience got interested in him then. But Paran rejected offers of several films and web in the last few months, one of them to have featured Neena Gupta. Paran told Anandabazar Online, “I got many offers, but I don’t want to go there because of my ideals. Whatever I do I will do it from Bengal. I am fine here.”Paran affirms the fact that age is not a factor for him. But he does not have any particular wish to work in Bollywood. “If the Hindi film is shot in Kolkata or the surroundings, I have no problem. But I can’t go to Madhya Pradesh or Goa for shooting.’ Regarding Bob Biswas, he said ‘Sujoy (Ghosh) offered me the role and I told him that I could not go to Mumbai. He said the shooting would take place in Kolkata. After that, I agreed.” Paran would like to see more literature-based films in Bengali. If films based on literature from other languages are made in Bengali, he has no problem working on them. “Bengal has a rich asset. We have brilliant directors here. We have the crew here. We can shoot films of other languages here if we want to,” he said. However, Paran does not have any negative feelings towards those who work in Mumbai but rather wants to wish them the best. “I have not an iota of anger towards those working in Hindi. I would rather wish them the best,” he said.
Another new month brings with it a fresh slate of movies to choose from on Netflix, and September 2024 is sporting quite the lineup. While there are several great movies coming later in the month, we’re going to observe what the streamer has added thus far, which includes one of the best independent comedy-dramas in recent memory, an anime update of Whiplash that embraces the power of music, an epic 1990s Western starring Brad Pitt and what might just be the most classic baseball movie ever made. Yeah, there’s a daunting number of great options to choose from this month. So where should you start?
Hopefully I can help. This article contains what I believe to be the ten best movies added to Netflix thus far in September 2024, accompanied by a plot synopsis for each and the reasons I think they’re great and why you should watch them. Then at the bottom of the article, you can find a full list of every single movie that will hit Netflix between now and the end of the month. Your new favorite flick could very well be hiding in this collection, so let’s find your next movie night movie together.
The 10 Best New Movies On Netflix In September 2024
Note: this list covers all releases leading up to Sept. 7, 2024.
I Used to Be Funny (2024)
I was about to write “Rachel Sennott is on the verge of blowing up,” but then I realized…she already has. Between Shiva Baby in 2020, Bodies Bodies Bodies in 2022, Bottoms in 2023 and now I Used to Be Funny in 2024 (and not to mention Jason Reitman’s new movie Saturday Night later this year), Sennott has made a name for herself by delivering fantastic, vulnerable performances tinged with comedic genius in quality genre films. And I Used to Be Funny (from director Ally Pinkie) is Sennott’s best performance yet. As the character Sam, Sennott embodies the trauma that results from PTSD in not the hyperbolized way usually enforced by Hollywood, but in a frighteningly real and familiar manner. Sam is a comedian/nanny working in Toronto who is hired to care for a resistant teen named Brooke (Olga Petsa), whose mother is in the hospital. But after a series of traumatic events involving Brooke’s father, the teenager disappears and Sam must search for her. Sam’s journey to save Brooke mirrors Sam’s own recovery, meaning her quest to save Brooke is just as much a journey to save herself. This refreshing take on mental recovery should put Sennott on everybody’s Oscar radar.
After you the film, be sure to check out this great breakdown of I Used to Be Funny.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
As a kid who grew up in the 1990s, Sonic the Hedgehog combines two of my childhood staples: a fantastically funny performance Jim Carrey and the high octane energy of a Sonic video game. Throw in Ben Schwartz, one of the funniest guys out there right now, as the voice of Sonic to boot, and I was sold on this adaptation back when it was announced in the late 2010s. This box office smash (the film earned $319 million worldwide) traces the origin of Sonic, a super fast blue hedgehog from another world who hides on Earth from enemies seeking his powers. After accidentally causing a power outage, Sonic teams up with a local sheriff named Tom (James Marsden) to avoid capture from Doctor Eggman, who wishes to harness Sonic’s speed for his nefarious plans. In friendly family movie fashion, Sonic and Tom’s adventure together teaches them about friendship and the value of finding a home, but not in an excruciating way that’s cringe-worthy to watch. If you haven’t seen Sonic the Hedgehog yet, don’t be deterred by the video game connections—this is a super fun movie.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Amy Heckerling has had one of the most fascinating and underrated careers, directing comedy classics that tread off the beaten path like Clueless, European Vacation and Look Who’s Talking, while still giving us genuinely great films late in her career like Vamps. Her movies—which are filled with witty dialogue stuffed with quotable quotes; which feature strong female protagonists and empathetic portrayals of struggling teenagers; which are rife with rich social commentary and high quality satire—were routinely box office hits that a lasting impression and situated Heckerling as an auteur of comedy. And it all started with Fast Times at Ridgemont High, a coming-of-age comedy that follows a group of high school students as they navigate relationships and work in Southern California. Our two main characters are Stacy (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who experiences the up-and-down throes of teenage romance, and Jeff (Sean Penn), a laid-back surfer with little to no interest in school. This film’s authentic portrayal of teenage life blends everyday realism with sharp humor, capturing the energy of 1980s youth culture. Throw in memorable performances from Penn and Jason Leigh, as well as Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, Robert Romanus and Brian Backer, and you’ve got a comedy that still holds up after 40-plus years.
The Expendables (2010)
When it comes to 1980s super macho action nostalgia, nobody does it better than Sylvester Stallone. And he’s not shy about it, as he directed the incredibly nostalgic homage to action films of the 1980s and 1990s, stuffed to the brim with explosive spectacles of action that rely on stunts and practical effects rather than CGI, with exaggerated violence that mirrors the absolute machismo of its colorful cast of characters, with a cast of “has-been” action stars who play their self-aware parts perfectly and deliver silly one-liners better than anyone in the business. Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren make up the main cast of the first film, and throughout the entire Expendables Trilogy (yes, all three are available on Netflix this month), you’ll find plenty of other classic actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Mel Gibson and Jean-Claude Van Damme. The first film (also the best film of the series) follows a group of elite mercenaries, led by Barney Ross (Stallone), who are hired to overthrow a ruthless dictator in a small South American country. With each highly skilled soldier armed with their own set of combat abilities, they work together to uncover deep politics conspiracies and overcome oppressive dictatorship.
Blue Giant (2023)
If you’re a fan of Whiplash, then you definitely need to check out Blue Giant. Where Whiplash found Andrew, an ambitious young jazz drummer, pushing his mind and body to the limit to become an elite musician, Blue Giant replicates that same narrative in anime form, allowing director Yuzuru Tachikawa to accelerate such an already manic journey to cartoonish proportions by infusing such a struggle with rapid cuts, aggressive energy and larger-than-life characters that all come to embody the nature of unchecked ambition. Based on a popular manga series that currently owns four parts, Blue Giant tells the tale of Day after attending a live performance. Inspired by the music, he picks up a saxophone and begins to practice obsessively, aiming to become the greatest jazz musician in the world. Fun, energetic and utterly chaotic, this is a great film for anyone who loves music movies or anime in general.
Field of Dreams (1989)
I’m ashamed to admit that, as a gigantic fan of baseball who also considers himself a cinephile, I hadn’t watched Field of Dreams until very recently. From director Phil Alden Robinson, who also directed Sneakers and The Sum of All Fears, this timeless classic starring Kevin Costner serves as one of the most well-known and well-done examples of magical realism, with Robinson blending the film’s fantastical elements with the mundane realities of life on an Iowan farm to heighten the movie’s exploration of hope, faith and the power of dreams for everyday Americans. For those who don’t know already, the film follows farmer Ray, who builds a baseball diamond in his cornfield after voices in his head tell him to do so—an act that drives his family and friends to question his sanity. As he builds the field, long-deceased baseball players start to appear, played by heavyweights like Ray Liotta and Burt Lancaster. If, like me, you just never got around to seeing this movie, change that this month. Field of Dreams is a classic for good reason.
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
As far as remakes go, Western remakes are always a tricky bag. Because the genre is so steeped in a period of terrestrial change, with the old ways of the West dying out in favor of big cities and big ideas, the genre’s heyday back between the 1930s-1950s is an immediate reaction to such transition. In real time, filmmakers and actors were reacting to a changing physical and cultural landscape. So what does a modern remake know of such an aesthetic? Well, sometimes Western remakes pull it off—and that includes 3:10 to Yuma. In this Neo-Western, struggling rancher Dan Evans (Christian Bale) takes on a dangerous job escorting notorious outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) to a train on its way to a courthouse where he will stand trial. As they trek across the desert, the two characters develop an uneasy respect for one another, even though Wade’s gang is determined stop Dan to rescue its leader. As the clock ticks down towards the train’s departure, Dan faces moral dilemmas and the mounting tension of this life-or-death situation. Gritty, introspective, intense and complex, this homage to classic Westerns provides a update that modern audiences will appreciate.
Legends of the Fall (1994)
Director Edward Zwick is obsessed with exploring history and social issues through highly dramatic stories, with films like Glory, Courage Under Fire, The Last Samurai and Blood Diamond populating his filmography. But his most epic and audacious attempt at surveying monumental change in the United States of America had to be Legends of the Fall, which, set up in the early 20th century, follows the lives of three brothers, Alfred (Aidan Quinn), Tristan (Brad Pitt) and Samuel (Henry Thomas), as they grow up under the guidance of their father, Colonel William Ludlow (Anthony Hopkins), on a remote ranch in Montana. As the family experiences love, loss and betrayal in keeping its ranch afloat, the brothers’ relationships become increasingly strained, especially after World War I changes the course of their lives. Each member of the family takes on a different path, propelling the film’s exploration of brotherhood and masculinity in the midst of a changing American landscape. The epic romances and friendships, the melodramatic intensity, the lush cinematography and sweeping score—it’s all a recipe for a classic 1990s epic that will push your emotions to the limit.
Magic Mike (2012)
In my opinion, Steven Soderbergh makes some of the most satisfying, effortlessly entertaining films imaginable. From the Ocean’s Trilogy to Out of Sight to Sex, Lies, and Videotape to Eric Brokovich, Soderbergh’s stories are both highly stylized in the way we expect big Hollywood spectacles to be, yet down-to-earth in their depictions of average Americans through almost documentary-like aesthetic. Take a film like Magic Mike, which contrasts the glitzy, saturated lighting of a strip club with the more muted, naturalistic tones of everyday life. Magic Mike centers around Mike Lane (Channing Tatum), a skilled male stripper who dreams of starting his own business outside of the world of exotic dancing. As Mike navigates the nightlife scene, he mentors a young newcomer dubbed “The Kid” (Alex Pettyfer), introducing him to the world of high-energy performances and fast cash. However, Mike’s lifestyle begins to take its toll, leading him to question what he really wants from life—especially after he meets the potential woman of his dreams. The movie also features awesome performances from the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Adam Rodriguez and Kevin Nash, as well as Cody Horn and Olivia Munn, making for a wildly entertaining film that seamlessly balances spectacle with realism.
300 (2006)
Zack Snyder has remained a major part of the cinematic zeitgeist year after year, from his debut Dawn of the Dead back in 2004 to his Watchmen adaptation in 2009 to his superhero movies of the mid-2010s to his Netflix outings like Army of the Dead and Rebel Moon—despite, as far as I can tell, remaining one of the public’s most disliked working filmmakers. Personally, I do not understand the hate, as his movies evoke a style and flavor simply unmatched by anyone else working today. And as much as I like the Dawn of the Dead remake, I can’t deny that Snyder didn’t truly find his signature aesthetic until his follow-up film, 300. Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller, this epic tale tells the story of King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors as they fight against a vast Persian army led by King Xerxes. Set during the Battle of Thermopylae, the Spartans use their superior training and bold tactics to hold off the invading forces at a narrow mountain pass. Though heavily outnumbered, the Spartans fight on and push this gargantuan army to the limit. This hyperrealistic, CGI-heavy depiction of exaggerated, iconic heroism hasn’t aged one bit in my opinion, and if you haven’t seen it yet, ignore the haters and give this eye-popping action film a go.
Every New Movie on Netflix in September 2024
September 1: 300 (2006); 3:10 to Yuma (2007); 5 Centimeters Per Second (2007); Along Came Polly (2004); Aloha(2015); Blue Giant (2023); Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005); Dragnet (1987); Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982); Field of Dreams (1989); Jaws (1975); Jaws 2 (1978); Jaws 3 (1983); Legends of the Fall (1994); Magic Mike(2012); Midnight Run (1988); Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009); Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015); Sonic the Hedgehog (2020); Stand by Me (1986); The Expendables (2010); The Expendables 2 (2012); The Expendables 3 (2014); Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
September 3: Untold: Hope Solo vs. U.S. Soccer (2024)
September 5: Apollo 13: Survival (2024); I Used to Be Funny (2024)
September 6: Disco, Ibiza, Locomía (2024); Rebel Ridge (2024)
September 7: Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
September 10: Ahir Shah: Ends (2024)
September 11: Boxer (2024); Outlaw (2024); Technoboys (2024)
September 13: Officer Black Belt (2024); Sector 36 (2024); Uglies (2024)
September 16: 30 for 30: Catholics vs. Convicts (2016); 30 for 30: Pony Excess (2010); 30 for 30: Rand University (2014); 30 for 30: The U (2009); 30 for 30: The U Part 2 (2014); Grave of the Fireflies (1989); Entourage (2015)
September 20: His Three Daughters (2024)
September 24: Dear Sa-Chan (2024)
September 25: Divorce (2024); Jailbreak: Love on the Run (2024)
September 26: A True Gentleman (2024); Bangkok Breaking: Heaven and Hell (2024); My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019)
September 27: Lisabi: The Uprising (2024); Rez Ball (2024); Will & Harper (2024)
Another new month brings with it a fresh slate of movies to choose from on Netflix, and September 2024 is sporting quite the lineup. While there are several great movies coming later in the month, we’re going to observe what the streamer has added thus far, which includes one of the best independent comedy-dramas in recent memory, an anime update of Whiplash that embraces the power of music, an epic 1990s Western starring Brad Pitt and what might just be the most classic baseball movie ever made. Yeah, there’s a daunting number of great options to choose from this month. So where should you start?
Hopefully I can help. This article contains what I believe to be the ten best movies added to Netflix thus far in September 2024, accompanied by a plot synopsis for each and the reasons I think they’re great and why you should watch them. Then at the bottom of the article, you can find a full list of every single movie that will hit Netflix between now and the end of the month. Your new favorite flick could very well be hiding in this collection, so let’s find your next movie night movie together.
The 10 Best New Movies On Netflix In September 2024
Note: this list covers all releases leading up to Sept. 7, 2024.
I Used to Be Funny (2024)
I was about to write “Rachel Sennott is on the verge of blowing up,” but then I realized…she already has. Between Shiva Baby in 2020, Bodies Bodies Bodies in 2022, Bottoms in 2023 and now I Used to Be Funny in 2024 (and not to mention Jason Reitman’s new movie Saturday Night later this year), Sennott has made a name for herself by delivering fantastic, vulnerable performances tinged with comedic genius in quality genre films. And I Used to Be Funny (from director Ally Pinkie) is Sennott’s best performance yet. As the character Sam, Sennott embodies the trauma that results from PTSD in not the hyperbolized way usually enforced by Hollywood, but in a frighteningly real and familiar manner. Sam is a comedian/nanny working in Toronto who is hired to care for a resistant teen named Brooke (Olga Petsa), whose mother is in the hospital. But after a series of traumatic events involving Brooke’s father, the teenager disappears and Sam must search for her. Sam’s journey to save Brooke mirrors Sam’s own recovery, meaning her quest to save Brooke is just as much a journey to save herself. This refreshing take on mental recovery should put Sennott on everybody’s Oscar radar.
After you the film, be sure to check out this great breakdown of I Used to Be Funny.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
As a kid who grew up in the 1990s, Sonic the Hedgehog combines two of my childhood staples: a fantastically funny performance Jim Carrey and the high octane energy of a Sonic video game. Throw in Ben Schwartz, one of the funniest guys out there right now, as the voice of Sonic to boot, and I was sold on this adaptation back when it was announced in the late 2010s. This box office smash (the film earned $319 million worldwide) traces the origin of Sonic, a super fast blue hedgehog from another world who hides on Earth from enemies seeking his powers. After accidentally causing a power outage, Sonic teams up with a local sheriff named Tom (James Marsden) to avoid capture from Doctor Eggman, who wishes to harness Sonic’s speed for his nefarious plans. In friendly family movie fashion, Sonic and Tom’s adventure together teaches them about friendship and the value of finding a home, but not in an excruciating way that’s cringe-worthy to watch. If you haven’t seen Sonic the Hedgehog yet, don’t be deterred by the video game connections—this is a super fun movie.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Amy Heckerling has had one of the most fascinating and underrated careers, directing comedy classics that tread off the beaten path like Clueless, European Vacation and Look Who’s Talking, while still giving us genuinely great films late in her career like Vamps. Her movies—which are filled with witty dialogue stuffed with quotable quotes; which feature strong female protagonists and empathetic portrayals of struggling teenagers; which are rife with rich social commentary and high quality satire—were routinely box office hits that a lasting impression and situated Heckerling as an auteur of comedy. And it all started with Fast Times at Ridgemont High, a coming-of-age comedy that follows a group of high school students as they navigate relationships and work in Southern California. Our two main characters are Stacy (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who experiences the up-and-down throes of teenage romance, and Jeff (Sean Penn), a laid-back surfer with little to no interest in school. This film’s authentic portrayal of teenage life blends everyday realism with sharp humor, capturing the energy of 1980s youth culture. Throw in memorable performances from Penn and Jason Leigh, as well as Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, Robert Romanus and Brian Backer, and you’ve got a comedy that still holds up after 40-plus years.
The Expendables (2010)
When it comes to 1980s super macho action nostalgia, nobody does it better than Sylvester Stallone. And he’s not shy about it, as he directed the incredibly nostalgic homage to action films of the 1980s and 1990s, stuffed to the brim with explosive spectacles of action that rely on stunts and practical effects rather than CGI, with exaggerated violence that mirrors the absolute machismo of its colorful cast of characters, with a cast of “has-been” action stars who play their self-aware parts perfectly and deliver silly one-liners better than anyone in the business. Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren make up the main cast of the first film, and throughout the entire Expendables Trilogy (yes, all three are available on Netflix this month), you’ll find plenty of other classic actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Mel Gibson and Jean-Claude Van Damme. The first film (also the best film of the series) follows a group of elite mercenaries, led by Barney Ross (Stallone), who are hired to overthrow a ruthless dictator in a small South American country. With each highly skilled soldier armed with their own set of combat abilities, they work together to uncover deep politics conspiracies and overcome oppressive dictatorship.
Blue Giant (2023)
If you’re a fan of Whiplash, then you definitely need to check out Blue Giant. Where Whiplash found Andrew, an ambitious young jazz drummer, pushing his mind and body to the limit to become an elite musician, Blue Giant replicates that same narrative in anime form, allowing director Yuzuru Tachikawa to accelerate such an already manic journey to cartoonish proportions by infusing such a struggle with rapid cuts, aggressive energy and larger-than-life characters that all come to embody the nature of unchecked ambition. Based on a popular manga series that currently owns four parts, Blue Giant tells the tale of Day after attending a live performance. Inspired by the music, he picks up a saxophone and begins to practice obsessively, aiming to become the greatest jazz musician in the world. Fun, energetic and utterly chaotic, this is a great film for anyone who loves music movies or anime in general.
Field of Dreams (1989)
I’m ashamed to admit that, as a gigantic fan of baseball who also considers himself a cinephile, I hadn’t watched Field of Dreams until very recently. From director Phil Alden Robinson, who also directed Sneakers and The Sum of All Fears, this timeless classic starring Kevin Costner serves as one of the most well-known and well-done examples of magical realism, with Robinson blending the film’s fantastical elements with the mundane realities of life on an Iowan farm to heighten the movie’s exploration of hope, faith and the power of dreams for everyday Americans. For those who don’t know already, the film follows farmer Ray, who builds a baseball diamond in his cornfield after voices in his head tell him to do so—an act that drives his family and friends to question his sanity. As he builds the field, long-deceased baseball players start to appear, played by heavyweights like Ray Liotta and Burt Lancaster. If, like me, you just never got around to seeing this movie, change that this month. Field of Dreams is a classic for good reason.
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
As far as remakes go, Western remakes are always a tricky bag. Because the genre is so steeped in a period of terrestrial change, with the old ways of the West dying out in favor of big cities and big ideas, the genre’s heyday back between the 1930s-1950s is an immediate reaction to such transition. In real time, filmmakers and actors were reacting to a changing physical and cultural landscape. So what does a modern remake know of such an aesthetic? Well, sometimes Western remakes pull it off—and that includes 3:10 to Yuma. In this Neo-Western, struggling rancher Dan Evans (Christian Bale) takes on a dangerous job escorting notorious outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) to a train on its way to a courthouse where he will stand trial. As they trek across the desert, the two characters develop an uneasy respect for one another, even though Wade’s gang is determined stop Dan to rescue its leader. As the clock ticks down towards the train’s departure, Dan faces moral dilemmas and the mounting tension of this life-or-death situation. Gritty, introspective, intense and complex, this homage to classic Westerns provides a update that modern audiences will appreciate.
Legends of the Fall (1994)
Director Edward Zwick is obsessed with exploring history and social issues through highly dramatic stories, with films like Glory, Courage Under Fire, The Last Samurai and Blood Diamond populating his filmography. But his most epic and audacious attempt at surveying monumental change in the United States of America had to be Legends of the Fall, which, set up in the early 20th century, follows the lives of three brothers, Alfred (Aidan Quinn), Tristan (Brad Pitt) and Samuel (Henry Thomas), as they grow up under the guidance of their father, Colonel William Ludlow (Anthony Hopkins), on a remote ranch in Montana. As the family experiences love, loss and betrayal in keeping its ranch afloat, the brothers’ relationships become increasingly strained, especially after World War I changes the course of their lives. Each member of the family takes on a different path, propelling the film’s exploration of brotherhood and masculinity in the midst of a changing American landscape. The epic romances and friendships, the melodramatic intensity, the lush cinematography and sweeping score—it’s all a recipe for a classic 1990s epic that will push your emotions to the limit.
Magic Mike (2012)
In my opinion, Steven Soderbergh makes some of the most satisfying, effortlessly entertaining films imaginable. From the Ocean’s Trilogy to Out of Sight to Sex, Lies, and Videotape to Eric Brokovich, Soderbergh’s stories are both highly stylized in the way we expect big Hollywood spectacles to be, yet down-to-earth in their depictions of average Americans through almost documentary-like aesthetic. Take a film like Magic Mike, which contrasts the glitzy, saturated lighting of a strip club with the more muted, naturalistic tones of everyday life. Magic Mike centers around Mike Lane (Channing Tatum), a skilled male stripper who dreams of starting his own business outside of the world of exotic dancing. As Mike navigates the nightlife scene, he mentors a young newcomer dubbed “The Kid” (Alex Pettyfer), introducing him to the world of high-energy performances and fast cash. However, Mike’s lifestyle begins to take its toll, leading him to question what he really wants from life—especially after he meets the potential woman of his dreams. The movie also features awesome performances from the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Adam Rodriguez and Kevin Nash, as well as Cody Horn and Olivia Munn, making for a wildly entertaining film that seamlessly balances spectacle with realism.
300 (2006)
Zack Snyder has remained a major part of the cinematic zeitgeist year after year, from his debut Dawn of the Dead back in 2004 to his Watchmen adaptation in 2009 to his superhero movies of the mid-2010s to his Netflix outings like Army of the Dead and Rebel Moon—despite, as far as I can tell, remaining one of the public’s most disliked working filmmakers. Personally, I do not understand the hate, as his movies evoke a style and flavor simply unmatched by anyone else working today. And as much as I like the Dawn of the Dead remake, I can’t deny that Snyder didn’t truly find his signature aesthetic until his follow-up film, 300. Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller, this epic tale tells the story of King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors as they fight against a vast Persian army led by King Xerxes. Set during the Battle of Thermopylae, the Spartans use their superior training and bold tactics to hold off the invading forces at a narrow mountain pass. Though heavily outnumbered, the Spartans fight on and push this gargantuan army to the limit. This hyperrealistic, CGI-heavy depiction of exaggerated, iconic heroism hasn’t aged one bit in my opinion, and if you haven’t seen it yet, ignore the haters and give this eye-popping action film a go.
Every New Movie on Netflix in September 2024
September 1: 300 (2006); 3:10 to Yuma (2007); 5 Centimeters Per Second (2007); Along Came Polly (2004); Aloha(2015); Blue Giant (2023); Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005); Dragnet (1987); Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982); Field of Dreams (1989); Jaws (1975); Jaws 2 (1978); Jaws 3 (1983); Legends of the Fall (1994); Magic Mike(2012); Midnight Run (1988); Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009); Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015); Sonic the Hedgehog (2020); Stand by Me (1986); The Expendables (2010); The Expendables 2 (2012); The Expendables 3 (2014); Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
September 3: Untold: Hope Solo vs. U.S. Soccer (2024)
September 5: Apollo 13: Survival (2024); I Used to Be Funny (2024)
September 6: Disco, Ibiza, Locomía (2024); Rebel Ridge (2024)
September 7: Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
September 10: Ahir Shah: Ends (2024)
September 11: Boxer (2024); Outlaw (2024); Technoboys (2024)
September 13: Officer Black Belt (2024); Sector 36 (2024); Uglies (2024)
September 16: 30 for 30: Catholics vs. Convicts (2016); 30 for 30: Pony Excess (2010); 30 for 30: Rand University (2014); 30 for 30: The U (2009); 30 for 30: The U Part 2 (2014); Grave of the Fireflies (1989); Entourage (2015)
September 20: His Three Daughters (2024)
September 24: Dear Sa-Chan (2024)
September 25: Divorce (2024); Jailbreak: Love on the Run (2024)
September 26: A True Gentleman (2024); Bangkok Breaking: Heaven and Hell (2024); My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019)
September 27: Lisabi: The Uprising (2024); Rez Ball (2024); Will & Harper (2024)
Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 held its red carpet world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday in Venice, Italy.
Horizon Chapter 2 is closing out the 81st annual event, which kicked off on August 27 with the world premiere of director Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
The world premiere of Horizon Chapter 2—which is screening out of competition at the festival—was preceded by a screening of Horizon Chapter 1, which was released in U.S. theaters on June 28.
Early reviews of Horizon Chapter 2 have already been published by Hollywood’s major trade publications.
Here are photos from Saturday’s red carpet premiere of Horizon Chapter 2.VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 07: (L-R) Isabelle Fuhrman, Director Kevin Costner, Abbey Lee and Georgia … [+] MacPhail attends the “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2” red carpet during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Sala Giardino on September 07, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)Corbis via Getty Images
Several Horizon 2 stars joined Costner at the Venice premiere, including Isabelle Fuhrman, Abbey Lee and Georgia Macphail.VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 07: Abbey Lee and Director Kevin Costner attend the “Horizon: An American … [+] Saga – Chapter 2” red carpet during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Sala Giardino on September 07, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Victor Boyko/Getty Images)Getty Images
VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 07: Luke Wilson and Director Kevin Costner attends the “Horizon: An … [+] American Saga – Chapter 2” red carpet during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Sala Giardino on September 07, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)WireImage
Also join Costner for the Venice premiere of Horizon Chapter 2 was cast member Luke Wilson.VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 07: Caydon Wyatt Costner and director Kevin Costner attend the “Horizon: … [+] An American Saga – Chapter 2” red carpet during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Sala Giardino on September 07, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)WireImage
Kevin Costner’s son, Caydon Wyatt Costner, attended the Venice red carpet premiere with his dad.VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 07: Venice Film Festival Director Alberto Barbera and Director Kevin … [+] Costner attends the “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2” red carpet during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Sala Giardino on September 07, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)WireImage
Venice Film Festival director Alberto Barbera also attended the red carpet event with Costner.VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 07: Cayden Wyatt Costner and Kevin Costner are seen at Hotel Excelsior … [+] during the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 07, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)Getty Images
Earlier in the day, Kevin Costner and Cayden Wyatt Costner arrived by boat for the Horizon Chapter 2 photocall.VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 07: (L-R) Jon Beavers, Alejandro Edda, Director Kevin Costner, Isabelle … [+] Fuhrman and David O’Hara attend the “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2” photocall during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Palazzo del Casino on September 07, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)Corbis via Getty Images
Kevin Costner greeted press and attendees at the Horizon Chapter 2 Venice Film Festival photocall.VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 07: (L-R) Isabelle Fuhrman, Kevin Costner and Georgia MacPhail attend the … [+] “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2” photocall during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Palazzo del Casino on September 07, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)Getty Images
Horizon Chapter 2 stars Isabelle Fuhrman and Georgia MacPhail joined Costner at the photocall.VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 07: (L-R) Jon Beavers, Alejandro Edda, Georgia MacPhail, Director Kevin … [+] Costner, Isabelle Fuhrman, David O’Hara, Aidan McCann, Luke Wilson and John Debney attend the “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2” photocall during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Palazzo del Casino on September 07, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)WireImage
Cast and crew members who joined Costner at the photocall included Jon Beavers, Alejandro Edda, Georgia MacPhail, Isabelle Fuhrman, David O’Hara, Aidan McCann, Luke Wilson and John Debney.VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 7: Kevin Costner attends the “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2” … [+] photocall during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Palazzo del Casino on September 7, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by JB Lacroix/FilmMagic)FilmMagic
Costner stars in and directs Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2. The film’s U.S. release date has not yet been announced.
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If you’re looking for a fun, simple activity to get the kids even more excited for the holidays, maybe look into a holiday-themed sticker book.
This children’s book is as simple and fun as it comes: You find the sticker, peel it, find the right number to place it, and enjoy an adorable photo afterward. It teaches kids organization by numbering different sticker pieces and helps them create art through learning. But it’s education in a super fun way that they’ll love.
With over 6,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4.8 rating, everyone is itching to get this for their little ones.
Paint by Sticker Kids: Christmas: Create 10 Pictures One Sticker at a Time! normally retails for $10, but for a limited time, it’s only $5.
Image: Workman Publishing.
Image: Workman Publishing.
Paint by Sticker Kids: Christmas: Create 10 Pictures One Sticker at a Time! $5, originally $11 $10.95 on Amazon.com
TORONTO, Canada—Mike Flanagan has made his name in the horror genre, and yet like his greatest spiritual inspiration Stephen King—whose work he’s brought to the screen with Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep—he’s first and foremost a dramatist with an abiding interest in the things that make us tick, bring us together, and haunt us both in the bright morning and the dark of night.Thus, though The Life of Chuck is an intensely faithful adaptation of a King novella (from 2020’s If It Bleeds), it’s a film that’s as sweet as it is scary, and whose frights are the sort that come from all-too-relatable fears about being alone, being apart, and being unable to hold onto the people and memories that matter most.Split into three acts that proceed in reverse chronological order, The Life of Chuck—which just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival—is a story about finding the beat, the path, the rhythm, and the magic of life, and if that sounds hokey, well, it is, at least as often as it is moving.As he did with 2016’s Before I Wake, Flanagan operates in a decidedly sentimental vein with his latest, and there are instances when the light beaming through windows and the shadows engulfing his characters could stand to be a little less picture-picture manicured, just as the numerous parallels and echoes coursing throughout his tale might have benefited from being a tad more modest. Nonetheless, understatement isn’t part of the writer/director’s modus operandi here, and that’s ultimately to the benefit of his film, which proves to be a haunting portrait of the ways the world is made, defined, and contained within every individual person.The Life of Chuck begins with Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a high school teacher whose classroom is increasingly empty due to the fact that it appears to be the End Times. California is falling into the ocean, sinkholes are swallowing commuter cars in the middle of the street, and the internet is on the perpetual fritz. During parent-teacher conferences, moms and dads are less concerned with their kids’ performance and attendance than with their own inability to get online—and specifically, onto Pornhub, whose loss David Dastmalchian’s dad deems a “fucking tragedy.”It’s all coming apart at the seams, and as Marty struggles with this dire state of affairs, so too does his ex-wife Felicia (Karen Gillan), a nurse at a hospital that’s so overwhelmed with the corpses of individuals who’ve taken their own lives that her unit is now known as the “suicide squad.”Amidst this apocalyptic turn of events (which began, as Marty’s neighbor relays, only 14 months earlier), something even stranger is occurring: At a busy intersection, a billboard has appeared congratulating Charles “Chuck” Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) on his retirement after 39 great years. By all appearances, Chuck is a middle-aged accountant, and it’s not long before this advertisement is additionally appearing on the radio and, even after the networks go dark, on television. As Marty learns, no one seems to know this mystery man; instead, the ads are merely one last inexplicable symptom of the universe’s impending collapse.Flanagan scatters clues about the nature of this calamity throughout the initial act of The Life of Chuck before segueing to his second chapter, in which mild-mannered Chuck—nine months removed from his demise courtesy of brain cancer—walks past a drummer busking on the street and, without thinking about why, breaks into dance.The crowd he attracts includes Lauren (Annalise Basso), a twentysomething who’s just been unceremoniously dumped by text and who’s so taken by Chuck’s performance that she joins him, wowing onlookers, Chuck, and herself in the process. The duo’s long-form routine is an exuberant expression of dreams and desires, and Hiddleston and Basso’s showmanship is infectious, providing the proceedings with a toe-tapping showstopper that conveys, wordlessly, the feelings at the heart of this saga.In its final stanza, The Life of Chuck lays its card on the table by flashing back to Chuck’s childhood. In the wake of his parents’ untimely demise, middle-schooler Chuck (Benjamin Pajak) lives with his rock ‘n’ roll-loving grandmother Sarah (Mia Sara) and his accountant grandfather Albie (Mark Hamill), whose one inviolable rule is that the boy never enter their nineteenth-century Victorian house’s haunted cupola.What lurks behind that chamber’s locked door looms large over young Chuck’s imagination. Concurrently, inspired by the movie musicals he watches with Sarah, Chuck becomes consumed with the school’s dance club, which eventually grants him an opportunity to seize a once-(or is it twice?)-in-a-lifetime opportunity for communion and happiness.The Life of Chuck depicts reality as a realm where math and art, structure and chaos, and love and heartache are all intrinsically intertwined in ways that can be sensed if not completely parsed. Flanagan almost pushes King’s The Wizard of Oz-ish conceit to its breaking point, and Nick Offerman’s narration, adhering a bit too closely to the letter of the author’s prose, is occasionally a bit much.Still, the writer/director captures his characters in empathetic three dimensions. Moreover, he wistfully celebrates the poetry of the little things that, in memory, become building blocks for who we are (and aspire to be), whether it’s the sight of a grandmother shaking her hips and wagging her finger in the air to a song on the radio while she cooks at the kitchen stove, or a night sky filled with so many stars upon stars upon stars that it illuminates everything below it.Like its ambulatory protagonists, The Life of Chuck walks a fine line in search of poignancy, and despite stumbling every now and again, it quickly rights itself with earnest, affecting aplomb. At multiple stages, the film cites Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” and its signature line, “I contain multitudes,” as a means of ruminating on the fact that everything we do, see, hear, create, and destroy happens between our two ears. If that’s so, however, the film simultaneously grasps—in a late scene in which young Chuck views a shooting star by himself, and then musters the courage to dance with a pretty eight-grader (Trinity Bliss) in front of his classmates—that it’s also better to share our unique world with others.