We have a few first images to look at tonight from some promising movies heading our way this year. I’ll get right into it with something I hadn’t heard of until now and that’s BLEED FOR THIS. The first image shows Miles Teller bloodied up playing boxer Vinny Pazienza. The movie tells his true story of overcoming a disastrous car accident to compete once again, against all odds. Last year was an awesome year for Teller and 2015 is shaping up to be a great one as well. He proved a lot in one of my favorite movies of last year, WHIPLASH, and I can’t wait to see what he brings here and in FANTASTIC FOUR this summer.
Based on the incredible true story of one of boxing’s most charismatic and exciting figures, BLEED FOR THIS centers around Vinny Pazienza (Teller), who quickly shot to stardom when he dominated undefeated champion Gilbert Dele. A near-fatal automobile accident left him with the news that he would never walk again. After months of recovery and against doctors’ orders, Vinny returned to the gym under infamous trainer, Kevin Rooney (Eckhart), and made a triumphant return to the ring just over a year later.
Ben Younger (BOILER ROOM) wrote and directed this one with Martin Scorsese producing. Aaron Eckhart, and Katey Sagal also star. Image via The Solution Entertainment Group.
Next up we have SPOTLIGHT with an incredible cast that includes Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Stanley Tucci, John Slattery, and Billy Crudup. So many they couldn’t even all get in on this picture! Directed and co-written by Tom McCarthy (THE STATION AGENT), the drama revolves around the true story of Boston Globe reporters exposing the Catholic Church’s cover-up of sexual abuse.
Here’s the official synopsis:
In 2001, the Boston Globe began an investigation that would rock the city and shock the world. SPOTLIGHT tells the story of that investigation, the story of Marty Baron (Schreiber), Ben Bradlee Jr. (Slattery) and the four members of the Globe’s investigative Spotlight team – Walter Robinson (Keaton), Mike Rezendes (Ruffalo), Sacha Pfeiffer (McAdams) and Matt Carroll (James) – who would sacrifice everything to expose the Boston Archdiocese’s systemic cover up of sexual abuse of children by ordained priests. For years, whispers of scandal were ignored by society, the media, by police and by the legal system. Silenced by shame, victims of sexual abuse often became victims of suicide. For their commitment to truth, the Spotlight team received the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.
It's been a long time since I’ve seen a great investigative movie set in the world of journalism. I watched ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN last week, so hopefully SPOTLIGHT is worth the nearly forty year wait. There’s no official release date yet, but you can bet it will be around awards season.
Everyone loves a picture of Tom Hiddleston, so how about the first image from the film HIGH RISE? Director Ben Wheatley teams up with Hiddleston to play Dr. Robert Lang, who is described as an “anti-hero.” The film is based on the book by J.G. Ballard and also stars Luke Evans, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, and James Purefoy.
Here’s the synopsis for the novel "High Rise":
When a class war erupts inside a luxurious apartment block, modern elevators become violent battlegrounds and cocktail parties degenerate into marauding attacks on “enemy” floors. In this visionary tale, human society slips into violent reverse as once-peaceful residents, driven by primal urges, re-create a world ruled by the laws of the jungle.
The film is currently on the market at the Berlin Film Festival so stay tuned for more on this one.
Finally, Keanu Reeves is looking for some answers in the first images from DAUGHTER OF GOD. In the thriller written and directed by Gee Malik Linton, who was the physical trainer on JOHN WICK, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, a detective is searching for the truth about his partner’s death. As his investigation continues, mysterious occurrences begin to affect a local woman who claims to have witnessed a miracle. Ana de Armas, Reeves' co-star in Eli Roth’s upcoming horror film KNOCK KNOCK, also stars. The film is in post-production and doesn't have a release date yet.
Have you seen this entire group of people?