First Look At Johnny Depp In 'Waiting For The Barbarians', Penelope Cruz In 'Wasp Network', New Films By Roman Polanski And Hirokazu Koreeda

The Venice Film Festival slate was announced earlier today, and as usual it's going to be a stacked lineup of movies with international appeal. To get an idea of the variety of options this year, note that Todd Phillips' Joker film will be there and in-competition, just as it is in Toronto a month later. Crazy.  Beyond that, we're getting first looks at some of the high-powered films that will be appearing at the festival, boasting big names both in front of and behind the camera.

Personal Shopper and Clouds of Sils Maria director Olivier Assayas is back with the Cuban  drama, Wasp Network. Penelope Cruz, Ana de Armas, Edgar Ramírez, Adria Arjona, Wagner Moura, Gael García Bernal, and Leonardo Sbaraglia star in the true story of Cuban spies that infiltrated a Florida-based anti-Castro terrorist network in the '80s and '90s.

Johnny Depp looks commanding in the first image from Waiting for the Barbarians. The latest film from director Ciro Guerra (Embrace of the Serpent) is based on the acclaimed novel set in a small colonial town in a state of emergency over threats by the local indigenous tribes. Depp plays Colonel Joll, who tortures captive barbarians much to the dismay of a peaceful magistrate. The cast includes Mark Rylance and Robert Pattinson, the latter in his second Venice movie. Speaking of which...

...that second Pattinson film is The King, a reunion with The Rover director David Michod. The Shakespearean drama stars Timothee Chalamet as Henry V, who begins as a wayward prince but becomes king following his father's death and must navigate the political turmoil that comes with holding power. Michod co-wrote the script with Joel Edgerton, who also co-stars as Falstaff. The rest of the cast includes Ben Mendelsohn, Sean Harris, Lily-Rose Depp, and Thomasin McKenzie.  Netflix will likely drop this one into the heart of awards season, but no date has been confirmed.

Hirokazu Koreeda, who took home the Palme d'Or last year for Shoplifters, is switching gears from his native Japan for a drama starring three of France's finest actresses: Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche, and Ludivine Sagnier. The Truth centers on the icy relationship between a legendary French actress and her screenwriter daughter. When the mother publishes her memoir, it forces a confrontation in which painful truths are told.

Controversy be damned, Venice has included in-competition the latest film from blacklisted director Roman Polanski. J'accuse, aka An Officer and a Spy, stars Jean Dujardin, Louis Garrel, Emmanuelle Seigner, and Mathieu Amalric in the true story of French officer George Picquart. Picquart struggles to reveal doctored evidence used in the Dreyfus Affair.

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Johnny Depp Definitely Out, Oliver Jackson-Cohen In For Blumhouse's 'The Invisible Man'

Those desperately hoping Johnny Depp would somehow overcome his persona non grata status and cling on to his role in The Invisible Man aren't going to like this. Sorry, both of you, but it's official now that Depp is out and Blumhouse has replaced him with The Haunting of Hill House star Oliver Jackson-Cohen.

Not the biggest name in the world, certainly not on Depp's level, but when the cast already includes Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Harriet Dyer, and Storm Reid, you can afford to go with a less controversial choice. Jackson-Cohen is best known for Netflix's 'Hill House' horror series, but also had TV roles in Emerald City and Dracula. Years ago he played the villain opposite Dwayne Johnson in Faster. 

The Invisible Man is sortof a holdover from the defunct Dark Universe, in which Universal tried to rehabilitate their classic monsters franchises. Blumhouse has stepped in and may try to revive the whole thing, with this being a first run to see how it goes.  Expectations have to be pretty high given Blumhouse's track record, so if this thing is a hit expect Jackson-Cohen's career to soar. 

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'The Professor' Trailer: Johnny Depp Is Given A Terminal Diagnosis

In The Professor, Johnny Depp plays a college professor who has only six months to live after a cancer diagnosis. Sounds hella grim, right? Well, not really...

“My name is Richard. I’m your professor,” Depp's character says in the new trailer. “From here on out we’re going to do things very differently … Oh! And if any of you sell marijuana, please visit me during office hours.”

Right, so this one's kinda offbeat, which should go well with Depp's current persona non grata status around Hollywood. Because of that you may have a hard time seeing The Professor at a multiplex near you. After debuting in Zurich last year, there will be a DirecTV exclusive release beginning April 18th, before arriving in select theaters and VOD on May 17th. Not the kind of release Depp used to command, but such is the way of things now.

Behind the camera is Wayne Roberts, who previously directed the 2016 indie drama Katie Says Goodbye. He had originally planned to name this Richard Says Goodbye, which suggests a possible link between the two films, or that Roberts is woefully uncreative at movie titles. Also in the cast are the wonderful Zoey Deutch, making this a movie I'm definitely rooting for, along with Rosemarie DeWitt, Danny Huston, Odessa Young, Ron Livingston, and Linda Emond.

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'Pirates Of The Caribbean': Disney Saves A Fortune Throwing Johnny Depp Overboard

What is the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise without its star, Johnny Depp, and the Keith Richards-esque Jack Sparrow character that has long been its heavily-mascaraed face? That's something nobody would have thought to consider until 2017's underwhelming Dead Men Tell No Tales, which earned a series low $794M after a long production struggle just to get off the ground. But it is indeed happening; a few months ago Deadpool writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick were hired to revitalize things for the sixth movie, one that would be 100% Depp free.

And we're learning a big reason why, and it's more than just Depp's toxic public image that, at least in my opinion, sunk Fantastic Beasts 2's domestic box office numbers.  It's the extraordinary cost of keeping Depp around, as the man commanded a salary upwards of $90M per flick according to Forbes. Hot damn.  Now, when the franchise was commanding $1B each and every time out, Disney could overlook Depp's extraordinary cost, figuring there was still value. But now? Not so much.

Dead Men Tell No Tales was hardly a disaster, though. At nearly $800M it still turned a hefty profit, but when you factor in the $230M production budget plus the advertising costs, it comes out on the low end of the franchise totem pole. Plus, Forbes notes Depp's heavy involvement with the script, no doubt giving himself all of the best gags. No wonder everybody else was so damned bland. Were there other characters other than Jack Sparrow? I can't remember any.  Anyway, at Depp's high cost and the diminishing returns, you can see why Disney is more than willing to have him walk the plank.

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Review: 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald', A Messy And Mature Sequel That Still Captivates

The wondrous thing about magic, and J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World, is that anything can and usually does happen. Rowling made us wait five whole years before she returned to the Potterverse for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and while we were just as spellbound as before by her fun, creature-filled spinoff it was clear that she had missed being away more than anyone. What had looked like an airy return to the franchise, led by Eddie Redmayne's quirky magizoologist Newt Scamander, was a densely-plotted bit of fan service, with Rowling tugging on every loose thread that had ever seen ink in one of her books. Anything that could happen, did happen, and in the messy but often dazzling Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Rowling rains down so much lore we may need a semester at Hogwarts to keep up.

The sequel, which is still a much earlier prequel to the Potter years, picks up shortly after the controversial conclusion to the prior movie. Controversial in casting, mind you, not in plotting, as Johnny Depp was revealed to be the villain Grindelwald, when he had been played by Colin Farrell up to that point. Unsurprisingly, Grindelwald has escaped from his magical confines and let loose on a path of destruction, which he believes can only be completed with the help of the destructive orphan Credence (Ezra Miller), who is desperately in search of a family to call his own.

The rest doesn't so much unfold as apparate like a traveling wizard. Rowling drops us right back into the life of the pacifist Newt Scamander, who is more concerned with caring for his many amazing creatures than he is marching off to war with Grindelwald. Why he's chosen by a young Albus Dumbledore, played with impish charm by Jude Law, is anybody's guess. Newt is quite against it; Dumbledore even admits his former student can't take orders very well, and when pressed by his auror brother Theseus (Callum Turner) to join the fight, Newt flatly says "I don't do sides."  So...uh, why do they need him again?

Newt's also still holding a torch for Ministry of Magic investigator Tina Goldstein (Katherine Robertson), who along with no-mag buddy Jacob (Dan Fogler) join the hunt. They must not only find Credence to thwart whatever plan Grindelwald has, but they must also locate the wayward Queenie (Alison Sudol) who may have fallen in with a bad element. This is only the barest drop of the complicated potion Rowling has stirred up. Newt's journey takes him from New York to Paris and London, with all sorts of fantastical places that exist between the folds of our reality. And yes, we even get to pay a visit to Hogwarts itself, which comes with its own share of Easter Eggs for eagle-eyed muggles.  A magical traveling circus of oddities is a special treat, bringing a Tim Burton-esque sense of the macabre and twisted.

So much is going on that the story barely stops to allow us to catch a breath. With a story is complex as this with a couple dozen characters to follow (including some welcome surprises best left unspoiled) it can be exhausting just trying to keep up. And then Rowling and director David Yates will pull something jaw-dropping out of their hat, or out of Newt's suitcase. Whether it's the sea dragon Kelpie, those thieving but adorable Nifflers, the Chinese-born Zouwu, or Newt's trusty bowtruckle pet Pickett, the film  lives up to the franchise's moniker.

That said, the human characters could all use a little more attention. There are just too many to follow, and some I haven't mentioned are especially important, or we know they will become important. Rowling, in her second outing as screenwriter, doesn't bother holding anybody's hand. Either you're up on your Wizarding mythology or you're not, and that includes reading every page of every book she's written in that universe. I found myself anxiously waiting to learn every new character's last name, because names have real value in the Wizarding World.  Rowling has also matured her writing to match her audience, who are no longer children fascinated by the idea of a Quidditch match. This is a very dark, violent movie with shocking twists and startling deaths. I think it's fair to call this the Empire Strikes Back of the series but considering her five-movie plan perhaps that's a poor comparison. Adding to the mature theme is a tease of the past relationship between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, one that possibly crossed from friendship into something romantic. How far Rowling plans to go with that will be one of the most intriguing questions going into future films. That Rowling explicitly invokes the Holocaust in one scene shows that she is willing to step into more adult territory and draw some stark parallels.

While undoubtedly chaotic, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald creates a strange, wonderful world overstuffed with the exacting details we've come to love and expect from Rowling. She continues to weave a captivating spell that shows few signs of fading.

Rating: 3 out of 5

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Review: 'London Fields' Almost Wasn't Released...It Probably Shouldn't Have Been

London Fields tells the story of author Samson Young (Billy Bob Thornton) attempting to write a new book, which leads him to London in an effort to spark an idea and cure his writers block. Young has swapped apartments with successful British author Mark Aspery (Jason Isaacs) through what is essentially a writer’s exchange program. Almost immediately, Young stumbles upon Nicola Six (Amber Heard) – a beautiful and seductive femme fatale who has premonitions of her own death. Nicola is in the midst of manipulating multiple men, most notably Keith Talent (Jim Sturgess) and Guy Clinch (Theo James).

Keith and Guy are polar opposites.  Guy is a straight-laced pretty boy, while Keith is a tattooed and seedy fellow that has a pension for bar fights and mooning large groups of people. Regardless of how different Guy and Keith may be, Nicola still is able to have each of them wrapped around her finger. Samson quickly realizes that Nicola is unique and would be a perfect centerpiece for his novel – not to mention she lives directly above him, and convenience is key. Samson begins to dive into Nicola’s life, trying to dissect the men in her life and find her future killer. As he becomes closer and closer to Nicola, he begins to get drawn into her seduction and the lines between his novel and the real world become blurred.

London Fields has some interesting cinematographic elements that highlight the classic film noir feel that it is going for. We have Samson narrating the film, speaking directly to the audience with a dry and quiet demeanor. There is old timey music throughout, certain shots in slow motion and unique camera angles and close ups. Director Matthew Cullen has made some great choices, including splitting the film up into chapters of Samson’s novel. I liked the look and feel of the film, unfortunately much more than the substance. London Fields falls apart quickly and becomes a jumbled mess. A promising idea, and popular source material (the Martin Amis novel of the same name), are not executed well and end up falling flat. Don’t worry though, we get a silly Johnny Depp cameo as Chick Purchase, a mobster/dart player who is as ridiculous as the name Chick Purchase. London Fields might be worth checking out…and I’m talking about checking out the book from the library – the film isn’t worth anything more than a rainy afternoon Netflix watch when you are tired of binge watching The Office for the 12^th time…and it might not even be worth that.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

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Johnny Depp To Play Famed Photojournalist W. Eugene Smith In 'Minamata'

Johnny Depp is taking heat just for playing a villain in Fantastic Beasts 2, and may be on the way out of Pirates of the Caribbean, but his career is hardly over. Sorry, but it's true, and he's landed on a dramatic role that could actually be quite good for him if it pans out. Variety reports Depp will play famed war photographer in the indie drama Minamata.

The film will be directed by Andrew Levitas (Lullaby), and star Depp as the Life magazine journalist who exposed the poisoning of the people of Minamata, Japan. Levitas and his Japanese-born wife lived in Minamata, where the people suffered from mercury poisoning due to a nearby Chisso factory. The script will be penned by Andrew Kessler, adapted from the book by Smith and his wife, Aileen.

Production begins in January. Next up for Depp is his role a the title villain in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald.

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Disney Eyes 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' Reboot With 'Deadpool' Writers

There are a couple of reasons why someone might think Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is done. The fifth film, Dead Men Tell No Tales, had the worst box office since the first one in 2003. Plus, star Johnny Depp is basically persona non grata right now, and certainly doesn't fit with Disney's family-friendly branding. But there are also 4.5B reasons why it's time isn't done yet, although it looks like a major change is underway.

Deadline reports Deadpool writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick are in early talks to reboot Pirates of the Caribbean. Jerry Bruckheimer will stick around to steer the ship, otherwise it's unclear if anybody else will return. That includes Depp, who has been the franchise's centerpiece as Captain Jack Sparrow, but if he were to return it wouldn't be a reboot, would it?

The previous film did seem to dial back Sparrow's involvement to a degree, so maybe this isn't really a full reboot but a shift in focus to other characters?  One way or another there will be another Pirates movie, it's just too lucrative for Disney to let sail away for good.

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New 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald' Trailer Reveals A Shocking Voldemort Connection

Oh my. Currently I'm reading through J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books for the first time, falling in love with the characters for a second time after they won me over on the big screen. What I've loved so much about her stories is how rich in myth they are, and how Rowling keeps finding new ways to drop surprises where you least expect them. That ability did not leave her as she brought us back to the wizarding world with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and if the new trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is any indication, she just dropped one Hell of a shocker on fans that nobody could have seen coming.

In the latest trailer we see more of awkward magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), and his mission to stop the evil Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) before he can commit whatever crimes he'll become infamous for. We also see more of Jude Law as a younger, less white, less bearded version of Albus Dumbledore, and it will be interesting to know how this fight against Grindelwald changes him at this stage of his life.

The biggest surprise comes when the shapeshifting character played by Claudia Kim is revealed to be Nagini, who eventually becomes Voldemort's pet snake/horcrux. How does that work?  The answers should be forthcoming, but already that bit of news has sent the Potterverse reeling, so much so that Rowling has had to issue one quick clarification on Twitter...

Not an Animagus. A Maledictus. Big difference. https://t.co/JwVVNnvVQU

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 25, 2018

Not at all. The slow transformation into a beast is beyond their control, but they aren't destined to be evil.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 25, 2018

Glad to set that record straight? I think Nagini's storyline could be the one I'm most curious to watch unfold.

Directed by David Yates, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald opens November 16th.

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Johnn Depp's Shelved Thriller 'City Of Lies' May Find A New Home Elsewhere

Just yesterday during the box office breakdown I got a little bit into the financial woes facing studio Global Road. Over the weekend they released the robot dog film A.X.L., and basically nobody went to see it.  This was their fourth flop of the year if you include Hotel Artemis, Show Dogs and the Bella Thorne drama Midnight Sun, and clearly the losses have had an impact. They also explain what happened a few weeks ago when the Johnn Depp crime thriller City of Lies was suddenly yanked off the release schedule, and nope it isn't solely because Depp's public image is toxic right now.

TheWrap now says Global Road are doing their best to stave off bankruptcy, and with creditors effectively seizing their film division, they've decided to shop upcoming projects to other studios, and City of Lies was one. The other films include the Kiernan Shipka-led horror The Silence, and some live-action/animated hybrid titled Playmobil. The company has lost out on potential investments to the tune of $200M, and if they find a new source of cash then filing Chapter 11 is the only real course of action. Global Road was formerly Open Road, which was launched in 2011 and had some great films to its credit, including Spotlight, Dope, and Chef. It was sold in 2017 and renamed Global Road Entertainment, and it's been downhill ever since.

If there's going to be any chance of us seeing City of Lies it's going to be at another distributor, because clearly Global Road is on the way out. The trailer wasn't very good, to be honest, but we're still talking about Johnny Depp trying to solve the murder of Notorious B.I.G. Even if it sucks, and I suspect it does, that's a movie I've got to see.

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Johnny Depp's Notorious B.I.G. Crime Drama 'City Of Lies' Yanked From Release Schedule

Uh oh, trouble for Johnny Depp's Notorious BIG crime drama, City of Lies? The film, which co-stars Forest Whitaker, was to open on September 7th, the 46th birthday of the slain rap legend. But instead, distributor Global Road have yanked it from the schedule without giving it a new date.

No reason was given for the move, and it's unclear if they'll look for a digital release or aim for a later theatrical date. The film is directed by The Lincoln Lawyer's Brad Furman, and centers on the investigation into Notorious B.I.G.'s 1997 murder, which goes unsolved. It's based on Randall Sullivan's book, LAbyrinth: A Detective Investigates the Murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., the Implication of Death Row Records’ Suge Knight, and the Origins of the Los Angeles Police Scandal, and would star Depp as real-life LAPD detective Russell Poole.

The move comes a month after Depp's former location manager sued him for assault, alleging the actor punched him twice on set after being told filming would run late. He also claims to have been wrongfully fired for refusing to sign a non-disclosure agreement, and is seeking damages of an unspecified amount.

My gut tells me the film still gets a theatrical release down the line. Depp, for all of his issues lately, is still a big star and this is a story people have an interest in. We may see Global Road wait a few months until the issues surrounding Depp quiet a little. [Deadline]

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Comic-Con: Magical New Trailer For 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald'

As hoped, Warner Bros. released a brand new Comic-Con trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, a film that has a ton of questions surrounding it. The sequel stars Jude Law as a young Professor Dumbledore, who asks his former student Newt Scamander (the returning Eddie Redmayne) to help him track the evil Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) before he can recruit an army to start a war throughout the magic and non-magic worlds.

Even with this trailer there remains questions about Depp, who has been in the background for most of the early marketing. Law recently admitted that he doesn't share any scenes with Depp, which is odd but makes sense if Dumbledore and Grindelwald don't battle until a later movie. Also, the question of Dumbledore's sexuality won't be addressed at all, even though it's a component of his life that fans are very interested in.

Directed by David Yates with a script by J.K. Rowling, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald opens November 16th.

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Everybody Wants A Piece Of Amber Heard In Trailer For Controversial 'London Fields'

Oh...hey, London Fields is finally coming out, eh? This comes as a genuine shock to yours truly and I'm sure plenty of others who remember the controversial film's aborted public premiere three years ago (!!!) at TIFF. It still played for press, however, and was subsequently hammered, with director Matthew Cullen complaining that producers had included footage he didn't approve. Lawsuits followed, including a $10M claim against star Amber Heard, who was then dealing with a very public divorce from co-star Johnny Depp with allegations of physical abuse. Oh, and Heard filed a lawsuit of claiming producers used a body double to make it seem like she did a whole bunch of nudity.

And now the film is actually coming out, but after all that shit does anybody even care? The adaptation of Martin Amis' 1989 novel about a clairvoyant femme fatale who sees her own murder has been on the wish list for numerous filmmakers, including Michael Winterbottom and David Cronenberg. But it proved too tough a nut to crack for them, and it was music video director Cullen and screenwriter Roberta Hanley who got it done.

Heard plays the aforementioned femme fatale, Nicola Six, surrounded by an all-star cast of dudes who really want to have sex with her. Along with Depp the film stars Billy Bob Thornton, Jim Sturgess (name spelled wrong in the trailer, not a good sign), Theo James, Cara Delevingne, Jason Isaacs, and Jaimie Alexander.

A sign of a bad movie is an overlong synopsis which gives everything away. With that said, here's the lengthy as shit synopsis:

Recently arrived in London in the hope of writing one last book before succumbing to a fatal illness, American author Samson Young (Billy Bob Thornton) falls in with a cast of characters who just might give him the story he is looking for. First, there is Keith Talent (Jim Sturgess) a small- time crook and dart player always on the lookout for his next scam. Then there’s Guy Clinch (Theo James), an upper class banker who hangs out at Ned’s favorite pub, searching for distraction from his boring life, his spoiled wife, and their monstrous toddler. And, just like a scene from a movie, into their lives walks Nicola Six (Amber Heard), a spectacularly beautiful woman-of-mystery who instantly ensnares all three men with her charms. Of course, Ned and Keith want to possess her, but Sam sees something else—in Nicola he sees the heroine of the book he so desperately wants to write. Following her, studying her, and watching her become a different woman depending upon which man she is seducing, Sam starts weaving a tale, based on Nicola, or Nicola as he imagines her to be. He also discovers that the reason she lives like there’s no tomorrow, is that she’s fed up with her life and has secretly been plotting her own murder. Now that Sam knows the climax of his story, the only question is who will the murderer be? Is it Keith, the criminal, Guy, the millionaire, or is it Sam himself—a dying man practicing a dying art, who will do anything to end his book—and his life—with a big bang?

London Fields opens this August.

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'City Of Lies' Trailer: Only Johnny Depp Can Solve Biggie And Tupac's Murders

Here's one thing I know; when I think of the one man who can finally solve the murders of Tupac and Biggie the first name that comes to mind is Johnny Depp. It almost sounds like a piece from The Onion, but Depp really is starring in a movie that delves into the hip-hop legends' deaths, titled City of Lies, and the trailer for it has arrived. Try to take it seriously because it might be pretty good despite how it looks.

First of all, the film is directed by Brad Furman who was behind The Lincoln Lawyer aka the film that kicked off the McConnaissance. Um, he also directed Runner Runner so don't get too excited he can jumpstart Depp's flagging career. Depp plays real-life former LAPD detective Russell Poole who teamed up with a journalist to investigate the long-unsolved murders of Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur. The case has been open for more than two decades and while there are many suspects nobody has been charged or convicted.

Somehow the trailer looks of a lesser quality than the USA Network series Unsolved which is exploring the same territory and even features Poole as a character played by Jimmi Simpson. In some respects the grittiness works, especially when backed by the sounds of the Norious B.I.G., but it's less effective when the dour Grindelwald-looking Depp is on screen alongside Forest Whitaker.  Here's the official synopsis:

Based on the true story of one of the most notorious and unsolved cases in recent time, CITY OF LIES is a provocative thriller revealing a never-before-seen look at the infamous murder of The Notorious B.I.G. shortly following the death of Tupac. L.A.P.D. detective Russell Poole (Johnny Depp) has spent years trying to solve his biggest case, but after two decades, the investigation remains open. “Jack” Jackson (Forest Whitaker), a reporter desperate to save his reputation and career, is determined to find out why. In search of the truth, the two team up and unravel a growing web of institutional corruption and lies. Relentless in their hunt, these two determined men threaten to uncover the conspiracy and crack the foundation of the L.A.P.D. and an entire city.

City of Lies opens September 7th and co-stars Neil Brown Jr., Rockmond Dunbar, and Shea Whigham.

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Review: 'Sherlock Gnomes', Sequel Doesn't Have A Clue What Worked Before

Surprising that there's even a Sherlock Gnomes movie to talk about, given that it's been seven years since the surprisingly charming Gnomeo & Juliet. The prior film had a clever idea to recast Shakespeare's classic with a bunch of garden gnomes, infused with a healthy dose of music by a very heavily-involved Elton John, and spot-on use of sound effects (the *tink* of the porcelain gnomes was wonderful) to accompany solid animation. It was an enjoyable movie, not mind-blowing by any means, and clearly there was no rush to do a sequel.

Sherlock Gnomes arrives and unless you knew about the previous film you'd be hard-pressed to see any connection. It feels like an afterthought, and the characters we liked before are also treated like afterthoughts, jammed into an ill-fitting caper like a garden gnome into backyard soil. The same characters are in it, but they are B-players in a story that has its attentions elsewhere, and the mystery isn't fun or compelling enough to compensate.

James McAvoy and Emily Blunt are back voicing porcelain lovers Gnomeo and Juliet, now leaders of their tribe of gnomes. It's been seven years so the older couple that owns them are downsizing from their vast country home to a tiny flat in London, and with it come new troubles for the animated lawn ornaments. Gnomeo feels Juliet has been so consumed with her garden plans that she's overlooked him, a dynamic that parallels the relationship between detective duo Sherlock Holmes (voiced by Johnny Depp, apparently obsessed with playing goofy detectives) and Watson (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Watson feels he has gone unappreciated after all of these years, even as he was invaluable in defeating the criminal mastermind/pastry mascot Moriarty (Jamie Demetriou).  When garden gnomes all across London begin disappearing, including Gnomeo and Juliet's families, they team up with the detectives to solve the case.

Incoming director John Stevenson and writer Ben Zazove lean heavily on the Sherlock story, while Gnomeo and Juliet are hanging on to the plot for dear life. Although the idea for this film was hatched in 2012, it really does look like they wanted to tell a Sherlock Gnomes mystery rather than have to deal with all of the Shakespeare stuff. While there are a couple of obvious nods to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novels and characters, others are just plain strange like a bizarre Mary J. Blige musical performance as Sherlock's ex-girlfriend Irene (based on Irene Adler). Most would fly over kids' heads and the rest aren't going to add much for Sherlock Holmes fans. Even the Robert Downey Jr. action movies make better use of Conan Doyle's canon.

The split focus might have been acceptable if the movie were funnier and more creative, but neither is the case. There's still plenty of Elton John music to hear but it's used less imaginatively, mostly saved for big party scenes and the occasional chase. Most of the "best" gags are visual and involve either Mankini, the dancing gnome in the shockingly showy swimsuit, and the lowly gnome stuck on a toilet.  Your mileage may vary with both but for me it was a very short distance.

It's possible Sherlock Gnomes will find an audience out there and we'll get another adaptation with a silly title. A Gnome at the End of the World? The Lovely Gnomes? Hopefully not, and these gnomes can stay packed away in the shed where they belong.

Rating: 1 out of 5



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'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald' Trailer: Johnny Depp Is The Darkest Of Evils

You never know how good you've got it until it's gone. When Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them arrived it served as a reminder of how special J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World truly was, retaining the magic of the earlier movies better than we could have hoped from a prequel. Now it's time to ready our wands and prepare for another adventure with magizoologist Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, a film that ties into some key events in Harry Potter lore.

Eddie Redmayne is back as Scamander, who journeys to Paris to aid a young Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) in his mission to capture the escaped villain, Gellert Grindelwald. While there has been some controversy surrounding the casting of Johnny Depp as the dark wizard, it remains to be seen if it will have any impact at the box office. Something tells me it won't. If it makes you feel any better just imagine that Depp is a really bad guy getting his comeuppance at the hands of powerful mages.

The new trailer walks us right through the doors of Hogwarts, in itself very cool, and reintroduces us to characters played by Dan Fogler, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Ezra Miller, Carmen Ejogo, and Zoe Kravitz. Callum Turner, Claudia Kim, Jessica Williams, and Brontis Jodorowsky are just a few of the new additions. Here's the synopsis:

At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne).  But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.

In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead.  Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

Directed by David Yates, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald opens November 16th.

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J.K. Rowling's Next To Defend Johnny Depp's 'Fantastic Beasts' Casting

I don't know a ton about the Harry Potter fanbase but to me they seem like an amiable bunch. However they've gotten pretty riled up over the continued presence of Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, in which he plays the titular villain, after allegations of domestic abuse against ex-wife Amber Heard. Director David Yates issued a pretty lousy defense of Depp recently, in which he basically dismisses the issue because not EVERY woman in Depp's life thinks badly of him.

Now it's Harry Potter author and screenwriter J.K. Rowling's turn to voice her opinion on the issue. She's also in the camp of rushing to Depp's aid, albeit in the most passive way possible. Seriously, she manages to say quite a bit without really saying much at all except that Depp is staying.

When Johnny Depp was cast as Grindelwald, I thought he’d be wonderful in the role. However, around the time of filming his cameo in the first movie, stories had appeared in the press that deeply concerned me and everyone most closely involved in the franchise.

Harry Potter fans had legitimate questions and concerns about our choice to continue with Johnny Depp in the role. As David Yates, long-time Potter director, has already said, we naturally considered the possibility of recasting. I understand why some have been confused and angry about why that didn’t happen.

The huge, mutually supportive community that has grown up around Harry Potter is one of the greatest joys of my life. For me personally, the inability to speak openly to fans about this issue has been difficult, frustrating and at times painful. However, the agreements that have been put in place to protect the privacy of two people, both of whom have expressed a desire to get on with their lives, must be respected.  Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies.

I’ve loved writing the first two screenplays and I can’t wait for fans to see ‘The Crimes of Grindelwald’. I accept that there will be those who are not satisfied with our choice of actor in the title role. However, conscience isn’t governable by committee. Within the fictional world and outside it, we all have to do what we believe to be the right thing.

Look, none of us knows what went down between Depp and Heard. Presumably, neither does Rowling unless these "assurances" came with a thorough explanation from both parties. All I know is this seems like the exact wrong climate to be dealing with this sort of thing, and I wouldn't be surprised if there is some backlash. If this turns out to be the lowest grossing Potter film I wouldn't be at all shocked.  Then again, Depp's presence didn't hurt Murder On the Orient Express at all.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald opens November 16th 2018.

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'Fantastic Beasts' Director Defends Casting Johnny Depp As Grindelwald

In the post-Weinstein era, certain stars and filmmakers have become radioactive. Had plans to make a movie with Kevin Spacey? Might want to hold yer horses there, bub. Some have managed to skate on by relatively unscathed, though. Mel Gibson's offenses came so early that he's already been forgiven, which is sorta weird. And there's also Johnny Depp, who continues to appear in movies like it ain't nothin' despite allegations of domestic abuse by his ex-wife, Amber Heard.

Despite this, and that he hasn't had a non-Jack Sparrow hit movie in ages, Depp is busier than ever. And one of his most prominent roles is coming up when he plays the evil Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. There are plenty of voices out there condemning Depp's continued presence in the world J.K. Rowling built, a world that is fairly wholesome, but director David Yates has nothing but good things to say in his comments to EW...

“Honestly there’s an issue at the moment where there’s a lot of people being accused of things, they’re being accused by multiple victims, and it’s compelling and frightening. With Johnny, it seems to me there was one person who took a pop at him and claimed something. I can only tell you about the man I see every day: He’s full of decency and kindness, and that’s all I see. Whatever accusation was out there doesn’t tally with the kind of human being I’ve been working with.”

Yates continues to back him up by saying Depp has defenders in some of the past women in his life, and because there aren't multiple accusations against him...

“By testament, some of the women in [Depp’s] life have said the same thing — ‘that’s not the human being we know. It’s very different [than cases] where there are multiple accusers over many years that need to be examined and we need to reflect on our industry that allows that to roll on year in and year out. Johnny isn’t in that category in any shape or form. So to me, it doesn’t bear any more analysis. It’s a dead issue.”

If you're talkin' about it, it's not a dead issue. Anyway, it's not up to Yates to decide Depp's guilt or innocence, but the court of public opinion can be quite lethal. They better hope nothing else about Depp becomes public.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald opens November 16th 2018.

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First Look At The Newly-Titled 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald'

Today brings the magical first look at the sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and my first thought is "Thank Goodness" because they've given it a new title. From now on we can call it Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, for reasons that should get fans of the Potterverse soaring like they just entered a Quidditch match.

The image give us our first look at Jude Law as a young Albus Dumbledore, with his beard only at quarter-mast at this point.  Standing opposed to him is Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald, and we know this franchise is building up to an epic showdown that has been teased in the novels but never captured on screen. And maybe I'm not totally down on my Potter lore, but does Grindelwald have the Elder wand at this point? Somebody clue me in.

Anyway. the image also shows returning stars Eddie Redmayne as magizoologist Newt Scamander, Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein, Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein, Dan Fogler as No-Maj Jacob Kowalski, Ezra Miller as Credence Barebone, and Zoe Kravitz as Leta Lestrange, who was barely seen in the first movie but gets an expanded role here. Her last name should send a chill down fans' spines. We also see new additions Callum Turner (The Only Living Boy in New York) as Newt's brother Theseus Scamander, and Claudia Kim as an unnamed character said to be the main attraction of a wizarding circus. Her name must be hidden for a reason.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald opens November 16th 2018. I'm pumped!

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Review: Kenneth Branagh's 'Murder On The Orient Express' Is Worth Booking Passage On

There's a lot to love about Kenneth Branagh's handsome but slightly messy adaptation of Agatha Christie's 1934 mystery, Murder On the Orient Express. Lushly detailed, as much in production value as with the beautifully-assembled cast, the film is gorgeous to look at from start to finish; as elegant as the dainty morsels of food served in the titular train's dining car. And while it helps if you've never read Christie's story before, even those who have will come away hoping to see more of Branagh as the thickly-mustachioed detective, Hercule Poirot.

With a mustache as thick as a lion's mane, Branagh devours the role of Poirot, a perfectionist in the art of deductive reasoning. Well, a perfectionist in all things, really. Heaven forbid you come at him wearing a crooked tie. He needs everything to be so perfectly in balance he'd rather step in manure with both feet just to stay even. Branagh, pulling double duty as director and star, is clearly having a ball in his attempt to revitalize a very old fashioned style of whodunit. Hollywood doesn't make these kinds of movies anymore, really not since Clue parodied them so well back in the '80s. I think we could do with seeing a few more.

Given contemporary polish and energy that separates it from the 1974 film adaptation led by Albert Finney, Branagh's version opens in Jerusalem as Poirot uses his superhuman deductive skills to discover the thief of a precious artifact. It clues us in to his meticulous nature, but also the weight his name carries around the world. In need of some R&R, Poirot boards a train headed to Calais, only to find that his hopes of relaxing with a good book by Charles Dickens are not to be. The train is not only stalled due to a snowy avalanche of Snowpiercer proportions, but a passenger is murdered during the night. Of course, the only one who can solve the case is the world's greatest detective himself.

Originally set to star Angelina Jolie as one of the color array of suspects, Branagh acquitted himself quite well in casting Johnny Depp as a crooked gangster who sells expensive fake artifacts, Michelle Pfeiffer as a cougar on the hunt, Leslie Odom Jr. as a respected doctor, Daisy Ridley as a proud governess, Judi Dench as a royal blue blood with an attitude, Willem Dafoe as an Austrian professor with Nazi ideology, Josh Gad and Derek Jacobi as the gangster's assistants, plus Sergei Polunin and Lucy Boynton as an ass-kicking count and drug addicted countess. Poirot sets upon them with boyish vigor, and a large part of the film's fun are his methods of interrogation, playing on each of their character flaws.

As enjoyable as Branagh's performance is, most of the star-studded group play their roles too close to the vest. Granted there is a reason for it, this is a story in which everyone has a secret, but it becomes a drag when Poirot's investigation shifts from who did it to about motive, which is considerably darker and sloppily handled. And while there are occasional excursions away from the train's dull passenger cars, it remains a largely stationary experience that isn't always so exciting.

While there is plenty of Poirot to go around elsewhere, from the 1974 movie to the long-running TV series that your parents might still watch on PBS, Branagh's Murder On the Orient Express does manage to set itself apart. If he decides to bring the detective back for another case that would be a ride worth booking passage on.

Rating: 3 out of 5

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