Movies First: Film Reviews & Insights

Promised (Drama, Romance)   In 1953, two young Italian children are promised in marriage by their fathers. Twenty one years on - despite changing times, fading traditions and 70's liberation - the pair are expected to marry, or face the consequences. Directors: Nick Conidi, Tony Ferrieri (co-director) Writer: Nick Conidi Stars: Paul Mercurio, Antoniette Iesue, Mirko Grillini - (IMDb)         Movie...

Blinded By The Light (Comedy, Drama, Music)   In England in 1987, a teenager from an Asian family learns to live his life, understand his family and find his own voice through the music of American rock star Bruce Springsteen. Director: Gurinder ChadhaWriters: Sarfraz Manzoor (screenplay), Gurinder Chadha (screenplay) Stars: Billy Barratt, Ronak Singh Chadha Berges, Viveik Kalra - (IMDb)        Mo...

Ready or Not (Comedy, Horror, Mystery)   A bride's wedding night takes a sinister turn when her eccentric new in-laws force her to take part in a terrifying game. Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett Writers: Guy Busick, Ryan Murphy Stars: Samara Weaving, Adam Brody, Mark O'Brien - (IMDb)        Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone.fm /BIT7197946000  Stream podcast episodes o...

Movies First 684 with Alex FirstAfter The Wedding (Drama)   A manager of an orphanage in Kolkata travels to New York to meet a benefactor. Director: Bart Freundlich Writers: Bart Freundlich (screenplay), Susanne Bier (original screenplay)  Stars: Michelle Williams, Julianne Moore, Billy Crudup - (IMDb)        Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone.fm /BIT7197946000  Stream podcast episod...

Movies First 683 with Alex FirstPavarotti (Documentary, Biography, Music)   A look at the life and work of opera legend, Luciano Pavarotti. Director: Ron Howard Writers: Cassidy Hartmann (consulting writer), Mark Monroe Stars: Andrea Griminelli, Nicoletta Mantovani, Bono - (IMDb)        Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone.fm /BIT7197946000  Stream podcast episodes on demand from www.b...

Strange But True (Thriller)   A woman surprises the family of her deceased boyfriend by telling them she's pregnant with his child. Director: Rowan Athale Writers: Eric Garcia (screenplay by), John Searles (based on the novel by) Stars: Nick Robinson, Amy Ryan, Greg Kinnear - (IMDb)        Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone.fm /BIT7197946000  Stream podcast episodes on demand from www...

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (Adventure, Family, Fantasy)   Maleficent and her goddaughter Aurora begin to question the complex family ties that bind them as they are pulled in different directions by impending nuptials, unexpected allies, and dark new forces at play. Director: Joachim Rønning Writers: Micah Fitzerman-Blue (screenplay by), Noah Harpster (screenplay by) Stars: Angelina Jolie, Elle...

Zombieland: Double Tap (Action, Comedy, Horror)   Columbus, Tallahassee, Wichita, and Little Rock move to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of the snarky makeshift family. Director: Ruben Fleischer Writers: Dave Callaham (screenplay), Rhett Reese (screenplay)  Stars: Zoey Deutch, Abigail Breslin, Emma Stone - (IMDb) Movies Firs...

Judy (Biography, Drama, History)  Legendary performer Judy Garland arrives in London in the winter of 1968 to perform a series of sold-out concerts. Director: Rupert Goold Writers: Tom Edge (screenplay by), Peter Quilter (based on the stageplay "End of the Rainbow" by) Stars: Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock - (IMDb)     Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone.fm /BIT71979460...

Gemini Man (Action, Drama, Sci-Fi)  An over-the-hill hitman faces off against a younger clone of himself. Director: Ang Lee Writers: David Benioff (screenplay), Billy Ray (screenplay) Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Will Smith, Clive Owen - (IMDb)    Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone.fm /BIT7197946000  Stream podcast episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com/moviesfirst (mobile friendly...

Hustlers (Comedy, Crime, Drama)  Inspired by the viral New York Magazine article, Hustlers follows a crew of savvy former strip club employees who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients. Director: Lorene Scafaria Writers: Jessica Pressler (magazine article), Lorene Scafaria (screenplay) Stars: Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles - (IMDb)    Movies First RSS feed:  htt...

The Eulogy (Documentary)  Documentary examines why the brilliant Australian pianist Geoffrey Tozer died destitute, alone, and young. Director: Janine Hosking Writers: Kate Grusovin, Janine Hosking - (IMDb)     Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone.fm /BIT7197946000   Stream podcast episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com/moviesfirst (mobile friendly).  Subscribe, rate and review Movies Fi...

Working Woman (Drama) Isha Ovedet (original title) (Israel)Life at work becomes unbearable for Orna. Her boss appreciates and promotes her, while making inappropriate advances. Her husband struggles to keep his new restaurant afloat, and Orna becomes the main breadwinner for their three children. When her world is finally shattered, she must pull herself together to fight, in her own way, for her...

Halston (Documentary) Prodigiously talented, Halston reigned over fashion in the 1970s and became a household name. But everything changed in the Wall Street era. With his empire under threat, Halston took the biggest gamble of his life. Director: Frédéric TchengWriter: Frédéric TchengStars: Liza Minnelli, Marisa Berenson, Joel Schumacher - (IMDb)   Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone....

Birds of Passage (Crime, Drama) Pájaros de verano (original title) (Columbia)During the marijuana bonanza, a violent decade that saw the origins of drug trafficking in Colombia, Rapayet and his indigenous family get involved in a war to control the business that ends up destroying their lives and their culture. Directors: Cristina Gallego, Ciro GuerraWriters: Maria Camila Arias, Jacques Toulemonde...

Joker (Crime, Drama, Thriller) A gritty character study of Arthur Fleck, a man disregarded by society. Director: Todd PhillipsWriters: Todd Phillips, Scott SilverStars: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz - (IMDb)   Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone.fm /BIT7197946000  Stream podcast episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com/moviesfirst (mobile friendly).  Subscribe, rate and re...

Buoyancy (Drama) (France) 14-year-old Chakra is sold as a slave labourer to the captain of a Thai fishing vessel. The captain's rule on board is cruel and arbitrary. Director: Rodd RathjenWriter: Rodd RathjenStars: Sarm Heng, Thanawut Kasro, Mony Ros - (IMDb)   Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone.fm /BIT7197946000  Stream podcast episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com/moviesfirst (mobi...

The Dead Don’t Die (Comedy, Fantasy, Horror) The peaceful town of Centerville finds itself battling a zombie horde as the dead start rising from their graves. Director: Jim JarmuschWriter: Jim JarmuschStars: Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tom Waits - (IMDb)   Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone.fm /BIT7197946000  Stream podcast episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com/moviesfirst (mobile frie...

The Goldfinch (Drama) A boy in New York is taken in by a wealthy Upper East Side family after his mother is killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Director: John CrowleyWriters: Peter Straughan (screenplay by), Donna Tartt (based on the novel by)Stars: Oakes Fegley, Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman - (IMDb)   Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone.fm /BIT7197946000  Stream podc...

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (Horror, Mystery, Thriller) A group of teens face their fears in order to save their lives. Director: André Øvredal Writers: Dan Hageman (screenplay by), Kevin Hageman (screenplay by) Stars: Zoe Margaret Colletti, Michael Garza, Dean Norris - (IMDb)   Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone.fm /BIT7197946000  Stream podcast episodes on demand from www.bite...

Rambo: Last Blood (Action, Adventure, Thriller) Rambo must confront his past and unearth his ruthless combat skills to exact revenge in a final mission. Director: Adrian GrunbergWriters: Matthew Cirulnick (screenplay by), Sylvester Stallone (screenplay by) Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Paz Vega, Yvette Monreal - (IMDb)   Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone.fm /BIT7197946000  Stream podcas...

Ad Astra (Adventure, Drama, Mystery) Astronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission across an unforgiving solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and his doomed expedition that now, 30 years later, threatens the universe. Director: James GrayWriters: James Gray, Ethan GrossStars: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga - (IMDb)   Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone.fm /BI...

Dora and the Lost City of Gold (Adventure, Family) Dora, a teenage explorer, leads her friends on an adventure to save her parents and solve the mystery behind a lost city of gold. Director: James BobinWriters: Chris Gifford (based on the series created by), Matthew Robinson (screenplay by) Stars: Isabela Moner, Eugenio Derbez, Michael Peña  - (IMDb)   Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megapho...

Abominable (Animation, Adventure, Comedy) A magical Yeti must return to his family. Directors: Jill Culton, Todd Wilderman (co-director)Writer: Jill CultonStars: Chloe Bennet, Albert Tsai, Tenzing Norgay Trainor  - (IMDb)   Movies First RSS feed:  https://feeds.megaphone.fm /BIT7197946000  Stream podcast episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com/moviesfirst (mobile friendly).  Subscribe, rate and rev...

Ugly Dolls (Animation, Adventure, Comedy) An animated adventure in which the free-spirited UglyDolls confront what it means to be different, struggle with a desire to be loved, and ultimately discover who you truly are is what matters most. Director: Kelly Asbury Writers: Alison Peck (screenplay by), Robert Rodriguez (story by) Stars: Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monáe - (IMDb)   Movies Fir...