Matt writes: This past Groundhog Day, February 2nd, in Chicago, actor and filmmaker Harold Ramis was celebrated by members of his beloved 1993 classic, “Groundhog Day,” at a special public event honoring the tenth anniversary of his passing. I had the joy of speaking with four of the participating cast members—Robin Duke, Marita Geraghty, David Pasquesi and Stephen Tobolowsky—prior to the event, and you can read our conversations in my in-depth essay linked here.

When Roger Ebert inducted “Groundhog Day” into his Great Movies series in 2005, he admitted that he underrated the film in his original review. “I enjoyed it so easily that I was seduced into cheerful moderation,” Ebert wrote. “But there are a few films, and this is one of them, that burrow into our memories and become reference points. When you find yourself needing the phrase This is like ‘Groundhog Day’ to explain how you feel, a movie has accomplished something.”

Trailers

Immaculate (2024), red-band trailer. Directed by Michael Mohan. Written by Andrew Lobel. Starring Sydney Sweeney, Simona Tabasco, Álvaro Morte. Synopsis: Cecilia, a woman of devout faith, is warmly welcomed to the picture-perfect Italian countryside where she is offered a new role at an illustrious convent. But it becomes clear to Cecilia that her new home harbors dark and horrifying secrets. Debuts in the US on March 22nd, 2024.

Monkey Man (2024). Directed by Dev Patel. Written by Dev Patel, Paul Angunawela and John Collee. Starring Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Sobhita Dhulipala. Synopsis: An anonymous young man unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless. Debuts in the US on April 5th, 2024.

Hit Man (2024). Directed by Richard Linklater. Written by Richard Linklater and Glen Powell (based on the article by Skip Hollandsworth). Starring Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio. Synopsis: A professor moonlighting as a hit man of sorts for his city police department, descends into dangerous, dubious territory when he finds himself attracted to a woman who enlists his services. US release date is TBA.

Stopmotion (2024). Directed by Robert Morgan. Written by Robert Morgan and Robin King. Starring Aisling Franciosi, Stella Gonet, Tom York. Synopsis: A stop-motion animator struggles to control her demons after the loss of her overbearing mother. US release date is TBA.

Ghostwritten (2024). Written and directed by Thomas Matthews. Starring Jay Duplass, Maria Dizzia, Declan Eells. Synopsis: A one-hit novelist is out of his depth on a winter residency. US release date is TBA.

Tuesday (2024). Written and directed by Daina Oniunas-Pusic. Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lola Petticrew, Arinzé Kene. Synopsis: A mother and her teenage daughter must confront Death when it arrives in the form of an astonishing talking bird. US release date is TBA.

Tarot (2024). Written and directed by Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg (based on the novel by Nicholas Adams). Starring Avantika, Jacob Batalon, Olwen Fouéré. Synopsis: When a group of friends recklessly violates the sacred rule of Tarot readings they unknowingly unleash an unspeakable evil trapped within the cursed cards. One by one, they come face to face with fate and end up in a race against death. Debuts in the US on May 10th, 2024.

Ricky Stanicky (2024). Directed by Peter Farrelly. Written by Peter Farrelly, Jeffrey Bushell, Brian Jarvis, Jim Freeman, Pete Jones and Mike Cerrone. Starring John Cena, Zac Efron, William H. Macy. Synopsis: When three childhood best friends pull a prank that goes wrong, they invent the imaginary Ricky Stanicky to get them out of trouble. Twenty years later, they still use the nonexistent Ricky as a handy alibi for their immature behavior. Debuts on Prime Video on March 7th, 2024.

Sleeping Dogs (2024). Directed by Adam Cooper. Written by Adam Cooper and Bill Collage (based on the novel by E.O. Chirovici. Starring Russell Crowe, Karen Gillan, Marton Csokas. Synopsis: An ex-homicide detective (Russell Crowe) with memory loss is forced to solve a brutal murder, only to uncover chilling secrets from his forgotten past. Debuts in the US on March 22nd, 2024.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024). Directed by Guy Ritchie. Written by Guy Ritchie, Arash Amel, Eric Johnson, Damien Lewis and Paul Tamasy. Starring Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Cary Elwes. Synopsis: The British military recruits a small group of highly-skilled soldiers to strike against Nazi forces behind enemy lines during World War II. Debuts in the US on April 19th, 2024.

Longlegs (2024). Written and directed by Oz Perkins. Starring Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Alicia Witt. Synopsis: FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes unexpected turns, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again. Debuts in the US on July 12th, 2024.

Mea Culpa (2024). Written and directed by Tyler Perry. Starring Trevante Rhodes, Sean Sagar, Kelly Rowland. Synopsis: Follows an ambitious criminal defense attorney that, in his aspiration to be named partner, takes on a murder case of an artist. Debuts on Netflix on February 23rd, 2024.

Skin Deep (2024). Directed by Alex Schaad. Written by Alex Schaad and Dimitrij Schaad. Starring Mala Emde, Jonas Dassler, Dimitrij Schaad. Synopsis: At first glance, Leyla and Tristan seem like a happy young couple. But when they travel to a mysterious, remote island, a game of identities begins, which changes everything. US release date is TBA.

One Life (2024). Directed by James Hawes. Written by Lucinda Coxon and Nick Drake. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Helena Bonham Carter, Johnny Flynn. Synopsis: The story of Sir Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Winton, a young London broker who, in the months leading up to World War II, rescued Jewish children from the Nazis. US release date is TBA.

Road House (2024). Directed by Doug Liman. Written by Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry (based on the screenplay by R. Lance Hill and Hilary Henkin). Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Conor McGregor. Synopsis: An ex-UFC middleweight fighter ends up working at a rowdy bar in the Florida Keys where things are not as they seem. Debuts on Prime Video on March 21st, 2024.

Ripley (2024). Created by Steven Zaillian (based on characters created by Patricia Highsmith). Starring Andrew Scott, Johnny Flynn, Dakota Fanning. Synopsis: A grifter named Ripley living in New York during the 1960s is hired by a wealthy man to begin a complex life of deceit, fraud and murder. Debuts on Netflix on April 4th, 2024.

Despicable Me 4 (2024). Directed by Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage. Written by Ken Daurio and Mike White. Starring Steve Carell, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig. Synopsis: Gru, Lucy, Margo, Edith, and Agnes welcome a new member to the family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad. Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal and his girlfriend Valentina, and the family is forced to go on the run. Debuts in the US on July 3rd, 2024.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024). Directed by Gil Kenan. Written by Gil Kenan and Jason Reitman (based on the film written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis). Starring Bill Murray, Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd. Synopsis: When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age. Debuts in the US on March 22nd, 2024.

Sundance 2024

Matt writes: You can find all of our reviews filed at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival penned by Brian Tallerico, Robert Daniels, Marya E. Gates, Monica Castillo, Niani Scott and Tomris Laffly—of numerous enticing selections including  Alessandra Lacorazza’s Grand Jury Prize winner, “In the Summers”—in the Table of Contents linked here.

2024 Oscar Nominees & Snubs

Matt writes: In light of the 2024 Oscar nominees being officially announced last month, our contributor Daniel Joyaux spotlighted nine major omissions, including Spring releases such as my favorite film of 2023, Kelly Fremon Craig’s “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” 

Free Movies

Bird of Paradise (1932). Directed by King Vidor. Written by Wells Root, Wanda Tuchock and Leonard Praskins (based on the play by Richard Walton Tully). Starring Dolores del Rio, Joel McCrea, Lon Chaney Jr. Synopsis: A native girl falls for a visitor to her island, but she’s chosen to be sacrificed to the volcano god. 

Watch “Bird of Paradise”

Of Human Bondage (1934). Directed by John Cromwell. Written by Lester Cohen (based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham). Starring Bette Davis, Leslie Howard, Frances Dee. Synopsis: A young man finds himself attracted to a cold, unfeeling waitress who might ultimately destroy them both.

Watch “Of Human Bondage”

Quicksand (1950). Directed by Irving Pichel. Written by Robert Smith. Starring Mickey Rooney, Jeanne Cagney, Peter Lorre. Synopsis: After taking 20 dollars from his employer to go on a date with plans to repay it the next day, an auto mechanic falls into increasingly disastrous circumstances for more and more money which rapidly spirals out of his control.

Watch “Quicksand“

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