đż24: 7 Prisoners
Brazilian dramas take centre stage, along with this week's best trailers and movie news hot off the press!
"The funny thing is, on the outside I was an honest man. Straight as an arrow. I had to come to prison to be a crook."
~ Shawshank Redemption, 1994
âTis the seasonâŚ
Weâre back to our regular scheduling this week following the last edition of Salty Popcorn, curated and edited by the wonderful Stygi of Midweek Crisis. In last weekâs MC, Stygi compiled a beach-themed playlist, perfect listening for anyone whoâs already missing the warmer weather, or for those of you lucky enough to be getting some winter sun.
Iâm not a fan of colder weather and shorter days but I am a big fan of the cinema releases at this time of year. While the summer feels like a long time ago, itâs only now that Iâm noticing the lack of summer blockbusters and the wide array of films taking their place.
Already weâve had Dune, Last Night in Soho, The French Dispatch and ahead of us weâve got King Richard (out tomorrow), Boiling Point and House of Gucci. I hope youâre as excited as I amâŚ
A little housekeeping before jumping to headlines, the Criticâs Cut has been cut from this edition of Salty Popcorn and may or may not make a return. If you enjoyed this little bit of extra review, let me know in the comments and Iâll be more inclined to bring it back.
Now for the headlines:
Following the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopherâs Stone (do you feel old yet??) itâs been announced that the original trio will be reuniting on HBO Max for a special episode, dubbed Return To Hogwarts. Read more.
A title has been announced for Dan Trachtenbergâs upcoming Predator prequel⌠Prey, how apt. Read more.
Mel Gibson is in talks to direct Lethal Weapon 5. Read more.
Good news for 90s kids as the awesome X-Men cartoon of our childhood as Marvel has confirmed itâll produce new episodes, supposedly picking up from where it left off. Read more.
Salty Popcorn is 100% free but you can support this independent publication by paying just ÂŁ5 per month. In return, youâll be the first to access upcoming premium features.
Upcoming Releases
The Power of the Dog
UK: 1 December // USA: 1 December
Charismatic rancher Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother (Jesse Plemons) brings home a new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her son (Kodi Smit-McPhee), Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love.
Silent Night
UK: 3 December // USA: 3 December
In this dark comedy, Nell (Kiera Knightly), Simon (Matthew Goode), and their son Art (Roman Griffin Davis) welcome friends and family round for the last ever Christmas - because the world is about to end.
Fact of the week
The real reason that Han Solo was frozen in carbonite in The Empire Strikes Back was because unlike Carrie Fischer and Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford was only signed for two films and George Lucas wasnât sure heâd return for the third following the success of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Review: 7 Prisoners
Star rating:
4 (out of 5)
Where to watch:Â
USA: Netflix
UK: Netflix
Runtime:
1hr 33m
Director:
Alexandre Moratto
Blurb:Â
To provide a better life for his family in the country, 18-year-old Mateus (Christian Malheiros) takes a job in a SĂŁo Paulo junkyard but becomes trapped in the dangerous world of human trafficking.
The review (NO spoilers):
7 Prisoners gives a raw look into the world of modern slavery through the eyes of Mateus (Christian Malheiros), as he tries to escape his âbossâ Luca (Rodrigo Santoro) and the world heâs fallen into.
Director Alexandre Moratto has bravely made a film that explores a dark and sensitive topic that most people donât talk about. Yet, thanks to Morattoâs grace, 7 Prisoners succeeds without being too depressing or gratuitously violent. Most importantly, however, this film doesnât gloss over or downplay the seriousness of the subject.
While there are moments that are hard to watch, the filmâs focus isnât on violence, itâs on coercion. What weâre left with is a complex story that centres around its characters, their relationships and how they adapt to their circumstances while exploring the moral ambiguities that come with fighting for survival.
This may well be one of the best Netflix Originals Iâve seen and with a mere 93 minutes runtime, thereâs no excuse not to watch it.
Scroll down for to see whatâs coming in the next issue.
If you liked 7 PrisonersâŚ
City of God
2002 | UK: Amazon Prime (ÂŁ3.49) // US: HBO Max
Nominated for four Academy Awards, City of God is based on the true story of two boys whose lives in Rio de Janeiro take two very different paths. While one grows up with ambitions of being a photographer, the other becomes an infamous drug dealer.
In the next issue:
Watch House of Gucci
UK: 26 November // USA: 24 November |Â Watch the Trailer
Hey Tom, thanks for mentioning my sea-themed playlist đđśđ§. Btw it's regularly updated!
I love this issue of SP! Can't wait for the Harry Potter special episode âĄď¸. "The Power Of Dog" seems like a decent movie. Cowboy topic is what I really like, views are gorgeous, and this cast looks damn fine!
You know, I've never been a fan of Christmas movies, but this "Silent Night" might be fun to watch. And I'm also curious about "âTwas The Fight Before Christmas" on Apple TV+. Have you heard about it?
P.S. I really like "Criticâs Cut", and I hope you won't quit it.