🍿24: 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

‘Tis the season…

We’re 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 week’s MC, Stygi compiled a beach-themed playlist, perfect listening for anyone who’s already missing the warmer weather, or for those of you lucky enough to be getting some winter sun.

I’m 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, it’s only now that I’m noticing the lack of summer blockbusters and the wide array of films taking their place.

Already we’ve had Dune, Last Night in Soho, The French Dispatch and ahead of us we’ve got King Richard (out tomorrow), Boiling Point and House of Gucci. I hope you’re as excited as I am…

A little housekeeping before jumping to headlines, the Critic’s 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 I’ll be more inclined to bring it back.

---

Now for the headlines:

• Following the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (do you feel old yet??) it’s 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 Trachtenberg’s 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 it’ll 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 £5 per month. In return, you’ll 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 wasn’t sure he’d 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: 

USA: Netflix

UK: Netflix

Runtime:

1hr 33m

Director:

Alexandre Moratto

Blurb: 

To provide a better life for his family in the country, 18-year-old Mateus (Christian Malheiros) takes a job in a São 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 “boss” Luca (Rodrigo Santoro) and the world he’s fallen into.

Director Alexandre Moratto has bravely made a film that explores a dark and sensitive topic that most people don’t talk about. Yet, thanks to Moratto’s grace, 7 Prisoners succeeds without being too depressing or gratuitously violent. Most importantly, however, this film doesn’t gloss over or downplay the seriousness of the subject.

While there are moments that are hard to watch, the film’s focus isn’t on violence, it’s on coercion. What we’re 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 I’ve seen and with a mere 93 minutes runtime, there’s no excuse not to watch it.

Scroll down for to see what’s coming in the next issue.

---

If you liked 7 Prisoners…

City of God

2002 | UK: Amazon Prime (£3.49) // 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 | Watch the Trailer

---