Matt writes: Last week, RogerEbert.com presented its 2022 edition of Women Writers Week, featuring remarkable reviews, interviews and essays from essential female writers including our site’s publisher Chaz Ebert; Contributing Editor Nell Minow; critics Sheila O’Malley, Christy Lemire, Tomris Laffly; frequent contributors Marya E. Gates, Nandini Balial, Ciara Wardlow; and many others. You can find the full round-up of articles published during that week at the official table of contents as well as the annotated table of contents, the latter of which contains bios and headshots for each featured writer.
Trailers
Vortex (2022). Written and directed by Gaspar Noé. Starring Dario Argento, Françoise Lebrun, Alex Lutz. Synopsis: The last days of an elderly couple stricken by dementia. Debuts in the US on April 29th, 2022.
Pleasure (2022). Directed by Ninja Thyberg. Written by Ninja Thyberg and Peter Modestij. Starring Sofia Kappel, Zelda Morrison, Evelyn Claire. Synopsis: Bella Cherry arrives in Los Angeles with dreams of becoming an adult film star, but she soon learns that fame won’t come easy as she harnesses her ambition and cunning to rise to the top of this mesmerizing and singular world. US release date is TBA.
7 Days (2022). Directed by Roshan Sethi. Written by Roshan Sethi and Karan Soni. Starring Karan Soni, Geraldine Viswanathan, Zenobia Shroff. Synopsis: As if their pre-arranged date, organized by their traditional Indian parents, wasn’t uncomfortable enough, Ravi and Rita are forced to shelter in place together as COVID-19’s reach intensifies. Debuts in the US on March 25th, 2022.
Moonshot (2022). Directed by Christopher Winterbauer. Written by Max Taxe. Starring Cole Sprouse, Zach Braff, Lana Condor. Synopsis: A woman goes after her boyfriend who has moved to Mars. Debuts on HBO Max on March 31st, 2022.
Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood (2022). Written and directed by Richard Linklater. Starring Jack Black, Zachary Levi, Josh Wiggins. Synopsis: A coming-of-age story set in the suburbs of Houston, Texas in the summer of 1969, centered around the historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Debuts on Netflix on April 1st, 2022.
Anaïs in Love (2022). Written and directed by Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet. Starring Anaïs Demoustier, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Denis Podalydès. Synopsis: Follows Anaïs, a 30-year old woman that is broke and has a lover she doesn’t think she loves anymore. She meets Daniel, who immediately falls for her. But Daniel lives with Emilie – whom Anaïs also falls for. US release date is TBA.
Hit the Road (2022). Written and directed by Panah Panahi. Starring Panah Panahi, Hasan Majuni, Rayan Sarlak. Synopsis: Follows a chaotic, tender family that is on a road trip across a rugged landscape and fussing over the sick dog and getting on each others’ nerves. Only the mysterious older brother is quiet. Debuts in the US on April 22nd, 2022.
Deep Water (2022). Directed by Adrian Lyne. Written by Sam Levinson and Zach Helm (based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith). Starring Ben Affleck, Ana de Armas, Tracy Letts. Synopsis: A well-to-do husband who allows his wife to have affairs in order to avoid a divorce becomes a prime suspect in the disappearance of her lovers. Debuts on Hulu on March 18th, 2022.
The Girl and the Spider (2022). Written and directed by Ramon Zürcher and Silvan Zürcher. Starring Henriette Confurius, Liliane Amuat, Ursina Lardi. Synopsis: Lisa is moving out. Mara is left behind. As boxes are shifted and cupboards built, abysses begin to open up and an emotional roller coaster is set in motion. A tragicomic catastrophe film. A poetic ballad about change and transience. US release date is TBA.
What We Leave Behind (2022). Directed by Iliana Sosa. Synopsis: After a lifetime of bus rides to the US to visit his children, Julián quietly starts building a house in rural Mexico. In filming his work, his granddaughter crafts a personal and poetic love letter to him and his homeland. US release date is TBA.
How to Survive a Pandemic (2022). Directed by David France. Synopsis: Chronicles the global race to research, develop, manufacture and distribute COVID-19 vaccines in the most enormous coordinated public health effort ever undertaken. Debuts on HBO Max on March 29th, 2022.
Sheryl (2022). Directed by Amy Scott. Synopsis: Follows the intimate story of musical icon Sheryl Crow, as she navigates an iconic but difficult musical career fighting sexism, ageism, depression, cancer, and the price of fame. Debuts on Showtime on May 6th, 2022.
Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off (2022). Directed by Sam Jones. Synopsis: Follows famous skater Tony Hawk’s personal life, career and relationship with skateboarding, including never-before-seen footage and unprecedented access to Hawk, along with interviews with figures from the skateboarding world. Debuts on HBO Max on April 5th, 2022.
They Call Me Magic (2022). Directed by Rick Famuyiwa. Synopsis: A look into Earvin Johnson’s life, who left his mark on history through his work, and how he continues to impact our culture today. Debuts on Apple TV+ on April 22nd, 2022.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022). Directed by Jeff Fowler. Written by Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington. Starring Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, Jim Carrey. Synopsis: When the manic Dr. Robotnik returns to Earth with a new ally, Knuckles the Echidna, Sonic and his new friend Tails is all that stands in their way. Debuts in the US on April 8th, 2022.
Mothering Sunday (2022). Directed by Eva Husson. Written by Alice Birch (based on the novel by Graham Swift). Starring Odessa Young, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth. Synopsis: A maid living in post-World War I England secretly plans to meet with the man she loves before he leaves to marry another woman. Debuts in the US on March 25th, 2022.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022). Directed by Tom Gormican. Written by Tom Gormican and Kevin Etten. Starring Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Tiffany Haddish. Synopsis: A cash-strapped Nicolas Cage agrees to make a paid appearance at a billionaire super fan’s birthday party, but is really an informant for the CIA since the billionaire fan is a drug kingpin and gets cast in a Tarantino movie. Debuts in the US on April 22nd, 2022.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022). Created by Joby Harold (based on characters created by George Lucas). Starring Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Joel Edgerton. Synopsis: Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi watches over young Luke Skywalker and evades the Empire’s elite Jedi hunters during his exile on the desert planet Tatooine. Debuts on Disney+ on May 25th, 2022.
William Hurt (1950-2022)
Matt writes: During this past weekend’s Critics Choice Awards, news broke that William Hurt, the Oscar-winning star of such classics as “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Body Heat” and “Broadcast News,” died at age 71. Read Scout Tafoya’s eulogy to the screen icon here and view the “Siskel & Ebert” review of Hurt’s great performance in “The Accidental Tourist” in the episode embedded above.
Kogonada on “After Yang”
Matt writes: Acclaimed filmmaker and cherished Ebertfest guest Kogodana recently spoke with our frequent contributor Carlos Aguilar about his deeply provocative new film, “After Yang,” starring Colin Farrell. You can read their full conversation here and Managing Editor Brian Tallerico’s four-star review of the film here.
Free Movies
Escape from Sahara (1958). Directed by Wolfgang Staudte. Written by Emil Burri, Werner Jörg Lüddecke and Johannes Mario Simmel. Starring Hildegard Knef, Bernhard Wicki, Hannes Messemer. Synopsis: Ex-mercenaries fleeing to their home countries with a love twist.
Watch “Escape from Sahara”
McClintock! (1963). Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen. Written by James Edward Grant. Starring John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Patrick Wayne. Synopsis: Wealthy rancher G.W. McLintock uses his power and influence in the territory to keep the peace between farmers, ranchers, land-grabbers, Indians and corrupt government officials.
Watch “McClintock!”
Scandal Sheet (1985). Directed by David Lowell Rich. Written by Howard Rodman. Starring Burt Lancaster, Lauren Hutton, Pamela Reed. Synopsis: The publisher of a celebrity gossip tabloid sets out to destroy an aging actor, whose career is foundering and who is also facing a battle with alcoholism.