Jeri
Jacquin
This
past week, Las Vegas hosted the annual NATO (National Association of Theatre
Owners) CINEMACON gathering together to experience what the studios have to
offer theatres with their coming slates for 2022-2023 and beyond.
Caesar’s
Palace was the place to be as each studio called us into the Colosseum to talk
about the return of the theatrical experience and thanking the theatre owners
for hanging on during the Covid shutdown. Reopening to movie-lovers, theatre
owners were thanked by studio executives and stars for recognizing that
everyone wants to get back into theatres!
Starting
on Monday, Sony studios began the convention with director David Leitch giving
the audience a look at the new film starring Brad Pitt with BULLETTRAIN. The
lovely Reese Witherspoon joins the fun via the big screen to talk about the
highly anticipated summer film WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING.
One
of my favorite actresses, Viola Davis is introduced by the director of her
latest film THE WOMAN KING, Gina Price-Bythewood and receives the CinemaCon
Trailblazer of the Year award. Marvel’s film EL MUERTO brings Bad Bunny to
star in its Latinx character driven film that will hit theatres in January of
2024.
Spider-Man:
Across the Spider-Verse gives us a look at what’s to come and introduced by
Phil Betancourt and Chris Miller. This installment has over two hundred and
forty characters in six universes and that’s going to test my attention span
for sure. Other films coming from Sony include 65 MOVIE, DEVOTION, MADAME WEB,
KRAVEN, THE EQUALIZER, GHOSTBUSTERS AND VEMON.
Sony’s
Chairman/CEO Tom Rothman talks about the upcoming film about George Foreman to
close out the studio’s presentation.
Tuesday
morning brought the studio Neon and right out of the gate is Matt Reeves, the
director of the successful recent release of BATMAN. He announces that he will
be heading up the next BATMAN film much to the excitement of the audience. My
shock of the morning is watching the iconic David Cronenberg arrive on stage to
introduce the trailer for the Viggo Mortensen-Kristen Stewart film CRIMES OF
THE FUTURE. He says, “Seems an appropriate place to launch our attack on the
world.”
Cronenberg
also admits that writing CRIMES OF THE FUTURE took about 20 years and adding
another confession that he has never been to Las Vegas. Welcome sir!
The
film FIRE OF LOVE explores the relationship of love between a couple who also
happens to love volcanos. An odd but interesting top for this Sundance award
winner and I cannot wait to see it.
To
finish the Neon presentation is MOONAGE DAYDREAM which is a film about the
amazing David Bowie. We were treated to a performance of Hallo Spaceboy as
director Brett Morgen says, “Bowie cannot be defined, he can be experienced”.
If that were not enough, another performance of Heroes. Everyone in the
audience was engrossed and emotional.
Warner
Bros. presentation begins with Chairman Toby Emmerich talking about Reeves
return for the next installment of BATMAN, followed by Denis Villenueve talking
about his own excitement bringing DUNE 2 to the big screen in theatres. That is
when the presentation is taken over by none other than Aisha Tyler.
Baz
Luhrmann takes the stage to talk about the power of seeing a film in theatres
and also talks about his next film ELVIS starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks.
He says, “it is not really a biopic but more about America in the 50s, 60s and
70s with Elvis Presley at the center of culture.”
Next,
a look at the film WONKA starring Timothy Chalamet and THE FLASH starring Ezra
Miller. Olivia Wilde takes the stage to talk about her directed film DON’T
WORRY DARLING with Florence Pugh and Harry Styles. She says her film is a “love
letter to the movies that push the boundaries of our imagination”. I don’t know
Ms. Wilde, I can imagine quite a lot!
I
absolutely loved seeing Helen Mirren enter the stage along with Zachy Levi and
Asher Angel to talk about their new film SHAZAM! Fury of the Gods. Mirren says
of her character, “She’s convinced of her righteousness.” James Wan offers up a
trailer for AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM and director Gary Dauberman gives us a
take on the new Stephen King film SALEM’S LOT.
The
roof always comes down when The Rock enters a large room, and the Colosseum is
no exception. Coming in to do double duty introducing two of his films DC SUPER
PETS and BLACK ADAM, he couldn’t waste the chance to talk about the bromance
with Kevin Hart “who continues to be like my third child”.
Talking
about BLACK ADAM, Johnson says it is “truly a dream of mine” and shares the
stage with Quintessa Swindell and Noah Cent and a peek at the film. Chairman of
Warner Bros. Pictures Toby Emmerich is on hand to give Johnson the Entertainment
Icon of the Decade Award. Well deserved!
Jason
Blum refers to his new film THE BLACK PHONE as ‘scary as hell’ and the audience
will have a chance to see it for themselves later in the evening. Ethan Hawke
gives a startling and stunning performance in this eerie film that is going to
keep me up nights for a while.
Wednesday
morning starts out with a smile on my face particularly because Disney is
bringing it all it has to offer. Starting out the morning with a peek at the
upcoming slate, it is exciting to see more. Starting with Chris Evans, as the
voice of Buzz Lightyear, screening to the audience a thirty-minute preview of
the highly anticipated family film LIGHTYEAR coming this summer.
The
film AMSTERDAM stars Christian Bale and Robert DeNiro is coming in November and
BOB’S BURGER coming in May. Jon Landau announced the re-release of AVATAR this
September as James Cameron gives the audience a peek at AVATAR: The Way of
Water. And that is exactly how you end a presentation, with a big blue bang!
Universal
Pictures and Focus Features bring their presentations starting out with
writer/director Jordan Peele talking about his next film NOPE. Waiting for its
release, he says, “I’m going to personally thrive on the amount of times I hear
the word nope”, and I hope he has a counter on hand because from the looks of
it – the number of times is going to be infinite!
Jamie
Lee Curtis is always a joy and a laugh to see as I did a few years ago when she
was promoting the HALLOWEEN film. She is back to talk about the next film
HALLOWEEN ENDS saying that playing Laurie Strode has “been the ride of my
life”. Her final warning about the new film is “trust me it’s gonna f**k you
up!” and I trust her!
Allison
Williams brings a trailer for the film M3GAN and the film BEAST OF NO NATION
with Idris Elba. Ko Joy decides to have a little fun with the audience to get
them ready for a look at his new film EASTER SUNDAY. I am so looking forward to
the dark film THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER since I am a wicked period piece
fan, this is going to be good.
If
lots of laugh is what anyone is looking for, Steve Carell promises that we will
get just that with the new installment from Illumination of MINIONS: The Rise
of Gru. Along with that, Carell does not mind offering up Gru-voice lessons
that are equally as hilarious.
The
first entire LGBTQ cast is brought about by Billy Eichner and the film BROS,
George Clooney and Julia Roberts come together again with a TICKET TO PARADISE,
Carey Mulligan brings SHE SAID to the screen in November and MRS. HARRIS GOES
TO PARIS is coming this July. Other films include VENGEANCE, SPOILER ALERT, CHAMPIONS,
Anthony Hopkins film ARMAGEDDON TIME, and the Kate Blanchett starring in TAR.
Like
a kid weeks before Christmas, I am excited to see any sneak peek or just the
name mentioned of DOWNTON ABBEY: A New Era. On stage a special message is
brought from the cast that just gets me giddy all over again.
Speaking
of Christmas, what is the holiday season without a good horror film as David
Harbour gives the audience a look at VIOLENT NIGHT. Our favorite swash-buckling
cat is back with PUSS IN BOOTS: The Last Wish but a certain perro in the film
thinks he has what it takes to declaw our hero with new charm.
Finally,
and what a way to end the evening, Jeff Goldblum and Bryce Dallas Howard give a
never-before-seen footage peek at JURASSIC WORLD: Dominion. Bigger, badder and
madder dinosaurs are hitting the screen in weeks!
On
Thursday, the final day of CinemaCon, the Paramount presentation begins with a
supersonic performance that reminds us that SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 is still
ringing at the box office. Chris Aronson, President of Domestic Distribution
for Paramount, dressed like Eggman with the warning “papa has a brand new
stache’!” He also introduces a reel to show what is coming with such films as
TOP GUN MAVERICK, PAWS OF FURY, BABYLON, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, IF, TIGERS
APPRENTICE, PAWS and A QUIET PLACE: Day One. Brian Robbins talks films of 2023
with TRANSFORMERS, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES and BOB MARLEY.
That
all leads up to a message from Tom Cruise who could not attend CinemaCon
because he was filming his newest MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Dead Reckoning Part One.
On the wings of a biplane, he apologizes for not being able to attend and hopes
we all understand before hanging on as the plane makes a daring dive! All of
this leads up to a first screening of TOP GUN MAVERICK.
The
final presentation on the final day of CinemaCon comes from Lionsgate with host
Sebastian Mariscalco. Starting off with an introduction by 50 Cent, a preview
of EXPENDABLES 4 hits the screen followed by a look at the horror offering THE
DEVIL’S LIGHT. Rachel McAdams and Abby Fortson have the chance to talk about
their newest film ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME MARGARET.
Helen
Mirren makes another appearance on stage to present WHITE BIRD: A Wonder Story.
Director Mark Forster says it “is a film of magical realism that is both
beautiful and emotional”. That is an amazing description of the film.
Robert
DeNiro and Kim Cattrall talk the film ABOUT MY FATHER from Sebastian
Mariscalco. DeNiro says, “Your father was a guy I sort of understand” which is
probably the most amazing compliment ever.
Director
Chad Stahciski and Keanu Reeves talk JOHN WICK CHAPTER 4. Keanu cracked me up
saying, “and to think, this all started because of a puppy.” Dang it Keanu, can
you be any cuter? Just a personal observation.
To
wrap up the Lionsgate presentation, more films coming include Eli Roth’s
BORDERLANDS, BALLERINA, DIRTY DANCING 2 and HUNGER GAMES: The Ballad of
Songbirds and Snakes.
The
final show at CinemaCon is the BIG SCREEN ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS that go the
following actors, congratulations to them all and well deserved.
Cinema Verite
Award – Robert DeNiro
Comedy Star of the
Year – Billy Eichner
Rising Star of
2022 – Abby Ryder Fortson
CinemaCon Vanguard
Award – Rachel McAdams
Star of Tomorrow –
Glen Powell
CinemaCon Star of
the Year – Zoe Saldana
There
you have it, the four days of presentations, stars, studios and theatre owners
all gathered in one place to celebrate what we love the most – MOVIES! As 2022
begins to reopen, so do our favorite theatres that are popping the popcorn,
keeping the soda’s cold, and stocking up on our favorite movie candy’s. As the
theatrical experience brings us all back together to see everything as it was
meant to be seen, you can be sure I will review it all.
Our
thanks to Sony, Neon, Warner Bros. Pictures, Walt Disney Studios, Universal
Pictures, Focus Features, Paramount, and Lionsgate for bringing us such
exciting previews. Thanks to Cesar’s Palace for our yearly home away from home
with your thoughtful staff.
See
you next year CinemaCon and thank you!
