Matt writes: The 20th anniversary of Ebertfest will kick off tomorrow, April 18th, and run through Sunday, April 22nd, at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Illinois. Andrew Davis’ classic edge-of-your-seat thriller, “The Fugitive,” will open the festival, which features other beloved titles including “American Splendor” and “The Big Lebowski,” as well as such trailblazing filmmakers as Ava DuVernay, Julie Dash, Amma Asante, Martha Coolidge and many more. Make sure to check out Chaz Ebert’s new letter to Roger about Ebertfest 2018. The full line-up of screenings and special guests can be found in our two-part breakdown (click here for Part One and here for Part Two). For more information or to order tickets, visit the official site of Ebertfest. Trailers Ocean’s 8 (2018). Directed by Gary Ross. Written by Gary Ross and Olivia Milch. Starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway. Synopsis: Debbie Ocean gathers a crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City’s yearly Met Gala. Opens in US theaters on June 8th, 2018. Incredibles 2 (2018). Written and directed by Brad Bird. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Sophia Bush, Holly Hunter. Synopsis: Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) is left to care for Jack-Jack while Helen (Elastigirl) is out saving the world. Opens in US theaters on June 15th, 2018. Hot Summer Nights (2018). Written and directed by Elijah Bynum. Starring Timothée Chalamet, Maika Monroe, Alex Roe. Synopsis: A boy comes of age during a summer he spends in Cape Cod. Opens in US theaters on July 27th, 2018. Mary Shelley (2018). Directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour. Written by Emma Jensen and Haifaa Al-Mansour. Starring Elle Fanning, Maisie Williams, Douglas Booth. Synopsis: The love affair between poet Percy Shelley and 18 year old Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, which resulted in Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein. Opens in US theaters on May 25th, 2018. American Animals (2018). Written and directed by Bart Layton. Starring Evan Peters, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner. Synopsis: Four young men mistake their lives for a movie and attempt one of the most audacious heists in U.S. history. Opens in US theaters on June 1st, 2018. Three Identical Strangers (2018). Directed by Tim Wardle. Synopsis: New York, 1980: three complete strangers accidentally discover that they are identical triplets, separated at birth. Opens in US theaters on June 29th, 2018. A Kid Like Jake (2018). Directed by Silas Howard. Written by Daniel Pearle. Starring Claire Danes, Priyanka Chopra, Octavia Spencer. Synopsis: A young orphan named Lewis Barnavelt aids his magical uncle in locating a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world. Opens in US theaters on June 1st, 2018. Dogman (2018). Directed by Matteo Garrone. Written by Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso, Ugo Chiti and Maurizio Braucci. Starring Adamo Dionisi, Francesco Acquaroli, Edoardo Pesce. Synopsis: The latest Cannes selection from the director of “Gomorrah.” US release date is TBA. Fahrenheit 451 (2018). Directed by Ramin Bahrani. Written by Ramin Bahrani and Amir Naderi (based on the novel by Ray Bradbury). Starring Michael B. Jordan, Sofia Boutella, Michael Shannon. Synopsis: In a terrifying care-free future, a young man, Guy Montag, whose job as a fireman is to burn all books, questions his actions after meeting a young girl…and begins to rebel against society. Premieres on HBO on May 19th, 2018. Dark Crimes (2018). Directed by Alexandros Avranas. Written by Jeremy Brock (based on an article by David Grann). Starring Jim Carrey, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Marton Csokas. Synopsis: A murder investigation of a slain business man turns to clues found in an author’s book about an eerily similar crime. Opens in US theaters on May 11th, 2018. The Meg (2018). Directed by Jon Turteltaub. Written by James Vanderbilt, Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber and Belle Avery (based on the novel by Steve Alten). Starring Ruby Rose, Jason Statham, Rainn Wilson. Synopsis: After escaping an attack by what he claims was by a 70-foot shark, Jonas Taylor must confront his fears to save those trapped in a sunken submersiblel. Opens in US theaters on August 10th, 2018. Heart Beats Loud (2018). Directed by Brett Haley. Written by Brett Haley and Marc Basch. Starring Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Ted Danson. Synopsis: A father and daughter form an unlikely songwriting duo in the summer before she leaves for college. Opens in US theaters on June 8th, 2018. Adventures in Public School (2018). Directed by Kyle Rideout. Written by Josh Epstein and Kyle Rideout. Starring Judy Greer, Daniel Doheny, Siobhan Williams. Synopsis: A socially awkward home-schooled kid forces his way into public-school against his suffocating but loving mother’s wishes. Opens in US theaters on April 27th, 2018. End Game (2018). Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. Synopsis: Filmed and edited in intimate vérité style, this movie follows visionary medical practitioners who are working on the cutting edge of life and death and are dedicated to changing our thinking about both. Debuts on Netflix on May 4th, 2018. The Wife (2018). Directed by Björn Runge. Written by Jane Anderson (based on the novel by Meg Wolitzer). Starring Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce, Christian Slater. Synopsis: A wife questions her life choices as she travels to Stockholm with her husband, where he is slated to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. Opens in US theaters on August 3rd, 2018. Mercury 13 (2018). Directed by David Sington and Heather Walsh. Synopsis: This documentary profiles women who were tested in 1961 for spaceflight, but had their dreams dashed when only men were chosen to become astronauts. Debuts on Netflix on April 20th, 2018. Ideal Home (2018). Written and directed by Andrew Fleming. Starring Paul Rudd, Jake McDorman, Steve Coogan. Synopsis: The life of a bickering gay couple is turned inside out when a ten-year old boy shows up at their door claiming to be Erasmus’ grandson. US release date is TBA. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). Directed by Ron Howard. Written by Lawrence Kasdan and Jonathan Kasdan (based on characters created by George Lucas). Starring Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke. Synopsis: During an adventure into a dark criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his future copilot Chewbacca and encounters Lando Calrissian years before joining the Rebellion. Opens in US theaters on May 25th, 2018. Lynne Ramsay’s New Movie Matt writes: Lynne Ramsay, the brilliant director of “Ratcatcher,” “Morvern Callar” and “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” recently spoke with Tomris Laffly about her astonishing fourth feature, “You Were Never Really Here,” starring Joaquin Phoenix. Click here to read the full conversation. John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place” Matt writes: Nick Allen pens a wonderful essay on how the entire career of “The Office” star John Krasinski led up to him directing the hit thriller, “A Quiet Place.” Free Movies Angel and the Badman (1947). Written and directed by James Edward Grant. Starring John Wayne, Gail Russell, Harry Carey. Synopsis: Quirt Evans, an all round bad guy, is nursed back to health and sought after by Penelope Worth, a Quaker girl. He eventually finds himself having to choose between his world and the world Penelope lives in. Watch “Angel and the Badman” Charade (1963). Directed by Stanley Donen. Written by Peter Stone. Starring Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau. Synopsis: Romance and suspense ensue in Paris as a woman is pursued by several men who want a fortune her murdered husband had stolen. Whom can she trust? Watch “Charade” 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!”
