It didn’t take much to get my ass in the seat for this one. Jordan Peele is the preeminent horror director of our time, and even without that caveat, he’s in the upper echelon of Hollywood filmmaking talent, so him producing this film made it frankly unmissable.
In Sam Hayes’ feature debut, Pools, an immersive, deeply moving coming of age film following two nights of Pool hoping just outside of a college campus, he invites us to ponder if we’re truly living our lives for ourselves.
When you think about Black love stories, certain titles always rise to the surface, such as Love Jones, Love & Basketball, Brown Sugar, Crooklyn, Do the Right Thing, and She’s Gotta Have It. They’re not just movies, but cultural touchstones that have shaped the way we see love, community, and creative ambition through a distinctly Black lens.
You had me at ‘action-packed.’ The sure-to-be-heart-pounding ‘Diablo’ is out in theaters and digital on-demand next week, and one thing is clear: this movie is as thrilling as it is innovative.
We are entertained, even if only slightly!
Do we as humans have the ability to forgive and move on? Or is it something more complex? Titus Kaphar’s latest film, “Exhibiting Forgiveness,” stands out as a poignant exploration surrounding the idea of forgiveness, identity, and the transformative power of compassion. Kaphar, a renowned painter and filmmaker, delves into themes such as generational trauma, grace, and forgiveness that resonate deeply with audiences, pushing the boundaries of traditional narrative and visual art.
Easily the best of the ‘John Wick’ sequels!
New York City lit up on March 8, 2023 as a load of fans, press, and well dressed influencers all lined up at the Paris Theatre to see the Netflix premiere of “Luther The Fallen Sun”.
Technically worth the wait.
Have you ever felt flooded with guilt for immediately unsubscribing from a mailing list after utilizing the coupon code that you got for subscribing to their mailing list?
If the answer is yes then expect to experience a rollercoaster of emotions while watching Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste in Queenpins. Queenpins is based on a real-life multimillion-dollar criminal couponing bust that happened in Phoenix, Arizona. (Kirby’s got love for Phoenix, literally! Watch the interview to find out why. ?)
It was a brazen scheme. $25 million in counterfeit coupons. Can they get away with it?
Kristen Bell tells The Knockturnal‘s Kinsey Schofield, this is one of those unique films where you actually end up rooting for the good girls gone bad. She explains, “What excited me so much about the movie was, it is a dream come true to receive a script that the cover page says, ‘Based on true events.’ Because, you know, humanity is often stranger than fiction.”
“By the time they start their illegal empire, you are 100% on the side of the criminals and I think that’s rare that a movie can accomplish that.”
Both certified saints, Kirby and Kristen fess up to teenage naughtiness! “Have you ever taken anything that doesn’t belong to you?” Asks Kinsey, “Yes, not from another person!” insists Kirby. “No, but like, in high school… for sure,” admits Kristen.
“I guess, maybe, because I’m so scared of breaking the rules in real life, that I kind of like doing movies about breaking the rules,” Kristen tells The Knockturnal.
Kirby and Kristen talk Queenpins, Dateline, and dance contests in the interview above. Enjoy!
Queenpins stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Bebe Rexha, Dayo Okeniyi, Joel McHale, Paul Walter Hauser, and Vince Vaughn, and premieres in theaters on September 10th, 2021.
Kinsey Schofield is a contributor to The Knockturnal and you can follow her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.