Happy New Year everybody! With HBO Max’s coming attractions trailer for 2022, the appropriate title for this update should be “First Seconds” really, since we get a blink-and-you-miss it moment of the upcomig miniseries “The Staircase”. But these moments are worth pausing since they reveal a first look at most of the series’ characters, including Colin Firth as Michael Peterson and Toni Collette as his wife Kathleen. In the courtroom scene we can also spot Michael Stuhlbarg as his lawyer David Rudolf, Parker Posey as the defense attorney Freda Black (this will be one performance to look forward to), as well as Sophie Turner and Patrick Schwarzenegger as two of the Peterson children, as well as Dane DeHaan as Peterson’s son, standing next to Toni Collette. No airdate has been released yet. Catch the first look below.

I recently stumbled across “Muriel’s Wedding” on Blu-Ray and was hesitant to buy it at first – simply because I have seen it countless times on VHS, DVD and on tv. Anyway, I bought and rewatched it – and I’ve never seen the film in such great image quality. I definately recommend getting the digitally restored Blu-Ray to revisit Porpoise Spot and the film itself – still a perfect heartfelt comedy and a timeless classic. So – as the last update for this year and as an early Christmas present to all you visitors – here are Blu-Ray captures from the film in wonderful high definition. Enjoy the Holidays everybody and see you all in 2022.

While we’re eagerly anticipating next week’s theatrical release of “Nightmare Alley” in the US (and hopefully a press tour for the film that will include at least some virtual appearances by Toni), an international trailer for the United Kingdom has been released, giving us more glimpses of Toni’s Zeena Krumbein, a featurette with a focus on the film’s noir effect, as well as a couple of television spots have been released. All clips can be viewed below and in the video archive.

Better late than never, I’m happy to finally cover one of the COVID film casualties that is “Dream Horse”. After a well received premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, the film was postponed, canceled, re-scheduled and postponed again during the chaotic theatre restrictions during the first year of the pandemic. The film finally released theaters in a couple of countries and went straight on-demand in others. Over time, I have almost forgotten that the film even existed, so I was greatly surprised to find it on Blu-Ray a couple of days ago. Screencaptures from the film, an on-set interview and the b-roll have been added to the photo gallery. Make sure to grab your copy or find it on a streaming service, as it’s just the perfect film for a rainy Sunday (or any other day of the week).

Released Thursday by Searchlight Pictures, the trailer for del Toro’s first film since the Oscar-winning Shape of Water teases a neo-noir psychological thriller that features Cooper starring as down on his luck but charismatic “carny” Stanton Carlisle. While at a traveling carnival, Carlisle meets and endears himself to Toni Collette’s clairvoyant Zeena, as well as her mentalist husband Pete, played by David Strathairn. Eventually, with the aid of mysterious psychiatrist Dr. Lilith Ritter (Blanchett), the duo begin to plot a grift with some newly acquired knowledge, setting their target on dangerous and skeptical tycoon Ezra Grindle, played by Richard Jenkins. In the minute and a half trailer, Cooper’s Carlisle is seen admitting under the pressure of a lie-detector test that he is a medium and someone who can read minds “under the right circumstances.” But when asked if Carlisle is in contact with the beyond, Jenkins’ character responds as Cooper’s character is seen fake fainting in front of a crowd. “We’ve had our fair share of snake charmers in the past. We deal with them,” Grindle ominously promises. Fellow stars Collette, Rooney Mara, Willem Dafoe and Clifton Collins Jr. also make appearances in the trailer that features a colorful collage of fire, money, violence, blood and deception. Based on William Lindsay Gresham’s 1946 novel of the same name, with a screenplay co-written by Kim Morgan and del Toro, Cooper and J. Miles Dale serving as producers, Nightmare Alley opens in theaters on Dec. 17.

It feels *almost* normal to cover a new film release and collect all the available press junket videos – how great to have some film coverage back. Last week, Toni Collette sat down for a virtual press junket for the theatrical releases of “Dream Horse” in the United States and the United Kingdom. Clips from lots of news outlets and the British daytime talkshow Lorraine have been added to the video archive, alongside a couple of new clips from the film. A complete list of all added videos can be found below. Screencaptures from all appearances have been added to the photo gallery as well.