Ansel Elgort Stars in the Story of A Stolen Life

Warner Bros. Has released the second trailer for the upcoming film The Goldfinch. Directed by award winner John Crowley (Brooklyn), The Goldfinch is based on Donna Tartt's novel by the same name. The book spent 30 weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers list and went on to win the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. Now, Warner Bros. Pictures and Amazon Studios aim to bring it to the screen.

Starring Ansel Elgort (Baby Driver) as Theo Decker and Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman (The Hours, Big Little Lies), The Goldfinch is a story of hope and tragedy. Theodore "Theo" Decker was 13 years old when his mother was killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The tragedy changes the course of his life, sending him on a stirring odyssey of grief and guilt, reinvention and redemption, and even love.  Through it all, he holds on to one tangible piece of hope from that terrible day...a painting of a tiny bird chained to its perch. The Goldfinch.

Related: The Goldfinch Brings on Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy Writer

The film carries us seamlessly through Theo's story as a young boy played by Oakes Fegley (Pete's Dragon) as he grapples with his guilt and the horror he witnessed while trying to "get back to a normal routine". But as he says, "its my fault she died," we see the pain that carries him to adulthood. Thriving star Ansel Elgort introduces us to an all grown up Theo still clinging to the painting he found at the disaster site. Theo contemplates his life while meeting an array of people. At one point, he determines that:

"Everything is before and after. In the middle is the painting."

The screenplay comes to us from Oscar nominee Peter Straughan (The Snowman and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), so we can expect a lot of dialogue and subtlety. Just like The Goldfinch, both The Snowman and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy were based on novels.

The trailer brings us the beautiful contrasting colors of warm reds and cool blues from Oscar-winning director of photography Roger Deakins (Blade Runner 2049). The visuals complimenting the changing tones and time periods are designed Oscar-nominated production designer K.K. Barrett (Her) and Costume designer Kasia Walicka Maimone (Bridge of Spies).

The Goldfinch's star-studded casts consists of Aneurin Barnard (Dunkirk), Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things, IT), Sarah Paulson (The Post, American Crime Story), Luke Wilson (The Royal Tenenbaums), and Jeffrey Wright (The Hunger Games films). As well as Ashleigh Cummings (Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries), Willa Fitzgerald (Little Women), Aimee Laurence (Chicago P.D.), Denis O'Hare (American Horror Story), and Boyd Gaines (2014's Driving Miss Daisy).

The Goldfinch is produced by Nina Jacobson (The Hunger Games films, American Crime Story) and Brad Simpson (World War Z,American Crime Story).  Mari Jo Winkler-Ioffreda, Kevin McCormick, Sue Kroll and Courtenay Valenti served as executive producers. The film is edited by Kelley Dixon (Breaking Bad). The music is by Trevor Gureckis (Bloodline).

The film is expected to release on September 3, 2019 with a R rating for drug use and language. This trailer comes direct from Warner Bros. and Amazon Studios.

Topics: The Goldfinch

Ansel Elgort Stars in the Story of A Stolen Life

The Unbelievable True Story of an American Legend

Focus Features has revealed the first trailer for Harriet, which looks like it's instantly putting itself squarely in this year's Oscar race. The biopic stars Cynthia Erivo as Harriet Tubman, the famous abolitionist who freed dozens of slaves during the Civil War, utilizing the Underground Railroad. If this first footage is any indication, Erivo has just positioned herself as a surefire bet to land a Best Actress nomination later this year at the Academy Awards. Beyond that, it looks like a compelling take on a truly legendary real-life American tale of heroism and bravery.

The trailer kicks off by showcasing the titular figure's escape from slavery which, all on its own, would make for a compelling tale. Yet, as we see, that's just the beginning. As we see, Tubman bravely made the choice to go back to the North to free her family, which led her to free many others as well. There is a major undercurrent of intensity running throughout the entire trailer, which climaxes with Harriet standing at arms getting ready to fire upon a group of Southerners. It's an extremely powerful image.

Cynthia Erivo is a well-respected actress who previously won a Tony for her work on Broadway. Last year, Erivo starred in the criminally underrated Widows, which also felt like it was bound for Oscar glory early on. Not to mention her amazing turn in the equally underrated Bad Times at the El Royale. But this is very much an ensemble piece, as the surrounding cast is equally impressive. The rest of the cast includes Leslie Odom Jr. (Murder On the Orient Express), Janelle Monae (Hidden Figures), Joe Alwyn (Mary Queen of Scots), Clarke Peters (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and country music star Jennifer Nettles.

Related: First Look at Cynthia Erivo as Harriet Tubman in Upcoming Biopic

Harriet is billed as a "thrilling and inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter." It tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's own escape from slavery, which led to her transition into one of America's greatest heroes, having bravely rescued an estimated 70 enslaved people. Her courage, ingenuity and tenacity saved many slaves, while also changing the course of history.

Kasi Lemmons (Eve's Bayou, Talk to Me) is in the director's chair. The screenplay comes from writers Gregory Allen Howard (Ali, Remember the Titans) and Kasi Lemmons. Howard also serves as a producer alongside Debra Martin Chase and Daniela Taplin Lundberg.

It was also announced recently that the movie will hold its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in October. That's a very good sign, as many past Oscar winners, like The Shape of Water as a recent example, also debuted at the prestigious festival. It's viewed as a launching pad for awards season runs by Hollywood. Harriet is set to arrive in theaters on November 1, a date that also implies the studio sees this as an awards season contender. Be sure to check out the trailer from the Focus Features YouTube channel for yourself.

Topics: Harriet

Writer of various things on the internet (mostly about movies) since 2013. Major lover of popcorn flicks. Avid appreciator of James Bond, Marvel and Star Wars. Has a tremendously fat cat named Buster and still buys CDs. I’ve got my reasons.

The Unbelievable True Story of an American Legend