1. Mamma Mia! (2008)

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, and with a star-studded cast, Mamma Mia! Is a joyous movie-musical, featuring the songs of ABBA. Set on the islands of Greece, Mamma Mia! will have you dancing, singing and wishing you could run away to Greece, as you watch Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) try to find her dad on the brink of her wedding day. Also starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth, Mamma Mia! is a fun-filled, energetic rom-com, perfect for getting you into the summer spirit.

2. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (2005)

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants is a nostalgia-filled, childhood favourite about friendship, acceptance and a little bit of magic. Directed by Ken Kwapis and starring America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, Blake Lively and Amber Tamblyn, the film follows a group of best friends over their summer break, and how they all keep in touch while they are split apart. Bledel’s character, Lena, travels to Greece where she meets the handsome Kostas. Their subsequent story of romance, with the beautiful backdrop of Greece in the summer, makes this film the perfect addition to the list.

3. Roman Holiday (1953)

Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck’s classic, Roman Holiday, is a story of romance and forbidden love as Princess Ann (Hepburn) meets American reporter Joe Bradley (Peck) on a trip to Rome, Italy. A timeless classic, and a love story as beautiful now as it was in 1953, Roman Holiday is a staple of the summer season, and one everyone must watch when craving a European getaway.

4. Amélie (2001)

Amélie, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, is a French comedy, starring Audrey Tautou as the title character. Amélie is a film about a lonely girl who creates her own fantastical dream world filled with joy, beauty and love. She uses her inner joy to then embark on a journey of helping others around her to lead happier lives, before she then decides to focus on her own romantic efforts. Amélie is a truly weird and wonderful film, set in Paris, and is a must-see for summer.

5. Monte Carlo (2011)

Another film filled with nostalgia, Monte Carlo is the story of a young girl who is mistaken for a superstar and, along with her step-sister and best friend, is whisked away to Monte Carlo for a luxurious trip of a lifetime. Starring Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy, Monte Carlo showcases a life of luxury and glamour along the French Riviera, which will definitely make you crave a French adventure.

6. Luca (2021)

Set on the Italian Riviera in the 1950s, Disney’s Luca centres on a young sea monster, who transforms into human form on land, as he decides to explore Italy along with his two new friends. Starring Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Emma Berman, Luca is a fun and bright film about true friendship and growing up. Along with is beautiful animation, and stunning original soundtrack, Luca makes a strong addition to the list as one which will definitely fuel your FOMO.

7. The French Dispatch (2021)

Wes Anderson’s 2021 masterpiece, The French Dispatch, is a weird and wonderful story about an American newspaper, operating in France. Wes creates, yet again, a bright, colourful, and fantastical setting for the film, drawing the viewer in to his eccentric world. Hailed as “a love letter to journalism”, The French Dispatch is a unique and creative film, showcasing France in an interesting and never-before-seen way.

8. Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Luca Guadagino’s Call Me By Your Name is a coming-of-age queer romance set in stunning Italy. Guadagino’s recognisable style transports the viewer to Italy with Elio and Oliver, with the bright colour grading and 35 mm film making Italy look even more beautiful. Along with great acting from Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer, Call Me By Your Name becomes a strong edition to this list as one which will fuel your FOMO and make you want to take a trip to Italy this summer.

9. The Lizzie Maguire Movie (2003)

The Disney Channel Original Movie, The Lizzie Maguire Movie, joins the list as another example of childhood nostalgia for many. Following on from the popular Lizzie Maguire television series, the movie follows Lizzie (Hillary Duff) on her school trip to Italy. A film of romance and stardom, The Lizzie Maguire Movie is a firm childhood favourite of many, and one which originally sparked the craving for an Italian summer.

10. Letters to Juliet (2010)

Letters to Juliet becomes the final film on this list, and the second one starring Amanda Seyfried as a character called Sophie, only this time she is exploring Italy, not Greece. The film, set in Verona, follows Sophie as she discovers that letters left at the famous Juliet’s Balcony, are answered by a team of women who offer comfort and support to the writers. Sophie becomes obsessed with the group, and eventually writes her own response. The film has made the list as a beautiful and romantic film, and will, yet again, have you craving a European getaway.

Whether you are fortunate enough to be travelling to Europe this summer, or if a staycation is what your summer has instore, hopefully this list has something for everyone. This was a very fun list to compile, channelling the summer spirit and dreaming of a European holiday!

The post Craving A Euro Summer? 10 Films To Watch To Fuel Your FOMO appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Luca is the feature length directorial debut of Enrico Casarosa (who previously directed the academy award nominated 2011 short film La Luna) and is a “deeply personal” coming-of-age story, taking inspiration from his childhood in Genoa, something reflected in the film’s look, which is deeply rooted in the Italian Riviera of the 1950s & 60s—an era that Casarosa has described as a “golden age that feels timeless”—saturated with both the warm colours evoking a Mediterranean summer and the cool blues and greens of the ocean. The soundtrack even includes era-appropriate Italian pop. The core theme is the celebration of friendship, and so the central narrative thrust is the friendship between Luca and Alberto, which is based on Casarosa himself and his best friend Alberto Surace: “I met my best friend when I was 11. I was really shy and I found this troublemaker of a kid who had a completely different life. Wanted to make a movie about those kinds of friendships that help you grow up…”

So, like Casarosa’s Alberto did for him, film Alberto pushes Luca out of his comfort zone and helps him learn to articulate and chase his dreams. Through this we also organically explore another theme everyone who’s been an adolescent will recognise: the feeling of otherness. This is where the sea monster element comes in. The designs were inspired by Italian myths and regional folklore and function, according to Casarosa, as a metaphor for “feeling different—like being a teen or even pre-teen—any moment where you feel odd.” This fantastical element also lends itself to some wonderful imagination sequences, including one that is aesthetically reminiscent of both Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Hayao Miyazaki, which were also inspirations for La Luna. And this Ghibli influence can be seen all over the film, from the town of Portorosso itself (which could be seen as a word play on Miyazaki’s 1992 film Porco Rosso), which is the kind of beautiful European setting typical of Miyzaki films—the kind of place you just want to explore and can easily see yourself enjoying a gelato or a pasta dish under an awning—to the narrative itself. For, while there is incident and an antagonist, the plot is firmly character driven, the stakes personal and the pacing fairly leisurely, reminiscent of Ghibli films like Kiki’s Delivery Service and My Neighbour Totoro.

According to Casarosa, Luca is meant to be a “love letter” to the summers of youth, and in this he has succeeded. It’s a lovely film that captures the “timelessness” of childhood summers, celebrating those friendships that come to have a profound impact on us and revelling in what makes us different, all wrapped up in a gorgeously animated bow. A film particularly perfect for the summer holidays, the only shame being Disney chose not to give it a theatrical release, as it definitely deserved one.

The post Movie Review: Luca appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

With recent news of a vaccine being distributed and ministered, it is—with hopeful caution and cautious hope—safe to say that there is light at the end of the darkest tunnel many of us have seen.

Film studios certainly think so as the film slate for 2021 is bountiful and sure to make up for last year. So, without further ado, here are the, at the time of writing, projected film releases of 2021. Things, of course, are subject to change at a moment’s notice. (Remember: hopeful caution and cautious hope!)

JANUARY

One Night In Miami (dir. Regina King)

One Night in Miami is a fictional account of one incredible night where icons Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.

The Little Things (dir. John Lee Hancock)

Deputy Sheriff Joe “Deke” Deacon joins forces with Sgt. Jim Baxter to search for a serial killer who’s terrorizing Los Angeles. As they track the culprit, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke’s past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case.

The Marksman (dir. Robert Lorenz)

A rancher on the Arizona border becomes the unlikely defender of a young Mexican boy desperately fleeing the cartel assassins who’ve pursued him into the U.S.

FEBRUARY

Cinderella (dir. Kay Cannon)

Based on the fairytale we all know and love, this musical romantic-comedy features Camila Cabello as the titular princess, Billy Porter as the Fab G (a genderless fairy godparent), and Idina Menzel the evil stepmother.

Minamata (dir. Andrew Levitas)

Based on the autobiography / photo essay of the same name by Aileen Mioko Smith and Eugene Smith, the film stars Johnny Depp as Smith, an American photojournalist who travels to Japan and documents what would become known as the first sightings of mercury poisoning in the city of Minamata.

The Mauritanian (dir. Kevin Macdonald)

This upcoming political thriller is based on the memoir Guantanamo Diary By Mohamedou Ould Salahi, which details Salahi’s unlawful and unsanctioned detention and torture at Guantanamo Bay. Tahar Rahim stars as Salahi. He is joined by Jodie Foster, Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Zachary Levi.

MARCH

Raya and the Last Dragon (dir. Paull Briggs, Dean Wellins)

Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina lend their voices as Raya and the last dragon (respectively) in Disney’s highly anticipated animated release that was inspired by Southeast Asian cultures.

The King’s Man (dir. Matthew Vaughn)

Vaughn returns to the Kingsman spy action-comedy universe with a prequel film that stars Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, Djimon Hounsou, and Charles Dance. While plot details are scarce, the film, set in early 20th-Century, illustrates the formation of the Kingsman agency.

Morbius (dir. Daniel Espinosa)

Sony’s second film in the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters, Morbius stars Jared Leto as Michael Morbius who becomes a vampire after he fails to cure himself of a rare blood disease. This film is allegedly part of Sony’s plans for a shared universe of Spider-man characters (following Tom Hardy’s Venom), and stars Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal, and Tyrese Gibson in supporting roles.

Chaos Walking (dir. Doug Liman)

Based on the novel by Patrick Ness, Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland star in Chaos Walking which follows a dystopian world where there are no women and all living creatures can hear each others’ thoughts in a stream of images, words, and sounds called Noise.

APRIL

No Time to Die (dir. Cary Fukunaga)

After being delayed (twice) due to COVID-19, the twenty-fifth film in the James Bond franchise—and Daniel Craig’s final curtain call—is finally being released! In this film, Bond is pulled out of retirement to help rescue a kidnapped scientist, but the mission unearths the plot of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous technology. In addition to Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Léa Seydoux, Christoph Waltz, and Jeffrey Wright all return, with Rami Malek, Ana de Armas, and Lashana Lynch in new roles.

BIOS (dir. Miguel Sapochnik)

Tom Hanks stars as one of the last men on Earth who builds an android (played by Caleb Landry Jones) to keep him and his dog company. Laura Harrier, Samira Wiley, and Skeet Ulrich also star.

A Quiet Place Part II (dir. John Krasinski)

The much anticipated sequel sees the return of Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe as the Abbott family who must fight for survival in a world plagued by monsters with acute senses of hearing. Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou play characters the Abbott family meets as they venture away from their home.

Last Night in Soho (dir. Edgar Wright)

Wright’s psychological-horror film stars Thomasin McKenzie as a young woman with a passion for fashion design, who mysteriously travels back in time to 1960s England. There, she sparks a connection with Anya Taylor-Joy’s character, but, as with all time-travel, dark consequences ensue. (Matt Smith, Diana Rigg, and Terence Stamp round out the cast.)

MAY

Black Widow (dir. Cate Shortland)

Scarlett Johansson first appeared as Natasha Romanoff in Iron Man 2 back in 2010. Much to the chagrin of many fans, it’s only now that the (arguably) most beloved original Avenger is finally getting her own solo movie. As with every MCU project, the plot details remain a mystery, but what we do know is that the film—which incidentally kicks of Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—takes place between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War and sees Natasha returning to Russia to deal with some unfinished business. Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz also join the adventure.

Free Guy (dir. Shawn Levy)

Ryan Reynolds plays Guy, a non-playable character, in a video game called Free City. As a result of new programming, Guy realizes that he is a background character and learns that the video game is set to be turned offline indefinitely. Taking upon the role of hero, Guy races against time to save the day (and the game). Reynolds is joined by Jodie Comer and Taika Waititi.

Spiral (dir. Darren Lynn Bousman)

This is the ninth instalment of the Saw franchise, starring Chris Rock and Samuel L Jackson as a detective and police veteran (respectively) who, as they investigate a string of murders, find themselves trapped in the killer’s twisted game.

Cruella (dir. Alex Timbers and Craig Gillespie)

Set in 1970s London, this film serves as a origin story of the beloved villainess and a prequel to the live-action remakes that starred Glenn Close. This time around, Emma Stone is set to play a young Estella de Vil, a fashion designer whose obsession with dogs’ skins—particularly that of Dalmatians—turns her into the Cruella we all know and love to hate.

Infinite (dir. Antoine Fuqua)

Mark Wahlberg, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Dylan O’Brien star in this sci-fi film about a man who discovers that his hallucinations are actually memories from his past lives.

F9 (dir. Justin Lin)

It’s a family affair within the ninth film of the Fast & Furious series: Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family must face off against Jakob Toretto (John Cena) who teams up with Cipher (Charlize Theron). Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Helen Mirren all return in their respective roles.

JUNE

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (dir. Michael Chaves)

This film serves as the sequel to The Conjuring (2013) and The Conjuring 2 (2016) and sees the return of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.

In the Heights (dir. Jon M Chu)

Based on the 2007 stage musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes, the film adaptation stars Anthony Ramos as a charismatic bodega owner who dreams (and sings) of a better life.

Luca (dir. Enrico Casarosa)

A Disney-Pixar original, the film tells the story of a young boy on the Italian Riviera whose friendship with a newfound friend is jeopardised by the fact that he is actually a sea monster from another world that exists just beneath the water’s surface.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage (dir. Andy Serkis)

Tom Hardy returns as the titular Venom who, this time around, faces off against serial killer Carnage (Woody Harrelson). Michelle Williams and Reid Scott also return, and Naomie Harris is set to play Shriek, Carnage’s love interest.

JULY

Top Gun: Maverick (dir. Joseph Kosinski)

A sequel to the 1986 film Top Gun, Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer return as Maverick and Iceman (respectively). Plot details are scarce, but after decades of flying, Maverick finds himself training a new squad of graduates for a dangerous mission. Cruise and Kilmer are joined by Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, and Glen Powell.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (dir. Destin Daniel Cretton)

This is Marvel’s first film with an Asian lead, with Simu Liu playing the titular character, a skilled martial artist, who must face off against the Mandarin (played by Tony Leung), leader of the terrorist Ten Rings organisation. The film also features Awkwafina and Michelle Yeoh.

Space Jam: A New Legacy (dir. Malcolm D Lee)

A sequel to Space Jam (1996), this film stars LeBron James who finds himself trapped in a video game with young son Dom (Ceyair J Wright) by a rogue AI (played by Don Cheadle). With the help of the Looney Tunes gang, James must find a way out.

Jungle Cruise (dir. Jaume Collet-Serra)

Emily Blunt and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson star in this adventure-fantasy film that sees Blunt’s character, Dr Lily Houghton, enlisting the help of Frank Wolff (Johnson) to take her down the Amazon in search of ancient healing tree that holds the key to changing the future of medicine.

Uncharted (dir. Ruben Fleischer)

Based on the video game of the same name, Uncharted stars Tom Holland as fortune hunter Nate Drake. Mark Wahlberg plays Sully, Nate’s mentor and father figure. The film also features Antonio Banderas in an undisclosed role.

The Green Knight (dir. David Lowery)

AUGUST

The Suicide Squad (dir. James Gunn)

Serving as a soft reboot and standalone sequel to 2016’s Suicide Squad, the film stars Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Peter Capaldi, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, and more as imprisoned convicts who are sent to the island of Corto Maltese to destroy a Nazi-era prison and laboratory.

The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (dir. Patrick Hughes)

This action-comedy is a sequel to the 2017 film The Hitman’s Bodyguard and sees the return of Ryan Reynolds as the bodyguard, Samuel L Jackson as the hitman, and Salma Hayek as the wife (who, this time around, finds herself as the one in danger).

Candyman (dir. Nia DaCosta)

Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and Colmon Domingo, and written by Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, and DaCosta herself, Candyman is a direct sequel to the 1992 film of the same name.

Respect (dir. Liesl Tommy)

Jennifer Hudson stars as Aretha Franklin in this biopic (a casting choice made by Franklin herself). Forest Whitaker, Mary J Blige, Audra McDonald, Marlon Wayans, and Titus Burgess also star.

SEPTEMBER

Death on the Nile (dir. Kenneth Branagh)

A follow-up to Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Branagh returns as the legendary Hercule Poirot to investigate a murder aboard the S.S. Karnak, featuring an all-star ensemble cast that includes Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, and Letitia Wright.

The Man From Toronto (dir. Patrick Hughes)

Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson star in this action-comedy about a screw-up who is forced to team up with an assassin after the two are mistaken for one another while staying at an Airbnb.

OCTOBER

Dune (dir. Denis Villeneuve)

Arguably one of the most anticipated films of 2021, after being pushed back (twice) from an initial 2020 release, this sci-fi film stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, and Zendaya.

Halloween Kills (dir. David Gordon Green)

Jamie Lee Curtis returns as Laurie Strode in this sequel to 2018’s Halloween and the twelfth film in the Halloween franchise. With her family and new and old allies, Strode must face off against Michael Myers (Nick Castle) who is still loose and murderous in Haddonfield.

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (dir. Reobert Schwentke)

Henry Golding plays the titular character in this spin-off of the G.I. Joe film series alongside a cast that features Andrew Koji, Iko Uwais, Peter Mensah, Úrsula Corberó, and Samara Weaving.

The Last Duel (dir. Ridley Scott)

A historical drama-thriller set in 14th-Century France detailing the last legally sanctioned duel, this film reunites Matt Damon and Ben Affleck (both of whom co-wrote the script together along with Nicole Holofcener) and features Adam Driver and Jodie Comer in principal roles.

NOVEMBER

Eternals (dir. Chloe Zhao)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s third film of 2021 (and Phase 4), the story centres around an immortal alien race called the Eternals, who have lived on Earth, hiding in plain sight, for over 7000 years, and must band together to protect the world from their evil counterparts, the Deviants. Angelina Jolie leads an epic cast that includes Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Gemma Chan. (A spot of trivia: this film will also feature the MCU’s first openly gay superhero.)

Elvis (dir. Bad Luhrmann)

Austin Butler stars as the titular rockstar alongside Tom Hanks in this biopic of the legendary artist.

Mission: Impossible 7 (dir. Christopher McQuarrie)

Tom Cruise returns as the legendary Ethan Hunt in the seventh instalment of the Mission: Impossible franchise. Set to return as well are: Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, and Angela Bassett. Joining the cast are: Shea Whigham, Henry Czerny, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, and Hayley Atwell.

King Richard (dir. Reinaldo Marcus Green)

Will Smith plays Richard Williams—father and coach of tennis royalty Serena and Venus Williams—in this biopic that details how the tennis superstars came to be.

Encanto (dir. Byron Howard, Jared Bush, Charise Castro Smith)

This Disney animated film, featuring music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, tells the story of a Colombian girl named Mariana who grows up as the only non-magical person in her family.

Gucci (dir. Ridley Scott)

Based on the book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden, the murder-dram film stars Jeremy Irons opposite Lady Gaga with a supporting cast that includes Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Al Pacino, Jack Huston, and Reeve Carney.

DECEMBER

West Side Story (dir. Steven Spielberg)

This latest film adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name tells the love story between two teenagers, Tony and Maria (Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler, respectively), who belong to rival gangs in 1950s New York.

The Matrix 4 (dir. Lana Wachowski)

Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lambert Wilson, and Daniel Bernhardt all return in the fourth instalment of The Matrix franchise. Joining the cast in new roles are: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff, Max Riemelt, Brian J Smith, and Priyanka Chopra.

Sherlock Holmes 3 (dir. Dexter Fletcher)

Robert Downey Jr returns as the titular Holmes, alongside Jude Law as Watson and Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler, in this sequel to 2011’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

Babylon (dir. Damian Chazelle)

Chazelle’s directorial follow-up to La La Land (2016) stars Margot Robbie opposite Brad Pitt in a film that is set in old Hollywood when the industry transitioned from silent films to talkies.

What 2021 release are you looking forward to seeing or at least hoping to see this year? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Most Anticipated Movie Releases of 2021 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.