Echo Chamber - 290 - Part One
You can hear ‘Part Two’ of this week’s episode HERE!!!
We're getting closer to that festive day, and @EchoChamberFP brings you a 'TWO Parter' treat!!!
In 'Part ONE' we have two Christmas films, a wine soaked rom-com from ESX Entertainment on Netflix, and Argo Films & Esperanto Filmoj bring a beloved book adaptation to Disney+. We get a lil off-key with Esmail Corp & Higher Ground Productions new film, while things are more grounded with Sight Unseen, Focus Features & Hillman Grad Productions hard hitting piece. AND then Apple Original Films, Skydance family romp hits Apple TV+.
'Holiday In The Vineyards' is directed by Alex Ranarivelo and written by Cecilia Franco & David Zanardi. A widow (Sol Rodríguez) struggling to keep the local vineyard and raising her two young boys (Julian Rangel, Carlos Solórzano) may be in store for a Christmas miracle when she falls for a big city playboy (Josh Swickard) sent to get intel on a prospective vineyard for sale.
'The Shepherd' is written & directed by Iain Softley based on Frederick Forsyth's 1975 book of the same name. On Christmas Eve, a fighter pilot (Ben Radcliffe) on his way home gets lost mid-flight over water and needs a miracle to land safely.
'Leave the World Behind' is written & directed by Sam Esmail, based on the 2020 novel by Rumaan Alam. A family's (Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Farrah Mackenzie, Charlie Evans) getaway to a luxurious rental home takes an ominous turn when a cyberattack knocks out their devices, and two strangers (Mahershala Ali, Myha'la) appear at their door.
'A Thousand and One' is the feature directorial debut from A.V. Rockwell, which she also wrote. We follow Inez (Teyana Taylor), who kidnaps her 6-year-old son (Aaron Kingsley Adetola) from foster care and sets out to reclaim their home, identity, and stability in a rapidly changing NYC.
'The Family Plan' is directed by Simon Cellan Jones and written by David Coggeshall. Dan Morgan (Mark Wahlberg) is a seemingly normal family man, but was once the deadliest assassin in the world. When his past finally catches up with him, Dan takes his family (Michelle Monaghan, Zoe Colletti, Van Crosby) on a "road trip" to Las Vegas so he can confront the man who wants him dead—all while trying to keep his old life a secret from his wife and children.
In 'Part One' we have:
Holiday In The Vineyards - Poster
Holiday In The Vineyards
Watch Review: Here.
Digital Release Date: 13th December 2023
Director: Alex Ranarivelo
Cast: Josh Swickard, Sol Rodríguez, Eileen Davidson, Carly Jibson, Annika Noelle, Omar Gooding, Julian Rangel, Carlos Solórzano, Manuel Rafael Lozano, Paul Witten, Gregory Zarian, Alan Toy, Cullen Douglas, Charley Debenedetti, Kaleina Cordova, Brynne Kurland, Lowell Dean
Credit: ESX Entertainment, Netflix
Genre: Drama, Romance
Running Time: 107 min
Cert: PG
Trailer: Here.
Watch via Netflix: Here.
The Shepherd - Poster
The Shepherd
Watch Review: Here.
HollyShorts Film Festival: 10 August 2023
Digital Release Date: 1st December 2023
Director: Iain Softley
Cast: Ben Radcliffe, John Travolta, Steven Mackintosh, Scarlet Grace, Millie Kent, Asan N'Jie, Luca Slade, Simon Lennon, Olatunji Ayofe, Simon Wilson, Claire Price, Iwan Bond
Credit: Argo Films, BKStudios, Corona Content, Esperanto Filmoj, Disney+
Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Short
Running Time: 39 min
Cert: 12a
Trailer: Here.
Watch via Disney+: Here.
Leave the World Behind - Poster
Leave the World Behind
Watch Review: Here.
The American Film Institute (AFI): 25th October 2023
Theatrical Release Date: 22nd November 2023
Digital Release Date: 8th December 2023
Director: Sam Esmail
Cast: Mahershala Ali, Myha'la, Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Farrah Mackenzie, Charlie Evans, Kevin Bacon
Credit: Miramax, All Things Comedy, All of Us Productions, Netflix
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Running Time: 141 min
Cert: 18
Trailer: Here.
Watch via Netflix: Here.
Website: Here.
A Thousand and One - Poster
A Thousand and One
Watch Review: Here.
2023 Sundance Film Festival: 22nd January 2023
Theatrical Release Date: 31st March 2023
Digital Release Date: 8th December 2023
Director: A.V. Rockwell
Cast: Teyana Taylor, Aaron Kingsley Adetola, Aven Courtney, Josiah Cross, Terri Abney, Delissa Reynolds, Will Catlett, Amelia Workman, Adriane Lenox, Gavin Schlosser, Jolly Swag, Azza El, Alicia Pilgrim, John Maria Gutierrez, Jennean Farmer, Kal-El White, Jamier Williams, Naya Desir-Johnson
Credit: Sight Unseen, Hillman Grad Productions, Makeready, Focus Features, Universal Pictures
Genre: Crime, Drama
Running Time: 116 min
Cert: 15
Trailer: Here.
Digital Platforms: Apple TV, Prime Video, YouTube, Google, Vudu, Vubiquity, Cox, and Comcast
Watch via Apple TV+: Here.
Watch via Prime Video: Here.
Watch via Prime Video UK: Here.
Website: Here.
Instagram: @athousandandonefilm
The Family Plan - Poster
The Family Plan
Watch Review: Here.
Digital Release Date: 15th December 2023
Director: Simon Cellan Jones
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, Zoe Colletti, Van Crosby, Iliana Norris, Vienna Norris, Littia Hatcher, Lisette Piano, Saïd Taghmaoui, Maggie Q, Ciarán Hinds, Miles Doleac, Joyner Lucas, Felicia Pearson, Jonny Coyne, Miles Doleac, Joey Mekyten, Chantal Maurice, Al Vicente, Ryan Homchick, Bonnie Johnson, Kellen Boyle, Michael Zazarino, Ray Kam, James Sharpe
Credit: Apple Original Films, Skydance, Municipal Pictures, Apple TV+
Genre: Action, Comedy, Family
Running Time: 119 min
Cert: 15
Trailer: Here.
Watch via Apple TV+: Here.
Website: Here.
You can hear ‘Part Two’ of this week’s episode HERE!!!
*(Music)
'Da Joint' (Instrumental) by EPMD - 2020