Filmmakers Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden cut their teeth on indie films, great little Sundance classics like “Half Nelson,” which earned a then 26-year-old Ryan Gosling his first Oscar nomination, “Sugar,” and “Mississippi Grind,” which was maybe Ryan Reynolds’ last great indie film performance. The duo detoured a little bit after that, taking on Marvel Studios’ “Captain Marvel” and directing TV such as “Billions,” “Mrs. America,” and “Masters Of The Air.” But they are back to their bread and butter of quirky indie films with “Freaky Tales,” a portmanteau of short stories set in the Oakland Bay area, where they grew up and came from.
‘Freaky Tales’ Review: Pedro Pascal Stars In An Energetic Bay Area Anthology Loveletter [Sundance]
There’s a solid cast in this one, too: Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn—who has appeared in all their films since “Mississippi Grind”— Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, and Tom Hanks.
Here’s the official “Freaky Tales” synopsis:
Set in 1987 Oakland, Freaky Tales is a multi-track mixtape of colorful characters — an NBA star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks, neo-Nazis, and a debt collector — on a collision course in a fever dream of showdowns and battles. Executive produced by hip-hop pioneer Too $hort, and featuring an all-star ensemble including Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, and Tom Hanks, this pulpy blend of explosive action, edgy humor, gory kills, and sly twists and turns makes for one wild ride.
Presented by Entertainment One, Macro Media production, a Gowanus Projection movie, Lionsgate will release “Freaky Tales” on April 4. Watch the first trailer below.
Rodrigo Perez is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Playlist, which he launched in 2008. He has worked in entertainment journalism since 2000, including at MTV, and has written for SPIN, IndieWire, Pitchfork, Complex, Magnet, and various music, film, and entertainment publications over the past two decades.
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