A quirkysci-fidramedy about a quiet man’s relationship with an extraterrestrial and his attempts to protect it gets fleshed out in the new trailer forJules. The film follows multiple neighbors (the esteemed Ben Kingsley, Jane Curtin, and Harriet Sansom Harris) as they navigate the arrival of a literal alien in their tiny Pennsylvania town. The synopsis reads as follows:
Directed by Marc Turtletaub, Jules stars Kingsley as Milton, a man who lives a quiet life of routine in a small western Pennsylvania town, but finds his day upended when a UFO and its extraterrestrial passenger crash-land in his backyard. Before long, Milton develops a close relationship with the extra-terrestrial he calls “Jules.” Things become complicated when two neighbors (Samson Harris and Curtin) discover Jules and the government quickly closes in.
What follows is a funny, wildly inventive ride as the three neighbors find meaning and connection later in life — thanks to this unlikely stranger. Jules had its world premiere at the 2023 Sonoma International Film Festival, where it was the opening night film and won the Stolman Audience Award for Best Feature. Bleecker Street will release Jules in theaters nationwide on August 11th.
You can check out the new trailer below.
Related:Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Movies of 2022, Ranked
Jules Is Yet Another Small Sci-Fi Dramedy with Big Ambition
Director Marc Turtletaub is much more known for his work as a producer than as a director (he’s only directedGods Behaving Badlyandthe fantastic dramaPuzzle). His production work, though, is outstanding, and includesEverything Is Illuminated, Little Miss Sunshine, Chop Shop, Our Idiot Brother, Safety Not Guaranteed, Loving, The Farewell, andA Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.
Kingsley, of course, is the difficult actor who has received broad acclaim for a variety of masterful performances, most notably inSexy Beast, Ghandi, andSchindler’s List. It’s a different kind of film for Kingsley, who is most known for epic films and big performances in contrast to this quiet comedy about identity, acceptance, finding meaning in old age, and small-town politics.
Jane Curtin, of course, is the iconic comedic actor fromSaturday Night Liveand3rd Rock from the Sun, and her magnetic presence will likely add levity and more pathos toJules. Accompanying Curtin and Kingsley are Harriet Sansom Harris (Licorice Pizza), Zoe Winters (Succession), and Hollywood stuntperson Jade Quonrch.
Juleswill join several other delightful, small sci-fi dramedies in the past year that have brought big, bold ideas to small, character-driven films. Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass' recent masterpiece,Biosphere, is a great example, butSomething in the Dirt, The Pink Cloud, Next Exit, Dual, Tin Can, King Car, Relax I’m from the Future, Glasshouse, andLOLAare all other recent evidence that great sci-fi can be smaller and more quiet than what most audiences are used to.
