This article contains spoilers for Hit Man.
“People are disappointed when they learn that hit men don’t really exist,” explains Gary Johnson. That might be a surprising statement given that it occurs early on in a movie called Hit Man. Throughout the film, Gary (Glen Powell) dons different disguises to meet with people who want to pay him money (or video games or boats) to kill people. But then again, it’s all a ruse, a police sting operation that mild-mannered teacher Gary does as a side gig.
As Gary explains, his job is to become the type of hitman that potential criminals imagine exists, so that he can embody that look and lure them into a state of safety. As smart as Gary certainly is, he doesn’t create these identities out of nothing. Rather he’s riffing on hired killers from pop culture history, which gives Powell...
“People are disappointed when they learn that hit men don’t really exist,” explains Gary Johnson. That might be a surprising statement given that it occurs early on in a movie called Hit Man. Throughout the film, Gary (Glen Powell) dons different disguises to meet with people who want to pay him money (or video games or boats) to kill people. But then again, it’s all a ruse, a police sting operation that mild-mannered teacher Gary does as a side gig.
As Gary explains, his job is to become the type of hitman that potential criminals imagine exists, so that he can embody that look and lure them into a state of safety. As smart as Gary certainly is, he doesn’t create these identities out of nothing. Rather he’s riffing on hired killers from pop culture history, which gives Powell...
- 6/8/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
Being recognized as one of the best directors of the 21st century, Wes Anderson inscribed his name in movie history by his distinctive visual and narrative styles. His eccentric movies managed to attract millions of amazed viewers all around the world.
However, if you’re a fan of The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) or Isle of Dogs (2018), you may never have seen Anderson’s earlier works, but they’re still of great interest for every cinema lover. The 2001 comedy-drama is no exception.
The movie’s plot revolves around a troublesome father of three gifted children, whom he leaves in their adolescent years. Despite their outstanding success in childhood, when the ingenious kids grow up, they end up facing more and more failures.
However, at the very moment of decay the father suddenly shows up, falsely claiming to be terminally ill. Therefore, it’s high time for the whole family to reunite...
However, if you’re a fan of The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) or Isle of Dogs (2018), you may never have seen Anderson’s earlier works, but they’re still of great interest for every cinema lover. The 2001 comedy-drama is no exception.
The movie’s plot revolves around a troublesome father of three gifted children, whom he leaves in their adolescent years. Despite their outstanding success in childhood, when the ingenious kids grow up, they end up facing more and more failures.
However, at the very moment of decay the father suddenly shows up, falsely claiming to be terminally ill. Therefore, it’s high time for the whole family to reunite...
- 6/7/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Ava Raxa)
- STartefacts.com
On June 6, the 2024 IndieWire Honors ceremony celebrated 13 creators and stars responsible for some of the most stellar work of the TV season. Curated and selected by IndieWire’s editorial team, the event was a new edition of previous IndieWire Honors ceremonies, this time focused entirely on television. We showcased their work with new interviews leading up to the Los Angeles celebration.
“Is your desk very messy or is it very clean?”
This was the question host Alex Edelman asked renaissance man, actor, filmmaker, and documentarian Fisher Stevens before welcoming him to the stage to accept the Magnify Award at the 2024 IndieWire Honors. It’s a fair ask, as Stevens remains one of the busiest men in Hollywood and abroad. He’s a jack-of-all-trades, starring in films from Wes Anderson, as well as being a part of the hit series “Succession,” producing movies like “Swimfan” and “Uptown Girls,” and taking on...
“Is your desk very messy or is it very clean?”
This was the question host Alex Edelman asked renaissance man, actor, filmmaker, and documentarian Fisher Stevens before welcoming him to the stage to accept the Magnify Award at the 2024 IndieWire Honors. It’s a fair ask, as Stevens remains one of the busiest men in Hollywood and abroad. He’s a jack-of-all-trades, starring in films from Wes Anderson, as well as being a part of the hit series “Succession,” producing movies like “Swimfan” and “Uptown Girls,” and taking on...
- 6/7/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Death takes the most unexpected of forms in “Tuesday,” a sui generis debut from Croatian director Daina O. Pusić. Her strikingly original if occasionally counterintuitive film brings the central idea of Ingmar Bergman’s “The Seventh Seal” into the modern era — trying to stall Death, if only for a matter of hours — anchored by a committed performance from a curiously miscast Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
According to Pusić’s singular imagination, Death isn’t a scythe-wielding skeleton, nor a winged figure in a pitch-black plague cloak. Rather, it appears as a ruddy-colored, computer-generated macaw with a rumbling Darth Vader-esque bass (performed by Arinzé Kene), his words low like glaciers calving and a syntax like Jabba the Hutt. Why a macaw? It seems that these exotic parrots are harbingers of death in some cultures (though the film doesn’t explain that). This one — an intimidating red bird that can shrink and swell...
According to Pusić’s singular imagination, Death isn’t a scythe-wielding skeleton, nor a winged figure in a pitch-black plague cloak. Rather, it appears as a ruddy-colored, computer-generated macaw with a rumbling Darth Vader-esque bass (performed by Arinzé Kene), his words low like glaciers calving and a syntax like Jabba the Hutt. Why a macaw? It seems that these exotic parrots are harbingers of death in some cultures (though the film doesn’t explain that). This one — an intimidating red bird that can shrink and swell...
- 6/7/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Reports that Wes Anderson was aiming for a scaled-back cast for espionage thriller The Phoenician Scheme may well have been off the mark.
When reports first surfaced that Wes Anderson’s next film would be an espionage thriller, minds were left agog pondering what he was actually up to. After all, Anderson used the iconography of 1950s sci-fi films to unveil something far more intricate with 2023’s Asteroid City, so who knows what Anderson’s good old spy movie could secretly be a Trojan horse for?
One early report we did hear suggested that for this film, Wes Anderson would be scaling back his cast and not working in the same ensemble-driven way that he so often does. That report now looks like it could have been wide of the mark (or perhaps things simply evolved) as the full cast list for the film has now been released and well,...
When reports first surfaced that Wes Anderson’s next film would be an espionage thriller, minds were left agog pondering what he was actually up to. After all, Anderson used the iconography of 1950s sci-fi films to unveil something far more intricate with 2023’s Asteroid City, so who knows what Anderson’s good old spy movie could secretly be a Trojan horse for?
One early report we did hear suggested that for this film, Wes Anderson would be scaling back his cast and not working in the same ensemble-driven way that he so often does. That report now looks like it could have been wide of the mark (or perhaps things simply evolved) as the full cast list for the film has now been released and well,...
- 6/7/2024
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
We're just a few days away from the premiere of "Ultraman: Rising" on Netflix, the latest addition to the ever-growing animation library of the streamer. Animation has been on shaky ground for the last few years, with the animation guild growing stronger to fight for fair contractions as creatives continue to battle against the dystopian threat of artificial intelligence. Fortunately, animation is still as popular and well-loved as ever, and Netflix has been absolutely crushing it as of late. Not only did the streamer pull in an Academy Award for Guillermo del Toro's "Pinocchio" in 2022, but shows like "Blue Eye Samurai," "Arcane," "Love, Death, & Robots," and movies like "Wendell & Wild," "The Sea Beast," and "The Mitchells vs. the Machines" are some of the best releases of original animation, period.
Today I was in attendance at the Next on Netflix: Animation event to preview their upcoming slate of animation,...
Today I was in attendance at the Next on Netflix: Animation event to preview their upcoming slate of animation,...
- 6/6/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Tribeca-selected short film “Bite,” written and directed by filmmaker Jorey Worb, is a reclamation of sorts. The 15-minute short is lush, well-acted by breakout lead Troian Bellisario, and captures a story known all too well by too many people, including writer/director Worb.
“Bite” centers on a woman who seeks treatment for jaw pain, or Tmj, and is assaulted by her dentist (Evan Arnold). The encounter leads to a reexamination of lingering Ptsd and a faux Marie Antoinette-esque courtroom scene that plays out as she debates whether or not to go to the authorities. With its poppy set design, reminiscent of “Promising Young Woman,” mixed with a “Girls” kind of millennial dialogue and Wes Anderson-inspired production design, “Bite” tells a #MeToo tale in a completely new and fresh way. The film is one of the many star-studded shorts premiering at Tribeca Festival.
“Having ‘bite’ means standing up for oneself,...
“Bite” centers on a woman who seeks treatment for jaw pain, or Tmj, and is assaulted by her dentist (Evan Arnold). The encounter leads to a reexamination of lingering Ptsd and a faux Marie Antoinette-esque courtroom scene that plays out as she debates whether or not to go to the authorities. With its poppy set design, reminiscent of “Promising Young Woman,” mixed with a “Girls” kind of millennial dialogue and Wes Anderson-inspired production design, “Bite” tells a #MeToo tale in a completely new and fresh way. The film is one of the many star-studded shorts premiering at Tribeca Festival.
“Having ‘bite’ means standing up for oneself,...
- 6/6/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Peter Ostrum has had only one acting credit to speak of, that of Charlie Bucket in the 1971 adaptation of Roald Dahl’s seminal novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. While the actor had a great time on set, it seemed that an acting career was not in the cards for the star, as he shifted careers to something as far from acting as salt is from being sweet.
Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka || Paramount Pictures
Ostrum would not go on to star in anything after Willy Wonk and the Chocolate Factory, deciding to go for something a little bit more conventional. However, that does not mean that his acting career did not yield any fruits for him, as the actor still receives a minuscule amount of royalties from his appearance in the film, more than half a century ago.
Peter Ostrum receives about $10 every...
Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka || Paramount Pictures
Ostrum would not go on to star in anything after Willy Wonk and the Chocolate Factory, deciding to go for something a little bit more conventional. However, that does not mean that his acting career did not yield any fruits for him, as the actor still receives a minuscule amount of royalties from his appearance in the film, more than half a century ago.
Peter Ostrum receives about $10 every...
- 6/6/2024
- by Anuraag Chatterjee
- FandomWire
Before Wes Anderson skipped this year’s Oscars to film “The Phoenician Scheme” in Germany, fans already knew which actors would be at the heart of the director’s latest ensemble. Benecio del Toro and Mia Threapleton star as a father and daughter whose family business leads them into a dark espionage tale, with Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, and Anderson regular Bill Murray also starring.
Continue reading ‘The Phoenician Scheme’: Wes Anderson’s Espionage Flick Reportedly Also Stars Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Willem Dafoe & More at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘The Phoenician Scheme’: Wes Anderson’s Espionage Flick Reportedly Also Stars Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Willem Dafoe & More at The Playlist.
- 6/6/2024
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
One of the more commonly overused words in entertainment marketing is “visionary.”
Whether or not a single consumer has ever watched a film or TV show because of an unsourced studio claim that the alleged auteur behind it was a “visionary,” the frequency with which the term is applied appropriately is very low. Wanna call Wes Anderson a visionary? Sure. Even people who hate the guy can’t deny the singularity of his approach. But just as frequently it’s tossed in the direction of, say, a guy whose vision was making a commercial with Antonio Banderas as a bee who hates snot. There needs to be a more thorough “visionary” vetting process.
That being said: Julio Torres is a visionary.
The former Saturday Night Live writer’s new HBO comedy Fantasmas doesn’t exactly confirm the absurdist promise of HBO’s Los Espookys and the recent feature Problemista mostly...
Whether or not a single consumer has ever watched a film or TV show because of an unsourced studio claim that the alleged auteur behind it was a “visionary,” the frequency with which the term is applied appropriately is very low. Wanna call Wes Anderson a visionary? Sure. Even people who hate the guy can’t deny the singularity of his approach. But just as frequently it’s tossed in the direction of, say, a guy whose vision was making a commercial with Antonio Banderas as a bee who hates snot. There needs to be a more thorough “visionary” vetting process.
That being said: Julio Torres is a visionary.
The former Saturday Night Live writer’s new HBO comedy Fantasmas doesn’t exactly confirm the absurdist promise of HBO’s Los Espookys and the recent feature Problemista mostly...
- 6/6/2024
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Newly minted Oscar winner Wes Anderson has now wrapped production on his next feature, The Phoenician Scheme, in Germany. We’ve known the story of a family and a family business, specifically capturing a father-daughter relationship in a dark espionage tale, has a cast that features Benicio del Toro, Michael Cera, Bill Murray, Mia Threapleton, and Riz Ahmed. Now the full ensemble has been unveiled, featuring many familiar faces from the director’s cinematic universe.
Anderson’s recent Asteroid City collaborators Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Willem Dafoe, Rupert Friend, and Bryan Cranston have joined, according to a German crew posting, as has his Henry Sugar star Benedict Cumberbatch. Charlotte Gainsbourg, a newcomer to the world of Wes Anderson, will be playing “first wife” in the film, presumably in relation to Benicio del Toro’s character. On the crew side, along with the previously announced cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, production designer Adam Stockhausen...
Anderson’s recent Asteroid City collaborators Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Willem Dafoe, Rupert Friend, and Bryan Cranston have joined, according to a German crew posting, as has his Henry Sugar star Benedict Cumberbatch. Charlotte Gainsbourg, a newcomer to the world of Wes Anderson, will be playing “first wife” in the film, presumably in relation to Benicio del Toro’s character. On the crew side, along with the previously announced cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, production designer Adam Stockhausen...
- 6/6/2024
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Few actors have a career in the film industry that is as decorated as Gene Hackman’s. Having worked as an actor for over six decades, he has been a part of some of the finest films to have ever been released, and he has been awarded fruitfully for his work. From Oscars to Golden Globes, Gene Hackman has got them all.
The French Connection (1971) | 20th Century Fox
Since the first one is always more special than the rest, his first win at the Academy Awards came with the 1972 film The French Connection, though he had been nominated twice before. While the film should hold a special place in his heart, it quickly became one of his biggest regrets, thanks to the fact that it ended up typecasting him in Hollywood.
Why Gene Hackman Might Regret ‘The French Connection’ Gene Hackman in a still from The French Connection | 20th Century Fox
Directed by William Friedkin,...
The French Connection (1971) | 20th Century Fox
Since the first one is always more special than the rest, his first win at the Academy Awards came with the 1972 film The French Connection, though he had been nominated twice before. While the film should hold a special place in his heart, it quickly became one of his biggest regrets, thanks to the fact that it ended up typecasting him in Hollywood.
Why Gene Hackman Might Regret ‘The French Connection’ Gene Hackman in a still from The French Connection | 20th Century Fox
Directed by William Friedkin,...
- 6/6/2024
- by Mishkaat Khan
- FandomWire
Only the learned can perceive the merit, goes the saying. Among the vast pool of talent in Hollywood, only a few have managed to bring across a resounding impact not only in terms of the box office but also by catapulting into everyday pop culture. The latest entrant to that hallowed fame is the cinematic genius and the 21st-century Dune adaptation’s director, Denis Villeneuve, whose worth has found immense praise from fellow film pioneer, Steven Spielberg.
Denis Villeneuve speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con International, for Blade Runner 2049 | Gage Skidmore for Wikimedia Commons
In an interactive session, the Jurassic Park director opened his heart out for his Sicario visionary. The duo, whose contributions to modern cinema stay immeasurable, may not seek to compete with one another. However, the latter’s vision has caught the attention of the legendary filmmaker, who felt stunned and in awe of the incredible work...
Denis Villeneuve speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con International, for Blade Runner 2049 | Gage Skidmore for Wikimedia Commons
In an interactive session, the Jurassic Park director opened his heart out for his Sicario visionary. The duo, whose contributions to modern cinema stay immeasurable, may not seek to compete with one another. However, the latter’s vision has caught the attention of the legendary filmmaker, who felt stunned and in awe of the incredible work...
- 6/5/2024
- by Imteshal Karim
- FandomWire
June 4, 2024 – Academy Award winner Sir Ben Kingsley, beloved James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan and Star Wars universe luminary Mark Hamill form the ultimate vocal rogues’ gallery in Mofac Animation’s upcoming The King of Kings, an animated family film inspired by a little-known short story by Charles Dickens depicting the life and times of Jesus Christ.
Kingsley voices High Priest Caiaphas, who presided over the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus. Hamill takes on the role of King Herod, who, according to the Gospel of Matthew, ordered the Massacre of the Innocents in an attempt to kill Jesus as an infant. And Brosnan gives animated life to Pontius Pilate, who ultimately ordered the crucifixion of Jesus. The triumvirate of villainous voices further enhances the A-list cast behind the faith-based animated film, which also includes Academy Award & Emmy Award winners Kenneth Branagh (Belfast) and Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), Golden Globe...
Kingsley voices High Priest Caiaphas, who presided over the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus. Hamill takes on the role of King Herod, who, according to the Gospel of Matthew, ordered the Massacre of the Innocents in an attempt to kill Jesus as an infant. And Brosnan gives animated life to Pontius Pilate, who ultimately ordered the crucifixion of Jesus. The triumvirate of villainous voices further enhances the A-list cast behind the faith-based animated film, which also includes Academy Award & Emmy Award winners Kenneth Branagh (Belfast) and Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), Golden Globe...
- 6/5/2024
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
The BBC and BritBox International have secured A-list talent for their latest Agatha Christie adaptation.
Oscar-winner Anjelica Huston has been cast in Towards Zero, potentially the highest-profile actor to appear in a BBC Christie series since John Malkovich played Poirot in 2018’s The ABC Murders.
Huston will play the aunt of lead character Nevile Strange (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). After a scandalous celebrity divorce, the British tennis star and his ex-wife Audrey (Ella Lily Hyland) make the unthinkable decision to spend a summer together at Gull’s Point, their childhood home and the coastal estate of Nevile’s aunt, Lady Tressilian (Huston).
Revealed by Deadline several months back, the series will star Jackie Clune (Motherland), Grace Doherty (Call the Midwife), Jack Farthing (Rain Dogs), Khalil Gharbia (Mary & George), Adam Hugill (Sherwood), Mimi Keene (Sex Education), Clarke Peters (The Wire), Emmy winner Matthew Rhys (The Americans) and Oliver Award-winner Anjana Vasan (Black Mirror:...
Oscar-winner Anjelica Huston has been cast in Towards Zero, potentially the highest-profile actor to appear in a BBC Christie series since John Malkovich played Poirot in 2018’s The ABC Murders.
Huston will play the aunt of lead character Nevile Strange (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). After a scandalous celebrity divorce, the British tennis star and his ex-wife Audrey (Ella Lily Hyland) make the unthinkable decision to spend a summer together at Gull’s Point, their childhood home and the coastal estate of Nevile’s aunt, Lady Tressilian (Huston).
Revealed by Deadline several months back, the series will star Jackie Clune (Motherland), Grace Doherty (Call the Midwife), Jack Farthing (Rain Dogs), Khalil Gharbia (Mary & George), Adam Hugill (Sherwood), Mimi Keene (Sex Education), Clarke Peters (The Wire), Emmy winner Matthew Rhys (The Americans) and Oliver Award-winner Anjana Vasan (Black Mirror:...
- 6/5/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Dev Patel’s action thriller “Monkey Man” will arrive on Peacock on June 14, the streamer announced.
The film will also get a digital release on June 11, as well as 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD versions on June 25. Those physical releases will feature an alternate opening, alternate ending and a handful of deleted or extended scenes.
“Monkey Man,” Patel’s directorial debut, world premiered at SXSW in March before landing in theaters on April 5, where it collected $34 million worldwide.
Produced by Jordan Peele, the movie follows a young man (Patel) who spends his nights at an underground fight club in India, where he makes money being beaten up by more popular fighters. After years of rage bubbling up to the surface, the man embarks on a bloody quest for revenge against the city’s shady elite, and the powerful official responsible for the murder of his mother.
Variety chief film...
The film will also get a digital release on June 11, as well as 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD versions on June 25. Those physical releases will feature an alternate opening, alternate ending and a handful of deleted or extended scenes.
“Monkey Man,” Patel’s directorial debut, world premiered at SXSW in March before landing in theaters on April 5, where it collected $34 million worldwide.
Produced by Jordan Peele, the movie follows a young man (Patel) who spends his nights at an underground fight club in India, where he makes money being beaten up by more popular fighters. After years of rage bubbling up to the surface, the man embarks on a bloody quest for revenge against the city’s shady elite, and the powerful official responsible for the murder of his mother.
Variety chief film...
- 6/3/2024
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
Peacock announced on Monday morning that Oscar nominee Dev Patel’s directorial debut, the action thriller Monkey Man, will begin streaming on the platform on June 14.
The film comes to the platform after a run in theaters via Universal Pictures that saw it gross over $34 million worldwide, having world premiered to critical acclaim at South by Southwest.
Inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage, the revenge flick stars Patel as a man with no name, scarred by a brutal childhood, who ekes out a meager living in underground fighting rings. But when he finds a way to rise up and infiltrate his city’s corrupt elite, he kicks off an explosive campaign for retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him as a boy. Channeling the rage of the poor and powerless, an unexpected hero emerges.
Patel conceived the original story for Monkey Man,...
The film comes to the platform after a run in theaters via Universal Pictures that saw it gross over $34 million worldwide, having world premiered to critical acclaim at South by Southwest.
Inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage, the revenge flick stars Patel as a man with no name, scarred by a brutal childhood, who ekes out a meager living in underground fighting rings. But when he finds a way to rise up and infiltrate his city’s corrupt elite, he kicks off an explosive campaign for retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him as a boy. Channeling the rage of the poor and powerless, an unexpected hero emerges.
Patel conceived the original story for Monkey Man,...
- 6/3/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
With Warner Media merging with Discovery back in 2022 and consolidation within the entertainment industry on the rise ever since, many fans of TCM — which is owned by Warner — fear their favorite home for cinema history might fall victim to these drastic cuts. Thankfully the channel continues to sparkle and shine like the Hollywood of old with filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson jumping on board to help curate and boost recognition of the channel. With their help, other directors have also come aboard — Guillermo del Toro, Wes Anderson, and Jason Reitman to name a few — offering their picks each month in the hopes of bringing in more viewers and keeping the love for classic cinema alive. This month’s curator is multi-hyphenate Viggo Mortensen, whose second directorial effort, “The Dead Don’t Hurt,” was released today.
In reflecting on his cinematic influences, Mortensen reached back to one of the heydays of Hollywood,...
In reflecting on his cinematic influences, Mortensen reached back to one of the heydays of Hollywood,...
- 5/31/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
In the derelict, scraggly city in northwest China where Guan Hu’s Black Dog is set, human life has all but disappeared and canines have replaced their masters. The year is 2008, a few weeks before the kick-off to the Beijing Summer Olympics, but the capital feels so distant in time and space that when a mural honoring the event pops up, the paint is so sun-bleached you’d be forgiven for thinking the Games were over by a few decades. Oil was tucked deep under the nearby hills until the reserves dried up and workers left––one of many migration waves that turned this unnamed corner at the edge of the Gobi Desert into an arid ghost town presided by the pets its former residents left behind. Dogs are everywhere you look; from the barren expanses that ring the city down to its maze of abandoned buildings, they roam this...
- 5/30/2024
- by Leonardo Goi
- The Film Stage
2024’s Venice Film Festival isn’t far away. Last year’s event was one that was slightly cut down due to the ongoing strikes that had befallen Hollywood and prevented a number of actors from attending for the promotion of their films. The films that screened last year included David Fincher’s The Killer, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, Ava DuVernay’s Origin, Michael Mann’s Ferrari and Bradley Cooper’s Maestro. The line-up for films out of competition featured such big names as Woody Allen, Wes Anderson, William Friedkin, Richard Linklater and Roman Polanski.
The 81st Annual Venice Film Festival is set for August 28 to September 7. Variety is reporting that among the films that are being rumored for screenings is the Todd Phillips follow-up to the Joaquin Phoenix reimagining of DC’s Clown Prince of Crime. Joker: Folie à Deux, which co-stars Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, is said to...
The 81st Annual Venice Film Festival is set for August 28 to September 7. Variety is reporting that among the films that are being rumored for screenings is the Todd Phillips follow-up to the Joaquin Phoenix reimagining of DC’s Clown Prince of Crime. Joker: Folie à Deux, which co-stars Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, is said to...
- 5/30/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
For many New Yorkers on the Upper West Side, the Marlene Meyerson Jcc Manhattan is a spot to play pickleball, grab a cup of coffee, or dump your kid off for a ceramics class. From June 4 through June 10, however, it will be the nexus of current Israeli cinema, hosting the 12th Annual Israel Film Center Festival. And considering what has transpired lately at Columbia University just a few subway stops away, it could make for some particularly lively post-screening Q&As.
Jcc stands for Jewish Community Center, and while you don’t have to be Jewish to go and use their pool, the vast Amsterdam Avenue facility is not not connected to Israel. In its lobby you’ll find a wall boasting “Jerusalem stone,” no shortage of Hebrew classes, and various lectures and symposiums concerning the Middle East.
In addition to film screenings throughout the year, the Jcc maintains the Israel Film Center,...
Jcc stands for Jewish Community Center, and while you don’t have to be Jewish to go and use their pool, the vast Amsterdam Avenue facility is not not connected to Israel. In its lobby you’ll find a wall boasting “Jerusalem stone,” no shortage of Hebrew classes, and various lectures and symposiums concerning the Middle East.
In addition to film screenings throughout the year, the Jcc maintains the Israel Film Center,...
- 5/29/2024
- by Jordan Hoffman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Cannes 2024 market saw a thrilling revival with nine movies — including four movies in the main competition — selling to specialized distributors in domestic deals. However, this wasn’t exactly a return to business as normal: The buyers weren’t stalwarts like A24, or Focus, or IFC. Instead Mubi, Metrograph Pictures, and Sideshow (in partnership with Janus Films) established themselves as major buyers.
Mubi bought three titles in the main competition: “The Girl With the Needle,” “The Substance,” and added North American rights on Andrea Arnold’s “Bird.” (It came to the festival with UK rights.) “The Substance” starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley represents a major swing for the upstart, with one source placing the deal in the low-eight figures.
Sideshow picked up Indian drama “All We Imagine As Light” in the main competition, the animated “Flow” from Un Certain Regard, and “Misericordia” and Leos Carax’s “It’s Not Me,...
Mubi bought three titles in the main competition: “The Girl With the Needle,” “The Substance,” and added North American rights on Andrea Arnold’s “Bird.” (It came to the festival with UK rights.) “The Substance” starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley represents a major swing for the upstart, with one source placing the deal in the low-eight figures.
Sideshow picked up Indian drama “All We Imagine As Light” in the main competition, the animated “Flow” from Un Certain Regard, and “Misericordia” and Leos Carax’s “It’s Not Me,...
- 5/29/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Da'Vine Joy Randolph has joined the cast of 'Eternity'.The 38-year-old star will appear in the romantic comedy alongside Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen and Callum Turner.The plot of the film is being kept under wraps but it has been described as a rom-com in which the characters must decide who they wish to spend eternity with.David Freyne is directing the flick from a script by Patrick Cunnane while Olson and Teller are serving as executive producers on the movie that will begin production this summer.Randolph won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her depiction of the grieving mother Mary Lamb in 'The Holdovers' and is hoping that her triumph allows her to "infiltrate" areas in the film industry where minorities are not typically represented.The 'Rustin' star told Variety: "I don't just want to do black movies. I will always pay tribute to, honour,...
- 5/29/2024
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
Karan Kandhari’s “Sister Midnight” is a surreal Mumbai fable with an aggressive comedic rhythm. It’s composed by hitting the same few notes ad nauseam, but hitting them exceptionally well and for much longer than one might expect before it eventually runs out of steam. All the while, Kandhari takes a novel visual approach to the topic of arranged marriage, situating his woebegone couple — his protagonist in particular, a woman who feels trapped — in a realm of strange psychosis. It’s better than it has any right to be, but not nearly as good as it should be.
Uma (Radhika Apte) is brash, acerbic and vulgar. Unable to cook or manage household expenses, she fulfills very few of the rigid expectations of a new Indian bride. When she arrives at her cramped new one-room apartment with her soft-spoken husband Gopal (Ashok Pathak) — an ostensible stranger — on their wedding night,...
Uma (Radhika Apte) is brash, acerbic and vulgar. Unable to cook or manage household expenses, she fulfills very few of the rigid expectations of a new Indian bride. When she arrives at her cramped new one-room apartment with her soft-spoken husband Gopal (Ashok Pathak) — an ostensible stranger — on their wedding night,...
- 5/27/2024
- by Siddhant Adlakha
- Variety Film + TV
"Moonrise Kingdom" was the film that made me fall in love with Wes Anderson's work. It's not that I disliked his earlier stuff; ironically, one of his least well-received films, "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou," was also the one that started turning me onto his movies in the first place. Yet, it was 2012's "Moonrise Kingdom" that solidified me as a Fanderson or Westie or whatever you call those who can't get enough of the quirky cineaste's funny, melancholic, meticulously curated art.
The movie centers on a pair of eccentric 12-year-olds -- orphan and devoted Khaki Scout Sam (Jared Gilman) and rebellious Suzy (Kara Hayward) -- who develop a romantic attraction to one another and, feeling alienated from the rest of their community on the small fictional island of New Penzance, conspire to run away together. Meanwhile, the adults in their lives scramble to bring them home, yet...
The movie centers on a pair of eccentric 12-year-olds -- orphan and devoted Khaki Scout Sam (Jared Gilman) and rebellious Suzy (Kara Hayward) -- who develop a romantic attraction to one another and, feeling alienated from the rest of their community on the small fictional island of New Penzance, conspire to run away together. Meanwhile, the adults in their lives scramble to bring them home, yet...
- 5/26/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Ebon Moss-Bachrach may soon be a household name due to his standout supporting role as Richie Jerimovich on the hit FX (for Hulu) television series “The Bear.” And if that doesn’t do it, perhaps his recently announced casting as Ben Grimm aka The Thing in Marvel’s film version of “The Fantastic Four” will.
Of course, there are some who have been all-in on Moss-Bachrach since his performance as Desi on HBO’s “Girls.” Those playing catchup on his career should perhaps start with an even-earlier role that stands out for many now in retrospect — a brief appearance as Frederick the bellboy in Wes Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums.” With a mop of floppy curls under a round hotel cap, Moss-Bachrach was only 23 at the time of filming, but held his own against scene partner and legendary screen actor Gene Hackman.
“He’s a pro,” said Moss-Bachrach of Hackman during a profile in GQ.
Of course, there are some who have been all-in on Moss-Bachrach since his performance as Desi on HBO’s “Girls.” Those playing catchup on his career should perhaps start with an even-earlier role that stands out for many now in retrospect — a brief appearance as Frederick the bellboy in Wes Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums.” With a mop of floppy curls under a round hotel cap, Moss-Bachrach was only 23 at the time of filming, but held his own against scene partner and legendary screen actor Gene Hackman.
“He’s a pro,” said Moss-Bachrach of Hackman during a profile in GQ.
- 5/25/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
You can't do better than Jeffrey Wright, so why even try? The actor is coming off his first-ever Oscar nod for "American Fiction," which is frankly shocking given the pedigree of his previous work. We're talking about the man who starred in Mike Nichols' "Angels in America" miniseries (reprising the role he played in the original Pulitzer Prize-winning play's Broadway debut), spent 15 years playing Felix Leiter, the coolest cat in the Daniel Craig James Bond movies, and was the Mvp of Matt Reeves' "The Batman" as Jim Gordon. He was also everyone's favorite human-turned-host, Bernard Lowe, across all four seasons of "Westworld" and has recently become a member of Wes Anderson's acting troupe.
Now, HBO and "The Last of Us" writers/executive producers Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have, very wisely, elected to bring Wright back in the role that he previously tackled via voice-acting and motion-capture in 2020's...
Now, HBO and "The Last of Us" writers/executive producers Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have, very wisely, elected to bring Wright back in the role that he previously tackled via voice-acting and motion-capture in 2020's...
- 5/24/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Jeffrey Wright is returning to HBO — and to the world of The Last of Us.
The Emmy winner and recent Oscar nominee has joined the cast for season two of The Last of Us, based on the best-selling video game franchise. Wright will have a recurring role as Isaac, the quietly powerful leader of a large militia group. It’s familiar territory for Wright, who provided the voice for Isaac in The Last of Us Part II game.
Wright is one of a number of new additions to the cast for season two, which is in production and slated for a 2025 premiere. The coming season will also feature Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, Spencer Lord and Danny Ramirez, and Catherine O’Hara will be a guest star.
Leads Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey will return, along with fellow season one actors Gabriel Luna and Rutina Wesley.
The Emmy winner and recent Oscar nominee has joined the cast for season two of The Last of Us, based on the best-selling video game franchise. Wright will have a recurring role as Isaac, the quietly powerful leader of a large militia group. It’s familiar territory for Wright, who provided the voice for Isaac in The Last of Us Part II game.
Wright is one of a number of new additions to the cast for season two, which is in production and slated for a 2025 premiere. The coming season will also feature Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, Spencer Lord and Danny Ramirez, and Catherine O’Hara will be a guest star.
Leads Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey will return, along with fellow season one actors Gabriel Luna and Rutina Wesley.
- 5/24/2024
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Detective Murtaugh sees a mysterious man pull out a weapon in the middle of a police station. He heroically jumps into action to protect, serve, and tackle. But it turns out it is just good ol’ Mel Gibson, who overpowers and flips this 50-year-old character, played by a 40-year-old actor, Danny Glover. Humiliated and hurt, Danny Glover spits out an iconic line that has come to define his career and become a meme, “I’m too old for this shit.” Danny Glover was too old for this shit three decades ago… but he has kept on grinding, making motion pictures ever since. But maybe Danny Glover is too old for this shit… if that “shit” is good movies. Oh, I kid! I kid!
Glover may not have any Oscars, but he did get a late start in his movie career, having broken out in his 40s. So, what has Danny Glover,...
Glover may not have any Oscars, but he did get a late start in his movie career, having broken out in his 40s. So, what has Danny Glover,...
- 5/24/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Despite being set in a parallel-universe Winnipeg where the people talk in Farsi and the world around them seems as if it’s been frozen in time since the mid-1980s, the haunted but hopeful “Universal Language” is an unmistakably modern film at heart.
Described by writer-director Matthew Rankin as a piece of “autobiographical hallucination,” this wonderfully deadpan whatsit is the work of a white 43-year-old Canadian man who fell in love with the movies a time when “foreign” cinema was becoming more available to people outside major cultural hubs. He found that Kanoon-style fables like “Where Is the Friend’s House?” and “The White Balloon” spoke to him in a way that few English-language films ever had. That discovery sparked a cross-cultural dialogue that eventually compelled Rankin to visit Tehran in an effort to locate the auteurs who had inspired him and learn why their films had whispered in his ear.
Described by writer-director Matthew Rankin as a piece of “autobiographical hallucination,” this wonderfully deadpan whatsit is the work of a white 43-year-old Canadian man who fell in love with the movies a time when “foreign” cinema was becoming more available to people outside major cultural hubs. He found that Kanoon-style fables like “Where Is the Friend’s House?” and “The White Balloon” spoke to him in a way that few English-language films ever had. That discovery sparked a cross-cultural dialogue that eventually compelled Rankin to visit Tehran in an effort to locate the auteurs who had inspired him and learn why their films had whispered in his ear.
- 5/24/2024
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Jason Schwartzman and Eva Longoria are to star in the festive comedy 'Oh. What. Fun.'The pair have joined Michelle Pfeiffer in the Christmas flick that is being directed by Michael Showalter.Joan Chen, Devery Jacobs, Havana Rose Liu and Maude Apatow have also been added to the cast – with Danielle Brooks appearing in a cameo role – of the picture that is shooting in Atlanta.The film is described as a love letter to mothers and a cross between 'Home for the Holidays' and 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles'.It focuses on a woman called Claire Clauster (Pfeiffer) who organises a special Christmas outing but is forgotten by her family in the shuffle.By the time they have realised their error, she has gone missing and their festive celebrations are in jeopardy. Thankfully, nothing is going to stop Claire giving her family the holiday they deserve.Denis Leary is to play Claire's husband while Felicity Jones,...
- 5/24/2024
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
Rupert Friend (Asteroid City) is heading to Jurassic World, Deadline can confirm.
In the latest installment of the dinosaur franchise from Universal Pictures, the actor will star opposite Scarlett Johansson, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Jonathan Bailey. No word on the role he’s playing. The film’s plot remains under wraps. It’s slated for release on July 2, 2025.
Gareth Edwards is directing from a script by David Koepp, with Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley producing for Kennedy-Marshall. Steven Spielberg is executive producing for Amblin Entertainment. EVP of Production Development Sara Scott and Creative Executive of Production Development Jacqueline Garell are overseeing the film for Universal.
Recently, Friend has been seen in the Wes Anderson features Asteroid City and The French Dispatch, along with his Roald Dahl shorts The Swan and The Ratcatcher for Netflix. Otherwise perhaps best known for starring opposite Ewan McGregor on Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi, the actor will...
In the latest installment of the dinosaur franchise from Universal Pictures, the actor will star opposite Scarlett Johansson, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Jonathan Bailey. No word on the role he’s playing. The film’s plot remains under wraps. It’s slated for release on July 2, 2025.
Gareth Edwards is directing from a script by David Koepp, with Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley producing for Kennedy-Marshall. Steven Spielberg is executive producing for Amblin Entertainment. EVP of Production Development Sara Scott and Creative Executive of Production Development Jacqueline Garell are overseeing the film for Universal.
Recently, Friend has been seen in the Wes Anderson features Asteroid City and The French Dispatch, along with his Roald Dahl shorts The Swan and The Ratcatcher for Netflix. Otherwise perhaps best known for starring opposite Ewan McGregor on Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi, the actor will...
- 5/22/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The velociraptors have found a Friend.
Rupert Friend, the British actor who in appeared in Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City, will star alongside Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey in the all-new Jurassic World feature being made by Universal Pictures.
Gareth Edwards is directing the creature feature that also has Manuel Garcia-Rulfo on the call sheet.
David Koepp, the original screenwriter of Jurassic Park and The Lost World: Jurassic Park, penned the script for the new installment, whose plot details are being kept hidden in a can of Barbasol.
The project is casting furiously ahead of a production start in mid-June in London. Universal will have a tight turnaround in postproduction, as the studio has set a theatrical release of July 2, 2025.
Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley, who have shepherded the modern Jurassic franchise, will produce through Kennedy/Marshall. Steven Spielberg, who kicked off the franchise in 1993 with Jurassic Park, is exec producing through Amblin Entertainment.
Rupert Friend, the British actor who in appeared in Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City, will star alongside Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey in the all-new Jurassic World feature being made by Universal Pictures.
Gareth Edwards is directing the creature feature that also has Manuel Garcia-Rulfo on the call sheet.
David Koepp, the original screenwriter of Jurassic Park and The Lost World: Jurassic Park, penned the script for the new installment, whose plot details are being kept hidden in a can of Barbasol.
The project is casting furiously ahead of a production start in mid-June in London. Universal will have a tight turnaround in postproduction, as the studio has set a theatrical release of July 2, 2025.
Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley, who have shepherded the modern Jurassic franchise, will produce through Kennedy/Marshall. Steven Spielberg, who kicked off the franchise in 1993 with Jurassic Park, is exec producing through Amblin Entertainment.
- 5/22/2024
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Indian Paintbrush acquires both Janus Films and Criterion in a private transaction: more details here.
Particularly for fans of physical media, ever since the Laserdisc days, The Criterion Collection has stood tall as a quality curator of cinema, and company that takes great care in presenting films. Founded all the way back in 1984, it was a pioneer in adding supplementary material to film releases, and was at the heart of the extra features boom that came with the early DVD era too.
Criterion releases have now arrived on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, with The Criterion Channel also available too in the US.
Furthermore, it works alongside Janus Films, which oversees a library of titles and distributes them too. Janus Films has been going since the 1950s.
Now, the sister companies are under new ownership, it’s been revealed, thanks to a deal with the founder of production...
Particularly for fans of physical media, ever since the Laserdisc days, The Criterion Collection has stood tall as a quality curator of cinema, and company that takes great care in presenting films. Founded all the way back in 1984, it was a pioneer in adding supplementary material to film releases, and was at the heart of the extra features boom that came with the early DVD era too.
Criterion releases have now arrived on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, with The Criterion Channel also available too in the US.
Furthermore, it works alongside Janus Films, which oversees a library of titles and distributes them too. Janus Films has been going since the 1950s.
Now, the sister companies are under new ownership, it’s been revealed, thanks to a deal with the founder of production...
- 5/21/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Indian Paintbrush founder Steven Rales has purchased Criterion and Janus Films.
The mission and leadership of the companies will not change following the private transaction.
Screen Daily was first to report the news of the sale. “We have grown our brands and audience with dedication to a set of values reflected in the films we release, the way we release them, and the way we conduct our business with our valued partners around the world,” said Criterion and Janus Films president Peter Becker told the outlet. “We are excited to continue that legacy and pursue new opportunities now available through this relationship.”
Janus Films was founded in 1954 by Bryant Haliday and Cyrus Harvey, Jr., and has since become the preeminent distributor of international classic films in the United States. Recent films include “Drive My Car,” “Evil Does Not Exist,” “Eo” and “The Beast.” On Monday, Sideshow and Janus films acquired...
The mission and leadership of the companies will not change following the private transaction.
Screen Daily was first to report the news of the sale. “We have grown our brands and audience with dedication to a set of values reflected in the films we release, the way we release them, and the way we conduct our business with our valued partners around the world,” said Criterion and Janus Films president Peter Becker told the outlet. “We are excited to continue that legacy and pursue new opportunities now available through this relationship.”
Janus Films was founded in 1954 by Bryant Haliday and Cyrus Harvey, Jr., and has since become the preeminent distributor of international classic films in the United States. Recent films include “Drive My Car,” “Evil Does Not Exist,” “Eo” and “The Beast.” On Monday, Sideshow and Janus films acquired...
- 5/20/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
Criterion and its sister distribution arm Janus Films each have a new owner: Indian Paintbrush founder Steven Rales.
Rales has acquired both Criterion and Janus in a private transaction, IndieWire has learned according to two individuals, giving the home for classic and art house films a new leader.
However, as Screen Daily first reported, leadership, including Criterion and Janus Films president Peter Becker, is expected to remain in place, and the overall mission of both companies is not expected to change, per a source.
“We have grown our brands and audience with dedication to a set of values reflected in the films we release, the way we release them, and the way we conduct our business with our valued partners around the world,” Becker said in a statement to Screen. “We are excited to continue that legacy and pursue new opportunities now available through this relationship.”
Reps for Janus Films...
Rales has acquired both Criterion and Janus in a private transaction, IndieWire has learned according to two individuals, giving the home for classic and art house films a new leader.
However, as Screen Daily first reported, leadership, including Criterion and Janus Films president Peter Becker, is expected to remain in place, and the overall mission of both companies is not expected to change, per a source.
“We have grown our brands and audience with dedication to a set of values reflected in the films we release, the way we release them, and the way we conduct our business with our valued partners around the world,” Becker said in a statement to Screen. “We are excited to continue that legacy and pursue new opportunities now available through this relationship.”
Reps for Janus Films...
- 5/20/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Indian Paintbrush founder Steven Rales has acquired Criterion and Janus Films in a private transaction.
Screen understands the leadership and mission of the companies will not change.
“We have grown our brands and audience with dedication to a set of values reflected in the films we release, the way we release them, and the way we conduct our business with our valued partners around the world,” said Peter Becker, president of Criterion and Janus Films.
“We are excited to continue that legacy and pursue new opportunities now available through this relationship.”
Sister companies Janus and Criterion are longtime champions of global classic cinema.
Screen understands the leadership and mission of the companies will not change.
“We have grown our brands and audience with dedication to a set of values reflected in the films we release, the way we release them, and the way we conduct our business with our valued partners around the world,” said Peter Becker, president of Criterion and Janus Films.
“We are excited to continue that legacy and pursue new opportunities now available through this relationship.”
Sister companies Janus and Criterion are longtime champions of global classic cinema.
- 5/20/2024
- ScreenDaily
When it was released in January of 2001, Richard Kelly's bleak time-travel psychological drama "Donnie Darko" caused a notable stir. The title character, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is a teen struggling with schizophrenia in 1988, a time when Reagan's great Conservative revolution was drawing to a close and adults clung to suburban conformity as it crumbled under them. Donnie is obsessed with time-travel and regularly hallucinates a vicious, strange anthropomorphic rabbit monster named Frank (all while attempting to socialize at school and foster a romance with a classmate played by Jena Malone). Patrick Swayze appears as a cheesy self-self guru, Drew Barrymore plays one of Donnie's teachers, and Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Donnie's sister.
By turns psychedelic and weirdly moving (in a Goth sort of way), "Donnie Darko" quickly became a cult hit and rotated directly into the local midnight movie circuit, attracting a wide swath of misfits and night people.
By turns psychedelic and weirdly moving (in a Goth sort of way), "Donnie Darko" quickly became a cult hit and rotated directly into the local midnight movie circuit, attracting a wide swath of misfits and night people.
- 5/19/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
This one is for the true Lanthimites, the Dogtooth sisters, the biscuit women, The Killing of a Sacred Deer heads, a film to which the callbacks are so abundant that one can’t help but wonder what the connection is for writer-director Yorgos Lanthimos and co-screenwriter Efthimis Filippou behind the scenes, outside of simply sharing tones and themes that all of their other films share. Regardless, the director as we knew him pre-Emma Stone is back (relatively speaking). And this time… with Emma Stone!
In his eighth feature, old and new Lanthimos merge, the former reflected in story scope, unreal realism, and bone-dry Greek comedy, all wrapped up in the much-felt return of Filippou, with whom he last wrote Sacred Deer just before he launched into the Hollywood stratosphere with Tony McNamara and The Favourite, the dawn of his Emma Stone collaboration-turned-creative-partnership. And the latter is reflected in, well,...
In his eighth feature, old and new Lanthimos merge, the former reflected in story scope, unreal realism, and bone-dry Greek comedy, all wrapped up in the much-felt return of Filippou, with whom he last wrote Sacred Deer just before he launched into the Hollywood stratosphere with Tony McNamara and The Favourite, the dawn of his Emma Stone collaboration-turned-creative-partnership. And the latter is reflected in, well,...
- 5/19/2024
- by Luke Hicks
- The Film Stage
In the Canadian cities of Montreal and Winnipeg, a futile tension exists between French and English speakers — doubly silly, since the country is officially bilingual. In his gently satirical “Universal Language,” writer-director Matthew Rankin imagines a rather fanciful solution, where Farsi is now the region’s dominant tongue. Taking his cues from such Iranian classics as “Children of Heaven” and “The White Balloon,” Rankin mixes the humanism of Majid Majidi, Jafar Panahi, et al. with his own peculiar brand of comedy (as seen in the more off-the-wall “The Twentieth Century”), offering a delightful cross-cultural hybrid designed to celebrate our differences.
Though Rankin shows a genuine affection for all things Persian, the first and most obvious hiccup to his premise is that audiences don’t necessarily share his interest or his references. There’s something inherently provocative — and perhaps even triggering to some — about seeing a nondescript Canadian elementary school where...
Though Rankin shows a genuine affection for all things Persian, the first and most obvious hiccup to his premise is that audiences don’t necessarily share his interest or his references. There’s something inherently provocative — and perhaps even triggering to some — about seeing a nondescript Canadian elementary school where...
- 5/18/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Launched last year by Wes Anderson’s producing partners at Indian Paintbrush, Galerie has emerged as a well-curated film club publishing unique selections of films from artists with their personal annotations. With past lists from the likes of James Gray, Ed Lachman, Mike Mills, Karyn Kusama, Ethan Hawke, and more, today we’re pleased to exclusively share a sneak peek from the lists of two celebrated Chilean filmmakers, Pablo Larraín and Sebastián Lelio, which have recently landed on the site.
Both filmmakers are currently working on their latest projects: Larraín is helming the Angelina Jolie-led Maria Callas drama, while Lelio is handling the musical The Wave, inspired by Chile’s “feminist May” movement in 2018. While in post-production on the projects, they’ve shared their curated collections.
The Spencer and El Conde director features Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Cemetery of Splendor and Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing on his list,...
Both filmmakers are currently working on their latest projects: Larraín is helming the Angelina Jolie-led Maria Callas drama, while Lelio is handling the musical The Wave, inspired by Chile’s “feminist May” movement in 2018. While in post-production on the projects, they’ve shared their curated collections.
The Spencer and El Conde director features Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Cemetery of Splendor and Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing on his list,...
- 5/17/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
In a world where over-polished corporate products dominate the media landscape while the ever-growing threat of AI-generated “art” haunts the horizon, I can’t help but remember a story about how Wes Anderson insisted on using real fur on the stop-motion puppets of his animated opus, Fantastic Mr. Fox. When the animators complained that using fur would result in obvious thumbprints and erratic hair movement that would ruin the “illusion” of lifelike movement, the filmmaker explained that these imperfections were the point.
Why am I bringing this up on a horror website? Well, I’ve always been of the opinion that low production value is simply part of the appeal of independent cinema, and nowhere is this more evident than in the horror genre. Rubber monster suits and watery blood effects are a big part of what make even the cheapest scary movies so endearing, and horror fans are uniquely...
Why am I bringing this up on a horror website? Well, I’ve always been of the opinion that low production value is simply part of the appeal of independent cinema, and nowhere is this more evident than in the horror genre. Rubber monster suits and watery blood effects are a big part of what make even the cheapest scary movies so endearing, and horror fans are uniquely...
- 5/16/2024
- by Luiz H. C.
- bloody-disgusting.com
Exclusive: Michael Cera caught Tyler Taormina’s feature directing debut Ham on Rye after a friend suggested he check it out. He was so impressed that he signed himself up as a sort of producing “cheerleader” on the filmmaker’s latest picture Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point, which plays in Directors’ Fortnight on Friday,May 17, at the Cannes Film Festival.
Cera’s quick to point out that Krista Minto, co-writer Eric Berger and others did the heavy-lifting producer duties on the picture that’s almost like a fly-on-the-wall exploration of a sprawling Long Island family’s holiday get-together.
“They’re the ones who actually made the movies,” he stressed.
The film’s Cannes screening comes at a time when Cera, who has made short films, has two films in development, both of which he will direct. One of them is called Gummy, the other is untitled. The untitled one is likely to go first,...
Cera’s quick to point out that Krista Minto, co-writer Eric Berger and others did the heavy-lifting producer duties on the picture that’s almost like a fly-on-the-wall exploration of a sprawling Long Island family’s holiday get-together.
“They’re the ones who actually made the movies,” he stressed.
The film’s Cannes screening comes at a time when Cera, who has made short films, has two films in development, both of which he will direct. One of them is called Gummy, the other is untitled. The untitled one is likely to go first,...
- 5/16/2024
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
Reader, you have been lied to! Film history is littered with unfairly maligned classics, whether critics were too eager to review the making of rather than the finished product, or they suffered from underwhelming ad campaigns or general disinterest. Let’s revise our takes on some of these films from wrongheaded to the correct opinion.
In 1972, Peter Bogdanovich, Francis Coppola, and William Friedkin were three of the hottest directors in Hollywood thanks to finding the sweet spot between art and box office with “The Last Picture Show,” “The Godfather,” and “The French Connection,” respectively. With their newfound clout, the young auteurs formed The Directors Company, a partnership based at Paramount, where they were given complete creative freedom to make anything they wanted as long as they worked within modest budgets. The first movie the deal yielded, “Paper Moon,” was a hit, Bogdanovich’s third in a row after “Picture Show...
In 1972, Peter Bogdanovich, Francis Coppola, and William Friedkin were three of the hottest directors in Hollywood thanks to finding the sweet spot between art and box office with “The Last Picture Show,” “The Godfather,” and “The French Connection,” respectively. With their newfound clout, the young auteurs formed The Directors Company, a partnership based at Paramount, where they were given complete creative freedom to make anything they wanted as long as they worked within modest budgets. The first movie the deal yielded, “Paper Moon,” was a hit, Bogdanovich’s third in a row after “Picture Show...
- 5/15/2024
- by Jim Hemphill
- Indiewire
Is there a harder-working actor in the movie business than Willem Dafoe? The 68-year-old, who splits his time between Los Angeles, New York and Rome, has appeared in more than 150 films, co-starring in everything from superhero features to dozens of movie-buff favorites from David Lynch, Martin Scorsese, Lars von Trier, Paul Schrader, Oliver Stone, Julian Schnabel, Wes Anderson, Sean Baker, Spike Lee, Robert Eggers and so many more.
Fresh from his acclaimed performance in Yorgos Lanthimos‘ recent awards season favorite Poor Things, Dafoe is already returning to Cannes this month in the Greek director’s much-buzzed-about follow-up, Kinds of Kindness. Described as a surrealist fable set in the present day, the new project is an anthology film told in three parts, reuniting Lanthimos with the provocative screenwriting partner of his early career, Efthymis Filippou (Dogtooth, The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer). The film’s multi-Oscar-feted key cast — Dafoe,...
Fresh from his acclaimed performance in Yorgos Lanthimos‘ recent awards season favorite Poor Things, Dafoe is already returning to Cannes this month in the Greek director’s much-buzzed-about follow-up, Kinds of Kindness. Described as a surrealist fable set in the present day, the new project is an anthology film told in three parts, reuniting Lanthimos with the provocative screenwriting partner of his early career, Efthymis Filippou (Dogtooth, The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer). The film’s multi-Oscar-feted key cast — Dafoe,...
- 5/15/2024
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Something has subtly shifted in Quentin Dupieux’s perspective, leaving the one-man-band of French cinema a rather different auteur than the anti-comedy punk that nearly stumbled onto the festival stage so many years ago. Chalk it up to maturity or to an impressive professional rise — reaching new highs this year with the opening slot at the Cannes Film Festival — but the director’s tone has softened and his targets have shifted, even as his working methods (and working ethic) remain set-in-stone.
Like a distant Gallic cousin to Wes Anderson and Hong Sang-soo (now there are two names you rarely see together), Dupieux has connected a distinctive voice into a well-honed system built for productivity, allowing him to write-direct-shoot-edit-and-score a new film every year. And sometimes, he finds time for two.
Within the past twelve months, he’s brought films “Yannick” and “Daaaaaalí!” to Locarno and Venice, and now steps into...
Like a distant Gallic cousin to Wes Anderson and Hong Sang-soo (now there are two names you rarely see together), Dupieux has connected a distinctive voice into a well-honed system built for productivity, allowing him to write-direct-shoot-edit-and-score a new film every year. And sometimes, he finds time for two.
Within the past twelve months, he’s brought films “Yannick” and “Daaaaaalí!” to Locarno and Venice, and now steps into...
- 5/14/2024
- by Ben Croll
- Indiewire
Oh, Canada debuting this week on the Croisette is high time to see lesser-seen Schrader on the Criterion Channel, who’ll debut an 11-title series including the likes of Touch, The Canyons, and Patty Hearst, while Old Boyfriends (written with his brother Leonard) and his own “Adventures in Moviegoing” are also programmed. Five films by Jean Grémillon, a rather underappreciated figure of French cinema, will be showing
Series-wise, there’s an appreciation of the synth soundtrack stretching all the way back to 1956’s Forbidden Planet while, naturally, finding its glut of titles in the ’70s and ’80s––Argento and Carpenter, obviously, but also Tarkovsky and Peter Weir. A Prince and restorations of films by Bob Odenkirk, Obayashi, John Greyson, and Jacques Rivette (whose Duelle is a masterpiece of the highest order) make streaming debuts. I Am Cuba, Girlfight, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Dazed and Confused are June’s Criterion Editions.
Series-wise, there’s an appreciation of the synth soundtrack stretching all the way back to 1956’s Forbidden Planet while, naturally, finding its glut of titles in the ’70s and ’80s––Argento and Carpenter, obviously, but also Tarkovsky and Peter Weir. A Prince and restorations of films by Bob Odenkirk, Obayashi, John Greyson, and Jacques Rivette (whose Duelle is a masterpiece of the highest order) make streaming debuts. I Am Cuba, Girlfight, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Dazed and Confused are June’s Criterion Editions.
- 5/14/2024
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
A Man Called Otto, an adaptation of Swedish author Fredrik Backman’s 2012 novel, A Man Called Ove (available on Amazon), is a poignant tale of human connection and second chances.
Meet the Cast of A Man Called Otto Tom Hanks as Otto Anderson Mariana Treviño as Marisol Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Tommy Truman Hanks as Young Otto Anderson Rachel Keller as Sonya Juanita Jennings as Anita Peter Lawson Jones as Reuben Cameron Britton as Jimmy
This captivating comedy-drama revolves around Otto, a grieving widower who unexpectedly finds himself entangled in his neighbors’ lives thanks to a chance encounter. He finds his way from despair to newfound joy through an unforeseen friendship.
The talented ensemble cast of A Man Called Otto during the film’s special screening in New York City on January 10, 2023 (Credit: Dave Allocca / StarPix / Startraksphoto / Cover Images)
Although it did not receive extensive awards and recognition, the film shines with its exceptional ensemble cast,...
Meet the Cast of A Man Called Otto Tom Hanks as Otto Anderson Mariana Treviño as Marisol Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Tommy Truman Hanks as Young Otto Anderson Rachel Keller as Sonya Juanita Jennings as Anita Peter Lawson Jones as Reuben Cameron Britton as Jimmy
This captivating comedy-drama revolves around Otto, a grieving widower who unexpectedly finds himself entangled in his neighbors’ lives thanks to a chance encounter. He finds his way from despair to newfound joy through an unforeseen friendship.
The talented ensemble cast of A Man Called Otto during the film’s special screening in New York City on January 10, 2023 (Credit: Dave Allocca / StarPix / Startraksphoto / Cover Images)
Although it did not receive extensive awards and recognition, the film shines with its exceptional ensemble cast,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Florie Mae Malapit
- Your Next Shoes
2004 was a standout year for cinema, marked by a thrilling competition at the Oscars and the emergence of new talent in the indie market. The Academy Awards that year saw a highly competitive slate, with a plethora of films vying for top honours. Meanwhile, the indie scene was thriving, with breakthrough films like Sideways, and Napoleon Dynamite captivating audiences and critics alike. Filmmakers like Alexander Payne, Wes Anderson, and Michel Gondry were making their mark on the industry, while newcomers like Sofia Coppola and Charlie Kaufman were introducing fresh perspectives and innovative storytelling techniques. Overall, 2004 was a triumphant
The post Two Decades Later: 6 Best Movies from 2004 first appeared on TVovermind.
The post Two Decades Later: 6 Best Movies from 2004 first appeared on TVovermind.
- 5/12/2024
- by Matthew C. F
- TVovermind.com
Rock fans are in luck: This week’s digital releases involve Sonic Youth, Indigo Girls, and The Beatles. Get ready for a toe-tapping triple feature.
The contender to watch this week: “Uncropped”
A perfect companion piece to “The Freaks Came Out to Write,” Tricia Romano‘s new book about the history of The Village Voice, “Uncropped” profiles one of the iconoclastic newspaper’s signature photographers. James Hamilton captured the streets of New York, musicians like Patti Smith and the Beastie Boys, wartime conflicts in China and the Philippines, and production stills for the likes of Francis Ford Coppola and Wes Anderson. His juicy career is detailed in this unconventional documentary directed by D.W. Young (“The Booksellers”), who stages a handful of intimate conversations between Hamilton and his collaborators, including Anderson and Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore. Following a limited theatrical release in April, “Uncropped” is available on VOD.
Other contenders:...
The contender to watch this week: “Uncropped”
A perfect companion piece to “The Freaks Came Out to Write,” Tricia Romano‘s new book about the history of The Village Voice, “Uncropped” profiles one of the iconoclastic newspaper’s signature photographers. James Hamilton captured the streets of New York, musicians like Patti Smith and the Beastie Boys, wartime conflicts in China and the Philippines, and production stills for the likes of Francis Ford Coppola and Wes Anderson. His juicy career is detailed in this unconventional documentary directed by D.W. Young (“The Booksellers”), who stages a handful of intimate conversations between Hamilton and his collaborators, including Anderson and Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore. Following a limited theatrical release in April, “Uncropped” is available on VOD.
Other contenders:...
- 5/11/2024
- by Matthew Jacobs
- Gold Derby
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