The Summer Game Fest has something to offer for every kind of gamer, as the event showcases video games from various genres all at one place, and the 2024 edition was no different. A game that has been under development since the year the studio was founded nearly eight years ago, things are finally shaping up for Metaphor: ReFantazio, as the Persona series creators presented a new deep dive into some of the features the upcoming title will be accompanied with.
And although the similarities to the franchise that birthed it are clearly visible in the latest trailer, it still seems like a strong contender in the Jrpg genre.
Summer Game Fest Brings the Persona Creators Back for Their Next Title
From social simulation elements to inner powers, the Persona creators showcase their next title at the Summer Game Fest.
Although developer Studio Zero, a subsidiary of Persona’s Atlus, has...
And although the similarities to the franchise that birthed it are clearly visible in the latest trailer, it still seems like a strong contender in the Jrpg genre.
Summer Game Fest Brings the Persona Creators Back for Their Next Title
From social simulation elements to inner powers, the Persona creators showcase their next title at the Summer Game Fest.
Although developer Studio Zero, a subsidiary of Persona’s Atlus, has...
- 6/7/2024
- by Osama Farooq
- FandomWire
Sega has enjoyed a fortunate year as its sales revenue jumped 20 percent, as per its latest financial report ending March 31, 2024. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Persona 3 Reload were among the major factors in this drive, but Rovio’s acquisition pushed the company’s revenue higher. Both of these games sold over a million copies within a week of their launch.
Apart from games, Sega had a successful journey in the film industry, as it saw Sonic the Hedgehog find its place in the sun. The company desires to expand the reach of its IPs, but before that, it may throw a lot of content from the Like a Dragon and Persona franchises.
Sega Should Focus on Quality if it is to Release Those Games
The original Persona 3 was released in 2006.
Sega must have its hands full if the recent reports surfacing on the internet are true. The company is potentially planning new titles,...
Apart from games, Sega had a successful journey in the film industry, as it saw Sonic the Hedgehog find its place in the sun. The company desires to expand the reach of its IPs, but before that, it may throw a lot of content from the Like a Dragon and Persona franchises.
Sega Should Focus on Quality if it is to Release Those Games
The original Persona 3 was released in 2006.
Sega must have its hands full if the recent reports surfacing on the internet are true. The company is potentially planning new titles,...
- 5/12/2024
- by Anurag Batham
- FandomWire
Rabbit & Bear Studios has meticulously crafted a Jrpg that’s not only worthy of praise but also an acknowledgment of the undying formula that makes this genre so special. Yoshitaka Murayama’s tragic passing has left a dent in millions of hearts. Before I get into the details of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, I would like to acknowledge that this game has paid homage to both – the genre itself, and the undying legacy of Yoshitaka Murayama.
That being said, this review comes from the heart of someone who cherishes heartfelt storytelling, diverse characters, and a world that wraps itself in mystery. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is made by people who celebrate the intricacies of a detailed adventure. However, its unsurprising turn of events and predictability often left me wanting more.
Heads up: Even though the story and combat mechanics have a lot to them, this review is going to be spoiler-free.
That being said, this review comes from the heart of someone who cherishes heartfelt storytelling, diverse characters, and a world that wraps itself in mystery. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is made by people who celebrate the intricacies of a detailed adventure. However, its unsurprising turn of events and predictability often left me wanting more.
Heads up: Even though the story and combat mechanics have a lot to them, this review is going to be spoiler-free.
- 4/21/2024
- by Tanay Sharma
- FandomWire
Back when the original Person 3 game was released in Japan in 2006, a spin-off game Persona 3 Aigis The First Mission was released for feature phones in 2007 focusing on Aigis in 1999 on Yakushima and fleshing out the party member's backstory. Now, that feature phone game is getting a port to the Nintendo Switch and Steam thanks to G-mode Archives, bringing the pre-smartphone era phone game to current generation gaming systems. Persona 3 Aigis The First Mission is a 3D action top-down RPG made for feature phones with elements from the original Persona game, including Aigis’ persona and the leveling-up system, as well as having to defeat shadows. Here are some screenshots for the port from the Steam page: Related: Persona 3 Reload Expansion Pass Announced, Episode Aigis Lands in September No date for Persona 3 Aigis The First Mission has been announced at this stage and the Steam page only notes that the game will...
- 4/19/2024
- by Daryl Harding
- Crunchyroll
The fruit for patience is sweet and Persona fans are likely to get it, of course, if they are patient. The hit Sega video game series has been quite popular worldwide and has sold over 16 Million copies while generating around $350 Million in revenue. Now the developers are reportedly advancing to a new level which may well become a new record-breaker in the series.
But it could be miles away if the leaks are anything to go by. A reputable Sega insider who has been dishing out information about the franchise may have some news that may help the fans cheer up a little. Interestingly, the second wind brought in by the leaker could just be the thing they might have been waiting for with bated breath.
Persona 4 Remake May Arrive Later, But That’s Okay The upcoming game in the Persona franchise will likely have a different color scheme.
Several...
But it could be miles away if the leaks are anything to go by. A reputable Sega insider who has been dishing out information about the franchise may have some news that may help the fans cheer up a little. Interestingly, the second wind brought in by the leaker could just be the thing they might have been waiting for with bated breath.
Persona 4 Remake May Arrive Later, But That’s Okay The upcoming game in the Persona franchise will likely have a different color scheme.
Several...
- 4/14/2024
- by Anurag Batham
- FandomWire
A French adaptation of Beta Film’s International Emmy-winning Turkish thriller series Persona is in the works with a female protagonist.
Mémoire Vive is starring Six Women’s Clémentine Célarié as Esther Lefevre, the reinterpreted female lead from the Turkish series, which has been greenlit for a second run. The French version is being produced by Calt Studio for M6.
The Turkish original stars International Emmy-winner Haluk Bilginer as the antihero Agâh. In the second season, Agâh, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, regains his memories piece by piece when his daughter takes him into her care. And while Agâh is looking for a way to handle his new-found freedom, he doesn’t realize yet that he has made some powerful enemies who yearn for revenge.
Both Persona and Mémoire Vive are entering production during this half of 2024, with the former filming 22 episodes and the latter four.
Beta is handling...
Mémoire Vive is starring Six Women’s Clémentine Célarié as Esther Lefevre, the reinterpreted female lead from the Turkish series, which has been greenlit for a second run. The French version is being produced by Calt Studio for M6.
The Turkish original stars International Emmy-winner Haluk Bilginer as the antihero Agâh. In the second season, Agâh, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, regains his memories piece by piece when his daughter takes him into her care. And while Agâh is looking for a way to handle his new-found freedom, he doesn’t realize yet that he has made some powerful enemies who yearn for revenge.
Both Persona and Mémoire Vive are entering production during this half of 2024, with the former filming 22 episodes and the latter four.
Beta is handling...
- 4/8/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Get ready for more hustle and bustle at Easton Magic Academy, because Mash is punching in for another English-dubbed season of Mashle: Magic and Muscles ! The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc commences on Crunchyroll from Saturday, March 23 , starring the below cast members. Mashle: Magic And Muscles Season 2 English Dub Cast Mash voiced by Aleks Le (Zenitsu in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ) Lance v oiced by Stephen Fu (Noé in The Case Study of Vanitas ) Finn voiced by Brian Anderson (Sousaku in Pretty Boy Detective Club ) Lemon voiced by Anjali Kunapaneni (Kiruko in Heavenly Delusion ) Dot voiced by Ben Diskin (Haida in Aggretsuko ) Ryoh voiced by Sean Chiplock (Nero the Sable in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth ) Orter voiced by Alan Lee (Nico Vorgell in Undead Unluck ) Kaldo voiced by Zeno Robinson (Junpei Iori in Persona 3 Reload ) Sophina voiced by Cristina Vee (Ran in Heavenly Delusion ) Renatus voiced by Darius Johnson...
- 3/22/2024
- by Liam Dempsey
- Crunchyroll
Fortnite Battle Royale’s Chapter 5 introduced Underground as its first season, bringing in a lot of new maps and gameplay changes, along with iconic skins like Peter Griffin and Solid Snake. Going forward, it looks like a bunch of characters from God of War and the Greek mythos will make their way into the popular game, and Kratos is going to be part of the narrative.
It’s been more than a thousand days since Kratos last appeared in the game’s item shop, but according to the leaks, players will soon get the chance to see him again in the next season. That’s not all; there’s another big franchise that might end up as a collaboration midway through the season.
Characters From God of War and a Bunch of Other Legends From Greek Mythology Are on Their Way Epic has already started teasing the new season.
While...
It’s been more than a thousand days since Kratos last appeared in the game’s item shop, but according to the leaks, players will soon get the chance to see him again in the next season. That’s not all; there’s another big franchise that might end up as a collaboration midway through the season.
Characters From God of War and a Bunch of Other Legends From Greek Mythology Are on Their Way Epic has already started teasing the new season.
While...
- 3/6/2024
- by Tanay Sharma
- FandomWire
With Persona 3 Reload having done really well when it was released at the end of January – being the fastest entry in the series to sell 1 million copies –, the official Twitter account for the Persona franchise confirmed yesterday that the entire series has sold more than 22 million copies worldwide. To celebrate, a special Persona 3 Reload video was released in the Twitter post. For a blast to the past, the video is inspired by the first ever trailer for the original Persona 3 game, a trailer that released all the way back in 2005. Check that trailer out below and see how the remake compares to the original game: Related: Persona 3 Reload Reaches 1 Million Sales in Record Time Persona 3 Reload launched on February 2, 2024, on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC via Windows and Steam. Source: Persona Japan on Twitter...
- 3/6/2024
- by Daryl Harding
- Crunchyroll
Sega is going back to the top with several hit games and others. The Japanese company is looking to expand its movie and transmedia empire. Hiring a former Disney executive, Justin Scarpone, to work on IPs like Persona and Like a Dragon, which could be adapted to film or other kinds of media like series.
Like a Dragon and Persona could have movies, according to Sega Persona could have a transmedia project in the future according to Sega
After the tremendous success of Sonic the Hedgehog at the box office, Shuji Utsumi, president of Sega, has declared that the company wants to expand the reach of its IPs beyond the videogames. Names like Shinobi, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, Persona, Shin Megami Tensei, Like a Dragon, and many more are being thrown around, and with the recent hire, there’s a possibility they’re thinking of more than just new games.
Like a Dragon and Persona could have movies, according to Sega Persona could have a transmedia project in the future according to Sega
After the tremendous success of Sonic the Hedgehog at the box office, Shuji Utsumi, president of Sega, has declared that the company wants to expand the reach of its IPs beyond the videogames. Names like Shinobi, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, Persona, Shin Megami Tensei, Like a Dragon, and many more are being thrown around, and with the recent hire, there’s a possibility they’re thinking of more than just new games.
- 3/1/2024
- by Lucas Lapetina
- FandomWire
Episode 3 of Crunchyroll Presents: The Anime Effect is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you listen to your podcasts! If you're waiting to watch the video episode, it'll be live on Crunchyroll and YouTube at 7 p.m. Et. Listen or Watch on: Episode 3 Summary Nick, LeAlec, and Leah welcome Polygon’s Eic and co-host of The Besties podcast Chris Plante to dissect findings from “The Anime Opportunity." First, they discuss the new Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth game , Pokémon Day reveals and which side of Missouri is the “right” side? All that and more, only on The Anime Effect . Topics Discussed in Episode 2 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete Tower of God Season 2 One Piece English Dub Solo Leveling documentary True Beauty Viral Hit The End of Evangelion Pokémon Legends Z-a Pokémon Tcg Pocket Polygon's "The Anime Opportunity" Study Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On!
- 3/1/2024
- by Guest Author
- Crunchyroll
Persona 6 has started to feel like a myth, as Atlus does not seem to be getting over the success of the fifth mainline game in the series. Originally released in 2016, Persona 5 has had multiple variations through the years, such as a dancing rhythm title and even a tactical RPG launched just last year. The publisher is obsessed with Persona 3 and 5 to take part in any discussion regarding a sixth proper game in the franchise.
However, although there still has not been an announcement from Atlus, the latest leak is in regards to the potential setting of Persona 6, and it really shouldn’t be that surprising for fans of the series.
To No One’s Surprise, Persona 6 May Have a High School Setting Again
High school settings have become a staple of the franchise, and Persona 6 seems to be continuing the tradition.
Aside from being excellent social simulation titles, another aspect...
However, although there still has not been an announcement from Atlus, the latest leak is in regards to the potential setting of Persona 6, and it really shouldn’t be that surprising for fans of the series.
To No One’s Surprise, Persona 6 May Have a High School Setting Again
High school settings have become a staple of the franchise, and Persona 6 seems to be continuing the tradition.
Aside from being excellent social simulation titles, another aspect...
- 2/26/2024
- by Osama Farooq
- FandomWire
Acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve recently revealed his four all-time favorite films, spanning sci-fi masterpieces to psychological drama. Topping the list is Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi epic 2001: A Space Odyssey, which Villeneuve deemed “a perfect movie for many reasons.” As Dune 2 is soon to be released, Villeneuve his idea of the best movies of all time.
Denis Villeneuve Names His All-Time Favorite Films
Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey
While talking to Letterboxd about his top 4 favorite movies, Denis Villeneuve said:
“My four favorite films, to be honest, that list can change every morning. There’s one of my favorites of all time that’s at top there that stayed there after many years – 2001: A Space Odyssey – for me, a perfect movie for many reasons. Apocalypse Now from Coppola is probably the movie I watch the most in my life; it’s a movie that I absolutely adore.
Denis Villeneuve Names His All-Time Favorite Films
Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey
While talking to Letterboxd about his top 4 favorite movies, Denis Villeneuve said:
“My four favorite films, to be honest, that list can change every morning. There’s one of my favorites of all time that’s at top there that stayed there after many years – 2001: A Space Odyssey – for me, a perfect movie for many reasons. Apocalypse Now from Coppola is probably the movie I watch the most in my life; it’s a movie that I absolutely adore.
- 2/19/2024
- by Nivedita Dubey
- FandomWire
JRPGs have historically been a niche genre. Ask most gamers to name a character from Dragon Quest or Persona, and they will likely draw a blank. But ask them to name someone from Final Fantasy, odds are they will say, “Cloud Strife.”
The Final Fantasy series has been around for almost 40 years and consists of 16 main entries plus countless spin-offs and sequels. Yet when most people think of the series, they usually jump to Final Fantasy 7. Even Square Enix considers this game its golden child. Not even Final Fantasy 14 and its incredible ongoing profitability can compare to Final Fantasy 7.
Nevertheless, the question arises: How and why did Final Fantasy 7 become such a mainstream hit? The answer is a combination of game design and development decisions, a new marketing strategy, and the perpetual motion machine of popularity.
Why Square Chose the PlayStation For Final Fantasy 7
Before Sony introduced the PlayStation,...
The Final Fantasy series has been around for almost 40 years and consists of 16 main entries plus countless spin-offs and sequels. Yet when most people think of the series, they usually jump to Final Fantasy 7. Even Square Enix considers this game its golden child. Not even Final Fantasy 14 and its incredible ongoing profitability can compare to Final Fantasy 7.
Nevertheless, the question arises: How and why did Final Fantasy 7 become such a mainstream hit? The answer is a combination of game design and development decisions, a new marketing strategy, and the perpetual motion machine of popularity.
Why Square Chose the PlayStation For Final Fantasy 7
Before Sony introduced the PlayStation,...
- 2/9/2024
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
“Persona 3 Reload” is a new role-playing video game developed and published by Atlus, now available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S:
“…after his parents are killed in a car accident, young man transfers to ‘Gekkouk High School’ and gains the ability to summon a manifestation of his inner spirit called a ‘Persona’. He joins a group of fellow Persona users called the ‘Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad’ or ‘Sees’.
“Together, they must save ‘Tatsumi Port Island’ from dangerous ‘Shadows’ and unravel the mystery of ‘The Dark Hour’…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
“…after his parents are killed in a car accident, young man transfers to ‘Gekkouk High School’ and gains the ability to summon a manifestation of his inner spirit called a ‘Persona’. He joins a group of fellow Persona users called the ‘Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad’ or ‘Sees’.
“Together, they must save ‘Tatsumi Port Island’ from dangerous ‘Shadows’ and unravel the mystery of ‘The Dark Hour’…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
- 2/8/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Hot off the heels of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth being the fastest game in the franchise formally known as Yakuza , the other Sega RPG that released in the past few weeks also did record numbers for its franchise with Atlus announcing today that Persona 3 Reload surpassed one million sales in just a week. A special illustration was released to commemorate the milestone. This makes Persona 3 Reload the quickest-selling game in the Persona franchise and the fastest to one million in Atlus’ history. For comparison, as single releases, Persona 5 Royal remastered reached 1 million after a month while Persona 4 Golden ’s PC release did those numbers in a year. Persona 5 ’s original release in September 2016 needed its international release the following April 2017 to ship more than 1.5 million copies. Related: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Clears 1 Million Units Globally It’s clear that the Persona games are now part of mainstream gaming...
- 2/8/2024
- by Daryl Harding
- Crunchyroll
Aksys Games has announced that Tokyo Xanadu eX+ will come to Nintendo Switch for Western audiences in June. The Aksys Games Online Store, has an exclusive edition bundle that includes the Switch version of the game and a four-cd set for $70. This version also contains all previously Dlc and a revamped localization. Related: Tokyo Xanadu eX+ Gets Japanese Nintendo Switch Release in June Tokyo Xanadu eX+ is one of the few other series from Falcom aside from the Ys and Trails franchises. Its gameplay is a mix of both, featuring the real-time combat of Ys and the relationship mechanics of Trails , particularly the Cold Steel entries. Its school setting and dungeon crawling aspects also take inspiration from series like Persona . The original version of Tokyo Xanadu was released for PlayStation Vita in Japan in 2015 and worldwide in 2017. The upgraded Tokyo Xanadu eX+ version was first released for PlayStation 4 in Japan...
- 2/2/2024
- by George Yang
- Crunchyroll
Another concert event is on the way to celebrate the Persona series, this time with the announcement of Persona Live Tour 2024 -more ahead- . Featuring songs from Persona 3 Reload and the Persona 5 games, the tour will start in Japan this May before heading to Taiwan this fall. In addition to the Persona dancers, performers announced thus far include singers Lyn, Azumi Takahashi and Lotus Juice; DJ VaVa; and guitarist Toshiki Konishi (Atlus). The initial performance is set for Osaka's Namba Hatch on May 31, followed by KT Zepp Yokohama on June 7 and 8. Dates for Taiwan will be announced later, but for now it's just listed for fall. Persona Live Tour 2024 -more ahead- Announcement Trailer Related: Night Turns Green in New Persona 3 Reload Visual Next up for the series is Persona 3 Reload , which hits PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC on February 2, 2024. Sources: Official Website , Gematsu...
- 1/31/2024
- by Joseph Luster
- Crunchyroll
“Persona 3 Reload” is a new role-playing video game developed and published by Atlus, releasing February 2, 2024 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S:
“…after his parents are killed in a car accident, young man transfers to ‘Gekkouk High School’ and gains the ability to summon a manifestation of his inner spirit called a ‘Persona’. He joins a group of fellow Persona users called the ‘Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad’ or ‘Sees’.
“Together, they must save ‘Tatsumi Port Island’ from dangerous ‘Shadows’ and unravel the mystery of ‘The Dark Hour’…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
“…after his parents are killed in a car accident, young man transfers to ‘Gekkouk High School’ and gains the ability to summon a manifestation of his inner spirit called a ‘Persona’. He joins a group of fellow Persona users called the ‘Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad’ or ‘Sees’.
“Together, they must save ‘Tatsumi Port Island’ from dangerous ‘Shadows’ and unravel the mystery of ‘The Dark Hour’…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
- 1/23/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
In two weeks, the night will begin in a hue of green not seen on screens since 2010. This all comes together in the latest visual for Persona 3 Reload , a remake of the beloved PlayStation 2 RPG Persona 3 . The visual was released earlier today on the official Persona Japanese Twitter account to mark two weeks until release and brings together characters from all the different stages of the game, under a green moon. Related: Persona 3 Reload Clocks Out Opening Movie With New Theme Persona 3 Reload launches on February 2, 2024, on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC via Windows and Steam. Source: Persona on Twitter...
- 1/19/2024
- by Daryl Harding
- Crunchyroll
Festival selection includes Nikolaj Arcel’s ‘The Promised Land’ and Ernst De Geer’s ‘The Hypnosis’.
Goteborg Film Festival has selected almost 250 films for its 47th edition, including recent Nordic favourites The Promised Land starring Mads Mikkelsen and The Hypnosis by Ernst De Geer.
The festival, which runs from January 26 to February 4, has also programmed events including a talk between Ruben Ostlund and Cannes director Thierry Fremaux; and selected Danish actress Sidse Babett Knudsen to receive its Nordic Honorary Dragon award.
Scroll down for the list of festival titles
The 10 films competing in the Nordic Competition include Nikolaj Arcel’s The Promised Land,...
Goteborg Film Festival has selected almost 250 films for its 47th edition, including recent Nordic favourites The Promised Land starring Mads Mikkelsen and The Hypnosis by Ernst De Geer.
The festival, which runs from January 26 to February 4, has also programmed events including a talk between Ruben Ostlund and Cannes director Thierry Fremaux; and selected Danish actress Sidse Babett Knudsen to receive its Nordic Honorary Dragon award.
Scroll down for the list of festival titles
The 10 films competing in the Nordic Competition include Nikolaj Arcel’s The Promised Land,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
They say that one person’s loss is another person’s gain, but cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt had mixed emotions about his recent good fortune in landing the coveted director of photography gig on “May December,” the latest film from Todd Haynes. The director is known for his Oscar-nominated collaborations with longtime colleague Ed Lachman, which include “Carol” and “Far from Heaven.” Lachman, however, suffered a broken hip after a fall while shooting Pablo Larraín’s “El Conde,” and Haynes needed a new set of eyes. So he turned to his filmmaker pal Kelly Reichardt for recommendations, and Blauvelt stepped aboard the darkly comic tale of a tenacious actress, Elizabeth (Natalie Portman), infiltrating the lives of Gracie (Julianne Moore), a Mary Kay Letourneau-esque homemaker and her much younger husband, Joe (Charles Melton), who was 13 when they first got together.
“Kelly and Todd are teachers for me, I learned so much from them,...
“Kelly and Todd are teachers for me, I learned so much from them,...
- 1/3/2024
- by Jason Clark
- The Wrap
May December Movie Review Rating:
Star Cast: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton
Director: Todd Haynes
What’s Good: Portman and Moore display all their acting power, while Haynes destroys the audience with the heaviest atmosphere.
What’s Bad: The ending feels abrupt, but it will resonate for those catching the symbolism.
Loo Break: Every scene is filled with tension and tragedy; you cannot miss one.
Watch or Not?: Yes! This is one of the best films of the year, and it is right on Netflix.
Language: English
Available On: Netflix
Runtime: 117 Minutes
User Rating:
Todd Haynes is one of those directors who might not have a lot of films under their belt, but each of them is a mark of quality that many other directors wish they could reach. The director comes back with a top-of-the-line cast led by Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, and on top of that,...
Star Cast: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton
Director: Todd Haynes
What’s Good: Portman and Moore display all their acting power, while Haynes destroys the audience with the heaviest atmosphere.
What’s Bad: The ending feels abrupt, but it will resonate for those catching the symbolism.
Loo Break: Every scene is filled with tension and tragedy; you cannot miss one.
Watch or Not?: Yes! This is one of the best films of the year, and it is right on Netflix.
Language: English
Available On: Netflix
Runtime: 117 Minutes
User Rating:
Todd Haynes is one of those directors who might not have a lot of films under their belt, but each of them is a mark of quality that many other directors wish they could reach. The director comes back with a top-of-the-line cast led by Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, and on top of that,...
- 12/8/2023
- by Nelson Acosta
- KoiMoi
Todd Haynes, the visionary director of May December, doesn't seem to understand why people are putting his film in dialogue with tabloid-inspired TV movies. In an interview with Variety's Guy Lodge back in October, Haynes expressed some bemusement that his film was being received as having intentional camp elements or was in conversation with ripped-from-the-headlines movies. Haynes sees the film, premiered this weekend on Netflix, as referencing works like Ingmar Bergman's Persona and Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard. But while those comparisons are certainly apt, May December can't help but evoke those trashy TV movies that sought to cash in on real-life scandals.
- 12/4/2023
- by Joe Reid
- Primetimer
Todd Haynes is, in this writer’s opinion, one of our greatest living filmmakers. Ever since his 1987 film, Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story, a moving examination of the singer’s battle with anorexia using Barbie dolls and created while he was at Bard College, his unique voice has enraptured audiences. Safe. Velvet Goldmine. Far From Heaven. Carol. The Velvet Underground. There are too many classics to mention.
In his latest film, May December, Haynes has reunited with his muse Julianne Moore for their fifth collaboration over nearly three decades. She plays Gracie Atherton-Yoo,...
In his latest film, May December, Haynes has reunited with his muse Julianne Moore for their fifth collaboration over nearly three decades. She plays Gracie Atherton-Yoo,...
- 12/2/2023
- by Marlow Stern
- Rollingstone.com
If it ain’t broke, the saying goes, don’t fix it. That makes Square Enix’s job with the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Rebirth an interesting one. After all, the developer broke Final Fantasy VII on purpose with Remake and now it’s begun the daunting task of not just fixing it, but crafting new bespoke parts that make for a good fit with the original game.
Granted, Square has a lot more freedom to do so, thanks to a barn-burner of a canon-busting climax for Ffvii Remake, but if anything, that means that the job is even more precarious. I was able to play a demo of Ffvii Rebirth at a closed-door event, and having put a bit of time into it, it’s at least obvious that Square is up to the task and taking some big swings. Whether those swings will connect with the audience in...
Granted, Square has a lot more freedom to do so, thanks to a barn-burner of a canon-busting climax for Ffvii Remake, but if anything, that means that the job is even more precarious. I was able to play a demo of Ffvii Rebirth at a closed-door event, and having put a bit of time into it, it’s at least obvious that Square is up to the task and taking some big swings. Whether those swings will connect with the audience in...
- 11/20/2023
- by Justin Clark
- Slant Magazine
Many cinematographers wouldn’t want to be mistaken with someone else, but Christopher Blauvelt was exceedingly unbothered when I revealed May December initially suggested Ed Lachman. It’s an easy mistake to make––Blauvelt is filling in for Lachman, Todd Haynes’ usual cinematographer, when personal injury prevented him from shooting the new feature––unless you know his work well enough, accordingly I remembered his involvement in the first exterior shots bearing the heavy grain that have made his collaborations with Kelly Reichardt so deeply felt, so elemental.
Blauvelt presented May December at this year’s EnergaCAMERIMAGE days before it opens in the United States and two weeks in advance of its Netflix debut. When we met at Toruń’s Hotel Copernicus my general list of questions got upended by conversational flow, resulting in an interview that covers much of the film’s making––including the next, revealing chapter in my...
Blauvelt presented May December at this year’s EnergaCAMERIMAGE days before it opens in the United States and two weeks in advance of its Netflix debut. When we met at Toruń’s Hotel Copernicus my general list of questions got upended by conversational flow, resulting in an interview that covers much of the film’s making––including the next, revealing chapter in my...
- 11/17/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
If a legend like Liv Ullman can have imposter syndrome, what does it mean for the rest of us mere mortals? Throughout Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled, it’s Ullman herself who reflects on the past and reveals that which she is willing to reveal from her illustrious career. A feeling she often returns to is that of being unworthy, too inexperienced, and not ready. While it may seem ridiculous coming from the Norwegian actress/director/activist, it’s not. Liv Ullman lives with endless doubt, as we all do. She’s just overcome it a bit better than most.
From her fast start with Ingmar Bergman (beginning with Persona in 1966) to her first autobiography Changing to her accomplished career as a director, Dheeraj Akolkar’s film is a testament to resilience and growth. Including clips from some of her best work and commentary from friends and colleagues, the energy is decidedly positive.
From her fast start with Ingmar Bergman (beginning with Persona in 1966) to her first autobiography Changing to her accomplished career as a director, Dheeraj Akolkar’s film is a testament to resilience and growth. Including clips from some of her best work and commentary from friends and colleagues, the energy is decidedly positive.
- 11/16/2023
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
Actor Dakota Johnson landed perhaps her biggest role when she was cast in Fifty Shades of Grey. But she was concerned that her parents might reveal the big news too early.
Dakota Johnson wanted to keep her ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ role a secret from her parents Dakota Johnson | Robin Marchant/Getty Images
At the time, Johnson was eager to be cast in Fifty Shades of Grey. She felt passionate about the film’s source material, which connected with her in the same way it connected with millions of readers.
“I just really understand it,” Johnson once told Entertainment Weekly. “I think it’s an incredible love story and that’s why it’s affected so many people. Erica [El James] did a really good job of explaining how that just can happen sometimes and you have this chemical pull to someone. Adding in the sex makes it perfect. Sometimes...
Dakota Johnson wanted to keep her ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ role a secret from her parents Dakota Johnson | Robin Marchant/Getty Images
At the time, Johnson was eager to be cast in Fifty Shades of Grey. She felt passionate about the film’s source material, which connected with her in the same way it connected with millions of readers.
“I just really understand it,” Johnson once told Entertainment Weekly. “I think it’s an incredible love story and that’s why it’s affected so many people. Erica [El James] did a really good job of explaining how that just can happen sometimes and you have this chemical pull to someone. Adding in the sex makes it perfect. Sometimes...
- 11/16/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Bleiberg Entertainment acquires international sales on identity theft thriller ‘Persona’ (exclusive)
Laird Akeo, Dafne Rotolo, Christoph Pieczynski star.
Bleiberg Entertainment has acquired international sales on identity theft thriller Persona and begun talks here at AFM.
Written and directed by Wade Jackson, the feature follows a young man who is lured into adopting multiple false identities by a mysterious woman.
Drawn into her web of lies and crime, he must unravel the truth behind a murderous plot and avoid becoming a victim himself.
Laird Akeo (Paradise City), Dafne Rotolo (The Tomorrow Job), and Christoph Pieczynski (Krew Boga) star in Persona, which is produced by Jason de Vyea for Run Creative, Alexandra Caldwell,...
Bleiberg Entertainment has acquired international sales on identity theft thriller Persona and begun talks here at AFM.
Written and directed by Wade Jackson, the feature follows a young man who is lured into adopting multiple false identities by a mysterious woman.
Drawn into her web of lies and crime, he must unravel the truth behind a murderous plot and avoid becoming a victim himself.
Laird Akeo (Paradise City), Dafne Rotolo (The Tomorrow Job), and Christoph Pieczynski (Krew Boga) star in Persona, which is produced by Jason de Vyea for Run Creative, Alexandra Caldwell,...
- 10/31/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Hakan Günday and Onur Saylak, the writer-director team behind hit Turkish series “Persona,” have signed with CAA for representation.
The highest-rated show in Turkey, “Persona” premiered its first season in 2018 and production on the highly-anticipated Season 2 recently wrapped. It will air on Turkish streaming platform Gain later this year.
“Persona,” or “Şahsiyet” as it is known in Turkey, follows Agâh, a retired 65-year-old judicial clerk, who crosses paths with Nevra, the only woman police officer in Istanbul’s homicide office. When Agâh is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he sees an opportunity to commit a murder that he has been planning for years, knowing that he will not remember or feel remorse for it. Meanwhile, Nevra, on the verge of resignation due to her colleagues’ misogynistic behavior, will be forever changed by Agâh’s crime.
Günday began his career as an author and has penned nine books, three films and two series.
The highest-rated show in Turkey, “Persona” premiered its first season in 2018 and production on the highly-anticipated Season 2 recently wrapped. It will air on Turkish streaming platform Gain later this year.
“Persona,” or “Şahsiyet” as it is known in Turkey, follows Agâh, a retired 65-year-old judicial clerk, who crosses paths with Nevra, the only woman police officer in Istanbul’s homicide office. When Agâh is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he sees an opportunity to commit a murder that he has been planning for years, knowing that he will not remember or feel remorse for it. Meanwhile, Nevra, on the verge of resignation due to her colleagues’ misogynistic behavior, will be forever changed by Agâh’s crime.
Günday began his career as an author and has penned nine books, three films and two series.
- 10/30/2023
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Boutique distributor Juno Films has acquired North American and UK rights to Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Traveled, a portrait of the iconic Norwegian actress and filmmaker from director Dheeraj Akolkar (Liv & Ingmar). World premiering in the Classics section of the 76th Festival de Cannes, the doc will make its North American debut at Doc NYC ahead of a spring 2024 launch in theaters.
Best known as the muse and one-time romantic partner of Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, Ullmann performed in films of his including Persona, Cries and Whispers, Scenes from a Marriage, The Passion of Anna, and Autumn Sonata, among others. She received an Honorary Oscar in 2022, after scoring noms for The Emigrants and Face to Face, and has also helmed titles like Faithless and the Jessica Chastain starrer Miss Julie. Alongside her career in the arts is a run in philanthropy that’s seen her serve as a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador,...
Best known as the muse and one-time romantic partner of Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, Ullmann performed in films of his including Persona, Cries and Whispers, Scenes from a Marriage, The Passion of Anna, and Autumn Sonata, among others. She received an Honorary Oscar in 2022, after scoring noms for The Emigrants and Face to Face, and has also helmed titles like Faithless and the Jessica Chastain starrer Miss Julie. Alongside her career in the arts is a run in philanthropy that’s seen her serve as a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador,...
- 10/24/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Ghost Story , an original limited series from Wondery and Audacy’s Pineapple Street Studios, is a jaw-dropping tale of a haunting, which becomes a murder investigation, which leads to a family drama.
Host Tristan Redman is a seasoned journalist who doesn’t believe in ghosts. But weird things happened in the bedroom he lived in as a teenager. When, years later, he discovers that subsequent occupants of the same house have been visited by the ghost of a faceless woman, he’s curious. It just so happens that Tristan’s childhood home is right next door to the house where his wife’s great grandmother, Naomi Dancy, was murdered in 1937 – killed by two gunshots to the face. Could there be a connection between the ghost and the murder? Tristan decides to investigate and soon finds himself where no son-in-law should venture, deep in his wife’s family history, asking questions no one wants answered.
Host Tristan Redman is a seasoned journalist who doesn’t believe in ghosts. But weird things happened in the bedroom he lived in as a teenager. When, years later, he discovers that subsequent occupants of the same house have been visited by the ghost of a faceless woman, he’s curious. It just so happens that Tristan’s childhood home is right next door to the house where his wife’s great grandmother, Naomi Dancy, was murdered in 1937 – killed by two gunshots to the face. Could there be a connection between the ghost and the murder? Tristan decides to investigate and soon finds himself where no son-in-law should venture, deep in his wife’s family history, asking questions no one wants answered.
- 10/22/2023
- Podnews.net
Todd Haynes is the filmmaker “alive right now who is the most connected to the aesthetic and language of melodrama,” according to his longtime fan Ari Aster.
The day after the New York Film Festival’s September 29 opening night premiere of “May December,” Netflix hosted an Academy tastemaker screening of Haynes’ latest spell-casting melodrama starring Julianne Moore. Haynes couldn’t be joined by his cast, including Moore as a lispy suburban Mary Kay Letourneau type and Natalie Portman as a famous actress tasked with playing her in a movie, due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. But the Oscar-nominated “Carol” and “Far From Heaven” director was joined by “Hereditary” and “Beau Is Afraid” director Aster at the Crosby Hotel in Manhattan for a post-screening Q&a. IndieWire shares the exclusive full Q&a video below.
“I love this film, and when I first saw it earlier this week, it really bothered me,...
The day after the New York Film Festival’s September 29 opening night premiere of “May December,” Netflix hosted an Academy tastemaker screening of Haynes’ latest spell-casting melodrama starring Julianne Moore. Haynes couldn’t be joined by his cast, including Moore as a lispy suburban Mary Kay Letourneau type and Natalie Portman as a famous actress tasked with playing her in a movie, due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. But the Oscar-nominated “Carol” and “Far From Heaven” director was joined by “Hereditary” and “Beau Is Afraid” director Aster at the Crosby Hotel in Manhattan for a post-screening Q&a. IndieWire shares the exclusive full Q&a video below.
“I love this film, and when I first saw it earlier this week, it really bothered me,...
- 10/9/2023
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
May December director Todd Haynes with screenwriter Samy Burch, and his producers Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler, Jessica Elbaum and Sophie Mas Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Todd Haynes’s May December, screenplay by Samy Burch, shot by Christopher Blauvelt and starring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton opened the 61st New York Film Festival on Friday. Todd’s previous films screening at the New York Film Festival were Velvet Goldmine (NYFF 36), I’m Not There (NYFF 45), Carol (NYFF 53), Wonderstruck (NYFF 55 - Centerpiece Selection), and The Velvet Underground (NYFF 59).
Todd Haynes responding to Anne-Katrin Titze’s comment and question: “I did not create the lisp! There are some people who are missing today who could speak so beautifully about how they built these characters.” Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
At the press conference Todd Haynes spoke about connecting his composer Marcelo Zarvos to Michel Legrand’s score for Joseph Losey’s The Go-Between (Harold Pinter...
Todd Haynes’s May December, screenplay by Samy Burch, shot by Christopher Blauvelt and starring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton opened the 61st New York Film Festival on Friday. Todd’s previous films screening at the New York Film Festival were Velvet Goldmine (NYFF 36), I’m Not There (NYFF 45), Carol (NYFF 53), Wonderstruck (NYFF 55 - Centerpiece Selection), and The Velvet Underground (NYFF 59).
Todd Haynes responding to Anne-Katrin Titze’s comment and question: “I did not create the lisp! There are some people who are missing today who could speak so beautifully about how they built these characters.” Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
At the press conference Todd Haynes spoke about connecting his composer Marcelo Zarvos to Michel Legrand’s score for Joseph Losey’s The Go-Between (Harold Pinter...
- 10/2/2023
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Todd Haynes, who has appeared on behalf of his latest directing outing, May December, since its splashy debut in Cannes, turned to a new collaborator when promoting it at the New York Film Festival.
Samy Burch, writer and executive producer of the film (which is based on an original story developed by Burch and Alex Mechanik) had to skip Cannes and any subsequent activities for the film in recent months due to the WGA strike. Prior to the July walkout by SAG-AFTRA members, co-stars Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman had joined Haynes on the stump.
But on Friday at the film’s NYFF opening press conference (its gala debut is tonight at Alice Tully Hall), Haynes cited the script often. Before long, it fully registered who was able to sit onstage to his immediate left thanks to this week’s end to the WGA strike.
“It will be so fun...
Samy Burch, writer and executive producer of the film (which is based on an original story developed by Burch and Alex Mechanik) had to skip Cannes and any subsequent activities for the film in recent months due to the WGA strike. Prior to the July walkout by SAG-AFTRA members, co-stars Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman had joined Haynes on the stump.
But on Friday at the film’s NYFF opening press conference (its gala debut is tonight at Alice Tully Hall), Haynes cited the script often. Before long, it fully registered who was able to sit onstage to his immediate left thanks to this week’s end to the WGA strike.
“It will be so fun...
- 9/29/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
What’s better than a May-December romance? One with a salacious national scandal attached to it.
Todd Haynes’s 10th feature film “May December” stars Julianne Moore as a predatory woman who seduced an adolescent boy two decades prior; now, Natalie Portman is bringing her story to the big screen, causing personal mayhem for Moore’s secluded suburban lifestyle.
“May December” is set 20 years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, [as] a married couple (Moore and Charles Melton) buckles under the pressure when actress Elizabeth Berry (Portman) arrives to do research for a film about their past. Meanwhile, Joe, having never fully processed what happened in his youth, starts to confront the reality of life as an empty-nester at 36.
The cast is rounded out by Piper Curda, Elizabeth Yu, and Gabriel Chung, who play Moore and Melton’s onscreen children.
“May December” premiered at Cannes and will open the...
Todd Haynes’s 10th feature film “May December” stars Julianne Moore as a predatory woman who seduced an adolescent boy two decades prior; now, Natalie Portman is bringing her story to the big screen, causing personal mayhem for Moore’s secluded suburban lifestyle.
“May December” is set 20 years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, [as] a married couple (Moore and Charles Melton) buckles under the pressure when actress Elizabeth Berry (Portman) arrives to do research for a film about their past. Meanwhile, Joe, having never fully processed what happened in his youth, starts to confront the reality of life as an empty-nester at 36.
The cast is rounded out by Piper Curda, Elizabeth Yu, and Gabriel Chung, who play Moore and Melton’s onscreen children.
“May December” premiered at Cannes and will open the...
- 9/26/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
In a move that many people may describe as provocative, the Göteborg Film Festival has set Ingmar Bergman’s landmark arthouse drama Persona for an AI-assisted restoration.
The Swedish festival has teamed with Sf Studios, Gothenburg Film Studios, and The Ingmar Bergman Foundation to produce an AI-generated version of Persona, with Liv Ullmann replaced by Alma Pöysti (Fallen Leaves).
Ullmann famously plays Elisabet Vogler in the pic, and with new AI technology, her face will be digitally replaced by Pöysti’s. Göteborg described the project as a “cinematic experiment,” giving the new film the title Another Persona.
Once completed, the cinematic experiment will screen exclusively at the 2024 Göteborg Film Festival, with Liv Ullmann and Alma Pöysti in attendance. It will not be screened to an audience again. The screening will be followed by a discussion on acting and technology.
“The discussion about acting, masks, and authenticity that has made Persona...
The Swedish festival has teamed with Sf Studios, Gothenburg Film Studios, and The Ingmar Bergman Foundation to produce an AI-generated version of Persona, with Liv Ullmann replaced by Alma Pöysti (Fallen Leaves).
Ullmann famously plays Elisabet Vogler in the pic, and with new AI technology, her face will be digitally replaced by Pöysti’s. Göteborg described the project as a “cinematic experiment,” giving the new film the title Another Persona.
Once completed, the cinematic experiment will screen exclusively at the 2024 Göteborg Film Festival, with Liv Ullmann and Alma Pöysti in attendance. It will not be screened to an audience again. The screening will be followed by a discussion on acting and technology.
“The discussion about acting, masks, and authenticity that has made Persona...
- 9/26/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Kody Brown and wife Janelle Brown’s explosive fight has become a cornerstone of Sister Wives season 18. However, longtime viewers believe that the polygamist patriarch may not grasp the gravity of his actions toward his third wife. After watching the series’ latest episode, they took to social media to claim Kody is “arrogant” and “clueless” after a sit down with Janelle, discussing their unstable relationship.
Kody Brown wants to move past their explosive; Janelle Brown feels otherwise
Six weeks after an explosive fight just before Christmas 2021, Kody and Janelle Brown met for a meal at a local Flagstaff restaurant. The couple kept their distance throughout the holiday season and agreed to meet to discuss the state of their relationship almost two months later.
However, fans believed Kody to be “clueless” and “arrogant” as he discussed his feelings about their fight and his relationship with Janelle. They shared their remarks on Reddit.
Kody Brown wants to move past their explosive; Janelle Brown feels otherwise
Six weeks after an explosive fight just before Christmas 2021, Kody and Janelle Brown met for a meal at a local Flagstaff restaurant. The couple kept their distance throughout the holiday season and agreed to meet to discuss the state of their relationship almost two months later.
However, fans believed Kody to be “clueless” and “arrogant” as he discussed his feelings about their fight and his relationship with Janelle. They shared their remarks on Reddit.
- 9/25/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Now, this is a couple worth obsessing over…
Todd Haynes’ tenth feature film, “May December,” reunites the director with his longtime collaborator and star Julianne Moore, who leads the film as former teacher Gracie Atherton-Yoo, who tumbled into the public eye when she wed husband Joe Yoo (played in his later years by Charles Melton) after a salacious, tabloid-gripping romance starting when he was just 13. Natalie Portman plays an actress who is tasked with portraying Gracie in an upcoming biopic about the shocking story.
Per the film’s official synopsis, “May December” is set “twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, [as] a married couple (Julianne Moore and Charles Melton) buckles under the pressure when an actress (Natalie Portman) arrives to do research for a film about their past.” When Hollywood actress Elizabeth Berry (Portman) comes to spend time with the family, which also includes Gracie and Joe’s teenaged twins,...
Todd Haynes’ tenth feature film, “May December,” reunites the director with his longtime collaborator and star Julianne Moore, who leads the film as former teacher Gracie Atherton-Yoo, who tumbled into the public eye when she wed husband Joe Yoo (played in his later years by Charles Melton) after a salacious, tabloid-gripping romance starting when he was just 13. Natalie Portman plays an actress who is tasked with portraying Gracie in an upcoming biopic about the shocking story.
Per the film’s official synopsis, “May December” is set “twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, [as] a married couple (Julianne Moore and Charles Melton) buckles under the pressure when an actress (Natalie Portman) arrives to do research for a film about their past.” When Hollywood actress Elizabeth Berry (Portman) comes to spend time with the family, which also includes Gracie and Joe’s teenaged twins,...
- 9/5/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
On January 10, 2013, The New York Times published a story by Stephen Rodrick titled “Here Is What Happens When You Cast Lindsay Lohan in Your Movie.” The article was a detailed account of what happened when director Paul Schrader, writer Bret Easton Ellis, and producer Braxton Pope teamed up to make “The Canyons,” a low-budget feature starring troubled former child star Lindsay Lohan and porn actor James Deen that was in danger of falling apart nearly every day thanks to Lohan’s erratic behavior. The piece was thorough, well-researched, and extremely entertaining. It also had nothing to do with the actual movie that emerged from the chaos.
Nevertheless, by the time “The Canyons” was released in August 2013 it was clear that the article and the gossip had created a sense that Schrader’s film couldn’t possibly be any good — how could the conditions described by Rodrick lead to anything coherent?...
Nevertheless, by the time “The Canyons” was released in August 2013 it was clear that the article and the gossip had created a sense that Schrader’s film couldn’t possibly be any good — how could the conditions described by Rodrick lead to anything coherent?...
- 8/28/2023
- by Jim Hemphill
- Indiewire
NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.
Museum of Modern Art
Films by Olivier Assayas, Jacques Rivette, Park Chan-wook, and Bong Joon-ho screen on 35mm as part of “Views from the Vault.”
IFC Center
A series on sex scenes brings Crash, Cruising, Don’t Look Now, Persona and more; Twilight and A Nightmare on Elm Street have late showings, while The Wicker Man plays in a new restoration.
Anthology Film Archives
Films by Nagisa Ōshima, including the David Bowie-led Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, are subject of a retrospective that has its final weekend.
Roxy Cinema
35mm prints of Jackass Number Two, Go, and Tokyo Drift screen, while the restoration of Raging Bull and Juliet Berto’s Neige plays.
Film at Lincoln Center
The Mother and the Whore continues in a 4K restoration.
Film Forum
A massive Billy Wilder retrospective is underway; Godard’s Contempt and Midnight Cowboy play in 4K restorations.
Museum of Modern Art
Films by Olivier Assayas, Jacques Rivette, Park Chan-wook, and Bong Joon-ho screen on 35mm as part of “Views from the Vault.”
IFC Center
A series on sex scenes brings Crash, Cruising, Don’t Look Now, Persona and more; Twilight and A Nightmare on Elm Street have late showings, while The Wicker Man plays in a new restoration.
Anthology Film Archives
Films by Nagisa Ōshima, including the David Bowie-led Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, are subject of a retrospective that has its final weekend.
Roxy Cinema
35mm prints of Jackass Number Two, Go, and Tokyo Drift screen, while the restoration of Raging Bull and Juliet Berto’s Neige plays.
Film at Lincoln Center
The Mother and the Whore continues in a 4K restoration.
Film Forum
A massive Billy Wilder retrospective is underway; Godard’s Contempt and Midnight Cowboy play in 4K restorations.
- 7/21/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Ingmar Bergman is the Oscar-winning Swedish auteur who helped bring international cinema into the American art houses with his stark, brooding dramas. But how many of his titles remain classics? Let’s take a look back at 25 of his greatest films, ranked worst to best.
Born in 1918 in Uppsala, Sweden, Bergman started off as a screenwriter before moving into directing. His early hits “Summer with Monika” (1953), “Sawdust and Tinsel” (1953) and “Smiles of a Summer Night” (1955) helped make him a favorite amongst American audiences hungry for world cinema.
He hit his stride in 1957 with a pair of noteworthy titles: “Wild Strawberries” and “The Seventh Seal.” Both films dealt with the absence of God and the inevitability of mortality — the former concerning an aging professor (Victor Sjostrom) coming to terms with his life, the latter focusing on a medieval knight (Max von Sydow) playing a game of chess with Death (Bengt Ekerot...
Born in 1918 in Uppsala, Sweden, Bergman started off as a screenwriter before moving into directing. His early hits “Summer with Monika” (1953), “Sawdust and Tinsel” (1953) and “Smiles of a Summer Night” (1955) helped make him a favorite amongst American audiences hungry for world cinema.
He hit his stride in 1957 with a pair of noteworthy titles: “Wild Strawberries” and “The Seventh Seal.” Both films dealt with the absence of God and the inevitability of mortality — the former concerning an aging professor (Victor Sjostrom) coming to terms with his life, the latter focusing on a medieval knight (Max von Sydow) playing a game of chess with Death (Bengt Ekerot...
- 7/8/2023
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
The cover of Time magazine once proclaimed Liv Ullmann “Hollywood’s new Nordic star,” a designation that never sat well with the Norwegian actress. She was a committed performer, starring in some of Ingmar Bergman’s greatest films of the Sixties and Seventies. She was an accomplished director, with a résumé that includes the Bergman-scripted 2000 gem Faithless. She became a vocal humanitarian, traveling to hardscrabble parts of the world as a Unicef ambassador. But a star? “I never became a star,” Ullmann tells Rolling Stone in a recent interview to...
- 6/24/2023
- by Chris Vognar
- Rollingstone.com
“Nine Perfect Strangers” has officially been renewed for Season 2 at Hulu.
Variety reported in May 2022 that the show was nearing a deal to return, though no castings were confirmed at that time. It is now confirmed that Nicole Kidman will return in the role of resort director Masha as well as in her capacity as executive producer.
In addition, “White Lotus” and “The Last of Us” breakout Murray Bartlett is nearing a deal to star in Season 2, according to sources. The role would deepen Bartlett’s relationship with Hulu, as he recently starred in the streamer’s limited series “Welcome to Chippendales” opposite Kumail Nanjiani.
Also joining “Nine Perfect Strangers” for its second season are Liv Ullmann, Dolly De Leon, Maisie Richardson Sellers, and Aras Aydin.
The first season was based on the book of the same name by “Big Little Lies” author Liane Moriarty. It took place at a...
Variety reported in May 2022 that the show was nearing a deal to return, though no castings were confirmed at that time. It is now confirmed that Nicole Kidman will return in the role of resort director Masha as well as in her capacity as executive producer.
In addition, “White Lotus” and “The Last of Us” breakout Murray Bartlett is nearing a deal to star in Season 2, according to sources. The role would deepen Bartlett’s relationship with Hulu, as he recently starred in the streamer’s limited series “Welcome to Chippendales” opposite Kumail Nanjiani.
Also joining “Nine Perfect Strangers” for its second season are Liv Ullmann, Dolly De Leon, Maisie Richardson Sellers, and Aras Aydin.
The first season was based on the book of the same name by “Big Little Lies” author Liane Moriarty. It took place at a...
- 6/21/2023
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
While E3 is probably never coming back, we may have found a suitable replacement in the form of Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest. However, even though we now have a new king of game announcement trailers, we still have to deal with the age-old tradition of leaks and rumors. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
With Summer Game Fest 2023 drawing closer, the internet has started kicking up a storm of speculation. Every gamer and their grandmother has posted lists of titles they want to see during the event, and more than a few have posted insider info (or what they claimed is insider info) of what audiences can expect. Given the sheer number of these posts, it’s difficult to separate what will probably show up and what is a fanciful dream, but we’re gonna try.
Persona 3 Remake
Arguably the biggest rumor revolves around...
With Summer Game Fest 2023 drawing closer, the internet has started kicking up a storm of speculation. Every gamer and their grandmother has posted lists of titles they want to see during the event, and more than a few have posted insider info (or what they claimed is insider info) of what audiences can expect. Given the sheer number of these posts, it’s difficult to separate what will probably show up and what is a fanciful dream, but we’re gonna try.
Persona 3 Remake
Arguably the biggest rumor revolves around...
- 6/6/2023
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
Liv Ullmann is opening up about her career regrets.
The “Persona” actress revealed that she second-guessed turning down Ingmar Bergman’s 1982 family saga “Fanny and Alexander” and that the auteur “never forgave” her for rejecting the script he wrote for her. Ullmann and Bergman collaborated on “Persona,” “Scenes From a Marriage,” and “Cries and Whispers,” among many other films, and also shared a daughter, Linn Ullmann. He died in 2007.
Ewa Fröling was instead cast in the “Fanny and Alexander” role Bergman wrote specifically for Ullmann.
“I told him I had already accepted another offer. He never forgave me,” Ullmann told Variety while promoting the documentary “Liv Ullmann – A Road Less Travelled.”
Ullmann was Oscar-nominated in 1977 for Bergman’s “Face to Face” and received an Honorary Academy Award in 2022.
She continued, “He kept writing me letters, addressed to ‘Dear Liv Ullmann,’ he was very dramatic. We didn’t talk for a year.
The “Persona” actress revealed that she second-guessed turning down Ingmar Bergman’s 1982 family saga “Fanny and Alexander” and that the auteur “never forgave” her for rejecting the script he wrote for her. Ullmann and Bergman collaborated on “Persona,” “Scenes From a Marriage,” and “Cries and Whispers,” among many other films, and also shared a daughter, Linn Ullmann. He died in 2007.
Ewa Fröling was instead cast in the “Fanny and Alexander” role Bergman wrote specifically for Ullmann.
“I told him I had already accepted another offer. He never forgave me,” Ullmann told Variety while promoting the documentary “Liv Ullmann – A Road Less Travelled.”
Ullmann was Oscar-nominated in 1977 for Bergman’s “Face to Face” and received an Honorary Academy Award in 2022.
She continued, “He kept writing me letters, addressed to ‘Dear Liv Ullmann,’ he was very dramatic. We didn’t talk for a year.
- 5/23/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
In Cannes, nobody talks to Liv Ullmann at parties.
“We went to this event and nobody noticed us. When I am around many people, they don’t always include me in the group. With Dheeraj, we both felt a little humiliated. But then we decided we will just tell great stories about it: ‘Catherine Deneuve was there too and she danced!,’” she laughs.
The legendary actor – “I am no legend,” she insists – has presented documentary “Liv Ullmann – A Road Less Travelled” at the French fest, directed by Dheeraj Akolkar, further cementing her status as an artist who never conformed. Even in the U.S., where she was expected to look a certain way. In the film, she states: “I didn’t wear makeup. I am Norwegian.”
“Yes, and look at me now,” howls Ullmann.
“I have my own makeup artist here! It will make me look better in photos, but that’s not real life.
“We went to this event and nobody noticed us. When I am around many people, they don’t always include me in the group. With Dheeraj, we both felt a little humiliated. But then we decided we will just tell great stories about it: ‘Catherine Deneuve was there too and she danced!,’” she laughs.
The legendary actor – “I am no legend,” she insists – has presented documentary “Liv Ullmann – A Road Less Travelled” at the French fest, directed by Dheeraj Akolkar, further cementing her status as an artist who never conformed. Even in the U.S., where she was expected to look a certain way. In the film, she states: “I didn’t wear makeup. I am Norwegian.”
“Yes, and look at me now,” howls Ullmann.
“I have my own makeup artist here! It will make me look better in photos, but that’s not real life.
- 5/23/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
In the experimental montage that opens “Persona,” a bare-chested teenage boy caresses a screen upon which the faces of two women slowly morph back and forth. It’s easy to imagine Todd Haynes being tempted to start his deep-as-you-want-to-go rabbit-hole drama “May December” the same way, seeing as how this endlessly fascinating movie focuses on the blurring of the lines between a Hollywood star (Natalie Portman) and her true-crime character (Julianne Moore), who was caught in a sexual relationship with a 7th grader at the age of 36. The movie wants to know: Can playing this Mary Kay Letourneau-like tabloid sensation really answer what makes such a woman tick?
A heady director whose entire oeuvre feels ripe for film-studies dissertations, Haynes makes movies not merely to be watched, but to be analyzed and deconstructed after the fact. From the rich Douglas Sirkian pastiche of “Far From Heaven” to the queer...
A heady director whose entire oeuvre feels ripe for film-studies dissertations, Haynes makes movies not merely to be watched, but to be analyzed and deconstructed after the fact. From the rich Douglas Sirkian pastiche of “Far From Heaven” to the queer...
- 5/20/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Editor’s note: This review was originally published at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Netflix releases the film in select theaters on Friday, November 17, with a streaming release to follow on Friday, December 1.
A heartbreakingly sincere piece of high camp that teases real human drama from the stuff of tabloid sensationalism, Todd Haynes’ delicious “May December” continues the director’s tradition of making films that rely upon the self-awareness that seems to elude their characters — especially the ones played by Julianne Moore.
Here, the actress reteams with her “Safe” director to play Gracie Atherton-Yoo, who became a household name back in 1992 when she left her ex-husband for her 13-year-old fellow pet shop employee. Now it’s 2015, the situation has normalized somewhat, and Gracie and Joe (a dad bod Charles Melton) have been together long enough that their youngest children are about to graduate high school. The occasional package full of poop...
A heartbreakingly sincere piece of high camp that teases real human drama from the stuff of tabloid sensationalism, Todd Haynes’ delicious “May December” continues the director’s tradition of making films that rely upon the self-awareness that seems to elude their characters — especially the ones played by Julianne Moore.
Here, the actress reteams with her “Safe” director to play Gracie Atherton-Yoo, who became a household name back in 1992 when she left her ex-husband for her 13-year-old fellow pet shop employee. Now it’s 2015, the situation has normalized somewhat, and Gracie and Joe (a dad bod Charles Melton) have been together long enough that their youngest children are about to graduate high school. The occasional package full of poop...
- 5/20/2023
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
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