In many ways, the role of Mary Jane, the single mother at the center of Amy Herzog’s compassionate play Mary Jane, was made for Rachel McAdams.
The actress’ most notable characters include an acid-tongued high-school student (Mean Girls), a lovesick Southern belle (The Notebook) and a tireless investigative reporter (Spotlight), but last year she delivered a quietly moving performance in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, which marked a new turn in her understated style.
In Kelly Fremon Craig’s adaptation of Judy Blume’s novel, McAdams breathed new life into Margaret’s mother Barbara, a woman estranged from her conservative family after marrying a Jewish man (Benny Safdie). The actress’ best scenes are the hushed ones, moments in which her character, enveloped by the quiet of an empty house, releases the tension in her shoulders and indulges in her anxieties and uncertainties. Not only must Barbara...
The actress’ most notable characters include an acid-tongued high-school student (Mean Girls), a lovesick Southern belle (The Notebook) and a tireless investigative reporter (Spotlight), but last year she delivered a quietly moving performance in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, which marked a new turn in her understated style.
In Kelly Fremon Craig’s adaptation of Judy Blume’s novel, McAdams breathed new life into Margaret’s mother Barbara, a woman estranged from her conservative family after marrying a Jewish man (Benny Safdie). The actress’ best scenes are the hushed ones, moments in which her character, enveloped by the quiet of an empty house, releases the tension in her shoulders and indulges in her anxieties and uncertainties. Not only must Barbara...
- 4/24/2024
- by Lovia Gyarkye
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
On November 3, 2023, Hulu released “Quiz Lady” starring Awkwafina and Sandra Oh as sisters who band together to eliminate their mother’s gambling debts and raise money to pay the ransom for a kidnapped dog. In order to do so, Anne’s (Awkwafina) uncanny skills at gameshows must come into play. The ensemble cast includes Jason Schwartzman, Tony Hale, Will Ferrell and Holland Taylor.
Critics have had positive things to say about the comedy directed by Jessica Yu and written by Jen D’Angelo. It is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 81%. The critics consensus reads, “‘Quiz Lady’s’ perfectly matched leads help Jessica Yu’s occasionally uneven comedy overcome its periodic wobbles and land on the right side of hilarious and heartfelt.” Read our full review round-up below.
See ‘Black Cake’ reviews: Mia Isaac is ‘incredible’ in Hulu’s ‘beautiful and gutting’ new mystery drama
Marya E. Gates of RogerEbert.
Critics have had positive things to say about the comedy directed by Jessica Yu and written by Jen D’Angelo. It is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 81%. The critics consensus reads, “‘Quiz Lady’s’ perfectly matched leads help Jessica Yu’s occasionally uneven comedy overcome its periodic wobbles and land on the right side of hilarious and heartfelt.” Read our full review round-up below.
See ‘Black Cake’ reviews: Mia Isaac is ‘incredible’ in Hulu’s ‘beautiful and gutting’ new mystery drama
Marya E. Gates of RogerEbert.
- 11/6/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
Routine keeps Anne, the protagonist of Jessica Yu’s endearing comedy Quiz Lady (played by Awkwafina), safe. The 30-something lives alone in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her pug, Mr. Linguini, and rarely goes off script. She spends most of her waking hours crunching numbers as an accountant. She sets two alarms: One tells her to stand up occasionally in the office so she won’t get blood clots and die; the other reminds her to tune in to her favorite program, Can’t Stop the Quiz.
The game show and its Alex Trebek-style host Terry McTeer (a scene-stealing Will Ferrell) have been the most consistent parts of Anne’s life. In a zippy intro, major moments of the quiet woman’s existence — her parents getting divorced, her sister leaving home — unfold as she sits watching episodes of the show. When parked in front of the television, Anne loses...
The game show and its Alex Trebek-style host Terry McTeer (a scene-stealing Will Ferrell) have been the most consistent parts of Anne’s life. In a zippy intro, major moments of the quiet woman’s existence — her parents getting divorced, her sister leaving home — unfold as she sits watching episodes of the show. When parked in front of the television, Anne loses...
- 9/12/2023
- by Lovia Gyarkye
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Oscar Isaac and Rachel Brosnahan are heading to Broadway later this month in Lorraine Hansberry’s The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, producers announced today.
The production, which opened a sold-out run Off Broadway at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in February, is now set to be the final production of the 2022-23 Broadway season. Opening night for the limited, 80-performance run is Thursday, April 27, at the James Earl Jones Theatre.
Directed by Anne Kauffman, the revival will mark the first time the Hansberry play has been produced on Broadway in more than 50 years, and the first Bam-produced production to transfer to Broadway since The Gospel at Colonus 35 years ago.
Producing on Broadway will be Seaview, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, with Jeremy O. Harris and Bam.
The follow-up to Hansberry’s landmark 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window debuted on Broadway...
The production, which opened a sold-out run Off Broadway at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in February, is now set to be the final production of the 2022-23 Broadway season. Opening night for the limited, 80-performance run is Thursday, April 27, at the James Earl Jones Theatre.
Directed by Anne Kauffman, the revival will mark the first time the Hansberry play has been produced on Broadway in more than 50 years, and the first Bam-produced production to transfer to Broadway since The Gospel at Colonus 35 years ago.
Producing on Broadway will be Seaview, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, with Jeremy O. Harris and Bam.
The follow-up to Hansberry’s landmark 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window debuted on Broadway...
- 4/4/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The nominations for the Costume Designers Guild Awards will be released on Wednesday, recognizing the achievements of the artisans that created some of the most memorable outfits and clothing designs of the year. Following the 10-month eligibility window, the community of over 1,200 members separates the film categories into three groups — contemporary, period and sci-fi/fantasy.
The distinctions between contemporary and period tend to get blurred, especially with modern subjects like Princess Diana in “Spencer” and Venus and Serena Williams in “King Richard” among the selections. However, per the CDG rules, “any entry with at least 51% of all costumes existing in a historical era greater than 25 years [on or before December 31, 1995] from the current entry year will be considered a period entry.”
That puts Jacqueline Durran (“Spencer”) and Sharen Davis (“King Richard”) into the period film field, where it’s indisputably the most competitive. Three of the five nominees from CDG typically translate to an...
The distinctions between contemporary and period tend to get blurred, especially with modern subjects like Princess Diana in “Spencer” and Venus and Serena Williams in “King Richard” among the selections. However, per the CDG rules, “any entry with at least 51% of all costumes existing in a historical era greater than 25 years [on or before December 31, 1995] from the current entry year will be considered a period entry.”
That puts Jacqueline Durran (“Spencer”) and Sharen Davis (“King Richard”) into the period film field, where it’s indisputably the most competitive. Three of the five nominees from CDG typically translate to an...
- 1/25/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
“This is America,” says costume designer Brenda Abbandandolo of her most recent project Coda, Child of Deaf Adults, which will premiere at Sundance on Jan 28. The film features a largely deaf cast and tells the story of Ruby, the only hearing member of her family, torn between her dream and her family’s business. “This is an American family; they’re no different than any other.”
Abbandandolo first worked with Coda writer and director, Sian Heder, on Heder’s debut, Tallulah, in 2015 and has continued to collaborate with the helmer since.
“I love Sian so it wasn’t a difficult decision to think I ...
Abbandandolo first worked with Coda writer and director, Sian Heder, on Heder’s debut, Tallulah, in 2015 and has continued to collaborate with the helmer since.
“I love Sian so it wasn’t a difficult decision to think I ...
- 1/28/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“This is America,” says costume designer Brenda Abbandandolo of her most recent project Coda, Child of Deaf Adults, which will premiere at Sundance on Jan 28. The film features a largely deaf cast and tells the story of Ruby, the only hearing member of her family, torn between her dream and her family’s business. “This is an American family; they’re no different than any other.”
Abbandandolo first worked with Coda writer and director, Sian Heder, on Heder’s debut, Tallulah, in 2015 and has continued to collaborate with the helmer since.
“I love Sian so it wasn’t a difficult decision to think I ...
Abbandandolo first worked with Coda writer and director, Sian Heder, on Heder’s debut, Tallulah, in 2015 and has continued to collaborate with the helmer since.
“I love Sian so it wasn’t a difficult decision to think I ...
- 1/28/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
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