Everyone loves the Muppets. That is simply a truism in life, for anyone with a working pulse and a healthy joy gland. And so therefore everyone loves Jim Henson, the godlike creator/inventor/father figure of the whole Muppet project, whose creations — the colourful ensemble of goofy, absurdist, felt-based marionette-puppets — have become a beloved staple of film and television for seven decades.
This is a lovely feature-length documentary portrait of the Muppet man, as gentle and warm-hearted as the legend himself, if not exactly challenging or overly probing. It comes from director Ron Howard, these days as much a documentarian as anything else (in the last decade he has made roughly as many nonfictional films as he has fiction). Howard gives the piece some sparky, peppy visuals, via animated flourishes — Henson’s personal sketch book comes to life at one point — and a visual backdrop for its talking heads nodding to The Cube,...
This is a lovely feature-length documentary portrait of the Muppet man, as gentle and warm-hearted as the legend himself, if not exactly challenging or overly probing. It comes from director Ron Howard, these days as much a documentarian as anything else (in the last decade he has made roughly as many nonfictional films as he has fiction). Howard gives the piece some sparky, peppy visuals, via animated flourishes — Henson’s personal sketch book comes to life at one point — and a visual backdrop for its talking heads nodding to The Cube,...
- 5/31/2024
- by John Nugent
- Empire - Movies
The Trumps were on the red carpet this evening at the Cannes Film Festival — sort of — as Ali Abbasi’s The Apprentice world premiered in competition. The film was greeted with an 11-minute post-screening ovation at the Grand Theatre Lumiere.
Sebastian Stan, the Emmy and Golden Globe nominee known for his work in the MCU and the Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy, here plays a young Donald Trump with Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova (Borat 2) as Trump’s first wife, Ivana. Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jeremy Strong also stars as infamous attorney Roy Cohn, and Martin Donovan is playing Fred Trump.
Stan and Bakalova attended the red-carpet premiere. Strong was not in attendance as we understand he stayed in New York where he is starring on Broadway in An Enemy of the People.
Abbasi in remarks after the film said he wanted to embrace the politics of now in cinema with so much unrest in the world.
“In the time of turmoil, there’s this tendency to look inwards, to bury your head deep in the sand … and hope for the best, hope for the storm to get away,” he said. “But you know, the storm is not going away, the storm is coming, actually. The worst times are to come.”
The storm is coming, it’s time to make movies political again says director of ‘The Apprentice’ Ali Abbasi #Cannes pic.twitter.com/mEUVdXV8Dp
— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline) May 20, 2024
There was lots of hugs going around among Abbasi, Stan and Bakalova as the lights went up on the two-hour film. Cate Blanchett, Cynthia Erivo and Oliver Stone were among the crowd applauding afterward. Stone, who has made his share of political films, even offered a spot review.
Oliver Stone and @BazBam catch up after ‘The Apprentice’ premiere to discuss the film: “It’s like ‘Citizen Kane’ in that regard” #Cannes2024 pic.twitter.com/oCjYHmJnED
— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline) May 20, 2024
An exploration of power and ambition, and set in a world of corruption and deceit, The Apprentice examines Trump’s efforts to build his real estate business in New York in the 1970s and 80s, also digging into his relationship with Cohn. It’s a mentor-protégé story that charts the origins of a major American dynasty. Filled with larger than life characters, it reveals the moral and human cost of a culture defined by winners and losers.
The real-life former Potus is currently standing trial in a criminal hush-money case in New York.
Gabriel Sherman, whose bestseller The Loudest Voice in the Room inspired Showtime’s miniseries The Loudest Voice, starring Russell Crowe as Fox News founder Roger Ailes, wrote The Apprentice script.
The Apprentice producers are Daniel Bekerman of Scythia Films, Jacob Jarek of Profile Pictures and Ruth Treacy of Taylored Films. Executive producers are Grant S. Johnson, Sherman and Amy Baer, in association with Kinematics as the financier.
International sales are being handled by Rocket Science with CAA and WME on domestic sales in Cannes. Studiocanal recently acquired UK-Ireland rights.
Sebastian Stan, the Emmy and Golden Globe nominee known for his work in the MCU and the Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy, here plays a young Donald Trump with Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova (Borat 2) as Trump’s first wife, Ivana. Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jeremy Strong also stars as infamous attorney Roy Cohn, and Martin Donovan is playing Fred Trump.
Stan and Bakalova attended the red-carpet premiere. Strong was not in attendance as we understand he stayed in New York where he is starring on Broadway in An Enemy of the People.
Abbasi in remarks after the film said he wanted to embrace the politics of now in cinema with so much unrest in the world.
“In the time of turmoil, there’s this tendency to look inwards, to bury your head deep in the sand … and hope for the best, hope for the storm to get away,” he said. “But you know, the storm is not going away, the storm is coming, actually. The worst times are to come.”
The storm is coming, it’s time to make movies political again says director of ‘The Apprentice’ Ali Abbasi #Cannes pic.twitter.com/mEUVdXV8Dp
— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline) May 20, 2024
There was lots of hugs going around among Abbasi, Stan and Bakalova as the lights went up on the two-hour film. Cate Blanchett, Cynthia Erivo and Oliver Stone were among the crowd applauding afterward. Stone, who has made his share of political films, even offered a spot review.
Oliver Stone and @BazBam catch up after ‘The Apprentice’ premiere to discuss the film: “It’s like ‘Citizen Kane’ in that regard” #Cannes2024 pic.twitter.com/oCjYHmJnED
— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline) May 20, 2024
An exploration of power and ambition, and set in a world of corruption and deceit, The Apprentice examines Trump’s efforts to build his real estate business in New York in the 1970s and 80s, also digging into his relationship with Cohn. It’s a mentor-protégé story that charts the origins of a major American dynasty. Filled with larger than life characters, it reveals the moral and human cost of a culture defined by winners and losers.
The real-life former Potus is currently standing trial in a criminal hush-money case in New York.
Gabriel Sherman, whose bestseller The Loudest Voice in the Room inspired Showtime’s miniseries The Loudest Voice, starring Russell Crowe as Fox News founder Roger Ailes, wrote The Apprentice script.
The Apprentice producers are Daniel Bekerman of Scythia Films, Jacob Jarek of Profile Pictures and Ruth Treacy of Taylored Films. Executive producers are Grant S. Johnson, Sherman and Amy Baer, in association with Kinematics as the financier.
International sales are being handled by Rocket Science with CAA and WME on domestic sales in Cannes. Studiocanal recently acquired UK-Ireland rights.
- 5/20/2024
- by Nancy Tartaglione and Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Terry Gilliam has been to Cannes with three of his own films since 1983, but one of his favorite memories of the festival takes him back to that very first time, at the 36th edition, as the co-writer and co-star of Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life. Along with Graham Chapman and the film’s director Terry Jones, he’d emerged from the Carlton hotel’s iconic entrance, then bedecked with promotion for the upcoming Bond movie Octopussy, to encounter a camera crew. Jones started grabbing people at random, shouting, “Who Ees Monty Python???” in a ridiculous foreign accent, and got so carried away that, when they reached the hotel’s famous terrace, he accidentally did it to Gilliam too.
The crowd loved it, and the day only grew stranger. Out on the Carlton’s jetty, they gave an interview to British news channel ITN, with Jones hiding behind Graham...
The crowd loved it, and the day only grew stranger. Out on the Carlton’s jetty, they gave an interview to British news channel ITN, with Jones hiding behind Graham...
- 5/20/2024
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
Ireland’s screen industry is having a moment. With the Cannes Film Festival well underway, there’s a notable strong Irish presence in this year’s line-up including Element Pictures’ three entrants – Competition title Kinds of Kindness from Yorgos Lanthimos, Rungano Nyoni’s sophomore feature On Becoming A Guinea Fowl and Ariane Labed’s directorial debut September Says (both in Un Certain Regard). There’s also Competition title The Apprentice, which is co-produced with Irish outfit Tailored Films and Lorcan Finnegan’s Nicolas Cage starrer The Surfer premiering in the Midnight Screenings strand. Even Andrea Arnold’s Competition title Bird is rich with Irish talent with star Barry Keoghan and Oscar-nominated cinematographer Robbie Ryan both having worked on the film.
Irish actors continue to earn international acclaim – from Cillian Murphy’s Oscar win earlier this year for Best Actor in Oppenheimer and talent such as Paul Mescal, Jessie Buckley Keoghan...
Irish actors continue to earn international acclaim – from Cillian Murphy’s Oscar win earlier this year for Best Actor in Oppenheimer and talent such as Paul Mescal, Jessie Buckley Keoghan...
- 5/17/2024
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Fight Club, Zodiac, The Social Network, Gone Girl. There's hardly anyone who hasn't seen, let alone heard, all of these movies and the name of the man behind them, David Fincher. From Alien 3 to The Killer with Michael Fassbender, from House of Cards to Love, Death & Robots, Fincher's career is now in its fourth decade and his films have collectively grossed over $2.1 billion. But of course, no matter how original his work, even a director as innovative as Fincher is inspired by the achievements of filmmakers who came before him. Here is a list of 26 films that David Fincher has cited as his favorites.
26 Must-See Movies David Fincher Loves
26. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
25. Chinatown
24. Dr. Strangelove
23. The Godfather Part II
22. Taxi Driver
21. Being There
20. Alien
19. Rear Window
18. Jaws
17. Lawrence of Arabia
16. Zelig
15. Cabaret
14. All That Jazz
13. Paper Moon
12. All the President's Men
11. Citizen Kane
10. 8½
9. The Graduate...
26 Must-See Movies David Fincher Loves
26. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
25. Chinatown
24. Dr. Strangelove
23. The Godfather Part II
22. Taxi Driver
21. Being There
20. Alien
19. Rear Window
18. Jaws
17. Lawrence of Arabia
16. Zelig
15. Cabaret
14. All That Jazz
13. Paper Moon
12. All the President's Men
11. Citizen Kane
10. 8½
9. The Graduate...
- 5/16/2024
- by louise.everitt@startefacts.com (Louise Everitt)
- STartefacts.com
At 22, Damian Hurley has made his first feature film, in which his very famous mum is snogged and fondled by her female co-star. He talks about being a nepo baby, finally getting to vote, and coping with the deaths of his father and stepfather
Orson Welles was 25 when he directed Citizen Kane. What took him so long? He should have pulled his finger out like Damian Hurley, son of the model and actor Elizabeth Hurley, who was just 20 when he called “Action!” on his own debut, Strictly Confidential. It was filmed on Saint Kitts and Nevis, and could double as a tourist-board commercial for those Caribbean islands were it not for the murder and skulduggery, or lines such as: “You’ve been fucking your dead sister’s boyfriend!”
In his journey to the director’s chair, Hurley, who has a lucrative modelling career, has faced few obstacles. He was given...
Orson Welles was 25 when he directed Citizen Kane. What took him so long? He should have pulled his finger out like Damian Hurley, son of the model and actor Elizabeth Hurley, who was just 20 when he called “Action!” on his own debut, Strictly Confidential. It was filmed on Saint Kitts and Nevis, and could double as a tourist-board commercial for those Caribbean islands were it not for the murder and skulduggery, or lines such as: “You’ve been fucking your dead sister’s boyfriend!”
In his journey to the director’s chair, Hurley, who has a lucrative modelling career, has faced few obstacles. He was given...
- 5/10/2024
- by Ryan Gilbey
- The Guardian - Film News
The studio once known as 20th Century Fox is a younger entity than the other major Hollywood Studios. It was founded in 1935 out of the ashes of Fox Film, compared to Warner Bros (1923), Universal Pictures (1912), Paramount Pictures (1912), Columbia Pictures (1923), and Disney (1923) — the latter being the new parent company of 20th Century Studios.
Still, Fox waited only seven years to take home the top prize at the Oscars. At the 14th Academy Awards, held in 1942, Fox's film "How Green Was My Valley" won Best Picture, presented to Fox studio chief Darryl F. Zanuck. That wasn't the only prize "Valley" won that night: it also got Best Director (John Ford), Best Supporting Actor (Donald Crisp), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White (Arthur Miller), and finally Best Art Direction -- Interior Decoration, Black-and-White.
One of the films that "Valley" beat that night was "Citizen Kane" (which got only Best Original Screenplay for director Orson Welles and his co-writer Herman J.
Still, Fox waited only seven years to take home the top prize at the Oscars. At the 14th Academy Awards, held in 1942, Fox's film "How Green Was My Valley" won Best Picture, presented to Fox studio chief Darryl F. Zanuck. That wasn't the only prize "Valley" won that night: it also got Best Director (John Ford), Best Supporting Actor (Donald Crisp), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White (Arthur Miller), and finally Best Art Direction -- Interior Decoration, Black-and-White.
One of the films that "Valley" beat that night was "Citizen Kane" (which got only Best Original Screenplay for director Orson Welles and his co-writer Herman J.
- 5/7/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
More essays have been written about "Citizen Kane" than any other movie (with the possible exceptions of "The Wizard of Oz" and "Star Wars"), so it feels churlish to recount the plot here, but for the uninitiated, however, here's a brief rundown:
A vicious newspaper tycoon named Charles Foster Kane (Welles) has died in bed, locked deep in his massive, palatial mansion. He clutched a snow globe in his hand in his final moments, moved by the sight of the swirling faux weather inside. He enigmatically whispers the word "Rosebud" before perishing. The film then shifts focus to a reporter (William Alland) who spends the film interviewing Kane's associates, wives, and lovers, hoping to get a full portrait of the man. He finds that Kane was a cad ruined by wealth and power. He finds that Kane was possessed of a deep and abiding unhappiness, likely spurred by having to...
A vicious newspaper tycoon named Charles Foster Kane (Welles) has died in bed, locked deep in his massive, palatial mansion. He clutched a snow globe in his hand in his final moments, moved by the sight of the swirling faux weather inside. He enigmatically whispers the word "Rosebud" before perishing. The film then shifts focus to a reporter (William Alland) who spends the film interviewing Kane's associates, wives, and lovers, hoping to get a full portrait of the man. He finds that Kane was a cad ruined by wealth and power. He finds that Kane was possessed of a deep and abiding unhappiness, likely spurred by having to...
- 5/5/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
After making what many people cite as the greatest film ever made, “Citizen Kane” (1941), multi-talented actor, writer, director and producer Orson Welles struggled to live up to the success he achieved when he was just 26 years old. Yet seen today, many of the films he made afterwards have attained a similar acclaim. Let’s take a look back at all 13 of his completed feature films as a director, ranked worst to best.
Born in 1915, Welles first came to prominence as a stage director, mounting groundbreaking productions of “Macbeth,” “Dr. Faustus,” and “The Cradle Will Rock” before forming his own repertory company, The Mercury Theater. In addition to Welles, the Mercury Theater Players included Joseph Cotten, Ray Collins, Agnes Moorhead, Everett Sloane, George Coulouris, Norman Lloyd, Martin Gabel and Paul Stewart, many of whom would go onto appear in the director’s films.
It was the Mercury Theater’s transition into...
Born in 1915, Welles first came to prominence as a stage director, mounting groundbreaking productions of “Macbeth,” “Dr. Faustus,” and “The Cradle Will Rock” before forming his own repertory company, The Mercury Theater. In addition to Welles, the Mercury Theater Players included Joseph Cotten, Ray Collins, Agnes Moorhead, Everett Sloane, George Coulouris, Norman Lloyd, Martin Gabel and Paul Stewart, many of whom would go onto appear in the director’s films.
It was the Mercury Theater’s transition into...
- 5/4/2024
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
With things being so slow at the box office in the early going of 2024, you would half expect to hear people reporting sightings of tumbleweeds rolling across the floors of their local movie theaters. Praise to the cinema gods, May is finally arriving with a promising crop of tentpoles to help rejuvenate the marketplace, starting with director David Leitch's much-buzzed-about '80s series turned contemporary action-comedy "The Fall Guy" (you can read our own Jacob Hall's glowing review of the picture here). But never fear! If you're searching for something to watch at home, too, Netflix will provide in bountiful amounts.
Well, sort of.
Truth be told, next month is looking kind of sparse when it comes to Netflix exclusives outside the purview of shows with firmly established fandoms (see: the latest season of "Bridgerton") or the service's usual smattering of specialty offerings, including live comedy events and ongoing anime series.
Well, sort of.
Truth be told, next month is looking kind of sparse when it comes to Netflix exclusives outside the purview of shows with firmly established fandoms (see: the latest season of "Bridgerton") or the service's usual smattering of specialty offerings, including live comedy events and ongoing anime series.
- 4/27/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
George Lucas Nearly Cast a Different Actor as Darth Vader Changing the Flow of the Franchise Forever
Darth Vader is undeniably one of the most iconic fictional characters, known for his menacing black suit and distinctive voice. Many other works of fiction and art make reference to the character, making it a familiar presence.
But, did you know that the role of Vader nearly went to a different actor? One who, at the time, might have been even more preferred than James Earl Jones given the circumstances?
During the late 1970s, while filming ‘A New Hope’ in London, David Prowse, who portrayed Darth Vader physically, delivered all of Vader’s lines from behind the mask. However, the mask muffled his speech, necessitating dubbing in post-production. Prowse initially expected to dub his own lines, but logistical issues and concerns about his accent prompted George Lucas to seek another voice. Lucas sought a deep, distinguished voice befitting the enigmatic Darth Vader. Ultimately, James Earl Jones, then a relatively unknown actor,...
But, did you know that the role of Vader nearly went to a different actor? One who, at the time, might have been even more preferred than James Earl Jones given the circumstances?
During the late 1970s, while filming ‘A New Hope’ in London, David Prowse, who portrayed Darth Vader physically, delivered all of Vader’s lines from behind the mask. However, the mask muffled his speech, necessitating dubbing in post-production. Prowse initially expected to dub his own lines, but logistical issues and concerns about his accent prompted George Lucas to seek another voice. Lucas sought a deep, distinguished voice befitting the enigmatic Darth Vader. Ultimately, James Earl Jones, then a relatively unknown actor,...
- 4/25/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
Darth Vader is without a doubt one of the most iconic fictional characters, recognized by his ominous black suit and his voice. Plenty of other works of fiction and art reference the character, and it’s one of those references we can always easily spot.
But, did you know that the iconic role almost went to a completely different actor? The one that at the time would be perhaps even favored above James Earl Jones under the circumstances?
While filming ‘A New Hope’ in London during the late 1970s, David Prowse, the actor behind Darth Vader’s physical performance, spoke all of Vader’s lines from behind the mask. However, due to the mask muffling his speech, his lines had to be dubbed over in post-production. Prowse assumed he would do the dubbing himself, but logistical and accent concerns led George Lucas to search for another voice. Lucas sought a deep,...
But, did you know that the iconic role almost went to a completely different actor? The one that at the time would be perhaps even favored above James Earl Jones under the circumstances?
While filming ‘A New Hope’ in London during the late 1970s, David Prowse, the actor behind Darth Vader’s physical performance, spoke all of Vader’s lines from behind the mask. However, due to the mask muffling his speech, his lines had to be dubbed over in post-production. Prowse assumed he would do the dubbing himself, but logistical and accent concerns led George Lucas to search for another voice. Lucas sought a deep,...
- 4/25/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
There are not many movies that earn the status of all-time golden gems. It's the movies like The Godfather, Citizen Kane, Jaws and a few others that you've definitely seen not once, but many times over the years.
It seems that every genre has its own staple films that are considered the best to this day. And it's no wonder that when it comes to horror, it's Stephen King and the movies based on his novels that we celebrate the most.
One of such is definitely 1980 The Shining, Stanley Kubrick‘s movie featuring Jack Nicholson as a recovering alcoholic who loses his mind. The movie is one of the most valued in the industry, both for the gripping story it tells and for the excellent performance from all the cast members.
The movie revolves around Nicholson’s character, Jack Torrance, and his family, as they end up together in a...
It seems that every genre has its own staple films that are considered the best to this day. And it's no wonder that when it comes to horror, it's Stephen King and the movies based on his novels that we celebrate the most.
One of such is definitely 1980 The Shining, Stanley Kubrick‘s movie featuring Jack Nicholson as a recovering alcoholic who loses his mind. The movie is one of the most valued in the industry, both for the gripping story it tells and for the excellent performance from all the cast members.
The movie revolves around Nicholson’s character, Jack Torrance, and his family, as they end up together in a...
- 4/21/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Rachel Bailey)
- STartefacts.com
Being one of the most important figures of New Hollywood and the most commercially successful director in history, Steven Spielberg has prominently inscribed his name in history. Movie recommendations of the pioneer of the modern blockbuster or even the whole 21st century’s cinema definitely deserve our close attention.
Speaking of one classic feature, the filmmaker stated it meant everything to him, calling it “one of the great movies ever made”, while many critics claim it’s the best film ever made in cinematic history. Indeed, its impact on the industry is hard to overestimate.
The 1941 drama that we’re talking about focuses on the rises and falls of a big publishing magnate, the character based on the renowned media barons and tycoons of that time and partially of the movie screenwriters' own real-life experiences. And yes, you guessed it right: the movie in question is Citizen Kane.
Why Does...
Speaking of one classic feature, the filmmaker stated it meant everything to him, calling it “one of the great movies ever made”, while many critics claim it’s the best film ever made in cinematic history. Indeed, its impact on the industry is hard to overestimate.
The 1941 drama that we’re talking about focuses on the rises and falls of a big publishing magnate, the character based on the renowned media barons and tycoons of that time and partially of the movie screenwriters' own real-life experiences. And yes, you guessed it right: the movie in question is Citizen Kane.
Why Does...
- 4/19/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Ava Raxa)
- STartefacts.com
“Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver” has been dead since last December, when the irredeemable first chapter of Zack Snyder’s hyper-derivative space opera was released “in theaters” and on Netflix to deafening silence. As I concluded my review at the time: “It’s hard to be even morbidly curious, let alone excited, about any future iterations or installments of a franchise so determined to remix a million things you’ve seen before into one thing you’ll wish you’d never seen at all.”
And so, much as I might have hoped that the second and more concentrated half of Snyder’s sci-fi “Seven Samurai” would somehow atone for the sins of its previous chapter, I wasn’t exactly shocked to discover that it lacks any trace of a pulse from the moment it starts. Five months in the morgue can have that effect. Be that as it may,...
And so, much as I might have hoped that the second and more concentrated half of Snyder’s sci-fi “Seven Samurai” would somehow atone for the sins of its previous chapter, I wasn’t exactly shocked to discover that it lacks any trace of a pulse from the moment it starts. Five months in the morgue can have that effect. Be that as it may,...
- 4/19/2024
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Clockwise left to right: Get Out (Universal Pictures), This Is Spinal Tap (MGM Home Entertainment), That Thing You Do! (20th Century Studios), Lady Bird (A24)Graphic: The A.V. Club
It’s always neat when someone you’ve admired shows off a hidden talent that makes you see them in a different light.
It’s always neat when someone you’ve admired shows off a hidden talent that makes you see them in a different light.
- 4/12/2024
- by Mary Kate Carr, Saloni Gajjar, Drew Gillis, William Hughes, Matthew Jackson, Jarrod Jones, Emma Keates, Jacob Oller, Matt Schimkowitz, and Cindy White
- avclub.com
The 1989 summer movie season might've officially kicked off on Memorial Day weekend with the release of Steven Spielberg's "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," but having been a movie-mad 15-year-old kid at the time, I can assure you that May's first adrenalized action spectacular opened a week earlier when Patrick Swayze introduced us to a man named Dalton in the instant s***-kicker classic "Road House." Critics initially wrote it off as a mindless meathead programmer from mayhem merchant Joel Silver, but the aptly-monikered director Rowdy Herrington and the screenwriting duo of David Lee Henry and Hilary Henkin understood their ludicrous assignment and aced it with knowing aplomb. Their unabashed commitment to inherently risible material turned "Road House" into the "Citizen Kane" of bar bouncer movies.
Of course, "Road House" was, for a long time, the only bar bouncer movie ever made. Surprisingly, given the film's enduring popularity, few...
Of course, "Road House" was, for a long time, the only bar bouncer movie ever made. Surprisingly, given the film's enduring popularity, few...
- 4/1/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Exclusive: The Paris Theater is partnering with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles to present a selection from the museum’s weekly series, Branch Selects, where movie lovers can journey through film history. Each of the 18 branches of the Academy, selects a film that represents a major achievement in the evolution of moviemaking and its unique disciplines.
The screening series will kick off on Wednesday, April 3, with screenings taking place select Wednesday evenings at 7pm and select Sunday matinees at 12pm – a full schedule is below, with special guest introductions to be announced.
Tickets will be available to the public at www.paristheaternyc.com and Academy members can request tickets at membership.oscars.org beginning at 11am Pt / 2pm Et on Thursday, March 28
The Netflix owed Paris Theater is New York City’s longest-running arthouse cinema and the last remaining single-screen cinema in Manhattan. The theater reopened on September 1, after technical upgrades,...
The screening series will kick off on Wednesday, April 3, with screenings taking place select Wednesday evenings at 7pm and select Sunday matinees at 12pm – a full schedule is below, with special guest introductions to be announced.
Tickets will be available to the public at www.paristheaternyc.com and Academy members can request tickets at membership.oscars.org beginning at 11am Pt / 2pm Et on Thursday, March 28
The Netflix owed Paris Theater is New York City’s longest-running arthouse cinema and the last remaining single-screen cinema in Manhattan. The theater reopened on September 1, after technical upgrades,...
- 3/28/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
The highest grossing director of all time, Steven Spielberg enjoys high-brow classics as much as crowd-pleasing blockbusters. Known for “Jurassic Park,” “Indiana Jones,” “Jaws,” “West Side Story” (2021), and more favorites, the beloved American filmmaker premiered his semi-autobiographical “The Fabelmans” in theaters last November.
The movie, nominated for seven Oscars (winning none), tells the story of how Spielberg came to be Spielberg — chiefly through the lens of his parents’ traumatic divorce. Boasting a cast that includes not just Michelle Williams and Paul Dano as Spielberg’s mom and dad, but also David Lynch in a rare acting opportunity, “The Fabelmans” was described by IndieWire’s David Ehrlich as an epic rendering of “the breakup that launched a million blockbusters.”
Following the contemplative mood of two-ish years in Covid-19 lockdown, the 2022 fall film season was chockfull of projects meditating on the role — and, in the case of “TÁR,” responsibility — of artists. How...
The movie, nominated for seven Oscars (winning none), tells the story of how Spielberg came to be Spielberg — chiefly through the lens of his parents’ traumatic divorce. Boasting a cast that includes not just Michelle Williams and Paul Dano as Spielberg’s mom and dad, but also David Lynch in a rare acting opportunity, “The Fabelmans” was described by IndieWire’s David Ehrlich as an epic rendering of “the breakup that launched a million blockbusters.”
Following the contemplative mood of two-ish years in Covid-19 lockdown, the 2022 fall film season was chockfull of projects meditating on the role — and, in the case of “TÁR,” responsibility — of artists. How...
- 3/27/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
A special piece of cinema history has been unveiled. Seven years before Orson Welles would embark on the production of his legendary directorial debut Citizen Kane, he shot one of his earliest short films, capturing his production of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. The year was 1933 and Welles, only 17 years old, returned to his alma mater, the Todd Seminary for Boys, an independent school in Woodstock, Illinois. Under the tutelage of headmaster and mentor Roger Hill, who encouraged Welles to freely experiment with theatrical and radio productions, he mounted the project.
Now, nearly a century later, around 10 minutes of surviving color footage with sound has been digitized, graciously released by Wellesnet, who acquired it from Roger Hill’s granddaughter Wendy Hill and her cousin Todd Tarbox, who holds the copyright. “My father, Hascy, was cast as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and my mother, Joanne, played Viola,” Tarbox told Wellesnet. “This production...
Now, nearly a century later, around 10 minutes of surviving color footage with sound has been digitized, graciously released by Wellesnet, who acquired it from Roger Hill’s granddaughter Wendy Hill and her cousin Todd Tarbox, who holds the copyright. “My father, Hascy, was cast as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and my mother, Joanne, played Viola,” Tarbox told Wellesnet. “This production...
- 3/27/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
In collaboration with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the Paris Theater has announced it will be presenting the New York “Academy Museum Branch Select” screening series starting April 3. Each of the 18 branches of the Academy has selected a film for the series that represents a major milestone in the evolution of filmmaking. Some of the films included are “Fantastic Mr.Fox,” “Showgirls,” “Bonnie and Clyde,” “Nashville,” “Yi Yi,” “In the Mood for Love” and “Citizen Kane.”
Screenings will take place on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 12 p.m. at both the Paris Theater and the Academy Museum. Tickets will be available March 28 on the Paris Theater and Academy Museum websites respectively.
Cord Jefferson to Receive Wgaw’s Paul Selvin Award
Cord Jefferson will receive the Writers Guild of America West’s 2024 Paul Selvin Award for penning the screenplay for “American Fiction.” He will receive the honor at the 2024 Writers Guild Awards on Sunday,...
Screenings will take place on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 12 p.m. at both the Paris Theater and the Academy Museum. Tickets will be available March 28 on the Paris Theater and Academy Museum websites respectively.
Cord Jefferson to Receive Wgaw’s Paul Selvin Award
Cord Jefferson will receive the Writers Guild of America West’s 2024 Paul Selvin Award for penning the screenplay for “American Fiction.” He will receive the honor at the 2024 Writers Guild Awards on Sunday,...
- 3/26/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay, Jaden Thompson and Jack Dunn
- Variety Film + TV
Sunday saw the 96th Annual Oscars ceremony broadcast live across the world, and for UK audiences it saw the show broadcast on ITV. There is lots to be said about this year’s Oscars, from winners and losers, to poor broadcasting panels – it is safe to say the award season gave us everything we’re used to.
For the UK the show has found a new home. Previously playing exclusively on Sky, this year it was broadcast by ITV. When the news of this broke it was a welcome change to many viewers across the UK, as for years the exclusivity of Sky has left the award show inaccessible for many film fans. Now, the new home for the awards show has some things it needs to get right, ultimately to provide insight and entertainment, throughout the breaks in between the Oscars broadcast. Unfortunately, many viewers were left unsatisfied and...
For the UK the show has found a new home. Previously playing exclusively on Sky, this year it was broadcast by ITV. When the news of this broke it was a welcome change to many viewers across the UK, as for years the exclusivity of Sky has left the award show inaccessible for many film fans. Now, the new home for the awards show has some things it needs to get right, ultimately to provide insight and entertainment, throughout the breaks in between the Oscars broadcast. Unfortunately, many viewers were left unsatisfied and...
- 3/13/2024
- by Alex Ginnelly
- Nerdly
The Academy Awards, more popularly known as the Oscars, are one of the most prestigious awards an artist can win during their career. The statuette makes for a fine addition to one’s collection since it represents the pinnacle of cinema, and artists vie to get their hands on one.
Given its rich history, the trophy is truly priceless. However, it might shock readers to know that the statuette does indeed come with a baffling price tag of just $1.
How did the Oscar statuette come to be?
In 1927, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was established. One of the major goals of the then-fledgling body was to acknowledge and honor excellence in all aspects of filmmaking. The Oscars were first held in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Since then, it has become one of the most highly regarded awards worldwide.
The first Oscar presentation banquet was held in...
Given its rich history, the trophy is truly priceless. However, it might shock readers to know that the statuette does indeed come with a baffling price tag of just $1.
How did the Oscar statuette come to be?
In 1927, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was established. One of the major goals of the then-fledgling body was to acknowledge and honor excellence in all aspects of filmmaking. The Oscars were first held in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Since then, it has become one of the most highly regarded awards worldwide.
The first Oscar presentation banquet was held in...
- 3/9/2024
- by Sreshtha Roychowdhury
- FandomWire
Everything you need to know about the new movie Ricky Stanicky is on the poster with its stark message plastered right across it: Warning! An R-rated Comedy. Oh, and the fact that it is directed and co-written by Peter Farrelly also tells you a lot. This is undeniably a return to the kinds of outrageous, raunchy, anything-goes style of comedy that made the Farrelly brand a household name with films like Dumb and Dumber, Shallow Hal, Kingpin, Stuck On You and the “Citizen Kane” of the genre, There’s Something About Mary. More recently Farrelly, who also managed to put heart in even the wildest of situations, took his career in a different direction with his wonderful and emotional Oscar-winning Green Book, as well as the terrific true story The Greatest Beer Run Ever which starred Zac Efron. The latter is now reunited with the filmmaker and the results are laugh-out-loud hilarious in Ricky Stanicky,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
There were movies about the Holocaust long before "Schindler's List." Superb movies. George Stevens' "The Diary of Anne Frank," Stanley Kramer's "Judgment at Nuremberg," Alan J. Pakula's "Sophie's Choice," and Paul Mazursky's "Enemies, a Love Story" (to name but a few) grappled with this staggeringly evil, carefully coordinated campaign of genocide so that moviegoers could, hopefully, comprehend how ordinary people could become bigoted, bloodthirsty monsters. The answers weren't comforting, but we couldn't move forward as a species without them.
Aside from the "how," there was another agonizing question that needed to be answered, one that was not as easy to dramatize: why didn't more people step up to stop this?
It doesn't take a great deal of research to realize that most good people were paralyzed by a mixture of cowardice and self-preservation. And while it is vital that we keep hammering home this observation for future generations,...
Aside from the "how," there was another agonizing question that needed to be answered, one that was not as easy to dramatize: why didn't more people step up to stop this?
It doesn't take a great deal of research to realize that most good people were paralyzed by a mixture of cowardice and self-preservation. And while it is vital that we keep hammering home this observation for future generations,...
- 3/5/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
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Photo: Best Picture Snubs
Oscars 2024 is in a few days. With Cillian Murphy, Bradley Cooper, Margot Robbie, 'Barbie', Christopher Nolan, 'Oppenheimer', 'Maestro', all vying for the gold Academy Award, let us take a look at the past winners who were snubbed.
The Oscar for Best Picture may be the highest honor that a film could earn, but the Academy members who vote on the matter are anything but infallible--in fact, some of them don’t even watch the nominated movies at all. Audiences are often disappointed by the pick for Best Picture, but subjectivity mandates that there will always be some reasonable dissent--that said, this article will look back at some of the most widely agreed upon upsets that warrant a closer inspection.
Related...
Photo: Best Picture Snubs
Oscars 2024 is in a few days. With Cillian Murphy, Bradley Cooper, Margot Robbie, 'Barbie', Christopher Nolan, 'Oppenheimer', 'Maestro', all vying for the gold Academy Award, let us take a look at the past winners who were snubbed.
The Oscar for Best Picture may be the highest honor that a film could earn, but the Academy members who vote on the matter are anything but infallible--in fact, some of them don’t even watch the nominated movies at all. Audiences are often disappointed by the pick for Best Picture, but subjectivity mandates that there will always be some reasonable dissent--that said, this article will look back at some of the most widely agreed upon upsets that warrant a closer inspection.
Related...
- 3/3/2024
- by Daniel Choi
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Every cinephile knows that “What was the best movie of the year?” and “What movie will win Best Picture at the Oscars?” are two entirely different questions. In 2023, the answer for both was arguably the same.
The Daniels’ “Everything Everywhere All at Once” — A24’s mind-bending mother-daughter story about life’s unexplainable questions and the lengths we will go for love — won over audiences and critics before taking home Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (for Michelle Yeoh), Best Supporting Actor (for Ke Huy Quan), Best Supporting Actress (for Jamie Lee Curtis), and Best Original Screenplay at the 95th Academy Awards. Still, despite the film’s accolades, it has its critics — and you’re likely to find many a pundit who feels that the top prize ultimately should have gone to Todd Field’s chillier, less crowd-pleasing “Tár” instead.
As long as there have been award shows, movie fans have...
The Daniels’ “Everything Everywhere All at Once” — A24’s mind-bending mother-daughter story about life’s unexplainable questions and the lengths we will go for love — won over audiences and critics before taking home Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (for Michelle Yeoh), Best Supporting Actor (for Ke Huy Quan), Best Supporting Actress (for Jamie Lee Curtis), and Best Original Screenplay at the 95th Academy Awards. Still, despite the film’s accolades, it has its critics — and you’re likely to find many a pundit who feels that the top prize ultimately should have gone to Todd Field’s chillier, less crowd-pleasing “Tár” instead.
As long as there have been award shows, movie fans have...
- 3/2/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
“Schindler’s List was never a cure for antisemitism,” emphasizes Steven Spielberg. “It was a reminder of the symptoms of it.”
These days, tragically, antisemitism is all over the headlines: Neo-Nazis chanting “Jews will not replace us” in Charlottesville. The Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. The Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel that claimed the lives of some 1,200 Jews, the largest slaughter since the Holocaust. Not to mention a former and possibly future American president using Hitler-like language at his Nuremberg-esque rallies, referring to immigrants as “vermin” who are “poisoning the blood” of America.
Liam Neeson and Steven Spielberg were photographed Jan. 5 at Quixote Studios West Hollywood.
All of which is why, 30 years after Spielberg won best picture and best director for his movie about Oskar Schindler, the German businessman who saved 1,200 Jews from the Nazis during World War II, THR is revisiting his film with an oral history...
These days, tragically, antisemitism is all over the headlines: Neo-Nazis chanting “Jews will not replace us” in Charlottesville. The Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. The Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel that claimed the lives of some 1,200 Jews, the largest slaughter since the Holocaust. Not to mention a former and possibly future American president using Hitler-like language at his Nuremberg-esque rallies, referring to immigrants as “vermin” who are “poisoning the blood” of America.
Liam Neeson and Steven Spielberg were photographed Jan. 5 at Quixote Studios West Hollywood.
All of which is why, 30 years after Spielberg won best picture and best director for his movie about Oskar Schindler, the German businessman who saved 1,200 Jews from the Nazis during World War II, THR is revisiting his film with an oral history...
- 2/21/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Zack Snyder is currently one of the most prominent directors in Hollywood, receiving both praise and criticism. While he has showcased his skills in directing a specific type of film, his work has also encountered criticism, and the reasons behind it are evident. He did not have anything to do with 2016’s Suicide Squad, but Snyder’s involvement in the Dceu certainly did no favors to the movie.
Zack Snyder and Ben Affleck working together
In fact, fans might not be shocked to know that 2016’s Suicide Squad took the Letterboxed top spot as the worst Oscar-winning film of all time, which is a very shameful achievement, to say the least. After all, the film ended up becoming one of the most hated films under the DC banner as it managed to do everything wrong.
SUGGESTEDSony and Helldivers 2 Put Yet Another Nail in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s...
Zack Snyder and Ben Affleck working together
In fact, fans might not be shocked to know that 2016’s Suicide Squad took the Letterboxed top spot as the worst Oscar-winning film of all time, which is a very shameful achievement, to say the least. After all, the film ended up becoming one of the most hated films under the DC banner as it managed to do everything wrong.
SUGGESTEDSony and Helldivers 2 Put Yet Another Nail in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s...
- 2/18/2024
- by Subhojeet Mookherjee
- FandomWire
Dakota Johnson’s Madame Web has been facing poor reception. It cast down fans with a confusing plot and bad execution. The film feels like a parody of comic characters and doesn’t do justice to extending the Spider-Man universe—according to many reviews given by top critics.
Madame Web tells the story of Cassandra Webb (a paramedic), whose psychic powers develop in the womb when her mother is bitten by a spider before dying.
Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb/ Madame Web
Fans who were excited about Madame Web are now let down after seeing its reviews. As a result, many have switched to DC for better entertainment options.
Suggesteddc Reportedly Developing Teen Titans Movie – 6 Actors and the Characters They Should Play in Rumored Film Disappointed Fans Shift Focus to Dcu Amid Madame Web‘s Poor Reviews
Madame Web has a 13 percent critics score, which is lower than Morbius. It...
Madame Web tells the story of Cassandra Webb (a paramedic), whose psychic powers develop in the womb when her mother is bitten by a spider before dying.
Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb/ Madame Web
Fans who were excited about Madame Web are now let down after seeing its reviews. As a result, many have switched to DC for better entertainment options.
Suggesteddc Reportedly Developing Teen Titans Movie – 6 Actors and the Characters They Should Play in Rumored Film Disappointed Fans Shift Focus to Dcu Amid Madame Web‘s Poor Reviews
Madame Web has a 13 percent critics score, which is lower than Morbius. It...
- 2/17/2024
- by Shreya Jha
- FandomWire
Curb Your Enthusiasm returns to Max this month in what’s being called the show’s final season (for now). If you’re not ready for the Larry David-centric comedy series to end, you can binge all eleven of the show’s previous seasons on Max right now before hitting the new episodes.
Tokyo Vice will also be back in February for season 2. Stars Ansel Elgort, Ken Watanabe, Rinko Kikuchi, Rachel Keller, Show Kasamatsu, and Ayumi Ito are joined by Kubozuka and Miki Maya this time around, as Jake Adelstein feels the danger closing in on him. Max also welcomes you to the premiere of the highly acclaimed (and highly depraved) Dicks: The Musical this month, as a couple of self-obsessed businessmen discover they’re identical twins and decided to bring their divorced parents back together.
Here’s everything coming to (and leaving) HBO and Max this month…
HBO...
Tokyo Vice will also be back in February for season 2. Stars Ansel Elgort, Ken Watanabe, Rinko Kikuchi, Rachel Keller, Show Kasamatsu, and Ayumi Ito are joined by Kubozuka and Miki Maya this time around, as Jake Adelstein feels the danger closing in on him. Max also welcomes you to the premiere of the highly acclaimed (and highly depraved) Dicks: The Musical this month, as a couple of self-obsessed businessmen discover they’re identical twins and decided to bring their divorced parents back together.
Here’s everything coming to (and leaving) HBO and Max this month…
HBO...
- 2/1/2024
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
February may be the shortest month, but Max is staying true to its name with a jam-packed schedule of additions all month long!
In addition to dozens of library shows and movies getting added to the platform throughout February—from classics like “Citizen Kane” and “A Clockwork Orange” to recent A24 favorites like “Midsommar” and “Dicks: The Musical“—several major HBO premieres are coming this week to the cabler and its streamer, including Season 11 of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” and the final season of the long-running “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Find out The Streamable’s top picks for February, and continue below to the full list of everything new on Max this month!
7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Max in February 2024? “Chasing Flavor” | Thursday, Feb. 1
“The Chew” host and “Top Chef” fan favorite Carla Hall hits the...
In addition to dozens of library shows and movies getting added to the platform throughout February—from classics like “Citizen Kane” and “A Clockwork Orange” to recent A24 favorites like “Midsommar” and “Dicks: The Musical“—several major HBO premieres are coming this week to the cabler and its streamer, including Season 11 of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” and the final season of the long-running “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Find out The Streamable’s top picks for February, and continue below to the full list of everything new on Max this month!
7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Max in February 2024? “Chasing Flavor” | Thursday, Feb. 1
“The Chew” host and “Top Chef” fan favorite Carla Hall hits the...
- 1/29/2024
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Curb Your Enthusiasm begins its 12th and final season and Tokyo Vice returns for season two as part of Max’s February 2024 lineup. The streaming service has also set a February 18th launch date for season 11 of the award-winning, critically acclaimed series Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
Chef and bestselling author Carla Hall’s Chasing Flavor makes its debut on February 1st, and one of the best seasons of True Detective, True Detective: Night Country with Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, wraps up its too-short season on February 25th. The popular animated series Clone High releases new season two episodes beginning on February 1st.
‘Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’ (Photograph by Courtesy of HBO) Series & Films Arriving On Max In January 2024
February 1
Bad Education (2004)
Batman vs. Robin (2015)
Batman: Bad Blood (2016)
The Bling Ring (2013)
Brooklyn (2015)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
Citizen Kane (1941)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Dying of the Light (2014)
Everest...
Chef and bestselling author Carla Hall’s Chasing Flavor makes its debut on February 1st, and one of the best seasons of True Detective, True Detective: Night Country with Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, wraps up its too-short season on February 25th. The popular animated series Clone High releases new season two episodes beginning on February 1st.
‘Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’ (Photograph by Courtesy of HBO) Series & Films Arriving On Max In January 2024
February 1
Bad Education (2004)
Batman vs. Robin (2015)
Batman: Bad Blood (2016)
The Bling Ring (2013)
Brooklyn (2015)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
Citizen Kane (1941)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Dying of the Light (2014)
Everest...
- 1/26/2024
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Every 10 years, the British Film Institute pulls together critics from around the world to vote on its “Sight and Sound” poll to determine the best films ever made. In the most recent poll, traditional heavy-hitters like “Vertigo” and “Citizen Kane” were pushed aside as a new film was crowned the greatest.
According to the critics, the best film ever made is “Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Brussels” from 1975. You can catch this classic with a 7-day free trial of Max. In fact, a whopping 41 films from this list can be found on Max.
7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com
The list contains masterworks from geniuses like Kubrick, Chaplin, Scorsese, Wilder, Godard, Miyazaki, and Hitchcock. The most recent films on the list both come from 2019: “Parasite” and “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.”
So pop the popcorn and fire up your favorite streaming device. Here’s the list of movies that surpass all others.
According to the critics, the best film ever made is “Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Brussels” from 1975. You can catch this classic with a 7-day free trial of Max. In fact, a whopping 41 films from this list can be found on Max.
7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com
The list contains masterworks from geniuses like Kubrick, Chaplin, Scorsese, Wilder, Godard, Miyazaki, and Hitchcock. The most recent films on the list both come from 2019: “Parasite” and “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.”
So pop the popcorn and fire up your favorite streaming device. Here’s the list of movies that surpass all others.
- 12/29/2023
- by Ben Bowman
- The Streamable
As she strolls comfortably toward multiple Oscar nominations for “Barbie,” Greta Gerwig is on track to set several Academy Awards records tied to her age, gender and the movie’s financial success. In terms of more general achievements, perhaps the most impressive one in her reach is becoming the first filmmaker to have all of her initial three solo features contend for Best Picture. Over the past 95 years, many directors have had shots at earning that distinction and a few have come remarkably close, but none of their chances have been quite as strong as hers.
Since Gerwig did not produce her first two independently-directed films – “Lady Bird” (2017) and “Little Women” (2019) – and, per academy rules, cannot officially share in a “Barbie” Best Picture nomination due to her screen credit of “executive producer” (rather than the qualifying “producer” or “produced by”), she does not and will not soon have any bids...
Since Gerwig did not produce her first two independently-directed films – “Lady Bird” (2017) and “Little Women” (2019) – and, per academy rules, cannot officially share in a “Barbie” Best Picture nomination due to her screen credit of “executive producer” (rather than the qualifying “producer” or “produced by”), she does not and will not soon have any bids...
- 12/21/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Chicago – Here we are again, the end of another year, and it’s time to momentarily look back. Thus opens the 10 Best Films Of 2023, the list that represents one soul interacting with the art of cinema. That soul belongs to Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Wbgr-fm and Wssr-fm.
So begins my list, with such a lofty and third person proclamation. By far, the story of the year is Barbenheimer (the same weekend release of Barbie and Oppenheimer), proving in the digital age that something weird and organic can take hold, and get more people to the theaters, celebrating a true movie event. Kudos to the movie celebrators who did both in one magic day.
I format my 10 Best to reflect the on-air reviews I do weekly on Wbgr-fm and Wssr-fm and New on Missourinet.com. Each of the 10 Best will be in the on-air or audio format for your listening pleasure.
So begins my list, with such a lofty and third person proclamation. By far, the story of the year is Barbenheimer (the same weekend release of Barbie and Oppenheimer), proving in the digital age that something weird and organic can take hold, and get more people to the theaters, celebrating a true movie event. Kudos to the movie celebrators who did both in one magic day.
I format my 10 Best to reflect the on-air reviews I do weekly on Wbgr-fm and Wssr-fm and New on Missourinet.com. Each of the 10 Best will be in the on-air or audio format for your listening pleasure.
- 12/20/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
As the holidays draw near, there’s little more comforting than a roaring fire. Thankfully, most streaming services offer some kind of fireplace video to help strike a cozy mood. While there are wacky fireplace options to be had, we prefer the classics. Read on to see which fireplace is most worth your time, depending on your particular needs. Grab a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa, turn out the lights, and let these excellent options lull you to sleep.
Disney+
Max
Hulu
Netflix
Peacock
Paramount+
Prime Video
Sling Freestream (Free)
Final Rankings
Disney+ Arendelle Castle Yule Log
Animated fire doesn’t have quite the kick of the real thing, even if it does sound appropriate. The fire takes up a disappointing amount of the frame, which is dwarfed by the size of the hearth. It’s nearly as preposterous as the one from “Citizen Kane.” It’s a...
Disney+
Max
Hulu
Netflix
Peacock
Paramount+
Prime Video
Sling Freestream (Free)
Final Rankings
Disney+ Arendelle Castle Yule Log
Animated fire doesn’t have quite the kick of the real thing, even if it does sound appropriate. The fire takes up a disappointing amount of the frame, which is dwarfed by the size of the hearth. It’s nearly as preposterous as the one from “Citizen Kane.” It’s a...
- 12/19/2023
- by Ben Bowman
- The Streamable
From his John Dillinger film “Public Enemies” to his long awaited racing drama “Ferrari,” Michael Mann is no stranger to making films about prominent historical figures. But the director has no interest in conventional biopics that document a subject’s entire life.
While discussing his decades-spanning quest to make “Ferrari” with The Guardian, Mann explained that he never considered directing a film about Enzo Ferrari’s overarching life story. Instead, his film follows a 59-year-old Ferrari (Adam Driver) as he attempts to salvage his racing empire as his personal life crumbles around him.
“I wouldn’t have been interested in some lengthy biopic,” Mann said. “Those are documentaries that belong on the History Channel. They never work. And within this four-month period, all the dynamic forces of Enzo’s life are compacted and in collision.”
Mann also explained that Ferrari’s tendency to avoid leaving his hometown further condensed the...
While discussing his decades-spanning quest to make “Ferrari” with The Guardian, Mann explained that he never considered directing a film about Enzo Ferrari’s overarching life story. Instead, his film follows a 59-year-old Ferrari (Adam Driver) as he attempts to salvage his racing empire as his personal life crumbles around him.
“I wouldn’t have been interested in some lengthy biopic,” Mann said. “Those are documentaries that belong on the History Channel. They never work. And within this four-month period, all the dynamic forces of Enzo’s life are compacted and in collision.”
Mann also explained that Ferrari’s tendency to avoid leaving his hometown further condensed the...
- 12/17/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Mort Engelberg, a producer of the films Smokey And The Bandit and The Big Easy, has passed away. Engelberg was 86, and he died in Los Angeles in the company of his wife, Helaine Blatt, a success herself as a high-end jewelry broker.
Engelberg was producing films when he took time away from his day job and organized a famous bus tour taken by Arkansas governor and presidential aspirant Bill Clinton and his running mate Al Gore through numerous states the summer after the Democratic Convention in 1992. Engelberg served a similar role previously for candidates Walter F. Mondale in 1984 and Michael Dukakis in 1988. For Clinton, the bus tour was a rousing success. It bonded Clinton, Gore and their wives, and presenting the amiable presidential candidate as an everymen who thrived mixing with real people in cities across the country. It would become a trademark for Clinton’s successful two presidential runs.
Engelberg was producing films when he took time away from his day job and organized a famous bus tour taken by Arkansas governor and presidential aspirant Bill Clinton and his running mate Al Gore through numerous states the summer after the Democratic Convention in 1992. Engelberg served a similar role previously for candidates Walter F. Mondale in 1984 and Michael Dukakis in 1988. For Clinton, the bus tour was a rousing success. It bonded Clinton, Gore and their wives, and presenting the amiable presidential candidate as an everymen who thrived mixing with real people in cities across the country. It would become a trademark for Clinton’s successful two presidential runs.
- 12/11/2023
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Emma Thompson holds a distinct Oscars record. She is the only person in the history of the Academy Awards to win for both acting and writing. She took home the Best Actress trophy in 1993 for “Howard’s End.” Three years later, she collected an Oscar bookend with her Best Adapted Screenplay win for bringing Jane Austen‘s 1811 novel “Sense and Sensibility” to the screen.
Prior to Thompson’s double wins, several others contended for both acting and writing. Orson Welles won Best Original Screenplay in 1942 with Herman J. Mankiewicz for “Citizen Kane.” He also picked up a Best Actor nomination for the same film. Warren Beatty has a rich history in both acting and writing awards. He was nominated for Best Actor in 1968 for “Bonnie & Clyde,” in 1979 for “Heaven Can Wait, in 1982 for “Reds,” and in 1992″ for “Bugsy.” He picked up Original Screenplay bids in 1976 for “Shampoo” (shared with...
Prior to Thompson’s double wins, several others contended for both acting and writing. Orson Welles won Best Original Screenplay in 1942 with Herman J. Mankiewicz for “Citizen Kane.” He also picked up a Best Actor nomination for the same film. Warren Beatty has a rich history in both acting and writing awards. He was nominated for Best Actor in 1968 for “Bonnie & Clyde,” in 1979 for “Heaven Can Wait, in 1982 for “Reds,” and in 1992″ for “Bugsy.” He picked up Original Screenplay bids in 1976 for “Shampoo” (shared with...
- 12/1/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Voting for the 89th New York Film Critics Circle Awards has ended and the awards have been announced. The NYFCC winners list is one of the most anticipated in the awards season leading up to the Oscars, partly due to it being the first major critics group to issue awards each year, partly due to the exceptional caliber of its members (among whom IndieWire’s Kate Erbland and David Ehrlich are counted) and partly due to their inclination to embrace true cinephilia rather than awards season narratives. Check out the full winners list below.
“Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Oppenheimer,” and “May December” were the only films to win two awards each. “Flower Moon” won the top prize, Best Film, along with Best Actress for Lily Gladstone. Christopher Nolan won Best Director for “Oppenheimer,” which also took Best Cinematography for Hoyte van Hoytema. The two films, from Apple and Universal respectively,...
“Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Oppenheimer,” and “May December” were the only films to win two awards each. “Flower Moon” won the top prize, Best Film, along with Best Actress for Lily Gladstone. Christopher Nolan won Best Director for “Oppenheimer,” which also took Best Cinematography for Hoyte van Hoytema. The two films, from Apple and Universal respectively,...
- 11/30/2023
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Cinema chain owners are reportedly nervous about how Aquaman 2 will fare this Christmas. But might Wonka be the film that’ll clean up this December?
In the world according to Variety, cinema owners are looking at the late 2023 schedules and growing nervous. Where previous years – the pandemic-struck 2020 excluded – have had at least one major tentpole that could be banked on to make lots of money, this year’s line-up is comparatively threadbare.
The flashpoint for all this nervousness, seemingly, is Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom. Ordinarily, a superhero film like this – certainly one that also happens to be a sequel to a movie that made over a billion in 2018 – should be regarded as a sure-fire hit. But this is the topsy-turvy year of 2023, in which cape-based movies like The Marvels and Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania have all struggled. Aquaman studio Warner has also had a difficult time in this regard,...
In the world according to Variety, cinema owners are looking at the late 2023 schedules and growing nervous. Where previous years – the pandemic-struck 2020 excluded – have had at least one major tentpole that could be banked on to make lots of money, this year’s line-up is comparatively threadbare.
The flashpoint for all this nervousness, seemingly, is Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom. Ordinarily, a superhero film like this – certainly one that also happens to be a sequel to a movie that made over a billion in 2018 – should be regarded as a sure-fire hit. But this is the topsy-turvy year of 2023, in which cape-based movies like The Marvels and Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania have all struggled. Aquaman studio Warner has also had a difficult time in this regard,...
- 11/29/2023
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
“Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within…and whatever walked there, walked alone.” – Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House (1959).
Of all the subgenres of horror, the haunted house story has provided the most opportunities for slow and subtle terror that creeps and crawls its way under the skin and into the psyche. The Old Dark House (1932), The Uninvited (1944), The Innocents (1961), Burnt Offerings (1976), and The Changeling (1980) stand among the best that not only the haunted house film, but all of horror have to offer. For many, the absolute pinnacle of these films is Robert Wise’s 1963 masterpiece of suggestive horror The Haunting. Based on the novel The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, the film owes much to the influences of the past while still carving a way toward the future, is populated by rich and relatable characters, and is a deeply felt...
Of all the subgenres of horror, the haunted house story has provided the most opportunities for slow and subtle terror that creeps and crawls its way under the skin and into the psyche. The Old Dark House (1932), The Uninvited (1944), The Innocents (1961), Burnt Offerings (1976), and The Changeling (1980) stand among the best that not only the haunted house film, but all of horror have to offer. For many, the absolute pinnacle of these films is Robert Wise’s 1963 masterpiece of suggestive horror The Haunting. Based on the novel The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, the film owes much to the influences of the past while still carving a way toward the future, is populated by rich and relatable characters, and is a deeply felt...
- 11/28/2023
- by Brian Keiper
- bloody-disgusting.com
Ridley Scott’s career is marked first and foremost by its sheer prolificness. There are very few directors of any age who work frequently enough to have two films coming out the same year. Scott’s done it three times in 2001, 2017, and 2021; and those later two times were when he was past the age of 80.
Since he made his debut with the swashbuckling period drama “The Duellists” in 1977, Scott has been a steady, constant presence at the cinema. His longest break has been two four-year gaps between releases — “1492: Conquest for Paradise” and “White Squall” from 1992 to 1996 and “The Martian” and “All the Money in the World” and “The Last Duel” from 2017 to 2021, the latter gap widened by the pandemic. More frequently, Scott only goes two or even just one year before dropping a new film, resulting in an impressively robust 28 filmography.
What’s even more notable about Scott’s...
Since he made his debut with the swashbuckling period drama “The Duellists” in 1977, Scott has been a steady, constant presence at the cinema. His longest break has been two four-year gaps between releases — “1492: Conquest for Paradise” and “White Squall” from 1992 to 1996 and “The Martian” and “All the Money in the World” and “The Last Duel” from 2017 to 2021, the latter gap widened by the pandemic. More frequently, Scott only goes two or even just one year before dropping a new film, resulting in an impressively robust 28 filmography.
What’s even more notable about Scott’s...
- 11/25/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Michael Mann’s “three decades of research” provided the key to putting audiences in the driver’s seat of vintage Ferraris racing down a thousand miles of Italian roads that are well known for taking human lives.
That’s what “Ferrari” cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt discovered when he teamed with the director of crime classics such as “Heat” and TV’s “Miami Vice” to tell the story of Enzo Ferrari, founder of Italy’s most iconic racing car company, played by Adam Driver.
“I asked him what I should look at and Michael said, ‘Why don’t you start with my library.’”
Messerschmidt, himself known for exacting work on such films as “Citizen Kane” backstory “Mank,” which won him an Oscar, learned that Mann had indeed been researching Ferrari for 30 years. The director had accumulated hundreds of books, photos, newsreels, clippings and letters documenting every aspect of Ferrari’s life, the early days of auto racing,...
That’s what “Ferrari” cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt discovered when he teamed with the director of crime classics such as “Heat” and TV’s “Miami Vice” to tell the story of Enzo Ferrari, founder of Italy’s most iconic racing car company, played by Adam Driver.
“I asked him what I should look at and Michael said, ‘Why don’t you start with my library.’”
Messerschmidt, himself known for exacting work on such films as “Citizen Kane” backstory “Mank,” which won him an Oscar, learned that Mann had indeed been researching Ferrari for 30 years. The director had accumulated hundreds of books, photos, newsreels, clippings and letters documenting every aspect of Ferrari’s life, the early days of auto racing,...
- 11/20/2023
- by Will Tizard
- Variety Film + TV
During the silent era, Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre was a majestic movie palace where Hollywood’s biggest stars premiered their films. The year it opened in 1922, the Egyptian opened Douglas Fairbanks’ iconic “The Adventures of Robin Hood.” It launched Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Ten Commandments” in 1923 and Charlie Chaplin’s “The Gold Rush” in 1925. Situated in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard, only a few blocks from Grauman’s other movie palace, the Chinese Theatre, the Egyptian showcased all the opulence and splendor that was filmmaking.
In the ensuing decades, the Egyptian changed alongside its location, adding and subtracting pieces of the theater — columns were torn down and a glass facade added and taken away — but the majesty of showing one’s film there never diminished. The Egyptian premiered “Ben-Hur” in 1959 and James Cameron’s “Aliens” in 1986.
Now, Netflix has revitalized the Egyptian with a $70 million renovation that brings the...
In the ensuing decades, the Egyptian changed alongside its location, adding and subtracting pieces of the theater — columns were torn down and a glass facade added and taken away — but the majesty of showing one’s film there never diminished. The Egyptian premiered “Ben-Hur” in 1959 and James Cameron’s “Aliens” in 1986.
Now, Netflix has revitalized the Egyptian with a $70 million renovation that brings the...
- 11/16/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
“Thanksgiving,” a cheerfully debased — or maybe I should say de-basted — slasher film directed by Eli Roth, marks the third time that one of the luscious mock trailers from Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s “Grindhouse” has been spun into a feature film. The first such movie, Rodriguez’s “Machete,” worked better than anyone might have expected; it gave Danny Trejo perhaps the best lead role of his career, and it was tasty enough in its high-zooming vengeful action hyperbole to spawn a sequel.
Roth’s trailer for “Thanksgiving,” on the other hand, was a bloody perfect, outrageously transgressive parody of the holiday horror genre that had long gone out of style. The best thing about it may have been the narrator, with his ultra-low voice of deadpan drive-in psychosis. The “Thanksgiving” trailer, as indelible as a great Mad parody, was two-and-a-half minutes of concentrated schlock heaven. Was it worth turning into an actual movie?...
Roth’s trailer for “Thanksgiving,” on the other hand, was a bloody perfect, outrageously transgressive parody of the holiday horror genre that had long gone out of style. The best thing about it may have been the narrator, with his ultra-low voice of deadpan drive-in psychosis. The “Thanksgiving” trailer, as indelible as a great Mad parody, was two-and-a-half minutes of concentrated schlock heaven. Was it worth turning into an actual movie?...
- 11/15/2023
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Christopher Nolan’s career rebounded quite nicely after his planned Howard Hughes biopic was scrapped to make way for “The Aviator.” But that doesn’t mean he’s seen Martin Scorsese’s film about the famously eccentric businessman and pilot.
Nolan told Variety that he admitted to “The Aviator” actor Leonardo DiCaprio while collaborating with the Oscar winner on “Inception” that he had never watched Scorsese’s 2004 period piece. “The Aviator” was released by Warner Bros., the studio which Nolan partnered with for close to 20 years.
Nolan’s take on Howard Hughes was expected to cast Jim Carrey, but Nolan had to walk away from the script after Scorsese’s film went into production.
“It was very emotional to not get to make something I’d poured all that into,” Nolan said of the project.
Now, even with Scorsese crediting Nolan among the few filmmakers still preserving the merits of cinema today,...
Nolan told Variety that he admitted to “The Aviator” actor Leonardo DiCaprio while collaborating with the Oscar winner on “Inception” that he had never watched Scorsese’s 2004 period piece. “The Aviator” was released by Warner Bros., the studio which Nolan partnered with for close to 20 years.
Nolan’s take on Howard Hughes was expected to cast Jim Carrey, but Nolan had to walk away from the script after Scorsese’s film went into production.
“It was very emotional to not get to make something I’d poured all that into,” Nolan said of the project.
Now, even with Scorsese crediting Nolan among the few filmmakers still preserving the merits of cinema today,...
- 11/11/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
As the start of the Camerimage Film Festival approaches, Variety asked four festival regulars, all sought-after cinematographers, to weigh in on the issues, trends and opportunities the profession is encountering this year – all subjects expected to come up during the fest, which runs Nov. 11-18. Here’s what they had to say:
Mandy Walker, currently filming Disney’s live action “Snow White” remake, and chairing Camerimage main competition jury.
“I see more and more women are shooting [film] projects and TV – in the States, a lot more women are shooting TV shows. A lot more in the camera department in general, camera operators, first ACs, and it’s definitely getting better. But there’s still a bit of a hump to get over before it’s anywhere near equal.”
“The technology – for me, when I first started shooting movies, there was no VFX, there was no blue screen because I was shooting very small indie projects.
Mandy Walker, currently filming Disney’s live action “Snow White” remake, and chairing Camerimage main competition jury.
“I see more and more women are shooting [film] projects and TV – in the States, a lot more women are shooting TV shows. A lot more in the camera department in general, camera operators, first ACs, and it’s definitely getting better. But there’s still a bit of a hump to get over before it’s anywhere near equal.”
“The technology – for me, when I first started shooting movies, there was no VFX, there was no blue screen because I was shooting very small indie projects.
- 11/7/2023
- by Will Tizard
- Variety Film + TV
Twenty-five years ago today, Todd Haynes’ impressionistic glam-rock fantasy Velvet Goldmine hit movie theaters, offering audiences a glimpse of a short-lived era of rock defined by artists like David Bowie, Marc Bolan, and Roxy Music. Told as a Citizen Kane-like investigation into the disappearance of fictional pop star Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), the nonlinear film captured an energy and aesthetic vibrance that remains unparalleled. Its stacked cast also included Christian Bale as glam-rock fan-turned-journalist Arthur Stuart, Ewan McGregor as Iggy Pop-esque rocker Curt Wild, and Toni Collette...
- 11/6/2023
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
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