Gal Gadot Led Heart Of Stone Becomes #2 On Netflix’s Most Watched Movies In Latter Half Of 2023. (Photo Credit – IMDb)
Netflix is one of the leading streaming platforms globally, catering to a wide variety of entertainment. Several movies find their home on the Ott platform after their theatrical release, while some are released directly there. The streaming giant has released data on films with the most views from July 1 to December 31, 2023. Gal Gadot’s Heart of Stone has beaten several other movies to grab the #2 spot, but can you guess which movie is at the top of the list?
The movie Heart of Stone featured Gal, Jamie Dornan, and Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt in leading roles. The plot revolves around an international intelligence operative who must go on a mission to protect a mysterious artificial intelligence system known as The Heart.
Heart of Stone was directed by Tom Harper. Its reported budget was $150 million,...
Netflix is one of the leading streaming platforms globally, catering to a wide variety of entertainment. Several movies find their home on the Ott platform after their theatrical release, while some are released directly there. The streaming giant has released data on films with the most views from July 1 to December 31, 2023. Gal Gadot’s Heart of Stone has beaten several other movies to grab the #2 spot, but can you guess which movie is at the top of the list?
The movie Heart of Stone featured Gal, Jamie Dornan, and Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt in leading roles. The plot revolves around an international intelligence operative who must go on a mission to protect a mysterious artificial intelligence system known as The Heart.
Heart of Stone was directed by Tom Harper. Its reported budget was $150 million,...
- 5/24/2024
- by Esita Mallik
- KoiMoi
Spike Feresten got his start in comedy while working as a receptionist at Saturday Night Live, where he began submitting jokes to then “Weekend Update” anchor Dennis Miller. Before long, as many as five of his jokes were making it to air in a given week.
From there he was hired as a staff writer on Letterman, then Seinfeld (we have Feresten to thank for “The Soup Nazi” and “Little Kicks”), and then ABC’s legendary Dana Carvey Show, where his colleagues included Robert Smigel, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, and Louis C.K.
But among comedy nerds, he may be most revered for hosting his own talk show, Talkshow With Spike Feresten, which aired Saturday nights on Fox from 2006-2009. The show holds the record as the Fox Network’s longest-running late-night show, and as Feresten reveals to LateNighter’s Mark Malkoff, it would have continued longer had he not made...
From there he was hired as a staff writer on Letterman, then Seinfeld (we have Feresten to thank for “The Soup Nazi” and “Little Kicks”), and then ABC’s legendary Dana Carvey Show, where his colleagues included Robert Smigel, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, and Louis C.K.
But among comedy nerds, he may be most revered for hosting his own talk show, Talkshow With Spike Feresten, which aired Saturday nights on Fox from 2006-2009. The show holds the record as the Fox Network’s longest-running late-night show, and as Feresten reveals to LateNighter’s Mark Malkoff, it would have continued longer had he not made...
- 5/21/2024
- by Mark Malkoff
- LateNighter
Have you ever stopped to marvel at the wonders human talent can achieve? Take Tom Hanks’ example, whose popularity stems from his roles in major blockbusters like Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, and Saving Private Ryan, making him one of Hollywood’s top actors. But that is not the only thing the 67-year-old is good at; he is also a terrific voice actor and is equally adept at comedy and impersonation.
Tom Hanks in Catch Me If You Can
Since he first joined the five-timers club, he has hosted numerous episodes of Saturday Night Live in addition to making several cameos. In a sketch titled ‘The Stand-Ups’, which Hanks performed during his first Saturday Night Live hosting gig, stand-up comedians conversed backstage while using the same voices they did on stage.
In one of his former interviews, Hanks disclosed that he had given Jerry Seinfeld a call to obtain approval...
Tom Hanks in Catch Me If You Can
Since he first joined the five-timers club, he has hosted numerous episodes of Saturday Night Live in addition to making several cameos. In a sketch titled ‘The Stand-Ups’, which Hanks performed during his first Saturday Night Live hosting gig, stand-up comedians conversed backstage while using the same voices they did on stage.
In one of his former interviews, Hanks disclosed that he had given Jerry Seinfeld a call to obtain approval...
- 4/30/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
With a career that has lasted over 50 years, it’s expected that Al Pacino would have some stinkers. But nothing is worse on the resume of Pacino than 2011’s Jack and Jill – hey, at least Gigli streamed on the Criterion Channel. For his performance as himself, he earned the Worst Supporting Actor Razzie…but also gave us one of the best ads in history.
In Jack and Jill, Al Pacino is recruited by Adam Sandler’s Jack to do a commercial for the Dunkaccino, a coffee/hot chocolate blend that Dunkin’ Donuts actually discontinued last year. Although he doesn’t have a credit, much of that scene came about because of Robert Smigel, who came onboard before Pacino was even cast. As he remembered, “The Dunkaccino thing was just something I thought of while I was doing the rewrite. The whole premise was already there — that Adam worked at an...
In Jack and Jill, Al Pacino is recruited by Adam Sandler’s Jack to do a commercial for the Dunkaccino, a coffee/hot chocolate blend that Dunkin’ Donuts actually discontinued last year. Although he doesn’t have a credit, much of that scene came about because of Robert Smigel, who came onboard before Pacino was even cast. As he remembered, “The Dunkaccino thing was just something I thought of while I was doing the rewrite. The whole premise was already there — that Adam worked at an...
- 4/27/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Sony Pictures Classics announced on Wednesday that it will release Nathan Silver’s acclaimed comedy Between the Temples, starring Jason Schwartzman (Asteroid City) and Carol Kane (The Dead Don’t Die), in theaters nationwide on August 23.
The film will open against Zoë Kravitz’s debut feature Blink Twice (Amazon MGM Studios), the animated pic 200% Wolf (Viva Pictures), the remake of The Crow starring Bill Skarsgärd (Lionsgate), and the drama The Forge from Affirm Films.
Slated to make its New York debut at Tribeca in June, after playing both Sundance and Berlin to great reviews, Between the Temples follows Ben (Schwartzman), a forty-something cantor losing his voice and possibly his faith. Struggling to meet the expectations of his rabbi, congregation, and not one but two Jewish mothers (Caroline Aaron and Dolly de Leon), Ben finds his world turned upside down when his grade school music teacher re-enters his life as an adult bat mitzvah student.
The film will open against Zoë Kravitz’s debut feature Blink Twice (Amazon MGM Studios), the animated pic 200% Wolf (Viva Pictures), the remake of The Crow starring Bill Skarsgärd (Lionsgate), and the drama The Forge from Affirm Films.
Slated to make its New York debut at Tribeca in June, after playing both Sundance and Berlin to great reviews, Between the Temples follows Ben (Schwartzman), a forty-something cantor losing his voice and possibly his faith. Struggling to meet the expectations of his rabbi, congregation, and not one but two Jewish mothers (Caroline Aaron and Dolly de Leon), Ben finds his world turned upside down when his grade school music teacher re-enters his life as an adult bat mitzvah student.
- 4/24/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Robert Smigel’s Triumph the Insult Comic Dog returned Thursday in a video that recalled his heyday at Late Night With Conan O’Brien.
Former President Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial—the one in which he’s charged with 34 felony counts surrounding an alleged hush money payment to Stormy Daniels—kicked off in Lower Manhattan with jury selection this week, and Smigel wasted no time getting the cigar-chomping puppet down on the scene.
The video finds Triumph interacting with the crowd of Trump supporters outside the courthouse — or as he puts it, “a real who’s who of who’s off their meds.”
At times, the jokes get lost among the clash of arguing bystanders, but the ten-minute video is full of Triumph’s typically cutting quips: “I think Trump’s kind of losing it. He’s even starting to slur his slurs,” he tells two Trump supporters at one point.
Former President Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial—the one in which he’s charged with 34 felony counts surrounding an alleged hush money payment to Stormy Daniels—kicked off in Lower Manhattan with jury selection this week, and Smigel wasted no time getting the cigar-chomping puppet down on the scene.
The video finds Triumph interacting with the crowd of Trump supporters outside the courthouse — or as he puts it, “a real who’s who of who’s off their meds.”
At times, the jokes get lost among the clash of arguing bystanders, but the ten-minute video is full of Triumph’s typically cutting quips: “I think Trump’s kind of losing it. He’s even starting to slur his slurs,” he tells two Trump supporters at one point.
- 4/18/2024
- by Nick Riccardo
- LateNighter
The key to understanding Conan O’Brien’s comedy is knowing that it comes from a point of kindness. Yes, I know in this age of comics punching down, this kind of compliment may leave you with a neon “Must Avoid!” sign flashing in your bleary eyes — but stay with me.
Here is an example. Early in the first episode of his new, four-episode Max travel show “Conan O’Brien Must Go,” Conan — who has earned the right to be referred to by his first name. See: Carson, Johnny — travels to Oslo, Norway. There, he pops in on Jarle, a Norwegian waif of a rapper that Conan had originally met on a segment of his “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast. In the podcast video, Jarle’s hair was combed and he seemed coherent. Then Conan surprises him. Jarle comes to the door, and he’s maybe 110 pounds in a long sleeve T-shirt,...
Here is an example. Early in the first episode of his new, four-episode Max travel show “Conan O’Brien Must Go,” Conan — who has earned the right to be referred to by his first name. See: Carson, Johnny — travels to Oslo, Norway. There, he pops in on Jarle, a Norwegian waif of a rapper that Conan had originally met on a segment of his “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast. In the podcast video, Jarle’s hair was combed and he seemed coherent. Then Conan surprises him. Jarle comes to the door, and he’s maybe 110 pounds in a long sleeve T-shirt,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Stephen Rodrick
- Variety Film + TV
Way back in 2002, the excitement for Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones diminished somewhat. Late Night with Conan O’Brien sent Triumph the Insult Comic Dog to mock the fans lined up for the premiere, resulting in a segment in which comedian/puppeteer Robert Smigel launched nerd jokes at the assembly.
Most of the jokes were pretty obvious, including the last bit, in which a man cosplaying as Mr. Spock gained the knack for cursing and walked up and down the line with his middle finger extended. But while the perceived Star Wars vs. Star Trek rivalry has become an old toxic cliché at this point, the fact is that the two franchises don’t actually overlap very much in terms of their core missions. Trek favors optimistic philosophical inquiry and Wars emphasizes fantasy and adventure.
In fact, in their decades-long history, Star Wars and Star Trek haven’t...
Most of the jokes were pretty obvious, including the last bit, in which a man cosplaying as Mr. Spock gained the knack for cursing and walked up and down the line with his middle finger extended. But while the perceived Star Wars vs. Star Trek rivalry has become an old toxic cliché at this point, the fact is that the two franchises don’t actually overlap very much in terms of their core missions. Trek favors optimistic philosophical inquiry and Wars emphasizes fantasy and adventure.
In fact, in their decades-long history, Star Wars and Star Trek haven’t...
- 4/16/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
When Adam Sandler made his television debut as Stud Boy and the Trivia Delinquent on MTV's influential game show "Remote Control," he did not exude an all-ages appeal. He was an unassuming goofball: funny, yes, but in a dorky way that augured a career as, at best, a supporting comedic performer. If he played his cards right, he could have Gilbert Gottfried's movie and television career.
Like Gottfried, Sandler became a Not Ready for Prime Time Player on "Saturday Night Live." Unlike Gottfried, he didn't get canned after his first season. By the early 1990s, he was one of the show's breakout stars. He built on his success via a pair of platinum comedy albums ("They're All Gonna Laugh at You" and "What the Hell Happened to Me?"), and proved he could carry a movie with 1995's "Billy Madison." The critics loathed him, but teens and twentysomethings dug his unrepentantly juvenile humor.
Like Gottfried, Sandler became a Not Ready for Prime Time Player on "Saturday Night Live." Unlike Gottfried, he didn't get canned after his first season. By the early 1990s, he was one of the show's breakout stars. He built on his success via a pair of platinum comedy albums ("They're All Gonna Laugh at You" and "What the Hell Happened to Me?"), and proved he could carry a movie with 1995's "Billy Madison." The critics loathed him, but teens and twentysomethings dug his unrepentantly juvenile humor.
- 4/12/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Conan O’Brien’s tenure in late night may be over, but make no mistake: Triumph the Insult Comic Dog is still going strong.
The fan-favorite Robert Smigel puppet from Late Night with Conan O’Brien has been forging ahead with solo projects for years — including a sitcom with Jack McBrayer, appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and most recently, a performance taped in January live at the San Francisco Sketchfest.
The live show brought back Triumph’s 2020 quiz show podcast Let’s Make a Poop with Triumph roasting a panel of celebs and leading them through a game of “Poopardy!”.
The full show dropped on YouTube this week. O’Brien has already boosted the special for his hound friend via Twitter/X, and there’s a lot to love here.
Among the highlights: Triumph sings fake Weird Al songs to Weird Al, spars with Rob Schneider over his political leanings,...
The fan-favorite Robert Smigel puppet from Late Night with Conan O’Brien has been forging ahead with solo projects for years — including a sitcom with Jack McBrayer, appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and most recently, a performance taped in January live at the San Francisco Sketchfest.
The live show brought back Triumph’s 2020 quiz show podcast Let’s Make a Poop with Triumph roasting a panel of celebs and leading them through a game of “Poopardy!”.
The full show dropped on YouTube this week. O’Brien has already boosted the special for his hound friend via Twitter/X, and there’s a lot to love here.
Among the highlights: Triumph sings fake Weird Al songs to Weird Al, spars with Rob Schneider over his political leanings,...
- 3/22/2024
- by Nick Riccardo
- LateNighter
Debuting in 1993, Late Night with Conan O’Brien witnessed many iconic bits and gas, but arguably the best creation to emerge from the show was Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. Puppeteered by Robert Smigel, which made its first appearance in 1997, the cigar-chomping dog is rude and crude to everyone and everything, but most importantly, he’s devastatingly funny.
From attacking Star Wars fans to Bon Jovi, it doesn’t matter who you are, Triumph roasts everyone equally, and unluckily, even the Late Night Host wasn’t immune from his insults.
Conan O’Brien Recalls Being Destroyed by Triumph
Late Night Host Conan O’Brien
Speaking with Jon Bon Jovi, who had firsthand experience of facing Triumph’s insults, Conan O’Brien looks back on being left mentally and physically scarred by the Insult Dog. During one of the episodes of the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast, the acclaimed host found...
From attacking Star Wars fans to Bon Jovi, it doesn’t matter who you are, Triumph roasts everyone equally, and unluckily, even the Late Night Host wasn’t immune from his insults.
Conan O’Brien Recalls Being Destroyed by Triumph
Late Night Host Conan O’Brien
Speaking with Jon Bon Jovi, who had firsthand experience of facing Triumph’s insults, Conan O’Brien looks back on being left mentally and physically scarred by the Insult Dog. During one of the episodes of the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast, the acclaimed host found...
- 3/20/2024
- by Santanu Roy
- FandomWire
Robert Smigel’s Triumph the Insult Comic Dog somehow found a way to add another goofy layer to “Weird Al” Yankovic’s iconic shtick. Yankovic was one of Triumph’s guests at his recent “Let’s Make a Poop!” live shows at Sf Sketchfest (now available to watch in full online), and to honor the pop parody king, Triumph asked if he could perform some of his favorite Weird Al spoofs — only he delivered some hilariously dumb, half-baked ones Yankovic definitely never wrote (though there was something about them that...
- 3/20/2024
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: Christina Diamantas has been promoted to partner at Thruline Entertainment on her 15-year anniversary at the company, where she started in 2009 as an assistant and became a manager in 2015. She becomes Thruline’s ninth manager/partner.
Diamantas was based in Los Angeles before relocating to Philadelphia in 2016 and has since established a strong presence in New York. Her client list includes Valorie Curry (The Boys), Annabeth Gish (Pretty Little Liars), Giacomo Gianniotti (Wild Card), Aj Buckley (Seal Team), Dawn Olivieri (Yellowstone), Sean Giambrone (The Goldbergs), Brian Michael Smith (911: Lone Star), and writer-director Caroline Lindy (Your Monster
“Christina has been a force of nature since day one at Thruline. She is a fierce advocate for her clients and, just as importantly, for her colleagues,” said Thruline founding partner Ron West. “We are so happy to acknowledge her work and commitment in this way.”
Before joining Thruline, Diamantas worked at...
Diamantas was based in Los Angeles before relocating to Philadelphia in 2016 and has since established a strong presence in New York. Her client list includes Valorie Curry (The Boys), Annabeth Gish (Pretty Little Liars), Giacomo Gianniotti (Wild Card), Aj Buckley (Seal Team), Dawn Olivieri (Yellowstone), Sean Giambrone (The Goldbergs), Brian Michael Smith (911: Lone Star), and writer-director Caroline Lindy (Your Monster
“Christina has been a force of nature since day one at Thruline. She is a fierce advocate for her clients and, just as importantly, for her colleagues,” said Thruline founding partner Ron West. “We are so happy to acknowledge her work and commitment in this way.”
Before joining Thruline, Diamantas worked at...
- 3/15/2024
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
While it may have followed Seinfeld as Larry David's second major TV series, Curb Your Enthusiasm has the most unique voice of any TV series of the modern era.
While set almost entirely in Los Angeles, Curb has a very New York-centric and Jewish sensibility. And at the center of it all is Larry David, playing a probably-not-that-exaggerated version of himself.
The show started in October of 1999 as a one-off HBO special, meant to depict the return to stand-up comedy of Larry David, best known at that point as the co-creator of Seinfeld.
He was playing a version of Larry, who is independently wealthy yet seemingly never far from a confrontation about something small.
It soon became a surprisingly long-running comedy series, as its final season launched in February of 2024, nearly 25 years after that special.
View Slideshow: 33 Shows To Binge if You Love California
Curb, as the show is often called,...
While set almost entirely in Los Angeles, Curb has a very New York-centric and Jewish sensibility. And at the center of it all is Larry David, playing a probably-not-that-exaggerated version of himself.
The show started in October of 1999 as a one-off HBO special, meant to depict the return to stand-up comedy of Larry David, best known at that point as the co-creator of Seinfeld.
He was playing a version of Larry, who is independently wealthy yet seemingly never far from a confrontation about something small.
It soon became a surprisingly long-running comedy series, as its final season launched in February of 2024, nearly 25 years after that special.
View Slideshow: 33 Shows To Binge if You Love California
Curb, as the show is often called,...
- 2/17/2024
- by Stephen Silver
- TVfanatic
Over 60 films came into this year’s Sundance Film Festival looking for buyers, but many of the key players on the indie film market already had movies premiering in the festival, with many of those among the most commercial and star-studded movies making their debuts.
Last year’s market was slow, especially for documentaries, but this year’s festival market was nothing but robust in 2024. We’re tracking everything that already has a home and will update this space throughout the month with every sale that comes in.
“Good One”
Section: U.S. Dramatic
Director: India Donaldson
Buyer: Metrograph Pictures
Cast: Lily Collias, James Le Gros, Danny McCarthy
Release Plans: Theatrical in Summer 2024
Buzz: India Donaldson’s “Good One” will be the first title acquired by Metrograph Pictures, as the company known for its film restorations and SVOD platform is now getting into theatrical distribution. And they picked a good one too.
Last year’s market was slow, especially for documentaries, but this year’s festival market was nothing but robust in 2024. We’re tracking everything that already has a home and will update this space throughout the month with every sale that comes in.
“Good One”
Section: U.S. Dramatic
Director: India Donaldson
Buyer: Metrograph Pictures
Cast: Lily Collias, James Le Gros, Danny McCarthy
Release Plans: Theatrical in Summer 2024
Buzz: India Donaldson’s “Good One” will be the first title acquired by Metrograph Pictures, as the company known for its film restorations and SVOD platform is now getting into theatrical distribution. And they picked a good one too.
- 2/13/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired all rights worldwide to “Between the Temples,” a comedy with Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane that earned strong reviews when it debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Directed by Nathan Silver, the film follows a forty-something cantor who is at a personal and professional crossroads. That’s when his grade-school music teacher re-enters his life as an adult bat mitzvah student, prompting the pair to form an unusual connection.
In a positive notice, Variety‘s Guy Lodge wrote, “Buoyed by the unlikely chemistry between its two stars, this alternately raucous and tender ‘Harold and Maude’ riff is the warmest work to date from microbudget auteur Nathan Silver.”
“Between the Temples” will have its international debut at the upcoming Berlin International Film Festival in the Panorama section. Schwartzman’s credits include “Rushmore,” “Asteroid City” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” Kane is the Oscar-nominated star...
In a positive notice, Variety‘s Guy Lodge wrote, “Buoyed by the unlikely chemistry between its two stars, this alternately raucous and tender ‘Harold and Maude’ riff is the warmest work to date from microbudget auteur Nathan Silver.”
“Between the Temples” will have its international debut at the upcoming Berlin International Film Festival in the Panorama section. Schwartzman’s credits include “Rushmore,” “Asteroid City” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” Kane is the Oscar-nominated star...
- 2/9/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired all rights worldwide to Nathan Silver’s Between The Temples starring Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane, following its buzzy world premiere at Sundance and ahead of its upcoming international debut at the Berlinale.
Billed by SPC as a comedy “exploring the complexities of belief, connection, and what it means to be a real mensch”, Between The Temples co-stars Schwartzman as is a forty-something cantor who is losing his voice and possibly his faith following the death of his wife.
As he struggles to meet the expectations of his rabbi, congregation, and not one but two Jewish mothers – played by Dolly de Leon (Triangle Of Sadness) and Caroline Aaron (The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel) – his life is turned upside down when his grade school music teacher (Kane) re-enters his life as an adult bat mitzvah student.
Robert Smigel (Leo), Madeline Weinstein (Beach Rats) and Matthew Shear (Mistress America) round out the cast.
Billed by SPC as a comedy “exploring the complexities of belief, connection, and what it means to be a real mensch”, Between The Temples co-stars Schwartzman as is a forty-something cantor who is losing his voice and possibly his faith following the death of his wife.
As he struggles to meet the expectations of his rabbi, congregation, and not one but two Jewish mothers – played by Dolly de Leon (Triangle Of Sadness) and Caroline Aaron (The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel) – his life is turned upside down when his grade school music teacher (Kane) re-enters his life as an adult bat mitzvah student.
Robert Smigel (Leo), Madeline Weinstein (Beach Rats) and Matthew Shear (Mistress America) round out the cast.
- 2/9/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Sony Pictures Classics has picked up the world distribution rights to Nathan Silver’s offbeat Jewish comedy Between the Temples, which bowed at Sundance.
The film sees Jason Schwartzman play Ben Gottlieb, a cantor in crisis after losing his voice and who falls for Carla Kessler, an adult bat mitzvah student (Carol Kane). However the student just happens to be his former grade school music teacher.
Ben and Carla become an odd couple in a comedy that explores the complexities of belief, connection, and what it means to be a real mensch, according to the film’s synopsis. Between the Temples is directed by Silver, who co-wrote the script with C. Mason Wells.
Sony Pictures Classics in a statement said of its pick-up: “With his distinctive and unique characters, Nathan has created a story laced with acerbic wit and humor in Between the Temples, while remaining tender throughout. Audiences everywhere...
The film sees Jason Schwartzman play Ben Gottlieb, a cantor in crisis after losing his voice and who falls for Carla Kessler, an adult bat mitzvah student (Carol Kane). However the student just happens to be his former grade school music teacher.
Ben and Carla become an odd couple in a comedy that explores the complexities of belief, connection, and what it means to be a real mensch, according to the film’s synopsis. Between the Temples is directed by Silver, who co-wrote the script with C. Mason Wells.
Sony Pictures Classics in a statement said of its pick-up: “With his distinctive and unique characters, Nathan has created a story laced with acerbic wit and humor in Between the Temples, while remaining tender throughout. Audiences everywhere...
- 2/9/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Gutenberg! The Musical! ended its Broadway run last night, but not before recouping its initial $6.75 million investment, producers have announced.
The musical starring Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells, written by Scott Brown and Anthony King, and directed by Alex Timbers, Gutenberg! recouped its investment during a 20-week Broadway run, producers said. In its final week of performances, the musical comedy set another box office record at the James Earl Jones Theatre with a weekly gross of $1,463,226.
Gutenberg! previously set the Jones Theatre box office record the week ending December 31, 2023, when it grossed $1,280,597.
After taking their final bows last night, Gad and Rannells began recording the upcoming Original Broadway Cast Album to be released this spring on Center Stage Records and Yellow Sound Label. The album will be produced and mixed by Michael Croiter, with Marcia Goldberg, and Andrew Paradis serving as Executive Producers.
Since opening on Thursday, October 12, Gutenberg! has...
The musical starring Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells, written by Scott Brown and Anthony King, and directed by Alex Timbers, Gutenberg! recouped its investment during a 20-week Broadway run, producers said. In its final week of performances, the musical comedy set another box office record at the James Earl Jones Theatre with a weekly gross of $1,463,226.
Gutenberg! previously set the Jones Theatre box office record the week ending December 31, 2023, when it grossed $1,280,597.
After taking their final bows last night, Gad and Rannells began recording the upcoming Original Broadway Cast Album to be released this spring on Center Stage Records and Yellow Sound Label. The album will be produced and mixed by Michael Croiter, with Marcia Goldberg, and Andrew Paradis serving as Executive Producers.
Since opening on Thursday, October 12, Gutenberg! has...
- 1/29/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The Sundance Film Festival has wrapped in snowy Park City, and Deadline was on the ground to watch all of the key films. Here is a compilation of our reviews from the fest, which include festival award winners like Daughters, the documentary that took the Festival Favorite Award, and A Real Pain, which won the Waldo Salt Screenwriter Award for its writer-director-star Jesse Eisenberg.
Other pics include several that were scooped up by distributors, led by Steven Soderbergh’s ghost story Presence selling to Neon, A Real Pain going to Searchlight, Ghostlight to IFC Films, and Netflix’s smash $17 million deal for It’s What’s Inside.
Check out the reviews below, click on the titles to read them in full, and keep checking back as we add more.
The American Society of Magical Negroes (L-r) Justice Smith and David Alan Grier in ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’
Section: Premieres
Director-screenwriter: Kobi Libii
Cast: Justice Smith,...
Other pics include several that were scooped up by distributors, led by Steven Soderbergh’s ghost story Presence selling to Neon, A Real Pain going to Searchlight, Ghostlight to IFC Films, and Netflix’s smash $17 million deal for It’s What’s Inside.
Check out the reviews below, click on the titles to read them in full, and keep checking back as we add more.
The American Society of Magical Negroes (L-r) Justice Smith and David Alan Grier in ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’
Section: Premieres
Director-screenwriter: Kobi Libii
Cast: Justice Smith,...
- 1/29/2024
- by Damon Wise, Valerie Complex and Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Expats, Feud: Capote vs. the Swans and Griselda.
Expats premiere
Nicole Kidman joined creator Lulu Wang and co-stars Sarayu Blue and Jack Huston at the New York premiere of their Prime Video series on Sunday.
Amazon’s Albert Cheng, Lulu Wang, Nicole Kidman and Amazon’s Jennifer Salke
Feud: Capote vs. the Swans premiere
Naomi Watts, Tom Hollander, Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny, Calista Flockhart, Demi Moore and Molly Ringwald walked the carpet alongside EP Ryan Murphy on Tuesday at the NYC premiere of their new Feud installment.
Jon Robin Baitz, Diane Lane, Chloe Sevigny, Ryan Murphy, Naomi Watts, Tom Hollander, Molly Ringwald, Demi Moore and Calista Flockhart Billy Crudup and Naomi Watts
Griselda premiere
Netflix hosted the U.S. premiere of its new limited series in Miami on Tuesday,...
Expats premiere
Nicole Kidman joined creator Lulu Wang and co-stars Sarayu Blue and Jack Huston at the New York premiere of their Prime Video series on Sunday.
Amazon’s Albert Cheng, Lulu Wang, Nicole Kidman and Amazon’s Jennifer Salke
Feud: Capote vs. the Swans premiere
Naomi Watts, Tom Hollander, Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny, Calista Flockhart, Demi Moore and Molly Ringwald walked the carpet alongside EP Ryan Murphy on Tuesday at the NYC premiere of their new Feud installment.
Jon Robin Baitz, Diane Lane, Chloe Sevigny, Ryan Murphy, Naomi Watts, Tom Hollander, Molly Ringwald, Demi Moore and Calista Flockhart Billy Crudup and Naomi Watts
Griselda premiere
Netflix hosted the U.S. premiere of its new limited series in Miami on Tuesday,...
- 1/26/2024
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Plot: A cantor (Jason Schwartzman), grieving his wife’s loss a year earlier, strikes up an unlikely friendship with an elderly bat mitzvah student (Carol Kane).
Review: Between the Temples is a rather quirky, offbeat comedy. The latest from indie director Nathan Silver, it marks his most accessible, mainstream work to date, although the romantic pairing at the movie’s heart is rather unusual. Indeed, the film has heavy shades of Hal Ashby’s Harold and Maude, although the romantic pairing of Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane (28-year age difference) isn’t as eye-brow-raising as it was in that film.
Granted, the romantic aspect of the movie is underplayed for the most part, with their romance ultimately being a chaste one. The two leads play two lost souls who find each other at a difficult time in their lives. Schwartzman’s Ben is a cantor who’s been unable to...
Review: Between the Temples is a rather quirky, offbeat comedy. The latest from indie director Nathan Silver, it marks his most accessible, mainstream work to date, although the romantic pairing at the movie’s heart is rather unusual. Indeed, the film has heavy shades of Hal Ashby’s Harold and Maude, although the romantic pairing of Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane (28-year age difference) isn’t as eye-brow-raising as it was in that film.
Granted, the romantic aspect of the movie is underplayed for the most part, with their romance ultimately being a chaste one. The two leads play two lost souls who find each other at a difficult time in their lives. Schwartzman’s Ben is a cantor who’s been unable to...
- 1/26/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Adam Sandler's animated musical comedy 'Leo' is getting a sequel.Netflix's co-ceo Ted Sarandos has confirmed they are "firing on all cylinders" to make a follow-up to the hit 2023 flick.The positively reviewed movie tells the story of a tuatara longing for the wild and worried about dying who is taken home by different students per the assignment of a strict substitute teacher, but gets himself caught up in the troubles of each student, and offers great advice to each of them.Speaking to The Wrap, Sarandos said: "We're kicking around Leo 2 right now. The animation team is firing on all cylinders."On why it pulled in the viewers, he continued: "Look, I think Leo resonated for the same reason The Sea Beast did last year. People love it. And they do watch it over and over again, which drives engagement and attachment."Leo and The Sea...
- 1/25/2024
- by Lizzie Baker
- Bang Showbiz
In a grimy, awkward world that painfully resembles our own, Ben Gottlieb (Jason Schwartzman) isn’t coping very well. His wife passed away and he’s living back at home with his two overbearing mothers in upstate New York, isolated from the energy of the city. He’s a cantor at the local temple, but he can’t sing anymore. While he keeps kosher and remains devout, Ben struggles to feel the same connection to his faith that he once had. Ben isn’t really connecting to anything these days, not even his own body. He’s schlubby, unshaven with blemishes on his face, plodding through life in a depressed daze. It’s like he’s completely given up. In one early scene, he lays out in the middle of the road beckoning for a truck to run him over.
Then he has a chance encounter with his childhood music teacher,...
Then he has a chance encounter with his childhood music teacher,...
- 1/21/2024
- by Jourdain Searles
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There’s a very young, very online contingent of Generation Z that propagates repeated cycles of so-called “age gap discourse”: heated, often condemnatory debate over the rights or wrongs of people dating, or merely socializing, outside their immediate age group. The discussion often takes quaintly prudish forms, permitting no adult age at which such differences cease to matter, but if it circulates most heatedly among the young, it’s been handed down to them via age-old social rules and biases — ones to which Nathan Silver’s delightful “Between the Temples” gives a cheerfully flippant middle finger. Collapsing divides between old age, middle age and adolescence into a universally relatable paean to doing whatever the hell feels right for you in your own weird situation, this scruffy shoestring indie won’t be seen by the internet’s most hawkish age-gap monitors, though it has much to gently teach them.
Premiering in the U.
Premiering in the U.
- 1/20/2024
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
“We think you should start seeing a doctor,” is one of the earliest lines uttered to the quiet, grieving Ben (Jason Schwartzman), and the hilarity of its layered and misunderstood meaning, “see” as in “date” and “doctor” as in “plastic surgeon,” reveal director Nathan Silver’s playfully claustrophobic exploration of family loved, lost, found, and tolerated in the Sundance feature “Between the Temples.”
“Between the Temples” stunningly couples its 16mm cinematography with tight close-ups, overlapping dialogue, and sharp comedic timing to present an intimately comical portrait of anguish amidst faith. Co-written with C. Mason Wells, cantor Ben reconnects with his former music teacher Carla (Carol Kane) as each one offers the other a chance at deeper relationships: Ben to humanity and Carol to spirituality.
In the ensemble, Ben’s mothers, Judith (Dolly De Leon) and Meria (Caroline Aaron), frequently concern themselves with his love life, introducing him to women alongside their Rabbi,...
“Between the Temples” stunningly couples its 16mm cinematography with tight close-ups, overlapping dialogue, and sharp comedic timing to present an intimately comical portrait of anguish amidst faith. Co-written with C. Mason Wells, cantor Ben reconnects with his former music teacher Carla (Carol Kane) as each one offers the other a chance at deeper relationships: Ben to humanity and Carol to spirituality.
In the ensemble, Ben’s mothers, Judith (Dolly De Leon) and Meria (Caroline Aaron), frequently concern themselves with his love life, introducing him to women alongside their Rabbi,...
- 1/20/2024
- by Ariana Martinez
- The Wrap
Between the Temples, directed by Nate Silver and written by Silver and C. Mason, is an exploration of grief, faith and self-discovery. Starring Carol Kane and Jason Schwartzman, it’s not just a story about overcoming grief but a testament to the power of self-belief, the importance of accepting support and the transformative potential of unexpected relationships.
Ben (Schwartzman) and his scratched-up pipes are just the beginning of his issues. He’s a man in mourning after suffering the tragic loss of his wife, who left him with a giant house full of memories. Instead of staying, he promptly shacked up with Mom and Stepmom in hopes of finding some peace. But his family, rabbi and whole community seem to be spectating his grief, just waiting for him to move on so life can go on its merry way. Too bad Ben’s not overly keen on appeasing their expectations anytime soon.
Ben (Schwartzman) and his scratched-up pipes are just the beginning of his issues. He’s a man in mourning after suffering the tragic loss of his wife, who left him with a giant house full of memories. Instead of staying, he promptly shacked up with Mom and Stepmom in hopes of finding some peace. But his family, rabbi and whole community seem to be spectating his grief, just waiting for him to move on so life can go on its merry way. Too bad Ben’s not overly keen on appeasing their expectations anytime soon.
- 1/20/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Actress Carol Kane has played all manner of colorful characters, but her role as music teacher Carla in Nathan Silver’s “Between the Temples,” playing in competition at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, is one that connected to a deep part of her Jewish identity.
“It’s important to stand up and be proud of who you are,” Kane said during a discussion with TheWrap’s Editor-in-Chief Sharon Waxman at TheWrap’s Sundance interview studio. “Especially right now with the world in such chaos and pain. I don’t think you can crawl into a hole and hide. You have to claim who you are. You can’t control what the response to that will be.”
“Between the Temples” follows a cantor named Ben (Jason Schwartzman) who has a crisis of faith. He reconnects with his gradeschool music teacher, played by Kane, who is training to have her Bat Mitzvah.
“It’s important to stand up and be proud of who you are,” Kane said during a discussion with TheWrap’s Editor-in-Chief Sharon Waxman at TheWrap’s Sundance interview studio. “Especially right now with the world in such chaos and pain. I don’t think you can crawl into a hole and hide. You have to claim who you are. You can’t control what the response to that will be.”
“Between the Temples” follows a cantor named Ben (Jason Schwartzman) who has a crisis of faith. He reconnects with his gradeschool music teacher, played by Kane, who is training to have her Bat Mitzvah.
- 1/20/2024
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
In a state of arrested development after his wife unexpectedly died from a freak accident, Ben Gottlieb (Jason Schwartzman) is suicidal, pleading to a truck to just run him over and begging that he be fired from his job as cantor at the local Jewish temple in upstate New York. While this set-up may not scream comedy, Between the Temples is in fact hilarious, packed with endless jokes and adoration for physical gags while we witness Ben find new meaning in life through an unexpected acquaintance. Above all, Nathan Silver’s feature, from a script he co-wrote with C. Mason Wells, is a thrillingly alive, nimble piece of filmmaking: shot on 16mm by Sean Price Williams with faces of its ensemble guiding every movement, and edited by John Magary with a frenetic yet defined rhythm, Between the Temples is a witty, biting portrait of finding one’s footing in both faith and friendship.
- 1/20/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Hollywood decamps for Park City this week, braving snow drifts and thin air in a quest to find the next indie breakouts, Oscar contenders and buzzy horror hits.
Yes, Sundance has returned in all its mountain-side glory, and with it comes the expectation that with enough tenacity and some big checks, studios and streamers will land the next “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Brooklyn,” “Manchester by the Sea” or “The Big Sick” (to rattle off just a few of the festival films that have sparked all-night bidding wars).
Of course, not every heated battle for the next big Sundance-bred hit leads to commercial success and Oscar glory (“Hamlet 2” or “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” know a bit about that). Even some of the 2023 films that landed major deals, such as John Carney’s “Flora and Son” or the Anne Hathaway-led “Eileen,” received a muted reception when they made...
Yes, Sundance has returned in all its mountain-side glory, and with it comes the expectation that with enough tenacity and some big checks, studios and streamers will land the next “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Brooklyn,” “Manchester by the Sea” or “The Big Sick” (to rattle off just a few of the festival films that have sparked all-night bidding wars).
Of course, not every heated battle for the next big Sundance-bred hit leads to commercial success and Oscar glory (“Hamlet 2” or “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” know a bit about that). Even some of the 2023 films that landed major deals, such as John Carney’s “Flora and Son” or the Anne Hathaway-led “Eileen,” received a muted reception when they made...
- 1/18/2024
- by Brent Lang, Rebecca Rubin and Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Writer-director Nathan Silver is harnessing a crisis of faith for his irreverent comedy “Between the Temples,” debuting at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
Silver, who has written and directed nine feature films and has had projects premiere at NYFF, Venice, Tribeca, AFI, Locarno, and Rotterdam, is making his Sundance debut with the feature. Silver was previously rejected by Sundance many times before “Between the Temples” landed in the U.S. Dramatic Competition programming lineup, his first time competing at the festival. “Between the Temples” is also among IndieWire’s must-see films at this year’s festival.
In “Between the Temples,” a cantor (Jason Schwartzman) in a crisis of faith finds his world turned upside down when his grade school music teacher reenters his life as his new adult bat mitzvah student (Carol Kane).
Robert Smigel, Annie Hamilton, Madeline Weinstein, and “Triangle of Sadness” alum Dolly de Leon also star.
“Between the Temples...
Silver, who has written and directed nine feature films and has had projects premiere at NYFF, Venice, Tribeca, AFI, Locarno, and Rotterdam, is making his Sundance debut with the feature. Silver was previously rejected by Sundance many times before “Between the Temples” landed in the U.S. Dramatic Competition programming lineup, his first time competing at the festival. “Between the Temples” is also among IndieWire’s must-see films at this year’s festival.
In “Between the Temples,” a cantor (Jason Schwartzman) in a crisis of faith finds his world turned upside down when his grade school music teacher reenters his life as his new adult bat mitzvah student (Carol Kane).
Robert Smigel, Annie Hamilton, Madeline Weinstein, and “Triangle of Sadness” alum Dolly de Leon also star.
“Between the Temples...
- 1/16/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Returning to an in-person edition, along with the continuation of virtual offerings, the Sundance Film Festival kicks off this Thursday and lasts through January 28, offering a first glimpse at the year in cinema. While the annual festival has its fair share of returning filmmakers, it is certainly most renowned as a beacon of discovery, and we look forward to providing extensive coverage that one can follow via our daily newsletter.
Before reviews arrive, we’re highlighting the premieres that should be on your radar––a few we’ve already had the opportunity to see. If you’re interested in experiencing Sundance in person or from afar, one can see available tickets here ahead of Thursday’s in-person opening and an online viewing window that kicks off January 25.
Between the Temples (Nathan Silver)
After working at a prolific pace throughout his early career, it’s been a few years since we...
Before reviews arrive, we’re highlighting the premieres that should be on your radar––a few we’ve already had the opportunity to see. If you’re interested in experiencing Sundance in person or from afar, one can see available tickets here ahead of Thursday’s in-person opening and an online viewing window that kicks off January 25.
Between the Temples (Nathan Silver)
After working at a prolific pace throughout his early career, it’s been a few years since we...
- 1/16/2024
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
On a recent Screen Talk podcast, producers Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman said they specifically tried to avoid overhyping T-Street’s film “Fair Play” before it sold to Netflix for $20 million and became Sundance 2023’s biggest sale. Elsewhere, Lily Gladstone took time at the IndieWire Honors gala to champion her competition title “Fancy Dance,” which to this day inexplicably hasn’t sold despite all the praise around it in last year’s competition slate.
Turns out, it was “Fancy Dance,” not “Fair Play,” that we included in last year’s Hot Sales Titles gallery. That shows how unpredictable Sundance can be, and why it’s so exciting. Surprise breakout hits pop every year. Movies with big star power don’t get scooped up by a streamer and give the little guys a chance to make a bid. And titles with all the buzz lose a lot of steam once audiences have finally seen them,...
Turns out, it was “Fancy Dance,” not “Fair Play,” that we included in last year’s Hot Sales Titles gallery. That shows how unpredictable Sundance can be, and why it’s so exciting. Surprise breakout hits pop every year. Movies with big star power don’t get scooped up by a streamer and give the little guys a chance to make a bid. And titles with all the buzz lose a lot of steam once audiences have finally seen them,...
- 1/16/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
After three years of virtual and hybrid event offerings, the Sundance Film Festival is set to celebrate its fortieth anniversary with its most robust in-person edition of the festival since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. While online offerings will still be available to those who wish to participate from home, with the official online viewing window opening on Thursday, January 25. That lineup will include at-home screenings of the five competition sections (including Next).
On the ground, however, seems like the place to be. As ever, this year’s festival boasts a wide variety of new films from some of our favorite filmmakers, plus an assortment of rising stars, new talents to keep an eye on, and perhaps a few surprises.
This year’s program includes new films from Steven Soderbergh, Debra Granik, David and Nathan Zellner, Richard Linklater, Lana Wilson, Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss, Dawn Porter, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden,...
On the ground, however, seems like the place to be. As ever, this year’s festival boasts a wide variety of new films from some of our favorite filmmakers, plus an assortment of rising stars, new talents to keep an eye on, and perhaps a few surprises.
This year’s program includes new films from Steven Soderbergh, Debra Granik, David and Nathan Zellner, Richard Linklater, Lana Wilson, Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss, Dawn Porter, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden,...
- 1/11/2024
- by Kate Erbland, David Ehrlich and Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
You wouldn’t expect an animated film about a talking iguana to draw equal inspiration from Andy Kaufman and “It’s a Wonderful Life,” but that just might help explain the wide appeal of Netflix’s smash hit “Leo.” It also makes perfect sense when you consider the creative minds behind Adam Sandler-led project, which includes his longtime collaborator and comedy’s not-so-secret weapon, Robert Smigel.
Though perhaps best known to audiences for his work as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, the foul-mouthed canine puppet who began life on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” where Smigel was the first head writer. But Smigel was also behind some of the most memorable comic moments of the last 30 years. On “Saturday Night Live” he created countless indelible sketches and the animated segment “TV Funhouse,” which received its own spin-off series on Comedy Central. He wrote and performed on the brilliant but short-lived “Dana Carvey Show,...
Though perhaps best known to audiences for his work as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, the foul-mouthed canine puppet who began life on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” where Smigel was the first head writer. But Smigel was also behind some of the most memorable comic moments of the last 30 years. On “Saturday Night Live” he created countless indelible sketches and the animated segment “TV Funhouse,” which received its own spin-off series on Comedy Central. He wrote and performed on the brilliant but short-lived “Dana Carvey Show,...
- 12/19/2023
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Taylor Bright, known in the industry for her knack for discovering young talent, has joined Thruline Entertainment as a talent manager.
Having previously been a manager at Entertainment Lab, and more recently at Stagecoach Entertainment, Bright begin her career in casting.
Among the clients joining Bright at Thruline are: Sadie Stanley (Cruel Summer), Lisette Olivera (National Treasure: Edge of History), Milly Shapiro (Hereditary), Zack Nelson (Wolf Pack), Jacob Ward (Somewhere in Queens), Daria Johns.
“We are so pleased to welcome Taylor to Thruline,” said Thruline partner Jb Roberts. “Her roster of young artists is impressive, as is the energy she brings to the company. Her eye for talent is remarkable and her entrepreneurial approach to representation makes her a perfect fit for our culture.”
Thruline Entertainment’s client roster includes actors Allison Janney, Eric Stonestreet, Michael Cera, Ron Livingston, John Hawkes and Blair Underwood, and writers Annie Mumolo,...
Having previously been a manager at Entertainment Lab, and more recently at Stagecoach Entertainment, Bright begin her career in casting.
Among the clients joining Bright at Thruline are: Sadie Stanley (Cruel Summer), Lisette Olivera (National Treasure: Edge of History), Milly Shapiro (Hereditary), Zack Nelson (Wolf Pack), Jacob Ward (Somewhere in Queens), Daria Johns.
“We are so pleased to welcome Taylor to Thruline,” said Thruline partner Jb Roberts. “Her roster of young artists is impressive, as is the energy she brings to the company. Her eye for talent is remarkable and her entrepreneurial approach to representation makes her a perfect fit for our culture.”
Thruline Entertainment’s client roster includes actors Allison Janney, Eric Stonestreet, Michael Cera, Ron Livingston, John Hawkes and Blair Underwood, and writers Annie Mumolo,...
- 12/13/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg in ‘A Real Pain’ (Courtesy of Sundance Institute)
82 films have been selected to screen during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. In addition, eight episodic titles and a New Frontier interactive experience have made the cut and will be included in the upcoming festival.
17,435 projects were submitted for 2024 inclusion, setting a new festival record.
“From the first edition in 1985, Sundance Film Festival has aimed to provide a space to gather, celebrate, and engage with risk-taking artists that are committed to bringing their independent visions to audiences — the Festival remains true to that goal to this day,” stated Robert Redford, Sundance Institute Founder and President. “It continues to evolve, but its legacy of showcasing bold work that starts necessary conversations continues with the 2024 program.”
The 40th Sundance Film Festival will take place January 18 – 28, 2024, in Park City and Salt Lake City. Ticket packages and passes are currently on sale.
82 films have been selected to screen during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. In addition, eight episodic titles and a New Frontier interactive experience have made the cut and will be included in the upcoming festival.
17,435 projects were submitted for 2024 inclusion, setting a new festival record.
“From the first edition in 1985, Sundance Film Festival has aimed to provide a space to gather, celebrate, and engage with risk-taking artists that are committed to bringing their independent visions to audiences — the Festival remains true to that goal to this day,” stated Robert Redford, Sundance Institute Founder and President. “It continues to evolve, but its legacy of showcasing bold work that starts necessary conversations continues with the 2024 program.”
The 40th Sundance Film Festival will take place January 18 – 28, 2024, in Park City and Salt Lake City. Ticket packages and passes are currently on sale.
- 12/6/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
It’s almost time again for me to pack my bags and head to Park City, Utah, for the 2024 edition of the Sundance Film Festival. The last few years have been challenging for the fest, with the 2021 and 2022 editions only being online due to the pandemic. The 2023 edition was a hybrid version that sported a few high-profile debuts, including A24’s horror hit Talk to Me, but overall was a bit of a modest year in terms of stuff that broke out. However, 2024 seems to be a high-end year for the fest, with tons of big stars on the way to the festival, including Pedro Pascal, Kristen Stewart (there with two movies), Sebastian Stan, Woody Harrelson and many more.
It’s always interesting to note the trend in storytelling at this famous indie fest. In recent years, the pandemic weighed highly on the fest, with many films acknowledging the toll it took,...
It’s always interesting to note the trend in storytelling at this famous indie fest. In recent years, the pandemic weighed highly on the fest, with many films acknowledging the toll it took,...
- 12/6/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Providing our first glimpse at the next year in cinema, the 2024 Sundance Film Festival has unveiled its lineup of 82 films, eight episodic titles, and New Frontier interactive experiences. Taking place January 18–28, 2024, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles available online nationwide from January 25–28, 2024, the festival celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
Notable highlights in this year’s edition includes Steven Soderbergh’s new Lucy Liu-led feature Presence, Rose Glass’ Love Lies Bleeding starring Kristen Stewart, Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw the TV Glow, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden’s Freaky Tales starring Pedro Pascal, the Zellners’ Sasquatch Sunset, Aaron Schimberg’s A Different Man, Handling the Undead starring Renate Reinsve and Anders Danielsen Lie, the Saoirse Ronan-led The Outrun, Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain, Nathan Silver’s Between the Temples starring Jason Schwartzman, Brett Story and Stephan Maing’s Amazon Labor Union documentary Union,...
Notable highlights in this year’s edition includes Steven Soderbergh’s new Lucy Liu-led feature Presence, Rose Glass’ Love Lies Bleeding starring Kristen Stewart, Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw the TV Glow, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden’s Freaky Tales starring Pedro Pascal, the Zellners’ Sasquatch Sunset, Aaron Schimberg’s A Different Man, Handling the Undead starring Renate Reinsve and Anders Danielsen Lie, the Saoirse Ronan-led The Outrun, Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain, Nathan Silver’s Between the Temples starring Jason Schwartzman, Brett Story and Stephan Maing’s Amazon Labor Union documentary Union,...
- 12/6/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The Sundance Institute has announced the feature film lineup for the 2024 festival, taking place January 18-28, 2024, in person in Utah, along with a selection of films available online across the U.S. January 25-28. The lineup includes Competition titles; the Premieres, Spotlight, and Episodic sections; and the Midnight slate, with 82 feature-length films (representing 24 countries); eight episodic titles; and a New Frontier interactive experience. Of the films and episodic titles, 94 percent are world premieres — many of which appeared on IndieWire’s Sundance Wish List.
Many recognizable filmmakers are presenting new work this time around, including Steven Soderbergh, Debra Granik, David and Nathan Zellner, Richard Linklater, Lana Wilson, Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss, Dawn Porter, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, Yance Ford, Ramona S. Diaz, Rory Kennedy, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, among many others.
Notable actors at the 2024 edition range from Kristen Stewart in “Love Lies Bleeding” and alongside Steven Yeun in “Love Me,...
Many recognizable filmmakers are presenting new work this time around, including Steven Soderbergh, Debra Granik, David and Nathan Zellner, Richard Linklater, Lana Wilson, Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss, Dawn Porter, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, Yance Ford, Ramona S. Diaz, Rory Kennedy, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, among many others.
Notable actors at the 2024 edition range from Kristen Stewart in “Love Lies Bleeding” and alongside Steven Yeun in “Love Me,...
- 12/6/2023
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
A broad range of titles, animation styles and plenty of music define this season’s animated feature race, with some expected contenders still to debut.
For instance, as the studio celebrates its centennial, Walt Disney Animation Studios hopes to grab one of the five nomination slots with its Nov. 22 musical Wish, which tells the story of how Disney’s wishing star came to be. Its voice cast is led by Ariana DeBose as young protagonist Asha and Chris Pine as villainous King Magnifico. The cast performs a collection of original songs from Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, including “This Wish,” “I’m a Star” and “This Is the Thanks I Get.” Oscar winner Chris Buck (Frozen) and Fawn Veerasunthorn direct, and Disney Animation chief creative officer and Oscar winner Jennifer Lee is a writer and executive producer.
This title joins an already crowded field. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse — the bold...
For instance, as the studio celebrates its centennial, Walt Disney Animation Studios hopes to grab one of the five nomination slots with its Nov. 22 musical Wish, which tells the story of how Disney’s wishing star came to be. Its voice cast is led by Ariana DeBose as young protagonist Asha and Chris Pine as villainous King Magnifico. The cast performs a collection of original songs from Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, including “This Wish,” “I’m a Star” and “This Is the Thanks I Get.” Oscar winner Chris Buck (Frozen) and Fawn Veerasunthorn direct, and Disney Animation chief creative officer and Oscar winner Jennifer Lee is a writer and executive producer.
This title joins an already crowded field. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse — the bold...
- 12/4/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: On the heels of a huge week for their Adam Sandler-led Netflix animated feature Leo, co-directed with Robert Smigel, David Wachtenheim and Robert Marianetti have signed with Independent Artist Group for representation.
A musical comedy also featuring voice work from Bill Burr, Cecily Strong and more, Leo tells the story of an elderly lizard of the same name, who plots an escape from his longtime home within a Florida school classroom terrarium, alongside a turtle friend. Now laying claim to the biggest ever debut for a Netflix animated feature, the film bowed at the top of the English films list for the week of November 20 to 26 with 34.6 million views.
A pair of writer-directors known for their specialty in animation, Wachtenheim and Marianetti first came to work with Sandler and his Happy Madison banner when they were were hired as Heads of Story on Hotel Transylvania 2. The pair...
A musical comedy also featuring voice work from Bill Burr, Cecily Strong and more, Leo tells the story of an elderly lizard of the same name, who plots an escape from his longtime home within a Florida school classroom terrarium, alongside a turtle friend. Now laying claim to the biggest ever debut for a Netflix animated feature, the film bowed at the top of the English films list for the week of November 20 to 26 with 34.6 million views.
A pair of writer-directors known for their specialty in animation, Wachtenheim and Marianetti first came to work with Sandler and his Happy Madison banner when they were were hired as Heads of Story on Hotel Transylvania 2. The pair...
- 11/30/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Leave it to Adam Sandler to deliver the animated surprise of the holiday season with the “SNL”-influenced “Leo” (currently streaming on Netflix). It’s a smart, funny, existential musical comedy about a jaded 74-year-old class pet lizard (voiced by Sandler), who dispenses advice to Florida fifth graders. It’s also a return to the indie roots of his last animated musical, “Eight Crazy Nights.”
But “Leo” is more personal. It’s the second Sandler family affair this year, following “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah”: Sandler’s wife, Jackie, and his daughters, Sunny and Sadie, voice characters in the film. In fact, the genesis of the project occurred when Sandler put on “Grease” for his daughters when they were tweens and realized that it was inappropriate.
That got Sandler thinking about doing a musical comedy centered around “Grease” for the fifth grade with long-time collaborator,...
But “Leo” is more personal. It’s the second Sandler family affair this year, following “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah”: Sandler’s wife, Jackie, and his daughters, Sunny and Sadie, voice characters in the film. In fact, the genesis of the project occurred when Sandler put on “Grease” for his daughters when they were tweens and realized that it was inappropriate.
That got Sandler thinking about doing a musical comedy centered around “Grease” for the fifth grade with long-time collaborator,...
- 11/27/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Leo is an animated musical comedy film directed by Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel, and David Wachtenheim, from a screenplay by Robert Smigel, Paul Sado, and Adam Sandler. The Netflix film revolves around Leo the Lizard who has been stuck in the same Florida school for over seven decades, and when he finds out that he only has a year to live but instead he ends up helping the students. Leo has a very talented star cast giving their voices to the characters including Sandler’s whole family, Bill Burr, Rob Schneider, Jason Alexander, and Cecily Strong. So, if you loved the Netflix film, here are some similar animated movies you could watch next.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Disney+) Credit – Disney+
Synopsis: Greg Heffley is a scrawny but ambitious kid with an active imagination and big plans to be rich and famous – he just has to survive middle school first.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Disney+) Credit – Disney+
Synopsis: Greg Heffley is a scrawny but ambitious kid with an active imagination and big plans to be rich and famous – he just has to survive middle school first.
- 11/24/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Leo, Dior’s Carousel of Dreams at Saks and a number of starry FYC screenings.
The Holdovers special screening
Focus Features hosted a special screening of The Holdovers in L.A. on Friday, followed by a Q&a moderated by filmmaker Taylor Hackford that featured director Alexander Payne, Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa, writer/producer David Hemingson and editor Kevin Tent. The event, held at the London West Hollywood, also featured a surprise meet up between Giamatti and Jeffrey Wright, who followed up a role in the Focus release Asteroid City with American Fiction.
Dominic Sessa, Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Alexander Payne Jeffrey Wright and Paul Giamatti
The Skatepark Project Gala
The Skatepark Project held its first-ever gala on Friday, celebrating more than...
The Holdovers special screening
Focus Features hosted a special screening of The Holdovers in L.A. on Friday, followed by a Q&a moderated by filmmaker Taylor Hackford that featured director Alexander Payne, Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa, writer/producer David Hemingson and editor Kevin Tent. The event, held at the London West Hollywood, also featured a surprise meet up between Giamatti and Jeffrey Wright, who followed up a role in the Focus release Asteroid City with American Fiction.
Dominic Sessa, Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Alexander Payne Jeffrey Wright and Paul Giamatti
The Skatepark Project Gala
The Skatepark Project held its first-ever gala on Friday, celebrating more than...
- 11/22/2023
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"Leo" is a new animated musical comedy feature, directed by Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel and David Wachtenheim, starring Adam Sandler as a 'jaded lizard', streaming November 21, 2023 on Netflix:
"...'Leo' (Sandler) is a jaded and desperate lizard living in an elementary school, looking for something different after a student suggests he is too old. So when the opportunity to explore the world presents itself, Leo jumps at it.
"But his plan to go home with a student is disrupted when the student discovers Leo can actually talk. Pretty soon, Leo learns that while the world has something to offer him, he also has things to offer..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...'Leo' (Sandler) is a jaded and desperate lizard living in an elementary school, looking for something different after a student suggests he is too old. So when the opportunity to explore the world presents itself, Leo jumps at it.
"But his plan to go home with a student is disrupted when the student discovers Leo can actually talk. Pretty soon, Leo learns that while the world has something to offer him, he also has things to offer..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 11/22/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Adam Sandler's latest animated movie, Leo, features a remarkable voice cast that includes the likes of Bill Burr and Cecily Strong.
Directed by Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel, and David Wachtenheim, Leo revolves around the story of the titular lizard as he guides several students during their final year in elementary school.
Leo is written by Sandler, Smigel, and Paul Sado, and it made its debut on Netflix on November 21.
Read full article on The Direct.
Directed by Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel, and David Wachtenheim, Leo revolves around the story of the titular lizard as he guides several students during their final year in elementary school.
Leo is written by Sandler, Smigel, and Paul Sado, and it made its debut on Netflix on November 21.
Read full article on The Direct.
- 11/21/2023
- by Aeron Mer Eclarinal
- The Direct
After 2023’s earlier surprise comedic family gem You Are Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah, Adam Sandler and his Happy Madison Productions have done it again for Netflix, this time in the delightful and remarkably wise CGI animated feature Leo. It is a charmer for kids and their parents who get a few lessons here along the way as well.
Sandler voices 74-year-old Iguana, Leo, as if he were about to take the lectern at a Friar’s Roast. Leo has lived his whole life on display in a fifth grade classroom with revolving groups of kids since the 1940s. Next to him is Bff Squirtle, a fast talking turtle voiced memorably by Bill Burr. They are kind of the Bert and Ernie of the classroom, talking only to each other, and never revealing to the kids or teachers that they can actually converse with humans too. Leo, for whatever reason,...
Sandler voices 74-year-old Iguana, Leo, as if he were about to take the lectern at a Friar’s Roast. Leo has lived his whole life on display in a fifth grade classroom with revolving groups of kids since the 1940s. Next to him is Bff Squirtle, a fast talking turtle voiced memorably by Bill Burr. They are kind of the Bert and Ernie of the classroom, talking only to each other, and never revealing to the kids or teachers that they can actually converse with humans too. Leo, for whatever reason,...
- 11/21/2023
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
The new animated film Leo feels like a passion project for Adam Sandler, who gave it his all, even though it was just through his voice, to bring a lizard alive on the screen. A lizard of all animals! Sure, there has been Rango, where Rango was a chameleon, but he could at least change colors! A lizard just sounds off for some reason, and here Sandler voices, not a young lizard but a 74-year-old one who wants to see the world, with probably just a year left before it croaks. And yet there is a heartwarming story here, where the lizard named Leo becomes the reason why the lives of fifth graders change for the better. Some stories have a plot that is perhaps too grim to be dealt with directly, and this is where children’s stories come in. Sometimes, they can harbor great themes that even lengthy...
- 11/21/2023
- by Ayush Awasthi
- Film Fugitives
Leo, the new Adam Sandler animated comedy, is a movie with an identity crisis. A sincere and sweet kids’ movie mashed up with a more subversive adult skewering of that genre, it’s funny and touching in parts but never adds up to a cohesive whole. It’s a fine distraction for family night, but never establishes its own identity.
Sandler dons a curmudgeonly voice as the titular character, a lizard who’s spent his entire life in a terrarium inside a fifth grade classroom. Old and jaded, Leo spends his days critiquing the kids and bemoaning the current state of parents and their children alongside his best friend, an equally cranky turtle named Squirtle, voiced by Bill Burr. When the 74-year-old Leo learns that he’s only one year away from the end of his anticipated lifespan, he plots an escape so that he can finally enjoy the high life in the Everglades.
Sandler dons a curmudgeonly voice as the titular character, a lizard who’s spent his entire life in a terrarium inside a fifth grade classroom. Old and jaded, Leo spends his days critiquing the kids and bemoaning the current state of parents and their children alongside his best friend, an equally cranky turtle named Squirtle, voiced by Bill Burr. When the 74-year-old Leo learns that he’s only one year away from the end of his anticipated lifespan, he plots an escape so that he can finally enjoy the high life in the Everglades.
- 11/21/2023
- by Chris Williams
- CinemaNerdz
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.