From modern classics to iconic series, there are so many great mysteries to watch now that the latest murder at the Arconia has been solved.
It’s a wrap on yet another high-octane season of Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building!” The Emmy Award-winning murder-mystery comedy series starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez aired its Season 4 finale on Tuesday, Oct. 29 as the lead crime-solving trio finally found who stunted stuntwoman Sazz’s further life and career ambitions. And as is tradition for the series, the season ended as it began: in carnage, as celebration turns to suspicion and a beloved Arconia fixture becomes the latest victim.
To paraphrase the one and only Charles Brazzos, when one murder door closes, another opens. There will be more cases to crack in future seasons of “Only Murders,” but while this case is closed, don’t let your detective instincts get rusty.
It’s a wrap on yet another high-octane season of Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building!” The Emmy Award-winning murder-mystery comedy series starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez aired its Season 4 finale on Tuesday, Oct. 29 as the lead crime-solving trio finally found who stunted stuntwoman Sazz’s further life and career ambitions. And as is tradition for the series, the season ended as it began: in carnage, as celebration turns to suspicion and a beloved Arconia fixture becomes the latest victim.
To paraphrase the one and only Charles Brazzos, when one murder door closes, another opens. There will be more cases to crack in future seasons of “Only Murders,” but while this case is closed, don’t let your detective instincts get rusty.
- 10/30/2024
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Much has been made of the incestuous portrayal of the Menendez brothers in “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” But the actors behind the widely discussed Netflix original want viewers to know this element of the series isn’t necessarily based on fact.
“To be honest with you, I don’t remember reading any of that in my research. So if he did suggest that, it was a suggestion as it is at this dinner party where he talks for 20 pages,” Nathan Lane told TheWrap of Vanity Fair reporter Dominick Dunne.
During the dinner party in question, Dunne (Lane) entertains his guests with an onslaught of questions and theories about the case, questioning why the brothers didn’t bring up their alleged abuse sooner.
“Then he suggests maybe this is a possible scenario, and they cut away to Kitty walking in on them in the shower,” Lane explained. “That...
“To be honest with you, I don’t remember reading any of that in my research. So if he did suggest that, it was a suggestion as it is at this dinner party where he talks for 20 pages,” Nathan Lane told TheWrap of Vanity Fair reporter Dominick Dunne.
During the dinner party in question, Dunne (Lane) entertains his guests with an onslaught of questions and theories about the case, questioning why the brothers didn’t bring up their alleged abuse sooner.
“Then he suggests maybe this is a possible scenario, and they cut away to Kitty walking in on them in the shower,” Lane explained. “That...
- 9/27/2024
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
In Álvaro López Alba’s “Three Summer Days” (“Tres días de verano”), a vacationing family’s dissimilar takes on an event threatens to drive them apart. It follows a father and his two kids on a beach holiday, the young girl, Cris, has fallen for a boy, causing a rift in her friendship with pal Miri. Her brother Dani, feeling isolated, spends the summer confined to his room, fixated on Miri.
Meanwhile, their father is engaged in a secret affair he desperately tries to conceal from them. Over these three days at the beach, the family will struggle to reconnect as insecurities, jealousy and hidden truths unravel their close-knit world.
“I’ve based the story on personal experiences and that of my family and people around me,” López Alba told Variety, who only started making short films some six years ago, and in earnest over the past three.
Given his experience as a psychologist,...
Meanwhile, their father is engaged in a secret affair he desperately tries to conceal from them. Over these three days at the beach, the family will struggle to reconnect as insecurities, jealousy and hidden truths unravel their close-knit world.
“I’ve based the story on personal experiences and that of my family and people around me,” López Alba told Variety, who only started making short films some six years ago, and in earnest over the past three.
Given his experience as a psychologist,...
- 9/25/2024
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Acclaimed television producer Ryan Murphy addressed criticism of his latest Netflix series, which dramatizes the tragic case of brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez. The series has sparked controversy over its depiction of a possible incestuous relationship between the brothers. In interviews, Murphy defended creative decisions in the show and emphasized the careful handling of sensitive topics.
Murphy explained that the series aims to present multiple perspectives on the complex case. It incorporates theories from people involved, like journalist Dominique Dunne. The producer said one episode focuses on the therapist Leslie Abramson’s view of events. Murphy believes the show has an “obligation” to share diverse opinions raised over decades.
However, Erik Menendez criticized the series as an “dishonest portrayal” that hinders understanding of abuse trauma. But Murphy noted Erik did not watch the show before commenting. About 60-65% of episodes center on abuse claims, according to Murphy. He said the...
Murphy explained that the series aims to present multiple perspectives on the complex case. It incorporates theories from people involved, like journalist Dominique Dunne. The producer said one episode focuses on the therapist Leslie Abramson’s view of events. Murphy believes the show has an “obligation” to share diverse opinions raised over decades.
However, Erik Menendez criticized the series as an “dishonest portrayal” that hinders understanding of abuse trauma. But Murphy noted Erik did not watch the show before commenting. About 60-65% of episodes center on abuse claims, according to Murphy. He said the...
- 9/24/2024
- by Naser Nahandian
- Gazettely
Ryan Murphy is defending his latest Netflix series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” which has stirred up controversy since its streaming debut on Sept. 19. The show covers the 1989 murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez by their sons, Lyle and Erik, and the subsequent trials that ended in their conviction in 1996. The real Erik Menendez has slammed the show, saying Murphy was “naive and inaccurate” in his portrayal of the brothers.
“I think it’s interesting that he’s issued a statement without having seen the show,” Murphy said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight in response to Erik’s criticism. “It’s really, really hard — if it’s your life — to see your life up on screen.”
“The thing that I find interesting that he doesn’t mention in his quote, is if you watch the show, I would say 60 to 65 percent of our show in the scripts...
“I think it’s interesting that he’s issued a statement without having seen the show,” Murphy said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight in response to Erik’s criticism. “It’s really, really hard — if it’s your life — to see your life up on screen.”
“The thing that I find interesting that he doesn’t mention in his quote, is if you watch the show, I would say 60 to 65 percent of our show in the scripts...
- 9/24/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Cooper Koch, who plays Erik Menendez in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series “Monsters,” told TheWrap how he got into character to play the convicted murderer.
“I turned my trailer into Erik’s room so I had clothes everywhere, and I had pictures of him on the wall, pictures of me too,” said the actor, whose previous credits include “They/Them” and “Power Book II: Ghost,” at Monday night’s Los Angeles premiere.
Erik was 21 and his brother Lyle was 18 in 1989 when they shot and killed their parents, José and Kitty (played in the series by Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny) after years of alleged abuse. Both brothers were convicted and are still serving life sentences in prison.
“I looked at videos of me when I was really young, and I watched how my parents treated me, which gave me a level of gratitude for my family and my parents. I listened to [Erik] and watched him religiously.
“I turned my trailer into Erik’s room so I had clothes everywhere, and I had pictures of him on the wall, pictures of me too,” said the actor, whose previous credits include “They/Them” and “Power Book II: Ghost,” at Monday night’s Los Angeles premiere.
Erik was 21 and his brother Lyle was 18 in 1989 when they shot and killed their parents, José and Kitty (played in the series by Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny) after years of alleged abuse. Both brothers were convicted and are still serving life sentences in prison.
“I looked at videos of me when I was really young, and I watched how my parents treated me, which gave me a level of gratitude for my family and my parents. I listened to [Erik] and watched him religiously.
- 9/19/2024
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
FX’s Shogun extended its reign over the 2024 Emmys on Sunday night. Going into the evening, the hit samurai series already held the record for the most wins by any show in a single year, having bagged 14 trophies at the Creative Arts Emmys a week ago. But the show further cemented its rule inside the Peacock Theater at the Primetime Emmys, winning an additional four awards, including the top categories of best drama series, best actress in a drama series for Anna Sawai, best actor in a drama series for Hiroyuki Sanada and best drama directing for Frederick E.O. Toye.
Shogun’s triumph is momentous on several fronts. The historic awards haul represents a huge win for FX and parent company Disney for a pricey series that took nearly 10 years to bring to fruition and once looked like a very uncertain bet. It’s also a major moment for Asian representation and non-English-language television.
Shogun’s triumph is momentous on several fronts. The historic awards haul represents a huge win for FX and parent company Disney for a pricey series that took nearly 10 years to bring to fruition and once looked like a very uncertain bet. It’s also a major moment for Asian representation and non-English-language television.
- 9/16/2024
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A brutally violent directorial debut, Christopher Andrews’ rural Irish drama “Bring Them Down” veers between pitch-black humor and pervading melancholy. A tale of fathers, sons, and mutilated sheep, it toys with narrative point of view in “Rashomon”-like fashion, but keeps pressing questions of masculinity and cycles of sadness hovering just out of view. Fittingly, like its emotionally stunted male characters, it doesn’t confront these notions head on, but lets them quietly build in the form of a simmering blood feud that feels all-encompassing in the moment, but upon taking a step back, reveals a pitiable quality.
A brief but distressing prologue — told through alternating chaos and silence — reveals a car crash. Michael (Christopher Abbott), upon finding out that his mother had planned to leave his father, sped off in a fit of uncontrollable emotion and swerved off the road. His mother, in the passenger’s seat, was killed on impact.
A brief but distressing prologue — told through alternating chaos and silence — reveals a car crash. Michael (Christopher Abbott), upon finding out that his mother had planned to leave his father, sped off in a fit of uncontrollable emotion and swerved off the road. His mother, in the passenger’s seat, was killed on impact.
- 9/10/2024
- by Siddhant Adlakha
- Variety Film + TV
Is it wrong to say something good came out of fascism? Probably. And it should be noted that Venice International Film Festival’s founder, Guiseppe Volpi, though a leading figure within Italy’s National Fascist Party, did ultimately oppose Benito Mussolini‘s government and the country’s alliance with Germany and Adolf Hitler. Nonetheless, his legacy is tainted as a result of this association, even with his and his family’s massive contributions to cinema.
The Venice International Film Festival began in 1932 as a result of Italy’s growing appreciation and interest in film. The Floating City had already played host to an arts festival known as Venice Biennale since 1893, so this film section was tied in and quickly overshadowed all other showcases. The actual event is held on the island of Lido rather than in the city’s central hub. This location was chosen in order to increase tourism...
The Venice International Film Festival began in 1932 as a result of Italy’s growing appreciation and interest in film. The Floating City had already played host to an arts festival known as Venice Biennale since 1893, so this film section was tied in and quickly overshadowed all other showcases. The actual event is held on the island of Lido rather than in the city’s central hub. This location was chosen in order to increase tourism...
- 9/2/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
In the midst of their press tour for Zoë Kravitz’s feature directorial debut, “Blink Twice,” starring romantic partner Channing Tatum, the duo took a not-so-brief pit-stop at the Criterion Closet to score a bevy of cinematic treats. Many of their choices outlined their shared eclectic taste and emphasized a relationship largely based around a love for films of all kind.
“We’re so excited to be here, this is like a dream come true,” Kravitz said as she and Tatum began their shopping spree. “I grew up in video stores, so this is also just a nice feeling cause that’s not really a thing anymore, sadly.”
Though the video was shot prior to the death of Gena Rowlands and posted on the day the news broke, there’s a serendipitous homage to the late actor, as well her husband and collaborator John Cassavetes.
“We love Cassavetes,” Kravitz said...
“We’re so excited to be here, this is like a dream come true,” Kravitz said as she and Tatum began their shopping spree. “I grew up in video stores, so this is also just a nice feeling cause that’s not really a thing anymore, sadly.”
Though the video was shot prior to the death of Gena Rowlands and posted on the day the news broke, there’s a serendipitous homage to the late actor, as well her husband and collaborator John Cassavetes.
“We love Cassavetes,” Kravitz said...
- 8/18/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Every great screen performance expands the medium in its own way, giving audiences something to respond to, while offering fresh ideas to future actors. A select few can be said to have redefined the craft entirely: Orson Welles in “Citizen Kane,” Marlon Brando in “On the Waterfront,” Toshiro Mifune in “Rashomon” and Gena Rowlands in “A Woman Under the Influence.”
Rowlands died Wednesday at age 94, half a century after “A Woman Under the Influence” premiered at the New York Film Festival in 1974. Rowlands was the last to go from among a tight clique of titans — actors who transformed modern cinema: Peter Falk, Seymour Cassel, Ben Gazzara and, of course, Rowlands’ late husband, actor-director John Cassavetes.
Younger audiences who know Rowlands only as the memory-challenged older woman in “The Notebook” (directed by her son Nick Cassavetes) or for her Emmy-winning turn in “Hysterical Blindness” owe it to themselves to investigate her most important work,...
Rowlands died Wednesday at age 94, half a century after “A Woman Under the Influence” premiered at the New York Film Festival in 1974. Rowlands was the last to go from among a tight clique of titans — actors who transformed modern cinema: Peter Falk, Seymour Cassel, Ben Gazzara and, of course, Rowlands’ late husband, actor-director John Cassavetes.
Younger audiences who know Rowlands only as the memory-challenged older woman in “The Notebook” (directed by her son Nick Cassavetes) or for her Emmy-winning turn in “Hysterical Blindness” owe it to themselves to investigate her most important work,...
- 8/15/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
This post contains spoilers for "Deadpool & Wolverine."
As the actor and creative force behind the Deadpool movies, actor and co-screenwriter Ryan Reynolds arguably knows the character better than anyone at this point, but before Hugh Jackman joined the cast of what would eventually become "Deadpool & Wolverine," Reynolds and director Shawn Levy were scrambling to find an idea worthy of a third "Deadpool" film. Without Wolverine as a key player, what story were they going to tell instead?
Reynolds has previously revealed that a very early incarnation of the film would have been a "Rashomon style" road trip movie featuring Deadpool and Wolverine. But when Disney bought Fox, things got complicated and that idea fell by the wayside ... well, most of it, anyway. Earlier this year, Reynolds shared that he came up with many different treatments for what the movie could be, and one of them was "almost like a Sundance film,...
As the actor and creative force behind the Deadpool movies, actor and co-screenwriter Ryan Reynolds arguably knows the character better than anyone at this point, but before Hugh Jackman joined the cast of what would eventually become "Deadpool & Wolverine," Reynolds and director Shawn Levy were scrambling to find an idea worthy of a third "Deadpool" film. Without Wolverine as a key player, what story were they going to tell instead?
Reynolds has previously revealed that a very early incarnation of the film would have been a "Rashomon style" road trip movie featuring Deadpool and Wolverine. But when Disney bought Fox, things got complicated and that idea fell by the wayside ... well, most of it, anyway. Earlier this year, Reynolds shared that he came up with many different treatments for what the movie could be, and one of them was "almost like a Sundance film,...
- 7/26/2024
- by Ben Pearson
- Slash Film
In the modern age of streaming and prestige TV, less is often considered more. A season of TV will be six, eight, or if you’re really lucky, 10 episodes long. It has been a bone of contention. During the recent writers’ strike, shorter seasons of streaming shows was one of the fields of conflict.
On the other hand, in a recent interview with CinemaBlend, Star Trek’s current head honcho Alex Kurtzman argued, “it’s funny you can talk to old writers of old Trek series, and they’re like, ‘Man, there’s a bunch of filler episodes in there. We are just trying to get to 22 a season,’ you know, and, and we all know which of those episodes were [filler], we know the ones that were truly stellar from the ones that felt like they were kind of spinning their wheels.”
A similar discussion has arisen as Lost has appeared on Netflix,...
On the other hand, in a recent interview with CinemaBlend, Star Trek’s current head honcho Alex Kurtzman argued, “it’s funny you can talk to old writers of old Trek series, and they’re like, ‘Man, there’s a bunch of filler episodes in there. We are just trying to get to 22 a season,’ you know, and, and we all know which of those episodes were [filler], we know the ones that were truly stellar from the ones that felt like they were kind of spinning their wheels.”
A similar discussion has arisen as Lost has appeared on Netflix,...
- 7/20/2024
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
One could say it’s a “by-the-numbers” summer with “Despicable Me 4,” “Inside Out 2”” and “A Quiet Place: Day One” among the top box office films. But one of the masterpieces of the 20th century, Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai,” is back in theaters for its 70th anniversary in a limited release in a new 4K restoration. The acclaimed, influential epic is set in a 16th century Japanese village of poor farmers who hire the seven samurai to protect them from invading bandits intent on stealing their barley crop.
The film stars two members of Japanese filmmaker’s stock company — Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura. “Samurai” as noted in the press notes for the new restoration “virtually redefined Japanese cinema’s sword play and period genres, proving Kurosawa a master of both visually thrilling and dramatically complex storytelling.”
Though “Seven Samurai” was released in Japan on April 26, 1954, and was...
The film stars two members of Japanese filmmaker’s stock company — Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura. “Samurai” as noted in the press notes for the new restoration “virtually redefined Japanese cinema’s sword play and period genres, proving Kurosawa a master of both visually thrilling and dramatically complex storytelling.”
Though “Seven Samurai” was released in Japan on April 26, 1954, and was...
- 7/17/2024
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
A third Deadpool movie has been in the works for a while – so long, in fact, that the script has been through some pretty major changes…
Ryan Reynolds, as it turns out, has been flying the flag for a Deadpool & Wolverine movie for longer than most. In the early days of the Disney-Fox merger (long before Hugh Jackman was officially on board to re-attach his claws) he even approached Kevin Feige with a fascinating proposition.
“As a Rashomon story should be, the first act is just through the prism of my experience, so I see Wolverine a certain way” the Deadpool star said at a press conference today. “In the second act Wolverine sees me a certain way, and the third act is the objective.”
Marvel’s head honcho unfortunately passed on a tale of Kurosawa-inspired spandex. The project spent some time on ice, but once Jackman decided he...
Ryan Reynolds, as it turns out, has been flying the flag for a Deadpool & Wolverine movie for longer than most. In the early days of the Disney-Fox merger (long before Hugh Jackman was officially on board to re-attach his claws) he even approached Kevin Feige with a fascinating proposition.
“As a Rashomon story should be, the first act is just through the prism of my experience, so I see Wolverine a certain way” the Deadpool star said at a press conference today. “In the second act Wolverine sees me a certain way, and the third act is the objective.”
Marvel’s head honcho unfortunately passed on a tale of Kurosawa-inspired spandex. The project spent some time on ice, but once Jackman decided he...
- 7/12/2024
- by James Harvey
- Film Stories
The release of Deadpool & Wolverine is just around the corner and we could not be more excited. From what we have seen and heard so far, we have absolutely no doubt that the film is going to break records left and right, and revive the theatres this month. Starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, Deadpool 3 is on track to become Marvel Cinematic Universe’s next best thing.
Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) | Marvel Studios
We are convinced that Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy worked together to find the perfect story for Deadpool’s entry into the MCU. However, there was a time when they were struggling to come up with a story and that’s when Ryan Reynolds suggested an absurd plotline involving Karan Soni’s Dopinder that would have ruined the film and placed it below Madame Web.
Ryan Reynolds and His Ridiculous Idea for Deadpool 3...
Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) | Marvel Studios
We are convinced that Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy worked together to find the perfect story for Deadpool’s entry into the MCU. However, there was a time when they were struggling to come up with a story and that’s when Ryan Reynolds suggested an absurd plotline involving Karan Soni’s Dopinder that would have ruined the film and placed it below Madame Web.
Ryan Reynolds and His Ridiculous Idea for Deadpool 3...
- 7/3/2024
- by Mishkaat Khan
- FandomWire
“Seven Types of Ambiguity,” the Australian TV series involving a mystery told from the shifting perspective of seven characters, is getting an Arabic adaptation as an original production for beIN Media Group’s Tod streaming platform.
Titled “Mirage” or alternately (“Sarab”) in Arabic, the first international adaptation of the six-part ABC series – which is based on the acclaimed novel by Australian author Elliot Perlman, revolving around the disappearance of a child in suburban Melbourne — is being transposed to a Middle East setting. Just like the original, each episode of the ten-part Rashomon-like show is told from a different point of view.
Shooting is underway on the Arabic adaptation of “Seven Types of Ambiguity” which is being directed by Egypt’s Ahmed Khaled (“The Thief of Baghdad”) and toplines Egypt’s Khaled El Nabawy (“Kingdom of Heaven”) and Yosra El Lozy who recently starred in surrogacy-themed Ramadan drama “Selat Rahem.
Titled “Mirage” or alternately (“Sarab”) in Arabic, the first international adaptation of the six-part ABC series – which is based on the acclaimed novel by Australian author Elliot Perlman, revolving around the disappearance of a child in suburban Melbourne — is being transposed to a Middle East setting. Just like the original, each episode of the ten-part Rashomon-like show is told from a different point of view.
Shooting is underway on the Arabic adaptation of “Seven Types of Ambiguity” which is being directed by Egypt’s Ahmed Khaled (“The Thief of Baghdad”) and toplines Egypt’s Khaled El Nabawy (“Kingdom of Heaven”) and Yosra El Lozy who recently starred in surrogacy-themed Ramadan drama “Selat Rahem.
- 6/26/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid films has been one of the most iconic characters in pop culture. The role played a massive part in elevating the late Asian-American star. While it can be stated that it was a blessing for Morita, the late actor had some significant regrets for doing the commercially and critically successful film.
Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid | Columbia Pictures
Typecasting is one of the most prevalent issues in the industry. Several prominent faces like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Hugh Grant hustled to come out of it and land more varied projects. As claimed by the late actor’s daughter, Pat Morita also fell into the trap of typecasting after The Karate Kid.
How did The Karate Kid affect Pat Morita’s career?
Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita from The Karate Kid
Initially, Pat Morita was not a favorite for the role of Mr.
Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid | Columbia Pictures
Typecasting is one of the most prevalent issues in the industry. Several prominent faces like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Hugh Grant hustled to come out of it and land more varied projects. As claimed by the late actor’s daughter, Pat Morita also fell into the trap of typecasting after The Karate Kid.
How did The Karate Kid affect Pat Morita’s career?
Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita from The Karate Kid
Initially, Pat Morita was not a favorite for the role of Mr.
- 6/22/2024
- by Subham Mandal
- FandomWire
The latest film from writer/director Jeff Nichols, the superlative narrative adaptation of a book of photos by photographer Danny Lyon titled The Bikeriders, proves to be one of the modern equivalent of iconic films such as The Wild One (1953) or Easy Rider (1969).
The film is told from the point of view of Kathy (Jodie Comer) via an ongoing interview conducted by a photo-journalist named Danny (Mike Faist) – upon whose book the film is based. Kathy’s story begins with her meeting Benny (Austin Butler) when he, and the rest of his motorcycle “club,” stop by her local bar for a drink. Immediately taken with Danny, Kathy joins him, and the club – known as the Vandals – on their quest for independence and freedom. The leader of the Vandals, Johnny (Tom Hardy), looks upon Danny as his successor. But, as the club evolves around them – much like the culture of the...
The film is told from the point of view of Kathy (Jodie Comer) via an ongoing interview conducted by a photo-journalist named Danny (Mike Faist) – upon whose book the film is based. Kathy’s story begins with her meeting Benny (Austin Butler) when he, and the rest of his motorcycle “club,” stop by her local bar for a drink. Immediately taken with Danny, Kathy joins him, and the club – known as the Vandals – on their quest for independence and freedom. The leader of the Vandals, Johnny (Tom Hardy), looks upon Danny as his successor. But, as the club evolves around them – much like the culture of the...
- 6/21/2024
- by Mike Tyrkus
- CinemaNerdz
Mild spoilers ahead for the first four episodes of "Star Wars: The Acolyte".
Akira Kurosawa's work has been a cornerstone of "Star Wars" since the very beginning. George Lucas's original synopsis for "Star Wars" was, in large part, just the synopsis of Kurosawa's "The Hidden Fortress" with the Japanese names crossed out and the science fiction names of "Star Wars" filled in. The story evolved from there, adding in more swashbuckling and "Flash Gordon" influences. Throw in some "Thx-1138" and "American Graffiti" and you get a world that only George Lucas could have blended up.
From that point forward, Kurosawa has been a major influence on virtually all of the "Star Wars" movies and TV shows. In press events leading up to its release, Lawrence Kasdan cited Kurosawa's "High and Low" as a key reference to "The Force Awakens." Director Rian Johnson clearly loved "Rashomon" and pulled its...
Akira Kurosawa's work has been a cornerstone of "Star Wars" since the very beginning. George Lucas's original synopsis for "Star Wars" was, in large part, just the synopsis of Kurosawa's "The Hidden Fortress" with the Japanese names crossed out and the science fiction names of "Star Wars" filled in. The story evolved from there, adding in more swashbuckling and "Flash Gordon" influences. Throw in some "Thx-1138" and "American Graffiti" and you get a world that only George Lucas could have blended up.
From that point forward, Kurosawa has been a major influence on virtually all of the "Star Wars" movies and TV shows. In press events leading up to its release, Lawrence Kasdan cited Kurosawa's "High and Low" as a key reference to "The Force Awakens." Director Rian Johnson clearly loved "Rashomon" and pulled its...
- 6/19/2024
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
With "House of the Dragon," showrunner Ryan Condal has to do the impossible. First, he has to deliver a series that matches the ridiculous highs of "Game of Thrones," one of the most popular TV shows of all time. But he also has to deliver a series that unites fans again after the divisive (to put it mildly) finale of the previous show, which still ignites passionate conversation to this day. And while the first season of HBO's prequel series was a strong proof of concept, season 2 of "House of the Dragon" proves that the epic fantasy series is pulling off that balancing act, delivering its own unique story set in George R.R. Martin's fantasy kingdom of Westeros while capturing the intense and often horrifying tone that made "Game of Thrones" such a sensation.
Ahead of the season premiere, I sat down with Condal over Zoom to talk about...
Ahead of the season premiere, I sat down with Condal over Zoom to talk about...
- 6/17/2024
- by Jacob Hall
- Slash Film
The 1970 war epic "Tora! Tora! Tora!" takes place from August 1939 to December 1941, dramatizing the wartime events that led up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. The film alternately follows the American and the Japanese military during the same 29-month period, with the American sequences directed by Richard Fleischer and the Japanese sequences directed by Kinji Fukusaku (of "Battle Royale" fame) and Toshiro Masuda. 20th Century Fox ultra-producer Darryl F. Zanuck conceived of the project, as he wanted to give a proper telling of both sides of Pearl Harbor while also wanting to partially exonerate the American military (which had previously been blamed for its inability to prevent the attack).
Planning and shooting "Tora!" took an amazingly long amount of time. Pre-production wrangling lasted about three years, with principal photography taking an entire eight months. To make sure the Japanese segments would be handled by a master, Fox hired Akira Kurosawa to co-direct.
Planning and shooting "Tora!" took an amazingly long amount of time. Pre-production wrangling lasted about three years, with principal photography taking an entire eight months. To make sure the Japanese segments would be handled by a master, Fox hired Akira Kurosawa to co-direct.
- 6/15/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Ryan Reynolds has long been simmering with ideas for a Deadpool and Wolverine team-up. His desire for a Deadpool movie dates back to 2003, with an added twist as he envisioned a more classic approach for the pairing.
Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in an official still for Deadpool & Wolverine | Marvel Entertainment
Reynolds once shared his initial concept with Kevin Feige, pitching a film like the Japanese Classic Rashomon, where Wolverine and Deadpool find themselves in a shared adventure, yet each character’s perspective tells a different tale. While this idea didn’t come to fruition, it’s undeniably intriguing.
Ryan Reynolds Initially Pitched a Rashomon-esque Idea for Deadpool & Wolverine
For the unversed, Rashomon, by Akira Kurosawa, is a classic film that explores the subjectivity of truth through the retelling of a crime from multiple perspectives. Each narrative offers a different interpretation of events, leaving the audience...
Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in an official still for Deadpool & Wolverine | Marvel Entertainment
Reynolds once shared his initial concept with Kevin Feige, pitching a film like the Japanese Classic Rashomon, where Wolverine and Deadpool find themselves in a shared adventure, yet each character’s perspective tells a different tale. While this idea didn’t come to fruition, it’s undeniably intriguing.
Ryan Reynolds Initially Pitched a Rashomon-esque Idea for Deadpool & Wolverine
For the unversed, Rashomon, by Akira Kurosawa, is a classic film that explores the subjectivity of truth through the retelling of a crime from multiple perspectives. Each narrative offers a different interpretation of events, leaving the audience...
- 6/10/2024
- by Sampurna Banerjee
- FandomWire
Few feats in filmmaking are rarer that churning out a string of classics within the span of a few years. It's the cineaste equivalent of, I dunno, whatever sports metaphor you deem fit to slot in here. John McTiernan did it by delivering "Predator," "Die Hard," and "The Hunt for Red October" back-to-back-to-back, while Francis Ford Coppola did him one better by helming "The Godfather," "The Conversation," and "The Godfather Part II" within the span of two years before returning five years later with "Apocalypse Now." But for my money, fews runs can match that of Akira Kurosawa in the '50s, a time in which the Japanese legend gifted us with "Rashōmon," "Ikiru," "Seven Samurai," "Throne of Blood," and "The Hidden Fortress," all before the decade was over.
Now, in the latest bid to boost 2024's sagging box office with an exciting theatrical re-release, Janus Films is celebrating "Seven Samurai...
Now, in the latest bid to boost 2024's sagging box office with an exciting theatrical re-release, Janus Films is celebrating "Seven Samurai...
- 6/7/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Akira Kurosawa’s classic epic “Seven Samurai” is celebrating its 70th anniversary with a 4K restoration and theatrical re-release.
“Seven Samurai” centers on 16th-century Japanese warriors who protect their village from invaders. Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura lead the three-hour feature hailing from legendary auteur Kurosawa. “Seven Samurai” was his third film following “Rashomon” and “Ikiru.” “Seven Samurai” famously debuted at the 1954 Venice Film Festival, where Kurosawa won the Silver Lion for Best Director.
The 70th anniversary 4K restoration was made possible by Toho Co. Ltd, which released the original film. The restored film debuted at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival; the festival further honored Kurosawa’s contributions to cinema by incorporating a still of “Rhapsody in August” in the official Cannes poster.
The restoration of “Seven Samurai” will be released in the U.S. by Janus Films. Deadline debuted the trailer.
“Seven Samurai” infamously quadrupled its budget during production, with...
“Seven Samurai” centers on 16th-century Japanese warriors who protect their village from invaders. Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura lead the three-hour feature hailing from legendary auteur Kurosawa. “Seven Samurai” was his third film following “Rashomon” and “Ikiru.” “Seven Samurai” famously debuted at the 1954 Venice Film Festival, where Kurosawa won the Silver Lion for Best Director.
The 70th anniversary 4K restoration was made possible by Toho Co. Ltd, which released the original film. The restored film debuted at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival; the festival further honored Kurosawa’s contributions to cinema by incorporating a still of “Rhapsody in August” in the official Cannes poster.
The restoration of “Seven Samurai” will be released in the U.S. by Janus Films. Deadline debuted the trailer.
“Seven Samurai” infamously quadrupled its budget during production, with...
- 6/6/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
How Things Used to Be Assuming you’re not too young, you probably remember what life was like before the age of high-speed and high-quality video streaming; it was a dark, primitive period in human history. Of course, given my age, some of my fondest childhood memories leading up to high school are inextricably connected with watching movies on pieces of physical media, be they VHS tapes or scratched-up DVDs. My parents sometimes bought copies for our living room setup, but more often than not we would rent movies from our local Blockbuster. It’s important to remember that before the chain eroded completely in 2014, Blockbuster was the video rental place, and indeed my first encounters with more niche cinema came from roaming the aisles of that bygone store. I specifically remember my mother renting a copy of the Oscar-winning German film ‘The Lives of Others,’ when that movie’s...
- 6/3/2024
- by Brian Collins
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Few might remember John McTiernan's 2003 military thriller "Basic," a film that was, at the time, touted as a grand reunion between "Pulp Fiction" stars John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson. Because of its star power, "Basic" cost $50 million to make, but raked in a paltry $43 million at the box office. It currently sits at a 21% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and I recall reading Roger Ebert's scathing one-star review with a wince; Ebert said that "Basic" was "was not a film that could be understood," stating that it was so twisty and full of trickery that is might be better called a "jerk-around movie." To elucidate on Ebert's point, the plot description for "Basic" on Wikipedia runs eleven paragraphs. The film is only 98 minutes long.
The plot can, however, be explained (kind of), and we shall now, dear readers, endeavor to unpack this forgotten 2003 thriller for all future generations.
The plot can, however, be explained (kind of), and we shall now, dear readers, endeavor to unpack this forgotten 2003 thriller for all future generations.
- 5/26/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The last decade has seen the success of Asian titles conquering not only the hearts of millions of viewers around the world, but also the streaming charts and international awards. These include such impeccable thrillers as Burning (2018), Parasite (2019) and Decision to Leave (2022), with all of them making noise at the Cannes Film Festival.
Despite the fact that most of the acclaimed Asian thrillers are South Korean, last year’s movie broke this Cannes’ tendency, as it was created by the Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda. His recent work is now climbing Netflix’s chart, and here’s why.
Its plot revolves around a mother who notices her son behaving strangely: all of a sudden, he cuts his hair or comes home with only one shoe on. Then she decides to meet his teacher, assuming he’s responsible for it, however, as they confront and as the story gradually unfolds through their eyes,...
Despite the fact that most of the acclaimed Asian thrillers are South Korean, last year’s movie broke this Cannes’ tendency, as it was created by the Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda. His recent work is now climbing Netflix’s chart, and here’s why.
Its plot revolves around a mother who notices her son behaving strangely: all of a sudden, he cuts his hair or comes home with only one shoe on. Then she decides to meet his teacher, assuming he’s responsible for it, however, as they confront and as the story gradually unfolds through their eyes,...
- 5/22/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Ava Raxa)
- STartefacts.com
Star Wars: The Acolyte's Timeline Takes Us to Samurai-Like Era - Main Image
The upcoming Star Wars series The Acolyte's timeline is breaking new ground for the franchise. The series will be set in a time that has never been explored in any of the live-action shows.
We have become accustomed to seeing the Star Wars live-action projects explore various stories set in familiar eras, starting from the Fall of the Jedi in the prequel trilogy to the Rise of the First Order in the sequel trilogy.
Now, for the first time, Star Wars is tackling the High Republic in live-action, an era that was only previously explored in novels and comics and has no connection to the Skywalker Saga.
Also Read: New The Acolyte Teaser Seemingly Spoils Major Plot Twist
When is The Acolyte Taking Place? Timeline Explained
The Acolyte will take place around 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace,...
The upcoming Star Wars series The Acolyte's timeline is breaking new ground for the franchise. The series will be set in a time that has never been explored in any of the live-action shows.
We have become accustomed to seeing the Star Wars live-action projects explore various stories set in familiar eras, starting from the Fall of the Jedi in the prequel trilogy to the Rise of the First Order in the sequel trilogy.
Now, for the first time, Star Wars is tackling the High Republic in live-action, an era that was only previously explored in novels and comics and has no connection to the Skywalker Saga.
Also Read: New The Acolyte Teaser Seemingly Spoils Major Plot Twist
When is The Acolyte Taking Place? Timeline Explained
The Acolyte will take place around 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace,...
- 5/22/2024
- EpicStream
Mubi has unveiled next month’s streaming lineup, featuring recent releases such as Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Monster, Tynan DeLong’s Dad & Step-Dad, and Rachel Lambert’s Sometimes I Think About Dying. Additional highlights include Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Passion, Abbas Kiarostami’s Certified Copy, Alex Thompson’s Saint Frances (ahead of the release of Ghostlight), as well as a spotlight on the Ross Brothers following Mubi’s streaming release of Gasoline Rainbow at the end of this month.
“Everybody’s raising this Rashomon thing, but I feel that it’s fundamentally different from Rashomon, because in Rashomon, each character, when they go back through the story again, they actually end up being a different character within the film, within the story, whatever specific story it is,” Hirokazu Kore-eda told us last fall regarding Monster. “Whereas with this, the people don’t change, but the monster who appears, appears in different places.
“Everybody’s raising this Rashomon thing, but I feel that it’s fundamentally different from Rashomon, because in Rashomon, each character, when they go back through the story again, they actually end up being a different character within the film, within the story, whatever specific story it is,” Hirokazu Kore-eda told us last fall regarding Monster. “Whereas with this, the people don’t change, but the monster who appears, appears in different places.
- 5/21/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Is Marvel combatting superhero fatigue by incorporating aspects of classic cinema? Not yet apparently, but Ryan Reynolds seemed very interested in doing so at one point. Speaking to Empire for a cover feature on “Deadpool & Wolverine” in next week’s issue, Reynolds told them his first pitch to Kevin Feige for the film was a “‘Rashomon’ story about Wolverine and Deadpool and something that they got into together, but told from three completely different perspectives.”
For context, “Rashomon” is a 1950 Jidaigeki drama from Akira Kurosawa that was the first Japanese film to receive international acclaim, winning the Golden Lion at the 1951 Venice Film Festival, as well as an Honorary Oscar in 1952. The film tells the story of how a samurai was murdered, multiple times through multiple vantage points. Its plot has been repurposed in a number of films and television series over the decades including “The Outrage,” “Courage Under Fire,...
For context, “Rashomon” is a 1950 Jidaigeki drama from Akira Kurosawa that was the first Japanese film to receive international acclaim, winning the Golden Lion at the 1951 Venice Film Festival, as well as an Honorary Oscar in 1952. The film tells the story of how a samurai was murdered, multiple times through multiple vantage points. Its plot has been repurposed in a number of films and television series over the decades including “The Outrage,” “Courage Under Fire,...
- 5/5/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
The "X-Men" film franchise was one of the superhero genre's first bonafide success stories. After debuting in 2000 to decent reviews and solid gold box office, Marvel's mutants added a new level of legitimacy to comic book adaptations on film and provided a runway for other characters to make it to the silver screen. It's a shame, then, that a franchise once emblematic of its genre's greatest potential has since succumbed to its worst qualities: overcomplicated canon, problematic players behind the scenes (his name rhymes with Shmyan Shminger), and corporate interests milking spin-offs for all they could be worth, even as the udders run dry. If it weren't for the Disney-Fox merger and Marvel Studios' plan for mutant integration into the MCU, the "X-Men" franchise would be as close to dead-in-the-water as you can be.
In fairness, the X-Men became friendly with development hell long before its first film. There's just...
In fairness, the X-Men became friendly with development hell long before its first film. There's just...
- 5/4/2024
- by Larry Fried
- Slash Film
Six years after "Deadpool 2" became a huge hit (technically Brad Pitt's biggest movie), we're finally getting a third entry in the wildly popular superhero franchise. This time, Ryan Reynolds is suiting up again as the Merc with a Mouth in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a wild, R-rated trip through the multiverse. Not only that, he's also called upon Hugh Jackman to put on the claws once more, with the actor suiting up as Wolverine for the first time since 2017's "Logan." The resulting film is director Shawn Levy's "Deadpool & Wolverine," which figures to be one of the biggest movies of the summer. However, arriving at the story at the center of this superhero blockbuster was no small task, as it turns out.
In a new interview with Empire, it's explained that Reynolds first pitched a "'Rashomon' story about Wolverine and Deadpool and something that they got into together,...
In a new interview with Empire, it's explained that Reynolds first pitched a "'Rashomon' story about Wolverine and Deadpool and something that they got into together,...
- 5/3/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
“Deadpool and Wolverine” is poised to be one of the biggest movies of the year thanks to the pairing of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, who is returning to his iconic X-Men role for the first time in seven years. Jackman’s return is skyrocketing buzz around the comic book film, which is much needed for Marvel Studios after a rocky 2023 that saw movies such as “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and “The Marvels” flop at the box office. It might come as a surprise, but Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed to Empire that he originally warned Jackman against playing Wolverine again.
“I said, ‘Let me give you a piece of advice, Hugh. Don’t come back,’” Feige said. “‘You had the greatest ending in history with ‘Logan.’ That’s not something we should undo.’”
What ultimately got Feige on board with the idea of Jackman coming back was...
“I said, ‘Let me give you a piece of advice, Hugh. Don’t come back,’” Feige said. “‘You had the greatest ending in history with ‘Logan.’ That’s not something we should undo.’”
What ultimately got Feige on board with the idea of Jackman coming back was...
- 5/3/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Even among the more underrated Akira Kurosawa films are timeless masterpieces.
If films like “Dersu Uzala” and “The Idiot” and “Kagemusha” aren’t talked about as much, it’s because the best-known Kurosawa titles — “Seven Samurai,” “Rashomon,” “Throne of Blood” — also happen to be among the most influential movies ever made, casting their shadow over the Spaghetti Western genre, “Star Wars,” and so many more.
Just within the past few weeks, a movie loosely based on “Seven Samurai,” Zack Snyder’s misbegotten “Rebel Moon Part 2,” started streaming, Spike Lee confirmed he’ll direct an adaptation of “High and Low,” and, let’s face it, there’d probably be no “Shogun” at all without the Kurosawa-immortalized Japanese samurai culture onscreen. Probably no director other than Fritz Lang and John Ford has influenced as many genres as Kurosawa, who died in 1998.
But instead of focusing so much on his impact, look at the films.
If films like “Dersu Uzala” and “The Idiot” and “Kagemusha” aren’t talked about as much, it’s because the best-known Kurosawa titles — “Seven Samurai,” “Rashomon,” “Throne of Blood” — also happen to be among the most influential movies ever made, casting their shadow over the Spaghetti Western genre, “Star Wars,” and so many more.
Just within the past few weeks, a movie loosely based on “Seven Samurai,” Zack Snyder’s misbegotten “Rebel Moon Part 2,” started streaming, Spike Lee confirmed he’ll direct an adaptation of “High and Low,” and, let’s face it, there’d probably be no “Shogun” at all without the Kurosawa-immortalized Japanese samurai culture onscreen. Probably no director other than Fritz Lang and John Ford has influenced as many genres as Kurosawa, who died in 1998.
But instead of focusing so much on his impact, look at the films.
- 4/25/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
“Why is it that only those who have never fought in a battle are so eager to be in one?” Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) asks at one point in FX’s Shōgun. It’s a question that resonates not only with the show’s characters but may strike at the heart of our long-standing fascination with samurai.
Its resonance is all the more profound because Shōgun is loosely — very loosely — based on real events from the end of Japan’s Warring States period that pushed the nation into a new era. Taking historical events and crafting drama from them is something the show has in common with many Chanbara or samurai films. The riveting and often bloody history has provided fodder for countless films, including Hiroshi Inagaki’s Samurai trilogy, Sekigahara, Samurai Assassin, and The 47 Ronin.
However, these narrative films can obscure the complex history behind the events. Fortunately,...
Its resonance is all the more profound because Shōgun is loosely — very loosely — based on real events from the end of Japan’s Warring States period that pushed the nation into a new era. Taking historical events and crafting drama from them is something the show has in common with many Chanbara or samurai films. The riveting and often bloody history has provided fodder for countless films, including Hiroshi Inagaki’s Samurai trilogy, Sekigahara, Samurai Assassin, and The 47 Ronin.
However, these narrative films can obscure the complex history behind the events. Fortunately,...
- 4/23/2024
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
The poster for the Cannes Film Festival’s 2024 edition (May 14-25) pays tribute to Akira Kurosawa’s film Rhapsody In August.
The film played out of competition at Cannes in 1991, and follows a grandmother who lost her husband to the Nagasaki bombing in 1945 and how three generations of her family respond to the tragedy. It stars Sachiko Murase as the grandmother, with Richard Gere also among the cast.
It was the penultimate film from the renowned Japanese filmmaker behind masterpieces such as Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Ikiru and Ran.
The festival said: “Mirroring the movie theatre, this poster celebrates the Seventh Art,...
The film played out of competition at Cannes in 1991, and follows a grandmother who lost her husband to the Nagasaki bombing in 1945 and how three generations of her family respond to the tragedy. It stars Sachiko Murase as the grandmother, with Richard Gere also among the cast.
It was the penultimate film from the renowned Japanese filmmaker behind masterpieces such as Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Ikiru and Ran.
The festival said: “Mirroring the movie theatre, this poster celebrates the Seventh Art,...
- 4/19/2024
- ScreenDaily
The Cannes Film Festival has unveiled the poster for its upcoming 77th edition which pays tribute to Japanese master Akira Kurosawa and his late career feature Rhapsody in August.
The image shows a scene from the pic with a family seated looking into the distance. The camera captures them from behind. Scroll down to check out the poster below.
Rhapsody in August debuted Out of Competition in Cannes in 1991. The film follows a grandmother who was a victim of the Nagasaki bombing on August 9, 1945, who passes on her faith in love and integrity as a bulwark against war to her grandchildren and her American nephew, with tenderness and contemplation. The pic was Kurosawa’s penultimate film. He was 81 when it was completed. His other credits include seminal features like Sanshiro Sugata, Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Dersu Uzala, and Dodes’ka-den.
The festival said today that Kurosawa’s work “reminds us of the importance of coming together,...
The image shows a scene from the pic with a family seated looking into the distance. The camera captures them from behind. Scroll down to check out the poster below.
Rhapsody in August debuted Out of Competition in Cannes in 1991. The film follows a grandmother who was a victim of the Nagasaki bombing on August 9, 1945, who passes on her faith in love and integrity as a bulwark against war to her grandchildren and her American nephew, with tenderness and contemplation. The pic was Kurosawa’s penultimate film. He was 81 when it was completed. His other credits include seminal features like Sanshiro Sugata, Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Dersu Uzala, and Dodes’ka-den.
The festival said today that Kurosawa’s work “reminds us of the importance of coming together,...
- 4/19/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
National Award-winning filmmaker Mani Ratnam, who last directed the magnum opus, the two part ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, shared an anecdote from his schooling days, when he would watch a film on the pretext of studying with friends.
The filmmaker who is known for films such as ‘Roja’, ‘Thiruda Thiruda’, ‘Bombay’, ‘Iruvar’, ‘Alaipayuthey’, ‘Yuva’, ‘Guru’ and others, recently spoke with filmmaker Imtiaz Ali during the Masterclass of Mami Mumbai Film Festival.
He spoke about his childhood days and also shared when his interest in cinema turned into a passion.
Mani Ratnam said: “Before I got into films I was just a cinema-goer, because I liked this world of films. I never thought I would choose cinema as a profession. I just used to go theatres every Friday and tell my parents that I’ll be away for group study with my friends but I would be in theatres watching a movie during that time.
The filmmaker who is known for films such as ‘Roja’, ‘Thiruda Thiruda’, ‘Bombay’, ‘Iruvar’, ‘Alaipayuthey’, ‘Yuva’, ‘Guru’ and others, recently spoke with filmmaker Imtiaz Ali during the Masterclass of Mami Mumbai Film Festival.
He spoke about his childhood days and also shared when his interest in cinema turned into a passion.
Mani Ratnam said: “Before I got into films I was just a cinema-goer, because I liked this world of films. I never thought I would choose cinema as a profession. I just used to go theatres every Friday and tell my parents that I’ll be away for group study with my friends but I would be in theatres watching a movie during that time.
- 4/2/2024
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
In the episode of "The X-Files" called "Bad Blood," Agents Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Mulder (David Duchovny) have to get their story straight after Mulder murders a young man (Patrick Renna) believing him to be a vampire. Know immediately that "Bad Blood" is one of the rare comedy episodes of "The X-Files," and that it is deeply beloved by X-Philes the world over. Indeed, /Film listed it as the best episode of the series, replacing the show's usual funereal tone with one of whimsy. This is an episode wherein Mulder, when knocked in the head, uncontrollably begins singing "Theme from Shaft."
"Bad Blood" is told in a pair of flashbacks, telling slightly different versions of the same event, "Rashomon"-style. Scully recalls investigating a series of mysterious cattle exsanguinations in Texas and is careful to relate Mulder's behavior as cavalier and condescending. She also notes that there was no evidence of vampires.
"Bad Blood" is told in a pair of flashbacks, telling slightly different versions of the same event, "Rashomon"-style. Scully recalls investigating a series of mysterious cattle exsanguinations in Texas and is careful to relate Mulder's behavior as cavalier and condescending. She also notes that there was no evidence of vampires.
- 3/27/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Born in 1963, Quentin Tarantino redefined independent cinema with his pulpy mix of violence, dark humor and pop culture, crafting several modern classics. But before he made history, he made a living as a video store clerk while penning spec scripts. He made his directorial debut with “Reservoir Dogs” (1992), a “Rashomon”-esque crime drama about a botched jewel heist. Two more of his scripts, “True Romance” (1993) and “Natural Born Killers” (1994), were later produced by Tony Scott and Oliver Stone, respectively.
He hit the Oscar jackpot just two years after his filmmaking debut with “Pulp Fiction” (1994), a multi-narrative, self-referential pastiche about a group of criminals whose lives intersect in surprising ways. After winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes, the indie hit went on to collect a screenwriting prize for Tarantino and Roger Avery, earning nominations in Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (John Travolta), Best Supporting Actor (Samuel L. Jackson), Best...
He hit the Oscar jackpot just two years after his filmmaking debut with “Pulp Fiction” (1994), a multi-narrative, self-referential pastiche about a group of criminals whose lives intersect in surprising ways. After winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes, the indie hit went on to collect a screenwriting prize for Tarantino and Roger Avery, earning nominations in Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (John Travolta), Best Supporting Actor (Samuel L. Jackson), Best...
- 3/22/2024
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
We’ve touted Kanopy as a hidden gem and one of the best kept secrets in streaming since the days when Paramount+ was still CBS All Access. The streaming marketplace has grown so much since then that it is now ready to shrink, but Kanopy is well-positioned to survive the coming consolidation thanks to its unique business model.
Kanopy serves two very different masters: libraries and movie studios. Kanopy is the ad-free streaming service that you did not know you could (potentially) access with just a library card or a university ID. Its library consists of classic films and new releases, and costs the end user exactly…free.
Best of all? Kanopy is profitable, Gm Jason Tyrrell tells IndieWire.
The money flows like this: Tax dollars pay libraries, libraries pay Kanopy (when a member streams at least 30 seconds of its content) for access, and Kanopy pays studios to license their content,...
Kanopy serves two very different masters: libraries and movie studios. Kanopy is the ad-free streaming service that you did not know you could (potentially) access with just a library card or a university ID. Its library consists of classic films and new releases, and costs the end user exactly…free.
Best of all? Kanopy is profitable, Gm Jason Tyrrell tells IndieWire.
The money flows like this: Tax dollars pay libraries, libraries pay Kanopy (when a member streams at least 30 seconds of its content) for access, and Kanopy pays studios to license their content,...
- 3/22/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
The trailer for Star Wars: The Acolyte has finally dropped, and it once again whisks you away to a galaxy far away. Announced by Lucasfilm in 2020, it took the production four years to get off the ground, but it is finally here, and it looks good.
Like most Star Wars projects, The Acolyte has been the subject of many discussions and speculation over the years. One of the major topics was the period in which the show was set. The trailer offers an interesting peek into the lives of the Jedi, but the fandom is less than impressed, and the show has already hit a disappointing milestone.
The trailer for the new show is out (Source: The Acolyte)
The Acolyte will take you back to the era of the High Republic
Star Wars is one of the most beloved franchises of all time. A New Hope kicked off the series,...
Like most Star Wars projects, The Acolyte has been the subject of many discussions and speculation over the years. One of the major topics was the period in which the show was set. The trailer offers an interesting peek into the lives of the Jedi, but the fandom is less than impressed, and the show has already hit a disappointing milestone.
The trailer for the new show is out (Source: The Acolyte)
The Acolyte will take you back to the era of the High Republic
Star Wars is one of the most beloved franchises of all time. A New Hope kicked off the series,...
- 3/21/2024
- by Sreshtha Roychowdhury
- FandomWire
Yesterday, a trailer for ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ came out, giving us our initial glimpse of the characters and the High Republic backdrop. This series marks the first live-action portrayal set in this era and the second overall (following ‘Young Jedi Adventures’). Headland, a long-time Star Wars enthusiast since her teenage years, eagerly seized the chance to contribute fresh and distinctive elements to the franchise’s lore. In her recent interview with THR, she delved into her inspirations and offered insights into what viewers can anticipate from the show.
I’m calling Lucasfilm. That’s where I want to work. That’s what I want to do.” So I pitched them. My elevator pitch was Frozen meets Kill Bill, which I said at [Star Wars] Celebration, and I went through what I believed would be a rough season one outline and then an overall series bible, essentially. And Kathleen [Kennedy] bought it in the room and said,...
I’m calling Lucasfilm. That’s where I want to work. That’s what I want to do.” So I pitched them. My elevator pitch was Frozen meets Kill Bill, which I said at [Star Wars] Celebration, and I went through what I believed would be a rough season one outline and then an overall series bible, essentially. And Kathleen [Kennedy] bought it in the room and said,...
- 3/20/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
Yesterday, a trailer for ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ was released and we’ve got a first look at the characters and the High Republic setting. ‘The Acolyte’ is the first live-action show to take place during this time period and the second show overall (the first one was ‘Young Jedi Adventures’). Headland already explained how she was a massive fan of Star Wars Universe during her teen years and she jumped on the first opportunity to add something new and unique to the lore of the franchise. Now during her interview with THR Headland explained her influence and what the fans can expect from the show:
I’m calling Lucasfilm. That’s where I want to work. That’s what I want to do.” So I pitched them. My elevator pitch was Frozen meets Kill Bill, which I said at [Star Wars] Celebration, and I went through what I believed would be...
I’m calling Lucasfilm. That’s where I want to work. That’s what I want to do.” So I pitched them. My elevator pitch was Frozen meets Kill Bill, which I said at [Star Wars] Celebration, and I went through what I believed would be...
- 3/20/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
Leslye Headland’s The Acolyte series will explore an unexplored area of the Star Wars universe. The Disney+ show is very different from the other Star Wars projects and is even set 100 years before the events of The Prequel Trilogy. Interestingly, Headland intentionally hired a writer in the room who was not a Star Wars fan to have different perspectives on the show.
Star Wars: The Acolyte
Recently after The Acolyte trailer was released, the fandom has seen a buzz surrounding the Star Wars mystery-thriller special. The show, set in the final days of the High Republic era, focuses on a Jedi master’s investigation of a series of murders across the galaxy by a dangerous assassin.
Why did Leslye Headland want a non-Star Wars fan on The Acolyte production?
Amandla Sternberg in The Acolyte
In big franchise projects like Marvel or Star Wars, fans often want the cast and...
Star Wars: The Acolyte
Recently after The Acolyte trailer was released, the fandom has seen a buzz surrounding the Star Wars mystery-thriller special. The show, set in the final days of the High Republic era, focuses on a Jedi master’s investigation of a series of murders across the galaxy by a dangerous assassin.
Why did Leslye Headland want a non-Star Wars fan on The Acolyte production?
Amandla Sternberg in The Acolyte
In big franchise projects like Marvel or Star Wars, fans often want the cast and...
- 3/20/2024
- by Subham Mandal
- FandomWire
The trailer has been unveiled for the latest Star Wars series The Acolyte!
Disney+ dropped the first look at the new series on Tuesday (March 19), along with first look photos and the key art.
Starring in the series include Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-jae in leading roles.
Keep reading to find out more and watch the trailer…
In Star Wars: The Acolyte, an investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master (Jung-jae) against a dangerous warrior from his past (Stenberg). As more clues emerge, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems…
Also starring are Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo and Carrie-Anne Moss.
According to THR, the upcoming series takes place 100 years before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, which was the fourth film released, but Episode I in the prequel trilogy.
Disney+ dropped the first look at the new series on Tuesday (March 19), along with first look photos and the key art.
Starring in the series include Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-jae in leading roles.
Keep reading to find out more and watch the trailer…
In Star Wars: The Acolyte, an investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master (Jung-jae) against a dangerous warrior from his past (Stenberg). As more clues emerge, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems…
Also starring are Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo and Carrie-Anne Moss.
According to THR, the upcoming series takes place 100 years before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, which was the fourth film released, but Episode I in the prequel trilogy.
- 3/20/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
The first official trailer for Star Wars: The Acolyte was finally released earlier today, and the reaction seems to be fairly mixed, with some loving it and others saying they won’t be watching. However, series creator Leslye Headland told the official Star Wars website that The Acolyte isn’t what you think it is, teasing plenty of mysteries to come.
“Whatever you think The Acolyte is, it’s not that,” Headland said. “It’s a drop in the bucket, baby. Just hang in there and check it out.” The creator also teased that The Acolyte will include more than a few nods to the Star Wars Extended Universe. “There’s also some EU lore that I decided to put in because I thought it was so cool and no one told me I couldn’t,” she said. “There are a couple of really big EU ideas that are utilized...
“Whatever you think The Acolyte is, it’s not that,” Headland said. “It’s a drop in the bucket, baby. Just hang in there and check it out.” The creator also teased that The Acolyte will include more than a few nods to the Star Wars Extended Universe. “There’s also some EU lore that I decided to put in because I thought it was so cool and no one told me I couldn’t,” she said. “There are a couple of really big EU ideas that are utilized...
- 3/20/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ Creator Leslye Headland Talks the Unique Perspective of Her Upcoming Series
Star Wars: The Acolyte creator Leslye Headland is currently putting the finishing touches on a four-year journey that started with Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy buying her overall series pitch in the room. At the time, her hook was “Frozen meets Kill Bill,” and now the first trailer provides a few more of the puzzle pieces. Set a century before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Amandla Stenberg’s mysterious character appears to be hunting Jedi during a time of peace near the end of the High Republic era.
The trailer kicks off with Lee Jung-jae’s Jedi Master urging a group of Padawans to not trust their own deceitful eyes, and perhaps the same can be said of the trailer and the series’ overall narrative. The show will be taking a page out of Rashomon’s playbook, exploring different perspectives on the same events.
“One thing to know about the show...
The trailer kicks off with Lee Jung-jae’s Jedi Master urging a group of Padawans to not trust their own deceitful eyes, and perhaps the same can be said of the trailer and the series’ overall narrative. The show will be taking a page out of Rashomon’s playbook, exploring different perspectives on the same events.
“One thing to know about the show...
- 3/19/2024
- by Brian Davids
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"Batman: The Animated Series" has many artistic fathers. Tim Burton's 1989 "Batman" film, of course, but also the Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons of the 1940s, the Art Deco movement (which the skyscrapers of Gotham City are made in the visage of), and film noir.
Noir is a film genre characterized by dark high-contrast shadows ("noir" means "black" in French) shot in black-and-white, featuring urban settings, crime (whether the lead is on the wrong or right side of the law), beautiful but duplicitous women, and nefarious schemes gone awry. Noir sprouted up in the 1930s-40s, when most films were black-and-white and pulp novels, from thrillers and to detective stories, were easy fodder for Hollywood adaptations. The storytelling motifs of those books were thus intertwined with Hollywood's biting black-and-white style.
"Batman: The Animated Series" was made in color (the villains have costumes running the whole rainbow spectrum), but it was drawn...
Noir is a film genre characterized by dark high-contrast shadows ("noir" means "black" in French) shot in black-and-white, featuring urban settings, crime (whether the lead is on the wrong or right side of the law), beautiful but duplicitous women, and nefarious schemes gone awry. Noir sprouted up in the 1930s-40s, when most films were black-and-white and pulp novels, from thrillers and to detective stories, were easy fodder for Hollywood adaptations. The storytelling motifs of those books were thus intertwined with Hollywood's biting black-and-white style.
"Batman: The Animated Series" was made in color (the villains have costumes running the whole rainbow spectrum), but it was drawn...
- 3/18/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
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