After directing three films in four years with Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99, and Dragged Across Concrete, it’s now been six long years since the latest new feature from S. Craig Zahler. While he’s chimed in on his recent avorite films and beyond, it’s been fairly silent regarding his next potential project. We now finally have an update on what’s on his plate.
“A number of articles have announced The Big Stone Grid as my next picture, which is not quite correct,” Zahler noted on his blog. “I am sending that script around as a possible fifth movie, but I’ve made far more progress with another different original project to direct for my fourth one: I am negotiating deals to see if it will become a reality. I will give more information about this when things are more certain. Continue to look here for my next movie announcement.
“A number of articles have announced The Big Stone Grid as my next picture, which is not quite correct,” Zahler noted on his blog. “I am sending that script around as a possible fifth movie, but I’ve made far more progress with another different original project to direct for my fourth one: I am negotiating deals to see if it will become a reality. I will give more information about this when things are more certain. Continue to look here for my next movie announcement.
- 4/16/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Way back in 2011, Sony Pictures acquired a spec script titled The Big Stone Grid, which was written by S. Craig Zahler – who is best known these days for writing and directing the films Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99, and Dragged Across Concrete. As of early 2012, Michael Mann was in talks to work on script revisions with Zahler and to direct the film. The Mann take on the material didn’t come to fruition, and four years later the project moved over to Lotus Entertainment, with Pierre Morel on board to direct. Morel couldn’t get it into production, either. Eight more years down the line, World of Reel reports that Zahler is now set to direct the film himself.
Part of the reason why Zahler has gone six years without directing a new film is the fact that the project he was pursuing, Hug Chickenpenny (an adaptation of...
Part of the reason why Zahler has gone six years without directing a new film is the fact that the project he was pursuing, Hug Chickenpenny (an adaptation of...
- 4/5/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
It’s Cape Fear meets ‘The Burbs in director John Schlesinger’s Pacific Heights. Although you might be fooled by Hanz Zimmer’s score, which sounds a lot more like you’re watching Sexy Beetlejuice than a ’90s thriller. This is pure irony, of course, considering the film stars Beetlejuice himself, Michael Keaton, as a conman who is six feet from the edge and thinking maybe doing murder isn’t so far down.
For those of you arguing silently in your heads that Pacific Heights is not a horror movie, let me go ahead and agree with you. It’s a pure thriller. But imagine this for a moment; imagine somewhere out there is a fresh-off Batman Michael Keaton, sitting in a dark room twirling both a razor blade and a large cockroach through his fingers like some sort of emo fidget spinner, plotting you and your significant other’s demise.
For those of you arguing silently in your heads that Pacific Heights is not a horror movie, let me go ahead and agree with you. It’s a pure thriller. But imagine this for a moment; imagine somewhere out there is a fresh-off Batman Michael Keaton, sitting in a dark room twirling both a razor blade and a large cockroach through his fingers like some sort of emo fidget spinner, plotting you and your significant other’s demise.
- 3/12/2024
- by Mike Holtz
- bloody-disgusting.com
Since the establishment of the Academy Awards in 1929, exactly 60 films have achieved lone lead male acting nominations, meaning they were each recognized in the Best Actor category and nowhere else. The last such instance occurred in 2023 and involved “Aftersun” star Paul Mescal, who, at 26, stood out as the youngest member of a lineup consisting only of first-time Oscar contenders. Although his low-budget movie had a strong shot at an original screenplay bid and was viewed as a serious Best Picture candidate, it ended up getting no love outside the acting branch.
Before Mescal was recognized, his category hadn’t seen a lone nominee since Willem Dafoe earned his first lead bid for “At Eternity’s Gate” in 2019. This was the ninth time that four or more years separated consecutive Best Actor loners, with the single largest gap having spread between Cary Grant and Clifton Webb. Such nominations appear to be becoming less common in this category,...
Before Mescal was recognized, his category hadn’t seen a lone nominee since Willem Dafoe earned his first lead bid for “At Eternity’s Gate” in 2019. This was the ninth time that four or more years separated consecutive Best Actor loners, with the single largest gap having spread between Cary Grant and Clifton Webb. Such nominations appear to be becoming less common in this category,...
- 1/22/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
When it comes to lone acting Oscar nominations, the category with the fewest examples is Best Supporting Actor. After two consecutive years of there being no new additions to that subgroup, Brian Tyree Henry (“Causeway”) became its 54th member in 2023 after having been largely ignored by other awards bodies over the preceding weeks. He directly followed Tom Hanks, who is the only other entrant from the last five years.
Within the last decade, this club has only grown by seven, with those who preceded Hanks and Henry being Robert Duvall, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Shannon, Willem Dafoe, and Christopher Plummer. 2018 marked the fifth instance of two men accomplishing the feat at once, thus tying the category’s record for most bids of this kind in a single year. Contextually, the corresponding Best Supporting Actress record is three, while that of both lead categories is four.
As it happens, the Best Supporting...
Within the last decade, this club has only grown by seven, with those who preceded Hanks and Henry being Robert Duvall, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Shannon, Willem Dafoe, and Christopher Plummer. 2018 marked the fifth instance of two men accomplishing the feat at once, thus tying the category’s record for most bids of this kind in a single year. Contextually, the corresponding Best Supporting Actress record is three, while that of both lead categories is four.
As it happens, the Best Supporting...
- 1/22/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Last week Icon Mann hosted an intimate conversation with “American Fiction” star Jeffrey Wright. The one-night-only career retrospective from stage to film and television was moderated by Tracee Ellis Ross and took place at Soho Works in West Hollywood.
Wright is a well-esteemed actor having reaped Emmy, Tony, and Golden Globe wins over the tenure of his career. He won his first-ever Primetime Emmy in 2004 for Best TV Movie/Limited Series Supporting Actor for “Angels in America,” and earned a Golden Globe for the same show. This year, the actor could be heading towards a slew of other accolades thanks to his portrayal of Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, the English literature professor he portrays in Cord Jefferson‘s comedy “American Fiction.”
See ‘American Fiction’ star Jeffrey Wright: ‘This was one of the most enjoyable processes I’ve had working on a project’
Read the full transcript of Wright’s conversation with Ellis below.
Wright is a well-esteemed actor having reaped Emmy, Tony, and Golden Globe wins over the tenure of his career. He won his first-ever Primetime Emmy in 2004 for Best TV Movie/Limited Series Supporting Actor for “Angels in America,” and earned a Golden Globe for the same show. This year, the actor could be heading towards a slew of other accolades thanks to his portrayal of Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, the English literature professor he portrays in Cord Jefferson‘s comedy “American Fiction.”
See ‘American Fiction’ star Jeffrey Wright: ‘This was one of the most enjoyable processes I’ve had working on a project’
Read the full transcript of Wright’s conversation with Ellis below.
- 1/17/2024
- by Latasha Ford
- Gold Derby
(Welcome to Did They Get It Right?, a series where we look at Oscars categories from yesteryear and examine whether the Academy's winners stand the test of time.)
With all the milestones that have occurred throughout the 95-year history of the Academy Awards, there are still plenty of accomplishments that have not transpired. No Black woman has ever been nominated for Best Director, and no Black person has ever won that category. No animated film has ever won Best Picture, and no documentary has ever been nominated. I do believe all of these things will eventually happen in the future. As the diversity of the industry steadily increases and Academy membership gradually expands, these sorts of things must happen as time moves on.
But there is one thing I remain skeptical about when it comes to Oscars milestones. It has nothing to do with representation, nor does it have to...
With all the milestones that have occurred throughout the 95-year history of the Academy Awards, there are still plenty of accomplishments that have not transpired. No Black woman has ever been nominated for Best Director, and no Black person has ever won that category. No animated film has ever won Best Picture, and no documentary has ever been nominated. I do believe all of these things will eventually happen in the future. As the diversity of the industry steadily increases and Academy membership gradually expands, these sorts of things must happen as time moves on.
But there is one thing I remain skeptical about when it comes to Oscars milestones. It has nothing to do with representation, nor does it have to...
- 11/12/2023
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
Though he’ll forever be known as Chief Brody, the shark-hunting sheriff in Steven Spielberg‘s “Jaws” (1975), Oscar-nominated actor Roy Scheider starred in a number of classics throughout his career before his death in 2008. Let’s take a look back at 15 of his greatest films, ranked worst to best.
Born in 1932 in Orange, New Jersey, Scheider’s journey towards the screen wasn’t exactly a straightforward one. After trying his hand at amateur boxing and serving in the military, he turned in his gloves and his uniform to set his sights on bit parts in movies and television. His big breakthrough came with William Friedkin‘s “The French Connection” (1971), a gritty police drama for which he earned an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor (the film won five prizes including Best Picture). He returned to the race with a Best Actor nomination for Bob Fosse‘s autobiographical musical “All That Jazz...
Born in 1932 in Orange, New Jersey, Scheider’s journey towards the screen wasn’t exactly a straightforward one. After trying his hand at amateur boxing and serving in the military, he turned in his gloves and his uniform to set his sights on bit parts in movies and television. His big breakthrough came with William Friedkin‘s “The French Connection” (1971), a gritty police drama for which he earned an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor (the film won five prizes including Best Picture). He returned to the race with a Best Actor nomination for Bob Fosse‘s autobiographical musical “All That Jazz...
- 11/3/2023
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Of all the actors to get caught up in the #MeToo movement, perhaps one of the most surprising was Dustin Hoffman. Back in 2017, when the actor was fresh off of delivering one of his finest latter-day performances in The Meyerowitz Stories, the actor was confronted (some say ambushed) at a 20th-anniversary screening of Wag the Dog by comedian John Oliver, who questioned him about accusations of inappropriate behaviour from thirty years prior on the set of Death of a Salesman. The story went viral, and soon a story about Hoffman’s treatment of Meryl Streep on the set of Kramer vs Kramer also got renewed play, much to Streep’s dismay, who said Hoffman had apologized years earlier, and she accepted that.
In the years since, Hoffman’s career has been low-key, with him only showing up in a few indie and international films, which is a significant comedown for...
In the years since, Hoffman’s career has been low-key, with him only showing up in a few indie and international films, which is a significant comedown for...
- 10/20/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Burt Young, the gravely-voiced actor who played Sylvester Stallone‘s brother-in-law, Paulie Pennino, in Rocky, has died at 83. Young became beloved by moviegoers for his interpretation of the down-on-his-luck character who helped champion Rocky Balboa’s rise to boxing stardom. The film franchise would total nine installments over almost 50 years, but how many Rocky movies and sequels did Young appear in?
Burt Young played Paulie Pennino alongside Sylvester Stallone in ‘Rocky’ and its sequels
As Paulie Pennino, Burt Young played the devil character sitting atop one of Rocky Balboa‘s shoulders in the original Rocky film, written and starring Sylvester Stallone. His sister Adrian, played by Talia Shire, was the angel, and both pulled him in different directions emotionally.
Paulie had a temper, drank too much, complained often, and was a pain in the neck. However, he was beloved by Rocky, who could see beyond his tough exterior.
However, the...
Burt Young played Paulie Pennino alongside Sylvester Stallone in ‘Rocky’ and its sequels
As Paulie Pennino, Burt Young played the devil character sitting atop one of Rocky Balboa‘s shoulders in the original Rocky film, written and starring Sylvester Stallone. His sister Adrian, played by Talia Shire, was the angel, and both pulled him in different directions emotionally.
Paulie had a temper, drank too much, complained often, and was a pain in the neck. However, he was beloved by Rocky, who could see beyond his tough exterior.
However, the...
- 10/19/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The evolution of cinematic language in the 1980s was, in large part, due to an invention born in the 1970s.
In the late ’60s and early ’70s, “New Hollywood” looked to challenge the audience, nudging studio filmmaking away from strict adherence to classical storytelling conventions. They embraced a looser approach to narrative that was matched by a rough-around-the-edges filmmaking style, in which a premium was put on “realism.” Directors and cinematographers embraced a grainy, unglamorous look, trading in the locked-down cameras and studio cranes for a more handheld approach to shooting on location.
From his perch in Philadelphia, budding filmmaker Garrett Brown loved the visceral immediacy that filmmakers of his generation, like Martin Scorsese, were injecting into Hollywood films. As a camera operator himself, that instinct to grab the camera and be in the middle of the action was not only strong but “helluva a lot of fun.” But there...
In the late ’60s and early ’70s, “New Hollywood” looked to challenge the audience, nudging studio filmmaking away from strict adherence to classical storytelling conventions. They embraced a looser approach to narrative that was matched by a rough-around-the-edges filmmaking style, in which a premium was put on “realism.” Directors and cinematographers embraced a grainy, unglamorous look, trading in the locked-down cameras and studio cranes for a more handheld approach to shooting on location.
From his perch in Philadelphia, budding filmmaker Garrett Brown loved the visceral immediacy that filmmakers of his generation, like Martin Scorsese, were injecting into Hollywood films. As a camera operator himself, that instinct to grab the camera and be in the middle of the action was not only strong but “helluva a lot of fun.” But there...
- 8/17/2023
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Arthur “Artie” R. Schmidt, who won Oscars for editing Robert Zemeckis films “Forrest Gump” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” died Saturday at his home in Santa Barbara. He was 86.
Schmidt and Zemeckis were longtime collaborators, having worked on a total of ten films together, including “Forrest Gump” (1994), the “Back to the Future” trilogy (1985-1990), “Cast Away” (2000), and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” (1988). Other prominent films Schmidt worked on include “Jaws 2” (1978), “Coal Miner’s Daughter” (1980), for which he was Oscar-nommed; “The Last of the Mohicans” (1992), “Death Becomes Her” (1992), “Addams Family Values” (1993) and “Contact” (1997). He was also brought on to help with “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003) in the midst of its production.
Additionally, Schmidt collaborated with director Mike Nichols on three films: “The Fortune” (1975) “The Birdcage” (1996), and “Primary Colors” (1998). He also took on the challenge of editing a film that combines both animation and live-action: “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
Schmidt and Zemeckis were longtime collaborators, having worked on a total of ten films together, including “Forrest Gump” (1994), the “Back to the Future” trilogy (1985-1990), “Cast Away” (2000), and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” (1988). Other prominent films Schmidt worked on include “Jaws 2” (1978), “Coal Miner’s Daughter” (1980), for which he was Oscar-nommed; “The Last of the Mohicans” (1992), “Death Becomes Her” (1992), “Addams Family Values” (1993) and “Contact” (1997). He was also brought on to help with “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003) in the midst of its production.
Additionally, Schmidt collaborated with director Mike Nichols on three films: “The Fortune” (1975) “The Birdcage” (1996), and “Primary Colors” (1998). He also took on the challenge of editing a film that combines both animation and live-action: “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
- 8/7/2023
- by Jaden Thompson
- Variety Film + TV
Arthur Schmidt, the two-time Oscar-winning film editor who collaborated with director Robert Zemeckis on 10 films, including Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Forrest Gump and the Back to the Future trilogy, has died. He was 86.
Schmidt died Saturday of an unknown cause at his home in Santa Barbara, his brother Ron Schmidt told The Hollywood Reporter.
The second-generation film editor also cut three Mike Nichols features — The Fortune (1975), The Birdcage (1996) and Primary Colors (1998) — and two helmed by Michael Apted — Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980), for which he received his first Oscar nom, and Firstborn (1984).
His résumé over four decades included work on Marathon Man (1976), Jaws 2 (1978), Ruthless People (1986), Beaches (1988), The Rocketeer (1991), The Last of the Mohicans (1992) and Congo (1995), and he was brought in for three months to help tidy up the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie in 2003.
Schmidt received his Academy Awards in 1989 for Who Framed Roger Rabbit and in 1995 for Forrest Gump,...
Schmidt died Saturday of an unknown cause at his home in Santa Barbara, his brother Ron Schmidt told The Hollywood Reporter.
The second-generation film editor also cut three Mike Nichols features — The Fortune (1975), The Birdcage (1996) and Primary Colors (1998) — and two helmed by Michael Apted — Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980), for which he received his first Oscar nom, and Firstborn (1984).
His résumé over four decades included work on Marathon Man (1976), Jaws 2 (1978), Ruthless People (1986), Beaches (1988), The Rocketeer (1991), The Last of the Mohicans (1992) and Congo (1995), and he was brought in for three months to help tidy up the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie in 2003.
Schmidt received his Academy Awards in 1989 for Who Framed Roger Rabbit and in 1995 for Forrest Gump,...
- 8/7/2023
- by Rhett Bartlett
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Until the 1980’s, Hollywood had a strange relationship with the Vietnam War. While the war was actually being fought, movies, typically, did not depict the war unless they were something like John Wayne’s The Green Berets. If the war was dealt with, usually it was done metaphorically, or by using another war as a stand-in, such as what happened with 1970’s Mash. This started to change after the war finally ended, with the late seventies seeing the release of three major films – The Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now and Coming Home, Despite their popularity, during the first half of the eighties, when the war was dealt with on-screen it was typically as wish fulfillment, where action stars such as Chuck Norris and Sylvester Stallone single-handedly refought the war, and won, to the delight of audiences.
That all changed when Oliver Stone made Platoon. For the first time, a Vietnam War...
That all changed when Oliver Stone made Platoon. For the first time, a Vietnam War...
- 7/3/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
With its list of new releases for July 2023, Prime Video is going to help you stay safe from the oppressive July sun.
Highlighting the Amazon Originals on the TV side this month are two heavy hitters. The first is The Horror of Dolores Roach on July 7. Based on a podcast of the same name, this series could best be described as a modern day Sweeney Todd? Why, you ask? Well you know why. Think about it. Then season 2 of Neil Gaiman adaptation Good Omens premieres on July 28. This season will follow angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and demon Crowley (David Tenant) as they seek to keep the Archangel Gabriel (Jon Hamm) away from both heaven and hell.
There aren’t any Amazon Original movies of note this month and that’s alright as the influx of library titles is more than enough. July 1 sees the arrival of The 40-Year-Old Virgin, No Country for Old Men,...
Highlighting the Amazon Originals on the TV side this month are two heavy hitters. The first is The Horror of Dolores Roach on July 7. Based on a podcast of the same name, this series could best be described as a modern day Sweeney Todd? Why, you ask? Well you know why. Think about it. Then season 2 of Neil Gaiman adaptation Good Omens premieres on July 28. This season will follow angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and demon Crowley (David Tenant) as they seek to keep the Archangel Gabriel (Jon Hamm) away from both heaven and hell.
There aren’t any Amazon Original movies of note this month and that’s alright as the influx of library titles is more than enough. July 1 sees the arrival of The 40-Year-Old Virgin, No Country for Old Men,...
- 7/1/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
While summer starts in June, things truly heat up in July, and that includes all the hot new drops on streamers. Amazon’s Prime Video has refreshed its slate of content with over 60 new movies, like Bradley Cooper’s “A Star Is Born” and the 1973 animated adaption of the children’s book “Charlotte’s Web.”
Prime Video kicks off the start of the month with Doug McHenry’s “Jason’s Lyric,” “Father of the Bride,” and “Little Nicky.”
Plus, if you’re a Reese Witherspoon fan, Prime Video sets you up with her very first film and her breakout role as Dani in “Man in the Moon.” And the entire “Legally Blonde” trilogy is also available, for those who bend and snap.
Prime Video is also giving watchers some ultimate film classics like “Free Willy,” ”Gladiator,” and “Dances With Wolves.”
Last but absolutely not least, Season 2 of “Good Omens” will land on...
Prime Video kicks off the start of the month with Doug McHenry’s “Jason’s Lyric,” “Father of the Bride,” and “Little Nicky.”
Plus, if you’re a Reese Witherspoon fan, Prime Video sets you up with her very first film and her breakout role as Dani in “Man in the Moon.” And the entire “Legally Blonde” trilogy is also available, for those who bend and snap.
Prime Video is also giving watchers some ultimate film classics like “Free Willy,” ”Gladiator,” and “Dances With Wolves.”
Last but absolutely not least, Season 2 of “Good Omens” will land on...
- 6/30/2023
- by Raquel "Rocky" Harris
- The Wrap
Amazon originals like season two of The Summer I Turned Pretty and Good Omens, as well as The Horror of Dolores Roach, are just some of the titles hitting Prime Video this July.
Blockbusters like Fast X, 80 for Brady, Till, Knock at the Cabin, Legally Blonde and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, Men in Black 1-3, Saving Private Ryan, Scarface and more will also be coming to the streamer this month.
The fourth and final season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan sees the titular character, played by John Krasinski, on his most dangerous mission yet, against a foreign and domestic enemy. Two new episodes of the thriller drop on the streamer every Friday until July 14.
Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty returns with its second season on July 14 and picks up where season one left off at Cousins Beach. When an unexpected visitor threatens the future...
Blockbusters like Fast X, 80 for Brady, Till, Knock at the Cabin, Legally Blonde and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, Men in Black 1-3, Saving Private Ryan, Scarface and more will also be coming to the streamer this month.
The fourth and final season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan sees the titular character, played by John Krasinski, on his most dangerous mission yet, against a foreign and domestic enemy. Two new episodes of the thriller drop on the streamer every Friday until July 14.
Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty returns with its second season on July 14 and picks up where season one left off at Cousins Beach. When an unexpected visitor threatens the future...
- 6/30/2023
- by Christy Piña
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Prime Video has adapted the one-woman podcast “Empanada Loca” into a new series. “The Horror of Dolores Roach” will begin streaming on the service on July 7. Buckle up, because this one is gruesome. Roach (Justina Machado) returns to a gentrified Washington Heights after a long prison sentence and works as a masseuse in the basement of a friend’s empanada shop. But when her security is threatened, Roach is driven to extremes to survive.
Watch “The Horror of Dolores Roach” trailer:
Season 2 of “Good Omens” also will premiere on Prime Video in July. Arriving July 28, the series focuses on the friendship between Aziraphale (Michael Sheen), a fussy angel and rare-book dealer, and the snarky demon Crowley (David Tennant). While the Apocalypse has been averted, the pair are back living their lives in London, until the archangel Gabriel shows up. The series is based on the novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
Watch “The Horror of Dolores Roach” trailer:
Season 2 of “Good Omens” also will premiere on Prime Video in July. Arriving July 28, the series focuses on the friendship between Aziraphale (Michael Sheen), a fussy angel and rare-book dealer, and the snarky demon Crowley (David Tennant). While the Apocalypse has been averted, the pair are back living their lives in London, until the archangel Gabriel shows up. The series is based on the novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
- 6/26/2023
- by Fern Siegel
- The Streamable
The 32-year-old Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence was out on the campaign trail for her upcoming comedy “No Hard Feelings” this week. One stop along the way was the online chat-and-chew show “Hot Ones,” where, in-between bites of spicy chicken wings, she talked a bit about the acting biz.
Early during her showdown with The Scoville Meter, host Sean Evans asked about working with actors with “a different process than your own” and wondered if “there was a kind of acting prep she’s most intrigued by.”
“No,” Lawrence responded, adding, “I would be nervous to work with someone who is ‘method’ because I would have no idea how to talk to them. Do I have to be in character? That would just make me nervous.”
One thinks back to the story that’s repeated so often it might even be true from the set of “Marathon Man,” in which Dustin Hoffman...
Early during her showdown with The Scoville Meter, host Sean Evans asked about working with actors with “a different process than your own” and wondered if “there was a kind of acting prep she’s most intrigued by.”
“No,” Lawrence responded, adding, “I would be nervous to work with someone who is ‘method’ because I would have no idea how to talk to them. Do I have to be in character? That would just make me nervous.”
One thinks back to the story that’s repeated so often it might even be true from the set of “Marathon Man,” in which Dustin Hoffman...
- 6/23/2023
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
Laurence Olivier was an Oscar-winning thespian best remembered for his psychologically intense Shakespeare adaptations, both as an actor and a director. Yet his filmography extends well past the Bard’s work. Let’s take a look back at 15 of his greatest films, ranked worst to best.
Born in 1907 in Surrey, England, Olivier first came to prominence on the British stage. A series of acclaimed theatrical performances, most notably in Noel Coward‘s “Private Lives,” caught the attention of filmmakers both in the UK and the US.
He earned his first Oscar nomination as Best Actor for William Wyler‘s “Wuthering Heights” (1939), competing the very next year for Alfred Hitchcock‘s “Rebecca” (1940). Having firmly established himself as a formidable talent in front of the camera, he stepped behind it to great success with “Henry V”, the first of three films he would direct and star in based on the works of William Shakespeare.
Born in 1907 in Surrey, England, Olivier first came to prominence on the British stage. A series of acclaimed theatrical performances, most notably in Noel Coward‘s “Private Lives,” caught the attention of filmmakers both in the UK and the US.
He earned his first Oscar nomination as Best Actor for William Wyler‘s “Wuthering Heights” (1939), competing the very next year for Alfred Hitchcock‘s “Rebecca” (1940). Having firmly established himself as a formidable talent in front of the camera, he stepped behind it to great success with “Henry V”, the first of three films he would direct and star in based on the works of William Shakespeare.
- 5/21/2023
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
We hear a lot of stories about method actors going so far with their process that they become a total pain on set, ranging from Dustin Hoffman on "Marathon Man" to Jared Leto on "Morbius" and "Suicide Squad." Of course, there are plenty of method actors who aren't an irritant or a menace on set. Most of them are like that. We just don't hear about them because the stories aren't as weird as sending a rat to your co-star.
But then you have the grandaddy of them all, the man responsible for changing what film acting is: Marlon Brando. For as dynamic and groundbreaking an actor as he was, few actors have garnered as big of a reputation as him for being a really unpleasant co-worker. You have the truly horrific stuff that occurred on set for "Last Tango in Paris," but you also have things like not wanting...
But then you have the grandaddy of them all, the man responsible for changing what film acting is: Marlon Brando. For as dynamic and groundbreaking an actor as he was, few actors have garnered as big of a reputation as him for being a really unpleasant co-worker. You have the truly horrific stuff that occurred on set for "Last Tango in Paris," but you also have things like not wanting...
- 4/8/2023
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
“Method acting” long ago lost its meaning.
Instead, it’s become a catchall to describe an intense commitment to getting it right on stage or screen. It’s an all-out approach that sees performers pack and shed pounds, feast on live cockroaches or raw bison, extract teeth or eschew showers, and remain in character between takes. Those are just a few examples of the extremes to which Robert De Niro, Christian Bale, Nicolas Cage, Leonardo DiCaprio, Shia Labeouf, Charlize Theron, Daniel Day-Lewis and their ilk push themselves in the service of their art. For their suffering, they receive Oscars and Emmys, along with a ton of media coverage — just look at the scores of pieces documenting the gonzo things Jared Leto has done each time one of his movies get released.
The payoff can be electrifying performances that blur the lines between character and actor. But it’s an approach...
Instead, it’s become a catchall to describe an intense commitment to getting it right on stage or screen. It’s an all-out approach that sees performers pack and shed pounds, feast on live cockroaches or raw bison, extract teeth or eschew showers, and remain in character between takes. Those are just a few examples of the extremes to which Robert De Niro, Christian Bale, Nicolas Cage, Leonardo DiCaprio, Shia Labeouf, Charlize Theron, Daniel Day-Lewis and their ilk push themselves in the service of their art. For their suffering, they receive Oscars and Emmys, along with a ton of media coverage — just look at the scores of pieces documenting the gonzo things Jared Leto has done each time one of his movies get released.
The payoff can be electrifying performances that blur the lines between character and actor. But it’s an approach...
- 4/6/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
“Rabbit Hole” stars Kiefer Sutherland as a corporate espionage consultant who must go on the run after being framed for murder by a shadowy but powerful group, a character that is used to being on the receiving end of punches, quite unlike the character he’s best known for on “24.”
The Paramount+ series pairs Sutherland with “Crazy, Stupid Love,” “This is Us” and “WeCrashed” writer-directors John Requa and Glenn Ficarra. When they pitched him on a series that’s a throwback to ’70s conspiracy thrillers “Three Days of the Condor” and “Marathon Man” and “The Parallax View,” he was fully on board. “I’m so lucky that they called me first,” Sutherland told TheWrap ahead of the series premiere on March 26.
“24” fans will be pleased to see the actor back in thriller territory, but his “Rabbit Hole” character John Weir is very different from Jack Bauer. For one thing, it...
The Paramount+ series pairs Sutherland with “Crazy, Stupid Love,” “This is Us” and “WeCrashed” writer-directors John Requa and Glenn Ficarra. When they pitched him on a series that’s a throwback to ’70s conspiracy thrillers “Three Days of the Condor” and “Marathon Man” and “The Parallax View,” he was fully on board. “I’m so lucky that they called me first,” Sutherland told TheWrap ahead of the series premiere on March 26.
“24” fans will be pleased to see the actor back in thriller territory, but his “Rabbit Hole” character John Weir is very different from Jack Bauer. For one thing, it...
- 3/26/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
Kiefer Sutherland stars in the new Paramount+ series Rabbit Hole as John Weir, "a master of deception in the world of corporate espionage framed for murder by powerful forces who have the ability to influence and control populations."
Creators Glenn Ficarra and John Requa always saw Sutherland as their John Weir, and Sutherland shares their enthusiasm for the role.
We caught up with him during the Rabbit Hole press day for an interview that shares that excitement and shows how different Sutherland is from his on-screen persona.
What were your first thoughts when you were approached by Glenn and John for this project?
My first thought was just how excited I was that they had even thought of me at all. I'm a huge fan of them as writers and as directors.
Stupid Crazy Love I still find one of the most well-balanced movies I've ever seen, and the script...
Creators Glenn Ficarra and John Requa always saw Sutherland as their John Weir, and Sutherland shares their enthusiasm for the role.
We caught up with him during the Rabbit Hole press day for an interview that shares that excitement and shows how different Sutherland is from his on-screen persona.
What were your first thoughts when you were approached by Glenn and John for this project?
My first thought was just how excited I was that they had even thought of me at all. I'm a huge fan of them as writers and as directors.
Stupid Crazy Love I still find one of the most well-balanced movies I've ever seen, and the script...
- 3/24/2023
- by Carissa Pavlica
- TVfanatic
There's no denying that "Rabbit Hole," the upcoming Paramount+ series which stars Kiefer Sutherland, is a thriller with a lot of twists and turns. But what not might be as expected is that the show, created by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra, has plenty of funny moments, too.
"I was expecting all of the tentpole ideas of a good thriller, but the humor was just such a bonus," Sutherland told me in a recent interview. "And it wasn't complicated gag humor where you have to figure out how to fall down three flights of stairs and then jump up with a clown nose. This is a really sophisticated, sarcastic, charming kind of humor."
That charming humor is paired with some mind-boggling twists, where almost every episode ends with reveals which completely flips the table on any assumptions you might have had about what is going on. I talked with Sutherland...
"I was expecting all of the tentpole ideas of a good thriller, but the humor was just such a bonus," Sutherland told me in a recent interview. "And it wasn't complicated gag humor where you have to figure out how to fall down three flights of stairs and then jump up with a clown nose. This is a really sophisticated, sarcastic, charming kind of humor."
That charming humor is paired with some mind-boggling twists, where almost every episode ends with reveals which completely flips the table on any assumptions you might have had about what is going on. I talked with Sutherland...
- 3/21/2023
- by Vanessa Armstrong
- Slash Film
Garrett Brown is among the most important figures in the history of cinematography. His invention of the Steadicam forever changed the way filmmakers approached camera motion. No longer reliant on dollies or cranes to track movement, camera operators could now mount the device to their bodies and walk or run freely to deliver smooth tracking shots. No longer did they have to worry about the bumps and shakes that a hand-held camera caused. Stanley Kubrick was one of the first filmmakers to immediately grasp the benefits of the new technology, professing that "it should revolutionize the way films are shot." The director heavily incorporated the Steadicam when shooting "The Shining," hiring Brown to operate the cameras and further pushing the tech to new limits -- even if it meant endangering his cameramen.
"The Shining" is one of the most storied productions of all time, as illustrated by the new 2,200-page,...
"The Shining" is one of the most storied productions of all time, as illustrated by the new 2,200-page,...
- 3/17/2023
- by Andrew Housman
- Slash Film
William Goldman’s international conspiracy thriller provides Dustin Hoffman with an outright ‘action man’ star vehicle. The public applauded supporting star Laurence Olivier, who with just a few gestures creates a terrifying villain: “Is it safe?” William Devane and Marthe Keller co-star. We wish Roy Scheider’s character could have continued in a series of crime thrillers — he brings genuine movie star charisma. The story is by William Goldman, from his own book.
Marathon Man 4K
4K Ultra-hd + Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1976 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 125 min. / Street Date February 28, 2023 / available through Kino Lorber / 39.95
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier, Roy Scheider, William Devane, Marthe Keller, Fritz Weaver, Richard Bright, Marc Lawrence, Lou Gilbert, Fred Stuthman, Jacques Marin, Litti Palfi Andor, Madge Kennedy, Treat Williams.
Cinematography: Conrad Hall
Production Designer: Richard Macdonald
Art Director: Jack De Shields
Film Editor: Jim Clark
Special Makeup Consultant: Dick Smith
Original Music: Michael Small
Written by...
Marathon Man 4K
4K Ultra-hd + Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1976 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 125 min. / Street Date February 28, 2023 / available through Kino Lorber / 39.95
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier, Roy Scheider, William Devane, Marthe Keller, Fritz Weaver, Richard Bright, Marc Lawrence, Lou Gilbert, Fred Stuthman, Jacques Marin, Litti Palfi Andor, Madge Kennedy, Treat Williams.
Cinematography: Conrad Hall
Production Designer: Richard Macdonald
Art Director: Jack De Shields
Film Editor: Jim Clark
Special Makeup Consultant: Dick Smith
Original Music: Michael Small
Written by...
- 2/14/2023
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
While recently talking about the movies which would make up his retrospective, Tom Hanks, the star of Big, Splash, Philadelphia, and Saving Private Ryan, told CinemaBlend’s ReelBlend Podcast: “For one reason or another, no one references Road to Perdition.” It’s a curiosity he can’t really explain, but he makes a strong argument for the 2002 film, emphasizing how it features “two guys who turned out to be two of the biggest motion picture presences in the history of the industry with Jude Law and [Daniel] Craig.”
Hanks is only saying what mob movie aficionados have been whispering because of omerta laws for years. Road to Perdition is a gangster film classic even if it is based on a graphic novel.
Cinema legend Paul Newman was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in his final feature film performance, here as crime family boss John Rooney. It was also director...
Hanks is only saying what mob movie aficionados have been whispering because of omerta laws for years. Road to Perdition is a gangster film classic even if it is based on a graphic novel.
Cinema legend Paul Newman was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in his final feature film performance, here as crime family boss John Rooney. It was also director...
- 1/31/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
"Rocky" has endured as one of the most uplifting sports films of all time thanks in large part to its heartfelt portrayal of two social misfits falling haltingly in love as one of them trains for an unlikely, yet plausible shot at the heavyweight boxing title. Sylvester Stallone and Talia Shire give lovely, lived-in performances that are painful to watch at times because Rocky has no idea how awkwardly his gregariousness lands, while Adrian seems terrified that anyone would find her worthy of affection.
For most of its runtime, "Rocky" is a human drama about losers. It soars to life during its Bill Conti-scored training montage that explodes the film into its exhilarating third act. Interestingly, the final match isn't all that long. From the opening bell to the end of the fifteenth round, it occupies a scant eight-and-a-half minutes of screen time. But it feels like trench warfare...
For most of its runtime, "Rocky" is a human drama about losers. It soars to life during its Bill Conti-scored training montage that explodes the film into its exhilarating third act. Interestingly, the final match isn't all that long. From the opening bell to the end of the fifteenth round, it occupies a scant eight-and-a-half minutes of screen time. But it feels like trench warfare...
- 1/13/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Akin to "Psycho," the earth-shattering reveal in the closing moments of "Planet of the Apes" became so ingrained into the pop culture lexicon that most folks became aware of it before they even saw the film. There's a part of me that can't fully separate the actual ending from that episode of "The Simpsons" where Troy McClure (Phil Hartman) transforms the gut punch into a bombastic musical number. But I suppose that speaks to how influential this movie was, especially in the realm of science-fiction cinema.
Over five decades since its 1968 theatrical release, "Planet of the Apes," which sees American astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston) crash land on an Earth system dominated by talking primates, has led to over four sequels, two reboots, and two television series, with a new feature film on the way. In many respects, this could have easily fallen into B-movie schlock, but the sharp script...
Over five decades since its 1968 theatrical release, "Planet of the Apes," which sees American astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston) crash land on an Earth system dominated by talking primates, has led to over four sequels, two reboots, and two television series, with a new feature film on the way. In many respects, this could have easily fallen into B-movie schlock, but the sharp script...
- 1/2/2023
- by Matthew Bilodeau
- Slash Film
Click here to read the full article.
Gene Cipriano, the always busy woodwind player who soloed on tenor sax for Tony Curtis in Some Like It Hot and recorded with everyone from Miles Davis, Rosemary Clooney and Frank Sinatra to Glen Campbell, Paul McCartney and Olivia Newton-John, has died. He was 94.
Cipriano died Nov. 12 of natural causes at his home in Studio City, his son Paul told The Hollywood Reporter.
Perhaps the most recorded woodwind player in show business history, Cipriano played soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass saxophones, all the clarinets and flutes, the oboe and bass oboe, the piccolo and the English horn.
Affectionally known as “Cip,” the session musician performed as a member of the Academy Awards Orchestra in the neighborhood of 60 times since 1958. (At the 1977 show, he exchanged “yo’s” with Barbra Streisand, who had just arrived at the podium after having won for “Evergreen.”)
Cipriano...
Gene Cipriano, the always busy woodwind player who soloed on tenor sax for Tony Curtis in Some Like It Hot and recorded with everyone from Miles Davis, Rosemary Clooney and Frank Sinatra to Glen Campbell, Paul McCartney and Olivia Newton-John, has died. He was 94.
Cipriano died Nov. 12 of natural causes at his home in Studio City, his son Paul told The Hollywood Reporter.
Perhaps the most recorded woodwind player in show business history, Cipriano played soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass saxophones, all the clarinets and flutes, the oboe and bass oboe, the piccolo and the English horn.
Affectionally known as “Cip,” the session musician performed as a member of the Academy Awards Orchestra in the neighborhood of 60 times since 1958. (At the 1977 show, he exchanged “yo’s” with Barbra Streisand, who had just arrived at the podium after having won for “Evergreen.”)
Cipriano...
- 11/27/2022
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A lot of Hollywood's greatest actors are willing to do almost anything to get into character. From method thespians like Daniel Day-Lewis willing to alienate everyone they work with, to folks like Christian Bale going through dangerous body transformations, some actors are willing to go to some wild lengths for the sake of their craft.
It's interesting to imagine the reality where someone like Day-Lewis had accepted the lead role in Ridley Scott's "The Martian." Based on the 2011 Andy Weir novel, the film follows astronaut Mark Watney, who becomes stranded alone on the planet Mars after a severe dust storm forces his team to blast off of the planet without him. This forced Watney to scramble to survive on his own with only his wits and his will to live. In the universe where Day-Lewis is our Mark Watney, you can imagine him spending his time on set starving...
It's interesting to imagine the reality where someone like Day-Lewis had accepted the lead role in Ridley Scott's "The Martian." Based on the 2011 Andy Weir novel, the film follows astronaut Mark Watney, who becomes stranded alone on the planet Mars after a severe dust storm forces his team to blast off of the planet without him. This forced Watney to scramble to survive on his own with only his wits and his will to live. In the universe where Day-Lewis is our Mark Watney, you can imagine him spending his time on set starving...
- 11/13/2022
- by Matt Rainis
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for "Andor" episode six.
George Lucas' "Star Wars: A New Hope" is unusual in that it both is and isn't an outlier among other famous 1970s films. Between the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, and the decline of the Civil Rights Movement (among other types of social reform activism in the '60s), the '70s was a period of distrust and cynicism. This manifested itself in the cinema of the decade, from paranoid thrillers — be they of the true-story ("All the President's Men"), pulpy ("Marathon Man"), or sci-fi variety (Lucas' own "Thx 1138") — to the gritty character dramas of Sidney Lumet and Martin Scorsese.
"Andor," as /Film's Bryan Young has observed, has more in common with '70s movies like "Taxi Driver" than even Lucas' original vision for "Star Wars." In "A New Hope," the characters are squarely divided into good people and bad people, save...
George Lucas' "Star Wars: A New Hope" is unusual in that it both is and isn't an outlier among other famous 1970s films. Between the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, and the decline of the Civil Rights Movement (among other types of social reform activism in the '60s), the '70s was a period of distrust and cynicism. This manifested itself in the cinema of the decade, from paranoid thrillers — be they of the true-story ("All the President's Men"), pulpy ("Marathon Man"), or sci-fi variety (Lucas' own "Thx 1138") — to the gritty character dramas of Sidney Lumet and Martin Scorsese.
"Andor," as /Film's Bryan Young has observed, has more in common with '70s movies like "Taxi Driver" than even Lucas' original vision for "Star Wars." In "A New Hope," the characters are squarely divided into good people and bad people, save...
- 10/12/2022
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Sam Raimi may have returned to the director’s chair in a big way with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but it would seem that he’s looking to go back to his old-school horror roots with a remake of one of the highly underrated evil doll movies — Magic.
Related 65: Sam Raimi-produced thriller with Adam Driver gets new release date
Directed by Richard Attenborough, Magic starred Anthony Hopkins as a ventriloquist who is at the mercy of his vicious dummy while he tries to renew a romance with his high school sweetheart. It turns out that Sam Raimi is a big fan of Magic, and producer Roy Lee let it slip on the Post Mortem with Mick Garris podcast (via Bloody Disgusting) that Raimi is actually gearing up to direct a remake of the movie.
“I’ve only worked with [Sam Raimi] as a producer on films… actually… the...
Related 65: Sam Raimi-produced thriller with Adam Driver gets new release date
Directed by Richard Attenborough, Magic starred Anthony Hopkins as a ventriloquist who is at the mercy of his vicious dummy while he tries to renew a romance with his high school sweetheart. It turns out that Sam Raimi is a big fan of Magic, and producer Roy Lee let it slip on the Post Mortem with Mick Garris podcast (via Bloody Disgusting) that Raimi is actually gearing up to direct a remake of the movie.
“I’ve only worked with [Sam Raimi] as a producer on films… actually… the...
- 9/28/2022
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
The Story of Film: A New Generation opens at two dozen theaters this weekend — Laemmle Royal in LA, Museum of the Moving Image in NY, Music Box Theatre in Chicago and Brattle in Cambridge. It’s a mix of arthouses, cinematheques, museums and even a few multiplexes for Mark Cousins’ follow-up to his 15-hour, 2011 opus The Story Of Film: An Odyssey. (This one clocks a relatively brief three hours.)
Several theaters are programming repertory series with the release, “which we feel will elevate its profile and continue the conversation,” said Kyle Westphal, head of theatrical sales for Music Box Films, the distributor for both installments.
A New Generation debuted at Cannes to strong reviews, Deadline’s here. Now, Westphal said, the first film, only available in standard definition, has been remastered in HD and both works will be released in a Blu-ray box set. The earlier work, which essentially played...
Several theaters are programming repertory series with the release, “which we feel will elevate its profile and continue the conversation,” said Kyle Westphal, head of theatrical sales for Music Box Films, the distributor for both installments.
A New Generation debuted at Cannes to strong reviews, Deadline’s here. Now, Westphal said, the first film, only available in standard definition, has been remastered in HD and both works will be released in a Blu-ray box set. The earlier work, which essentially played...
- 9/9/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Writer / Director / Actor Halina Reijn discusses some of her favorite movies with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Rrr (2022)
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Gothic (1986)
Warlock (1989)
Annie (1982)
Midsommar (2019) – Dennis Cozzalio’s 2019 year-end movie roundup
Bambi (1942) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary
Annie (2014)
A Woman Under The Influence (1974)
Husbands (1970) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
Opening Night (1977)
The Piano Teacher (2001) – Charlie Largent’s Criterion Blu-ray review
Black Book (2006)
Elle (2016) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review, Dennis Cozzalio’s 2016 year-end movie roundup
The Fourth Man (1983)
Basic Instinct (1992) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary
Showgirls (1995)
Indecent Proposal (1993)
Fatal Attraction (1987) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary
9 ½ Weeks (1986)
Fifty Shades Of Grey (2015)
365 Days (2020)
A History Of Violence (2005)
Last Tango In Paris (1972) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Chinatown (1974) – Ernest Dickerson’s trailer commentary
Marathon Man (1976)
The Abyss (1989)
Apocalypse Now (1979) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Rrr (2022)
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Gothic (1986)
Warlock (1989)
Annie (1982)
Midsommar (2019) – Dennis Cozzalio’s 2019 year-end movie roundup
Bambi (1942) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary
Annie (2014)
A Woman Under The Influence (1974)
Husbands (1970) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
Opening Night (1977)
The Piano Teacher (2001) – Charlie Largent’s Criterion Blu-ray review
Black Book (2006)
Elle (2016) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review, Dennis Cozzalio’s 2016 year-end movie roundup
The Fourth Man (1983)
Basic Instinct (1992) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary
Showgirls (1995)
Indecent Proposal (1993)
Fatal Attraction (1987) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary
9 ½ Weeks (1986)
Fifty Shades Of Grey (2015)
365 Days (2020)
A History Of Violence (2005)
Last Tango In Paris (1972) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Chinatown (1974) – Ernest Dickerson’s trailer commentary
Marathon Man (1976)
The Abyss (1989)
Apocalypse Now (1979) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?...
- 9/6/2022
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
As actors ponder their Emmy acceptance speeches for September 12, one wonders whether some incipient Adrian Lester envy might creep into their thoughts. Lester, the Black British actor, won a Tony nomination for playing both a German Jewish banker and a female character in The Lehman Trilogy on Broadway. At the Emmys, actors like Jennifer Coolidge and Steve Martin will likely win kudos for essentially playing themselves, with great aplomb.
I empathize with the tensions facing actors today: They covet the opportunity to display their “range” but also understand the risks inherent in boundary crossing. Even Tom Hanks expresses regret for depicting a gay protagonist in 1993’s Philadelphia, and James Franco is catching it for playing Fidel Castro.
The woke-phobic Bill Maher raged this week against critics of Helen Mirren for portraying Golda Meir, but some still rail on Mickey Rooney for Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
But type-casting, or resistance to it,...
I empathize with the tensions facing actors today: They covet the opportunity to display their “range” but also understand the risks inherent in boundary crossing. Even Tom Hanks expresses regret for depicting a gay protagonist in 1993’s Philadelphia, and James Franco is catching it for playing Fidel Castro.
The woke-phobic Bill Maher raged this week against critics of Helen Mirren for portraying Golda Meir, but some still rail on Mickey Rooney for Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
But type-casting, or resistance to it,...
- 8/18/2022
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
In “My Neighbor Adolf,” a Polish Holocaust survivor living in South America suspects that the belligerent German who’s just moved in next door could be none other than der Führer himself. How could that be? Hitler shot himself in his bunker at the end of the war. Or did he? Director Leon Prudovsky’s middling mind game pits David Hayman and prolific German character actor Udo Kier against one another in what could have been a sly, “Sleuth”-style two-hander. But the tonally uneven movie isn’t prepared for its own premise: If the man’s hunch is correct, what are the implications of making friends/enemies with evil?
Years earlier, Malek Polsky (Hayman) sat opposite Hitler at the World Chess Championship in Berlin. He swears he’d recognize “those dead blue eyes” anywhere — and now they’re staring right back at him over the rickety wooden fence that separates their properties.
Years earlier, Malek Polsky (Hayman) sat opposite Hitler at the World Chess Championship in Berlin. He swears he’d recognize “those dead blue eyes” anywhere — and now they’re staring right back at him over the rickety wooden fence that separates their properties.
- 8/5/2022
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Reading the reviews of Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis,” one would be forgiven for thinking that it must be some madly baroque spectacle of exquisite excess, the sort of thing that makes people roll their eyes — or that makes the eyes of others widen with delight — when they hear the name “Baz Luhrmann.”
In The Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney writes, “How you feel about Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’ will depend largely on how you feel about Baz Lurhmann’s brash, glitter-bomb maximalism.” In Rolling Stone, K. Austin Collins calls the film “a brash, overwhelming experience. It’s a carnival in movie form,” while The New York Times’ A.O. Scott says, “All that satin and rhinestone, filtered through Mandy Walker’s pulpy, red-dominated cinematography, conjures an atmosphere of lurid, frenzied eroticism. You might mistake this for a vampire movie.” In my own review of “Elvis,” I, too, danced the Baz Luhrmann jig,...
In The Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney writes, “How you feel about Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’ will depend largely on how you feel about Baz Lurhmann’s brash, glitter-bomb maximalism.” In Rolling Stone, K. Austin Collins calls the film “a brash, overwhelming experience. It’s a carnival in movie form,” while The New York Times’ A.O. Scott says, “All that satin and rhinestone, filtered through Mandy Walker’s pulpy, red-dominated cinematography, conjures an atmosphere of lurid, frenzied eroticism. You might mistake this for a vampire movie.” In my own review of “Elvis,” I, too, danced the Baz Luhrmann jig,...
- 6/26/2022
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
“Beautiful Blue Eyes,” the last film starring Roy Scheider, will release worldwide on June 10, following a charity premiere in London on June 6.
The two-time Oscar nominee died in 2008 while “Beautiful Blue Eyes” was being filmed. Completion of the film was put on hold until AI and CG technology was advanced enough to overcome the technical challenges faced by the filmmakers.
Written and directed by Joshua Newton (“Iron Cross”), the film also stars Helmut Berger (“The Godfather: Part III”), Scott Cohen (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”), Sarah Bolger (“The Tudors”) and Alexander Newton (“Iron Cross”) who plays a young Roy Scheider.
Set in Germany with flashbacks to Nazi-occupied Poland, the film is the story of Joseph (Scheider), a retired NYPD cop who visits his estranged son Ronnie (Cohen) in Nuremberg and insists that his neighbour is the SS Commander (Berger), who slaughtered his entire family in a Polish forest in 1941. In flashbacks,...
The two-time Oscar nominee died in 2008 while “Beautiful Blue Eyes” was being filmed. Completion of the film was put on hold until AI and CG technology was advanced enough to overcome the technical challenges faced by the filmmakers.
Written and directed by Joshua Newton (“Iron Cross”), the film also stars Helmut Berger (“The Godfather: Part III”), Scott Cohen (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”), Sarah Bolger (“The Tudors”) and Alexander Newton (“Iron Cross”) who plays a young Roy Scheider.
Set in Germany with flashbacks to Nazi-occupied Poland, the film is the story of Joseph (Scheider), a retired NYPD cop who visits his estranged son Ronnie (Cohen) in Nuremberg and insists that his neighbour is the SS Commander (Berger), who slaughtered his entire family in a Polish forest in 1941. In flashbacks,...
- 4/13/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
It’s last call for a number of great movies leaving HBO and HBO Max in March. Fortunately, the month is also packed with new movies and shows, but if you were planning to revisit any of the films below, now’s your chance.
The good news is you won’t have to squeeze in any binge-watching – there are no series leaving HBO Max this month, just films. Expiring titles of note include Sam Raimi’s definitive horror films “The Evil Dead” and “Evil Dead 2,” Wes Anderson’s charming coming-of-age romance “Moonrise Kingdom,” the Charlize Theron-led dramedy “Tully,” Judd Apatow’s “The King of Staten Island” starring Pete Davidson, and the musical drama “Dreamgirls,” starring Jennifer Hudson in the role that earned her the Oscar.
There are also several comedy favorites expiring in March, including both “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” and “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey,...
The good news is you won’t have to squeeze in any binge-watching – there are no series leaving HBO Max this month, just films. Expiring titles of note include Sam Raimi’s definitive horror films “The Evil Dead” and “Evil Dead 2,” Wes Anderson’s charming coming-of-age romance “Moonrise Kingdom,” the Charlize Theron-led dramedy “Tully,” Judd Apatow’s “The King of Staten Island” starring Pete Davidson, and the musical drama “Dreamgirls,” starring Jennifer Hudson in the role that earned her the Oscar.
There are also several comedy favorites expiring in March, including both “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” and “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey,...
- 2/28/2022
- by Haleigh Foutch
- The Wrap
While practically every other filmmaker seems to be pretending that the pandemic never happened, setting their films either before the plague or so far afterward that nobody talks about it anymore, Steven Soderbergh is out there mining the, shall we say, unique circumstances of the last few years for Hitchcockian thrills in “Kimi.”
It’s a low-budget, high-concept thriller that’s refreshingly contemporary on the surface, even though it’s pretty conventional at its core.
Zoë Kravitz stars as Angela Childs, who works for a tech company selling an Alexa-like device called “Kimi.” It works basically the same way all the real voice-activated technology you use does, except whenever it fails to understand a voice command, an actual human being listens to the recording to determine where the mistake was made, and correct Kimi’s programming to prevent future borks.
And if that sounds like a really terrible idea, if...
It’s a low-budget, high-concept thriller that’s refreshingly contemporary on the surface, even though it’s pretty conventional at its core.
Zoë Kravitz stars as Angela Childs, who works for a tech company selling an Alexa-like device called “Kimi.” It works basically the same way all the real voice-activated technology you use does, except whenever it fails to understand a voice command, an actual human being listens to the recording to determine where the mistake was made, and correct Kimi’s programming to prevent future borks.
And if that sounds like a really terrible idea, if...
- 2/10/2022
- by William Bibbiani
- The Wrap
Joe Dante's "Gremlins" is one of the greatest holiday horror films in history and is partially responsible for the creation of the PG-13 rating. "Gremlins 2: A New Batch" on the other hand, is a chaotic nightmare of fun and absurdity with cartoon-comedy, slapstick violence, and parodies of "Rambo," "The Wizard of Oz," "The Phantom of the Opera," "Marathon Man," "Of Mice and Men," Donald Trump, and even "Gremlins" itself. The movie is so absurd that one of the best "Key and Peele" sketches in the show's history is about the brainstorming session that led to "Gremlins 2." I'm a staunch defender of this ridiculous film, because...
The post Let's Revisit Gremlins 2's Wonderfully Strange Cameos appeared first on /Film.
The post Let's Revisit Gremlins 2's Wonderfully Strange Cameos appeared first on /Film.
- 2/9/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Oscar-nominated Saving Private Ryan screenwriter Robert Rodat is set to write Semper Fi, the true story of Marine Maj. Thomas Schueman and his extraordinary Afghan interpreter Zainulla Zaki.
During fierce fighting in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, the two men formed an unbreakable brotherhood that transcended the differences in their cultures and ethnicities. After Schueman’s return to the U.S. he tried, with no success, to help Zaki and his family get out of Afghanistan. This summer, as the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan, Zaki and his family were targeted for execution by the Taliban due to his involvement with U.S. Forces. Schueman’s devotion to his comrade and his struggle to save him, his wife and four children led to a harrowing escape and a daring rescue at Kabul’s airport.
The project is being developed by producers Flashlight Films managing partner Allyn Stewart and veteran movie producer Hawk Koch,...
During fierce fighting in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, the two men formed an unbreakable brotherhood that transcended the differences in their cultures and ethnicities. After Schueman’s return to the U.S. he tried, with no success, to help Zaki and his family get out of Afghanistan. This summer, as the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan, Zaki and his family were targeted for execution by the Taliban due to his involvement with U.S. Forces. Schueman’s devotion to his comrade and his struggle to save him, his wife and four children led to a harrowing escape and a daring rescue at Kabul’s airport.
The project is being developed by producers Flashlight Films managing partner Allyn Stewart and veteran movie producer Hawk Koch,...
- 11/3/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Kenyan distance runner Eliud Kipchoge was born in 1984, when the world record in the men’s marathon stood at 2:08:05. Today, he holds the world record at that distance, having pared the time all the way down to 2:01:39. That achievement, not to mention back to back gold medals at the Tokyo and Rio Olympics, have inspired many to declare Kipchoge the Goat (greatest of all time) in the marathon.
Kipchoge is known for his humility, but when pressed about what makes him better than his competitors, he concedes, “I think the difference between me and other marathoners is the professionalism. I am a real professional as far as running’s concerned,” he tells Deadline. “I follow what is required in sport. I really work hard. Even if I don’t feel like waking up I still wake up and just push myself. That’s what I mean by professionalism.
Kipchoge is known for his humility, but when pressed about what makes him better than his competitors, he concedes, “I think the difference between me and other marathoners is the professionalism. I am a real professional as far as running’s concerned,” he tells Deadline. “I follow what is required in sport. I really work hard. Even if I don’t feel like waking up I still wake up and just push myself. That’s what I mean by professionalism.
- 9/3/2021
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Through the annals of abandoned superhero movies, and masked marvel projects which never happened, Spider-Man 4 remains one of the greater ‘what ifs.’ This is in no small part because millions of fans around the world had already seen what Sam Raimi and company brought to the wallcrawler in what is now known as “the Spider-Man Trilogy,” and most generally loved two-thirds of that. So when Raimi famously derailed the project in late 2009—effectively leading to its cancellation—there were plenty of folks upset by the idea that we’d never see Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker again.
Things of course change. That said we’ve still only had hints at what Raimi’s abandoned Spider-Man 4 would’ve looked like. John Malkovich was expected to play the Vulture; Anne Hathaway was at least very close to being cast as Felicia Hardy (it’s vague whether she officially signed on...
Things of course change. That said we’ve still only had hints at what Raimi’s abandoned Spider-Man 4 would’ve looked like. John Malkovich was expected to play the Vulture; Anne Hathaway was at least very close to being cast as Felicia Hardy (it’s vague whether she officially signed on...
- 6/14/2021
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
The most honored cinematographer of 2020 is Joshua James Richards, the British-born “Nomadland” craftsman who specializes in beautiful but complex images of the American West. The partner of filmmaker Chloé Zhao, Richards has shot all three of her features, plus the 2017 farm-life love story “God’s Own Country,” imbuing each with a mysterious sense of nature’s power and the rawness of the outdoors.
Now Oscar nominees, Richards and Zhao, both in their late 30s, could each collect trophies at next month’s ceremony. Zhao is nominated in four categories, a record for a woman in a single year. Though the two do tend to eschew the spotlight, they are both deeply immersed in movie history and eager with references to films and filmmakers that have shaped their own careers.
“The approach of the cinematography was always one towards classic cinema that also feels contemporary,” Richards said in a video interview exclusively available on TheWrap.
Now Oscar nominees, Richards and Zhao, both in their late 30s, could each collect trophies at next month’s ceremony. Zhao is nominated in four categories, a record for a woman in a single year. Though the two do tend to eschew the spotlight, they are both deeply immersed in movie history and eager with references to films and filmmakers that have shaped their own careers.
“The approach of the cinematography was always one towards classic cinema that also feels contemporary,” Richards said in a video interview exclusively available on TheWrap.
- 3/23/2021
- by Joe McGovern
- The Wrap
This Clarice review contains spoilers.
Clarice Episode 5
Clarice, episode 5, “Get Right with God,” is the best episode of the season because the show gets right with The Silence of the Lambs. The series has been putting off most of the references, some by design, come contractually forced. Agent Clarice Starling (Rebecca Breeds) has done her level best to avoid talking about it, even in therapy. Though, to be fair, she avoids even the smallest of chatter there, and often appears to be communicating via a blinked Morse code.
Starling has gone as far running rogue and publicly plug an inconvenient theory to push the traumatic events of the source film further away. She’s done this against the express wishes of her coworkers, and the Attorney General, Ruth Martin (Jayne Atkinson), who salivates at the very phrase “serial killer.” Just as the ViCAP unit is finally on the same page as Starling,...
Clarice Episode 5
Clarice, episode 5, “Get Right with God,” is the best episode of the season because the show gets right with The Silence of the Lambs. The series has been putting off most of the references, some by design, come contractually forced. Agent Clarice Starling (Rebecca Breeds) has done her level best to avoid talking about it, even in therapy. Though, to be fair, she avoids even the smallest of chatter there, and often appears to be communicating via a blinked Morse code.
Starling has gone as far running rogue and publicly plug an inconvenient theory to push the traumatic events of the source film further away. She’s done this against the express wishes of her coworkers, and the Attorney General, Ruth Martin (Jayne Atkinson), who salivates at the very phrase “serial killer.” Just as the ViCAP unit is finally on the same page as Starling,...
- 3/12/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Robert DeMora, a costume designer with film credits that include Risky Business, The Wanderers and The Birdcage but who made his biggest splash creating dazzling, near-surreal costumes for Bette Midler like her famous sequined mermaid gowns, died Sept. 21 at his home in Upstate New York’s Jeffersonville. He was 85.
The New York Times reports heart failure as the cause of death. His death was first reported two weeks ago by local news in his native Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he got his start in the 1950s designing his high school plays.
DeMora began his film career with 1976’s Marathon Man starring Dustin Hoffman, following up the next year with The Exorcist II: The Heretic, then American Hot Wax, A Different Story and Winter Kills starring Jeff Bridges. In 1979, he costumed the ’60s-era gangs of The Wanderers, and, a year later, William Friedkin’s controversial gay serial killer drama Cruising. He would...
The New York Times reports heart failure as the cause of death. His death was first reported two weeks ago by local news in his native Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he got his start in the 1950s designing his high school plays.
DeMora began his film career with 1976’s Marathon Man starring Dustin Hoffman, following up the next year with The Exorcist II: The Heretic, then American Hot Wax, A Different Story and Winter Kills starring Jeff Bridges. In 1979, he costumed the ’60s-era gangs of The Wanderers, and, a year later, William Friedkin’s controversial gay serial killer drama Cruising. He would...
- 10/22/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Paul Crifo, who designed the posters for such films as In the Heat of the Night, Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Marathon Man, died Sept. 22 of natural causes in Roslyn, New York, his son Peter reported. He was 98.
From 1942-86, Crifo worked on 400-plus motion picture advertising campaigns and designed more than 120 film posters. He was recognized for his contribution to his craft in 2007 at The Hollywood Reporter’s Key Art Awards.
Crifo illustrated 45 film posters of his own design; in addition to In the Heat of the Night (1967) and Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), those ...
From 1942-86, Crifo worked on 400-plus motion picture advertising campaigns and designed more than 120 film posters. He was recognized for his contribution to his craft in 2007 at The Hollywood Reporter’s Key Art Awards.
Crifo illustrated 45 film posters of his own design; in addition to In the Heat of the Night (1967) and Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), those ...
- 10/13/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
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