Early in director Laurent Bouzereau’s “Music by John Williams” documentary (streaming November 1 on Disney+), Steven Spielberg explains that he was worried about the demise of orchestral film scoring in the early ’70s while embarking on his directing career. He was determined that this emotionally stirring, if anachronistic, format would not die on his watch, so he hired John Williams to score his first theatrical feature, “The Sugarland Express” (1974).
Williams (who caught the director’s attention in 1969 with “The Reivers”) surprised Spielberg with an intimate harmonica solo (played by Toots Thielmans) that helped elevate the movie in a way he didn’t expect. Thus began the greatest director-composer collaboration in the history of movies, with Spielberg making 29 films with Williams and admitting that the composer has been indispensable to each and every one of them.
But it was their second film together, “Jaws” (1975), that propelled their careers. With two unforgettable...
Williams (who caught the director’s attention in 1969 with “The Reivers”) surprised Spielberg with an intimate harmonica solo (played by Toots Thielmans) that helped elevate the movie in a way he didn’t expect. Thus began the greatest director-composer collaboration in the history of movies, with Spielberg making 29 films with Williams and admitting that the composer has been indispensable to each and every one of them.
But it was their second film together, “Jaws” (1975), that propelled their careers. With two unforgettable...
- 10/31/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Oscar-nominated actress Teri Garr died at 79 on Tuesday. Her publicist, Heidi Schaeffer, shared that Garr died “surrounded by family and friends.” Garr was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (Ms) over two decades ago.
In a screen career that spanned over 40 years, Garr is known for her role as Sandy in the romantic comedy Tootsie, and Inga in 1974’s film Young Frankenstein.
Garr was born December 11, 1944, in Ohio. Her family shortly moved to Los Angeles. Garr attended Cal State Northbridge and moved to New York City to study acting. Initially a go-go and ballet dancer, she shimmies in the background of multiple Elvis Presley features and the filmed concert The T.A.M.I. Show. Her first official speaking role was in Jack Nicholson’s Head, a friend she connected with in acting class. She would go on to become a regular guest on The Sonny and Cher Show and work with many famous directors such as Francis Ford Coppola,...
In a screen career that spanned over 40 years, Garr is known for her role as Sandy in the romantic comedy Tootsie, and Inga in 1974’s film Young Frankenstein.
Garr was born December 11, 1944, in Ohio. Her family shortly moved to Los Angeles. Garr attended Cal State Northbridge and moved to New York City to study acting. Initially a go-go and ballet dancer, she shimmies in the background of multiple Elvis Presley features and the filmed concert The T.A.M.I. Show. Her first official speaking role was in Jack Nicholson’s Head, a friend she connected with in acting class. She would go on to become a regular guest on The Sonny and Cher Show and work with many famous directors such as Francis Ford Coppola,...
- 10/30/2024
- by Baila Eve Zisman
- Uinterview
Alan Rudolph with Anne-Katrin Titze on Robert Altman considering Johnny Carson and Peter Falk to be cast as Dwayne Hoover (played by Bruce Willis) in Breakfast Of Champions: “He would cast his movies before they were written.”
In the first instalment with Alan Rudolph, we discuss Robert Altman’s early connection to Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast Of Champions, the roles played by Bruce Willis, Nick Nolte, Albert Finney, and Owen Wilson, plus working with Willis and Demi Moore on Mortal Thoughts. Now, with the help of Ron Mann, director of What We Like, producer David Blocker, cinematographer Elliot Davis and Shout Factory, there is a 4K Digital Restoration of Breakfast of Champions available to screen in cinemas, on streaming platforms and Blu-ray DVD for the 25th anniversary of this very prescient film. Alan Rudolph was an assistant director on Altman’s Nashville, California Split, The Long Goodbye, and appeared as himself in The Player.
In the first instalment with Alan Rudolph, we discuss Robert Altman’s early connection to Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast Of Champions, the roles played by Bruce Willis, Nick Nolte, Albert Finney, and Owen Wilson, plus working with Willis and Demi Moore on Mortal Thoughts. Now, with the help of Ron Mann, director of What We Like, producer David Blocker, cinematographer Elliot Davis and Shout Factory, there is a 4K Digital Restoration of Breakfast of Champions available to screen in cinemas, on streaming platforms and Blu-ray DVD for the 25th anniversary of this very prescient film. Alan Rudolph was an assistant director on Altman’s Nashville, California Split, The Long Goodbye, and appeared as himself in The Player.
- 10/30/2024
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Teri Garr, the Oscar-nominated actress best known for her work in hit comedies like Tootsie and Young Frankenstein, died Tuesday, Oct. 29, at her home in Los Angeles, The New York Times reports. She was 79.
Garr’s publicist confirmed her death, saying it was caused by complications from multiple sclerosis. Garr was diagnosed with Ms in 1999 and revealed it publicly in 2002. In 2006, she suffered a brain aneurysm that left her in a coma for several days, though she eventually regained her ability to speak.
Over four decades, Garr enjoyed a wildly successful and multi-faceted career,...
Garr’s publicist confirmed her death, saying it was caused by complications from multiple sclerosis. Garr was diagnosed with Ms in 1999 and revealed it publicly in 2002. In 2006, she suffered a brain aneurysm that left her in a coma for several days, though she eventually regained her ability to speak.
Over four decades, Garr enjoyed a wildly successful and multi-faceted career,...
- 10/29/2024
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
25 years ago, writer/director Alan Rudolph realized a decades-long dream when he finally got to make his adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut‘s “Breakfast of Champions” with a cast that included Bruce Willis, Nick Nolte, Albert Finney, and Barbara Hershey, all operating at the peak of their talents. The tale of a smiling car dealership mogul (Willis) in the midst of a breakdown, “Breakfast” was one of Rudolph’s best films, a hilarious, prescient, and audacious portrait of not just a man, but a country losing its mind.
“Breakfast of Champions” was a deeply personal, fully realized work from one of the most interesting American filmmakers of his era. It was also a complete flop with audiences and critics.
“The film came out for two or three days and was radioactive,” Rudolph told IndieWire. “Breakfast” was so buried by the studio that released it that even its director couldn’t get...
“Breakfast of Champions” was a deeply personal, fully realized work from one of the most interesting American filmmakers of his era. It was also a complete flop with audiences and critics.
“The film came out for two or three days and was radioactive,” Rudolph told IndieWire. “Breakfast” was so buried by the studio that released it that even its director couldn’t get...
- 10/29/2024
- by Jim Hemphill
- Indiewire
Teri Garr, the comic actress and singer who brought her buoyant personality to “Young Frankenstein” and was Oscar-nominated for “Tootsie,” died on Tuesday in Los Angeles after a long battle with Ms. She was 79.
An influential performer to comedians including Tina Fey, Garr was a familiar face in dozens of TV shows and films of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. The actress revealed in 2002 that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and she suffered an aneurysm in 2006.
After starting her career as a dancer, Garr first gained attention as Inga, the saucy assistant in Mel Brooks’ 1974 “Young Frankenstein,” who greeted Gene Wilder’s Dr. Frederick Frankenstein with the memorable “Vould you like to have a roll in ze hay?”
On “Friends,” she played Phoebe Abbot in three episodes in 1997 and 1998.
In Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” Garr was the wife of Richard Dreyfuss’ character. She...
An influential performer to comedians including Tina Fey, Garr was a familiar face in dozens of TV shows and films of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. The actress revealed in 2002 that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and she suffered an aneurysm in 2006.
After starting her career as a dancer, Garr first gained attention as Inga, the saucy assistant in Mel Brooks’ 1974 “Young Frankenstein,” who greeted Gene Wilder’s Dr. Frederick Frankenstein with the memorable “Vould you like to have a roll in ze hay?”
On “Friends,” she played Phoebe Abbot in three episodes in 1997 and 1998.
In Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” Garr was the wife of Richard Dreyfuss’ character. She...
- 10/29/2024
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
Teri Garr, the Oscar-nominated actor best known for her roles in Tootsie, Young Frankenstein, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and more, died Tuesday after living with Ms for more than two decades. The news was confirmed by Variety. Garr was 79.
Garr was born in 1944 to parents who both worked...
Garr was born in 1944 to parents who both worked...
- 10/29/2024
- by Emma Keates
- avclub.com
Wicked director Jon M. Chu will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award at the 75th annual Ace Eddie Awards, which recognize the year’s best editing achievements in film and TV.
The American Society of Editors made the announcement Monday, along with revealing that longtime Robert Altman and Tyler Perry collaborator Maysie Hoy and Star Wars Oscar winner Paul Hirsch will be bestowed with career achievement honors during the ceremony, set for January 18, 2025 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.
The Filmmaker of the Year honor goes to an artist who “exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film,” Ace said. Recent recipients include John Waters, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Spike Lee, Quentin Tarantino, Kathleen Kennedy and Christopher Nolan.
“Jon M. Chu is a visionary filmmaker who has captivated audiences worldwide with his dynamic storytelling and innovative visual style,” said Ace president Sabrina Plisco, Ace, noting Chu’s...
The American Society of Editors made the announcement Monday, along with revealing that longtime Robert Altman and Tyler Perry collaborator Maysie Hoy and Star Wars Oscar winner Paul Hirsch will be bestowed with career achievement honors during the ceremony, set for January 18, 2025 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.
The Filmmaker of the Year honor goes to an artist who “exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film,” Ace said. Recent recipients include John Waters, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Spike Lee, Quentin Tarantino, Kathleen Kennedy and Christopher Nolan.
“Jon M. Chu is a visionary filmmaker who has captivated audiences worldwide with his dynamic storytelling and innovative visual style,” said Ace president Sabrina Plisco, Ace, noting Chu’s...
- 10/28/2024
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
American Cinema Editors (Ace) announced today that “Wicked” director Jon M. Chu will receive the 2025 Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award, recognizing an artist who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film. Ace will also bestow career achievement honors to film editors Maysie Hoy and Paul Hirsch for their outstanding career contributions to film editing. All honors will be presented at the 75th annual Ace Eddie Awards on January 18, 2025 at UCLA’s Royce Hall where winners will also be announced in 13 competitive categories recognizing the best film editing achievements of the year in film and television.
In a press release, Ace president Sabrina Plisco said, “Jon M. Chu is a visionary filmmaker who has captivated audiences worldwide with his dynamic storytelling and innovative visual style. From the vibrant energy of “In The Heights” to the sweeping romance of the groundbreaking “Crazy Rich Asians,” his films...
In a press release, Ace president Sabrina Plisco said, “Jon M. Chu is a visionary filmmaker who has captivated audiences worldwide with his dynamic storytelling and innovative visual style. From the vibrant energy of “In The Heights” to the sweeping romance of the groundbreaking “Crazy Rich Asians,” his films...
- 10/28/2024
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
Wicked director Jon M. Chu will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award from the American Cinema Editors (Ace), it was announced on Monday.
The award recognizes “an artist who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film,” according to Ace. Film editors Maysie Hoy and Paul Hirsch will also receive career achievement honors for their “outstanding career contributions to film editing.”
All honors will be presented at the 75th annual Ace Eddie Awards on Jan. 18 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Nominations will be announced on Dec. 11.
“Jon M. Chu is a visionary filmmaker who has captivated audiences worldwide with his dynamic storytelling and innovative visual style,” says newly elected Ace president Sabrina Plisco. “From the vibrant energy of In The Heights to the sweeping romance of the groundbreaking Crazy Rich Asians, his films are a testament to the power of cinema to transport, entertain and inspire.
The award recognizes “an artist who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film,” according to Ace. Film editors Maysie Hoy and Paul Hirsch will also receive career achievement honors for their “outstanding career contributions to film editing.”
All honors will be presented at the 75th annual Ace Eddie Awards on Jan. 18 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Nominations will be announced on Dec. 11.
“Jon M. Chu is a visionary filmmaker who has captivated audiences worldwide with his dynamic storytelling and innovative visual style,” says newly elected Ace president Sabrina Plisco. “From the vibrant energy of In The Heights to the sweeping romance of the groundbreaking Crazy Rich Asians, his films are a testament to the power of cinema to transport, entertain and inspire.
- 10/28/2024
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Edd Griles, who directed Cyndi Lauper in the bouncy music video for “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” the singer’s breakthrough hit and a wildly popular tune in the early days of MTV, has died. He was 78.
Griles died Tuesday at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, his daughter, Allyson Monson, told The Hollywood Reporter.
The New York native also directed music videos for Huey Lewis and the News (“The Heart of Rock & Roll,” “If This Is It,” “Stuck with You”); Eddie Murphy (“Party All the Time”); Lee Greenwood (“God Bless the USA”); Peter Wolf (“Come as You Are”); Sheena Easton (“Jimmy Mack”); Deep Purple and Rainbow; and others.
He also produced the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards in 1984; the first Espy Awards in 1993; and from 1996-99, the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants.
Griles began directing...
Griles died Tuesday at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, his daughter, Allyson Monson, told The Hollywood Reporter.
The New York native also directed music videos for Huey Lewis and the News (“The Heart of Rock & Roll,” “If This Is It,” “Stuck with You”); Eddie Murphy (“Party All the Time”); Lee Greenwood (“God Bless the USA”); Peter Wolf (“Come as You Are”); Sheena Easton (“Jimmy Mack”); Deep Purple and Rainbow; and others.
He also produced the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards in 1984; the first Espy Awards in 1993; and from 1996-99, the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants.
Griles began directing...
- 10/24/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
For over seven decades, John Williams has been crafting some of the most memorable melodies in cinema history. From the ominous two-note teaser of danger in Jaws to the soaring theme of adventure and wonder in Star Wars, Williams’ music has accentuated emotions in iconic movies and become ingrained in our collective experience. At 92, with five Oscars and an unprecedented 52 nominations, Williams is widely considered the most successful film composer of all time.
The documentary Music by John Williams, directed by Laurent Bouzereau, shares insights into the celebrated career of this prolific artist. Through interviews with Williams himself, as well as directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, musicians Williams has collaborated with, and others, the film explores the maestro’s journey.
Natural talent and perseverance led Williams from piano sessions in Los Angeles to scoring early television and films. However, it was his partnerships with Spielberg and Lucas that launched...
The documentary Music by John Williams, directed by Laurent Bouzereau, shares insights into the celebrated career of this prolific artist. Through interviews with Williams himself, as well as directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, musicians Williams has collaborated with, and others, the film explores the maestro’s journey.
Natural talent and perseverance led Williams from piano sessions in Los Angeles to scoring early television and films. However, it was his partnerships with Spielberg and Lucas that launched...
- 10/24/2024
- by Naser Nahandian
- Gazettely
From the deep, quickening heartbeat of “Jaws” to the astral opening blast of “Star Wars,” the music of John Williams not only earns its place among the most iconic film scores of all time, but it also proves memorable enough to carry with us out of the cinema. So effective are his themes that to hum just a few notes of a Williams score is to be caught up in the same emotions you felt gazing up at the big screen in the first place, watching Superman take flight over Manhattan or Elliott and E.T. bicycle across the moon.
At age 92, the maestro has received no shortage of accolades — from institutions, admirers and his peers in the Academy — and yet, Williams has long resisted requests to turn the cameras around on him. “Music by John Williams” does just that, featuring extensive interviews with the composer, plus glowing endorsements from...
At age 92, the maestro has received no shortage of accolades — from institutions, admirers and his peers in the Academy — and yet, Williams has long resisted requests to turn the cameras around on him. “Music by John Williams” does just that, featuring extensive interviews with the composer, plus glowing endorsements from...
- 10/24/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
There were great cinema composers before John Williams and there will be great composers after him. And yet, through his seven-decade career, he towers over everyone else. His music is not only iconic, but the movies we revere as classics wouldn’t have acquired such legendary status if not for his scores.
“Jaws” without John Williams isn’t “Jaws.” “Star Wars” without John Williams isn’t “Star Wars.” Although he only handles the music, the composer has left such a mark on cinema history that he makes a case as co-author of some of Hollywood’s biggest triumphs.
Director Laurent Bouzerau gives the full spotlight to the composer in the new documentary, “Music by John Williams.” Bouzerau is fully comfortable in his mode as celebrating Williams and his legacy, which is fine. I’m not sure I was looking for someone to “rip the lid off” the subject, and while...
“Jaws” without John Williams isn’t “Jaws.” “Star Wars” without John Williams isn’t “Star Wars.” Although he only handles the music, the composer has left such a mark on cinema history that he makes a case as co-author of some of Hollywood’s biggest triumphs.
Director Laurent Bouzerau gives the full spotlight to the composer in the new documentary, “Music by John Williams.” Bouzerau is fully comfortable in his mode as celebrating Williams and his legacy, which is fine. I’m not sure I was looking for someone to “rip the lid off” the subject, and while...
- 10/24/2024
- by Matt Goldberg
- The Wrap
The classic wartime sitcom "M*A*S*H" has since become one of the most beloved and important shows in television history, but when it was first being developed in the early 1970s, not everyone involved was sure it could work. Series star Alan Alda, who played Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce, had some pretty serious initial concerns early on, though he eventually ended up being perhaps the most influential voice on the entire series, as he both wrote and directed episodes and was the only actor to appear in every episode. Though the show would undergo some pretty major cast changes and would even lose one of the series creators after the fourth season, Alda is sort of a guiding light throughout, the show's heart and soul and moral center.
Over the years, Alda has revealed some of his early hesitations regarding his starring role in "M*A*S*H," and most of it revolved around how war was depicted.
Over the years, Alda has revealed some of his early hesitations regarding his starring role in "M*A*S*H," and most of it revolved around how war was depicted.
- 10/22/2024
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
Val Kilmer always wanted to be an actor, so he took his craft incredibly seriously. One of his earliest notable theater appearances was playing Hotspur in a 1981 production of Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Part 1." This led to his securing the role of Alan in a production of "The Slab Boys," wherein he acted opposite fellow future stars Kevin Bacon, Jackie Earle Haley, and Sean Penn. Kilmer was so devoted to "The Slab Boys" that he turned down a role in Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of "The Outsiders."
Some may see that as a foolish career decision, but Kilmer instead made his feature film debut in the 1984 Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker slapstick comedy "Top Secret!," one of the best comedies of all time. Kilmer has admitted, however, that he didn't have much fun making "Top Secret!" because he was still hung up on the fineries of his classical theater education. It seems that he...
Some may see that as a foolish career decision, but Kilmer instead made his feature film debut in the 1984 Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker slapstick comedy "Top Secret!," one of the best comedies of all time. Kilmer has admitted, however, that he didn't have much fun making "Top Secret!" because he was still hung up on the fineries of his classical theater education. It seems that he...
- 10/21/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
"M*A*S*H" is one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, but it wouldn't have ever been the same without star Alan Alda. While the show was ostensibly an ensemble series, Alda's Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce ended up being the central character and Alda took on a bigger role behind-the-scenes by writing and directing episodes. Alda's influence really shaped "M*A*S*H," pushing it to be the progressive, heartwarming, hilarious series that it was. While that irritated the heck out of the rather conservative-leaning author who wrote the original book that the series was loosely based on, it ended up making the show a lot better. Alda is pretty much beloved otherwise — even co-stars like Wayne Rogers and McLean Stevenson, who left the series because they felt like they were playing second fiddle to Alda's Hawkeye, were generally complimentary about their charismatic co-star. There...
- 10/20/2024
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
Correction: An early version of this article indicated that Studiocanal had acquired global rights to 11 River Road Entertainment, but Searchlight holds domestic U.S. and Canada rights to “12 Years a Slave” and U.S. and U.K. rights to “The Tree of Life.”
Studiocanal and River Road Entertainment have announced an exclusive international distribution deal for 11 celebrated films, including Steve McQueen’s Oscar-winning “12 Years a Slave,” Terrence Malick’s Palme d’Or-winning “The Tree of Life” and Sean Penn’s critically acclaimed “Into the Wild.”
The partnership brings together Europe’s leading production and distribution house, Studiocanal, and the American independent film production giant, River Road Entertainment, in a multi-territory arrangement covering TV, SVOD, theatrical and other media platforms.
Under the agreement, Studiocanal will distribute nine feature films and two documentaries, a roster of prestigious titles that have collectively earned over $440 million at the global box office.
Juliette Hochart,...
Studiocanal and River Road Entertainment have announced an exclusive international distribution deal for 11 celebrated films, including Steve McQueen’s Oscar-winning “12 Years a Slave,” Terrence Malick’s Palme d’Or-winning “The Tree of Life” and Sean Penn’s critically acclaimed “Into the Wild.”
The partnership brings together Europe’s leading production and distribution house, Studiocanal, and the American independent film production giant, River Road Entertainment, in a multi-territory arrangement covering TV, SVOD, theatrical and other media platforms.
Under the agreement, Studiocanal will distribute nine feature films and two documentaries, a roster of prestigious titles that have collectively earned over $440 million at the global box office.
Juliette Hochart,...
- 10/18/2024
- by Lise Pedersen
- Variety Film + TV
Do you remember, in Chimp Crazy, how the real director Eric Goode wasn’t trusted by his subjects because he made Tiger King, so they had to have Dwayne Cunningham step in as a proxy director to get the film made? Well, there is a similar yet extremely different situation...
- 10/17/2024
- by Drew Gillis
- avclub.com
After leading dark comedy “A Different Man” and Donald Trump biopic “The Apprentice,” Sebastian Stan is slated for iconic filmmaker Elaine May’s fifth and final feature, “Crackpot.” However, production is still waiting on a shadow director for the 92-year-old May.
Stan said during “The Big Picture” podcast that he is on board the project, which was first announced in 2019. Dakota Johnson is set to co-lead alongside Stan, but Stan said he still doesn’t know the status of the film — and he’s casting his net in hopes of helping May find a shadow director to insure the movie. It’s a common set practice with older filmmakers.
“I have this thing, I don’t know if it’ll ever get going,” Stan said. “I have this thing that Elaine May was going to direct. It was going to be her last film and her first film since ‘Ishtar.
Stan said during “The Big Picture” podcast that he is on board the project, which was first announced in 2019. Dakota Johnson is set to co-lead alongside Stan, but Stan said he still doesn’t know the status of the film — and he’s casting his net in hopes of helping May find a shadow director to insure the movie. It’s a common set practice with older filmmakers.
“I have this thing, I don’t know if it’ll ever get going,” Stan said. “I have this thing that Elaine May was going to direct. It was going to be her last film and her first film since ‘Ishtar.
- 10/16/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
After many years of radio silence on Elaine May’s Crackpot, a comedy starring Dakota Johnson that was planned to be the 92-year-old filmmaker’s fifth and final directorial feature, we finally got an update earlier this year. During the Madame Web press tour of all things, Johnson confirmed it’s still in development and they are working on casting. Now we have an update on an additional cast member and the one roadblock that’s preventing the film from getting underway.
Sebastian Stan, who now has A Different Man and The Apprentice in theaters, revealed on The Big Picture podcast that he’s attached to the film and what precisely is holding up production. “I have this thing, I don’t know if it’ll ever get going. I have this thing that Elaine May was going to direct. It was going to be her last film and her first film since Ishtar.
Sebastian Stan, who now has A Different Man and The Apprentice in theaters, revealed on The Big Picture podcast that he’s attached to the film and what precisely is holding up production. “I have this thing, I don’t know if it’ll ever get going. I have this thing that Elaine May was going to direct. It was going to be her last film and her first film since Ishtar.
- 10/16/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
There was something illusory about Shelley Duvall’s movie career. Not in the sense that her talent, charisma, and presence weren’t real, but in how deceptively selective she was in showing it off. A viewer making their way through classics of the ’70s and ’80s, or the filmographies of certain high-profile directors,...
- 10/15/2024
- by Jesse Hassenger
- avclub.com
Indie filmmaker Sean Baker lamented the diminishing quantity of films not geared toward the superhero, action flick or horror genres.
“What I miss,” Baker began in a recent interview with the Associated Press, “where are the mature film for adults that had human stories, that didn’t have to have explosions or didn’t have to have superheroes or a horror-based [concept]? Where are those?”
The Anora helmer listed such titles as the multi-Oscar-winning Kramer vs. Kramer, as well as films by Jonathan Demme and Robert Altman.
“Where are they these days? They don’t exist, unfortunately, or they’re very few and far between. And it’s like, let’s get the audience to remember that that stuff is just as worthy of being on the big screen as the big tentpole films, the big blockbusters.”
He continued,...
“What I miss,” Baker began in a recent interview with the Associated Press, “where are the mature film for adults that had human stories, that didn’t have to have explosions or didn’t have to have superheroes or a horror-based [concept]? Where are those?”
The Anora helmer listed such titles as the multi-Oscar-winning Kramer vs. Kramer, as well as films by Jonathan Demme and Robert Altman.
“Where are they these days? They don’t exist, unfortunately, or they’re very few and far between. And it’s like, let’s get the audience to remember that that stuff is just as worthy of being on the big screen as the big tentpole films, the big blockbusters.”
He continued,...
- 10/12/2024
- by Natalie Oganesyan
- Deadline Film + TV
With his latest film, the Palme d’Or winning and critically acclaimed comedy “Anora,” indie filmmaker Sean Baker is aiming to upend the notion that only superhero movies or action sequels are worthy of being seen on a big screen with a large audience.
“What I miss,” Baker said in a recent interview with the Associated Press, “where are the mature film for adults that had human stories, that didn’t have explosions or didn’t have to have superheroes or were horror-based? Where are those?”
In listing examples, Baker acknowledged the Oscar-winning 1979 marital drama “Kramer vs. Kramer,” as well as the work of Jonathan Demme and Robert Altman, both of whom were filmmakers focused on rich characters over explosions and gun fights.
“Where are they these days?” Baker said. “They don’t exist, unfortunately, or they’re very few and far between. And it’s like, let’s get...
“What I miss,” Baker said in a recent interview with the Associated Press, “where are the mature film for adults that had human stories, that didn’t have explosions or didn’t have to have superheroes or were horror-based? Where are those?”
In listing examples, Baker acknowledged the Oscar-winning 1979 marital drama “Kramer vs. Kramer,” as well as the work of Jonathan Demme and Robert Altman, both of whom were filmmakers focused on rich characters over explosions and gun fights.
“Where are they these days?” Baker said. “They don’t exist, unfortunately, or they’re very few and far between. And it’s like, let’s get...
- 10/12/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
When Calls the Heart has some competition.
At TV Fanatic, we’ve been actively discussing bringing hopeful content back to TV, and it appears others share our desire.
Today, Angel Studios announced their series, Home to Harmony, will begin production in 2025.
(Courtesy of Angel Studios)
The series is an episodic drama based on the best-selling book series by Philip Gulley.
Michael Landon Jr. and Brian Bird, creators of When Calls the Heart, are at the heart of Home to Harmony. They will be joined by Ken Lazebnik, the co-writer of Praire Home Companion, the Movie.
“The Angel Guild enthusiastically approved the proof of concept torch for Home to Harmony,” said Jared Geesey, Chief Distribution Officer at Angel Studios.
“Our audience is eager to support exceptional quality entertainment that the whole family can enjoy together. Home to Harmony checks all the boxes, and we couldn’t be more honored to work with these incredible storytellers.
At TV Fanatic, we’ve been actively discussing bringing hopeful content back to TV, and it appears others share our desire.
Today, Angel Studios announced their series, Home to Harmony, will begin production in 2025.
(Courtesy of Angel Studios)
The series is an episodic drama based on the best-selling book series by Philip Gulley.
Michael Landon Jr. and Brian Bird, creators of When Calls the Heart, are at the heart of Home to Harmony. They will be joined by Ken Lazebnik, the co-writer of Praire Home Companion, the Movie.
“The Angel Guild enthusiastically approved the proof of concept torch for Home to Harmony,” said Jared Geesey, Chief Distribution Officer at Angel Studios.
“Our audience is eager to support exceptional quality entertainment that the whole family can enjoy together. Home to Harmony checks all the boxes, and we couldn’t be more honored to work with these incredible storytellers.
- 10/11/2024
- by Carissa Pavlica
- TVfanatic
Angel Studios knows there’s no place like home and soon will find out there’s no place like “Harmony.”
The distributor behind “Sound of Freedom” has picked up to series “Home to Harmony,” an inspiring, episodic family drama based on a series of books by author Philip Gulley, IndieWire can reveal exclusively.
The “Home to Harmony” series comes from Michael Landon Jr. and Brian Bird, best known as the creators of “When Calls the Heart,” the long-running Hallmark series drama that has been on the air since 2014 and is now filming its 12th season. Ken Lazebnik, a TV writer who has worked on “Touched By an Angel” and was a writer on the radio show “Prairie Home Companion,” is also co-creating the series with Landon Jr. and Bird.
Angel Studios is in the early stages of casting, and pre-production on “Home to Harmony” is expected to begin in early...
The distributor behind “Sound of Freedom” has picked up to series “Home to Harmony,” an inspiring, episodic family drama based on a series of books by author Philip Gulley, IndieWire can reveal exclusively.
The “Home to Harmony” series comes from Michael Landon Jr. and Brian Bird, best known as the creators of “When Calls the Heart,” the long-running Hallmark series drama that has been on the air since 2014 and is now filming its 12th season. Ken Lazebnik, a TV writer who has worked on “Touched By an Angel” and was a writer on the radio show “Prairie Home Companion,” is also co-creating the series with Landon Jr. and Bird.
Angel Studios is in the early stages of casting, and pre-production on “Home to Harmony” is expected to begin in early...
- 10/11/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Director Sean Baker and star Mikey Madison continued their run as darlings of this year’s film festival circuit in London on Thursday evening, sharing some thoughts and insights with a crowd at a Neon-organized screening of their Cannes Palme d’Or winner Anora. The film is part of the lineup of the 68th edition of the BFI London Film Festival (Lff).
Neon’s fifth Cannes winner in a row is a screwball dramedy starring Madison (Scream, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood) as the titular character, a sex worker in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, who gets mixed up with the son of a Russian oligarch, played by Mark Eidelstein. Anora premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, following that up with screenings at Telluride, Toronto and San Sebastián.
The Hollywood Reporter‘s review praised Madison’s performance, saying she plays Anora “with a sweetness that humanizes even the most...
Neon’s fifth Cannes winner in a row is a screwball dramedy starring Madison (Scream, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood) as the titular character, a sex worker in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, who gets mixed up with the son of a Russian oligarch, played by Mark Eidelstein. Anora premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, following that up with screenings at Telluride, Toronto and San Sebastián.
The Hollywood Reporter‘s review praised Madison’s performance, saying she plays Anora “with a sweetness that humanizes even the most...
- 10/10/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
From Troy to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Brad Pitt’s filmography is filled with one iconic project after the other, making it impossible for us to pick a favorite. However, his Se7en co-star Morgan Freeman has a film picked out that he cannot stop singing praises of and it is a rather underrated one – The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Quite a mouthful.
Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt in Seven (1995) | Credits: New Line Cinema
The epic revisionist Western film retold the story of American outlaws Jesse James and Robert Ford, the latter of whom killed the former and went on to capitalize on the murder. Morgan Freeman, one of the greatest actors to have blessed the film industry, couldn’t stop watching the film for all the right reasons.
An Underrated Brad Pitt Film Brad Pitt’s The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward...
Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt in Seven (1995) | Credits: New Line Cinema
The epic revisionist Western film retold the story of American outlaws Jesse James and Robert Ford, the latter of whom killed the former and went on to capitalize on the murder. Morgan Freeman, one of the greatest actors to have blessed the film industry, couldn’t stop watching the film for all the right reasons.
An Underrated Brad Pitt Film Brad Pitt’s The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward...
- 10/9/2024
- by Mishkaat Khan
- FandomWire
History unfolds with on-the-ground immediacy in director Julia Loktev’s first feature since 2011’s The Loneliest Planet, as well as her second nonfiction work after 1998’s Moment of Impact. Running five-and-a-half hours and split into five chapters, My Undesirable Friends: Part I—Last Air in Moscow chronicles the hardscrabble efforts and eventual exile of a group of young Russian journalists who work for the independent news channel TV Rain.
“The world you’re about to see no longer exists,” Loktev narrates in the first scene. For there was no way to know, when filming commenced in 2021, that she would be in a prime position to observe the Vladimir Putin-instigated invasion of Ukraine, in addition to the draconian crackdown that followed on any and all dissenting voices. Not that the situation for reporters refusing to toe the party line was sunshine and moonbeams beforehand. Much of the documentary’s first...
“The world you’re about to see no longer exists,” Loktev narrates in the first scene. For there was no way to know, when filming commenced in 2021, that she would be in a prime position to observe the Vladimir Putin-instigated invasion of Ukraine, in addition to the draconian crackdown that followed on any and all dissenting voices. Not that the situation for reporters refusing to toe the party line was sunshine and moonbeams beforehand. Much of the documentary’s first...
- 10/7/2024
- by Keith Uhlich
- Slant Magazine
There will be plenty of reasons thrown around for the box office failure of the big-budget supervillain sequel Joker: Folie À Deux, and it’s easy to imagine one will be the genre where the movie dabbles quite heavily at times: the movie musical. Trailers for Joker 2 didn’t...
- 10/7/2024
- by Jesse Hassenger
- avclub.com
French actor Michel Blanc, best known for his roles in Le Splendid troupe comedy films like the 1978 cult classic Les Bronzés (French Fried Vacation) and its subsequent 1979 and 2006 sequels, died early Oct. 4 at 72 of a heart attack following anaphylactic shock, per the Agence France-Presse.
A fixture in French cinema, his death was mourned by president Emmanuel Macron, who wrote on X: “He made us cry with laughter and moved us to tears. A monument of French cinema, Michel Blanc is gone. Our thoughts go out to his loved ones and his acting accomplices.”
The French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, added in a statement: “This morning the sorrow is immense, as great as his talent. In front of the camera of Bertrand Blier, Robert Altman or Pierre Schoeller, Michel Blanc amazed us with the variety of his acting, but also with his talents as a director with films like “Marche à l’ombre...
A fixture in French cinema, his death was mourned by president Emmanuel Macron, who wrote on X: “He made us cry with laughter and moved us to tears. A monument of French cinema, Michel Blanc is gone. Our thoughts go out to his loved ones and his acting accomplices.”
The French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, added in a statement: “This morning the sorrow is immense, as great as his talent. In front of the camera of Bertrand Blier, Robert Altman or Pierre Schoeller, Michel Blanc amazed us with the variety of his acting, but also with his talents as a director with films like “Marche à l’ombre...
- 10/6/2024
- by Natalie Oganesyan
- Deadline Film + TV
No 1970s car exudes more Hollywood allure than the Ferrari 365 Gtb/4, known colloquially as the “Daytona.” Not only was it coveted by movie stars and rock gods, but it had several memorable screen appearances itself. One played a significant role in Robert Altman’s Elliott Gould-starring ode to Film Noir, The Long Goodbye. Perhaps most famously, a convertible version starred in 1976’s A Star Is Born, with Kris Kristofferson at the wheel and Barbra Streisand in the passenger seat.
Now, just as that movie inspired an acclaimed remake a few years back, the 365 Gtb/4 is having a revival. Ferrari design head Flavio Manzoni likes to suggest that all cars from the Italian exotic automaker are of-the-moment, reflecting their time. But he has not been shy in discussing the historical inspiration for the brand’s new, $459,000 two-seater, the 12Cilindri. Manzoni has said quite clearly that the front end and overall shape echo the Daytona.
Now, just as that movie inspired an acclaimed remake a few years back, the 365 Gtb/4 is having a revival. Ferrari design head Flavio Manzoni likes to suggest that all cars from the Italian exotic automaker are of-the-moment, reflecting their time. But he has not been shy in discussing the historical inspiration for the brand’s new, $459,000 two-seater, the 12Cilindri. Manzoni has said quite clearly that the front end and overall shape echo the Daytona.
- 10/3/2024
- by Brett Berk
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Prime Video’s “Killer Heat” is a new mystery thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Nick Bali, a private investigator. It shows Nick traveling to Greece to investigate the shocking death of a wealthy man named Leo Vardakis. Nick is hired by Penelope, Leo’s identical twin brother’s wife. The film takes place entirely on a scenic island and relies on the moodiness of the setting as it unravels new bits of information. It seems heavily inspired by the Hollywood noir classics that redefined the genre conventions decades ago. Fans of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and movies like “Killer Heat,” featuring slow-burn mysteries, can check out this thriller on Prime Video.
This 2024 film is based on Jo Nesbø’s short story – “The Jealousy Man.” The film is directed by Philippe Lacôte, known for directing “Night of the Kings,” a critically acclaimed fantasy drama. Besides Gordon-Levit, the film also stars Shailene Woodley and...
This 2024 film is based on Jo Nesbø’s short story – “The Jealousy Man.” The film is directed by Philippe Lacôte, known for directing “Night of the Kings,” a critically acclaimed fantasy drama. Besides Gordon-Levit, the film also stars Shailene Woodley and...
- 10/3/2024
- by Akash Deshpande
- High on Films
Plot: Rico fears that werewolves lurk in the nearby forest, but the danger could all be in his head.
Review: After being absent from the screen for over twenty years, Shelley Duvall made her return to acting with director Scott Goldberg’s horror film The Forest Hills – and the movie has gotten a good amount of attention for having Duvall in the cast. She was a Texas college student when she basically just fell into an acting career. She happened to meet director Robert Altman at a party while he was in Texas shooting his 1970 movie Brewster McCloud. Intrigued by her “upbeat presence and unique physical appearance,” the director and crew members talked Duvall into taking a role in the film. Suddenly she was an actress who started racking up credits: Nashville, Annie Hall, The Shining, Popeye, Time Bandits, Roxanne, The Portrait of a Lady, and fifty more, including hosting her own TV show,...
Review: After being absent from the screen for over twenty years, Shelley Duvall made her return to acting with director Scott Goldberg’s horror film The Forest Hills – and the movie has gotten a good amount of attention for having Duvall in the cast. She was a Texas college student when she basically just fell into an acting career. She happened to meet director Robert Altman at a party while he was in Texas shooting his 1970 movie Brewster McCloud. Intrigued by her “upbeat presence and unique physical appearance,” the director and crew members talked Duvall into taking a role in the film. Suddenly she was an actress who started racking up credits: Nashville, Annie Hall, The Shining, Popeye, Time Bandits, Roxanne, The Portrait of a Lady, and fifty more, including hosting her own TV show,...
- 10/2/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
In the movie Hook, Steven Spielberg’s 1991 Peter Pan sequel starring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman, Williams’ Peter visits the London home of his wife’s family, where he reconnects with her grandmother, a very grown up Wendy Darling played by Dame Maggie Smith. She first appears as a ghostly silhouette at the top of a staircase before descending and creeping into the light. Smith was only in her 50s when she shot the movie but had been aged up to look impossibly frail and elderly — her hair a bushy nest,...
- 9/28/2024
- by David Mack
- Rollingstone.com
Gareth Neame remembers casting actor as Lady Grantham and her ‘immeasurable’ contribution to show’s success
Maggie Smith, Oscar-winning star of stage and screen, dies aged 89Maggie Smith – a life in pictures
As I read the various drafts of Julian Fellowes’ pilot script for Downton Abbey, it was not lost on me that his new invention of the dowager countess (as yet uncast) bore some similarity to Lady Trentham in Robert Altman’s film Gosford Park.
That movie was a precursor to Downton in many different ways. My original pitch to Fellowes had been to expand on the premise of Gosford and reconceive it as a weekly episodic show. When it looked as though ITV were actually going to greenlight the series, our attention turned to casting.
Maggie Smith, Oscar-winning star of stage and screen, dies aged 89Maggie Smith – a life in pictures
As I read the various drafts of Julian Fellowes’ pilot script for Downton Abbey, it was not lost on me that his new invention of the dowager countess (as yet uncast) bore some similarity to Lady Trentham in Robert Altman’s film Gosford Park.
That movie was a precursor to Downton in many different ways. My original pitch to Fellowes had been to expand on the premise of Gosford and reconceive it as a weekly episodic show. When it looked as though ITV were actually going to greenlight the series, our attention turned to casting.
- 9/28/2024
- by Gareth Neame
- The Guardian - Film News
Beloved actor Maggie Smith has died at the age of 89, it has been confirmed. The news was announced by her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin in a statement. “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith,” it reads. “She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September. An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.”
Smith’s career spanned several decades, across both stage and screen – she began her theatre career in the early 1950s, while her screen career began in earnest with 1958’s Nowhere To Go. Her cinematic breakout role came in the 1965 adaptation of Othello, in which she played Desdemona – and was nominated for an Oscar. The film also starred Michael Gambon...
Smith’s career spanned several decades, across both stage and screen – she began her theatre career in the early 1950s, while her screen career began in earnest with 1958’s Nowhere To Go. Her cinematic breakout role came in the 1965 adaptation of Othello, in which she played Desdemona – and was nominated for an Oscar. The film also starred Michael Gambon...
- 9/27/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
Maggie Smith in A Room With A View
Two time Oscar winner, five time BAFTA winner, three time Golden Globe winner and dame, the much-admired actor Maggie Smith has died in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital at the age of 89, according to her family.
The star, who rose to prominence in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie in 1969, devoted her life to her craft and won fans in every generation. Notable roles included Desdemona in Stuart Burge's 1965 production of Othello, Augusta Bertram in George Cukor's adaptation of Graham Greene's Travels With My Aunt, Miss Bowers in Poirot mystery Death On The Nile, and conflicted chaperone Charlotte Bartlett is A Room With A View. Although her career spanned many different genres, she found a comfortable niche in the heritage film, with her work in Robert Altman's Gosford Park leading to a series of appearances in the TV series Downton Abbey,...
Two time Oscar winner, five time BAFTA winner, three time Golden Globe winner and dame, the much-admired actor Maggie Smith has died in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital at the age of 89, according to her family.
The star, who rose to prominence in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie in 1969, devoted her life to her craft and won fans in every generation. Notable roles included Desdemona in Stuart Burge's 1965 production of Othello, Augusta Bertram in George Cukor's adaptation of Graham Greene's Travels With My Aunt, Miss Bowers in Poirot mystery Death On The Nile, and conflicted chaperone Charlotte Bartlett is A Room With A View. Although her career spanned many different genres, she found a comfortable niche in the heritage film, with her work in Robert Altman's Gosford Park leading to a series of appearances in the TV series Downton Abbey,...
- 9/27/2024
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
“Downton Abbey” creator and writer Julian Fellowes has paid tribute to the late Maggie Smith, who passed away on Friday at the age of 89.
While the most famous collaboration between Smith and Fellowes may have been on the plush, award-winning period drama series, on which Smith notably played the the acid-tongued Dowager Countess, the two had actually worked together several times previously. Smith starred in Robert Altman’s 2001 feature “Gosford Park,” which was written by Fellowes, who would later direct the legendary actor in 2009’s fantasy drama “From Time to Time.”
“Maggie Smith was a truly great actress and we were more than fortunate to be part of the last act in her stellar career,” Fellowes wrote in a statement provided to Variety. “She was a joy to write for, subtle, many-layered, intelligent, funny and heart-breaking. Working with her has been the greatest privilege of my career, and I will never forget her.
While the most famous collaboration between Smith and Fellowes may have been on the plush, award-winning period drama series, on which Smith notably played the the acid-tongued Dowager Countess, the two had actually worked together several times previously. Smith starred in Robert Altman’s 2001 feature “Gosford Park,” which was written by Fellowes, who would later direct the legendary actor in 2009’s fantasy drama “From Time to Time.”
“Maggie Smith was a truly great actress and we were more than fortunate to be part of the last act in her stellar career,” Fellowes wrote in a statement provided to Variety. “She was a joy to write for, subtle, many-layered, intelligent, funny and heart-breaking. Working with her has been the greatest privilege of my career, and I will never forget her.
- 9/27/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
Jeff Goldblum, 25, has forgotten his mantra. At least, his nameless party guest character – dubbed “Man on the Phone” in the screenplay – has. And it’s the way he delivered that line in 1977’s Annie Hall that made him stand out despite only having a few seconds of screen time. Somehow – just by being himself – Jeff Goldblum turned a throwaway bit into one of the funniest lines in one of the funniest films.
As for Jeff Goldblum himself, he says his mantras are “I am grateful” and “Accept, enjoy, enthuse.” And that, across 50 years on the big screen, is as truthful as it gets when it comes to Jeff Goldblum.
Let’s find out: What Happened to…Jeff Goldblum?
Jeff Goldblum was born on October 22nd, 1952 just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of a doctor and a radio broadcaster, the sort of brains and art pairing that perfectly describes the...
As for Jeff Goldblum himself, he says his mantras are “I am grateful” and “Accept, enjoy, enthuse.” And that, across 50 years on the big screen, is as truthful as it gets when it comes to Jeff Goldblum.
Let’s find out: What Happened to…Jeff Goldblum?
Jeff Goldblum was born on October 22nd, 1952 just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of a doctor and a radio broadcaster, the sort of brains and art pairing that perfectly describes the...
- 9/27/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Full Metal Jacket to Oppenheimer; West Wing to Stranger Things, Modine is a showbiz hard worker whose latest role is as a cycling coach. Ask your questions in the comments
Matthew Modine has worked with lots of the greats: Stanley Kubrick, as wise-cracking marine Jt “Joker” Davis in Full Metal Jacket; Jonathan Demme, as a goofy FBI agent in Married to the Mob; John Schlesinger, as a hapless landlord in nightmare-tenant thriller Pacific Heights; Alan Parker, as the avian-obsessed kid in Birdy; and Robert Altman (twice) in Streamers and Short Cuts. More recently he’s had a couple of turns for Christopher Nolan: the Batman-wary deputy commissioner of Gotham in The Dark Knight Rises and American engineer Vannevar Bush in Oppenheimer.
On the small screen, he has played a womanising real estate developer in Weeds, a billionaire inventor in Proof and the evil – no, wait! – saviour doctor who tries...
Matthew Modine has worked with lots of the greats: Stanley Kubrick, as wise-cracking marine Jt “Joker” Davis in Full Metal Jacket; Jonathan Demme, as a goofy FBI agent in Married to the Mob; John Schlesinger, as a hapless landlord in nightmare-tenant thriller Pacific Heights; Alan Parker, as the avian-obsessed kid in Birdy; and Robert Altman (twice) in Streamers and Short Cuts. More recently he’s had a couple of turns for Christopher Nolan: the Batman-wary deputy commissioner of Gotham in The Dark Knight Rises and American engineer Vannevar Bush in Oppenheimer.
On the small screen, he has played a womanising real estate developer in Weeds, a billionaire inventor in Proof and the evil – no, wait! – saviour doctor who tries...
- 9/26/2024
- by Rich Pelley
- The Guardian - Film News
The Friends actor says he regrets not going for the role made famous by Will Smith, but could he have made ‘I make this look good’ as good?
Hollywood is full of tantalising “what-if?” moments; decisions made on the spur of the moment that have far-reaching repercussions for all involved. What if Robert Zemeckis had persevered with Eric Stoltz on the Back to the Future set, rather than bringing in Michael J Fox? What if Tom Selleck had played Indiana Jones instead of Harrison Ford? What if, as initially wanted by the film’s producers, Robert Altman had directed Alien?
And now we can add another big mystery to the list. What if David Schwimmer had starred in Men in Black instead of Will Smith?...
Hollywood is full of tantalising “what-if?” moments; decisions made on the spur of the moment that have far-reaching repercussions for all involved. What if Robert Zemeckis had persevered with Eric Stoltz on the Back to the Future set, rather than bringing in Michael J Fox? What if Tom Selleck had played Indiana Jones instead of Harrison Ford? What if, as initially wanted by the film’s producers, Robert Altman had directed Alien?
And now we can add another big mystery to the list. What if David Schwimmer had starred in Men in Black instead of Will Smith?...
- 9/19/2024
- by Stuart Heritage
- The Guardian - Film News
The screen icon shows her range in roles ranging from Italian sirens to an Oscar-winning turn as a mother fleeing wartime horrors
Loren’s 14th and final collaboration with her frequent co-star Marcello Mastroianni provides one of the few bright spots in Robert Altman’s dog’s dinner of a satire. They play ex-lovers reuniting during Paris fashion week, during which she re-enacts her famous striptease from Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
Loren’s 14th and final collaboration with her frequent co-star Marcello Mastroianni provides one of the few bright spots in Robert Altman’s dog’s dinner of a satire. They play ex-lovers reuniting during Paris fashion week, during which she re-enacts her famous striptease from Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
- 9/19/2024
- by Anne Billson
- The Guardian - Film News
Rarely am I devoting column space (whatever that means in virtual realms) to individual home-video releases––at least if they’re not likely to receive a complementary theatrical run. But I’m unusually elated seeing a favorite discovery get the upgrade most would rightly bet on never coming: Eiichi Kudo’s Yokohama Bj Blues, an ’80s Japanese anti-noir that only assumes genre form when its character tries (miserably) to solve a case. A masterclass in telling lackadaisical mystery that’s also suffused with wintry Japanese skies, Yokohama‘s passed around cinephile circles for years like an underground object. Radiance are spearheading a Blu-ray release on December 16 (available in the US from Diabolik), ahead of which is a trailer displaying some recent restoration work.
Here’s the official synopsis: “When his police detective best friend is killed, down-at-heel private eye and part-time blues singer Bj gets the blame. He must start...
Here’s the official synopsis: “When his police detective best friend is killed, down-at-heel private eye and part-time blues singer Bj gets the blame. He must start...
- 9/16/2024
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
The In Memoriam segment on Sunday night’s Emmy telecast paid respects to Shannen Doherty, Chance Perdomo, Martin Mull, Richard Lewis and many more TV luminaries lost in the past eight months.
Shelley Duvall and Sctv cast member Joe Flaherty, however, were two notable omissions from the revamped annual fixture of the telecast.
Duvall, though perhaps best known for her film work with major directors including Robert Altman and Stanley Kubrick, had a long and substantial TV career and was a two-time Emmy nominee. She created and produced a number of enduring shows, including Faerie Tale Theatre and Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories. Duvall died in July at 75.
Flaherty died in April at 82. His absence from the Emmy segment was awkward given that one of his Sctv costars, Eugene Levy, co-hosted the telecast and another, Martin Short, was a nominee and presenter.
Related: Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2024: Photo...
Shelley Duvall and Sctv cast member Joe Flaherty, however, were two notable omissions from the revamped annual fixture of the telecast.
Duvall, though perhaps best known for her film work with major directors including Robert Altman and Stanley Kubrick, had a long and substantial TV career and was a two-time Emmy nominee. She created and produced a number of enduring shows, including Faerie Tale Theatre and Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories. Duvall died in July at 75.
Flaherty died in April at 82. His absence from the Emmy segment was awkward given that one of his Sctv costars, Eugene Levy, co-hosted the telecast and another, Martin Short, was a nominee and presenter.
Related: Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2024: Photo...
- 9/16/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Kathy Bates has announced she's retiring after Matlock, so here's a look at the highlights of an incredible career!
CBS had announced Matlock in 2023, a reboot of the 1980s NBC series starring Andy Griffith as a lawyer whose charming manner hides his legal brilliance defending people accused of murder. The new version has Kathy Bates as Madeline "Matty" Matlock, a veteran attorney returning to work for a major firm. She uses her supposed scatterbrained persona and age to make sure she's underestimated before pulling off a win.
The 2023 Hollywood strikes delayed the show, but it is ready to premiere this September. Before that happens, Bates announced that she would be retiring after this series, no matter how long it runs.
This is my last dance. It becomes my life. Sometimes I get jealous of having this talent. Because I can't hold it back, and I just want my life. Everything I've prayed for,...
CBS had announced Matlock in 2023, a reboot of the 1980s NBC series starring Andy Griffith as a lawyer whose charming manner hides his legal brilliance defending people accused of murder. The new version has Kathy Bates as Madeline "Matty" Matlock, a veteran attorney returning to work for a major firm. She uses her supposed scatterbrained persona and age to make sure she's underestimated before pulling off a win.
The 2023 Hollywood strikes delayed the show, but it is ready to premiere this September. Before that happens, Bates announced that she would be retiring after this series, no matter how long it runs.
This is my last dance. It becomes my life. Sometimes I get jealous of having this talent. Because I can't hold it back, and I just want my life. Everything I've prayed for,...
- 9/9/2024
- by Michael Weyer
- ShowSnob
Poland’s American Film Festival is continuing to bet on U.S. independent films, ignoring the Hollywood blockbusters and bigger budget auteur films from the mini-majors.
“The fest selects a very precise type of project – they are real independent films, not in that Independent Spirit Award, less-than-$40 million sense,” says director and producer Rob Rice.
“The people that come with them have a kind of shorthand with each other. We are all up against the same things and we are all trying to trick the industry into mistaking our films for ‘real movies.’”
“There are always lots of interesting things happening in American independent cinema. It’s enough to mention three alumni of [fest’s industry sidebar] U.S. in Progress: Anu Valia (“We Strangers”), India Donaldson (“Good One”) and Sarah Friedland. These are great examples of new female voices speaking about female experiences, and keeping things intimate and personal,” says artistic director Ula Śniegowska.
“The fest selects a very precise type of project – they are real independent films, not in that Independent Spirit Award, less-than-$40 million sense,” says director and producer Rob Rice.
“The people that come with them have a kind of shorthand with each other. We are all up against the same things and we are all trying to trick the industry into mistaking our films for ‘real movies.’”
“There are always lots of interesting things happening in American independent cinema. It’s enough to mention three alumni of [fest’s industry sidebar] U.S. in Progress: Anu Valia (“We Strangers”), India Donaldson (“Good One”) and Sarah Friedland. These are great examples of new female voices speaking about female experiences, and keeping things intimate and personal,” says artistic director Ula Śniegowska.
- 9/5/2024
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton stunned the Venice Film Festival on Monday night with the premiere of Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Room Next Door,” which received a 17-minute standing ovation, the longest of the 2024 edition so far.
After the film ended, the Spanish auteur kissed the cheeks of both Swinton and Moore and lifted up their arms like champion boxers. He then descended the stairs with his new muses, prolonging the ovation by shaking hands with fans in the theater. Swinton, in a white Chanel suit, hugged Moore, dressed in a gold shimmering gown. Moore looked misty-eyed as Almodóvar — in a cotton-candy pink suit — eagerly soaked in all the applause, with the crowd chanting, “Pedro! Pedro! Pedro!”
Almodóvar seemed to be individually waving to each fan in the Sala Grande theater throughout the rapturous applause. He clapped as Moore clutched his arm. As the ovation wound down, around minute 14, Almodóvar...
After the film ended, the Spanish auteur kissed the cheeks of both Swinton and Moore and lifted up their arms like champion boxers. He then descended the stairs with his new muses, prolonging the ovation by shaking hands with fans in the theater. Swinton, in a white Chanel suit, hugged Moore, dressed in a gold shimmering gown. Moore looked misty-eyed as Almodóvar — in a cotton-candy pink suit — eagerly soaked in all the applause, with the crowd chanting, “Pedro! Pedro! Pedro!”
Almodóvar seemed to be individually waving to each fan in the Sala Grande theater throughout the rapturous applause. He clapped as Moore clutched his arm. As the ovation wound down, around minute 14, Almodóvar...
- 9/2/2024
- by Ramin Setoodeh and Ellise Shafer
- 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
It’s kind of wild that there has never been an official soundtrack album for Choose Me, Alan Rudolph’s 1984 kooky-but-foxy ensemble rom-com. For starters, the movie was distributed by Island Alive, a joint venture between then-indie company Alive Films and Island Records co-founder Chris Blackwell. Secondly, the songs in...
- 8/28/2024
- by Craig D. Lindsey
- avclub.com
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