In 1988, director Renny Harlin made a big splash in Hollywood when he directed “A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master,” which at that point was the highest-grossing film in the “Elm Street” series — and would remain so until “Freddy vs. Jason” in 2003. Two years later, Harlin had an even bigger hit with “Die Hard 2,” a movie that several critics at the time considered to be artistically superior to its predecessor. Now Harlin, whose credits also include “Cliffhanger,” “The Long Kiss Goodnight,” and “Deep Blue Sea,” returns to the world of sequels with “The Strangers: Chapter 1,” a sequel to Bryan Bertino’s ultra-creepy 2008 horror film about a brutal home invasion. As with his previous sequels, Harlin has both delivered the satisfactions of his source material and gone in his own new directions, in the process creating the most frightening thriller of 2024 so far.
The director’s overall...
The director’s overall...
- 5/14/2024
- by Jim Hemphill
- Indiewire
Stunt performer Ben Jenkins getting his actual human body set on fire for The Fall GuyPhoto: Eric Laciste/Universal Pictures
The Fall Guy is the rare film that peaks only after its credits have begun to roll.
And to be clear, we’re not talking here about that obligatory, wink-y,...
The Fall Guy is the rare film that peaks only after its credits have begun to roll.
And to be clear, we’re not talking here about that obligatory, wink-y,...
- 5/6/2024
- by William Hughes
- avclub.com
It was a movie with a questionable title. A lot of critics were rough on it. Gene Siskel even called it one of the worst movies of the year. It came and went in theatres with few movie-goers paying any attention. But in the years since its release, it has become a beloved cult classic, with a legion of fans that love quoting its memorable lines. Some of its youngest viewers were drawn in by what they saw as a wish fulfillment concept: What would you do if the babysitter croaked on the first day of your mom’s vacation… so you had the house to yourself for two months straight? We get to see what the Crandall kids would do in the 1991 comedy Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead – and it’s time for this one to be Revisited.
Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead wouldn’t exist if...
Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead wouldn’t exist if...
- 4/23/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
For his forthcoming one from the heart, Megalopolis, Francis Ford Coppola has once again violated the cardinal rule of the entertainment business: Never invest your own money in the show. Reports are that to bankroll the $120 million epic he has literally mortgaged the farm, or vineyard. The investment is slated to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14.
We — and he — have all been here before. Coppola last went into hock for another long-aborning and cost-overrunning project, which 45 years ago, almost to the day, also premiered at Cannes: the now legendary Apocalypse Now (1979).
At the time, Coppola was bathing in the afterglow of one of the most astonishing back-to-back double, or triple, plays in the industry’s history: The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974), the operatic two-part saga of mob family business in which organized crime serves less as a metaphor for American capitalism than its purest expression (“Michael,...
We — and he — have all been here before. Coppola last went into hock for another long-aborning and cost-overrunning project, which 45 years ago, almost to the day, also premiered at Cannes: the now legendary Apocalypse Now (1979).
At the time, Coppola was bathing in the afterglow of one of the most astonishing back-to-back double, or triple, plays in the industry’s history: The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974), the operatic two-part saga of mob family business in which organized crime serves less as a metaphor for American capitalism than its purest expression (“Michael,...
- 4/22/2024
- by Thomas Doherty
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It's now just over 50 years since Truffaut argued that it was impossible to make an antiwar film. That was in a Chicago Tribune interview with Gene Siskel, whose colleague Roger Ebert described films as "a machine that generates empathy." Truffaut's words were that "Every film about war ends up being pro-war," in a piece published on Armistice Day, November 11th 1973. A Sunday too. I'm quoting from page 228 when physical media was still fat with advertising that now tracks more effectively than any slippered foot across a lawn. That musing was extended by Siskel, who says that "every war film, just like every war, has its heroes, and that, too, seems to cut across any anti-war sentiment."
Is Civil War an anti-war film? I'm perhaps appropriately conflicted about it, and I doubt I'd be alone. If the mark of art is to allow multiple interpretations then I think that...
Is Civil War an anti-war film? I'm perhaps appropriately conflicted about it, and I doubt I'd be alone. If the mark of art is to allow multiple interpretations then I think that...
- 4/21/2024
- by Andrew Robertson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
TriStar Pictures believed they had the surest of things when they hired Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin to make the first Hollywood "Godzilla" flick. The duo had just delivered the biggest film of 1996 in "Independence Day," and appeared poised to become a blockbuster brand name on par with Steven Spielberg and James Cameron. Every studio in town wanted to make their next smash hit. But this is where the trouble started: TriStar wanted Emmerich and Devlin to make its next smash hit.
The 1998 iteration of "Godzilla" did not originate with Emmerich and Devlin. TriStar came very close to greenlighting it in 1994 with Jan De Bont (hot off the success of "Speed") directing a screenplay by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio (who would eventually make their franchise fortune on the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series), which would've placed it in direct competition with "Independence Day" during the summer of 1996. So this all felt awfully fortuitous.
The 1998 iteration of "Godzilla" did not originate with Emmerich and Devlin. TriStar came very close to greenlighting it in 1994 with Jan De Bont (hot off the success of "Speed") directing a screenplay by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio (who would eventually make their franchise fortune on the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series), which would've placed it in direct competition with "Independence Day" during the summer of 1996. So this all felt awfully fortuitous.
- 4/20/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
There’s a great new book out called “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever” by journalist Matt Singer. It’s a fascinating read (buy it here), with it the definitive account of how Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert teamed up to reinvent modern film criticism through their TV show, “Sneak Previews.”
The book is an honest account of their tenure, not glossing over the fact that Siskel and Ebert’s relationship was often frosty, arguably making them a more dynamic pair to watch on-screen. Both men are portrayed positively, with their various assistants and colleagues admitting both men could be a handful but ultimately were kind and professional.
One interesting story comes from Gene Siskel’s assistant in the nineties, Carie Lovstad. While she admits he wasn’t perfect and could often drive her crazy with his demands, she also says he was capable of astonishing acts of generosity.
The book is an honest account of their tenure, not glossing over the fact that Siskel and Ebert’s relationship was often frosty, arguably making them a more dynamic pair to watch on-screen. Both men are portrayed positively, with their various assistants and colleagues admitting both men could be a handful but ultimately were kind and professional.
One interesting story comes from Gene Siskel’s assistant in the nineties, Carie Lovstad. While she admits he wasn’t perfect and could often drive her crazy with his demands, she also says he was capable of astonishing acts of generosity.
- 1/5/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
In February 1994, Roger Ebert felt like he was the last one to get to the party when it came to celebrating a new movie. This would usually be a strange thing for a film critic to admit, particularly when he has a Pulitzer Prize. But despite—or perhaps because—he and fellow critic Gene Siskel hosted the nationally syndicated At the Movies TV series, Disney and its film production label Hollywood Pictures went out of their way to keep the men with the thumbs from seeing Tombstone. Even though the new Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer-starring Western enjoyed a vaunted Christmas Day release, the studio was not so much putting out the movie as they were abandoning what seemed like a Yuletide turkey.
Thus the “End of Year” season came and went, along with all the critics groups accolades and awards lists that go with it, and in that...
Thus the “End of Year” season came and went, along with all the critics groups accolades and awards lists that go with it, and in that...
- 12/29/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
What do Black Christmas and Silent Night, Bloody Night have in common?
Blurry first-person Pov? Check. Mouth-breathing killer? Double check. Creepy phone calls? Triple Check. In both Bob Clark’s Black Christmas (1974) and Theodore Gershuny’s Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972), an unknown killer stalks their victims around the Christmas season, both striking terror and intrigue. Each entry succeeds to varying degrees in balancing cheer and fear; one becoming a holiday classic and the other a largely-forgotten gem. As a slasherific double feature, this holiday season brings a little goodwill and a whole lotta torture.
Gene Siskel once called Black Christmas a “routine shocker,” giving it a measly 1.5 out of 4 stars. That’s a paltry review for a tightly-wound and tense proto-slasher that helped catapult the slasher genre into the limelight. It might have come four years before Halloween, but it does many of the same things and in some ways,...
Blurry first-person Pov? Check. Mouth-breathing killer? Double check. Creepy phone calls? Triple Check. In both Bob Clark’s Black Christmas (1974) and Theodore Gershuny’s Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972), an unknown killer stalks their victims around the Christmas season, both striking terror and intrigue. Each entry succeeds to varying degrees in balancing cheer and fear; one becoming a holiday classic and the other a largely-forgotten gem. As a slasherific double feature, this holiday season brings a little goodwill and a whole lotta torture.
Gene Siskel once called Black Christmas a “routine shocker,” giving it a measly 1.5 out of 4 stars. That’s a paltry review for a tightly-wound and tense proto-slasher that helped catapult the slasher genre into the limelight. It might have come four years before Halloween, but it does many of the same things and in some ways,...
- 12/21/2023
- by Bee Delores
- bloody-disgusting.com
Four years before Silent Night, Deadly Night sparked a moral outcry — a movie which critic Gene Siskel called “contemptible” — another slasher used Santa Claus’ image for its own bloodthirsty story. However, To All a Goodnight managed to avoid all the hand-wringing from panicky parents and busybodies only due to the fact that most people didn’t even know this movie existed. Not much has changed whenever it’s mentioned today.
Had David Hess and Alex Rebar’s Santa slasher been granted a larger theatrical rollout back in 1980, perhaps it would have been the target of what many deem the greatest moral uproar in horror history. It’s no exaggeration to say there was an overreaction to Silent Night, Deadly Night; from the creation of advocacy groups to one psychologist fearing the movie would undo kids’ potty training, the hubbub surrounding Charles Sellier’s Christmasploitative slasher was unprecedented for the time.
Had David Hess and Alex Rebar’s Santa slasher been granted a larger theatrical rollout back in 1980, perhaps it would have been the target of what many deem the greatest moral uproar in horror history. It’s no exaggeration to say there was an overreaction to Silent Night, Deadly Night; from the creation of advocacy groups to one psychologist fearing the movie would undo kids’ potty training, the hubbub surrounding Charles Sellier’s Christmasploitative slasher was unprecedented for the time.
- 12/15/2023
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
This is our last filmmaking books column in 2023, and it’s a good one. Plus, you can watch for even more gems from recent months in our companion column running next month. As always, thanks for reading and supporting so many great authors and artists.
Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever by Matt Singer (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
As an adolescent in the early 1990s, one of my Sunday night rituals was recording that week’s episode of “Siskel & Ebert”––it aired late-night in Buffalo, NY––and watching it the following day. The internet was in its infancy, so the reviews of Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert were both a lifeline to what was happening in film and a cinematic education. It is no exaggeration to say that I learned how to discuss movies thanks to Gene and Roger. For my generation, then, the release of...
Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever by Matt Singer (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
As an adolescent in the early 1990s, one of my Sunday night rituals was recording that week’s episode of “Siskel & Ebert”––it aired late-night in Buffalo, NY––and watching it the following day. The internet was in its infancy, so the reviews of Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert were both a lifeline to what was happening in film and a cinematic education. It is no exaggeration to say that I learned how to discuss movies thanks to Gene and Roger. For my generation, then, the release of...
- 12/11/2023
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
While promoting the home video version of his historical blockbuster “Oppenheimer,” director Christopher Nolan recently stressed that it’s really the only way to go when it comes to watching his movies at home. Not only does he finely calibrate his films for the best home video experience (leading to the 4K Ultra HD version of the movie to sell out everywhere) but he stressed buying the movie on physical media means you can “put it on a shelf so no evil streaming service can come steal it from you.”
And while, yes, he’s joking, he is right about one thing: the only way you can insure that the movies you love will be around is by owning them on physical media. Thankfully the home video labels have been stepping up their game, with deluxe packages overflowing with extras and feature films presented in their best possible format.
Here...
And while, yes, he’s joking, he is right about one thing: the only way you can insure that the movies you love will be around is by owning them on physical media. Thankfully the home video labels have been stepping up their game, with deluxe packages overflowing with extras and feature films presented in their best possible format.
Here...
- 12/2/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Nancy Meyers has written a love letter to Cary Grant by recommending his screwball comedies and classics like North by Northwest and The Philadelphia Story as part of the December 2023 Turner Classic Movies lineup in her own TCM Picks video.
“He’s a brilliant prototype for a leading man in a romantic comedy certainly. And I would be lying if I said I didn’t think of him sometimes as I’m writing. You can picture him doing it and it makes you better,” Meyers, whose rom-com canon includes box office performers like Something’s Gotta Give, The Holiday and What Women Want, tells The Hollywood Reporter.
Her TCM movie picks follow Meyers insisting she has viewed most Cary Grant movies dozens of times, not least to study the iconic star’s slapstick humor and verbal sparring with leading ladies to see beneath his debonair looks and onscreen charisma, to the...
“He’s a brilliant prototype for a leading man in a romantic comedy certainly. And I would be lying if I said I didn’t think of him sometimes as I’m writing. You can picture him doing it and it makes you better,” Meyers, whose rom-com canon includes box office performers like Something’s Gotta Give, The Holiday and What Women Want, tells The Hollywood Reporter.
Her TCM movie picks follow Meyers insisting she has viewed most Cary Grant movies dozens of times, not least to study the iconic star’s slapstick humor and verbal sparring with leading ladies to see beneath his debonair looks and onscreen charisma, to the...
- 12/1/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Everyone here at /Film loves watching movies and TV shows. But every now and then, you need a break from the screens. However, that doesn't mean you can't still bask in the glory of moving pictures. There's an endless array of books out there about your favorite movies and TV shows. Whether it's the story of the two most famous film critics ever, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, a chronicle of the making of movies like Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" or the screwball comedy spoof "Airplane!," memoirs from your favorite stars like Patrick Stewart and Barbra Streisand, an exhausting timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or a cookbook with recipes straight from the "Star Wars" universe, we've got a huge collection of books for the film and TV lover in your life.
So let's dig into Part 2 of the 2023 /Film Holiday Gift Guide now!
Everyone here at /Film loves watching movies and TV shows. But every now and then, you need a break from the screens. However, that doesn't mean you can't still bask in the glory of moving pictures. There's an endless array of books out there about your favorite movies and TV shows. Whether it's the story of the two most famous film critics ever, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, a chronicle of the making of movies like Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" or the screwball comedy spoof "Airplane!," memoirs from your favorite stars like Patrick Stewart and Barbra Streisand, an exhausting timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or a cookbook with recipes straight from the "Star Wars" universe, we've got a huge collection of books for the film and TV lover in your life.
So let's dig into Part 2 of the 2023 /Film Holiday Gift Guide now!
- 11/21/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
There isn't a more ardent devotee to the horror genre working in Hollywood today than Eli Roth. This is especially true of 1980s horror. Born in 1972, Roth is one of many Gen Xers who raided their local video stores horror shelves, renting just about anything in the hopes they might stumble across an unexpected classic (or at least something with loads of gore).
The advent of the home video era also coincided with the rise of the slasher film craze. Film critics generally abhorred this subgenre (Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert actively crusaded against them in the '80s like Evangelical Christians decrying the Satanic influence of heavy metal music), which, for movie-mad adolescents, only made them cooler. Most of us were savvy enough even then to know we were watching trash, but when the formula worked and the kills were inventive, these flicks could be awfully satisfying (there's a...
The advent of the home video era also coincided with the rise of the slasher film craze. Film critics generally abhorred this subgenre (Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert actively crusaded against them in the '80s like Evangelical Christians decrying the Satanic influence of heavy metal music), which, for movie-mad adolescents, only made them cooler. Most of us were savvy enough even then to know we were watching trash, but when the formula worked and the kills were inventive, these flicks could be awfully satisfying (there's a...
- 11/17/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel were always known for their brutal honesty when it came to film criticism. But the time they bashed “The Three Amigos” to Chevy Chase’s face once led to an unexpected realization about why people were drawn to their show.
This latest story appears in Matt Singer’s new book “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever.” Ebert and Siskel appeared on the December 12 episode of “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” in 1986. Chase was also a guest on the episode to promote his new Christmas comedy, “The Three Amigos.”
During the show, Carson asked the film critics to pick a movie “that is really so bad.” Ebert didn’t hesitate before slamming the very movie Chase was there to promote.
“I can’t really recommend ‘Three Amigos,'” Ebert said at the time, eliciting a round of boos from the audience. “It...
This latest story appears in Matt Singer’s new book “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever.” Ebert and Siskel appeared on the December 12 episode of “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” in 1986. Chase was also a guest on the episode to promote his new Christmas comedy, “The Three Amigos.”
During the show, Carson asked the film critics to pick a movie “that is really so bad.” Ebert didn’t hesitate before slamming the very movie Chase was there to promote.
“I can’t really recommend ‘Three Amigos,'” Ebert said at the time, eliciting a round of boos from the audience. “It...
- 10/23/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
On February 6, 2006 — just a little over three months after the release of "Saw II" — critic David Edelstein published an op-ed in New York Magazine entitled "Now Playing at Your Local Multiplex: Torture Porn." It's one of those catch-all "state of the cinema" pieces that critics, journalists, and other culture commentators love to write every so often, attempting to point out a media trend as it's happening; I myself have written several such pieces during my career.
Sometimes these articles are thoughtful observations on what the medium is doing and where it may be heading. Sadly, more often than not, they act as glorified dog whistles, seeking to stir up controversy and public opinion against the oh-so-scary New Thing We Don't Like. As such, it almost doesn't matter that Edelstein spends the bulk of the piece attempting to reconcile with post-9/11 horror films, gliding over and seemingly missing the point of...
Sometimes these articles are thoughtful observations on what the medium is doing and where it may be heading. Sadly, more often than not, they act as glorified dog whistles, seeking to stir up controversy and public opinion against the oh-so-scary New Thing We Don't Like. As such, it almost doesn't matter that Edelstein spends the bulk of the piece attempting to reconcile with post-9/11 horror films, gliding over and seemingly missing the point of...
- 10/3/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
In Frank Herbert’s original Dune novel, the character Duke Leto Atreides is set up to fail. Awarded the mining rights to the arid planet Arrakis by a powerful emperor, and given a limited number of days to exploit them, Leto is sent to the desert essentially to die. And in the end, he should’ve known forces beyond his control were conspiring against him from the start.
One wonders whether back in 1984 if David Lynch felt he could relate. An already impressive directorial talent behind intriguing films like Eraserhead (1977) and The Elephant Man (1980), Lynch was a 34-year-old wunderkind when he was tapped by producer Dino De Laurentiis to direct, and eventually rewrite, Dune as a sci-fi epic intended to rival Star Wars. Yet through the vicissitudes of fate—as well as budget, location photography, and post-production studio mandates—the film that reached cinema screens was a fraction of his sprawling vision.
One wonders whether back in 1984 if David Lynch felt he could relate. An already impressive directorial talent behind intriguing films like Eraserhead (1977) and The Elephant Man (1980), Lynch was a 34-year-old wunderkind when he was tapped by producer Dino De Laurentiis to direct, and eventually rewrite, Dune as a sci-fi epic intended to rival Star Wars. Yet through the vicissitudes of fate—as well as budget, location photography, and post-production studio mandates—the film that reached cinema screens was a fraction of his sprawling vision.
- 9/18/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSPoor Things.The 80th Venice Film Festival concluded last weekend. The jury, chaired by Damien Chazelle, awarded the Golden Lion to Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest, Poor Things; in his latest dispatch, Leonardo Goi calls it "joltingly alive, a film that crackles with the same restless curiosity and lust of its protagonist." See a summary of all the awards, plus a roundup of our coverage.San Sebastian Film Festival has announced who will serve on their festival juries for their 71st edition: Claire Denis will be the president for the Official Section, while Hayao Miyazaki will receive an honorary award for career achievement. His latest film, The Boy and The Heron, will open the festival.Recommended VIEWINGFor their 50th anniversary, the Film Fest Gent have commissioned 25 new short films inspired by new musical compositions. There's...
- 9/16/2023
- MUBI
When it comes to documentary filmmakers, Alex Gibney, Errol Morris and Raoul Peck are at the top of their game. Along with tremendous talent, each helmer possesses what every successful documentarian needs — business savvy — which in turn has allowed them to experience continued success over many years. The trio also has what most documentarians desire — clout and final cut.
But despite their respective success and power, Gibney, Morris and Peck agree that the film festivals where they first found success are still as important to their respective careers as ever before.
This year, Gibney’s “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon,” Morris’ “The Pigeon Tunnel” and Peck’s “Silver Dollar Road” will all screen at TIFF.
“The celebratory nature of festivals is awesome,” says Gibney. “It’s one of the reasons you make movies.”
Gibney spent three years making “In Restless Dreams,” a 209-minute film about Simon’s...
But despite their respective success and power, Gibney, Morris and Peck agree that the film festivals where they first found success are still as important to their respective careers as ever before.
This year, Gibney’s “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon,” Morris’ “The Pigeon Tunnel” and Peck’s “Silver Dollar Road” will all screen at TIFF.
“The celebratory nature of festivals is awesome,” says Gibney. “It’s one of the reasons you make movies.”
Gibney spent three years making “In Restless Dreams,” a 209-minute film about Simon’s...
- 9/9/2023
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Apologies to André Bazin, Pauline Kael, and Andrew Sarris, but Roger Ebert was unquestionably the most influential film critic of the cinema's first century. In fact, unless the media landscape is drastically altered over the next few years, he may also wind up being the last film critic who ever truly mattered.
I do not mean this as a put-down of my colleagues. If you actually read film criticism nowadays, you know that there's never been a more thrillingly diverse assortment of voices in this too-cluttered arena. Manohla Dargis, Justin Chang, Scott Tobias, Angelica Jade Bastién, and Bilge Ebiri are must-reads in this house, and I could name a few dozen more who are reliably incisive and original in their thinking. I don't have time to read all of the critics I respect, which is both a frustrating and good thing.
But be honest, do you actually read film criticism nowadays?...
I do not mean this as a put-down of my colleagues. If you actually read film criticism nowadays, you know that there's never been a more thrillingly diverse assortment of voices in this too-cluttered arena. Manohla Dargis, Justin Chang, Scott Tobias, Angelica Jade Bastién, and Bilge Ebiri are must-reads in this house, and I could name a few dozen more who are reliably incisive and original in their thinking. I don't have time to read all of the critics I respect, which is both a frustrating and good thing.
But be honest, do you actually read film criticism nowadays?...
- 9/7/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The episode of Revisited covering The Exorcist III was Written and Edited by Ric Solomon, Narrated by Kier Gomes, Produced by Tyler Nichols and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.
In 1973 William Friedkin unleashed his iconic horror film The Exorcist upon the masses. Since its release, it has been widely regarded as one of the most influential and iconic horror films of all time and would go on to have a huge cultural impact. It tapped into primal fears and because of its powerful storytelling, was able to captivate and terrify audiences. I think its safe to say this secured its status as a timeless horror classic. But we’re not here to discuss a movie that has been dissected, overanalyzed, added to most people’s Top 4 films on Letterboxd and reviewed by everyone and their mothers. No, in this episode we want to talk about the “true sequel” to this iconic film…...
In 1973 William Friedkin unleashed his iconic horror film The Exorcist upon the masses. Since its release, it has been widely regarded as one of the most influential and iconic horror films of all time and would go on to have a huge cultural impact. It tapped into primal fears and because of its powerful storytelling, was able to captivate and terrify audiences. I think its safe to say this secured its status as a timeless horror classic. But we’re not here to discuss a movie that has been dissected, overanalyzed, added to most people’s Top 4 films on Letterboxd and reviewed by everyone and their mothers. No, in this episode we want to talk about the “true sequel” to this iconic film…...
- 8/2/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
When Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert sat down at the end of 1993 to pick their 10 favorite movies of the year, they largely selected prestige, Oscar-bait films like The Piano, The Age of Innocence, The Joy Luck Club, and Schindler’s List. They skipped nearly all of the big multiplex hits of the year, including Jurassic Park, Sleepless in Seattle, and Mrs. Doubtfire, making an exception only for The Fugitive. It’s an honor they didn’t give to Die Hard in 1988, The Terminator in 1984, Aliens in 1986, or many other great action movies of the VHS era.
- 7/29/2023
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Burbank, CA – Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the most universally acclaimed film in the Dark Knight’s legendary cinematic history when the newly-remastered animated movie Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, comes to 4K Ultra HD for the very first time. From Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment, the film will be available to purchase on 4K Ultra HD on September 12, 2023.
The release will also include an all-new featurette Kevin Conroy: I Am The Knight, which takes a look at the legacy of Kevin Conroy, who voiced Batman for 30 years in film, television, video games and more.
Rooted in DC’s acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series and released theatrically on Christmas Day 1993, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm has not only been ranked by Time magazine as one of the 10 best Super Hero movies ever, but is also arguably the core fans’ all-time favorite Batman film. The movie has been rated at the...
The release will also include an all-new featurette Kevin Conroy: I Am The Knight, which takes a look at the legacy of Kevin Conroy, who voiced Batman for 30 years in film, television, video games and more.
Rooted in DC’s acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series and released theatrically on Christmas Day 1993, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm has not only been ranked by Time magazine as one of the 10 best Super Hero movies ever, but is also arguably the core fans’ all-time favorite Batman film. The movie has been rated at the...
- 7/26/2023
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the most universally acclaimed film in the Dark Knight’s legendary cinematic history when the newly-remastered animated movie Batman: Mask of the Phantasm comes to 4K Ultra HD for the very first time on September 12, 2023, Bloody Disgusting has learned.
The release will also include an all-new featurette Kevin Conroy: I Am The Knight, which takes a look at the legacy of Kevin Conroy, who voiced Batman for 30 years in film, television, video games and more.
Rooted in DC’s acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series and released theatrically on Christmas Day 1993, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm has not only been ranked by Time magazine as one of the 10 best Super Hero movies ever, but is also arguably the core fans’ all-time favorite Batman film. The movie has been rated at the top of the Dark Knight film franchise by such popular entertainment media as Empire,...
The release will also include an all-new featurette Kevin Conroy: I Am The Knight, which takes a look at the legacy of Kevin Conroy, who voiced Batman for 30 years in film, television, video games and more.
Rooted in DC’s acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series and released theatrically on Christmas Day 1993, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm has not only been ranked by Time magazine as one of the 10 best Super Hero movies ever, but is also arguably the core fans’ all-time favorite Batman film. The movie has been rated at the top of the Dark Knight film franchise by such popular entertainment media as Empire,...
- 7/26/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Ari Aster, the horror maestro behind Hereditary and Midsommar, is out with Beau Is Afraid on four screens as A24 presents the film in LA (AMC Century City and Burbank) and New York, in Imax on both coasts, followed next week by a regional Imax expansion and into to a wider national rollout April 21.
The film is getting some love from Martin Scorsese, who will join Aster in conversation Monday night after an Imax showing in NYC. Opening weekend will feature Q&As with Aster and cast, which includes Nathan Lane, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Patti LuPone, Amy Ryan and Parker Posey.
The director has a dedicated fan base, and that’s invaluable in looking to break out with the specialty market still tentative compared with the Super Mario Bros-sized rebound of the broader box office. Presales indicate a strong debut.
Deadline’s review calls...
The film is getting some love from Martin Scorsese, who will join Aster in conversation Monday night after an Imax showing in NYC. Opening weekend will feature Q&As with Aster and cast, which includes Nathan Lane, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Patti LuPone, Amy Ryan and Parker Posey.
The director has a dedicated fan base, and that’s invaluable in looking to break out with the specialty market still tentative compared with the Super Mario Bros-sized rebound of the broader box office. Presales indicate a strong debut.
Deadline’s review calls...
- 4/14/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Michael Lerner, the Oscar-nominated actor who played studio exec Jack Lipnick in the Coen brothers’ film “Barton Fink,” died on Saturday at the age of 81, his nephew and fellow actor Sam announced on Instagram.
“It’s hard to put into words how brilliant my uncle Michael was, and how influential he was to me,” Sam Lerner wrote.
“His stories always inspired me and made me fall in love with acting. He was the coolest, most confident, talented guy, and the fact that he was my blood will always make me feel special. Everyone that knows him knows how insane he was — in the best way,” he continued.
Also Read:
John Regan, Rolling Stones Bassist, Dies at 71
In “Barton Fink,” Lerner played the head of the fictional Capitol Pictures, who hires the pretentious playwright Barton Fink, played by John Turturro, to write a film about wrestling.
Lerner also appeared in the...
“It’s hard to put into words how brilliant my uncle Michael was, and how influential he was to me,” Sam Lerner wrote.
“His stories always inspired me and made me fall in love with acting. He was the coolest, most confident, talented guy, and the fact that he was my blood will always make me feel special. Everyone that knows him knows how insane he was — in the best way,” he continued.
Also Read:
John Regan, Rolling Stones Bassist, Dies at 71
In “Barton Fink,” Lerner played the head of the fictional Capitol Pictures, who hires the pretentious playwright Barton Fink, played by John Turturro, to write a film about wrestling.
Lerner also appeared in the...
- 4/9/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
When Rocky Morton's and Annabel Jankel's 1993 film "Super Mario Bros." first hit theaters in May of 1993, it was immediately greeted with skepticism by Nintendo fans. The live-action adventure took characters and some of the more notable iconography from Shigeru Miyamoto's popular video game series and repurposed them into a bizarre, dystopian tale about a parallel universe, the evolutionary fate of dinosaurs, and fascism. The whimsical, cartoonish fairy tale elements of the 1985 game were absent, replaced by something steely, dank, and coated in athlete's foot-style fungus. Fans were concerned that the movie wasn't a faithful adaptation of the game, and it was rejected on this basis for many, many years.
Reviews weren't kind either. The film currently holds a mere 28% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Gene Siskel called it one of the worst movies of 1993. It didn't help that "Super Mario Bros." was also a notoriously troubled production...
Reviews weren't kind either. The film currently holds a mere 28% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Gene Siskel called it one of the worst movies of 1993. It didn't help that "Super Mario Bros." was also a notoriously troubled production...
- 4/5/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
John Waters, the Pope of Trash, made his most mainstream and family-friendly movie with 1988's "Hairspray" — but did so without diluting his outsider essence.
You don't get to be known as the Pope of Trash without seriously proving yourself over the decades. Having started with creatively titled short films like "Hag in a Leather Jacket" in the '60s, director John Waters slowly established himself as a thoroughly unique director of proud, all-American filth. He dominated the '70s midnight movie circuit thanks to attention-grabbing exploits like "Multiple Maniacs," "Female Trouble," and the infamous "Pink Flamingos." No director seemed less likely to penetrate the mainstream than Waters, a man whose works included singing anuses, feces eating, rape via giant lobster, and penis removal. Yet it happened in 1988 when Waters made "Hairspray."
The unthinkable occurred when Waters directed a film with big stars, a family-friendly rating, and a solid box office return,...
You don't get to be known as the Pope of Trash without seriously proving yourself over the decades. Having started with creatively titled short films like "Hag in a Leather Jacket" in the '60s, director John Waters slowly established himself as a thoroughly unique director of proud, all-American filth. He dominated the '70s midnight movie circuit thanks to attention-grabbing exploits like "Multiple Maniacs," "Female Trouble," and the infamous "Pink Flamingos." No director seemed less likely to penetrate the mainstream than Waters, a man whose works included singing anuses, feces eating, rape via giant lobster, and penis removal. Yet it happened in 1988 when Waters made "Hairspray."
The unthinkable occurred when Waters directed a film with big stars, a family-friendly rating, and a solid box office return,...
- 2/26/2023
- by Kayleigh Donaldson
- Slash Film
In 1983, Canadian director David Cronenberg made a science fiction thriller called "Videodrome." Although only employing the technology available at the time — Betamax cassettes, terrestrial TV signals, and the like — "Videodrome" remains a salient and timely essay on the effects of media and technology on the human consciousness. In "Videodrome," James Woods plays a character named Max, who's made a living picking up stray, often pornographic TV signals from around the globe — signals that were completely unregulated — and broadcasting the pirated signals on his late-night TV station.
Although dubiously legal, Max goes on daytime TV talk shows to defend his business, and to have McLuhan-inflected conversations about the grasp modern media technology has on the mind. He talks with a curious intellectual named Brian O'Blivion (Jack Creley), who only appears on TV sets. He also begins having an intellectually inspired, rough-sex-infused affair with media star Nicki Brand (Debbie Harry).
Max finds...
Although dubiously legal, Max goes on daytime TV talk shows to defend his business, and to have McLuhan-inflected conversations about the grasp modern media technology has on the mind. He talks with a curious intellectual named Brian O'Blivion (Jack Creley), who only appears on TV sets. He also begins having an intellectually inspired, rough-sex-infused affair with media star Nicki Brand (Debbie Harry).
Max finds...
- 2/5/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Few people have had a more successful feature directorial debut than James L. Brooks. Right out of the gate, he won Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay and has the second highest grossing film of 1983, only behind a little film called "Return of the Jedi." This was a man who had already conquered the world of television comedy, co-creating "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," all of its spinoffs, and "Taxi" ("The Simpsons" would come later), and in his transition to film, he looked to be conquering that as well.
"Terms of Endearment" has a bit of a reputation as the ultimate example of a cinematic weepy, but people are really only thinking about the final half-hour when they say that. The film as a whole is humanist filmmaking of the highest order, creating a cast of characters that are all messy and funny that you come to care about deeply.
"Terms of Endearment" has a bit of a reputation as the ultimate example of a cinematic weepy, but people are really only thinking about the final half-hour when they say that. The film as a whole is humanist filmmaking of the highest order, creating a cast of characters that are all messy and funny that you come to care about deeply.
- 1/28/2023
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
Chicago – In November 2022, the Executive Director of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center … Jean de St. Aubin … announced she will leave the position in February of 2023. Ms. de St. Aubin joined the Film Center in 2003, snd has overseen many transition points during her tenure, including of course the closure due to the pandemic.
Executive Director Jean de St. Aubin of the Gene Siskel Film Center
Photo credit: SiskelFilmCenter.org
Jean de St. Aubin has been the Executive Director of the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for 20 years. Under her leadership, attendance at the Gene Siskel Film Center has not only grown but has increased to reflect the cultural makeup of the city. Along with the Gene Siskel Film Center’s programming team, de St. Aubin was named to New City magazine’s “Film 50” in 2019.
In Part One of a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.
Executive Director Jean de St. Aubin of the Gene Siskel Film Center
Photo credit: SiskelFilmCenter.org
Jean de St. Aubin has been the Executive Director of the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for 20 years. Under her leadership, attendance at the Gene Siskel Film Center has not only grown but has increased to reflect the cultural makeup of the city. Along with the Gene Siskel Film Center’s programming team, de St. Aubin was named to New City magazine’s “Film 50” in 2019.
In Part One of a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.
- 1/28/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
There have been many classic movie comedies over the years featuring Black stars, ranging from Eddie Murphy's Coming to America to Whoopi Goldberg's Sister Act. Those films are among the many that resonated with Black audiences even though they were directed by white filmmakers. Despite that, Hollywood has also had a long tradition of Black directors creating movies aimed specifically at Black audiences; trailblazer Oscar Micheaux, in fact, is regarded as the first major Black filmmaker, directing and producing more than 40 so-called "race films" between 1919 and 1948.
These days, as Hollywood executives increasingly come to realize the importance of Black directors telling Black stories, there's been an ever-growing number of Black directors engaging in big-screen filmmaking, a trend that has been evident not just in dramas but in comedies as well. In fact, some of the most beloved comedies with predominantly Black casts featured Black directors at the helm. For the full picture,...
These days, as Hollywood executives increasingly come to realize the importance of Black directors telling Black stories, there's been an ever-growing number of Black directors engaging in big-screen filmmaking, a trend that has been evident not just in dramas but in comedies as well. In fact, some of the most beloved comedies with predominantly Black casts featured Black directors at the helm. For the full picture,...
- 1/25/2023
- by Brent Furdyk
- Slash Film
Like many people passionate about movies, particularly those who grew up in the golden age of trash-talking critics like Pauline Kael, Judith Crist, Rex Reed, Gene Siskel, and Roger Ebert, Quentin Tarantino isn't shy about throwing an elbow or twelve when discussing cinema. He doesn't vacillate, nor does he spend much time discussing films that elicit a ho-hum response. You could say he likes to play contrarian, but that would suggest he's basically the Skip Bayless of film discourse. While you may vehemently disagree with Tarantino from time to time, he is anything but a full-of-it blowhard who spouts off inflammatory opinions to get a rise out of low-information fanatics. Tarantino knows his subject inside and out. If you want to enter his arena, you better come armed with ardor and a lifetime's worth of film knowledge.
This doesn't mean Tarantino can't be infuriating on occasion. This is, after all,...
This doesn't mean Tarantino can't be infuriating on occasion. This is, after all,...
- 1/23/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Who doesn't love a good war movie — the romance, the spectacle, the exhilaration, the drama, the heartbreak? Well, as it turns out, most critics seem to hate a majority of war films and save their positive reviews for a select few, such as "Apocalypse Now," "Full Metal Jacket," and "Saving Private Ryan." Granted, the genre has produced some real stinkers over the years, but plenty of war epics also endured unwarranted critical disdain; many of these pictures provided rock-solid entertainment but were labeled cliché, sentimental, or too noble for their own good.
Imagine calling a film set in World War II too earnest or berating a romantic epic for its love story.
Look, I'm just as enamored with and respectful of a critic's opinion as the next person, but we can all agree they get it wrong sometimes. As proof, I've compiled a list of war epics I believe were...
Imagine calling a film set in World War II too earnest or berating a romantic epic for its love story.
Look, I'm just as enamored with and respectful of a critic's opinion as the next person, but we can all agree they get it wrong sometimes. As proof, I've compiled a list of war epics I believe were...
- 1/22/2023
- by Jeff Ames
- Slash Film
“Willow” was one of the year’s biggest (and best) streaming surprises.
A sequel series to warmly remembered Ron Howard fantasy film from 1988 (also called “Willow”), this new iteration was developed by Jonathan Kasdan, who worked with Howard (and Lucasfilm) on 2018’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story” and is, to put it lightly, a “Willow” super-fan.
What made the show so much fun was that it didn’t rely on an encyclopedic knowledge of the film’s mythological underpinnings and never leaned too heavily on lore. Instead, all viewers needed to know (or remember) was that Willow (played once again by Warwick Davis) was a young sorcerer tasked with saving a baby from the forces of evil. Now Willow is an older sorcerer and the young baby has grown into an adult woman (played by English actress Ellie Bamber). Other characters might have a connection to characters from the movie,...
A sequel series to warmly remembered Ron Howard fantasy film from 1988 (also called “Willow”), this new iteration was developed by Jonathan Kasdan, who worked with Howard (and Lucasfilm) on 2018’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story” and is, to put it lightly, a “Willow” super-fan.
What made the show so much fun was that it didn’t rely on an encyclopedic knowledge of the film’s mythological underpinnings and never leaned too heavily on lore. Instead, all viewers needed to know (or remember) was that Willow (played once again by Warwick Davis) was a young sorcerer tasked with saving a baby from the forces of evil. Now Willow is an older sorcerer and the young baby has grown into an adult woman (played by English actress Ellie Bamber). Other characters might have a connection to characters from the movie,...
- 1/18/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
When you think of unadaptable novels, what's the one that comes to your mind? "Infinite Jest" by David Foster Wallace? "To the Lighthouse" by Virginia Woolf? For a select few of you out there, you might think about Saul Bellow's 1959 novel "Henderson the Rain King," a humorous yet deeply philosophical story about a middle-aged man's quest to figure out the meaning of life. Well, that's the most abstract way I could probably describe it, as he navigates this question after accidentally becoming the messiah of an African village. Yeah.
If you're not familiar with the novel, that may already cause a bevy of red flags to be raised, and we don't blame you for that. While the novel ends in a way that skeptical readers may not have anticipated, it's understandable why studios have been hesitant to greenlight an adaptation of Bellow's work.
That doesn't mean there haven't been attempts in the past.
If you're not familiar with the novel, that may already cause a bevy of red flags to be raised, and we don't blame you for that. While the novel ends in a way that skeptical readers may not have anticipated, it's understandable why studios have been hesitant to greenlight an adaptation of Bellow's work.
That doesn't mean there haven't been attempts in the past.
- 1/14/2023
- by Erin Brady
- Slash Film
The 1985 Peter Weir film "Witness" was a pretty massive gamble, but ended up paying off in spades. The film stars Harrison Ford as John Book, a police detective investigating a murder in an Amish community in rural Pennsylvania, and it's a smart neo-noir about corruption, innocence, and faith. Ford gives an incredibly nuanced performance; He was best known in 1985 for acting in genre fare like "Star Wars" and the "Indiana Jones" movies, but he wasn't known as a serious actor. "Blade Runner" had just bombed (probably in part because of Ford's lackluster voiceover in the theatrical cut), and producers and audiences alike wondered if Ford could carry such a serious, delicate film.
In the book "The Films of Harrison Ford," author Lee Pfeiffer explained that while Ford would eventually earn an Oscar nomination for the role, initially people were hesitant that he could pull it off. The actor was incredibly thankful for the opportunity,...
In the book "The Films of Harrison Ford," author Lee Pfeiffer explained that while Ford would eventually earn an Oscar nomination for the role, initially people were hesitant that he could pull it off. The actor was incredibly thankful for the opportunity,...
- 12/29/2022
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
Hollywood comedies are a dime a dozen. Yet, many receive flak for their attempts to tickle our funny bones, while only a select few earn rave reviews or accolades from critics. Honestly, I can only think of a handful of comedic films that made their way to the tops of end-of-year lists, while also recalling hundreds more that drew the ire of bigwigs like Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel for accomplishing what they set out to do.
Don't get me wrong. Bad comedies exist, but everyone's sense of humor is different. Some people get a good chuckle from the physical pratfalls enacted by Chris Farley, while others revel in the low-brow antics of Will Ferrell and Jim Carrey. At any rate, the purpose of a comedy is to supply laughs and entertain its audience. The purpose of this article is to highlight a handful of poorly reviewed comedies that are...
Don't get me wrong. Bad comedies exist, but everyone's sense of humor is different. Some people get a good chuckle from the physical pratfalls enacted by Chris Farley, while others revel in the low-brow antics of Will Ferrell and Jim Carrey. At any rate, the purpose of a comedy is to supply laughs and entertain its audience. The purpose of this article is to highlight a handful of poorly reviewed comedies that are...
- 12/11/2022
- by Jeff Ames
- Slash Film
If you are one of the people who watch "A Christmas Story" yearly as a holiday ritual, you are in good company — really good company.
Peter Billingsley, who starred as Ralphie Parker in the 1983 film, and his Wild West Picture Show Productions partner Vince Vaughn have started a new video podcast called "A Cinematic Christmas Journey." They're tackling films like "Home Alone," "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," "Four Christmases," "It's a Wonderful Life," and "The Grinch." Of course, they're also breaking down "A Christmas Story."
Joining this episode are Ian Petrella, who played Randy, Scott Schwartz, who played Flick, and R.D. Robb, who played Schwartz, with Billingsley as co-host, along with Nick Schenk, who wrote the script for the new sequel "A Christmas Story Christmas."
The guys begin by talking about how the film did at the box office, and despite good reviews, it wasn't expected to do well, it seems.
Peter Billingsley, who starred as Ralphie Parker in the 1983 film, and his Wild West Picture Show Productions partner Vince Vaughn have started a new video podcast called "A Cinematic Christmas Journey." They're tackling films like "Home Alone," "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," "Four Christmases," "It's a Wonderful Life," and "The Grinch." Of course, they're also breaking down "A Christmas Story."
Joining this episode are Ian Petrella, who played Randy, Scott Schwartz, who played Flick, and R.D. Robb, who played Schwartz, with Billingsley as co-host, along with Nick Schenk, who wrote the script for the new sequel "A Christmas Story Christmas."
The guys begin by talking about how the film did at the box office, and despite good reviews, it wasn't expected to do well, it seems.
- 12/10/2022
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
William Lustig's 1980 film "Maniac" is one of the sweatiest, most brutal, most unpleasant grindhouse horror films of its decade on either side. Co-screenwriter Joe Spinell plays Frank Zito, a serial killer with a peculiar M.O. When he encounters his victims, mostly young women, he declares them to be too beautiful, with beauty being punishable by death. He then strangles his victims, strips them, scalps them (!), and carries his "souvenirs" back to his cramped New York apartment where he dresses mannequins in the clothes and "wigs." The film's gore effects were provided by horror movie maestro Tom Savini, who had previously worked on notable horror classics like "Friday the 13th," and with George Romero on "Dawn of the Dead" and "Martin." Savini would also go on to direct the 1990 remake of "Night of the Living Dead."
"Maniac" is bleak and unpleasant, but may also serve as the Platonic ideal of an exploitation movie.
"Maniac" is bleak and unpleasant, but may also serve as the Platonic ideal of an exploitation movie.
- 12/1/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Frank Darabont knows about comeback stories. His adaptation of Stephen King's novella "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" was made for 25 million and released to theaters with little fanfare. Though Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert gave the film their coveted two-thumbs-up seal of approval, some of their esteemed peers (e.g. The Los Angeles Times' Kenneth Turan and The Washington Post's Desson Thomson) were mixed to negative.
But the movie's biggest problem had nothing to do with reviews. It was a 141-minute prison movie about the unlikely friendship that develops between two male inmates (Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman) over 20 years. There was no romance or action to market. The Stephen King pedigree was downplayed because it wasn't a straight-up horror flick, and the studio's modest awards hopes for the movie might've been diminished due to its association with an author best known for pulp entertainments (even though Kathy Bates...
But the movie's biggest problem had nothing to do with reviews. It was a 141-minute prison movie about the unlikely friendship that develops between two male inmates (Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman) over 20 years. There was no romance or action to market. The Stephen King pedigree was downplayed because it wasn't a straight-up horror flick, and the studio's modest awards hopes for the movie might've been diminished due to its association with an author best known for pulp entertainments (even though Kathy Bates...
- 11/22/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Of the many TV-to-movie adaptations, the diciest propositions have always been the films based on series that were tailored to the personality of their stars. Dan Aykroyd made "Dragnet" work (until its lame action finale) because he was doing a dead-on, deadpan parody of Jack Webb's Sergeant Joe Friday, whereas the great Jim Varney struggled as Jed Clampett in 1993's "The Beverly Hillbillies" because, when it came to playing TV rednecks, he was too defined by his Ernest P. Worrell persona to approximate Buddy Ebsen's interpretation and/or add his own flourishes.
It gets dicier when you're adapting a show named after the actual star. Even if creator James L. Brooks went nutzoid and decided to revive "The Mary Tyler Moore" show starring Sydney Sweeney, there would be an audience of exactly zero for it. Fans of the show would be aghast at the notion of anyone trying...
It gets dicier when you're adapting a show named after the actual star. Even if creator James L. Brooks went nutzoid and decided to revive "The Mary Tyler Moore" show starring Sydney Sweeney, there would be an audience of exactly zero for it. Fans of the show would be aghast at the notion of anyone trying...
- 11/5/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Andrew McCarthy was one of the most popular actors of the '80s and an esteemed member of the Brat Pack, alongside teen idols like Emilio Estevez and Molly Ringwald. Thanks to two of his most famous Brat Pack movie characters, Blane in "Pretty in Pink" and Kevin in "St Elmo's Fire," McCarthy became synonymous with the sensitive, angsty, nice guy, but he'd challenge that image by starring in the 1989 black comedy "Weekend at Bernie's."
The absurd film revolves around two young salesmen, Larry (McCarthy) and Richard (Jonathan Silverman), who drag their boss' corpse around so they can continue hanging out at his beach house and avoid getting wacked by mobsters. Actually, it's just a study of all the different ways two selfish yuppies can use and abuse a corpse, which is a far cry from McCarthy's gentle and compassionate brat pack roles, and far less introspective than anything John Hughes ever wrote.
The absurd film revolves around two young salesmen, Larry (McCarthy) and Richard (Jonathan Silverman), who drag their boss' corpse around so they can continue hanging out at his beach house and avoid getting wacked by mobsters. Actually, it's just a study of all the different ways two selfish yuppies can use and abuse a corpse, which is a far cry from McCarthy's gentle and compassionate brat pack roles, and far less introspective than anything John Hughes ever wrote.
- 11/1/2022
- by Christian Gainey
- Slash Film
"Weird" Al Yankovic' was riding high as pop music's preeminent parodist when he opted to make his feature filmmaking debut in 1989 with "Uhf." The film stars the musician as a lovable loser who's put in charge of Channel 62, a bare-bones operation buried deep in the Uhf dial. He's tasked with upping the outlet's atrocious ratings, at which he fails until the station's janitor, Stanley Spadowski (Michael Richards), accidentally transforms into a wildly popular children's show host.
The notion of Yankovich having to fill programming space with original shows perfectly complemented his gift for sketch-length goofs of popular culture. The gags hit more often than they miss, which is all you can ask for from a movie like this. It should've been a hit. Instead, it opened in eleventh place on a late July weekend where it was the only major new release. For the first time in his career, audiences had completely rejected Yankovic.
The notion of Yankovich having to fill programming space with original shows perfectly complemented his gift for sketch-length goofs of popular culture. The gags hit more often than they miss, which is all you can ask for from a movie like this. It should've been a hit. Instead, it opened in eleventh place on a late July weekend where it was the only major new release. For the first time in his career, audiences had completely rejected Yankovic.
- 10/31/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
“Halloween Ends” just opened in theaters, while also being made available on Universal’s streaming platform Peacock, and the response has been divisive to say the least.
The third chapter of the new trilogy (once again directed by David Gordon Green and starring Jamie Lee Curtis) made 41.3 million at the box office opening weekend, a good number for sure but lower than the studio and box office prognosticators were predicting. Critically, the results were just as middling. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie pulled down a 41 critics score, with an audience score of 57. But “Halloween Ends” took chances; it’s not perfect but it’s more interesting and idiosyncratic than most run-of-the-mill horror fare.
Instead of the nonstop bloodbath of previous entry “Halloween Kills,” “Halloween Ends” takes a more nuanced, mature approach to the subject matter, investing time in the relationship between Laurie’s granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) and her new...
The third chapter of the new trilogy (once again directed by David Gordon Green and starring Jamie Lee Curtis) made 41.3 million at the box office opening weekend, a good number for sure but lower than the studio and box office prognosticators were predicting. Critically, the results were just as middling. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie pulled down a 41 critics score, with an audience score of 57. But “Halloween Ends” took chances; it’s not perfect but it’s more interesting and idiosyncratic than most run-of-the-mill horror fare.
Instead of the nonstop bloodbath of previous entry “Halloween Kills,” “Halloween Ends” takes a more nuanced, mature approach to the subject matter, investing time in the relationship between Laurie’s granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) and her new...
- 10/18/2022
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Roger Moore turned 58 while he was shooting his seventh James Bond feature "A View to a Kill." He'd already huffed and puffed his way through action sequences in his previous 007 effort, "Octopussy," but he looked downright spent in this Summer of 1985 offering. It was time for Moore to hand over his Walther pistol, but replacing him would be no small feat. Having occupied the role for 12 years (three more than Sean Connery), Moore had come to exemplify the role for an entire generation, most of whom were born after Ian Fleming had published his final Bond novel. For this cohort, his suave, yet silly characterization was what Bond was supposed to be.
The transition to a new Bond was further complicated by the overall crappiness of "A View to a Kill." From the snowboarding set piece (scored to the chintziest version of "California Girls" ever recorded) to the limp airship...
The transition to a new Bond was further complicated by the overall crappiness of "A View to a Kill." From the snowboarding set piece (scored to the chintziest version of "California Girls" ever recorded) to the limp airship...
- 10/10/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Over the years, there have been several launching-pad movies, where the casting edict is to find as many fresh young faces as possible rather than lean on established star power. In 1955, "Rebel Without a Cause" assembled a number of exciting performers in James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo and Dennis Hopper. Nearly 30 years later, Francis Ford Coppola's "The Outsiders" served up a smorgasbord of rising stars in C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Diane Lane, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe and Tom Cruise. And in 1993, director Robert Mandel brought together a company of future stars via the crackling drama "School Ties."
Though many of the actors in "School Ties" had popped up here and there in smaller roles, Mandel's drama about a Jewish student contending with antisemitism at a Massachusetts boarding school in 1959 was the movie where they got to show off their considerable chops. Ben Affleck, Cole Hauser...
Though many of the actors in "School Ties" had popped up here and there in smaller roles, Mandel's drama about a Jewish student contending with antisemitism at a Massachusetts boarding school in 1959 was the movie where they got to show off their considerable chops. Ben Affleck, Cole Hauser...
- 9/28/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
In 1982's "First Blood," Sylvester Stallone stars as John Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran who single-handedly goes to war with the fictional small town of Hope, Washington. Though it's not stated in the movie, it's obvious Rambo suffers from a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder, which is accentuated by flashbacks of being tortured as a prisoner of war during the scene in which the local officers arrest and torment him in jail. These flashbacks prompts Rambo to go into survivalist combat mode.
Based on David Morrell's 1972 novel of the same name, the movie is a compelling commentary on the damaging effects Vietnam had on U.S. soldiers who felt mistreated upon their return home from the war. "First Blood" is a perfect mix of action, storytelling, and emotion, which is why it's my favorite action film. Sadly, I can't say the same for the 1985 sequel, which follows the...
Based on David Morrell's 1972 novel of the same name, the movie is a compelling commentary on the damaging effects Vietnam had on U.S. soldiers who felt mistreated upon their return home from the war. "First Blood" is a perfect mix of action, storytelling, and emotion, which is why it's my favorite action film. Sadly, I can't say the same for the 1985 sequel, which follows the...
- 9/24/2022
- by J. Gabriel Ware
- Slash Film
The persistence of the "Rocky" series is one of the strangest phenomena in mainstream Hollywood. To date, there have been eight films in the Rocky cinematic universe with a ninth set to be released on March 3, 2023, and they are mostly -- a few entries notwithstanding -- well-reviewed and well-received. On one level, this is understandable; John G. Avildsen's 1976 "Rocky" -- which Stallone wrote -- can stand as the template for all sports movies that followed, reestablishing the genre and laying out a formula that is imitated to this day.
Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is a well-meaning, down-on-his-luck meathead who hasn't been able to catch a break. His life is drab, cramped, a little bit sad. When he and the shy Adrian (Talia Shire) begin to date, they bond deeply over mutual loneliness. Rocky does get his break when the blustering boxing celebrity Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) challenges him to a match.
Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is a well-meaning, down-on-his-luck meathead who hasn't been able to catch a break. His life is drab, cramped, a little bit sad. When he and the shy Adrian (Talia Shire) begin to date, they bond deeply over mutual loneliness. Rocky does get his break when the blustering boxing celebrity Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) challenges him to a match.
- 9/19/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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