I never liked Tom Ripley but I keep meeting him.
I’ve “met” Ripley in five films, and he’s now the protagonist of a somber eight-part Netflix series. So filmmakers clearly find his character intriguing. Even though he has no character.
That, in itself, reminds me that Hollywood is suffering the same problem as Washington: an absence of vital young protagonists. Voters are confronted by an election that’s really a rerun, likely opened by a debate no one wants to witness.
In filmmaking, the worldwide success of Oppenheimer told us that a complex story becomes more interesting if it’s also about someone interesting. Yet movies with vibrant young protagonists seem to be losing their moment.
Dan Lin, the new chief of film at Netflix, confides a desire — since rebutted by Ted Sarandos on Thursday’s Q1 earnings call — to steer away from mindless mega-budget action films like...
I’ve “met” Ripley in five films, and he’s now the protagonist of a somber eight-part Netflix series. So filmmakers clearly find his character intriguing. Even though he has no character.
That, in itself, reminds me that Hollywood is suffering the same problem as Washington: an absence of vital young protagonists. Voters are confronted by an election that’s really a rerun, likely opened by a debate no one wants to witness.
In filmmaking, the worldwide success of Oppenheimer told us that a complex story becomes more interesting if it’s also about someone interesting. Yet movies with vibrant young protagonists seem to be losing their moment.
Dan Lin, the new chief of film at Netflix, confides a desire — since rebutted by Ted Sarandos on Thursday’s Q1 earnings call — to steer away from mindless mega-budget action films like...
- 4/19/2024
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
From James Wan’s Atomic Monster and Blumhouse comes Night Swim, available to own with brand-new bonus content on Digital March 12, 2024 and on Blu-ray and DVD April 9, 2024 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Night Swim has been hailed as “a satisfying plunge into backyard terror” and “remarkably effective”. Now own the Collector’s Edition, with all-new bonus features, including a behind-the-scenes look at filming the underwater pool sequences, transforming ‘Marco Polo’ into an eerie game of terror, and more. The producers of M3GAN high dive into the deep end of supernatural horror ... Read more...
- 3/5/2024
- by Thomas Miller
- Seat42F
If you missed it in theaters or want to experience it again from the comfort of your own couch, Night Swim is diving into Digital on March 12th, followed by a Collector's Edition Blu-ray / DVD release on April 9th, and we have a look at the full list of bonus features, including a feature-length commentary with director/co-writer Bryce McGuire and a conversation between producers Jason Blum and James Wan:
From the Press Release: Universal City, California, March 5, 2024 – From James Wan’s Atomic Monster and Blumhouse comes Night Swim, available to own with brand-new bonus content on Digital March 12, 2024 and on Blu-ray and DVD April 9, 2024 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Night Swim has been hailed as “a satisfying plunge into backyard terror” and “remarkably effective”. Now own the Collector's Edition, with all-new bonus features, including a behind-the-scenes look at filming the underwater pool sequences, transforming 'Marco Polo'...
From the Press Release: Universal City, California, March 5, 2024 – From James Wan’s Atomic Monster and Blumhouse comes Night Swim, available to own with brand-new bonus content on Digital March 12, 2024 and on Blu-ray and DVD April 9, 2024 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Night Swim has been hailed as “a satisfying plunge into backyard terror” and “remarkably effective”. Now own the Collector's Edition, with all-new bonus features, including a behind-the-scenes look at filming the underwater pool sequences, transforming 'Marco Polo'...
- 3/5/2024
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Exclusive: Grasshopper Film and streaming platform Documentary+ have acquired North American rights to the Oscar-shortlisted feature Apolonia, Apolonia, a deal announced as the nomination voting window opens for the 96th Academy Awards.
Grasshopper will release the film theatrically Friday at Dctv’s Firehouse Cinema in New York, “with a launch on Documentary+ following all other traditional windows,” according to a release.
The film directed by Lea Glob documents the life of French painter Apolonia Sokol over a 13-year period, examining her attempt to maintain artistic integrity in an art world — and culture — where patriarchy privileges the male gaze over the female.
Apolonia Sokol
“The result is a moving meditation on friendship, personal and creative fulfillment, and both the liberation and limitations of the female body,” the release noted. “Over the years, both Sokol and Glob see again and again that the road to artistic achievement is not an easy or...
Grasshopper will release the film theatrically Friday at Dctv’s Firehouse Cinema in New York, “with a launch on Documentary+ following all other traditional windows,” according to a release.
The film directed by Lea Glob documents the life of French painter Apolonia Sokol over a 13-year period, examining her attempt to maintain artistic integrity in an art world — and culture — where patriarchy privileges the male gaze over the female.
Apolonia Sokol
“The result is a moving meditation on friendship, personal and creative fulfillment, and both the liberation and limitations of the female body,” the release noted. “Over the years, both Sokol and Glob see again and again that the road to artistic achievement is not an easy or...
- 1/11/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For regular updates, sign up for our weekly email newsletter and follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSTrenque Lauquen.Absurdly early as it may seem, the Best of 2023 lists are starting to arrive. The New York Times published top tens by Manohla Dargis and Alissa Wilkinson (only her third published piece as the Times’s newest movie critic after an illustrious run at Vox), Vulture shared lists from Bilge Ebiri and Allison Willmore, and Richard Brody unveiled his impossible-to-hem-in roundup at the New Yorker (we’ll return to his list in the Readings section). There are some consensus picks—among them, Killers of the Flower Moon, Oppenheimer, Showing Up, and Passages—but there’s an exciting sprawl overall. Meanwhile, Cahiers du Cinéma shared their top ten; Laura Citarella’s Trenque Lauquen was their delightful, well-deserved sleeper choice for film of the year. But...
- 12/7/2023
- MUBI
Thomasin McKenzie’s dull life transforms once Anne Hathaway comes onto the scene in Neon’s Eileen trailer. McKenzie (Totally Completely Fine) stars as a secretary who quickly becomes infatuated with a new counselor, played by Oscar winner Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables), in the noir thriller.
The cast also includes Shea Whigham, Sam Nivola, Owen Teague, Marin Ireland, and Siobhan Fallon Hogan.
Eileen‘s based on Ottessa Moshfegh’s book, with the author and Luke Goebel (Moshefegh’s spouse) adapting and William Oldroyd (Lady Macbeth) directing. Producers include Moshfegh, Goebel, Oldroyd, Anthony Bregman, Stefanie Azpiazu, Peter Cron, and Bavand Karim.
The R-rated drama currently sits at 89% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes following its Sundance Film Festival premiere. IGN’s Matt Donato calls it a “nifty little shapeshifter of a thriller,” while Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson says, “Eileen is dank and disturbing and, when you’re in the mood for something that will mess you up,...
The cast also includes Shea Whigham, Sam Nivola, Owen Teague, Marin Ireland, and Siobhan Fallon Hogan.
Eileen‘s based on Ottessa Moshfegh’s book, with the author and Luke Goebel (Moshefegh’s spouse) adapting and William Oldroyd (Lady Macbeth) directing. Producers include Moshfegh, Goebel, Oldroyd, Anthony Bregman, Stefanie Azpiazu, Peter Cron, and Bavand Karim.
The R-rated drama currently sits at 89% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes following its Sundance Film Festival premiere. IGN’s Matt Donato calls it a “nifty little shapeshifter of a thriller,” while Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson says, “Eileen is dank and disturbing and, when you’re in the mood for something that will mess you up,...
- 10/17/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
For critics attending the 76th Cannes Film Festival this week, Martin Scorsese's adaptation of David Grann's book "Killers of the Flower Moon" was among the hottest tickets in town. The latest film from the acclaimed director has been garnering headlines months ahead of its release, as the 206-minute epic is set to tell the real-life story of a series of murders on Osage Native American land in the 1920s.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert de Niro, and the ever-underrated "Certain Women" star Lily Gladstone all share the screen in a story about the greed and violence that erupt among white men when the Osage people strike oil in Oklahoma. Scorsese has revealed that his real-life meetings with Indigenous descendants of those murdered changed the way he wanted to frame the story, and he's also spoken about how the story reckons with genocide in the midst of a love story. In all,...
Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert de Niro, and the ever-underrated "Certain Women" star Lily Gladstone all share the screen in a story about the greed and violence that erupt among white men when the Osage people strike oil in Oklahoma. Scorsese has revealed that his real-life meetings with Indigenous descendants of those murdered changed the way he wanted to frame the story, and he's also spoken about how the story reckons with genocide in the midst of a love story. In all,...
- 5/20/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
One year after Sundance megahit “Coda” took home the Oscar for Best Picture, the indie festival is being represented at the 95th Academy Awards again–this time, by four nominees for Best Documentary Feature and “Living,” which is contending in Best Actor (Bill Nighy) and Best Adapted Screenplay. Other recent films to have wound up at the Oscars after debuting in Park City include “Minari,” “Promising Young Woman,” “The Father,” “Get Out,” “The Big Sick,” “Manchester by the Sea,” and “Whiplash.” The event wrapped up over the weekend, with major prizes going to “The Persian Version” (the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award and U.S. Dramatic: Audience), “A Thousand And One” (U.S. Dramatic: Grand Jury), “Shayda” (World Cinema: Audience), and “Scrapper” (World Cinema: Grand Jury).
See 2023 Sundance Film Festival: Early highlights include ‘Fairyland,’ ‘Magazine Dreams,’ ‘Past Lives’ …
The 2023 slate has drawn some strong reactions, but no film has been as...
See 2023 Sundance Film Festival: Early highlights include ‘Fairyland,’ ‘Magazine Dreams,’ ‘Past Lives’ …
The 2023 slate has drawn some strong reactions, but no film has been as...
- 1/31/2023
- by Ronald Meyer
- Gold Derby
Ben Shapiro has found himself the subject of widespread mockery after sharing a lengthy diatribe about Rian Johnson’s film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
The conservative pundit shared a 17-post thread on Twitter on Boxing Day, where he attacked both the writing and Johnson’s political leanings.
“I regret to inform you that Glass Onion is actively bad,” he announced.
Shapiro then proceeded to detail why he had been so offended by the Netflix film, sharing a number of spoilers along the way.
Spoilers for Glass Onion follow...
“Rian Johnson’s politics is as lazy as his writing,” he wrote. “His take on the universe is that Elon Musk is a bad and stupid man, and that anyone who likes him – in media, politics, or tech – is being paid off by him.”
Fans have already drawn comparisons between Edward Norton’s tech bro CEO character Miles Bron and Twitter owner Elon Musk.
The conservative pundit shared a 17-post thread on Twitter on Boxing Day, where he attacked both the writing and Johnson’s political leanings.
“I regret to inform you that Glass Onion is actively bad,” he announced.
Shapiro then proceeded to detail why he had been so offended by the Netflix film, sharing a number of spoilers along the way.
Spoilers for Glass Onion follow...
“Rian Johnson’s politics is as lazy as his writing,” he wrote. “His take on the universe is that Elon Musk is a bad and stupid man, and that anyone who likes him – in media, politics, or tech – is being paid off by him.”
Fans have already drawn comparisons between Edward Norton’s tech bro CEO character Miles Bron and Twitter owner Elon Musk.
- 12/28/2022
- by Roisin O'Connor
- The Independent - Film
Ben Shapiro has found himself the subject of widespread mockery after sharing a lengthy diatribe about Rian Johnson’s film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
The conservative pundit shared a 17-post thread on Twitter on Boxing Day, where he attacked both the writing and Johnson’s political leanings.
“I regret to inform you that Glass Onion is actively bad,” he announced.
Shapiro then proceeded to detail why he had been so offended by the Netflix film, sharing a number of spoilers along the way.
Spoilers for Glass Onion follow...
“Rian Johnson’s politics is as lazy as his writing,” he wrote. “His take on the universe is that Elon Musk is a bad and stupid man, and that anyone who likes him – in media, politics, or tech – is being paid off by him.”
Fans have already drawn comparisons between Edward Norton’s tech bro CEO character Miles Bron and Twitter owner Elon Musk.
The conservative pundit shared a 17-post thread on Twitter on Boxing Day, where he attacked both the writing and Johnson’s political leanings.
“I regret to inform you that Glass Onion is actively bad,” he announced.
Shapiro then proceeded to detail why he had been so offended by the Netflix film, sharing a number of spoilers along the way.
Spoilers for Glass Onion follow...
“Rian Johnson’s politics is as lazy as his writing,” he wrote. “His take on the universe is that Elon Musk is a bad and stupid man, and that anyone who likes him – in media, politics, or tech – is being paid off by him.”
Fans have already drawn comparisons between Edward Norton’s tech bro CEO character Miles Bron and Twitter owner Elon Musk.
- 12/27/2022
- by Roisin O'Connor
- The Independent - Film
As various critics groups and awards bodies dole out their top films of the year, it can be hard to parse which ones are actually worth paying attention to. One such list has arrived today with Film Comment’s annual end-of-year survey. Revealed at a special live talk last night, in an unexpected but welcome surprise, David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future topped the list, which also included Jerzy Skolimowski’s Eo, Charlotte Wells’s Aftersun, two by Hong Sangsoo, and more. They also revealed their top undistributed films list, which included David Easteal’s The Plains, Bertrand Bonello’s Coma, and Laura Citarella’s Trenque Lauquen.
“That the winner of this year’s poll is a strange, gory, apocalyptic film about a future where art and humanity are both on the precipice of extinction is a striking reflection of what we’re seeking from cinema in 2022,” said Film...
“That the winner of this year’s poll is a strange, gory, apocalyptic film about a future where art and humanity are both on the precipice of extinction is a striking reflection of what we’re seeking from cinema in 2022,” said Film...
- 12/15/2022
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The Whale is a drama movie produced by A24, directed by Darren Aronofsky, starring Brendan Fraser. It is based on a screenplay by Samuel D. Hunter in this adaptation of his own 2012 play.
Premise
A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.
Release Date
December 9, 2022
Where to Watch ‘The Whale’
Theaters
Reviews
At times, it feels like you’re watching a stage play, but Fraser’s performance is one for the ages.
Randy Myers: San Jose Mercury News
“The Whale” is laughably earnest, larded with melodrama, and designed to shut down the long-standing association of human bulk with high spirits.
Anthony Lane: New Yorker
As a story, The Whale is compelling. As a film, The Whale is a tad shakier.
Alissa Wilkinson: Vox
Aronofsky, artisan of lost souls, finds compassion in the oddest of situations.
Premise
A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.
Release Date
December 9, 2022
Where to Watch ‘The Whale’
Theaters
Reviews
At times, it feels like you’re watching a stage play, but Fraser’s performance is one for the ages.
Randy Myers: San Jose Mercury News
“The Whale” is laughably earnest, larded with melodrama, and designed to shut down the long-standing association of human bulk with high spirits.
Anthony Lane: New Yorker
As a story, The Whale is compelling. As a film, The Whale is a tad shakier.
Alissa Wilkinson: Vox
Aronofsky, artisan of lost souls, finds compassion in the oddest of situations.
- 12/3/2022
- by Movies Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSSacheen Littlefeather: Breaking the Silence.Sacheen Littlefeather, Native American actress and activist, has died at 75. At the 1973 Academy Awards, she declined Marlon Brando’s Oscar for The Godfather on his behalf to condemn the treatment of Native Americans by the film industry and bring attention to the Wounded Knee protests.After five years in charge of BFI Flare and the London Film Festival, Tricia Tuttle has stepped down from her role as Festivals Director at the British Film Institute.Feminist film journal Another Gaze has announced a publishing imprint. Another Gaze Editions launches in late 2022 with My Cinema, a collection of writings by and interviews with Marguerite Duras, and a new translation of The Sky Is Falling, Lorenza Mazzetti's first novel.Recommended VIEWINGHunt, the directorial debut from popular South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game), has a trailer.
- 10/4/2022
- MUBI
• Vox wonderful must-read piece by Alissa Wilkinson on the new fad of intertitles in movies and why and how they're deployed artistically.
• GQ Euphoria's Jacob Elordi profiled. Stunning photos with buzzy interview
• Pajiba Very interesting take on what "Jean Jacket" symbolizes in Jordan Peele's Nope (tons of spoilers)
More Anne Heche, Brad Pitt, Eminem/Hitchcock, Only Murders costumes, and Broadway stuff after the jump...
• GQ Euphoria's Jacob Elordi profiled. Stunning photos with buzzy interview
• Pajiba Very interesting take on what "Jean Jacket" symbolizes in Jordan Peele's Nope (tons of spoilers)
More Anne Heche, Brad Pitt, Eminem/Hitchcock, Only Murders costumes, and Broadway stuff after the jump...
- 8/13/2022
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSThe official poster for the the 54th Directors' Fortnight is by multidisciplinary artist Cecilia Paredes. In a statement, the festival points out that Paredes' photo-performance is "both visible and invisible, the artist blends into the image she creates, much like filmmakers do in their films." Following the release of Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth, Ethan Coen is setting out to make his own solo directorial debut with a still-untitled "lesbian road trip project that Coen and [his wife, Tricia Cooke] initially wrote in the mid-2000s." Gus Van Sant is set to direct the second season of Ryan Murphy's anthology series Feud, which will be based on Laurence Leamer's book Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era. Playing one such woman will be Naomi Watts,...
- 4/6/2022
- MUBI
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSAbove: David Fincher and Gary Oldman on the set of Mank (2020). David Fincher's Mank leads this year's nominations for the Academy Awards. A complete list of all nominations can be found here.Legendary actor Yaphet Kotto, best known for his charismatic presence in films like Alien, Blue Collar, and Live and Let Die has died.Spike Lee will be leading the 2021 Cannes Film Festival Jury, promising to return after the cancellation of last year's festival: "Book my flight now, my wife and I are coming!" After a months-long hiatus, Film Comment has announced its return, marked by a new weekly letter and two new episodes of the Film Comment podcast. Recommended VIEWINGAbove: Mark Rappaport's The Stendhal Syndrome or My Dinner with Turhan Bey. Today's the last day to watch two new essay films...
- 3/17/2021
- MUBI
Within the last three weeks, TV’s documentary explosion has given us two damning close-ups on decades-old celebrity scandals. In one, an insatiable media-industrial complex takes a vulnerable young woman into its maw, judging her sexuality and questioning, then actively undermining, her sanity. In the other, it happens again. The main difference between them lies in who the celebrity is at the center of each public maelstrom — and how that simple fact determines who survives in its wake.
Framing Britney Spears, a New York Times-produced documentary that premiered February 5th...
Framing Britney Spears, a New York Times-produced documentary that premiered February 5th...
- 2/24/2021
- by Maria Fontoura
- Rollingstone.com
Despite its all-star pedigree, Ron Howard’s Hillbilly Elegy, starring Amy Adams and Glenn Close, has been criticized online since it debuted on Netflix last week.
The movie, which had a limited theatrical release before hitting the streaming service, has a 27 percent freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with The Chicago Sun-Times’ Richard Roeper one of the few top critics who gave it a good review, writing in part that it is “a beautifully constructed, unforgiving, heart-tugging family epic.”
Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson, meanwhile, writes that the film is “distractingly Hollywoodified, a rich person’s idea of what it is like to ...
The movie, which had a limited theatrical release before hitting the streaming service, has a 27 percent freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with The Chicago Sun-Times’ Richard Roeper one of the few top critics who gave it a good review, writing in part that it is “a beautifully constructed, unforgiving, heart-tugging family epic.”
Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson, meanwhile, writes that the film is “distractingly Hollywoodified, a rich person’s idea of what it is like to ...
- 12/1/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Despite its all-star pedigree, Ron Howard’s Hillbilly Elegy, starring Amy Adams and Glenn Close, has been criticized online since it debuted on Netflix last week.
The movie, which had a limited theatrical release before hitting the streaming service, has a 27 percent freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with The Chicago Sun-Times’ Richard Roeper one of the few top critics who gave it a good review, writing in part that it is “a beautifully constructed, unforgiving, heart-tugging family epic.”
Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson, meanwhile, writes that the film is “distractingly Hollywoodified, a rich person’s idea of what it is like to ...
The movie, which had a limited theatrical release before hitting the streaming service, has a 27 percent freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with The Chicago Sun-Times’ Richard Roeper one of the few top critics who gave it a good review, writing in part that it is “a beautifully constructed, unforgiving, heart-tugging family epic.”
Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson, meanwhile, writes that the film is “distractingly Hollywoodified, a rich person’s idea of what it is like to ...
- 12/1/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Film critics have no love for Ron Howard’s “Hillbilly Elegy;” reviews call the film “laughably horrendous,” “awful,” and “one of the most shameless films of the year.”
The drama, based on J.D. Vance’s best-selling memoir, will land in select theaters and on Netflix on November 24.
Reviews currently give “Hillbilly Elegy” a 20% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 41 on Metacritic. The film follows J.D. Vance (Gabriel Basso), a former Marine from southern Ohio and current Yale Law student, who is on the verge of landing his dream job when a family crisis forces him to return to the home he’s tried to forget. J.D. must navigate the complex dynamics of his Appalachian family, including his volatile relationship with his mother, Bev (Amy Adams), who’s struggling with addiction. Fueled by memories of his grandmother Mamaw (Glenn Close), the resilient and whip-smart woman who raised him,...
The drama, based on J.D. Vance’s best-selling memoir, will land in select theaters and on Netflix on November 24.
Reviews currently give “Hillbilly Elegy” a 20% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 41 on Metacritic. The film follows J.D. Vance (Gabriel Basso), a former Marine from southern Ohio and current Yale Law student, who is on the verge of landing his dream job when a family crisis forces him to return to the home he’s tried to forget. J.D. must navigate the complex dynamics of his Appalachian family, including his volatile relationship with his mother, Bev (Amy Adams), who’s struggling with addiction. Fueled by memories of his grandmother Mamaw (Glenn Close), the resilient and whip-smart woman who raised him,...
- 11/10/2020
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
While the Oscars and other awards bodies have all pushed events back on their calendar and expanded eligibility for what movies can be considered, the New York Film Critics Circle will only consider movies released in the 2020 calendar year for its annual awards.
The Nyfcc announced Friday it will vote for its 2020 awards on Dec. 18 and that only movies released in theaters or on digital platforms between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, will be considered.
Further, the date for the group’s annual Gala Awards dinner is still to be announced, and membership for 2020 members will be frozen this year, with all current members still eligible to vote, even as many critics’ jobs have been affected by Covid-19. No new members will be voted in this year.
“This is a year unlike any other in our lifetimes. But the world of movies hasn’t stopped, and already, even in this very strange year,...
The Nyfcc announced Friday it will vote for its 2020 awards on Dec. 18 and that only movies released in theaters or on digital platforms between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, will be considered.
Further, the date for the group’s annual Gala Awards dinner is still to be announced, and membership for 2020 members will be frozen this year, with all current members still eligible to vote, even as many critics’ jobs have been affected by Covid-19. No new members will be voted in this year.
“This is a year unlike any other in our lifetimes. But the world of movies hasn’t stopped, and already, even in this very strange year,...
- 9/11/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSAbove: Chadwick Boseman in Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods.We're extremely saddened by the news that Chadwick Boseman has died after a four-year battle with colon cancer. In a tribute to Boseman, Ryan Coogler writes, "He lived a beautiful life. And he made great art. Day after day, year after year. That was who he was."Recommended Viewinghbo's official trailer for Luca Guadagnino's We Are Who We Are, about a group of teenagers navigating their identities on an American army base outside of Venice, Italy. Antonio Campos's upcoming Netflix film, The Devil All The Time, stars Tom Holland, Riley Keough, Robert Pattinson, Bill Skarsgård, and more as "sinister characters" in a seedy Ohio town. Media City Film Festival presents Radical Acts of Care, an online series curated by Greg de Cuir Jr.
- 9/2/2020
- MUBI
Welcome, one and all, to the latest episode of The Film Stage Show! Today, Brian Roan, Michael Snydel, and Bill Graham are joined by special guest Alissa Wilkinson to discuss Josephine Decker’s Shirley, starring Elisabeth Moss, which is now available on Hulu. One can also read our interview with Decker here.
We also want to direct our listeners to this resource, where you can learn about ways to help out in your community in the fight against injustice and inequality.
Enter our giveaways, get access to our private Slack channel, and support new episodes by becoming a Patreon contributor. For a limited time, all new Patreon supporters will receive a free Blu-ray/DVD. After becoming a contributor, e-mail podcast@thefilmstage.com for an up-to-date list of available films.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, or stream below.
The Film Stage Show is supported by Mubi, a curated streaming service...
We also want to direct our listeners to this resource, where you can learn about ways to help out in your community in the fight against injustice and inequality.
Enter our giveaways, get access to our private Slack channel, and support new episodes by becoming a Patreon contributor. For a limited time, all new Patreon supporters will receive a free Blu-ray/DVD. After becoming a contributor, e-mail podcast@thefilmstage.com for an up-to-date list of available films.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, or stream below.
The Film Stage Show is supported by Mubi, a curated streaming service...
- 6/9/2020
- by Brian Roan
- The Film Stage
After its official trailer debuted in November, many were equal parts horrified and enraged by the litany of humanoid cats preparing for the Jellicle ball and Jellicle sacrifice in “Cats.” Based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical of the same name, said outrage came to no one’s surprise.
Unfortunately for director Tom Hopper and team, the rage has extended into the film’s debut, with critics effortlessly tearing the film to shreds.
The almost 40-year-old tale of the Jellicles has been no stranger to condemnation, annoyance and outright shame. Despite a star-studded cast including James Corden (“The Late Late Show”), Dame Judi Dench (“Skyfall”), Jason Derulo, Idris Elba (“Thor: Ragnarok”), Jennifer Hudson (“Dreamgirls”), Ian McKellen (“The Hobbit”), Taylor Swift (“The Lorax”) and Rebel Wilson (“Pitch Perfect”), the film looks to receive no different fate.
However — based on the Broadway musical’s unprecedented commercial success and longevity — we can’t...
Unfortunately for director Tom Hopper and team, the rage has extended into the film’s debut, with critics effortlessly tearing the film to shreds.
The almost 40-year-old tale of the Jellicles has been no stranger to condemnation, annoyance and outright shame. Despite a star-studded cast including James Corden (“The Late Late Show”), Dame Judi Dench (“Skyfall”), Jason Derulo, Idris Elba (“Thor: Ragnarok”), Jennifer Hudson (“Dreamgirls”), Ian McKellen (“The Hobbit”), Taylor Swift (“The Lorax”) and Rebel Wilson (“Pitch Perfect”), the film looks to receive no different fate.
However — based on the Broadway musical’s unprecedented commercial success and longevity — we can’t...
- 12/19/2019
- by LaTesha Harris
- Variety Film + TV
It might come as little surprise that “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” a culmination to the nine-chapter Skywalker saga, has garnered polarizing reviews.
The now four-decade-old franchise, as Los Angeles Times critic Justin Chang puts it, “launched to paradigm-shattering popularity.” “Star Wars” is a brand that has a fan-base with few equals, and ardent enthusiasts have been nothing if not vocal about the unwieldy direction of the sequel trilogy.
Critics chided director J.J. Abrams for playing it safe in landing a series that’s been 40 years in the making. Others noted the epic finale makes a concerted effort to service the fans.
Variety’s Owen Gleiberman offered one of the more positive reviews, saying, “No ‘Star Wars’ film can fully recapture the thrill of 40 years ago, but as directed by J.J. Abrams, the ninth and final chapter in the saga that George Lucas created may come closer than any “Star Wars” movie since.
The now four-decade-old franchise, as Los Angeles Times critic Justin Chang puts it, “launched to paradigm-shattering popularity.” “Star Wars” is a brand that has a fan-base with few equals, and ardent enthusiasts have been nothing if not vocal about the unwieldy direction of the sequel trilogy.
Critics chided director J.J. Abrams for playing it safe in landing a series that’s been 40 years in the making. Others noted the epic finale makes a concerted effort to service the fans.
Variety’s Owen Gleiberman offered one of the more positive reviews, saying, “No ‘Star Wars’ film can fully recapture the thrill of 40 years ago, but as directed by J.J. Abrams, the ninth and final chapter in the saga that George Lucas created may come closer than any “Star Wars” movie since.
- 12/18/2019
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Once universally revered by critics for films like “Days of Heaven” (1978), “A Thin Red Line” (1998) and “The Tree of Life” (2011), director Terrence Malick has been hit-or-miss with reviewers in recent years. Is “A Hidden Life” his return to form? The film tells the true story of Franz Jägerstätter (played by August Diehl), a humble Austrian farmer who refused to fight for the Nazis during World War II and was punished for it. It opened on December 13, so what are critics saying about the epic?
As of this writing the film has a MetaCritic score of 77 based on 24 reviews counted: 19 positive and 5 somewhat mixed, but none outright negative. Notably, six of those positive reviews are rated a perfect 100 by the review aggregator, indicating passionate support for the film. Meanwhile, Rotten Tomatoes classifies reviews simply as pass or fail and gives the film a freshness rating of 77% based on 87 reviews, 20 of which are negative.
As of this writing the film has a MetaCritic score of 77 based on 24 reviews counted: 19 positive and 5 somewhat mixed, but none outright negative. Notably, six of those positive reviews are rated a perfect 100 by the review aggregator, indicating passionate support for the film. Meanwhile, Rotten Tomatoes classifies reviews simply as pass or fail and gives the film a freshness rating of 77% based on 87 reviews, 20 of which are negative.
- 12/15/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Movies about Fox News, gambling addiction and Nazis opened on December 13, but arguably the weekend’s most controversial release turned out to be “Richard Jewell.” It’s Clint Eastwood‘s dramatization of the events of 1996 when the real-life title character saved lives during the Centennial Olympic Park bombing, but was later falsely accused of perpetrating the attack. But the controversy stems from how the film treats another real-life figure, journalist Kathy Scruggs (played by Olivia Wilde). So what do critics think of the film overall, and its depiction of Scruggs in particular?
As of this writing the film is getting mostly positive notices, scoring 69 on MetaCritic based on 37 reviews counted thus far: 30 positive, 5 somewhat mixed, 2 negative. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, which classifies reviews simply as pass or fail as opposed to Mc’s sliding scale from 0-100, the film has a freshness rating of 77% based on 115 reviews, 27 of which are negative.
As of this writing the film is getting mostly positive notices, scoring 69 on MetaCritic based on 37 reviews counted thus far: 30 positive, 5 somewhat mixed, 2 negative. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, which classifies reviews simply as pass or fail as opposed to Mc’s sliding scale from 0-100, the film has a freshness rating of 77% based on 115 reviews, 27 of which are negative.
- 12/13/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Rian Johnson‘s new film “Knives Out” is being hailed by critics for making merry with the murder mystery genre. After the family patriarch (Christopher Plummer) is murdered, suspicion falls on his extended family. A detective (Daniel Craig) arrives to find the killer. After well-received screenings at the Toronto and London film festivals, the film was released by Lionsgate on Nov. 27 and looks like it will be a big holiday hit.
Among those reviewers praising the picture was Olly Richards (NME) who notes that “Johnson sticks two fingers up to his critics via a deliciously clever murder-mystery.” He describes the film as “a daft, but also very clever, murder-mystery, packed with big stars, big laughs and – from Daniel Craig in particular – some very big acting.” And, he says, “Johnson’s control of so many characters and so many plot twists is extremely impressive, even more so for being so unshowy.
Among those reviewers praising the picture was Olly Richards (NME) who notes that “Johnson sticks two fingers up to his critics via a deliciously clever murder-mystery.” He describes the film as “a daft, but also very clever, murder-mystery, packed with big stars, big laughs and – from Daniel Craig in particular – some very big acting.” And, he says, “Johnson’s control of so many characters and so many plot twists is extremely impressive, even more so for being so unshowy.
- 11/27/2019
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
“Marriage Story” has been making waves on the fall film festival circuit, but it finally opened in theaters on November 6 in advance of its streaming premiere on December 6. So are critics onboard for this domestic drama from writer-director Noah Baumbach?
In a word, yes. With a MetaCritic score of 95, it’s tied with “Parasite” as the highest-rated film of the year based on reviews from 32 critics as of this writing, all of them positive and a whopping 15 of which are rated a perfect 100 on the review aggregator. The enthusiasm is just as strong on Rotten Tomatoes, which categorizes reviews simply as pass or fail. There it’s rated 98% fresh based on 125 reviews counted, of which only three are classified as rotten. The Rt critics’ consensus summarizes the reviews by saying, “Observing a splintering union with compassion and expansive grace, the powerfully acted ‘Marriage Story’ ranks among writer-director Noah Baumbach’s best works.
In a word, yes. With a MetaCritic score of 95, it’s tied with “Parasite” as the highest-rated film of the year based on reviews from 32 critics as of this writing, all of them positive and a whopping 15 of which are rated a perfect 100 on the review aggregator. The enthusiasm is just as strong on Rotten Tomatoes, which categorizes reviews simply as pass or fail. There it’s rated 98% fresh based on 125 reviews counted, of which only three are classified as rotten. The Rt critics’ consensus summarizes the reviews by saying, “Observing a splintering union with compassion and expansive grace, the powerfully acted ‘Marriage Story’ ranks among writer-director Noah Baumbach’s best works.
- 11/8/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Is “Parasite” the best movie of the year? It just might be according to the reviews. The Korean film by director Bong Joon Ho opened on October 11 in limited release, and it’s the highest rated film of 2019 no matter which review aggregator you choose.
As of this writing, the film has a MetaCritic score of 95 based on 31 reviews counted — all of them positive, and 14 of which are rated a perfect 100. That currently ties it with “Marriage Story” at the top of MetaCritic’s 2019 rankings, but “Marriage” doesn’t open for another month, so additional reviews may adjust its average up or down by then.
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Over on Rotten Tomatoes the film is still perfect after 146 reviews: 100% fresh without a single thumb down in the bunch. The Rt critics consensus says, “An urgent, brilliantly layered look at timely social themes, ‘Parasite...
As of this writing, the film has a MetaCritic score of 95 based on 31 reviews counted — all of them positive, and 14 of which are rated a perfect 100. That currently ties it with “Marriage Story” at the top of MetaCritic’s 2019 rankings, but “Marriage” doesn’t open for another month, so additional reviews may adjust its average up or down by then.
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Over on Rotten Tomatoes the film is still perfect after 146 reviews: 100% fresh without a single thumb down in the bunch. The Rt critics consensus says, “An urgent, brilliantly layered look at timely social themes, ‘Parasite...
- 10/11/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
(Spoiler alert: At most, only minor spoilers for “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” exist below, though click-through to full outside reviews at your own risk.)
Vince Gilligan’s “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” debuted Friday on Netflix, and the reviews are enough to make even the toughest meth-dealer smile.
For starters, Paul MacInnes of The Guardian gave “El Camino” four out of a possible five stars, writing “while it has both style and content, ‘El Camino’ feels more like a feature-length TV episode than an actual movie. It is too compact and fragmented to truly stand on its own, and viewers who have not seen the preceding 62 hours of ‘Breaking Bad’ will likely struggle to enjoy it.”
Where the Netflix release “excels” is in giving the Jesse Pinkman character (Aaron Paul) “closure,” MacInnes wrote. That note would be a common theme throughout the earliest-available reviews.
Also Read: '...
Vince Gilligan’s “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” debuted Friday on Netflix, and the reviews are enough to make even the toughest meth-dealer smile.
For starters, Paul MacInnes of The Guardian gave “El Camino” four out of a possible five stars, writing “while it has both style and content, ‘El Camino’ feels more like a feature-length TV episode than an actual movie. It is too compact and fragmented to truly stand on its own, and viewers who have not seen the preceding 62 hours of ‘Breaking Bad’ will likely struggle to enjoy it.”
Where the Netflix release “excels” is in giving the Jesse Pinkman character (Aaron Paul) “closure,” MacInnes wrote. That note would be a common theme throughout the earliest-available reviews.
Also Read: '...
- 10/11/2019
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
“Joker” opened on Friday, October 4, but even if you haven’t seen it yet, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about it, or seen someone on the internet who’s angry about it, whether they hated it or hate that someone else hated it. But what’s the actual verdict from critics? It’s not necessarily much clearer.
As of this writing the film has a MetaCritic score of 58 based on 51 reviews, but those reviews are all over the map: 26 of them are positive (including seven rated a perfect 100), 15 are mixed, and 10 are outright negative. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, where reviews are classified on a much simpler pass/fail scale, “Joker” is 70% fresh based on 299 reviews: 208 thumbs up, 91 thumbs down. The Rt critics’ consensus says, “‘Joker’ gives its infamous central character a chillingly plausible origin story that serves as a brilliant showcase for its star — and a dark evolution for comics-inspired cinema.
As of this writing the film has a MetaCritic score of 58 based on 51 reviews, but those reviews are all over the map: 26 of them are positive (including seven rated a perfect 100), 15 are mixed, and 10 are outright negative. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, where reviews are classified on a much simpler pass/fail scale, “Joker” is 70% fresh based on 299 reviews: 208 thumbs up, 91 thumbs down. The Rt critics’ consensus says, “‘Joker’ gives its infamous central character a chillingly plausible origin story that serves as a brilliant showcase for its star — and a dark evolution for comics-inspired cinema.
- 10/4/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Could Brad Pitt get two Oscar nominations for the price of one this year? He earned praise earlier this summer for Quentin Tarantino‘s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” and now he’s in another acclaimed film: “Ad Astra,” in which he stars as an astronaut on a mission to find his missing father (Tommy Lee Jones). It opened September 20.
As of this writing “Ad Astra” has an impressive MetaCritic score of 80 based on 50 reviews counted thus far — 46 of them positive, 4 somewhat mixed. Eight of those reviews rate it a perfect 100. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, which rates films on a pass/fail scale, the film is 81% fresh based on 187 reviews counted — 151 positive and 36 negative. The Rt critics’ consensus says, “‘Ad Astra’ takes a visually thrilling journey through the vast reaches of space while charting an ambitious course for the heart of the bond between parent and child.”
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As of this writing “Ad Astra” has an impressive MetaCritic score of 80 based on 50 reviews counted thus far — 46 of them positive, 4 somewhat mixed. Eight of those reviews rate it a perfect 100. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, which rates films on a pass/fail scale, the film is 81% fresh based on 187 reviews counted — 151 positive and 36 negative. The Rt critics’ consensus says, “‘Ad Astra’ takes a visually thrilling journey through the vast reaches of space while charting an ambitious course for the heart of the bond between parent and child.”
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- 9/20/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Why did Disney remake the 1994 animated classic “The Lion King” into a 2019 CGI spectacle? Probably for the same reason they remade their animated hits “Beauty and the Beast,” “Dumbo” and “Aladdin” — to cash in again on their intellectual property for additional profits. But double-dipping sometimes pays off artistically: critics generally admired the 2015 version of “Cinderella” and the 2016 remake of “The Jungle Book,” and both were Oscar contenders, with “Jungle Book” winning for its visual effects. So how does “Lion King” fare by comparison?
It depends on who you ask. Critics are divided, resulting in a MetaCritic score of 55 based on 47 reviews counted as of this writing — 19 positive, 23 mixed and just 5 outright negative. And over on Rotten Tomatoes it has a freshness rating of 56% based on 232 reviews so far, with 130 thumbs up and 102 thumbs down. The Rt critics’ consensus says, “While it can take pride in its visual achievements, ‘The Lion King...
It depends on who you ask. Critics are divided, resulting in a MetaCritic score of 55 based on 47 reviews counted as of this writing — 19 positive, 23 mixed and just 5 outright negative. And over on Rotten Tomatoes it has a freshness rating of 56% based on 232 reviews so far, with 130 thumbs up and 102 thumbs down. The Rt critics’ consensus says, “While it can take pride in its visual achievements, ‘The Lion King...
- 7/19/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
‘Rocketman’ reviews: Critics like it a lot more than ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ but what about the Oscars?
“Rocketman” opened in theaters on May 31. It’s directed by Dexter Fletcher, the filmmaker who finished “Bohemian Rhapsody” after Bryan Singer was fired from that production, and both films tell the true stories of the trials and tribulations of queer rock stars — Freddie Mercury in “Rhapsody” and now Elton John in “Rocketman.” But while many critics rejected the earlier film, now they’re rallying around the new one.
As of this writing “Rocketman” has a MetaCritic score of 73 based on 43 reviews: 33 positive, 10 mixed, and none outright negative. And it has a Rotten Tomatoes freshness rating of 89%. That’s a marked improvement from “Bohemian Rhapsody,” whose critical consensus was 24 points lower on MetaCritic and 28% lower on Rotten Tomatoes.
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But despite its mixed reviews, “Rhapsody” was a resounding success, grossing almost $1 billion worldwide and winning four Oscars out of its five nominations:...
As of this writing “Rocketman” has a MetaCritic score of 73 based on 43 reviews: 33 positive, 10 mixed, and none outright negative. And it has a Rotten Tomatoes freshness rating of 89%. That’s a marked improvement from “Bohemian Rhapsody,” whose critical consensus was 24 points lower on MetaCritic and 28% lower on Rotten Tomatoes.
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But despite its mixed reviews, “Rhapsody” was a resounding success, grossing almost $1 billion worldwide and winning four Oscars out of its five nominations:...
- 5/31/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Before we unveil our favorites of Sundance Film Festival 2019, the juries and audiences have selected their 28 feature filmmaking picks from 121 total films. This year’s jurors featured Desiree Akhavan, Damien Chazelle, Dennis Lim, Phyllis Nagy, Tessa Thompson, Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Yance Ford, Rachel Grady, Jeff Orlowski, Alissa Wilkinson, Jane Campion, Charles Gillibert, Ciro Guerra, Maite Alberdi, Nico Marzano, Véréna Paravel, Young Jean Lee, Carter Smith, Sheila Vand, and Laurie Anderson.
Topped by the harrowing documentary One Child Nation, the prison drama Clemency, Joanna Hogg’s astounding The Souvenir, and the beautiful Honeyland, see the winners below and our complete coverage here.
2019 Sundance Film Festival Feature Film Awards
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented by Rachel Grady to: Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang, for One Child Nation / China, U.S.A. — After becoming a mother, a filmmaker uncovers the untold history of China’s one-child policy and the generations...
Topped by the harrowing documentary One Child Nation, the prison drama Clemency, Joanna Hogg’s astounding The Souvenir, and the beautiful Honeyland, see the winners below and our complete coverage here.
2019 Sundance Film Festival Feature Film Awards
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented by Rachel Grady to: Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang, for One Child Nation / China, U.S.A. — After becoming a mother, a filmmaker uncovers the untold history of China’s one-child policy and the generations...
- 2/3/2019
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Sundance has announced its juries Photo: Sundance Institute The Sundance Film Festival has announced big hitters, including Oscar-winners Jane Campion and Damian Chazelle and last year's director of Us Grand Jury Prize Desiree Akhavan among its jury members for this year's festival.
Creed actress Tessa Thompson and Phyllis Nagy, who adapted Carol for the big screen, will join Sundance veteran Chazelle, The Miseducation Of Cameron Post director Akhavan and Film Society of Lincoln Center director of programming Dennis Lim on the Us Dramatic Competition jury.
Piano director Campion will be joined on the World Dramatic Cinema Jury by French producer Charles Gillibert and Embrace Of The Serpent director Ciro Guerra.
The Us Documentary jury will comprise Leviathan co-driector Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Strong Island director Yance Ford, Jesus Camp co-director Rachel Grady, Jeff Orlowski (Chasing Ice) and Vox film critic Alissa Wilkinson.
Director Maite Alberdi (The Lifeguard), Ica film curator Nico Marzano and Leviathan co-director.
Creed actress Tessa Thompson and Phyllis Nagy, who adapted Carol for the big screen, will join Sundance veteran Chazelle, The Miseducation Of Cameron Post director Akhavan and Film Society of Lincoln Center director of programming Dennis Lim on the Us Dramatic Competition jury.
Piano director Campion will be joined on the World Dramatic Cinema Jury by French producer Charles Gillibert and Embrace Of The Serpent director Ciro Guerra.
The Us Documentary jury will comprise Leviathan co-driector Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Strong Island director Yance Ford, Jesus Camp co-director Rachel Grady, Jeff Orlowski (Chasing Ice) and Vox film critic Alissa Wilkinson.
Director Maite Alberdi (The Lifeguard), Ica film curator Nico Marzano and Leviathan co-director.
- 1/17/2019
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The Sundance Institute announced on Thursday that “Sorry to Bother You” star Tessa Thompson, director Damien Chazelle and screenwriter Phyllis Nagy will be judges during the 2019 Sundance festival.
Thompson, Chazelle and Nagy will be part of the U.S. dramatic jury along with “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” filmmaker Desiree Akhavan and Dennis Lim, director of programming at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York.
In the U.S. documentary section, anthropologist and filmmaker Lucien Castaing-Taylor; Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning director Yance Ford; Emmy-winning filmmaker Jeff Orlowski; Loki Films co-owner Rachel Grady and Vox film critic Alissa Wilkinson will be on the jury.
Also Read: Ryan Coogler, Morgan Neville Headline Keynote Speakers at New Sundance Program
Palme d’Or winner Jane Campion, Charles Gillibert and Ciro Guerra will serve as judges for the world cinema dramatic category, while Maite Alberdi, Nico Marzano and Véréna Paravel will be on...
Thompson, Chazelle and Nagy will be part of the U.S. dramatic jury along with “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” filmmaker Desiree Akhavan and Dennis Lim, director of programming at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York.
In the U.S. documentary section, anthropologist and filmmaker Lucien Castaing-Taylor; Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning director Yance Ford; Emmy-winning filmmaker Jeff Orlowski; Loki Films co-owner Rachel Grady and Vox film critic Alissa Wilkinson will be on the jury.
Also Read: Ryan Coogler, Morgan Neville Headline Keynote Speakers at New Sundance Program
Palme d’Or winner Jane Campion, Charles Gillibert and Ciro Guerra will serve as judges for the world cinema dramatic category, while Maite Alberdi, Nico Marzano and Véréna Paravel will be on...
- 1/17/2019
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Is “Beautiful Boy” award-worthy? The Amazon Studios film opened in select theaters on October 12 and stars Steve Carell as a devoted father and Timothee Chalamet as his son who struggles with an addiction to drugs, especially crystal meth. Both actors are past Oscar nominees looking for their second bids, but what do the critics have to say?
Reviews for the film are generally positive, though somewhat mixed. As of this writing it has a MetaCritic score of 63 based on 22 reviews and a Rotten Tomatoes freshness rating of 67% based on 54 reviews. The Rotten Tomatoes critical consensus highlights Carell and Chalamet’s performances, which are “often powerful enough to make up for the story’s muted emotional impact.”
Chalamet in particular is a critical favorite for his turn, which has been described as “exquisitely calibrated and utterly lived in.” He “comes apart at the seams before our eyes, and he has plenty of range.
Reviews for the film are generally positive, though somewhat mixed. As of this writing it has a MetaCritic score of 63 based on 22 reviews and a Rotten Tomatoes freshness rating of 67% based on 54 reviews. The Rotten Tomatoes critical consensus highlights Carell and Chalamet’s performances, which are “often powerful enough to make up for the story’s muted emotional impact.”
Chalamet in particular is a critical favorite for his turn, which has been described as “exquisitely calibrated and utterly lived in.” He “comes apart at the seams before our eyes, and he has plenty of range.
- 10/12/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Legendary actor Robert Redford is reportedly retiring from acting after “The Old Man and the Gun,” which opened on September 28. He stars in the film as real-life bank-robber Forrest Tucker, a career criminal who spent his life robbing banks, getting arrested and escaping prison. Rinse and repeat. Is this film a fitting farewell for the man whose career breakthrough came almost 50 years ago in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969)?
As of this writing “Old Man” has a MetaCritic score of 81 and an 89% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Tomatometer critical consensus calls it “a well-told story brought to life by a beautifully matched cast” and a “pure, easygoing entertainment for film fans — and a fitting farewell to a legend.” It’s the “best film yet” by director David Lowery, who previously helmed “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints” (2013), “Pete’s Dragon” (2016) and “A Ghost Story” (2017).
As for Redford, he exhibits “brilliant,...
As of this writing “Old Man” has a MetaCritic score of 81 and an 89% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Tomatometer critical consensus calls it “a well-told story brought to life by a beautifully matched cast” and a “pure, easygoing entertainment for film fans — and a fitting farewell to a legend.” It’s the “best film yet” by director David Lowery, who previously helmed “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints” (2013), “Pete’s Dragon” (2016) and “A Ghost Story” (2017).
As for Redford, he exhibits “brilliant,...
- 9/28/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
The reviews are in for “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” and perhaps surprisingly they’re not only good, but great. It’s rare for movie franchises to get better with age, but this latest installment of Tom Cruise‘s spy franchise, which started way back in 1996 with the original film directed by Brian De Palma, has gotten by far the highest MetaCritic and Rotten Tomatoes scores in franchise history.
As of this writing the film has an 86 rating on MetaCritic based on 54 reviews, and a near perfect 98% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on more than 170 reviews. The Rt consensus says the film “lives up to the ‘impossible’ part of its name by setting yet another high mark for insane set pieces in a franchise full of them.” And those aren’t just great reviews for a summer blockbuster, they’d also be the envy of most Oscar contenders. To compare, the reigning Best Picture champ,...
As of this writing the film has an 86 rating on MetaCritic based on 54 reviews, and a near perfect 98% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on more than 170 reviews. The Rt consensus says the film “lives up to the ‘impossible’ part of its name by setting yet another high mark for insane set pieces in a franchise full of them.” And those aren’t just great reviews for a summer blockbuster, they’d also be the envy of most Oscar contenders. To compare, the reigning Best Picture champ,...
- 7/27/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
You don’t tend to think of the horror genre as a source for prestige filmmaking. That could be changing with the Oscar winning success of 2017’s “Get Out,” the acclaimed release of “A Quiet Place” earlier this year, and now the thriller “Hereditary,” which opened June 8 to some of the year’s best reviews. Horrific Oscar contenders aren’t unheard of — consider Best Picture nominee “The Exorcist” (1973) and Best Picture winner “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991) — but they are uncommon.
As of this writing “Hereditary” has scored 87 on MetaCritic based on 42 reviews and 94% freshness on Rotten Tomatoes based on 138 reviews (only 8 of those are negative). The Rt consensus describes it as a “harrowing, uncommonly unsettling horror film whose cold touch lingers long beyond the closing credits.” And it might actually have an Oscar-good-luck charm: star Toni Collette, who previously appeared in the Best Picture nominated horror film “The Sixth Sense...
As of this writing “Hereditary” has scored 87 on MetaCritic based on 42 reviews and 94% freshness on Rotten Tomatoes based on 138 reviews (only 8 of those are negative). The Rt consensus describes it as a “harrowing, uncommonly unsettling horror film whose cold touch lingers long beyond the closing credits.” And it might actually have an Oscar-good-luck charm: star Toni Collette, who previously appeared in the Best Picture nominated horror film “The Sixth Sense...
- 6/8/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
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