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Christian Bale is known for taking on challenging roles that push him to his limits, whether it was playing the cold and calculating Patrick Bateman in American Psycho or the deeply emotional role of Jesus in Mary, Mother of Jesus. His commitment to fully becoming these characters made him a standout actor. But what inspired him to choose such intense roles, and how did he prepare for them?

Christian Bale as Jesus in Mary, Mother of Jesus | Credits: Netflix

In a past interview, the actor opened up about his approach to acting, revealing how some of these roles impacted his life in ways he hadn’t expected. Some characters had a stronger effect on him than others, even influencing his sleep in surprising ways.

How did Christian Bale balance intense roles like Bateman and Jesus?

Christian Bale is known for his dedication to every role he takes on, no matter how challenging or intense.

There are a wide variety of Jesus movies that range from traditional biblical epics to more nuanced and creative approaches to the story. Some of the best Jesus movies highlight the role of Mary in Jesus' life and explore unique perspectives on his story, such as through satire, character studies, or experimental filmmaking. These films aim to showcase the awe-inspiring power of Jesus, his miracles, and the impact he had on his communities, making him a popular figure in cinema, particularly among the Christian community.

There has been a wide variety of films about Christianity's Messiah and son of God since the birth of cinema, and the end result is some of the best Jesus movies ever made. As far back as the silent era, several films have been made about Jesus Christ, and he still remains a popular figure within cinema, especially among the Christian community. There are plenty of movies that provide deep,...

The Billboard Music Awards telecast positioned itself this year as the official awards show of forgiveness for so-called “canceled” stars, with performance slots offered to both Morgan Wallen and Travis Scott. In the case of Wallen, that also extended to a major on-air award, as Wallen was called to the BBMAs’ podium Sunday night to accept a trophy for top country artist.

It wasn’t Wallen’s first win at an awards show since his career time-out in early 2021; he won album of the year at the fan-voted Academy of Country Music Awards in March. But the ACMs had followed the recent lead of other awards shows in denying Wallen a performance slot. So the Billboard Music Awards were first out of the gate, post-scandal, to have Wallen performing as well as accepting an award.

Wallen performed in the round and seated with his band members, singing a medley that began with his new single,...

Tonally disjointed but at times hilarious, Adamma Ebo’s feature adaptation of her popular short seems to have taken a misguided shape. This religious satire that episodically skewers the theatrics of flamboyant televangelists promoting prosperity theology may seem more fitting for a web series or a much shorter film. Despite the brilliance of its leads, Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul. runs out of steam as it rapidly switches modes between faux-documentary and drama.

Inspired by countless megachurch scandals, including preachers like Ted Haggard who seem obsessed with homosexuality (usually a clue they’re having their own reckoning), pastor Lee-Curtis Childs (Sterling K. Brown) and first lady Trinitie (Regina Hall) find themselves at a crossroads. Well-funded megachurch preachers who believe their followers would prefer to hear the gospel from a sharp-dressed preacher with a closet full of Prada, they’ve fired the deacons who questioned the couple’s excessive lifestyle.

Here’s the first teaser trailer from IFC Films for Benedetta, Paul Verhoeven’s long-awaited “lesbian nun” movie. Verhoeven’s characteristically provocative drama about a 17th-century nun who claimed to experience visions of Jesus premiered at this year’s Cannes (where Blake Williams reviewed it). The movie’s in theaters and on demand on December 3.

The post Trailer Watch: Paul Verhoeven’s Benedetta first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Kanye West finally released his album “Donda” on Sunday, August 29, after weeks of anticipation and listening events. But the super-sized album (almost two hours long with 27 tracks) has already been met with mixed reactions from critics and music fans. How does it compare to the work he’s done before? Scroll down to vote in our poll at the bottom of this post.

“Donda” has inspired a wide range of reactions from music journalists, with some saying that “on a purely musical level,” it’s “unassailable.” It’s his “best album since 2013’s ‘Yeezus.‘” But others argue it’s “messy” and “deeply flawed,” that “nobody needs all 27 of these tracks,” and that his collaboration with accused rapist Marilyn Manson “leaves a sour taste … Zero stars.”

SEEKanye West ‘Donda’ reactions: Is it a ‘disappointment,’ and are collabs with Marilyn Manson and DaBaby total deal-breakers?

But earlier in his career West was a rap wunderkind.

Together, the lockdown drama from Bleecker Street, opens on 250 screens this weekend in a specialty market treading water and with little visibility on box office amid daily Covid headlines.

The trend continues of specialty films going wider faster and narrowing the window from theatrical to VOD in a nod to the chunk of its audience, mainly older, that feels more comfortable watching at home. The market is looking to a stream of fall product ahead of awards season, hoping the virus is more contained by then. Some good news offset the march of the Delta Variant this week as the Fda granted full approval to the Pfizer vaccine – shots in arms being key to an accelerated theatrical revival.

Together is directed by Stephen Daldry and written by Dennis Kelly. It stars James McAvoy and Sharon Horgan as a couple forced to...

Kathy Griffin, who announced that she is battling lung cancer and needs to undergo surgery, is no stranger to controversy – personal, political and, often, viral. She once told Jesus to “suck it” during an Emmys acceptance speech – that kind of thing. As the self-proclaimed “Mayor of Zero F–ksville,” the comedian has gone through ups and downs upon ups and downs, and she’s stood her ground the whole time.

pic.twitter.com/XoqoudcIK1

— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 2, 2021

Intertwined with her legendary, 40-year-long career are her brash comedy-style, signature, fiery-red hair and sheer courage when facing controversy. During her career Griffin has played a muckraking journalist on “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” hosted the Daytime Emmys, turned a stand-up night into a HBO comedy special, starred in her own reality television series, and just last year, made her film debut with concert film “A Hell of a Story.”

She has also...

Joni Mitchell has shared a previously unreleased live rendition of her song, “The Dawntreader,” recorded by Jimi Hendrix in 1968.

The song will appear on Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971), out October 29th. The collection includes unreleased gems like 1969’s “Jesus” and a 1968 set at Le Hibou Coffee House in Ottawa, Ontario, famously recorded by Hendrix in attendance, which is where the recording of “The Dawntreader” comes from.

“They came and told me, ‘Jimi Hendrix is here, and he’s at the front door,'” Mitchell recounted on Instagram.

Legendary filmmaker Paul Verhoeven is back with Benedetta, a film set to premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The RoboCop and Basic Instinct filmmaker hasn’t made an American film since 2000’s Hollow Man, but it sounds like that’s going to change soon. According to Verhoeven himself, he’s working on an American spy thriller. And that’s not all – Verhoeven […]

The post Paul Verhoeven is Making an American Spy Thriller and a Movie About Jesus appeared first on /Film.

Chile is starting its own big restart. Few national industries will have a larger online presence at this year’s Cannes Film Market. Big name news has broken in early market plays as well.

After features with Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams (“Disobedience”) and Julianne Moore (“Gloria Bell”), Academy Award winner Sebastián Lelio, (“A Fantastic Woman”) will associate produce “El Porvenir de la Mirada,” a doc feature that captures the trauma of some of the 460 protesters shot in the eyes by Chilean police during massive demonstrations that erupted in October 2019.

Set up at Storyboard Media, “Porvenir” is directed by distinguished Chilean doc filmmaker Cristián Leighton.

Even while gearing up to direct Joaquin Phoenix in A24’s “Disappointment Blvd.,” Ari Aster has signed on to executive produce Chilean stop-motion short “The Bones,” directed by Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña (“The Wolf House”) with a soundtrack composed by acclaimed U.S. violinist Tim Fain,...

A day before the 50th anniversary of Blue, Joni Mitchell has revealed a digital EP of outtakes and demos.

The highlight of the five-track EP is “Hunter,” an outtake that was only released on the live album Amchitka, the 1970 Vancouver Greenpeace benefit Mitchell performed with James Taylor. In addition to the deep cut, the EP also contains alternate takes of “River” and “Urge for Going,” as well as demos for “California” and “A Case of You,” the latter of which features slightly different lyrics.

The Blue 50 (Demos & Outtakes) EP will...

As the only Latin American film to participate in the European Film Market’s Co-Production Market, Chilean filmmaker Fernando Guzzoni’s “Land of Savages” (“La Tierra de los Salvajes”) is a breed apart.

“With this new genre film, we seek to connect with a wider global audience,” said producer Rocio Jadue of Fábula (“A Fantastic Woman”), who describes the film as a cross between a Western and a thriller.

“Fernando is a director who, since his debut [“Dog Flesh,” which snagged San Sebastian’s New Directors Prize in 2012], has managed to win over audiences at the most prestigious film festivals; he’s an interesting talent for Fábula and with this new project, we plan to take the next step in his career with him,” she added.

Guzzoni wrote his first two features, “Dog Flesh” and “Jesus,” on his own but “Land of Savages” is the first screenplay he is co-writing, now on its final draft, with prominent Chilean playwright Pablo Manzi.

Tagline: "Jesus Freaks Biker Gang, or Christian Cult?" Global Digital Releasing is hosting the launch of David Trotter's Set Free Posse - this February. Originally released in 2017, Gdr will show this feature through several Digital platforms, shortly. In this documentary, Pastor Phil Aguilar's life is told as his creates the Set Free Church. Bringing together people from all walks of life, Pastor Aguilar unifies those desperate for a Christian message. Now, more details on this release are available here. The trailer also shows Pastor Aguilar on mission. As he reaches more and more people in Anaheim, California, Pastor Aguilar helps those with addiction issues, or those struggling on the streets. All are welcome into His church. Global Digital Releasing will host the feature on several Digital platforms, this February 5th. Initially, this feature will show on: Amazon Prime, Tubi TV, Docurama, Roku - with more to be announced soon.

There’s been a thread of Christian spirituality running through Carrie Underwood’s work since the beginning, whether explicitly, as in “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” or more ambiguously, in “See You Again.” In March, Underwood will devote an entire album to her faith as she sings her favorite Christian hymns on My Savior, arriving March 26th (get it here).

The album follows Underwood’s 2020 Christmas record, My Gift, which focused largely on religious material instead of secular holiday favorites. The new project reunites her with Cry Pretty producer David Garcia...

Apple TV+ this month will commence production on Pachinko, an adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Min Jin Lee, to be told in Korean, Japanese and English and film across multiple continents.

Soo Hugh (The Terror) penned the adaptation and will serve as showrunner and an executive producer.

More from TVLineServant Season 2: Find Out When the Creepy Nanny Drama Will ReturnKate Hudson to Headline Truth Be Told Season 2 at Apple TV+Dickinson Renewed at Apple TV+, Gets Return Date and a Spooky Teaser

Chronicling “the hopes and dreams of four generations of a Korean immigrant family” and described as “epic in scope,...

Jesus Shows You The Way To The Highway will be available on Blu-ray September 15th From Arrow Video

What do you get when you cross Afro-futurism, Cold War paranoia, the dystopian world of Philip K. Dick and 60s exploitation cinema, along with a hefty dose of Lynchian surrealism? The answer: Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway, the second feature by Miguel Llansó (Crumbs) and one of the most striking and original films you ll see all year.

The year is 2035, and Special Agent Gagano dreams of leaving the CIA to open a business with his wife Malin (Gerda-Annette Allikas). Before he can hand in his resignation, however, a strange cyber virus attacks Psychobook, the CIA s operating system, forcing Gagano to enter cyberspace via virtual reality to combat the threat. Before long, however, the virus starts to reach out into the real world, destabilising the fragile socio-political order for its own ends,...

1091 Pictures has picked up North American distribution rights to Tar, and indie thriller that it plans on releasing with exclusive theatrical run targeting drive-in theaters starting in early October followed by a digital rollout October 20. Timothy Bottoms, Aaron Wolf, Tiffany Shepis, Max Perlich and Graham Greene star. Wolf directed the film, set in the murky depths of Los Angeles’ world-famous La Brea Tar Pits wherein lies an ancient secret – a creature that, awakened by subway construction, emerges to terrorize its unsuspecting victims in a desperate fight for survival. Howling Wolf Productions partners Aaron Wolf and Tim Nuttall wrote the screenplay and produced. The deal was negotiated by 1091 Pictures’ Emma Manfredi and Sam Curphey for the filmmaker.

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Filmmaker Jim Klock (Green Book) has a new feature. Slayed, an indie horror described as a cross between Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Silent Night, Deadly Night, marks the second installment of a three-picture...

On today's 50th episode of 'Tell Me More,' Matt speaks with star of stage and screen, two-time Tony-nominated writer Tim Minchin. From comedy specials to playing Judas in the 'Jesus Christ Superstar' arena tour, Minchin has proven himself to be a multi-talented performer for well over a decade. With appearances on TV and film mixed in, Minchin continued writing, penning the music and lyrics for the musicals 'Matilda' and 'Groundhog Day.'...

Run remains undated, Jesus Revolution has been undated.

Lionsgate has dated a raft of films starting with 2020 releases Voyagers and Fatale, as well as John Wick 4, Saw spin-off Spiral, and The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.

Sci-fi Voyagers from director Neil Burger is set for November 25 this year and stars Tye Sheridan in a Lord Of The Flies-type survival story involving young men and women on deep space mission that descends into madness. Agc Studios is fully financing the feature in partnership with Agc investors Fibonacci Films, Ingenious Media, and Aperture Media, and the cast includes Lily-Rose Depp, Fionn Whitehead, and Colin Farrell.

In today’s film news roundup, box office reporting is going away temporarily, Hollywood Teamsters have job opportunities, comedy “The Incoherents” finds a home and Fathom Events postpones more than a dozen releases.

Box Office Reporting

The coronavirus pandemic and the closure of most movie theaters has led to a temporary suspension of North American box office reporting by Comscore, the industry’s box office tracker.

The decision came after Disney announced it would stop global box office reporting, given the current large number of theater shutdowns around the globe.

“Due to this unprecedented situation, Comscore will be temporarily suspending our usual Sunday North American Top 10 Estimates, Global chart and commentary,” Comscore said in a statement. “We will update the status of studio reporting on Monday.”

Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, told Variety that there will be some revenues this weekend, thanks partly to drive-in movie theaters that have remained open.

Angel Manuel Soto’s “Charm City Kings” is inspired by a story from Oscar winner Barry Jenkins, Kirk Sullivan, and Christopher M. Boyd — though the tale was largely reworked in the screenplay by Sherman Payne, who helped turn Lofty Nathan’s well-regarded documentary “12 O’Clock Boys” into a fresh feature film. The film made its world premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast, and was generally well-received by critics, scoring a current 86 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Baltimore-set drama, which is produced by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment, will hit theaters in April.

Starring an ensemble cast that includes Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Meek Mill, Will Catlett, and Teyonah Parris, the film’s official synopsis reads: “Growing up in West Baltimore, teenage Mouse (Winston) feels the fierce pull of different forces: Between notorious ex-con Blax (Mill) and concerned...

Must-watch Trailers Fast & Furious 9 brings justice: The highly anticipated first trailer for the ninth Fast & Furious movie has arrived, with the official title revealed as F9 (and new franchise branding as The Fast Saga), along with the usual unbelievable stunts plus a nice surprise for fans at the end. Watch the explosive first spot below and get your tickets now for the sequel, which opens May 22.   Return of the Jesus: John Turturro reprises his role as bowler...

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Ronan Farrow is set to executive produce a documentary about violence against journalists for a documentary at HBO. The project is the first under Farrow’s multi-film deal with the premium cabler.

The film will be directed by the Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady of Loki Films. Their past credits include HBO’s “12th & Delaware,” “Jesus Camp,” and “One of Us.” Farrow will executive produce the documentary through his production company Glass Cannon Inc., in association with Loki Films. Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller will executive produce for HBO.

“Around the world, journalists are under fire,” said Farrow. “They’re being spied on using new surveillance technology, imprisoned, even murdered. And we’re seeing evolving tactics deployed against reporters in the United States, too, against the backdrop of a new era of misinformation campaigns and rhetoric that seeks to undermine the very idea of objective reporting.

Showtime has set its latest documentary slate with projects from the likes of Jesus Camp directors Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing, A Private War director Matthew Heineman, Homeland’s Alex Gansa and Howard Gordon, Generation Wealth director Lauren Greenfield and Dirty War director Rick Rowley.

The 2020 slate was revealed by Gary Levine, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks at the Winter TCA press tour.

Grady and Ewing are making their first foray into episodic television with Love Fraud, which will launch at the Sundance Film Festival, the first time a TV series will run on day one of the festival. The project follows the search for one man, Richard Scott Smith, who over the past 20 years used the internet and his dubious charms to prey upon unsuspecting women in search of love – conning them out of their money and dignity. It will launch on May 8 and is directed and exec produced...