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Review: Jeff Nichols' 'Midnight Special' Is A Mournful Homage To The Primal Instincts Of Fatherhood
9 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
What if there were something entirely new in this world? What if it were your son? The idea that your child might be a semi-messianic, unprecedented creature of ungovernable, infinite potential is fairly common among parents, but what if it were proven to be a literal fact? Great science fiction is almost always founded on such simple but paradigm-shifting what-ifs, and the fourth feature from director Jeff Nichols ("Shotgun Stories," "Mud," "Take Shelter") brings this premise thrumming and throbbing to life. Structured as a low-key chase movie, unfolding with the dark urgency of a conspiracy thriller, living mostly not in your heart or even your mind but in the hairs on the back of your neck, "Midnight Special" actually emerges most resonantly as a mournful homage, or maybe a psalm, to the primal instincts of fatherhood. Watch: Eerie First Clip From Jeff Nichols' 'Midnight Special' With Michael Shannon »
- Jessica Kiang
Watch: Akira Kurosawa Directs Martin Scorsese Playing Vincent Van Gogh In 10-Minute Segment From 'Dreams'
10 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Great minds may not necessarily think alike, but they are certainly drawn to other great minds. No matter the medium, an auteur in any field is at once recognizable and respected by their intellectual peers, and that is just the case with the celebrated Akira Kurosawa and his 1990 film “Dreams.” Read More: Watch: Trailer For Akira Kurosawa’s Newly Restored Classic ‘Ran’ “Dreams” marks the first film solely written by Kurosawa, with the magical realist drama spread across eight vignettes. And in "Crows," we follow an art student (a proxy Kurosawa) as he at first admires three very famous paintings by the post-impressionist master, Vincent van Gogh, and is then drawn inside of one — the brilliance of Van Gogh’s succinct brushwork brought to life. It’s the only vignette not in Japanese (in English and French, another rarity for Kurosawa here) and eventually we find another auteur, Martin Scorsese, »
- Samantha Vacca
Watch: Go On An Adventure With The First Trailer For 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' Season 2
10 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Call it the show that NBC let get away. The network took the show from their midseason-schedule and allowed it to get shifted over to Netflix, who felt confident enough in the comedy to give it a two-season order. And it looks like their instincts were bang on, as the show has been a critical and audience fave, and the second season will soon be here to continue the good times. Ellie Kemper leads the series as the titular Kimmy Schmidt, a survivor of a doomsday cult who is now restarting her life in New York City. And the new season will see our hero on a whole new set of adventures in the big city. Here's the synopsis: Season two of the Emmy-nominated series picks up shortly after season 1 and finds Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) looking for a new job, Titus (Tituss Burgess) forced to face his past with the »
- Kevin Jagernauth
Watch: 6-Minute Video Essay Explores Jean-Luc Godard As A Cinematic Architect
11 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Jean-Luc Godard has become many things: a director, an editor, an actor, a film critic, an artist, a radical, a poet, a historian, a philosopher, an influencer. The list goes on and on, but one more credit should be tacked to his name: architect. At least, that’s what the British Film Institute argues in their appropriately-titled “Jean-Luc Godard as Architect,” their latest six-minute video exploration on the French New Wave multi-hyphenate. Now, of course, Godard never put brick to metal in his career. So the BFI isn’t saying he’s an architect in the traditional sense. What Richard Martin, the narrator of the video essay and the author behind “The Architecture of David Lynch,” argues, is that the 85-year-old filmmaker can be qualified as such based on how he keeps “building, capturing and arranging spaces” throughout his varied work. Specifically, how architecture shapes us, and how buildings and spaces change over time. »
- Will Ashton
Exclusive: Love Blooms In Clip From Arnaud Desplechin's Cannes Prize & César Award Winning 'My Golden Days'
11 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Bringing back characters from previous films and dropping them into a new milieu isn't just reserved for Hollywood blockbusters. Arnaud Desplechin has revived Paul and Esther from his 1996 film "My Sex Life" for "My Golden Days," and today we have an exclusive clip from the movie which took home the Sacd Prize at Cannes Directors' Fortnight last spring, and won Best Director at the recent César Awards. Read More: Cannes Review: Finely Honed 'My Golden Days' Is One Of Arnaud Desplechin's Best Starring Quentin Dolmaire, Lou Roy-Lecollinet, and Mathieu Amalric, the story is told through the eyes of a middle-aged man who looks back on his youth, and as you'll see in the scene below, his romances as well. Here's the official synopsis: Paul Dédalus is a middle-aged anthropologist reflecting on his youth as he prepares to leave Tajikistan. He has a series of flashbacks that unfold in three episodes. »
- Edward Davis
SXSW: Hunter Gatherer Dp Jon Aguirresarobe on Shooting Fast, Shooting Super 16mm Dissolves and Emulating Fuji Stocks
11 hours ago | Filmmaker Magazine - Blog | See recent Filmmaker Magazine news »
Ashley Douglas (Andre Royo) gets out of jail eager to start over, but nothing goes as planned; his girlfriend is now his ex, he’s living with his mother, and it’s hard to find work. Josh Locy’s feature debut Hunter Gatherer (we interviewed the director here) was shot by Jon Aguirresarobe, whose attentive eye brings south Los Angeles neighborhoods to life. Prior to the film’s SXSW premiere, Aguirresarobe discussed the difficulties of production on a tight schedule, shooting dissolves on Super 16mm and attempting to emulate Fuji film stock. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the cinematographer of your film? What were the factors […] »
- Scott Macaulay
Watch: 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Documentary Teaser, Table Read Preview, And Massive Concept Art Gallery
12 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
While most movies have cashed in their hype by the time the home video release rolls around, most movies aren't "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." With the blockbuster set to arrive on a variety of formats in a couple of weeks, Disney is going out with a bang. Today at SXSW, fans got to check out "Secrets Of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey," a feature-length documentary about the making of the movie that will be an extra feature when you pick up your Blu-ray next month. But if you weren't in Austin, the studio has provided a little taste. Read More: 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Deleted Scenes: Darth Vader's Error, 'Empire Strikes Back' Flashback, And More The brief teaser shows that the doc will go deep behind-the-scenes of the making of 'The Force Awakens,' from back to front, including getting input from Harrison Ford and Adam Driver on that moment. »
- Kevin Jagernauth
SXSW: Five Questions for Boone Director Christopher Lamarca
12 hours ago | Filmmaker Magazine - Blog | See recent Filmmaker Magazine news »
Placing the viewer amidst the everyday workings of a goat farm in southern Oregon, Christopher Lamarca’s Boone represents a daring exercise in direct cinema filmmaking. Originally a photojournalist interested in environmental causes, Lamarca found the setting of the farm to be an ideal location for one of his two feature filmmaking debuts (The Pearl, which he co-directed, premiered recently at True/False). Boone immerses the viewer in the fields, barns and homes of the farm’s human and animal inhabitants. As discussed below, Lamarca spent much more time on the farm than originally planned, finding it necessary to fully immerse himself in the day-to-day experience of the strenuous grind. With […] »
- Erik Luers
Interview: Joel Edgerton Talks Jeff Nichols, 'Midnight Special,' 'Loving,' And Reteaming With David Michod
12 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
This weekend, Jeff Nichols' "Midnight Special" opens in limited release. We're already on record as huge admirers of Nichols, and of his latest film especially (here's our review), but one thing we particularly engaged with this time out was the film's uncanny atmosphere, which oscillates between the wondrous and the humdrum. In that context, the role played by Joel Edgerton comes into its own. More perhaps than any of the other principals in the film, Edgerton is tasked with grounding the film's more fantastical elements. There's a blunt decency in his particular charisma that makes him the perfect choice both for this role and for the lead in Nichols' upcoming "Loving," the story of the landmark civil rights case of interracial couple Richard and Mildred Loving (and a film we hope to see in the Cannes lineup). Read More: 'Jane Got A Gun' Starring Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton »
- Jessica Kiang
SXSW: Five Questions for The Arbalest Writer-Director Adam Pinney
13 hours ago | Filmmaker Magazine - Blog | See recent Filmmaker Magazine news »
As part of the Atlanta-based film collective Fake Wood Wallpaper, Adam Pinney has accumulated credits as an actor, editor, cinematographer, camera operator, grip, producer and director on projects such as Joe Swanberg’s 24 Exposures and Alex Orr’s A Is for Alex. With his latest project, The Arbalest, which has its world premiere tonight in the narrative feature competition at SXSW, Pinney makes his feature debut as a writer-director with a distinct visual aesthetic. The Arbalest, which was selected for the 2015 Ifp Narrative Lab, tells the story of Foster Kalt (Mike Brune), a famous and reclusive toy inventor, who reflects on his lifelong obsession with Sylvia Frank […] »
- Paula Bernstein
Podcast: Adjust Your Tracking Talks '10 Cloverfield Lane' And 'Creative Control'
13 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
On our recent The Playlist Podcast, we recently published an interview with "Embrace Of The Serpent" director Ciro Guerra. With this latest edition, I have the honor to announce an exciting new stage in our podcasting ventures at this site. Please welcome film podcast Adjust Your Tracking, the latest addition to what will become a podcast network here at The Playlist. In brief, Ayt (along with co-host Joe von Appen) has been going strong for more than four years now, and has been brought in to be one of the pillars of this new network of shows. I'll be adding more new shows to The Playlist Podcast iTunes feed as we move along, so stay tuned and make sure to subscribe if you haven't yet. Read More: Podcast: The Playlist Programs A Spoiler Heavy Talk Aobut Alex Garland's 'Ex Machina' On this episode of Adjust Your Tracking, »
- Erik McClanahan
SXSW: Five Questions for The Bandit Director Jesse Moss
13 hours ago | Filmmaker Magazine - Blog | See recent Filmmaker Magazine news »
Jesse Moss’ documentaries often take on heavy material, and his last film — 2014’s The Overnighters — was no exception. The experience of profiling pastor Jay Reinke — a North Dakota minister whose decision to open up his congregation to homeless laborers seeking oil field work placed him at odds with his flock — took a heavy toll on Moss. His new documentary The Bandit is a completely different kind of movie, an archival-based profile of Burt Reynolds and his good friend Hal Needham. Moss examines their complicated relationship through the making of 1977’s Needham-directed Smokey and the Bandit, a film still in regular circulation […] »
- Vadim Rizov
SXSW: Five Questions for Claire in Motion Directors Lisa Robinson and Annie J. Howell
14 hours ago | Filmmaker Magazine - Blog | See recent Filmmaker Magazine news »
Five years after premiering their pregnancy road trip drama Small, Beautifully Moving Parts at SXSW, the writing/directing team of Lisa Robinson and Annie J. Howell return to Austin with their Competition entry Claire in Motion, a drama about a woman grappling with the disappearance of her husband — as well as the secrets of his life that disappearance has caused to surface. Below, we talk to the duo about the nature of their collaboration, being female directors working with female subject matter, and whether comparisons to Gone Girl are accurate or not. Filmmaker: It’s been five years since Small, Beautifully […] »
- Scott Macaulay
Tribeca Film Festival TV Lineup Includes 'Animal Kingdom,' 'The Night Of,' 'The Night Manager,' 'O.J.: Made in America' Marathon, More
14 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Film festivals are no longer just about movies. As top tier filmmakers and A-list stars continue to find great material and the budgets to go with it on television, the medium has become a competitive space for great narrative storytelling. This year's Tribeca Film Festival sees the launching of a new program, "Tribeca Tune In," that will highlight some of the best TV has to offer. And it's a compelling lineup. Read More: 2016 Tribeca Film Fest: Demetri Martin's 'Dean,' Drake Doremus' 'Equals' & Ben Wheatley's 'High Rise' Highlight Opening Lineup The highlight of Tribeca Tune In might be the premiere of "Animal Kingdom," a new TNT series based on David Michod's breakout Australian crime thriller. The show's setting has been changed to southern California, with Ellen Barkin taking the lead role of the terrifying matriarch. Other series premieres of note include Oprah Winfrey's "Greenleaf, »
- Kevin Jagernauth
Kevin Spacey Won't Be Running Relativity After All
14 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
I don't know all the ins and outs of Relativity's continuing struggles, but it always seems like the studio is on the verge of collapsing. How studio head Ryan Kavanagh manages to keep the company alive is almost like the greatest illusion David Copperfield has never performed. At any rate, at the beginning of the year, Relativity and Kavanagh surprised Hollywood by announcing they had acquired Kevin Spacey and his producing partner Dana Brunetti's Trigger Street Productions, and hired them to run the studio. But it wasn't to be. Read More: Beleaguered Relativity Will Try And Make 'The Crow" Next Spring THR reports that Spacey has exited his role as Chairman of Relativity. "It is with much thought and consideration and after many discussions with those I trust most that I have decided not to go through with accepting the role of chairman at Relativity Studios," Spacey said in a statement. »
- Kevin Jagernauth
Watch: New Trailer For 'Penny Dreadful' Season 3 Walks In Blood
14 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
The concept of a show bringing together some of literature's most famous monsters sounded a bit ridiculous on paper. But in execution, Showtime's "Penny Dreadful" has been a big hit, and season three is coming and promising more spooky drama. The 20 Best TV Shows Of The 2013/2014 Season Lead stars Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton and Eva Green return to the series, and this new trailer prepares viewers for bloody thrills to come. Here's the official synopsis: This season on Penny Dreadful, Tony® Award-winning star Patti LuPone (American Horror Story), who guest starred last season as the Cut-Wife, returns as a series regular in the new role of Dr. Seward, an American therapist who treats Vanessa (Eva Green) with an unconventional new approach. Wes Studi (Hell On Wheels) joins as a series regular as Kaetenay, an intense, enigmatic Native American with a deep connection to Ethan (Josh Hartnett) who also becomes an »
- Kevin Jagernauth
How They Pulled Off Creed’s Two Biggest Shots: A-Camera Operator Ben Semanoff
14 hours ago | Filmmaker Magazine - Blog | See recent Filmmaker Magazine news »
There are few moments in cinema as iconic as Rocky Balboa bounding up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown galloping alongside him off-screen. The technology for Brown’s camera stabilization system was new enough at the time that the seminal shot required a crew member to sprint behind Brown with two car batteries attached to the camera via jumper cables in order for the rig to function in the cold Philly winter. Creed, an expansion of the Rocky universe from Fruitvale Station director Ryan Coogler, offers a barometer for the Steadicam’s evolution with its […] »
- Matt Mulcahey
Dave Franco, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Orlando Bloom, Malin Akerman & More Take It 'Easy' For Joe Swanberg's Netflix Series
15 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Joe Swanberg's career has moved to the beat of his own drum. While he can't seem to shake the now passé mumblecore tag, the writer/director/jack of all trades has developed from his own hyper-indie early works to attracting well known actors to feature in movies like "Drinking Buddies," "Happy Christmas" and "Digging For Fire." And his next career leap finds him going to Netflix, where he'll bring his strong work ethic to a brand new series. Read More: Interview: Joe Swanberg Talks Personal Filmmaking, Paul Mazursky & The Inspiration Of "Friday Night Lights' Orlando Bloom, Malin Akerman, Michael Chernus, Marc Maron, Elizabeth Reaser, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jake Johnson, Aya Cash, Dave Franco, Jane Adams and Hannibal Burress are lining up for "Easy." Swanberg will write, direct and executive produce the half-hour anthology comedy that will focus on Chicagoans dealing with love, sex, technology and culture. So I'd »
- Kevin Jagernauth
SXSW: Five Questions for Beware the Slenderman Director Irene Taylor Brodsky
15 hours ago | Filmmaker Magazine - Blog | See recent Filmmaker Magazine news »
An incident so horrific it could only be attributed to an otherworldly paranormal presence, the stabbing of a twelve-year-old girl by two of her friends in Waukesha, Wisconsin made national headlines in the spring of 2014. Lured into the woods, stabbed nineteen times and left for dead, the girl survived and her two assailants, also twelve years of age, were quickly apprehended. Claiming that they were carrying out the deadly attack in honor of the Slenderman, a fictional murderer whose mystique had been bolstered by rabid internet lore and perverse fascination, the girls’ reprehensible act was a unique case of the […] »
- Erik Luers
Listen: 90-Minute Podcast Talk With J.J. Abrams About '10 Cloverfield Lane,' 'Roger Rabbit 2,' And More
15 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
There are a few people in Hollywood who have quite the Midas touch at the moment quite like J.J. Abrams. The writer/director/producer successfully relaunched a cinematic franchise with "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," and this past weekend, saw "10 Cloverfield Lane" open strong with everyone involved taking on a gamble on announcing the movie's existence just two months ago. Abrams is a storyteller with the kind of ideas that get him into pitch meetings, and on a recent podcast chat with The Nerdist, joined by 'Cloverfield Lane' director Dan Trachtenberg, he shares the story of the first time he met Steven Spielberg. And it just happened to be when he had a concept for a sequel for "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." Read More: Watch: 13-Minute Video Essay Details The Book Vs. Film Differences In 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' "Years later I got to meet Steven. I went into a meeting … actually, »
- Kevin Jagernauth
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