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Review: 'The Huntsman: Winter's War' Starring Chris Hemsworth, Jessica Chastain, Emily Blunt & Charlize Theron
9 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
When the time comes for the history of Hollywood in the 21st century to be written, there may be a surprising amount of space devoted to “The Huntsman: Winter’s War.” Few films better sum up this desperately franchise-thirsty era of studio moviemaking better. It's the followup to a gritty, big-budget reboot "Show White And The Huntsman," willed into existence by executives desperate for something that would let them compete with their universe building, tentpole rivals, despite 1) the original film’s female lead, Kristen Stewart, not returning, and 2) the original film underperforming theatrically and 3) no one liking the original film in the first place. And yet here we are, a little under four years on, with “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” helmed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, visual-effects supervisor on the first film, taking over from Rupert Sanders, with Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron reprising their roles, original Snow White found in some archive. »
- Oliver Lyttelton
'Young Adult' Trio Charlize Theron, Jason Reitman & Diablo Cody Reteam For New Film
9 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
It could be argued that Jason Reitman's last good film was 2011's searing, hilarious black dramedy "Young Adult." Penned by Diablo Cody (who he previously worked with on "Juno") and starring Charlize Theron, the film earned the actress a Golden Globe for her work. Since then, the director's efforts have missed the mark, with both "Labor Day" and "Men, Women & Children" failing to connect critically or commercially. But Reitman is reteaming with his "Young Adult" crew and hoping to make some magic again. Deadline reports that the trio are working on a new film about motherhood. That's about all the details at the moment, as there's no word yet on the synopsis or plot details. But certainly having these talent together again is promising, so we'll definitely be keeping an eye out. Again, it's all early stages so no word yet on when it will lens, but it should »
- Kevin Jagernauth
Review: Jake Gyllenhaal's Frivolous And Bland 'Demolition'
11 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Investment banker Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhaal) has spent a long time not paying attention to the very picture perfect, successful, and predictable life he’s been living. But when he finally does look up, he’s sitting in the passenger seat of a car, and it’s too late to warn his wife Julia (Heather Lind) that she’s about to be side-swiped. And so begins Jean-Marc Vallée’s “Demolition,” with a death that awakens a young man who has been sleepwalking through his own existence for far too long. Julia’s death instigates a wellspring of mourning. Flowers and food appear on Davis’s doorstep, his mother and father move in for a spell, Julia’s parents are nearly paralyzed by the loss of their only child, but Davis finds himself feeling absolutely nothing, and unable to properly grieve. He pours out his feelings in the first of what »
- Kevin Jagernauth
Denzel Washington Lines Up Next Directorial Effort 'Fences'
12 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
It was a few years ago that Denzel Washington was talking about bringing August Wilson's celebrated Broadway play, "Fences," to the big screen, hoping to get behind the camera for the feature film adaptation. “The reason I did [the stage show] 'Fences' is that Scott Rudin sent me the script August Wilson wrote - the only one of his plays that he wrote as a screenplay - to act and direct. I really do want to direct [the film version]," he said back in 2013. And now it's coming together. Deadline reports that much of the stage cast will reunite for Washington's "Fences," marking his third directorial effort following “Antwone Fisher” and “The Great Debaters.” Mykelti Williamson, Russell Hornsby, Gabriel Maxson, Jovan Adepo, Saniyya Sidney, and Viola Davis are all on board for the picture that will also see Washington star. The Pulitizer and Tony award winning story follows Troy Maxon, a 53-year old trash collector from. »
- Kevin Jagernauth
Watch: Trailer For 'Loving Vincent,' The World's First Feature Film Animated By Oil Paintings
12 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
With advancements in computer graphics accelerating with each passing second, the days of hand-drawn animation are seemingly long gone. Disney’s underappreciated “The Princess and the Frog” and “Winnie the Pooh” were the last times the Mouse House brought pen to paper, Studio Ghibli may soon call it quits and hardly any animated films — outside the anime genre — were released beyond stop-motion and CG last year. It’s dour times for traditional animation. So, thankfully, the Polish-based studio BreakThru Productions is bringing things back old-school. Like, oil-paintings old-school. They’ve released the first trailer for “Loving Vincent,” the first full-length film animated entirely by oil paintings. Talk about going back to the drawing board. Composed of nearly 57,000 oil paintings in the style of Vincent Van Gogh, the new film from directors Dorota Kobiela and Academy Award-winner Hugh Welchman is an absolute beauty to behold. It’s the work of over 100 animators telling the. »
- Will Ashton
Warner Bros. Mounting Speedy Gonzales Feature Animated Film
13 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
With diversity the word Hollywood has been having trouble handling, any and all attempts to offer movies and TV shows telling stories from the point of view of people of color and women is welcome. However, one has to wonder about Warner Bros. launching a movie based around a character that reduces Mexicans to a bunch of queasy stereotypes. THR reports that the studio is developing a full length animated movie around Speedy Gonzales. The character, known for his catchphrase "¡Ándale! ¡Ándale! ¡Arriba! ¡Arriba!" has not aged well, and frankly, was never really the best Looney Tunes ever had to offer. However, the character has courted enough controversy over the years that when WB released the "Looney Tunes Golden Collection" DVD boxsets, they came with this disclaimer: The cartoons you are about to see are products of their time. They may depict some of the ethnic and racial prejudices that were commonplace. »
- Kevin Jagernauth
Watch: PBS Investigates The Cost Of Superhero Movie Destruction
13 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
One of the most prevalent qualities of blockbuster cinema is constant one-upmanship, where each new $200 million dollar behemoth has to up the ante in terms of seemingly endless destruction, brought to you by whatever cutting edge technology best renders skyscrapers crumbling to dust while killing thousands of CG extras. Even though we know that the citywide destructions depicted in pretty much every superhero movie released these days are pieces of fiction and that there isn’t a real human cost to the mayhem, it’s becoming increasingly hard to find guilt-free entertainment value out of such displays of wanton carnage. One of the most famous examples of this problem is the finale of “Man of Steel,” where the damage that Superman and Zod’s game of extreme tag around downtown Metropolis would have cost the city an estimated $2 trillion in damages. That’s without even mentioning the death toll, which »
- Oktay Ege Kozak
Watch: Projecting The Hateful Eight at the Music Box Theatre
13 hours ago | Filmmaker Magazine - Blog | See recent Filmmaker Magazine news »
When the 70mm roadshow version of Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight rolled out in December, the experience was sold on the aesthetic superiority – the scope, the clarity, the subconscious effect of flickering frames of film. At a time when Screening Room may soon allow filmgoers to watch the latest wide releases on their couch, the roadshow offered an unreplicable spectacle. But for me the joy of road-tripping to Chicago to catch The Hateful Eight at the Music Box Theatre during its opening week had nothing to do with film gauge size or grain structure. The bliss came from something that is even more […] »
- Matt Mulcahey
Ranked: The Best Characters In Richard Linklater's Movies
13 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Austin, Texas filmmaker Richard Linklater helped define the 1990s American indie scene with “Slacker,” a loose collection of conversations with real and invented personalities from the local Austin scene. That first film set a pattern for the filmmaker, who often employs large casts to create sprawling slice of life portraits. The lineup in “Dazed and Confused” could overwhelm a “best characters” list from many other filmmakers, and then there are the “Before” trilogy, “Boyhood,” and the new “Everybody Wants Some!!” to consider, among many others. Read More: SXSW Review: Richard Linklater’s ‘Everybody Wants Some!!’ With Blake Jenner, Tyler Hoechlin, Zoey Deutch & More While often an author of his own scripts, Linklater has adapted material by Eric Bogosian (“SubUrbia”), Eric Schlosser (“Fast Food Nation”), Stephen Belber (“Tape”), Philip K. Dick (“A Scanner Darkly”), and Bill Lancaster (“Bad News Bears”). Even in those cases, the director’s methods and style »
- Russ Fischer
Watch: Swiss Army Man: The Film That Polarized Sundance
14 hours ago | Filmmaker Magazine - Blog | See recent Filmmaker Magazine news »
Swiss Army Man, the debut feature from acclaimed music video directing duo The Daniels (Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), divided audiences at Sundance 2016 like no other film. Now you can get a peek at the controversial film in its first trailer (above). Following its premiere, Variety declared that the film “could win the festival’s award for the most walk-outs, as a continuous stream of audience members kept standing up and bolting for the door throughout the film.” The premise of the dark comedy is certainly pretty bizarre. Paul Dano plays Hank, a man marooned on an island who is about to commit suicide. […] »
- Paula Bernstein
HBO Launching 'Game Of Thrones' Talk Show 'After The Thrones'
15 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Over at AMC, the network has been busy maximizing the brand value of "The Walking Dead" as much as possible, launching the spinoff series "Fear The Walking Dead," and live talk show, "Talking Dead." And now, HBO is taking a page from their rival's playbook. The network has announced today the launch of the talk show, "After The Thrones." Hosted by "Watch The Thrones" podcast team Andy Greenwald and Chris Ryan, episodes will be available on Mondays on HBO Now, HBO Go and HBO On Demand, as well as on HBO proper. And given that the network won't be sending anything to press, everyone will be in the same boat as Greenwalk and Ryan break down the latest events, and try to predict what will be coming next. It's a smart move by HBO (frankly, I'm a bit surprised it look them this long), and only serves to grow the »
- Kevin Jagernauth
Podcast: Adjust Your Tracking Falls Hard For Jeff Nichols' 'Midnight Special'
15 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Earlier this week, we dropped the latest Playlist Podcast where I talked with Kevin Jagernauth and Rodrigo Perez about "Batman v. Superman: Dawn Of Justice." And on this latest episode of Adjust Your Tracking, Joe von Appen and myself can't help but open with our ranty feelings on the movie. It turns out to be good context for the meat of this episode, discussing the power of Jeff Nichols' latest film, "Midnight Special." The film rolled out to more theaters this weekend and will expand from there. Now that it's playing in wider release, we hope you're able to track it down. Listen to the podcast to hear why we love it so. Read More: Berlin Review: Jeff Nichols' 'Midnight Special' With Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst & Adam Driver You can stream or download the podcast below via Soundcloud and/or subscribe on iTunes. Thanks for listening. »
- Erik McClanahan
Jessica Henwick Joins Marvel’s Netflix Series 'Iron Fist'
16 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Marvel’s “Iron Fist” is ramping up and adding another “Game Of Thrones” cast member to its ensemble. Jessica Henwick (who also had a small role in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) has joined the Netflix original series as the protagonist's colleague Colleen Wing. A martial arts expert running her own dojo, Colleen will serve as an invaluable ally to Danny Rand aka Iron Fist — played by “Game Of Thrones” star Finn Jones — as he returns to his life in New York after leaving K’un-l’un; a secretive Martial Arts Temple in Asia. Read More: 'Game of Thrones' Actor Finn Jones Will Lead Marvel's Netflix Series 'Iron Fist' Iron Fist’s origin story on the show isn’t very different from “Batman Begins” it seems. Rand had been “missing” for years, but was secretly training abroad and learning his martial arts and mystical powers. He then returns »
- Edward Davis
Watch: First Trailer For Mel Gibson's Gritty, Violent 'Blood Father'
16 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
This year, the career resurrection of Mel Gibson will get two shots in the arm. First, he's back behind the camera with a new directorial effort, directing the WWII tale "Hacksaw Ridge" starring Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Teresa Palmer, and Gibson himself. But first out of the gate is "Blood Father" which looks like a straight up B-movie, the kind Liam Neeson has been doing lately, but with some pretty decent talent helping to shape it. Read More: Mel Gibson Gave Nate Parker Advice On Making 'The Birth Of A Nation' Directed by Jean-François Richet ("Mesrine," "Assault On Precinct 13") and written by Peter Craig ("The Town," "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 & 2"), the story follows an ex-con who has to get nasty to save his daughter from the grip of drug dealers. Here's the synopsis: After her drug kingpin boyfriend frames her for stealing a fortune in cartel cash, »
- Kevin Jagernauth
Exclusive: Trailers For Janus Films Re-release Of King Hu's Wuxia Classics 'A Touch Of Zen' And 'Dragon Inn'
17 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Modern marital arts pictures like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Hero," "The Grandmaster," and "House Of Flying Daggers" plus films like Quentin Tarantino's homage to the genre "Kill Bill," and the wire work in "The Matrix," can all draw a line back to the films of King Hu. The director combined beautiful imagery with groundbreaking action scenes, creating an oeuvre like no other, and this spring two of his pictures are returning to the big screen. Janus Films will be releasing The Criterion Collection's restoration of 1971's "A Touch Of Zen" and "Dragon Inn." The three hour epic 'Zen' follows Yang (Hsu Feng), a noblewoman and fugitive hiding in a small village, who must escape into the wilderness with a shy scholar and two aides. There, the quartet face a massive group of fighters and are joined by a band of Buddhist monks surprisingly skilled in the art of battle. »
- Edward Davis
Watch: First Teaser And Featurette For Warner Bros. Animated 'Batman: The Killing Joke'
17 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
In reams and reams of stories about Batman that have been written, Alan Moore's "Batman: The Killing Joke" is a seminal and highly influential text. And last year, fans got some exciting news that Warner Bros. was adapting the material for an animated movie, and reportedly going R-rated with it. While we'll have to wait and see if that latter scenario plays out, the first teaser certainly sets up a very dark picture. Mark Hamill, who has voiced The Joker in a handful of previous efforts, returns here as the iconic villain, with the story detailing how his life fell apart, leading him to become the baddie. Even more Batgirl/Barbara Gordon and the rise of The Oracle also feature in the tale. Meanwhile, a ten minute featurette reveals more footage and goes deeper into the production, and bringing this story to life. "Batman: The Killing Joke" will arrive this summer on home video, »
- Kevin Jagernauth
Watch: 25-Minute Talk With Christopher Nolan And Richard Donner About Batman And Superman
18 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
"I said, 'I want to do for Batman what Dick Donner did for Superman,' " Christopher Nolan humbly states in the opening of his nearly half-hour conversation with the director of the original "Superman." And what follows is a great talk between two directors who have made some of the most enduring movies about The Dark Knight and the Man Of Steel of all time. The conversation sees Nolan and Richard Donner peppering each other with questions about their respective productions, how they approached such beloved characters, and much more. It's a fascinating discussion, with the pair going deep into their process. The talk is is part of "The Dark Knight Trilogy: Ultimate Collector's Edition" if you want to own it, or you can check it out below. »
- Kevin Jagernauth
All The Songs In Richard Linklater's ‘Everybody Wants Some!!’ Including Foreigner, Van Halen, Blondie, The Cars, Devo & More
18 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Richard Linklater cares about the music in his films, with "School Of Rock," "Boyhood," and "Dazed and Confused" in particular showing a strong commitment to a carefully curated soundtrack. But what you might not know is how much of a stickler the director is for ensuring the song choices are not anachronistic — for his movies, or anybody else's. "If I know a song came out a year later than the time when a film is set, f--- you, you just lost me. You can’t approach a period film saying, ‘Oh, who’s going to care?’ No, no! I’m doing it for that one person who does care. Because they’re out there. I’m that person. If you’re going to be fast and loose with that, I don’t trust you on anything. You at least have to try," he told The Toronto Star. "Even way back »
- Kevin Jagernauth
Pebbles That Clatter and Spark: Four Films by John Cassavetes
19 hours ago | MUBI | See recent MUBI news »
Mubi in the United Kingdom will be showing four films by John Cassavetes beginning with Too Late Blues (March 9 - April 8), followed by Husbands (March 16 - April 15), Gloria (March 23 - April 22), and Love Streams (March 29 - April 28). “Life is a series of suicides, divorces, promises broken, children smashed, whatever.” — Robert, Love Streams“Love is a stream. It’s continuous. It doesn’t stop.” — Sarah, Love Streams I love a good punch. Not the kind Robert Mitchum could land, or the kind Errol Flynn once received, though the mythmaking breeziness of another era’s gossip columns ensures even these retain an ageless charm. I mean the verbal kind, the hit-you-in-the-belly kind. A gut punch. Putdowns are an art: cadence is a weapon, pithiness a bullet. Brevity bruises: it’s not so much what is said as everything that isn’t. The best knocks hurt precisely because, no matter how brutal they get, »
- Michael Pattison
Daniel Radcliffe Is Dead And Farting In First Trailer For 'Swiss Army Man' Co-Starring Paul Dano
19 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
At this year's Sundance Film Festival, there was a lot of ink spilled about "Swiss Army Man." Sure, the movie is odd, and maybe even difficult, but it was the farting that captured the most attention. The movie is filled with flatulence, but leave it to A24 to pick up the challenging picture and bring it to cinemas. Directed and written by Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), and starring Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, the movie follows the unlikely adventure between a man stranded on a deserted island and a corpse. Here's the official synopsis: Hank (Paul Dano) is stranded on a deserted island, having given up all hope of ever making it home again. But one day everything changes when a corpse named Manny (Daniel Radcliffe) washes up on shore; the two become fast friends, and ultimately go on an epic adventure that will bring »
- Kevin Jagernauth
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