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Debbie Reynolds’ Co-Stars and More Celebrities Mourn Her Passing on Twitter
1 hour ago
Last night, Debbie Reynolds died at the age of 84 after suffering a stroke, just one day after her daughter Carrie Fisher death. “She wanted to be with Carrie,” her son Todd Fisher told Variety.
Read More: Debbie Reynolds, ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ Actress and Carrie Fisher’s Mother, Dies at 84
Reynolds is best known as one of MGM’s principal stars of the 1950s and ’60s in such films as the musicals “Singin’ in the Rain” and “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” for which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. She starred in her own TV show “The Debbie Reynolds Show,” for which she received a Golden Globe nomination, she was nominated for the Tony Award for the Broadway revival of “Irene,” and was also nominated for an Emmy Award for playing Grace’s mother Bobbi on “Will & Grace.”
Read More: Carrie Fisher: From ‘Star Wars’ to Her Own Stories, »
- Vikram Murthi
Vote for December Project of the Month: Will It Be ‘Door County, ‘Brooklyn/Alaska’ or ‘We Believe in Dinosaurs’?
1 hour ago
The project which receives the most votes for Project of the Month will get a reported feature story about their project on IndieWire. From there, they will be in the running for Project of the Year.
Below are the three projects up for the prize. Click on the film title to learn more about each project (descriptions courtesy of the filmmakers):
Door County: A neo-noir film with mythological undertones, about a young woman who searches for her father’s murderer with the help of a mysterious man from the distant past.
Brooklyn/Alaska: Three teenage boys from Brooklyn embark on an unlikely adventure through the Alaskan wilderness.
We Believe in Dinosaurs: Shot over the course of three years, “We Believe In Dinosaurs” follows the re-building of Noah’s Ark from blueprints to opening day and tells the story of the unsettling and uniquely American conflict between science and religion. »
- Steve Greene
Debbie Reynolds, ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ Actress and Carrie Fisher’s Mother, Dies at 84
15 hours ago
Legendary actress, singer and entertainer Debbie Reynolds has passed away after suffering a stroke on Wednesday, December 28. She was 84.
The news comes just a day after Reynolds’ daughter, Carrie Fisher, died from having a heart attack during a flight from London to Los Angeles. According to TMZ, Reynolds was at her son’s Todd’s house in Beverly Hills on Wednesday afternoon when someone from the house called 911.
The “Singin’ in the Rain” actress had been distraught since Carrie’s heart attack and death, and according to reports, was discussing funeral plans for her daughter when she suffered a stroke.
Reynolds had last released a statement following Fisher’s death, saying, “Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter. I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers that are now guiding her to her next stop.”
Read More: Carrie Fisher, Who »
- Liz Calvario
‘Castlevania’ Animated Series May Finally Happen Thanks to the Executive Producer of ‘Adventure Time’
16 hours ago
“Castlevania” is among the most enduring of all video-game series, with 1997’s “Symphony of the Night” often ranking as one of the greatest games ever made. The franchise may soon make the leap from console to cable, as one of the minds behind “Adventure Time” has hinted that he’s developing a “super violent” animated series on what deductive reasoning suggests might very well be “Castlevania.”
Read More: ‘Adventure Time’ Is Ending, But Its Legacy Is Secure
Fred Seibert is working on an “unnamed” project based on “one of the most world-famous video games of the last 30 years” under the banner of his own Frederator Studios, the animation house behind both “Adventure Time” and “The Fairly OddParents” — as well as the company with the adaptation rights to “Castlevania.” He made the vague announcement during an appearance on Nickelodeon’s Nick Animation Podcast, explaining that Frederator has owned the rights for »
- Michael Nordine
Church of Scientology Criticizes A&E for Canceling Kkk Docuseries While Promoting Leah Remini’s Show
17 hours ago
Last week A&E canceled their Ku Klux Klan docuseries, “Escaping the Kkk,” after producers admitted that the participants were paid, which according to the network is a “direct violation of A&E’s policies and practices for a documentary.”
Now, the Church of Scientology is criticizing the network for pulling the Kkk show but not canceling its Leah Remini anti-Scientology series, “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.”
In a letter obtained by TMZ, the Church’s lawyer, Gary Soter, stated that the “Church of Scientology understands that two on-air accusers/participants in Leah Remini’s docuseries, ‘Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath’ received substantial cash payments for their participation, in violation of the same standards.”
Read More: A&E Cancels Ku Klux Klan Series After It Stumbles with Another Holiday Headache
It then accuses A&E of being hypocrites and partnering and promoting Remini’s show, giving them “free »
- Liz Calvario
IndieWire and FilmStruck’s ‘Movies That Inspire Me’: Ana Lily Amirpour Loves Robert Bresson’s ‘Au Hasard Balthazar’
17 hours ago
For a film with an animal protagonist, Robert Bresson’s “Au Hasard Balthazar” says a lot about humanity. Writer/director Ana Lily Amirpour (“A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night”) argues that the film’s central idea lends a timeless honesty, one that resonates half a century later.
Read More: Watch: ‘Jackie’ Director Pablo Larraín Discusses ‘Movies That Inspire Me’ in New IndieWire Video Series Presented by FilmStruck
Following the respective journeys of young Marie and her donkey Balthazar, the film shows how the two face hardships of different kinds as they grow older. In true Bressonian fashion, those various abuses are tempered with quiet, graceful moments of beauty. The result is a portrait of lost innocence that’s also a work of great empathy.
As part of our ongoing series of filmmaker conversations, presented in partnership with Filmstruck, Amirpour spoke with us about seeing “Au Hasard Balthazar” during a »
- Steve Greene
Cruel and Unusual Comedy: Slapstick Shorts at MoMA
17 hours ago
From January 13 — 26, the Museum of Modern Art is reviving its Cruel and Unusual Comedy series to take a look at the slapstick shorts of the silent era.
Related storiesDebbie Reynolds' Co-Stars and More Celebrities Mourn Her Passing on TwitterVote for December Project of the Month: Will It Be 'Door County, 'Brooklyn/Alaska' or 'We Believe in Dinosaurs'?Debbie Reynolds, 'Singin' in the Rain' Actress and Carrie Fisher's Mother, Dies at 84 »
- Michael Nordine
Carrie Fisher’s ‘Catastrophe’ Co-Star Rob Delaney Pens Emotional Tribute to His Onscreen Mom
20 hours ago
In the wake of Carrie Fisher’s death on Tuesday, many celebrities and co-stars have paid tribute to the “Star War” icon on social media. Now Rob Delaney, creator and star of “Catastrophe,” wrote a touching essay dedicated to his onscreen mom for The Guardian.
“Yes, I knew Carrie Fisher. She played my mom on ‘Catastrophe,’ the sitcom I write and star in with Sharon Horgan. Or should I say, ‘plays my mom,’ since we just finished shooting last week and Carrie’s scenes haven’t been seen by anyone yet. Except for me and Sharon that is, and our director, producer and editor,” he began. “We’ve seen them and they’re amazing.”
Read More: Carrie Fisher’s ‘Star Wars’ Family and More Celebrities Mourn Her Death on Twitter
Fisher portrayed Mia in Season 1 and 2 of the Amazon series, appearing in a total of four episodes. According to Delaney, »
- Liz Calvario
Animating Animals: ‘Zootopia,’ ‘Sing,’ ‘Finding Dory,’ ‘Trolls’ and More Vie for Oscar
20 hours ago
Animation’s storied Year of the Animal yielded five unforgettable characters.
Brought to life through superb writing, direction, performance, animated ingenuity, and tech innovation were: Judy Hopps, the eternally optimistic rookie bunny cop from “Zootopia,” badass Moon Beast from “Kubo and the Two Strings,” Hank, the cantankerous and camouflaging octopus from “Finding Dory,” Princess Poppy, the eternally happy heroine from “Trolls,” and Buster Moon, the impresario koala bear from “Sing.”
Judy Hopps (“Zootopia”)
Judy (Ginnifer Goodwin) represents the heart and soul of “Zootopia.” And to make her and the other animals look and behave realistically, Disney engineers launched iGroom, a new fur-controlling tool.
But it’s a good thing that screenwriter Phil Johnston (“Wreck-It Ralph”) switched protagonists from Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) to Judy a year and a half into production when his cynicism dragged the story down.
“And we figured out if the movie’s about bias, then that »
- Bill Desowitz
‘By Sidney Lumet’ Clips: PBS Kicks Off Season 31 of ‘American Masters’ With Film’s Premiere
21 hours ago
Film legend Sidney Lumet is one of the most accomplished, influential and revered directors in cinema history, known for films like “12 Angry Men,” “Dog Day Afternoon,” “Network” and “The Verdict.”
Before his death in 2011, Lumet told his story in a never-before-seen interview for the documentary “By Sidney Lumet.” Directed by Nancy Buirski, Lumet guides viewers through his life and work, describing his Depression-era, working-class Lower East Side beginnings as a child and his transition to becoming a five-time Oscar nominee.
Launching Season 31, “American Masters: By Sidney Lumet” premieres Tuesday, January 3 at 8 p.m. on PBS and also features a new, exclusive interview with Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominated actor Treat Williams, who starred in Lumet’s “Prince of the City.”
Ahead of its debut, the network has released a handful of clips of the special, including the one below which features Lumet describing his motivation for the making “12 Angry Men. »
- Liz Calvario
35 Directors Pick Their Favorite Movies of 2016
21 hours ago
As the year comes to a close, there is one group we’ve yet to hear from about the Best of 2016: The Directors.
Filmmakers are busy folks, and some were instantly wary about making a list, with “I haven’t seen enough movies to make a top ten list” a common reply. So we decided to keep it loose. Including TV and other forms of entertainment was encouraged, how they chose to frame their list was totally flexible, and even if they only had a handful of projects they wanted to highlight, IndieWire made it clear we wanted to know what inspired them this year.
The most exciting thing, beyond how many great directors replied, is the time and energy they put into their lists. Be it Kirsten Johnson’s tribute to Abbas Kiarostami, Paul Feig’s surprise message to “Ghostbuster” trolls, Jennifer Kent teasing the start of her new film, »
- Chris O'Falt
‘Toni Erdmann’: How Maren Ade Made The Year’s Boldest and Strangest Oscar Contender
21 hours ago
Once in a blue moon you come upon a movie that is a complete surprise.
When I saw “Toni Erdmann” at Cannes, I was riveted by the father-daughter comedy, which was a hit with critics but was robbed of an award by an idiosyncratic competition jury. The film went on to wow festivalgoers and cinemas around the world, and Sony Pictures Classics opened it stateside on Christmas Day. It won the Cannes Screen International Critics’ poll, Best Foreign Language film from the New York Film Critics Circle and swept the European Film Awards, grabbing five including Best Picture; it’s nominated for the foreign-language Golden Globe and Indie Spirit awards and was shortlisted for the Oscar.
That doesn’t mean it will win. All the reasons why the movie is unconventional — organic, sprawling, shocking and hilarious — could weigh against it with more mainstream Academy voters, along with its 162-minute running time. »
- Anne Thompson
‘Just Keep Livin’?’ Trailer: Comedian Jen Kirkman Returns For a Second Netflix Special
21 hours ago
In 2017, Netflix plans to release multiple stand-up specials from comedians like Jim Gaffigan, Neal Brennan, Cristela Alonzo and Bill Burr. But the first one out of the gate comes from Jen Kirkman with her new special “Just Keep Livin’?”, a sequel to her 2015 Netflix special “I’m Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine).” Filmed at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, Kirkman jokes about people who won’t travel alone, getting a tattoo at 41 and male feminists. Watch a trailer for the special below featuring Kirkman’s advice to creepy street harassers.
Read More: Sundance: ‘Chelsea Does’ Director Eddie Schmidt on Getting Real With Chelsea Handler For Netflix
Apart from her stand-up, Kirkman is best known for writing and appearing on the E! network’s former late night show “Chelsea Lately,” hosted by Chelsea Handler, as well as its mockumentary spin-off “After Lately.” She wrote a New York »
- Vikram Murthi
‘Fan-o-Rama: A Futurama Fan Film’: Watch the 30 Minute Live-Action Tribute to the Cult Cartoon
22 hours ago
Back in July a “Fan-o-Rama: A Futurama Fan Film” trailer made its way online which teased a live-action version of the cult cartoon.
Now after months of waiting, Cinema Relics has released the full film for fans to enjoy. Directed by Dan Lanigan, the unofficial movie was written by Lanigan, Andy Klimczak and Kody Frederick and features all the beloved characters from “Futurama.”
The story deals with the Planet Express crew’s doomsday device delivery and stars Frederick, Katie Lanigan and Klimczak, among others. The story runs about 18 minutes, with great bonus features after the credits.
Read More: ‘Fan-o-Rama — A Futurama Fan Film’ Trailer: Watch the Heartfelt Tribute to the Cult Cartoon
The special effects were done mostly with prosthetics, puppetry, and miniatures.
“I wanted it to have a real feel to it, because CGI is great, but I feel like there is a quality of life that you »
- Liz Calvario
‘Paterson’ Oral History: 5 Longtime Jim Jarmusch Collaborators Reveal What It’s Like to Work with Him
22 hours ago
A Jim Jarmusch movie is unmistakable. He’s a storyteller who favors richness of detail over plot, whether it’s reunited vampires (“Only Lovers Left Alive”), escaped prisoners (“Down By Law”), or a cousin visiting from Budapest (“Stranger Than Paradise”). Small in scale, generous in production value, and tempered with idiosyncratic rhythms and dry humor, his films represent one the most original and uncompromised bodies of work in American cinema.
However, while Jarmusch might seem to be an auteur-theory poster child, the filmmaker told IndieWire’s David Ehrlich in 2014 (then writing for The Guardian) that he doesn’t believe, for him, the concept of director-as-author applies:
“I put ‘A film by’ as a protection of my rights, but I don’t really believe it. It’s important for me to have a final cut, and I do for every film. So I’m in the editing room every day, I »
- Chris O'Falt
‘The Walking Dead,’ Super Bowl, Oscars, Olympics Lead the Top-Rated Telecasts of 2016
23 hours ago
Veteran hits like “The Walking Dead” and “Empire” may be experiencing ratings declines, but make no mistake: Negan and Cookie are still monsters.
All 16 of “The Walking Dead” episodes that aired in 2016 made it on to the list of the most-watched telecasts of 2016 among adults 18-49 (the demographic still preferred by advertisers). No other TV show can boast that stat. “The Big Bang Theory” landed 14 episodes on the list, while “Empire” had 10 and “Game of Thrones” had three.
Sports telecasts dominated the list – no surprise, given some of this year’s thrilling championship series. As always, the Super Bowl was by far the most-watched program of the year in all of TV, as Denver’s win over Carolina – quarterback Peyton Manning’s finale – averaged 112,576,000 total viewers.
Read More: Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2016’s Winners and Losers
But right behind it, the history-making Game 7 of this year’s World Series, featuring »
- Michael Schneider
‘Everything Wrong With ‘Deadpool’’ Picks Apart the Beloved Superhero Movie – Watch
23 hours ago
“Deadpool” may have been the superhero movie of the year, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated and “X-Men” film of all time. While the Ryan Reynolds-starring action flick may have been a commercial success, that didn’t stop the folks over at CinemaSins from picking the story apart in their latest “Everything Wrong With” video.
The 19-minute clip begins by quickly jotting down “Deadpool’s” first sin for having Marvel’s 12-second comic book flippy logo. It then continues marking violations for not going “far enough in uglying up Wade Wilson,” criticizing it for how “they couldn’t afford any more X-Men to be at the mansion,” and all the pop culture references it makes.
It also comments on the first fighting sequence by saying, “I see the director learned a thing or two at the Michael Bay-Zack Snyder symposium for the construction of this scene.”
Read More: ‘Deadpool »
- Liz Calvario
Carrie Fisher’s Honesty With Mental Illness Inspired ‘#InHonorOfCarrie’ Social Media Movement
28 December 2016 9:14 AM, PST
In the wake of Carrie Fisher’s death, many of her fans are celebrating her iconic role as Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” series as well as her witty, insightful writing in “Postcards From the Edge” and “Wishful Drinking.” But many more have commended her honesty with mental illness and her bravery with sharing her own experiences. Fisher was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was 24 years old and spoke often and frequently about the disease and her experiences with addiction in order to remove the stigma from both.
Read More: Carrie Fisher Was About to Announce Stage Show ‘Wishful Drinking Strikes Back: From Star Wars to, uh, Star Wars!’ (Exclusive)
Now according to The New York Times, fans have begun sharing their own experiences with mental illness using the hashtag #InHonorOfCarrie. It began when senior political correspondent for MTV Ana Marie Cox came out with her own bipolar disorder, »
- Vikram Murthi
‘Our Souls at Night’ First Look: Robert Redford and Jane Fonda Canoodle in Netflix Romance
28 December 2016 7:31 AM, PST
Over the years, Robert Redford and Jane Fonda have co-starred together in three films — Arthur Penn’s “The Chase,” about a prison break in a small Southern town, the 1967 film adaptation of Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park” and finally Sydney Pollack’s “The Electric Horseman.” Now, the two reunite in the film “Our Souls at Night,” based on Kent Haruf’s novel by the same name.
Read More: Robert Redford Announces Retirement From Acting
Set in Colorado, the film follows widow Addie Moore (Fonda) who pays an unexpected visit to her neighbor, the widower Louis Waters (Redford). Despite being neighbors for years, the two have had little contact, but now that their children live far away and they’re all alone, both decide to establish a connection and make most of the time they have left. The film was adapted for the screen by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber »
- Vikram Murthi
IndieWire’s Favorite Latin American Films of 2016
27 December 2016 3:39 PM, PST
With standout works from established auteurs and new voices alike, 2016 saw an embarrassment of riches in Latin American cinema. Here are the best.
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- Indiewire Staff
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