Movie News

Hauntingly beautiful and deeply enigmatic, “Neptune Frost” has enjoyed perhaps the most coveted festival run of 2021. Blending science fiction, dance and allegorical elements, the striking Afrofuturist feature debuted at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. It has since been invited to screen at some of the top showcases: Toronto, New York, London, Sundance, Rotterdam and Gothenburg — all venues where African cinema, especially experimental, formally ambitious work, remains relatively uncommon.

The opening scenes of this curious film hint at the poetic paths it intends to take. Past and future, dreams and realities, mourning and possibility, death and other dimensions comprise the terrain. And if you think that sounds vague or thrilling or frustrating, you’d be right on all counts. Directed by Saul Williams and his partner Anisia Uzeyman, this debut feature rebuffs the easy comforts of storytelling.

Shot and set in Rwanda, “Neptune Frost” takes on war, capitalism, identity and liberation. It begins with an unseen narrator.

TikTok, the omnipresent video-based social-media app that launched five years ago, has always seemed a less serious, more frivolously youthquakey destination than a number of other online networking services — most obviously Facebook. Yet as Shalini Kantayya’s sprightly, informative documentary “TikTok, Boom.” makes clear, there are more levels to the TikTok phenomenon than there are to almost any other blockbuster app.

There are the countless people who consume it: the kids from all over the world who get addicted to watching the up-to-three-minute-long videos as if they were popping Sour Patch Kids. There are the people who are on it: the makers of those videos, who could be just about anyone and might be doing it just for kicks, though what a lot of them want to be, if they can go viral enough, are influencers — the elite echelon of TikTok stars who have made themselves over into brands, based

Apple TV+ has released the trailer for the eight-episode series "Shining Girls." If you, like me, have yet to read the critically-acclaimed book that this is based on, you can be forgiven for not quite understanding it. I watched it several times, and though I was intrigued, I couldn't figure it out. Elisabeth Moss is wonderful to watch, but it appears the trailer for this adaptation of Lauren Beukes' best-selling novel "The Shining Girls: A Novel" is targeting viewers who already know the story. There is a mystery here, and though I've now looked it up, I sort of wish I...

The post Shining Girls Trailer: Elisabeth Moss Hunts an Impossible Killer in This Apple TV+ Thriller appeared first on /Film.

Whether we were joyously revisiting old friends or loudly cringing at the women they've become, the "Sex in the City" reboot "And Just Like That" has kept us captivated for the last two months (for better or worse), and now we're saying goodbye once again. The end of the first episode was so shocking it caused Peloton's stock to drop, and the massive changes seen with Cynthia Nixon's character, Miranda, have sparked endless online twitter debates, with Sara Ramírez's character Che Diaz trending on Twitter for most of Thursday following the series finale. "And Just Like That" wasn't perfect...

The post And Just Like That Season 1 Ending Explained: It's Never Too Late To Find Yourself appeared first on /Film.

Family photos, propaganda images and grainy archival footage are manipulated, re-processed and overlaid with wonderfully simple and highly effective animation in “Silver Bird and Rainbow Fish.” This imaginative documentary essay by 36-year-old U.S.-based Chinese artist-animator-filmmaker Lei Lei assembles striking imagery and deeply personal audio recordings to chart his family’s history in China from the late 1950s to the early ’70s. Though it runs a little too long, “Silver Bird” should have a bright future at general film festivals and those specializing in animation.

After basing his 2019 feature debut “Breathless Animals” on his mother’s recollections of life in 20th century China, Lei has turned this time to audio interviews he conducted with his father Lei Jiaqi and grandfather Lei Ting in China between 2012 and 2021. Their edited memories of family life begin during the Great Leap Forward (1958-62) and conclude four years before Mao Zedong’s death brought

When "The Exorcist" was released in 1973, Linda Blair was just 14 years old. Though the film generated a considerable amount of controversy, the young actress blew audiences away with her haunting performance as possessed preteen Regan MacNeil. While the role earned her a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress, it also became an inescapable source of frustration that ultimately hindered her career. The film's legacy as one of the scariest movies ever made pales in comparison to the real-life horrors Linda Blair endured as a result of starring in it.

Although she was barely old enough to be considered a teenager when filming "The Exorcist," Linda Blair...

The post How The Exorcist transformed Linda Blair forever appeared first on /Film.

The 2022 Slamdance Film Festival has announced the winners of their annual Sparky Awards.

The film festival focused on the works of emerging artists began its 28th edition on Jan. 27, hosting 23 premieres of films chosen from over 8,000 submissions. The awards were announced at a virtual awards ceremony on Friday, with the winning films available for viewing on the official virtual Slamdance channel until midnight on Feb. 6.

The Slamdance Jury awarded the best narrative feature prize to “Hannah Ha Ha,” from directors Jordan Tetewsky and Joshua Pikovsky, and the best documentary feature prize to “Forget Me Not” from director Olivier Bernier. In addition to winning one of the top overall prizes, “Hannah Ha Ha” star Hannah Lee Thompson also nabbed the festival’s acting award. The other two grand jury prizes for features were presented to “Straighten Up and Fly Right” (in the unstoppables category) and “Killing the Eunuch Khan” (in the

Long before the Coen Brothers brought Charles Portis' novel "True Grit" to the screen in 2010, its first film adaptation came in 1969, with Hal B. Wallis producing and Henry Hathaway directing. Recognizing that the book had strong cinematic potential, actor John Wayne encouraged the involvement of both men. To round out the decades-old talent behind the screen, he was cast as the protagonist, U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn, hired by Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) to find the man who killed her father. 

At the time, Darby was best known for a couple of roles in television westerns like "Gunsmoke" and "Bonanza." Darby's...

The post The John Wayne Classic Mia Farrow Thinks is Her Biggest Career Mistake appeared first on /Film.

Academy Award-winning actor Gary Oldman's latest project "Slow Horses" just got a release date and some first look pics from Apple TV+. The series will premiere on the streaming service on Friday, April 1, 2022, with six episodes. The series is adapted from Cwa Gold Dagger Award-winning Mick Herron's first novel in the "Slow Horses" series. May I just say that if you're going to name an award, that is the way to do it? I want a Gold Dagger Award!

The April premiere will include the first two episodes, with the rest airing every Friday. I'm loving this whole weekly...

The post Slow Horses First Look: The Gary Oldman Spy Series Gets A Release Date From AppleTV+ appeared first on /Film.

Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies from film awards editor Clayton Davis. Following history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar and Emmy predictions are updated regularly with the current year's list of contenders in all categories. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. The eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and is subject to change.

To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Oscars Collective

Visit each category, per the individual awards show from The Oscars Hub

Revisit the prediction archive of the 2021 season The Archive

Link to television awards is atTHE Emmys Hub

2022 Oscars Predictions:

Best Director

Updated: Feb 4, 2022

Awards Prediction Commentary: The Directors Guild of America Awards chose what looked

"The Offer," the new streaming series about the making of "The Godfather" coming to Paramount+, has one seriously stacked cast. Dozens of highly talented performers will be bringing the 1970s back to life, portraying historical figures ranging from famed actor Marlon Brando to mob boss Joe Colombo. The 10-episode limited series will follow Albert S. Ruddy (Miles Teller), one of the producers of "The Godfather" who had to fight to get the movie made, going up against studios who weren't interested in gangster films, Italian-Americans who were tired of being depicted in stereotypical ways, and even the mafia itself. 

While many viewers may know "The...

The post Who's Who in The Offer: A Guide to The Making-Of The Godfather Series appeared first on /Film.

Below is a constantly updated list and tally of acquisitions, beginning with the most recent deals.

Acquisitions during Sundance and immediately before the festival: 22

Earlier acquisitions: 16

Title: “Call Jane”

Section: Premieres

Buyer: Roadside Attractions

With a cast led by Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver, Oscar-nominated “Carol” screenwriter Phyllis Nagy makes her directorial debut with a film based on the real-life Jane Collective, an underground organization that helped women access abortions before Roe V. Wade, when the procedure was illegal in most of the U.S.

Roadside announced it acquired U.S. rights to the film on February 4. It’s planning to release it in theaters this fall.

Title: “Emily the Criminal”

Section: Premieres

Buyer: Roadside Attractions and Vertical Entertainment

John Patton Ford’s debut feature stars Aubrey Plaza as the titular Emily, who faces hard consequences after a credit card scam pulls her into the criminal underbelly of Los Angeles.

Ah, the heartbreak when two good-looking people don’t have chemistry!

According to “My Best Friend’s Wedding” director P.J. Hogan, the 1997 rom-com would have looked very different had Julia Roberts and Russell Crowe connected during the audition process.

“I don’t know what went wrong,” Hogan said in an excerpt of Scott Meslow’s book “From Hollywood With Love,” as reported by Vulture. “It was one of the worst table reads I’ve ever experienced.”

Hogan, who had been pushing for Crowe to play Roberts’ love interest, added that megastar Roberts had casting approval.

“No one was getting in this movie if Julia didn’t approve,” Hogan said. “[But] Russell was, I thought, probably the most amazing actor I had ever encountered. I kind of knew Russell was going to be a really big star.”

Yet their table read didn’t quite go as planned: “Russell was seated opposite Julia. He gripped that script,

Roadside Attractions has acquired U.S. distribution rights to “Call Jane,” a historical drama about a group of women working to provide access to safe abortions.

The film debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, premiering at a time when the Supreme Court is debating Roe v. Wade and with it the future of reproductive rights. Roadside plans a Fall 2022 theatrical release for the film, which means it could hit cinemas after Roe has been overturned and several states have moved to make abortion illegal. “Call Jane” is the feature directorial debut of Phyllis Nagy, who was nominated for an Oscar for her script for “Carol.”

Set in 1968, the film follows a suburban housewife Joy (Elizabeth Banks). When her pregnancy leads to a life-threatening heart condition, Joy must navigate an all-male medical establishment unwilling to terminate her pregnancy in order to save her life. Her journey for a solution

Cole Hauser has no idea why “Yellowstone” has finally become the sexy hot thing on TV. Along with most of heartland America, he has known that the grizzly and gamy cowboy show has been a good watch since its debut on Paramount Network in 2018.

The pandemic may have something to do with it. With sprawling Montana (and Utah) landscapes, outlandish outlaw behavior, pretty ponies, and perpetually-handsome Kevin Costner as its lead, “Yellowstone” has all the ingredients of a hit escapist show. Recognition has come in the form of ratings, with about 14 million total viewers tuning in to the Season 4 premiere of “Yellowstone,” and 15 million total viewers glued to their screens for its conclusion. And now, it has become an awards contender, with a Screen Actors Guild Award nod in the outstanding performance by an ensemble drama series category.

Hauser, who portrays Rip Wheeler, the bruiser and the fixer of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch,

The ongoing contention behind Zack Snyder's final DC film, "Justice League," has already become something of a legend. The war between Snyder's original vision and Joss Whedon's eventual remix sparked controversy between fans, the studio, and even the actors — but even before #ReleaseTheSnyderCut first trended, DC's Extended Universe was already on shaky footing.

It all seemed to really start with "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," which preceded the first "Justice League" by only a year. The film introduced key characters like Ben Affleck's Batman, Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman, and Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor, and set the scene for the dawn...

The post The Batman v. Superman Moment That Sparked A Battle Behind The Scenes appeared first on /Film.

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Show: "Bob's Burgers"

Where You Can Stream It: Hulu

The Pitch: Bob Belcher (H. John Benjamin) runs a family-owned burger shop in a seaside town, along with his wife and kids. The restaurant is almost always on the verge of failure, despite Bob's attempts to keep it afloat with punny menu items and one-off gimmicks that usually end in disaster. His wife, Linda (John Roberts) is a kooky ball of sunshine whose enthusiasm contrasts...

The post The Daily Stream: Bob's Burgers Serves Up Offbeat, Wholesome Fun appeared first on /Film.

Reality really is a matter of perspective.

The haunting trailer for Apple TV+’s upcoming series “Shining Girls” exhibits the suffocating trauma of surviving an assault — and captures what it takes to track a killer.

“He’s everybody. He’s nobody,” Elisabeth Moss says as newspaper archivist Kirby Mazrachi in the time-bending trailer for the show, which premieres April 29.

As Kirby realizes a recent murder mirrors her own attack, she sets out to find her assailant with the help of seasoned reporter Dan Velazquez (Wagner Moura). Yet the pair quickly realize that a series of cold cases are all linked, blurring Kirby’s sense of time, space, and certainty.

Jamie Bell, Phillipa Soo, and Amy Brenneman also star. Based on Lauren Buekes’ bestselling novel, “Shining Girls” is executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Davisson, and Michael Hampton through Appian Way.

Per the original novel, the title “Shining Girls” refers to “bright young women with potential,

Described as a "female-driven anthology series" and based on short story anthology novel by author Cecelia Ahern, "Roar" has finally received a couple of first-look photos from Apple TV+. The upcoming series adaptation stars Nicole Kidman, the ever-busy actor who will have starred in the Hulu miniseries "Nine Perfect Strangers," Aaron Sorkin's Oscar hopeful "Being the Ricardos" (BAFTA snub notwithstanding!), Robert Eggers' highly-anticipated "The Northman," "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," Amazon's "Expats" series, and now "Roar" ... all in the last couple of years alone! And that's not even counting her downright award-worthy AMC commercial, which I'm now mentioning in the second...

The post Roar First Look: Nicole Kidman is Disheveled in Apple TV+'s Darkly Comedic Anthology Series appeared first on /Film.

(Superhero Bits is a collection of stories, updates, and videos about anything and everything inspired by the comics of Marvel, DC, and more. For comic book movies, TV shows, merchandise, events, and whatever catches our eye, this is the place to find anything that falls through the cracks.)

In this edition of Superhero Bits:

A new look at Nick Fury in "Secret Invasion"

Tom Holland weighs in on future team-ups with the other Spider-Men

The "Gotham Knights" TV show is moving forward

"Captain Carter" #1 gets a trailer

All that and more!

Today brings us a trailer for "Captain...

The post Superhero Bits: The Batman Gets Variant Comic Covers, Tom Holland Talks Spider-Men Team-Ups & More appeared first on /Film.