Movie News
In lieu of any real plot, the film centres on political pep talks and jingoism, making it more foreign policy document than flyboy blockbuster
The pilots in this so-called Chinese Top Gun are mostly top in the sense that they are in selfless support of China’s frontline troops thanks to the emerging technological superiority of the People’s Republic (which would have made for a less snappy title). Another in China’s seemingly never-ending line of propagandistic, government-backed action films, this is only distinguished in dunderheaded patriotism from its American 80s and 90s equivalents by its absence of any functioning sense of humour.
It’s about the country’s next-generation fighter pilots, but the plot is last-generation: promising flyboy Lei Yu (Wang Yibo) is plucked from his unit by veteran Zhang Ting (Hu Jun) to join the elite outfit trying to get “limit data” at high-altitude from the new stealth planes.
The pilots in this so-called Chinese Top Gun are mostly top in the sense that they are in selfless support of China’s frontline troops thanks to the emerging technological superiority of the People’s Republic (which would have made for a less snappy title). Another in China’s seemingly never-ending line of propagandistic, government-backed action films, this is only distinguished in dunderheaded patriotism from its American 80s and 90s equivalents by its absence of any functioning sense of humour.
It’s about the country’s next-generation fighter pilots, but the plot is last-generation: promising flyboy Lei Yu (Wang Yibo) is plucked from his unit by veteran Zhang Ting (Hu Jun) to join the elite outfit trying to get “limit data” at high-altitude from the new stealth planes.
- 5/1/2023
- by Phil Hoad
- The Guardian - Film News
Malaysian social drama “Abang Adik” was named best film and winner of the Golden Mulberry prize on Sunday at the Far East Film Festival in Italy’s Udine.
The film is a story of two undocumented and orphaned men, who may or may not be real brothers, but who lift each other up. The film’s director Jin Ong collected the White Mulberry prize for best debut feature and “Abang Adik” added a third prize decided by the festival’s season pass holders.
Second place on the podium went to South Korea with Chang Hang-jun’s “Rebound,” while third place went to “Yudo,” by Japan’s Suzuki Masayuki.
Other prizes included a Mulberry for best screenplay which went to “Day Off” by Taiwanese director Fu Tien-Yu and the prize from the readers of MYmovieswhich went to Janchivdorj Sengedorj’s Mongolian comedy “The Sales Girl.”
The previously-announced Golden Mulberry lifetime achievement...
The film is a story of two undocumented and orphaned men, who may or may not be real brothers, but who lift each other up. The film’s director Jin Ong collected the White Mulberry prize for best debut feature and “Abang Adik” added a third prize decided by the festival’s season pass holders.
Second place on the podium went to South Korea with Chang Hang-jun’s “Rebound,” while third place went to “Yudo,” by Japan’s Suzuki Masayuki.
Other prizes included a Mulberry for best screenplay which went to “Day Off” by Taiwanese director Fu Tien-Yu and the prize from the readers of MYmovieswhich went to Janchivdorj Sengedorj’s Mongolian comedy “The Sales Girl.”
The previously-announced Golden Mulberry lifetime achievement...
- 5/1/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety - Film News
Commendably transparent documentary following poet and ex-con Marc Thompson, as he deals with past traumas and tries to overcome the obstacles that hamper his re-entry into society
When Marc Thompson speaks, his words roll off the tongue like poetry, their melodic and precise fluidity damningly conjuring the reality of racist victimisation. The force of nature that he is animates Maria Petschnig’s documentary, which juxtaposes Thompson’s daily rituals as an unhoused person in New York with his contemplation of his incarcerated past and the systemic obstacles that hamper his re-entry into society.
With no fixed address, Thompson eats and sleeps in his car; this is a precarious arrangement steeped in feelings of freedom as well as shame, a paradoxical and transient state that perfectly encapsulates the film’s title. Mostly observing Thompson from behind, the camera follows his trips to the gym, the laundromat, the library; he has written...
When Marc Thompson speaks, his words roll off the tongue like poetry, their melodic and precise fluidity damningly conjuring the reality of racist victimisation. The force of nature that he is animates Maria Petschnig’s documentary, which juxtaposes Thompson’s daily rituals as an unhoused person in New York with his contemplation of his incarcerated past and the systemic obstacles that hamper his re-entry into society.
With no fixed address, Thompson eats and sleeps in his car; this is a precarious arrangement steeped in feelings of freedom as well as shame, a paradoxical and transient state that perfectly encapsulates the film’s title. Mostly observing Thompson from behind, the camera follows his trips to the gym, the laundromat, the library; he has written...
- 5/1/2023
- by Phuong Le
- The Guardian - Film News
This post contains spoilers for "Barry" season 4, episode 4.
There are a lot of deplorable characters in "Barry," but the worst among them might not be the titular serial killer (Bill Hader). The hitman's acting teacher, Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler), is blinded by his own narcissism. His ego constantly guides him down a path of immorality, and the only reason he ends up doing the right thing is because he's cornered into it. He starts the fourth and final season off on a moral high note, but just a few episodes in, he's already at his absolute worst.
For all Barry's faults, he's been traumatized by war and the misguidance of his mentor-tormentor, Fuches (Stephen Root). NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan), a ruthless gang leader, is softened by a goofy underbelly that longs to create a crime utopia where every ethnic gang can live in peace. Sally (Sarah Goldberg) is also a narcissist,...
There are a lot of deplorable characters in "Barry," but the worst among them might not be the titular serial killer (Bill Hader). The hitman's acting teacher, Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler), is blinded by his own narcissism. His ego constantly guides him down a path of immorality, and the only reason he ends up doing the right thing is because he's cornered into it. He starts the fourth and final season off on a moral high note, but just a few episodes in, he's already at his absolute worst.
For all Barry's faults, he's been traumatized by war and the misguidance of his mentor-tormentor, Fuches (Stephen Root). NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan), a ruthless gang leader, is softened by a goofy underbelly that longs to create a crime utopia where every ethnic gang can live in peace. Sally (Sarah Goldberg) is also a narcissist,...
- 5/1/2023
- by Shae Sennett
- Slash Film
This article contains spoilers for "Barry."
While developing "Better Call Saul," Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould first envisioned the show as a half-hour "case of the week" legal comedy. Each episode would be about Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) dealing with his latest client, before the client of his lifetime — Walter White (Bryan Cranston) — came along in "Breaking Bad." If you've seen "Better Call Saul," you know they didn't take long to ditch that idea. Instead, the show was an hour-long dramedy about former con man Jimmy McGill trying to make an honest living — even though he was destined to fail. Instead of a show laughing at Saul Goodman's antics, we learned that the persona is a personification of Jimmy's tragic inability to grow.
Gilligan, speaking to Rolling Stone about the show "Better Call Saul" became, said:
"'Breaking Bad' is about 25-percent humor, 75-percent drama, and maybe this will be the reverse of that.
While developing "Better Call Saul," Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould first envisioned the show as a half-hour "case of the week" legal comedy. Each episode would be about Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) dealing with his latest client, before the client of his lifetime — Walter White (Bryan Cranston) — came along in "Breaking Bad." If you've seen "Better Call Saul," you know they didn't take long to ditch that idea. Instead, the show was an hour-long dramedy about former con man Jimmy McGill trying to make an honest living — even though he was destined to fail. Instead of a show laughing at Saul Goodman's antics, we learned that the persona is a personification of Jimmy's tragic inability to grow.
Gilligan, speaking to Rolling Stone about the show "Better Call Saul" became, said:
"'Breaking Bad' is about 25-percent humor, 75-percent drama, and maybe this will be the reverse of that.
- 5/1/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
At the beginning of Chad Stahelski's epic action picture "John Wick: Chapter 4," the title character has been excommunicated from an ultra-dangerous, ultra-secret assassins guild -- the High Table -- that he and thousands of other professional assassins belong to. As the "John Wick" movies have progressed, the edicts of the High Table have become more and more complicated, and the rules of the films' assassin universe have become nearly impossible to comprehend. Luckily, John Wick -- and the audience -- can rest assured that there are "safe zones" in the world where murder shenanigans are not allowed. At the exclusive, assassins-only Continental Hotel, a high-end, privately run hospitality chain with branches all over the world, no violence is permitted. No matter how much a professional killer might want to off a rival, they will not be allowed to if either of them is at the Continental. Breaking this rule leads to excommunication.
- 5/1/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
“Born to Fly,” an action movie about the prowess of the Chinese air force and the bravery of its aviators, topped the China box office chart over a weekend that led into the nearly week-long May Day holiday.
Data from consultancy Artisan Gateway shows the film earned $44 million (RMB279 million) between Friday and Sunday.
The weekend as a whole brought in $121 million of turnstile revenue, the fourth highest weekend of the year and weaker only than the three “revenge spending” weekends that drove the Chinese New Year period in January and early February.
“Born to Fly” was followed by “Godspeed,” a comedy road trip title about a father-daughter relationship and the need for inter-generational understanding.
While critics and supporters had described “Born to Fly” as China’s response to “Top Gun,” Chinese state media openly likened “Godspeed” to another U.S. title, “Meet the Parents.” Directed by Yi Xiaoxing who...
Data from consultancy Artisan Gateway shows the film earned $44 million (RMB279 million) between Friday and Sunday.
The weekend as a whole brought in $121 million of turnstile revenue, the fourth highest weekend of the year and weaker only than the three “revenge spending” weekends that drove the Chinese New Year period in January and early February.
“Born to Fly” was followed by “Godspeed,” a comedy road trip title about a father-daughter relationship and the need for inter-generational understanding.
While critics and supporters had described “Born to Fly” as China’s response to “Top Gun,” Chinese state media openly likened “Godspeed” to another U.S. title, “Meet the Parents.” Directed by Yi Xiaoxing who...
- 5/1/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety - Film News
We've been going on a decade now of seeing Mark Ruffalo as a continuously comedic relief-dependent Bruce Banner/Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and while there's something admirable about his commitment to doing something he seems to still enjoy doing, there's a certain sadness to thinking about what he left behind. Sure, he still takes roles that aren't McU-related, and some are truly great displays of his skills (shout-out to the HBO miniseries I Know This Much Is True and Foxcatcher), but it feels like he's actively trying to capitalize on his newfound stardom by taking on more "Hollywood" roles. Be it the Now You See Me franchise or The Adam Project, it's as if he's embracing the comfort of roles that fit his new persona quite well: that of a wholesome, down-to-Earth dad who's achingly sincere and sensitive, but also not afraid to have a little fun. Fair enough,...
- 5/1/2023
- by Jacob Slankard
- Collider.com
This post contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Barry," as well as sensitive, possibly triggering content.
The latest episode of the final season of "Barry" might be the show's darkest chapter yet. It's certainly among its most heartbreaking; there's the death of Cristobal (Michael Irby), and of Hank's (Anthony Carrigan) heart with him, a scene that unfolds with excruciating slowness and then, suddenly, all at once. There's the shooting of Gene's (Henry Winkler) son, a senseless, awful tragedy that happens to a character whose arc has always been defined by a tidy sense of dramatic irony. And there's Barry (Bill Hader), the black hole around which so many characters still orbit despite themselves.
None of these plots, however, hurt quite like Sally's (Sarah Goldberg). At first glance, Sally's storyline in the latest episode of "Barry" is nowhere near as gutting as the bleak twists of fate mentioned above.
The latest episode of the final season of "Barry" might be the show's darkest chapter yet. It's certainly among its most heartbreaking; there's the death of Cristobal (Michael Irby), and of Hank's (Anthony Carrigan) heart with him, a scene that unfolds with excruciating slowness and then, suddenly, all at once. There's the shooting of Gene's (Henry Winkler) son, a senseless, awful tragedy that happens to a character whose arc has always been defined by a tidy sense of dramatic irony. And there's Barry (Bill Hader), the black hole around which so many characters still orbit despite themselves.
None of these plots, however, hurt quite like Sally's (Sarah Goldberg). At first glance, Sally's storyline in the latest episode of "Barry" is nowhere near as gutting as the bleak twists of fate mentioned above.
- 5/1/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
This article contains minor spoilers for "Succession" season 4.
Shiv and Tom's relationship has been a staple of "Succession" from the very beginning. The romance is its own microcosm of power plays in a world of 4D chess, where the only daughter of the Murdochian media empire tortures her submissive husband that transforms into a sadistic tormentor himself the second his wife turns her back. Even at the healthiest moments of their courtship, the pair have exchanged cutting barbs that masked their more heartfelt feelings for one another. At the end of season 3, their marriage reaches a turning point when Shiv delivers a line of mind-boggling ambiguity — "I may not love you, but I do love you." But does Shiv Roy really love Tom?
Vulnerability isn't exactly a regular state of mind in the Roy family. They deal mostly in insults and backstabs rather than hugs and kisses, even at their most affectionate moments.
Shiv and Tom's relationship has been a staple of "Succession" from the very beginning. The romance is its own microcosm of power plays in a world of 4D chess, where the only daughter of the Murdochian media empire tortures her submissive husband that transforms into a sadistic tormentor himself the second his wife turns her back. Even at the healthiest moments of their courtship, the pair have exchanged cutting barbs that masked their more heartfelt feelings for one another. At the end of season 3, their marriage reaches a turning point when Shiv delivers a line of mind-boggling ambiguity — "I may not love you, but I do love you." But does Shiv Roy really love Tom?
Vulnerability isn't exactly a regular state of mind in the Roy family. They deal mostly in insults and backstabs rather than hugs and kisses, even at their most affectionate moments.
- 5/1/2023
- by Shae Sennett
- Slash Film
This article contains spoilers for season 4, episode 6 of "Succession."
There are quite a few similarities between the Fox and Netflix comedy "Arrested Development" and the HBO tragicomedy "Succession," from the composition of the filthy rich and totally incompetent families at the center of each series to the characters' total inability to be kind to anyone. But there's one major link between them that matters most: the camera work. The plot of "Succession" contains pretty serious stuff, involving drug abuse, accidental manslaughter, accusations of sexual assault on a mass scale, child abuse, and more, but the show still manages to be brutally funny. A big part of that comedy comes from just how awkward and emotionally damaged everyone is, and the camera helps bring that discomfort into focus. Moments that could easily be played as dramatic are instead turned on their ear through the use of the handheld, frequently zooming camera...
There are quite a few similarities between the Fox and Netflix comedy "Arrested Development" and the HBO tragicomedy "Succession," from the composition of the filthy rich and totally incompetent families at the center of each series to the characters' total inability to be kind to anyone. But there's one major link between them that matters most: the camera work. The plot of "Succession" contains pretty serious stuff, involving drug abuse, accidental manslaughter, accusations of sexual assault on a mass scale, child abuse, and more, but the show still manages to be brutally funny. A big part of that comedy comes from just how awkward and emotionally damaged everyone is, and the camera helps bring that discomfort into focus. Moments that could easily be played as dramatic are instead turned on their ear through the use of the handheld, frequently zooming camera...
- 5/1/2023
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
Based on the number of television shows going into production, “Peak TV” is technically on the wane. Judging by the three programs HBO is currently releasing on Sunday nights – “Succession,” “Barry” and “Somebody Somewhere – there has not been a discernible drop in quality. Not yet, anyway. That was even more apparent after tonight’s episode of “Barry” season four, “it takes a psycho,” where director Bill Hader and writer Taofik Kolade pull off a shocking bait and switch that is arguably one of the most heartbreaking moments of the entire series.
Continue reading ‘Barry’: Anthony Carrigan On NoHo Hank’s Shocking Choice [Interview] at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Barry’: Anthony Carrigan On NoHo Hank’s Shocking Choice [Interview] at The Playlist.
- 5/1/2023
- by Gregory Ellwood
- The Playlist
Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers from Season 4, Episode 6 of Succession.Heading into Investor's Day this week for Waystar Royco, Succession Season 4 brought the Roys to Los Angeles at the headquarters of Waystar Studios (conveniently located on the real-life Warner Bros lot in Burbank). Preparing to launch a new product, Kendall (Jeremy Strong) plans to try and double the product's value in order to price Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgård) out of the Waystar deal. Despite being threatened by Karl (David Rasche) and warned by the other executives at Waystar, Kendall publicly announces the astronomical projections of Living+ and, shocking everyone, it is actually well received. But, after his presentation, Matsson, watching at home, tweets an offensive tweet, but what exactly did he tweet?...
- 5/1/2023
- by Therese Lacson
- Collider.com
Mike Ehrmantraut is one of the more formidable characters in the history of television, largely thanks to Jonathan Banks' spot-on portrayal of the iconic, shrewd heavy. This staple of both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul has an unlikely behind-the-scenes origin story, though. For all the violence, sinister energy, and stark humanity that Mike brought to the two dramas, he likely would not exist if it weren't for a sitcom being filmed at the same time as Breaking Bad's second season, and a scheduling conflict that led Vince Gilligan and his team to think on their feet.
- 5/1/2023
- by Andrew McGowan
- Collider.com
[Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “Barry” Season 4, Episode 4, “It Takes a Pscyho.”]
Open Mike Eagle’s 2020 album “Anime, Trauma, and Divorce” has a great track, “The Black Mirror Episode.” It details a couple deciding to separate after watching the Netflix show together. When Eagle (who confirmed the song is largely autobiographical) sing-shouts the one-line chorus “The ‘Black Mirror’ episode ruined my marriage,” you believe what he’s saying and feel the dark, absurd edge to the truth beneath it.
It’s the same sentiment explored in “It Takes a Psycho.” Episode 4 of “Barry” Season 4 is filled with people running away from relationships that seem to be working and running toward ones that appear doomed. People get what they claim to want and find that what they’ve acquired is rotted from the inside. It’s a half hour of delicately crafted misery, something that’s become a “Barry” calling card.
“Barry” has been slowly deconstructing the idea of a partnership — Hank (Anthony Carrigan...
Open Mike Eagle’s 2020 album “Anime, Trauma, and Divorce” has a great track, “The Black Mirror Episode.” It details a couple deciding to separate after watching the Netflix show together. When Eagle (who confirmed the song is largely autobiographical) sing-shouts the one-line chorus “The ‘Black Mirror’ episode ruined my marriage,” you believe what he’s saying and feel the dark, absurd edge to the truth beneath it.
It’s the same sentiment explored in “It Takes a Psycho.” Episode 4 of “Barry” Season 4 is filled with people running away from relationships that seem to be working and running toward ones that appear doomed. People get what they claim to want and find that what they’ve acquired is rotted from the inside. It’s a half hour of delicately crafted misery, something that’s become a “Barry” calling card.
“Barry” has been slowly deconstructing the idea of a partnership — Hank (Anthony Carrigan...
- 5/1/2023
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
... Well then! If you've just watched tonight's episode of HBO's "Barry," entitled "it takes a psycho", then you know that for a show that is rarely screwing around, this episode really and truly did not screw around. If you haven't watched, just be warned (even more than usual) that surprises are plenty this week, so spoilers ahoy.
As you'll likely recall, last week's installment wrapped with Barry Berkman (Bill Hader) escaping prison thanks to a botched hit job (involving a hitman/podcaster played by Fred Armisen). So it's no surprise that this week starts in prison, as the grumpy warden (Richard Riehle) instigates a beatdown of Barry's old friend Monroe Fuches (Stephen Root), presuming the latter let the would-be assassins inside. Though Fuches did know about the attempt on Barry's life and tried to warn the now-infuriated guards, he of course has no idea where Barry might be at the moment.
As you'll likely recall, last week's installment wrapped with Barry Berkman (Bill Hader) escaping prison thanks to a botched hit job (involving a hitman/podcaster played by Fred Armisen). So it's no surprise that this week starts in prison, as the grumpy warden (Richard Riehle) instigates a beatdown of Barry's old friend Monroe Fuches (Stephen Root), presuming the latter let the would-be assassins inside. Though Fuches did know about the attempt on Barry's life and tried to warn the now-infuriated guards, he of course has no idea where Barry might be at the moment.
- 5/1/2023
- by Josh Spiegel
- Slash Film
This article contains massive spoilers for the latest episode of "Barry."
When Bill Hader and Alec Berg's HBO series "Barry" was first announced back in 2018, the show's identity was pitched somewhere between dark comedy and dramedy. Speaking to Vulture on the eve of the first season's release, Hader explained how he and Berg landed on placing their hitman protagonist inside a Los Angeles acting class because "we were struck by how much it felt like group therapy. We decided, 'Okay, Barry can realize things about himself through theater.'"
That's a more insightful observation than the average layman might realize — for anyone who's taken an acting class a little more advanced than high school level, these classes often resemble a bizarre sort of group therapy session more than anything else. Where one might expect to see discussions of scenes, characters, and craft, such classes have an unsettling tendency to...
When Bill Hader and Alec Berg's HBO series "Barry" was first announced back in 2018, the show's identity was pitched somewhere between dark comedy and dramedy. Speaking to Vulture on the eve of the first season's release, Hader explained how he and Berg landed on placing their hitman protagonist inside a Los Angeles acting class because "we were struck by how much it felt like group therapy. We decided, 'Okay, Barry can realize things about himself through theater.'"
That's a more insightful observation than the average layman might realize — for anyone who's taken an acting class a little more advanced than high school level, these classes often resemble a bizarre sort of group therapy session more than anything else. Where one might expect to see discussions of scenes, characters, and craft, such classes have an unsettling tendency to...
- 5/1/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
Since 1912’s The Musketeers of Pig Alley, crime thrillers have become a popular genre in cinema. But what is it about these movies that appeal to the audience? It’s not that people advocate crime or the criminals, rather, it’s how the crime is solved that intrigues them. It also gives us an insight into why people do certain things that they do and understand different kinds of the human psyche. Whether it’s a slow-burn drama, a twisted mystery, or an action-packed visual spectacle, crime movies have had a lot of takers since they first began. That being said, it’s tough to narrow down some of the top-notch crime movies of all time, especially living in the prime time of streaming. That’s why we've made this handy guide. If you are a fan of the crime genre and have a Prime Video subscription, then look no further.
- 5/1/2023
- by Maddie P
- Collider.com
“The Super Mario Bros Movie” and a local sports movie “Dream” gave the South Korean box office some bounce on their first weekend on release.
Opening in Korea on Wednesday, some three weeks after the beginning of its international and North American campaigns, “Super Mario” earned $4.67 million between Friday and Sunday, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). The film has a cumulative of $5.76 million over its opening five days, plus previews.
The film’s weekend numbers are the second highest opening tally recorded by any film this year in Korea. And its weekend score represented a comfortable 40% market share.
Further near-term success may be on the cards. Monday is not an official public holiday in South Korea, but it is widely observed.
Opening in second place over the weekend was Korean sports-comedy-drama title “Dream.” It opened with $2.87 million, or 25% of the market between Friday and Sunday.
Opening in Korea on Wednesday, some three weeks after the beginning of its international and North American campaigns, “Super Mario” earned $4.67 million between Friday and Sunday, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). The film has a cumulative of $5.76 million over its opening five days, plus previews.
The film’s weekend numbers are the second highest opening tally recorded by any film this year in Korea. And its weekend score represented a comfortable 40% market share.
Further near-term success may be on the cards. Monday is not an official public holiday in South Korea, but it is widely observed.
Opening in second place over the weekend was Korean sports-comedy-drama title “Dream.” It opened with $2.87 million, or 25% of the market between Friday and Sunday.
- 5/1/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety - Film News
At the climax of Joel Schumacher's 1995 film "Batman Forever," the title hero (Val Kilmer) treks out to a foreboding island where the Riddler (Jim Carrey) is hiding out with an infernal machine and a kidnapping victim. He flies there in his Batwing airplane, while Robin (Chris O'Donnell) follows in a newly built Batboat, a ridged, H.R. Giger-like hydrofoil with an enormous bat tail. Batman and Robin stand next to the Boat for one scene as Robin gets in. In the following scene, Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) misfires missiles at the Batboat from the Riddler's home base, handily blowing it up. It was on screen for maybe two minutes. Why take a Batboat at all?
The cynicism within all of us will instantly point out that the Batboat was included in "Batman Forever" for purely commercial reasons; it was clearly an excuse for Warner Bros. to market one additional...
The cynicism within all of us will instantly point out that the Batboat was included in "Batman Forever" for purely commercial reasons; it was clearly an excuse for Warner Bros. to market one additional...
- 5/1/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Actors playing multiple roles in the same TV series or film is nothing new. With the recent release of Prime Video’s Dead Ringers series featuring Rachel Weisz as both of the Mantle twins, a re-make of the David Cronenberg movie of the same name starring Jeremy Irons in the same roles, one can’t help but be reminded that this isn’t the first time Weisz played twins. In the 2005 superhero horror flick Constantine she played both Angela and Isabel Dodson, twins with a gift for seeing the angels and demons occupying earth. Although only seen as Isabel for a brief time on screen, there’s no better time to take a look back at one of the early 2000s' best movies.
- 5/1/2023
- by Maxwell Cambria
- Collider.com
Mike Leigh is one of the best-known British filmmakers of the last several decades, and his films are some of the most distinctly British in recent memory, too. He likes to tell stories that focus on seemingly ordinary people dealing with often very mundane things. At other times, he seems to shy away from telling much of a narrative at all, with numerous films of his serving as "slice-of-life" comedy-dramas that simply present characters and their unique way of living.
- 5/1/2023
- by Jeremy Urquhart
- Collider.com
[Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “Succession” Season 4, Episode 6, “Living+.”]
Shiv is sitting in the chair. It’s not where she wanted to sit, nor is she at the head of the conference table opposite Roman (Kieran Culkin) — the only person perched in the typical seat of power — but that only makes Shiv’s framing all the more telling. Episode 6 director Lorene Scafaria positions her camera directly behind Sarah Snook’s shrewd sister. She’s not hunched over, like Logan (Brain Cox) in the opening credits, but the images share an intimation: Here sits the person in charge. And Shiv is very much in charge of that meeting, that day, and, with the exception of one bomb-dropping, bomber-jacketed bro, she’s in charge of Waystar Royco’s future.
Not formally, of course. She’s not in the captain’s chair — just backseat driving. For now, at least.
Like its suggestive early shot, Episode 6, “Living+,” creates and...
Shiv is sitting in the chair. It’s not where she wanted to sit, nor is she at the head of the conference table opposite Roman (Kieran Culkin) — the only person perched in the typical seat of power — but that only makes Shiv’s framing all the more telling. Episode 6 director Lorene Scafaria positions her camera directly behind Sarah Snook’s shrewd sister. She’s not hunched over, like Logan (Brain Cox) in the opening credits, but the images share an intimation: Here sits the person in charge. And Shiv is very much in charge of that meeting, that day, and, with the exception of one bomb-dropping, bomber-jacketed bro, she’s in charge of Waystar Royco’s future.
Not formally, of course. She’s not in the captain’s chair — just backseat driving. For now, at least.
Like its suggestive early shot, Episode 6, “Living+,” creates and...
- 5/1/2023
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
(The bid for power has not only intensified in season 4 of "Succession," but is approaching its end: now more than ever, anyone can come out on top. As the series comes to a close, we'll be tracking the rise and fall of the Roys, their allies, and their never-ending list of enemies.)
Much like the California episodes of "Mad Men," our LA excursion with the Roy family feels particularly unhinged. All three of the siblings are coming apart at the seams in "Living+," which has always been true, but something about the California sun seems to exacerbate the problem. Or maybe it has less to do with the weather and more to do with their inability to process grief.
Instead of talking to various therapists or even just each other, their outlet of choice is the future of Waystar Royco. Unsurprisingly, mixing their emotional turmoil with business has some wild...
Much like the California episodes of "Mad Men," our LA excursion with the Roy family feels particularly unhinged. All three of the siblings are coming apart at the seams in "Living+," which has always been true, but something about the California sun seems to exacerbate the problem. Or maybe it has less to do with the weather and more to do with their inability to process grief.
Instead of talking to various therapists or even just each other, their outlet of choice is the future of Waystar Royco. Unsurprisingly, mixing their emotional turmoil with business has some wild...
- 5/1/2023
- by Shania Russell
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for "Succession."
The latest episode of the modern Shakespearean tragedy that is "Succession" season 4 features Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Roman (Kieran Culkin) as unhinged as they've ever been. While Shiv (Sarah Snook) currently seems to have her head on straight, the Roy brothers are already going mad with power. Roman's going on an ill-advised firing spree, and Kendall, most alarmingly, is trying to figure out a way to cure aging. Dying is "bulls**t," Kendall says, and he's kind of got a point: the average person only gets around seventy to eighty years, and most of that time is spent sleeping or working. Doesn't seem particularly fair, does it?
Of course, this is all undercut by the fact that Kendall and Roman's newfound anger at death is the result of their father's supposedly unexpected passing (in the best episode of the series thus far). Logan (Brian Cox) got to live 84 years,...
The latest episode of the modern Shakespearean tragedy that is "Succession" season 4 features Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Roman (Kieran Culkin) as unhinged as they've ever been. While Shiv (Sarah Snook) currently seems to have her head on straight, the Roy brothers are already going mad with power. Roman's going on an ill-advised firing spree, and Kendall, most alarmingly, is trying to figure out a way to cure aging. Dying is "bulls**t," Kendall says, and he's kind of got a point: the average person only gets around seventy to eighty years, and most of that time is spent sleeping or working. Doesn't seem particularly fair, does it?
Of course, this is all undercut by the fact that Kendall and Roman's newfound anger at death is the result of their father's supposedly unexpected passing (in the best episode of the series thus far). Logan (Brian Cox) got to live 84 years,...
- 5/1/2023
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
"Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back" held a huge revelation; Darth Vader was the father of Luke Skywalker. Almost everyone in the world has access to this information now, but when the film hit theaters in 1980, that was a huge deal. In 2023, we have prequel films, TV series, novels, comic books, and video games devoted to exploring Anakin Skywalker's history and tragic downfall. However, as someone who was a tiny person when "Empire" came out, I can tell you that this news was major talk on the playground for the entire rest of the school year.
Nowadays, we have social media to discuss spoilers and argue about how long we have to wait to discuss them openly. Actors have non-disclosure agreements that can be massive documents. The landscape was different back then. The first episode in the film series, 1977's "A New Hope" wasn't really an anticipated title,...
Nowadays, we have social media to discuss spoilers and argue about how long we have to wait to discuss them openly. Actors have non-disclosure agreements that can be massive documents. The landscape was different back then. The first episode in the film series, 1977's "A New Hope" wasn't really an anticipated title,...
- 5/1/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
The debut feature of Duong Dieu Linh and a documentary from Quang Nong Nhat selected.
Bangkok-based film fund Purin Pictures has selected five projects from Southeast Asia as the recipients of its spring 2023 funding round, which will receive a combined $120,000 in production grants.
The titles include Duong Dieu Linh’s feature debut Don’t Cry, Butterfly and Quang Nong Nhat’s documentary Baby Jackfruit, Baby Guava.
“Over the past several years, Vietnam in particular has proved to be a bright spot in the region for cinema,” said Aditya Assarat, co-director of Purin Pictures. “You could say we are in the...
Bangkok-based film fund Purin Pictures has selected five projects from Southeast Asia as the recipients of its spring 2023 funding round, which will receive a combined $120,000 in production grants.
The titles include Duong Dieu Linh’s feature debut Don’t Cry, Butterfly and Quang Nong Nhat’s documentary Baby Jackfruit, Baby Guava.
“Over the past several years, Vietnam in particular has proved to be a bright spot in the region for cinema,” said Aditya Assarat, co-director of Purin Pictures. “You could say we are in the...
- 5/1/2023
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
There is a scene in the movie Clerks where Randal (Jeff Anderson) and Dante (Brian O'Halloran) are discussing the second Death Star in Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. More specifically, what happened to independent contractors working on Death Star 2.0. How many died when it was blown to smithereens? Were they innocent victims, or were they Imperial loyalists, knowingly contributing labor to an evil Empire? It's a fascinating debate that sets one to wonder: Just how many people did die on Death Star 2.0? Was it more, or less, than the number of lost souls on Death Star 1.0? Then there are those that manned the Starkiller Base in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. How many died there? All told, it's a shockingly high number of deaths on huge superweapons (clearly the Emperor compensating for something) that paints the Rebel victories blood-red.
- 5/1/2023
- by Lloyd Farley
- Collider.com
WGA basic agreement expires at 11.59pm Pt on Monday. Directors, actors prepare to commence separate talks.
Hollywood and the global entertainment business are watching closely as the final day of negotiations between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Alliance of Motion Picture And Television Producers (AMPTP) counts down towards the expiry of the current basic agreement.
Talks were ongoing on Sunday and may continue on Monday before the contract end at 11.59pm Pt on Monday. While nobody wants a repeat of the 2007-08 strike which lasted 100 days, both parties have been sticking to their agenda throughout the negotiations.
Last...
Hollywood and the global entertainment business are watching closely as the final day of negotiations between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Alliance of Motion Picture And Television Producers (AMPTP) counts down towards the expiry of the current basic agreement.
Talks were ongoing on Sunday and may continue on Monday before the contract end at 11.59pm Pt on Monday. While nobody wants a repeat of the 2007-08 strike which lasted 100 days, both parties have been sticking to their agenda throughout the negotiations.
Last...
- 5/1/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
A new trend seems to be popping up on streaming services: taking an immensely popular young adult novel and developing it into a television series. HBO Max, soon to be rebranded as Max, will be developing a new Harry Potter series. Percy Jackson and the Olympians is being reimagined as a television series for Disney+. Even Twilight is getting in on the action! On a certain level this makes sense: Hollywood is hungry for IP to strip-mine/sell, not to mention the ability to stay closer to the source material with a television format. But all of these series were beaten to the punch by one unlikely contender: The Mortal Instruments. The Cassandra Clare-penned series attempted to piggyback on the young adult craze with a film series...but crashed with its first installment, City of Bones. However, The Mortal Instruments would get a second life in the Freeform series...
- 5/1/2023
- by Collier Jennings
- Collider.com
Character actors are in their own unique class within the acting community. These thespians tend to gravitate toward the unusual characters rather than the more mainstream, cookie-cutter roles. But from the sidelines, these actors dig into their parts, creating something meaty and memorable. There are plenty of great character actors out there, such as Sam Elliot and Judy Greer, yet many get typecast and are unable to show off their range as an actor. That, however, cannot be said for Margo Martindale.
- 5/1/2023
- by Meredith Loftus
- Collider.com
This article contains spoilers for "Scream VI."One of the absolute best things about "Scream" as a franchise is how often it acknowledges the masters that came before it. In the original film, John Carpenter's "Halloween" is even given a big chunk of screen time. The series has always paid tribute to the masters of decades past, even when one of those very masters was directing! It's odd that there's a Freddy Krueger nod in the first "Scream" considering that Craven is the director of both, but it's appropriate that Craven himself played the red and green sweater-wearing janitor, "Fred." Somehow that makes it work.
Anyway, the series is at its best when it wears those homages on its sleeve and it's especially cool for genre fans when the cast embraces horror as well.
Jenna Ortega has been acting forever, but she really exploded onto the scene with "Scream V,...
Anyway, the series is at its best when it wears those homages on its sleeve and it's especially cool for genre fans when the cast embraces horror as well.
Jenna Ortega has been acting forever, but she really exploded onto the scene with "Scream V,...
- 5/1/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
A little over ten years ago, on April 23, 2013, Dave Burd released his first video on YouTube, producing the video using money he saved from his Bar Mitzvah. In the early days of Instagram and the days before the existence of TikTok, the concept of going viral was still relatively novel, but Burd did just that. Burd's video, "Ex-Boyfriend," gained over a million views in a day in what Burd still calls "the best day of [his] life," taking a man who was an ad executive to an underground Internet rapper. A viral underground Internet rapper. Under the rap name "Lil Dicky," Burd made ripples in the hip-hop game.
- 4/30/2023
- by T.L. Solis
- Collider.com
As one of the industry's most popular core genres, as well as the scariest and frequently most disturbing, the films that fit into the horror genre are often the reason why global audiences lose sleep. Nonetheless, they are equal parts entertaining and challenging, allowing enthusiasts to delve into the darkest sides of humanity (and the unknown) in a safe environment.
- 4/30/2023
- by Daniela Gama
- Collider.com
Micky Levy, to direct psychological horror.
Angela Sarafyan (Westworld) and Shohreh Aghdashloo (The House Of Sand And Fog) have been cast in the psychological horror She’s Not Gone which The Coven is launching for worldwide sales at Cannes market.
Micky Levy, who wrote the Warner Bros. feature Rails And Ties starring Kevin Bacon and Marcia Gay Harden, will direct the story about a woman who must battle her demonic inheritance and untangle her mother’s secretive past to save herself and two young children.
“The film explores the deep bond between mothers and daughters and delves into the experience...
Angela Sarafyan (Westworld) and Shohreh Aghdashloo (The House Of Sand And Fog) have been cast in the psychological horror She’s Not Gone which The Coven is launching for worldwide sales at Cannes market.
Micky Levy, who wrote the Warner Bros. feature Rails And Ties starring Kevin Bacon and Marcia Gay Harden, will direct the story about a woman who must battle her demonic inheritance and untangle her mother’s secretive past to save herself and two young children.
“The film explores the deep bond between mothers and daughters and delves into the experience...
- 4/30/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
One of the most awaited biopics of 2022, I Wanna Dance with Somebody reawakens the legacy of one of the greatest singers of our times, Whitney Houston. Featuring Naomi Ackie as the star herself, the movie takes a cinematic look at her life as a celebrated musician and cultural icon of the 80s and 90s. The biographical musical drama is directed by Kasi Lemmons, best known for previously directing Harriet; and is written by Anthony McCarten (The Two Popes). Besides Ackie, the ensemble cast of the biopic also includes Stanley Tucci as legendary record producer Clive Davis, Ashton Sanders as Bobby Brown, Nafessa Williams as Robyn Crawford, Tamara Tunie as Cissy Houston, Clarke Peters as John Houston, and Bria Danielle Singleton as Bobbi Kristina Brown, among others.
- 4/30/2023
- by Maddie P
- Collider.com
"Star Trek: Picard" is over and done with, and the cast of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" has had one final adventure together. Showrunner Terry Matalas even contrived a way to get Patrick Stewart, Gates McFadden, Michael Dorn, LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner, Marina Sirtis, and Jonathan Frakes back on board the destroyed Enterprise-d. It seems that Geordi La Forge (Burton) had salvaged what he could from Veridian III, and had spent the last few decades rebuilding the Galaxy-class vessel in his spare time. The aging crew fell right back into place, operating their old ship with skill and alacrity. Personally, I hope I'm never asked to return to an old job decades later and be expected to remember anything, but the Enterprise crew are most assuredly smarter than me.
The series finale's climax -- with the Enterprise staging a daring rescue inside a massive Borg ship -- was plain and...
The series finale's climax -- with the Enterprise staging a daring rescue inside a massive Borg ship -- was plain and...
- 4/30/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
It’s always fascinating to see the general consensus on something in movies shift so drastically over time. Take end-credit bloopers, for example. For a long time, they were considered an ominous sign for a comedy movie. People often bristled at their presence and the conventional opinion was that they were strained attempts to inject an otherwise flat comedy film with some last-minute gags. Matt Singer's ScreenCrush review for the dismal 2015 comedy Hot Pursuit outlines this phenomenon quite nicely, while Christy Lemire's RogerEbert.com review for The House in 2017 also observes the movie's end-credit bloopers as an indication of the feature's overall dismal quality. The examples of end credit bloopers being perceived as a defect are endless.
- 4/30/2023
- by Douglas Laman
- Collider.com
Editor's note: The following contains spoilers for Evil Dead Rise.It has always seemed like there has only been one Book of the Dead, aka the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, that has caused all the trouble in the Evil Dead franchise — at least that was believed until the newly released Evil Dead Rise. Now, it has been made clear that the torment caused in this franchise has not been from one singular book, but three! In the latest Evil Dead installment, a vinyl recording is played with a priest reading from "one of three volumes" of the Necronomicon. This explanation confirms that the original trilogy, the 2013 reboot, Evil Dead, and Evil Dead Rise all take place in the same universe, with a different Book of the Dead being the source of trouble with each newly established storyline. If that's the case, where are all of these Books of the Dead now? Where...
- 4/30/2023
- by Samuel Williamson
- Collider.com
Mankind Entertainment feature starring Ana Villafane, James Franco is in post.
Mankind Entertainment has hired music producer, composer and songwriter Carlos José Alvarez to score Castro’s Daughter, which UTA Independent Film Group’s Alex Brunner represents for worldwide sales and has begun talks with buyers heading into the Cannes market.
As previously announced Ana Villafane plays the lead role opposite James Franco as Castro. The project shot on location in Colombia doubling for Castro-era Havana and is in post. Global sales talks continue with an eye towards having the film ready for Venice and Toronto.
Miguel Bardem directs the...
Mankind Entertainment has hired music producer, composer and songwriter Carlos José Alvarez to score Castro’s Daughter, which UTA Independent Film Group’s Alex Brunner represents for worldwide sales and has begun talks with buyers heading into the Cannes market.
As previously announced Ana Villafane plays the lead role opposite James Franco as Castro. The project shot on location in Colombia doubling for Castro-era Havana and is in post. Global sales talks continue with an eye towards having the film ready for Venice and Toronto.
Miguel Bardem directs the...
- 4/30/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Mankind Entertainment feature starring Ana Villafane, James Franco is in post.
Latin Grammy-winning music producer Carlos José Alvarez has been hired by Mankind Entertainment to score Castro’s Daughter, which UTA Independent Film Group’s Alex Brunner represents for worldwide sales and has begun talks with buyers heading into the Cannes market.
As previously announced Ana Villafane plays the lead role opposite James Franco as Castro. The project shot on location in Colombia doubling for Castro-era Havana and is in post. Global sales talks continue with an eye towards having the film ready for Venice and Toronto.
Miguel Bardem directs...
Latin Grammy-winning music producer Carlos José Alvarez has been hired by Mankind Entertainment to score Castro’s Daughter, which UTA Independent Film Group’s Alex Brunner represents for worldwide sales and has begun talks with buyers heading into the Cannes market.
As previously announced Ana Villafane plays the lead role opposite James Franco as Castro. The project shot on location in Colombia doubling for Castro-era Havana and is in post. Global sales talks continue with an eye towards having the film ready for Venice and Toronto.
Miguel Bardem directs...
- 4/30/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Groot appears in different forms in every "Guardians of the Galaxy" movie, but whether he's baby-sized or 10 feet tall, Marvel fans probably know his key characteristics: he's an anthropomorphic humanoid tree, best friends with Rocket Raccoon, and can only say "I am Groot." However, the original Groot was quite a different beast (and had a much larger vocabulary).
Groot's comic debut was "Tales to Astonish" #13, published in 1960. This means he predates every modern Marvel hero barring Captain America and Namor the Sub-Mariner — only he wasn't a hero at first. Co-created by Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and his brother Larry Lieber, the original Groot was a malicious alien invader.
"I Challenged Groot, the Monster from Planet X!" was the eight-page chapter 1 of a four-chapter issue. This means Groot got to be on the cover; his cover appearance was brown in the original coloring, but grey in the modern recolor despite the...
Groot's comic debut was "Tales to Astonish" #13, published in 1960. This means he predates every modern Marvel hero barring Captain America and Namor the Sub-Mariner — only he wasn't a hero at first. Co-created by Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and his brother Larry Lieber, the original Groot was a malicious alien invader.
"I Challenged Groot, the Monster from Planet X!" was the eight-page chapter 1 of a four-chapter issue. This means Groot got to be on the cover; his cover appearance was brown in the original coloring, but grey in the modern recolor despite the...
- 4/30/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
When discussing the most iconic sequences in Star Wars, you've got to go through an expansive list that features some of culture's favorite scenes in media. The reveal of Darth Vade in Empire Strikes Back is one of the most legendary moments in all entertainment. The duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin in Revenge of the Sith continues to be one of the most recreated and quoted scenes in playgrounds and pop culture. For whatever mixed reception it has received, the sequel trilogy of Star Wars films also features its own visually and narratively iconic scene-- in the installment most fans might not consider. Because for all the controversy and criticisms some fans might have about Rian Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the throne room scene on Snoke's ship will always be one of the most memorable and important scenes in the trilogy.
- 4/30/2023
- by Emmanuel Ronquillo
- Collider.com
This post contains spoilers for season 1 of "The Last of Us," and the game's sequel, "The Last of Us Part II."
Season 1 of "The Last of Us" was not just one of HBO's most successful new shows in over a decade, but also a landmark moment for video game adaptations. A once cursed genre has now been proven to be especially profitable, and as various other games like "Fallout" make their way to becoming live-action shows, there is a bright future ahead in the entertainment industry. The HBO series faithfully captured the post-apocalyptic dystopia of Naughty Dog's critically acclaimed game in live-action, as well as delivered career-best performances from Pedro Pascal ("The Mandalorian") and Bella Ramsey ("Game of Thrones").
What was the secret to "The Last of Us" and its rare critical success? According to showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, it was about staying true to the essence of the original story,...
Season 1 of "The Last of Us" was not just one of HBO's most successful new shows in over a decade, but also a landmark moment for video game adaptations. A once cursed genre has now been proven to be especially profitable, and as various other games like "Fallout" make their way to becoming live-action shows, there is a bright future ahead in the entertainment industry. The HBO series faithfully captured the post-apocalyptic dystopia of Naughty Dog's critically acclaimed game in live-action, as well as delivered career-best performances from Pedro Pascal ("The Mandalorian") and Bella Ramsey ("Game of Thrones").
What was the secret to "The Last of Us" and its rare critical success? According to showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, it was about staying true to the essence of the original story,...
- 4/30/2023
- by Tyler Llewyn Taing
- Slash Film
Despite ending two decades ago now, Buffy the Vampire Slayer lives on an iconic TV show, with seven compelling seasons that aired between 1997 and 2003. It followed the title character as she fulfilled her destiny of being the chosen one; a person granted powerful physical abilities to fight vampires and other demonic forces. She also had to battle everyday problems, too, with the show serving as a coming-of-age tale as well as being an epic story about good versus evil.
- 4/30/2023
- by Jeremy Urquhart
- Collider.com
Jude Law has firmly established himself as one of the most successful and unique movie stars of his generation, and shown a rare ability to take risks on all types of projects in his later years. While the phrase “a character actor in a leading man’s body” is often overused, it’s a fairly accurate way to describe someone like Law; between his heartbreaking role as a wounded Civil War deserter in Cold Mountain to his outrageous take on the leader of the Catholic Church in HBO’s wildly experimental miniseries The Young Pope, Law can never be accused of giving the same performance twice. While Law has already been receiving acclaim for his performance as Captain Hook in Peter Pan & Wendy, it’s worth remembering that it was his steamy, effortlessly charismatic role as Dickie Greenleaf in The Talented Mr. Ripley that made him into the icon that he is today.
- 4/30/2023
- by Liam Gaughan
- Collider.com
Today, we love Daniel Craig for being a Southern detective and the snazzy outfits he wears while solving mysteries. Today, we adore Rachel Weisz for her unpredictable performances and heavy-duty queer vibes. But in 2011, there just wasn’t enough affection for these performers to turn their 2011 feature Dream House into a hit. An infamous box office bomb, Dream House wasn’t a film sunk by just one bad element. A perfect storm of bad decisions came together to sabotage a Craig/Weisz horror film. Not even the presence of Benoit Blanc or Weisz’s heroic librarian could’ve saved this one!
- 4/30/2023
- by Douglas Laman
- Collider.com
Before the MCU turned superheroes into Hollywood’s bread and butter, Fox noticed they were sitting on a goldmine when Bryan Singer’s X-Men film franchise broke every box office expectation. After the original X-Men film trilogy was done, Fox started to plan how to expand the franchise, which led to the X-Men Origins: Wolverine spinoff. Centered on Hugh Jackman’s beloved Mutant, X-Men Origins: Wolverine failed to impress critics but hauled enough money to justify giving the character more solo movies. 2013’s The Wolverine still had some obvious flaws, but the movie was elevated by James Mangold's formidable direction. And when Mangold took the helm of the story for 2017’s Logan, we finally saw Jackman realize his full potential as the titular Mutant. However, as good as Logan is, the movie wouldn’t have such a lasting effect on the public if it weren't for Laura, aka X-...
- 4/30/2023
- by Marco Vito Oddo
- Collider.com
Offering a singular perspective on Russia’s current pariah status in much of the world is Gaukur Ulfarsson’s “Soviet Barbara,” probably the most enjoyable — as opposed to depressing — documentary involving the invasion of Ukraine you’re likely to see. It focuses on Icelandic multimedia artist Ragnar Kjartansson’s preparation for exhibits that would open a major new museum in Moscow.
That launch proves fatefully ill-timed in terms of larger events, however, even as his splashiest custom creation provides ironic commentary on recent Russian history by reprising an American TV soap opera that had been an unlikely imported smash in the nation’s immediate post-ussr years. The colorful intersection between art, ideology, patronage and politics should appeal to a wide range of nonfiction outlets and programmers.
The power of art to enflame emotions is illustrated straight off by Kjartansson’s discussion of a famous 19th-century oil by Ilya Repin that...
That launch proves fatefully ill-timed in terms of larger events, however, even as his splashiest custom creation provides ironic commentary on recent Russian history by reprising an American TV soap opera that had been an unlikely imported smash in the nation’s immediate post-ussr years. The colorful intersection between art, ideology, patronage and politics should appeal to a wide range of nonfiction outlets and programmers.
The power of art to enflame emotions is illustrated straight off by Kjartansson’s discussion of a famous 19th-century oil by Ilya Repin that...
- 4/30/2023
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety - Film News
Here we are at the precipice of an uncertain yet familiar place.
The question of whether the TV and film industry will be shut down by labor action will be answered one way or another by the time Monday ends on the west coast. In broad strokes, the Writers Guild of America and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers face one of three basic outcomes as the WGA contract expires at midnight Pst.
Behind Door No. 1 – the sides reach a tentative agreement. Door No. 2 — they agree on a short-term extension, which is unlikely but could be anything from 12 hours to 12 days, or more. Door No. 3 – the talks are called off by one side or the other — or both — and picketing ensues in Los Angeles and New York on May 2.
The industry has been here before, many times. Contentious labor talks in Hollywood are rarely settled without the pressure of...
The question of whether the TV and film industry will be shut down by labor action will be answered one way or another by the time Monday ends on the west coast. In broad strokes, the Writers Guild of America and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers face one of three basic outcomes as the WGA contract expires at midnight Pst.
Behind Door No. 1 – the sides reach a tentative agreement. Door No. 2 — they agree on a short-term extension, which is unlikely but could be anything from 12 hours to 12 days, or more. Door No. 3 – the talks are called off by one side or the other — or both — and picketing ensues in Los Angeles and New York on May 2.
The industry has been here before, many times. Contentious labor talks in Hollywood are rarely settled without the pressure of...
- 4/30/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety - Film News
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