Brainy political lightning rod Oliver Stone isn’t making feature films anymore. Sure, he’d love to add a 21st to his 20 films to date; he just can’t find backers. His alternate route, like many other directors today, from fellow Cannes entrant Ron Howard (“Jim Henson: Idea Man”) to Martin Scorsese, is documentaries.
Stone has churned out a career total of ten, including recent 2021 Cannes entry “JFK Revisited” (Showtime) and 2022 eco-doc “Nuclear” (Abramorama). His latest, “Lula,” marks a move to the left from his much-criticized recent portraits of dictators such as Cuba’s Fidel Castro (HBO’s “Comandante”) and Russia’s Vladimir Putin (Showtime’s four-part “The Putin Interviews”).
Since his start as a filmmaker in the 1970s, the Yale-grad-turned-Vietnam-vet, now 77, has leaned into political fiction, from “Salvador,” “Wall Street,” and “W.,” to Best Director Oscar-winners “Platoon” and “Born on the Fourth of July.” His last Oscar nomination came in 1996, for “Nixon,...
Stone has churned out a career total of ten, including recent 2021 Cannes entry “JFK Revisited” (Showtime) and 2022 eco-doc “Nuclear” (Abramorama). His latest, “Lula,” marks a move to the left from his much-criticized recent portraits of dictators such as Cuba’s Fidel Castro (HBO’s “Comandante”) and Russia’s Vladimir Putin (Showtime’s four-part “The Putin Interviews”).
Since his start as a filmmaker in the 1970s, the Yale-grad-turned-Vietnam-vet, now 77, has leaned into political fiction, from “Salvador,” “Wall Street,” and “W.,” to Best Director Oscar-winners “Platoon” and “Born on the Fourth of July.” His last Oscar nomination came in 1996, for “Nixon,...
- 5/24/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Brad Pitt, Robert Downey Jr., and Keanu Reeves are three of the most prominent stars in Hollywood. Pitt was at the beginning of his career giving fans acclaimed movies like Thelma & Louise in 1991 but the actor lost a movie role he wanted in the same year and it also happened to Downey Jr. and Reeves.
William Baldwin, Donald Sutherland in Backdraft. Credit: Universal Pictures
The impact of losing the role upon all three stars may seem insignificant considering their remarkable cinematic career but the loss of a movie may hit hard. After their horrible auditions for Ron Howard’s Backdraft, the trio lost the role to William Baldwin. The movie could have been in the resume of one of the actors.
Brad Pitt, Robert Downey Jr. And Keanu Reeves Lost A Role To William Baldwin Brad Pitt, Robert Downey Jr., and Keanu Reeves. Credit: MGM, Fine Line Features, and...
William Baldwin, Donald Sutherland in Backdraft. Credit: Universal Pictures
The impact of losing the role upon all three stars may seem insignificant considering their remarkable cinematic career but the loss of a movie may hit hard. After their horrible auditions for Ron Howard’s Backdraft, the trio lost the role to William Baldwin. The movie could have been in the resume of one of the actors.
Brad Pitt, Robert Downey Jr. And Keanu Reeves Lost A Role To William Baldwin Brad Pitt, Robert Downey Jr., and Keanu Reeves. Credit: MGM, Fine Line Features, and...
- 5/23/2024
- by Lachit Roy
- FandomWire
Boy Kills World is an extremely stylized dystopian action thriller revenge film directed by Moritz Mohr from a screenplay by Tyler Burton Smith and Arend Remmers. Based on the story by Remmers and Mohr, the brilliant action film is set in a dystopian film where the Van Der Koy family rules the city. We follow the story of a young boy known only as Boy who is hell-bent on becoming a living breathing weapon to take revenge against the Van Der Koy family. Boy Kills World stars Bill Skarsgård in the lead role with Jessica Rothe, Andrew Koji, Famke Janssen, H. Jon Benjamin, Yayan Ruhian, Cameron Crovetti, Michelle Dockery, Brett Gelman, Quinn Copeland, and Sharlto Copley starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the stylized action, dark comedy, and brutal violence in Boy Kills World here are some similar films you could watch next.
Wanted (Tubi & Rent on Prime...
Wanted (Tubi & Rent on Prime...
- 5/23/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
If you’ve been keeping up with distribution news recently, there’s been one name you’ll have seen pop up again and again: Vertical.
Since the pandemic, the bottom has fallen out of the film business, with more quality indie packages hitting the marketplace than there are distributors willing to take them on. Stepping up, in the years since, to offer many of them a home, is this indie distributor, which appears to be in the midst of its biggest year yet.
Founded in 2012 by Rich Goldberg and Mitch Budin, Vertical comes from humble beginnings, according to partner Peter Jarowey, who notes that the team at one point operated out of “a literal broom closet.” Initially working to establish itself as a resource in securing ancillary revenue for indies, the company has of late has become a theatrical player in its own right. Aspiring from the beginning to be a purveyor of “commercial,...
Since the pandemic, the bottom has fallen out of the film business, with more quality indie packages hitting the marketplace than there are distributors willing to take them on. Stepping up, in the years since, to offer many of them a home, is this indie distributor, which appears to be in the midst of its biggest year yet.
Founded in 2012 by Rich Goldberg and Mitch Budin, Vertical comes from humble beginnings, according to partner Peter Jarowey, who notes that the team at one point operated out of “a literal broom closet.” Initially working to establish itself as a resource in securing ancillary revenue for indies, the company has of late has become a theatrical player in its own right. Aspiring from the beginning to be a purveyor of “commercial,...
- 5/17/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Gloria Stroock, who played Rock Hudson’s secretary on McMillan & Wife and appeared in films including Fun With Dick and Jane, The Competition and The Day of the Locust, has died. She was 99.
Stroock died May 5 of natural causes in Tucson, Arizona, her daughter, Kate Stern, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Stroock was married to Emmy-winning writer-producer Leonard B. Stern (Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion, The Phil Silvers Show, The Honeymooners, Get Smart and much more) from 1956 until his death in 2011 at age 87.
Her late younger sister was Geraldine Brooks, a Tony nominee and Warner Bros. contract player (Cry Wolf, Embraceable You).
Stroock recurred as Maggie, the secretary of Hudson’s San Francisco police commissioner Stewart McMillan, on the final three seasons (1974-77) of McMillan & Wife, the NBC series created by her husband.
She portrayed the wife of Richard Dysart’s art director in John Schlesinger’s The Day of the Locust...
Stroock died May 5 of natural causes in Tucson, Arizona, her daughter, Kate Stern, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Stroock was married to Emmy-winning writer-producer Leonard B. Stern (Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion, The Phil Silvers Show, The Honeymooners, Get Smart and much more) from 1956 until his death in 2011 at age 87.
Her late younger sister was Geraldine Brooks, a Tony nominee and Warner Bros. contract player (Cry Wolf, Embraceable You).
Stroock recurred as Maggie, the secretary of Hudson’s San Francisco police commissioner Stewart McMillan, on the final three seasons (1974-77) of McMillan & Wife, the NBC series created by her husband.
She portrayed the wife of Richard Dysart’s art director in John Schlesinger’s The Day of the Locust...
- 5/14/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
We’re zapping into science fiction territory and back into “re-adaptation” conversations this month for Revenge of the Remakes. Don Siegel and Philip Kaufman bring vastly different approaches to their Invasion of the Body Snatchers films, uniformly citing Jack Finney’s 1954 novel “The Body Snatchers” as their source. Kaufman isn’t directly remaking Siegel’s film but acknowledges its existence multiple times; there’s a literary influence behind both features, yet Kaufman can’t ignore what already exists. The same conversation arose in my The Fly analysis, and will assuredly surface again down the road. Invasion of the Body Snatchers can’t help itself from being a remake, and with decades apart, Kaufman evolves the product into a contemporary extraterrestrial nightmare (speaking for the late 1970s).
Everything about Invasion of the Body Snatchers showcases how cinematic advancements benefit remakes like The Blob or House on Haunted Hill, reimaginings of classics...
Everything about Invasion of the Body Snatchers showcases how cinematic advancements benefit remakes like The Blob or House on Haunted Hill, reimaginings of classics...
- 5/3/2024
- by Matt Donato
- bloody-disgusting.com
Blue Fox Entertainment has picked up worldwide rights ahead of Cannes to financial thriller The Panic with Donald Sutherland attached to join Carey Elwes, Malcolm McDowell, Justin Chatwin, and Cristiana Dell’Anna.
Daniel Adams, whose credits include The Walk and The Golden Boys, wrote and will direct the feature, which is based on a true story and takes place in 1907 in New York as real-life bankers J. P. Morgan and Charles Barney grapple with a financial crisis sparked by Barney’s failed attempt to manipulate the copper market.
As Morgan strives to safeguard his empire he becomes entangled in a clandestine struggle involving his brilliant mistress,...
Daniel Adams, whose credits include The Walk and The Golden Boys, wrote and will direct the feature, which is based on a true story and takes place in 1907 in New York as real-life bankers J. P. Morgan and Charles Barney grapple with a financial crisis sparked by Barney’s failed attempt to manipulate the copper market.
As Morgan strives to safeguard his empire he becomes entangled in a clandestine struggle involving his brilliant mistress,...
- 5/2/2024
- ScreenDaily
Blue Fox Entertainment has picked up worldwide rights ahead of Cannes to financial thriller The Panic with Donald Sutherland, Carey Elwes, Malcolm McDowell, Justin Chatwin, and Cristiana Dell’Anna attached to star.
Daniel Adams, whose credits include The Walk and The Golden Boys, wrote and will direct the feature, which is based on a true story and takes place in 1907 in New York as real-life bankers J. P. Morgan and Charles Barney grapple with a financial crisis sparked by Barney’s failed attempt to manipulate the copper market.
As Morgan strives to safeguard his empire he becomes entangled in a clandestine struggle involving his brilliant mistress,...
Daniel Adams, whose credits include The Walk and The Golden Boys, wrote and will direct the feature, which is based on a true story and takes place in 1907 in New York as real-life bankers J. P. Morgan and Charles Barney grapple with a financial crisis sparked by Barney’s failed attempt to manipulate the copper market.
As Morgan strives to safeguard his empire he becomes entangled in a clandestine struggle involving his brilliant mistress,...
- 5/2/2024
- ScreenDaily
Whether to rewatch a favorite or catch a classic for the first time, Netflix‘s movie collection has it all. The Hunger Games series hasn’t been part of the streaming giant’s catalog for long, giving subscribers a brief chance to enter the world of Panem.
And while some movies remain on Netflix for months, if not years, the Hunger Games series doesn’t have the same shelf-life.
Josh Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, and Donald Sutherland (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) All 4 original ‘Hunger Games’ movies leave Netflix on May 31
Like the tributes in the Hunger Games, the movies were never meant to last on Netflix. The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Part I and Part II leave Netflix on May 31.
The series leaves the streaming service soon after arriving. Netflix added the four original Hunger Games movies to its...
And while some movies remain on Netflix for months, if not years, the Hunger Games series doesn’t have the same shelf-life.
Josh Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, and Donald Sutherland (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) All 4 original ‘Hunger Games’ movies leave Netflix on May 31
Like the tributes in the Hunger Games, the movies were never meant to last on Netflix. The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Part I and Part II leave Netflix on May 31.
The series leaves the streaming service soon after arriving. Netflix added the four original Hunger Games movies to its...
- 5/1/2024
- by Matt Moore
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Donald Sutherland has written his autobiography, which goes by the name Made Up, But Still True. More details on it here.
In a film career that’s covered seven decades, Donald Sutherland hasn’t been shy of memorable roles and terrific performances. For the most part though, he’s been letting his acting do the talking. Now though, he’s telling his life story in his autobiography, which is going to be on sale before the year is out.
Entitled Made Up, But Still True, we’re promised a book that’s going to be candid and unpredictable, and also one that reflects on an incredible career.
It’s being published by Penguin in the UK on 12th November 2024, and it’s gone up for pre-order now.
You can find out more on the book, and order a copy, right here.
Penguin has issued a synopsis for the book too,...
In a film career that’s covered seven decades, Donald Sutherland hasn’t been shy of memorable roles and terrific performances. For the most part though, he’s been letting his acting do the talking. Now though, he’s telling his life story in his autobiography, which is going to be on sale before the year is out.
Entitled Made Up, But Still True, we’re promised a book that’s going to be candid and unpredictable, and also one that reflects on an incredible career.
It’s being published by Penguin in the UK on 12th November 2024, and it’s gone up for pre-order now.
You can find out more on the book, and order a copy, right here.
Penguin has issued a synopsis for the book too,...
- 4/30/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Lawmen: Bass Reeves is an American Western series that premiered late last year. However, it has already received a very positive critical reception, earning an impressive 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and becoming the most watched show worldwide on Paramount+.
The show is clearly destined for a series renewal. However, to the surprise of fans, the show's creators have stated that the second season is likely to be very different from the first.
What is Lawmen: Bass Reeves about?
The Western-themed show follows the story of real-life Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves, the first African-American to hold the position in the Upper Midwest Territory. Also based on The Bass Reeves book trilogy by Sidney Thompson, the plot of each episode follows Reeves (played by David Oyelowo) as he goes from being held as a slave to becoming one of the most famous lawmen in history.
The series also features...
The show is clearly destined for a series renewal. However, to the surprise of fans, the show's creators have stated that the second season is likely to be very different from the first.
What is Lawmen: Bass Reeves about?
The Western-themed show follows the story of real-life Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves, the first African-American to hold the position in the Upper Midwest Territory. Also based on The Bass Reeves book trilogy by Sidney Thompson, the plot of each episode follows Reeves (played by David Oyelowo) as he goes from being held as a slave to becoming one of the most famous lawmen in history.
The series also features...
- 4/25/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Dan Bentley)
- STartefacts.com
The red carpet will soon roll out for the 77th Festival de Cannes. The international film festival, playing out May 14-25, has a distinct American voice this year. “Barbie” filmmaker Greta Gerwig is the first U.S. female director name jury president. Many veteran American helmers are heading to the French Rivera resort town. George Lucas, who turns 80 on May 14, will receive an honorary Palme d’Or. Francis Ford Coppola’s much-anticipated “Megalopolis” is screening in competition, as is Paul Schrader’s “Oh Canada.” Kevin Costner’s new Western “Horizon, An American Saga” will premiere out of competition and Oliver Stone’s “Lula” is part of the special screening showcase.
Fifty years ago, Coppola was the toast of the 27th Cannes Film Festival. His brilliant psychological thriller “The Conversation” starring Gene Hackman won the Palme D’Or and well as a Special Mention from the Ecumenical Jury. The film would earn three Oscar nominations: picture,...
Fifty years ago, Coppola was the toast of the 27th Cannes Film Festival. His brilliant psychological thriller “The Conversation” starring Gene Hackman won the Palme D’Or and well as a Special Mention from the Ecumenical Jury. The film would earn three Oscar nominations: picture,...
- 4/25/2024
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
Fred Schepisi is set to direct Israel-based thriller “The Dimona Affair,” Variety has learned exclusively.
The project is based on the story of a whistleblower who claimed Israel was building a nuclear weapons program. (The country has always denied it has nuclear weapons).
After giving The Sunday Times of London a detailed interview about the program in the 1980s, causing an international scandal, “low level” Israeli nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu fled the country. He was then reportedly lured to Rome by a female Israeli secret service agent in a honeytrap operation where he was kidnapped and repatriated to Israel. Vanunu eventually stood trial for espionage and treason before being convicted and jailed.
Schepisi, whose last feature project was “Words and Pictures” starring Clive Owen and Juliette Binochein 2013, is set to direct from a script penned by screenwriter and investigative journalist Morrie Rosmarin.
The director is best known for 1993 pic “Six Degrees of Separation...
The project is based on the story of a whistleblower who claimed Israel was building a nuclear weapons program. (The country has always denied it has nuclear weapons).
After giving The Sunday Times of London a detailed interview about the program in the 1980s, causing an international scandal, “low level” Israeli nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu fled the country. He was then reportedly lured to Rome by a female Israeli secret service agent in a honeytrap operation where he was kidnapped and repatriated to Israel. Vanunu eventually stood trial for espionage and treason before being convicted and jailed.
Schepisi, whose last feature project was “Words and Pictures” starring Clive Owen and Juliette Binochein 2013, is set to direct from a script penned by screenwriter and investigative journalist Morrie Rosmarin.
The director is best known for 1993 pic “Six Degrees of Separation...
- 4/25/2024
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Michael J. Fox became a household name when he starred as the protagonist Marty McFly in Robert Zemeckis’ sci-fi comedy Back to the Future. While the actor was not the first choice for the role, he replaced actor Eric Stoltz who had already begun filming for the movie. Fox has now become synonymous with the role and starred in two more sequels.
Before he became known for his role in Back to the Future and the sitcom Family Ties, Michael J. Fox was reportedly at the worst of his finances. He revealed once that his situation was so bad that he used to check at dumpsters for food because he could not afford it. However, once he bagged the roles of his lifetime, there was no turning back.
Michael J. Fox Had To Find Food At A Dumpster To Survive As A Struggling Actor A still from Family Ties
Actor Michael J.
Before he became known for his role in Back to the Future and the sitcom Family Ties, Michael J. Fox was reportedly at the worst of his finances. He revealed once that his situation was so bad that he used to check at dumpsters for food because he could not afford it. However, once he bagged the roles of his lifetime, there was no turning back.
Michael J. Fox Had To Find Food At A Dumpster To Survive As A Struggling Actor A still from Family Ties
Actor Michael J.
- 4/20/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
Mike Hughes, Harvey Stevens, Alex Vincent, Paula E. Sheppard, Noah Wiseman, and Milly Shapiro
Screenshot: YouTube
There’s nothing scarier than childhood. Look no further than the movies (or your very own memory palace) for proof. With the upcoming release of Abigail and the recent child-adjacent scares from The First Omen and Imaginary,...
Screenshot: YouTube
There’s nothing scarier than childhood. Look no further than the movies (or your very own memory palace) for proof. With the upcoming release of Abigail and the recent child-adjacent scares from The First Omen and Imaginary,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Matt Schimkowitz, Saloni Gajjar, Tim Lowery, William Hughes, and Jen Lennon
- avclub.com
The 1990s represented a golden epoch for action cinema. This was the time which saw VHS and its digitized successor DVD introduce a whole new generation of fans to the magic of stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. And those titans from the ‘80s still claimed big wins, too, at the box office and home media via the likes of Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Demolition Man, and Cliffhanger.
It was also the decade that saw audiences turn out in droves to theaters and rental stores to catch a glimpse of Steven Seagal’s flying fists in movies like Under Siege or Jean-Claude Van Damme and his trademark splits in Timecop; Jackie Chan finally got the larger American fanbase he so richly deserved thanks to the Rush Hour movies while Bruce Willis gave us Die Hard With A Vengeance, the best of all the Die Hard sequels, before pivoting...
It was also the decade that saw audiences turn out in droves to theaters and rental stores to catch a glimpse of Steven Seagal’s flying fists in movies like Under Siege or Jean-Claude Van Damme and his trademark splits in Timecop; Jackie Chan finally got the larger American fanbase he so richly deserved thanks to the Rush Hour movies while Bruce Willis gave us Die Hard With A Vengeance, the best of all the Die Hard sequels, before pivoting...
- 4/11/2024
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
The sci-fi classic Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (starring Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Veronica Cartwright and Jeff Goldblum) is out now on 4K Uhd (Blu-ray) and Limited Edition Blu-ray from Arrow Video.
Remakes of great films are usually on a hiding to nothing, but Philip Kaufman’s brilliant update of the 1956 classic Invasion Of The Body Snatchers is a rare and memorable exception. Transposing the action to the heart of San Francisco allows Kaufman to retain all the suspense of Jack Finney’s original story while adding caustic social commentary about the selfishness of the 1970s “me generation” that remains all too relevant today.
But it’s a paranoid thriller first and foremost, based on one of the most psychologically terrifying of all premises – what happens when you can no longer trust not just the authorities but even your nearest and dearest?
Synopsis:
When health official Elizabeth Driscoll (Brooke Adams...
Remakes of great films are usually on a hiding to nothing, but Philip Kaufman’s brilliant update of the 1956 classic Invasion Of The Body Snatchers is a rare and memorable exception. Transposing the action to the heart of San Francisco allows Kaufman to retain all the suspense of Jack Finney’s original story while adding caustic social commentary about the selfishness of the 1970s “me generation” that remains all too relevant today.
But it’s a paranoid thriller first and foremost, based on one of the most psychologically terrifying of all premises – what happens when you can no longer trust not just the authorities but even your nearest and dearest?
Synopsis:
When health official Elizabeth Driscoll (Brooke Adams...
- 4/3/2024
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
Marlon Brando gained a reputation in Hollywood through his method of acting. He famously leaned towards dramatics and creating tension, rather than delivering lines for the sake of it, becoming one of the most respected actors in the industry. His appearances in The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, and On the Waterfront are only some excellent examples of his gift.
Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone
Even though he was one of the greatest actors of all time, some roles are simply not meant for some people.
Suggested“Everything changed for Roman after this”: Marlon Brando’s Oscar Winning Movie Helped Roman Reigns Save WWE From a Nightmare Spot
In 1991, Oliver Stone directed a film called JFK, following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The film very quickly became one of the most controversial films in American history as it embraced and elaborated on the controversies surrounding the president’s assassination. It...
Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone
Even though he was one of the greatest actors of all time, some roles are simply not meant for some people.
Suggested“Everything changed for Roman after this”: Marlon Brando’s Oscar Winning Movie Helped Roman Reigns Save WWE From a Nightmare Spot
In 1991, Oliver Stone directed a film called JFK, following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The film very quickly became one of the most controversial films in American history as it embraced and elaborated on the controversies surrounding the president’s assassination. It...
- 4/1/2024
- by Ananya Godboley
- FandomWire
Will Smith may have fallen in love with Stockard Channing on the set of 1993’s Six Degrees of Separation, but Channing only felt “motherly” to the rising star, who was 23 and a newly married, first-time father at the time.
Channing — who earned an Oscar nomination playing a New York socialite who connects with a young con artist played by Smith in the film — opened up about working with the rising star in a new episode of The Hollywood Reporter‘s It Happened in Hollywood podcast.
“He made a lot [of money] from his music, or even Fresh Prince [of Bel-Air],” Channing said. “Because I remember we talked about it.” Despite his massive success in music and TV at a young age, “there was no big shot stuff at all” about Smith, she said.
“He had a real survival instinct in him,” Channing added, “which was completely perfect for the part. [There was a] genuine charm and a lovely sweetness about him.
Channing — who earned an Oscar nomination playing a New York socialite who connects with a young con artist played by Smith in the film — opened up about working with the rising star in a new episode of The Hollywood Reporter‘s It Happened in Hollywood podcast.
“He made a lot [of money] from his music, or even Fresh Prince [of Bel-Air],” Channing said. “Because I remember we talked about it.” Despite his massive success in music and TV at a young age, “there was no big shot stuff at all” about Smith, she said.
“He had a real survival instinct in him,” Channing added, “which was completely perfect for the part. [There was a] genuine charm and a lovely sweetness about him.
- 3/27/2024
- by Seth Abramovitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The classic Korean War-set sitcom series "M*A*S*H" seems like it's almost universally beloved, but over the years it managed to collect its fair share of high-profile haters. Perhaps the most famous of all is director Robert Altman, who helmed the 1970 movie of the same name but absolutely loathed the television series. He made his dislike of the series very clear and even claimed that he hated everyone involved (which is a little harsh), saying some less-than-flattering things about the show's star, Alan Alda, who played Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce. He wasn't the only person involved with a previous version of "M*A*S*H" to absolutely abhor the dramedy series or even Alda, however, as the author of the book that inspired both the movie and series hated Hawkeye.
In an interview with Newsweek, author Richard Hornberger once said that the series "tramples on my memories" because he wrote the novel "Mash:...
In an interview with Newsweek, author Richard Hornberger once said that the series "tramples on my memories" because he wrote the novel "Mash:...
- 3/26/2024
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
A strong-willed young woman fighting for her life against a motherfricking dragon, that’s all you need to know about Netflix’s Damsel. Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Damsel follows the story of a young woman who marries a handsome prince but realizes that it is all a trap when she is thrown into a cave. Now, she must fight and win against the dragon living in the cave to get back to her family and exact her revenge on her soon-to-be ex-in-laws. If you love the fantasy action film here are some similar movies you could watch next.
Ready or Not (Rent on Prime Video & Fubo) Credit – 20th Century Studios
Evil in-laws and a deadly ceremony, that’s what is common in Netflix’s fantasy thriller Damsel and Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin directed horror thriller Ready or Not. The 2019 film follows the story of Grace, who couldn’t...
Ready or Not (Rent on Prime Video & Fubo) Credit – 20th Century Studios
Evil in-laws and a deadly ceremony, that’s what is common in Netflix’s fantasy thriller Damsel and Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin directed horror thriller Ready or Not. The 2019 film follows the story of Grace, who couldn’t...
- 3/16/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Director Joe Wright and writers Jez and John-Henry Butterworth have all boarded the upcoming Paramount+ series “The Department.”
The Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios series, which was announced with a straight-to-series order in February 2023, is based on the French drama series “Le Bureau des Legendes” created by Eric Rochant. Wright will direct the first two episodes and executive produce, while the Butterworths will writer and executive produce all episodes. George Clooney was originally announced as directing the series. He and Grant Heslov remain onboard as executive producers via Smokehouse Pictures.
“Joe Wright is a visionary director with a gift of focusing on intricate details to craft immersive and visually striking stories,” said Chris McCarthy, President and CEO of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios. “And, Jez and John-Henry are masterful writers whose witty and emotionally charged language dives deep into their characters’ moral complexities, while simultaneously creating a propulsive narrative. Bringing these powerhouse...
The Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios series, which was announced with a straight-to-series order in February 2023, is based on the French drama series “Le Bureau des Legendes” created by Eric Rochant. Wright will direct the first two episodes and executive produce, while the Butterworths will writer and executive produce all episodes. George Clooney was originally announced as directing the series. He and Grant Heslov remain onboard as executive producers via Smokehouse Pictures.
“Joe Wright is a visionary director with a gift of focusing on intricate details to craft immersive and visually striking stories,” said Chris McCarthy, President and CEO of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios. “And, Jez and John-Henry are masterful writers whose witty and emotionally charged language dives deep into their characters’ moral complexities, while simultaneously creating a propulsive narrative. Bringing these powerhouse...
- 3/5/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Brand new sales agency Neo Art International has picked up worldwide sales rights outside Italy to Claudio Amendola’s black comedy film trilogy “Cassamortari” (“Funeral Family”).
The film trilogy narrates the story of The Pasti Family, a Roman family who work in the funeral business.
The three titles of the saga are set up at Rome-based company Paco Cinematografica, and co-produced with Antonia Nava’s Neo Art Producciones in Barcelona.
“I Cassamortari,” the first title of the saga, was streamed in 2022 in Italy by Amazon Prime Video, described as an Amazon Exclusive production.
Written by Mary Estella Brugiati and Alessandro Bosi, “Ari-Cassamortari” (“Funeral Family 2”), the second delivery, is currently in post.
This time the film tells how the Pasti Brothers have created a name for themselves as VIP gravediggers, along with an eccentric half-sister they had no idea they had.
“Funeral Family 2” cast take in many of the stars of “I Cassamortari,...
The film trilogy narrates the story of The Pasti Family, a Roman family who work in the funeral business.
The three titles of the saga are set up at Rome-based company Paco Cinematografica, and co-produced with Antonia Nava’s Neo Art Producciones in Barcelona.
“I Cassamortari,” the first title of the saga, was streamed in 2022 in Italy by Amazon Prime Video, described as an Amazon Exclusive production.
Written by Mary Estella Brugiati and Alessandro Bosi, “Ari-Cassamortari” (“Funeral Family 2”), the second delivery, is currently in post.
This time the film tells how the Pasti Brothers have created a name for themselves as VIP gravediggers, along with an eccentric half-sister they had no idea they had.
“Funeral Family 2” cast take in many of the stars of “I Cassamortari,...
- 3/5/2024
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
The dystopian sci-fi film "Logan's Run" is set in a supposedly idyllic future society where residents above 30 mysteriously disappear. The hedonistic metropolis is enclosed by a dome, and those who choose to explore the world outside — and the secrets that it holds — are labeled "runners." Michael York stars in the film as the titular protagonist, an undercover police officer who infiltrates the runners only to find that he, too, opposes the laws that he once worked to uphold and helps them lead an uprising.
"Logan's Run" was nominated for its cinematography and set decoration in the 1977 Academy Awards. It even received a special achievement award for its visual effects. The futuristic set and costume design were almost identical to the smash-hit sci-fi adventure film "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope," which was released the following year. It's possible that "Star Wars" even drew inspiration from the 1976 film. However,...
"Logan's Run" was nominated for its cinematography and set decoration in the 1977 Academy Awards. It even received a special achievement award for its visual effects. The futuristic set and costume design were almost identical to the smash-hit sci-fi adventure film "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope," which was released the following year. It's possible that "Star Wars" even drew inspiration from the 1976 film. However,...
- 2/25/2024
- by Shae Sennett
- Slash Film
Stars: Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman, Fionnula Flanagan, Hunter Schafer, Ashley Liao, Joshua Kantara, Amélie Hoeferle, Hunter Schafer | Written by Michael Lesslie, Michael Arndt | Directed by Francis Lawrence
It’s been eight years since we last visited the world of Panem. Now the world spans to five films and this time we’re sent back over 60 years to see the 10th annual Hunger Games and the rise of Coriolanus Snow. This time Snow is played by newcomer Tom Blyth, who has to carry the runtime of the film all by himself. He’s joined for the most part by Rachel Zegler, who plays Lucy Gray.
The two leads carry the film effortlessly, Tom Blyth in particular does a fantastic job of giving complexity to Snow, showcasing a flawed but ambitious character as we slowly see his loss of humanity grow on screen. The film, unlike its predecessors,...
It’s been eight years since we last visited the world of Panem. Now the world spans to five films and this time we’re sent back over 60 years to see the 10th annual Hunger Games and the rise of Coriolanus Snow. This time Snow is played by newcomer Tom Blyth, who has to carry the runtime of the film all by himself. He’s joined for the most part by Rachel Zegler, who plays Lucy Gray.
The two leads carry the film effortlessly, Tom Blyth in particular does a fantastic job of giving complexity to Snow, showcasing a flawed but ambitious character as we slowly see his loss of humanity grow on screen. The film, unlike its predecessors,...
- 2/23/2024
- by Alex Ginnelly
- Nerdly
The Losers return to a very familiar place: ‘Salem’s Lot. But things look a tad different in 2004.
Starring Rob Lowe, Donald Sutherland, Samantha Mathis, and the late and great Andre Braugher and Rutger Hauer, this TNT miniseries updated the 1975 novel by shifting the vampiric action into modern times. This affords the narrative a more topical lense, particularly the mutual feelings of a nation still reeling from 9/11 and the ensuing war overseas.
Join the Losers in the popular Stephen King town as they weigh in on the miniseries’ 2004 vibes, the eerie connection to Wolves of the Calla, the changes to the source material, and the phenomenal cast — particularly Sutherland and Brauer. They also debate whether it’s cynical or earnest, why all the characters are jerks, the edge lord vibe of it all, and its connection to a more recent miniseries cut from the same cloth: Chapelwaite.
Tune in and return...
Starring Rob Lowe, Donald Sutherland, Samantha Mathis, and the late and great Andre Braugher and Rutger Hauer, this TNT miniseries updated the 1975 novel by shifting the vampiric action into modern times. This affords the narrative a more topical lense, particularly the mutual feelings of a nation still reeling from 9/11 and the ensuing war overseas.
Join the Losers in the popular Stephen King town as they weigh in on the miniseries’ 2004 vibes, the eerie connection to Wolves of the Calla, the changes to the source material, and the phenomenal cast — particularly Sutherland and Brauer. They also debate whether it’s cynical or earnest, why all the characters are jerks, the edge lord vibe of it all, and its connection to a more recent miniseries cut from the same cloth: Chapelwaite.
Tune in and return...
- 2/16/2024
- by Michael Roffman
- bloody-disgusting.com
Since Valentine’s Day is next week, we thought we’d unlock a sweet treat for you: Our Valentine’s Day special from last year! We called it The Sweetest Slice, because in this episode, we played Kinky Cupid and tore out our favorite sex scenes from Stephen King’s works. So, if you want two hours of sensual smut, aka poundcake, stream below … with a cool glass of milk!
But, don’t forget to return next week as the Losers head to ‘Salem’s Lot circa 2004 with Rob Lowe, Donald Sutherland, Samantha Mathis, and the late and great Andre Braugher and Rutger Hauer. For further adventures, join the Losers’ Club over long days and pleasant nights via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS.
You can also unlock hundreds upon hundreds of hours of exclusive content in The Barrens (Patreon) — from deep dives into uncollected King works to...
But, don’t forget to return next week as the Losers head to ‘Salem’s Lot circa 2004 with Rob Lowe, Donald Sutherland, Samantha Mathis, and the late and great Andre Braugher and Rutger Hauer. For further adventures, join the Losers’ Club over long days and pleasant nights via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS.
You can also unlock hundreds upon hundreds of hours of exclusive content in The Barrens (Patreon) — from deep dives into uncollected King works to...
- 2/9/2024
- by Michael Roffman
- bloody-disgusting.com
The BBC is celebrating the art of the literary adaptation by screening a variety of classics on BBC Four. More details here.
The BBC is quite rightly celebrated for its rich history of book to screen adaptations, such as the iconic 1995 version of Jane Austen’a Pride And Prejudice to Cbbc’s hugely successful adaptation of Dame Jacqueline Wilson’s Tracy Beaker series.
It has now put together a season of 14 adaptations from the BBC archive, some of which have rarely been seen since their original broadcast.
The dramas are:
The Great Gatsby
Toby Stephens, Mira Sorvino and Paul Rudd lead the cast in this 2000 BBC adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel on the American dream in the jazz age.
Small Island
Naomie Harris, Ruth Wilson, David Oyelowo, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ashley Walters star in this 2009 TV version of Andrea Levy’s novel focusing on the lives and...
The BBC is quite rightly celebrated for its rich history of book to screen adaptations, such as the iconic 1995 version of Jane Austen’a Pride And Prejudice to Cbbc’s hugely successful adaptation of Dame Jacqueline Wilson’s Tracy Beaker series.
It has now put together a season of 14 adaptations from the BBC archive, some of which have rarely been seen since their original broadcast.
The dramas are:
The Great Gatsby
Toby Stephens, Mira Sorvino and Paul Rudd lead the cast in this 2000 BBC adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel on the American dream in the jazz age.
Small Island
Naomie Harris, Ruth Wilson, David Oyelowo, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ashley Walters star in this 2009 TV version of Andrea Levy’s novel focusing on the lives and...
- 2/6/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
"Hunger Games" fans returned to Panem in 2023 with the release of the prequel "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," about the teen years of future President Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and his ill-fated romance with folk musician Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler). The movie did well enough at the box office and was mostly praised by critics (/Film's review was more mixed) — but is all that enough for a sequel?
Upon the release of "Ballad" in November 2023, several members of the cast and creative team sat down with People magazine to answer this question. The main takeaway from their answers? It depends on Suzanne Collins, author of "The Hunger Games." For reference, "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" is adapted from Collins' eponymous novel (published in 2020), and she's given no indication that she's writing a sequel. Without literary source material, there won't be a film sequel either.
"The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes...
Upon the release of "Ballad" in November 2023, several members of the cast and creative team sat down with People magazine to answer this question. The main takeaway from their answers? It depends on Suzanne Collins, author of "The Hunger Games." For reference, "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" is adapted from Collins' eponymous novel (published in 2020), and she's given no indication that she's writing a sequel. Without literary source material, there won't be a film sequel either.
"The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes...
- 1/23/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Kevin Hart is back with another Netflix film but this time instead of a comedy we see him as a master thief. Directed by F. Gary Gray, the Netflix film Lift revolves around a group of thieves who join hands with Interpol to get immunity for their past crime, but to do that they have to steal half a billion dollars worth of gold from a flying airplane without being caught by the owner of the gold, who is surprise surprise the bad guy. Lift also stars Úrsula Corberó, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sam Worthington, Billy Magnussen, Kim Yoon-ji, Jean Reno, and Vincent D’Onofrio starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved Lift and all of its action here are some similar films you could watch next.
The Italian Job (Paramount+ & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Paramount Pictures
From the same director and in the same genre as Lift, this film deserves to be on this list.
The Italian Job (Paramount+ & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Paramount Pictures
From the same director and in the same genre as Lift, this film deserves to be on this list.
- 1/13/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
It’s a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma.
So says Joe Pesci’s David Ferrie during a critical scene in Oliver Stone’s JFK, a movie being revisited for a few reasons. One is that Shout Factory just put out a 4K restoration that reissues both the director’s cut and theatrical cuts of these films. But, we’re also revisiting it due to the fact director Oliver Stone, more than thirty years after the film’s release, is still utterly fascinated by the assassination. His recent documentary, JFK: Through the Looking Glass, served as a bookend to the film, while another documentary, Citizen Stone, is in production and examines how the film, in some ways, served as his undoing, a notion I can’t say I agree with.
Whatever the case, JFK is a fascinating piece of work that was one of the most provocative films of the 90s.
So says Joe Pesci’s David Ferrie during a critical scene in Oliver Stone’s JFK, a movie being revisited for a few reasons. One is that Shout Factory just put out a 4K restoration that reissues both the director’s cut and theatrical cuts of these films. But, we’re also revisiting it due to the fact director Oliver Stone, more than thirty years after the film’s release, is still utterly fascinated by the assassination. His recent documentary, JFK: Through the Looking Glass, served as a bookend to the film, while another documentary, Citizen Stone, is in production and examines how the film, in some ways, served as his undoing, a notion I can’t say I agree with.
Whatever the case, JFK is a fascinating piece of work that was one of the most provocative films of the 90s.
- 1/10/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Following the success of chaotic cowboy drama Yellowstone, co-creator Taylor Sheridan has been given an entire book of blank checks, and has cashed as many as he could manage in just five years. While his involvement in these TV projects wavers, sometimes drastically, his brand has always been on point.
With over half a dozen shows now within the House of Sheridan, let’s take a look at how each program measures up against the rest of the catalog.
7. Lawmen: Bass Reeves
The story of real life American folk legend Bass Reeves (David Oyelowo) was originally supposed to be a larger cog in the Yellowstone prequel machine, but as it continued to evolve, it became its own standalone project, which works both for and against the show. Part of the charm of the Yellowstone prequels for any Sheridan fan is getting to search for connections between the different generations of the Dutton family.
With over half a dozen shows now within the House of Sheridan, let’s take a look at how each program measures up against the rest of the catalog.
7. Lawmen: Bass Reeves
The story of real life American folk legend Bass Reeves (David Oyelowo) was originally supposed to be a larger cog in the Yellowstone prequel machine, but as it continued to evolve, it became its own standalone project, which works both for and against the show. Part of the charm of the Yellowstone prequels for any Sheridan fan is getting to search for connections between the different generations of the Dutton family.
- 1/8/2024
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
In the wake of the highly influential series version of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," the 1992 movie of the same name gets a lot of undeserved flak. Many fans of "Buffy" the series find the film to be a little too cheeseball for their liking, and with "Buffy" creator Joss Whedon's extremely vocal dislike of how the film turned out, it's been easy for others to take a similar stance. As I've pointed out before in writing about the film, "Joss Whedon also famously hates the 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' movie, frequently citing his dislike of the changes director Fran Rubel Kuzui made during production. Odd, considering between Kuzui and Whedon, only one of the two has ever actually experienced life as a teen girl, but I digress."
However, Whedon has also been very vocal about another reason he feels the "Buffy" movie failed, placing blame on the...
However, Whedon has also been very vocal about another reason he feels the "Buffy" movie failed, placing blame on the...
- 12/30/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Lawmen wrapped its first season on Paramount+ earlier this month and told the story of the legendary Bass Reeves. The plan is to move on to a new historical lawman for each season of the anthology series, but series creator Chad Feehan hopes to tell more of Reeves' story.
Starring David Oyelowo, Lauren E. Banks, Forrest Goodluck, Barry Pepper, Demi Singleton, Donald Sutherland, Dennis Quaid, Joaquina Kalukango, Lonnie Chavis, Rob Morgan, Ryan O’Nan, Grantham Coleman, and Justin Hurtt-Dunkley, the season follows the origins of Reeves, following his journey from slave to the legendary lawman who inspired the story of the Lone Ranger.
Read More…...
Starring David Oyelowo, Lauren E. Banks, Forrest Goodluck, Barry Pepper, Demi Singleton, Donald Sutherland, Dennis Quaid, Joaquina Kalukango, Lonnie Chavis, Rob Morgan, Ryan O’Nan, Grantham Coleman, and Justin Hurtt-Dunkley, the season follows the origins of Reeves, following his journey from slave to the legendary lawman who inspired the story of the Lone Ranger.
Read More…...
- 12/26/2023
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Abigail Breslin is subtle as the 1960s victim of sexual crime in a dramatisation of a landmark case that is a welcome defence of US jurisprudence
Here is a fraught and muscular courtroom drama in the strident 1990s style, with the US legal system fitted out with a top-notch cast including Luke Wilson, Ryan Phillippe, Andy Garcia, Donald Sutherland and Kyle MacLachan. As various lawyers and judges, they ditch suit jackets, roll up shirtsleeves and make show-stopping objections in an account of the 1960s legal case that gave rise to the “Miranda rights” – “You have the right to remain silent … ” It’s a welcome defence of US jurisprudence for an era in which it is under threat from Donald Trump’s machinations, and is one that also benefits from the cooperation – apparently for the first time – of Patricia Weir, the rape victim at its centre (otherwise known by the pseudonym...
Here is a fraught and muscular courtroom drama in the strident 1990s style, with the US legal system fitted out with a top-notch cast including Luke Wilson, Ryan Phillippe, Andy Garcia, Donald Sutherland and Kyle MacLachan. As various lawyers and judges, they ditch suit jackets, roll up shirtsleeves and make show-stopping objections in an account of the 1960s legal case that gave rise to the “Miranda rights” – “You have the right to remain silent … ” It’s a welcome defence of US jurisprudence for an era in which it is under threat from Donald Trump’s machinations, and is one that also benefits from the cooperation – apparently for the first time – of Patricia Weir, the rape victim at its centre (otherwise known by the pseudonym...
- 12/26/2023
- by Phil Hoad
- The Guardian - Film News
Spoiler Alert: This story contains major spoilers for “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” all eight episodes of which are now streaming on Paramount+.
When David Oyelowo first learned about the legend of Bass Reeves — who escaped enslavement to become one of the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshals west of the Mississippi — nearly a decade ago, the actor-producer set out on a mission to bring the story to the masses.
Oyelowo’s goal was the same as the one he’d set when playing Martin Luther King Jr. in 2014’s “Selma”: Who is the man behind the myth?
Over the course of eight episodes, “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” aims to answer that question, filling in the gaps in the historical record about Reeves’ life and career.
“You realize he wasn’t just some saint, or some savior, or someone unattainable in terms of what and who he was,” Oyelowo, who was nominated...
When David Oyelowo first learned about the legend of Bass Reeves — who escaped enslavement to become one of the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshals west of the Mississippi — nearly a decade ago, the actor-producer set out on a mission to bring the story to the masses.
Oyelowo’s goal was the same as the one he’d set when playing Martin Luther King Jr. in 2014’s “Selma”: Who is the man behind the myth?
Over the course of eight episodes, “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” aims to answer that question, filling in the gaps in the historical record about Reeves’ life and career.
“You realize he wasn’t just some saint, or some savior, or someone unattainable in terms of what and who he was,” Oyelowo, who was nominated...
- 12/20/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Would it be a stretch to call "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" a surprise success? Between Hollywood's many (and sweaty) failed attempts to score a hit tentpole this year and eight years having passed since "Mockingjay -- Part 2" ended the original "Hunger Games" tetralogy on a box office low, there was fair reason to suspect "Songbirds and Snakes" would prove to be yet another financially disappointing return to the well. Yet, despite that, the "Hunger Games" prequel has done alright by itself since its opening last month, trucking along to a global box office haul in the vicinity of $300 million.
It absolutely helped that director Francis Lawrence (who's helmed every "Hunger Games" film to date after the first movie) kept his budget down to a relatively modest $100 million. "Songbirds and Snakes" itself was perhaps the most divisive entry in the series thus far, earning a mixed...
It absolutely helped that director Francis Lawrence (who's helmed every "Hunger Games" film to date after the first movie) kept his budget down to a relatively modest $100 million. "Songbirds and Snakes" itself was perhaps the most divisive entry in the series thus far, earning a mixed...
- 12/18/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Prequels, prequels, prequels. The conventional wisdom? They don’t work.
In modern IP culture, anything that’s remotely successful deserves(?) a follow-up. But sometimes, franchises bring themselves to perfectly logical endpoints, with absolutely no reason to move past the happy or not-so-happy ending we get. So, the solution is not to move forward but instead to move back, looking at the journeys that brought key figures from the original movies to where they were when the beloved original films began. That’s how we got movies like “Harry Potter” spinoff “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” or gritty “Wizard of Oz” riff “The Great and the Powerful,” or all those very convoluted “X-Men” movies. The generally poor quality of these films has led many to write off prequels as a whole, deeming them unnecessary world-building exercises that suck the mystique out of the movies they’re based on.
But...
In modern IP culture, anything that’s remotely successful deserves(?) a follow-up. But sometimes, franchises bring themselves to perfectly logical endpoints, with absolutely no reason to move past the happy or not-so-happy ending we get. So, the solution is not to move forward but instead to move back, looking at the journeys that brought key figures from the original movies to where they were when the beloved original films began. That’s how we got movies like “Harry Potter” spinoff “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” or gritty “Wizard of Oz” riff “The Great and the Powerful,” or all those very convoluted “X-Men” movies. The generally poor quality of these films has led many to write off prequels as a whole, deeming them unnecessary world-building exercises that suck the mystique out of the movies they’re based on.
But...
- 12/14/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Adapted from Nathanael West’s scabrously funny 1939 novel, The Day of the Locust reunites the creative triumvirate of producer Jerome Hellman, director John Schlesinger, and screenwriter Waldo Salt, who had previously teamed up for Midnight Cowboy. Superficially, the two films would seem to be quite different. One is a contemporary tale shot documentary-style on the mean streets of late-’60s New York. The other is an exquisitely detailed period piece filmed largely on Paramount soundstages in L.A. Midnight Cowboy favors gritty realism, while The Day of the Locust descends into a kind of deranged surrealism. But the films are linked since they both focus on loners and outcasts, salaciously prod the seedy underbelly of their milieus, and expose the unforgiving flipside of the American Dream.
The biggest difference between the two films is that Midnight Cowboy mitigates its ultimately tragic denouement with a certain tenderness between its damaged protagonists.
The biggest difference between the two films is that Midnight Cowboy mitigates its ultimately tragic denouement with a certain tenderness between its damaged protagonists.
- 12/12/2023
- by Budd Wilkins
- Slant Magazine
Jody Jaress as Mary Parker, Donald Sutherland as Judge Parker, David Oyelowo as Bass Reeves, and Lauren E Banks as Jennie Reeves in ‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ episode 7 (Photo Credit: Lauren Smith / Paramount+)
Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves (David Oyelowo) is taken into custody and jailed as Paramount+’s Lawmen: Bass Reeves episode seven, the season’s penultimate episode, opens. He declined to say goodbye to his family before being led away, and now he sits in jail with visions of Ranger Esau Pierce’s (Barry Pepper) despicable actions flowing through his head.
A crowded courtroom listens as Judge Parker (Donald Sutherland) claims Bass’s case is no different from any others. He was tried for murder, and the verdict is…? The opening credits play before Parker reveals the answer.
After the credits, the first scene is a flashback to the events prior to Bass’s incarceration. Judge Parker and his wife...
Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves (David Oyelowo) is taken into custody and jailed as Paramount+’s Lawmen: Bass Reeves episode seven, the season’s penultimate episode, opens. He declined to say goodbye to his family before being led away, and now he sits in jail with visions of Ranger Esau Pierce’s (Barry Pepper) despicable actions flowing through his head.
A crowded courtroom listens as Judge Parker (Donald Sutherland) claims Bass’s case is no different from any others. He was tried for murder, and the verdict is…? The opening credits play before Parker reveals the answer.
After the credits, the first scene is a flashback to the events prior to Bass’s incarceration. Judge Parker and his wife...
- 12/10/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Suzanne Collins knows how to write a dystopia. The "Hunger Games" series and its prequel "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," are among the most intense and shocking books released under the "young adult" label this side of the 21st century. They get surprisingly real about topics like Ptsd, propaganda, wealthy inequality, and the slow creep of fascism, presenting all of the above in a compelling, shiny package that's thrilling for both teens and grown-ups alike.
The movie adaptations of "The Hunger Games," for the most part, do all that too, but some entries in the property are certainly better than others. With five films to date in the franchise, each one is essential, but there are actually multiple ways in which to watch them for maximum impact. If you've never seen "The Hunger Games" or are wondering whether it's possible to get started with the prequel first, let us...
The movie adaptations of "The Hunger Games," for the most part, do all that too, but some entries in the property are certainly better than others. With five films to date in the franchise, each one is essential, but there are actually multiple ways in which to watch them for maximum impact. If you've never seen "The Hunger Games" or are wondering whether it's possible to get started with the prequel first, let us...
- 12/9/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
We will probably never see a motion picture phenomenon like George Lucas' "Star Wars" ever again. The United States was still shaking off its Vietnam War hangover in the mid-1970s, and while the top filmmakers of the New Hollywood were mostly attracted to edgy material that explored its characters' damaged psyches, audiences were in the mood to escape. Steven Spielberg's "Jaws" offered emphatic proof of this mindset during the summer of 1975 when it briefly became the highest-grossing movie in U.S. box office history.
Lucas' space opera was an altogether different kind of sensation. The briskly paced yarn about a young farm boy who discovers he might be the galaxy's savior ignited the imaginations of kids the world over, and Lucas deepened the viewer's immersion by employing an array of pioneering special effects and wildly inventive creature/production designs. "Star Wars" was world-building on a scale that matched "The Wizard of Oz,...
Lucas' space opera was an altogether different kind of sensation. The briskly paced yarn about a young farm boy who discovers he might be the galaxy's savior ignited the imaginations of kids the world over, and Lucas deepened the viewer's immersion by employing an array of pioneering special effects and wildly inventive creature/production designs. "Star Wars" was world-building on a scale that matched "The Wizard of Oz,...
- 12/2/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Lawmen: Bass Reeves locked down a new record for Paramount+.
The anthology series — which is produced by Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios — is now the steamer’s most-watched series premiere globally this year.
The first two episodes amassed a collective 7.5M viewers across the world in the first 7 days across Paramount+ and broadcast sampling run on CBS, according to Paramount Global.
That spells more than double the 3.55M viewers that tuned in live + same-day, for the back-to-back broadcast premiere on CBS, Nielsen reported. After debuting on Paramount+ on November 5, the two episodes received a broadcast run on November 12, following an episode of Yellowstone.
Other series that premiered on Paramount+ this year include Taylor Sheridan’s Special Ops: Lioness, which also debuted to an audience record in July.
“Our goal at Yoruba Saxon is simple, to normalize the marginalized for a global audience. The international...
The anthology series — which is produced by Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios — is now the steamer’s most-watched series premiere globally this year.
The first two episodes amassed a collective 7.5M viewers across the world in the first 7 days across Paramount+ and broadcast sampling run on CBS, according to Paramount Global.
That spells more than double the 3.55M viewers that tuned in live + same-day, for the back-to-back broadcast premiere on CBS, Nielsen reported. After debuting on Paramount+ on November 5, the two episodes received a broadcast run on November 12, following an episode of Yellowstone.
Other series that premiered on Paramount+ this year include Taylor Sheridan’s Special Ops: Lioness, which also debuted to an audience record in July.
“Our goal at Yoruba Saxon is simple, to normalize the marginalized for a global audience. The international...
- 12/1/2023
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
Young adult literary franchises have a rough track record on cinema screens. Sure, “Harry Potter” is a (now tarnished) cultural touchstone. But the “Twilight” books became famously bad (albeit iconic) films, and that’s to say nothing of the absolute graveyard of sputtered, failed, or forgotten YA adaptations that Hollywood populated during the late ’00s and early 2010s. Did you know that they made three “Maze Runner” films? That the “Divergent” films were supposed to end with a TV show that never happened? That two “Percy Jackson” movies were made before the upcoming TV show? That “Eragon” even exists? If you do remember, you’ve likely been trying hard to forget.
Which makes the general high quality of “The Hunger Games” films all the more impressive. It helps that the Lionsgate franchise has always had better material to mine than most of the other dystopian disasters that attempted to capitalize on its runaway success.
Which makes the general high quality of “The Hunger Games” films all the more impressive. It helps that the Lionsgate franchise has always had better material to mine than most of the other dystopian disasters that attempted to capitalize on its runaway success.
- 12/1/2023
- by Wilson Chapman and Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
Forrest Goodluck as Billy Crow and David Oyelewo as Bass Reeves in ‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ episode 5 (Photo Credit: Lauren Smith/Paramount+)
Paramount+’s Lawmen: Bass Reeves episode five opens with the disturbing sight of a dead man hanging from a tree. Attached to his chest is a note that reads, “Bass Reeves will swing here.”
Bass (David Oyelowo) stakes out an area, sending Billy (Forrest Goodluck) into Bywater’s General Store while watching what goes down from afar. Billy returns to report that five armed men are hanging out inside, including the outlaw, Jim Webb. Bass and Billy move in closer, and Bass immediately comes under fire as he approaches the building.
Bass manages to make it to the building and exchanges Bible passages with Webb and his men. Billy and Bass bust into the store through different doors, and the ensuing shootout results in a few of Webb’s...
Paramount+’s Lawmen: Bass Reeves episode five opens with the disturbing sight of a dead man hanging from a tree. Attached to his chest is a note that reads, “Bass Reeves will swing here.”
Bass (David Oyelowo) stakes out an area, sending Billy (Forrest Goodluck) into Bywater’s General Store while watching what goes down from afar. Billy returns to report that five armed men are hanging out inside, including the outlaw, Jim Webb. Bass and Billy move in closer, and Bass immediately comes under fire as he approaches the building.
Bass manages to make it to the building and exchanges Bible passages with Webb and his men. Billy and Bass bust into the store through different doors, and the ensuing shootout results in a few of Webb’s...
- 11/26/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
The most exciting thing about the Hunger Games, citizens of the Capitol would probably argue, is that anyone can win. The first "Hunger Games" movie saw the strongest, fastest tributes, who had volunteered for the games and specifically trained for them, outranked by Peeta Mellark, whose main skill was disguising himself as a rock.
2023's Thanksgiving box office brawl has been similarly thrilling, even if there haven't been any violent deaths (yet). Though "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" was expected to be ousted by Disney's "Wish," it's now on track to keep the No. 1 spot for a second weekend.
"Songbirds & Snakes" got off to quite a muted start last weekend, with a franchise-low $44.6 million opening, but it has held strong amid a rush of new releases from studios eager to capitalize on the holiday box office. The "Hunger Games" prequel grossed a combined $13.2 million over Wednesday...
2023's Thanksgiving box office brawl has been similarly thrilling, even if there haven't been any violent deaths (yet). Though "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" was expected to be ousted by Disney's "Wish," it's now on track to keep the No. 1 spot for a second weekend.
"Songbirds & Snakes" got off to quite a muted start last weekend, with a franchise-low $44.6 million opening, but it has held strong amid a rush of new releases from studios eager to capitalize on the holiday box office. The "Hunger Games" prequel grossed a combined $13.2 million over Wednesday...
- 11/25/2023
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
[This story contains spoilers for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.]
Prequels are tough to get right. For every Better Call Saul, there are ten more stories that failed to enrich the works that came before them. However, Francis Lawrence’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes manages to not only stand on its own, but as a prequel, it also deepens the text of the Hunger Games films starring Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen.
The filmmaker chalks it up to the strength of author Suzanne Collins’ source material, as well as the performances of his two leads, Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler. In one of the climactic scenes of the film, Blyth has to sell Coriolanus Snow’s transformation that would later define Donald Sutherland’s tyrannical version of the character, and Lawrence remains in awe of what the young actor accomplished with minimal dialogue.
“[The forest sequence] my favorite sequence in the movie.
Prequels are tough to get right. For every Better Call Saul, there are ten more stories that failed to enrich the works that came before them. However, Francis Lawrence’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes manages to not only stand on its own, but as a prequel, it also deepens the text of the Hunger Games films starring Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen.
The filmmaker chalks it up to the strength of author Suzanne Collins’ source material, as well as the performances of his two leads, Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler. In one of the climactic scenes of the film, Blyth has to sell Coriolanus Snow’s transformation that would later define Donald Sutherland’s tyrannical version of the character, and Lawrence remains in awe of what the young actor accomplished with minimal dialogue.
“[The forest sequence] my favorite sequence in the movie.
- 11/21/2023
- by Brian Davids
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Warning: This podcast contains spoilers about the ending of Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
“In 2015, we thought she was done.”
That’s what filmmaker Francis Lawrence thought about the finale of the $3 billion-plus grossing The Hunger Games franchise with Mockingjay Part 2, that is until author Suzanne Collins gave him and series pic producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson a heads up in late 2019 that a prequel manuscript set 64 years before the original film, and focusing in on the origin story of main baddie Coriolanus Snow, was coming their way.
Director Francis Lawrence in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
But rather than just more bows and arrows and fierce arena battles, there was a whole other sublime element to the prequel and that was in its country music underpinnings, taking inspiration from the early turn-of-the-century Bluegrass and folksy sounds that draw their lineage from Scotland,...
“In 2015, we thought she was done.”
That’s what filmmaker Francis Lawrence thought about the finale of the $3 billion-plus grossing The Hunger Games franchise with Mockingjay Part 2, that is until author Suzanne Collins gave him and series pic producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson a heads up in late 2019 that a prequel manuscript set 64 years before the original film, and focusing in on the origin story of main baddie Coriolanus Snow, was coming their way.
Director Francis Lawrence in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
But rather than just more bows and arrows and fierce arena battles, there was a whole other sublime element to the prequel and that was in its country music underpinnings, taking inspiration from the early turn-of-the-century Bluegrass and folksy sounds that draw their lineage from Scotland,...
- 11/20/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Stars: Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman, Fionnula Flanagan, Hunter Schafer, Ashley Liao, Joshua Kantara, Amélie Hoeferle, Hunter Schafer | Written by Michael Lesslie, Michael Arndt | Directed by Francis Lawrence
It’s been eight years since we last visited the world of Panem. Now the world spans to five films and this time we’re sent back over 60 years to see the 10th annual Hunger Games and the rise of Coriolanus Snow. This time Snow is played by newcomer Tom Blyth, who has to carry the runtime of the film all by himself. He’s joined for the most part by Rachel Zegler, who plays Lucy Gray.
The two leads carry the film effortlessly, Tom Blyth in particular does a fantastic job of giving complexity to Snow, showcasing a flawed but ambitious character as we slowly see his loss of humanity grow on screen. The film, unlike its predecessors,...
It’s been eight years since we last visited the world of Panem. Now the world spans to five films and this time we’re sent back over 60 years to see the 10th annual Hunger Games and the rise of Coriolanus Snow. This time Snow is played by newcomer Tom Blyth, who has to carry the runtime of the film all by himself. He’s joined for the most part by Rachel Zegler, who plays Lucy Gray.
The two leads carry the film effortlessly, Tom Blyth in particular does a fantastic job of giving complexity to Snow, showcasing a flawed but ambitious character as we slowly see his loss of humanity grow on screen. The film, unlike its predecessors,...
- 11/20/2023
- by Alex Ginnelly
- Nerdly
’Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ crosses $175m.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes opened at number one in North America on an estimated $44m through Lionsgate while The Marvels had a weekend to forget, plummeting 77.9% in its second session in a new low for the Marvel Studios hit factory.
Meanwhile Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn and Aki Kaurismaki’s Cannes entry Fallen Leaves got off to strong award season starts in limited release.
Songbirds & Snakes played in 3,776 locations and delivered the lowest opening weekend of the franchise, behind the unadjusted $102.7m set by The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2...
The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes opened at number one in North America on an estimated $44m through Lionsgate while The Marvels had a weekend to forget, plummeting 77.9% in its second session in a new low for the Marvel Studios hit factory.
Meanwhile Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn and Aki Kaurismaki’s Cannes entry Fallen Leaves got off to strong award season starts in limited release.
Songbirds & Snakes played in 3,776 locations and delivered the lowest opening weekend of the franchise, behind the unadjusted $102.7m set by The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2...
- 11/19/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
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