Loving Adam Sandler means making your peace with the actor's wildly inconsistent output. It's not like The Sandman has ever been a critical darling; even during his rise to superstardom in the '90s, "Happy Gilmore" and "The Wedding Singer" were the only movies of his that you could reasonably call well-reviewed (and that's coming from an ardent "Billy Madison" defender). But the films that he's churned out under his Happy Madison Productions, which was founded in 1999, have been all over the place quality-wise. Even most die-hard Sandlites probably wouldn't go to the mattresses over stinkers like "Jack and Jill" and "Grown Ups 2."
That's only become doubly true since Sandler entered his alliance with Netflix in the 2010s. Sometimes, you end up with little more than "content" for viewers to stream and immediately forget, but you can also get remarkably good stuff like "The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected...
That's only become doubly true since Sandler entered his alliance with Netflix in the 2010s. Sometimes, you end up with little more than "content" for viewers to stream and immediately forget, but you can also get remarkably good stuff like "The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected...
- 4/15/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Emma Stone became the lucky 13th two-time Best Actress Oscar champ with her recent win for “Poor Things.” And she could well be adding an Emmy to her awards collection for her leading role in Showtime’s idiosyncratic drama series “The Curse.”
“The Curse,” created by Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie, follows a newly married couple (Stone and Fielder) who host an HGTV show while trying to conceive a baby and navigate a curse. Sure the series is rich in cringe comedy that is hard to tear your eyes from even if you watch through your fingers. But it is also intelligent, dark and surprisingly moving. At the heart of it all is Stone, who delivers yet another tour de force, as noted by critics.
Joel Golby (The Guardian) proclaimed: “Emma Stone is in there, continuing to be our generation’s finest mouth actor – she really can show a whole...
“The Curse,” created by Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie, follows a newly married couple (Stone and Fielder) who host an HGTV show while trying to conceive a baby and navigate a curse. Sure the series is rich in cringe comedy that is hard to tear your eyes from even if you watch through your fingers. But it is also intelligent, dark and surprisingly moving. At the heart of it all is Stone, who delivers yet another tour de force, as noted by critics.
Joel Golby (The Guardian) proclaimed: “Emma Stone is in there, continuing to be our generation’s finest mouth actor – she really can show a whole...
- 4/9/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Apple TV’s “Slow Horses” has quickly become one of television’s most exciting shows. Based on the book by Mick Herron, the show combines razor-sharp writing (from showrunner Will Smith of “The Thick of It” fame) with masterclass acting from the likes of Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas.
The series follows the lives of those working at Slough House, a division of MI5 where disgraced agents who have made mistakes are exiled. It’s full of wit and humor, as one would expect from a show created by an alum of “The Thick of It,” but it’s also a genuine thriller, too, as all the best spy stories are. And critics have fallen for it since its inception, continuing to heap praise on this third season.
Fran Hoepfner (Slate) noted: “Part ‘Killing Eve’, part John le Carré lite, ‘Slow Horses’ continues to stand head and shoulders above...
The series follows the lives of those working at Slough House, a division of MI5 where disgraced agents who have made mistakes are exiled. It’s full of wit and humor, as one would expect from a show created by an alum of “The Thick of It,” but it’s also a genuine thriller, too, as all the best spy stories are. And critics have fallen for it since its inception, continuing to heap praise on this third season.
Fran Hoepfner (Slate) noted: “Part ‘Killing Eve’, part John le Carré lite, ‘Slow Horses’ continues to stand head and shoulders above...
- 4/5/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
It took Gary Oldman some time to win his first Oscar, which he claimed for “Darkest Hour” in 2018, and it is taking him even longer to win his first Emmy. The legendary British actor was first nominated 23 years ago for his guest role on “Friends.”He should be reaping a second Emmy bid for his leading role in the Apple TV+ drama “Slow Horses.” The acclaimed series, based on Mick Herron‘s book, follows a group of British intelligence agents who are confined to a dumping ground of a department due to their past mistakes.
Oldman stars at the head of the department, Jackson Lamb who is rude, abrasive, full of bad habits, and, a lot of the time, drunk. As the character, Oldman is a joy to watch as the crass and broken spy. But while he revels in the comedy of said crassness, Oldman sows in an undercurrent of intelligence and belied sharpness,...
Oldman stars at the head of the department, Jackson Lamb who is rude, abrasive, full of bad habits, and, a lot of the time, drunk. As the character, Oldman is a joy to watch as the crass and broken spy. But while he revels in the comedy of said crassness, Oldman sows in an undercurrent of intelligence and belied sharpness,...
- 4/4/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
“Reservation Dogs” took the industry by storm. Critics and audiences alike fell in love with this FX comedy from Sterlin Harjo and Oscar-winner Taika Waititi. The series follows the lives of four Indigenous teenagers living in rural Oklahoma who try to scrape together enough money to leave behind their reservation community.
The reason the show soars so high is its spectacular cast, at the center of which is a quartet of brilliant young actors: Devery Jacobs, D’Pharoah Woon-a-Tai, Paulina Alexis, and Lane Factor. Jacobs is perhaps the jewel in this crown, as noted by critics.
Maureen Ryan (Vanity Fair) observed: “It was astonishing to watch Jacobs’s body language and face in the recent episode in which Elora met her father, Rick (Ethan Hawke). It was magical to see her unlock psychological doors she’d kept shut for years, transforming her into a more relaxed version of the capable,...
The reason the show soars so high is its spectacular cast, at the center of which is a quartet of brilliant young actors: Devery Jacobs, D’Pharoah Woon-a-Tai, Paulina Alexis, and Lane Factor. Jacobs is perhaps the jewel in this crown, as noted by critics.
Maureen Ryan (Vanity Fair) observed: “It was astonishing to watch Jacobs’s body language and face in the recent episode in which Elora met her father, Rick (Ethan Hawke). It was magical to see her unlock psychological doors she’d kept shut for years, transforming her into a more relaxed version of the capable,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Jodie Foster is having a good year. The two-time Oscar winner returned to the attention of the academy for the first time since 1995 with a nomination for “Nyad.” Now, she and showrunner Issa López have revamped HBO’s flagging “True Detective” with the best entry since the show’s first season.
“True Detective: Night Country” stars Foster as an acid-tongue, spiky police chief who is tasked with investigating the disappearance of eight men in the spooky, fictional town of Ennis, Alaska. Playing a detective will naturally harken viewers’ minds back to her turn as Clarice Starling in “The Silence of the Lambs,” the film for which she won her second Best Actress Oscar (“The Accused” being the other). It’s her meatiest role in years and Foster devours it.
Brian Tallerico (Roger Ebert) observed: “Our unsteady guiding hand through this darkness is Liz Danvers, played with icy perfection by Jodie Foster.
“True Detective: Night Country” stars Foster as an acid-tongue, spiky police chief who is tasked with investigating the disappearance of eight men in the spooky, fictional town of Ennis, Alaska. Playing a detective will naturally harken viewers’ minds back to her turn as Clarice Starling in “The Silence of the Lambs,” the film for which she won her second Best Actress Oscar (“The Accused” being the other). It’s her meatiest role in years and Foster devours it.
Brian Tallerico (Roger Ebert) observed: “Our unsteady guiding hand through this darkness is Liz Danvers, played with icy perfection by Jodie Foster.
- 3/27/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
“True Detective” is back with a bang thanks to an electric fourth entry in the franchise from Issa López, who injects the crime series with darkness, humanity, and intrigue. This fourth edition of the HBO hit follows Jodie Foster as a police chief in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska. She leads an investigation into the disappearance of eight men from a research station. Seasons two and three of “True Detective” weren’t received as rapturously as the first season, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, but numerous critics have proclaimed that this fourth entry is as good if not better than season one.
Katie Rife (IGN) opined: “‘True Detective: Night Country’ is the best season of the series since the original. The horror sequences are especially good, and creator Issa López thoughtfully engages with the Alaska location without sacrificing the intrigue of a good detective story.”
Brian Tallerico (Roger Ebert...
Katie Rife (IGN) opined: “‘True Detective: Night Country’ is the best season of the series since the original. The horror sequences are especially good, and creator Issa López thoughtfully engages with the Alaska location without sacrificing the intrigue of a good detective story.”
Brian Tallerico (Roger Ebert...
- 3/27/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
After its premiere at South by Southwest on March 8, 2024, “Road House” began streaming on Prime Video March 21 via Amazon MGM Studios. The reimagining of the 1989 film starring Patrick Swayze stars Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal as Dalton, an ex-UFC fighter who takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems.
The film directed by Doug Liman was written by Anthony Bagarozzi and Charles Mondry. Reviews of the film have been mixed, but it currently holds fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 68%. The critics consensus reads, “Road House updates a cult classic for a new generation, happily replicating the original’s emphasis on cheesy brawn over narrative brains.” Supporting players in the movie include Conor McGregor, Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen and Jessica Williams. Read our full review round-up below.
See ‘Road House’ remake trailer: Jake Gyllenhaal...
The film directed by Doug Liman was written by Anthony Bagarozzi and Charles Mondry. Reviews of the film have been mixed, but it currently holds fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 68%. The critics consensus reads, “Road House updates a cult classic for a new generation, happily replicating the original’s emphasis on cheesy brawn over narrative brains.” Supporting players in the movie include Conor McGregor, Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen and Jessica Williams. Read our full review round-up below.
See ‘Road House’ remake trailer: Jake Gyllenhaal...
- 3/23/2024
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
Conversations about the future of artificial intelligence can be found all over SXSW this year — and not all of the festival’s attendees are thrilled with the idea. Specifically, the film and TV fans catching screenings of world premieres including “The Fall Guy” and “Immaculate” made their AI displeasure loud and clear on Tuesday at the Paramount Theatre in Austin. (Scroll down to see for yourself.)
The quick-turnaround video editors at SXSW cut a daily sizzle reel highlighting previous panels, premieres and other events, which then runs before festival screenings. On Tuesday, the fourth edition of that daily video focused on the wide variety of keynotes and panelists in town to discuss AI. Those folks sure seem bullish on artificial intelligence, and the audiences at the Paramount — many of whom are likely writers and actors who just spent much of 2023 on the picket line trying to reign in the potentially...
The quick-turnaround video editors at SXSW cut a daily sizzle reel highlighting previous panels, premieres and other events, which then runs before festival screenings. On Tuesday, the fourth edition of that daily video focused on the wide variety of keynotes and panelists in town to discuss AI. Those folks sure seem bullish on artificial intelligence, and the audiences at the Paramount — many of whom are likely writers and actors who just spent much of 2023 on the picket line trying to reign in the potentially...
- 3/13/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Denis Villeneuve is on one heck of a winning streak these days -- a "heater," as the kids might say. The director behind jaw-dropping films like "Enemy" and "Sicario" followed up his early success by turning himself into a household name, first making 2016's "Arrival" into an Academy Awards darling before unleashing "Blade Runner 2049" on the masses. Now, the filmmaker who once made a feature-length thriller about Hugh Jackman punching Paul Dano into a pulp has graduated to the blockbuster big leagues. With 2021's "Dune," Villeneuve and co-writers Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth took a classic sci-fi novel long considered to be "unadaptable" and somehow delivered a crowd-pleasing hit, one that has had audiences hungry for the sequel ever since.
Now that delays caused by the pandemic and then the writers' and actors' strikes are behind us, it's finally time for fans to inhale a handful of spice and...
Now that delays caused by the pandemic and then the writers' and actors' strikes are behind us, it's finally time for fans to inhale a handful of spice and...
- 2/26/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
The search for the next "Suits" has begun! Aaron Korsh's legal drama series gained a whole new lease on life in 2023 thanks to Netflix, becoming the year's most-streamed show and giving USA Network's loyal middle-aged target demographic a reason to fist pump in vindication. The only question now is, what lucky show will follow in its footsteps? Surprisingly, an unlikely candidate has emerged in the form of "Resident Alien," a genre-blending cult favorite that's currently in the process of airing its third season on Syfy.
Anchored by fan-favorite performer and voice actor extraordinaire Alan Tudyk (the man who clucked his way into audiences' hearts as Heihei in "Moana" and wooed his own butt as Clayface in "Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine's Day Special"), "Resident Alien" has managed to climb its way into Netflix's Top 10 in the U.S. According to the streaming viewership aggregator FlixPatrol, it was...
Anchored by fan-favorite performer and voice actor extraordinaire Alan Tudyk (the man who clucked his way into audiences' hearts as Heihei in "Moana" and wooed his own butt as Clayface in "Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine's Day Special"), "Resident Alien" has managed to climb its way into Netflix's Top 10 in the U.S. According to the streaming viewership aggregator FlixPatrol, it was...
- 2/20/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
BAFTA threw up plenty of surprises and snobs in their nominations lineups this year with Best Actress one of the most intriguing and head-scratching categories of the year. “Killers of the Flower Moon” star Lily Gladstone was snubbed while Annette Bening (“Nyad”) also didn’t make the cut. Both of those performers were nominated at the Oscars, however.
Instead, the BAFTA nominees for Best Actress are Fantasia Barrino (“The Color Purple”), Sandra Hüller (“Anatomy of a Fall”), Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”), Margot Robbie (“Barbie”), Emma Stone (“Poor Things”), and Vivian Oparah (“Rye Lane”). Stone is the obvious frontrunner and the thespian at the top of our BAFTA odds chart for this category but one name in that list sticks out as a potential challenger: Oparah.
The British actress had a breakout year in 2023 with her role in Searchlight Pictures/Disney’s charming”Rye Lane,” which follows Oparah (Yas) and David Jonsson...
Instead, the BAFTA nominees for Best Actress are Fantasia Barrino (“The Color Purple”), Sandra Hüller (“Anatomy of a Fall”), Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”), Margot Robbie (“Barbie”), Emma Stone (“Poor Things”), and Vivian Oparah (“Rye Lane”). Stone is the obvious frontrunner and the thespian at the top of our BAFTA odds chart for this category but one name in that list sticks out as a potential challenger: Oparah.
The British actress had a breakout year in 2023 with her role in Searchlight Pictures/Disney’s charming”Rye Lane,” which follows Oparah (Yas) and David Jonsson...
- 2/6/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
On January 26, 2024, the highly anticipated limited series “Masters of the Air” began streaming on Apple TV+. Based on the 2007 book “Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany” by Donald L. Miller, the series stars Austin Butler, Barry Keoghan, Callum Turner and Anthony Boyle as members of the 100th Bomb Group, a B-17 Flying Fortress unit in the Air Force during World War II.
Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, the show created by John Shiban and John Orloff is seen as a companion to “Band of Brothers” (2001) and “The Pacific” (2010). Early reviews prove it’s a hit with critics, flying high at 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences rank it even higher at 92% fresh. The critics consensus reads, “Soaring high with its immaculate production design and acutely well-observed characters, ‘Masters of the Air’ can stand proud alongside its...
Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, the show created by John Shiban and John Orloff is seen as a companion to “Band of Brothers” (2001) and “The Pacific” (2010). Early reviews prove it’s a hit with critics, flying high at 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences rank it even higher at 92% fresh. The critics consensus reads, “Soaring high with its immaculate production design and acutely well-observed characters, ‘Masters of the Air’ can stand proud alongside its...
- 1/29/2024
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
According to the current combined predictions of Gold Derby users, the 10 films that are expected to reap Best Picture nominations at this year’s Oscars are “American Fiction,” “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Barbie,” “The Holdovers,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Maestro,” “Oppenheimer,” “Past Lives,” “Poor Things,” and “The Zone of Interest.” However there is a movie currently sitting not far behind in 17th place that I think deserves a spot: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”
More than a year after the events of the 2018’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is unexpectedly approached by Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), to complete a mission to save every universe of Spider-People from the Spot (Jason Schwartzman).
SEEFilm editing roundtable: ‘Air,’ ‘American Fiction,’ ‘Saltburn,’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ and ‘Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie’
The first movie won Best Animated Feature back in 2018. The sequel is currently also expected to win that category,...
More than a year after the events of the 2018’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is unexpectedly approached by Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), to complete a mission to save every universe of Spider-People from the Spot (Jason Schwartzman).
SEEFilm editing roundtable: ‘Air,’ ‘American Fiction,’ ‘Saltburn,’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ and ‘Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie’
The first movie won Best Animated Feature back in 2018. The sequel is currently also expected to win that category,...
- 12/29/2023
- by Jeffrey Kare
- Gold Derby
As part of Indie Film Site Network (Ifsn), we’re thrilled to announce D. Smith’s vibrant directorial debut Kokomo City as the recipient of the 2023 Ifsn Advocate Award. The recipient of the award, established to highlight one indie film each year that illuminates a humanitarian or environmental issue with a singular artistic vision, is awarded one million (1M) media impressions across the Indie Film Site Network, which represents The Film Stage, Hammer to Nail, Ioncinema.com, RogerEbert.com, and Screen Anarchy. Letterboxd, the popular social network for cinephiles, is also contributing to the award.
Finalists for the 2023 Ifsn Advocate Award are Raven Jackson’s All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt, Pawo Choyning Dorji’s The Monk and the Gun, Asmae El Moudir’s The Mother of All Lies, and Luke Lorentzen’s A Still Small Voice, which will each be awarded 100K media impressions across Ifsn.
In the wildly...
Finalists for the 2023 Ifsn Advocate Award are Raven Jackson’s All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt, Pawo Choyning Dorji’s The Monk and the Gun, Asmae El Moudir’s The Mother of All Lies, and Luke Lorentzen’s A Still Small Voice, which will each be awarded 100K media impressions across Ifsn.
In the wildly...
- 11/16/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Ridley Scott’s epic Napoleon hits theaters Nov. 22, but the review embargo for the film broke Tuesday night, and the early reaction from critics has been largely positive.
Written by David Scarpa, the lavish period film, which clocks in at a meaty two hours and 38 minutes, stars Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as the French military commander and later despot Napoleon Bonaparte, with Vanessa Kirby as his consort, Empress Joséphine. The movie charts Bonaparte’s meteoric rise from lowly artillery commander to Napoleon I, emperor of France, and takes in notable military engagements such as the battles of Austerlitz and Waterloo.
Among the early reviews, Napoleon has been praised for its epic scale, particularly the set-piece battle scenes that make the film a worthy theatrical experience. Critics also praised Scott for his ambition in telling Bonaparte’s disparate story. There was praise, too, for Phoenix and Kirby’s performances. Some critics...
Written by David Scarpa, the lavish period film, which clocks in at a meaty two hours and 38 minutes, stars Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as the French military commander and later despot Napoleon Bonaparte, with Vanessa Kirby as his consort, Empress Joséphine. The movie charts Bonaparte’s meteoric rise from lowly artillery commander to Napoleon I, emperor of France, and takes in notable military engagements such as the battles of Austerlitz and Waterloo.
Among the early reviews, Napoleon has been praised for its epic scale, particularly the set-piece battle scenes that make the film a worthy theatrical experience. Critics also praised Scott for his ambition in telling Bonaparte’s disparate story. There was praise, too, for Phoenix and Kirby’s performances. Some critics...
- 11/15/2023
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” is a sumptuous feast for the eyes according to film critics who just saw the film. The movie, detailing the life of the Emperor Napoleon (played by Joaquin Phoenix) and his relationship as both a ruler and a husband to Empress Josephine (Vanessa Kirby) is “a lot of movie” according to critic and writer William Bibbiani.
The film will premiere in a truncated two hour and 38 minute cut in theaters, while debuting a four-hour cut on Apple TV+.
Many critics cited the biggest flaw was that it felt like the time had been condensed. According to IndieWire’s David Ehrlich, “Napoleon definitely feels like a 4-hour movie that’s been cut to ribbons, but it’s So funny during the first half when it’s all about Ridley Scott just reading Napoleon for filth and laughing at how embarrassing it is to be a man with ambitions.
The film will premiere in a truncated two hour and 38 minute cut in theaters, while debuting a four-hour cut on Apple TV+.
Many critics cited the biggest flaw was that it felt like the time had been condensed. According to IndieWire’s David Ehrlich, “Napoleon definitely feels like a 4-hour movie that’s been cut to ribbons, but it’s So funny during the first half when it’s all about Ridley Scott just reading Napoleon for filth and laughing at how embarrassing it is to be a man with ambitions.
- 11/15/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
John Carpenter has shared the news on Twitter that he's set to appear as a guest on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" tonight, marking his first return to the late show circuit in decades. The filmmaker has popped up on late shows before, discussing "Halloween" on David Letterman's show in 1982 and returning to talk to Letterman (by then in Colbert's current "Late Show" post) in 1999. But the horror master isn't a big late show guy, and the pre-21st century Letterman appearance seems to have been the last time anyone saw him give a traditional late show interview aside from an appearance on "The Daily Show" in 2001. Thus, his spot on "The Late Show" tonight is certain to be a rare treat for horror fans eager to hear from the brilliant writer, director, producer, and composer behind films like "The Thing" and "Escape From New York."
Carpenter...
Carpenter...
- 10/26/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
On October 20, 2023, Apple Original Films released “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Oscar winner Martin Scorsese‘s highly anticipated film in which members of the Osage tribe in the United States are murdered under mysterious circumstances in the 1920s, sparking a major F.B.I. investigation involving J. Edgar Hoover.
The film premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May and received raves from critics, holding fresh at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and bolstering in Gold Derby’s Oscar odds across the board. The critics consensus reads, “Enormous in runtime, theme, and achievement, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is a sobering appraisal of America’s relationship with Indigenous peoples and yet another artistic zenith for Martin Scorsese and his collaborators.”
See Apple Original Films releases third trailer for ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ in runup to Friday premiere: ‘You’re gonna make trouble, make it big’ [Watch]
The film based on the bestseller of...
The film premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May and received raves from critics, holding fresh at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and bolstering in Gold Derby’s Oscar odds across the board. The critics consensus reads, “Enormous in runtime, theme, and achievement, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is a sobering appraisal of America’s relationship with Indigenous peoples and yet another artistic zenith for Martin Scorsese and his collaborators.”
See Apple Original Films releases third trailer for ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ in runup to Friday premiere: ‘You’re gonna make trouble, make it big’ [Watch]
The film based on the bestseller of...
- 10/20/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
On October 6, 2023, A24 released “Dicks: The Musical” based on the off-broadway musical “F***ing Identical Twins” by Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson. The writers star in the film as Craig and Trevor, a pair of business rivals who discover they’re identical twins and decide to swap places in an attempt to trick their divorced parents to get back together.
The movie made its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last month, winning the People’s Choice Award for Midnight Madness. It currently holds fresh at 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics consensus reading, “From its eyebrow-raising title to its gleefully provocative humor, talented cast, and catchy songs, ‘Dicks: The Musical’ is a cult movie in the making.” The star-studded ensemble includes Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, Bowen Yang and Megan Thee Stallion. Read our full review round-up below.
See ‘The Zone of Interest’ may continue the streak of international...
The movie made its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last month, winning the People’s Choice Award for Midnight Madness. It currently holds fresh at 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics consensus reading, “From its eyebrow-raising title to its gleefully provocative humor, talented cast, and catchy songs, ‘Dicks: The Musical’ is a cult movie in the making.” The star-studded ensemble includes Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, Bowen Yang and Megan Thee Stallion. Read our full review round-up below.
See ‘The Zone of Interest’ may continue the streak of international...
- 10/6/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
Netflix viewing figures might be a mostly meaningless mess, but they're getting a little more transparent. They also provide a fascinating picture of global viewing habits that give us a real-time look at how audiences are responding to the deluge of media being funneled directly into their collective visual cortex.
In an age where streaming has truly upended the movie industry, leaving studios scrambling to catch up with the modern paradigm, getting a look under the hood is always interesting. For instance, nobody liked "The Snowman" when it was released back in 2017, but apparently, we all lapped it up when it hit Netflix this year. What does that say about what we expect from our home entertainment? Has streaming lowered all our standards? Perhaps we were always this way ...
The point is, there's clearly something to be learned in an age where we all have access to viewing metrics in real time.
In an age where streaming has truly upended the movie industry, leaving studios scrambling to catch up with the modern paradigm, getting a look under the hood is always interesting. For instance, nobody liked "The Snowman" when it was released back in 2017, but apparently, we all lapped it up when it hit Netflix this year. What does that say about what we expect from our home entertainment? Has streaming lowered all our standards? Perhaps we were always this way ...
The point is, there's clearly something to be learned in an age where we all have access to viewing metrics in real time.
- 10/4/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Between "Talk To Me" and "Evil Dead Rise," you'd think the superlative for 2023's best horror movie trailer would've already been won by now, but there's a late contender this week in the form of the horrifying new promo for "When Evil Lurks." It's no surprise this movie looks scary as hell, as it comes from Demián Rugna, the filmmaker behind 2017's downright freaky Buenos Aires-set horror flick "Terrified." Not to be confused with killer clown movie "Terrifier," "Terrified" is a disturbing movie about a suburban investigation of a demonic presence that goes frighteningly, unforgettably wrong.
"When Evil Lurks" is Rugna's long-awaited follow-up as a writer-director (he directed last year's "Satanic Hispanics" but didn't pen the script), and it's poised to move the thrills and chills from a seemingly peaceful neighborhood to a rural landscape plagued by freaky goats and the promise of a looming evil. According to the official synopsis,...
"When Evil Lurks" is Rugna's long-awaited follow-up as a writer-director (he directed last year's "Satanic Hispanics" but didn't pen the script), and it's poised to move the thrills and chills from a seemingly peaceful neighborhood to a rural landscape plagued by freaky goats and the promise of a looming evil. According to the official synopsis,...
- 9/21/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
The 2023 Toronto International Film Festival is underway. While this is one of the festivals where a lot of awards season contenders start getting buzz as we head into the fall and winter months, it's also a place where hidden horror gems can sneak up on you as we head into Halloween. Like many film festivals, TIFF has its own genre programming block called Midnight Madness where horror, thrillers, and the wilder side of filmmaking can be experienced. This year, a handful of titles have been getting some decent buzz, ranging from "Stranger Things" star Finn Wolfhard making his directorial debut with the slasher comedy "Hell of a Summer" to "Dream Scenario" putting Nicolas Cage into everyone's dreams and plenty in between.
Let's take a closer look at some of the horror titles drumming up noise at TIFF 2023.
Read more: The 95 Best Horror Movies Ever
Hell Of A Summer
Director: Finn...
Let's take a closer look at some of the horror titles drumming up noise at TIFF 2023.
Read more: The 95 Best Horror Movies Ever
Hell Of A Summer
Director: Finn...
- 9/13/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
Apple TV+ is launching the genre-blending The Changeling on September 8, 2023 with the release of the first three episodes. Oscar nominee Lakeith Stanfield leads the cast of what the streaming service describes as a fairytale for grown-ups, a horror story, and a parenthood fable.
Joining Stanfield (“Apollo Kagwa”) in the eight-episode series are Clark Backo (“Emmy”), Adina Porter (“Lillian Kagwa”), Samuel T. Herring (“William Wheeler”), Alexis Louder (“young Lillian”), and Jared Abrahamson (“Brian West”). Malcolm Barrett (“Patrice”) is featured as a special guest star.
Just ahead of its premiere, the drama based on Victor Lavalle’s bestselling novel sits at 75% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Huff Post’s Candice Frederick says “The Changeling is an extravagant genre offering about… well, many different things. Most profoundly, it’s about the natural horrors of life and death — as well as the stories we tell ourselves and those we love.”
The Playlist’s Brian Tallerico...
Joining Stanfield (“Apollo Kagwa”) in the eight-episode series are Clark Backo (“Emmy”), Adina Porter (“Lillian Kagwa”), Samuel T. Herring (“William Wheeler”), Alexis Louder (“young Lillian”), and Jared Abrahamson (“Brian West”). Malcolm Barrett (“Patrice”) is featured as a special guest star.
Just ahead of its premiere, the drama based on Victor Lavalle’s bestselling novel sits at 75% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Huff Post’s Candice Frederick says “The Changeling is an extravagant genre offering about… well, many different things. Most profoundly, it’s about the natural horrors of life and death — as well as the stories we tell ourselves and those we love.”
The Playlist’s Brian Tallerico...
- 9/6/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
On August 2, 2023, FX premiered the third and final season of “Reservation Dogs,” scoring a perfect 100% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics consensus reads, “Bowing out while still having plenty of creativity to spare, ‘Reservation Dogs” final season sidesteps feeling premature by satisfying on every level.” The series created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi centers on four Native American teenagers growing up on a reservation in eastern Oklahoma. The ensemble cast is led by D’Pharaoh Woon-a-Tai, Devery Jacobs, Lane Factor and Paulina Alexis.
The critically acclaimed comedy has been continuously snubbed by the Emmys, earning just a single bid for sound editing this year. Other awards groups have been more favorable, including the Critics Choice Awards, which nominated Woon-a-Tai for Best Comedy Actor, Jacobs for Best Comedy Actress and Alexis for Best Comedy Supporting Actress in addition to the show’s 2023 nomination for Best Comedy Series. AFI called it...
The critically acclaimed comedy has been continuously snubbed by the Emmys, earning just a single bid for sound editing this year. Other awards groups have been more favorable, including the Critics Choice Awards, which nominated Woon-a-Tai for Best Comedy Actor, Jacobs for Best Comedy Actress and Alexis for Best Comedy Supporting Actress in addition to the show’s 2023 nomination for Best Comedy Series. AFI called it...
- 8/8/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
The mockbuster industry is a fascinating entity. Chief among the studios that specialize in mockbusters (ie. low-budget knockoffs of popular studio titles) is The Asylum, the company behind the "Sharkando" films. In 2023 alone, The Asylum has released a riff on "Cocaine Bear" titled "Attack of the Meth Gator," the latest installment in its "Transformers" ripoff franchise, "Transmorphers: Mech Beasts," and its own animated version of "The Little Mermaid" featuring the voices of Steve Guttenberg and "E.T." star Dee Wallace. And they say cinema is dead!
Shane Van Dyke, the grandson of acting legend Dick Van Dyke, got his start as a writer on the mockbuster circuit, penning films like "Titanic II," "Paranormal Entity," and "Transmorphers: Fall of Man" for The Asylum in the late aughts. Around that same time, he also teamed up with his brother, Carey Van Dyke, to co-pen the studio's "Street Racer" -- a riff on the "Fast & Furious" films,...
Shane Van Dyke, the grandson of acting legend Dick Van Dyke, got his start as a writer on the mockbuster circuit, penning films like "Titanic II," "Paranormal Entity," and "Transmorphers: Fall of Man" for The Asylum in the late aughts. Around that same time, he also teamed up with his brother, Carey Van Dyke, to co-pen the studio's "Street Racer" -- a riff on the "Fast & Furious" films,...
- 8/6/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."
If you're not a regular "Star Trek: Lower Decks" viewer, the latest episode of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" might be a little jarring. The crossover episode features the animated series' leads, Ensigns Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Mariner (Tawny Newsome), making the leap to live-action when they accidentally time travel to the classic Trek era. While it's easy to pick up on the plot even if you haven't seen "Lower Decks," there's one aspect of the characters that's a little tougher to get used to: their mile-a-minute references and jokes.
"Star Trek: Lower Decks" has always been known for its speedy quips and chaotic energy, and the crossover episode knows it. In a quick exchange (is there any other way for these folks?) on board the Enterprise, Mariner asks Boimler, "Did you notice how slow everybody talks?...
If you're not a regular "Star Trek: Lower Decks" viewer, the latest episode of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" might be a little jarring. The crossover episode features the animated series' leads, Ensigns Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Mariner (Tawny Newsome), making the leap to live-action when they accidentally time travel to the classic Trek era. While it's easy to pick up on the plot even if you haven't seen "Lower Decks," there's one aspect of the characters that's a little tougher to get used to: their mile-a-minute references and jokes.
"Star Trek: Lower Decks" has always been known for its speedy quips and chaotic energy, and the crossover episode knows it. In a quick exchange (is there any other way for these folks?) on board the Enterprise, Mariner asks Boimler, "Did you notice how slow everybody talks?...
- 7/23/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
The “Mission: Impossible” franchise is one of the most successful in film history, raking in a staggering $3.5 million and counting since the debut of the first film in 1996.
Understandably, hopes are high for the seventh entry in the Tom Cruise-starring franchise when “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” debuts in theatres next week.
The reviews are coming in, and film critics are overwhelmingly positive about the new film, which has already racked up a Rotten Tomatoes score of an incredible 98 per cent.
Read More: Tom Cruise Reflects On His ‘Mission: Impossible’ Journey Over The Years: ‘It’s Quite Extraordinary’
Here’s a sampling of what some of the world’s top critics are saying.
“‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ is just incredibly fun. It feels half its length and contains enough memorable action sequences for some entire franchises,” wrote Brian Tallerico for RogerEbert.com.
“If you...
Understandably, hopes are high for the seventh entry in the Tom Cruise-starring franchise when “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” debuts in theatres next week.
The reviews are coming in, and film critics are overwhelmingly positive about the new film, which has already racked up a Rotten Tomatoes score of an incredible 98 per cent.
Read More: Tom Cruise Reflects On His ‘Mission: Impossible’ Journey Over The Years: ‘It’s Quite Extraordinary’
Here’s a sampling of what some of the world’s top critics are saying.
“‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ is just incredibly fun. It feels half its length and contains enough memorable action sequences for some entire franchises,” wrote Brian Tallerico for RogerEbert.com.
“If you...
- 7/5/2023
- by Brent Furdyk
- ET Canada
A week away from the release of Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,” critics have praised the new film as yet another triumph for its leading man, Tom Cruise, and one of if not the best film of the summer.
While some critics noted that the film doesn’t quite reach the heights of its 2018 predecessor “Mission: Impossible — Fallout” or Cruise’s 2022 Best Picture Oscar nominated “Top Gun: Maverick,” reviews agree it has plenty of the wild and tense set pieces that “Mission” fans have come to expect, including a comedic car chase through the streets of Rome, a nail-biting train chase and a much-marketed shot of Cruise riding a motorcycle off a cliff.
“It is Cruise himself that unlocks this extraordinary and, in the end, surprisingly poignant franchise start to finish, the key to it all even when he’s not dangling from a Dubai...
While some critics noted that the film doesn’t quite reach the heights of its 2018 predecessor “Mission: Impossible — Fallout” or Cruise’s 2022 Best Picture Oscar nominated “Top Gun: Maverick,” reviews agree it has plenty of the wild and tense set pieces that “Mission” fans have come to expect, including a comedic car chase through the streets of Rome, a nail-biting train chase and a much-marketed shot of Cruise riding a motorcycle off a cliff.
“It is Cruise himself that unlocks this extraordinary and, in the end, surprisingly poignant franchise start to finish, the key to it all even when he’s not dangling from a Dubai...
- 7/5/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
“Yellowjackets” will look to take the Emmys by storm again after the first season of the Showtime hit came away with seven bids including a nomination for Best Drama Series. The show follows a high-school girls soccer team that survives a plane crash. What seems at first a lucky escape, however, soon devolves into something far more nightmarish as they try to survive in the Canadian wilderness. That’s one half of the story, set in 1996. The other half of the series focuses on the survivors as adults 25 years later in 2021.
The show stars Melanie Lynskey in the lead role — the adult version of Shauna — while Elijah Wood joined the season two cast as Walter Tattersall, a detective who tries to help Christina Ricci‘s Misty. “The Lord of the Rings” alum is a welcome addition to the cast of “Yellowjackets” and fits right in alongside fellow child actor Ricci.
The show stars Melanie Lynskey in the lead role — the adult version of Shauna — while Elijah Wood joined the season two cast as Walter Tattersall, a detective who tries to help Christina Ricci‘s Misty. “The Lord of the Rings” alum is a welcome addition to the cast of “Yellowjackets” and fits right in alongside fellow child actor Ricci.
- 6/22/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
“The Boys” ramped up its outrageousness in every way possible in its latest, third season— from, uh, a shrunken man venturing into a human orifice to Jensen Ackles‘ emergence as the Amazon Prime Video show’s satirical take on Captain America (Steve Rogers)… Soldier Boy.
The show, based on the comic book series of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, is Eric Kripke‘s superhero satire. While comedic in many places, the show is first and foremost a drama and follows Karl Urban and Jack Quaid leading up a squad determined to take down the supes-gone-bad. The supes, in turn, are part of a team called The Seven (led by Anthony Starr‘s Homelander), which are handled by mega-company Vought International.
Vought’s past threatens to catch up with them in season three as Soldier Boy, the world’s first ever superhero, was found alive in a sealed pod,...
The show, based on the comic book series of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, is Eric Kripke‘s superhero satire. While comedic in many places, the show is first and foremost a drama and follows Karl Urban and Jack Quaid leading up a squad determined to take down the supes-gone-bad. The supes, in turn, are part of a team called The Seven (led by Anthony Starr‘s Homelander), which are handled by mega-company Vought International.
Vought’s past threatens to catch up with them in season three as Soldier Boy, the world’s first ever superhero, was found alive in a sealed pod,...
- 6/22/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Ed Harris is hoping to contend at the Emmys one last time for the HBO sci-fi series “Westworld,” which signed off last year after four seasons. Based on Michael Crichton‘s 1973 movie of the same name, the show comes from Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan and follows a collection of people indulging themselves at a highly-sophisticated theme park that depicts the wild west and is populated by advanced AI.
The show continued to build on its theme with each season and features some wonderful actors, not least including Harris. Harris plays the Man in Black, a sadistic and brutal man who is determined to find out the secrets of the theme park. In the final seasons, Harris also plays William, who is a host who replaces the original Man in Black. In his viciousness and snarling performance, Harris is clearly having a great time on screen and critics have noted...
The show continued to build on its theme with each season and features some wonderful actors, not least including Harris. Harris plays the Man in Black, a sadistic and brutal man who is determined to find out the secrets of the theme park. In the final seasons, Harris also plays William, who is a host who replaces the original Man in Black. In his viciousness and snarling performance, Harris is clearly having a great time on screen and critics have noted...
- 6/22/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Rian Johnson‘s “Poker Face” has emerged as one of the most enjoyable new TV series of the last year as he returns to the murder-mystery genre with this episodic, case-of-the-week format that clearly delights those on-screen as much as it does those watching it.
The comedy show follows Natasha Lyonne as Charlie, who has an uncanny ability to determine if somebody is lying. She goes on the run from the casino she used to work at after a suspicious death occurs and then, on her travels, she meets a vast array of colorful characters as she solves a new murder each week on her road trip.
Each week presents new actors having the time of their lives and one of those people is the Oscar-winning Adrien Brody, who features as Sterling Frost Jr, the casino manager who is also the son of Ron Perlman‘s ruthless Sterling Frost Snr.
The comedy show follows Natasha Lyonne as Charlie, who has an uncanny ability to determine if somebody is lying. She goes on the run from the casino she used to work at after a suspicious death occurs and then, on her travels, she meets a vast array of colorful characters as she solves a new murder each week on her road trip.
Each week presents new actors having the time of their lives and one of those people is the Oscar-winning Adrien Brody, who features as Sterling Frost Jr, the casino manager who is also the son of Ron Perlman‘s ruthless Sterling Frost Snr.
- 6/8/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Gary Oldman could be set for an Emmys return this year for season two of “Slow Horses,” 21 years after his first — and only — Emmy nomination.
The legendary English actor will be competing in Best Drama Actor for his Apple TV+ show “Slow Horses,” which follows a team of British intelligence agents who, as the title would suggest, are treated as something of a dumping ground in MI5 due to their past mistakes. Based on the book by Mick Herron, Oldman stars in the lead role of Jackson Lamb, the head of the department — named Slough House.
Lamb is rude, abrasive, full of bad habits, and, a lot of the time, drunk. As the character, Oldman is a joy to watch as the crass and broken Lamb. But while he revels in the comedy of said crassness, Oldman sows in an undercurrent of intelligence and belied sharpness, which is what ties...
The legendary English actor will be competing in Best Drama Actor for his Apple TV+ show “Slow Horses,” which follows a team of British intelligence agents who, as the title would suggest, are treated as something of a dumping ground in MI5 due to their past mistakes. Based on the book by Mick Herron, Oldman stars in the lead role of Jackson Lamb, the head of the department — named Slough House.
Lamb is rude, abrasive, full of bad habits, and, a lot of the time, drunk. As the character, Oldman is a joy to watch as the crass and broken Lamb. But while he revels in the comedy of said crassness, Oldman sows in an undercurrent of intelligence and belied sharpness, which is what ties...
- 5/30/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Amazon Prime Video big bet on “The English” paid off. Critics and audiences alike embraced this lavish Western from Hugo Blick that starred Emily Blunt in her first major TV role in decades and showcased Chaske Spencer, best known for his role in the “Twilight” franchise.
Blunt plays Lady Cornelia Lockhart, who ventures to the American West of the 1890s to search for the man who was responsible for the death of her son. Along the way, she meets Spencer’s Eli Whipp/Wounded Wolf, a member of the Pawnee Nation who seeks to reclaim the land he is rightfully owed for his service in the US Army. The two share a bond as they travel together and it is this central relationship that forms the heart, soul, brain, and blood of the stunning series.
Spencer holds his own opposite Blunt. His voice is exquisite, delivering every one of Blick...
Blunt plays Lady Cornelia Lockhart, who ventures to the American West of the 1890s to search for the man who was responsible for the death of her son. Along the way, she meets Spencer’s Eli Whipp/Wounded Wolf, a member of the Pawnee Nation who seeks to reclaim the land he is rightfully owed for his service in the US Army. The two share a bond as they travel together and it is this central relationship that forms the heart, soul, brain, and blood of the stunning series.
Spencer holds his own opposite Blunt. His voice is exquisite, delivering every one of Blick...
- 5/26/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
“What We Do in the Shadows” continued to be one of the funniest TV shows around with its fourth season as the series transformed from four vampire roommates to, pretty much, three vampires and a baby. The FX series is adapted from the 2014 movie of the same name, which was written and directed by Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement. Clement created the TV show himself while Waititi stayed on as executive producer. The show takes the same format as the film — a mockumentary following vampires living together as housemates.
Our vampire housemates here are Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), Nandor (Kayvan Novak), and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch). Each of them spearhead their own brand of comedy in this biting show and is deserving of rewards but it’s perhaps Berry who stands out the most in season four of the show.
Laszlo is a 310-year-old British nobleman who is...
Our vampire housemates here are Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), Nandor (Kayvan Novak), and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch). Each of them spearhead their own brand of comedy in this biting show and is deserving of rewards but it’s perhaps Berry who stands out the most in season four of the show.
Laszlo is a 310-year-old British nobleman who is...
- 5/25/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Christina Ricci came to fame at just 10 years of age when she took on the role of Wednesday Addams in 1991’s “The Addams Family.” She gave the character a deadpan aura and the actress is still best-known for this sardonic wit. Ricci reprised the role in 1993’s “Addams Family Values,” where she solidified her take on the character, who was 12-13 years old in the movies, as the defining one. Three decades later, she returned to the world of “The Addams Family” in Netflix’s “Wednesday “— but not as Wednesday Addams.
Instead, that role went to Jenna Ortega, who is re-defining the character, now age 16, with her uber-popular performance. The comedy series sees Wednesday enrolling at Nevermore Academy. Ricci plays Marilyn Thornhill — Nevermore Academy’s science teacher and Wednesday’s dorm mother. At first, it seemed like Marilyn would be a neat little cameo-like role for Ricci that would satisfy fans of the original movies.
Instead, that role went to Jenna Ortega, who is re-defining the character, now age 16, with her uber-popular performance. The comedy series sees Wednesday enrolling at Nevermore Academy. Ricci plays Marilyn Thornhill — Nevermore Academy’s science teacher and Wednesday’s dorm mother. At first, it seemed like Marilyn would be a neat little cameo-like role for Ricci that would satisfy fans of the original movies.
- 5/3/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
“The Mandalorian” season three has been met with mixed reviews from “Star Wars” fans but while the story itself is called into question, the characters remain beloved. None more so than Bo-Katan Kryze, who is a major part of this live-action show as Katee Sackhoff reprises her voice acting role from the animated shows.
Bo-Katan was first introduced in the animated series “The Clone Wars” and was a member of The Death Watch, which was a terrorist group of Mandalorians trying to reinstate their ancient ways to their planet, Mandalore. She then appeared in “Rebels,” another animated show, wherein she is declared the new ruler of Mandalore. Then, she appeared in live-action in season two of “The Mandalorian” wherein she tried to claim the fabled Darksaber from Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) but failed when Pedro Pascal‘s Din Djarin (the titular Mando) won it for himself.
“The Mandalorian” season three...
Bo-Katan was first introduced in the animated series “The Clone Wars” and was a member of The Death Watch, which was a terrorist group of Mandalorians trying to reinstate their ancient ways to their planet, Mandalore. She then appeared in “Rebels,” another animated show, wherein she is declared the new ruler of Mandalore. Then, she appeared in live-action in season two of “The Mandalorian” wherein she tried to claim the fabled Darksaber from Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) but failed when Pedro Pascal‘s Din Djarin (the titular Mando) won it for himself.
“The Mandalorian” season three...
- 4/25/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
There’s no character on television right now like vulgarian poet Dave Burd. The third season of “Dave” begins with the real-life rapper, also known as Lil Dicky, traveling the country in search of a soulmate. Will his Looking for Love tour also win him Emmy voters’ hearts?
If its sustained 84 average on Metacritic proves anything, the subversive Fxx comedy is “basking in the confidence earned from its exceptional prior entry but…not resting on its laurels”. That being said, the pool of surveyed critics remains small and male, something that, judging by the second half of Season 3’s two-episode premiere, “Harrison Ave,” seems to be on the creative team’s radar.
See Emmy odds: Jeremy Allen White (‘The Bear’) is nipping at Jason Sudeikis’s heels for Best Comedy Actor
While we shouldn’t infer how he actually feels about the matter based on his fictionalized persona, it’s fair to say Burd,...
If its sustained 84 average on Metacritic proves anything, the subversive Fxx comedy is “basking in the confidence earned from its exceptional prior entry but…not resting on its laurels”. That being said, the pool of surveyed critics remains small and male, something that, judging by the second half of Season 3’s two-episode premiere, “Harrison Ave,” seems to be on the creative team’s radar.
See Emmy odds: Jeremy Allen White (‘The Bear’) is nipping at Jason Sudeikis’s heels for Best Comedy Actor
While we shouldn’t infer how he actually feels about the matter based on his fictionalized persona, it’s fair to say Burd,...
- 4/11/2023
- by Ronald Meyer
- Gold Derby
Netflix’s latest series is already making waves with viewers, achieving a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Arriving on the streaming website on Wednesday (6 April), Beef is a dark comedy produced by A24. It stars Minari actor Steven Yeun and comedian Ali Wong as two strangers who get into a road-rage accident.
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Beef has a 99 per cent score at the time of writing on the critic-supported Tomatometer, as well as a 96 per cent score based on audience reviews.
Critics have praised both the show’s writing and performances (by Yeun and Wong), suggesting Beef is a shoo-in for this year’s Emmy Awards.
Writing for Salon, Melanie McFarland said: “One day in the future academics may view Beef as a convincing TV distillation of the early 21st-century’s collective mood, a lingering and worsening state of society-wide pandemic anger.
“Hyperbolic? Maybe. But I challenge...
Arriving on the streaming website on Wednesday (6 April), Beef is a dark comedy produced by A24. It stars Minari actor Steven Yeun and comedian Ali Wong as two strangers who get into a road-rage accident.
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Beef has a 99 per cent score at the time of writing on the critic-supported Tomatometer, as well as a 96 per cent score based on audience reviews.
Critics have praised both the show’s writing and performances (by Yeun and Wong), suggesting Beef is a shoo-in for this year’s Emmy Awards.
Writing for Salon, Melanie McFarland said: “One day in the future academics may view Beef as a convincing TV distillation of the early 21st-century’s collective mood, a lingering and worsening state of society-wide pandemic anger.
“Hyperbolic? Maybe. But I challenge...
- 4/9/2023
- by Isobel Lewis
- The Independent - TV
Apple TV+ found the perfect fit for its ever-growing lineup with the launch of ‘Tetris” on March 31. The film tells the unbelievable story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe. Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) discovers Tetris in 1988, and then risks everything by traveling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pazhitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses. Based on a true story, “Tetris” is described as “a Cold War-era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes and a nail-biting race to the finish.”
Following its March 15 premiere at the SXSW Film Festival, critics praised the film, earning it an 82% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus reads, “While it’s nowhere near as addictive or fast-paced as the game, ‘Tetris’ offers a fun, fizzy account of the story behind an 8-bit classic.
Following its March 15 premiere at the SXSW Film Festival, critics praised the film, earning it an 82% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus reads, “While it’s nowhere near as addictive or fast-paced as the game, ‘Tetris’ offers a fun, fizzy account of the story behind an 8-bit classic.
- 4/8/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
On April 7, Neon released “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” from director and co-writer Daniel Goldhaber. The film based on Andreas Malm‘s 2021 book of the same name is about a crew of environmental activists who plot a daring plan to disrupt an oil pipeline. The timely thriller stars Ariela Barer, Kristine Froseth, Lukas Gage, Forrest Goodluck, Sasha Lane and Marcus Scribner.
Following its premiere at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival, “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” became an instant hit with critics. It currently holds a perfect 100% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus reading, “An explosive adaptation of Malm’s treatise, ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ delivers a high-stakes eco-thriller ignited by riveting and complex antiheroes.” Read our full review round-up below.
See April 2023 movies: 24 most anticipated releases
Brian Tallerico (RogerEbert.com) writes, “Daniel Goldhaber’s kinetic, riveting ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ was like nothing else I saw at TIFF.
Following its premiere at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival, “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” became an instant hit with critics. It currently holds a perfect 100% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus reading, “An explosive adaptation of Malm’s treatise, ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ delivers a high-stakes eco-thriller ignited by riveting and complex antiheroes.” Read our full review round-up below.
See April 2023 movies: 24 most anticipated releases
Brian Tallerico (RogerEbert.com) writes, “Daniel Goldhaber’s kinetic, riveting ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ was like nothing else I saw at TIFF.
- 4/7/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
We had seriously considered an April Fool’s edition of Don’t-Miss Indies this month full of Latvian Redbox actioners, but thought better of such trickery at the eleventh hour. After all, our beloved constituents deserve better than a perplexing blurb about The Humanity Bureau starring Nicolas Cage. And anyway there are too many great, legitimate titles to skip. So bunker down with some Cadbury Creme eggs at the art house and enjoy!
Pretty Baby: Brook Shields
When You Can Watch: Now
Where You Can Watch: Hulu
Director: Lana Wilson
Why We’re Excited: Two-time Film Independent Spirit Award nominee Lana Wilson’s two-part documentary tracks child star Shields, from her rise to fame in Reagan-era hits Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon through her 40-plus years in Hollywood. Amidst the tumult of growing up in the public eye–she landed her first commercial at 11-months-old, as the Ivory...
Pretty Baby: Brook Shields
When You Can Watch: Now
Where You Can Watch: Hulu
Director: Lana Wilson
Why We’re Excited: Two-time Film Independent Spirit Award nominee Lana Wilson’s two-part documentary tracks child star Shields, from her rise to fame in Reagan-era hits Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon through her 40-plus years in Hollywood. Amidst the tumult of growing up in the public eye–she landed her first commercial at 11-months-old, as the Ivory...
- 4/4/2023
- by Su Fang Tham
- Film Independent News & More
Guillermo del Toro‘s mantlepiece must be a bit crowded by now. He won the Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture in 2018 for “The Shape of Water” and followed that up with another Oscar win this year for Best Animated Feature for “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.” But the director, who has another three Oscar nominations to his name, may have to make a little more room on that shelf in the future as he could well win an Emmy this year for his new Netflix series “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities.”
“Cabinet of Curiosities” is an anthology series that presents eight episodes of horror-fuelled stories replete with all-star casts, stunning visuals, and del Toro’s trademark style. Among those appearing: Andrew Lincoln, Rupert Grint, Ben Barnes, F. Murray Abraham, and Dan Stevens. The series has been received warmly by critics and has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes,...
“Cabinet of Curiosities” is an anthology series that presents eight episodes of horror-fuelled stories replete with all-star casts, stunning visuals, and del Toro’s trademark style. Among those appearing: Andrew Lincoln, Rupert Grint, Ben Barnes, F. Murray Abraham, and Dan Stevens. The series has been received warmly by critics and has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes,...
- 3/28/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves has premiered at the SXSW film festival, with positive first reactions to the fantasy action adventure coming from both avid players and non-players, alike.
Chris Pine, Regé-Jean Page, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith and Sophia Lillis star in the feature from Paramount and eOne, as a band of adventurers that are on a quest to retrieve a powerful relic, a journey that runs into trouble after they come across some nefarious characters. Hugh Grant plays the group’s primary foil and the movie’s comedic relief.
Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley — known for the comedy Game Night — wrote and directed the movie that is based on the beloved tabletop role-playing game.
Reviews will be following the SXSW premiere but see some of the first social media reactions below, now.
Erik Davis of Fandango: “I do not play Dungeons and Dragons and understand zero references,...
Chris Pine, Regé-Jean Page, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith and Sophia Lillis star in the feature from Paramount and eOne, as a band of adventurers that are on a quest to retrieve a powerful relic, a journey that runs into trouble after they come across some nefarious characters. Hugh Grant plays the group’s primary foil and the movie’s comedic relief.
Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley — known for the comedy Game Night — wrote and directed the movie that is based on the beloved tabletop role-playing game.
Reviews will be following the SXSW premiere but see some of the first social media reactions below, now.
Erik Davis of Fandango: “I do not play Dungeons and Dragons and understand zero references,...
- 3/11/2023
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sony Pictures Classics has made many wise investments at the Sundance Film Festival over the years. Its 2022 acquisition, “Living,” just nabbed Oscar nominations for Best Actor, Bill Nighy, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Other recent Sundance titles propelled to the Oscars by the studio include “The Father” (2020), “Call Me By Your Name” (2017), “Whiplash” (2014) and “An Education” (2009). Amy Adams’ very first career bid came for “Junebug,” which the distributor picked up from Park City in 2005. That film’s writer, Angus MacLachlan, is the director of “A Little Prayer,” one of Sony Pictures Classics’ 2023 festival purchases (the other being Audience Award winner “The Persian Version”).
Starring David Strathairn as Bill Brass, the movie is about a soft-spoken North Carolina family man who, per official synopsis, “tests the limits of patriarchal interference” after discovering that his son, David (Will Pullen), has been having an extramarital affair. In breach of Southern hospitality, which prescribes minding one’s own affairs,...
Starring David Strathairn as Bill Brass, the movie is about a soft-spoken North Carolina family man who, per official synopsis, “tests the limits of patriarchal interference” after discovering that his son, David (Will Pullen), has been having an extramarital affair. In breach of Southern hospitality, which prescribes minding one’s own affairs,...
- 2/13/2023
- by Ronald Meyer
- Gold Derby
Now in limited theaters across the country is The Outwaters, our latest genre offering that calls back to The Blair Witch Project by the way of Event Horizon.
Our entire team fell in love with Robbie Banfitch‘s film that screened at last year’s Panic Fest, but it’s super validating to see all the wonderful reviews that have been hitting over the past few weeks.
The New York Times raved, celebrating the film’s “stunning sound design, creative mood-setting and a fearless finale,” while Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com adds: “This film takes no prisoners, offers no explanations, and forces you to go on its twisted journey that blends found footage structure with something that H.P. Lovecraft might have dreamed up. It’s a ride.”
The visceral, chaotic, and disorienting horror film is hands down one of the scariest films of the year. Nightmarish Conjurings noted it was...
Our entire team fell in love with Robbie Banfitch‘s film that screened at last year’s Panic Fest, but it’s super validating to see all the wonderful reviews that have been hitting over the past few weeks.
The New York Times raved, celebrating the film’s “stunning sound design, creative mood-setting and a fearless finale,” while Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com adds: “This film takes no prisoners, offers no explanations, and forces you to go on its twisted journey that blends found footage structure with something that H.P. Lovecraft might have dreamed up. It’s a ride.”
The visceral, chaotic, and disorienting horror film is hands down one of the scariest films of the year. Nightmarish Conjurings noted it was...
- 2/9/2023
- by Bloody Disgusting Staff
- bloody-disgusting.com
The life and career of Hall of Fame NBA player Bill Russell is celebrated in the Netflix documentary “Bill Russel: Legend,” released on the streaming platform February 8. On the court, Russell was a force to be reckoned with – a champion who sacrificed himself for his teammates and love of basketball. Off the court, he was a force in the fight for human rights – marching with the great Martin Luther King Jr., pioneering NBA boycotts and fighting against racism.
The film is narrated by actors Jeffrey Wright and Corey Stoll and features exclusive interviews with the icon’s family and friends as well as Steph Curry, Chris Paul, “Magic” Johnson, Larry Bird, Jim Brown and more. Critics are unanimously praising the project that currently holds a perfect 100 freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Read our review roundup below.
See Rian Johnson on planting ‘Glass Onion’ clues in plain sight and his ‘pretty...
The film is narrated by actors Jeffrey Wright and Corey Stoll and features exclusive interviews with the icon’s family and friends as well as Steph Curry, Chris Paul, “Magic” Johnson, Larry Bird, Jim Brown and more. Critics are unanimously praising the project that currently holds a perfect 100 freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Read our review roundup below.
See Rian Johnson on planting ‘Glass Onion’ clues in plain sight and his ‘pretty...
- 2/9/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
On February 3, 2023, Showtime premiered the docuseries “Murder in Big Horn.” It spotlights the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (Mmiw) that has been prevalent since colonization. Directed by Razelle Benally and Matthew Galkin, the three-part docuseries examines the circumstances surrounding many of these cases. Watch the trailer below.
The docuseries told solely through the perspectives of those involved: Native families, Native journalists, and local law enforcement officers, currently holds an 82 freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Read our review roundup below.
Courtney Small of That Shelf writes, “in places like Big Horn County, Montana, the target on the backs of Native American women has been there from birth…Due to its unique location on Interstate 90, Big Horn County is an area where members of the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Nations mix with non-Natives and travelers passing through. It has also become a hunting ground of sorts for predators seeking to...
The docuseries told solely through the perspectives of those involved: Native families, Native journalists, and local law enforcement officers, currently holds an 82 freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Read our review roundup below.
Courtney Small of That Shelf writes, “in places like Big Horn County, Montana, the target on the backs of Native American women has been there from birth…Due to its unique location on Interstate 90, Big Horn County is an area where members of the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Nations mix with non-Natives and travelers passing through. It has also become a hunting ground of sorts for predators seeking to...
- 2/7/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
2023 Sundance Film Festival: Early highlights include ‘Fairyland,’ ‘Magazine Dreams,’ ‘Past Lives’ …
The first week of the Sundance Film Festival is drawing mixed-to-positive reactions, but several performers have garnered unanimous praise. Jonathan Majors made a big splash in Elijah Bynum’s “Magazine Dreams.” He stars as Killian Maddox, an obsessive bodybuilder who takes care of his Vietnam vet grandfather (Harrison Page) and pursues a relationship with a store clerk (Hayley Bennett) while trying to become a celebrity. The film, which is being compared to Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver,” looked noteworthy heading into the festival and is reportedly just as intense as early buzz had promised. Even critics who have expressed skepticism regarding the film’s third act are in awe of Majors’ committed work.
Kate Erbland of IndieWire writes, “As mistakes and missteps and pain continues to pile on to Killian, Majors turns an already wonderfully empathetic and deeply touching performance into something much more brutal, something explosive, something truly shocking.
Kate Erbland of IndieWire writes, “As mistakes and missteps and pain continues to pile on to Killian, Majors turns an already wonderfully empathetic and deeply touching performance into something much more brutal, something explosive, something truly shocking.
- 1/29/2023
- by Ronald Meyer
- Gold Derby
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