The Cannes Film Festival has named the eight members of its main Competition jury who will join previously announced president Greta Gerwig in deciding the Palme d’Or and other key prizes at 77th edition running from May 14 to 25.
They are Turkish screenwriter and photographer Ebru Ceylan, U.S. actress Lily Gladstone, French actress Eva Green, Lebanese director and screenwriter Nadine Labaki, Spanish director and screenwriter J.A. Bayona, Italian actor Pierfrancisco Favino, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda and French actor and producer Omar Sy.
The wife and long-time collaborator of Nuri Bilge Ceylan, screenwriter and photographer Ceylan co-wrote 2014 Palme d’Or winner Winter Sleep and also took co-writing credits on Cannes selected films Three Monkeys (Best Director Prize 2008), Once upon a time in Anatolia (Grand Prix 2011), The Wild Pear Tree (2018) and About Dry Grasses (2023).
Ceylan also appeared as an actress and took art director credits on her husband’s early films...
They are Turkish screenwriter and photographer Ebru Ceylan, U.S. actress Lily Gladstone, French actress Eva Green, Lebanese director and screenwriter Nadine Labaki, Spanish director and screenwriter J.A. Bayona, Italian actor Pierfrancisco Favino, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda and French actor and producer Omar Sy.
The wife and long-time collaborator of Nuri Bilge Ceylan, screenwriter and photographer Ceylan co-wrote 2014 Palme d’Or winner Winter Sleep and also took co-writing credits on Cannes selected films Three Monkeys (Best Director Prize 2008), Once upon a time in Anatolia (Grand Prix 2011), The Wild Pear Tree (2018) and About Dry Grasses (2023).
Ceylan also appeared as an actress and took art director credits on her husband’s early films...
- 4/29/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
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After releasing his critically acclaimed album, the 80-minute Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, and pulling double duty as the host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live, Bad Bunny embarked on his 47-date tour across America in February.
Buy on Stubhub
Dubbed the Most Wanted Tour, Benito’s trek included 47 dates for the first half of the year, with stops including the opener in Salt Lake City,...
After releasing his critically acclaimed album, the 80-minute Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, and pulling double duty as the host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live, Bad Bunny embarked on his 47-date tour across America in February.
Buy on Stubhub
Dubbed the Most Wanted Tour, Benito’s trek included 47 dates for the first half of the year, with stops including the opener in Salt Lake City,...
- 4/5/2024
- by John Lonsdale
- Rollingstone.com
The family/social drama has always been a staple within the Japanese film industry with directors such as Yasujiro Ozu or Kenji Mozoguchi having shaped it during the course of their career. At the same time, while delving into family issues, these directors have taken a lesson from early works within the cinematic landscape of their culture as well as Italien Neo-realism, adding “a slice of life” to their works. In the last couple of years perhaps no other director has influenced (and to certain extent perfected) this formula than Hirokazu Koreeda. His debut feature “Maborosi” already showed the family as a mirror image of a society caught in between tradition and progress, family values and individualism. With his fourth feature “Nobody Knows”, inspired by a true case, Koreeda would not only reach international fame, but also manifest his take on the aforementioned formula which many have copied (or tried to) over the years.
- 2/23/2024
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
To no one’s surprise, Taylor Swift has the number-one album in the country with “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” It had the biggest launch of any of her re-recorded “Taylor’s Version” albums. Read all about this week’s Billboard 200 albums chart here at Billboard.com.
The new edition of “1989” debuted with 1.653 million equivalent album units based on its combined record sales, individual track sales and online streaming performance. That’s the most units for any album since 2015, when Adele‘s “25” got started with an extraordinary 3.482 million. Most of Swift’s total came from traditional sales 1.359 million, which marks the biggest sales week of Swift’s career and already makes “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” the bestselling album of the year. Swift has now had six albums sell more than a million copies in a single week, which is more than any other artist.
SEEGrammys flashback: A look back at Taylor Swift...
The new edition of “1989” debuted with 1.653 million equivalent album units based on its combined record sales, individual track sales and online streaming performance. That’s the most units for any album since 2015, when Adele‘s “25” got started with an extraordinary 3.482 million. Most of Swift’s total came from traditional sales 1.359 million, which marks the biggest sales week of Swift’s career and already makes “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” the bestselling album of the year. Swift has now had six albums sell more than a million copies in a single week, which is more than any other artist.
SEEGrammys flashback: A look back at Taylor Swift...
- 11/6/2023
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Exclusive: UTA has signed Hirokazu Kore-eda, the internationally celebrated Japanese filmmaker known for titles like Monster and Shoplifters, for representation in all areas.
The deal is particularly significant, Deadline hears, as the agency continues to expand its presence in Japan, and throughout Asia more broadly. Kore-eda will work closely going forward with UTA’s Asia Business Development division, which looks to amplify Asian and Asian-American voices by creating and curating a diverse array of opportunities, between Hollywood and Asia, for clients, partner companies, and brands.
Kore-eda’s most recent feature, Monster, had its North American premiere at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival after world premiering in Cannes, where it was awarded the Queer Palm and the prize for Best Screenplay. The film penned by Yuji Sakamoto watches as a mother confronts her young son’s teacher after she notices him acting strangely. Sakura Andō, Eita Nagayama, and Sōya Kurokawa star.
Kore-eda...
The deal is particularly significant, Deadline hears, as the agency continues to expand its presence in Japan, and throughout Asia more broadly. Kore-eda will work closely going forward with UTA’s Asia Business Development division, which looks to amplify Asian and Asian-American voices by creating and curating a diverse array of opportunities, between Hollywood and Asia, for clients, partner companies, and brands.
Kore-eda’s most recent feature, Monster, had its North American premiere at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival after world premiering in Cannes, where it was awarded the Queer Palm and the prize for Best Screenplay. The film penned by Yuji Sakamoto watches as a mother confronts her young son’s teacher after she notices him acting strangely. Sakura Andō, Eita Nagayama, and Sōya Kurokawa star.
Kore-eda...
- 10/24/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Bad Bunny is back at number-one on the Billboard 200. His new release “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana” became his third album to top the chart in tracking week that ended on October 19. Read all about this week’s chart here at Billboard.com.
“Nadie Sabe” got started with 184,000 equivalent album units based on its combined record sales, individual track sales and online streaming performance. The heavy majority of its units came from streaming: 176,000, equaling 239.56 million overall streams of the collection’s 22 tracks. It follows his previous number-ones “El Último Tour Del Mundo” (2020), which debuted with 116,000 album units, and “Un Verano Sin Ti” (2022), which debuted with 274,000 units. “Un Verano” ended up spending 13 weeks at number-one and became Billboard’s number-one album of the year.
SEEBillboard Hot 100: Every #1 song of 2023
Dropping one spot to second place was Drake‘s “For All the Dogs,” which achieved 164,000 units in its second week,...
“Nadie Sabe” got started with 184,000 equivalent album units based on its combined record sales, individual track sales and online streaming performance. The heavy majority of its units came from streaming: 176,000, equaling 239.56 million overall streams of the collection’s 22 tracks. It follows his previous number-ones “El Último Tour Del Mundo” (2020), which debuted with 116,000 album units, and “Un Verano Sin Ti” (2022), which debuted with 274,000 units. “Un Verano” ended up spending 13 weeks at number-one and became Billboard’s number-one album of the year.
SEEBillboard Hot 100: Every #1 song of 2023
Dropping one spot to second place was Drake‘s “For All the Dogs,” which achieved 164,000 units in its second week,...
- 10/24/2023
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Bad Bunny is the most-streamed artist on the planet, a status further underscored by the fact that his new album, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, is certain to debut at Number One on the Billboard 200 album chart. He’s a fashion icon, a WWE mainstay, a gods-gift to both tabloid editors and internet rubberneckers. His last album, 2022’s Un Verano Sin Ti, was among his most eclectic to date, incorporating indie luminaries from the world of Latin pop to both expand the boundaries of reggaeton and (possibly...
- 10/16/2023
- by Jon Dolan and Vita Dadoo
- Rollingstone.com
It seems that Bad Bunny‘s newly-released album, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, was destined to break records.
On Friday, Spotify announced that the 22-track LP is their most-streamed album in a single day in 2023 so far. The superstar previously claimed the title of the most streamed artist on Spotify for three consecutive years in 2020, 2021, and 2022. And in July 2023, Un Verano Sin Ti became the most-streamed album of all time in the platform’s history.
The Puerto Rican megastar dropped the record on Friday the 13th, which includes “Monaco,...
On Friday, Spotify announced that the 22-track LP is their most-streamed album in a single day in 2023 so far. The superstar previously claimed the title of the most streamed artist on Spotify for three consecutive years in 2020, 2021, and 2022. And in July 2023, Un Verano Sin Ti became the most-streamed album of all time in the platform’s history.
The Puerto Rican megastar dropped the record on Friday the 13th, which includes “Monaco,...
- 10/14/2023
- by Charisma Madarang
- Rollingstone.com
Bad Bunny has a thing for surprise drops. But prior to the surprise drop of "nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana," there were a lot of questions floating around. The obvious one was whether 2023 would come and go without a Bad Bunny release. But there were other poignant questions for Latine fans, too, like whether Bad's relationship with Kendall Jenner would affect his music - and whether he'd forgotten his roots and gone pop. And if the album, which was released on Oct. 13 at midnight, is anything to go by, Bad Bunny heard the whispers and has answered with a forceful "Oh, you must not know who I am?"
"nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana" is a resounding middle finger of a project that sees Bad Bunny taking his critics and haters to task over some of the hardest trap beats he's rhymed over since "Yhlqmdlg.
"nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana" is a resounding middle finger of a project that sees Bad Bunny taking his critics and haters to task over some of the hardest trap beats he's rhymed over since "Yhlqmdlg.
- 10/13/2023
- by Miguel Machado
- Popsugar.com
Bad Bunny has released his new album, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana. Stream the album below.
The follow-up to last year’s Un Verano Sin Ti, the album arrives ahead of Bad Bunny’s October 21st appearance on Saturday Night Live, during which he will pull double duty as both host and musical guest. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, the global superstar teased that he had been experimenting with new sounds while recording it in Puerto Rico and Los Angeles.
“I am playing around and enjoying myself, letting go. I’m being inspired a lot by the music of the ’70s [across genres, in both Spanish and English],” Bad Bunny said, “but I’m not sure if this is going to shape my music, generally or just one song.” He also hinted at opening up about his personal life: “Now more than ever, I feel more confident in talking about what I think,...
The follow-up to last year’s Un Verano Sin Ti, the album arrives ahead of Bad Bunny’s October 21st appearance on Saturday Night Live, during which he will pull double duty as both host and musical guest. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, the global superstar teased that he had been experimenting with new sounds while recording it in Puerto Rico and Los Angeles.
“I am playing around and enjoying myself, letting go. I’m being inspired a lot by the music of the ’70s [across genres, in both Spanish and English],” Bad Bunny said, “but I’m not sure if this is going to shape my music, generally or just one song.” He also hinted at opening up about his personal life: “Now more than ever, I feel more confident in talking about what I think,...
- 10/13/2023
- by Eddie Fu and Jo Vito
- Consequence - Music
A year doesn’t really feel complete without a new Bad Bunny album. Thankfully, the Puerto Rican megastar is back with his latest album Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, out now.
Among the 22 tracks packed on the album are “Monaco,” “Mr. October,” Cybertruck,” “Teléfono Nuevo,” “Acho PR,” and “Thunder y Lightning.” The LP opens with “Nadie Sabe” and ends with “Un Preview.“
Bad Bunny continued his tradition of shirking a traditional album rollout by announcing the new album on Monday, just days before its release. The LP...
Among the 22 tracks packed on the album are “Monaco,” “Mr. October,” Cybertruck,” “Teléfono Nuevo,” “Acho PR,” and “Thunder y Lightning.” The LP opens with “Nadie Sabe” and ends with “Un Preview.“
Bad Bunny continued his tradition of shirking a traditional album rollout by announcing the new album on Monday, just days before its release. The LP...
- 10/13/2023
- by Brittany Spanos
- Rollingstone.com
Bad Bunny stans, which song are you claiming? On Thursday, hours before he’s set to release his new album, Bad Bunny revealed the tracklist for his new album, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana.
Among the 22 songs included on the album are “Monaco,” “Mr. October,” Cybertruck,” “Teléfono Nuevo,” “Acho PR,” and “Thunder y Lightning.” The LP opens with “Nadie Sabe” and ends with “Un Preview.” Also on the album is “No Me Quiero Casar,” which translates to “I don’t want to get married.”
It’s unclear...
Among the 22 songs included on the album are “Monaco,” “Mr. October,” Cybertruck,” “Teléfono Nuevo,” “Acho PR,” and “Thunder y Lightning.” The LP opens with “Nadie Sabe” and ends with “Un Preview.” Also on the album is “No Me Quiero Casar,” which translates to “I don’t want to get married.”
It’s unclear...
- 10/12/2023
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
Top Japanese star Yagira Yuga was front and center of streamer Disney+’s plans when it gave a green light to a second season of drama-horror series “Gannibal.”
The creepy show, in which Yagira portrays a damaged police detective on the heels of a gangster-like family in a troubled village, has been a ratings winner in terms of minutes watched for the streamer. And, on Sunday, it earned Yagira win an Asian excellence prize at the Busan International Film Festival’s Asia Contents Awards & Global Ott Awards.
He spoke to Variety about the newly-started production of the second season.
Where does Season Two kick off?
In Season One, we saw the surfacing of many secrets including those of the village and the villagers. In season two we see most of these secrets resolved. I hope you can catch the nuance there.
How did you get back into character? Was its...
The creepy show, in which Yagira portrays a damaged police detective on the heels of a gangster-like family in a troubled village, has been a ratings winner in terms of minutes watched for the streamer. And, on Sunday, it earned Yagira win an Asian excellence prize at the Busan International Film Festival’s Asia Contents Awards & Global Ott Awards.
He spoke to Variety about the newly-started production of the second season.
Where does Season Two kick off?
In Season One, we saw the surfacing of many secrets including those of the village and the villagers. In season two we see most of these secrets resolved. I hope you can catch the nuance there.
How did you get back into character? Was its...
- 10/11/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
For Bad Bunny, 2023 was supposed to be a low-key year. In his recent Rolling Stone cover story, he shared, “I don’t know if maybe I’ll release a song [this year] if I like it enough, but I don’t think so. I said this year was for resting.” Then he started teasing music on a WhatsApp channel — first came “Where She Goes,” with his most recent release, “Un Preview,” following a few months later. Needless to say, he doesn’t do low-key well. The Puerto Rican star has confirmed the release of another full-length album,...
- 10/9/2023
- by Larisha Paul
- Rollingstone.com
Superhero spy series wins six awards including the top prize.
Korean Disney+ series Moving led the pack at the revamped Asia Contents Awards & Global Ott Awards in Busan on Sunday (October 8), winning six prizes including the top award.
The superhero spy series won best creative, best writer for Kang Full, best lead actor for Ryu Seung-ryong, best newcomer actor for Lee Jung-ha, best newcomer actress for Go Yeon Jung and best visual effects. It won all the awards for which it was nominated.
Scroll down for full list of winners
It marks the latest boost for the 20-episode series, which...
Korean Disney+ series Moving led the pack at the revamped Asia Contents Awards & Global Ott Awards in Busan on Sunday (October 8), winning six prizes including the top award.
The superhero spy series won best creative, best writer for Kang Full, best lead actor for Ryu Seung-ryong, best newcomer actor for Lee Jung-ha, best newcomer actress for Go Yeon Jung and best visual effects. It won all the awards for which it was nominated.
Scroll down for full list of winners
It marks the latest boost for the 20-episode series, which...
- 10/8/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The belief that the dead live on in our memories is often the only comfort anyone can think to offer the bereaved, or those in the process of losing a loved one. But for Takashi (Mirai Moriyama), the introspective adult son at the heart of Kei Chika-ura’s quietly tectonic heartbreaker, that comfort is unavailable on multiple levels. Not only has he been long estranged from his father, Yohji (a shattering San Sebastian Best Performance-winning Tatsuya Fuji), but Yohji’s own precipitous descent into the fog of dementia means that whatever Takashi can now learn of him, at this late stage, is jumbled and fragmentary and possibly false. How can we adequately remember someone who cannot remember himself?
Like so much of “Great Absence,” that question is posed as a kind of mystery, made all the eerier by the ordinariness of the clues that tease its solution — an uncanceled meal delivery,...
Like so much of “Great Absence,” that question is posed as a kind of mystery, made all the eerier by the ordinariness of the clues that tease its solution — an uncanceled meal delivery,...
- 10/3/2023
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
Disney has given a green light to a second season of Japanese drama -horror series “Gannibal.”
Set in a fictional Japanese village, season one of Gannibal saw recently relocated police officer Agawa Daigo arrive in his new home a broken man. Wrestling with his guilt over an event that traumatized his daughter, things started off promisingly for the new arrival before a series of alarming events quickly led Agawa to the horrifying realization that something was deeply wrong with the villagers and the mysterious Goto family.
Yagira Yuya (“Nobody Knows”) is confirmed to return in the starring role of police officer Agawa, while Kasamatsu Sho returns as Goto Keisuke, the head of the Goto family, and Yoshioka Riho as Agawa Yuki, Agawa’s strong and supportive wife. Yagira’s performance in the role has earned him a nomination as best actor in the Busan International Film Festival’s Asia Contents Awards & Global Ott Awards.
Set in a fictional Japanese village, season one of Gannibal saw recently relocated police officer Agawa Daigo arrive in his new home a broken man. Wrestling with his guilt over an event that traumatized his daughter, things started off promisingly for the new arrival before a series of alarming events quickly led Agawa to the horrifying realization that something was deeply wrong with the villagers and the mysterious Goto family.
Yagira Yuya (“Nobody Knows”) is confirmed to return in the starring role of police officer Agawa, while Kasamatsu Sho returns as Goto Keisuke, the head of the Goto family, and Yoshioka Riho as Agawa Yuki, Agawa’s strong and supportive wife. Yagira’s performance in the role has earned him a nomination as best actor in the Busan International Film Festival’s Asia Contents Awards & Global Ott Awards.
- 9/21/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Great Absence, the second feature film from Japanese director Kei Chika-ura, is receiving its world premiere in Toronto International Film Festival’s Platform section.
Inspired by Kei’s real-life experiences, the film tells the story of an actor living in Tokyo who is forced to travel home when the police call to say his father is suffering from dementia and has lost touch with reality. Making matters worse, his father’s second wife appears to be missing.
The actor makes the trip home with his own wife, full of conflicted emotions over a man who left the family when he was still a child, and starts an exploration into the mysteries of his father’s life. Along the way, the film touches on themes including time and memory, familial obligation and the role that women play in male-dominated Japanese society.
Veteran actor Tatsuya Fuji (In The Realm Of The Senses) plays the father,...
Inspired by Kei’s real-life experiences, the film tells the story of an actor living in Tokyo who is forced to travel home when the police call to say his father is suffering from dementia and has lost touch with reality. Making matters worse, his father’s second wife appears to be missing.
The actor makes the trip home with his own wife, full of conflicted emotions over a man who left the family when he was still a child, and starts an exploration into the mysteries of his father’s life. Along the way, the film touches on themes including time and memory, familial obligation and the role that women play in male-dominated Japanese society.
Veteran actor Tatsuya Fuji (In The Realm Of The Senses) plays the father,...
- 9/8/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
North America's largest Japanese film festival presents two weeks of contemporary movies from Japan, including opening film The First Slam Dunk directed by Takehiko Inoue, centerpiece film Under The Turquoise Sky directed by Kentaro, closing film The Three Sisters Of Tenmasou Inn directed by Ryuhei Kitamura
Japan Society announces the full lineup of the 16th annual Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Film, the largest festival of its kind in North America, set for July 26–August 6. This year's edition will present 29 films and mark the first fully in-person Japan Cuts since 2019. This year's festival spans 12 days and features 24 feature-length films and five short films across Feature Slate, Next Generation, and Short Film Spotlight sections, as well as a special tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto. Among the festival's lineup are five International Premieres, 10 North American Premieres, seven U.S. Premieres, three East Coast Premieres and three New York Premieres. Additionally, Japan Cuts...
Japan Society announces the full lineup of the 16th annual Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Film, the largest festival of its kind in North America, set for July 26–August 6. This year's edition will present 29 films and mark the first fully in-person Japan Cuts since 2019. This year's festival spans 12 days and features 24 feature-length films and five short films across Feature Slate, Next Generation, and Short Film Spotlight sections, as well as a special tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto. Among the festival's lineup are five International Premieres, 10 North American Premieres, seven U.S. Premieres, three East Coast Premieres and three New York Premieres. Additionally, Japan Cuts...
- 6/22/2023
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Exclusive: Blockbuster animated feature The First Slam Dunk will open Japan Cuts, a festival of Japanese cinema in New York, which will also feature a special tribute to late Oscar-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto.
The festival will also present the Cut Above award for Outstanding Achievement to actor Yuya Yagira for his role in Kentaro’s Under The Turquoise Sky, which will screen as the Centerpiece Film. Yagira was the youngest ever winner of Best Actor at the Cannes film festival for Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Nobody Knows in 2004. Yagira and Kentaro will both attend the festival.
The First Slam Dunk, which will be making its East Coast premiere at Japan Cuts, is the highest-grossing film at the Japanese box office so far this year and was recently acquired by Gkids for North American distribution.
The Ryuichi Sakamoto tribute involves a screening of Elizabeth Lennard’s 1985 documentary Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto.
The festival will also present the Cut Above award for Outstanding Achievement to actor Yuya Yagira for his role in Kentaro’s Under The Turquoise Sky, which will screen as the Centerpiece Film. Yagira was the youngest ever winner of Best Actor at the Cannes film festival for Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Nobody Knows in 2004. Yagira and Kentaro will both attend the festival.
The First Slam Dunk, which will be making its East Coast premiere at Japan Cuts, is the highest-grossing film at the Japanese box office so far this year and was recently acquired by Gkids for North American distribution.
The Ryuichi Sakamoto tribute involves a screening of Elizabeth Lennard’s 1985 documentary Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto.
- 6/20/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
by Cláudio Alves
The second day of Cannes saw the start of the competition screenings, with Hirokazu Kore-eda and Catherine Corsini leading the pack. Though The Film Experience's writer at the festival, Elisa Giudici, wasn't convinced by the Japanese master's latest effort, Monster has been met with critical support. Nothing comparable to the reception of his Palme d'Or-winning Shoplifters, but still encouraging. As for Corsini, her Homecoming has caused controversy because of a sex scene featuring underage actors, which the director admits she'd approach differently in the future, citing the need for intimacy coaches. A masturbation scene was also eventually cut from the film after it cost production funding from France's National Cinema Centre.
Looking back at these auteur's past works, let's choose to remember less divisive fare. In both cases, familial bonds are at the forefront, tales of mothers and their children lost in dysfunction. They are Kore-eda's Nobody Knows,...
The second day of Cannes saw the start of the competition screenings, with Hirokazu Kore-eda and Catherine Corsini leading the pack. Though The Film Experience's writer at the festival, Elisa Giudici, wasn't convinced by the Japanese master's latest effort, Monster has been met with critical support. Nothing comparable to the reception of his Palme d'Or-winning Shoplifters, but still encouraging. As for Corsini, her Homecoming has caused controversy because of a sex scene featuring underage actors, which the director admits she'd approach differently in the future, citing the need for intimacy coaches. A masturbation scene was also eventually cut from the film after it cost production funding from France's National Cinema Centre.
Looking back at these auteur's past works, let's choose to remember less divisive fare. In both cases, familial bonds are at the forefront, tales of mothers and their children lost in dysfunction. They are Kore-eda's Nobody Knows,...
- 5/19/2023
- by Cláudio Alves
- FilmExperience
In film after film, from “Nobody Knows” to “Shoplifters,” Japanese master Kore-eda Hirokazu has proven himself to be among the medium’s most humanistic directors, inclined to see the best in people, especially children. So how to reconcile the way “Monster” makes us feel?
Returning to his native Japan after helming two relatively disappointing features abroad (“Broker” and “The Truth”), the 2018 Palme d’Or winner opens his latest Cannes competition entry with a building on fire — a “hostess bar” where lonely men seek female company — and fifth-grade Minato (Kurokawa Soya) watching the inferno from a nearby balcony. Kore-eda will return to this scene three times over the course of the film, folding the narrative back upon itself from a different angle each time, before finally revealing who set the blaze.
The title misleads for a time, inviting us to speculate about the darkness that surrounds young Minato. Could a child have been the culprit?...
Returning to his native Japan after helming two relatively disappointing features abroad (“Broker” and “The Truth”), the 2018 Palme d’Or winner opens his latest Cannes competition entry with a building on fire — a “hostess bar” where lonely men seek female company — and fifth-grade Minato (Kurokawa Soya) watching the inferno from a nearby balcony. Kore-eda will return to this scene three times over the course of the film, folding the narrative back upon itself from a different angle each time, before finally revealing who set the blaze.
The title misleads for a time, inviting us to speculate about the darkness that surrounds young Minato. Could a child have been the culprit?...
- 5/17/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
“American Idol” Season 21 is coming to an end Sunday, May 21 with Colin Stough, Iam Tongi and Megan Danielle battling it out to join the esteemed list of previous winners. After surviving auditions, Hollywood Week and the Final Judgement, judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie chose them as part of the Top 26.
Since then, America has voted by the millions to keep these three in the competition. They’ve participated in theme weeks including “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night,” “Judge’s Song Contest,” “Alanis Morissette/Ed Sheeran Night” and “Disney Night” to reach this moment. So, who do You want to win it all? Vote in our poll below.
See ‘American Idol’ outrage! Fans say Wé Ani was robbed of spot in finale [Poll Results]
Colin Stough
Hometown: Amory, Ms
Occupation: Hvac Technician
Age: 19
Hollywood Showstopper: “Cold” by Chris Stapleton
Top 26: “Midnight Train to Memphis” by The SteelDrivers...
Since then, America has voted by the millions to keep these three in the competition. They’ve participated in theme weeks including “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night,” “Judge’s Song Contest,” “Alanis Morissette/Ed Sheeran Night” and “Disney Night” to reach this moment. So, who do You want to win it all? Vote in our poll below.
See ‘American Idol’ outrage! Fans say Wé Ani was robbed of spot in finale [Poll Results]
Colin Stough
Hometown: Amory, Ms
Occupation: Hvac Technician
Age: 19
Hollywood Showstopper: “Cold” by Chris Stapleton
Top 26: “Midnight Train to Memphis” by The SteelDrivers...
- 5/16/2023
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
ABC’s American Idol 2023 top three singers are officially moving forward into the finale, and fans can’t wait to see who wins the competition. On Sunday, May 14, 2023, two singers went home, and the results shocked many fans. So, who will win? Here’s who’s slated to win American Idol 2023 based on Facebook “likes” and views thus far.
[Spoiler alert: American Idol 2023 spoilers ahead regarding the top three.]
Iam Tongi in ‘American Idol’ 2023 | ABC/Eric McCandless ‘American Idol’ 2023 predictions state Iam Tongi will win
Iam Tongi has been a frontrunner in American Idol 2023 since the beginning of the competition. He officially made it to the top three singers with Colin Stough and Megan Danielle. And it looks like fans on Facebook also love Iam, as he’s clearly a fan favorite.
The top five performed two Disney-themed songs each on Sunday, May 14. Colin sang “Real Gone” from Cars and “Nobody Knows” from Pete’s Dragon. Megan sang “You Can’t...
[Spoiler alert: American Idol 2023 spoilers ahead regarding the top three.]
Iam Tongi in ‘American Idol’ 2023 | ABC/Eric McCandless ‘American Idol’ 2023 predictions state Iam Tongi will win
Iam Tongi has been a frontrunner in American Idol 2023 since the beginning of the competition. He officially made it to the top three singers with Colin Stough and Megan Danielle. And it looks like fans on Facebook also love Iam, as he’s clearly a fan favorite.
The top five performed two Disney-themed songs each on Sunday, May 14. Colin sang “Real Gone” from Cars and “Nobody Knows” from Pete’s Dragon. Megan sang “You Can’t...
- 5/16/2023
- by Lauren Weiler
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
“American Idol” fans were outraged Sunday night when Wé Ani was eliminated after two powerhouse performances on “Disney Night.” The 24-year old performer from New York received high praise from judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie after belting out “Into the Unknown” from “Frozen II” and “The Climb” from “Hannah Montana: The Movie.” But it wasn’t enough to rally the votes, and despite fans voting her the best of the night in our recent poll, she was sent packing alongside Mississippi’s Zachariah Smith. View our full poll results below.
See ‘American Idol’ all-star finale: Keith Urban returns; performers include Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Pitbull, TLC and more …
‘American Idol’ Top 5: Who gave the best performance?
Wé Ani (“Into the Unknown” & “The Climb”) – 37%
Iam Tongi (“Lava” & “Father and Son”) – 23%
Megan Danielle (“Carried Me With You” & “You Can’t Stop the Girl”) – 18%
Colin Stough (“Real Gone” & “Nobody Knows...
See ‘American Idol’ all-star finale: Keith Urban returns; performers include Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Pitbull, TLC and more …
‘American Idol’ Top 5: Who gave the best performance?
Wé Ani (“Into the Unknown” & “The Climb”) – 37%
Iam Tongi (“Lava” & “Father and Son”) – 23%
Megan Danielle (“Carried Me With You” & “You Can’t Stop the Girl”) – 18%
Colin Stough (“Real Gone” & “Nobody Knows...
- 5/15/2023
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
ABC’s American Idol 2023 continues with the top five singers performing on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The top five are a seriously impressive bunch, and they all will sing for Disney Night. However, they can’t all move on to the finale. So, when are the top three singers revealed? Here’s what we know.
When are the top 3 revealed on ‘American Idol’ 2023? Iam Tongi from ‘American Idol’ 2023 | ABC/Eric McCandless
The American Idol 2023 top five will become the top three on Sunday, May 14, 2023. Fans can cast their votes during the episode that airs at 8 p.m. Et. By the end of the episode, Ryan Seacrest will announce which singer received the most votes, and two singers will head home. The top three will then move on to the finale, where they’ll compete for the grand prize and title.
The top five — Zachariah Smith, Megan Danielle, Iam Tongi, Wé Ani, and...
When are the top 3 revealed on ‘American Idol’ 2023? Iam Tongi from ‘American Idol’ 2023 | ABC/Eric McCandless
The American Idol 2023 top five will become the top three on Sunday, May 14, 2023. Fans can cast their votes during the episode that airs at 8 p.m. Et. By the end of the episode, Ryan Seacrest will announce which singer received the most votes, and two singers will head home. The top three will then move on to the finale, where they’ll compete for the grand prize and title.
The top five — Zachariah Smith, Megan Danielle, Iam Tongi, Wé Ani, and...
- 5/14/2023
- by Lauren Weiler
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The “American Idol” Top 5 will capture the spirit of Disney this weekend when each of the finalists performs two songs for judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. Sofia Carson has been announced as the mentor while Sara Bareilles will open the show with “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “The Little Mermaid” star Halle Bailey will perform “Part of Your World.” “Disney Night” airs live coast to coast on Sunday, May 14 at 8:00 p.m. Et/5:00 p.m. Pt. But what will each contestant sing?
According to a People exclusive, we can can confirm each singer will perform twice — one classic and one song from a new Disney production. See the full set list below.
See ‘American Idol’ sets Disney Night 2023 for May 14, but what will Katy Perry wear?
Colin Stough – “Real Gone” from “Cars” & “Nobody Knows” by The Lumineers, from “Pete’s Dragon”
Iam Tongi – “Lava...
According to a People exclusive, we can can confirm each singer will perform twice — one classic and one song from a new Disney production. See the full set list below.
See ‘American Idol’ sets Disney Night 2023 for May 14, but what will Katy Perry wear?
Colin Stough – “Real Gone” from “Cars” & “Nobody Knows” by The Lumineers, from “Pete’s Dragon”
Iam Tongi – “Lava...
- 5/11/2023
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
Various themes run throughout the work of Hirokazu Koreeda. Without doubt an auteur, there are two key themes that feature regularly in his work: a breaking away from the conventional family unit; and memory, specifically holding on to the past. Within the former, fathers are often portrayed as weak individuals, some worthy of sympathy, some not. Often, they are absent cowards, enigmas and/or bitter men, but all have a difficulty facing up to the responsibility of fatherhood.
Most of his films pose the question of ‘what makes a good father?' though often this could be interpreted as ‘is it possible to be a good father?' with many seemingly not up to the task. Here are five examples of the difficult questions Koreeda poses of fatherhood – where fathers are failing the expectations of their role – and where he offers them no easy answers.
1. Maborosi (1995)
Following the inexplicable suicide...
Most of his films pose the question of ‘what makes a good father?' though often this could be interpreted as ‘is it possible to be a good father?' with many seemingly not up to the task. Here are five examples of the difficult questions Koreeda poses of fatherhood – where fathers are failing the expectations of their role – and where he offers them no easy answers.
1. Maborosi (1995)
Following the inexplicable suicide...
- 5/5/2023
- by Andrew Thayne
- AsianMoviePulse
The lineup for the 76th installment of the Cannes Film Festival has finally been announced. Nineteen films will be competing to take home the prestigious Palme d’Or, including a record six films helmed by women. The festival will be taking place in the French Riviera from May 16 to May 27. This year’s jury will be headed by Ruben Östlund, who won his second Palme d’Or last year for “Triangle of Sadness.”
Knowing a filmmaker’s previous track record at Cannes can sometimes help give an idea as to who might be in the best position to claim the Palme. For instance, five of this year’s entries come from directors who have previously won the Palme. Another five are from auteurs who have had previous films win a prize in the main competition other than the Palme. Another five are from directors having their first film screen in the main competition.
Knowing a filmmaker’s previous track record at Cannes can sometimes help give an idea as to who might be in the best position to claim the Palme. For instance, five of this year’s entries come from directors who have previously won the Palme. Another five are from auteurs who have had previous films win a prize in the main competition other than the Palme. Another five are from directors having their first film screen in the main competition.
- 4/17/2023
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
At Sundance, tender hostage drama “The Accidental Getaway Driver” was all the buzz – and director Sing J. Lee was at the center of it all. Lee’s first feature was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize in the festival’s US Dramatic Competition, and also scored him the prestigious Directing Award for his debut.
I catch him on the ground before the accolades. Amid the festival hubbub, talking to Sing J. Lee washes one over with a sense of calm. He greets us in a sharp black turtleneck, groomed beard, and a British accent — a memento of his childhood in the UK. Our allotted twenty minutes spill over into an hour as the conversation spans across continents and oceans. Over the tiny tea table between us, I realize that the complexities of his own biography is inextricably tied to the production of “The Accidental Getaway Driver.”
“I can...
I catch him on the ground before the accolades. Amid the festival hubbub, talking to Sing J. Lee washes one over with a sense of calm. He greets us in a sharp black turtleneck, groomed beard, and a British accent — a memento of his childhood in the UK. Our allotted twenty minutes spill over into an hour as the conversation spans across continents and oceans. Over the tiny tea table between us, I realize that the complexities of his own biography is inextricably tied to the production of “The Accidental Getaway Driver.”
“I can...
- 2/21/2023
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
A previous Palme d’Or winner (Shoplifters), Broker becomes Hirokazu Kore-Eda’s eighth trip to Cannes – this follows Distance (2001), Nobody Knows (2004), Air Doll (2009), Like Father, Like Son (2013), Our Little Sister (2015), After the Storm (2016). It stars Song Kang-ho, Bae Doona, Gang Dong-won, and Lee Ji-eun.
Another tale about family – this latest (first Korean language film for the filmmaker) once again reconfigures the essence of what family represents.
Another film just underneath the 3 point average, with nineteen of our jurors voting – we got an average of 2.9.
Click on the grid below for a larger version and latest updates!…...
Another tale about family – this latest (first Korean language film for the filmmaker) once again reconfigures the essence of what family represents.
Another film just underneath the 3 point average, with nineteen of our jurors voting – we got an average of 2.9.
Click on the grid below for a larger version and latest updates!…...
- 5/28/2022
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
While Americans’ attention is consumed with the issue of abortion, halfway across the world, director Kore-eda Hirokazu (“Shoplifters”) focuses on the alternative for mothers who carry their pregnancies to term, but can’t raise the children on their own. A warm and unexpectedly nonjudgmental look at the Korean gray market for adoption, “Broker” was inspired by the idea of “baby hatches” — essentially, a donation station for unwanted infants — and follows the director’s natural curiosity through to its most humanistic conclusion, as audiences unexpectedly come to empathize with practically everyone involved in the buying and selling of a little bundle of joy.
What is Kore-eda, who is Japanese, doing making a film in South Korea, you might ask? It’s not his first time working abroad. Fortunately, “Broker” is less of a stretch than the Oscar- and Palme d’Or-winning director’s previous feature — the starry but stilted meta-movie “The Truth,...
What is Kore-eda, who is Japanese, doing making a film in South Korea, you might ask? It’s not his first time working abroad. Fortunately, “Broker” is less of a stretch than the Oscar- and Palme d’Or-winning director’s previous feature — the starry but stilted meta-movie “The Truth,...
- 5/26/2022
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
As uncommon as it might sound for Non-Asian people, 4 to 5 years old Kotaro Sato moves alone in a six-flats building. Although he is strangely mature and self-sufficient for his age, his fellow neighbors, the talented and previously awarded, but now suffering a writer’s block, mangaka Mr Karino, his next-door tenant Ms Mizuki ( i’ll let you find out by yourselves what she does for a living) and the ground floor, low rank Yakuza- or again, maybe not!- Mr Tamaru, have no intension to let him be. But is the kindness of strangers enough to calm a toddler’s trauma of parenting neglect down?
For the time being, Netflix and production company Liden with director Tomoe Makino give us the opportunity to figure this out in a season of ten episodes. As I’ m writing this text, a second season is yet to be announced, but I’ m sure...
For the time being, Netflix and production company Liden with director Tomoe Makino give us the opportunity to figure this out in a season of ten episodes. As I’ m writing this text, a second season is yet to be announced, but I’ m sure...
- 3/26/2022
- by Christina Litsa
- AsianMoviePulse
The Osaka Asian Film Festival (Oaff) 2022 announced its program outline on January 31, 2022.
Event Outline
The Oaff aims to facilitate human resources development and exchange, to invigorate the Osaka economy, and to increase the city’s appeal, through providing opportunities to watch excellent Asian films, supporting filmmaking in Osaka and attracting filmmakers from Asian countries and regions to Osaka. Promoting Osaka worldwide as a gateway city for Asian films, and engaging with many people from the fields of culture, art, education, tourism and business, from Osaka and all of Asia, Oaff works as an open platform to contribute to the development of Osaka and cinema.
Marking its 17th edition this year and under programming director Teruoka Sozo, Oaff will again select high-quality Asian films. The Competition section, which receives increased recognition every year, will again select films previously unreleased in Japan. The Indie Forum section, special programs and other sections will...
Event Outline
The Oaff aims to facilitate human resources development and exchange, to invigorate the Osaka economy, and to increase the city’s appeal, through providing opportunities to watch excellent Asian films, supporting filmmaking in Osaka and attracting filmmakers from Asian countries and regions to Osaka. Promoting Osaka worldwide as a gateway city for Asian films, and engaging with many people from the fields of culture, art, education, tourism and business, from Osaka and all of Asia, Oaff works as an open platform to contribute to the development of Osaka and cinema.
Marking its 17th edition this year and under programming director Teruoka Sozo, Oaff will again select high-quality Asian films. The Competition section, which receives increased recognition every year, will again select films previously unreleased in Japan. The Indie Forum section, special programs and other sections will...
- 2/2/2022
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
Among the most anticipated films of the year, at least for fans of Takeshi Kitano and Japanese cinema in general, “Asakusa Kid” is based on the homonymous song Kitano released in 1986 and the also homonymous, autobiographical novel which was published 1988, and focuses on the beginnings of his career, much before he even considered of getting into movies.
Told in flashbacks, the main arc begins in 1965, when Take (as he was called by everybody at the time) drops out of studying to be an engineer, and joins the Asakusa France Za, a performance theater which included comic skits and strip shows. The troupe is headed by Senzaburo Fukami, aka Fukami of Asakusa, who, quite reluctantly in the beginning, becomes Take’s teacher and mentor. One of his biggest influences to the then awkward Kitano was to insist on him being an entertainer at all times, even outside the stage, and that...
Told in flashbacks, the main arc begins in 1965, when Take (as he was called by everybody at the time) drops out of studying to be an engineer, and joins the Asakusa France Za, a performance theater which included comic skits and strip shows. The troupe is headed by Senzaburo Fukami, aka Fukami of Asakusa, who, quite reluctantly in the beginning, becomes Take’s teacher and mentor. One of his biggest influences to the then awkward Kitano was to insist on him being an entertainer at all times, even outside the stage, and that...
- 12/15/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
by John Peter Chua
Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Palme d’Or winning film Shoplifters follows a unique family with dark secrets in this extraordinary family-crime drama
Osamu Shibata (Lily Franky) is a day laborer, his wife Nobuya (Sakura Ando) is a hotel laundry worker, and their daughter Aki is a hostess at a peep show club. They don’t make enough to survive and have to rely on grandmother Hatsue’s (Kirin Kiki) monthly pension. To make extra cash, Nobuya steals little trinkets from her clients’ laundry. On the other hand, Osamu, along with his son Shota (Kairi Jo), goes to convenient stores to shoplift for their household needs. On their way home from a successful operation, Osamu and Shota chance upon Yuri (Miyu Sasaki), a little girl left by her parents outside their house in the cold. Deciding it’s unsafe for her to stay there, Osamu takes Yuri home to their rundown house.
Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Palme d’Or winning film Shoplifters follows a unique family with dark secrets in this extraordinary family-crime drama
Osamu Shibata (Lily Franky) is a day laborer, his wife Nobuya (Sakura Ando) is a hotel laundry worker, and their daughter Aki is a hostess at a peep show club. They don’t make enough to survive and have to rely on grandmother Hatsue’s (Kirin Kiki) monthly pension. To make extra cash, Nobuya steals little trinkets from her clients’ laundry. On the other hand, Osamu, along with his son Shota (Kairi Jo), goes to convenient stores to shoplift for their household needs. On their way home from a successful operation, Osamu and Shota chance upon Yuri (Miyu Sasaki), a little girl left by her parents outside their house in the cold. Deciding it’s unsafe for her to stay there, Osamu takes Yuri home to their rundown house.
- 12/11/2021
- by Guest Writer
- AsianMoviePulse
For much of its running time, “Asakusa Kid” is a safe, traditional and easily enjoyable biographical drama about the scrappy early career of legendary Japanese comedian-actor-author-filmmaker “Beat” Takeshi Kitano. When the handsomely packaged Netflix movie injects the verve and invention Kitano is celebrated for, it shines much more brightly. Though it doesn’t offer the penetrating insight into Kitano that many viewers would be hoping for, this adaptation of his memoir by writer-director Gekidan Hitori (“A Bolt From the Blue”) does provide a respectful and touching portrait of Kitano’s mentor Senzaburo Fukami, the master entertainer whose fame and fortune declined sharply as Kitano’s career started to soar.
Published in 1988 and previously filmed in 2002 by Makoto Shinozaki (also director of the 1999 Kitano documentary “Jam Session”), “Asakusa Kid” charts the early life adventures and showbiz education of university dropout Kitano in the early 1970s. Opening in familiar biography style with...
Published in 1988 and previously filmed in 2002 by Makoto Shinozaki (also director of the 1999 Kitano documentary “Jam Session”), “Asakusa Kid” charts the early life adventures and showbiz education of university dropout Kitano in the early 1970s. Opening in familiar biography style with...
- 12/10/2021
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
Yuya Yagira– the youngest person ever to have won Cannes’ coveted Best Actor Award — re-enacts yet another historic case in Hiroshi Kurosaki’s latest feature, “Gift of Fire.” Yuya first skyrocketed to fame when he played the sweet, but rough-around-the-edges twelve-year-old in Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Nobody Knows” (2004). Now, seventeen years later, his performance has only matured. As the star of “Gift of Fire,” he pulls off a remarkably understated, but emotionally intense performance as Shun — making the film an engaging watch.
Gift of Fire is screening at Asian Pop-Up Cinema
This stunning period drama takes place in Kyoto in the last phase of World War II. Here, a ragtag team of fresh Kyoto University graduates team up with the military. Like their other male friends, brothers, and fathers fighting overseas, these boys want the war to end — though through science rather than combat. Their race to discover the atomic bomb is not without obstacles,...
Gift of Fire is screening at Asian Pop-Up Cinema
This stunning period drama takes place in Kyoto in the last phase of World War II. Here, a ragtag team of fresh Kyoto University graduates team up with the military. Like their other male friends, brothers, and fathers fighting overseas, these boys want the war to end — though through science rather than combat. Their race to discover the atomic bomb is not without obstacles,...
- 9/19/2021
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
“Gift of Fire,” a fact-based drama film about Japan’s secret nuclear bomb program, will play in U.S. cinemas from November this year. Produced in 8K digital, it opened in Japanese theaters last week, distributed by Aeon and scored a top ten ranking.
Yagira Yuya, the Japanese actor who won the acting prize in Cannes for his role in Koreeda Hirokazu’s “Nobody Knows,” heads the cast. He plays a nuclear scientist who struggles with his conscience while working Japan’s own nuclear weapon effort, a secret program that remained largely unknown until a decade ago.
The film is directed by Kurosaki Hiroshi, whose past work includes multi award-winning “Goldfish” (aka “Hi No Sakana”) and 2011’s “Second Virgin.” It was produced in partnership between Japanese public broadcaster Nhk and Los Angeles-based Eleven Arts
Eleven Arts will now handle the U.S. release and has set a launch date of Nov.
Yagira Yuya, the Japanese actor who won the acting prize in Cannes for his role in Koreeda Hirokazu’s “Nobody Knows,” heads the cast. He plays a nuclear scientist who struggles with his conscience while working Japan’s own nuclear weapon effort, a secret program that remained largely unknown until a decade ago.
The film is directed by Kurosaki Hiroshi, whose past work includes multi award-winning “Goldfish” (aka “Hi No Sakana”) and 2011’s “Second Virgin.” It was produced in partnership between Japanese public broadcaster Nhk and Los Angeles-based Eleven Arts
Eleven Arts will now handle the U.S. release and has set a launch date of Nov.
- 8/13/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
For 50 years, Pastor T.L. Barrett has delivered his sermons and gospel songs to his congregation in Chicago, but his musical impact has spread much farther. A sample of Barrett’s 1976 song “Father Stretch My Hands” laid the foundation for Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo tracks of the same name. The transcendent “Like a Ship” has featured in commercials, TV shows and the Oscar-nominated, Obamas-produced documentary Crip Camp, and most recently covered by Leon Bridges. His “Nobody Knows” has been sampled nearly 10 times in the past decade alone, including...
- 6/22/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
The early life of Japanese cultural icon Takeshi “Beat” Kitano is set to have a the biopic treatment in a film, it has been announced today. The film, titled “Asakusa Kid”, will be based on the memoir written by Kitano himself and will focus on the early career of the comedian and legendary director.
The focus of the story will be on the relationship between the young Kitano, starting when he was working at a strip club in the Tokyo entertainment district of Asakusa, and Fukami, who was the club’s reigning comic.
The project will be directed and written for screen by comic Gekidan Hitori, who also directed the 2014 drama “Bolt from the Blue”. Yuya Yagira, best known for Koreeda’s “Nobody Knows” and for playing Toshiro Hijitaka in the live-action adaptation of the “Gintama” series, will play Kitano while Yo Oizumi (“I am a Hero“) will play Fukami Senzaburo,...
The focus of the story will be on the relationship between the young Kitano, starting when he was working at a strip club in the Tokyo entertainment district of Asakusa, and Fukami, who was the club’s reigning comic.
The project will be directed and written for screen by comic Gekidan Hitori, who also directed the 2014 drama “Bolt from the Blue”. Yuya Yagira, best known for Koreeda’s “Nobody Knows” and for playing Toshiro Hijitaka in the live-action adaptation of the “Gintama” series, will play Kitano while Yo Oizumi (“I am a Hero“) will play Fukami Senzaburo,...
- 11/25/2020
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
A new Netflix movie has been announced based on the early career of comedian and film director Kitano Takeshi.
Titled “Asakusa Kid,” the film is based on a memoir of the same title written by Kitano. The director and scriptwriter is comic Gekidan Hitori, who also directed the 2014 drama “Bolt from the Blue.” Yagira Yuya (“Nobody Knows”) stars as Kitano and Oizumi Yo (“I Am a Hero”) plays Fukami Senzaburo, a comedian who was Kitano’s mentor. Sakamoto Kazutaka of Netflix is serving as executive producer and Oyamada Yoichi of Nikkatsu as producer.
The focus of the story will be on the relationship between the young Kitano, starting when he was working at a strip club in the Tokyo entertainment district of Asakusa, and Fukami, who was the club’s reigning comic.
In a statement, Gekidan Hitori said that he has been developing the script for six years and that...
Titled “Asakusa Kid,” the film is based on a memoir of the same title written by Kitano. The director and scriptwriter is comic Gekidan Hitori, who also directed the 2014 drama “Bolt from the Blue.” Yagira Yuya (“Nobody Knows”) stars as Kitano and Oizumi Yo (“I Am a Hero”) plays Fukami Senzaburo, a comedian who was Kitano’s mentor. Sakamoto Kazutaka of Netflix is serving as executive producer and Oyamada Yoichi of Nikkatsu as producer.
The focus of the story will be on the relationship between the young Kitano, starting when he was working at a strip club in the Tokyo entertainment district of Asakusa, and Fukami, who was the club’s reigning comic.
In a statement, Gekidan Hitori said that he has been developing the script for six years and that...
- 11/24/2020
- by Mark Schilling
- Variety Film + TV
[Update Nov. 2: Jeannie Mai has withdrawn from “Dancing with the Stars” after being hospitalized over the weekend, so there will now only be one elimination.]
A double elimination means double the dances on “Dancing with the Stars” — but it’s not two whole routines. In addition to their individual numbers, the top nine couples will face off in relays on Monday.
The nine pairs will be split into three relay groups — cha-cha, samba or Viennese waltz — and each couple will perform one at a time during their respective relays. One judge will be assigned to each group and will rank the couples within that group for bonus points. The points will be added to their individual scores and the live votes for the double elimination.
“Dancing” hasn’t done relays in a hot minute, but now’s a good time as any to bring it back since it can’t do team dances because of Covid-19 precautions.
A double elimination means double the dances on “Dancing with the Stars” — but it’s not two whole routines. In addition to their individual numbers, the top nine couples will face off in relays on Monday.
The nine pairs will be split into three relay groups — cha-cha, samba or Viennese waltz — and each couple will perform one at a time during their respective relays. One judge will be assigned to each group and will rank the couples within that group for bonus points. The points will be added to their individual scores and the live votes for the double elimination.
“Dancing” hasn’t done relays in a hot minute, but now’s a good time as any to bring it back since it can’t do team dances because of Covid-19 precautions.
- 11/1/2020
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
Yagira Yuya, the Japanese actor who won the acting prize in Cannes for his role in Koreeda Hirokazu’s “Nobody Knows,” heads the cast of “Gift of Fire,” which stands as the first internationally co-produced film made in 8K.
In the fact-based drama, Yagira plays a nuclear scientist who struggles with his conscience while working Japan’s own nuclear weapon effort, a secret program that remained largely unknown until ten years ago.
The film is directed by Kurosaki Hiroshi, whose past work includes multi award-winning “Goldfish” (aka “Hi No Sakana”) and 2011’s “Second Virgin.” It was produced in partnership between Japanese public broadcaster Nhk and Los Angeles-based Eleven Arts.
“Gift of Fire” charts the relationship of the scientist, his younger brother, an air force pilot, played by Miura Haruma (“Attack on Titan”), and their lifelong female friend played by Arimori Kasumi (“Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part I – The Final”).
Nhk...
In the fact-based drama, Yagira plays a nuclear scientist who struggles with his conscience while working Japan’s own nuclear weapon effort, a secret program that remained largely unknown until ten years ago.
The film is directed by Kurosaki Hiroshi, whose past work includes multi award-winning “Goldfish” (aka “Hi No Sakana”) and 2011’s “Second Virgin.” It was produced in partnership between Japanese public broadcaster Nhk and Los Angeles-based Eleven Arts.
“Gift of Fire” charts the relationship of the scientist, his younger brother, an air force pilot, played by Miura Haruma (“Attack on Titan”), and their lifelong female friend played by Arimori Kasumi (“Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part I – The Final”).
Nhk...
- 8/28/2020
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Song Kang-ho, star of Oscar-winner “Parasite,” will head the cast of “Baby, Box, Broker,” the Korean-language debut of “Shoplifters” director Hirokazu Kore-eda. Rounding out a stellar acting lineup are Bae Doona and Gang Dong-won.
The film takes as its starting point boxes that are left out for people to anonymously drop off their unwanted babies. That makes “Broker” thematically linked to Kore-eda’s previous films, including Cannes competition title “Nobody Knows” and Cannes jury prize-winner “Like Father, Like Son.”
Production is through Zip Cinema, with Cj Entertainment investing, handling local distribution and international sales. Kore-eda is currently completing the screenplay and is heading for a 2021 production start.
“It’s Korean movie with Korean actors, Korean staff, being shot in the Korean language,” producer Eugene Lee told Variety. “It will shoot in Korea also.”
“ ‘Broker’ is a story about baby boxes. Right now, working on the script that will move these three great actors,...
The film takes as its starting point boxes that are left out for people to anonymously drop off their unwanted babies. That makes “Broker” thematically linked to Kore-eda’s previous films, including Cannes competition title “Nobody Knows” and Cannes jury prize-winner “Like Father, Like Son.”
Production is through Zip Cinema, with Cj Entertainment investing, handling local distribution and international sales. Kore-eda is currently completing the screenplay and is heading for a 2021 production start.
“It’s Korean movie with Korean actors, Korean staff, being shot in the Korean language,” producer Eugene Lee told Variety. “It will shoot in Korea also.”
“ ‘Broker’ is a story about baby boxes. Right now, working on the script that will move these three great actors,...
- 8/26/2020
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Any flimsiness in the script by director Hirokazu Kore-eda, the Japanese filmmaker behind Shoplifters, After Life, and Nobody Knows, is quickly overcome by the sight of this dazzling duo in a duel of wits and conflicting emotions. Kore-eda may be working off his home turf, but his funny and sneakily touching film — his first in English (with a smattering of French) — tackles the universally relatable topic of family bonds and how to stop them from fraying.
Deneuve plays Fabienne Dangeville, an aging icon of French cinema. (Since Deneuve herself is famously ageless,...
Deneuve plays Fabienne Dangeville, an aging icon of French cinema. (Since Deneuve herself is famously ageless,...
- 7/2/2020
- by Peter Travers
- Rollingstone.com
Winner of the Audience Award at the Skip City Film Festival 2019 and debut film of Sho Suzuki and Takashi Haga, “Me & My Brother’s Mistress” comes up with an unusual outline about female companionship and the questionable tradition of marriage.
“Me & My Brother’s Mistress” is screening at Nippon Connection 2020
High schooler Yoko (Nanami Kasamatsu) and her brother Kenji (Satoshi Iwago) live together since their parents died nine years before. One night, Yoko sees Kenji, who is engaged and about to get married, with another girl named Mija (Yui Murata) out on a date. She decides to confront the mistress, but her intentions shift as she gets to know her better. Mija and Yoko become conspirators, planning to stop Kenji’s marriage.
Former Cinematographer Takashi Haga worked as an assistant on Masayuki Suo’s musical “Lady Maiko” (2014) and shot several movies such as “Mori, the Artist’s Habitat” (2018) and Marina Tsukada...
“Me & My Brother’s Mistress” is screening at Nippon Connection 2020
High schooler Yoko (Nanami Kasamatsu) and her brother Kenji (Satoshi Iwago) live together since their parents died nine years before. One night, Yoko sees Kenji, who is engaged and about to get married, with another girl named Mija (Yui Murata) out on a date. She decides to confront the mistress, but her intentions shift as she gets to know her better. Mija and Yoko become conspirators, planning to stop Kenji’s marriage.
Former Cinematographer Takashi Haga worked as an assistant on Masayuki Suo’s musical “Lady Maiko” (2014) and shot several movies such as “Mori, the Artist’s Habitat” (2018) and Marina Tsukada...
- 6/15/2020
- by Alexander Knoth
- AsianMoviePulse
It is fair to say that Hirokazu Koreeda is a master of the sentimental family drama, with earlier films such as “Nobody Knows” (2004) and his recent string of lauded dramas “I Wish” (2011), “Like Father, Like Son” (2013) and “Our Little Sister” (2015), all of which deal with the relationships between parents and siblings. Writing and directing almost all of his films himself, has allowed Koreeda to develop a recognisable style of his own that is beautiful and plaintive.
“I Wish” (2011) tells the story of two young boys, separated by their parents as they plot to be re-united. The older brother Koichi (Koki Maeda) lives with his mother Nozomi (Nene Otsuka), while the younger brother Ryunosuke (Oshiro Maeda) lives with his musician father Kenji (Joe Odagiri). Koichi hears a rumour that once the new Shinkansen bullet train is running, if you can stand at the point of the track where...
“I Wish” (2011) tells the story of two young boys, separated by their parents as they plot to be re-united. The older brother Koichi (Koki Maeda) lives with his mother Nozomi (Nene Otsuka), while the younger brother Ryunosuke (Oshiro Maeda) lives with his musician father Kenji (Joe Odagiri). Koichi hears a rumour that once the new Shinkansen bullet train is running, if you can stand at the point of the track where...
- 4/10/2020
- by Matthew Cooper
- AsianMoviePulse
“Gift of Fire,” a major new film about Japan’s attempt to build an atomic bomb in the waning days of World War II, has completed principal photography and is now in post, producers revealed Friday.
Best known internationally among the cast is Yuya Yagira, who won the Best Actor prize in Cannes for his work on Hirokazu Koreeda’s “Nobody Knows.” He plays a young scientist on the bomb-building team who begins to doubt the purpose of what he is doing.
His character, as well as the story, is based on the diary of an actual atomic researcher that was discovered 10 years ago by the film’s scripter and director, Hiroshi Kurosaki. Working mainly for public broadcaster Nhk, Kurosaki directed episodes of the smash-hit 2017 Nhk drama “Hiyokko.” His script for the film won a special mention for the 2015 Sundance Institute/Nhk Award.
Also starring in “Gift of Fire” are Kasumi Arimura and Haruma Miura,...
Best known internationally among the cast is Yuya Yagira, who won the Best Actor prize in Cannes for his work on Hirokazu Koreeda’s “Nobody Knows.” He plays a young scientist on the bomb-building team who begins to doubt the purpose of what he is doing.
His character, as well as the story, is based on the diary of an actual atomic researcher that was discovered 10 years ago by the film’s scripter and director, Hiroshi Kurosaki. Working mainly for public broadcaster Nhk, Kurosaki directed episodes of the smash-hit 2017 Nhk drama “Hiyokko.” His script for the film won a special mention for the 2015 Sundance Institute/Nhk Award.
Also starring in “Gift of Fire” are Kasumi Arimura and Haruma Miura,...
- 3/6/2020
- by Mark Schilling
- Variety Film + TV
The Allman Brothers Band has announced the release of Trouble No More: 50th Anniversary Collection, a box set of rarities, unreleased tracks, live performances and classic songs. The box set, out February 28th via Island Mercury/UMe, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the rock band, and is available as a 10-lp or 5-cd box set or on digital.
[Find It Here]
The box set was produced by Allman Brothers Band historians and aficionados Bill Levenson, John Lynskey, and Kirk West, and collects 61 Allman Brothers Band classics, live performances and rarities, and includes seven previously unreleased tracks,...
[Find It Here]
The box set was produced by Allman Brothers Band historians and aficionados Bill Levenson, John Lynskey, and Kirk West, and collects 61 Allman Brothers Band classics, live performances and rarities, and includes seven previously unreleased tracks,...
- 1/15/2020
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
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