Gone are the days when Westerns ruled the box office, with superheroes now filling the role that cowboys once played in the American consciousness. But fear not, the Western genre is far from dead. The brutality of the American West, combined with the hope that many people found in it, continues to inspire some of the most exciting filmmakers working today. It also has one of the richest histories of any genre, which allows filmmakers with a passion for Hollywood history to engage with the classics of the 20th century while updating Western tropes for modern audiences. The genre is so versatile that Westerns can reflect almost any political sentiment, meaning that Western movies tend to be an interesting barometer of the era in which they were made.
In just the last few Oscar seasons, modern Westerns have repeatedly emerged as major contenders for Best Picture. Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog...
In just the last few Oscar seasons, modern Westerns have repeatedly emerged as major contenders for Best Picture. Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog...
- 10/20/2023
- by Wilson Chapman and Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Barry Keoghan is about to infiltrate the lives of the elite, one seduction at a time.
Keoghan stars as Oliver, an Oxford student who is drawn into the inner circle of sultry popular boy Felix (Jacob Elordi), and embarks on an epic summer at Felix’s family home.
“Saltburn” is written and directed by Oscar winner Emerald Fennell; the film is her sophomore feature following “Promising Young Woman.” Margot Robbie and Josey McNamara through LuckyChap productions produces the film along with director Fennell.
The official synopsis reads: Academy Award winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell brings us a beautifully wicked tale of privilege and desire. Struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick (Keoghan) finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten.
Rosamund Pike and...
Keoghan stars as Oliver, an Oxford student who is drawn into the inner circle of sultry popular boy Felix (Jacob Elordi), and embarks on an epic summer at Felix’s family home.
“Saltburn” is written and directed by Oscar winner Emerald Fennell; the film is her sophomore feature following “Promising Young Woman.” Margot Robbie and Josey McNamara through LuckyChap productions produces the film along with director Fennell.
The official synopsis reads: Academy Award winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell brings us a beautifully wicked tale of privilege and desire. Struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick (Keoghan) finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten.
Rosamund Pike and...
- 10/19/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
]A24 has dropped the spare and ultra-lowkey official trailer for the harrowing Holocaust drama “The Zone of Interest” from writer-director Jonathan Glazer (loosely adapted from the novel by Martin Amis) that premieres in limited release on December 15. The film tells the real-life story of Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), the commandant of the Auschwitz death camp during World War II, and his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller), focusing on the mundane household and career concerns that preoccupy them in building their dream life together while they knowingly commit genocide on the other side of their garden wall. Watch the trailer above.
The film has generated much positive buzz since premiering in May at the Cannes Film Festival, where “Zone of Interest,” where it won the Grand Jury Prize, and also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and this month’s New York Film Festival. David Ehrlich wrote in his IndieWire review,...
The film has generated much positive buzz since premiering in May at the Cannes Film Festival, where “Zone of Interest,” where it won the Grand Jury Prize, and also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and this month’s New York Film Festival. David Ehrlich wrote in his IndieWire review,...
- 10/17/2023
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
Jonathan Glazer’s first film in a decade is also his second film with A24. Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” stars Christian Friedel as Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and Sandra Hüller as his wife and accomplice Hedwig Höss in a loose adaptation of Martin Amis’ 2014 novel. Glazer’s last feature was the 2013 A24 film “Under the Skin.”
In the film, the Höss couple strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden directly adjacent to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where Höss was the longest-serving chief commander. But Jews are being exterminated on the other side of the wall as Höss and his wife turn a blind eye to atrocity.
Max Beck, Ralph Herforth, Stephanie Petrowitz, Sascha Maaz, Marie Rosa Tietjen, and Lilli Falk also star. “The Zone of Interest” lead actress Hüller additionally appears in Justine Triet’s buzzy Palme d’Or-winning thriller “Anatomy of a Fall,...
In the film, the Höss couple strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden directly adjacent to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where Höss was the longest-serving chief commander. But Jews are being exterminated on the other side of the wall as Höss and his wife turn a blind eye to atrocity.
Max Beck, Ralph Herforth, Stephanie Petrowitz, Sascha Maaz, Marie Rosa Tietjen, and Lilli Falk also star. “The Zone of Interest” lead actress Hüller additionally appears in Justine Triet’s buzzy Palme d’Or-winning thriller “Anatomy of a Fall,...
- 10/17/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
“The Zone of Interest” is a remarkable fourth film from Jonathan Glazer. The film, which A24 releases in the US on December 8, follows Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel) and his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller) as they try to live a normal life just outside of the concentration camp.
The movie is about the banality of evil — how monstrous people live almost boringly while, in the background, some of the worst horrors in human history are being carried out. Daring is probably the best word to describe this film, particularly with one very late sequence that throws the film forward to modern-day Auschwitz, wherein we see women cleaning the buildings and grounds of the camp. Critics have hailed Glazer for his work.
David Rooney (The Hollywood Reporter) called the film a “devastating Holocaust drama like no other, which demonstrates with startling effectiveness [director Jonathan Glazer]’s unerring control of tonal and visual storytelling.
The movie is about the banality of evil — how monstrous people live almost boringly while, in the background, some of the worst horrors in human history are being carried out. Daring is probably the best word to describe this film, particularly with one very late sequence that throws the film forward to modern-day Auschwitz, wherein we see women cleaning the buildings and grounds of the camp. Critics have hailed Glazer for his work.
David Rooney (The Hollywood Reporter) called the film a “devastating Holocaust drama like no other, which demonstrates with startling effectiveness [director Jonathan Glazer]’s unerring control of tonal and visual storytelling.
- 10/13/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
If you’re vibing with Aki Kaurismäki‘s droll wavelength of dry comedies about ordinary people in Helsinki, “Fallen Leaves” is definitely for you. This warm and witty romantic comedy about two lost souls adrift, who eventually find each other on the existential carousel to nowhere, won a Jury Prize at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival (where Ruben Östlund served as Jury President) and now represents Finland in the 2024 Best International Feature Film Oscar race. IndieWire shares the exclusive trailer for this Mubi release below on the heels of its New York Film Festival premiere.
The latest film from the Finnish director of “The Man Without a Past” and “Le Havre” tells the story of two lonely people. Ansa (whose name literally means “trapped” in Finnish and who is played wonderfully by Alma Pöysti) and Holappa, in between soul-numbing blue-collar jobs, meet each other by chance in the Helsinki night and maybe discover the first,...
The latest film from the Finnish director of “The Man Without a Past” and “Le Havre” tells the story of two lonely people. Ansa (whose name literally means “trapped” in Finnish and who is played wonderfully by Alma Pöysti) and Holappa, in between soul-numbing blue-collar jobs, meet each other by chance in the Helsinki night and maybe discover the first,...
- 10/12/2023
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
How to have a memorable spring break? Set out to lose your virginity…cautiously.
Molly Manning Walker’s Cannes breakout film “How to Have Sex” is a twisted coming-of-age story about a group of 16-year-old British girls who go on a vacation to Greece with the mission to help their shyest pal finally go all the way. “Scrapper” cinematographer Walker writes and directs her feature debut, which won the Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes this year.
It’s supposed to be the best summer ever. Tara, Skye, and Em touch down on the Greek party resort of Malia for the vacation to end all vacations, the girls trip every British teenager ticks off at the cusp of adulthood. Tara, the last remaining virgin, is on a mission to change that: and her best friends are causing chaos right alongside her. The 16-year-old drinks and dances her way through the...
Molly Manning Walker’s Cannes breakout film “How to Have Sex” is a twisted coming-of-age story about a group of 16-year-old British girls who go on a vacation to Greece with the mission to help their shyest pal finally go all the way. “Scrapper” cinematographer Walker writes and directs her feature debut, which won the Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes this year.
It’s supposed to be the best summer ever. Tara, Skye, and Em touch down on the Greek party resort of Malia for the vacation to end all vacations, the girls trip every British teenager ticks off at the cusp of adulthood. Tara, the last remaining virgin, is on a mission to change that: and her best friends are causing chaos right alongside her. The 16-year-old drinks and dances her way through the...
- 10/10/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Todd Haynes is one of the most underrated directors in Hollywood. The filmmaker, who is responsible for multiple classics ranging from his seminal short film “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story” to the luscious “Carol,” has never been nominated for a Best Director Oscar. That is a disappointing stat considering what a masterful, versatile director Haynes is. But could that change this year, with his new release “May December?” This Netflix title is due for release on Nov. 17.
The film is an exquisite melodrama, starring Natalie Portman, Charles Melton, and regular collaborator Julianne Moore. Portman plays an actress who visits a couple (Melton and Moore) in order to research for a film based on the couple’s scandalous past. The scandal? Moore’s much older woman had an affair with Melton’s younger man when he was just 13. It’s a disturbing premise but there is actually so much use of comedy in the film.
The film is an exquisite melodrama, starring Natalie Portman, Charles Melton, and regular collaborator Julianne Moore. Portman plays an actress who visits a couple (Melton and Moore) in order to research for a film based on the couple’s scandalous past. The scandal? Moore’s much older woman had an affair with Melton’s younger man when he was just 13. It’s a disturbing premise but there is actually so much use of comedy in the film.
- 10/9/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla” is the second major biopic that the auteur has tackled. While her 2006 period piece “Marie Antoinette” was a flop at the box office, it has been reappraised over time and is now viewed by many as one of her best works. So it’s not surprising that when it as time to find an actress to play Priscilla Presley, she turned to “Marie Antoinette” star Kirsten Dunst for advice.
Coppola previously revealed that she decided to cast Cailee Spaeny in the role after Dunst, who worked with Spaeny on Alex Garland’s upcoming “Civil War,” suggested it. “Kirsten is like a sister to me, and when she recommended Cailee, I paid attention,” Coppola said.
Speaking to IndieWire on the red carpet of the film’s North American premiere at the New York Film Festival, Cailee shared more details about her relationship with Dunst. She confirmed that...
Coppola previously revealed that she decided to cast Cailee Spaeny in the role after Dunst, who worked with Spaeny on Alex Garland’s upcoming “Civil War,” suggested it. “Kirsten is like a sister to me, and when she recommended Cailee, I paid attention,” Coppola said.
Speaking to IndieWire on the red carpet of the film’s North American premiere at the New York Film Festival, Cailee shared more details about her relationship with Dunst. She confirmed that...
- 10/8/2023
- by Christian Zilko and Vincent Perella
- Indiewire
Who is the real monster when the truth comes out?
Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Monster” marks the director’s return to films set in Japan for the first time since winning the Palme d’Or for 2018 film “Shoplifters.” Kore-eda went on to helm “The Truth” and “Broker,” set in France and South Korea, respectively. “Monster” is also the first film Kore-eda has directed from another script since 1995’s “Maboroshi.” The “Monster” screenplay, written by Yuji Sakamoto, went on to win the Best Screenplay prize at Cannes 2023.
The official synopsis reads: When her young son Minato (Soya Kurokawa) starts to behave strangely, his mother (Sakura Ando) feels that there is something wrong. Discovering that a teacher (Eita Nagayama) is responsible, she storms into the school demanding to know what’s going on. But as the story unfolds though the eyes of the mother, teacher, and child, the truth gradually emerges.
“Monster” also...
Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Monster” marks the director’s return to films set in Japan for the first time since winning the Palme d’Or for 2018 film “Shoplifters.” Kore-eda went on to helm “The Truth” and “Broker,” set in France and South Korea, respectively. “Monster” is also the first film Kore-eda has directed from another script since 1995’s “Maboroshi.” The “Monster” screenplay, written by Yuji Sakamoto, went on to win the Best Screenplay prize at Cannes 2023.
The official synopsis reads: When her young son Minato (Soya Kurokawa) starts to behave strangely, his mother (Sakura Ando) feels that there is something wrong. Discovering that a teacher (Eita Nagayama) is responsible, she storms into the school demanding to know what’s going on. But as the story unfolds though the eyes of the mother, teacher, and child, the truth gradually emerges.
“Monster” also...
- 10/4/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
What’s better than a May-December romance? One with a salacious national scandal attached to it.
Todd Haynes’s 10th feature film “May December” stars Julianne Moore as a predatory woman who seduced an adolescent boy two decades prior; now, Natalie Portman is bringing her story to the big screen, causing personal mayhem for Moore’s secluded suburban lifestyle.
“May December” is set 20 years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, [as] a married couple (Moore and Charles Melton) buckles under the pressure when actress Elizabeth Berry (Portman) arrives to do research for a film about their past. Meanwhile, Joe, having never fully processed what happened in his youth, starts to confront the reality of life as an empty-nester at 36.
The cast is rounded out by Piper Curda, Elizabeth Yu, and Gabriel Chung, who play Moore and Melton’s onscreen children.
“May December” premiered at Cannes and will open the...
Todd Haynes’s 10th feature film “May December” stars Julianne Moore as a predatory woman who seduced an adolescent boy two decades prior; now, Natalie Portman is bringing her story to the big screen, causing personal mayhem for Moore’s secluded suburban lifestyle.
“May December” is set 20 years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, [as] a married couple (Moore and Charles Melton) buckles under the pressure when actress Elizabeth Berry (Portman) arrives to do research for a film about their past. Meanwhile, Joe, having never fully processed what happened in his youth, starts to confront the reality of life as an empty-nester at 36.
The cast is rounded out by Piper Curda, Elizabeth Yu, and Gabriel Chung, who play Moore and Melton’s onscreen children.
“May December” premiered at Cannes and will open the...
- 9/26/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Pedro Almodóvar has flirted with making a Hollywood movie on multiple occasions throughout his four-decade career. But he’s never found an opportunity to make his distinct aesthetic work within the American system.
The Spanish filmmaker does not appear to be losing much sleep over the missed opportunity, as he has made a litany of classic films and won a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for “Talk to Her.” In a new interview with The Independent, he explained why he is unwilling to compromise on his auteur-driven approach to filmmaking.
“I mean, I am an artisan,” Almodóvar said. “Everything here, I make the choice. I do everything.”
Almodóvar went on to say that his way of working is more conducive to the European film industry than Hollywood, where he sees most directors as being largely subservient to producers and stars.
“Even when you read [industry newspapers], they talk about the actors but not the directors.
The Spanish filmmaker does not appear to be losing much sleep over the missed opportunity, as he has made a litany of classic films and won a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for “Talk to Her.” In a new interview with The Independent, he explained why he is unwilling to compromise on his auteur-driven approach to filmmaking.
“I mean, I am an artisan,” Almodóvar said. “Everything here, I make the choice. I do everything.”
Almodóvar went on to say that his way of working is more conducive to the European film industry than Hollywood, where he sees most directors as being largely subservient to producers and stars.
“Even when you read [industry newspapers], they talk about the actors but not the directors.
- 9/23/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Paul Mescal is giving Andrew Scott the chance of a lifetime: to speak with his deceased parents.
Mescal and Scott co-lead “All of Us Strangers,” written and directed by Andrew Haigh (“Weekend”).
One night in his near-empty tower block in contemporary London, screenwriter Adam (Scott) has a chance encounter with his mysterious neighbor Harry (Mescal) that punctures the rhythm of his everyday life. As Adam and Harry get closer, Adam is pulled back to his childhood home where it appears his long-dead parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell) are both living and look the same age as the day they died 30 years before.
“All of Us Strangers” is produced by Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, and Sarah Harvey and was previously known as “Strangers,” with the film being loosely based on Taichi Yamada’s 1987 novel of the same name.
The feature screened at Telluride and will make its New York premiere at NYFF.
Mescal and Scott co-lead “All of Us Strangers,” written and directed by Andrew Haigh (“Weekend”).
One night in his near-empty tower block in contemporary London, screenwriter Adam (Scott) has a chance encounter with his mysterious neighbor Harry (Mescal) that punctures the rhythm of his everyday life. As Adam and Harry get closer, Adam is pulled back to his childhood home where it appears his long-dead parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell) are both living and look the same age as the day they died 30 years before.
“All of Us Strangers” is produced by Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, and Sarah Harvey and was previously known as “Strangers,” with the film being loosely based on Taichi Yamada’s 1987 novel of the same name.
The feature screened at Telluride and will make its New York premiere at NYFF.
- 9/21/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Chris Evans knows that critics hated “Ghosted,” his Apple original movie co-starring Ana de Armas. The film, directed by Dexter Fletcher, opened in April to abysmal reviews. It currently boasts a 26% Rotten Tomatoes score, and Variety called it “over-the-top and convoluted.” In a new interview with GQ magazine, Evans admitted the film could’ve been better.
“‘Ghosted’ to me felt like a movie that I grew up on, a movie that maybe we don’t see very much anymore,” Evans said. “And the question is whether or not audiences have outgrown those types of films.”
GQ then asked: “Is that a question you had going into it or coming out of it?”
“Both,” Evans answered. “I didn’t think audiences had outgrown it prior, and I still don’t think they have, despite the fact, I mean, technically I think we did okay on, in terms of viewership. Critics didn’t like it.
“‘Ghosted’ to me felt like a movie that I grew up on, a movie that maybe we don’t see very much anymore,” Evans said. “And the question is whether or not audiences have outgrown those types of films.”
GQ then asked: “Is that a question you had going into it or coming out of it?”
“Both,” Evans answered. “I didn’t think audiences had outgrown it prior, and I still don’t think they have, despite the fact, I mean, technically I think we did okay on, in terms of viewership. Critics didn’t like it.
- 9/20/2023
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Nicolas Cage is finding that his dreams are truly stranger than fiction in Kristoffer Borgli’s TIFF breakout film “Dream Scenario.”
Cage stars as hapless family man Paul Matthews whose life is turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. But when his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, Paul is forced to navigate his newfound stardom.
“Sick of Myself” filmmaker Borgli writes and directs the A24 film, which is produced by Ari Aster, along with lead star Cage, Lars Knudsen, Tyler Campellone, and Jacob Jaffke.
The cast additionally includes Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows, Dylan Gelula, Dylan Baker, and Kate Berlant.
Cage spoke about the meta quality of “Dream Scenario” across his decades of fame, most recently (and virally) as memes, which the Oscar winner similarly parodied in 2022 film “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.”
“What happened to me, I think I...
Cage stars as hapless family man Paul Matthews whose life is turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. But when his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, Paul is forced to navigate his newfound stardom.
“Sick of Myself” filmmaker Borgli writes and directs the A24 film, which is produced by Ari Aster, along with lead star Cage, Lars Knudsen, Tyler Campellone, and Jacob Jaffke.
The cast additionally includes Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows, Dylan Gelula, Dylan Baker, and Kate Berlant.
Cage spoke about the meta quality of “Dream Scenario” across his decades of fame, most recently (and virally) as memes, which the Oscar winner similarly parodied in 2022 film “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.”
“What happened to me, I think I...
- 9/19/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar’ Trailer: Roald Dahl Short Is Wes Anderson at His Most Inventive
Wes Anderson‘s “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” is the “Asteroid City” and “Moonrise Kingdom” director at his most visually inventive — and most fetishistic toward the pleasures of devices like dioramas, rear-screen projection, and fourth-wall-breaking in its adaptation of a collection of Roald Dahl shorts.
And “Henry Sugar,” which premiered out of competition at the Venice Film Festival, is the first of four Roald Dahl shorts Anderson has crafted, all of which he’s filmed. This one stars Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Richard Ayoade, and centers on a rich man who learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes and then sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling. IndieWire’s David Ehrlich called it “37 minutes of pure bliss.”
Anderson spoke about his upcoming Roald Dahl films while in Venice to receive the Cartier Glory to...
And “Henry Sugar,” which premiered out of competition at the Venice Film Festival, is the first of four Roald Dahl shorts Anderson has crafted, all of which he’s filmed. This one stars Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Richard Ayoade, and centers on a rich man who learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes and then sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling. IndieWire’s David Ehrlich called it “37 minutes of pure bliss.”
Anderson spoke about his upcoming Roald Dahl films while in Venice to receive the Cartier Glory to...
- 9/14/2023
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
“Dicks: The Musical” is coming to your ears early ahead of the film’s release.
A24 Music dropped the single “All Love Is Love” today, September 12, from the TIFF breakout musical film “Dicks: The Musical.” The full 27-song soundtrack will debut October 6, with the film premiering in theaters September 29.
“Dicks: The Musical” marks the first musical for A24, with songs created by composers Marius de Vries and Karl Saint Lucy, and co-written by lead stars Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp.
The film follows two self-obsessed businessmen (Jackson and Sharp) who discover they’re long-lost identical twins and come together to plot the reunion of their eccentric divorced parents, in a riotously funny and depraved musical from comedy icon Larry Charles. The film is based on the original musical stage play “F***ing Identical Twins.”
The song “All Love Is Love” is performed by Jackson, Sharp, Bowen Yang, Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally,...
A24 Music dropped the single “All Love Is Love” today, September 12, from the TIFF breakout musical film “Dicks: The Musical.” The full 27-song soundtrack will debut October 6, with the film premiering in theaters September 29.
“Dicks: The Musical” marks the first musical for A24, with songs created by composers Marius de Vries and Karl Saint Lucy, and co-written by lead stars Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp.
The film follows two self-obsessed businessmen (Jackson and Sharp) who discover they’re long-lost identical twins and come together to plot the reunion of their eccentric divorced parents, in a riotously funny and depraved musical from comedy icon Larry Charles. The film is based on the original musical stage play “F***ing Identical Twins.”
The song “All Love Is Love” is performed by Jackson, Sharp, Bowen Yang, Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally,...
- 9/12/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
As has become standard in recent years, our annual fall and winter film preview comes with something of an asterisk: it’s (another!) unpredictable time for movies, right down to when we might even expect to see them. With both the WGA and SAG-afra strikes still winding on, everything from production to promotion has been disrupted for many new features, and the entire calendar remains in flux.
And yet, even with those very valid concerns in place, the next three months at the multiplex (and beyond) offer a bounty of exciting new films. We’re talking new films from Martin Scorsese, Pablo Larraín, Sofia Coppola, Todd Haynes, Emerald Fennell, David Fincher, Jonathan Glazer, Taika Waititi, Justine Triet, Wes Anderson, and Yorgos Lanthimos. Jeff Nichols is back, as is Godfrey Reggio and the juicy stars of “Chicken Run.” Festival faves like Christos Nikou, Kristoffer Borgli, and Chloe Domont make a play for further dominance.
And yet, even with those very valid concerns in place, the next three months at the multiplex (and beyond) offer a bounty of exciting new films. We’re talking new films from Martin Scorsese, Pablo Larraín, Sofia Coppola, Todd Haynes, Emerald Fennell, David Fincher, Jonathan Glazer, Taika Waititi, Justine Triet, Wes Anderson, and Yorgos Lanthimos. Jeff Nichols is back, as is Godfrey Reggio and the juicy stars of “Chicken Run.” Festival faves like Christos Nikou, Kristoffer Borgli, and Chloe Domont make a play for further dominance.
- 8/22/2023
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
If watching a movie can be compared to taking your emotions for a walk, then sad films challenge audiences with a full-on sprint. Since before Rose said goodbye to Jack or even Bambi lost his mother, tragedy has played a vital role in cinema’s most well-loved stories of every ilk.
For romance, the possibility of heartbreak raises the stakes, pitting lover against lover or, worse still, lovers against time in dazzling depictions of humanity’s enduring quest for security and acceptance. “Titanic,” “A Star is Born,” “Moonlight,” “Brokeback Mountain,” “Up,” and countless other legendary titles have crafted couples so heart-rendingly believable that their joyous reunions and painful partings have provided powerful parallels to our own.
Epic tales of war and survival position total devastation similarly, dangling all-consuming grief and loss like narratively juicy carrots motivating the plodding agony of movies from “War Horse” to “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.
For romance, the possibility of heartbreak raises the stakes, pitting lover against lover or, worse still, lovers against time in dazzling depictions of humanity’s enduring quest for security and acceptance. “Titanic,” “A Star is Born,” “Moonlight,” “Brokeback Mountain,” “Up,” and countless other legendary titles have crafted couples so heart-rendingly believable that their joyous reunions and painful partings have provided powerful parallels to our own.
Epic tales of war and survival position total devastation similarly, dangling all-consuming grief and loss like narratively juicy carrots motivating the plodding agony of movies from “War Horse” to “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.
- 8/18/2023
- by Alison Foreman and Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The Last Voyage of the Demeter is a supernatural horror film directed by André Øvredal from a screenplay by Bragi F. Schut Jr. and Zak Olkewicz. The film is based on a chapter titled “The Captain’s Log” from the 1897 book Dracula by Bram Stoker. The Lost Voyage of the Demeter follows the crew of a merchant ship named Demeter as Dracula picks them apart one by one.
The supernatural horror film stars Corey Hawkins (BlacKkKlansman) as Clemens, Javier Botet (Slender Man) as Conde Dracula, Aisling Franciosi (God’s Creatures) as Anna, Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones) as Captain Eliot, and David Dastmalchian (The Boogeyman) as Wojchek.
Credit – Universal Pictures
While the critics are not actually loving the film, The Last Voyage of the Demeter could be a worthwhile watch for all the Dracula and gothic horror fans out there. So let’s find what the critics are actually saying about the supernatural horror film.
The supernatural horror film stars Corey Hawkins (BlacKkKlansman) as Clemens, Javier Botet (Slender Man) as Conde Dracula, Aisling Franciosi (God’s Creatures) as Anna, Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones) as Captain Eliot, and David Dastmalchian (The Boogeyman) as Wojchek.
Credit – Universal Pictures
While the critics are not actually loving the film, The Last Voyage of the Demeter could be a worthwhile watch for all the Dracula and gothic horror fans out there. So let’s find what the critics are actually saying about the supernatural horror film.
- 8/11/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Poet Raven Jackson writes and directs “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt,” the Barry Jenkins-produced Sundance breakout film now distributed by A24.
Oscar winner Jenkins serves as the executive producer of the decades-spanning period piece, which was acquired by A24 at 2023 Sundance. “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt” will also screen during this year’s NYFF Main Slate lineup.
Per the official synopsis, the film is a lyrical, decades-spanning exploration across a woman’s life in Mississippi. Charleen McClure, “Obi-Wan Kenobi” breakout Moses Ingram, Reginald Helms Jr., and Zainab Jah star, with Sheila Atim and Chris Chalk rounding out the cast. The film follows a West African family in the South. Cinematographer Jomo Fray used 35mm film to capture the textured history of Mack, played by McClure.
Jenkins has an eye for up-and-coming talent, with the “Moonlight” director recently producing Charlotte Wells’ debut “Aftersun,” which was nominated for an...
Oscar winner Jenkins serves as the executive producer of the decades-spanning period piece, which was acquired by A24 at 2023 Sundance. “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt” will also screen during this year’s NYFF Main Slate lineup.
Per the official synopsis, the film is a lyrical, decades-spanning exploration across a woman’s life in Mississippi. Charleen McClure, “Obi-Wan Kenobi” breakout Moses Ingram, Reginald Helms Jr., and Zainab Jah star, with Sheila Atim and Chris Chalk rounding out the cast. The film follows a West African family in the South. Cinematographer Jomo Fray used 35mm film to capture the textured history of Mack, played by McClure.
Jenkins has an eye for up-and-coming talent, with the “Moonlight” director recently producing Charlotte Wells’ debut “Aftersun,” which was nominated for an...
- 8/9/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
It’s the shock of seeing Norman Bates, knife in hand, clad in his mother’s clothes, grinning maniacally in the swinging lamplight. It’s a supposedly dead husband rising from a bathtub with terrifying saucer contact-lenses. It’s finally connecting “I see dead people” with Bruce Willis being shot at the beginning of “The Sixth Sense.” When movies pull the rug out from under us, it’s one of the greatest thrills that cinema can provide.
As Hollywood continues to reboot countless old properties, it’s easy to think that the days of original and surprising storytelling are long behind us. But these films prove that Hollywood still has a few tricks up its sleeve, ones that have kept us talking for years, and have cemented their place in film history.
Beware of spoilers! Here are the best plot twists of the 21st century.
Samantha Bergeson, Christian Blauvelt, Jude Dry,...
As Hollywood continues to reboot countless old properties, it’s easy to think that the days of original and surprising storytelling are long behind us. But these films prove that Hollywood still has a few tricks up its sleeve, ones that have kept us talking for years, and have cemented their place in film history.
Beware of spoilers! Here are the best plot twists of the 21st century.
Samantha Bergeson, Christian Blauvelt, Jude Dry,...
- 7/28/2023
- by Wilson Chapman and Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” stars Cillian Murphy as the famed scientist whose Manhattan Project gave us the nuclear bomb. The movie both follows Oppenheimer’s successful 1945 Trinity Test and its fallout, when the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki left him stricken with guilt and determined to do something about it. Nolan’s filmmaking gets inside his subject’s head and his fears of nuclear annhiliation. The filmmaker has said that he wishes more people were aware of that danger today — but does his movie occupy that same perspective? IndieWire’s David Ehrlich and Eric Kohn traded some thoughts on the matter, with a little extra perspective on Barbenheimer for good measure.
Warning: There are a few spoilers in this conversation.
Eric Kohn: J. Robert Oppenheimer built the most powerful weapon in human history and, after it decimated thousands of lives in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, spent the rest of his life condemning its use.
Warning: There are a few spoilers in this conversation.
Eric Kohn: J. Robert Oppenheimer built the most powerful weapon in human history and, after it decimated thousands of lives in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, spent the rest of his life condemning its use.
- 7/23/2023
- by Eric Kohn and David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ Both Receive ‘A’ Grades from CinemaScore as Fans Flock to Double Features
Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” entered their opening weekend with impossibly lofty expectations. In addition to being highly anticipated works from A-list auteurs, the two films were burdened with salvaging a disappointing summer box office after films like “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” and “Elemental” failed to catch on as cultural phenomena. Strong early tracking and endless “Barbenheimer” memes about seeing the wildly divergent films as a double feature turned this into the biggest movie weekend of the summer.
While the box office numbers are still rolling in, moviegoers who saw the films are walking away satisfied. CineScore has revealed that both films received “A” grades from fans after opening on Friday.
It's an A for @OppenheimerFilm!! Congratulations to all of the cast and crew members!
While the box office numbers are still rolling in, moviegoers who saw the films are walking away satisfied. CineScore has revealed that both films received “A” grades from fans after opening on Friday.
It's an A for @OppenheimerFilm!! Congratulations to all of the cast and crew members!
- 7/22/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
On July 14, 2023, IFC Films released “Lakota Nation vs. United States” from directors Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli. The documentary has received rave reviews from critics, resulting in a perfect score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Featuring interviews with Indigenous citizens, the film chronicles how the Lakota Indians fight to reclaim control of the Black Hills, and investigates how the sacred land was stolen in violation of treaty agreements. Read our full review round-up below.
See Uninterrupted Film Festival: ‘Black Ice’ executive producer Maverick Carter on empowering athletes to tell their stories [Complete Interview Transcript]
David Ehrlich of IndieWire writes, “A furious yet resiliently hopeful documentary about white America’s long and ongoing history of colonizing the Očeti Šakówin (along with the rest of this land’s indigenous people), Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli’s vital ‘Lakota Nation vs. United States’ doesn’t waste any of its 121 minutes, but it also boasts a...
See Uninterrupted Film Festival: ‘Black Ice’ executive producer Maverick Carter on empowering athletes to tell their stories [Complete Interview Transcript]
David Ehrlich of IndieWire writes, “A furious yet resiliently hopeful documentary about white America’s long and ongoing history of colonizing the Očeti Šakówin (along with the rest of this land’s indigenous people), Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli’s vital ‘Lakota Nation vs. United States’ doesn’t waste any of its 121 minutes, but it also boasts a...
- 7/15/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
Robert Downey Jr. is recalling the beast of a “squandered opportunity” behind 2020 film “Dolittle.”
The “Oppenheimer” actor revealed to The New York Times magazine that he views “Dolittle” as one of the most important films of his career because of the lesson it taught him. Downey credited the complicated production behind the Disney box office flop for helping him reset his priorities both on and offscreen.
“I finished the Marvel contract and then hastily went into what had all the promise of being another big, fun, well-executed potential franchise in ‘Dolittle,'” Downey said. “I had some reservations. Me and my team seemed a little too excited about the deal and not quite excited enough about the merits of the execution. But at that point I was bulletproof. I was the guru of all genre movies.”
He continued, “The stress it put on my missus [producer Susan Downey] as she rolled...
The “Oppenheimer” actor revealed to The New York Times magazine that he views “Dolittle” as one of the most important films of his career because of the lesson it taught him. Downey credited the complicated production behind the Disney box office flop for helping him reset his priorities both on and offscreen.
“I finished the Marvel contract and then hastily went into what had all the promise of being another big, fun, well-executed potential franchise in ‘Dolittle,'” Downey said. “I had some reservations. Me and my team seemed a little too excited about the deal and not quite excited enough about the merits of the execution. But at that point I was bulletproof. I was the guru of all genre movies.”
He continued, “The stress it put on my missus [producer Susan Downey] as she rolled...
- 7/10/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Is there such thing as a sympathetic cause for treason?
Magnolia Pictures documentary “A Compassionate Spy,” directed by two-time Oscar nominee Steve James, captures the controversial true story of Manhattan Project physicist Ted Hall. Part of the team behind J. Robert Oppenheimer’s atomic bomb, Hall shared nuclear secrets with the Soviet Union. The documentary is told through the perspective of Ted’s wife Joan Hall, who protected his secret across their 50-year marriage.
The official “Compassionate Spy” synopsis reads: Recruited in 1944 as an 18-year-old Harvard undergraduate to help J. Robert Oppenheimer and his team create a bomb, Ted Hall was the youngest physicist on the Manhattan Project, and didn’t share his colleagues’ elation after the successful detonation of the world’s first atomic bomb. Concerned that a U.S. post-war monopoly on such a powerful weapon could lead to nuclear catastrophe, Hall began passing key information about the...
Magnolia Pictures documentary “A Compassionate Spy,” directed by two-time Oscar nominee Steve James, captures the controversial true story of Manhattan Project physicist Ted Hall. Part of the team behind J. Robert Oppenheimer’s atomic bomb, Hall shared nuclear secrets with the Soviet Union. The documentary is told through the perspective of Ted’s wife Joan Hall, who protected his secret across their 50-year marriage.
The official “Compassionate Spy” synopsis reads: Recruited in 1944 as an 18-year-old Harvard undergraduate to help J. Robert Oppenheimer and his team create a bomb, Ted Hall was the youngest physicist on the Manhattan Project, and didn’t share his colleagues’ elation after the successful detonation of the world’s first atomic bomb. Concerned that a U.S. post-war monopoly on such a powerful weapon could lead to nuclear catastrophe, Hall began passing key information about the...
- 6/27/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Narrowing down the best movies in any genre is tough, but for lesbian films you have to begin with a reductive question: What is a lesbian film? What, in fact, is a lesbian?.
Must the film focus primarily on a gay storyline, or can it feature strong lesbian characters doing something entirely different than just being lesbians? Is subtext enough, or must the sapphic be explicit? How much cinephile wrath will rain down on us for the absence of a certain recent Oscar winner?
Compared to the stand-outs of queer television, the best lesbian movies have relatively little time to convey their perspective on the vast, varied, (sometimes) vaginal lesbian experience. And yet, ultimately, the best lesbian films honor not just their own perspectives, but also the glory and traditions of all of queer cinema. Strong women, high entertainment value, and bold visuals reign supreme.
The following tales of mini...
Must the film focus primarily on a gay storyline, or can it feature strong lesbian characters doing something entirely different than just being lesbians? Is subtext enough, or must the sapphic be explicit? How much cinephile wrath will rain down on us for the absence of a certain recent Oscar winner?
Compared to the stand-outs of queer television, the best lesbian movies have relatively little time to convey their perspective on the vast, varied, (sometimes) vaginal lesbian experience. And yet, ultimately, the best lesbian films honor not just their own perspectives, but also the glory and traditions of all of queer cinema. Strong women, high entertainment value, and bold visuals reign supreme.
The following tales of mini...
- 6/21/2023
- by Jude Dry and Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
The last few years have not only brought LGBTQ films and stories further into the mainstream, but queer movies have dominated awards seasons and found commercial success in unlikely places.
Lydia Tár — played by “Carol” star and esteemed lesbian (adjacent?) icon Cate Blanchett — dominated the 2022 Oscars race and became a well-worn touchstone in the year’s critical film and cancel culture conversations. The summer before that, Billy Eichner and Nicholas Stoller made history with Universal Pictures’ “Bros,” among the first ever gay rom-coms funded by a major studio: an important victory — even if that film did go, uh, soft at the box office.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg on another banner year for queer film: at least one win in a hard-fought cultural movement, seemingly poised to face new challenges in the not-so-distant future.
New Queer Cinema was a major influence on the indie film boom of the ’90s,...
Lydia Tár — played by “Carol” star and esteemed lesbian (adjacent?) icon Cate Blanchett — dominated the 2022 Oscars race and became a well-worn touchstone in the year’s critical film and cancel culture conversations. The summer before that, Billy Eichner and Nicholas Stoller made history with Universal Pictures’ “Bros,” among the first ever gay rom-coms funded by a major studio: an important victory — even if that film did go, uh, soft at the box office.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg on another banner year for queer film: at least one win in a hard-fought cultural movement, seemingly poised to face new challenges in the not-so-distant future.
New Queer Cinema was a major influence on the indie film boom of the ’90s,...
- 6/1/2023
- by Ryan Lattanzio, Jude Dry and Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
Wes Anderson is thanking his lucky stars for Covid protocols overlapping with the “Asteroid City” production.
The auteur, whose science-filled out-of-this-world film debuted at 2023 Cannes, credited the global pandemic for inspiring the quarantine plotline in his latest script.
“During the intense part of the Covid period, we were writing the script. I don’t think there would be a quarantine in the story if we weren’t experiencing it,” Anderson said. “It wasn’t deliberate. Writing is the most improvisational part of the whole process.”
The subsequent pandemic protocols on the “Asteroid City” set in Spain also grounded the ensemble feature. The film was shot between August and October 2021.
“The making of the movie during Covid protocols, it really suited us. It worked for us,” Anderson added. “I loved that we formed a troupe and stayed together and sat at a long table and had dinner.”
The “troupe” consisted of...
The auteur, whose science-filled out-of-this-world film debuted at 2023 Cannes, credited the global pandemic for inspiring the quarantine plotline in his latest script.
“During the intense part of the Covid period, we were writing the script. I don’t think there would be a quarantine in the story if we weren’t experiencing it,” Anderson said. “It wasn’t deliberate. Writing is the most improvisational part of the whole process.”
The subsequent pandemic protocols on the “Asteroid City” set in Spain also grounded the ensemble feature. The film was shot between August and October 2021.
“The making of the movie during Covid protocols, it really suited us. It worked for us,” Anderson added. “I loved that we formed a troupe and stayed together and sat at a long table and had dinner.”
The “troupe” consisted of...
- 5/24/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
With “Asteroid City,” has Wes Anderson directed one of his best movies yet or is it a misstep in an otherwise lauded career? Is the new film, due out in June, a return to form after “The French Dispatch” or a disappointment following his 2021 ensemble anthology? Those are the questions critics are asking following the debut of “Asteroid City” at the Cannes Film Festival, where the response to Anderon’s new film seemingly traveled to the moon and back.
“Like any movie by Wes Anderson, ‘Asteroid City’ is the epitome of a Wes Anderson movie,” Indiewire critic David Ehrlich wrote in his rave review. “A film about a television program about a play within a play ‘about infinity and I don’t know what else’ (as one character describes it), this delightfully profound desert charmer — by far the director’s best effort since ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel,’ and in some...
“Like any movie by Wes Anderson, ‘Asteroid City’ is the epitome of a Wes Anderson movie,” Indiewire critic David Ehrlich wrote in his rave review. “A film about a television program about a play within a play ‘about infinity and I don’t know what else’ (as one character describes it), this delightfully profound desert charmer — by far the director’s best effort since ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel,’ and in some...
- 5/24/2023
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
With six of the top eight film distributors committed to their own streaming sites — and all the expenses that come with them — the two studios that operate without a streamer continue to elevate home viewing without that heavy investment.
Universal has three films occupying eight positions this week, led by the just-released “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” that’s #1 on all three VOD charts. Lionsgate also has three films in eight slots, while Sony has three films in six slots — plus, three more films in the Netflix top 10.
Multiple placements aren’t unusual for Universal; it has high volume as well as a consistent PVOD policy that often sees titles surface in a month or less. For the scrappier Lionsgate, this achievement demanded a lot of smart strategy. Both “Operation Fortune: Russe de Guerre” and “Sisu” showed limited interest in theaters (each grossed around $7 million). Yet each has shown strength on PVOD,...
Universal has three films occupying eight positions this week, led by the just-released “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” that’s #1 on all three VOD charts. Lionsgate also has three films in eight slots, while Sony has three films in six slots — plus, three more films in the Netflix top 10.
Multiple placements aren’t unusual for Universal; it has high volume as well as a consistent PVOD policy that often sees titles surface in a month or less. For the scrappier Lionsgate, this achievement demanded a lot of smart strategy. Both “Operation Fortune: Russe de Guerre” and “Sisu” showed limited interest in theaters (each grossed around $7 million). Yet each has shown strength on PVOD,...
- 5/22/2023
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Joaquin Phoenix’s apparent mission to work with all the best contemporary independent filmmakers is about to continue. Following his highly acclaimed Ari Aster collaboration “Beau Is Afraid,” the Oscar winner is teaming up with Todd Haynes on a new original love story.
Speaking to IndieWire’s Eric Kohn during a conversation at the American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival, Haynes teased that he is plotting a variety of upcoming projects in the film and television spaces. Notably, the auteur revealed that he and Phoenix co-developed a period gay romance with frequent Kelly Reichardt collaborator Jonathan Raymond that Haynes plans to shoot as his next film.
“All I can do is just keep hunkering down and committing to each project,” Haynes said when asked about the differences between working in film and television. “I have more features planned. I have also episodic projects coming that are planned, that are really exciting.
Speaking to IndieWire’s Eric Kohn during a conversation at the American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival, Haynes teased that he is plotting a variety of upcoming projects in the film and television spaces. Notably, the auteur revealed that he and Phoenix co-developed a period gay romance with frequent Kelly Reichardt collaborator Jonathan Raymond that Haynes plans to shoot as his next film.
“All I can do is just keep hunkering down and committing to each project,” Haynes said when asked about the differences between working in film and television. “I have more features planned. I have also episodic projects coming that are planned, that are really exciting.
- 5/22/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Jude Law took Method acting to the next sensory level.
The star of “Firebrand,” who plays King Henry VIII at the end of the royal’s life, revealed during the Cannes press conference that he commissioned a custom “awful” fragrance to get into character. Law had no problem smelling like “puss, blood, fecal matter, and sweat” opposite co-star Alicia Vikander, who plays Queen Katherine Parr, in Karim Aïnouz’s period piece.
“I read these several interesting accounts that at this period, you could smell Henry three rooms away because his leg was rotten so badly. He hid it with rose oil,” Law told the press corps (check out a clip courtesy of Variety below). “So I just thought it would have a great impact if I smelled awful. I went to this brilliant perfumier. She makes wonderful scents. But she also makes awful scents. And she somehow managed to come...
The star of “Firebrand,” who plays King Henry VIII at the end of the royal’s life, revealed during the Cannes press conference that he commissioned a custom “awful” fragrance to get into character. Law had no problem smelling like “puss, blood, fecal matter, and sweat” opposite co-star Alicia Vikander, who plays Queen Katherine Parr, in Karim Aïnouz’s period piece.
“I read these several interesting accounts that at this period, you could smell Henry three rooms away because his leg was rotten so badly. He hid it with rose oil,” Law told the press corps (check out a clip courtesy of Variety below). “So I just thought it would have a great impact if I smelled awful. I went to this brilliant perfumier. She makes wonderful scents. But she also makes awful scents. And she somehow managed to come...
- 5/22/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Two highly anticipated movies debuted at Cannes on Saturday, practically back-to-back, and critics were whipped to a frenzy with praise for them. Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” is easily one of the most anticipated movies of 2023, and with the first trailer having dropped on Thursday, it’s no surprise that the line to get into the theater for the Cannes screening was immense, according to social media.
“Flower Moon” was lauded as another standout for Scorsese, while not possibly being his best ever and the prodigious runtime seemingly was not a problem. Freelance writer Martyn Conterio said, “It’s top tier Marty.” Praise is going out to actress Lily Gladsone who Discussing Film senior film critic Yasmine Kandil calls “the soul of the film.” IndieWire’s David Ehrlich also gave praise to Leonardo DiCaprio, calling his turn in the feature as “the best performance of his life.
“Flower Moon” was lauded as another standout for Scorsese, while not possibly being his best ever and the prodigious runtime seemingly was not a problem. Freelance writer Martyn Conterio said, “It’s top tier Marty.” Praise is going out to actress Lily Gladsone who Discussing Film senior film critic Yasmine Kandil calls “the soul of the film.” IndieWire’s David Ehrlich also gave praise to Leonardo DiCaprio, calling his turn in the feature as “the best performance of his life.
- 5/21/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” premiered Saturday at the Cannes Film Festival to near-universal acclaim and what trade sites estimated was a nine-minute standing ovation upon its completion.
“At 80, Martin Scorsese has finally made a Western, and it packs a wallop,” Deadline’s Pete Hammond wrote in his rave review. “There are many ways to spoil the sheer pleasure of watching a master filmmaker handle a vast tale like this, working at the top of a very impressive game at a time when many have retired. I won’t do that except to say with a length of 3 1/2 hours the filmmaker and his longtime editor, Thelma Schoonmaker, don’t seem to be wasting any time. Yes, it feels truly epic in many ways, but all in service to the story. I never looked at my watch.”
Years in the making – Scorsese began shooting “Killers of the Flower Moon...
“At 80, Martin Scorsese has finally made a Western, and it packs a wallop,” Deadline’s Pete Hammond wrote in his rave review. “There are many ways to spoil the sheer pleasure of watching a master filmmaker handle a vast tale like this, working at the top of a very impressive game at a time when many have retired. I won’t do that except to say with a length of 3 1/2 hours the filmmaker and his longtime editor, Thelma Schoonmaker, don’t seem to be wasting any time. Yes, it feels truly epic in many ways, but all in service to the story. I never looked at my watch.”
Years in the making – Scorsese began shooting “Killers of the Flower Moon...
- 5/21/2023
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Director Todd Haynes’ is receiving high marks for his dark comedy “May December,” which debuted at Cannes on Saturday, with praise abounding for his return to the narrative film world after a three-year absence (the 2019 feature “Dark Waters”).
The film starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, centers on an actress who travels to Maine to study a woman whom she intends to portray on film.
Sky Cinema has already acquired UK distribution rights, and judging by the first batch of buzz, other markets may not be far behind. The picture seems to continue the filmmaker’s interest in dysfunctional civilizations and skewed gender roles. His early 1990s work, including “Poison” saw him hailed as a leading figure in New Queer Cinema (or “The Queer New Wave”).
“May December” marks his fifth feature film collaboration with Julianne Moore following “Safe” in 1995, the Douglas Sirk homage “Far from Heaven” in 2002, the eclectic...
The film starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, centers on an actress who travels to Maine to study a woman whom she intends to portray on film.
Sky Cinema has already acquired UK distribution rights, and judging by the first batch of buzz, other markets may not be far behind. The picture seems to continue the filmmaker’s interest in dysfunctional civilizations and skewed gender roles. His early 1990s work, including “Poison” saw him hailed as a leading figure in New Queer Cinema (or “The Queer New Wave”).
“May December” marks his fifth feature film collaboration with Julianne Moore following “Safe” in 1995, the Douglas Sirk homage “Far from Heaven” in 2002, the eclectic...
- 5/20/2023
- by Scott Mendelson and Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
For critics attending the 76th Cannes Film Festival this week, Martin Scorsese's adaptation of David Grann's book "Killers of the Flower Moon" was among the hottest tickets in town. The latest film from the acclaimed director has been garnering headlines months ahead of its release, as the 206-minute epic is set to tell the real-life story of a series of murders on Osage Native American land in the 1920s.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert de Niro, and the ever-underrated "Certain Women" star Lily Gladstone all share the screen in a story about the greed and violence that erupt among white men when the Osage people strike oil in Oklahoma. Scorsese has revealed that his real-life meetings with Indigenous descendants of those murdered changed the way he wanted to frame the story, and he's also spoken about how the story reckons with genocide in the midst of a love story. In all,...
Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert de Niro, and the ever-underrated "Certain Women" star Lily Gladstone all share the screen in a story about the greed and violence that erupt among white men when the Osage people strike oil in Oklahoma. Scorsese has revealed that his real-life meetings with Indigenous descendants of those murdered changed the way he wanted to frame the story, and he's also spoken about how the story reckons with genocide in the midst of a love story. In all,...
- 5/20/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
The biggest film of the Cannes Film Festival, especially for folks with little interest in the commercial side of the movie industry, was arguably Martin Scorsese’s “Flowers of the Killer Moon.” The long-awaited and much-discussed adaptation of David Grann’s “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI” features both current Scorsese mainstay Leonardo DiCaprio and former Scorsese muse Robert De Niro, alongside Jesse Plemons and breakout star Lily Gladstone.
The picture, a 3.5-hour epic detailing a crime spree that was meant to undercut prosperous Native Americans who had benefited from oil deposits underneath their land, comes courtesy of Apple but will first get a conventional global theatrical release courtesy of Paramount.
The Eric Roth-penned adaptation will open in limited release on Oct. 6, where it could shatter box office records for per-theater averages, prior to its Oct. 20 wide release.
As always, the...
The picture, a 3.5-hour epic detailing a crime spree that was meant to undercut prosperous Native Americans who had benefited from oil deposits underneath their land, comes courtesy of Apple but will first get a conventional global theatrical release courtesy of Paramount.
The Eric Roth-penned adaptation will open in limited release on Oct. 6, where it could shatter box office records for per-theater averages, prior to its Oct. 20 wide release.
As always, the...
- 5/20/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
There’s no doubt regarding what Cannes’ highest-profile ticket is, but “Killers of the Flower Moon” is unlikely to be the only major Oscar contender produced by the annual event’s 2023 edition. Jonathan Glazer’s A24-produced “The Zone of Interest” premiered on Friday and became “the first instant sensation” of this year’s festival.
Loosely adapted from Martin Amis’ 2014 novel of the same name, the film is a detached, forensic examination of complacency in the face of evil. Hype has steadily been building for months, but tonight’s premiere confirms that Glazer will be a major factor at this year’s Oscars for his Holocaust drama that many, including David Rooney (The Hollywood Reporter), are saying is “like no other” – a feat in and of itself, considering the regular release of projects on the topic. This is only the fourth film directed by Glazer, whose previous feature, “Under the Skin,...
Loosely adapted from Martin Amis’ 2014 novel of the same name, the film is a detached, forensic examination of complacency in the face of evil. Hype has steadily been building for months, but tonight’s premiere confirms that Glazer will be a major factor at this year’s Oscars for his Holocaust drama that many, including David Rooney (The Hollywood Reporter), are saying is “like no other” – a feat in and of itself, considering the regular release of projects on the topic. This is only the fourth film directed by Glazer, whose previous feature, “Under the Skin,...
- 5/19/2023
- by Ronald Meyer
- Gold Derby
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday night. At the glitzy Palais screening, director James Mangold and stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook and Ethann Isidore enjoyed a warm five-minute standing ovation from the crowd. But it was Indy himself, Harrison Ford, who was the center of attention, with the actor visibly moved to tears by the reception.
Not soon after the premiere, the first reviews of the film, which hits theaters on June 30, came trickling in. As of late Thursday, the early critical reaction to the fifth film in the much-loved Indiana Jones franchise has been decidedly mixed.
A common theme among the early reviews is that the film is better than Indy’s last outing, the rather polarizing Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull from 2008, but not much better. Many reviewers took issue with digitally de-aging...
Not soon after the premiere, the first reviews of the film, which hits theaters on June 30, came trickling in. As of late Thursday, the early critical reaction to the fifth film in the much-loved Indiana Jones franchise has been decidedly mixed.
A common theme among the early reviews is that the film is better than Indy’s last outing, the rather polarizing Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull from 2008, but not much better. Many reviewers took issue with digitally de-aging...
- 5/19/2023
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to a reportedly tepid reaction from the crowd — though first reactions on social media were more positive. Per usual for Cannes premieres it did receive ovations, but they were reserved for Harrison Ford himself rather than the James Mangold-directed film.
Since then the reviews have been pouring in, and they largely mirror how the audience at Cannes felt: A bit of a letdown, though some say it has its moments. But people still like Harrison Ford.
In his review of “Indy’s” fifth and possibly final installment, David Rooney of the Hollywood Reporter wrote, “This is a big, bombastic movie that goes through the motions but never finds much joy in the process, despite John Williams’ hard-working score continuously pushing our nostalgia buttons and trying to convince us we’re on a wild ride … Both the...
Since then the reviews have been pouring in, and they largely mirror how the audience at Cannes felt: A bit of a letdown, though some say it has its moments. But people still like Harrison Ford.
In his review of “Indy’s” fifth and possibly final installment, David Rooney of the Hollywood Reporter wrote, “This is a big, bombastic movie that goes through the motions but never finds much joy in the process, despite John Williams’ hard-working score continuously pushing our nostalgia buttons and trying to convince us we’re on a wild ride … Both the...
- 5/19/2023
- by Mason Bissada
- The Wrap
For over four decades, Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones has served as the greatest adventurer in all of American cinema. The time has now come for ol' Indy to hang up his pinch-front fedora, but not before one last adventure. "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" is one of the most hotly anticipated releases of the year, with the fifth film in the franchise posed to be the swan song for the pop culture icon. The film follows Indiana Jones in a race against time to obtain a fabled dial that can change history.
Indy is joined by his goddaughter Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) on his mission, as their quest to retrieve the dial puts them in the crosshairs of Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen), a former Nazi working for NASA who has his own plans for the dial. Lest we forget: "Indiana Jones" movies are about action and adventure, but most importantly,...
Indy is joined by his goddaughter Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) on his mission, as their quest to retrieve the dial puts them in the crosshairs of Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen), a former Nazi working for NASA who has his own plans for the dial. Lest we forget: "Indiana Jones" movies are about action and adventure, but most importantly,...
- 5/18/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
With the Cannes Film Festival kicking off next weekend, all eyes in the indie film world are currently on the Croisette. But while most of the buzzy Cannes premieres won’t be making their way stateside for several months, we’re finally approaching the window where breakouts from Sundance begin to open in theaters.
One such hit is “Passages,” Ira Sachs’ haunting eighth feature about a filmmaker who abandons his husband for a woman he meets in Paris. The film, which stars Frank Rogowski, Ben Whishaw, and Adèle Exarchopoulos, was praised by many as a throwback to the kinds of intense character studies that Mike Nichols cut his teeth on in the 1960s and ’70s.
The film earned strong reviews at Sundance, with IndieWire’s David Ehrlich writing, “A signature new drama from a director whose best work is at once both generously tender in its brutality and unsparingly brutal in its tenderness,...
One such hit is “Passages,” Ira Sachs’ haunting eighth feature about a filmmaker who abandons his husband for a woman he meets in Paris. The film, which stars Frank Rogowski, Ben Whishaw, and Adèle Exarchopoulos, was praised by many as a throwback to the kinds of intense character studies that Mike Nichols cut his teeth on in the 1960s and ’70s.
The film earned strong reviews at Sundance, with IndieWire’s David Ehrlich writing, “A signature new drama from a director whose best work is at once both generously tender in its brutality and unsparingly brutal in its tenderness,...
- 5/13/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
As cultural “discourse” becomes more aligned with scare-quotes than substantive conversations, putting a complicated piece of art into the world can be terrifying. “Sometimes, it’s scary to trust the audience,” said “The Starling Girl” writer and director Laurel Parmet. “It’s also invigorating and thrilling.”
Parmet’s directorial debut is loosely based on her own coming-of-age story, during which she had a relationship with an older man when she was just a teenager. Set against the backdrop of a patriarchal fundamentalist church community, “The Starling Girl” stars Eliza Scanlen as Jem Starling, a curious and clever teen whose world is upended by the return of intriguing young pastor Owen (Lewis Pullman). Drawn to each other despite many constraints that should keep them apart — their age difference, the power dynamic, and much more — their relationship serves as the catalyst for Jem fully coming into herself.
It’s a tricky story...
Parmet’s directorial debut is loosely based on her own coming-of-age story, during which she had a relationship with an older man when she was just a teenager. Set against the backdrop of a patriarchal fundamentalist church community, “The Starling Girl” stars Eliza Scanlen as Jem Starling, a curious and clever teen whose world is upended by the return of intriguing young pastor Owen (Lewis Pullman). Drawn to each other despite many constraints that should keep them apart — their age difference, the power dynamic, and much more — their relationship serves as the catalyst for Jem fully coming into herself.
It’s a tricky story...
- 5/12/2023
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
David Lowery became an indie film darling with projects like “The Green Knight” and “A Ghost Story,” but he has become equally prolific as a Disney filmmaker. After finding success with his live-action take on “Pete’s Dragon,” he collaborated with the studio again on “Peter Pan & Wendy,” which is now streaming on Disney+. But per usual, his reimagining of the Disney classic was shaped by the more adult-oriented projects that he enjoys.
In a new interview with The New York Times, Lowery opened up about the films that influenced “Peter Pan & Wendy.” He found inspiration in some unlikely sources, including Andrei Tarkovsky’s “Mirror.” He explained that Peter Pan and Tinkerbell’s introduction scenes, where they sprinkle pixie dust on the sleeping Darling children, were inspired by certain levitation shots in the surreal classic.
He was also inspired by some more modern films, including Martin Scorsese’s “Gangs of New York.
In a new interview with The New York Times, Lowery opened up about the films that influenced “Peter Pan & Wendy.” He found inspiration in some unlikely sources, including Andrei Tarkovsky’s “Mirror.” He explained that Peter Pan and Tinkerbell’s introduction scenes, where they sprinkle pixie dust on the sleeping Darling children, were inspired by certain levitation shots in the surreal classic.
He was also inspired by some more modern films, including Martin Scorsese’s “Gangs of New York.
- 5/2/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Where to begin with this year’s summer preview?
The “big” titles, including new superhero films, another zippy entry into the “Fast and Furious” franchise, the continuing adventures of Tom Cruise running against “Impossible” odds, or even a kicky new Indiana Jones film? What about the latest picks from some of our favorite filmmakers, Wes Anderson to Greta Gerwig, Christopher Nolan to Nicole Holofcener, Paul Schrader to Niki Caro, Christian Petzold to Rachel Sennott?
Or what about the rising filmmaking stars we’ve already fallen for, like Celine Song, Laurel Parmet, Adele Lim, Charlotte Regan, and Savanah Leaf? Should we bet even bigger, noting that this summer includes at least two films we’ve already crowned some of the best of the year?
Or, better yet, how about we let the films speak for themselves? As another summer movie season beckons, we’ve dug into the calendar to pull out...
The “big” titles, including new superhero films, another zippy entry into the “Fast and Furious” franchise, the continuing adventures of Tom Cruise running against “Impossible” odds, or even a kicky new Indiana Jones film? What about the latest picks from some of our favorite filmmakers, Wes Anderson to Greta Gerwig, Christopher Nolan to Nicole Holofcener, Paul Schrader to Niki Caro, Christian Petzold to Rachel Sennott?
Or what about the rising filmmaking stars we’ve already fallen for, like Celine Song, Laurel Parmet, Adele Lim, Charlotte Regan, and Savanah Leaf? Should we bet even bigger, noting that this summer includes at least two films we’ve already crowned some of the best of the year?
Or, better yet, how about we let the films speak for themselves? As another summer movie season beckons, we’ve dug into the calendar to pull out...
- 4/18/2023
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Sexuality and sin are closely aligned in writer-director Laurel Parmet’s coming-of-age drama “The Starling Girl,” set in a fundamentalist Christian community.
Eliza Scanlen stars as 17-year-old Jem Starling who develops a crush, and subsequently inappropriate relationship, with a new youth pastor. Per the official synopsis, 17-year-old Jem Starling (Scanlen) struggles to define her place within her fundamentalist Christian community in rural Kentucky. Even her greatest joy of dancing with the church group is tempered by worry that her actions are sinful and she is caught between a burgeoning awareness of her own sexuality and her religious devotion. With the return of Owen (Lewis Pullman), an enigmatic youth pastor, Jem soon finds herself attracted to his worldliness and charm. Slowly, he draws her into a dangerous relationship that could upend their entire community.
Wrenn Schmidt, Austin Abrams, and Jimmi Simpson also star.
IndieWire critic David Ehrlich praised the film for...
Eliza Scanlen stars as 17-year-old Jem Starling who develops a crush, and subsequently inappropriate relationship, with a new youth pastor. Per the official synopsis, 17-year-old Jem Starling (Scanlen) struggles to define her place within her fundamentalist Christian community in rural Kentucky. Even her greatest joy of dancing with the church group is tempered by worry that her actions are sinful and she is caught between a burgeoning awareness of her own sexuality and her religious devotion. With the return of Owen (Lewis Pullman), an enigmatic youth pastor, Jem soon finds herself attracted to his worldliness and charm. Slowly, he draws her into a dangerous relationship that could upend their entire community.
Wrenn Schmidt, Austin Abrams, and Jimmi Simpson also star.
IndieWire critic David Ehrlich praised the film for...
- 4/17/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
‘Sanctuary’ Trailer: Margaret Qualley Holds Christopher Abbott Hostage in Neon’s Dominatrix Thriller
Margaret Qualley sets out to spank, seduce, and scourge Christopher Abbott in the sexy blackmail drama “Sanctuary.”
Qualley stars as dominatrix Rebecca, whose elite client Hal (Abbott) wants to end their psychosexual relationship after inheriting his late father’s empire. However, Rebecca has other things in mind to punish him. The film takes place over one night in a hotel room.
“Sanctuary” is directed by Zachary Wigon (“The Heart Machine”) from a script by “Homecoming” co-creator Micah Bloomberg. The film debuted at 2022 TIFF and will be released by Neon this spring.
IndieWire critic David Ehrlich praised the film for being “such a salaciously enjoyable slice of snack-sized fun” with an unpredictable plot that toys with what it really means to roleplay.
“‘Sanctuary’ unfolds like a kinky cross between ‘Punch-Drunk Love’ and an off-Broadway play,” Ehrlich wrote. “[It’s] a story about identity and control, but it’s also a movie about the...
Qualley stars as dominatrix Rebecca, whose elite client Hal (Abbott) wants to end their psychosexual relationship after inheriting his late father’s empire. However, Rebecca has other things in mind to punish him. The film takes place over one night in a hotel room.
“Sanctuary” is directed by Zachary Wigon (“The Heart Machine”) from a script by “Homecoming” co-creator Micah Bloomberg. The film debuted at 2022 TIFF and will be released by Neon this spring.
IndieWire critic David Ehrlich praised the film for being “such a salaciously enjoyable slice of snack-sized fun” with an unpredictable plot that toys with what it really means to roleplay.
“‘Sanctuary’ unfolds like a kinky cross between ‘Punch-Drunk Love’ and an off-Broadway play,” Ehrlich wrote. “[It’s] a story about identity and control, but it’s also a movie about the...
- 4/12/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
When James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios, the duo didn’t mince words: this was a brand “in chaos.” Their mandate: as Safran explained in late January, “to build an extraordinary standalone studio with the best IP and stories in the world.” But while the pair have already laid out their plans to do just that over the coming years, they also arrived in their new gig with existing material — including five films, all part of that “chaos” — that was primed, ready to go, and dated.
One of those films: David F. Sandberg’s “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” which opened last week to a limp $30 million opening weekend. As IndieWire’s own Tom Brueggemann noted in his weekly box office wrap, that’s more than 40 percent down from the initial DC Comics film in 2019 (with ticket prices at least 15 percent lower). And while the fledgling franchise...
One of those films: David F. Sandberg’s “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” which opened last week to a limp $30 million opening weekend. As IndieWire’s own Tom Brueggemann noted in his weekly box office wrap, that’s more than 40 percent down from the initial DC Comics film in 2019 (with ticket prices at least 15 percent lower). And while the fledgling franchise...
- 3/20/2023
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
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