by Cláudio Alves
Upon the Us release of Paddington 2 in 2018, film critic David Ehrlich wrote about a new age of optimistic movies. He called this phenomenon, nice core. They were films that emerged in the era of Trump and Brexit, little rays of celluloid sunshine that celebrated the power of kindness and the wonder of humanity from filmmakers living in an increasingly cruel world. If you're looking for formalistic vanguard or challenging experiences, you won't find it in this type of cinema, though that doesn't have to be necessarily bad. Art of modest ambition whose main purpose is comfort shouldn't be undervalued.
One could almost say that, when ironic detachment becomes standard, the exaltation of sincere cinema can be a radical gesture…...
Upon the Us release of Paddington 2 in 2018, film critic David Ehrlich wrote about a new age of optimistic movies. He called this phenomenon, nice core. They were films that emerged in the era of Trump and Brexit, little rays of celluloid sunshine that celebrated the power of kindness and the wonder of humanity from filmmakers living in an increasingly cruel world. If you're looking for formalistic vanguard or challenging experiences, you won't find it in this type of cinema, though that doesn't have to be necessarily bad. Art of modest ambition whose main purpose is comfort shouldn't be undervalued.
One could almost say that, when ironic detachment becomes standard, the exaltation of sincere cinema can be a radical gesture…...
- 3/21/2020
- by Cláudio Alves
- FilmExperience
The musical often feels like a relic of a long-dead Hollywood studio system, but it remains a genre that captures movies’ ability to create story worlds that move freely between reality and fantasy. The worst examples come from filmmakers who give license to music, color, and movement run amok; the best musicals transcend artifice and integrate songs that become expressions of pure character emotion. It offers endless possibilities, but success demands a complete mastery of the medium.
Very few current stars could learn the choreography of Busby Berkeley, Jerome Robbins, or Bob Fosse, and adapting a medium developed and most suited for the stage requires innovative direction. In translating the joy of a live musical to the magic of cinema, some things are easily lost in the shuffle.
Read More:The 10 Best Cinematographers of 2017, Ranked
From “A Star is Born” to “Singin’ in the Rain,” here are 20 musicals that represent the...
Very few current stars could learn the choreography of Busby Berkeley, Jerome Robbins, or Bob Fosse, and adapting a medium developed and most suited for the stage requires innovative direction. In translating the joy of a live musical to the magic of cinema, some things are easily lost in the shuffle.
Read More:The 10 Best Cinematographers of 2017, Ranked
From “A Star is Born” to “Singin’ in the Rain,” here are 20 musicals that represent the...
- 12/15/2017
- by Jude Dry, Chris O'Falt, Anne Thompson, Jamie Righetti, Jenna Marotta and David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSLike to sleep at the movies? Apichatpong Weerasethakul is collaborating with the International Film Festival Rotterdam (January 24 - February 4, 2018), to launch a hotel. Yes, that's right.Cinema's have been banned in Saudi Arabia since the 1970s, but in 2018 that's about to change.The Golden Globes nominations have been announced. We're rooting for Greta Gerwig and Jonny Greenwood.Recommended VIEWINGGrasshopper Film have kindly shared En rachâchant, a 1982 short film by Jean-Marie Straub & Danièle Huillet adapted from a Marguerite Duras story. Available to view until December 15th so watch it now!For IndieWire, David Ehrlich provides an ecstatic rush of montage through this year's commercial cinema.A moving and enveloping trailer from one of the year's best discoveries: Summer 1993, the feature debut of Spanish filmmaker Carla Simón.The first trailer for the latest analysis of American myth-making from Clint Eastwood,...
- 12/14/2017
- MUBI
For many reasons, 2017 was an important year to celebrate actresses, and there were many great women in front of the cameras. However, this year’s best performances by men also stood out for pushing against commercial standards and delivering some of the most exciting characters of the year: Men conflicted about their desires, their responsibilities, and their identities as a whole. While a few of these roles may look more traditional than others, none of them are easy, and as a whole they stand out as major accomplishments that either challenge conventional notions of masculinity or scrutinize them with renewed vigor.
Of course, many of the best male performances of 2017 aren’t great because they’re guys; they’re great because they’re memorable performances, period — loaded with intrigue, thrills, and pathos. Here’s the best of the bunch.
15. Harris Dickinson, “Beach Rats”
For his very first feature, British actor...
Of course, many of the best male performances of 2017 aren’t great because they’re guys; they’re great because they’re memorable performances, period — loaded with intrigue, thrills, and pathos. Here’s the best of the bunch.
15. Harris Dickinson, “Beach Rats”
For his very first feature, British actor...
- 12/14/2017
- by Kate Erbland, Eric Kohn, David Ehrlich, Jude Dry, Jenna Marotta and Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
With screens at a premium, the holiday zone is a hostile climate even for the most-established film distributors. To successfully release an animated biopic funded by the Polish Film Institute — with only modest reviews, via virtually unknown distributor Good Deed Entertainment — the odds were, to be generous, unkind.
“Loving Vincent” outsmarted all of us. With $20 million worldwide since its September 22 bow, it’s the highest gross in years for a film that’s never seen more than 250 theaters. On Saturday it won a European Film Award, today a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature; an Oscar nomination could follow.
Read More:‘Loving Vincent’ Review: The World’s First Oil-Painted Feature is a Truly Insane Vincent van Gogh Tribute — Telluride
Directed by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman, “Loving Vincent” used 125 painters to reimagine much of Van Gogh’s work and to retrace the final days of his life. The artists...
“Loving Vincent” outsmarted all of us. With $20 million worldwide since its September 22 bow, it’s the highest gross in years for a film that’s never seen more than 250 theaters. On Saturday it won a European Film Award, today a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature; an Oscar nomination could follow.
Read More:‘Loving Vincent’ Review: The World’s First Oil-Painted Feature is a Truly Insane Vincent van Gogh Tribute — Telluride
Directed by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman, “Loving Vincent” used 125 painters to reimagine much of Van Gogh’s work and to retrace the final days of his life. The artists...
- 12/12/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?”, can be found at the end of this post.)
This week’s question: In honor of “The Post,” which is set to hit theaters on December 20th, what is Steven Spielberg’s best film?
Candice Frederick (@ReelTalker), Freelance for Harper’s Bazaar, /Film, The Undefeated, Birth.Movies.Death
“E.T.” There is really no other filmmaker who portrays wonder and innocence quite like Spielberg. While he’s done many great movies, “E.T.” not only captures the purity and curiosity of youth, but its beautiful effects and simple observations implore all of us to stop and take notice of the world around us and humanity itself.
Read More: ‘The Post’ Review: Steven Spielberg’s Spectacularly Entertaining Journalism Thriller Is a...
This week’s question: In honor of “The Post,” which is set to hit theaters on December 20th, what is Steven Spielberg’s best film?
Candice Frederick (@ReelTalker), Freelance for Harper’s Bazaar, /Film, The Undefeated, Birth.Movies.Death
“E.T.” There is really no other filmmaker who portrays wonder and innocence quite like Spielberg. While he’s done many great movies, “E.T.” not only captures the purity and curiosity of youth, but its beautiful effects and simple observations implore all of us to stop and take notice of the world around us and humanity itself.
Read More: ‘The Post’ Review: Steven Spielberg’s Spectacularly Entertaining Journalism Thriller Is a...
- 12/11/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
"If only you knew how little I know about the things that matter..." Another year end countdown video looking back at the best movies of 2017. "The Moviejerk" has released a video called Best of Cinema: 2017 Edition that features clips from his favorite films edited together to songs from the films this year, similar to David Ehrlich's year end recap. Janz Anton-Iago is "The Moviejerk" and runs the website of the same name. He includes footage from Pablo Larraín's Jackie in this, because it was released in the UK in 2017 (even though it was released in 2016 in the Us). He explains in the intro that this is more of a "video mood-piece" capturing his feelings from all the best films he saw throughout the year. It's actually worth a watch. Original description from The Moviejerk's Vimeo: Finally, after weeks of compiling the great and glorious moments of this year’s films,...
- 12/9/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Everyone’s a critic, but some are more agreeable than others. Gizmodo has put together a list of the most contrarian film reviewers around, using a just-for-fun methodology that, like all such endeavors, gives a general idea of its subject while being far from definitive.
Read More:The Academy Advances 15 Titles for Its Oscar Documentary Shortlist
Using individual critics’ average scores on Metacritic — and, more importantly, how far they diverge from a movie’s overall score — they listed 366 people from most contrarian to most agreeable. All your favorite IndieWire writers are represented: Eric Kohn (who’s singled out as one of the “barometers” of critical opinion) comes in at 311, David Ehrlich is 78, Kate Erbland shows up at 229, and yours truly is practically her neighbor at 235.
Read More:‘Phantom Thread’ Review: Paul Thomas Anderson’s Riveting ’50s Romance Is a Screwball Comedy In Disguise
Armond White, often cited as the most contrarian critic around,...
Read More:The Academy Advances 15 Titles for Its Oscar Documentary Shortlist
Using individual critics’ average scores on Metacritic — and, more importantly, how far they diverge from a movie’s overall score — they listed 366 people from most contrarian to most agreeable. All your favorite IndieWire writers are represented: Eric Kohn (who’s singled out as one of the “barometers” of critical opinion) comes in at 311, David Ehrlich is 78, Kate Erbland shows up at 229, and yours truly is practically her neighbor at 235.
Read More:‘Phantom Thread’ Review: Paul Thomas Anderson’s Riveting ’50s Romance Is a Screwball Comedy In Disguise
Armond White, often cited as the most contrarian critic around,...
- 12/8/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
‘Lean on Pete’ Trailer: ’45 Years’ Director Andrew Haigh Returns With a Powerful Coming-of-Age Story
In his acclaimed directorial efforts “Weekend” and “45 Years,” Andrew Haigh has proved to be a master at investigating the intimate depths of human relationships. “Lean on Pete” represents a new kind of challenge in that its tells the story of a teenager’s connection with a horse, but Haigh still approaches this relationship with his trademark humanism.
Read More:‘Lean on Pete’ Review: Andrew Haigh Delivers an Understated Coming-of-Age Story About a Boy and His Horse
“Lean on Pete” is adapted from the novel of the same name by Willy Vlautin. Charlie Plummer stars as 15-year-old Charley Thompson, who moves to Portland, Oregon with his father and befriends the workers at a local racetrack for horses. Charley gets a job looking after an aging Quarter Horse named Lean On Pete and bonds with its owner (Steve Buscemi) and jockey (Chloë Sevigny). When the teenager is ordered to bring Pete to the slaughterhouse,...
Read More:‘Lean on Pete’ Review: Andrew Haigh Delivers an Understated Coming-of-Age Story About a Boy and His Horse
“Lean on Pete” is adapted from the novel of the same name by Willy Vlautin. Charlie Plummer stars as 15-year-old Charley Thompson, who moves to Portland, Oregon with his father and befriends the workers at a local racetrack for horses. Charley gets a job looking after an aging Quarter Horse named Lean On Pete and bonds with its owner (Steve Buscemi) and jockey (Chloë Sevigny). When the teenager is ordered to bring Pete to the slaughterhouse,...
- 12/7/2017
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
There aren’t very many words spoken in William Oldroyd’s “Lady Macbeth” — most of the communication is done through sex, abuse, and murder — but not a one of them is wasted or forgotten. Indeed, the film’s emblematically terse first exchange looms over the 85 minutes that follow like a dark shadow on a bitter day, and it’s proof that Florence Pugh deserves more attention in this year’s competitive awards season.
It’s Katherine’s (Pugh) wedding night, and the 17-year-old bride is being dressed for her deflowering. Her new husband’s chambermaid does the honors, Anna (Naomi Ackie), slipping the girl into her nightgown. “Are you cold?” Anna asks, a valid question on a brutal winter night in the North of England circa 1865. “No,” Katherine responds. “Nervous?” “No.” She looks into Anna’s eyes, either searching the servant’s face to see if she has reason to be nervous,...
It’s Katherine’s (Pugh) wedding night, and the 17-year-old bride is being dressed for her deflowering. Her new husband’s chambermaid does the honors, Anna (Naomi Ackie), slipping the girl into her nightgown. “Are you cold?” Anna asks, a valid question on a brutal winter night in the North of England circa 1865. “No,” Katherine responds. “Nervous?” “No.” She looks into Anna’s eyes, either searching the servant’s face to see if she has reason to be nervous,...
- 12/6/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Is there anybody that can resist the charms of “Lady Bird” this year? Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut has already won honors from the Gotham Awards, the National Board of Review, the New York Film Critics Circle, and more, and now Wendy’s has even named it one of the year’s best films. Now that’s a real honor.
Read More:The 25 Best Movie Moments of 2017, According to IndieWire Critic David Ehrlich
IndieWire’s Eric Kohn decided to pick Wendy’s brain on Twitter by asking which movies the fast food chain loved most this year, and lo and behold “Lady Bird” was the first movie mentioned. Other titles beloved by Wendy’s this year are “The Big Sick,” “Get Out,” “Logan,” and “Blade Runner 2049.” Wendy’s calls the latter “visually stunning,” which means its also a fan of Roger Deakins.
A24 chimed in by asking why Wendy’s loves “Lady Bird,...
Read More:The 25 Best Movie Moments of 2017, According to IndieWire Critic David Ehrlich
IndieWire’s Eric Kohn decided to pick Wendy’s brain on Twitter by asking which movies the fast food chain loved most this year, and lo and behold “Lady Bird” was the first movie mentioned. Other titles beloved by Wendy’s this year are “The Big Sick,” “Get Out,” “Logan,” and “Blade Runner 2049.” Wendy’s calls the latter “visually stunning,” which means its also a fan of Roger Deakins.
A24 chimed in by asking why Wendy’s loves “Lady Bird,...
- 12/6/2017
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Movie lovers anxiously awaiting the review embargo for Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Phantom Thread” to be lifted can breathe a sigh of relief, for the first reactions make it clear the director will be returning to the big screen in top form. The film reunites Anderson with “There Will Be Blood” star Daniel Day-Lewis in the story of a renowned 1950s dressmaker who falls for a strong-willed younger muse.
Read More:Daniel Day-Lewis Breaks Silence on Retiring From Acting: ‘I Have Great Sadness’
Film critics aren’t allowed to publish reviews until December 7, but they have been able to talk about “Phantom Thread” in other contexts. Numerous film critics have already named “Phantom Thread” one of the best films of 2017, including IndieWire’s own Eric Kohn and David Ehlrich. The film been appeared on Top 10 lists from Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Vulture, Vogue, and more. Here’s...
Read More:Daniel Day-Lewis Breaks Silence on Retiring From Acting: ‘I Have Great Sadness’
Film critics aren’t allowed to publish reviews until December 7, but they have been able to talk about “Phantom Thread” in other contexts. Numerous film critics have already named “Phantom Thread” one of the best films of 2017, including IndieWire’s own Eric Kohn and David Ehlrich. The film been appeared on Top 10 lists from Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Vulture, Vogue, and more. Here’s...
- 12/6/2017
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
What’s it going to take for “The Lego Batman Movie” to redeem the franchise with an Oscar nomination after “The Lego Movie” was snubbed in 2015? The movie will need to get more respect for its brick animation style, inside-out take on the Caped Crusader, and self-reflexive wit.
Of course, it didn’t help that the Annie voters left “The Lego Batman Movie” off its list of best animated feature nominations on Monday, but there’s still time to coax the Academy into an Oscar nomination. IndieWire critic David Ehrlich passionately argued his case, but nobody gets more animated about “Lego Batman” than director Chris McKay.
What Lego Does Best
“We look for things that other movies can’t do,” McKay said. “That’s our job in making a Lego movie. What story can you only tell with this medium? And I wanted to do an emotional story about Batman...
Of course, it didn’t help that the Annie voters left “The Lego Batman Movie” off its list of best animated feature nominations on Monday, but there’s still time to coax the Academy into an Oscar nomination. IndieWire critic David Ehrlich passionately argued his case, but nobody gets more animated about “Lego Batman” than director Chris McKay.
What Lego Does Best
“We look for things that other movies can’t do,” McKay said. “That’s our job in making a Lego movie. What story can you only tell with this medium? And I wanted to do an emotional story about Batman...
- 12/5/2017
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Television is a medium known for its personal connections and incomparable scope. The same set of characters can tell stories for decades, visiting your home upwards of 20 times per year for so many years they feel like family members. Daunting at the onset and comforting in the long-run, the best TV shows are the ones that stick with you because you stuck with them.
As more and more programming floods the airwaves, competition is rising. Seasons don’t have as many episodes. Shows don’t run for as many years. Greetings are savored because goodbyes are often just around the corner — or, at least, they feel like it.
So it should come as no surprise that time plays an integral role in the best television series of 2017. From the exciting new friends found in “American Vandal,” “Dear White People,” and “The Handmaid’s Tale,” to the beloved vanishing faces in “Halt and Catch Fire,...
As more and more programming floods the airwaves, competition is rising. Seasons don’t have as many episodes. Shows don’t run for as many years. Greetings are savored because goodbyes are often just around the corner — or, at least, they feel like it.
So it should come as no surprise that time plays an integral role in the best television series of 2017. From the exciting new friends found in “American Vandal,” “Dear White People,” and “The Handmaid’s Tale,” to the beloved vanishing faces in “Halt and Catch Fire,...
- 12/5/2017
- by Ben Travers, Liz Shannon Miller, Hanh Nguyen and Steve Greene
- Indiewire
One of the most unexpected projects was reported this week, as news broke that Quentin Tarantino had conceived of an idea for a “Star Trek” movie that impressed Hollywood heavyweight J.J. Abrams. Tarantino is allegedly sharing the idea with a group of writers and may direct the project. Considering the filmmaker’s long-standing independence from the studio system and especially franchises, IndieWire’s staff debated the prospects of this sudden mid-career twist.
Eric Kohn: No major American filmmaker has flaunted his autonomy from the Hollywood system more than Quentin Tarantino, whose characters speak and whose movies move in ways that are forever connected to his name. So the idea of Tarantino — who flirted with studio projects early in his success before paving his own path — could have anything to do with a “Star Trek” movie is a bit baffling. Although I love the idea of a Qt/Jj combo, the suggestion that Tarantino’s energetic,...
Eric Kohn: No major American filmmaker has flaunted his autonomy from the Hollywood system more than Quentin Tarantino, whose characters speak and whose movies move in ways that are forever connected to his name. So the idea of Tarantino — who flirted with studio projects early in his success before paving his own path — could have anything to do with a “Star Trek” movie is a bit baffling. Although I love the idea of a Qt/Jj combo, the suggestion that Tarantino’s energetic,...
- 12/5/2017
- by Eric Kohn, Kate Erbland, Anne Thompson, David Ehrlich and Liz Shannon Miller
- Indiewire
The end of the year is upon us, which means all of the film geeks are going to start releasing their lists of what they feel are the best films of 2017. Today we have a video countdown from film critic David Ehrlich. The video consists of 25 films that he thinks are the best of the year. This is just his opinion and I'm sure you will agree with some of his choices and disagree with some them. That's just the life of a film geek. We all have our own tastes and opinions. For Example, there's no way I'd put a lot of these on my list. But, there are a few movies in this video that overlap with my own list that I'm currently putting together. Watch the video below and let us know you you think of the list.
- 12/5/2017
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Here are a bunch of little bites to satisfy your hunger for movie culture: End of Year Countdown of the Day: It's the time for best-of-the-year countdowns, including this annual treat from IndieWire critic David Ehrlich: End of Year Supercut of the Day: There's no ranking in this video, but Sleepy Skunk's annual movie trailer mashup is a terrific overview of 2017 in film: Trailer Remake of the Day: The trailer for Avengers: Infinity War has been redone with cartoon footage again, this time by Smart Aleck Comedy: Documentary Parody of the Day: Nerdist sends up the great new documentary Jim & Andy and reimagines it being about Jim Carrey's performance in How the Grinch Stole...
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- 12/5/2017
- by Christopher Campbell
- Movies.com
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?”, can be found at the end of this post.)
This week’s question: What is the most overlooked and/or underrated movie of 2017?
E. Oliver Whitney, Screencrush.com, @cinemabite
Despite the critical praise, “A Fantastic Woman” only a one-week qualifying run last month, and I worry is it’ll easily be forgotten this awards season. Daniela Vega gives one of the most astounding performances I’ve seen this year, one that comes from somewhere fierce and internal, portraying the life and struggle of a trans woman that cinema has rarely shown an interest in exploring. But since you can’t see it until it has a proper release in Febraury, do check one of the year’s other...
This week’s question: What is the most overlooked and/or underrated movie of 2017?
E. Oliver Whitney, Screencrush.com, @cinemabite
Despite the critical praise, “A Fantastic Woman” only a one-week qualifying run last month, and I worry is it’ll easily be forgotten this awards season. Daniela Vega gives one of the most astounding performances I’ve seen this year, one that comes from somewhere fierce and internal, portraying the life and struggle of a trans woman that cinema has rarely shown an interest in exploring. But since you can’t see it until it has a proper release in Febraury, do check one of the year’s other...
- 12/4/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Every year, film critic David Ehrlich edits a video counting down his 25 favorite movies of the year. And every year, it manages to actually feel like one of the best movies of the year. Crafted with more care and precision that many movies actually released in theaters over the past 12 months, this video […]
The post This is Probably the Only Top 25 Movies of 2017 Video You’ll Need appeared first on /Film.
The post This is Probably the Only Top 25 Movies of 2017 Video You’ll Need appeared first on /Film.
- 12/4/2017
- by Jacob Hall
- Slash Film
Critic David Ehrlich’s 25 Best Films of 2017 supercut, dropped today, is an expected pleasure. Through the luxuriousness of its 12-and-a-half minutes, it produces, as it always does, the affect of, “Hey, this was a decent year for movies!” There a quite a few personal favorites on his list — Personal Shopper, Phantom Shopper, Good Time, A Ghost Story, to name a few — as well as a spirited soundtrack flecked with a number of ’70s and ’80s pop hits and disco anthems. Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” is the bold opener, and particularly amazing needle drops include Chaka Kahn’s “I’m […]...
- 12/4/2017
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
It's here! Time to start figuring out which films are the best of the year, so get watching. One of the annual must-see best of the year lists is actually a video countdown made by my colleague David Ehrlich (follow him @davidehrlich). He counts down his 25 best films of the year in a video edited together with footage and music from each of the films. This is such an entertaining way to count down the best cinema of 2017, and it always makes me want to watch each one of these (even the ones I've seen already). Ehrlich pretty much nailed it this year - Call Me By Your Name is my #1 as well, and his Top 10 is almost perfect. Dive in. Embedded directly from Vimeo. Description: "A video countdown of the best films of 2017." Created by film critic/writer David Ehrlich (follow him on Twitter @davidehrlich). His pick of the...
- 12/4/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
One of our favorite cinema-related treats as we head into a month of compiling the best of 2017 in a variety of categories is a yearly video countdown from David Ehrlich. The IndieWire Senior Film Critic’s selection of 25 of his favorites is always an eclectic bunch, ranging from blockbusters to acclaimed arthouse features to a handful of movies that deserve a boost in this year-end conversation.
As was the case in previous years, it’s a moving, impeccably edited, and wildly entertaining celebration of the best cinema had to offer in 2017. With a good amount of the films currently available to stream, there’s something to discover for everyone. We won’t spoil any of the selections here — however, if you want to skip out on any footage from a highly-anticipated movie arriving on Christmas Day, be ready to skip over about 20 seconds starting at 7:53.
Featuring a number of...
As was the case in previous years, it’s a moving, impeccably edited, and wildly entertaining celebration of the best cinema had to offer in 2017. With a good amount of the films currently available to stream, there’s something to discover for everyone. We won’t spoil any of the selections here — however, if you want to skip out on any footage from a highly-anticipated movie arriving on Christmas Day, be ready to skip over about 20 seconds starting at 7:53.
Featuring a number of...
- 12/4/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The 21st century is less than two decades old, but its first batch of Best Picture winners already paint an extraordinary portrait of a world in flux. From a massive historical epic to an intimate digital indies — from a musical that riffs on showbiz standards to period drama that reflects on present crises — these 17 films range from “problematic” to “perfect” and hit all points in between. More than that, they illustrate Hollywood’s evolving definition of greatness, and the relationship between the film industry and the times that forge it.
Read More:2018 Oscar Predictions
Here are the 17 Best Picture winners of the 21st century, ranked from worst to best.
17. “Crash”
“Brokeback Mountain” deserved better, but the Academy didn’t know it. Paul Haggis’ painfully obvious ensemble drama about racial prejudices in Los Angeles was a smug, one-note drama designed to make white liberals feel good about themselves. (It took a...
Read More:2018 Oscar Predictions
Here are the 17 Best Picture winners of the 21st century, ranked from worst to best.
17. “Crash”
“Brokeback Mountain” deserved better, but the Academy didn’t know it. Paul Haggis’ painfully obvious ensemble drama about racial prejudices in Los Angeles was a smug, one-note drama designed to make white liberals feel good about themselves. (It took a...
- 12/1/2017
- by David Ehrlich and Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer are racking up accolades and early awards for playing lovers in “Call Me by Your Name,” but director Luca Guadagnino insists he didn’t cast them as a a pair or because he sensed they would work well together.
“I felt that if I loved them and wanted them, they were going to want and love one another,” said Guadagnino when he was a guest on IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. “It was a bet, but you always have to make a bet. Filmmakers are all charlatans, you have to pretend you know what you are doing and you have to pretend that you are doing something very deep, but sometimes you are just improvising.”
Guadagnino also did not spend much time rehearsing with the two actors beforehand. Shooting the film largely in chronological order, the director said he and his leads just “figured it...
“I felt that if I loved them and wanted them, they were going to want and love one another,” said Guadagnino when he was a guest on IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. “It was a bet, but you always have to make a bet. Filmmakers are all charlatans, you have to pretend you know what you are doing and you have to pretend that you are doing something very deep, but sometimes you are just improvising.”
Guadagnino also did not spend much time rehearsing with the two actors beforehand. Shooting the film largely in chronological order, the director said he and his leads just “figured it...
- 12/1/2017
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
As is their tradition, this morning the New York Film Critics Circle will announce its annual awards live on Twitter. The first week of awards season has already seen “Get Out” and “Call Me by Your Name” top the Gotham Awards and “The Post” take top honors with the National Board of Review, and today all eyes turn to the Nyfcc to see which movies and performances will get an added boost as we get closer to the bigger shows. The group is meeting right now and will announce their honorees throughout the day, from Best Film to acting categories and more.
Read More:New York Film Critics Circle Sets Late November Voting Date, Kicking Off Awards Season
Founded in 1935, the New York Film Critics Circle is the oldest and most prestigious in the country. The circle’s membership includes critics from daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, and the web’s most respected online publications,...
Read More:New York Film Critics Circle Sets Late November Voting Date, Kicking Off Awards Season
Founded in 1935, the New York Film Critics Circle is the oldest and most prestigious in the country. The circle’s membership includes critics from daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, and the web’s most respected online publications,...
- 11/30/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
While we will have to wait until December 6 to see what critics think of Steven Spielberg’s “The Post,” the first online reactions have started to trickle in about the fact-based film starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. Early viewers praise the film about the Washington Post’s handling of the Pentagon Papers in the 1970s, especially Streep’s performance, which many have called “stunning,” “astounding” and her “best performance in years.” “The Post rules. The best Spielberg movie since Munich,” IndieWire’s David Ehrlich tweeted. “Meryl Streep is almost *Holly Hunter in Broadcast News good* in this movie.
- 11/28/2017
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Steven Spielberg’s “The Post” is one of the last remaining Oscar contenders set to debut at the end of the year, and early reactions suggest the Pentagon Papers drama is going to be a major awards juggernaut. While we’ll have to wait a few more days for the review embargo to lift, critics who have seen the film have begun sharing their thoughts on social media and the first reactions are mostly glowing, especially in regards to Meryl Streep’s performance.
Read More:Steven Spielberg’s Pentagon Papers Drama ‘The Post’ Earns Standing Ovation After First Screening
“The Post” centers around the unlikely partnership between The Washington Post’s Katharine Graham (Streep), the first female publisher of a major American newspaper, and editor Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks), as they race to publish to the Pentagon Papers and reveal the truth about America’s involvement in Vietnam. The movie...
Read More:Steven Spielberg’s Pentagon Papers Drama ‘The Post’ Earns Standing Ovation After First Screening
“The Post” centers around the unlikely partnership between The Washington Post’s Katharine Graham (Streep), the first female publisher of a major American newspaper, and editor Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks), as they race to publish to the Pentagon Papers and reveal the truth about America’s involvement in Vietnam. The movie...
- 11/28/2017
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
And we’re off to the races! The Independent Filmmaker Project (Ifp) officially kicked off the 2017-18 awards season with this evening’s 27th Annual Gotham Awards, which took place at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City and were hosted by John Cameron Mitchell.
Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” proved to be the night’s biggest winner, with three wins, including Best Screenplay, the Audience Award, and Breakthrough Director. Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me by Your Name” proved victorious in the Best Feature category, winning out against a stacked list of competitors. Earlier in the night, star Timothee Chalamet won the Breakthrough Actor award for his star-making turn in the romance.
The ceremony’s nomination list was studded with some of the year’s most beloved indies, including “Get Out,” “Call Me by Your Name,” Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird,” Kogonada’s “Columbus,” and Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project.
Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” proved to be the night’s biggest winner, with three wins, including Best Screenplay, the Audience Award, and Breakthrough Director. Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me by Your Name” proved victorious in the Best Feature category, winning out against a stacked list of competitors. Earlier in the night, star Timothee Chalamet won the Breakthrough Actor award for his star-making turn in the romance.
The ceremony’s nomination list was studded with some of the year’s most beloved indies, including “Get Out,” “Call Me by Your Name,” Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird,” Kogonada’s “Columbus,” and Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project.
- 11/28/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The long road to Oscar (and Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards and the list goes on and on) officially kicks off tonight with the 2017 Gotham Independent Film Awards, presented by Independent Filmmaker Project (Ifp). While not always the biggest prognosticator of Oscar success, the annual Gotham Awards have become one of the season’s best places for indie films to get an added boost of exposure on the awards circuit.
Look no further than this year’s nominations list, which includes some of the year’s most beloved indie breakouts, including Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird,” Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me by Your Name,” Kogonada’s “Columbus,” and Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project.” Will they go all the way? Before that, they’ll likely have some fun at this year’s Gothams.
Read More:2017 Gotham Awards Nominations: ‘Get Out’ Leads Pack, ‘Lady Bird...
Look no further than this year’s nominations list, which includes some of the year’s most beloved indie breakouts, including Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird,” Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me by Your Name,” Kogonada’s “Columbus,” and Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project.” Will they go all the way? Before that, they’ll likely have some fun at this year’s Gothams.
Read More:2017 Gotham Awards Nominations: ‘Get Out’ Leads Pack, ‘Lady Bird...
- 11/27/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
“Mudbound” is not a multi-character film in the spirit of director Robert Altman, or 2006 Oscar-winner “Crash.” Instead of being a sprawling tapestry, the intertwined stories of two very different farming families (one black, one white) unfolds into one increasingly cohesive narrative.
“It’s almost like one story [that is] being handed off and everyone is [unaware] they are having similar conversations with themselves,” said director Dee Rees when she was a guest on IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. “At one point [cinematographer] Rachel [Morrison] was like, ‘When has this ever worked?’ And I was like, ‘I don’t know, but this will be the film where it works.’”
To accomplish this, Rees grounds the audience in the subjectivity of six different protagonists, each with their own internal monologue. It’s something a novel — like Hillary Jordan’s “Mudbound,” which Rees and co-writer Virgil Williams’ adapted — can do effortlessly by accessing the internal thoughts of various characters,...
“It’s almost like one story [that is] being handed off and everyone is [unaware] they are having similar conversations with themselves,” said director Dee Rees when she was a guest on IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. “At one point [cinematographer] Rachel [Morrison] was like, ‘When has this ever worked?’ And I was like, ‘I don’t know, but this will be the film where it works.’”
To accomplish this, Rees grounds the audience in the subjectivity of six different protagonists, each with their own internal monologue. It’s something a novel — like Hillary Jordan’s “Mudbound,” which Rees and co-writer Virgil Williams’ adapted — can do effortlessly by accessing the internal thoughts of various characters,...
- 11/24/2017
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Even Steven Spielberg can’t escape the allure of timely story. Just nine months after getting Liz Hannah’s spec script — and mere days after actually completing the final film — Spielberg’s fast-tracked Pentagon Papers drama “The Post” launched its first screening last night in New York City. The film was greeted with an extended standing ovation, one surely egged on by both admiration for the film and for the big stars on display at a post-screening panel, including Spielberg and his stars Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Bob Odenkirk, and Matthew Rhys.
The film follows Streep as Washington Post publisher Kay Graham and Hanks as editor Ben Bradlee, as the paper and its journalists attempt to declassify the so-called Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam War. It’s an eerily timely story, one about the urgent need for good journalism, what happens when the government attempts to hide its misdeeds, and the ultimate value of truth.
The film follows Streep as Washington Post publisher Kay Graham and Hanks as editor Ben Bradlee, as the paper and its journalists attempt to declassify the so-called Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam War. It’s an eerily timely story, one about the urgent need for good journalism, what happens when the government attempts to hide its misdeeds, and the ultimate value of truth.
- 11/20/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Sean Baker is a filmmaker who puts a premium on making his films feel as authentic as possible. For example, sometimes he will use a handheld camera to follow his characters — who are often played by first-time performers — to give a scene a sense of documentary realism. After “Tangerine” — Baker’s iPhone-shot indie breakout — he started to wonder if image stabilization advances in smartphone cameras was changing what audiences thought “real” footage looked like.
“Audiences see homemade raw footage, but with a stabilizer on,” said Baker when he was guest on IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. “So everybody is shooting their Youtube and Instagram videos and they are all very smooth — so we’re changing the way audiences think about how cameras are held and if shots are stable or not.” This led Baker to consider if he could employ a documentary-style steadicam effectively to his next film, “The Florida Project.
“Audiences see homemade raw footage, but with a stabilizer on,” said Baker when he was guest on IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. “So everybody is shooting their Youtube and Instagram videos and they are all very smooth — so we’re changing the way audiences think about how cameras are held and if shots are stable or not.” This led Baker to consider if he could employ a documentary-style steadicam effectively to his next film, “The Florida Project.
- 11/17/2017
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Lauded Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki has developed something of a knack for taking timely, seemingly wrenching stories of human drama and turning them into timely, weirdly hilarious stories of human drama. His latest, the Berlinale premiere “The Other Side of Hope” — which earned him the Silver Bear for best director at this year’s festival — continues that same unique concept while also shining a bright light on the Syrian refugee crisis.
The film follows the unexpected friendship between asylum seeker Khaled (Sherwan Haji) and beleaguered traveling salesman Wikström (Sakari Kuosmanen) as the pair come to find each other in Helsinki, two defeated men from very different places who are each struggling to fit into a new world.
Read More:‘The Other Side Of Hope’ Review: Aki Kaurismäki Returns With Another Deadpan Delight — Berlinale 2017
Per the film’s official synopsis, “with hilarious sight gags, poker-faced one liners [the film]…weaves together Kaurismäki’s...
The film follows the unexpected friendship between asylum seeker Khaled (Sherwan Haji) and beleaguered traveling salesman Wikström (Sakari Kuosmanen) as the pair come to find each other in Helsinki, two defeated men from very different places who are each struggling to fit into a new world.
Read More:‘The Other Side Of Hope’ Review: Aki Kaurismäki Returns With Another Deadpan Delight — Berlinale 2017
Per the film’s official synopsis, “with hilarious sight gags, poker-faced one liners [the film]…weaves together Kaurismäki’s...
- 11/14/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
As much as we all love a stunning tracking shot or an impeccably stylized thriller, even the most discerning cinephiles have to admit: Sometimes, you just want a good cry. Often it’s the most gut-wrenching movies that remain in our collective cultural memory the longest; “Sophie’s Choice,” “Terms of Endearment,” and “Schindler’s List,” to name just a few. Even in an age when auteur-driven driven sci-fi and superhero franchises reign supreme, Hollywood will always love a good old-fashioned tearjerker. Which is why we thought it necessary to single out some of the saddest movies of the century — so far.
Read More:The 20 Scariest Movie Scenes of the 21st Century
Though it might sound trite, one doesn’t have to give up gorgeous cinematography or a tightly-wound script in order to be moved. Not only do the films on this list find beauty in the most heartbreaking of human experiences,...
Read More:The 20 Scariest Movie Scenes of the 21st Century
Though it might sound trite, one doesn’t have to give up gorgeous cinematography or a tightly-wound script in order to be moved. Not only do the films on this list find beauty in the most heartbreaking of human experiences,...
- 11/10/2017
- by Kate Erbland, Jude Dry, Jamie Righetti, David Ehrlich, Michael Nordine, Jenna Marotta, Chris O'Falt, William Earl and Steve Greene
- Indiewire
In Nazi-occupied France, lauded musician Django Reinhardt — considered by many to be the first “guitar hero” — had two strikes against him: he was a jazz musician and he was a Gypsy. The Nazis loathed both groups, and in 1933, made that hatred part of the fabric of their government, banning banning most jazz (after over a decade of general suppression) and barring Gypsies from living in cities, instead forcing them into settlement camps.
Ten years later, Reinhardt was still able to find success at his art, but his beloved city of Paris was under Nazi control and the walls were starting to close in. That’s where Etienne Comar’s heartbreaking biopic “Django” opens, carrying its eponymous subject through an unbelievable story of survival, one bolstered by a love of art and creativity that no fascist regime could snuff out. The film opened the Berlin Film Festival this year, and is...
Ten years later, Reinhardt was still able to find success at his art, but his beloved city of Paris was under Nazi control and the walls were starting to close in. That’s where Etienne Comar’s heartbreaking biopic “Django” opens, carrying its eponymous subject through an unbelievable story of survival, one bolstered by a love of art and creativity that no fascist regime could snuff out. The film opened the Berlin Film Festival this year, and is...
- 11/10/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
‘Hostiles’ Official Trailer: Scott Cooper’s Bloody Western Sends Christian Bale Into the Awards Race
Christian Bale has earned three Oscar nominations and one win over the last seven years, and he could very well add a fourth nomination to his résumé early next year thanks to “Hostiles.” The drama marks Bale’s reunion with “Out of the Furnace” director Scott Cooper and earned strong notices when it debuted at Telluride in September. Many reviews have called Bale’s performance one of his best.
Read More:Review: ‘Hostiles’ Is One of the Most Brutal Westerns Ever Made, but Hardly One of the Best
“Hostiles” is set in 1892 and stars Bale as an Army captain who agrees to help bring a dying Cheyenne war chief and his family back to their tribal lands in the year 1892. The two men are joined by a suicidal widow, played by Rosamund Pike, who is still grieving over the murder of her family by Comanche indians.
IndieWire’s David Ehrlich reviewed...
Read More:Review: ‘Hostiles’ Is One of the Most Brutal Westerns Ever Made, but Hardly One of the Best
“Hostiles” is set in 1892 and stars Bale as an Army captain who agrees to help bring a dying Cheyenne war chief and his family back to their tribal lands in the year 1892. The two men are joined by a suicidal widow, played by Rosamund Pike, who is still grieving over the murder of her family by Comanche indians.
IndieWire’s David Ehrlich reviewed...
- 11/9/2017
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
As Oscar season kicks into full swing, it’s hard to ignore Joe Wright’s Winston Churchill biopic, “Darkest Hour.” The film boasts one of Gary Oldman’s most transformative performances as the inspiring British Prime Minister who united a weary Great Britain towards victory during World War II, and Oldman’s name has been included in plenty of Best Actor Oscars predictions since the film first began rolling out on the festival circuit in recent months.
In his B+ review, IndieWire Senior Film Critic David Ehrlich praises Oldman’s transformation, saying the celebrated actor “makes Joe Wright’s biopic as rousing and ferocious as Winston Churchill was himself.” Wright, who also helmed 2007’s Oscar winner “Atonement,” has delivered yet another must-see period drama that is sure to receive plenty of attention as awards season begins to kick off.
Read More:‘Darkest Hour’ Review: Gary Oldman Makes Joe Wright’s...
In his B+ review, IndieWire Senior Film Critic David Ehrlich praises Oldman’s transformation, saying the celebrated actor “makes Joe Wright’s biopic as rousing and ferocious as Winston Churchill was himself.” Wright, who also helmed 2007’s Oscar winner “Atonement,” has delivered yet another must-see period drama that is sure to receive plenty of attention as awards season begins to kick off.
Read More:‘Darkest Hour’ Review: Gary Oldman Makes Joe Wright’s...
- 11/7/2017
- by Jamie Righetti
- Indiewire
New York City’s annual Doc NYC festival kicks off this week, including a full-to-bursting slate of some of this year’s most remarkable documentaries. If you’ve been looking to beef up on your documentary consumption, Doc NYC is the perfect chance to check out a wide variety of some of the year’s best fact-based features. Ahead, we pick out 14 of our most anticipated films from the fest, including some awards contenders, a handful of buzzy debuts, and a number of festival favorites. Take a look and start filling up your schedule now.
Doc NYC runs November 9 – 16 in New York City.
“EuroTrump”
Donald Trump may seem like a sui generis figure, a one-of-a-kind monster who was forged in a perfect storm of racism, tweets, and chaos, but history suggests that he’s really just a new breed of an old type. You don’t even have to look...
Doc NYC runs November 9 – 16 in New York City.
“EuroTrump”
Donald Trump may seem like a sui generis figure, a one-of-a-kind monster who was forged in a perfect storm of racism, tweets, and chaos, but history suggests that he’s really just a new breed of an old type. You don’t even have to look...
- 11/7/2017
- by Kate Erbland, David Ehrlich, Jude Dry, Anne Thompson, Chris O'Falt, Michael Nordine and Jenna Marotta
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?”, can be found at the end of this post.)
This week’s question: In honor of Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird,” what is the best coming-of-age movie ever made?
Siddhant Adlakha (@SidizenKane), Birth.Movies.Death.
While it may not fit the western paradigm of a traditional coming of age film (neither a high school setting nor teenage angst or confusion find themselves the focus), “Lion” holds the distinction of being a rare modern movie that gets to the root of key questions of dual identity, questions that will only become more prominent in the age of globalism. It’s the most extreme version of having your feet in two cultures; Saroo Brierley (Sunny Pawar, Dev Patel) finds himself...
This week’s question: In honor of Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird,” what is the best coming-of-age movie ever made?
Siddhant Adlakha (@SidizenKane), Birth.Movies.Death.
While it may not fit the western paradigm of a traditional coming of age film (neither a high school setting nor teenage angst or confusion find themselves the focus), “Lion” holds the distinction of being a rare modern movie that gets to the root of key questions of dual identity, questions that will only become more prominent in the age of globalism. It’s the most extreme version of having your feet in two cultures; Saroo Brierley (Sunny Pawar, Dev Patel) finds himself...
- 11/6/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- 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 the realization that Kevin Spacey spun us a bunch of lies, and was actually Keyser Söze the whole time. 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 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...
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...
- 11/3/2017
- by Jamie Righetti, Chris O'Falt, Kate Erbland, Zack Sharf, David Ehrlich, Jenna Marotta, William Earl and Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Every Oscar season needs at least one unpredictable dark horse, and this year “I, Tonya” fits the bill. The movie has earned rave reviews since premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, and while the Best Actress race is more jam-packed than usual, you can’t count out Margot Robbie’s career-best work just yet.
Read More:‘I, Tonya’ Review: Margot Robbie Sticks the Landing in this Sympathetically Bitter Tonya Harding Biopic
“I, Tonya” retells the true story of disgraced ice skater Tonya Harding and her ex-spouse Jeff Gilooly, who infamously hired a man to break the legs of Harding’s biggest competitor, Nancy Kerrigan, at the 1994 National Figure Skating Championship. The act killed Harding’s future in ice skating. Sebastian Stan stars as Gilooly, while Allison Janney plays Harding’s overbearing and cruel mother.
According to IndieWire’s David Ehrlich: “Robbie, for her part, has never been better.
Read More:‘I, Tonya’ Review: Margot Robbie Sticks the Landing in this Sympathetically Bitter Tonya Harding Biopic
“I, Tonya” retells the true story of disgraced ice skater Tonya Harding and her ex-spouse Jeff Gilooly, who infamously hired a man to break the legs of Harding’s biggest competitor, Nancy Kerrigan, at the 1994 National Figure Skating Championship. The act killed Harding’s future in ice skating. Sebastian Stan stars as Gilooly, while Allison Janney plays Harding’s overbearing and cruel mother.
According to IndieWire’s David Ehrlich: “Robbie, for her part, has never been better.
- 11/1/2017
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?”, can be found at the end of this post.)
This week’s question: What filmmaker would you most like to see try their hand at a horror movie?
Kristy Puchko (@KristyPuchko), Pajiba/Riot Material
I struggled with this question, because a lot of the directors I have adored have worked in horror, be it Tim Burton (“Beetlejuice,” “Edward Scissorhands”), Robert Zemeckis (“Death Becomes Her”), Edgar Wright (“Shawn of the Dead”), Frank Oz (“Little Shop of Horror”), Guillermo del Toro (“Crimson Peak”), Bong-Joon Ho (“The Host”), Jim Jarmusch (“Only Lovers Left Alive”), or Taika Waititi (“What We Do In the Shadows”). Part of what I love about the genre is the way is can be reshaped with vision, color,...
This week’s question: What filmmaker would you most like to see try their hand at a horror movie?
Kristy Puchko (@KristyPuchko), Pajiba/Riot Material
I struggled with this question, because a lot of the directors I have adored have worked in horror, be it Tim Burton (“Beetlejuice,” “Edward Scissorhands”), Robert Zemeckis (“Death Becomes Her”), Edgar Wright (“Shawn of the Dead”), Frank Oz (“Little Shop of Horror”), Guillermo del Toro (“Crimson Peak”), Bong-Joon Ho (“The Host”), Jim Jarmusch (“Only Lovers Left Alive”), or Taika Waititi (“What We Do In the Shadows”). Part of what I love about the genre is the way is can be reshaped with vision, color,...
- 10/30/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
The New York Film Critics has announced that they’ve invited 8 new members to their roster. For a total count of 42. The new members are The Ringer’s Kameron Austin Collins,...
- 10/27/2017
- by Sasha Stone
- AwardsDaily.com
The New York Film Critics Circle announced today that 8 new members will join the group, bringing the total number of members to 42, the largest membership since the group was founded in 1935. The new members include The Ringer’s Kameron Austin Collins, IndieWire’s own David Ehrlich, The National Catholic Register’s Steven Greydanus, BBC’s Caryn James, Film Comment’s Violet Lucca, RogerEbert.com’s Sheila O’Malley, The Atlantic’s David Sims and Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson. Additionally, the group formally voted in Alison Willmore from Buzzfeed as their Vice Chair.
“We are thrilled to welcome so many strong voices from a variety of publications into the group this year,” said Nyfcc Chair Eric Kohn of IndieWire. “Our group is now at its largest number in history, illustrating the ongoing vitality of film criticism in New York and the range of voices keeping it relevant. While we plan to...
“We are thrilled to welcome so many strong voices from a variety of publications into the group this year,” said Nyfcc Chair Eric Kohn of IndieWire. “Our group is now at its largest number in history, illustrating the ongoing vitality of film criticism in New York and the range of voices keeping it relevant. While we plan to...
- 10/27/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Get ready! Acclaimed filmmaker Don Hertzfeldt is returning this year with another of his one-of-a-kind animated shorts called World of Tomorrow Episode Two (in full World of Tomorrow Episode Two: Burden of Other People's Thoughts), the sequel to his highly successful World of Tomorrow from a few years ago. If you've never seen it, stop what you are doing and watch World of Tomorrow right now - it's a brilliant "sci-fi" story based around the ramblings of Hertzfeldt's five-year-old niece. This sequel once again uses recordings of his niece to tell the follow-up story of Emily, who is swept into the brain of an incomplete backup clone of her future self, on a mission to reboot her broken mind. The film premiered at Fantastic Fest to some seriously rave reviews, including a rare A+ from David Ehrlich at Indiewire. I really can't wait to see this, I'm sure it's...
- 10/23/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?”, can be found at the end of this post.)
This week’s question: In honor of “The Killing of a Sacred Deer,” what is Nicole Kidman’s greatest performance?
Vadim Rizov (@VRizov), Filmmaker Magazine
I don’t know about “best” — I haven’t seen an embarrassing chunk of what are considered her most significant roles, and I’m weak on understanding acting — but the performance that sticks most in my mind (quite possibly because I saw it at impressionable high school age) is “Dogville.” Kidman is spookily withdrawn, like an observer alien in a human body dropped into a moral wasteland which she attempts to navigate with understanding and decorum until finally it’s just too much. As in “Birth,...
This week’s question: In honor of “The Killing of a Sacred Deer,” what is Nicole Kidman’s greatest performance?
Vadim Rizov (@VRizov), Filmmaker Magazine
I don’t know about “best” — I haven’t seen an embarrassing chunk of what are considered her most significant roles, and I’m weak on understanding acting — but the performance that sticks most in my mind (quite possibly because I saw it at impressionable high school age) is “Dogville.” Kidman is spookily withdrawn, like an observer alien in a human body dropped into a moral wasteland which she attempts to navigate with understanding and decorum until finally it’s just too much. As in “Birth,...
- 10/23/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Back in June 2016, we asked our film critic David Ehrlich to name the 10 best movies of the 21st century so far. Coming in at #7 was Don Hertzfeldt’s “World of Tomorrow,” an animated short film about a young girl and her older clone on a journey through the girl’s memory. The existential story may only last 17 minutes, but Hertzfeldt’s ideas stay with you pretty much forever. The animator announced a surprise sequel in August, and now we officially have the first trailer for the movie, entitled “World of Tomorrow Episode Two: The Burden of Other People’s Thoughts.”
Read More:‘World of Tomorrow Episode Two: The Burden of Other People’s Thoughts’ Review: Don Hertzfeldt Does it Again
In his A+ review of the sequel, IndieWire’s David Ehrlich raved. “Blisteringly funny, deeply touching, and endlessly quotable, the second chapter of Don Hertzfeldt’s sci-fi satire makes life a better place…...
Read More:‘World of Tomorrow Episode Two: The Burden of Other People’s Thoughts’ Review: Don Hertzfeldt Does it Again
In his A+ review of the sequel, IndieWire’s David Ehrlich raved. “Blisteringly funny, deeply touching, and endlessly quotable, the second chapter of Don Hertzfeldt’s sci-fi satire makes life a better place…...
- 10/23/2017
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Fear doesn’t need subtitles, but some of the best horror films do. J-horror, the New French Extremity, and other foreign-language scary-movie movements have provided much in the way of terrified shrieks and heightened pulses. Although dialogue may get lost in translation, blood-curdling screams never do. Horror is an especially visual genre, and one of the most universal.
The world is dark and full of terrors, especially where the movies on this list are concerned. Here are our favorite foreign language horror flicks made since the year 2000.
20. “We Are What We Are” (2010)
Horror filmmakers ruthlessly mine for metaphor, often at the expense of credibility. The tricky balance in the Mexican cannibal drama “We Are What We Are” (“Somos lo que hay”) pairs a conventional family unit with the ludicrously grotesque to chilling and absurd effect. Writer-director Jorge Michel Grau’s feature debut has the goriest signifier for underclass strife this...
The world is dark and full of terrors, especially where the movies on this list are concerned. Here are our favorite foreign language horror flicks made since the year 2000.
20. “We Are What We Are” (2010)
Horror filmmakers ruthlessly mine for metaphor, often at the expense of credibility. The tricky balance in the Mexican cannibal drama “We Are What We Are” (“Somos lo que hay”) pairs a conventional family unit with the ludicrously grotesque to chilling and absurd effect. Writer-director Jorge Michel Grau’s feature debut has the goriest signifier for underclass strife this...
- 10/20/2017
- by Michael Nordine, Chris O'Falt, Eric Kohn, Jamie Righetti, William Earl, Zack Sharf, Anne Thompson, Kate Erbland and David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
“America: They want someone to love, but they want someone to hate.” So opens our first look (and listen) at Margot Robbie in character as disgraced ex-figure skating champion Tonya Harding, introducing us via gravelly voiceover to the pitch-black wonder that is Craig Gillespie’s “I, Tonya.” The film’s first trailer appropriately sells Harding’s status as an outsider — and Robbie’s uncanny ability to slip inside the mind of one of America’s most misunderstood villains — plus its delightfully off-kilter tone.
While the film inevitably leads up to the Nancy Kerrigan knee-smashing that forever marred Harding’s legacy, but “I, Tonya” is also a “Rashomon”-influenced biopic that digs deep to find the truth about Harding and her life, painful as it so often was. “I, Tonya” also stars Allison Janney as Harding’s unhinged mother Lavona Golden and Sebastian Stan as her punchline-ready ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, along...
While the film inevitably leads up to the Nancy Kerrigan knee-smashing that forever marred Harding’s legacy, but “I, Tonya” is also a “Rashomon”-influenced biopic that digs deep to find the truth about Harding and her life, painful as it so often was. “I, Tonya” also stars Allison Janney as Harding’s unhinged mother Lavona Golden and Sebastian Stan as her punchline-ready ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, along...
- 10/19/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Consider awards season officially started. The Independent Filmmaker Project (Ifp), the nation’s premier member organization of independent storytellers, has announced the nominees for its 27th Annual Ifp Gotham Awards. For 2017, ten competitive awards will be presented to independent features and series.
This year’s nominees are lead by Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” which pulled in four nominations (including Best Feature, Breakthrough Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor), but the breakout debut is trailed by four other hot contenders, each with three nominations to their name. Those include Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird,” Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me by Your Name,” Kogonada’s “Columbus,” and Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project.”
The Gothams also heaped nomination glory on other films that are expected to contend this season, including Craig Gillespie’ “I, Tonya,” the Safdie brothers’ “Good Time,” and Dee Rees’ “Mudbound,” which will be receiving a special ensemble awards.
This year’s nominees are lead by Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” which pulled in four nominations (including Best Feature, Breakthrough Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor), but the breakout debut is trailed by four other hot contenders, each with three nominations to their name. Those include Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird,” Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me by Your Name,” Kogonada’s “Columbus,” and Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project.”
The Gothams also heaped nomination glory on other films that are expected to contend this season, including Craig Gillespie’ “I, Tonya,” the Safdie brothers’ “Good Time,” and Dee Rees’ “Mudbound,” which will be receiving a special ensemble awards.
- 10/19/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
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