Peter Bogdanovich’s peak streak of films in the 70s happened with 1971’s “The Last Picture Show,” 1972’s “What’s Up Doc,” and 1973’s “Paper Moon.” Ever since then? Nothing worth shouting about, some out and out disasters and a couple of victorious successes such as 1985’s “Mask” starring Cher.
Read moreNetflix, Amazon, Sony Classics, and Focus Features all passed on ‘First Reformed' before A24 picked it up, reveals director Paul Schrader.
“First Reformed” was the second most-listed movie on critics top ten lists last year (357), right behind Roma’s 388 lists. [Via CriticsTop10] That in itself is a miraculous achievement for the Bressonian indie, which premiered at festivals such as Telluride and Toronto back in the fall of 2017 and was only released a year later. It’s a richly detailed, but minimalist film, which features an all-time best performance from unfairly Oscar snubbed Ethan Hawke, and which tried to be a sort of state-of-the-union address, an encapsulation of sorts, for 2018 America.
Read more“Triple Frontier" is A-Grade Action With More Brains Than Brawns [Review]
Former elite soldiers go on an Expendables-like heist thriller in J.C. Chandor’s (“All Is Lost,” “A Most Violent Year”) indelibly exciting and pulse-pounding “Triple Frontier.”
Read moreCannes 2019: Amenabar's Latest Gaining Steam, THR predictions and Netflix Question Still Looms
“Captain Marvel” Struggles to Overcome Its Formulaic Trappings [Review]
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s “Captain Marvel” is very much designed for the Marvel “nerd.” A full-on cosmic orgy dabbled with nostalgia-driven details of the 1990s. This is a time-shifting space story teeming with deception at every turn, and, yet, when it reaches its finale one feels, quite frankly, un-involved by it, hell, even bored.
Read moreTerminator 6 Budget Reportedly at $160-$200 Million
People are underestimating the potential of Tim Miller’s upcoming Terminator movie, a sort of back-to-the-basics approach by producer James Cameron and Miller to bring the franchise back to its glory days (the first two films). Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton are back. What more do you need? Also, don’t, for a second, think Cameron is the mastermind behind the whole film; Yes, Miller is credited as director but you very much need to see this film as a directorial duet. Cameron and Miller are the co-directors.
Read more‘Colorism' Backlash: Critics Saying Will Smith Too Light-Skinned to Play Serena Williams’ Father in Movie
A new film by the title of “King Richard” is now facing allegations of “colorism,” with critics saying that Will Smith, set to play Venus and Serena Williams’ father in the film, doesn’t have a dark-enough skin tone to play Richard Williams.
Read moreChristopher Nolan’s Latest Described As “Romantic Thriller"; ‘North By Northwest’ Meets ‘Inception’
There aren’t many directors that, just by their name associated with a movie, can bring audiences into theaters. There’s Quentin Tarantino, Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Clint Eastwood, and, of course, Christopher Nolan.
Read more‘Midsommar’ Trailer: ‘Hereditary’ Filmmaker Ari Aster Presents A New Nightmare
The new wave of Indie horror that has come forth this decade is nothing short of exhilarating and represents a clear-cut highlight for me in terms of American cinema these last ten years. However, sophomore efforts can be a tricky thing, just look at David Robert Mitchell’s dilemma in following his great “It Follows.”
Read moreReview Tomorrow ...
Peter Jackson's Landmark “They Shall Not Grow Old" [Review]
Peter Jackson’s "They Shall Not Grow Old" uses never-before-seen archival footage of the "great war," which then colorizes and restores them in 3D format. This is an incredibly fascinating project which was originally screened in the U.K. last fall but has only come out this past month in the States. The result is nothing short of a landmark cinematic event.
Read moreMark Hamill on Disney's “Star Wars" Trilogy: They Are Doing A Good Job of Killing the Past
Ah yes, Mr. Mark Hamill is at it yet again. He’s currently promoting his latest project “Knightfall,” but was asked , again, about the bewilderment that was “The Last Jedi,” even 14 months since its release.
Read moreNetflix Responds to Oscar Backlash and Spielberg
Steven Spielberg’s crusade to de-legitimize Netflix has angered plenty, but I can only imagine how Netflix must have reacted to the legendary director’s proposal to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science of banning Netflix from Oscar consideration in the future, unless they adhere to full theatrical release protocols with their films (90 days in theaters).
Read moreOscars 2020: The Contenders
This looks like an atrociously bland year for Hollywood (in terms of Oscar contenders). Tarantino, Scorsese, Soderbergh and then what? Do people seriously think yet another version of "Little Women" (courtesy of Greta Gerwig) will turn out to be an artful surprise? A new film by Kasi Lemmons sounds interesting on paper. Maybe the Safdies can sneak into the race with their Adam Sandler heist picture Uncut Gems,” but they are a little too radical for the Academy’s tastes. Looks like another year where the best movies will be foreign and mostly come from Cannes and Venice (Bong Joon-ho, Almodovar, Dardenne, Larrain, Puiu, Kore-eda, Hansen-Løve). Fine by me. My top ten lists have become more foreign-oriented the last few years, the American studio system is all but dead with Netflix now in charge of mid-budget dramas.
Read more“Green Book" Box Office Surging After Oscar Win, 121.4% Boost From Last Week
It’s been exactly a week since Green Book won the Best Picture Oscar, in addition to Best Original Screenplay and a Best Supporting Actor trophy for Mahershala Ali, and the film is having a resurgence at the box-office.
Read more“Isn't it Romantic?" is the Very Thing it Mocks [Review]
Here’s a movie that mocks the very thing that it is. What starts off as a satirical bit on romcoms, shooting darts at the leading ladies of the genre from the ‘90s, ultimately turns into that very kind of movie. That’s “Isn’t It Romantic” a film which casts Rebel Wilson as its lead, but fails to capture the wooly spirit of the talented 39-year-old Aussie comedian.
Read moreRoseanne Unloads on Christine Blasey Ford and Kamala Harris: “They’re pretending that they didn’t go to trade sexual favors for money. I know a ho when I see one.”
Roseanne Barr’s off-the-rails interview on Candace Owen’s radio show will likely cause a stir. In it she calls the creators of the #MeToo movement “hos” and attacks Sen. Kamala Harris and Christine Blasey Ford.
Read more‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Star Michelle Yeoh: ‘Let’s Not Nominate’ Movies for Awards Based on ‘Gender or Diversity’
Here's an undisputed fact: The studio and independent system is white-male dominated, all of this hoopla that black and female filmmakers deserved to have their fair share of 2018 awards is quite simply overreaching and a form of virtue signaling on the part of film critics. It’s quite simple, really, the odds are heavily stacked for white male directors making the best films of the year.
Read moreJohnny Depp Sues Amber Heard With $50M Defamation Suit
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s ongoing public feud, which has hit the three-year mark this year, has led to Depp finally suing his ex-wife and “Aquaman” actress for $50 million for defamation.
Read moreCannes 2019: Tarantino's “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood" Locked Up; “Ad Astra" Remains a Question Mark.
Cannes 2019 is still two months away but rumors are swirling about the lineup.
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The short version: "Woman Unknown" was a compromise. The jury deadlocked over "Possible Love" and "NAZA," not able to com to terms, fell back on their #3, May el-Toukhy's film.