We all know that Bryan Singer caused total chaos during production of “Bohemian Rhapsody,’” to the point where, on some days, he would just not show up on-set at all. At some point, Fox higher-ups had enough of his erratic behavior and demanded that Singer be fired from ‘Bohemian’. Replacing him was Dexter Fletcher, who is the director of the upcoming Elton John biopic “Rocket Man.” Supposedly there wasn’t much left to shoot (around weeks), but Fletcher came in to complete the film at the behest of old pal Rami Malek would seems to have pleaded to Fletcher to come and save the movie.
Read more‘I am Mother’: Hilary Swank's Wonky Sci-Fi Robot Movie
I did not review “I am Mother” when I saw its premiere at this past January’s Sundance Film Festival. Mostly because it doesn’t bring anything new to the genre. We already know that if you’re making a sci-fi about artificial intelligence then you most likely will have to deal with the, ahem, downside in accepting robots as “one of us.”
Read moreElton John Biopic ‘Rocketman' Officially Rated R
On Box-Office-Mojo’s MPAA Ratings update we finally have official confirmation that Dexter Fletcher’s “Rocketman” will indeed be rated R. The official guideline reads as follows, “Rocketman” is Rated R For language throughout, some drug use and sexual content.”
Read moreWoody Allen's ‘Rainy Day In New York' Venice-Bound? Italy, Germany and Spain announce release dates.
Good news came on Sunday, courtesy of Italy’s Lucky Red. The Italian outlet reported that Woody Allen’s currently-in-limbo “Rainy Day in New York” was confirmed for an October 3rd Italian release date. This instantly led to speculation about a potential Venice Film Festival bow in September.
Read more‘John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum' Barely Shakes Off the Sense of Deja Vu [Review]
At the end of “John Wick: Chapter 2,” hired-assassin, John Wick (Keanu Reeves), shoots an annoyingly smug assassin on the consecrated grounds of the Continental Hotel — a no-no. Wick is declared Ex-Communicado, or rogue, which results in every assassin in the world chasing him.
Read moreJames Cameron Congratulates ‘Avengers: Endgame' on Surpassing Titanic
‘The Lodge' Trailer: Arthouse Horror Done Right.
Arthouse horror is on a tear right now, and it’s no secret. One of the most inspiring movements in American cinema right now, modern classics like “Hereditary,” “Get Out,” “The Witch,” “It Follows,” et al. have reinvigorated a genre blunted by the cheap slasher films of the ’80s and ’90s and sparked something of a movement, thoughtful, emotionally bruising and sometimes glacially paced horror. Who knows, look back in 10 years, and cinema historians may find an even deeper correlation that we can see to our toxic, uncertain times, and this cinema of unease and collective trauma.
Read moreWhy Europe Is Releasing Woody Allen's ‘A Rainy Day In New York' But the U.S. Refuses To
It needs to be stated that what is happening right now in America is a unique and very interesting time filled with a bombardment of social movements, civil liberty discussions and other such things that seem to now be part of a powerful social media, most especially Twitter.
Read moreWatch Out for ‘The Farewell' and Oscar ...
Disney Moves ‘Avatar’ Sequels, Announces New ‘Star Wars’ Films
“Avatar,” was a major cultural shapeshifter when it was released 9 years ago. It also turned out to be the last James Cameron film to hit screens. He’s been working on those damn sequels ever since — more precisely, four of them. We did, however, wonder if any changes would be made with the, now, Disney/Fox merger coming into full fruition.
Read moreBret Easton Ellis Claims ‘Moonlight' Is Overrated, ‘Green Book' is Underrated.
"Moonlight" is a technically better and more artfully impressive movie that "Green Book". However, I just think the final 20, or so, minutes of it are incredibly pretentious. The first two stories were perfect in every way, shape and form -- there was none of the preachy and didactic nature of the last third.
Read more‘Detective Pikachu' Is Strictly For Die-Hard Pokemon Fans [Review]
I don’t really want to waste too much ink on Rob Letterman’s “Detectve Pikachu.” It does adhere to diehards of Pokemon, despite the comedic voicework of Ryan Reynolds as the titular private eye.
Read moreNo Press Screenings For Joe Carnahan's ‘El Chicano'
I wouldn’t mind seeing Joe Carnahan’s “El Chicano,” despite its 38% Rotten score. I’ve always found Carnahan to be a decent pulp-influenced director -- In fact, he's been amassing quite an amount of fans these last few years. Good on him; His style is strongly influenced by both Tarantino and Michael Bay, but he still manages to bring out his own voice to the mix. He’s almost like a 21st century version of Peckinpah but injected with a mass amount of steroids. The Peckinpah similarities do get enhanced once you learn that Carnahan also describes himself as a " functioning alcoholic." His debut feature “Narc,” starring Ray Liotta and Jason Patric, is still his best movie, followed closely by the Liam Neeson wolf movie “The Grey.” I wouldn’t put anything else he’s done in a category with those, but there are minor merits to be had in Carnahan-directed movies as “Smokin’ Aces” “Stretch,” and “The A-Team.”
Read moreSome Are Not Happy That Alain Delon Is Receiving An Honorary Palme D'or at Cannes
So what can actually happen in the case of Alain Delon and Cannes honoring the legendary French actor in two weeks? Absolutely nothing. But, of course, there is resentment, among a fringe in the U.S, that Delon, who is 83, does not deserve to receive an honorary Palme d’Or at the forthcoming edition of the Festival.
Read moreA New Jane Campion Movie Starring Elizabeth Moss and Benedict Cumberbatch? Sign Me Up.
Legendary writer-director Jane Campion hasn’t directed a movie since 2009’s “Bright Star,” since then, she’s mostly dabbled in creating the TV series “Top of the Lake,” which was quite wonderful, but didn’t come close to the landmarks Campion had created over her illustrious 25 year career. Those landmarks are, as far as I’m concerned, “The Piano,” “Sweetie,” and “An Angel at My Table.” I also have great respect for “The Portrait of A Lady,” and the now, thanks to gender studies classes in film schools nationwide , feminist classic, “In the Cut” (a wildly uneven B-movie that is as fascinating as it is messy and frustrating).
Read moreRaimi's ‘Spider-Man 2' Is Still the Best Spidey Movie Ever Made
“Spider-Man: Far From Home” will be the 7th Spider-Man film we’ve gotten since 2002’s “Spider-Man.” ‘Far From Home’ is set to swing into theaters on July 5, 2019. It will be another MCU mega-hit, no doubt about it. I’ve had more than enough with these constant rebootings of “Spider-Man,” it does seem that Tom Holland is here to stay, he embodies Peter Parker in ways Andrew Garfield just couldn’t, but my excitement for a new Spider-Man movie has been on a downward spiral ever since I heard Raimi was gone and it was being rebooted, before this new reboot with Holland.
And yet, “Spider-Man 2" is still, far and away, the best webslinger movie ever. It may also be the most perfect superhero movie ever made - Its director Raimi was the guy that came closest to pouring Stan Lee's brains onto the screen.
Read moreJames Gray and Brad Pitt’s ‘Ad Astra’ Not Opening May 24 — Delayed Yet Again
What exactly is going on with James Gray’s “Ad Astra”?
Read moreScott Z Burns' ‘The Report' Will Be Released On September 20, 2019.
It does look like Scott Z. Burns’ “The Report” will be released by Amazon on September 20th, 2019 [Source]. That is most definitely not a very Oscar-friendly release date, to say the least. The movie was slightly overpraised back in January at Sundance, but I was a fan, by saying it was “a brutal and unforgiving journey into the deepest pits of governmental corruption.” Knowing what’s going on right now with the FBI/CIA abuses being uncovered, I would think this is a fairly relevant movie to watch, especially a few months from now …
It does look like the September release date will mostly just coincide with TIFF, and then be swept away into oblivion in the chaotic fervor of ensuing Oscar season months, but “The Report” could still make a mark, it’s as relevant as any movie likely to be released this year.
I wrote this on AW earlier this weekend:
It started off very slow but the second half is strong. It's not worthy of any awards, but it works, for the most part. Driver is excellent. Ditto Benning as Feinstein. The villain of the whole thing is Obama's former CIA director John Brennan, as played by Ted Levine. It helps that it is very of-the-moment, but I can't see anyone going gaga over this one. It's a very distancing piece of work from Burns, he really goes for ice-cold detachment, which will alienate many.
‘Ask Dr. Ruth’: America’s Most Famous Sex Therapist Gets RBG treatment in Entertaining New Doc [Review]
When we think of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, we think of sex. After all, she brought it to the forefront of the American conversation back in the ‘80s. But after watching Ryan White’s “Ask Dr. Ruth,” the most comprehensive documentary about her life and times, you start to realize it’s the least interesting thing about her.
Read moreBrad Pitt’s Brother Decided to Recreate the Ending of ‘Seven' For Commercial Ad
Mother Brewer’s Company, a Springfield ,Missouri company, which happens to be Brad Pitt’s hometown. They recently had the ingenious, and quite laughable, idea of casting Pitt’s own brother, and fellow Springfield resident, Doug Pitt in a commercial to play, well, Brad Pitt. In it, Doug tries to recreate his own brother’s “what’s in the box?!” freak-out, a scene from Fincher’s iconic “Se7en.” A rather tense moment, which has Pitt’s Detective Mills slowly, but very surely, realizing that his wife is dead and that her dismembered head is in a box riiiight next to him. Suffice to say, Doug, actually holds his own and, at times, shares rather strikingly reminds us of his much-more-famous brother.
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Warner Bros' "Practical Magic 2" is off to a solid start, pulling an estimated $4M in Thursday previews after showtimes kicked off at 2 p.m.