I’m already dreading having to lineup early for the screening of Robert Eggers’ “The Lighthouse,” which will screen as part of the Directors’ Fortnight section on Sunday. The J.W. Marriott theater will not have a hotter ticket these next 12 days of the festival. Eggers IS the ticket for their program this year, although I’m sure plenty of other surprises await us with this always excellent sidebar section. I will most likely be aiming to arrive to the Marriott in-and-around 7am. God help me. All this despite the film only starting at 8:45. The lineups at the Marriott tend to be chaotic, every badge is equal at Director’s Fortnight screenings, Joe-Schmoe’s blog can easily get in instead of trades such as Variety and THR. Whoever can make it earliest wins the the golden ticket. The sacrifices you make for a 35mm black-and-white arthouse horror movie.
‘The Dead Don't Die' Review: Jim Jarmusch's Zombie Film Feels Unfinished— Cannes
After going for depth and gravity with “Only Lovers Left Alive” and “Paterson,” writer-director Jim Jarmusch stumbles with his latest, the slight zombie comedy “The Dead Don’t Die.”
Read moreCinephile Heaven is Upon Us — Cannes
This is the official press schedule I will adhere to in my 12 days at the Cannes Film Festival. It kicks off today with Jim Jarmusch’s “The Dead Don’t Die.”
Read morePixar Claims No More Sequels After ‘Toy Story 4'
Last summer's "Incredibles 2," came off the heels of some rather disappointing sequels from toon company Pixar. With the exceptions of “Toy Story 2” and “Toy Story 3,” they have had had a lackluster set of continuations delivered to us these last few years. Sure, there were things to like about "Finding Dory," and "Monster University," maybe less so in regards to "Cars 2,” "Cars 3," but they all lacked the overall focus and thematic resonance of their predecessors. In short, none of them needed a sequel. It was all about branding and marketing merchandise. However, when Pixar focuses on non-sequels they usually hit aces, think of their last two "Coco" and "Inside Out," both wondrous adventures that showcased the company's indelible talents as cinematic gift-givers.
I’ve been brandishing the theory that maybe Pixar has finally lost its mojo and sold its soul to the Disney machine, but I was proven wrong today when it was revealed [via THR] that the upcoming “Toy Story 4,” which arrives June 21, will be the last sequel before Pixar starts work, solely, on new, original projects and not sequels, led by new boss Pete Docter.
“He’s really looking out for the new voices and really loading up the development pool,” Producer Mark Nielsen said. “It’s all original films after this one right now.”
It all starts in 2020, with “Onward,” directed by “Monsters University” director Dan Scanlon.
‘Midsommar’ Trailer: ‘Hereditary’ Director Ari Aster’s Summer Spookfest
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. But sophomore efforts can be a tricky thing; just look at David Robert Mitchell’s dilemma in following his great “It Follows.”
Read moreCannes 2019: Alejandro González Iñárritu & Jury Press Conference
CANNES – I won’t get too into the nitty gritty of today’s Cannes Film Festival competition jury press conference. Mostly because there wasn’t much said that needs to be repeated or highlighted here.
There was the usual fawning, this time from Elle Fanning saying she “was shocked and couldn't believe she was chosen to be part of the jury,” even mentioning how it feels cyclical to have Inarritu as the president, considering he cast 7-year-old her as Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett’s daughter in ”Babel.”
Inarritu, on the other hand, said he didn’t feel comfortable being President, considering he was never in charge of anything in his life, not even in his own movie sets or family home.
More interestingly, the director elaborated that “The future of cinema is the way we experience it. To watch is not to see. Both different. Cinema is born to be experienced in community and it is different than watching something on an iPhone.” He went on to praise France, which he said “protects cinema, but we need to see it in the rest of the world.” going on to add and question how many of the films in competition would actually be exhibited in theaters.”
Director Kelly Reinhardt looked forward to the day the press will stop asking "what it feels like to be female filmmaker."
As you can tell, it felt like same old, same old. Now, on with the show.
Movie Theater Traumatizes Children by Accidentally Playing ‘La Llorona’ Instead of ‘Detective Pikachu’
Moviegoers in Montreal attending a “Detective Pikachu” screening on Thursday night stumbled upon an experience they soon won’t forget. A mistake led to “The Curse of La Llorona” being played instead of the Pokemon feature. This, of course, caused terror among the children present.
Ryan George of Screen Rant attended this clusterfuck of a screening: “The theatre I’m in is playing a trailer for Annabelle: Comes Home before Detective Pikachu LOOK AWAY CHILDREN OH NO,” he tweeted. “Andddd kids are crying. Now the Joker trailer is playing.”
Things got worse when the “Child’s Play” trailer was played was next: “NOW IT’S CHUCKY OH NO CHILDREN OH NO.”
The crowd was then moved to another theater (“at least there aren’t any more murders on-screen”).
First Image of James Gandolfini's Son, Michael Gandolfini, As Tony Soprano in HBO's ‘Sopranos’ Prequel Film 'The Many Saints of Newark'
The Sopranos creator David Chase has found his Tony Soprano and it is none other than Michael Gandolfini, son of the late great James Gandolfini, who originally played the part for six seasons on HBO’s The Sopranos.
Read moreThe Problem isn't Cannes, It's the Lack of Born and Bred Female Directors
Cannes head Thierry Fremaux gave us a nice overview of the submissions he got for this year’s festival—according to him, 26% of the feature films submitted were directed by a woman. 19 of the 69 films included in the Official Selection (which means features and shorts) were directed by women, which is 27.5%. That’s it, that’s all, folks.
Box Office: ‘Avengers: Endgame' had its third weekend at #1 with $63M
“Avengers: Endgame” had to put up a real fight at this weekend’s box office. It did manage to beat “Detective Pikachu,” which ended up with an impressive $58M.
Read morePeter Jackson Doesn't Want to Direct a Superhero Movie; Was Offered ‘Aquaman' Twice
In a new interview with Empire, director Peter Jackson claims he isn’t interested in directing a superhero movie and that he’d already been offered the chance to direct “Aquaman.,” but he turned it down. Twice.
“[WB Executive Kevin Tsujihara] said, ‘Are you a fan of Aquaman?’ I said, ‘No.’ Six months later: ‘Peter, are you a fan of Aquaman?’ I said, ’No, Kevin, I already told you this’,” Jackson said. “I’m not a superhero guy. I read ‘Tintin’… Look, films are hard. I only want to make something that I have a deep passion for.”
Pre-Cannes Thoughts; Fremaux Says 50% Female Films Would “Show A Lack Of Respect”
it's always interesting to go through the competition lineup at Cannes, especially if, like me, you've been attending the fest for quite a few years now. The stakes are always high for world cinema whenever this film fest to end all film fests kicks off mid-may. A good chunk of the European film industry counts on Cannes to produce its fair share of successful titles..
Read moreRick Alverson's ‘The Mountain' Is Puzzling
If there ever was an award for “Most WTF Movie of the Year,” then Rick Alverson’s “The Mountain” would surely be a contender.
Read moreAlvin Sargent, Oscar-Winning Screenwriter Dies at 92
Alvin Sargent, a fine example of the 20th Century Hollywood screenwriter. He’s definitely up there with William Goldman Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Paul Schrader, Robert Towne and company.
His writing credits included “Ordinary People,” “Paper Moon,” “Julia”,” Straight Time,” “What About Bob,” and “Spider-Man 2,” one of the greatest superhero movies ever made. He was also the writer of other webslinger-led movies such as “Spider Man 2,” “Spider Man 3,” “Julia,” and “The Amazing Spider Man.”
The “Hollywood" screenwriter” has all but gone extinct in the industry, if anything, moving to television with the likes of Vince Gilligan, Noah Hawley, Aaron Sorkin making an auteur mark on the small tube.
‘A Hidden Life’: New Photos of Terrence Malick’s WWII Drama
I’m headed to Cannes this coming weekend. Yes, there’s the Tarantino, but there also is Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life.” That’s the other BIG American premiere.
Read moreDexter Fletcher Details How He Was Called Up to Replace Bryan Singer and Save ‘Bohemian Rhapsody'
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.
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