This last decade in animation brought a lot of technological advancement. Yes, Studio Ghibli's iconic Hayao Miyazaki entered retirement, only to announce he would soon make a comeback, but animators took over his mantle as lines were stretched out as to what was visually possible, with the use of both traditional and computer-generated techniques. The storytelling, however, was a little less risk-taking, with many of the very best films opting for traditional storylines and narratives. However, if in the past much of animation was designed to appeal to kids, the adults in the room were entertained as well this decade. There was less of a divide in animation appealing to both adults and children alike.
Read moreHBO's ‘Succession' Was the Best TV Show of 2019
The second season of Adam McKay’ HBO series “Succession” was an immaculate display of Shakespearean chutzpah on the part of McKay. It’s not as if the previous season of episodes wasn’t also batshit-crazy-brilliant, but the 10 hours we witnessed this last season played out like a game of chess-playing Gamesmanship (eat your heart out “Game of Thrones.”)
Read moreJohn Travolta Awarded Best Actor at Rome Film Festival for his Performance in ‘The Fanatic'
The Rome Film Festival has decided to honor John Travolta with its Lead Acting Award for his performance in “The Fanatic,” which was directed by Fred Durst, frontman for Limp Bizkit.
Read moreTaika Waititi on Scorsese: “It's the Marvel CINEMA-tic Universe.”
Speaking to the AP, while promoting his new film “Jojo Rabbit,” Taika Waititi was asked for his thoughts on Martin Scorsese’s recent comments about Marvel not being “cinema.” Obviously, Waititi defended Marvel, after all, he is set to direct another “Thor” movie for the MCU. But he doesn’t attack Scorsese, at all. Instead, he just gives the most Waititi-esque response imaginble:
“Of course it’s cinema! It’s at the movies! It’s in cinemas…near you,” said Waititi.
He added, “Marvel CINEMA-tic Universe.”
Robert Eggers’ Next Film Will Be ‘The Northman; Viking Revenge Saga Set in the 10th Century.
After “The Witch” and “The Lighthouse,” we’ll just about follow him anywhere he goes.
Read moreElton John Admits to Not Liking ‘The Lion King’ Remake: ‘The Joy Was Lost’
The Disney remake of “The Lion King” was more of a showcase for VFX/photo-realism than an actually successful remake of a beloved Disney classic. Maybe they should have just left the 1994 movie alone. No, not maybe, actually, they should have really just not touched it. This remake’s director Jon Favreau (The Jungle Book, Iron Man, Chef) was so concentrated on the technological aspects of the film that he forgot about the emotional core and when it came to the Shakespearian-influenced ‘Lion King,’ that was a mistake.
Read moreMartin Scorsese Says Four-Hour Cut of ‘The Wolf of Wall Street' Won't Be Released Because ...
Scorsese was asked about his four-hour cut of “The Wolf of Wall Street,” (Scorsese’s editor Thelma Schoomaker has spoken highly of it), which is the only director’s cut known to exist of any of Scorsese’s movies — although I bet that original cut of “Gangs of New York,” which was shown to a few journalists in 2001 including Hollywood-Elswhere’s Jeffrey Wells, must still be in a vault somewhere.
Read more32 Movies Submitted for Animated Oscar Category
Ony five nomination slots are available for this year’s highly competitive animated feature Oscar category. Today we got word that 32 films have been submitted.
Read more‘I Lost My Body' Is Bold and Inventive French Animation [Nouveau Cinema]
Netflix’s upcoming animated movie “I Lost My Body,” an existential mystery about a severed hand, won the Grand Prize award at the third annual Animation Is Film Festival, held last weekend in Los Angeles.
Read moreDavid Fincher’s ‘Mank’ Will be Entirely Shot in Black and White
David Fincher’s upcoming Netflix drama “Mank,” his first feature since 2014’s “Gone Girl,” will start shooting this November. The film will be shot entirely in black and white
Read more‘Watchmen’ Mini-Series Creator Damon Lindelof Weighs in on Scorsese/Marvel Comments
I absolutely love the ripple effect that Martin Scorsese’s negative comments about the Marvel movie canon has had throughout the industry. To the point where Marvel alum such as James Gunn and Samuel L. Jackson have had to respond with rather personal jabs at Scorsese.
Read more‘Color Out of Space': Richard Stanley’s Lovecraft Adaptation Lets Nicolas Cage Loose [Nouveau Cinema]
Coming off the success of “Mandy,” chameleon-extraordinaire Nicolas Cage has more or less decided to go a similar route with the fantasy/horror thriller “Color Out of Space.”
Read more‘The Lighthouse': Sophomore Effort Proves ‘The Witch' Director Robert Eggers is the Real Deal [Review]
“The Lighthouse” is Robert Eggers’ black-and-white nautical psychodrama. His much-anticipated follow-up to “The Witch” starring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe as men that end up at the mercy of nature.
Read more‘Beanpole’: Cannes-Winning Post-WWII Drama is Both Grueling and Fascinating [Trailer]
The first trailer for the award-winning Cannes film, “Beanpole.”
Read more‘Doctor Sleep’ Clocks in at Over 2 and a Half Hours
“Hush” director Mike Flanagan has issued a warning to moviegoers for his upcoming sequel to “The Shining,” you may want to substitute that large soda you usually order for a smaller size.
Read more‘Bombshell,' Charlize Theron, John Lithgow, Margot Robbie and Jay Roach Join Oscar Race [Trailer]
I have updated my ever-evolving Oscar predictions in the categories of Picture, Actress, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress.
Read more‘Jojo Rabbit’ is Conventional, Lazy and Irresponsible Filmmaking — [Review]
When Roberto Begnini’s “Life is Beautiful” was released back in 1998, many critics were disturbed by how the film trivialized the holocaust via its clownish, joke-making protagonist. However, if that movie managed to irk a few, and I have to mention that there also are plenty of fans of that Oscar-winning film, then they have no idea what’s in store for them when they catch Taika Waititi’s misbegotten “Jojo Rabbit.”
Read more‘A White, White Day' Slowly, But Surely Builds to a Wallop [Nouveau Cinema]
“A White, White Day” is an eerily beautiful Icelandic slow-burn about irrational and mentally unstable Ingimundur (Ingvar Sigurdsson), a smalltown cop who suspects that his late wife was having an affair. The story, in essence, is about a man’s spiral from grief to suspicion to rage.
Read more‘Bombshell' Reactions Are In and Charlize Theron is the Big Winner
Jay Roach and Charles Randolph's "Bombshell" (Lionsgate, 12.20) was screened yesterday in both L.A. and NYC, I got the invite, but I just couldn’t fathom travelling again after such a busy year of non-stop festival-going.
Read more‘El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie' is a Righteous Send-Off for Jesse Pinkman [Review]
Vince Gilligan’s “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Story” may not have been what some “Breaking Bad” fans expected, but this was never supposed to play like another episode of ‘Bad.’ What “El Camino” actually is is a redemptive epilogue for Jesse Pinkman (indelibly played by Aaron Paul).
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Adam Driver is still not over "The Hunt for Ben Solo," but there's a silver lining: Steven Soderbergh has already moved on to a new script, and Driver calls it one of the best things Soderbergh has ever written.