I’m feeling optimsitic about catching Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” within the next 12 days or so, I can’t say more than that, but I’ve been emailing around and, suffice to say, things are looking very good for its late August release. I am here to tell you that, after a few exchanges, constant back-and-forth emailing, the WB is very serious in releasing this movie in Europe and Canada by August 26th. It’s going to happen, the only thing that may murk up these plans is if a second wave of the virus happens in Europe and, at the moment, there is speculation that a second-wave could happen, but, as of today, European and Canadian theater chains should rejoice because the WB is getting ready to screen “Tenet.”
Read moreAlfred Hitchcock Did Not Like Steven Spielberg and Refused to Meet Him
A young Steven Spielberg was dismissed openly and vocally by one of his childhood heroes – Alfred Hitchcock. The Independent shared the story regarding Hitchcock’s disdain for Spielberg and his work.
Read moreBong Joon-Ho Loves Ari Aster's ‘Hereditary' and ‘Midsommar'
A24 got into the literature business last year by releasing a book that included the screenplays for Alex Garland’s “Ex Machina,” Robert Eggers’ “The Witch,” and Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight.” Now, a new A24 Book release, the fourth edition, arrived today and it’s all about Ari Aster’s “Hereditary,” which is now available for purchase on the studio’s website.
Read moreAMC/Universal Deal is a Cataclysmic Event for the Movie Industry
This is a pretty big development because of how it changes the industry indefinitely. It took me some time to write about today’s AMC/Universal deal because I needed a few more hours to process it and, folks, there is no doubt in my mind that what was announced this afternoon is akin to a damn-near cataclysmic event for the industry as a whole.
Read moreSofia Coppola's ‘On the Rocks' Declined Appearance at Venice
Sofia Coppola’s “On the Rocks,’ which stars Bill Murray and Rashida Jones, has no release date as of now. It was rumored to premiere at this September’s Venice Film Festival but was conspicuously absent when the lineup was revealed this morning by festival boss Alberto Barbera.
Read moreSpike Lee: ‘Birth of A Nation' and ‘Gone With the Wind' Should Not Be Banned
Spike Lee participated in a video panel for American Cinematheque moderated by “Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins. The wide-ranging conversation was as political and informative as you’d expect, but when the topic about viewing old films deemed “racist” today, such as “Birth Of A Nation” and “Gone With The Wind,” Lee didn’t hesitate in signifying their importance and the value of context when watching them.
Read moreVenice 2020 Line-Up Revealed; Low on Marquee Directors, Nearly Half of Competition Female Directors
The line-up of the forthcoming 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival was announced this morning, six weeks ahead of its planned opening. My reaction to what was announced? A fairly, understandably, underwhelming line-up, on-paper at least, with nary any big-name directors, but, hey, it’s nevertheless being celebrated by wokesters due to the 8 female filmmakers making the main competition (a record for the fest). Women filmmakers constitute 44% of this year’s lineup. Hooray.
Read more‘Force of Nature': Mel Gibson Stars in Loony B-Movie Hybrid of ‘Die Hard' and ‘Twister' [Review]
Michael Polish’s pulpy B-movie “Force Of Nature” stars Mel Gibson — now, whether or not that’s a deal-breaker will depend on your perception of Gibson. I personally couldn’t care less about what the 64-year-old actor did or has done publicly. All I know is that he still has the chops to lead a movie. Ever since attempting a comeback, after being caught on tape slurring anti-semitic and just plain racist remarks, Gibson has starred in three down-and-dirty, but immensely watchable, B-movies (“Get the Gringo,” “Blood Father” and, especially “Dragged Across Concrete.”)
Read moreChloé Zhao's ‘Nomadland' to Simultaneously Premiere at Venice and TIFF
Chloé Zhao’s “The Rider” was a surprise hit at Cannes back in 2017, so much so that her next film was hotly anticipated. Here was a female filmmaker with a keen, poetic eye for humanism. Marvel Studios, unfortunately, hired her to direct their upcoming “The Eternals,” but the real focus should be on “Nomadland,” starring Frances McDormand, which has just been announced to world premiere on September 11 at the Venice Film Festival, with a simultaneous screening at the Toronto International Film Festival as well.
Read more‘Tenet' To Be Released in Europe and Canada on August 26th; Select U.S. Cities on September 2nd
Warner Bros. have now announced that they will open Christopher Nolan’s long-awaited “Tenet” in over 70 countries worldwide, starting from Wednesday, August 26.
Read more‘The Rental': Dave Franco's Horror Debut is Equal Parts Psychology and Terror [Review]
Actor-turned-director Dave Franco and mumblecore trailblazer Joe Swanberg have given us a horror movie that builds its suspense slowly, delving deeply into the psychological dynamics between its four main characters, in the tightly-knit 88-minute indie “The Rental.”
Read more‘Yes, God, Yes': Catholic Schoolgirl Discovers Internet Porn in SXSW Comedy [Review]
It’s 2001, and Catholic high schooler Alice (Natalia Dyer) discovers internet porn in writer/director Karen Maine’s debut feature, “Yes, God, Yes.”
Read moreVenice Film Festival Announces Opening Night Film; What Else Could Screen?
You really have to hand it to the Venice Film Festival, they are relentless is having the show go on. Earlier today, they announced that Daniele Luchetti’s “Lacci” will open its 77th edition on September 2, 2020. “Lacci” becomes the first Italian movie to open Venice in 11 years.
Read moreWarner Bros. Planning to Release Christopher Nolan's ‘Tenet' in Europe This August
A theatrical release of Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” in Europe seems very likely. A French WB contact has told me that a scheduled August 26th release date is a go and that early September launch on American soil is a less likely, but a hopeful possibility.
Read more‘Radioactive': Marie Curie Biopic is a Total Bomb [Review]
Who wants to watch a dryly enacted biopic of Madame Marie Curie? It’s not as if Curie, a Polish immigrant born Maria Salomea Skłodowska, had a dull life. No siree, after all, she’s still the only woman to win two Nobel prizes thanks to her work in discovering radium and polonium at the turn of the 20th century.
Read more‘The French Dispatch,' ‘Mulan,' and ‘The Last Duel' Releases Postponed Indefinitely
As mentioned yesterday, the 2020 movie year is most likely canceled. You can put it in the books. There is no way around the current climate and I’m especially talking to you, Christopher Nolan.
Read more‘Spree’: And The Winner for the Absolute Worst Uber Driver Award Goes To ... [Trailer]
Director Eugene Kotlyarenko’s Sundance-premiered “Spree” is the Uber driving nightmare absolutely nobody wants to experience.
Read more‘Bill & Ted Face The Music’ Will Be Released on VOD September 1st [Trailer]
Today’s Orion Pictures released a new trailer and announced, right before its big digital Comic-Con showing on Saturday, that “Bill & Ted 3” is now coming out September 1 on VOD and in select theaters (drive-ins and theaters that are actually open).
Read moreThe 2020 Movie Year is Most Likely Canceled
Back in April, I wrote the piece titled “The 2020 Summer Movie Season is Most Likely Canceled,” in which I wrote the obit for summer movies. Well, I am here now to tell you that, based on the way things have been going, the entire year is most likely going to be a wasteland of nothingness, theatrically speaking.
Read more‘Rogue’: Megan Fox is Back Fighting Off Deadly Lions In VOD Action Thriller [Trailer]
Lionsgate is releasing the straight-to-VOD movie, “Rogue.” The big sell for this film is that it is led by Megan Fox. In it, the 34-year-old actress plays a soldier who leads her special ops team in Africa with the goal of rescuing war prisoners. However, their mission takes a turn for the worst when they find out that they are being hunted by, no joke, deadly lionesses.
This is B-horror-thriller territory, but, more importantly, it’s the first Megan Fox-led movie since … 2009’s uber-underrated “Jennifer’s Body.” Fox, an Aughts “sex symbol,” has had her career hampered down by, what I believe to be, blacklisting courtesy of studio execs. Why? Well, a 2009 interview with Jimmy Kimmel didn’t help. In the now resurfaced interview, Fox cited the problematic treatment she encountered while auditioning for “Bad Boys II” and called out the rampant sexism running rampant in Tinsel Town.
Ever since then, she’s had cameo appearances in “This is 40,” and The Dictator,” and also ended up starring as Alice in the 2014 “Teenage Mutant Nina Turtles” adaptation,” ditto its 2016 sequel “Out of Shadows.” Other than that, zilch, nada, zippo.
With all that being said, please, do yourself a favour and rent “Jennifer’s Body” — it’s a hoot and a total modern-era feminist classic. It was shunned upon release, the critics hated it, but its reputation has gained considerable traction during the #MeToo era.
“Rogue” is directed by M.J. Bassett. Alongside Fox, “Rogue” has a cast that includes Jessica Sutton, Calli Taylor, Brandon Auret, Adam Deacon, and Sisanda Henna. The film will be released by Lionsgate on VOD on August 28.
The story takes place in 1970s New York and follows a working-class legend, a "sky-walking" ironworker who takes on forces much bigger than himself. Pitt as a blue-collar hero in '70s Manhattan? Sold.