I’ve been getting a lot of messages about the new David O. Russell being test screened last week. The folks who attended that screening signed a very strict NDA and I will respect that.
Read moreNew David O. Russell Test Screens
David O. Russell’s last film was the 2015 movie, “Joy,” starring Jennifer Lawrence.
Read more‘The Matrix Resurrections’ is Going to Polarize Many
I’m set to watch “Matrix Resurrections” tomorrow morning. The fourth installment of the franchise is said to be a very meta affair that might divide fans of the franchise looking for the same old action theatrics.
Read moreHere We Go Again …
Andrew Dominik’s ‘Blonde’ Being Released By Netflix Next Fall
Netflix Film Chief Scott Stuber spoke to Variety’s editor-in-chief Claudia Eller about numerous projects in development, including “Blonde,” a biographical drama that features Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe. Stuber expects it will land on Netflix next fall.
Dominik’s cut is said to be rated NC-17. It was originally set to world premiere at the Venice Film Festival before being pulled out by Netflix late in the game.
I broke the Netflix/Dominik dispute in the summer which led to a small online campaign by fans to give Dominik, a major auteur in world cinema, the cut that he so richly deserved. I believe he has it now.
‘Tragedy of Macbeth’: Anatomy of Masterful Photography
Joel Coen took a major risk by going solo, sans brother Ethan, with “The Tragedy of Macbeth.” I was skeptical about how adapting the umpteenth film version of Shakespeare’s classic play would turn out, but the film is worth watching just for Bruno Delbonnel’s stunning photography. It would be an absolute sin if he doesn’t get a Best Cinematography nod.
Read more‘West Side Story’ Projected to Have $4-6 Million Second Weekend
The same box-office pundit who sounded the alarm this same time last week about “West Side Story” just making $10 million on opening weekend is telling me that things could get worse.
Read moreNicolas Cage Isn't a Bad Actor, He's Actually One of the Greatest of His Generation
Nicolas Cage’s latest Shaman-like acting feat, this one is called “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” has a just-released trailer. It hints at a very meta performance from the actor, playing himself. In it, an obsessive fan forces Cage to re-create his most famous characters and scenes during a birthday party. It’s Cage’s 49th movie in the last 10 years. Is that a record?
Read moreI’m Superhero’ed Out
I was so tired last night that I decided to skip the press screening for “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” I just couldn’t fathom spending 148 minutes bombarded by CGI and manufactured storytelling. I’m honestly close to quitting these movies. Thank the heavens my job doesn’t require me to be forced to sit through this thing.
Read more‘Don’t Look Up’ is Quite Bad; Toothless Satire
I don’t recall writing anything about Adam McKay’s “Don’t Look Up,” so here goes.
Read more‘Deep Water’ Headed Straight to Streaming
Spike Lee Wanted ‘A Hero’ to Win the Palme d’Or
It was quite clear in June that Spike Lee wanted Asghar Farhadi’s “A Hero” to win the Palme d’Or. I heard it from numerous sources and another person mentioned it this morning.
Read moreThe Golden Globes Situation is Amusing
I am not big on watching the Golden Globes, but I do understand that many awards junkies are into them. It’s all part of the inevitable road to the Oscars.
Read moreTerrence Malick’s ‘The Way of the Wind’ Might Be Ready For Cannes
In 2019, Terrence Malick wrapped up shooting his next movie in Rome, this one was originally titled “The Last Planet” and is now called “The Way of the Wind.”
Read moreWhy Did ‘West Side Story’ Bomb?
A warning shot was called out last week, I saw the earth shaking with West Side Story’s box-office prospects. A box-office pundit had sounded the alarm to me and, lo behold, it made a scant $10 million at the U.S. box-office. Bad news for Steven Spielberg’s film.
Read more‘Drive My Car’ Named Best Film By Boston Film Critics
Slow news weekend. It seems as though everyone in the industry has already gone on Christmas vacation, but that didn’t stop the Boston Society of Film Critics from announcing their annual awards.
Read more‘West Side Story’ Tanking, Projected to Nab Opening Weekend of Around $10.8 Million
”West Side Story” opened with $4.1 million on Friday (which includes Thursday previews). The best estimate I could come up with, and what a box-office pundit friend had predicted to me a few days back, is an opening weekend of around $10.8 million, which is an absolutely brutal blow for the $100 million budgeted film. It could open lower than “In the Heights”, which, contrary to “West Side Story,” wasn’t a remake, didn’t have an A-list director attached to it and also premiered on HBO Max. Yikes.
Is Kristen Stewart No Longer the Best Actress Frontrunner?
I’ve already tackled Spencer’s floundering box-office numbers. It has just made $7 million domestically on a budget of more than twice that.
Read more‘France’: Bruno Dumont’s Nihilism Strikes Gold [Capsule]
Bruno Dumont’s darkly satirical ”France” received the first major boos of Cannes 2021. I dug it. A nihilistic portrayal of humanity through the eyes of a clinically depressed TV journalist. A Lynchian score by composer Christophe seems so out of place, but it only adds to the dramatic ambiguity of Dumont’s vision (his best since 2015’s “Li’l Quinquin”). The moral of this movie seems to be that life is shit. [B+]
Best Actor: It’s Will Smith vs Benedict Cumberbatch, But Watch Out for Denzel
It’s really not even close. The Best Actor race this year has already been narrowed down to two frontrunners and a spoiler: King Richard’s Will Smith and The Power of the Dog’s Benedict Cumberbatch with The Tragedy of Macbeth’s Denzel Washington acting as a very serious spoiler. The rest of the potential nominees feel like sloppy seconds.
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