When it comes to the future of movies, not many seem optimistic about the direction the industry is currently headed in.

I’m hearing his next film will be set in Los Angeles and that it could start production right after the strike. This would be Farhadi’s first American film, after having directed projects in France, Spain and his native Iran.

Time for a fun weekend poll. Name the best films that you have seen so far in 2023. I’ll post the results on Monday.

Its official, Ethan Coen’s “Drive-Away Dolls” is another casualty of the SAG strike. Its release date has been moved from September 2023 to February 2024.

Sony performed some shock and awe this late afternoon by delaying most of its 2023 movie slate to next year.

Paul Schrader has been asked to direct David Mamet’s JFK assassination film. This is news to me. I thought Mamet was going to direct his first film since 2008’s “Redbelt.”

20th Century Studios has dated Jeff Nichols’ “The Bikeriders” for a December 1st release. As it stands, the film hasn’t shown up at either the TIFF or Venice. Maybe Telluride? I have my doubts.

It’s time for my mid-year update on Terrence Malick’s “The Way of the Wind.” I’ve been doing these updates for, I don’t know, at least two years now. However, there’s been PROGRESS!

This is more than just a movie. It’s a cultural phenomenon. Greta Gerwig’s playful dollhouse has also grossed $250 million domestically.

For most of my adult life, I’ve abided by the church of Michael Mann. From 1981 to 2009, he could do no wrong in my books.

The last 20 years, Allen has been very hit or miss. The films that I really liked from this timespan were “Match Point,” “Midnight in Paris,” “Blue Jasmine,” “Wonder Wheel” and the underrated, and gloomy, “Irrational Man.”

I know it’s way too early to speculate, but an Oscar race is is slowly brewing between Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.”

I just know that Netflix’s upcoming “Depp v Heard” will be watched by millions of eyeballs, mine included. A trailer has been released.

Paramount has a ‘Mission: Impossible’ problem. Nobody expected this to happen. Tom With “Top Gun: Maverick,” Cruise was proclaimed the savior of cinema last year, but in 2023 his power has fluttered out.

There’s an interesting L.A. Magazine piece titled “Will Hollywood Welcome Kevin Spacey Back Following ‘Not Guilty’ Verdict?”

I’m not that surprised by the positive reviews for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mayhem.” It was widely praised at the Annecy Animation Film Festival last month and I heard from some colleagues that it’s a lot of fun.

A fall 2023 production start was set-up for Verbinski’s “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die,” that is, before the actors strike happened. The aim is still to shoot the film in the fall, strike-depending, with Sam Rockwell cast in the lead role.

Film at Lincoln Center has announced that Michael Mann’s “Ferrari” has been selected as the closing night film of the 61st New York Film Festival.

“It’s a movie about a fucking doll. Can a movie about Barbie that’s financed by Mattel be anything but a very long product placement that has ticky contemporary aspects to it?”  — Amy Taubin