‘The Way Back’: Ben Affleck Basketball Drama About Addiction [Trailer]

I’m sure Ben Affleck, who has had personal issues with sobriety over the years, couldn’t have asked for a better comeback narrative than what he’s trying to pull off with “The Way Back.” (which shouldn’t be confused with Peter Weir’s 2011 movie of the same name)

Director Gavin O’Connor, who’s worked before with Affleck on “The Accountant,” casts the actor as a former basketball all-star who loses his wife and family due to addiction. When he becomes the coach of a multicultural high school basketball team at his alma mater, well, what else did you expect, he sees it as a chance at redemption knocking at his door.

It may sound hokey but O’Connor (“Warrior,” “Miracle,” “McFarland”) is no slouch at feel-good family sports dramas. The trailer (below) does pique my interest, maybe we’re in for an early 2020 sleeper hit. Affleck—credited as co-producer on the movie—stars alongside Janina Gavankar (“The Mysteries of Laura” & “Sleepy Hollow), Al Madrigal (“The Daily Show” & “About A Boy”), Hayes MacArthur (“Angie Tribeca”), and Rachael Carpani (“Against the Wall”).

Of note, this is a bad title, solely for the fact that Peter Weir’s “The Way Back” was released in 2010 and Nat Faxon and Jim Rash’s “The Way Way Back” was released in 2013. I don’t know what it is about this title that producers keep going back to, but enough already.’

“The Way Back”—distributed by Warner Bros.—is set to premiere in the U.S. on March 6, 2020.

Drew Goddard Won’t Move Forward With ‘Matrix 5’ Without the Wachowskis’ “Blessing” of the Script

Wachowski, who isn’t involved with Goddard’s “reboot,” confirms being “done” with The Matrix, but apparently Goddard still wants Lily and Lana’s blessing before continuing with his work.

Jesse Eisenberg’s ‘The Debut’ Raved at Telluride - Julianne Moore for Best Actress?

The film has taken over the Telluride Film Festival. It’s a best picture contender. Julianne Moore is a best actress frontrunner. Paul Giamatti might win his first Oscar for as supporting actor.

‘Ink’: Danny Boyle Confirms AI Was Used to Generate Margaret Thatcher, The Kray Brothers and Mice

Danny Boyle tells Vanity Fair that AI was used to animate old photographs—which means Margaret Thatcher and the Kray brothers—and to create mice running around the newsroom.

John Malkovich Heads to Israel for ‘The Music Critic’ as ‘Wild Horse Nine’ Puts Him in the Oscar Race: “Closeness and Solidarity”

John Malkovich is set to star in a production of “The Music Critic” in Israel next year, just 24 hours after entering the best actor race for his “Wild Horse Nine” performance. I gather he won’t be getting Mark Ruffalo’s vote.

August 19, 2019

3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

Good/Great Movies That Don't Deserve Their “Rotten" Scores

These 31 titles clearly have their share of detractors — that’s why they’re “rotten” — and I expect some people to question a few of these picks. That’s fine. However, I believe most are strong films, worth reevaluating.

‘Dune: Part Three’ Reportedly “Blew Away" Warner Bros. With Rough 3-Hour Cut as New Teaser Stuns

Today, “Dune: Part Three” tickets went on sale, this time non-premium formats were made available, and it was all accompanied by a brand-new teaser—and the footage is stunning.

What is David Fincher’s Best Film? 100+ Critics Say, No Contest, It’s ‘Zodiac’

We managed to gather 118 ballots from critics, programmers, filmmakers, and scholars. Each was asked to submit a single title, the one they believe to be the best of Fincher’s filmography.

Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Glimpses of the Moon’ (Apparently) Starts Production This Month in Italy

Coppola has described “Glimpses” as a “strange 30s-style musical.” No cast has been announced. The film is a loose adaptation of Edith Wharton’s novel, “inspired” by Leo McCarey’s “The Awful Truth.”

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ Tops the Best Films of the 1930s, According to 100+ Critics

We’ve gone through the decades. The ‘40s ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘2000s, and ‘2010s. — all revisited, argued over. Now, here are the results for the best films of the 1930s.

Critics Poll: ‘Citizen Kane' Named Best Film of the 1940s

The results are in, and according to critics, this decade filled with cinematic riches did not have a better film than Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane.” Nobody should be surprised by this result. “Citizen Kane” changed cinema forever.

Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants

It was a closer race than anticipated, but Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” has topped our best of the ’50s poll, besting Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s “Singin’ in the Rain” by just two votes.

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