A slow day in the movie world. Some have already gotten a jump start with their July 4th celebrations.
Just to reiterate what many have been asking me for weeks now (although I’ve mentioned it already in a few pieces I wrote).
Set to skip the fall festivals: Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” David Fincher’s “The Killer”, David O. Russell’s “Amsterdam”, Guillermo Del Toro’s “Pinocchio”, Sam Mendes’ “Empire of Light”, Steven Spielberg’s “The Fablemans,” and (possibly) Damien Chazelle’s “Babylon”.
I know for a fact that Telluride is trying VERY HARD to get Chazelle’s film. Paramount hasn’t budged just yet, it’s still set to skip the fall festivals, the studio is also said to have absolutely no idea how to promote this one — “it’s getting a heavy R” one person close to the production told me.
Regardless, the buzz is deafening. A December release is set for the period epic, which test-screened earlier this year to the kind of raves so filled with praise that you just know this is going to be a major statement from Chazelle.
As for David O. Russell film, I’m hearing a trailer might get released this month, maybe as early as next Friday. It’s been rated and is ready to go. The test-screenings for that one did not go particularly well …
Also, just so I don’t get more emails about this topic as well, the films that have been relegated to 2023 (our intel is solid on these) include Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City,” Ari Aster’s “Disappointment Blvd,” Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things,” and Terrence Malick’s “The Way of the Wind.”
The 70 or so films that are actually going to the fall festivals can be found here.
It gives me no pleasure to report that this is one of the worst films of Schrader’s career. Wooden acting, Jack Huston and Sofia Boutella are badly miscast, the script is dull, the photography is flat; nothing works.