His name is Nasubi. He sits alone and naked in a small apartment for months on end, trying to win food and clothing as mail-in sweepstake prizes. He doesn’t quite know it, but his strange predicament is being broadcast to 17 million people. It sounds like a work of fiction about a torturous psychopath — something out of a “Saw” film — but in 1998, it was the premise of a Japanese reality TV show, and is now now the subject of documentary Clair Titley’s wildly intriguing (if often imbalanced) “The Contestant.”
The British documentary, now available on Hulu, chronicles the inception of this cruel and unusual game through the eyes of not only its subject — wannabe comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu, a.k.a. Nasubi — as well as TV super-producer Toshio Tsuchiya, who created the bizarre challenge for comedy/prank reality series “Susunu! Denpa Shōnen.” Starting with six-minute segments of Nasubi’s life,...
The British documentary, now available on Hulu, chronicles the inception of this cruel and unusual game through the eyes of not only its subject — wannabe comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu, a.k.a. Nasubi — as well as TV super-producer Toshio Tsuchiya, who created the bizarre challenge for comedy/prank reality series “Susunu! Denpa Shōnen.” Starting with six-minute segments of Nasubi’s life,...
- 5/2/2024
- by Siddhant Adlakha
- Variety Film + TV
The 49th Chaplin Award Gala saw dozens of stars take to the red carpet to honor Jeff Bridges. The annual fundraiser benefits the Lincoln Center’s nonprofit sector, which supports student programs, film festivals, and movie series. Bridges received the iconic Chaplin Award as his former co-stars Chris Pine, Cynthia Erivo, Sharon Stone, Chris Pine, and Rosie Perez applauded him. Many supporters couldn’t help but notice the latter actor. Perez turns 60 this year and still looks amazing.
Chris Pine, Rosie Perez, Jeff Bridges, Sharon Stone, and Blythe Danner at the 49th Chaplin Award | Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Rosie Perez was one of several presenters who spoke about Bridges before the large audience. Bridges’ career includes legendary roles in The Big Lebowski, Hell of High Water, Bad Times at the El Royale, True Grit, and Crazy Heart. Perez, his Fearless co-star, credited Bridges with getting her cast in the 1993 drama...
Chris Pine, Rosie Perez, Jeff Bridges, Sharon Stone, and Blythe Danner at the 49th Chaplin Award | Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Rosie Perez was one of several presenters who spoke about Bridges before the large audience. Bridges’ career includes legendary roles in The Big Lebowski, Hell of High Water, Bad Times at the El Royale, True Grit, and Crazy Heart. Perez, his Fearless co-star, credited Bridges with getting her cast in the 1993 drama...
- 5/1/2024
- by Ali Hicks
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
A man walks into a room. He’s just picked a winning ticket in a lottery, been blindfolded, and led through the snow. Now, inside a windowless and mostly bare apartment, he’s being asked to disrobe. I have to take off everything, the man asks? Everything. The fact that a TV producer is telling him this is cause for concern. Besides, isn’t this supposed to be some sort of televised contest? Why is he being left au naturel? Don’t worry, the producer says. Most of this won’t be aired.
- 5/1/2024
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
Chris Pine, Cynthia Erivo, Kieran Culkin, Sharon Stone and Rosie Perez celebrated Jeff Bridges’ seven-decade career at the 49th annual Chaplin Awards Gala in New York City on Monday night. But the Big Lebowski star almost chose a different career path.
During his acceptance speech for the Film at Lincoln Center‘s prestigious honor, the True Grit star shared that he originally “resisted” the idea of pursuing acting full-time for a few different reasons.
“It made me nervous, anxious, and I had other things I wanted to do,” he told the full auditorium at Alice Tully Hall. “I was very much into music. I loved ceramics, painting, and who wants to do what their parents do anyway?”
He recalled his father, actor Lloyd Bridges, explaining to him that he could do all of those things in this career path and use them all to some degree, which was one of the beauties of the job.
During his acceptance speech for the Film at Lincoln Center‘s prestigious honor, the True Grit star shared that he originally “resisted” the idea of pursuing acting full-time for a few different reasons.
“It made me nervous, anxious, and I had other things I wanted to do,” he told the full auditorium at Alice Tully Hall. “I was very much into music. I loved ceramics, painting, and who wants to do what their parents do anyway?”
He recalled his father, actor Lloyd Bridges, explaining to him that he could do all of those things in this career path and use them all to some degree, which was one of the beauties of the job.
- 4/30/2024
- by Christy Piña
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rosie Perez is crediting former co-star Jeff Bridges for her casting in “Fearless” (1993). Perez says the studio “had a problem” with their on-screen “interracial relationship,” but that Bridges went “to bat” for her.
“Fearless” was distributed by Warner Bros. It centered on Bridges’ character Max Klein surviving a plane crash and connecting with his fellow survivor (Perez). Isabella Rossellini and John Turturro co-starred.
“Early in my career, I had auditioned for ‘Fearless,’ directed by Peter Weir. Although I knew I nailed it, they could see I was really, really, extremely nervous, so I wasn’t really sure,” Perez said during the 2024 Chaplin Award Tribute gala honoring Bridges. “I was extremely surprised to get a callback – surprised because I also knew the studio didn’t want me for the role. Then they said for round two that they wanted me to meet with Jeff Bridges. Holy shit! That’s Jeff Bridges!
“Fearless” was distributed by Warner Bros. It centered on Bridges’ character Max Klein surviving a plane crash and connecting with his fellow survivor (Perez). Isabella Rossellini and John Turturro co-starred.
“Early in my career, I had auditioned for ‘Fearless,’ directed by Peter Weir. Although I knew I nailed it, they could see I was really, really, extremely nervous, so I wasn’t really sure,” Perez said during the 2024 Chaplin Award Tribute gala honoring Bridges. “I was extremely surprised to get a callback – surprised because I also knew the studio didn’t want me for the role. Then they said for round two that they wanted me to meet with Jeff Bridges. Holy shit! That’s Jeff Bridges!
- 4/30/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
There is something about the period of the Napoleonic Wars and the personality of Napoleon Bonaparte himself that keeps world-renowned filmmakers returning to the subject. Maybe it's the aesthetics of the early 19th century and the epic battles of the time. Maybe it's the fascination of the life of the great French general and emperor that ambitious filmmakers are drawn to.
Whatever the reason, each of these films either failed commercially or received mixed reviews from critics. Abel Gance's Napoleon, Sergei Bondarchuk's War and Peace and Waterloo, Peter Weir's Master and Commander, and of course Ridley Scott's recent Napoleon – despite epic scales, a talented cast and crew, and sometimes even a great script, all of the above films failed in one way or another.
Ridley Scott's new feature, starring Joaquin Phoenix, is both commercially and critically underwhelming. Despite its grandeur, its Rotten Tomatoes score was a...
Whatever the reason, each of these films either failed commercially or received mixed reviews from critics. Abel Gance's Napoleon, Sergei Bondarchuk's War and Peace and Waterloo, Peter Weir's Master and Commander, and of course Ridley Scott's recent Napoleon – despite epic scales, a talented cast and crew, and sometimes even a great script, all of the above films failed in one way or another.
Ridley Scott's new feature, starring Joaquin Phoenix, is both commercially and critically underwhelming. Despite its grandeur, its Rotten Tomatoes score was a...
- 4/26/2024
- by louise.everitt@startefacts.com (Louise Everitt)
- STartefacts.com
Taylor Swift has released the video for the first single from her new album, thrilling fans with a collection of familiar faces making cameo appearances.
Friday saw Swift release the cinematic black and white video for ‘Fortnight’, in which her character has scientists conducting experiments on her following a failed love affair.
Two scientists are played by Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles, who appeared in the Oscar-nominated film Dead Poets Society 35 years ago. Her musical collaborator on the track Post Malone also appears.
Swift explained her casting decisions on Instagram, where she wrote:
“When I was writing the Fortnight music video, I wanted to show you the worlds I saw in my head that served as the backdrop for making this music. Pretty much everything in it is a metaphor or a reference to one corner of the album or another. For me, this video turned out to be the...
Friday saw Swift release the cinematic black and white video for ‘Fortnight’, in which her character has scientists conducting experiments on her following a failed love affair.
Two scientists are played by Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles, who appeared in the Oscar-nominated film Dead Poets Society 35 years ago. Her musical collaborator on the track Post Malone also appears.
Swift explained her casting decisions on Instagram, where she wrote:
“When I was writing the Fortnight music video, I wanted to show you the worlds I saw in my head that served as the backdrop for making this music. Pretty much everything in it is a metaphor or a reference to one corner of the album or another. For me, this video turned out to be the...
- 4/20/2024
- by Caroline Frost
- Deadline Film + TV
Kevin Costner and Francis Ford Coppola have both put their money where their mouth is, to make huge films outside the studio system…
At the time of writing, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola is 85 years old. He owns a thriving vineyard business, and holds enough rights to his films to enjoy the kind of income most of us would happily content ourselves with, without him having to anything else. Contemporaries such as Brian De Palma and Peter Weir, as they’ve headed towards their eighth and ninth decades, have retired from filmmaking. Coppola, meanwhile, has gathered up all his chips and pushed them with some fervour towards the middle of the metaphorical table.
His long-cherished passion project is the gamble in question, a film by the name of Megalopolis that’s finished, and has cost, conservatively, around $100-120m to realise.
With no movie studio willing to back the film at the point of its conception,...
At the time of writing, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola is 85 years old. He owns a thriving vineyard business, and holds enough rights to his films to enjoy the kind of income most of us would happily content ourselves with, without him having to anything else. Contemporaries such as Brian De Palma and Peter Weir, as they’ve headed towards their eighth and ninth decades, have retired from filmmaking. Coppola, meanwhile, has gathered up all his chips and pushed them with some fervour towards the middle of the metaphorical table.
His long-cherished passion project is the gamble in question, a film by the name of Megalopolis that’s finished, and has cost, conservatively, around $100-120m to realise.
With no movie studio willing to back the film at the point of its conception,...
- 4/16/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Alan Ritchson is the man of the moment. Success and the spotlight have not come to him overnight. Despite his professional and personal struggles, he never gave up on his dream of becoming a star one day. He might be one of the most in-demand action heroes now but his resilience as an actor is truly commendable.
As a young boy, Ritchson used to perform in school musicals and improv around the cafeteria. His inspiration behind this was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Minds star Jim Carrey. He got the chance to meet his idol once, but things turned out to be a little awry.
Alan Ritchson Was a Huge Fan of Jim Carrey Jim Carrey in a still from Ace Ventura
It is not uncommon for artists to have grown up with another artist as their idol. Considering Jim Carrey has made some of the best movies, it does...
As a young boy, Ritchson used to perform in school musicals and improv around the cafeteria. His inspiration behind this was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Minds star Jim Carrey. He got the chance to meet his idol once, but things turned out to be a little awry.
Alan Ritchson Was a Huge Fan of Jim Carrey Jim Carrey in a still from Ace Ventura
It is not uncommon for artists to have grown up with another artist as their idol. Considering Jim Carrey has made some of the best movies, it does...
- 4/10/2024
- by Ankita
- FandomWire
We have recently written that legendary Australian filmmaker Peter Weir (79) has confirmed his retirement. On the other hand, Francis Ford Coppola (85), is currently shipping his latest project, Megalopolis, to studio executives. In light of this, another Hollywood legend, Woody Allen, has also talked about his future as a filmmaker and the possibility of retiring. Allen is 88 as of the time of writing, and his most recent movie, Coup de chance, premiered in 2023 and is still being distributed around the world in 2024.
While his private life has been the subject of numerous controversies, the multiple award-winning filmmaker is certainly one of the biggest names in the history of Hollywood, so news about his possible retirement is certainly something we have to report about.
The discussion he had with Air Mail actually started with Allen expressing his dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs as far as movie distribution is concerned, with...
While his private life has been the subject of numerous controversies, the multiple award-winning filmmaker is certainly one of the biggest names in the history of Hollywood, so news about his possible retirement is certainly something we have to report about.
The discussion he had with Air Mail actually started with Allen expressing his dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs as far as movie distribution is concerned, with...
- 4/8/2024
- by Arthur S. Poe
- Fiction Horizon
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.NEWSThe Truman Show.Joana Vicente has resigned from her post at the helm of the Sundance Film Festival after less than three years. Some industry sources have pointed to a contentious relationship with the board on fundraising matters as one possible explanation.This year’s Cannes Film Festival will open with Quentin Dupieux’s The Second Act, a surrealist backstage comedy starring Léa Seydoux, Vincent Lindon, Louis Garrel, and Raphaël Quenard.Concerns about copyright, continuity, tech business models, and the uncanny valley lead industry insiders to speculate that generative AI won’t soon be making its big-screen debut, though it will increasingly be a part of pre-production workflows.Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer (2023) has opened in Japan to mixed...
- 4/3/2024
- MUBI
The Runner released in the Criterion Collection on March 19th, 2024.
The Criterion Collection is my favorite place to explore and discover amazing cinematic releases that may have slipped under my radar. Straw Dogs, Mona Lisa and White Dog are some of my favorite films, all of which I first watched after they received a physical release through Criterion. The Runner has now joined that list.
The Runner Plot
Madjid Niroumand as Amiro in The Runner (1984)
Also Read: Criterion Collection Eric Rohmer’s Tales of the Four Seasons Review
A young Iranian orphan fends for himself, surviving by working odd jobs collecting glass bottles, shining shoes and selling ice water. Despite the harsh conditions he faces, his natural curiosity and imagination never waiver. He harbors a fascination for the airplanes and cargo ships that move in and out of the port city he calls home. While he dreams of escape, he...
The Criterion Collection is my favorite place to explore and discover amazing cinematic releases that may have slipped under my radar. Straw Dogs, Mona Lisa and White Dog are some of my favorite films, all of which I first watched after they received a physical release through Criterion. The Runner has now joined that list.
The Runner Plot
Madjid Niroumand as Amiro in The Runner (1984)
Also Read: Criterion Collection Eric Rohmer’s Tales of the Four Seasons Review
A young Iranian orphan fends for himself, surviving by working odd jobs collecting glass bottles, shining shoes and selling ice water. Despite the harsh conditions he faces, his natural curiosity and imagination never waiver. He harbors a fascination for the airplanes and cargo ships that move in and out of the port city he calls home. While he dreams of escape, he...
- 4/1/2024
- by Joshua Ryan
- FandomWire
Dianne Crittenden, the casting director whose impressive résumé included the first Star Wars film, The In-Laws and the Terrence Malick features Badlands, Days of Heaven and The Thin Red Line, has died. She was 82.
Crittenden died Wednesday at her home in Pacific Palisades after a battle with several cancers, fellow casting director Ilene Starger told The Hollywood Reporter.
“Dianne was my mentor, we’ve known each other for 44 years,” Starger said. “She was also my dear friend, more like an older sister, really. So generous, kind, brilliant, funny. A people magnet. Her knowledge of and insight into actors was extraordinary.”
A former head of casting at Warner Bros., Crittenden collaborated with Martin Ritt on Murphy’s Romance (1985) and Stanley & Iris (1990); with Roger Donaldson on Thirteen Days (2000) and The World’s Fastest Indian (2005); and with Peter Weir on Witness (1985), The Mosquito Coast (1986) and Green Card (1990).
Crittenden was born in Queens on Aug.
Crittenden died Wednesday at her home in Pacific Palisades after a battle with several cancers, fellow casting director Ilene Starger told The Hollywood Reporter.
“Dianne was my mentor, we’ve known each other for 44 years,” Starger said. “She was also my dear friend, more like an older sister, really. So generous, kind, brilliant, funny. A people magnet. Her knowledge of and insight into actors was extraordinary.”
A former head of casting at Warner Bros., Crittenden collaborated with Martin Ritt on Murphy’s Romance (1985) and Stanley & Iris (1990); with Roger Donaldson on Thirteen Days (2000) and The World’s Fastest Indian (2005); and with Peter Weir on Witness (1985), The Mosquito Coast (1986) and Green Card (1990).
Crittenden was born in Queens on Aug.
- 3/21/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Peter Weir is easily regarded as one of the most legendary filmmakers in Hollywood, with masterpieces that have garnered several nods of major accolades. Also the mastermind behind Robin Williams’ critically acclaimed 1989 comedy thriller Dead Poets Society, he has led an unparalleled career in the entertainment industry.
Peter Weir received an Honorary Oscar Award | Photo: Screengrab/Oscars/YouTube
However, that very unparalleled career of his just may have ended a lot before the genius director announced it out loud. Yes, as heartbreaking as this would sound to many of his fans, Weir retired a long time ago from his star-studded directing profession, and fans wouldn’t have known about this had he not addressed this issue publicly.
Peter Weir has put an end to his Legendary Filmmaking Career
Even though the last movie he made was almost a decade and a half ago back in 2010, fans were still awaiting Peter...
Peter Weir received an Honorary Oscar Award | Photo: Screengrab/Oscars/YouTube
However, that very unparalleled career of his just may have ended a lot before the genius director announced it out loud. Yes, as heartbreaking as this would sound to many of his fans, Weir retired a long time ago from his star-studded directing profession, and fans wouldn’t have known about this had he not addressed this issue publicly.
Peter Weir has put an end to his Legendary Filmmaking Career
Even though the last movie he made was almost a decade and a half ago back in 2010, fans were still awaiting Peter...
- 3/19/2024
- by Mahin Sultan
- FandomWire
It has been 14 years since his last movie, The Way Back, was released. That was his 14th movie and from how things stand now, it will be his last. Namely, legendary Australian filmmaker and director, Peter Weir, has confirmed that he has definitely retired from filmmaking as he has no more energy to make movies. This shouldn’t come as a major shock, as the director is turning 80 in August this year, and with what he has done so far, he has earned the right to rest.
This was confirmed during a discussion with the audience in Paris, as part of the Festival de la Cinémathèque, where he said:
“Why did I stop directing? Because, quite simply, I have no more energy. I’ve stopped filmmaking in 2020. It was time for me. I felt I want to leave the gambling table, so I no longer direct. But before that, occasionally...
This was confirmed during a discussion with the audience in Paris, as part of the Festival de la Cinémathèque, where he said:
“Why did I stop directing? Because, quite simply, I have no more energy. I’ve stopped filmmaking in 2020. It was time for me. I felt I want to leave the gambling table, so I no longer direct. But before that, occasionally...
- 3/19/2024
- by Arthur S. Poe
- Fiction Horizon
Peter Weir, who has not released a movie since 2010’s The Way Back, is likely never going to make another one again. The Australian director, who is known for giving some of the most acclaimed films of all time, talked recently about his long 14-years-absence from filmmaking.
Peter Weir received an Honorary Oscar Award | Photo: Screengrab/Oscars/YouTube
The four-time Best Director Oscar nominee, while attending the Festival de la Cinémathèque in Paris, said that he is retired now, which is shocking to the admirers of his works.
SUGGESTED5 Worst ‘Best Picture’ Wins in History That Made Fans Doubt The Oscars’ Credibility
Let’s have a look at two of his movies that deserved an Oscar win for sure, but they could not despite high critical applause.
The Truman Show (1998)
Peter Weir has been nominated six times for Oscars, including four times for best director, without any win. One of...
Peter Weir received an Honorary Oscar Award | Photo: Screengrab/Oscars/YouTube
The four-time Best Director Oscar nominee, while attending the Festival de la Cinémathèque in Paris, said that he is retired now, which is shocking to the admirers of his works.
SUGGESTED5 Worst ‘Best Picture’ Wins in History That Made Fans Doubt The Oscars’ Credibility
Let’s have a look at two of his movies that deserved an Oscar win for sure, but they could not despite high critical applause.
The Truman Show (1998)
Peter Weir has been nominated six times for Oscars, including four times for best director, without any win. One of...
- 3/19/2024
- by Prantik Prabal Roy
- FandomWire
While each year brings a few films here and there to make one long for Hollywood’s return to an era of producing quality mid-budget movies not strictly for a four-quadrant demographic, it seemed the last gasp of such a time came when Peter Weir stepped away from filmmaking. The Master and Commander, The Truman Show, and Dead Poets Society director last released a film in 2010 with The Way Back and now has confirmed rumors he’s retired from filmmaking
“Why did I stop directing? Because, quite simply, I have no more energy,” the 79-year-old Australian director told the audience as part of a recent Paris retrospective at Festival de la Cinémathèque. “I’ve stopped filmmaking in 2020. It was time for me. I felt I want to leave the gambling table, so I no longer direct,” he added, although also touched on some potential reunions that were in discussions. “But before that,...
“Why did I stop directing? Because, quite simply, I have no more energy,” the 79-year-old Australian director told the audience as part of a recent Paris retrospective at Festival de la Cinémathèque. “I’ve stopped filmmaking in 2020. It was time for me. I felt I want to leave the gambling table, so I no longer direct,” he added, although also touched on some potential reunions that were in discussions. “But before that,...
- 3/18/2024
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Following a spectacular filmmaking career that spanned five decades, Australian director Peter Weir has announced that he is retiring. While appearing at the Festival de la Cinémathèque in Paris, France (via Télérama), the filmmaker revealed he has retired from filmmaking after his extended hiatus from the industry that has spanned 14 years. “I am retired,” the 79-year-old Weir said at the French event when asked about his 14-year hiatus from directing films.
Continue reading ‘Truman Show’ & ‘Dead Poets Society’ Director Peter Weir Retires From Filmmaking After 14-Year Hiatus: “I Have No More Energy” at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Truman Show’ & ‘Dead Poets Society’ Director Peter Weir Retires From Filmmaking After 14-Year Hiatus: “I Have No More Energy” at The Playlist.
- 3/18/2024
- by Christopher Marc
- The Playlist
Last year, Australian filmmaker Peter Weir was given an honorary Oscar for having “illuminated the human experience with his unique and expansive body of work.” Sadly, it’s now official that his filmography is complete, as Weir confirmed during an appearance at the Festival de la Cinémathèque in Paris that he has retired from directing.
Télérama reported (and IndieWire was kind enough to translate their report) that Weir was asked why 14 years have gone by since his last movie. Weir replied, “I am retired. Why did I stop cinema? Because, quite simply, I have no more energy.“
Born in 1944, Weir got his career started in television back in the 1960s, working on the TV projects The Life and Times of the Reverend Buck Shotte and Man on a Green Bike. After contributing a segment to the anthology film Three to Go, he made the 50 minute movie Homesdale and the documentary Whatever Happened to Green Valley?...
Télérama reported (and IndieWire was kind enough to translate their report) that Weir was asked why 14 years have gone by since his last movie. Weir replied, “I am retired. Why did I stop cinema? Because, quite simply, I have no more energy.“
Born in 1944, Weir got his career started in television back in the 1960s, working on the TV projects The Life and Times of the Reverend Buck Shotte and Man on a Green Bike. After contributing a segment to the anthology film Three to Go, he made the 50 minute movie Homesdale and the documentary Whatever Happened to Green Valley?...
- 3/18/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
After movies such as Dead Poets Society, Master And Commander and The Truman Show, Peter Weir won’t be making another film.
This year marks the 21st birthday of a flat-out masterpiece of a blockbuster, 2003’s Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World. Not just because it has a great telling of the weevils joke in it, the Russell Crowe-headlined film is genuinely wonderful and deserves a 4K re-release.
It’s also just one of the many terrific movies from Australian director Peter Weir who, across a career that’s spanned decades, has given us features such as Picnic At Hanging Rock, The Truman Show, Fearless, Dead Poets Society and Witness.
His last movie was back in 2010, the Jim Sturgess-headlined The Way Back. Since then, Weir has been linked with a film called The Keep that obviously didn’t happen. Peter Weir was also set to direct Shantaram,...
This year marks the 21st birthday of a flat-out masterpiece of a blockbuster, 2003’s Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World. Not just because it has a great telling of the weevils joke in it, the Russell Crowe-headlined film is genuinely wonderful and deserves a 4K re-release.
It’s also just one of the many terrific movies from Australian director Peter Weir who, across a career that’s spanned decades, has given us features such as Picnic At Hanging Rock, The Truman Show, Fearless, Dead Poets Society and Witness.
His last movie was back in 2010, the Jim Sturgess-headlined The Way Back. Since then, Weir has been linked with a film called The Keep that obviously didn’t happen. Peter Weir was also set to direct Shantaram,...
- 3/18/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Peter Weir has directed some of the most acclaimed blockbusters of the last half century, often straddling the line between art and commerce with studio hits like “The Truman Show” and “Dead Poets Society.” But while the Australian director has not made a movie since the 2010 drama “The Way Back,” fans have held out hope that Weir might find his way back into the director’s chair — perhaps on the “Master and Commander” sequel that Russell Crowe has openly lobbied to make. But it now appears that Weir has officially walked away from filmmaking for good.
Appearing at the Festival de la Cinémathèque in Paris (via Télérama), Weir gave a blunt update on his filmmaking career that should squash any hopes that the 79-year-old director has another movie in him.
“I am retired,” Weir said when asked about his 14 year hiatus from filmmaking. “Why did I stop cinema? Because, quite simply,...
Appearing at the Festival de la Cinémathèque in Paris (via Télérama), Weir gave a blunt update on his filmmaking career that should squash any hopes that the 79-year-old director has another movie in him.
“I am retired,” Weir said when asked about his 14 year hiatus from filmmaking. “Why did I stop cinema? Because, quite simply,...
- 3/17/2024
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
In 1982, anthropologist Wade Davis traveled to Haiti on a mission: to investigate documented cases of zombiism, specifically cases of people who had been declared dead but who then miraculously came back to life. Davis immersed himself in the very real world of Haitian voodoo, witnessing an array of unbelievable rituals and fascinating rites, prompting him to write the book The Serpent and the Rainbow, which would go on to become a bestseller. Referred to in certain circles as a sort of real life Indiana Jones, Davis’ profile rose and, of course, Hollywood came calling, hoping his tales of voodoo and mystery might translate into a spectacular big screen adventure. Davis was wary of Hollywood and worried the adaptation of his book would bastardize his accounts, but hoped if the right people were involved, his story would be given a respectable treatment. As is often the case in the City of Angels,...
- 2/26/2024
- by Eric Walkuski
- JoBlo.com
Love is in the air this week with the arrival of Valentine’s Day. Naturally, that means this week’s streaming picks are dedicated to Valentine’s Day-appropriate horror movies.
While there is no shortage of horror dedicated to exploring and exploiting the best and worst of love and romance, these titles cast a wider net. These five horror movies play with concepts of love or simply take place on Valentine’s Day. So cuddle up with these horror movies that are perfect for the holiday this week, from demonic lust to enigmatic genre-benders.
Here’s where you can stream them this week.
For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.
Luz – Crackle, Plex, The Roku Channel, Tubi, Vudu
Luz, a taxi driver, arrives at a police station for help and a lengthy tale of demonic possession. Meanwhile, the demon is working its way there to reunite with the object of its desire,...
While there is no shortage of horror dedicated to exploring and exploiting the best and worst of love and romance, these titles cast a wider net. These five horror movies play with concepts of love or simply take place on Valentine’s Day. So cuddle up with these horror movies that are perfect for the holiday this week, from demonic lust to enigmatic genre-benders.
Here’s where you can stream them this week.
For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.
Luz – Crackle, Plex, The Roku Channel, Tubi, Vudu
Luz, a taxi driver, arrives at a police station for help and a lengthy tale of demonic possession. Meanwhile, the demon is working its way there to reunite with the object of its desire,...
- 2/12/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Clockwise from top left: Megan Fox (Getty/Jason Merritt), Hula girl figurine (Getty/Erik Von Weber), Ryan Gosling (Getty/John Phillips), Natalie Portman (Getty/Michael Buckner), Edward Norton (Getty/Jason Merritt)
Losing a job sucks, no matter who you are. And although it’s easy to believe that it would...
Losing a job sucks, no matter who you are. And although it’s easy to believe that it would...
- 2/2/2024
- by Matt Mills
- avclub.com
Valentine’s Day isn’t just about roses and chocolates. For those who love a good scare, it’s the perfect opportunity to blend romance with the macabre. Here’s a list of 10 Valentine’s Day horror movies that will make your date night thrillingly unforgettable. From classic slashers to psychological thrillers, these films are sure to add an unconventional twist to your celebrations.
10. Pontypool (2008)
Starting our list is a hidden gem in the horror genre, Pontypool. Directed by Bruce McDonald, this Canadian film turns a radio station into a claustrophobic nightmare. Stephen McHattie’s performance as a shock jock witnessing a bizarre viral outbreak through phone calls is both chilling and thought-provoking. It’s a cerebral horror that plays with language and fear in a way that’s both unique and unsettling.
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9. Raising Cain (1992)
Brian De Palma’s Raising Cain is a psychological...
10. Pontypool (2008)
Starting our list is a hidden gem in the horror genre, Pontypool. Directed by Bruce McDonald, this Canadian film turns a radio station into a claustrophobic nightmare. Stephen McHattie’s performance as a shock jock witnessing a bizarre viral outbreak through phone calls is both chilling and thought-provoking. It’s a cerebral horror that plays with language and fear in a way that’s both unique and unsettling.
Where to Watch:
Powered by
JustWatch
9. Raising Cain (1992)
Brian De Palma’s Raising Cain is a psychological...
- 2/1/2024
- by Kimberley Elizabeth
Copenhagen-based LevelK has pounced on world sales rights to the Swedish suspense drama “Hunters on a White Field,” toplining stellar acting trio Jens Hultén, Magnus Krepper and Ardalan Esmaili.
The pic will bow as an exclusive market screening at Göteborg’s Nordic Film Market, running Jan. 31-Feb 2.
Making her feature debut as writer-director is Sarah Gyllenstierna, a former assistant producer and director to artists including Spike Lee and Matthew Barney.
The suspense drama, based on a novel by Mats Wägeus, follows three men – Alex, Greger and Henrik – who get together a weekend to go hunting in the woods. The novice Alex learns how to hunt from his experienced partners. An initial spell of hunting success sharpens their instincts and stirs a sense of rivalry. One day, all animals vanish and the forest turns eerily quiet, yet for the men-the hunt must go on.
“I started developing this film in 2020 when...
The pic will bow as an exclusive market screening at Göteborg’s Nordic Film Market, running Jan. 31-Feb 2.
Making her feature debut as writer-director is Sarah Gyllenstierna, a former assistant producer and director to artists including Spike Lee and Matthew Barney.
The suspense drama, based on a novel by Mats Wägeus, follows three men – Alex, Greger and Henrik – who get together a weekend to go hunting in the woods. The novice Alex learns how to hunt from his experienced partners. An initial spell of hunting success sharpens their instincts and stirs a sense of rivalry. One day, all animals vanish and the forest turns eerily quiet, yet for the men-the hunt must go on.
“I started developing this film in 2020 when...
- 1/29/2024
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
For a brief shining moment at the beginning of the 21st century, it seemed as though the historical epic was back. Despite the sniffs of some prominent film critics, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator walked away with the Best Picture Oscar in the century’s first year; a flood of sword and sandal epics invaded cinemas like the 1950s never ended; and it generally wasn’t a Russell Crowe movie unless the Australian thespian was waving a saber, cutlass, gladius, or other form of blade through the air.
Yet the movie which arguably stood tallest during this fleeting period was Peter Weir’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Not so much adapting any single novel in author Patrick O’Brian’s legendary Aubrey-Maturin book series, Weir pulled from close to a half-dozen tales in this saga set on the high seas during the Napoleonic Wars. Often celebrated for their historical authenticity and verisimilitude,...
Yet the movie which arguably stood tallest during this fleeting period was Peter Weir’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Not so much adapting any single novel in author Patrick O’Brian’s legendary Aubrey-Maturin book series, Weir pulled from close to a half-dozen tales in this saga set on the high seas during the Napoleonic Wars. Often celebrated for their historical authenticity and verisimilitude,...
- 1/29/2024
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.
Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!
Candy Land Blu-ray from Mvd
One of last year’s indie horror standouts, Candy Land is getting a Blu-ray release on February 5 from Mvd and Roxwell Films. Special features include a commentary by director John Swab and a digital zine.
Swab writes and directs. Olivia Luccardi, Sam Quartin, Eden Brolin, Owen Campbell, Virginia Rand, Guinevere Turner, and William Baldwin star.
In her review, Meagan Navarro said “Candy Land gives a refreshing perspective through its condemnation of religion and its positioning of sex workers as protagonists. It’s a more nuanced and lived-in approach to the sleazy slasher format, and its affecting characters elevate the familiar.”
Art the Clown Doll from Living Dead Doll
Terrifier’s...
Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!
Candy Land Blu-ray from Mvd
One of last year’s indie horror standouts, Candy Land is getting a Blu-ray release on February 5 from Mvd and Roxwell Films. Special features include a commentary by director John Swab and a digital zine.
Swab writes and directs. Olivia Luccardi, Sam Quartin, Eden Brolin, Owen Campbell, Virginia Rand, Guinevere Turner, and William Baldwin star.
In her review, Meagan Navarro said “Candy Land gives a refreshing perspective through its condemnation of religion and its positioning of sex workers as protagonists. It’s a more nuanced and lived-in approach to the sleazy slasher format, and its affecting characters elevate the familiar.”
Art the Clown Doll from Living Dead Doll
Terrifier’s...
- 1/19/2024
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
In a delayed but delightful arrival for the UK’s post-festive season release schedule, Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers emerges as this January’s perfect antidote for the winter blues. Offering a genial, gentle, and redemptive story about personal growth, friendship and sacrifice, Payne’s film skilfully navigates the human condition with the Sideway director’s characteristic precision.
The Holdovers reunites Payne with Sideways star Paul Giamatti and features exquisite turns from Da’Vine Joy Randolph and newcomer Dominic Sessa.
New England, 1970. Paul Hunham (Giamatti), a taciturn Classics teacher has worked at the same exclusive prep school for decades. Disliked by almost everyone at the school for his crotchety exterior and unwillingness to bend the rules, Hunham finds himself on the receiving end of a barely disguised revenge punishment by the school’s long-suffering principle. He is saddled with the task of babysitting a handful of students during the Christmas period,...
The Holdovers reunites Payne with Sideways star Paul Giamatti and features exquisite turns from Da’Vine Joy Randolph and newcomer Dominic Sessa.
New England, 1970. Paul Hunham (Giamatti), a taciturn Classics teacher has worked at the same exclusive prep school for decades. Disliked by almost everyone at the school for his crotchety exterior and unwillingness to bend the rules, Hunham finds himself on the receiving end of a barely disguised revenge punishment by the school’s long-suffering principle. He is saddled with the task of babysitting a handful of students during the Christmas period,...
- 1/19/2024
- by Linda Marric
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The Criterion Collection reaches out to encompass more radical works of cinema in April 2024, led by Mathieu Kassovitz's completely unsettling La Haine (1995); the seminal Werckmeister Harmonies (2000), described by Criterion as "a hypnotic parable of societal collapse from auteur Béla Tarr and codirector-editor Ágnes Hranitzky;" the remarkable I Am Cuba (1964) from director Mikhail Kalatozov; Nancy Savoca's under-appreciated Dogfight, starring Lili Taylor and River Phoenix; and Peter Weir's dreamy and mysterious Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), available in 4K. La Haine, Werckmeister Harmonies, and I Am Cuba are also being issued in 4K, so it's a splendid time for world cinema fans to dust off their wallets and indulge. (I say that knowing that April 15 is also looming as an important date...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 1/16/2024
- Screen Anarchy
Exclusive: Academy and Emmy Award-nominee Rosie Perez is set to star in the Apple TV+ limited series Before alongside executive producer Billy Crystal and Judith Light. She will portray Denise, a caring and strong-willed foster mother to Noah, one of Eli’s [Crystal] patients.
Written by Sarah Thorp, Before is a 10-episode atmospheric, character-driven psychological thriller about Eli, a child psychiatrist who, after recently losing his wife, Lynn (Light), encounters a troubled young boy who seems to have a haunting connection to Eli’s past.
Seductively enigmatic, Lynn is the love of Eli’s life, but her recent death may not be quite what it seems. As Eli digs deeper into the hidden life of the wife he thought he knew, he soon finds Lynn haunting him from beyond the grave.
Hailing from Paramount Television Studios, Before will be showrun by Thorp. Emmy Award-winner Adam Bernstein will direct the pilot.
Written by Sarah Thorp, Before is a 10-episode atmospheric, character-driven psychological thriller about Eli, a child psychiatrist who, after recently losing his wife, Lynn (Light), encounters a troubled young boy who seems to have a haunting connection to Eli’s past.
Seductively enigmatic, Lynn is the love of Eli’s life, but her recent death may not be quite what it seems. As Eli digs deeper into the hidden life of the wife he thought he knew, he soon finds Lynn haunting him from beyond the grave.
Hailing from Paramount Television Studios, Before will be showrun by Thorp. Emmy Award-winner Adam Bernstein will direct the pilot.
- 1/9/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Mel Gibson is the Oscar-winning actor and director who has had his fair share of highs and lows, due in large part to several self-inflicted scandals. Let’s look back at 12 of his greatest films, ranked worst to best.
Born in 1956, Gibson and his family moved from New York to Australia, where he first came to prominence as an actor thanks to George Miller‘s original “Mad Max” trilogy, plus leading roles in Peter Weir‘s “Gallipoli” and “The Year of Living Dangerously.” He had equal success in the US, starring in everything from action films (the “Lethal Weapon” franchise) to romantic comedies (“What Women Want”).
He first hit the Oscar jackpot with the 1995 historical epic “Braveheart,” in which he also starred as Scottish warrior William Wallace. That film brought his wins in Best Picture and Best Director. He had similar directorial success with the controversial box-office bonanza “The Passion of the Christ...
Born in 1956, Gibson and his family moved from New York to Australia, where he first came to prominence as an actor thanks to George Miller‘s original “Mad Max” trilogy, plus leading roles in Peter Weir‘s “Gallipoli” and “The Year of Living Dangerously.” He had equal success in the US, starring in everything from action films (the “Lethal Weapon” franchise) to romantic comedies (“What Women Want”).
He first hit the Oscar jackpot with the 1995 historical epic “Braveheart,” in which he also starred as Scottish warrior William Wallace. That film brought his wins in Best Picture and Best Director. He had similar directorial success with the controversial box-office bonanza “The Passion of the Christ...
- 12/30/2023
- by Misty Holland, Tom O'Brien, Chris Beachum and Zach Laws
- Gold Derby
When Robin Williams filmed Dead Poets Society in 1988, he was working with a cast of young actors, most of whom were unknowns at the time — but several of them, including Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, and Robert Sean Leonard, went on to become stars in their own right. Playing the teacher to the young actors’ students, Williams spent a lot of time with them on the set. At the time the film was released, Williams complimented director Peter Weir casting choices, noting that he became friends with many of his young co-stars over the course of the shoot. (Click on the media bar below to hear Robin Williams) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Robin_Williams_Dead_Poets_soceity_.mp3
Dead Poets Society is available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and most digital platforms.
The post Robin Williams Thought The ‘Dead Poets Society’ Would Stay Linked Forever appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
Dead Poets Society is available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and most digital platforms.
The post Robin Williams Thought The ‘Dead Poets Society’ Would Stay Linked Forever appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 12/25/2023
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
For the entirety of my twenties and a chunk of my thirties, I knew the inebriated pleasure of debating the most trivial subjects known to humankind via what we used to call the "bar argument." Oh sure, people still knock back beers and fiercely debate the Hegelian messaging of the "Airport" franchise, but there was a time, a glorious time, when an elbow-tipping blowhard could loudly assert as fact that "The White Shadow" was an "All in the Family" spinoff, and no one could pull a rectangular device out of their pocket to authoritatively prove they're utterly full of horse pucky. Short of pulling Norman Jewison out from behind the jukebox for a McLuhan-esque correction, this dolt could double and triple down, and all you could do was yell at them. We've lost so much.
The best bar arguments tended to revolve around song lyrics, but movie quotes ran a very close second.
The best bar arguments tended to revolve around song lyrics, but movie quotes ran a very close second.
- 12/24/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
A full house greeted Chris Hemsworth as he dropped into the Red Sea Film Festival for an In Conversation event with jury head, Baz Luhrmann. It was something of an Oz fest as the beginning of the conversation was dominated by George Miller and littered with references to fellow antipodean superstars like Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman and Mel Gibson. It was natural Miller was predominant as Hemsworth had flown directly from Comic Con in Brazil, where the first trailer of Miller’s “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” was premiered.
“There was a lot of enthusiasm,” Hemsworth said. “We finished filming a year and a bit ago, so there was a lot of anticipation from me and the fan base.” Both Luhrmann and Hemsworth credited Miller as an inspiration on their careers. Luhrmann quoted Akira Kurosawa in praising Miller’s ability to create an “immaculate reality” as a storyteller who showed...
“There was a lot of enthusiasm,” Hemsworth said. “We finished filming a year and a bit ago, so there was a lot of anticipation from me and the fan base.” Both Luhrmann and Hemsworth credited Miller as an inspiration on their careers. Luhrmann quoted Akira Kurosawa in praising Miller’s ability to create an “immaculate reality” as a storyteller who showed...
- 12/5/2023
- by John Bleasdale
- Variety Film + TV
Terry Camilleri Photo: Terry Camilleri, Screenshot: Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Joaquin Phoenix may be the latest actor to play Napoleon Bonaparte, but he certainly isn’t the first (nor will he be the last). Of all the people who’ve played the French emperor, from Marlon Brando to Verne Troyer,...
Joaquin Phoenix may be the latest actor to play Napoleon Bonaparte, but he certainly isn’t the first (nor will he be the last). Of all the people who’ve played the French emperor, from Marlon Brando to Verne Troyer,...
- 11/23/2023
- by Matt Schimkowitz
- avclub.com
Ridley Scott tends to make films that fall into one of three buckets. First, we have his science-fiction work, which features classics like "Alien" and "Blade Runner" and runs all the way up to "The Martian" and his two "Alien" prequels. Second, there are gritty dramas. Some of them have big scale action elements, like "Black Hawk Down," and others are much more stripped down, such as "The Counselor." But by far, the biggest bucket of Ridley Scott's career is for historical epics. From his very first film back in 1977 with "The Duelists," Scott has shown a consistent interest in history, especially if it involves fighting.
Just in the last decade, Scott has directed the masterful "The Last Duel," the decidedly un-masterful "Exodus: God and Kings," and his most recent film "Napoleon," all of which fall into this bucket. He does so many of them that a couple fall under the radar.
Just in the last decade, Scott has directed the masterful "The Last Duel," the decidedly un-masterful "Exodus: God and Kings," and his most recent film "Napoleon," all of which fall into this bucket. He does so many of them that a couple fall under the radar.
- 11/15/2023
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
Australian and New Zealand indie distributor Umbrella Entertainment will launch Brollie, a free of charge, ad-supported streaming service later this month. It will lean on Umbrella’s library of classic content and claims to be the first free streaming platform specializing in Australian film and TV content.
Brollie will launch on Nov. 23 with over 300 titles including: “Babadook”; “Two Hands” (dir. Gregor Jordan, 1999); cult classics “Sweat”; “Erskineville Kings”; and “Cut” starring Kylie Minogue.
Brollie will also have a section for Indigenous Australia, including a collection of films starring Aboriginal screen legend David Gulpilil. These include “Walkabout”; “Storm Boy”; and “The Last Wave”.
A documentary slate includes “Servant or Slave” and “Ablaze”.
Subscribers will be invited to be part of the Brollie Film Club, where Brollie’s in-house team handpicks the best of the catalogue twice a month. Members can terrify themselves with the ‘Australian Nightmares’ collection exploring the best of Aussie...
Brollie will launch on Nov. 23 with over 300 titles including: “Babadook”; “Two Hands” (dir. Gregor Jordan, 1999); cult classics “Sweat”; “Erskineville Kings”; and “Cut” starring Kylie Minogue.
Brollie will also have a section for Indigenous Australia, including a collection of films starring Aboriginal screen legend David Gulpilil. These include “Walkabout”; “Storm Boy”; and “The Last Wave”.
A documentary slate includes “Servant or Slave” and “Ablaze”.
Subscribers will be invited to be part of the Brollie Film Club, where Brollie’s in-house team handpicks the best of the catalogue twice a month. Members can terrify themselves with the ‘Australian Nightmares’ collection exploring the best of Aussie...
- 11/14/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Hollywood works in phases. We’re in the middle of a vast superhero movie phase, which, maybe, seems to be on the downslide. Twenty-five years ago, war movies were all the rage in the wake of Saving Private Ryan, and once those taped off, historical epics became the blockbuster of choice for studios. Indeed, it was the smash success of Braveheart and Gladiator that paved the way for this run of films which started to tape off in the mid-aughts after a few mammothly pricey films, such as The Last Samurai and Troy, only earned modest profits for their studios. One such film was 20th Century Fox’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. It earned critical raves but cost too much to become the franchise Fox was hoping for, with it being based on a long-running series of books by Patrick O’Brien. Yet, the movie holds...
- 11/8/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Irish actress Saoirse Ronan was spotted wearing a big stone-studded ring, fueling rumors of her engagement.
The ring’s significance is unknown yet. Ronan and fellow actor Jack Lowden co-starred in 2018’s Mary Queen of Scots after which they sparked rumours of being together in a relationship.
They co-founded Arcade Pictures, a production firm, and Ronan compliments Lowden’s efforts. Ronan also praises Lowden, saying that an Oscar would be as wonderful as praise for Ronan. Ronan has appeared in various films, including Peter Weir’s war drama The Way Back, Hanna, Violet & Daisy, The Hobbit, Byzantium, The Host, How I Live Now, and Justin and the Knights of Valour.
Ronan and Lowden’s representatives have not responded to the rumors. Fans are obsessed with their rumoured romance and after this incident of the ring seen on her finger, it has made their fans overjoyed.
Also Read: Julia Fox...
The ring’s significance is unknown yet. Ronan and fellow actor Jack Lowden co-starred in 2018’s Mary Queen of Scots after which they sparked rumours of being together in a relationship.
They co-founded Arcade Pictures, a production firm, and Ronan compliments Lowden’s efforts. Ronan also praises Lowden, saying that an Oscar would be as wonderful as praise for Ronan. Ronan has appeared in various films, including Peter Weir’s war drama The Way Back, Hanna, Violet & Daisy, The Hobbit, Byzantium, The Host, How I Live Now, and Justin and the Knights of Valour.
Ronan and Lowden’s representatives have not responded to the rumors. Fans are obsessed with their rumoured romance and after this incident of the ring seen on her finger, it has made their fans overjoyed.
Also Read: Julia Fox...
- 11/2/2023
- by Purva Mudiraj
- https://dailyresearchplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/new-sam
The first shots of Peter Weir’s Witness show an Amish community from over the tops of long grass, the camera’s point of view suggesting that of an inquisitive child. Even when the camera eventually moves closer to the Amish people at the center of the film, it maintains a certain emotional distance to them in order to convey their status as outsiders to the wider world all around them. That world immediately collides with their anachronistic existence in stark ways, with one farmer’s horse and buggy causing a traffic jam of cars behind him on a Pennsylvania road, and the idyllic countryside where the Amish reside gradually morphing into exurban sprawl of fast food chains and gas stations.
That culture clash becomes the bedrock for a thriller that kicks into motion when eight-year-old Samuel (Lukas Haas), the child of a recently widowed Amish woman, Rachel (Kelly McGillis...
That culture clash becomes the bedrock for a thriller that kicks into motion when eight-year-old Samuel (Lukas Haas), the child of a recently widowed Amish woman, Rachel (Kelly McGillis...
- 10/31/2023
- by Jake Cole
- Slant Magazine
NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.
Bam
A series on Halloween-set movies is underway, including Halloween and Halloween III.
Museum of the Moving Image
Reverse Shot celebrates its 20th anniversary with a months-long programming run, continuing this weekend with Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse and The Village, both on 35mm.
Anthology Film Archives
Work by Peter Weir, Stuart Gordon, and more play in a series of films inspired by H.P. Lovecraft.
IFC Center
An extensive William Friedkin series continues, while The Holy Mountain and The Raid: Redemption play late; Oldboy and Gregg Araki’s Nowhere screen in new restorations.
Museum of Modern Art
A series on pre-revolution Iranian cinema is underway, as well as a collection of female-made silent cinema.
Roxy Cinema
Prints of The Shining, Coppola’s Dracula, and Halloween III play, as does Messiah of Evil.
The post NYC Weekend Watch: Halloween, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Messiah...
Bam
A series on Halloween-set movies is underway, including Halloween and Halloween III.
Museum of the Moving Image
Reverse Shot celebrates its 20th anniversary with a months-long programming run, continuing this weekend with Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse and The Village, both on 35mm.
Anthology Film Archives
Work by Peter Weir, Stuart Gordon, and more play in a series of films inspired by H.P. Lovecraft.
IFC Center
An extensive William Friedkin series continues, while The Holy Mountain and The Raid: Redemption play late; Oldboy and Gregg Araki’s Nowhere screen in new restorations.
Museum of Modern Art
A series on pre-revolution Iranian cinema is underway, as well as a collection of female-made silent cinema.
Roxy Cinema
Prints of The Shining, Coppola’s Dracula, and Halloween III play, as does Messiah of Evil.
The post NYC Weekend Watch: Halloween, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Messiah...
- 10/27/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
The list of directors who get to do exactly what they want onscreen is not long. Even big-budget, A-list directors not named Scorsese or Nolan must work within commercial IP.
Alexander Payne is different. For one, his budgets have never exceeded eight figures or even close For another, this final-cut pro is always nurturing multiple projects in various stages of completion. Payne has so many knocking around in his head that during our Zoom interview he has to keep reminding himself which film he’s discussing.
The state of his development slate is “undisciplined,” he said. “When I have the time to sit down and work on it and make the time. You get these questions, like: ‘What is your daily writing routine?’ Well, none. I have to say: ‘I’m directing now,’ or ‘I’m editing now.’ I have to tell myself, ‘Oh, I’m writing now.'”
“The Holdovers” gestated for years.
Alexander Payne is different. For one, his budgets have never exceeded eight figures or even close For another, this final-cut pro is always nurturing multiple projects in various stages of completion. Payne has so many knocking around in his head that during our Zoom interview he has to keep reminding himself which film he’s discussing.
The state of his development slate is “undisciplined,” he said. “When I have the time to sit down and work on it and make the time. You get these questions, like: ‘What is your daily writing routine?’ Well, none. I have to say: ‘I’m directing now,’ or ‘I’m editing now.’ I have to tell myself, ‘Oh, I’m writing now.'”
“The Holdovers” gestated for years.
- 10/25/2023
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Perhaps no other film has shaped Hollywood like "Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope" has since 1977, which is not bad for a movie whose crew regarded it as a joke during production. George Lucas' epic saga of space wizards, space fascists, and plucky everyday heroes long ago in a galaxy far, far away was ground-breaking in its VFX, yet its story looked to the past. Drawing from a myriad of sources across different cultures and genres, Lucas wove a fairy tale as elemental as any in its depiction of the eternal war between the forces of darkness and light.
Due to its success, the cast of "Star Wars" would forever be associated first and foremost with their roles in the film, sometimes to the chagrin of the actors who had led long and illustrious careers before that. For the likes of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels,...
Due to its success, the cast of "Star Wars" would forever be associated first and foremost with their roles in the film, sometimes to the chagrin of the actors who had led long and illustrious careers before that. For the likes of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels,...
- 10/4/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Exclusive: The Best Picture Oscar winners One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, The English Patient and Amadeus have a new owner.
The Saul Zaentz Company has sold its film library, which also includes titles such as The Mosquito Coast, The Unbearable Lightness of Being and Wattstax, to Teatro della Pace Films.
The films are staying in the family, though, as Teatro della Pace is owned by Zaentz’s nephew, producer Paul Zaentz. Acf Investment Bank advised The Saul Zaentz Company on the deal alongside Arnold & Porter as legal advisers.
It comes three months after The Saul Zaentz Company sold the rights to The Lord of the Rings, via its Middle-Earth Enterprises, to Sweden’s Embracer for nearly $400M. Those rights included motion picture, video game, board game, merchandising, theme parks and stage production rights relating to the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit franchises.
Terms of the Teatro...
The Saul Zaentz Company has sold its film library, which also includes titles such as The Mosquito Coast, The Unbearable Lightness of Being and Wattstax, to Teatro della Pace Films.
The films are staying in the family, though, as Teatro della Pace is owned by Zaentz’s nephew, producer Paul Zaentz. Acf Investment Bank advised The Saul Zaentz Company on the deal alongside Arnold & Porter as legal advisers.
It comes three months after The Saul Zaentz Company sold the rights to The Lord of the Rings, via its Middle-Earth Enterprises, to Sweden’s Embracer for nearly $400M. Those rights included motion picture, video game, board game, merchandising, theme parks and stage production rights relating to the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit franchises.
Terms of the Teatro...
- 10/3/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
I remember going to the movie theater in 1998 to see “The Truman Show” for the first time and being blown away. It was the scariest non-horror film I’d ever seen up to that point (and maybe still), showing us a world of utter consumerism and commodification and its horrific impact on a man who didn’t know he was born to literally be a reality show. It seemed inconceivable that something like what happens to Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) could really occur. This was, after all, the era before we started carrying around smartphones and mini computers in our pocket, before anything called Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and years before even MySpace came into being – and before we were all deputized as amateur filmmakers thanks to the still camera and video we keep with us and use to publish sometimes hourly.
Twenty-five years after its release in the...
Twenty-five years after its release in the...
- 9/1/2023
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
With six Oscar nominations under his belt, Australian-born director Peter Weir has firmly established himself as one of our most respected filmmakers thanks to a number of visually striking, narratively ambitious movies. But how many of his titles remain classics? Let’s take a look back at all 13 of his movies, ranked worst to best.
Born in 1944, Weir helped usher in the Australian New Wave of cinema with “Picnic at Hanging Rock” (1975), “The Last Wave” (1977), “Gallipoli” (1981) and “The Year of Living Dangerously” (1983). He brought his unique brand of filmmaking to Hollywood with the romantic mystery “Witness” (1985), which brought him his first Oscar nomination for Best Director. He earned a subsequent bid in the category for the inspirational teacher drama “Dead Poets Society” (1989), competing once again for the media satire “The Truman Show” (1998) and the swashbuckling epic “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” (2003), for which he also contended in Best Picture.
Born in 1944, Weir helped usher in the Australian New Wave of cinema with “Picnic at Hanging Rock” (1975), “The Last Wave” (1977), “Gallipoli” (1981) and “The Year of Living Dangerously” (1983). He brought his unique brand of filmmaking to Hollywood with the romantic mystery “Witness” (1985), which brought him his first Oscar nomination for Best Director. He earned a subsequent bid in the category for the inspirational teacher drama “Dead Poets Society” (1989), competing once again for the media satire “The Truman Show” (1998) and the swashbuckling epic “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” (2003), for which he also contended in Best Picture.
- 8/20/2023
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
The ’80s was a decade of movies that you can hear at a roar even on mute. A screenshot of Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay aboard the train in “Risky Business” has a sound to it. The same goes for a still image of Kaneda riding towards Neo-Tokyo in “Akira,” or Jack Nicholson’s car snaking its way up the mountains towards the Overlook Hotel during the opening titles of “The Shining.”
It was a decade of synths and sad jazz; a decade of legends reaching the height of their powers (e.g. John Williams and Ennio Morricone), and of newcomers from other disciplines becoming cinematic virtuosos in their own right (e.g. Ryuichi Sakamoto and Philip Glass). The movies had never sounded that way before, but the best film scores of the ’80s — our picks are listed below — continue to echo in our minds as if they’ve always been there.
It was a decade of synths and sad jazz; a decade of legends reaching the height of their powers (e.g. John Williams and Ennio Morricone), and of newcomers from other disciplines becoming cinematic virtuosos in their own right (e.g. Ryuichi Sakamoto and Philip Glass). The movies had never sounded that way before, but the best film scores of the ’80s — our picks are listed below — continue to echo in our minds as if they’ve always been there.
- 8/15/2023
- by David Ehrlich and Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman went through a somewhat tumultuous divorce that emotionally impacted the both of them. But it also may have affected Hawke’s work, as he might have channeled his heartbreak into his Before Sunset performance.
How Ethan Hawke’s divorce from Uma Thurman affected his ‘Before Sunset’ performance Ethan Hawke | Jim Spellman/WireImage
Hawke holds his Before films very closely. Directed by Richard Linklater, the three movies have focused on the fleeting relationship between Hawke and his co-star Julie Delpy. The first film in the trilogy, Before Sunrise, saw Hawke and Delpy’s characters meeting each other. It was a project that meant emotionally more to Hawke than some of his other films.
“Dead Poets Society was all about how brilliant [director] Peter Weir was – anyone could’ve played my part,” Hawke once told New York. “But being in Before Sunrise was the closest thing I...
How Ethan Hawke’s divorce from Uma Thurman affected his ‘Before Sunset’ performance Ethan Hawke | Jim Spellman/WireImage
Hawke holds his Before films very closely. Directed by Richard Linklater, the three movies have focused on the fleeting relationship between Hawke and his co-star Julie Delpy. The first film in the trilogy, Before Sunrise, saw Hawke and Delpy’s characters meeting each other. It was a project that meant emotionally more to Hawke than some of his other films.
“Dead Poets Society was all about how brilliant [director] Peter Weir was – anyone could’ve played my part,” Hawke once told New York. “But being in Before Sunrise was the closest thing I...
- 8/6/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
"Barbie" might be a multimillion-dollar corporate product based on a ridiculously lucrative multimedia property, but it's also an earnest love letter to cinema history. Of course, that's nothing new for co-writer and director Greta Gerwig. A quick glimpse at the multi-hyphenate's filmography will reveal she's never shied away from openly acknowledging her influences. "Frances Ha," the 2012 dramedy Gerwig starred in and co-wrote with the film's director and her "Barbie" co-writer/real-life partner, Noah Baumbach, overtly tips its hat to the French New Wave, as does Gerwig's semi-autobiographical directorial debut, "Lady Bird" (her answer to Francois Truffaut's "The 400 Blows").
When it comes to "Barbie," there's no missing the references to "The Wizard of Oz" and Gene Kelly musicals like "An American in Paris," nor the deliberate parallels between the red pill/blue pill scene from "The Matrix" and Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) consulting Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) about her sudden existential crisis.
When it comes to "Barbie," there's no missing the references to "The Wizard of Oz" and Gene Kelly musicals like "An American in Paris," nor the deliberate parallels between the red pill/blue pill scene from "The Matrix" and Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) consulting Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) about her sudden existential crisis.
- 8/3/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
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