When Michaela Jaé (Mj) Rodriguez first booked one of the starring roles in FX’s “Pose,” she had a conversation with co-creator Steven Canals about how the groundbreaking series might change her life.
As millions of viewers turned “Pose” into a sensation, Rodriguez became a familiar face and a breakout star in the role of Blanca Rodriguez, a house mother who gets diagnosed with HIV. But major awards attention still took a little longer to catch up with the show’s critical acclaim. Rodriguez earned a Critics Choice Award nomination in 2020 but didn’t pick up an Emmy nomination until 2021, for the show’s third and final season.
In landing that nod this year, Rodriguez made history as the first trans performer to be recognized in a major Emmy acting category.
The nomination still catches Rodriguez by surprise sometimes, she tells Variety‘s Awards Circuit podcast. Since wrapping the series,...
As millions of viewers turned “Pose” into a sensation, Rodriguez became a familiar face and a breakout star in the role of Blanca Rodriguez, a house mother who gets diagnosed with HIV. But major awards attention still took a little longer to catch up with the show’s critical acclaim. Rodriguez earned a Critics Choice Award nomination in 2020 but didn’t pick up an Emmy nomination until 2021, for the show’s third and final season.
In landing that nod this year, Rodriguez made history as the first trans performer to be recognized in a major Emmy acting category.
The nomination still catches Rodriguez by surprise sometimes, she tells Variety‘s Awards Circuit podcast. Since wrapping the series,...
- 8/12/2021
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
Michaela Jaé “Mj” Rodriguez will star opposite Maya Rudolph in an upcoming Apple comedy series that hails from Alan Yang and Matt Hubbard, Variety has learned.
The series was ordered at Apple in March. It follows Molly (Rudolph), a woman whose seemingly perfect life is upended after her husband leaves her with nothing but 87 billion dollars. Rodriguez will play Sofia, the hard-working executive director of the non-profit funded by her absentee billionaire boss, Molly.
Rodriguez is best known for her role as Blanca in the Emmy-winning FX drama series “Pose,” which recently debuted its third and final season. Her other TV credits include “Nurse Jackie” and “Luke Cage,” while she has also starred in films such as “Adam” and “Saturday Church.” She recently starred as Audrey in the Pasadena Playhouse’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
She is repped by Gersh, Untitled Entertainment and Del Shaw Moonves.
Yang and Hubbard created the Apple series,...
The series was ordered at Apple in March. It follows Molly (Rudolph), a woman whose seemingly perfect life is upended after her husband leaves her with nothing but 87 billion dollars. Rodriguez will play Sofia, the hard-working executive director of the non-profit funded by her absentee billionaire boss, Molly.
Rodriguez is best known for her role as Blanca in the Emmy-winning FX drama series “Pose,” which recently debuted its third and final season. Her other TV credits include “Nurse Jackie” and “Luke Cage,” while she has also starred in films such as “Adam” and “Saturday Church.” She recently starred as Audrey in the Pasadena Playhouse’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
She is repped by Gersh, Untitled Entertainment and Del Shaw Moonves.
Yang and Hubbard created the Apple series,...
- 5/7/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
All 2021 Academy Awards nominees for Best Original Song will be performed during the preshow, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Et — not during the main show, which begins 90 minutes later.
The pre-show and main ceremony will be broadcast on ABC, as well as available to stream on Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV, FuboTV and on ABC.com (with provider authentication). The awards for Best Song and Best Score will be given out during the main show.
Leslie Odom Jr., a double nominee for acting and songwriting for “One Night in Miami,” will perform the end-titles theme he co-penned for the film, “Speak Now.” Diane Warren and singer Laura Pausini will join forces again for “Io Si (Seen),” which they co-wrote for “The Life Ahead.” “Fight for You” will be performed by the singer/co-writer H.E.R., who performed the old-school-soul throwback anthem over the end credits for “Judas and the Black Messiah.
The pre-show and main ceremony will be broadcast on ABC, as well as available to stream on Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV, FuboTV and on ABC.com (with provider authentication). The awards for Best Song and Best Score will be given out during the main show.
Leslie Odom Jr., a double nominee for acting and songwriting for “One Night in Miami,” will perform the end-titles theme he co-penned for the film, “Speak Now.” Diane Warren and singer Laura Pausini will join forces again for “Io Si (Seen),” which they co-wrote for “The Life Ahead.” “Fight for You” will be performed by the singer/co-writer H.E.R., who performed the old-school-soul throwback anthem over the end credits for “Judas and the Black Messiah.
- 4/25/2021
- by Jem Aswad
- Variety Film + TV
Brothers Darius Marder and Abraham Marder have earned their first Academy Award nominations for their script to “Sound of Metal,” which explores the journey of a heavy-metal drummer who loses his hearing and must learn to begin a new life as a deaf person. The idea actually stemmed from an unfinished documentary on the subject by Darius’ friend, filmmaker Derek Cianfrance, who has also earned a nomination for his co-story credit on the Best Original Screenplay nominee.
The trio will now be competing with Aaron Sorkin‘s historical drama “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” Emerald Fennell‘s genre-bending “Promising Young Woman,” Lee Isaac Chung‘s family memory piece “Minari” as well as “Judas and the Black Messiah,” written by Will Berson and Shaka King.
SEEDarius Marder interview: ‘Sound of Metal’ writer/director
Darius, who had directed a little-seen documentary “Loot” in 2008, became friends with Cianfrance, hot off the success of “Blue Valentine,...
The trio will now be competing with Aaron Sorkin‘s historical drama “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” Emerald Fennell‘s genre-bending “Promising Young Woman,” Lee Isaac Chung‘s family memory piece “Minari” as well as “Judas and the Black Messiah,” written by Will Berson and Shaka King.
SEEDarius Marder interview: ‘Sound of Metal’ writer/director
Darius, who had directed a little-seen documentary “Loot” in 2008, became friends with Cianfrance, hot off the success of “Blue Valentine,...
- 4/20/2021
- by Tom O'Brien
- Gold Derby
If you weren’t previously aware, Loot Crate is a subscription based crate service that offers random and exclusive items with each crate. “Whether you’re a gamer, anime fan or pop culture aficionado, we’ve got a crate for you! We curate a bundle of collectibles, apparel, figures & more that you can’t find anywhere else! Crates get delivered to your door. It’s like getting an awesome birthday present from a friend every month!” I’ve been a subscriber to the recently added “Destiny Crate” for the last couple of months now and I figured if you’re thinking about subscribing to any Loot
What’s Inside the Destiny 2 Europa Loot Crate?...
What’s Inside the Destiny 2 Europa Loot Crate?...
- 3/19/2021
- by Ben Hestad
- TVovermind.com
Amazon Studios is bringing three of its 2021 Oscar contenders to the Criterion Collection: Darius Marder’s “Sound of Metal,” Regina King’s “One Night in Miami,” and Garrett Bradley’s “Time.” The latter two will arrive on Criterion later this year, while “Sound of Metal” will bow in 2022. The addition of these three titles to the prestigious classic and contemporary film collection marks the first time Amazon Original movies are joining Criterion since the Criterion release of “Cold War.” All three movies are now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
While it may strike some cinephiles odd that titles available for streaming are heading to Criterion, this is not an unprecedented move on Criterion’s part. Not only is “Cold War” in the collection, but Criterion has teamed with Netflix in the past to release titles such as Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma,” Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story,” and Martin Scorsese...
While it may strike some cinephiles odd that titles available for streaming are heading to Criterion, this is not an unprecedented move on Criterion’s part. Not only is “Cold War” in the collection, but Criterion has teamed with Netflix in the past to release titles such as Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma,” Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story,” and Martin Scorsese...
- 3/5/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Darius Marder’s feature debut, “Sound of Metal,” is the riveting story of a heavy metal drummer (Riz Ahmed) who goes deaf and struggles to reassemble his life. Making it nearly consumed the 46-year-old Marder’s life. The film took more than a decade to produce, and those close to him speak about that process in almost spiritual terms. Call it fate, grit, or unfettered determination, but the real story of “Sound of Metal” begins with a $1 million check to a different filmmaker for another movie.
That was Derek Cianfrance’s “Blue Valentine.” IFP awarded the $1 million grant in 2006, eight years after he completed his acclaimed Sundance debut “Brother Tied.” Marder attended the IFP lunch celebrating Cianfrance’s prize, watching with keen interest; he’d recently quit a career in catering to direct his own debut, the documentary “Loot.” As he watched Cianfrance hold a giant check from the stage,...
That was Derek Cianfrance’s “Blue Valentine.” IFP awarded the $1 million grant in 2006, eight years after he completed his acclaimed Sundance debut “Brother Tied.” Marder attended the IFP lunch celebrating Cianfrance’s prize, watching with keen interest; he’d recently quit a career in catering to direct his own debut, the documentary “Loot.” As he watched Cianfrance hold a giant check from the stage,...
- 2/2/2021
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
When did today’s top screenwriters first know they wanted to be a writer and filmmaker? Is it harder to adapt or write something from scratch? Which films or filmmakers do they love and often revisit?
These were just some of the questions answered by four top scribes during Gold Derby’s Meet the Experts Q&a panel. Watch our full group chat with Jessica Goldberg and Angela Russo-Otstot (“Cherry”), Ruben Santiago-Hudson (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”), Kemp Powers (“One Night in Miami”) and Darius Marder (“Sound of Metal”) above. Click each individual name above to view each person’s individual interview.
“I’m a storyteller first,” declares multi-hyphenate Santiago-Hudson when asked about when and why he wanted to be a writer. “If you block me in acting, I go to writing. If you block me in writing, I’ll direct. If you block me in directing, I go fishin’,” he smiles.
These were just some of the questions answered by four top scribes during Gold Derby’s Meet the Experts Q&a panel. Watch our full group chat with Jessica Goldberg and Angela Russo-Otstot (“Cherry”), Ruben Santiago-Hudson (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”), Kemp Powers (“One Night in Miami”) and Darius Marder (“Sound of Metal”) above. Click each individual name above to view each person’s individual interview.
“I’m a storyteller first,” declares multi-hyphenate Santiago-Hudson when asked about when and why he wanted to be a writer. “If you block me in acting, I go to writing. If you block me in writing, I’ll direct. If you block me in directing, I go fishin’,” he smiles.
- 1/28/2021
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
“The first two words of the script are ‘he hears,’ and that’s before you see the picture, explains Darius Marder, who directed and co-wrote “Sound of Metal” with his brother Abraham Marder, based on a story by Marder and director Derek Cianfrance. “‘He hears.’ And then you come to picture. And the last line of the script, the first two words of the last line of the script are ‘he sees.’ There’s a very simply arc to that,” he says about the film’s underlying themes about self-discovery and community. “From the beginning this was a story about the trappings of identity and belonging. We had this mantra right from the beginning, which was ‘if you strip everything away, is what I am enough?'”
We talked with Marder as part of Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with key 2021 guild and Oscar contenders.
We talked with Marder as part of Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with key 2021 guild and Oscar contenders.
- 1/27/2021
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
Five acclaimed film writers will reveal details behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with key 2021 guild and Oscar contenders this month. Each person will participate in two video discussions to be published on Friday, January 22, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Rob Licuria and a group chat with Rob and all of them together.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:
“Cherry” (Apple TV+): Angela Russo-Otstot and Jessica Goldberg
Russo-Otstot’s career has included “V,” “Trust Me,” “The Shield” and “Day Break.” Goldberg’s career has included “Away,...
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:
“Cherry” (Apple TV+): Angela Russo-Otstot and Jessica Goldberg
Russo-Otstot’s career has included “V,” “Trust Me,” “The Shield” and “Day Break.” Goldberg’s career has included “Away,...
- 1/14/2021
- by Chris Beachum and Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
What kinds of collaborations do today’s top directors prefer? When do they know that they have gotten the perfect shot? How do they decide on casting? And which classic films do they revisit?
These were just some of the questions answered by four of filmdom’s top helmers during Gold Derby’s Meet the Experts panel, conducted virtually by this writer. Watch our full group interview with Fernando Frias de la Parra (“I’m No Longer Here”), Darius Marder (“Sound of Metal”), Aaron Schneider (“Greyhound”) and Florian Zeller (“The Father”) above. And click on each name above to view individual panels with each person.
All four of our panelists also took part in separate individual interviews that delved deeper into their own films. Watch each of these by clicking on their names below.
Fernando Frias de la Parra’ first feature, “Rezeta,” won the Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2014 Slamdance Film Festival.
These were just some of the questions answered by four of filmdom’s top helmers during Gold Derby’s Meet the Experts panel, conducted virtually by this writer. Watch our full group interview with Fernando Frias de la Parra (“I’m No Longer Here”), Darius Marder (“Sound of Metal”), Aaron Schneider (“Greyhound”) and Florian Zeller (“The Father”) above. And click on each name above to view individual panels with each person.
All four of our panelists also took part in separate individual interviews that delved deeper into their own films. Watch each of these by clicking on their names below.
Fernando Frias de la Parra’ first feature, “Rezeta,” won the Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2014 Slamdance Film Festival.
- 12/29/2020
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
“Sound of Metal” writer/director Darius Marder revealed that the sound design of this new Amazon Prime film took almost half a year to complete. That came at the end of production but as Marder explains, “my sound journey was very long. I wrote all about sound and started dreaming about sound and diagrammed it. I wanted something I hadn’t heard; something that was organic. I was looking for a sound artist and found Nicolas Becker.” Marder was part of Gold Derby’s Meet the Experts panel, conducted virtually by this writer (watch the exclusive video above).
“Sound of Metal” chronicles the story of Ruben (Riz Ahmed), a heavy metal drummer who suffers a sudden hearing loss. The recovering heroin addict finds refuge in a community of deaf people and works to buy cochlear implants. For Marder, the level of commitment from his lead actor was key to the success of the film.
“Sound of Metal” chronicles the story of Ruben (Riz Ahmed), a heavy metal drummer who suffers a sudden hearing loss. The recovering heroin addict finds refuge in a community of deaf people and works to buy cochlear implants. For Marder, the level of commitment from his lead actor was key to the success of the film.
- 12/29/2020
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Four top film directors will reveal the secrets behind their movies when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with key 2021 guild and Oscar contenders this month. Each person will participate in two video discussions to be published on Friday, December 18, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our executive editor Paul Sheehan and a group chat with Paul and all of the directors together.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:
“The Father” (Sony Pictures Classics): Florian Zeller
Zeller’s career has included such projects as “The Other Woman,” “Florida,” “Do Not Disturb...
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:
“The Father” (Sony Pictures Classics): Florian Zeller
Zeller’s career has included such projects as “The Other Woman,” “Florida,” “Do Not Disturb...
- 12/11/2020
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Sound of Metal is a movie pulsating with life. It’s such a gut-churning drama, the kind you feel instinctually in every passing moment. It’s a pure debut film from director Darius Marder. Prior to his Toronto Film Festival hit (now available on Amazon Prime), Marder co-wrote The Place Beyond the Pines, made his directorial debut with Loot (2008), and […]
The post ‘Sound of Metal’ Director Darius Marder Shot on 35mm Because It’s “My Goddamn Movie” [Interview] appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Sound of Metal’ Director Darius Marder Shot on 35mm Because It’s “My Goddamn Movie” [Interview] appeared first on /Film.
- 12/4/2020
- by Jack Giroux
- Slash Film
Sound Of Metal movie review is here. The 2019 American drama film directed and co-written by Darius Marder stars Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci, Lauren Ridloff and Mathieu Amalric.
The movie had its world premiere in the Platform Prize program at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2019. It was released theatrically on November 20, 2020, and is streaming on Prime Video from December 4, 2020, by Amazon Studios.
Sound Of Metal Story
Riz Ahmed (Ruben) is a drummer and one half of the duo Black gammon along with his singer girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke). A former drug addict, he is sober for four years. Suddenly, he begins to lose his hearing. His sponsor makes him go meet Joe (Paul Raci), who leads a deaf community. With the help from them, Ruben struggles to accept his situation.
Sound Of Metal Movie Review
Placing rapper actor Riz Ahmed in list of the best performance of the year,...
The movie had its world premiere in the Platform Prize program at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2019. It was released theatrically on November 20, 2020, and is streaming on Prime Video from December 4, 2020, by Amazon Studios.
Sound Of Metal Story
Riz Ahmed (Ruben) is a drummer and one half of the duo Black gammon along with his singer girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke). A former drug addict, he is sober for four years. Suddenly, he begins to lose his hearing. His sponsor makes him go meet Joe (Paul Raci), who leads a deaf community. With the help from them, Ruben struggles to accept his situation.
Sound Of Metal Movie Review
Placing rapper actor Riz Ahmed in list of the best performance of the year,...
- 12/3/2020
- by Vishal Verma
- GlamSham
Haydn Keenan’s Smart Street Films has optioned Geoffrey Robertson’s book which argues that treasures that were forcefully or lawlessly acquired over centuries should be returned to their rightful owners.
Keenan and British/Australian executive producer Amanda Groom are planning an international docuseries as a co-production with the UK’s Spring Films, an Oscar nominated, Emmy Award winning production company specialising in high-end feature and television documentaries.
Headed by André Singer, Spring Films’ credits include Meeting Gorbachev, co-directed by Werner Herzog and Singer; the Channel 4 trilogy Prison, set in women’s prison Foston Hall; and Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds, co-directed by Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer.
Robertson’s Who Owns History?: Elgin’s Loot and the Case for Returning Plundered Treasure makes the case for returning the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum to Athens.
Fronted by Robertson and to be shot in Australia, China, West Africa and the Middle East,...
Keenan and British/Australian executive producer Amanda Groom are planning an international docuseries as a co-production with the UK’s Spring Films, an Oscar nominated, Emmy Award winning production company specialising in high-end feature and television documentaries.
Headed by André Singer, Spring Films’ credits include Meeting Gorbachev, co-directed by Werner Herzog and Singer; the Channel 4 trilogy Prison, set in women’s prison Foston Hall; and Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds, co-directed by Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer.
Robertson’s Who Owns History?: Elgin’s Loot and the Case for Returning Plundered Treasure makes the case for returning the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum to Athens.
Fronted by Robertson and to be shot in Australia, China, West Africa and the Middle East,...
- 10/11/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Fast growing publisher Scout Comics & Entertainment, has signed with Mosaic’s management division for film/TV/streaming representation. Scout has accumulated over 150 publishing and creator-owned comic titles in its library since its formation in 2015. With a bookstore distribution deal with Simon & Schuster, the imprint has become among the top 10 comic publishers in the country, with sales increasing threefold over the past year despite the pandemic.
Mosaic’s mission will be to find opportunities to turn more of those titles into film, TV and streaming properties. Several of Scout’s titles are currently in development including Solar Flare, Henchgirl, Murder Hobo, The Mall, Long Live Pro Wrestling, Smoketown, Loot, Once Our Land, Long Lost and Unikorn. Scout’s slate includes projects at Amazon Studios and Freeform/Disney, and others.
Scout was founded in 2015 with a focus on quality creator owned comics that span all genres and their transition to multi-media adaptations.
Mosaic’s mission will be to find opportunities to turn more of those titles into film, TV and streaming properties. Several of Scout’s titles are currently in development including Solar Flare, Henchgirl, Murder Hobo, The Mall, Long Live Pro Wrestling, Smoketown, Loot, Once Our Land, Long Lost and Unikorn. Scout’s slate includes projects at Amazon Studios and Freeform/Disney, and others.
Scout was founded in 2015 with a focus on quality creator owned comics that span all genres and their transition to multi-media adaptations.
- 10/1/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Studios has reportedly acquired the rights for Darius Marder’s “Sound of Metal,” winning the U.S. rights over other interested studios including Neon. (Via Deadline.) The Riz Ahmed-starring film will get a limited theatrical release, with Amazon eyeing an awards push for Ahmed’s performance. Ahmed plays a heavy metal drummer who must cope with a vastly different reality as he suddenly loses his hearing. The movie premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews, with IndieWire’s Eric Kohn praising Ahmed’s performance as Ruben and writing that Marder’s narrative directorial debut featured “the best use of sound design in recent memory.”
“Sound of Metal” also stars Olivia Cooke as Ahmed’s girlfriend and bandmate.
Amazon previously acquired two TIFF titles before they screened at the festival: “The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão” and “Blow the Man Down,” a seaside noir from Danielle Krudy...
“Sound of Metal” also stars Olivia Cooke as Ahmed’s girlfriend and bandmate.
Amazon previously acquired two TIFF titles before they screened at the festival: “The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão” and “Blow the Man Down,” a seaside noir from Danielle Krudy...
- 9/12/2019
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
After reading my Twitter feed one night during Sdcc weekend, my friend (and cool voiceover dude) Bob Joles joked that I was just at Sdcc for the parties. And while that’s not entirely true, I do love a good party and folks at Sdcc host some killer shindigs. I’m eternally sad that I can’t somehow clone myself and be at all of them at once, but I did manage to make it to a good handful this year, so here’s my Sdcc Party Round-Up!
Gabe Eltaeb’s Comics Kickoff Fundraiser with Jinx Clothing
Wednesday night I didn’t actually expect to be at any parties, but I did meet some friends for a late dinner over at Basic Bar & Pizza, and it turned out that Jinx Clothing was co-sponsoring a comics party there with artist Gabe Eltaeb. It was pretty cool! For atmosphere they had the...
Gabe Eltaeb’s Comics Kickoff Fundraiser with Jinx Clothing
Wednesday night I didn’t actually expect to be at any parties, but I did meet some friends for a late dinner over at Basic Bar & Pizza, and it turned out that Jinx Clothing was co-sponsoring a comics party there with artist Gabe Eltaeb. It was pretty cool! For atmosphere they had the...
- 8/7/2014
- by Emily S. Whitten
- Comicmix.com
The Cinema Eye Honors, my favorite awards ceremony after the Indie Spirits, has released the nominations in eleven categories with Louie Psihoyos’ The Cove racking up a total of seven nominations . - The Cinema Eye Honors, my favorite awards ceremony after the Indie Spirits, has released the nominations in eleven categories with Louie Psihoyos’ The Cove racking up a total of seven nominations while 2nd place with four nominations each, we find Robert Kenner’s overrated Food, Inc., Anders Ostergaard’s miraculous Burma VJ and a pair of films that I'm sure many in the general public know nothing about in Darius Marder’s Loot and Michael Palmieri and Donal Mosher’s October Country. Winners will be announced on the 15th of January. Loot (which got a "money back guarantee" from Hammer to Nail's Michael Tully) follows two WWII veterans and their guide across the...
- 12/13/2009
- by Ioncinema.com Staff
- IONCINEMA.com
Undoubtedly, everything documentarian Darius Marder shows in his debut film Loot actually happened, but Marder’s approach to this “truth is stranger than fiction” story is so forced that the movie feels phony. Loot follows Lance Larson, a Utah used-car salesman and entrepreneur who spends his spare time hunting lost treasures from World War II. The movie opens with Larson staring into an empty pit after wasting $100,000 on one of his adventures, and then it tracks him as he cajoles two elderly veterans into helping him find what they stashed overseas. One of those veterans is Darrel Ross ...
- 12/3/2009
- avclub.com
Now that December is upon us, you can expect to hear about a lot of new releases you probably won't be able to see right away, unless you happen to live in a major market. Unfortunately, this is how it goes with films vying for year-end awards notice. Some of these hopeful contenders will show up at your multiplex around Christmas, when the marquee will be filled with so many new releases your head is likely to spin. Others will expand in January, and still others won't go wide until the Oscar nominations are announced on February 2. Meanwhile, we'll continue to see some titles released that don't have the benefit of an Oscar campaign and some that don't have the qualifying status to warrant such promotion.
This week's unLimited features a sure-thing Oscar contender, a dark comedy unlikely to be considered for any honors and a documentary that isn't qualified...
This week's unLimited features a sure-thing Oscar contender, a dark comedy unlikely to be considered for any honors and a documentary that isn't qualified...
- 12/1/2009
- by Christopher Campbell
- MTV Movies Blog
Holiday festivities are about to kick into full gear, but you wouldn't know it looking at this angst-ridden release slate, since the closest we come to Christmas is Nicolas Cage's "Bad Lieutenant" doing a lot of "snow." Instead, planets are discovered, new moons rise and suns set.
Download this in audio form (MP3: 18:21 minutes, 16.8 Mb)
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"Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans"
Ever since Nicolas Cage was shown clinging to his "lucky crackpipe," cinephiles have been jonesing for Werner Herzog's re-imagining of Abel Ferrara's arthouse cop thriller. After months of backbiting between Ferrara, who suggested that the film's producers "burn in hell," and Herzog's admission that he had never seen the original film, audiences will finally see Cage in the shoes of Terence McDonagh, the hopped-up, hopelessly bent detective who shakes down suspects and random pedestrians on the trail...
Download this in audio form (MP3: 18:21 minutes, 16.8 Mb)
Subscribe to the In Theaters podcast: [Xml] [iTunes]
"Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans"
Ever since Nicolas Cage was shown clinging to his "lucky crackpipe," cinephiles have been jonesing for Werner Herzog's re-imagining of Abel Ferrara's arthouse cop thriller. After months of backbiting between Ferrara, who suggested that the film's producers "burn in hell," and Herzog's admission that he had never seen the original film, audiences will finally see Cage in the shoes of Terence McDonagh, the hopped-up, hopelessly bent detective who shakes down suspects and random pedestrians on the trail...
- 11/16/2009
- by Neil Pedley
- ifc.com
Select stories for the Spring issue are now online. Check out our interview with Steven Soderbergh who talks about his latest low budget project, The Girlfriend Experience. Plus, a Q&A with the film's star, Sasha Grey. Darius Marder talks about his hypnotic treasure hunting debut doc, Loot. And Olivier Assayas chats about his latest film, Summer Hours. Also, in Jon Reiss's latest instalment he looks at Diy Web marketing. We highlight the filmmakers using still cameras to make their movies. And Esther B. Robinson walks us through what's needed to do to make that next credit card-financed film. And don't forget: You can get the latest issue before it hits newsstands (plus back issues up to 2005) by subscribing for a digital issue. Click...
- 4/20/2009
- by Jason Guerrasio
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Fox Searchlight's "The Wrestler" was named best feature at the 2009 Film Independent's Spirit Awards. It also scored trophies for actor Mickey Rourke and cinematograper Maryse Alberti.
"The thing I love about the Spirit Awards is every film here is a passion piece; we all bled to get to this room," director-producer Darren Aronofksy said as he accepted the award with fellow producer Scott Franklin at the free-wheeling ceremony held Saturday in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica.
"I realized while doing special effects on a space movie that I really loved working with actors more than anything else," Aronofsky said about his decision to make a movie about a washed-up wrestler trying to reclaim his life.
In the weekend's first showdown between Rourke and "Milk's" Sean Penn, it was Rourke who triumphed as best male lead.
In a raucous acceptance speech, in which he freely lobbed...
"The thing I love about the Spirit Awards is every film here is a passion piece; we all bled to get to this room," director-producer Darren Aronofksy said as he accepted the award with fellow producer Scott Franklin at the free-wheeling ceremony held Saturday in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica.
"I realized while doing special effects on a space movie that I really loved working with actors more than anything else," Aronofsky said about his decision to make a movie about a washed-up wrestler trying to reclaim his life.
In the weekend's first showdown between Rourke and "Milk's" Sean Penn, it was Rourke who triumphed as best male lead.
In a raucous acceptance speech, in which he freely lobbed...
- 2/21/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Family drama "Rachel Getting Married", border-smuggling saga "Frozen River" and struggling mother tale "Ballast" have shown their domination on the run for the 2009 Spirit Awards. Upon the announcement of the awards' nominees on Tuesday, December 2, it has been revealed that those three films have collected six counts each.
From all of the nominations "Rachel", "Frozen" and "Ballast" received, the three will have to go head-to-head for best feature title along with "Wendy and Lucy" and "The Wrestler". Their directors, Jonathan Demme, Courtney Hunt and Lance Hammer, will also compete for the best director prize which also lists Ramin Bahrani of "Chop Shop" and Tom McCarthy of "The Visitor" as the competitors.
On the performer categories, it is uncovered that Javier Bardem of "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", Sean Penn of "Milk" and Mickey Rourke of "The Wrestler" are among the contenders for best male lead. Additionally, Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams have...
From all of the nominations "Rachel", "Frozen" and "Ballast" received, the three will have to go head-to-head for best feature title along with "Wendy and Lucy" and "The Wrestler". Their directors, Jonathan Demme, Courtney Hunt and Lance Hammer, will also compete for the best director prize which also lists Ramin Bahrani of "Chop Shop" and Tom McCarthy of "The Visitor" as the competitors.
On the performer categories, it is uncovered that Javier Bardem of "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", Sean Penn of "Milk" and Mickey Rourke of "The Wrestler" are among the contenders for best male lead. Additionally, Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams have...
- 12/3/2008
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
By Stephen Saito
Jason Bateman and Sandra Oh braved the early call time this morning in Los Angeles to announce this year's nominees for the Spirit Awards. The awards will take place on February 21st, and will be broadcast live and uncut on IFC at 5pm Et/2pm PT. Here are the nominees:
Best Feature
"Ballast"
Producers: Lance Hammer, Nina Parikh
"Frozen River"
Producers: Chip Hourihan, Heather Rae
"Rachel Getting Married"
Producers: Neda Armian, Jonathan Demme, Marc Platt
"Wendy and Lucy"
Producers: Larry Fessenden, Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani
"The Wrestler"
Producers: Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin
Best Director
Ramin Bahrani, "Chop Shop"
Jonathan Demme, "Rachel Getting Married"
Lance Hammer, "Ballast"
Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"
Thomas McCarthy, "The Visitor"
Best First Feature
"Afterschool"
Director: Antonio Campos
Producers: Sean Durkin, Josh Mond
"Medicine for Melancholy"
Director: Barry Jenkins
Producer: Justin Barber
"Sangre de Mi Sangre"
Director: Christopher Zalla
Producers: Per Melita, Benjamin Odell
"Sleep Dealer"
Director: Alex Rivera
Producer: Anthony Bregman
"Synechdoce, New York"
Director: Charlie Kaufman
Producers: Anthony Bregman, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman, Sidney Kimmel
John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)
"In Search of a Midnight Kiss"
Writer/Director: Alex Holdridge
Producers: Seth Caplan and Scoot McNairy
"Prince of Broadway"
Director: Sean Baker
Writers: Sean Baker, Darren Dean
Producer: Darren Dean
"The Signal"
Writer/Directors: David Bruckner, Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry
Producers: Jacob Gentry and Alexander Motiagh
"Take Out"
Writer/Directors/Producers: Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou
"Turn the River"
Writer/Director: Chris Eigeman
Producer: Ami Armstrong
Best First Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"
Lance Hammer, "Ballast"
Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"
Jonathan Levine, "The Wackness"
Jenny Lumet, "Rachel Getting Married"
Best Screenplay
Woody Allen, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, "Sugar"
Charlie Kaufman, "Synecdoche, New York"
Howard A. Rodman, "Savage Grace"
Christopher Zalla, "Sangre de Mi Sangre"
Best Female Lead
Summer Bishil, "Towelhead"
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"
Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
Tarra Riggs, "Ballast"
Michelle Williams, "Wendy and Lucy"
Best Male Lead
Javier Bardem, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"
Sean Penn, "Milk"
Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"
Best Supporting Female
Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Rosemarie DeWitt, "Rachel Getting Married"
Rosie Perez, "The Take"
Misty Upham, "Frozen River"
Debra Winger, "Rachel Getting Married"
Best Supporting Male
James Franco, "Milk"
Anthony Mackie, "The Hurt Locker"
Charlie McDermott, "Frozen River"
JimMyron Ross, "Ballast"
Haaz Sleiman, "The Visitor"
Best Cinematography
Maryse Alberti, "The Wrestler"
Lol Crowley, "Ballast"
James Laxton, "Medicine for Melancholy"
Harris Savides, "Milk"
Michael Simmonds, "Chop Shop"
Best Documentary
"The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)"
Director: Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
"Encounters at the End of the World"
Director: Werner Herzog
"Man on Wire"
Director: James Marsh
"The Order of Myths"
Director: Margaret Brown
"Up the Yangtze"
Director: Yung Chang
Best Foreign Film
"The Class" (France)
Director: Laurent Cantet
"Gomorrah" (Italy)
Director: Matteo Garrone
"Hunger" (UK/Ireland)
Director: Steve McQueen
"Secret of the Grain" (France)
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche
"Silent Light" (Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany)
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Robert Altman Award (Given to one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast)
"Synecdoche, New York"
Director: Charlie Kaufman
Casting Director: Jeanne McCarthy
Ensemble Cast: Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Dianne Wiest, Michelle Williams
Someone to Watch Award
Barry Jenkins, "Medicine for Melancholy"
Nina Paley, "Sita Sings the Blues"
Lynn Shelton, "My Effortless Brilliance"
Truer Than Fiction Award
Margaret Brown, "The Order of Myths"
Sacha Gervasi, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil"
Darius Marder, "Loot"
Producers Award
Lars Knudsen and Jay Van Hoy, "Treeless Mountain" and "I'll Come Running"
Jason Orans, "Goodbye Solo" and "Year of the Fish"
Heather Rae, "Frozen River" and "Ibid"...
Jason Bateman and Sandra Oh braved the early call time this morning in Los Angeles to announce this year's nominees for the Spirit Awards. The awards will take place on February 21st, and will be broadcast live and uncut on IFC at 5pm Et/2pm PT. Here are the nominees:
Best Feature
"Ballast"
Producers: Lance Hammer, Nina Parikh
"Frozen River"
Producers: Chip Hourihan, Heather Rae
"Rachel Getting Married"
Producers: Neda Armian, Jonathan Demme, Marc Platt
"Wendy and Lucy"
Producers: Larry Fessenden, Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani
"The Wrestler"
Producers: Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin
Best Director
Ramin Bahrani, "Chop Shop"
Jonathan Demme, "Rachel Getting Married"
Lance Hammer, "Ballast"
Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"
Thomas McCarthy, "The Visitor"
Best First Feature
"Afterschool"
Director: Antonio Campos
Producers: Sean Durkin, Josh Mond
"Medicine for Melancholy"
Director: Barry Jenkins
Producer: Justin Barber
"Sangre de Mi Sangre"
Director: Christopher Zalla
Producers: Per Melita, Benjamin Odell
"Sleep Dealer"
Director: Alex Rivera
Producer: Anthony Bregman
"Synechdoce, New York"
Director: Charlie Kaufman
Producers: Anthony Bregman, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman, Sidney Kimmel
John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)
"In Search of a Midnight Kiss"
Writer/Director: Alex Holdridge
Producers: Seth Caplan and Scoot McNairy
"Prince of Broadway"
Director: Sean Baker
Writers: Sean Baker, Darren Dean
Producer: Darren Dean
"The Signal"
Writer/Directors: David Bruckner, Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry
Producers: Jacob Gentry and Alexander Motiagh
"Take Out"
Writer/Directors/Producers: Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou
"Turn the River"
Writer/Director: Chris Eigeman
Producer: Ami Armstrong
Best First Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"
Lance Hammer, "Ballast"
Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"
Jonathan Levine, "The Wackness"
Jenny Lumet, "Rachel Getting Married"
Best Screenplay
Woody Allen, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, "Sugar"
Charlie Kaufman, "Synecdoche, New York"
Howard A. Rodman, "Savage Grace"
Christopher Zalla, "Sangre de Mi Sangre"
Best Female Lead
Summer Bishil, "Towelhead"
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"
Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
Tarra Riggs, "Ballast"
Michelle Williams, "Wendy and Lucy"
Best Male Lead
Javier Bardem, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"
Sean Penn, "Milk"
Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"
Best Supporting Female
Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Rosemarie DeWitt, "Rachel Getting Married"
Rosie Perez, "The Take"
Misty Upham, "Frozen River"
Debra Winger, "Rachel Getting Married"
Best Supporting Male
James Franco, "Milk"
Anthony Mackie, "The Hurt Locker"
Charlie McDermott, "Frozen River"
JimMyron Ross, "Ballast"
Haaz Sleiman, "The Visitor"
Best Cinematography
Maryse Alberti, "The Wrestler"
Lol Crowley, "Ballast"
James Laxton, "Medicine for Melancholy"
Harris Savides, "Milk"
Michael Simmonds, "Chop Shop"
Best Documentary
"The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)"
Director: Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
"Encounters at the End of the World"
Director: Werner Herzog
"Man on Wire"
Director: James Marsh
"The Order of Myths"
Director: Margaret Brown
"Up the Yangtze"
Director: Yung Chang
Best Foreign Film
"The Class" (France)
Director: Laurent Cantet
"Gomorrah" (Italy)
Director: Matteo Garrone
"Hunger" (UK/Ireland)
Director: Steve McQueen
"Secret of the Grain" (France)
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche
"Silent Light" (Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany)
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Robert Altman Award (Given to one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast)
"Synecdoche, New York"
Director: Charlie Kaufman
Casting Director: Jeanne McCarthy
Ensemble Cast: Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Dianne Wiest, Michelle Williams
Someone to Watch Award
Barry Jenkins, "Medicine for Melancholy"
Nina Paley, "Sita Sings the Blues"
Lynn Shelton, "My Effortless Brilliance"
Truer Than Fiction Award
Margaret Brown, "The Order of Myths"
Sacha Gervasi, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil"
Darius Marder, "Loot"
Producers Award
Lars Knudsen and Jay Van Hoy, "Treeless Mountain" and "I'll Come Running"
Jason Orans, "Goodbye Solo" and "Year of the Fish"
Heather Rae, "Frozen River" and "Ibid"...
- 12/2/2008
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
With six nominations each, "Ballast," a drama about survival in the Mississippi Delta, "Frozen River," a portrait of two single moms on the Canadian border, and "Rachel Getting Married," the account of a dysfunctional family wedding, led the nominees for Film Independent's Spirit Awards, announced Tuesday morning.
All three films were nominated for best feature along "Wendy and Lucy" and "The Wrestler."
Charlie Kaufman's "Synecdoche, New York," a twisty, M.C. Escher-like film, was singled out as the winner of the group's Robert Altman Award, give to one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast. Kaufman will share the award with casting director Jeanne McCarthy and his actors Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, and Michelle Williams when the Spirit Awards are handed out Feb. 21.
"Synecdoche" also figure in the best first feature lineup, along with Antonio Campos' "Afterschool,...
All three films were nominated for best feature along "Wendy and Lucy" and "The Wrestler."
Charlie Kaufman's "Synecdoche, New York," a twisty, M.C. Escher-like film, was singled out as the winner of the group's Robert Altman Award, give to one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast. Kaufman will share the award with casting director Jeanne McCarthy and his actors Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, and Michelle Williams when the Spirit Awards are handed out Feb. 21.
"Synecdoche" also figure in the best first feature lineup, along with Antonio Campos' "Afterschool,...
- 12/2/2008
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
By Stephen Saito
Last year, "Young@Heart" caused ripples when it sold to Fox Searchlight to become the first distribution deal to emerge from the L.A. Film Festival, so perhaps it shouldn't have come as a surprise that the festival put documentaries front and center this year, even in a city where there's no shortage of name actors that most other festivals would deploy to lure audiences. Instead, one of the more anticipated star attractions in Los Angeles was a talk with HBO documentary czar Sheila Nevins, who participated in a wide-ranging conversation with L.A. Times columnist Patrick Goldstein about her career of mixing high class projects like the recent doc "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" with, well, "Heidi Fleiss: The Would-Be Madam of Crystal," which premiered at the festival hours after Nevins finished up. (The latest from "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" directors Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato,...
Last year, "Young@Heart" caused ripples when it sold to Fox Searchlight to become the first distribution deal to emerge from the L.A. Film Festival, so perhaps it shouldn't have come as a surprise that the festival put documentaries front and center this year, even in a city where there's no shortage of name actors that most other festivals would deploy to lure audiences. Instead, one of the more anticipated star attractions in Los Angeles was a talk with HBO documentary czar Sheila Nevins, who participated in a wide-ranging conversation with L.A. Times columnist Patrick Goldstein about her career of mixing high class projects like the recent doc "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" with, well, "Heidi Fleiss: The Would-Be Madam of Crystal," which premiered at the festival hours after Nevins finished up. (The latest from "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" directors Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato,...
- 7/2/2008
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
Jonathan Levine’s indie comedy “The Wackness” picked up the audience award for best narrative feature Sunday at the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival. The film stars Josh Peck, Ben Kingsley, Famke Janssen and Olivia Thirlby, and focuses on a young drug dealer who falls for his psychiatrist’s daughter.
The audience award for best international feature went to James Marsh’s “Man on Wire,” a British documentary about tightrope walker Philippe Petit’s daring but often illegal stunts.
But “Man on Wire” failed to collect the audience award for best documentary feature, which went to Sacha Gervasi’s “Anvil! The Story of Anvil,” a film about a Canadian rock band that never made the big time.
The festival also presented two awards sponsored by Target. Darius Marder’s “Loot” took home the best documentary award, while Sean Baker’s “Prince of Broadway” won best narrative feature.
Other winners included Jennifer Lawrence...
The audience award for best international feature went to James Marsh’s “Man on Wire,” a British documentary about tightrope walker Philippe Petit’s daring but often illegal stunts.
But “Man on Wire” failed to collect the audience award for best documentary feature, which went to Sacha Gervasi’s “Anvil! The Story of Anvil,” a film about a Canadian rock band that never made the big time.
The festival also presented two awards sponsored by Target. Darius Marder’s “Loot” took home the best documentary award, while Sean Baker’s “Prince of Broadway” won best narrative feature.
Other winners included Jennifer Lawrence...
- 6/30/2008
- by Franck Tabouring
- screeninglog.com
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