Today, the London Critics Circle announced the nominations for the 41st annual London Critics’ Circle Film Awards which saw Rose Glass’ dramatic horror, ‘Saint Maud’, out in front with 8 nominations.
Other leading contenders include Sarah Gavron’s London coming-of-age story ‘Rocks’ with 6 nominations, Chloé Zhao’s improvised American road movie ‘Nomadland’ with 5, and Emerald Fennell’s provocative blackly comical thriller ‘Promising Young Woman’ with 4. Also earning 4 nominations were David Fincher’s Hollywood biopic ‘Mank’ and Steve McQueen’s house-party drama ‘Lovers Rock’. McQueen is up for Director of the Year for his five Small Axe films.
The late Chadwick Boseman received nominations both for his lead role in ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ and his supporting role in ‘Da 5 Blood’s. Other multiple acting nominees include Morfydd Clark, Anthony Hopkins, Carey Mulligan, Riz Ahmed, Vanessa Kirby, Sacha Baron Cohen and ‘Rocks‘ newcomer Bukky Bakray.
Due to the pandemic, more films released...
Other leading contenders include Sarah Gavron’s London coming-of-age story ‘Rocks’ with 6 nominations, Chloé Zhao’s improvised American road movie ‘Nomadland’ with 5, and Emerald Fennell’s provocative blackly comical thriller ‘Promising Young Woman’ with 4. Also earning 4 nominations were David Fincher’s Hollywood biopic ‘Mank’ and Steve McQueen’s house-party drama ‘Lovers Rock’. McQueen is up for Director of the Year for his five Small Axe films.
The late Chadwick Boseman received nominations both for his lead role in ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ and his supporting role in ‘Da 5 Blood’s. Other multiple acting nominees include Morfydd Clark, Anthony Hopkins, Carey Mulligan, Riz Ahmed, Vanessa Kirby, Sacha Baron Cohen and ‘Rocks‘ newcomer Bukky Bakray.
Due to the pandemic, more films released...
- 1/12/2021
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
There's a spring in the step of Aaron Sorkin's dramatisation of events that unfolded around the Democratic Convention in 1968 - and a message about protest, prejudice and attitudes that remains sharply relevant today. His script bounces along whether inside court or out and while he no doubt applies a certain Hollywood gloss to proceedings - unlike the similarly themed, more seriously handled Mangrove - the result is informative and compelling and served up with sufficient verve so that you don't feel as though you've sat through a history lesson by the end of it.
All of which is not to say that there isn't plenty of detail contained in this story of how the group of the title came to find themselves in the dock. Sorkin starts outside the courtroom, applying a judicious amount of archive footage alongside dramatisation to set the scene of how a disparate group of protesters came.
All of which is not to say that there isn't plenty of detail contained in this story of how the group of the title came to find themselves in the dock. Sorkin starts outside the courtroom, applying a judicious amount of archive footage alongside dramatisation to set the scene of how a disparate group of protesters came.
- 1/12/2021
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Films by women writer-directors including Rose Glass, Sarah Gavron, Chloé Zhao and Emerald Fennell scored the most nominations for the 41st London Critics’ Circle Film Awards, which were announced on Tuesday.
Glass’s horror film “Saint Maud” earned eight nominations, including film, director, screenwriter, actress (Morfydd Clark), supporting actress (Jennifer Ehle) and British/Irish film of the year, while Clark is also nominated for British/Irish actress.
Sarah Gavron’s coming-of-age tale “Rocks” scored six nominations, Chloé Zhao’s road movie “Nomadland” five, and Emerald Fennell’s black comedy “Promising Young Woman” four. David Fincher’s biopic “Mank” and Steve McQueen’s house-party film “Lovers Rock” also had four nominations each.
The late Chadwick Boseman received nominations for his lead role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and his supporting role in “Da 5 Bloods.” Other multiple acting nominees include Morfydd Clark, Anthony Hopkins, Carey Mulligan, Riz Ahmed, Vanessa Kirby, Sacha Baron Cohen and Bukky Bakray.
Glass’s horror film “Saint Maud” earned eight nominations, including film, director, screenwriter, actress (Morfydd Clark), supporting actress (Jennifer Ehle) and British/Irish film of the year, while Clark is also nominated for British/Irish actress.
Sarah Gavron’s coming-of-age tale “Rocks” scored six nominations, Chloé Zhao’s road movie “Nomadland” five, and Emerald Fennell’s black comedy “Promising Young Woman” four. David Fincher’s biopic “Mank” and Steve McQueen’s house-party film “Lovers Rock” also had four nominations each.
The late Chadwick Boseman received nominations for his lead role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and his supporting role in “Da 5 Bloods.” Other multiple acting nominees include Morfydd Clark, Anthony Hopkins, Carey Mulligan, Riz Ahmed, Vanessa Kirby, Sacha Baron Cohen and Bukky Bakray.
- 1/12/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Multiple nominations for ‘Nomadland’ and ‘Promising Young Woman’.
Rose Glass’ debut feature Saint Maud heads the nominations at the 41st London Critics’ Circle Film Awards, with eight nominations including film of the year and director of the year.
The horror film is also up for British/Irish film of the year, with further nominations for Glass in screenwriter and breakthrough British/Irish filmmaker, and Morfydd Clark in both actress and British/Irish actress of the year (the latter also for her role in Eternal Beauty).
Rocks, another UK title directed by Sarah Gavron with associate director Anu Henriques, received six...
Rose Glass’ debut feature Saint Maud heads the nominations at the 41st London Critics’ Circle Film Awards, with eight nominations including film of the year and director of the year.
The horror film is also up for British/Irish film of the year, with further nominations for Glass in screenwriter and breakthrough British/Irish filmmaker, and Morfydd Clark in both actress and British/Irish actress of the year (the latter also for her role in Eternal Beauty).
Rocks, another UK title directed by Sarah Gavron with associate director Anu Henriques, received six...
- 1/12/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Films by writer-directors Rose Glass, Sarah Gavron, Chloé Zhao and Emerald Fennell earned the most nominations for the 41st London Critics‘ Circle Film Awards, which will be presented virtually in early February. Scroll down for full list of nominees.
Glass’ dramatic horror Saint Maud was out front with eight nominations, including Film, Director, Screenwriter, Actress (Morfydd Clark) and Supporting Actress (Jennifer Ehle). In addition, the film is nominated for British/Irish Film of the Year, and Clark is nominated for British/Irish Actress, a body-of-work award that includes her appearance in Eternal Beauty.
Other leading contenders include Sarah Gavron’s London coming-of-age story Rocks with six nominations, Chloé Zhao’s improvised American road movie Nomadland with five, and Emerald Fennell’s provocative blackly comical thriller Promising Young Woman with four.
Also earning four nominations were David Fincher’s Hollywood biopic Mank and Steve McQueen’s house-party drama Lovers Rock. McQueen...
Glass’ dramatic horror Saint Maud was out front with eight nominations, including Film, Director, Screenwriter, Actress (Morfydd Clark) and Supporting Actress (Jennifer Ehle). In addition, the film is nominated for British/Irish Film of the Year, and Clark is nominated for British/Irish Actress, a body-of-work award that includes her appearance in Eternal Beauty.
Other leading contenders include Sarah Gavron’s London coming-of-age story Rocks with six nominations, Chloé Zhao’s improvised American road movie Nomadland with five, and Emerald Fennell’s provocative blackly comical thriller Promising Young Woman with four.
Also earning four nominations were David Fincher’s Hollywood biopic Mank and Steve McQueen’s house-party drama Lovers Rock. McQueen...
- 1/12/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
A crippling year for theatrical exhibition, the pandemic-forced shutdowns meant most films weren’t available for viewing in their ideal presentation. However, through the invention and proliferation of Virtual Cinemas as well as festivals going online, it meant more people could get access to films they otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do so for some time. And with nearly all blockbusters delayed to 2021 or beyond, it meant the more nimble ecosystem of independent and foreign film got the spotlight. Which is to say, there were a few bright points in an otherwise bleak cinematic landscape. So, as we look to hopefully a more promising year, it’s my hope exhibition can survive alongside this more accessible virtual world.
Looking back at the 2020 new releases, there’s a number of films that narrowly missed my top 15, including Dick Johnson Is Dead, The Assistant, Bacurau, Boys State, Minari, Mangrove,...
Looking back at the 2020 new releases, there’s a number of films that narrowly missed my top 15, including Dick Johnson Is Dead, The Assistant, Bacurau, Boys State, Minari, Mangrove,...
- 1/11/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association caused a bit of a stir when they made the unconventional choice of picking Steve McQueen‘s “Small Axe” as Best Picture of 2020. That’s because “Small Axe” isn’t a film, per se. It’s an Amazon anthology series consisting of five standalone stories. But this isn’t the first time a European auteur blurred the line between television and film. French filmmaker Olivier Assayas‘s miniseries “Carlos” racked up both film and TV plaudits 10 years ago.
See‘Small Axe’ production designer Helen Scott: ‘Lovers Rock’ was an ‘exercise in atmosphere’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
“Small Axe” and “Carlos” are different in how they’re presented. “Carlos” told one story about international terrorist Ilich Ramírez Sánchez (played by Edgar Ramirez) over three episodes totaling more than five hours. “Small Axe’s” episodes, meanwhile, are different stories exploring a similar theme: the lives and struggles of Afro-Caribbean...
See‘Small Axe’ production designer Helen Scott: ‘Lovers Rock’ was an ‘exercise in atmosphere’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
“Small Axe” and “Carlos” are different in how they’re presented. “Carlos” told one story about international terrorist Ilich Ramírez Sánchez (played by Edgar Ramirez) over three episodes totaling more than five hours. “Small Axe’s” episodes, meanwhile, are different stories exploring a similar theme: the lives and struggles of Afro-Caribbean...
- 1/8/2021
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
As we continue to explore the best in 2020, today we’re taking a look at the articles that you, our dear readers, enjoyed the most throughout the past twelve months. Spanning reviews, interviews, features, podcasts, news, and trailers, check out the highlights below and return for more year-end coverage as well as a glimpse into 2021 in the coming weeks.
Most-Read Reviews
10. The Book of Vision
9. King of the Cruise
8. Audrey
7. Mank
6. My Dinner with Alan: A Sopranos Session
5. A Rainy Day in New York
4. American Utopia
3. 69: The Saga of Daniel Hernandez
2. The Empty Man
1. We Summon the Darkness
Most-Read Interviews
10. Josh Hartnett on Becoming the Character Actor He Always Tried to Be
9. Emerald Fennell on Subverting the Revenge Thriller with Promising Young Woman and the Horrors of the Patriarchal System
8. Angela Schanelec on I Was at Home, But…, the Kindness of Ozu, and Her Filmmaking Philosophies
7. Abel Ferrara on...
Most-Read Reviews
10. The Book of Vision
9. King of the Cruise
8. Audrey
7. Mank
6. My Dinner with Alan: A Sopranos Session
5. A Rainy Day in New York
4. American Utopia
3. 69: The Saga of Daniel Hernandez
2. The Empty Man
1. We Summon the Darkness
Most-Read Interviews
10. Josh Hartnett on Becoming the Character Actor He Always Tried to Be
9. Emerald Fennell on Subverting the Revenge Thriller with Promising Young Woman and the Horrors of the Patriarchal System
8. Angela Schanelec on I Was at Home, But…, the Kindness of Ozu, and Her Filmmaking Philosophies
7. Abel Ferrara on...
- 1/3/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
If someone had told me a year ago that I would never set foot in a movie theater or screening room in 2020 after the first week of March (the impressive The Outpost and lousy The Hunt were the last films I saw on big screens) but that I would remain healthy and somehow seeing new films, I couldn’t have guessed what they were talking about. Nor could I have imagined that I’d be experiencing the 2021 Sundance Film Festival by myself on my home screen with no parkas or ski boots by the front door. Maybe I’ll put some on for fun while I watch a couple of Sundance titles at home next month.
But that’s where we’re at right now, with no sure return in sight. All the same, we’ve experienced a downpour of movies, produced by diverse sources and delivered to the public in unprecedentedly unconventional ways.
But that’s where we’re at right now, with no sure return in sight. All the same, we’ve experienced a downpour of movies, produced by diverse sources and delivered to the public in unprecedentedly unconventional ways.
- 12/31/2020
- by Todd McCarthy
- Deadline Film + TV
Following our top 50 films of 2020 and more year-end coverage, we’re pleased to share personal top 10s of 2020 from our contributors.
Yes, 2020 will forever be known as the year with an asterisk etched next to it. This strange 12-month span saw a pandemic grip the world, cinemas shuttered, tentpoles delayed, and the advent of new, potentially devastating streaming models. Even so, there were numerous masterful films and dynamic performances––as well as more VOD dreck than ever before.
On a personal level, the move to virtual festivals gave me the opportunity to cover a number of festivals from home: Toronto, New York, AFI, and Chicago. Several of the entries on my top 10 (and five honorable mentions) list were festival selections, and the memory of watching them on my sofa next to my snoring terrier is rather surreal, and also rather wonderful.
Two additional notes: My initial hope was to have...
Yes, 2020 will forever be known as the year with an asterisk etched next to it. This strange 12-month span saw a pandemic grip the world, cinemas shuttered, tentpoles delayed, and the advent of new, potentially devastating streaming models. Even so, there were numerous masterful films and dynamic performances––as well as more VOD dreck than ever before.
On a personal level, the move to virtual festivals gave me the opportunity to cover a number of festivals from home: Toronto, New York, AFI, and Chicago. Several of the entries on my top 10 (and five honorable mentions) list were festival selections, and the memory of watching them on my sofa next to my snoring terrier is rather surreal, and also rather wonderful.
Two additional notes: My initial hope was to have...
- 12/30/2020
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
A version of this story first appeared in the Documentaries issue of TheWrap’s Oscar magazine.
The past is ravishingly alive in “Small Axe,” a five-film anthology directed by Steve McQueen. Originally scheduled to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival (which was cancelled due to Covid-19), three of the films in the series eventually screened to raves at the virtual and drive-in New York Film Festival in September, prior to debuting on Amazon Prime.
Though not eligible for next April’s Academy Awards, the anthology has won awards from major critics’ organizations in New York, for Best Cinematography, and Los Angeles, for Best Picture(s).
Set between 1968 and the mid-’80s in London’s West Indian community, the movies include a real-life courtroom drama (“Mangrove”), a quasi-musical (“Lovers Rock”), and a police exposé, all pulsating with McQueen’s primal themes of justice, injustice and love. The filmmaker spoke to TheWrap...
The past is ravishingly alive in “Small Axe,” a five-film anthology directed by Steve McQueen. Originally scheduled to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival (which was cancelled due to Covid-19), three of the films in the series eventually screened to raves at the virtual and drive-in New York Film Festival in September, prior to debuting on Amazon Prime.
Though not eligible for next April’s Academy Awards, the anthology has won awards from major critics’ organizations in New York, for Best Cinematography, and Los Angeles, for Best Picture(s).
Set between 1968 and the mid-’80s in London’s West Indian community, the movies include a real-life courtroom drama (“Mangrove”), a quasi-musical (“Lovers Rock”), and a police exposé, all pulsating with McQueen’s primal themes of justice, injustice and love. The filmmaker spoke to TheWrap...
- 12/24/2020
- by Joe McGovern
- The Wrap
Along with making The Human Voice“>one of the best films of the year himself with The Human Voice, which will get a proper release this March, Pedro Almodóvar had the chance to catch a great many films in quarantine. The Spanish master has now delivered the list of his seven favorites, including one he shares with Swallow, The Human Voice, Mangrove & More”>John Waters, who also named The Human Voice as one of his favorites of the year.
Courtesy of his site El Deseo, Almodóvar includes First Cow, which he compares to the work of Lucrecia Martel, the “emotional and non-moralistic” Another Round, as well as Swallow, which he said is directed with the tone of Yorgos Lanthimos, Jessica Hausner (who also appears on the list), and Todd Solondz.
Check out his list below.
First Cow (Kelly Richardt)
The Devil All the Time (Antonio Campos)
Another Round (Thomas Vinterberg...
Courtesy of his site El Deseo, Almodóvar includes First Cow, which he compares to the work of Lucrecia Martel, the “emotional and non-moralistic” Another Round, as well as Swallow, which he said is directed with the tone of Yorgos Lanthimos, Jessica Hausner (who also appears on the list), and Todd Solondz.
Check out his list below.
First Cow (Kelly Richardt)
The Devil All the Time (Antonio Campos)
Another Round (Thomas Vinterberg...
- 12/22/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The “Lovers Rock” installment of “Small Axe” has been a fixture on critics’ lists of the year’s 10 best films. The Los Angeles Film Critics Association just named the complete five-film “Small Axe” collection the best single film of the year. But do not look for either title to show up in the Best Picture race at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice or industry guild awards — Amazon is campaigning “Small Axe” for those awards as a limited/anthology series and will presumably do the same for the Emmys and BAFTA when submissions open in the spring.
SEEour interview with the “Small Axe” production designer
The category confusion does not end there. Letitia Wright, recently nominated as a supporting actress (in a feature film) by the Chicago Film Critics Association, and John Boyega, who appear in the “Mangrove” and “Red, White and Blue” installments, respectively, were initially submitted as leads at the Globes,...
SEEour interview with the “Small Axe” production designer
The category confusion does not end there. Letitia Wright, recently nominated as a supporting actress (in a feature film) by the Chicago Film Critics Association, and John Boyega, who appear in the “Mangrove” and “Red, White and Blue” installments, respectively, were initially submitted as leads at the Globes,...
- 12/22/2020
- by Riley Chow
- Gold Derby
The Chicago Film Critics Association has named Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland” as this year’s big winner, netting five prizes, including best picture, director, actress (Frances McDormand), adapted screenplay and cinematography. Leading the Cfca nominations with seven, the Searchlight Pictures drama has performed astoundingly with the half dozen critics awards that have been announced thus far. Zhao is currently 6/6 for critics wins.
With two awards, Focus Features’ “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” walked away with best original screenplay for writer Eliza Hittman and most promising performer for Sidney Flanigan.
The rest of the honorees won a single mention for their respective films. Chadwick Boseman won best actor for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” while Paul Raci netted another trophy for “Sound of Metal.” Maria Bakalova’s work in “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” was also rewarded, marking her third win this season thus far.
The full list of winners are below:
Best Picture
“Da 5 Bloods...
With two awards, Focus Features’ “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” walked away with best original screenplay for writer Eliza Hittman and most promising performer for Sidney Flanigan.
The rest of the honorees won a single mention for their respective films. Chadwick Boseman won best actor for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” while Paul Raci netted another trophy for “Sound of Metal.” Maria Bakalova’s work in “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” was also rewarded, marking her third win this season thus far.
The full list of winners are below:
Best Picture
“Da 5 Bloods...
- 12/22/2020
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Monday, Dec. 21
“First Cow” Declared Best Picture with Florida Film Critics Circle
The Florida Film Critics Circle awarded its top prize to “First Cow,” and the film’s John Magaro also received a nod in the Best Actor category as a runner up.
Current Oscar frontrunner and festival darling “Nomadland” also landed two wins, Best Director for Chloe Zhao and the Best Actress to Frances McDormand.
The complete list of 2020 winners is below:
Best Picture
“First Cow”
Runner up: “Nomadland”/”Trial of the Chicago 7″/”Minari”
Best Actor
Anthony Hopkins, “The Father”
Runner up: John Magaro, “First Cow”
Best Actress
Frances McDormand, “Nomadland”
Runners up: Viola Davis, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”/Carey Mulligan, “Promising Young Woman”
Best Supporting Actor
Paul Raci, “Sound of Metal”
Runner up: Brian Dennehy; “Driveways”
Best Supporting Actress
Maria Bakalova, “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”
Runner up: Yuh-Jung Youn, “Minari”
Best Ensemble
“Mangrove”
Runner up: “The Trial of the Chicago 7...
“First Cow” Declared Best Picture with Florida Film Critics Circle
The Florida Film Critics Circle awarded its top prize to “First Cow,” and the film’s John Magaro also received a nod in the Best Actor category as a runner up.
Current Oscar frontrunner and festival darling “Nomadland” also landed two wins, Best Director for Chloe Zhao and the Best Actress to Frances McDormand.
The complete list of 2020 winners is below:
Best Picture
“First Cow”
Runner up: “Nomadland”/”Trial of the Chicago 7″/”Minari”
Best Actor
Anthony Hopkins, “The Father”
Runner up: John Magaro, “First Cow”
Best Actress
Frances McDormand, “Nomadland”
Runners up: Viola Davis, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”/Carey Mulligan, “Promising Young Woman”
Best Supporting Actor
Paul Raci, “Sound of Metal”
Runner up: Brian Dennehy; “Driveways”
Best Supporting Actress
Maria Bakalova, “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”
Runner up: Yuh-Jung Youn, “Minari”
Best Ensemble
“Mangrove”
Runner up: “The Trial of the Chicago 7...
- 12/22/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
The line between film and television have been blurred for years. Some of us thought it would be one film that would force the call, but coincidentally, it seems to be five films that encapsulate Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” that forces the question of what constitutes an Oscars vs. Emmys contender.
Amazon Studios’ anthology series, a collection of five films with different casts and stories, made history on Sunday night when it won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (Lafca) award for best picture. Since Lafca was established in 1975, no piece of art like McQueen’s has ever been awarded the top prize. Every winner of Lafca has gone onto be nominated for at least one major Oscar — in categories such as picture, director, acting and writing.
“Small Axe” is a collection of five films with varying runtimes: “Mangrove” (128 minutes), “Lovers Rock” (71 minutes), “Red, White and Blue” (81 minutes), “Alex...
Amazon Studios’ anthology series, a collection of five films with different casts and stories, made history on Sunday night when it won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (Lafca) award for best picture. Since Lafca was established in 1975, no piece of art like McQueen’s has ever been awarded the top prize. Every winner of Lafca has gone onto be nominated for at least one major Oscar — in categories such as picture, director, acting and writing.
“Small Axe” is a collection of five films with varying runtimes: “Mangrove” (128 minutes), “Lovers Rock” (71 minutes), “Red, White and Blue” (81 minutes), “Alex...
- 12/21/2020
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
The annual year-end film industry rituals continue as critics groups vote for the best of the year, with the results of the New York Film Critics Circle announced on Friday, and the Los Angeles Film Critics following on Sunday. And this time around, Academy voters could really use the input.
While some moved back their deadlines along with the Oscars — including the usual first taste-setter, the National Board of Review, as well as the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards — the two most influential critics groups chose not to wait. As a result, their winners could provide some guidance in this most unusual Oscar season.
At a time when theaters in New York and Los Angeles aren’t building word of mouth, good films are hard to find, and FYC campaigns often fall into the ether, the critics groups help to steer voters toward must-see films. As screeners start to arrive,...
While some moved back their deadlines along with the Oscars — including the usual first taste-setter, the National Board of Review, as well as the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards — the two most influential critics groups chose not to wait. As a result, their winners could provide some guidance in this most unusual Oscar season.
At a time when theaters in New York and Los Angeles aren’t building word of mouth, good films are hard to find, and FYC campaigns often fall into the ether, the critics groups help to steer voters toward must-see films. As screeners start to arrive,...
- 12/21/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe,” an anthology of five films set in Black areas of London over a period of decades, has been named the best film of 2020 by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, which announced its annual winners on Sunday.
It is the first time that the Lafca has honored a group of films rather than a single film with its best picture award. McQueen’s anthology, which includes “Lovers Rock,” “Mangrove” and “Red, White and Blue,” is currently playing on Amazon Prime, and neither the individual films nor the series are qualifying for the Oscars or guild awards as motion pictures.
“Small Axe” will be in the running for Emmys and guild awards in the television categories as a limited series. Strangely, Lafca voters treated the anthology as individual movies in the music category, where they singled out “Lovers Rock” for a runner-up citation, but then lumped...
It is the first time that the Lafca has honored a group of films rather than a single film with its best picture award. McQueen’s anthology, which includes “Lovers Rock,” “Mangrove” and “Red, White and Blue,” is currently playing on Amazon Prime, and neither the individual films nor the series are qualifying for the Oscars or guild awards as motion pictures.
“Small Axe” will be in the running for Emmys and guild awards in the television categories as a limited series. Strangely, Lafca voters treated the anthology as individual movies in the music category, where they singled out “Lovers Rock” for a runner-up citation, but then lumped...
- 12/21/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Steve McQueen’s five-film opus Small Axe concludes with Friday’s release of Education, the story of a boy named Kingsley (Kenyah Sandy), whose difficulty with reading has him reassigned to a school for the “educationally subnormal” — a.k.a. students for whom the British school system has abandoned all hope. Education completes a quintet of remarkable stories set between 1968 and 1984, some rooted in fact, others inspired by the experiences of the 12 Years a Slave director’s mother and other Englanders of West Indian descent.
[All 5 Films Are Streaming on Amazon Prime Video]
The first installment,...
[All 5 Films Are Streaming on Amazon Prime Video]
The first installment,...
- 12/18/2020
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
What we call “Small Axe” shouldn’t matter. Steve McQueen’s Amazon Prime Video anthology film TV series is yet another straight-to-streaming home viewing option at a time when virtually everything debuts at home, in a year when change is necessary for survival, and in a collective moment when we should all be a little more open to new concepts replacing preconceived ideas.
Beyond its beautiful performances and unobtrusive period aesthetic, what matters about “Small Axe” is in its rich history, piercing humanity, and timely messages. “Mangrove” speaks truth to power in order to put this group of characters, and their community, in proper context. “Lovers Rock” appreciates the thrills and excitement freedom provides, dancing through a Blues party filled with vibrating twenty-somethings. “Red, White, and Blue” investigates institutional racism in the Metropolitan Police Force, while “Alex Wheatle” reflects on life from behind bars. “Education,” the final entry set to debut Friday,...
Beyond its beautiful performances and unobtrusive period aesthetic, what matters about “Small Axe” is in its rich history, piercing humanity, and timely messages. “Mangrove” speaks truth to power in order to put this group of characters, and their community, in proper context. “Lovers Rock” appreciates the thrills and excitement freedom provides, dancing through a Blues party filled with vibrating twenty-somethings. “Red, White, and Blue” investigates institutional racism in the Metropolitan Police Force, while “Alex Wheatle” reflects on life from behind bars. “Education,” the final entry set to debut Friday,...
- 12/16/2020
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
Proving to publications around the world they should wait until the year’s actually over before naming the best in their particular field, Mica Levi has now dropped her new solo album titled Ruff Dog. Capping off a particularly prolific year, the Under the Skin and Jackie composer also scored A24’s yet-to-be-released Zola, Jonathan Glazer’s short Strasbourg 1518, and three Steve McQueen films.
Her new album, clocking in at 25 minutes across 11 tracks, is described as thus: “a lot of pixels later there was a huge surge in frequency and some tiny clouds of knowledge burst into rain during the dress rehearsal for the collection of a lost wav file. in this moment the other clouds parted and a ray of sunshine shone onto input 1 and 2 on the audio interface – the screen brightness dimmed and instead there was a long 6 hour recording session split into 2 days in which they quit...
Her new album, clocking in at 25 minutes across 11 tracks, is described as thus: “a lot of pixels later there was a huge surge in frequency and some tiny clouds of knowledge burst into rain during the dress rehearsal for the collection of a lost wav file. in this moment the other clouds parted and a ray of sunshine shone onto input 1 and 2 on the audio interface – the screen brightness dimmed and instead there was a long 6 hour recording session split into 2 days in which they quit...
- 12/16/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
One of the most esteemed film journalism outlets, BFI’s Sight & Sound, have delivered their list of the 50 best films of 2020. Topping the chart is Steve McQueen’s euphoric Lovers Rock, marking his second #1 ranking after Hunger.
As for the rest of the top 10, it’s dominated by female filmmakers, with 7 entries directed by women, including their #2 entry, and my personal favorite film of the year: Garrett Bradley’s Time. New films by Kelly Reichardt, Charlie Kaufman, Kirsten Johnson, Eliza Hittman, Tsai Ming-liang, and more round out the rest of the top 10.
Check out the top 20 below, followed by a link to the full top 50.
1. Lovers Rock (Dir. Steve McQueen)
2. Time (Dir. Garrett Bradley)
3. First Cow (Dir. Kelly Reichardt)
4. I’M Thinking Of Ending Things (Dir. Charlie Kaufman)
5. Saint Maud (Dir. Rose Glass)
6. Dick Johnson Is Dead (Dir. Kirsten Johnson)
7. Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Dir. Eliza Hittman)
8. Nomadland (Dir. Chloe Zhao)
9. Rocks (Dir.
As for the rest of the top 10, it’s dominated by female filmmakers, with 7 entries directed by women, including their #2 entry, and my personal favorite film of the year: Garrett Bradley’s Time. New films by Kelly Reichardt, Charlie Kaufman, Kirsten Johnson, Eliza Hittman, Tsai Ming-liang, and more round out the rest of the top 10.
Check out the top 20 below, followed by a link to the full top 50.
1. Lovers Rock (Dir. Steve McQueen)
2. Time (Dir. Garrett Bradley)
3. First Cow (Dir. Kelly Reichardt)
4. I’M Thinking Of Ending Things (Dir. Charlie Kaufman)
5. Saint Maud (Dir. Rose Glass)
6. Dick Johnson Is Dead (Dir. Kirsten Johnson)
7. Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Dir. Eliza Hittman)
8. Nomadland (Dir. Chloe Zhao)
9. Rocks (Dir.
- 12/11/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
With anticipated films delayed, theaters closed, and festivals canceled or refurbished to virtual affairs, there has been little in big, prestigious movie events for audiences to rally around in 2020. Steven McQueen‘s five-film anthology series “Small Axe” may be as close to a buzz-worthy event as we’ll get in the current movie climate. After its debut at the virtual New York Film Festival this fall, the first film in the anthology, “Mangrove,” premiered on Amazon Prime on Friday, November 20.
Continue reading ‘Education’ Trailer: Steve McQueen’s ‘Small Axe’ Anthology Culminates on December 18th at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Education’ Trailer: Steve McQueen’s ‘Small Axe’ Anthology Culminates on December 18th at The Playlist.
- 12/7/2020
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
“These are the stars of Andromeda!” Education, the fifth episode of Steve McQueen’s 2020 Small Axe anthology, co-written with Alastair Siddons, sets the tone in outer space. This is a film about strong, formidable performances by women, whose characters take on the systemic wrongs and grinding injustices imposed upon the children in their community.
Twelve-year-old Kingsley Smith (Kenyah Sandy) visits the planetarium with his class and knows then and there that he wants to become an astronaut. In school, they read John Steinbeck’s Great Depression novella Of Mice And Men. When it is Kingsley’s turn, he remains silent. He is called a “big blockhead” by his teacher (Sam Fourness) and his mainly white classmates laugh.
Later, during a music lesson, his harmless acting up is judged “unacceptable” by his prowling and growling teacher Mr. Hamley (Nigel Boyle). While...
Twelve-year-old Kingsley Smith (Kenyah Sandy) visits the planetarium with his class and knows then and there that he wants to become an astronaut. In school, they read John Steinbeck’s Great Depression novella Of Mice And Men. When it is Kingsley’s turn, he remains silent. He is called a “big blockhead” by his teacher (Sam Fourness) and his mainly white classmates laugh.
Later, during a music lesson, his harmless acting up is judged “unacceptable” by his prowling and growling teacher Mr. Hamley (Nigel Boyle). While...
- 12/7/2020
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
School of Crock: McQueen Turns His Eyes to the Stars in Final Anthology Installment
Across five films spanning a period of 1969 to 1982, Steve McQueen’s Small Axe Anthology has charted snapshots of West Indian communities and their histories in London. Utilizing a wide range of tones and palettes, beginning with the levity of Lover’s Rock (read review), he would turn to recuperations of trailblazers in the grueling court room drama Mangrove (read review), a true account of Black lives attempting to reshape the landscape of police brutality in Red, White and Blue (read review) and an homage to British novelist Alex Wheatle (read review), raised to fail as a youth born into social institutions.…...
Across five films spanning a period of 1969 to 1982, Steve McQueen’s Small Axe Anthology has charted snapshots of West Indian communities and their histories in London. Utilizing a wide range of tones and palettes, beginning with the levity of Lover’s Rock (read review), he would turn to recuperations of trailblazers in the grueling court room drama Mangrove (read review), a true account of Black lives attempting to reshape the landscape of police brutality in Red, White and Blue (read review) and an homage to British novelist Alex Wheatle (read review), raised to fail as a youth born into social institutions.…...
- 12/7/2020
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Steve McQueen’s Small Axe portmanteau of five roughly hourlong films centered on racial issues in second-half 20th century UK wraps up with Education, which, at the end of the day, is what the series is all about: education in terms of the efforts of different segments of the population to begin to understand each other, to cast off ill-informed presumptions and long-entrenched prejudices, creating more opportunities and learning that the “other” should ideally create more possibilities than problems in a newly multi-racial society, if, in the end, citizens can open up to it all. Although British cinema for decades has looked long and hard at class distinctions, investigating racial divides of the past half-century in such a comprehensive way is something quite rare; this alone makes the series something unique. There are takeaways here for every segment of the audience, both domestic and foreign, young and old.
About a...
About a...
- 12/7/2020
- by Todd McCarthy
- Deadline Film + TV
by Nathaniel R
Butt Boy - no, really, that's the name of the movie
Infamous former* filmmaker John Waters has released his annual Top Ten List in ArtForum and it's as completely entertaining and performative as ever. He kicks things off with two movies about people putting things into various orifices that don't belong there and ends with a double-feature of courtroom docu-dramas (Trial of the Chicago 7 and Mangrove) to keep you guessing. You should read it but here are two brief spotlights just for fun...
Butt Boy - no, really, that's the name of the movie
Infamous former* filmmaker John Waters has released his annual Top Ten List in ArtForum and it's as completely entertaining and performative as ever. He kicks things off with two movies about people putting things into various orifices that don't belong there and ends with a double-feature of courtroom docu-dramas (Trial of the Chicago 7 and Mangrove) to keep you guessing. You should read it but here are two brief spotlights just for fun...
- 12/6/2020
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Filmmaker Steve McQueen has revealed that he was about to boycott the BBC if the network had persisted in refusing to apologize for a reporter’s use of the N-word over the summer. During an interview with the Radio Times (via Deadline), McQueen was outraged when the BBC News channel took 12 days to apologize when its social affairs correspondent, Fiona Lamdin, used the epithet in reporting on a racially motivated hate attack that took place in July. Lamdin works for BBC news service Points West.
Following the use of the slur, the BBC stood by the remark, stating, “This was a story about a shocking unprovoked attack on a young black man. His family told the BBC about the racist language used by the attackers and wanted to see the full facts made public… A warning was given before this was reported. We are no longer running this version of...
Following the use of the slur, the BBC stood by the remark, stating, “This was a story about a shocking unprovoked attack on a young black man. His family told the BBC about the racist language used by the attackers and wanted to see the full facts made public… A warning was given before this was reported. We are no longer running this version of...
- 12/5/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
The confused, frightened, complying face of a young black boy as two Metropolitan police stop, search, and humiliate him on the street: This is one of the first things we see in Red, White, and Blue, the third in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe pentalogy, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. It’s an image that grows even more charged in hindsight, a few scenes (spanning years) later, when the boy’s father — who’d swooped in to save him in that earlier encounter — is badly beaten by the police...
- 12/5/2020
- by K. Austin Collins
- Rollingstone.com
Update: Letitia Wright appears to have deleted her Twitter account after receiving backlash over the video promoting anti-vaccine views on Thursday. Her Instagram account appears to be deleted as well.
Earlier: Marvel star Letitia Wright has responded to fans left outraged by her decision to share a video on social media Thursday night questioning the coronavirus vaccine and vaccines in general. “My intention was not to hurt anyone,” the “Black Panther” actress posted on Twitter early Friday morning. “My only intention of posting the video was it raised my concerns with what the vaccine contains and what we are putting in our bodies. Nothing else.”
Wright’s since-deleted Thursday night post included the prayer hands emoji along with a 69-minute YouTube video from the “On the Table” channel. The video is hosted by Light London Church leader Tomi Arayomi and finds him questioning the legitimacy of the Covid-19 vaccine. Variety...
Earlier: Marvel star Letitia Wright has responded to fans left outraged by her decision to share a video on social media Thursday night questioning the coronavirus vaccine and vaccines in general. “My intention was not to hurt anyone,” the “Black Panther” actress posted on Twitter early Friday morning. “My only intention of posting the video was it raised my concerns with what the vaccine contains and what we are putting in our bodies. Nothing else.”
Wright’s since-deleted Thursday night post included the prayer hands emoji along with a 69-minute YouTube video from the “On the Table” channel. The video is hosted by Light London Church leader Tomi Arayomi and finds him questioning the legitimacy of the Covid-19 vaccine. Variety...
- 12/4/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
British-Guyanese actor Letitia Wright, star of “Black Panther” and Steve McQueen’s “Mangrove,” has responded to extensive backlash after she posted a controversial anti-vax video to Twitter on Thursday night.
On Friday afternoon U.K. time, Wright tweeted, “my intention was not to hurt anyone, my Only intention of posting the video was it raised my concerns with what the vaccine contains and what we are putting in our bodies…Nothing else.”
my intention was not to hurt anyone, my Only intention of posting the video was it raised my concerns with what the vaccine contains and what we are putting in our bodies.
Nothing else.
— Letitia Wright (@letitiawright) December 4, 2020
Without comment aside from a praying hands emoji, Wright on Thursday night tweeted a 69-minute video from YouTube channel On The Table, which features lengthy commentary from Tomi Arayomi, a senior leader with Light London Church and speaker, in which...
On Friday afternoon U.K. time, Wright tweeted, “my intention was not to hurt anyone, my Only intention of posting the video was it raised my concerns with what the vaccine contains and what we are putting in our bodies…Nothing else.”
my intention was not to hurt anyone, my Only intention of posting the video was it raised my concerns with what the vaccine contains and what we are putting in our bodies.
Nothing else.
— Letitia Wright (@letitiawright) December 4, 2020
Without comment aside from a praying hands emoji, Wright on Thursday night tweeted a 69-minute video from YouTube channel On The Table, which features lengthy commentary from Tomi Arayomi, a senior leader with Light London Church and speaker, in which...
- 12/4/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Steve McQueen’s “Lovers Rock,” one of five movies in the director’s “Small Axe” anthology on Amazon, is a dreamy, sensual fantasia of a film, a 68-minute evocation of one Saturday night at a dance party in 1980 London. The story follows Martha (newcomer Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn) as she sneaks out from her family home to attend “Blues Night” at a house in London’s West Indies community that’s been transformed into one big reggae dance floor.
In the peak scene, she dances with a young man she’s met (Micheal Ward) to the rhythm of Janet Kay’s silky “Silly Games.” And when the music stops, the crowd keeps singing, entranced by the fevered bliss of the song.
McQueen has focused on the Black experience in all of the “Small Axe” films. Several of them depict real events: “Mangrove” is a courtroom drama and “Red, White and Blue...
In the peak scene, she dances with a young man she’s met (Micheal Ward) to the rhythm of Janet Kay’s silky “Silly Games.” And when the music stops, the crowd keeps singing, entranced by the fevered bliss of the song.
McQueen has focused on the Black experience in all of the “Small Axe” films. Several of them depict real events: “Mangrove” is a courtroom drama and “Red, White and Blue...
- 12/3/2020
- by Joe McGovern
- The Wrap
So, How Was Your Year is a series in which our favorite entertainers answer our questionnaire about the music, culture and memorable moments that shaped their year. We’ll be rolling these pieces out throughout December.
Thurston Moore was recording his latest studio album, By the Fire, in London when the coronavirus forced everyone into lockdown. Luckily, he and his band — which includes My Bloody Valentine’s Deb Googe and Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley, among others — were able to finish the record in time, and the album came out this past fall.
Thurston Moore was recording his latest studio album, By the Fire, in London when the coronavirus forced everyone into lockdown. Luckily, he and his band — which includes My Bloody Valentine’s Deb Googe and Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley, among others — were able to finish the record in time, and the album came out this past fall.
- 12/3/2020
- by Rolling Stone
- Rollingstone.com
Steve McQueen’s Alex Wheatle, co-written with Alastair Siddons, shot by Shabier Kirchner with costumes by Jacqueline Durran is episode 4 of his Small Axe anthology. The title character ((Sheyi Cole) is brought to a prison cell where a foul smell awaits him, courtesy of his bunkmate Simeon (Robbie Gee). Remember how Peter Morgan in the very first scene of the first episode of season one of The Crown, directed by Stephen Daldry, repels us with the blood-spitting King George VI (Jared Harris), only to pull us in even more soon after? McQueen is equally good at provoking visceral reactions from the audience. Franco Rosso’s 1980 Babylon, starring Brinsley Forde with music by Dennis Bovell...
- 12/1/2020
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
One of 2020’s few joys has been Steve McQueen’s Amazon anthology “Small Axe,” a series telling, in some instances for the first time, the stories of the Black Brits who faced oppression during the ’60s and ’70s. While “Mangrove” touted empowerment through self-representation, “Lovers Rock” through music, and “Red, White and Blue” through reform from within, “Alex Wheatle” calls for literature as a gateway to freedom.
Continue reading ‘Alex Wheatle’ Is The Weakest Strike In Steve McQueen’s ‘Small Axe’ [Review] at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Alex Wheatle’ Is The Weakest Strike In Steve McQueen’s ‘Small Axe’ [Review] at The Playlist.
- 11/30/2020
- by Robert Daniels
- The Playlist
Amazon Prime Video has premiered the trailer for Small Axe: Alex Wheatle, the fourth and penultimate film in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe anthology series for the streaming platform. Alex Wheatle will drop on December 11th, following Mangrove (November 20th), Lovers Rock (November 27th), and Red, White and Blue (December 4th).
Like the other entries in the Small Axe series, Alex Wheatle tells a story within London’s West Indian community from the late Sixties to the mid-Eighties. (The title is derived from the African proverb, “If you are the big tree,...
Like the other entries in the Small Axe series, Alex Wheatle tells a story within London’s West Indian community from the late Sixties to the mid-Eighties. (The title is derived from the African proverb, “If you are the big tree,...
- 11/30/2020
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
“You can’t look forward without looking back.” That’s a valuable piece of advice given to the protagonist of “Alex Wheatle,” but it’s also a summation of what director and co-writer Steve McQueen is doing with his extraordinary “Small Axe” series.
With its vivid portrayals of the horrors of institutionalization, “Alex Wheatle” is perhaps most reminiscent — so far — of the McQueen audiences have come to know in films like “Hunger” and “12 Years a Slave.” But even as its lead character endures physical and psychological torment at the hands of authorities, the film is very much of a piece with the ebullience of “Small Axe,” as the ongoing themes of community, music and defiance play a huge role in the story.
The real-life Wheatle published his first novel in 1999, but the film begins in 1981, with Alex going to prison for his role in the Brixton Riots, in which...
With its vivid portrayals of the horrors of institutionalization, “Alex Wheatle” is perhaps most reminiscent — so far — of the McQueen audiences have come to know in films like “Hunger” and “12 Years a Slave.” But even as its lead character endures physical and psychological torment at the hands of authorities, the film is very much of a piece with the ebullience of “Small Axe,” as the ongoing themes of community, music and defiance play a huge role in the story.
The real-life Wheatle published his first novel in 1999, but the film begins in 1981, with Alex going to prison for his role in the Brixton Riots, in which...
- 11/30/2020
- by Alonso Duralde
- The Wrap
With the arrival of Alex Wheatle, the fourth of five installments that make up Small Axe, Steve McQueen’s adamant and penetrating series of roughly hourlong dramas centering on the Black immigrant community experience in post-World War II Britain, the emerging core concern is the hypocrisy involved in the nation laying out the welcome mat to newcomers in the first place while denying opportunity once they’ve arrived. The theme could hardly be clearer than it is in this episode, which sees the eponymous young lad bounced around for years by social services before becoming involved in the Brixton Uprising of April 1981. The reason we’re seeing a film about him now is that, some years later, Wheatle emerged as a successful writer.
Ferocious police brutality by the London police is a recurring hallmark in McQueen’s compelling series; the authorities shut down a popular Caribbean restaurant in Mangrove and...
Ferocious police brutality by the London police is a recurring hallmark in McQueen’s compelling series; the authorities shut down a popular Caribbean restaurant in Mangrove and...
- 11/30/2020
- by Todd McCarthy
- Deadline Film + TV
With December right around the corner, it’s time for endless “best of” lists, and this year John Waters returns with his signature early and peculiar selection of best movies of the year. Waters is famously one of the most opinionated filmmakers with a truly varied taste for films, and his list for 2020 is just what you’d expect from the man behind “Pink Flamingos” and “Hair Spray” during the year 2020.
Continue reading John Waters’ Best of 2020 List Includes ‘Mangrove,’ ‘Swallow’ & Also, ‘Butt Boy’ at The Playlist.
Continue reading John Waters’ Best of 2020 List Includes ‘Mangrove,’ ‘Swallow’ & Also, ‘Butt Boy’ at The Playlist.
- 11/28/2020
- by Rafael Motamayor
- The Playlist
Cinematographer Shabier Kirchner shot all five films in the “Small Axe” anthology, working alongside director Steve McQueen. “Lovers Rock,” now streaming on Amazon, is the second film in the anthology and focuses on reggae music sub-genre of the same name which was frequently heard at house parties among the Black community. The house parties were a celebration of love and Black culture.
Kirchner had gone from “Mangrove,” the first film in the five-part “Small Axe” anthology to “Lovers Rock” and says, “Mangrove” was “heavy and difficult because we were dealing with how the system was treating Black people.”
Going to the Notting Hill Carnival helped infuse Kirchner with new energy, celebrating West Indian culture and attending the carnival helped him realize how he would frame the film. Kirchner talked to Variety about working on “Lovers Rock.”
How did going to the carnival help your camera movement?
There was so much joy,...
Kirchner had gone from “Mangrove,” the first film in the five-part “Small Axe” anthology to “Lovers Rock” and says, “Mangrove” was “heavy and difficult because we were dealing with how the system was treating Black people.”
Going to the Notting Hill Carnival helped infuse Kirchner with new energy, celebrating West Indian culture and attending the carnival helped him realize how he would frame the film. Kirchner talked to Variety about working on “Lovers Rock.”
How did going to the carnival help your camera movement?
There was so much joy,...
- 11/27/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Let the best-of-the-year lists commence. While guilds and critics groups will soon be delivering their opinions, one of the few of genuine interest each year comes from a single person: the wonderfully eccentric director John Waters, whose eclectic tastes always includes a mix of the unexpected and underseen.
Topping his list this year is Tyler Cornack’s spring release Butt Boy, which features a strange tale of missing persons potentially disappearing up someone’s rectum, followed by the recommended psychological body horror film Swallow. Also among the list are the latest films from Pedro Almodóvar, Craig Zobel, Quentin Dupieux and, as a 10th place tie leading to 11 selections, new courtroom dramas by Steve McQueen and Aaron Sorkin.
Check out the list below via Baltimore Fishbowl, which will appear in the next issue of Artforum. We’ve also included links to our reviews.
1. Butt Boy (Tyler Cornack)
2. Swallow (Carlo Mirabella-Davis)
3. The Hunt...
Topping his list this year is Tyler Cornack’s spring release Butt Boy, which features a strange tale of missing persons potentially disappearing up someone’s rectum, followed by the recommended psychological body horror film Swallow. Also among the list are the latest films from Pedro Almodóvar, Craig Zobel, Quentin Dupieux and, as a 10th place tie leading to 11 selections, new courtroom dramas by Steve McQueen and Aaron Sorkin.
Check out the list below via Baltimore Fishbowl, which will appear in the next issue of Artforum. We’ve also included links to our reviews.
1. Butt Boy (Tyler Cornack)
2. Swallow (Carlo Mirabella-Davis)
3. The Hunt...
- 11/27/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The case of the Mangrove Nine — named after the once-popular eatery in London’s Notting Hill district that became a nucleus for the Black British community — was a landmark decision in England’s judicial history. It’s the story that kicks off director Steve McQueen’s latest venture: five feature films, collectively titled “Small Axe,” that dig into the experiences of London’s West Indian community between the 1960s and 1980s and is airing on Amazon Prime Video. The first film of the series, “Mangrove,” stars Shaun Parkes as Mangrove restaurant owner Frank Crichlow, the reluctant, accidental leader of a revolution.
“He just wanted to do what he wanted to do, like so many people who come to another country because of dreams of a better life,” Parkes said. “But what they’re met with is something quite different. And then they just have to deal with it. But when you have this conviction of,...
“He just wanted to do what he wanted to do, like so many people who come to another country because of dreams of a better life,” Parkes said. “But what they’re met with is something quite different. And then they just have to deal with it. But when you have this conviction of,...
- 11/23/2020
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
Time (dir. Garrett Bradley)Top Picksdoug DIBBERN1. Time (Garrett Bradley)2. Days (Tsai Ming-liang)3. Gunda (Viktor Kossakovsky)4. The Woman Who Ran (Hong Sang-Soo)5. The Disciple (Chaitanya Tamhane)6. The Salt of Tears (Philippe Garrel)7. Red, White and Blue (Steve McQueen)8. The Calming (Song Fang)9. Night of Kings (Philippe Lacôte)10. Malmkrog (Cristi Puiu)Daniel KASMAN1. Figure Minus Fact (Mary Helena Clark)2. Her Socialist Smile (John Gianvito)3. Untitled Sequence Of Gaps (Vika Kirchenbauer)4. Labor of Love (Sylvia Schedelbauer)5. Beginning (Dea Kulumbegashvili)6. The Disciple (Chaitanya Tamhane)7. Red, White and Blue (Steve McQueen)8. Isabella (Matías Piñeiro)9. The Calming (Song Fang)10. Humongous! (Aya Kawazoe)Michael SICINSKI1. Figure Minus Fact (Mary Helena Clark)2. Lovers Rock (Steve McQueen)3. Her Socialist Smile (John Gianvito)4. The Inheritance (Ephraim Asili)5. Apiyemiyeki? (Ana Vaz)6. The Human Voice (Pedro Almodóvar)7. Time (Garrett Bradley)8. Isabella (Matías Piñeiro)9. The Last City (Heinz Emigholz)10. Trust Study #1 (Shobun Baile)Correpondences#1 Daniel Kasman introduces the 2020 festival and reviews Lovers...
- 10/14/2020
- MUBI
Never has a BFI Lff opening night film felt so immediate, so relevant to real-life events right now. 2020 has been one hell of a year so far, but a positive takeaway is the exploration of what ‘Black Lives Matter’ means, regardless of individual racial identity.
Steve McQueen starts that discussion on film with the first of his Small Axe cinematic stories, Mangrove. The director explains that Small Axe comes from a West Indian proverb translated as “together we are strong”. Mangrove visually and verbally enforces this profound saying. At the same time, the film provokes a real sense of enlightenment and, equally, shame because it asks the question of why the real-life events behind it are not part of popular general knowledge.
Mangrove was the name of the real-life Caribbean restaurant located at 8, All Saints Road in London’s Notting Hill. Opened in 1968 by the late Trinidadian community activist and...
Steve McQueen starts that discussion on film with the first of his Small Axe cinematic stories, Mangrove. The director explains that Small Axe comes from a West Indian proverb translated as “together we are strong”. Mangrove visually and verbally enforces this profound saying. At the same time, the film provokes a real sense of enlightenment and, equally, shame because it asks the question of why the real-life events behind it are not part of popular general knowledge.
Mangrove was the name of the real-life Caribbean restaurant located at 8, All Saints Road in London’s Notting Hill. Opened in 1968 by the late Trinidadian community activist and...
- 10/8/2020
- by Lisa Giles-Keddie
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Steve McQueen helped raise the curtain on the 2020 BFI London Film Festival on Wednesday night, with his feature Mangrove — one of his five films in the BBC/Amazon Small Axe anthology — getting its European premiere in London and simultaneously across select cinemas around the U.K.
A significantly paired-back opening night severely impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 crisis saw the usual red carpet scrapped along with the post-screening reception, and a much reduced audience at the BFI Southbank (the festival has previously opened at the Odeon in Leicester Square). That said, McQueen and his Mangrove stars Letitia Wright, Malachi Kirby, Rochenda ...
A significantly paired-back opening night severely impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 crisis saw the usual red carpet scrapped along with the post-screening reception, and a much reduced audience at the BFI Southbank (the festival has previously opened at the Odeon in Leicester Square). That said, McQueen and his Mangrove stars Letitia Wright, Malachi Kirby, Rochenda ...
- 10/8/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Steve McQueen helped raise the curtain on the 2020 BFI London Film Festival on Wednesday night, with his feature Mangrove — one of his five films in the BBC/Amazon Small Axe anthology — getting its European premiere in London and simultaneously across select cinemas around the U.K.
A significantly paired-back opening night severely impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 crisis saw the usual red carpet scrapped along with the post-screening reception, and a much reduced audience at the BFI Southbank (the festival has previously opened at the Odeon in Leicester Square). That said, McQueen and his Mangrove stars Letitia Wright, Malachi Kirby, Rochenda ...
A significantly paired-back opening night severely impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 crisis saw the usual red carpet scrapped along with the post-screening reception, and a much reduced audience at the BFI Southbank (the festival has previously opened at the Odeon in Leicester Square). That said, McQueen and his Mangrove stars Letitia Wright, Malachi Kirby, Rochenda ...
- 10/8/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Letitia Wright, who starred alongside the late Chadwick Boseman in “Black Panther,” has completed shooting on Dominic Savage’s BAFTA-nominated female-led anthology series “I Am.”
“I Am Danielle,” starring Wright, C.J. Beckford (“Victoria”) and Sophia Brown (“Giri/Haji”), wrapped earlier this month.
Wright was a BAFTA Rising Star in 2019 and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 2018 for U.K. broadcaster Channel 4’s “Black Mirror.” She is also one of the leads in “Mangrove,” part of Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” anthology, that opened the BFI London Film Festival on Wednesday.
Wright said: “Collaborating with Dominic Savage has been an amazing experience. His unique and sensitive style of directing has stretched me as an artist. I’m so proud that we came together on a story that we both felt was important to explore and share with the world.”
Savage said: “Making this film with Letitia was so exciting, invigorating,...
“I Am Danielle,” starring Wright, C.J. Beckford (“Victoria”) and Sophia Brown (“Giri/Haji”), wrapped earlier this month.
Wright was a BAFTA Rising Star in 2019 and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 2018 for U.K. broadcaster Channel 4’s “Black Mirror.” She is also one of the leads in “Mangrove,” part of Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” anthology, that opened the BFI London Film Festival on Wednesday.
Wright said: “Collaborating with Dominic Savage has been an amazing experience. His unique and sensitive style of directing has stretched me as an artist. I’m so proud that we came together on a story that we both felt was important to explore and share with the world.”
Savage said: “Making this film with Letitia was so exciting, invigorating,...
- 10/7/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Black Panther breakout Letitia Wright has joined the cast of Dominic Savage’s critically-acclaimed, female-led drama anthology series I Am for U.K. network Channel 4.
The British star, currently amassing rave reviews for her role in Steve McQueen’s Mangrove, will take the lead role in the episode I Am Danielle, appearing together with Cj Beckford and Sophia Brown.
Created by award-winning writer-director Savage and produced by Emmy-winning Me+You Productions, the brand new series — consisting of three hour-long episodes — entered production in early August with I Am Victoria, starring BAFTA-winner Suranne Jones, alongside Ashley Walters.
Each episode is being developed and written ...
The British star, currently amassing rave reviews for her role in Steve McQueen’s Mangrove, will take the lead role in the episode I Am Danielle, appearing together with Cj Beckford and Sophia Brown.
Created by award-winning writer-director Savage and produced by Emmy-winning Me+You Productions, the brand new series — consisting of three hour-long episodes — entered production in early August with I Am Victoria, starring BAFTA-winner Suranne Jones, alongside Ashley Walters.
Each episode is being developed and written ...
- 10/7/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Black Panther breakout Letitia Wright has joined the cast of Dominic Savage’s critically-acclaimed, female-led drama anthology series I Am for U.K. network Channel 4.
The British star, currently amassing rave reviews for her role in Steve McQueen’s Mangrove, will take the lead role in the episode I Am Danielle, appearing together with Cj Beckford and Sophia Brown.
Created by award-winning writer-director Savage and produced by Emmy-winning Me+You Productions, the brand new series — consisting of three hour-long episodes — entered production in early August with I Am Victoria, starring BAFTA-winner Suranne Jones, alongside Ashley Walters.
Each episode is being developed and written ...
The British star, currently amassing rave reviews for her role in Steve McQueen’s Mangrove, will take the lead role in the episode I Am Danielle, appearing together with Cj Beckford and Sophia Brown.
Created by award-winning writer-director Savage and produced by Emmy-winning Me+You Productions, the brand new series — consisting of three hour-long episodes — entered production in early August with I Am Victoria, starring BAFTA-winner Suranne Jones, alongside Ashley Walters.
Each episode is being developed and written ...
- 10/7/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The late-summer reactivation of the film festival circuit presented fest directors and programmers with an array of challenges, both expansive and restrictive. On the one hand, they’ve had a bounty of withheld titles to choose from; on the other, the industry stasis of the past six months has put any number of previously expected projects indefinitely out of reach.
2020’s London Film Festival, in particular, has felt the domino effect of the year’s other cancelled and compromised events.
A predominantly public-oriented affair, the Lff has always placed less stress on major world premieres — though organizers often manage to secure a heavyweight or two — than on cherry-picking the best the year’s other festivals had to offer, and bringing those highlights to British audiences for the first time. What happens to a festival of festivals, then, when the fests haven’t come through?
As this year’s Lff lineup (running Oct.
2020’s London Film Festival, in particular, has felt the domino effect of the year’s other cancelled and compromised events.
A predominantly public-oriented affair, the Lff has always placed less stress on major world premieres — though organizers often manage to secure a heavyweight or two — than on cherry-picking the best the year’s other festivals had to offer, and bringing those highlights to British audiences for the first time. What happens to a festival of festivals, then, when the fests haven’t come through?
As this year’s Lff lineup (running Oct.
- 10/7/2020
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
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