Reviews will have to wait till the Cannes Film Festival kicks off on May 14, but it’s not too early for a critic to weigh in on this year’s lineup — or how it looks on paper, at least, and what the selection might say about the state of things.
At the top of the press conference, festival director Thierry Frémaux noted that last year would be a tough edition to top. The two big winners of the 2023 competition, “Anatomy of a Fall” and “Zone of Interest,” went on to score Oscar best picture nominations, alongside Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” The festival made strides toward gender parity, with nearly a third of the films in competition directed by women. And to complicate matters, Hollywood has since been hit by two production-stopping guild strikes, delaying films the studios might have sent to Cannes.
Judging by the titles unveiled today,...
At the top of the press conference, festival director Thierry Frémaux noted that last year would be a tough edition to top. The two big winners of the 2023 competition, “Anatomy of a Fall” and “Zone of Interest,” went on to score Oscar best picture nominations, alongside Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” The festival made strides toward gender parity, with nearly a third of the films in competition directed by women. And to complicate matters, Hollywood has since been hit by two production-stopping guild strikes, delaying films the studios might have sent to Cannes.
Judging by the titles unveiled today,...
- 4/12/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
In recent months, Nicolas Cage has been open about his wish to retire from movies. But he’s also said that doesn’t mean he’s going to stop acting, and he’s demonstrated a desire to try episodic TV, which he’s never done before. Now, an intriguing report from The Ankler suggests he might have found his vehicle, a live-action Spider-Man Noir show. Cage memorably voiced the characters, a 1940s film noir-style version of Spidey in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Cage is also a massive fan of the classic noir actor Humphrey Bogart, with him once doing an extended Bogey impersonation in his Paul Schrader film Dog Eat Dog. Perhaps this would give him the opportunity to go full-on into the noir genre. It’s an intriguing possibility.
Here’s what we know about the proposed Spider-Man Noir series so far:
According to Variety, the self-serious...
Here’s what we know about the proposed Spider-Man Noir series so far:
According to Variety, the self-serious...
- 2/17/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Matthew Wilder has been set to write and direct an untitled film that chronicles the life and work of author Joan Didion.
The plan is to paint a dreamlike day in the life of Didion and California in the late 1960s, when the brilliant young journalist is hurtled from encounters with jailed Manson girls to protesting Black Panthers, and from Nancy Reagan pausing in a photo op to Vietnam War POWs — climaxing with an epilogue in a near-future California where an AI Joan encounters a dystopia beyond her wildest anxiety dreams.
The film, produced under David Michaels’ Enfant Terrible Cinema, will shoot in Los Angeles in the first or second quarter of 2024. Financing is being discussed with potential partners this week at AFM.
A National Book Award winner and recipient of a National Humanities Medal, Didion’s account of grief and loss in 2005’s The Year of Magical Thinking...
The plan is to paint a dreamlike day in the life of Didion and California in the late 1960s, when the brilliant young journalist is hurtled from encounters with jailed Manson girls to protesting Black Panthers, and from Nancy Reagan pausing in a photo op to Vietnam War POWs — climaxing with an epilogue in a near-future California where an AI Joan encounters a dystopia beyond her wildest anxiety dreams.
The film, produced under David Michaels’ Enfant Terrible Cinema, will shoot in Los Angeles in the first or second quarter of 2024. Financing is being discussed with potential partners this week at AFM.
A National Book Award winner and recipient of a National Humanities Medal, Didion’s account of grief and loss in 2005’s The Year of Magical Thinking...
- 11/2/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
AMC Networks’ The Walking Dead spinoff Fear the Walking Dead will air the series’ final episodes in November 2023. The zombie apocalypse action-horror series will wrap up its eight-season run with a two-part finale on November 18th.
AMC and AMC+’s November lineup also includes Planet Earth III presented by Sir David Attenborough, new films every Friday, a Nicolas Cage-A-Thon, and the kick-off of winter holiday programming.
2023 November AMC and AMC+ Schedule
Fear the Walking Dead Season 8B – Final Episodes Continue Every Sunday
Now that Shrike (Maya Eshet) and her influence are gone, Madison (Kim Dickens) sets sights on transforming Padre into the safe haven the old Stadium was meant to be. But in doing so the island becomes a target as well as a beacon as word of Madison and this land of resources spreads, attracting unwanted attention that puts Padre back in peril and questions whether our heroes even deserve to save it.
AMC and AMC+’s November lineup also includes Planet Earth III presented by Sir David Attenborough, new films every Friday, a Nicolas Cage-A-Thon, and the kick-off of winter holiday programming.
2023 November AMC and AMC+ Schedule
Fear the Walking Dead Season 8B – Final Episodes Continue Every Sunday
Now that Shrike (Maya Eshet) and her influence are gone, Madison (Kim Dickens) sets sights on transforming Padre into the safe haven the old Stadium was meant to be. But in doing so the island becomes a target as well as a beacon as word of Madison and this land of resources spreads, attracting unwanted attention that puts Padre back in peril and questions whether our heroes even deserve to save it.
- 10/31/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
AC/DC played their first show in seven years on Saturday night (October 7th) at the Power Trip festival in Indio, California. The evening also featured a set by fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Judas Priest.
For this Power Trip gig, AC/DC’s lineup featured classic members Brian Johnson (vocals), Angus Young (lead guitar), and Cliff Williams (bass) alongside Stevie Young (rhythm guitar) and drummer Matt Laug.
Guns N’ Roses and Iron Maiden set the bar high at Power Trip the night before, but AC/DC were up to the challenge, showing no signs of rust as they ripped into “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It),” marking the first time they’ve ever kicked off a set with the Highway to Hell song.
From there, the 24-song set featured one classic after another, with the very next tune being the iconic “Back in Black,” followed by other favorites like “Thunderstruck,...
For this Power Trip gig, AC/DC’s lineup featured classic members Brian Johnson (vocals), Angus Young (lead guitar), and Cliff Williams (bass) alongside Stevie Young (rhythm guitar) and drummer Matt Laug.
Guns N’ Roses and Iron Maiden set the bar high at Power Trip the night before, but AC/DC were up to the challenge, showing no signs of rust as they ripped into “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It),” marking the first time they’ve ever kicked off a set with the Highway to Hell song.
From there, the 24-song set featured one classic after another, with the very next tune being the iconic “Back in Black,” followed by other favorites like “Thunderstruck,...
- 10/8/2023
- by Heavy Consequence Staff
- Consequence - Music
Nicky Whelan has signed with Stewart Talent for representation.
Australian-born Whelan began her career in the role of Pepper Steiger in the international soap opera Neighbours. She followed that with a move to the U.S. and roles in several successful comedies including Hall Pass alongside Owen Wilson and directed by the Farrelly brothers, and The Wedding Ringer with Josh Gad and Kevin Hart.
Whelan’s extensive television credits include the series regular role of Maya on the hit sitcom Scrubs, series regular alongside Milo Ventimiglia on The Chosen, and the lead role of Annie Mason in the Robert Rodriguez-directed drama series Matador.
Most recently, Whelan starred in the action thriller The Best Man, opposite Vince Vaughn in The Binge, and opposite Bruce Willis in Trauma Center. Whelan is also starring in the action film 72 Hours slated for 2023. Whelan’s other film credits include: shark attack thriller Maneater,...
Australian-born Whelan began her career in the role of Pepper Steiger in the international soap opera Neighbours. She followed that with a move to the U.S. and roles in several successful comedies including Hall Pass alongside Owen Wilson and directed by the Farrelly brothers, and The Wedding Ringer with Josh Gad and Kevin Hart.
Whelan’s extensive television credits include the series regular role of Maya on the hit sitcom Scrubs, series regular alongside Milo Ventimiglia on The Chosen, and the lead role of Annie Mason in the Robert Rodriguez-directed drama series Matador.
Most recently, Whelan starred in the action thriller The Best Man, opposite Vince Vaughn in The Binge, and opposite Bruce Willis in Trauma Center. Whelan is also starring in the action film 72 Hours slated for 2023. Whelan’s other film credits include: shark attack thriller Maneater,...
- 8/14/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: A feature about legendary Hollywood director Sam Peckinpah’s wild plan to finance his final film with backing from Colombia’s Cali Cartel is being sold in Cannes.
Avatar Entertainment is handling sales for If They Move… ‘Kill Em, with Colombian director Carlos Moreno — known for Netflix film Dogwashers, upcoming series Goles en Contra and Sundance titles Dog Eat Dog, The Snitch Cartel and Live Forever — also attached. Kel Symons is the writer.
The script tells the story of legendary 1960s and 1970s director Peckinpah, who after burning all bridges in Hollywood decided to finance his final film through the only people willing to invest in him: the Colombian drug cartel in Cali, Colombia. After he and the cartel have ‘creative differences,’ Peckinpah and his associate are kidnapped and held in the Amazon jungle. He then escapes captivity and has to find his way through the dangerous jungle, evade armed fighters searching for him,...
Avatar Entertainment is handling sales for If They Move… ‘Kill Em, with Colombian director Carlos Moreno — known for Netflix film Dogwashers, upcoming series Goles en Contra and Sundance titles Dog Eat Dog, The Snitch Cartel and Live Forever — also attached. Kel Symons is the writer.
The script tells the story of legendary 1960s and 1970s director Peckinpah, who after burning all bridges in Hollywood decided to finance his final film through the only people willing to invest in him: the Colombian drug cartel in Cali, Colombia. After he and the cartel have ‘creative differences,’ Peckinpah and his associate are kidnapped and held in the Amazon jungle. He then escapes captivity and has to find his way through the dangerous jungle, evade armed fighters searching for him,...
- 5/17/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Two of the highest-profile independents on the Spanish-language movie scene, Colombia’s 64-a Films and Spain’s Latido Films, are teaming to develop, produce and distribute premium TV and platform series.
Playing to their complementary expertise, Latido and 64-a will co-develop and co-produce titles, with 64-a overseeing physical production and Latido spearheading distribution.
Much of 64-a and Latido’s first development slate will be presented to potential partners at MipCancun, which kicks off Tuesday evening in Mexico, running Nov. 16-19.
Designed by 64-a founder Diego F. Ramírez and Juan Torres, Latido Films director of sales, the production alliance builds on the partners’ collaboration on two of the most successful of recent movie titles: Laura Mora’s feature debut “Killing Jesus,” a fest favorite sold to 40 countries; and Carlos Moreno’s “Lavaperros,” a Netflix Top 10 hit across Latin America.
First projects, unveiled to Variety in exclusivity, are squarely aimed at the...
Playing to their complementary expertise, Latido and 64-a will co-develop and co-produce titles, with 64-a overseeing physical production and Latido spearheading distribution.
Much of 64-a and Latido’s first development slate will be presented to potential partners at MipCancun, which kicks off Tuesday evening in Mexico, running Nov. 16-19.
Designed by 64-a founder Diego F. Ramírez and Juan Torres, Latido Films director of sales, the production alliance builds on the partners’ collaboration on two of the most successful of recent movie titles: Laura Mora’s feature debut “Killing Jesus,” a fest favorite sold to 40 countries; and Carlos Moreno’s “Lavaperros,” a Netflix Top 10 hit across Latin America.
First projects, unveiled to Variety in exclusivity, are squarely aimed at the...
- 11/15/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Chilean bio-musical series “Los Prisioneros” had its European debut at Madrid’s inaugural Iberseries Platino Industria on Sept. 28 where it screened in the event’s Chapter One sidebar.
Taking place in the mid ‘80s, the eight-episode show kicks off with the titular iconic band Los Prisioneros playing their sardonic protest songs to a rowdy, unappreciative crowd. It’s only when they perform at Chile’s then biggest entertainment show, “Sabado Gigante,” hosted by the equally iconic Don Francisco, that their career takes flight.
Episode one shows the key moments of their debut on the show and the start of their career, which later led to their persecution by the military regime and censorship on Chilean radio and television. To this day, their songs are anthems at protest rallies in the region, most recently in Chile and Colombia.
“Their songs have become ever more relevant, they still resonate to this day,...
Taking place in the mid ‘80s, the eight-episode show kicks off with the titular iconic band Los Prisioneros playing their sardonic protest songs to a rowdy, unappreciative crowd. It’s only when they perform at Chile’s then biggest entertainment show, “Sabado Gigante,” hosted by the equally iconic Don Francisco, that their career takes flight.
Episode one shows the key moments of their debut on the show and the start of their career, which later led to their persecution by the military regime and censorship on Chilean radio and television. To this day, their songs are anthems at protest rallies in the region, most recently in Chile and Colombia.
“Their songs have become ever more relevant, they still resonate to this day,...
- 9/29/2021
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
A new and ambitious Ibero-American industry event, Iberseries Platino Industria, runs Sept. 27 thru Oct 1 with a slew of activities broken into eight thematic sections: Financing and Business Models; Conversations with Platforms and their Studios; Industry Talks; Creativity; Market Intelligence; Keynotes and Masterclasses; Audiovisual Arts as an Educational Tool; and Synergies between Tourism and Audiovisual Financing.
Some of Spain, Portugal and Latin America’s biggest names in entertainment are set to participate in the Madrid-based event, including director Alejandro Amenábar (“The Others”), Latido Films’ Antonio Saura, Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba (“Belle Epoque”), Colombian actor-producer Manolo Cardona, Cuban actor-director Jorge Perugorría, Icaa general director Beatriz Navas and actors Marina de Tavira (“Roma”) and Paulina Gaitán (“Narcos”), among many others.
The five-day event precedes the eighth edition of the Ibero-American Platino Awards (Premios Platinos) to be held on Oct. 3 in Madrid an in-person ceremony once more after being relegated online last year.
The...
Some of Spain, Portugal and Latin America’s biggest names in entertainment are set to participate in the Madrid-based event, including director Alejandro Amenábar (“The Others”), Latido Films’ Antonio Saura, Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba (“Belle Epoque”), Colombian actor-producer Manolo Cardona, Cuban actor-director Jorge Perugorría, Icaa general director Beatriz Navas and actors Marina de Tavira (“Roma”) and Paulina Gaitán (“Narcos”), among many others.
The five-day event precedes the eighth edition of the Ibero-American Platino Awards (Premios Platinos) to be held on Oct. 3 in Madrid an in-person ceremony once more after being relegated online last year.
The...
- 9/26/2021
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Cinematographer Alexander Dynan got to know director Paul Schrader working on “First Reformed” and an earlier film, “Dog Eat Dog.”
Dynan developed a shorthand with Schrader and with colorist Tim Merick that helped him light and color Schrader’s “The Card Counter,” which is in cinemas now.
Told in an urgent, immersive style, the film follows William (Oscar Issac), a lonely and tortured man who once served at Abu Ghraib. He exists in a kind of purgatory, so the drab and monotonous backdrop of casinos mirrors his conflicted soul. Flipping between the drab suburban landscape of the present and hallucinatory visions of the prison, Dynan turned to inspirations from Schrader’s lodestar, Robert Bresson, to VR videos to Caravaggio to help deliver Schrader’s vision.
This is your third collaboration with Paul, can you share a little about your shorthand and how that works?
On “First Reformed,” we really established a visual language.
Dynan developed a shorthand with Schrader and with colorist Tim Merick that helped him light and color Schrader’s “The Card Counter,” which is in cinemas now.
Told in an urgent, immersive style, the film follows William (Oscar Issac), a lonely and tortured man who once served at Abu Ghraib. He exists in a kind of purgatory, so the drab and monotonous backdrop of casinos mirrors his conflicted soul. Flipping between the drab suburban landscape of the present and hallucinatory visions of the prison, Dynan turned to inspirations from Schrader’s lodestar, Robert Bresson, to VR videos to Caravaggio to help deliver Schrader’s vision.
This is your third collaboration with Paul, can you share a little about your shorthand and how that works?
On “First Reformed,” we really established a visual language.
- 9/12/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
“I have decided to keep a journal. Not in a word program or digital file, but in longhand, writing every word out so that every inflection of penmanship, every word chosen, scratched out, revised, is recorded. To set down all my thoughts and the simple events of my day factually and without hiding anything. When writing about oneself, one should show no mercy. I will keep this diary for one year; 12 months. And at the end of that time, it will be destroyed. Shredded, then burnt. The experiment will be over.” Searching narration binds Paul Schrader’s work, the lone ranger facing a crisis of faith, unable to shake off the past. The above dialogue introduces Ethan Hawke’s Reverend Ernst Toller at the beginning of First Reformed (2017). Schrader’s characters share their own folklore and throughout this mix their tales come and go. The lyrics take on the form of character too,...
- 9/9/2021
- MUBI
Paul Schrader is back with a vengeance in the official trailer for “The Card Counter,” his feature directorial follow-up to “First Reformed.” Schrader’s latest finds Oscar Isaac sinking his teeth into the kind of tormented male protagonist role that Schrader has perfected in the likes of “Raging Bull,” “Taxi Driver,” and more. Anticipation for “The Card Counter” is high not only because of the cast but also because Schrader is coming off his first screenwriting Oscar nomination for “First Reformed.”
The official synopsis for “The Card Counter” from Focus Features reads: “Redemption is the long game in Paul Schrader’s ‘The Card Counter.’ Told with Schrader’s trademark cinematic intensity, the revenge thriller tells the story of an ex-military interrogator turned gambler haunted by the ghosts of his past decisions, and features riveting performances from stars Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan and Willem Dafoe.
“The Card Counter” will...
The official synopsis for “The Card Counter” from Focus Features reads: “Redemption is the long game in Paul Schrader’s ‘The Card Counter.’ Told with Schrader’s trademark cinematic intensity, the revenge thriller tells the story of an ex-military interrogator turned gambler haunted by the ghosts of his past decisions, and features riveting performances from stars Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan and Willem Dafoe.
“The Card Counter” will...
- 7/27/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Photo: ‘Pig’/Neon Nicolas Cage has had a rather illustrious and controversial career until today. The star roared onto the film scene in the ’90s and early 2000’s with hit pieces like David Lynch’s ‘Wild at Heart’, ‘Leaving Las Vegas’, and ‘Adaptation.’ with the latter two films scoring him Academy Award nominations for Best Actor. Cage did all of this before the first iPhone was released. It was after the actor achieved megastardom that his reputation began to dirty; taking roles in poor films and leading a contentious lifestyle turned the once-heralded actor into something of a joke. Related article: ‘In the Heights’ – Behind the Scenes and Full Commentary/Reactions from Cast & Crew Related article: A Tribute to Cannes Film Festival: A Celebration of Cinema, Glamour, and Humanity | Statement From The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase In the late 2010s, however, Nic Cage enjoyed a career renaissance. This...
- 7/18/2021
- by Tyler Sear
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Video Version of this Article Photo/Video: Willem Dafoe/Hollywood Insider YouTube Channel Willem Dafoe loves to act. You can tell by the philosophical, thought-provoking musings he’s provided on the art form over the years. You can tell by the elastic, mischievous, ghoulish grin that he cracks whenever he’s interviewed about his latest project. And you can tell by a look at his filmography. The actor has worked tirelessly since his debut in Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate, hitting a stride in the year 2000 that has seen him complete an average of five projects a year. It’s a career that could even make his workaholic Wild at Heart and Dog Eat Dog co-star Nicolas Cage jealous. The actor is refreshingly egalitarian--he speaks of his time working on Speed 2: Cruise Control and his collaborations with Lars Von Trier with the same twinkle in his eye. He’s...
- 3/12/2021
- by Trent Kinnucan
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Movistar initiated production in Chile on Jan. 4 on its most ambitious original series to date – about seminal Chilean band Los Prisioneros which hit its heights under one of the bloodiest dictatorships in modern Latin American history, giving voice to unheard youth across the region.
Shown by Movistar exec Joanna Lombardi and produced by Movistar and Parox – the Chilean TV production house behind 2019 MipTV hit “Invisible Heroes,” produced with Finland’s Yle – “Los Prisioneros” will hit Latin American pay TV service Movistar TV and Ott platform Movistar Play during the second semester of 2021.
The punk band saga examines the life of its three members during key moments of their careers. As they become an iconic band whose lyrics defined the sentiments of a Latin American generation, and still today resonate with audiences as the political landscape of today’s uncertain present echoes the era of Los Prisioneros.
Los Prisioneros band members – main lyricist,...
Shown by Movistar exec Joanna Lombardi and produced by Movistar and Parox – the Chilean TV production house behind 2019 MipTV hit “Invisible Heroes,” produced with Finland’s Yle – “Los Prisioneros” will hit Latin American pay TV service Movistar TV and Ott platform Movistar Play during the second semester of 2021.
The punk band saga examines the life of its three members during key moments of their careers. As they become an iconic band whose lyrics defined the sentiments of a Latin American generation, and still today resonate with audiences as the political landscape of today’s uncertain present echoes the era of Los Prisioneros.
Los Prisioneros band members – main lyricist,...
- 1/11/2021
- by Emiliano Granada
- Variety Film + TV
Nicolas Cage is coming to Netflix for a new comedy series that explores the origins of swear words.
History of Swear Words is hosted by Oscar® and Golden Globe® winner Nicolas Cage.
"An education in expletives: the history lesson you didn’t know you needed," reads the logline from Netflix, which adds:
History of Swear Words, hosted by Nicolas Cage, is a loud and proudly profane series that explores the origins, pop culture-usage, science and cultural impact of curse words.
Through interviews with experts in etymology, pop culture, historians and entertainers, the six-episode series dives into the origins of “F**k”, “Sh*t”, “B*tch”, “D**k”, “Pu**y”, and “Damn”.
Guest stars in the series of specials include Joel Kim Booster, DeRay Davis, Open Mike Eagle, Nikki Glaser, Patti Harrison, London Hughes, Jim Jefferies, Zainab Johnson, Nick Offerman, Sarah Silverman, Baron Vaughn, and Isiah Whitlock Jr.
They will be...
History of Swear Words is hosted by Oscar® and Golden Globe® winner Nicolas Cage.
"An education in expletives: the history lesson you didn’t know you needed," reads the logline from Netflix, which adds:
History of Swear Words, hosted by Nicolas Cage, is a loud and proudly profane series that explores the origins, pop culture-usage, science and cultural impact of curse words.
Through interviews with experts in etymology, pop culture, historians and entertainers, the six-episode series dives into the origins of “F**k”, “Sh*t”, “B*tch”, “D**k”, “Pu**y”, and “Damn”.
Guest stars in the series of specials include Joel Kim Booster, DeRay Davis, Open Mike Eagle, Nikki Glaser, Patti Harrison, London Hughes, Jim Jefferies, Zainab Johnson, Nick Offerman, Sarah Silverman, Baron Vaughn, and Isiah Whitlock Jr.
They will be...
- 12/9/2020
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Connor Paolo will co-star in the upcoming action thriller “Ambush,” starring Aaron Eckhart and Jason Genao with production scheduled to start at the end of November.
“Ambush” is based on the true story of a deadly high-stakes subterranean mission into enemy controlled territory during the Vietnam War by a group of young elite commandos led by Eckhart’s character. They are tasked with collecting highly classified information that can change the fate of the war. The team must overcome their apprehension in order to traverse the complex labyrinth of the Cu Chi tunnels in Vietnam with enemy soldiers and traps at every turn.
Mark Earl Burman (“Dog Eat Dog”) is directing from a script he co-wrote with Michael McClung (“American Martyr”). Highland Film Group is handling international sales at the online American Film Market. Saban Films bought the North American rights in September.
“Jonathan Rhys Meyers...
“Ambush” is based on the true story of a deadly high-stakes subterranean mission into enemy controlled territory during the Vietnam War by a group of young elite commandos led by Eckhart’s character. They are tasked with collecting highly classified information that can change the fate of the war. The team must overcome their apprehension in order to traverse the complex labyrinth of the Cu Chi tunnels in Vietnam with enemy soldiers and traps at every turn.
Mark Earl Burman (“Dog Eat Dog”) is directing from a script he co-wrote with Michael McClung (“American Martyr”). Highland Film Group is handling international sales at the online American Film Market. Saban Films bought the North American rights in September.
“Jonathan Rhys Meyers...
- 11/10/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Gary Hamilton, longtime managing director of Los Angeles-based Arclight Films, is preparing for his 36th American Film Market amid the profound changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. His credits include Daniel Radcliffe starrer “Escape From Pretoria” (pictured), “Hotel Mumbai,” “First Reformed,” “Triple Threat,” “Predestination,” “Dog Eat Dog” and “Jungle” starring Radcliffe. Arclight’s AFM sales slate includes Australian historical drama “The Furnace”; coming-of-age story “Chasing Wonders,” starring Paz Vega and Edward James Olmos; martial-arts film “The Foggy Mountain”; thrillers “Bloody Hell” and “Let It Snow”; “The King’s Daughter,” starring Pierce Brosnan and Kaya Scodelario; “Twist,” starring Michael Caine, Lena Headey and Rita Ora; “Here Are the Young Men,” starring Travis Fimmel, Dean-Charles Chapman, Finn Cole and Anya Taylor-Joy; “Possessor,” starring Andrea Riseborough, Christopher Abbott, Sean Bean and Jennifer Jason Leigh; and the horror-thriller “The Devil to Pay,” starring Danielle Deadwyler, Catherine Dyer and Jayson Warner Smith.
How are you...
How are you...
- 11/9/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
The latest in our ScreenDaily Talks live Q&a series will take place today at 5pm UK time (9am US West Coast).
The latest in our ScreenDaily Talks live Q&a series will take place on Thursday November 5 at 5pm UK time (9am US West Coast) and will take the temperature of the independent film business on the eve of AFM 2020 Online.
Click here to register
This instalment is sponsored by the St Petersburg Clearwater Film Commission in Florida.
Key players in the film and independent sector will discuss the ongoing impact of the pandemic on their business, particularly production and sales.
The latest in our ScreenDaily Talks live Q&a series will take place on Thursday November 5 at 5pm UK time (9am US West Coast) and will take the temperature of the independent film business on the eve of AFM 2020 Online.
Click here to register
This instalment is sponsored by the St Petersburg Clearwater Film Commission in Florida.
Key players in the film and independent sector will discuss the ongoing impact of the pandemic on their business, particularly production and sales.
- 11/5/2020
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
Special jury prize awarded to Laura Zéphirin for Making Waves.
Films by students from France, the US and Russia were among the winners of the 2020 Gsa Bafta Student Film Awards presented at a digital ceremony hosted by actor Elliot Knight.
The Gsa Bafta Student Film Awards celebrate the next generation of filmmakers from around the globe and nine finallists were selected from close to 700 submissions from film schools in 35 countries across Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
The Bafta Student Film Award for Animation was awarded to Milan Baulard, Ismaïl Berrahma, Flore Dupont, Laurie Estampes, Quentin Nory...
Films by students from France, the US and Russia were among the winners of the 2020 Gsa Bafta Student Film Awards presented at a digital ceremony hosted by actor Elliot Knight.
The Gsa Bafta Student Film Awards celebrate the next generation of filmmakers from around the globe and nine finallists were selected from close to 700 submissions from film schools in 35 countries across Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
The Bafta Student Film Award for Animation was awarded to Milan Baulard, Ismaïl Berrahma, Flore Dupont, Laurie Estampes, Quentin Nory...
- 8/8/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Special jury prize awarded to Laura Zéphirin for Making Waves.
Films by students from France and the US were among the winners of the 2020 Gsa Bafta Student Film Awards presented at a digital ceremony hosted by actor Elliot Knight.
The Gsa Bafta Student Film Awards celebrate the next generation of filmmakers from around the globe and nine finallists were selected from close to 700 submissions from film schools in 35 countries across Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
The Bafta Student Film Award for Animation was awarded to Milan Baulard, Ismaïl Berrahma, Flore Dupont, Laurie Estampes, Quentin Nory and...
Films by students from France and the US were among the winners of the 2020 Gsa Bafta Student Film Awards presented at a digital ceremony hosted by actor Elliot Knight.
The Gsa Bafta Student Film Awards celebrate the next generation of filmmakers from around the globe and nine finallists were selected from close to 700 submissions from film schools in 35 countries across Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
The Bafta Student Film Award for Animation was awarded to Milan Baulard, Ismaïl Berrahma, Flore Dupont, Laurie Estampes, Quentin Nory and...
- 8/8/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Ahead of the 20th anniversary of the White Stripes’ De Stijl on Saturday, Third Man Records shared a 2000 performance of the duo playing “Death Letter.”
The show took place on June 15th at Jay’s Upstairs in Missoula, Montana. The band is seen in their signature white and red outfits in front of a giant banner that reads “$1.25 Pints of Pabst During Happy Hour,” as Meg White drums along in her pigtails and Jack belts out the lyrics to the Son House cover: “I got a letter this mornin’, how do you reckon it read?...
The show took place on June 15th at Jay’s Upstairs in Missoula, Montana. The band is seen in their signature white and red outfits in front of a giant banner that reads “$1.25 Pints of Pabst During Happy Hour,” as Meg White drums along in her pigtails and Jack belts out the lyrics to the Son House cover: “I got a letter this mornin’, how do you reckon it read?...
- 6/18/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
Review by Stephen Tronicek
Lucas Heyne’s Mope starts with a familiar phrase: “The film you are about to see is based on actual events. Out of respect to the deceased, every effort has been made to adhere to the facts.” Those familiar with the history of cinema will recognize this as similar to the opening credits to the Coen Brothers’ Fargo. It is also a fair sign that Mope won’t really ever have an identity of its own, even as it tries to tell a true story.
That true story is that of Stephen Clancy Hill, alias Steve Driver (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) and Herbert Wong, alias Tom Dong (Kelly Sry), two low-level pornstars (Mopes), who tried to break into the industry. After being subjected to the horrible conditions of this side of the porn industry (there is after all good sex-work around) and facing his own mental illness, Driver...
Lucas Heyne’s Mope starts with a familiar phrase: “The film you are about to see is based on actual events. Out of respect to the deceased, every effort has been made to adhere to the facts.” Those familiar with the history of cinema will recognize this as similar to the opening credits to the Coen Brothers’ Fargo. It is also a fair sign that Mope won’t really ever have an identity of its own, even as it tries to tell a true story.
That true story is that of Stephen Clancy Hill, alias Steve Driver (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) and Herbert Wong, alias Tom Dong (Kelly Sry), two low-level pornstars (Mopes), who tried to break into the industry. After being subjected to the horrible conditions of this side of the porn industry (there is after all good sex-work around) and facing his own mental illness, Driver...
- 6/17/2020
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
A contemporary British movie version is to be made of Little Boy Blue, one of the novels by cult American writer and convicted criminal Edward Bunker, who died in 2005.
A contemporary British movie version is to be made of Little Boy Blue, one of the novels by cult American writer and convicted criminal Edward Bunker, who died in 2005.
Bunker was the co-star of Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs (as Mr Blue). His books have sold over 3 million copies and have spawned such films as Straight Time (1978), Animal Factory (2000) and Dog Eat Dog (2016).
Bridge Way Films and Ipso Facto Productions are...
A contemporary British movie version is to be made of Little Boy Blue, one of the novels by cult American writer and convicted criminal Edward Bunker, who died in 2005.
Bunker was the co-star of Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs (as Mr Blue). His books have sold over 3 million copies and have spawned such films as Straight Time (1978), Animal Factory (2000) and Dog Eat Dog (2016).
Bridge Way Films and Ipso Facto Productions are...
- 2/22/2020
- by 57¦Geoffrey Macnab¦41¦
- ScreenDaily
Half a year before Bon Scott’s death, he was riding high with his AC/DC bandmates on the North American leg of their If You Want Blood Tour. On July 21st, 1979, that trek brought them to Oakland for an appearance at the megafestival Day on the Green, where they played the same day as Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, and Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush, among others. Judging by video of AC/DC’s appearance, though, Bon Scott had enough energy for the whole day.
During “Live Wire,” he writhes about...
During “Live Wire,” he writhes about...
- 2/19/2020
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: Greg Louganis is a gold medal Olympic diving legend, humanitarian and Lgbtq trailblazer — and now his life is getting the big screen treatment. Louganis is teaming with his manager, Greg. H. Sims, of Arya Worldwide Entertainment to develop a feature about his life story with Matthew Wilder writing the screenplay.
Louganis chronicled his life as one of the greatest Olympic divers in history and coming out as an HIV-positive gay man in his book Breaking the Surface which he co-wrote with Eric Marcus. It was released in 1996, became a New York Times bestseller and was later made into a TV movie for the USA Network with Mario Lopez starring as Louganis. In 2015, HBO released the documentary Greg Louganis: Back on the Board which went on to earn an Emmy nomination. Now, with the help of Loeb and Loeb, and...
Louganis chronicled his life as one of the greatest Olympic divers in history and coming out as an HIV-positive gay man in his book Breaking the Surface which he co-wrote with Eric Marcus. It was released in 1996, became a New York Times bestseller and was later made into a TV movie for the USA Network with Mario Lopez starring as Louganis. In 2015, HBO released the documentary Greg Louganis: Back on the Board which went on to earn an Emmy nomination. Now, with the help of Loeb and Loeb, and...
- 2/19/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
White Stripes will mark the 20th anniversary of their 2000 album De Stijl with a massive Third Man Vault reissue packed with unreleased recordings, two live performances and other ephemera from the era.
“The Accompaniment to De Stijl: The White Stripes’ Sophomore Album” boasts two colored LPs (one white, one red) and a DVD housed in a hardcover case. It also includes an archival booklet filled with previously unseen photos, flyers and more.
The unreleased recordings are spread across the two LPs, with Jack and Meg White’s versions of a...
“The Accompaniment to De Stijl: The White Stripes’ Sophomore Album” boasts two colored LPs (one white, one red) and a DVD housed in a hardcover case. It also includes an archival booklet filled with previously unseen photos, flyers and more.
The unreleased recordings are spread across the two LPs, with Jack and Meg White’s versions of a...
- 2/5/2020
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Writer/director Paul Schrader’s first movie since “First Reformed” is shaping up with an enviable cast, which now includes Tiffany Haddish, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker confirmed in a recent interview with The Metrograph. As previously announced, Oscar Isaac is set to lead the film currently titled “The Card Counter” as a gambler and ex-serviceman who tries to reform a young man looking to exact revenge on a mutual enemy. According to the interview with Schrader, Tye Sheridan and Willem Dafoe are also on board and the film is financed. (It’s repped by HanWay Films.)
Regarding Haddish, the fast-rising star who’s become a favorite of many an auteur, including Paul Thomas Anderson, Schrader said, “I love Tiffany. I’ve never met her, but I was on the phone with her for an hour. She’s a firecracker. It’s like talking to a live-wire connection. She’s very funny and,...
Regarding Haddish, the fast-rising star who’s become a favorite of many an auteur, including Paul Thomas Anderson, Schrader said, “I love Tiffany. I’ve never met her, but I was on the phone with her for an hour. She’s a firecracker. It’s like talking to a live-wire connection. She’s very funny and,...
- 1/31/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Aaron Eckhart has found a vehicle to follow the hit WWII drama Midway, this one set in the Vietnam War. He’ll star in the Dark Mark Productions film Ambush. Written and directed by Mark Earl Burman, the action-thriller is based on the true story of a deadly high-stakes subterranean mission into enemy controlled territory. The film will be produced under the Dark Mark Productions banner and by Burman, alongside executive producers David Unger of Artist International Group, Arianne Fraser and Delphine Perrier of Highland Film Group, Scott Powell, Randy Burman, Wayne Wilbur, Harry Ahluwalia and Anthony Standberry.
Highland Film Group is handling worldwide sales.
Eckhart will play Captain Drummond, leader of a group of young elite commandos who are tasked with collecting highly classified information that can change the fate of the war. On the edge of the jungle, the team is attacked by the overwhelming invisible force of the enemy army.
Highland Film Group is handling worldwide sales.
Eckhart will play Captain Drummond, leader of a group of young elite commandos who are tasked with collecting highly classified information that can change the fate of the war. On the edge of the jungle, the team is attacked by the overwhelming invisible force of the enemy army.
- 11/18/2019
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
“I think storytelling is really our hope because there is such divisiveness right now in the world. And, I think that stories enable us to hear each other and see different sides of an experience,” documentarian Rory Kennedy told Variety at the 2019 Student Academy Awards on Thursday at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
Kennedy was one of the five presenters for this year’s Student Academy Awards — along with Melina Matsoukas, Gregory Nava, Phil Lord and Chris Miller — which honored 16 student winners from colleges and universities around the world.
While the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has existed since 1929, the student academy wasn’t founded until 1972 in an effort to encourage student filmmakers while acknowledging them for telling stories that do more than just entertain. Robert Zemeckis, Spike Lee and Patricia Riggen were past Student Academy Award recipients.
Kennedy praised this year’s “extraordinary winners,” saying,...
Kennedy was one of the five presenters for this year’s Student Academy Awards — along with Melina Matsoukas, Gregory Nava, Phil Lord and Chris Miller — which honored 16 student winners from colleges and universities around the world.
While the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has existed since 1929, the student academy wasn’t founded until 1972 in an effort to encourage student filmmakers while acknowledging them for telling stories that do more than just entertain. Robert Zemeckis, Spike Lee and Patricia Riggen were past Student Academy Award recipients.
Kennedy praised this year’s “extraordinary winners,” saying,...
- 10/20/2019
- by Lorraine Wheat
- Variety Film + TV
Updated with medals awarded: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded Miller & Son from the American Film Institute’s Asher Jelinsky the gold medal in the Narrative domestic category at the 46th Student Academy Awards. It was won of seven golds handed out during the medalists ceremony at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
The Academy last month selected 16 winners of the annual Student Academy Awards, chosen from 1,615 entries from 255 domestic and 105 international colleges and universities. The wins make them eligible to compete for this year’s Oscar competition in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film or Documentary Short Subject categories.
Past winners have garnered 62 Oscar nominations and won or shared 12 awards.
The medals were handed out Thursday by presenters Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Melina Matsoukas, Gregory Nava and Rory Kennedy.
First-timers on this year’s list included for Ecole Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne in Switzerland,...
The Academy last month selected 16 winners of the annual Student Academy Awards, chosen from 1,615 entries from 255 domestic and 105 international colleges and universities. The wins make them eligible to compete for this year’s Oscar competition in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film or Documentary Short Subject categories.
Past winners have garnered 62 Oscar nominations and won or shared 12 awards.
The medals were handed out Thursday by presenters Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Melina Matsoukas, Gregory Nava and Rory Kennedy.
First-timers on this year’s list included for Ecole Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne in Switzerland,...
- 10/18/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Students at the American Film Institute lead the way for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science’s annual Student Academy Awards.
The Academy named 16 students as winners on Thursday, including three in the narrative category from AFI. The competition received 1,615 entrants from 255 domestic and 105 international colleges and universities, the Academy said.
AFI was the only school to take more than one award. AFI students Asher Jelinsky (“Miller & Son”), Hao Zheng (“The Chef”) and Omer Ben-Shachar took home awards in the narrative category. Last year, the University of Southern California was the only school to take home more than one award, with four.
Also Read: New Academy President on the Next Oscars: 'I Don't Think We Need to Be Changing the Show'
Winners of the Student Academy Awards are eligible to compete for Oscars in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film or Documentary Short Subject category. Past...
The Academy named 16 students as winners on Thursday, including three in the narrative category from AFI. The competition received 1,615 entrants from 255 domestic and 105 international colleges and universities, the Academy said.
AFI was the only school to take more than one award. AFI students Asher Jelinsky (“Miller & Son”), Hao Zheng (“The Chef”) and Omer Ben-Shachar took home awards in the narrative category. Last year, the University of Southern California was the only school to take home more than one award, with four.
Also Read: New Academy President on the Next Oscars: 'I Don't Think We Need to Be Changing the Show'
Winners of the Student Academy Awards are eligible to compete for Oscars in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film or Documentary Short Subject category. Past...
- 9/12/2019
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Melissa Leo, Michael K. Williams, Jack Kilmer, Frank Grillo and Alice Englert are starring in the independent crime thriller “Body Brokers.”
John Swab is directing from his own script about a multibillion dollar drug and alcohol treatment scheme involving former drug addicts and dealers who become millionaires as fly-by-night “body brokers.” Those brokers then recruit other addicts to seek treatment, before selling them off to facilities paying the highest price.
The film is being produced by Jeremy M. Rosen (“Dog Eat Dog”), Robert Ogden Barnum (“All Is Lost”) and Swab for Roxwell Films. The latest Roxwell Films’ release, “Charlie Says,” (directed by Mary Harron and starring Hannah Murray and Matt Smith), premiered at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival and was released domestically by IFC Films.
Leo won an Academy Award for her supporting actress role in “The Fighter.” She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for “Wind River” and...
John Swab is directing from his own script about a multibillion dollar drug and alcohol treatment scheme involving former drug addicts and dealers who become millionaires as fly-by-night “body brokers.” Those brokers then recruit other addicts to seek treatment, before selling them off to facilities paying the highest price.
The film is being produced by Jeremy M. Rosen (“Dog Eat Dog”), Robert Ogden Barnum (“All Is Lost”) and Swab for Roxwell Films. The latest Roxwell Films’ release, “Charlie Says,” (directed by Mary Harron and starring Hannah Murray and Matt Smith), premiered at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival and was released domestically by IFC Films.
Leo won an Academy Award for her supporting actress role in “The Fighter.” She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for “Wind River” and...
- 7/30/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, Sarah May Sommers is starring in “American Cherry,” Jason Alexander has signed on to a film, Outfest has a new leader and BAFTA has awarded student prizes.
Castings
Jason Alexander has joined the cast of “Faith Based,” a comedy from director Vincent Masciale and writer Luke Barnett.
The satire of the Christian film industry follows two friends, played by “Funny or Die” regulars Barnett and Tanner Thomason, who come to the realization that all “faith based” films are extremely profitable and set out on a mission to make one of their own.
Alexander will play the eccentric head of a weight loss tea pyramid. The previously announced ensemble includes Lance Reddick, Danielle Nicolet, Carly Craig, Danny Woodburn, and Christoph Sanders.
The news was first reported by Deadline.
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Sarah May Sommers, who plays a Manson Family member in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” is...
Castings
Jason Alexander has joined the cast of “Faith Based,” a comedy from director Vincent Masciale and writer Luke Barnett.
The satire of the Christian film industry follows two friends, played by “Funny or Die” regulars Barnett and Tanner Thomason, who come to the realization that all “faith based” films are extremely profitable and set out on a mission to make one of their own.
Alexander will play the eccentric head of a weight loss tea pyramid. The previously announced ensemble includes Lance Reddick, Danielle Nicolet, Carly Craig, Danny Woodburn, and Christoph Sanders.
The news was first reported by Deadline.
****
Sarah May Sommers, who plays a Manson Family member in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” is...
- 7/10/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Panama City — Fueled by one of the strongest film tax incentive schemes in the world – with a 100% break for national productions, 25% break for international productions, and 1.5% withholding tax – the Dominican Republic has seen a surge in film production since the new film law was enacted in 2010.
This phenomenon has been further leveraged by the creation of the Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, operated by Lantica Media, as part of a partnership with the Pinewood Studios Group.
The favorable fiscal climate has attracted a rising number of English-language shoots including Netflix’s series “The I-Land,” the BBC-NBC three-part series “The Long Song,” and Barry Jenkins’ “If Beale Street Could Talk.”
The Dominican Republic’s film industry, with around 25 films produced per year and average budgets close to $1 million, stands out in the Central American and Caribbean region, where filmmakers are often forced to resort to guerrilla filmmaking techniques to get their films made.
This phenomenon has been further leveraged by the creation of the Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, operated by Lantica Media, as part of a partnership with the Pinewood Studios Group.
The favorable fiscal climate has attracted a rising number of English-language shoots including Netflix’s series “The I-Land,” the BBC-NBC three-part series “The Long Song,” and Barry Jenkins’ “If Beale Street Could Talk.”
The Dominican Republic’s film industry, with around 25 films produced per year and average budgets close to $1 million, stands out in the Central American and Caribbean region, where filmmakers are often forced to resort to guerrilla filmmaking techniques to get their films made.
- 4/9/2019
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Antoine Fuqua will develop to produce and potentially direct the historical-action epic, The Devil Soldier, based on Caleb Carr’s bestselling novel. Fuqua will produce with Mark Earl Burman (Dog Eat Dog) and the film will be a production of Adme Studios.
The Devil Soldier is a historical epic which follows the American outlaw-turned-mercenary Frederick Townsend Ward during the Taiping Rebellion. The book has sold millions of copies and has been likened by critics, as an American version of Lawrence of Arabia, set in 19th century China. Carr’s bestseller The Alienist was turned into a hit limited series for TNT.
Fuqua is coming off a reteam with Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 2, which has grossed over $190 million worldwide. The filmmaker has been in the mix on several projects including the Scarface remake.
The film will be exec produced by Artist International Group CEO David Unger, as well as Adme’s Scott Powell.
The Devil Soldier is a historical epic which follows the American outlaw-turned-mercenary Frederick Townsend Ward during the Taiping Rebellion. The book has sold millions of copies and has been likened by critics, as an American version of Lawrence of Arabia, set in 19th century China. Carr’s bestseller The Alienist was turned into a hit limited series for TNT.
Fuqua is coming off a reteam with Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 2, which has grossed over $190 million worldwide. The filmmaker has been in the mix on several projects including the Scarface remake.
The film will be exec produced by Artist International Group CEO David Unger, as well as Adme’s Scott Powell.
- 12/5/2018
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, Ned Dennehy, Olwen Fouéré, Richard Brake, Bill Duke, Line Pillet, Clément Baronnet, Hayley Saywell | Written by Panos Cosmatos, Aaron Stewart-Ahn | Directed by Panos Cosmatos
Taking place in 1983, Red Miller is a lumberjack who lives in a secluded cabin in the woods. His artist girlfriend Mandy spends her days reading fantasy paperbacks. Then one day, she catches the eye of a crazed cult leader, who conjures a group of motorcycle-riding demons to kidnap her. Red, armed with a crossbow and custom Axe, stops at nothing to get her back, leaving a bloody, brutal pile of bodies in his wake.
In recent years, it’s become increasingly harder to differentiate between what’s a profound performance of Nicolas Cage or the rage infilled meme that he’s become, to shockingly effective outcomes. The lines are blurred, to say the least, with every stoic and atmospheric...
Taking place in 1983, Red Miller is a lumberjack who lives in a secluded cabin in the woods. His artist girlfriend Mandy spends her days reading fantasy paperbacks. Then one day, she catches the eye of a crazed cult leader, who conjures a group of motorcycle-riding demons to kidnap her. Red, armed with a crossbow and custom Axe, stops at nothing to get her back, leaving a bloody, brutal pile of bodies in his wake.
In recent years, it’s become increasingly harder to differentiate between what’s a profound performance of Nicolas Cage or the rage infilled meme that he’s become, to shockingly effective outcomes. The lines are blurred, to say the least, with every stoic and atmospheric...
- 10/2/2018
- by Jak-Luke Sharp
- Nerdly
Stars: Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Cedric the Entertainer, Victoria Hill, Philip Ettinger, Michael Gaston, Bill Hoag, Kristin Villanueva | Written and Directed by Paul Schrader
Infamous writer and director Paul Schrader returns to cinema screens after a desolate and toxic decade fighting against studio interference and the ideals of an auteur’s final cut. Spending a large amount of his career being the backbone and spine to many utterly outstanding and defining films in American cinema and masters at the helm, notably writing four Martin Scorsese features: Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ and as of 1999, Bringing Out the Dead, while also the screenplay for NYC alumni Brian De Palma’s cult classic Obsession. First Reformed is his latest effort as an artist devastating his white canvas in a slow, artistic, impact of torturous stoic emotional grievance and psychological abuse that haunts the screen hours after the fact.
Infamous writer and director Paul Schrader returns to cinema screens after a desolate and toxic decade fighting against studio interference and the ideals of an auteur’s final cut. Spending a large amount of his career being the backbone and spine to many utterly outstanding and defining films in American cinema and masters at the helm, notably writing four Martin Scorsese features: Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ and as of 1999, Bringing Out the Dead, while also the screenplay for NYC alumni Brian De Palma’s cult classic Obsession. First Reformed is his latest effort as an artist devastating his white canvas in a slow, artistic, impact of torturous stoic emotional grievance and psychological abuse that haunts the screen hours after the fact.
- 9/27/2018
- by Jak-Luke Sharp
- Nerdly
Throughout a long and diverse career Paul Schrader has penned scripts for iconic films such as Taxi Driver and The Last Temptation of Christ alongside directing crime classics Blue Collar and American Gigolo. But in more recent years, Schrader has faced the toughest period in his career. His newest trio of films The Canyons, The Dying of the Light and Dog Eat Dog, all received largely negative reviews and little box office return. First Reformed feels like a culmination of all Schrader’s best work and sees the renowned writer-director return to form in the most spectacular fashion.
Toller (Ethan Hawke), a former military chaplain, is minister of a Dutch Reformed church in upstate New York with an ever-dwindling congregation. The church itself has become more of a tourist attraction than a place of worship, having once given refuge to slaves navigating the Underground Railroad in the 19th century, Toller...
Toller (Ethan Hawke), a former military chaplain, is minister of a Dutch Reformed church in upstate New York with an ever-dwindling congregation. The church itself has become more of a tourist attraction than a place of worship, having once given refuge to slaves navigating the Underground Railroad in the 19th century, Toller...
- 6/4/2018
- by Luke Channell
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Nicolas Cage didn’t walk the red carpet at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, but his name was everywhere. At the Directors’ Fortnight sidebar, the actor’s wild-eyed performance in the revenge saga “Mandy” reminded cinephiles that while his penchant for overacting can border on parody, he’s a true creature of cinema. Sundance audiences embraced it as a genre experiment; the Cannes reception took it global. “For years, Nicolas Cage’s more extreme performances have been derided as a blight on cinema,” wrote Robbie Collins in The Telegraph, “but it turns out that cinema just had to catch up.”
Directors’ Fortnight, where Cage won similar approval two years ago as the self-absorbed criminal with a Humphrey Bogart obsession in Paul Schrader’s “Dog Eat Dog,” proved to be only one of several ways for the Cage brand to remain current at the world’s most prominent film gathering. Several Cage...
Directors’ Fortnight, where Cage won similar approval two years ago as the self-absorbed criminal with a Humphrey Bogart obsession in Paul Schrader’s “Dog Eat Dog,” proved to be only one of several ways for the Cage brand to remain current at the world’s most prominent film gathering. Several Cage...
- 5/23/2018
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
It wasn’t too long ago that news broke out of Sundance that Saban Films had acquired Lizzie, and now the company has obtained the Us distribution rights to a new supernatural thriller starring Nicolas Cage called Between Worlds.
Press Release: Los Angeles – Saban Films, who has been one of the most active U.S. distributors on the Croisette this week, has acquired U.S. distribution rights to writer/director Maria Pulera’s supernatural thriller Between Worlds which stars Nicolas Cage, Penelope Mitchell, Franka Potente, and Hopper Penn. Eric Banoun and David Hillary produced alongside Pulera via their company Rise Up, LLC. Saban Films is planning a day-and-date theatrical/VOD release.
Between Worlds follows Joe (Cage), a down-on-his-luck truck driver haunted by the memory of his deceased wife and child. He meets Julie (Potente) a spiritually gifted woman who enlists Joe in a desperate effort to find the lost soul of her comatose daughter,...
Press Release: Los Angeles – Saban Films, who has been one of the most active U.S. distributors on the Croisette this week, has acquired U.S. distribution rights to writer/director Maria Pulera’s supernatural thriller Between Worlds which stars Nicolas Cage, Penelope Mitchell, Franka Potente, and Hopper Penn. Eric Banoun and David Hillary produced alongside Pulera via their company Rise Up, LLC. Saban Films is planning a day-and-date theatrical/VOD release.
Between Worlds follows Joe (Cage), a down-on-his-luck truck driver haunted by the memory of his deceased wife and child. He meets Julie (Potente) a spiritually gifted woman who enlists Joe in a desperate effort to find the lost soul of her comatose daughter,...
- 5/17/2018
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Before he wrote and directed movies, Paul Schrader was a film critic, best known for his book “Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer.” Director Robert Bresson’s “Diary of a Country Priest” has always been a key film for Schrader, with Bresson’s ascetic Catholicism mirroring Schrader’s fully-absorbed Calvinism. And now Schrader has made “First Reformed,” a film that even freshman film students will be able to easily connect to this influential earlier movie.
“First Reformed” is about a country priest, and he keeps a diary. And, like the hero of Bresson’s film (and the Georges Bernanos novel on which it is based), he’s got stomach cancer.
There’s more than homage going on here, though. As Schrader’s hero takes a bleaker look at life, and considers committing an extreme act as a desperate attempt to find resonance and morality in the world, he stands...
“First Reformed” is about a country priest, and he keeps a diary. And, like the hero of Bresson’s film (and the Georges Bernanos novel on which it is based), he’s got stomach cancer.
There’s more than homage going on here, though. As Schrader’s hero takes a bleaker look at life, and considers committing an extreme act as a desperate attempt to find resonance and morality in the world, he stands...
- 5/16/2018
- by Alonso Duralde
- The Wrap
Maria Pulera, director of Nicolas Cage-starrer “Between Worlds,” has launched Rise Up, a production-distribution house, partnering with Eric Banoun and David Hillary.
A supernatural thriller, “Between Worlds” makes its market debut at Cannes, sold by Voltage Pictures. Backed by a Spanish-Israeli finance fund, Rise Up has offices in Los Angeles, Marbella and Tel Aviv. Distribution will focus on Europe, Asia and U.S.
Beyond “Between Worlds,” its first production, Rise Up is set to produce Spanish neo-Noir “El Matador,” written by Pulera and scheduled to roll this July in Spain’s Marbella.
Also on Rise Up’s first slate: “Johnny Thunders,” a biopic of the American punk rock hero from Jonas Akerlund (“Lords of Chaos”); and “The Clean Up,” described as a “dark, sexy, funny, violent contemporary noir thriller,” with Alex Turner directing; post WWII-set “No-No Boy”; and “When the Nines Were Sixes,” a coming-of-age tale from Joshua Evans.
A supernatural thriller, “Between Worlds” makes its market debut at Cannes, sold by Voltage Pictures. Backed by a Spanish-Israeli finance fund, Rise Up has offices in Los Angeles, Marbella and Tel Aviv. Distribution will focus on Europe, Asia and U.S.
Beyond “Between Worlds,” its first production, Rise Up is set to produce Spanish neo-Noir “El Matador,” written by Pulera and scheduled to roll this July in Spain’s Marbella.
Also on Rise Up’s first slate: “Johnny Thunders,” a biopic of the American punk rock hero from Jonas Akerlund (“Lords of Chaos”); and “The Clean Up,” described as a “dark, sexy, funny, violent contemporary noir thriller,” with Alex Turner directing; post WWII-set “No-No Boy”; and “When the Nines Were Sixes,” a coming-of-age tale from Joshua Evans.
- 5/9/2018
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Nicolas Cage isn’t going to be acting forever. Speaking to The Blast (via Complex), Cage revealed that he plans to retire from onscreen acting in “three or four years” because he wants to focus exclusively on directing in the next phase of his career.
“Directing is something I look forward to down the road,” Cage said. “Right now, I’m primarily a film performer and I’m gonna continue doing that for three or four more years and I’d like to focus more on directing.”
Cage only has one feature directorial effort under his belt, the 2002 crime drama “Sonny.” The movie featured Cage in a cameo appearance and starred a young James Franco in the titular role. Harry Dean Stanton and Mena Suvari appeared in the supporting cast. “Sonny” tells the story of a discharged solider who returns home to New Orleans and tries to break away from...
“Directing is something I look forward to down the road,” Cage said. “Right now, I’m primarily a film performer and I’m gonna continue doing that for three or four more years and I’d like to focus more on directing.”
Cage only has one feature directorial effort under his belt, the 2002 crime drama “Sonny.” The movie featured Cage in a cameo appearance and starred a young James Franco in the titular role. Harry Dean Stanton and Mena Suvari appeared in the supporting cast. “Sonny” tells the story of a discharged solider who returns home to New Orleans and tries to break away from...
- 4/20/2018
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Taken from the Rotterdam (Iffr) Blog.Paul Schrader has always been exceptional, Though he is of the period of the first independent filmmakers, Coppola, De Palma, Lucas, Spielberg, he fits into no category. His screenplays and the films he directed are proof of this.Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried and Pau Schrader at a First Reformed event.
His strict Calvinist parents refused to allow him to see a film until he was 18. And what is perfect for his attending Rotterdam, is that his ancestors come from the Dutch.
He came Iffr with First Reformed, starring Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, and Cedric the Entertainer, a (kind of) spiritual follow-up to his screenplay for Taxi Driver, and in a masterclass he conjured up a cinematic resurrection of a troubled Nic Cage pic. As always with Schrader, the devil is in the detail.
The house was packed with an audience — most of whom hadn...
His strict Calvinist parents refused to allow him to see a film until he was 18. And what is perfect for his attending Rotterdam, is that his ancestors come from the Dutch.
He came Iffr with First Reformed, starring Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, and Cedric the Entertainer, a (kind of) spiritual follow-up to his screenplay for Taxi Driver, and in a masterclass he conjured up a cinematic resurrection of a troubled Nic Cage pic. As always with Schrader, the devil is in the detail.
The house was packed with an audience — most of whom hadn...
- 4/18/2018
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Paul Schrader is still going strong at 71 years old. The legendary writer behind such classics as “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull” proved his directorial voice was still alive and thriving in 2016’s “Dog Eat Dog,” and now he’s back with even better thriller thanks to “First Reformed.” The film premiered to rave reviews at the Venice Film Festival last year, where IndieWire’s Eric Kohn said it marked Scharder and star Ethan Hawke’s best work in years.
“First Reformed” stars Hawke as an ex-military chaplain who is still grieving over the death of his son. His faith is tested after a young woman (Amanda Seyfried) comes to him for counseling with her environmentalist husband.
A24 will release “First Reformed” in theaters May 18. Watch the trailer below.
“First Reformed” stars Hawke as an ex-military chaplain who is still grieving over the death of his son. His faith is tested after a young woman (Amanda Seyfried) comes to him for counseling with her environmentalist husband.
A24 will release “First Reformed” in theaters May 18. Watch the trailer below.
- 3/29/2018
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Krumm will oversee the company’s Australian co-production operation out of the Sydney office.
Source: Arclight
’First Reformed’
Sales company Arclight Films has appointed Michelle Krumm as head of Australian operations and worldwide acquisitions.
Krumm will oversee the company’s Australian co-production operation out of the Sydney office and handle worldwide acquisitions for the finance and sales company. She will report to Arclight Films’ CEO Gary Hamilton.
She joins from South Australian Film Corp where she was head of production, development and studios. She oversaw the Safc’s industry development and production investment programmes and ran the Adelaide Studio’s production and post sound facilities for two years. She supported numerous productions coming to the state for production such as Cargo, Wolf Creek TV, Sweet Country, and Hotel Mumbai.
Prior to the Safc, she served as executive vice president, head of acquisitions and co-production at The Weinstein Company from 2005 -2008. Previous to this, she worked at [link...
Source: Arclight
’First Reformed’
Sales company Arclight Films has appointed Michelle Krumm as head of Australian operations and worldwide acquisitions.
Krumm will oversee the company’s Australian co-production operation out of the Sydney office and handle worldwide acquisitions for the finance and sales company. She will report to Arclight Films’ CEO Gary Hamilton.
She joins from South Australian Film Corp where she was head of production, development and studios. She oversaw the Safc’s industry development and production investment programmes and ran the Adelaide Studio’s production and post sound facilities for two years. She supported numerous productions coming to the state for production such as Cargo, Wolf Creek TV, Sweet Country, and Hotel Mumbai.
Prior to the Safc, she served as executive vice president, head of acquisitions and co-production at The Weinstein Company from 2005 -2008. Previous to this, she worked at [link...
- 1/5/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- ScreenDaily
In September 2014, veteran filmmaker Paul Schrader was livid. He had recently directed “Dying of the Light,” a grim thriller starring Nicolas Cage as CIA agent Evan Lake, who obsesses over tracking terrorists while suffering from a brain disease and losing his mind. The movie’s financiers wanted a more conventional espionage thriller than Schrader’s experimental, subjective narrative, so they took the movie away from Schrader, who sent an email explaining the conundrum to Cage. The actor struck a note or resignation.
“The unfortunate aspect to my having had so many careers in so many genres is that they can make a case to put me in box b instead of box a for money’s sake,” Cage wrote, in an email shared with IndieWire years later.
Schrader could relate. “Dying of the Light” arrived nearly 40 years after Schrader catapulted to fame with his screenplay for “Taxi Driver” and maintained...
“The unfortunate aspect to my having had so many careers in so many genres is that they can make a case to put me in box b instead of box a for money’s sake,” Cage wrote, in an email shared with IndieWire years later.
Schrader could relate. “Dying of the Light” arrived nearly 40 years after Schrader catapulted to fame with his screenplay for “Taxi Driver” and maintained...
- 12/11/2017
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Paul Schrader has been open about the original intentions for his most famous work, the screenplay to Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. Writing it in the vein of Robert Bresson films like Diary of a Country Priest or Pickpocket, it was his full intention for the film to be directed in a similarly austere fashion. This writer perhaps doesn’t need to further recount what actually happened in the end result of one of the most famous American films of all-time, but nonetheless the multiple authors involved put it in a different direction.
It seems that some of Schrader’s own directorial efforts, be it American Gigolo or Light Sleeper, were certainly an attempt to complete the “Transcendental” experience to one degree or another. Yet four decades later, First Reformed — which, should be mentioned, also seems to be taking from Bergman’s Winter Light and Tarkovsky’s Sacrifice in the...
It seems that some of Schrader’s own directorial efforts, be it American Gigolo or Light Sleeper, were certainly an attempt to complete the “Transcendental” experience to one degree or another. Yet four decades later, First Reformed — which, should be mentioned, also seems to be taking from Bergman’s Winter Light and Tarkovsky’s Sacrifice in the...
- 9/18/2017
- by Ethan Vestby
- The Film Stage
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