After nearly a decade, director George Miller has returned to the Wasteland with "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga." The film serves as a prequel to 2015's Oscar-winning, dangerous epic "Mad Max: Fury Road," which has garnered a reputation as one of the greatest action films ever made. Miller enlisted Anya Taylor-Joy ("The Queen's Gambit") and Chris Hemsworth ("Thor") to tell the tale of Furiosa years before we met her in "Fury Road." With the film hitting theaters this week, critics have weighed in, and while many are praising Miller's latest, others have vocally disliked it. So, what are critics saying about the long-awaited film?
The latest entry in the "Mad Max" franchise centers on a young Furiosa (Anya-Taylor Joy) who is snatched from the Green Place and winds up in the hands of the warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). As he goes to war with the Immortan Joe for control of the Wasteland,...
The latest entry in the "Mad Max" franchise centers on a young Furiosa (Anya-Taylor Joy) who is snatched from the Green Place and winds up in the hands of the warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). As he goes to war with the Immortan Joe for control of the Wasteland,...
- 5/21/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Certainly the grossest, most way-out-there, and dare-you-to-lose-your-dinner film to debut in the Cannes competition so far, Coralie Fargeat’s “Revenge” follow-up “The Substance” premiered in the Palais Sunday night after a morning press screening that saw plenty of expected walkouts. Surely the same volume of repulsed exiters carried over to the premiere public screening, where Greta Gerwig’s jury got their first glimpse of the otherwise since-secretive film whose synopses and press notes tell you little. Mubi has distribution rights, which the company purchased just before the festival started. IndieWire’s David Ehrlich calls it an “instant classic.”
In this audacious, two-plus-hour feminist body horror, Demi Moore bares all to play a once-decorated actress quote-unquote past her prime named Elisabeth Sparkle, now resigned to Jane Fonda-esque fitness videos. But her time is finally up. She’s fired for being too old, sent packing home back to her sparse LA apartment,...
In this audacious, two-plus-hour feminist body horror, Demi Moore bares all to play a once-decorated actress quote-unquote past her prime named Elisabeth Sparkle, now resigned to Jane Fonda-esque fitness videos. But her time is finally up. She’s fired for being too old, sent packing home back to her sparse LA apartment,...
- 5/19/2024
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Francis Ford Coppola's self-funded passion-project, Megalopolis, screened at the Cannes Film Festival last night, and the first reviews for the sci-fi epic have now been shared online.
Depending on which critics you choose to trust, the movie is either a masterpiece, an unmitigated disaster, or somewhere in between!
Despite reports of audiences giving the film a 10-minute standing ovation, reviews have been decidedly mixed, which is represented by an early Rotten Tomatoes score of 50%.
Only 22 verdicts have been added so far, so this score is sure to change when press screening take place down the line. But with such a polarizing reaction, we don't anticipate it fluctuating too much.
Have a read through some of the reviews at the links below.
#Megalopolis Review: "It's not likely to go down as one of the more incisive responses to our bitterly polarized political landscape. Nor does it ever quite settle on a uniform tone,...
Depending on which critics you choose to trust, the movie is either a masterpiece, an unmitigated disaster, or somewhere in between!
Despite reports of audiences giving the film a 10-minute standing ovation, reviews have been decidedly mixed, which is represented by an early Rotten Tomatoes score of 50%.
Only 22 verdicts have been added so far, so this score is sure to change when press screening take place down the line. But with such a polarizing reaction, we don't anticipate it fluctuating too much.
Have a read through some of the reviews at the links below.
#Megalopolis Review: "It's not likely to go down as one of the more incisive responses to our bitterly polarized political landscape. Nor does it ever quite settle on a uniform tone,...
- 5/17/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
It’s finally here. After many reports about production issues, screenings and 40 years worth of waiting, Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
The anticipated epic is being met with a lot of mixed reactions (and confusion) from the reviewers, some lauding the audacity of the movie and others questioning its existence.
The Hollywood Reporter‘s chief film critic David Rooney offers: “It’s windy and overstuffed, frequently baffling and way too talky, quoting Hamlet and The Tempest, Marcus Aurelius and Petrarch, ruminating on time, consciousness and power to a degree that becomes ponderous. But it’s also often amusing, playful, visually dazzling and illuminated by a touching hope for humanity.”
Over the last couple of months, multiple reports about Megalopolis — including from THR — have shed light on the project that Coppola has been discussing for decades. He poured a stunning $120 million of his own money...
The anticipated epic is being met with a lot of mixed reactions (and confusion) from the reviewers, some lauding the audacity of the movie and others questioning its existence.
The Hollywood Reporter‘s chief film critic David Rooney offers: “It’s windy and overstuffed, frequently baffling and way too talky, quoting Hamlet and The Tempest, Marcus Aurelius and Petrarch, ruminating on time, consciousness and power to a degree that becomes ponderous. But it’s also often amusing, playful, visually dazzling and illuminated by a touching hope for humanity.”
Over the last couple of months, multiple reports about Megalopolis — including from THR — have shed light on the project that Coppola has been discussing for decades. He poured a stunning $120 million of his own money...
- 5/16/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After months of speculation, the critical book has finally been opened on Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis. The early word? Predominantly positive, with some very high highs and inevitably a few low lows.
Below, we run through some of the first reactions.
Deadline’s Damon Wise praised the movie, calling it a “mad modern masterwork that reinvents the possibilities of cinema”. He said the film is “something of a mess; unruly, exaggerated and drawn to pretension like a moth to a flame. It is also, however, a pretty stunning achievement, the work of a master artist who has taken to Imax like Caravaggio to canvas. It is a true modern masterwork of the kind that outrages with its sheer audacity.”
He continued: “Halfway through, there’s a very audacious gimmick that tears down the fourth wall in ways younger filmmakers can only dream of. Coppola breaks many of the cardinal...
Below, we run through some of the first reactions.
Deadline’s Damon Wise praised the movie, calling it a “mad modern masterwork that reinvents the possibilities of cinema”. He said the film is “something of a mess; unruly, exaggerated and drawn to pretension like a moth to a flame. It is also, however, a pretty stunning achievement, the work of a master artist who has taken to Imax like Caravaggio to canvas. It is a true modern masterwork of the kind that outrages with its sheer audacity.”
He continued: “Halfway through, there’s a very audacious gimmick that tears down the fourth wall in ways younger filmmakers can only dream of. Coppola breaks many of the cardinal...
- 5/16/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis” just may have broken the internet — and the brains of more than a few critics at Cannes.
Upon the film’s world premiere, fans and critics alike took to social media to capture the “insanity” of Coppola’s latest feature, which has been described by the auteur as a “Roman epic.” Count IndieWire’s David Ehrlich as a fan: In his review, he said that “Coppola’s wild and delirious fever dream inspires new hope for the future of movies.” The film debuted in competition at the Cannes Film Festival and is still looking for distribution, but will definitely get an IMAX release regardless.
Adam Driver leads the feature as a pseudo alter ego of writer/director Coppola, with the Oscar-nominated actor playing an architect who envisions saving his corrupt city and transforming the metropolis into a utopia. Meanwhile, the city’s mayor (Giancarlo Esposito) clashes with Driver’s character,...
Upon the film’s world premiere, fans and critics alike took to social media to capture the “insanity” of Coppola’s latest feature, which has been described by the auteur as a “Roman epic.” Count IndieWire’s David Ehrlich as a fan: In his review, he said that “Coppola’s wild and delirious fever dream inspires new hope for the future of movies.” The film debuted in competition at the Cannes Film Festival and is still looking for distribution, but will definitely get an IMAX release regardless.
Adam Driver leads the feature as a pseudo alter ego of writer/director Coppola, with the Oscar-nominated actor playing an architect who envisions saving his corrupt city and transforming the metropolis into a utopia. Meanwhile, the city’s mayor (Giancarlo Esposito) clashes with Driver’s character,...
- 5/16/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
From James Wan’s Atomic Monster and Blumhouse comes Night Swim, available to own with brand-new bonus content on Digital March 12, 2024 and on Blu-ray and DVD April 9, 2024 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Night Swim has been hailed as “a satisfying plunge into backyard terror” and “remarkably effective”. Now own the Collector’s Edition, with all-new bonus features, including a behind-the-scenes look at filming the underwater pool sequences, transforming ‘Marco Polo’ into an eerie game of terror, and more. The producers of M3GAN high dive into the deep end of supernatural horror ... Read more...
- 3/5/2024
- by Thomas Miller
- Seat42F
If you missed it in theaters or want to experience it again from the comfort of your own couch, Night Swim is diving into Digital on March 12th, followed by a Collector's Edition Blu-ray / DVD release on April 9th, and we have a look at the full list of bonus features, including a feature-length commentary with director/co-writer Bryce McGuire and a conversation between producers Jason Blum and James Wan:
From the Press Release: Universal City, California, March 5, 2024 – From James Wan’s Atomic Monster and Blumhouse comes Night Swim, available to own with brand-new bonus content on Digital March 12, 2024 and on Blu-ray and DVD April 9, 2024 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Night Swim has been hailed as “a satisfying plunge into backyard terror” and “remarkably effective”. Now own the Collector's Edition, with all-new bonus features, including a behind-the-scenes look at filming the underwater pool sequences, transforming 'Marco Polo'...
From the Press Release: Universal City, California, March 5, 2024 – From James Wan’s Atomic Monster and Blumhouse comes Night Swim, available to own with brand-new bonus content on Digital March 12, 2024 and on Blu-ray and DVD April 9, 2024 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Night Swim has been hailed as “a satisfying plunge into backyard terror” and “remarkably effective”. Now own the Collector's Edition, with all-new bonus features, including a behind-the-scenes look at filming the underwater pool sequences, transforming 'Marco Polo'...
- 3/5/2024
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Ticket sales at the box office this weekend will be flowing as freely as spice on the desert planet of Arrakis.
Director Denis Villeneuve’s big-budget sequel “Dune: Part Two,” where “spice” is an all-powerful commodity, is targeting $70 million to $80 million in its opening weekend. Warner Bros., the studio behind the sci-fi epic, is conservatively projecting a $65 million start, though most box office prognosticators believe that revenues could near the $90 million mark. At the international box office, the follow-up to 2021’s “Dune” is projected to collect $80 million to $90 million from roughly 70 markets.
No matter where the initial tally ends up, “Dune: Part Two” will deliver a massive, necessary jolt for movie theaters. It was originally slated to hit the big screen last fall, but it was delayed to spring because the actors strike prevented Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and their co-stars from being able to promote the movie. Now, it’s...
Director Denis Villeneuve’s big-budget sequel “Dune: Part Two,” where “spice” is an all-powerful commodity, is targeting $70 million to $80 million in its opening weekend. Warner Bros., the studio behind the sci-fi epic, is conservatively projecting a $65 million start, though most box office prognosticators believe that revenues could near the $90 million mark. At the international box office, the follow-up to 2021’s “Dune” is projected to collect $80 million to $90 million from roughly 70 markets.
No matter where the initial tally ends up, “Dune: Part Two” will deliver a massive, necessary jolt for movie theaters. It was originally slated to hit the big screen last fall, but it was delayed to spring because the actors strike prevented Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and their co-stars from being able to promote the movie. Now, it’s...
- 2/27/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
When I walked out of a theater after watching "Hereditary" for the first time, I legitimately wondered if writer and director Ari Aster came from a Mormon upbringing. Much of his 2018 feature directing debut was filmed on location in Utah, a state where members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints still make up the majority of the general population. Growing up as a non-Mormon in a largely Mormon small town, I gleaned what I could of devout Mormon culture from the outside, coupled with the things I learned from people who had either left the church or had largely ceased to practice the religion. So, naturally, when I saw "Hereditary" -- a horror flick about toxic familial relations and sinister cults shot in my own backyard -- I couldn't help but speculate that this was the handiwork of a former Mormon working through their disillusionment with the organization.
- 11/13/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Director Yorgos Lanthimos’ “female Frankenstein” story Poor Things, which stars Emma Stone (Cruella), just made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, and the reviews that are coming out of that screening are raves that are calling the film a weird, hilarious, raunchy awards contender. Poor Things has debuted on the Rotten Tomatoes site with a 100% fresh rating, and we have gathered some of the social media reactions together for you to check out right here:
Poor Things is a truly phenomenal adaptation that is both loyal & unrestrained. Emma Stone delivers an utterly enchanting career-best performance with Mark Ruffalo not far behind. This is Lanthimos operating at his very finest level of artistic expression #Venezia80 pic.twitter.com/sCpYDRMgaT
— yasmine kandil @ Venezia (@filmwithyas) September 1, 2023
Poor Things is the most magical odyssey of humanity, science, & liberation that anyone could think of—so it makes sense that genius yorgos lanthimos is behind it.
Poor Things is a truly phenomenal adaptation that is both loyal & unrestrained. Emma Stone delivers an utterly enchanting career-best performance with Mark Ruffalo not far behind. This is Lanthimos operating at his very finest level of artistic expression #Venezia80 pic.twitter.com/sCpYDRMgaT
— yasmine kandil @ Venezia (@filmwithyas) September 1, 2023
Poor Things is the most magical odyssey of humanity, science, & liberation that anyone could think of—so it makes sense that genius yorgos lanthimos is behind it.
- 9/1/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
“We live in a time right now where people are building monuments to themselves because of social media. And we value ourselves based on systems of liking, systems of followers, and systems of being celebrated and purporting our lives through technology,” said “Living” director Oliver Hermanus. “And this is a piece of work that really tries to provide a different argument about what life might be about and how to value your existence.” He and actor Bill Nighy spoke about their film with moderator Joshua Rothkopf during an “Academy Conversation” with Oscar voters. Watch it above.
See‘Living’ reviews: Bill Nighy delivers ‘his best performance’ in ‘masterful tear-jerker’
“Living” is based on the Akira Kurosawa classic “Ikiru” and tells the story of a civil servant (played by Nighy) who begins to question the meaning of his own life when he receives a terminal diagnosis. “And then with Covid happening before...
See‘Living’ reviews: Bill Nighy delivers ‘his best performance’ in ‘masterful tear-jerker’
“Living” is based on the Akira Kurosawa classic “Ikiru” and tells the story of a civil servant (played by Nighy) who begins to question the meaning of his own life when he receives a terminal diagnosis. “And then with Covid happening before...
- 12/29/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Monday night, Paramount hosted an early screening of Damien Chazelle’s highly anticipated new film “Babylon,” and reactions to the comedic epic set in the Golden Age of Hollywood are as wild and grandiose as the era it depicts.
Out Dec. 23, the film is the Oscar-winning “La La Land” writer-director’s first feature since 2018, and in his own words, his most ambitious project yet. The A-list cast is led by “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” co-stars Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt, as well as newcomer Diego Calva. Olivia Wilde, Flea, Jean Smart, Tobey Maguire and Spike Jonze among many others also star in this fictionalized account of big dreams and bigger debauchery in 1920s Hollywood.
A first trailer, released in September, promised entertainment and chaos in equal measure, with characters narrowly avoiding certain death on movie sets, falling off of balconies at sumptuous parties and snorting lines of coke.
Out Dec. 23, the film is the Oscar-winning “La La Land” writer-director’s first feature since 2018, and in his own words, his most ambitious project yet. The A-list cast is led by “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” co-stars Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt, as well as newcomer Diego Calva. Olivia Wilde, Flea, Jean Smart, Tobey Maguire and Spike Jonze among many others also star in this fictionalized account of big dreams and bigger debauchery in 1920s Hollywood.
A first trailer, released in September, promised entertainment and chaos in equal measure, with characters narrowly avoiding certain death on movie sets, falling off of balconies at sumptuous parties and snorting lines of coke.
- 11/15/2022
- by Harper Lambert
- The Wrap
Damien Chazelle’s new film Babylon is shaping up to be one of the most divisive of the year.
The latest from the director of acclaimed hits Whiplash and La La Land is a three-hour plus epic set in Hollywood.
Many have been expecting the film, which stars Margot Robbie, Diego Calva and Brad Pitt, to be yet another Oscar contender for Chazelle, whose last release was First Man in 2018.
However, going by the first reactions, it seems Babylon could be too divisive to become an awards frontrunner.
Chazelle himself said that the film was inspired by an intriguing mix of films – namely The Godfather, La Dolce Vita and Nashville.
Reactions have stemmed from those in awe of Chazelle’s impressive directing skills to those overwhelmed by the sheer amount the filmmaker tries to cram into the film.
Variety‘s Clayton Davis called Babylon a “high octane, cocaine-inducing trip”, while...
The latest from the director of acclaimed hits Whiplash and La La Land is a three-hour plus epic set in Hollywood.
Many have been expecting the film, which stars Margot Robbie, Diego Calva and Brad Pitt, to be yet another Oscar contender for Chazelle, whose last release was First Man in 2018.
However, going by the first reactions, it seems Babylon could be too divisive to become an awards frontrunner.
Chazelle himself said that the film was inspired by an intriguing mix of films – namely The Godfather, La Dolce Vita and Nashville.
Reactions have stemmed from those in awe of Chazelle’s impressive directing skills to those overwhelmed by the sheer amount the filmmaker tries to cram into the film.
Variety‘s Clayton Davis called Babylon a “high octane, cocaine-inducing trip”, while...
- 11/15/2022
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - Film
Critics, journalists, and awards pundits in Los Angeles — and especially those who race to Twitter to offer snap reactions after big studio screenings — were in their element on Monday night, which marked the first public screening of Damien Chazelle‘s awards hopeful “Babylon.”
The film — a 183-minute fantasia about the early days of Hollywood picture-making — stars Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Jovan Adepo, Jean Smart, Samara Weaving, Li Jun Li, Lukas Haas, Max Minghella, and Tobey Maguire, plus newcomer Diego Calva in a lead role and reunites Chazelle with cinematographer Linus Sangren, who shot “First Man” and “La La Land,” and composer Justin Hurwitz, who has collaborated with the writer-director since his first indie, “Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench.” All three of those collaborators won Oscars for “La La Land.” Editor Tom Cross, who won an Oscar for Chazelle’s “Whiplash” and was a nominee for “La La Land,...
The film — a 183-minute fantasia about the early days of Hollywood picture-making — stars Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Jovan Adepo, Jean Smart, Samara Weaving, Li Jun Li, Lukas Haas, Max Minghella, and Tobey Maguire, plus newcomer Diego Calva in a lead role and reunites Chazelle with cinematographer Linus Sangren, who shot “First Man” and “La La Land,” and composer Justin Hurwitz, who has collaborated with the writer-director since his first indie, “Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench.” All three of those collaborators won Oscars for “La La Land.” Editor Tom Cross, who won an Oscar for Chazelle’s “Whiplash” and was a nominee for “La La Land,...
- 11/15/2022
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
Paramount has pulled the curtain back on “Babylon,” Damien Chazelle’s period comedy documenting the excess of the early age of Hollywood. An early screening Monday evening at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills has opened the floodgates for first reactions.
The 188-minute epic represents a return to awards season for Chazelle, who became the youngest best director Oscar winner ever in 2016 for his work helming “La La Land.” His subsequent Neil Armstrong biopic “First Man” and his Sundance breakout “Whiplash” also made sizable dents in their respective awards runs.
Margot Robbie, Diego Calva and Brad Pitt lead “Babylon,” among a stacked cast that includes Tobey Maguire, Jean Smart, Li Jun Li and Jovan Adepo. Chazelle has described the film as being inspired by Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita,” Robert Altman’s “Nashville” and “The Godfather” — “old-school epics that managed, through a handful of characters, to convey a society changing.
The 188-minute epic represents a return to awards season for Chazelle, who became the youngest best director Oscar winner ever in 2016 for his work helming “La La Land.” His subsequent Neil Armstrong biopic “First Man” and his Sundance breakout “Whiplash” also made sizable dents in their respective awards runs.
Margot Robbie, Diego Calva and Brad Pitt lead “Babylon,” among a stacked cast that includes Tobey Maguire, Jean Smart, Li Jun Li and Jovan Adepo. Chazelle has described the film as being inspired by Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita,” Robert Altman’s “Nashville” and “The Godfather” — “old-school epics that managed, through a handful of characters, to convey a society changing.
- 11/15/2022
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
After its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, Focus Features’ “Armageddon Time” hit theaters nationwide on October 28. The coming-of-age drama has launched itself into the awards discussion with a star-studded cast and a freshness rating of 89 on Rotten Tomatoes. After being transferred to a private school, a young Jewish boy named Paul (played by breakout star Banks Repeta) deals with prejudice and the challenges of growing up in 1980 New York.
The cast includes Oscar winners Anne Hathaway and Sir Anthony Hopkins, Emmy winner Jeremy Strong, and cameo from Jessica Chastain as Maryanne Trump. The film was written and directed by James Gray, inspired by his upbringing in Queens. So what do the critics have to say?
Joshua Rothkopf of Entertainment Weekly writes, “Gray is after something rarer — a tone that, apart from his recent trips to the Amazon jungle (2016’s ‘The Lost City of Z’) and deep...
The cast includes Oscar winners Anne Hathaway and Sir Anthony Hopkins, Emmy winner Jeremy Strong, and cameo from Jessica Chastain as Maryanne Trump. The film was written and directed by James Gray, inspired by his upbringing in Queens. So what do the critics have to say?
Joshua Rothkopf of Entertainment Weekly writes, “Gray is after something rarer — a tone that, apart from his recent trips to the Amazon jungle (2016’s ‘The Lost City of Z’) and deep...
- 10/28/2022
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
Every Michael Bay scene is an action scene. In the auteur director's subtlety-free universe, you-know-what is always getting real. No one pauses to reflect. Self-discovery is a kinetic choice. Bay became one of Hollywood's hottest action directors by staging everything from car chases to casual conversations like steroidal ballets. That made some viewers hate him. I'd argue it's a reason to adore him.
Why? In a recent Entertainment Weekly interview, Bay's movies are described by Joshua Rothkopf as "pageants to American knowhow." Bay then acknowledges his love of this country's can-do spirit (and those who risk their lives for it) but adds this chilling aside: "The American Dream has been twisted...
The post The 15 Best Michael Bay Action Scenes, Ranked appeared first on /Film.
Why? In a recent Entertainment Weekly interview, Bay's movies are described by Joshua Rothkopf as "pageants to American knowhow." Bay then acknowledges his love of this country's can-do spirit (and those who risk their lives for it) but adds this chilling aside: "The American Dream has been twisted...
The post The 15 Best Michael Bay Action Scenes, Ranked appeared first on /Film.
- 5/11/2022
- by Scott Thomas
- Slash Film
“Flee” made history on Oscar nominations morning by reaping bids in Best Animated Feature, Best International Feature and Best Documentary Feature. The film tells the true story of a man named Amin on the verge of married who is compelled to reveal his hidden past for the first time. None of Gold Derby’s experts currently list the movie winning in the first two categories, with 19 predicting “Encanto” in animated and 19 forecasting “Drive My Car” in international. As for the documentary race, six experts choose “Flee” while a leading 15 pick “Summer of Soul.”
While “Encanto” and “Drive My Car” are the overwhelming front-runners in their respective categories, Best Documentary Feature has room for a surprise winner, especially one like “Flee” that tells a compelling, life-affirming LGBTQ story about family, love and survival. Joshua Rothkopf (Empire Magazine) says “Flee” is “an extraordinary blend of personal reflection and inspired craft,” and Jen Yamato...
While “Encanto” and “Drive My Car” are the overwhelming front-runners in their respective categories, Best Documentary Feature has room for a surprise winner, especially one like “Flee” that tells a compelling, life-affirming LGBTQ story about family, love and survival. Joshua Rothkopf (Empire Magazine) says “Flee” is “an extraordinary blend of personal reflection and inspired craft,” and Jen Yamato...
- 3/9/2022
- by Brian Rowe
- Gold Derby
Denis Villeneuve’s long-awaited adaptation of Frank Herbert’s “Dune” made its debut at the Venice Film Festival on Friday leaving some critics in awe of the massive scope and spectacle of the “Arrival” director’s work and others wondering what all the fuss is about.
“‘Dune’ reminds us what a Hollywood blockbuster can be,” The Guardian critic Xan Brooks wrote in a five-star review. “Implicitly, its message written again and again in the sand, Denis Villeneuve’s fantasy epic tells us that big-budget spectaculars don’t have to be dumb or hyperactive, that it’s possible to allow the odd quiet passage amid the explosions.”
But writing for Indiewire, critic David Ehrlich offered a strong dissent, tying in Villeneuve’s comments about seeing “Dune” on the big screen with the film itself.
“In the end, Denis Villeneuve was all too right: Your television isn’t big enough for the scope of his ‘Dune,...
“‘Dune’ reminds us what a Hollywood blockbuster can be,” The Guardian critic Xan Brooks wrote in a five-star review. “Implicitly, its message written again and again in the sand, Denis Villeneuve’s fantasy epic tells us that big-budget spectaculars don’t have to be dumb or hyperactive, that it’s possible to allow the odd quiet passage amid the explosions.”
But writing for Indiewire, critic David Ehrlich offered a strong dissent, tying in Villeneuve’s comments about seeing “Dune” on the big screen with the film itself.
“In the end, Denis Villeneuve was all too right: Your television isn’t big enough for the scope of his ‘Dune,...
- 9/3/2021
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSAbove: Son of the White Mare (1981)Pioneering Hungarian filmmaker Marcell Jankovics has died. Known for his fantastical and folkloric animations, Jankovics' films like Johnny Corncob (1973) and Son of the White Mare (1981) helped place Hungarian animation on the map. Last year, Jankovics discussed his recently re-released Son of the White Mare with Christopher L. Inoa. Amazon has bought MGM for $8.45 billion. Mike Hopkins, senior VP of Prime Video and Amazon Studios, has announced plans to reimagine MGM's "treasure trove of [intellectual property]," which includes 12 Angry Men, Basic Instinct, and Raging Bull. Cristian Mungiu will be the Jury President for this year's International Critics' Week at Cannes. The festival's lineup is set to be announced on June 7. Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese has started production on his next film, supported by the International Film Festival Rotterdam's Hubert Bals Fund.
- 6/2/2021
- MUBI
While the Oscars and other awards bodies have all pushed events back on their calendar and expanded eligibility for what movies can be considered, the New York Film Critics Circle will only consider movies released in the 2020 calendar year for its annual awards.
The Nyfcc announced Friday it will vote for its 2020 awards on Dec. 18 and that only movies released in theaters or on digital platforms between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, will be considered.
Further, the date for the group’s annual Gala Awards dinner is still to be announced, and membership for 2020 members will be frozen this year, with all current members still eligible to vote, even as many critics’ jobs have been affected by Covid-19. No new members will be voted in this year.
“This is a year unlike any other in our lifetimes. But the world of movies hasn’t stopped, and already, even in this very strange year,...
The Nyfcc announced Friday it will vote for its 2020 awards on Dec. 18 and that only movies released in theaters or on digital platforms between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, will be considered.
Further, the date for the group’s annual Gala Awards dinner is still to be announced, and membership for 2020 members will be frozen this year, with all current members still eligible to vote, even as many critics’ jobs have been affected by Covid-19. No new members will be voted in this year.
“This is a year unlike any other in our lifetimes. But the world of movies hasn’t stopped, and already, even in this very strange year,...
- 9/11/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSAbove: The poster for Venice Critics' Week, illustrated by Fabiana Mascolo.The latest festival update comes from Venice Critics' Week, which has announced a lineup of seven debut features, including The Rossellinis by Alessandro Rossellini, the grandson of Roberto Rossellini. Until August 3, you have the opportunity to donate to the Online African Film Festival's crowdfunding campaign, which will help improve the festival's streaming platform and host new films of the African diaspora all year long. Recommended Viewing For those in the UK, Jonathan Glazer's short Strasbourg 1518 (about the hysteria-induced "dancing plague" that gripped the city) is now available on the BBC iPlayer.Between July 21 to August 18, Kino Klassika Foundation and the Centre of Contemporary Arts Tashkent are co-presenting Tashkent Film Encounters, an online program of classic films from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
- 7/22/2020
- MUBI
Another day, another reboot. While some remakes earn wide acclaim — the American version of “The Office,” “A Star is Born” — “Fantasy Island” did not. The Jeff Wadlow-directed movie is a 2 1/2-hour-long horror take on the 1970s ABC fantasy series, and it’s currently rocking a 9% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
When a movie this awful comes around, film writers often find themselves inspired to respond in kind. And here, the film did not disappoint.
Guys, Fantasy Island might just be one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Oh my fucking god. I’m actually in shock.
— 30SecondReviews (@30Reviews) February 14, 2020
Reviews point to a vibe of sheer desperation for viable IP that permeates the dull reboot and an inability for the movie to find its tone: Is it horror? Drama? Comedy?
Funnier than anything in Fantasy Island: The critic who turned to me immediately afterward and asked, “Are...
When a movie this awful comes around, film writers often find themselves inspired to respond in kind. And here, the film did not disappoint.
Guys, Fantasy Island might just be one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Oh my fucking god. I’m actually in shock.
— 30SecondReviews (@30Reviews) February 14, 2020
Reviews point to a vibe of sheer desperation for viable IP that permeates the dull reboot and an inability for the movie to find its tone: Is it horror? Drama? Comedy?
Funnier than anything in Fantasy Island: The critic who turned to me immediately afterward and asked, “Are...
- 2/17/2020
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
It’s going to take a while for Hollywood to come down from the high that is “Parasite” sweeping the 92nd Academy Awards. Bong Joon Ho’s Palme d’Or winner entered the 2020 Oscars in history-making fashion as the first South Korean feature film nominated for Academy Awards. Many Oscar pundits expected “Parasite” to win the Best International Feature Film category with ease, but very few saw Bong sweeping the major prizes for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. “Parasite” now marks the first time any foreign-language film has won the Best Picture prize. For this reason, many film critics, directors, and actors are championing “Parasite” as the most important and game-changing Best Picture winner in Oscar history. Along with Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight,” “Parasite” is also being hailed as the best Best Picture winner in recent memory.
“‘Parasite’ has dealt a much-needed slap to the American film industry’s narcissism,...
“‘Parasite’ has dealt a much-needed slap to the American film industry’s narcissism,...
- 2/10/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
If you missed Ari Aster's Midsommar in theaters, or you want to celebrate its horror-fueled festivities again and again in the comfort of your own home (without traveling to Hälsingland), you'll be pleased to know that Lionsgate is releasing the film on Blu-ray and DVD beginning October 8th, following a Digital and On Demand release on September 24th from A24.
We have the cover art and official press release below with more information. It's important to note that while a director's cut of Midsommar does exit, it will not be included on this release, and there are no details on its home media distribution at this time. This Blu-ray and DVD release does come with a couple of bonus features for fans to enjoy, including a featurette and “Bear in a Cage™” promo.
Read on for more details, and in case you missed it, listen to our Corpse Club episode on Midsommar.
We have the cover art and official press release below with more information. It's important to note that while a director's cut of Midsommar does exit, it will not be included on this release, and there are no details on its home media distribution at this time. This Blu-ray and DVD release does come with a couple of bonus features for fans to enjoy, including a featurette and “Bear in a Cage™” promo.
Read on for more details, and in case you missed it, listen to our Corpse Club episode on Midsommar.
- 8/19/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Experience the film that Time Out New York calls “a hypnotic and inspired neo-noir” (Joshua Rothkopf) when Under the Silver Lake arrives on Blu-ray and DVD June 18 from Lionsgate. The film will also be available on Digital and On Demand from A24 on April 23. Directed by David Robert Mitchell (It Follows), the film stars Academy Award® nominee Andrew Garfield, Riley Keough, and Topher Grace, and was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. The Under the Silver Lake Blu-ray and DVD will include two making-of featurettes and will be available for the suggested retail price of $24.99 and $19.98, respectively.
From the dazzling imagination that brought you It Follows, Under the Silver Lake stars Andrew Garfield and Riley Keough in a delirious fever dream about one man’s search for the truth behind the mysterious crimes, murders, and disappearances in his East L.A. neighborhood.
Blu-ray / DVD Special...
From the dazzling imagination that brought you It Follows, Under the Silver Lake stars Andrew Garfield and Riley Keough in a delirious fever dream about one man’s search for the truth behind the mysterious crimes, murders, and disappearances in his East L.A. neighborhood.
Blu-ray / DVD Special...
- 6/12/2019
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
A film that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this week reportedly caused outrage and prompted walkouts due to its lengthy and graphic sexual content.
According to IndieWire, Mektoub, My Love: Intermezzo, a nearly four-hour film from Blue Is the Warmest Color director Abdellatif Kechiche, contains one long scene of what appears to be un-simulated oral sex between a man and a woman and also focuses heavily on women’s bottoms.
Intermezzo is the sequel to Kechiche’s 2017 movie Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno; both movies are based on the French novel “La Blessure, la vraie.”
Social media reactions...
According to IndieWire, Mektoub, My Love: Intermezzo, a nearly four-hour film from Blue Is the Warmest Color director Abdellatif Kechiche, contains one long scene of what appears to be un-simulated oral sex between a man and a woman and also focuses heavily on women’s bottoms.
Intermezzo is the sequel to Kechiche’s 2017 movie Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno; both movies are based on the French novel “La Blessure, la vraie.”
Social media reactions...
- 5/24/2019
- by Helen Murphy
- PEOPLE.com
Abdellatif Kechiche is once again under the Cannes microscope for prolonged sexual content in his films. The director’s latest competition title, “Mektoub, My Love: Intermezzo” premiered at the festival, inspiring largely negative responses from critics, journalists, and audience members alike.
“Intermezzo” is the sequel to “Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno,” which premiered at Venice back in 2017. Both films, based on François Bégaudeau’s novel “La Blessure, la vraie,” feature Ophélie (Ophélie Bau) and Amin (Shaïn Boumédine) at the center of a complicated web of attraction and affairs.
One scene in question from “Intermezzo” occurs roughly two-thirds of the way through the nearly four-hour film and involves a lengthy, consensual encounter in a bathroom between Ophélie and a man. The scene, which features what appears to be un-simulated oral sex, lasts much longer than the most extensive sex scene in Kechiche’s 2013 film “Blue Is the Warmest Colour.”
That film,...
“Intermezzo” is the sequel to “Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno,” which premiered at Venice back in 2017. Both films, based on François Bégaudeau’s novel “La Blessure, la vraie,” feature Ophélie (Ophélie Bau) and Amin (Shaïn Boumédine) at the center of a complicated web of attraction and affairs.
One scene in question from “Intermezzo” occurs roughly two-thirds of the way through the nearly four-hour film and involves a lengthy, consensual encounter in a bathroom between Ophélie and a man. The scene, which features what appears to be un-simulated oral sex, lasts much longer than the most extensive sex scene in Kechiche’s 2013 film “Blue Is the Warmest Colour.”
That film,...
- 5/24/2019
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Seven of 12 titles have taken their spot on the grid.
Three new films have achieved mid-range scores on Screen’s Toronto Platform jury grid, with Emir Baigazin’s The River, the first title to land, still leading the way.
With one score to come, Tim Sutton’s Donnybrook reached a 2.4 score, with three twos (‘average’) added to two threes (‘good’) from Joshua Rothkopf of Time Out New York and Screen’s own critic.
Sutton’s film stars Jamie Bell and Frank Grillo as an ex-marine and drug dealer respectively, who compete in legendary bare-knuckle boxing competition Donnybrook for a cash prize they both desperately need.
Three new films have achieved mid-range scores on Screen’s Toronto Platform jury grid, with Emir Baigazin’s The River, the first title to land, still leading the way.
With one score to come, Tim Sutton’s Donnybrook reached a 2.4 score, with three twos (‘average’) added to two threes (‘good’) from Joshua Rothkopf of Time Out New York and Screen’s own critic.
Sutton’s film stars Jamie Bell and Frank Grillo as an ex-marine and drug dealer respectively, who compete in legendary bare-knuckle boxing competition Donnybrook for a cash prize they both desperately need.
- 9/9/2018
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
’Jessica Forever’, ’Mademoiselle De Joncquières’ also take spots.
Three new titles have scored mid-range on Screen’s Toronto Platform jury grid, leaving Emir Baigazin’s The River as the early leader.
Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel’s debut Jessica Forever scored exactly 2, although split opinion among critics.
Radheyan Simonpillai of Now/CTV, Boston Globe’s Loren King and Time Out New York’s Joshua Rothkopf all gave it one star for ‘poor’, while Vincent Le Leurch of Le Film Français and Screen’s own critic both awarded a top score 4 for ‘excellent’.
The film presents a dystopian world where violent misfits reign supreme.
Three new titles have scored mid-range on Screen’s Toronto Platform jury grid, leaving Emir Baigazin’s The River as the early leader.
Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel’s debut Jessica Forever scored exactly 2, although split opinion among critics.
Radheyan Simonpillai of Now/CTV, Boston Globe’s Loren King and Time Out New York’s Joshua Rothkopf all gave it one star for ‘poor’, while Vincent Le Leurch of Le Film Français and Screen’s own critic both awarded a top score 4 for ‘excellent’.
The film presents a dystopian world where violent misfits reign supreme.
- 9/8/2018
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
This year’s grid features 6 critics, watching each of the 12 films.
Screen has launched its critics jury grid for the Platform strand at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival with Emir Baigazin’s The River the first title to take its place.
This year’s grid will feature scores from six critics:
Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times Radheyan Simonpillai, Now/CTV Loren King, Boston Globe Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York Vincent Le Leurch, Le Film Français Screen’s own critic
The River has made a strong start to the grid, with an average of 3. It scored consistently, with...
Screen has launched its critics jury grid for the Platform strand at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival with Emir Baigazin’s The River the first title to take its place.
This year’s grid will feature scores from six critics:
Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times Radheyan Simonpillai, Now/CTV Loren King, Boston Globe Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York Vincent Le Leurch, Le Film Français Screen’s own critic
The River has made a strong start to the grid, with an average of 3. It scored consistently, with...
- 9/7/2018
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
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