The high-profile cast for Universal Pictures’ forthcoming musical from Michel Gondry and Pharrell Williams has just been kicked up an octave with the addition of Janelle Monáe.
Monáe has signed on to join the cast of the coming-of-age period feature that is currently untitled. The film’s previously confirmed castmembers include Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry and Missy Elliott.
The project is set in Virginia Beach during the summer of 1977 and inspired by Atlantis Apartments, the neighborhood where Williams grew up. Gondry directs the musical from a script by Martin Hynes and Steven Levenson.
Producers include Williams and Mimi Valdés for I Am Other, alongside Gil Netter for Gil Netter Productions. Overseeing the movie for Universal are senior vp of production development Ryan Jones and director of production development Christine Sun.
Monáe’s previous film credits include Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Antebellum,...
Monáe has signed on to join the cast of the coming-of-age period feature that is currently untitled. The film’s previously confirmed castmembers include Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry and Missy Elliott.
The project is set in Virginia Beach during the summer of 1977 and inspired by Atlantis Apartments, the neighborhood where Williams grew up. Gondry directs the musical from a script by Martin Hynes and Steven Levenson.
Producers include Williams and Mimi Valdés for I Am Other, alongside Gil Netter for Gil Netter Productions. Overseeing the movie for Universal are senior vp of production development Ryan Jones and director of production development Christine Sun.
Monáe’s previous film credits include Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Antebellum,...
- 5/2/2024
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It was just last week we were celebrating the 20th anniversary of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which catapulted Michel Gondry into the Hollywood system with the likes of Be Kind Rewind and The Green Hornet. After the failure of that superhero tentpole, he retreated back to France, directing a handful of smaller-scale features, the latest of which, The Book of Solutions, gets meta following a filmmaker struggling with the editing of his big-budget project. Gondry is now mounting his return to Hollywood, the details of which have now been unveiled.
Deadline reports he’s directing an untitled coming-of-age musical, which is loosely inspired by the upbringing of Pharrell Williams. Set to star Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, coming off her Oscar win for The Holdovers, the Universal-backed project is set in 1977 Virginia Beach. Previously going by the title Atlantis, named after the Atlantis Apartments area where Williams was raised,...
Deadline reports he’s directing an untitled coming-of-age musical, which is loosely inspired by the upbringing of Pharrell Williams. Set to star Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, coming off her Oscar win for The Holdovers, the Universal-backed project is set in 1977 Virginia Beach. Previously going by the title Atlantis, named after the Atlantis Apartments area where Williams was raised,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Exclusive: Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Waves) has been set to lead a new, untitled Universal feature project from director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and producer Pharrell Williams (Hidden Figures), according to multiple sources, who also tell us that 2024 Academy Award winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers) is in talks.
Universal declined comment. But the film is said to be a coming-of-age musical, set in 1977 Virginia Beach, which draws inspiration from Williams’ childhood growing up in the city’s Atlantis Apartments.
Martin Hynes (Toy Story 4) and Steven Levenson penned the script. Williams and Mimi Valdés will produce through i am Other, alongside Gil Netter for Gil Netter Productions.
Known for roles in Trey Edward Shults’ Waves, Joe Wright’s Cyrano, Nat Geo’s Genius: MLK/X, which had him playing Martin Luther King Jr., and Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, which had him portraying B.B. King,...
Universal declined comment. But the film is said to be a coming-of-age musical, set in 1977 Virginia Beach, which draws inspiration from Williams’ childhood growing up in the city’s Atlantis Apartments.
Martin Hynes (Toy Story 4) and Steven Levenson penned the script. Williams and Mimi Valdés will produce through i am Other, alongside Gil Netter for Gil Netter Productions.
Known for roles in Trey Edward Shults’ Waves, Joe Wright’s Cyrano, Nat Geo’s Genius: MLK/X, which had him playing Martin Luther King Jr., and Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, which had him portraying B.B. King,...
- 3/21/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
This article appears in the SXSW 2024 issue of Den of Geek magazine. Check out all of our SXSW coverage here.
The Fall Guy wasn’t supposed to be a romance. Or at least it didn’t start out that way. But when Ryan Gosling came on board to collaborate on the script, the shape of the wildly ambitious action film changed. Director David Leitch was reminded of what his cinematographer Jonathan Sela would always say: “I want to do a sweeping romance. All we do is punch people in the face. Stop punching and start kissing!” That was ringing in Leitch’s head when Gosling came up with a revolutionary idea. “He said, ‘What if we lean into the love story?’” Leitch recalls. “‘Let’s just go down that road in the outline and experiment with it.’ We started to lean into it more and more, and we started to...
The Fall Guy wasn’t supposed to be a romance. Or at least it didn’t start out that way. But when Ryan Gosling came on board to collaborate on the script, the shape of the wildly ambitious action film changed. Director David Leitch was reminded of what his cinematographer Jonathan Sela would always say: “I want to do a sweeping romance. All we do is punch people in the face. Stop punching and start kissing!” That was ringing in Leitch’s head when Gosling came up with a revolutionary idea. “He said, ‘What if we lean into the love story?’” Leitch recalls. “‘Let’s just go down that road in the outline and experiment with it.’ We started to lean into it more and more, and we started to...
- 3/6/2024
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Get ready for your next marathon with Max! This February, the streamer is saying goodbye to major award winners, camp classics, and more. Most of the platform’s exits will take place on the final day of the month, including the genre and history-changing “The Exorcist,” the recent Oscar winner “Drive My Car,” and more, but Max will remove several other major TV and film titles throughout the month.
We at The Streamable have assembled our top picks for what’s leaving Max this month— continue below to find your next thing to watch and see the full list below to plan your next movie night before they’re gone!
7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Leaving Max in February 2024? “Drive My Car” | Thursday, Feb. 29
A recent Oscar winner for Best International Feature Film, the Japanese drama stars Hidetoshi Nishijima as Yūsuke Kafuku,...
We at The Streamable have assembled our top picks for what’s leaving Max this month— continue below to find your next thing to watch and see the full list below to plan your next movie night before they’re gone!
7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Leaving Max in February 2024? “Drive My Car” | Thursday, Feb. 29
A recent Oscar winner for Best International Feature Film, the Japanese drama stars Hidetoshi Nishijima as Yūsuke Kafuku,...
- 2/2/2024
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Landmark Theatres will mark its 50th anniversary this year with several classic film screening series and discounted tickets.
As part of the exhibitor’s ongoing Retro Replay program, the West Hollywood-based chain will celebrate movies from 1974 as well as other milestone moments in film history. Among the vintage titles set for the series are 1967’s “Bonnie and Clyde” and “The Graduate,” 1973’s “Badlands” and “Amarcord” and 1975’s “Jaws.”
“In commemoration of our 50th Anniversary, we want to recognize our guests, studio partners, and members of the creative community who’ve played pivotal roles in Landmark’s storied history,” said Kevin Holloway, president of Landmark Theatres. “Throughout 2024 we’ll be offering evergreen programming across the business, ranging from signature series to food and beverage promotions, loyalty member pricing, and more. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with our audience this coming year.”
The planned series include “1974 – The Year Landmark Opened,...
As part of the exhibitor’s ongoing Retro Replay program, the West Hollywood-based chain will celebrate movies from 1974 as well as other milestone moments in film history. Among the vintage titles set for the series are 1967’s “Bonnie and Clyde” and “The Graduate,” 1973’s “Badlands” and “Amarcord” and 1975’s “Jaws.”
“In commemoration of our 50th Anniversary, we want to recognize our guests, studio partners, and members of the creative community who’ve played pivotal roles in Landmark’s storied history,” said Kevin Holloway, president of Landmark Theatres. “Throughout 2024 we’ll be offering evergreen programming across the business, ranging from signature series to food and beverage promotions, loyalty member pricing, and more. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with our audience this coming year.”
The planned series include “1974 – The Year Landmark Opened,...
- 1/18/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Spooky season is upon us and Max is getting in on the action.
New to the streamer in September are “Annabelle” (2014), “Annabelle: Creation” (2017) and “Annabelle Comes Home” (2019), as well as “The Curse of La Llorona” (2019) — all spin-offs from “The Conjuring” universe.
Other horror entries include “It” (2017), “It: Chapter Two” (2019), eight “Friday the 13th” films (from the 1980 cult classic to 1989’s “Jason Takes Manhattan”) and six “Children of the Corn” sequels.
As previously reported, over 200 episodes of AMC Networks’ television series are coming to Max in September at no additional cost to subscribers, spreading their availability beyond AMC+. Shows that are part of the partnership include “Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire” Season 1; ”Dark Winds” Season 1; “Gangs of London” Seasons 1 and 2; “Fear the Walking Dead” Seasons 1-7; “Killing Eve” Seasons 1-4; “A Discovery of Witches” Seasons 1-3; and “Ride with Norman Reedus” Seasons 1-5.
If fright flicks aren’t your thing,...
New to the streamer in September are “Annabelle” (2014), “Annabelle: Creation” (2017) and “Annabelle Comes Home” (2019), as well as “The Curse of La Llorona” (2019) — all spin-offs from “The Conjuring” universe.
Other horror entries include “It” (2017), “It: Chapter Two” (2019), eight “Friday the 13th” films (from the 1980 cult classic to 1989’s “Jason Takes Manhattan”) and six “Children of the Corn” sequels.
As previously reported, over 200 episodes of AMC Networks’ television series are coming to Max in September at no additional cost to subscribers, spreading their availability beyond AMC+. Shows that are part of the partnership include “Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire” Season 1; ”Dark Winds” Season 1; “Gangs of London” Seasons 1 and 2; “Fear the Walking Dead” Seasons 1-7; “Killing Eve” Seasons 1-4; “A Discovery of Witches” Seasons 1-3; and “Ride with Norman Reedus” Seasons 1-5.
If fright flicks aren’t your thing,...
- 9/1/2023
- by Lawrence Yee
- The Wrap
Max is gearing up for an exciting fall as the streamer adds plenty of titles to its September library. Along with introducing AMC+ imports like Interview with the Vampire and Dark Winds, new episodes of favorite Max Originals like Starstruck starring Rose Matafeo are also dropping on the streamer this month. And get ready for spooky season with Halloween-themed content from Food Network and Travel Channel alongside recognizable films such as scary flicks like Carrie, It, and The Exorcist. Scroll down for a peek at what’s coming and going from the platform this September, and let us know what you plan to stream in the comments section below. Titles Coming to Max in September: September 1 42 A Discovery of Witches, Seasons 1-3 (AMC+) Aliens in the Attic Annabelle Annabelle: Creation Annabelle Comes Home Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, Season 1 (AMC+) Be Kind Rewind Blade Blade II Blade: Trinity...
- 9/1/2023
- TV Insider
There’s an interesting experiment going on over at Max in September, as from the first of the month you’ll be able to find seven AMC+ series streaming for 60 days on the service. If you’ve been dying to check out some of their best shows but just haven’t had access to them, now’s your chance! Max will be streaming Fear the Walking Dead seasons 1-7, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire season one, Dark Winds season one, Gangs of London seasons 1-2, Ride with Norman Reedus seasons 1-5, A Discovery of Witches seasons 1-3, and Killing Eve seasons 1-4.
Also on Max this September is the original animated series Young Love, a Matthew A. Cherry project which seeks to expand on the critically acclaimed short film, Hair Love. Sam Jay has a new stand-up special on HBO, too. Sam Jay: Salute or Shoot Me will...
Also on Max this September is the original animated series Young Love, a Matthew A. Cherry project which seeks to expand on the critically acclaimed short film, Hair Love. Sam Jay has a new stand-up special on HBO, too. Sam Jay: Salute or Shoot Me will...
- 9/1/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
The summer is nearly over! September has arrived, and for many in the United States that means a much-needed break from hot temperatures and sticky humidity.
There are a wealth of new titles coming to Max to celebrate the advent of fall this month. One of the splashiest Max-related news stories of the past month broke just this week, when it was announced that seven AMC titles were coming to the Warner Bros. Discovery streamer on Sept. 1.
That’s not all that’s coming to Max by a long shot this month, so check out The Streamable’s list of top shows and movies coming to the service, along with all the other titles that will soon be available with a Max subscription!
7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com
Get 20% Off Your Next Year of Max When Pre-Paid Annually
What Are the Five Best Shows and Movies Coming to...
There are a wealth of new titles coming to Max to celebrate the advent of fall this month. One of the splashiest Max-related news stories of the past month broke just this week, when it was announced that seven AMC titles were coming to the Warner Bros. Discovery streamer on Sept. 1.
That’s not all that’s coming to Max by a long shot this month, so check out The Streamable’s list of top shows and movies coming to the service, along with all the other titles that will soon be available with a Max subscription!
7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com
Get 20% Off Your Next Year of Max When Pre-Paid Annually
What Are the Five Best Shows and Movies Coming to...
- 8/30/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
If you’ve ever wondered when it was that Michel Gondry, the gifted French director of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” became the world’s most annoying filmmaker, you might say the answer is, “He always was.” Yet no one, including me, quite thinks of him that way. That’s because the few works of his that have come to prominence possess a special combination of facility and charm. I adore “Eternal Sunshine,” a virtuoso movie that bends your brain and breaks your heart at the same time. You might simply choose to characterize it as the masterpiece of screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, but the truth is that Gondry directed it — the leaps in time, the emotionally convulsive performances of Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet — with a masterful sense of play and gravitational control.
I’ve always heard that the script Kaufman originally turned in was twice as complicated, and...
I’ve always heard that the script Kaufman originally turned in was twice as complicated, and...
- 6/4/2023
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
One of the most delightful experiences at this year’s Cannes Film Festival was Michel Gondry’s dramatic comedy The Book of Solutions, from the Directors Fortnight sidebar. The director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Be Kind Rewind stayed away from the big screen for eight long years after the painful failure of the sloppy melodrama Mood Indigo (2013) followed with his next low budget comedy Microbe & Gasoline (2015). His only project from the past few years was an incredibly witty, heartfelt TV series called "Kidding" with Jim Carrey as Mr. Pickles, a quirky riff on Mr. Rogers. Gondry's new feature film, Le Livre des Solutions, depicts the ultimate turmoil of the moviemaking process – accumulating all of his passion, frustration & fears in a lighthearted, ironic way underlined by the usual melancholic for which he is known. // Continue Reading ›...
- 6/2/2023
- by Tamara Khodova
- firstshowing.net
Raúl Castillo, Tony Cavalero, Melonie Diaz & Josh Brener Set For Crypto-Heist Thriller ‘Cold Wallet’
Exclusive: Raúl Castillo (The Inspection), Tony Cavalero (The Righteous Gemstones), Melonie Diaz (The First Purge) and Josh Brener (Silicon Valley) are set to topline Cold Wallet — a crypto-heist thriller from director Cutter Hodierne (Fishing Without Nets), which has wrapped production.
Related Story A24 Sets Disaster Comedy ‘Y2K’, To Be Directed By ‘SNL’ Alum Kyle Mooney; Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Julian Dennison & More To Star Related Story Alicia Sanz & Raúl Castillo Set For Horror-Thriller 'Open House' From 'The Djinn' Filmmakers Related Story Quiver Acquires Snoop Dogg-Produced Buddy Comedy 'Bromates' Starring Lil Rel Howery & Josh Brener – First Look
The film inspired by real stories, which was in production when news of the Ftx scandal broke, follows a rag-tag team of Redditors who lose everything in a crypto ponzi scheme and plot to kidnap the ‘financial influencer’ who screwed them over. Script was written by John Hibey — the...
Related Story A24 Sets Disaster Comedy ‘Y2K’, To Be Directed By ‘SNL’ Alum Kyle Mooney; Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Julian Dennison & More To Star Related Story Alicia Sanz & Raúl Castillo Set For Horror-Thriller 'Open House' From 'The Djinn' Filmmakers Related Story Quiver Acquires Snoop Dogg-Produced Buddy Comedy 'Bromates' Starring Lil Rel Howery & Josh Brener – First Look
The film inspired by real stories, which was in production when news of the Ftx scandal broke, follows a rag-tag team of Redditors who lose everything in a crypto ponzi scheme and plot to kidnap the ‘financial influencer’ who screwed them over. Script was written by John Hibey — the...
- 3/27/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The old saying goes you shouldn’t marry anyone you can’t stand to be with for a three-day train ride. This is perhaps the basis for most of Richard Linklater’s Before series, tracing a couple from initial courtship to eventual marriage, from the fantasy of being young and taking a different path to settling into comfort. Kristian Mercado’s fluffy and sweet hang-out movie If You Were the Last initially opens in a living room before we pull back to reveal that our couple, Adam (Anthony Mackie) and Jane (Zoe Chao), are floating ruthlessly in space, on a self-sustaining ship that has lost all navigation and communication with NASA back on earth. Like an extreme version of the Before series, we enter mid-relationship, after the routines have been established 1,000 days into a solidly platonic relationship.
Adam and Jane are set in their schedules: completing the checklist, caring for the garden and animals,...
Adam and Jane are set in their schedules: completing the checklist, caring for the garden and animals,...
- 3/27/2023
- by John Fink
- The Film Stage
And you thought Blockbuster video stores were extinct! In Netflix‘s upcoming workplace comedy Blockbuster, the last (fictional) remaining store in America — suburban Michigan, to be exact — strives to stay relevant in a streaming world. Determined manager Timmy Yoon leads an eclectic staff that includes longtime crush Eliza Walker, and for the actors, returning to the days of “Be Kind, Rewind” was truly a blast. “It was the typical thing of the ’90s that we went every Friday night and picked out our movies for the weekend,” says Fumero, who grew up in small-town New Jersey. “It was a family event.” Angeleno Park fondly recalls “that one Blockbuster on Venice Boulevard that I would go to all the time” and the hours he spent “just looking at the covers of these VHS tapes.” Nostalgia permeates the series, as Timmy, who has been working in the store since high school, struggles...
- 8/28/2022
- TV Insider
Yasiin Bey, the musician formerly known as Mos Def, will portray jazz piano legend Thelonious Monk in the biopic “Thelonious,” which is slated to begin production in the summer of 2022. The project is being brought to the screen by Jupiter Rising Film and its co-founders, Alberto Marzan and Peter Lord Moreland.
Moreland will also write the screenplay for the film, which “will center around [Monk’s] struggles for musical success, mental illness and the spiritual love triangle between his wife Nellie and one of the world’s richest women, Nica Rothschild,” according to a statement.
“This role is one that requires great depth and a unique understanding of who and what Thelonious Monk was and how his lasting impact can still be heard throughout the music world today,” said Marzan. “The moment I met Yasiin, I knew we found our Thelonious. It’s an honor to be the first to tell this...
Moreland will also write the screenplay for the film, which “will center around [Monk’s] struggles for musical success, mental illness and the spiritual love triangle between his wife Nellie and one of the world’s richest women, Nica Rothschild,” according to a statement.
“This role is one that requires great depth and a unique understanding of who and what Thelonious Monk was and how his lasting impact can still be heard throughout the music world today,” said Marzan. “The moment I met Yasiin, I knew we found our Thelonious. It’s an honor to be the first to tell this...
- 7/21/2021
- by Jonathan Cohen
- Variety Film + TV
There is no doubt that Hollywood is the movie capital of the Western world. The streets and avenues may not be paved with dreams but there are stars, studios and stories essential to our movie history around every corner.
Capturing the American City on camera, even going so far as to include the city as a character in the films however pretentious that may sound, has long been a feature of urban cinema. The diverse nature of the American city has given rise to many different types of stories, set against many different backdrops, but they are all part of the wide expanse of America’s cinematic heritage.
While L. A. movies have been covered often before, we are here to look at other American cities, the films that were based there, and how their character is captured on the screen.
Las Vegas
The glittering diamond in the rough of...
Capturing the American City on camera, even going so far as to include the city as a character in the films however pretentious that may sound, has long been a feature of urban cinema. The diverse nature of the American city has given rise to many different types of stories, set against many different backdrops, but they are all part of the wide expanse of America’s cinematic heritage.
While L. A. movies have been covered often before, we are here to look at other American cities, the films that were based there, and how their character is captured on the screen.
Las Vegas
The glittering diamond in the rough of...
- 12/15/2019
- by Michael Walsh
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Exclusive: ICM Partners has signed actor and comedian Jon Glaser.
The six-time Emmy nominee created and starred in three TV series: Jon Glaser Loves Gear, Neon Joe Werewolf Hunter, and Delocated.
He played Councilman Jamm on Parks and Recreation and Laird on Girls.
Glaser’s other television and film credits include: Inside Amy Schumer, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mr. Robot, Wonder Showzen, Trainwreck, Be Kind Rewind, and Pootie Tang. His voice can be heard on Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Bob’s Burgers, among other series. He appeared as Video Cowboy in the ESPN web series Mayne Street, and he created, directed and starred in a series of web shorts for Comedy Central called Tiny Hands.
Glaser wrote for Inside Amy Schumer, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and The Dana Carvey Show, and his writing has appeared in the New York Times magazine, ESPN magazine, Bicycling magazine, The Onion A.
The six-time Emmy nominee created and starred in three TV series: Jon Glaser Loves Gear, Neon Joe Werewolf Hunter, and Delocated.
He played Councilman Jamm on Parks and Recreation and Laird on Girls.
Glaser’s other television and film credits include: Inside Amy Schumer, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mr. Robot, Wonder Showzen, Trainwreck, Be Kind Rewind, and Pootie Tang. His voice can be heard on Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Bob’s Burgers, among other series. He appeared as Video Cowboy in the ESPN web series Mayne Street, and he created, directed and starred in a series of web shorts for Comedy Central called Tiny Hands.
Glaser wrote for Inside Amy Schumer, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and The Dana Carvey Show, and his writing has appeared in the New York Times magazine, ESPN magazine, Bicycling magazine, The Onion A.
- 7/17/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
“I started with the idea of a kind man in a cruel world,” says “Kidding” creator Dave Holstein about his inspiration for the series. We spoke with Holstein and director Michel Gondry on the recent red carpet for an Emmy Fyc event that took place at the historic Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood. Watch our full interview above.
Jim Carrey stars in the series as Jeff, aka Mr. Pickles, a children’s show host whose life spirals out of control after the death of his son. The series also features Catherine Keener as his puppeteer sister, Judy Greer as his ex-wife, and Frank Langella as his producer father. Carrey earned a Golden Globe nomination as Best TV Comedy/Musical Actor for the first season, and the show was also up for Best Comedy/Musical Series.
See Jim Carrey red carpet interview: ‘Kidding’
Holstein wrote the part specifically for Carrey after...
Jim Carrey stars in the series as Jeff, aka Mr. Pickles, a children’s show host whose life spirals out of control after the death of his son. The series also features Catherine Keener as his puppeteer sister, Judy Greer as his ex-wife, and Frank Langella as his producer father. Carrey earned a Golden Globe nomination as Best TV Comedy/Musical Actor for the first season, and the show was also up for Best Comedy/Musical Series.
See Jim Carrey red carpet interview: ‘Kidding’
Holstein wrote the part specifically for Carrey after...
- 5/8/2019
- by Zach Laws
- Gold Derby
When The CW's reboot of the cult favorite TV series Charmed was announced, the first question on everyone's minds was who would be playing the "Charmed Ones," the trio of supernaturally chosen sister witches. Instead of casting big-name actresses, the network chose instead to select three actresses who have worked steadily but haven't had breakout roles just yet. The middle sister, Mel Vera, is played by Melonie Diaz, a longtime staple of the indie film world.
Diaz began her career in the New York theater scene, appearing in off-Broadway plays and fringe festivals. This work led to her entry into the film world, with supporting roles in small and independent films. Her early-career credits include the direct-to-video dramedy Double Whammy and 2002's Raising Victor Vargas, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival.
Although she briefly appeared on TV (in an episode of Law & Order and in a...
Diaz began her career in the New York theater scene, appearing in off-Broadway plays and fringe festivals. This work led to her entry into the film world, with supporting roles in small and independent films. Her early-career credits include the direct-to-video dramedy Double Whammy and 2002's Raising Victor Vargas, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival.
Although she briefly appeared on TV (in an episode of Law & Order and in a...
- 9/22/2018
- by Amanda Prahl
- Popsugar.com
This year, a record 928 people were invited to join the motion picture academy and will be eligible to vote for the 2019 Oscars. Compare this intake to the totals of the previous four years: 774 in 2017; 683 in 2016; 322 in 2015; and 271 in 2014.
While Academy Awards nominees are automatically eligible for consideration, the rest of the candidates must go through a fairly cumbersome process. A candidate must meet certain branch specific requirements before even being eligible.
For example, actors must “have a minimum of three theatrical feature film credits, in all of which the roles played were scripted roles, one of which was released in the past five years, and all of which are of a caliber that reflect the high standards of the Academy.” For writers, directors and producers they need have just two of these credits.
The executive committee of the branch must endorse the application before forwarding it to the Board of Governors for final approval.
While Academy Awards nominees are automatically eligible for consideration, the rest of the candidates must go through a fairly cumbersome process. A candidate must meet certain branch specific requirements before even being eligible.
For example, actors must “have a minimum of three theatrical feature film credits, in all of which the roles played were scripted roles, one of which was released in the past five years, and all of which are of a caliber that reflect the high standards of the Academy.” For writers, directors and producers they need have just two of these credits.
The executive committee of the branch must endorse the application before forwarding it to the Board of Governors for final approval.
- 6/25/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
In an astonishing move to swell the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences membership ranks, a record 928 artists and executives from 59 countries have been invited to join this year. The branches have increasingly actively sought eligible people to invite to join the Academy, but the Board of Governors makes the final call; this year, they did not invite Kobe Bryant to join although he won an Oscar for animated short “Dear Basketball.”
Clearly, people of color (38 percent) and women (49 percent) are among the many invites, as the Academy continues to address its long-term white-male dominance. As always, actors make up the largest branch of the Academy, but many new members also come from overseas.
In 2017, the Academy invited 744 new members.
Seventeen Oscar winners are among the new members and 92 Oscar nominees. Nine of the 17 branches invited more women than men. The percentage of women in the Academy has risen...
Clearly, people of color (38 percent) and women (49 percent) are among the many invites, as the Academy continues to address its long-term white-male dominance. As always, actors make up the largest branch of the Academy, but many new members also come from overseas.
In 2017, the Academy invited 744 new members.
Seventeen Oscar winners are among the new members and 92 Oscar nominees. Nine of the 17 branches invited more women than men. The percentage of women in the Academy has risen...
- 6/25/2018
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences is out with its 2018 list of invitations for membership. Here is the list of the record 928 folks from 59 countries. Note that 10 individuals (noted by an asterisk) have been invited to join the Academy by multiple branches; they must select one branch upon accepting membership.
New members will be welcomed into the Academy at invitation-only receptions in the fall.
Actors
Hiam Abbass – “Blade Runner 2049,” “The Visitor”
Damián Alcázar – “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” “El Crimen del Padre Amaro”
Naveen Andrews – “Mighty Joe Young,” “The English Patient”
Gemma Arterton – “Their Finest,” “Quantum of Solace”
Zawe Ashton – “Nocturnal Animals,” “Blitz”
Eileen Atkins – “Gosford Park,” “Cold Mountain”
Hank Azaria – “Anastasia,” “The Birdcage”
Doona Bae – “Cloud Atlas,” “The Host”
Christine Baranski – “Miss Sloane,” “Mamma Mia!”
Carlos Bardem – “Assassin’s Creed,” “Che”
Irene Bedard – “Smoke Signals,” “Pocahontas”
Bill Bellamy – “Any Given Sunday,” “love jones”
Haley Bennett – “Thank You for Your Service,...
New members will be welcomed into the Academy at invitation-only receptions in the fall.
Actors
Hiam Abbass – “Blade Runner 2049,” “The Visitor”
Damián Alcázar – “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” “El Crimen del Padre Amaro”
Naveen Andrews – “Mighty Joe Young,” “The English Patient”
Gemma Arterton – “Their Finest,” “Quantum of Solace”
Zawe Ashton – “Nocturnal Animals,” “Blitz”
Eileen Atkins – “Gosford Park,” “Cold Mountain”
Hank Azaria – “Anastasia,” “The Birdcage”
Doona Bae – “Cloud Atlas,” “The Host”
Christine Baranski – “Miss Sloane,” “Mamma Mia!”
Carlos Bardem – “Assassin’s Creed,” “Che”
Irene Bedard – “Smoke Signals,” “Pocahontas”
Bill Bellamy – “Any Given Sunday,” “love jones”
Haley Bennett – “Thank You for Your Service,...
- 6/25/2018
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Stars: Kyle Mooney, Mark Hamill, Jane Adams, Greg Kinnear, Matt Walsh, Michaela Watkins, Ryan Simpkins, Alexa Demie, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Claire Danes, Chance Crimin, Beck Bennett, Andy Samberg | Written by Kevin Costello, Kyle Mooney | Directed by Dave McCary
Saturday Night Live alumnus Dave McCary makes his directorial debut with Brigsby Bear, an engaging and smartly judged indie comedy-drama that mixes elements from several different movies but still manages to feel entirely original.
SNL’s Kyle Mooney (who co-wrote the script with Kevin Costello) plays twenty-five year-old James, who grows up in an underground desert bunker with his “parents” Ted (Mark Hamil) and April (Jane Adams). Kyle’s only entertainment is Brigsby Bear, a children’s fantasy TV show about a talking bear who protects the universe and dispenses weekly life lessons like “curiosity is an unnatural emotion” and “trust only the family unit”.
When the FBI raid the bunker, James...
Saturday Night Live alumnus Dave McCary makes his directorial debut with Brigsby Bear, an engaging and smartly judged indie comedy-drama that mixes elements from several different movies but still manages to feel entirely original.
SNL’s Kyle Mooney (who co-wrote the script with Kevin Costello) plays twenty-five year-old James, who grows up in an underground desert bunker with his “parents” Ted (Mark Hamil) and April (Jane Adams). Kyle’s only entertainment is Brigsby Bear, a children’s fantasy TV show about a talking bear who protects the universe and dispenses weekly life lessons like “curiosity is an unnatural emotion” and “trust only the family unit”.
When the FBI raid the bunker, James...
- 4/16/2018
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
Alex Kopit served as an assistant editor on past Sundance premieres Be Kind Rewind (2008) and The Messenger (2009). He returns to the festival in 2018 as the editor of Dead Pigs, the debut feature from writer/director Cathy Yan. The film is a mosaic of stories in modern-day Shanghai connected by a mysterious occurrence: a stream of floating pig carcasses. Below, Kopit discusses editing the film so that “the various stories could interweave and support each other.” Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the editor of your film? What were the factors and attributes that led to your […]...
- 1/27/2018
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
This story of an oddball being let out into the world succeeds in its character portrayal even as it stumbles over reality
If you can get past the fact that the film was precision-tooled for the quirky feelgood slot of the Sundance film festival; if you can forgive the glaring product placement and the nerd-gasm casting of Mark Hamill in a key role of a film about fan geekery, then there is a fair amount to recommend this solid feature debut.
A narrative that combines the domestic dysfunction of Yorgos Lanthimos’s Dogtooth with the unabashed movie-buff joy of Garth Jennings’s Son of Rambow or Michel Gondry’s Be Kind Rewind, this is a study of a very singular character, shaped – or scarred – by a unique upbringing.
Continue reading...
If you can get past the fact that the film was precision-tooled for the quirky feelgood slot of the Sundance film festival; if you can forgive the glaring product placement and the nerd-gasm casting of Mark Hamill in a key role of a film about fan geekery, then there is a fair amount to recommend this solid feature debut.
A narrative that combines the domestic dysfunction of Yorgos Lanthimos’s Dogtooth with the unabashed movie-buff joy of Garth Jennings’s Son of Rambow or Michel Gondry’s Be Kind Rewind, this is a study of a very singular character, shaped – or scarred – by a unique upbringing.
Continue reading...
- 12/10/2017
- by Wendy Ide
- The Guardian - Film News
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?”, can be found at the end of this post.)
This week’s question: What is the most overlooked and/or underrated movie of 2017?
E. Oliver Whitney, Screencrush.com, @cinemabite
Despite the critical praise, “A Fantastic Woman” only a one-week qualifying run last month, and I worry is it’ll easily be forgotten this awards season. Daniela Vega gives one of the most astounding performances I’ve seen this year, one that comes from somewhere fierce and internal, portraying the life and struggle of a trans woman that cinema has rarely shown an interest in exploring. But since you can’t see it until it has a proper release in Febraury, do check one of the year’s other...
This week’s question: What is the most overlooked and/or underrated movie of 2017?
E. Oliver Whitney, Screencrush.com, @cinemabite
Despite the critical praise, “A Fantastic Woman” only a one-week qualifying run last month, and I worry is it’ll easily be forgotten this awards season. Daniela Vega gives one of the most astounding performances I’ve seen this year, one that comes from somewhere fierce and internal, portraying the life and struggle of a trans woman that cinema has rarely shown an interest in exploring. But since you can’t see it until it has a proper release in Febraury, do check one of the year’s other...
- 12/4/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Director Michel Gondry (Be Kind Rewind, Eternal Sunshine For The Spotless Mind) helmed this absolutely charming Christmas commercial called Moz The Monster for the U.K.-based department store John Lewis. The ad certainly captures the magic of the holiday season.
The story follows a young boy named Joe who ends up befriending a monster who lives under his bed. Here's the description that was released for it:
Joe befriends a noisy Monster under his bed but the two have so much fun together that he can't get to sleep, leaving him tired by day. For Christmas Joe receives a gift to help him finally get a good night’s sleep.
The ad has a little mix of Monster's Inc., Little Monsters, and Where the Wild Things Are in it. It may tell a sweet story, but I won't lie... it's kinda sad as well. You'll see why when you watch the video.
The story follows a young boy named Joe who ends up befriending a monster who lives under his bed. Here's the description that was released for it:
Joe befriends a noisy Monster under his bed but the two have so much fun together that he can't get to sleep, leaving him tired by day. For Christmas Joe receives a gift to help him finally get a good night’s sleep.
The ad has a little mix of Monster's Inc., Little Monsters, and Where the Wild Things Are in it. It may tell a sweet story, but I won't lie... it's kinda sad as well. You'll see why when you watch the video.
- 11/30/2017
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Review by Matthew Turner
Stars: Kyle Mooney, Mark Hamill, Jane Adams, Greg Kinnear, Matt Walsh, Michaela Watkins, Ryan Simpkins, Alexa Demie, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Claire Danes, Chance Crimin, Beck Bennett, Andy Samberg | Written by Kevin Costello, Kyle Mooney | Directed by Dave McCary
Saturday Night Live alumnus Dave McCary makes his directorial debut with Brigsby Bear, an engaging and smartly judged indie comedy-drama that mixes elements from several different movies but still manages to feel entirely original.
SNL’s Kyle Mooney (who co-wrote the script with Kevin Costello) plays twenty-five year-old James, who grows up in an underground desert bunker with his “parents” Ted (Mark Hamil) and April (Jane Adams). Kyle’s only entertainment is Brigsby Bear, a children’s fantasy TV show about a talking bear who protects the universe and dispenses weekly life lessons like “curiosity is an unnatural emotion” and “trust only the family unit”.
When the FBI raid the bunker,...
Stars: Kyle Mooney, Mark Hamill, Jane Adams, Greg Kinnear, Matt Walsh, Michaela Watkins, Ryan Simpkins, Alexa Demie, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Claire Danes, Chance Crimin, Beck Bennett, Andy Samberg | Written by Kevin Costello, Kyle Mooney | Directed by Dave McCary
Saturday Night Live alumnus Dave McCary makes his directorial debut with Brigsby Bear, an engaging and smartly judged indie comedy-drama that mixes elements from several different movies but still manages to feel entirely original.
SNL’s Kyle Mooney (who co-wrote the script with Kevin Costello) plays twenty-five year-old James, who grows up in an underground desert bunker with his “parents” Ted (Mark Hamil) and April (Jane Adams). Kyle’s only entertainment is Brigsby Bear, a children’s fantasy TV show about a talking bear who protects the universe and dispenses weekly life lessons like “curiosity is an unnatural emotion” and “trust only the family unit”.
When the FBI raid the bunker,...
- 10/17/2017
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Jim Carrey is reuniting with his “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” director Michel Gondry to star in a new half-hour comedy for Showtime. “Kidding,” which has been given a 10-episode order, will represent Carrey’s first series regular role in more than two decades.
“Kidding” stars Carrey as Jeff, also known as beloved children’s TV personality Mr. Pickles. Here’s the logline: “A beacon of kindness and wisdom to America’s impressionable young minds and the parents who grew up with him – [Jeff] also anchors a multimillion dollar branding empire. But when this beloved personality’s family – wife, two sons, sister and father – begins to implode, Jeff finds no fairy tale or fable or puppet will guide him through this crisis, which advances faster than his means to cope. The result: a kind man in a cruel world faces a slow leak of sanity as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.
“Kidding” stars Carrey as Jeff, also known as beloved children’s TV personality Mr. Pickles. Here’s the logline: “A beacon of kindness and wisdom to America’s impressionable young minds and the parents who grew up with him – [Jeff] also anchors a multimillion dollar branding empire. But when this beloved personality’s family – wife, two sons, sister and father – begins to implode, Jeff finds no fairy tale or fable or puppet will guide him through this crisis, which advances faster than his means to cope. The result: a kind man in a cruel world faces a slow leak of sanity as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.
- 9/14/2017
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
Inspired by Michel Gondry's Be Kind Rewind, sweded versions of movies or trailers are amateur recreations which require little or no budget to produce. The internet is rife with sweded trailers, but it's not everyday that the director of the very film you've sweded comes across your work and shares it with the world. Created by Ákos Varga, a sweded version of the... Read More...
- 8/30/2017
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Dave Lawrie Aug 16, 2017
Fancy a film that mashes up Reservoir Dogs and The Usual Suspects, with a few song and dance numbers? Step this way...
Film is such a diverse medium that it is possible to call yourself a fan without ever venturing out of your favourite genre. Hell, it is perfectly acceptable nowadays to add 'films' to your list of hobbies by watching nothing more than the output of the McU. Getting some people to venture into the wonderful world of foreign cinema can admittedly be a tall order. We’ve all met one, right? The 'I go to the cinema to watch, not to read!' crowd. That’s fine. There is nothing wrong with having your entertainment packaged as you like it.
See related Top Of The Lake - China Girl episode 3 review: Surrogate Top Of The Lake - China Girl episode 2 review: The Loved One Top Of The Lake...
Fancy a film that mashes up Reservoir Dogs and The Usual Suspects, with a few song and dance numbers? Step this way...
Film is such a diverse medium that it is possible to call yourself a fan without ever venturing out of your favourite genre. Hell, it is perfectly acceptable nowadays to add 'films' to your list of hobbies by watching nothing more than the output of the McU. Getting some people to venture into the wonderful world of foreign cinema can admittedly be a tall order. We’ve all met one, right? The 'I go to the cinema to watch, not to read!' crowd. That’s fine. There is nothing wrong with having your entertainment packaged as you like it.
See related Top Of The Lake - China Girl episode 3 review: Surrogate Top Of The Lake - China Girl episode 2 review: The Loved One Top Of The Lake...
- 7/25/2017
- Den of Geek
Gavin Jasper Nov 24, 2019
Despite having over 200 episodes, MST3K has rarely been very story-driven. Then again, there are some that feel extra important...
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an amazing show. There’s a reason the Kickstarter to bring it back from the abyss was such a success. Lasting for ten seasons, there are countless killer jokes, memorable movies, and harebrained characters. As wonderful as it all is, it’s also not the easiest show to really binge-watch.
Recently, Jim Vorel at Paste did a massive article where he rewatched every episode and ranked them from worst to best. It took well over a year to complete. I have a knack for latching onto massive projects like that (ie. ranking every single King of Fighters character because why not), but even I wouldn’t mess with something this crazy. Without commercials, each episode is ninety minutes long and magically marathoning...
Despite having over 200 episodes, MST3K has rarely been very story-driven. Then again, there are some that feel extra important...
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an amazing show. There’s a reason the Kickstarter to bring it back from the abyss was such a success. Lasting for ten seasons, there are countless killer jokes, memorable movies, and harebrained characters. As wonderful as it all is, it’s also not the easiest show to really binge-watch.
Recently, Jim Vorel at Paste did a massive article where he rewatched every episode and ranked them from worst to best. It took well over a year to complete. I have a knack for latching onto massive projects like that (ie. ranking every single King of Fighters character because why not), but even I wouldn’t mess with something this crazy. Without commercials, each episode is ninety minutes long and magically marathoning...
- 4/13/2017
- Den of Geek
The Daniels (Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert) a music video directing duo, who unleashed the internet breaking visuals for DJ Snake’s Turn Down For What back in 2014, make their feature debut with this bromantic comedy between a marooned millennial and a farting corpse, hardly the easiest sell to a movie going safe-spacer. And it’s true, when Swiss Army Man, the hottest ticket at last year’s Sundance Film Festival unspooled before the sold-out audiences’ eyes, many just got up and left, totally disgusted. Okay, let’s be clear here, this isn’t Robert Zemeckis’s Castaway that’s for sure, but it ain’t Srdjan Spasojevic’s A Serbian Film either. Beneath their scatological obsessed humour, the Daniels have crafted a bizarre little indy film about isolation and sexual shame, which at times is beautifully lo-fi and tender.
We meet Hank (Paul Dano) a shaggy haired boy-man on a...
We meet Hank (Paul Dano) a shaggy haired boy-man on a...
- 4/5/2017
- by Thomas Salmon
- The Cultural Post
Sweding aficionados Brian Harley and Roque Rodriguez have created a shot-for-shot, low-budget homemade remake of the teaser trailer for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” which hits theaters on May 5. Watch the clip below.
Read More: Chris Pratt and the Alien Misfits Face Their Biggest Battle Yet in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ – Trailer
For those who are not familiar with the term, sweding is the faithful, shortened remake of a film or trailer, which is usually done by fans who have lots of creativity and a very low budget. In sweded versions of films and trailers, most of the props are made out of cardboard, for example.
The term originates from the 2008 comedy “Be Kind Rewind,” starring Jack Black and Mos Def. They play two incompetent video-store clerks who mistakenly erase the footage from all of the tapes in the shop and then scramble to recreate all the...
Read More: Chris Pratt and the Alien Misfits Face Their Biggest Battle Yet in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ – Trailer
For those who are not familiar with the term, sweding is the faithful, shortened remake of a film or trailer, which is usually done by fans who have lots of creativity and a very low budget. In sweded versions of films and trailers, most of the props are made out of cardboard, for example.
The term originates from the 2008 comedy “Be Kind Rewind,” starring Jack Black and Mos Def. They play two incompetent video-store clerks who mistakenly erase the footage from all of the tapes in the shop and then scramble to recreate all the...
- 2/15/2017
- by Yoselin Acevedo
- Indiewire
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt meets Be Kind Rewind in Dave McCary's feature debut Brigsby Bear, where a man raised since infancy in an underground bunker tries to cope with his new freedom by re-creating the kiddie TV series that sustained him all those lonely years. Kyle Mooney (a longtime McCary collaborator on Saturday Night Live and elsewhere) is winning in the lead role, naive but not cartoonishly so in a film that walks a fine line, credibility-wise. Some will view its quirks as commercial liabilities, but Sony Pictures Classics disagrees, having snapped the pic up during the fest for summer release.
...
...
- 2/2/2017
- by John DeFore
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It’s never a good thing when a production studio’s logo is the funniest part of a comedy, but, in fairness, the guys from The Lonely Island came up with a pretty good one. If only the rest of Dave McCary’s “Brigsby Bear,” a characteristically sweet and off-kilter vehicle for “SNL” star Kyle Mooney, were as amusing or subversive as we’ve come to expect from the companies behind it. (Sony Pictures Classics disagrees; it acquired the film today for worldwide rights.)
Mooney plays James, who initially seems like the son that every parent fears they might raise. An emotionally stunted 25-year-old man-child who lives at home and (literally) never goes outside, James sits in his room all day and obsessively re-watches VHS tapes of his favorite educational television series, “Brigsby Bear Adventures,” a new episode of which arrives at his house each week. And the strangest part...
Mooney plays James, who initially seems like the son that every parent fears they might raise. An emotionally stunted 25-year-old man-child who lives at home and (literally) never goes outside, James sits in his room all day and obsessively re-watches VHS tapes of his favorite educational television series, “Brigsby Bear Adventures,” a new episode of which arrives at his house each week. And the strangest part...
- 1/26/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
By Seth Metoyer,
MoreHorror.com
It's hard to believe that my favorite horror movie of 2013 is already 4 years old (yep, that's how math works)!
The Soska sisters are having a celebration for the 4th anniversary of American Mary that might interest fans. Including a give away for budding filmmakers who what to submit an American Mary "Swede" film!
Don't know what that is? Well, let Jen Soska explain it in the press release below. Good luck!
From The Press Release
American Mary celebrates her 4 Year Anniversary January 11th. She made her grand world release in the UK (we Love the UK!!) on January 11th, 2013 after a wonderous premiere at FrightFest in the summer of 2012. With it were released a series of beautiful, huge, American Mary banners that some of you might see for sale on our online store (www.twistedtwinsstore.com). But why Buy one when you can Win one?...
MoreHorror.com
It's hard to believe that my favorite horror movie of 2013 is already 4 years old (yep, that's how math works)!
The Soska sisters are having a celebration for the 4th anniversary of American Mary that might interest fans. Including a give away for budding filmmakers who what to submit an American Mary "Swede" film!
Don't know what that is? Well, let Jen Soska explain it in the press release below. Good luck!
From The Press Release
American Mary celebrates her 4 Year Anniversary January 11th. She made her grand world release in the UK (we Love the UK!!) on January 11th, 2013 after a wonderous premiere at FrightFest in the summer of 2012. With it were released a series of beautiful, huge, American Mary banners that some of you might see for sale on our online store (www.twistedtwinsstore.com). But why Buy one when you can Win one?...
- 1/11/2017
- by admin
- MoreHorror
The team at Cinefix is back with a new shot-for-shot remake video, and this time they've turned their attention to the trailer for Gareth Edwards' upcoming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. There's something about the homegrown feel of these videos that really resonates with me and reminds me of the best parts of Be Kind Rewind (the movie that kicked off the "sweding" trend). I'm always impressed with what they're able to pull together with such limited resources (like that great K-2So), and it just goes to show that right now is a great time for anyone who has a camera phone and some simple editing software to be able to create cool stuff whenever they want.
It's also fitting that this video is celebrating a Star Wars movie, since the original Star Wars is basically ground zero for today's filmmakers having the "a-ha" moment that they...
It's also fitting that this video is celebrating a Star Wars movie, since the original Star Wars is basically ground zero for today's filmmakers having the "a-ha" moment that they...
- 12/6/2016
- by Ben Pearson
- GeekTyrant
Before “Be Kind Rewind,” before “Eternal Sunshine” before even “Human Nature,” Michel Gondry broke through, like David Fincher, Spike Jonze and many more, as a music video helmer. He did stunning, innovative work for the likes of The Chemical Brother, Bjork and Radiohead, but one of the artists he might be most associated with are […]
The post Watch A Beautiful New Michel Gondry Video For An Unreleased White Stripes Song appeared first on The Playlist.
The post Watch A Beautiful New Michel Gondry Video For An Unreleased White Stripes Song appeared first on The Playlist.
- 9/12/2016
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
Thoroughly hilarious, surprisingly poignant portrait of fandom, friendship, and the filmmaking odyssey that consumed the teenage years of three movie lovers. I’m “biast” (pro): Raiders of the Lost Ark is my most favorite movie ever
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
In 1982, three friends in Mississippi — Eric Zala, Chris Strompolos, and Jayson Lamb — set out to make a shot-for-shot remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark. You know, just for fun. They were 11 years old, and it took them seven years before they were done with the project… although they were never able to fully finish: they were missing one key scene. I won’t tell you which scene that is, because you can see them go through the adventure and the torment of finally shooting it now, as adults, in the thoroughly hilarious and surprisingly poignant Raiders!:...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
In 1982, three friends in Mississippi — Eric Zala, Chris Strompolos, and Jayson Lamb — set out to make a shot-for-shot remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark. You know, just for fun. They were 11 years old, and it took them seven years before they were done with the project… although they were never able to fully finish: they were missing one key scene. I won’t tell you which scene that is, because you can see them go through the adventure and the torment of finally shooting it now, as adults, in the thoroughly hilarious and surprisingly poignant Raiders!:...
- 6/17/2016
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
As his Noam Chomsky animation proves, nobody does freewheeling movie-making like the French director
Today’s film-makers are a navel-gazing bunch. Often, they seem less concerned with each project’s individual worth than with its place along some grand career trajectory, or “umbilical cord” as Quentin Tarantino refers to the connecting thread of his mighty canon. It’s a mindset that says every film must represent a step forward from the last or else be stricken from the record like so many formative Jj Abrams projects (remember Filofax with Jim Belushi?) Still, if there’s one director you can’t accuse of such preciousness, it’s Michel Gondry.
Since his 2004 breakthrough film Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Gondry has made nine entirely dissimilar features, among them a French surrealist comedy, a concert film in collaboration with Dave Chappelle, a $120m superhero movie, a documentary about his aunt, and an animated conversation with Noam Chomsky,...
Today’s film-makers are a navel-gazing bunch. Often, they seem less concerned with each project’s individual worth than with its place along some grand career trajectory, or “umbilical cord” as Quentin Tarantino refers to the connecting thread of his mighty canon. It’s a mindset that says every film must represent a step forward from the last or else be stricken from the record like so many formative Jj Abrams projects (remember Filofax with Jim Belushi?) Still, if there’s one director you can’t accuse of such preciousness, it’s Michel Gondry.
Since his 2004 breakthrough film Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Gondry has made nine entirely dissimilar features, among them a French surrealist comedy, a concert film in collaboration with Dave Chappelle, a $120m superhero movie, a documentary about his aunt, and an animated conversation with Noam Chomsky,...
- 6/4/2016
- by Charlie Lyne
- The Guardian - Film News
A work of documentation, as opposed to a pure documentary, A Space Program offers a vision of what The Martian might look like as directed by the heroes of Michel Gondry’s Be Kind Rewind. Directed by Van Neistat and inspired by Tom Sachs’ large-scale installation simulating a Nasa mission to Mars in an art gallery, the film is a gleeful exploration in Diy. Sachs’ space program, first launched in 2007 in Los Angeles, was a simple mission to the moon before debuting at New York City’s Armory show in 2012. The installation is immersive, requiring audiences to move from room to room, simulating cross-cutting as the locations change from a control room to the actual mission This filmed version is a hybrid of performance documentation and narrative filmmaking, reflecting the inherent drama of the space program.
Exploring the expertise of each team member and their material of interest, we learn...
Exploring the expertise of each team member and their material of interest, we learn...
- 3/17/2016
- by John Fink
- The Film Stage
A Place on Earth: Silver’s Period Commune Channels Cinema-Verite
While his 2014 title Uncertain Terms still awaits theatrical release as it makes the rounds of the festival circuit after premiering last year at the Los Angeles Film Festival, the increasingly prolific Nathan Silver unveils his fifth feature. Stinking Heaven represents a change of pace stylistically and dramatically within Silver’s preferred parameters examining human beings tossed vicariously into strained living situations, where they often wear each other down to an inevitable breaking point. A period piece set within the confines of a well-meaning commune in early 90s suburban New Jersey, the grainy look and feel of Silver’s film lends it a vintage realism that aligns it with the cinema-verite styling of documentary filmmaker Allan King, whose films like Warrendale and A Married Couple focused, unobtrusively, on isolated groups or units of people in similar fashion.
Lucy (Deragh Campbell) and...
While his 2014 title Uncertain Terms still awaits theatrical release as it makes the rounds of the festival circuit after premiering last year at the Los Angeles Film Festival, the increasingly prolific Nathan Silver unveils his fifth feature. Stinking Heaven represents a change of pace stylistically and dramatically within Silver’s preferred parameters examining human beings tossed vicariously into strained living situations, where they often wear each other down to an inevitable breaking point. A period piece set within the confines of a well-meaning commune in early 90s suburban New Jersey, the grainy look and feel of Silver’s film lends it a vintage realism that aligns it with the cinema-verite styling of documentary filmmaker Allan King, whose films like Warrendale and A Married Couple focused, unobtrusively, on isolated groups or units of people in similar fashion.
Lucy (Deragh Campbell) and...
- 12/10/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Isaac Gabaeff
Do you know the name Isaac Gabaeff? You ought to. He’s worked on an array of great films from Be Kind Rewind to A Most Violent Year and The Place Beyond The Pines, but he’s always been one of those guys in the background whose work is at its best when you notice it only subconsciously. Now he’s stepped up to take the help with tentacle-tastic creature feature The Sand, one of the first six films released on the new Frightfest Presents label. We asked him how it all began.
“Well, you know, I got my degree in animation and then I worked on a movie called James And The Giant Peach,” he explains. “At the end of college I made a documentary called Peoplewatching on the street corner where I lived in San Francisco. It was more voyeurism than a standard documentary format. Then through the twists.
Do you know the name Isaac Gabaeff? You ought to. He’s worked on an array of great films from Be Kind Rewind to A Most Violent Year and The Place Beyond The Pines, but he’s always been one of those guys in the background whose work is at its best when you notice it only subconsciously. Now he’s stepped up to take the help with tentacle-tastic creature feature The Sand, one of the first six films released on the new Frightfest Presents label. We asked him how it all began.
“Well, you know, I got my degree in animation and then I worked on a movie called James And The Giant Peach,” he explains. “At the end of college I made a documentary called Peoplewatching on the street corner where I lived in San Francisco. It was more voyeurism than a standard documentary format. Then through the twists.
- 10/24/2015
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
An interesting effort is coming your way before long, and it’s pulling together a cast that will make it a kind of who’s who of underappreciated actors. Ghost Team, directed by Oliver Irving, has announced its cast, which includes Jon Heder, David Krumholtz, and many more.
Heder hasn’t managed to find material that resonated with audiences since Napoleon Dynamite, at least, not to the extent he deserves, and Krumholtz is almost the poster boy for not getting the recognition that you’d expect. Unfortunately, both actors often play characters that may not seem that difficult, and/or are something of a sidekick.
The new film, about a team of paranormal investigators who find themselves in over their heads, also stars Melonie Diaz, Paul W. Downs, Justin Long, and the woefully overlooked Amy Sedaris.
Though the film can’t mention its own indie status enough, meaning the budget is extremely tight,...
Heder hasn’t managed to find material that resonated with audiences since Napoleon Dynamite, at least, not to the extent he deserves, and Krumholtz is almost the poster boy for not getting the recognition that you’d expect. Unfortunately, both actors often play characters that may not seem that difficult, and/or are something of a sidekick.
The new film, about a team of paranormal investigators who find themselves in over their heads, also stars Melonie Diaz, Paul W. Downs, Justin Long, and the woefully overlooked Amy Sedaris.
Though the film can’t mention its own indie status enough, meaning the budget is extremely tight,...
- 10/17/2015
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
The Manic Pixie Dream Girl gets sick, but she can still inspire a man to better himself, while also adding a dash of repugnant narcissism to the subgenre. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
The Manic Pixie Dream Girl is going through quite the evolution this summer. First there was Paper Towns, in which a boy is ushered into the realization that MPDGs are people too, though it’s an Mpdg who does the ushering, and whose story we are explicitly informed is not going to be shared with us; she can go be an authentic human being in some other movie, thank you very much. And now we have Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, in which the Mpdg becomes a Manic Pixie Cancer Girl who will help a “self-hating” teenaged boy come...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
The Manic Pixie Dream Girl is going through quite the evolution this summer. First there was Paper Towns, in which a boy is ushered into the realization that MPDGs are people too, though it’s an Mpdg who does the ushering, and whose story we are explicitly informed is not going to be shared with us; she can go be an authentic human being in some other movie, thank you very much. And now we have Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, in which the Mpdg becomes a Manic Pixie Cancer Girl who will help a “self-hating” teenaged boy come...
- 9/4/2015
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies, starring Tom Hanks, will make its World Premiere at the 53rd New York International Film Festival, running from September 25 to October 11. The film was one of 26 announced as part of the festival’s main slate, along with one of four World Premieres.
Some of the main slate highlights include Todd Haynes’s Carol, featuring Cannes Best Actress Winner Rooney Mara alongside Cate Blanchett, Miguel Gomes’s three part saga Arabian Nights, Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s The Assassin, the Us premiere of Michael Moore’s latest Where to Invade Next, Michel Gondry’s French film Microbe et Gasoil, and the World Premiere of the documentary Don’t Blink: Robert Frank, about the life of the fames photographer and filmmaker.
Previously announced films include the World Premiere of The Walk, Robert Zemeckis’s Philippe Petit biopic serving as the opening night film, the World Premiere of...
Some of the main slate highlights include Todd Haynes’s Carol, featuring Cannes Best Actress Winner Rooney Mara alongside Cate Blanchett, Miguel Gomes’s three part saga Arabian Nights, Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s The Assassin, the Us premiere of Michael Moore’s latest Where to Invade Next, Michel Gondry’s French film Microbe et Gasoil, and the World Premiere of the documentary Don’t Blink: Robert Frank, about the life of the fames photographer and filmmaker.
Previously announced films include the World Premiere of The Walk, Robert Zemeckis’s Philippe Petit biopic serving as the opening night film, the World Premiere of...
- 8/13/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
A Little Chaos with Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Producer Gail Egan, who has worked with Mike Leigh on Mr. Turner, Vera Drake and Happy-Go-Lucky, with Anton Corbijn on A Most Wanted Man, Philip Seymour Hoffman's last role, and with Film4Climate’s Creative Producer Donald Ranvaud on Fernando Meirelles' The Constant Gardener, was celebrated by Alan Rickman. As was his cinematographer, Ellen Kuras, of Michel Gondry's Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind and Be Kind Rewind as well as first-time composer, Peter Gregson, whose music is well placed in the landscape. Cédric Anger, when I spoke with him on his composer, Grégoire Hetzel, for Next Time I’ll Aim For The Heart, told me he had wanted the music in the forest sound like a cathedral. Hetzel also composed the score for Mathieu Amalric's The Blue Room and the positioning in A Little Chaos...
Producer Gail Egan, who has worked with Mike Leigh on Mr. Turner, Vera Drake and Happy-Go-Lucky, with Anton Corbijn on A Most Wanted Man, Philip Seymour Hoffman's last role, and with Film4Climate’s Creative Producer Donald Ranvaud on Fernando Meirelles' The Constant Gardener, was celebrated by Alan Rickman. As was his cinematographer, Ellen Kuras, of Michel Gondry's Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind and Be Kind Rewind as well as first-time composer, Peter Gregson, whose music is well placed in the landscape. Cédric Anger, when I spoke with him on his composer, Grégoire Hetzel, for Next Time I’ll Aim For The Heart, told me he had wanted the music in the forest sound like a cathedral. Hetzel also composed the score for Mathieu Amalric's The Blue Room and the positioning in A Little Chaos...
- 6/21/2015
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Last weekend, the new releases offered a lot of variety. The R-rated action-comedy Spy was a somewhat surprising first place finisher, taking in just about $30 million. An impressive number for any R-rated film, but not exactly a blockbuster.Still, I admit I didn’t give Spy much of a shot to win the weekend and I was proven wrong. However, I feel much more confident in my prediction of this weekends box office winner: Soaked in Bleach.
I’m just kidding! Obviously it’s Jurassic World. (Although fans of Kurt Cobain may want to look into the limited release documentary Soaked in Bleach). Let’s take a closer look at Jurassic World and it’s only other competition this weekend.
Jurassic World – (PG-13) 124 min. – School is out for the summer, and Star-Lo- I mean Chris Pratt has never been more popular than he is now. Every teenager in the country...
I’m just kidding! Obviously it’s Jurassic World. (Although fans of Kurt Cobain may want to look into the limited release documentary Soaked in Bleach). Let’s take a closer look at Jurassic World and it’s only other competition this weekend.
Jurassic World – (PG-13) 124 min. – School is out for the summer, and Star-Lo- I mean Chris Pratt has never been more popular than he is now. Every teenager in the country...
- 6/13/2015
- by Nick DeNitto
- Film-Book
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