The American Cinematheque will pay tribute to the late Richard Roundtree through a retrospective film series screening June 8-14. The lineup of films includes “Shaft,” “Once Upon A Time…When We Were Closed,” “Q: The Winged Serpent” and “Shaft’s Big Score!” The retrospective will conclude with Roundtree’s final film “Thelma” followed by a Q&a with director Josh Margolin and June Squibb.
The retrospective, co-sponsored with Aafca, takes place at the Los Feliz and Egyptian theaters.
“Thelma” follows a 93-year-old woman (Squibb) and her best friend (Roundtree) as they travel across Los Angeles on a motor scooter to retrieve $10,000 from a telephone scammer.
The American Pavilion Announces Emerging Filmmaker Showcase Winners at Cannes
The American Pavilion revealed the Jury Award winners of this year’s Emerging Filmmaker Showcase presented by Gold House at Cannes.
The showcase allows upcoming filmmakers to have their works seen by Cannes Festival and Film Market attendees.
The retrospective, co-sponsored with Aafca, takes place at the Los Feliz and Egyptian theaters.
“Thelma” follows a 93-year-old woman (Squibb) and her best friend (Roundtree) as they travel across Los Angeles on a motor scooter to retrieve $10,000 from a telephone scammer.
The American Pavilion Announces Emerging Filmmaker Showcase Winners at Cannes
The American Pavilion revealed the Jury Award winners of this year’s Emerging Filmmaker Showcase presented by Gold House at Cannes.
The showcase allows upcoming filmmakers to have their works seen by Cannes Festival and Film Market attendees.
- 5/24/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay, Lexi Carson, Jack Dunn and Selena Kuznikov
- Variety Film + TV
Revenge flicks are nothing new on the market, and while we’ve always had them, there was a proper little boom of such movies after the success of Liam Neeson’s Taken. Now, many have tried, some have failed, some have succeeded in making a good revenge flick, and while we don’t know if the movie we are reporting about is going to succeed or fail, it is certainly going to be one of the most original takes on the genre. Namely, legendary Oscar-nominee June Squibb (94) is probably the last name you’d think of when searching for a revenge flick star, but this year’s upcoming movie Thelma is going to deliver just that. The movie has just released its first trailer and you will be able to check it out below.
The movie is going to be an action comedy that will show June Squibb tackle a Bryan Mills-eseuqe role,...
The movie is going to be an action comedy that will show June Squibb tackle a Bryan Mills-eseuqe role,...
- 5/11/2024
- by Arthur S. Poe
- Fiction Horizon
One of the most purely enjoyable movies to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival found June Squibb on a mission for justice. Josh Margolin’s debut Thelma finds the nonagenarian actor in, shockingly, her first leading role (starring alongside Richard Roundtree in his final role) as a grandma who hunts down a phone scammer who pretended to be her grandson (Fred Hechinger). Also starring Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Malcolm McDowell, it’s arriving June 21 and Magnolia Pictures has now debuted the first trailer.
Jake Kring-Schreifels said in his review, “At the beginning of Thelma––a loveable, low-stakes joyride from director Josh Margolin––the movie’s eponymous 93-year-old grandmother sits on the couch with her grandson Daniel and marvels at Tom Cruise. They’re watching a recent Mission: Impossible sequel on her tiny television and can’t fathom Cruise’s running and jumping daredevil-ism at his weathered age. Thelma may live alone,...
Jake Kring-Schreifels said in his review, “At the beginning of Thelma––a loveable, low-stakes joyride from director Josh Margolin––the movie’s eponymous 93-year-old grandmother sits on the couch with her grandson Daniel and marvels at Tom Cruise. They’re watching a recent Mission: Impossible sequel on her tiny television and can’t fathom Cruise’s running and jumping daredevil-ism at his weathered age. Thelma may live alone,...
- 5/10/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The first trailer for Thelma, the June Squibb-starring comedy about a grandma going John Wick on senior scammers, has arrived.
Thelma follows Squibb as 93-year-old Thelma Post, who is duped out of $10,000 by phone scammers pretending to be her grandson (Fred Hechinger). After the police say they can’t help her, she enlists the help of her friend Ben (Richard Roundtree), and sets out for revenge. Filling out the cast will be Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Malcolm McDowell, and more.
The film is due in theaters on June 21st, released via Magnolia Pictures. Watch the trailer below.
Thelma first premiered this past January at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. In her review, Consequence’s Liz Shannon Miller praised the film’s mixture of comedy and genuine depth of feeling, calling it a “love letter to grandmas.”
This is just the latest project for a still-quite-active Squibb, who appeared in Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead...
Thelma follows Squibb as 93-year-old Thelma Post, who is duped out of $10,000 by phone scammers pretending to be her grandson (Fred Hechinger). After the police say they can’t help her, she enlists the help of her friend Ben (Richard Roundtree), and sets out for revenge. Filling out the cast will be Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Malcolm McDowell, and more.
The film is due in theaters on June 21st, released via Magnolia Pictures. Watch the trailer below.
Thelma first premiered this past January at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. In her review, Consequence’s Liz Shannon Miller praised the film’s mixture of comedy and genuine depth of feeling, calling it a “love letter to grandmas.”
This is just the latest project for a still-quite-active Squibb, who appeared in Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead...
- 5/10/2024
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Film News
From Harrison Ford to Tom Cruise, Hollywood stars have become increasingly comfortable performing stunts in the later stages of their careers. But June Squibb might have set a new standard when she took on the lead role in “Thelma” and did the bulk of her own stunt work at the age of 93.
Josh Margolin’s directorial debut, which is loosely based on a true story about his own grandmother, stars Squibb as a nonagenarian who falls victim to a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson. The injustice inspires her to hop on her motorized scooter and travel across Los Angeles to take down the thief and reclaim her lost funds. The result is an action movie that promises to show audiences that it’s never too late to reclaim agency over your own life.
In addition to Squibb, “Thelma” also features “Shaft” star Richard Roundtree in his final film performance.
Josh Margolin’s directorial debut, which is loosely based on a true story about his own grandmother, stars Squibb as a nonagenarian who falls victim to a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson. The injustice inspires her to hop on her motorized scooter and travel across Los Angeles to take down the thief and reclaim her lost funds. The result is an action movie that promises to show audiences that it’s never too late to reclaim agency over your own life.
In addition to Squibb, “Thelma” also features “Shaft” star Richard Roundtree in his final film performance.
- 5/9/2024
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Magnolia Pictures has released a brand new trailer for "Thelma." This film may not be on your radar just yet, but after watching this trailer, it probably should be. Serving as the feature directorial debut of Josh Margolin, the big hook here is that Oscar-nominee June Squibb is getting to lead a revenge thriller at the age of 94. More than that, it marks the first time that Squibb has been given a leading role in a movie in her long, storied career. Check the trailer out for yourself above.
The trailer is impossibly charming, even though there is an insidious plot at the center of it all. Squibb's character gets scammed out of a bunch of money and, with no options left, she sets out on a path of revenge. It's not unrealistically action-packed or anything like that, but it comes off as quite delightful. Squibb is paired with the late Richard Roundtree,...
The trailer is impossibly charming, even though there is an insidious plot at the center of it all. Squibb's character gets scammed out of a bunch of money and, with no options left, she sets out on a path of revenge. It's not unrealistically action-packed or anything like that, but it comes off as quite delightful. Squibb is paired with the late Richard Roundtree,...
- 5/9/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
"We all have our good days and our bad days?" "And what's today?" "We'll find out." Magnolia Pics has launched their full official trailer the Sundance 2024 hit film Thelma, from writer / director Josh Margolin. It didn't win any awards, but it did win over the hearts of many Sundance viewers as one of the best of the fest (I wrote a glowing review). Inspired by a real-life experience of Margolin's own grandmother, Thelma puts a clever spin on movies like Mission: Impossible, shining the spotlight on an elderly grandmother as an unlikely action hero. Yes, she kicks some serious ass. With infectious humor, Margolin employs the familiar tropes of the action genre in hilarious, age-appropriate ways to tackle aging with agency. In the first leading film role of her 70-year career, June Squibb plays Thelma with grit and determination, demonstrating that she is more than capable of taking care of business.
- 5/9/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
City Hunter is an action comedy film directed by Yûichi Satô from a screenplay by Tsukasa Hôjô and Tatsuro Mishima. Based on a popular manga series of the same name by Tsukasa Hojo, the Netflix film follows the story of a private investigator as he teams up with his late partner’s sister to solve his mysterious murder which is connected to a deadly conspiracy. So, if you loved the style, humor, action, and philandering ways of Ryo Saeba in City Hunter, here are some similar films you could watch next.
City Hunter Credit – Golden Harvest
31 years before Suzuki Ryohei took on the role of the philandering Ryo Saeba, the legendary Jackie Chan also starred as the main character in another adaptation of the popular manga by Tsukasa Hojo. Directed by Jing Wong, the 1993 film follows the story of a lustful private investigator who is searching for a missing girl...
City Hunter Credit – Golden Harvest
31 years before Suzuki Ryohei took on the role of the philandering Ryo Saeba, the legendary Jackie Chan also starred as the main character in another adaptation of the popular manga by Tsukasa Hojo. Directed by Jing Wong, the 1993 film follows the story of a lustful private investigator who is searching for a missing girl...
- 5/5/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Emily Kassie and Julian Brave NoiseCat’s documentary “Sugarcane” garnered the top nonfiction honor at the 26th annual Sarasota Film Festival. About the abuse and death of Indigenous children at a Canadian-based Indian Residential School, the docu premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival (Sff), where it picked up the U.S. documentary directing kudo. In February, National Geographic Documentary Films acquired the film.
The doc feature jury made up of producer Wren Arthur, Indiewire’s Christian Blauvelt, NPR’s Eric Deggans, and Doc NYC artistic director Jaie Laplante said in a joint statement that they selected the film for “bravely tackling the legacy of trauma from the abuse of First Nations students at the St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School in British Columbia. The Catholic Church-run school closed decades ago, but the horrors there are still deeply felt by generations across an entire community. The filmmakers do not lose sight...
The doc feature jury made up of producer Wren Arthur, Indiewire’s Christian Blauvelt, NPR’s Eric Deggans, and Doc NYC artistic director Jaie Laplante said in a joint statement that they selected the film for “bravely tackling the legacy of trauma from the abuse of First Nations students at the St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School in British Columbia. The Catholic Church-run school closed decades ago, but the horrors there are still deeply felt by generations across an entire community. The filmmakers do not lose sight...
- 4/15/2024
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Following a gala closing night celebration featuring Steve Buscemi and his film “The Listener,” the 2024 Sarasota Film Festival has announced its awards — with several prominent indies taking the top prizes. This 26th edition of the Florida festival celebrating independent film gave the Narrative Feature Jury Prize to Josh Margolin’s Sundance breakout “Thelma,” starring June Squibb and the late Richard Roundtree. “Sugarcane” won the Documentary Feature Jury Prize.
Speaking for the narrative feature jury, filmmaker Alex Hedison, in awarding the prize to “Thelma,” said the group found the movie to celebrate “what Hollywood cinema so infrequently does: age. The extraordinary performances by June Squib and Richard Roundtree are at the center of ‘Thelma,’ surrounded by an excellent supporting cast who serve as a surrogate for the audience in reminding them of the significance of living their best lives with the kind of action and adventure life affords us if we...
Speaking for the narrative feature jury, filmmaker Alex Hedison, in awarding the prize to “Thelma,” said the group found the movie to celebrate “what Hollywood cinema so infrequently does: age. The extraordinary performances by June Squib and Richard Roundtree are at the center of ‘Thelma,’ surrounded by an excellent supporting cast who serve as a surrogate for the audience in reminding them of the significance of living their best lives with the kind of action and adventure life affords us if we...
- 4/15/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
The annual SFFIlM Festival has officially unveiled its 2024 lineup, with two first-time feature filmmakers bookending the fest.
Sean Wang’s semi-autobiographical feature “Dìdi (弟弟)” opens the festival April 24 after premiering at Sundance 2024. Wang was also recently Oscar-nominated for his short film “Nai Nai & Wài Pó” which had been supported by Sffilm grants.
The 67th annual festival closes out with Josh Margolin’s “Thelma” starring June Squibb, Parker Posey, Malcolm McDowell, and late actor Richard Roundtree in his final role. The feature screens April 28.
Programming highlights include “The Idea of You,” “Sing Sing,” “Janet Planet,” and Sundance award-winning documentary “Porcelain War.” A private screening of opening night film “Dìdi (弟弟)” in Dolby Vision + Dolby Atmos will be held at the Dolby Cinema @ 1275 Market exclusively for cast and crew, Sffilm Festival filmmakers, and Sffilm fellows and grantees. A Sffilm members’ screening of “Mother, Couch” will also take place after the film debuted...
Sean Wang’s semi-autobiographical feature “Dìdi (弟弟)” opens the festival April 24 after premiering at Sundance 2024. Wang was also recently Oscar-nominated for his short film “Nai Nai & Wài Pó” which had been supported by Sffilm grants.
The 67th annual festival closes out with Josh Margolin’s “Thelma” starring June Squibb, Parker Posey, Malcolm McDowell, and late actor Richard Roundtree in his final role. The feature screens April 28.
Programming highlights include “The Idea of You,” “Sing Sing,” “Janet Planet,” and Sundance award-winning documentary “Porcelain War.” A private screening of opening night film “Dìdi (弟弟)” in Dolby Vision + Dolby Atmos will be held at the Dolby Cinema @ 1275 Market exclusively for cast and crew, Sffilm Festival filmmakers, and Sffilm fellows and grantees. A Sffilm members’ screening of “Mother, Couch” will also take place after the film debuted...
- 3/27/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Dig out your best tuxedo, or don your finest gown – it’s Oscars night! The 2024 Academy Awards are about to get underway, bringing the best of Hollywood together to celebrate cinema, and hand out all kinds of shiny gold statues in the process. As ever, it’s going to be a long haul and a late night, but Team Empire is here to follow with you every step of the way with our live blog, covering every single award, every single winner, and every single unmissable moment. There will be songs, there will be speeches, there will be snubs – though, there probably won’t be another slap.
Read below for the latest updates, be sure to stock up on caffeine and snacks, and we’ll be with you to the end of the line.
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2.30am That’s it! Thanks for following along with us. A strong Oscars year in all,...
Read below for the latest updates, be sure to stock up on caffeine and snacks, and we’ll be with you to the end of the line.
––––
2.30am That’s it! Thanks for following along with us. A strong Oscars year in all,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
Andrea Bocelli performed a rendition of the song “Time to Say Goodbye” with his son Matteo Bocelli to accompany the Academy’s annual obituary section. Perhaps mindful of previous years, in which eagle-eyed viewers have jumped on omissions, this year’s “In Memoriam” — which began with footage of the recently deceased Russian opposition leader and subject of last year’s winning documentary Navalny — seemed comprehensive but at the same time not enough.
Related: ‘Oppenheimer’ Wins Best Picture Oscar & Six Others; Emma Stone & Cillian Murphy Take Lead Acting Prizes – Full List
Beloved actors Lance Reddick, Treat Williams, Apocalypse Now’s Frederic Forrest, Rocky’s Burt Young all relegated to a fine print reference at the end, along with such writers as Norman Lear and No Country for Old Men’s Cormac McCarthy. Also given afterthought treatment were Kenneth Anger, Terence Davies, Carl Davis, David McCallum, Sinead O’Connor and Paolo Taviani in...
Related: ‘Oppenheimer’ Wins Best Picture Oscar & Six Others; Emma Stone & Cillian Murphy Take Lead Acting Prizes – Full List
Beloved actors Lance Reddick, Treat Williams, Apocalypse Now’s Frederic Forrest, Rocky’s Burt Young all relegated to a fine print reference at the end, along with such writers as Norman Lear and No Country for Old Men’s Cormac McCarthy. Also given afterthought treatment were Kenneth Anger, Terence Davies, Carl Davis, David McCallum, Sinead O’Connor and Paolo Taviani in...
- 3/11/2024
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
Part of every awards show is the In Memoriam segment, which honors those who have died in the past year. And that also means that part of every awards show is taking note of who didn’t make the cut (as happens every time). The 2024 Oscars are no exception. Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo performed “Time to Say Goodbye” for the 2024 Oscars In Memoriam segment. Among the names part of the segment—at the end, the broadcast directed viewers to a website for the “many other legends we lost”—were: Michael Gambon, Harry Belafonte, Alan Arkin, Julian Sands, Andre Braugher, Chita Rivera, Tom Wilkinson, Glynis Johns, Jane Birkin, Paul Reubens, Piper Laurie, Richard Roundtree, Ryan O’Neal, Matthew Perry, Richard Lewis, Lee Sun-Kyun, Carl Weathers, William Friedkin, Glenda Jackson, and Tina Turner. The In Memoriam segment, which you can watch above, did end with a long list of names on...
- 3/11/2024
- TV Insider
The In Memoriam section of the Academy Awards is always one of the most emotional moments of the show. This year was no exception, as the 96th Oscars celebrate the performers, filmmakers and artisan talents who died in the past year. The In Memoriam segment kicked off with a remembrance of Alexei Navalny, the political prisoner who died Feb. 16 and was profiled in last year’s documentary feature winner “Navalny.”
The names unfurled onscreen was Andrea Boccelli and his son, Matteo, sang “Time to Say Goodbye.”
Every year, the Academy leaves a few beloved names out of the montage, causing anger among some viewers. Though a much longer list is presented on the Oscars.org website, outrage over who makes it onscreen is part of the Oscar-watching tradition.
Read more: All the 2024 Oscar winners
This year several beloved late performers and filmmakers didn’t make the main segment, including Treat Williams,...
The names unfurled onscreen was Andrea Boccelli and his son, Matteo, sang “Time to Say Goodbye.”
Every year, the Academy leaves a few beloved names out of the montage, causing anger among some viewers. Though a much longer list is presented on the Oscars.org website, outrage over who makes it onscreen is part of the Oscar-watching tradition.
Read more: All the 2024 Oscar winners
This year several beloved late performers and filmmakers didn’t make the main segment, including Treat Williams,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
In an exclusive uInterview, Fred Hechinger and Clark Gregg discuss working with June Squibb and the late Richard Roundtree in their new film, Thelma.
Thelma follows an aging widow of the same name who spends most of her time tending to her 20-something grandson, Daniel, played by Hechinger. When she receives a call from a scammer pretending to be Daniel, Thelma sends $10,000 in cash to a nearby P.O. box and embarks on an action-packed journey to retrieve her money.
Hechinger said that working with Squibb on the project was “incredible.”
“She’s the best, just the top of the top, not only one of the greatest partners in scene work but also just a great friend,” he told uInterview founder Erik Meers.
“We just came from a screening where we could tell that the audience was really connected with the film,” Gregg said. “I think the reason that’s happening is,...
Thelma follows an aging widow of the same name who spends most of her time tending to her 20-something grandson, Daniel, played by Hechinger. When she receives a call from a scammer pretending to be Daniel, Thelma sends $10,000 in cash to a nearby P.O. box and embarks on an action-packed journey to retrieve her money.
Hechinger said that working with Squibb on the project was “incredible.”
“She’s the best, just the top of the top, not only one of the greatest partners in scene work but also just a great friend,” he told uInterview founder Erik Meers.
“We just came from a screening where we could tell that the audience was really connected with the film,” Gregg said. “I think the reason that’s happening is,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Ava Lombardi
- Uinterview
"This summer - action has a new name." Magnolia Pictures has unveiled a very short teaser trailer for the Sundance 2024 hit film Thelma, from writer / director Josh Margolin. The film didn't win any awards, but it did win over the hearts of many Sundance viewers as one of the best of the fest. Inspired by a real-life experience of Margolin's own grandmother, Thelma puts a clever spin on movies like Mission: Impossible, shining the spotlight on an elderly grandmother as an unlikely action hero. Yes, she kicks some serious ass. With infectious humor, Margolin employs the familiar tropes of the action genre in hilarious, age-appropriate ways to tackle aging with agency. In the first leading film role of her 70-year career, June Squibb portrays the strong-willed Thelma with grit and determination, demonstrating that she is more than capable of taking care of business. In addition to Squibb kicking butt as Thelma,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
There’s a new action hero in Hollywood and her name is June Squibb! At 94 years young, the Oscar-nominated actress (“Nebraska”) stars in “Thelma,” an action comedy about Thelma Post, a 93-year-old woman who gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson. Fueled with rage, Thelma sets out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her. Watch the first teaser trailer below.
“Thelma” premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2024 and was quickly scooped up by Magnolia Pictures. Squibb’s co-stars include Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg and Malcolm McDowell. The feature directorial debut of Josh Margolin, “Thelma” is a poignant action-comedy that gives Squibb her first leading role and features Roundtree’s final performance.
See Celebrity Deaths 2024: In Memoriam Gallery
Inspired by a real-life experience of Margolin’s own grandmother, “Thelma” puts a clever spin on movies like “Mission: Impossible,...
“Thelma” premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2024 and was quickly scooped up by Magnolia Pictures. Squibb’s co-stars include Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg and Malcolm McDowell. The feature directorial debut of Josh Margolin, “Thelma” is a poignant action-comedy that gives Squibb her first leading role and features Roundtree’s final performance.
See Celebrity Deaths 2024: In Memoriam Gallery
Inspired by a real-life experience of Margolin’s own grandmother, “Thelma” puts a clever spin on movies like “Mission: Impossible,...
- 3/5/2024
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
Exclusive: At 94 years old, June Squibb may not be the most conventional of action heroes. But by gum, she’s the one we need. The Nebraska Oscar nominee is poised to save the summer with Thelma, the nonagenarian action comedy marking the first feature of writer-director Josh Margolin, which Magnolia Pictures has set for a wide release in North America on June 21.
Check out a new clip, teasing the film’s theatrical debut, above.
Marking the first lead film role of Squibb’s accomplished 70+ year career, Thelma is based on a real-life experience of Margolin’s grandmother, Thelma Post, and world premiered to critical acclaim at Sundance, where Magnolia landed rights in a competitive situation. In the film, the 93-year-old Thelma (Squibb) gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, then setting out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her.
Check out a new clip, teasing the film’s theatrical debut, above.
Marking the first lead film role of Squibb’s accomplished 70+ year career, Thelma is based on a real-life experience of Margolin’s grandmother, Thelma Post, and world premiered to critical acclaim at Sundance, where Magnolia landed rights in a competitive situation. In the film, the 93-year-old Thelma (Squibb) gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, then setting out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her.
- 3/5/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Oppenheimer won the marquee Cast in a Motion Picture prize as the 30th annual SAG Awards were presented Saturday, and its star Cillian Murphy might have wrestled Oscar front-runner status away from Paul Giamatti by taking the trophy for Male Actor in a Leading Role.
Lily Gladstone was cemented as the favorite for the Best Actress Oscar, winning Female Actor in a Leading Role for Killers of the Flower Moon at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in a ceremony streaming live on Netflix for the first time.
Related: Lily Gladstone Calls For Compassion In Emotional Speech After Historic SAG Awards Win
Robert Downey Jr won the Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Oppenheimer in a mini-upset. But the evening’s first film award wasn’t much of a surprise as Da’vine Joy Randolph continued her awards-season dominance with a Supporting win for The Holdovers.
Related: “Your Solidarity Ignited Workers Around The World,...
Lily Gladstone was cemented as the favorite for the Best Actress Oscar, winning Female Actor in a Leading Role for Killers of the Flower Moon at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in a ceremony streaming live on Netflix for the first time.
Related: Lily Gladstone Calls For Compassion In Emotional Speech After Historic SAG Awards Win
Robert Downey Jr won the Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Oppenheimer in a mini-upset. But the evening’s first film award wasn’t much of a surprise as Da’vine Joy Randolph continued her awards-season dominance with a Supporting win for The Holdovers.
Related: “Your Solidarity Ignited Workers Around The World,...
- 2/25/2024
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has confirmed that Matthew Perry will be honoured at its TV awards later this year following backlash over his omission from the In Memoriam segment of the film awards night on Sunday evening, reports ‘Variety’.
Although Perry, who died last October, was best known for his 10-year stint as Chandler Bing on hit TV show ‘Friends’, ‘Variety’ adds that he also appeared in a number of popular feature films in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including ‘The Whole Nine Yards’, alongside Bruce Willis, and ‘Fools Rush In’ opposite Salma Hayek.
This year’s In Memoriam segment, set to a special arrangement of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘The After Time’ performed by ‘Ted Lasso’ star Hannah Waddingham, featured Jane Birkin, Shirley Anne Field, Richard Roundtree, Michael Gambon, Tom Wilkinson and Carl Weathers, among others.
The segment also paid tribute to Tina Turner,...
Although Perry, who died last October, was best known for his 10-year stint as Chandler Bing on hit TV show ‘Friends’, ‘Variety’ adds that he also appeared in a number of popular feature films in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including ‘The Whole Nine Yards’, alongside Bruce Willis, and ‘Fools Rush In’ opposite Salma Hayek.
This year’s In Memoriam segment, set to a special arrangement of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘The After Time’ performed by ‘Ted Lasso’ star Hannah Waddingham, featured Jane Birkin, Shirley Anne Field, Richard Roundtree, Michael Gambon, Tom Wilkinson and Carl Weathers, among others.
The segment also paid tribute to Tina Turner,...
- 2/19/2024
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has confirmed that Matthew Perry will be honored at its TV awards later this year following backlash over his omission from the film awards’ In Memoriam segment on Sunday evening.
Although Perry, who died last October, was best known for his 10-year stint as Chandler Bing on hit TV show “Friends,” he also appeared in a number of popular feature films in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including “The Whole Nine Yards” alongside Bruce Willis and “Fools Rush In” opposite Salma Hayek.
This year’s In Memoriam segment, set to a special arrangement of Cyndi Lauper’s “The After Time” performed by “Ted Lasso” star Hannah Waddingham, featured Jane Birkin, Shirley Anne Field, Richard Roundtree, Michael Gambon, Tom Wilkinson and Carl Weathers, among others. The segment also paid tribute to Tina Turner, who was commemorated as both an actor and singer.
Although Perry, who died last October, was best known for his 10-year stint as Chandler Bing on hit TV show “Friends,” he also appeared in a number of popular feature films in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including “The Whole Nine Yards” alongside Bruce Willis and “Fools Rush In” opposite Salma Hayek.
This year’s In Memoriam segment, set to a special arrangement of Cyndi Lauper’s “The After Time” performed by “Ted Lasso” star Hannah Waddingham, featured Jane Birkin, Shirley Anne Field, Richard Roundtree, Michael Gambon, Tom Wilkinson and Carl Weathers, among others. The segment also paid tribute to Tina Turner, who was commemorated as both an actor and singer.
- 2/19/2024
- by K.J. Yossman and Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Even in this strange era of action films where characters played by Bob Odenkirk and Allison Janney have run around head-shotting hardened criminals with expert finesse, it’s safe to assume that nobody had money on 94-year-old June Squibb as the first great new action star of 2024. With Josh Margolin’s feature-length directorial debut, Thelma, the eponymous character, physically fragile but spiritually unbroken, has no intention of going quietly into that good night, and Squibb imbues her with a spark and presence that’s wholly unique to the actor, and on a very unlikely and unexpected quest for revenge.
Even compared to the motivations of Thelma’s often steely-eyed contemporaries in modern action cinema, though, not since the first John Wick have the stakes been so intimate and specific for a revenge flick. In Thelma’s case, a phone scammer manages to dupe her into sending $10,000 to bail her slacker grandson,...
Even compared to the motivations of Thelma’s often steely-eyed contemporaries in modern action cinema, though, not since the first John Wick have the stakes been so intimate and specific for a revenge flick. In Thelma’s case, a phone scammer manages to dupe her into sending $10,000 to bail her slacker grandson,...
- 2/5/2024
- by Justin Clark
- Slant Magazine
Magnolia Pictures has landed the North American rights to June Squibb comedy Thelma, which premiered out of the Sundance Film Festival. A wide theatrical release is planned.
Josh Margolin directed the feature that follows a 93-year-old grandmother (Squibb) who gets conned by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson (Fred Hechinger) and sets out on a treacherous quest across Los Angeles, accompanied by an aging friend (the late Richard Roundtree, in one of his final roles) and his motorized scooter, to reclaim what was taken from her.
Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Malcolm McDowell also star.
Reads THR‘s review of the film, “Thelma is sweet and poignant, sentimental without getting sappy. Just the fact that it gives Squibb the first leading screen role of her seven-decade career makes it a satisfying watch.”
Zoë Worth and Chris Kaye of Bandwagon produced the film, alongside Nicholas Weinstock of Invention Studios,...
Josh Margolin directed the feature that follows a 93-year-old grandmother (Squibb) who gets conned by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson (Fred Hechinger) and sets out on a treacherous quest across Los Angeles, accompanied by an aging friend (the late Richard Roundtree, in one of his final roles) and his motorized scooter, to reclaim what was taken from her.
Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Malcolm McDowell also star.
Reads THR‘s review of the film, “Thelma is sweet and poignant, sentimental without getting sappy. Just the fact that it gives Squibb the first leading screen role of her seven-decade career makes it a satisfying watch.”
Zoë Worth and Chris Kaye of Bandwagon produced the film, alongside Nicholas Weinstock of Invention Studios,...
- 1/30/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to Sundance action comedy Thelma, which stars June Squibb as a grandmother who sets out to reclaim what was taken from her.
‘Thelma’: Sundance Review
Josh Margolin’s film debuted in Premieres on the opening day in Park City and immediately sparked interest from buyers. Magnolia prevailed in what it called a competitive situation with multiple offers.
Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Malcolm McDowell round out the key cast on Thelma, which playfully imbues the film with a Mission: Impossible vibe as the titular nonagenarian falls for a...
‘Thelma’: Sundance Review
Josh Margolin’s film debuted in Premieres on the opening day in Park City and immediately sparked interest from buyers. Magnolia prevailed in what it called a competitive situation with multiple offers.
Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Malcolm McDowell round out the key cast on Thelma, which playfully imbues the film with a Mission: Impossible vibe as the titular nonagenarian falls for a...
- 1/30/2024
- ScreenDaily
“Thelma,” an adventure-comedy starring June Squibb, has sold to Magnolia Pictures out of Sundance.
Directed by Josh Margolin, the film follows a grandmother who embarks on a quest to recoup her money after she loses $10,000 in a phone scam. “Thelma,” which cheekily riffs on “Mission: Impossible,” also stars “White Lotus” breakout Fred Hechinger, the late Richard Roundtree (in his final screen performace), Parker Posey, Clark Gregg and Malcolm McDowell. The film is loosely based on an event that happened to Margolin’s own grandma, the 103-year-old Thelma Post.
“Tom Cruise jumping out of a plane is as dangerous as my grandma getting onto a bed,” Margolin told Variety ahead of the film’s Sundance premiere. “I wanted to treat Thelma’s mission with the sincerity and stakes that you would Ethan Hunt globe-trotting to track down the bad guy.”
“Thelma” marks the first leading film role of Squibb’s career.
Directed by Josh Margolin, the film follows a grandmother who embarks on a quest to recoup her money after she loses $10,000 in a phone scam. “Thelma,” which cheekily riffs on “Mission: Impossible,” also stars “White Lotus” breakout Fred Hechinger, the late Richard Roundtree (in his final screen performace), Parker Posey, Clark Gregg and Malcolm McDowell. The film is loosely based on an event that happened to Margolin’s own grandma, the 103-year-old Thelma Post.
“Tom Cruise jumping out of a plane is as dangerous as my grandma getting onto a bed,” Margolin told Variety ahead of the film’s Sundance premiere. “I wanted to treat Thelma’s mission with the sincerity and stakes that you would Ethan Hunt globe-trotting to track down the bad guy.”
“Thelma” marks the first leading film role of Squibb’s career.
- 1/30/2024
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
Following its breakout as one of the more highly discussed titles of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, nonagenarian action comedy Thelma, starring Oscar nominee June Squibb (Nebraska) in her first leading role, has been snapped up for North American distribution by Magnolia Pictures.
The deal came together following a competitive situation with multiple offers. Pic is slated for a wide theatrical release at a date still to be announced.
Marking the feature directorial debut of Josh Margolin, who directed from his own script, Thelma stars Squibb as a feisty 93-year-old grandmother who gets conned by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson (Fred Hechinger). In the aftermath, she sets out on a treacherous quest across Los Angeles, accompanied by an aging friend (Richard Roundtree) and his motorized scooter, to reclaim what was taken from her. The film features the final performance of Shaft icon Roundtree and co-stars Parker Posey, Clark Gregg,...
The deal came together following a competitive situation with multiple offers. Pic is slated for a wide theatrical release at a date still to be announced.
Marking the feature directorial debut of Josh Margolin, who directed from his own script, Thelma stars Squibb as a feisty 93-year-old grandmother who gets conned by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson (Fred Hechinger). In the aftermath, she sets out on a treacherous quest across Los Angeles, accompanied by an aging friend (Richard Roundtree) and his motorized scooter, to reclaim what was taken from her. The film features the final performance of Shaft icon Roundtree and co-stars Parker Posey, Clark Gregg,...
- 1/30/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Plot: When a ninety-four-year-old grandmother is ripped off by phone scammers for $10k, she goes on a mission to get her money back.
Review: Watching Thelma is a bittersweet experience. While led by the always delightful June Squibb, the film co-stars the late Richard Roundtree in his meatiest role in years. Between this and the recent Jane Fonda movie Moving On, Roundtree was on the verge of the comeback that long-eluded him, only for him to die suddenly at 81 in the fall. It’s a shame because the former Shaft star is a delight in this low-key caper flick.
It offers a long overdue leading role to the great June Squibb. At ninety-four, the actress has been in high demand in recent years, seemingly still sharp as a tack. In Thelma, she plays the title role, being a doting Grandmother pushing back at the notion that she’s too old to live independently.
Review: Watching Thelma is a bittersweet experience. While led by the always delightful June Squibb, the film co-stars the late Richard Roundtree in his meatiest role in years. Between this and the recent Jane Fonda movie Moving On, Roundtree was on the verge of the comeback that long-eluded him, only for him to die suddenly at 81 in the fall. It’s a shame because the former Shaft star is a delight in this low-key caper flick.
It offers a long overdue leading role to the great June Squibb. At ninety-four, the actress has been in high demand in recent years, seemingly still sharp as a tack. In Thelma, she plays the title role, being a doting Grandmother pushing back at the notion that she’s too old to live independently.
- 1/30/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Thelma is a charming little film. One that might make moviegoers want to call or hug their grandmothers.
The dilemma of aging is inescapable. But Thelma’s another film that shows the resilience and humor of getting to the golden years. In a sense, it has commonalities with the Grumpy Old Men films. Only here, it’s a 93-year-old woman using the minimal skills she has left to solve a mystery.
To put it mildly, if watching a suspenseful chase on scooters was on the cinematic bucket list, Thelma is the movie to watch.
Written and directed by Josh Margolin, Thelma revolves around a 93-year-old woman named Thelma, who is still quite agile for her age. Thelma is quite fond of her grandson Danny (played by Fred Hechinger), who teaches her how to use a computer at the beginning of the movie.
Despite her stability, Thelma still needs to use a LifeAlert device.
The dilemma of aging is inescapable. But Thelma’s another film that shows the resilience and humor of getting to the golden years. In a sense, it has commonalities with the Grumpy Old Men films. Only here, it’s a 93-year-old woman using the minimal skills she has left to solve a mystery.
To put it mildly, if watching a suspenseful chase on scooters was on the cinematic bucket list, Thelma is the movie to watch.
Written and directed by Josh Margolin, Thelma revolves around a 93-year-old woman named Thelma, who is still quite agile for her age. Thelma is quite fond of her grandson Danny (played by Fred Hechinger), who teaches her how to use a computer at the beginning of the movie.
Despite her stability, Thelma still needs to use a LifeAlert device.
- 1/25/2024
- by John Dotson
- Monsters and Critics
Stars: June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Parker Posey, Richard Roundtree, Clark Gregg, Malcolm McDowell, Quinn Beswick, Hilda Boulware, Nicole Byer | Written and Directed by Josh Margolin
93-year-old Thelma (Squibb) falls prey to a phone scam claiming to be her grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger), threatening a harsh but phony prison sentence if she doesn’t forward $10,000. Cottoning on after the fact – after having recently watched Mission: Impossible – Thelma sets off on the journey of a lifetime in order to pull off the ultimate heist: getting her own back on those who conned her.
Sadly, we’ve all been there – a grandparent calling us in a panic because they’ve received a spam email, can’t get rid of a pop-up advert during their daily scrolling, or worse, falling victim to a nasty phone scam. It’s exactly the situation that the titular Thelma finds herself in, idly plodding along in her daily...
93-year-old Thelma (Squibb) falls prey to a phone scam claiming to be her grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger), threatening a harsh but phony prison sentence if she doesn’t forward $10,000. Cottoning on after the fact – after having recently watched Mission: Impossible – Thelma sets off on the journey of a lifetime in order to pull off the ultimate heist: getting her own back on those who conned her.
Sadly, we’ve all been there – a grandparent calling us in a panic because they’ve received a spam email, can’t get rid of a pop-up advert during their daily scrolling, or worse, falling victim to a nasty phone scam. It’s exactly the situation that the titular Thelma finds herself in, idly plodding along in her daily...
- 1/25/2024
- by Jasmine Valentine
- Nerdly
In an exclusive uInterview, veteran actress June Squibb, 94, discusses her new film, Thelma, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival last week.
Thelma follows an aging widow of the same name who spends most of her time tending to her 20-something grandson, Daniel, played by Fred Hechinger (The White Lotus). When she receives a call from a scammer pretending to be Daniel, Thelma sends $10,000 in cash to a nearby P.O. box and embarks on an action-packed journey to retrieve her money.
Following the premiere of the film, Squibb received praise for her Tom Cruise-like abilities and shared that she did most of her own stunts. The film marked Squibb’s first leading role in the medium.
“It’s lovely that it’s happened, it’s happening late in my life but I am still new to a lot of people. I don’t think much about it if...
Thelma follows an aging widow of the same name who spends most of her time tending to her 20-something grandson, Daniel, played by Fred Hechinger (The White Lotus). When she receives a call from a scammer pretending to be Daniel, Thelma sends $10,000 in cash to a nearby P.O. box and embarks on an action-packed journey to retrieve her money.
Following the premiere of the film, Squibb received praise for her Tom Cruise-like abilities and shared that she did most of her own stunts. The film marked Squibb’s first leading role in the medium.
“It’s lovely that it’s happened, it’s happening late in my life but I am still new to a lot of people. I don’t think much about it if...
- 1/25/2024
- by Ava Lombardi
- Uinterview
Sundance 2024 will launch its virtual option this week for badgeholders and individuals who want to buy individual tickets.
It’s a wonderful option for those unable to make the long trip to Utah.
Last year’s Sundance had many great offerings virtually.
Films such as Sometimes I Think About Dying, and Kim’s Video were highlights from the 2023 virtual catalog.
This year has a lot of promising entries, and some have already generated tremendous buzz. For example, Steven Yeun and Kristen Stewart have a movie getting rave reviews.
While the virtual option opens for press tomorrow, movie lovers can dig into the Sundance 2024 line-up beginning Thursday.
Here is a list of films offered online possibly worth streaming this week at Sundance.
Thelma Still image from Thelma. Pic credit: Courtesy of Sundance/David Bolen.
Action movies and senior citizens — what more could a moviegoer want from a Sundance Film Festival entry?...
It’s a wonderful option for those unable to make the long trip to Utah.
Last year’s Sundance had many great offerings virtually.
Films such as Sometimes I Think About Dying, and Kim’s Video were highlights from the 2023 virtual catalog.
This year has a lot of promising entries, and some have already generated tremendous buzz. For example, Steven Yeun and Kristen Stewart have a movie getting rave reviews.
While the virtual option opens for press tomorrow, movie lovers can dig into the Sundance 2024 line-up beginning Thursday.
Here is a list of films offered online possibly worth streaming this week at Sundance.
Thelma Still image from Thelma. Pic credit: Courtesy of Sundance/David Bolen.
Action movies and senior citizens — what more could a moviegoer want from a Sundance Film Festival entry?...
- 1/24/2024
- by John Dotson
- Monsters and Critics
Newly-created UK sales outfit Rapt Films International has acquired Corey Sherman’s US drama Big Boys, for all rights outside North America.
Big Boys is US filmmaker Sherman’s feature debut, which premiered at BFI Flare: London Lgbtqia+ Film Festival in March 2023, going on to win the audience award for best narrative feature at Outfest. The coming-of-age comedy sees a teenage boy’s unexpected crush turn a camping trip into a weekend of self-discovery.
The film stars Isaac Krasner, who will soon appear in Amazon’s Holland, Michigan starring Nicole Kidman; with supporting cast including Dora Madison, Taj Cross, Emily Deschanel and David Johnson III.
Big Boys is US filmmaker Sherman’s feature debut, which premiered at BFI Flare: London Lgbtqia+ Film Festival in March 2023, going on to win the audience award for best narrative feature at Outfest. The coming-of-age comedy sees a teenage boy’s unexpected crush turn a camping trip into a weekend of self-discovery.
The film stars Isaac Krasner, who will soon appear in Amazon’s Holland, Michigan starring Nicole Kidman; with supporting cast including Dora Madison, Taj Cross, Emily Deschanel and David Johnson III.
- 1/23/2024
- ScreenDaily
In one of the most unusual and inspiring sights which will surely go down in Sundance lore, Black Box Diaries director Shiori Ito led audience members in a post-premiere karaoke rendition of Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive’.
‘Black Box Diaries’: Sundance Review
The spontaneous event immediately followed the Q&a session after the world premiere of the Japanese journalist’s debut feature in which she chronicled her struggle for justice against her high-profile rapist.
An exhilarated and exhilarating Ito, microphone still in hand, sung along and invited ticket holders to join her on stage at Prospector Square Theatre...
‘Black Box Diaries’: Sundance Review
The spontaneous event immediately followed the Q&a session after the world premiere of the Japanese journalist’s debut feature in which she chronicled her struggle for justice against her high-profile rapist.
An exhilarated and exhilarating Ito, microphone still in hand, sung along and invited ticket holders to join her on stage at Prospector Square Theatre...
- 1/21/2024
- ScreenDaily
In one of the most unusual and inspiring sights which will surely go down in Sundance lore, Black Box Diaries director Shiori Ito led audience members in a post-premiere karaoke rendition of Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive’.
‘Black Box Diaries’: Sundance Review
The spontaneous event immediately followed the Q&a session after the world premiere of the Japanese journalist’s debut feature in which she chronicled her struggle to seek justice against her high-profile rapist.
An exhilarated and exhilarating Ito, microphone still in hand, sung along and invited ticket holders to join her on stage at Prospector Square...
‘Black Box Diaries’: Sundance Review
The spontaneous event immediately followed the Q&a session after the world premiere of the Japanese journalist’s debut feature in which she chronicled her struggle to seek justice against her high-profile rapist.
An exhilarated and exhilarating Ito, microphone still in hand, sung along and invited ticket holders to join her on stage at Prospector Square...
- 1/21/2024
- ScreenDaily
At the beginning of Thelma––a loveable, low-stakes joyride from director Josh Margolin––the movie’s eponymous 93-year-old grandmother sits on the couch with her grandson Daniel and marvels at Tom Cruise. They’re watching a recent Mission: Impossible sequel on her tiny television and can’t fathom Cruise’s running and jumping daredevil-ism at his weathered age. Thelma may live alone, need hearing aids, play solitaire, have trouble typing out an email, and get flustered when pop-up ads surprise her online. But much like America’s most extreme action star, she knows she’s still got it, too.
Thelma is played by June Squibb and it’s clear she’s having a ball leading her first movie. Since making a name for herself with an Oscar nomination in Alexander Payne’s Nebraska, the nonagenarian has spent the last decade flexing her comedic chops in small roles and cameos, eating...
Thelma is played by June Squibb and it’s clear she’s having a ball leading her first movie. Since making a name for herself with an Oscar nomination in Alexander Payne’s Nebraska, the nonagenarian has spent the last decade flexing her comedic chops in small roles and cameos, eating...
- 1/20/2024
- by Jake Kring-Schreifels
- The Film Stage
After years acting and making short-form content and collaborating on 2018 LA Film Festival entry Deep Murder, Los Angeles native Josh Margolin’s feature directorial debut Thelma has premiered at Sundance where it received a rousing reception.
June Squibb, Oscar-nominated in Nebraska and now 94, stars in her first lead role as a grandmother who gets scammed and stops at nothing to take back what belongs to her, employing an impressive array of nonagenarian spycraft along the way.
Margolin was inspired to make the Sundance Premieres selection after his own grandmother Thelma nearly fell for a scam. The action comedy shot in...
June Squibb, Oscar-nominated in Nebraska and now 94, stars in her first lead role as a grandmother who gets scammed and stops at nothing to take back what belongs to her, employing an impressive array of nonagenarian spycraft along the way.
Margolin was inspired to make the Sundance Premieres selection after his own grandmother Thelma nearly fell for a scam. The action comedy shot in...
- 1/20/2024
- ScreenDaily
‘Thelma’ director Josh Margolin on “ode” to his grandmother, what June Squibb told Richard Roundtree
After years acting and making short-form content and collaborating on 2018 LA Film Festival entry Deep Murder, Los Angeles native Josh Margolin’s feature directorial debut Thelma has premiered at Sundance where it received a rousing reception.
June Squibb, Oscar-nominated in Nebraska and now 94, stars in her first lead role as a grandmother who gets scammed and stops at nothing to take back what belongs to her, employing an impressive array of nonagenarian spycraft along the way.
Margolin was inspired to make the Sundance Premieres selection after his own grandmother Thelma nearly fell for a scam. The action comedy shot in...
June Squibb, Oscar-nominated in Nebraska and now 94, stars in her first lead role as a grandmother who gets scammed and stops at nothing to take back what belongs to her, employing an impressive array of nonagenarian spycraft along the way.
Margolin was inspired to make the Sundance Premieres selection after his own grandmother Thelma nearly fell for a scam. The action comedy shot in...
- 1/20/2024
- ScreenDaily
Update: By Saturday afternoon up to five buyers were understood to be in serious discussions for Jeff Zimbalist’s documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story.
The film caused a stir ever since it premiered on Thursday night and hails from XYZ Films’ documentary division. Sources reported streamers and at least one theatrical buyer were in pursuit.
Meanwhile interest was understood to be building rapidly following the Saturday premiere of Jesse Eisenberg’s US Dramatic Competition entry A Real Pain.
Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin star as cousins on an emotional tour to see their late grandmother’s home in Poland. WME Independent...
The film caused a stir ever since it premiered on Thursday night and hails from XYZ Films’ documentary division. Sources reported streamers and at least one theatrical buyer were in pursuit.
Meanwhile interest was understood to be building rapidly following the Saturday premiere of Jesse Eisenberg’s US Dramatic Competition entry A Real Pain.
Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin star as cousins on an emotional tour to see their late grandmother’s home in Poland. WME Independent...
- 1/20/2024
- ScreenDaily
Heading into the weekend Skywalkers: A Love Story is gathering momentum at Sundance with multiple buyers circling the documentary following a strong response at Thursday night’s world premiere.
The groundswell of interest comes hot on the heels of two early transactions announced on Friday, with Sony Pictures Classics closing a deal for North America and multiple territories on Rich Peppiatt’s Next entry Kneecap and Netflix taking World Cinema Documentary Competition selection Ibelin by The Painter And The Thief director Benjamin Ree.
XYZ Films executives were on Friday locked in discussions with streamers and more traditional documentary distributors on Jeff Zimbalist’s U.
The groundswell of interest comes hot on the heels of two early transactions announced on Friday, with Sony Pictures Classics closing a deal for North America and multiple territories on Rich Peppiatt’s Next entry Kneecap and Netflix taking World Cinema Documentary Competition selection Ibelin by The Painter And The Thief director Benjamin Ree.
XYZ Films executives were on Friday locked in discussions with streamers and more traditional documentary distributors on Jeff Zimbalist’s U.
- 1/20/2024
- ScreenDaily
“I didn’t expect to get so old,” sighs 93-year-old Thelma Post (June Squibb) in Josh Margolin’s hilarious and unexpectedly poignant mash-up of Point Blank and The Straight Story. Squibb, so good in Nebraska, once again represents for the hip-op generation, bringing wisdom and truth — plus the best waspish comic timing since Maggie Smith in Robert Altman’s Gosford Park — to a comic action-thriller that has fun with the pitfalls of old age but does so with dignity and respect. Appeal should be across the board; indeed, the film would make a great May-December double bill with the 2022 Aubrey Plaza vehicle Emily the Criminal, a similar study of an ordinary woman sucked into a shady underworld.
Margolin lays out all the film’s key elements with refreshing speed, opening with 24-year-old Daniel (Fred Hechinger) patiently helping the recently widowed...
Margolin lays out all the film’s key elements with refreshing speed, opening with 24-year-old Daniel (Fred Hechinger) patiently helping the recently widowed...
- 1/19/2024
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
Nonagenarian actress June Squibb is making her first ever in-person appearance at the Sundance Film Festival this year as the star of Josh Margolin’s comedy-action-drama Thelma about a grandmother who goes after an internet scammer.
“I’ve had films show there before but either I was working or wasn’t that interested in the film,” says 94-year-old Squibb, who was Oscar nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Alexander Payne’s Nebraska in 2013.
In Thelma, she plays a 93-year-old L.A. grandmother, living happily alone and unassisted in her beloved condo in the Valley, whose independence is threatened when she is scammed out of $10,000 by a caller impersonating her grandson.
Initially ashamed and flummoxed by her gullibility, Thelma is inspired to embark on a mission to track down the thief after seeing a newspaper headline celebrating Tom Cruise’s age-defying Mission Impossible career.
No longer in the possession of a...
“I’ve had films show there before but either I was working or wasn’t that interested in the film,” says 94-year-old Squibb, who was Oscar nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Alexander Payne’s Nebraska in 2013.
In Thelma, she plays a 93-year-old L.A. grandmother, living happily alone and unassisted in her beloved condo in the Valley, whose independence is threatened when she is scammed out of $10,000 by a caller impersonating her grandson.
Initially ashamed and flummoxed by her gullibility, Thelma is inspired to embark on a mission to track down the thief after seeing a newspaper headline celebrating Tom Cruise’s age-defying Mission Impossible career.
No longer in the possession of a...
- 1/19/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Grandma Scamma: Margolin Steals a Win with Squibb
Although there’s a prodigious sub-genre of kooky comedies featuring elderly resilient women (though more often in European cinema), few of them steer clear of screwball conceits which often seem cheap or cheesy. A formidable exception to such expected tropes is Josh Margolin’s debut, Thelma, a strangely cheerful odyssey built upon a rather somber dramatic catalyst. Headlined by Academy Award nominee June Squibb, who for the first time is playing a lead role, a warmly conducted supporting cast assists in a stellar ensemble achievement (made all the more bittersweet due to the recent passing of the iconic Richard Roundtree only three months prior to the film’s premiere).…...
Although there’s a prodigious sub-genre of kooky comedies featuring elderly resilient women (though more often in European cinema), few of them steer clear of screwball conceits which often seem cheap or cheesy. A formidable exception to such expected tropes is Josh Margolin’s debut, Thelma, a strangely cheerful odyssey built upon a rather somber dramatic catalyst. Headlined by Academy Award nominee June Squibb, who for the first time is playing a lead role, a warmly conducted supporting cast assists in a stellar ensemble achievement (made all the more bittersweet due to the recent passing of the iconic Richard Roundtree only three months prior to the film’s premiere).…...
- 1/19/2024
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
“Taking from an elderly person is as bad as stealing from a child,” growls Jason Statham in “The Beekeeper,” reinforcing the image of “helpless” old people in need of defending. (He spends the rest of the movie knocking heads after scammers steal money from his gullible landlady.) With “Thelma,” writer-director Josh Margolin tries out a different approach, casting nonagenarian character actor June Squibb as an unlikely yet satisfying action star. It’s a cute idea, celebrating the willpower and determination of a 93-years-young woman. If audiences are willing to suspend their disbelief for “The Beekeeper,” why not do the same when it’s Squibb on a rampage?
“Thelma” bloomed out of Margolin’s relationship with his own grandmother, and its more endearing dialogue exchanges were directly lifted from things the real-life Thelma says and does. Squibb’s character has a doting — and slightly dopey — grandson of her own, Daniel, who visits regularly,...
“Thelma” bloomed out of Margolin’s relationship with his own grandmother, and its more endearing dialogue exchanges were directly lifted from things the real-life Thelma says and does. Squibb’s character has a doting — and slightly dopey — grandson of her own, Daniel, who visits regularly,...
- 1/19/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
“We’re not what we were.” “There is no good death.” “You want to see what’s going to happen to the ones you love.” Writer/director Josh Margolin squeezes surprisingly funny freshness from the musty themes of aging, death, and lost autonomy in his poignantly written “Thelma,” a seriocomic “Mission Impossible” remix that casts June Squibb as the titular action hero in a slow-moving but still quietly epic revenge flick about elder fraud.
The debut filmmaker’s tribute to his extraordinary grandmother (the story supposedly recounts an actual experience of hers and features a clip of the real Thelma during the credits) almost sounds like the premise of a raunchy Melissa McCarthy romp or gender-swapped “Bad Grandpa” riff. When scam artists mess with the wrong 93-year-old woman — successfully convincing Thelma to mail them $10,000 bail for her grandson Daniel (a pitch-perfect Fred Hechinger), who isn’t in jail at all...
The debut filmmaker’s tribute to his extraordinary grandmother (the story supposedly recounts an actual experience of hers and features a clip of the real Thelma during the credits) almost sounds like the premise of a raunchy Melissa McCarthy romp or gender-swapped “Bad Grandpa” riff. When scam artists mess with the wrong 93-year-old woman — successfully convincing Thelma to mail them $10,000 bail for her grandson Daniel (a pitch-perfect Fred Hechinger), who isn’t in jail at all...
- 1/19/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
One afternoon, 93-year-old Thelma (June Squibb) receives a harried call from her beloved grandson, Danny (Fred Hechinger), saying he's in jail and desperately needs help. Thelma can tell his voice sounds slightly off, but when she asks him about it, he says the accident that landed him in jail resulted in a broken nose, accounting for the difference in his voice. Danny tells her a defense attorney will be calling her momentarily to make arrangements to get him out, and when the other man calls Thelma, he tells her she needs to mail $10,000 in cash to an address across town in order to get Danny out as quickly as possible. Thelma calls her daughter (Parker Posey) and son-in-law (Clark Gregg), Danny's parents, but neither answers. So, dutifully, she gathers the cash and mails it to the address — only to soon discover that Danny is actually fine. Thelma's been scammed.
The...
The...
- 1/19/2024
- by Ben Pearson
- Slash Film
June Squibb insists on doing her own stunts.
“I never think of myself as being old,” says the 94-year-old Oscar-nominated actor as she heads to Sundance for the premiere of her new film “Thelma.” It’s an adventure movie that proves kicking ass isn’t just a young person’s game. In it a grandmother loses $10,000 in a phone scam, prompting her to set out on a treacherous quest to get her money back. It’s fitting that Squibb, who gets the first starring role of her seven-decade screen career, was willing to perform action scenes that could have left her with titanium hips, because “Thelma” cheekily references and riffs on the gravity-defying sequences of “Mission: Impossible.”
“Tom Cruise jumping out of a plane is as dangerous as my grandma getting onto a bed,” says writer-director Josh Margolin. “I wanted to treat Thelma’s mission with the sincerity and stakes...
“I never think of myself as being old,” says the 94-year-old Oscar-nominated actor as she heads to Sundance for the premiere of her new film “Thelma.” It’s an adventure movie that proves kicking ass isn’t just a young person’s game. In it a grandmother loses $10,000 in a phone scam, prompting her to set out on a treacherous quest to get her money back. It’s fitting that Squibb, who gets the first starring role of her seven-decade screen career, was willing to perform action scenes that could have left her with titanium hips, because “Thelma” cheekily references and riffs on the gravity-defying sequences of “Mission: Impossible.”
“Tom Cruise jumping out of a plane is as dangerous as my grandma getting onto a bed,” says writer-director Josh Margolin. “I wanted to treat Thelma’s mission with the sincerity and stakes...
- 1/18/2024
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers took the stage at the 2023 Emmys to pay tribute to their former colleague Norman Lear, in addition to other notable television figures who passed away since the previous ceremony.
Charlie Puth and The War and Treaty — comprised of Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter — performed the former’s hit 2015 song “See You Again” for the In Memoriam segment. They finished the segment with a rendition of the Friends theme song that coincided with Matthew Perry being featured as the final name in the video tribute.
In keeping with the ceremony’s theme of celebrating television reunions, Reiner and Struthers reminisced about their time together as co-stars on All in the Family, the classic CBS sitcom that debuted in 1971 and ran for nine seasons.
“There’s a Yiddish word that describes Norman’s genius — it’s ‘kochleffel,'” Reiner said. “For all you non-Jews out there,...
Charlie Puth and The War and Treaty — comprised of Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter — performed the former’s hit 2015 song “See You Again” for the In Memoriam segment. They finished the segment with a rendition of the Friends theme song that coincided with Matthew Perry being featured as the final name in the video tribute.
In keeping with the ceremony’s theme of celebrating television reunions, Reiner and Struthers reminisced about their time together as co-stars on All in the Family, the classic CBS sitcom that debuted in 1971 and ran for nine seasons.
“There’s a Yiddish word that describes Norman’s genius — it’s ‘kochleffel,'” Reiner said. “For all you non-Jews out there,...
- 1/16/2024
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Previous | Image 1 of 12 | NextRaquel Welch, 1940-February 15, 2023
Chicago – As always, we lost a number of notable people in 2023. In his hustle and glory, photographer Joe Arce has spent his career not only taking Exclusive Portraits of every notable he runs across, but he also has collected an archive that makes their image available again for the 2023 In Memoriam.
Click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through the slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos © Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com.
2023MEMORIAM1: Raquel Welch, 1940-February 15, 2023 2023MEMORIAM2: Tony Bennett, 1926-July 21, 2023 2023MEMORIAM3: Alan Arkin, 1934-June 29, 2023 2023MEMORIAM4: Cindy Williams, 1947-January 25, 2023 2023MEMORIAM5: ‘Exorcist ‘ Director William Friedkin, 1935-August 7, 2023 2023MEMORIAM6: Richard Roundtree of ’Shaft.’ 1942-October 24, 2023 2023MEMORIAM7: Stella Stevens of ‘The Poseidon Adventure,’ 1938-February 17, 2023 2023MEMORIAM8: Lisa Loring, Wednesday in 1960s ‘Addams Family,’ 1958-January 28, 2023 2023MEMORIAM9: Rocker Denny Laine of Wings, 1944-December 5, 2023 2023MEMORIAM10:...
Chicago – As always, we lost a number of notable people in 2023. In his hustle and glory, photographer Joe Arce has spent his career not only taking Exclusive Portraits of every notable he runs across, but he also has collected an archive that makes their image available again for the 2023 In Memoriam.
Click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through the slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos © Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com.
2023MEMORIAM1: Raquel Welch, 1940-February 15, 2023 2023MEMORIAM2: Tony Bennett, 1926-July 21, 2023 2023MEMORIAM3: Alan Arkin, 1934-June 29, 2023 2023MEMORIAM4: Cindy Williams, 1947-January 25, 2023 2023MEMORIAM5: ‘Exorcist ‘ Director William Friedkin, 1935-August 7, 2023 2023MEMORIAM6: Richard Roundtree of ’Shaft.’ 1942-October 24, 2023 2023MEMORIAM7: Stella Stevens of ‘The Poseidon Adventure,’ 1938-February 17, 2023 2023MEMORIAM8: Lisa Loring, Wednesday in 1960s ‘Addams Family,’ 1958-January 28, 2023 2023MEMORIAM9: Rocker Denny Laine of Wings, 1944-December 5, 2023 2023MEMORIAM10:...
- 1/11/2024
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
After three years of virtual and hybrid event offerings, the Sundance Film Festival is set to celebrate its fortieth anniversary with its most robust in-person edition of the festival since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. While online offerings will still be available to those who wish to participate from home, with the official online viewing window opening on Thursday, January 25. That lineup will include at-home screenings of the five competition sections (including Next).
On the ground, however, seems like the place to be. As ever, this year’s festival boasts a wide variety of new films from some of our favorite filmmakers, plus an assortment of rising stars, new talents to keep an eye on, and perhaps a few surprises.
This year’s program includes new films from Steven Soderbergh, Debra Granik, David and Nathan Zellner, Richard Linklater, Lana Wilson, Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss, Dawn Porter, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden,...
On the ground, however, seems like the place to be. As ever, this year’s festival boasts a wide variety of new films from some of our favorite filmmakers, plus an assortment of rising stars, new talents to keep an eye on, and perhaps a few surprises.
This year’s program includes new films from Steven Soderbergh, Debra Granik, David and Nathan Zellner, Richard Linklater, Lana Wilson, Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss, Dawn Porter, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden,...
- 1/11/2024
- by Kate Erbland, David Ehrlich and Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
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