Barry Keoghan landed his first Oscar nomination last year for his supporting turn in Martin McDonagh‘s “The Banshees of Inisherin.” Co-star Brendan Gleeson was also nominated but they both lost to “Everything Everywhere All at Once” player Ke Huy Quan. However, the big takeaway was that Keoghan had officially arrived.
The Oscar nomination preceded key turns in Christopher Nolan‘s “Dunkirk” and Chloé Zhao‘s MCU movie “Eternals,” while he also played the Joker in a deleted scene in Matt Reeves‘ “The Batman.” Keoghan has quickly risen through the ranks of Hollywood stars and now is one of the most interesting actors currently working.
His latest role comes in Emerald Fennell‘s sophomore outing as a director — her biting, satirical comedy-drama “Saltburn,” from Amazon MGM Studios/Warner Bros. Keoghan stars as Oliver, an oddball Oxford student who becomes obsessed with Felix (Jacob Elordi), his rich classmate. He later stays at Saltburn,...
The Oscar nomination preceded key turns in Christopher Nolan‘s “Dunkirk” and Chloé Zhao‘s MCU movie “Eternals,” while he also played the Joker in a deleted scene in Matt Reeves‘ “The Batman.” Keoghan has quickly risen through the ranks of Hollywood stars and now is one of the most interesting actors currently working.
His latest role comes in Emerald Fennell‘s sophomore outing as a director — her biting, satirical comedy-drama “Saltburn,” from Amazon MGM Studios/Warner Bros. Keoghan stars as Oliver, an oddball Oxford student who becomes obsessed with Felix (Jacob Elordi), his rich classmate. He later stays at Saltburn,...
- 11/29/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Barry Keoghan is fast becoming one of the hottest actors around after he picked up his first Oscar nomination this year and then appeared as the Joker in a deleted scene in Matt Reeves‘ “The Batman.” Add to that previous acting credits such as “Dunkirk” and “Eternals” and future acting credits like “Bird,” and you’ve got a star in the making.
That Oscar nomination came earlier this year for Best Supporting Actor for his memorable turn in Martin McDonagh‘s “The Banshees of Inisherin.” He was nominated alongside co-star Brendan Gleeson, although they lost out to Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”). Still, it was a notable moment in this young, Irish actor’s career. But things could be about to get better.
His latest role comes in Emerald Fennell‘s sophomore outing as a director — her biting, satirical comedy-drama “Saltburn.” Keoghan stars as Oliver, an oddball...
That Oscar nomination came earlier this year for Best Supporting Actor for his memorable turn in Martin McDonagh‘s “The Banshees of Inisherin.” He was nominated alongside co-star Brendan Gleeson, although they lost out to Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”). Still, it was a notable moment in this young, Irish actor’s career. But things could be about to get better.
His latest role comes in Emerald Fennell‘s sophomore outing as a director — her biting, satirical comedy-drama “Saltburn.” Keoghan stars as Oliver, an oddball...
- 10/10/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Everyone thought that Best Supporting Actress was locked up and secured, with Lily Gladstone from “Killers of the Flower Moon” the overwhelming favorite. Then came the bombshell: Gladstone had been switched from supporting to lead. This threw Oscarologists into a state of hysteria as many claimed it was a foolish move — she was a shoo-in to win Best Supporting Actress, why change? — while others argued that her screen time in Martin Scorsese‘s epic justified the move.
The one thing we can all agree on, however, is that it has blown the Best Supporting Actress race wide open, which could leave room for a surprise nomination or two. Enter Rosamund Pike. Pike stars in Emerald Fennell‘s latest flick, “Saltburn,” which follows Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick, an Oxford student who becomes obsessed with his rich classmate, Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). Oliver goes and stays with Felix’s family at their manor house,...
The one thing we can all agree on, however, is that it has blown the Best Supporting Actress race wide open, which could leave room for a surprise nomination or two. Enter Rosamund Pike. Pike stars in Emerald Fennell‘s latest flick, “Saltburn,” which follows Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick, an Oxford student who becomes obsessed with his rich classmate, Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). Oliver goes and stays with Felix’s family at their manor house,...
- 10/6/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
The mockbuster industry is a fascinating entity. Chief among the studios that specialize in mockbusters (ie. low-budget knockoffs of popular studio titles) is The Asylum, the company behind the "Sharkando" films. In 2023 alone, The Asylum has released a riff on "Cocaine Bear" titled "Attack of the Meth Gator," the latest installment in its "Transformers" ripoff franchise, "Transmorphers: Mech Beasts," and its own animated version of "The Little Mermaid" featuring the voices of Steve Guttenberg and "E.T." star Dee Wallace. And they say cinema is dead!
Shane Van Dyke, the grandson of acting legend Dick Van Dyke, got his start as a writer on the mockbuster circuit, penning films like "Titanic II," "Paranormal Entity," and "Transmorphers: Fall of Man" for The Asylum in the late aughts. Around that same time, he also teamed up with his brother, Carey Van Dyke, to co-pen the studio's "Street Racer" -- a riff on the "Fast & Furious" films,...
Shane Van Dyke, the grandson of acting legend Dick Van Dyke, got his start as a writer on the mockbuster circuit, penning films like "Titanic II," "Paranormal Entity," and "Transmorphers: Fall of Man" for The Asylum in the late aughts. Around that same time, he also teamed up with his brother, Carey Van Dyke, to co-pen the studio's "Street Racer" -- a riff on the "Fast & Furious" films,...
- 8/6/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
The “Mission: Impossible” franchise is one of the most successful in film history, raking in a staggering $3.5 million and counting since the debut of the first film in 1996.
Understandably, hopes are high for the seventh entry in the Tom Cruise-starring franchise when “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” debuts in theatres next week.
The reviews are coming in, and film critics are overwhelmingly positive about the new film, which has already racked up a Rotten Tomatoes score of an incredible 98 per cent.
Read More: Tom Cruise Reflects On His ‘Mission: Impossible’ Journey Over The Years: ‘It’s Quite Extraordinary’
Here’s a sampling of what some of the world’s top critics are saying.
“‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ is just incredibly fun. It feels half its length and contains enough memorable action sequences for some entire franchises,” wrote Brian Tallerico for RogerEbert.com.
“If you...
Understandably, hopes are high for the seventh entry in the Tom Cruise-starring franchise when “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” debuts in theatres next week.
The reviews are coming in, and film critics are overwhelmingly positive about the new film, which has already racked up a Rotten Tomatoes score of an incredible 98 per cent.
Read More: Tom Cruise Reflects On His ‘Mission: Impossible’ Journey Over The Years: ‘It’s Quite Extraordinary’
Here’s a sampling of what some of the world’s top critics are saying.
“‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ is just incredibly fun. It feels half its length and contains enough memorable action sequences for some entire franchises,” wrote Brian Tallerico for RogerEbert.com.
“If you...
- 7/5/2023
- by Brent Furdyk
- ET Canada
An action-packed adventure that’s fun for the whole family, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is now available for fans to watch at home on Premium Video-On-Demand and to purchase on Digital from Paramount Home Entertainment.
“Bursting with action, comedy and spectacle”, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves has been hailed as “a total blast” and “the best movie of the year”. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes® and boasting a 93% audience score, the film is “the perfect movie for the whole family!”.
Fans who purchase the film on Digital will have access to over an hour of fascinating bonus content taking them deeper into the exciting world of Dungeons & Dragons. Go inside the making of the movie, featuring interviews with Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page and more. Explore the universe, characters, magical creatures, epic fight sequences, and stunning visual effects. Plus, laugh along with a hilarious gag...
“Bursting with action, comedy and spectacle”, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves has been hailed as “a total blast” and “the best movie of the year”. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes® and boasting a 93% audience score, the film is “the perfect movie for the whole family!”.
Fans who purchase the film on Digital will have access to over an hour of fascinating bonus content taking them deeper into the exciting world of Dungeons & Dragons. Go inside the making of the movie, featuring interviews with Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page and more. Explore the universe, characters, magical creatures, epic fight sequences, and stunning visual effects. Plus, laugh along with a hilarious gag...
- 5/4/2023
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Talk to Me earned high praise after screening at Sundance, and currently sits at 97% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics raved about A24’s new horror film, and now horror fans are invited to check out the first incredibly twisted teaser trailer.
Mashable’s Kristy Puchko describes the film as a “terrifically scary horror offering thanks to powerful performances, creepy creature designs, a splash of blood and gore.” And Upi’s Fred Topel says it “invents a frightening new mythology for conjuring up evil spirits.”
The creepy thriller marks the feature film directorial debut of YouTubers Danny and Michael Philippou. Sophie Wilde, Miranda Otto, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji,
Zoe Terakes, and Chris Alosi star.
A24 will open in theaters on July 28, 2023.
The Talk to Me Plot:
“When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one...
Mashable’s Kristy Puchko describes the film as a “terrifically scary horror offering thanks to powerful performances, creepy creature designs, a splash of blood and gore.” And Upi’s Fred Topel says it “invents a frightening new mythology for conjuring up evil spirits.”
The creepy thriller marks the feature film directorial debut of YouTubers Danny and Michael Philippou. Sophie Wilde, Miranda Otto, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji,
Zoe Terakes, and Chris Alosi star.
A24 will open in theaters on July 28, 2023.
The Talk to Me Plot:
“When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one...
- 4/11/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Riz Ahmed received some unanticipated laughter on Wednesday morning as he and Allison Williams read the nominations for the 2023 Academy Awards.
While announcing the nominations for Animated Short Film, Ahmed came to one of the entries, “My Year of D**ks.”
Read More: 2023 Oscar Nominations: See The Full List
After reading the title, he paused briefly as the audience in attendance erupted in laughter. When the chuckles died down, he read the final entry, “An Ostrich Told Me the World is Fake And I Think I Believe It”.
“No comment,” quipped Williams as she laughed.
Riz Ahmed saying "My Year Of Dicks" because we all woke up at 5:20am for these #OscarNominations2023 pic.twitter.com/EHsLwgmkkY
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) January 24, 2023
The moment proved to be a favourite with viewers, who responded enthusiastically via Twitter.
Thank you to fate for the weird and wonderful moment where Riz Ahmed had to...
While announcing the nominations for Animated Short Film, Ahmed came to one of the entries, “My Year of D**ks.”
Read More: 2023 Oscar Nominations: See The Full List
After reading the title, he paused briefly as the audience in attendance erupted in laughter. When the chuckles died down, he read the final entry, “An Ostrich Told Me the World is Fake And I Think I Believe It”.
“No comment,” quipped Williams as she laughed.
Riz Ahmed saying "My Year Of Dicks" because we all woke up at 5:20am for these #OscarNominations2023 pic.twitter.com/EHsLwgmkkY
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) January 24, 2023
The moment proved to be a favourite with viewers, who responded enthusiastically via Twitter.
Thank you to fate for the weird and wonderful moment where Riz Ahmed had to...
- 1/25/2023
- by Brent Furdyk
- ET Canada
Joe.Movie-lovers!Welcome back to The Deuce Notebook, a collaboration between Mubi's Notebook and The Deuce Film Series, our monthly event at Nitehawk Williamsburg that excavates the facts and fantasies of cinema's most infamous block in the world: 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. For each screening, my co-hosts and I pick a title that we think embodies the era of 24-hour moviegoing, and present the venue at which it premiered…This month, we welcome yet another guest writer, Jason Bailey. Jason is a film critic, historian, and author. His most recent book, “Fun City Cinema: New York City and the Movies That Made It,” tracks the intersections between New York movies and the city’s history. That is also the subject of his “Fun City Cinema” podcast, and the following essay was adapted from the episode “Keep America Great.” Special thanks to co-host Mike Hull and guests Jefferson Cowie,...
- 11/29/2022
- MUBI
Neon’s latest movie Pig stars Oscar-Winner Nicolas Cage and Alex Wolff. It is the story of a truffle hunter who lives alone in the Oregonian wilderness and who must return to his past in Portland in search of his beloved foraging pig after she is kidnapped.
Pig, which opened on July 16, presently sits at a solid 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and the reviews for Cage have been glowing. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pig_2021
Richard Roeper (Chicago Sun-Times) says “The unpredictable Cage delivers some of his best work in years.”
Kristy Puchko (Pajiba) “Pig is not only a mesmerizing while meditative drama about love and loss. It is also a powerful reminder that Cage is one of the most talented, most captivating movie stars of our time.”
David Sims (The Atlantic) “In Pig, Cage is the mournful center of a clever story about how commercialism rots the purity of artistic expression.
Pig, which opened on July 16, presently sits at a solid 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and the reviews for Cage have been glowing. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pig_2021
Richard Roeper (Chicago Sun-Times) says “The unpredictable Cage delivers some of his best work in years.”
Kristy Puchko (Pajiba) “Pig is not only a mesmerizing while meditative drama about love and loss. It is also a powerful reminder that Cage is one of the most talented, most captivating movie stars of our time.”
David Sims (The Atlantic) “In Pig, Cage is the mournful center of a clever story about how commercialism rots the purity of artistic expression.
- 7/20/2021
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
In Emma Seligman’s Shiva Baby, a sugar baby bumps into her sugar daddy and ex-girlfriend while sitting shiva — a Jewish wake — with her parents. Based on writer-director Seligman's 2018 short of the same name, the film is graced with a towering lead performance from Rachel Sennott as Danielle, the early twenty-something, almost-graduated college student on the precipice of adulthood. The result, Monica Castillo writes at RogerEbert.com, “is a painfully funny comedy that feels both universally relatable in its depiction of awkward family dynamics and very specific to Danielle’s experience of watching her sex life collide with her religious community.” Which begs a two-part question: what is it that Shiva Baby captures so well about Jewishness? And what about that cultural specificity makes the film so universally relatable? Raised in a Reform Ashkenazi Jewish community in Toronto, Seligman draws from her own milieu. Over at Vogue, Jocelyn Silver praises her observational skills,...
- 4/29/2021
- MUBI
The SXSW Film Festival has revealed its Jury and Special Award winners of the 28th edition of the fest, which took place virtually this week. The Megan Park-directed high school shooting tragedy The Fallout took the top award in the Narrative Feature category, while Jeremy Workman’s portrait of Lily Hevesh, Lily Topples the World, won in the Documentary Feature category.
Also on the narrative side, Kelley Kali and Angelique Molina’s I’m Fine Thanks for Asking) won a Special Jury Recognition for Multi-hyphenate Storyteller. Martin Edralin’s Islands also took home a Special Jury Recognition for Breakthrough Performance for actor Rogelio Balagtas.
In the docu feature competition Rachel Fleit’s Introducing, Selma Blair was honored with Special Jury Recognition for Exceptional Intimacy in Storytelling. Meanwhile, Nicholas Bruckman’s Not Going Quietly scored Special Jury Recognition for Humanity in Social Action.
“We are so honored by the 2021 filmmakers...
Also on the narrative side, Kelley Kali and Angelique Molina’s I’m Fine Thanks for Asking) won a Special Jury Recognition for Multi-hyphenate Storyteller. Martin Edralin’s Islands also took home a Special Jury Recognition for Breakthrough Performance for actor Rogelio Balagtas.
In the docu feature competition Rachel Fleit’s Introducing, Selma Blair was honored with Special Jury Recognition for Exceptional Intimacy in Storytelling. Meanwhile, Nicholas Bruckman’s Not Going Quietly scored Special Jury Recognition for Humanity in Social Action.
“We are so honored by the 2021 filmmakers...
- 3/19/2021
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The next installment in the Scream franchise isn’t set to hit theaters until January 2022, but filming has already wrapped despite a couple of setbacks related to the Coronavirus pandemic, meaning that new directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett have plenty of time in post-production to ensure that the fifth entry lives up to the legacy established by creator and horror legend Wes Craven, who passed away in 2015.
Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette are back to fill the quota of seasoned players that have seen and done it all before, while fresh faces include Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, Dylan Minnette and Kyle Gallner. This next outing in the slasher franchise comes eleven years after the fourth installment, and based on how the sequels have been numbered so far, everyone was expecting it to be called Scream 5, which would make sense.
However, continuing the bizarre trend...
Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette are back to fill the quota of seasoned players that have seen and done it all before, while fresh faces include Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, Dylan Minnette and Kyle Gallner. This next outing in the slasher franchise comes eleven years after the fourth installment, and based on how the sequels have been numbered so far, everyone was expecting it to be called Scream 5, which would make sense.
However, continuing the bizarre trend...
- 11/18/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
After first rising to mainstream attention as Parks and Recreation‘s lovable idiot Andy Dwyer, Chris Pratt shot to the top of the Hollywood A-list by voicing the main character in The Lego Movie, headlining the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Guardians of the Galaxy and taking first billing in Jurassic World all in the space of fifteen months, and those three blockbusters alone earned a combined total of over $2.8 billion at the box office.
The 41 year-old is now a bona fide movie star, but his most recent release didn’t manage to enjoy huge levels of success. Pixar’s Onward hit theaters just as the Coronavirus pandemic was beginning to dominate the headlines around the world, and after an underwhelming commercial showing, it was swiftly made available for digital download just a few weeks later.
It isn’t a bad movie by any means, but it is one of the...
The 41 year-old is now a bona fide movie star, but his most recent release didn’t manage to enjoy huge levels of success. Pixar’s Onward hit theaters just as the Coronavirus pandemic was beginning to dominate the headlines around the world, and after an underwhelming commercial showing, it was swiftly made available for digital download just a few weeks later.
It isn’t a bad movie by any means, but it is one of the...
- 10/3/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
Critics say “Hamilton” is a great musical. That kinda goes without saying at this point, but such a well-known property could have been received with a relative shrug in its filmed version premiering on Disney+ on July 3. If you haven’t seen it on stage there’s a decent chance you’ve listened to the cast recording, which is still on the Billboard charts after 248 weeks — been there, done that. But reviewers are just as enthusiastic about the musical onscreen as they were onstage.
SEEDisney teases Broadway sensation ‘Hamilton’ with a trailer before its streaming bow on July 3 [Watch]
As of this writing the film has a MetaCritic score of 90 based on 28 reviews counted thus far, all of them positive and 10 of which rate the film a perfect 100. On Rotten Tomatoes, which classifies reviews simply as positive or negative as opposed to MetaCritic’s sliding scale from 0 to 100, the film is...
SEEDisney teases Broadway sensation ‘Hamilton’ with a trailer before its streaming bow on July 3 [Watch]
As of this writing the film has a MetaCritic score of 90 based on 28 reviews counted thus far, all of them positive and 10 of which rate the film a perfect 100. On Rotten Tomatoes, which classifies reviews simply as positive or negative as opposed to MetaCritic’s sliding scale from 0 to 100, the film is...
- 7/3/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Tune into all episodes live on Twitter.
This spring here at The Film Stage we partnered with Cinephile to present Cinephile Game Night, a livestream series on Twitter that aims to bring attention and support to charities supporting the film community and beyond. We’re now excited to announce our summer lineup, featuring The Big Picture podcast, the Unspooled podcast, Pajiba, ScreenCrush, Battleship Pretension, Bright Wall/Dark Room, Vidiots, and more.
Each evening features The Film Stage crew, including Jordan Raup, Conor O’Donnell, Dan Mecca, and Cinephile creator Cory Everett, and a rotating roster of special guests as we test our knowledge of movie trivia in this online version, adapted for our current self-isolated times. With each show lasting about an hour, we’ll square off and play a few rounds of Cinephile: A Card Game, including Filmography, Movie-Actor, and Six Degrees.
Viewers are invited to tune in and follow along with the cinema-related fun!
This spring here at The Film Stage we partnered with Cinephile to present Cinephile Game Night, a livestream series on Twitter that aims to bring attention and support to charities supporting the film community and beyond. We’re now excited to announce our summer lineup, featuring The Big Picture podcast, the Unspooled podcast, Pajiba, ScreenCrush, Battleship Pretension, Bright Wall/Dark Room, Vidiots, and more.
Each evening features The Film Stage crew, including Jordan Raup, Conor O’Donnell, Dan Mecca, and Cinephile creator Cory Everett, and a rotating roster of special guests as we test our knowledge of movie trivia in this online version, adapted for our current self-isolated times. With each show lasting about an hour, we’ll square off and play a few rounds of Cinephile: A Card Game, including Filmography, Movie-Actor, and Six Degrees.
Viewers are invited to tune in and follow along with the cinema-related fun!
- 6/11/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
And so it was that on March 19, after weeks of mounting pressure and stubbornly optimistic official statements, Cannes joined the ever-growing army of film festivals cancelled or postponed over the Covid-19 pandemic. IndieWire's constantly updated list gives a sense of the worldwide hecatomb: cinemas are shutting, productions folding, as the crisis is shattering the film industry, raising questions as to whether festivals will recover—and if so, in what form.In an attempt to overcome the pandemic restrictions, a few events have decided to roll out digitally and unveil their offerings online. First among them was the Danish documentary fest Cph:dox, which is now screening a fraction of its 220 titles through Festival Scope, and running some of its industry activities on the web. “The well known Cph:dox social experience will have to reinvent itself in a whole new way,” a press release warned on March 12, “and the team is...
- 3/23/2020
- MUBI
While a number of arthouse movie theaters, mostly in NYC, began closing their doors starting last Thursday, an unprecedented step has now been taken to combat the spread of the coronavirus: all movie theaters in New York City and Los Angeles have been ordered to shut down. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti made the decisions late last night, while also putting restrictions on other entertainment venues. Restaurants, bars, and cafes will also only be able to provide food delivery and take-out.
With these theater closures, the question remains: will any company want to theatrically release their new films over the next few months? We’ve already seen widespread postponements when it comes to studio tentpoles (from A Quiet Place: Part II to Mulan to No Time to Die to F9), but the indie distributors have been a bit less forthcoming about their plans in a rapidly evolving situation.
With these theater closures, the question remains: will any company want to theatrically release their new films over the next few months? We’ve already seen widespread postponements when it comes to studio tentpoles (from A Quiet Place: Part II to Mulan to No Time to Die to F9), but the indie distributors have been a bit less forthcoming about their plans in a rapidly evolving situation.
- 3/16/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Pixar continued its Oscars dominance by winning Best Animated Feature for the 10th time for “Toy Story 4,” and 2020 could continue the studio’s reign as the company has two original films — not sequels or spinoffs — on tap. “Soul” is due in June, but “Onward” opened on March 6. So what are critics saying about the fantasy film?
As of this writing “Onward” has a MetaCritic score of 61 based on 49 reviews counted thus far: 29 positive, 18 somewhat mixed, only 2 classified as outright negative. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, which rates reviews as simply positive or negative and not on the sliding scale that MetaCritic uses, the film currently has a freshness rating of 86% based on 178 reviews, only 25 of which are counted as negative. The Rt critics’ consensus says, “It may suffer in comparison to Pixar’s classics, but ‘Onward’ makes effective use of the studio’s formula — and stands on its own merits as a funny,...
As of this writing “Onward” has a MetaCritic score of 61 based on 49 reviews counted thus far: 29 positive, 18 somewhat mixed, only 2 classified as outright negative. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, which rates reviews as simply positive or negative and not on the sliding scale that MetaCritic uses, the film currently has a freshness rating of 86% based on 178 reviews, only 25 of which are counted as negative. The Rt critics’ consensus says, “It may suffer in comparison to Pixar’s classics, but ‘Onward’ makes effective use of the studio’s formula — and stands on its own merits as a funny,...
- 3/6/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
The “Cats” trailer dropped Thursday afternoon, and Twitter pounced. At the time of this writing, the movie was the top trending topic worldwide on Twitter with over 300,000 tweets. While that’s only a fraction of the record 50 million tweets that “Avengers: Endgame” accrued, it’s still an impressive initial response for a film based on a 38-year-old musical.
If you haven’t seen the trailer yet, the actors in Tom Hooper’s “Cats” all retain their human bodies and faces, but are covered in CGI fur and possess pointy ears and tails. Some viewers found the anthropomorphism unsettling, while others — like star Taylor Swift — were thrilled. Reacting to her transformation into a feline, the singer tweeted, “I am a cat now and somehow that was everything.”
But if you wade through the many memes and reactions to the trailer Thursday, you’ll see people having a hard time finding the...
If you haven’t seen the trailer yet, the actors in Tom Hooper’s “Cats” all retain their human bodies and faces, but are covered in CGI fur and possess pointy ears and tails. Some viewers found the anthropomorphism unsettling, while others — like star Taylor Swift — were thrilled. Reacting to her transformation into a feline, the singer tweeted, “I am a cat now and somehow that was everything.”
But if you wade through the many memes and reactions to the trailer Thursday, you’ll see people having a hard time finding the...
- 7/19/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Devindra Hardawar, David Chen, Germain Lussier, Jeff Cannata, Peter Sciretta, and Kristy Puchko reconvene to discuss the results of their 2018 box office summer movie wager results. Did Jeff make a catastrophic mistake by including Christopher Robin or did the surprise slump of Solo: A Star Wars Story help someone eek out a victory? Below, you’ll find the actual box office […]
The post The 2018 Summer Movie Wager Results and Podcast appeared first on /Film.
The post The 2018 Summer Movie Wager Results and Podcast appeared first on /Film.
- 9/13/2018
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday.
Last weekend saw the release of “Rampage,” which may be the highest-rated video game movie on Rotten Tomatoes, but probably won’t go down in history as the king of monster movies.
This week’s question: What monster movie should people watch instead of “Rampage?”
Matt Zoller Seitz (@MattZollerSeitz), RogerEbert.com
The 2014 “Godzilla,” directed by Gareth Edwards. Try to watch it on the biggest screen you can find, in a dark room. It’s the most aesthetically daring monster movie, and one of the most daring big budget Sf films, released in the last decade, owing as much to “Close Encounters” as it does to anything Toho made. I was shocked by how much money it made. It was basically a Terrence Malick Godzilla movie, right down to the cutaways to other...
Last weekend saw the release of “Rampage,” which may be the highest-rated video game movie on Rotten Tomatoes, but probably won’t go down in history as the king of monster movies.
This week’s question: What monster movie should people watch instead of “Rampage?”
Matt Zoller Seitz (@MattZollerSeitz), RogerEbert.com
The 2014 “Godzilla,” directed by Gareth Edwards. Try to watch it on the biggest screen you can find, in a dark room. It’s the most aesthetically daring monster movie, and one of the most daring big budget Sf films, released in the last decade, owing as much to “Close Encounters” as it does to anything Toho made. I was shocked by how much money it made. It was basically a Terrence Malick Godzilla movie, right down to the cutaways to other...
- 4/16/2018
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
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.)
Last weekend saw the release of “A Quiet Place,” the premise of which is a fiendishly clever mechanism for celebrating the time-honored art of the jump-scare. Some of us love them, some of us don’t, but there’s no denying that they get the job done.
In that light, we ask: What’s the greatest jump-scare of them all?
Kristy Puchko (@KristyPuchko), Pajiba / Riot Material
“Jaws.” There’s no jump scare as thrilling and iconic as when the shark pops out of the water while Brody is grousing and shoveling chum. Spielberg abandons that chilling theme that played as warning that the beast was coming. He breaks the...
Last weekend saw the release of “A Quiet Place,” the premise of which is a fiendishly clever mechanism for celebrating the time-honored art of the jump-scare. Some of us love them, some of us don’t, but there’s no denying that they get the job done.
In that light, we ask: What’s the greatest jump-scare of them all?
Kristy Puchko (@KristyPuchko), Pajiba / Riot Material
“Jaws.” There’s no jump scare as thrilling and iconic as when the shark pops out of the water while Brody is grousing and shoveling chum. Spielberg abandons that chilling theme that played as warning that the beast was coming. He breaks the...
- 4/9/2018
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
This week on the /Filmcast, David, Devindra, and Jeff welcome Kristy Puchko as a regular contributor and discuss a massive backlog of What We’ve Been Watching, including The Polka King, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Star Trek Discovery and Dave Chappelle’s new specials. Be sure to read Vulture’s piece on whether we should take Chappelle seriously, and if you missed […]
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- 1/31/2018
- by David Chen
- Slash Film
This week on the /Filmcast, it’s all Black Mirror as David, Jeff, and Devindra analyze each episode of the show’s new season on Netflix. Special guest Kristy Puchko joins us from Pajiba. Be sure to read Vulture’s recap of Hang the DJ and Vice’s review of Black Museum, as well as how every episode is connected. You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(At)gmail(Dot)com, or […]
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- 1/17/2018
- by David Chen
- Slash Film
Devindra and Jeff team up with Kristy Puchko to figure out The Shape of Water. Also, they discuss Netflix’s Voyeur and Godless, and Jeff discovers the wonders of Toast of London. You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(At)gmail(Dot)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993. Also, like us on Facebook! Download or Play Now in your Browser: Shownotes Intro What We’ve Been Watching (03:30) […]
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The post /Filmcast Ep. 445 – The Shape of Water (Guest: Kristy Puchko from Riot Material) appeared first on /Film.
- 12/13/2017
- by Devindra Hardawar
- Slash Film
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: In honor of “The Post,” which is set to hit theaters on December 20th, what is Steven Spielberg’s best film?
Candice Frederick (@ReelTalker), Freelance for Harper’s Bazaar, /Film, The Undefeated, Birth.Movies.Death
“E.T.” There is really no other filmmaker who portrays wonder and innocence quite like Spielberg. While he’s done many great movies, “E.T.” not only captures the purity and curiosity of youth, but its beautiful effects and simple observations implore all of us to stop and take notice of the world around us and humanity itself.
Read More: ‘The Post’ Review: Steven Spielberg’s Spectacularly Entertaining Journalism Thriller Is a...
This week’s question: In honor of “The Post,” which is set to hit theaters on December 20th, what is Steven Spielberg’s best film?
Candice Frederick (@ReelTalker), Freelance for Harper’s Bazaar, /Film, The Undefeated, Birth.Movies.Death
“E.T.” There is really no other filmmaker who portrays wonder and innocence quite like Spielberg. While he’s done many great movies, “E.T.” not only captures the purity and curiosity of youth, but its beautiful effects and simple observations implore all of us to stop and take notice of the world around us and humanity itself.
Read More: ‘The Post’ Review: Steven Spielberg’s Spectacularly Entertaining Journalism Thriller Is a...
- 12/11/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Devindra and Jeff team up with Kristy Puchko to discuss Lady Bird. Also, they try to figure out if The Disaster Artist is any good, pontificate on the point of method acting, and consider what a Tarantino Star Trek would be like. You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(At)gmail(Dot)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993. Also, like us on Facebook! […]
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The post /Filmcast Ep. 444 – Lady Bird (Guest: Kristy Puchko from Riot Material) appeared first on /Film.
- 12/7/2017
- by Devindra Hardawar
- Slash Film
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
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: “Coco” arrives in theaters on November 22nd. With that in mind, we asked our panel of critics to name their favorite Pixar movie. In a testament to the studio’s work, all seven of the critics who participated in this survey highlighted different films.
Read More:‘Coco’ Review: Pixar’s Latest Proves That the Studio Still Has Some Life in its Bones Christy Lemire, @christylemire, RogerEbert.com/What the Flick?!
For a long time I would have said “Wall-e,” just because it’s so audacious: It’s about a lonely garbage collector in space, and the first 15 minutes of it are wordless. The fact that...
This week’s question: “Coco” arrives in theaters on November 22nd. With that in mind, we asked our panel of critics to name their favorite Pixar movie. In a testament to the studio’s work, all seven of the critics who participated in this survey highlighted different films.
Read More:‘Coco’ Review: Pixar’s Latest Proves That the Studio Still Has Some Life in its Bones Christy Lemire, @christylemire, RogerEbert.com/What the Flick?!
For a long time I would have said “Wall-e,” just because it’s so audacious: It’s about a lonely garbage collector in space, and the first 15 minutes of it are wordless. The fact that...
- 11/13/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
“Literally no one was a fan of the Silver Screen movies.” And thus is the legacy of Silver Screen Cinema Pictures International, perhaps Hollywood’s least loved and most unnecessary grindhouse movie distributor. As the Silver Screen team giddily jumped on board the exploitation movie craze of the ’70s and ’80s, the movie house churned out film after film, most of them very poor facsimiles of other, better films, nearly all of them avoided and derided by both the public and the critical sectors. (Never heard of it? You’re not alone.)
And then it was all gone. Every single Silver Screen print and negative was destroyed in a 1984 fire — talk about too hot for the screen — eradicating the legacy of a brand that most people have absolutely zero knowledge of ever having existed. But even Silver Screen, seemingly always destined to exist in wacky obscurity, couldn’t be kept totally down,...
And then it was all gone. Every single Silver Screen print and negative was destroyed in a 1984 fire — talk about too hot for the screen — eradicating the legacy of a brand that most people have absolutely zero knowledge of ever having existed. But even Silver Screen, seemingly always destined to exist in wacky obscurity, couldn’t be kept totally down,...
- 11/3/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
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 filmmaker would you most like to see try their hand at a horror movie?
Kristy Puchko (@KristyPuchko), Pajiba/Riot Material
I struggled with this question, because a lot of the directors I have adored have worked in horror, be it Tim Burton (“Beetlejuice,” “Edward Scissorhands”), Robert Zemeckis (“Death Becomes Her”), Edgar Wright (“Shawn of the Dead”), Frank Oz (“Little Shop of Horror”), Guillermo del Toro (“Crimson Peak”), Bong-Joon Ho (“The Host”), Jim Jarmusch (“Only Lovers Left Alive”), or Taika Waititi (“What We Do In the Shadows”). Part of what I love about the genre is the way is can be reshaped with vision, color,...
This week’s question: What filmmaker would you most like to see try their hand at a horror movie?
Kristy Puchko (@KristyPuchko), Pajiba/Riot Material
I struggled with this question, because a lot of the directors I have adored have worked in horror, be it Tim Burton (“Beetlejuice,” “Edward Scissorhands”), Robert Zemeckis (“Death Becomes Her”), Edgar Wright (“Shawn of the Dead”), Frank Oz (“Little Shop of Horror”), Guillermo del Toro (“Crimson Peak”), Bong-Joon Ho (“The Host”), Jim Jarmusch (“Only Lovers Left Alive”), or Taika Waititi (“What We Do In the Shadows”). Part of what I love about the genre is the way is can be reshaped with vision, color,...
- 10/30/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
This week, the crew discusses The Florida Project with special guest Kristy Puchko. You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(At)gmail(Dot)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993. Also, like us on Facebook! Download or Play Now in your Browser: Subscribe to the /Filmcast: Shownotes Intro What We’ve Been Watching (01:23) Devindra: Mindhunter (Completed), My Hero Academia Jeff: Patton […]
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- 10/25/2017
- by Devindra Hardawar
- Slash Film
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: In honor of “The Killing of a Sacred Deer,” what is Nicole Kidman’s greatest performance?
Vadim Rizov (@VRizov), Filmmaker Magazine
I don’t know about “best” — I haven’t seen an embarrassing chunk of what are considered her most significant roles, and I’m weak on understanding acting — but the performance that sticks most in my mind (quite possibly because I saw it at impressionable high school age) is “Dogville.” Kidman is spookily withdrawn, like an observer alien in a human body dropped into a moral wasteland which she attempts to navigate with understanding and decorum until finally it’s just too much. As in “Birth,...
This week’s question: In honor of “The Killing of a Sacred Deer,” what is Nicole Kidman’s greatest performance?
Vadim Rizov (@VRizov), Filmmaker Magazine
I don’t know about “best” — I haven’t seen an embarrassing chunk of what are considered her most significant roles, and I’m weak on understanding acting — but the performance that sticks most in my mind (quite possibly because I saw it at impressionable high school age) is “Dogville.” Kidman is spookily withdrawn, like an observer alien in a human body dropped into a moral wasteland which she attempts to navigate with understanding and decorum until finally it’s just too much. As in “Birth,...
- 10/23/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
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.)
In honor of Darren Aronofsky’s “mother!,” which just became one of the only movies to ever earn an “F” Cinemascore rating, what is the craziest movie that a major Hollywood studio has released this century?
Joshua Rothkopf (@joshrothkopf), Time Out New York
Talk about a self-answering question. Unless you can point to another movie that brews such an aggressive whirlwind of psychosexual anxiety, starring the biggest star in the world (who is also romantically involved with the director), then we’re talking about “mother!” I’m sure you’ve got “The Wolf of Wall Street” at the ready as an alternative, but how crazy is that film, given...
In honor of Darren Aronofsky’s “mother!,” which just became one of the only movies to ever earn an “F” Cinemascore rating, what is the craziest movie that a major Hollywood studio has released this century?
Joshua Rothkopf (@joshrothkopf), Time Out New York
Talk about a self-answering question. Unless you can point to another movie that brews such an aggressive whirlwind of psychosexual anxiety, starring the biggest star in the world (who is also romantically involved with the director), then we’re talking about “mother!” I’m sure you’ve got “The Wolf of Wall Street” at the ready as an alternative, but how crazy is that film, given...
- 9/18/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday.
This week’s question: “The Book of Henry” has been assailed by critics. But let’s look beyond this particular reviled new release. What’s the worst movie you’ve ever reviewed?
Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie), Vox
It’s unfortunately not even a contest: “God’s Not Dead 2,” which I reviewed for Flavorwire and then wrote about it further for Thrillist. (The first movie is actually far worse, but I didn’t review it.) They’re actually not the worst-made movies I’ve seen, but as a Christian and a film critic, I find them so actively offensive and cynical that it’s somehow even more depressing. I didn’t derive any joy from the process, but it felt important that I write about it.
Kristy Puchko (@KristyPuchko), Pajiba/Cbr.com...
This week’s question: “The Book of Henry” has been assailed by critics. But let’s look beyond this particular reviled new release. What’s the worst movie you’ve ever reviewed?
Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie), Vox
It’s unfortunately not even a contest: “God’s Not Dead 2,” which I reviewed for Flavorwire and then wrote about it further for Thrillist. (The first movie is actually far worse, but I didn’t review it.) They’re actually not the worst-made movies I’ve seen, but as a Christian and a film critic, I find them so actively offensive and cynical that it’s somehow even more depressing. I didn’t derive any joy from the process, but it felt important that I write about it.
Kristy Puchko (@KristyPuchko), Pajiba/Cbr.com...
- 6/19/2017
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV 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: With “The Mummy” opening to mostly negative reviews this weekend, Universal’s attempt to kickstart its “Dark Universe” franchise is stuck in a rut. What would you do (or recommend the studio do) to make good movies out of Universal’s classic monsters?
Violet Lucca (@unbuttonmyeyes), Film Comment
The obvious response is “don’t try,” but since we’re a few years away from getting back to using original intellectual property in film, I’ll give them a few options.
One: ditch the self-seriousness of the modern action blockbuster and revive the genre mashup of the “Abbott and Costello Meet…” series. Get Channing Tatum...
This week’s question: With “The Mummy” opening to mostly negative reviews this weekend, Universal’s attempt to kickstart its “Dark Universe” franchise is stuck in a rut. What would you do (or recommend the studio do) to make good movies out of Universal’s classic monsters?
Violet Lucca (@unbuttonmyeyes), Film Comment
The obvious response is “don’t try,” but since we’re a few years away from getting back to using original intellectual property in film, I’ll give them a few options.
One: ditch the self-seriousness of the modern action blockbuster and revive the genre mashup of the “Abbott and Costello Meet…” series. Get Channing Tatum...
- 6/12/2017
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV 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.)
The lineup for Cannes 2017 has finally been announced, and it’s a doozy. From the inevitable return of Michael Haneke to the shocking inclusion of television (albeit television from celebrated Cannes alumni David Lynch and Jane Campion), the 70th edition of the world’s most prestigious film festival promises to have something for everyone.
We asked our panel of critics to name the Cannes premiere they’re most excited to see, and their answers were unsurprisingly all over the map.
April Wolfe (@awolfeful), La Weekly
Lynne Ramsay’s “You Were Never Really Here.”
My stomach knots are finally unraveling knowing that Ramsay’s about to unleash another...
The lineup for Cannes 2017 has finally been announced, and it’s a doozy. From the inevitable return of Michael Haneke to the shocking inclusion of television (albeit television from celebrated Cannes alumni David Lynch and Jane Campion), the 70th edition of the world’s most prestigious film festival promises to have something for everyone.
We asked our panel of critics to name the Cannes premiere they’re most excited to see, and their answers were unsurprisingly all over the map.
April Wolfe (@awolfeful), La Weekly
Lynne Ramsay’s “You Were Never Really Here.”
My stomach knots are finally unraveling knowing that Ramsay’s about to unleash another...
- 4/17/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Another day, another attack against movie-review-mecca Rotten Tomatoes. “The death of cinema and film criticism,” some say. Those who believe such doomsday speak view the website as judge, jury and executioner; one that keeps audiences at home when movies fail the Tomatometer test. But is this solely the fault of Rotten Tomatoes? Do these angry congregations have a right to be seeing red? Is Rotten Tomatoes still a certified-fresh hub for critical discourse? “No,” “yes” and “it can be” – but first, a brief introduction.
While recently speaking at the Sun Valley Film Festival, director and producer Brett Ratner voiced his concern about Rt’s stranglehold on film criticism. His company – RatPac Entertainment – helped finance Zack Snyder’s powerhouse Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. As many of you know, the Dark Knight’s square-off against Superman was not well-received among critical outlets. Suffice it to say, it seems like Ratner...
While recently speaking at the Sun Valley Film Festival, director and producer Brett Ratner voiced his concern about Rt’s stranglehold on film criticism. His company – RatPac Entertainment – helped finance Zack Snyder’s powerhouse Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. As many of you know, the Dark Knight’s square-off against Superman was not well-received among critical outlets. Suffice it to say, it seems like Ratner...
- 4/5/2017
- by Matt Donato
- We Got This Covered
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV 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.)
Between the phenomenal success of “Get Out,” the imminent next chapter of the emphatically diverse “Fast and the Furious” franchise, and the recent failure of “Ghost in the Shell,” (among other examples), is there genuine reason to hope that racially insensitive blockbusters might soon become a thing of the past?
Vadim Rizov (@vrizov), Filmmaker Magazine
I think a lot about Bilge Ebiri’s 2013 piece on how the “Fast & Furious” franchise blew up by self-consciously becoming “diverse.” The short takeaway: Universal execs didn’t throw together a super-diverse cast out of the goodness of their progressive hearts, but out of a keen awareness that targeting multipole, oft-underserved demographics was a key,...
Between the phenomenal success of “Get Out,” the imminent next chapter of the emphatically diverse “Fast and the Furious” franchise, and the recent failure of “Ghost in the Shell,” (among other examples), is there genuine reason to hope that racially insensitive blockbusters might soon become a thing of the past?
Vadim Rizov (@vrizov), Filmmaker Magazine
I think a lot about Bilge Ebiri’s 2013 piece on how the “Fast & Furious” franchise blew up by self-consciously becoming “diverse.” The short takeaway: Universal execs didn’t throw together a super-diverse cast out of the goodness of their progressive hearts, but out of a keen awareness that targeting multipole, oft-underserved demographics was a key,...
- 4/3/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV 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.)
2017 is just getting started, but we’ve already seen an unusually wide variety of hit movies that ranges from corporate behemoths (“Beauty and the Beast”) to culture-shaking phenomenons (“Get Out”). Some of these blockbusters have been safe (it’s hard to imagine that something like “Justice League” won’t make actual buckets of money when it hits later this year), or even cynical (who knew that “Split” could upend the box office so early, and kinda stay there?), while others have pushed the needle forward and inspired the type of fervid conversation that’s usually reserved for television.
Looking at the list of major movies that are...
2017 is just getting started, but we’ve already seen an unusually wide variety of hit movies that ranges from corporate behemoths (“Beauty and the Beast”) to culture-shaking phenomenons (“Get Out”). Some of these blockbusters have been safe (it’s hard to imagine that something like “Justice League” won’t make actual buckets of money when it hits later this year), or even cynical (who knew that “Split” could upend the box office so early, and kinda stay there?), while others have pushed the needle forward and inspired the type of fervid conversation that’s usually reserved for television.
Looking at the list of major movies that are...
- 3/27/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV 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.)
Iconic, textured, and scarred beneath the surface, Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Logan puts the “human” in “superhuman.” In honor of his recent farewell as the man formerly known as Wolverine, we’ve asked our panel of critics to name the best performance in the history of superhero movies.
Charles Bramesco (@intothecrevasse), Freelance for Vox, Vulture, the Verge
My head tells me the correct answer is probably something like Heath Ledger’s swan song as “The Dark Knight”‘s rabid Joker or Michelle Pfeiffer as the kinked-up Catwoman in “Batman Returns.” But my heart’s in a cage — Nic Cage, to be specific. I recently revisited the...
Iconic, textured, and scarred beneath the surface, Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Logan puts the “human” in “superhuman.” In honor of his recent farewell as the man formerly known as Wolverine, we’ve asked our panel of critics to name the best performance in the history of superhero movies.
Charles Bramesco (@intothecrevasse), Freelance for Vox, Vulture, the Verge
My head tells me the correct answer is probably something like Heath Ledger’s swan song as “The Dark Knight”‘s rabid Joker or Michelle Pfeiffer as the kinked-up Catwoman in “Batman Returns.” But my heart’s in a cage — Nic Cage, to be specific. I recently revisited the...
- 3/6/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV 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.)
From “School Ties” to “Live By Night” and this weekend’s “The Great Wall,” Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have each — for better and worse — left a considerable and ever-increasing footprint in the cultural landscape. But while the world is wide enough for both of them, our hearts are not. And so, we forced our panel of critics to choose: Ben Affleck or Matt Damon?
There can be only one.
Charles Bramesco (@intothecrevasse), Freelance with Rolling Stone, Vulture, Vox
This is a toughie. In terms of looks, both Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s faces remind me of between forty and fifty of my least-favorite classmates during...
From “School Ties” to “Live By Night” and this weekend’s “The Great Wall,” Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have each — for better and worse — left a considerable and ever-increasing footprint in the cultural landscape. But while the world is wide enough for both of them, our hearts are not. And so, we forced our panel of critics to choose: Ben Affleck or Matt Damon?
There can be only one.
Charles Bramesco (@intothecrevasse), Freelance with Rolling Stone, Vulture, Vox
This is a toughie. In terms of looks, both Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s faces remind me of between forty and fifty of my least-favorite classmates during...
- 2/21/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV 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: In dubious honor of “Sleepless,” a new Jamie Foxx vehicle that’s been adapted from Frederic Jardin’s “Sleepless Night,” what is the best American remake of a foreign-language film?
Joshua Rothkopf (@joshrothkopf), Time Out New York
Long before I knew and appreciated Jean Renoir, I was in love with “Down and Out in Beverly Hills,” a 1986 comedy based on “Boudu Saved from Drowning” that peppered the flow with some truly eye-opening ideas for Hollywood: class warfare, unequal police treatment, a neurotic dog with its own therapist. The movie holds up beautifully — it’s one of Nick Nolte’s quietest performances, and one...
This week’s question: In dubious honor of “Sleepless,” a new Jamie Foxx vehicle that’s been adapted from Frederic Jardin’s “Sleepless Night,” what is the best American remake of a foreign-language film?
Joshua Rothkopf (@joshrothkopf), Time Out New York
Long before I knew and appreciated Jean Renoir, I was in love with “Down and Out in Beverly Hills,” a 1986 comedy based on “Boudu Saved from Drowning” that peppered the flow with some truly eye-opening ideas for Hollywood: class warfare, unequal police treatment, a neurotic dog with its own therapist. The movie holds up beautifully — it’s one of Nick Nolte’s quietest performances, and one...
- 1/17/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV 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.)
Warning: This article reveals critical plot plots from “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”
Of all the surprises seen in “Rogue One,” none was more unexpected — or more divisive — than the return of Grand Moff Tarkin, whose presence might have been less of a shock if actor Peter Cushing hadn’t died in 1994.
While this isn’t the first time that a movie has used technology to bring someone back from the grave, the prominence of Tarkin’s role in “Rogue One” has rekindled the debate over digitally manipulating deceased performers. For this week’s survey, we asked our panel of critics a question (or two...
Warning: This article reveals critical plot plots from “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”
Of all the surprises seen in “Rogue One,” none was more unexpected — or more divisive — than the return of Grand Moff Tarkin, whose presence might have been less of a shock if actor Peter Cushing hadn’t died in 1994.
While this isn’t the first time that a movie has used technology to bring someone back from the grave, the prominence of Tarkin’s role in “Rogue One” has rekindled the debate over digitally manipulating deceased performers. For this week’s survey, we asked our panel of critics a question (or two...
- 12/19/2016
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV 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:
Last Friday saw the release of Mia Hansen-Løve’s “Things to Come,” one of two new films starring Isabelle Huppert. In the lede of his review for The New York Times, A.O. Scott asked “Isabelle Huppert: Great actress, or greatest actress?” Huppert is certainly near the very top of the list, but we thought we’d take this opportunity to open the question to our panel of critics: Who is the best working actress in the world today?
Richard Brody (@tnyfrontrow), The New Yorker
A vote for someone else isn’t a vote against Isabelle Huppert, who is among the very greatest...
This week’s question:
Last Friday saw the release of Mia Hansen-Løve’s “Things to Come,” one of two new films starring Isabelle Huppert. In the lede of his review for The New York Times, A.O. Scott asked “Isabelle Huppert: Great actress, or greatest actress?” Huppert is certainly near the very top of the list, but we thought we’d take this opportunity to open the question to our panel of critics: Who is the best working actress in the world today?
Richard Brody (@tnyfrontrow), The New Yorker
A vote for someone else isn’t a vote against Isabelle Huppert, who is among the very greatest...
- 12/5/2016
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday morning. (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:
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” just enjoyed $75 million opening weekend, and has been announced as the first installment of a five-part series. How would you like to see these movies continue to expand the Harry Potter universe?
Tasha Robinson (@tasharobinson), The Verge
Mostly, I want to see the series continue to grow up, and I don’t expect that it will, because the tension between making the series more mature and keeping it accessible for kid viewers is probably going to keep us in this weird in-between space, where even adult characters operating in a politically complicated world have to...
This week’s question:
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” just enjoyed $75 million opening weekend, and has been announced as the first installment of a five-part series. How would you like to see these movies continue to expand the Harry Potter universe?
Tasha Robinson (@tasharobinson), The Verge
Mostly, I want to see the series continue to grow up, and I don’t expect that it will, because the tension between making the series more mature and keeping it accessible for kid viewers is probably going to keep us in this weird in-between space, where even adult characters operating in a politically complicated world have to...
- 11/21/2016
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday morning. (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 best horror film of the 21st century?
Charles Bramesco (@intothecrevasse), Freelancer for Rolling Stone, The Verge, Vulture
Everyone knows that the greatest Halloween film of all time is the 1962 nudie-cutie “House on Bare Mountain,” and my slavish devotion to giallo means that personal favorite horror movie of the new century is “Berberian Sound Studio”, but those are both answers to questions nobody asked. The finest horror film of the new millennium is “Cabin in the Woods”, both a dissertation on the history of the American scary movie and a chilling piece of work in its own right. With a fiendishly clever narrative hook,...
This week’s question: What is the best horror film of the 21st century?
Charles Bramesco (@intothecrevasse), Freelancer for Rolling Stone, The Verge, Vulture
Everyone knows that the greatest Halloween film of all time is the 1962 nudie-cutie “House on Bare Mountain,” and my slavish devotion to giallo means that personal favorite horror movie of the new century is “Berberian Sound Studio”, but those are both answers to questions nobody asked. The finest horror film of the new millennium is “Cabin in the Woods”, both a dissertation on the history of the American scary movie and a chilling piece of work in its own right. With a fiendishly clever narrative hook,...
- 10/31/2016
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday morning. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?” can be found at the end of this post.)
At long last, the Alamo Drafthouse is finally opening in Brooklyn this Friday, complementing a new wave of New York City cinemas that already includes the Metrograph, the Nitehawk (which will soon open another location), and the iPic chain, and is scheduled to add several more exciting venues 2017. With that exciting news in mind, we’ve put forward the following question to our panel of critics: What is the best movie theater that you have ever been to, and what made it so special?
Miriam Bale (@mimbale), Freelance
The Castro Theater in San Francisco is obviously the best. See anything there and you’ll know why.
At long last, the Alamo Drafthouse is finally opening in Brooklyn this Friday, complementing a new wave of New York City cinemas that already includes the Metrograph, the Nitehawk (which will soon open another location), and the iPic chain, and is scheduled to add several more exciting venues 2017. With that exciting news in mind, we’ve put forward the following question to our panel of critics: What is the best movie theater that you have ever been to, and what made it so special?
Miriam Bale (@mimbale), Freelance
The Castro Theater in San Francisco is obviously the best. See anything there and you’ll know why.
- 10/24/2016
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Every week, the CriticWire Survey asks a select handful of film and TV critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday morning. (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: Non-fiction disaster movies are a time-honored genre, and they don’t appear to be going anywhere: “Sully” is a huge hit, “Deepwater Horizon” performed solidly at the box office this weekend, and Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg will be re-teaming for “Patriot’s Day” later this year. With that in mind, what is the ultimate value of a blockbuster film that dramatizes tragic (or nearly tragic) events? Why do we keep making them, and — perhaps more importantly — why do we keep watching them?
Richard Brody (@tnyfrontrow), The New Yorker
The difference between movies about recent disasters and historical ones is...
This week’s question: Non-fiction disaster movies are a time-honored genre, and they don’t appear to be going anywhere: “Sully” is a huge hit, “Deepwater Horizon” performed solidly at the box office this weekend, and Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg will be re-teaming for “Patriot’s Day” later this year. With that in mind, what is the ultimate value of a blockbuster film that dramatizes tragic (or nearly tragic) events? Why do we keep making them, and — perhaps more importantly — why do we keep watching them?
Richard Brody (@tnyfrontrow), The New Yorker
The difference between movies about recent disasters and historical ones is...
- 10/3/2016
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
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