French-Senegalese actor and producer Seydina Baldé has worn many hats across his career including World Karate Champion and stuntman on films such as Brian de Palma’s Femme Fatale and Bond movie Casino Royale, but his dream since childhood has been to be an actor.
After a dozen small parts, Baldé engineered his first starring role with the self-produced, English-language action thriller Covert Operation (aka The Borderland). The North Korean-set movie, about a bounty hunter on a mission to break prisoners out of high-security military compound, sold to Lionsgate for the U.S. and won praise from action movie fans.
A decade later, Baldé is appearing in the most ambitious production of his career, six-part show Lex Africana, which is being billed as the first martial arts-based action thriller to come out of West Africa.
Baldé plays brilliant architect and martial arts expert Gabriel Aliou Thiam who returns after a...
After a dozen small parts, Baldé engineered his first starring role with the self-produced, English-language action thriller Covert Operation (aka The Borderland). The North Korean-set movie, about a bounty hunter on a mission to break prisoners out of high-security military compound, sold to Lionsgate for the U.S. and won praise from action movie fans.
A decade later, Baldé is appearing in the most ambitious production of his career, six-part show Lex Africana, which is being billed as the first martial arts-based action thriller to come out of West Africa.
Baldé plays brilliant architect and martial arts expert Gabriel Aliou Thiam who returns after a...
- 5/7/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Idris Elba, the man, known for portraying some iconic roles throughout his career is known for his diversified roles. From action to serious roles, from deadpan to quirky, Elba is quite a veteran actor who is still relevant in Hollywood.
Elba, being known for portraying the role of Dci John Luther in the iconic BBC series Luther, seems to have hung the iconic Luther coat. In an interview, however, the Hijack actor stated that there are still some things left for John Luther to do!
Idris Elba as John Luther in a still from Luther There Are Some Things Left For Idris Elba’s Luther To Do!
Premiering in 2010, Luther narrated the tale of Dci John Luther. A homicide detective with a penchant for thinking like a murderer helped him solve the cases but he wasn’t much of a social person. The series became so famous that Luther ran...
Elba, being known for portraying the role of Dci John Luther in the iconic BBC series Luther, seems to have hung the iconic Luther coat. In an interview, however, the Hijack actor stated that there are still some things left for John Luther to do!
Idris Elba as John Luther in a still from Luther There Are Some Things Left For Idris Elba’s Luther To Do!
Premiering in 2010, Luther narrated the tale of Dci John Luther. A homicide detective with a penchant for thinking like a murderer helped him solve the cases but he wasn’t much of a social person. The series became so famous that Luther ran...
- 4/28/2024
- by Visarg Acharya
- FandomWire
Image created by “Shutterstock.AI” Matt Damon playing the skilled and troubled Jason Bourne? Seemed like a perfect fit when he got the role in 2002’s The Bourne Identity. He’d smashed it in Good Will Hunting and Saving Private Ryan. Ocean’s Eleven showed he could handle action as part of a crew. Strangely, though, the one guy who couldn’t picture Damon as Bourne was himself. (Click on the media bar below to hear Matt Damon) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/matt-Damon_Bourne.mp3
Watch the official The Bourne Identity trailer (courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes)
The post Matt Damon: The Unexpected Jason Bourne appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
Watch the official The Bourne Identity trailer (courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes)
The post Matt Damon: The Unexpected Jason Bourne appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 4/18/2024
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
Apple TV’s “Slow Horses” has quickly become one of television’s most exciting shows. Based on the book by Mick Herron, the show combines razor-sharp writing (from showrunner Will Smith of “The Thick of It” fame) with masterclass acting from the likes of Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas.
The series follows the lives of those working at Slough House, a division of MI5 where disgraced agents who have made mistakes are exiled. It’s full of wit and humor, as one would expect from a show created by an alum of “The Thick of It,” but it’s also a genuine thriller, too, as all the best spy stories are. And critics have fallen for it since its inception, continuing to heap praise on this third season.
Fran Hoepfner (Slate) noted: “Part ‘Killing Eve’, part John le Carré lite, ‘Slow Horses’ continues to stand head and shoulders above...
The series follows the lives of those working at Slough House, a division of MI5 where disgraced agents who have made mistakes are exiled. It’s full of wit and humor, as one would expect from a show created by an alum of “The Thick of It,” but it’s also a genuine thriller, too, as all the best spy stories are. And critics have fallen for it since its inception, continuing to heap praise on this third season.
Fran Hoepfner (Slate) noted: “Part ‘Killing Eve’, part John le Carré lite, ‘Slow Horses’ continues to stand head and shoulders above...
- 4/5/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
While there are several actors and celebrities in Hollywood, Matt Damon stands apart from them, not only because of his incredible acting prowess but also because of his humble and generous nature. From donating and working for charities to just being a kind and humble being, the actor has garnered a huge fan following across the world.
Matt Damon (on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert)
Perhaps it was this that made him even more famous when he spent his time in the quiet village of Dalkey in Ireland during the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, one of his Irish neighbors, who also happens to be one of the biggest rockstars in the world, was incredibly jealous of the attention Damon received while living there.
Matt Damon’s Fame Greatly Annoyed One of the Biggest Rockstars in the World U2’s Bono (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Matt Damon‘s fame and acclaim might...
Matt Damon (on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert)
Perhaps it was this that made him even more famous when he spent his time in the quiet village of Dalkey in Ireland during the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, one of his Irish neighbors, who also happens to be one of the biggest rockstars in the world, was incredibly jealous of the attention Damon received while living there.
Matt Damon’s Fame Greatly Annoyed One of the Biggest Rockstars in the World U2’s Bono (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Matt Damon‘s fame and acclaim might...
- 3/31/2024
- by Maria Sultan
- FandomWire
If you want to know what drove the mood of '00s action cinema, you need to look to one franchise: the Bourne movies. For a stretch of time there, Matt Damon's amnesiac super-spy took over the genre, and the franchise's low-fi, barrel-fisted, chaos-first and sense-later approach to storytelling forced a radical reinvention of how Hollywood produced movies like this. Even James Bond was forced to adapt. Over 20 years after the first film hit theaters, we've absorbed what this series was throwing down so thoroughly, so completely, that what was fresh and thrilling back then sometimes feels a bit standard now. Jason Bourne -- and those who wrote and directed his films -- raised the bar so effectively that everyone was forced to play catch-up.
Although the series has seemingly come to an end, it remains a subject of fascination among action aficionados. The baby-faced Damon, still fresh on the scene,...
Although the series has seemingly come to an end, it remains a subject of fascination among action aficionados. The baby-faced Damon, still fresh on the scene,...
- 10/28/2023
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
Emily Blunt had to push herself in order to match Tom Cruise’s intense work ethic in Edge of Tomorrow. To portray her character in the film, Blunt had to resort to training like another action hero.
Emily Blunt’s ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ director compared her training to Matt Damon’s
Bourne Identity director Doug Liman was adamant that Damon had to harden his physique for the 2001 feature. In the film, Bourne was a character of great physical fitness and skill. But Liman took one look at his actor shirtless and knew Damon had a lot of work to do.
“Well, we were trying to figure out what the guy should look like and all the work that would go into it,” Damon once told ABC News. “And we decided on this pretty serious regimen of martial arts and boxing and weapons training and all this stuff, and we kind of,...
Emily Blunt’s ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ director compared her training to Matt Damon’s
Bourne Identity director Doug Liman was adamant that Damon had to harden his physique for the 2001 feature. In the film, Bourne was a character of great physical fitness and skill. But Liman took one look at his actor shirtless and knew Damon had a lot of work to do.
“Well, we were trying to figure out what the guy should look like and all the work that would go into it,” Damon once told ABC News. “And we decided on this pretty serious regimen of martial arts and boxing and weapons training and all this stuff, and we kind of,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Michael Fassbender in The KillerPhoto: Netflix
To call The Killer, director David Fincher’s new thriller, aloof and cold to the touch is an understatement, despite the presence of near-constant voiceover narration from star Michael Fassbender as a seasoned assassin. And even if that detachment is part of the point,...
To call The Killer, director David Fincher’s new thriller, aloof and cold to the touch is an understatement, despite the presence of near-constant voiceover narration from star Michael Fassbender as a seasoned assassin. And even if that detachment is part of the point,...
- 10/25/2023
- by Brent Simon
- avclub.com
Stars: Chloë Crump, Laura Bailey, Karen Swan, Clara Emanuel | Written by Matthew R. Ford | Directed by Daniel Alexander
Emily Gale has been having nightmares which may be related to her mother’s death. Her psychiatrist Dr. North (Laura Bailey) isn’t much help, especially when it comes to the biggest question of all, the identity of Dorothy, whom characters in her dreams mention.
And then, as if by magic, she finds something among her mother’s belongings. It’s a notebook belonging to her grandmother Dorothy Gale (Karen Swan; Guilty Pleasures). And, as it turns out, she’s still alive although confined to a nursing home. Emily makes arrangements to visit, but that may raise more questions than it answers.
Director Daniel Alexander also provided the story that Matthew R. Ford turned into a script that shows a side of Oz that I haven’t seen since Walter Murch traumatized kids,...
Emily Gale has been having nightmares which may be related to her mother’s death. Her psychiatrist Dr. North (Laura Bailey) isn’t much help, especially when it comes to the biggest question of all, the identity of Dorothy, whom characters in her dreams mention.
And then, as if by magic, she finds something among her mother’s belongings. It’s a notebook belonging to her grandmother Dorothy Gale (Karen Swan; Guilty Pleasures). And, as it turns out, she’s still alive although confined to a nursing home. Emily makes arrangements to visit, but that may raise more questions than it answers.
Director Daniel Alexander also provided the story that Matthew R. Ford turned into a script that shows a side of Oz that I haven’t seen since Walter Murch traumatized kids,...
- 9/27/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
If a movie franchise can last long enough, sooner or later, it will start eating its own tail. It’s a common grumble when talking about the big boys on the block, Star Wars and Star Trek. Neither feels like it’s willing to move on into the future, pulling fans back to earlier years and rebooting iconic characters in order to refresh—read: re-market—the stories fans love. But they’re not the only adopters of the technique; some franchises get downright sneaky about where in the timeline they’re going to take us next.
For example, little about the upcoming Saw X makes it clear to average moviegoers where the movie fits into the timeline. Franchise fans are probably aware that it’s a sequel-prequel timeline pretzel, fitting itself in between the original film and Saw II, and adding new details about Jigsaw’s obsession with the doctors that failed him.
For example, little about the upcoming Saw X makes it clear to average moviegoers where the movie fits into the timeline. Franchise fans are probably aware that it’s a sequel-prequel timeline pretzel, fitting itself in between the original film and Saw II, and adding new details about Jigsaw’s obsession with the doctors that failed him.
- 9/23/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
They might be longtime BFFs, but Matt Damon isn’t necessarily someone Ben Affleck would call an ideal roommate. Over the years, both Affleck and Damon have opened up about their experience living together, including what used to get on their nerves when they shared the same apartment.
Ben and Matt have lived together many times over the years Ben Affleck and Matt Damon | Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
Childhood friends who grew up two blocks from each other in Cambridge, Mass., Damon and Affleck found themselves living together not just once or twice but many times as aspiring actors.
Shortly before their Oscar-winning film, Good Will Hunting premiered in 1997, the two spoke with Interview magazine about sharing a home. “Ben and I’ve lived together in probably 10 different apartments with 10 other people who we grew up with at different times,” Damon said.
Best friends from ages 10 (Damon) and 8 (Affleck), the...
Ben and Matt have lived together many times over the years Ben Affleck and Matt Damon | Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
Childhood friends who grew up two blocks from each other in Cambridge, Mass., Damon and Affleck found themselves living together not just once or twice but many times as aspiring actors.
Shortly before their Oscar-winning film, Good Will Hunting premiered in 1997, the two spoke with Interview magazine about sharing a home. “Ben and I’ve lived together in probably 10 different apartments with 10 other people who we grew up with at different times,” Damon said.
Best friends from ages 10 (Damon) and 8 (Affleck), the...
- 9/5/2023
- by Mandi Kerr
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Prime Video is nothing if not a goldmine of content, with basically something to watch for everyone, and today we are making a list of the best new movies coming to Prime Video in September 2023 that you can watch in the upcoming month. The movies in this list are ranked according to their availability dates.
2001: A Space Odyssey (September 1)
Synopsis: Stanley Kubrick’s dazzling,Academy Award winning achievement is a compelling drama of man vs machine,a stunning meld of music and motion.Kubrick(who co-wrote the screenplay with Arthur C. Clarke) first visits our prehistoric ape-ancestry past,then leaps millenia(via oe of the most mind-blowing jump cuts ever) into colonized space, and ultimately whisks astronaut Bowmen(Keir Dullea) into uncharted space, perhaps even into immortality.”Open the pod bay doors,Hal.” Let an awesome journey unlike any other begin.
Army of Darkness (September 1)
Synopsis: It’s time to kick some Ash!
2001: A Space Odyssey (September 1)
Synopsis: Stanley Kubrick’s dazzling,Academy Award winning achievement is a compelling drama of man vs machine,a stunning meld of music and motion.Kubrick(who co-wrote the screenplay with Arthur C. Clarke) first visits our prehistoric ape-ancestry past,then leaps millenia(via oe of the most mind-blowing jump cuts ever) into colonized space, and ultimately whisks astronaut Bowmen(Keir Dullea) into uncharted space, perhaps even into immortality.”Open the pod bay doors,Hal.” Let an awesome journey unlike any other begin.
Army of Darkness (September 1)
Synopsis: It’s time to kick some Ash!
- 8/30/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Matt Damon has been very candid about his appreciation for the Bourne trilogy. Damon was able to flex his range as an action star in the spy franchise. He was also allowed to do smaller projects thanks to the series’ success.
But the Bourne franchise might’ve caused a slight rift between him and his mother if it wasn’t for the movie’s unique story arc.
Why Matt Damon’s mother wouldn’t have been comfortable with her son doing the ‘Bourne’ movies Matt Damon | Daniele Venturelli/WireImage
Damon’s mother has always had low tolerance when it comes to violence being depicted in the media. It was speculated that she was one of the reasons Damon turned down a Jason Bourne video game. Damon didn’t want the game Bourne Conspiracy to be a simple shooter, which it would become without his involvement.
“I lobbied hard to not...
But the Bourne franchise might’ve caused a slight rift between him and his mother if it wasn’t for the movie’s unique story arc.
Why Matt Damon’s mother wouldn’t have been comfortable with her son doing the ‘Bourne’ movies Matt Damon | Daniele Venturelli/WireImage
Damon’s mother has always had low tolerance when it comes to violence being depicted in the media. It was speculated that she was one of the reasons Damon turned down a Jason Bourne video game. Damon didn’t want the game Bourne Conspiracy to be a simple shooter, which it would become without his involvement.
“I lobbied hard to not...
- 8/23/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
After 9/11, the world of American film and television was never quite the same again. There were the obvious changes, like the gritty new Bond, the hardened Jason Bourne films and a new seriousness in disaster films. But behind the scenes, hundreds of smaller, subtler changes took place, including the unglamorous job of removing references to the Twin Towers across a variety of media. Dustin Waldman expertly takes us into the world of post-production editing, focusing on one man’s surprisingly emotionally-charged decision whether or not to scrub the buildings from the opening credits of The Sopranos. Using close-ups, ambient music and powerful, nuanced performances, Never Fuggedaboutit immerses you in the details, providing a strangely touching mixture of patriotism, compromise and humour. Ahead of today’s premiere, we talked to Waldman about why Tony Soprano is a uniquely American character, sourcing vintage equipment off eBay, his own experience working as an...
- 7/18/2023
- by Redmond Bacon
- Directors Notes
One of the brightest spots of Mayans M.C. Season 5 has been the bond between Letty and Hope.
Despite the odds, they've somehow managed to thrive and survive the most harrowing encounters.
Their luck ran out on Mayans M.C. Season 5 Episode 8, and it's heartbreaking to see this bond come to such a violent conclusion.
They were bonded by the grief of Coco's death and carved out this unbreakable bond, but it was only a matter of time before the perils of their world ruined everything.
Letty's mission to unearth all of the secrets of the Broken Saints to trade for Hope's life was grueling.
On the one hand, she was ruining the lives of all these women, but on the other, she could save Hope's life -- or so she thought.
Isaac has proven to be one of the most despicable characters in TV history, and that's no easy feat...
Despite the odds, they've somehow managed to thrive and survive the most harrowing encounters.
Their luck ran out on Mayans M.C. Season 5 Episode 8, and it's heartbreaking to see this bond come to such a violent conclusion.
They were bonded by the grief of Coco's death and carved out this unbreakable bond, but it was only a matter of time before the perils of their world ruined everything.
Letty's mission to unearth all of the secrets of the Broken Saints to trade for Hope's life was grueling.
On the one hand, she was ruining the lives of all these women, but on the other, she could save Hope's life -- or so she thought.
Isaac has proven to be one of the most despicable characters in TV history, and that's no easy feat...
- 7/6/2023
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
It says a lot about Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, the first chapter in the $3.5 billion franchise’s two-part seventh installment, that detailed footage of one of the film’s most spectacular stunts was released in full online last December. The extended clip showcased the meticulous planning and execution of a sequence in which Tom Cruise as superspy Ethan Hunt drives a motorcycle off a cliff and plunges 4,000 feet into a ravine, separating from the bike and Base jumping the final 500 feet to the ground.
Most action thrillers would save that kind of daredevil money shot for the release, praying that nobody leaked the footage and diminished the awe factor. But director Christopher McQuarrie, in his third turn at the helm, has stuffed the espionage saga so full of breathtaking stunt sequences, visceral fights, gunplay and high-speed chases that there’s loads more to keep his audience glued to every moment.
Most action thrillers would save that kind of daredevil money shot for the release, praying that nobody leaked the footage and diminished the awe factor. But director Christopher McQuarrie, in his third turn at the helm, has stuffed the espionage saga so full of breathtaking stunt sequences, visceral fights, gunplay and high-speed chases that there’s loads more to keep his audience glued to every moment.
- 7/5/2023
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Modern movies can now be slotted into five distinct categories: Comedies, dramas, horror/sci-fi, superhero films and Tom Cruise. The 61-year-old actor has gone beyond being a marquee-name star to becoming his own movie genre, a sort of one-man blockbuster flavor that borrows liberally from those other types and adds in a special sauce that’s equal parts charisma, salesmanship, daredevil action, nonstop running and teeth. As the industry-saving success of last year’s Top Gun: Maverick reminded us, Cruise is still the closest thing to a sure thing, the...
- 7/5/2023
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSConann.The lineup for the 76th Locarno Film Festival is now online, and it includes new films from Radu Jude, Eduardo Williams, Bertrand Mandico (a feature and two shorts), Leonor Teles, Lav Diaz, and Denis Côté, plus many more. The festival runs from August 2 through 12.Following Barbie, which releases later this month, Greta Gerwig will next direct two Chronicles of Narnia adaptations for Netflix. This news comes as a side detail in a wide-reaching New Yorker piece on Mattel Films by Alex Barasch, which details the toy company’s plans to develop more than 45 films using its properties, including a Hot Wheels film by J.J. Abrams and a Daniel Kaluuya-led, "surrealistic" reboot of the children's show Barney.REMEMBERINGThe great comic actor Alan Arkin died last week at age 89. For the New York Times,...
- 7/5/2023
- MUBI
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI, and sign up for our weekly email newsletter by clicking here.NEWSLast Summer.The first round of Cannes-centric announcements has arrived (full selections linked): on Thursday, the festival unveiled the Competition, Un Certain Regard, and Special Screenings lineups. The Directors’ Fortnight and Critics’ Week slates followed on Monday and Tuesday.Applications are now open for this year’s edition of the Locarno Critics Academy. Participating critics will be able to cover the festival and attend workshops with critics, programmers, and filmmakers. Some Notebook samples by a few of last year's critics: Dini Adanurani covered Locarno's experimental 24-hour panel, and Laura Staab contributed interviews with Helena Wittmann and Kelly Reichardt (the latter cowritten with Christopher Small).Jim Jarmusch is planning to shoot his next film in the autumn—characteristically, it will be “quiet, funny,...
- 4/19/2023
- MUBI
Busted have announced a reunion tour to celebrate their 20th anniversary.
The British band consists of Charlie Simpson – who just won the latest series of The Masked Singer – Matt Willis and James Bourne. The trio are all now in their late thirties.
Fans had been wondering if a reunion was in works after the band teased a cryptic video clip with old footage.
They didn’t have to wait long; on Thursday (23 March), the band posted a video on Instagram informing fans that they are back for a special anniversary tour.
“Busted is back ð..¥ Tickets for our 20th Anniversary Greatest Hits tour with special guests @hanson go on sale next Friday 31 March,” they wrote in the caption of the video.
“A decade is a long time, two decades is an even longer time. We can’t wait to see you. #Busted20” they added.
The band also appeared to announce a new single,...
The British band consists of Charlie Simpson – who just won the latest series of The Masked Singer – Matt Willis and James Bourne. The trio are all now in their late thirties.
Fans had been wondering if a reunion was in works after the band teased a cryptic video clip with old footage.
They didn’t have to wait long; on Thursday (23 March), the band posted a video on Instagram informing fans that they are back for a special anniversary tour.
“Busted is back ð..¥ Tickets for our 20th Anniversary Greatest Hits tour with special guests @hanson go on sale next Friday 31 March,” they wrote in the caption of the video.
“A decade is a long time, two decades is an even longer time. We can’t wait to see you. #Busted20” they added.
The band also appeared to announce a new single,...
- 3/23/2023
- by Megan Graye
- The Independent - Music
Busted have announced a greatest hits reunion tour to celebrate their 20th anniversary.
On Thursday (23 March), the band posted a video on Instagram informing fans that they are back for a special anniversary tour.
“Busted is back,” they wrote in the caption for the video, before informing fans that tickets will go on sale from Friday 31 March.
The British boy band were hugely famous in the noughties for pop-punk hits such as “Year 3000”, “What I Go To School For” and “Crashed The Wedding”.
The group, consisting of Charlie Simpson, Matt Willis and James Bourne, were teens in Busted’s early days, and are now in their late 30s.
Although they may not have been together as Busted for a while, the group members have been very busy for the last 20 years.
So what exactly have Busted been up to for the last two decades?
Charlie Simpson
Charlie Simpson is Busted...
On Thursday (23 March), the band posted a video on Instagram informing fans that they are back for a special anniversary tour.
“Busted is back,” they wrote in the caption for the video, before informing fans that tickets will go on sale from Friday 31 March.
The British boy band were hugely famous in the noughties for pop-punk hits such as “Year 3000”, “What I Go To School For” and “Crashed The Wedding”.
The group, consisting of Charlie Simpson, Matt Willis and James Bourne, were teens in Busted’s early days, and are now in their late 30s.
Although they may not have been together as Busted for a while, the group members have been very busy for the last 20 years.
So what exactly have Busted been up to for the last two decades?
Charlie Simpson
Charlie Simpson is Busted...
- 3/23/2023
- by Megan Graye
- The Independent - Music
(Welcome to Best Action Scene Ever, a column dedicated to breaking down the best, most effective action sequences throughout the genre. In this edition, we're breaking down one of the greatest car chases ever put to film in "The Bourne Supremacy.")
Movies and television in the early 2000s might as well be a time capsule, forever preserving a uniquely tumultuous time in U.S. and world history like a mosquito in amber. "The Lord of the Rings" movies will probably always be upheld as the earliest and most significant form of post-9/11 cinema, providing exactly the kind of fantasy escapism that so many audiences were suddenly desperate for on a cellular level. But on the extreme other end of the spectrum, one action franchise had no choice but to steer directly into the skid, addressing some of the most fraught and deeply uncomfortable aspects of the United States government that nobody wanted to talk about.
Movies and television in the early 2000s might as well be a time capsule, forever preserving a uniquely tumultuous time in U.S. and world history like a mosquito in amber. "The Lord of the Rings" movies will probably always be upheld as the earliest and most significant form of post-9/11 cinema, providing exactly the kind of fantasy escapism that so many audiences were suddenly desperate for on a cellular level. But on the extreme other end of the spectrum, one action franchise had no choice but to steer directly into the skid, addressing some of the most fraught and deeply uncomfortable aspects of the United States government that nobody wanted to talk about.
- 2/27/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Released in 2002 for the GameCube, the original Metroid Prime feels like a concept that frankly wouldn’t be made by modern Nintendo. At the time, the Japanese company was coming out of their first ever major defeat in the console wars with the Nintendo 64 having been outsold by Sony’s PlayStation by a margin of 3:1. Despite having some of the world’s most recognizable characters and titles, there was cause for alarm as the Big N came into this new generation for the first time as an underdog, a...
- 2/15/2023
- by Christopher Cruz
- Rollingstone.com
When the trailer for Violent Night hit, people were excited to check out this new Christmas action film. They were excited by the idea of setting an action film during the holiday season. While that’s great, it’s not a new concept. There have been some great action holiday movies for decades. No, we’re not talking about Jingle All The Way. It’s always a great time to drink some hot chocolate and watch some stuff blow up or someone gets punched in the face while Christmas lights twinkle in the background.
Santa’s Slay (2005)
This one could fall into more of a horror category, but the action is what makes it the most fun. If the opening scene doesn’t get you excited, then you obviously don’t love Christmas. Hall Of Fame wrestler Bill Goldberg plays Santa like you’ve never seen him.
Santa’s Slay (2005)
This one could fall into more of a horror category, but the action is what makes it the most fun. If the opening scene doesn’t get you excited, then you obviously don’t love Christmas. Hall Of Fame wrestler Bill Goldberg plays Santa like you’ve never seen him.
- 12/25/2022
- by Bryan Wolford
- JoBlo.com
When Daniel Craig took over the role of James Bond in 2006, the once-durable franchise was showing signs of rust. Pierce Brosnan's run had collapsed into a heap of terminal silliness with 2002's "Die Another Day," and there didn't seem to be a clear way forward for the character in a post-9/11 world. Matt Damon's humorless, amnesia-stricken Jason Bourne seemed more in step with the gung-ho times than a tuxedoed MI6 agent whose focus is split between saving the world and bedding beautiful women.
"Casino Royale" was a back-to-Ian-Fleming basics effort with a smattering of Bourne-style parkour action. For the first time since "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," Bond fell deeply in love, and had his heart shattered for his troubles. The action set pieces were as spectacular as ever, but they had a bruisingly grounded quality to them this time out. Shorn of wit and overt gadgetry,...
"Casino Royale" was a back-to-Ian-Fleming basics effort with a smattering of Bourne-style parkour action. For the first time since "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," Bond fell deeply in love, and had his heart shattered for his troubles. The action set pieces were as spectacular as ever, but they had a bruisingly grounded quality to them this time out. Shorn of wit and overt gadgetry,...
- 11/9/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Surely, you thought, we’ve seen the last of the famed action star. You were wrong
At this point in time, it is safe to assume that the Bourne franchise is dead in the water. After a near-perfect initial trilogy, the series began to wobble with 2012’s The Bourne Legacy, a bizarre wish-fulfilment fantasy that answered the perpetually unasked question: “What if Jason Bourne, but Hawkeye?” 2016’s Jason Bourne was an attempt to right the ship, bringing back Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass, but it floundered because it forgot to have a plot or any discernible point. There was a Bourne TV show in 2019, but since this is the first time you have actually heard of it, let’s assume it was a flop. After all these half-starts and false dawns, surely, Jason Bourne is no more.
Wrong! It turns out that instead of dying, the franchise had simply gone underground.
At this point in time, it is safe to assume that the Bourne franchise is dead in the water. After a near-perfect initial trilogy, the series began to wobble with 2012’s The Bourne Legacy, a bizarre wish-fulfilment fantasy that answered the perpetually unasked question: “What if Jason Bourne, but Hawkeye?” 2016’s Jason Bourne was an attempt to right the ship, bringing back Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass, but it floundered because it forgot to have a plot or any discernible point. There was a Bourne TV show in 2019, but since this is the first time you have actually heard of it, let’s assume it was a flop. After all these half-starts and false dawns, surely, Jason Bourne is no more.
Wrong! It turns out that instead of dying, the franchise had simply gone underground.
- 11/1/2022
- by Stuart Heritage
- The Guardian - Film News
It is fair to assume Criterion could plunder the world of licensed film to build an ultimate noir playlist; credit, then, for focusing sharp and nabbing deep cuts. The Criterion Channel’s November / Noirvember program will be headlined by “Fox Noir,” an eight-title program with Otto Preminger deep cut Fallen Angel, three by Henry Hathaway, Siodmak, Dassin, Kazan, and Robert Wise, and while retrospectives of Veronica Lake and John Garfield will bring some canon into the fold, I’m mostly thinking about that potential for discovery.
Following “Free Jazz,” Bob Hoskins, and Joyce Chopra programs, the other big series is a 30-year survey of Sony Pictures Classics: Sally Potter, Satoshi Kon, Panahi, Errol Morris, Almodóvar, Haneke, Mike Leigh, just a murderer’s row. Streaming premieres include 499 and A Night of Knowing Nothing, two recent epitomes of I Wish I Had Seen That; Criterion Editions comprise Cure, Brazil, Sullivan’s Travels,...
Following “Free Jazz,” Bob Hoskins, and Joyce Chopra programs, the other big series is a 30-year survey of Sony Pictures Classics: Sally Potter, Satoshi Kon, Panahi, Errol Morris, Almodóvar, Haneke, Mike Leigh, just a murderer’s row. Streaming premieres include 499 and A Night of Knowing Nothing, two recent epitomes of I Wish I Had Seen That; Criterion Editions comprise Cure, Brazil, Sullivan’s Travels,...
- 10/26/2022
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Fivel Stewart as Hannah Copeland and Noah Centineo as Owen Hendricks in ‘The Recruit’ (Photo Courtesy Of Netflix © 2022)
Netflix has shared the first photos along with a few more details on The Recruit, a spy series created by Alexi Hawley. The photos provide our first good look at Noah Centineo (To All the Boys franchise) as a CIA newbie who’s forced to hit the ground running.
“My new show follows an unsuspecting lawyer as he’s pulled into a high stakes thrill ride through the world of international spy networks,” explained Centineo during Netflix’s Tudum fan event. Joining Centineo in the series are Laura Haddock, Aarti Mann, Colton Dunn, Fivel Stewart, and Daniel Quincy Annoh. Kristian Bruun, Vondie Curtis Hall, Byron Mann, Angel Parker, and Kaylah Zander also star in the eight-episode first season.
“It’s rare to find a fresh way into a story these days. And...
Netflix has shared the first photos along with a few more details on The Recruit, a spy series created by Alexi Hawley. The photos provide our first good look at Noah Centineo (To All the Boys franchise) as a CIA newbie who’s forced to hit the ground running.
“My new show follows an unsuspecting lawyer as he’s pulled into a high stakes thrill ride through the world of international spy networks,” explained Centineo during Netflix’s Tudum fan event. Joining Centineo in the series are Laura Haddock, Aarti Mann, Colton Dunn, Fivel Stewart, and Daniel Quincy Annoh. Kristian Bruun, Vondie Curtis Hall, Byron Mann, Angel Parker, and Kaylah Zander also star in the eight-episode first season.
“It’s rare to find a fresh way into a story these days. And...
- 9/28/2022
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
The death of Queen Elizabeth II has dominated global news this month, and it's something that has even filtered down to movie discussions, especially where the James Bond franchise is concerned. For 60 years — ever since Sean Connery first played Bond in "Dr. No" in 1962 — agent 007 fought for "Queen and country" on the movie screen. Earlier this year, as 007 was celebrating his anniversary and Elizabeth II was celebrating her own Platinum Jubilee, the official Bond Twitter account used that same phrase, "for Queen and country," to mark the occasion.
Ten years earlier, Daniel Craig and the Queen even jumped out of a helicopter together while London was hosting the Olympics and the Queen was celebrating her Diamond Jubilee (while Bond was promoting the release of "Skyfall" and his 50th anniversary). Suffice it to say, with Bond's history so entwined with that of the late Queen, it has left some fans wondering...
Ten years earlier, Daniel Craig and the Queen even jumped out of a helicopter together while London was hosting the Olympics and the Queen was celebrating her Diamond Jubilee (while Bond was promoting the release of "Skyfall" and his 50th anniversary). Suffice it to say, with Bond's history so entwined with that of the late Queen, it has left some fans wondering...
- 9/23/2022
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Stephen King’s latest novel was published just last week, and there’s already a feature-film adaptation in the works. Deadline has reported that Paul Greengrass will write, direct, and produce an adaptation of Stephen King’s Fairy Tale.
Fairy Tale tells the story of a seventeen-year-old boy who inherits the keys to a parallel world where good and evil are at war, and the stakes could not be higher — for that world or ours. In a statement, Stephen King said, “Needless to say, I’m a Paul Greengrass fan and think he’s a wonderful choice for this film.” Paul Greengrass added, “Fairy Tale is a work of genius. A classic adventure story and also a disturbing contemporary allegory.” Deadline says that the project will be shopped around very soon and that plenty of studios and streaming services will likely jump at the chance to snap it up. Here...
Fairy Tale tells the story of a seventeen-year-old boy who inherits the keys to a parallel world where good and evil are at war, and the stakes could not be higher — for that world or ours. In a statement, Stephen King said, “Needless to say, I’m a Paul Greengrass fan and think he’s a wonderful choice for this film.” Paul Greengrass added, “Fairy Tale is a work of genius. A classic adventure story and also a disturbing contemporary allegory.” Deadline says that the project will be shopped around very soon and that plenty of studios and streaming services will likely jump at the chance to snap it up. Here...
- 9/15/2022
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Beyond Pi’erre Bourne’s famous producer tag and the infectious sonic landscapes he’s created for the likes of Playboi Carti, Drake, Young Nudy and more, the Queens native has been quietly carving out his own sound as a rapper. The last two installments of The Life of Pi’erre cemented him as a formidable torchbearer for the kind of melodic and lush raps his frequent collaborator Playboi Carti elevated during his early SoundCloud era. Pi’erre’s latest release, Good Movie shows his most broad range of music to date,...
- 9/8/2022
- by Dewayne Gage
- Rollingstone.com
Well, I was not expecting this: Orphan: First Kill, a prequel to 2009’s horror mystery Orphan, is better than its progenitor. No, scratch that: First Kill is, rather, not quite as bad as the previous movie. Still, this is a rare cinematic occurrence, and one to be commended, no matter how qualified.
The thing about the 2009 movie is that it played like a parody of horror movies, and, alas, not a knowing one. It had little beyond overbaked tropes of the genre: the “scary” music, the “menacing” camera angles, the telegraphing of every boo. Its big twist — look away now if you don’t want a 13-year-old movie spoiled — is that its central “sinister child,” the orphan of the title, is not, in fact, nine years old but actually an adult with a pituitary disorder that leaves her perpetually childlike in body. Though not childlike in mind: she’s cunning and devious,...
The thing about the 2009 movie is that it played like a parody of horror movies, and, alas, not a knowing one. It had little beyond overbaked tropes of the genre: the “scary” music, the “menacing” camera angles, the telegraphing of every boo. Its big twist — look away now if you don’t want a 13-year-old movie spoiled — is that its central “sinister child,” the orphan of the title, is not, in fact, nine years old but actually an adult with a pituitary disorder that leaves her perpetually childlike in body. Though not childlike in mind: she’s cunning and devious,...
- 8/17/2022
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
In the years since the "Bourne" trilogy first burst onto the scene, a whole host of inferior imitators have made it easy to dismiss this gritty action franchise as a relic of its era -- and, of course, the chief party responsible for the scourge of unintelligible shaky-cam thrillers that have followed in its wake. But when taken on their own merits and separated from all the surrounding noise, it becomes clear that these movies have continued to age tremendously well. Where some may see nothing but headache-inducing camerawork, choppy editing, and mindless violence, a closer look reveals the genius behind the overwhelming amounts of chaos involved in the production of the Matt Damon-starring action flicks.
Between frenzied shootout sequences, pulse-pounding and elaborately staged vehicular mayhem, and a healthy dose of paranoid thriller tropes that hearken back to the genre's heyday in the 1970s, that sense of controlled chaos...
Between frenzied shootout sequences, pulse-pounding and elaborately staged vehicular mayhem, and a healthy dose of paranoid thriller tropes that hearken back to the genre's heyday in the 1970s, that sense of controlled chaos...
- 8/17/2022
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Spoiler Alert: This story contains details about the season 1 finale of FX On Hulu’s The Old Man.
FX on Hulu’s spy drama The Old Man starring Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow wrapped its first season July 21 by answering several burning questions — namely, why Faraz Hamzad was so hellbent at getting to Dan Chase (Bridges) and his daughter, Angela (Alia Shawkat). Seriously, did you see that one coming?
Here, Executive Producers Jon Steinberg and Dan Shotz discuss those major reveals and the questions that continue to swirl around Morgan Bote (Joel Grey).
Deadline So much information was revealed in that final episode. Talk about threading that needle and deciding when and why to reveal so much.
Jon Steinberg: It was pretty complicated. Originally we were doing 10 episodes. That was the plan when we went into our first Covid shutdown. The reveal was somewhere around there but it was...
FX on Hulu’s spy drama The Old Man starring Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow wrapped its first season July 21 by answering several burning questions — namely, why Faraz Hamzad was so hellbent at getting to Dan Chase (Bridges) and his daughter, Angela (Alia Shawkat). Seriously, did you see that one coming?
Here, Executive Producers Jon Steinberg and Dan Shotz discuss those major reveals and the questions that continue to swirl around Morgan Bote (Joel Grey).
Deadline So much information was revealed in that final episode. Talk about threading that needle and deciding when and why to reveal so much.
Jon Steinberg: It was pretty complicated. Originally we were doing 10 episodes. That was the plan when we went into our first Covid shutdown. The reveal was somewhere around there but it was...
- 7/22/2022
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
The wolf pack is back. The first teaser for the upcoming film sequel to “Teen Wolf” was released at Comic-Con on Thursday, showcasing the return of the original show’s cast in the Paramount+ original movie.
One of the biggest reveals of the trailer came in the final moments, when Crystal Reed’s character Allison returns from the dead.
“I wanted to make sure I did the character justice,” creator Jeff Davis said at the “Teen Wolf” panel. “Having her back was amazing. I texted Crystal, ‘We don’t really have a story yet. I mostly have ideas but I always said if I was gonna do a movie, I would bring back Allison.’ She texted back and said that she burst into tears. She was in from that moment.”
When asked about what it was like working with Reed again, star Tyler Posey — who was happy to report that...
One of the biggest reveals of the trailer came in the final moments, when Crystal Reed’s character Allison returns from the dead.
“I wanted to make sure I did the character justice,” creator Jeff Davis said at the “Teen Wolf” panel. “Having her back was amazing. I texted Crystal, ‘We don’t really have a story yet. I mostly have ideas but I always said if I was gonna do a movie, I would bring back Allison.’ She texted back and said that she burst into tears. She was in from that moment.”
When asked about what it was like working with Reed again, star Tyler Posey — who was happy to report that...
- 7/21/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
After staging a vastly scaled-down version in 2020, organizers of the Cannes Film Festival brought buzz back to the Croisette last year as the industry dipped its toes into the annual French gathering. As the 75th edition kicked off May 17, many in the business are all-in on the in-person experience and there are plenty of completed films for sale.
Mubi took an early lead in acquisitions, scooping up Léa Mysius’s sophomore film “The Five Devils” and Park Chan-wook’s mystery “Decision to Leave” in recent weeks. Other films arriving with distribution include Brett Morgen’s David Bowie doc “Moonage Daydream,” from Neon. A24 has five films premiering at Cannes, including Alex Garland’s “Men” and Claire Denis’ “The Stars at Noon.”
Still up for grabs are films like “Hunt,” the directorial debut of “Squid Game” star Lee Jung-jae, and Arnaud Desplechin’s “Brother and Sister.”
Below find a constantly updated...
Mubi took an early lead in acquisitions, scooping up Léa Mysius’s sophomore film “The Five Devils” and Park Chan-wook’s mystery “Decision to Leave” in recent weeks. Other films arriving with distribution include Brett Morgen’s David Bowie doc “Moonage Daydream,” from Neon. A24 has five films premiering at Cannes, including Alex Garland’s “Men” and Claire Denis’ “The Stars at Noon.”
Still up for grabs are films like “Hunt,” the directorial debut of “Squid Game” star Lee Jung-jae, and Arnaud Desplechin’s “Brother and Sister.”
Below find a constantly updated...
- 7/12/2022
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
The Bourne film franchise is a series of action thriller films based on the character Jason Bourne, a CIA assassin who suffers from amnesia.
The franchise began with the release of “The Bourne Identity” in 2002, followed by “The Bourne Supremacy” in 2004, then “The Bourne Ultimatum” in 2007, and “The Bourne Legacy” in 2012. In 2016, a fifth installment, titled Jason Bourne, was released.
The films were highly praised for their direction, acting, storylines, and action sequences. The first film in the franchise was directed by Doug Liman, while Tony Gilroy helmed the fourth, and Paul Greengrass directed the remaining films in the Bourne series.
Matt Damon portrayed Jason Bourne in four of the movies listed below.
“The Bourne Identity” was met with critical acclaim and grossed over 214 million worldwide. “The Bourne Supremacy” was also well-received by critics and was a commercial success, grossing over 290 million worldwide. “The Bourne Ultimatum” garnered even more praise...
The franchise began with the release of “The Bourne Identity” in 2002, followed by “The Bourne Supremacy” in 2004, then “The Bourne Ultimatum” in 2007, and “The Bourne Legacy” in 2012. In 2016, a fifth installment, titled Jason Bourne, was released.
The films were highly praised for their direction, acting, storylines, and action sequences. The first film in the franchise was directed by Doug Liman, while Tony Gilroy helmed the fourth, and Paul Greengrass directed the remaining films in the Bourne series.
Matt Damon portrayed Jason Bourne in four of the movies listed below.
“The Bourne Identity” was met with critical acclaim and grossed over 214 million worldwide. “The Bourne Supremacy” was also well-received by critics and was a commercial success, grossing over 290 million worldwide. “The Bourne Ultimatum” garnered even more praise...
- 7/5/2022
- by Israr
- buddytv.com
Click here to read the full article.
Thriller franchise author and former counterintelligence agent and bodyguard Simon Gervais has signed with APA for film and TV projects.
Gervais wrote The Last Protector as part of his Clayton White series, with the next installment, The Last Sentinel, to launch Aug. 9. He also wrote the Pierce Hunt series for Thomas and Mercer and the Mike Walton book series for The Story Plant.
And Penguin Random House and the Robert Ludlum estate tapped Gervais to create and write a new Ludlum series within the Jason Bourne universe. The first installment, Robert Ludlum’s The Blackbriar Genesis, will be published on Oct. 18.
“Simon Gervais is an exciting and propulsive franchise writer. We are thrilled that he will be joining contemporaries Lee Child (Reacher) and C.J. Box (Big Sky) at APA,” the talent agency’s partner Debbie Deuble-Hill and media rights agent Alec Frankel said in a joint statement.
Thriller franchise author and former counterintelligence agent and bodyguard Simon Gervais has signed with APA for film and TV projects.
Gervais wrote The Last Protector as part of his Clayton White series, with the next installment, The Last Sentinel, to launch Aug. 9. He also wrote the Pierce Hunt series for Thomas and Mercer and the Mike Walton book series for The Story Plant.
And Penguin Random House and the Robert Ludlum estate tapped Gervais to create and write a new Ludlum series within the Jason Bourne universe. The first installment, Robert Ludlum’s The Blackbriar Genesis, will be published on Oct. 18.
“Simon Gervais is an exciting and propulsive franchise writer. We are thrilled that he will be joining contemporaries Lee Child (Reacher) and C.J. Box (Big Sky) at APA,” the talent agency’s partner Debbie Deuble-Hill and media rights agent Alec Frankel said in a joint statement.
- 6/22/2022
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
Doug Liman was so committed to getting an adaptation of Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Identity made for the big screen, he crashed a wedding and later piloted a prop plane to make it happen.
“I spent years hitting brick walls,” says Liman, who broke out directing indie stunner Swingers in 1996 but had yet to make a major studio play. “I even crashed a wedding to accost Warner Bros. president Terry Semel because Warners had the rights at the time,” Liman tells THR. “It got to the point that if I mentioned Bourne Identity to my agent, he would groan and roll his eyes.”
Eventually, the rights reverted to Ludlum, so Liman went to Montana to meet with him. The director flew solo in a tiny propeller plane to get there. “I had just gotten a license to fly,” Liman recalls. “My arrival...
Doug Liman was so committed to getting an adaptation of Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Identity made for the big screen, he crashed a wedding and later piloted a prop plane to make it happen.
“I spent years hitting brick walls,” says Liman, who broke out directing indie stunner Swingers in 1996 but had yet to make a major studio play. “I even crashed a wedding to accost Warner Bros. president Terry Semel because Warners had the rights at the time,” Liman tells THR. “It got to the point that if I mentioned Bourne Identity to my agent, he would groan and roll his eyes.”
Eventually, the rights reverted to Ludlum, so Liman went to Montana to meet with him. The director flew solo in a tiny propeller plane to get there. “I had just gotten a license to fly,” Liman recalls. “My arrival...
- 6/13/2022
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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