The film is, sadly, a box-office bomb having amassed only $11.3 million domestically on a $100 million budget. On Rotten Tomatoes it has an 85% fresh score and a subpar 67 on Metacritic. The experts over at Gold Derby have it ranked 20th amongst the Best Picture Oscar contenders. I have it ranked 10th. ”The Last Duel” is one of the better Ridley Scott movies since his 2000 Oscar-winner “Gladiator....
Burnett was honored last year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences with a Governor’s Award for “his remarkable contributions to film and to American culture, with two of his films —Killer of Sheep and To Sleep with Anger — in the prestigious Library of Congress National Film Registry.” [Deadline] Contribute Hire me Advertise Donate Team Contact Privacy Policy
“Motherless Brooklyn” is only Norton’s second directorial effort after 2000’s mildly amusing “Keeping the Faith.” It stars Bruce Willis, Willem Dafoe, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Bobby Cannavale, Leslie Mann, and Cherry Jones. Per the film’s NYFF synopsis: “Emotionally shattered by a botched job, Lionel Essrog (Norton), a lonely private detective with Tourette syndrome, finds himself drawn into a multilayered conspiracy that expands to encompass the city’s ever-growing racial divide and the devious personal and political machinations of a Robert Moses–like master builder, played by Alec Baldwin....
TMZ is reporting that, yes indeed, Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway will, yet again, present Best picture at this Sunday’s 90th Academy Awards. Also, this time around “La La Land.” and “Moonlight” will not be part of the nominees. Phew. Dunaway and Beatty both just rehearsed at the Dolby Theatre yesterday morning. Again, from TMZ: “We’re told they were shuffled onstage together very quickly to run through their bit. They went through their lines twice....
His name was trending due to a column he wrote (titled “Un-Sundanced by Wokers”) in which he revealed that he was denied accreditation for the upcoming Sundance Film Festival, after close to 25 years attending the festival. I knew about this rejection letter for over a week, but kept it hush-hush because, well, I do believe it should have been kept that way, especially since Sundance is in the process of reviewing his application and possibly giving him back his credentials....
Best Motion Picture - Drama • The Father • Mank • Nomadland • Promising Young Woman • The Trial of the Chicago 7 PREDICTIONS Theo: “Nomadland” — Chloe Zhao will most likely take home a terrific double, with her film becoming the first Female directed Movie to take home the best picture prize. Jordan: “Mank” — I don’t think the old farts at the HFPA will be able to resist the old-school Hollywood theatrics of Fincher’s industry epic....
This game-changing decision is, of course, due to the coronavirus pandemic that has put L.A.and it theaters in lockdown mode. The globe press release states that films “may instead be released first on a television format (e.g. subscription streaming service, subscription cable channel, broadcast television, etc.) and will still be eligible.” As for the Oscars and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, according to Scott Feinberg, they are currently deliberating about how to handle eligibility when it comes to next year’s 93rd Oscars they are expected to announce something on April 14th....
The Gothams signal the beginning of awards season. They’re not necessarily any kind of precursor, but instead a nice little celebration of film. This year, the committee members for Best Feature were Justin Chang, K. Austin Collins, David Ehrlich, Alison Willmore and Jessica Kiang. No comment. This year it looks like it will be a fight between “TÁR,” and “Aftersun.” Both were the most honored films, nominations-wise, but they also seem to be the main frontrunners to win Best Film....
Weinstein’s sexual assault trial is set to start next month. Last week, his attorney Donna Rotunno said the public scrutiny on him had taken a toll on his health. Whether this is, as many of his detractors seem to be implying, a “publicity stunt” remains to be seen. “This is tough on anybody going through this and dealing with the scrutiny, not only in the courtroom but the court of public opinion, and this has been hard on him,” said Rotunno....
Getting a Degree and Relevant Experience Getting a degree is usually not required for success because of how much experience and creativity are also required. Still, getting your bachelor’s gives you a chance to learn new skills, and it can fill in where your knowledge lacks. For instance, if you don’t have the technical skills, it isn’t easy to succeed. Going to film school also lets you use fancier cameras and other equipment to create better pieces for your portfolio....
It had been rumored to be the secret screening at Sundance this coming January, alas, that will not come to pass. “We are crazy excited to world premiere the most anticipated film of 2019 from the creative powerhouse the brought us Get Out,” Janet Pierson, director of SXSW film. “We honestly couldn’t imagine a more perfect film to kick off the 2019 SXSW Film Festival.” South by Southwest Conference and Festivals runs from March 8-17....
It might be sacrilege to say this, but not only is this “shot for shot” remake a very good film, but it might actually be better than the original. Why? Well, because Lelio has matured as a filmmaker over these last 5 years, he’s made this remake more emotionally relatable and affecting, but, more importantly, has improved the sketches of these characters because of the wonderful actors he’s cast in his film....
As per THR, Smollett is preparing his feature directorial debut with “B-Boy Blues,” an adaptation of James Earl Hardy’s 1994 novel. ‘Blues’ is set to go into production on Oct. 17 in New York City. The actor had previously directed two episodes of “Empire.” I’m surprised he was even able to find investors at all. In case you were unaware of the Smollett incident, in early 2019 the actor reported to the Chicago Police Department that he had received in the mail a threatening and racist-filled letter from an unknown perpetrator....
As mentioned, Ali has released a statement ‘accepting’ “Green Book” co-star Viggo Mortensen’s apology, but adding that he was still troubled by Viggo’s use of the n-word at a post-screening Q&A on Wednesday. Mortensen was trying to make the point that the n-word is no longer used similarly as it was back in 1962, which is when “Green Book” is set. Mahershala Ali’ statement: “However well-intended or intellectual the conversation may have been, it wasn’t appropriate for Viggo to say the n-word....
After countless delays in scheduling and production, Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” has begun filming today in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Film + Music Office and Apple Original Films announced Monday afternoon that principal photography on “Killers of the Flower Moon” began on Monday, where filming will be centered in Bartlesville, Pawhuska and Osage County. “We are thrilled to finally start production on ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ in Oklahoma,” said Scorsese in a statement....
Shooting on “One Fine Morning” occurred last summer, that is until Seydoux got COVID and had to quarantine. By that point, the film was in its fifth week of production. Three additional weeks of shooting were added in December. It is Hansen-Løve’s eighth feature after her English-language debut “Bergman Island”, which world premiered in competition in Cannes in 2021. Contribute Hire me Advertise Donate Team Contact Privacy Policy
“I Saw the TV Glow”, the story of two teens coping with the cancelation of their favorite series. Jane Schoenbrun (We’re All Going to the World’s Fair) directs Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Helena Howard, and Danielle Deadwyler. Joe Talbot (The Last Black Man in San Francisco) will direct Lily-Rose Depp, Hoyeon, and Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World) in The Governesses, an adaptation of Anne Serre’s 1992 novel that publisher New Directions calls a “semi-deranged erotic fairy tale....
Netflix went to their Twitter, late Sunday night, and responded to the AMPAS and Spielberg. Prefacing the fact that they “love cinema,” the streaming giant added “Here are some other things we also love: Access for people who can’t always afford, or live in towns without, theaters; Letting everyone, everywhere enjoy releases at the same time; Giving filmmakers more ways to share art.” Amen. Contribute Hire me Advertise Donate Team Contact Privacy Policy
Stefan is a gamer/creator living in the ’80s who is working on a version of the game Bandersnatch he chose to create based merely on the illusion of choice – how meta. Technically speaking, Bandersnatch is exactly the choose-your-adventure videogame that Stefan is developing in the plot. More playfully though, Stefan discusses the possibility that he is being controlled with his therapist, where one option for the viewer is to choose to have this unknown entity be a streaming service provider from the future named Netflix, which is the film’s most playfully entertaining moment/choice....
The Best Screenplay prize went to Paul Schrader for his magnificent “First Reformed,” that film also garnered Ethan Hawke a Best Actor win. However, the biggest surprise of the afternoon was Regina Hall’s Best Actress win for her work in the micro-indie “Support the Girls,” does this now position King as a possible nominee for the Oscar? I wouldn’t jump the gun just yet, but she has become the dark horse to nab that fifth and final spot....
