When you think of the great directors in cinema history – Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, etc. – chances are the first films that come to mind are Goodfellas, Jaws and Vertigo. But every brilliant filmmaker has their duds. Now, Rolling Stone – you know, the publication that doesn’t think Roseanne and Bill Cosby had historic shows just because of their wrongdoings – has put out a list of the 50 worst movies by some of the most renowned directors…And yes, they have missed the mark considerably.
In the list, titled “50 Terrible Movies by Great Directors”, there are plenty of bottom-barrel films, those that are absolutely anomalies in otherwise remarkable careers. We wouldn’t argue that man-child family comedy Jack (#1) isn’t Francis Ford Coppola’s worst movie or that Rob Reiner’s North (#2) wasn’t worthy of Roger Ebert’s famed “hated, hated, hated, hated, hated” review. Those guys didn’t...
In the list, titled “50 Terrible Movies by Great Directors”, there are plenty of bottom-barrel films, those that are absolutely anomalies in otherwise remarkable careers. We wouldn’t argue that man-child family comedy Jack (#1) isn’t Francis Ford Coppola’s worst movie or that Rob Reiner’s North (#2) wasn’t worthy of Roger Ebert’s famed “hated, hated, hated, hated, hated” review. Those guys didn’t...
- 3/27/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
April’s an uncommonly strong auteurist month for the Criterion Channel, who will highlight a number of directors––many of whom aren’t often grouped together. Just after we screened House of Tolerance at the Roxy Cinema, Criterion are showing it and Nocturama for a two-film Bertrand Bonello retrospective, starting just four days before The Beast opens. Larger and rarer (but just as French) is the complete Jean Eustache series Janus toured last year. Meanwhile, five William Friedkin films and work from Makoto Shinkai, Lizzie Borden, and Rosine Mbakam are given a highlight.
One of my very favorite films, Comrades: Almost a Love Story plays in a series I’ve been trying to program for years: “Hong Kong in New York,” boasting the magnificent Full Moon in New York, Farewell China, and An Autumn’s Tale. Wim Wenders gets his “Adventures in Moviegoing”; After Hours, Personal Shopper, and Werckmeister Harmonies fill...
One of my very favorite films, Comrades: Almost a Love Story plays in a series I’ve been trying to program for years: “Hong Kong in New York,” boasting the magnificent Full Moon in New York, Farewell China, and An Autumn’s Tale. Wim Wenders gets his “Adventures in Moviegoing”; After Hours, Personal Shopper, and Werckmeister Harmonies fill...
- 3/18/2024
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Sudden success is a hell of a drug. Be it entertainment, sports, or certain, shockingly competitive sectors of the healthcare industry, you can count on numerous fast risers to get high on their own supply and take an ego-fueled torch to their career.
Television actors are especially susceptible to these vain slip-ups, and it's easy to understand why. Before the advent of prestige TV, the small-screen medium was, particularly for young-ish performers, viewed as a potential springboard to big-screen stardom. Sometimes it works out. Chevy Chase bolted from "Saturday Night Live" midway through its second season and instantly became a movie star on the strength of his work in Colin Higgins' sporadically hilarious "Foul Play" (even though he's far from the funniest element of the film). And sometimes you're David Caruso, who quit "NYPD Blue" to topline a pair of 1995 flops in Barbet Schroder's "Kiss of Death" (underrated) and William Friedkin's "Jade".
Generally,...
Television actors are especially susceptible to these vain slip-ups, and it's easy to understand why. Before the advent of prestige TV, the small-screen medium was, particularly for young-ish performers, viewed as a potential springboard to big-screen stardom. Sometimes it works out. Chevy Chase bolted from "Saturday Night Live" midway through its second season and instantly became a movie star on the strength of his work in Colin Higgins' sporadically hilarious "Foul Play" (even though he's far from the funniest element of the film). And sometimes you're David Caruso, who quit "NYPD Blue" to topline a pair of 1995 flops in Barbet Schroder's "Kiss of Death" (underrated) and William Friedkin's "Jade".
Generally,...
- 1/7/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Bookmark this page for the latest updates in the territory.
Screen is listing the 2024 release dates for films in the UK and Ireland in the calendar below.
For distributors who wish to add/amend a date on the calendar, please get in touch with Screen here. Screen is also running a calendar for festival and market dates throughout 2024 here.
January
January 5
Priscilla (Mubi), One Life (Warner Bros), Scala! (BFI), Night Swim (Universal), Blank (Sparky)
January 6
Nabucco - Met Opera 23/24 (Trafalgar)
January 12
Poor Things (Disney), The Boys In The Boat (Warner Bros), Freaks Vs The Reich (Miracle/Dazzler), The Beekeeper (Studiocanal...
Screen is listing the 2024 release dates for films in the UK and Ireland in the calendar below.
For distributors who wish to add/amend a date on the calendar, please get in touch with Screen here. Screen is also running a calendar for festival and market dates throughout 2024 here.
January
January 5
Priscilla (Mubi), One Life (Warner Bros), Scala! (BFI), Night Swim (Universal), Blank (Sparky)
January 6
Nabucco - Met Opera 23/24 (Trafalgar)
January 12
Poor Things (Disney), The Boys In The Boat (Warner Bros), Freaks Vs The Reich (Miracle/Dazzler), The Beekeeper (Studiocanal...
- 11/21/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
X Japan bassist Heath has passed away at the age of 55. The veteran musician died in late October after a battle with cancer, but news of his passing is just making the rounds.
Born Hiroshi Morie, Heath joined X Japan in 1992 and stayed with them until their breakup in 1997. He rejoined the band when they reunited in 2007 and remained an active member until his death.
According to JRock News, Heath was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of this year, but kept his condition secret from his bandmates.
X Japan leader Yoshiki recently canceled a November 1st appearance at an awards gala in San Francisco, stating “someone close to me passed away.” It is now reported that Yoshiki flew to Tokyo to pay his respects to his longtime bandmate.
Heath replaced X Japan’s previous bassist Taiji, who had left the band earlier in 1992. Tragically, Taiji died in 2011, following the...
Born Hiroshi Morie, Heath joined X Japan in 1992 and stayed with them until their breakup in 1997. He rejoined the band when they reunited in 2007 and remained an active member until his death.
According to JRock News, Heath was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of this year, but kept his condition secret from his bandmates.
X Japan leader Yoshiki recently canceled a November 1st appearance at an awards gala in San Francisco, stating “someone close to me passed away.” It is now reported that Yoshiki flew to Tokyo to pay his respects to his longtime bandmate.
Heath replaced X Japan’s previous bassist Taiji, who had left the band earlier in 1992. Tragically, Taiji died in 2011, following the...
- 11/7/2023
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
Did a pretty young woman who discovered nude photos of herself on her stepdad’s computer exact revenge by murdering him? CBS’s 48 Hours‘ “Jade Janks and the Secret Photos” explores the case of Jade Janks and her stepfather, Tom Merriman, who was found dead on New Year’s Day 2021.
A 9-1-1 call to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department included details of a supposed confession. A friend of Jade’s told law enforcement that Jade confessed to drugging Tom and then suffocating and strangling him.
Per CBS: “The call triggered a search for Merriman. He was found dead in his driveway, hidden under a pile of trash. Janks was arrested and charged with his murder, but she said she was innocent. She says Merriman, who had just been released from the hospital, had been in poor health and fell asleep in her car. Janks says she found Merriman dead...
A 9-1-1 call to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department included details of a supposed confession. A friend of Jade’s told law enforcement that Jade confessed to drugging Tom and then suffocating and strangling him.
Per CBS: “The call triggered a search for Merriman. He was found dead in his driveway, hidden under a pile of trash. Janks was arrested and charged with his murder, but she said she was innocent. She says Merriman, who had just been released from the hospital, had been in poor health and fell asleep in her car. Janks says she found Merriman dead...
- 10/12/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
For director Anthony Stacchi (“The Box Trolls”), re-energizing the 16th-century Chinese novel “Journey to the West” for Netflix’s animated feature “The Monkey King” meant turning the titular character into something very modern: an antihero. This was supported by executive producer Stephen Chow (“Kung Fu Hustle”), who previously directed a live-action version of “Journey to the West.”
“Stephen Chow has made a career of making heroes out of really unlikeable jerks,” Stacchi told IndieWire. “And you stick with ’em on their journey ’cause you know why they are the way they are, and you’re hoping for them to redeem themselves. So we did that here. He is a selfish, arrogant jerk from the beginning, and that way through the end. But you understand why he’s fighting for acceptance, you know where his anti-authoritarian attitude comes from.”
They also emphasized a goofy tone throughout the journey, in which Monkey King...
“Stephen Chow has made a career of making heroes out of really unlikeable jerks,” Stacchi told IndieWire. “And you stick with ’em on their journey ’cause you know why they are the way they are, and you’re hoping for them to redeem themselves. So we did that here. He is a selfish, arrogant jerk from the beginning, and that way through the end. But you understand why he’s fighting for acceptance, you know where his anti-authoritarian attitude comes from.”
They also emphasized a goofy tone throughout the journey, in which Monkey King...
- 8/18/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
William Friedkin was an acclaimed American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He gained recognition for directing notable films such as “The French Connection” (1971) and “The Exorcist” (1973), the former of which earned him an Academy Award for Best Director. Friedkin’s filmography also includes “The Boys in the Band” (1970), “Sorcerer” (1977), “Cruising” (1980), “To Live and Die in L. . (1985), “Blue Chips” (1994), “Jade” (1995), “Rules of Engagement” (2000), “The Hunted” (2003), “Bug” (2006), and “Killer Joe” (2011).
In 1965, Friedkin relocated to Hollywood and released his debut feature film, “Good Times,” featuring Sonny and Cher. He continued to make artistic films, such as the adaptation of Mart Crowley’s “The Boys in the Band,” as well as “The Birthday Party,” based on an unpublished screenplay by Harold Pinter, which he adapted from his own play. However, Friedkin aimed to establish himself as a director of action and serious drama, exploring themes of crime, hypocrisy, the occult, and amorality within the...
In 1965, Friedkin relocated to Hollywood and released his debut feature film, “Good Times,” featuring Sonny and Cher. He continued to make artistic films, such as the adaptation of Mart Crowley’s “The Boys in the Band,” as well as “The Birthday Party,” based on an unpublished screenplay by Harold Pinter, which he adapted from his own play. However, Friedkin aimed to establish himself as a director of action and serious drama, exploring themes of crime, hypocrisy, the occult, and amorality within the...
- 8/7/2023
- by Movies Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
For the director who gave cinema the ultimate car chase in “The French Connection,” William Friedkin was remarkably at ease with films set in a single room, bringing several plays to the screen over the course of his career. The director — who died August 7 at age 87 — will have his final film screened out of competition in the Venice Film Festival next month, fittingly an adaptation of Herman Wouk’s play “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.”
Friedkin made his name (and won an Oscar) for “The French Connection,” followed immediately by the instantly iconic “The Exorcist,” but he never lost an abiding interest in live performance, even directing operas off and on for the last 25 years.
In fact, Friedkin was so taken with the 2004 Off-Broadway premiere of Tracy Letts’ play “Bug” that he phoned Letts directly to say he’d like to adapt it into a film — with star Michael Shannon. In one fell swoop,...
Friedkin made his name (and won an Oscar) for “The French Connection,” followed immediately by the instantly iconic “The Exorcist,” but he never lost an abiding interest in live performance, even directing operas off and on for the last 25 years.
In fact, Friedkin was so taken with the 2004 Off-Broadway premiere of Tracy Letts’ play “Bug” that he phoned Letts directly to say he’d like to adapt it into a film — with star Michael Shannon. In one fell swoop,...
- 8/7/2023
- by Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
One of cinema's most celebrated filmmakers of all time has sadly passed away. William Friedkin, the renowned director behind "The French Connection" and the horror classic "The Exorcist" has died at the age of 87. The news was first reported by Variety and confirmed by a family friend of Sherry Lansing, Friedkin's wife and a former film executive. A bona fide titan in the industry and commonly considered a worthy peer counted among the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Stanley Kubrick, Robert Altman, Sidney Lumet, and more, Friedkin's work helped usher in the era and movement known as "New Hollywood" -- forever changing the business and shifting the balance of power from producers to directors.
One of the foremost genre directors of his time, William Friedkin exploded into prominence in the 1970s and went on to become an influential figure whose work would inspire others to follow in his footsteps for decades to come.
One of the foremost genre directors of his time, William Friedkin exploded into prominence in the 1970s and went on to become an influential figure whose work would inspire others to follow in his footsteps for decades to come.
- 8/7/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
William Friedkin, the legendary director of iconic films including “The Exorcist” and “The French Connection” and a leading figure in the “New Hollywood” movement of the 1970s, has died at the age of 87.
Friedkin is best known as the director of two of the most successful Hollywood blockbusters of the early 1970s, “The French Connection” in 1971 (the first action movie to win Best Picture Oscar) and “The Exorcist” in 1973. Friedkin rose to prominence alongside the likes of Peter Bogdanovich, Francis Ford Coppola and Hal Ashby as a member of a new class of Hollywood auteurs.
His death was confirmed to TheWrap by family friend Stephen Galloway who spoke to Friedkin’s wife, Sherry Lansing, herself an iconic leader of Paramount Pictures for many years. No cause of death was provided.
Friedkin had recently completed “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial” starring Keifer Sutherland and Jason Clarke. His now-final film will premiere in...
Friedkin is best known as the director of two of the most successful Hollywood blockbusters of the early 1970s, “The French Connection” in 1971 (the first action movie to win Best Picture Oscar) and “The Exorcist” in 1973. Friedkin rose to prominence alongside the likes of Peter Bogdanovich, Francis Ford Coppola and Hal Ashby as a member of a new class of Hollywood auteurs.
His death was confirmed to TheWrap by family friend Stephen Galloway who spoke to Friedkin’s wife, Sherry Lansing, herself an iconic leader of Paramount Pictures for many years. No cause of death was provided.
Friedkin had recently completed “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial” starring Keifer Sutherland and Jason Clarke. His now-final film will premiere in...
- 8/7/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
William Friedkin, the Oscar-winning director behind The Exorcist, The French Connection, To Live and Die in L.A., The Boys in the Band, and more, is dead at 87. Friedkin died in Los Angeles, said his wife, former producer and studio head Sherry Lansing.
Born on August 29, 1935, in Chicago, Friedkin started directing television before disgusting audiences with projectile pea soup and dealings with demons. In the mid-’60s, Friedkin shot an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Hour and helmed various telefilms. Before the era was over, he got behind the camera for features like Good Times (1967), The Birthday Party (1968), and The Night They Raided Minsky’s (1968).
He started the ’70s off with a band by directing The Boys in the Band. With his name already on the lips of executives everywhere, he moved on to The French Connection, a show-stopping thriller starring Gene Hackman as Detective Popeye Doyle. The French Connection won multiple Oscars,...
Born on August 29, 1935, in Chicago, Friedkin started directing television before disgusting audiences with projectile pea soup and dealings with demons. In the mid-’60s, Friedkin shot an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Hour and helmed various telefilms. Before the era was over, he got behind the camera for features like Good Times (1967), The Birthday Party (1968), and The Night They Raided Minsky’s (1968).
He started the ’70s off with a band by directing The Boys in the Band. With his name already on the lips of executives everywhere, he moved on to The French Connection, a show-stopping thriller starring Gene Hackman as Detective Popeye Doyle. The French Connection won multiple Oscars,...
- 8/7/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
William Friedkin, who won an Oscar for directing The French Connection, scored a nomination for The Exorcist and also helmed The Boys in the Band, Cruising, To Live and Die in L.A., Rules of Engagement and many others, died today in Los Angeles of heart failure and pneumonia. He was 87.
His death was confirmed by CAA via his wife, Fatal Attraction producer and former studio chief Sherry Lansing.
Friedkin beat out some serious heavyweights to win the Best Director Academy Award for The French Connection at the 1972 ceremony. Also up for the statuette that year were Stanley Kubrick (A Clockwork Orange), Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show) and Norman Jewison (Fiddler on the Roof). He would go up against more heavy hitters with The Exorcist two years later. George Roy Hill won that year for The Sting, also besting Bernardo Bertolucci (Last Tango in Paris), Ingmar Bergman (Cries & Whispers...
His death was confirmed by CAA via his wife, Fatal Attraction producer and former studio chief Sherry Lansing.
Friedkin beat out some serious heavyweights to win the Best Director Academy Award for The French Connection at the 1972 ceremony. Also up for the statuette that year were Stanley Kubrick (A Clockwork Orange), Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show) and Norman Jewison (Fiddler on the Roof). He would go up against more heavy hitters with The Exorcist two years later. George Roy Hill won that year for The Sting, also besting Bernardo Bertolucci (Last Tango in Paris), Ingmar Bergman (Cries & Whispers...
- 8/7/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
Directed by David Lynch
On the occasion of the home video and streaming release of the newly remastered Inland Empire (for which we were lucky enough to chat with the man himself), Criterion has put together a fine tribute to David Lynch, also featuring Eraserhead (1977), Dune (1984), Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), Lost Highway (1997), and Mulholland Dr. (2001). Don’t sleep on the bonus features, including a new conversation between Laura Dern and Kyle Maclachlan. Also, set to arrive on April 1 is The Elephant Man (1980).
Where to Stream: The Criterion Channel
Eric Rohmer’s Tales of the Four Seasons
French New Wave master Eric Rohmer’s 1990s project was Tales of the Four Seasons, all of which have now received new restorations. Following...
Directed by David Lynch
On the occasion of the home video and streaming release of the newly remastered Inland Empire (for which we were lucky enough to chat with the man himself), Criterion has put together a fine tribute to David Lynch, also featuring Eraserhead (1977), Dune (1984), Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), Lost Highway (1997), and Mulholland Dr. (2001). Don’t sleep on the bonus features, including a new conversation between Laura Dern and Kyle Maclachlan. Also, set to arrive on April 1 is The Elephant Man (1980).
Where to Stream: The Criterion Channel
Eric Rohmer’s Tales of the Four Seasons
French New Wave master Eric Rohmer’s 1990s project was Tales of the Four Seasons, all of which have now received new restorations. Following...
- 4/7/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
On the JoBlo Movies YouTube channel, we will be posting one full movie every day of the week, giving viewers the chance to watch them entirely free of charge. The Free Movie of the Day we have for you today is the 2020 spy action film Agent Jade Black – which appears to be a globetrotting adventure, but was actually filmed in Oklahoma!
Written and directed by Terry Spears, Agent Jade Black has the following synopsis:
A skilled young female agent is tasked with capturing a rogue former agent before she can unleash a biological weapon starting with the wealthy and powerful purveyors of the international sex trade.
Katie Burgess stars as the title character and is joined in the cast by Connie Franklin, Sidney Flack, Luke Wyckoff, Caleb Fellenstein, Rane Thomason, Taylor Reich, Tom Allen, Greg Williams, Brett Bower, Lee Patterson, John C. Bailey, Tyler Malinauskas, Mark Adam Goff, Michela Creel,...
Written and directed by Terry Spears, Agent Jade Black has the following synopsis:
A skilled young female agent is tasked with capturing a rogue former agent before she can unleash a biological weapon starting with the wealthy and powerful purveyors of the international sex trade.
Katie Burgess stars as the title character and is joined in the cast by Connie Franklin, Sidney Flack, Luke Wyckoff, Caleb Fellenstein, Rane Thomason, Taylor Reich, Tom Allen, Greg Williams, Brett Bower, Lee Patterson, John C. Bailey, Tyler Malinauskas, Mark Adam Goff, Michela Creel,...
- 9/13/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
WWE Nxt’s Cora Jade appears for a backstage interview during an Nxt 2.0 show. Pic credit: WWE/YouTube
The Generation of Jade is underway, and Nxt superstar Cora Jade is reminding fans and foes that she’s blazing her own trail to the top of the women’s division.
Cora took to Instagram on Tuesday ahead of the latest episode of WWE’s Nxt 2.0 to show off several photos of herself in some eye-catching attire, possibly for her appearance on the program.
The 5-foot-6 wrestling star was rocking a pair of skimpy black shorts complete with eyelets and crisscrossing laces running up near the sides of them.
Cora wore a unique shirt featuring a pink background with dark grey shapes and sheer sleeves. The top gave a bit of a view of Cora’s slim midsection as she posed with one hand on her hip and the other fixing her hair.
The Generation of Jade is underway, and Nxt superstar Cora Jade is reminding fans and foes that she’s blazing her own trail to the top of the women’s division.
Cora took to Instagram on Tuesday ahead of the latest episode of WWE’s Nxt 2.0 to show off several photos of herself in some eye-catching attire, possibly for her appearance on the program.
The 5-foot-6 wrestling star was rocking a pair of skimpy black shorts complete with eyelets and crisscrossing laces running up near the sides of them.
Cora wore a unique shirt featuring a pink background with dark grey shapes and sheer sleeves. The top gave a bit of a view of Cora’s slim midsection as she posed with one hand on her hip and the other fixing her hair.
- 9/7/2022
- by Matt Couden
- Monsters and Critics
Taylor Swift has unveiled three additional album covers for her forthcoming LP, Midnights. The bonus covers, which showcase photographs of Swift with a 1970s flair, will only be available for the next seven days as pre-sale vinyl and CD formats.
“August may have slipped away but September brings 3 new special edition covers!” Swift wrote an Instagram video of her showcasing the covers. “Pre-order Midnights collectible cd versions and unique color vinyl versions now.” Notably, the track list for the album is blurred out in the video.
View this post on...
“August may have slipped away but September brings 3 new special edition covers!” Swift wrote an Instagram video of her showcasing the covers. “Pre-order Midnights collectible cd versions and unique color vinyl versions now.” Notably, the track list for the album is blurred out in the video.
View this post on...
- 9/1/2022
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
Chicago – First Tuesday for the Midwest Film Festival (Mff) is on August 2nd, 2022, and will present “Women & Gender Non-Conforming Filmmakers Night” at the Gene Siskel Film Center. For ticket info, click Mff Aug First Tuesday.
‘Women & Gender Non-Conforming Filmmakers Night’ Line-up at Mff
Photo credit: MidwestFilm.com
The Shorts showcase has a diverse line-up of films, including “Luteal” (Directed by Hilary Williams); “Heartsong” (Aurora Real de Asua); “Jade” (Reshmi Hazra Rustebakke); “Emergence” (Rey Tang); “The Chase” (Alaina Delagardelle); “Smoking Gun!” (Sanicole); “After (A Love Story)” (Clare Cooney); “Period Drama” (Anushka Tina Nair & Lauryn Anthony); “Skyroof” (Jewelia Santos) … and “Rough River Lake,” directed by Mary Tilden, who is interviewed below by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com.
The Midwest Film Festival (formerly the Midwest Independent Film Festival) has been a staple in Chicago’s film community for 15 years. Through Executive Director Erica Duffy. the Festival thrives by bringing together the Chicago film...
‘Women & Gender Non-Conforming Filmmakers Night’ Line-up at Mff
Photo credit: MidwestFilm.com
The Shorts showcase has a diverse line-up of films, including “Luteal” (Directed by Hilary Williams); “Heartsong” (Aurora Real de Asua); “Jade” (Reshmi Hazra Rustebakke); “Emergence” (Rey Tang); “The Chase” (Alaina Delagardelle); “Smoking Gun!” (Sanicole); “After (A Love Story)” (Clare Cooney); “Period Drama” (Anushka Tina Nair & Lauryn Anthony); “Skyroof” (Jewelia Santos) … and “Rough River Lake,” directed by Mary Tilden, who is interviewed below by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com.
The Midwest Film Festival (formerly the Midwest Independent Film Festival) has been a staple in Chicago’s film community for 15 years. Through Executive Director Erica Duffy. the Festival thrives by bringing together the Chicago film...
- 8/1/2022
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
“Lendarys,” a big-budget family adventure animation film that is currently in production, scored a handful of pre-sales during the Cannes Market. Rights sales are handled by Hong Kong-, Paris and Los Angeles-based All Rights Entertainment.
With a production budget of 30 million, the film is the directorial debut of Philippe Duchene and Jean-Baptiste Cuvelier. Duchene’s previous work includes acting as lead concept designer on the animation hit “Leap!” (aka “Ballerina”) and as a character designer on Netflix’s animated series “Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles.”
The film was pre-sold to: Kmbo for France, to Flins & Piniculas for Spain; to Another World Entertainment for Denmark and Norway; to Njuta Films for Sweden; Outsider Films for Portugal; and to Blitz Film for Ex-Yugoslavia territories.
“Lendarys” is a France-Canada co-production produced by Pm S.A. with 2 Minutes Animation acting as line producer, in association with Caramel Films. Delivery is scheduled for...
With a production budget of 30 million, the film is the directorial debut of Philippe Duchene and Jean-Baptiste Cuvelier. Duchene’s previous work includes acting as lead concept designer on the animation hit “Leap!” (aka “Ballerina”) and as a character designer on Netflix’s animated series “Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles.”
The film was pre-sold to: Kmbo for France, to Flins & Piniculas for Spain; to Another World Entertainment for Denmark and Norway; to Njuta Films for Sweden; Outsider Films for Portugal; and to Blitz Film for Ex-Yugoslavia territories.
“Lendarys” is a France-Canada co-production produced by Pm S.A. with 2 Minutes Animation acting as line producer, in association with Caramel Films. Delivery is scheduled for...
- 5/27/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Kat McNamara has joined the cast of “Jade” the feature directorial debut of producer, director and stuntman James Bamford. The film began production on Thursday.
The cast already includes Mickey Rourke “Sin City,” “The Expendables,” “The Wrester”) and Mark Dacascos and Shaina West (“Black Widow”).
“Jade” presents the story of a woman (West) who comes between a powerful businessman and a gang leader in their search for a hard drive that could damage the operations of Interpol. Despite grieving for the brother she accidentally killed, the woman is required to use her unique set of skills to retrieve the drive and protect her brother’s unborn child being carried by McNamara’s character.
Production is set in Albuquerque, New Mexico with Tetrad Studios’ Roy Scott MacFarland and Sam Levine producing from the script by Glenn Ennis and Lynn Colliar. Sophie Barry is the associate producer. Bamford, Kimberly Hines and Alex Toumayan are the executive producers.
The cast already includes Mickey Rourke “Sin City,” “The Expendables,” “The Wrester”) and Mark Dacascos and Shaina West (“Black Widow”).
“Jade” presents the story of a woman (West) who comes between a powerful businessman and a gang leader in their search for a hard drive that could damage the operations of Interpol. Despite grieving for the brother she accidentally killed, the woman is required to use her unique set of skills to retrieve the drive and protect her brother’s unborn child being carried by McNamara’s character.
Production is set in Albuquerque, New Mexico with Tetrad Studios’ Roy Scott MacFarland and Sam Levine producing from the script by Glenn Ennis and Lynn Colliar. Sophie Barry is the associate producer. Bamford, Kimberly Hines and Alex Toumayan are the executive producers.
- 3/15/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
“Grubbs,” a Keenspot all-ages webcomic that draws inspiration from “Calvin & Hobbes” and “Dennis the Menace,” is slated for an animated TV series adaptation penned by M.J. Offen. Also the head writer of the Cartoon Network and HBO Max animated series “Jade Armor,” Offen serves as showrunner and is scripting the pilot, co-producing with Keenspot’s Chris Crosby, Bobby Crosby and “Grubbs” creator Max Weaver.
The announcement comes hot off the heels of the theatrical debut of “Marry Me,” which was based on the Keenspot graphic novel of the same name from creator Bobby Crosby. The rom-com, starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, rose high on streaming charts on Valentine’s Day. Adapted by “She-Hulk” director Kat Coiro, “Marry Me” currently holds a 60% critics score and a 92% audience score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
“I see Grubbs’ potential as a troublemaker we love to see act up, like Calvin or Dennis or Bart,...
The announcement comes hot off the heels of the theatrical debut of “Marry Me,” which was based on the Keenspot graphic novel of the same name from creator Bobby Crosby. The rom-com, starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, rose high on streaming charts on Valentine’s Day. Adapted by “She-Hulk” director Kat Coiro, “Marry Me” currently holds a 60% critics score and a 92% audience score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
“I see Grubbs’ potential as a troublemaker we love to see act up, like Calvin or Dennis or Bart,...
- 2/25/2022
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
Mainstream American cinema has a complicated relationship with sex, simultaneously leering and puritanical. Decades after the downfall of the Hays Code, Hollywood as a whole still struggles with honest and fully layered portrayals of human sexuality. The powerful combination of statewide and local censorship boards, the industry's own self-regulation efforts, and decades long social movements by conservative pressure groups helped to drastically change our cinematic understanding of sex. As Kirby Dick argued in his 2006 documentary This Film Is Not Yet Rated, ratings boards tend to be far tougher on sex and nudity than scenes of blood-stained massacres in action movies. Even erotic films suffer under this system, with Fifty Shades of Grey, a movie built entirely around its sexual content, being pre-emptively toned down by its studio to avoid the dreaded Nc-17 rating. The end of the Code in the mid-1960s saw greater creative freedom in regards to the...
- 10/21/2021
- MUBI
On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks to June C.L. Tan all about her debut novel, Jade Fire Gold, which is described as “Girls of Paper and Fire meets The Tiger at Midnight in June Cl Tan’s stunning debut, inspired by Chinese mythology, with rich magic and an epic slow-burn romance.” Here’s the summary… […]
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- 10/11/2021
- by SteveDunk
- Cinelinx
French-made suspense thriller “The Pilot” will join the slate of Hong Kong-, Paris- and Los Angeles-based sales agent All Rights Entertainment at the upcoming film markets.
The story follows a drone pilot in Mali whose wife and daughter are kidnapped by terrorists. They will be executed if he doesn’t derail the capture by his team of the head of a jihadist network. Soon to wrap in Almeria, Spain, “The Pilot” will be ready for delivery by the end of this year and released in the first quarter of 2022.
The film is the latest example in the screenlife genre, in which everything the viewer sees happens on a computer screen, a smartphone or a tablet and the entire film plays out on screens. Other recent successful examples include “Searching,” “Unfriended” and “Profile.”
“The Pilot” is the feature debut of Paul Doucet, following his string of award-winning shorts. It is produced by Ocs and Fulltime Studio,...
The story follows a drone pilot in Mali whose wife and daughter are kidnapped by terrorists. They will be executed if he doesn’t derail the capture by his team of the head of a jihadist network. Soon to wrap in Almeria, Spain, “The Pilot” will be ready for delivery by the end of this year and released in the first quarter of 2022.
The film is the latest example in the screenlife genre, in which everything the viewer sees happens on a computer screen, a smartphone or a tablet and the entire film plays out on screens. Other recent successful examples include “Searching,” “Unfriended” and “Profile.”
“The Pilot” is the feature debut of Paul Doucet, following his string of award-winning shorts. It is produced by Ocs and Fulltime Studio,...
- 6/15/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Rising star Shaina West will take the title role in “Jade,” an upcoming action-thriller that sets Mickey Rourke as an adversary and Mark Dacascos as a former FBI ally. The film is the feature debut of stuntman-turned producer and director James Bamford.
Hong Kong-, Paris- and Los Angeles-based All Rights Entertainment will handle rights sales and present the film to buyers at the upcoming pre-Cannes virtual market and at the Cannes Market.
“Jade” presents the story of a woman who comes between a powerful businessman and a gang leader in their search for a hard drive that could damage the operations of Interpol. Despite grieving for the sister she accidentally killed, the woman is required to use her unique set of skills to retrieve the drive and protect her brother’s unborn child being carried by another woman.
Bamford worked for eight years at Warner Bros Television in stunt and...
Hong Kong-, Paris- and Los Angeles-based All Rights Entertainment will handle rights sales and present the film to buyers at the upcoming pre-Cannes virtual market and at the Cannes Market.
“Jade” presents the story of a woman who comes between a powerful businessman and a gang leader in their search for a hard drive that could damage the operations of Interpol. Despite grieving for the sister she accidentally killed, the woman is required to use her unique set of skills to retrieve the drive and protect her brother’s unborn child being carried by another woman.
Bamford worked for eight years at Warner Bros Television in stunt and...
- 6/9/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
“Chernobyl,” “Years & Years,” “The End of the F***ing World,” “Elizabeth Is Missing,” “The Crown” and “Giri/Haji” are the international heavy hitters in the drama category that are part of the Edinburgh TV Festival awards shortlist that were revealed Tuesday.
The comedy category shortlist includes “Feel Good,” “GameFace,” “Mum,” “Defending the Guilty,” “Sex Education” and “Stath Lets Flats.”
While the awards have been delayed until Nov. 18, the festival unveiled the shortlist after a virtual cocktail session that reunited director Paul Feig with his “Last Christmas” star Emilia Clarke.
This year sees a new, one-off category titled “Creativity in Crisis” that recognizes content emerging from a world reeling under the cornavirus pandemic. Nominees include Sky News documentary “8 minutes and 46 seconds,” “A Day in the Life of Coronavirus Britain” from Candour Productions for Channel 4, “Bitesize Scotland Daily” from BBC Scotland, “Charlie Brooker’s Antiviral Wipe” from Broke & Bones for BBC Two, “Gardener...
The comedy category shortlist includes “Feel Good,” “GameFace,” “Mum,” “Defending the Guilty,” “Sex Education” and “Stath Lets Flats.”
While the awards have been delayed until Nov. 18, the festival unveiled the shortlist after a virtual cocktail session that reunited director Paul Feig with his “Last Christmas” star Emilia Clarke.
This year sees a new, one-off category titled “Creativity in Crisis” that recognizes content emerging from a world reeling under the cornavirus pandemic. Nominees include Sky News documentary “8 minutes and 46 seconds,” “A Day in the Life of Coronavirus Britain” from Candour Productions for Channel 4, “Bitesize Scotland Daily” from BBC Scotland, “Charlie Brooker’s Antiviral Wipe” from Broke & Bones for BBC Two, “Gardener...
- 8/25/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Would you pay $30 to see Mulan? Let’s examine what Disney’s newest gamble could mean for the state of movies and theaters going forward.
“But Disney’s decision to release its long-delayed live action remake of Mulan in September for a fee of $29.99 isn’t just a contingency plan necessitated by the pandemic. The price tag represents years of research by film studios into what fans would be willing to pay to see theatrical releases early, at home — something that admittedly sounds a little less enticing when you have been trapped in your living room for the past six months.”
Read more at The Week.
The 40-Year-Old Virgin starring Steve Carell is turning 15. Check out these fun facts about this classic comedy on its anniversary.
“The 40-Year-Old Virgin helped launch Steve Carell into comedy stardom, reintroduced audiences to Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen, featured one of Jonah Hill’s first movie roles,...
“But Disney’s decision to release its long-delayed live action remake of Mulan in September for a fee of $29.99 isn’t just a contingency plan necessitated by the pandemic. The price tag represents years of research by film studios into what fans would be willing to pay to see theatrical releases early, at home — something that admittedly sounds a little less enticing when you have been trapped in your living room for the past six months.”
Read more at The Week.
The 40-Year-Old Virgin starring Steve Carell is turning 15. Check out these fun facts about this classic comedy on its anniversary.
“The 40-Year-Old Virgin helped launch Steve Carell into comedy stardom, reintroduced audiences to Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen, featured one of Jonah Hill’s first movie roles,...
- 8/11/2020
- by Ivan Huang
- Den of Geek
Chernobyl and The Virtues were the big winners at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards in London on Friday.
Chernobyl, the Sister Pictures series for Sky and HBO on the Soviet nuclear disaster, won Best Drama Series, while writer Craig Mazin took home Best Writer, beating Fleabag scribe Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
More from Deadline'Stranger Things' Season 4: 'Fleabag's Brett Gelman Upped To Series Regular'Fleabag' & 'Chernobyl' Battle For Broadcasting Press Guild Awards'Sex Education': Netflix Renews British Comedy For Third Season
Shane Meadows’ Channel 4 show The Virtues claimed the prize for Best Single Drama/Mini-Series, while Stephen Graham won Best Actor for his performance as an alcoholic man haunted by his past. The award was also recognition of Graham’s work in Line Of Duty and A Christmas Carol.
Other winners included Fleabag for Best Comedy and For Sama for Best Single Documentary/Mini-Series, while two-time Oscar-winner Glenda Jackson was...
Chernobyl, the Sister Pictures series for Sky and HBO on the Soviet nuclear disaster, won Best Drama Series, while writer Craig Mazin took home Best Writer, beating Fleabag scribe Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
More from Deadline'Stranger Things' Season 4: 'Fleabag's Brett Gelman Upped To Series Regular'Fleabag' & 'Chernobyl' Battle For Broadcasting Press Guild Awards'Sex Education': Netflix Renews British Comedy For Third Season
Shane Meadows’ Channel 4 show The Virtues claimed the prize for Best Single Drama/Mini-Series, while Stephen Graham won Best Actor for his performance as an alcoholic man haunted by his past. The award was also recognition of Graham’s work in Line Of Duty and A Christmas Carol.
Other winners included Fleabag for Best Comedy and For Sama for Best Single Documentary/Mini-Series, while two-time Oscar-winner Glenda Jackson was...
- 3/13/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Tony Sokol Oct 28, 2019
The kid who stayed in pictures dies after a long life worthy of a movie of its own. Robert Evans brought film into a new era.
Robert Evans, actor-turned-producer-turned-Paramount Pictures president, who made films like Chinatown, Marathon Man, Love Story, Rosemary's Baby, The Godfather and The Godfather Part II possible, died Saturday, October 26, according to Variety. He was 89. No cause of death was announced.
Evans' movies were not intended to be blockbusters. He didn't even care if they were commercial. He wanted his films to be original. The Godfather got made because Evans thought Hollywood presented a false depiction of the mob. He had a friend get the rights to Mario Puzo's as-yet-incomplete novel and persuaded Francis Ford Coppola to direct the film. His life was as original as any of the films he was responsible for. Evans' third wife Ali MacGraw was stolen from...
The kid who stayed in pictures dies after a long life worthy of a movie of its own. Robert Evans brought film into a new era.
Robert Evans, actor-turned-producer-turned-Paramount Pictures president, who made films like Chinatown, Marathon Man, Love Story, Rosemary's Baby, The Godfather and The Godfather Part II possible, died Saturday, October 26, according to Variety. He was 89. No cause of death was announced.
Evans' movies were not intended to be blockbusters. He didn't even care if they were commercial. He wanted his films to be original. The Godfather got made because Evans thought Hollywood presented a false depiction of the mob. He had a friend get the rights to Mario Puzo's as-yet-incomplete novel and persuaded Francis Ford Coppola to direct the film. His life was as original as any of the films he was responsible for. Evans' third wife Ali MacGraw was stolen from...
- 10/29/2019
- Den of Geek
Robert Evans, the legendary Hollywood producer of “Chinatown” and many more and the head of Paramount Pictures between 1967 and 1974, has died. He was 89.
An individual from Evans’ camp confirmed the news to TheWrap. He died on Saturday.
While at Paramount, Evans led a string of box office hits and critically acclaimed smashes that helped turn a struggling studio around, putting out classics such as the first two “The Godfather” films, “Harold and Maude,” “Serpico,” “Chinatown,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” “The Great Gatsby,” “True Grit,” “The Conversation” among many more.
Also Read: Paul Barrere, Little Feat Singer and Guitarist, Dies at 71
In 1974, Evans stepped down from the head of the studio to serve as an independent producer, including a hot streak that included “Marathon Man,” “Black Sunday,” “Players” and “Urban Cowboy.” He later produced the “Chinatown” sequel, “The Two Jakes,” “Silver” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”
Born in New York City,...
An individual from Evans’ camp confirmed the news to TheWrap. He died on Saturday.
While at Paramount, Evans led a string of box office hits and critically acclaimed smashes that helped turn a struggling studio around, putting out classics such as the first two “The Godfather” films, “Harold and Maude,” “Serpico,” “Chinatown,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” “The Great Gatsby,” “True Grit,” “The Conversation” among many more.
Also Read: Paul Barrere, Little Feat Singer and Guitarist, Dies at 71
In 1974, Evans stepped down from the head of the studio to serve as an independent producer, including a hot streak that included “Marathon Man,” “Black Sunday,” “Players” and “Urban Cowboy.” He later produced the “Chinatown” sequel, “The Two Jakes,” “Silver” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”
Born in New York City,...
- 10/28/2019
- by Brian Welk and Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Paramount Pictures will be parting ways with Robert Evans’ production shingle, Robert Evans Productions, after the studio decided not to renew the deal earlier this month.
“Bob Evans has been an iconic part of the Paramount legacy for over half a century,” a spokesperson for Paramount told TheWrap. “His contributions to the studio and film industry have been innumerable, from ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ to ‘The Godfather,’ to ‘Love Story,’ to name just a few. Today we mark the end of our formal relationship with Bob as a producer, but his legacy will endure in our studio and in our hearts. There aren’t words to express our gratitude and reverence for the man whose name is synonymous with this company and the magic of movies.”
The spokesperson added: “We’re proud to announce the dedication of the Robert Evans Screening Room, may many more generations of film lovers share his passion for great cinema.
“Bob Evans has been an iconic part of the Paramount legacy for over half a century,” a spokesperson for Paramount told TheWrap. “His contributions to the studio and film industry have been innumerable, from ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ to ‘The Godfather,’ to ‘Love Story,’ to name just a few. Today we mark the end of our formal relationship with Bob as a producer, but his legacy will endure in our studio and in our hearts. There aren’t words to express our gratitude and reverence for the man whose name is synonymous with this company and the magic of movies.”
The spokesperson added: “We’re proud to announce the dedication of the Robert Evans Screening Room, may many more generations of film lovers share his passion for great cinema.
- 7/30/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios today revealed the new Mortal Kombat 11 Old Skool vs. New Skool Trailer, showcasing a variety of past and present characters from the rich Mortal Kombat history who meet up as part of the time-bending new narrative. Through the immersive story mode, players take on the role of numerous fighters from different eras, culminating in the ultimate generational clash as current characters collide with their alternate selves.
Additionally, a number of fan-favourite fighters were revealed today as the latest playable characters coming to Mortal Kombat 11, including Liu Kang, Kung Lao and Jax Briggs.
Liu Kang, the greatest of the Shaolin monks, was an orphan adopted and trained in the arts of combat by the Shaolin order. He was handpicked by Raiden to be Earthrealm’s Mortal Kombat champion and chief defender. Kung Lao joined the Shaolin monks in a quest to become Earthrealm’s new Mortal Kombat champion.
Additionally, a number of fan-favourite fighters were revealed today as the latest playable characters coming to Mortal Kombat 11, including Liu Kang, Kung Lao and Jax Briggs.
Liu Kang, the greatest of the Shaolin monks, was an orphan adopted and trained in the arts of combat by the Shaolin order. He was handpicked by Raiden to be Earthrealm’s Mortal Kombat champion and chief defender. Kung Lao joined the Shaolin monks in a quest to become Earthrealm’s new Mortal Kombat champion.
- 3/27/2019
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
NetherRealm Studios has revealed Kabal and D'Vorah will be returning in Mortal Kombat 11 and I think I can die happy!
During the Mortal Kombat "Kombat Kast" Livestream event NetherRealm Studios revealed Kabal would be making his return to the series. The last time we saw Kabal was during the events of Mortal Kombat 9, in which we saw a lot of main roaster characters die in the story mode of the game. Those chacters are Kabal, Jax, Jade, Kitana, Kung Lao, Liu Kang, Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, Sindel, Smoke, Shao Kahn, Sub-Zero, and Stryker! Now that is a lot of character that we hope to see return, but the one of the main roaster holders wanted back by fans was the Blade wielding Kabal.
At the same time of the Kombat Kast, Microsoft was doing their Inside Xbox Livestream event and talked about the recent Mortal Kombat Reveal event. Ed Boon then...
During the Mortal Kombat "Kombat Kast" Livestream event NetherRealm Studios revealed Kabal would be making his return to the series. The last time we saw Kabal was during the events of Mortal Kombat 9, in which we saw a lot of main roaster characters die in the story mode of the game. Those chacters are Kabal, Jax, Jade, Kitana, Kung Lao, Liu Kang, Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, Sindel, Smoke, Shao Kahn, Sub-Zero, and Stryker! Now that is a lot of character that we hope to see return, but the one of the main roaster holders wanted back by fans was the Blade wielding Kabal.
At the same time of the Kombat Kast, Microsoft was doing their Inside Xbox Livestream event and talked about the recent Mortal Kombat Reveal event. Ed Boon then...
- 2/6/2019
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (s0leb)
- Cinelinx
Kristen Condon and Rob Stanfield in ‘Landfall’
It was a big weekend for Travis Bain’s Landfall, the saga of a young couple trapped inside their beach house by three armed fugitives during a severe tropical cyclone, which won multiple awards from two organisations.
The thriller was named best feature and took the prizes for best director, Vernon Wells as best actor, Kristen Condon as best actress and Tony Bonner as best supporting actor at the Oz International Film Festival in Melbourne.
Bain was named best director and Samantha van der Sluis was awarded the certificate of highest achievement in the best composer category at the Australian Screen Industry Network (Asin) Awards in Cleveland near Brisbane.
“I’m feeling supremely humbled, blessed and grateful. This year is my 20th anniversary as an indie filmmaker and this is a bloody great way to celebrate it,” Bain said on social media.
Rob...
It was a big weekend for Travis Bain’s Landfall, the saga of a young couple trapped inside their beach house by three armed fugitives during a severe tropical cyclone, which won multiple awards from two organisations.
The thriller was named best feature and took the prizes for best director, Vernon Wells as best actor, Kristen Condon as best actress and Tony Bonner as best supporting actor at the Oz International Film Festival in Melbourne.
Bain was named best director and Samantha van der Sluis was awarded the certificate of highest achievement in the best composer category at the Australian Screen Industry Network (Asin) Awards in Cleveland near Brisbane.
“I’m feeling supremely humbled, blessed and grateful. This year is my 20th anniversary as an indie filmmaker and this is a bloody great way to celebrate it,” Bain said on social media.
Rob...
- 12/2/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Hello and welcome to one of our shoutouts for projects casting around the U.K. As always there’s a mix of opportunities for all ages, abilities, and locations but do remember to check if you fit the bill before applying. Although we make every attempt to verify castings before we hit publish, please ensure that you do your own research before firing off those headshots and Backstage links. “Jade” Get a chance to party for work in London this month. Feature film “Jade” follows a young mother picking up the pieces after a horrific acid attack. Recovering from severe facial burns, she learns the meaning of courage and self-acceptance. The team is looking for actors to appear in the background of a house party, which will be shot in East London later this month. The production is searching for male and female talent, aged 18–28. You need to bring some...
- 1/12/2018
- backstage.com
Simon Brew Feb 3, 2017
When Basic Instinct hit big, Hollywood went hunting for more erotic thrillers. Er, it found some. Includes Kevin Spacey with odd hair.
When a movie hits big out of the blue, it’s unwritten Hollywood law that the imitators aren’t too far behind. That’s why, after American Pie brought Porky’s-esque sex-tinged (late) teen comedies back to prominence in 1999, the box office was flooded with similar fare for years after. The Blair Witch Project, meanwhile, hit out of nowhere, and found footage horror is only now dying away. The late Wes Craven, meanwhile, wryly noted just how quickly Hollywood had cashed in on the success of 1996’s Scream, when spoof Scary Movie popped out the year after.
See related Lara Croft Tomb Raider 1 & 2: What went wrong? Walton Goggins interview: The Hateful Eight
Going back to 1992, though, and it was the turn of the erotic thriller to enjoy its resurgence.
When Basic Instinct hit big, Hollywood went hunting for more erotic thrillers. Er, it found some. Includes Kevin Spacey with odd hair.
When a movie hits big out of the blue, it’s unwritten Hollywood law that the imitators aren’t too far behind. That’s why, after American Pie brought Porky’s-esque sex-tinged (late) teen comedies back to prominence in 1999, the box office was flooded with similar fare for years after. The Blair Witch Project, meanwhile, hit out of nowhere, and found footage horror is only now dying away. The late Wes Craven, meanwhile, wryly noted just how quickly Hollywood had cashed in on the success of 1996’s Scream, when spoof Scary Movie popped out the year after.
See related Lara Croft Tomb Raider 1 & 2: What went wrong? Walton Goggins interview: The Hateful Eight
Going back to 1992, though, and it was the turn of the erotic thriller to enjoy its resurgence.
- 1/30/2017
- Den of Geek
Lauro Chartrand's Blackburn has been released on VOD in the Us courtesy of Tombstone Distribution. Also in today's Highlights: details on Shout! Factory's Starcade "Retro-boot," a new trailer and poster for Drifter, info on the interactive experience for The Magicians, Day Rusk's Barkerton novel, and The Luring Indiegogo details.
Blackburn VOD Release Details: Press Release: "Los Angeles, California - Director Lauro Chartrand and writer Nastasha Baron’s Blackburn has already released within the United Kingdom, this past September. The film also saw Canadian markets in December, via Raven Banner Entertainment. Now, the film is available in the United States, with Tombstone Distribution, a subdivision of Archstone. Blackburn has just released on various Video-on-demand platforms, this past January 9th.
This 3Brane Entertainment production involves a group of friends, in a remote Alaskan town. A forest fire and rockslide force the friends into an old asylum. Within, Jade (Sarah Lind), Shaun...
Blackburn VOD Release Details: Press Release: "Los Angeles, California - Director Lauro Chartrand and writer Nastasha Baron’s Blackburn has already released within the United Kingdom, this past September. The film also saw Canadian markets in December, via Raven Banner Entertainment. Now, the film is available in the United States, with Tombstone Distribution, a subdivision of Archstone. Blackburn has just released on various Video-on-demand platforms, this past January 9th.
This 3Brane Entertainment production involves a group of friends, in a remote Alaskan town. A forest fire and rockslide force the friends into an old asylum. Within, Jade (Sarah Lind), Shaun...
- 1/11/2017
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
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A rush for original scripts led to Shane Black being among the highest-paid screenwriters in Hollywood. Ryan takes a look back...
Shane Black, 28 years old, poses for a photograph outside his Los Angeles bungalow. It’s 1990, and Black’s name has appeared all over the Hollywood trade press thanks to his latest script sale - or, more specifically, how much Warner Bros had spent on purchasing it. The script was for The Last Boy Scout, an action thriller that would eventually appear in cinemas in 1991 starring Bruce Willis. Black sold it for $1.75m - said to be the highest price ever paid for a screenplay at that time.
So here’s Shane Black, standing barefoot on the concrete paving slabs outside his house, which he and his roommates had dubbed the Pad O’Guys. Black’s wearing ripped jeans and a threadbare-looking lumberjack shirt; to his right...
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A rush for original scripts led to Shane Black being among the highest-paid screenwriters in Hollywood. Ryan takes a look back...
Shane Black, 28 years old, poses for a photograph outside his Los Angeles bungalow. It’s 1990, and Black’s name has appeared all over the Hollywood trade press thanks to his latest script sale - or, more specifically, how much Warner Bros had spent on purchasing it. The script was for The Last Boy Scout, an action thriller that would eventually appear in cinemas in 1991 starring Bruce Willis. Black sold it for $1.75m - said to be the highest price ever paid for a screenplay at that time.
So here’s Shane Black, standing barefoot on the concrete paving slabs outside his house, which he and his roommates had dubbed the Pad O’Guys. Black’s wearing ripped jeans and a threadbare-looking lumberjack shirt; to his right...
- 6/1/2016
- Den of Geek
October 20th is yet another stellar week of horror and sci-fi home entertainment releases, all leading up to our favorite holiday: Halloween. One of my favorite films of all time, Ernest Dickerson’s Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight, is finally making its way to HD via a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray from Scream Factory. And as if that’s not enough, Scream is also busy with two more great releases this Tuesday as well—Bordello of Blood and The Larry Fessenden Collection.
Kino Lorber is reviving another cult classic on Tuesday too—The Oblong Box—which is based on the Edgar Allan Poe tale and co-stars two cinematic legends, Vincent Price and Christopher Lee. For those of you Back to the Future fans out there (and really, who isn’t?), Universal is giving the series a few special releases in time for the film’s 30th anniversary and,...
Kino Lorber is reviving another cult classic on Tuesday too—The Oblong Box—which is based on the Edgar Allan Poe tale and co-stars two cinematic legends, Vincent Price and Christopher Lee. For those of you Back to the Future fans out there (and really, who isn’t?), Universal is giving the series a few special releases in time for the film’s 30th anniversary and,...
- 10/20/2015
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Tomorrow, Scream Factory will release their respective Collector's Edition Blu-rays of Bordello of Blood and Demon Knight—a Halloween treat that would certainly please the Cryptkeeper. We've been provided with three Blu-ray copies of each film to give away to lucky Daily Dead readers.
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Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of Bordello of Blood and (1) Blu-ray copy of Demon Knight.
How to Enter: For a chance to win, email contest@dailydead.com with the subject “Tales From the Crypt Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.
Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on October 25th. This contest is only open to those who are eighteen years of age or older that live in the United States. Only one entry per household will be accepted.
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Bordello of Blood: "Wisecracking private eye Rafe Guttman (Dennis Miller, Joe Dirt) investigates some strange...
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Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of Bordello of Blood and (1) Blu-ray copy of Demon Knight.
How to Enter: For a chance to win, email contest@dailydead.com with the subject “Tales From the Crypt Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.
Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on October 25th. This contest is only open to those who are eighteen years of age or older that live in the United States. Only one entry per household will be accepted.
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Bordello of Blood: "Wisecracking private eye Rafe Guttman (Dennis Miller, Joe Dirt) investigates some strange...
- 10/19/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Next Tuesday, Scream Factory will offer horror fans several new options for Halloween movie marathons when The Larry Fessenden Collection and the Tales From the Crypt films Demon Knight and Bordello of Blood come out on respective Blu-rays. Ahead of their impending release date, we have clips and trailers from all three Blu-rays to give you a look at what's to come.
Demon Knight (Collector's Edition Blu-ray): "A mysterious drifter known as Brayker (William Sadler, Iron Man 3) possesses the last of seven ancient keys that hold the power to stop the forces of darkness and protect all humanity from ultimate evil. But the human race is safe only so long as Brayker can evade the demonic Collector (Billy Zane, Titanic) who has gathered the other six keys.
In his obsessive quest for the key, the Collector rallies an army of ghastly cadavers against Brayker and the inhabitants of a run-down hotel.
Demon Knight (Collector's Edition Blu-ray): "A mysterious drifter known as Brayker (William Sadler, Iron Man 3) possesses the last of seven ancient keys that hold the power to stop the forces of darkness and protect all humanity from ultimate evil. But the human race is safe only so long as Brayker can evade the demonic Collector (Billy Zane, Titanic) who has gathered the other six keys.
In his obsessive quest for the key, the Collector rallies an army of ghastly cadavers against Brayker and the inhabitants of a run-down hotel.
- 10/16/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Two of the Cryptkeeper's big screen stories—Demon Knight and Bordello of Blood—will receive stellar home media treatments this fall from Scream Factory, with both films set to be released as Collector's Edition Blu-rays on October 20th. In early July, the cover art for the anticipated releases was revealed, and now their full lists of special features have been announced.
Scream Factory's guaranteeing the ultimate Halloween treat for fans of Demon Knight and Bordello of Blood, as the special features list for the former includes a new audio commentary with Demon Knight director Ernest Dickerson, while the latter has a new audio commentary with Bordello of Blood co-writer and producer A.L. Katz.
Below, we have the official press release with the full special features lists, and in case you missed it, we also have a look at the final cover art for the Collector's Edition releases.
Press Release: Just in time for Halloween festivities,...
Scream Factory's guaranteeing the ultimate Halloween treat for fans of Demon Knight and Bordello of Blood, as the special features list for the former includes a new audio commentary with Demon Knight director Ernest Dickerson, while the latter has a new audio commentary with Bordello of Blood co-writer and producer A.L. Katz.
Below, we have the official press release with the full special features lists, and in case you missed it, we also have a look at the final cover art for the Collector's Edition releases.
Press Release: Just in time for Halloween festivities,...
- 9/2/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Who is Keyser Soze?
20 years ago this week (August 16, 1995), audiences uncovered the answer to that question -- and they're still reeling from it two decades later.
"The Usual Suspects" is an intricately plotted crime thriller that, despite the big twist at the end, never feels convoluted but rather like a puzzle we're putting together along with its nefarious main characters -- B-level criminals who find themselves under the shadow (and gun) of the crime lord equivalent of the devil incarnate.
The film won Kevin Spacey and writer Christopher McQuarrie ("Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation") Oscars, and put director Bryan Singer on the path to make the "X-Men" films. In honor of the film's 20th anniversary, here are 20 facts you need to know about this modern classic.
1. Writer Chris McQuarrie got the title for his film from an article in Spy Magazine.
2. The film's most iconic image -- the titular characters...
20 years ago this week (August 16, 1995), audiences uncovered the answer to that question -- and they're still reeling from it two decades later.
"The Usual Suspects" is an intricately plotted crime thriller that, despite the big twist at the end, never feels convoluted but rather like a puzzle we're putting together along with its nefarious main characters -- B-level criminals who find themselves under the shadow (and gun) of the crime lord equivalent of the devil incarnate.
The film won Kevin Spacey and writer Christopher McQuarrie ("Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation") Oscars, and put director Bryan Singer on the path to make the "X-Men" films. In honor of the film's 20th anniversary, here are 20 facts you need to know about this modern classic.
1. Writer Chris McQuarrie got the title for his film from an article in Spy Magazine.
2. The film's most iconic image -- the titular characters...
- 8/15/2015
- by Phil Pirrello
- Moviefone
The premiere post-tiff destination (September 20-25th) in the film community and a major leg up for narrative and non-fiction films in development, the Independent Filmmaker Project (Ifp) announced a whopping 140 projects selected for the Project Forum at the upcoming Ifp Independent Film Week. Made up of several sections (Rbc’s Emerging Storytellers program, No Borders International Co-Production Market and Spotlight on Documentaries), we find latest updates from the likes of docu-helmers Doug Block (112 Weddings) and Lana Wilson (After Tiller), and among the narrative items we find headliners in Andrew Haigh (coming off the well received 45 Years), Sophie Barthes (Cold Souls and Madame Bovary), Terence Nance (An Oversimplification of Her Beauty), Lawrence Michael Levine (Wild Canaries), Jorge Michel Grau (We Are What We Are), Eleanor Burke and Ron Eyal (Stranger Things) and new faces in Sundance’s large family in Charles Poekel (Christmas, Again) and Olivia Newman (First Match). Here...
- 7/22/2015
- by admin
- IONCINEMA.com
The 90s saw Joe Eszterhas become the world's most famous screenwriter, selling scripts for up to $4m apiece. But what became of the films?
By the end of the 1990s, the screenwriting career of Joe Eszterhas was in sharp decline. His hyped Hollywood satire, Burn Hollywood Burn: An Alan Smithee Film had come, bombed and swept the Golden Raspberry Awards. Furthermore, projects that were previously live and kicking were being swept under the carpet.
But for a long while, Joe Eszterhas was that rarest of things: a genuine Hollywood writing superstar. And in a movie era where the writer seems to have, for the most part, fallen down the pecking order again, I thought it was worth digging through the many big money scripts that Joe Eszterhas sold in and around the 1990s, to see just what ultimately became of them. Some you'll have heard of, but I'd wager...
By the end of the 1990s, the screenwriting career of Joe Eszterhas was in sharp decline. His hyped Hollywood satire, Burn Hollywood Burn: An Alan Smithee Film had come, bombed and swept the Golden Raspberry Awards. Furthermore, projects that were previously live and kicking were being swept under the carpet.
But for a long while, Joe Eszterhas was that rarest of things: a genuine Hollywood writing superstar. And in a movie era where the writer seems to have, for the most part, fallen down the pecking order again, I thought it was worth digging through the many big money scripts that Joe Eszterhas sold in and around the 1990s, to see just what ultimately became of them. Some you'll have heard of, but I'd wager...
- 7/15/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Showgirls is reportedly the biggest-selling MGM DVD of all time. So how did it go from flop to hit?
In the build up to the release of Paul Verhoeven's now-infamous 1997 movie, Showgirls, the signs were looking positive. Uniting the creative team - Verhoeven and writer Joe Eszterhas - who had generated the gigantic hit, Basic Instinct, MGM was gearing itself up for a further success. In the run up to the film's release, the Showgirls website was proving to be one of the most successful to date on the-then burgeoning public world wide web, with over a million people accessing the site. This at a point where AOL had barely pressed a million of those infamous CD-ROMs promoting its service, we'd wager.
So confident was MGM that it had a must-see movie on its hands that it didn't insist on Showgirls being cut for an R-rating. As such, it...
In the build up to the release of Paul Verhoeven's now-infamous 1997 movie, Showgirls, the signs were looking positive. Uniting the creative team - Verhoeven and writer Joe Eszterhas - who had generated the gigantic hit, Basic Instinct, MGM was gearing itself up for a further success. In the run up to the film's release, the Showgirls website was proving to be one of the most successful to date on the-then burgeoning public world wide web, with over a million people accessing the site. This at a point where AOL had barely pressed a million of those infamous CD-ROMs promoting its service, we'd wager.
So confident was MGM that it had a must-see movie on its hands that it didn't insist on Showgirls being cut for an R-rating. As such, it...
- 7/7/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Con Air, Last Action Hero, Brainscan and Die Hard 4.0 could all have been very different films, going by the early drafts of their scripts.
The life of a Hollywood screenwriter might sound like a glamorous one, but it's not all premieres and champagne.
As one of the smaller cogs in an often complex machine, the writer can often find his or her work changed almost beyond recognition by other hands. Such is the case with the following movies, which were all changed quite drastically in one way or another between their original draft and their final cut.
Some scripts were pressed into service as sequels. Some began in one genre and wound up in another. Rather than put together an exhaustive list, we've chosen a few examples of the script changes that intrigued or bemused us most.
Con Air
Nic Cage with lank hair and a thick southern drawl. An...
The life of a Hollywood screenwriter might sound like a glamorous one, but it's not all premieres and champagne.
As one of the smaller cogs in an often complex machine, the writer can often find his or her work changed almost beyond recognition by other hands. Such is the case with the following movies, which were all changed quite drastically in one way or another between their original draft and their final cut.
Some scripts were pressed into service as sequels. Some began in one genre and wound up in another. Rather than put together an exhaustive list, we've chosen a few examples of the script changes that intrigued or bemused us most.
Con Air
Nic Cage with lank hair and a thick southern drawl. An...
- 6/17/2015
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
"Fifty Shades of Grey" is in theaters this weekend. Have you heard? In celebration of this stunning cinematic achievement, we've trawled through all the streaming sites to bring you a list of five worthwhile erotic thrillers to watch online right now! Particularly useful for those who, you know, aren't interested in seeing "50 Shades" (they do exist!) but are nevertheless jonesing for some steely sexual tension to spice up their weekends. "Basic Instinct" (1992) The film that made Sharon Stone a star is still one of her best. Watch the aesthetically-gifted stunner command the screen with that placid, aquamarine stare. Forget the "no undies" leg crossing (or don't!) -- that interrogation scene is a classic for way better reasons than a single shot of Stone's naughty parts. "Nymphomaniac Pts. I and II" (2014) How about four hours of erotic thrillerisms? Charlotte Gainsbourg's commanding underbite does some of its best work in Lars von Trier...
- 2/13/2015
- by Chris Eggertsen
- Hitfix
Murder mysteries are so commonplace on TV that each week offers seemingly dozens of them on police procedural series and detective shows. But in the movies, whodunits are surprisingly rare, and really good ones rarer still. There's really only a handful of movies that excel in offering the viewer the pleasure of solving the crime along with a charismatic sleuth, often with an all-star cast of suspects hamming it up as they try not to appear guilty.
One of the best was "Murder on the Orient Express," released 40 years ago this week, on November 24, 1974. Like many films adapted from Agatha Christie novels, this one featured an eccentric but meticulous investigator (in this case, Albert Finney as Belgian epicure Hercule Poirot), a glamorous and claustrophobic setting (here, the famous luxury train from Istanbul to Paris), and a tricky murder plot with an outrageous solution. The film won an Oscar for passenger...
One of the best was "Murder on the Orient Express," released 40 years ago this week, on November 24, 1974. Like many films adapted from Agatha Christie novels, this one featured an eccentric but meticulous investigator (in this case, Albert Finney as Belgian epicure Hercule Poirot), a glamorous and claustrophobic setting (here, the famous luxury train from Istanbul to Paris), and a tricky murder plot with an outrageous solution. The film won an Oscar for passenger...
- 11/28/2014
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
There's an increasing trend with TV shows like "Fargo" and "Bates Motel" (and "Hannibal" to some extent) being based on existing cinematic works but using that fictional universe to explore their own original stories.
Now, "The Exorcist" and "The French Connection" director William Friedkin has revealed that two of his cinematic works are getting a similar treatment. It's not either of those two aforementioned works, nor the likes of "Cruising," "Sorcerer" or "Jade".
Rather it's two of his cult crime-noir films - 1985's "To Live and Die in L.A." and the more recent 2011 effort "Killer Joe". Speaking with Movies.com, Friedkin revealed his interest in working in long-form television and then revealed the dual-adaptation news.
Friedkin said: "MGM is trying to develop a television series on To Live and Die in La. It won't be that story at all, but it will be that vibe." He adds that he'll have approvals on where it goes,...
Now, "The Exorcist" and "The French Connection" director William Friedkin has revealed that two of his cinematic works are getting a similar treatment. It's not either of those two aforementioned works, nor the likes of "Cruising," "Sorcerer" or "Jade".
Rather it's two of his cult crime-noir films - 1985's "To Live and Die in L.A." and the more recent 2011 effort "Killer Joe". Speaking with Movies.com, Friedkin revealed his interest in working in long-form television and then revealed the dual-adaptation news.
Friedkin said: "MGM is trying to develop a television series on To Live and Die in La. It won't be that story at all, but it will be that vibe." He adds that he'll have approvals on where it goes,...
- 6/7/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
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