Actor Heath Ledger died tragically young in 2008 at the age of 28. The loss of the actor at such a young age not only was a huge blow to his family, friends and fans, but also left a huge hole in film history since we will never know what the actor would have accomplished in his later years.
It makes his death even more tragic in a strange way in that Ledger just seemed to be hitting his stride as an actor. His performance as The Joker in “The Dark Knight,” released shortly after his death, brought him critical raves and a posthumous Oscar as Best Supporting Actor.
Ledger began acting as a teenager on television in his native Australia. A series of successful roles there and in a few Australian films led to him being cast in the American teenage comedy “10 Things I Hate About You.” With his teen idol good looks,...
It makes his death even more tragic in a strange way in that Ledger just seemed to be hitting his stride as an actor. His performance as The Joker in “The Dark Knight,” released shortly after his death, brought him critical raves and a posthumous Oscar as Best Supporting Actor.
Ledger began acting as a teenager on television in his native Australia. A series of successful roles there and in a few Australian films led to him being cast in the American teenage comedy “10 Things I Hate About You.” With his teen idol good looks,...
- 3/30/2024
- by Robert Pius, Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
2023 was a miraculous year for German actress Sandra Huller. Not only did she receive critical acclaim for her riveting portrayal of a woman on trial for murdering her husband in France’s “Anatomy of a Fall,” she was also praised for her role as the wife of a Nazi commander in the United Kingdom’s German-language “The Zone of Interest.” Indeed, there was much interest in Huller and her two films. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for “Anatomy.” And both “Anatomy” and “Zone” landed slots for Best Picture, as well as Best Director bids for Justine Triet and Jonathan Glazer, respectively.
As I was speaking to academy members ahead of last Sunday’s ceremony, I detected a surprisingly robust amount of support for Huller. And many of those who had voted for her mentioned her work in “The Zone of Interest.” It really did seem...
As I was speaking to academy members ahead of last Sunday’s ceremony, I detected a surprisingly robust amount of support for Huller. And many of those who had voted for her mentioned her work in “The Zone of Interest.” It really did seem...
- 3/14/2024
- by Tariq Khan
- Gold Derby
American Cinematographer Ed Lachman will be the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Camerimage Film Festival.
Lachman was born on March 31, 1946. His grandfather owned several vaudeville theatres in the 1920s, which were later converted into movie houses, co-managed with Lachman’s father, a film theatre distributor who later acquired a small cinema in Boonton, New Jersey.
Lachman’s extensive filmography includes numerous collaborations with directors such as Todd Haynes, Ulrich Seidl (Import/Export), Steven Soderbergh (The Limey and Erin Brockovich), Gregory Nava and Paul Schrader. He served as the cinematographer on Sofia Coppola’s debut feature, The Virgin Suicides, and lensed A Prairie Home Companion, Robert Altman’s last film.
He is a three-time Oscar nominee for Far from Heaven, Carol, and Pablo Larrain’s El Conde.
Lachman was born on March 31, 1946. His grandfather owned several vaudeville theatres in the 1920s, which were later converted into movie houses, co-managed with Lachman’s father, a film theatre distributor who later acquired a small cinema in Boonton, New Jersey.
Lachman’s extensive filmography includes numerous collaborations with directors such as Todd Haynes, Ulrich Seidl (Import/Export), Steven Soderbergh (The Limey and Erin Brockovich), Gregory Nava and Paul Schrader. He served as the cinematographer on Sofia Coppola’s debut feature, The Virgin Suicides, and lensed A Prairie Home Companion, Robert Altman’s last film.
He is a three-time Oscar nominee for Far from Heaven, Carol, and Pablo Larrain’s El Conde.
- 2/29/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Dark thriller The G has been officially selected for Glasgow Film Festival and will celebrate its UK Premiere on 29th February 2024. Tickets are available now at glasgowfilm.org.
From writer, director Karl R. Hearne and 3Buck Productions, The G takes aim at how in today’s world the elderly can be routinely undervalued or taken advantage of. Dale Dickey (Hell or High Water, Winter’s Bone) takes the lead as the Ann Hunter aka ‘The G’, with a forceful performance and an unforgettable reminder of why you shouldn’t underestimate the elderly.
The G follows Ann and her husband, who retired to an unnamed American suburb 10 years ago to be near his family. But one day out of the blue they are snatched from their home by a corrupt legal guardian who believes they have hidden wealth.
Their home and assets are legally stripped from them and they are put in a prison-like “eldercare facility,...
From writer, director Karl R. Hearne and 3Buck Productions, The G takes aim at how in today’s world the elderly can be routinely undervalued or taken advantage of. Dale Dickey (Hell or High Water, Winter’s Bone) takes the lead as the Ann Hunter aka ‘The G’, with a forceful performance and an unforgettable reminder of why you shouldn’t underestimate the elderly.
The G follows Ann and her husband, who retired to an unnamed American suburb 10 years ago to be near his family. But one day out of the blue they are snatched from their home by a corrupt legal guardian who believes they have hidden wealth.
Their home and assets are legally stripped from them and they are put in a prison-like “eldercare facility,...
- 2/28/2024
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
Nominated in five categories at the 39th Film Independent Spirit Awards, the darkly humorous and ominously cringey psychological drama May December is filmmaker Todd Haynes’ tenth (!) Spirit Award nomination. A pioneer of the New Queer Cinema movement, Haynes previously won Best Director for 2002’s period romantic drama Far from Heaven (starring May December co-lead Julianne Moore), as well as the Robert Altman Award for 2007’s Bob-Dylan-inspired musical fantasia, I’m Not There.
Haynes has talked about how May December is about “the stories we tell ourselves” in order to “survive our lives.” Loosely based on the 1990s-era Irl story of Mary Kay Letourneau, the film follows 59-year-old housewife Gracie (Moore), who seems happily married with children to her 36-year-old husband, Joe Yoo, played by Charles Melton. Melton, too, is nominated for Best Supporting Performance at the 2024 Spirit Awards, streaming Live this Sunday at 2pm Pt.
The narrative tension kicks off when...
Haynes has talked about how May December is about “the stories we tell ourselves” in order to “survive our lives.” Loosely based on the 1990s-era Irl story of Mary Kay Letourneau, the film follows 59-year-old housewife Gracie (Moore), who seems happily married with children to her 36-year-old husband, Joe Yoo, played by Charles Melton. Melton, too, is nominated for Best Supporting Performance at the 2024 Spirit Awards, streaming Live this Sunday at 2pm Pt.
The narrative tension kicks off when...
- 2/21/2024
- by Su Fang Tham
- Film Independent News & More
Graphic: Images: The A.V. Club, Focus Features, Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images, Vittorio Zunino CelottoFamous epic loot collector Cate Blanchett might star in the Borderlands moviePhoto: Getty Images (Getty Images)
If there’s one thing we know about two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett (other than the fact that she’s...
If there’s one thing we know about two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett (other than the fact that she’s...
- 2/21/2024
- avclub.com
Some apotheosis of film culture has been reached with Freddy Got Fingered‘s addition to the Criterion Channel. Three years after we interviewed Tom Green about his consummate film maudit, it’s appearing on the service’s Razzie-centered program that also includes the now-admired likes of Cruising, Heaven’s Gate, Querelle, and Ishtar; the still-due likes of Under the Cherry Moon; and the more-contested Gigli, Swept Away, and Nicolas Cage-led Wicker Man. In all cases it’s an opportunity to reconsider one of the lamest, thin-gruel entities in modern culture.
A Jane Russell retro features von Sternberg’s Macao, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Raoul Walsh’s The Tall Men and The Revolt of Mamie Stover; streaming premieres will be held for Yuen Woo-ping’s Dreadnaught, Claire Simon’s Our Body, Ellie Foumbi’s Our Father, the Devil, the recently restored Sepa: Our Lord of Miracles, and The Passion of Rememberance.
A Jane Russell retro features von Sternberg’s Macao, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Raoul Walsh’s The Tall Men and The Revolt of Mamie Stover; streaming premieres will be held for Yuen Woo-ping’s Dreadnaught, Claire Simon’s Our Body, Ellie Foumbi’s Our Father, the Devil, the recently restored Sepa: Our Lord of Miracles, and The Passion of Rememberance.
- 2/14/2024
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
In 2020 – for the first time in seven years – the Best Supporting Actress Oscar category saw a lone nomination, meaning that a film was recognized there and nowhere else. This achievement is attributed to Kathy Bates (“Richard Jewell”), who competed for no major precursors except the Golden Globe but still managed to bump Critics Choice, SAG, and Globe nominee Jennifer Lopez (“Hustlers”). Perhaps unsurprisingly given the length of the streak she broke, there has yet to be a lone contender in any of her category’s subsequent lineups.
Since the introduction of the two gendered supporting Oscars in 1937, there have been 57 female lone nominees and 54 male ones, with over half of the entrants on the former roster having been added before 1977. The one who directly preceded Bates was Helen Hunt, whose inclusion in her lineup was much more heavily predicted. Coincidentally, both women had the perceived advantage of being former Best Actress champions,...
Since the introduction of the two gendered supporting Oscars in 1937, there have been 57 female lone nominees and 54 male ones, with over half of the entrants on the former roster having been added before 1977. The one who directly preceded Bates was Helen Hunt, whose inclusion in her lineup was much more heavily predicted. Coincidentally, both women had the perceived advantage of being former Best Actress champions,...
- 1/21/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
James Mangold will be bringing the life and music of Bob Dylan to the big screen with A Complete Unknown. More details on the project here.
With the strikes over, Hollywood is raring to go. Several delayed projects, such as the final season of Stranger Things, season 2 of The Last Of Us and even Michael Mann’s Heat 2 are slowly but surely heading into production this year.
Another severely delayed project is James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, a Bob Dylan biopic. According to World Of Reel, Mangold is eyeing up a late March shoot in Montreal and New York.
Here’s the plot: “A Complete Unknown follows 19 year old Bob Dylan’s arrival to New York City in 1961 seeking to find his hero, an ailing Woody Guthrie. He is embraced by the New York folk scene who recognize his talent. He finds gigs in downtown clubs and soon becomes a sensation,...
With the strikes over, Hollywood is raring to go. Several delayed projects, such as the final season of Stranger Things, season 2 of The Last Of Us and even Michael Mann’s Heat 2 are slowly but surely heading into production this year.
Another severely delayed project is James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, a Bob Dylan biopic. According to World Of Reel, Mangold is eyeing up a late March shoot in Montreal and New York.
Here’s the plot: “A Complete Unknown follows 19 year old Bob Dylan’s arrival to New York City in 1961 seeking to find his hero, an ailing Woody Guthrie. He is embraced by the New York folk scene who recognize his talent. He finds gigs in downtown clubs and soon becomes a sensation,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Maria Lattila
- Film Stories
Todd Haynes' "May December" is a tricky, difficult drama that tells a fictionalized version of the Mary Kay LeTourneau story. Some may recall that LeTourneau, a sixth-grade teacher, was arrested in 1997 for having targeted and statutorily assaulted 12-year-old Vili Fualaau. LeTourneau had two children with Lualaau, and when she was released from prison, the two married. They remained married for 14 years. In "May December," the LeTourneau-inspired character was renamed Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianna Moore), and her much younger husband, 34 at the time of the movie, was renamed Joe Yoo (Charles Melton).
Haynes' film follows a famous actor named Elizabeth Barry (Natalie Portman), who has taken a job playing Gracie in an upcoming drama. Elizabeth spends several weeks observing Gracie, imitating her mannerisms, and interviewing the people in her life. Why, Elizabeth wonders, did Gracie commit her terrible crime? How does Joe feel about it so many years later, still married to his victimizer?...
Haynes' film follows a famous actor named Elizabeth Barry (Natalie Portman), who has taken a job playing Gracie in an upcoming drama. Elizabeth spends several weeks observing Gracie, imitating her mannerisms, and interviewing the people in her life. Why, Elizabeth wonders, did Gracie commit her terrible crime? How does Joe feel about it so many years later, still married to his victimizer?...
- 1/8/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
From casting the CEO of the company that is financing their movie for Barbie to re-creating one of the most iconic moments of 20th century American history in 117-degree weather in Rustin, the producers behind this year’s awards films have had to navigate their share of uncomfortable, untenable and downright unbelievable situations to get their features to the big screen.
Even with the ups and downs, there is no place they’d rather be than on set. “I feel like cynicism is the creativity killer. It’s the thing that destroys everything,” says Christine Vachon (Past Lives and May December), who along with Tom Ackerley (Barbie), Ed Guiney (Poor Things), Natalie Portman (May December), Scott Sanders (The Color Purple), and George C. Wolfe (Rustin) came together in Los Angeles for THR’s Producer Roundtable.
The producers talk about their contenders, as well as the horrors of the “soft no...
Even with the ups and downs, there is no place they’d rather be than on set. “I feel like cynicism is the creativity killer. It’s the thing that destroys everything,” says Christine Vachon (Past Lives and May December), who along with Tom Ackerley (Barbie), Ed Guiney (Poor Things), Natalie Portman (May December), Scott Sanders (The Color Purple), and George C. Wolfe (Rustin) came together in Los Angeles for THR’s Producer Roundtable.
The producers talk about their contenders, as well as the horrors of the “soft no...
- 1/8/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Iconoclastic filmmaker Todd Haynes has made a name for himself crafting stories dealing with sexuality, discrimination and pop culture. Let’s take a look back at all nine of his narrative feature films, ranked worst to best.
Haynes first came to the attention of art house audiences with “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story” (1988), a 43-minute short which used Barbie dolls to create a startling poignant, eerie biopic. This led to his feature debut, “Poison” (1991), a milestone in the New Queer Cinema that told three different narratives exploring our reactions to human carnality.
He reaped his first Oscar nomination for “Far From Heaven” (Best Original Screenplay in 2002), a meticulous recreation of Douglas Sirk melodramas centering on a 1950’s Connecticut housewife (Julianne Moore) who falls in love with her black gardener (Dennis Haysbert) after her husband (Dennis Quaid) comes out of the closet. In addition to Haynes’ bid, the film also competed...
Haynes first came to the attention of art house audiences with “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story” (1988), a 43-minute short which used Barbie dolls to create a startling poignant, eerie biopic. This led to his feature debut, “Poison” (1991), a milestone in the New Queer Cinema that told three different narratives exploring our reactions to human carnality.
He reaped his first Oscar nomination for “Far From Heaven” (Best Original Screenplay in 2002), a meticulous recreation of Douglas Sirk melodramas centering on a 1950’s Connecticut housewife (Julianne Moore) who falls in love with her black gardener (Dennis Haysbert) after her husband (Dennis Quaid) comes out of the closet. In addition to Haynes’ bid, the film also competed...
- 1/3/2024
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Welcome to 2024! This, our first column of the new year, follows Oppenheimer, and Lots of Late Gift Ideas”>our December 2023 piece by offering more 2023 releases that deserve your time and attention.
Spielberg: The First Ten Years by Laurent Bouzereau (Insight Editions) and Steven Spielberg: All the Films by Olivier Bousquet, Arnaud Devillard, and Nicolas Schaller (Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers)
I am not sure what Steven Spielberg obsessives like myself did to earn two lengthy, photo-backed, hardcover career appreciations, but I’m not complaining. Steven Spielberg: All the Films runs for nearly 500 pages and covers literally everything, from the director’s contributions to Rod Serling’s Night Gallery to The Fabelmans. Along the way are some unique insights, surprising facts (Leonardo DiCaprio was approached to play Tintin?), and the inclusion of some of his 1980s television work. And Spielberg: The First Ten Years is just as engaging, and even more in-depth.
Spielberg: The First Ten Years by Laurent Bouzereau (Insight Editions) and Steven Spielberg: All the Films by Olivier Bousquet, Arnaud Devillard, and Nicolas Schaller (Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers)
I am not sure what Steven Spielberg obsessives like myself did to earn two lengthy, photo-backed, hardcover career appreciations, but I’m not complaining. Steven Spielberg: All the Films runs for nearly 500 pages and covers literally everything, from the director’s contributions to Rod Serling’s Night Gallery to The Fabelmans. Along the way are some unique insights, surprising facts (Leonardo DiCaprio was approached to play Tintin?), and the inclusion of some of his 1980s television work. And Spielberg: The First Ten Years is just as engaging, and even more in-depth.
- 1/2/2024
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
Julianne Moore is predicted to land her sixth Oscar nomination thanks to her delicious role in Todd Haynes‘ Netflix melodrama “May December.” In this one, Moore features as an older woman named Gracie who is married with kids to Charles Melton‘s much younger Joe. The two are the subject of an upcoming movie and actress Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) visits them in order to properly portray Gracie. The in-movie movie will explore their scandalous affair, which started years ago when Joe was only 13.
This isn’t the first time Moore has been exquisite in a Haynes movie, of course, as the two are frequent collaborators. “Far From Heaven” is perhaps their best work together so far but “May December” is right up there and the same can be said about Moore’s supporting performance. Indeed, we are predicting that Moore will indeed be nominated for Oscar number six alongside predicted...
This isn’t the first time Moore has been exquisite in a Haynes movie, of course, as the two are frequent collaborators. “Far From Heaven” is perhaps their best work together so far but “May December” is right up there and the same can be said about Moore’s supporting performance. Indeed, we are predicting that Moore will indeed be nominated for Oscar number six alongside predicted...
- 12/20/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Hey, Danielle Brooks: Just because your film “The Color Purple” was snubbed in the top movie race at the Golden Globes on Monday morning, that doesn’t mean you can’t still win the supporting actress trophy. In fact, this exact same scenario has happened five times in the past 16 years, with reigning champ Angela Bassett (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”) being the most recent example.
While “The Color Purple” was predicted by Gold Derby to receive four total nominations on December 11, it only wound up with two: Brooks in supporting actress and Fantasia Barrino in lead comedy/musical actress. The Warner Bros. crowd-pleaser was snubbed for comedy/musical film and for Taraji P. Henson in supporting actress, among others. See what Gold Derby editors had to say about all of those snubs and surprises.
See Golden Globes nominations list: Nominees for 81st annual ceremony
Brooks plays Sofia in Blitz...
While “The Color Purple” was predicted by Gold Derby to receive four total nominations on December 11, it only wound up with two: Brooks in supporting actress and Fantasia Barrino in lead comedy/musical actress. The Warner Bros. crowd-pleaser was snubbed for comedy/musical film and for Taraji P. Henson in supporting actress, among others. See what Gold Derby editors had to say about all of those snubs and surprises.
See Golden Globes nominations list: Nominees for 81st annual ceremony
Brooks plays Sofia in Blitz...
- 12/11/2023
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
May December.“This isn’t a story, this is my fucking life!” That’s Joe, in Todd Haynes’s May December, talking about his relationship with his wife, Gracie, which began when he was in seventh grade. Their life together is most definitely a story to Elizabeth (Natalie Portman), a TV-famous actor shadowing the couple in preparation for playing Gracie in a movie. Haynes teases out the power dynamics in the taboo relationship and the process of its dramatization, as life transforms into a story (and back again). Grace now has three children with Joe, and more from her previous marriage, which broke up with the discovery of their affair, for which she served time in prison. “Baby Born Behind Bars” blares a tabloid headline glimpsed during the film, but May December imagines what things look like when the aftermath of a scandal simply becomes life as lived.Some audiences...
- 12/3/2023
- MUBI
Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) switching from Best Supporting Actress to Best Actress feels like some time ago now but the impact of that move can still be felt as the former category is the most open race we have this year. Such an open race, however, leads to excitement and surprise, leaving the door open for any number of contenders to take the lead in this race.
And no performance deserves to be out in front more in this category than Julianne Moore‘s role in Todd Haynes‘ “May December.” Moore collaborates with Haynes again after they worked together in several movies including “Far From Heaven,” but Netflix’s “May December” is a bold new entry in their canon that you can now catch in US theaters after it released on November 17. The movie will drop on Netflix on December 1.
Moore stars as Gracie, who is in...
And no performance deserves to be out in front more in this category than Julianne Moore‘s role in Todd Haynes‘ “May December.” Moore collaborates with Haynes again after they worked together in several movies including “Far From Heaven,” but Netflix’s “May December” is a bold new entry in their canon that you can now catch in US theaters after it released on November 17. The movie will drop on Netflix on December 1.
Moore stars as Gracie, who is in...
- 11/24/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
“Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story” announced Todd Haynes as a filmmaker to be watched back in 1987 while the luscious dramas “Far From Heaven” (2002) and “Carol” (2015) cemented his status as one of the best talents working in Hollywood. That talent continues to burn brightly with his new movie, Netflix’s “May December,” which was released in US theaters on November 17.
The film will start streaming on Netflix on December 1 but catch it on the big screen to take in all of its melodramatic delights. Natalie Portman stars Elizabeth, as an actress who visits Charles Melton‘s Joe and Julianne Moore‘s Gracie to do research for a movie based on the couple’s past. The past in question concerns the affair they had when Joe was 13 and Moore was much older. It’s a dramatic premise but it’s also a film full of comedy and deliciously dark moments. Haynes’ clever...
The film will start streaming on Netflix on December 1 but catch it on the big screen to take in all of its melodramatic delights. Natalie Portman stars Elizabeth, as an actress who visits Charles Melton‘s Joe and Julianne Moore‘s Gracie to do research for a movie based on the couple’s past. The past in question concerns the affair they had when Joe was 13 and Moore was much older. It’s a dramatic premise but it’s also a film full of comedy and deliciously dark moments. Haynes’ clever...
- 11/23/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Peter Jackson‘s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy amassed 28 Oscar nominations and 17 wins between the three films while the prequel “The Hobbit” series garnered a further seven nominations. Out of those 35 Academy Award bids, however, only one came for acting. That was for Sir Ian McKellen when he was nominated in 2002 for Best Supporting Actor for “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.” It was Jim Broadbent who won that category that year, for “Iris,” so Middle Earth performers have been overlooked somewhat for their part in the huge success of the fantasy film series. However, a handful of thespians who have appeared in either “The Lord of the Rings” or “The Hobbit” (or both) have found Oscar success elsewhere in their career. Here’s the rundown.
Cate Blanchett — Eight nominations and two wins
Cate Blanchett played Galadriel in all six of Jackson’s Middle Earth movies,...
Cate Blanchett — Eight nominations and two wins
Cate Blanchett played Galadriel in all six of Jackson’s Middle Earth movies,...
- 11/21/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Actors flock to work with Todd Haynes, a filmmaker with an impeccable track record who has made a habit of drawing some of the greatest performances out of actors who already boast impressive credits, but also for discovering newer talent. In films like “Far From Heaven,” “I’m Not There” and “Carol,” he’s guided Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara to Oscar nominations. He was actually the first director to cast Moore in her first leading film role in 1995’s “Safe,” and discovered Millicent Simmonds for “Wonderstruck” before her star turn in “A Quiet Place.”
In his new film “May December,” now in theaters, Haynes once again assembles an impressive ensemble. Natalie Portman plays Elizabeth, an actor who infiltrates the lives of Gracie (Moore) and Joe (Charles Melton) in order to portray the former in an upcoming movie. Though the pair are seemingly happily married they caused a scandal...
In his new film “May December,” now in theaters, Haynes once again assembles an impressive ensemble. Natalie Portman plays Elizabeth, an actor who infiltrates the lives of Gracie (Moore) and Joe (Charles Melton) in order to portray the former in an upcoming movie. Though the pair are seemingly happily married they caused a scandal...
- 11/17/2023
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
Since the beginning of his career, Todd Haynes has made films about two things: fame and transgression. Born in 1961 to a Los Angeles family, Haynes received his Bfa in film from Bard College, where he made a short that set the tone for his filmography. Acted out using Barbie dolls, “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story” is an unauthorized story of the real-life pop singer and her struggles with anorexia, which is permanently out of circulation thanks to a music copyright lawsuit. Looking at it today through bootleg, the movie’s study of the crushing effects of fame — and hiding misery and suffering behind a happy, plastic façade — feels like the crucible for the artist’s later fixations.
As Haynes graduated from shorts and moved to feature filmmaking, his work began splitting into two types of films. The first type can be described as the movies about ordinary people whose unhappiness...
As Haynes graduated from shorts and moved to feature filmmaking, his work began splitting into two types of films. The first type can be described as the movies about ordinary people whose unhappiness...
- 11/17/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Few directors show their cinematic influences as readily as Todd Haynes. Just watch one of his movies, and the filmmakers that helped shape his style — Douglas Sirk and Nicolas Roeg, to name two — become incredibly apparent. His stylized melodrama and favored themes of social taboos and celebrity carry the DNA of both directors. But at the same time? His work is entirely his own.
Born in Los Angeles during 1961, Haynes studied art at Brown and cinema at Bard College, where he made the short film that first brought him notoriety. Made entirely with dolls, 1987’s “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story” tells the story of the titular popular pop singer and her struggles with anorexia. Its unauthorized nature, unflattering portrayal of Carpenter’s brother and music partner Richard, and unlicensed use of the Carpenters’ music made it the subject of a lawsuit, and it remains withdrawn from circulation. Available only via bootleg,...
Born in Los Angeles during 1961, Haynes studied art at Brown and cinema at Bard College, where he made the short film that first brought him notoriety. Made entirely with dolls, 1987’s “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story” tells the story of the titular popular pop singer and her struggles with anorexia. Its unauthorized nature, unflattering portrayal of Carpenter’s brother and music partner Richard, and unlicensed use of the Carpenters’ music made it the subject of a lawsuit, and it remains withdrawn from circulation. Available only via bootleg,...
- 11/15/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
This Veterans Day, we’re celebrating the importance of Veterans as storytellers. Film Independent is inviting 100 U.S. Military Veteran (working or aspiring) filmmakers or actors in the entertainment industry to receive a Film Independent Membership, for a contribution of just $1.00!
Veterans Day is a federal public holiday that always falls on the 11th of November – but why is that? The day’s origins date back to World War I. At 11:00 am Paris local time on November 11, 1918, the Armistice of Compiègne was signed to officially end WWI. In honor of this special day, we’ve curated 10 films (and one limited series!) that embody the values and spirit of the service members across all five branches: the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy.
Patton (1970)
Branch: U.S. Army
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
Cast: George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Stephen Young, Michael Strong, Carey Loftin
Where to Watch: VOD rental,...
Veterans Day is a federal public holiday that always falls on the 11th of November – but why is that? The day’s origins date back to World War I. At 11:00 am Paris local time on November 11, 1918, the Armistice of Compiègne was signed to officially end WWI. In honor of this special day, we’ve curated 10 films (and one limited series!) that embody the values and spirit of the service members across all five branches: the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy.
Patton (1970)
Branch: U.S. Army
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
Cast: George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Stephen Young, Michael Strong, Carey Loftin
Where to Watch: VOD rental,...
- 11/10/2023
- by Su Fang Tham
- Film Independent News & More
News of the death of Celluloid Dreams CEO Hengameh Panahi has sparked an outpouring of admiration and tributes from the independent film community.
Panahi, a pivotal figure in the global art house scene, died Nov. 5, aged 67. In her decades in the business — as a producer, co-financier and sales agent — Panahi introduced the world to international auteurs from Iran (Jafar Panahi, Marjane Satrapi), Europe (Jacques Audiard, François Ozon, Gaspar Noé, Marco Bellocchio, Aleksandr Sokurov, the Dardenne brothers) and across Asia (Takeshi Kitano, Naomi Kawase, Jia Zanghke, Hirokazu Kore-eda).
“She took films that were challenging, that were difficult to make, to sell, to promote, and she fought for them,” says Oscar-winning producer Jeremy Thomas (The Last Emperor) who knew and worked with Panahi for more than 30 years. “She was a unique part of the film ecosystem. She was really inspirational, with the films that she enabled to be made, and seen.”
Celluloid Dreams,...
Panahi, a pivotal figure in the global art house scene, died Nov. 5, aged 67. In her decades in the business — as a producer, co-financier and sales agent — Panahi introduced the world to international auteurs from Iran (Jafar Panahi, Marjane Satrapi), Europe (Jacques Audiard, François Ozon, Gaspar Noé, Marco Bellocchio, Aleksandr Sokurov, the Dardenne brothers) and across Asia (Takeshi Kitano, Naomi Kawase, Jia Zanghke, Hirokazu Kore-eda).
“She took films that were challenging, that were difficult to make, to sell, to promote, and she fought for them,” says Oscar-winning producer Jeremy Thomas (The Last Emperor) who knew and worked with Panahi for more than 30 years. “She was a unique part of the film ecosystem. She was really inspirational, with the films that she enabled to be made, and seen.”
Celluloid Dreams,...
- 11/10/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Todd Haynes doesn't target "the mainstream" with his films.The 62-year-old director has helmed movies such as 'Far from Heaven' and 'May December' and thinks that his work is diverse as it originates "from the margins".Todd told the Guardian newspaper: "People have definitely put my films into thematic through-lines: films that deal with domestic stories and female subjects in one category, and films that deal with artists and musicians in another."In both, I'm interested in places where identity is called into question by circumstances or by artistic practices."But I think the thing that all directors share is that we don't really see if it's the same movie over and over: we're trying something different each time in terms of genre, setting, language or historical moment. That's why I guess it's cool to hear somebody say my films are diverse."The filmmaker added: "Another interesting thing about my movies,...
- 11/10/2023
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
The SAG-AFTRA strike is over, and it only took four minutes and 46 seconds after the news broke to receive an interview pitch for an actor from a publicist.
That’s because strategists and publicists for the top movies from studios and streamers have been sitting on their hands, waiting for their actors to promote their films that are in the conversation for Oscar attention. The news of SAG-AFTRA making a deal rippled throughout the ecosystem of consultants hired to bring their clients and stars awards recognition.
Some independent productions and companies such as A24 and Neon were able to make do thanks to interim agreements for movies like Celine Song’s “Past Lives” and Justine Triet’s “Anatomy of a Fall.” However, the floodgates have now opened, and big-spending streamers like Apple and Netflix, alongside legacy studios like Universal Pictures and Warner Bros., will be trotting out their contending stars to face industry voters,...
That’s because strategists and publicists for the top movies from studios and streamers have been sitting on their hands, waiting for their actors to promote their films that are in the conversation for Oscar attention. The news of SAG-AFTRA making a deal rippled throughout the ecosystem of consultants hired to bring their clients and stars awards recognition.
Some independent productions and companies such as A24 and Neon were able to make do thanks to interim agreements for movies like Celine Song’s “Past Lives” and Justine Triet’s “Anatomy of a Fall.” However, the floodgates have now opened, and big-spending streamers like Apple and Netflix, alongside legacy studios like Universal Pictures and Warner Bros., will be trotting out their contending stars to face industry voters,...
- 11/9/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Hengameh Panahi, the French-Iranian producer and sales agent who founded Celluloid Dreams and was a pivotal figure in bringing works from such auteurs as Jacques Audiard, Jafar Panahi (no relation), François Ozon, Marjane Satrapi and Todd Haynes to the world, has died. She was 67.
Viviana Andriani, a press attaché who had worked with Panahi for many years, confirmed Thursday that Panahi died on November 5 after battling a long illness.
Celluloid Dreams, which Panahi launched in 1985, was a groundbreaking sales and production company that helped build the global market for international arthouse films. Over the course of three decades, Paris-based Celluloid helped package and sell more than 800 films, including the first works from François Ozon (See The Sea), Gaspar Noé (I Stand Alone), Marjane Satrapi (Persepolis) and Bruno Dumont (The Life of Jesus), among many others.
Alongside many European talents, Panahi, who was born in Iran but moved to Europe aged...
Viviana Andriani, a press attaché who had worked with Panahi for many years, confirmed Thursday that Panahi died on November 5 after battling a long illness.
Celluloid Dreams, which Panahi launched in 1985, was a groundbreaking sales and production company that helped build the global market for international arthouse films. Over the course of three decades, Paris-based Celluloid helped package and sell more than 800 films, including the first works from François Ozon (See The Sea), Gaspar Noé (I Stand Alone), Marjane Satrapi (Persepolis) and Bruno Dumont (The Life of Jesus), among many others.
Alongside many European talents, Panahi, who was born in Iran but moved to Europe aged...
- 11/9/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
EnergaCamerimage, the cinematography-focused film festival that will take place in Torun, Poland, Nov. 11-18, has announced three more films for its Main Competition: “El Conde,” “Filip” and “Ferrari.”
“El Conde,” helmed by Chilean director Pablo Larraín, is billed as a dark comedy/horror picture that imagines a parallel universe in which Chile’s late fascistic dictator Augusto Pinochet is a vampire hiding away in a ruined mansion.
The film was lensed by Ed Lachman, the only Dp to have completed a Camerimage trifecta, having collected a Golden Frog for “Carol” (2015), a Silver Frog for “Far From Heaven” 2002) and a Bronze Frog for “I’m Not There” (2007).
Lachman was also nominated for “Wonderstruck” (2017) and in 2011, together with Todd Haynes, he was recognized with the Camerimage Cinematographer-Director Duo Award.
Lachman and Larraín will attend the fest to introduce the “El Conde” screening and participate in a Q&a.
“Filip,” a Polish war drama,...
“El Conde,” helmed by Chilean director Pablo Larraín, is billed as a dark comedy/horror picture that imagines a parallel universe in which Chile’s late fascistic dictator Augusto Pinochet is a vampire hiding away in a ruined mansion.
The film was lensed by Ed Lachman, the only Dp to have completed a Camerimage trifecta, having collected a Golden Frog for “Carol” (2015), a Silver Frog for “Far From Heaven” 2002) and a Bronze Frog for “I’m Not There” (2007).
Lachman was also nominated for “Wonderstruck” (2017) and in 2011, together with Todd Haynes, he was recognized with the Camerimage Cinematographer-Director Duo Award.
Lachman and Larraín will attend the fest to introduce the “El Conde” screening and participate in a Q&a.
“Filip,” a Polish war drama,...
- 10/19/2023
- by Peter Caranicas
- Variety Film + TV
Todd Haynes is one of the most underrated directors in Hollywood. The filmmaker, who is responsible for multiple classics ranging from his seminal short film “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story” to the luscious “Carol,” has never been nominated for a Best Director Oscar. That is a disappointing stat considering what a masterful, versatile director Haynes is. But could that change this year, with his new release “May December?” This Netflix title is due for release on Nov. 17.
The film is an exquisite melodrama, starring Natalie Portman, Charles Melton, and regular collaborator Julianne Moore. Portman plays an actress who visits a couple (Melton and Moore) in order to research for a film based on the couple’s scandalous past. The scandal? Moore’s much older woman had an affair with Melton’s younger man when he was just 13. It’s a disturbing premise but there is actually so much use of comedy in the film.
The film is an exquisite melodrama, starring Natalie Portman, Charles Melton, and regular collaborator Julianne Moore. Portman plays an actress who visits a couple (Melton and Moore) in order to research for a film based on the couple’s scandalous past. The scandal? Moore’s much older woman had an affair with Melton’s younger man when he was just 13. It’s a disturbing premise but there is actually so much use of comedy in the film.
- 10/9/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Cate Blanchett has boarded arthouse favorite Guy Maddin’s latest movie, Rumours, which is set to start shooting on Oct. 9, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
The indie has been written and will be directed by Maddin with longtime collaborators Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson. Their last joint film was The Green Fog, an experimental feature that combed through San Francisco-produced films and TV shows as it followed the structure of Vertigo.
Blanchett played a composer-conductor whose reputation is suddenly shattered by revelations of her personal life in Tár. Her other film credits include The Aviator and Blue Jasmine, for which she won Oscars, as well as Elizabeth, Notes on a Scandal, I’m Not There and Carol.
Her star turn in Rumours is seen as the latest A-lister and auteur collaboration as Canadian indie film looks to break out into the global market with distribution and critical acclaim. Maddin’s latest...
The indie has been written and will be directed by Maddin with longtime collaborators Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson. Their last joint film was The Green Fog, an experimental feature that combed through San Francisco-produced films and TV shows as it followed the structure of Vertigo.
Blanchett played a composer-conductor whose reputation is suddenly shattered by revelations of her personal life in Tár. Her other film credits include The Aviator and Blue Jasmine, for which she won Oscars, as well as Elizabeth, Notes on a Scandal, I’m Not There and Carol.
Her star turn in Rumours is seen as the latest A-lister and auteur collaboration as Canadian indie film looks to break out into the global market with distribution and critical acclaim. Maddin’s latest...
- 10/5/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
May December director Todd Haynes with screenwriter Samy Burch, and his producers Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler, Jessica Elbaum and Sophie Mas Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Todd Haynes’s May December, screenplay by Samy Burch, shot by Christopher Blauvelt and starring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton opened the 61st New York Film Festival on Friday. Todd’s previous films screening at the New York Film Festival were Velvet Goldmine (NYFF 36), I’m Not There (NYFF 45), Carol (NYFF 53), Wonderstruck (NYFF 55 - Centerpiece Selection), and The Velvet Underground (NYFF 59).
Todd Haynes responding to Anne-Katrin Titze’s comment and question: “I did not create the lisp! There are some people who are missing today who could speak so beautifully about how they built these characters.” Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
At the press conference Todd Haynes spoke about connecting his composer Marcelo Zarvos to Michel Legrand’s score for Joseph Losey’s The Go-Between (Harold Pinter...
Todd Haynes’s May December, screenplay by Samy Burch, shot by Christopher Blauvelt and starring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton opened the 61st New York Film Festival on Friday. Todd’s previous films screening at the New York Film Festival were Velvet Goldmine (NYFF 36), I’m Not There (NYFF 45), Carol (NYFF 53), Wonderstruck (NYFF 55 - Centerpiece Selection), and The Velvet Underground (NYFF 59).
Todd Haynes responding to Anne-Katrin Titze’s comment and question: “I did not create the lisp! There are some people who are missing today who could speak so beautifully about how they built these characters.” Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
At the press conference Todd Haynes spoke about connecting his composer Marcelo Zarvos to Michel Legrand’s score for Joseph Losey’s The Go-Between (Harold Pinter...
- 10/2/2023
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The influential director’s latest film, May December, is coming to cinemas soon. Here’s your chance to ask him about this and other provocative work, from Carol to I’m Not There
There’s considerable competition of course, but Todd Haynes has a strong claim to be one of America’s greatest living auteurs, with a string of outstanding films to his name including the Patricia Highsmith adaptation Carol, Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There, and Douglas Sirk homage Far From Heaven.
Haynes first made a name for himself with his Barbie-doll animated short film Superstar, about Karen Carpenter, and then acquired career momentum with his feature debut Poison in 1991, part of the early 90s New Queer Cinema movement. Safe, the creepy mid-90s fable about a woman afflicted by a mysterious allergy-like illness, marked his first collaboration with Julianne Moore; she would go on to appear in further films...
There’s considerable competition of course, but Todd Haynes has a strong claim to be one of America’s greatest living auteurs, with a string of outstanding films to his name including the Patricia Highsmith adaptation Carol, Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There, and Douglas Sirk homage Far From Heaven.
Haynes first made a name for himself with his Barbie-doll animated short film Superstar, about Karen Carpenter, and then acquired career momentum with his feature debut Poison in 1991, part of the early 90s New Queer Cinema movement. Safe, the creepy mid-90s fable about a woman afflicted by a mysterious allergy-like illness, marked his first collaboration with Julianne Moore; she would go on to appear in further films...
- 10/2/2023
- by Guardian film
- The Guardian - Film News
Speaking to the press after a screening of May December, Todd Haynes identified himself primarily as an interpreter, both of cinematic forms of the past and of the pre-existing material from which his work is often adapted. That characterization certainly tracks through his filmography, from metacinematic homages to kaleidoscopic renderings of pop idols to his contemporary readings on midcentury fiction.
Loosely based on the ’90s tabloid scandal of Mary Kay Letourneau, who at age 35 served a prison sentence for rape when her sexual relationship with a 12-year-old boy was made public, May December is perhaps the slipperiest entry in that interpretive project to date. Written by Samy Burch, the film examines real-world events through the lens of mass media with a wry humor that masks profoundly complex and painful undercurrents of emotion.
May December centers on two star turns that complement each other with a rare sensitivity: Julianne Moore as LeTourneau stand-in Gracie Atherton-Yoo,...
Loosely based on the ’90s tabloid scandal of Mary Kay Letourneau, who at age 35 served a prison sentence for rape when her sexual relationship with a 12-year-old boy was made public, May December is perhaps the slipperiest entry in that interpretive project to date. Written by Samy Burch, the film examines real-world events through the lens of mass media with a wry humor that masks profoundly complex and painful undercurrents of emotion.
May December centers on two star turns that complement each other with a rare sensitivity: Julianne Moore as LeTourneau stand-in Gracie Atherton-Yoo,...
- 10/1/2023
- by Brad Hanford
- Slant Magazine
Todd Haynes has spent a large portion of the past decade trying to make “Fever,” his planned Peggy Lee biopic that never materialized. Haynes originally boarded the project in 2014, when Reese Witherspoon was attached to play the legendary crooner. She was eventually replaced by Haynes’ “I’m Not There” and “Wonderstruck” collaborator Michelle Williams, who developed the film alongside Haynes until its financing fell through.
“It’s gone the way of the buffalo, I’m afraid,” Williams said when asked about the film in a 2022 interview. “But if anyone reading this story would like to resurrect it, Todd and I are on board for that.”
Todd Haynes went on to direct “May December” instead, and recently made his way to the New York Film Festival to attend the film’s U.S. premiere. Speaking to IndieWire on the red carpet, Haynes recalled the painful experience of scrapping “Fever” and echoed Williams’ sentiments about potentially revisiting it.
“It’s gone the way of the buffalo, I’m afraid,” Williams said when asked about the film in a 2022 interview. “But if anyone reading this story would like to resurrect it, Todd and I are on board for that.”
Todd Haynes went on to direct “May December” instead, and recently made his way to the New York Film Festival to attend the film’s U.S. premiere. Speaking to IndieWire on the red carpet, Haynes recalled the painful experience of scrapping “Fever” and echoed Williams’ sentiments about potentially revisiting it.
- 10/1/2023
- by Christian Zilko and Vincent Perella
- Indiewire
The Newport Beach Film Festival has announced its 2023 Festival Honors. Among this year’s honorees are William Shatner, Patricia Clarkson, Eugenio Derbez, Todd Haynes, Glenn Howerton, Jack Huston, Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Jesse Williams. The festival will be held in person from Oct. 12-19, and the artists will be honored throughout the week.
Clarkson will receive the Artist of Distinction Award, which acknowledges one’s contribution to the arts and philanthropic endeavors as well as their commitment to telling unique and bold stories through their craft. Over the years, Clarkson has taken on a range of roles, earning an Oscar nomination for the 2003 film “Pieces of April” and winning a Golden Globe for her role in HBO’s “Sharp Objects.” She will be honored following a screening of her film “Monica” on Oct. 13 at the festival.
Howerton, co-creator and star of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” who recently appeared in “Blackberry,...
Clarkson will receive the Artist of Distinction Award, which acknowledges one’s contribution to the arts and philanthropic endeavors as well as their commitment to telling unique and bold stories through their craft. Over the years, Clarkson has taken on a range of roles, earning an Oscar nomination for the 2003 film “Pieces of April” and winning a Golden Globe for her role in HBO’s “Sharp Objects.” She will be honored following a screening of her film “Monica” on Oct. 13 at the festival.
Howerton, co-creator and star of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” who recently appeared in “Blackberry,...
- 9/27/2023
- by Caroline Brew
- Variety Film + TV
Todd Haynes’ May December will open the New York Film Festival on Friday, but Netflix is giving an intriguing sneak peek via the first official trailer for the film that was the talk of Cannes this year.
Starring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore and Charles Melton, the film picks up 20 years after an affair between an adult woman (Moore) and a much (much) younger man (Melton) – think Mary Kay Letourneau – made tabloid headlines. In the present day, famous TV star Elizabeth (Portman) visits the now-married couple while researching a film that will be based on the old scandal.
As the official logline puts it, “as Elizabeth attempts to get closer to the family, the uncomfortable facts of their scandal unfurl, causing difficult, long-dormant emotions to resurface.”
Directed by Haynes from a screenplay by Samy Burch and story by Burch and Alex Mechanik, the film had its world premiere in Cannes, with...
Starring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore and Charles Melton, the film picks up 20 years after an affair between an adult woman (Moore) and a much (much) younger man (Melton) – think Mary Kay Letourneau – made tabloid headlines. In the present day, famous TV star Elizabeth (Portman) visits the now-married couple while researching a film that will be based on the old scandal.
As the official logline puts it, “as Elizabeth attempts to get closer to the family, the uncomfortable facts of their scandal unfurl, causing difficult, long-dormant emotions to resurface.”
Directed by Haynes from a screenplay by Samy Burch and story by Burch and Alex Mechanik, the film had its world premiere in Cannes, with...
- 9/26/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore are splitting up their Oscar campaigns for awards season.
Although Todd Haynes’ delicious drama “May December” is interpreted by many as a two-hander, Netflix confirms to Variety exclusively that Portman will be submitted for lead actress consideration, while Moore will vie for supporting actress.
Co-leads from awards contenders are seldom campaigned alongside one another. One of Haynes’ most beloved films, the love story “Carol” (2015) starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, was famously criticized for separating its two presumed leading performers for its respective awards season. Blanchett was nominated in lead with Mara in supporting. While it can be debated for awards enthusiasts, there are only five instances of two women being nominated for the same movie in the Oscars’ 95-year history. The last was Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon for “Thelma & Louise” (1991).
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories.
Although Todd Haynes’ delicious drama “May December” is interpreted by many as a two-hander, Netflix confirms to Variety exclusively that Portman will be submitted for lead actress consideration, while Moore will vie for supporting actress.
Co-leads from awards contenders are seldom campaigned alongside one another. One of Haynes’ most beloved films, the love story “Carol” (2015) starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, was famously criticized for separating its two presumed leading performers for its respective awards season. Blanchett was nominated in lead with Mara in supporting. While it can be debated for awards enthusiasts, there are only five instances of two women being nominated for the same movie in the Oscars’ 95-year history. The last was Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon for “Thelma & Louise” (1991).
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories.
- 9/20/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Todd Haynes’ biopic “I’m Not There” famously featured several actors in the role of Bob Dylan, each embodying the artist in one era of his varied musical career. The idea, of course, was to acknowledge Dylan’s shapeshifting nature as well as the fact that his work can mean different things to different people — some may find one actor’s interpretation more convincing and accurate than that of another.
Continue reading ‘Daaaaaali!’ Review: Quentin Dupieux’s Eye For The Beautiful & Absurd Finds Its Perfect Subject In The Spanish Artist [Venice] at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Daaaaaali!’ Review: Quentin Dupieux’s Eye For The Beautiful & Absurd Finds Its Perfect Subject In The Spanish Artist [Venice] at The Playlist.
- 9/8/2023
- by Elena Lazic
- The Playlist
Fantasy films are hard done by when it comes to earning acting nominations at the Oscars. “The Lord of the Rings,” which was an academy darling, of course, only garnered one nomination for its cast across all three movies. That was for Ian McKellen who reaped a Best Supporting Actor bid for the first film in the trilogy, “The Fellowship of the Ring.” The likes of Andy Serkis, Sean Astin and Elijah Wood were repeatedly snubbed.
Harry Potter is another of those fantasy film franchises that was short-changed at the Oscars for its acting despite a plethora of excellent performances from the cream of the British crop. Not to mention the central trio of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint who developed from child stars to fully-fledged thespians across the eight-film series. With that in mind, let’s take a look at five performances in the Harry Potter film...
Harry Potter is another of those fantasy film franchises that was short-changed at the Oscars for its acting despite a plethora of excellent performances from the cream of the British crop. Not to mention the central trio of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint who developed from child stars to fully-fledged thespians across the eight-film series. With that in mind, let’s take a look at five performances in the Harry Potter film...
- 9/7/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Colman Domingo is having a moment. The veteran actor has been nominated for two Tonys in his career, but lately it’s his on-screen work that has brought him the most attention. He won his first Emmy in 2022 for guesting on “Euphoria.” He received numerous plaudits for his role in the independent film “Zola.” And he has had additional film credits including Oscar winners “If Beale Street Could Talk” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Next he could become the 13th performer ever nominated for two Oscars in the same year.
As of this writing, based on the combined predictions of thousands of Gold Derby users, Domingo ranks fourth in our odds for Best Actor for playing the unsung civil rights hero Bayard Rustin in “Rustin.” And he places fifth in our odds for Best Supporting Actor for playing Mister in the upcoming musical adaptation of “The Color Purple.” But we...
As of this writing, based on the combined predictions of thousands of Gold Derby users, Domingo ranks fourth in our odds for Best Actor for playing the unsung civil rights hero Bayard Rustin in “Rustin.” And he places fifth in our odds for Best Supporting Actor for playing Mister in the upcoming musical adaptation of “The Color Purple.” But we...
- 8/8/2023
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Ben Whishaw has stealthily become one of Britain’s most prominent actors, offering kind aphorisms as the voice of Paddington Bear and issuing intelligent retorts as the latest incarnation of Q in the James Bond series. But a deeper look at his filmography over more than two decades reveals a much more varied body of work. From the meek gentility of Women Talking to the brutal physicality of Surge, from playing with the iconography of Bob Dylan in Todd Haynes’s I’m Not There to committing to the absurdist antics of Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Lobster, Whishaw knows how to surprise in any register.
The actor gets one of his most compelling showcases to date in Ira Sachs’s Passages. As the graphic artist Martin, he’s one corner of an emerging love triangle between his husband, the film director Tomas (an electric Franz Rogowski), and the Parisian schoolteacher Agathe...
The actor gets one of his most compelling showcases to date in Ira Sachs’s Passages. As the graphic artist Martin, he’s one corner of an emerging love triangle between his husband, the film director Tomas (an electric Franz Rogowski), and the Parisian schoolteacher Agathe...
- 8/2/2023
- by Marshall Shaffer
- Slant Magazine
Actress Cate Blanchett, poses for the Armani floral fragrance 'Sì', photographed by Tom Munro:
"The definition of iconic holiday elegance, Cate Blanchett captivates in the gold and red 'Armani' beauty holiday universe..."
Blanchett came to international attention portraying 'Elizabeth I' in the drama feature "Elizabeth" (1998). Her portrayal of 'Katharine Hepburn' in Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator" (2004) earned her the 'Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress'. She won a second Oscar for the comedy-drama "Blue Jasmine" (2013). Her other Oscar-nominated roles include "Notes on a Scandal" (2006), "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (2007), "I'm Not There" (2007), and "Carol" (2015).
Blanchett's films include "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999), Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy (2001–2003), "The Hobbit" trilogy (2012–2014), "Babel" (2006), "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008), "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (2008), the "How to Train Your Dragon" film trilogy (2014–2019), "Cinderella" (2015), "Thor: Ragnarok" (2017) and "Ocean's 8" (2018).
Click the images to enlarge.
"The definition of iconic holiday elegance, Cate Blanchett captivates in the gold and red 'Armani' beauty holiday universe..."
Blanchett came to international attention portraying 'Elizabeth I' in the drama feature "Elizabeth" (1998). Her portrayal of 'Katharine Hepburn' in Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator" (2004) earned her the 'Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress'. She won a second Oscar for the comedy-drama "Blue Jasmine" (2013). Her other Oscar-nominated roles include "Notes on a Scandal" (2006), "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (2007), "I'm Not There" (2007), and "Carol" (2015).
Blanchett's films include "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999), Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy (2001–2003), "The Hobbit" trilogy (2012–2014), "Babel" (2006), "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008), "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (2008), the "How to Train Your Dragon" film trilogy (2014–2019), "Cinderella" (2015), "Thor: Ragnarok" (2017) and "Ocean's 8" (2018).
Click the images to enlarge.
- 7/23/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Todd Haynes’s May December, starring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore and Charles Melton, will be the Opening Night selection
Film at Lincoln Center has announced that Todd Haynes’s May December, starring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton will be the Opening Night selection of the 61st New York Film Festival. Todd’s previous films screening at the New York Film Festival were Velvet Goldmine (NYFF 36), I’m Not There (NYFF 45), Carol (NYFF 53), Wonderstruck (NYFF 55 - Centerpiece Selection), and The Velvet Underground (NYFF 59).
Todd Haynes’s longtime producer Christine Vachon Photo: Ed Bahlman
“We are all so proud and moved to have been invited to open the New York Film Festival with the North American première of May December,” said director Todd Haynes. “It is a festival that plays a role in my work and life like no other in the world, since it enshrines...
Film at Lincoln Center has announced that Todd Haynes’s May December, starring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton will be the Opening Night selection of the 61st New York Film Festival. Todd’s previous films screening at the New York Film Festival were Velvet Goldmine (NYFF 36), I’m Not There (NYFF 45), Carol (NYFF 53), Wonderstruck (NYFF 55 - Centerpiece Selection), and The Velvet Underground (NYFF 59).
Todd Haynes’s longtime producer Christine Vachon Photo: Ed Bahlman
“We are all so proud and moved to have been invited to open the New York Film Festival with the North American première of May December,” said director Todd Haynes. “It is a festival that plays a role in my work and life like no other in the world, since it enshrines...
- 7/13/2023
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
One of the most exciting parts of a new Oscars season is seeing which over-due artists may finally land their first wins or bids. Last year, Todd Field (“Tár”) and Martin McDonagh (“The Banshees of Inisherin”), two revered filmmakers who have had plenty of acclaimed pictures in the past, finally received the first Best Director nominations of their careers. This year, there are several more filmmakers who are on the lookout for their first bids. So, here’s a rundown of five renowned helmers who could be first-time Best Director nominees this year.
Ben Affleck — “Air” (Amazon Studios/Universal)
Starring: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Viola Davis
Release Date: April 5, 2023
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
“Follows the history of sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro, and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball, Michael Jordan.”
Affleck won Best Picture in his directorial debut...
Ben Affleck — “Air” (Amazon Studios/Universal)
Starring: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Viola Davis
Release Date: April 5, 2023
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
“Follows the history of sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro, and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball, Michael Jordan.”
Affleck won Best Picture in his directorial debut...
- 7/13/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
This year’s New York Film Festival will open with the North American premiere of Todd Haynes’s new film “May December,” festival organizers announced on Tuesday.
“‘May December’ is a tour-de-force of writing, acting, and directing: a film built on moment-to-moment surprise, as thought-provoking as it is purely pleasurable,” said Dennis Lim, the artistic director at the New York Film Festival, in a press release. “It cements Todd Haynes’s place as one of American cinema’s most brilliant mischief-makers and as an all-time great director of actors. Todd has been a consistent presence at the New York Film Festival for almost his entire career, and we are very excited to open this edition with one of his most dazzling achievements.”
“We are all so proud and moved to have been invited to open the New York Film Festival with the North American premiere of ‘May December,’” Haynes said...
“‘May December’ is a tour-de-force of writing, acting, and directing: a film built on moment-to-moment surprise, as thought-provoking as it is purely pleasurable,” said Dennis Lim, the artistic director at the New York Film Festival, in a press release. “It cements Todd Haynes’s place as one of American cinema’s most brilliant mischief-makers and as an all-time great director of actors. Todd has been a consistent presence at the New York Film Festival for almost his entire career, and we are very excited to open this edition with one of his most dazzling achievements.”
“We are all so proud and moved to have been invited to open the New York Film Festival with the North American premiere of ‘May December,’” Haynes said...
- 7/11/2023
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Netflix sets November 17 theatrical release ahead of December 1 platform debut.
The North American premiere of Todd Haynes’s May December will open the 61st New York Film Festival on September 29.
Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore star in the drama about a TV star who ruffles feathers when she begins research for a role involving a couple whose origins called tabloid furore two decades prior.
Charles Melton also stars in the film, which premiered in Cannes Competition and finished joint second on Screen’s jury grid.
Netflix acquired May December in a reported $11m North American deal following the world premiere...
The North American premiere of Todd Haynes’s May December will open the 61st New York Film Festival on September 29.
Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore star in the drama about a TV star who ruffles feathers when she begins research for a role involving a couple whose origins called tabloid furore two decades prior.
Charles Melton also stars in the film, which premiered in Cannes Competition and finished joint second on Screen’s jury grid.
Netflix acquired May December in a reported $11m North American deal following the world premiere...
- 7/11/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Todd Haynes’ May December will open the New York Film Festival on September 29, organizers said today.
The film had its world premiere in Cannes and its North American rights were acquired by Netflix for $11 million after an all-night bidding war. New York will host the film’s North American premiere as the kickoff to its 61st edition. Haynes and members of the cast headed by Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore are expected to be in attendance.
While the New York fest has sometimes opened with major world premieres like The Irishman in 2019, its DNA as a “festival of festivals” based in a media-rich city has led it to program plenty of non-premiere openers. The 2022 fest opened with White Noise, which had world-premiered in Venice. Even after an opening night featuring an established festival title, this year’s NYFF is likely feature quite a few world premieres during the course of its 17-day run.
The film had its world premiere in Cannes and its North American rights were acquired by Netflix for $11 million after an all-night bidding war. New York will host the film’s North American premiere as the kickoff to its 61st edition. Haynes and members of the cast headed by Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore are expected to be in attendance.
While the New York fest has sometimes opened with major world premieres like The Irishman in 2019, its DNA as a “festival of festivals” based in a media-rich city has led it to program plenty of non-premiere openers. The 2022 fest opened with White Noise, which had world-premiered in Venice. Even after an opening night featuring an established festival title, this year’s NYFF is likely feature quite a few world premieres during the course of its 17-day run.
- 7/11/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Portland local Todd Haynes turned out at the Oregon city’s art museum in late June not to tout his own movies — and he certainly has a major one on the horizon thanks to Netflix’s Cannes pick-up “May December” — but to celebrate his peers: namely screenwriter and author Jon Raymond, longtime collaborator of Haynes’ friend Kelly Reichardt. Raymond also co-wrote with Haynes the script for his acclaimed 2011 HBO miniseries “Mildred Pierce” and developed the story for Haynes’ upcoming gay romance starring Joaquin Phoenix.
Haynes, who moved to Portland in 2000, was among speakers at the Portland Art Museum Center for an Untold Tomorrow’s (Pam Cut) Cinema Unbound Awards, which honored the likes of Raymond, Guillermo del Toro, Tessa Thompson, Jacqueline Stewart, and Portlander Fred Armisen. The lively gala was held in honor of not only raising funds for the museum — one of the largest in the country and now...
Haynes, who moved to Portland in 2000, was among speakers at the Portland Art Museum Center for an Untold Tomorrow’s (Pam Cut) Cinema Unbound Awards, which honored the likes of Raymond, Guillermo del Toro, Tessa Thompson, Jacqueline Stewart, and Portlander Fred Armisen. The lively gala was held in honor of not only raising funds for the museum — one of the largest in the country and now...
- 7/10/2023
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
"Why are they after me like that?" "They can't stand what you represent." Goldwyn Films has released an official US trailer for Simone: Woman of the Century, a French biopic about a woman named Simone Veil. She passed away in 2017 at the age of 89, but during her time she was a French magistrate, Holocaust survivor, and politician who served as Health Minister, and President of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1982, the first woman to hold that office. "One of the prominent women in France in the 20th Century." The film explores her life, as a leading politician, human rights campaigner, and feminist -- through a series of non-chronological memories. Similar to the Bob Dylan film I'm Not There; this one is from the director of La Vie en Rose. "An intimate and epic portrait of an extraordinary woman who eminently challenged and transformed her era." The French film stars Elsa Zylberstein as Simone Veil,...
- 6/27/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
by Patrick Ball
It certainly isn’t a stretch to consider any Todd Haynes filmography part of the Queer Oscar Canon. The filmmaker brought us La Blanchett in the all-timer Carol and as a gender-bent Bob Dylan in I’m Not There. He directed Laura Dern and Kate Winslet on the small screen in prestige HBO offerings Enlightened and Mildred Pierce (respectively). And I know I’m not alone in my extreme anticipation for his forthcoming May/December, his third collaboration with primary muse Julianne Moore. If the proverbial Dorothy is 'a great actress or queer icon of her generation' than the man is a *friend* of Dorothy. But my favorite, and an early example of how a queer perspective permeates through his style, enriching the work, is Far From Heaven.
Far From Heaven, a juggernaut on the 2002 Critics Circuit, eventually was nominated for four Academy Awards- including one for Haynes’ himself for Best Original Screenplay.
It certainly isn’t a stretch to consider any Todd Haynes filmography part of the Queer Oscar Canon. The filmmaker brought us La Blanchett in the all-timer Carol and as a gender-bent Bob Dylan in I’m Not There. He directed Laura Dern and Kate Winslet on the small screen in prestige HBO offerings Enlightened and Mildred Pierce (respectively). And I know I’m not alone in my extreme anticipation for his forthcoming May/December, his third collaboration with primary muse Julianne Moore. If the proverbial Dorothy is 'a great actress or queer icon of her generation' than the man is a *friend* of Dorothy. But my favorite, and an early example of how a queer perspective permeates through his style, enriching the work, is Far From Heaven.
Far From Heaven, a juggernaut on the 2002 Critics Circuit, eventually was nominated for four Academy Awards- including one for Haynes’ himself for Best Original Screenplay.
- 6/20/2023
- by Patrick Ball
- FilmExperience
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