Editor’s Note: This review was originally published at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Focus Features will release “The American Society of Magical Negroes” on Friday, March 15.
In one of the few laugh-out-loud scenes of “The American Society of Magical Negroes,” actor, writer and comedian Kobi Libii’s unevenly written but good-looking directorial debut that gradually runs out of steam, a Black man grabs an unsuspecting white person by the crotch to supposedly cure him of a prostatic illness.
The scene is a direct reference to Frank Darabont’s 1999 Oscar nominee “The Green Mile,” in which Michael Clarke Duncan’s prison inmate with a heart of gold (and supernatural powers) and Tom Hanks’ kind guard get similarly, well, acquainted. “The Green Mile” was only one of the then-recent barrage of popular movies like “What Dreams May Come,” “The Family Man,” and “The Legend of Bagger Vance” (also amusingly referenced in Libii...
In one of the few laugh-out-loud scenes of “The American Society of Magical Negroes,” actor, writer and comedian Kobi Libii’s unevenly written but good-looking directorial debut that gradually runs out of steam, a Black man grabs an unsuspecting white person by the crotch to supposedly cure him of a prostatic illness.
The scene is a direct reference to Frank Darabont’s 1999 Oscar nominee “The Green Mile,” in which Michael Clarke Duncan’s prison inmate with a heart of gold (and supernatural powers) and Tom Hanks’ kind guard get similarly, well, acquainted. “The Green Mile” was only one of the then-recent barrage of popular movies like “What Dreams May Come,” “The Family Man,” and “The Legend of Bagger Vance” (also amusingly referenced in Libii...
- 1/20/2024
- by Tomris Laffly
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Ron Bass, the scribe best known for his Academy Award-winning work on Rain Man, has been set to write and produce Music on the Bones, a new film inspired by real events.
Set in 1968. a moment in time when rock n’ roll was banned in the Ussr, the story follows young Russian doctor Max as he and his friends covertly duplicate and distribute music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin and more on repurposed X-Ray film. Against a backdrop of constant surveillance, persecution, and risk of imprisonment, they listen to the forbidden music of the free world, which holds the promise of another life.
Enter Valerie, an American film student disillusioned with her country, who is invited to Moscow by the Ministry of Culture under the watchful eye of the Kbg, to make a propaganda film promoting the virtues of Communism. After a meeting with Max and his companions,...
Set in 1968. a moment in time when rock n’ roll was banned in the Ussr, the story follows young Russian doctor Max as he and his friends covertly duplicate and distribute music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin and more on repurposed X-Ray film. Against a backdrop of constant surveillance, persecution, and risk of imprisonment, they listen to the forbidden music of the free world, which holds the promise of another life.
Enter Valerie, an American film student disillusioned with her country, who is invited to Moscow by the Ministry of Culture under the watchful eye of the Kbg, to make a propaganda film promoting the virtues of Communism. After a meeting with Max and his companions,...
- 10/31/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The late Robin Williams had the incredible and unmatched ability to make people laugh. His volcanic energy, genius delivery, and rapid impressions made him a household name. Williams’ immense success in the 1990s eventually opened the door for more serious films, including the tender Good Will Hunting and the fantastical What Dreams May Come. Not everything that came after was as well received or recognized, but Williams continued to pursue other genres outside of comedy. The actor had his fair share of dramatic performances to complement his comedic ones, but it was Williams’ sinister turn in 2002’s One Hour Photo that caught everyone off guard. No one was expecting Mrs. Doubtfire or Aladdin’s genie to star in such an unsettling psychological-thriller.
Sy the Photo Guy remains a defining character in Williams’ career, even after playing another villain in Insomnia that same year. However, to outright label the chronically lonely...
Sy the Photo Guy remains a defining character in Williams’ career, even after playing another villain in Insomnia that same year. However, to outright label the chronically lonely...
- 8/18/2023
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
The I Am Legend episode of Wtf Happened to This Adaptation? was Written and Narrated by Andrew Hatfield, Edited by Mike Conway, Produced by Lance Vlcek and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian. Here is the text of Hatfield’s script:
I was able to cover my favorite movie of all time in the first episode with The Thing and now we are going to look at an adaptation, or 3, of my favorite story of all time. While you may not know the work of Richard Matheson by name, I guarantee you know the work and the artist from somewhere. He is one of the most successful writers both on screen and off of the 20th century and many of his works have been adapted multiple times over. Today’s movie, while having 2 adaptations already in the books, was in development hell for what felt like forever, but...
I was able to cover my favorite movie of all time in the first episode with The Thing and now we are going to look at an adaptation, or 3, of my favorite story of all time. While you may not know the work of Richard Matheson by name, I guarantee you know the work and the artist from somewhere. He is one of the most successful writers both on screen and off of the 20th century and many of his works have been adapted multiple times over. Today’s movie, while having 2 adaptations already in the books, was in development hell for what felt like forever, but...
- 6/23/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
An adaptation of what I still believe to be one of the creepiest and genuinely unnerving short stories Stephen King ever wrote, the latest Children of the Corn movie (the eleventh overall in the film franchise) has been acquired by Rlje Films and Shudder, and the film is slated for a March 3rd theatrical release, followed by an On Demand and Digital release on March 21st:
Press Release: Los Angeles, January 26, 2023 — Rlje Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, and Shudder, AMC Networks’ streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, have partnered to acquire the horror film Children Of The Corn from writer/director Kurt Wimmer (Ultraviolet). Based upon the short story “Children of the Corn” by Stephen King, the film stars Elena Kampouris (Before I Fall), Kate Moyer (“Station Eleven”), Callan Mulvey (The Gray Man) and Bruce Spence (The Road Warrior). The film will be in released In...
Press Release: Los Angeles, January 26, 2023 — Rlje Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, and Shudder, AMC Networks’ streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, have partnered to acquire the horror film Children Of The Corn from writer/director Kurt Wimmer (Ultraviolet). Based upon the short story “Children of the Corn” by Stephen King, the film stars Elena Kampouris (Before I Fall), Kate Moyer (“Station Eleven”), Callan Mulvey (The Gray Man) and Bruce Spence (The Road Warrior). The film will be in released In...
- 1/27/2023
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
There is a lot of advice given to those who are going through the loss of a loved one, but the truth is that there is no formula, each person responds to grief differently. Now, in times of post-pandemic, it is more than necessary to reflect on this subject, both to deal with death and to help those who are bereaved.
Watching films that address the theme can be fruitful to observe and learn, for this reason, we have put together a list of excellent movies with characters who are going through or have gone through the end of a cycle. Among the selections are Little Big Women (2020) by Joseph Chen-Chieh Hsu and Bunny Drop by Sabu.
If you are in a grieving situation or know someone who is going through it, comforting the person can be a way to show affection, whether it’s in person or through condolence messages,...
Watching films that address the theme can be fruitful to observe and learn, for this reason, we have put together a list of excellent movies with characters who are going through or have gone through the end of a cycle. Among the selections are Little Big Women (2020) by Joseph Chen-Chieh Hsu and Bunny Drop by Sabu.
If you are in a grieving situation or know someone who is going through it, comforting the person can be a way to show affection, whether it’s in person or through condolence messages,...
- 12/14/2022
- by Michael Walsh
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
It's no secret that great comedy often comes from pain, and as much as his fans would have liked it to be otherwise, Robin Williams' comedic genius seems to be no exception. The late comedian and Academy Award-winning actor lit up the screen in the '90s in iconic films like "Mrs. Doubtfire" before moving on to more serious movies like "Good Will Hunting" and "What Dreams May Come."
Williams was one of those rare comedians who could slip in and out of funny man characters effortlessly and make audiences feel real, true, and deep emotions in dramatic roles. After entering the public consciousness as a stand-up comedian, he spent decades in the film industry, proving himself to be as talented as any other A-list thespian in Hollywood. Unfortunately, along with accolades and pats on the back, Williams also had to deal with the isolation that comes with fame. Predictably,...
Williams was one of those rare comedians who could slip in and out of funny man characters effortlessly and make audiences feel real, true, and deep emotions in dramatic roles. After entering the public consciousness as a stand-up comedian, he spent decades in the film industry, proving himself to be as talented as any other A-list thespian in Hollywood. Unfortunately, along with accolades and pats on the back, Williams also had to deal with the isolation that comes with fame. Predictably,...
- 9/23/2022
- by Christian Gainey
- Slash Film
The Equalizer What Dreams May Come Trailer — CBS‘ The Equalizer: Season 2, Episode 17: What Dreams May Come TV show trailer has been released. Cast and crew The Equalizer stars Queen Latifah, Chris Noth, Lorraine Toussaint, Tory Kittles, Adam Goldberg, Liza Lapira, and Laya DeLeon Hayes. The Equalizer CBS TV Series Which actor [...]
Continue reading: The Equalizer: Season 2, Episode 17: What Dreams May Come TV Show Trailer [CBS]...
Continue reading: The Equalizer: Season 2, Episode 17: What Dreams May Come TV Show Trailer [CBS]...
- 4/26/2022
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
NBCUniversal’s international flight plan for Peacock starts this week: Starting Nov. 16, Sky TV and Now customers in the U.K. and Ireland will get access to the streaming service for no additional fee.
Comcast had announced plans this summer to launch Peacock as a free add-on for Sky’s satellite TV customers in Europe, representing a base of close to 20 million households. According to NBCU, after the “soft launch” in the U.K. and Ireland, Peacock will continue to roll out across Sky platforms in territories including Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland in the next few months.
Sky TV customers and subscribers to the Now Entertainment package in the U.K. and Ireland will get “early access” to the new ad-supported Peacock destination, with original and library TV shows and movies from across NBCU although the content availability will differ from what’s available on Peacock in the U.
Comcast had announced plans this summer to launch Peacock as a free add-on for Sky’s satellite TV customers in Europe, representing a base of close to 20 million households. According to NBCU, after the “soft launch” in the U.K. and Ireland, Peacock will continue to roll out across Sky platforms in territories including Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland in the next few months.
Sky TV customers and subscribers to the Now Entertainment package in the U.K. and Ireland will get “early access” to the new ad-supported Peacock destination, with original and library TV shows and movies from across NBCU although the content availability will differ from what’s available on Peacock in the U.
- 11/15/2021
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
By the power of Grayskull, Netflix’s list of new releases for July 2021 is here!
As you may have been able to tell by that clever opening, July is the month that Masters of the Universe: Revelation arrives on Netflix. This animated series from Kevin Smith continues the classic stories of He-Man and his buff friends. If nostalgia not be what ye seek, Netflix has plenty other original series this month as well. The amazingly hilarious sketch series I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson returns for season 2 on July 6. Also returning for a second season are Beastars, Never Have I Ever (both on July 15), and Outer Banks (July 30).
Netflix’s movie offerings are pretty thick this month since July marks the real beginning of the summer blockbuster season. The streamer is bringing not one, but three Fear Street films based on R.L. Stine’s classic book series. They...
As you may have been able to tell by that clever opening, July is the month that Masters of the Universe: Revelation arrives on Netflix. This animated series from Kevin Smith continues the classic stories of He-Man and his buff friends. If nostalgia not be what ye seek, Netflix has plenty other original series this month as well. The amazingly hilarious sketch series I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson returns for season 2 on July 6. Also returning for a second season are Beastars, Never Have I Ever (both on July 15), and Outer Banks (July 30).
Netflix’s movie offerings are pretty thick this month since July marks the real beginning of the summer blockbuster season. The streamer is bringing not one, but three Fear Street films based on R.L. Stine’s classic book series. They...
- 7/1/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Young adult horror fans (and those who are young adult at heart) will have a great time scrolling through Netflix in July 2021.
The streaming giant announced the new original movies and series coming to the service in July, as well as the library titles it will feature for the foreseeable future.
Among the biggest projects include a trilogy of “Fear Street” films from director Leigh Janiak (“Honeymoon”) and based on the teen horror franchise by R.L. Stine. The three movies will debut over consecutive weeks on Netflix, with the first dropping July 2.
The other big movie project coming to Netflix in July is “The Last Letter from Your Lover,” a time-spanning romance from novelist Jojo Moyes and filmmaker Augustine Frizzell starring Shailene Woodley and Oscar-nominee Felicity Jones.
On the archival front, some major movies arriving on Netflix include all five films in the “Twilight” franchise, the original “Karate Kid” trilogy,...
The streaming giant announced the new original movies and series coming to the service in July, as well as the library titles it will feature for the foreseeable future.
Among the biggest projects include a trilogy of “Fear Street” films from director Leigh Janiak (“Honeymoon”) and based on the teen horror franchise by R.L. Stine. The three movies will debut over consecutive weeks on Netflix, with the first dropping July 2.
The other big movie project coming to Netflix in July is “The Last Letter from Your Lover,” a time-spanning romance from novelist Jojo Moyes and filmmaker Augustine Frizzell starring Shailene Woodley and Oscar-nominee Felicity Jones.
On the archival front, some major movies arriving on Netflix include all five films in the “Twilight” franchise, the original “Karate Kid” trilogy,...
- 6/23/2021
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
A grandma and grandpa look to conduct a "reverse exorcism" to bring their grandson back from the grave in Anything for Jackson, and with the new horror movie now on VOD, Digital, DVD, and Blu-ray from Rlje Films (following its release on Shudder), we caught up with director Justin G. Dyck in a new Q&a feature to discuss collaborating with writer Keith Cooper, the eight-year journey to making a horror film, and working with a talented cast headlined by Sheila McCarthy and Julian Richings.
You can check out our full Q&a below, and in case you missed them, read Emily von Seele's Nightstream review of Anything for Jackson and Heather Wixson's interview with Justin G. Dyck.
Thanks for taking the time to answer questions for us, Justin, and congratulations on Anything for Jackson! You’ve collaborated with writer Keith Cooper on previous films. Did you two already...
You can check out our full Q&a below, and in case you missed them, read Emily von Seele's Nightstream review of Anything for Jackson and Heather Wixson's interview with Justin G. Dyck.
Thanks for taking the time to answer questions for us, Justin, and congratulations on Anything for Jackson! You’ve collaborated with writer Keith Cooper on previous films. Did you two already...
- 6/18/2021
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
“News of the World” actor Helena Zengel has joined the ranks of Anna Paquin, Macaulay Culkin and Haley Joel Osment as one of the youngest Golden Globe nominees ever. At the age of 12, she landed a Globe, Critics Choice and SAG nomination in the supporting actress category, putting her on track for an Oscar nod. A newcomer to the American movie scene, Zengel has been acting since she was 3. She became a household name in her native Germany when she starred in 2019’s “System Crasher,” for which she received the best leading actress award at the Deutscher Filmpreis, the German equivalent of the Oscars.
Set in 1870, “News of the World” saw her acting opposite Tom Hanks as the young orphan girl Johanna Leonberger. In the film, Hanks seeks to reunite her with her relatives, and the two set out on an adventure across Texas.
You’ve earned all these nominations!
Set in 1870, “News of the World” saw her acting opposite Tom Hanks as the young orphan girl Johanna Leonberger. In the film, Hanks seeks to reunite her with her relatives, and the two set out on an adventure across Texas.
You’ve earned all these nominations!
- 2/24/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Peacock, the NBCUniversal streaming service that launched in April in Comcast homes, started expanding nationally overnight as Tuesday turned to Wednesday on the East Coast.
Along with Comcast’s X1 and Flex, Peacock will be available on Apple and Google platforms, Microsoft’s Xbox, Vizio and LG smart TVs, Cox Contour and, starting next week, Sony PlayStation. Talks are ongoing with major distributors like Amazon Fire and Roku, but those two top platforms are still on the sidelines as of now.
Peacock will offer 13,000 hours on its free tier and 20,000 hours on its subscription level, sourced from a range of networks and studios both inside and outside of NBCU. Nine Peacock Original movies and shows are available at launch, with others following through the end of the year. (Deadline reported Tuesday on the latest release dates for several shows arriving after today’s expansion.)
There will be more than 30 curated channels,...
Along with Comcast’s X1 and Flex, Peacock will be available on Apple and Google platforms, Microsoft’s Xbox, Vizio and LG smart TVs, Cox Contour and, starting next week, Sony PlayStation. Talks are ongoing with major distributors like Amazon Fire and Roku, but those two top platforms are still on the sidelines as of now.
Peacock will offer 13,000 hours on its free tier and 20,000 hours on its subscription level, sourced from a range of networks and studios both inside and outside of NBCU. Nine Peacock Original movies and shows are available at launch, with others following through the end of the year. (Deadline reported Tuesday on the latest release dates for several shows arriving after today’s expansion.)
There will be more than 30 curated channels,...
- 7/15/2020
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
NBCUniversal’s Peacock is set to go live on July 15 for a national audience, stuffed with more than 20,000 hours for Premium subscribers — and more than 13,000 hours entirely for free.
So what’s on the service? Here’s a breakdown of what to stream on Peacock Free and Peacock Premium, including original TV shows and movies. While Peacock will be available on platforms including those from Apple, Google, Xbox, LG, Vizio, Comcast and Cox, it will not be on Roku or Amazon Fire TV.
Content on both tiers
Both Peacock’s free and premium tiers will feature current-season episodes and specials from NBC and Telemundo; news, sports and pop-culture programming; and more than 30 genre channels including live news from NBC News Now and Sky News, curated channels with clips from shows like “The Office” (which will roll off Netflix at the end of 2020 to come to Peacock in January 2021), “Saturday Night Live,...
So what’s on the service? Here’s a breakdown of what to stream on Peacock Free and Peacock Premium, including original TV shows and movies. While Peacock will be available on platforms including those from Apple, Google, Xbox, LG, Vizio, Comcast and Cox, it will not be on Roku or Amazon Fire TV.
Content on both tiers
Both Peacock’s free and premium tiers will feature current-season episodes and specials from NBC and Telemundo; news, sports and pop-culture programming; and more than 30 genre channels including live news from NBC News Now and Sky News, curated channels with clips from shows like “The Office” (which will roll off Netflix at the end of 2020 to come to Peacock in January 2021), “Saturday Night Live,...
- 7/14/2020
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Versatile film, avant-garde classical, jazz and pop composer Ennio Morricone died in a Rome hospital after falling and breaking his leg, his lawyer Giorgio Assumma announced, according to Variety. He was 91.
Known as “the Maestro,” Morricone is best known as the composer of the scores and themes of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, and his Academy Award winning soundtrack for Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight. He also toured frequently, and expanded his sonic visions to reflect contemporary sounds. Besides his collaborations on the spaghetti Western films of Sergio Leone, Morricone composed for Bernardo Bertolucci, Dario Argento, Don Siegel, Brian De Palma, and John Carpenter. He composed for such diverse artists as Andrea Bocelli, Sting, k.d. lang, and Pet Shop Boys. Morricone never became fluent in English. When he won his 2007 honorary Oscar, his speech was translated by Clint Eastwood.
Morricone...
Known as “the Maestro,” Morricone is best known as the composer of the scores and themes of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, and his Academy Award winning soundtrack for Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight. He also toured frequently, and expanded his sonic visions to reflect contemporary sounds. Besides his collaborations on the spaghetti Western films of Sergio Leone, Morricone composed for Bernardo Bertolucci, Dario Argento, Don Siegel, Brian De Palma, and John Carpenter. He composed for such diverse artists as Andrea Bocelli, Sting, k.d. lang, and Pet Shop Boys. Morricone never became fluent in English. When he won his 2007 honorary Oscar, his speech was translated by Clint Eastwood.
Morricone...
- 7/6/2020
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Outlander Season 5 is here (thankfully).
Starz made the announcement that it would be renewing its historical time travel romance based on the bestselling series from Diana Gabaldon for two more seasons in October 2018, taking it through Season 6 at least. The announcement came ahead of Outlander Season 4, which wrapped up in January.
You can read our review of the latest episode here.
What’s next? “The Ballad of Roger Mac,” which airs on March 29th. Check out the promo:
And here’s the episode synopsis…
The Regulator Rebellion reaches a boiling point, forcing Jamie to face his fear and confront the consequence of his divided loyalties.
Outlander Season 5 Episodes Outlander Season 5 Episode 1: The Fiery Cross
“Following celebrations in honor of Brianna and Roger’s wedding, Governor Tryon reminds Jamie of his obligation to hunt down and kill Murtagh Fitzgibbons.”
airdate: 2/16/20
Read our full review of “The Fiery Cross” here.
Outlander...
Starz made the announcement that it would be renewing its historical time travel romance based on the bestselling series from Diana Gabaldon for two more seasons in October 2018, taking it through Season 6 at least. The announcement came ahead of Outlander Season 4, which wrapped up in January.
You can read our review of the latest episode here.
What’s next? “The Ballad of Roger Mac,” which airs on March 29th. Check out the promo:
And here’s the episode synopsis…
The Regulator Rebellion reaches a boiling point, forcing Jamie to face his fear and confront the consequence of his divided loyalties.
Outlander Season 5 Episodes Outlander Season 5 Episode 1: The Fiery Cross
“Following celebrations in honor of Brianna and Roger’s wedding, Governor Tryon reminds Jamie of his obligation to hunt down and kill Murtagh Fitzgibbons.”
airdate: 2/16/20
Read our full review of “The Fiery Cross” here.
Outlander...
- 3/23/2020
- by Kayti Burt
- Den of Geek
It’s been a decade since we last saw any interpretation of A Nightmare on Elm Street. The 2010 version was a remake/reboot of the series starring Jackie Earle Haley (remember him?) as Freddy Krueger and was a mostly forgettable horror movie save for featuring an early role for future Oscar nominee Rooney Mara.
For many fans, there’s only one Freddy and that’s Robert Englund. The actor starred as the dream demon in eight different films with the last one being 2003’s Freddy vs. Jason. He did, however, reprise the role for an episode of The Goldbergs back in 2018.
Of course, the rights to the franchise recently returned to the Wes Craven estate. And despite the director passing away five years ago, Englund believes that Craven’s children are fully capable of bringing the character back in a meaningful way.
“Their choice is whether to go with completely...
For many fans, there’s only one Freddy and that’s Robert Englund. The actor starred as the dream demon in eight different films with the last one being 2003’s Freddy vs. Jason. He did, however, reprise the role for an episode of The Goldbergs back in 2018.
Of course, the rights to the franchise recently returned to the Wes Craven estate. And despite the director passing away five years ago, Englund believes that Craven’s children are fully capable of bringing the character back in a meaningful way.
“Their choice is whether to go with completely...
- 3/19/2020
- by Ryan Beltram
- We Got This Covered
The worst thing you could do is not give the studio a lot of options,” says unit photographer Frank Masi, whose stills have helped show off more than 70 films, from 1995’s “Gordy” to Disney’s upcoming “Jungle Cruise.” Masi has shot photos of stars Will Smith, Bruce Willis, Will Ferrell, Cameron Diaz, Dwayne Johnson and Hugh Jackman, to name just a few, over a 25-year career.
In a single day, Masi, 53, can snap and send upwards of 800 images. Not all still photographers share this methodology, but it has worked for him. On Jan. 18, the Society of Camera Operators will recognize his contributions to the industry with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Masi has galleries of memories from working on movies like “I, Tonya,” “The Hangover,” “Hancock,” “War of the Worlds,” “What Dreams May Come” and many others.
He recalls a day on “Live Free or Die Hard” (2007) when Willis fired a...
In a single day, Masi, 53, can snap and send upwards of 800 images. Not all still photographers share this methodology, but it has worked for him. On Jan. 18, the Society of Camera Operators will recognize his contributions to the industry with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Masi has galleries of memories from working on movies like “I, Tonya,” “The Hangover,” “Hancock,” “War of the Worlds,” “What Dreams May Come” and many others.
He recalls a day on “Live Free or Die Hard” (2007) when Willis fired a...
- 1/9/2020
- by Zoe Hewitt
- Variety Film + TV
Before the #MeToo movement began in 2017, Harvey Weinstein was a major power player during awards season, with his notoriously aggressive marketing campaigns for his production company Miramax often marking the difference between a win and a loss. So it is perhaps fitting that his criminal trial begins a day after the Golden Globes, one of the biggest events of awards season, where his absence was felt on the red carpet.
Today, January 6th, Weinstein apeared in court in New York City to face criminal charges for five sex-crime charges, including rape and predatory sexual assault.
Today, January 6th, Weinstein apeared in court in New York City to face criminal charges for five sex-crime charges, including rape and predatory sexual assault.
- 1/6/2020
- by EJ Dickson
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: Annabella Sciorra, who earned an Emmy nom for her stint on HBO’s The Sopranos, is attached to star in God the Worm, an indie film written and to be directed by Eric Schaeffer. Mainstay Entertainment principals Norman Aladjem and Ray Moheet are producing the project, which will commence filming this month.
Sciorra will play Samantha Miller, a talented singer-songwriter who had a semi-hit record early in her career but nothing since. Now 52 and questioning life’s meaning, she is haunted by past choices in love, family and career. In her despair, she asks the universe to give her a sign that she should continue the struggle. What follows is a journey through New York City’s colorful neighborhoods where chance encounters with a roster of eccentric and unforgettable characters — some would call them angels — help illuminate her path and restore her zeal for life and music.
“Annabella Sciorra is a prodigious talent,...
Sciorra will play Samantha Miller, a talented singer-songwriter who had a semi-hit record early in her career but nothing since. Now 52 and questioning life’s meaning, she is haunted by past choices in love, family and career. In her despair, she asks the universe to give her a sign that she should continue the struggle. What follows is a journey through New York City’s colorful neighborhoods where chance encounters with a roster of eccentric and unforgettable characters — some would call them angels — help illuminate her path and restore her zeal for life and music.
“Annabella Sciorra is a prodigious talent,...
- 3/11/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Hulu has confirmed that several of its original series will be debuting new episodes on the streaming service in November, including more of season 1 of the Sean Penn drama “The First” and the start of the English comedy “The Bisexual.” And there will also be new to Hulu seasons of some of your favorites reality shows from other networks, including various editions of “Top Chef” and “Vanderpump Rules.”
Likewise, there will be plenty of movies making their first Hulu appearances including 20 of the 26 films in the James Bond franchise as well as all three of the “Oceans” movies.
See Netflix schedule: Here’s what is coming and leaving in November
Available November 1
10 to Midnight
28 Days Later
2001 Maniacs
The Accused
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
A Fairly Odd Christmas
A Fistful of Dynamite
A View to Kill
Albert
Alice
Amelie
Bachelor Party
Barbie Mariposa and Her Butterfly Fairy...
Likewise, there will be plenty of movies making their first Hulu appearances including 20 of the 26 films in the James Bond franchise as well as all three of the “Oceans” movies.
See Netflix schedule: Here’s what is coming and leaving in November
Available November 1
10 to Midnight
28 Days Later
2001 Maniacs
The Accused
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
A Fairly Odd Christmas
A Fistful of Dynamite
A View to Kill
Albert
Alice
Amelie
Bachelor Party
Barbie Mariposa and Her Butterfly Fairy...
- 11/1/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Beat the back-to-school blues with new movie titles like “13 Going on 30” and “Sixteen Candles” hitting Hulu on Sept. 1, as well as new and favorite fall TV series.
The Hulu original series “The First,” starring Sean Penn and Natascha McElhone, is about a group of astronauts attempting to be the first humans on Mars. It premieres on Sept. 14, and new episodes of Sarah Silverman’s “I Love You, America” will arrive on Sept. 6.
Fall TV also arrives next month, and you’ll be able to watch premieres of network hits like “This Is Us” on Sept. 26, “9-1-1” on Sept. 24 and “Grey’s Anatomy” on Sept. 28. New shows will also become available after they premiere, like “Manifest” on Sept. 25, “New Amsterdam” on Sept. 26 and “A Million Little Things” on Sept. 27.
Also Read: 'Castle Rock' Just Explained Why So Many Stephen King Stories Happen There
See below for...
The Hulu original series “The First,” starring Sean Penn and Natascha McElhone, is about a group of astronauts attempting to be the first humans on Mars. It premieres on Sept. 14, and new episodes of Sarah Silverman’s “I Love You, America” will arrive on Sept. 6.
Fall TV also arrives next month, and you’ll be able to watch premieres of network hits like “This Is Us” on Sept. 26, “9-1-1” on Sept. 24 and “Grey’s Anatomy” on Sept. 28. New shows will also become available after they premiere, like “Manifest” on Sept. 25, “New Amsterdam” on Sept. 26 and “A Million Little Things” on Sept. 27.
Also Read: 'Castle Rock' Just Explained Why So Many Stephen King Stories Happen There
See below for...
- 8/17/2018
- by Ashley Boucher
- The Wrap
In honor of its 20th anniversary, the Visual Effects Society polled its membership to list the 70 most influential VFX films of all time. James Cameron led the pack with six entries (“The Abyss,” “Aliens,” “Avatar,” “Terminator,” “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” and “Titanic”); Steven Spielberg followed close behind with five (“Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “E.T. the Extraterrestrial,” “Jaws,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and “Jurassic Park”); and Peter Jackson had four Oscar winners (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and “King Kong”).
“The Ves 70 represents films that have had a significant, lasting impact on the practice and appreciation of visual effects as an integral element of cinematic expression and storytelling,” said Ves board chair Mike Chambers. “We see this as an important opportunity for our members, leading visual effects practitioners worldwide, to pay homage to our heritage and help shape the future of the global visual effects community. In...
“The Ves 70 represents films that have had a significant, lasting impact on the practice and appreciation of visual effects as an integral element of cinematic expression and storytelling,” said Ves board chair Mike Chambers. “We see this as an important opportunity for our members, leading visual effects practitioners worldwide, to pay homage to our heritage and help shape the future of the global visual effects community. In...
- 9/12/2017
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Some actors manage to catch lightning in a bottle twice. It’s impressive enough to find your niche in Hollywood’s A-list even once. Occasionally, an actor will reinvent him/herself and begin a new phase of their careers that will be even more successful than it was before. Here are nine actors who had a cinematic rebirth.
Liam Neeson- Neeson has had a long career, and the early part of it was in dramatic roles. An intense dramatic actor, he apeared in films like The Dead Pool, Dark Man, Schindler’s List, Rob Roy and Les Miserables. His career rebirth came after playing Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars-Episode one: The Phantom Menace. After that, he got more offers for actions parts and recreated himself as an action hero in films like Gangs of NY, Batman Begins, Taken, Clash of the Titans, the A-Team, Unknown, the Grey, Taken 2,...
Liam Neeson- Neeson has had a long career, and the early part of it was in dramatic roles. An intense dramatic actor, he apeared in films like The Dead Pool, Dark Man, Schindler’s List, Rob Roy and Les Miserables. His career rebirth came after playing Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars-Episode one: The Phantom Menace. After that, he got more offers for actions parts and recreated himself as an action hero in films like Gangs of NY, Batman Begins, Taken, Clash of the Titans, the A-Team, Unknown, the Grey, Taken 2,...
- 4/22/2017
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
This video hits close to home because I have a member of my family whose career is as a colorist for film and television. Most people don’t know what a colorist does. I’ll try and explain it in a nutshell. A colorist is the reason there’s a fluidity of color from shot to shot. They’re the reason a sky is more blue or grass being more green. They’re the people behind movies like What Dreams May Come that produce amazing coloring and imagery. So when I saw this video it made me realize not only the skill that goes into
Guy Spends a Year Learning How to Colorize Black and White Shows...
Guy Spends a Year Learning How to Colorize Black and White Shows...
- 2/14/2017
- by Nat Berman
- TVovermind.com
If anybody’s dreams are interesting, Akira Kurosawa’s should be, and this late career fantasy is a consistently rewarding string of morality tales and visual essays that pop off the screen. Some of the imagery has input from the famed Ishiro Honda.
Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 842
1990 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 120 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date November 15, 2016 / 39.95
Starring Mieko Harada, Mitsunori Isaki, Toshihiko Nakano, Yoshitaka Zushi, Hisashi Igawa, Chosuke, Chishu Ryu, Martin Scorsese, Masayuki Yui.
Cinematography Takao Saito, Shoji Ueda
Film Editor Tome Minami
Original Music Sinichiro Ikebe
Creative Consultant ishiro Honda
Visual Effects Supervisors Ken Ralston, Mark Sullivan
Produced by Hisao Kurosawa, Mike Y. Inoue
Written and Directed by Akira Kurosawa
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
At the twilight of his career, after some episodes of career frustration and instability, Akira Kurosawa hit a high note with the epic costume dramas Kagemusha and Ran.
Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 842
1990 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 120 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date November 15, 2016 / 39.95
Starring Mieko Harada, Mitsunori Isaki, Toshihiko Nakano, Yoshitaka Zushi, Hisashi Igawa, Chosuke, Chishu Ryu, Martin Scorsese, Masayuki Yui.
Cinematography Takao Saito, Shoji Ueda
Film Editor Tome Minami
Original Music Sinichiro Ikebe
Creative Consultant ishiro Honda
Visual Effects Supervisors Ken Ralston, Mark Sullivan
Produced by Hisao Kurosawa, Mike Y. Inoue
Written and Directed by Akira Kurosawa
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
At the twilight of his career, after some episodes of career frustration and instability, Akira Kurosawa hit a high note with the epic costume dramas Kagemusha and Ran.
- 11/21/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
It was only a week ago when we reported that Sony pulled out of Michael Peña's horror-thriller The Bringing, but some fresh news means that we shouldn't feel too bad for the actor. The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Peña has just been added to the cast of Ava DuVernay's A Wrinkle In Time.
Read Also: "Sony Pulls Out Of Michael Peña Horror Thriller Inspired By Mysterious Cecil Hotel Death"
Peña has signed on for A Wrinkle In Time, which is expected to continue DuVernay's hot streak. The Selma director followed up that Martin Luther King Jr. biopic with a hit TV series (Queen Sugar), a riveting documentary (13th), and hopes to add to her streak with A Wrinkle In Time. Based on the children's book of the same by Madeline L'Engle, the sci-fi fantasy has the potential to be a bit of a mind-bending hit for Disney.
Read Also: "Sony Pulls Out Of Michael Peña Horror Thriller Inspired By Mysterious Cecil Hotel Death"
Peña has signed on for A Wrinkle In Time, which is expected to continue DuVernay's hot streak. The Selma director followed up that Martin Luther King Jr. biopic with a hit TV series (Queen Sugar), a riveting documentary (13th), and hopes to add to her streak with A Wrinkle In Time. Based on the children's book of the same by Madeline L'Engle, the sci-fi fantasy has the potential to be a bit of a mind-bending hit for Disney.
- 11/3/2016
- by Mario-Francisco Robles
- LRMonline.com
A review of tonight's The Good Place coming up just as soon as I'm voted the Person Most Likely to be Banksy... The last couple of episodes made clear that there's more wrong with the Good Place than whatever clerical error put Eleanor there, and raised the question of whether the Good Place is fundamentally flawed, or if there's just something hinky about the neighborhood Michael has created. "Category 55 Emergency Doomsday Crisis" expands on that idea, calling to mind the famous Sartre quote about how "Hell is other people." Though the Good Place is meant to allow its residents to put aside all of their Earthly troubles and concerns, this is clearly not the case, and not just for people like Eleanor and Jason who aren't supposed to be there. Tahani spends most of this episode freaking out about her very low ranking among all the neighborhood residents, which in...
- 10/7/2016
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Hitfix
I offered some early thoughts on NBC's The Good Place in last week's review. A spoiler-filled review of the series' first two episodes coming up just as soon as my favorite book is Kendall Jennfer's Instagram feed... NBC did The Good Place a favor by airing these two episodes tonight before the show moves to its regular timeslot on Thursday at 8:30. It's not just that getting to debut after The Voice is the best exposure any new NBC show can get right now, but that "Everything Is Fine" has to spend so much time establishing the rules of the Good Place — and how the presence of the decidedly non-good Eleanor begins damaging the neighborhood — that it wouldn't have been a satisfying viewing experience on its own. (I know this because that's the only episode critics got to see in early summer, and it played much better on rewatch when...
- 9/20/2016
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Hitfix
You’ll have to wait a bit longer to see the tale of a giant monster performed by Liam Neeson. A Monster Calls’ release date has been pushed to December. The film, based on the 2011 children’s fantasy novel, was previously scheduled for an October 21 opening. The change moves the film out of Halloween season (the title does sound like a horror movie) and onto December 23 where it can hope to be a Christmastime family attraction. A Monster Calls will start a 10-city limited run on December 23, expanding wide into 1,500 theaters on January 6, 2017. Neeson’s performance capture created the yew tree monster, who appears at the bedroom window of Conor (newcomer Lewis MacDougall), a 12-year-old dealing with the terminal illness of his mother (Felicity Jones). Sigourney Weaver plays the boy’s mother. It’s directed by Barcelona-born filmmaker J.A. Bayona, known for The Orphanage and The Impossible and set to...
- 8/30/2016
- by Emily Rome
- Hitfix
Death doesn't take a holiday in this, the granddaddy of movies about the woeful duties of the Grim Reaper. Fritz Lang's heavy-duty Expressionist fable is as German as they get -- a morbid folk tale with an emotionally powerful finish. Destiny Blu-ray Kino Classics 1921 / B&W / 1:33 flat / 98 min. / Street Date August 30, 2016 / Der müde Tod / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95 Starring Lil Dagover, Walter Janssen, Bernhard Goetzke, Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Georg John. Cinematography Bruno Mondi, Erich Nitzschmann, Herrmann Saalfrank, Bruno Timm, Fritz Arno Wagner Film Editor Fritz Lang Written by Fritz Lang, Thea von Harbou Produced by Erich Pommer Directed by Fritz Lang
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari takes the prize for the most influential work of early German Expressionism, but coming in a close second is the film in which Fritz Lang first got his act (completely) together, 1921's Destiny (Der müde Tod). A wholly cinematic...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari takes the prize for the most influential work of early German Expressionism, but coming in a close second is the film in which Fritz Lang first got his act (completely) together, 1921's Destiny (Der müde Tod). A wholly cinematic...
- 8/6/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Here's a sterling example of what Hollywood excelled at back in the golden age: Robert Montgomery, Evelyn Keyes, Claude Rains and Edward Everett Horton star in possibly the most magical of movies known as Film Blanc. A cosmic goof leaves a man with fifty years yet to live without a body -- so heavenly troubleshooters try to find him a new one. Here Comes Mr. Jordan Blu-ray The Criterion Collection 819 1941 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 94 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date June 14, 2016 / 39.95 Starring Robert Montgomery, Evelyn Keyes, Claude Rains, Rita Johnson, Edward Everett Horton, James Gleason. Cinematography Joseph Walker Art Direction Lionel Banks Film Editor Viola Lawrence Original Music Frederick Hollander Written by Sidney Buchman, Seton I. Miller from the play Heaven Can Wait by Harry Segall Produced by Everett Riskin Directed by Alexander Hall
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Some movies are so entertaining that it's best to tell people,...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Some movies are so entertaining that it's best to tell people,...
- 6/7/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Manuel here. One of our favorite wins from last night’s Academy Awards was Ex Machina’s triumph in the Best Visual Effects category.
We marveled at its nod when the nominations came out mostly because it seemed like the low-key supportive use of visual effects that rarely get cited in the category (why else would you pass over the effects of say, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?). Add to that a stellar category across the board—Judy! Bb-8! Furiosa! Mars!—and the A24 film win feels all the more laudable. Sometimes, it seems, “best” need not mean “most” to Oscar members.
But two things are particularly striking to the inner number cruncher:
1. Ex Machina became the second non-Best Picture nominee to win in this category since the Academy expanded the Best Pic roster. Interstellar, as Amir reminded me in the comments, was the first. As you’ll remember,...
We marveled at its nod when the nominations came out mostly because it seemed like the low-key supportive use of visual effects that rarely get cited in the category (why else would you pass over the effects of say, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?). Add to that a stellar category across the board—Judy! Bb-8! Furiosa! Mars!—and the A24 film win feels all the more laudable. Sometimes, it seems, “best” need not mean “most” to Oscar members.
But two things are particularly striking to the inner number cruncher:
1. Ex Machina became the second non-Best Picture nominee to win in this category since the Academy expanded the Best Pic roster. Interstellar, as Amir reminded me in the comments, was the first. As you’ll remember,...
- 2/29/2016
- by Manuel Betancourt
- FilmExperience
By Patrick Shanley
Managing Editor
The 20th Annual Art Directors Guild Awards were held on Sunday and presented three awards to films in this year’s best picture race. Divided into genre categories (best period film, best fantasy film, best contemporary film), the Art Directors Guild awards those films’ whose production design they deem to be the most impressive, and this year’s winners were The Revenant for best period film, Mad Max: Fury Road for best fantasy, and The Martian for best contemporary.
The Adg Awards are a relatively recent honor, as its corresponding Oscar equivalent, best production design, used to be the accolade bestowed upon production designers prior to the Adg’s inception in 1996.
This year, with each of the three major categories’ winners also being up for best picture at the Oscars, an Adg award could go a long way in predicting this year’s best production design recipient.
Managing Editor
The 20th Annual Art Directors Guild Awards were held on Sunday and presented three awards to films in this year’s best picture race. Divided into genre categories (best period film, best fantasy film, best contemporary film), the Art Directors Guild awards those films’ whose production design they deem to be the most impressive, and this year’s winners were The Revenant for best period film, Mad Max: Fury Road for best fantasy, and The Martian for best contemporary.
The Adg Awards are a relatively recent honor, as its corresponding Oscar equivalent, best production design, used to be the accolade bestowed upon production designers prior to the Adg’s inception in 1996.
This year, with each of the three major categories’ winners also being up for best picture at the Oscars, an Adg award could go a long way in predicting this year’s best production design recipient.
- 2/2/2016
- by Patrick Shanley
- Scott Feinberg
Nancy Bernstein, who served as head of production at DreamWorks Animation, died Friday at age 55 following a long battle with colorectal cancer. Bernstein spent a decade at Dwa, where she produced “Rise of the Guardians.” She chronicled her cancer battle for the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Bernstein came to DreamWorks Animation from Digital Domain, where she led the studio’s feature effects production on the Oscar-winning “What Dreams May Come” and the Oscar-nominated “I, Robot.” She worked as the visual effects executive producer on more than 30 films, including “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “A Beautiful.
- 9/21/2015
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
Here We Go Again: Evans’ Nondescript Venture a Familiar Recipe of Whirlwind Romance
Love is not a many splendored thing in actor Chris Evans’ directorial debut, Before We Go, a mediocre two-hander requiring a certain finesse not in evidence either before or in front of the camera, at least enough to believably carry us off into the sunset of illogical romantic inclinations. That’s not to say the film is terrible or even evidence that Evans should quit his day job, but mostly how it unfortunately elicits an overall and achingly constant ‘meh.’ Saddled with one of those vaguely poetic titles reminiscent of a slew of emotionally malleable indie films like Before I Disappear or Away We Go, even though it probably wants to be comparable to Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight trilogy, perhaps we shouldn’t be disappointed since the comfortably predictable narrative can’t be accused...
Love is not a many splendored thing in actor Chris Evans’ directorial debut, Before We Go, a mediocre two-hander requiring a certain finesse not in evidence either before or in front of the camera, at least enough to believably carry us off into the sunset of illogical romantic inclinations. That’s not to say the film is terrible or even evidence that Evans should quit his day job, but mostly how it unfortunately elicits an overall and achingly constant ‘meh.’ Saddled with one of those vaguely poetic titles reminiscent of a slew of emotionally malleable indie films like Before I Disappear or Away We Go, even though it probably wants to be comparable to Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight trilogy, perhaps we shouldn’t be disappointed since the comfortably predictable narrative can’t be accused...
- 9/3/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Currently enjoying some high-profile villainy as The Hunger Games' Coriolanus Snow, Donald Sutherland has just signed up for another adaptation of a rather different kids' book. He's joined the cast of Milton's Secret, from the book by Eckhart Tolle and Robert Friedman. Barnet Bain (the producer of What Dreams May Come) co-wrote the screenplay with Donald Martin and Sandra Cooper, and will direct.Tolle is a spiritual public speaker and author, probably best known for his self-help book The Power Of Now. The slim Milton's Secret, published in 2009, was an attempt to translate his live-in-the-moment philosophy for a younger readership. The Milton of the title is the story's young protagonist, who learns to overcome his fear of bullies and other childhood nightmares by living in the moment, and ceasing to "project his past fears into the future".Sutherland will play Milton's grandfather: a role previously occupied by Peter Fonda,...
- 7/24/2015
- EmpireOnline
I miss Robin Williams, Lord I how I miss that man. I will never forget hearing that he had not only died but apparently by his own hand. This comic genius who brought so much laughter and love to so many people suffered from severe depression. And we lost him because of it, we lost so much.
Now here at last is the final piece of work on his resume, the final movie of Robin Williams. Is it a great movie? Yes, absolutely! Is it easy to watch? No, not at all. Boulevard is a movie with a deep well of sadness, a great epic sadness and loneliness that hangs over this movie and fills every frame like nothing I have ever seen.
Director Dito Montiel’s Boulevard is the kind of movie where every shot, every edit, camera angle and especially, every line of dialog and movement by every actor is important.
Now here at last is the final piece of work on his resume, the final movie of Robin Williams. Is it a great movie? Yes, absolutely! Is it easy to watch? No, not at all. Boulevard is a movie with a deep well of sadness, a great epic sadness and loneliness that hangs over this movie and fills every frame like nothing I have ever seen.
Director Dito Montiel’s Boulevard is the kind of movie where every shot, every edit, camera angle and especially, every line of dialog and movement by every actor is important.
- 7/12/2015
- by Sam Moffitt
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
A case study of the success of "Awake: The Life of Yogananda" will highlight the second annual Illuminate Film Festival’s "Conscious Film Convergence," a series of workshops and panels offering filmmakers – those with experience as well as those just starting out – the opportunity to learn about developing, producing and distributing conscious films, May 27-31 in Sedona, Arizona.
After its southwest premiere at last year’s inaugural Illuminate Film Festival, "Awake: The Life of Yogananada," the unconventional biography of the legendary East Indian mystic, went on to screen at 250 venues across North America and booked more than 30,000 tickets through the Gathr® theatrical on-demand platform. At this year’s Festival, the filmmakers and their distribution partners will discuss how they combined strategic partnerships, grassroots marketing and a hybrid distribution model to gross over $1 million at the U.S. box office within the first three months of release.
Additional panels at the Conscious Film Convergence, the first gathering of significant industry executives in this independent film genre, will feature master distribution strategist Peter Broderick and industry icons Barnet Bain ("What Dreams May Come," "The Celestine Prophecy"); Elizabeth Sheldon, Senior Vice President at Kino Lorber; and Abramorama President Richard Abramowitz, among others, as part of the Festival’s five days of life-affirming cinematic works that encourage audiences to ponder existence more deeply than their daily routines.
The Illuminate Film Festival curates narrative features, documentaries and shorts in the mind-body-spirit genre, featuring inspirational human journey stories and themes related to mindfulness, self-discovery, body-mind science, yoga, meditation, spiritual practice, organic and plant-based food movements and sustainable living.
“As a launching platform for conscious cinema, our goal is to get enlightening content into movie theaters across the globe,” said Illuminate Film Festival Executive Director and Founder Danette Wolpert. “The Conscious Cinema Movement has reached a tipping point. Conscious concepts, once trivialized, have become mainstream thanks to moguls like Oprah, Russell Brand, Deepak Chopra and Russell Simmons. The Illuminate Film Festival is poised to establish conscious cinema as a viable business sector within the independent film business.”
The Conscious Film Convergence schedule is:
Friday, May 29
• Spotlight Conversation with Barnet Bain:
Bain, a television and film industry veteran whose credits include Oscar-winning "What Dreams May Come," Emmy-nominated "Homeless to Harvard," spiritual classic "The Celestine Prophecy" and the new documentary, "When I Was Young I Said I Would Be Happy," will tell you that to make a conscious film, you must first become a conscious individual. In this Q&A with Barnett, attendees will discover how to connect with their true calling and unleash their full creative potential.
• Conscious Film Financing: "The Connected Universe"
Perhaps it’s fitting that a film that explores the science behind the interconnection of all things has just become the highest funded documentary in Indiegogo history with over $290 thousand raised via the popular crowdfunding website. Join "The Connected Universe" director Malcom Carter and others for insight into cracking the crowdsourcing code.
Saturday, May 30
• The Conscious Cinema Accelerator:
Five applicants will be invited to participate in 20-minute speed meetings for personalized project and career coaching from veteran film professionals in conscious film production, finance, marketing and distribution. Submissions: https://filmfreeway.com/festival/ConsciousCinemaAccelerator.
• Powered By Your Audience with Peter Broderick
How can a filmmaker increase their independence and build a sustainable career that goes far beyond one film? Distribution guru Peter Broderick presents a comprehensive guide to help filmmakers develop and maximize their “own” audience and establish a strong foundation from which they can build a long-lasting filmmaking career. Using examples from across the Us and around the world, he will demonstrate how filmmakers are aggregating their audiences film by film and becoming empowered by followers who champion their work.
• Million Dollar Movie: "Awake: The Life of Yogananda" Case Study
Panelists: "Awake" Director Paola di Florio, Producer Peter Rader (CounterPoint Films); Richard Abramowitz (President, Abramorama); Richard Matson (Head of Distribution & Acquisitions, Gathr); The inaugural Illuminate Film Festival in 2014 was a launching platform for "Awake: The Life of Yogananada," the unconventional biography of the legendary East Indian mystic, whose box office success has turned the heads of distribution executives nationwide. Is this a model that can be replicated? Find out.
• Champions of Conscious Cinema: Meet the Distributors
Panelists: Elizabeth Sheldon (Senior Vice President, Kino Lorber), Richard Cohn (President, Beyond Words), Richard Abramowitz (President, Abramorama), Brian Parsons (Head of Content Partnerships, Tugg); Abundant Internet connectivity and social media tools beckon today’s filmmaker to flirt with the very real possibility of self-distribution, while the lure of traditional distribution offers remains strong. Join the leaders of conscious film distribution as they explore the pros and cons of "all-rights” vs. "hybrid" distribution, debate the logic of day-and-date releasing and consider direct engagement via theatrical-on-demand. Learn your best options for theatrical, broadcast, video-on-demand and educational distribution as panelists share their outlook on the future of conscious cinema and the factors they consider before acquiring a film.
Sunday, May 31
• Conscious Cinema Summit (Industry Guests Only): a roundtable discussion with conscious film industry visionaries and media change-makers to discuss how conscious cinema can become a viable business independent film-sector business. Conversations will range from how to define conscious cinema to new business models to brainstorming new collaborative strategies to increase quality, quantity and availability of conscious cinema around the globe.
To register for the Conscious Film Convergence, visit Here!
The 2015 Festival will feature 22 films and more than 50 expert facilitators, practitioners, healers, performers, musicians, speakers and new thought leaders. In addition to the panels and films, the Festival’s series of “View and Do” events will let audiences more deeply integrate a movie’s message into their lives.
The full list of films exhibiting at the 2015 Illuminate Film Festival are online. For more information, visit Here!
After its southwest premiere at last year’s inaugural Illuminate Film Festival, "Awake: The Life of Yogananada," the unconventional biography of the legendary East Indian mystic, went on to screen at 250 venues across North America and booked more than 30,000 tickets through the Gathr® theatrical on-demand platform. At this year’s Festival, the filmmakers and their distribution partners will discuss how they combined strategic partnerships, grassroots marketing and a hybrid distribution model to gross over $1 million at the U.S. box office within the first three months of release.
Additional panels at the Conscious Film Convergence, the first gathering of significant industry executives in this independent film genre, will feature master distribution strategist Peter Broderick and industry icons Barnet Bain ("What Dreams May Come," "The Celestine Prophecy"); Elizabeth Sheldon, Senior Vice President at Kino Lorber; and Abramorama President Richard Abramowitz, among others, as part of the Festival’s five days of life-affirming cinematic works that encourage audiences to ponder existence more deeply than their daily routines.
The Illuminate Film Festival curates narrative features, documentaries and shorts in the mind-body-spirit genre, featuring inspirational human journey stories and themes related to mindfulness, self-discovery, body-mind science, yoga, meditation, spiritual practice, organic and plant-based food movements and sustainable living.
“As a launching platform for conscious cinema, our goal is to get enlightening content into movie theaters across the globe,” said Illuminate Film Festival Executive Director and Founder Danette Wolpert. “The Conscious Cinema Movement has reached a tipping point. Conscious concepts, once trivialized, have become mainstream thanks to moguls like Oprah, Russell Brand, Deepak Chopra and Russell Simmons. The Illuminate Film Festival is poised to establish conscious cinema as a viable business sector within the independent film business.”
The Conscious Film Convergence schedule is:
Friday, May 29
• Spotlight Conversation with Barnet Bain:
Bain, a television and film industry veteran whose credits include Oscar-winning "What Dreams May Come," Emmy-nominated "Homeless to Harvard," spiritual classic "The Celestine Prophecy" and the new documentary, "When I Was Young I Said I Would Be Happy," will tell you that to make a conscious film, you must first become a conscious individual. In this Q&A with Barnett, attendees will discover how to connect with their true calling and unleash their full creative potential.
• Conscious Film Financing: "The Connected Universe"
Perhaps it’s fitting that a film that explores the science behind the interconnection of all things has just become the highest funded documentary in Indiegogo history with over $290 thousand raised via the popular crowdfunding website. Join "The Connected Universe" director Malcom Carter and others for insight into cracking the crowdsourcing code.
Saturday, May 30
• The Conscious Cinema Accelerator:
Five applicants will be invited to participate in 20-minute speed meetings for personalized project and career coaching from veteran film professionals in conscious film production, finance, marketing and distribution. Submissions: https://filmfreeway.com/festival/ConsciousCinemaAccelerator.
• Powered By Your Audience with Peter Broderick
How can a filmmaker increase their independence and build a sustainable career that goes far beyond one film? Distribution guru Peter Broderick presents a comprehensive guide to help filmmakers develop and maximize their “own” audience and establish a strong foundation from which they can build a long-lasting filmmaking career. Using examples from across the Us and around the world, he will demonstrate how filmmakers are aggregating their audiences film by film and becoming empowered by followers who champion their work.
• Million Dollar Movie: "Awake: The Life of Yogananda" Case Study
Panelists: "Awake" Director Paola di Florio, Producer Peter Rader (CounterPoint Films); Richard Abramowitz (President, Abramorama); Richard Matson (Head of Distribution & Acquisitions, Gathr); The inaugural Illuminate Film Festival in 2014 was a launching platform for "Awake: The Life of Yogananada," the unconventional biography of the legendary East Indian mystic, whose box office success has turned the heads of distribution executives nationwide. Is this a model that can be replicated? Find out.
• Champions of Conscious Cinema: Meet the Distributors
Panelists: Elizabeth Sheldon (Senior Vice President, Kino Lorber), Richard Cohn (President, Beyond Words), Richard Abramowitz (President, Abramorama), Brian Parsons (Head of Content Partnerships, Tugg); Abundant Internet connectivity and social media tools beckon today’s filmmaker to flirt with the very real possibility of self-distribution, while the lure of traditional distribution offers remains strong. Join the leaders of conscious film distribution as they explore the pros and cons of "all-rights” vs. "hybrid" distribution, debate the logic of day-and-date releasing and consider direct engagement via theatrical-on-demand. Learn your best options for theatrical, broadcast, video-on-demand and educational distribution as panelists share their outlook on the future of conscious cinema and the factors they consider before acquiring a film.
Sunday, May 31
• Conscious Cinema Summit (Industry Guests Only): a roundtable discussion with conscious film industry visionaries and media change-makers to discuss how conscious cinema can become a viable business independent film-sector business. Conversations will range from how to define conscious cinema to new business models to brainstorming new collaborative strategies to increase quality, quantity and availability of conscious cinema around the globe.
To register for the Conscious Film Convergence, visit Here!
The 2015 Festival will feature 22 films and more than 50 expert facilitators, practitioners, healers, performers, musicians, speakers and new thought leaders. In addition to the panels and films, the Festival’s series of “View and Do” events will let audiences more deeply integrate a movie’s message into their lives.
The full list of films exhibiting at the 2015 Illuminate Film Festival are online. For more information, visit Here!
- 5/11/2015
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
In Shops This Week:
Outcast Volume 1 Trade Paperback
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Paul Azaceta
Publisher: Image Comics/Skybound
Price: $10 (Digital/Tpb)
Description: New Horror Series From The Walking Dead Creator Robert Kirkman! Kyle Barnes has been plagued by demonic possession all his life and now he needs answers. Unfortunately, what he uncovers along the way could bring about the end of life on Earth as we know it. Collects Outcast By Kirkman & Azaceta #1-6.
Our Take: Much like The Walking Dead, this series looks to be focused more on character drama than horror. Perhaps even more so, as Outcast‘s antagonists are internal. Slow burn with moody chills.
Click Here For Preview
The Life After Volume 1 Trade Paperback
Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Artist: Gabo
Publisher: Oni Press
Price: $10
Description: Jude’s life is nothing special. It seems like every day is just a repeat of the last one, until one day,...
Outcast Volume 1 Trade Paperback
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Paul Azaceta
Publisher: Image Comics/Skybound
Price: $10 (Digital/Tpb)
Description: New Horror Series From The Walking Dead Creator Robert Kirkman! Kyle Barnes has been plagued by demonic possession all his life and now he needs answers. Unfortunately, what he uncovers along the way could bring about the end of life on Earth as we know it. Collects Outcast By Kirkman & Azaceta #1-6.
Our Take: Much like The Walking Dead, this series looks to be focused more on character drama than horror. Perhaps even more so, as Outcast‘s antagonists are internal. Slow burn with moody chills.
Click Here For Preview
The Life After Volume 1 Trade Paperback
Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Artist: Gabo
Publisher: Oni Press
Price: $10
Description: Jude’s life is nothing special. It seems like every day is just a repeat of the last one, until one day,...
- 1/31/2015
- by Chris Melkus
- Destroy the Brain
Three-time Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch 9 to 5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is set to co-star with two-time Tony nominee Laura Osnes Cinderella, Bonnie amp Clyde in the upcoming workshop presentations of the new Broadway-bound musical Somewhere in Time, based on the novel by renowned author Richard Matheson I Am Legend, What Dreams May Come and the subsequent hit film starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour and Christopher Plummer.
- 12/16/2014
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Opening with the decidedly non-canonical duo of Always and All Dogs Go to Heaven, this nifty eight-ish minute montage looks at the afterlife as rendered onscreen. Graphic matches and dialogue segues from one person protesting they don’t belong here to another are smoothly handled, and while it’s more for fun than study, there are some takeaways: i.e., that there’s very little difference in the degree of tackiness of the afterlife as rendered in What Dreams May Come and Little Nicky. Thanks to Press Play for the tip. (There is brief rear male nudity and a dude’s neck being torn apart, […]...
- 11/5/2014
- by Vadim Rizov
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Opening with the decidedly non-canonical duo of Always and All Dogs Go to Heaven, this nifty eight-ish minute montage looks at the afterlife as rendered onscreen. Graphic matches and dialogue segues from one person protesting they don’t belong here to another are smoothly handled, and while it’s more for fun than study, there are some takeaways: i.e., that there’s very little difference in the degree of tackiness of the afterlife as rendered in What Dreams May Come and Little Nicky. Thanks to Press Play for the tip. (There is brief rear male nudity and a dude’s neck being torn apart, […]...
- 11/5/2014
- by Vadim Rizov
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Though he's remained prolific as a filmmaker ("Queen Of The Desert" will hit next year, and he's already gearing up on "Vernon God Little"), Werner Herzog has become strangely in demand as an actor as well in recent years. The filmmaker cropped up occasionally in German cinema, but from the late 1990s, with "What Dreams May Come" and more notably Harmony Korine's "Julien Donkey-Boy," he has appeared increasingly in American film and TV. The German directing legend has lent his voice to "The Simpsons," "Metalocalpyse," the upcoming "Penguins Of Madagascar," Miyazaki's "The Wind Rises" and even played the villain in Tom Cruise actioner "Jack Reacher." But it sounds like we'll be seeing him on a small screen in one of the unlikelier possible venues, in a cameo on NBC's long-running, sweet-natured sitcom "Parks & Recreation." According to Flavorwire (via the Av Club), Herzog...
- 9/5/2014
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
Horror legend Robert Englund talks about his new film The Last Showing, what was wrong with the Nightmare On Elm St remake, and more...
Sitting with Robert Englund deep in the bowels of a gilded London hotel, it becomes obvious just what a great storyteller he is. As he reminisces about his early acting career in such films as Five Easy Pieces or Hustle, or goes even further back to his childhood brushes with the horror genre, he talks in a soothing, sonorous voice that is a million miles away from his signature role of Freddy Krueger.
Then again, Englund doesn't look or sound like the character in his latest movie, either. In The Last Showing, a psychological horror thriller written and directed by the UK's Phil Hawkins, Englund plays Stuart, a once proud projectionist who, thanks to the advent of digital cinema, finds himself busted down to the lowly...
Sitting with Robert Englund deep in the bowels of a gilded London hotel, it becomes obvious just what a great storyteller he is. As he reminisces about his early acting career in such films as Five Easy Pieces or Hustle, or goes even further back to his childhood brushes with the horror genre, he talks in a soothing, sonorous voice that is a million miles away from his signature role of Freddy Krueger.
Then again, Englund doesn't look or sound like the character in his latest movie, either. In The Last Showing, a psychological horror thriller written and directed by the UK's Phil Hawkins, Englund plays Stuart, a once proud projectionist who, thanks to the advent of digital cinema, finds himself busted down to the lowly...
- 8/26/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Mara Wilson, who starred alongside Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire, remembered the late actor in a moving blog post.
Mara Wilson Remembers Robin Williams
Wilson played one of Williams' kids in the popular 1993 family dramedy that featured Williams in one of his best-known roles – a father who disguises himself as an elderly housekeeper/nanny to see his kids after losing custody in a divorce settlement.
“He always reminded me a little of my father," wrote Wilson, who was only five while filming Mrs. Doubtfire. "Robin Williams, as I knew him, was warm, gentle, expressive, nurturing and brilliant. While it can be hard for me to remember filming Doubtfire, I've been flooded with memories in the past few days. It's humbling to know I am one of the few people who was there for these moments, that he's no longer around to share them."
One of the things that Wilson remembers...
Mara Wilson Remembers Robin Williams
Wilson played one of Williams' kids in the popular 1993 family dramedy that featured Williams in one of his best-known roles – a father who disguises himself as an elderly housekeeper/nanny to see his kids after losing custody in a divorce settlement.
“He always reminded me a little of my father," wrote Wilson, who was only five while filming Mrs. Doubtfire. "Robin Williams, as I knew him, was warm, gentle, expressive, nurturing and brilliant. While it can be hard for me to remember filming Doubtfire, I've been flooded with memories in the past few days. It's humbling to know I am one of the few people who was there for these moments, that he's no longer around to share them."
One of the things that Wilson remembers...
- 8/19/2014
- Uinterview
We were all shocked by the tragic news of Robin Williams' unexpected death last week. As tribute to all the times he made us laugh and cry, we’ve decided to share our favorite memories from his storied career.
Any time a person who has had so much impact on so many people’s lives passes away, it is understandably hard to comprehend. Robin Williams was one of these people. He used his talents to become much more than just a comedian. He was an entertainer. As tribute to all of the great accomplishments in his career, we’ve decided to share our favorite memories. Feel free to join us by adding your own.
Victor Medina
I was pretty young when Robin Williams first rose to stardom as Mork from Ork, but I was a dedicated fan. I bought a pair of official Mork suspenders and wore them all the time.
Any time a person who has had so much impact on so many people’s lives passes away, it is understandably hard to comprehend. Robin Williams was one of these people. He used his talents to become much more than just a comedian. He was an entertainer. As tribute to all of the great accomplishments in his career, we’ve decided to share our favorite memories. Feel free to join us by adding your own.
Victor Medina
I was pretty young when Robin Williams first rose to stardom as Mork from Ork, but I was a dedicated fan. I bought a pair of official Mork suspenders and wore them all the time.
- 8/18/2014
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (G.S. Perno)
- Cinelinx
In the short time since Robin Williams passed away, you’ve probably learned more about him than you ever expected. From the wonderful story Norm MacDonald told via Twitter, to all the improvisation that became the roles he played, to his altruistic efforts throughout his life, to statement after statement that he was a comedic genius with film roles, routines, and more offered as evidence.
You can now find clips of his best roles, moments within those roles, sudden cover bits when Ted Talks suffered technical difficulties, and list after list of his best movies, lesser-known movies, greatest hits, favorite recipes, and everything else you can imagine.
I don’t usually go in for things like tributes to celebrities who die, but this one is a little more personal to me, and there seems to be part of the conversation that’s missing. Sure, Robin Williams was hilarious, almost to...
You can now find clips of his best roles, moments within those roles, sudden cover bits when Ted Talks suffered technical difficulties, and list after list of his best movies, lesser-known movies, greatest hits, favorite recipes, and everything else you can imagine.
I don’t usually go in for things like tributes to celebrities who die, but this one is a little more personal to me, and there seems to be part of the conversation that’s missing. Sure, Robin Williams was hilarious, almost to...
- 8/14/2014
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
"Suicide is a permanent solution to temporary problems." - Robin Williams, "World's Greatest Dad" This is a very emotional "Ask Drew." This is, I would suspect, the closest you're ever going to see to me losing it on camera completely. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when there was a Robin Williams question, since it's still so fresh and so raw for so many people, but I couldn't have known just how hard it would be to talk about him. I mean, I have stared at the blinking cursor on my blank document page for almost two days now, grappling with one question: how in the hell do you even remotely begin to sum up someone as huge as Robin Williams? We could start from the personal angle. I could tell you about the occasional e-mails I got from him when I was at Ain't It Cool, or the...
- 8/13/2014
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
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