Brad Pitt’s doin’ one thing and one thing only in Allied… falling for Marion Cotillard. Yeah, he’ll kill some Nazis along the way, but it looks like the shady backwaters of the spy world is there to complicate their relationship instead of override the plot. It’s possible that will change in later marketing pushes, but for now, Allied is being pitched as another in a long line of wartime romances.
Last month it was announced that Kirsten Dunst, in her directorial debut, will be directing Dakota Fanning in an adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. In an interview, Dunst has noted that her approach in adapting the seminal text has been to avoid the ‘didactic’ and instead ‘make a life of something … you really need to make your own scenes up’. Such an approach, while entirely refreshing for me, is one that regularly receives criticism from those that view the source text as somehow sacred, and thus static and intractable.
Since the inception of the Bourne franchise in 2002, the blockbuster as we know it has undergone a dramatic shift. Variety is limited as superhero films have taken over the industry. There are lingering alternatives like the Mission Impossible and Fast and Furious franchises, but the Bourne films have been the thinking man’s blockbusters since the series began.
I wish more trailers hinted instead of explained like this one, but most trailers don’t have as much to offer as Closet Monster. By that, I don’t mean that it has some big narrative twist, but that there’s layers to the story and the way it’s told. The basics of Closet Monster is still clear:
You may not know her by name, but you’ve definitely seen her face and are familiar with her work. She’s been on your small screen and silver screen starring along side Angelina Jolie, Christina Ricci, Zachary Quinto, and Natasha Lyonne to name a few. She may not look as glamorous as your traditional Hollywood starlet and she doesn’t often play the leading role, but Clea DuVall’s natural beauty and talent first grabbed my attention about fifteen years ago on a day I vividly remember.
I am a huge Pixar fan and Finding Nemo is one of my favourite films, so I was thrilled to know a sequel was being made. However, I was a little reticient. Toy Story 2 & 3 were remarkable sequels to be sure, but they are unique in cinema, Pixar also made Cars 2.
From child prodigy to Star Wars to the Oscars, Natalie Portman’s career has taken a lot of turns. Adding writing and directing roles to her resume isn’t really surprising at this point, but what may catch people off guard is the feature project she picked to debut these new endeavors. A Tale of Love and Darkness is based on the autobiography of the same name by Israeli author Amos Oz, covering the period of his childhood when the British Mandate for Palestine ended and the State of Israel began.
Up-and-coming filmmaker John Carchietta has co-directed and produced several thrillers like Late Fee and The Hills Run Red. He is one of those true horror fans who really knows his stuff. But recently Carchietta proved that he can tackle multiple genres with the debut of his first solo project, a queer romantic thriller called Teenage Cocktail.
In the beautiful desert landscape of Gujarat, India, director Leena Yadav introduces us to a world of friendship, suffering and heartbreak within a story of four women, trying their best to overcome their individual struggles. Parched explores the ideas of tradition, culture and misogyny in the heart of rural India but with a compelling characters and strong friendships that feel universal to us all. Tradition & Culture The story centers around four women:
New York City is a discordant place. People with different backgrounds and values build lives on top of each other, creating a diaspora of the world that never quite feels settled. I suppose a settled feeling would go against its treasured idea of endless opportunity, where you can indulge, reinvent, and achieve your dreams.
Every year, ten movies are bestowed the honor of becoming nominated by the Academy. Many of these films will have already had various successes throughout the year – festivals, box office and other prestigious awards. Yet, only one ends the night being declared the best of the best.
Though starring two A-list actors, The Duel went mostly under the radar when it was first released, opening to limited theaters and VOD. It’s not shocking that audiences wouldn’t flock to see a Western since the genre is not nearly as popular as it used to be, yet in recent years it seems to be making a comeback. Films such as The Hateful Eight, Slow West and Bone Tomahawk have been surprisingly successful, with future Westerns in the pipeline that could be even bigger hits (The Magnificent Seven remake being one example).
Film Inquiry compiles a list of the movies that are opening in cinemas every Tuesday. Opening this week: Pete’s Dragon, Florence Foster Jenkins, Sausage Party, Hell Or High Water, Antrhopoid, Operation Chromite, Edge of Winter and Ghost Team.
Bluestocking Film Series is an an exclusive showcase for provocative, well-produced films that feature complex female protagonists driving the narrative and leading the action. Moreover, all films submitted to the series must feature a female protagonist, and must pass the Bechdel-Wallace Test. It’s the first ever U.
When I signed on to review Batman: The Killing Joke, it was before its San Diego Comic-Con debut. As soon as that screening ended, there was a massive wave of discontent (in some cases, rage) over certain creative decisions made by the filmmakers.