The 1980s was the age of the Brat Pack.
Before the phrase was even coined in 1985, many of the young actors later named Brat Pack members starred in unforgettable films.
In preparation for the release of the 2024 documentary Brats, we're looking at that explosion of Brat Pack movies and what made them so special.
Defining the Brat Pack and Their Films
Before we can delve into what made the Brat Pack films great, we must define them.
There are varying opinions about which movies are actual Brat Pack films.
Related: The Controversial Origins of the Brat Pack
Most people seem to agree that to be considered a Brat Pack film, a movie had to come out between 1983 and 1990 and include at least two Brat Pack actors.
The only problem is that everyone's list of Brat Pack actors seems different.
Journalist David Blum coined the phrase "Brat Pack" in his 1985 article,...
Before the phrase was even coined in 1985, many of the young actors later named Brat Pack members starred in unforgettable films.
In preparation for the release of the 2024 documentary Brats, we're looking at that explosion of Brat Pack movies and what made them so special.
Defining the Brat Pack and Their Films
Before we can delve into what made the Brat Pack films great, we must define them.
There are varying opinions about which movies are actual Brat Pack films.
Related: The Controversial Origins of the Brat Pack
Most people seem to agree that to be considered a Brat Pack film, a movie had to come out between 1983 and 1990 and include at least two Brat Pack actors.
The only problem is that everyone's list of Brat Pack actors seems different.
Journalist David Blum coined the phrase "Brat Pack" in his 1985 article,...
- 6/7/2024
- by Jessica Kosinski
- TVfanatic
Many things made the 1980s a unique decade, including big hair, brightly colored outfits, and MTV music videos.
The movies of the '80s were especially iconic. This decade gave us The Goonies, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, and many more greats.
It was also the period when the Brat Pack was taking Hollywood by storm.
The Era of Teen Movie Cast Repetition
On February 15, 1985, the John Hughes classic coming-of-age teen flick The Breakfast Club, about five teens stuck in Saturday detention, premiered.
A few months later, St. Elmo's Fire was released.
It was another hit movie about the ups and downs of relationships and love featuring stars like Andrew McCarthy.
Related: 11 Characters Who Have the Worst Luck in Love
Other teen movies, such as Sixteen Candles (1984) and Pretty in Pink (1986), also premiered around that same time.
As a young kid in the '80s, I vividly recall...
The movies of the '80s were especially iconic. This decade gave us The Goonies, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, and many more greats.
It was also the period when the Brat Pack was taking Hollywood by storm.
The Era of Teen Movie Cast Repetition
On February 15, 1985, the John Hughes classic coming-of-age teen flick The Breakfast Club, about five teens stuck in Saturday detention, premiered.
A few months later, St. Elmo's Fire was released.
It was another hit movie about the ups and downs of relationships and love featuring stars like Andrew McCarthy.
Related: 11 Characters Who Have the Worst Luck in Love
Other teen movies, such as Sixteen Candles (1984) and Pretty in Pink (1986), also premiered around that same time.
As a young kid in the '80s, I vividly recall...
- 6/4/2024
- by Jessica Kosinski
- TVfanatic
“I’ve been to Cannes with films that won the Palme D’or; others have done quite well, and some have really not done well. I know the A to Z of Cannes emotions — but it’s always such a pleasure to be there. And it’s very important to this art form that we all love.”
Important words from Kinds of Kindness star Willem Dafoe about how it really feels to attend the world’s most iconic film festival as a veteran who has fielded varying levels of kindness from the Cannes crowd over the years — not to mention differing durations of those much buzzed-about standing ovations.
As the 77th edition comes to a close, emotions were high and the love for the art form seemed stronger than ever as auteurs, stars, glitterati and industry insiders converged in the South of France for nearly two weeks of cinematic adventures...
Important words from Kinds of Kindness star Willem Dafoe about how it really feels to attend the world’s most iconic film festival as a veteran who has fielded varying levels of kindness from the Cannes crowd over the years — not to mention differing durations of those much buzzed-about standing ovations.
As the 77th edition comes to a close, emotions were high and the love for the art form seemed stronger than ever as auteurs, stars, glitterati and industry insiders converged in the South of France for nearly two weeks of cinematic adventures...
- 5/29/2024
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Cannes Film Festival 2024: Read All Of Deadline’s Movie Reviews, Including Palme d’Or Winner ‘Anora’
Read all of Deadline’s Cannes Film Festival reviews below, including Palme d’Or winner Anora.
The New York-set romantic dramedy charts the story of a stripper from Brooklyn who transforms into a modern Cinderella when she meets the son of a Russian oligarch.
The film, playing in the official Competition three years after Baker’s success in Cannes with the Simon Rex-starring Red Rocket, scored a 10-minute ovation earlier this week. It was one of a number of critically praised films this edition. Check out all our reviews below.
All We Imagine as Light ‘All We Imagine as Light’
Section: Competition
Director: Payal Kapadia
Cast: Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya KAdam, Hridhu Haroon
Deadline’s takeaway: And at a time when so much attention is being paid to the lives of the haves and the have-nots amid such financial imbalance worldwide, it’s refreshing to see the spotlight...
The New York-set romantic dramedy charts the story of a stripper from Brooklyn who transforms into a modern Cinderella when she meets the son of a Russian oligarch.
The film, playing in the official Competition three years after Baker’s success in Cannes with the Simon Rex-starring Red Rocket, scored a 10-minute ovation earlier this week. It was one of a number of critically praised films this edition. Check out all our reviews below.
All We Imagine as Light ‘All We Imagine as Light’
Section: Competition
Director: Payal Kapadia
Cast: Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya KAdam, Hridhu Haroon
Deadline’s takeaway: And at a time when so much attention is being paid to the lives of the haves and the have-nots amid such financial imbalance worldwide, it’s refreshing to see the spotlight...
- 5/29/2024
- by Pete Hammond, Joe Utichi, Damon Wise, Stephanie Bunbury and Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
“Being Maria” is a flawed but fascinating look at the turbulent life of actor Maria Schneider, played by a game Anamaria Vartolomei (“Happening”). It limns her rebellious teen years, her big breakthrough at 19 in Bernardo Bertolucci’s “Last Tango in Paris,” and how her trauma on set and the film’s notoriety impacted her subsequent career and mental health. Helmer Jessica Palud (“Back Home”) and co-scripter Laurette Polmanss loosely adapt a memoir by Schneider’s younger cousin to show events through the star’s eyes. Despite a clunky air of earnestness and some soap opera-like scenes, plus the overly familiar arc of a celebrity spiraling out of control, the film resonates because the central topic is so of the moment. It’s a cautionary tale about a naïve and powerless young talent abused in the name of art, as well as the agonizing aftermath of her maltreatment.
The narrative depicts...
The narrative depicts...
- 5/27/2024
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
There has been a lot of noise at this year’s Cannes Film Festival about France’s accelerated MeToo movement, particularly by female cinema stars leading the charge. So whether coincidental or not, the world premiere in the Cannes Premiere section last night of Being Maria (aka Maria) seemed like perfect timing and more relevant than ever
Jessica Palud directs and co-wrote the screenplay with Laurette Polmanss (inspired by cousin Vanessa Schneider’s 2018 book) focusing on the life of actress Maria Schneider, who at age 19 was cast in 1973’s notorious sexual drama Last Tango In Paris, a scandal-riddled production from director Bernardo Bertolucci and starring Marlon Brando that got so heated the stars and director were even threatened with six months jail time in Italy upon its release, even as critics hailed the film as a masterpiece. Long before MeToo and the focus on treatment of women in Hollywood, Schneider...
Jessica Palud directs and co-wrote the screenplay with Laurette Polmanss (inspired by cousin Vanessa Schneider’s 2018 book) focusing on the life of actress Maria Schneider, who at age 19 was cast in 1973’s notorious sexual drama Last Tango In Paris, a scandal-riddled production from director Bernardo Bertolucci and starring Marlon Brando that got so heated the stars and director were even threatened with six months jail time in Italy upon its release, even as critics hailed the film as a masterpiece. Long before MeToo and the focus on treatment of women in Hollywood, Schneider...
- 5/22/2024
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
When New Yorker film critic Pauline Kael wrote a long and heated rave of Bernardo Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris after its premiere in 1972, she stated, among other things, that “this is a movie people will be arguing about for as long as there are movies.”
Kael may have been overdoing it when she stressed Last Tango‘s monumental importance, claiming it was a “movie breakthrough” and that it “altered the face of the art form.” But in terms of people arguing years later about the film’s legacy, she was spot-on.
Case in point: Being Maria, a new biopic of tormented French actress Maria Schneider, who at age 19 starred opposite Marlon Brando in the Bertolucci movie — a feat that launched her career as a promising new international actress while destroying her life at the same time.
The reasons for this are well known, and resurfaced over the past...
Kael may have been overdoing it when she stressed Last Tango‘s monumental importance, claiming it was a “movie breakthrough” and that it “altered the face of the art form.” But in terms of people arguing years later about the film’s legacy, she was spot-on.
Case in point: Being Maria, a new biopic of tormented French actress Maria Schneider, who at age 19 starred opposite Marlon Brando in the Bertolucci movie — a feat that launched her career as a promising new international actress while destroying her life at the same time.
The reasons for this are well known, and resurfaced over the past...
- 5/22/2024
- by Jordan Mintzer
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fred Roos, the casting director turned producer who jump-started the career of Jack Nicholson and collaborated often with Francis Ford Coppola, sharing a best picture Oscar with the filmmaker for The Godfather Part II, has died. He was 89.
Roos died Saturday at his home in Beverly Hills, a publicist announced.
It’s part of Hollywood lore that before Harrison Ford became a famous actor, he was laboring as a carpenter to make ends meet. What some might not know is that it was at Roos’ house where Ford was woodworking when the casting director befriended him, eventually pushing him for roles in George Lucas’ American Graffiti (1973) and Star Wars (1977) and Coppola’s The Conversation (1974).
And it was Roos who convinced Lucas — who had been leaning toward Amy Irving — that Carrie Fisher should portray Princess Leia in Star Wars. (Roos did not have an official role on that film.)
Roos, however,...
Roos died Saturday at his home in Beverly Hills, a publicist announced.
It’s part of Hollywood lore that before Harrison Ford became a famous actor, he was laboring as a carpenter to make ends meet. What some might not know is that it was at Roos’ house where Ford was woodworking when the casting director befriended him, eventually pushing him for roles in George Lucas’ American Graffiti (1973) and Star Wars (1977) and Coppola’s The Conversation (1974).
And it was Roos who convinced Lucas — who had been leaning toward Amy Irving — that Carrie Fisher should portray Princess Leia in Star Wars. (Roos did not have an official role on that film.)
Roos, however,...
- 5/21/2024
- by Chris Koseluk
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jason Aldean paid tribute to Toby Keith at the 2024 ACM Awards, performing an elegantly low-key version of “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” Keith’s 1993 debut single, backed by a string quartet.
Blake Shelton introduced the performance, honoring his fellow Oklahoma native. The audience singing along was loud and clear as Aldean delivered the classic song. Behind Aldean, photos of Keith performing or with his family flashed by, and the camera often panned to tearful and visibly moved audience members.
Keith died in February at age 62 after a yearslong battle with stomach cancer.
Blake Shelton introduced the performance, honoring his fellow Oklahoma native. The audience singing along was loud and clear as Aldean delivered the classic song. Behind Aldean, photos of Keith performing or with his family flashed by, and the camera often panned to tearful and visibly moved audience members.
Keith died in February at age 62 after a yearslong battle with stomach cancer.
- 5/17/2024
- by Joseph Hudak and Brittany Spanos
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: Vmi Releasing, the North American distribution arm of Vmi Worldwide, has picked up North American rights to Spanish filmmaker Fernando Trueba’s latest pic Haunted Heart, starring Matt Dillon.
Vmi acquired the pic from Film Constellation. Oscar-winner Trueba directs the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Rylend Grant. Starring alongside Dillon are Goya-nominated Aida Folch (The Artist and the Model) and Juan Pablo Urrego (Memoria).
Set on a beautiful remote island in Greece, a young and spirited Alex (Folch) joins the team of a boutique seaside restaurant as their new waitress. Despite her femme-fatale charm quickly winning the heart of the charismatic Enrico, she instead falls for the enigmatic restaurant manager Max (Dillon), a reclusive American, who settled on the island decades ago. As the seasons pass, sexual tensions rise, and tourists come and go, Enrico begins to unearth disturbing clues about Max’s dark and mysterious past.
Vmi acquired the pic from Film Constellation. Oscar-winner Trueba directs the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Rylend Grant. Starring alongside Dillon are Goya-nominated Aida Folch (The Artist and the Model) and Juan Pablo Urrego (Memoria).
Set on a beautiful remote island in Greece, a young and spirited Alex (Folch) joins the team of a boutique seaside restaurant as their new waitress. Despite her femme-fatale charm quickly winning the heart of the charismatic Enrico, she instead falls for the enigmatic restaurant manager Max (Dillon), a reclusive American, who settled on the island decades ago. As the seasons pass, sexual tensions rise, and tourists come and go, Enrico begins to unearth disturbing clues about Max’s dark and mysterious past.
- 5/14/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Matt Dillon is taking on the legacy of Marlon Brando for a biopic about the making of Bernardo Bertolucci’s controversial “Last Tango in Paris.”
Dillon portrays Brando alongside Anamaria Vartolomei as Maria Schneider for Jessica Palud’s upcoming “Maria,” which is set to debut at Cannes later this week in the Cannes Premiere section. “Maria” follows Schneider’s life after starring in “Last Tango in Paris” at age 19, during which she filmed an unsimulated rape scene with Brando in 1973 at director Bertolucci’s (Giuseppe Maggio) instruction. The film is based on Vanessa Schneider’s 2018 memoir “My Cousin Maria Schneider,” which was translated by Molly Ringwald.
Per the memoir, Bertolucci did not tell Schneider the full extent of the film’s plot until right before production. Schneider allegedly was unaware of the pivotal scene in which Brando’s character anally rapes her character using a stick of butter as lubricant.
Dillon portrays Brando alongside Anamaria Vartolomei as Maria Schneider for Jessica Palud’s upcoming “Maria,” which is set to debut at Cannes later this week in the Cannes Premiere section. “Maria” follows Schneider’s life after starring in “Last Tango in Paris” at age 19, during which she filmed an unsimulated rape scene with Brando in 1973 at director Bertolucci’s (Giuseppe Maggio) instruction. The film is based on Vanessa Schneider’s 2018 memoir “My Cousin Maria Schneider,” which was translated by Molly Ringwald.
Per the memoir, Bertolucci did not tell Schneider the full extent of the film’s plot until right before production. Schneider allegedly was unaware of the pivotal scene in which Brando’s character anally rapes her character using a stick of butter as lubricant.
- 5/13/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Studiocanal has unveiled an exclusive first-look still of Matt Dillon and Anamaria Vartolomei (“Happening”) starring as Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider in Jessica Palud’s movie “Maria,” which is slated to bow at the Cannes Film Festival.
Palud’s film sheds light on the tragic life of Maria Schneider, who starred opposite Marlon Brando in Bernardo Bertolucci’s “The Last Tango in Paris” at the age of 19 and never recovered from the shoot. The film depicts how Schneider was imposed an un-simulated rape scene on the set of “The Last Tango in Paris” by Bertolucci and Brando.
“Maria,” the only movie directed by a female filmmaker that’s set for Cannes Premiere, is based on “Tu t’appelais Maria Schneider,” a book written by Vanessa Schneider, the actress’ cousin. Haut et Court, the banner behind the Cesar-winning movie “The Night of the 12th,” will release “Maria” in French theaters on...
Palud’s film sheds light on the tragic life of Maria Schneider, who starred opposite Marlon Brando in Bernardo Bertolucci’s “The Last Tango in Paris” at the age of 19 and never recovered from the shoot. The film depicts how Schneider was imposed an un-simulated rape scene on the set of “The Last Tango in Paris” by Bertolucci and Brando.
“Maria,” the only movie directed by a female filmmaker that’s set for Cannes Premiere, is based on “Tu t’appelais Maria Schneider,” a book written by Vanessa Schneider, the actress’ cousin. Haut et Court, the banner behind the Cesar-winning movie “The Night of the 12th,” will release “Maria” in French theaters on...
- 5/10/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Put down that notebook, grab your tap-dancing shoes, and saddle up because we're about to break down why one of Hollywood's most prominent leading men is more than Kenough.
In his thirty years as an actor, Ryan Gosling has amassed a total of 107 award nominations and 40 wins. No small feat, considering he's been known to take multiple years-long breaks in his line of work.
Having cemented a career with roles ranging from comedy to thriller to action, Gosling is not one to limit himself. As Roger Ebert said, Ryan "proves he's one of the finest actors in contemporary movies."
Starting at a young age, Gosling managed to sidestep the drama that has plagued many notable child stars in Hollywood's history.
The actor likely saw the downfall of fellow industry peers and prioritized his mental health to avoid such pitfalls.
Whatever the case, Ryan has also made a name for himself...
In his thirty years as an actor, Ryan Gosling has amassed a total of 107 award nominations and 40 wins. No small feat, considering he's been known to take multiple years-long breaks in his line of work.
Having cemented a career with roles ranging from comedy to thriller to action, Gosling is not one to limit himself. As Roger Ebert said, Ryan "proves he's one of the finest actors in contemporary movies."
Starting at a young age, Gosling managed to sidestep the drama that has plagued many notable child stars in Hollywood's history.
The actor likely saw the downfall of fellow industry peers and prioritized his mental health to avoid such pitfalls.
Whatever the case, Ryan has also made a name for himself...
- 5/9/2024
- by Joshua Pleming
- TVfanatic
10. Cheyenne (1955–1963)
Oh, Cheyenne! If we were to name every “first-ever” this TV show became back in the day, we’d sit here all day.
But it’s better to spend this time on the road with Cheyenne Bodie — the nomadic gunslinger who’s always on the road, looking for jobs that pay, villains that are asking for it, and women that are oh so charming.
9. The Wild Wild West (1965–1969)
Everyone and their grandmother loves spy shows. But how about espionage in the Wild Wild West? Enter James West and Artemus Gordon, two secret service agents working for the Old West government to foil many a villain’s plans to undermine that part of the US. There’s a lot of West in the previous sentence, but give it a west.
8. Wagon Train (1957–1965)
If your friends don’t believe that Westerns largely influenced sci-fi, show them Wagon Train. Following a notoriously...
Oh, Cheyenne! If we were to name every “first-ever” this TV show became back in the day, we’d sit here all day.
But it’s better to spend this time on the road with Cheyenne Bodie — the nomadic gunslinger who’s always on the road, looking for jobs that pay, villains that are asking for it, and women that are oh so charming.
9. The Wild Wild West (1965–1969)
Everyone and their grandmother loves spy shows. But how about espionage in the Wild Wild West? Enter James West and Artemus Gordon, two secret service agents working for the Old West government to foil many a villain’s plans to undermine that part of the US. There’s a lot of West in the previous sentence, but give it a west.
8. Wagon Train (1957–1965)
If your friends don’t believe that Westerns largely influenced sci-fi, show them Wagon Train. Following a notoriously...
- 5/2/2024
- by dean-black@startefacts.com (Dean Black)
- STartefacts.com
Francis Ford Coppola's miraculous 1970s run of "The Godfather," "The Conversation," "The Godfather Part II" and "Apocalypse Now" came crashing to a hubristic halt in 1982 when his backlot musical "One from the Heart," produced at his recently purchased Zoetrope Studios in the heart of Hollywood, bombed upon release. Poor reviews and audience indifference resulted in a paltry $637,000 gross against a $26 million budget, thus killing his dream of an artist-driven mini-community.
The magnitude of the film's failure meant Coppola would have to lower his sights for the time being, and make films with more straightforward commercial appeal as a means of paying off his debts. It was a shockingly precipitous fall, one that left his many admirers worried that he'd become more of a paycheck-to-paycheck director. This happened eventually, but for a time he was able to stoke his creative fire even if he was making movies that weren't as...
The magnitude of the film's failure meant Coppola would have to lower his sights for the time being, and make films with more straightforward commercial appeal as a means of paying off his debts. It was a shockingly precipitous fall, one that left his many admirers worried that he'd become more of a paycheck-to-paycheck director. This happened eventually, but for a time he was able to stoke his creative fire even if he was making movies that weren't as...
- 4/28/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Very few filmmakers have achieved what Quentin Tarantino has in his years in the film industry. Despite his films often igniting controversies, the filmmaker and his unique works have always remained on top of Hollywood. The man knows how to push boundaries to the perfect limits to give cinema fanatics something raw every time and Pulp Fiction was no different.
Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction
Whether it was the use of violence or the taboo topic of drugs, Pulp Fiction was not without controversy. Still, the film made waves at the box office and found a place in the audience’s hearts, establishing itself as a classic. Even legendary actor Bruce Willis couldn’t help but fall head over heels for the script as he tried everything in his power to convince Quentin Tarantino to make him a part of the film.
How Bruce Willis Got a Role in Quentin...
Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction
Whether it was the use of violence or the taboo topic of drugs, Pulp Fiction was not without controversy. Still, the film made waves at the box office and found a place in the audience’s hearts, establishing itself as a classic. Even legendary actor Bruce Willis couldn’t help but fall head over heels for the script as he tried everything in his power to convince Quentin Tarantino to make him a part of the film.
How Bruce Willis Got a Role in Quentin...
- 4/25/2024
- by Mishkaat Khan
- FandomWire
For as long as “teenager” has been a demographic, there have been stories about teens breaking free from the status quo. While a lot of the modern great teen rebellion media is confined to the world of TV — where shows like “Euphoria” attract constant buzz — the archetypal troubled teen story remains 1955’s “Rebel Without a Cause.” Starring James Dean in unquestionably his defining role, a rebellious teen struggling with his demons in L.A., Nicholas Ray’s film spoke to young people at the time with its story of high schoolers struggling with, and going against, the social pressures that bring them down. Over the years it became a touchstone because its themes and its honesty transcends generations.
As the teen film has evolved and morphed as a genre, there’s always been room for stories of iconoclastic youth who don’t fit in with the status quo. Oftentimes, these...
As the teen film has evolved and morphed as a genre, there’s always been room for stories of iconoclastic youth who don’t fit in with the status quo. Oftentimes, these...
- 4/23/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Films from Oliver Stone, Michel Hazanavicius and Arnaud Desplechin have been added to the Official Selection of the 77th Cannes Film Festival. They join previously announced titles from David Cronenberg, Yorgos Lanthimos, Francis Ford Coppola and Paul Schrader. Greta Gerwig is the president of this year’s jury.
Stone’s film, “Lula” is a documentary about Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and will have its world premiere as part of the Special Screenings section, which also features “Spectators,” from Arnaud Desplechin. His latest stars “Anatomy of a Fall” child actor Milo Machado Graner as well as Mathieu Amalric (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”).
Hazanavicius, a Best Director Oscar winner for “The Artist,” joins the Competition lineup with “La Plus Précieuse des Marchandises” (“The Most Precious of Cargoes”), an animated film about a Jewish child during World War II whose father, in a desperate attempt to save his son’s life,...
Stone’s film, “Lula” is a documentary about Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and will have its world premiere as part of the Special Screenings section, which also features “Spectators,” from Arnaud Desplechin. His latest stars “Anatomy of a Fall” child actor Milo Machado Graner as well as Mathieu Amalric (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”).
Hazanavicius, a Best Director Oscar winner for “The Artist,” joins the Competition lineup with “La Plus Précieuse des Marchandises” (“The Most Precious of Cargoes”), an animated film about a Jewish child during World War II whose father, in a desperate attempt to save his son’s life,...
- 4/22/2024
- by Missy Schwartz
- The Wrap
After announcing a whopping number of English-language films in competition, Cannes Film Festival has added some international titles: Michel Hazanavicius’ animated feature “The Most Precious of Cargoes” and Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof’s “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” Variety has learned.
An auteur-driven allegorical feature, “The Most Precious of Cargoes” (first-look still below) is adapted from Jean-Claude Grumberg’s bestselling novel of the same name, set during World War II against the backdrop of the Holocaust. It will be the first animated feature to compete in more than a decade, since Ari Folman’s “Waltz With Bashir” in 2008.
The film is co-produced and represented internationally by Studiocanal, which also has Gilles Lellouche’s “Beating Hearts” in competition. “The Most Precious of Cargoes” is a passion project for Hazanavicius, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind “The Artist,” who has been developing the project for years. Hazanavicius penned the script with Grumberg and created the drawings,...
An auteur-driven allegorical feature, “The Most Precious of Cargoes” (first-look still below) is adapted from Jean-Claude Grumberg’s bestselling novel of the same name, set during World War II against the backdrop of the Holocaust. It will be the first animated feature to compete in more than a decade, since Ari Folman’s “Waltz With Bashir” in 2008.
The film is co-produced and represented internationally by Studiocanal, which also has Gilles Lellouche’s “Beating Hearts” in competition. “The Most Precious of Cargoes” is a passion project for Hazanavicius, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind “The Artist,” who has been developing the project for years. Hazanavicius penned the script with Grumberg and created the drawings,...
- 4/22/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Angelina Jolie‘s daughter, Vivienne, 15, has assumed the role of a meticulous assistant on the Broadway production of The Outsiders. The mother-daughter team attended the show’s premiere at New York City’s Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on April 11.
“She’ll correct me,” Jolie, 48, who is a producer of the show, said. “She’ll say, ‘Didn’t you read the memo? We have to do this. We have to go through this. She’s been a really tough assistant. She takes it very, very seriously.”
Broadway’s The Outsiders is a stage adaptation of S. E. Hinton’s beloved coming-of-age novel from 1967. Previously, the story received a film adaptation over four decades ago, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and written by Kathleen Rowell. The 1983 film featured notable actors such as C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio and Tom Cruise.
An exceptional cast plays the lead...
“She’ll correct me,” Jolie, 48, who is a producer of the show, said. “She’ll say, ‘Didn’t you read the memo? We have to do this. We have to go through this. She’s been a really tough assistant. She takes it very, very seriously.”
Broadway’s The Outsiders is a stage adaptation of S. E. Hinton’s beloved coming-of-age novel from 1967. Previously, the story received a film adaptation over four decades ago, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and written by Kathleen Rowell. The 1983 film featured notable actors such as C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio and Tom Cruise.
An exceptional cast plays the lead...
- 4/13/2024
- by Baila Eve Zisman
- Uinterview
Clockwise from left: Anyone But You (Sony Pictures Releasing), Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver (Netflix), Scoop (Netflix) Image: The A.V. Club
Netflix adds a few high-profile originals and a recent rom-com blockbuster to kick off the first full month of spring. Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver is the...
Netflix adds a few high-profile originals and a recent rom-com blockbuster to kick off the first full month of spring. Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver is the...
- 4/1/2024
- by Robert DeSalvo
- avclub.com
Gus Van Sant’s 1995 satirical black comedy To Die For begins in the midst of a news frenzy: Larry Maretto (Matt Dillon), a well-liked man who helped his family run their small-town Italian restaurant, has been murdered and his wife, Suzanne (Nicole Kidman), has been arrested as a suspect. The rest of the film, which blends mockumentary talking heads and flashbacks of the characters’ lives, sends up the contemporaneous sensationalism of high-profile criminal trials like those of O.J. Simpson and the Menendez brothers. By showing the murder upfront, the film, written by the late Buck Henry, proceeds as a rebuke to the public’s fascination with whodunit by psychoanalyzing an already apprehended party.
Yet from the moment we first see Suzanne speaking directly into the camera in an interview, we need not spend too much time unpacking her psychological state. Perfectly coiffed and dressed in tones not quite bright enough to outshine her wide,...
Yet from the moment we first see Suzanne speaking directly into the camera in an interview, we need not spend too much time unpacking her psychological state. Perfectly coiffed and dressed in tones not quite bright enough to outshine her wide,...
- 3/22/2024
- by Jake Cole
- Slant Magazine
(L-r) Shirley MacLaine as Astrid and Peter Dinklage as Phil Loder, in American Dreamer. Courtesy of Vertical
In the comedy American Dreamer, Peter Dinklage plays a curmudgeonly college professor with a dream to buy a home far beyond his limited means, while Shirley MacLaine plays a wealthy retiree who has just such a fabulous home for sale for an unbelievable price – with one big catch. Loosely inspired – very loosely – by real events, the major delight of this sometimes crazy comedy is in the pairing of Dinklage and MacLaine, who make a perfect, and perfectly insane, comedy duo in this film.
Dinklage plays Dr. Phil Loder who teaches economics from a sociological view at a small college. Loder may teach economics but his own economics are pretty dismal for a professor of the dismal science. Underpaid and twice-divorced, he doesn’t have tenure, and he can’t even seem to get...
In the comedy American Dreamer, Peter Dinklage plays a curmudgeonly college professor with a dream to buy a home far beyond his limited means, while Shirley MacLaine plays a wealthy retiree who has just such a fabulous home for sale for an unbelievable price – with one big catch. Loosely inspired – very loosely – by real events, the major delight of this sometimes crazy comedy is in the pairing of Dinklage and MacLaine, who make a perfect, and perfectly insane, comedy duo in this film.
Dinklage plays Dr. Phil Loder who teaches economics from a sociological view at a small college. Loder may teach economics but his own economics are pretty dismal for a professor of the dismal science. Underpaid and twice-divorced, he doesn’t have tenure, and he can’t even seem to get...
- 3/21/2024
- by Cate Marquis
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Veteran international film executive Rosa Bosch has partnered with Spanish distributor and sales agency Begin Again Films, joining the company’s international department.
Madrid-based Begin Again Films is known for handling arthouse fare such as doc The Year of Discovery, Zaida Carmona’s Girlfriends and Girlfriends and Nestor Ruiz Medina’s 21 Paradise.
Bosch joins as Begin Again also takes on sales for Anna Cornudella’s The Human Hibernation, winner of the Fipresci Award in the Forum section of the Berlinale 2024.
A veteran of the international film industry, Bosch’s career includes roles at AFI Fest, the London Film Festival...
Madrid-based Begin Again Films is known for handling arthouse fare such as doc The Year of Discovery, Zaida Carmona’s Girlfriends and Girlfriends and Nestor Ruiz Medina’s 21 Paradise.
Bosch joins as Begin Again also takes on sales for Anna Cornudella’s The Human Hibernation, winner of the Fipresci Award in the Forum section of the Berlinale 2024.
A veteran of the international film industry, Bosch’s career includes roles at AFI Fest, the London Film Festival...
- 3/15/2024
- ScreenDaily
Comedy feels like it's in a delicate state these days. Not only are studios avoiding tentpole comedy movies for the most part, but the onslaught of what many perceive as "cancel culture" has resulted in a little more caution when it comes to telling jokes, whether that's on the big screen or in comedy clubs. While there has been a lot of admirable progress with regards to cultural issues in comedy, the argument could be made that there is such a thing as being too sensitive, especially when it comes to an art form that is well-known for mining laughter from irreverence and provocation.
This careful approach to comedy has resulted in a lot of retrospective analysis of comedies from yesteryear, much of which often results in people saying, "You could never make that movie today." This has been applied to everything from "Blazing Saddles" (typically from people who don't...
This careful approach to comedy has resulted in a lot of retrospective analysis of comedies from yesteryear, much of which often results in people saying, "You could never make that movie today." This has been applied to everything from "Blazing Saddles" (typically from people who don't...
- 3/14/2024
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences doesn't always get it right. Actually, you can count on them to just about never get it right.
This is especially true of the lead acting categories, where voters often become prisoners of the moment and vote for the buzziest and/or showiest performance. This is how Al Pacino's chilling depiction of Michael Corleone's descent into pure, dead-eyed evil in "The Godfather Part II" gets passed over in favor of Art Carney's amiable portrayal of a lonely old man hitting the road with his pet cat in "Harry and Tonto." This results in overdue Oscars, which frequently create new injustices — like Denzel Washington's bravura turn as Malcolm X losing to Al Pacino's ceaseless hoo-hahing in "Scent of a Woman," which led to Washington getting his Best Actor trophy for his (admittedly entertaining) grandstanding work in "Training Day" (which cost...
This is especially true of the lead acting categories, where voters often become prisoners of the moment and vote for the buzziest and/or showiest performance. This is how Al Pacino's chilling depiction of Michael Corleone's descent into pure, dead-eyed evil in "The Godfather Part II" gets passed over in favor of Art Carney's amiable portrayal of a lonely old man hitting the road with his pet cat in "Harry and Tonto." This results in overdue Oscars, which frequently create new injustices — like Denzel Washington's bravura turn as Malcolm X losing to Al Pacino's ceaseless hoo-hahing in "Scent of a Woman," which led to Washington getting his Best Actor trophy for his (admittedly entertaining) grandstanding work in "Training Day" (which cost...
- 3/11/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The 26th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival (TiDF) is underway in the historic Greek port city, after an opening night ceremony that honored Spanish filmmaker Fernando Trueba.
Trueba, the Oscar-winning director of Belle Époque, received the festival’s honorary Golden Alexander, recognizing his contributions to cinema and culture. The honor was presented to him by Katerina Sakellaropoulou, president of Hellenic Republic, the first time a Greek head of state has launched the international event.
“Great documentaries profoundly move us, broaden our understanding of the world, challenge our beliefs, prejudices, or our established assumptions,” President Sakellaropoulou said from the stage at the Olympion cinema. “An artistic portrayal of reality, or a creative handling of an otherwise unseen aspect of it, a poetic depiction of a documented truth, or a subjective documentation of some of its dimensions, documentary is a film genre requiring cultural sensitivity, journalistic integrity, moral rectitude, conceptual purity, and political discernment.
Trueba, the Oscar-winning director of Belle Époque, received the festival’s honorary Golden Alexander, recognizing his contributions to cinema and culture. The honor was presented to him by Katerina Sakellaropoulou, president of Hellenic Republic, the first time a Greek head of state has launched the international event.
“Great documentaries profoundly move us, broaden our understanding of the world, challenge our beliefs, prejudices, or our established assumptions,” President Sakellaropoulou said from the stage at the Olympion cinema. “An artistic portrayal of reality, or a creative handling of an otherwise unseen aspect of it, a poetic depiction of a documented truth, or a subjective documentation of some of its dimensions, documentary is a film genre requiring cultural sensitivity, journalistic integrity, moral rectitude, conceptual purity, and political discernment.
- 3/8/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Australian writer-director Michael Jenkins, known for provocative Australia teen drama Heartbreak High, has died aged 77.
His management confirmed his death via through his partner, Amanda Robson. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020. His friend, Ian Barry, wrote in a tribute that he had passed away on March 4 with Robson and close family by his side.
The statement from Jenkins’ management said that his “contributions to the entertainment industry and his legacy as a film-maker and storyteller will be well remembered.”
Known for a gritty and frenetic style of directing, Jenkins was behind some of Australia’s most notable TV series, with his internationally-popular 1990s high school drama Heartbreak High was rebooted for Netflix in 2022. He had initially co-created the series, which helped launch the career of The Mentalist actor Simon Baker, with Ben Gannon for Network Ten in 1994.
He was also behind Blue Murder, the Australian series...
His management confirmed his death via through his partner, Amanda Robson. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020. His friend, Ian Barry, wrote in a tribute that he had passed away on March 4 with Robson and close family by his side.
The statement from Jenkins’ management said that his “contributions to the entertainment industry and his legacy as a film-maker and storyteller will be well remembered.”
Known for a gritty and frenetic style of directing, Jenkins was behind some of Australia’s most notable TV series, with his internationally-popular 1990s high school drama Heartbreak High was rebooted for Netflix in 2022. He had initially co-created the series, which helped launch the career of The Mentalist actor Simon Baker, with Ben Gannon for Network Ten in 1994.
He was also behind Blue Murder, the Australian series...
- 3/8/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
American Dreamer deserves better than it has gotten. Shot three years ago during the pandemic this delirously black comedy premiered at Tribeca 2022 and got lost in the crowd. The filmmakers including first time feature director Paul Dektor and screenwriter/producer Theodore Melfi decided to then hold it back and recut and tighten it eliminating 10 minutes of the original running time. In early 2023 it turned up at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, still largely ignored, and then its distribution hunt was further delayed by the Hollywood strikes. Finally Vertical has wisely picked it up and it will be opening in theatres and VOD Friday.
I saw the Tribeca cut and I have seen the final cut. Both worked for me but it was great to experience it a second time in an actual theatre with a very appreciative audience. Comedies work best that way and this one...
I saw the Tribeca cut and I have seen the final cut. Both worked for me but it was great to experience it a second time in an actual theatre with a very appreciative audience. Comedies work best that way and this one...
- 3/7/2024
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
The dubious ideology known as the “American dream” might have lost its meaning amid today’s economic conditions, when making rent each month counts as a triumph for most. But in debuting director Paul Dektor’s occasionally amusing yet messy dark comedy, “American Dreamer,” untenured East Coast economics professor Dr. Phil Loder (Peter Dinklage) holds onto its antiquated gist for dear life, indignantly teaching his subject with an idealist pursuit-of-happiness angle and fantasizing about the day he would proudly buy his very own house.
The trouble is, Dr. Phil (a nickname he detests) doesn’t quite have the means for the property of his dreams — not a modestly comfortable condo or anything, but a giant mansion that would set him back a few million dollars. Still, that doesn’t stop him from frequenting open houses at the kinds of homes he definitely can’t afford and sipping champagne among more qualified buyers.
The trouble is, Dr. Phil (a nickname he detests) doesn’t quite have the means for the property of his dreams — not a modestly comfortable condo or anything, but a giant mansion that would set him back a few million dollars. Still, that doesn’t stop him from frequenting open houses at the kinds of homes he definitely can’t afford and sipping champagne among more qualified buyers.
- 3/6/2024
- by Tomris Laffly
- Variety Film + TV
Stars like Katie Holmes, Alan Cumming, and Rose Byrne are all joining Broadway’s best talent in supporting the Roundabout Theatre Company!
The three stars – who have all starred on Broadway themselves – stepped out for the 2024 Roundabout Theatre Company Gala on Monday night (March 4) at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City.
The event honored director Kenny Leon with the Jason Robards Award for Excellence in Theatre and The Rudin Family with the Ovation Award for Excellence in Philanthropy. These awards are given to those who have made an indelible impact on both theatre and Roundabout.
Oscar winner Ariana DeBose gave a special concert performance at the gala.
Head inside to see all of the attendees at the gala…
Keep scrolling to see all of the celebs who attended…
Katie Holmes
Jim Parsons and husband Todd Spiewak
Kelsey Grammer
Matt Dillon
Rose Byrne
Vanessa Williams
Anna Chlumsky
Richard Kind
Alan...
The three stars – who have all starred on Broadway themselves – stepped out for the 2024 Roundabout Theatre Company Gala on Monday night (March 4) at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City.
The event honored director Kenny Leon with the Jason Robards Award for Excellence in Theatre and The Rudin Family with the Ovation Award for Excellence in Philanthropy. These awards are given to those who have made an indelible impact on both theatre and Roundabout.
Oscar winner Ariana DeBose gave a special concert performance at the gala.
Head inside to see all of the attendees at the gala…
Keep scrolling to see all of the celebs who attended…
Katie Holmes
Jim Parsons and husband Todd Spiewak
Kelsey Grammer
Matt Dillon
Rose Byrne
Vanessa Williams
Anna Chlumsky
Richard Kind
Alan...
- 3/5/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
While Francis Ford Coppola is, and always will be associated with his greatest work namely The Godfather trilogy, the prolific director was instrumental in kickstarting the careers of many A-list celebrities today. The director cast a bunch of young actors for his 1983 film The Outsiders which was based on the 1967 novel of the same name by S.E Hinton.
A still from Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders
The film went on to gain critical acclaim and cult status over the years. More significantly, it catapulted the young actors in the film to superstardom. These actors were Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Diane Lane, and Rob Lowe among many others. In the 40th year of the film’s release, the Oscar-winning director revealed his off-beat audition process that resulted in the casting of these actors.
SUGGESTEDFrancis Ford Coppola Originally Rejected Robert De Niro For a Major Role in The Godfather...
A still from Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders
The film went on to gain critical acclaim and cult status over the years. More significantly, it catapulted the young actors in the film to superstardom. These actors were Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Diane Lane, and Rob Lowe among many others. In the 40th year of the film’s release, the Oscar-winning director revealed his off-beat audition process that resulted in the casting of these actors.
SUGGESTEDFrancis Ford Coppola Originally Rejected Robert De Niro For a Major Role in The Godfather...
- 3/3/2024
- by Sharanya Sankar
- FandomWire
Francis Ford Coppola is celebrating his memorable film The Outsiders with footage of the auditions that brought together the film’s young stars, almost all of whom went on to even greater glory.
Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Diane Lane, Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, and Rob Lowe were part of the magic cast.
“42 years ago, we cast The Outsiders in a unique way,” Coppola wrote in an Instagram post Wednesday. “We had all the actors together on a soundstage and would alternate different actors reading for different roles.”
He continued: “It was interesting because each of them was watching their competition, so while it could’ve been a volatile situation, it turned into a very positive one. There emerged the natural respect and sense of colleagueship among them. The result worked beautifully and reminded me of my days as a camp counselor.”
The shared footage features the actors reading from the coming-of-age story,...
Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Diane Lane, Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, and Rob Lowe were part of the magic cast.
“42 years ago, we cast The Outsiders in a unique way,” Coppola wrote in an Instagram post Wednesday. “We had all the actors together on a soundstage and would alternate different actors reading for different roles.”
He continued: “It was interesting because each of them was watching their competition, so while it could’ve been a volatile situation, it turned into a very positive one. There emerged the natural respect and sense of colleagueship among them. The result worked beautifully and reminded me of my days as a camp counselor.”
The shared footage features the actors reading from the coming-of-age story,...
- 3/1/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Four decades after its release, director Francis Ford Coppola took to Instagram on Thursday to share audition tapes from his 1983 film, The Outsiders.
The film, based on the 1963 novel by S.E. Hinton, is known for, among other things, launching the careers of many of its young stars, including Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, Diane Lane, C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon and Emilio Estevez.
In his post on Thursday, Coppola recounted his unique casting process for the endeavor. “We had all the actors together on a soundstage and would alternate different actors reading for different roles,” he said. The process is reflected in the accompanying footage of Coppola’s post, where various actors read lines from characters they did not play. At one point, the clips include several different performances of the line, “Hop the 3:15 freight to Windrixvill.”
Like its namesake book, Coppola’s film tells the...
The film, based on the 1963 novel by S.E. Hinton, is known for, among other things, launching the careers of many of its young stars, including Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, Diane Lane, C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon and Emilio Estevez.
In his post on Thursday, Coppola recounted his unique casting process for the endeavor. “We had all the actors together on a soundstage and would alternate different actors reading for different roles,” he said. The process is reflected in the accompanying footage of Coppola’s post, where various actors read lines from characters they did not play. At one point, the clips include several different performances of the line, “Hop the 3:15 freight to Windrixvill.”
Like its namesake book, Coppola’s film tells the...
- 2/29/2024
- by Zoe G Phillips
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola has made an Instagram post about the unique way he cast his adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. The movie, which came out in 1983, starred several notable actors — Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, Patrick Swayze, and Ralph Macchio, among others — but they didn’t necessarily audition for the roles they got; they auditioned for all the roles.
“Forty-two years ago we cast The Outsiders in a unique way,” Coppola wrote in the caption for his post. “We had all...
“Forty-two years ago we cast The Outsiders in a unique way,” Coppola wrote in the caption for his post. “We had all...
- 2/29/2024
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
In 2015, Fox debuted a science-fiction mystery series called "Wayward Pines" starring Matt Dillon as U.S. Secret Service agent Ethan Burke who is sent to investigate the mysterious disappearance of two fellow agents in a small town in Idaho. After getting in a car accident, he awakens to discover he cannot leave Wayward Pines, nor can he contact anyone outside of the town. He quickly learns that one of the missing agents is dead, while the other, his ex-partner Kate (Carla Gugino) has simply settled down and started a new life in the town.
If that wasn't odd enough, Wayward Pines is boxed in by an electric fence and run by Sheriff Arnold Pope (Terrence Howard), who punishes any attempts to flee the city with a public execution known as a "reckoning." If this sounds like David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" by way of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," you're not far off.
If that wasn't odd enough, Wayward Pines is boxed in by an electric fence and run by Sheriff Arnold Pope (Terrence Howard), who punishes any attempts to flee the city with a public execution known as a "reckoning." If this sounds like David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" by way of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," you're not far off.
- 2/16/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
"Do you wish death upon her?" "Not tomorrow..." Vertical has revealed the official trailer for an indie film titled American Dreamer, now set for release in March this year. This film originally premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival a few years ago, and has been stuck in release limbo ever since. Which is not a good sign. "What do we need to be happy? What do we want? And ultimately - how far are we willing to go, to get it?" Economics professor Phillip Loder poses these questions to his grad students as he ponders these thoughts. Phil is a twice-divorced, frustrated, underpaid professor, as well as an aspiring novelist, clamoring for bigger, better things in his life. He finds a hard-to-believe good deal on a masnion estate and jumps at the offer, hoping he'll strike it rich – only to quickly realize it really is too good to be true.
- 2/13/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
James Ellroy is making a renewed Hollywood push.
The L.A. Confidential author has signed with UTA, which is already taking his latest novel, The Enchanters, out to producers. The news comes on the heels of his Triple Crown year.
Ellroy, whom the New Yorker recently dubbed “the neo-noir eminence of L.A. crime fiction,” is best known for his L.A. Quartet novels: The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, L.A. Confidential and White Jazz. His Underworld USA trilogy — American Tabloid, The Cold Six Thousand and Blood’s a Rover — has also garnered acclaim and best-seller status. A year ago this month, he received the prestigious Los Angeles Times Robert Kirsch Award in recognition of his lifetime excellence in writing about the American West.
The Enchanters is set in Hollywood in the summer of 1962. The novel, which was released in September, tackles the death of Marilyn Monroe in what...
The L.A. Confidential author has signed with UTA, which is already taking his latest novel, The Enchanters, out to producers. The news comes on the heels of his Triple Crown year.
Ellroy, whom the New Yorker recently dubbed “the neo-noir eminence of L.A. crime fiction,” is best known for his L.A. Quartet novels: The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, L.A. Confidential and White Jazz. His Underworld USA trilogy — American Tabloid, The Cold Six Thousand and Blood’s a Rover — has also garnered acclaim and best-seller status. A year ago this month, he received the prestigious Los Angeles Times Robert Kirsch Award in recognition of his lifetime excellence in writing about the American West.
The Enchanters is set in Hollywood in the summer of 1962. The novel, which was released in September, tackles the death of Marilyn Monroe in what...
- 2/8/2024
- by Lacey Rose
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Archstone Entertainment has acquired international rights to “American Dreamer,” a dark comedy starring Peter Dinklage, Shirley MacLaine, Kim Quinn, Matt Dillon and Danny Glover. Paul Dektor (“Frayed”) directs a script written by Theodore Melfi (“Hidden Figures”).
The movie is based on a true story from Chicago Public Radio’s ”This American Life” and follows Dr. Phil Loder (Dinklage), a low-level adjunct professor of economics at Harvard, whose grand dream of owning a home is tragically out of reach — until an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes his way when a lonely, childless, near-death widow (MacLaine) offers Phil her sprawling estate for pennies. But Phil quickly learns the deal is too good to be true.
Dinklage is best known for his work on “Game of Thrones.” MacLaine won an Oscar for “Terms of Endearment” and starred in “The Apartment” and “Postcards From the Edge.” Dillon’s credits include “Crash” and “There’s Something About Mary.
The movie is based on a true story from Chicago Public Radio’s ”This American Life” and follows Dr. Phil Loder (Dinklage), a low-level adjunct professor of economics at Harvard, whose grand dream of owning a home is tragically out of reach — until an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes his way when a lonely, childless, near-death widow (MacLaine) offers Phil her sprawling estate for pennies. But Phil quickly learns the deal is too good to be true.
Dinklage is best known for his work on “Game of Thrones.” MacLaine won an Oscar for “Terms of Endearment” and starred in “The Apartment” and “Postcards From the Edge.” Dillon’s credits include “Crash” and “There’s Something About Mary.
- 2/7/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
"For some of us, it's always midnight." Based on the book of the same name by renowned author Barry Gifford (Wild At Heart), Night People will debut the first of its four issues this March as one of the exciting new monthly comic book series from Oni Press, and we have a look at exclusive character designs as a special treat for Daily Dead readers!
Adapted by writer Chris Condon, Night People features illustrations by an all-star lineup of artists, including Brian Level, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Artyom Topilin, and Marco Finnegan, and below you can check out exclusive character designs of Elvis, Chihuahua, Sabine, and other eclectic characters from the macabre world of Night People.
We also have a look at the amazing cover artwork by J.H. Williams III, Joëlle Jones, Jacob Phillips, and Brian Level, as well as preview pages from the first issue of Night People, hitting shelves on March 6th from Oni Press!
Adapted by writer Chris Condon, Night People features illustrations by an all-star lineup of artists, including Brian Level, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Artyom Topilin, and Marco Finnegan, and below you can check out exclusive character designs of Elvis, Chihuahua, Sabine, and other eclectic characters from the macabre world of Night People.
We also have a look at the amazing cover artwork by J.H. Williams III, Joëlle Jones, Jacob Phillips, and Brian Level, as well as preview pages from the first issue of Night People, hitting shelves on March 6th from Oni Press!
- 2/6/2024
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Exclusive: Vertical has set a March 8th day-and-date release for American Dreamer, an indie comedy starring Peter Dinklage and Shirley Maclaine, to which it’s acquired North American rights.
First introduced to the world at the 2022 Tribeca Festival, the film marks the directorial debut of Paul Dektor, who worked from a script by Theodore Melfi (Hidden Figures). Pic is based on a true story from Chicago Public Radio’s This American Life and follows Phil Loder (Dinklage), a twice divorced, frustrated, underpaid professor of economics, whose grand dream of home ownership is tragically out of reach. When an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes his way, Phil strikes a deal with Astrid Finnelli (MacLaine), a lonely, childless, near-death widow who offers her sprawling estate for pennies. But Phil quickly learns the deal is too good to be true and the American dream is not quite what it used to be.
Also starring Kim Quinn,...
First introduced to the world at the 2022 Tribeca Festival, the film marks the directorial debut of Paul Dektor, who worked from a script by Theodore Melfi (Hidden Figures). Pic is based on a true story from Chicago Public Radio’s This American Life and follows Phil Loder (Dinklage), a twice divorced, frustrated, underpaid professor of economics, whose grand dream of home ownership is tragically out of reach. When an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes his way, Phil strikes a deal with Astrid Finnelli (MacLaine), a lonely, childless, near-death widow who offers her sprawling estate for pennies. But Phil quickly learns the deal is too good to be true and the American dream is not quite what it used to be.
Also starring Kim Quinn,...
- 2/1/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
“Come with me if you want to live!” But don’t bother if you don’t care for James Cameron’s movies. Michael Biehn — who played Kyle Reese in 1984’s The Terminator — revealed that singer Sting turned down playing the character because he didn’t like the director’s previous work…Piranha II: The Spawning.
Biehn — who was also featured in deleted scenes in Terminator 2: Judgment Day — remembered Sting’s fateful words to Cameron during the casting process, telling Michael Rosenbaum on his podcast, “I think originally [James Cameron] wanted Sting because he thought Sting had this unearthly quality about him. And I think he met with Sting, and I think Sting basically said, ‘Yeah, I just saw Piranha 2. I think I’ll take a pass on this thing.’ Something along those lines. I’m not sure how serious Jim was about him. I’ve never heard any other name associated with Kyle Reese.
Biehn — who was also featured in deleted scenes in Terminator 2: Judgment Day — remembered Sting’s fateful words to Cameron during the casting process, telling Michael Rosenbaum on his podcast, “I think originally [James Cameron] wanted Sting because he thought Sting had this unearthly quality about him. And I think he met with Sting, and I think Sting basically said, ‘Yeah, I just saw Piranha 2. I think I’ll take a pass on this thing.’ Something along those lines. I’m not sure how serious Jim was about him. I’ve never heard any other name associated with Kyle Reese.
- 1/23/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Jessica Palud’s showbiz drama “Being Maria” reframes the short career and tragic life of “Last Tango in Paris” star Maria Schneider in a post-#MeToo light. “Happening” breakout Anamaria Vartolomei plays Schneider, while Matt Dillon takes on the role of her co-star Marlon Brando. Orange Studio is handling international sales.
Currently in post-production and aiming for a festival premiere later this year, the film in part tracks the controversial production and wrenching fallout of Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1972 masterpiece — a landmark that made Schneider an icon while locking her into a sexualized image she never could escape. Palud’s sophomore feature also marks a fitting echo for the Gallic auteur, who kicked off her professional life on the set of Bertolucci’s “The Dreamers.”
Stepping into Brando’s shoes gave Dillon a unique task, not least because the French-language film required the actor to work in an unfamiliar tongue. “I thought to myself,...
Currently in post-production and aiming for a festival premiere later this year, the film in part tracks the controversial production and wrenching fallout of Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1972 masterpiece — a landmark that made Schneider an icon while locking her into a sexualized image she never could escape. Palud’s sophomore feature also marks a fitting echo for the Gallic auteur, who kicked off her professional life on the set of Bertolucci’s “The Dreamers.”
Stepping into Brando’s shoes gave Dillon a unique task, not least because the French-language film required the actor to work in an unfamiliar tongue. “I thought to myself,...
- 1/15/2024
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
Kevin Bacon, Denise Richards, Neve Campbell and Matt Dillon elevated this underrated neo-noir beyond bargain-bin titillation
In Wild Things, John McNaughton’s gloriously underrated 1998 thriller, Florida has never felt seedier. The idyllic, upscale Miami suburb of Blue Bay is rocked when high school guidance counsellor Sam Lombardo (Matt Dillon) is accused of rape by two of his students: the wealthy teen socialite Kelly Van Ryan (Denise Richards) and the poorer, more socially outcast Suzie Toller (Neve Campbell).
On the stand at the much-publicised trial, however, the girls quickly break under cross-examination and reveal that the allegations were falsely concocted to exact revenge on Sam for a series of perceived wrongdoings. When the beleaguered teacher is awarded an $8.5m defamation payout, police sergeant Ray Duquette (Kevin Bacon) suspects that something is amiss and, against the orders of his superiors, sets out to uncover whether or not the trio were colluding from the start.
In Wild Things, John McNaughton’s gloriously underrated 1998 thriller, Florida has never felt seedier. The idyllic, upscale Miami suburb of Blue Bay is rocked when high school guidance counsellor Sam Lombardo (Matt Dillon) is accused of rape by two of his students: the wealthy teen socialite Kelly Van Ryan (Denise Richards) and the poorer, more socially outcast Suzie Toller (Neve Campbell).
On the stand at the much-publicised trial, however, the girls quickly break under cross-examination and reveal that the allegations were falsely concocted to exact revenge on Sam for a series of perceived wrongdoings. When the beleaguered teacher is awarded an $8.5m defamation payout, police sergeant Ray Duquette (Kevin Bacon) suspects that something is amiss and, against the orders of his superiors, sets out to uncover whether or not the trio were colluding from the start.
- 1/9/2024
- by Kevin Bui
- The Guardian - Film News
George Clooney says the Ocean’s gang could get back together after reading a “great script” for another film in the starry heist series. Speaking with Uproxx about his upcoming movie The Boys in the Boat, Clooney revealed a new Ocean’s film could find the crew from the trilogy reuniting for events set after Ocean’s 13. Ocean’s 14, anyone?
“We have a really good script for another ‘Ocean’s’ now, so we may end up doing another one. It’s actually a great script,” Clooney told Uproxx.
The outlet tried pressing Clooney for more information, though he was reluctant to share too much. When asked if the project intends to become Ocean’s 14, Clooney said, “Well… I don’t want to call it that… I mean, the idea is kind of like ‘Going in Style.'”
Going in Style refers to Zach Braff’s 2017 crime comedy about three lifelong...
“We have a really good script for another ‘Ocean’s’ now, so we may end up doing another one. It’s actually a great script,” Clooney told Uproxx.
The outlet tried pressing Clooney for more information, though he was reluctant to share too much. When asked if the project intends to become Ocean’s 14, Clooney said, “Well… I don’t want to call it that… I mean, the idea is kind of like ‘Going in Style.'”
Going in Style refers to Zach Braff’s 2017 crime comedy about three lifelong...
- 12/13/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
There’s no place like Prime Video for the holidays! The streamer is celebrating the holiday season from the jump, ringing in the holiday season with “Candy Cane Lane,” starring Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross, and continuing with a collection of rom-coms and animated specials, such as the DC Comics special “Merry Little Batman.”
Throughout December, Prime Video will also make way for dozens of classic and original films and series, including the sophomore seasons of “Reacher” and “Coach Prime,” the complete “7th Heaven,” and multiple entries into the original “Star Trek” film series.
Continue below to see The Streamable’s must-watch picks this month and see everything coming to Prime Video in December!
30-Day Free Trial $8.99+ / month amazon.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Prime Video in December 2023? “Candy Cane Lane” | Friday, Dec. 1
Eddie Murphy leads the new Christmas romp as Chris, a man determined...
Throughout December, Prime Video will also make way for dozens of classic and original films and series, including the sophomore seasons of “Reacher” and “Coach Prime,” the complete “7th Heaven,” and multiple entries into the original “Star Trek” film series.
Continue below to see The Streamable’s must-watch picks this month and see everything coming to Prime Video in December!
30-Day Free Trial $8.99+ / month amazon.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Prime Video in December 2023? “Candy Cane Lane” | Friday, Dec. 1
Eddie Murphy leads the new Christmas romp as Chris, a man determined...
- 12/1/2023
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Matt Damon and Mark Ruffalo share a laugh while performing on stage at The Center at West Park on Thursday (November 16) in New York City.
The two stars took part in a reading of the play This Is Our Youth, alongside Missy Yager, to help raise funds for the West Park Presbyterian Church building, which The Center is located in.
The event was held to raise money for the many repairs the historic church needs, and save it from being demolished to make way for a mixed-use development, which was the intent after church leaders agreed to sell it to a developer in 2022.
Other celebrities in attendance included Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Christian Slater and Fisher Stevens, as well as playwright Kenneth Lonergan, who wrote This Is Our Youth.
The hope of raising funds for the space is to purchase back the building and transform it into...
The two stars took part in a reading of the play This Is Our Youth, alongside Missy Yager, to help raise funds for the West Park Presbyterian Church building, which The Center is located in.
The event was held to raise money for the many repairs the historic church needs, and save it from being demolished to make way for a mixed-use development, which was the intent after church leaders agreed to sell it to a developer in 2022.
Other celebrities in attendance included Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Christian Slater and Fisher Stevens, as well as playwright Kenneth Lonergan, who wrote This Is Our Youth.
The hope of raising funds for the space is to purchase back the building and transform it into...
- 11/20/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Exclusive: Independent Artist Group has signed Terrence Howard, the Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actor known for roles in Hustle & Flow, Crash and Empire, for representation.
Howard earned those accolades for his starring turn in the former Paramount film from director Craig Brewer, which had him starring as DJay, a Memphis pimp in the midst of a mid-life crisis who hustles his way toward becoming a successful hip-hop emcee.
For his turn as TV director Cameron Thayer in the Lionsgate Best Picture winner Crash, examining interweaving stories of race, loss and redemption amongst L.A. citizens leading vastly different lives, he received the National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance. Among those starring opposite him there were Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Brendan Fraser, and Matt Dillon.
Over the course of his film career, Howard has worked with many of the top directors and actors in the business. Among...
Howard earned those accolades for his starring turn in the former Paramount film from director Craig Brewer, which had him starring as DJay, a Memphis pimp in the midst of a mid-life crisis who hustles his way toward becoming a successful hip-hop emcee.
For his turn as TV director Cameron Thayer in the Lionsgate Best Picture winner Crash, examining interweaving stories of race, loss and redemption amongst L.A. citizens leading vastly different lives, he received the National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance. Among those starring opposite him there were Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Brendan Fraser, and Matt Dillon.
Over the course of his film career, Howard has worked with many of the top directors and actors in the business. Among...
- 11/17/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Matt Dillon has gotten better with each role since his late 1970s debut. In a career spanning over four decades, the American actor has displayed versatility with a wide range of dramatic and comedic performances. Renowned for his deep baritone voice and evergreen looks, Dillon has recorded many prominent roles which earned him global recognition. Notable projects he is known for include There’s Something About Mary, Herbie: Fully Loaded, The Outsiders, and You, Me and Dupree. His role in Crash (2004) earned him an Academy Award nod for Best Supporting Actor. Beyond acting, Matt Dillon has ventured into writing and...
- 11/15/2023
- by Banks Onuoha
- TVovermind.com
Staci Wolfe is retiring. She’s the founder/CEO of Polaris PR, the agency that reps such talent as Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, filmmakers Allen & Albert Hughes, Gary Sinise, David Copperfield, Matt Dillon, Eric Bana, Aaron Eckhart, Donal Logue, and Gordon Ramsay. Her longtime associate Alana Kass will take the helm of the agency.
Kass joined Polaris in 2011 after working for several years with the late awards consultant Ronni Chasen, and she has been instrumental in the campaigns of all of the company’s clients as well as her own roster including Jonathan Van Ness.
While the twin strikes, social media toxicity and polarized world probably has plenty of Hollywood vets counting the days until that gold watch, Wolfe’s story is different. She’s only 56, and has long been a preeminent publicist. But she has been at it for 34 years and hung on to a vow she made to herself,...
Kass joined Polaris in 2011 after working for several years with the late awards consultant Ronni Chasen, and she has been instrumental in the campaigns of all of the company’s clients as well as her own roster including Jonathan Van Ness.
While the twin strikes, social media toxicity and polarized world probably has plenty of Hollywood vets counting the days until that gold watch, Wolfe’s story is different. She’s only 56, and has long been a preeminent publicist. But she has been at it for 34 years and hung on to a vow she made to herself,...
- 11/1/2023
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
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