Annette Bening still likes to swim, despite the brutal eight hours a day she spent in the water for her Netflix film Nyad. Bening stars as Diana Nyad, who, at 64, became the first person ever to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. Bening trained for a year to perfect her stroke, and got to know Nyad herself, with Jodie Foster alongside her, starring as Nyad’s real-life friend and coach, Bonnie Stoll. “I swim all the time, it’s become part of my staying sane,” Bening says now, adding that she learned from Nyad that pushing oneself beyond what you thought you could do is “a way to know yourself, and that’s a way to expand your own idea about yourself in the world, and also increase your joy, and increase your appreciation.” Here, Bening looks back over some favorite moments in her career, from The Grifters,...
- 2/23/2024
- by Antonia Blyth
- Deadline Film + TV
Kate McKinnon is wearing a new hat — author.
The comedian is dipping her toes into the middle-grade genre with her debut novel, The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science, about the Porch Sisters and the town of Antiquarium’s lone mad scientist, Millicent Quibb.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Lbyr), a division of Hachette Book Group will publish the novel. Lbyr Executive Editor Erika Turner acquired North American rights from Ted Malawer at Upstart Crow Literary and will edit the project.
The book is set to debut on October 1, 2024.
According to McKinnon, she began working on the book well before first appearing on SNL. This story and these characters are inspired by her own childhood.
In a statement, she said: “I wanted to write the kind of book that I would have loved reading when I was younger, when I...
The comedian is dipping her toes into the middle-grade genre with her debut novel, The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science, about the Porch Sisters and the town of Antiquarium’s lone mad scientist, Millicent Quibb.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Lbyr), a division of Hachette Book Group will publish the novel. Lbyr Executive Editor Erika Turner acquired North American rights from Ted Malawer at Upstart Crow Literary and will edit the project.
The book is set to debut on October 1, 2024.
According to McKinnon, she began working on the book well before first appearing on SNL. This story and these characters are inspired by her own childhood.
In a statement, she said: “I wanted to write the kind of book that I would have loved reading when I was younger, when I...
- 2/12/2024
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
Kate McKinnon is channeling Weird Barbie for a funky new YA literary franchise.
The “Barbie” actress and “SNL” alum announced she is releasing her debut YA novel “The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science,” out October 1. As published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Lbyr), a division of Hachette Book Group, the novel will kick off a “zany” series for middle school readers ages eight to 12. The novel follows the three Porch sisters’ adventures with a mysterious mad scientist. The novel features artwork that McKinnon herself drafted with character drawings, inventions, and diagrams; illustrator Alfredo Cáceres fine-tuned in his signature gothic style.
Per the official press release, McKinnon has been at work on the novel for years prior to her “SNL” tenure. The star left the sketch series in 2022.
“I wanted to write the kind of book that I would have loved reading when I was younger,...
The “Barbie” actress and “SNL” alum announced she is releasing her debut YA novel “The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science,” out October 1. As published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Lbyr), a division of Hachette Book Group, the novel will kick off a “zany” series for middle school readers ages eight to 12. The novel follows the three Porch sisters’ adventures with a mysterious mad scientist. The novel features artwork that McKinnon herself drafted with character drawings, inventions, and diagrams; illustrator Alfredo Cáceres fine-tuned in his signature gothic style.
Per the official press release, McKinnon has been at work on the novel for years prior to her “SNL” tenure. The star left the sketch series in 2022.
“I wanted to write the kind of book that I would have loved reading when I was younger,...
- 2/12/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Kate McKinnon is set to publish her debut novel.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Lbyr), a division of Hachette Book Group, will publish the Saturday Night Live alum’s novel, it was announced Monday by Megan Tingley, Lbyr president and publisher.
The book, called The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science, will be the first of an upcoming middle-grade series and center on the Porch Sisters (Gertrude, Eugenia and Dee-Dee) and the town of Antiquarium’s lone mad scientist, Millicent Quibb.
“I wanted to write the kind of book that I would have loved reading when I was younger, when I was eating honeysuckle on the playground and collecting bugs and falling in love with the natural world,” McKinnon said in a statement.
She added, “I hope young people read about the adventures of the Porch Sisters and are inspired to get out there and have their own adventures.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Lbyr), a division of Hachette Book Group, will publish the Saturday Night Live alum’s novel, it was announced Monday by Megan Tingley, Lbyr president and publisher.
The book, called The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science, will be the first of an upcoming middle-grade series and center on the Porch Sisters (Gertrude, Eugenia and Dee-Dee) and the town of Antiquarium’s lone mad scientist, Millicent Quibb.
“I wanted to write the kind of book that I would have loved reading when I was younger, when I was eating honeysuckle on the playground and collecting bugs and falling in love with the natural world,” McKinnon said in a statement.
She added, “I hope young people read about the adventures of the Porch Sisters and are inspired to get out there and have their own adventures.
- 2/12/2024
- by Lexy Perez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
As an alumna of “Saturday Night Live,” Kate McKinnon knows what it takes to come up with interesting characters. Now she will do so for a decidedly different format.
The comic actor plans to launch a debut novel aimed at young-adult readers. “The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science” is envisioned as the first book in a series aimed at readers between the ages of 8 and 12, and will be published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group. The series centers on the three Porch Sisters — Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee — and Millicent Quibb, the lone mad scientist in their hometown of Antiquarium.
McKinnon is bringing life to a story she has been working on for years. “I wanted to write the kind of book that I would have loved reading when I was younger, when I was eating honeysuckle on...
The comic actor plans to launch a debut novel aimed at young-adult readers. “The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science” is envisioned as the first book in a series aimed at readers between the ages of 8 and 12, and will be published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group. The series centers on the three Porch Sisters — Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee — and Millicent Quibb, the lone mad scientist in their hometown of Antiquarium.
McKinnon is bringing life to a story she has been working on for years. “I wanted to write the kind of book that I would have loved reading when I was younger, when I was eating honeysuckle on...
- 2/12/2024
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Frances Sternhagen, the versatile actress whose half-century on Broadway included two Tony Awards, seven nominations and memorable roles in Equus, On Golden Pond and The Heiress, has died. She was 93.
Sternhagen died peacefully Monday of natural causes at her home in New Rochelle, New York, her family said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. “We continue to be inspired by her love and life,” they noted.
With all her success on the stage, Sternhagen is perhaps best known for playing two mothers on television: the blue-blooded Bunny MacDougal on HBO’s Sex and the City and the overbearing Esther Clavin on NBC’s Cheers. She received Emmy nominations for both performances.
Sternhagen specialized in portraying characters who had a no-nonsense, overbearing attitude and plucky fortitude. She relished roles that were off the beaten track — the odder and more eccentric, the better.
“I must say it’s fun to play these snobby older ladies.
Sternhagen died peacefully Monday of natural causes at her home in New Rochelle, New York, her family said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. “We continue to be inspired by her love and life,” they noted.
With all her success on the stage, Sternhagen is perhaps best known for playing two mothers on television: the blue-blooded Bunny MacDougal on HBO’s Sex and the City and the overbearing Esther Clavin on NBC’s Cheers. She received Emmy nominations for both performances.
Sternhagen specialized in portraying characters who had a no-nonsense, overbearing attitude and plucky fortitude. She relished roles that were off the beaten track — the odder and more eccentric, the better.
“I must say it’s fun to play these snobby older ladies.
- 11/29/2023
- by Chris Koseluk
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Violent Night hit theaters in December of 2022. It was a surprise hit, grossing a solid $50 million domestically, and another $26 million overseas, on a thrifty $20 million budget. The premise was a “can’t miss” proposition, being about a group of mercenaries that takes a rich family hostage, while Santa Claus (David Harbour) tries to save the day (and believe in Christmas again).Yet, many folks might have missed the movie last year, as by the time it hit Peacock and Blu-ray/DVD, it was January, at which point no one really wants to watch a Christmas movie anymore. With the yuletide season upon us, now’s the perfect time to revisit this holiday action flick.
Now, whenever someone asks me what my favorite Christmas movie is, I have only one answer. Die Hard. The Bruce Willis film has long been at the center of heated debate on it being classified as a holiday film.
Now, whenever someone asks me what my favorite Christmas movie is, I have only one answer. Die Hard. The Bruce Willis film has long been at the center of heated debate on it being classified as a holiday film.
- 11/23/2023
- by David Arroyo
- JoBlo.com
For the descendants of Elijah Reels, an area of coastal North Carolina in Carteret County has been their sanctuary – where they could raise their families, earn a living, and enjoy the bounty and the pleasures of the waterways.
But in recent decades, those descendants — Gertrude Reels, her children, and their children — have been trying to hold onto the family land, caught up in a legal system that historically advantages white interests over those of African Americans like the Reels.
The family’s long struggle — which has seen two members of the family, Melvin Davis and Licurtis Reels, jailed for years for defying a court order — is told in the documentary Silver Dollar Road. The film directed by Oscar nominee Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro) is now streaming on Prime Video.
Gertrude Reels (seated) surrounded by her children.
“When you are there, you feel that you in a sort of,...
But in recent decades, those descendants — Gertrude Reels, her children, and their children — have been trying to hold onto the family land, caught up in a legal system that historically advantages white interests over those of African Americans like the Reels.
The family’s long struggle — which has seen two members of the family, Melvin Davis and Licurtis Reels, jailed for years for defying a court order — is told in the documentary Silver Dollar Road. The film directed by Oscar nominee Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro) is now streaming on Prime Video.
Gertrude Reels (seated) surrounded by her children.
“When you are there, you feel that you in a sort of,...
- 10/30/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Clarence Avant, the beloved recording industry insider whose work as an executive, label owner, dealmaker and mentor earned him the nickname the “Godfather of Black Music,” has died. He was 92.
Avant died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced in a statement. His death came 20 months after his wife of 54 years, philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, was shot and killed by an intruder in their Beverly Hills home in the early morning hours of Dec. 1, 2021.
Survivors include their daughter, Nicole Avant, a producer, former U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas and the wife of Netflix co-ceo and chief content officer Ted Sarandos, and their son, Alexander, a producer (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!) and talent rep.
“Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come,” the Avant/Sarandos family said.
Avant died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced in a statement. His death came 20 months after his wife of 54 years, philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, was shot and killed by an intruder in their Beverly Hills home in the early morning hours of Dec. 1, 2021.
Survivors include their daughter, Nicole Avant, a producer, former U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas and the wife of Netflix co-ceo and chief content officer Ted Sarandos, and their son, Alexander, a producer (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!) and talent rep.
“Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come,” the Avant/Sarandos family said.
- 8/14/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
As the sun bled out its final rays of warmth on New Orleans on March 30th, we gathered in bloodthirsty droves around the Prytania Uptown Theatre, eager to sink our teeth into the latest cinematic incarnation of Count Dracula with the world premiere of Renfield, featuring the Count himself, Nicolas Cage, in attendance. Standing in line wearing my The Lost Boys T-shirt and carrying a pair of vampire teeth in my pocket (I planned on inserting them over my incisors later that night at the Vampire Ball), I couldn’t believe that another Overlook Film Festival was upon us. I was still reeling from my first experiences with Overlook back in 2022, and about 10 months later, it was already time to return for another round of what I’ve come to know as “summer camp for horror fans.”
This year, the lineup was bigger than ever, and looking up and down...
This year, the lineup was bigger than ever, and looking up and down...
- 4/7/2023
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Meet Cute is a romantic comedy starring Kaley Cuoco and Pete Davidson. It is directed by Alexandre Lehmann, and the screenplay is written by Noga Pnueli.
Love in a time travel merry-go-round.
Premise
A woman has found a way to travel to the past and makes use of it to perfect her date with her potential soulmate.
Meet Cute (2022) Movie Review
Has something shifted in Hollywood, bringing about new cinematic styles? That is precisely the question I ask myself having watched ‘Meet Cute’. True to its title, it is a sweet (and I say it without condescension) story that handles its characters with great care and shows the most tender, almost adorable sides of people, and their imperfections. I couldn’t help but think of the recent hit movie ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once‘, which also applies that fantastical element to tell a contemporary human story.
True to the rom-com genre,...
Love in a time travel merry-go-round.
Premise
A woman has found a way to travel to the past and makes use of it to perfect her date with her potential soulmate.
Meet Cute (2022) Movie Review
Has something shifted in Hollywood, bringing about new cinematic styles? That is precisely the question I ask myself having watched ‘Meet Cute’. True to its title, it is a sweet (and I say it without condescension) story that handles its characters with great care and shows the most tender, almost adorable sides of people, and their imperfections. I couldn’t help but think of the recent hit movie ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once‘, which also applies that fantastical element to tell a contemporary human story.
True to the rom-com genre,...
- 12/3/2022
- by Veronica Loop
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
The most successful business leaders are often those who are driven to overcome any obstacle in order to obtain their goals, no matter what actions they have to take in the process. That’s certainly the case for actress Beverly D’Angelo’s character of Gertrude, the matriarch of the wealthy and powerful Lightstone family, in the new […]
The post Exclusive Interview with Violent Night Actress Beverly D’Angelo appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Exclusive Interview with Violent Night Actress Beverly D’Angelo appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 12/2/2022
- by Karen Benardello
- ShockYa
David Harbour in ‘Violent Night’ (Photo © Universal Studios)
Santa Claus is coming to town with his bag of toys and a war hammer to take down some very bad mercenaries who are on his naughty list in the holiday comedy, Violent Night.
The movie begins with Old Saint Nick sitting in a bar in England on Christmas Eve. Santa’s drowning his sorrow and misery, fed up with all the greed in the world. So many little kids are only interested in getting presents and don’t actually have any real Christmas spirit.
As he flies off in his sleigh to continue his night of gift delivery, the bartender – who followed him to the roof, concerned he might fall – watches Santa fly away with his reindeer. She’s pleasantly awestruck…that is until her head gets covered in Santa’s projectile vomit as he dashes off. This sets up what...
Santa Claus is coming to town with his bag of toys and a war hammer to take down some very bad mercenaries who are on his naughty list in the holiday comedy, Violent Night.
The movie begins with Old Saint Nick sitting in a bar in England on Christmas Eve. Santa’s drowning his sorrow and misery, fed up with all the greed in the world. So many little kids are only interested in getting presents and don’t actually have any real Christmas spirit.
As he flies off in his sleigh to continue his night of gift delivery, the bartender – who followed him to the roof, concerned he might fall – watches Santa fly away with his reindeer. She’s pleasantly awestruck…that is until her head gets covered in Santa’s projectile vomit as he dashes off. This sets up what...
- 12/2/2022
- by Kevin Finnerty
- Showbiz Junkies
Stars: David Harbour, John Leguizamo, Beverly D’Angelo, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Trudy Lightstone, Edi Patterson, Cam Gigandet, Brendan Fletcher, Mike Dopud | Written by Pat Casey, Josh Miller | Directed by Tommy Wirkola
What do you get if you cross Die Hard, Bad Santa, Home Alone and Santa Claus: The Movie? The answer is Violent Night, a violent Christmas comedy horror that mixes up multiple festive favourites and just about gets away with it.
Directed by Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow), the film stars David Harbour as a depressed Santa Claus (the real one), who we first meet drowning his sorrows in a pub in Bristol, of all places, before taking off in his sled and vomiting on the bar’s owner from mid-air. With the tone set, we move to the house of the ultra-rich Lightstone household, where mean-spirited matriarch Gertrude (Beverly D’Angelo) has gathered various family members for Christmas Eve,...
What do you get if you cross Die Hard, Bad Santa, Home Alone and Santa Claus: The Movie? The answer is Violent Night, a violent Christmas comedy horror that mixes up multiple festive favourites and just about gets away with it.
Directed by Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow), the film stars David Harbour as a depressed Santa Claus (the real one), who we first meet drowning his sorrows in a pub in Bristol, of all places, before taking off in his sled and vomiting on the bar’s owner from mid-air. With the tone set, we move to the house of the ultra-rich Lightstone household, where mean-spirited matriarch Gertrude (Beverly D’Angelo) has gathered various family members for Christmas Eve,...
- 12/2/2022
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
John Leguizamo is having a moment.
After co-starring in the delicious dark comedy “The Menu” earlier this fall, he’s back in “Violent Night,” an over-the-top Christmas action movie that has Santa Claus (David Harbour) squaring off against a truly villainous baddie codenamed Mr. Scrooge (Leguizamo). Leguizamo chews every bit of scenery and gets to engage in a brutal knock-down, drag-out fight with Old Saint Nick. (The movie lives up to its title.) The movie is a total blast and a future Christmas classic for those who are tired of saccharine sweet holiday fare.
TheWrap spoke to Leguizamo about his inspiration behind the character, having his dialogue dubbed in “Die Hard 2,” going to a sauna with Harbour and turning down a role in Steven Soderbergh’s Oscar-winning “Traffic.” Also learn about his intentions to do a follow-up to his cult comedy “The Pest.”
Are we in the middle of...
After co-starring in the delicious dark comedy “The Menu” earlier this fall, he’s back in “Violent Night,” an over-the-top Christmas action movie that has Santa Claus (David Harbour) squaring off against a truly villainous baddie codenamed Mr. Scrooge (Leguizamo). Leguizamo chews every bit of scenery and gets to engage in a brutal knock-down, drag-out fight with Old Saint Nick. (The movie lives up to its title.) The movie is a total blast and a future Christmas classic for those who are tired of saccharine sweet holiday fare.
TheWrap spoke to Leguizamo about his inspiration behind the character, having his dialogue dubbed in “Die Hard 2,” going to a sauna with Harbour and turning down a role in Steven Soderbergh’s Oscar-winning “Traffic.” Also learn about his intentions to do a follow-up to his cult comedy “The Pest.”
Are we in the middle of...
- 12/1/2022
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
It’s no secret that folks love to watch Santa Claus break bad. Despite being literally called “Father Christmas” in some cultures, this often rosy-cheeked symbol of generosity from childhood eventually becomes many an adult’s favorite villain: the crazed serial killer with an ax in Silent Night, Deadly Night; or the drunkard who urinates on himself at the mall in Bad Santa.
While some of those movies are better than others (namely the first Billy Bob Thornton iteration of a Yuletide lush), all of them seem to forget that, deep down, we still want to believe that Santa and the season he represents should be depicted as a force for good. Maturity comes in recognizing the world is more complex than a handful of flurries in a snow globe, but Santa need not be. Hence the ingenuity of screenwriters Pat Casey and Josh Miller’s million-dollar-idea: What if Santa...
While some of those movies are better than others (namely the first Billy Bob Thornton iteration of a Yuletide lush), all of them seem to forget that, deep down, we still want to believe that Santa and the season he represents should be depicted as a force for good. Maturity comes in recognizing the world is more complex than a handful of flurries in a snow globe, but Santa need not be. Hence the ingenuity of screenwriters Pat Casey and Josh Miller’s million-dollar-idea: What if Santa...
- 12/1/2022
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Tommy Wirkola (Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Dead Snow) is back with the bloody new movie Violent Night, starring David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) as an ass-kicking Santa Claus. The film kicks off the holiday season in theaters on December 2, 2022.
While you wait, check out the full official image gallery below!
Meagan writes in her review for Bd, “Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner eager to splatter the snow red.”
Violent Night is being compared to Die Hard and centers on Harbour’s Santa Claus rescuing a family that’s been taken hostage, with John Leguizamo playing the villain.
In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds,...
While you wait, check out the full official image gallery below!
Meagan writes in her review for Bd, “Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner eager to splatter the snow red.”
Violent Night is being compared to Die Hard and centers on Harbour’s Santa Claus rescuing a family that’s been taken hostage, with John Leguizamo playing the villain.
In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds,...
- 11/30/2022
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
Bloody Disgusting’s Violent Night review is spoiler-free.
This holiday season brings a new answer to the tired debate over Die Hard: the ultra-violent yet sugar plum sweet Violent Night. Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner eager to splatter the snow red.
Violent Night introduces Santa Claus (David Harbour) as a cynic drowning his frustrations in booze at a bar on Christmas Eve. He laments the current greedy state of the world and its children to fellow patrons before stumbling off into the night to complete his holiday duties. Not before upchucking, of course; this Santa is a sloppy drunk.
Then, we meet the Lightstone family, an affluent and dysfunctional bunch gathering for Christmas. Young Trudy (Leah Brady) wants her estranged parents, Jason (Alex Hassell) and Linda (Alexis Louder), to reunite,...
This holiday season brings a new answer to the tired debate over Die Hard: the ultra-violent yet sugar plum sweet Violent Night. Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner eager to splatter the snow red.
Violent Night introduces Santa Claus (David Harbour) as a cynic drowning his frustrations in booze at a bar on Christmas Eve. He laments the current greedy state of the world and its children to fellow patrons before stumbling off into the night to complete his holiday duties. Not before upchucking, of course; this Santa is a sloppy drunk.
Then, we meet the Lightstone family, an affluent and dysfunctional bunch gathering for Christmas. Young Trudy (Leah Brady) wants her estranged parents, Jason (Alex Hassell) and Linda (Alexis Louder), to reunite,...
- 11/30/2022
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, Santa was kicking the living shit out of a bunch of home invaders in increasingly grisly and entertaining ways. And it was brilliant.
Adding to the Christmas canon, whether in songs or movies, is difficult. It’s all been done, the whole thing trades in nostalgia, we’re more likely to reach for old favourites than anything new and whatever you make will be inevitably compared against oldies that are not only excellent in their own right, but carry emotional associations for each audience member. You’re not getting out from under the shadow of Die Hard, or Miracle on 34th Street or Christmas Vacation or Home Alone or Gremlins or Love Actually or Elf or any version of A Christmas Carol. Insert your favourite here. It takes a lot for a new movie to come out of that comparison with its head held high,...
Adding to the Christmas canon, whether in songs or movies, is difficult. It’s all been done, the whole thing trades in nostalgia, we’re more likely to reach for old favourites than anything new and whatever you make will be inevitably compared against oldies that are not only excellent in their own right, but carry emotional associations for each audience member. You’re not getting out from under the shadow of Die Hard, or Miracle on 34th Street or Christmas Vacation or Home Alone or Gremlins or Love Actually or Elf or any version of A Christmas Carol. Insert your favourite here. It takes a lot for a new movie to come out of that comparison with its head held high,...
- 11/30/2022
- by Marc Burrows
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
“Violent Night” is one of the Yuletide season’s most delightful surprises, not just for what it gets right but also for the many ways the whole production could have gone very, very wrong.
For starters, it’s a movie about Santa Claus, and for every “Miracle on 34th Street,” the history of Christmas movies is littered with tales of Saint Nick that could make a moviegoer hate the holiday. (“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” or “Santa Claus: The Movie” leap to mind.)
It’s also a film that demands to be taken seriously on its own merits even as it blatantly references other Christmas classics — first and foremost, “Die Hard” and “Home Alone” — and it dares to mix bloody, hard-r action violence with a sentimental subplot about a young girl’s unwavering belief in Santa Claus. That it gets away with all of this and stays gorily entertaining and...
For starters, it’s a movie about Santa Claus, and for every “Miracle on 34th Street,” the history of Christmas movies is littered with tales of Saint Nick that could make a moviegoer hate the holiday. (“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” or “Santa Claus: The Movie” leap to mind.)
It’s also a film that demands to be taken seriously on its own merits even as it blatantly references other Christmas classics — first and foremost, “Die Hard” and “Home Alone” — and it dares to mix bloody, hard-r action violence with a sentimental subplot about a young girl’s unwavering belief in Santa Claus. That it gets away with all of this and stays gorily entertaining and...
- 11/30/2022
- by Alonso Duralde
- The Wrap
We’re scarcely five minutes into Tommy Wirkola’s naughty new Christmas tale “Violent Night” before David Harbour’s chubby, drunk, and righteously pissed off St. Nick is puking off his sleigh onto one very confused bartender and revealing himself to, yes indeed, be the jolly one himself. If you can vibe with that whiplash-inducing comedic opening — gallons of vomit mixed with some magical holiday sweetness — you just might be in the right frame of mind to receive what’s to come in this holiday trifle.
The big draw of “Violent Night” is, of course, right there in the title: the violence! Wirkola has often delighted in turning basic-ish ideas into bloody good fun with the addition of head-bashing twists. You can practically hear the elevator pitches: “It’s a horror movie about Nazis…who are also zombies” or “It’s Hansel and Gretel…but also they’re witch hunters.
The big draw of “Violent Night” is, of course, right there in the title: the violence! Wirkola has often delighted in turning basic-ish ideas into bloody good fun with the addition of head-bashing twists. You can practically hear the elevator pitches: “It’s a horror movie about Nazis…who are also zombies” or “It’s Hansel and Gretel…but also they’re witch hunters.
- 11/30/2022
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
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