A melancholic mood permeates “Lorelei,” a love story, character study and social melodrama somberly if unevenly rolled into one, with the subtlest touch of mysticism. Set amid the picturesquely dewy backdrops, brisk natural lights and impossibly tall trees of Oregon, writer-director Sabrina Doyle’s fable-like tale of working-class Americans on the fringe navigates its elusive waters with compassion and care, even when it veers into some predictable shallows from time to time.
More often than not, though, debut feature filmmaker Doyle’s commitment to quiet moments of humanism sells this unassuming story. Commendably, the director sidesteps patronizing miserabilism, yielding an empathetic yarn of second chances that steadfast leads Pablo Schreiber and Jena Malone elevate through their delicately reflective performances. In a thematic landscape that loosely resembles Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre’s “The Mustang” and the lesser known but worthy “The Free World” by Jason Lew, the duo portray Wayland and Lola,...
More often than not, though, debut feature filmmaker Doyle’s commitment to quiet moments of humanism sells this unassuming story. Commendably, the director sidesteps patronizing miserabilism, yielding an empathetic yarn of second chances that steadfast leads Pablo Schreiber and Jena Malone elevate through their delicately reflective performances. In a thematic landscape that loosely resembles Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre’s “The Mustang” and the lesser known but worthy “The Free World” by Jason Lew, the duo portray Wayland and Lola,...
- 7/29/2021
- by Tomris Laffly
- Variety Film + TV
We're one step closer to seeing the latest movie from Darren Lynn Bousman, the filmmaker behind three of the most twisted entries in the Saw franchise (as well as the horror-themed musicals Repo! The Genetic Opera and The Devil's Carnival), as it was recently announced that Octane Entertainment has acquired worldwide sales rights to Bousman's St. Agatha, a horror film set at a convent in the 1950s:
Press Release: Los Angeles (Nov. 1, 2017) – Octane Entertainment acquires worldwide sales rights to the highly anticipated, female-driven psychological horror film St. Agatha. Shot in Madison, Ga. and currently in post-production, the film was written by Andy Demetrio (Star Trek: Into Darkness), Shaun Fletcher (The Road Trip), Sara Sometti Michaels (The Photographer) and Clint Sears (Tales of Halloween). Under the helm of prolific horror director Darren Lynn Bousman, the director behind three installments of the Saw franchise, St. Agatha stars Sabrina Kern (The Tension Experience...
Press Release: Los Angeles (Nov. 1, 2017) – Octane Entertainment acquires worldwide sales rights to the highly anticipated, female-driven psychological horror film St. Agatha. Shot in Madison, Ga. and currently in post-production, the film was written by Andy Demetrio (Star Trek: Into Darkness), Shaun Fletcher (The Road Trip), Sara Sometti Michaels (The Photographer) and Clint Sears (Tales of Halloween). Under the helm of prolific horror director Darren Lynn Bousman, the director behind three installments of the Saw franchise, St. Agatha stars Sabrina Kern (The Tension Experience...
- 11/2/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
President Donald Trump is once again taking aim at the “rigged” Emmys — with the Leader of The Free World rejoicing over the award show’s low ratings.
Trump, 71, tweeted Tuesday night a few minutes before 11 p.m. while in New York City, writing, “I was saddened to see how bad the ratings were on the Emmys last night — the worst ever. Smartest people of them all are the “Deplorables.””
Sunday night’s Emmy Awards had ratings of 11.38 million viewers, which was almost even to last year’s all time audience low, according to Deadline.
The show’s host, Stephen Colbert,...
Trump, 71, tweeted Tuesday night a few minutes before 11 p.m. while in New York City, writing, “I was saddened to see how bad the ratings were on the Emmys last night — the worst ever. Smartest people of them all are the “Deplorables.””
Sunday night’s Emmy Awards had ratings of 11.38 million viewers, which was almost even to last year’s all time audience low, according to Deadline.
The show’s host, Stephen Colbert,...
- 9/20/2017
- by Alexia Fernandez
- PEOPLE.com
An electric chamber piece that couldn’t more perfectly complement “Dunkirk” if Christopher Nolan wrote it, “Darkest Hour” is as rousing and ferocious as Winston Churchill was himself. It’s also a hell of a lot more controlled. Unfolding with the clockwork precision of a Broadway play — director Joe Wright has always been at his best when he’s at his most theatrical — this tightly coiled retelling of Churchill’s first days in office is more than (yet another) passionate appeal to our collective goodness; it’s a deliciously unsubtle testament to the power of words and their infinite capacity to inspire.
That the film arrives at a time when words seem to have lost all their value only makes it that much more persuasive.
Hardly the first time that Wright has fetishized the sway of language and its ability to shape history (“Atonement” was so lost in letters that...
That the film arrives at a time when words seem to have lost all their value only makes it that much more persuasive.
Hardly the first time that Wright has fetishized the sway of language and its ability to shape history (“Atonement” was so lost in letters that...
- 9/2/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Louisiana Republican Rep. on Radicalized Islamic Suspects: ‘Hunt Them, Identify Them, and Kill Them’
One Gop politician is facing renewed scrutiny after calling for violence in the wake of last weekend’s deadly terror attack on London Bridge.
In a controversial Facebook post, Louisiana Republican Congressman Clay Higgins wrote on June 4, “The free world … all of Christendom … is at war with Islamic horror.”
Continued Higgins, “Not one penny of American treasure should be granted to any nation who harbors these heathen animals. Not a single radicalized Islamic suspect should be granted any measure of quarter. Their intended entry to the American homeland should be summarily denied.”
“Every conceivable measure should be engaged to hunt them down.
In a controversial Facebook post, Louisiana Republican Congressman Clay Higgins wrote on June 4, “The free world … all of Christendom … is at war with Islamic horror.”
Continued Higgins, “Not one penny of American treasure should be granted to any nation who harbors these heathen animals. Not a single radicalized Islamic suspect should be granted any measure of quarter. Their intended entry to the American homeland should be summarily denied.”
“Every conceivable measure should be engaged to hunt them down.
- 6/6/2017
- by Lindsay Kimble
- PEOPLE.com
Exclusive: Paradigm represents North American rights to virus thriller.
Octane Entertainment will launch international sales on the Croisette on Joe Lynch’s SXSW action-thriller Mayhem starring Steven Yeun from The Walking Dead.
The story centres on attorney Derek Saunders who is framed by a co-worker and wrongfully fired when the tower office where he works is placed on lock-down after an airborne virus breaks out.
Matias Caruso wrote the screenplay and the cast includes Samara Weaving, Steven Brand and Dallas Roberts. Paradigm represents North American rights.
Avva Pictures’ Mehrdad Elie and Parisa Caviani produce with Circle of Confusion’s Lawrence Mattis and Matt Smith.
Octane Entertainment president Jack Campbell announced the deal on Friday and said: “We’re beyond thrilled to be introducing Mayhem to international buyers in Cannes.
“It’s such an amazing, fun, action-packed thrill ride that hooks the viewer from the first frame and does not disappoint. Director [link=nm...
Octane Entertainment will launch international sales on the Croisette on Joe Lynch’s SXSW action-thriller Mayhem starring Steven Yeun from The Walking Dead.
The story centres on attorney Derek Saunders who is framed by a co-worker and wrongfully fired when the tower office where he works is placed on lock-down after an airborne virus breaks out.
Matias Caruso wrote the screenplay and the cast includes Samara Weaving, Steven Brand and Dallas Roberts. Paradigm represents North American rights.
Avva Pictures’ Mehrdad Elie and Parisa Caviani produce with Circle of Confusion’s Lawrence Mattis and Matt Smith.
Octane Entertainment president Jack Campbell announced the deal on Friday and said: “We’re beyond thrilled to be introducing Mayhem to international buyers in Cannes.
“It’s such an amazing, fun, action-packed thrill ride that hooks the viewer from the first frame and does not disappoint. Director [link=nm...
- 5/12/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
04.27.17: This list is now final. While I may in the future see additional films that were released in the awards year of 2016, no more films will be added to this list. (I may add links to reviews of films listed here.)
This ranking includes only new theatrical releases viewed for the awards year of 2016 (for eligibility for the Academy Awards and the Ofcs and Awfj awards); some films released in the UK without Us releases (and so ineligible for those awards this year) may also be included, for my own bookkeeping purposes. Links go to my review. Numbers after each entry are Date First Viewed/NYC Release Date/London Release Date; year is 2016 unless otherwise noted.
worth paying multiplex prices for
[5 stars]
Arrival (10.10/11.11/11.10)
La La Land (10.07/12.09/01.13.17)
A Monster Calls (10.06/12.23/01.01.17)
The Lobster (07.16.15/05.13/10.16.15)
Zootropolis (aka Zootopia) (02.22/03.04/03.25)
A Bigger Splash (10.08.15/05.04/02.12)
Miss Sloane (11.20/11.25/05.12.17)
London Road (06.03.15/09.09/06.12.15)
The Girl with All the Gifts (07.26/02.24.17/09.23)
I, Daniel Blake...
This ranking includes only new theatrical releases viewed for the awards year of 2016 (for eligibility for the Academy Awards and the Ofcs and Awfj awards); some films released in the UK without Us releases (and so ineligible for those awards this year) may also be included, for my own bookkeeping purposes. Links go to my review. Numbers after each entry are Date First Viewed/NYC Release Date/London Release Date; year is 2016 unless otherwise noted.
worth paying multiplex prices for
[5 stars]
Arrival (10.10/11.11/11.10)
La La Land (10.07/12.09/01.13.17)
A Monster Calls (10.06/12.23/01.01.17)
The Lobster (07.16.15/05.13/10.16.15)
Zootropolis (aka Zootopia) (02.22/03.04/03.25)
A Bigger Splash (10.08.15/05.04/02.12)
Miss Sloane (11.20/11.25/05.12.17)
London Road (06.03.15/09.09/06.12.15)
The Girl with All the Gifts (07.26/02.24.17/09.23)
I, Daniel Blake...
- 4/27/2017
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Dominic Laperriere has edited three feature films that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival: Fishing without Nets (2014), The Free World (2016) and, this year, Dayveon. From first-time director Amman Abbasi, Dayveon tells the story of a 13-year-old boy’s coming-of-age after the violent death of his big brother. Laperriere co-edited the film with Michael Carter. Below, he speaks with Filmmaker about how he got into editing and finding the right balance between moving a plot forward and letting an audience savor the moment. Dayveon premiered at Sundance last week in the Next lineup. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the editor of […]...
- 1/29/2017
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
A simple listing, duplicated from the homepage, of new releases and other stuff currently available, for the benefit of those playing along by RSS or keeping up via the Daily Digest emails (sign up here).
new dvd+vod Us/Can Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Don’t Breathe Fire Song Hell or High Water Kubo and the Two Strings War Dogs Mechanic: Resurrection I’m planning to watch… Indignation Morris from America Spaghettiman new dvd+vod UK Before the Flood Ghostbusters Little Men Zoom I’m planning to watch… Keanu Things to Come
recent releases Us/Can Bad Moms Before the Flood Blood Father Captain Fantastic The Divide Ghostbusters The Great Gilly Hopkins Into the Inferno Michael Moore in TrumpLand Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates Miss Sharon Jones! The Purge: Election Year Sausage Party Sherpa Star Trek Beyond 13th Time to Choose Under the Shadow Anthropoid Cafe Society Microbe & Gasoline...
new dvd+vod Us/Can Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Don’t Breathe Fire Song Hell or High Water Kubo and the Two Strings War Dogs Mechanic: Resurrection I’m planning to watch… Indignation Morris from America Spaghettiman new dvd+vod UK Before the Flood Ghostbusters Little Men Zoom I’m planning to watch… Keanu Things to Come
recent releases Us/Can Bad Moms Before the Flood Blood Father Captain Fantastic The Divide Ghostbusters The Great Gilly Hopkins Into the Inferno Michael Moore in TrumpLand Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates Miss Sharon Jones! The Purge: Election Year Sausage Party Sherpa Star Trek Beyond 13th Time to Choose Under the Shadow Anthropoid Cafe Society Microbe & Gasoline...
- 11/8/2016
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
In 2014 Elisabeth Moss won her first Golden Globe for her portrayal of Detective Robin in the first season of “Top of the Lake.” Now the actress is reprising her award-winning role in the second season, which takes place four years after the events of the first. SundanceTV released the first image (above) which features Moss getting back to business.
The first season of Jane Campion’s critically acclaimed miniseries followed Sydney-based police detective Robin (Moss) returning to her hometown in New Zealand to investigate the disappearance of a local 12-year-old girl. Season 2 will take place in Sydney and center around the death of an unidentified girl whose body washes up on to Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The new season also includes the addition of Nicole Kidman and “Game of Thrones” actress Gwendoline Christie.
Read More: ‘The Bleeder’ Clip: Watch First Footage of Elisabeth Moss and Liev Schreiber’s Dramatic Boxing...
The first season of Jane Campion’s critically acclaimed miniseries followed Sydney-based police detective Robin (Moss) returning to her hometown in New Zealand to investigate the disappearance of a local 12-year-old girl. Season 2 will take place in Sydney and center around the death of an unidentified girl whose body washes up on to Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The new season also includes the addition of Nicole Kidman and “Game of Thrones” actress Gwendoline Christie.
Read More: ‘The Bleeder’ Clip: Watch First Footage of Elisabeth Moss and Liev Schreiber’s Dramatic Boxing...
- 10/5/2016
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
“The Free World” is the tale of a released convict who struggles to find love and peace in his newly gained freedom. That sounds like the premise for promising TV show — after all, “Rectify” has already been covering that territory for four seasons — but first-time writer-director Jason Lew constructs his movie with the hallmarks of an exhausting pilot that falls short of making the case for a full season.
Muhammad Lundy (Boyd Holbrook) works at an animal shelter after his recent tenure at Louisiana’s Angola prison. (If you ever forget that he’s essentially trading in one caged environment for another, this is a film that will repeatedly remind you.) His place of employment soon becomes the refuge of Doris (Elisabeth Moss), who shows up after hours with blood-covered hands in search of her recently euthanized dog. Recognizing her frightened demeanor and vulnerable emotional state, Muhammad “rescues” Doris, bringing...
Muhammad Lundy (Boyd Holbrook) works at an animal shelter after his recent tenure at Louisiana’s Angola prison. (If you ever forget that he’s essentially trading in one caged environment for another, this is a film that will repeatedly remind you.) His place of employment soon becomes the refuge of Doris (Elisabeth Moss), who shows up after hours with blood-covered hands in search of her recently euthanized dog. Recognizing her frightened demeanor and vulnerable emotional state, Muhammad “rescues” Doris, bringing...
- 9/24/2016
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
This is a reprint of our review from the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
Actor and writer Jason Lew, the screenwriter behind Gus Van Sant‘s “Restless,” makes his feature directorial debut with “The Free World,” a sometimes-curious picture that takes on a big story with an intimate execution. “Curious” only because “The Free World” ends up in a place vastly different from where it starts, genre-hopping and taking unexpected turns.
Continue reading Despite Some Missteps, ‘The Free World’ Starring Elisabeth Moss & Boyd Holbrook Is An Admirable Indie Drama [Review] at The Playlist.
Actor and writer Jason Lew, the screenwriter behind Gus Van Sant‘s “Restless,” makes his feature directorial debut with “The Free World,” a sometimes-curious picture that takes on a big story with an intimate execution. “Curious” only because “The Free World” ends up in a place vastly different from where it starts, genre-hopping and taking unexpected turns.
Continue reading Despite Some Missteps, ‘The Free World’ Starring Elisabeth Moss & Boyd Holbrook Is An Admirable Indie Drama [Review] at The Playlist.
- 9/23/2016
- by Katie Walsh
- The Playlist
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
Blood Simple (Joel and Ethan Coen)
For as accomplished as Joel and Ethan Coen’s debut Blood Simple comes across as to a viewer, like any director, they can’t help but recognize their flaws. That’s not to say their newly restored debut, now available on The Criterion Collection, doesn’t look and sound gorgeous — every bead of sweat dripping down M. Emmet Walsh’s face and every...
Blood Simple (Joel and Ethan Coen)
For as accomplished as Joel and Ethan Coen’s debut Blood Simple comes across as to a viewer, like any director, they can’t help but recognize their flaws. That’s not to say their newly restored debut, now available on The Criterion Collection, doesn’t look and sound gorgeous — every bead of sweat dripping down M. Emmet Walsh’s face and every...
- 9/23/2016
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Letting go of a troubled past is no easy thing, and sometimes in facing the future, you can’t shake the habits and behavior that have shaped your life. These ideas come into play in Jason Lew‘s feature directorial debut “The Free World.”
Read More: The 30 Most Anticipated Films Of The 2016 Toronto International Film Festival
Starring Boyd Holbrook, Elisabeth Moss, Octavia Spencer and Sung Kang, the story follows an ex-con trying to go straight after serving time for a crime he didn’t commit.
Continue reading Exclusive: Elisabeth Moss Makes A Mistake In Clip From ‘The Free World’ at The Playlist.
Read More: The 30 Most Anticipated Films Of The 2016 Toronto International Film Festival
Starring Boyd Holbrook, Elisabeth Moss, Octavia Spencer and Sung Kang, the story follows an ex-con trying to go straight after serving time for a crime he didn’t commit.
Continue reading Exclusive: Elisabeth Moss Makes A Mistake In Clip From ‘The Free World’ at The Playlist.
- 9/15/2016
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Here's the first trailer for The Free World, a new movie from IFC Films that debuted at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Boyd Holbrook (Narcos) plays an ex-con who discovers a beaten and bloody woman (Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men) with a mysterious past, and the two slowly fall for each other as they outrun an officer chasing them down (Sung Kang, Fast Five) with what appears to be the aid of the ex-con's case worker (Octavia Spencer). Looks pretty good to me!
I'd never heard of this movie before this morning (thanks to /Film for fixing that), but we don't have long to wait until we have the chance to see it — the film hits theaters and VOD on September 23, 2016.
How hard would you fight to be free? After spending two decades in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Mo (Boyd Holbrook) struggles to put his past behind...
I'd never heard of this movie before this morning (thanks to /Film for fixing that), but we don't have long to wait until we have the chance to see it — the film hits theaters and VOD on September 23, 2016.
How hard would you fight to be free? After spending two decades in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Mo (Boyd Holbrook) struggles to put his past behind...
- 9/15/2016
- by Ben Pearson
- GeekTyrant
Following a Sundance premiere back in January, Jason Lew‘s The Free World is now headed to theaters. Boyd Holbrook and Elisabeth Moss lead the downbeat romantic drama. He plays Mo, fresh out of prison after spending two decades locked away for a crime he didn’t commit. Nowadays he spends his days working at an animal shelter, which is where […]
The post ‘The Free World’ Trailer: Elisabeth Moss and Boyd Holbrook Go on the Run appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘The Free World’ Trailer: Elisabeth Moss and Boyd Holbrook Go on the Run appeared first on /Film.
- 9/15/2016
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
Two weeks out from its bow in select theaters, IFC Films has dropped the first trailer for Jason Lew’s (Restless) poignant drama The Free World, which sees Elisabeth Moss and Boyd Holbrook fighting two very different forms of abuse.
Holbrook, for instance, plays ex-con Mo who takes the defining first steps towards starting a new life by working in an animal shelter, overseeing the protection of wounded or stray pets under the guidance of Octavia Spencer’s character. Meanwhile, Doris (Elisabeth Moss) has her own cross to carry, symbolizing a pain that so often originates from her abusive relationship with her hothead police officer of a husband.
Those two paths cross when Doris pays a visit to Mo’s animal shelter, but will their budding friendship help or hinder each respective predicament? Today’s first trailer hints that it could well be the latter.
Jason Lew will beckon viewers...
Holbrook, for instance, plays ex-con Mo who takes the defining first steps towards starting a new life by working in an animal shelter, overseeing the protection of wounded or stray pets under the guidance of Octavia Spencer’s character. Meanwhile, Doris (Elisabeth Moss) has her own cross to carry, symbolizing a pain that so often originates from her abusive relationship with her hothead police officer of a husband.
Those two paths cross when Doris pays a visit to Mo’s animal shelter, but will their budding friendship help or hinder each respective predicament? Today’s first trailer hints that it could well be the latter.
Jason Lew will beckon viewers...
- 9/13/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Premiering at Sundance earlier this year, The Free World marks the directorial debut from Jason Lew (Restless), and IFC Films has now released the first trailer. The film begins as a study of rehabilitation as ex-con Mo (Boyd Holbrook) works at an animal shelter under the tutelage of Linda (Octavia Spencer), clearing cages and shows a tender care for the battered animals brought in. One day, Doris (Elisabeth Moss) brings in her dog Charlie, seemingly beaten by her aggressive hothead police officer husband. Things then start to spiral downhill for our characters from there.
I said in my review, “The greatest southern gothic tales feature richly detailed atmosphere dripping with a strong sense of location. Night of the Hunter and other classics certainly fit the category, and the fairly recent Sundance drama Ain’t Them Bodies Saints was a fine example, featuring characters that, whether in a doomed romance or not,...
I said in my review, “The greatest southern gothic tales feature richly detailed atmosphere dripping with a strong sense of location. Night of the Hunter and other classics certainly fit the category, and the fairly recent Sundance drama Ain’t Them Bodies Saints was a fine example, featuring characters that, whether in a doomed romance or not,...
- 9/12/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
"Why are you helping me?" IFC Films has debuted the trailer for the indie drama The Free World, which premiered at Sundance this year, about a man fresh out of prison for crimes he didn't commit. He meets a woman with an abusive husband, and decides to risk his own life to be with her. Starring Elisabeth Moss as Doris, and Boyd Holbrook as Mo Lundy. The cast includes Octavia Spencer, Sung Kang, Sue-Lynn Ansari and Waleed Zuaiter. It seems like a solid drama, but I don't remember hearing much buzz about it during Sundance. As always, Moss looks to be giving a great performance and it might be worth it for her. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Jason Lew's The Free World, direct from YouTube: Following his release from a brutal stretch in prison for crimes he didn't commit, Mo is struggling to adapt to life on the outside.
- 9/9/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Elisabeth Moss has spent the last few years going entirely from strength to strength. Still only 34, the actress first popped up on our screens nearly twenty years ago in “The West Wing.” And since then, she’s popped up all over the place, most famously as a multiple Emmy nominee for playing Peggy Olson on […]
The post Boyd Holdbrook & Elisabeth Moss Go On The Run In First Trailer For Drama ‘The Free World’ appeared first on The Playlist.
The post Boyd Holdbrook & Elisabeth Moss Go On The Run In First Trailer For Drama ‘The Free World’ appeared first on The Playlist.
- 9/9/2016
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
Now that the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention have both taken place, the final leg of the race to The White House has begun. As a result of those political party events, we know that the world will wake up on November 9th, 2016 to the news that the United States of America has elected either a beauty-pageant-judging businessman, or the first U.S woman, to be the next ‘Leader Of The Free World.’
Whichever way that particular cookie crumbles, it will be a globally historic moment. Gender politics and toxic campaign smears aside, by January 2017, the most powerful nation on the planet will be run by either the single most qualified person, or a person that isn’t really qualified at all. In those terms, the world stands on a precipice, and the winds of change are approaching.
The Oval Office has always been fertile ground for...
Whichever way that particular cookie crumbles, it will be a globally historic moment. Gender politics and toxic campaign smears aside, by January 2017, the most powerful nation on the planet will be run by either the single most qualified person, or a person that isn’t really qualified at all. In those terms, the world stands on a precipice, and the winds of change are approaching.
The Oval Office has always been fertile ground for...
- 7/30/2016
- by Sarah Myles
- We Got This Covered
Read More: Sundance Review: 'The Free World' Starring Boyd Holbrook, Elisabeth Moss & Octavia Spencer Describing the inspiration for his work during an "Indiewire in Conversation at Chase Sapphire on Main" panel at the Sundance Film Festival last week, writer-director Jason Lew remarked, "I'm always attracted to characters that dwell on the outside and feel very uncomfortable in the world." That would probably be the best way to describe his directorial debut, "The Free World." The film premiered at this year's Sundance, where it was quickly described as an extremely intense drama featuring by two amazing performances from leads Boyd Holbrook and Elisabeth Moss. Holbrook plays an ex-convict who used to be Martin Lundy but now is a devout Muslim going by the name Mo (short for Muhammed). After being locked up for a crime he didn't commit, Mo has been exonerated and tossed back into a society that is completely alien to him.
- 2/4/2016
- by Mike Lown
- Indiewire
With a decent sized sampling of thirty-one features and several four star quality shorts viewed, my assessment of the ’16 edition is as follows: the Premieres category delivered in terms of A quality offerings, the U.S Dramatic Comp had far more “misses” than “hits”, and there is plenty to be excited about from the micro indie auteurs found from the bountiful Next section. To further recognize this section’s importance and cred, I’d definitely create a jury award to go alongside the Audience award — perhaps the composition of that jury could follow the free-thinking artist matching they promote for their Sundance Next Fest. And speaking of the jury folk — I’m a little dismayed that a conventional film such as The Birth of a Nation took precedence over a technically sound, risk-taker film such as Christine. Change appears to be in the air, with Robert Redford contemplating the future...
- 2/3/2016
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Last summer, there was no shortage of excitement when news broke in the Australian trades that Jane Campion's outstanding "Top Of The Lake" was not only getting a second season with the director co-helming again, but that Elisabeth Moss would be returning too. However, the actress dampened some of the buzz when, in an interview with us, she was more reserved about the possibility of new episodes. "For the past couple of years, [Jane Campion]'s been writing and sending me things and I've been looking and everything's looking really great and I'm loving it. It's not something that I can officially confirm, but it's definitely a work in progress," Moss said. And since then, there hasn't been any word. But good news arrives today. Read More: Berlin Review: Jane Campion's 'Top Of The Lake' A Satisfying & Cinematic Crime "Novel" In The Shape Of A TV Show Currently...
- 1/27/2016
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
The greatest southern gothic tales feature richly detailed atmosphere dripping with a strong sense of location. Night of the Hunter and other classics certainly fit the category, and the fairly recent Sundance drama Ain’t Them Bodies Saints was a fine example, featuring characters that, whether in a doomed romance or not, feel destined for one another. On paper, The Free World seemingly has all the necessary ingredients, yet the drama stumbles out of the gate with cliche after cliche, even when it tries to change things up with a sharp dramatic turn.
Beginning as a study of rehabilitation, Mo (Boyd Holbrook) recently got out of a prison stint in which he became defined as the toughest inmate, earning the nickname “Cyclops.” Working at an animal shelter under the tutelage of Linda (Octavia Spencer), he cleans cages and shows a tender care for the battered animals brought in. One day,...
Beginning as a study of rehabilitation, Mo (Boyd Holbrook) recently got out of a prison stint in which he became defined as the toughest inmate, earning the nickname “Cyclops.” Working at an animal shelter under the tutelage of Linda (Octavia Spencer), he cleans cages and shows a tender care for the battered animals brought in. One day,...
- 1/23/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Actor and writer Jason Lew, the screenwriter behind Gus Van Sant's "Restless," makes his feature directorial debut with “The Free World,” a sometimes-curious picture that takes on a big story with an intimate execution. “Curious” only because “The Free World” ends up in a place vastly different from where it starts, genre-hopping and taking unexpected turns. At times it feels as though the story might exceed the scope of the film, but it manages to stretch to contain it, and pushes the boundaries of what a “Sundance film” might be. The film opens with a look inside the very small world of Mo (Boyd Holbrook). He’s a recently released felon working in an animal shelter for Linda (Octavia Spencer), who seems to have knowledge of “the inside” as well. He has a sparse life, an apartment with no furniture and no car. As we come to find out through snippets of conversation,...
- 1/22/2016
- by Katie Walsh
- The Playlist
text-autospace:none"> mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Liberty is a relative concept in The Free World, a soft-boiled Southern noir in which the theme of cages, confinement and abuse is countered by redemptive notes of spirituality and human connection. Those whispers of hope almost risk going unheard amid all the dour solemnity and dread of writer-director Jason Lew's moody first feature. But the uneven drama remains reasonably engrossing thanks to affecting performances from Boyd Holbrook and Elisabeth Moss, playing strangers whose respective experience of violence gives them a soulful bond. Whether that will be enough to yield much of a
read more...
read more...
- 1/22/2016
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Comprising a considerable amount of our top 50 films of last year, Sundance Film Festival has proven to yield the first genuine look at what the year in cinema will bring. Now in its 38th iteration, we’ll be heading back to Park City this week, but before we do, it’s time to highlight the films we’re most looking forward to, including documentaries and narrative features from all around the world.
While much of the joy found in the festival comes from surprises throughout the event, below one will find our 25 most-anticipated titles off the bat, which doesn’t include some of the ones we’ve already seen and admired, notably Cemetery of Splendour, The Lobster and Rams. Check out everything below and for updates straight from the festival, make sure to follow us on Twitter (@TheFilmStage, @jpraup, @djmecca and @DanSchindel), and stay tuned to all of our coverage here.
While much of the joy found in the festival comes from surprises throughout the event, below one will find our 25 most-anticipated titles off the bat, which doesn’t include some of the ones we’ve already seen and admired, notably Cemetery of Splendour, The Lobster and Rams. Check out everything below and for updates straight from the festival, make sure to follow us on Twitter (@TheFilmStage, @jpraup, @djmecca and @DanSchindel), and stay tuned to all of our coverage here.
- 1/18/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The Sundance Film institute has released the line-up of film for the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Going to Sundance is one of my favorite events of the year. I love going because you never know what kind of movies you're going to see. Sometimes they are great films that amaze and entertain, other times they completely suck ass, but that's all part of the fun of going to the festival. It's an awesome experience for any hardcore movie geek, and if you ever get a chance to go, you need to.
The event takes place in Park City, Utah next year from January 21st to the 31st. It looks like there's a great line-up of movies at next year's event. My favorite portion of the event is the Midnight section because it deals more with geeky genre type movies, but I also enjoy the various sections of other line-ups.
Some of...
The event takes place in Park City, Utah next year from January 21st to the 31st. It looks like there's a great line-up of movies at next year's event. My favorite portion of the event is the Midnight section because it deals more with geeky genre type movies, but I also enjoy the various sections of other line-ups.
Some of...
- 12/6/2015
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
The Sundance Film Festival has today revealed the 65 films which are going to make up the 2016 Us and World Cinema Competition Dramatic and Documentary categories, along with those which make up the out-of-competition Next slate. This is a very diverse and interesting list, and one which Sundance Institute executive director Keri Putnam is clearly very excited to show off next year.
“At a time when big-budget blockbusters and free online content are ubiquitous, independent filmmakers continue to be extraordinarily creative, artful and inventive.”
Sundance 2016 will run from January 21st – 31st in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. Check out the full list of movies below and let us know which of these you’re most looking forward to seeing (even if some will inevitably fail to ever reach cinemas).
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Presenting the world premieres of 16 narrative feature films, the Dramatic Competition offers Festivalgoers a...
“At a time when big-budget blockbusters and free online content are ubiquitous, independent filmmakers continue to be extraordinarily creative, artful and inventive.”
Sundance 2016 will run from January 21st – 31st in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. Check out the full list of movies below and let us know which of these you’re most looking forward to seeing (even if some will inevitably fail to ever reach cinemas).
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Presenting the world premieres of 16 narrative feature films, the Dramatic Competition offers Festivalgoers a...
- 12/2/2015
- by Josh Wilding
- We Got This Covered
In last year’s selection of sixteen U.S. Dramatic Competition offerings, it was Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s Me & Earl & the Dying Girl that landed both U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic and Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic awards, it was Rick Famuyiwa’s Dope who landed the richest deal ($7 million range), it was Patrick Brice’s The Overnight that had the most post festival momentum, it was Marielle Heller’s The Diary of a Teenage Girl that received a longer term accolades (Bel Powley won Best Actress at the Gothams) and it might be Robert Eggers’ The Witch that becomes the cult item we reference back in a decade from now. This year we accurately predicted ten of the sixteen items below. Among the more familiar folk, we have established names such as Antonio Campos (Christine – see pic of Rebecca Hall above) and So Yong Kim (Lovesong). We have second...
- 12/2/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
After unexpectedly unveiling their Midnight line-up first, the 2016 Sundance Film Festival have now revealed the 65 films selected for the U.S. Competition, World Competition and out-of-competition Next category. “From diverse backgrounds, places and perspectives, these independent artists are united by the power of their stories and vision. Their films will soon launch onto the global stage, beginning their journeys through our culture. A new year in independent film will start right here—on the mountain—in January,” Robert Redford says.
This year, 120 feature-length films were selected, representing 37 countries and 48 first-time filmmakers, including 28 in competition. These films were selected from 12,793 submissions, including 4,081 feature-length films and 8,712 short films. Of the feature film submissions, 1,972 were from the U.S. and 2,109 were international. 98 feature films at the Festival will be world premieres. Check out the line-up below along with images.
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Presenting the world premieres of 16 narrative feature films, the Dramatic...
This year, 120 feature-length films were selected, representing 37 countries and 48 first-time filmmakers, including 28 in competition. These films were selected from 12,793 submissions, including 4,081 feature-length films and 8,712 short films. Of the feature film submissions, 1,972 were from the U.S. and 2,109 were international. 98 feature films at the Festival will be world premieres. Check out the line-up below along with images.
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Presenting the world premieres of 16 narrative feature films, the Dramatic...
- 12/2/2015
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Titles include Tallulah starring Ellen Page and Allison Janney, and Chad Hartigan’s Morris From America (pictured); Next strand also announced.Scroll down for full list
Sundance Institute has announced the 65 films selected for the Us Competition, World Competition and out-of-competition Next categories set to screen at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival (Jan 21-31) in Park City.
Us Dramatic Competition selections include Sian Heder’s Tallulah with Ellen Page and Allison Janney; Antonio Campos’ Christine; Clea DuVall’s feature directorial debut The Intervention; and Richard Tanne’s Southside With You, about Barack Obama’s first date with the First Lady.
Among the Us Documentary Competition selections are: Holy Hell by undisclosed; Jeff Feuerzeig’s Author: The Jt LeRoy Story; and Sara Jordenö’s Kiki.
The World Cinema Dramatic Competition entries include: Belgica (Belgium-France-Netherlands), Felix van Groeningen’s follow-up to The Broken Circle Breakdown; Manolo Cruz and Carlos del Castillo’s Between Sea And Land (Colombia); and Nicolette Krebitz’s Wild...
Sundance Institute has announced the 65 films selected for the Us Competition, World Competition and out-of-competition Next categories set to screen at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival (Jan 21-31) in Park City.
Us Dramatic Competition selections include Sian Heder’s Tallulah with Ellen Page and Allison Janney; Antonio Campos’ Christine; Clea DuVall’s feature directorial debut The Intervention; and Richard Tanne’s Southside With You, about Barack Obama’s first date with the First Lady.
Among the Us Documentary Competition selections are: Holy Hell by undisclosed; Jeff Feuerzeig’s Author: The Jt LeRoy Story; and Sara Jordenö’s Kiki.
The World Cinema Dramatic Competition entries include: Belgica (Belgium-France-Netherlands), Felix van Groeningen’s follow-up to The Broken Circle Breakdown; Manolo Cruz and Carlos del Castillo’s Between Sea And Land (Colombia); and Nicolette Krebitz’s Wild...
- 12/2/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Best known as the writer for the Gus Van Sant directed Restless back in 2011 and he also moonlights as an actor, Jason Lew originally mounted this directorial debut with major starlets in Cillian Murphy and Bryce Dallas Howard but it ended up being American indie players Boyd Holbrook and Elizabeth Moss who would transition into the roles of Mo and Doris. A film of broken spirits and strays (this includes a pooch) with criminal backgrounds, production on The Free World began this past July in New Orleans.
Gist: Mo (Holbrook) has finished serving his time for a brutal crime he did not commit—the murder of two young girls. In prison, his fellow inmates named him “The Cyclops” for his violent behaviour he called himself Mohamed, in homage to the prophet. Not entirely prepared for his new freedom and under constant suspicion by the small town community, he finds solace...
Gist: Mo (Holbrook) has finished serving his time for a brutal crime he did not commit—the murder of two young girls. In prison, his fellow inmates named him “The Cyclops” for his violent behaviour he called himself Mohamed, in homage to the prophet. Not entirely prepared for his new freedom and under constant suspicion by the small town community, he finds solace...
- 11/24/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Will the real Matt Ross please stand up. Don’t be all that surprised if Matt Ross (28 Hotel Rooms, Captain Fantastic) and Matthew Ross wind up on the same Park City foothills this January. The former Filmmaker Mag and Variety writer who moved away from writing about other folk’s films, commenced lensing on his feature debut back in February. With a handful of short film projects (Lola, Red Angel and Curtis and Clover) under his belt, the proposed rom thriller of Frank and Lola features Michael Shannon and Imogen Poots in the top spots with Michael Nyqvist, Justin Long, Rosanna Arquette and French actress Emmanuelle Devos as supporting players. A sort of what would happen if you pissed off Anthony Bourdain revenge pic, this is indeed ready as it recently participated in the 2015 Sundance Institute Music and Sound Design Lab: Feature Film this past July and the cherry on...
- 11/24/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Competition title.
Memento Film International (Mfi) has acquired international rights to Turkish Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Winter Sleep and Argentine Diego Lerman’s Refugiado ahead of their Cannes premieres.
Ceylan’s Palme d’Or contendor Winter Sleep, revolves around retired actor Aydin, who runs a hotel in central Turkey with his emotionally estranged wife and a sister, who is getting over a divorce.
As winter closes in, the hotel becomes both a shelter and a prison. Differences come to a head and Aydin contemplates taking off. The film is set against the beautiful high plateau of Cappadocia.
It is Ceylan’s sixth film to screen in competition at Cannes, where he has picked up three prizes including the Grand Jury Prize for Once upon a Time in Anatolia in 2011.
Winter Sleep has already generated a fair amount of attention on the basis of its length, which extends...
Memento Film International (Mfi) has acquired international rights to Turkish Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Winter Sleep and Argentine Diego Lerman’s Refugiado ahead of their Cannes premieres.
Ceylan’s Palme d’Or contendor Winter Sleep, revolves around retired actor Aydin, who runs a hotel in central Turkey with his emotionally estranged wife and a sister, who is getting over a divorce.
As winter closes in, the hotel becomes both a shelter and a prison. Differences come to a head and Aydin contemplates taking off. The film is set against the beautiful high plateau of Cappadocia.
It is Ceylan’s sixth film to screen in competition at Cannes, where he has picked up three prizes including the Grand Jury Prize for Once upon a Time in Anatolia in 2011.
Winter Sleep has already generated a fair amount of attention on the basis of its length, which extends...
- 5/6/2014
- ScreenDaily
Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Competition title.
Memento Film International (Mfi) has acquired international rights to Turkish Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Winter Sleep and Argentine Diego Lerman’s Refugiado ahead of their Cannes premieres.
Ceylan’s Palme d’Or contendor Winter Sleep, revolves around retired actor Aydin, who runs a hotel in central Turkey with his emotionally estranged wife and a sister, who is getting over a divorce.
As winter closes in, the hotel becomes both a shelter and a prison. Differences come to a head and Aydin contemplates taking off. The film is set against the beautiful high plateau of Cappadocia.
It is Ceylan’s sixth film to screen in competition at Cannes, where he has picked up three prizes including the Grand Jury Prize for Once upon a Time in Anatolia in 2011.
Winter Sleep has already generated a fair amount of attention on the basis of its length, which extends...
Memento Film International (Mfi) has acquired international rights to Turkish Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Winter Sleep and Argentine Diego Lerman’s Refugiado ahead of their Cannes premieres.
Ceylan’s Palme d’Or contendor Winter Sleep, revolves around retired actor Aydin, who runs a hotel in central Turkey with his emotionally estranged wife and a sister, who is getting over a divorce.
As winter closes in, the hotel becomes both a shelter and a prison. Differences come to a head and Aydin contemplates taking off. The film is set against the beautiful high plateau of Cappadocia.
It is Ceylan’s sixth film to screen in competition at Cannes, where he has picked up three prizes including the Grand Jury Prize for Once upon a Time in Anatolia in 2011.
Winter Sleep has already generated a fair amount of attention on the basis of its length, which extends...
- 5/6/2014
- ScreenDaily
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