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Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Donald Sutherland and Jamie Kennedy costar in “Ad Astra.” Last we heard from Gray was his 2017 film “The Lost City of Z,” a beautiful, surreal and ambitious movie. Gray has become one of the more interesting American filmmakers around. His sneaking into the mainstream started with 2007’s “We Own the Night,” but especially with 2009’s “Two Lovers,” one of the most underrated films of the last 20 years....

YouTube, which is owned by Google , has deleted the film “Ukraine on Fire.” Apparently, Ukrainian-Russian history is a little too much to handle for the powers-that-be. I hadn’t heard about the film until today. In response, the producer of the film, Igor Lopatonok, has released the copyright and made the documentary available for open download on Vimeo. The documentary is, apparently, according to the person who emailed me about this, well sourced and cited, and not that much of a contrarian outlook on the centuries-spanning feud....

However, if the study is anything to go by, Nolan may be disappointed by the number of people that will turn out to see his latest movie. The conclusion of the study is quite simple, actually. Most people will probably stay away from movie theaters until 2021. Only 15% of people are “somewhat likely” to visit cinemas immediately when they reopen. 26% of people are willing to go a month after they reopen 35% are at least “somewhat likely” to return to theaters anytime in 2020....

Not to take away anything from Fraser’s work as a 600-pound gay man in “The Whale,” but he’s just not that impressive in it. You want impressive? Watch Austin Butler in “Elvis” or Colin Farrell in “The Banshees of Inisherin.” Now, that’s great acting. I hate to say it, but those standing ovations Fraser garnered all of awards season? Those were pat-on-your back, we’re here for you, affirmations to the actor....

After finding out last week that her latest film, “Les Enfants des Autres,” wasn’t part of the Cannes Film Festival, Zlotowski learned that the Venice Film Festival had invited her to be part of the competition lineup for their 90th edition this coming September. Now, I’m being told by a source that Cannes boss Thierry Fremaux has invited Zlotowski to have “Les Enfants des Autres” be a late addition to his official competition....

In the interview, he didn’t mention “Nosferatu,” but one must assume that’s exactly the film he’s talking about. Especially with what I’ve just learned today … While no guarantee that filming is imminent, Eggers has managed to register “Nosferatu” with the Czech Film Fund. That is a great sign that production is moving forward and a Prague shoot is being eyed. I have long had a fascination with this spooky tale....

Forster appeared in more than 100 films, with quite a few time-capsule-worthy moments. I can think of 1969’s landmark film “Medium Cool” and, especially, that opening shot with Forster’s cameraman getting out of the car. David Lynch cast the actor twice, in 2001’s “Mulholland Dr.” and 2017’s “Twin Peaks: The Return.” He also stole ever scene director Alexander Payne gave him as the grieving father in “The Descendants.” However, it was his bail bondsman Max Cherry in “Jackie Brown,” a role which Quentin Tarantino specifically wrote with Forster in mind, that will forever cement his legacy....

In 2012, Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” had dethroned Wells’ “Citizen Kane,” after a near five-decade reign at the top. Now we’re all wondering what film has taken over at the #1 spot. My prediction still stands that Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” will be that film. It’s definitely influenced a few of the greatest of 21st Century movies, especially “Tree of Life” and “There Will Be Blood.” Kubrick has also managed to have his reputation stay intact over the last ten years, something Hitchcock might not have escaped....

Apparently, Sokurov’s new film is about a fictional event that took place during World War II. “This is a pure fairy tale, fiction. This is such a completely new artistic act for me. This is not journalism and not research at all. A film with a complex, very complex, technological performance. There has probably never been such a technological implementation yet on film,” Sokurov said. I honestly am not sure what Sokurov means by that, but consider me intrigued by the Russian master’s latest....

The deep-voiced Elliott, with his iconic handlebar mustache, has been largely associated with westerns over his 4 decade career, with maybe his most famous role as Virgil Earp in 1993’s “Tombstone.” However, his most underrated performance must be in 1976’s “The Lifeguard” in which he played a thirtyish lifeguard whose glory days as a collegiate star athlete are a thing of the past. Other noteworthy films he’s starred in include his iconic narrating cowboy in “The Big Lebowski,” Cher’s motorcycle-riding lover in “Mask” and bouncer father-figure to Patrick Swayze’s hero in “Road House....

“I mean that’s like saying Bugs Bunny ain’t funny,” the veteran actor said. “Films are films. Everybody doesn’t like his stuff either. There are a lot of Italian-Americans that don’t think he should be making films about them like that. Everybody’s got an opinion, so I mean it’s okay. Ain’t going to stop nobody from making movies.” The “everybody doesn’t like his stuff” line is actually quite interesting, all things considered, that, yes, Scorsese has released a few duds in his career, but Jackson hitting back at Scorsese by saying “everybody” doesn’t like his stuff is quite disingenuous, especially given the fact that Scorsese is the man behind such bonafide classics as Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Casino, Mean Streets, Taxi Driver etc....

Rudin’s crimes weren’t as grotesque as Harvey Weinstein’s, rather, Rudin was just a real asshole of a boss. Add that to the fact that he has the wealth and power to kickstart mid-budget projects in the industry makes him pretty non-disposable. Today’s intel that Rudin will team-up with A24 for a BBC adaptation of 2020 Booker Prize winner “Shuggie Bain” is not that surprising. As a producer told me via email a few months back, “give it some time, Scott will be back....

Connery, 89, was a cinch to win as the definitive 007, not simply because he was the first actor to take on the legendary role, in 1962’s “Dr. No,” but also because he is now seen as the blueprint of how Bond should act and look. Connery’s tenure lasted a total of seven movies. Much to my surprise, current Bond, Daniel Craig didn’t fare too well in the poll, despite, in my books, starring in two of the greatest Bond films ever made (“Casino Royale,” and “Skyfall....

Spike Lee’s new short, titled “New York New York” tackles the empty streets of his hometown. The Oscar-winning filmmaker posted a new short film on Instagram, one which was created at his home during this continuous pandemic. Accompanying the new short is a message from the director himself, Lee writes, “My Short Film-NEW YORK NEW YORK Is A Love Letter To It’s People. Plain And Simple.” (Did Lee really mistake “It’s” with “Its”?...

All reactions I’ve gathered have been mostly positive. Michelle Williams being cited as a Best Supporting Actress nominee seems to be a thing among those who attended. Ditto Judd Hirsch in the Supporting Actor category, he has around 10 minutes of screen time, but it’s said to be a “very powerful” role. The film is an immensely personal, very Jewish-centric, statement from Spielberg about his love for cinema. The film also tackles the anti-semitism he had to face in school....

I was told by more than a few Academy voters that they down-voted Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” in their preferential ballot for this year’s Oscars, which could be why “Green Book” ended up snatching the Best Picture prize last Sunday. To further promote that agenda, Anti-Netflix advocate Steven Spielberg campaigned for “Green Book” at-the-last-minute, even being quoted as saying that it was “the best buddy-comedy since “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” and that “a vote for “Green Book” is a vote for cinema....

It seems as though Harvey Weinstein only uses his walker when he enters a courtroom. Only a day after being seen entering a New York City courthouse, looking crippled, aided by a walker, the disgraced ex-Miramax mogul was seen at a Target in Mount Kisco, NY, near Bedford, with his family — striding around the store, no walker in sight. “He’s just using it for sympathy,” a self-described “spy” hilariously concluded to the New York Post....

With that being said, a festival programmer told me that the film was screened for the Venice Film Festival a week or so ago and that it will also be screened for a major American film festival in a few weeks’ time. If you want timeline of all the intel I had gotten these last few months concerning Malick’s still-unreleased opus: On 12.13.21 I reported that Malick and Cannes boss Thierry Fremaux were engaged in serious discussions to finally have the film premiere on the Croisette in May....

Newness (2017) For those currently looking for a way to find a partner on a dating site, Newness is a great flick to watch. In this aesthetically impressive but emotionally vapid depiction of modern romance, Laia Costa and Nicholas Hoult play a boring young couple who are both addicted to a dating app. Dating apps have grown immensely in recent years, especially among mature singles looking for a way to bring some spice back to their lives....