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The French don’t seem to like Robert Eggers’ “The Northman” very much, but especially the guys over at Cahiers. The film currently has a rating on 3.4 on Allocine, which is the French equivalent of Rotten Tonmatoes. That rating is very low and shows a clearcut divide between the French and American press in regards to the film. It’s well known that A24 wanted Eggers’ “The Lighthouse” to crack Cannes competition in 2019, but Thierry Fremaux couldn’t be convinced, instead opting to offer it a midnight slot....

The 2021 Cannes Film Festival’s originally planned slot of May 11-22 slot is being delayed to July 6-17. Organizers cited the global health situation in announcing the decision. This will nevertheless be a very challenging set goal to attain. I presume, if it does happen, it will in reduced form. Maybe even an added online component could occur? Travel restrictions could also be a problem as there is currently a European travel ban in effect in the United States....

Now, much like every movie year, Le Clint has already shot and wrapped up another movie, this one starring Sam Rockwell and titled “The Ballad of Richard Jewell.” The film’s production started in June and now, here we are, just two months later and there are plans to release it in December. If you remember, the same scenario happened with “The Mule,” which was also a June shoot and December release....

Fact of the matter is that this definitely not winning Best Picture, it’s too divisive and lengthy. Anne Thompson seems to think it is very unlikely as well. From a friend who attended last night’s screening: First off, the POSITIVE reactions: Anne Thompson: Damien Chazelle wanted to make a film set during the druggy, decadent transition from silents to sound. He created characters (played by Diego Calvo, Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt) to follow that trajectory....

I’ve taken some notes that I’ll transcribe at a later date into a more coherent piece, but I’d like to share a quote from the book that perfectly encapsulates the state of American cinema at the moment. Fremaux likes to name-drop big actors and directors that he converses with, one of them is David Lynch. In an entry dated Samedi 19 Mars, Lynch sends Fremaux a message about his son Austin’s film titled “Gray House,” Fremaux likes it but finds it too experimental for Cannes....

We can confirm the cast of this new O.Russell endeavour includes Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Robert De Niro, Anya Taylor-Joy, Rami Malek, Michael Shannon, Zoe Saldana, Chris Rock, Mike Myers and Taylor Swift. Filming on “Canterbury Glass” began in January of 2021 and wrapped in March. Plot details remain mum, but IMDB has the following synopsis: “[The film] revolves around a doctor and lawyer who form an unlikely partnership”....

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“I tried ‘Black Panther.’ I escaped from the cinema after 20 minutes,” Noé said. “I thought it was as bad as ‘Star Wars.’ I hated ‘Star Wars.’ I hated the R&B music [in “Black Panther”]. The music was so bad that I had to escape. But you know which one I like? What’s the name of the Denis Villeneuve movie? ‘Arrival.’ That one was good.” Contribute Hire me Advertise Donate Team Contact Privacy Policy

“But when Francis uses the words ‘those films are despicable,’ I’d reserve the word ‘despicable’ for someone who had committed mass murder,” Iger said. He continued by saying that he “doesn’t get what they’re criticizing us for” considering that Disney (and Marvel) are making movies that earn millions of people’s approvals etc. “I’m puzzled by it,” Iger said. “If they want to bitch about movies it’s certainly their right. It seems so disrespectful to all the people who work on those films who are working just as hard as the people who are working on their films and are putting their creative souls on the line just like they are....

The massive success “Wonder Woman” had two summers ago must have given Jenkins a sweet feeling of revenge on the industry. The film turned out to be the second highest-grossing movie of 2017, was met with rave reviews and a sequel has not only already been greenlit, but finished shooting just last month, with Jenkins and star Gal Gadot returning for more pesos.As for the “Wonder Woman 1984” trailer; Is that Gal Gadot literally riding lightning?...

The Globes are set to make their return to broadcast TV on January 10 after scrapping the 2022 telecast. The HFPA voting body swears they made internal reforms to appease to the mob’s demands. Now everybody seems seem ready to forgive and forget … A few takeaways: “The Banshees of Inisherin” leads with 8 nominations. It’s most likely winning Best Drama here. It’s the most nominations a movie has gotten since 2003Rough day for “Women Talking....

You can read del Toro’s full chain here. Contribute Hire me Advertise Donate Team Contact Privacy Policy

This backlash started with “Honey Boy” director Alma Har’el’s complaints earlier in the day, which got the ball rolling for other vocal Twitter signalers such as Ava DuVernay and, even, Wang herself condemning the Globes. Har’el doubled-down on her previous comments later in the evening, telling Variety in an “exclusive” interview that she had a proposal, to create gendered categories as a way to reach parity. “Unless we have a new category for women directors — the same way we have [separate] actor and actress categories — we won’t see any changes,” Har’el told Variety Monday after nominations were unveiled....

And so, despite my having seen most of the buzz-worthy IFFBoston titles that were screened (“The Farewell,” “Luce,” “Cold Case Hammerskjold”), there were still a few discoveries to be made that are very much worth mentioning. Annabelle Attanasio’s “Mickey and the Bear” won the Grand Jury Prize. A SXSW-premiered title, this feature-length directorial debut, about a strong-willed teenage girl (Camila Morrone) navigating a loving but incredibly intense relationship with her veteran father, was the kind of gritty, American-infused realism that is sorely missed these days in American cinema....

I won’t bore you with more images, except for this one: Is that cinematographer extraordinaire Rodrigo Prieto next to Gerwig? [image] Prieto finished 7th in my Best Cinematographers list. He’s the master of the “bounce” — which brings up exposure levels, but without overtly jarring shadow. He’s the most sought-out DP in the game today, having worked with Scorsese, Iñárritu, and Almodovar. Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” is his next film....

Joing the aforementioned actors in the this last chapter will be Adam Driver, Anthony Daniels, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard E. Grant and Keri Russell. “It feels impossible, but today wrapped photography on ‘Episode IX,’” Abrams wrote. “There is no adequate way to thank this truly magical crew and cast. I’m forever indebted to you all.” Disney will release “Star Wars: Episode IX” nationwide December 20. Contribute Hire me...

Finally, Nichols left the franchise amicably. He probably figured it wasn’t up to his talents. Now, he’s about to shoot “The Bikeriders” in October with Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and Tom Hardy in the lead roles. This new film is said to be a fictional story inspired by the photography of Danny Lyon and his 1967 book The Bikeriders. If you’ve been following Nichols over the years then you know he’s been trying very hard to get this passion project greenlit....

With “First Cow,” an adaptation of Jonathan Raymond’s novel “The Half-Life,” Reichardt is returning to the old West for a film that is rumored to be a spiritual sequel to ‘Meek’. In Oregon in the 1820s, a cook and a refugee pair up for a journey that will take them to China and back again. That’s all we know. The cast is mostly unknown, with shooting having wrapped last January....

Despite her “Sharp Stick” being one of the most anticipated world premieres of the fest, it ended up being one of the worst reviewed titles as well. Even worse, she’s now being accused of insensitivity in regards to the lead protagonist in the film, a young woman who many claim is supposed to be autistic. Dunham is being criticized by an autism activist over what the person is calling a “neurodivergent portrayal....

According to Deadline, Netflix and the French Film commission have struck a deal that would allow the streaming giant early access to theatrical releases all under a revised windowing system. The impact this would have on Cannes, or, more precisely, with Netflix original productions, is still unknown. This is a big win for French films that both want Netflix backing and a theatrical release in France, which wasn’t possible until this deal was struck today....