"Practical Magic" was a romantic fantasy film (released in 1998 and based on the popular novel by Alice Hoffman) about two sisters who are descendants of a long line of witches. After their parents' tragic death from a family curse, the young girls are raised by their aunts (Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest) and taught the uses of practical magic. And it comes in handy years later when the adult sisters (played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman) must unite to use their powers to destroy an evil spirit.
The movie was only a modest success and largely critically panned when it was initially released. Yet over time, thanks to it's constant appearance on cable stations, the film's style aesthetic and themes of female empowerment, "Practical Magic" would develop a rabid cult following with millennial and Gen Z women.
Now twenty-seven years later, a sequel is on the horizon. "Practical Magic 2" reunites Kidman and Bullock, who are now both bigger stars and Oscar-winners, to play the sisters. The teaser trailer for the movie has just been released and it looks like this encore could provide some enchanting delights.
Based on the sequel "The Book of Magic" that Hoffman wrote in 2021 and directed by Susanne Bier, this story is set twenty-five years after the events of the first film with Kylie (Joey King), the daughter of Sally (Bullock), discovers the family's hidden secrets and develops her own magical abilities. With Gillian (Kidman) and the aunts (Channing and Wiest also return), they all come together to try and finally break the curse that has haunted their lineage for centuries.
"Practical Magic 2" will be in US theaters on September 11, 2026
"The Room Next Door", Pedro Almodovar's first feature film in the English language, went on to receive the top prize of the Golden Lion at the conclusion of the 81st Venice Film Festival. The Spanish director's latest stars Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton as close friends who drifted apart but are reunited years later due to difficult circumstances.
Actor Brady Corbet’s third feature as a filmmaker, "The Brutalist" won him the Best Director prize. This over three-hour long drama chronicles thirty years in the life of a Hungarian-born Jewish architect (played by Adrien Brody) who survived the Holocaust, later migrating to America for a better life only to endure new challenges.
The runner-up Grand Jury prize went to "Vermiglio", an Italian drama written and directed by Maura Delpero. Set during the second world war in the small mountainous village of Vermiglio, the film follows a large family who are deeply affected by troubling local and global events. A Special Jury Prize went to "April", by Georgian filmmaker, Déa Kulumbegashvili, which tells the story of an obstetrician who helps patients seeking abortions, despite this being illegal, and must defend herself when she is discovered.
The screenplay by Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega for "I'm Still Here", the
first film by the renowned Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles in over ten years, won the top writing prize. Set during the Brazilian Military Dictatorship in 1971, the film follows a family in search of the patriarch, a former Labour Party congressman, who has mysteriously disappeared.
Nicole Kidman received the Best Actress award for her work in the erotic thriller, "Babygirl". She plays high-ranking CEO who begins a forbidden romance with a captivating and much younger intern, played by Harris Dickinson. The film's director, Halina Rejin received the honor for Kidman due to the unexpected passing of her mother. Vincent Lindon won Best Actor for "Jouer avec le feu (The Quiet Son)" in a film about a father who is estranged from his son over their disagreements on political ideology.
Here is a partial list of the winners of the 2024 Venice Film Festival:
Golden Lion: "The Room Next Door"
Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize: "Vermiglio"
Silver Lion Best Director: Brady Corbet, "The Brutalist"
Special Jury Prize: "აპრილი (April)"
Best Screenplay: Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega, "I'm Still Here"
Best Actress: Nicole Kidman, "Babygirl"
Best Actor: Vincent Lindon, "Jouer avec le feu (The Quiet Son)"
Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress: Paul Kircher, "Leurs enfants après eux (And Their Children After Them)"
Actors have famously used their fame as clout to bring attention to serious and important causes, believing that their endorsement will help make this matter take on greater significance to a large number of people. One example was an incident in 2010 involving a teenage girl who wanted to take her girlfriend to their senior prom in Mississippi but where denied by school board. The girls pushed back and the board decided to cancel the prom instead of allowing them to attend. A lawsuit was filed and a Federal Court found the couple's First Amendment rights had been violated. However, the judge did not force the school to reinstate the prom. Some celebrities heard this story and jumped in to sponsor a fund-raiser so that the girls could attend an inclusive prom event.
This was the inspiration for the stage musical, "The Prom", created in 2016 by Bob Martin, Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin which would end up on Broadway two years later, winning critical praise and award recognition. Ryan Murphy, who almost single-handedly reinvigorated television by inventively bringing progressive stories and marginalized characters to the small screen, returns to feature films to direct a version of the musical with a cast of impressive major stars on board to spice up the production. But Murphy has taken a relatively small scale story and pumped it up in to a colossal explosion of overbearing sights, unremarkable sounds and gaudy colors. It is a politically-minded, musical spectacle that demands you pay attention yet in an obnoxious, "look at me! look at me!" sort of way.
During opening night on Broadway of the new musical, "Eleanor!: The Eleanor Roosevelt Story", stars, Dee Dee Allen (Meryl Streep), a two-time Tony Award winner and Barry Glickman (James Corden) are waiting for the reviews to come in for the play. With a rave from a critic in New Jersey, the team is convinced they have a winner on their hands and begin to celebrate. However, the review from the New York Times is ugly and brutal, effectively killing the show.
Depressed and wallowing in self-pity, Dee Dee and Barry drown their sorrows at a local bar where Julliard graduate, Trent Oliver (Andrew Rannells) works only between theater jobs which has been few and far between of late. Joining in to commiserate with them is Angie Dickinson (Nicole Kidman), a long-time chorus girl who has just quit her job in "Chicago", frustrated by never getting a chance to play one of the leads. They decide to find a cause that will make them appear to be caring people and deliver them plenty of much-needed publicity. Angie finds the perfect case happening in a small town in Indiana, leading them to quickly head out to save the day.
Emma Nolan (Jo Ellen Pellman) is at the center of the dilemma at her high school. As an open lesbian, the teen wants to bring her female date to the prom but the head of the school PTA, Mrs. Greene (Kerry Washington) announces she will cancel the dance instead of allowing that to happen. The only one on Emma's side is the principal, Mr. Hawkins (Keegan-Michael Key) yet he's unable to stop the board about the prom.
Our four stage actors burst into the PTA meeting, outraged by the decision and demand justice for the lesbians. No one in town really knows what to make of these frivolous, self-involved performers but they won't leave. The actors befriend Emma, determined to help her so that will help them in their goal of getting some great press. Meanwhile, there is a little sexual tension simmering between Principal Hawkins (who is a big fan of the actress) and Dee Dee. And Emma's date is secretly the popular cheerleader, Alyssa (Ariana DeBose), the daughter of Mrs. Greene, who had decided to use the prom to publicly come out of the closet.
The major problem with "The Prom" is that it's not nearly as much fun as it thinks it is. You can see all the effort put in to this whirling, hyper-colored fantasia yet the payoff is minor and extremely disappointing, It's clear Murphy had difficulty figuring out how to merge the lives of wacky, over-the-top, self-indulgent theater actors with the more somber political statements involving inclusivity and tolerance. And the film suffers under the weight of trying to make the story bigger and louder than it really needed to be.
The staging of the musical numbers are hampered by poor blocking and odd location settings. The dance sequences are far too slick and robotic to make any impact. The key to any successful musical, obviously, are the songs. And while the songs in "The Prom" (with music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics from Chad Beguelin) certainly moves our story forward, they felt only serviceable, leaving no lasting memory beyond the film. It doesn't help that many of the actors deliver these tunes loudly, without much subtilty or emotional investment.
It's no real surprise that Ms Streep is the best thing here. Looking an awful lot like a bedazzled Shirley MacLaine, it's always fun watching La Streep mugging while kicking up her heels and belting out a song. Ms Kidman is another one breaking out of her dramatic comfort zone and joyfully delivering her big solo number, "Zazz", full of jazz hands and Fosse-styled dance moves. They are clearly enjoying themselves yet we are left only mildly satisfied. I was less offended by Mr. Corden's performance than by the fact that he always seemed like he was delivering a performance. The popular late-night television host never for a moment comes across convincingly as a narcissistic gay actor. You can actually see him at times struggling to figure out how big he should go. And I'm gonna repeat what I've heard a few people say which is Mr. Cordon was in a role that seemed tailor-made for Nathan Lane who could have brought an effortless charm and outrageousness that was sadly lacking here.
"The Prom" seemed like a movie that would be right up my alley, featuring an inventive director, a positive story involving love and tolerance and a cast of some of my favorite actors singing and dancing. I really, really wanted to find comfort and enjoyment from this timely musical yet all I was left feeling was numb and brutalized.
The critically-acclaimed Broadway musical, "The Prom" is getting the Hollywood treatment by way of Ryan Murphy and Netflix. The powerhouse television and film producer has managed to lure such glittering stars as James Corden, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Kerry Washington, Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep to sing and dance for the movie version in which he also directs. "The Prom" tells the story of four New York stage actors whose careers are on the decline and hear about a high school student in a conservative Indiana town not being allowed to take her girlfriend to the prom. Realizing this could help bring them great publicity, the actors head to Indiana to save the day. However, these self-absorbed performers wind up actually causing more harm than good for these high-school lovers. "The Prom" looks like it could be a lot of fun which is something we are in desperate need right now.
"The Prom" is due in select U.S. theaters in November and Netflix on December 11, 2020
The 2018 AFI Film Fest is set to begin on November 8th and run through November 15th. Once again the festival will be held in the heart of Hollywood. "On the Basis of Sex" has been selected to open the fest and will also make its world premiere. Felicity Jones plays Ruth Bader Ginsberg when she was a young lawyer (and long before she becomes a Supreme Court Justice) trying to bring before the US Supreme Court a case to end gender discrimination. Armie Hammer plays her husband, Martin Ginsberg and also features Justin Theroux, Sam Waterson and Kathy Bates.
While most of this year's Gala Screenings have already made a splash at other fests like the Coen Brothers' western, "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs", Steve McQueen's heist drama, "Widows" and the Audience Award winner at the Toronto Film Festival, "Green Book", there will be a couple of world premieres.
One is the latest film from Susanne Bier, "The Bird Box", a post-apocalyptic thriller which stars Sandra Bullock as a mother who must flee with her children to a place that might offer sanctuary. But this will have to be done blindfolded in order not to look directly at the mysterious force that has destroyed most of the world. The other is the premiere of a new Netflix series by Chuck Lorre ("Two and 1/2 Men"), "The Kominsky Method". Oscar-winners, Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin star as two old friends trying to maneuver through life in LA now that they are no longer young and appealing. The first three of the eight episode series will be screened.
Special screenings will include Pawel Pawlikowski's black & white 1950's Poland set love story, "Cold War"; "Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes", a documentary on the late Fox News executive; "Roma", Alfonso Cuaron's semi-autobiographical drama of the life of an upper-middle-class family in 1970's Mexico City; "Stan & Ollie", a bio on the career of Laurel & Hardy, the legendary Hollywood comedy team which stars John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan; and "Vox Lux", the second film from actor turned director, Brady Corbet that stars Natalie Portman as a pop star whose music video inspires a school shooting and how that links to a tragic event in her past. Ms Portman will appear after the screening on November 9th for a conversation at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.
An evening to honor Nicole Kidman will be held on November 13th with a gala screening of her latest, "Destroyer", a gritty cop drama directed by Karyn Kusama. Ms Kidman will be in attendance and a discussion with the Academy-Award winner will be followed after the film.
There will be special sections at the fest which includes New Auteurs to showcase upcoming filmmakers; American Independents that will represent the best of indie film making; World Cinema which will feature some of the most celebrated International films of the year (that includes seven official Best Foreign Language Oscar submissions), Cinema's Legacy Program and Midnight line-up.
And "Mary, Queen of Scots" has been picked to be the Closing Night film. After briefly being the Queen of France before becoming a widow, Mary Stuart (Saoirse Ronan) decides to return to her home in Scotland to claim her throne. But Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie) now rules over both Scotland and England which creates an intense political rivalry and power struggle between them. This debut feature from theater director, Josie Rourke will makes it world premiere at the festival.
For the complete list of films, to get tickets (which will be free once again) or purchase a pass or gala package, please click below:
"Destroyer" is a gritty crime-drama from director, Karyn Kusama ("Girlfight", "The Invitation") and stars the gifted Oscar-winner, Nicole Kidman like you've never seen her before.
The teaser trailer doesn't reveal much of the story but we have Kidman, appearing weathered and haunted, as a LAPD detective who had once gone deep undercover as a young cop to infiltrate a gang in the California desert. The results didn't end well. But now years later, the leader of the gang has resurfaced and she must get back in as an attempt to make peace with her tragic past.
The film looks riveting and promises to feature another bravura performance from one of my favorite actresses. "Destroyer" won't reach theaters until December but if you live in Los Angeles, you might have a chance to see the film a little earlier. It has been selected to be screened during the 2018 AFI Film Fest on November 13th as part of an evening tribute to Ms Kidman with additional info of the event to come.
"Destroyer" is due in U.S. theaters on December 25, 2018
The summer movie season is about to begin very soon with a wide assortment of exciting new films for our viewing pleasure. There will be plenty to choose from and I’m going to once again place a spotlight on some of the upcoming features that have captured my attention:
All release dates are subject to change:
"TERMINAL"
Release date: May 11, 2018
Fresh off of her first Oscar nomination, Margot Robbie stars in the UK crime-thriller, "Terminal". The story follows two hit-men (Simon Pegg and Max Irons) who are assigned to an odd mission that puts them in to contact with a variety of strange individuals including a mysterious woman (Robbie) who may be more involved in their task than they realize. This is the feature directorial debut of Vaughn Stein who also wrote the screenplay.
"ON CHESIL BEACH"
Release date: May 18, 2018
Another recent Oscar nominee, Saoirse Ronan headlines this 1960's period drama, "On Chesil Beach". Adapted from the novel by Ian McEwan who also wrote the script, the film tells of a young newlywed couple, Edward (Billy Howle) and Florence (Ronan) who are spending their honeymoon at the southern England beach side of Chesil. While the couple are very much in love, they come from different backgrounds and share very different views on intimacy which threatens to tear their marriage apart. Dominic Cooke, who has had an extensive career directing for the English theater, makes his feature debut.
"HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS AT PARTIES"
Release date: May 25, 2018
John Cameron Mitchell is best known for creating and starring in the acclaimed Off-Broadway rock-musical, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" and then later directing the 2001 film version. After following that up by directing two intriguing films; the non-simulated sex-dramedy, "Short Bus" from 2006 and a 2010 film adaption of David Lindsay-Abaire's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "Rabbit Hole", Mitchell is finally back with his latest, "How To Talk To Girls At Parties", a sci-fi, romantic comedy loosely based on a short story by Neil Gaiman. The film takes place in 1977 London when punk-rock was just beginning to rage and Enn (Alex Sharp), a shy teen, goes to a party with the hope of meeting a lovely girl. And he does but Zan (Elle Fanning) is far from your average girl. It turns out she's with her colony visiting from another planet and decides to run off with Enn to discover this curious planet. Ruth Wilson and Nicole Kidman also star.
"HEREDITARY"
Release date: June 8, 2018
After creating a collection of well-received short films, writer/director, Ari Aster delivers his first full-length feature, "Hereditary". This creepy horror flick (which received plenty of buzz when it premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival) stars Toni Collette as a woman who discovers some long-hidden, supernatural secrets about her ancestry after her mother passes away. This leads to her own family being threatened to inherit a terrifying fate unless she can find a way to stop it. Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff and Ann Dowd co-star.
"HOTEL ARTEMIS"
Release date: June 8, 2018
"Hotel Artemis", the feature debut by British writer/director, Drew Pearce, is not some swanky lodging but actually an exclusive hospital that only treats injured criminals, usually on the run. Set in the near future, this unusual establishment is run by the tough, no-nonsense manager called "The Nurse" and played by Jodie Foster in her first acting role since the 2013 sci-fi thriller, "Elysium". When a ruthless mob boss (Jeff Goldblum) arrives needing treatment after an attempt on his life, his presence causes a violent reaction among the other patients. This leads The Nurse to make a decision that will turn an already dangerous atmosphere in to an extremely deadly one. An impressive cast includes Sterling K. Brown, Brian Tyree Henry, Sofia Boutella, Zachary Quinto, Charlie Day and Dave Bautista.
"THE INCREDIBLES 2"
Release date: June 15, 2018
It has been fourteen years since we last saw the crime-fighting, super-powered family, The Incredibles and we are finally being treated to a follow-up of the animated hit. Brad Bird returns to write and direct (and provide the voice of fashion designer to the heroes, Edna Mode) "The Incredibles 2" which continues where we left off with the Parrs trying to live like a normal family. While Helen (Holly Hunter) spends the day fighting crime as Elastigirl, Bob (Craig T. Nelson) cares for their kids, Violet (Sarah Vowell), Dash (Huck Milner) and baby, Jack-Jack as a stay-at-home dad. There’s a new villain in town called the Underminer (John Ratzenberger) with a plan to destroy the world which brings the family together along with Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) to stop him. Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Keener and Isabella Rossellini provide voices for some new characters.
"SUPERFLY"
Release date: June 15, 2018
"Superfly" was a 1972 blaxploitation crime-drama that was directed by Gordon Parks, Jr. and starred Ron O'Neal as a drug dealer trying to quit the business. Now Director X, who made his name in directing music videos, is remaking this classic film for a new generation. Moving the story out of Harlem and in to modern-day Atlanta, Trevor Jackson (from tv's "Grownish") is now playing Youngblood Priest. While this version follows the basic plot of the original, the focus here is on up-to-date action and thrills.
"ANT-MAN AND THE WASP"
Release date: July 6, 2018
Ant-Man, the Marvel comic-book character about a former petty thief turned super crime-fighter who can shrink to the size of an insect, was made in to a critical and box-office smash back in 2015. Paul Rudd, who played Scott Lang, and most of the supporting cast as well as director, Peyton Reed have returned for the inevitable sequel, "Ant-Man and the Wasp". Lang is given a new mission by Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), the inventor of the suit and former Ant-Man, to solve a mystery involving his past with the help of Pym's daughter, Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lily) who has taken on the name and costume of her mother, "The Wasp".
"THE WIFE"
Release date: August 3, 2018
"The Wife", an adaption of Meg Wolitzer's popular book, offers Glenn Close a long overdue, leading film role in far too many years. She plays Joan, the supportive spouse of professor Joe Castleman (Jonathan Pryce) who wins a Nobel Prize for literature. During the trip to Stockholm to accept the prize, Joan begins to reflect on how much she has sacrificed her own hopes and desires to remain a good wife. Veteran Swedish director, Björn Runge makes his English-language feature debut.
"CRAZY RICH ASIANS"
Release date: August 17, 2018
Based on the best-selling novel by Kevin Kwan, "Crazy Rich Asians" is a romantic-comedy about Rachel (Constance Wu of tv's "Fresh Off The Boat"), an American-born, Chinese professor who goes off to Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick (Henry Golding) for his best friend's wedding. But when they get there, she discovers that the seemingly modest, Nick is actually incredibly wealthy. Then Rachel has to not only deal with jealous women trying to knock her out of the way to steal her boyfriend but also face Nick's disapproving mother (Michelle Yeoh).
Inspired not only by the great success of horror films this year but also by many of the frightening and horrific political activities that have been happening not only here in the U.S. but in much of the rest of the world, The New York Times magazine has used this popular genre for their annual Great Performances issue.
Times film critics, A.O. Scott and Wesley Morris have selected the ten actors who made an incredible impact with some of the year's best performances. And filmmaker, Floria Sigismondi has photographed each actor, Daniel Kaluuya ("Get Out"), Nicole Kidman ("The Beguiled", "The Killing of a Sacred Deer"), Tiffany Haddish ("Girls Trip"), Jake Gyllenhaal ("Stronger"), Daniela Vega ("A Fantastic Woman"), Brooklynn Prince ("The Florida Project"), Timothée Chalamet ("Call Me By Your Name"), Andy Serkis ("War For The Planet of The Apes"), Cynthia Nixon ("A Quiet Passion") and Saoirse Ronan ("Lady Bird") in interesting short films with a horror setting. To read why they were selected and to see the photos and videos, click below:
The LA Film Festival, which brings intriguing new independent cinema from across the globe to the city, is set to begin on June 14th through 22nd. The Arclight Cinemas Culver City is the official host venue of the fest with select screenings also to be held at Bing Theater at LACMA, Kirk Douglas Theatre, The Theatre at Ace Hotel and Arclight Cinemas Hollywood and Santa Monica.
"The Book of Henry", the latest from director Colin Trevorrow who returns to his indie-roots after making the Hollywood blockbusters, "Jurassic World" and "Star Wars: Episode IX", has been selected as the Opening Night film. Henry (Jaeden Lieberher), a mature 11-year-old living with single mother, Susan (Naomi Watts) and younger brother, Peter (Jacob Tremblay from "Room"), who develops a crush on his new neighbor (Maddie Zeigler, best known as the young dancer in the Sia music videos). He realizes something is wrong in her home life and devises a plan to rescue her.
Closing the fest will be "Ingrid Goes West", a social satire from co-writer and director, Matt Spicer. Aubrey Plaza plays Ingrid, a mentally unbalanced young woman who is obsessed with an online beauty and lifestyle star (Elizabeth Olsen) and does everything she can to become part of her inner circle.
In between, there will be 37 world-premiere titles, two international premieres, nine North American premieres, 51 short films, 15 Future Filmmaker High School shorts and nine web series episodes that will be shown. Special screenings include a Sofia Coppola double feature with her latest, "The Beguiled" and her 2003 breakout film, "Lost in Translation" with the director on hand for a Q & A. Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, stars of the hit series, "Portlandia", will discuss their favorite moments from the show and spill a little about the upcoming final season. And director Ava DuVernay will be part of a panel that will present a sneak peek of the second season of her drama series, "Queen Sugar" and discuss the program.
For the complete list of films, purchase tickets and additional information, please click below:
The 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival has come to the close and "The Square", a surreal social commentary on the wealthy, took the top prize of the Palme d'Or. This was the follow-up from Ruben Ostlund, who brought us the 2014 Swedish hit, "Force Majeure", and co-stars Elizabeth Moss and Dominic West. "120 Beats Per Minute", Robin Campillo's drama on the rise of AIDS activists in 1990's France, received the Gran Prix or the runner-up award.
Sofia Coppola has become only the second female to win the Best Director prize for her upcoming remake of the Civil War drama, "The Beguiled" following Yuliya Solntseva who won for her 1961 drama about Russian resistance to Nazi occupation, "Chronicle of Flaming Years". Not to take anything away from the talented Ms Coppola nor have I actually seen the movie yet but I suspect the motivation behind giving her the award was more about making a political statement than of the actual merit of "The Beguiled". This is due to all the chatter about the lack of female directing winners in the seventy years of the fest and the very mixed critical reaction to the film.
Joaquin Phoenix was named Best Actor for "You Were Never Really Here" while the Best Actress award went to Diane Kruger for "In the Fade". I was surprised to learn that this was the first film, Fatih Akin's drama about the widow of a German-Turk battling against neo-Nazis, that the German-born actress has actually spoken her native language.
The Pedro Almodovar-led jury had a tie for the Best Screenplay award, giving writer and director, Lynne Ramsay the prize for "You Were Really Here" and Greek director, Yorgos Lanthimos and co-writer, Efthymis Filippou for "The Killing of a Sacred Deer".
Finally, to mark the 70th anniversary of the fest, a special award was given to Nicole Kidman who appeared in four projects at Cannes; award winners, "The Beguiled' and "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" as well as John Cameron Mitchell's "How To Talk To Girls at Parties" and Jane Campion's television program, "Top of the Lake". Why her? Well, why not.
Here is a partial list of winners from the 2017 Cannes Film Festival:
Palme d'Or: "The Square"
Grand Prize: "120 Beats Per Minute"
Jury Prize: "Loveless"
Best Director: Sofia Coppola, "The Beguiled"
Best Actress: Diane Kruger, "Aus dem Nichts (In the Fade)"
Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix, "You Were Never Really Here"
Best Screenplay: (Tie) Yorgos Lanthimos & Efthymis Filippou, "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" and Lynne Ramsey, "You Were Never Really Here"
Camera d'Or (Best First Feature): "Jeune Femme" ("Montparnasse-Bienvenue")
Best Short Film: "A Gentle Night"
Special 70th Anniversary Prize: Nicole Kidman
Un Certain Regard Prize: "Lerd (A Man of Integrity)" Un Certain Regard Jury Prize: "Las Hijas de Abril" (April's Daughter)
Un Certain Regard Prize for Best Direction: Taylor Sheridan, "Wind River"
Un Certain Regard Prize for Best Actress: Jasmine Trinca, "Fortunata"
Un Certain Regard Prize for the Best Poetic Narrative: Mathieu Amalric, "Barbara"
The summer movie season is almost upon us and while there will be plenty of the usual expensive sequels, remakes and comic-book thrillers to drive audiences in to theaters, there's clearly a change in the air. Not only will there be plenty to see for adults during this season but I've noticed a very large number of female-driven films of all genres on the slate to be released. This is certainly a welcome development that is a long time in coming. Kids, teenage boys and nerds are not the only people that might want to see a movie this summer. There are a great number of interesting releases due over the next four months I want to see but here are ten movies I particularly want to put a spotlight on:
All release dates are subject to change:
"SNATCHED"
Release date: May 12, 2017
Goldie Hawn returns to the big screen after a way too long of an absence in the action-comedy, "Snatched". She plays an unadventurous mother who is convinced to go on a trip to South America to help cheer up her recently dumped daughter when they are kidnapped and must escape through the jungle. Ike Barinholtz, Wanda Sykes and Joan Cusack also star. Oh. And Amy Schumer is in this too.
"WONDER WOMAN"
Release date: June 2, 2017
After getting an exciting tease of the character in the otherwise underwhelming, "Batman vs. Superman", the first big screen treatment of "Wonder Woman" is finally here. This is an origin story set in the early 20th Century when Diana (Gal Gadot), an Amazon goddess living on the all-female island of Themyscira, meets a downed World War I pilot (Chris Pine) who has washed up on shore. Falling for the handsome man and fascinated by his stories, Diana decides to go off with him to discover his world and help fight in this war. Patty Jenkins (best known for directing "Monster", the film that won Charlize Theron an Oscar) directs.
"BEATRIZ AT DINNER"
Release date: June 9, 2017
The film making team of director Miguel Arteta and writer Mike White, who brought us the indie classics, "Chuck & Buck" and "The Good Girl", have reunited once again for "Beatriz at Dinner", a timely dark comedy that examines the growing disparity between the haves and the have-nots along with causal racism and xenophobia that has become far more prevalent in this country. Salma Hayek plays Beatriz, a holistic medicine practitioner who ends up at a party of one of her wealthy clients and gets in to a politically charged run-in with a successful businessman (John Lithgow).
"MY COUSIN RACHEL"
Release date: June 9, 2017
Daphne du Maurier, the British novelist, has had many of her books and short stories turned in to films, the most notable being Hitchcock's versions of "Jamaica Inn", "The Birds" and "Rebecca". "My Cousin Rachel" has been made before in 1951 (which starred Richard Burton and Olivia de Haviland) and this latest features Rachel Weisz and Sam Ciaflin. It's about a young man (Ciaflin) whose wealthy cousin dies, leaving his vast fortune to him. But he's convinced that his new wife, Rachel (Weisz) was behind his death to get her hands on his money. However, after meeting this enchanting woman, he falls in love. Could his suspicion about her be misguided? Or maybe not?
"THE BEGUILED"
Release date : June 23, 2017
Director Sofia Coppola returns with her version of "The Beguiled", a Civil War set drama based on the novel by Thomas P. Cullinan that was first made in to a film in 1971 and starred Clint Eastwood and Geraldine Page. Colin Farrell now plays the injured Union solider rescued by a student at an all-girls boarding school. Nicole Kidman is the headmistress who reluctantly allows him to stay until he regains his strength. Trouble brews with this handsome lone man surrounded by this group of lonely young women. Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning (who both previously worked with the director) also appear in this film which will make it's world premiere at this year's Cannes Film Festival in May.
"OKJA"
Release date: June 28, 2017
"Ojka" is another English-language feature from Korean filmmaker, Boon Joon-ho following his well-received first, "Snowpiercer" from 2013. A young girl (Ahn Seo-hyun) fights bravely against a powerful, international organization to protect her best friend, who happens to be a giant, animal-like creature named Ojka. An impressive cast includes Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, Lily Collins and Giancarlo Esposito but the problem is that Netflix has picked-up the film, so I fear this will barely get a theatrical release. I hope I'm wrong and they will begin to follow what Amazon has successfully done with the films they acquire.
"A GHOST STORY"
Release date: July 7, 2017
The last time filmmaker David Lowery and actors, Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara came together, it was with "Ain't Them Bodies Saints", an acclaimed romantic-crime drama in 2013. They have come back together for "A Ghost Story" which has already been met with rapturous praise at this year's Sundance Film Festival. It tells the surreal story of a recently departed man (who looks like a Halloween costume version of a ghost) attempting to reconnect with his distraught widow.
"GIRLS TRIP"
Release date : July 21, 2017
"Girls Trip" is a raunchy rom-com involving four childhood friends (Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall and comedian, Tiffany Haddish) who decide to reunite in New Orleans during the Essence Music Fest. It's safe to say that wild adventures and sex-filled escapades will certainly be found in this road-trip comedy.
"ATOMIC BLONDE"
Release date: July 28, 2017
Charlize Theron is back in fine ass-kicking mode in the action-thriller, "Atomic Blonde". Based on the graphic novel, "The Coldest Day", the Oscar-winner plays Lorraine Broughton, a top British spy sent to Berlin shortly before the wall is set to come down to investigate a mysterious murder of an undercover agent by other spies. James McAvoy co-stars as a Berlin station chief assigned to help Broughton maneuver through the city. Stunt coordinator turned filmmaker, David Leitch ("John Wick") directs.
"DETROIT"
Release date: August 4, 2017
Loosely based on the 1967 Algiers motel incident, "Detroit" examines how a police raid at the motel during a racially charged riot sets off a violent and deadly rampage throughout the Motor City. The Oscar-winning team of director, Kathryn Bigelow and writer, Mark Boal (who brought us "The Hurt Locker" and "Zero Dark Thirty") are behind this intense period drama.
After seeing her latest mesmerizing turn as an abused wife in the HBO limited series, "Little Big Lies", people once again seem to be appreciating the intensely fierce and impressively brave work of Nicole Kidman. It's not like the Oscar-winning actress has ever went away. It is just the fact that not too many have actually seen any of her recent films. Some of these movies (like "Grace of Monaco", "The Family Fang" and "Queen of The Desert", to name a few), I must say, are not really worth checking out but what they all do offer are compelling and authoritative performances by the dazzling Ms Kidman to help elevate them ever so slightly.
I have to admit, I was not particularly enchanted by the Aussie actress when she first appeared on the scene. But let's be real; her early Hollywood film roles in "Days of Thunder", "Billy Bathgate" and "Batman Forever" hardly displayed any discernible screen presence and she only seemed to be getting work because she was the recent Mrs. Tom Cruise.
However, it was her appearance in Gus Van Sant's 1995 black comedy, "To Die For" that made me finally take the actress seriously. Loosely based on a true-life incident, Kidman plays Suzanne Stone, a small-town woman driven to becoming a famous news reporter but her husband (Matt Damon) is interfering by wanting her to start a family. She plots to kill him with the help of a high school student (Joaquin Phoenix) she has seduced. This role finally gave the actress the proper opportunity to display her dramatic range and comedic chops all within the same film. I fell in love with Nicole Kidman here and I have anxiously awaited to see what she would do next ever since.
For the most part throughout her career, Ms Kidman has actively pursued challenging roles in unconventional films. That also means that the audience for this work is definitely limited. Vulture has decided to look back and rank her best performances in little-seen and underrated films.
Where & When: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, CA. March 1. 2013 9:20PM
Park Chan-wook is the acclaimed and highly influential South Korean filmmaker who is best known for three of his most popular, "Old Boy", "Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance" and "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance" that has been referred to as the Vengeance Trilogy. These films, commanding a mesmerizing visual style and shocking violence, are in various stages of being remade for an English-speaking audience but the director himself has delivered his first feature in a language other than his own native tongue.
Revenge plays an important component in "Stoker", a well-plotted but fairly standard mystery thriller that is elevated due to the highly, inventive camera work, off-kilter framing, non-linear editing and unconventional story-telling. This film is busy, as your eyes (and mind) are worked overtime by all of the strange and twisted imagery but unlike his previous works, all of the camera trickery feels more like a distraction as none of it is enough to properly draw you into this story. "Stoker" lacks any true suspense, emotion or passion as if something was lost in the translation.
India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska), a young girl of wealth and privilege, was always a teenager with a sullen, haunted demeanor but after the recent loss of her beloved father, Richard (Dermot Mulroney) who perished under mysterious circumstances, she has become even more withdrawn. Her mother, Evelyn (played with usual brilliance by Nicole Kidman) is beside herself due to her estranged husband's death and the difficult relationship with her daughter which has deteriorated further. So now, she is rarely seen without a glass of wine in her hand to help drown her sorrows.
A stranger arrives at their doorstep in the form of Charlie (Matthew Goode), the younger brother of Richard. Although he had never been previously mentioned and was unable to ever make contact due to his extensive travels abroad however, Charlie is now ready to become a part of the family during their time of need. The lonely Evelyn welcomes him, inviting the handsome, long-lost relative to stay as long as he would like but India is far more cautious as she keeps her distance. Determined to win her affections, Charlie relentlessly pursues his niece, using his icy charm to connect with her in a way no one else has been able. In turn, he draws India out of her shell, awakening her carnal desires and a dark ferocity that leads to some jeopardous trouble for some high-school bullies who tormented her because of her quirky nature.
At times, "Stoker" brings to mind the work of David Lynch with it's offbeat rhythms, a perverse, sexual tension and the vivid dreamlike images. Although this film is far more lucid than anything that director has ever crafted but what Mr. Lynch is able to communicate successfully, like in "Blue Velvet", is a sense of warmth and sentiment with his distinctive eccentric vision which is lacking in "Stoker". Hitchcock seems to have been an influence to the script written by actor, Wentworth Miller (under the alias, "Ted Foulke"), who you might recall from the television show, "Prison Break" and was voted one of the ten best unproduced screenplays back in 2010. This story enters in to a darker, more erotic area that Hitch could barely even hint at back in his day but doesn't feel particularly innovative as it uses the classic horror formula while adding very little to be stimulating.
I found it slightly amusing that the main characters in this U.S. based story are played by non-Americans as Mr. Goode is British while the ladies (including an appearance by recent Oscar nominee, Jacki Weaver who pops up briefly as a very concerned aunt) are all Aussies but despite that minor quibble, these actors do not fail to be completely convincing in their roles. Ms Wasikowska has been building quite an impressive resume with some memorable recent turns in such films as "Jane Eyre", "The Kids Are Alright" and the title character in Tim Burton's vibrant version of "Alice In Wonderland". Here, the young actress brings a quiet, creepy intensity to her part as the troubled teenager while conveying a feverish passion buried inside, unsure of how to properly express. It seems like she is following in Ms Kidman's footsteps, who has had a long, successful career of playing her share of edgy, whacked-out characters. While many of her films might not have always worked commercially, the actress has always managed to stand out with a fiercely committed performance as she has done here. Although he comes across as quite dashing but there is something not quite right about Uncle Charlie and Mr. Goode perfectly reveals a sense of danger that is barely contained behind his faint smile and glassy-eyed stare.
While more muted than what is usually expected by this filmmaker, "Stoker" still delivers a moody atmosphere with plenty of lurid chills, thanks to some lively performances but would have benefited greatly by digging further past the surface to capture more of an actual human element to these stylishly, gruesome proceedings.
Where & When: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, CA. October 17, 2012 7:55PM
Outrageously deranged and campy but still not particularly entertaining, "The Paperboy", the follow-up to the highly-acclaimed film, "Precious: Based on the Novel, "Push" by Sapphire" by director Lee Daniels, is a pumped-up, Southern Gothic murder mystery that the filmmaker shows little interest in revealing a resolution. He's far more involved in creating a lurid, overheated atmosphere littered with eccentric and grotesque character-types. This might have been interesting to watch except it's all clumsily handled with a wildly incoherent script and allowing his top-notch actors to sink in the muddy swamp with such heavy-handed performances.
Set in a small, Florida town in the summer of 1969, this story is told through Anita (Macy Gray), a slightly loopy woman who worked as a maid for the Jansen family during the time of the murder of the highly disliked, racist sheriff. Another ornery and foul man, Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack) has been convicted of the crime and sits on death row but proclaims his innocence although he doesn't have much of an alibi. Ward Jansen (Matthew McConaughey), now a reporter for the Miami Times, returns to his hometown to write about the case with a fellow journalist, Yardley (David Oyelowo), a black Brit who raises eyebrows as he demands to be respected by these townspeople. Ward's younger brother, Jack (Zac Efron) stills live at home with their father (Scott Glenn) who runs the local paper. Although he wants to write, Jack is unmotivated with the closes he gets to a newspaper is delivering them.
Charlotte Bless (Nicole Kidman), a hot-to-trot, bottle blonde who spends much of her time writing to convicts in the pursuit of a potential husband, connects with Van Wetter. He tells Charlotte that he didn't commit the murder and that's good enough for her, so she goes to Ward with boxes of evidence to help overturn Van Wetter's conviction. Jack soon finds his motivation in the charms of Charlotte and wants to help his brother on this case. They all work together to investigate, discovering that Van Wetter might have been set up which could lead to his freedom as well as a sensational exposé for the reporters.
Having enjoyed the previous films directed by Mr. Daniels which includes his poorly-reviewed first, "Shadowboxer" (that shares in the convoluted plotting and over-the-top drama yet still seems much more grounded than "The Paperboy") but I'm puzzled by his third feature film as it's unclear whether he wanted to create a black comedy or melodramatic thriller or perhaps some sort of hybrid? Regardless, it doesn't work in any case as the film feels contrived with way too many gaping holes in this unconvincing story.
Although "The Paperboy" touches on the serious issue of race and the evolving relationship during this era between the Southern whites who openly bristle at the idea of change and African-Americans who know full well that change isn't going to happen anytime soon but it takes a backseat to overly dramatic flourishes of feverish sexuality and brutal violence that leads to a film that is both unsettling and strangely amusing. A considerable amount of time and energy was put in to create an accurate feel of the period and the film looks great thanks to the work of cinematographer, Roberto Schaefer but it ends up feeling wasted as the editing is choppy and the tone unfocused.
I have always greatly admired Ms Kidman because she has always gravitated towards challenging material as she's a fearless and fully committed actress with no character too bizarre to handle. However, the Oscar winner may have met her match as her role of Charlotte is a cartoon maneater with Kidman made to look ridiculously garish with her skin the color of burnt toast, covered in more make-up that even a drag queen would dare wear. Then she is required to perform a hands-free, mutual masturbation jailhouse visit with Mr.Cusack (that has to be seen to believed) as well as the infamous jellyfish scene that involves Mr. Efron being urinated on by Ms Kidman. Like most of the cast, I'm sure she was motivated to work with Mr. Daniels due to the emotional power of "Precious" but this impassive mess is beneath her.
Although Ms Kidman is the one who is supposed to be delivering the sexy but its only the male stars who actually display some skin. The only purpose of Mr. Efron's appearance seems to be his willingness to perform in much of the film in his tighty-whiteys as he isn't given much else to offer. While Mr. McConaughey shows even more flesh than he did in this summer's hit stripper film, "Magic Mike" but his character's taste for rough trade as a punishment for his forbidden desires is disturbing. The actor appeared in another gruesomely violent Southern tale, "Killer Joe" but he is on a career high this year so this other, unfortunate bump will likely have little effect.
With "The Paperboy", Mr. Daniels drags us through a dark and unpleasant world, drenched in sleaze and savagery that leaves you with nothing more than a feeling that a bath is desperately needed.
Where & When: AFI Film Festival, Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood, CA. November 7, 2010 8:00PM
"Rabbit Hole", the latest from director John Cameron Mitchell, begins with a couple trying to cope a short time after the unimaginable tragic loss of their young son who is killed by a car.
Nicole Kidman plays Becca, the devastated mother of the child, Danny, struggling on how to handle his loss yet knows exactly what she doesn't want to do; She doesn't want to go to group therapy with her husband, Howie (Aaron Eckhart), listen to people sum up death as "God's plan" nor hear from her mother (Dianne Wiest) comparing her child's passing to her brother's death due to a drug overdose. Becca's way of coping and easing the pain is trying to erase any reminders of her son like getting rid of the dog he was chasing after before the accident, wanting to sell the house and taking down the cute pictures that Danny drew.
Howie is trying to cope with the loss in his own way but his wife's difficult behaviour and her desire to try and wipe the existence of their child's life has put more stress on their already strained marriage. Becca is upset to discover that her younger sister, Izzy (Tammy Blanchard) is pregnant with her musician boyfriend (Giancarlo Esposito) but is the last to know, although she understands the reason why. Becca feels that her wild child sister is reckless and irresponsible and finds it difficult to hold back her feelings on her becoming a mother.
Another unusual way Becca is trying to deal with her child's death is by befriending Jason (Miles Teller), the young man who accidentally killed Danny. They meet secretly to talk which, in a small way, helps them both heal from the tragedy until Howie discovers their communication and he is not at all happy.
Mr. Mitchell's previous films, the tranny-rock musical, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" (2001) and the hardcore sex dramedy, "Shortbus" (2006) wouldn't necessarily give any indication that he would be the right choice to direct this film based on the Pulitzer-Prize winning play but he more than does justice to this well-done and moving drama. He gets terrific and nuanced performances from all of his actors, most especially from Ms Kidman and Mr. Eckhart.
Ms Kidman, like fellow movie star, George Clooney, prefers to shake-up her film choices by alternating between making the big-budgeted Hollywood movie and then doing a smaller scale independent film and although her last few films may not been big box-office successes, that doesn't mean her work in them was not intriguing and fascinating. She has always given solid performances and "Rabbit Hole" is no exception, in fact I think it's one of her best ever. She digs deep as a woman who is blinded by only one emotion she is capable of feeling: anger as she struggles to find her way back to some sense of normalcy.
Mr. Eckhart, who I think is an underrated actor, delivers another fine performance and Ms Blanchard, an Emmy award winner for her brilliant portrayal of a teenage Judy Garland in the film, "Life With Judy Garland: Me And My Shadows", is great in her supporting turn.
With sharp direction, a well crafted script and powerful performances, "Rabbit Hole" is a touching, personal drama about people trying to make sense of a very painful situation that can never truly make any sense but they find a way to come to terms with death so that they are able to continue living.
One final thought, I HATE the movie poster for this film. It just seems very lazy and unimaginative plus it certainly isn't going to lure anyone to see this nor give them any idea what the film is about.
Where & When: Fairfax Cinemas, Los Angeles, CA. January 16, 2010 7:40PM
I'm sure that on paper, "Nine" sounded like a "can't miss" project with a winning recipe: you take the successful Broadway musical which was based on the classic Fellini film, "8 1/2", sprinkle in the award winning director of the 2002 Academy award winning musical film, "Chicago" and mix thoroughly with several Oscar winning actors and you will come up with something that everyone will enjoy. Unfortunately, "Nine" has arrived very flat and not very tasty.
Guido Contini, (Daniel Day-Lewis) a famous Italian film director who has committed to making his next film, "Italia" that will star film sensation and his muse, Claudia Jenssen (Nicole Kidman) although he is actually unable to write it. He is struggling with writer's block as his crew is building sets and creating costumes for an unknown project. Guido confides to his friend and costume designer, Lilli La Fleur (Judi Dench) that he is stuck and stressed out but she doesn't have much sympathy.
Memories from Guido's past haunts him that include his Mamma (Sophia Loren) and Saraghina, (Fergie) a prostitute who aroused his curiosity as a boy.
Guido takes off to a hotel along the Amalfi Coast. He's gone there to rest and help try to clear his head. Guido calls his wife, Luisa, (Marion Cotillard) a former actress, to let her know where he is and what's going on. She offers to come out but he tells her that he will be fine. The real reason is because he sent for his married mistress, Carla (Penelope Cruz) to come and keep him company. He is at least smart enough not to have her stay with him at his hotel much to Carla's disappointment.
Soon, Guido's producer and the heads of his film crew come to the hotel to work on the film but unbeknown to Guido, they also call Luisa to come and try to help. She discovers that Guido has not been alone and is fed up with his behaviour. He meets a flirty, American Vogue journalist (Kate Hudson) at the hotel bar. He is tempted by her charms but decides to go back to his wife to try and repair the damage.
They all soon return to Rome to begin to piece together the movie. Claudia Jenssen arrives to begin work on the film but is annoyed to still not have a script. Realizing this film is a lost cause, Claudia walks away from the project just as Guido's wife walks away from their marriage.
First, let me start with what I liked about this film because it will be brief. I really loved Judi Dench's musical number, "Folies Bergere" and I think it was the best performance in this film. This was mainly because she was the only one who seemed to be having any fun.
I also liked both of Ms Cotillard's numbers, " My Husband Makes Movies" and "Take It All" and Ms Cruz's "A Call From The Vatican" and Ms Hudson's original film song, "Cinema Italiano" were adequate. Although Fergie is the only true singer and gives a good musical performance, the staging of her number, "Be Italian" with all that sand is cheap looking and just really bad.
The major problem of the film, in a way is surprising but not really, is the casting of Daniel Day-Lewis as Guido. He is a great actor but he can't sing well, he can barely move his hips and he's about as Italian as I am. Three big strikes against him being convincing in a movie musical about Italians. I know Mr. Day-Lewis was up for the challenge but this was way beyond his abilities.
As for the ladies, well, nobody really embarrasses themselves but I think that is because most of them don't have anything to do. Beyond their musical numbers, Ms Kidman and Ms Hudson are on screen for just minutes and Fergie doesn't say one word. I am also happy to report that nobody is in the painful "Pierce Bronson" style of singing although Ms Loren is precariously close.
I think that Mr. Marshall didn't have a clear vision on how to put "Nine" together so this would work as a proper film musical and trying to simply repeat what he created for "Chicago" on this film was a fatal error. Most of the songs are not memorable enough and loading the film with untrained movie stars to sing them just makes it more obvious. In fact, it sort of seems that the stars were used to distract from the shortcomings of this musical and to make up for the lack of direction that this film has.
The screenplay doesn't help much either. In between the songs, nobody has nothing really interesting to say and none of the female characters are fully developed. For a film that is clearly supposed to be a big, sexy and colorful spectacle, it's too serious, dull and lifeless. "Nine" is a big disappointment and this film would have definitely would have been on the list of my least favorite films of 2009.
