EVA MARIE SAINT (1924 - 2026)

Eva Marie Saint, one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood, has passed away at the remarkable age of one hundred and two. The luminous actress would win the 1954 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, which was her film debut, for "On The Waterfront" and would go on to have an extensive career in film, the stage and television.

While Saint was attending college at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, she began studying acting and appeared in some stage productions there. After graduating in 1946, Saint headed to New York and one of her first jobs was being a part of the NBC Page program. She would later get bit parts in some NBC television shows. Her first big break came when she became part of the original Broadway cast of Horton Foote's "A Trip To Bountiful" in 1953 and would also appear in the live television version on NBC's Philco Television Playhouse.

This helped bring her attention to Elia Kazan for his film, "On The Waterfront" which starred Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger. This story about widespread corruption, extortion, and racketeering on the waterfronts of Hoboken, NJ would go on to receive twelve Academy Award nominations, winning eight, including for Saint, Best Actor for Brando, Best Director for Kazan and Best Picture.

Saint would go on to co-star with Bob Hope in the romantic-comedy, "That Certain Feeling", the Civil War drama, "Raintree County" with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift and starred with Don Murray in "A Hatful of Rain", an early drug-addiction drama. Then Alfred Hitchcock came calling (and surprising many) by casting her as the femme fatale in his now classic 1959 suspense thriller, "North by Northwest" with Cary Grant and James Mason. The director worked with Saint to shed her "good girl" image, transforming her into a glamourous ice blonde by having her lower her voice and wearing form-fitting outfits. "North by Northwest" was a box-office hit, remains a highly influential film and one of Saint's most notable movie roles.

While Saint was enjoying this high-profile career, she decided to step back a bit in order to spend more time with her husband, the director Jeffrey Hayden and their two children. Saint and Hayden would be married for sixty-five years until Hayden's death in 2016. She still did made a few films throughout the 1960's: "Exodus" with Paul Newman, "All Fall Down" with Warren Beatty, Norman Jewison's "The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming" and "Grand Prix" with James Garner.

By the 1970's, she would be working mostly in television but by the 1980's, Saint would make a return to films, making the occasional appearance in "Nothing in Common"(playing Tom Hanks' mother), "I Dreamed of Africa", "Because of Winn-Dixie" and "Superman Returns" where she played Martha Kent. 

DIGGER (2026)

Written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone and Sabina Berman



Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu



Where & When: Fox Studios, West Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2026 1:00 PM



Like most actors, Tom Cruise worked his way up the career ladder, appearing in brief supporting roles in low budget films before breaking out with a starring role in the teen sex comedy, "Risky Business" back in 1983. Determined to prove he had more to offer than just a handsome face, Cruise was very selective in the following films he would make: compelling dramas (often pairing up with established actors with prestige and history like Paul Newman, Dustin Hoffman and Jack Nicholson), thrilling action movies and connecting with intriguing indie-minded filmmakers. And this calculation worked out very well for Cruise and helped make him a true movie star.

After spending over the last ten years sticking largely with making action-adventure movies (which included a "Top Gun" sequel and five "Mission: Impossible" films), it seems like Cruise must be ready to push himself further once again as an actor. He has teamed-up with Alejandro González Iñárritu, the two-time Oscar-winning director who has a history of making intense and complex dramas on the human condition, and has brought us "Digger", a pitch black satire on climate change and the wealthy and powerful who have more control over this situation than we realize.

Buried under elaborate make-up to make himself appear older and out-of-shape, Cruise delivers an energized performance that blazes with brilliance as "Digger" Rockwell, an oil scion filled with Texan bluster and capitalist arrogance. And there is absolutely no denying that Iñárritu has made a film that is beautifully rendered, expertly performed and intellectually stimulating. Yet narratively the impressive results of "Digger" still end up being clunky and a bit confounding with the crucial messages being muddled through a story made far more convoluted than is probably necessary.

Our story begins with Digger (Cruise) waking up one morning in his palatial estate sleeping next to his beloved cat, Maggie. That this cat is seriously ill and looks near death is besides the point as Digger, with his vast resources, is doing all he can to keep her breathing. His day is interrupted with a video call from an operator (Danny Kirrane) from one of his oil fields in Greenland, explaining to him that there are dangerous levels of methane leaking through the ice. Just demanding that he take care of it, Digger is later surrounded by a group of scientists including his environmental safety chief, Dr. Nirav Ganesh (Riz Ahmed) informing him that there was a major explosion at his Greenland oil refinery. This has caused a massive ice glacier to break off and slowly drifting towards Norway where in three days there will be a collision that will cause incredible destruction and many will be killed due to this horrific impact.

In a panic, Digger has a meeting with the US president (John Goodman), vice-president (Michael Stuhlbarg) and members of his cabinet to discuss how to possibly stop this disaster and to delay Europe from finding out about this approaching catastrophe.

But everything we have seen so far is not what it appears to be, leading to a considerable plot twist that I will not spoil here. Let's me just say that everything we are seeing in this story has actually happened but not actually as we are seeing it. Does that sound a bit confusing? Well, that isn't exactly Iñárritu intention but he also had no real interest in constructing this narrative in a conventional manner. The director came up with a clearly defined idea of this character, Digger Rockwell about ten years ago yet struggled with a compelling way how to tell his offbeat story. He worked with several screenwriters, Sabina Berman and his "Birdman" co-writers, Nicolas Giacobone and Alexander Dinelaris Jr, for a number of years before settling on this unusual story structure.

The focus of "Digger", in a far from subtle way, is on the impending crisis that the planet is experiencing with a rapidly and undeniably changing of the climate. And it is a politically charged film yet it's not a judgement call on any one particular legislative party. The blame has been placed squarely at the feet of a largely indifferent global society. We have a very small number of wealthy people in power who have far too much say in universal decisions, always seeming to put profits over the continued health of the planet. And then we have the average citizen who is either gravely concerned or living in complete denial about what is happening with our climate yet very few really want to be inconvenienced in any significant way by having to alter their lives from the comforts of modern living.

Taking this opportunity to remind audiences that he's capable of doing more than just running fast and throwing himself into dangerous, high-flying stunts (and now that he's sixty-four, it might be time for him to do less physically challenging activities on screen), Cruise largely succeeds in transforming himself into Digger. Losing his glossy, Hollywood sheen and taking on a lumbering, paunchy, middle-aged Texan oil man, the actor easily captures our stereotypical ideas of a business man with his repellent nature driving him to win (or at the very least "look" like a winner) at all costs. Never for a moment does he make Digger remotely likable or appealing. Despite being directly responsible for many of his employees being killed during the oil site explosion and the impending doom to thousands of Europeans, the most Digger can muster over all of this tragedy is perfunctory concern, saving most of his actual distress and sympathies for his dying cat. And due to the plot twist, Cruise even gets to play another character, one that probably more closely resembles the actor.

No expense seemed to be spared on this film (at a reported of at least one and fifty million dollar budget) and it really shows up on screen with exquisite production design from Dennis Gassner and Richard L. Johnson and the masterful work of cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki, with the three time Oscar-winner shooting on 35mm film using the widescreen technique, VistaVision, creating beautifully expressive imagery in a muted color palate. But after seeing the film, I'm not sure how they thought this would appeal to the casual movie-going audience. Much like Maggie Gyllenhaal's "The Bride!", the big-budget, Warner Bros. release from earlier in the year, "Digger" is an artful, experimental movie, visually and philosophically expansive, that is just too out there to have broad appeal to anyone but discerning cinephiles to justify such an elaborate investment.

I think the issue with "Digger" is less that it is poorly conceived and more that it's themes are not communicated in a way that is easily digestible, challenging some viewers far more than they would like. While watching the film, I was feeling more intrigued than fully engaged in this story. I understand completely how some can view "Digger" as gimmicky, overblown and extremely strained. And yet days after seeing "Digger", I am still thinking about what I witnessed, a daring film that provokes and engages, not entirely successfully yet still in a bold way that will stimulate passionate debates and contrasting reactions. In this age of sequels and remakes, "Digger" is a much needed jolt to the system that will help keep cinema alive and vital.

2026 AFI FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY CANVA

The 2026 AFI Film Festival is on the way and this is also the 40th edition of this Los Angeles based celebration of new cinema from across the globe. This year's AFI Fest will run from October 21st to 25th at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. There will be a total of one hundred and fifty-seven films screened featuring red carpet premieres, special screenings, documentaries and short films.

The Opening Night Film will be the U.S. premiere of the stop-motion animated feature, "Wildwood" from director, Travis Knight. This epic fantasy adventure tells the story of a teenage girl and her classmate who travel into an enchanted forest in search of her infant brother after he has been abducted.



The four other Red Carpet Premieres are Peter Farrelly's biopic, "I Play Rocky" which covers the struggling actor, Sylvester Stallone's rise in Hollywood, the WW II drama based on the novel by Buzz Bissinger, "The Mosquito Bowl" from Peter Berg, "Ray Gunn", the animated retro-futuristic, neo-noir mystery from Brad Bird and the Closing Night film from the Oscar-winning filmmaker, Siân Heder, "Being Heumann" about Judy Heumann’s journey as a disability activist.

The Special Screenings, which highlights some of the most acclaimed films we will see throughout the season, will include "Wild Horse Nine", "Bunker", "Elsinore", "Clarissa", "Ceniza en la Boca (Ashes)" and "Amarga Navidad (Bitter Christmas)".





And the Guest Artistic Directors selected for the fest are Phil Lord and Chris Miller (the filmmaking team fresh off their big hit earlier this year with "Project Hail Mary") and they will present four of their favorite films that have helped shape their cinematic vision: "2001: A Space Odyssey", "Harold and Maude", "The Muppet Movie" and "Rififi".





For the complete list of films and to purchase tickets or passes, please click below:

AFI FEST 2026

COMING SOON

"Remain" is a feature film from M. Night Shyamalan that is based on the 2025 supernatural novel he co-created with best-selling author, Nicholas Sparks. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a grieving and depressed architect who retreats to Cape Cod to finish his latest project. He seems to find comfort when he encounters a mysterious young woman, played by Phoebe Dynevor. They begin a love affair that starts to pulls him out of his shell but it also leads him into the heart of a deadly mystery at the property he's working on. 

"Remain" is due in US theaters on February 5, 2027    

THE WEIGHT (2026)

Written by Matthew Booi and Shelby Gaines



Directed by Padraic McKinley



Where & When: AMC The Americana at Brand 18, Glendale, CA. September 19, 2026 4:40 PM




"The Weight" is a depression-era thriller about a man who ends up in an Oregon prison camp and made an offer to become involved in a dangerous heist through rough and dangerous terrain for a chance of early freedom. This feature film directorial debut from Padraic McKinley, who has spent a large part of his career as an editor, is a solidly polished yet surprisingly understated drama, with this perilous adventure never able to overcome a narrative that ends up being predictable and overly familiar.

Much like many people during this harrowing time in America, Samuel Murphy (Ethan Hawke) was struggling to survive and find some kind of steady employment. Raising his young daughter, Penny (Avy Berry) alone, just makes his life even more of a challenge. After being evicted the easy, old-fashioned way, with the locks changed and all of their belongings put out on the street, Murphy's situation grows grim. But his problems have only just begun for while searching for a new place to live, some men come up to him aggressively questioning their presence at a building and a physical altercation ensues. These men did not identify themselves as police and Murphy ends up forced to serve time in a prison work camp.

While in the camp, Murphy tries to keep a low profile but does reveal that he's skilled and resourceful with experience as a mechanic, bringing him to the attention of Warden Clancy (Russell Crowe). The Warden invites Murphy to his home, asking questions about his life and getting a feel for his character, and later makes him a proposal that will be hard to refuse. With a small crew of fellow prisoners of his own choosing, Murphy will have to smuggle gold bars out from a soon-to-be abandoned mine across a treacherous wilderness over several days and in exchange, he will receive an early release before his daughter becomes a ward to the state.

Fresh off of his Oscar-nominated performance for playing lyricist, Lorenz Hart in the biopic, "Blue Moon", this film offers Hawke another opportunity to showcase his range and versatility. As a father simply just trying to raise his child yet keeps finding himself relentlessly being put through treacherous situations and moral conflicts that test his resolve, the actor commands the screen, expertly capturing his unwavering determination. Having to largely lead this mission and rely on a trio of dubious convicts (Austin Amelio, Avi Nash and Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen), a couple of Clancy's men (Sam Hazeldine, George Burgess) and an Indigenous woman (Julia Jones) who coerces them to allow her to tag along, in order to complete this task, Murphy has to deal with the unexpected dilemmas and manage the personal conflicts. Yet he remains focused and centered through it all so he can finally be reunited with his daughter.

As I was watching "The Weight", I kept waiting for something (anything) in this story that would offer an unexpected moment or some kind of shocking incident. Yet it never materialized as the rote screenplay from Matthew Booi and Shelby Gaines stuck closely to routine plot developments and expected outcomes. McKinley (who also edited the film along with Matthew Woolley) does manage to display substantial skills as a filmmaker, keeping the pace energized, the action riveting and getting strong performances from his actors. But "The Weight" is never able to really rise above your standard thriller, keeping the film entertaining yet mundane.

With the cinematographer, Matteo Cocco exquisitely capturing the scenic, tranquil wilderness that is offset by abrupt violent disruptions, "The Weight" takes you on a good old-fashioned, adrenaline rush, driven by male camaraderie and emotional drama. The outcome might remain standard issued but the film still delivers strong moments that excites and captivates.

WINNERS OF THE 2026 TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL

The 2026 Toronto Film Festival has concluded and the people have spoken by selecting "La Bola Negra (The Black Ball)" for the People's Choice Award. Since 1978, audience members of the fest have voted on their favorite film and this award has often been considered a credible indicator for the potential Best Picture Oscar winner or at the very least a nominee. Some of the previous People's Choice winners that went on to Oscar glory include "Nomadland", "Green Book", "12 Years a Slave", "The King’s Speech", "Slumdog Millionaire", "American Beauty" and "Chariots of Fire". This historical Spanish drama from directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, which won them the Best Director prize at this year's Cannes, tells the story of three generations of men whose lives are intimately connected through desire, pain and love. "La Bola Negra" has also just been selected as Spain’s official entry into the International Film Oscar race and will be released in theaters in the US by Netflix on October 16th.

Here is a partial list of the winners of the 2026 Toronto Film Festival:

People’s Choice Award: "La Bola Negra"
1st Runner-up: "I Play Rocky"
2nd Runner-up: "Being Heumann"
International People’s Choice Award: "Elsinore"



People’s Choice Documentary Award: "Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been"
People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award: "Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney"



Platform Prize: "Angh"
Special Jury Award: "Garrat Du Váimmu (Brace Your Heart)"



FIPRESCI Prize: "Ancestors"
Best Canadian Feature Film Award: "Sunburn"
Best Canadian Discovery Award: "Smudge the Blades"

2026 NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL

The 64th annual New York Film Festival is set for September 25th to October 12th and will be presented by Film at Lincoln Center. One of the longest-running and most prestigious film festivals in the United States, this is a celebration of new feature films from across the globe as well as short films, experimental works, retrospectives and restorations. This year's festival poster was designed by artist, Marcel Dzama and was influenced by the style of early silent cinema, particularly Georges Méliès's 1902 classic, "A Trip to the Moon".



"Paper Tiger", a crime-drama from James Gray, has been selected as the Opening Night film. Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller star in this story involving a suburban family who become entangled with the Russian mob. Tony Gilroy's musical drama, "Behemoth!" will be the festival's centerpiece and features Pedro Pascal as a renowned cellist in Chicago returning home to Los Angeles to compose film scores and deal with his family. And Ava DuVernay will the close the fest with her latest documentary film, "14th" which explores the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution which addresses citizenship rights.





Some of the films appearing in the NYFF's Main Slate will include recent works by acclaimed international filmmakers, Luca Guadagnino ("Artificial"), Andrew Haigh ("A Long Winter"), Ira Sachs ("The Man I Love"), Hong Sang-soo ("눈둘데가 없네 (Nowhere to Lay My Eyes)"), Markus Schleinzer ("Rose"), Radu Jude ("Le Journal d'une Femme de Chambre (The Diary of a Chambermaid)"), Andrey Zvyagintsev ("Минотавр (Minotaur)", Mike Leigh ("Tender Loving Care") and Pedro Almodóvar ("Amarga Navidad (Bitter Christmas)").









The Spotlight section will feature Jordan Firstman's debut as a filmmaker, "Club Kid" which made a splash at this year's Cannes; The actor, Jesse Eisenberg's latest as a director, "The Debut" which stars Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti; a new short film from recent Oscar-winner, Paul Thomas Anderson with "Cameron Winter at Carnegie Hall", a solo concert by the lead vocalist for the rock band, Geese; "Making Marie Antoinette", a documentary on the the 2006 production of Sofia Coppola's, "Marie Antoinette" and directed by her mother, the late Eleanor Coppola; "You Can See Everything" (which premiered at a secret screening at the Telluride Film Festival) looks at Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced founder of the health technology company, Theranos, who invited filmmakers, Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim to document her weeks before she began serving a sentence in federal prison for fraud and the recently announced "Godzilla Minus Zero", the follow-up to the Oscar-winning, "Godzilla Minus One" from writer/director, Takashi Yamazaki.







To see the complete list of films, events and purchase tickets, please click below:

NYFF 2026

WINNERS OF THE 2026 VENICE FILM FESTIVAL

The 83rd annual Venice Film Festival has come to a close and awards were presented. The jury, lead by Maggie Gyllenhaal this year, selected "Kvinde ukendt (Woman Unknown)" from filmmaker, May El-Toukhy. This drama is set in Denmark, not long after World War II, where a young nanny prepares to marry her wealthy, older employer while keeping a secret. The film's star, Mathilde Arcel went on to receive the Best Actress prize for her moving performance. The latest from director, Lee Chang-Dong, "Possible Love" won the runner-up award of the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize. The South Korean film tells the story of two married couples who cross paths to film a documentary while facing their different lives and hidden desires. The Best Screenplay award went to director, Stéphane Brizé, along with co-writers, Coralie Amédéo and Olivier Gorce, for the French drama, "Un bon petit soldat (A Good Little Soldier)" which follows a middle-aged female executive (Alba Rohrwacher) hired to help rebrand a business in a tough corporate environment. And John Malkovich won Best Actor for his performance in "Wild Horse Nine", Martin McDonagh's latest comedy-thriller, which was one of the very few American films playing in competition.

Here are the winners in the main competition of the 2026 Venice Film Festival:

Golden Lion: "Kvinde ukendt (Woman Unknown)"

Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize: "가능한 사랑 (Possible Love)"



Silver Lion Best Director: Ilya Khrzhanovsky, "Dau"

Best Screenplay: Stéphane Brizé, Coralie Amédéo and Olivier Gorce, "Un bon petit soldat (A Good Little Soldier)"



Best Actor: John Malkovich, "Wild Horse Nine"
Best Actress: Mathilde Arcel, "Kvinde ukendt (Woman Unknown)"
Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress: Malou Khebizi, "15/18 (A Place to Heal)"
Lion of the Future (Luigi De Laurentiis Award for a Debut Feature Film): Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu, "La maison du vent (House of the Wind)"



Special Jury Prize: "Naza"

TONY (2026)

Written by Matt Johnson, Matthew Miller and Todd Bartels & Lou Howe



Directed by Matt Johnson



Where & When: AMC The Americana at Brand 18, Glendale, CA. August 22, 2026 7:00 PM



After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1978, Anthony Bourdain went on to work in several kitchens throughout New York City before landing the prestigious role of executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles twenty years later. With dreams of being a writer still in his head, Bourdain didn't generate much interest with his attempts at writing a novel and decided to write a memoir, "Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly", an unvarnished account that detailed his experiences working in the food industry. This became a best seller and helped Bourdain transition into a popular host on several culinary adventure programs. Unlike the standard grinning and well-mannered hosts of food shows, Bourdain had a chafing persona: a smartass with an intrepid spirit, a lewd sense of humor and engaging wit, that made his world travels to explore exotic, specialty dishes from across the globe scintillating television.

"Tony", from director, Matt Johnson, looks back at Bourdain, long before cooking school, the wild lifestyle and overwhelming fame, when he was a rebellious, nineteen year old kid from New Jersey planning on becoming the next big novelist. With this thrillingly raucous, sink-to-kitchen tale, we learn how his dreams were forced to be modified and how the hot-tempered, immature Bourdain would improbably go on to become a respected, world class talent in the culinary world.

Tony Bourdain (Dominic Sessa) has applied for a writing fellowship that would send him to New York City. Feeling overly confident he'll get in, Tony tells his parents (Dagmara Domińczyk, Rich Sommer) he received the fellowship. But after finding out that he didn't, a frustrated Tony impulsively heads to Provincetown, partly because Nancy (Emilia Jones), a girl he really likes, has moved there for the summer before going to college. Discovering that she's dating a guy she works with at a pizza joint, he drowns his sorrows at The Flagship, a local seafood restaurant run by José "Chef" Vatel (Antonio Banderas). A highly inebriated Bourdain manages to get punched out for insulting a waitress and robbed while passed out on the street, leaving him stranded the next day.

He runs into Nancy, telling her that he's in town for research for his fellowship, and she invites him to a house party. Desperate to go to this party, Tony begs for a job at the Flagship, assuring "Chef" that he has restaurant experience. He doesn't but hired to wash dishes where he works with some equally volatile and oddball characters in the kitchen: Stavros (Stavros Halkias) and Sal (Leo Woodall), who had punched and robbed Tony the previous day. And "Chef" allows Tony to live on the porch of his beach house, sleeping on a hammock and awakened every morning with a bucket of seawater splashed in his face.

This biopic began with a script by Todd Bartels and Lou Howe that was featured on the 2024 Black List, an annual selection of the most liked unproduced screenplays. A Canadian indie filmmaker best known for the web series, "Nirvana the Band the Show" and his 2023 feature film breakthrough, the wacky, origin story of a brand of mobile phones, "Blackberry", Johnson took the script, adding a bit of his offbeat style yet smoothing over much of the rough edges of Bourdain's early life, to make this movie engaging, amusing and relatable. Even if this wasn't based on Bourdain's story, "Tony" could easily stand on its own as a darkly shrewd romantic-comedy.

One key reason which helps make "Tony" so appealing are the actors, in particular Sessa as Bourdain. He was the true highlight in Alexander Payne's award-winning, retro comedy, "The Holdovers" (which was his film acting debut) and Sessa's precocious performance here (bringing to mind Tom Hanks in his early days) confirms that he is a character actor with the great potential to be a movie star. He perfectly captures Bourdain at this point of his life, using his disarming nature and compelling allure to his advantage which helped him talk his way in or out of pretty much any type of situation. But it was Sal (who represents a composite of several people Bourdain would encounter) that actually gives the inexperienced Bourdain life lessons by teaching him how to smoke, shuck oysters, womanize and how to consume various forms of drugs.

Even without having read "Kitchen Confidential", it feels clear that "Tony" is soft serving Bourdain's early life and chaotic behavior. There's no doubt that the real-life Bourdain (who sadly died by suicide in 2018 at sixty-one) was probably far worse than portrayed in this film. No matter. "Tony" captures a credible essence of Bourdain, well enough that he's still recognizable, that points us convincingly and entertainingly towards the man he would become with an appealing profile that honors his exorbitant spirit and enduring legacy.

2026 TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL

The 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, which celebrates the best of Canadian and global cinema, is set to run from September 10th through 20th. There are two hundred and ninety three films that will be screened over the eleven day fest with many North American and world premieres as well as special events and talks. The festival's opening film is "Being Heumann" by Sian Heder, the director's first feature since her film, "CODA" received the 2021 Academy Award for Best Picture. This biopic is based on the life of Judy Heumann, an American disability rights activist, played by Ruth Madeley.



Some of the Galas and special presentations will include "Prima Facie", directed by Susanna White and adapted by Suzie Miller from her 2019 stage play, which stars Cynthia Erivo as successful defense barrister who rose from a working class background and whose life is upended following the actions by a colleague. "Atonement" from Reed Van Dyk is about a troubled US marine (Boyd Holbrook) seeking to reconcile with the survivors of a family that his unit fired upon in Iraq. Oscar-winner, Mahershala Ali stars in "Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother", an action-thriller from writer/director, Bassam Tariq, about a devoutly religious hitman who goes on a desperate journey across Texas to protect his family from dark forces closing in around him. "Diary of a Mad Old Man", a drama from Wayne Wang, that follows an aging widower (Lily Franky) having an intimate relationship with his caregiver daughter-in-law (Fan Bingbing). "Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo" is the third instalment of the series, this time set in Japan from Takashi Miike, which involves a Tokyo police officer (Shun Oguri) who finds himself being investigated by an FBI agent (Lily James) after a politician's daughter (Liv Morgan) goes missing. The actor, Tim Blake Nelson offers his latest as a director with "The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd" about a teacher (Amanda Seyfried) that takes a job at a maximum security prison where she falls for a charismatic inmate (Scoot McNairy). "Elsinore" stars Andrew Scott as Ian Charleson, a Scottish actor who appeared in "Chariots of Fire", who gets a dream opportunity to play "Hamlet" at the National Theatre but is seriously ill from AIDS. And "I Play Rocky", from director, Peter Farrelly, tells the incredible story of how Sylvester Stallone, at the time a struggling actor, wrote the movie about a down-on-his-luck boxer that would change his life.









The closing night film will be "Villeneuve: The Rise of a Legend" which is about the early life of Canadian race car driver, Gilles Villeneuve (played by Rémi Goulet) and his early efforts to establish his career in racing.

The TIFF Tribute Awards will include Rosalind Eleazar (appearing in Chris Rock's "Misty Green") and French icon, Isabelle Huppert (with her latest comedy, "Ni vue, ni connue (All About Corinne)") as the winners of the Performer Award. Lee Chang-dong received the Director Award for his latest, "가능한 사랑 (Possible Love)", filmmaker, Sian Heder was selected for the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media and Penélope Cruz (with her latest films, "Bunker" and "La bola negra" will be screened during the fest) is the recipient of the Special Tribute Award.

To see the complete list of films, events and purchase tickets, please click below:

TIFF 2026

2026 FALL MOVIE PREVIEW

This year in cinema has continued to heat up as the summer season has just ended with over four billion dollars earned, adding up to seven billion dollars total at the box-office year to date. These are impressive numbers that clearly indicate a robust enthusiasm for the theatrical experience. And the year is hardly over with plenty of more hotly anticipated movies are on the horizon. Out of the numerous movies that will make their way to theaters over the next four months, here is a highlight of some of those films that stand out for me:

"THE WEIGHT"

Release date: September 18, 2026

"The Weight", a dramatic thriller from director, Padraic McKinley, finds Samuel (Ethan Hawke) being sent to a brutal prison in 1933 Oregon, forced to leave his beloved, young daughter behind. The Warden (Russell Crowe) makes offers him an appealing yet highly risky proposition: smuggle gold out of a remote mine with a crew of other dangerous felons and he'll earn his freedom.



"MISTY GREEN"

Release date: October 9. 2026

With his fourth feature film as a writer and director, the comedian, Chris Rock delivers some drama with "Misty Green". Misty Green (Rosalind Eleazar) was once a popular, award-winning actress and currently facing the downslide of her career. She now has to deal with her past and addresses her personal demons as she struggles to make a comeback after reconnecting with her former agent (Rock). Adam Driver, Anna Kendrick, Topher Grace and Daniel Kaluuya also star.



"OTHER MOMMY"

Release date: October 9, 2026

Jessica Chastain headlines the supernatural horror drama, "Other Mommy" where she plays an ordinary wife and mother who has a paranormal entity take on her appearance. Her young daughter (Arabella Olivia Clark) is able to see through this creature, referring to it as "other mommy", and must convince her father (Jay Duplass) of the change before serious harm comes to them all. Rob Savage directs this thriller based on the popular novel, "Incidents Around the House".



"THE ONLY LIVING PICKPOCKET IN NEW YORK"

Release date: October 23, 2026

John Turturro stars as the title character in "The Only Living Pickpocket in New York", the latest feature film by actor and filmmaker, Noah Segan. As an old-time, low stakes thief, Harry Lehman (Turturro) is a relic from the past, struggling to make it in today's world and winds up getting way over his head when a heist goes very wrong. Giancarlo Esposito, Tatiana Maslany, Steve Buscemi, and Jamie Lee Curtis also star.



"A TALENT FOR MURDER"

Release date: October 23, 2026

Based on the 2014 stage play, "Switzerland" by Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith (who also wrote this screenplay), "A Talent For Murder" offers an intriguing yet fictional premise: a young American publisher (Alden Ehrenreich) tracks down the reclusive writer, Patricia Highsmith (Helen Mirren) living in the Swiss Alps to try and convince her to write one more installment in her famous Tom Ripley series. Anton Corbijn, well known for his innovative work in music videos and documentaries, directs his fifth feature film.



"CLUB KID"

Release date: November 6, 2026

Fringe performer, Jordan Firstman, who broke out in the recent HBO comedy series, "I Love LA", has made his debut as a writer and director with "Club Kid". Firstman also stars as a gay New York City club promoter whose wild life is upended with the arrival of the 10-year-old son he never knew he had. "Club Kid" made its world premiere at Cannes this year and was met with an enthusiastic response and critical acclaim, leading to a bidding war with the indie studio, A24 as the victor.



"THE DEBUT"

Release date: December 11, 2026

In "The Debut", the latest film as a writer/director from actor, Jesse Eisenberg, Julianne Moore stars as a quiet and shy housewife who is unexpectedly cast in a New Jersey community theater production of an original musical. The strong-willed director (Paul Giamatti) pushes the inexperienced performer hard so she will lose herself in the role which helps begin to open up her world outside of the play. Halle Bailey, Havana Rose Liu and Bernadette Peters also star.



"WERWULF"

Release date: December 25, 2026

The filmmaker, Robert Eggers returns to the holiday season with another dark reimagining of a classic character in gothic horror. Following his grisly version of the vampire lore, "Nosferatu" two years ago, "Werwulf" explores the blood-thirsty beast that threatens a small farming community. Set in 13th-century England and spoken entirely in Middle English, Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as a farmer who is trying to protect his family from an unknown dangerous entity which could possibly be himself. Lily-Rose Depp and Willem Dafoe also star.

COMING SOON

Ken Russell was a rising British filmmaker with a flair for the provocative and enjoying international acclaim for his breakthrough, the 1969 romantic drama, "Women in Love" when he decided to make the psychological horror film, "The Devils". Based on the non-fiction book, "The Devils of Loudun" by Aldous Huxley and a 1960 play by John Whiting, Russell wrote the politically charged screenplay which is set in 17th-century France where a powerful Catholic priest, Urbain Grandier (Oliver Reed) is rendered defenseless against a nun's (Vanessa Redgrave) passionate accusations of witchcraft that are eagerly exploited by the church and state powers. With innovative camerawork by David Watkin (who later filmed "Chariots of Fire" and won an Oscar for "Out of Africa") and Derek Jarman (who would go on to have his own career as a controversial filmmaker) creating the striking production design, "The Devils" was recognized as an intense and provocative work that featured a bold critique on the hypocrisy that could be found in religion.

But with graphic violence and sexual content featured within a religious context, "The Devils" received a harsh critical reaction once it was released, being given an X rating from both the United Kingdom and the United States advisory boards, banned in several countries or heavily edited in theaters that dared screen the film. However, Russell would receive the Best Director prize at the Venice International Film Festival and from the National Board of Review.  And despite the uproar, "The Devils" would achieve some box-office success, earning over eleven million dollars globally.

Over time, "The Devils" would not be readily available on home video with limited releases on DVD were only edited versions, and the film has rarely been seen on streaming services. But there was a growing demand for the film to be seen again. Warner Bros. (which distributed the film back in 1971) has decided to restore "The Devils" and release this version in theaters through its newly launched Warner Bros. Clockwork label. Assembled from the original camera negative, this new 4K restoration presents the definitive vision of Russell's film which references the edit he privately constructed in 2004. Now "The Devils" is the uncut theatrical experience that Russell (who died in 2011) had always envisioned.

"Ken Russell's The Devils" will be re-released in US theaters for one week only beginning on October 16, 2026

TIM CURRY (1946 - 2026)

Tim Curry, the British actor of stage and screen who is probably best known for his role in the filmed version of the cult classic, rock musical, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", has passed away on August 26th. The actor had suffered from a debilitating stroke in 2012 which left him with severe mobility issues and requiring a wheelchair. No cause of death has been revealed to date. He was eighty.

Curry began his career on the stage, making his acting debut in a London production of "Hair" in 1968. During that time, he met fellow cast member, Richard O'Brien who would go on to later write his own stage musical. "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", O'Brien's wild tribute to his love of sci-fi and horror B-movies, premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in 1973 and the popular show moved to larger venues in London before closing in 1980. Originating the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Curry brought a humorously posh style to the mad, transvestite scientist.

The musical did transfer to Broadway in 1975 but was not as warmly embraced in America at that time, closing after only forty-five performances. A movie version of "Rocky Horror" was assembled at the same time with Curry, O' Brien, Patricia Quinn, Nell Campbell and director, Jim Sharman all reprising their parts from the original London production. "Rocky Horror", the movie, didn't fare much better on its initial release in theaters but gradually gained popularity on the midnight movie circuit. Audiences would begin interacting live with the film at the Waverly Theater in New York City in 1976.

Curry would make other notable appearances in films: co-starring in John Huston's 1982 film version of the Broadway musical, "Annie", Ridley Scott's 1985 fantasy film, "Legend' with Tom Cruise, and in the comedy mystery, "Clue" which was based on the boardgame and has since gone on to become another cult movie classic. He appeared on several television series and did many voiceover roles for animated films and video games. And one of Curry's best-known television roles was as Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 horror miniseries , "Stephen King's  It". Curry also recorded three studio albums and wrote a memoir, "Vagabond" that was published last year.

2026 VENICE FILM FESTIVAL

The Venice International Film Festival, with the eighty-third annual edition to be held from September 2nd to 12th, will help introduce the latest in world cinema and kick-off the fall movie season. The Opening Night film selected is "Ink", the latest from the Oscar-winning British filmmaker, Danny Boyle. Based on James Graham's acclaimed 2017 play, the film examines how Australian businessman, Rupert Murdoch (Guy Pearce) lures the editor of the popular, The Daily Mail newspaper, Larry Lamb (Jack O’Connell) to oversee his newly acquired British daily, The Sun. To gain attention for the struggling paper, they decide to put anything in the paper, regardless of how extreme or titillating, to help The Sun rise above the competition, helping to create tabloid culture.



Maggie Gyllenhaal, the American actress and filmmaker, will serve as this year's Jury President to select the winners of the Main Competition awards along with fellow jurors: Tunisian filmmaker, Kaouther Ben Hania, British musician, Daniel Blumberg, Italian-American film theorist, Francesco Casetti, French filmmaker, Xavier Giannoli, Afghan filmmaker, Shahrbanoo Sadat and Hong Kong filmmaker, Johnnie To. Gyllenhaal will also premiere the short film she wrote and directed, "Flesh Impact", that features Ellen Burstyn (who is also this year's recipient of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement) and Dakota Johnson which will pay tribute to Hollywood legend, Marilyn Monroe (who would have celebrated her 100th birthday this year) during the festival.

With the films selected for competition this year, what is most notable is the almost complete absence of Hollywood studio films present in the lineup, much like at Cannes a few months ago. In addition to Boyle's "Ink", other filmmakers who will be up for prizes include new works from Werner Herzog ("Bucking Fastard"), Lance Oppenheim ("Primetime"), Cedric Kahn ("A Place To Heal"), Lee Chang-dong ("가능한 사랑 (Possible Love)"), Nanni Moretti ("Succederà questa notte (It Will Happen Tonight)"), Martin McDonagh ("Wild Horse Nine"), Hirokazu Kore-eda ("ルックバック (Look Back)", Stéphane Brizé ("Un bon petit soldat (Good Little Soldier)"), Florian Zeller ("Bunker") and Casey Affleck ("Company").









The Closing Night film will be "Dio Ride (God Laughs)", a comedy from writer/director, Giovanni Veronesi. In seventeenth century Tuscany, a friar (Pierfrancesco Favino) engages the masses about God by making them laugh. But this attitude begins to attract the hostility of the Church.

The Glory to the Filmmaker Award, a honorary prize given to artists who have made a significant contribution to contemporary world cinema, will be presented to Italian filmmaker, Luca Guadagnino. His latest feature, "Joie de vivre", an over 7 hours long documentary (that will be screened into two parts) about the life, art, and cinema of fellow Italian filmmaker, Bernardo Bertolucci, will make its premiere at the fest. And George Clooney will also receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement this year.

THE 100 MOST POWERFUL DIRECTORS

What makes a filmmaker powerful in Hollywood? Is it strictly box-office or does critical acclaim and awards factor more heavily into it? Nate Jones with Vulture consulted with various agents, executives, producers, and publicists to help decide what it takes to achieve success and influence as a film director working today.

This was considered by using their body of work, bankability, creative control and reputation to help determine not only which directors would make the cut but also where they would happen to fall in this ranking. Streaming has certainly changed the game for directors working at this time and not a completely accurate way to help assess their power in the industry. So their achievements theatrically played a more important determination in making the list while not discounting any streaming projects entirely.

Please click below to read the selections:

Vulture: The 100 Most Powerful Directors in Hollywood

ONE NIGHT ONLY (2026)

Written by Travis Braun

Directed by Will Gluck

Where & When: TCL Chinese Theatres, Hollywood, CA. August 12, 2026 4:55 PM

When I heard about the plot for "One Night Only" which involves two single people trying to make a love connection during a time when premarital sex is outlawed in the United States except for one twelve-hour exemption period each year, I found the idea a bit preposterous. Yet surprisingly this high concept rom-com from director, Will Gluck manages to find a way to be delightfully funny and charming, thanks in large part to the clever script from Travis Braun. And while there are some moments that still remain hard to swallow, our leads, Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner are able to uplift the film even further with their irresistible chemistry and magnetic star quality.

Owen (Turner), who owns a pizza shop, is looking forward to spending the exemption night with his longtime, live-in girlfriend, Malika (Maya Hawke) and planned on proposing to her. However, during dinner, Malika informs her boyfriend that she plans to have sex with a neighbor in their building this evening, feeling they should both have an experience with someone else. Disappointed and deciding to put an end to their relationship, Owen proceeds to find a hook-up for the night.

Meanwhile, Allie (Barbaro) is a jingle singer with a specialty in songs for pharmaceuticals. This year she plans to go out with her friend, Jacinta (pop singer, King Princess) so they can try to meet men of substance together. But Jacinta quickly meets a guy at the bar, running off with him and leaving Allie to go through the night solo.

Owen and Allie literally bump into each other on the street, briefly flirting before he throws up (bad sushi from dinner) and she quickly moves on. We then follow them as Allie goes through a series of oddball men she meets at a bar before connecting with a sexy piano player (Andrew Burnap). Owen finds sympathy from a hot bartender (Julia Fox) who is willing to have sex with him after her shift. But condoms are required and have become a rare commodity on this particular night. Owen and Allie run into each other again when they are fighting over purchasing the last rubber in town.

As the story continues on, Owen and Allie each go through even more problematic and humiliating situations while trying yet failing to achieve a sexual connection, all the while continuing to run into each other through various intervals over the evening and becoming closer with each encounter.

The script of "One Night Only" gained attraction when it was placed on the Black List in 2024, an annual collection of the "most-liked" motion picture screenplays not yet produced. Braun (who became the first writer to make the list consecutively with his script, "Bad Boy" appearing in 2023) has a history creating programing for the Disney Channel and his time there may have helped inspire the broad concept for this movie. Braun's amusing screenplay might explain how the country ended up with this crazy law and the exact rules that apply (bio-sensor chips implanted in single people's arms to keep their libido on lock with gay people exempt from this sexual control) yet the overall silly plot still remains highly improbable.

Gluck, fresh off his surprise hit rom-com, "Anyone but You" that helped give rising stars, Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell a boost on the big screen, puts his spin on Braun's story, managing to keep the energy fast-paced and playful. But it's his compelling cast that really makes "One Night Only" worth watching. Barbaro, who made many supporting appearances in television and film before her Oscar-nominated breakthrough playing Joan Baez in the Bob Dylan-biopic, "A Complete Unknown", has a lovely, easy charm and well matched with the British actor, Turner who lays on his New York accent pretty thick but it's not too distracting. And there are plenty of high-profile actors who make supporting or cameo appearances that includes Molly Ringwald as Owen's mother and LeVar Burton as her boyfriend along with Mike Birbiglia, Nicholas Braun, Pete Davidson, Bobby Cannavale, Este Haim and Ziwe popping up throughout the movie.

It's unclear to me if Gluck was intentionally trying to make a statement regarding sexual politics on how the women prepared for the evening with the ladies parading around town in lingerie, incredibly short skirts and their breasts barely concealed while the men simply show up dressed for the night like--well, men, not putting too much thought into their appearance. I suppose under these dire circumstances, people would not feel like wasting too much time as the basic primal urges would resort back to the prehistoric rules of attraction.

In this current political climate, the idea that the American government would radically try to control what people decide to do with their bodies is sadly not all that farfetched. Despite the hyperbolic premise, "One Night Only" still manages to draw you in with breezy comedic set-ups, appealing characters and some actual heartfelt emotions. Lately, most of the recent rom-coms are sorely lacking in any type of inventive spirit and adventurous style. "One Night Only" is a pleasant reminder of the simple pleasures a solid romantic comedy can actually create when there is some sort of effort made to engage viewers.

I WANT YOUR SEX (2026)

Written by Karley Sciortino and Gregg Araki



Directed by Gregg Araki



Where & When: AMC The Americana at Brand 18, Glendale, CA. July 31, 2026 4:30 PM



After he completed college with studies in cinematic arts, LA native, Gregg Araki was ready to tackle a career as a filmmaker. Pulling together about five thousand dollars, Araki made his feature film debut in 1987, "Three Bewildered People in the Night", a black & white drama involving a straight couple and their gay, male friend. Winning a Critics' Prize at the Locarno International Film Festival for this film, Araki collected some more money to make his next low-budget feature two years later, "The Long Weekend (O' Despair)" which featured a gay, lesbian and straight couple all spending a weekend together, winning an award from the LA Film Critics Association.

Araki's next movie would arrive in 1992 with a slightly larger budget and a premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Lazily described by some as a "gay Thelma & Louise", "The Living End" is a road-trip adventure involving two HIV-positive male lovers on the run after stealing and leaving a trail of dead bodies. Boldly political, disturbingly violent and driven by a post-punk soundtrack, "The Living End" became a critical and box-office success while also one of the early films that helped spark the New Queer Cinema movement which had included other provocative films by Todd Haynes, Isaac Julien and Derek Jarman. Araki would go on to make more, challenging cinema like his Teenage Apocalypse trilogy: "Totally F***ed Up", "The Doom Generation" and "Nowhere", "Mysterious Skin" and the stoner comedy, "Smiley Face". But following "White Bird in a Blizzard", his little seen 2014 adaptation of Laura Kasischke's novel that featured an all-star cast, Araki has been missing from movie screens.

That has now been rectified with Araki's return to the big screen with "I Want Your Sex", a colorfully stimulating, sex comedy that sees the director back in fine form. There's some BDSM kink tossed in along with erotic thrills, queer undertones and a possible murder which together creates an intriguingly twisted, dark edged farce.

When we first meet Elliott (Cooper Hoffman), bloodied and wearing lingerie, he sees a naked female body face down in a pool. This is his boss, Erika Tracy (Olivia Wilde), a provocative visual artist and we are taken back several months ago when Elliott first went in to apply for a job as one of her studio assistants who help assemble her sexually charged art. Unfocused and a bit disheveled, he doesn't really seem like a good fit for this position yet Erika seems intrigued and hires Elliott on the spot.

But she has more nefarious plans for the young Elliott that is not exactly work related. After inquiring if he has a girlfriend (which he does, played by pop star, Charli XCX, who is far more interested in studying than having sex with him), Erika promptly initiates a purely sexual relationship with him. Hesitant at first, Elliott soon gives in to his urges but he discovers that Erika has something more extreme in mind. She enjoys being dominant during their erotic encounters and guides Elliott into a deeply submissive position, pushing him to do things he never would have imagined.

Never motivated by commercial appeal or the potential of huge box-office, Araki hasn't changed much since his early days of guerilla filmmaking, continuing to make scrappy movies on his terms that are queer in spirit and style. He was inspired to make "I Want Your Sex" (working on the script with Karley Sciortino for about a decade) after learning that Gen Z was having less sex than previous generations. Shocked by this news, Araki set about to create this film less to be critical but more to provoke conversation about this subject. As Erika says to Elliott, "Making a mistake is what being young is all about.", encouraging him to enjoy his youth by having bad love affairs, getting sloppy drunk or just being reckless. And trust me, there will be plenty of time later in life to be safe and cautious.

Much like his father, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, the twenty-three year old Hoffman displays an easy, natural screen presence with a performance filled with charm, nuance and depth. Since his debut as the lead in family friend, Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza", Hoffman has been giving nepo babies a good name while revealing the potential to have an promising career ahead of him.

Wilde is having a particularly good year. After the letdown of "Don't Worry, Darling", her second feature as a director, she recently received glowing raves for her direction and performance in the comedy-drama, "The Invite" and will appear as an actor in Tony Gilroy's upcoming drama, "Behemoth!" that will reach theaters in December. As Erika, Wilde is fearless, unconcerned about being likeable or appealing while perfectly capturing the wild, narcissistic nature of this overindulgent artist.

The rest of the impressive cast includes Chase Sui Wonders as Apple, Elliott's platonic roommate, getting drawn into the kinky games when Erika demands that he quickly find a third for a three-way. Daveed Diggs appears as the harried business manager who gracelessly informs Elliott, frustrated by his interruption of the work flow, that he's hardly the first of Erika's assistants she has spent time with after hours. Mason Gooding delivers the sass as Zap, Elliott's gay co-worker and Johnny Knoxville and Margaret Cho show-up, playing against type, as the hard-nosed detectives trying to get answers from Elliott on his relationship to Erica and what could have happened to her.

Kinky and uninhibited, "I Want Your Sex" might be power driven by unconventional carnal desires yet doesn't really have much of a honest erotic charge. And while the mystery at the heart of the film winds up being a bit too tidy and improbable to be satisfying, Araki is still able to keep his depraved version of a rom-com a hilariously enjoyable watch.

COMING SOON

If you take a look at the picture above, that is Tom Cruise. Yes, the same handsome, big screen action superstar who you know and love from the "Top Gun" and "Mission: Impossible" movies. And he appears ready to challenge himself once again as an actor in the upcoming black comedy, "Digger" which he teams up with Oscar-winning filmmaker, Alejandro G. Iñárritu.

Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a wealthy oil tycoon, who wants to be viewed as the savior for humanity before an impending disaster that he's responsible for causing destroys the entire planet. With echoes of Stanley Kubrick's wild political satire, "Dr. Strangelove", "Digger" looks like the perfect showcase to remind audiences that he is quite capable as a character actor in a comedic role. Cruise is surrounded by an impressive cast that includes John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons and Sandra Hüller.

"Digger" is due in US theaters on October 2, 2026

MADDIE'S SECRET (2026)

Written & Directed by John Early



Where & When: Landmark Theatres Sunset, West Hollywood, CA. July 14, 2026 4:20 PM



"Maddie's Secret" tells the story of a woman living in Los Angeles who seems to have a good life: a loving husband, a close friend and contentment at her job. But Maddie secretly dreams of becoming a professional chef. An opportunity comes her way but the pressures from this success reopens the door to an even darker secret that she had been suppressing, creating chaos and despair for Maddie and her loved ones. 

Loosely inspired by a 1980's television-movie-of-the-week, writer and director, John Early has put an amusing queercentric spin on this melodramatic parody for his feature film debut. Early also plays Maddie as an actual woman in the film: not trans or non-binary. Make of this what you will but I believe he took on this role less as a political statement and more about an opportunity to play a fascinating character.

Maddie (Early) and her best friend, Deena (Kate Berlant) work as dishwashers for Gourmaybe, a video test kitchen program. And while the haughty Emily (Claudia O'Doherty) might be the star of the show, Maddie would love to have a chance to be in front of the camera as a cook. After Maddie's husband, Jake (Eric Rahill) films his wife preparing one of her best vegetarian meals, he posts the clip online despite her protests. The next day, the video blows up, going viral and her crass boss, Zack (Conner O'Malley) quickly makes her an on-camera personality on the program.

Maddie achieves much of the success and popularity that she's ever wanted yet this also creates new problems for her. Cruel comments from viewers about her weight triggers the bulimia she once had under control. Maddie starts to act manically, pushing herself hard in dance classes while purging all of the food she does consume. After her husband catches her retching into a toilet, she tells him she's pregnant and Jake is thrilled since he has been wanting to start a family for sometime. And Deena starts feeling neglected by her friend with Maddie fearful in confiding to her what's actually going on.

Early has been working as an actor, stand-up and sketch comedy performer for a number of years, participating in several sketch programs and created content with Berlant. He had his own HBO musical-comedy special, "John Early: Now More Than Ever" in 2023 and released a studio album with songs from the program. With his feature film directorial debut, Early brilliantly takes on those earnest dramas that had an important message, one that is told through wacky hysteria and overheated emotions.

As Maddie, the actor dives all the way in, expressively capturing all of the fears and trauma of this tortured woman in a wild and darkly hilarious performance. After a cardiac health crisis, Maddie's eating disorder is discovered and she's checked into an inpatient treatment program. During a session with a doctor and her overbearing mother, Beverlee (played by the comedy great, Kristen Johnston), Maddie confronts her parent about how she was treated about her weight since she was a small child, revealing how she's the root cause of her complicated relationship with food.

With an open-ended conclusion and a classic freeze-frame on the face of a triumphant Maddie, "Maddie's Secret" has taken us on an amusing, emotional adventure, handling a health disorder with outrageously dark humor yet still finding some room for thoughtful candor. Early has admitted he was greatly influenced by a variety of offbeat cinema that includes the singular works by John Waters and Paul Verhoeven to create this film. Yet he stands tall with his own sense of stylish, eccentric comedy, proving to be a modern craftsman of deranged camp. Following the hilarious, "Maddie's Secret", I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what else Early has in store for us on the big screen, hopefully in the very near future.