Film
Netflix’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 Gives Aaron Sorkin a Timely Bully Pulpit: Review
The Pitch: In 1968, a coalition of anti-Vietnam War and counterculture protestors took to the streets in Chicago to protest outside the Democratic National Convention, rallying to end the Vietnam War and bring our boys back home. Predictably, the police retaliated with overwhelming force, greeting them with beatings, tear gas, and scores of arrests. Five scant months later, one of the most infamous trials in American history took place, charging seven of the organizers with conspiracy and incitement to riot — YIPpies Abbie Hoffman (Sacha Baron Cohen) and Jerry Rubin (Jeremy Strong), Mobe leaders Tom Hayden (Eddie Redmayne) and Rennie Davis (Alex Sharp), David Dellinger (John Carroll Lynch), John Froines (Danie Flaherty) and Lee Weiner (Noah Robbins). Black Panther Bobby Seale (Yahya A...
James Cameron Is Done Filming Avatar 2, Says Avatar 3 Is “95% Complete”
James Cameron offered an update on those long-gestating Avatar sequels, saying that filming is “100% complete on Avatar 2, and we’re sort of 95% complete on Avatar 3.” Cameron gave the update to his old muse Arnold Schwarzenegger as part of the Austrian World Summit for the Environment. The former Governor of California hosted the event, which was billed as “the biggest environmental conference in the world.” Schwarzenegger revealed that Cameron was one of the first activists to educate him about the impending crisis. “You talked to me about the environment way back when I didn’t understand what you were talking about. It was back in 1984 when you directed Terminator 1.” Cameron spoke about his own efforts to combat climate change, as well as his goal to become a “lay e...
Dwayne Johnson Endorses Joe Biden for President
Dwayne Johnson has endorsed Joe Biden as the people’s champ for 2020. “As a political independent and centrist for many years, I’ve voted for Democrats in the past and as well as Republicans. In this critical election, I believe Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the best to lead our country, and as my first ever (public) Presidential endorsement, I proudly endorse them for the presidential office of our United States,” Johnson announced in a post to social media on Sunday. “Progress takes courage, humanity, empathy, strength, grit, kindness and respect,” Johnson added, noting the attributes he thinks a president should embody. “Being KIND & RESPECTFUL to one another will always matter.” Johnson also shared video of a discussion he had with Biden and Harris, during which he asked the cand...
Vin Diesel Goes EDM on Debut Single “Feel Like I Do”: Stream
With quarantine still in full swing and Fast & Furious 9 delayed until next year, what’s Vin Diesel to do with his spare time? Apparently get really into EDM. Today, the 53-year-old actor has released his debut single, a clubby track titled “Feel Like I Do”. Though it may be amusing to think about Groot hitting the dance floor, Diesel’s new song is more in line with Kygo and Flume — it’s a forever summer tune for the celebrity Coachella crowd. And it makes perfect sense given the personnel working behind the scenes; “Feel Like I Do” was written by Kygo collaborator Petey Martin and released via the Kygo co-founded Palm Tree Records. “For so long, I have been promising to release music… encouraged by you, to step out of my comfort zone,” Diesel wrote on Instagram. “Thank you for believi...
A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting Trailer Teases Family-Friendly Tricks and Treats: Watch
Netflix is bringing some much-needed family frights this Halloween with A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting. Today, the streaming giant let loose its first trailer ahead of its October 15th premiere, offering a spooky sneak-peek at the YA misadventures. Based on Joe Ballarini’s popular YA series, the film follows a high school freshman (Tamara Smart), who winds up being recruited by an international secret society of babysitters who protect kids with special powers from monsters. Her first mission falls on Halloween. What makes this project so intriguing is the involvement of director Rachel Talalay. A veteran of the industry, Talalay has a rich history in genre filmmaking, having helmed Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare, Ghost in the Machine, and Tank Girl. Editors’ Picks That’...
Bill Murray’s Lawyer Responds to Doobie Brothers, Offers Golf Shirts as Restitution
Earlier this week, The Doobie Brothers served Bill Murray with the greatest cease and desist letter you’ll ever read. In a nutshell, through their lawyer Peter T. Paterno, the yacht rockers asked Murray to either fork over the money or stop using their song “Listen to the Music” to promote his line of golf apparel. “It’s a fine song. I know you agree because you keep using it in ads for your Zero Hucks Given golf shirts,” wrote Paterno. “However, given that you haven’t paid to use it, maybe you should change the name to ‘Zero Bucks Given.’” “This is the part where I’m supposed to cite the United States Copyright Act, excoriate you for not complying with some subparagraph that I’m too lazy to look up and threaten you with eternal damnation for doing so,” continued Paterno. “But you al...
The Title to Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat Sequel is Absolutely Glorious
The title to Sacha Baron Cohen’s upcoming Borat sequel has been unveiled, and it’s as glorious as you’d expect. The follow-up to 2006’s Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan is called Borat: Gift of Pornographic Monkey to Vice Premiere Mikhael Pence to Make Benefit Recently Diminished Nation of Kazakhstan. As The Film Stage points out, the title was revealed in filing with the Writers Guild of America. Cohen is credited with writing the screenplay alongside collaborators Anthony Hines, Dan Swimer, Peter Baynham, Erica Rivinoja, Dan Mazer, Jena Friedman, and Lee Kern. It’s still unclear when or where the Borat 2 will premiere — though a streaming service seems like a pretty good guess. Rumors of a Borat sequel first emerged earlier this year, af...
Father of the Bride Cast Reunites for Virtual Netflix “Sequel”: Watch
The cast of Father of the Bride reunited for the first time in 25 years (!) on Friday. The all-star group of actors got back together for Father of the Bride Part 3 (ish), a “special sequel” that caught up with the Banks family over a Zoom call for a wedding-related announcement. Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Kieran Culkin, Martin Short, and George Newbern all looked delighted to see one another again for the 25-minute performance. There to host for the modern family gathering was Reese Witherspoon. And because the miniature sequel is supposed to take places years down the road, the ensemble was expanded to include several new faces, with Alexandra Shipp, Ben Platt, Florence Pugh, and Robert DeNiro all joining the fold. We won’t spoil anything, but make sure t...
US Republican senators confront Netflix over Chinese sci-fi show
Five Republican US senators have confronted Netflix over the streaming giant’s plan to adapt a Chinese sci-fi book trilogy, expressing concern over the original author’s comments about claims of forced labor in Xinjiang. Liu Cixin’s bestselling “The Three-Body Problem,” which tells the story of humanity’s first contact with aliens, is set to become a major Netflix series co-written by the creators of “Game of Thrones.” In a letter to content boss Ted Sarandos, the senators accused Liu of “parroting dangerous [Communist Party] propaganda” and suggested Netflix was “providing a platform to Mr Liu in producing this project.” They highlighted a New Yorker article from last year in which Liu is quoted defending mass internment in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region, where activists say more th...
Sofia Coppola’s On the Rocks Finds Bill Murray on a Pure Charm Offensive: NYFF Review
This review is part of our coverage of the 2020 New York Film Festival. The Pitch: Laura (Rashida Jones) is in crisis. From the outside, it might not seem so: She’s a published author with another book deal on lock, she’s got a handsome husband named Dean (Marlon Wayans) and two beautiful girls, and they live in the kind of well-furnished Manhattan apartment you only see in sitcoms. But Dean’s started to spend more time outside of the home, ostensibly to work on his social media startup with his tall, gorgeous colleague Fiona (Iron Fist‘s Jessica Henwick), and his excuses for his absence have grown increasingly flimsy. Hence, the crisis: She can’t concentrate on her book, she’s increasingly aloof to her school pickup mom-partner Vanessa (Jenny Slate), and she can’t quite get Dean to c...
AMC FearFest Reveals Epic 2020 Lineup: Halloween, Friday the 13th, Stephen King, and More
One of the best parts of spooky season is leaving horror movies on in the background all day. Well, AMC Fear Fest is keeping that tradition alive and well in 2020 with a month-long celebration of horror’s greatest hits. From Michael Myers to Chucky, Freddy Krueger to Jason Voorhees, the gang is all back to keep you company. Perhaps gang is an understatement. After all, this year’s crop spans 91 titles and includes some major, heavy-hitting franchises: Halloween, Friday the 13th, Tremors, and a smorgasbord of Stephen King adaptations. There are also a number of essential classics like The Exorcist, The Amityville Horror, and From Dusk til Dawn. Even beyond the classics and rentals, AMC has a few other tricks and treats up its sleeve. The Walking Dead returns with more ghouls, the show’s spi...
Steve McQueen’s Mangrove Revolutionizes the Courtroom Drama: NYFF Review
This review is part of our coverage of the 2020 New York Film Festival. The Pitch: In 1968, Notting Hill was a slowly-growing hub of Black culture in London, filled with West Indian immigrants of various stripes who congregated at Frank Crichlow’s (Shaun Parkes) Mangrove Restaurant for spicy food, pumping beats, and a sense of community. But when sustained police interference with the restaurant — constant raids, fines and charges for prostitution and drug possession — led to a protest that turned violent, Crichlow and eight other defendants were brought in front of the Old Bailey on charges of incitement to riot. But this trial wouldn’t be like Black Power trials of the past: the Mangrove Nine, including Crichlow, Black Panther activist Altheia Jones-LeCointe (Letitia Wright), Darcus...
