Barry Levinson’s John F. Kennedy mystery conspiracy thriller “Assassination” just got a massive injection of talent. Already starring Levinson mainstay Al Pacino, joining what now feels like an all-star ensemble is Academy Award–winner Jessica Chastain (“Eyes of Tammy Faye,” “Zero Dark Thirty,” “Interstellar”), Academy Award-winner Brendan Fraser (“The Whale,” “Killers of the Flower Moon)”, and Academy Award-nominee Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad,” “Trumbo”).

Continue reading Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston & Brendan Fraser Join Al Pacino In Barry Levinson’s JFK ‘Assassination’ Thriller at The Playlist.

Al Pacino’s performance in “Heat” is legendary. And a big reason why it’s so beloved is how hyped up the character of Vincent Hanna was in every scene. It was almost like Pacino was acting in a different film than the rest of his scene partners because he had the energy dialed up to 11. Well, apparently there was a reason for that.

Speaking on a recent episode of the “WTF Podcast,” Pacino talked about his new memoir, “Sonny Boy.” And while talking about it, he brought up a point that is in the memoir that no one realized until now—Vincent Hanna loved cocaine.

Continue reading Al Pacino Says His Heat Character Was On Coke But Michael Mann “Took It Out” Of The Finished Film at The Playlist.

Even though Al Pacino is easily one of the most legendary actors of the past 50 years, that doesn’t mean everything he touched turned to gold. There are some real stinkers in his filmography. And one of those films is Adam Sandler’s “Jack and Jill.” While, at the time, there were people confused as to why Pacino would take on such a role, he’s coming clean now about the real reasons. 

Continue reading Al Pacino Admits He Did ‘Jack & Jill’ Because He Needed A Paycheck at The Playlist.

Back in February, news broke that Al Pacino and Jessica Chastain would star in “Lear Rex,” based on the Bard’s “King Lear.” That’s exciting enough, but details on the upcoming film’s supporting cast and this ensemble is a doozy.  And given the plethora of big names here, it’s safe to expect Bernard Rose‘s film to be one of 2025 or 2026’s most anticipated films.

Continue reading ‘Lear Rex’: Rachel Brosnahan, LaKeith Stanfield, Ariana DeBose & More Join Al Pacino & Jessica Chastain In Upcoming Shakespeare Adaptation at The Playlist.

The subject of a timely new Variety profile praising his versatility, British actor Dan Stevens is having a moment. The actor is currently competing with himself at the box office with two different films: MonsterVerse installment “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” for Warners and directing duo Radio Silence’s new vampire movie “Abigail” for Universal.

Stevens is already lining up his next genre project, and it’ll see him co-starring alongside Hollywood royalty, Al Pacino, in a horror film focused on two trouble priests.

Continue reading ‘The Ritual’: Al Pacino & Dan Stevens To Lead New Exorcism Film Coming Out In 2025 at The Playlist.

It wouldn’t be an Academy Award ceremony without some controversy. While Emma Stone’s (“Poor Things”) Best Actress win over Lily Gladstone (“Killers Of The Flower Moon”) caused a lot of drama over social media, one of the biggest blunders—or what some suspected to be one— was around the presentation of The Best Picture award. Al Pacino presented the award to Christopher Nolan’s atomic bomb drama “Oppenheimer.” But many noted Pacino’s awkward reading of the award, seemingly bungled and rushed, not mentioning any of the nominees, and killing the suspension of the moment rather than building to a dramatic finish.

Continue reading Oscars 2024: Al Pacino Blames Producers For Speedy Best Picture Reveal at The Playlist.

In what amounts to a kind of career-defining reunion, Jessica Chastain and Al Pacino will star alongside each other in “Lear, Rex,” a new big-screen Shakespeare adaptation of “King Lear” for filmmaker Bernard Rose (“Immortal Beloved”).

Rose will write and direct, Pacino will star as the title character, and Chastain will star as Goneril, the eldest of King Lear’s three daughters.

Continue reading Jessica Chastain & Al Pacino To Star In New ‘Lear, Rex’ Shakespeare Adaptation at The Playlist.

The hitman has proven a consistent source of inspiration for movies, from 1942’s “This Gun For Hire” to 1967’s “Le Samourai” to the recent “Hitman.” With so many movies centered around a hitman, it’s hard not to feel derivative. One of the ways that filmmakers make their take on the hitman feels fresh and unique is to give the contract killer a quirk, an easily distinguishable characteristic. Some examples include Alain Delon’s love of birds in “Le Samourai,” Michael Fassbender’s The Smith’s playlist in “The Killer,” or Tom Cruise’s use of taxis in his murder method in “Collateral.” “Knox Goes Away,” directed by and starring Michael Keaton (“Batman” “Birdman”), tells the story of John Knox, a hitman dealing with a degenerative brain disorder, Cretuszfeldt-Jakob Disease, similar to Alzheimer’s. 

Continue reading ‘Knox Goes Away’ Trailer: Michael Keaton Directs & Stars In A Crime Noir About Dementia- Afflicted Hitman at The Playlist.

Michael Keaton has been acting in movies long enough to know that if you’re making one, as he does for the second time with the proficient neo-noir “Knox Goes Away,” your opening shot needs to say something. His says it all: a tight close-up inventories the personal affects of an unseen figure taking them one by one, heading out the door, then doubling back to grab the watch, filling the audio track with its relentless ticking.

Continue reading ‘Knox Goes Away’ Review: Michael Keaton Directs Himself In A Slickly Somber Neo-Noir [TIFF] at The Playlist.

This is the time of year, right before the kickoff of the Cannes Film Festival, when filmmakers put together tentative projects to present at the Cannes Film Market. This is when we get teases for massive features with amazing casts and filmmakers all being offered to the highest bidder. And this year, perhaps the most intriguing project up for sale is “Assassination.”

According to Arclight Films, David Mamet is ready to begin work on his newest film, “Assassination.” And as you might expect from a Mamet production, the filmmaker has pulled together a truly impressive cast that includes Al Pacino (“The Irishman”), Viggo Mortensen (“Eastern Promises”), John Travolta (“Pulp Fiction”), Shia LaBeouf (“Honey Boy”), Rebecca Pidgeon (“Heist”), and Courtney Love (“The People vs.

Continue reading ‘Assassination’: Al Pacino, Shia LaBeouf, Viggo Mortensen & More To Star In David Mamet’s New Thriller at The Playlist.

With his high-profile court case with ex-wife Amber Heard behind him, Johnny Depp begins his career comeback. First up, he stars in Maïwenn‘s “Jeanne du Barry” as King Louis XV, with the film opening the Cannes Film Festival on May 16. But after that, Depp will direct “Modi,” a biopic about Italian artist Amedeu Modigliani.

Continue reading ‘Modi’: Al Pacino Joins Cast Of Johnny Depp’s Upcoming Biopic About Italian Artist Amedeu Modigliani at The Playlist.

Variety reports that legendary actor Al Pacino had all sorts of stories to share at a talk he did at the 92nd Street Y in NYC this week. Among them: Pacino turned down the role of Han Solo in “Star Wars,” despite “so much money” being offered him. As the actor tells it: “I gave Harrison Ford his career.”

READ MORE: The Essentials: Al Pacino’s Best Performances

“Well, I turned down “Star Wars,” started Pacino during his talk.

Continue reading Al Pacino Says He Turned Down ‘Star Wars’: “I Gave Harrison Ford His Career” at The Playlist.

Ever since it was announced that HBO would be moving on with “True Detective” without the help of series creator Nic Pizzolatto, people have been wondering what the filmmaker would be doing next. Well, it appears Pizzolatto has found his next project, “Easy’s Waltz,” and it’s about as anti-“True Detective” as possible. 

READ MORE: Kali Reis To Star Alongside Jodie Foster In ‘True Detective: Night Country’ From Writer-Director Issa López

According to Deadline, Nic Pizzolatto is set to write and direct the indie drama, “Easy’s Waltz.” Not only that, he’s also found his main cast, as Vince Vaughn, Michelle Monaghan, Al Pacino, and Simon Rex have all been signed.

Continue reading ‘Easy’s Waltz’: Vince Vaughn, Michelle Monaghan, Al Pacino & Simon Rex Sign On To New Film From ‘True Detective’ Creator at The Playlist.

Nearly three years have passed since David Weil’s bombastic Holocaust revenge series, “Hunters,” debuted on Prime Video to decidedly mixed reviews. The Auschwitz Memorial didn’t hold back when they leveled criticism at the project, calling its depiction of a game of human chess “dangerous foolishness & caricature.” Primarily set in the 1970s, Weil’s story showcases a group of vigilantes on the hunt for Nazis who escaped justice at the end of WWII.

Continue reading ‘Hunters’ Season 2 Review: Jennifer Jason Leigh Is A Welcome Addition To A More Measured Revenge Plan at The Playlist.

When Prime Video was promoting the first season of “Hunters,” the big selling point was Al Pacino. While the actor seems to have returned for Season 2, it appears the rest of the cast is getting the true spotlight as we move into the final batch of episodes about a group of people on the hunt for Hitler.

READ MORE: The 70 Most Anticipated TV Shows & Mini-Series Of 2023

Yes, as seen in the trailer for Season 2 of “Hunters,” Adolph Hitler is still alive and has fled to South America.

Continue reading ‘Hunters’ Final Season Trailer: Logan Lerman & Al Pacino Are On The Hunt For Hitler In Prime Video’s Series at The Playlist.

While DCU fans wait for Michael Keaton‘s brief return as Bruce Wayne/Batman in “The Flash” next year, there’s some other news on the Keaton front. The actor just wrapped photography on his second directing effort after 2009’s “The Merry Gentleman,” entitled “Knox Goes Away.” The noir thriller stars Keaton as Knox, a contract killer diagnosed with rapid-onset dementia who vows to save his estranged adult son’s life before his mind totally deteriorates.  

Continue reading ‘Knox Goes Away’: James Marsden, Marcia Gay Harden, Al Pacino & More Join Michael Keaton For His Noir Thriller at The Playlist.

When the first season of “Hunters” concluded in 2020, its reception was divisive. The revenge thriller about a fictionalized band of Nazi hunters in 1970s New York City seemed destined to generate controversy even as it was relentlessly promoted by Prime Video. Series creator and executive producer David Weil, at one point, had to defend his show against the Auschwitz Memorial, who criticized its non-historical depiction of the Holocaust and its aftermath.

Continue reading ‘Hunters’ Season 2 Trailer: Al Pacino Returns for Final Season of Prime Video’s Nazi-Hunter Revenge Thriller at The Playlist.

After years of controversy surrounding his tumultuous relationship with Amber Heard and a very public defamation trial, it appears Johnny Depp is ready to make his comeback. And though he’s already lined up some acting gigs, Depp is ready to take full advantage of his return by doing something he hasn’t done in decades—direct a feature. 

According to THR, Johnny Depp has signed on to direct the film “Modigliani.” The film is based on a play by Dennis McIntyre and scripted by Jerzy and Mary Kromolowski.

Continue reading ‘Modigliani’: Johnny Depp To Direct His First Film in 25 Years With Al Pacino Producing at The Playlist.

We are fast approaching the planned release of Michael Mann’s highly-anticipated novel sequel/prequel to his 1995 film, “Heat.” Simply titled, “Heat 2,” the book takes a “Godfather Part II” angle on the sequel by not only continuing the story from the first film but also flashing back to well before the events of the crime thriller. With the book on its way, obviously, there is already talk about a potential film adaptation.

Continue reading ‘Heat 2’: Al Pacino Recommends Timothée Chalamet To Play His Younger Self In A Potential Sequel at The Playlist.

The first character seen in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” is neither the title character, Don Vito Corleone (played to Oscar-winning perfection by Marlon Brando), his son and eventual successor Michael (Al Pacino, in his breakthrough role), nor, indeed, anyone from the brood at the story’s center. Instead, it is a decidedly secondary character, the undertaker Bonasera (Salvatore Corsitto), who also speaks the first line of dialogue, one of the most definitive opening thesis statements in the history of American cinema: “I believe in America.” 

This is not where the story of “The Godfather” – first told by Mario Puzo in his novel, then adapted to the screen by Puzo and Coppola – begins.

Continue reading The American Dream Of ‘The Godfather’ At 50 at The Playlist.

“House of Gucci” is now in theaters and people are absorbing the over-the-top cast doing their best (and sometimes not-so-good attempts at) Italian accents as they portray the opulent Gucci family. Though critics have either been in love with the choices on-screen or absolutely against the campy nature of the performances, the Gucci family itself is not happy. Not one bit. And Ridley Scott isn’t going to listen to their complaints.

Continue reading Ridley Scott Responds To Gucci Family’s Dislike Of Al Pacino’s Role: “You Should Be So F*cking Lucky” at The Playlist.

Excess is synonymous with the Gucci brand. The haute couture institution invites its customers to share in the opulence enjoyed by its founding family through their merchandise, imbuing each slouchy dress and chic little purse with the luxury of their palatial Italian villas and matching fortunes. Even before a leathery-looking Aldo Gucci (Al Pacino, perhaps the non-Nicolas Cage actor most associated with the incidental virtues of doing a lot) explains this much, Ridley Scott’s gaudy statement piece “House of Gucci” demonstrates a general understanding that its tonal target should be located somewhere over the top.

Continue reading ‘House Of Gucci’ Review: Ridley Scott’s Tale Of Fashion & Betrayal Overflows With Excess at The Playlist.

The Rewatchables podcast is no stranger to talking about Michael Mann‘s iconic crime film, “Heat.” In fact, they’ve already talked about it twice. However, for the third round, dubbed “ThreeHeat,” the hosts actually have Mann himself on to discuss his landmark film and the filmmaker’s plans for future “Heat” stories.

During the discussion, there isn’t a lot of news about the 1995 film, and Mann shuts down pretty much every one of the casting rumors, including the talk of Keanu Reeves as Val Kilmer’s Chris Shiherlis character and Michael Madsen originally being cast.

Continue reading Michael Mann Says ‘Heat’ Prequel/Sequel Novel Is Coming Summer 2022 & Dispels Old Casting Rumors at The Playlist.

Undoubtedly one of the most anticipated titles of the coming fall movie season is Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci.” The film, based on Sara Gay Forden’s 2001 book “The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed,” is a spicy slice of true-crime drama concerning the intersection of murder and high fashion, one that will almost assuredly kick up some controversy in time for the Oscars. 

READ MORE: ‘House Of Gucci’ Posters Feature An Unrecognizable Jared Leto As Paolo Gucci

“Gucci” is Scott’s second film to see a release this year (the other being the historical epic “The Last Duel”).

Continue reading ‘House Of Gucci’ Trailer: Ridley Scott Dresses Murder & High Fashion In An Extravagant Gown at The Playlist.

“I don’t consider myself to be a particularly ethical person, but I am fair,” Lady Gaga says as Patrizia Reggiani. It’s the first trailer for Ridley Scott‘s upcoming drama, “House of Gucci,” and that line tells you a lot. Co-starring Adam Driver as Maurizio Gucci, “House of Gucci” is about a legacy worth killing for. It’s. Inspired by the shocking true story of the family empire behind the Italian fashion house of Gucci.

Continue reading ‘House Of Gucci’ Trailer: It’s A Legacy Worth Killing For Starring Lady Gaga & Adam Driver By Director Ridley Scott at The Playlist.