Watching the noir-ish sci-fi movie “Mute,” from English filmmaker Duncan Jones (“Source Code,” “Warcraft“), I couldn’t help wondering about the intended audience the director made the film for, and whether I’d spent the last few years awaiting its 16-years-in-the-making release in vain. Watching its credits, I didn’t need to wonder. “Mute” attempts to take Jones back to the type of filmmaking of 2009 when his feature debut, “Moon,” premiered, dazzled us and proclaimed the helmer a new and exciting talent to watch.

Continue reading ‘Mute’: Duncan Jones’ ‘Blade Runner’ Wannabe Lacks Mystery & Depth [Review] at The Playlist.

[As the Emmy nominating process draws closer, we’ll be revisiting programs that have completed their seasons to provide a snapshot of their strength and weaknesses as true contenders.]

It started off slowly, but along the way, “Big Little Lies” became a buzzworthy show that fans still cannot stop talking about and entertainment writers simply won’t stop praising. In fact, you’d think it was such a slow time of year that there was nothing else to write about (ponder that for a moment).

Continue reading Emmy Contender: ‘Big Little Lies’ Has To Keep Momentum Alive In Crazy Competitive Year at The Playlist.

Lesbians. The Burmese. Maybe farmers. With all the minorities, interest groups, nationalities sexualities, and ethnicities that John Michael McDonagh finds time to craft a specially designed slur for, or chuck a throwaway insult at, in his shambolic, shaggy, occasionally very funny “War on Everyone,” it becomes a fun game to work out if there’s anyone who definitely will not be offended. I don’t think Tibetans get a mention, and I’m pretty sure meteorologists and albinos emerge unscathed.

Continue reading ‘War On Everyone’ Starring Alexander Skarsgård & Michael Pena Is A Comedy With A Target That’s Too Broad [Review] at The Playlist.

As 2016 falls into the rearview, the next 12 months are on the horizon, and one of our 100 Most Anticipated Movies is Duncan Jones‘ long-awaited “Mute.” And even though filming only kicked off this fall, Netflix hasn’t wasted a moment in giving us all a taste.

READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2017

The first look at the futuristic thriller is here, highlighting the central trio of Alexander Skarsgård, Paul Rudd and Justin Theroux who will power this Berlin-set tale that kicks off when a woman goes missing.

Continue reading First Look: Alexander Skarsgård, Paul Rudd & Justin Theroux In Duncan Jones’ ‘Mute’ at The Playlist.

A cast like Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley, directed entirely by Jean-Marc Vallée (“Dallas Buyers Club,” “Wild,” “Demolition“), might make you think they’re all gearing up some kind of Oscar prestige picture. But it like it goes with so many projects these days, “Big Little Lies” is one you’ll be watching on the small screen, and it looks like it’s going to be quite the treat this winter.

Continue reading Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman & Shailene Woodley Are Viciously Competitive In New Trailer For HBO’s ‘Big Little Lies’ at The Playlist.

Alexander Skarsgard and Cara Delevingne may have had different career paths to the big screen, but they both seem on the edge of bigger things. Skarsgard showed off his hunky talents in HBO‘s “True Blood,” and while he has since lined up plenty of indie and arthouse efforts, plus a blockbuster turn in this summer’s “The Legend Of Tarzan,” he still remains just on the outside of greater recognition.

Continue reading Alexander Skarsgard & Cara Delevingne Stricken With ‘Fever Heart’ at The Playlist.

As we discussed earlier this week, the lines between TV and cinema are now fully blurred, and that’s only a good thing. It has raised the bar for both mediums, and where it once would’ve been unusual for a film actor or director to shift to the small screen, now it’s just a regular part of the career landscape. All that being said, the talent coming with “Big Little Lies” is exceptional no matter the format, and it already looks like it’s going to be a highlight of 2017.

Continue reading Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman & Shailene Woodley Tell ‘Big Little Lies’ In First Trailer For HBO Series at The Playlist.

All fairness to David Yates, he knows to put spectacle on the big screen, but try as I might, I cannot for the life of me muster any interest in “The Legend Of Tarzan.” It looks beautifully photographed, but also gorgeously dull. I mean, sure, Alexander Skarsgard swinging around shirtless has an appeal for a certain audience, but seriously, how many times is Christoph Waltz going to play this same villain?

Continue reading Meet The King Of The Jungle In New IMAX Trailer For ‘The Legend Of Tarzan’ at The Playlist.

Sports Illustrated model and aspiring actress Brooklyn Decker has joined the cast of Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, pop star Rihanna, and Tom Arnold (huh?) and the recently announced Hamish Linklater and will be playing Kitsch’s love interest.

Continue reading Sports Illustrated Model Brooklyn Decker Joins The Increasingly Strange Cast Of ‘Battleship’ at The Playlist.

That bizarre B-list cast, so which so far numbers Taylor Kitsch and Alexander Skarsgard as naval brothers, pop star Rihanna as the female lead, and Tom Arnold (seriously, has Berg been using Richard Kelly’s casting director?), has grown by one more, as The Wrap are reporting that Hamish Linklater has joined the project, as a scientist named Cal.

Continue reading Hamish Linklater Joins The Random Cast Of Peter Berg’s ‘Battleship’; Universal Almost Scrapped The Film Entirely at The Playlist.

Described in press materials as “a psychological disaster movie [and] a beautiful film about the end of the world,” von Trier went on to add (in a rough Google translation) that he hoped “the film is personal. I do not know, until we find it.

Continue reading Details On Lars Von Trier’s End-Of-Days Disaster Film ‘Melancholia’ at The Playlist.

Speaking to Collider at the Saturn Awards he reveals that while the blogosphere has been skeptical about how his film will stack up against the original, they will be in for a surprise: “…I keep reading blogs from people saying it’s going to be far less violent than the 1971 film [or that] the rape scene will be watered down.

Continue reading Rod Lurie Says His ‘Straw Dogs’ Remake Will Be Controversial, Hard-R & Feature A 25 Minute Action Sequence at The Playlist.

Continue reading Dirty Details On The Script For Lindsay Lohan Pornstar Biopic ‘Inferno’; Josh Peck Parties On ‘Fulton Avenue;’ Fox Goes To Mars & More at The Playlist.

The film is said to feature an alien invasion plotline and centers on an international naval fleet “coming together to battle a water-bound armada of otherworldy origin.” Where was that in the board game?

Skarsgard will play a straight and narrow naval officer who is idolized by his younger brother, Kitsch’s wildly spirited officer.

Continue reading Alexander Skarsgard Joins Peter Berg’s Board Game Adaptation ‘Battleship’ at The Playlist.

Hurt of course narrated the first two parts of the U.S.A “Land of Opportunities” series that Von Trier directed which included, “Dogville,” and “Manderlay” (a third film was eventually scrapped).

Continue reading John Hurt Joins Lars Von Trier’s ‘Melancholia’ at The Playlist.

In the original film, Dustin Hoffman played the lead role of man who is forced to violently reckon with his own masculinity after his wife is brutally raped and he must defend his home against the perpetrators.

Continue reading Alexander Skarsgård Says ‘Straw Dogs’ Not A Direct Remake, Was Nearly Cast As ‘Thor’ at The Playlist.

She says despite Marvel wanting to go after Josh Hartnett for the villain Loki (Thor’s mischievous evil brother) they want to cast a relative unknown for the part of Thor and the suggestions so far jive with the gossip — as Alexandar Skarsgard, who was already rumored to be up for the role, is part of her list of actors that the studio is eyeing.

Continue reading Marvel Wants Natalie Portman For ‘Thor’; A Few Relative Unknowns Vying For Plus Josh Hartnett Lead Role? at The Playlist.