For many filmmakers, a debut feature is typically an indie production with local actors and a shoestring budget. But sometimes, a filmmaker is able to snag some big names for a debut. That’s the case for Rachel Rose, who has landed some really big stars for her debut feature, “The Last Day.”

READ MORE: 2024 Fall Film Preview: 50 Movies To Watch

According to Variety, Alicia Vikander, Victoria Pedretti, and Wagner Moura all star in Rachel Rose’s debut film, “The Last Day.” The film wrapped production last month and tells the story of a writer who deals with her creative block but rediscovering herself and confronting issues from her past. 

Continue reading ‘The Last Day’: Alicia Vikander, Victoria Pedretti & Wagner Moura to Star in Rachel Rose’s Debut Film at The Playlist.

The fall film season is an odd one. Not only are we in a time when studios release big-budget films with A-list casts, but we also have festival favorites making their debuts in cinemas. And “Rumours” seems to fall in that latter category.

READ MORE: 2024 Fall Film Preview: 50 Movies To Watch

As seen in the new trailer, “Rumours” tells the story of powerful politicians who come together for the annual G7 summit.

Continue reading ‘Rumours’ Trailer: Cate Blanchett, Alicia Vikander & More Star In This Surreal Satire at The Playlist.

“Rumours” is one of those films you don’t forget. It’s a wild, surrealist film about something deadly serious. 

READ MORE: Venice 2024 Film Festival Preview: 15 Must-See Movies To Watch

As seen in the teaser for the film, “Rumours” tells the story of the seven leaders of the world’s wealthiest democracies at an annual G7 summit. Whereas that might sound a bit dry, believe us, this is a film that is anything but boring.

Continue reading ‘Rumours’ Teaser: Cate Blanchett, Charles Dance, Alicia Vikander & More Star In Surreal Film at The Playlist.

OK, it’s coming and coming today, but  one more excerpt from the forthcoming, imminently arriving episode of The Playlist’s The Discourse podcast featuring Jude Law and Alicia Vikander discussing their new period piece drama, “Firebrand”(read our review).

We grilled the pair about all aspects of their career, Law admitting ancient rumors of being in the mix for a version of “Superman” that Brett Ratner was going to make back in the early aughts.

Continue reading Alicia Vikander Talks Loss Of ‘Tomb Raider’ & Alex Garland Wanting To “Retire” During ‘Ex-Machina’ at The Playlist.

Olivier Assayas is back on the Croisette of the Cannes Film Festival, albeit at the Cannes Market.  And the French auteur’s next project is easily one of the buzziest packages at the festival so far.  Variety reports Assayas’ next film will be “The Wizard Of The Kremlin,” which sees the director reunite with “Irma Vep” star Alicia Vikander for a political thriller in the vein of “Carlos” and “The Wasp Network.”

READ MORE: Cannes Film Festival 2024 Preview: 22 Must-See Films To Watch

Based on Giuliano da Empoli‘s 2022 book of the same name, “The Wizard Of The Kremlin” centers on the life and rise to power of Vladimir Putin’s infamous advisor and spin doctor Vadim Baranov.

Continue reading ‘The Wizard Of The Kremlin’: Olivier Assayas’ Next Film Stars Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Zach Galifianakis & Tom Sturridge at The Playlist.

Sometimes, there are films that feature actors that are too good to pass up. “Firebrand,” which stars Alicia Vikander and Jude Law, is one of those movies. No matter the subject, just knowing they’re in the film is enough for us to pay attention.

READ MORE: ‘Firebrand’ Review: Karim Aïnouz Paints A Dull Version Of History In Handsome Period Drama [Cannes]

And as seen in the trailer for “Firebrand,” Jude Law and Alicia Vikander star in a period drama inspired by the lives of King Henry VIII and Katherine Parr.

Continue reading ‘Firebrand’ Trailer: Alicia Vikander & Jude Law Star In Period Drama About Henry VIII at The Playlist.

“Rumours” is on the way. In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Bleecker Street, the indie film studio, has released a new highlight sizzle reel emphasizing their greatest hits film accomplishments and a tease of what’s to come with never-before-seen footage. Some of Bleecker Street’s most notable titles include Steven Soderbergh’s “Logan Lucky,” “Eye in the Sky,” “Kitty Green’s “The Assistant,” Debra Granik’s “Leave No Trace” and “Captain Fantastic” (which earned Viggo Mortensen a Best Actor Oscar nomination), and many more, but it’s the upcoming titles that are the most compelling.

Continue reading Bleecker Street Gives First Look At Guy Maddin’s ‘Rumours’ With Cate Blanchett & Alicia Vikander & More Upcoming Titles at The Playlist.

In October, news broke that Cate Blanchett would team up with Canadian avant-garde auteur Guy Maddin for his next feature, “Rumours.” That was already a super-intriguing combo, but Bleeker Street has announced another premier actress has joined the film’s cast: Alicia Vikander. What was once intriguing now becomes what will likely be one of 2024’s must-see movies.

READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2024

Bleeker also released some plot details for “Rumours,” which were unavailable when Blanchett’s casting was first announced.

Continue reading ‘Rumours’: Alicia Vikander Joins Cate Blanchett On Guy Maddin’s Next Film at The Playlist.

The 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has concluded yet another wonderful week of cinematic discoveries. Previously announced awards were given to a variety of contributors to global cinema. Russell Crowe received the Crystal Globe For Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema, the Festival President’s Award For Contribution to Czech Cinematography was presented to Daniela Kolářová, and the Festival President’s Award was bestowed on Alicia Vikander, Ewan McGregor, and Robin Wright.

Continue reading Bulgarian Drama ‘Blaga’s Lessons’ Takes Top Prize: Full Karlovy Vary 2023 Award Winners at The Playlist.

As the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival looms, a cavalcade of previews for films in competition for the coveted Palme d’Or arrives. Here’s one from the first wave of titles: Karim Aïnouz‘s “Firebrand,” which stars Alicia Vikander as Katherine Parr, the sixth and last wife of England’s King Henry VIII.

Jude Law joins Vikander as Henry VIII in Aïnouz’s film, about the end of the King’s reign and the battles of will, gender, and belief that reverberate between their marriage.  

Here’s an official synopsis for “Firebrand”:

In blood-soaked Tudor England, Katherine Parr, the sixth and last wife of King Henry VIII, is named Regent while tyrant Henry is fighting overseas.

Continue reading ‘Firebrand’ First Look: Alicia Vikander & Jude Law Star In Karim Aïnouz’s English-Language Debut, In Competition At Cannes 2023 at The Playlist.

CANNES – To be frank, it’s hard to explain Olivier Assayas‘ impressive new limited series “Irma Vep” with a simple logline. It’s primarily about a modern-day movie star, Mira (Alicia Vikander), who is starring in a new limited series inspired by the classic French silent film “Les Vampires” which also inspired a 1997 film, “Irma Vep.” In the HBO series, the director (Vincent Macaigne), is remaking his own movie of “Irma Vep” into a limited series, just like Assayas is in real life.

Continue reading Alicia Vikander & Olivier Assayas & Their Very Personal Connections To ‘Irma Vep’ [Cannes] at The Playlist.

“Irma Vep” wasn’t Olivier Assayas‘ first film to premiere at Cannes, (that’d be his 1994 breakthrough ‘Cold Water‘), but the 1996 film is the one that made him a star. And not just a star: the success of “Irma Vep” made Assayas an overnight sensation in French cinema. Now, over twenty-five years later, Assayas returns to his biggest hit for a 2020s update as a limited series.

Continue reading First Look: Olivier Assayas’ ‘Irma Vep’ With Alicia Vikander Hits HBO On June 6 After Its Cannes Premiere In May at The Playlist.

Imagine being told one day that you can no longer, legally, live in the one place you’ve long called home; if you fight to stay and lose, you’ll never be able to return again. Such a scenario is the dramatic crux for Korean-American writer/director Justin Chon’s latest film, the beautiful, emotional drama “Blue Bayou,” which premiered earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival.

READ MORE: Fall 2021 Movie Preview: 60+ Must-See Films

The story of Antonio LeBlanc (Chon, in a bruising performance), a dedicated family man and soon-to-be father of two, brought to the U.S.

Continue reading Justin Chon Talks ‘Blue Bayou,’ Spotlighting The Asian Adoptee Experience, Wong Kar-Wai Comparisons & More [Interview] at The Playlist.

For a film in which John David Washington lurches, staggers, stumbles, shambles, flounders, falters, wobbles, scrabbles and totters across an entire Greek province, getting shot, stabbed, cuffed (often in the very same already broken arm), punched, beaten, chased and stung by bees, is in two-car crashes but also gets hit by a car, escapes in the trunk of a car, gets in a taser fight in a car and eventually falls from a great height onto a car,  “Beckett” sure is dull.

Continue reading Netflix’s ‘Beckett’ With John David Washington, Alicia Vikander & Vicky Krieps: A Wrong-Man Thriller That Never Gets It Right [Locarno Review] at The Playlist.

Back in 2014, Alicia Vikander broke out in a big way thanks to her incredible performance in “Ex Machina.” She followed that up with an Oscar-winning role in “The Danish Girl.” From there, she’s become one of the biggest names in Hollywood. But that latter role has been the subject of criticism since shortly after it was released due to Eddie Redmayne leading the cast as a trans woman.

Continue reading Alicia Vikander Reflects On ‘Danish Girl’ Controversy & Says The Film Was “A Learning Experience” at The Playlist.

Before even turning thirty, Alicia Vikander had already starred in the sci-fi thriller “Ex Machina,” teamed up with Matt Damon in “Jason Bourne,” was in pre-production as the lead in the reboot of the action franchise “Tomb Raider,” and had won an Academy Award for her performance in “The Danish Girl.”  Whether it be the three projects she has coming out this year, her marriage to fellow actor (and former co-star) Michael Fassbender, or time spent enjoying life’s simple pleasures, Vikander remains one of the busiest and most underrated gems in the industry.

Continue reading Alicia Vikander Talks ‘The Green Knight,’ Magic Of ’80s Fantasy Films, ‘Man from U.N.C.L.E.’ & More [The Fourth Wall] at The Playlist.

Director David Lowery‘s new mature Arthurian tale “The Green Knight” is getting some serious buzz ahead of the domestic release on July 30, and the United Kingdom is still waiting on a new date after the film got pulled there over rising cases of COVID. The filmmaker is now detailing the additions and improvements he could make with the film after it was pulled from SXSW back in 2020. 

Continue reading ‘The Green Knight’: David Lowery Added 60 VFX Shots During Delays at The Playlist.

Bravery is scarce in the heart of Gawain (Dev Patel), at least in the intrepid form attributed to medieval warriors fighting wars with immeasurable carnage. “I’m not a knight,” he exclaims ceaselessly throughout a quest to defend his honor in Arthurian times. Others claim he, in fact, resembles a heroic figure, yet underneath the chainmail, insecurity festers.

READ MORE: Summer 2021 Preview: Over 50 Movies To
Watch

Only facing the lethal challenge of the Green Knight, a mythical stand-in for death, might grant him a praiseworthy accomplishment he seeks.

Continue reading ‘The Green Knight’: David Lowery Enthralls With An Epic Feat of Bold Imagination About Human Weakness [Review] at The Playlist.

“The Green Knight” is director David Lowery‘s latest entry into the fantasy genre tackling the late 14th-century Arthurian tale “Sir Gawain & The Green Knight.” And the mature visual stunner from A24 is easily one of the most anticipated upcoming releases in 2021. 

David Lowery Says Canceled 2020 SXSW Allowed Him To Fully Recut ‘The Green Knight’

Sadly, because of the rising cases of COVID in the United Kingdom, Deadline reports that the U.K.

Continue reading ‘The Green Knight’ Release Date Pulled In The U.K. Due To The Pandemic at The Playlist.

One of the more exciting remake announcements of the last couple of years is the new “Irma Vep” TV series that is coming to HBO from A24 and filmmaker Olivier Assayas. The critically-acclaimed feature from 1996 is getting expanded into a TV series, written by Assayas, with Alicia Vikander on board to star in the lead role. And now, if that wasn’t exciting enough, we now know some of the supporting cast that will appear in “Irma Vep,” featuring some of the most talented folks around.

Continue reading ‘Irma Vep’: Adria Arjona, Carrie Brownstein, Jerrod Carmichael & Others Join Alicia Vikander In HBO’s Series at The Playlist.

“Where are you really from?” It’s an invasive question that’s awfully familiar to people of color, one that intrudes its way into our everyday lives. Though it can have innocent intentions, it’s often hostile and only works to invalidate our livelihood. You don’t really belong here, is the true meaning that lurks under that query. This is also the same question that’s asked of Antonio (Justin Chon) at the beginning of “Blue Bayou,” albeit in a different variation.

Continue reading ‘Blue Bayou’: Justin Chon’s Wong Kar-Wai Influenced Story Of Identity With Alicia Vikander Says We All Belong [Cannes Review] at The Playlist.

Justin Chon is one of the most intriguing up-and-coming filmmakers in the industry right now. However, he has yet to fully become a household name with his previous directorial outings. That said, perhaps “Blue Bayou” will be that film, thanks to a major Cannes debut and the inclusion of Alicia Vikander to the cast.

READ MORE: Cannes Film Festival 2021 Preview: 25 Films To Watch

As seen in the trailer for “Blue Bayou,” the film stars Chon and Vikander as a married couple who are just trying to get by in small-town Louisiana.

Continue reading ‘Blue Bayou’ Trailer: Justin Chon And Alicia Vikander Are Fighting For Their Family In This Cannes Drama at The Playlist.

For many people, Justin Chon might be best known for his acting role in the hugely successful “Twilight” franchise. However, if you’ve been following indie cinema for the past several years, his name has also come up as one of the best up-and-coming filmmakers working today, as is shown in his 2017 feature, “Gook.” Now, he returns with a Cannes feature, “Blue Bayou.”

READ MORE: Cannes Film Festival 2021 Preview: 25 Films To Watch

In honor of “Blue Bayou” arriving at Cannes, we’re getting our first good look at the new feature in a new clip that showcases Chon’s filmmaking talents, as well as his acting chops.

Continue reading ‘Blue Bayou’ First Look Clip: Justin Chon & Alicia Vikander Tackle Immigration Law In New Cannes Drama at The Playlist.

When Netflix announced its grand plans to release one original film a week back in January, well, let’s just say this writer was a little skeptical. Netflix has been true to their word so far, though, and with their recently announced slate of summer movies, it looks like the streaming service may pull the feat off. It’s a pretty impressive feat for Netflix, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic still stymying the movie industry at large.

Continue reading ‘Beckett’ Trailer: John David Washington & Alicia Vikander Star in Conspiracy Thriller Arriving On Netflix This Summer at The Playlist.

Watching the versatile, ever-evolving career of filmmaker David Lowery is something of a trip. He’s done very human indies (“A Ghost Story,” “The Old Man & the Gun“), crime films (“Ain’t No Bodies Saints“), but he also has a proclivity for big-budget fantasy, see 2016’s live-action adaptation of Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon.” His latest, “The Green Knight,” definitely bends towards fantasy and epic scope but seems to retain some of his indie roots.

Continue reading Watch: Legends Never Die: An Oral History Of ‘The Green Knight’ Narrated by Ralph Ineson at The Playlist.