The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is so fraught and thorny most filmmakers these days who are not of Israeli or Palestinian heritage or from somewhere nearby the region generally tend to steer clear of all the loaded burdens and pitfalls. Versatile filmmaker Michael Winterbottom, however, is braver and/or has less compunction about that—for better and perhaps for worse. He has found another lesser-known entry point into the story, which is Mandatory Palestine, a period in history between WWI and WWII (1920-1948) when the British were in control of Palestine, and their intercession and mistakes arguably led to many of the problems that still linger in the regions today.

Continue reading ‘Shoshana’ Review: Michael Winterbottom Examines Love, Violence & Extremism In The British Ruling Years Of Palestine [TIFF] at The Playlist.

It’s a little bit strange for a TV cable channel to drop a trailer for a show that premieres in two days, but we suppose we’ll trust that AMC+ knows what its are doing. Late yesterday, the streamer revealed the first official trailer for “That Dirty Blag Bag,” a raw, epic, and romantic tale about the dark side of the Far West, which premieres March 10 exclusively on AMC+.

Continue reading ‘That Dirty Black Bag’ Trailer: Dominic Cooper Stars In An AMC+ Spaghetti Western at The Playlist.

It’s a great time to be a Terrence Malick fan. After an era of his career where people started to debate the quality of his recent works, it would appear, thanks to the rapturous reception of “A Hidden Life” from this year’s Cannes, that the filmmaker is firing on all cylinders once again. And he’s not slowing down anytime soon, as he’s already beginning work on what is reportedly his next feature, “The Last Planet.”

And thanks to a couple of new reports, Malick is deep into production on the film, with cast members being announced.

Continue reading Mark Rylance, Joseph Fiennes, Matthias Schoenaerts & More Reportedly Join Terrence Malick’s Upcoming ‘The Last Planet’ at The Playlist.

It’s not often you see a movie open where a rock star performs cunnilingus with gusto in the middle of a party, while the singer of the band doggy style fucks another and then said groupie squirts across the room in stuttering slow motion to an eruption of rowdy cheers. But hey, this is the story of Mötley Crüe, and these dirtbag lowlifes are obviously a classy bunch. Because, if you take classic tales of debauched hedonism— Led Zeppelin’s Hammer of the Gods, Aerosmith’s Walk This Way, and even Marilyn Manson’s The Long Hard Road Out of Hell— Mötley Crüe’s The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band, takes the cake.

Continue reading ‘The Dirt’: Superficial Greatest Hits Look At Mötley Crüe’s Debauchery Is An Anti-Dr. Feelgood Disaster [Review] at The Playlist.

As an event picture surrounded by controversy and expectations, “Bohemian Rhapsody” garnered a wealth of attention, box office and surprisingly–to much of the film world’s dismay–Golden Globe awards. However, as a musical biopic, like “Walk the Line” and “Straight Outta Compton” before it, the film stayed safely within its lane. Much is known about Sacha Baron Cohen’s early iteration that promised to be no-holds-barred and truthfully revealing with Queen’s biography.

Continue reading ‘The Dirt’ Trailer: Netflix’s Mötley Crüe Biopic Will Kick Start Your Heart at The Playlist.

People climb tall mountains “because they’re there.” “Loving Vincent” which closed the Antalya Film Festival last week, suggests a similarly glib and unsatisfying explanation as to why directors Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman would spend 7 years engaging 125 artists to laboriously oil-paint every single frame of a feature film (62,450 frames, to be precise), in order to tell the story of Vincent Van Gogh’s last days: because they (just about) could.

Continue reading Hand-Painted, Hard-Won ‘Loving Vincent’ [Antalya Review] at The Playlist.

In 1818, “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus” was published and became an almost immediate sensation. “Mary Shelley” is the story of its author and the creative inspiration behind the groundbreaking book. Well, eventually. Before we discover the titular writer’s genius, we must endure a fusty period drama that unfolds with such a startling lack of imagination, it’s nearly remarkable how conventional the production is, particularly when the life and famed work of Mary Shelley is so boldly unconventional.

Continue reading Elle Fanning Plays ‘Mary Shelley’ In Biopic Of ‘Frankenstein’ Creator [TIFF Review] at The Playlist.

One film that’s been running under the radar at TIFF, but has been picking up good notices from those who’ve seen it, is “The Limehouse Golem.” Hailing from acclaimed Spanish director Juan Carlos Medina, produced by the legendary Stephen Woolley, and written by Jane Goldman of “Kick-Ass” and “Kingsman” fame, the film is an adaptation of Peter Ackroyd’s novel “Dan Leno And The Limehouse Golem,” and is a period thriller set in the theater world in Victorian London.

Continue reading First Clip From Acclaimed Period Thriller ‘The Limehouse Golem’ Starring Olivia Cooke & Bill Nighy at The Playlist.

Review: Lone Scherfig's 'The Riot Club' A Bludgeoning Look At The British Elite

Continue reading Review: Lone Scherfig’s ‘The Riot Club’ A Bludgeoning Look At The British Elite at The Playlist.

Review: The Wachowskis' 'Jupiter Ascending' Starring Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis & Eddie Redmayne

Continue reading Review: The Wachowskis’ ‘Jupiter Ascending’ Starring Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis & Eddie Redmayne at The Playlist.

Watch: New International Trailer And Images For 'Jupiter Ascending' With Channing Tatum And Mila Kunis

Continue reading Watch: New International Trailer And Images For ‘Jupiter Ascending’ With Channing Tatum And Mila Kunis at The Playlist.

Watch: New Clip From Lone Scherfig's 'The Riot Club' Plus 10-Minute Interview With The Cast

Continue reading Watch: New Clip From Lone Scherfig’s ‘The Riot Club’ Plus 10-Minute Interview With The Cast at The Playlist.

TIFF Review: Lone Scherfig's 'The Riot Club' With Sam Claflin, Max Irons, Jessica Brown Findlay & More

Continue reading TIFF Review: Lone Scherfig’s ‘The Riot Club’ With Sam Claflin, Max Irons, Jessica Brown Findlay & More at The Playlist.

Casting: Charlie Hunnam Replaces Michael Fassbender in 'The Mountain Between Us;' Two More Join The Coen Bros' 'Hail Caesar!'

Continue reading Casting: Charlie Hunnam Replaces Michael Fassbender in ‘The Mountain Between Us;’ Two More Join The Coen Bros’ ‘Hail Caesar!’ at The Playlist.

TIFF Trailer: Lone Scherfig's 'The Riot Club' With Natalie Dormer, Max Irons, Sam Clafin, Jessica Brown Findlay & More

Continue reading TIFF Trailer: Lone Scherfig’s ‘The Riot Club’ With Natalie Dormer, Max Irons, Sam Clafin, Jessica Brown Findlay & More at The Playlist.

Review: Darren Aronofsky's 'Noah' Starring Russell Crowe, Emma Watson, Jennifer Connelly & More

Continue reading Review: Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Noah’ Starring Russell Crowe, Emma Watson, Jennifer Connelly & More at The Playlist.

Wherefore Art Thou? Behold A Fair Clip From 'Romeo & Juliet' And Forsooth, New Images Too

Continue reading Wherefore Art Thou? Behold A Fair Clip From ‘Romeo & Juliet’ And Forsooth, New Images Too at The Playlist.

Watch: New Trailer For 'Romeo & Juliet' Starring Hailee Steinfeld

Continue reading Watch: New Trailer For ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Starring Hailee Steinfeld at The Playlist.

Continue reading Zac Efron Is A ‘Narc,’ Zach Braff Adds Kate Hudson To ‘Wish I Was Here’ at The Playlist.

Watch: First Trailer For 'Romeo & Juliet' With Hailee Steinfeld, Paul Giamatti & More

Continue reading Watch: First Trailer For ‘Romeo & Juliet’ With Hailee Steinfeld, Paul Giamatti & More at The Playlist.

Robert Pattinson, Sam Claflin, Max Irons & Douglas Booth Circling Lone Scherfig's Adaptation Of Stage Hit 'Posh'

Continue reading Robert Pattinson, Sam Claflin, Max Irons & Douglas Booth Circling Lone Scherfig’s Adaptation Of Stage Hit ‘Posh’ at The Playlist.

On The Rise: 11 Actors To Watch In 2013

Continue reading On The Rise: 11 Actors To Watch In 2013 at The Playlist.

Sam Claflin, Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth Now Among Frontrunners For Harry Osborne In 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'

Continue reading Sam Claflin, Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth Now Among Frontrunners For Harry Osborne In ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ at The Playlist.

Continue reading Douglas Booth & Logan Lerman Set Sail With Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Noah’ at The Playlist.

Continue reading Douglas Booth Will Play Romeo Across From Hailee Steinfeld As Juliet at The Playlist.