There’s a long and varied history of actors playing multiple roles in the same film: from Jesse Eisenberg’s dueling office workers in the Kafka-esque “The Double,” to Jake Gyllenhaal’s washed-out doppelgängers in “Enemy,” to Jeremy Irons’ twin gynecologists in “Dead Ringers.” (Michael Keaton even tried his hand at playing four characters—one man, three clones—in Harold Ramis’ 1996 comedy “Multiplicity.

Continue reading ‘Dual’ Trailer: Aaron Paul Teaches Karen Gillan How To Fight Her Doppelgänger To The Death at The Playlist.

Sometimes you commit to a decision because it’s the one in your head, the one on the page, and it’s the north star you are aiming for. In filmmaker Riley Stearns‘ latest Sundance picture, the darkly comedic, intentionally strange, and off-kilter doppelgänger film, “Dual,” the intention is to be askew, left of center, and bizarrely funny. Another way to put it is Stearns is trying to make his version of a profoundly idiosyncratic Yorgos Lanthimos movie (“The Lobster” being the apparent parallel), where odd duck people behave eccentrically, performances walk a razor-thin tightrope tone of the unusual and peculiar, dry, deadpan laughs are the order of the day.

Continue reading ‘Dual’ Review: Riley Stearns’ Dark, Deadpan Doppelgänger Comedy Is A Misjudged Odd Duck [Sundance] at The Playlist.

Somehow, Sundance 2020 — the last in-person iteration of the fest, pre-pandemic — feels like it was both a million years ago and just the other day. If COVID has taught us anything outside revealing the darkest side of humanity, it’s that time is definitely a construct. Many are still trying to catch up on various titles they might have missed over the last twelve months — most, no doubt, out of enjoyment, but, always some out of perceived awards’ season obligation, let’s be real.

Continue reading Sundance 2022 Preview: 20 Must-See Movies From The Festival at The Playlist.

2021 is winding down as best-of lists are being released alongside Academy Awards predictions. Out with the old in with the new, as next month will see a bunch of new movies debut at the Sundance Film Festival. The film festival takes place between January 20-30. Today, the festival announced their lineup alongside dropping first-look images (see below) and synopsizes for projects such as “AM I OK?,” “Sharp Stick,” “God’s Country,” and the sci-fi pic “Dual.”

READ MORE: 22 Most Anticipated Sundance 2022 Films: ‘Cha Cha Real Smooth,’ ‘Fire of Love,’ ‘FRESH’ & More

Stephanie Allynne and comedian/actress Tig Notaro are co-directing “AM I OK?

Continue reading Sundance 2022 First Looks: Dakota Johnson In ‘AM I OK?,’ Lena Dunham’s ‘Sharp Stick,’ Karen Gillan In ‘Dual’ at The Playlist.

Putting together the 100 Most Anticipated Films list is a beast in any year. Still, in the new accelerated age of streaming with HBO Max, Apple TV+, Amazon, Netflix, and all the new players popping up every single day, it seems, the task becomes more and more daunting and nearly impossible (we could have easily gone to 200 this year).

So we’re post-COVID, but oops, not-yet post-COVID, but somehow movies have survived, even if the theatrical market becomes a more challenging and riskier gambit.

Continue reading The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2022 at The Playlist.

I’m not telling you anything you don’t know. Aside from the election result, Trashfire 2020™ was a shitty year. And a weird and disorienting year thanks to COVID-19 and having to shelter-in-place, quarantine, and social distance from one another blah, blah, blah coronavirus f*cked us hard. Movies certainly took it in the teeth this year, and especially the theatrical industrial complex, which feels like it’s on its last legs. But regardless of what happens next for theaters, people are going to continue making and releasing movies.

Continue reading The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2021 at The Playlist.

Karen Gillan in on the verge of her big breakout. Sure, she’s been featured in some of the biggest films of the last several years, with roles in two “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, two “Jumanji” films, and two “Avengers” films. But all of those appearances have been in supporting roles, without the necessary spotlight for Gillan to showcase everything she’s capable of.

Continue reading ‘Dual’: Karen Gillan, Aaron Paul, Jesse Eisenberg & More Join Riley Stearns’ New Sci-Fi Film at The Playlist.