You’ve no doubt read countless anecdotes about how such and such an actor thought themselves a specific skill for a role. They learned how to box or wield a sword. Maybe they had to figure out to be a confining rock climber or deep sea diver. Whatever the case, Kelvin Harrison, Jr., who portrays the almost lost to history Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges in Stephen Williams’ “Chevalier,” had to learn the violin as close to the level of a top tier mastero as possible.

Continue reading Kelvin Harrison, Jr. Channeled Prince To Become ‘Chevalier’ [Interview] at The Playlist.

Every season, the anthology series “Genius” turns its focus to another legendary artist or thinker, giving audiences a detailed look into the life and career of the icon. And along with focusing on the likes of Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso as subjects for its first two seasons, “Genius” also ensures that an A-list talent stars in the title role, such as Geoffrey Rush and Antonio Banderas, respectively.

Continue reading Cynthia Erivo Cast As Aretha Franklin In Season 3 Of Emmy Award-Winning Series ‘Genius’ at The Playlist.

Flowers are blooming, and the grass is turning green. You know what that means — April is here! And with the beginning of Spring upon us, it’s now time to clean out your DVR of those HGTV and Food Network shows to make room for the upcoming influx of prestige television. As you are well aware, we are in the Golden Age of TV, and April has traditionally been the time that networks bring out the big guns, and premiere shows that will no doubt be the topic of conversation for the months to come.

Continue reading 10 TV Shows to Watch in April at The Playlist.

If it’s a Saturday night in Hollywood in January or February there’s a good chance a guild award ceremony is going on somewhere.  This Saturday night found the American Cinema Editors guild holding the 68th ACE Eddie Awards, an honor that is usually a precursor to the Oscar for Best Editing.  Based on this year’s winners, “Dunkirk” and “I, Tonya” are your Academy Award frontrunners.  The former wasn’t a surprise, the latter, somewhat.

Continue reading ‘Dunkirk,’ ‘I, Tonya’ and ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Big Winners At 2018 ACE Eddie Awards at The Playlist.

Like David E. Kelley in the Writing category Jean-Marc Vallée should be rewarded for the breadth of his work directing every episode of “Big Little Lies.” If not, Ryan Murphy’s “And the Winner Is…” from “Feud: Bette and Joan” – the best thing he’s ever directed – or Steven Zaillian‘s first episode of “The Night Of” could surprise. [Updated July 27]

Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, TV Movie or Dramatic Special

1.

Continue reading 2017 Best Directing For A Limited Series or TV Movie Emmy Predictions at The Playlist.

Is it “Big Little Lies” or is it “Feud: Bette and Joan”?  It’s almost a coin flip at this point. Our gut says HBO takes the big prize here and Jessica Lange upsets Nicole Kidman in the Lead Actress category. But stranger things have happened… [Updated July 20]

Outstanding Limited Series

1. “Big Little Lies”
2. “Feud: Bette and Joan”
3.

Continue reading 2017 Best Limited Series Emmy Awards Predictions at The Playlist.

While none of the sequels this weekend saw as dire a drop off as “Alice Through The Looking Glass” when compared to their originals, Hollywood still hasn’t escaped this year’s growing concern with lackluster follow-ups, while their franchise problem continues to persist (at least domestically). Basically, studios don’t make sequels for them to earn the same as or less than their predecessors, and this weekend’s results for two major follow-ups won’t have executives pouring out the champagne.

Continue reading ‘The Conjuring 2’ Scares Up Top Spot As ‘Warcraft’ Flops [Box Office] at The Playlist.

There is a point late on in “Genius,” the directorial debut of London theater director Michael Grandage, when literary cause celebre Thomas Wolfe (Jude Law) talks to a friend about his doubts regarding his legacy. He has written two extraordinarily well-received bestsellers, the success of which has fattened his ego to the roughly the size of one of his doorstop books —but, he confides, he wonders if posterity will remember him.

Continue reading ‘Genius’ Starring Colin Firth & Jude Law Is An Appealingly Earnest Prestige Biopic [Review] at The Playlist.

Watch: Colin Firth, Jude Law, And Nicole Kidman Get Literary In First Trailer For 'Genius'

Continue reading Watch: Colin Firth, Jude Law, And Nicole Kidman Get Literary In First Trailer For ‘Genius’ at The Playlist.

Berlin Review: 'Genius' Starring Jude Law, Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman, Laura Linney, Guy Pearce And Dominic West

Continue reading Berlin Review: ‘Genius’ Starring Jude Law, Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman, Laura Linney, Guy Pearce And Dominic West at The Playlist.

Watch: First Clip From 'Genius' Starring Colin Firth & Jude Law

Continue reading Watch: First Clip From ‘Genius’ Starring Colin Firth & Jude Law at The Playlist.

The 10 Most Anticipated Films Of The 2016 Berlin Film Festival

Continue reading The 10 Most Anticipated Films Of The 2016 Berlin Film Festival at The Playlist.

Continue reading Jeff Nichols’ ‘Midnight Special,’ Colin Firth’s ‘Genius’ & New Film By Alex Gibney Added To The 2016 Berlin Film Festival at The Playlist.

First Look: Colin Firth And Jude Law In Literary Tale 'Genius'

Continue reading First Look: Colin Firth And Jude Law In Literary Tale ‘Genius’ at The Playlist.

Casting: Emma Watson & Daniel Brühl Join 'Colonia,' Aiden Gillen Is 'Maze Runner: Scorch Trials' Villain And More

Continue reading Casting: Emma Watson & Daniel Brühl Join ‘Colonia,’ Aiden Gillen Is ‘Maze Runner: Scorch Trials’ Villain And More at The Playlist.

Casting: Bill Murray Is Baloo In Jon Favreau's 'Jungle Book' And More

Continue reading Casting: Bill Murray Is Baloo In Jon Favreau’s ‘Jungle Book’ And More at The Playlist.

Jude Law Replaces Michael Fassbender In 'Genius' With Colin Firth & Nicole Kidman

Continue reading Jude Law Replaces Michael Fassbender In ‘Genius’ With Colin Firth & Nicole Kidman at The Playlist.

Nicole Kidman Reportedly Joins 'Genius' With Michael Fassbender & Colin Firth

Continue reading Nicole Kidman Reportedly Joins ‘Genius’ With Michael Fassbender & Colin Firth at The Playlist.

Sean Penn Out, Colin Firth In For 'Genius' With Michael Fassbender

Continue reading Sean Penn Out, Colin Firth In For ‘Genius’ With Michael Fassbender at The Playlist.

Continue reading Michael Fassbender Eyeing Lit World Drama ‘Genius’ With Sean Penn at The Playlist.