Netflix has a number of films that it is hoping will make waves this awards season. And one of those films is Malcolm Washington’s “The Piano Lesson.”

READ MORE: ‘The Piano Lesson’ Review: Danielle Deadwyler Isn’t Here For Sibling Foolishness [Telluride]

As seen in the trailer, “The Piano Lesson” tells the story a prized heirloom piano that is causing issues between siblings. The film stars Samuel L.

Continue reading ‘The Piano Lesson’ Trailer: Danielle Deadwyler & John David Washington Star In Netflix Family Drama at The Playlist.

TELLURIDE- The third of three celebrated August Wilson plays to make it to the big screen over the past decade, “The Piano Lesson” is one that many would expect might be the most difficult to adapt. Luckily, Denzel Washington, who appeared in, directed, or produced “Fences” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” could turn to members of his own family to assist in this endeavor.

Continue reading ‘The Piano Lesson’ Review: Danielle Deadwyler Isn’t Here For Sibling Foolishness [Telluride] at The Playlist.

In recent years, we’ve seen two August Wilson plays get adapted into feature films— “Fences” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Both of those films earned acclaim from critics and plenty of awards. Will the third time be a charm, as well? That’s what Netflix is hoping for with “The Piano Lesson.”

READ MORE: The Best Films Of 2024 So Far: ‘Challengers,’ ‘Civil War,’ ‘Love Lies Bleeding’ & More

As seen in the trailer, “The Piano Lesson” tells the story of the Charles family.

Continue reading ‘The Piano Lesson’ Trailer: Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington & More Star In New August Wilson Adaptation at The Playlist.

Isn’t this interesting? Variety reports that Warner Bros. is giving Christopher Nolan‘s 2020 time-looping actioner “Tenet” a re-release in theaters, IMAX and 70mm next month as part of the build-up to “Dune: Part Two” on March 1. “Tenet” will run for one week only starting on February 23 in the US and select international markets with exclusive footage of Denis Villeneuve‘s sequel attached.

Continue reading ‘Tenet’ Re-Release Trailer: Christopher Nolan’s Time-Looping Action Extravaganza Returns To Theaters, IMAX & 70MM This February at The Playlist.

With a budget of $80 million—a pittance compared to the budgets of most modern blockbusters— Gareth Edwards has made his long-awaited return to science-fiction on the big screen with “The Creator,” a provocative sci-fi adventure set roughly 50 years in the future, where Western society is devastated by and at war with artificial intelligence (read our review). Whereas the East, having not undergone a similar tragedy, has embraced and fostered the technology.

Continue reading ‘The Creator’: DP Greig Fraser & VFX Supervisors Explain Why The Sci-Fi Film Cost $80 Million, But Still Looks Like A Blockbuster [Creatives Interview] at The Playlist.

A familiar mélange and pastiche of sci-fi-tropes you’ve seen and felt before, filmmaker Gareth Edwards’ science-fiction drama, “The Creator,” is recognizable but, nonetheless, largely compelling— skillfully understanding the crucial balance of blockbuster scale and grounding character intimacy. Its intriguing examination of what constitutes a sentient being—coupled with its aesthetic mix of lo-fi, gritty, and grimy tech blended with sleeker, cleaner, and austerely traditional visual references to the future— makes for an engaging experience clearly designed for the big screen.  

Continue reading ‘The Creator’ Review: Gareth Edwards’ Familiar Pastiche Of Lo-Fi Sci-Fi Is Epic, Intimate & Ponders A.I.’s Humanity at The Playlist.

He’s captivated our imaginations with iconic monsters and futuristic space battles, using a symphony of light, scale, sound, and mastery over visual effects. Oh, and he really knows how to make Darth Vader scary. No, we’re not talking about George Lucas. We’re talking about Gareth Edwards. Though we might as well be talking about Lucas, given how much the Welsh filmmaker channels the former’s philosophy into his work. It also helps that he has a penchant for inspired collaborations with ILM (Industrial Light and Magic) while proving himself a distinct, spiritual voice in science fiction.

Continue reading ’The Creator’: Gareth Edwards Talks The Dangers & Advancement Of A.I., The ‘Star Wars’ Influence & More [Interview] at The Playlist.

Obviously, it takes years for feature films to get developed, written, filmed, and then released. And though artificial intelligence has been a topic of sci-fi films for years, it feels like there is no better time than now to release a film about rogue A.I. taking over the world and enslaving humanity. So, you have to imagine filmmaker Gareth Edwards is pretty damn excited to be releasing “The Creator” this year.

Continue reading ‘The Creator’ Trailer: John David Washington Fights Evil AI In Gareth Edwards’ New Sci-Fi Tale at The Playlist.

Gareth Edwards hasn’t directed a film in seven years. There could be a number of reasons why, but unfortunately for him, his last film, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” was shrouded in controversy as it was heavily reported that Edwards was effectively replaced midway through production by Tony Gilroy because the former’s first cut of the film was a mess. This created a sort of takedown of Edwards’ ability as a filmmaker, forgetting that he was also the man who directed “Monsters” and “Godzilla,” both very decent high-concept films.

Continue reading ‘The Creator’ Teaser: John David Washington Fights Evil A.I. In Gareth Edwards’ New Sci-Fi Action Film at The Playlist.

Netflix is looking to put yet another high-profile project into production with a feature film adaptation of the popular stage play “The Piano Lesson” with director Malcolm Washington set to helm, the streamer announced today. The pic is based on the August Wilson (“Fences”) play of the same name with a script penned by Virgil Williams and Washington. They’ve also assembled quite a group of actors for the upcoming drama set in Pittsburgh.

Continue reading ‘The Piano Lesson’: Samuel L. Jackson & John David Washington Lead Malcolm Washington’s Netflix Drama at The Playlist.

“Amsterdam,” David O. Russell‘s first movie in seven years, hits theaters on Friday, and it’s his third team-up with Christian Bale. And IndieWire reports if things go Bale and Russell’s way, Bale hopes the new film will be one of many more collaborations between actor and director.

READ MORE: ‘Amsterdam’ Review: David O. Russell Enlists All The A-Listers To Fight The Good Fight Against The Bastards Of Fascism

Bale went into detail with IndieWire about how he and Russell first conceived the character Bale plays in “Amsterdam,” World War I veteran Burt Berdensen.

Continue reading ‘Amsterdam’: Christian Bale Says He Wants To Work With David O. Russell Again After Third Collaboration Together at The Playlist.

Christian Bale’s Burt Berenstein character says he “left his eye in France” in David O. Russell’s fanciful, murder-mystery/ larger-conspiracy comedic thriller, “Amsterdam,” a movie named for the city where the films lead trio spends their halcyon years, living, loving and laughing together. “France” is probably not as an appealing title, given how “Amsterdam” also works as a stand-in for some of the more wild, raucous, and debaucherous elements of the film, but perhaps it’s more thematically apt given its Euro-centricity and how the earnest movie is essentially about fraternity, equality, and liberty: the Tricolours meaning (hear me out: let’s not forget, France gifted the U.S.

Continue reading ‘Amsterdam’ Review: David O. Russell Enlists All The A-Listers To Fight The Good Fight Against The Bastards Of Fascism at The Playlist.

Some people adore his films, others detest his films and the man himself. (Likely for good reason.) Wherever someone may fall with their opinions on him, one thing is certain about David O. Russell: Somehow, time and time again, he attracts the most celebrated and talented actors of Hollywood with whatever he works in. Spanning the likes of “Three Kings,” “The Fighter,” and Academy Award winner “Silver Linings Playbook” and beyond, Russell has quite the extended career.

Continue reading ‘Amsterdam’ Trailer: David O. Russell’s Latest With Christian Bale, Margot Robbie & John David Washington Arrives In October at The Playlist.

David O. Russell is no stranger to massive, A-list ensemble casts. But would you believe it that he might have outdone himself for his new film, “Amsterdam?”

As seen in the trailer for “Amsterdam,” Russell’s latest tells the story of two soldiers and a nurse who grow to become good friends and colleagues as they find themselves accused of murder. Little do they know, this leads to a much bigger conspiracy, as they uncover who is really behind the death. 

READ MORE: First Look: David O.

Continue reading ‘Amsterdam’ Trailer: Christian Bale, Margot Robbie & John David Washington Star In David O. Russell’s Latest at The Playlist.

Walt Disney Studios’ presentation at CinemaCon 2022 took place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas earlier today. The preview included a look at three upcoming releases from 20th Century Studios: “The Bob’s Burgers Movie,” the newest film from David O. Russell (“American Hustle,” “Silver Linings Playbook”), and James Cameron’s first follow-up to his sci-fi action-adventure “Avatar,” the highest-grossing movie of all time.

Continue reading First Look: David O. Russell’s ‘Amsterdam’ Starring Christian Bale, Margot Robbie & John David Washington at The Playlist.

No matter who you believe, whether it’s the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) saying theaters are being destroyed by streaming or perhaps studios trying to explain how streaming and theatrical release models will benefit everyone involved, the truth is that the theatrical experience is changing in a big way. And some, like John David Washington, are concerned about the survival of the big screen experience.

READ MORE: ‘Black Widow’ Has Historically Bad Box Office Drop As Theater Owners Blame Disney+ Access

Speaking at the Locarno Film Festival (via Variety), where his new film, “Beckett,” is having its world premiere, John David Washington talked about the feature and why the festival experience has him worried about the future of the industry.

Continue reading John David Washington Talks The “Survival Of The Theatrical Experience” While At ‘Beckett’ Premiere 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.

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.

Earlier in the year, Netflix promised a barrage of movies coming in 2021. Well, they weren’t kidding and today, have unveiled a big summer slate of 30 movies coming every week this summer. Some of it has already been unveiled: Zack Snyder‘s “Army Of The Dead,” the sci-fi thriller “Oxygen” with Melanie Laurent, “Woman in the Window” starring Amy Adams and more.

Continue reading Netflix Unveils Massive Summer Slate Teaser Trailer: New Films With Felicity Jones, Jason Momoa, Shailene Woodley, Kevin Hart, Liam Neeson & More at The Playlist.

Netflix has the reputation for flooding its service with new series and movies at a breakneck pace, with many getting lost in the shuffle. But sometimes, there are genuine diamonds in the rough and there are some films that beg to be seen and not drowned out by the latest season of “Nailed It!” or a new Melissa McCarthy comedy. In May, that film might very well be “Monster.”

READ MORE: Overstylized ‘Monster’ Can’t Hide Film’s Conventional Core [Sundance Review]

As seen in the trailer for “Monster,” the drama focuses on the life of a young Black man in film school.

Continue reading ‘Monster’ Trailer: Kelvin Harrison, Jr Leads An All-Star Cast In Netflix’s Upcoming Drama at The Playlist.

Ever since the release of Netflix’s new awards-contending drama, “Malcolm & Marie,” the discussion around the film seems to stem from the writing/direction of Sam Levinson. Most people agree that Zendaya and John David Washington are doing well in their performances, but there are folks that are concerned about a white man (Levinson) as the writer-director of a film about a Black filmmaker and his relationship with a much younger Black woman.

Continue reading Zendaya Says “A Little Bit Of Our Agency Was Stripped Away” In The ‘Malcolm & Marie’ Critical Discourse at The Playlist.

With “Malcolm & Marie” finally available for everyone on Netflix, there is a large number of people watching the highly-anticipated awards contender. And with that, there are new people watching the film and having questions about the way the film came together and potentially problematic issues with the story. Now, writer-director Sam Levinson aims to explain some of those issues and why they don’t really seem applicable to “Malcolm & Marie.”

LISTEN: Sam Levinson Talks ‘Malcolm & Marie,’ The Return Of ‘Euphoria’ & His Filmmaking Father [The Playlist Podcast]

Even before the film was released, there were questions about the large age gap between the two stars of the film, Zendaya and John David Washington.

Continue reading Sam Levinson Defends Age Gap & Racial Concerns In ‘Malcolm & Marie’ at The Playlist.

“No one fucking cares about that sh*t, Malcolm!” shouts an exasperated Marie (Zendaya). Malcolm (John David Washington) worships the classic filmmakers—a love externalized by way of the vintage title credits that open the film—espousing the genius of William Wyler and the brilliance of “The Best Years of Our Lives” and “Citizen Kane.” Within the confines of this luxe modernist home, nestled in the Hollywood hills, the ensuing quarrel between the couple is unlike any other.

Continue reading ‘Malcolm & Marie:’ Zendaya And John David Washington Make For A Bad Romance That Grows Tedious [Review] at The Playlist.

In a relatively short time, John David Washington went from the newcomer starring in “BlacKkKlansman” to one of the biggest actors on the planet thanks to films like “Tenet” and the forthcoming “Malcolm & Marie,” which might land him an Oscar-nomination. So, you would have to imagine that the film world is opening up to Washington in a big, big way, and the actor knows the filmmakers he would love to collaborate with next.

Continue reading John David Washington Names Paul Thomas Anderson & Barry Jenkins As Directors He Wants To Collab With Next at The Playlist.

David O. Russell seems to have tapped most of Hollywood for his upcoming new feature film as Deadline reports a massive new wave of casting additions for the New Regency project. Plot details are been kept under wraps for the untitled movie, but it’s based on an original idea from David, which must have been compelling enough to bag this many top-shelf actors.

READ MORE: John David Washington Joins Christian Bale & Margot Robbie In David O.

Continue reading New David O. Russell Film Adds Robert De Niro, Chris Rock, Anya Taylor-Joy, Michael Shannon & Many More at The Playlist.