It is too easy to throw superlatives around when talking about filmmakers. Many directors with a decent enough filmography, who have been around long enough to be forgotten about can attain such a status. The recently passed Melvin Van Peebles, however, is one of the only American filmmakers who truly deserves every beautiful descriptive that is laid upon him. He was a bona fide renaissance man. Actor, filmmaker, playwright, novelist, and composer – amongst other things, the man was a true artist.

Continue reading ‘Melvin Van Peebles: The Essential Films’ Showcases The Brilliance Of The Iconic Cinema Trailblazer at The Playlist.

As you probably already know, it was announced yesterday that the influential filmmaker, Melvin Van Peebles, passed away. And as with the passing of any sort of filmmaking royalty, folks from the industry went to social media to share kind words. (In a sadly timely release, one of this month’s Criterion releases is a new box set of Van Peebles’ early films, including “The Story of A Three-Day Pass,” “Watermelon Man,” “Don’t Play Us Cheap,” and “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song.”)

READ MORE: Criterion To Release ‘Melvin Van Peebles: Four Films’ Blu-Ray Collection This September

Ava DuVernay shared a quote by Van Peebles, a filmmaker she called “iconic.” The quote read, “You have to not let yourself believe you can’t.

Continue reading R.I.P. Melvin Van Peebles: Mario Van Peebles, Ava DuVernay, Barry Jenkins & More Remember The Iconic Filmmaker at The Playlist.

Melvin Van Peebles is a legendary filmmaker, there’s no question about that. In the ’60s, when the American filmmaker realized that studios in the U.S. weren’t going to give a Black director a chance to create cinema, Van Peebles went wherever he could to make it happen, including France where he created his first feature. Decades later, Van Peebles is one of the most revered filmmakers of his era and a trailblazer for Black artists.

Continue reading Win A Copy Of The Criterion Collection’s New ‘Melvin Van Peebles: 4 Films’ Box Set [Contest] at The Playlist.

Melvin Van Peebles is someone that revolutionized Black cinema. But when people think of his early work, many people just talk about “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song.” That’s understandable, as that film is one of the most famous of the early ‘70s. However, thanks to Janus Films, people are going to be reintroduced to the feature directorial debut from Van Peebles, “The Story of a Three-Day Pass.”

READ MORE: ‘New Order’ Trailer: Michel Franco’s Near-Future Dystopian Thriller Arrives In Theaters This May

With a new 4K restoration of “The Story of a Three-Day Pass” coming to theaters (both virtual and physical) next month, we’re happy to give our readers an exclusive look at the new trailer for Mario Van Peebles oft-forgotten debut film.

Continue reading ‘The Story Of A Three-Day Pass’ Trailer: Melvin Van Peebles Underseen Debut Gets The Restoration Treatment [Exclusive] at The Playlist.

Nicolas Cage is entering that phase of his career where some of his movies are going straight to video. Or, in the case of “USS Indianapolis: Men Of Courage,” they are going straight to Ultra VOD first before getting a cursory theatrical outing later on.

READ MORE: The 50 Most Anticipated Films Of The Fall Season

Directed by Mario Van Peebles, and featuring Tom Sizemore, Thomas Jane, Matt Lanter, and James Remar, the movie is fairly shoddy-looking war picture, based on a true story, though presented in the trappings that we’ve come to associate with Nic Cage of late. 

Continue reading Nicolas Cage Goes To War In New Trailer For ‘USS Indianapolis: Men Of Courage’ at The Playlist.

This spring, the first trailer for “USS Indianapolis: Men Of Courage” arrived promising that it would be “coming soon.” Well, here we are a few months later, and the movie is still without a U.S. distributor, or any kind of buzz really — but it has opened in the Philippines (which is appropriate, given the story, as you’ll soon find out), and a new promo has landed for the watery, wartime adventure movie.

Continue reading Nicolas Cage Is Stranded At Sea In New Trailer For ‘USS Indianapolis: Men Of Courage’ at The Playlist.

Nicolas Cage is kind of everywhere these days. And as he promised back in a 2014 Berlin interview with The Playlist, the actor has been trying out all styles and trying to get back to his indie roots. He wasn’t joking. He made David Gordon Green’s indie “Joe” which was one of Cage’s best performances in a long time and they he doubled up for two Paul Schrader films, last year’s “Dying of the Light,” and this year’s Cannes picture, “Dog Eat Dog” co-starring Willem Dafoe.

Continue reading Watch: Nicolas Cage Tries To Survive Against The Odds (& A Shark) In The First Trailer For WWII Drama ‘USS Indianapolis’ at The Playlist.

Casting: Robert Pattinson Ready For 'Brimstone,' Nicolas Cage Boards ‘USS Indianapolis’ & More

Continue reading Casting: Robert Pattinson Ready For ‘Brimstone,’ Nicolas Cage Boards ‘USS Indianapolis’ & More at The Playlist.

12 Films About Black History

Continue reading 12 Films About Black History at The Playlist.

Review: 'We The Party' Is An Overly Familiar Teen Romp That Tries To Be Something More

Continue reading Review: ‘We The Party’ Is An Overly Familiar Teen Romp That Tries To Be Something More at The Playlist.