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.

Although British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his resignation in July and will remain in power until his party chooses a leader, his legacy of incompetence will stick with him for years, if not the rest of his political career. But like Trump, who has received many kinds of satirical treatments— several actors parodying his oafishness on “Saturday Night Live”— and a kind of biopic treatment—Brendon Gleeson portraying the former last guy on “The Comey Rule”— Boris Johnson is getting a kind of biopic treatment in “This England,” starring BAFTA and Academy Award-winning actor/director Kenneth Branagh in the lead role.

Continue reading ‘This England’ Teaser: Kenneth Branagh Plays Disgraced British Prime Minster Boris Johnson For Director Michael Winterbottom at The Playlist.

How soon is too soon for a COVID-centric miniseries? For Sky Atlantic, not soon enough, as their series on Boris Johnson and the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, “This England,” hits small screens this Fall.

READ MORE: Michael Winterbottom To Direct A TV Seris About UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s COVID-19 Response

Kenneth Branagh stars as the blonde, mop-headed Prime Minister in the five-episode series.

Continue reading ‘This England’ Trailer: Kenneth Branagh Is Unrecognizable As Boris Johnson In New Miniseries at The Playlist.

Continue reading Michael Winterbottom To Direct A TV Series About UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s COVID-19 Response at The Playlist.

There are many viewers who, upon hearing that “The Trip to Greece” is very much like the three previous entries in Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s comic culinary road trip flicks, will be not disappointed but absolutely delighted. Given the current state of uncertainty and the likelihood that social-distancing will dramatically impact the ability of studios to produce new movies, new incarnations of the familiar and beloved are treasured.

Continue reading ‘The Trip To Greece’: Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon’s Multi-Film Journey Comes To Its Delightful End [Review] at The Playlist.

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are going on another ‘Trip’ with director Michael Winterbottom in the upcoming film, “The Trip to Greece.” And as seen in the new trailer, years have passed since their first encounter but the two leads are clearly firing on all cylinders as they venture into a new European territory.

“The Trip to Greece” follows Coogan and Brydon as they venture into the beautiful country to retrace the steps of Odysseus over a week-long journey.

Continue reading ‘The Trip To Greece’ Trailer: Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon Go On Another Vacation at The Playlist.

Familiarity is said to breed contempt, but in the arts, it is just as likely to produce complacency. Steve Coogan and writer/director Michael Winterbottom are marking their seventh collaboration with their newest feature, “Greed,” yet their breezy comedic shorthand only gets them so far this time around. A jumbled, over-stuffed mess of a story, the film is tonally schizophrenic and narratively confused, leaning too often on Coogan’s irresistible, intrinsic, and ultimately misplaced charm in a vessel that just isn’t designed for it.  

Continue reading Coogan and Winterbottom Reunite Again in the Mostly Bankrupt ‘Greed’ [Review] at The Playlist.

After watching the first trailer for the upcoming film “Greed,” the title is clearly no misnomer. The satire is very much a look at greed and how terrible it is, through the use of a fictional retail billionaire that needs to salvage his public image by throwing a massive party. You know, because nothing says “great guy, totally not greedy” like a lavish, star-studded private party on an island in Greece.

Continue reading Michael Winterbottom Explains How Sony Cut The Original Ending Of His Satire ‘Greed’ As The New Trailer Premieres at The Playlist.

As a wedding guest, your job is simple. You show up on time, you dress appropriately, and you wish the folks getting hitched the best of luck. One thing you don’t do is break into their home in the middle of the night and kidnap the bride at gunpoint. Alas, that’s exactly what happens in the upcoming thriller “The Wedding Guest.”

As seen in the first trailer, Dev Patel plays the titular guest named Jay.

Continue reading ‘The Wedding Guest’ Trailer: Dev Patel Kidnaps The Bride-To-Be In New Thriller From Director Michael Winterbottom at The Playlist.

Director Michael Winterbottom (“24 Hour Party People,” “A Mighty Heart“) has had a career filled with ups and downs. His knack for jumping into different genres and has always been commendable, but it makes for a rather patchy filmography. Nevertheless, the 56-year-old filmmaker never cashes it in, always pushing himself with something new and, at times, interesting. Even when he fails, he does so admirably.

Continue reading ‘The Wedding Guest’: Dev Patel Stars In Michael Winterbottom’s Patchy Drama [TIFF Review] at The Playlist.

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are back at it again with “The Trip To Spain,” a third installment to the popular impromptu comedy series where the popular pair play fictionalized versions of themselves as they wine, dine, chew and squabble their way through some of the most exotic landscapes in the world.

As reported by Screen Daily, it will shoot later this year in Spain, and Sky will broadcast the series in the U.K., but like “The Trip” and “The Trip To Italy” before it, it will be re-cut as a film feature for distribution elsewhere. 

Continue reading Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon Reteam For ‘The Trip To Spain’ at The Playlist.

Review: Michael Winterbottom's Heavy-Handed, Self-Serious 'The Face Of An Angel'

Continue reading Review: Michael Winterbottom’s Heavy-Handed, Self-Serious ‘The Face Of An Angel’ at The Playlist.

Watch: Daniel Brühl, Cara Delevingne & Kate Beckinsale Mix The Media & Murder In New Trailer For 'The Face Of An Angel'

Continue reading Watch: Daniel Brühl, Cara Delevingne & Kate Beckinsale Mix The Media & Murder In New Trailer For ‘The Face Of An Angel’ at The Playlist.

Watch: Trailer And Clip For Michael Winterbottom's Doc 'The Emperor's New Clothes' With Russell Brand

Continue reading Watch: Trailer And Clip For Michael Winterbottom’s Doc ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ With Russell Brand at The Playlist.

2015 Tribeca Film Festival Adds ‘Mojave,’ ‘Slow West,’ Schwarzenegger Zombie Movie ‘Maggie’ & More

Continue reading 2015 Tribeca Film Festival Adds ‘Mojave,’ ‘Slow West,’ Schwarzenegger Zombie Movie ‘Maggie’ & More at The Playlist.

Watch: First Trailer For Michael Winterbottom's 'The Face Of An Angel' With Daniel Brühl, Cara Delevingne & Kate Beckinsale

Continue reading Watch: First Trailer For Michael Winterbottom’s ‘The Face Of An Angel’ With Daniel Brühl, Cara Delevingne & Kate Beckinsale at The Playlist.

Continue reading Exclusive: Watch The First 5 Minutes Of ‘The Trip To Italy’ With Steve Coogan And Rob Brydon at The Playlist.

Casting: Jason Bateman Is An 'IPO Man,' Hailee Steinfeld Finds 'Love At First Sight' And More

Continue reading Casting: Jason Bateman Is An ‘IPO Man,’ Hailee Steinfeld Finds ‘Love At First Sight’ And More at The Playlist.

TIFF Review: Michael Winterbottom's 'The Face Of An Angel' With Daniel Brühl, Kate Beckinsale & Cara Delevingne

Continue reading TIFF Review: Michael Winterbottom’s ‘The Face Of An Angel’ With Daniel Brühl, Kate Beckinsale & Cara Delevingne at The Playlist.

Interview: Michael Winterbottom Talks Reteaming With Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon For 'The Trip To Italy'

Continue reading Interview: Michael Winterbottom Talks Reteaming With Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon For ‘The Trip To Italy’ at The Playlist.

Continue reading Review: Michael Winterbottom’s ‘The Trip To Italy’ Starring Steve Coogan And Rob Brydon at The Playlist.

Watch: All Roads Lead To Rome In New Trailer For 'The Trip To Italy' With Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon

Continue reading Watch: All Roads Lead To Rome In New Trailer For ‘The Trip To Italy’ With Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon at The Playlist.

Watch: Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon Hit The Road In New Teaser For 'The Trip To Italy'

Continue reading Watch: Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon Hit The Road In New Teaser For ‘The Trip To Italy’ at The Playlist.

Watch: First Teaser Trailer For Michael Winterbottom's Amanda Knox-Inspired Drama 'The Face Of An Angel'

Continue reading Watch: First Teaser Trailer For Michael Winterbottom’s Amanda Knox-Inspired Drama ‘The Face Of An Angel’ at The Playlist.

Watch: New Trailer For 'Everyday' Michael Winterbottom's Ambitious Drama Filmed Over 5 Years

Continue reading Watch: New Trailer For ‘Everyday’ Michael Winterbottom’s Ambitious Drama Filmed Over 5 Years at The Playlist.