Superficially stylishly expressive and dreamy but listlessly placed, overfilled with plot and straining to make thematic connections between its two lead characters, “Lady In The Lake” is a frustrating and often uninvolving series bogged down in too many storylines. Worse, it ambitiously tries to tell too disparate narratives and then weave them together but frequently spins its wheels and never really engages. On paper, it’s abounding with significant talents; it has an accomplished writer/director at the helm, two powerhouse leads (Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram), and a solid supporting cast (Wood Harris, Noah Jupe, Y’lan Noel, and Byron Bowers).

Continue reading ‘Lady In The Lake’ Review: Natalie Portman & Moses Ingram Can’t Save A Feverish But Soggy Thriller That Rarely Convinces at The Playlist.

Can one woman’s death put another in danger? “Lady in the Lake” explores the lives of Maddie and Cleo. The latter’s death sets into motion events that jeopardize everything that matters. “Lady in the Lake” comes from creator and director Alma Har’el, known for directing 2019’s “Honeyboy” starring Shia LaBeouf.

READ MORE: Summer TV Preview: Over 35 Must-See Series To Watch

The series sees two accomplished actors lead the cast.

Continue reading ‘Lady In The Lake’ Trailer: Natalie Portman Stars In New Drama Series From Filmmaker Alma Har’el at The Playlist.

It’s been a tumultuous few years for French filmmaker Luc Besson, to put it mildly. But with #MeToo allegations outwardly behind him and the director seemingly exonerated, it appears to be full steam ahead for the “Fifth Element” and “Leon: The Professional” director. After a four-year absence from the screen, his latest effort is the drama “DogMan,” starring Caleb Landry Jones, about a boy bruised by life who finds his salvation through the love of his dogs.

Continue reading Luc Besson Says ‘Lucy 2’ Sequel Is News To Him & Addresses Natalie Portman’s Negative Thoughts On ‘Leon’ at The Playlist.

It’s that time of year: streamers and cable networks flex their wares and tease their years. Netflix and Prime Video have already done their big 2024 pushes, and today, at the 2024 Winter Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour, it was Apple TV+’s turn. The streamer offered a glimpse at the new, original, and returning hit series that will premiere globally in spring/summer 2024.

The 70 Most Anticipated TV Shows & Mini-Series Of 2024

Coming up this year, Apple TV+ will expand its slate of originals with anticipated new series, including “Sugar,” with Colin Farrell from writer Mark Protosevich and filmmaker Fernando Meirelles; “Dark Matter” starring Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly; David E.

Continue reading Apple’s 2024 TV Slate Includes ‘Sugar’ With Colin Farrell, Jake Gyllenhaal In ‘Presumed Innocent’ & More [First Look] at The Playlist.

Guy Ritchie loves working with the same actors over and over again. So is it any surprise that Eiza González joins his upcoming pic “Fountain Of Youth“? Deadline reports that the actress joins John Krasinski and Natalie Portman on the Apple adventure film, her third Ritchie film in a row. “The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare“ with Henry Cavill and González hits theaters on April 19, while an untitled actioner with Cavill, González and “The Covenant” star Jake Gyllenhaal is in post-production now.

Continue reading ‘Fountain Of Youth’: Eiza González Joins Jon Krasinski & Natalie Portman On Guy Ritchie’s Adventure Pic at The Playlist.

And you used to think that Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott were fast. But is any filmmaker working as quickly and diligently these days as Guy Ritchie? The “Sherlock Holmes” and “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” filmmaker has been on a crazy roll since around 2019. He released two films that year, Disney’s “Aladdin” and his own gangster flick, “The Gentleman.” The pandemic delayed him slightly, but he was back in theaters in 2021 with “Wrath of Man,” and he followed that up with two more films in 2023, the spy comedy “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre,” and the Jake Gyllenhaal action thriller “The Covenant.” His 2024 film “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” starring Henry Cavill comes out April 19, 2024, via Lionsgate, and oh yeah, one more untitled action film starring Gyllenhaal, Cavill, and Eiza González is in the can and in post-production as we speak.

Continue reading ‘Fountain Of Youth’: John Krasinski & Natalie Portman To Star In Guy Ritchie’s Adventure Heist Movie at The Playlist.

We often wax effusive about movies, their meaning, their craft, their intention, how they are sculpted and shaped, but sometimes we forget about the director’s mantra: that casting is everything and we arguably sometimes take for granted how some movies that seem so perfect, may not work at all without the actors and performers at their center.

READ MORE: The 21 Best Films Of 2023

2023 was a great year for movies, see our Best Films Of 2023 list, but let’s be real, so many of these movies were make or break based on their performances.

Continue reading The 23 Best Film & Television Performances Of 2023 at The Playlist.

Todd Haynes’ critically acclaimed drama “May December” starring Oscar-winners Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, launched at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. And it is now entering the fall award season with a bang and will surely be a hot ticket as a top-tier awards contender (read our review here).

The chance to watch two excellent actresses go toe-to-toe is constantly enticing, and “May December” offers Portman and Moore their best parts in years, and both actresses deliver terrific awards-caliber performances.

Continue reading ‘May December’ Trailer: Natalie Portman & Julianne Moore Star In Todd Haynes’ Acclaimed Oscar-Bound Drama at The Playlist.

You’ll recall in 2013, one of the most anticipated movies of what would have been the next year suddenly fell apart, much to the chagrin of cinephiles everywhere. The movie was the Western “Jane Got A Gun” that was supposed to be directed by the great Lynne Ramsay (“You Were Never Really Here,” “Morvern Callar”), and it was supposed to star Natalie Portman, Michael Fassbender, Joel Edgerton, and Jude Law.

Continue reading ‘Jane Got A Gun’: Brian Duffield Recalls The “Traumatic & Terrible” Experience Of Lynne Ramsay Leaving His Western at The Playlist.

Sure, we’re knee-deep in fall film festival time, as we transition from Venice to TIFF and plan ahead for Telluride, NYFF, and the rest, but we can’t forget about those standout films from the festivals earlier this year. One of those films is Todd Haynes’ upcoming “May December.” 

READ MORE: ‘May December’ Review: An Actor Prepares In Todd Haynes’ Superlative Age-Gap Dramedy [Cannes]

While the new teaser for “May December” doesn’t really tell you much about the plot, it does show you how well received Todd Haynes’ film was when it debuted at this year’s Cannes.

Continue reading ‘May December’ Teaser: Natalie Portman & Julianne Moore Star In Todd Haynes’ Acclaimed Film at The Playlist.

CANNES – It was a warm afternoon on la Croisette when Todd Haynes sat down to chat about his celebrated new drama, “May December.” The Killer Films produced project still hadn’t been acquired yet (Netflix picked up North American rights for a reported $11 million), but the “Carol” auteur was in good spirits. Maybe he’d read the reviews. Maybe he hadn’t. But his gut instinct that the Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore two-fer was special was clearly right on.

Continue reading Todd Haynes On Natalie Portman’s ‘May December’ Scene Everyone Will Be Talking About [Interview] at The Playlist.

Coming into Cannes 2023, there was a lot of discussion about Todd Haynes’ new dramedy, “May December.” Haynes is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers working today and his latest stars none other than Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, two of the most respected actors in the world. It appears, judging by early reviews, “May December” delivers the goods and is likely going to be in the mix come awards season.

Continue reading ‘May December’ First Clip: Natalie Portman & Julianne Moore Star In Todd Haynes’ Cannes Film at The Playlist.

In “May December,” there’s trouble in the paradise of Savannah, Georgia, where the skeins of Spanish moss draped over corridors of trees wave in the gentle coastal zephyrs with each night’s picture-perfect sunset. Spouses Gracie (Julianne Moore) and Joe (Charles Melton) have opened their palatial home for a backyard BBQ; he’s manning the grill, and she’s darting about trying to make everything just right, each well aware of their role to play.

Continue reading ‘May December’ Review: An Actor Prepares In Todd Haynes’ Superlative Age-Gap Dramedy [Cannes] at The Playlist.

CANNES – Perhaps it was the fact we’ve reached the halfway point of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and the media have reached an inevitable breaking point with lack of sleep. Or maybe it was the often (but not talways) demure personalities of “May December’s” Oscar-winning stars, Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman. But the press conference for Todd Haynes‘ latest drama didn’t really come alive until the end of the proceedings when the acclaimed filmmaker was asked by an international journalist to clarify what the film’s title actually meant.

Continue reading Natalie Portman & Julianne Moore On Their “You Got This” ‘May December’ Moment [Cannes] at The Playlist.

In 2023, Natalie Portman is one of the biggest stars on the planet. However, back in the mid-‘90s, she was a pre-teen actress looking for her first major break. That came in the film, “Léon: The Professional.” However, nearly 30 years after the release of that film, which was celebrated upon its release, Portman has “complicated” feelings about that movie and the filmmaker involved.

READ MORE: ‘May December’ First Look: Natalie Portman & Julianne Moore Star In Todd Haynes’ Upcoming Cannes Film

Speaking to THR, Natalie Portman talked about the various projects she is currently promoting, including her “Angel City” docuseries and the upcoming Todd Haynes film, “May December.” However, she also talked about one of the roles that really put her on the map, in Luc Besson’s thriller, “Léon: The Professional.” 

READ MORE: Luc Besson Responds To Sexual Assault Allegations After French Court Reopens Case

In recent years, ‘Léon’ has been looked at from a different point of view.

Continue reading Natalie Portman Has “Complicated” Feelings About ‘Léon: The Professional’ & The “Cringey” Aspects Of The Film at The Playlist.

While soccer has yet to fully be embraced by American culture, that hasn’t stopped famous Hollywood figures from going out there and literally investing in the sport… and turning it into a docuseries. Over on FX, there’s “Welcome to Wrexham,” which follows the aftermath of American Rob McElhenney and his business partner Ryan Reynolds as they purchase a UK soccer team and try to make it big.

Continue reading ‘Angel City’ Trailer: Natalie Portman & Her Partners Establish A Women’s Soccer Team In HBO’s New Docuseries at The Playlist.

It’s been nearly four years since Todd Haynes released a new narrative feature film. Thankfully, that’s changing later this year with the release of his new film, “May December.” 

READ MORE: ‘Superstar’: Todd Haynes Says His Banned Carpenters Movie May Finally Get An Official Release

And with a Cannes debut on the horizon for Todd Haynes’ “May December,” Variety has just published a first-look photo of the new film which stars Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman.

Continue reading ‘May December’ First Look: Natalie Portman & Julianne Moore Star In Todd Haynes’ Upcoming Cannes Film at The Playlist.

Darren Aronofsky‘s latest film, “The Whale,” hit theaters last weekend, so now audiences get a glimpse at Brandon Fraser‘s buzzy lead performance (read The Playlist’s review of the film here). But what does Aronofsky have next on the horizon? EW reports (via The AV Club) that it may be a musical; and not just any musical, but one of his 2010 smash hit “Black Swan” with Natalie Portman.

Continue reading Darren Aronofsky Has A ‘Black Swan’ Musical In The Works at The Playlist.

With an acting career that goes back nearly twenty years, Scarlett Johansson is no stranger to being typecast. But EW reports that, when the actress sat down to talk with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman on their “Armchair Expert” podcast, Johansson opened up about how taking on more mature roles earlier in her career led her to be “hyper-sexualized” for most of her career.

READ MORE: First Look: Kristin Scott Thomas’ ‘My Mother’s Wedding’ With Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller & More

Shepherd led to the topic when he said Johannson “got labeled 15 going on 30” in her early breakout roles like 2001’s “Ghost World” and 2003’s “Lost In Translation.” Johannson admitted that thanks to her career and upbringing in Manhattan, she “definitely was in different situations that were not age-appropriate.” However, her mother was “really good about protecting” her from “a lot of that stuff, but she can’t do that for everything.” But, given her apparent maturity, Johannson eventually got roles that were highly sexual, despite sex not being “a huge part of [her] actual personality.”

“Because I think everybody thought I was older and I’d been [acting] for a long time and then I got kind of pigeonholed into this weird hyper-sexualized thing,” Johannson said.

Continue reading Scarlett Johansson Says She Was “Pigeonholed” Into “Hypersexualized” Roles Earlier In Her Career at The Playlist.

Taika Waititi‘s “Thor: Love And Thunder” opens in theaters today, and Marvel fans anticipate another wild and colorful adventure. And based on advance reviews, that’s what they’ll get, even if the movie adheres to an MCU formula that grows staler with every new film. But when audiences watch Thor and company trek to the furthest reaches of space this weekend, Natalie Portman has a funny anecdote to remind everyone that filmmaking sometimes is not so majestic.

Continue reading ‘Thor: Love And Thunder’: Natalie Portman Says One Of The Movie’s Most “Stunning” Scenes Was Shot In A Best Buy Parking Lot at The Playlist.

In our accelerated age of pop culture ADHD, it is remarkable how quickly something that feels fresh, can feel awfully familiar just one solo film later. Director Taika Waititi’s “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017) was a crucial step in the evolution of Marvel’s Asgardian god, transforming the character and franchise from stuffy, airless Shakespearean theatre to comical, immature clown who has so much to learn despite the thousands of years he has lived throughout the galaxy.

Continue reading ‘Thor: Love & Thunder’ Review: Taika Waititi Brings Mild Amusement To An Otherwise Inconsequential Sequel at The Playlist.

After hearing many of his collaborators talk about how much they love working with him, it’s clear that Taika Waititi runs a fun set while making films and TV shows. But for some people, such as Natalie Portman, who are used to more buttoned-up productions, working with Waititi can be a bit daunting. 

READ MORE: ‘Thor: Love & Thunder’: Christian Bale Didn’t Know What “MCU” Meant & Was Worried About Wearing A G-String When He Signed On

Speaking to Variety about the production of her new superhero film, “Thor: Love & Thunder,” Natalie Portman opened up about how she was a bit thrown off by how loose Taika Waititi can be about the script while on set.

Continue reading ‘Thor: Love & Thunder’: Natalie Portman Says Taika Waititi Would Often Throw The Script Away & “Just Spitball” While Filming at The Playlist.

After the audience-pleasing “Thor: Ragnarok,” MCU fans are excited to see Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman return to the franchise with “Thor: Love & Thunder.” The God of Thunder is sort of dealing with a mid-life crisis after the events of “Avengers: Endgame” as he discovers his ex-girlfriend has her own god-like powers now. This has led some to assume that the torch will be passed to her character, but that might not be the case.

Continue reading ‘Thor: Love & Thunder’: Taika Waititi Downplays Passing Of The Torch To Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster at The Playlist.

What’s there to say about “Thor: Ragnarok” four and a half years after its release? For one, it’s a bold, colorful extravaganza true to its source material’s Silver Age roots. It’s the movie that launched Taika Waititi‘s career into superstardom. It’s also the first film in the “Thor” series that won over both critics and audiences, and many claim it’s the best in the series and one of the best MCU films overall.

Continue reading ‘Thor: Love And Thunder’ Trailer: Thor’s Latest Adventure Hits Theaters On July 8 at The Playlist.

In recent years, Natalie Portman has become incredibly picky when it comes to the roles she chooses. That is to say, we’re out of her “Your Highness” and “No Strings Attached” phase of her career. So, you can understand that film fans get excited when they learn that Portman has signed on for a film. Unfortunately, in the case of one of her upcoming features, “Days of Abandonment,” it appears the project is no longer happening.

Continue reading HBO Films Pulls The Plug On Maggie Betts’ ‘Days Of Abandonment’ After Natalie Portman Drops Out at The Playlist.