One of the best, most well-defining quotes about a person and about aging, life, and humanity comes from filmmaker Paul Schrader. At the 2022 Venice Film Festival, presenting his then-new film, “Master Gardener,” Schrader began reflecting on his life, his mortality, and his evolved creative raison d’etre.

READ MORE: ‘Oh, Canada’ Review: Richard Gere & Jacob Elordi Are Brilliant In Paul Schrader’s Moving Contemplation Of Legacy [Cannes]

“I used to be an artist who never wanted to leave this world without saying f*ck you,” he said.

Continue reading ‘Oh, Canada’ Trailer: Paul Schrader’s Latest Drama Stars Richard Gere, Jacob Elordi, Uma Thurman & More at The Playlist.

Paul Schrader doesn’t give a fuck. He really doesn’t. And you can tell just from reading his social media posts or the interviews he’s given over the past several years. The most interesting posts he makes are about other people’s films, where he gives the most honest critique. Sometimes his opinion about a film is positive, but other times it’s… not great. 

READ MORE: Paul Schrader Says The Only Filmmakers Who Find Success With Streaming Are “Privileged Babies”

In a recent piece for Interview, Paul Schrader was asked about his thoughts regarding “Joker: Folie à Deux,” and you know he wasn’t about to hold back. 

Continue reading Paul Schrader Calls ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ A “Bad Musical” & Walked Out During His Screening at The Playlist.

We’ve said it a million times already, but Paul Schrader is not one to hold back in an interview, especially if it involves a question about the current state of Hollywood. He’s just a very opinionated man. And rightfully so, as he is one of the most legendary filmmakers in modern American cinema. 

Now, in a new interview with Variety, while at the Sarajevo Film Festival, Paul Schrader was asked about the current state of streaming.

Continue reading Paul Schrader Says The Only Filmmakers Who Find Success With Streaming Are “Privileged Babies” at The Playlist.

Despite many of his generation taking time between films, Paul Schrader is a filmmaker who has kept working quite prolifically over the decades. Since 2002, he’s directed no fewer than 11 features. That’s the kind of output that filmmakers half his age would love to match. And even though he’s just now premiering his most recent film, “Oh Canada,” at the Cannes Film Festival, he’s already got his next one lined up. 

Continue reading Paul Schrader Says His Next Film Is ‘Non Compos Mentis’ & Is A “Noir, As A Kind Of Sexual Obsession” at The Playlist.

We are less than two months away from the most anticipated horror film of the year, “MaXXXine.” Coming off of the surprising (and massive) success of both “X” and “Pearl,” the trilogy-capper looks like it could become the biggest in the franchise yet. But there are still many trying to pinpoint exactly what style filmmaker Ti West is bringing to this film. 

Continue reading ‘MaXXXine’: Ti West Explains How Paul Schrader, ‘Terminator,’ ‘Vice Squad’ & Giallo All Mix To Bring His Next Slasher To Life at The Playlist.

Diaries are written in secrecy, free-flowing thoughts anchored to the page as if the ink could stop memories from vanishing through the hands of time. Filmmaker Paul Schrader understands the lingering, often quiet desperation of journaling like few filmmakers do. From “Taxi Driver” to “Master Gardener,” the director’s work returns time and time to a man sitting by a desk with only an open journal, his words, and a small lamp for company. 

Continue reading ‘Oh, Canada’ Review: Richard Gere & Jacob Elordi Are Brilliant In Paul Schrader’s Moving Contemplation Of Legacy [Cannes] at The Playlist.

Paul Schrader‘s follow-up to “Master Gardener,” “Oh, Canada,” will be at the EFM at the Berlinale, but the auteur already has his eyes set on another picture. IndieWire reports that Schrader teased his next project at the Q&A at Roxy Cinema in NYC. And no, it’s not the script about a trauma nurse he optioned off to Elisabeth Moss for her to direct and star in.

Continue reading Paul Schrader’s New Script He’s Writing Is About A “Sexual Obsessor” at The Playlist.

As the Berlinale gets underway, so does the annual European Film Market and its sales, with several buzzy titles at this year’s trade fair. Among them? Paul Schrader‘s next pic, “Oh, Canada!,” the director’s long-gestating adaptation of Russell Banks‘ 2021 novel “Foregone.” But “Oh, Canada!” had buzz going back to early 2023, when it became clear the film would reunite Schrader and “American Gigolo” star Richard Gere for the first time in over forty years.

Continue reading ‘Oh, Canada!’ First Look: Paul Schrader’s New Movie With Richard Gere, Jacob Elordi & Uma Thurman Arrives This Year at The Playlist.

Over the past several years, Paul Schrader has experienced a massive resurgence. No longer just a legendary screenwriter from decades past, he has become one of the most interesting and relevant filmmakers working today, even though many at his age are either retired or lesser versions of themselves, creatively. And it appears Schrader isn’t slowing down anytime soon, as he is currently in production on “Oh Canada,” and apparently, already has a new film already lined up for Netflix.

Continue reading ‘Three Guns At Dawn’: Paul Schrader Thinks He Should Co-Direct South Central Noir With A Black Filmmaker at The Playlist.

At 77 years young, Paul Schrader is really in a considerable renaissance period. He was undoubtedly in the wild and lost in the woods there for a few years, but he returned to his “Taxi Driver” roots and a style of minimalism he always professed to love but never actually attempted with “First Reformed” (2017), which paid off with huge dividends. Every film he’s directed since “The Card Counter” and “Master Gardener” has shown a filmmaker totally rejuvenated in his old age.

Continue reading Paul Schrader Calls Joaquin Phoenix “Bland” & Throws DiCaprio’s ‘Killers Of The Flower’ “Idiot” Character Under The Bus at The Playlist.

Let’s get to the new and then get to the semi-old, something we missed back in the day. Indiewire recently invited over 35 filmmakers to participate in a list of their favorite films of 2023. One of the filmmakers is the always-controversial Paul Schrader, who has named “Master Gardener” his own movie, one of his fave films of 2023.

Schader’s list in order goes like this:

• Master Gardener
• Oppenheimer
• Barbie
• American Fiction
• Maestro
• Fallen Leaves
• Leave the World Behind
• Last Summer

READ MORE: Paul Schrader Reveals Quentin Tarantino’s ‘The Movie Critic’ Will Recreate & Reimagine ’70s Films Like ‘Rolling Thunder’

Gotta love that he put it above Christopher Nolan and Greta Gerwig’s highest-grossing films of 2023 movies.

Continue reading Paul Schrader Says Elisabeth Moss Will Direct His “Feminine” Script & Names His Own ‘Master Gardener’ One Of 2023’s Best Films at The Playlist.

At 77 years old, you know by now that filmmaker Paul Schrader (“Taxi Driver,” “First Reformed”) has long entered his DGAF era. His Facebook posts are always controversial (he still wants to hire the disgraced Kevin Spacey, for example), and you could essentially dedicate an entire blog to what he says on social media every day, including all the politically incorrect things he says.

Continue reading Paul Schrader Reveals Quentin Tarantino’s ‘The Movie Critic’ Will Recreate & Reimagine ’70s Films Like ‘Rolling Thunder’ at The Playlist.

Paul Schrader’s Facebook feed is pure gold. The man just loves to give hot takes left and right about new and old films. For film buffs, it’s a must-follow. That said, not all of his takes are universally beloved. A couple of years ago, he posted quite a bit about Kevin Spacey, defending the actor against those who called him an abuser. (At the time, Kevin Spacey was deep in a legal battle, fighting against sexual assault claims.) Now, Schrader is doubling down on his Spacey love, as he said that he would gladly work with the actor on a future project.

Continue reading Paul Schrader Would Gladly Work With Kevin Spacey In The Future: “Why Would I Not Work With Him?” at The Playlist.

Decades after he began his career, experiencing all of the ups and downs, it’s clear that filmmaker Paul Schrader is seemingly doing some of the best work he’s ever done late in life. “First Reformed,” “The Card Counter,” and “Master Gardener” are all films that prove Schrader still has a distinct voice in the filmmaking community. And apparently, he is putting together the pieces for what could be his final film, “Oh, Canada.” 

READ MORE: Paul Schrader Calls ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ “Tiresome Claptrap,” Says AI Could’ve Written The Script

According to Paul Schrader’s recent Facebook post, the filmmaker has confirmed that he is starting rehearsals for his next film, “Oh, Canada,” which will star Richard Gere and Jacob Elordi.

Continue reading ‘Oh, Canada’: Paul Schrader Confirms New Film Will Star Richard Gere & Jacob Elordi at The Playlist.

“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” didn’t fare as well commercially as Paramount expected, taking in $452 million in its theatrical run so far. And most of that comes from overseas, particularly China, where the film is a big hit. But lower numbers than “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” aside, the seventh film in the franchise is still a smash hit critically, and fans can’t wait for the sequel that arrives in theaters June 28, 2024.

Continue reading Paul Schrader Calls ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ “Tiresome Claptrap,” Says AI Could’ve Written The Script at The Playlist.

There have already been a lot of incredibly positive reactions to Christopher Nolan’s upcoming big-budget drama, “Oppenheimer.” Even though the film is getting rave reviews from some serious critics, perhaps Nolan’s going to listen to Paul Schrader’s opinion a bit more than the casual critic. And according to Schrader, “Oppenheimer” isn’t just good, it’s one of the best films of this century. 

READ MORE: Paul Schrader Thinks It’s A “Slippery Slope” Revisiting Finished Films, Doesn’t Like Making Movies With ”Big Toys,” & Hates Whimsy

In a Facebook post (the film legend loves sharing his opinions on films and life, in general, on Zuck’s platform), Paul Schrader raved about Christopher Nolan’s new film, “Oppenheimer.” And even though Schrader can be a bit of a curmudgeon from time to time, it sounds as if the filmmaker is absolutely over the moon with what Nolan has made.

Continue reading Paul Schrader Calls ‘Oppenheimer’ The “Best, Most Important Film Of This Century” at The Playlist.

In today’s episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo gets in the weeds with Joel Edgerton (“Warrior,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” “Thirteen Lives”). The talented writer/actor/director is promoting his latest film, “Master Gardener,” directed by the great Paul Schrader. The film acts as the third and final entry in what Schrader is now calling his “Man in a Room” trilogy, which also features “First Reformed” and “The Card Counter.” The film follows a scrupulous greenskeeper of a wealthy plantation as he tends to the needs of the grounds and a new understudy who uncovers disturbing details about the gardener’s past.

Continue reading ‘Master Gardener’: Joel Edgerton On Working With Paul Schrader, Returning To ‘Star Wars’ & More [The Discourse Podcast] at The Playlist.

Leave it to Paul Schrader to keep criticizing his filmmaking peers well into his seventies. IndieWire reports (via Interview Magazine) that Schrader had some choice words about other New Hollywood directors revisiting their previous films, and warned about the “slippery slope” of fooling around with finished products.

READ MORE: Paul Schrader & Richard Gere Will Reunite For A New Movie Later This Year

“I think that’s a very slippery slope,” Schrader said to Oscar Isaac about going back and changing old films.

Continue reading Paul Schrader Thinks It’s A “Slippery Slope” Revisiting Finished Films, Doesn’t Like Making Movies With”Big Toys,” & Hates Whimsy at The Playlist.

As the world awaits the theatrical release of Paul Schrader‘s latest outing, “Master Gardener” on May 19, news arises of his purported next picture. So what’s Schrader up to next? How about a reunion with “American Gigolo” star Richard Gere?  

READ MORE: ‘Master Gardner’ Review: Paul Schrader Builds A Fitting Ending To His Plagued Man Trilogy [Venice]

The Film Stage reports that Schrader and Gere will work together for the first time in 43 years on the director’s next film.

Continue reading Paul Schrader & Richard Gere Will Reunite For A New Movie Later This Year at The Playlist.

After flirting with obsolescence in the late 2000s, writer/director Paul Schrader has been experiencing something of a career renaissance. His original screenplay for 2017’s “First Reformed” was nominated for an Academy Award, and his 2022 follow-up “The Card Counter” appeared in numerous critics’ annual “best of” lists. Now, the acclaimed filmmaker’s momentum will be tested once again with the arrival of his latest opus “Master Gardener.” Here’s the indie crime thriller’s official synopsis:

“Narvel Roth is the meticulous horticulturist of Gracewood Gardens, a beautiful estate owned by wealthy dowager Mrs.

Continue reading ‘Master Gardener’ Trailer: Paul Schrader’s Latest Thriller Stars Joel Edgerton As A Horticulturist With A Violent Past at The Playlist.

Paul Schrader is one of the best filmmakers working today. Over the decades, he’s proven to be a risk-taking artist who isn’t afraid to push buttons or challenge the viewer. And over the past few years, he’s been willing to take that sort of attitude and use it on social media, where his Facebook posts have been filled with hot takes and savage criticism. No one is safe from Schrader’s critical opinion. Not even the most universally beloved series of 2023, “The Last of Us.”

LISTEN: ‘The Last Of Us’: Craig Mazin Talks About His Hollywood Origins, Adapting Video Games For TV & Subverting Expectations [Bingeworthy Podcast]

In a recent Facebook post, Paul Schrader explains his recent experience trying to watch HBO’s “The Last of Us.” The series tells the story of a post-apocalyptic world where a fungus infected the brains of humans and led to the near-extinction of humanity and a horde of zombie-like monsters.

Continue reading Paul Schrader Doesn’t Understand ‘The Last Of Us’ Hype & Calls Episode 3 “Super Shmaltzy Gay Bro Euthanasia Melo” at The Playlist.

Regardless of what critics are saying about “Babylon,” there’s no denying that Damien Chazelle is a smart filmmaker, who typically goes out of his way to bring a level of authenticity and respect to his subject matter. Whether that’s the trials and tribulations of a young drummer in music school in “Whiplash” or NASA missions in “First Man,” you always get the feeling that Chazelle strives for accuracy in his very intricate filmmaking style.

Continue reading Paul Schrader Questions The Amount Of Research That Went Into ‘Babylon’: “I Was Scratching My Head” at The Playlist.

Earlier this year, we spoke with Ethan Hawke about his soulful Apple TV+ movie, “Raymond and Ray,” co-starring Ewan McGregor and directed by Rodrigo Garcia. It’s a humanist meditation on brotherhood, family, grief, and trying to come to terms with that parent you had major issues with now that they’re gone (read our review).

READ MORE: The Best Documentaries of 2022

But now that the year is almost over and we’ve revealed our Best Documentaries of 2022 list—which featured Hawke’s Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward doc series, “The Last Movie Stars” at #1—now would be as good a time as any to roll out the second half of this interview where Hawke discusses this terrific documentary and much more (read our review).

Continue reading Ethan Hawke Talks ‘The Last Movie Stars,’ Working With Marvel, Paul Schrader & More at The Playlist.

To this day, not only is “Taxi Driver” thought of as one of the best American films of all time, but it’s also one of the most influential. However, most of the discussion about Martin Scorsese’s thriller, written by Paul Schrader, is focused on the performance of Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle. When Quentin Tarantino wrote about “Taxi Driver” in his new book, he had more to say about Harvey Keitel’s character, Sport.

Continue reading Quentin Tarantino Calls Making Harvey Keitel’s ‘Taxi Driver’ Character White “A Societal Compromise” at The Playlist.

Paul Schrader always knew that “Master Gardener” would be controversial.

In the legendary filmmaker’s crime-thriller, which had its North American premiere at the 60th New York Festival earlier this month, Narvel Roth (Joel Edgerton), the head horticulturist of a historic Southern estate, is tasked by its demanding owner, Norma Haverhill (Sigourney Weaver), with taking on her grand-niece Maya (Quintessa Swindell) as an apprentice, only for Roth’s past in a white-supremacist movement to come to light. 

Continue reading Paul Schrader Talks ’Master Gardener,’ Almost Casting Kevin Spacey & “Dodging That Lolita Thing By Making Him A Proud Boy” [NYFF] at The Playlist.