Considering its foothold in American pop culture, it’s somewhat surprising that there have been so few movies about pro wrestling. In fact, over the last 15 years, the only real notable narrative films on the subject are Darren Aronofsky’s 2008 drama “The Wrestler” and the solid, but already forgotten 2018 dramedy “Fighting With My Family.” The last 12 months have been something of a sea change, comparably, with Roger Ross Williams’ superb “Cassandro” about famed exótico lucha libre wrestler Saúl Armendáriz and now, Sean Durkin’s “The Iron Claw,” a spotlight on the Von Erichs, one of the most respected and snakebit families in the sport.

Continue reading ‘The Iron Claw’ Review: Sean Durkin Gives A Wrestling Dynasty Its Flowers at The Playlist.

Can a family overcome a painful past? The Von Erich brothers became legends in the wrestling world, but heartbreak soon overshadowed their triumphs. A24’s “The Iron Claw” traces the path of this famous family’s rise to stardom and the tragedies that would define their legacy. “Martha Marcy May Marlene” filmmaker Sean Durkin writes and directs ‘Claw.’ Durkin — along with casting director Susan Shopmaker — enlists a talented cast worthy of this incredible and painful true story about wrestling dynasties and family curses.

Continue reading ‘The Iron Claw’ Trailer:  Zac Efron & Jeremy Allen White Star In Sean Durkin’s A24 Wrestling Family Drama at The Playlist.

After winning its second Best Picture Oscar this year for “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” all eyes are on A24 this awards season. So is there a runaway smash hit for the distributor that matches last year’s buzz of the Daniels film? Not really, but “Past Lives” has received lots of critical loves, and Jonathan Glazer‘s “Zone Of Interest” likely will too.

Continue reading ‘The Iron Claw’: Sean Durkin’s Wrestling Dynasty Pic For A24 Lands December 22 Theatrical Release at The Playlist.

It has been ten years since Tatiana Maslany raised the bar for actors playing multiple characters in one TV show, eventually winning an Emmy for “Orphan Black” in 2016. Maslany’s ability to seamlessly switch between the roster of different clones meant it was easy to forget she was performing most of the lead roles. The same can be said for Rachel Weisz in her undertaking of identical twins Elliot and Beverly Mantle in Alice Birch’s (“Normal People,” “She Said”) dizzying update of “Dead Ringers.” Whether portraying a dozen roles or two, the ability to depict multiple singular figures is a gift Weisz consistently demonstrates across the six-episode limited series. 

Continue reading ‘Dead Ringers’ Review: Rachel Weisz Is Twice As Electric In A Brilliant Gender-Swap Reimaging at The Playlist.

David Cronenberg’s 1988 thriller, “Dead Ringers,” starring Jeremy Irons, isn’t in most Top 3 lists for the filmmaker. Sure, there are fans of the original, but it doesn’t have the devoted fanbase as films such as “The Fly,” “Crash,” “Scanners,” and “A History of Violence,” for example. However, much like his other works, “Dead Ringers” has a brilliant premise, and that seed of the story is taken in a new direction in Prime Video’s new series remake of the film.

Continue reading ‘Dead Ringers’ Trailer: Rachel Weisz Plays Twin Doctors Pushing The Limits Of Women’s Healthcare In Prime Video’s New Series at The Playlist.

Often, when you see that a Hollywood studio is hoping to remake a film or TV series, it feels like a cash grab, with no real reason for existing outside of earning a quick buck. But sometimes, there’s a remake that just feels like it could be great and actually build from what has come before. That’s the initial vibe you get from the upcoming Amazon series, “Dead Ringers.”

READ MORE: The 70 Most Anticipated TV Shows & Mini-Series Of 2023

The new drama series, “Dead Ringers,” is based on the 1988 film by director David Cronenberg.

Continue reading ‘Dead Ringers’ First Look: Rachel Weisz Stars In Series Remake Of David Cronenberg’s 1988 Film at The Playlist.

FX‘s “The Bear” was one of the hit TV shows of the summer, and that’s in no small part to Jeremy Allen White‘s riveting lead performance. Season 2 of the series is on the way, but White now has another big project lined up to keep him busy between then and now.  

READ MORE: Zac Efron To Star In Wrestling Family Saga ‘The Iron Claw’ For Sean Durkin & A24

Deadline reports that White will co-star alongside Zac Efron and Harris Dickinson in A24‘s “The Iron Claw,” Sean Durkin‘s saga about the Von Erich wrestling family.

Continue reading ‘The Iron Claw’: Jeremy Allen White Joins Zac Efron & Harris Dickinson In Sean Durkin’s A24 Wrestling Family Film at The Playlist.

With turns in “Gold” and “Firestarter” this year, Zac Efron continues to diversify his acting output and distance himself from his former teen heartthrob image. And Efron shows no signs of slowing down his drive to be taken seriously as an actor. He’s currently shooting “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” with “Green Book” director Peter Farrelly, but there’s more on the way, too.

Continue reading Zac Efron To Star In Wrestling Family Saga ‘The Iron Claw’ For Sean Durkin & A24 at The Playlist.

As we end a truly extraordinary year of movie-going (or movie-staying, maybe), and to add to our comprehensive array of Best of 2020 coverage, Be Reel assesses which directors broke through their indie roots to become household names, distinct voices, and burgeoning auteurs in 2020. 

READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2020

In order, we look back on these breakout directors, some of whom have arguably already broken out before (Sean Durkin being the most obvious), but are also re-emerging after a long time in the wilderness.

Continue reading The Breakthrough Directors Of 2020 [Be Reel Podcast] at The Playlist.

Welcome one, welcome all to this weeks’ fun-filled edition of The Playlist Podcast. This week, Charles, Mike, and Brian discuss the death of movie theaters (again), as well as two quality films, “Sound of Metal” and “The Nest,” while also being joined by director Sean Durkin.

LISTEN: ‘Freaky,’ ‘Fatman’ & David Fincher: The Good, The Bad & The Masterful [The Playlist Podcast]

First, the boys talk “Wonder Woman 1984” and the recent news the film is heading to theaters and HBO Max on Christmas Day.

Continue reading ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Goes Streaming & Sean Durkin Talks ‘The Nest’ [The Playlist Podcast] at The Playlist.

Carrie Coon, the star of “The Leftovers” and “Fargo” returns to the screen this week with the release of “The Nest,” acclaimed filmmaker Sean Durkin’s first film in almost a decade. The Emmy and Tony nominee plays Allison, who moves to England with her husband Rory (Jude Law), and children Sam (Oona Roche) and Benjamin (Charlie Shotwell).

Continue reading Carrie Coon Talks ‘The Nest,’ Filming During A Pandemic & The Importance Of Zippers In ‘Ghostbusters’ [Interview] at The Playlist.

Though film festivals are back up and running this fall (somewhat, at least), before then, all we really had to look back on in 2020 was Sundance in January. And thankfully, that festival was able to churn out quite a few solid features, including the forthcoming “The Nest,” from filmmaker Sean Durkin.

READ MORE: Sean Durkin’s ‘The Nest’ Performs Riveting Live Surgery On A Slowly Fracturing Family [Sundance Review]

As seen in the new trailer, “The Nest” is a drama (verging on psychological thriller) about a married couple that leave their comfortable suburban life to venture off to England.

Continue reading ‘The Nest’ Trailer: Sean Durkin’s First Film In Nearly A Decade Stars Jude Law & Carrie Coon at The Playlist.

Moving to a new country can be a stressful time in your life, well they actually say that moving is the most stressful thing to do, so moving countries must be a whole different ball game. Anyway, “The Nest” will focus on one family’s move from America to England. Directed by Sean Durkin (“Martha Marcy May Marlene”), the film will see a family adjusting to life in their new English Manor House, however things are not as they seem.

Continue reading ‘The Nest’ Trailer: Sean Durkin Moves An American Family To England In Creepy Drama at The Playlist.

For an autumnal, suburban-American, mid-’80s moment at the beginning of Sean Durkin‘s immaculate, clinically devastating “The Nest,” it seems Tolstoy‘s maxim about all happy families being alike might hold true. The O’Haras — husband Rory (Jude Law), wife Allison (Carrie Coon) and children Samantha (Oona Roche) and Benjamin (Charlie Shotwell) — do indeed seem happy, and not at all in particularly unusual ways.

Continue reading Sean Durkin’s ‘The Nest’ Performs Riveting Live Surgery On A Slowly Fracturing Family [Sundance Review] at The Playlist.

One
of the more exciting films that’ll debut at the Sundance Film Festival this
year is “The Nest,” the sophomore feature from Sean Durkin, who
made a splash at the same festival in 2011 with “Martha Marcy May Marlene,”
one of the most riveting and assured debut features in recent memory.
Thankfully, Durkin is already setting up his next feature, and this new film focuses
on the fascinating, uniquely tragic story of the Von Erich wrestling family.

Continue reading ‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’ Director Sean Durkin Sets Von Erich Wrestling Family Saga at The Playlist.

Directors: New Projects From Neill Blomkamp, Sean Durkin, Louis Letterier, Johnnie To, And More

Continue reading Directors: New Projects From Neill Blomkamp, Sean Durkin, Louis Letterier, Johnnie To, And More at The Playlist.

Directors: Sean Durkin Visits 'Little House On The Prairie', Spike Lee Sets Up New Doc & More

Continue reading Directors: Sean Durkin Visits ‘Little House On The Prairie’, Spike Lee Sets Up New Doc & More at The Playlist.

Review: 'Southcliffe' May Be The Best New Series On Netflix You Haven't Yet Watched

Continue reading Review: ‘Southcliffe’ May Be The Best New Series On Netflix You Haven’t Yet Watched at The Playlist.

The Power Of Christ Compels 'The Exorcist' TV Series To Keep Developing, But Without Sean Durkin

Continue reading The Power Of Christ Compels ‘The Exorcist’ TV Series To Keep Developing, But Without Sean Durkin at The Playlist.

Continue reading Watch: Powerful Trailer For Sean Durkin’s U.K. Miniseries ‘Southcliffe’ Starring Kaya Scodelario, Eddie Marsan & More at The Playlist.

Continue reading ‘Martha Marcy’ Helmer Sean Durkin To Direct Four-Part UK TV Drama ‘Southcliffe,’ From ‘Red Riding’ Writer Tony Grisoni at The Playlist.

Continue reading The Power Of Christ Compels ‘Martha Marcy’ Director Sean Durkin To Remake ‘The Exorcist’ As 10-Part TV Series at The Playlist.

Time Out Name 'The Exorcist' Greatest Horror Movie Ever: Read Top 10 Lists From Guillermo Del Toro, Drew Goddard, Ti West & More

Continue reading Time Out Name ‘The Exorcist’ Greatest Horror Movie Ever: Read Top 10 Lists From Guillermo Del Toro, Drew Goddard, Ti West & More at The Playlist.

(PDATED!) Watch Sean Durkin's 'Mary Last Seen' Short

Continue reading (PDATED!) Watch Sean Durkin’s ‘Mary Last Seen’ Short at The Playlist.

Sean Durkin's 'Mary Last Seen' Short Screens For Free On February 20th In New York

Continue reading Sean Durkin’s ‘Mary Last Seen’ Short Screens For Free On February 20th In New York at The Playlist.