Whenever Frances McDormand brought up the notion of her husband and frequent collaborator Joel Coendirecting her in her dream role of Lady Macbeth, he demurred – bluntly. “He said absolutely not,” she recalled; “I had no interested in theater,” he explained, and that was that. 

READ MORE: ‘The Tragedy Of Macbeth’: Denzel Washington & Frances McDormand Are Fearless In Joel Coen’s Bleak, But Thrilling Adaptation [NYFF Review]

“Doing something on the stage where there’s one sort of visual metaphor for the whole thing, which is a stage set, and that’s what you’re looking at – that’s not the way my brain works,” Coen said.

Continue reading Joel Coen & The ‘Tragedy of Macbeth’ Cast On Adapting Shakespeare, Streaming Services, & More [NYFF] at The Playlist.

Yesterday, we discussed a rare pandemic highlight: Team Deakins, the podcast that legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins—started with his wife and digital workflow consultant James Ellis Deakins. It’s cinephile mana with terrific guests and the latest is filmmaker Joel Coen, one half of the Coen Brothers. The previous post chronicled some highlights from the podcast; Coen’s insistence he will never make a Western again, his initial dislike for Orson Welles as a filmmaker, how the Coens have always had final cut in their directing career and a little bit about his next movie, “The Tragedy Of Macbeth,” his first filmmaking endeavor without his brother Ethan Coen.

Continue reading Joel Coen Talks Making TV & Small Screen Films: “Most Streaming Services Want To Buy By The Yard” at The Playlist.

Well, that was certainly a WTF kind of morning for Oscar nominations, with a lot of snubs and definitely some surprises. The biggest omissions surely being the overall lack of “First Man” and “If Beale Street Could Talk,” both missing out on Best Picture and other key awards. Alas, here’s the full list of what we feel are the biggest surprises and snubs of this morning’s nominations.

READ MORE: Oscars 2019: ‘Roma’ & ‘The Favourite’ Lead With 10 Nominations, ‘A Star Is Born’ & ‘Vice’ Closely Behind [Full List]

SNUBS

“First Man”- Overall
The writing was on the wall.

Continue reading Snubs & Surprises Of The 2019 Oscar Nominations at The Playlist.

This is the biggest lock of the night. If “Shallow” doesn’t win it’s one of the biggest upsets in Oscar history.  The song just won the Grammy in this equivalant category against insane competition including last year’s Oscar winner, “Remember Me” from “Coco.”  If any song can pull it off it’s likely “All the Stars,” but if “Shallow” isn’t announced the gasps from the audience will be picked up worldwide.  [Updated on Feb.

Continue reading 2019 Best Original Song Oscars Predictions at The Playlist.

What’s getting nominated for Best Original and Best Adapted Screenplay this year? Well, three off the top of my head that seem like locks for Best Original Screenplay are Bo Burnham’s “Eighth Grade” Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Favourite” and Paul Schrader’s “First Reformed” and our own awards guru Gregory Ellwood’s Oscar predictions concur (he also gives strong love for “Roma,” and more).

Continue reading Download Over 40 2018 Awards Season Screenplays For Free at The Playlist.

Here’s a lesson we can all take from 2018 – social media is a double-edged sword. Taking the obvious “stupid tweets = canceled” trend out of the equation, on the one hand, fans and creators get the rare chance to interact with each other, giving unprecedented access. However, on the other hand, that access can lead to some…awkward encounters for all involved.

Take the recent Twitter conversation between Zoe Kazan and a fan (who we’ll keep anonymous).

Continue reading Zoe Kazan Confronts Fan On Twitter After ‘Buster Scruggs’ Criticism, Calling It “Salty” & “Basic” at The Playlist.

As the year races to a close, we’re all on the verge of killing each other, at least on Film Twitter. Everyone’s ornery as we sprint to make those deadlines, but before we declare war on one another, remember we still have inspiring and movie music to celebrate and soothe us. In crafting this piece over the years – Best Soundtracks and Scores – we’ve discovered it’s one of the most soothing, one of the best balms of the end of the year.

Continue reading The 20 Best Film Soundtracks & Scores Of 2018 at The Playlist.

2018 saw the passing of a cinematography legend in Robby Müller, a regular collaborator of Wim Wenders and Jim Jarmusch, who with his work on “Paris, Texas,” “Down By Law,” “Dead Man” and Lars von Trier’s “Breaking the Waves” was responsible, perhaps more than anyone, for defining and expanding the aesthetics of the 1980s and 1990s arthouse. It is a sad note in a year that has been otherwise a banner year for the craft he perfected and elevated, and so as our small tribute, we dedicate our list of the Best Cinematography of 2018 to him.

Continue reading The Best Cinematography of 2018 at The Playlist.

As we say with most of the Best of 2018 lists we share each year, narrowing down the choices for any film fan is a bit of a problem. How are you supposed to only list your top 10 when there are probably two or three dozen films that deserve some sort of special recognition? Are you a bit of a snob if you leave out objectively good films like “Black Panther” and “A Star is Born?” Is it jumping on the bandwagon to say “If Beale Street Could Talk” is your Oscar front-runner?

Continue reading The New Yorker Laughs At Your Puny Top 10 Lists And Presents The Top 40 Films Of 2018 at The Playlist.

On this episode of Adjust Your Tracking, Joe and I once again find ourselves gushing over Netflix movies. My oh my, how things have changed this year! We can’t deny the pleasures of “The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs” (Playlist review here) which, even though it may be mid-tier Coen Brothers (mileage will vary for all of course), is still a lot of fun and another feather in the cap of Netflix’ recent, bold partnerships with great auteur filmmakers.

Continue reading Does Netflix Really Care That Audiences Are Showing Up At Cinemas For ‘Roma’ & ‘Buster Scruggs’? [Adjust Your Tracking] at The Playlist.

Sandy Powell could easily win for her work on “The Favourite,” but her double nomination will sap some needed votes away. Ruth Carter is an acclaimed industry veteran who has never won and this looks like a good place for that omission to be rectified. [Updated Feb. 12]

Predictions
1. Ruth Carter, “Black Panther”
2. Sandy Powell, “The Favourite”
3.

Continue reading 2019 Best Costumes Oscars Predictions at The Playlist.

While it appears that the buzz around Netflix’s Oscar chances this year seems to revolve around Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma,” there’s still a chance that the Coen Brothers’ latest film “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” makes some noise this awards season. Now, as the anthology Western film plays in theaters before its eventual Netflix streaming launch, the filmmaking siblings are talking about their choice to go to Netflix and why it appears that a TV project probably isn’t in the cards.

Continue reading The Coen Brothers Partially Blame Hollywood For The Decline In Theater Attendance & Explain Why TV Is An “Alien” Concept at The Playlist.

2018 will probably be a very memorable year for Zoe Kazan.  The 35-year-old actress is best known for her roles in films such as “The Big Sick,” “Ruby Sparks” and the HBO mini-series “Oliver Kitteridge,” but she’s also an accomplished screenwriter.  Kazan wrote the screenplay for “Sparks” and co-wrote the acclaimed indie “Wildlife” with husband Paul Dano that debuted at Sundance last January.  

Continue reading Zoe Kazan Sets Record Straight On ‘Buster Scruggs’ Always Being A Movie [Interview] at The Playlist.

The Coen Brothers make unique films. The way they play with tone, the odd characters, and the unique story structures have all been hallmarks of the filmmakers’ filmography. And so far, it appears that “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” might be the duo’s most unique film to date.

READ MORE: ‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs’ Presents The Best & Worst Of The Coens In A Perplexing Package [Venice Review]

In the latest trailer for ‘Buster Scruggs,’ it’s apparent that Joel and Ethan Cohen have pulled out all the stops to deliver a film that at once feels new, but yet also a Coen Brothers film.

Continue reading ‘The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs’ Trailer: The Coen Brothers’ Latest Is Getting A Theatrical Run Before Its Netflix Premiere at The Playlist.

Until the end of the year, it would seem that the trend of simply not having enough time in the day/week to see what we both want to watch and what we feel obliged to see will continue. Add to that the stress of watching as many films on our FilmStruck watch lists before the site is shut down at the end of the month. Frankly, the amount of buzz-worthy films being released in November is almost unfair.

Continue reading 16 Must-See Movies For November: ‘Favourite,’ ‘Widows,’ ‘Beale Street’ & More at The Playlist.

Netflix has succumbed to awards season pressure and is finally doing the right thing. Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” will be released in theaters before hitting the streaming service. This is a major change from the day and date model Netflix has used in the past for films such as “Mudbound” and “Private Life.”  In a surprise, however, it’s not the only awards-worthy film getting a traditional theatrical release.  The Coen Brothers’ “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” and Susanne Bier’s “Bird Box” will also receive in theater runs before hitting Netflix worldwide.

Continue reading Netflix Officially Releasing ‘Roma,’ ‘Ballad of Buster Scruggs’ & ‘Bird Box’ In Theaters at The Playlist.

AFI Fest 2018 was already looking brighter than 2017 with world premieres of “On the Basis of Sex” and “Mary, Queen of Scots” on deck.  Now, with the festival under a month away, AFI is announcing more of its trademark galas that include even more debut screenings.  What a difference a year makes.

Susanne Brier’s “Bird Box” starring Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, Sarah Paulson and John Malkovich will have its world premiere on Monday, Nov.

Continue reading ‘Bird Box’ With Sandra Bullock, ‘Widows’ And ‘Green Book’ Will Screen At AFI Fest at The Playlist.

The Coen Brothers have shown interest in the Western genre for years, dating back to their Western set-early films “Blood Simple” and “Raising Arizona” to their later more direct takes on the genre, their Oscar-winning Cormac McCarthy adaptation “No Country for Old Men” and their John Wayne remake “True Grit.” As they sat down at the New York Film Festival to discuss their latest, they revealed that they had been writing the episodes comprising “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” on and off for years.

Continue reading Coen Brothers & Stars Discuss ‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,’ Westerns, Oxen Wranglers & More [NYFF] at The Playlist.

The 56th Annual New York Film Festival is upon us once again, gifting the cinematic landscape with thrilling and compelling films carefully curated from all over the world.  Last year’s favorites included “Call Me By Your Name” and “Lady Bird,” the latter of which went onto become A24’s highest grossing film and earn not one but five Academy Award nominations.  This year is no different, the festival will unleash future classics like “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” directed by the Coen Brothers, the sweeping Mexican epic “ROMA,” the latest effort by Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuaron.

Continue reading New York Film Festival: 15 Must-See Films To Watch at The Playlist.

It’s been a long and winding road for Joel and Ethan Coen’s latest directorial outing. Originally announced as a “limited series” via Annapurna’s television department in January of 2017, the production of the Coens’ newest western “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” remained heavily under wraps. And the original report turned out to be wrong and it was Netflix footing the bill and releasing the picture.

Continue reading ‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs’ Trailer: The Coens Brothers Go West In A Six Part Anthology Film at The Playlist.

Oscar season has begun, this we know. But festival season and the awards speculation it incites just got supercharged as the Venice Film Festival has awarded all its prizes. And it’s a damn good day for Netflix. The streaming giant, which has a slew of Oscar-contenders coming out this fall just won the Best Picture award at the Lido: Alfonso Cuaron’s universally-loved “Roma” (our review), has taken the coveted Golden Lion prize.

Continue reading Venice Film Festival: Alfonso Cuaron’s ‘Roma’ Wins The Golden Lion Best Film Prize at The Playlist.

These are confusing, topsy-turvy times to be a film critic. Exhibit A: “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.” This is a film by Oscar-winning, laurel-laden critical darlings (and personal favorites) the Coen Brothers that everyone somehow kept forgetting about within the context of this Venice Film Festival lineup. It is a title co-produced by current industry savior Annapurna Pictures and current industry bête noire Netflix.

Continue reading ‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs’ Presents The Best & Worst Of The Coens In A Perplexing Package [Venice Review] at The Playlist.

We’ve already talked a great deal about the fall film slate being unleashed by streaming giant Netflix. The company has no less than a dozen noteworthy films coming out between September and the end of the year, and has firmly placed itself as one of the premier destinations for quality cinema. And as we heard from filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron yesterday, and the Coen Brothers today, there’s a big reason why Netflix is collecting all these quality films.

Continue reading Coen Brothers Talk Importance Of Netflix And Why They Wanted A Theatrical Run For ‘Buster Scruggs’ at The Playlist.

One of the most surprising announcements to come from the deluge of fall festival information is the fact that the Coen Brothers took their supposed 6-part miniseries “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” and turned it into a 2+ hour film. The series was meant to be an anthology, told in 6 separate stories, about the character known as Buster Scruggs, played by Tim Blake Nelson. And likewise, the revamped film is retaining its anthology structure, with the same 6 stories about the American West intersecting around the titular character.

Continue reading ‘Ballad Of Buster Scruggs’: Details, Cast & Names Of The Six Shorts In The Coen Brothers Anthology Film at The Playlist.

It’s that time of year again: the madness that is the fall film festival season is upon us and the first festival up to bat, as usual, is the Venice Film Festival.

The Lido, as its affectionately known, kicks off on Wednesday, August 29 and the festival is turning 75 years old. It’s an excellent milestone and many are looking back. In fact, the Hollywood Reporter just wrote a piece about the fact how “how the once-struggling event has transformed itself into an essential appointment on the awards-season calendar.”

It’s true, big time players and many Oscar Best Picture winners have debuted there including Alfonso Cuaron‘s “Gravity,” “Spotlight,” Alejandro G.

Continue reading Venice Film Festival Preview: 20 Most Anticipated Movies at The Playlist.