There are a multitude of reasons why the first “John Wick” movie was successful (and the “bullet-riddled blast” of a sequel, which opens this week, seems primed to do at least as well). Primarily, it was the lean, unapologetic action bona fides of stuntmen-turned-directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch that took the slender B-movie premise and turned it into a sleek modern classic in the neo-noir genre.

Continue reading The Essentials: The 10 Best Keanu Reeves Movies at The Playlist.

Continue reading In Theaters: ‘The Road,’ ‘Old Dogs,’ ‘Ninja Assassin’ at The Playlist.

We saw this one at TIFF last week and while it’s getting rave reviews in some circles and we’re generally fans of Miller’s work, like “The Ballad Of Jack & Rose,” it’s uneven and imperfect. However, it does still leave an impact (there are a few killer scenes too), that’s mostly due to the performances. Lead actress Robin Wright Penn is generating Oscar talk from her subtle performance, and she was strong, but we weren’t necessarily blown away by her character having a nervous breakdown in the suburbs as she revisits her murky and forgotten past.

Continue reading Trailer: ‘The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee’ at The Playlist.

“The Private Lives of Pippa Lee,” is very much in the latter category, a film we knew little of, but wanted to learn more about.

Starring Robin Wright Penn, who is earning rave reviews in some circles for her supposedly nuanced performance, it’s directed by Rebbecca Miller.

Continue reading TIFF ’09 Review: ‘The Private Lives of Pippa Lee’ at The Playlist.

During today’s “Informant!” press conference at the Toronto Int. Film Festival, director Steven Soderbergh once again reiterated that there would be no chance of a fourth, “Ocean’s” film now that Bernie Mac has passed. “We’re in talks with McG for ‘Ocean’s 14’, ” Damon quipped, sarcastically, perhaps even taking a little swipe at the ‘Terminator Salvation’ filmmaker. “That one’s going to come back to you,” Soderbergh said.

Continue reading Soderbergh Reiterates: No ‘Ocean’s 14,’ ‘Pippa Lee’ Poster, Random TIFF Thoughts… at The Playlist.

The line-up was decent last year, but we got there late and only saw mediocre fare like the very-meh Zach Galifianakis film, “Visioneers,” and the hokey and contrived magic movie, “The Great Buck Howard.”

Still, this year’s slate looks much better, and maybe we’ll get a chance to see some of the good stuff. Highlights include:

• Oren Moverman’s “The Messenger” a picture about the emotional affects of war that stars Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, and Samantha Morton.

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– Marc Blucas has joined the cast of James Mangold’s untitled “Wichita” project starring Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz and Maggie Grace. Blucas will play the fireman ex- of Diaz’s character, an upbeat Midwestern woman who goes on a blind date a man (Cruise) who turns out to be a federal agent.

Continue reading Jason Reitman’s ‘Up In The Air’ To Debut At Telluride? Mark Blucas Joins ‘Wichita,’ Rashida Jones Teams With Chris Messina For ‘Mongamy’ at The Playlist.

Here’s your first look at Natalie Portman in “Love and Other Impossible Pursuits.” Directed by Don Roos (“The Opposite of Sex”), the picture chronicles the life of a home-wrecker of sorts. According to TIFF, “after winning Jack (Scott Cohen) away from his wife Carolyn (Lisa Kudrow), [Portman’s character] finds herself immersed in the cross-currents of a new hybrid family.

Continue reading TIFF ’09 Photos: ‘Love & Other Impossible Pursuits,’ ‘Pippa Lee,’ Lenny Kravitz In ‘Precious’ at The Playlist.