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Exclusive: Spenser Granese (Dope Thief) is the newest addition to the cast of Marty Supreme, director Josh Safdie’s new film for A24, starring Timothée Chalamet, sources tell Deadline.

Character details are under wraps, as with the film’s plot, though the project supposedly takes loose inspiration from the story of professional ping pong player Marty Reisman. Sources close to the production have stressed, at the same time, that it’s a fictionalized original, rather than a biopic.

Pic’s eclectic ensemble also includes Gwyneth Paltrow, musician Tyler, The Creator, Odessa A’zion, magician Penn Jillette, Shark Tank panelist and entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary (aka Mr. Wonderful), Fran Drescher, Sandra Bernhard, and filmmaker Abel Ferrara.

Production is currently underway, with Safdie working from his script written with Ronald Bronstein. The duo produces alongside Eli Bush, Anthony Katagas, Chalamet and A24.

Currently, Granesa can be seen starring alongside Rooney Mara in the drama La Cocina,...

The long-standing debate about what separates a lead from a supporting performance has resurfaced this awards season. Case in point: Netflix’s high-profile contender “Emilia Pérez.” The Spanish-language musical, directed by acclaimed French auteur Jacques Audiard, has already garnered enthusiastic reviews and is poised to be a significant player across multiple Oscar categories. But the studio’s decision to campaign Karla Sofía Gascón as best actress while positioning her co-star Zoe Saldaña as a supporting actress has sparked a heated discussion.

Saldaña’s role as Rita, a lawyer who aids the drug cartel boss Manitas in faking her death, undergoing gender-affirming surgery, and emerging as “Emilia Pérez,” propels the film’s narrative. Her extensive screen time supports this argument.

According to Matthew Stewart of Screen Time Central, Saldaña’s performance clocks in at 57 minutes and 50 seconds, representing 43.69% of the film’s runtime. It’s also slightly more than Gascón’s 52 minutes and 21 seconds (39.54%) on film.

American director, screenwriter and producer Todd Haynes has been named president of the international jury of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. The Berlinale diamond jubilee (a 75th anniversary) will take place from February 13-23, 2025.

”Todd Haynes is a dazzlingly gifted writer and director with an impressive range; his body of work is at once stylistically versatile but also unmistakably his,” Berlinale Director Tricia Tuttle said in a Thursday statement. “Ever since his debut feature ‘Poison’ won the Teddy Award in 1991, the Berlinale has followed and loved his filmmaking, and we are overjoyed to have him join the festival as the President of the International Jury for our 75th edition.”

The Teddy Award is the festival’s queer-film prize. “Poison” also won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Haynes’ 2002 film “Far From Heaven” was nominated for four Oscars.

His other notable work includes “Safe” (1995), “Velvet Goldmine” (1998), the...

Todd Haynes will preside over the jury of the upcoming 75th Berlin International Film Festival. It will mark the first edition headed by Tricia Tuttle, the former head of the BFI London Film Festival,

The American director, screenwriter and producer has a long-established close rapport with the Berlinale given that his feature film debut “Poison” received the fest’s Teddy Award, the queer film prize at the event, in 1991, after winning the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.

In a statement, the Berlinale praised Haynes as “A dazzlingly gifted writer and director with an impressive range,” noting that “his body of work is at once stylistically versatile but also unmistakably his.”

Key works in Haynes’ prolific filmography comprise “Safe” (1995); “Velvet Goldmine” (1998); fictional Bob Dylan biopic “I’m Not There” (2007), which won the Grand Jury Prize in Venice; mini-series “Mildred Pierce” (2011); “Carol” (2015); “Wonderstruck” (2017); “Dark Waters” (2019); “The Velvet Underground” (2021) and “May December” (2023).

In the...

U.S. director, screenwriter and producer Todd Haynes will be the president of the international jury of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival early next year.

“Todd Haynes is a dazzlingly gifted writer and director with an impressive range; his body of work is at once stylistically versatile but also unmistakably his,” said Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle on Thursday. “Ever since his debut feature Poison won the Teddy Award in 1991, the Berlinale has followed and loved his filmmaking.”

Over nearly 40 years, Haynes has been “one of the most bold and distinctive filmmaking voices in U.S.-American cinema, beloved for his great sensitivity in exploring the interior worlds of outsiders and women, and his fascinating investigations into gender and identity,” Berlinale organizers said. “His skill at creating complex characters has attracted many of the world’s finest actors. Stars such as Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Kate Winslet, Anne Hathaway,...

Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce are the latest awards contenders to receive honors at this year’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

On Tuesday, festival organizers revealed “The Brutalist” co-stars will be given the Cinema Vanguard Award at the 40th annual Sbiff next year.

“Both Adrien and Guy have had lengthy, rewarding, and uncompromising careers – and in this year’s ‘The Brutalist’ they each give us their best work to date,” remarked Sbiff’s Executive Director Roger Durling.

Set for release in December, “The Brutalist” is Brady Corbet’s American epic about post-war American life in the 1940s as seen through the eyes of a Hungarian immigrant, played by Brody. Pearce plays a mid-Atlantic titan of industry who hires Brody’s Lazlo Toth, an architect of great renown, to help him with a new project.

Brody is the youngest Best Actor winner ever, having won the award for “The Pianist...

Exclusive: The Santa Barbara Film Festival is lauding The Brutalist stars, Oscar winner Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce, with the Cinema Vanguard Award during the 40th annual event on February 13, 2025.

The Cinema Vanguard Award recognizes actors who have forged their own path, taking artistic risks and making a significant and unique contribution to film. Previous honorees include Paul Giamatti, Colin Farrell & Brendan Gleeson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Carey Mulligan, Laura Dern, Michael B. Jordan, William DaFoe, Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Rooney Mara, Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Adams, Jean Dujardin, Bernice Bejo, Nicole Kidman, Peter Sarsgaard, Christoph Waltz, Vera Farmiga, Kristin Scott Thomas, Stanley Tucci and Ryan Gosling.

Directed by Brady Corbet with a scheduled release from A24 on December 20, The Brutalist follows an immigrant architect (Brody) who makes waves in post-World War II America, working for a fierce industrialist (Pearce). They plan to erect a mesmerizing, and defying,...

Hailing from the great Mexican director Alonso Ruizpalacios, ‘La Cocina’ (2024) is a recently released multi language film that shows the struggles and stress of working as a cook in a kitchen. Many of us have some kind of insight on the topic due to the multiple Gordon Ramsay shows that exist, but ‘La Cocina’ is a very special look on this topic as more of the focus is placed on racial differences, busy hour rushes, and the lingering idea that the work put in by individuals striving for better lives will not be appreciated at the end of the day. It is an artfully done portrait of this world that is in parts somber and distressing while also injecting a stressful energy. Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood Insider Click here to read more...

Argentinian coming-of-age drama Los Frikis by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz won best film at the 13th Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival (Emiff) at the closing ceremony on November 5.

Set in Cuba in the early 90s, the film follows a group of punk rockers who deliberately inject themselves with HIV so they can live in a treatment home.

Alonso Ruizpalacios’ black-and-white feature La Cocina walked away with both best director and best cinematography (Juan Pablo Ramírez) after opening the festival on October 30. Rooney Mara and Raúl Briones star In the Berlinale premiere surrounding a kitchen in New York.

Saoirse Ronan...

Oftentimes, studio interference hinders the quality of the final product, and Warner Bros. has been infamous for impending with the director’s vision, especially in the now-defunct Dceu. On the flip side, giving the director the full creative freedom has often led to great returns, with Todd Phillips’ Joker being one of the biggest examples.

Joker: Folie à Deux | Credit: Warner Bros.

However, the reception to Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker: Folie à Deux has been a total contrast to that of the first release, and fans aren’t slowing down with the jokes, as the film inches towards its digital release.

Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker 2 Is Set To Hit Digital After Disappointing Box-Office Run Joker: Folie à Deux | Credit: Warner Bros.

While the first Joker didn’t do huge numbers critically, most resonated with Arthur’s story of being pushed down by society, and the box office collection certainly reflected that.

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Paramount+ is ready with an entertainment-packed November this year. The upcoming month will see the premiere of some of the best Paramount+ original shows including Landman and The Agency. Just like every month, Paramount+ is ready to overload you with great content. So, we’re here to tell you about the 10 best movies and TV shows coming to Paramount+ in November 2024.

Hacksaw Ridge (November 1)

Hacksaw Ridge is a biographical epic war drama film directed by Mel Gibson from a screenplay co-written by Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight. Based on the 2004 documentary The Conscientious Objector by Terry Benedict, the 2016 film follows the story of Desmond Doss, who joins the army after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour but refuses to handle weapons and engage in war instead he chooses to serve as a combat medic in the American army.

There is nothing quite like the exciting expectation of a well-made thriller, whether we’re in a dark theater or the comfort of our own homes. This type of fiction is great at keeping people on the edge of their seats, with their hearts racing and minds desperately trying to figure out what’s going on. These must-see thrillers aren’t just chase scenes and shadowy figures; they’ve grown into complex psychological puzzles that play with our darkest fears and make us think about what we think we know.

The best thriller movies have always pushed the limits of storytelling, from Hitchcock’s superb use of anxiety to current psychological warfare on screen. I don’t know how much movies should entertain, said David Fincher, a director. It always interests me when movies make you feel bad. What makes great movies different from just fun is that they leave...

Alonso Ruizpalacios’s “La Cocina” (English Title: The Kitchen), adapted from Arnold Wesker’s play The Kitchen, is a feverish live-wire immersion into a restaurant serving tourists at Times Square. Opening with the arrival of a young Mexican woman, Estella (Anna Diaz) seeking a cook’s job at the restaurant The Grill, there’s a note of anticipation tempered with grungy realism. But she’s not the primary character in the narrative, just an entry point. Quickly, the film swerves into one of the other cooks, Pedro (Raúl Briones), who shares a family history with Estella though initially he struggles to recall her. Their families have known each other since they were kids.

Pedro is a magnificent flirt, with an easy way of skidding around another’s sour mood by dialing up his casual humor and allure. In one of the most sexually bristling scenes, he pacifies his pregnant white American girlfriend,...

Elizabeth Woodward saw an opportunity in the indie film market and ran with it. The founder and CEO of production shingle and distributor Willa is poised to break into bigger endeavors with Alonso Ruizpalacios’ “La Cocina,” which it will release Oct. 25 in New York and Nov. 1 in Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. The film then rolls out nationwide Nov. 8 in over 75 markets.

The film embodies Willa’s mission of finding great material with a social conscience and tailoring the release strategy to not only bring in audiences but really reach them through events around the film. With “La Cocina,” which played in the Berlinale competition, that strategy entails an urgency spurred by the current election campaigns, from the presidential race to races on local levels.

Woodward strives to make films that move audiences, and because she came into the industry during a time of change and transition, “I’ve...

Seine Pictures turned 12 this year, and to mark the occasion, the upstart, Latino-led production company released three films in 2024: the 2024 Cinema for Peace Award-winning documentary, “Invisible Nation”; “La Cocina,” starring Rooney Mara and Raul Briones, which premiered in North America at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival in June; and “Mistura,” an original period drama from Ricardo de Montreuil set in company founder Ivan Orlic’s home country.

“Having three films in one year for a company our size is quite an achievement that we’re very proud of and have worked very hard to achieve,” Orlic told TheWrap for our latest Office With a View Q&a.

At first glance, Orlic doesn’t make your everyday film producer. A Peruvian marine scientist-turned-filmmaker, he authored two college-level biology textbooks before combining his family’s fishing tradition and his own love for film for a career pivot in 2012. To date, Seine Pictures...

Alonso Ruizpalacios established himself as a keen observer of life in Mexico beginning with feature-length directorial debut, 2014’s Güeros. Shot in luminous black and white, the shaggy dramedy abounds as much in potshots at Mexican culture as it does in homages to cinema. His subsequent films are no less playful with form, including 2021’s docudrama A Cop Movie, a galvanizing portrait of police work that subverted genre conventions.

Ruizpalacios’s fourth feature, La Cocina, which premiered at the Berlinale earlier this year, isn’t set in Mexico, but many of its characters hail from the director’s country of origin, and their immigrant dreams are as much the subject here as the exploitative nature of capitalism. The film, based on Arnold Wesker’s 1957 play The Kitchen, is set almost entirety in a Times Square restaurant, and it finds Ruizpalacios tackling political issues from a personal perspective.

At the start of the film,...

Set at a restaurant that caters to tourists in Times Square, Alonso Ruizpalacios’s La Cocina, adapted from Arnold Wesker’s 1957 play The Kitchen, revolves around Pedro (Raúl Briones), an undocumented Mexican line cook, and Julia (Rooney Mara), a white American working front of house. When $800 goes missing from the till, triggering an investigation by restaurant management, their love story derails. Throughout, Ruizpalacios allows the Grill to be both exactly what it is—a specific workplace with its own Kitchen Confidential-style rituals and pecking order—and a microcosm of American capitalism. “American” in the broadest sense since, as Pedro reminds us, “America is not a country.”

In an important scene, the Grill’s second-generation Mexican American manager, Luis (Eduardo Olmos), is interrogating Pedro, whom he suspects of having stolen the money to pay for the abortion that Julia wants and, coincidentally, would cost $800. While the intransigent line cook sidesteps Luis...

Joaquin Phoenix’s Net Worth 2024 Revealed (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Joaquin Phoenix, a master of transformation, has captured accolades for his unforgettable performances in films like Gladiator and Joker. Known for his intense dedication to his credit, the actor has always fully immersed himself in complex characters, earning him an Academy Award. He is no stranger to accolades like Golden Globes and Oscars and has been rewarded for his emotional performances.

Born as Joaquin Rafael Bottom, the actor has a net worth of $80 million per Celebrity Net Worth. The actor’s acting career began at a young age, and he earned his breakthrough in To Die For. However, his portrayal of Commodus in Gladiator made him an international star and earned him his first Academy Award nomination.

At the age of 8, Phoenix began his acting with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. He told Fresh Air’s Terry Gross about his first acting experience,...

These days, all of the major streamers are looking to cash in on the popularity NFL.

And Hulu is taking a novel approach by offering fans more than just the action on the field.

Deadline reported today that the streamer is developing a scripted series set in the world of professional football.

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

The project will be the third Hulu series with Dan Fogelman attached as executive producer.

The untitled show is described by Deadline as “a multi-generational family drama.”

Details are scarce at the moment, but it seems that the “sprawling” storyline will center primarily on the NFL.

Fogelman has reportedly worked out a deal to collaborate with the league.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

He took a similar approach for the beloved but short-lived 2016 Fox baseball drama Pitch.

Fogelman is already an EP on Only Murders in the Building, which is currently...

Cory Michael Smith’s performance as Chevy Chase is one of the many highlights of the new film Saturday Night.

And while some viewers might be discovering the 37-year-old’s talents for the first time, Cory has been demonstrating his impressive abilities for over a decade.

After bursting onto the scene in the acclaimed 2014 HBO miniseries Olive Kitteridge, Cory quickly became a favorite of award-winning filmmaker Todd Haynes.

Cory Michael Smith attends the opening night gala of Metropolitan Opera’s “Dead Man Walking” at Lincoln Center on September 26, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

And if you’re one of the many new fans wondering where you might have seen him before, here’s a quick rundown of Cory’s most memorable roles:

Carol (2015)

Based on Patricia Highsmith’s beloved 1952 novel The Price of Salt, this Oscar-nominated film centers around an illicit romance between Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.

Demi Moore, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and filmmaker Sean Wang will be honored at Ghetto Film School’s annual Fall Benefit on Thursday, Oct. 10.

The benefit, presented by Sony and sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios and Disney, brings together leaders in the entertainment industry to support Ghetto Film School’s mission of educating, developing and celebrating the next generation of great storytellers. This year’s event will be held at the home of Veronica and Brian Grazer.

“The Benefit is a special moment where we convene our most long-standing supporters and exciting new voices to champion the accomplishments of our Fellows and alumni,” Ghetto Film School CEO Montea Robinson said in a statement. “We are thrilled to honor Demi Moore, Kelvin Harrison Jr, and Sean Wang at this year’s event on October 10th. Their work exemplifies the caliber to which our students aspire, and their personal strides in the industry...

Spoiler Alert !!!Spoiler alert for Joker: Folie à Deux

The recent release of Joker: Folie à Deux has started many conversations among fans and critics, especially about how it was received and what it means for the Joker’s legacy. Although some people liked the film, it didn’t do well at the box office and got mixed reviews, leaving many upset. Now that James Gunn and Peter Safran are in charge at DC Studios, fans are hoping they will return the Joker to his original story.

Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in Joker 2 | Credits: Warner Bros.

To truly respect Christopher Nolan’s important version of the Joker, Gunn needs to bring back the character’s classic origin – his famous fall into a vat of acid.

Why Joker’s True Story Could Save His Legacy Under James Gunn?

After Joker: Folie à Deux underperformed at the box office and got mixed reactions,...

Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara have always maintained a private and low-key relationship, but recent comments from Phoenix have sparked excitement and speculation about their marital status. In a rare podcast appearance, the Academy Award-winning actor referred to Mara as his “wife” while recalling the inspiration behind his 2020 Oscars acceptance speech. This casual yet significant revelation has led many to wonder whether the couple, who got engaged in 2019, have quietly tied the knot, as their representatives have remained silent on the matter.

The couple, who met on the set of Her in 2012, have been together since 2016 and share a son named River, born in 2020. Despite their Hollywood fame, Phoenix and Mara have always kept their relationship private, only sharing select glimpses into their life together. With a second child on the way, their latest public interactions have added fuel to the ongoing speculation about their personal life, leaving fans eagerly awaiting confirmation.

October is a great time to be a movie lover. The awards contenders are starting to roll out, genre films are obligatory for the Halloween season, and we start to see the indie palate-cleansers to wash away the popcorn hangover of the summer blockbuster. This month we have awards contenders with big stars like We Live In Time, or up-and-comers like Nickel Boys. We have intimate indies like La Cocina and exciting docs like Hollywoodgate and Nocturnes. All treats, no tricks this year. Check out what we’re excited about below.

We Live In Time

When You Can Watch: October 11

Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited)

Director: John Crowley

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh, Grace Delaney

Why We’re Excited: Directed by John Crowley, this decades-spanning romantic drama from scribe Nick Payne follows a couple, Almut (Pugh) and Tobias (Garfield). After award-winning chef Almut accidentally runs Tobias over with her car,...

Prime Video’s “Killer Heat” is a new mystery thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Nick Bali, a private investigator. It shows Nick traveling to Greece to investigate the shocking death of a wealthy man named Leo Vardakis. Nick is hired by Penelope, Leo’s identical twin brother’s wife. The film takes place entirely on a scenic island and relies on the moodiness of the setting as it unravels new bits of information. It seems heavily inspired by the Hollywood noir classics that redefined the genre conventions decades ago. Fans of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and movies like “Killer Heat,” featuring slow-burn mysteries, can check out this thriller on Prime Video.

This 2024 film is based on Jo Nesbø’s short story – “The Jealousy Man.” The film is directed by Philippe Lacôte, known for directing “Night of the Kings,” a critically acclaimed fantasy drama. Besides Gordon-Levit, the film also stars Shailene Woodley and...

Joaquin Phoenix’s always had a knack for the uncanny, but this time, he took it to a whole new level! Long before he donned the iconic clown makeup, he eerily predicted his own role as the Joker. Seriously, it’s like he had a crystal ball or something!

Joaquin Phoenix in Joker | Credits: Warner Bros

With his deep dive into the character’s psyche and his unique take on the iconic villain, Phoenix was already hinting at the chaos to come. Get ready to dive into how this superstar seemed to channel the Joker vibes before the cameras even started rolling!

Joaquin Phoenix’s Vision: A Unique Take on the Joker Before the Mask Credits: Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in Joker: Folie à Deux | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

It’s wild how Joaquin Phoenix seemed to channel the Joker vibes long before he slipped into that iconic clown makeup!

Did Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara secretly get married?!

While appearing on the Sept. 29 episode of Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso, the 49-year-old actor reflected on finding inspiration for his 2020 Oscars acceptance speech after he won Best Actor for his role in Joker.

During the interview, Joaquin referred to Rooney, 39, as his “wife.”

Keep reading to find out more…Joaquin said that he found inspiration for the speech while he “was talking with my mom and wife.”

Moments later, Joaquin referred to the Carol actress by her first name while retelling how he came up with his speech, saying, “Rooney was like, ‘That’s what you should say!’”

Joaquin did not further clarify if he and Rooney are married.

The couple first met in 2012 on set of Her and have been publicly dating since 2017. They got engaged in 2019 and in 2020, they welcomed their first son River, whom they named after Joaquin‘s late brother.

As we go deeper into the fall movie season, October often offers the cream of the cinematic crop. This year is no different: with this year’s top winners at Berlinale and Cannes, and much more, there’s plenty to enjoy. As many of these will begin in limited release, look for them to expand in the weeks to come.

10. Black Box Diaries (Shiori Ito; Oct. 25)

A personal and harrowing exploration of sexual assault, Black Box Diaries was one of the best documentaries of Sundance this year. Lena Wilson said her review, “In the middle of Black Box Diaries, journalist Shiori Ito’s debut documentary, Ito grins at the camera as she strolls through downtown Tokyo on the day of her book launch. It’s October 18, 2017. The New York Times broke the Harvey Weinstein news two weeks ago. Alyssa Milano popularized the hashtag #MeToo two days ago. Ito, fresh-faced and...

Since we opened predictions for the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards for film here in our predictions center, the Netflix musical crime drama “Emilia Perez” has taken the lead in the race for best cast. But this wouldn’t be the first time the women of the film won as a team. What might that mean for the Oscars?

“Emilia Perez” is the story of the title character (Karla Sofia Gascon), a former drug kingpin who starts a new life in her true gender with the help of a lawyer (Zoe Saldana). Selena Gomez plays Jessi, Emilia’s wife from before her transition. Adriana Paz is Epifania, a woman who comes into Emilia’s life. At the Cannes Film Festival, where “Perez” had its world premiere this past May, those four were jointly awarded Best Actress. Pedro Almodovar‘s film “Volver” (2006) previously achieved the same feat for its female ensemble, with...

No, Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix aren’t the same height, but they are tonight thanks to her sky high heels!

The 38-year-old entertainer wore her signature shoes while walking the carpet with Joaquin, 49, at the Joker: Folie a Deux premiere on Monday night (September 30) at the Tcl Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Also in attendance at the event were co-stars Catherine Keener and Harry Lawtey, as well as director Todd Phillips.

Joaquin was joined on the carpet by his wife Rooney Mara, though they didn’t pose together.

For anyone wondering, Joaquin is 5′ 8″ while Gaga is 5′ 1″.

Have you listened to Gaga‘s new Harlequin album yet? The project is a companion album for the new movie, in theaters Friday.

Fyi: Gaga is wearing a Celine dress and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.

Browse through the gallery for 30+ photos of Lady Gaga and others at the premiere…...

The 14th GuadaLAjara Film Festival (Glaff) in Los Angeles running November 1-3 will open with Mexican Oscar submission Sujo.

The Forge holds North American rights to the Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner from Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez about a youngster growing up under the shadow of the murder of his cartel hitman father.

The festival will close with Prime Video’s post-#MeToo series La Liberación from Alejandra Marquez Abella, about three women who team up to persuade a young actress to drop an allegation of sexual harassment against a film director.

The Dia de los Muertos centerpiece gala...

The GuadaLAjara Film Festival (Glaff) will return to Los Angeles for its 14th edition, running from November 1-3, 2024. This year’s event promises a dynamic blend of films and events featuring a stellar lineup of talent, including Zoe Saldaña, Rooney Mara, Raúl Briones, Dylan O’Brien and Nava Mau.

The festival will open with “Sujo,” a Spanish-language drama from directors Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez. Selected as Mexico’s official submission for the Oscars’ best international feature category, “Sujo” delves into the life of a young man growing up amid the violence that looms over rural Mexico. The film is set for a U.S. theatrical release in Dec. by indie distributor The Forge.

Glaff’s short film selections will include standout projects such as “All the Words but the One,” directed and starring recent Emmy nominee Nava Mau (“Baby Reindeer”), and “Dovecote,” produced by and starring Zoe Saldaña, who is...

Rotary International today launched its celebrity ambassador program, welcoming Kat Graham, for many years Rotary’s first ambassador and Archie Panjabi, Rotary’s first ambassador for a polio-free world. Sibongile Mlambo and Gaby Moreno are Rotary’s inaugural members for 2024-2025.

Rotary brings together people of action from all continents and cultures who deliver real, long-term solutions to the world’s most persistent issues. Together with its celebrity ambassadors, Rotary aims to engage new leaders and change-makers from around the globe who can share in the membership service organization’s efforts to create a healthier and more peaceful world.

“We are pleased to announce this initiative, especially with the help of these remarkable individuals who are devoted to using their platforms to make the world a better place,” Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick said. “As Rotary’s work has touched each of the ambassadors, we’re honored for them to...

Daniel Craig is best known for his role as Agent 007 in the James Bond films. Starting with 2006’s Casino Royale, the actor played the role for fifteen years, ending his tenure with 2021’s No Time To Die. The actor was reportedly happy to exit the role and has since starred in Knives Out and will be seen in the upcoming Queer.

However, one film reportedly trumped his horror at playing Bond repeatedly. The actor spoke about the early scenes that director David Fincher showed from their collaboration The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Craig mentioned that he was horrified at the visuals and could not believe the free rein he got from the studio.

Daniel Craig Was Horrified After Watching Early Visuals Of David Fincher’s Thriller James Bond in Skyfall | Credits: Sony Pictures

Director David Fincher does not shy away from going deep into the macabre. His films always...

Barbarian director Zach Cregger is set to team up with Sony for a remake of the 1985 classic mystery comedy Clue.

Here’s an interesting story that has emerged this morning regarding Zach Cregger, the director who bought us 2022’s Barbarian, a wild horror that became one of that year’s most talked-about films. The success of Barbarian was enough to earn Cregger a handsome deal with New Line Cinema for whom he will be directing his follow-up film, Weapons.

According to reporting at the time, Cregger’s budget for Weapons is 'double the size of Barbarian's, while he has reportedly scored a string of other concessions such as “a guaranteed greenlight, a guaranteed theatrical release, a controlling interest in a backend pot and Cregger receiving final cut pending a threshold being met during test screenings.’

Given that it’s been dubbed as the Magnolia of horror films, we’re...

With Halloween coming in just over a month, A24 has announced it will bring Ari Aster’s Hereditary and some of its other most unsettling horror movies back to theaters for just $8 per ticket.

A24’s Eerie Series will screen a new film each week, beginning on October 1st with Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which stars Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman as a couple who forms a strange bond with a disturbed teenage boy (played by Barry Keoghan).

It will be followed by David Lowery’s A Ghost Story starring Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara on October 8th and Trey Edward Shults’ It Comes at Night led by Joel Edgerton on October 15th. The decidedly less spooky, yet surrealist Nicolas Cage comedy/drama Dream Scenario will hit screens beginning October 22nd.

Fittingly, Hereditary will close out the series on October 29th. It centers around Toni Collette...

Will there be room for two Oscar winners from the same movie this awards season?

Pedro Almodóvar’s exciting melodrama “The Room Next Door” is riding high after winning the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and Sony Pictures Classics is preparing for an aggressive awards campaign for the film. Variety has learned exclusively that the movie’s two Oscar-winning stars, Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, will be positioned for lead actress consideration in the upcoming awards season. In addition, co-star John Turturro is set to campaign for his first Oscar bid in the best supporting actor category.

The film is adapted from Sigrid Nunez’s novel “What Are You Going Through” and tells the story of two women — war correspondent Martha, played by Swinton, and author Ingrid, portrayed by Moore — who reunite after many years under emotionally charged circumstances. The nuanced performances and intimate narrative have garnered critical acclaim.

If you don’t already know the name Alonso Ruizpalacios, “La Cocina” will likely put him on your radar. An acclaimed Mexican filmmaker known for critically acclaimed and awarded films like “Güeros” (2014), “Museum “(2018), and “A Cop Movie”(2021), Ruizpalacios has been building himself up as an artful indie auteur. And over the years, he’s also been catching Hollywood’s eye, tapped to do TV work on excellent shows which he elevated like “Outer Range,” “Narcos Mexico,” and the upcoming second and final season of “Andor.

Continue reading ‘La Cocina’ Trailer: Raúl Briones & Rooney Mara Lead Alonso Ruizpalacios’ Acclaimed Kitchen Drama at The Playlist.

Cate Blanchett touched down in Toronto for a wide-ranging talk about creative conflict on film sets, making big-budget films “risky,” and why her six-time Oscar-nominated film “Carol” struggled to find funding.

Blanchett, who is at TIFF supporting Alfonso Cuarón’s Apple TV+ show “Disclaimer” and Guy Maddin’s film “Rumours,” was welcomed at the Royal Alexandra Theatre with a standing ovation after fans lined up early to acquire rush tickets to the event.

Early in the conversation, Blanchett talked about her love for performing theater in front of a live audience, leading her to address the “streamers out there” that don’t release viewership data.

“We want the numbers,” Blanchett said. “Not so we know how much money is being made, but we want to know how many eyeballs have been on things that we have made. That’s greatly important.”

Blanchett recalled performing live theater and hearing people leave...

While we ponder how exactly the fiasco surrounding Todd Haynes’ would-be next film is going down in the household of Joaquin Phoenix and Carol star Rooney Mara, the latter actor’s latest role is now opening next month. Alonso Ruizpalacios’ La Cocina, starring Mara and Raúl Briones, premiered at Berlinale earlier this year, followed by Tribeca, and will screen at the London Film Festival in October. Ahead of an October 25 theatrical release beginning at NYC’s Angelika, the first trailer has arrived.

Here’s the synopsis: “La Cocina captures the frenetic energy of the lunch rush at The Grill, a bustling restaurant in Manhattan’s Times Square. When money goes missing from the till, suspicion falls on Pedro (Briones), an undocumented cook who dreams of a better life and is in love with Julia (Mara), an American waitress who cannot commit to a relationship. Rashid, the restaurant owner, has promised...

"Where is the goddamn food?" We're all wondering! Picturehouse in the UK has revealed an official trailer for La Cocina, a B&w kitchen drama from Mexican filmmaker Alonso Ruizpalacios. This premiered at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival earlier this year to mostly negative reviews (here's mine) due to being too chaotic and obnoxious. In the heart of a bustling Times Square kitchen, dreams and desperation collide as the staff each chase the elusive American dream. There's an ensemble of characters involved in various arguments. Featuring an array of outstanding performances led by Raul Briones and Rooney Mara, La Cocina is a "gripping, exhilarating and truly cinematic new film" from acclaimed director Alonso Ruizpalacios. The film takes place at a random non-existent restaurant following the kitchen and staff around as they deal with all kinds of chaos, showing what it's like to be behind-the-scenes in a restaurant like this. The cast also includes Anna Diaz,...

“La Cocina,” starring Rooney Mara and Raúl Briones, gets its U.S. release Oct. 25 at the Angelika Film Center in New York, and Nov. 1 at L.A.’s Laemmle Monica. Willa is handling U.S. distribution. The drama will then get a rollout in the top 10 American markets. HanWay handles international sales.

Directed and written by Alonso Ruizpalacios, “La Cocina” stars Briones as Pedro, an undocumented cook in a busy midtown Manhattan restaurant in love with server Julia (Mara), who is pregnant with his child. Tension builds and then erupts when it’s discovered that money has been stolen from the cash register, and blame falls on Pedro. But who really stole the money?

Mexican filmmaker Ruizpalacios adapts “The Kitchen,” a 1957 play by Arnold Wesker, into a drama about social and financial inequalities in modern-day America. It also gives the anonymous workers who drive the service economy a human face,...

The world of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series was brought to haunting life in David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Starring a magnetic Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, the film was a critical darling, even though commercial success did not match the hype.

Daniel Craig as James Bond in Casino Royale (image credit: Columbia Pictures)

Despite the original plan for a trilogy that ended up never materializing, the prospect of a sequel now, especially with Craig reprising his role, thus still remains an enticing possibility.

Why Daniel Craig Should Return for a Sequel to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The idea of a Daniel Craig-led sequel to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is certainly intriguing. The original film, while visually stunning and critically lauded, left a significant portion of the Millennium trilogy unexplored. Rooney Mara, while speaking to Parade about her co-star and the James Bond actor,...

Hollywood wouldn’t be the same without the luminous presence of Scarlett Johansson, who can make heads turn whenever she walks into a room. At 39, she has not only earned her stripes as one of the industry’s most in-demand actresses but also holds a special place in the hearts of countless fans!

Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo | Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing

But, here’s a juicy tidbit: the acclaimed actress known for her powerful roles in films like Lost in Translation and Marriage Story was initially turned down by David Fincher for the role of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Why, you may ask? It turns out that the director thought she was too attractive for the character.

Despite her box office magnetism and the potential for a more risqué role, Fincher opted for Rooney Mara, preserving the movie’s essence.

David Fincher is known for his impeccable attention to detail and technical precision. Hence, when actress Rooney Mara was being considered for the role of Lisbeth Salander in the film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Fincher reportedly gave her a ‘laundry list’ of things she should prepare for.

Mara was unrecognizable as the anti-social hacker Lisbeth who crossed paths with Daniel Craig’s Mikael Blomkvist. The actress reportedly beat many potential candidates such as Scarlett Johansson, Emma Watson, Sarah Snook, and Elliot Page among others.

David Fincher Had An Unusual Set Of Demands For The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Lead A still from The Social Network | Credits: Sony Pictures

Known for dark thrillers such as Se7en, Zodiac, Fight Club, and Panic Room, David Fincher was the obvious choice for the adaptation of Swedish author Stieg Larsson’s best-selling thriller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Fresh on the...

As Hollywood continues its unflinching collective decision to mine intellectual property for all it's worth, that means every genre can expect to see revivals, remakes, and reboots simply to ensure that new generations can have new versions of iconic stories, regardless of whether new equals good. This week, for example, 20th Century Studios (now an arm of the Walt Disney Company) is bringing us back to space, where no one can hear you scream. Yes, it's time for another new "Alien" film, this one called "Alien: Romulus," from director Fede Alvarez, himself no stranger to remaking a beloved horror film. Does the new take on "Alien" stand tall among the other major horror franchise revivals? Is it as good or better than Alvarez's prior horror remake? Or should it be quickly forgotten? Let's count down the 11 major horror franchise revivals and see where this new take on the Xenomorph lands.

Joaquin Phoenix has exited Todd Haynes’ planned romantic drama feature, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

The untitled project is no longer moving forward after the actor dropped out just five days before filming was set to begin in Guadalajara, Mexico. The role will not be recast for the movie that Phoenix had initially brought to Haynes and developed with the Oscar-nominated filmmaker.

Haynes’ movie was set to focus on an intense gay romance in the 1930s and co-star Danny Ramirez, whose credits include Top Gun: Maverick and the forthcoming Captain America: Brave New World. Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler were onboard as producers for the Killer Films project that had MK2 Film handling sales.

An insider close to production tells THR that the movie’s team is “devastated” and that the amount of money spent on the film was in the low seven figures. The source does not dispute media...

Exclusive: Production of Todd Haynes’ gay romance movie is completely dead. The pic has been in limbo for the last two weeks as Joaquin Phoenix reportedly stormed off the set of the movie which also starred Top Gun: Maverick‘s Danny Ramirez. Producers during that time were trying to put the project back together again.

Production is dead, and not paused, as there are no plans to recast the role played by The Joker Oscar winner. Crew members on the Guadalajara, Mexico set are due money.

Phoenix walked off set just prior to Comic-Con. I understand Ramirez flew to San Diego for the convention to promote Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World not knowing whether production would resume or not.

The movie follows two men, one played by Phoenix, who have an intense relationship and leave California for Mexico. Haynes regular Christine Vachon is producing as well as Pam Koffler.

Already one of the most revered directors on the planet—hence the way A-list stars seem to flock to her constantly—Scottish filmmaker Lynne Ramsay’s “Die My Love” is already one of the year’s most anticipated films, for whatever year it is ready. Already set to star Jennifer Lawrence, the movie got another immense A-list casting boost with the inclusion of Robert Pattinson.

Read More: Lynne Ramsay Updates Projects Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara & More

Deadline’s report includes the new detail of Martin Scorsese throwing his weight around as a producer.

Continue reading Robert Pattinson Cast Alongside Jennifer Lawrence in Lynne Ramsay’s ‘Die My Love’ Thriller at The Playlist.

While many have compared the horror/mystery “Longlegs” to the Oscar-winning masterpiece “The Silence of the Lambs,” including writer/director Oz Perkins himself, the star of the film, Maika Monroe recently shared how she carried a different cinematic influence throughout production. Speaking for an interview with Polyester Magazine, Monroe opened up about the effect the script had on her, as well as the performance she tried to channel in her approach to FBI Agent Lee Harker.

“When I read the script for the first time, I really thought I knew where it was going and then it really took some turns,” Monroe said. She later added, “I didn’t want anyone else to play this role. That doesn’t often happen for me.”

In terms of inspiration, Monroe drew on Rooney Mara’s performance as Lisbeth Salander in the U.S. adaptation of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” The...