News

The world’s largest college-run film festival, the Scad Savannah film festival, returns to Georgia Oct. 26 with its consistently eclectic programming mix of documentaries, box office hits, indies, animated films, short films and more.

“Scad honors the screen’s brightest stars, from Annette Bening to Lupita Nyong’o to Richard Linklater,” says Scad President and founder Paula Wallace. “Come for the stars and stay for a tour of Scad’s recently expanded Savannah Film Studios backlot… glitz, glamour, and good films.”

This year’s programming includes of Steve McQueen’s “Blitz” and Pablo Larrain’s “Maria” as well as a centerpiece screening of Robbie Williams’ unconventional biopic “Better Man.” The festival will also screen “Emilia Peréz,” Jacques Audiard’s musical drama which won the Jury Prize at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, and a 35mm print of Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist,” which netted the filmmaker the Silver Lion for directing in Venice earlier this year.

Nominees in the categories of discovery of the year, public choice award and the new game music award have been revealed.

Film Fest Gent and The World Soundtrack Academy has unveiled the second and final wave of nominations for the 2023 World Soundtrack Awards, which will take place on October 21 at the Film Fest Gent in Belgium, with Golda, Avatar: The Way Of Water and The Menu among the additional titles represented.

Nominations for discovery of the year, public choice award, Wsa game music award, best original score for a Belgian production and the Sabam Award for best original composition by...

“Everything Everywhere All At Once” Oscar winners Ke Huy Quan, Daniel Kwan, and Daniel Scheinert, recent acting nominees Austin Butler, Paul Mescal, and Stephanie Hsu, and bold-face names for the extremely online like Taylor Swift, Abel Tesfaye (a.k.a. The Weeknd), and Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav were among the 398 people announced as new members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday.

“The academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership. They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide,” said academy CEO Bill Kramer and academy president Janet Yang in a joint statement.

This year’s class of new members is heavy on 2022 breakouts, like the aforementioned Kwan and Scheinert – invitees in both the directors’ brand and the producers’ branch. In keeping with academy practice,...

Haley Bennett (Cyrano, Swallow, The Girl On The Train) is set to lead Night and Day, Justine Waddell’s adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s novel, to be directed by BAFTA nominee Tina Gharavi (I Am Nasrine, Cleopatra: African Queens). WestEnd Films has boarded the the German-Irish-u.K. co-production and is introducing the project to buyers in Cannes.

Set in an era when glass ceilings were made of concrete, Bennett will play Katharine Hilbery — one woman who insisted on reaching for the stars. Based on what has been called Woolf’s funniest novel, Night and Day is described as an “unromantic comedy” about a passionate astronomer who does everything she can to avoid romantic love and marriage. Contemporary in tone, the story of Katharine’s bold challenge to the Edwardian patriarchy is set against the backdrop of the suffragette movement and advances in science and technology, at the turn of the 20th century.

Emma Roberts is set to headline the comedy “Hot Mess.”

The movie marks the feature directorial debut for film and TV helmer Katie Locke O’Brien. The project was written by Gabrielle D’Amico and is produced by Debbie Liebling (“South Park”), Maggie Malina (“Resort To Love”) and Laura Lewis (“Mr. Malcolm’s List”).

Currently in pre-production and scheduled to start shooting in early 2024, Mister Smith Entertainment will launch international sales at this month’s Cannes market. Laura Lewis at Rebelle Media is representing North American rights.

An official synopsis for the film reads: “After imploding in the worst way possible on a wildly popular American dating show, Laurel Mack (Roberts) must do the ultimate walk of shame… back to her hometown. Having failed to win love on the show, Laurel finds herself living in her quirky parents’ basement, without any friends, constantly bumping into the miserable ex the whole town adores, and...

American Horror Story actress Emma Roberts is set to star in the new comedy Hot Mess, playing a woman whose personal life implodes on a TV dating show who has to take the ultimate walk of shame back to her hometown.

TV director Katie Locke O’Brien (Ghosts, Blockbuster) will helm Hot Mess in her feature debut from a script by Gabrielle D’Amico. Debbie Liebling (South Park, Plus One), Maggie Malina (Resort To Love), and Laura Lewis (Mr. Malcolm’s List, Tell Me Lies) are producing. Currently, in pre-production, Hot Mess is set to begin principal photography in early 2024.

Mister Smith Entertainment is handling international sales and will launch the project at the Cannes film market next week. Laura Lewis at Rebelle Media is representing North American rights.

Roberts, who will appear alongside Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney in the upcoming Spider-Man spin-off Madame Web, will play Laurel Mack (Emma Roberts), a...

Freida Pinto has signed on to “Surface” Season 2 at Apple, Variety has learned exclusively.

Pinto joins series star Gugu Mbatha-Raw as well as fellow new cast member Phil Dunster of “Ted Lasso” fame. As previously announced, “Surface” Season 2 will see Mbatha-Raw’s character Sophie return to her hometown of London and “rediscovering the unfinished relationships that have haunted her memories – as she finds out where she really came from, and what made her the flawed person she was.”

Pinto will play Grace, Quinn’s (Dunster) fiancé. Quinn is the troubled scion of the infamous Huntley family. As the soon-to-be newest member of the Huntley family, Grace is said to be “conflicted about what she’s really signing up for, and forms a special bond with Sophie.”

Pinto is best known to American audiences for her role in the Oscar-winning film “Slumdog Millionaire.” Her other film credits include “Trishna, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,...

’The Banshees Of Inisherin’ has 11 nominations including best film, director and actor.

Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees Of Inisherin leads the way at the 2023 Irish Film And Television Academy (IFTA) awards with 11 nominations.

The film earned nods for best film, director and script, lead actor for Colin Farrell, supporting actress for Kerry Condon, and supporting actor for Barry Keoghan and Brendan Gleeson. Farrell also has a supporting actor nod for The Batman.

Scroll down for film nominations

Frank Berry’s immigration drama Aisha, starring Letitia Wright and Josh O’Connor, is next up with 10 nominations including best film.

Paul Mescal has...

The 54th NAACP Image Awards did the thing! After its regular week-long, non-televised celebrations, the annual awards ceremony concluded with its main ceremony on Saturday night.

Hosted by Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress and producer Queen Latifah, Saturday’s ceremony included Janelle Monae, Taye Diggs, Kerry Washington, Jonathan Majors, Zendaya and more presenting awards to their peers, while also highlighting the accomplishments of political leaders and activists.

Jennifer Hudson, Quinta Brunson, Keke Palmer and more scored wins during the pre-awards festivities, while Saturday’s ceremony saw Angela Bassett, Viola Davis, Will Smith and more honoured for their artistic contributions.

Read More: 2023 NAACP Image Awards Nominations: See the Full List

This year’s Activist of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Derrick Lee Foward, president of the Dayton Unit of the NAACP and a vice president of the Ohio NAACP, and the Youth Activist of the Year Award honoured to Bradley Ross Jackson,...

The 54th NAACP Image Awards, which aired on CBS from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Saturday night, has wrapped. Queen Latifah hosted the proceedings, which honored the best in Black entertainment for the proceeding year. Inclusive awards that they are, the Image Awards often give a hat-tip to performers of color who aren’t Black, though: Tenoch Huerta Mejía won Best Supporting Actor for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” which also won Outstanding Motion Picture.

That film received another big award in the form of Best Supporting Actress for Angela Bassett, who is by far now the frontrunner for the Academy Award. It was one of two awards of the night for Bassett, as she also won Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her role in “9-1-1.”

Among other notable winners, Will Smith won Best Actor for his role in “Emancipation.” And “P-Valley” won Outstanding Drama Series, along with Nico...

The 54th NAACP Image Awards is ready to dole out shiny new trophies to honor the trove of outstanding achievements and performances of people of color across television, music, streaming, podcasts, literature and film, and the promotion of social justice through their creative endeavors.

This year’s annual show will be the first with an in-person audience since the show was hosted in February 2020, also at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. It’s also the first to include three new categories within the motion picture, television + streaming categories — Outstanding Hairstyling, Outstanding Make-Up and Outstanding Costume Design.

“Throughout the past year, we’ve witnessed Black artists showcasing our history and uplifting values of progressive change, while redefining genres and bringing our stories to the forefront of entertainment in so many innovative ways,” Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, said in a statement. “Black voices are necessary to continually inspire audiences around the world.

The NAACP today revealed the nominees for its 54th annual NAACP Image Awards, with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and The Woman King leading the film side and Abbott Elementary and the now-ended Black-ish topping TV.

The group also set up an all-female race for its Entertainer of the Year award. The five-way tussle for that marquee category will be among Angela Bassett, Mary J. Blige, Quinta Brunson, Viola Davis and Zendaya.

The hardware will be handed out during the February 25 ceremony that will air live on BET.

The Black Panther sequel scored 12 noms to lead the pack, with The Woman King second at 10. Abbott Elementary, fresh off its Golden Globe triumph, scored nine nominations to Black-ish‘;’s seven. ABC topped all networks/distributors with 28 noms.

“This year’s nominees have conveyed a wide range of authentic stories and diverse experiences that have resonated with many in our community, and we...

The 2023 NAACP Image Awards nominees have been revealed.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and The Woman King were among the leading film nominees with 12 and nine nominations, respectively. Black Panther star Angela Bassett and Woman King star Viola Davis were each nominated for the NAACP Images Awards’ top prize of entertainer of the year.

Other films that scored multiple nominations include Till, which landed six nods, and Emancipation, with five nods.

ABC’s Abbott Elementary received the most nominations in the TV and streaming categories with nine nods. Star Quinta Brunson is also up for entertainer of the year.

Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar scored the most nominations in the music recording categories with five each.

“This year’s nominees have conveyed a wide range of authentic stories and diverse experiences that have resonated with many in our community, and we’re proud to recognize their outstanding achievements and performances,” said NAACP...

The actor answers your questions on her time as Laa-Laa, playing a British spy, getting a decent curry in LA, and her pole-dancing skills

In your latest film, Mr Malcolm’s List, you are cast with no regard to skin colour or race, as was your Slumdog ex, Dev Patel, in The Personal History of David Copperfield. Colour-blind casting is great, obviously, but why does it seem to have only affected period dramas, or do we not notice it elsewhere? TopTramp

Period dramas are the one area it was completely unheard of. If you look at, say, Star Wars [Rogue One: A Star Wars Story], Riz Ahmed’s character did not have to be painted as south Asian or Muslim. He just existed in that world. I’ve been in big budget movies such as Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Immortals and even that Woody Allen movie [2010’s You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger] where the...

The series followup to the Guy Ritchie film “The Gentlemen” has been ordered to series at Netflix, with Theo James joining in a lead role.

In the film, Matthew McConaughey played Mickey Pearson, an American living in England who oversees a vast marijuana business hidden on the estates of cash-strapped members of the British aristocracy.

Variety has learned from sources that James will star in the one-hour drama series as Eddie, who inherits his father’s estate only to discover it is part of Pearson’s empire.

Ritchie directed, wrote the screenplay for, and produced the film and will serve as writer, director, and executive producer on the series. Matthew Read will executive produce via Moonage Pictures and co-wrote the pilot with Ritchie. Bill Block, Ivan Atkinson, and Marn Davies — all of whom produced the film with Atkinson and Davies writing the story with Ritchie — will serve as executive producers on the show.

Ramin Barhani’s 2nd Chance, the feature-length documentary that Showtime Documentary Films landed after its Sundance Film Festival premiere earlier this year, is now headed for theaters ahead of its TV debut next spring.

Showtime is teaming with Bleecker Street for the latter to release the pic beginning December 2 in New York and Los Angeles, before expanding it the following frame.

Related Story Showtime Takes Ramin Bahrani's Documentary '2nd Chance' – Sundance Related Story Bleecker Street Strikes Canadian Distribution Deal With LevelFILM As Toronto Gathers Steam Related Story Film Review: Regency-Era Rom-Com 'Mr. Malcolm's List'

The two companies already are in business together via a three-year output deal that began this year which gives Showtime access to Bleecker movies for on-air, on-demand and streaming premium services.

2nd Chance tells the story of Richard Davis, the charming yet brash inventor of the modern-day bulletproof vest who shot himself...

Tom Hiddleston and fiancée Zawe Ashton are parents.

That’s the report coming from Us Weekly, with a source telling the outlet that the couple secretly welcomed their first child.

“Tom and Zawe are loving being new parents and are filled with joy,” the source said. “They have been having the struggles of new parents and aren’t sleeping much but are thrilled.”

Read More: Tom Hiddleston And Zawe Ashton Are Expecting Their First Child, Actress Debuts Baby Bump

Vogue was the first to reveal Ashton’s pregnancy back in June, in a piece covering her preparations for attending a screening of her film “Mr. Malcolm’s List”.

Hiddleston and Ashton met in 2019 when they were cast as husband and wife in a West End revival of the play “Betrayal”, with the pair confirming their romance when they made their red-carpet debut as a couple at the 2021 Tony Awards.

Click to...

Zawe Ashton and Tom Hiddleston have reportedly taken on new roles: mom and dad. A source confirmed the birth of the actors' first child to Us Weekly on Oct. 26. "Tom and Zawe are loving being new parents and are filled with joy," the insider told the outlet. "They have been having the struggles of new parents and aren't sleeping much but are thrilled." Reps for both stars did not immediately respond to Popsugar's request for comment.

Ashton, 38, revealed her pregnancy during the press tour for her movie "Mr. Malcolm's List," which premiered in early July. She hit the film's June 29 premiere with a noticeable baby bump and confirmed she was expecting in an accompanying video for Vogue. The news closely followed some other exciting developments for the famously private couple: an engagement! After fans spotted a ring on Ashton's finger at the 2022 BAFTAs, Hiddleston, 41, confirmed their engagement.

The pair first...

UK production and sales company Embankment Films has hired former WestEnd Films executive Toby Hill as Head of Production & Acquisitions.

At Embankment, Hill will manage company IP with the goal of converting IP to production and global distribution. He will work closely with Embankment CEO Tim Haslam, co-founding partner Hugo Grumbar, and producer Kevin Loader — who teamed with Embankment earlier this year to create a new label, Free Range Entertainment.

Hill succeeds Max Pirkis, who leaves Embankment after nine years.

Hill was previously Head of Acquisitions & Development at WestEnd Films, where he worked on titles like Mr. Malcolm’s List, The Last Rifleman, and the forthcoming Freud’s Last Session, starring Anthony Hopkins.

Prior to that, he was Head of Global Acquisitions at the UK-based financing company AI Film. During his time at AI, Hill was responsible for greenlighting titles like I, Tonya, American Animals, Mr. Holmes, and Lee Daniels’ The Butler.

Exclusive: Shout! Studios has acquired all North American rights to the feature documentary Refuge from levelFILM, Katie Couric Media and Artemis Rising Foundation. The multi-platform entertainment distribution and production arm of Shout! Factory plans to release the film in theaters and across all major digital platforms early next year.

Directed and produced by award winners Erin Bernhardt and Din Blankenship, Refuge is set in the most diverse square mile in America — Clarkston, Georgia — and follows a Syrian Kurd, a former Klansman, and a town of refugees who seek belonging in a country that blames them for its problems. Swimming against the current of an increasingly polarized and isolated America, each must decide whether they will risk knowing and being known by those who oppose them. Ultimately, Refuge uncovers what is possible when we leave the security of our tribes, and what is at stake for our country if we don’t.

A simple listing, duplicated from the dvd/blu/vod US and Canada page, of new releases and other stuff currently available, for the benefit of those playing along by RSS or keeping up via the Weekly Digest emails (sign up here).

The most up-to-date version of this listing is always here.

new from Sep 13–16

Elvis (premium VOD/DVD/HBO Max) Breaking Lightyear (VOD/DVD/Disney+)

I’m planning to watch…

Confess, Fletch (premium VOD) God’s Country (premium VOD) Goodnight Mommy (Prime) The Invitation (premium VOD) Medusa Three Thousand Years of Longing (premium VOD) Queen of Glory Vesper (premium VOD) Where the Crawdads Sing

(films on regular VOD and/or DVD unless otherwise noted)

Stop endlessly scrolling Netflix, Amazon, and other VOD services! Get the Weekend Watchlist newsletter in your in-box every Friday with the best new films and hidden gems to stream. Only for paid Patreon and Substack subscribers.

recent...

A biopic on 18th century virtuoso violinist and composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint Georges, featuring Kelvin Harrison Jr. in the title role, “Chevalier” is a delicately assembled cinematic Fabergé egg.

If you watch the film (premiering at the Toronto Film Festival) with the sound off, it can easily be mistaken for a French studio production made in adherence to the Tradition of Quality. But while it purports to celebrate a forgotten historical figure, much of the plot is decidedly ahistorical.

It opens in pre-revolution France, with Joseph crashing a Mozart concert and challenging the prodigy to a violin dual, something like the 18th century Parisian equivalent of Verzuz. While Mozart aims to school the brash unknown and deliver a lesson in humility, Joseph has the goods to upstage him and thoroughly enrapture the audience.

Also Read:

‘Watchmen’ Producer Stephen Williams and ‘Atlanta’ Writer Stefani Robinson Team on ‘Black Mozart...

A simple listing, duplicated from the in cinemas UK and Ireland page, of new releases and other films now playing, for the benefit of those playing along by RSS or keeping up via the Weekly Digest emails (sign up here).

The most up-to-date version of this listing is always here.

opening Sep 09

See How They Run

I’m planning to see…

Bodies Bodies Bodies Crimes of the Future

(*also available to stream at home)

2022’s films, ranked by maryann 2021’s films, ranked by maryann all reviews, 1997–today

now in cinemas

The Bad Guys* Brian and Charles Elvis* Everything Everywhere All at Once* The Feast Good Luck to You, Leo Grande* Nope Beast DC League of Super-Pets* Eiffel Fall The Forgiven Mr Malcolm’s List Orphan: First Kill Top Gun: Maverick Where Is Anne Frank Blackbird Bullet Train Jurassic World Dominion

This post will be deleted at 11:59pm on Tuesday October 11th,...

A simple listing, duplicated from the dvd/blu/vod US and Canada page, of new releases and other stuff currently available, for the benefit of those playing along by RSS or keeping up via the Weekly Digest emails (sign up here).

The most up-to-date version of this listing is always here.

new from Sep 06–08

Mrs Harris Goes to Paris (premium VOD/DVD) Beast (premium VOD)

I’m planning to watch…

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (premium VOD) Pinocchio (Disney+) Thor: Love and Thunder (premium VOD/Disney+) Where the Crawdads Sing (premium VOD)

(films on regular VOD and/or DVD unless otherwise noted)

Stop endlessly scrolling Netflix, Amazon, and other VOD services! Get the Weekend Watchlist newsletter in your in-box every Friday with the best new films and hidden gems to stream. Only for paid Patreon and Substack subscribers.

recent releases

Ali & Ava The Bad Guys The Batman Belfast (VOD...

Bleecker Street and LevelFILM announced today an exclusive output deal that will see the latter handle distribution of the films to which the former holds North American or worldwide rights.

“Mafia Mamma,” the action-comedy directed by Catherine Hardwicke and starring Toni Colette and Monica Belucci, is the first title to be released through the new partnership. The film is set to premiere in 2023.

The deal follows a series of collaborations between the two companies, including “Mr. Malcolm’s List,” “Sundown,” “Together Together,” “The World to Come,” “The Assistant” and “Save Yourselves!”

Also Read:

South Korean Crime Thriller ‘Project Wolf Hunting’ Lands North American Deal Ahead of TIFF Premiere

In addition to forming the new venture, Bleecker is showcasing a number of titles at the Toronto International Film Festival, which kicked off yesterday. Frances O’Connnor’s “Emily,” starring Emma Mackey, will open the Platform Program with its debut this week. Other upcoming films are “Golda,...

Bleecker Street has signed an exclusive output deal with Canadian distributor LevelFilm.

The partnership will see LevelFilm handle the Canadian distribution to Bleecker Street’s films where they control the North American or worldwide rights. The first movie that will be released under the new joint venture is Catherine Hardwicke’s action comedy “Mafia Mamma,” which stars Toni Collette and Monica Belucci.

The film is set for a nationwide release in 2023.

Bleecker Street’s Kent Sanderson negotiated the output agreement with Avy Eschenasy, while John Bain and Dave Hudakoc negotiated on behalf of LevelFilm.

Bleecker Street and LevelFilm previously collaborated on several titles including Emma Holly Jones’ “Mr. Malcolm’s List” with Freida Pinto, “Sundown” starring Tim Roth and Charlotte Gainsbourg, “Together Together” with Ed Helms and Patti Harrison, “The World to Come” with Katherine Waterston and Vanessa Kirby, Kitty Green’s “The Assistant” and Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson...

U.S. indie distribution stalwart Bleecker Street has announced an exclusive output deal with Canadian distributor, levelFILM as it heads into a busy Toronto International Film Festival.

The partnership will see levelFILM handle Canadian distribution for Bleecker Street’s films where they control the North American or worldwide rights.

The partnership will kick off with Catherine Hardwicke’s action comedy Mafia Mamma starring Toni Collette and Monica Belucci. The film is set for a nationwide release in 2023.

Bleecker Street’s Kent Sanderson negotiated the output agreement with Avy Eschenasy, while John Bain and Dave Hudakoc negotiated on behalf of levelFILM.

The new distribution partners previously collaborated several titles including Emma Holly Jones’ Mr. Malcolm’s List;, Sundown starring Tim Roth and Charlotte Gainsbourg; Mona Fastvold’s Venice 2022 romance The World to Come, Kitty Green’s The Assistant and Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson’s Save Yourselves!.

Bleecker Street’s upcoming...

A simple listing, duplicated from the dvd/blu/vod US and Canada page, of new releases and other stuff currently available, for the benefit of those playing along by RSS or keeping up via the Weekly Digest emails (sign up here).

The most up-to-date version of this listing is always here.

new from Aug 30–Sep 02

Brian and Charles Elvis (premium VOD/HBO Max)

I’m planning to watch…

American Carnage Blind Ambition (premium VOD) Burial Minions: The Rise of Gru (DVD/premium VOD) The Phantom of the Open

(films on regular VOD and/or DVD unless otherwise noted)

Stop endlessly scrolling Netflix, Amazon, and other VOD services! Get the Weekend Watchlist newsletter in your in-box every Friday with the best new films and hidden gems to stream. Only for paid Patreon and Substack subscribers.

recent releases

Ali & Ava The Bad Guys The Batman Belfast (VOD/HBO Max) Benedetta The Book...

As the "Star Wars" galaxy continues to expand, so does the sheer volume of characters that inhabit it. It seems like everyone has appeared in a "Star Wars" project of some kind, or at least auditioned for one. The franchise has become a pretty formidable incubator for lesser-known talent for this very reason. So many actors have been "discovered" through an appearance in a "Star Wars" film, whether they be relative unknowns or craft-focused character actors. Nowadays, it seems like it's less a question of whether someone will join that galaxy far, far away, but when.

Casting for something as huge as "Star Wars," however, is always going to be tricky. The franchise needs actors with star power for sure, but the more they can "disappear" into the world, the better. Fortunately, there are still so many underrated actors out there that could really bring something new to "Star Wars.

To celebrate the release of Mr. Malcolm’s List, which arrives in UK cinemas this week, we had the pleasure of chatting to its stellar cast about their period romantic comedy that is more modern than it may seem.

When she fails to meet an item on his list of requirements for a bride, Julia Thistlewaite (Zawe Ashton) is jilted by London’s most eligible bachelor, Mr. Malcolm (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù). Feeling humiliated and determined to exact revenge, she convinces her friend Selina Dalton (Freida Pinto) to play the role of his ideal match. Soon, Mr. Malcolm wonders whether he’s found the perfect woman… or the perfect hoax.

Chatting to Pinto, Dìrísù, Ashton, and Theo James, they talk to us about the lure of the script and its originality, Suzanne Allain’s book and the short film that preceded the feature, the film’s reflection on society, economic classes, and...

A simple listing, duplicated from the dvd/blu/vod US and Canada page, of new releases and other stuff currently available, for the benefit of those playing along by RSS or keeping up via the Weekly Digest emails (sign up here).

The most up-to-date version of this listing is always here.

new from Aug 16–19

Eiffel (cable VOD) Orphan: First Kill (premium VOD/Paramount+) Radium Girls The Immaculate Room Jurassic World Dominion (DVD/premium VOD) Spin Me Round (VOD/AMC+)

I’m planning to watch…

The Black Phone (DVD/premium VOD) Paris, 13th District The Phantom of the Open (premium VOD)

(films on regular VOD and/or DVD unless otherwise noted)

Stop endlessly scrolling Netflix, Amazon, and other VOD services! Get the Weekend Watchlist newsletter in your in-box every Friday with the best new films and hidden gems to stream. Only for paid Patreon and Substack subscribers.

recent releases

The Bad...

After a series of harrowing roles, the former Fresh Meat star is rediscovering her ‘joyful side’, with a Bridgerton-esque romp – and a baby on the way with Tom Hiddleston

It’s the day after Zawe Ashton’s 38th birthday when we speak. She’s wearing a bright red, Regency-inspired, rose-covered headdress; she’s had it on since her celebrations with friends and family the night before. “I’ve worn this all weekend. And I thought: ‘Shall I act cool and take it off for Liv? Or will she appreciate it on some level?’” she says with a laugh.

Ashton is still buzzing from the birthday love – as well as, perhaps, the early praise for her leading role in the period film drama Mr Malcolm’s List. She insists she avoids looking at reviews or engaging with what the public think, but it’s impossible to remain completely in the dark. “Obviously,...

Vertigo Releasing has acquired Phyllis Nagy’s “Call Jane,” starring Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver, for U.K. and Ireland distribution.

The film explores the true story of the Janes, an underground collective of women, who in Chicago during the 1960s, came together to secretly provide nearly 12,000 women and girls with safe and secure abortions. It follows Joy (Banks), a suburban wife, and mother to a smart teenage daughter, whose happy life is derailed when her much wanted pregnancy becomes life threatening.

The cast also includes Chris Messina and Kate Mara.

The film had a stellar festival run, including play dates at Sundance and Berlin. It is written by Hayley Schore and Roshan Sethi and produced by Robbie Brenner, David Wulf and Kevin McKeon.

Reviewing the film for Variety, critic Peter Debruge wrote: “The female empowerment message comes through loud and clear in ‘Call Jane,’ especially in Banks’ performance.”

Wahida Niblo,...

A simple listing, duplicated from the dvd/blu/vod US and Canada page, of new releases and other stuff currently available, for the benefit of those playing along by RSS or keeping up via the Weekly Digest emails (sign up here).

The most up-to-date version of this listing is always here.

new from Aug 09–13

Belfast (HBO Max) Elvis (premium VOD) Nitram The Princess (documentary) (HBO Max) Rogue Agent (VOD/AMC+) Men

I’m planning to watch…

Crimes of the Future Neptune Frost

(films on regular VOD and/or DVD unless otherwise noted)

Stop endlessly scrolling Netflix, Amazon, and other VOD services! Get the Weekend Watchlist newsletter in your in-box every Friday with the best new films and hidden gems to stream. Only for paid Patreon and Substack subscribers.

recent releases

The Bad Guys The Batman Benedetta The Book Keepers Brian and Charles (premium VOD) The Burning Sea Chasing Childhood Cop...

A simple listing, duplicated from the in cinemas US and Canada page, of new releases and other films now playing, for the benefit of those playing along by RSS or keeping up via the Weekly Digest emails (sign up here).

The most up-to-date version of this listing is always here.

opening Aug 05

Bullet Train

(*also available to stream at home)

2022’s films, ranked by maryann 2021’s films, ranked by maryann all reviews, 1997–today

now in cinemas

Ali & Ava The Bad Guys* The Book Keepers* Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness* Elvis Everything Everywhere All at Once* A Love Song Mrs Harris Goes to Paris* Nope Olga* Mr Malcolm’s List* Top Gun: Maverick Jurassic World Dominion* Resurrection*

This post will be deleted at 11:59pm on Wednesday September 7th, 2022.

(please click through for commenting, social networking, tags, and more)...

A simple listing, duplicated from the dvd/blu/vod US and Canada page, of new releases and other stuff currently available, for the benefit of those playing along by RSS or keeping up via the Weekly Digest emails (sign up here).

The most up-to-date version of this listing is always here.

new from Aug 02–05

Mrs Harris Goes to Paris (premium VOD) Prey (Hulu) Thirteen Lives (Prime) Wild Men Lightyear (premium VOD/Disney+) Luck (AppleTV+) Resurrection

I’m planning to watch…

Exposing Muybridge Gone in the Night Minions: The Rise of Gru (premium VOD) Official Competition Stowaway (AMC+)

(films on regular VOD and/or DVD unless otherwise noted)

Stop endlessly scrolling Netflix, Amazon, and other VOD services! Get the Weekend Watchlist newsletter in your in-box every Friday with the best new films and hidden gems to stream. Only for paid Patreon and Substack subscribers.

recent releases

The Bad Guys The Batman...

The total U.K. and Ireland box office for July 2022 was £126.5 million (152.7 million), according to numbers released by Comscore. While the number is a significant chunk above June’s 116 million, it is still running 20 behind the same period in pre-covid 2019.

“Minions: The Rise Of Gru” debuted at No.1 with £10.4 million, achieving the highest opening of an animated film for 2022. With a total of £35.5 million, the film is now the highest-grossing animation of the year, and No.19 in the all-time animation chart, behind “The Secret Life Of Pets” (£36.5 million).

At No.2, “Thor: Love And Thunder” scored the fourth-highest opening of 2022 with £12.2 million. With a total of £32.3 million, the film is now the sixth-highest grossing film of the year. In third position, late June release “Elvis” added a further £14.7 million for a total of £21.9 million.

After ten weeks on release, Tom Cruise vehicle “Top Gun: Maverick” continued to soar and is the No.

New Release Wall

David Cronenberg plays the hits in “Crimes of the Future” (Neon), but there’s no other filmmaker today with hits like his. Viggo Mortensen and Léa Seydoux are a pair of surgery-based performance artists whose interests intersect with a sect of plastic-eaters, while bureaucrats Kristen Stewart (giving the screen’s most divisive performance since Jared Leto in “House of Gucci”) and Don McKellar look on in fannish amazement. If you enjoy the auteur’s brand of surgical implements that look like insect exoskeletons and furniture that looks like tumors, this is your kind of movie.

Also available:

“Charm City Kings” (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment): Denied a proper release during the pandemic lockdown, this saga of a young Baltimorean getting involved in the city’s motorbike culture is a powerful drama not to be missed.

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” (Marvel Studios): Audiences differed...

A simple listing, duplicated from the dvd/blu/vod US and Canada page, of new releases and other stuff currently available, for the benefit of those playing along by RSS or keeping up via the Weekly Digest emails (sign up here).

The most up-to-date version of this listing is always here.

new from Jul 26–29

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness The Duke Olga Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché Benediction The Lost City

I’m planning to watch…

My Tree Not Okay (Hulu) Pleasure Potato Dreams of America

(films on regular VOD and/or DVD unless otherwise noted)

Stop endlessly scrolling Netflix, Amazon, and other VOD services! Get the Weekend Watchlist newsletter in your in-box every Friday with the best new films and hidden gems to stream. Only for paid Patreon and Substack subscribers.

recent releases

The Bad Guys The Batman Belfast Benedetta The Book Keepers Brian and Charles...

Click here to read the full article.

Emma Holly Jones, the fast-rising British filmmaker whose debut feature Mr. Malcolm’s List was recently released by Bleecker Street in the U.S. and is being looked after by Universal internationally, has signed with CAA.

A Regency-era romantic comedy set in 19th century London and based on Suzanne Allain’s novel of the same, Mr. Malcolm’s List packed an impressive ensemble cast, including Freida Pinto, Zawe Ashton, Ashley Park, Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù, Theo James and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. It was produced by Jones alongside Rebelle Media, Untitled Entertainment and Blinder Films.

Jones was behind the 2019 short film Mr. Malcolm’s List: Overture, which starred Gemma Chan, Pinto and Dìrísù, among others and debuted as part of Refinery29‘s Shatterbox anthology series, becoming its most-watched installment in less than 72 hours, with more than five million impressions across social channels. Her first short film, Everything Carries Me to You,...

(L to R) Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù stars as “Mr. Malcolm” and Freida Pinto stars as “Selina Dalton” in director Emma Holly Jones’ Mr. Malcolm’S List, a Bleecker Street release.

Credit : Ross Ferguson / Bleecker Street

Get ready to experience a fabulous Regency-era tale full of wit and romance because Freida Pinto’s critically acclaimed new film Mr. Malcolm’s List will be available to watch at home on demand starting on Thursday, July 21st.

Directed by Emma Holly Jones, the film also boasts incredible performances by Zawe Ashton, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Ashley Park, Theo James and many more.

Check out the trailer

Mr. Malcolm’s List tells the tale of Julia Thistlewaite (Zawe Ashton), who is jilted by London’s most eligible bachelor, Mr. Malcolm (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù). Feeling humiliated and determined to exact revenge, she convinces her friend Selina Dalton (Freida Pinto) to play the role of his ideal match. Soon,...

It's gonna be a minute before "Bridgerton" returns to fill the Regency-era-sized hole in our hearts, especially if you're looking for something with a refreshingly modern twist. Thankfully, the continued success of Netflix's slow-burn romance and the enduring love for all things Jane Austen has inspired a new wave of Regency love stories with a hint of contemporary rom-com.

The latest of the bunch is "Mr. Malcolm's List," a romantic comedy from director Emma Holly Jones that centers around Mr. Jeremiah Malcolm (Sopé Dìrísù) and his penchant for leaving high society ladies heartbroken. Mr. Malcolm is on the hunt for...

The post Here's When You Can Watch Mr. Malcolm's List at Home appeared first on /Film.

“He’s a 10,” the leading lady enthuses to an older woman about a young man she fancies in this latest screen adaptation of Jane Austen’s final novel — and if that line doesn’t throw you for at least a small loop, there are other mightily anachronistic ingredients in this new Persuasion that may well strike Austen fans, among others, as more than a tad unpersuasive. Breaking down and eradicating period niceties and replacing them with more modern attitudes and phraseology appears to be the central agenda for prominent British theater director Carrie Cracknell in her feature film debut, and while it’s easy to resist some of the cheap-shot modern dialogue that runs through the adaptation by old pro Ron Bass and writer-actress Alice Victoria Winslow, it also shouldn’t be impossible to admit that, since we already have Roger Michell’s outstanding 1995 film adaptation, a cheeky redo might also be welcome,...

As we cross the midpoint of the summer movie season, Marvel Studios released its second movie through Disney into 4,375 theaters as director Taika Waititi looked to recreate the magic of his 2017 release, “Thor: Ragnarok,” reuniting with Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson for Marvel’s “Thor: Love and Thunder.” Natalie Portman returned as Dr. Jane Foster, this time wielding the hammer of Thor herself, while Christian Bale portrayed the film’s main villain, Gorr the God-Butcher. A third Oscar winner, Russell Crowe, appeared as the Greek God Zeus, who sort of falls between hero and villain.

Disney released the fourth Thor movie for previews on Thursday afternoon, allowing the movie to take in 29 million in previews, which was then combined with Friday’s box office for a first-day gross of 69.5 million. Ultimately, the movie ended up opening below 150 million for the weekend with an estimated 143 million, which makes it the third-biggest...

Disney’s “Thor: Love and Thunder,” the fourth standalone Marvel story about Chris Hemsworth’s hunky Asgardian superhero, hammered home a box office win with its 143 million debut.

The movie, which is playing in 4,375 North American theaters, arrived ever-so-slightly behind estimates of 150 million, but those opening weekend returns are unquestionably something to celebrate. Notably, “Thor 4” enjoyed a bigger start than its predecessor, 2017’s quirky action-comedy “Thor: Ragnarok,” which opened to 123 million in North America. “Love and Thunder” also notched the third-biggest opening weekend of the year behind “Jurassic World Dominion” (145 million) and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” (185 million).

Movie theater owners are encouraged because “Love and Thunder” continues a strong summer movie season, which has generated 2.27 billion to date, according to Comscore. In a promising sign for the exhibition industry, those returns are 217 above the same point in 2021 and only 12 behind the same point in 2019.

At the international box office,...

Click here to read the full article.

When she was sent the script for Mr. Malcolm’s List, star Freida Pinto says it felt like it was written for her.

Sharing a name with her character, and having studied English Literature in college, Pinto could already imagine herself as Jane Austen’s “complex” and “beautifully nuanced characters.” Yet despite feeling seen on the page, the actress and producer notes that “film and TV did not represent people who look like me in these period projects.”

That lack of representation is one of the driving forces behind the Regency rom-com and director Emma Holly Jones’ vision for her feature film debut. The film notably departs from Hollywood’s period piece conventions and offers a modern spin on the regency romance genre, showcasing not only a racially inclusive cast of characters but women who refuse to conform to the expectations and boundaries set by society.

Photo: ‘Mr. Malcolm’s List’ More Paperback Novel Than Austen Classic A lot of comparisons are being made between ‘Mr. Malcolm's List’ and Jane Austen adaptations. The design elements clearly draw on the likes of 2005’s ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ and the mannerisms reflect period dramas that we’ve seen before, a good many of those being adaptations of Austen’s novels. Though the comparisons have been made unfavorably, I think they’re quite far from the mark. ‘Mr. Malcolm’s List’ is not as rich or sharp as an Austen novel, and I think it deserves to be considered in a different light altogether. If you’ve ever read a paperback thriller on the beach, or an unchallenging romance on a plane, you know that some forms of entertainment can be witty and amusing without being subversive. Such is the case with ‘Mr. Malcolm’s List.’ Related video: Full Commentary - Cast...

I enjoyed the Regency era romantic comedy “Mr. Malcolm’s List.” Freida Pinto stars as Selina Dalton, a young woman in 1800s England who helps her friend Julia Thistlewaite (Zawe Ashton) exact revenge on the most desirable bachelor of the season, Mr. Malcolm (Sope Dirisu). The bachelor rejected Julia for failing a requirement on his

The post “Mr. Malcolm’s List” appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.

Last weekend’s top film stood no chance against the debut of Minions: The Rise of Gru as the animated sequel beat Top Gun: Maverick by 92.2 million to wrest control of the box-office weekend from Tom Cruise.

The latest film to feature the adventures of the Minions, titled Minions: The Rise of Gru debuted atop the top ten with 125.2 million over the four-day holiday weekend. This pushed Top Gun: Maverick to a very distant second-place finish at 33.0 million, though the film can still fall back on its six-week total of 571.5 million. As it did to Top Gun the debut of The Rise of Gru also pushed Elvis from second place to an even more distant third place with 23.5 million. This gives the Elvis Presley biography a two-week total of 71.8 million. Finishing in fourth place was the sequel Jurassic World Dominion with 19.7 million, which raises the film’s four-week total to 335.9 million.

Mr. Malcolm’s List is a newly released sparkling Regency romantic comedy directed by Emma Holly Jones and written by Suzanne Allain. It is the tale of a young British lady of good social standing (Julia Thistlewaite) who takes revenge on the man who jilted her (Mr. Jeremy Malcom) by convincing her best friend (Selina Dalton) to pose as his perfect match.

I recently had the amazing opportunity to speak with two of the film’s stars, Freida Pinto (Selina) and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù (Mr. Malcolm) about the film. They each shared their insights into what makes their characters tick. Ms. Pinto talks about how these two reserved people find one another in the midst of the high-energy antics around them. Mr. Dìrísù tells us about his favorite part of making the film. I want to thank Ms. Pinto and Mr. Dìrísù for their thoughtful answers and for taking the time to speak with me.