With the release of Zendaya's "Challengers" behind us, it's just about time to focus on the arrival of the 2024 summer movie season. That begins, in earnest, with the release of Universal's "The Fall Guy" this Friday. After a couple of particularly bad weekends at the box office that the industry can frankly ill afford, all eyes are now on summer to help turn the tide. Like it or not, the summer now has an undue amount of pressure on it as theaters look for films capable of filling seats so they can sell enough popcorn to keep the lights on. Unfortunately, the slate we have before us doesn't seem, on paper, like it can compete with what we had last year. As a result, we're doomed to be disappointed by what unfolds in the coming months.
"The Fall Guy," for example, features a pair of big stars in...
"The Fall Guy," for example, features a pair of big stars in...
- 4/29/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
"The Fugitive" ran for four seasons on ABC from 1963 to 1967. The series followed Dr. Richard Kimble (David Janssen), a (you guessed it) fugitive accused of murdering his wife. Pursued across the country by lawman Philip Gerard (Barry Morse), he tries to prove his innocence by finding the real killer.
On one hand, "The Fugitive" is as episodic as you'd expect from a 1960s TV show. Each episode features Kimble in a different town with a new problem to solve. The backstory is also told via title sequence; the first episode, "Fear in a Desert City," is just another adventure for Kimble, not the murder, trial, and Kimble's escape the way it would be today. However, there's also some serialization with the story threads of Gerard hunting Kimble and Kimble hunting the real murderer, a one-armed man (Bill Raisch). These reach their conclusion in the finale, "The Judgment."
With such a simple and exciting premise,...
On one hand, "The Fugitive" is as episodic as you'd expect from a 1960s TV show. Each episode features Kimble in a different town with a new problem to solve. The backstory is also told via title sequence; the first episode, "Fear in a Desert City," is just another adventure for Kimble, not the murder, trial, and Kimble's escape the way it would be today. However, there's also some serialization with the story threads of Gerard hunting Kimble and Kimble hunting the real murderer, a one-armed man (Bill Raisch). These reach their conclusion in the finale, "The Judgment."
With such a simple and exciting premise,...
- 4/16/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Eighties television was a land of new ideas that hadn’t been seen before. It was also a place where old tropes were made shiny and new with a modern sheen that intrigued audiences and would produce classics like the hospital drama St. Elsewhere and the crime drama Hill Street Blues.
It would be a humdinger of a decade within the genre of mystery and detectives. It would see the return of the iconic detective Mike Hammer in a new series and would also bring us the dramedy Moonlighting. We’d also be treated to one of the greatest performances of Sherlock Holmes ever with the amazing Jeremy Brett.
It would also bring us a female detective who, in a world filled with male counterparts, couldn’t catch a break until she made up her own male counterpart in a boss named Remington Steele. The rest, as they say, is history,...
It would be a humdinger of a decade within the genre of mystery and detectives. It would see the return of the iconic detective Mike Hammer in a new series and would also bring us the dramedy Moonlighting. We’d also be treated to one of the greatest performances of Sherlock Holmes ever with the amazing Jeremy Brett.
It would also bring us a female detective who, in a world filled with male counterparts, couldn’t catch a break until she made up her own male counterpart in a boss named Remington Steele. The rest, as they say, is history,...
- 2/19/2024
- by Jessica Dwyer
- JoBlo.com
Disney Got Shut Out For Best Animated Feature At The 2024 Oscars – And This Is Awesome For Animation
In the U.S., animation has long been almost synonymous with Disney. After all, Disney has a long history with the medium, producing one of the first cartoons with synchronized sound and one of the first feature-length animated movies. That history and tradition haven't been all positive, however, as it has reduced the medium of animation to a genre in the eyes of many viewers — as well as the Academy.
In the last few years, however, Disney has started to lag behind some of the other studios when it comes to the Academy Awards. The last couple of years have shown that when Disney isn't present, the category is more diverse and better for it — with movies that push the envelope and the medium forward.
In the case of the 2024 Oscars, the lack of Disney among the nominees shows a pleasant surprise in the kind of movie the academy is recognizing.
In the last few years, however, Disney has started to lag behind some of the other studios when it comes to the Academy Awards. The last couple of years have shown that when Disney isn't present, the category is more diverse and better for it — with movies that push the envelope and the medium forward.
In the case of the 2024 Oscars, the lack of Disney among the nominees shows a pleasant surprise in the kind of movie the academy is recognizing.
- 1/23/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Ah, Oscar season. The time of the year where we, as movie fans, act like we're totally not going to get angry and/or excited about the Academy Awards and then proceed to totally get angry and excited about the Academy Awards. That's just how it works. And the nominations for the 96th Annual Academy Awards certainly gave us plenty to get angry and excited about.
The /Film team gathered around our virtual water cooler to celebrate the strange, cool wins that come with these nominations ... and to complain and moan about the movies and performances that were neglected. Is it pointless to assume that a massive voting body like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences could somehow go out of its way to snub our favorite movies? Of course. That's just silly. But does it feel satisfying to yell about it? Yes. Always.
Here's what stood out...
The /Film team gathered around our virtual water cooler to celebrate the strange, cool wins that come with these nominations ... and to complain and moan about the movies and performances that were neglected. Is it pointless to assume that a massive voting body like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences could somehow go out of its way to snub our favorite movies? Of course. That's just silly. But does it feel satisfying to yell about it? Yes. Always.
Here's what stood out...
- 1/23/2024
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
There's something to be said for movies that go above and beyond the call of duty. If bees can travel up to five literal miles to search for food, then what excuse did star Jason Statham and the rest of the creative team have to not go the extra mile -- you know, metaphorically -- when it came to making "The Beekeeper"? For better or worse, we here at /Film have proven ourselves slightly obsessive when it comes to this film's real-world accuracy but, luckily, this latest insight into the production definitely passes the smell test.
For those who haven't yet checked out the latest (ahem) buzzy project from director David Ayer, "The Beekeeper" follows Statham's Adam Clay, a former secret agent-turned-beekeeper who is forced out of retirement to do what he does best: kill a whole lot of people in various gruesome, bee-themed ways. Yes, the action/thriller relies...
For those who haven't yet checked out the latest (ahem) buzzy project from director David Ayer, "The Beekeeper" follows Statham's Adam Clay, a former secret agent-turned-beekeeper who is forced out of retirement to do what he does best: kill a whole lot of people in various gruesome, bee-themed ways. Yes, the action/thriller relies...
- 1/15/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Armitage Trail's original novel "Scarface" was first published in 1930, and traces the rise and fall of the vicious gangster Tony "Scarface" Guarino, who took over the Chicago bootlegging underground during Prohibition. Clearly, Tony Guarino is an analog to Al Capone, and many true crime fans find it tantalizingly suspicious that Armitage Trail (real name: Maurice R. Coons) died of a heart attack at age 28, only six months after the publication of "Scarface." Coons, after all, had to hobnob with real gangsters in order to get ideas for his novel, and he would have been known in certain corners of the underground.
In 1932, director Howard Hawks made the first film version of "Scarface," starring Paul Muni as Antonio "Tony" Camonte. Hawks' film was well-received, with some critics citing its naturalness and lack of melodrama. Indeed, it was so natural and treated crime with such frankness that some markets refused to show it.
In 1932, director Howard Hawks made the first film version of "Scarface," starring Paul Muni as Antonio "Tony" Camonte. Hawks' film was well-received, with some critics citing its naturalness and lack of melodrama. Indeed, it was so natural and treated crime with such frankness that some markets refused to show it.
- 1/11/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Robert Aldrich's "The Dirty Dozen" is the daddiest of dad movies. A box office smash upon its theatrical release in 1967, it was the proto-"men-on-a-mission" movie. Lee Marvin stars as a World War II U.S. Army major ordered to lead a pack of disposable military prisoners on a suicide mission to slaughter numerous high-ranking Nazi officers. The film brought together some of the most macho men on the planet to play the (not entirely) doomed soldiers: Charles Bronson, George Kennedy, Telly Savalas, and, of course, recently retired Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown. It was a testosterone-fueled must-see that inspired three made-for-tv sequels and a load of imitators (including Enzo G. Castellari's "The Inglorious Bastards" and Quentin Tarantino's endearingly misspelled "Inglourious Basterds").
It's been homaged and ripped off so many times over the last 57 years that a straight-up remake would hardly be sacrilege. In fact, given...
It's been homaged and ripped off so many times over the last 57 years that a straight-up remake would hardly be sacrilege. In fact, given...
- 1/10/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
2023 may have been a complicated year for the film industry, but it was a great year for movies. So, hey: No pressure, 2024.
As we sit here in the January doldrums, we can only look at the months and ahead and hope. Will those massively anticipated sequels live up to the hype? Will the latest releases from bona fide masters be worth the wait? Will everything that is supposed to come out this year actually come out this year? The anticipation is killing us.
This is far from a comprehensive list of every intriguing movie hitting theaters in 2024, but it does represent the titles that have the /Film team's attention already. Naturally, we expect dozens of incredible surprises to emerge from out of nowhere, especially as the film festival season starts to kick off. And since we're not psychics, we had to stick to the movies that we know are coming out this year,...
As we sit here in the January doldrums, we can only look at the months and ahead and hope. Will those massively anticipated sequels live up to the hype? Will the latest releases from bona fide masters be worth the wait? Will everything that is supposed to come out this year actually come out this year? The anticipation is killing us.
This is far from a comprehensive list of every intriguing movie hitting theaters in 2024, but it does represent the titles that have the /Film team's attention already. Naturally, we expect dozens of incredible surprises to emerge from out of nowhere, especially as the film festival season starts to kick off. And since we're not psychics, we had to stick to the movies that we know are coming out this year,...
- 1/9/2024
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
Emmys? Light 'em on fire. Golden Globes? Trash heap. The first annual /Film TV Awards. There we go. That's the stuff.
Since there's too much television to watch these days, the writers and editors at /Film decided to hold our own little awards ceremony to pick the absolute best stuff you need to watch. Do you finally need one more push to check out "Succession"? Are you wondering which horror and science fiction shows need to be on your radar? Does your ongoing argument with your friend about the best performances in television from the past year need some extra juice? Don't worry. We've got you covered.
After a round of nominating, we determined five nominees per category. And after one final round of voting, we selected one final winner from the bunch. The result is a testament to just how great television was in 2023 ... and especially how much everyone at /Film really,...
Since there's too much television to watch these days, the writers and editors at /Film decided to hold our own little awards ceremony to pick the absolute best stuff you need to watch. Do you finally need one more push to check out "Succession"? Are you wondering which horror and science fiction shows need to be on your radar? Does your ongoing argument with your friend about the best performances in television from the past year need some extra juice? Don't worry. We've got you covered.
After a round of nominating, we determined five nominees per category. And after one final round of voting, we selected one final winner from the bunch. The result is a testament to just how great television was in 2023 ... and especially how much everyone at /Film really,...
- 12/21/2023
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
In Steven Soderbergh's sexy 1998 crime thriller, George Clooney plays the world's smoothest bank robber, Jack Foley, a man so charming that he manages to rob a bank using nothing more than a yellow highlighter. Foley begins "Out of Sight" in prison, having been busted after someone snitched on him. He bonds with imprisoned compatriots -- notably, Albert Brooks -- and the two of them arrange for Jack to get a job upon his release. When released, however, Jack is double-crossed by the Brooks character, and he is ejected from the building with no job. The rejection leads Jack, in a fit of resentment, to commit the above-mentioned robbery. He is caught, and put right back in prison.
Clooney, a handsome man sculpted out of hardened cologne, makes his yellow prison jumpsuits look downright dashing, while his silvering hair swoop and five o'clock shadow are impeccably maintained behind bars. Some...
Clooney, a handsome man sculpted out of hardened cologne, makes his yellow prison jumpsuits look downright dashing, while his silvering hair swoop and five o'clock shadow are impeccably maintained behind bars. Some...
- 12/20/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
2023 has been, broadly speaking, a very good year at the box office. The domestic total for the year will be at or near $9 billion — far exceeding 2022's $7.366 billion total, representing an increase of more than 20 percent year-over-year. More than that, the top three movies of the year, which are "Barbie" ($1.44 billion), "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" ($1.36 billion), and "Oppenheimer" ($953 million), were not sequels. It's the first time in decades that this has been the case. Unfortunately, the party is going to come to a screeching halt in January as the 2024 release calendar is a barren wasteland, at least for the first chunk of the year.
The Hollywood Reporter recently reported that the 2024 domestic box office could take a hit as large as $2 billion. That would be devastating, to put it lightly. Movie theaters have been operating on anything but stable ground since the pandemic arrived in 2020. The good news is...
The Hollywood Reporter recently reported that the 2024 domestic box office could take a hit as large as $2 billion. That would be devastating, to put it lightly. Movie theaters have been operating on anything but stable ground since the pandemic arrived in 2020. The good news is...
- 12/18/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Though director Yorgos Lanthimos has built up his own mini-fandom of cinephiles who love bizarre, darkly comic films, he didn't really hit it big at the box office until 2018's "The Favourite." Strong overseas performance coupled with Oscars buzz made "The Favourite" a commercial hit as well as a critical darling.
That success story that scored Lanthimos a bigger budget for his new movie, "Poor Things." The period science fiction story stars Emma Stone as Bella, the reanimated corpse of a pregnant woman who was brought back to life with the brain of the baby she was pregnant with, creating an infant mind in an adult's body. It's certainly a bizarre premise, courtesy of the novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray, but "Poor Things" is off to quite an astonishing start at the box office. Like "The Favourite," it debuted in just a handful of theaters and is gradually expanding to more locations.
That success story that scored Lanthimos a bigger budget for his new movie, "Poor Things." The period science fiction story stars Emma Stone as Bella, the reanimated corpse of a pregnant woman who was brought back to life with the brain of the baby she was pregnant with, creating an infant mind in an adult's body. It's certainly a bizarre premise, courtesy of the novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray, but "Poor Things" is off to quite an astonishing start at the box office. Like "The Favourite," it debuted in just a handful of theaters and is gradually expanding to more locations.
- 12/18/2023
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
The 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany were about more than sports. The world was still mired in the Great Depression, and faced the prospect of a second world war as fascism flourished throughout Europe. As such, there couldn't have been a worse time for Berlin to host the games. They gave Hitler a global platform to espouse his white supremacist views, and he vigorously exploited the opportunity by putting on an Aryan spectacle that made him look like the god emperor of the greatest (and whitest) country on Earth.
And so it was important for the free-ish world to trounce Hitler's athletes whenever possible. When we look back on the games now, the first figure that comes to mind is African-American track-and-field prodigy Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals as Hitler fumed from his box in his imposing, 100,000-seat Olympiastadion. But there were other triumphs, one of the most notable being the U.
And so it was important for the free-ish world to trounce Hitler's athletes whenever possible. When we look back on the games now, the first figure that comes to mind is African-American track-and-field prodigy Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals as Hitler fumed from his box in his imposing, 100,000-seat Olympiastadion. But there were other triumphs, one of the most notable being the U.
- 12/17/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
What would the cozy crime-solving world of Jessica Fletcher look like if "Murder, She Wrote" were made in 2023 rather than the '80s? Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo, the writers of this year's GameStop stocks dramedy "Dumb Money," are prepared to answer that question. The pair have been tapped to write a movie adaptation of "Murder, She Wrote," and while a big-screen version of Cabot Cove may seem antithetical to the weekend binge-watch vibe of the original series, Schuker Blum and Angelo have plenty of ideas about how to bring Jessica into the 21st century.
"We were both kids who were suburban kids who just grew up watching 'Murder, She Wrote,' and anything else that broadcast TV fed to us," Angelo told /Film's Ben Pearson in a recent interview alongside her co-writer. She noted that the big-screen adaptation of the long-running series "has been the love of...
"We were both kids who were suburban kids who just grew up watching 'Murder, She Wrote,' and anything else that broadcast TV fed to us," Angelo told /Film's Ben Pearson in a recent interview alongside her co-writer. She noted that the big-screen adaptation of the long-running series "has been the love of...
- 12/16/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
All of the best horror films are traditionally more than just "a horror film." George A. Romero's "Dawn of the Dead" is a zombie movie, yes, but it's also a satire of consumerism and an exploration of how close the crumbling of societal norms is at any given moment. John Carpenter's "The Thing" is a masterpiece of practical effects, but it is also a sci-fi body horror film examining themes of paranoia, identity, isolation, fear of the unknown, and masculine hierarchies in survival situations. Despite what naysayers may cry out these days, horror has always been political, but one franchise has consistently been a lot more "in your face" about it.
I'm talking of course, about "The Purge" movies. Created by James DeMonaco and introduced by Blumhouse in 2013 with "The Purge," the films take place in an almost "Twilight Zone" alternate reality of America, where the country enjoys...
I'm talking of course, about "The Purge" movies. Created by James DeMonaco and introduced by Blumhouse in 2013 with "The Purge," the films take place in an almost "Twilight Zone" alternate reality of America, where the country enjoys...
- 12/14/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
In a film full of white hats and black hats, Owen Lars occupies an unusual place in "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope." Luke Skywalker's gruff but loving relative is a working-class stiff. Where his nephew can't stop looking to the horizon, Owen regards the Galactic Civil War as none of his business and believes in keeping his head down. It's all too easy for him to cling stubbornly to his apolitical position; when you've spent your entire life working as a moisture farmer on the backwater planet of Tatooine, all that fuss about Rebellions and Empires probably starts to sound like white noise.
By the time we catch up with Owen in "Obi-Wan Kenobi" (a series that takes place roughly nine years before the events of "A New Hope"), he's already begun settling into his fence-straddling ways. When Obi-Wan -- sorry, "Ben" -- approaches him about getting Luke's Force training underway,...
By the time we catch up with Owen in "Obi-Wan Kenobi" (a series that takes place roughly nine years before the events of "A New Hope"), he's already begun settling into his fence-straddling ways. When Obi-Wan -- sorry, "Ben" -- approaches him about getting Luke's Force training underway,...
- 12/14/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Martin Campbell's "The Mask of Zorro" is one of the most rousing adventure films of the 1990s, a bracing throwback to old-school Errol Flynn swashbucklers that dazzles with masterfully staged sword fights. Perhaps most importantly, it's powered by an emotionally resonant narrative that raises the stakes sky-high, leading to a breathtaking climax that had audiences cheering all three times I saw the film theatrically.
Antonio Banderas is absolute perfection as Alejandro Murrieta, a rakish outlaw who becomes the unlikely successor to Anthony Hopkins' Don Diego de la Vega, aka Zorro. Murrieta also falls for Catherine Zeta Jones' beautiful and feisty Elena Montero, who does not know that her father, the evil Don Rafael Montero, stole her as an infant from de la Vega and his wife Esperanza (Julieta Rosen).
That Elena does not know her true lineage winds up being the heartfelt counterpart to the film's rollicking action. Indeed,...
Antonio Banderas is absolute perfection as Alejandro Murrieta, a rakish outlaw who becomes the unlikely successor to Anthony Hopkins' Don Diego de la Vega, aka Zorro. Murrieta also falls for Catherine Zeta Jones' beautiful and feisty Elena Montero, who does not know that her father, the evil Don Rafael Montero, stole her as an infant from de la Vega and his wife Esperanza (Julieta Rosen).
That Elena does not know her true lineage winds up being the heartfelt counterpart to the film's rollicking action. Indeed,...
- 12/12/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Lots of people dream of making a studio movie, but in the midst of their reverie, they don't always take into account just what a grueling process it can be. People work long hours and are expected to be at their sharpest every day so that the project doesn't fall behind schedule or go over budget. From the director on down, the pressure to deliver is immense. So every now and then, a little levity is in order. This occasionally results in on-set pranks, which sometimes get a tad out of control.
Consider the case of 1996's "The Fan." Tony Scott's thriller about a die-hard San Francisco Giants fan (Robert De Niro) who begins stalking his favorite baseball player (Wesley Snipes) was a high-profile production for Sony. The studio poured $55 million into the movie, and hoped it would be a late-summer, adult-skewing smash à la "The Fugitive" or "Unforgiven.
Consider the case of 1996's "The Fan." Tony Scott's thriller about a die-hard San Francisco Giants fan (Robert De Niro) who begins stalking his favorite baseball player (Wesley Snipes) was a high-profile production for Sony. The studio poured $55 million into the movie, and hoped it would be a late-summer, adult-skewing smash à la "The Fugitive" or "Unforgiven.
- 12/11/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The film gods are a fickle bunch. If the flip of the coin had landed on a different outcome at various points in Hollywood history, the entire landscape of cinema as we know it could be completely changed. In fact, movie star Tom Cruise is something of a cottage industry to himself when it comes to major roles that he could've signed on for, but ended up little more than fascinating notes of trivia -- in our universe, at least. There's the infamous "Iron Man" scenario that could've seen him suit up as Tony Stark instead of Robert Downey, Jr., of course, along with the near-miss of starring in the classic "Shawshank Redemption." But there's one other little-known factoid that completes this little trilogy of alternate-history Cruise projects: one where he could've been cast as the lead of "The Mask of Zorro," incredibly enough.
Martin Campbell's beloved '90s...
Martin Campbell's beloved '90s...
- 12/11/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
If you've been catching up on end-of-year releases in theaters, chances are you've caught the trailer for "Bob Marley: One Love," the upcoming biopic from director Reinaldo Marcus Green. Kingsley Ben-Adir stars as Marley, the first actor to ever play the Jamaican musical legend, activism hero, and Rastafari icon in a feature film. Back in April, /Film's Ben Pearson attended CinemaCon in Las Vegas where he was given an exclusive first look at the film, which was produced by Marley's children and surviving family members, including his wife Rita Marley. As such, it was vital to the family that they had a say in who would play the titular figure.
Ahead of the film's release, Rotten Tomatoes released a featurette where Ziggy Marley discussed why Ben-Adir was the perfect actor for the role. "Kingsley does a great job in an artful way, not trying to mimic my father," he said.
Ahead of the film's release, Rotten Tomatoes released a featurette where Ziggy Marley discussed why Ben-Adir was the perfect actor for the role. "Kingsley does a great job in an artful way, not trying to mimic my father," he said.
- 12/5/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
The weekend may belong to Beyoncé, but the King of the Monsters made his presence known in a big way. "Godzilla Minus One" stomped into theaters over the weekend, and partially thanks to downright rapturous word of mouth for Toho's latest kaiju flick, the film far exceeded expectations. So much so that it trailed only "Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé" ($21 million) and "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" ($14.5 million) to take the number three spot on the charts.
Director Takashi Yamazaki's new "Godzilla" film opened to $11 million domestically, per The Numbers. That was well beyond what analysts had been predicting heading into the weekend, which is good news all around. The movie had already opened overseas and has since amassed $23 million from international markets. Its total now stands at $34 million worldwide. Not bad for a movie with a $15 million price tag (before marketing). Granted, production...
Director Takashi Yamazaki's new "Godzilla" film opened to $11 million domestically, per The Numbers. That was well beyond what analysts had been predicting heading into the weekend, which is good news all around. The movie had already opened overseas and has since amassed $23 million from international markets. Its total now stands at $34 million worldwide. Not bad for a movie with a $15 million price tag (before marketing). Granted, production...
- 12/4/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Taika Waititi might not be down for the count, but he's definitely been in a slump lately. Since taking home an Oscar for his efforts on his polarizing WWII dramedy "Jojo Rabbit" (a film I'm willing to go to bat for), the multi-hyphenate got a middling, bordering on hostile response to his return to the "Thor" movies with "Thor: Love and Thunder" (a film I'm ... less willing to go to bat for) and an even harsher reaction to his true story sports comedy "Next Goal Wins". Recently, Waititi admitted to The Hollywood Reporter he's been feeling "a bit fatigued by working on those big films, studio films," which is why he plans to cleanse his palate by working on something smaller next.
However, when he finally does return to the big-budget arena, he might just take a crack at one of the biggest franchises out there -- "Star Wars." Waititi...
However, when he finally does return to the big-budget arena, he might just take a crack at one of the biggest franchises out there -- "Star Wars." Waititi...
- 11/28/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
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Everyone here at /Film loves watching movies and TV shows. But every now and then, you need a break from the screens. However, that doesn't mean you can't still bask in the glory of moving pictures. There's an endless array of books out there about your favorite movies and TV shows. Whether it's the story of the two most famous film critics ever, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, a chronicle of the making of movies like Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" or the screwball comedy spoof "Airplane!," memoirs from your favorite stars like Patrick Stewart and Barbra Streisand, an exhausting timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or a cookbook with recipes straight from the "Star Wars" universe, we've got a huge collection of books for the film and TV lover in your life.
So let's dig into Part 2 of the 2023 /Film Holiday Gift Guide now!
Everyone here at /Film loves watching movies and TV shows. But every now and then, you need a break from the screens. However, that doesn't mean you can't still bask in the glory of moving pictures. There's an endless array of books out there about your favorite movies and TV shows. Whether it's the story of the two most famous film critics ever, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, a chronicle of the making of movies like Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" or the screwball comedy spoof "Airplane!," memoirs from your favorite stars like Patrick Stewart and Barbra Streisand, an exhausting timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or a cookbook with recipes straight from the "Star Wars" universe, we've got a huge collection of books for the film and TV lover in your life.
So let's dig into Part 2 of the 2023 /Film Holiday Gift Guide now!
- 11/21/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
Ridley Scott tends to make films that fall into one of three buckets. First, we have his science-fiction work, which features classics like "Alien" and "Blade Runner" and runs all the way up to "The Martian" and his two "Alien" prequels. Second, there are gritty dramas. Some of them have big scale action elements, like "Black Hawk Down," and others are much more stripped down, such as "The Counselor." But by far, the biggest bucket of Ridley Scott's career is for historical epics. From his very first film back in 1977 with "The Duelists," Scott has shown a consistent interest in history, especially if it involves fighting.
Just in the last decade, Scott has directed the masterful "The Last Duel," the decidedly un-masterful "Exodus: God and Kings," and his most recent film "Napoleon," all of which fall into this bucket. He does so many of them that a couple fall under the radar.
Just in the last decade, Scott has directed the masterful "The Last Duel," the decidedly un-masterful "Exodus: God and Kings," and his most recent film "Napoleon," all of which fall into this bucket. He does so many of them that a couple fall under the radar.
- 11/15/2023
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
Ridley Scott traverses genre with ease, but one he goes back to time and time again is historical epics. His Oscar-winning "Gladiator" clearly endeared Scott to swords and sandals. That film featured Joaquin Phoenix as the Commodus, the vile son of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius who murders and usurps his father.
In Scott's latest, Phoenix will play another ambitious tyrant; Napoleon Bonaparte, the French military genius who made himself his homeland's emperor and aspired to conquer all of Europe. The film, simply titled "Napoleon," has now released its second trailer. The first "Napoleon" trailer, released on July 10, 2023, offered a taste of the film's sure-to-be-epic scope. /Film's Ben Pearson also attended this year's CinemaCon and was served a taste of "Napoleon."
Many directors, including Stanley Kubrick, have tried to tell the French Emperor's life story on film. For Scott, though, this is not just the story of Napoleon himself, but also his great love,...
In Scott's latest, Phoenix will play another ambitious tyrant; Napoleon Bonaparte, the French military genius who made himself his homeland's emperor and aspired to conquer all of Europe. The film, simply titled "Napoleon," has now released its second trailer. The first "Napoleon" trailer, released on July 10, 2023, offered a taste of the film's sure-to-be-epic scope. /Film's Ben Pearson also attended this year's CinemaCon and was served a taste of "Napoleon."
Many directors, including Stanley Kubrick, have tried to tell the French Emperor's life story on film. For Scott, though, this is not just the story of Napoleon himself, but also his great love,...
- 10/18/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Whether you love the current trend of superhero cinema or hate them all with the fiery passion of Martin Scorsese after he stubbed his big toe on a particularly pointed corner, there's no question that Marvel's ascension and box office dominance is going to go down as one of the most interesting moments in movie history. It's certainly the biggest shift I've ever seen in over 20 years of being in the weeds covering the industry.
So, it's only right that we're getting an in-the-moment deeply researched chronicling of the rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's called "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios" written by the very talented trio of Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards. They talked to just about everybody in and around Marvel Studios and got all the warts-and-all insight you could want in a book like this. It doesn't release until October 10, 2023, but we have...
So, it's only right that we're getting an in-the-moment deeply researched chronicling of the rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's called "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios" written by the very talented trio of Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards. They talked to just about everybody in and around Marvel Studios and got all the warts-and-all insight you could want in a book like this. It doesn't release until October 10, 2023, but we have...
- 10/8/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
Long before we reached the point of Marvel Cinematic Universe overload; before "Secret Invasion" failed to encapsulate the momentous and historic feeling of the comic book story on which it was based, in a time where being accused of overworking CGI artists in order to churn out a never-ending stream of "content" was inconceivable, there was just Kevin Feige and his dream of a shared cinematic universe.
Of course, now such a concept is widespread, with everyone from Universal and its failed "Dark Universe" to Lionsgate and its wildly successful "John Wick" franchise trying their hand at establishing a shared on-screen world. But whatever you want to say about Feige these days, there's no doubt his contributions to blockbuster film-making have been nothing short of revolutionary. Over the past 15 or so years, the MCU has redefined big-budget movie-making. And it all started with 2008's "Iron Man."
At the time, Feige...
Of course, now such a concept is widespread, with everyone from Universal and its failed "Dark Universe" to Lionsgate and its wildly successful "John Wick" franchise trying their hand at establishing a shared on-screen world. But whatever you want to say about Feige these days, there's no doubt his contributions to blockbuster film-making have been nothing short of revolutionary. Over the past 15 or so years, the MCU has redefined big-budget movie-making. And it all started with 2008's "Iron Man."
At the time, Feige...
- 10/8/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
For better or worse, some performances in very specific projects will follow an actor for the rest of their life. Aidan Gillen is well aware of this not entirely unflattering phenomenon, given that he's been fortunate enough to be part of some of the biggest franchises in the world: from scene-stealing turns in "Game of Thrones" to "Peaky Blinders" to "The Dark Knight Rises." Needless to say, his incredibly brief but memorable role as a CIA agent in the opening sequence of Christopher Nolan's trilogy-capping blockbuster will continue to live on in internet memes for as long as we have an internet. But, sometimes, the universe enjoys throwing unexpected coincidences at us, and this certainly holds true for Gillen's work on "The Dark Knight Rises" and the hit series "Peaky Blinders" -- both of which also happen to star a certain actor by the name of Tom Hardy.
In an interview with /Film,...
In an interview with /Film,...
- 9/16/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have endured in the pop culture consciousness for well over 30 years now, in no small part thanks to the '80s animated TV show and, perhaps more importantly, the wildly successful 1990 blockbuster live-action "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" film. Directed by Steve Barron, that movie was truly the point of no return. The Turtles became superstars and, arguably, for a time, the most popular superheroes in North America. But things could have been quite different if an early pitch for a film adaptation had been received more warmly.
/Film's Ben Pearson recently spoke with "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" co-creator Kevin Eastman in honor of the home video release of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem." During the conversation, Eastman recalled a pitch from none other than B-movie maestro Roger Corman in the '80s for a low-budget movie featuring Donnie, Leo, Raph, and Mikey. The craziest part?...
/Film's Ben Pearson recently spoke with "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" co-creator Kevin Eastman in honor of the home video release of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem." During the conversation, Eastman recalled a pitch from none other than B-movie maestro Roger Corman in the '80s for a low-budget movie featuring Donnie, Leo, Raph, and Mikey. The craziest part?...
- 9/7/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Why settle for worshipping the Messiah when you could just be your own Personal Jesus (in the wise words of Depeche Mode)? So reasons Clarence (Lakeith Stanfield) in the newly-released trailer for "The Book of Clarence," the upcoming old-school Biblical epic written and directed by "The Harder They Fall" filmmaker Jeymes Samuel.
Much like his feature debut, which /Film's own Ben Pearson declared his top film of 2021 (calling it "a much-needed infusion of new blood" for the Western genre), "The Book of Clarence" sees Samuel and a talented cast composed primarily of Black actors working in a historically white genre. Citing his admiration of swords-and-sandals classics like "The Ten Commandments" as the reason he wanted to make the period piece in the first place, Samuel admitted to Ebony, "[But] as much as we love these films, there are no Black people in there. What happens when we, people of color and powerful women,...
Much like his feature debut, which /Film's own Ben Pearson declared his top film of 2021 (calling it "a much-needed infusion of new blood" for the Western genre), "The Book of Clarence" sees Samuel and a talented cast composed primarily of Black actors working in a historically white genre. Citing his admiration of swords-and-sandals classics like "The Ten Commandments" as the reason he wanted to make the period piece in the first place, Samuel admitted to Ebony, "[But] as much as we love these films, there are no Black people in there. What happens when we, people of color and powerful women,...
- 8/29/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
It's a question that has plagued professional wrestling for decades as it fought for legitimacy in the eyes of wider audiences: Can a sport with a predetermined outcome even be considered a sport in the first place? As those who follow /Film know, avid proponents of the larger-than-life storylines featured in wrestling would undoubtedly say yes, but perhaps there's a better way to approach that concern. What if a wrestling movie used such low perceptions from outsiders to challenge traditionally held beliefs about gender, sexuality, and expression?
That's exactly what seems to be happening with "Cassandro," the newest film from Prime Video, directed by Roger Ross Williams. The story follows Saúl Armendáriz, a gay aspiring wrestler who struggles to carve out a niche for himself in the Mexican wrestling scene. Starring "Y tu mamá también" heartthrob and scene-stealer in both "Old" and Marvel's "Werewolf by Night" Gael García Bernal, the...
That's exactly what seems to be happening with "Cassandro," the newest film from Prime Video, directed by Roger Ross Williams. The story follows Saúl Armendáriz, a gay aspiring wrestler who struggles to carve out a niche for himself in the Mexican wrestling scene. Starring "Y tu mamá también" heartthrob and scene-stealer in both "Old" and Marvel's "Werewolf by Night" Gael García Bernal, the...
- 8/22/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Call it the summer of Alden Ehrenreich. After going toe-to-toe with no less a talent than Robert Downey, Jr. in "Oppenheimer," reminding audiences that the "Hail, Caesar!" actor has far more to offer than a Harrison Ford impression in "Solo: A Star Wars Story," Ehrenreich is back to further flex his range as a performer in "Fair Play."
Of course, he's not doing it alone. The thriller, which first debuted at this year's Sundance Film Festival and has since been picked up by Netflix, also features a ferocious leading performance by "Bridgerton" star Phoebe Dynevor as Emily. As a young and happy (and horny!) couple working at the same high-powered New York City hedge fund, they've agreed to keep their relationship under wraps -- not least because their fraternization violates company policy. The private/professional life arrangement seems to be working just fine ... until Ehrenreich's Luke is rumored to be up for a sought-after promotion.
Of course, he's not doing it alone. The thriller, which first debuted at this year's Sundance Film Festival and has since been picked up by Netflix, also features a ferocious leading performance by "Bridgerton" star Phoebe Dynevor as Emily. As a young and happy (and horny!) couple working at the same high-powered New York City hedge fund, they've agreed to keep their relationship under wraps -- not least because their fraternization violates company policy. The private/professional life arrangement seems to be working just fine ... until Ehrenreich's Luke is rumored to be up for a sought-after promotion.
- 8/8/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
What's the mark of a true Christopher Nolan movie? Multiple storylines edited together impeccably as they meld time and space? A focus on big-screen spectacle that makes audiences feel like they're right there amid the action? Both of those fit the director's sensibilities like a glove, but I'd propose another aspect entirely: Controversies ignited by moviegoers who are completely unable to hear certain lines of dialogue.
Okay, in all fairness, this narrative mostly only became a thing in the wake of "The Dark Knight Rises" in 2012, when all of humanity was ever-so-briefly united in sheer confusion over every word that came out of the mouth of Tom Hardy's Bane. Nolan notoriously tinkered with the sound mix for Hardy's dialogue between the release of the prologue sequence and the actual theatrical debut of the film itself, but the issue has popped up again in subsequent Nolan movies, such as certain...
Okay, in all fairness, this narrative mostly only became a thing in the wake of "The Dark Knight Rises" in 2012, when all of humanity was ever-so-briefly united in sheer confusion over every word that came out of the mouth of Tom Hardy's Bane. Nolan notoriously tinkered with the sound mix for Hardy's dialogue between the release of the prologue sequence and the actual theatrical debut of the film itself, but the issue has popped up again in subsequent Nolan movies, such as certain...
- 8/3/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Here's some good news for horror fans who still embrace physical media: "The Boogeyman" is getting a Blu-ray release. The Stephen King adaptation is headed home, and soon, arriving on both digital and Blu-ray in the weeks ahead. The spooky film follows a family going through a hard time in the wake of a death. Their grief compounds itself through their shared trauma, but grief isn't the only thing they have to worry about. There's a supernatural entity lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce on poor, helpless people who are wracked with grief. It feeds on misery and suffering — the worse off the potential victims are, the more danger they're in. Or something like that — it's all deliberately vague to help keep things mysterious and creepy.
As a physical media fan, I'm glad the folks at Disney are giving this a disc release. "Barbarian," an excellent Disney horror film from last year,...
As a physical media fan, I'm glad the folks at Disney are giving this a disc release. "Barbarian," an excellent Disney horror film from last year,...
- 8/1/2023
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for the season 2 finale of "Yellowjackets."
The second season of Showtime's "Yellowjackets" ended last night, and while all the characters — both the adult and teen versions — have certainly been through more than a few trials and tribulations, Natalie — played by Juliette Lewis as an adult and Sophie Thatcher in the '90s storyline — arguably gets the worst of it.
Adult Natalie, of course, tragically dies in the finale after Misty (Christina Ricci) accidentally injects her with a fatal dose of phenobarbital. But teen Natalie isn't doing so great either, and it all started in episode 8 after she draws the fatal Queen of Hearts in the girls' new cannibalism ritual, marking her as the next Yellowjacket to be served up for dinner.
It turns out that Natalie drawing that ill-fated card was a surprise to Thatcher as well. And when /Film's Ben Pearson interviewed her for "The Boogeyman,...
The second season of Showtime's "Yellowjackets" ended last night, and while all the characters — both the adult and teen versions — have certainly been through more than a few trials and tribulations, Natalie — played by Juliette Lewis as an adult and Sophie Thatcher in the '90s storyline — arguably gets the worst of it.
Adult Natalie, of course, tragically dies in the finale after Misty (Christina Ricci) accidentally injects her with a fatal dose of phenobarbital. But teen Natalie isn't doing so great either, and it all started in episode 8 after she draws the fatal Queen of Hearts in the girls' new cannibalism ritual, marking her as the next Yellowjacket to be served up for dinner.
It turns out that Natalie drawing that ill-fated card was a surprise to Thatcher as well. And when /Film's Ben Pearson interviewed her for "The Boogeyman,...
- 5/26/2023
- by Vanessa Armstrong
- Slash Film
The nature of the monster in "The Boogeyman" is fluid and ineffable. Any family that is haunted by grief seems to attract a shadowy, semi-intelligent closet monster that lurks in the shadows and seems to appear and vanish at will. It can imitate the voices of loved ones and offer its potential victims gentle assurances before diving in for the kill. Oh, and it wants to kill. It seems keen on eating children who are afraid of it. "The Boogeyman" was based on a 1973 short story by Stephen King, and one can easily see parallels between its central monster and the wicked clown spider from the author's 1986 novel "It."
The monster eschews light and will not approach its victims in well-lit rooms. Like its namesake, it prefers to hide in closets and under beds. When it's in your house, black mold begins to grow on the walls. Where it comes from is a mystery,...
The monster eschews light and will not approach its victims in well-lit rooms. Like its namesake, it prefers to hide in closets and under beds. When it's in your house, black mold begins to grow on the walls. Where it comes from is a mystery,...
- 5/26/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
British filmmaker Rob Savage, who previously directed an entire movie over Zoom with "Host" before overseeing the unfortunately grating horror effort "Dashcam" in 2021, is back. And this time he's helmed yet another Stephen King adaptation with "The Boogeyman."
Set free from the confines of the global pandemic and the lockdown-themed movies it inspired, Savage has proven he's perfectly capable of making a more traditional horror movie. "The Boogeyman" uses King's 1973 short story of the same name as the inciting incident for its narrative, which centers on widowed therapist Will (Chris Messina) and his two daughters Sadie (Sophie Thatcher) and Sawyer (Vivien Lyra Blair). As if losing their mother and seeing their father struggle to hold things together wasn't bad enough, Sadie and Sawyer then have to contend with a malicious entity that's unleashed on their home by one of Will's patients.
After seeing success with sleeper hit "Barbarian" in 2022, Disney...
Set free from the confines of the global pandemic and the lockdown-themed movies it inspired, Savage has proven he's perfectly capable of making a more traditional horror movie. "The Boogeyman" uses King's 1973 short story of the same name as the inciting incident for its narrative, which centers on widowed therapist Will (Chris Messina) and his two daughters Sadie (Sophie Thatcher) and Sawyer (Vivien Lyra Blair). As if losing their mother and seeing their father struggle to hold things together wasn't bad enough, Sadie and Sawyer then have to contend with a malicious entity that's unleashed on their home by one of Will's patients.
After seeing success with sleeper hit "Barbarian" in 2022, Disney...
- 5/26/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Remember when actors appearing in multiple giant franchises seemed like a huge deal? Now that IP rules Hollywood, hardly anyone even bats an eye anymore when a "Star Wars" fave joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe or a DC Universe actor plays the Big Bad in the latest "Fast & Furious" movie. That's doubly the case when it comes to Disney-owned projects, between the studio's live-action and animation divisions, Pixar, the MCU, Lucasfilm, and its former Fox studios. This can lead to some amusing coincidences though, like that time Ewan McGregor went from playing sad, older Christopher Robin in the live-action "Winnie the Pooh" sequel "Christopher Robin" to playing sad, older Obi-Wan Kenobi in the live-action "Star Wars" series "Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Surprisingly, of all things it's filmmaker Rob Savage's "The Boogeyman" that marks the latest crossing of the streams among Disney properties. The upcoming horror movie, adapted from Stephen King...
Surprisingly, of all things it's filmmaker Rob Savage's "The Boogeyman" that marks the latest crossing of the streams among Disney properties. The upcoming horror movie, adapted from Stephen King...
- 5/24/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
It was, in some ways, a rather uneventful weekend at the box office -- or so it seemed on the surface. We had a repeat of the prior weekend, with "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" once again taking the top spot (now for the fourth week in a row) with very little drop-off. The animated flick has already crossed $1 billion worldwide, becoming just the fifth movie of the pandemic era to do so. Meanwhile, "Evil Dead Rise" once again came in at number two, dropping just 50% to add $12.2 million domestically. Globally, it sits at $86 million and will soon pass "Evil Dead" 2013. Most interesting of all though: "Star Wars" is back in the top five on the charts.
Yes, Disney decided to re-release "Return of the Jedi" in theaters to honor the film's forthcoming 40th anniversary and, as it turns out, audiences still really love the original trilogy. Per The Numbers,...
Yes, Disney decided to re-release "Return of the Jedi" in theaters to honor the film's forthcoming 40th anniversary and, as it turns out, audiences still really love the original trilogy. Per The Numbers,...
- 5/1/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
"Everything Everywhere All at Once" cleaned up at the 95th annual Academy Awards, taking home seven Oscars including the trophies for Best Picture and Best Director for Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. So, what are Daniels (as the duo is collectively known) doing next? Why making a Star War, of course!
It's a common refrain in modern Hollywood: a promising director (or directing duo) scores a hit, then immediately gets snatched up by a studio to oversee one of their franchises. Hence, it's understandable people weren't exactly thrilled to learn Daniels are working on "Skeleton Crew," an upcoming live-action "Star Wars" streaming series that takes place concurrently with "The Mandalorian" and its spinoffs. Is this the minds who gave us Daniel Radcliffe: Farting Corpse and a universe where everyone has hotdog fingers leaving their days of being legitimately weird and innovative behind them? In a subsequent Instagram story post...
It's a common refrain in modern Hollywood: a promising director (or directing duo) scores a hit, then immediately gets snatched up by a studio to oversee one of their franchises. Hence, it's understandable people weren't exactly thrilled to learn Daniels are working on "Skeleton Crew," an upcoming live-action "Star Wars" streaming series that takes place concurrently with "The Mandalorian" and its spinoffs. Is this the minds who gave us Daniel Radcliffe: Farting Corpse and a universe where everyone has hotdog fingers leaving their days of being legitimately weird and innovative behind them? In a subsequent Instagram story post...
- 3/21/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Spring is here, which means so is the first wave of great indie movies that made their debut at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Among them is "Rye Lane," a South London-set rom-com about two people who bond about bad breakups during a walk around the city they call home. /Film's Ben Pearson reviewed "Rye Lane" at Sundance, calling it "a love letter to the beauty and diversity of South London" and "a highly satisfying walk-and-talk romance." Now, "Rye Lane" has a charming new trailer and is set for a release date exclusively on Hulu.
The film follows a woman named Yas ("Class" and "Teen Spirit" actor Vivian Oparah) who meets a guy called Dom ("Industry" star David Jonsson) at a museum when she finds him sobbing in the bathroom. Dom has recently been through a bad breakup -- his girlfriend cheated on him with his best friend...
The film follows a woman named Yas ("Class" and "Teen Spirit" actor Vivian Oparah) who meets a guy called Dom ("Industry" star David Jonsson) at a museum when she finds him sobbing in the bathroom. Dom has recently been through a bad breakup -- his girlfriend cheated on him with his best friend...
- 3/20/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Ready or not, "The Last Of Us" is coming with a 100 guarantee to yank on your heartstrings. Whether or not you've played through the original Naughty Dog game or are seeing Joel and Ellie's story play out for the very first time, the upcoming HBO series is bound to break (and mend) your heart with the story of two strangers uniting on a dangerous trip across an America laid to waste by a global infection.
Obviously, that premise carries a lot of extra weight that wasn't nearly as present when the game first debuted in 2013. Since then, we've lived through a pandemic of our own (and plenty of pandemic-processing art) that will probably make many elements of "The Last Of Us" feel eerily familiar. For Craig Mazin, who showruns and co-created the series with Neil Druckmann, that's part of what makes the story so frightening. Well, that and the other...
Obviously, that premise carries a lot of extra weight that wasn't nearly as present when the game first debuted in 2013. Since then, we've lived through a pandemic of our own (and plenty of pandemic-processing art) that will probably make many elements of "The Last Of Us" feel eerily familiar. For Craig Mazin, who showruns and co-created the series with Neil Druckmann, that's part of what makes the story so frightening. Well, that and the other...
- 1/6/2023
- by Shania Russell
- Slash Film
After years of development, HBO's "The Last of Us" is finally almost here, and it already looks like a largely faithful adaptation of the beloved video game series. Every sign points to the nine-episode season covering the vast majority of the original story, sparing no details in the process. Thankfully, it doesn't seem like HBO spared any dollars, either. The production quality practically leaks through the screen in the limited trailer footage we've gotten so far. The video game franchise is known for its detailed world-building, and the show won't be cutting corners in that department.
"The Last of Us" is often heralded as the pinnacle of video game storytelling for its dark and deeply emotional narrative. However, the world around it is a vital part of the player's experience. As the story progresses, we get to intimately explore the corners of the many locations Joel and Ellie visit during their journey.
"The Last of Us" is often heralded as the pinnacle of video game storytelling for its dark and deeply emotional narrative. However, the world around it is a vital part of the player's experience. As the story progresses, we get to intimately explore the corners of the many locations Joel and Ellie visit during their journey.
- 1/6/2023
- by Marcos Melendez
- Slash Film
HBO's adaptation of "The Last of Us" will largely see a new set of faces play its ensemble cast of characters, but one voice actor will be making her way back to the post-apocalyptic world. Merle Dandridge is set to reprise her role as Marlene, to whom she lent her voice and motion-captured performance in the original video game. The leader of a resistance movement called the Fireflies, Marlene plays a pivotal role in the overarching narrative of "The Last of Us." Dandridge is not the only crew member returning to the franchise, but unlike Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson, who are playing different roles than they played in the games, Dandridge faces the unique task of revisiting a role she defined long before this live-action adaptation. And she's not taking the unique opportunity for granted.
In the original "The Last of Us," Marlene was a complex character who sought...
In the original "The Last of Us," Marlene was a complex character who sought...
- 1/6/2023
- by Marcos Melendez
- Slash Film
The internet getting way too mad over the casting of a beloved character in an adaptation is hardly a new phenomenon, so when people went after Bella Ramsey's appearance as they were announced to play Ellie in the HBO adaptation of "The Last of Us," it sadly wasn't that surprising. Although we know from "Game of Thrones" that Ramsey is perfectly capable of playing the tough, sharp-tongued girl we all know Ellie to be, the internet was more inclined to go for someone like Kaitlyn Dever, based purely on the fact that Dever looks more like Ellie from the game.
But as it turns out, there's more to the casting process than just a performer's looks. Ellie's defining attributes are her teenage rashness and her bravery, not the bone structure of her face. And then there's the fact that the TV adaptation isn't planning to be a carbon copy of the game.
But as it turns out, there's more to the casting process than just a performer's looks. Ellie's defining attributes are her teenage rashness and her bravery, not the bone structure of her face. And then there's the fact that the TV adaptation isn't planning to be a carbon copy of the game.
- 1/6/2023
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
"The Last of Us" creator Neil Druckmann will be making a rare career crossover when the series debuts on HBO this month. The man responsible for the beloved game series wrote and co-directed the original titles on which the highly anticipated show is based, but he doesn't exactly have a ton of experience directing a live-action series. While filmmakers sometimes dabble in making video games, the opposite doesn't always hold true.
But "The Last of Us" isn't like most games: the heartbreaking and gorgeous apocalyptic drama is already extremely cinematic, so it's no surprise that Druckmann would end up on the directorial slate when it came time to adapt the series. At a press event and interview roundtable attended by /Film's Ben Pearson, the game-maker-turned-filmmaker spoke about how it felt to step behind the camera and recapture Ellie and Joel's story. On a practical level, he says, there was actually...
But "The Last of Us" isn't like most games: the heartbreaking and gorgeous apocalyptic drama is already extremely cinematic, so it's no surprise that Druckmann would end up on the directorial slate when it came time to adapt the series. At a press event and interview roundtable attended by /Film's Ben Pearson, the game-maker-turned-filmmaker spoke about how it felt to step behind the camera and recapture Ellie and Joel's story. On a practical level, he says, there was actually...
- 1/6/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
HBO's adaptation of the critically acclaimed video game "The Last of Us" is nearly here. With this adaptation come hefty expectations. Released in 2013 at the end of the life cycle of the PlayStation 3 console, "The Last of Us" redefined what was possible for a video game narrative. The characters, story, and gameplay all felt engineered to elicit feelings of empathy and love. These intentions are something creator Neil Druckmann flipped on their head with "The Last of Us Part II" in 2021, with controversial story decisions meant to bring out anger and even hatred from players (mostly in a good way).
From a narrative standpoint, "The Last of Us" is a game that's ripe for adaptation into a television series. The project was a long time coming, first starting as a film and eventually becoming a television series to better flesh out its characters and narrative. As strong as the story of the games is,...
From a narrative standpoint, "The Last of Us" is a game that's ripe for adaptation into a television series. The project was a long time coming, first starting as a film and eventually becoming a television series to better flesh out its characters and narrative. As strong as the story of the games is,...
- 1/6/2023
- by Ernesto Valenzuela
- Slash Film
Over the past week, the /Film editorial staff has published their personal lists of the best movies of 2022. And it all comes down to this: one final list representing the entire site. Our overall top 15 favorite movies of the year. And as you can see from the list below, it was one helluva good year for folks who like cinema.
Naturally, this list could never contain every favorite movie from every personal list, but once we crunched the numbers, this is where the chips fell. And what chips! A brutal anti-war movie. A delightfully honest Pixar romp. The most bombastic action/musical/bromance of all time. An unlikely blockbuster masterpiece. An unforgettable journey through the multiverse. Steven Spielberg. Guillermo del Toro. Jordan Peele. Daniel Craig with a southern accent. It's hard to look at this list and not find at least one movies that you deeply and powerfully love.
As...
Naturally, this list could never contain every favorite movie from every personal list, but once we crunched the numbers, this is where the chips fell. And what chips! A brutal anti-war movie. A delightfully honest Pixar romp. The most bombastic action/musical/bromance of all time. An unlikely blockbuster masterpiece. An unforgettable journey through the multiverse. Steven Spielberg. Guillermo del Toro. Jordan Peele. Daniel Craig with a southern accent. It's hard to look at this list and not find at least one movies that you deeply and powerfully love.
As...
- 1/6/2023
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
"The Last Of Us" is a risk. HBO's adaptation of Neil Druckmann's beloved video game is highly anticipated, but for fervent fans of the game series, it's an anticipation that's tinged with nerves. Will the series get the game's beautiful, bleak story right? Will the emotional nuance of the central relationship between cynical survivor Joel and teen girl Ellie stay intact? These are, apparently, the types of questions Druckmann considered when choosing to adapt the series, and at a press event and roundtable interview attended by /Film's Ben Pearson, he dug into the factors in the adaptation that made risking the game's legacy worth it.
When asked why he decided to gamble with the legacy of such a deeply loved franchise by adapting it into a TV series, Druckmann spoke about the particular talents of the team involved in the show, and explained that an abandoned film adaptation attempt...
When asked why he decided to gamble with the legacy of such a deeply loved franchise by adapting it into a TV series, Druckmann spoke about the particular talents of the team involved in the show, and explained that an abandoned film adaptation attempt...
- 1/6/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
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