"Only Murders in the Building" has earned pretty much universal acclaim for its first three seasons, including an 8 out of 10 /Film review from Josh Spiegel for season 3. It's also been responsible for Meryl Streep's return to TV, a weirdly catchy original Steve Martin tune (or two), and an official companion podcast called "Only Murders in the Pod." Plus, of course, the show has won four Primetime Emmys and counting. So what's next for the series? In a word: Hollywood.
After three seasons spent solving murders in their unusually deadly New York City apartment building, amateur sleuths Mabel (Selena Gomez), Charles (Steve Martin), and Oliver (Martin Short) are making a great escape. While last season of the zany Hulu mystery series saw the trio of podcast hosts turned frequent murder suspects unmask Ben Glenroy's (Paul Rudd) killer and seemingly get embroiled in another East Coast death, the first teaser for...
After three seasons spent solving murders in their unusually deadly New York City apartment building, amateur sleuths Mabel (Selena Gomez), Charles (Steve Martin), and Oliver (Martin Short) are making a great escape. While last season of the zany Hulu mystery series saw the trio of podcast hosts turned frequent murder suspects unmask Ben Glenroy's (Paul Rudd) killer and seemingly get embroiled in another East Coast death, the first teaser for...
- 5/15/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Mattel's next "big" movie may have found its director, as Deadline reports today that Sam Hargrave has closed a deal with Skydance and Mattel Films to helm the toy company's upcoming film "Matchbox." Hargrave is best known as the director of the Netflix film "Extraction" and its sequel; Netflix has said the first film in the franchise is one of the most-watched original movies it's ever released.
Mattel, the company that brought fans a billion-dollar "Barbie" movie, is clearly looking for another huge hit, and based on his track record at Netflix, Hargrave is able to get audiences seated. The first "Extraction" film dropped in 2020, starred Chris Hemsworth, and was reportedly watched by 99 million households during its first month on the streamer. While Netflix's data and viewership measurements are notoriously opaque, that's still a hell of a number, and it's one that could translate to success when it comes to "Matchbox.
Mattel, the company that brought fans a billion-dollar "Barbie" movie, is clearly looking for another huge hit, and based on his track record at Netflix, Hargrave is able to get audiences seated. The first "Extraction" film dropped in 2020, starred Chris Hemsworth, and was reportedly watched by 99 million households during its first month on the streamer. While Netflix's data and viewership measurements are notoriously opaque, that's still a hell of a number, and it's one that could translate to success when it comes to "Matchbox.
- 5/7/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
When you think of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you might not think of improvisation as being central to its success. In fact, extemporaneous additions seem like the complete opposite of Kevin Feige's approach to establishing his gargantuan blockbuster franchise. The Marvel Studios head and his cohorts meticulously plan out each so-called "phase" of the MCU, carefully charting a course for their cinematic saga ahead of time.
Recently, however, this approach hasn't worked so well, with Feige and co. bombarding us with Marvel media, ultimately proving that too much of the MCU is essentially the franchise's Kryptonite. But for a long time, the plan was very much working. The Marvel machine was churning out hit after hit, with "Avengers: Endgame" and its record-breaking box office marking the apex of Marvel Studios' success. In that sense, deviating from the plan just doesn't seem to fit with the MCU ethos. But improvisation...
Recently, however, this approach hasn't worked so well, with Feige and co. bombarding us with Marvel media, ultimately proving that too much of the MCU is essentially the franchise's Kryptonite. But for a long time, the plan was very much working. The Marvel machine was churning out hit after hit, with "Avengers: Endgame" and its record-breaking box office marking the apex of Marvel Studios' success. In that sense, deviating from the plan just doesn't seem to fit with the MCU ethos. But improvisation...
- 3/19/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
The word "iconic" gets used a lot, but if there's one character who deserves to be called that, it's Mario. The little mustachioed guy revolutionized gaming (and plumbing) forever. He has defended kingdoms against countless threats, saved princesses, and even fought off gorillas. He hasn't done all that much actual plumbing, but he has been a racer, a doctor, a golfer, a superhero, and even an elephant.
After the huge, incredible, and not entirely surprising box office success of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" — not the Bob Hoskins one, the Chris Pratt one — it was inevitable that we would get more of the Mario brothers. After all, if Mario can have almost as many careers as Barbie, why not add "movie star" to the list?
While we wait to return to Mushroom Kingdom and witness Bowser's latest attempt at getting Princess Peach to marry him for some reason, let's...
After the huge, incredible, and not entirely surprising box office success of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" — not the Bob Hoskins one, the Chris Pratt one — it was inevitable that we would get more of the Mario brothers. After all, if Mario can have almost as many careers as Barbie, why not add "movie star" to the list?
While we wait to return to Mushroom Kingdom and witness Bowser's latest attempt at getting Princess Peach to marry him for some reason, let's...
- 3/11/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
"Percy Jackson and the Olympians," the second attempt at adapting the popular book series by Rick Riordan, is taking one step closer to being able to tell its complete story. After the movie series ended abruptly with the terrible "Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters," Disney has decided to renew the TV adaptation for a second season that tackles the events of that story. This was announced by CEO Bob Iger during the company's first quarter earnings call for 2024. The news comes as Disney announced the first season of "Percy Jackson" was their biggest non-Marvel and non-"Star Wars" hit on streaming.
"I can't wait to bring the next season of 'Percy Jackson' to Disney+! Raise anchors. Hoist the mainsail. All hands on deck, demigods. We're heading for the Sea of Monsters!" Riordan said in a statement. The upcoming second season sees the return of Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries,...
"I can't wait to bring the next season of 'Percy Jackson' to Disney+! Raise anchors. Hoist the mainsail. All hands on deck, demigods. We're heading for the Sea of Monsters!" Riordan said in a statement. The upcoming second season sees the return of Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries,...
- 2/7/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Illumination Entertainment is an animation studio that sort of came out of nowhere. Led by founder and producer Chris Meledandri, the studio jumped at the scene with "Despicable Me," which remains a rather fun family movie with a cool concept (created by "Klaus" director Sergio Pablos). It also gave the world the phenomenon that is the Minions — whether that's good or bad is up to the reader to decide.
In just 17 years, the studio has found a formula that it's honed to produce some of the highest-grossing animated movies of all time, with quite the high batting average thanks to their focus on hit songs and broad humor. After the enormous success of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," Illumination took a hard left turn and gave us a movie that's unlike any it had done before — "Migration."
Featuring a script by "The White Lotus" creator Mike White and directed by...
In just 17 years, the studio has found a formula that it's honed to produce some of the highest-grossing animated movies of all time, with quite the high batting average thanks to their focus on hit songs and broad humor. After the enormous success of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," Illumination took a hard left turn and gave us a movie that's unlike any it had done before — "Migration."
Featuring a script by "The White Lotus" creator Mike White and directed by...
- 1/22/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
The year that was 2023 is almost over, and it was a good year for movies. By extension, it was also a good year to write about movies. We here at /Film strive to bring you reviews of every major release, and then some — but what is the role of a movie review? Some folks think a movie review exists merely to tell the reader if a film is good or bad, and nothing more. It's a guide to whether or not you should plop down your hard-earned cash at the box office. But that shouldn't be a movie review's primary goal.
A movie review should also engage with the work; to examine it, study it, and try to figure out what makes it tick. And in the end, the final choice should be yours. Often, when I file a negative review of a film, it will be met with a reply from someone stating,...
A movie review should also engage with the work; to examine it, study it, and try to figure out what makes it tick. And in the end, the final choice should be yours. Often, when I file a negative review of a film, it will be met with a reply from someone stating,...
- 12/21/2023
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Every year, Christmas comes along to bring a big new release or two to the box office. Often, it's a major awards season contender. Other times, it's a big-budget tentpole from a studio looking to capitalize on the holiday window. In some cases, it's both. "The Color Purple" firmly falls into the "both" category as it is unquestionably a movie that Warner Bros. wants in the Oscar conversation, but also one they spent a great deal of money on. So, can the movie become the big Christmas season hit the studio is banking on?
Directed by Blitz Bazawule ("Black Is King"), the big-budget musical opens on Christmas Day this year, which falls on a Monday. It will be facing quite a bit of competition as "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" (also a Warner Bros. release) opens on December 22, with A24's "The Iron Claw," Illumination's animated "Migration," and Sony's...
Directed by Blitz Bazawule ("Black Is King"), the big-budget musical opens on Christmas Day this year, which falls on a Monday. It will be facing quite a bit of competition as "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" (also a Warner Bros. release) opens on December 22, with A24's "The Iron Claw," Illumination's animated "Migration," and Sony's...
- 12/21/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
This article contains major spoilers for "The Boy and the Heron."
Hayao Miyazaki is one of the greatest animation auteurs of all time. He is the man who helped revolutionize anime in Japan and made the only Japanese anime that has won an Oscar. He is arguably the best-known name in animation outside of Walt Disney himself. Miyazaki is also a man who loves to threaten audiences with retirement. He first announced his retirement in 1997 after "Princess Mononoke." He did it again after "Spirited Away" in 2003. Then again in 2013 after "The Wind Rises." Yet here we are, in 2023, with Miyazaki saying that he is actually not retiring with his latest movie.
That latest (but not last) movie is "The Boy and the Heron," a movie that has undergone some changes (more on that later) in its story and also a big change in title for its international release. The film...
Hayao Miyazaki is one of the greatest animation auteurs of all time. He is the man who helped revolutionize anime in Japan and made the only Japanese anime that has won an Oscar. He is arguably the best-known name in animation outside of Walt Disney himself. Miyazaki is also a man who loves to threaten audiences with retirement. He first announced his retirement in 1997 after "Princess Mononoke." He did it again after "Spirited Away" in 2003. Then again in 2013 after "The Wind Rises." Yet here we are, in 2023, with Miyazaki saying that he is actually not retiring with his latest movie.
That latest (but not last) movie is "The Boy and the Heron," a movie that has undergone some changes (more on that later) in its story and also a big change in title for its international release. The film...
- 12/8/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
2023 is just not Disney's year. While there have been some major animated hits at the box office for other studios -- from the monster success of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" to the $690 million gross of "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse -- things aren't looking so good for the studio that once delivered megahits like "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast."
Disney celebrated its 100th anniversary with the release of "Wish," a new animated musical about following your dreams, and wishing upon a star and ... there's a talking goat, and ... Well, it's actually a bit hard to explain what "Wish" is about, which might be one reason why the film is struggling at the box office. After falling short of expectations during its Thanksgiving debut, opening in third place behind "The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" and "Napoleon," "Wish" has now dropped 61% in its second weekend, grossing...
Disney celebrated its 100th anniversary with the release of "Wish," a new animated musical about following your dreams, and wishing upon a star and ... there's a talking goat, and ... Well, it's actually a bit hard to explain what "Wish" is about, which might be one reason why the film is struggling at the box office. After falling short of expectations during its Thanksgiving debut, opening in third place behind "The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" and "Napoleon," "Wish" has now dropped 61% in its second weekend, grossing...
- 12/5/2023
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
The week of Thanksgiving is always a major one for moviegoers, and these days, that holds true for streaming too. Netflix typically offers up a new movie that becomes an instant hit among subscribers, and this year it was the animated Adam Sandler film "Leo." If you haven't seen the ads for "Leo," it's a musical coming-of-age comedy about an old lizard (Sandler) who becomes a mentor to fifth graders after they discover the class pet can talk. It's more likely that you have already seen this movie, though, as Netflix reports that 34.6 million people tuned in to watch it during the week of November 20th to 27, 2023.
Streamers' self-reported data is notoriously less-than-transparent, but an animated kids' movie doing huge numbers during a long weekend is a no-brainer. "Leo" also actually looks good; the smooth animation is closer to Dreamworks or Pixar style than typical Netflix fare, and Sandler reigns...
Streamers' self-reported data is notoriously less-than-transparent, but an animated kids' movie doing huge numbers during a long weekend is a no-brainer. "Leo" also actually looks good; the smooth animation is closer to Dreamworks or Pixar style than typical Netflix fare, and Sandler reigns...
- 12/3/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
What's that line from "Wicked?" Something about "getting your dreams, it's strange but it seems a little, well, complicated." Right. It comes to mind whenever I think about Disney, and especially whenever I'm made to think about its underrated archvillain CEO, Bob Iger.
You see, the Walt Disney Company is currently harvesting fruit from the seeds Iger planted way back in 2005, when he first succeeded Michael Eisner as CEO. Eisner was nothing if not exacting and dictatorial as chief landlord of the House of Mouse, but it's hard not to have some nostalgia for his tenure. Put simply, Iger's biggest change once he stepped in was pivoting the focus from quality to quantity. With a wave of his wand, the days of carefully constructed, meticulously brainstormed, sensibly timed animated feature releases dissipated, and in came a new era of cheap and dirty overproduction.
This isn't my interpretation. Iger has said...
You see, the Walt Disney Company is currently harvesting fruit from the seeds Iger planted way back in 2005, when he first succeeded Michael Eisner as CEO. Eisner was nothing if not exacting and dictatorial as chief landlord of the House of Mouse, but it's hard not to have some nostalgia for his tenure. Put simply, Iger's biggest change once he stepped in was pivoting the focus from quality to quantity. With a wave of his wand, the days of carefully constructed, meticulously brainstormed, sensibly timed animated feature releases dissipated, and in came a new era of cheap and dirty overproduction.
This isn't my interpretation. Iger has said...
- 11/25/2023
- by Ryan Coleman
- Slash Film
In /Film's review for the "Frasier" revival, Josh Spiegel described it as neither disappointing nor remarkable. Which is pretty much the perfect description for the supporting characters. After Jane Leeves, who played Daphne Moon on the original series, and David Hyde Pierce, who played Niles, passed on the opportunity to come back, showrunners Chris Harris and Joe Cristali had to go back to the drawing board. Along with star Kelsey Grammer, who remains the only original cast member to return in a recurring capacity, Harris and Cristali drew up a new plan for their revival show.
Now airing on Paramount+, that show has done its absolute best to chart a new course for Frasier Crane while remaining faithful to the original show. There are even callbacks to "Cheers" where the character of Frasier first debuted. But try as it might, the new series just can't seem to overcome the lack of the original supporting cast.
Now airing on Paramount+, that show has done its absolute best to chart a new course for Frasier Crane while remaining faithful to the original show. There are even callbacks to "Cheers" where the character of Frasier first debuted. But try as it might, the new series just can't seem to overcome the lack of the original supporting cast.
- 11/23/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
This article contains spoilers for the "Frasier" revival.
Paramount+'s "Frasier" revival is off to a start. Not a great one, not a particularly rocky one either, just ... a start. Here at /Film we've explored the good (the beautiful tribute to the series paid to the late John Mahoney), the bad (that painful "Dr. Crane" sequence from episode 3), and everything in between (who do You want to reprise their role in the revival?). In his review of the series, /Film's Josh Spiegel called it "neither disappointing nor remarkable," and presciently identified exactly where the revival has the opportunity to ultimately either bomb or soar: "The new characters," Spiegel wrote, "only serve as distant echoes of the ensemble from the original series."
Finely drawn characters and electric character dynamics are arguably the key to all successful sitcoms. But these elements were especially vital to the success of "Frasier" as, unlike most other smash hit sitcoms,...
Paramount+'s "Frasier" revival is off to a start. Not a great one, not a particularly rocky one either, just ... a start. Here at /Film we've explored the good (the beautiful tribute to the series paid to the late John Mahoney), the bad (that painful "Dr. Crane" sequence from episode 3), and everything in between (who do You want to reprise their role in the revival?). In his review of the series, /Film's Josh Spiegel called it "neither disappointing nor remarkable," and presciently identified exactly where the revival has the opportunity to ultimately either bomb or soar: "The new characters," Spiegel wrote, "only serve as distant echoes of the ensemble from the original series."
Finely drawn characters and electric character dynamics are arguably the key to all successful sitcoms. But these elements were especially vital to the success of "Frasier" as, unlike most other smash hit sitcoms,...
- 11/6/2023
- by Ryan Coleman
- Slash Film
This article contains spoilers for "Frasier."Reboots, revivals, and spinoffs are odd things. So often they reek of money-grubbing creative bankruptcy, their only reason for existing being they might squeeze a bit more money out of a loyal audience before their passion slowly fizzles out. Sometimes it's clear that whoever had the most driving power behind them — the directors, the stars, usually the producers — cared only about what they could get from the new project, not about how it might retroactively impugn the legacy of the original. And sometimes, even despite all that, they still have something worthwhile to offer. Odd!
Paramount+'s "Frasier" revival falls somewhere in the vast grey area between a revivification so thoughtful and bold that it improves upon the original and a total disaster. In this very publication you can take in the range of perspectives that have generally characterized the reactions to the revival.
Paramount+'s "Frasier" revival falls somewhere in the vast grey area between a revivification so thoughtful and bold that it improves upon the original and a total disaster. In this very publication you can take in the range of perspectives that have generally characterized the reactions to the revival.
- 10/30/2023
- by Ryan Coleman
- Slash Film
Head's up, horror fans and Agatha Christie acolytes! After director and mustached star Kenneth Branagh brought two of the murder-mystery author's most famous works to life on the big screen with "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Death on the Nile," he decided to switch things up in a big way with "A Haunting in Venice." Only loosely based on Christie's "Hallowe'en Party" novel, the horrorific premise of the threequel easily helped set itself apart as the best of these whodunits -- rather than some run-of-the-mill killer, Hercules Poirot must contend with the unnerving possibility of a supernatural force at work.
The star-studded ensemble led by Branagh, Tina Fey, Michelle Yeoh, Kelly Reilly, and more certainly helped bring in all sorts of eyeballs during its theatrical run -- after a modest opening weekend, the film has legged it out to just over $100 million so far -- but now, fans will...
The star-studded ensemble led by Branagh, Tina Fey, Michelle Yeoh, Kelly Reilly, and more certainly helped bring in all sorts of eyeballs during its theatrical run -- after a modest opening weekend, the film has legged it out to just over $100 million so far -- but now, fans will...
- 10/23/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Oh dear. The "Frasier" revival was going so well. Or at least it hadn't yet completely tarnished the legacy of one of the great sitcoms. This week, the third episode arrived, however, and things got a little too silly.
Since Kelsey Grammer's lovably pretentious psychiatrist returned to our screens, critics have been divided. The "Frasier" revival seemed doomed to fail after it was revealed that no one besides Grammer would be returning, and when the first episode dropped on Paramount+ on October 12, 2023, the response was mixed. /Film's Josh Spiegel had the correct opinion that the revival was neither disappointing nor remarkable, but many critics were just wrong, and frankly outright hostile to the series. USA Today's review remains the worst, referring to the "Frasier" revival as "unfunny, stilted and downright insipid."
In our nostalgia-obsessed monoculture, this kind of reaction makes sense. Did we need to revisit "Frasier" in 2023? David Hyde Pierce,...
Since Kelsey Grammer's lovably pretentious psychiatrist returned to our screens, critics have been divided. The "Frasier" revival seemed doomed to fail after it was revealed that no one besides Grammer would be returning, and when the first episode dropped on Paramount+ on October 12, 2023, the response was mixed. /Film's Josh Spiegel had the correct opinion that the revival was neither disappointing nor remarkable, but many critics were just wrong, and frankly outright hostile to the series. USA Today's review remains the worst, referring to the "Frasier" revival as "unfunny, stilted and downright insipid."
In our nostalgia-obsessed monoculture, this kind of reaction makes sense. Did we need to revisit "Frasier" in 2023? David Hyde Pierce,...
- 10/19/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
In 2024, it will be 40 years since the character of Frasier Crane first debuted on TV. Appearing in the season 3 premiere of "Cheers" back in 1984, the character went on to become the protagonist of his own show, which ran from 1993 to 2004 and doubled down on Kelsey Grammer's remarkable knack for playing the lovably pretentious psychiatrist. Now, the character is once again back as part of the "Frasier" revival series that just hit Paramount+, and he's very much returned to his roots.
Whereas the original "Frasier" saw the titular psychiatrist return to his native Seattle, the new series is set back in Boston — home of the Cheers bar where his character first appeared. In the years between the original "Frasier" and this new series, the good doctor has been living in Chicago, but returns to Boston after his marriage ends and he feels compelled to become more involved in his son Freddy's (Jack Cutmore-Scott) life.
Whereas the original "Frasier" saw the titular psychiatrist return to his native Seattle, the new series is set back in Boston — home of the Cheers bar where his character first appeared. In the years between the original "Frasier" and this new series, the good doctor has been living in Chicago, but returns to Boston after his marriage ends and he feels compelled to become more involved in his son Freddy's (Jack Cutmore-Scott) life.
- 10/12/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
When the "Frasier" revival series was announced, one of the biggest concerns for fans of the original sitcom was which cast members from the original iteration of the show would be returning. Part of what was so great about "Frasier," which ran for 11 seasons from 1993 to 2004, was the incredible supporting cast surrounding Kelsey Grammer's titular shrink. John Mahoney, who played Frasier's retired cop father, Martin, was the perfect foil for his sons' hifalutin hijinks, while Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin), Frasier's producer at his radio station, also provided a more down-to-earth energy to help ground the show. The same was true of Jane Leeves, who played Martin's live-in carer, Daphne Moon.
But it was arguably David Hyde Pierce as Frasier's equally pompous-yet-lovable brother, Niles, who was the most memorable supporting character. The chemistry between Grammer and Hyde Pierce was so effective it was as if you were watching two actual brothers banter back and forth.
But it was arguably David Hyde Pierce as Frasier's equally pompous-yet-lovable brother, Niles, who was the most memorable supporting character. The chemistry between Grammer and Hyde Pierce was so effective it was as if you were watching two actual brothers banter back and forth.
- 10/12/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Another week, another Netflix Top 10 list. This time, the streamer's charts have been dominated by "Reptile," the new movie starring Benicio del Toro, Justin Timberlake, and Alicia Silverstone which seems to have struck a chord with viewers worldwide — especially in Europe, for some reason (more on that later).
The latest offering from Netflix takes the form of a crime drama co-written and directed by Grant Singer in his feature film debut. The prolific music video and commercial director has turned his attention to movies and enlisted del Toro to not only star, but to co-write the screenplay alongside Benjamin Brewer. After debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2023, "Reptile" was sent into the wild with a modest theatrical release on September 22, 2023. Unfortunately, the critical response wasn't great, but that hasn't stopped audiences streaming the movie now that it's finally hit Netflix.
The general consensus on "Reptile" is that...
The latest offering from Netflix takes the form of a crime drama co-written and directed by Grant Singer in his feature film debut. The prolific music video and commercial director has turned his attention to movies and enlisted del Toro to not only star, but to co-write the screenplay alongside Benjamin Brewer. After debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2023, "Reptile" was sent into the wild with a modest theatrical release on September 22, 2023. Unfortunately, the critical response wasn't great, but that hasn't stopped audiences streaming the movie now that it's finally hit Netflix.
The general consensus on "Reptile" is that...
- 10/3/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Warning: this article discusses major spoilers for "A Haunting in Venice."
It's the moment everybody looks forward to during the trailer for director Kenneth Branagh's newest Hercule Poirot movie. A half-dozen or so A-listers have been crowded into a claustrophobically tight space in some exotic locale. Each character wears expressions that somehow ride the line between crushing guilt and sheer incredulity that they could ever be considered criminals. And, with a magnificent flourish, Branagh's immaculately-groomed mug turns to the camera and somberly pronounces through his thick, deeply-exaggerated Belgian accent: "There has been a murder, and you are all suspects!"
Despite beginning with its main detective in a far different emotional state than the previous films -- living out his days in self-exiled retirement after losing his taste for crime-solving -- "A Haunting in Venice" (reviewed by /Film's Josh Spiegel here) doesn't so much as reinvent the classic formula that brought...
It's the moment everybody looks forward to during the trailer for director Kenneth Branagh's newest Hercule Poirot movie. A half-dozen or so A-listers have been crowded into a claustrophobically tight space in some exotic locale. Each character wears expressions that somehow ride the line between crushing guilt and sheer incredulity that they could ever be considered criminals. And, with a magnificent flourish, Branagh's immaculately-groomed mug turns to the camera and somberly pronounces through his thick, deeply-exaggerated Belgian accent: "There has been a murder, and you are all suspects!"
Despite beginning with its main detective in a far different emotional state than the previous films -- living out his days in self-exiled retirement after losing his taste for crime-solving -- "A Haunting in Venice" (reviewed by /Film's Josh Spiegel here) doesn't so much as reinvent the classic formula that brought...
- 9/17/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Kenneth Branagh is back once again as Detective Hercule Poirot in a brand new Agatha Christie adaptation. "A Haunting in Venice" is the third interpretation of Christie's work by Branagh in the past several years, with the actor and director taking on a lesser-known book by the author for a more overtly horror-driven tale. With a stacked A-list cast that includes the likes of Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan, and Michelle Yeoh, this is one of the most star-studded films of the fall season.
Following 2017's "Murder on the Orient Express" and 2022's "Death on the Nile," this latest Poirot mystery is set in post-World War II Venice on All Hallows' Eve. Now retired and living in exile in the one of world's most glamorous cities, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is once again thrust into the world...
Following 2017's "Murder on the Orient Express" and 2022's "Death on the Nile," this latest Poirot mystery is set in post-World War II Venice on All Hallows' Eve. Now retired and living in exile in the one of world's most glamorous cities, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is once again thrust into the world...
- 9/14/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
The biggest and most pleasant surprise of the summer just keeps trucking along at the box office. It's not really going out on a limb to say that "Elemental" wasn't quite the flashiest Pixar offering in recent years upon release, both in terms of a noticeably underwhelming opening weekend total and also its actual quality compared to previous hits from the studio's heyday. But in a confidence-restoring performance, the animated film overcame the ignominy of initially landing in second place to "The Flop," er, I mean "The Flash" and has legged it out to become the biggest original film of the entire pandemic era, as /Film's Ryan Scott covered previously.
But this underdog success story doesn't end there.
Another week brings yet another significant milestone for the little element-based engine that could. The latest box office totals for "Elemental" peg the movie at $469,538,240 worldwide. Significant? Yeah, you could say so.
But this underdog success story doesn't end there.
Another week brings yet another significant milestone for the little element-based engine that could. The latest box office totals for "Elemental" peg the movie at $469,538,240 worldwide. Significant? Yeah, you could say so.
- 9/1/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
On August 8, 2023, Hulu premiered the third season of its Emmy-winning comedy “Only Murders in the Building.” The series starring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez is holding fresh at 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, proving the true-crime-obsessed trio hasn’t missed a beat. The critics consensus reads, “Relocating the action to the theatre, ‘Only Murders in the Building’ can take a bow for yet another twisty mystery handled with a good-humored touch.” Read our full review round-up below.
“Only Murders in the Building” is nominated for 11 2023 Emmys including Best Comedy Series and Best Comedy Actor (Short). In 2022 the program was up for 17, winning three for Best Comedy Guest Actor (Nathan Lane), Best Production Design (Half-Hour) and Best Sound Mixing (Half-Hour). In Season 3, Oliver Putnam’s (Short) career comeback is in jeopardy when a murder disrupts his Broadway play, and it seems almost everyone involved is suspicious. This third cycle features new...
“Only Murders in the Building” is nominated for 11 2023 Emmys including Best Comedy Series and Best Comedy Actor (Short). In 2022 the program was up for 17, winning three for Best Comedy Guest Actor (Nathan Lane), Best Production Design (Half-Hour) and Best Sound Mixing (Half-Hour). In Season 3, Oliver Putnam’s (Short) career comeback is in jeopardy when a murder disrupts his Broadway play, and it seems almost everyone involved is suspicious. This third cycle features new...
- 8/11/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
Playing a grizzled assassin, a haunted mercenary, or just your everyday globe-trotting secret agent in a Netflix action flick has become something of a rite of passage in Hollywood. At this point, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez, Mads Mikkelsen, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ryan Gosling, and even Allison Janney have all done it for the streamer. Now, Gal Gadot is joining their ranks thanks to "Heart of Stone." The former "Wonder Woman" actor stars as Rachel Stone, an elite agent who must protect a clandestine peace-keeping organization known as Charter by recovering a MacGuffin referred to as the Heart, which is apparently the key to their success. Making your entire secret operation to maintain global order dependent on a single enigmatic asset doesn't seem like a great idea to me, but what do I know?
After starring in several "Fast & Furious" movies, portraying a DC superhero across multiple films, and basically...
After starring in several "Fast & Furious" movies, portraying a DC superhero across multiple films, and basically...
- 8/11/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Original R-rated comedies are a dying breed in theaters, which is why all eyes were on Jennifer Lawrence's "No Hard Feelings" heading into its release this summer. The film casts the Oscar-winner as Maddie, a woman who tries to solve her financial woes by responding to a Craigslist ad to "date" an unworldly, college-inbound 19-year-old named Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman) at the behest of his wealthy, meddling parents (Laura Benanti and Matthew Broderick). What could possibly go wrong?
Directed by Gene Stupnitksky from a script he's credited for writing with John Phillips, "No Hard Feelings" wasn't exactly a hit (it grossed $83.5 million against a $45 million budget). It did, however, fare much better than other recent adult sex comedies at the box office, which is our cue to pour one out for "Bros" and "Joy Ride." Reviews were pretty decent too; /Film's Josh Spiegel gave it a 7 out of 10 in his review,...
Directed by Gene Stupnitksky from a script he's credited for writing with John Phillips, "No Hard Feelings" wasn't exactly a hit (it grossed $83.5 million against a $45 million budget). It did, however, fare much better than other recent adult sex comedies at the box office, which is our cue to pour one out for "Bros" and "Joy Ride." Reviews were pretty decent too; /Film's Josh Spiegel gave it a 7 out of 10 in his review,...
- 8/7/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for Disney's "Haunted Mansion."
Disney's latest attempt at adapting the popular theme park attraction "Haunted Mansion" into a live-action film has taken a very family-friendly approach, but it's my responsibility to warn moviegoers of a serious jump-scare in the early going. Sure, the entire appeal of the movie is how it blends humor, heart, and horror together into one big witch's brew of spookiness, but there's a certain notable moment that practically demands a content warning -- one that hasn't been highlighted in much of the marketing to this point and has surprised more than a few unwary souls (or should I say foolish mortals?) who had absolutely no idea what they were in for.
I'm talking, of course, about that title card in the opening minutes displaying the downright ghoulish acting credit of: "And Jared Leto as the Hatbox Ghost."
Yup, that's right. Perhaps the...
Disney's latest attempt at adapting the popular theme park attraction "Haunted Mansion" into a live-action film has taken a very family-friendly approach, but it's my responsibility to warn moviegoers of a serious jump-scare in the early going. Sure, the entire appeal of the movie is how it blends humor, heart, and horror together into one big witch's brew of spookiness, but there's a certain notable moment that practically demands a content warning -- one that hasn't been highlighted in much of the marketing to this point and has surprised more than a few unwary souls (or should I say foolish mortals?) who had absolutely no idea what they were in for.
I'm talking, of course, about that title card in the opening minutes displaying the downright ghoulish acting credit of: "And Jared Leto as the Hatbox Ghost."
Yup, that's right. Perhaps the...
- 7/28/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
When Bob Iger took over Walt Disney again, one of his first moves was to reassure Wall Street that more sequels and remakes were coming. Disney has a lot in its vault, and remaking animated classics as live-action movies is widely seen as a safe strategy, with built-in audiences for familiar fare.
That strategy is coming into question, though, as weak international box office numbers for “The Little Mermaid” trickle in. The live-action remake of the 1989 film grossed $95 million in its Friday-Sunday North American debut, but just $68 million overseas. For comparison, star power fueled the 2019 “Aladdin” remake with Will Smith and 2017’s “Beauty and the Beast” with Emma Watson, both of which earned more than $1 billion, mostly overseas.
What ties Disney’s recent remakes together is that they’re primarily based on movies from what’s called its “Renaissance” period — a range from the late 1980s to late 1990s when...
That strategy is coming into question, though, as weak international box office numbers for “The Little Mermaid” trickle in. The live-action remake of the 1989 film grossed $95 million in its Friday-Sunday North American debut, but just $68 million overseas. For comparison, star power fueled the 2019 “Aladdin” remake with Will Smith and 2017’s “Beauty and the Beast” with Emma Watson, both of which earned more than $1 billion, mostly overseas.
What ties Disney’s recent remakes together is that they’re primarily based on movies from what’s called its “Renaissance” period — a range from the late 1980s to late 1990s when...
- 6/1/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
If you missed the movie that /Film's Josh Spiegel called "the first great film of 2023" in theaters, you're in luck, because "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" will soon be available to watch at home. It took over half of a century for someone to adapt Judy Blume's groundbreaking novel of the same name, but Kelly Fremon Craig's adaptation was well worth the wait. The coming-of-age comedy-drama centers on the titular 11-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) who is thrown into the suburbs of New Jersey after her family moves from New York City. Margaret must deal with puberty, making new friends, and adjusting to her new environment during one of the most tumultuous times of a person's life, tackling the taboos of tweendom every step of the way.
In addition to Fortson, "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" boasts a stellar cast including Rachel McAdams as Margaret's mother,...
In addition to Fortson, "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" boasts a stellar cast including Rachel McAdams as Margaret's mother,...
- 5/30/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
This article contains spoilers for the series finale of "Barry."
Stephen Root has worked with some fantastic filmmakers over the course of his impressive, decades-spanning career. When he's not playing mercenary-turned-con man Monroe Fuches on "Barry" — a role he said goodbye to in last night's cutting series finale — he's giving great performances as an indispensable character actor under the direction of people like Ava DuVernay, Mike Judge, Clint Eastwood, Jordan Peele, and the Joel and Ethan Coen. After four masterful seasons of "Barry," though, it doesn't seem unreasonable to add first-time filmmaker Bill Hader to that list, as the comedian, actor, and writer blew audiences away every time he stepped behind the camera for the HBO series.
/Film's Josh Spiegel recently interviewed Root, and it seems the actor agrees. When Spiegel mentioned the finale episode's long take, in which viewers slowly see the aftermath of a shootout between NoHo Hank's (Anthony Carrigan) gang and Fuches',...
Stephen Root has worked with some fantastic filmmakers over the course of his impressive, decades-spanning career. When he's not playing mercenary-turned-con man Monroe Fuches on "Barry" — a role he said goodbye to in last night's cutting series finale — he's giving great performances as an indispensable character actor under the direction of people like Ava DuVernay, Mike Judge, Clint Eastwood, Jordan Peele, and the Joel and Ethan Coen. After four masterful seasons of "Barry," though, it doesn't seem unreasonable to add first-time filmmaker Bill Hader to that list, as the comedian, actor, and writer blew audiences away every time he stepped behind the camera for the HBO series.
/Film's Josh Spiegel recently interviewed Root, and it seems the actor agrees. When Spiegel mentioned the finale episode's long take, in which viewers slowly see the aftermath of a shootout between NoHo Hank's (Anthony Carrigan) gang and Fuches',...
- 5/29/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
This post contains mild spoilers for the "Barry" series finale.
Over the course of his lengthy and varied career, Stephen Root has proven himself to be a consummate character actor; not just someone reliable and hard-working, but a true chameleon, darting in and out of disparate genres and roles.
As a result, it's incredibly difficult to choose a definitive Root character — there are some he's more famous for, like his creepy predator in "Get Out" or his eccentric billionaire in "Newsradio." Yet there are numerous other appearances of his that are just as beloved if not more so.
Throughout his resume, however, one doesn't see too many sexy, virile, crime lord assassin characters. That's all changed thanks to "Barry" and the series star, Bill Hader, who in this fourth and final season of the show has transformed Root's Monroe Fuches into the mysterious, intimidating, and — yes — sexy jailbird, the Raven.
Over the course of his lengthy and varied career, Stephen Root has proven himself to be a consummate character actor; not just someone reliable and hard-working, but a true chameleon, darting in and out of disparate genres and roles.
As a result, it's incredibly difficult to choose a definitive Root character — there are some he's more famous for, like his creepy predator in "Get Out" or his eccentric billionaire in "Newsradio." Yet there are numerous other appearances of his that are just as beloved if not more so.
Throughout his resume, however, one doesn't see too many sexy, virile, crime lord assassin characters. That's all changed thanks to "Barry" and the series star, Bill Hader, who in this fourth and final season of the show has transformed Root's Monroe Fuches into the mysterious, intimidating, and — yes — sexy jailbird, the Raven.
- 5/29/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
Disney live-action adaptations have been hit or miss (well ... mostly miss). One of the biggest complaints has been about the computer-generated images of animal characters. These realistic remakes seem incongruent with the original purpose of the animated features. Disney animators designed animals and inanimate objects with human-like movements and expressions that made their high emotions relatable to viewers — especially younger ones.
It seems difficult for Disney to make animals appealing, emotive, and resemble real life at the same time. The 2019 version of "The Lion King" is one of the worst examples of the realism technique. The lions had an uncanny valley effect, their once-expressive faces reduced to a dead-eyed cipher. A hilarious tweet illustrates how unsettling the CGI is in the scene where Simba notices the incoming stampede. "Photo-real animals look wrong when they talk or sing," /Film's Josh Spiegel wrote of "The Lion King."
So, we've all been nervously...
It seems difficult for Disney to make animals appealing, emotive, and resemble real life at the same time. The 2019 version of "The Lion King" is one of the worst examples of the realism technique. The lions had an uncanny valley effect, their once-expressive faces reduced to a dead-eyed cipher. A hilarious tweet illustrates how unsettling the CGI is in the scene where Simba notices the incoming stampede. "Photo-real animals look wrong when they talk or sing," /Film's Josh Spiegel wrote of "The Lion King."
So, we've all been nervously...
- 5/29/2023
- by Caroline Madden
- Slash Film
Disney will remove select series, movies, and specials from Disney+ and Hulu, The decision was initially announced on May 10th during a Disney earnings call, and the list of impacted titles has now been revealed. Among there are the recently released Willow sequel series, Y: The Last Man, Danny Boyle’s Sex Pistols series Pistol, and The World According to Jeff Goldblum.
“We are in the process of reviewing the content on our Dtc services to align with the strategic changes in our approach to content curation,” Disney CFO Christine McCarthy said during the call.
Other titles in the purge include the Turner & Hooch reboot, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, Just Beyond, Diary of a Future President, The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Hot Zone, Maggie, and more. Check out the full list below.
Disney isn’t the first media entity to make a move like this — HBO Max removed...
“We are in the process of reviewing the content on our Dtc services to align with the strategic changes in our approach to content curation,” Disney CFO Christine McCarthy said during the call.
Other titles in the purge include the Turner & Hooch reboot, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, Just Beyond, Diary of a Future President, The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Hot Zone, Maggie, and more. Check out the full list below.
Disney isn’t the first media entity to make a move like this — HBO Max removed...
- 5/19/2023
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Film News
Teen movies are one of the most beloved genres, from John Hughes' Molly Ringwald trilogy to the quest for virginity loss with the help of a warm, apple pie. But there's another part of adolescence that often gets lost on the big screen — especially for women. There are very few stories about the tween years: an uncomfortable and confusing time when you're unsure if you should still sleep with stuffed animals or start stuffing your bra. It involves the uncertainty of puberty, peer pressure, and oppressive school rules. I have so many memories from this formative time period burned into my brain; like the time a boy said I was gross or how desperately I wanted to look like the silky-haired popular girls.
Because of this gap in tween representation on screen, "girls are expected to go straight from 'Doc McStuffins' to 'Euphoria,'" Rachel Shukert shrewdly observed in Vulture.
Because of this gap in tween representation on screen, "girls are expected to go straight from 'Doc McStuffins' to 'Euphoria,'" Rachel Shukert shrewdly observed in Vulture.
- 4/28/2023
- by Caroline Madden
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for "Ghosted."
Apple TV+ has gifted us all with what is sure to be another soon-forgotten streaming movie in the form of "Ghosted." As /Film's Josh Spiegel opined, "Ghosted" is a high concept in need of good writing, which basically means that while the idea of a regular guy falling for an international spy and becoming embroiled in her dangerous exploits wasn't necessarily doomed to fail, the script for "Ghosted" ensured that this particular attempt was. However, the film isn't without its charms, pairing Chris Evans and Ana de Armas to capitalize on the chemistry they showcased in previous projects such as "Knives Out," and generally just being a bit of fun.
And if you're a fan of Evans' Captain America, "Ghosted" even caters to you fine folks. In fact, from the outset the film seemed preoccupied with playing on the actor's Marvel Cinematic Universe history,...
Apple TV+ has gifted us all with what is sure to be another soon-forgotten streaming movie in the form of "Ghosted." As /Film's Josh Spiegel opined, "Ghosted" is a high concept in need of good writing, which basically means that while the idea of a regular guy falling for an international spy and becoming embroiled in her dangerous exploits wasn't necessarily doomed to fail, the script for "Ghosted" ensured that this particular attempt was. However, the film isn't without its charms, pairing Chris Evans and Ana de Armas to capitalize on the chemistry they showcased in previous projects such as "Knives Out," and generally just being a bit of fun.
And if you're a fan of Evans' Captain America, "Ghosted" even caters to you fine folks. In fact, from the outset the film seemed preoccupied with playing on the actor's Marvel Cinematic Universe history,...
- 4/21/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
After a 13-year hiatus, the third season of “Party Down” premiered on Starz last month, proving it’s still the most underrated laugh riot on TV. The series boasts an all-star cast including Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Jennifer Coolidge and Megan Mullally, working as caterers whose hopes at Hollywood superstardom have been dashed.
With a stellar rating of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, the critics’ consensus reads, “Returning after a long layoff, Party Down brings patient fans a third season that’s every bit as sharp — and laugh-out-loud funny — as its predecessors.” Ignored by major awards shows for its first two cycles, the comedy created by John Enbom, Dan Etheridge, Paul Rudd and Rob Thomas won the AFI TV Program of the Year Award in 2010, where they called it “wickedly funny” and “television’s best-kept secret.” Read our review roundup for Season 3 below.
See Revived comedy ‘Party Down’ debuts trailer
Rendy Jones of RogerEbert.
With a stellar rating of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, the critics’ consensus reads, “Returning after a long layoff, Party Down brings patient fans a third season that’s every bit as sharp — and laugh-out-loud funny — as its predecessors.” Ignored by major awards shows for its first two cycles, the comedy created by John Enbom, Dan Etheridge, Paul Rudd and Rob Thomas won the AFI TV Program of the Year Award in 2010, where they called it “wickedly funny” and “television’s best-kept secret.” Read our review roundup for Season 3 below.
See Revived comedy ‘Party Down’ debuts trailer
Rendy Jones of RogerEbert.
- 3/16/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
"Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" is one of the most inexplicable movies in recent memory. It's a sequel to a much-maligned movie that came out over a decade ago. It's subtitled "The Last Wish" and billed as the end of an era despite only being the second movie to star Antonio Banderas' swashbuckling kitty. Its star-studded cast includes the likes of not only Banderas, but also Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, John Mulaney, Harvey Guillén, and Salma Hayek Pinault.
The movie has also gained a tremendous amount of acclaim since its release in theaters in December, picking up an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film and earning glowing reviews, including one for IGN in which /Film writer Rafael Motamayor compared it favorably to The X-Men franchise high point "Logan," a comparison that caught on in a big way throughout the movie's theatrical run. /Film's own review, from Josh Spiegel,...
The movie has also gained a tremendous amount of acclaim since its release in theaters in December, picking up an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film and earning glowing reviews, including one for IGN in which /Film writer Rafael Motamayor compared it favorably to The X-Men franchise high point "Logan," a comparison that caught on in a big way throughout the movie's theatrical run. /Film's own review, from Josh Spiegel,...
- 3/4/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Writer, producer, and filmmaker Kenya Barris has had a hand in some of the most talked-about movies and shows of the past decade. From creating "black-ish" and its spin-offs, to penning the 2017 hit comedy "Girls Trip," to writing reboots and sequels to popular movies like "Coming To America" and "White Men Can't Jump," Barris stays busy — even if his projects often court controversy. Surprisingly, though, Barris' new Netflix rom-com "You People" is the first film the prolific writer has also helmed as director.
In an interview with Forbes, Barris explained why he hasn't taken a seat in the director's chair for a feature film until now. "I've been asked to do one a bunch of times, but I knew whatever it was that I directed, I definitely wanted to write," the filmmaker said. "The things I had written before they asked me to do, I felt like I was in the middle of running shows.
In an interview with Forbes, Barris explained why he hasn't taken a seat in the director's chair for a feature film until now. "I've been asked to do one a bunch of times, but I knew whatever it was that I directed, I definitely wanted to write," the filmmaker said. "The things I had written before they asked me to do, I felt like I was in the middle of running shows.
- 2/7/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Was Disney right to pay 71 billion for Fox’s entertainment empire? The sprawling properties it brought in-house helped fuel Disney+ and have given returning CEO Bob Iger a much-needed box office hit with “Avatar: The Way of Water” as he settles back into his old chair.
But investors are scrutinizing spending much more closely than they used to. Disney still carries a hefty debt load from the Fox deal and Iger’s rebound tenure has a time limit as he searches once again for a successor.
As adult-skewing movies struggle in theaters and Wall Street changes the rules in the streaming war, Disney’s purchase of Fox’s studio properties may prove to be Iger’s biggest blunder, dealing lasting damage to the company’s reputation among shareholders for media-merger magic. The idea that Disney could take any given property, get audiences to associate it with its megabrand and make...
But investors are scrutinizing spending much more closely than they used to. Disney still carries a hefty debt load from the Fox deal and Iger’s rebound tenure has a time limit as he searches once again for a successor.
As adult-skewing movies struggle in theaters and Wall Street changes the rules in the streaming war, Disney’s purchase of Fox’s studio properties may prove to be Iger’s biggest blunder, dealing lasting damage to the company’s reputation among shareholders for media-merger magic. The idea that Disney could take any given property, get audiences to associate it with its megabrand and make...
- 1/31/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
This post contains spoilers for "Strange World."
"Strange World" is full of adventure and heart. /Film writer Josh Spiegel called it "singular and unforgettable," and for good reason. "Strange World" is a magnificently detailed world that immerses the audience in wonder, a real visual treat. Co-written and co-directed by Don Hall and Qui Nguyen, the adventure fantasy follows the Clades clan in their community of Avalonia. Surrounded by craggy, snow-capped mountains, they desperately need to "make a discovery that could change Avalonia," as the character Jaeger (Dennis Quaid) says in a pivotal early scene. Their village is barely getting by and residents humbly accept their modest lifestyle, if not headstrong for something more.
Beneath the shiny exterior, "Strange World" pulses with rich themes spanning capitalism, inherited toxicity, and existential questions about purpose. Kids will most assuredly not pick up on many of these nuanced conversations, which also include what it...
"Strange World" is full of adventure and heart. /Film writer Josh Spiegel called it "singular and unforgettable," and for good reason. "Strange World" is a magnificently detailed world that immerses the audience in wonder, a real visual treat. Co-written and co-directed by Don Hall and Qui Nguyen, the adventure fantasy follows the Clades clan in their community of Avalonia. Surrounded by craggy, snow-capped mountains, they desperately need to "make a discovery that could change Avalonia," as the character Jaeger (Dennis Quaid) says in a pivotal early scene. Their village is barely getting by and residents humbly accept their modest lifestyle, if not headstrong for something more.
Beneath the shiny exterior, "Strange World" pulses with rich themes spanning capitalism, inherited toxicity, and existential questions about purpose. Kids will most assuredly not pick up on many of these nuanced conversations, which also include what it...
- 12/11/2022
- by Bee Scott
- Slash Film
You know how the saying goes: If you build it, they will come. So when a studio does the exact opposite of "build it," well, I guess we can't be too surprised by the inevitable outcome.
The release of "Strange World" (you can read /Film's review by Josh Spiegel here) should've been cause for celebration. Not only is any project from the vaunted halls of Walt Disney Animation Studios worthy of our attention (especially at a time when animation as a medium struggles to receive its due), but doubly so for one that comes from such pulpy roots and features a bounty of family-friendly messages, too. Unfortunately, the animated film ended up making history for much less enviable reasons.
Over Thanksgiving weekend, "Strange World" debuted to a paltry amount of box office receipts after a noticeable lack of marketing. As the smoke clears, it's become apparent that the Don Hall...
The release of "Strange World" (you can read /Film's review by Josh Spiegel here) should've been cause for celebration. Not only is any project from the vaunted halls of Walt Disney Animation Studios worthy of our attention (especially at a time when animation as a medium struggles to receive its due), but doubly so for one that comes from such pulpy roots and features a bounty of family-friendly messages, too. Unfortunately, the animated film ended up making history for much less enviable reasons.
Over Thanksgiving weekend, "Strange World" debuted to a paltry amount of box office receipts after a noticeable lack of marketing. As the smoke clears, it's become apparent that the Don Hall...
- 11/28/2022
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
When it comes to storytelling, "Wall-e" is as close to perfection as you can get. It was one of Disney-Pixar's most charming hits and one of the highest-grossing films of 2008.
Andrew Stanton stood at the helm of Pixar's ninth feature, which isn't silent but the spiritual kin of silent films. The future-set story finds its Charlie Chaplin avatar in a robot of the same name as the title. Wall-e is a non-verbal trash-collecting machine who lives a solitary life on a future Earth so befouled by garbage that, like a nightmare roommate, the humans fled to space rather than tidy up after themselves. A visit from a hot probe-bot and an update on Earth's viability brings the musical-loving Wall-e out of the smog and onto a starship, where mayhem, rebellion, mutiny, and ultimately love ensues.
/Film's resident Pixar animation expert Josh Spiegel has chronicled the risk that Pixar Animation Studios...
Andrew Stanton stood at the helm of Pixar's ninth feature, which isn't silent but the spiritual kin of silent films. The future-set story finds its Charlie Chaplin avatar in a robot of the same name as the title. Wall-e is a non-verbal trash-collecting machine who lives a solitary life on a future Earth so befouled by garbage that, like a nightmare roommate, the humans fled to space rather than tidy up after themselves. A visit from a hot probe-bot and an update on Earth's viability brings the musical-loving Wall-e out of the smog and onto a starship, where mayhem, rebellion, mutiny, and ultimately love ensues.
/Film's resident Pixar animation expert Josh Spiegel has chronicled the risk that Pixar Animation Studios...
- 11/8/2022
- by Anya Stanley
- Slash Film
It's hard to imagine the animation landscape as it is today without the 2008 release of "Wall-e." Even if you aren't a big fan of Disney's domination of the medium, you can't deny that it is a tender love story that deals with heavy themes such as environmental decay and consumerism. If you ever once thought that animation was just for kids, "Wall-e" proves you wrong.
This is likely why "Wall-e" was selected as the Criterion Collection's first-ever entry from Disney, and while you may have mixed emotions about a Disney movie getting inducted, there are few movies that deserve it more than Andrew Stanton's. /Film's Josh Spiegel interviewed the longtime Pixar director ahead of his film's Criterion release, which will arrive in stores on November 22, and Stanton revealed that he has a few releases from the prestigious label, revealing his favorite releases along the way:
"Top of the list...
This is likely why "Wall-e" was selected as the Criterion Collection's first-ever entry from Disney, and while you may have mixed emotions about a Disney movie getting inducted, there are few movies that deserve it more than Andrew Stanton's. /Film's Josh Spiegel interviewed the longtime Pixar director ahead of his film's Criterion release, which will arrive in stores on November 22, and Stanton revealed that he has a few releases from the prestigious label, revealing his favorite releases along the way:
"Top of the list...
- 11/7/2022
- by Erin Brady
- Slash Film
It's tempting to compare promising young directors to canonical ones. If they have overlapping styles/genre preferences, then calling a director "the next X" makes for convenient shorthand. However, this is facile criticism. For one, it's not useful for appreciating these artists on their own merits, because it implies all they can ever amount to is an imitator. By putting blossoming artists in the shadows of titans, you also set them up to experience backlash. Newsweek called M. Night Shyamalan "The Next Spielberg" in 2002 instead ironically heralded his career downturn in the late aughts/early '10s.
Jordan Peele is the latest to experience this. Now three for three in making horror/suspense films, he's been compared to the original master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. In Variety's review of "Nope," the headline called Peele "Our Modern Day Hitchcock." If you've read /Film's own writing on "Nope" (courtesy Josh Spiegel), or...
Jordan Peele is the latest to experience this. Now three for three in making horror/suspense films, he's been compared to the original master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. In Variety's review of "Nope," the headline called Peele "Our Modern Day Hitchcock." If you've read /Film's own writing on "Nope" (courtesy Josh Spiegel), or...
- 10/29/2022
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Although it may have once appeared to be a one-and-done season, "Only Murders in the Building" has come into its own as a successful multi-season series. Created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman, the mystery comedy-drama recently wrapped up its second season and took us back to the sprawling NYC-based apartment complex of the Arconia where our favorite group of true-crime-obsessed strangers-turned-friends resides.
There's our washed-up former actor Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin), the over-enthusiastic Broadway director Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), and the secretive Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez), who, together, launch their podcast to solve a murder in their building. "Only Murders in the Building" works as a compelling whodunit mystery that doesn't give away its secrets as soon as viewers would like, teetering on the edge of possibilities, injecting both wit and silliness into a group of vibrant amateur sleuths who will do anything to investigate the truth. With the...
There's our washed-up former actor Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin), the over-enthusiastic Broadway director Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), and the secretive Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez), who, together, launch their podcast to solve a murder in their building. "Only Murders in the Building" works as a compelling whodunit mystery that doesn't give away its secrets as soon as viewers would like, teetering on the edge of possibilities, injecting both wit and silliness into a group of vibrant amateur sleuths who will do anything to investigate the truth. With the...
- 10/26/2022
- by Fatemeh Mirjalili
- Slash Film
It sounds like Tim Burton won't be making more Disney movies anytime soon. Per IndieWire, the filmmaker spoke about his relationship with the massive corporation at the Lumière Festival this week after winning the festival's Prix Lumière. There, the director explained that "Dumbo" was what sounds like the last straw in his working partnership with the major studio.
"My history is that I started out there," Burton said, in reference to his early days spent storyboarding and animating for Disney. One of his short films, the live-action 1984 "Frankenweenie," was produced by Disney, but he was let go from the company right after, for wasting money on a movie that was too scary, according to Yahoo News. He soon went on to make his first feature for Warner Bros., "Pee-wee's Big Adventure," and has since directed many more films, many of which have dark themes yet are perfectly kid-friendly.
'I Needed...
"My history is that I started out there," Burton said, in reference to his early days spent storyboarding and animating for Disney. One of his short films, the live-action 1984 "Frankenweenie," was produced by Disney, but he was let go from the company right after, for wasting money on a movie that was too scary, according to Yahoo News. He soon went on to make his first feature for Warner Bros., "Pee-wee's Big Adventure," and has since directed many more films, many of which have dark themes yet are perfectly kid-friendly.
'I Needed...
- 10/22/2022
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Idris Elba versus a giant lion is the best pitch ever for a film. "Beast" was released by Universal Pictures in August of 2022, but you'll be able to watch him battle the giant cat at home less than two months later.
All Idris Elba's recent widower Nate wanted to do was take his daughters to a game preserve in South Africa to see where their mother grew up, and they get attacked by a rogue lion. This man-versus-nature story is a simple one that takes inspiration from films like "Jaws" and "Jurassic Park," as our own Josh Spiegel said in his /Film review.
"Beast" is coming out on 4K Uhd, Blu-ray, and DVD, as well as Digital and streaming on Peacock. There are some fun extras on the home video side as well.
The thriller follows recently widowed Dr. Nate Daniels (Idris Elba) and his two teenage daughters (Iyana Halley...
All Idris Elba's recent widower Nate wanted to do was take his daughters to a game preserve in South Africa to see where their mother grew up, and they get attacked by a rogue lion. This man-versus-nature story is a simple one that takes inspiration from films like "Jaws" and "Jurassic Park," as our own Josh Spiegel said in his /Film review.
"Beast" is coming out on 4K Uhd, Blu-ray, and DVD, as well as Digital and streaming on Peacock. There are some fun extras on the home video side as well.
The thriller follows recently widowed Dr. Nate Daniels (Idris Elba) and his two teenage daughters (Iyana Halley...
- 10/4/2022
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
This article includes spoilers for the season 2 finale of "Only Murders in the Building."
After 10 episodes of wild red herrings and carefully studied clues, the second season of "Only Murders in the Building" came to a close this week with a wonderfully over-the-top finale. The season's penultimate episode ended with what felt like a case-closed revelation: that NPR-like podcast host Cinda Canning (Tina Fey) was responsible for the death of poor Arconia president Bunny Folger (Jayne Houdyshell), with her crooked cop boyfriend Kreps (Michael Rapaport) by her side.
Only, that revelation was actually one last misdirect. Instead, the finale threw down a hilariously complex reverse card complete with a live podcast recording and Charles' (Steve Martin) surprisingly convincing fake murder. The real killer was revealed to be Cinda's undervalued assistant Poppy, who was really Becky Butler, the missing victim from Cinda's popular podcast. Poppy is played by Adina Verson,...
After 10 episodes of wild red herrings and carefully studied clues, the second season of "Only Murders in the Building" came to a close this week with a wonderfully over-the-top finale. The season's penultimate episode ended with what felt like a case-closed revelation: that NPR-like podcast host Cinda Canning (Tina Fey) was responsible for the death of poor Arconia president Bunny Folger (Jayne Houdyshell), with her crooked cop boyfriend Kreps (Michael Rapaport) by her side.
Only, that revelation was actually one last misdirect. Instead, the finale threw down a hilariously complex reverse card complete with a live podcast recording and Charles' (Steve Martin) surprisingly convincing fake murder. The real killer was revealed to be Cinda's undervalued assistant Poppy, who was really Becky Butler, the missing victim from Cinda's popular podcast. Poppy is played by Adina Verson,...
- 8/23/2022
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
As new HBO crime drama "We Own This City"grips audiences, with /Film's Josh Spiegel calling it "vast and existentially bleak," many are revisiting series creator David Simon's prior projects, notably the early-aughts drama "The Wire." Not only does the Baltimore-based series have some cast overlap, they both share an intense engagement with a wide moral spectrum of characters, and none of whom are what they seem.
One of the more compelling characters (hard to say when nearly all of them are) on "The Wire" is known as "Snoop," played by Baltimore native Felicia Pearson. One of the most feared enforcers of drug...
The post How The Wire's Felicia Pearson Went From Extra to Star On the Show appeared first on /Film.
One of the more compelling characters (hard to say when nearly all of them are) on "The Wire" is known as "Snoop," played by Baltimore native Felicia Pearson. One of the most feared enforcers of drug...
The post How The Wire's Felicia Pearson Went From Extra to Star On the Show appeared first on /Film.
- 5/24/2022
- by Anya Stanley
- Slash Film
"Jackass Forever" just dropped last Friday across theaters, and the 20-plus year old cringe comedy brand laughed all the way to the bank. The fifth installment in the "Jackass" feature film franchise (its first sequel in 11 years) raked in a $23.5 million opening over its first weekend, rocketing past Lionsgate's "Moonfall" at $9.9 million over February 4-6. It's almost as if there is an evergreen, universal appeal to seeing grown men leap into cacti patches and slap each other in the nuts. Here at /Film, there's nothing but love for the goofy band of merrymakers; Josh Spiegel hails it as "enormously,...
The post Johnny Knoxville and Chris Pontius On Wildboyz And The Future Of Jackass appeared first on /Film.
The post Johnny Knoxville and Chris Pontius On Wildboyz And The Future Of Jackass appeared first on /Film.
- 2/9/2022
- by Anya Stanley
- Slash Film
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