If the Hollywood superhero-industrial complex is perishing, the Rolling Stone and Spin magazine extended universe is hastily being built. What better defines “pre-awareness” for the studios like the data logged by Spotify’s algorithm, where billions of track plays confirm what past popular music has stood the test of time, and also how––in the streaming era––you can gouge ancillary money from it?
But unlike the still-brilliant Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, which stood to excoriate the nostalgia sought by such films, recently reinvigorated by the success of Bohemian Rhapsody, Alex Ross Perry’s Pavements, on the eponymous ’90s slacker idols, justifies that every great band deserves a film portrait helping us to wistfully remember them, and also chuckle as pretty young actors attempt to nail the mannerisms of weathered, road-bitten musicians. So good luck, Timothée.
This leads us to Pavements’ most exciting conceit, part of a sweep...
But unlike the still-brilliant Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, which stood to excoriate the nostalgia sought by such films, recently reinvigorated by the success of Bohemian Rhapsody, Alex Ross Perry’s Pavements, on the eponymous ’90s slacker idols, justifies that every great band deserves a film portrait helping us to wistfully remember them, and also chuckle as pretty young actors attempt to nail the mannerisms of weathered, road-bitten musicians. So good luck, Timothée.
This leads us to Pavements’ most exciting conceit, part of a sweep...
- 9/4/2024
- by David Katz
- The Film Stage
This Anaconda don't want none unless you've got—well, you get it. After the 1997 Anaconda helped launch Jennifer Lopez's career, a new version is about to go A-list again. But this isn't your mother's Anaconda. No, this one's going to be a meta horror-comedy from Tom Gormican (director and...
- 8/22/2024
- by Mary Kate Carr
- avclub.com
The trailer just dropped for A Complete Unknown, Hollywood’s latest attempt to turn your parents’ record collection into box-office gold. The upcoming film stars Timothée Chalamet as the legendary Bob Dylan, chronicling the young troubadour’s early years as he bums around the ‘60s New York folk circuit and (spoiler alert?) eventually freaks everybody out by playing an electric guitar.
Pfft, call us when there’s a movie about the making of Dylan’s Christmas album.
A Complete Unknown marks a return to the music biopic genre for director James Mangold, who previously helmed the Oscar-winning Walk the Line, which starred Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash, Reese Witherspoon as June Carter Cash and Robert Patrick as the T-1000, after he killed Johnny Cash’s father and took his place.
While Walk the Line was a critical and financial success, it was also painfully formulaic. And its structural triteness was...
Pfft, call us when there’s a movie about the making of Dylan’s Christmas album.
A Complete Unknown marks a return to the music biopic genre for director James Mangold, who previously helmed the Oscar-winning Walk the Line, which starred Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash, Reese Witherspoon as June Carter Cash and Robert Patrick as the T-1000, after he killed Johnny Cash’s father and took his place.
While Walk the Line was a critical and financial success, it was also painfully formulaic. And its structural triteness was...
- 7/25/2024
- Cracked
"Ball don't lie. People do." Peacock has unveiled the first official trailer for a scripted fake doc comedy series called Mr. Throwback, from the creators of "Happy Endings", with episodes directed by filmmaker David Wain. It's ready to stream on Peacock starting this August in just a few weeks. This sports mockumentary follows a down-on-his-luck memorabilia dealer who looks for redemption by reuniting with his sixth-grade teammate, NBA legend Steph Curry. Now bumbling and washed-out, "Danny's the kind of guy whose B-ball career failed to launch the way Curry's did, despite the reverence Curry still holds for his legendary throwback skills: 'Bro, he was the king!'" The comedy series stars Adam Pally, as Danny, Stephen Curry, Ego Nwodim, Ayden Mayeri as Samantha, Tracy Letts, Layla Scalisi, Tien Tran, & Rich Sommer. Curry comments: "I'm looking forward to viewers getting to see me play a version of myself no one has ever seen before,...
- 7/25/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
It's been 17 years since Jake Kasdan delivered the definitive, beat-by-beat parody of the popular music biopic with "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story," but filmmakers keep churning out these cookie-cutter, rise-and-fall portraits of great artists. Even when done reasonably well, they're little more than jukebox musicals that play the greatest hits and misses of their subjects' lives. Worst of all, given that you need to license the songs from the artists or their estates, these subjects have creative control over their story –- i.e. they'll only get as ugly as the artist or their estate can bear.
This brings us to James Mangold's "A Complete Unknown." Mangold, who made one of the better music biopics of the 21st century in "Walk the Line," has wisely limited the scope of his Bob Dylan film to the artist's early-to-mid-1960s transformation from conscience-pricking folk singer to electric-guitar-wielding rock prophet. This...
This brings us to James Mangold's "A Complete Unknown." Mangold, who made one of the better music biopics of the 21st century in "Walk the Line," has wisely limited the scope of his Bob Dylan film to the artist's early-to-mid-1960s transformation from conscience-pricking folk singer to electric-guitar-wielding rock prophet. This...
- 7/24/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The Power Of The DogImage: Netflix
Netflix’s line-up of Original movies vary wildly in quality, ranging from Oscar-worthy work from some of our finest filmmakers to rom-coms one wouldn’t wish upon their worst enemy. But taken together, along with the streaming service’s passable library, Netflix has one...
Netflix’s line-up of Original movies vary wildly in quality, ranging from Oscar-worthy work from some of our finest filmmakers to rom-coms one wouldn’t wish upon their worst enemy. But taken together, along with the streaming service’s passable library, Netflix has one...
- 7/1/2024
- by The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Wesley Kimmel and J. K. Simmons, and directed by Jake Kasdan, Red One is set to be another contender for your Christmas movie rotation!
After Santa Claus – Code Name: Red One – is kidnapped, the North’s Pole’s Head of Security (Dwayne Johnson) must team up with the world’s most infamous bounty hunter (Chris Evans) in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas.
Amazon MGM Studios will release Red One theatrically in the US on November 15, 2024 and will be released in the UK in November 2024 by Warner Bros. Pictures. Check out the trailer and poster below:...
After Santa Claus – Code Name: Red One – is kidnapped, the North’s Pole’s Head of Security (Dwayne Johnson) must team up with the world’s most infamous bounty hunter (Chris Evans) in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas.
Amazon MGM Studios will release Red One theatrically in the US on November 15, 2024 and will be released in the UK in November 2024 by Warner Bros. Pictures. Check out the trailer and poster below:...
- 6/26/2024
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans save Christmas in Red One from MGM Amazon Studios, a big budget Christmas adventure movie that’s headed to theaters this holiday season.
From Walk Hard, Bad Teacher and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle director Jake Kasdan, Red One releases only in theaters November 15. Watch the official trailer below.
This is of course Not a horror movie by any means, but the official trailer is loaded with holiday frights including Krampus, the Headless Horseman, and murderous snowmen.
There’s also a giant badass polar bear, but he looks to be one of the guys. The official trailer for Red One even gives us a glimpse of a giant Christmas kaiju of some sort (seen at 1:59)…
In the upcoming Red One, “After Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons) – Code Name: ‘Red One’ – is kidnapped, the North Pole’s Head of Security (Johnson) must team up with...
From Walk Hard, Bad Teacher and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle director Jake Kasdan, Red One releases only in theaters November 15. Watch the official trailer below.
This is of course Not a horror movie by any means, but the official trailer is loaded with holiday frights including Krampus, the Headless Horseman, and murderous snowmen.
There’s also a giant badass polar bear, but he looks to be one of the guys. The official trailer for Red One even gives us a glimpse of a giant Christmas kaiju of some sort (seen at 1:59)…
In the upcoming Red One, “After Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons) – Code Name: ‘Red One’ – is kidnapped, the North Pole’s Head of Security (Johnson) must team up with...
- 6/25/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Now The Rock has a machine gun Christmas movie, ho-ho-ho.
Is it a stretch to say Dwayne Johnson has been in a bit of a slump of late? His return to wrestling earlier this year didn't go over well with WWE fans; his much-ballyhooed plan to change the hierarchy of the DC Universe with "Black Adam" and "DC League of Super-Pets" failed to pan out (but don't tell Johnson that); his Netflix action-comedy "Red Notice" was apparently watched by every single person on the planet yet nobody seems to remember a damn thing about it beyond the alcoholic product placement; and even his mega-expensive "Jungle Cruise" movie was the victim of a bungled hybrid streaming and theatrical release (although the tepid reviews probably didn't help).
Hoping to turn things around, The Rock is joining forces with his "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" and "The Next Level" director Jake Kasdan for "Red One,...
Is it a stretch to say Dwayne Johnson has been in a bit of a slump of late? His return to wrestling earlier this year didn't go over well with WWE fans; his much-ballyhooed plan to change the hierarchy of the DC Universe with "Black Adam" and "DC League of Super-Pets" failed to pan out (but don't tell Johnson that); his Netflix action-comedy "Red Notice" was apparently watched by every single person on the planet yet nobody seems to remember a damn thing about it beyond the alcoholic product placement; and even his mega-expensive "Jungle Cruise" movie was the victim of a bungled hybrid streaming and theatrical release (although the tepid reviews probably didn't help).
Hoping to turn things around, The Rock is joining forces with his "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" and "The Next Level" director Jake Kasdan for "Red One,...
- 6/25/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Chicago – You’ll never hear a better speech about the actor’s gratitude for his hometown than John C. Reilly’s proclamation at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival’s Summer Gala on June 1st, 2024. He brought the house down with emotional and passionate words about his journey that began in the Windy City.
With an astonishing range of roles already under his belt, John C. Reilly has played an eclectic host of rich characters to great effect over the years, from seedy ne’er-do-wells to lovable and good-natured schlepps. The fifth of six children, John Christopher Reilly was born in Chicago, and was brought up on Chicago’s Southwest Side. On the amateur stage from age eight, Reilly trained at the Goodman School of Drama and eventually became a member of Chicago’s renowned Steppenwolf Theatre.
John C. Reilly at the 2024 60th Ciff Summer Gala
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.
With an astonishing range of roles already under his belt, John C. Reilly has played an eclectic host of rich characters to great effect over the years, from seedy ne’er-do-wells to lovable and good-natured schlepps. The fifth of six children, John Christopher Reilly was born in Chicago, and was brought up on Chicago’s Southwest Side. On the amateur stage from age eight, Reilly trained at the Goodman School of Drama and eventually became a member of Chicago’s renowned Steppenwolf Theatre.
John C. Reilly at the 2024 60th Ciff Summer Gala
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.
- 6/7/2024
- by [email protected] (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Pharrell Williams has always done things differently in his music and his fashion, so why would his movie be different?
The singer-producer-designer is doing a biopic about his life. Focus Features just released the trailer for it. But it’s not your average musician biopic of the kind “Walk Hard” parodied. No, Williams is telling his life story through Legos. The movie is called “Piece by Piece,” but a more descriptive title would be “The Lego Pharrell Movie.”
The film follows Williams’ artistic journey, from growing up in Virginia Beach to the peak of the music industry, but tells it in an unconventional way, with impressionistic animation that combines psychedelia and Legos. The film is directed by Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy-winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville in his feature debut.
Williams and Neville hope the film resonates not just with fans of Williams’ music, but anyone seeking inspiration. “We wanted it...
The singer-producer-designer is doing a biopic about his life. Focus Features just released the trailer for it. But it’s not your average musician biopic of the kind “Walk Hard” parodied. No, Williams is telling his life story through Legos. The movie is called “Piece by Piece,” but a more descriptive title would be “The Lego Pharrell Movie.”
The film follows Williams’ artistic journey, from growing up in Virginia Beach to the peak of the music industry, but tells it in an unconventional way, with impressionistic animation that combines psychedelia and Legos. The film is directed by Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy-winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville in his feature debut.
Williams and Neville hope the film resonates not just with fans of Williams’ music, but anyone seeking inspiration. “We wanted it...
- 6/6/2024
- by Liam Mathews
- Gold Derby
Terrence Beasor, a veteran character and voice-over actor best known for Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, The Gods Must Be Crazy and recurring roles on The Middle and Raising Hope, has died. He was 89.
A rep said Beasor died May 28 at his home in Santa Monica with his wife of 55-plus years, actress Muriel Minot, by his side.
Beasor appeared on dozens of TV shows during his 40-year career, including The Incredible Hulk, The Greatest American Hero, The A-Team, Hardcastle and McCormick, Hill Street Blues, Cheers, L.A. Law, Dynasty, Hunter, Knot’s Landing, Simon & Simon, Police Squad!, Chicago Hope, The Office, Parks and Recreation, Scandal, Angie Tribeca, The Grinder, Hot In Cleveland, Scrubs, Gilmore Girls, The District, Suddenly Susan, Days of Our Lives and Murder, She Wrote.
He also did voice work on several Star Trek series and video games and offscreen announcing on movies and TV shows including Jaws: The Revenge,...
A rep said Beasor died May 28 at his home in Santa Monica with his wife of 55-plus years, actress Muriel Minot, by his side.
Beasor appeared on dozens of TV shows during his 40-year career, including The Incredible Hulk, The Greatest American Hero, The A-Team, Hardcastle and McCormick, Hill Street Blues, Cheers, L.A. Law, Dynasty, Hunter, Knot’s Landing, Simon & Simon, Police Squad!, Chicago Hope, The Office, Parks and Recreation, Scandal, Angie Tribeca, The Grinder, Hot In Cleveland, Scrubs, Gilmore Girls, The District, Suddenly Susan, Days of Our Lives and Murder, She Wrote.
He also did voice work on several Star Trek series and video games and offscreen announcing on movies and TV shows including Jaws: The Revenge,...
- 6/4/2024
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Oscar-nominated actor John C. Reilly is also known for his prolific stage work, but broke into film with a small role in Brian DePalma‘s “Casualties of War” and carved out a successful career as a young character actor for years after that. He finally came to the public’s attention in a big way as a lovable porn star in Paul Thomas Anderson‘s “Boogie Nights” (1997). Since then, Reilly has proceeded to steal films in supporting roles and has even headlined more than a few movies himself.
Reilly received an Oscar nomination in Rob Marshall‘s 2002 Best Picture winner “Chicago” for his performance as the schnook of a husband to Roxie Hart (Renée Zellweger). In the course of his career, Reilly has earned four Golden Globe nominations and won a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the ensemble of “Chicago,” as well as three additional SAG nominations. Reilly...
Reilly received an Oscar nomination in Rob Marshall‘s 2002 Best Picture winner “Chicago” for his performance as the schnook of a husband to Roxie Hart (Renée Zellweger). In the course of his career, Reilly has earned four Golden Globe nominations and won a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the ensemble of “Chicago,” as well as three additional SAG nominations. Reilly...
- 5/18/2024
- by Tom O'Brien, Misty Holland and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
When none of us are generous enough to just buy an album (or join his notoriously unwieldy streaming service) there’s been a surge of reinterest as Neil Young makes his dizzyingly dense catalog freshly available on Spotify. Likely coinciding with his greatest exposure in years is the uncovering, by Creep director Patrick Brice, of Hal Ashby’s 1984 concert film Solo Trans, which spans some of Young’s earliest recorded music to then-new masterpiece Trans––my pick for his greatest work, which devoted fans have characterized with words such as “untenable” and “insane”––and controversial rockabilly period, which indeed sounds like a joke from Walk Hard.
Among these performances are skits in the tone of Young’s more-than-a-little-amazing feature film Human Highway, albeit (like most things) not as good as Human Highway. More devoted Ashby auteurists will surely find things to identify as distinctly his; it’s easier to admire...
Among these performances are skits in the tone of Young’s more-than-a-little-amazing feature film Human Highway, albeit (like most things) not as good as Human Highway. More devoted Ashby auteurists will surely find things to identify as distinctly his; it’s easier to admire...
- 4/2/2024
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Deadline reports that director Ridley Scott is in talks to direct an as-of-now untitled Bee Gees biopic for Paramount. A couple of years ago, Kenneth Branagh was reported to be directing this Bee Gees movie, and way back in 2010, there were rumors that Steven Spielberg might direct it.
According to the report, Scott has long wanted to make a movie with or about the Bee Gees, ever since the band's longtime manager Robert Stigwood worked with Scott on developing a movie with the band's members back in the 1970s. Though the movie fell apart, Scott has a chance now, nearly 50 years later, to tell the story of brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The other big reason Scott is being attached to the project is that Paramount executives reportedly loved early footage of Scott's upcoming "Gladiator 2" and wanted to sign the prolific director for his next feature as quickly as possible.
According to the report, Scott has long wanted to make a movie with or about the Bee Gees, ever since the band's longtime manager Robert Stigwood worked with Scott on developing a movie with the band's members back in the 1970s. Though the movie fell apart, Scott has a chance now, nearly 50 years later, to tell the story of brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The other big reason Scott is being attached to the project is that Paramount executives reportedly loved early footage of Scott's upcoming "Gladiator 2" and wanted to sign the prolific director for his next feature as quickly as possible.
- 2/16/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
For 15 minutes or so, Bob Marley: One Love promises to be an antidote to the usual cookie-cutter music biopic, the kind skewered by the 2007 spoof Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Riffing back then on 2005’s Walk the Line, which starred Joaquin Phoenix as troubled country star Johnny Cash, Jake Kasdan’s film took aim at the whole jukebox-movie industry, featuring a solemn lead character who “has to think about his entire life before he goes on stage.”
Spoiler alert: this kind of thing also happens in One Love. But Reinaldo Marcus Green’s film promises so much more, things like real-world politics, emotional complexity, and serious danger. In other words, an alternative to the usual narrative of the greenhorn who dreams big, lives that dream, and then gets sucker-punched by The Man. Gradually, though, the realization dawns that we’re being sold a pup. As Led Zeppelin might say,...
Spoiler alert: this kind of thing also happens in One Love. But Reinaldo Marcus Green’s film promises so much more, things like real-world politics, emotional complexity, and serious danger. In other words, an alternative to the usual narrative of the greenhorn who dreams big, lives that dream, and then gets sucker-punched by The Man. Gradually, though, the realization dawns that we’re being sold a pup. As Led Zeppelin might say,...
- 2/8/2024
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
When it comes to serious movies about wrestling, The Iron Claw is a bit unorthodox. During the height of wrestling’s popularity in the late ‘90s, we had two major documentaries on the subject via Wrestling with Shadows and Beyond the Mat. The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke was serious, but fictional, based loosely on the modern life of Jake “The Snake” Roberts and his contemporaries. The recent Fighting with My Family, meanwhile, was a sensationalized and comedic take on Saraya/Paige’s initial ascent in WWE.
By contrast, The Iron Claw is based on a bitterly true story that has always been considered one of the darkest corners in wrestling history. It has been the subject of several documentaries itself and has long been viewed as a rich resource for a potential Hollywood film. That’s because the rise and fall of World Class Championship Wrestling coincides with the story of the Von Erich family.
By contrast, The Iron Claw is based on a bitterly true story that has always been considered one of the darkest corners in wrestling history. It has been the subject of several documentaries itself and has long been viewed as a rich resource for a potential Hollywood film. That’s because the rise and fall of World Class Championship Wrestling coincides with the story of the Von Erich family.
- 12/23/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
When it was released in 2007, the music biopic parody Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story was tragically overlooked, bombing at the box office. But, in the 16 years since then, the film — written by Judd Apatow and director Jake Kasdan — has evolved into a cult classic. John C. Reilly starred as the title character, a rock star who becomes a stylistic chameleon over the course of his 50-year career. All of those changes resulted in Reilly singing a wide variety of songs for the film and its soundtrack. Was it difficult for Reilly to adapt to all of those types of songs? When the film was released, Reilly told us it was what he was born to do. (Click on the media bar below to hear John C. Reilly) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/John_C_Reilly_Walk_The_Line_.mp3
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is available on DVD,...
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is available on DVD,...
- 11/30/2023
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
There are celebrities who transcend mere levels of fame to become an icon. Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, and Muhammad Ali all come to mind as pop culture figures that achieved a level of ubiquity that firmly embedded them in the fabric of 20th century pop culture, impacting the cultural imagination in a way that can still be felt today. And among those icons, there’s another 20th century figure that feels more legend than man at this point in time: Elvis, baby.
Born in 1937 to Vernon and Gladys Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis Presley moved to Memphis, Tennessee as a teen, where he developed an interest in music and signed his first record deal at 19. Breaking through in 1956, Presley helped to popularize the Rock and Roll genre, taking inspiration from Black artists of the time and developing a controversial reputation for his energetic performances and often sexually-charged dance moves. Over...
Born in 1937 to Vernon and Gladys Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis Presley moved to Memphis, Tennessee as a teen, where he developed an interest in music and signed his first record deal at 19. Breaking through in 1956, Presley helped to popularize the Rock and Roll genre, taking inspiration from Black artists of the time and developing a controversial reputation for his energetic performances and often sexually-charged dance moves. Over...
- 11/4/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
(from left) Kurt Russell in Elvis (Photo: Worldvision Enterprises); Austin Butler in Elvis (Photo: Warner Bros); Jonathan Rhys Meyers in Elvis (Photo: CBS); Jacob Elordi in Priscilla (Photo: Zoey Kang/A24) Graphic: The A.V. Club
When Sofia Coppola’s new biopic Priscilla opens in theaters on November 3, Jacob Elordi will...
When Sofia Coppola’s new biopic Priscilla opens in theaters on November 3, Jacob Elordi will...
- 10/31/2023
- by Cindy White, Luke Y. Thompson, Brent Simon, Brandon Kirby, Manuel Betancourt, Scott Huver, and AV Club Staff
- avclub.com
The following article contains spoilers for "Killers of the Flower Moon."
Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" hits theaters this week, and if you've seen it, you know that the cast is astonishing. Lily Gladstone turns in a powerful performance as Mollie Burkhart, an Osage woman whose family is part of the horrifying murders of tribespeople to gain their money and profit rights after oil is discovered on their land. The Osage Nation became wealthy, and white men used a number of underhanded and despicable ways to get their hands on the money. That includes the plotting of a series of murders by William King Hale (Robert De Niro) and his nephew Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio).
Based on the true story of the Osage murders in Oklahoma at the beginning of the 20th century, the cast includes Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, Brendan Fraser, Cara Jade Myers,...
Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" hits theaters this week, and if you've seen it, you know that the cast is astonishing. Lily Gladstone turns in a powerful performance as Mollie Burkhart, an Osage woman whose family is part of the horrifying murders of tribespeople to gain their money and profit rights after oil is discovered on their land. The Osage Nation became wealthy, and white men used a number of underhanded and despicable ways to get their hands on the money. That includes the plotting of a series of murders by William King Hale (Robert De Niro) and his nephew Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio).
Based on the true story of the Osage murders in Oklahoma at the beginning of the 20th century, the cast includes Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, Brendan Fraser, Cara Jade Myers,...
- 10/20/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Have you been dreaming of Nicolas Cage? That's the question that Kristoffer Borgli's R-rated dark comedy "Dream Scenario" is asking. Cage plays a hapless, unassuming educator named Paul Matthews who might as well be the image next to the dictionary definition of "average, middle-aged white man." He wears sensible sweaters over collared shirts, there's a bit more salt than pepper in his beard, and his hairline hasn't been visible from the front for many, many years.
And yet, millions of strangers from all across the globe are starting to see him in their dreams. Sometimes he's a hero. Sometimes he's a bystander in the crowd. Paul's newfound stardom was exciting at first, but now he has to reckon with the reality that his presence is unwelcome and deeply traumatizing for countless people. Because sometimes, Paul is an absolute nightmare, invading people's dreams as if Freddy Krueger were a suburban dad.
And yet, millions of strangers from all across the globe are starting to see him in their dreams. Sometimes he's a hero. Sometimes he's a bystander in the crowd. Paul's newfound stardom was exciting at first, but now he has to reckon with the reality that his presence is unwelcome and deeply traumatizing for countless people. Because sometimes, Paul is an absolute nightmare, invading people's dreams as if Freddy Krueger were a suburban dad.
- 9/19/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Bradley Cooper is undoubtedly feeling the Bern. There’s something very endearing about Cooper’s star persona, not least the fact that, of all modern Hollywood leading men, the mere idea of a “star persona” is something he actually earns. He is charismatic, good-looking, talented (also showcasing talent some felt he didn’t have), and has pretty good taste. Though Paul Thomas Anderson hit on something deploying him for an edgier role as one-man hurricane movie producer and cad Jon Peters.
Maestro is not quite “the devil’s candy,” as author Julie Salamon famously described doomed prestige projects in her account of the making of Brian De Palma’s The Bonfire of the Vanities, but it’s undoubtedly a clasp for the brass ring. It’s about one of the greatest homegrown American musical figures, Leonard Bernstein, who made canonical contributions to the classical, musical theatre, and arguably pop worlds; Steven Spielberg himself,...
Maestro is not quite “the devil’s candy,” as author Julie Salamon famously described doomed prestige projects in her account of the making of Brian De Palma’s The Bonfire of the Vanities, but it’s undoubtedly a clasp for the brass ring. It’s about one of the greatest homegrown American musical figures, Leonard Bernstein, who made canonical contributions to the classical, musical theatre, and arguably pop worlds; Steven Spielberg himself,...
- 9/3/2023
- by David Katz
- The Film Stage
My fellow Colman Domingo fans, we have much to look forward to. After lending his voice to computer-generated characters in both "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" and "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" earlier this year, the celebrated "If Beale Street Could Talk" and "Euphoria" star will be back in live-action a big way over the coming months, starting with his performance in the biopic "Rustin."
If you don't know the name Bayard Rustin, well, you're not alone. A key figure in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, Rustin was essentially the architect of the 1963 March on Washington in which Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. He's typically been overlooked (if not completely erased) in public school curriculums due to the fact that he was gay, which also led to him advising people like King from behind closed doors rather than serving openly as one of the faces of the movement itself.
If you don't know the name Bayard Rustin, well, you're not alone. A key figure in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, Rustin was essentially the architect of the 1963 March on Washington in which Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. He's typically been overlooked (if not completely erased) in public school curriculums due to the fact that he was gay, which also led to him advising people like King from behind closed doors rather than serving openly as one of the faces of the movement itself.
- 8/28/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Spoilers for "Oppenheimer" follow.
"Oppenheimer" is not the first time Christopher Nolan has made a historical film — he touched on a very different portion of World War II with 2017's "Dunkirk." However, his latest is the first time he's made a biopic. A movie about J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), Father of the Atomic Bomb, actually tracks with Nolan's interests and previous films. Consider the nuclear MacGuffin in "The Dark Knight Rises," or how Nolan centers the stories of "Interstellar" and "Tenet" in experimental physics. While "Oppenheimer" may not be a story of Nolan's own making, it is definitely a Christopher Nolan film.
"Oppenheimer" pulls from "American Prometheus," a 700+ page tome boasting Robert Caro-level research. That title refers to the Greek myth about a Titan who stole fire from the Gods and gifted it to man, which the film acknowledges with text recounting that ancient story. Fire holds both great constructive and destructive power,...
"Oppenheimer" is not the first time Christopher Nolan has made a historical film — he touched on a very different portion of World War II with 2017's "Dunkirk." However, his latest is the first time he's made a biopic. A movie about J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), Father of the Atomic Bomb, actually tracks with Nolan's interests and previous films. Consider the nuclear MacGuffin in "The Dark Knight Rises," or how Nolan centers the stories of "Interstellar" and "Tenet" in experimental physics. While "Oppenheimer" may not be a story of Nolan's own making, it is definitely a Christopher Nolan film.
"Oppenheimer" pulls from "American Prometheus," a 700+ page tome boasting Robert Caro-level research. That title refers to the Greek myth about a Titan who stole fire from the Gods and gifted it to man, which the film acknowledges with text recounting that ancient story. Fire holds both great constructive and destructive power,...
- 7/25/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Celebrity relationships are often a point of interest for fans. This is especially the case when two stars become an item, as is the case with actors Justin Long and Kate Bosworth. Long particularly has a history of becoming romantically involved with other actors. But has the actor himself ever been engaged prior to his recent marriage proposal to Bosworth? Let’s dig in.
Justin Long and Kate Bosworth recently became engaged
Justin Long and Kate Bosworth attend the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. I Lionel Hahn/Getty Images
Long and Bosworth’s relationship reportedly dates back until at least January 2022. That’s when Us Weekly confirmed that the two actors were dating, with an unnamed source claiming they had been together for a few months at that point. But the relationship took a major step forward recently, with news Long and Bosworth reportedly became engaged in March 2023.
The actors co-starred...
Justin Long and Kate Bosworth recently became engaged
Justin Long and Kate Bosworth attend the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. I Lionel Hahn/Getty Images
Long and Bosworth’s relationship reportedly dates back until at least January 2022. That’s when Us Weekly confirmed that the two actors were dating, with an unnamed source claiming they had been together for a few months at that point. But the relationship took a major step forward recently, with news Long and Bosworth reportedly became engaged in March 2023.
The actors co-starred...
- 4/12/2023
- by Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Happy 20 years to “Agent Cody Banks.”
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Agent Cody Banks,” Frankie Muniz surprised fans with a throwback picture.
Read More: Frankie Muniz To Become Full-Time NASCAR Driver: ‘Making My Dream A Reality’
Muniz, 37, joked that fans may know him better for his career as a racecar driver and celebrated the 20th anniversary of the film by posting a picture of the 2003 teen spy flick’s poster on Twitter.
“I know this may be hard to believe because you all just know me as a NASCAR driver, but a long time ago before most of my competitors were born, I used to save the world,” the actor wrote.
“I did it twice. No biggie,” he added, referring to the movie’s 2004 sequel, “Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London… It was actually 20 years ago today that “Agent Cody Banks” first premiered.”
I know this may be hard...
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Agent Cody Banks,” Frankie Muniz surprised fans with a throwback picture.
Read More: Frankie Muniz To Become Full-Time NASCAR Driver: ‘Making My Dream A Reality’
Muniz, 37, joked that fans may know him better for his career as a racecar driver and celebrated the 20th anniversary of the film by posting a picture of the 2003 teen spy flick’s poster on Twitter.
“I know this may be hard to believe because you all just know me as a NASCAR driver, but a long time ago before most of my competitors were born, I used to save the world,” the actor wrote.
“I did it twice. No biggie,” he added, referring to the movie’s 2004 sequel, “Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London… It was actually 20 years ago today that “Agent Cody Banks” first premiered.”
I know this may be hard...
- 3/16/2023
- by Aashna Shah
- ET Canada
That 70s Show is probably at the top of the list of iconic sitcoms of the late ’90s and early 2000s. The show ran for eight seasons and still remains one of the most beloved shows to have aired.
Following a group of teenagers in the ’70s navigating that crazy decade, That ’70s Show made its mark on TV, not only with its great and funny storylines but also with its huge lineup of guest stars. One star appeared for an episode on the show before hitting it big with The Office.
Jenna Fischer’s role on ‘That ’70s Show’
Not every actor hits it big overnight. Some of the A-listers in Hollywood began by taking on smaller roles to build up their resume before becoming the sensations they are today. Jenna Fischer appeared in the 12th episode of the 7th season of That ’70s Show, playing Stacy Wanamaker. Fischer...
Following a group of teenagers in the ’70s navigating that crazy decade, That ’70s Show made its mark on TV, not only with its great and funny storylines but also with its huge lineup of guest stars. One star appeared for an episode on the show before hitting it big with The Office.
Jenna Fischer’s role on ‘That ’70s Show’
Not every actor hits it big overnight. Some of the A-listers in Hollywood began by taking on smaller roles to build up their resume before becoming the sensations they are today. Jenna Fischer appeared in the 12th episode of the 7th season of That ’70s Show, playing Stacy Wanamaker. Fischer...
- 2/25/2023
- by Produced by Digital Editors
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Little Richard: I Am Everything is positively bursting with unforgettable anecdotes, so much so that choosing one standout is virtually impossible. So perhaps offering a personal favorite is more sensible: it was the late ’60s and Richard was performing in the States on a bill that included Janis Joplin. The latter appeared first and destroyed the audience with her passion and verve. Richard, watching from the side of the stage, told a cohort to get to the hotel and retrieve his “mirror suit.” Challenge accepted: when his performance began the lights reflected beautifully off the suit. He was a living mirror ball, resplendent, transcendent. Joplin, watching from the wings, could only utter “Oh my God.”
Janis’ words are fitting. They capture the vivid feeling of hearing––to say nothing of actually seeing––Little Richard at the height of his powers. And of course there is her reference to God. As Lisa Cortés’ remarkable documentary demonstrates,...
Janis’ words are fitting. They capture the vivid feeling of hearing––to say nothing of actually seeing––Little Richard at the height of his powers. And of course there is her reference to God. As Lisa Cortés’ remarkable documentary demonstrates,...
- 1/30/2023
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
I spend far too much time agonizing over my end-of-year lists. Perhaps it's because I've been chronically online since I was a teenager and my brain chemistry has been irreparably damaged by being inundated with unsolicited opinions by thousands of strangers. Or, more likely, it's because I love movies so much and not including a title makes feelings of guilt completely wash over me. As was the case with the previous two years, I spent a lot of time indoors and consuming as much media as possible to distract myself from the overwhelming anxiety that the world was falling apart. Luckily, 2022 was a banger year for film and television, and there was an abundance of incredible entertainment.
Before diving into my end-of-year favorites, I want to point out that thanks to a ridiculous distribution issue, "Dinner in America" was my favorite film for the second year in a row. However,...
Before diving into my end-of-year favorites, I want to point out that thanks to a ridiculous distribution issue, "Dinner in America" was my favorite film for the second year in a row. However,...
- 1/2/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
While viewers and critics have been heaping praise — and deservedly so — on Weird Al Yankovic’s Weird as a film that skewers the excesses of music biopics, we can’t overlook the 2007 film that laid the groundwork for it: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Co-written by Judd Apatow and director Jake Kasdan, it told the story of a fictional rock star, played by John C. Reilly, and his soap opera/roller coaster of a career. With a spectacular cast and plenty of cameos from real-life rock stars, including Eddie Vedder, Jackson Browne, and Lyle Lovett, it’s hard to believe the film wasn’t a box office hit. But, over the years, Walk Hard has become a cult classic. Reilly, who was a guitarist and singer even before he was cast in the film, told us he really appreciated the way some of rock and roll’s most outrageous...
- 12/21/2022
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
Country music is brimming with stories of love and loss, whether in the storytelling lyrics or the famous figures who went on to become legends. George Jones and Tammy Wynette’s romance first captured hearts (and wallets) in the 1960s, and the decades-long collaboration is an emotional roller coaster ripe for the biopic treatment. Ever since “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” accurately lampooned this genre, it has made it more challenging to portray the real figures.
Continue reading ‘George & Tammy’ Review: Jessica Chastain & Michael Shannon Are Electrifying As The Country Music Power Couple at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘George & Tammy’ Review: Jessica Chastain & Michael Shannon Are Electrifying As The Country Music Power Couple at The Playlist.
- 11/29/2022
- by Emma Fraser
- The Playlist
Watching the premiere episode of Hulu’s limited series “Welcome to Chippendales” left me thinking about the 1997 comedy classic “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion.” To look impressive to their former classmates, Romy (Mira Sorvino) tells them she invented Post-Its and that her bestie, Michele (Lisa Kudrow), thought to make them yellow.
In Hulu’s new limited series “Welcome to Chippendales,” Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten (Nicola Peltz) is presented as the person behind putting the Chippendales dancers in their soon-to-be-iconic cuffs-and-collars look. With 10 minutes left in the pilot, Stratten pitches an idea to Chippendales creator Steve Bannerjee (Kumail Nanjiani): “I know how much you admire Hugh Hefner…which got me thinking, what if Chippendales did a Playboy Club thing? Cuffs and collars, just like the Bunnies.”
It’s understandable why the series wants to show Stratten had autonomy, especially considering that her name is now synonymous with her murder.
In Hulu’s new limited series “Welcome to Chippendales,” Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten (Nicola Peltz) is presented as the person behind putting the Chippendales dancers in their soon-to-be-iconic cuffs-and-collars look. With 10 minutes left in the pilot, Stratten pitches an idea to Chippendales creator Steve Bannerjee (Kumail Nanjiani): “I know how much you admire Hugh Hefner…which got me thinking, what if Chippendales did a Playboy Club thing? Cuffs and collars, just like the Bunnies.”
It’s understandable why the series wants to show Stratten had autonomy, especially considering that her name is now synonymous with her murder.
- 11/25/2022
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
A collector-favorite comic book featuring the first appearance of Wolverine, and graded by Certified Guaranty Company® (Cgc®), was sold for six figures in ComicLink’s October auction.
“A copy of Incredible Hulk #181 graded Cgc 9.8 realized 146,000. This comic is a significant key issue, with the first full appearance of Wolverine following a cameo in the previous issue. Created by Len Wein, Roy Thomas and John Romita Sr., Wolverine went on to join the X-Men in Giant-Size X-Men #1. The character has become a fan-favorite, starring in multiple animated series and films. Recently, actor Hugh Jackman revealed that he will return to the role for the film Deadpool 3, officially debuting Wolverine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”
Read more at Cgc Comics
After the show was announced years ago, the latest Star Wars series, The Acolyte, has finally gone into production with an official announcement of an all-star cast.
“It was announced way...
“A copy of Incredible Hulk #181 graded Cgc 9.8 realized 146,000. This comic is a significant key issue, with the first full appearance of Wolverine following a cameo in the previous issue. Created by Len Wein, Roy Thomas and John Romita Sr., Wolverine went on to join the X-Men in Giant-Size X-Men #1. The character has become a fan-favorite, starring in multiple animated series and films. Recently, actor Hugh Jackman revealed that he will return to the role for the film Deadpool 3, officially debuting Wolverine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”
Read more at Cgc Comics
After the show was announced years ago, the latest Star Wars series, The Acolyte, has finally gone into production with an official announcement of an all-star cast.
“It was announced way...
- 11/7/2022
- by Lee Parham
- Den of Geek
Singer and actor Evan Rachel Wood has been captivating audiences since she was a teenager, but somehow she still manages to be full of surprises. She's done a little bit of everything, starring as the leader of the android uprising in HBO's "Westworld," performing the hits of the Beatles in the musical "Across the Universe," and now, she's playing Madonna opposite Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al in "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story," debuting on the Roku Channel this week.
"Weird" was written by director Eric Appel and Weird Al himself, and it's a send-up of rock 'n' roll biopics, sharing DNA with something like "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" while still having a signature Weird Al silly sensibility. For more on that, you can read our review. The movie is fun and fluffy and very funny, held together by pitch-perfect performances by Wood and Radcliffe.
I had the opportunity...
"Weird" was written by director Eric Appel and Weird Al himself, and it's a send-up of rock 'n' roll biopics, sharing DNA with something like "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" while still having a signature Weird Al silly sensibility. For more on that, you can read our review. The movie is fun and fluffy and very funny, held together by pitch-perfect performances by Wood and Radcliffe.
I had the opportunity...
- 11/5/2022
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
Just in case this is necessary, spoilers for the biopic parody "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" lie ahead. You've been warned?
If there's one thing "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" does well, it's a parody. Weird Al rose to fame performing hilarious takes on hit pop songs, like his version of Michael Jackson's "Beat It," titled "Eat It," and Yankovic's biopic remains true to the comedic sensibility of his work. The film pokes fun at the musical biopic genre as a whole and pays homage to lots of iconic music, artists, and cinema that broke the status quo.
One final pop culture reference is snuck in at the very end of the film. The end of "Weird" mirrors the final scene in Brian De Palma's adaptation of Stephen King's "Carrie," with the role of Sue played by the infamous musician-turned-drug lord, Madonna (Evan Rachel Wood).
Based On A...
If there's one thing "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" does well, it's a parody. Weird Al rose to fame performing hilarious takes on hit pop songs, like his version of Michael Jackson's "Beat It," titled "Eat It," and Yankovic's biopic remains true to the comedic sensibility of his work. The film pokes fun at the musical biopic genre as a whole and pays homage to lots of iconic music, artists, and cinema that broke the status quo.
One final pop culture reference is snuck in at the very end of the film. The end of "Weird" mirrors the final scene in Brian De Palma's adaptation of Stephen King's "Carrie," with the role of Sue played by the infamous musician-turned-drug lord, Madonna (Evan Rachel Wood).
Based On A...
- 11/5/2022
- by Shae Sennett
- Slash Film
Jack White is showing off his acting chops.
The musician is the latest addition to legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese’s next film “Killers of The Flower Moon”. Randall Poster revealed the casting choice when he appeared on Brian Koppelman’s “The Moment” podcast.
Read More: Jack White Shares Heartfelt Tribute To Loretta Lynn: ‘Like A Mother Figure To Me’
Jason Isbell had already been announced as part of the film, but to Koppelman’s surprise, the famous singer wouldn’t be performing music in the film.
“Yeah, he’s terrific in it. Jason Isbell, Jack White, uhh, oh, my god, who’s [that] famous blues harpist, older cat, it’s not Toots Thielemans — anyhow, there’s like four musicians in the movie that don’t play music,” said the music supervisor.
Read More: Jack White ‘Surprised’ His Wife With Onstage Marriage: ‘I Figured It Was A Good Time’
It won...
The musician is the latest addition to legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese’s next film “Killers of The Flower Moon”. Randall Poster revealed the casting choice when he appeared on Brian Koppelman’s “The Moment” podcast.
Read More: Jack White Shares Heartfelt Tribute To Loretta Lynn: ‘Like A Mother Figure To Me’
Jason Isbell had already been announced as part of the film, but to Koppelman’s surprise, the famous singer wouldn’t be performing music in the film.
“Yeah, he’s terrific in it. Jason Isbell, Jack White, uhh, oh, my god, who’s [that] famous blues harpist, older cat, it’s not Toots Thielemans — anyhow, there’s like four musicians in the movie that don’t play music,” said the music supervisor.
Read More: Jack White ‘Surprised’ His Wife With Onstage Marriage: ‘I Figured It Was A Good Time’
It won...
- 11/4/2022
- by Anita Tai
- ET Canada
How Weird Al Yankovic approaches parody is markedly different than how many other artists use pre-existing material for comedy. Rarely is his aim to mock the song he is reinventing, which is how most people approach parody. Sure, occasionally the two are linked, such as making fun of Kurt Cobain's mumbly vocals with "Smells Like Nirvana," but the lyrical content of his songs almost never has anything to do with the original pieces of music. The links between "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace" and Don McLean's "American Pie" or "The Brady Bunch" and Men Without Hats' "Safety Dance" basically don't exist. What Weird Al is really parodying is the self-seriousness of music.
Yankovic takes the formal structure of these popular songs and changes the lyrics to make them about something silly, like food, television, or menial tasks. The musicianship displayed is still top notch, as...
Yankovic takes the formal structure of these popular songs and changes the lyrics to make them about something silly, like food, television, or menial tasks. The musicianship displayed is still top notch, as...
- 11/4/2022
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is not only one of our best living musicians, but also one of the best comedians working today. For decades, he's made songs that are more than just funny versions of songs already written by other people, songs that add to the originals, make them better, and at times even surpass them with catchy, smart, and funny lyrics and wacky sounds.
Just like his songs, the man himself is legendary, and quite unique among musicians. Weird Al has had no major scandals, no mythical origin story full of controversy, substance abuse or falling outs with loved ones and collaborators. The man is as dull as he is fascinating, which makes the idea of a biopic, let alone one done in the style of self-serious Oscar-bait biopics utterly absurd and hilarious. And yet, "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" works. The film is fantastic because it is fantastical,...
Just like his songs, the man himself is legendary, and quite unique among musicians. Weird Al has had no major scandals, no mythical origin story full of controversy, substance abuse or falling outs with loved ones and collaborators. The man is as dull as he is fascinating, which makes the idea of a biopic, let alone one done in the style of self-serious Oscar-bait biopics utterly absurd and hilarious. And yet, "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" works. The film is fantastic because it is fantastical,...
- 11/4/2022
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Let the title fool you. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is the improbable tale of a young boy who becomes a rock god by playing a polka instrument. And former wizard Daniel Radcliffe brings an entirely new kind of magic to his portrayal of “Weird” Al Yankovic—the type the Weasley twins excelled at. This is not a biopic of a musical parodist. It is a spoof of musical biopics, and this one’s about a lunatic with a strap-on orchestra deluding himself that he’s the life of the party. He fakes it until he makes it, throws it away, and leaves someone else to clean up his mess.
In their respective roles in prior, formulaic rock biopics, Rami Malek’s Freddie Mercury and Taron Egerton’s Elton John are extremely professional. By contrast, Radcliffe throws himself into the character like he’s never lost amateur standing. He goes full tilt.
In their respective roles in prior, formulaic rock biopics, Rami Malek’s Freddie Mercury and Taron Egerton’s Elton John are extremely professional. By contrast, Radcliffe throws himself into the character like he’s never lost amateur standing. He goes full tilt.
- 11/4/2022
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Fifteen years after Walk Hard (2007) decimated the biopic, along comes Weird: The Al Yankovic Story to spit on the ashes. True to its subject matter, the film is a pitch-perfect and often very funny parody of a subgenre known for taking itself far too seriously, which seems fitting for a subject who built a career on taking rock stars down a peg.
Daniel Radcliffe stars as Yankovic, who we meet as a young man aspiring to nothing less than to become “the best-known accordion player in an extremely specific genre,” namely song parodies. Long before he’s christened “Weird Al” by Doctor Demento (Rainn Wilson), Yankovic’s life is a struggle, growing up under the thumb of two parents (Julianne Nicholson and Toby Huss) who forbid any playing of the squeezebox in their home, encourage him to “stop being who you are and doing what you love,” and tell him...
Daniel Radcliffe stars as Yankovic, who we meet as a young man aspiring to nothing less than to become “the best-known accordion player in an extremely specific genre,” namely song parodies. Long before he’s christened “Weird Al” by Doctor Demento (Rainn Wilson), Yankovic’s life is a struggle, growing up under the thumb of two parents (Julianne Nicholson and Toby Huss) who forbid any playing of the squeezebox in their home, encourage him to “stop being who you are and doing what you love,” and tell him...
- 11/4/2022
- by Chris Williams
- CinemaNerdz
Dir: Eric Appel. Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Evan Rachel Wood, Jack Black, Rainn Wilson, Toby Huss, Julianne Nicholson, Quinta Brunson. 108 minutes.
I’ve often heard it said that 2007’s Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story ruined the music biopic for good. Jake Kasdan’s parodic riff on the genre’s conventions – the troubled childhood, the meteoric rise to fame, the parade of famous faces, the inevitable seduction to the dark side of drink and drugs – felt devastatingly precise. And it can be hard now to watch a scene of any bright young thing nervously ingesting their first narcotic without thinking of Tim Meadows’ Sam and his repeated refrain: “Get out of here, Dewey. You don’t want no part of this s***!”
But I’d disagree with the notion that Walk Hard, as brilliant as it is, marks some be-all and end-all of stories about musicians. The music biopics released since...
I’ve often heard it said that 2007’s Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story ruined the music biopic for good. Jake Kasdan’s parodic riff on the genre’s conventions – the troubled childhood, the meteoric rise to fame, the parade of famous faces, the inevitable seduction to the dark side of drink and drugs – felt devastatingly precise. And it can be hard now to watch a scene of any bright young thing nervously ingesting their first narcotic without thinking of Tim Meadows’ Sam and his repeated refrain: “Get out of here, Dewey. You don’t want no part of this s***!”
But I’d disagree with the notion that Walk Hard, as brilliant as it is, marks some be-all and end-all of stories about musicians. The music biopics released since...
- 11/3/2022
- by Clarisse Loughrey
- The Independent - Film
Evan Rachel Wood and Daniel Radcliffe in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Photo: The Roku Channel Biopics about famous artists have long been so ubiquitous that their tried-and-true tropes have become ripe for parody. One that’s particularly easy to mock is the “Eureka!” moment in which the celebrated artist...
- 11/2/2022
- by Brett Buckalew
- avclub.com
Midway through Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, the parody artist, played by the very un-Yankovic-like Daniel Radcliffe, shows up blackout drunk and belligerent to one of his own concerts. His new girlfriend, Madonna (Evan Rachel Wood), is by his side when they’re confronted backstage by his manager, Dr. Demento (Rainn Wilson). “I think Madonna is a bad influence on you,” Demento says. “I think she’s an evil, conniving succubus and she’s only using you for her pathetic and selfish needs, no offense. She just wants that sweet,...
- 11/2/2022
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Did we really need another Zaz-style spoof of Oscar-chasing music biopics after Jake Kasdan's glorious "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story?" Probably not, but Eric Appel's "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" at least comes at the shopworn formula from a semi-novel angle: this is the life of one of the nicest, most genuine people in show business amplified beyond recognition.
If you know his career, the song spoofer's unlikely rise to Top 40 radio stardom, starting with novelty-song kingpin Dr. Demento discovering him at the age of 16, starts off as an amusingly exaggerated parody of the facts. But once Yankovic hits the big time, the movie turns into a nutzoid document of 1980s excess that has more in common with "Scarface" than "Coal Miner's Daughter."
Appel and his collaborators are smart enough to know that they can't stick to the "Walk Hard" route, so you can't begrudge them...
If you know his career, the song spoofer's unlikely rise to Top 40 radio stardom, starting with novelty-song kingpin Dr. Demento discovering him at the age of 16, starts off as an amusingly exaggerated parody of the facts. But once Yankovic hits the big time, the movie turns into a nutzoid document of 1980s excess that has more in common with "Scarface" than "Coal Miner's Daughter."
Appel and his collaborators are smart enough to know that they can't stick to the "Walk Hard" route, so you can't begrudge them...
- 11/1/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Daniel Radcliffe has battled wizards, weathered live-streamed death matches, and soon, he'll be seen fiddling with an accordion. But one of the most challenging roles for the English actor required him to play dead.
"Swiss Army Man" confounded and thrilled audiences from its festival run to its wide release in 2016. From directors Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan (the duo behind that bonkers music video for DJ Snake and Lil' Jon's party banger "Turn Down For What"), the freaky feature follows the friendship formed between an isolated man (Paul Dano) and a farting corpse that washes ashore (Radcliffe). And that's just the opening sequence in an unapologetically strange tale exploring the spiritual-physical connection within the human body.
Looking back on his roles with GQ, Radcliffe recalls excitement and trepidation at playing a dead man, and how makeup assuaged his fears. Radcliffe explains:
"I was like, 'Yeah, I want to be involved in this.
"Swiss Army Man" confounded and thrilled audiences from its festival run to its wide release in 2016. From directors Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan (the duo behind that bonkers music video for DJ Snake and Lil' Jon's party banger "Turn Down For What"), the freaky feature follows the friendship formed between an isolated man (Paul Dano) and a farting corpse that washes ashore (Radcliffe). And that's just the opening sequence in an unapologetically strange tale exploring the spiritual-physical connection within the human body.
Looking back on his roles with GQ, Radcliffe recalls excitement and trepidation at playing a dead man, and how makeup assuaged his fears. Radcliffe explains:
"I was like, 'Yeah, I want to be involved in this.
- 10/28/2022
- by Anya Stanley
- Slash Film
It's still hard to imagine how musical biopics can exist in a post "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" world, but the last few years have been bursting with big-budget biopics centered on some of the most iconic performers in music history. Jennifer Hudson belted her face off as Aretha Franklin in "Respect," Taron Egerton was downright dazzling as Elton John in "Rocketman," Austin Butler may be looking at an Oscar nomination for his turn in "Elvis," following a trend set by Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody." Now, the queen of R&b is getting a high-profile film of her own, with Naomi Ackie as Whitney Houston.
The upcoming film "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" comes from "Bohemian Rhapsody" screenwriter Anthony McCarten and groundbreaking director Kasi Lemmons, with Ackie lip-syncing to Houston's unbelievable voice while embodying the remarkably talented woman the world lost too soon. The...
The upcoming film "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" comes from "Bohemian Rhapsody" screenwriter Anthony McCarten and groundbreaking director Kasi Lemmons, with Ackie lip-syncing to Houston's unbelievable voice while embodying the remarkably talented woman the world lost too soon. The...
- 9/15/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Lately, there’s been a curious strain of kneejerk revulsion expressed toward musical biopics such as “Elvis” for repeating tropes identified in “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” as if all popular genres don’t have repeated tropes. What’s funny is that there’s never really been the same reaction toward music documentaries in the 40 years since “This Is Spinal Tap.” Especially since that’s a much better movie. But why should there be? Just like pop and rock music depend on repetition (and the anticipation of repetition) for satisfaction and emotional release, music films, narrative or documentary, return to the same hallmarks over and over again.
“Squaring the Circle,” Anton Corbijn’s feature documentary debut, falls into this tradition too. This slightly overlong look at Hipgnosis, the London-based graphic design startup that designed some of the most striking, and important, album covers from 1968 to 1980, retreads all the old...
“Squaring the Circle,” Anton Corbijn’s feature documentary debut, falls into this tradition too. This slightly overlong look at Hipgnosis, the London-based graphic design startup that designed some of the most striking, and important, album covers from 1968 to 1980, retreads all the old...
- 9/4/2022
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Prime Video will continue rolling out its summer slate in the month of August, releasing new original series, as well as a mix of suspenseful films, action movies and more.
Amazon’s series version of “A League of Their Own” will debut its eight-episode first season on Aug. 12, introducing new characters and stories set in the historical opening of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League (Aagpbl).
Ron Howard’s “Thirteen Lives” tells the real-life story of how a young boys’ soccer team was rescued from the Thai mountain cave where they got stuck for 10 days along with their coach.
Other new film arrivals include hits from earlier this summer, “The Lost City” starring Sandra Bullock, Daniel Radcliffe, Channing Tatum and Brad Pitt, as well as “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.” Academy Award-nominated film “Licorice Pizza” also arrives on Prime Video this month.
Freevee will also have new arrivals this month.
Amazon’s series version of “A League of Their Own” will debut its eight-episode first season on Aug. 12, introducing new characters and stories set in the historical opening of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League (Aagpbl).
Ron Howard’s “Thirteen Lives” tells the real-life story of how a young boys’ soccer team was rescued from the Thai mountain cave where they got stuck for 10 days along with their coach.
Other new film arrivals include hits from earlier this summer, “The Lost City” starring Sandra Bullock, Daniel Radcliffe, Channing Tatum and Brad Pitt, as well as “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.” Academy Award-nominated film “Licorice Pizza” also arrives on Prime Video this month.
Freevee will also have new arrivals this month.
- 7/30/2022
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
“The Breakfast Club” and “Pineapple Express,” both classics within their own genres, will be leaving Hulu in July, along with a host of other films. If you want to relive Judd Nelson’s performance as delinquent John Bender or the antics of Seth Rogen and James Franco, don’t forget to catch up on these flicks before July 31.
If you haven’t already celebrated Meryl Streep’s birthday by watching one of her arguably best performances in “The Devil Wears Prada,” stream this fashion comedy before it leaves Hulu this month as well. Thankfully you’ll still be able to stream this thinly-veiled critique of Vogue’s Anna Wintour on Prime Video. That’s all.
Other notable titles that won’t be available on the streaming service after July include “I Am Not Your Negro,” “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar,” “Easy A” and a slew of the Resident Evil films,...
If you haven’t already celebrated Meryl Streep’s birthday by watching one of her arguably best performances in “The Devil Wears Prada,” stream this fashion comedy before it leaves Hulu this month as well. Thankfully you’ll still be able to stream this thinly-veiled critique of Vogue’s Anna Wintour on Prime Video. That’s all.
Other notable titles that won’t be available on the streaming service after July include “I Am Not Your Negro,” “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar,” “Easy A” and a slew of the Resident Evil films,...
- 7/1/2022
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
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