Movie Reviews and Previews The Handmaiden is weird heist erotica After sojourning into making English-language films with (the highly underrated) Stoker, South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook returns to Korea, the place and the language, for his new feature film, The Handmaiden. Adapted by Park and Chung Seo-kyung (also co-writer of Lady Vengeance) from Sarah Waters’ novel Fingersmith, The Handmaiden reimagines By Sarah • Nov 15, 2016 02:53 pm
BFFs Project Casey Manchester By The Sea came out of festival season strong, with outstanding reviews and predictions for Oscar. Most award season experts still agree that Manchester will be nominated for several awards, including Best Picture, but I feel like in the last few weeks, people haven’t been talking about it By Lainey • Nov 15, 2016 02:19 pm
Movie Reviews and Previews Natalie Portman’s second Oscar Joanna, our resident Natalie Portman apologist, is backing Portman in the Best Actress Oscar race, which is actually competitive this year. Portman is campaigning for Jackie—the last time Portman campaigned, for Black Swan, I was so turned off I started calling her “Natalie Never”— Pablo Larrain’s biopic of By Sarah • Nov 15, 2016 12:07 pm
Movie Reviews and Previews Patriot’s Day and the escapism bounce I’ve said it since the night of the US election—movies are about to get a big escapism bounce. It’s already started, with the first post-election weekend posting box office numbers almost 50% higher than the same frame last year, and it will continue to affect movie turnout By Sarah • Nov 15, 2016 11:22 am
BFFs Brad Pitt in China Brad Pitt hasn’t promoted a movie in China since Seven Years In Tibet because, supposedly, the Chinese government wasn’t happy about how the country was portrayed. Here he is yesterday in Shanghai on press tour for Allied, all is forgiven. Time to get that Chinese money. As you By Lainey • Nov 15, 2016 10:47 am
Movie Reviews and Previews Beauty and the CATFACE MCHORNSWAGGLER After the last week, the live-action Beauty and the Beast is looking like more and more of a sure thing. People are going to be desperate for this kind of escape—indeed, already are— and fantasy films will benefit most of all. It’s into this atmosphere of conflict and By Sarah • Nov 14, 2016 12:13 pm
Movie Reviews and Previews Ava DuVernay keeps working Ava DuVernay attended the Academy’s Governors Awards on Saturday night. She is a member of the Academy, directors’ branch. Last year she challenged Michael Mann for a seat on the Board of Governors. As you know, she has been one of the most vocal crusaders for change in the By Lainey • Nov 14, 2016 11:52 am
Movie Reviews and Previews Ghost in the Shell is trying to erase its roots The first trailer for Ghost in the Shell starring Scarlett Johansson has been released, and it checks all the boxes for a potential blockbuster: great visuals, slick action beats, electronic/rock cover of a classic song, Scarlett Johansson’s nearly naked body. The movie certainly looks cool enough, with some By Sarah • Nov 14, 2016 10:41 am
Gorgessity Emma Stone locks it down The Hollywood Foreign Press Association held an event last night in Hollywood to “celebrate Golden Globe Award season”. Basically it was an excuse to have a party. But the stars show up because they have to lock down their nominations. Emma Stone was there too, although the way people are By Lainey • Nov 11, 2016 01:08 pm
Harry Potter JK Rowling on Depp and Dumbledore It was confirmed this week that Johnny Depp has indeed been cast as Gellert Grindelwald in the sequel to Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them. Many fans then expressed disappointment in light of his divorce from Amber Heard and the allegations – and accompanying photos and texts and witnesses – of By Lainey • Nov 11, 2016 12:21 pm
Douchebags Billy Bob Thornton’s tiny pants The last time I mentioned Taffy Brodesser-Akner it was in September, when she wrote about Christian Slater for GQ. Taffy is so good at her job she, along with Caity Weaver, is making GQ a much better magazine. This month Taffy profiled Billy Bob Thornton for GQ. And, once again, By Lainey • Nov 11, 2016 10:23 am
Movie Reviews and Previews Well this looks crazy The teaser trailer for Valerian: City of a Thousand Planets was just released and it looks insane, in both the “cool” sense and the “divorced from reality” sense. This movie comes from Fifth Element director Luc Besson, and it looks of a piece with The Fifth Element—totally bonkers but By Sarah • Nov 10, 2016 03:18 pm
Movie Reviews and Previews Love, Death, Time I like to say that I don't appreciate being emotionally manipulated by movies but I'm pretty sure I often get emotionally manipulated by movies and make that a point in posts about being emotionally manipulated by movies so...maybe I do actually enjoy being emotionally manipulated By Lainey • Nov 10, 2016 02:49 pm
Movie Reviews and Previews Jennifer & Chris's 5 Seconds Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt's Passengers comes out at Christmas. They're starting publicity for it already. Today they'll be on Ellen. This is a Movie staring Movie Stars, specifically two of the most popular Movie Stars right now. Everything hinges on that specific piece By Lainey • Nov 10, 2016 12:50 pm
Movie Reviews and Previews Andrew Garfield in Hacksaw Ridge Desmond Doss, played by Andrew Garfield with earnest sincerity and a ludicrous Southern accent, was the first conscientious objector—or “collaborator”, in his words—to win the Medal of Honor. He did so by saving dozens of lives at the Battle of Okinawa, despite carrying no weapons or even touching By Sarah • Nov 10, 2016 12:27 pm
Movie Reviews and Previews Zendaya and the next gen Yesterday morning, while most of us were just trying to get through the day without sobbing into our keyboards, The Hollywood Reporter released its Next Gen issue featuring Zendaya on the cover. The issue celebrates the next generation of talent in Hollywood. Zendaya is joined by her Spider-Man: Homecoming co-star By Kathleen • Nov 10, 2016 10:51 am
