The Playlist

Review: 'Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding' Is A Fun, Easy Trip Upstate

By Emma Bernstein
|
June 7, 2012 9:58 AM
|
5 Comments

Reviews

There are moments during certain romantic comedies when you might find yourself throwing up your hands and growling, “come on!” under your breath. And with good reason: the improbability of plotlines and inconsistencies of characters are enough to drive even the sappiest of us screaming from the theaters, scouring the streets for the realism and even cynicism that seems to have deserted us over the course of the film. “Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding,” from director Bruce Beresford (“Driving Miss Daisy,” “Tender Mercies”), is not one of these kinds of rom-coms. At least, not entirely. Though wildly predictable from the outset, and undoubtedly sentimental in its bits of hippie-dippie, lovey-dovey wisdom, the movie doesn’t stray too far from the real world, and ultimately drives home an honest and applicable moral about accepting your family, warts and all.

More:

Charlie Kaufman To Write & Direct HBO Series Starring Catherine Keener

By Oliver Lyttelton
|
May 21, 2012 8:36 PM
|
3 Comments

Television

Charlie Kaufman's been a very busy bee recently. It's almost exactly four years since "Synecdoche, New York" premiered at Cannes, and for a long time, there was little-to-no news as to what the writer-director, who made his name penning the screenplays for "Being John Malkovich," "Adaptation" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," was up to. But the news that he'd done a polish on the script for "Kung Fu Panda 2" (which ultimately showed little evidence of the Kaufman touch) kicked off a run of activity.

More:

First Look: 'The Longest Week' With Jason Bateman, Olivia Wilde & 'Maladies' Featuring James Franco, Catherine Keener

By Oliver Lyttelton
|
May 16, 2012 5:38 PM
|
0 Comments

News

More first looks from the Cannes marketplace this evening, with a pair of star-studded indies looking to find distribution at home and abroad before the Croisette empties out. First up, there's comedy-drama "The Longest Week," from debut feature writer/director Peter Glanz, who was behind AMC's web series "The Trivial Pursuits of Arthur Banks." The film's got an impressive cast, led by "Arrested Development" star Jason Bateman, and also including Billy Crudup and Olivia Wilde. Images, a poster and a synopsis below, and click on to page two for your first look at James Franco starrer "Maladies."

More:

Catherine Keener Will Be Married To Tom Hanks In Paul Greengrass' 'Captain Phillips'

By Kevin Jagernauth
|
February 2, 2012 5:20 PM
|
1 Comment

News

Catherine Keener makes anything she stars in better, and even an A-list star like Tom Hanks can benefit by having her hang off his arm.

More:

Kate Winslet & Catherine Keener Join Charlie Kaufman's Satiric Musical 'Frank Or Francis'

By Kevin Jagernauth
|
January 26, 2012 12:53 PM
|
9 Comments

News

Just when we were wondering if production on Charlie Kaufman's ambitious, zany, satiric musical "Frank Or Francis" might have hit the skids, the project has received some new life, adding two of our favorite actresses to the cast. Vulture reports that Kate Winslet (coming off Emmy and Golden Globes wins for her excellent turn in "Mildred Pierce") and Kaufman regular Catherine Keener ("Synechdoche, New York," "Adaptation," "Being John Malkovich") are coming aboard the film.

More:

TIFF '11 Review: 'The Oranges' Delivers A Grove Of Big Laughs

By Kevin Jagernauth
|
September 11, 2011 11:18 AM
|
5 Comments

The indie ensemble comedy genre is fraught with pitfalls, from high concepts that just don't deliver, to outrageous storylines that can't sustain their own frenzied energy. For every "Little Miss Sunshine" there are countless more that attempt to create that film's almost intangible alchemy but falter somewhere along the way. "The Oranges" could have gone either way - with Julian Farino a mostly TV director ("Entourage," "How To Make It In America") making his sophomore film with a grab bag cast including Hugh Laurie, Catherine Keener, Oliver Platt, Allison Janney, Alia Shawkat, Adam Brody and Leighton Meeste,r we really had no idea what to expect from the film. But playing to huge laughs, this winning comedy overcomes some of its patchier elements to become a bonafide crowd pleaser.

More:

Review: David Schwimmer's 'Trust' A Thoughtful Look At A Tricky Subject

By Danielle Johnsen
|
April 1, 2011 1:47 AM
|
2 Comments

In 2011, we are so used to relationships blossoming through the internet and various social channels that it takes awhile into "Trust" to foresee the danger lurking. Directed by David Schwimmer, the triggering thriller manages to avoid the easy pitfalls of what could resemble an afterschool special and brings depth to the uneasy subject matter of sexual predators, internet safety and parental protection.

More:

The Perils Of iChat Are Explored In Trailer For 'Trust'

By Kevin Jagernauth
|
February 9, 2011 3:38 AM
|
0 Comments

Basically, the gist of "Trust" seems to be: if you get your teenage daughter a MacBook Pro for her birthday she will be violated by an online pervert.

More:

Jesse Peretz Lines Up Catherine Keener & John Malkovich For 'What's This S%^@ Called Love?'

By Kevin Jagernauth
|
February 1, 2011 4:08 AM
|
0 Comments

Director Jesse Peretz is moving quickly to capitalize on the Sundance success of "My Idiot Brother." The film, starring Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, Rashida Jones, Adam Scott, Steve Coogan, Hugh Dancy, Kathryn Hahn, Shirley Knight and Janet Montgomery, played to strong reviews in Park City (including one from us) and was snapped up by The Weinstein Company for a figure said to be between $6-7 million. Clearly, the helmer is on a big upswing and he's already eyeing his next picture.

More:

Christopher Walken & Imogen Poots Round Out 'A Late Quartet' With Philip Seymour Hoffman

By Kevin Jagernauth
|
January 10, 2011 3:07 AM
|
0 Comments

The final pieces of the puzzle have fallen into place for the indie drama "A Late Quartet." Following our exclusive reports last week of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener joining the film, an official press release has confirmed their involvement as well as the rest of the players for the forthcoming picture.

More: