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The Playlist
The obsessives' guide to contemporary cinema via film discussion, news, reviews, features, nostalgia, movie music, soundtracks, DVDs and more.Interviews
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Greta Gerwig Talks 'Frances Ha' & Working With Noah Baumbach -
Joel Edgerton On 'Wish You Were Here,' 'Jane' Drama & More -
James Gray On 'The Immigrant,' 'The Gray Man,' 'The Lost City Of Z' And More -
Brit Marling Talks 'The East' & Espionage Thrillers -
Nicolas Winding Refn Discusses 'Only God Forgives -
Justin Lin Talks 'Fast Furious 6' & The Influence Of Altman -
Interview: Noah Baumbach Talks 'Frances Ha' -
Ben Wheatley Talks 'Sightseers,' Violence & More -
Mark Romanek On 'One Hour Photo' & Leaving 'Cinderella'
The Playlist
Watch: First Trailer For Luc Besson's 'The Family' Starring Robert De Niro (Formerly Known As 'Malavita')
- By Kevin Jagernauth
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- June 4, 2013 7:15 PM
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- 13 Comments
Robert De Niro is getting back in the family, and no, we don't mean another 'Fockers' movie. Rather, he's getting back in the organized family way, once again entering the game of legitimate business dealings, and starring in the latest from Luc Besson, "The Family" (which you probably knew about under it's previous title "Malavita"). For both director and star, they've had a patchy last few years, with both highlights ("Silver Linings Playbook" and "Stone" for De Niro) and lowlights (wait, what was the last good movie Besson directed?). Can they form a power pairing here?
First Look At Hugh Jackman & Jake Gyllenhaal In 'Prisoners' And Robert De Niro & Michelle Pfeiffer In 'The Family'
- By Kevin Jagernauth
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- May 30, 2013 1:41 PM
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- 10 Comments
Now that the Cannes Film Festival is in the rearview, we can't help but start speculating about what movies will hit the Venice/Telluride/TIFF circuit in just a few months, and these two are probably pretty fair bets.
Tommy Lee Jones Joins Luc Besson's Darkly Comedic Actioner 'Malavita'
- By Benjamin Wright
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- June 29, 2012 12:36 PM
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- 0 Comments
We’ve given a lot of credit to Tommy Lee Jones recently for his willingness to step out so late in his career and try on different hats, like writing, directing, and starring in the pioneer-era tale “The Homesman,” as well as going a little more comedic (and raunchy) than he’s used to in the Meryl Streep co-starring “Hope Springs.” And now he’s set to star in a dark comedy/action mish-mash for Luc Besson. While other aging talent remains comfortable turning in repetitive or forgetable performances, Jones just keeps on rolling.
20 Years After Its Release, 5 Things You Might Not Know About 'Batman Returns'
- By Drew Taylor
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- June 19, 2012 10:58 AM
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- 22 Comments
We’re on the eve of a brand new Batman blockbuster, next month’s “The Dark Knight Rises,” which will feature Anne Hathaway as the semi-villainous cat burglar Selina Kyle who prowls the streets at night as Catwoman. While Christopher Nolan and co. have given some real-world explanations for her eccentricities (her night vision goggles prop up on her head like cat’s ears), the hardest task in defining Catwoman for a new generation will be getting out from under the shadow of Michelle Pfeiffer, whose portrayal in Tim Burton’s “Batman Returns” remains one of the towering performances in all of comic book moviedom.
Michelle Pfeiffer Joins Robert De Niro In Luc Besson's Gangster Pic 'Malativa'
- By Kevin Jagernauth
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- May 29, 2012 6:59 PM
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- 4 Comments
One of the few highlights of the otherwise lifeless and disapointing "Dark Shadows" was -- unsurprisingly -- Michelle Pfeiffer as the matriarch of the Collins clan. As usual, she classed up the proceedings and brought a nice, icy tone to an otherwise frothy movie. Better yet, the actress who had a slight dip in her career toward the end of '90s seems to be brewing something of a comeback. And this could be the picture that puts her back on top.
Reacting To 'Twilight,' Potential Sequels & More From The Press Tour For Tim Burton & Johnny Depp's 'Dark Shadows'
- By Oliver Lyttelton
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- May 11, 2012 2:07 PM
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- 2 Comments
Whether you end up loving it or hating it (as our reviewer did), one has to admit that there are few films like "Dark Shadows" in theaters this summer. Based on the popular 1960s/1970s ABC soap that included vampires, werewolves and witches, the film is a curious blend of comedy, drama and horror that's indelibly a Tim Burton creation.
Review: 'Dark Shadows' Is Another Lazy, Incoherent Disappointment From Tim Burton
- By Todd Gilchrist
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- May 8, 2012 5:59 PM
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- 45 Comments
“Dark Shadows” is not the worst movie that Tim Burton has ever made, but that’s only because there’s nothing worse than “Alice in Wonderland.” A desperate jumble of ideas in search of deeper substance, much less focus, Burton’s latest collaboration with actor Johnny Depp is the latest, and perhaps greatest, proof that yet exists for a director, Burton’s a hell of a production designer. Given the film’s incredible lack of cohesion – or follow-through – the film feels like the resigned end result of a studio’s best efforts to whittle an unwieldly mess into something manageable, but far too many of its shortcomings remain exposed for it to play as anything other than a showcase for the star and filmmaker’s laziness, hubris, or both.
Look Into My Eyes: 9 Clips From Tim Burton's 'Dark Shadows' With Johnny Depp & Eva Green
- By Kevin Jagernauth
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- April 29, 2012 1:39 PM
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- 0 Comments
We've had an inkling thus far that "Dark Shadows" would be a return to form for both Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, whose batting average over their last few films -- "Alice In Wonderland," "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" -- has been inconsistent at best. But this latest, extensive look at the movie seems to indicate they are back on track in a big way.
New Pics Of Johnny Depp & Chloe Moretz In 'Dark Shadows'
- By Kevin Jagernauth
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- April 17, 2012 9:41 AM
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- 1 Comment
While "The Avengers" is preparing for a mega opening if early tracking is any indication, its run at the top of the box office might be a brief one as just a week later, Warner Bros. is dropping the latest Tim Burton and Johnny Depp team-up "Dark Shadows" and they are pushing their flick just as hard as Marvel.
Watch: Trailer For 'Star Trek' Writer Alex Kurtzman's Directorial Debut 'People Like Us,' With Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks & Michelle Pfieffer
- By Oliver Lyttelton
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- March 29, 2012 8:29 AM
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- 1 Comment
We're only about a month away from the start of the summer movie season, and the onslaught of noisy effects-heavy pictures that come with it. As such, more dramatic films, movies about human beings rather than robots or aliens, are about to get a little thin on the ground, but with the right placement, such a picture can prove to be an antidote to blockbusters and make a quiet killing, as "The Help" did last year. This year, one of the films attempting to fill that gap is "People Like Us," the directorial debut of Alex Kurtzman, a man who's been used to far bigger-budget fare thanks to his co-writing work on films like "Mission Impossible 3." "Transformers," "Star Trek" and "Cowboys & Aliens."
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Recent Comments
because of Michael Chabon?
DavidGoyer blah blah blah, I would not tell you to get your head out of your *ss because I'm
Simples, yes. Because the 12th villain (or tease/hint of a villain) is more important than a
Stop telling people how they should feel about excessive destruction and violence.
julia roberts & steven spielberg
This looks like a train wreck. the only way i see this working if that for their next film if it
Looks really great- and I agree with Steve- many kudos to Brad Pitt for consistently working to make
Her part has been cut as there are far too many characters in TAS2 already and they simply
One of my favorite films out of Sundance, and the cast were a pleasure to interview. Hope it does
Oh, I expected someone to say that the Frank/Northup comparison was just about their writings.