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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: Everything Is On Tape In First Trailer For 'Closed Circuit' Starring Eric Bana & Rebecca Hall
- By Kevin Jagernauth
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- May 31, 2013 12:54 PM
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- 5 Comments
It's going to be a long summer of explosions, CGI and dick jokes, as your stomach sours from too much buttery popcorn and your brain hurts from endless 3D spectacles. But capping off the season will be a movie that will hopefully have some smarts, and it at least promises some strong talent in a compelling picture.
The Best & Worst Moments Of 'Iron Man 3'
- By The Playlist Staff
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- May 6, 2013 1:29 PM
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- 42 Comments
If you were in prison, comatose or pinned to the ground by a fallen armoire this weekend, it's possible you didn't see "Iron Man 3." All the rest of us, it seems, ignored our mothers' protestations and spent a couple of hours of this fine sunny summer weekend indoors in the dark, watching Robert Downey Jr. suit up as Tony Stark/Iron Man for his third solo outing. In fact, judging by these numbers, so did Mom. The "Iron Man" threequel (read about some others here) is already in the history books as the second biggest domestic opening of all time, right behind sister film "The Avengers," and looks on track to be another billion-dollar movie for the unprecedentedly successful Marvel Universe project. But with Shane Black a new recruit for the director's chair (Iron Throne?) and expectations vertiginously high for the launch of Phase Two, the finished film could be expected to show at least a few stretch marks. Our early review is here and since then, many of The Playlist have managed to catch up with it, so here's what we thought worked and what did not. **Spoilers abound.**
Review: 'Iron Man 3' Is A Solid, Sometimes Surprising Start To Marvel's Phase Two Movies
- By Oliver Lyttelton
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- April 23, 2013 10:38 PM
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- 16 Comments
After just about as successful a start as you could ask for (three new franchises, and one mega-franchise that kicked off with the third biggest movie of all time), the Marvel movie machine is moving into its next phase. And with it comes the risk of dilution; we're getting at least two movies a year (plus TV series "Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D"), and with countless other superheroes also in the marketplace, there's a chance that diminishing returns could set in; what was once a special chance to see much-loved characters on the big screen might simply become a bi-annual check in to see much of what we've seen before.
First Images From Thriller 'Closed Circuit' Starring Eric Bana & Rebecca Hall
- By Kevin Jagernauth
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- April 22, 2013 3:01 PM
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- 3 Comments
Given that we've seen something from nearly every summer movie coming in the next three or four months, it might be easy to forget that there are still a couple yet to reveal themselves, and one that's on our radar is "Closed Circuit." Why? We'll, we'll give you a few reasons.
Watch: 'Iron Man 3' Featurette Shows Off New Footage Of The Film & Supporting Characters
- By Kevin Jagernauth
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- April 9, 2013 4:36 PM
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- 0 Comments
...because there is a marketing budget to spend, that's why. That's the answer to your question as to why Marvel keeps pumping out material for "Iron Man 3," which pretty much everyone on the planet Earth knows by now is coming out in a few short weeks. But there are still some treats to be had inside the blitzkrieg of advertising.
Watch: New Trailer For 'Iron Man 3'; Shane Black Says Film Leaves Door Open For Fourth Entry
- By Kevin Jagernauth
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- March 5, 2013 11:59 AM
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- 5 Comments
After counting it down for the past few days, Marvel has finally lifted the curtain on the new trailer for "Iron Man 3," so strap in and get ready for the ride. And you know what? You probably won't be shocked to learn that this likely won't be Robert Downey Jr.'s or Tony Stark's last ride at the superhero rodeo.
Rebecca Hall Joins Wally Pfister's 'Transcendence' With Johnny Depp
- By Kevin Jagernauth
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- March 4, 2013 4:13 PM
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- 14 Comments
Sorry Rooney Mara and Emily Blunt, this one belongs to Rebecca Hall. After being rumored alongside the actresses last fall as contenders for the female lead in Wally Pfister's "Transcendence," Hall has emerged the winner and will star alongside Johnny Depp and Paul Bettany in the mysterious movie.
Recap: 'Parade's End' Brings Dense Miniseries To A Quiet Close In Finale
- By Kevin Jagernauth
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- March 1, 2013 10:00 AM
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- 4 Comments
As my colleagues have written in their recaps of the first four episodes of "Parade's End," there is much to admire in the five-part miniseries. From the dense, multi-threaded and layered script from Tom Stoppard, to the sumptuous direction from Susanna White and a cluster of great performances from Benedict Cumberbatch, Rebecca Hall, Adelaide Clemens, Stephen Graham and Rupert Everett. And at the middle of it all, perhaps one of the most buttoned up leading men we've seen in quite some time on the small screen, Christopher Tietjens. It would almost be laughable at how much his life has taken a downward turn since we met him at the start of the first episode, if it weren't so tragic. As an era fades, so too does a particular way of English, gentlemanly life, and Tietjens will hold on to it until it nearly destroys him. But after seeing nearly every facet of his life crumble and corrupted, you yearn for Christopher -- as his wife Sylvia long has -- to finally submit to some kind of emotion. To break free and reclaim his life. And while he doesn't quite do that in the finale, his victory such as it is, is satisfying in the way the character deserves.
Recap: 'Parade's End' Goes To War With One Outstanding Episode, And One Middling One
- By Oliver Lyttelton
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- February 28, 2013 9:58 AM
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- 0 Comments
When we left off with part two of "Parade's End," war had arrived, with Christopher Tietjens (Benedict Cumberbatch) in the trenches, and his wife Sylvia (Rebecca Hall) seemingly finding religion. Part three of the show stayed mostly away from the front, picking up with Christopher waking in a military hospital, concussed by a shell, and seemingly unable to remember even his name.
Recap: Benedict Cumberbatch & Rebecca Hall Shine In First 2 Parts Of Period Miniseries 'Parade's End'
- By The Playlist Staff
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- February 27, 2013 10:00 AM
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- 0 Comments
The specter of "Downton Abbey" has been present in the run up to the broadcast of BBC and HBO's new period drama "Parade's End." Both are lavish period tales set before, during and after World War I. But in fact, the comparisons are a little overblown. 'Downton' and "Parade's End" (an adaptation of Ford Madox Ford's cycle of novels, often labelled as among the finest literary achievements of the 20th century, written for the screen by the great Sir Tom Stoppard, and directed by Susanna White, who was also behind "Bleak House" and "Generation Kill") might share a loose genre, but on the strength of the first episode, they couldn't be more different. 'Downton' is a soap, for better or worse, while "Parade's End" is a fearsomely intelligent, deceptively funny epic that, if it can keep up this level of quality, will likely be one of the best things on television all year.
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