The Playlist

Interview: James Gray Talks Working With Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix & The Central Crisis Of American Cinema

By Jessica Kiang
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December 12, 2012 3:50 PM
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19 Comments

Festivals

A definite high point of our Marrakech International Film Festival was not only getting the chance to talk with director James Gray (“Two Lovers,” “We Own The Night,” “Little Odessa,” “The Yards”) about his upcoming directorial and writing projects (see our previous coverage here and here), but also having the time to let the conversation spin off, through some of his past experiences, and into a more general discussion about the state of contemporary U.S. cinema. Gray’s perspective as a commentator is of course informed by the kind of filmmaker he is: in his assessment of U.S. cinema being in a state of deep crisis, it is hard not to see a man arguing forcefully for his own livelihood.

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Marrakech '12: James Gray Still Hoping To Visit 'Lost City of Z,' Talks 'Blood Ties' & Jeremy Renner's Steve McQueen Biopic

By Jessica Kiang
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December 10, 2012 11:18 AM
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6 Comments

News

Thoughtful and erudite, there are few filmmakers as fascinating to listen to as they talk about film than James Gray. So whenever we get the chance to catch up with him, it's a treat, and we managed to spend some time with the helmer at the Marrakech International Film Festival where he was serving on the jury. We spoke at some length about his upcoming, immigrant period drama "Lowlife," (formerly "The Nightingale" -- read all about it here), but we also wondered about some of the movies he's got brewing and what may or may not be next.

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Marrakech ‘12: James Gray Says ‘The Nightingale’ Probably Reverting Back To Original Title ‘Lowlife,’ Hopes To Premiere In Cannes 2013

By Jessica Kiang
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December 5, 2012 11:19 AM
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7 Comments

Festivals

With James Gray serving on the jury of the Marrakech International Film Festival this year, we were lucky enough to get some time with a director who has, in just four movies, firmly established himself as one of our very favorite filmmakers. There are a couple of further pieces to come from our talk, so articulate and interesting an interviewee he turned out to be (we left his quotes mostly uncut below), but for now, here’s a small sampler of some news that will interest anyone anticipating his next film, a period piece set around Ellis Island, even half as eagerly as we are: it seems “The Nightingale” is probably going to be jettisoned as the film’s title in favor of the original “Lowlife."

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Longform Synopsis & New Set Photo From James Gray's 'The Nightingale'

By Kevin Jagernauth
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September 14, 2012 3:51 PM
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7 Comments

News

Sorry folks, but for the main editors of this site, James Gray is to us what Marvel movies are to others. We have no hesitation in saying he's one of the finest American filmmakers working today, and when our man in Telluride caught early footage of his next effort, "The Nightingale" (aka "Low Life"), it was a lovely surprise. So it's Friday, TIFF is winding down, and we're gonna nerd out on our man Gray. Deal with it.

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James Gray & Marion Cotillard Discuss How They Came Together For Next Year's Period Piece 'The Nightingale'

By Rodrigo Perez
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September 7, 2012 3:51 PM
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8 Comments

News

While it may have seemed premature on paper, the Telluride Film Festival's celebration of 37-year-old French actress Marion Cotillard's body of work last weekend is arriving right on the crest of her career apogee, a period we may look back on in several decades and compare to the way Jeanne Moreau and Catherine Deneuve dominated the '60s with their ubiquity.

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Surprise: Telluride Unveils Quick Sneak Peek Of James Gray's 'The Nightingale' Starring Marion Cotillard & Joaquin Phoenix

By Rodrigo Perez
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September 2, 2012 3:23 PM
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15 Comments

News

Disappointment with too few showstoppers has been a common complaint at the Telluride Film Festival this weekend (mostly by privileged film critics and Oscar bloggers wanting more sizzle). Each year, Telluride sneaks a few surprise films not listed on the official line-up and generally of marquee value (last year, "Butter" was one of the big contenders). This year, the only not-so-secret surprise was Ben Affleck's entertaining thriller "Argo." While a terrific suspense film, only one surprise left many pundits wanting more.

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New Look At Joaquin Phoenix & Marion Cotillard In James Gray's Period Drama 'Low Life'

By Simon Dang
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July 23, 2012 8:58 AM
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8 Comments

News

One of the biggest question marks and most exciting prospects of this coming fall is the potential return of New York writer-director James Gray who, after 2008's underrated drama "Two Lovers," reunites with Joaquin Phoenix and teams with Marion Cotillard and Jeremy Renner for an untitled 1920s set drama formerly known as "Low Life."

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The Weinstein Company Snaps Up Director James Gray's (Formerly Titled) 'Low Life' For 2013 Release

By Ryan Gowland
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June 15, 2012 9:16 AM
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1 Comment

News

It wouldn't be slanderous to say the producer Harvey Weinstein can be a bit contentious at times, and no one would know better than director James Gray, who worked with Harvey on his 2000 crime drama "The Yards." According to what Gray said about Harvey to the LA Times back in 2000, Weinstein fought Gray on every creative decision, never marketed the movie, and eventually dumped it into 140 screens and skipped the premiere. At the time, Gray said he was "not bitter" about working with Harvey and, thirteen years later, he's holding true to his word as The Weinstein Company is lining up to distribute his latest film.

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First Images Of Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Renner & Marion Cotillard In James Gray's 'Low Life'

By Kevin Jagernauth
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April 25, 2012 8:24 AM
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8 Comments

News

The French adore James Gray. And we don't blame them one bit. With only four films to his name, he has already inspired a book dedicated his works, published by the France based Syecdoche Books (limited to 1000 copies, but it's bilingual and features interviews with Gray and the various actors he's worked with over the years). Thus, we're not entirely surprised that the first look for his upcoming "Low Life" would arrive not on a website, or in an American trade publication, but instead courtesy of Liberation, who also have the first profile on the film.

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James Gray Teases Thriller 'The Gray Man' With Brad Pitt Might Be Next

By Kevin Jagernauth
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March 26, 2012 2:56 PM
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6 Comments

News

While James Gray has become known for this thoughtful, gripping independent dramas, it was just a couple of years ago that he nearly made a splash with a big studio picture, "The Lost City Of Z" with Brad Pitt set to star. Near the end of 2010, Paramount yanked the cord on the project, and Gray left the movie and Pitt went on to work with Andrew Dominik on "Cogan's Trade." But it seems both Pitt and Gray stayed in touch. Just a couple of months later in early 2011, Gray signed to direct an adaptation of Mark Greaney's thriller "The Gray Man" and by late summer, Pitt had signed on to star. Not much has been heard since, but as Gray tells us, the project is still percolating and may be coming soon.

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