The Playlist

The obsessives' guide to contemporary cinema via film discussion, news, reviews, features, nostalgia, movie music, soundtracks, DVDs and more.

Interviews

Steven Spielberg Named Jury President For 66th Cannes Film Festival

By Kevin Jagernauth
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February 27, 2013 11:50 PM
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5 Comments

News

Steven Spielberg could use a bit of a break. Cranking out three films over the last few years -- mo-cap and animated "The Adventures Of Tintin," WWI epic "War Horse" and presidential tale "Lincoln" (which walked away with two Oscars on Sunday), one might understand if would rather be watching movies instead of making them. And with his "Robopocalypse," originally planned to shoot this summer, now on hold as he gets the script right, it looks like Spielberg will be taking a little cinematic vacation to the south of France.

By Jessica Kiang
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February 12, 2013 11:58 AM
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2 Comments

Reviews

Taking the concept of binge-watching to a whole new theatrical level, we were lucky enough to spend most of our Sunday at the Berlin Film Festival in a large auditorium consuming Jane Campion’s six-hour “Top of the Lake” TV series, which will air in seven episodes on The Sundance Channel starting March 18th. It was a great experience, and not just because of the quality storytelling and filmmaking on display, but because of the sense of community and buzz you get at this type of event. We saw the show divided into three two-hour chunks, and during the brief intermissions, the audience buzzed with speculation: who was the father of the unborn child? Was X dead or alive? What was the significance of Y?

By Rodrigo Perez
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January 20, 2013 5:00 PM
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4 Comments

Reviews

Moody, without being oppressively dark or atmospheric, compelling and mysterious, Jane Campion's seven-part Sundance Channel series, "Top Of The Lake" – based on two episodes thus far – is an intriguing crime drama and mystery that's got this writer hooked.

By Simon Dang
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March 28, 2012 11:16 AM
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6 Comments

Television

In case the abundance of television news lately wasn't enough of a hint, it's pilot season which can see some interesting projects attempt to break onto the scene. One television project already fronting cameras that we're highly anticipating for next year is Jane Campion's six-part mini-series "Top Of The Lake."

By Simon Dang
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November 3, 2011 1:58 AM
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1 Comment

After the Playlist-favorite "Bright Star" starring Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw in 2009, Jane Campion was reportedly set to tackle a six-hour murder mystery miniseries titled "Top Of The Lake" with lensing slated to take place sometime this year. With the year almost over and nothing heard from the project since it's announcement late last year, we were beginning to dread a potential break down of the project.

By Drew Taylor
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January 15, 2011 5:26 AM
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2 Comments

'Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas,' 'Le Cercle Rouge' & 'Sweetie' Go BluYesterday, Criterion announced their stellar April line-up of DVDs and high-definition Blu-rays. We can't say there were too many surprises in the announcement, but they are all really, really great.

By Simon Dang
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October 27, 2010 1:29 AM
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0 Comments

'Beneath Hill 60' And 'Bright Star' Also In Strong ContentionThe Australian Film Institute has announced their nominations for the 2010 Awards, with David Michôd's crime drama "Animal Kingdom" taking home a record-breaking 18 nominations, at least one for every category which it was eligible for, and Jeremy Hartley Sims' war film "Beneath Hill 60" and Jane Campion's John Keats drama "Bright Star" not too far behind with 12 and 11 nods respectively.