The Playlist

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

Interviews

Oh Dad, You Don't Know Nuthin! Max Landis Says 'Chronicle 2' Not Troubled; Still In Development

By Edward Davis
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April 9, 2013 6:53 PM
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5 Comments

News

You've got to love the teenager who puts his out-of-touch dad on blast. OK, that's not exactly the deal, but it's what this story comically reminds us of. It starts with Dad, venerable '80s filmmaker John Landis ("The Blues Brothers," "Trading Places," Michael Jackson's iconic "Thriller" video), saying that his son, Max Landis' sequel project, "Chronicle 2," is somewhat troubled. And it started on The Playlist.

By Benjamin Wright
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October 10, 2012 4:16 PM
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4 Comments

Features

While much has been said about Universal Studios not having a standout year at the box office, or at least one befitting of the landmark studio's 100th Anniversary this year, you’d barely be able to tell by the rate at which they’re celebrating. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has played a large part in this celebration, running a repertory screening series entitled “Universal’s Legacy of Horror,” which kicked off last week in Los Angeles with a Guillermo Del Toro hosted double bill of “Bride of Frankenstein” and the Bela Lugosi-starring “Dracula.” Last night AMPAS played the classic 1941 tale “The Wolfman” with Lon Chaney, along with the most recent film playing in the series – “Animal House” writer-director John Landis’ “An American Werewolf in London.”

By Kevin Jagernauth
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April 30, 2012 6:33 PM
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0 Comments

News

It would seem with the glut of superhero movies it's becoming increasingly challenging to tell the story of someone possessing great powers and learning how to deal with them in a fresh and original way, but writer Max Landis and director Josh Trank did just that with "Chronicle." The duo imbued the familiar story of teenagers acquiring some extraordinary skills and pitched it against the pain of adolescene with stakes that weren't rooted in some kind of grand plot against the world (indeed, there was no real villain) but instead in the emotional turmoil of the characters. And thrown against some incredibly exciting set pieces, it was definitely one of the most fun times we've had at the movies so far this year.

By Kevin Jagernauth
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April 27, 2012 3:32 PM
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0 Comments

News

Tom Rothman has been dropping truth bombs all over CinemaCon. Already dishing out morsels about a possible New Mutants movie and revealing that, by hook or by crook, it will be Ridley Scott's version of "Prometheus" we see at the multiplex on June 8th, he delivered another interesting little nugget.

By Kevin Jagernauth
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March 7, 2012 10:41 PM
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3 Comments

News

It has been a good week for the filmmakers behind the found footage hit "Chronicle." Just yesterday, it was reported that director Josh Trank was talking with Sony about doing their "Spider-Man" spinoff "Venom" and now another good piece of news has arrived. Screenwriter Max Landis has been re-upped to pen "Chronicle 2," but whether Trank will come back remains to be seen.